Nov 15, 2022 Commissioners Court

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HRAOEB LEAN OKAY. LET'S --

>> LINA HIDALGO: LET'S GET STARTED.

IT IS 10:05 AND I WOULD LIKE TO CALL THIS NOVEMBER 15TH, 2022 MEETING OF THE HARRIS COUNTY COMMISSIONERS' COURT TO ORDER. IF COMMISSIONER CAGLE WOULD

[Pastor Ladislao Robinson of Iglesia Bautista Lindale in Houston.]

PLEASE INTRODUCE OUR GUEST. >> R. JACK CAGLE: TODAY THE PASTOR TO GIVE THE INVOCATION WAS SUGGESTED BY PRECINCT 2.

I'M DELIGHTED TO GO AHEAD AND READ WHAT I HAVE BEEN PROVIDED BY HIM. IF WE WANT TO PROCEED IF THAT'S ALL RIGHT WITH MY COLLEAGUES. DR. LADISLAO ROBINSON WILL GIVE OUR INVOCATION VIRTUALLY AND HE IS IN PRECINCT 2 AND A NATIVE OF THE ISLAND OF PROVIDENCE COLUMBIA.

JUDGE, YOU MAY BE FAMILIAR WITH THAT ISLAND.

A BACHELOR OF ARTS WITH THEOLOGY AND EMPHASIS FROM THE INTERNATIONAL BAPTIST THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY FROM 1984 AND MOVED TO THE UNITED STATES IN 2000.

HE HAS A DOCTORATE AT SOUTHWESTERNAP BTIST THEOLOGICAL INT FORWORTH. HE IS THE FOUNDER OFLE IGSIA BAUSTISTA IN LINDALE.BI DR. RONSON, ARE YOU ONLINE? YES, I AM. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

>> IF YOU WILL PLEASE LEADAT US IN OUR INVOCIONK FOR TODAY.

THAN Y YOU, SIR. >> THANKOU VERY MUCH.

ALL KNOWING, ALL POWERFUL, ALL LOVING AND ALL MERCIFUL GOOD, WE COME -- MERCIFUL GOD WE COME TO YOU AND YOUR GIFT OF LIFE.

LIFE TO SEE THIS NEW DAY, A DAY THAT YOU HAVE MADE.

I ASK YOU TO DISPENSE YOUR WISDOM AND YOUR CREATIVITY AND YOUR SPIRIT OF UNDERSTANDING ON THESE COMMISSIONERS AND THIS COMMISSIONERS' COURT MEETING. LORD, I PRAY FOR EVERY COMMISSIONER IN THIS MEETING OR PERTAINING TO THIS BODY WHO HAS BEEN ENTRUSTED WITH LEADING FROM SUCH A POSITION AS THE ONE THEY EACH HOLD. GRANT THEM I PRAY WHATEVER THEY STAND IN NEED OF TO BECOME THE LEADERS WHO WILL MAKE A SICK CAN'T -- SIGNIFICANT DIFFERENCE IN THE LIVES OF THE PEOPLE THEY REPRESENT. I PRAY FOR ALL OF THESE PRECINCTS. I PRAY FOR YOUR LEADING LIGHT FOR THIS COMMISSIONERS' COURT. I PRAY THAT YOUR GUIDANCE MAY BE OF THIS SESSION AND ALL FUTURE ONES.

I PRAY FOR THE WORK THAT THIS COMMISSIONERS' COURT MUST ACCOMPLISH. SO HELP THEM TO DO SO FOR THE BETTER MEANT OF THESE COMMUNITIES WITHIN THIS COUNTY.

I PRAY FOR LINA HIDALGO TO DELIVER HARRIS COUNTY AS JUDGE.

I PRAY FOR PRECINCT 1 WITH COMMISSIONER RODNEY ELLIS.

I PRAY FOR PRECINCT 2 WITH COMMISSIONER ADRIAN GARCIA.

I PRAY FOR PRECINCT 3 WITH COMMISSIONER TOM RAMSEY.

I PRAY FOR PRECINCT 4 WITH COMMISSIONER JACK CAGLE.

GRANT THEM WISDOM, STRENGTH AND INTEGRITY IN THE EXERCISE OF THEIR DUTY. GIVE THEM THE COURAGE AND THE FORESIGHT TO MAKE THE NECESSARY PROVISIONS TO MEET THE NEEDS OF ALL OUR PEOPLE. GRANT EACH COMMISSIONER THE WILL TO LIVE OUT YOUR AWESOME TEACHING AS SERVE -- AS SERVANT HOOD AND AS LEADERS. THAT THE GREATEST AMONG US ARE SERVING. GRANT THEM I PRAY A SINCE OF FULFILLMENT BECAUSE THEY WILL HAVE FOCUS AND THEIR ATTENTION ON COMPLETING THE MISSION FOR WHICH THEY HAVE BEEN ELECTED.

KEEP THIS COMMISSIONERS' COURT NOW AND ALWAYS UNDER YOUR CARE.

FOR THIS IS OUR PRAYER AND WE MAKE IT IN YOUR NAME, IN YOUR HOLY NAME, IN YOUR MOST HOLY NAME, AMEN.

>> THAT'S A BEAUTIFUL PRAYER. >> LINA HIDALGO: CAN YOU HEAR ME

ALL RIGHT? >> ADRIAN GARCIA: I THINK YOU WERE MUTED, BUT WE CAN HEAR YOU NOW.

>> LINA HIDALGO: GREAT. THANK YOU ALL.

THANK YOU, PASTOR AND COMMISSIONER CAGLE FOR THAT INTRODUCTION. LET'S NOW STAND AND RECITE THE PLEDGE. I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG

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I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THEE. TEXAS, ONE STATE, UNDERGOD, ONE AN INDIVISIBLE. WE HAVE THREE RESOLUTIONS TO

[Departments (Part 1 of 2)]

A LOT OF GRATITUDE TO THESE TWO FOLKS THAT HAVE SERVED THE COUNTY FOR QUITE A FEW YEARS. THE FIRST IS FOR ROCKY LEO ZIPPRIAN. WHEREAS ROCKY LEO ZIPPRIAN WORKING FOR THE TOLL ROAD AUTHORITY RETIRED AFTER MORE THAN 23 YEARS OF OUT STANDING AND DEDICATED SERVICE TO HARRIS COUNTY. ROCKY STARTED WITH PRECINCT 4 ON JANUARY 24TH, 1995. WITH THE OFFICE OF COMMISSIONER JERRY EVERSOL IN THE ROADS AND BRIDGES DEPARTMENT.

IN THAT ROLE HE OVER SAW THE JACKING AND CONCRETE OPERATIONS AMONGST OTHER DUTIES. AFTER YEARS OF DEDICATED SERVICE HE TRANSFERRED HIS KNOWLEDGE, SKEULTS -- SKILLS AND ABILITIES TO BENEFIT THE OPERATIONS AND INFRASTRUCTURE DIVISION AT THE HARRIS COUNTY TOLL ROAD AUTHORITY.

HE WAS INSTRUMENTAL IN THE MAINTENANCE TEAM AS A ROADWAY MAINTENANCE INSPECTOR. HIS COMMITMENT TO QUALITY AND MAINTAINING A HIGH LEVEL OF SERVICE HELPED MOLD AND SHAPE THE EXPECTATIONS OF MANY CONTRACTORS THAT MAINTAIN THE SYSTEM. ROCKY'S DEDICATION AND PROFESSIONALISM ARE TRULY REMARKABLE.

HE EARNED HIS COLLEAGUES' TRUST AND ADMIRATION WITH HIS HONESTY, SINCERITY AND COMMITMENT TO WORK WITH FAMILY.

HE IS LOOKING FORWARD TO FISHING AND SPENDING TIME WITH HIS FAMILY INCLUDING HIS WIFE, TWO DAUGHTERS AND FOUR GRAND CHILDREN. HE IS A TRUE WARRIOR.

NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THE HARRIS COUNTY COMMISSIONERS' COURT COMMANDS AND CONGRATULATIONS ROCKY L ZIPPRIAN FOR 23 YEARS OF DEDICATED SERVICE AND CONGRATULATIONS TO HIM AND TO HIS FAMILY. IS MR. ZIPPRIAN ON THE LINE OR

IN PERSON? >> HE'S IN PERSON, JUDGE.

>> LINA HIDALGO: GO AHEAD. >> THIS IS YOUR TIME TO SPEAK.

>> THE JUDGE HAS READ THE RESOLUTION.

DO YOU HAVE ANY WORDS FOR US TODAY?

>> I WOULD JUST LIKE TO THANK ALL MY FORMER EMPLOYEES AND UPPER MANAGEMENT. IT'S BEEN A LONG AND PLEASANT JOURNEY. AND THANK YOU TO HARRIS COUNTY

FOR ALL OF THE WONDERFUL YEARS. >> R. JACK CAGLE: THANK YOU, SIR

FOR YOUR SERVICE. >> TOM RAMSEY: THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE. HOPEFULLY YOU CAN SPEND SOME TIME AT COLLEGE STATION. MAYBE NOT GOING TO FOOTBALL GAMES. CONGRATULATIONS.

>> LINA HIDALGO: SIR, CONGRATULATIONS.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE AND LET'S GIVE ANOTHER ROUND OF APPLAUSE. THANK YOU.

AND TO YOUR FAMILY AS WELL. >> LINA HIDALGO: I WANT TO COMMEND ANOTHER EMPLOYEE AND THIS IS A POINT OF PRIDE TO SEE EMPLOYEES WITH SO MANY YEARS TO THE COUNTY.

THIS RESOLUTION GOES TO MS. SANDRA A SCOTT.

SANDRA SCOTT MANAGED CUSTOMER SERVICE QUALITY ASSURANCE TRAINING FOR THE TOLL ROAD AUTHORITY WILL RETIRE ON NOVEMBER 30TH, 2022 AFTER 25 YEARS OF MARE FOR YOUS SERVICE TO HARRIS COUNTY. SHE STARTED WITH THE HARRIS COUNTY TOLL ROAD AUTHORITY ON NOVEMBER 21ST, 1997 AT THE EASY TAG STOREFRONT LOCATION AS AUS CTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE. HER TENURE WITH THE STOREFRONT SECTIONXT WAS EREMELYIC BENEFIAL AS THEAD TOLL RO OPENEDDI ADTIONALTS STOREFRON THROUGHOUT THE SYSTEM INCLUDING LOCATIONTAG STORE WHERE SHE SERVED SHE A WAS PROMOTED TOSSISTANT T MANAGER OFHESU CUSTOMER ASRANCE IN 2013 AND IN 2015 WAS PROMOTED TO MANAGER.

SHE AND HER TEAM SPEAR HEADED THE TRAINING EFFORTS FOR THE

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SHE COORDINATED WITH THE I.T. DEPARTMENT TO OUGHT MATE TRAINING TOOLS AND SHE INTRODUCED A NEW TRAINING MANUAL IN 2019. SHE FOCUSED ASSISTING ALL SECTIONS WITH THE RECRUITMENT PROCESS AND WORKED WITH HUMAN RESOURCES TO MAKE SURE THE AGENCY'S GOALS WERE BEING MET.

HER DEDICATION AND PROFESSIONALISM ARE TRULY REMARKABLE. SHE HAS EARNED HER COLLEAGUES' TRUST, ADMIRATION AND RESPECT. ON HER JOURNEY TO RETIREMENT SHE IS SPENDING TIME WITH HER CALIFORNIA FAMILY, ATTENDING WOMEN'S CONFERENCES AND SPENDING TIME WITH HER YOUNGEST GRANDDAUGHTER. THE HARRIS COUNTY COMMISSIONERS' COURT COMMANDS AND CONGRATULATES SANDRA A SCOTT FOR HER YEARS OF DEDICATION AND SERVICE AND FURTHER EXTENDS BEST WISHES FOR MANY YEARS OF GOOD HEALTH AND HAPPINESS.

IS MS. SCOTT THERE? GO AHEAD.

>> YES, I AM ON THE LINE JUDGE. I WOULD LIKE TO THANK HARRIS COUNTY TOLL ROAD AUTHORITY AND HARRIS COUNTY AT LARGE FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SERVE FOR THE LAST 25 YEARS.

THE INTERESTING PART ABOUT THIS ASSIGNMENT IS I CAME ON AS A TEMPORARY EMPLOYEE TO HARRIS COUNTY ON A SIX TO EIGHT-WEEK ASSIGNMENT. AND NOW HERE IT IS, 25 YEARS LATER. BUT I AM GRATEFUL.

NOW I AM ON TO MY NEXT CHAPTER IN LIFE AGAIN.

I SAY THANK YOU. THAT'S IT.

>> LINA HIDALGO: LET'S GIVE A BIG ROUND OF APPLAUSE TO MS. SCOTT. CONGRATULATIONS AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE AND GLAD THAT TEMPORARY ASSIGNMENT BECAME JUST

A LITTLE BIT LONGER. >> YES, MA'AM.

YES, MA'AM. >> LINA HIDALGO: NOW, WE DO HAVE ONE RESOLUTION FROM COMMISSIONER GARCIA SO WE WILL HOLD THAT ONE UNTIL LATER. WE WANTED ALSO TO TAKE A PRESENTATION BY THE DEPARTMENT OF ECONOMIC EQUITY AND OPPORTUNITY OUT OF ORDER, BUT I KNOW COMMISSIONER GARCIA WOULD WANT TO BE THERE FOR THAT. SO I PROPOSE THAT WE GO -- YES?

YES -- QUESTION, GO AHEAD. >> R. JACK CAGLE: TWO QUESTIONS.

IF I CAN LEAP IN BEFORE WE GO TO OUR NEXT ITEM OF BUSINESS.

THE TRADITION OF THE COURT HAS BEEN THAT THE SENIOR -- THE DEAN, AS IT WERE, WOULD HAVE FIRST TKEUBS ON THE DUTIES -- TKEUBS FOR ASSIGNING PASTORS FOR THE INVOCATION.

A LITTLE WHILE BACK IT WAS PASSED DOWN TO THE JUNIOR MEMBER BECAUSE EACH PERSON WITH SENORITY WANTED THE ONE JUNIOR DOING IT. WE HAVE DONE IT WITH OUR INVOLVEMENT WITH HGAC. SINCE I WILL BE ROTATING OFF IN JANUARY, WE NEED TO START THE PLANNING.

THE NEXT PERSON IN SENIORITY WOULD BE PRECINCT 1 AND I DON'T KNOW IF THEY WANT TO TAKE THE DUTY OR IF THEY WANT TO HAND IT TO THE NEXT PERSON IN SENIORITY ALL THE WAY ON DOWN TO WHEREVER IT MAY END. BUT WE DO NEED THE PLANNING OF THE TRANSITION. THE WAY WE HAVE BEEN APPROACHING IT IS WE HAVE BEEN ORGANIZING AND WORKING WITH EACH PRECINCT ALLOCATING THE EQUAL NUMBER OF FOLKS AND JUST TRYING TO MAKE SURE IT IS ALL DONE AND COVERED. IT WORKED TODAY.

COMMISSIONER GARCIA WAS NOT THERE, BUT BECAUSE WE HAD THE DATA THAT WAS READY TO GO, ANY OF US COULD HAVE STOOD IN.

I WOULD LIKE FOR US TO BEGIN THAT PROCESS, AND I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE DESIRES OF MY COLLEAGUES WOULD BE, BUT TYPICALLY SPEAKING, IT WOULD BE COMMISSIONER ELLIS' ROLE TO SAY YAY OR TO HAND IT TO WHOEVER WOULD BE NUMBER TWO IN SENORITY.

>> RODNEY ELLIS: THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER CAGLE.

YOU HAVE DONE SUCH A GREAT JOB. YOU ARE NOT GONE YET SO YOUAN C MENTOR ME. WE WILL SPEND A LITTLEE TIM TOGETHER AND MAKE SUREET I G IT DONE. RIGHT THEHT I MIG ASK YOU TO DO FIRST PRAYER, BUTK WE'LL WOR WITH YOU ON THAT TO HAVEDE AN ORRLY TRANSITION.HI

>> LINA DALGO: SOUNDS LIKE IT IS SORTED AND I WILL KEEP AN EYE ON IT AS WELL, COMMISSIONER CAGLE.

THANK YOU FOR FLAGGING IT AND MAKINGAV SURE WE CONTINUE TO HE A GOOD SYSTEM FOR THE INVOCATION.

COMMISSIONER RAMSEY? >> TOM RAMSEY: YES, JUDGE.

I WOULD LIKE TO TAKE A POINT -- A POINT OF PERSONAL PRIVILEGE AND ALERT ON THE FRONT END OF THE MEETING THAT I WOULD LIKE THE OPPORTUNITY TO ADJOURN AT THE END IN MEMORY OF GARY TRISH.

IT WOULD BE SOMETHING THAT WOULD ACKNOWLEDGE HIM AND RECOGNIZE HIM AND REMEMBER HIM FOR NOT ONLY WHAT HE DID FOR HARRIS COUNTY, BUT THE RE-- THE REGION IN GENERAL AS LEADERSHIP.

I WOULD APPRECIATE THAT OPPORTUNITY AT THE END OF THE

MEETING. >> LINA HIDALGO: COMMISSIONER RAMSEY, ABSOLUTELY, AND THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BRINGING THIS TO MY ATTENTION. I ACTUALLY -- I WAS NOT AWARE.

I'M VERY SORRY TO HEAR OF HIS PASSING.

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I CAN SEE COMMISSIONER GARCIA IS PRESENT.

COMMISSIONER GARCIA, YOU HAVE A RESOLUTION AND AFTER THIS, JUST SO TIFFANY IS AWARE, MY PROPOSED PLAN IS THAT WE TAKE COMMISSIONER GARCIA'S RESOLUTION AND THEN HEAR FROM THE DIRECTOR OF THE DEPARTMENT OF ECONOMIC AND EQUITY OPPORTUNITY BECAUSE SHE HAS A FLIGHT TO CATCH, AND THEN THAT WE TAKE ALL OF THE SPEAKERS AND THEN THAT WE TAKE THE TWO ELECTION ITEMS OUT OF ORDER AGAIN TO ACCOMMODATE MR. T ATUM'S SCHEDULE AND I KNOW THAT'S OF HIGH INTEREST TO EVERYONE, AND THEN WE CAN CONTINUE ON WITH THE AGENDA AS USUAL.

DOES THAT SOUND ALREADY, COLLEAGUES?

>> ADRIAN GARCIA: SOUNDS GOOD. >> RODNEY ELLIS: GOOD.

>> LINA HIDALGO: GO AHEAD, COMMISSIONER GARCIA.

>> ADRIAN GARCIA: THANK YOU, JUDGE.

THIS RESOLUTION IS IS IN RECOGNITION AND SOMETHING OF PARTICULAR SIGNIFICANCE, REGRETFUL -- REGRETFULLY IN THE HISPANIC COMMUNITY AND THAT IS DIABETES.

DIABETES HAD TENDS TO BE A VERY -- DIABETES TENDS TO BE A CHRONIC CHALLENGE FOR FOLKS IN THE HISPANIC COMMUNITY.

IT AFFECTS DISPROPORTIONATELY THE HISPANIC COMMUNITY AND I HOPE THE PUBLIC HEALTH DEPARTMENT WILL LOOK TO FIND SOMETHING BEYOND THE STATUS QUO OF INITIATING SOMETHING THAT WOULD BE -- THAT WOULD HELP US ACCELERATE RESOURCES AND TREATMENT AND SERVICES AND ATTENTION TO THIS ISSUE.

TO THAT END, THIS RESOLUTION READS, "WHEREAS THIS MONTH OF NOVEMBER 2022, WE RECOGNIZE THE 37 MILLION AMERICANS LIVING WITH DIABETES ACROSS THE COUNTRY. THIS DISEASE AFFECTS FOLKS AT A STAGGERING RATE, ESPECIALLY OUR SENIORS.

THE PERCENTAGE OF AMERICANS AGE 65 AND OLDER WITH DIABETES REMAINS HIGH. AT 29.2% OR 59 -- OR 15.9 MILLION SENIORS, DUE TO THIS HARSH REALITY, DIABETES WARRANTS OUR ATTENTION, RESEARCH AND AWARENESS AS A COUNTY.

WHEREAS WITHOUT ADEQUATE SUGAR MANAGEMENT THOSE WITH DIABETES FACE EXTREME CONSEQUENCES REQUIRING US TO PURSUE A CURE WITH DEDICATION. CONSIDERING TWO OUT OF EVERY FIVE AMERICANS IS EXPECTED TO DEVELOP TYPE 2 DIABETES DURING THEIR LIFETIME, WE MUST CONTINUE TO ADDRESS THIS ISSUE WITH A DECISIVE MIND-SET. AND WHEREAS THE HARRIS COUNTY PUBLIC HEALTH DEPARTMENT HAS DEVELOPED MULTIPLE PROGRAMS BOTH TO PREVENT AND TREAT DIABETES, THE DIABETES PREVENTION PROGRAM AIMS TO REDUCE THE NUMBER OF ADULTS IN HARRIS COUNTY WHO HAVE TYPE 2 DIABETES THROUGH AN EVIDENCE-BASED CURRICULUM DESIGNED TO EDUCATE AND ENCOURAGE LIFE -- LIFESTYLE CHANGES IN THE TARGETED POPULATIONS.

AND WHEREAS HARRIS COUNTYLS AO BENEFITS FROM THE INCREDIBLE IMPACT OF HOPE CLINIC AND WHO IS BUILDING HEALTHYTI COMMUNIES BY USINFOOD AS T A TOOL TOACKLE DIABETES THROUGHKE PROGRAMS LI BITE OF HOPE. COMMUNITY LEADERS LIKE TABBY SCIENCE AREHE CREATING THE ALTHIER COMMUNITIES BYTH PARTNERING WITH E LOCAL T SMALL BUSINESSESO IMPROVE OUROU DIETS ACROSS THE CNTY. AND WITH THAT I AM VERY PLEASED TO HAVE TABBY SIZE IN CONNECTION WITH THE COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTER. WITH TABBY WE ALSO HAVE CHEF CHRIS LOTT AND HE WILL TELL US ABOUT THE BITE OF HOPE PROGRAM.

TABBY AND CHRIS, THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

>> GOOD MORNING AND THANK YOU FOR HAVING US HERE, AND THANK YOU FOR THIS AMAZING RECOGNITION.

WE HAVE BEEN WORKING WITH THE COMMUNITY FOR SO LONG.

EVERY TIME WE REACH OUT TO SOMEONE, THERE IS SOMEBODY IN -- EVERY TIME WE SPEAK WITH SOMEONE, THERE IS SOMEONE IN THEIR FAMILY OR SOMEONE IN THE COMMUNITY THEY KNOW SUFFERS DIABETES. HOPE CLINIC HAS REACHED OUT TO ONE OF THE STRONG PARTNERS WHICH IS CITIES CHANGING DIABETES IN HOUSTON TO CREATE A PROGRAM CALLED BITE OF HOPE.

WE ARE TEACHING THE COMMUNITY TO EAT HEALTHY AND CHEF WILL TALK

ABOUT MORE. >> THANK YOU FOR THIS RECOGNITION. SOME OF THE PROGRAMS WE OFFER FOR THE COMMUNITY IS CULINARY EDUCATION.

WE WORK IN A LOT OF SCHOOLS IN THE COMMUNITY GARDENS AND TEACHING KIDS HOW TO EAT HEALTHY AND DO IT SIMPLY.

WE WORK WITH THE ELDERLY TO MANAGE THEIR DIABETES.

WE HAVE PRENATAL CLASSES FOR PREGNANT WOMEN AND POST BIRTH

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SO IT IS A BIG ACCOMPLISHMENT FOR US TO WORK WITH ALL OF THESE DIFFERENT ETHNICITIES AND MINORITIES AND AGE-GROUPS TO HELP THEM UNDERSTAND HOW THEY CAN MANAGE THEIR DIABETES AND

EAT HEALTHIER. >> ADRIAN GARCIA: GOOD DEAL.

THANK YOU. I AM LOOKING AT YOUR RECIPE HERE AND -- NOW, IS THIS ACTUALLY EDIBLE?

I MEAN, DOES IT TASTE GOOD? >> YES.

SO THAT'S ONE OF MY BIG THINGS. I LIKE TO SHOW PEOPLE THAT HEALTHY FOOD DOESN'T HAVE TO BE BLAND.

YOU CAN USE ALL OF THESE DIFFERENT HERBS AND SPICES AND MIX AND MATCH THINGS. IT CAN BE HEALTHY FOR YOU AND

TASTE AMAZING. >> ADRIAN GARCIA: BEAUTIFUL.

CHRIS, OR CHEF, MY DEAR LATE FATHER-IN-LAW WAS THE EXECUTIVE SOUS-CHEF AT THE SHAMROCK HILTON.

AND HE SERVED CASTRO WHEN CASTRO CAME TO VISIT HOUSTON IN 1960, SERVED LADY BIRD JOHNSON AND THE RAT PACK, AND SO I HAVE A PARTICULAR AFFINITY CHEF. AS AN ASPIRING CHEF I GOT ME A NEW AIR FRYER. I AM USING AVOCADO OIL IN MY COOKING. AM I DOING GOOD SO FAR?

>> YOU'RE DOING GREAT. >> ADRIAN GARCIA: I DO LIKE A

LITTLE BIT OF SALT AND, YOU KNOW >> YOU CAN EAT BAD STUFF, BUT YOU HAVE TO BALANCE IT OUT WITH GOOD, HEALTHY STUFF.

YOU SHOULDN'T HURT YOURSELF BY EATING GOOD HEALTHY STUFF.

>> ADRIAN GARCIA: THANK YOU FOR CREATING GREAT COMMUNITIES.

THANK YOU FOR ALL YOU DO AND APPRECIATE THE LEADERSHIP ON

BOTH FRONTS. >> WE ARE LOOKING FORWARD TO SEEING EVERYONE IN THE GRAND OPENING OF OUR NEW CLINIC IN JANUARY OF 2023 AND OUR FIRST SCHOOL-BASED CLINIC INIAL -- IN

ALDENE. >> ADRIAN GARCIA: ALL RIGHT.

>> TOM RAMSEY: TABBY, THANK YOU FOR WHAT YOU DO OUT THERE.

VERY IMPRESSIVE FOR WHAT IS GOING ON AT HOPE CLINIC.

>> RODNEY ELLIS: DID YOU WANT TO TELL COMMISSIONER GARCIA TO DROP THE SUGAR AND ALCOHOL IS FULL OF SUGAR AND DROP THE GRAPES.

HAVE BLUEBERRIES AND BLACKBERRIES.

>> ADRIAN GARCIA: AS THEY SAY, DON'T TALKZY CRA.TH ANK YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

>> LINA HIDALGO: THANK YOU FOR YOUR WORK.

THANK YOU ALL.HO THAT SULD BE ALLRE FOR THE SOLUTIONS IF FOLKS WANT TO TAKEI PICTURES.

KNOW THERE IS MR. ZIPPRIANS AND THE FOLK FROM HOPE CLINIC.S:

>> RODNEY ELLI I THINKDE THAT'S A GOOD IA.

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>> LINA HIDALGO: ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU ALL.

SO LET'S CONTINUE WITHHE T MEETING.

COMMISSIONERA, GARCI IE KNOW TH DIRECTOR OF EQUITYPO AND OPRTUNITY HAS A FLIGHTTC TO CAH AND SO IOV WILL TURN IT ER TO DIRECTORSC RAMIREZ TO DIUSSN ITEM 302 OPAGE 37 UNDER TRANSMIT SAL -- TRANSMITTALSCI COMMISSIONER GARA, IF THERE ARE REMARKS YOU B WOULD LIKE TO MAKEEFORE THAT, PLEASE GO GO

GO -- GO AHEAD.M >> ADRIAN GARCIA: I' GOOD,

JUDGE. >> LINA HIDALGO: IS DIRECTOR

RAMIREZ ON THE LINE? >> YES, MA'AM.

GOOD MORNING. DIANA RAMIREZ WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF ECONOMIC EQUITY AND OPPORTUNITY ON ITEM 302 WHICH IS THE FINAL UPDATE AND TRANSMITTALS OF OUR -- HOLD ON.

LET ME FIND THE EXACT LANGUAGE OF THE COUNTY RECOVERY ASSISTANCE PROGRAM AND ADMINISTERED BY CATHOLIC CHARITIES IN THE SMALL BUSINESS RELIEF FUND ADMINISTERED BY LIVE FUND. THESE PROGRAMS ENDED LATE 2021 AND WE ARE FINALLY GETTING THE FINAL RESULTS TO YOU.

WE HAD TWO DIFFERENT SURVEYS THAT WE ARE ASSESSING THE GRANTEE'S OUTCOME AND HOW WELL THE PROGRAM HELPED AND ASSISTED OUR SMALL BUSINESSES AND THE INDIVIDUALS IN HARRIS COUNTY THAT WERE THE MOST IMPACTED BY THE IMPACTS OF COVID.

UNDER THE SMALL BUSINESS PROGRAM THAT WAS IMPLEMENTED BY LIVE FUND WE HAD A TOTAL NUMBER OF APPLICATIONS, OVER 10,000 THAT WERE RECEIVED. OF THOSE, 9600 WERE ELIGIBLE, AND WE WERE ABLE TO FUND $30 MILLION WORTH OF ASSISTANCE FOR SMALL BUSINESSES WITH FEWER THAN 30 EMPLOYEES.

SOME OF THE RECOMMENDATIONS FOR FUTURE PROGRAMS SHOULD THE COMMISSIONERS' COURT DECIDE TO CONTINUE THIS TYPE OF PROGRAM IS WE SHOULD INCREASE THE NAVIGATION PARTNERS.

WE SHOULD ESTABLISH ELIGIBILITY AND WE SHOULD INCLUDE NONPROFITS AMONG ELIGIBLE CANDIDATES. MY UNDERSTANDING IS ONE OF THE SPEAKERS SIGNED UP TODAY IS THE CEO OF LIVE FUND AND SHE IS THE COMMISSIONER'S COURTROOM RIGHT NOW.

SHE -- YOU KNOW, THE COURT IS INTERESTED IN HEARING FROM HER.

SHE HAS SIGNED UP AS A PUBLIC SPEAKER.

THE COMMISSIONERS' COURT SET ASIDE $60 MILLION FOR FUNDING AND WE RECEIVED 250,000 APPLICATIONS AND WE WERE ABLE TO ASSIST 40,000 HOUSEHOLDS. AND 76% OF THE APPLICATIONS HAD

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AND THE FOLKS THAT WERE ASSISTED WERE SPREAD AMONG THE COUNTY RESIDENTS IN THE FOUR PRECINCTS. I'M HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS ON EITHER OF THE TWO PROGRAMS.

>> ADRIAN GARCIA: YEAH. MS. RAMIREZ, THANK YOU SO MUCH.

THIS IS COMMISSIONER GARCIA AND THANK YOU FOR SPEAKING UP.

IS JANIE HERE? THERE YOU ARE.

I WILL SAVE SOME OF MY REMARKS FOR JANIE, BUT I DO WANT TO POINT OUT THAT THESE INITIATIVES WERE ONES THAT I DROVE AND WANTED TO SEE HAPPEN. THE FIRST ONE WE HADN'T DONE BEFORE AND SO WE FIGURED IT OUT A LITTLE BETTER AND GOT IT ADJUSTED TOWARD THE END OF IT AND THEN WE DID THE SECOND ROUND FOR THE 30 MILLION. KEEPING THE DOORS OPEN TO THE SMALLS BUSINESSEWAS A NUMBERIO ONE PRRITY FOR ME.AY WE ALWS TALK ABOUT SMALL BUSINESSES BEING THE THE ECONOMYF THERE A FOR THEM SINCE THEYRE THERE FOR US. I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR THE WORK YOU HAVE DONE. HOWEVER, AND THIS IS FOR YOU AND JANIE. I AM VERY DISAPPOINTED THAT WE DID NOT INCORPORATE NAVIGATORS OF SOME SORT.

IN ALL OF THE PROGRAMS AND I BROUGHT THIS UP TIME AND TIME AGAIN. FOR WHATEVER WITHIN THE PRECINCT TWO SIDE HAD IMMENSELY LOW PERFORMANCE OR PARTICIPATION.

I DO NOT EVER WANT TO SEE ANOTHER PROGRAM LIKE THIS THAT DOES NOT INCORPORATE A HOLISTIC APPROACH EITHER RECOMMENDED BY YOU OR OUR VENDORS. THIS IS SOMETHING I WAS VERY AGITATED ABOUT BECAUSE WE WERE LEAVING SO MANY PEOPLE OFF THE TABLE THAT NEEDED THE HELP. I HEARD FROM SO MANY OF THEM WHO DID NOT PARTICIPATE BECAUSE OF THE COMPLEXITY OF THE PROCESS.

WHEN I LOOK AT WHERE THE RATE OF PARTICIPATION CAME FROM, WE HAVE A LOT OF ENTREPRENEURS AND WE ONLY PARTICIPATED AT A 13% LEVEL. I WANT TO MAKE SURE IT IS NOT UNSAID, UNHEARD OF GOING FORWARD.

>> YES, SIR. THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THAT.

AND YES, WE UNDERSTAND AND WE SAW THAT AS THE PROGRAM WAS PROGRESSING AND WE LEARNED A LOT OF LESSONS, UNFORTUNATELY AT SOME OF THE EXPENSE OF THE SMALL BUSINESSES AND THE SOME OF THE PRECINCTS, ESPECIALLY YOURS, COMMISSIONER GARCIA.

WE WILL BE WORKING ON THAT AND MAKE SURE IN THE FUTURE WE HAVE PROPOSALS BEFORE ANY NEW PROGRAM IS PUT OUT ON THE GROUND AND WE CAN GET TO THE BUSINESS THAT'S ARE MOST VULNERABLE.

>> ADRIAN GARCIA: REMEMBER, YOU ARE THE DIRECTOR OF EQUITY.

AND THERE HAS BEEN VERY LITTLE EQUITY.

>> YES, SIR. >> ADRIAN GARCIA: JANIE?

>> THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER. GOOD MORNING, JUDGE AND COMMISSIONERS. I AM JANIE BERRERA.

IT HAS BEEN IN THE HOUSTON COMMUNITY FOR 25 YEARS.

WE PROVIDE TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE AND THEY WENT TO SMALL BUSINESSES AND THE DUE DILIGENCE THAT NEEDED TO BE DONE IN TERMS OF MAKING SURE THERE WAS NO FRAUD.

AND WE DEFINITE HRAE BELIEVE IN PARTNERSHIPS AND WE TAKE THAT TO HEART AND I WILL ASK MISHY TO ADDRESS THAT AND LINDA TOYOTA IS IN THE AUDIENCE AND SO I WANT TO SAY WE DID RECEIVE THE FUNDS --

>> THANK YOU, MA'AM, YOUR TIME IS UP.

>> ADRIAN GARCIA: GO AHEAD. >> I WAS JUST GOING TO SAY THAT WE HAVE A VIDEO THAT IS BEING SEPTEMBER TO YOU, AN EMAIL THAT THANKS YOU FOR THE WORK BEING DONE.

THESE BUSINESSES ARE SO GRATEFUL.

IN PRECINCT ONE WE HAVE NANCY LEON.

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IT IS ONLY TWO MINUTES. BUT THEY WANTED TO THANK YOUAL PERSONLY. DID YOU WANT TO SAY ANYTHING? AID 8 JUST WANTED TO ADD, I LOVE ME SOME LINDA. W THANK YOU FOR YOURORK. I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU VISIT WITH OTHERS TO MAKE SURE THAT THE FEEL SIDE OF THIS IS ADDRESSED. I CAN'T TELL YOU HOW THIS OPENS UP AN OLD WOUND FOR ME BECAUSE OF HOW AGGRAVATED I WAS IN THE PROCESS. AND WHETHER IT WAS VACCINES AND WHETHER IT WAS TESTING AND IT WAS VERY SLOW TO COME ON BOARD AND IT TOOK ME FOREVER TO FINALLY GET AND A HALF ELEVATORS INTO -- NAVIGATORS INTO THE MANY PROCESSES SO I WANT TO MAKE SURE

THAT HAS NOT GONE UNADDRESSED. >> I HEARD IT.

IT IS UP TO YOU HOW YOU WANT TO DESIGN THE PROGRAM.

WE CAN DO A QUARTER AND A QUARTER AND A QUARTER IF YOU

WISH. >> THANK YOU.

I APPRECIATE IT. >> RODNEY ELLIS: IF WE ARE ABLE TO GET ADDITIONAL MONEY. MR. BERRY I WANT YOU TO THINK OF THIS AS WELL, IF WE ARE ABLE TO PUT ADDITIONAL MONEY INTO IT, WE OUGHT TO GET SOME SENSE BEFORE THE LAST MINUTE SO SOME OF THESE OUT.ES ARE NOT RUSHING TO GET IT SO I GUESS THAT LEADS ME TO THE POINT ON WHERE SOME OF THE CATEGORIES ARE PLANNING TO ALLOCATE IT, A ARPA FUNDS IN PARTICULAR, I WANT SOME OPTIONS IN TERMS OF SPENDING LEVELS SO IF WE WANT TO GO BACK -- NOW, WITH THAT SAID -- WHAT WAS THE BREAK DOWN ON THE PERCENT SEPBLG OF THE -- PERCENTAGE OF THE BUSINESS THAT WENT TO THE SMALLER MINORITY-OWNED BUSINESSES. PARTICULARLY THOSE UNDER FIVE EMPLOYEES. I KNOW WITH THE FED RALT -- THE FEDERAL PROGRAM, PPP, PEOPLE WERE ABLE TO GET IN THERE AND GET IT. EVERYBODY WAS STRUGGLING, BUT SOME OF THOSE WERE FOLKS THAT WERE ALMOST TOO BIG TO FAIL.

WHAT WAS OUR BREAK DOWN HERE, IF YOU KNOW, DIRECTOR?

MAYBE THEY KNOW. >> I WAS JUST LOOKING FOR IT.

>> IT WAS THE VICE PRESIDENT. I THINK THE VICE PRESIDENT HAS

IT. >> GOOD MORNING.

>> SAY YOUR NAME. I'M SORRY.

>> GOOD MORNING. I AM THE VICE PRESIDENT FOR LIFT FUND. 46.6% WERE SELF-EMPLOYED.

44.4 AND 8% ADDED 6 TO 10. >> ADRIAN GARCIA: I DON'T THINK COMMISSIONER GARCIA WAS SAYING NECESSARILY GO AND TKAU -- DIVIDE IT UP FOUR WAYS. WE JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE DO A BETTER JOB OF OUT REACH. IF THEY ARE STRUGGLING IN

PRECINCTS, 2, 3, 4 OR 1. >> IF I CAN JUST ADD SOMETHING ELSE, COMMISSIONER GARCIA SAID WE PULLED ALL OF THE DBA'S AND WE LOOKED AT PRECINCT 2. OUR FUNDING WAS WITH THE

REGISTERED DPA'S. >> I'M ASSUMING -- LOOK, MY OLD MAN WAS A ONE-PERSON SHOP. BACK WHEN HE WAS AROUND, THERE WAS NO PROGRAM. SO IF THERE IS A MOMR OA POP --

>> LOOKING AT E THELIGIBILITY [INAUDIBLE] REGISTERED WITH THE

COUNTY. >> HE HADN'TER BEEN REGISTED

THAT LONG. >> EXACTLY. W

AND THATAS ONE OF THE LAST -- [INAUDIBLE]>> RODRIGUEZ -- RODNEY ELLIS: THEY WEREYE REACHING OUT 36 ARS AGO.

>> CORRECT. W >> RODNEY ELLIS: IANT TO MAKE SURE IF MORE MONEY BECOMES AVAILABLE WE WILL THINK THROUGH IT. WHAT YOU DID WAS COMMENDABLE,

[00:40:02]

>> THANK YOU. WE APPRECIATE THAT.

>> RODNEY ELLIS: THANK YOU, DIRECTOR.

>> LINA HIDALGO: THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH FOR YOUR WORK.

THANK YOU, DIRECTOR. SAFE TRAVELS.

SO THAT IS -- THOSE ARE TWO TRANSMITTALS.

WE WILL ACCEPT THE TRANSMITTAL. THERE'S NO ACTION ATTACHED TO

[Appearances before court ]

SPEAKERS. >> FIRST IS TARA BUELLER, SPEAKER NUMBER 5 SPEAKING IN PERSON.

YOU HAVE ONE MINUTE. >> SHORTLY AFTER 8 P.M. A HARRIS COUNTY EMPLOYEE NOT EMPLOYED BY THE ELECTIONS ADMINISTRATION OFFICE SHOWED UP TO MY POLLING LOCATION TO DROP OFF 125 PROVISIONAL BALLOTS AND THREE BOXES OF THERMAL PAPER BALLOTS.

THEM EMPLOYEE HAD ONLY WORKED FOR THE COUNTY FOR THREE DAYS AND WAS ASKED BY A SUPERVISOR TO VOLUNTEER TO HELP OUT.

HE WAS VISIBLY FRUSTRATED AND HAD BEEN TO SEVERAL LOCATIONS ON HIS OWN GAS MONEY AND HIS OWN TIME TO PARTICIPATE IN SOMETHING HE HAD NO IDEA ABOUT. I WANTED TO BELIEVE THAT OUR ELECTIONS ARE SECURE AND FAIR. HOWEVER, THE MORE I WORK IN THEM THE MORE I LEARN AND THE MORE I SEE OUR ELECTIONS ARE NOT SECURE. WAS THERE COERCION TO GET THEM EMPLOYEE TO DO THIS? WAS IT JUST PLAIN INCOMPETENCE AND POOR PLAN STPH-G I -- PLANNING? I CAN'T SAY. I CAN SAY THAT OUR ELECTIONS ARE A MESS. AS THIS COUNTY LEADERSHIP DISMISSES GROWING CONCERNS IN ELECTIONS AS CONSPIRACY THEORIES, EVERY MISTAKE FURTHERS A GROWING POPULATION THAT NO LONGER BELIEVE THE ELECTION RESULTS.

>> THANK YOU, MA'AM, YOUR TIME IS UP.

>> NEXT IS SPEAKER 6, RICHARD WELCH SPEAKING IN PERSON.

>> ADRIAN GARCIA: I'M GONNA ASK -- THE JUDGE ISN'T HERE IN PERSON, BUT I WILL RESPECTFULLY ASK THAT YOU KEEP THAT NON-EXISTENT THROUGH THE REST OF THE HEARING.

WELL, I WOULD RESPECTFULLY ASK SO WE CAN MAINTAIN SOME DECORUM WHILE WE GO THROUGH THIS. THANK YOU.

>> RODNEY ELLIS: I MIGHT ADD, COMMISSIONER -- IF I MIGHT, JUDGE, I WANT TO BE ABLE TO HEAR FROM EVERYONE, BUT WE DO HAVE TO MAINTAIN DECORUM. IF NOT, AISLE -- I'M GONNA WATCH VIRTUALLY. IF YOU LEAVE, WE WILL BREAK UNTIL FOLKS DECIDE THEY CAN OBSERVE THE QUORUM.

>> ORDER. POINT OF ORDER, FOLKS.

COME ON. WE ARE ALL ADULTS HERE.

POINT OF ORDER. >> LINA HIDALGO: JUST A REMINDER , AND TIFFANY YOU TYPICALLY MENTION THIS AT THE BEGINNING, BUT JUST AS A REMINDER FOR EVERYONE, THE LONGSTANDING PRACTICE HAS BEEN IF THERE ARE MORE THAN 25 SPEAKERS, EACH SPEAKER GETS ONE MINUTE.

JUST A REMINDER, YOU KNOW, THE PERSON SPEAKING HAS THE FLOOR AND OTHER THAN THAT, WE SHOULD ALL BE RESPECTFUL AND LISTEN.

SO LET'S CONTINUE WITH THE SPEAKERS AND THEY WILL HAVE THEIR MINUTE AND WE WILL ALL BE LISTENING TO THEIR COMMENTS AND THERE SHOULDN'T BE ADDITIONAL NOISE OR DISTURBANCES AND WE SHOULD RESPECT THE COURT. GO AHEAD, TIFFANY.

>> SPEAKER NUMBER 6, RICHARD WELCH SPEAKING IN PERSON.

YOU HAVE ONE MINUTE. >> THE 2020 ELECTION WAS BOTCHED THE 2022 PRIMARYTE WAS A DISASR2 AND THE 20 GENERAL ELECTION WAS AN ABOMINATION TO WHAT THIS COUNTRY STANDS FOR.

WE HAVE ENTIRECO COUNTRIES THAT CAN UNT THEIR VOTES IN ONE DAY WITH NO PROBLEM. THEY DON'T MAKE THE WORLD NEWS.

SO WHAT I WANT TO KNOW IS WHAT IS IT GONNA TAKE AND WHO DO WE NEED TO BRING IN AND HOW MUCH MONEY DO WE NEED TO SPEND TO HAVE AN HONEST, FAIR ELECTION WITH NO HICCUPS? THE UNITED STATES LEADS THE WORLD IN TECHNOLOGY.

YET, WE CAN'T COUNT A MILLION BALLOTS HERE IN HARRIS COUNTY WITHOUT SOME SORT OF HICCUP, RUNNING OUT OF PAPER, MACHINES DON'T WORK. THIS IS 2022.

WE'RE BETTER THAN THIS. WE DESERVE BETTER LEADERSHIP

THAN THIS. >> NEXT IS SPEAKER 7, SUZANNE PARMONA SPEAKING VIRTUALLY ON ITEMS 331 AND 334.

[00:45:01]

>> AT THE SPECIAL ELECTIONS MEETING ON 10/20 HIDALGO SAID THE RESIDENTS IN PRECINCT 3 AND 4 WILL BE AFFECTED DUE TO THE COMMISSIONERS NOT PARTICIPATING IN THE BUDGET MEETING.

DOES THIS MEAN YOU PLAN TO HAVE POLLING LOCATIONS PRIMARILY IN PRECINCT 4 TO NOT HAVE PAPER BALLOTS AND TURN AWAY VOTERS? THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE. THIS IS VOTER SUPPRESSION.

A GOODY ELECTIONS ADMINISTRATOR WILL PREVENT FIRES VERSUS PUTTING OUT FIRES. MR. TATUM SAID HE WAS FACED WITH ISSUES WITH VOTING MACHINES AND PAPER ISSUES SO HE HAD TO PRIORITIZE. THE POLLING LOCATION THAT'S REQUESTED THE PAPER BALLOTS SHOULD HAVE BEEN THE PRIORITY.

AND BASED ON THE DELAYS AND THE DENIALS IT SHOWS THAT THE VOTERS WERE NOT THE PRIORITY. NOT HAVING BALLOTS CAUSES THE VOTERS TO BE TURNED AWAY WHICH CAUSES THE POLLS TO BE CLOSED WHICH IS IN VIOLATION OF THE ELECTION CODE SECTION 41.031.

DO NOT TAKE A VICTORY LAP WHEN THE ELECTION WAS NOT FAIR FOR THE VOTERS OF HARRIS COUNTY. THERE SHOULD BE CRIMINAL CHARGES BROUGHT AGAINST THE ELECTION ADMINISTRATOR AND ACCOUNTABILITY FOR NOT RUNNING A LEGAL ELECTION.

>> THANK YOU, MA'AM. YOUR TIME IS UP.

>> NEXT IS SPEAKER 8, MARION DAAS SPEAKING VIRTUALLY.

YOU HAVE ONE MINUTE. GO AHEAD, PLEASE.

>> I WAS A POLL WATCHER AT SUNNY SIDE PARK.

THE POLL CODE WHICH THE JUDGE WAS GIVEN WAS WRONG.

IT WAS A FIVE-DIGIT NUMBER AND LUCKILY SHE REMEMBERED IT.

THE MACHINES ARE BRAND-NEW MACHINES AND DIDN'T WORK.

SO LUCKILY THE JUDGE WAS ABLE TO PUT THE EASTLAKE TO THE ONE THAT DID WORK. AT THE END OF THE DAY REC CON SILL. THE TOTAL NUMBER OF VOTERS DID NOT MATCH THE JVC AND SCANNER TOTALS.

MY QUESTION IS, WHY DO WE HAVE AN ELECTIONS ADMINISTRATOR, FOR ONE? WE SHOULD HAVE AN -BLGTABLE ELECTED OFFICIAL TO RUN OUR ELECTIONS LIKE WE HAD BEFORE.

ALSO, COUNTY-WIDE VOTING IS A MAJOR PROBLEM BECAUSE AT EVERY PRECINCT WE ARE UNABLE TO PRINTOUT THE TALLIES AND CONFIRM THAT LIKE WE USED TO DO. WE USED TO BE ABLE TO PRINTOUT THE TOTAL AND TAKE A PICTURE OF THAT WITH THE IPAD AND SEND IT OFF TO WHEREVER THEY DO THE COUNT.

NOW WE HAVE TO TRUST THEM TO GIVE US THE COUNT.

I DO NOT TRUST. >> THANK YOU, MA'AM.

YOUR TIME IS UP. >> NEXT IS AUBREY TAYLOR SPEAKING IN PERSON. YOU HAVE ONE MINUTE.

>> GO NOW? OKAY.

HI, MY NAME IS AUBREY TAYLOR AND THE PUBLISHER OF HOUSTON BUSINESS NEWSPAPER. WHAT I WOULD LIKE FOR YOU TO KNOW IS I BELIEVE, IN MY PROFESSIONAL OPINION, THAT THIS ELECTION WAS JUST STOLEN. IT WAS STOLEN.

AGAIN, I'M NOT PARTISAN. I AM A-P NONARTISANCA PUBLITION NEWSPAPER.WE HAVE RIGHT NOW -- I PROOF HERE THAT THERE IS A LADY IN A CASE THAT WE FOUND, MYIG INVESTATORS AND I, WHO HAS BEEN DEAD FOR 31 YEAR.

SHE HAS BEEN DEAD FOR 31 YEARS. ON JANUARY 1, 2022, SOMEONE VOTER APPLICATION FOR THIS LADY.

SHE IS ELIGIBLE TO VOTERO IN HARRIS COUNTY THUGH 2023.

WE MANY MORE CASES. RIGHT NOW MYNF INVESTIGATORS ANI SENT IORMATION TO THE SECRETARY OF STATERM WHO THEN FORWARDED THE INFOATION TO THE ATTORNEY GENERAL WHO IS READY TO COME INTO HARRIS COUNTY AND DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS.

THAT PARTICULAR CASE -- >> THANK YOU, SIR, YOUR TIME IS

UP. >> OH, BOY.

OKAY. >> NEXT IS -- SPEAKING IN PERSON. YOU HAVE ONE MINUTE.

>> ADRIAN GARCIA: I THINK YOU ARE MUTED.

YOU CALLED OUT THE NAME OF A SPEAKER?

>> COPELAND. >> LINA HIDALGO: ISABEL COPELAND

IN THE COURTROOM? >> ADRIAN GARCIA: HE'S MAKING

HIS WAY UP. >> I AM ONE OF THE JUDICIAL CANDIDATES ON THE REPUBLICAN TICKET FOR LAST YEAR.

FOR THIS YEAR. ALSO LAST YEAR.

FOR OVER A DECADE I HAVE SEEN ISSUES WITH THIS ELECTION.

I WOULD APPRECIATE IF THE COMMISSIONERS PAID ATTENTION WHILE I AM TALKING, BUT -- THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER CAGLE.

I AM SEEING POLITICAL -- I HAVE SEEN POLITICAL GAINS PHA*P SHIP ES -- GAINSMANSHIP LIKE WE SAW WITH COMMISSIONER CAGLE'S

[00:50:04]

YOU TAKE AN OATH TO THIS COUNTY. YOU TAKE AN OATH AS A FREE MASON. YOU NEED TO DO BETTER.

>> NEXT IS DR. STEVEN HOPPS SPEAKING IN PERSON.

YOU HAVE ONE MINUTE. >> R. JACK CAGLE: SAY THAT NAME

AGAIN. >> THERE STEVEN HOTZ SPELZ --

SPELLED H-O-T-Z-E. >> COMMISSIONERS, RON, THE EIGHTH COMMANDMENT SAYS THOU SHALL NOT STEAL.

WE HAVE NO OTHER CHOICE BUT TO BELIEVE THIS ELECTION WAS SAW -- SEVERE -- SAW REARLY UNDER MIND IF NOT STOLEN BY THOSE IN CHARGE OF THE ELECTION. CORRUPT FLIP TATUM FROM WASHINGTON, D.C. WHO FAILED MISERABLY THERE FOR 10 YEARS CAME HERE AND HAD THE SAME DISASTER HERE.

WE HAD 250 BOXES THAT DID NOT WORK.

WE HAD 24 PRECINCT -- POLLING PLACE THAT'S DIDN'T HAVE PAPER BALLOTS AT NOON IN REPUBLICAN DISTRICTS.

OUR COMPUTER EXPERTS TOLL ME THIS MORNING THERE WERE 66,600 INDIVIDUALS WHO VOTED IN THE ELECTION THAT WEREN -- WERE INELIGIBLE. THEY DIDN'T LIVE AT THOSE ADDRESSES. THAT'S 6% OF THE VOTE.

YOU OUGHT TO BE ASHAMED OF YOURSELF AND YOU SHOULD CHANGE.

>> THANK YOU, SIR. YOUR TIME IS UP.

>> NEXT IS SPEAKER NUMBER 9, ELIZABETH CRUSECK SPEAKING IN PERSON. YOU HAVE ONE MINUTE.

>> I'M A PRECINCT, JUDGE634. AT 6:10 I O RAN OUTF BALLOTS.

I REQUESTED BALLOTS TWICE. ONE AT 1:30 AND ONE AT 3:30 AND NEVER GOANY UNTIL 7:45 P.M. AT 6:10 FROM 7 WE TURNED AWAY OVER 250 VOTERS. THE PROCESS WE HAD E TO CALL THE COPS BECAUSE WWERE HARASSED BY VOTERS WHO NOT ONLY TOLD US WE WERE UP TO TRICKERY, ARE THIS IS TYPICAL, WHYLO DIDNT YOU REQUEST MORE BALTS. YOU PUT US IN AN UNSAFE POSITION BY NOT HAVING ENOUGH BALLOTS. WE, AS A PRECINCT -- ME AS A PRECINCT JUDGE, DID EVERYTHING CORRECTLY, AND YET YOU DIDN'T GIVE US THE BALLOTS. AND THEN AT 7:45 P.M., THREE BOXES OF BALLOTS SHOWED UP. THERE WAS A FORM WITH THE WRONG ADDRESS. WHAT WERE WE SUPPOSED TO DO THEN? WE HAD NOTHING TO DO.

Y'ALL OWE ME -- HARRIS COUNTY OWES ME AN EXPLANATION.

>> THANK YOU, MA'AM, YOUR TIME IS UP.

>> NEXT IS SPEAKER 10, KEN MOORE SPEAKING IN PERSON.

YOU HAVE ONE MINUTE. >> R. JACK CAGLE: WHAT NUMBER?

>> SPEAKER 10, KENMORE. KEN MOORE.

>> GOOD MORNING, COMMISSIONERS. MY NAME IS KEN MOORE.

I WAS ELECTION JUDGE IN HARRIS COUNTY FROM 2010 TO 2018.

I CURRENTLY SERVE AS AN ELECTION JUDGE IN MISSOURI COUNTY.

I HAVE BEEN THERE FROM 2020 TO THE PRESENT.

IN HARRIS COUNTY THIS LAST ELECTION YOU HAD MULTIPLE CALLS FROM PEOPLE WHO HAD RUN OUT OF PAPER AND THE PHONE WAS NOT ANSWERED. YOU HAD MULTIPLE CALLS FOR PEOPLE WITH EQUIPMENT FAILURE AND THE PHONES WERE NOT ANSWERED. WHEN I WAS HERE IN HARRIS KOUPB TA*E -- COUNTY, BACK THEN, THINGS WORKED.

MACHINES WERE CALIBRATED AND THEY WERE MAINTAINED.

IN MISSOURI COUNTY I DON'T NEED TO CALL FOR A TECHNICIAN BECAUSE THERE IS ONE IN THE AREA THAT GOES AROUND FROM POLLING PLACE TO POLLING PLACE. SHE COMES AROUND THREE TIMES A DAY. I DIDN'T HAVE TO CALL THEM FOR PAPER. THEY CALLED ME.

HEY, KEN, DO YOU HAVE ENOUGH PAPER? DO YOU NEED SOME MORE? THEY HAVE THE SAME EQUIPMENT YOU HAVE HERE. IT IS THE SAME PAPER YOU HAVE HERE. THERE IS A SMALL STAFF AND A SMALL AREA AND THEY MADE THINGS WORK.

>> THANK YOU, SIR. NEXT IS 11, CHRIS DANIEL SPEAKING IN PERSON. YOU HAVE ONE MINUTE.

>> TKPWOERPBG, GENTLEMEN. GOOD MORNING, GENTLEMEN.

I HAVE ONE REQUEST AND THAT IS THE RESIGNATION OF CLIFFORD TAYLOR. I COUNT NOT ONE, NOT TWO, BUT

[00:55:05]

66.054, FAILURE TO DELIVER ELECTION BALLOT RETURNS AND VOTING CODE. YOU CANNOT DO THIS KINDS OF VIOLATIONS AND EXPECT TO STAY IN OFFICE.

WE SAW THIS FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER IN 2012, DECEMBER 10TH. THIS IS A REPEATED PATTERN.

THIS CANNOT STAND. SHE SHOULD NOT REMAIN THE ELECTIONS ADMINISTRATOR SO WE CAN HAVE CONFIDENCE IN THE SYSTEM. THANK YOU, GENTLEMEN.

>> NEXT IS FERNANDO LORENTAY. YOU HAVE ONE MINUTE.

STKPWHRAOEU -- >> I WAS BORN IN CUBA AND ESCAPED TO FREEDOM HERE IN 1961. I HAVE BEEN A HARRIS COUNTY RESIDENT SINCE 1971 AND PRECINCT 4 IN 1980.

IN 1976 I REGISTERED AS AN INDEPENDENT AND VOTING EVER SINCE. OUR NATION IS BASED ON A REPRESENTATIVE GOVERNMENT, MUCH LIKE THE EARLY NATIVE AMERICANS, IT IS A MAJORITY RULE WHERE THEY CAN BULLY ALL OTHERS.

THE RIGHT TO VOTE IS PARAMOUNT TO OUR LIBERTY AND INDEPENDENCE.

IT IS A RIGHT TO VOTE AND WE ARE ANOTHER MAJORITY RULES REGIME LIKE I AND MANY OTHERS ESCAPED FROM.

I AM HERE TODAYO TEMPHASIZE THE IMPORTANCE OF THE ELECTION INTEGRITY ANDWH MANY OSS WITNEED THE ELECTION WHEREIN AT THING TKPWRAU TEE WAS QUESTIONED. WE S WITNESSEDTATES LIKE FLORIDA THAT REVISED THEIR RULESID TO PROVE ACCURATE AND TIMELY RESULTS.CO WE HAVE A NSTITUTIONALLI RESPONSIBITY TO ALL CITIZENS OF ALL PARTIES, DUPLICATING BALLOTS AND PHYSICALLY REVISINGI BALLOTS AND SABOTANG THE POLL STATION WHERE IT IS SHORT OF PAPER.

>> THANK YOU, SIR, YOUR TIME IS UP.

NEXT IS 13, PETER BOY -- PETER BOWEN SPEAKING IN PERSON.

YOU HAVE ONE MINUTE. >> ADRIAN GARCIA: JUDGE, LET'S

TAKE A BREAK. >> WE ARE GOING TO TAKE A BREAK.

IT IS 11:03 AND WE WILL BREAK UNTIL 11:15.

>> LINA HIDALGO: ALL RIGHT, FOLKS.

WE'RE BACK. I CAN SEE COMMISSIONER ELLIS AND COMMISSIONERS RAMSEY AND CAGLE. LET'S GO AHEAD AND CONTINUE.

IT IS 11:22 AND COMMISSIONERS' COURT IS BACK IN SESSION.

JUST AS A REMINDER, FOLKS, THIS IS A COURTROOM.

PLEASE, WE'LL HEAR FROM ONE PERSON AT A TIME AND AS ALWAYS, PLEASE REFRAIN FROM NOISES OR CLAP CLAPPING OR THIS KIND OF THING. WE ARE ABOUT LISTENING IN AN ORGANIZED WAY TO THE SPEAKERS AND THE OPINIONS.

I ASK THAT WE KEEP THAT IN MIND. >> RODNEY ELLIS: JUDGE, THIS IS RODNEY. IF I MIGHT, I WOULD LIKE TO ASK THAT IF SOMEONE IS DISRUPTIVE THAT THE BAILIFF REMOVE THEM FROM THE ROOM. I WANT TO BE RESPECTFUL AND LET PEOPLE SPEAK AND EACH PERSON SHOULD GET THEIR MINUTE, BUT AT LEAST FOR ME IF I HAVE TO TIP OUT AND HOPEFULLY SOMEONE ELSE WILL LET PEOPLE HAVE A COOLING OFF PERIOD WE WILL DO THAT, BUT I THINK WE SHOULD CONDUCT THIS IN A DIGNIFIED WAY.

IF WE CAN'T DO THAT, WE WILL JUST BEACON DUCTING IT -- BE

CONDUCTING ITON TIGHT. >> LINA HIDALGO: I THINK THAT'SI GHT. THE OTHER CONCERN I HAVE,VI OBOUSLY WE KNOW THAT THESE CLAIMS AND THESE ISSUES ARE EXPLOSIVE. YOU KNOW, T WE WILL ADDRESSHEE FACTS THAT WHAVERA WITH ADMINISTTOR TATUMEA AFTER WE HAVE HRD FROM ALL OF THE SPEAKERS, BUT CERTAINLY IT DOESN'T SEEM LIKE THERE WERE ANY WIDESPREAD SYSTEMICAN ISSUES FRM WHAT I UNDERSTD AND WE WILL HEAR ABOUT IT LATER.

WE KNOW THAT PEOPLE CAN BE DRIVEN BY FALSE ALLEGATIONS TO STORM THE CAPITOL OF THE UNITED STATES TO HANG A NOOSE FOR THE VICE PRESIDENT, THEN CERTAINLY THEY CAN BE DRIVEN TO I DON'T KNOW WHAT KIND OF BEHAVIOR HERE. WE WILL TOLERATE SPEAKERS AS WE ALWAYS DO. SPEAKING WHEN IT IS YOUR TIME TO SPEAK AND THAT'S IT. WE ARE ALL CONDUCTING A MEETING OF GOVERNMENT RIGHT NOW, AND WE NEED TO BE RESPECTFUL TOWARD EACH OTHER AND WE WILL NOT ALLOW THE KIND OF NONSENSE THAT CAN TURN DANGEROUS AS WE SAW ON JANUARY 6TH, 2021.

[01:00:03]

I HEAR YOU, COMMISSIONER ELLIS. I ASK MY COLLEAGUES IN THE COURTROOM THAT YOU PLEASE LET ME KNOW BECAUSE IT IS HARD FOR ME TO HEAR EXACTLY WHAT IS GOING ON IN THERE.

PLEASE, YOU KNOW, I WILL RELY ON YOU ALL.

TIFFANY, LET'S CONTINUE WITH THE NEXT SPEAKER.

>> ADRIAN GARCIA: JUDGE? JUDGE, IF I COULD HAVE ONE QUICK SECOND. COULD I ASK THE COUNTY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE TO PLEASE RESTATE WHAT THE RULES OF

DECORUM ARE? >> THE COURT IS ALLOWED TO REMOVE FOLKS FOR ANY KIND OF MAJOR DISRUPTION, ANY COMMENTS THAT ARE INAPPROPRIATE. WE HAVE GONE THROUGH THIS PROCESS AND IT REQUIRES A VOTE, BUT THE COURT IS ALLOWED TO DO

THAT. >> RODNEY ELLIS: I THINK UNDER THE RULES THERE IS A PROVISION WHERE WE SIMPLY -- A COMMISSIONER AND I WILL MAKE THE REQUEST, THAT THE BAILIFF WE MOVE PEOPLE NOT ABLE TO COMPLY WITH THE NO DISRUPTION RULE.

IS THAT IN LINE? IS THAT IN LINE, MR. COUNTY

ATTORNEY? >> YES.

>> RODNEY ELLIS: I AM MAKING THAT REQUEST.

I AM HOPING PEOPLE WILL BE DIGNIFIED.

>> ADRIAN GARCIA: JUST TO READ THE SECOND PARAGRAPH OF TODAY'S AGENDA WHICH THIS PARAGRAPH IS ALWAYS IN THE AGENDA, THE CLERK OF THE COURT OR ANOTHER PERSON DESIGNATED BY THE PRESIDING OFFICER OF THE COURT SHALL KEEP THE TIME FOR THE SPEAKERS.

THOSE PERSONS WHO DO NOT CONDUCT THEMSELVES IN AN ORDERLY AND APPROPRIATE MANNER WILL BE ORDERED TO LEAVE THE MEETING AND RECOGNITION TO SPEAK MAY BE REFUSED AT SUBSEQUENT MEETINGS OF THE COURT. REFUSAL TO ABIDE BY THE COURT'S ORDER MAY RESULT IN A CONTEMPT OF COURT CITATION.

I'M JUST -- LOOK, I'M WILLING TO LISTEN TO EVERYONE.

I HAVE NO PROBLEM WITH IT. I DID IT DURING THE TAX RATE HEARING. BUT I JUST ASK -- I RESPECTFULLY ASK THAT PEOPLE CONDUCT THEMSELVES AS PROFESSIONAL AND RESPECTFUL. IF YOU WILL, THAT'S ALL MY ASK IS. THANK YOU.

>> LINA HIDALGO: OKAY. LET'S CONTINUE WITH THE SPEAKERS. GO AHEAD, TIFFANY.

>> NEXT IS SPEAKER 13, PETER BOWEN SPEAKING IN PERSON.

YOU HAVE ONE MINUTE. >> I AM THE REPUBLICAN PARTY PRECINCT CHAIRMAN AND AT 4:25 I WAS WORKING IN THE GENERAL ELECTION -- ACTUALLY IN THE EARLIER VOTING, BUT I WORKED IN THE GENERAL ELECTION AT A SLOW SITE.

WE HAD ABOUT 190 PEOPLE VOTE. WE HAD 6,000 BALLOTS IN BOXES AND THERE WAS NEVER AN E POLL BOOK OR REQUEST FOR BALLOTS FROM HEADQUARTERS WHICH INDICATES SOMEONE DIDN'T WANT THE BALLOTS AVAILABLE. SO ANYWAY, THAT'S -- I JUST WANTED TO BACK UP WHAT THE PREVIOUSDI PRESING JUDGE HAD SAIDI . DO WANT TO TAKE NOTE, COMMISSIONER GARCIA THATTE YOUR PHONE AND YOUR OTHERFI PAPERS FOR THE RST 10 SPEAKERS, I CONSIDEREDDI IT EXTREMELY SRESPECTFUL AND OBNOXIOUS.

YOU ARE HAVING ASKED FOR RESPECT SEVERAL TIMES.

>> THANK YOU, SIR, YOUR TIME IS UP.

>> NEXT IS DONALD BRICKMAN SPEAKING IN PERSON.

YOU HAVE ONE MINUTE. >> MY NAME IS BEVERLY ROBERTS.

I WANTED TO SAY THAT I LISTENED TO VARIOUS REITERATIONS OF THE SPEECHES THAT MS. HIDALGO HAD GIVEN.

SHE KIND OF MADE SNARKY COMMENTS ABOUT THE FACT THAT MATTRESS MAX HAD SUPPORTED LINA WHILE SHE BROUGHT IN JANE FONDA, A KNOWN COMMUNIST AND TRAITOR TO WORK WITH HER.

SO I WILL SAY, I AM QUOTING FROM THE BOOK OF EZEKIEL IN THE BIBLE, THE RULERS WILL BE HELPLESS AND IN DESPAIR AND TREBLING IN FEAR. GOD SUCCESS I WILL BRING ON THEM THE EVIL THEY HAVE DONE TO OTHERS AND THEY WILL RECEIVE THE PUNISHMENT THEY SO RICHLY DESERVE.

I WILL SAY THAT MAYBE YOU WON THE ELECTION, BUT YOU HAVE LOST YOUR SOUL THROUGH FRAUD AND DECEPTION.

THANK YOU. >> ADRIAN GARCIA: THANK YOU.

>> NEXT IS DONALD BRICKMAN SPEAKING IN PERSON.

[01:05:07]

>> I'M DONALD BRICKMAN, THE PRE -- PRECINCT CHAIR 0788.

I WORKED ON EARLY VOTING AND THE VOTING POLL, AND I WORKED FOR MR. ELLIS' PLACE OFF OF HARDY CO ROAD.

STILL, THIS HAS A LOT TO DO WITH YOUR MACHINES.

YOUR MACHINES ARE FOULING UP ALL THE VOTES.

IF YOU HAVE THE PEOPLE TO FIX THEM, GET THEM FIXED.

I AM TIRED OF PULLING PAPER OUT OF MACHINES.

DON'T NEED THIS. AS FAR AS THE VOTING GOES, BASICALLY WE CAN DO -- WE CAN FIX THIS, YOU KNOW, CIVILLY, THE RIGHT WAY, AND THAT'S ALL I HAVE TO SAY BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, I'M JUST AN ELECTION POLL PRECINCT JUDGE.

>> THANK YOU, SIR, YOUR TIME IS UP.

>> ADRIAN GARCIA: THANK YOU FOR THAT.

NOT TO YOU, BUT I GUESS I WILL START -- I SAW MR. TATUM HERE, BUT I JUST WANT TO -- I GUESS I WILL START WITH MR. BERRY.

I THINK IT WAS EITHER -- >> R. JACK CAGLE: DID YOU WANT TO DO THAT BEFORE WE HAD ALL OF THE --

>> ADRIAN GARCIA: I AM JUST FOLLOWING UP ON THIS GENTLEMAN'S REMARKS, BUT I I DID WANT TO PUT SOME THINKING INTO THIS.

IT WAS EITHER LAST YEAR'S ELECTION OR IN THE PRIMARY WHERE SIMILAR ISSUES WERE BROUGHT UP. I REQUESTED THE COUNTY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE TO SEE IF THERE WAS ANY LEGAL ACTION WE CAN TAKE ON THIS COMPANY OR IF THERE WAS ANYTHING OFF THEIR WARRANTY THAT WE COULD TAKE ACTION ON AND WHETHER -- AND THEN AT A LATER POINT I WOULD LIKE TO HEAR IF ANYTHING HAS BEEN DONE. IF YOU HAVE ANSWERS TO THAT QUESTION, YOU CAN RIGHT NOW, OR WE CAN CONTINUE WITH THE

SPEAKERS. >> WE CAN SPEAKBO AUT ITFT AER

MR. TATUM'S PRESENTATION. >> ADRIAN GARCIA: THANK YOU.

NEXT SPEAKER. >> NEXT IS SPAEBGER 16, ANDREW JEFFERSON SPEAKING VIRTUALLY. YOU HAVE ONE MINUTE.

GO AHEAD, PLEASE. >> THANK YOU.

I'M EXTREMELY FRUSTRATED THAT ONCE AGAIN WE HAVE MAJOR ISSUES WITH ELECTIONS IN HARRIS COUNTY. I UNDERSTAND THE PURPOSE OF CREATING THE OFFICE IS TO LOOK FOR GREATER EFFICIENTLY AND STREAM LINING AND WE HAVE NOT SEEN THAT THUS FAR.

VOTERS IN HARRIS COUNTY DESERVE AN ELECTION PROCESS THAT IS FAIR AND TRANSPARENT. WE HAVE ALREADY SEEN THE RESIGNATION OF ONE ADMINISTRATOR AND WE MAY SEE ANOTHER ONE.

IT IS A FAILURE OF LEADERSHIP. IF THE ELECTION ADMINISTRATOR CANNOT PROVIDE SUPPLIES WE SHOULD RETURN TO VOTING ON ELECTION DAY. I KNOW PEOPLE COULD HAVE VOTED AT OTHER CENTERS, BUT THE TRACKING SYSTEM ONLINE FOR UPDATING PEOPLE IN LINE AND ESTIMATED TIME WAS NOT UPDATED ON ELECTION DAY OR DURING EARLY VOTING.

I WOULD ALSO ASK THE COURT CONSIDER ABOLISHING THE ELECTION ADMINISTRATOR OFFICE AND RETURN THE DUTY OF RUNNING ELECTION TO THE TAX ASSESSOR AND THE COUNTY CLERK WHO ARE ELECTED BY THE PEOPLE AND DIRECTLY ACCOUNTABLE. THERE IS AN ANCIENT PROVERB THAT SAYS THE FISH ROTS FROM THE HEAD DOWN AND THAT IS TRUE WITH THE COUNTY. I LOOK FOR AN AUDIT OR INVESTIGATION TO FIND THE ROOT CAUSE OF THIS AND RESTORE

CONFIDENCE IN OUR ELECTIONS. >> ADRIAN GARCIA: THANK YOU.

>> NEXT IS SPEAKER 18, JOHN CURREN SPEAKING VIRTUALLY.

YOU HAVE ONE MINUTE. GO AHEAD, PLEASE.

>> YES. FIRST OF ALL I WOULD LIKE TO SAY, INTERESTING CHOICE OF WORDS FROM LINA HIDALGO, THAT YOU WILL TOLERATE US. YOU WORK FOR US.

MY MAIN CONCERN IS ON THE RECONCILIATION REPORTS DATED 11/09/22 WHERE THE MAIL IN VOTER SHOWED 61464.

THE REJECTED WAS 5975. THE MAIL IN VOTE COUNT TOTAL IS 59186. WELL, WHEN YOU ADD UP THE NUMBERS OF MAIL IN VOTERS AND THE REJECTED VOTE COUNT, IT IS OFF BY 3,697. YOU HAVE 3,697 MORE BALLOTS THAN VOTERS BY MAIL. AND THEN WHEN YOU GO TO THE REC CON SILT -- RECONCILIATION REPORT FROM 11/10/22, NOW YOU HAVE A MAIL IN VOTE COUNT OF 57,725.

HOW DOES 1461 COUNTED VOTES -- >> THANK YOU, SIR, YOUR TIME IS

[01:10:01]

GO AHEAD, PLEASE. >> HELLO.

I JUST WANTED TO SAY 2011, 2012, 2017 AND 2018, ALL YEARS THE ELECT CLERK RUNNING THE ELECTION HAD MULTIPLE ISSUES, POSTING NUMBERS ERRONEOUSLY FOR THE RUNOFF IN 2012 AND MULTIPLE ISSUES OF THE PHONE NOT WORKING AND THINGS NOT CONNECTING AND POLO LOCATIONS NOT OPEN AND EXTREME LONG LINES.

THAT IS AN ELECTED POSITION THAT HAS THE SAME ISSUES WE HAVE EXPERIENCED SINCE WE HAVE THE ELECTION ADMINISTRATOR POSITION.

SO ANYONE PRESENTING THE ELECTED POSITION AS A RESOLUTION IS EITHER LYING OR IGNORANT OF THE HISTORY OR FORGETTING FOR FUN.

THE ELECTION ADMINISTRATOR POSITION IS GREAT.

WE NEED TO KEEP IT. I LOOK FORWARD TO TATUM'S ASSESSMENT AFTER HIS FIRST ELECTION WITH US AND SEEING WHAT HE COMES UP FOR A RESOLUTION. THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU. >> NEXT IS SPEAKER 21, ROBERT CHOTES SPEAKING IN PERSON. YOU HAVE ONE MINUTE.

>> ON THE WAY HERE I PASSED A LITTLE PLACE CALLED AMERICAN STATE SHIP PARK. IT IS A BUS OF TRUE PATRIOTS.

THE SIGN OUT FRONT SAYS THE AMERICAN STATE SHIP PARK, RODNEY ELLIS, COMMISSIONER. WITH ALL OF THE TALK ABOUT THIS HORSESHOE ABOUT THE BIG LIE AND ELECTION DENIER, NOT TO MENTION THE CLUSTERP]

ORDER. >> FUSTER [BLEEP].

LISTEN CAREFULLY, SIR. >> ADRIAN GARCIA: I JUST WANTED

TO MAKE SURE I DIDN'T HEAR THAT. >> IT IS CAUSING, GEORGE WASHINGTON ABRAHAM LINCOLN AND SAMD HOUSTON, THOSE MEN HONORE IN THIS PARK ARE WOLG IN -- ROLLING IN THEIR GRAVES.YO

>> ADRIAN GARCIA: THANK U. >> AND NEXT IS SPEAKER 22, ALEXI SWARSKY SPEAKING IN PERSON.

YOU HAVE ONE MINUTE. >> THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE IS ONE OF OUR FOUNDING FATHERS OF OUR GREAT UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, THOMAS JEFFERSON.

HE SAID GOVERNMENTS [INAUDIBLE] POWERS FROM THE CONSENT OF THE GOVERNED. [INAUDIBLE] HAS CONTRIBUTED TO

THE GREAT FOUNDING FATHER -- >> R. JACK CAGLE: JUST A TOUCH.

>> THE COMMUNIST RUSSIA SAID IT IS NOT THE VOTES THAT COUNTS, IT IS WHO COUNTS THE VOTES. OUR ELECTION LAST WEEK RESEMBLED MORE STALIN'S RUSSIA THAN OUR UNITED STATES DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC. THERE WAS CORRUPTION, PARADING AS INCOMPETENCE AND VOTERS WERE SUPPRESSED LAST WEEK IN OUR AO*E ELECTION. IN OUR ELECTION.

LAST WEEK WAS NOT AN ELECTION BASED ON THE CONCEPT OF THE GOVERNED. IT WAS NOT SUPPLIED IN REPUBLICAN AREAS WITH BALLOT PAPER AND MACHINES AND POLLS NO WORKING. RESPONDING VERY LATE OR NOT AT ALL TO A REQUEST FOR MORE BALLOT PAPER AND MORE BALLOTS THAN

VOTES. >> THANK YOU, MA'AM, YOUR TIME

IS UP. >> THANK YOU.

>> NEXT IS SPEAKER 23, MATTHEW GOSHA SPEAKING VIRTUALLY.

YOU HAVE ONE MINUTE. GO AHEAD, PLEASE.

>> YES, HI. I WAS -- SORRY.

I'M IN THE MIDDLE OF SOMETHING. I WAS AT POLLING 9296, AND I CAN TELL YOU THAT I CALLED REPEATEDLY THAT WE WERE RUNNING OUT OF BALLOTS. HALF OF OUR MACHINES -- NOT HALF, BUT 40% OF THEM. WE HAD 10 TOTAL AND FOUR DID NOT WORK SPOR RAD -- SPORADICALLY THROUGHOUT THE DAY.

AND MORE THAN HALF OF THE TIME THEY WERE DOWN.

WE HAD TWO ELECTION OFFICIALS -- OR TWO ELECTION EMPLOYEES COME TO OUR SITE TO FIX THEM. WE LET THEM KNOW ABOUT THE BALLOTS. I PERMANENTLY -- PERSONALLY CALLED THE ELECTIONS OFFICE AND INFORMED THEM WE WERE OUT OF BALLOTS AT 11:53. WITH OUR MACHINES BEING DOWN WE DIDN'T RUN OUT UNTIL ABOUT 6:00, BUT I CALLED AGAIN AT 3 AND CALLED AGAIN AT 5. YOU KNOW, THESE ELECTIONS WERE NOT RAN WELL. I WILL GIVE CREDIT FOR THE TRAINING FOLKS THAT CAME OUT. IT WAS MUCH IMPROVED THAN THE

ONE BEFORE. >> THANK YOU, SIR, YOUR TIME IS

UP. >> BUT THERE WAS SERIOUS

PROBLEMS WITH THIS ELECTION. >> NEXT IS SPEAKER 24, JENNIFER CRUZ SPEAKING IN PERSON. YOU HAVE ONE MINUTE.

[01:15:05]

>> GOOD MORNING. DON'T GO VOTE AT JOHN HOPPS PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH. ALL MACHINES ARE DOWN.

THAT'S WHAT THE PASTOR WALKED UP TO ME AS PRESIDING JUDGE AND SHOWED ME IN THE MORNING. SHE SAID, I'M DISMAYED THAT THIS SHEDS A POOR LIGHT ON OUR CHURCH.

I HAD A TECH THERE AND WE HAD 22 LINES SET UP AND FOUR MACHINES CAME ONLINE. WE HAD A SNAKE LINE OUTSIDE.

AND THEN EVERYTHING CRASHED AROUND 9:30 WITH THE LINE PATIENTLY WAITING. I JUST COULDN'T BELIEVE THAT -- I DON'T THINK AT OUR LOCATION I DON'T THINK THE MACHINES WERE LOOKED AT AT ALL OVER THE WEEKEND.

THE PRESIDING JUDGE FROM THE EARLY VOTING PUT THEMLL A UP.

THEY GAVE MEN A SCATHAT IT WASE FECTIVE.

WE WENT THROUGH TWO SCANS AND FOURLE CONTROLRS.

THAT'S WHAT I TOOK BACK TO NRGIT PARK WH THE COUNTY ATTORNEYNG

WATCHI. >> THANK YOU,IM MA'AM, YOUR TE

IS UP. >> THEY TOLD ME TO COMBINE THE

BALLOTS -- >> ADRIAN GARCIA: THANK YOU.

>> BEFORE 7 P.M. WITH THE PROVISIONAL BALLOTS AFTER --

>> THANK YOU, MA'AM, YOUR TIME IS UP.

>> ADRIAN GARCIA: THANK YOU. >> NEXT IS ELIZABETH RODEN SPEAKING IN PERSON. YOU HAVE ONE MINUTE.

>> R. JACK CAGLE: WITH THE ONE-MINUTE RESTRICTION I ENCOURAGE PEOPLE IF YOU HAVE MORE THOUGHTS THAT YOU WANT TO SHARE THAT YOU PUT IT IN WRITING AND SUBMIT IT SO IT CAN BE PART

OF THE COURT RECORD. >> GOOD MORNING.

LAST TIME I WAS HERE YOU GUYS GOT ROASTED AND I STOOD UP FOR YOU. YOU GUYS NEED TO STAY OFF YOUR PHONES. I CAN SEE YOU ARE OFF THEM NOW AND SHOWING RESPECT TO THE PEOPLE THAT COME TO SPEAK.

I'M ALSO GLAD TO SEE CLIFFORD TATUM HERE.

THE EA THAT PUT ON A DISASTROUS ELECTION.

HERE IS WHAT NEEDS TO HAPPEN. GET RID OF THESE MACHINES, THE IPADS AND THE SCANNERS. NO DROP BOXES.

RETURN TO PAPER WITH SECURE WATER MARKS AND HOL GRAMS. RETURN EA TO HARRIS COUNTY CLERK'S OFFICE BECAUSE THEY ARE AN ELECTED OFFICIAL THAT CAN BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE.

MR. TATUM TOLD ME PERSONALLY I WAS A COUNT WATCHER IN NRG ARENA AND HE HOPED TO MAKE HOUSTON HOME.

I DON'T KNOW HOW WELCOMING HOUSTON WILL BE TO HIM NOW.

MAIL IN BALLOT DEADLINE NEEDS TO BE THE MONDAY BEFORE ELECTION DAY. EARLY VOTE ONLY ONE WEEK PRIOR WITH EARLY VOTE RESULTS TAPES PRINTED AND SIGNED BY JUDGES AND WATCHERS. WHY IS IT AMERICA'S GOT TALENT CAN COUNT 50,000 VOTES IN FIVE MINUTES.

>> THANK YOU, MA'AM. >> WHY?

>> NEXT IS DANA EAKES -- DANA EAKES.

>> LINA HIDALGO: TIFFANY, WHICH SPEAKER IS THIS?

>> SHE IS NOT ON THE LIST, JUDGE.

SHE SIGNED UP BEFORE THE MEETING STARTED.

>> LINA HIDALGO: OKAY. AND HOW MANY MORE OF THOSE DO WE

HAVE? >> FOR THIS ITEM WE HAVE DANA

OAKES AND ONE OTHER SPEAKER. >> LINA HIDALGO: THANK YOU.

>> I WANT TO THANK COMMISSIONERS CAGLE AND RAMSEY FOR DOING YOUR JOBS AND COMMISSIONER CAGLE, DON'T BACK DOWN, DON'T GIVE UP.

I GUARANTEE YOU, YOU WON. THE ELECTION IN THESE COUNTIES ARE POORLY RAN. MANY POLLS DID NOT OPEN ON TIME DUE TO TECHNICAL PROBLEMS AND MACHINES JAMMED AND HAD TO BE RESTARTED THROUGHOUT THE DAY. POLLS RAN OUT OF BALLOTS AND VOTERS WERE TURNED AWAY. CHAIN OF CUSTODY WAS BROKEN TIME AND TIME AGAIN. WINNERS WERE DECLARED EVEN THOUGH THE VOTES WERE STILL BEING COUNTED.

BALLOTS WERE FOUND DAYS LATER. HARRIS COUNTY ELECTIONS CANNOT BE TRUSTED. I AM EXTREMELY DISAPPOINTED AND I FEEL ROBBED OF FREE AND FAIR ELECTIONS I SO RIGHTLY DESERVE.

THANK YOU. >> ADRIAN GARCIA: THANK YOU.

>> NEXT IS SPEAKER 25, MA REUS -- MARISSA HANSON SPEAKING IN PERSON. YOU HAVE ONE MINUTE.

>> ONE MOMENT. SORRY.

ONE MINUTE. >> ADRIAN GARCIA: YOUR TIME HAS

STARTED. >> I JUST WANT TO KNOW IF THIS IS WHAT HARRIS COUNTY ELECTIONS --

>> I GOT HERE -- >> MACHINES TO BE FIXED.

[01:20:12]

>> SO MANY CARS PULL UP IN THE DRIVEWAY --Y THEPULL UP AND DRIVE AWAY,UP PULL AND DRIVE AWAY.

>>OM I MET SEBODY IN LINE IT WAS HIS FIRSTNG TIME VOTI.

[INAUDIBLE]. THERE ARE OLD PEOPLE STANDING IN LINE. PEOPLE SHOULD BE ABLE TO VOTE.

>> YOU GUYS HAVE BEEN CAUGHT, YOU JUST DON'T KNOW IT YET.

YOU HAVE NO IDEA WHAT IS COMING YOUR WAY.

54 MILLION ON VOTING MACHINES? >> THANK YOU, MA'AM, YOUR TIME

IS UP. >> NEXT IS NONAGENDA SPEAKERS, FIRST NUMBER FOUR, SHARON YASMAN SPEAKING IN PERSON.

YOU HAVE ONE MINUTE. >> GOOD EVENING, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN. THIS COUNTRY WAS BORN ON A CONSTITUTION FOR THE PEOPLE, WE THE PEOPLE.

OUR JUDICIAL SYSTEM IS HIJACKED. IT IS HIJACKED BY CRIMINALS THAT DO NOT CARE ABOUT THE AMERICAN PEOPLE.

THE JUDICIAL SYSTEM NEEDS TO BE CLEANED UP.

PROCEDURES, STATUTE STATUTES RULES AND REGULATIONS DO NOT APPLY TO WE THE PEOPLE, THE AMERICAN PEOPLE.

WHEN WE GO TO THE COURTROOMS WE WANT TO BE RECOGNIZED UNDER OUR CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS. IT IS NOT THE STATUTORY RIGHTS.

WE DO NOT WANT OUR RIGHTS STRIPPED.

I AM A DISABLED PERSON, BUT IT DOES NOT DICTATE MY LIFE.

I GO BY MY DAY AS ANYBODY ELSE WHO IS NOT DISABLED.

I'M A PRO-SAVE PERSON THAT CAME INTO COURT.

NONE OF MY ADA REGULATIONS OR DESIRES WAS MET.

PLEASE DO BETTER. >> THANK YOU, MA'AM, YOUR TIME

IS UP. >> ADRIAN GARCIA: THANK YOU.

>> NEXT IS NON-AGENDA SPEAKER NUMBER 5, JACOB CE --

CLEMENTAGE, YOU HAVE ONE MINUTE. >> R. JACK CAGLE: ONE MOMENT.

MA'AM, ARE YOU IN PRECINCT 4? YES? OKAY. WHEN WE ARE DONE, I WOULD LIKE TO HAVE SOMEBODY FOLLOW-UP WITH YOU AND JUST VISIT AND GET YOUR

STORY IF THAT'S OKAY. >> I WOULD LOVE THAT TO HAPPEN.

>> R. JACK CAGLE: THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU.

>> R. JACK CAGLE: DO YOU SEE THIS LADY OVER HERE? SHE WILL GET SOMEBODY TO COME AND TALK TO YOU AND GET YOUR

STORY. >> JACOB CLEMENTAGE, YOU HAVE

TWO MINUTES. >> ALL I WOULD LIKE -- [INAUDIBLE] I'M A GREAT WORKER AND ONE FROM JACK KAY -- CAGLE, COMMISSIONER JACK CAGLE SAID I HAD A GREAT HEART, AND THAT IS FROM JACK CAGLE. AND I HAVE RECEIVED A GOOD LETTER FROM RODNEY ELLIS AND THAT WAS WHEN STEVE RADACK WAS HERE BEFORE THE SEAT WAS TAKEN BY TOM RAMSEY.

AND THEN -- YEAH. WORKING WITH THE TEXANS I RECEIVE SPIRIT AWARD. WITH THE SPIRIT AWARD, IT GAVE THE HARRIS COUNTY SPORTS AUTHORITY AND MY BOSS INAUDIBLE] AND I RECEIVED THANKS FROM THE DIRECTORS.

AT THEED TEXANS GAMES I WORK WITH THE RECYCLING COMPACTER.

I AM BY MYSELF AND THE ASTROS [INAUDIBLE] THE JEWELRY STORE OF

[01:25:08]

ELECTION AND [INAUDIBLE]. >> THANK YOU, SIR, YOUR TIME IS

UP. >> NEXT IS SPEAKER NUMBER 9, ANGELA BOSS SPEAKING IN PERSON AND YOU HAVE ONE MINUTE.

>> ONE MINUTE OR TWO? >> YOU HAVE ONE.

>> OKAY. I'M ANGELA BOX.

MY NAME WILL BE FAMILIAR TO YOU, LINA.

BY THE WAY, WHERE ARE YOUR PRECIOUS MASKS? OH THAT'S RIGHT. THEY SERVED THEIR PURPOSE.

THE HOAX IS NOW OVER. I KNOW DEMOCRATS THINK YOU CAN GET AWAY WITH ANYTHING. YOU THINK THAT YOU CAN STEAL COVID MONEY, RAFPED UP -- WRAPPED UP MASK AND VACCINE HIS STEER YAW AND EXCUSE RAMPANT CRIME AND DISENFRANCHISE THOUSANDS OF VOTERS WITH NO RECOURSE.

LAST WEEK'S ELECTION WAS AN ABSOLUTE DEBACLE.

POLLING STATIONS OPENED HOURS LATE AND MACHINES FINE DURING EARLY VOTING BROKE. THERE WAS NO PAPER AT REPUBLICAN PRECINCTS AND VOTING WAS ENDED AT 8 P.M. WITH NO PROVISIONAL BALLOTS. THIS WAS NO ACCIDENT AND THE STATE OF TEXAS WILT FIND OUT -- WILL FIND EXACTLY WHAT YOU DID.

YOU AND YOUR FELLOW DEMOCRAT COMMISSIONERS HAVE BEEN A DISASTER FOR HARRIS COUNTY. FRAUD, CRIMINALITY AND MALL FEE SENSE AND VOTER SUPPRESSION ARE THE ONLY REASONS YOU WILL BE LORDING OVER US AGAIN. THANK YOU.

>> NEXT IS SPEAKER NUMBER 10, CARLA WYATT SPEAKING IN PERSON.

YOU HAVE ONE MINUTE. YOU HAVE ONE MINUTE.

>> FIRST OF ALL I WOULD LIKE YOU TO THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING ME TO BE HERE WITH 20 YEARS WORKING AT HARRIS COUNTY.

I AM GLAD TO BE YOUR FIRST AFRICAN-AMERICAN TREASURER IN HARRIS COUNTY. I AM LOOKING FORWARD TO WORKING WITH EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU AND NOT ONLY FOR THE BLUE AND THE RED, BUT FOR ALL OF HARRIS COUNTY.

I TRULY THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING ME TO BE HERE.

I AM EXCITED OVER THE MOON AND I AM JUST HAPPY TO BE HERE AND HAPPY TO WORK WITH YOU. I'M HOPING WE CAN ALL WORK TOGETHER FOR THE CITIZENS OF HARRIS COUNTY.

AND DON'T FORGET, CAR CAR -- CARLA LIKE THE HURRICANE, WILD LIKE EARP, TROUBLE EXTRAORDINARY AND THE NEW CALENDARS ARE OUT SO

I BROUGHT YOU SOME. >> NEXT IS SPEAKER 11, SHARON FISHER SPEAKING IN PERSON. YOU HAVE ONE MINUTE.

>> WELL, I'M NOT GOING TO GO OVER THE REGULARITIES I THINK THEY'VE BEEN COVERED. I REALLY ONLY CAME HERE TO THANK YOU TWO FOR YOUR SERVICE TO HARRIS COUNTY, ESPECIALLY THE LAST TWO MONTHS. AND YOU FELL ON YOUR SWORD AND YOU KNEW YOU WERE GOING TO. YOU KNEW THERE WAS THAT CHANCE.

FROM ME TO YOU, YOU KNOW WHAT, THE FAT LADY HASN'T SANG YET.

>> NEXT IS SPEAKER 13, DOROTHY HABLINSKY SPEAKING IN PERSON.

YOU HAVE ONE MINUTE. >> GOOD AFTERNOON.

I WANTED TO ADDRESS THIS FIRST TO THE MEDIA.

LET'S SEE WHAT THE MEDIA DOES AROUND THE ELECTION STEAL.

LET'S SEE WHAT YOU DOOU ABOUT I, IF Y COVER IT UP LIKE YOU DO EVERYTHING ELSE. I WANT TO ADDRESS THESE PRECIOUE COMMISSIONERS RIGHT RE. COMMISSIONER CAGLE AND RAMSEY FOR STANDING UP FOR HARRIS COUNTY TAXPAYERS.

YOU RISKED A LOT FOR US. YOU WERE SHUN AND SHAMED AND CRITICIZED, BUT YOU STOOD FIRM. YOU ARE OUR HEROS.

YOU WERE THE ONLY TRUE HEROS OF THIS COMMISSIONERS' COURT.

AND ONCE AGAIN OUR ILLUSTRIOUS OTHER TWO COMMISSIONERS ARE LOOKING AT THEIR PHONES AND NOTES.

WE'RE ON TO YOU. I HAVE BEEN WORKING THE ELECTIONS FOR YEARS. I WAS AT CENTRAL COUNT.

LIKE ONE OF MY FRIENDS SAID, CENTRAL COUNT IS A JOKE.

IT IS LIKE A CASINO IN LAS VEGAS.

WE WENT AND WE WORKED AND WE SAW IT.

THERE IS NO WAY TO FOLLOW THE STRAIN COMMAND.

>> THANK YOU, MA'AM. YOUR TIME IS UP.

[01:30:01]

>> WE ARE ON TO YOU AND WE ARE GOING TO WIN.

>> THANK YOU, MA'AM, YOUR TIME IS UP.

>> JUDGE, THOSE ARE ALL THE SPEAKERS.

>> LINA HIDALGO: THANK YOU SO MUCH AND THANK YOU TO ALL OF THE SPEAKERS. SO WE'LL MOVE ON WITH THE TWO ELECTION ITEMS AND THOSE ITEMS ARE --

>> R. JACK CAGLE: JUDGE, CAN I ASK FOR A VERY BRIEF BREAK?

MAYBE A FIVE-MINUTE BREAK? >> LINA HIDALGO: YES.

LET'S TAKE A 10-MINUTE BREAK. IT IS 11:55 AND WE'LL TAKE A

BREAK UNTIL 12:05.A >> LINHIDALGO: ALL RIGHT, ITUS IS 11 -- EXCE ME, IT IS 12:11. C COMMISSIONERS'OURTSS IS BACK IN SEION.EA CAN YOU GUYS HR ME ALL RIGHT?

>> RODNEY ELLIS: CMISSIONER CAGLE WAS SPEAKING.

IER THINK THERE WAS ONE PSON WHO HADN'T SPOKEN.LE

>> R. JACK CAG: SPEAKER NUMBER 8 SIGNED UP TOBU SPEAK VIRTUALL, T IS HERE. IT IS MS. CLEONT JOHNSON, RESTAURA TEAR T AND THE MOTHER OFHES STATESMAN AND SHE WISHE TO ADDRESS US. IT IS SPEAKER NUMBER 8.

>> IT IS GOOD AFTERNOON NOW. I AM HERE ON BEHALF OF NON-PROFITS IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON IN THE STATE OFOT TEXAS.

I KNOW IT IS NHING THAT YOU CAN DO ABOUT THISG PARTICULAR ISSUE DEALINWITH THE HARRIS COUNTY APPRAISAL DISTRICT.

HOWEVER, WE ARE YOUR CONND SPEUFP -- CONSTITUANTS A WE ARE AFFECTED WHEN THEY START TO DENY NON-PROFITS, PROFIT TO EXEMPTION. NOW, WE HAVE BEEN WORKINGVE IN E COMMUNITY. HA I A 35- I HAVE A 35-YEAR HISTORY IN THE COMMUNITY MAKING SURE PEOPLE ARE SERVED APPROPRIATELY. HOWEVER, MANY TIMES NONPROFITS ARE DENIED EXEMPTION AND THEY END UP HAVING TO PAY TAX THAT'S THEY CAN'T AFFORD. SMALL NONPROFITS ARE NOT LIKE BIG NONPROFITS GETTING CORPORATE DONATIONS.

WE WORK AT THE PLEDGE OF THE COMMUNITY.

HERE IS WHAT I WANT. I WANT YOU ALL TO PUT THIS ON YOUR PLATE AND RECOGNIZE THAT HARRIS COUNTY APACE -- APPRAISAL DISTRICT NEEDS AN OVER SEER. THEY HAVE GOT TO BECOME PART OF SOME ENTITY WHERE THERE IS A CHECK AND BALANCE.

>> THANK YOU, MA'AM, YOUR TIME IS UP.

>> RODNEY ELLIS: IF I MIGHT, JUDGE, A QUICK QUESTION? QUICKLY, SO YOUR ISSUE IS THE APPRAISAL IS MORE THAN YOU THINK IT IS WORTH? IS THAT THE ISSUE?

>> SAY THAT AGAIN? >> RODNEY ELLIS: WHAT IS THE

ISSUE? >> THAT THEY ARE CHARGING AND DISRESPECTING NONPROFITS AND CAUSING US TO BE IN -- THE

PROPERTIES AND THE TAXES. >> RODNEY ELLIS: SO YOU SAY THE PROPERTY IS WORTH MORE THAN THEY SAY JACK JAG THE NONPROFIT --

>> R. JACK CAGLE: THE PRO*P -- NONPROFIT STATUS WAS DENIED.

>> WE ALWAYS HAD THE STATUS AND THEY SAID WE ARE NOT CHARITABLE ENOUGH. THEY CANNOT --

>> ADRIAN GARCIA: NOT CHAIR -- CHARITABLE ENOUGH?

>> WE ARE CHARITABLE ENOUGH AND WE MEET THE GUIDELINES.

THE STATE OF TEXAS SAYS WE ARE CHARITABLE AND WE ARE DOING THE WORK, AND THEN THE HARRIS COUNTY APPRAISAL DISTRICT --

>> RODNEY ELLIS: DOES IT -- DOT PENALTIES ADD UP?

>> YES. >> RODNEY ELLIS: HOW MUCH IS IT

THAT YOU OWE? >> I THINK RIGHT NOW IT IS 16,000 AND THEY HAVE ALREADY SUED ME.

>> RODNEY ELLIS: AND THE PENALTIES KICK IN.

>> YES, SIR. >> RODNEY ELLIS: I DO KNOW AN ISSUE OF PENALTIES THIS COURT UNANIMOUSLY VOTED TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT THAT. ON THE ISSUE OF -- I KNOW I MENTIONED WHEN YOU CALLED ME THAT I REMEMBER A CERTAIN NOT FOR PROFIT HOSPITAL WHEN THE STATE WENT AFTER THEM AND THE ATTORNEY GENERAL OF THE STATE WENT AFTER THEM.

THAT ISSUE WAS DECIDED IN TRIAL COURT HERE IN HARRIS COUNTY AND THEY SAID IT WAS UP TO EACH LOCAL APPRAISAL DISTRICT TO DECIDE IF SOMEONE GAVE ENOUGH IN CHARITY CARE IN THE CASE OF THE HOSPITAL THAT JUSTIFIED TAXES. SO WE WILL LOOK AT -- BECAUSE I TOLD YOU THAT IS INDEPENDENT OF US.

>> I UNDERSTAND. BUT I WANT YOU ALL -- I WANT THERE TO BE SOME LEGISLATION WRITTEN TO CHANGE THIS.

EVERYTHING CAN CHANGING. NOTHING STAYS THE SAME.

IF THEY CAN EXEMPT COWS ON EMPTY LAND AND GIVE THEM A PROPERTY

EXEMPTION -- >> RODNEY ELLIS: COME ON NOW.

YOU HAVE A DIRECT LINE TO MOST LEGISLATORS.

>> YES, SIR. >> RODNEY ELLIS: EVEN WHEN I WAS

ON, YOU HAVE A DIRECT ONE TO ME. >> YES, SIR RO*D --

>> RODNEY ELLIS: THANK YOU FOR COME -- COMING, AND I HATE I COULDN'T SEE YOU. THESE EYES ARE OLDER NOW THAN THEY WERE WHEN I WAS -- JUDGE I WAS A MERE INTERN ON THE CONGRESSMAN'S STAFF. HE CALLED ME CHIEF OF STAFF.

CLEO WAS THERE ON A REGULAR BASIS.

I WAS AN INTERN. I WAS NOT CHIEF OF STAFF.

>> ALL RIGHT. >> ADRIAN GARCIA: MS. JOHNSON, GOOD TO SEE YOU AND THANK YOU FOR -- THIS IS AN ISSUE THAT THAT I LONG COMPLAINED ABOUT THAT THE APPRAISAL DISTRICT RUNS A MUCK. I HEAR WHAT YOU ARE SAYING AND I I WILL DO WHAT I CAN TO HELP COMMISSIONER ELLIS TO ADDRESS

[01:35:02]

THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU ALL.

HAVE A GOOD DAY AND THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU, MS. JOHNSON.

[Departments (Part 2 of 2)]

>> WE WILL CONTINUE WITH THE TWO ITEMS RELATED TO THE ELECTION.

IT IS 331 AND 334. WE ARE STARTING WITH 331.

BASICALLY IT IS THE SAME IDEA IS TO DISCUSS WHAT TOOK PLACE IN THE ELECTION THAT JUST PASSED. GO AHEAD, COMMISSIONER ELLIS.

>> RODNEY ELLIS: SO JUDGE, I KNOW COMMISSIONER CAGLE PUT THIN THE AGENDA AS WELL, BUT WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO DO IS HAVE THE ELECTIONS ADMINISTRATOR JUST SORT OF WALK US THROUGH WHAT HAPPENED. I KNOW HE IS HERE AND I KNOW WE ALL HAVE A SERIES OF QUESTIONS TO ASK.

I WOULD LIKE FOR HIM TO GIVE US A SENSE OF HIS TAKE.

MR. TATUM? JUDGE IS THAT OKAY? I JUST THOUGHT I WOULD BRING UP MR. TATUM.

>> LINA HIDALGO: YES. GO AHEAD, MR. TATUM.

>> JUDGE UH DAHL -- JUDGE HIDALGO, COMMISSIONER GARCIA AND RAMSEY AND CAGLE. I AM THE ELECTION ADMINISTRATOR FOR HARRIS COUNTY. THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO PRESENT TO YOU TODAY A BRIEF OVERVIEW OF NOVEMBER THE 8TH. OF COURSE, DUE TO PENDING LITIGATION THERE IS ONLY SO MUCH I CAN SAY AT THIS POINT.

WHAT I WILL ATTEMPT TO DO IS GIVE UH CLEAR -- AS CLEAR AN UPDATE AS I CAN AT THIS TIME. I CAN TELL YOU THAT OUR STAFF IS STILL PROCESSING PROVISIONAL BALLOTS.

THERE ARE A COUPLE THOUSAND REMAINING TO PROCESS.

THE GOAL IS TO PROCESS THOSE BY THE CLOSE OF BUSINESS ON WEDNESDAY AND AT THE LATEST ON THURSDAY.

AS YOU ALL KNOW AND AS HAS BEEN STATED TO YOU, ELECTION DAY IS AN ENORMOUS ENDEAVOR THAT RELIES FOR CIVILIAN ELECTION JUDGES THAT VOLUNTEER WITH A SMALL AMOUNT OF PAY.

WITHOUT THEM, DEMOCRACY WOULD NOT PREVAIL.

TO OUR JUDGES, I THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE.

IT IS A TOUGH JOB, BUT WE THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE.

WE CALL UPON THESE WORKERS ON ELECTION DAY TO WORK ONE DAY OR MAYBE TWO DAYS OUT OF THE YEAR. WE ASK THEM TO SET UP VOTING MACHINES, TO START POLLING LOCATIONS ROUGHLY BEGINNING AT 5:30, 6 A.M. IN THE MORNING, TO OPEN THE DOORS AT 7 A.M.

OFTEN TIMES SOME OF THEM ARE MORE SUCCESSFUL THAN OTHERS.

AS WITH EVERY ELECTION, START UP IS MORE OF A CHALLENGE, BUT IN ALL, I THINK THE ELECTION DAY WORKERS DID A VERY GOOD JOB.

THERE ARE A FEW ISSUES THAT HAVE BEEN IDENTIFIED.

I WILL BRIEF YOU ON SOME OF THOSE TODAY.

A FULL ASSESSMENT IS IF ORDER. A FULL ASSESSMENT IS IN ORDER.

I WOULD LIKE TO REMIND YOU AND THE PUBLIC THAT WE ARE STILL COUNTING VOTES. ONCE WE COMPLETE THE TABOO LAYINGS PROCESS -- TABULATION PROCESS WE WILL TURN TO THE ASSESSMENT IN ERNEST AND WE WOEUL PROVIDE TO YOU A FULL REPORT ON EVERY AS -- ASPECT OF THE ELECTION PROCESS, AS I STATED TO THIS BODY IN THE PAST AND TO THE ELECTIONS COMMISSION, WE ARE A TRANSPARENT ORGANIZATION.

THERE IS NOTHING FOR US TO HIDE. WE HAVE AN ELECTIONS PLAN.

WE FOLLOWED THE PLAN. SOME OF THE PLAN DIDN'T GO AS ANTICIPATED. WE WILL REVIEW WHAT DID NOT WORK WELL. WE WILL BUILD UPON THOSE THINGS THAT WORKED WELL AND WE WILL CORRECT THE THINGS THAT DID NOT WORK WELL. WE ARE CURRENTLY CON TABLGTING EVERY -- CONTACTING EVERY JUDGE TO ASSESS THEIR OPENING AND CLOSING SUCCESS, THEIR BALLOT PAPER AND TECHNICAL ISSUES ENCOUNTERED ON ELECTION DAY, THE TECH RESPONSES AND ANYONE THAT ENCOUNTERED ISSUE -- ISSUES ON ELECTION DAY.

WE ARE CALLING EVERY JUDGE. THERE WERE A NUMBER OF QUESTIONS THAT WE WERE ASKING AND THE JUDGES WANTED TO SHARE AND IT IS TAKING LONGER THAN ANTICIPATED. ALTHOUGH THE FULL ASSESSMENT FROM EACH OF THE JUDGES IS WHAT I ANTICIPATE OCCURRING FOR EVERY

[01:40:01]

WE KNOW THAT AT LEAST ONE FACILITY ENCOUNTERED A CRITICALLY LATE OPENING AND WE KNOW CERTAIN LOCATIONS RAN OUT OF PAPER AND SEPTEMBER VOTER -- SENT VOTERS TO OTHER LOCATIONS.

BECAUSE WE HAVE A COUNTY-WIDE VOTING SYSTEM THOSE VOTERS WERE ABLE TO CAST A BALLOT AT OTHER VOTE CENTER LOCATIONS.

I WENT TO THE LOCATION THAT HAD A CRITICALLY LATE START.

I MET A VOTER STANDING IN LINE AT 6:45.

HE SHARED WITH ME HIS EXPERIENCE AND HE SHOWED ME PICTURES.

HE CAME BACK AT 11:15 TO CAST A BALLOT.

I THANKED HIM FOR HIS CONSISTENCY AND HIS APPEARANCE.

HE AGREED TO SHARE MORE INFORMATION WITH US SO WE CAN FOLLOW-UP WITH WHAT HAPPENED AT THAT POLLING LOCATION.

EARLY ASSESSMENTS SUGGEST TO ME THAT SYSTEM REPLACEMENTS ARE IN DIRE NEED. IMMEDIATELY I SEE THE FOLLOWING WE MUST HAVE A REVAMPED COMMUNICATION SYSTEM.

WE MUST TAKE A DEEP DIVE INTO THE VOTING SYSTEM OPERATIONS.

THERE MUST BE AN INCREASE OF EA PERSONNEL FOR THE MAINTENANCE AND THE RUNNING OF THE ELECTIONS OFFICE.

THERE WILL BE AN ANALYSIS OF THE NUMBER OF VOTE CENTERS WE DEPLOY ON ELECTION DAY. AND WE MUST DETERMINE HOW TO LAW GIST CLEAR -- LOGISTICALLY SERVE THOSE POLLING PLACES.

COMMUNICATIONS BETWEEN THE JUDGE, THE PRESIDING JUDGES, THE CALL CENTER AND OUR TECHNICIANS HAS TO BE IMPROVED.

THERE IS NO REAL VISIBILITY OF THE CALL FROM THE JUDGE TO THE RESPONSE FROM THE TECHNICIAN TO THE COMPLETION OF WHATEVER THE ISSUE WAS THAT OCCURRED ON ELECTION DAY.

I HAVE SPOKEN TO JUDGES WHO SAID I ASKED FOR TECHNICAL SUPPORT AND I NEVER SAW A TECHNICIAN. MY CALL CENTER TELLS ME THEY DISPATCHED A TECHNICIAN. BECAUSE I CAN'T TRACK THE TECHNICIAN WITH THE SYSTEM I HAVE, I CAN'T TELL YOU WHAT HAPPENED. I CAN ONLY RELY ON THE JUDGE.

I CAN ONLY RELY ON WHAT THE TECHNICIAN TOLD ME HAPPENED AND I CAN ONLY RELY ON THE CALL CENTER NOTES.

AN IMMEDIATE IMPROVEMENT AS A TRACKING SYSTEM MUCH SIMILAR TO A FEDERAL EXPRESS OR A UNITED PARCEL SERVICE, DELIVERY AND SIGN SO THAT I KNOW IF A JUDGE CALLED FOR AN ISSUE, HOW LONG DID IT TAKE US TO RESPOND? WHAT WAS THE RESOLUTION? HOW LONG DID THE TECHNICIAN SPEND AT THE LOCATION? HOW LONG DID IT TAKE TO GET FROM ONE LOCATION TO THE NEXT? THOSE ARE CRITICALLY IMPORTANT QUESTIONS YOU WILL ASK ME THAT BASED ON THE CURRENT SYSTEMS I HAVE I CANNOT ANSWER.

VOTING SYSTEMS SET UP AND OPERATION MUST BE SCRUTINIZED WITH AN EYE TOWARD SIMPLIFYING THE SET UP AND THE OPERATION PROCESS TO ENSURE EARLY-MORNING SET UP AND OPENING CAN BE ACCOMPLISHED I CAN TELL YOU THAT THE JUDGES ARE WORKING HARD.

THEY ARE DOING WHAT THEY HAVE BEEN TRAINED TO DO.

SOME OF THEM HAVE PROBLEMS. I SPOKE TO A JUDGE THAT HAD HIS POLLING PLACE SET UP AT 6:50 VOTERS WERE STANDING IN LINE.

HE HAD ONE PLACE THAT WAS NOT SET UP COMPLETELY.

HE THOUGHT HE NEEDED TO SET UP THE THIRD LINE BEFORE HE OPENED HIS DOORS. HE HAD TWO LINES READY TO GO.

OPEN THE DOORS. THERE ARE CIVILIAN WORKERS.

THERE IS NO ILL INTENT THERE. THERE IS NO MALL FEE SENSE.

HE IS JUST DOING WHAT HE KNOWS TO DO.

SO A LITTLE MORE INSTRUCTION. I SPOKE TO ANOTHER JUDGE.

I SAID IF YOU HAVE ONE MACHINE WORKING, OPEN THE DOOR.

SHE SAID, I NEVER HEARD THAT. IS THAT A TRAINING ISSUE? SOME FOLKS WOULD SAY TRAINING IS NOT VERY HELPFUL.

TRAINING IS VERY HELPFUL. WE HAD GREAT RESPONSES FROM OUR JUDGES ABOUT HOW TRAINING HAS INCREASED AND HOW THEY FEEL MORE

[01:45:07]

AT THE END OF THE DAY, THE PROCESS RELIES ON OUR JUDGES.

AND WE DO NOT THROW ROCKS AT OUR JUDGES.

WE DO NOT CHASTISE OUR JUDGES BECAUSE WITHOUT THEM WE WOULD NOT HAVE AN ELECTION. WE JUST WOULD NOT.

THEY ARE VOLUNTEERS AND THEY ARE CITIZENS AND THEY SERVE THE COUNTY. I THANK THEM FOR THEIR SERVICE.

AND WE AS AN ADMINISTRATION STAFF WILL DO A BETTER JOB.

FULL TIME PERSONNEL TO MANAGE THE MANY MOVING PARTS OF THE CRITICAL OPERATIONS OF THE OFFICE.

I I DON'T MEAN A ONE-TIME FUNDING SOURCE.

THIS BODY PROVIDED TO THE ELECTIONS OFFICE A COMMITMENT TO SPEND WHATEVER DOLLARS WE NEEDED TO SPEND TO MAKE THE PROCESS HAPPEN WE DID WHAT WE COULD. I'M TALKING ABOUT A SUSTAINED FUNDING MECHANISM THAT ALLOWS THE ELECTION ADMINISTRATOR'S OFFICE TO ADD ON PERSONNEL TO HELP MANAGE THE PROCESS.

SO THERE IS SOME THAT SPEAK ABOUT THE OFFICE SHOULD GO BACK TO THE PRESIDING -- TO THE CLERK'S OFFICE AND TO THE TAX ASSESSOR'SFF OICE. I WILL SAY TO YOUHA TT THERE IS MORECC AOUNTABILITY WITH THE ELECTION ADMINISTRATOR'S OFFICE THAN THERE IS WITHNY ALE ECTED OFFICIAL.

IF YOU DON'T LIKE THE JOBT THA THE ELECTIONIN ADMISTRATOR IS DOINGION -- IS DOING, C YOUAN REMOVE MEOR TOMROW.

THAT IS WITHOUT QUESTION.IF ON YOU D'T LIKE THE JOB ELECTED OFFICIAL IS DOING, YOUCA N VOTEOU THEM T OF OFFICE FOR HOW MANY YEARSMA THAT REINS COMES UP FOR ELECTION.ER THE IS MORE- -BLGT - ACCOUNTABILITYEL IN THE ECTIONMI ADNISTRATOR'S OFFICE THAN ANYTR ELECICKEDS OFFICIAL'OFFICE.N THAANY ELECTEDS OFFICIAL' OFFICE.

BUT N THEY HAVEOT RECEIVEDRE THE SOURCES IT NEEDS TO MEET THE DEMANDCE THAT IS PLAD UPON IT.S WHAT ITHAT NUMBER?T I DON'KNOW STANDINGBU HERE. T I HAVE AGREED TO WORKE WITH THST COUNTY ADMINIRATOR AND WORK WITH THE PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATIONS TO UNDERSTAND WHAT IS NEEDED AND WHATED IS REQUIR TO MOVE PROCESS FORWARD HERE IN HARRIS COUNTY. CURRENTLY STAFF BURNSON THE CANE BOTH ENDSEN SPECTRUM. WHUP THEY ARE SETTING TI FOR THE ELECONEU THAT STARTS S*BGSZ MONTHS BEFORE -- 6EL MONTHS BEFE ECTION DAY. NO ONE UNDERSTANDS THAT.OF NO ONE SPEAKS THAT.UG THEY BURN THROH THE NIGHT WORKING THROUGH ELECTION DAY. T NO ONE SPEAKS OFHAT.RS THEY WORK 24 HOU IN RESPONSE TO C STATE ELECTION LAW TOLOSE THE ELECTION. NO ONE SPEAKS OF THAT.G NOW, I'M NOT MAKINAF EXCUSES FOR OUR STF.

THAT IS A JOB THAT WE SIGNED UP FOR.

AND WE WILDO THE JOB THAT WE HAVE SIGNED UP FOR.

BUT OUR RESOURCES MUST BE THERE TO SUPPORT US.

RESOURCES TOR ADD -- ADEQUATELY COVE 782 LOCATIONS THROUGHOUT A 1700 SQUARE MILE COUNTY WITH CONTEMPORARY TECHNICAL SUPPORT WITH TOOLS TO PROPERLY MANAGE THE INDIVIDUALS.

WE HAD 160 -- 180 TECHNICIANS OUT ON THE FIELD ON ELECTION DAY. I NEED A REALTIME TOOL THAT TRACKS WHO THEY ARE AND WHERE THEY ARE AND HOW THEY ARE PERFORMING. I HAD JUDGE TELL ME HE PUT IN A CALL AND NEVER SAW THE TECH. WHERE DID MY TECH GO? WE WILL NEED SYSTEMS TO ADDRESS THAT ISSUE.

OVERALL THE PLAN THAT WAS DEVELOPED AND DEPLOYED WAS A SOLID PLAN. EXECUTION OF THAT PLAN WILL BE ASSESSED. OVERALL, WE VOTED OVER A MILLION VOTERS. WE PROJECTED 1.2 MILLION VOTERS.

WE HAD 1564 PJ'S AND AJ'S REPORT FOR DUTY.

THAT MEANS 1PJ AND ONE AJ AT EVERY LOCATION.

WE DID NOT HAVE TO SEND STAFF OUT TO MAN AND TO PRESIDE OVER ANY PARTICULAR POLLING LOCATION. WE DID HAVE TO SEND STAFF OUT TO THE LOCATION THAT OPENED CRITICALLY LATE.

WE SEPTEMBER STAFF THERE TOEN -- WE SENT STAFF THERE TO ENSURE THEY GOT OUT ON TRACK AND THEY WERE ABLE TO CLOSE SUCCESSFULLY.

THE DRIVER PROGRAM, THE 782 POLLING LOCATIONS DELIVERED THEIR ELECTIONS ON ELECTION NIGHT.

THE JUDGES STEPPED UP. THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATIVE STAFF AND EMPLOYEES STEPPED UP. LAW ENFORCEMENT STEPPED UP TO

[01:50:02]

WE ESTABLISHED 15 LANES OF TRAFFIC, 45 TENTS AND DEPLOYED HIGH SCHOOL WORKERS FROM 7 P.M. TO MIDNIGHT, AND THEN THE OTHER VOLUNTEER STAFF TO HELP US PROCESS THE ELECTION RESULTS THAT CAME IN ON ELECTION NIGHT. WE HAD POLL WATCHERS WHO TRAVELED FROM THE POLLING LOCATIONS BEHIND THE DRIVER DELIVERING THE BALLOTS. WE ALLOWED THE POLL WATCHERS ON SITE. THERE WERE POLL WATCHERS EVERYWHERE. WE WERE CONCERNED FOR THEIR SAFETY, BUT THEY WORKED THE TENTS.

THEY WORKED CENTRAL COUNT. THEY WERE ABLE TO OBSERVE THE PROCESS. AS YOU ARE ALL AWARE A NONPROFIT CIVIL RIGHTS GROUP SUED THE ADMINISTRATOR'S OFFICE AND THE COUNTY TO EXTEND THE HOURS. THAT EXTENSION WAS GRANTED AT 6:30 IN THE AFTERNOON, IN THE EVENING, TO KEEP THE POLLS OPEN ACROSS THE COUNTY UNTIL 8 P.M. THE TEXAS SUPREME COURT ISSUED A STAY OF THE EXTENDED HOURS. WHILE THE EXTENSION WAS IN EFFECT, OVER 2100 PROVISIONAL BALLOTS WERE CAST.

PURSUANT TO THE ORDER, WE HAVE SEGREGATED THOSE -- WHAT WE CALL AFTER 7 PROVISIONAL BALLOTS. WE WERE DIRECTED BY THE COURT TO SEGREGATE THE BALLOTS AND TO PROCESS THOSE BALLOTS IN A SEGREGATED MANNER. STAFF CURRENTLY IS PROCESSING THOSE AFTER 7 PROVISIONAL BALLOTS.

ONCE WE PROCESS THE BALLOTS, AS WE DO ANY OTHER PROVISIONAL BALLOT, WE WILL TABULATE THEM IN A SEGREGATED MANNER SO THEY ARE NOT ON ANY D DRIVE WITH THE OTHER PROVISIONAL BALLOTS.

AND THEN WE WILL COUNT THOSE VOTES.

WE ANTICIPATE ASKING THE COMMISSIONERS' COURT TO CANVAS ON TPOF 22ND -- NOVEMBER 22ND.

THAT IS THE LAST DAY WE CAN CANVAS THE ELECTION RESULTS.

THAT WILL REQUIRE THE COURT TO PROVIDE A 72-HOUR NOTICE.

WE WOULD NEED TWO TKPHEUGSERS TKA*R -- COMMISSIONERS TO BE PRESENT TO COMPLETE THE CANVAS. ONCE THE CANVAS IS COMPLETED, WE WILL HAVE WRAPPED UP THE ELECTIONS PROCESS.

WE WILL THEN TURN OUR ATTENTION TO A FULL ASSESSMENT WITHOUT FAIL. WE HAVE STARTED IT NOW, BUT WE HAVE STAFF THAT IS WORKING ON THE MANUAL RECOUNT THAT IS REQUIRED BY STATE LAW. WE HAVE STAFF PROCESSING THE PROVISIONAL BALLOTS. WE HAVE STAFF PROCESSING THE STATEMENTS OF RESIDENCY BECAUSE THERE WILL BE AT HRA*ES ONE ENTITY -- AT LEAST ONE ENTITY THAT HAS A RUNOFF ON DECEMBER 13TH. THERE IS WORK STILL BEING DONE TO CLOSE THE ELECTION. I WOULD LIKE TO HIGHLIGHT THE HARRIS COUNTY ELECTION SECURITY TASK FORCE THAT SERVED THE COUNTY THROUGH EARLY VOTING -- FROM EARLY VOTING THROUGH ELECTION DAY AND NIGHTE. TH TASK FORCE WAS LEAD BY PRECINCT ONE, CONSTABLE ALLEN ROSEN'S TEAM AND SEVERAL AGENCIES WHO COORDINATED THE PLANNING AND THE OPERATIONS OF THE ENDEAVOR. TO MY KNOWLEDGE THIS IS THE LARGEST TASK FORCE THAT I'M AWARE OF DEPLOYED ANYWHERE IN THE UNITED STATES. THE TASK FORCE GOVERNMENT HAS AN APPROACH OF SECURING THE ELECTIONS.

IT CONSISTED OF SEVERAL CONSTABLE OFFICES, THE HARRIS COUNTY SHERIFF, THE HARRIS COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S OFFICE, THE OFFICE OF THE HARRIS COUNTY ATTORNEY, THE HARRIS COUNTY FIRE MARSHAL'S OFFICE, THE HARRIS COUNTY ELECTION ADMINISTRATOR'S OFFICE, THE OFFICE OF THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR, THE HOUSTON POLICE DEPARTMENT AND THE FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATIONS DURING THE ENTIRE VOTING PERIOD, THE TASK FORCE MET TWICE DAILY TO COLLABORATE, DISSEMINATE AND SHARE INTELLIGENCE INFORMATION AND DISCUSS AND MITIGATE ANY POTENTIAL THREAT OR SECURITY INCIDENT AT ANY POLLING LOCATION IF SOMEONE MADE A COMPLAINT, THE TASK FORCE INVESTIGATED.

THEY SENT AN OFFICER OUT TO TAKE A LOOK.

IF THERE WAS SOMETHING TO REPORT, THE OFFICER MADE A REPORT AND WE CLOSED OFF ANY CIRCLES OR ANY LOOPS THAT APPEARED. NUMEROUS DEPUTIES AND LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS, 26 DURING EARLY VOTING AND 52 ON ELECTION DAY WERE STATIONED THROUGHOUT FOUR QUADRANTS TO PROVIDE SUPPORT TO THE VARIOUS LOCATIONS THAT WERE ASSISTING IN THE TRANSPORTATION OF BALLOTS DURING THE EARLY VOTING AND SOME

[01:55:04]

OVERALL, THERE WERE NO INCIDENTS OF VIOLENCE AND LAW ENFORCEMENT AND ELECTION WORKERS WERE ABLE TO SUCCESSFULLY INTERVENE WHEN THE ARGUMENTS AROSE TO ENSURE DE ESCALATION.

VOTERS AND COUNTY STAFF REMAIN SAFE.

THE TASK FORCE UTILIZED THE K9 UNITS TO SWEEP POLLING LOCATIONS FOR EXPLOSIVES ON A DAILY BASIS. THEY DID THE SAME THING AT THE CENTRAL COUNT LOCATION. AND THEY DE -- STKAE EMPLOYED THE -- DESTROYED THE SKY WATCH AT NRG AT CENTRAL COUNT.

ALL BALLOTS WERE SUCCESSFULLY SECURED BY THE SAFETY PROTOCOLS.

ALL IN ALL, THERE WERE NO SIGNIFICANT SECURITY ISSUES THAT NEEDED TO BE ADDRESSED. WE THANK THE TASK FORCE FOR THEIR SERVICE. WE BELIEVE THEIR SUPPORT MAY HAVE SUPPORTED OR HAVE TAMPED DOWN SOME OF THE ISSUES THAT THE OTHER COUNTIES AND THE STATES SAW ON ELECTION DAY.

I THINK WE SPOKE TO OUR HARRIS COUNTY VOTERS AND THE RESIDENTS TO REMIND THEM THAT OUR ELECTION JUDGES ARE OUR FRIENDS AND NEIGHBORS. THEY WILL BE OUR FRIENDS AND NEIGHBORS. THEY HAVE ALWAYS BEEN OUR FRIENDS AND NEIGHBORS AND NO ONE OF THEM IS TRYING TO CHEAT ANYONE ELSE OUT OF THE ELECTION PROCESS.

ALL THEY WANT TO DO IS ENSURE THAT VOTERS CAN CAST THEIR VOTE AND THAT THOSE VOTES ARE TABULATED.

THAT'S MY TESTIMONY AS IT RELATES TO THE ELECTION PROCESS.

AT THIS TIME I WILL PROVIDE A FULL REPORT TO THIS BODY AND TO THE ELECTIONS COMMISSION, AND I'M AVAILABLE TO ANSWER ANY

QUESTIONS YOU MAY HAVE. >> ADRIAN GARCIA: JUDGE?

>> LINA HIDALGO: GO AHEAD, COMMISSIONER.

>> ADRIAN GARCIA: THANK YOU. MR. TATUM, THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMENTS. IT WAS VERY MUCH ON POINT.

I WOULD LIKE TO VISIT WITH YOU AT A LATER TIME WITH YOUR KEY STAFF TO GO OVER SOME THINGS THAT I HAVE HEARD AND DEALT WITH AND I WANT TO APPRECIATE YOU TO SOME OF THE CHALLENGES WE HAD IN OUR PRECINCT. I WOULD LIKE TO VISIT WITH YOU AND WORK THROUGH A COUPLE OF THINGS THAT HAVE EMERGED THAT I THINK WOULD BE GOOD OPPORTUNITIES AS A MATTER OF BEST PRACTICES. IT IS MORE SPECIFICALLY IN THE RAIN -- IN THE VEIN OF TRAINING AND, IF YOU WILL, VOLUNTEER DEVELOPMENT, AND THEN DISCUSS SOME OF THE SECURITY ISSUES THAT I HAVE GOTTEN CALLS FOR AS OF THIS MORNING.

SO JUST WANT TO VISIT WITH YOU ON THOSE THINGS.

HAVING BEEN IN THE ROLE IN THE BRIEF TIME YOU HAVE BEEN, I JUST WANT TO THANK YOU FOR MAINTAINING YOUR COMPOSURE WHILE THINGS WERE SOMETIMES VERY CHAOTIC.

SO I JUST WANT TO COMMEND YOU. AND THEN SECONDLY TO ALSO JUST SAY WHERE YOU -- AS YOU DO YOUR ASSESSMENT, WHERE YOU FIND THE DEFICIENCIES THAT MAY BE THERE OPERATIONALLY, STAFFING, BUDGET-WISE, YOU HAVE GOT TO PLEASE LET US KNOW SO THAT WE CAN MAKE THOSE DECISIONS AND WORK WITH YOU ON THEM.

IT IS NOT FAIR TO HAVE YOU DO YOUR JOB WITH ONE ARM TIED BEHIND YOUR BACK. I DON'T KNOW IF THAT'S THE CASE.

I IMAGINE YOUR ASSESSOR WILL TELL YOU WHERE YOU CAN FIND OPERATIONAL EFFICIENCIES. BUT IF THERE ARE BUDGE TERRY CHALLENGES -- BUDGETARY CHALLENGES, YOU NEED TO LET US KNOW SO WE CAN WORK WITH YOU ON THAT.

I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR STEPPING IN IN SHORT ORDER.

I KNOW THAT YOU DON'T HAVE THE ENTIRE TEAM BUILT OUT YET.

YOU WOULD LIKE TO SEE THAT. YOU STILL -- YOU WERE HANDS ON.

AT A MINIMUM, I UH -- I APPRECIATE THAT AND YOU ARE OUT ON THE FIELD AND I APPRECIATE THAT.

AND YOU HAVE BEEN ABLE TO MOVE THIS ELECTION FORWARD.

I WANT TO COMMEND YOU AND THANK YOU.

>> RODNEY ELLIS: JUDGE, RODNEY? >> LINA HIDALGO: COMMISSIONER

ELLIS. >> RODNEY ELLIS: MR. TATUM, I TOO WANT TO THANK YOU. IT HAS BEEN A SHORTEN YOUR.

[02:00:03]

WHAT MONTH WAS THAT? >> JULY, END OF JULY.

>> RODNEY ELLIS: SEEMS LIKE A LIFETIME, DOESN'T IT?

>> IT'S BEEN AWHILE. >> RODNEY ELLIS: I APPRECIATE YOUR TEAM AND THE JUDGES, WHATEVER PARTY THEY MAY BE IN.

IT IS A VERY TOUGH JOB. PARTICULARLY IN THIS ENVIRONMENT. I KNOW THAT I TOLD YOU WHEN YOU CAME IN, I DIDN'T KNOW YOU BEFORE I -- BEFORE YOU CAME IN, DC AND GEORGIA NOTWITHSTANDING YOU BETTER PUT THE BEST OF BRITCHES ON COMING IN HERE. IT IS A MASSIVE REGION.

I THINK I REMEMBER TELLING YOU, BUT I LOOKED IT UP EARLIER TO GET A SENSE OF THE SIZE OF THIS PLACE.

USUALLY WHEN THEY JUST SAY 1778 SQUARE MILES, IT IS BIGGER THAN RHODE ISLAND AND IT IS BIGGER THAN RHODE ISLAND, DELAWARE, CONNECTICUT, NEW JERSEY, NEW HAMPSHIRE AND VERMONT.

IF YOU JUST SAID WHAT YOU COULD PLUG IN HERE IN THIS COUNTY, AUSTIN, BOSTON, CHICAGO, DALLAS, LOS ANGELES, NEW YORK, PHOENIX, SAN DIEGO WITH ROOM TO SPARE. YOU COULD PUT SOME OTHER CITIES IN THEIR FOOTPRINT. FROM MY VANTAGE POINT I HAVE NO DOUBT IT WAS A RIGHT DECISION TO BRING IN A PROFESSIONAL TEAM AND COMBINE BOTH REGISTERING VOTERS AND RUNNING THE ELECTIONS.

I HAVE ALWAYS WONDERED, NOT JUST HERE, BUT AROUND THE STATE HOW YOU MAKE IT WITH ESSENTIALLY A VOLUNTEER ORGANIZATION AND SO IT MEANS THAT YOU PULL PEOPLE OFF FOR HANDLING APPRAISALS OR COLLECTING TAXES ABOUT SIX MONTHS TO GET READY TO GO -- TO DO THE REGISTRATION STUFF. AND THEN YOU TAKE FOLKS WHO HAVE OTHER SIGNIFICANT RESPONSIBILITIES IN THE CLERK'S OFFICE AND WHEN IT IS TIME, YOU FOCUS ON THIS.

IT DID APPEAR TO ME THAT MOST OF THE PROBLEMS ARE ON ELECTION DAY. IS THAT A FAIR ASSESSMENT AS OPPOSED TO THE EARLY VOTING PERIOD.

>> I DON'T KNOW I WOULD SAY THAT AND HERE IS WHY.

EARLY VOTING -- AT THE BEGINNING OF ANY VOTING PERIOD, THERE IS ALWAYS THE JITTERS THAT A JUDGE ENCOUNTERS IN SETTING UP THE PROCESS. SO THE SAME ISSUES WE SAW ON ELECTION DAY WE SAW ON EARLY VOTING DAY, THE FIRST DAY OF EARLY VOTING. BUT WE HAD A LONGER PERIOD OF

TIME TO SMOOTH THAT OUT. >> CORRECT.

>> AND VAMP IT UP TO MAKE IT WORK.

AS WE THOUGHT ABOUT WHAT ARE WE GOING TO SEE ON ELECTION DAY WITH -- REALLY 792, AND SOME OF THOSE LOCATIONS DIDN'T SERVE AS AN ELECTION DAY LOCATION. WE KNEW WE HAD AT LEAST 700 LOCATIONS -- 700 JUDGES WHO WERE GOING TO DO IT FOR ONE DAY FOR THE FIRST TIME. WE ANTICIPATED THAT THERE WAS GOING TO BE THE SAME ISSUES THAT WE SAW FOR THE FIRST DAY OF

EARLY VOTING. >> YOU KNOW, I ALSO THINK IT WAS THE RIGHT THING FOR US TO DO AS A COUNTY TO MAKE ALL OF THESE POLLING PLACES THE MEGA VOTING CENTERS.

IT WAS PRETTY EARLY THINKING. IT WAS BASED ON A PILOT PROGRAM, SOME COUNTY IN COLORADO, THAT DID THAT FIRST.

ITS IA BIG CHALLENGE. ITS IA BIG CHALLENGEOR F PEOPLE ACCUSTOMEDOI GNG TO A CERTAIN PLACEN IA NEIGHBORHOOD TO LEARN. YOUAN C GO ANYWHERE.

YOU DON'T HAVE TO JUSTTO GO YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD.

I THINKEA I RD A PRESS ACCOUNT FROM A FRIENDMI OF NE THAT REDUCED THE NUMBER. ANDYO THEN U HAVE PEOPLE ANGRY WHEN YOUE REDUCTHE NUMBER. AND THIS ISMU A COMNITY THAT RELIESTU UNFORNATELYBO ON SOMEDY HAVING A CAR.TH I INK THAT WAS THE DECISION TO DOEN.

WHUR YOU DO YO ASSESSMENT I HOPE YOU WILL LOOK AT THEON ELECTIS AND YOU HAVE MADE -- YOU HAVE GONE IN AND CHANGED THS LAW BECAE THEY DON'T WANT V DRIVE-THRUOTING.

ITAR IS ISSUES THAT EG. CHALLENGINO LOOK, LOOKACK AND AT THOSE.

COME ON NOW.G. I AM SPEAKINT WE DON'T WANTO OUT.AR THE ROOM LISTEN. YOU HAD YOUR WHAT ISTH THE NEXT BIG ONE AT COMES UP?

IS IT THE CITY ELECTIONS? >> WE HAVE A MAY 2023AR ELECTION

WHICH E ENTITIES.S: >> RODNEY ELLI THE CITIES HAVE

[02:05:01]

THE VOTE. >> YES. T AND THEN WE HAVEHE NOVEMBER 2023.

>> RODNEY ELLIS: DO WEUN IT FOR>> CITY OF HOUSTON?

THEY CONTRACTNE TO DO IT. >> RODY ELLIS: NETHAT WOULD BE THE XT, I'M ASSUMING 2 MILLION PEOPLE OR SO.E THAT'S THE NEXT LARG RAE -- LARGE ELECTION WE WILL HAVE.

I WANT TO MAKE SURE WE CAN FINDN SOME PERMANENT STAFF ANDOT JUST RELYING ON SHROL -- VOLUNTEER WORKERS.

PAY OVERTIME OR SOMETHING TO COUNTY WORKERS SO YOU ARE NOT SCRAMBLING TO GO AND FIND PEOPLE? I KNOW YOU HAVE LITIGATION ISSUES THAT ARE OUT THERE.

SOME ARE LEGITIMATE AND SOME THEY WANT TO MAKE A POINT SO YOU HAVE TO BE CAREFUL IN TERMS OF WHAT YOU ARE I SAYING.

ACCORDING TO MY NOTES, AM JUST CURIOUS TO KNOW, IS IT A GUESS? WHAT PERCENT OF THE LOCATIONS HAVE PROBLEMS AND WHAT PERCENT DIDN'T? MY NOTES -- WE LOOK AT A FIGURE -- WE HAVE 97 LOCATIONS REPORTING NO PROBLEM.

IS THAT ACCURATE? >> AS WE ARE ASSESSING THAT, THERE IS A LARGE PERCENTAGE OF LOCATIONS THAT HAVE A GOOD DAY.

I WILL BE ABLE TO DRILL THAT DOWN.

>> RODNEY ELLIS: YOU CAN DRILL THAT DOWN.

>> YES. KPWAOE HIND -- AND BEHIND ME EVERY PERCENTAGE IS A I REAL NUMBER.

>> RODNEY ELLIS: WOULD BE CURIOUS TO KNOW IN YOUR ASSESSMENT -- YOU DON'T HAVE TO ANSWER NOW -- WHEN WE HAVE A GREAT VICTORY AND A PARADE CAME UP, DID THE IMPACT FINDING SOME OF THE WORKERS THAT DAY RIGHT BEFORE ELECTION DAY.

I DON'T KNOW, BUT THESE ARE THE THINGS THAT MY STAFF CAME UP WITH. I WOULD BE CURIOUS TO KNOW IF OTHER PLACES IN THE STATE ARE USING SIMILAR EQUIPMENT.

THE MACHINES WE PICKED WERE NOT NECESSARILY MY FAVORITE, BUT HOW WOULD I KNOW? I WAS WORRIED WHEN THE LAW WAS CHANGED WITH THE LONGEST BALLOT IN THE COUNTRY WHEN PEOPLE DIDN'T HAVE THE OPTION OF DOING A STRAIGHT TICKET OR WHETHER OR NOT SOME PEOPLE WOULD BE LESS APT TO GO TO THE BOTTOM OF THE BALLOT. I AM TOLD THE MACHINE THAT WAS PICKED, EVEN IF IT WAS NOT MY CHOICE, AND I DIDN'T KNOW THAT, BUT THE MACHINE THAT WAS PICKED DID ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO GO AND LOOK AT EVERY ITEM. AND I WANT THEM TO DO THAT.

WHETHER THEY ARE VOTING FOR ORGANS ANY OF US, I WANT THEM TO LOOK AT EVERY ITEM. MAYBE I DIDN'T HAVE THE RIGHT ATTITUDE ON THAT ISSUE. ON THE PAPER ISSUE, I HOPE YOU WILL LOOK AND SEE WHAT CAN BE DONE IF WE HAVE TO PUT MORE OF THESE PRINTERS IN? I HAVE A CHALLENGE.

I VOTE THE FIRST DAY OF EARLY VOTING WITH NO LINES.

I WAITED UNTIL 2:00, 3:00 AFTER LUNCH.

IT WAS RATHER EMBARRASSING WHEN MY PAPER JAMMED AND I ASSUMED IT WAS ME. THE FOLKS I WENT WITH FINISHED SO MUCH EARLIER. I KNOW SOME OF THE ISSUES RAISED ABOUT THE HART MACHINE. SOME OF MY FRIENDS IN TARANT COUNTY WERE CONCERNED. A MUCH SMALLER COUNTY.

IT WAS ABOUT THE PAPER ISSUE AND THE BALLOT IS NOT AS LONG AS OURS. SOMEONE DID SUGGEST DOING IT SO YOU CAN GET IT ON ONE PAGE. ALL OF US DON'T SEE AS WELL AS WE USED TO SEE. SO AT LEAST IT WAS A PAIN, BUT IT WAS BIG AND I COULD SEE IT. IF SOMEHOW THEY REDUCED THE SIZE OF THE PRINT, THAT'S AN ISSUE. AND I THINK WE ARE THEIR BIGGEST VENDOR FOR THEIR MACHINES. SO THEY OUGHT TO HAVE A VESTED INTEREST IN SOLVING THIS. I THINK THEY COST ABOUT $30 MILLION IF MY MEMORY SERVES ME CORRECT.

SO OBVIOUSLY ONCE THE MACHINE -- >> 32.

>> ONCE WE PICK THE MACHINES YOU CAN'T REALLY GO BACK ON THAT.

I WILL BE UNITED IN YOU HAVING A COMPLETE ANALYSIS AND WE'LL GET TO LOOK AT IT AND PICK AT IT. JUDGE, I THOUGHT IT WAS IMPORTANT TODAY, INSTEAD OF JUST ASKING QUESTIONS AT RANDOM, TO GET A SENSE OF WHAT YOU THINK WENT WRONG.

OBVIOUSLY THERE WERE PROBLEMS. I WILL WANT TO GET SOME SENSE OF THINGS THAT WE DID WRONG THAT RELATED TO MONEY.

THINGS THAT REDID WRONG THAT RELATED TO TRAINING.

THINGS WE COULD NOT CONTROL BECAUSE MANDATES WERE PUT ON US WE WANT TO LET OUR PARTNERS ON OTHER LEVELS KNOW THE CHALLENGES. AND I WOULD BE INTERESTED IN WHAT HAPPENED AROUND THE STATE, PARTICULARLY IF IT IS THE SAME

[02:10:04]

THANK YOU. AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE

AND YOUR TEAM. >> LINA HIDALGO: COMMISSIONER

RAMSEY. >> TOM RAMSEY: I RECEIVED A LOT OF FEEDBACK IN THE LAST THREE WEEKS.

PART OF THAT REASON IS THE PRECINCT WITH THE MOST REGISTERED VOTERS IS PRECINCT 3. THE PRECINCT THAT HAD THE MOST VOTERS THAT TRIED TO VOTE IN THE PROCESS LIVE IN PRECINCT 3.

LET ME START FROM THE OUTSET, MR. TATUM.

YOU NEED TO HAVE A TOWN HALL. UNLESS WE ARE WILLING TO LISTEN, WE WILL NEVER FIX IT. AND THIS ISN'T THE FIRST TIME WE HAVE HAD A PROBLEM WITH THE ELECTION.

THIS ISN'T THE FIRST TIME WE HAD A PROBLEM WITH THE MACHINE.

THIS ISN'T THE FIRST TIME WE HAVE GONE THROUGH THIS.

SO TO PLAY LIKE, WELL, WE ARE GONNA LISTEN AND WRITE IT DOWN.

I THINK WE NEED AN AUDIT OF THE ELECTION.

I AM CALLING FOR THAT NOT FOR POLITICAL REASONS, BUT FOR OBVIOUS REASONS THAT WE HAVE A PROBLEM IN HARRIS COUNTY.

WE DO NOT KNOW HOW TO RUN AN ELECTION.

WITH DOZENS OF LOCATIONS REPORTING BALLOT SHORTAGES, GOVERNOR ABBOTT DIDN'T HAVE ANYTHING TO DO WITH A BALLOT SHORTAGE. I THINK IN TERMS OF IF WE ARE GOING TO BE ACCOUNTABLE WE NEED TO STEP UP WITH THAT.

PRESIDING JUDGES AND ALTERNATE JUDGES, I AGREE WITH YOU, MR. TATUM. THEY WERE NOT SUPPORTED.

SOME STARTED CALLING AT 8:00 IN THE MORNING AND SOME OF THEM DIDN'T GET A CALL BACK UNTIL 8:00 AT NIGHT.

THAT'S NOT RIGHT. THERE IS NO WAY WE SHOULD LOOK AT THAT AND SAY, MAN, THAT'S AN ISOLATED DEAL.

DOUBLE SCANNING THE SPOILED BALLOTS, ADEQUATE EQUIPMENT NOT PROVIDED. GOVERNOR ABBOTT DIDN'T HAVE ANYTHING TO DO WITH ADEQUATE EQUIPMENT BEING PROVIDED.

THAT'S ON US. POLLING LOCATIONS OPENING LATE AND CONFUSION IN RESPONSE TO THE COURT ORDER OPENINGS.

THAT CREATED AN ISSUE. A LACK OF SCANNING BALLOTS.

WE HAVE HEARD IT FOR NEARLY TWO HOURS NOW, A LISTING OF THE PROBLEMS. WE HEARD THE SAME THING IN MARCH. WE HEARD THE SAME THING IN THE SUMMER. WE HEARD THIS, AND YET NOTHING IS BEING DONE ABOUT IT. JUDGE HIDALGO, YOU ARE CHAIR OF THE ELECTIONS COMMISSION. WHEN WE SET THIS THING UP, WE HAVE AN ELECTIONS COMMISSION. YOU'RE CHAIR OF IT.

AND IT START -- IT SHOULD START WITH THE COMMISSION.: I DON'T KNOW WHEN THE LAST TIME THE COMMISSION MET.

I DON'T KNOW THE LAST TIME THE COMMISSION SAID, YOU KNOW WHAT? WE HAD PROBLEMS EARLIER IN THE YEAR.

WE HAD PROBLEMS IN THE PRIMARY AND IN THE RUNOFF.

BY GEORGE, WE'RE GONNA FIX IT. I HAVEN'T HEARD THE COMMISSION SAY THAT. IN TERMS OF RESOURCES THIS IS WHAT I KNOW. I THINK WE ARE SPENDING TWICE AS MUCH ON ELECTIONS AS WE DID IN 2018.

I THINK THERE IS A NUMBER THERE THAT IT IS PRETTY CLOSE.

WE ARE SPENDING A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT MORE ON ELECTIONS.

AND YOU TALK ABOUT ACCOUNTABILITY.

WHEN THE TAX ASSESSOR DID IT AND WHEN THE CLERK DID IT, THEY HAD PEOPLE. NOW, PEOPLE UNFORTUNATELY, WE HAVE A LOT OF PEOPLE IN THE COUNTY THAT REMEMBER HOWIE ELECTIONS WERE DONE -- HOW ELECTIONS WERE DONE.

THEY WREB GOING AND VOTING -- THEY REMEMBER GOING AND VOTING AND THEY REMEMBER A PROBLEM OR TWO.

AND THEY REMEMBER BY MIDNIGHT WE HAD MOST OF THE RESULTS.

YOU HAVE TO UNDERSTAND WHEN WE ARE COUNTING TWO DAYS LATER, PEOPLE ARE GONNA BECOME ANGRY. THEY ARE GOING TO BECOME SUSPICIOUS. THAT'S WHY IT IS SO SACRED THAT WE GET IT RIGHT AND FIXED. UP TO NOW I DON'T SEE US TRYING TO FIX OUR PROBLEMS. I APPRECIATE GOVERNOR ABBOTT COMING IN TO HELP US RESOLVE OUR PROBLEMS WE CAN'T RESOLVE ON OUR OWN, AND CLEARLY WE CAN'T. AND LET ME REMIND EVERYBODY, WE ARE A SUB PART OF THE STATE. SO WHEN THE STATE COMES IN HERE, WE ARE SAYING, WELL, THE STATE SHOULDN'T COME IN HERE.

NO. WE ARE A SUB PART TO THE STATE.

[02:15:02]

I SUSPECT THE STATE WILL COME IN AND PLAY AND DEAL WITH IT AND THAT IS WHAT THEY SHOULD DO. SO I WILL LOOK FORWARD TO YOU HAVING A TOWN HALL. I LOOK FORWARD TO YOU CALLING FOR AN AUDIT. I LOOK FORWARD TO YOU IDENTIFYING THE THINGS THAT WE NEED TO DO, BUT WE HAVE TO -- BEFORE WE MOVE ON WITH HOW WE ARE GOING TO FIX IT, WE NEED TO BE SURE WE KNOW WHAT WE HAVE RIGHT NOW IN TERMS OF VOTES, IN TERMS OF ELECTIONS. THAT'S WHY I THINK A FULL AUDIT

WOULD BE APPROPRIATE. >> LINA HIDALGO: COMMISSIONER

CAGLE, DO YOU HAVE ANY COMMENTS? >> R. JACK CAGLE: I WOULD LIKE TO THANK THE PEOPLE WHO CAME TO EXPRESS FROM THEIR HEART THE CIRCUMSTANCES THEY FACED ON THE FIELD.

I WANT TO THANK THE FOLKS OF PRECINCT 4, BOTH THE OLD AND THE NEW ONE FOR PARTICIPATING IN THE PROCESS TO THE BEST WE CAN.

AND I RESERVE THE REST OF MY QUESTIONS AND COMMENTS FOR

LATER. >> LINA HIDALGO: THANK YOU.

MR. TATUM, A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS FOR YOU.

WE ARE TALKING ABOUT PERCENTAGES EARLIER WITH COMMISSIONER ELLIS.

DO YOU HAVE ANY SENSE OF NUMBERS OUT OF THE 782 POLLING LOCATIONS WHAT NUMBER ENCOUNTERED SIGNIFICANT ISSUES LIKE THE DELAYED OPENING OR THE ISSUES WITH THE PAPER? AND IS THERE A PARTICULAR EVIDENCE -- IS THERE EVIDENCE OF A PARTICULAR TYPE OF CONCENTRATION OR A CERTAIN PATTERN OR WHAT DO YOU SEE SO FAR?

>> OUR RECRUITING TEAM IS CALLING EVERY JUDGE.

AS OF THIS MORNING THERE IS ABOUT 200 JUDGES THAT REMAIN TO BE CALLED. THEY HAVE IDENTIFIED A NUMBER OF LOCATIONS THAT INDICATED THEY RAN OUT OF PAPER.

WE HAVE ALSO IDENTIFIED THAT WE SENT TECHS OUT TO GIVE THEM PAPER. GIVE ME JUST A LITTLE MORE TIME TO ANALYZE THIS DATA SO THAT I CAN GIVE YOU AN ACCURATE NUMBER.

WHAT I'M AFRAID WILL HAPPEN IS IF I GO TOO HIGH AND THEN ATTEMPT TO PULL IT BACK, IT WILL BE I'M MAKING UP NUMBERS.

>> LINA HIDALGO: YEAH. >> I'M VERY COGNIZANT AND I WANT TO BE COGNIZANT THAT I DON'T GIVE FALSE INFORMATION.

>> LINA HIDALGO: I HEAR YOU. I THINK THE ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS WILL BE ADDRESSED WHEN YOU HAVE YOUR FULL REPORT.

WE WILL BE LOOKING AT THAT. I WANT TO THANK MR. TATUM.

YOU AND ALL OF THE ELECTION VOTERS WHO SELECTED YOU VOTED ON A BIPARTISAN BASIS INITIALLY AND THEN AT THE LAST MINUTE THERE WAS A SURPRISE SHIFT BY THE REPUBLICAN PARTY CHAIR BUT THE ENTIRE SELECTION PROCESS WAS VERY MUCH BIPARTISAN AND THOROUGH. I'M PROUD OF THE FACT THAT YOU'VE CHOSEN TO JOIN US HERE IN HARRIS COUNTY.

OBVIOUSLY IT IS IMPORTANT FOR ELECTION LAWS TO BE FOLLOWED AND ELECTION LAWS TO BE ADDRESSED AND FOR WEAKNESSES TO BE IDENTIFIED AND ADDRESSED. THE THING THAT DOESN'T MAKE SENSE TO ME IS FOR THE STATE TO SINGLE OUT HARRIS COUNTY FOR THE KIND OF HARASSMENT AND THE KIND OF POLITICAL STUNT THAT WE ARE SEEING. THERE IS A PROCESS FOR ADDRESSING CONCERNS. TO MY KNOWLEDGE IT DOES NOT INVOLVE A PRESS RELEASE ANNOUNCING THREE DIFFERENT AGENCIES TO GO INTO A SINGLE COUNTY AFTER ANNOUNCING TWO SEPARATE AUDITS. SO EVERYONE WILL PARTICIPATE IN THESE INVESTIGATIONS TO THE EXTENT REQUIRED DESPITE THERE BEING NO EVIDENCE AND CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG, MR. TATUM, OF WIDESPREAD FRAUD. I DO WANT TO MAKE TWO THINGS VERY CLEAR. ONE IS EVERYBODY TALKS A GOOD GAME WHEN IT COMES TO THE ELECTION WORKERS.

THE TRUTH OF THE MATTER IS THE HARASSMENT THAT COMES FROM THE CLAIMS THAT ARE BEING MADE FROM STATE LEADERS TO THE LOCAL LEADERS AMOUNTS TO HARASSING OF ELECTION WORKERS.

AND THREATENING AND MUCH LESS DOING SO FOR HEADLINES IS UNACCEPTABLE. AND WE ARE SEEING A REPUDIATION OF THAT, NOT JUST IN HARRIS COUNTY, BUT ALSO AROUND THE NATION. THE ELECTION WORKERS HAVE DONE

[02:20:04]

THEY WORK JUST A HANDFUL OF HOURS OUT OF THE YEAR.

WE WERE GIVEN A CHOICE OF TWO MACHINES BECAUSE OF THE STATE LAW. THE MACHINE WASN'T MY CHOICE EITHER. STATE LAW FORCED US TO SELECT ONLY TWO OPTIONS. THERE IS NO WAY BUT TOAV HE 2 PAGE THAT'SAK MES FOR MUCH LONGER PROCESSING AND MUCH LONGEROT VING. STRAIGHT TICKETIN VOTG WAS ELIMINATED. THAT HAPPENED BECAUSE OFTE STA LAW. NONE OF THESE BECAUSE OFWI DESPREAD. FRAUD MAIL INTS BALLO WEREIC RESTRTED THAT WOULD MAKE A HUGE- LAW - LOGISTICALTI OPERAON THAT HARRIS COUNTYFA HAS TO CE.LI UNKE ANY OTHER COUNTYS IN TEXA THEY WOULD MAKE THAT SO MUCH EASIER.IV DRE-THRUWA VOTING SIN ELIMATED.

WHEN I VISITED THEU DRIVE-THR VOTING OPERATIONS,RO I HEARD FM MANY FOLKS WHETHER IT WASFO OLDR LKSTY WITH MOBILI YOUNGER FOLKS WITH COULDN'T LEAVE HOME.

THEY COULD GO THROUGH ARU DRIVE-TH, BUT IT WASHAE LIMB TPETED BECAUSEIM OF -- ELINATEDCE AND NO EVIDENSP OF WIDEREAD FRAUD. THERE ARE INCREASEDPE CRIMINAL NALTIES THAT ONLY LIMIT THEEC POOL OF ELTION WORKERSIN BY HARASSGIN PEOPLE AND SCARG PEOPLE FROM WANTING TO WORK IN THESO ELECTIONS. WE HAVE PUT AROUND 15 MILLION INTO THISAN ELECTION, MORE TH ANY ELECTION, EXCEPT FOR 2021.

OBVIOUSLYUE THERE ARE STILL ISSS TOWH WORK THROUGH.

AT I WANT TO MAKE VERY CLEARAL AND THE NATION CONTEXT THAT BEGAN AFTER THE 2020 ELECTIONSAN AND JANUARY 6TH D IT IS TRYING TO TAKE HOLD HERE H, ELECTIONS WILLAVE AS ANY W CHALLENGES THAT WEILL WORPBG -- WORK TO ADDRESS THEM.

THIS HARASSMENT AND EXAGGERATION IS NOT THAOER RET -- THEORETICAL TO SAY IT CAN TURN NOT JUST TO DIVISIVENESS, BUT VIOLENCE.

IT IS UNACCEPTABLE TO HAVE THIS KIND OF POSTURING TO HARASS AND INTIMIDATE ELECTION WORKERS AND CERTAINLY TO HARASS AND INTIMIDATE A SINGLE COUNTY. MR. TATUM, I HAVE FAITH IN THE WORK YOU HAVE DONE. COMMISSIONER RAMSEY, ISO REMIND YOU TO CHECK YOUR URCES AND YOUR FACTS BEFORE YOU SHARE THINGS. JUST LIKE YOU REFUSE TO CERTIFY THE ELECTIONS IN 2021, YES, THE ELECTIONS COMMISSION HAS MET AS RECENTLY AS RIGHT BEFORE THE ELECTION AND IN FACT IT HAS.

BE CAREFUL WHAT YOU SAY, SIR. THE KIND OF FEAR THAT YOU ARE CONTINUING TO ENCOURAGE IS NOT JUST THEORETICALLY DANGEROUS, BUT A REAL CONCERN AND WE SAW HOW IT PLAYS OUT.

MR. TATUM WILL BE ON STAND BY AT THE COMMISSIONERS' COURT AND THE ELECTIONS COMMISSION TO HEAR MORE INFORMATION.

IT IS CLEAR TO ME FROM YOUR BACKGROUND AND YOUR ASSESSMENT OF YOUR WEAKNESSES AND YOU DID TELL US TODAY THAT THERE WERE CERTAINISH THAOUZ YOU WERE GOINE GOING TO BE ABLE TO WORK ON BECAUSE YOU HAD A LIMITED LEAD TIME AND WE ALL KNEW THAT GOING IN AND IT IS IN THE RECORD AND I INVITE COMMISSIONER RAMSEY TO LISTEN TO IT BEFORE HE CONTINUES SPREADING HALLS FOOD --

FALSEHOODS. >> TOM RAMSEY: JUDGE, THE REASON I BROUGHT THAT UP IS WE HAD PROBLEMS IN THE MARCH PRIMARY AND RUNOFF. THE COMMISSION REALLY -- THERE IS NO EVIDENCE THAT THESE PROBLEMS HAVE BEEN ADDRESSED.

WE JUST EXPERIENCED A VERY PROBLEMATIC ELECTION, MUCH LIKE WE DID IN MARCH AND MUCH LIKE WE DID IN THE RUNOFF THIS SUMMER.

I ENCOURAGE YOU AND THE COMMISSION TO TAKE SERIOUSLY WHEN PEOPLE EXPRESS TO YOU THE DETAILS AND THE PROBLEMS AND THEN SOLVE IT. GO SOLVE THE PROBLEM.

>> RODNEY ELLIS: JUDGE, IF I MIGHT?

>> LINA HIDALGO: GO AHEAD, COMMISSIONER ELLIS.

>> RODNEY ELLIS: I WOULD LIKE TO EITHER TAKE -- MAYBE TAKE A 10-MINUTE BREAK AND THEN COME BACK AND DO THE CONSENT AGENDA.

LET'S GO TO LUNCH. >> LINA HIDALGO: THERE IS NO ACTION ON EITHER OF THESE ITEMS SO NO ACTION TO THE CLERK'S STAFF. AGAIN, THANK YOU TO THE SPEAKERS. IT IS 1:06 P.M.

[02:25:01]

THANK YOU, MR. AND JUST A REMINDER WE NEEDED THREE FOLKS IN PERSON TO HAVE A QUORUM AND THAT'S WHY WE ARE ONLY NOW STARTING. IT IS 1:56 AND COMMISSIONERS' COURT IS BACK IN SESSION. I'M GONNA GO BACK THROUGH AND MAKE ANY CORRECTIONS. WE'LL START WITH THAT.

ON ITEM 5 THERE IS A REQUEST FOR NO ACTION, ITEM 5.

GOT IT. THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER RAMSEY.

ITEM 79. THAT IS ON PAGE 12 A CORRECTION TO CHANGE PRECINCTS 1 AND 2 TO PRECINCT 1 SO IT READS REQUEST FOR APPROVAL OF A CHANGE IN CONTRACT WITH HAYDEN PAVING FOR PRECINCT 1. MWE CONTRACTED GOAL.

ITEM 1 OF 3 IS NO ACTION ON PAGE 14.

ITEM 141, DEPARTMENT REQUESTS NO ACTION.

>> WHICH ITEM? >> YES, GO AHEAD.

>> WHICH ITEM, JUDGE? >> LINA HIDALGO: THE LATEST ONE I LISTED WAS 141 ON PAGE 18. THAT IS A COLLABORATION -- AN INNER LOCAL AGREEMENT WITH THE CITY OF HOUSTON, FLOOD MITIGATION PROJECT AND THE DEPARTMENT REQUESTS NO ACTION.

>> TOM RAMSEY: JUDGE, 141, AM I TO UNDERSTAND THAT FLOOD CONTROL WOULD LIKE TO HAVE A DISCUSSION TODAY ON THIS ISSUE SO THAT WE CAN ALL BE PREPARED TO VOTE AT THE NEXT MEETING? OR DID I MISUNDERSTAND SOMETHING? YOU REMEMBER THAT, COMMISSION -- COMMISSIONER?

>> LINA HIDALGO: I EXPECTED IT TO BE A DISCUSSION TODAY.

ALL I HAVE IS A NOTE THAT FLOOD CONTROL NO LONGER WANTS IT ADDRESSED TODAY. DR. PETERSON, CAN YOU PLEASE FILL US IN SO WHAT YOUR HOPE WAS FOR THIS ITEM?

>> HI, GOOD AFTERNOON. GOOD AFTERNOON, JUDGE AND COMMISSIONERS. SO THIS ITEM, WE ARE ASKING TO TAKE NO ACTION SO THAT WE CAN PROPERLY POST IT FOR DISCUSSION

AND ACTION ON NOVEMBER 29TH. >> LINA HIDALGO: OKAY.

SO STPHO -- SO NO ACTION OR DISCUSSION TODAY, DR. PETERSEN?

>> YES. THAT IS WHAT WE ARE ASKING FOR SO WE CAN PROPERLY POST IT. IT HAS BEEN COORDINATED WITH THE COUNTY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE. IT IS TO MAKE SURE WE HAVE

EVERYTHING PROPERLY DONE. >> LINA HIDALGO: GOT IT.

IT IS NO ACTION FOR RIGHT NOW. THAT WAS 141.

ITEM -- I CAN SEE COMMISSIONER GARCIA IS BACK IN COURT.

THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER. ITEM 159 IS AN AGREEMENT FOR HOME VISITATION AND PUBLIC HEALTH SERVICES.

THE DEPARTMENT REQUESTS NO ACTION.

ITEM 176, CONSTABLES. OMB REQUESTS NO ACTION ON THIS ITEM. ITEM 217 ON PAGE 28 REQUIRES A CORRECTION. WE NEED TO CHANGE THE TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY TO TEXAS DIVISION OF EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT. SO IT READS REQUESTED BY FLOOD CONTROL DISTRICT FOR AN APPROVAL TO ACCEPT AN AMENDMENT TO AN AGREEMENT WITH THE TEXAS DIVISION OF EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT, ET CETERA, ET CETERA.

ITEM 284, WE NEED TO CHANGE VIOLENCE REDUCTION PILOT PROGRAM TO VIOLENT PREVENTION PILOT PROGRAM.

ITEM 286, IT IS UNDER MY AGENDA AND NO ACTION.

THEY NEEDED MORE TIME TO FINALIZE THE ORDINANCE.

SO WE'LL ASK THIS BE APPROVED AT A FUTURE MEETING OF COMMISSIONERS' COURT. ITEM 326 WE NEED TO CHANGE THE CODE NUMBER. SO WE CHANGED IT FROM 130.98 TO 130.908. IT SHOULD BE PURSUANT TO TEXAS LOCAL GOVERNMENT CODE 130.908. AND THAT'S IT FOR THE MINOR CHANGES. NOW ON EXECUTIVE SESSION LET'S DISCUSS WHICH ITEMS WE NEED TO TALK ABOUT AND WHICH WILL GO TO THE CONSENT AGENDA. DO FOLKS NEED TO GO TO EXECUTIVE SESSION FOR ITEM 322, THE APPROVAL OF AN UH POINTMENT --

[02:30:01]

>> NO. >> LINA HIDALGO: WHAT ABOUT 323, COUNTY ATTORNEY, DO WE NEED TO GO TO EXECUTIVE SESSION ON THIS

ONE. >> NO, JUDGE, UNLESS THERE ARE

QUESTIONS. >> TOM RAMSEY: NO.

>> LINA HIDALGO: 324, DO WE NEED TO GO TO EXECUTIVE SESSION ON

THAT ONE, COUNTY ATTORNEY? >> NO, JUDGE.

>> TOM RAMSEY: NO. >> LINA HIDALGO: 325, COUNTY ATTORNEY IS ANOTHER SPECIAL COUNCIL AGREEMENT.

>> NO. WE DON'T NEED TO GO BACK UNLESS

THERE ARE ANY QUESTIONS. >> TOM RAMSEY: NO.

>> LINA HIDALGO: 335, REAPPOINTMENT OF LAWRENCE FINER

TO HARRIS HEALTH SYSTEM. >> RODNEY ELLIS: I WOULD LIKE TO

GO BACK ON THAT ONE. >> LINA HIDALGO: WE HAVE ITEM 9

WHICH IS -- >> JUDGE.

>> LINA HIDALGO: GO AHEAD. >> BACK ON 322, IT IS APPROVED AS PRESENTED AND THAT'S FOR THE -- OKAY, ON THE CONSENT AGENDA. THANK YOU.

>> LINA HIDALGO: CORRECT. THANK YOU.

SO ITEM 9 IS HRM, TRANSFER OF ONE POSITION, KPHEUGSZ -- COMMISSIONER RAMSEY, DO YOU STILL NEED TO DISCUSS THAT ITEM?

>> TOM RAMSEY: I'M SORRY? >> RODNEY ELLIS: NUMBER 9.

>> LINA HIDALGO: NUMBER 9 ON PAGE 2.

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

LET'S SEE. WHAT ELSE? ITEM 17, COMMISSIONER GARCIA, YOU FLAGGED THAT ONE.

DO YOU STILL NEED TO DISCUSS IT? IT IS AN AGREEMENT WITH URBAN

HARVEST. >> ADRIAN GARCIA: YES.

>> LINA HIDALGO: ITEM 19 IS THE BROAD COVID ITEM AND I HAVE A BRIEF UPDATE. ITEM 40 -- EXCUSE ME THAT WAS 18. ITEM 19, COMMISSIONER -- I KNOW WE HAVE TO DISCUSS THIS ONE. THIS IS ABOUT HARRIS HEALTH.

DR. PORSA WILL NOT BE AVAILABLE, BUT THE COO WILL BE AVAILABLE FOR THAT DISCUSSION ON HARRIS HEALTH, ITEM 19 PAGE 4.

ITEM 20, COMMISSIONER GARCIA FLAGGED THIS ONE, THE PROCUREMENT OF ELECTRIC VEHICLES.

>> ADRIAN GARCIA: YES. >> LINA HIDALGO: ITEM 31, A REQUEST FOR APPROVAL AND FINAL INVESTMENT MEMO FOR INITIAL AUTHORIZATION AND PAPER FUNDING. MY UNDERSTANDING IS OMB WOULD LIKE TO PROVIDE AN UPDATE. IS THAT RIGHT, MR. RAMOS?

>> YES, JUDGE. >> LINA HIDALGO: SO WE'LL LEAVE THAT ONE FOR DISCUSSION. AND THEN 34, CONTRACT PATROL RATE SCHEDULE. COMMISSIONER RAMSEY, DO YOU STILL HAVE A QUESTION ON THAT ONE?

>> TOM RAMSEY: YES. >> LINA HIDALGO: 38, 24 HOURS OF LEAVE, COMMISSIONER GARCIA DO YOU WANT TO DISCUSS THAT ONE?

>> ADRIAN GARCIA: YES. >> LINA HIDALGO: 151, COMMISSIONER ELLIS, DO YOU STILL HAVE A QUESTION THERE? THAT'S THE BROAD LEGISLATIVE AGENDA ITEM.

>> RODNEY ELLIS: YES. >> ADRIAN GARCIA: WHAT NUMBER

WAS THAT? >> LINA HIDALGO: 151 ON PAGE 19.

155, COMMISSIONER GARCIA, DO YOU STILL NEED TO DISCUSS THAT ONE? IT IS GUIDANCE TO SUB RECIPIENT CONTRACTORS AND WORKERS IN TERMS

OF HUD FUNDING. >> ADRIAN GARCIA: YES.

>> LINA HIDALGO: 160, COMMISSIONER CAGLE, RULES FOR REGULATION AND FOOD ESTABLISHMENTS IN UNINCORPORATED

HARRIS COUNTY. >> R. JACK CAGLE: THE CORE OBJECTION TO THAT IS THAT IT IS AN INCREASE IN FEES.

WE MAY JUST WANT TO VOTE ON IT, BUT I DON'T THINK THIS IS THE TIME TO INCREASE FEES TO THE PUBLIC.

>> RODNEY ELLIS: I MOVE IT. >> ADRIAN GARCIA: SECOND.

>> LINA HIDALGO: MOTIONED BY COMMISSIONER ELLIS AND SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER GARCIA. ALL IN FAVOR?

>> I. >> I.

>> LINA HIDALGO: ANY OPPOSED? >> NO.

>> NO. >> LINA HIDALGO: I'M IN FAVOR.

MOTION CARRIES 3-2. >> ADRIAN GARCIA: AND JUDGE, I JUST WANTED TO POINT OUT ON THAT ITEM THAT I DID REACH OUT TO THE HOUSTON RESTAURANT ASSOCIATION AND THERE WAS NO OBJECTION ON

THEIR PART. >> LINA HIDALGO: THANK YOU.

161 IS AN UPDATE OF RULES AND -- RULES FOR REGULATION OF SWIMMING POOLS AND SPAS IN UNINCORPORATED HARRIS COUNTY, COMMISSIONER

CAGLE? >> R. JACK CAGLE: THIS IS VERY SIMILAR AND IT DEALS WITH ADDITIONAL INCREASE IN FEES AND I'M OPPOSED TO INCREASING THE FEES AT THIS TIME.

>> RODNEY ELLIS: I MOVE IT. THIS IS ELLIS AND I MOVE IT.

>> LINA HIDALGO: MOTIONED BY COMMISSIONER ELLIS AND SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER GARCIA. ALL IN FAVOR?

>> I. >> I.

>> LINA HIDALGO: ANY OPPOSED? >> NO.

>> LINA HIDALGO: I'M IN FAVOR. MOTION CARRIES 4-1.

[02:35:07]

DO YOU GUYS STILL NEED TO DISCUSS 195 ON PAGE 24?

>> RODNEY ELLIS: YES. >> ADRIAN GARCIA: YES.

>> LINA HIDALGO: ITEM 200, I GOT A BRIEF MOTION ON THE BURN BAN.

ITEM 212, ROW 13 UNDER TRAVEL AND TRAINING, COMMISSIONER

GARCIA HAD FLAGGED THIS ITEM. >> ADRIAN GARCIA: YES.

>> LINA HIDALGO: ITEM 213, ROW 44 UNDER TRAVEL AND TRAINING, COMMISSIONER GARCIA, DO YOU STILL NEED TO DISCUSS THAT ITEM.

>> ADRIAN GARCIA: YES. >> LINA HIDALGO: 242 ON PAGE 30.

THAT IS AN AWARD FOR CONSTRUCTION OF SIDEWALKS AND RELATED ITEMS. COMMISSIONER CAGLE, DO YOU STILL

NEED TO DISCUSS THAT ITEM? >> R. JACK CAGLE: THIS WAS AN ITEM THAT HAD BEEN PULLED BY OUR COUNTY ENGINEER BRIEFLY.

I COMMUNICATED WHAT THIS PROJECT WAS TO THE TRANSITION TEAM AND THEY REVIEWED IT AND THEY DID NOT WANT THE SIDEWALK PROJECTS HERE TO BE SLOWED DOWN AND CONTACTED MILTON SO IT IS BACK ON THE AGENDA. IT CAN GO ON THE CONSENT AGENDA NOW, BUT WE HAVE COMMUNICATED WITH MS. BRIONES AND THE TRANSITION TEAM AND THEY ARE IN FAVOR OF THESE PROJECTS GOING

FORWARD AND NOT BEING DELAYED. >> LINA HIDALGO: GOT IT.

SO WE WILL PLACE IT BACK ON THE CONSENT AGENDA.

THAT WAS ITEM 242 ON PAGE 30. 268 ON PAGE 34, ON DEMAND EXECUTIVE PROTECTION SERVICES. COMMISSIONER CAGLE, DO YOU STILL

NEED TO DISCUSS THAT ONE? >> R. JACK CAGLE: THIS IS TO WHERE WE ARE NOT USING OUR CON TABLS -- CONSTABLES OR SHERIFFS.

WE ARE USING PRIVATE SECURITY. WE JUST NEED TO VOTE.

>> ADRIAN GARCIA: SO MOVED. >> RODNEY ELLIS: SECOND.

>> LINA HIDALGO: MOTIONED BY COMMISSIONER ELLIS -- EXCUSE ME BY GARCIA AND SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER ELLIS.

ALL IN FAVOR? >> I.

>> I. >> LINA HIDALGO: ANY OPPOSED?

>> NO. >> LINA HIDALGO: I'M IN FAVOR.

MOTION CARRIES 3-2. LET'S GO TO ITEM 326 ON PAGE 40.

COMMISSIONER ELLIS, DO YOU STILL NEED TO DISCUSS THIS?

>> RODNEY ELLIS: YES, I DO. >> LINA HIDALGO: ITEM 332 AND WE ALREADY -- NO. ITEM 332, COMMISSIONERS ELLIS AND RAMSEY BOTH FLAGGED 332 ON PAGE 40 ON SUPPORTING

NEWLY-ELECTED OFFICIALS. >> RODNEY ELLIS: YES.

>> LINA HIDALGO: 336 HAS BEEN REQUESTED BY COMMISSIONERS GARCIA -- EXCUSE ME COMMISSIONERS CAGLE AND RAMSEY, AND SO THIS IS FOR THE EARLY CHILDHOOD IMPACT FUND.

>> ADRIAN GARCIA: DO YOU JUST NEED TO VOTE ON THIS?

>> R. JACK CAGLE: I JUST NEED TO VOTE.

>> TOM RAMSEY: I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE THE MOTION TO PASS THIS.

>> SECOND. >> LINA HIDALGO: MOTIONED BY COMMISSIONER RAMSEY AND SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER ELLIS.

ALL IN FAVOR? >> I.

>> I. >> I.

>> LINA HIDALGO: ANY OPPOSED? >> NO.

>> LINA HIDALGO: I'M IN FAVOR AND MOTION CARRIES 4-1.

THERE ARE NO PUBLIC HEARINGS ON THE AGENDA.

ARE THERE ANY ADDITIONAL ITEMS YOU NEED CLARIFICATION ON?

>> NOME. NO, MA'AM.

>> LINA HIDALGO: LET ME GO BACK DOWN THE LIST.

WE HAVE EXECUTIVE SESSION ITEM 335.

SO THE REGULAR AGENDA ITEMS 17, 18, 19, 20, 31, 34, 38, 151, 155 , 195, 200, 212, 213, 326 AND 332.

AM I MISSING ANYTHING? >> ADRIAN GARCIA: NOPE.

>> RODNEY ELLIS: I MOVE THE CONSENT.

>> ADRIAN GARCIA: SECOND. >> LINA HIDALGO: MOTIONOR F ALL ITEMS T 1HROUGH 336 WITH THE EXCEPTIONS OF ITEMS ALREADYE VOT OWED AND DISCUSSIONMS ITE JUST LISTED, MOTIONED BYMI COMSSIONER ELLIS ANDON SECDED BY COMMISSIONER GARCIA.

ALL IN FAVOR. >> I.

>> >> LINA HIDALGO: ANY OPPOSED?I' M IN. FAVOR MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY.SO G LET'SO BACK TO THEF TOP O THE AGENDA. W WEILL LEAVEVE EXECUTI SESSION FOR LAST.'L WEL STARTEM WITH IT 17.MM COISSIONER TKPWA YOU --

COMMISSIONER GARCIA? >> ADRIAN GARCIA: THANK YOU,E.

JUDG ONIC THIS PARTULAR ITEM WANTED K TO -- YOUNOW WE HAD THD CHEF A TABBYR HERE EARLIEAND I WANT TO APPLAUD O INITIATIVESF THIS NATURE.PA THE AS R CATEGORIES WE -- THEEG ARPA CATORIES WE ARE WORKINGNT

[02:40:06]

URBANIN HARVEST IS TARGETG THEZA LOCAL ORGANITIONS TO IMPROVE INFRASTRUCTUREON AND A INCREASED NUTRITIONNDND HP AND EXPA FOODRE ACCESS. THEY A WORKING HANDNT IN HAND WITH PLA IT FORWARD FARMS TO DEPLOYTS MOBILE FARMER'S MARKE.

THIS FUNDING WILL ENABLE THEM TO DOUBLE THE NUMBER OF MOBILE MARKETS ACROSS THE COUNTY AND HIRE THE NECESSARY STAFF TO BRING HEALTHY FOOD AND NUTRITION EDUCATION WHERE IT IS MOST NEEDED. AS WE TALKED ABOUT THISBE BEINGA NATIONAL DIATES MONTH, THIS AGREEMENT IS COMING AT A GOOD TIME. AS I MENTIONED EARLIER, THE LATINO COMMUNITY IS DISPROPORTIONATELY AFFECTED BY DIABETES WHICH T UNDERSCORES THE NEED FORHIS FUNDING SO I'M EXCITING THE ARPA FUNDS ARE GOING TO WORK AND SO I MOVE ON

THE ITEM, JUDGE. >> RODNEY ELLIS: SECOND.

>> MOTIONED BY COMMISSIONER GARCIA AND SECONDED GUY COMMISSIONER ELLIS. ALL IN FAVOR?

>> I. >> I.

>> LINA HIDALGO: ANY OPPOSED? I'M IN FAVOR.

MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY. THANK YOU TO EVERYONE WORKING ON THIS. THE NEXT ITEM IS EYE -- ITEM 18.

I WILL JUST SHARE A BRIEF UPDATE.

THE LONG AND SHORT OF IT ON COVID IS WE CONTINUE TO SEE HOPEFUL TRENDS. HOSPITAL ADMISSIONS AND COVID CASES ARE RELATIVELY STABLE. WE ARE STILL IN GREEN.

TRANSMISSION IS LOW AND WE NEED TO TAKE PRECAUTIONS TO KEEP US THERE. THE BEST THINGS FOLKS CAN DO RIGHT NOW IS GET THE BOOSTER, AND ANYONE 5 AND OLDER CAN GET THE BOOSTER. IT IS AVAILABLE AT HEB AND WALGREENS. THE BOOSTERS DO PROTECT AGAINST THE OMICRON SUB VARIANTS. BESIDES COVID, BOTH THE FLU AND THE RESPIRATORY VIRUS, THE RSV VIE SUCCESS IS CIRCUMSTANCE -- DASH VIE HAVE YOUS IS I CANNER CIRCULATING.

WE ARE SEEING AN INCREASE OF RSV IN CHILDREN.

WE DON'T SEE RIGHT NOW OVERWHELMED HOSPITALS, BUT IT IS SOMETHING WE WANT TO KEEP AN EYE ON.

THAT'S IT FOR MY UPDATE. >> ADRIAN GARCIA: THANK YOU.

>> RODNEY ELLIS: THANK YOU. >> LINA HIDALGO: NO ACTION ON

THAT ONE, JAMES. >> THANK YOU.

>> LINA HIDALGO: ITEM 19, COMMISSIONERS ELLIS AND RAMSEY

BOTH FLAGGED ITEM 19. >> TOM RAMSEY: I SIMPLY WANT TO MAKE THE MOTION TO PASS THIS. MY QUESTION IS --

>> ADRIAN GARCIA: SECOND. >> TOM RAMSEY: IS THIS THE FIRST MAJOR ARPA MONEY WE PUT INTO THE HOSPITAL DISTRICT? HAD THERE BEEN OTHER TRAUFRPB -- TRAUNCHES THAT WE SENT OVER

THERE? >> NO.

THERE WERE A NUMBER OF PUBLIC HEALTH INVESTMENTS, BUT THIS IS

THE FIRST GOING TO HARRIS HEALTH >> ADRIAN GARCIA: AND COMMISSIONER RAMSEY, IF I COULD, I WOULD LIKE TO JUST ASK US TO SWITCH PLACES. I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE THE MOTION

IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO SECOND IT. >> TOM RAMSEY: THAT WOULD BE

FINE. >> ADRIAN GARCIA: I WORKED ON THIS ITEM AND I AM EXCITED TO SEE THIS.

I WANT TO ADD THAT PROVIDING FUNDING FOR HARRIS HEALTH HAS BEEN A PRIORITY FOR ME. THAT SYSTEM SUPPORTS SO MANY PRECINCT 2 CONSTITUENTS AND IT SAVES THEIR LIVES ON MOST OCCASIONS. AND I JUST WANT TO ALSO OFFER MY APPRECIATION TO THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION.

HAD WE NOT HAD ARPA MONEY AVAILABLE, THEY -- I DON'T KNOW WHAT KIND OF SITUATION THE HARRIS HEALTH STAFF WOULD HAVE TO UNDERGO. BUT WITHOUT A DOUBT THEY WOULD HAVE TO BE FACING DOWN A VERY, VERY DIFFICULT SITUATION IN TRYING TO PLUG THIS $45 MILLION HOLE THAT NO NEW REVENUE RATE CAUSED. AND IMPORTANTLY, THIS FUNDING WILL HELP FUND A NEW PUBLIC SAFETY PROGRAM TO PREVENT AND RESPOND TO VIOLENCE IN A HOSPITAL SETTING.

WE CAN'T KWOPT -- CONTINUE TO PLAY THESE GAMES WHEN IT COMES TO HEALTH. WE MUST FUND THE SERVICES THAT DIRECTLY SAVES LIVES. AND FOR ME IT IS JUST AS SIMPLE AS THAT. HAVING VISITED MANY POLICE OFFICERS AND MANY SHERIFF DEPUTIES AND CONSTABLE DEPUTIES

[02:45:03]

IT SHOULDN'T HAVE BEEN ON THE AGENDA.

WE SHOULD HAVE JUST FUNDED IT. WITH THAT I MOVE ON THE ITEM.

>> RODNEY ELLIS: JUDGE, I HAVE A COUPLE QUESTIONS.

>> LINA HIDALGO: GO AHEAD, COMMISSIONER ELLIS.

>> RODNEY ELLIS: I WANTED TO GET A SENSE OF WHERE THEY WILL SPEND THE MONEY, IF THEY ARE ON THE LINE.

I THINK YOU SAID THE CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER?

>> WE MADE AN INVESTMENT TO HARRIS HEALTH THAT WILL BE REIMBURSED. I THINK IT WAS $8 MILLION.

>> CAN WE COME BACK TO IT LATER? WE SHOULDN'T BE IN THE POSITION TO DO THIS, BUT I WANT TO KNOW WHERE THEY WILL SPEND IT AND I WANT TO MAKE SURE WE KNOW WHERE THAT MONEY WILL GO BEFORE WE

GIVE THEM 45 MILLION. >> AND FOR A CLAIRE TPAU -- CLARIFICATION THERE WOUB SOME AGREEMENT THAT COMES BACK.

THERE WILL BE ANOTHER VOTE WITH MORE SPECIFICS.

>> AND WHAT WILL WE CUT IN ORDER TO DO THIS.

WHAT WILL WE NOT DO? IF THERE IS A TAX RATE THAT YOU PROPOSE WOULD PASS, WE WOULDN'T NEED THIS 45 MILLION, SO WHAT

ARE WE NOT GOING TO DO? >> RIGHT NOW WE ARE OVER ALLOCATED IN THE ARPA FUNDS. AND THE RATIONAL IS THAT WE MAY HAVE SLOWER SPENDING PROGRAMS AND WE DON'T WANT TO RUN OUT.

THERE IS NO FREE MONEY. ULTIMATELY THIS MONEY WILL HAVE TO COME OUT OF OTHER PRY MAJORITIES -- PRY MAJORITIES WHETHER IT IS HEALTH, HOUSING JOBS, COUNTY OPERATIONS, COURT BACKLOG. WE HAVEN'T MADE THAT DECISION YET BECAUSE IN MY VIEW WE OUGHT TO SEE WHERE WE ARE IN ALL OF THE PROGRAMS TO MAKE SURE WE DON'T HAVE MONEY LEFT ON THE

TABLE. >> I THINK ONE OF THE AREAS THAT IS BEING IMPACTED, COMMISSIONER ELLIS IS ON THE HOUSING SIDE.

WE HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO GET THAT CATEGORY MOVING THAT WE

WOULD HAVE LIKED. >> I JUST WANT TO GET SOME SENSE

AND KNOW WHAT ELSE -- >> I'M SORRY.

THIS IS THE CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER AND WE HAD SOME TECHNICAL DIFFICULTIES. CERTAINLY OPEN TO YOUR QUESTIONS IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO REPHRASE THOSE.

>> RODNEY ELLIS: DID YOU HEAR ME EARLIER?

>> I DID. YOU WERE ASKING SPECIFICALLY HOW WE MIGHT UTILIZE THOSE FUNDS RELATED TO OUR SERVICES TO THE

COMMUNITY. >> RODNEY ELLIS: YES.

>> FIRST OF ALL THANK YOU TO THE JUDGE AND THE COURT WORKING WITH US TO ADDRESS THE OPPORTUNITIES THAT WE HAVE THAT WERE CREATED BY THE NO NEW REVENUE RATE SITUATION.

WE HAVE SUBMITTED A DOCUMENT THAT OUTLINES IN OUR USE AND ORDER OF THE FUNDS RELATED TO THAT AND IT INVOLVES DIRECT PATIENT CARE TO OUR ORGANIZATION THAT ALSO INCLUDES PROTECTING OUR STAFF AS YOU HAVE MENTIONED RELATED TO VIOLENCE AND OTHER ITEMS THAT ARE KEEPING OUR EMPLOYEES SAFE.

WE HAVE OUTLINED SEVERAL OF THOSE RELATED TO DIRECT EMPLOYEE EXPENSES AND RELATED TO DIRECT SERVICES BETWEEN OUR GASTROINTESTINAL SERVICES AND OTHERS AND I WOULD BE GLAD TO ADDRESS THE SPECIFICS IN THAT LIST.

IT WAS ABOUT FOUR PAGES OF OPPORTUNITY FOR US AND THAT'S HOW WE WOULD DISPERSE THOSE FUNDS.

>> WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO DO, COMMISSIONER GARCIA, IS JUST ADD A FRIENDLY AMENDMENT TO YOUR MOTION THAT SAYS NO FUND SHALL BE APPROPRIATED TO HARRIS HEALTH UNTIL COMMISSIONERS' COURT RECEIVES AND APPROVES A DETAILED PLAN AND AN ITEMIZED BUDGET FOR HOW HARRIS HEALTH PLANS TO USE ARPA FUNDS AND LFRFS.

I WANT TO KNOW WHERE IT IS GOING.

>> ADRIAN GARCIA: I SUPPORT THAT ON THE CONDITION THAT GETTING -- PUTTING THAT PLAN TOGETHER, WHICH WE SHOULD HAVE, DOESN'T CREATE ANY OPERATION WILL -- OPERATIONAL CHALLENGES AT THIS TIME. OR TRYING TO PUT THAT PLAN TOGETHER CREATES ANY PROBLEMS FOR THE SYSTEM.

[02:50:02]

>> WE HAVE SEVERAL ITEMS THAT WILL CONTINUE TO BE DELAYED AND IN WHICH WILL CREATE ACCESS BARRIERS TO THE COMMUNITY AS LONG AS WE ARE NOT RECEIVING SOME OF THE FUNDING.

CERTAINLY WANT TO COMPLY WITH THE UNDERSTANDING -- WE SUBMITTED A LIST TO THE ARPA GROUP RELATED TO THE SPECIFIC USE OF THE FUNDS AND CERTAINLY GLAD TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER

DETAIL RELATED TO THAT. >> AND OF COURSE YOU WOULDN'T GET ANY MONEY UNTIL WE VOTED ON AN INNER LOCAL, IS THAT CORRECT?

IT COMES BACK TO THIS COURT? >> THAT IS CORRECT.

>> THAT'S CORRECT. I JUST WANT TO REITERATE THAT OUR OFFICE ESSENTIALLY ON BOTH SIDES OF THIS AGREEMENT HAS BEEN WORKING ON IT. THERE IS NO ALLOCATION OF DOLLARS THAT WOULD BE MADE TO HARRIS HEALTH THAT DOES NOT COMPLY WITH ARPA AND LFRF. AND IT IS PER SCRIPT TIFF AND MAKING SURE EVERYTHING IS ACCOUNTED FOR.

YOU WILL GET A COMPLETE LIS IN THE INNER LOCAL.

>> RODNEY ELLIS: IT WOULD COME BACK TO US?

>> YES. >> RODNEY ELLIS: AND IF I MIGHT, MR. CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER, I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU AND YOUR BOARD ARE ALIGNED WITH THE PRIORITIES OF THE COURT.

AS AN EXAMPLE, I KNOW YOU DID A DISPARITY STUDY.

OUR NUMBERS WERE BAD AT THE COUNTY, BUT I WAS SHOCKED YOUR NUMBERS WERE EVEN WORSE THAN OURS.

I KNOW THE COURT VOTED IN THE PAST THAT YOU WOULD TAKE ON HEALTHCARE AND THEN IT SEEMS JUST SORT OF -- I THINK EVEN THE PREVIOUS COURT DID THAT. IT WAS JUST OUT THERE UNTIL -- I WANTED YOU TO KNOW THAT YOU ARE GETTING AN EVEN HIGHER RATE THAT WE CAME UP WITH. I WANTED TO MAKE SURE YOU ARE ALIGNED WITH WHAT WE DID WHEN WE ARE SHELLING OUT $45 MILLION.

YOU KNOW THE GENERAL FUND BUDGET FOR THE HARRIS HEALTH DEPARTMENT IS ABOUT $45 MILLION. WE HAVE AVOIDED AN ONGOING EXPENSE. THIS IS ESSENTIALLY -- THAT JOB IS DIFFERENTED BEFORE THEY END UP WITH YOU.

THIS IS ESSENTIALLY WHAT WE SPEND OUT OF THE GENERAL OPERATING MONEY FROM THE HARRIS HEALTH DEPARTMENT.

>> AND LET ME JUST ASSURE YOU THAT ABSOLUTELY WE SUPPORT THE COURT'S PRIORITIES AND THROUGH THE LEADERSHIP OF OUR CEO, DR. P ORSA AND OUR STRONG BOARD OF DIRECTORS, WRAOE -- WE HAVE ACTUALLY AGGRESSIVELY IMPLEMENTED OUR DIVERSITY RESOURCES RELATED TO THAT AND TO OUR PROCUREMENT OF ACTIVITIES AND EVEN APPLYING RECENTLY ADOPTED POLICY OF OUR BOARD AROUND THE MWBE RELATED TO PAST LARGE CONTRACTS RELATED TO THE ORGANIZATION. WE HAVE GOTTEN A LOT OF THAT IN PLACE AND WE CONTINUE TO MOVE THAT FORWARD.

WE HAVE SIGNIFICANTLY CHANGED LITERALLY IN THE LAST 60-DAYS OUR POSTURE RELATED TO THAT AND THE ABILITY TO FURTHER EXPRESS THAT WITHIN OUR CONTRACTING OPPORTUNITIES.

>> AND JAIL HEALTH, WHERE ARE YOU ON THAT?

>> SAME THING RELATED TO THE CONTRACTING AND RELATEDDED TO CONTINUING SERVICES. OBVIOUSLY WORKING WITH THE UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON, BUT ALSO ANY OUTDOOR SERVICES GOING IN THE SAME DIRECTION. CERTAINLY EMBRACE THAT TO THE TOTALITY OF WHAT HARRIS HEALTH HAS OPERATIONAL RESPONSIBILITY

FOR. >> LOOK, I APPRECIATE THE JOB YOU DO. OBVIOUSLY I THINK YOU NEED THE MONEY, BUT IT IS USUALLY A GOOD TIME TO HAVE A DISCUSSION WHEN YOU ARE PASSING OUT $45 MILLION. MY MOTION IS NO FUND SHALL BE -- IT IS A TRIPPEDLY -- FRIENDLY AMENDMENT THAT --

>> LINA HIDALGO: [INAUDIBLE] AS WELL.

>> RODNEY ELLIS: CAN YOU HEAR ME?

>> LINA HIDALGO: IF YOU DON'T MIND.

CAN YOU HEAR ME ALL RIGHT? >> RODNEY ELLIS: YES.

THE FRIENDLY AMENDMENT -- >> LINA HIDALGO: YEAH.

RAO*D RO*D -- >> RODNEY ELLIS: THE FRIENDLY AMENDMENT TO COMMISSIONER GARCIA'S MOTION IS NO FUNDS SHOULD BE APPROPRIATED UNTIL WE RECEIVE A DETAILED PLAN AND AN ITEMIZED BUDGET FOR HOW HARRIS HEALTH PLANS TO USE ARPA FUNDS.

>> R. JACK CAGLE: SECOND. >> LINA HIDALGO: I WOULD LIKE TO AND SOME QUESTIONS ON IN. ON THIS.

>> RODNEY ELLIS: I THINK YOU WENT OUT, JUDGE.

>> LINA HIDALGO: I'M BACK. ONE IS JUST TO CONFIRM, MR. BERRY, HOW HAS THIS GONG THROUGH THE ARPA PROCESS.

MY UNDERSTANDING IS THIS HAS BEEN ALLOCATED BY THE STEERING

[02:55:02]

>> THEY DID VOTE TO ESTABLISH A FUNDING BUCKET, A HIGH-LEVEL ALLOCATION TOWARD HARRIS HEALTH. SOME OF THE VOTES WERE CONDITIOG THE LINES OF -- THERE IS A DETAILED ITEMIZED BUDGET THAT WOULD FOLLOW THE NORMAL PROCESS. THE SHORT ANSWER, IT HAS FOLLOWED THE PROCESS. THAT'S PART ONE AND THERE WILL

BE A PART TWO. >> AND THEN THE SECOND QUESTION AND THIS IS FOR EVERYONE, PERHAPS MR. SMITH OR THE FOLKS AT OCA OR MR. RAMOS IS WHAT HAPPENS NEXT YEAR, RIGHT? IF THESE FUNDS ARE GRANTED TO HARRIS HEALTH, I MEAN, THE CONCERN WE'VE HAD ALL ALONG IS THAT YOU CAN'T USE ARPA FUNDS FOR ONGOING COSTS. THAT'S WHY IT WAS SO IMPORTANT TO PASS THE PROPOSED TAX RATE CUT.

AND I WANT TO MAKE CLEAR THAT THIS DOES NOT MEAN THAT THE ABSENCE OF TWO COLLEAGUES THAT FORCED DRAW CONE YEN CUTS IS SUDDENLY GOING AWAY. THE IMPACTS OF THAT SUDDENLY GOES AWAY BECAUSE THIS FUNDING IS NEARLY FOR ONE YEAR.

WE DON'TAV HE INFINITERP AA DOLLARS.

IT IS NOT SOMETHINGHA TT IS PART OF THEAX T RATE TO WHERE WE WOULD BE ABLECO TO NTINUE COLLECTING THEUN AMOT THAT WAS DEFUNDED BY THE LACKF O PARTICIPATION.I UNDERSTAND THATME ON SO LEVEL WE ARE ABLE TO DO THISYE THIS AT THEUSE THERE ISN'T EQUIVALENT OF SB23 U FORCINGS TT COINUE ALLOCATING THESE IN THE FUTURE.T FORJUST WANT TO BE CLEAR THE PUBLIC AND THE PRESS THAT'S THAT THIS YEAR. NEXTTI YEAR WE SLL HAVE TO FIGURE OUT WHATOR TO DO IN DER TO H PLUG THISOLEKN.

YOU OW, IT GIVES US THE OPPORTUNITYBE TO PERHAPS ABLE TO FUND THEST HOSPITAL DIRICT APPROPRIATELY FOR THE FIRST TIME IN TWO OEUR -- TWO OR THREE YEARS.

BUT JUSTTH GETTING INTO AT A BIT AND WHATOR HAPPENS GOING FWARD,B WHAT WOULDE OUR OPTIONS FOR FUTURE YEARS?

FUNDING ISWHEN ARPA NO LONGER>> AVAILABLE.

JUDGE, THIS IS DIRECTOR RAMOS.

THAT'SIS CORRECT. TH5 TPOURLT -- THIS 4MILLIONO PLUG A HOLE FOR THE FISCAL YEAR.

NEXT YEAR IS WILL DEFER TO HARRI HEALTH, BUT THEY PROJECTED A $150 MILLION OF THEIR FEDERAL FUNDING FALLS OFF. T THEY ARE SUBJECTO SIMILAR REVENUE CAPS AS THE GENERAL FUND AND FLOOD CONTROL.

THIS WILL BE A DECISION BY THIS BODY NEXT YEAR TO MAKE UP WHOLLY

OR PARTIALLY THAT DEFICIT. >> THIS IS LUIS NEFF WITH HARRIS HEALTH. WE ARE MINDFUL OF THAT AS WELL.

WE ARE -- WE ARE LOOKING AT MANY OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE FUTURE OR TO ALSO COVER THE EXPENSES THAT ARE HELPING US GET TO A MORE REASONABLE AND EQUITABLE MANNER VERSUS JUST AN UH TKRUPT -- AN ABRUPT STOP. IT WOULD BRIDGE US TO THE CONVERSATION NEXT YEAR AROUND THE TAX.

EVEN WITHOUT THIS OUR OPPORTUNITIES ARE SIG -- SIGNIFICANTLY AHEAD OF WHAT THE ARPA FUNDING WOULD BE.

AND THERE IS ANOTHER CONVERSATION NEXT YEAR ABOUT DEEPER CUTS ATF HARRIS HEALTH WITHOUT THE RETURN OTHE TAX SUPPORT AT A HIGHER LEVEL. WE BELIEVE THE ARPA MONEY RIGHT NOW WOULD HELP US SUSTAIN PWHRAOE GO FORWARD IN A REASONABLE MANNER OF MANAGING HARRIS HEALTH TO THE BENEFIT OF THE COMMUNITY VERSUS ABRUPT CLIFFS THAT WOULD CREATE MORE ACCESS ISSUES. IF I MIGHT TO JUST FOLLOW-UP, DID I HEAR YOU SAY YOU HAVE A $45 MILLION HOLE NOW AND YOU ANTICIPATE $150 MILLION PLUS THE 45 OR JUST 150 MILLION HOLE WITH

THE 45? >> IT IS THE 150 IF WE'RE ASSUMING THE NNR CONTINUES WITH NO ADJUSTMENTS NEXT YEAR.

>> RODNEY ELLIS: THANK YOU. AND MR. NEFF, RIGHT?

>> IT IS SMITH. >> RODNEY ELLIS: SAOEUPLS.

I'M SORRY. AND I'M SORRY I GOT YOUR --

>> LINA HIDALGO: I'M SORRY I GOT YOUR FIRST AND LAST NAME CONFUSED EARLIER. GREAT.

THANK YOU SO MUCH. JUST TO HAVE THE FULL MOTION, COMMISSIONER GARCIA MAKES THE MOTION AND COMMISSIONER RAMSEY

[03:00:01]

>> ADRIAN GARCIA: IT WAS A FRIENDLY AMENDMENT.

>> LINA HIDALGO: THE MULL -- FULL MOTION IS TO ALLOCATE $45 MILLION FOR ARPA TO THE HARRIS HEALTH SYSTEM TO RECOVER FROM THE COVID-19 PUBLIC HEALTH EMERGENCY AND PROVIDE HEALTH SERVICES IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE SLRF AND THEY WILL RECEIVE A DETAILED PLAN FOR HOW HARRIS HEALTH PLANS TO USE THE FUND.

DOES THAT SOUND RIGHT? >> YEAH.

>> MOTIONED BY KPHEGSER [INAUDIBLE] AND SECONDED BY

COMMISSIONER RAMSEY. >> I'M FOR IT.

>> RODNEY ELLIS: IT IS IMPORTANT AND I WANT TO POINT OUT TO LOOK

AT. >> THE MOTION PASSES UNANIMOUS,

CORRECT, JUDGE? >> LINA HIDALGO: I'M IN FAVOR.

THE MOTION PASSES UNANIMOUSLY. THANK YOU.

>> RODNEY ELLIS: IT IS IMPORTANT TO KNOW AND GET A LIST OF WHAT THESE ONE-TIME EXPENDITURES WILL BE.

I APPRECIATE COMMISSIONER RAMSEY'S SECOND OF THE MOTION BECAUSE IT MAKES THE CASE WHEN WE COME BACK AND IT IS TIME TO SET THE RATE FOR HARRIS HEALTH AGAIN, WHAT DO YOU DO? YOU DON'T JUST ASSUME IT COMES OUT OF THIN AIR.

>> I APPRECIATE HARRIS HEALTH WITH A LIST OF 20 ITEMS THEY WILL FUND AND IT ALL MAKES SENSE.

I DON'T KNOW IF I WAS THE ONLY ONE THAT GOT THE LIST OR WHAT.

THE LIST I SAW WAS A VERY GOOD LIST.

>> RODNEY ELLIS: THANK YOU. >> ADRIAN GARCIA: AND MR. SMITH, WHILE ARE YOU STILL ON THE LINE, TO ANSWER A QUESTION FOR ME, HAS THE HARRIS HEALTH SYSTEM DONE A DISPARITY STUDY?

>> WE HAVE DONE A DISPARITY STUDY USING THE SAME ORGANIZATION. I CAN SEE DWIGHT'S OFFICE IS ON AS WELL AND HE CAN CERTAINLY SPEAK TO THIS AS WELL.

>> ADRIAN GARCIA: DWIGHT? YOU'RE MUTED, DWIGHT.

>> SORRY ABOUT THAT, COMMISSIONER.

WE COMPLETED A DISPARITY STUDY LAST YEAR AND AN MWBE POLICY APPROVED AND THEY ARE GOING TO LOOK AT THEIR PROJECTS TO MAKE SURE WE ARE LOOKING AT THE GOAL SET WITH THE PROJECTS.

LOOKING FORWARD THEY WILL FOLLOW THE SAME PROCESS WE DO AT THE COUNTY. WE ARE ON THE WAY.

>> ADRIAN GARCIA: VERY GOOD. >> RODNEY ELLIS: AND DWIGHT -- COMMISSIONER GARCIA YOU HAD A GOOD IDEA WHERE WE PUT A NUMBER ON OUR AGENDA WHEN WE VOTED ON THE CONTRACT SO WE KNOW IT.

I WAS TOLD THAT THE COUNTY HAD A POLICY TOO UNTIL WE DID A STUDY AND FOUND OUT IF THERE WAS A POLICY, NOBODY IMPLEMENTED IT.

FOR HARRIS HEALTH, THE NUMBER ONE CATEGORY TO BE 0 WAS SHOCKING. SOME OF THE THINGS I WILL BE ASKING INCLUDING THE PERSON I PUT ON THE BOARD IS I WILL BE CURIOUS TO MAKE SURE YOU ARE LOOKING AT SOME OF THE PRACTICES WE HAVE, EVEN MAKING SURE WE HAVE EQUITY IN OUR EMPLOYMENT LEVELS. THE TIME TO BRING THAT UP OBVIOUSLY IS WHEN WE ARE MUTTINN MONEY THEY NEED.

>> COMMISSIONER ELLIS, THIS IS LUIS SMITH.

IF I COULD SAW -- SUPPORT AND APPLAUD THAT, I WANT TO MAKE SURE YOU KNOW IN ADDITION TO THE HIRING OF A PROCUREMENT OFFICER RELATED TO THAT IS DERRICK HOLMES WHICH HAS WORKED FOR HARRIS COUNTY. WE HAVE ALSO HIRED A CHIEF DIVERSITY OFFICER, DR. JOVIE MARTINEZ, WHO IS WORKING THROUGH THIS BOARD AND THROUGH THIS PROCESS THE DIVERSITY POSTURE IS PRODUCING A GOOD ACTIVITY WITHIN OUR ORGANIZATION AND WITHIN THAT FOCUS AND WE CONTINUE TO BELIEVE THAT THAT WILL INCREASE.

THERE IS A LOT TO TALK WITH YOU ABOUT THAT AND CERTAINLY WOULD LOVE TO MEET WITH YOU AFTER THE COURT SOME TIME TO GO THROUGH

THAT IN DETAIL. >> RODNEY ELLIS: THANK YOU.

>> LINA HIDALGO: THANK YOU, MR. SMITH.

ALL RIGHT, WE WILL MOVE TO THE NEXT ITEM.

IT IS ITEM 20 ON PAGE 4, COMMISSIONER GARCIA.

>> ADRIAN GARCIA: THANK YOU, JUDGE.

I JUST WANT TO APPLAUD THAT WE ARE MOVING FORWARD ON THIS.

I WANT TO THANK UNIVERSAL SERVICES FOR THEIR HELP ON THIS.

IT IS GLAD TO SEE TESS DEPARTMENTS TAKING ADVANTAGE OF THE -- GLAD TO SEE THESE DEPARTMENTS TAKING ADVANTAGE OF THESE OPPORTUNITIES AND APPRECIATE THE WILLINGNESS TO COLLABORATE SO THE EXPERIENCE WITH THESE ELECTRONIC VEHICLES CAN HELP THE ENTIRE COUNTY NAVIGATE OUR FLEET TRANSITION FOR THE COMING YEARS. LISA LYNN, IN PARTICULAR, I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR HELPING TO LEAD THIS EFFORT.

[03:05:03]

IT IS IN TERMS OF ENERGY EFFICIENCY.

THAT K-CAR -- NO ONE WANTED TO DRIVE IT BECAUSE IT LOOKED LIKE A TOY. NUMBER TWO *RBGS IT WITH -- IT WITHSTOOD THE PRESSURE OF POLICE WORK FOR JUST A LITTLE BIT UNTIL THE NIGHT SHIFT GOT AHOLD OF IT. I KNOW TECHNOLOGY HAS IMPROVED AND THESE NEW VEHICLES WILL WITHSTAND THE CHALLENGES AND THE PRESSURE OF POLICE WORK. IT IS EXCITING TO SEE THE TRANSITION CONTINUING, AND I JUST WANT TO APPLAUD UNIVERSAL SERVICES FOR THEIR WILLINGNESS TO PARTICIPATE AND MS. LYNN FOR HER PARTICIPATION. I MOVE ON THE ITEM.

>> LINA HIDALGO: THAT'S A MOTION ON ITEM 20 BY COMMISSIONER GARCIA AND SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER ELLIS.

ALL IN FAVOR. >> I.

>> LINA HIDALGO: ANY OPPOSED? I'M IN FAVOR.

MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY. MOVING ON TO ITEM 31, MR. RAMOS, I KNOW YOU HAVE AN UPDATE FOR US ON THIS ITEM, PAGE 6.

>> THANK YOU, JUDGE. I WANT TO THANK MY TEAM AND THE CONSTABLE'S OFFICE. WE HAD HEARD A CONCERN ABOUT SOME OF THE BIG EQUIPMENT NOT BEING -- NOT COMING UP FOR REPLACEMENT. THIS IS THE INITIAL COMMERCIAL PAPER AND THEY WILL BE ABLE TO ISSUE PO'S FOR BODY ARMOR AND FOR TASERS THAT WERE SLATED TO BE REPLACED.

>> LINA HIDALGO: THANK YOU. COLLEAGUES, DO YOU HAVE ANY

QUESTIONS ON THIS ONE? >> ADRIAN GARCIA: MOVE ON THE

ITEM. >> RODNEY ELLIS: SEPBGD.

SECOND. >> LINA HIDALGO: MOTIONED BY KPHEUGTER GARCIA ON ITEM 31 AND SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER ELLIS.

ALL IN FAVOR. >> I.

>> LINA HIDALGO: ANY OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY.

I'M IN FAVOR. ITEM 34, COMMISSIONER RAMSEY.

>> TOM RAMSEY: JUST A QUICK QUESTION HERE.

DID WE DO AN INCREASE LAST YEAR? THIS IS ANOTHER ONE THIS YEAR?

>> YES. SO WE ARE LEGALLY MANDATED TO RECOUP OUR COSTS. WE HAVE AS A POLICY AT COMMISSIONERS' COURT GIVEN FOLKS AS CLOSE TO A YEAR AS POSSIBLE

WHEN THEY ARE RENEWING. >> TOM RAMSEY: SO YOU COORDINATED WITH THE CONSTABLES AND WORKED THROUGH THEIR OFFICES

ON THESE DETAILS? >> THAT'S CORRECT.

>> TOM RAMSEY: OKAY. >> ADRIAN GARCIA: MOVE ON THE

ITEM. >> I'M SORRY, JUST ONE CORRECTION. WE WORKED WITH THEM COLLECTIVELY. OBVIOUSLY SOME OF THEM HAVE SLIGHTLY DIFFERENT EQUIPMENT. SO WE LOOK FOR THE COST OVERALL

TO THE COUNTY. >> ADRIAN GARCIA: MOVE ON THE

ITEM. >> LINA HIDALGO: COMMISSIONER GARCIA MADE THE MOTION. I BELIEVE COMMISSIONER RAMSEY HAD THE SECOND? ALL IN FAVOR.

>> I. >> I.

>> LINA HIDALGO: ANY OPPOSED? I'M IN FAVOR.

MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY. MOVING ON TO ITEM 38,

COMMISSIONER GARCIA. >> ADRIAN GARCIA: THANK YOU, JUDGE. I JUST WANT TO THANK SHANE AND HIS TEAM FOR WORKING ON PROVIDING THIS BENEFIT NOT ONLY FOR OUR LAW ENFORCEMENT PERSONNEL WHO DESERVE IT AND NEED IT, BUT ALSO TO OTHER ESSENTIAL FRONT LINE STAFF SUCH AS OUR DETENTION OFFICERS AND THE COMMUNICATION OFFICERS STP MEDICAL PERSONNEL. THIS ITEM INDICATES THAT THE COUNTY IS GOING ABOVE AND BEYOND WHAT SENATE BILL 1359 WHICH IS FOR MENTAL HEALTH LEAVE ONLY FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT PERSONNEL HAS ADOPTED. AND WE WANT THIS TO BE A VERY CLEAR MESSAGE TO THE FRONT LINE STAFF THAT WE VALUE THEIR MENTAL HEALTH. IT MATTERS AND WE HOPE THEY ALL TAKE ADVANTAGE OF IT BECAUSE IT IS AN INCREDIBLE AND WONDERFUL NEW BENEFIT. WHEN I CAME IN AS SHERIFF, THERE WAS NONE OF THIS PROVIDED. EMPLOYEES WOULD HAVE TO FIND SOMEONE OFF THEIR CONTRACT -- OFF THEIR HEALTH INSURANCE AND THEN ONLY TWO VISITS WERE AVAILABLE.

AND THEN IT WAS ALL OUT OF POCKET.

[03:10:02]

THEY ARE THE FOLKS THAT ARE ON THE PHONE WITH VICTIMS, WITH WITNESSES AS THEY ARE LISTENING TO THINGS HAPPENING IN REALTIME.

THEY HAVE TO MAINTAIN THEIR COMPOSURE SO THEY CAN GET ALL OF THE NECESSARY INFORMATION SO IT CAN BE RELATED TO THE RESPONDING OFFICERS. SO WHAT GOES IN THEIR EARS AS PEOPLE ARE EXPERIENCING STRAW -- TRAUMA OR FEAR OR INJURY IS NOT TO BE TAKEN LIGHTLY. AND SO I JUST WANT TO THANK SHANE AND HIS TEAM FOR WORKING ON THIS AND JUST TO LET PEOPLE KNOW THAT WE ARE THINKING ABOUT THEM AND WE APPRECIATE ALL OF THE WORK. AS WE TALK ABOUT BUILDING BUDGET GAPS FOR THE HOSPITAL SYSTEM, THOSE FOLKS SHOWED UP FOR US DURING THE MOST DIFFICULT TIME. I IMAGINE THEY WERE GETTING CALLS LIKE I WAS GETTING WHERE PEOPLE WERE TRYING TO VISIT LOVED ONES IN. ICU -- LOVED ONES IN THE ICU.

THEY -- I KNOW THAT WAS A DIFFICULT MESSAGE TO SEND TO FOLKS THAT THEY COULDN'T ALLOW THEM TO COME VISIT.

THIS MENTAL HEALTH RESOURCE GOES A LONG WAY FOR A LOT OF PEOPLE.

I JUST WANT TO ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO PLEASE TAKE ADVANTAGE OF IT IF YOU NEED IT. IF YOU FEEL DIFFERENT, PLEASE TAKE ADVANTAGE OF IT. IT'S HERE.

WE ARE MAKING IT AVAILABLE. WE CARE ABOUT YOU.

WE THANK YOU FOR YOUR WORK. I MOVE ON THE ITEM, JUDGE.

>> RODNEY ELLIS: SEPBGD. SECOND.

>> LINA HIDALGO: MOTIONED BY COMMISSIONER GARCIA AND SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER ELLIS. ALL IN FAVOR?

>> I. >> LINA HIDALGO: ANY OPPOSED? I'M IN FAVOR. MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY ON ITEM 38. ITEM 151 ON PAGE 19, COMMISSIONER ELLIS. THIS IS THE BROAD LEGISLATIVE

ITEM. >> RODNEY ELLIS: I SAW THE ACCOUNT WHERE A NUMBER OF OUR PEOPLE WENT TO TESTIFY IN AUSTIN ON ON THE SUNSET COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION.

I WANT TO MOVE THAT THIS COURT AS PART OF THE LEGISLATIVE PLATFORM SUPPORT EFFORTS AT THE STATE LEVEL TO POLLED PALOOZA ACCOUNTABLE SUCH AS THE ADOPTION OF THE TEXAS SUNSET ADVISORY

COMMITTEE'S RECOMMENDATION. >> LINA HIDALGO: DO YOU HAVE

THAT, JAMES? >> NO, MA'AM.

NOT YET. >> RODNEY ELLIS: I MOVE THIS COURT AS PART OF THE LEGISLATIVE PLATFORM SUPPORTS EFFORTS TO HOLD PALOOZA ACCOUNTABLE SUCH AS ADOPTING THE TEXAS SUNSET ADVISORY, COMMISSION'S RECOMMENDATIONS TO THE TEXAS COMMISSION ON ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY, MADE IN THE COMMISSION

2022-2023 STAFF REPORT. >> GOT IT, JUDGE.

>> RODNEY ELLIS: ARE YOU GOOD? >> R. JACK CAGLE: CAN A ISK A QUESTION? BACK WHEN YOU WERELL STIAT SENOR I THINK W YOUERE SUPPORTIVE, COMMISSIONER,US OF TRYING TOMA INTAIN LOCAL CONTROL.OV ER THE ENFORCEMENT OFPO LLUTIONRS MATTE.TE I STIFIED BEFORETH YOU AT AT TIMELF ON BEHA OF US TRYING TO MAINTAIN THE LOCAL. CONTROL I DON'TAT KNOW WH IS IN THENS SUET COMMITTEE'S RECOMMENDATION, BUT I MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE NOTCA

ABDITING >> RODNEY ELLIS: THAT'S FAIR.

MOST OF THE CONTROL WASAW TAKEN AY.

IT, BUT TESTIFYING FOR THEIT STATE TOOK AWAY. H THAT MAYAVE BEEN WHENIT BILL WHE WAS PUTTING AIR MONITORS IN ANDPP THE STATE STOED IT.RT THE DEPAMENT CAN WALKH YOU THROUGIT.TY IT IS PRETD. STRAIGHT FORWAR FOLKS FROM THE FIFTH WARD WENTTH UP ASKING EM TO RAISE FEES.

ITFE INCLUDES STEEPER ESE WHICH IS RARFOR THE STATE OF TEXAS.

A DEMAND FOR PUBLIC INPUT. IF YOU WANTS GOVERNMENTAL AFFAIR TOEY WALK THROUGH IT, TH CAN DO THAT.LE

>> R. JACK CAG: JUST NOT KNOWING WHAT THEA REPORT IS, IM LITTLE RET -- RETISENT. I'M IN FAVOR OF THE FIRST COMMENT WHICH IS GREATER ENFORCEMENT.

I JUST WANT TO MAKE SUREHI THERE IS NOT SOMETNG ELSE IN THE

REPORT I WOULD DISAGREE WITH. W >> RODNEY ELLIS: IOULD SAY TRUST ME, FOR IT TO COME OUT OF A BIPARTISAN GROUP OF TEXAS LEGISLATORS IN THE SUNSET ADVISORY REVIEW PROCESS --D

[03:15:03]

>> CAN YOU NEIGHBORHOO SOMEBODY I WOULD TRUST ON THE COMMITTEE?,

>> RODNEY ELLIS: WEL ILD WAS ON IT AND YOU WOU HAVE TRUSTED

ME. I >> R. JACK CAGLE: THEN WOULD

HAVEYO. >> RODNEY ELLIS: DO U WANT TO VOTE KNOW OR LOOK AT IT AND DECIDE AT THE END OF THE AGENDAL

>> R. JACK CAGLE: LET MEOOK AT IT IF YOU WILL SEND IT OVERLL.

>> RODNEY ELLIS: WE WI DO IT. >> R. JACK CAGLE: I HAVE SOME

SMART FOLKS BACK THEREVE. >> ADRIAN GARCIA: YOU HA MY

SECOND. >> LINA HIDALGO: SO THAT ISIT IM 151 AND WE WILL DISCUSS LATER.

LET'S MOVE ON TO 155 FOR NOW, COMMISSIONER GARCIA.

>> ADRIAN GARCIA: AND ON THIS PARTICULAR ITEM THE SECTION 3 DIVISION OF DEO IS MANAGING OVER 700 MILLION TO A BILLION DOLLARS WORTH OF HUD FEDERALLY FUNDED PROJECTS WITH LCP TRACKER WHICH IS THE CERTIFIED PAYROLL REPORTING AND USING SPREADSHEETS. OTHER CITIES AND COUNTIES HAVE IMPLEMENTED NEW CONTRACT COMPLIANCE MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS. IN ADDITION TO THE USE OF LCP TRACKER TO OVERSEE THE LARGE NUMBER OF CONTRACTS FOR THE NEW REPORTING DEPARTMENTS.

I UNDERSTAND LCP TRACKER MAY NOT BE THE MOST PREFERRED.

I WANT TO MAKE SURE WE ARE NOT LEAVING ANYTHING ON THE TABLE.

B2G HAS A MODULE THAT CAN BE USED.

I WANT TO MAKE A FRIENDLY AMENDMENT TO THIS ITEM THAT THE MOTION READS EFFECTIVE NOVEMBER 30TH OF 2020, HARRIS COUNTY HUD-FUNDED SECTION 3 CONTRACTS REQUIRE TO ACHIEVE A BENCHMARK OF 25% LABOR HOURS WORKED BISECTION 3 WORKERS AND LABOR HOURS WORKED BY TARGET SECTIONED 3 WORKERS.

SUBJECT TO HUD EVALUATION, REEVALUATION, PRIME AND SUB CONTRACTS, SUBMIT REPORTS TO DEO VIA THE LCP TRACKER AND OTHER DOCUMENTS. DEO SECTION 3 DIVISION IS REQUIRED TO PERFORM THE CONTRACT COMPLIANCE TRACKING AND REPORTING FOR THE NEW CHANGES TO HUD.

THERE WAS A NEW RULE THAT WAS PUBLISHED IN 2020 IMPLEMENTING CHANGES IN THE SUBJECT. AND THE FINAL RULE WAS EFFECTIVE IN NOVEMBER OF 2020 IMPLEMENTING THE NEW RULE, THE IF YOU REGULA.

AND IT MOVED FROM TRACKING THE NUMBER OF QUALIFYING NEW HIRES AND THE PROPORTION OF THOSE NEW HIRES THAT WERE SECTION 3 RESIDENTS AND SECTION 3 COVERED PROJECTS TO TRACK THE TOTAL HOURS WORKED AND THE PORTION OF HOURS WORKED BISECTION 3 WORKERS AND TARGETED SECTION 3 WORKERS FOR PROJECTS.

IN CONNECTION WITH THE FINAL RULE, HUD PUBLISHED A DOCUMENT CITATION AND SECTION 3 BENCHMARKS FOR CREATING ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITIES FOR LOW AND VERY LOW INCOME PERSONS AND ELIGIBLE BUSINESSES. THE FEDERAL REGISTER NOTICED INCLUDES THE NUMBERS AND METHODOLOGY FOR DETERMINING THE BENCHMARKS. CURRENTLY THE BENCHMARK IS 25%.

LABOR HOURS WORK ETD -- WORKED BY THE SECTION 3 WORKERS FOR THE PROJECT SUBJECT TO HUD EVALUATION.

THIS IS IMPORTANT BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, PRECINCT 2 HAS AMONG THE LOWEST INCOME OF ALL OF HARRIS COUNTY AND ENCOURAGING THE HIRING OF FOLKS LOCALLY FROM AREAS SUCH AS PRECINCT 2 HELPS ME RAISE THOSE -- HELPS ME RAISE THAT MEDIUM INCOME.

SO I WANT TO MAKE SURE WE ARE MOVING FORWARD ON THE EFFORTS IN SPITE OF NOT USING PARTICULAR MODULES AND WANT TO OFFER THE FRIENDLY AMENDMENT ON THE AGENDA.

THAT WOULD BE MY MOTION. >> SECOND LINE LEAN

COMMISSIONER, I --VE >> LINA HIDALGO: COMMISSIONER, I DIDN'T RECEI THE MOTION SO CAN WE COME BACK TO THIS ONE WITH THE WORDING? AND DIRECTOR RAMIREZ IF YOU AT THAT POINT CAN WALK US THROUGH SO THE PUBLIC UNDERSTANDS WHAT THIS IS ABOUT. I WILL KEEP IT ON THE LIST, COMMISSIONER GARCIA. WE'LL COME BACK TO IT.

NEXT IS ITEM 195 AND COMMISSIONERS ELLIS AND GARCIA

FLAGGED THAT ITEM. >> R. JACK CAGLE: IT IS ONE OF

[03:20:02]

YOU HAVE SEEN SOME OF THEM COME HERE BEFORE.

>> SO FROM MY STANDPOINT, IF IT CAN WAIT TWO WEEKS, I WOULD JUST PREFER THAT SHE IS AWARE OF IT. I KNOW IT IS NOT CLEAR ONCE WE PUT MONEY IN WHETHER WE HAVE THE ABILITY TO NOT CONTINUE TO FUND

IT. >> I THINK THIS IS SORT OF THE CONTRACT CONSTABLE PROGRAM OR THE CONTRACT --

>> COMMISSIONER, IF I COULD JUST FOR A MOMENT ON THIS.

THE IDEA IS IT IS STRUCTURED TO SIMILAR TO A CONTRACT DEPUTY PROGRAM. TWO THINGS THAT WE WOULD RECOMMEND IS THE DOLLAR AMOUNT NEEDS TO BE SPECIFIED IS NOT SPECIFIED IN THIS ITEM AS PRESENTED.

>> THA*SZ -- THAT'S BECAUSE YOU HAVE TRANSFERRED THE MONEY AND

YOU HAVE GIVEN IT TO THEM. >> IS THIS A CONTINUAL RENEWAL OF AN EXISTING PROGRAM? I AM NOT FAMILIAR WITH IT.

>> R. JACK CAGLE: I KNOW WE HAVE DONE AN INTER GOVERNMENTAL TRANSFER. THEY HAVE THE MONEY.

>> JUST LIKE I TRANSFERRED MONEY TO PRECINCT 3, THERE IS NO INNER LOCAL THERE. SO THIS IS NOT UNDER THE TRUE

AUSPICE OF A CONTRACT, OR IS IT? >> I WAS UNDER THE IMPRESSION IT WAS NEW POSITIONS AND NEW DOLLARS.

I CAN FOLLOW-UP LATER IN THIS MEETING.

I KNOW IN MY CASE, YOU KNOW, THE DECISION WAS MADE THAT I WAS COMING UNLESS I FELL OVER DEAD. 9 MONTHS OR SO, SIX, EIGHT MONTHS IN ADVANCE AND IT WAS A REAL PROBLEM.

SO JUST CHAT AND THEN PUT IT BACK ON.

>> R. JACK CAGLE: I KNOW WHERE YOU ARE COMING FROM, MR. ELLIS.

I AM BEING AS DIS-- DISCRETE AS I CAN SO YOU ARE SCREWING WITH

HER INSTEAD OF SCREWING WITH ME. >> RODNEY ELLIS: I AM NOT TRYING TO PUT A SCREW TO ANYBODY. I WANT TO MAKE SURE SOME OF THE COURTESY THAT'S WERE NOT EXTENDED TO ME WHEN IT WAS CLEAR I WAS COMING IN JUNE OR EXTENDED TO ANYBODY AND NOT JUST HER.

EVEN SOMEONE WHO IS REPLACING SOMEONE FOR A BENCH.

>> R. JACK CAGLE: I'M FINE WITH YOU HOLDING.

>> LINA HIDALGO: THAT IS NO ACTION.

I AM ALSO CONCERNED OF THIS BEING A ONE-TIME EXPENSE.

SO FOR WHATEVER THAT IS WORTH IF THAT IS THE CASE, I WOULDN'T BE

ABLE TO SUPPORT IT. >> RODNEY ELLIS: AND I DON'T KNOW. I WAS TOLD EVEN WITH FEDERAL

MONEY -- >> I THINK WE SHOULD RESERVE THE SB23 TO EXECUTIVE SESSION. I ASK THAT WE DO THAT.

>> LINA HIDALGO: WE ARE SIX MEETINGS PLUS IN WHICH WE DISCUSSED THE BUDGET. THERE COULD HAVE BEEN AN ADDITIONAL HUNDRED MILLION DOLLARS FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT THAT

TWO COLLEAGUES SABOTAGED. >> TO QUOTE JUDGE HIDALGO, SPARE

ME. >> LINA HIDALGO: I DON'T WANT TO WASTE ANYBODY ELSE'S TIME. I SAT THERE FOR SIX MEETINGS PROPOSING A TAX RATE CUT AND THIS IS NOT FISCALLY RESPONSIBLE BECAUSE OF THE STATUTE. SO THAT IS 195.

NO ACTION TODAY. AND NOW TO ITEM 200, LET ME JUST

[03:25:05]

THE TEXAS FOREST SERVICE DETERMINED THAT WE NO LONGER ARE SEEING THOSE CONDITIONS. SOME AREAS OF THE COUNTY RECEIVED AN INCH OR MORE OF RAINFALL YESTERDAY AND THE DROUGHT MEASURE TODAY IS 405 OUT OF 800.

I WANT TO THANK OUR FIRE MARSHAL , CHIEF CHRISTENSEN, AND HER TEAM FOR STAYING ON TOP OF THIS AND PROPOSE A MOTION TO TERMINATE THE COUNTY WIDE BURN BAN ENACTED IN 2022 IN THE UNINCORPORATED AREAS OF HARRIS COUNTY EFFECTIVE

NOVEMBER 15TH, 2022. >> DO YOU NEED A MOTION ON IT?

SO MOVED. >> LINA HIDALGO: MOTIONED BY COMMISSIONER GARCIA AND SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER ELLIS.

ALL IN FAVOR? >> I.

>> LINA HIDALGO: ANY OPPOSED? I'M IN FAVOR.

MOTION PASSES UNANIMOUSLY. THAT WAS ITEM 200.

AND NOW LET'S MOVE ON TO ITEM 212.

COMMISSIONER GARCIA. >> ADRIAN GARCIA: THANK YOU.

WHAT ITEM? >> RODNEY ELLIS: 212.

>> ADRIAN GARCIA: ITEM 212, IT IS A SIMILAR CONCERN FOR ITEM 13 I WOULD LIKE TO ASK US TO TAKE NO ACTION ON ITEM 13 OF -- SUBSECTION 13 OF ITEM 212. THAT WAY IT WILL GIVE JUDGE BRONES -- BRIONES AN OPPORTUNITY TO REVIEW THE TRAVEL ITEMS.

>> R. JACK CAGLE: IF I MAY ADDRESS, THERE IS A SUBSET OF THIS THAT I THINK THE BUDGET OFFICE MAY WANT TO WAIVE IN ON.

THE FUTURE OF TRAVEL AND TRAINING, I THINK IT IS FINE TO POST POSTPONE THAT. IF WE LOOK AT WHAT IS IN THE WORKS, THE FIRST PART WILL BE THE HR RECERTIFICATION.

YOU HAVE ON HAVE YOUR HR IN PLACE.

THERE IS A LICENSE RENEWAL FOR 125.

WE HAVE SOME CITIBANK TRAVEL CARDS AND PREVIOUSLY APPROVED TRAVEL. IF YOU DON'T PAY THE BILL YOU WILL RUN INTO PROBLEMS. AND THEN WE HAVE THE EXPENSE CLAIMS. I THINK ALL THREE OF THE CATEGORIES IS 4,260 AND 20 CENTS.

AND I WOULD MAKE THE REQUEST THAT WE NOT HOLD WHAT IS ALREADY IN THE HOPPER AND YOU HOLD EVERYTHING IN THE FUTURE.

>> I WILL SECOND THAT -- I WILL ACCEPT THAT FRIENDLY AMENDMENT.

>> ARE YOU CLEAR ON WHAT THE MOTION WOULD BE OR DO YOU NEED

IT TO BE CLARIFIED? >> CAN YOU CLARIFY IT?

>> LET ME DO IT THIS WAY. I MOVE THE ITEM THAT'S ARE ON THE HANDOUT AND WE WILL GIVE A COPY TO JAMES AND HAND IT TO MY COLLEAGUES BE APPROVED UNDER 212 OF 213 AND THE OTHER ITEMS WILL BEHELD TO THE FUTURE. WE MAY GO AHEAD AND SUBMIT THOSE TO THE TRANSITION TEAM AND THEY MAY WANT TO BRING THAT BACK SO THEY WILL HAVE TRAVEL AND TRAINING ON BOARD WHEN THEY COME ON IN JANUARY AND NOT BE BEHIND THE CUE BALL, BUT I'M OKAY

WITHHOLDING THIS. >> RODNEY ELLIS: WAS THAT TWO

PAGES OR ONE PAGE? >> R. JACK CAGLE: ONE PAGE.

YOU'RE MUTED JUDGE. >> LINA HIDALGO: DOES THAT WORK?

>> FOR ITEM 13 OF ITEM 212 AND THERE -- THAT GOES FOR ITEM 234

AND 213? >> DO ANY OF THESE ITEMS ON THE

PIECE OF PAPER APPLY STP. >> I THINK THEY ARE ALL 213, BUT I KNOW ITEMS 212 AND 213 IS WHAT WERE HELD.

>> LET'S HOLD TO THE ITEM. I DON'T THINK THESE ARE ALL --

>> SO NO ACTION ON ROW 13 AND ITEM 212.

WE ARE CLEAR ON THAT. >> JUDGE?

>> LINA HIDALGO: YES. >> FOR THE REST OF ITEM 212 WILL YOU STILL CALL A VOTE ON THE REST OF THE ITEMS?

>> ADRIAN GARCIA: AS APPROVED. >> LINA HIDALGO: SO THERE IS A MOTION ON THE REST OF THE ROWS ON ITEM 212.

[03:30:02]

IS THERE A SECOND? >> SECOND.

>> LINA HIDALGO: SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER ELLIS.

ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? >> I.

>> LINA HIDALGO: ANY OPPOSED? I'M IN FAVOR.

MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY. NOW ON ITEM 213,E WWOULD LIKE TO TAKEO NACTION ON ITEMS- -ON ROW 44,LL A ITEMS ON ROW 44

EXCEPT FOR THOSE IN THEDO HANUT. >> ADRIAN GARCIA: CORRECT.

>> LINA HIDALGO: YOU HAVET? THA AND NOW IS THEREOT A MION FOR

ALL OF THE -- >> SO. MOVED

>> SECOND. >> LINA HIDALGO: MOTIONED BY COMMISSIONERA GARCIAND SECONDED BYSS COMMIIONER ELLIS.AL

L IN FAVOR?>> I.

>> LINA HIDALGO: ANY OPPOSED?M I'IN FAVOR.

MOTION U CARRIESNANIMOUSLY. >> THANK YOU, JUDGE.>> LINA HIDALGO: AND NOW COMMISSIONER ELLIS. I THATS THRESHOLD AND SPENDFR TOURS OM THE COUNTY OFFICES.OD

>> RNEY ELLIS: I JUST WANTED TOE MAKE SURE WHAVE SOMEWAY OFG MONITORI WHATT. IS BEING SPENE IT IS THF DIRECT OFFICE O MANAGEMENT TO IMPLEMENT F PROCEDURESOR COMPLIANCE WITH THET TEXAS GOVERNMENCODE SECTION 130-908 AND ITL REQUIRS ALINDIVIDUAL NEW EXPEBD TOURSIT BY -- EXPENDURES BYG THE OUT GOIN COUNTY OFFICERS IN EXCESS OF $100 TOUZ -- $100,000PR TO REQUIRE APOVAL BY C THE OFFICE OFOURTFI ADMINISTRATOR -- OFCE

OF COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR. >> LINA HIDALGO: JAMES, DOIO YOU

HAVE THE MOTN? >> YES, MA'AM. A

>> RODNEY ELLIS:NY QUESTIONS? GARCIA, IS THAT ALL RIGHT?:

>> ADRIAN GARCIAYEAH. HANG ON ONE SECOND.D

>> R. JACK CAGLE: ANS FOR CLARIFICATION, THIIS WHERE MR. D FOR HIS SERVICES IN HELPING WITH THE TRANSITION TEAM?

>> NO. THIS IS JUST --IS

>> RODNEY ELLIS: THIS 326. THIS IS SPENDING OVER A HUNDRED GRAND WOULD HAVE TO BE APPROVED BY THECO --

>> ADRIAN GARCIA: SEND. >> RODNEY ELLIS: BYLE MR. BERRY.

>> R. JACK CAG: I DIDN'T KNOW IF YOU WERE THROWING THEM TOGETHER.S: 332 --

>> RODNEY ELLI 326. >> R. JACK CAGLE: IS THAT THE ONE FOR HIM BEING COME PEN -- COMPENSATED?

>> RODNEY ELLIS: WE ARE ON 326. >> YEAH.

THAT IS PUTTING THE CAP ON NEW EBGDZ PENNED TOURS -- NEW

EXPENDITURESOU. >> LINA HIDALGO: TO ANSWER YR QUESTION, YES, THAT IS 332. WE WILL GET TO THAT IN A MINUTE.

RIGHT NOW IT IS A A HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLAR CAP FOR ANY OUT GOING ELECTED OFFICIAL UNLESS THEY ARE RUN BY THE COUNTY OF OFFICE ADMINISTRATION. WE HAVE A MOTION BY COMMISSIONER ELLIS AND A SECOND BY COMMISSIONER GARCIA.

ARE THERE ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? ALL IN FAVOR?

>> I. >> I.

>> LINA HIDALGO: OPPOSED? I'M IN FAVOR.

MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY. AND NOW LET'S MOVE TO ITEM 332, AND SO THAT ONE -- GO AHEAD COMMISSIONER ELLIS.

>> ADRIAN GARCIA: WE SKIPPED 327 AND I WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT I BELIEVE THAT WHAT I WAS AFTER IN 327 CAN BE INCORPORATED TO 322.

AND I WANT TO BE CLEAR THERE IS A JUSTICE OF THE PEACE THAT IS NEWLY ELECTED IN MY PRECINCT THAT NEEDS TO MAKE SOME TRAINING I REACHED OUT TO THE BUDGET OFFICE TO PROVIDE THE SUPPORT.

IT LOOKS LIKE WE ARE PROVIDING THE BUDGET AS A TRANSITION OFFICE. IS THAT ACCURATE, MR. RAMOS, ON

332? >> 327 AND I WILL DEFER TO JAY ON THIS ONE, BUT I BELIEVE IT IS JUST -- THERE ARE CERTAIN CLASSES AND SEMINARS THAT ARE REQUIRED BY THE STATE OF TEXAS.

IT IS ALLOWING FOR OFFICES TO PAY FOR THEM AND BE REIMBURSED.

>> ADRIAN GARCIA: SO IF WE KEEP 327 ON THE AGENDA I CAN BE REIMBURSED IF I PROVIDE SUPPORT TO THAT?

>> WHAT IT ALLOWS IS FOR THE COUNTY -- IF -- IT ALLOWS THE COUNTY TO PAY FOR -- OR COMMISSIONERS' COURT TO PAY FOR

-- >> ADRIAN GARCIA: THAT'S NOT THE

WAY IT IS WORDED. >> I RECOGNIZE THAT.

RIGHT NOW THE SOURCE OF FUNDS ON HERE ALLOWS INDIVIDUAL COMMISSIONERS TO PAY FOR IT. IF I'M UNDERSTAND --

[03:35:04]

>> SO WE CAN TAKE NO ACTION ON 327 AND MAKE SURE THAT CAPACITY -- THAT AUTHORIZATION IS IN 332.

>> SO IS IT OKAY TO ADD TO THE OFFICE OF COUNTYOR ADMINISTRATIN TO THE TRAVEL AND TRAINING AUTHIZATION AND THAT WAY THERE IS NO DOUBT YOU CAN COVER IT AND PASS IT WITH THAT AMENDMENT?

>> I THINK THAT WOULD WORK. >> THAT'S WHAT I'M THE -- THAT'S WHAT I'M AFTER. WE ARE HOLDING 327?

>> LINA HIDALGO: OR THE OFFICE OFU COUNTY ADMINISTRATION.

>> ADRIAN GARCIA: THERE YO GO. >> LINA HIDALGO: WHAT I DON'T GET, MR. BERRY, WOULDN'T ALL OF THAT BE INCLUDED IN 332 AS COMMISSIONER GARCIA WAS SAYING? WHAT DOES 327 COVER THAT 332

DOES NOT COVER? >> I WILL DEFER TO COUNTY ATTORNEY, BUT OFTEN EXPRESS APPROVAL FOR TRAVEL AND TRAINING IS REQUIRED AS A DIFFERENT BUCKET OF EXPENDITURES.

THE SUB -- SUBSEQUENT IS AUTHORIZING THE BUDGET.

DOES THAT SOUND RIGHT? >> THAT'S EXACTLY RIGHT.

>> ADRIAN GARCIA: SO WE ARE COVERING BOTH SIDES WITH THESE

ITEMS. >> LINA HIDALGO: WE NEED A MOTION ON 327 BECAUSE WE HAD INCLUDED THAT ON THE CONSENT AGENDA. SO THE NEW ITEM WOULD READ AS FOLLOWS, 327 WOULD READ MOTION -- REQUEST BY THE OFFICE OF MANAGEMENT AND BUDGET OR APPROVAL TO THE OFFICE OF MANAGT TO AUTHORIZE THE OFFICER OF PRECINCTS AND COUNTY ADMINISTRATION TO PAY FOR TRAVEL AND TRAINING FOR NEWLY-ELECTED CON STAPBLS AND THE -- CONSTABLES AND THE JUSTICE OF

THE PEACE RESIDING IN PRECINCTS. >> MOTION.

>> SECOND. >> LINA HIDALGO: MOTIONED BY COMMISSIONER GARCIA AND SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER ELLIS.

ALL IN FAVOR? >> I.

>> LINA HIDALGO: ANY OPPOSED? I'M IN FAVOR.

MOTION PASSES UNANIMOUSLY. >> RODNEY ELLIS: JUDGE, IF I MIGHT FOR A SECOND ON 326, COMMISSIONER CAGLE, THE STATE LAW IS ALWAYS IN PLACE, BUT THIS COURT NEVER PUT IN A DOLLAR AMOUNT. THAT'S WHY IT IS 100,000.

I CAN TELL YOU WERE PUZZLED. >> WE ARE GOING TO BE SUBMITTING ANY CAPITAL EXPEBD TOURS. ANY CAPITAL EXPENDITURES.

>> IN MY CASE -- >> YOU ARE MESSING WITH THEM INSTEAD OF MESSING WITH ME. IT GOES BACK TO THE ITEM OF 332 WHICH IS I'M PLANNING ON USING THE TRANSITION TEAM A LOT SO I THINK THEY NEED TO BE COMPENSATED.

I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT 332 WILL COMPENSATE MR. MADDEN.

I'M PLANNING ON GETTING HIM AS ENGAGED AS POSSIBLE BECAUSE THINGS THAT ARE GOOD FOR THE PEOPLE NEED TO BE KNOWN SO PEOPLE AREN'T PUNISHED IN THE TRANSITIONAY.

>> RODNEY ELLIS: COMMISSIONER AND I WILL L IT OUT FROM MY EXPERIENCE WHEN I CAME HERE. ON THE STATE LEVEL, THEY CLOSED MY OFFICE DOWN. I WAS WORKING OUT OF MY LAW OFFICE. YOU LOSE IT REAL QUICK.

IF YOU ANNOUNCE YOU ARE NOT RUNNING YOU LOSE YOUR COMMITTEE CHAIR. AND THEY DO THAT IN WASHINGTON AS WELL. THEY PACK UP.

I AM GOING TO SEE SOMEBODY'S PORTRAIT HUNG AND SHE WON'T HAVE IT IN HER OFFICE BEFORE THEY HANG IT IN THE COMMITTEE ROOM.

THEY MAKE AN ORDERLY TRANSITION. WHEN I CAME IT WAS PRETTY UNIQUE. I WOULD GO AS HIGH AS THE COUNTY ATTORNEY SAYS WE CAN GO. SO MY SIMPLE REQUEST IS TO DIRECT THE COUNTY OF OFFICE OF ADMINISTRATION TO SUPPORT THOSE TRANSITIONING IN THE OFFICE NOT IT -- NOT TO EXSAID 100 GRAND.

EVERYONE MAY NOT BE AS GRACIOUS AS YOU APPARENTLY ARE BEING.

AND DO YOU WANT TO OP IDS NE ON THAT -- AND DO YOU WANT TO

OWE -- OPINE ON THAT? >> I THOUGHT THE HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLAR LIMIT WAS A RECOMMENDATION FROM BUDGET

OFFICE. >> WE DON'T FORESEE IT GOING

ABOVE THE 100,000. >> RODNEY ELLIS: MY FOLKS ARE VOLUNTEERING TO DO IT, SO YOU THINK THAT IS SUFFICIENT?

>> IF NOT WE CAN COME BACK ON 11/29 AND MAKE AN ADJUSTMENT.

>> RODNEY ELLIS: WOULD YOU LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION?

>> R. JACK CAGLE: I'LL MAKE THE MOTION.

LIT ME JUST MAKE -- LET ME JUST MAKE SURE.

[03:40:02]

>> I THINK HE IS ALREADY A COUNTY EMPLOYEE.

>> IS MADDEN A COUNTY EMPLOYEE STPHEU THOUGHT HE WAS

INDEPENDENT. >> HE IS INDEPENDENT.

>> NEVER MIND. THAT IS ELIGIBLE TO CHARGE

AGAINST THIS POT OF MONEY. >> I CAN WORK WITH YOUR OFFICE AND LAYING OUT A BUDGET MOVING FORWARD WITH THE JUDGES AND THAT

TURNED OVER. >> ARE YOU MAKING A MOTION?

>> I MAKE THE MOTION. >> WOULD YOU LIKE A SECOND?

>> SECOND. >> LINA HIDALGO: MOTION BY COMMISSIONER CAGLE AND SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER --

>> RAMSEY. >> LINA HIDALGO: ALL IN FAVOR?

>> I. >> LINA HIDALGO: ANY OPPOSED? I'M IN FAVOR. MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY.

LET'S GO BACK TO 151 AND 155. SO 151 COMMISSIONER ELLIS -- I'M

SORRY? >> RODNEY ELLIS: YES.

AND COMMISSIONER CAGLE IS FOR IT.

IT IS MAKING MORE INFORMATION AVAILABLE AND EXTENDING THE TIME PEOPLE CAN COMMENT ON CERTAIN PERMITS AND INCREASING A $25,000 CAP FOR ADMINISTRATIVE PENALTIES AND DEVELOPING A SPANISH VERSION OF THE REGULATORY AGENCIES ONLINE COMPLAINT FORM AND PREPARING A REPORT ON PUBLIC PARTICIPATION AND THE LANGUAGE ACCESS ALLOWING VIRTUAL PUBLIC MEETINGS TO CONTINUE.

I MAKE THE MOTION. >> I SECOND.

>> MOTIONED BY COMMISSIONER ELLIS.

SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER RAMSEY. ALL IN FAVOR?

>> JUDGE, FOR CLARITY WOULD YOU MIND REPEATING IT?

>> I MOVE THIS COURT AS PART OF ITS LEGISLATIVE PLATFORM SUPPORTS EFFORTS IN THE STATE LEVEL TO HOLD POLLUTERS ACCOUNTABLE SUCH AS THE ADOPTION OF THE TEXAS SUNSET ADVISORY COMMISSION'S RECOMMENDATIONS TO THE TEXAS COMMISSION OF ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY MADE IN 2022 AND 2023 STAFF REPORT.

>> GOT IT. WHO MADE THE MOTION AGAIN?

>> WHO MADE THE MOTION? >> RODNEY ELLIS: I MADE IT.

>> LINA HIDALGO: AND SECONDED BY RAMSEY.

AND ALL WERE IN FAVOR. IT WAS UNANIMOUS.

>> LET'S MOVE TO 155. COMMISSIONER GARCIA, IF YOU

DON'T MIND RE-READING THE MOTION >> ADRIAN GARCIA: I WILL WITHDRAW THE MOTION I WAS MAKING.

I THINK IT IS A LITTLE BIT COMPLICATED FOR, AND I BELIEVE THE JEST OF THIS -- I WILL WORK WITH MR. RAMIREZ AND WORK WITH MY STAFF TO MAKE SURE WE ARE ACCOMPLISHING WHAT WE NEED TO ACCOMPLISH SO I WILL LEAVE IT AS PRESENTED.

>> LINA HIDALGO: 1 TPAOF 5 AS PRESENTED.

IS -- 155 IS THERE A MOTION? >> SO MOVED.

>> SECOND. >> LINA HIDALGO: MOTIONED BY COMMISSIONER GARCIA AND SECONDED BY RAMSEY.

ALL IN FAVOR? >> I.

>> LINA HIDALGO: ANY OPPOSED? I'M IN FAVOR AND MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY. SO THAT LEAVES US WITH THE EXECUTIVE SESSION ITEM. THAT IS EXECUTIVE SESSION ITEM 335. SO IT IS 1:15 AND WE ARE GOING TO EXECUTIVE SESSION TO DISCUSS A PERSONNEL MATTER.

I WILL BE CALLING INTO THE PHONE LINE.

>> JUDGE, IT IS 3:15. >> LINA HIDALGO: 3:15.

YES. THANK

>>> IT IS 3:29 AND COMMISSIONERS' COURT IS BACK IN SESSION. WE ARE BACK AND THE ONLY PENDING ITEM ITEM 335. IS THERE A MOTION ON 335?

>> YOU MOVE? >> I MAKE A MOTION TO PUT LARRY

FINDER ON THE COMMISSION. >> SECOND.

>> LINA HIDALGO: MOTIONED BY COMMISSIONER RAMSEY AND SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER CAGLE. ALL IN FAVOR?

>> I. >> LINA HIDALGO: ANY OPPOSED? I COOPERATE -- I COULDN'T TELL IF COLLEAGUES VOTED NO.

>> RODNEY ELLIS: ELLIS AND GARCIA VOTED NO.

I KNOW IT WAS A RECOMMENDATION THAT WE HAVE TERM LIMITS AND IF WE ARE GONNA HAVE THEM, I THINK WE SHOULD APPLY THEM TO ALL BOARDS AND BE SELECTIVE ON SOME AND NOT OTHERS.

>> LINA HIDALGO: SO WE ARE APPLYING THAT ALREADY?

[03:45:02]

>> RODNEY ELLIS: I AM. IF THE COURT DOES, IF NOT I

WON'T DO IT. >> TOM RAMSEY: CLEARLY WE ARE DOING THAT TODAY. I WASN'T FAMILIAR TO START THE DAY, BUT WE ARE. WITH THIS NOMINEE IT WILL START TODAY, SOUNDS LIKE IT, BUT I MAKE MY MOTION.

>> LINA HIDALGO: WHAT WILL THE TERM LIMITS BE?

I GUESS LET'S TALK ABOUT THAT. >> R. JACK CAGLE: IT STINKS TO START A POLICY WHEN SOMEBODY HAS GONE THROUGH THE PROCESS.

Y'ALL DO WHAT Y'ALL WANT. >> RODNEY ELLIS: WHAT WAS THE RECOMMENDATION FROM THE APPOINTMENTS OFFICE?

>> I BELIEVE THIS WAS -- THERE WAS A SET OF POLICY AND

PROCEDURES. >> RODNEY ELLIS: THAT WE VOTED

ON. >> THAT YOU VOTED ON TO CREATE THE OFFICE. THIS WAS NOT A HARD AND FAST REQUIREMENT, BUT IT WAS A RECOMMENDATION AND A BEST PRACTICE AND IF THE BOARD WANTS TO STRENGTHEN THAT GOING FORWARD, THAT'S YOUR PREROGATIVE.

>> RODNEY ELLIS: AND IT WAS EIGHT YEARS?

>> IT WAS EIGHT YEARS TOTAL. HOW LONG HAVE THEY BEEN ON THE BOARD? EIGHT YEARS? FROM MY STANDPOINT I THINK WE SHOULD FOLLOW WHAT WE VOTED ON.

AND THAT WAS EIGHT YEARS. IF YOU WANT TO CHANGE IT TO SAY SUCCESIVE YEARS SO SOMEBODY WENT OFF AND WENT BACK ON THAT IS ANOTHER THING. BUT I THINK IT IS A GOOD POLICY.

>> R. JACK CAGLE: JUDGE, IT IS UP TO YOU.

ARE YOU GOING TO AMBUSH MR. FINDER OR NOT.

WHAT IS YOUR VOTE? >> LINA HIDALGO: YEAH.

SO I WAS NOT AWARE OF THIS POLL. THIS POLICY.

I DO KNOW THAT WE SHIFTED -- THAT THE CHAIRPERSON OF THE SPORTS AUTHORITY WAS EARLIER BECAUSE OF A TERM LIMIT ISSUE OR THE SENSE THAT WE HAVE GREAT LEADERSHIP, BUT WE SHOULD GIVE PEOPLE THE OPPORTUNITY TO SERVE AND NOT JUST HAVE THE SAME PERSON FOR A VERY LONGTIME. AT THE TIME I MADE THE COMMITMENT WE WOULD APPLY THAT EQUALLY.

WE WOULDN'T JUST SINGLE OUT THE CHAIRPERSON OF THE SPORTS AUTHORITY, AND SO I JUST DIDN'T REALIZE THAT THAT WAS ALREADY HAPPENING. IT WAS SORT OF SOMETHING THAT I FIGURED WE WERE GOING TO VOTE ON IN THE FUTURE.

BUT, SO TO BE CLEAR, WE AS A COURT ALREADY ADOPTED A POLICY CAPPING A PARTICULAR POSITION IN EIGHT YEARS, AND WHEN DID WE ADOPT THAT, MR. AYER OR MR. BERRY?

>> RODNEY ELLIS: I THINK IT WAS WHEN WE CREATED THE OFFICE.

>> I'M SORRY. YEAH.

BACK IN APRIL 27TH OF 2021 IS WHEN THE OFFICE WAS CREATED.

>> LINA HIDALGO: THAT'S NEWS TO ME AND I'M SORRY MR. FINER DIDN'T KNOW THAT. I HAVE A HARD TIME NOT FOLLOWING PROCEDURE. SO I WILL JOIN MY COLLEAGUES ON THIS ONE AND I WOULD JUST ENCOURAGE THAT ALL OF US ABIDE BY IT IN THE INTEREST OF CONSISTENCY AND I FOR ONE FEEL WHY I HAVE TO SUPPORT IT. THAT WAS MY REASONING IN TERMS OF THE CHAIRPERSON OF THE SPORTS AUTHORITY.

SO I WILL VOTE NO ON THAT ONE BECAUSE OF TERM LIMITS AND NOT ANYTHING TO DO WITH MR. FINDER'S SERVICE WHICH MY UNDERSTANDING HAS BEEN LONG AND COMMENDABLE. SO THAT MOTION DOES NOT PASS.

IS THERE ANYTHING ELSE MR. BERRY, JAMES, ANYONE ELSE

NEED TO DISCUSS? >> NO, MA'AM.

>> MAKE A MOTION TO ADJOURN IN HONOR OF GARY TRISH.

>> SECOND. >> LINA HIDALGO: YES.

THANK YOU. >> I SECOND IT AS WELL.

I THINK HAVE YOU THREE SECONDS. >> LINA HIDALGO: WE ALL SECOND IT. OUR HEART GOES OUT TO HIS FAMILY AND A DEBT OF GRATITUDE FOR HIS SERVICE.

I'M HAPPY TO HAVE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO MEET HIM AND VERY SAD TO HEAR OF HIS PASSING. WE APPRECIATE HIM.

I KNOW ALL OF THE WORK HE DID AT THE STATE IN HARRIS COUNTY IS VERY MUCH APPRECIATED. CERTAINLY WE ARE ADJOURNING AND IT IS 3:34 P.M. AND WE ADJOURN IN HONOR OF MR. GARY TRISH.

* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.