May 16, 2023 Commissioners Court

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ALL RIGHT. IT IS 10:08.

AND I'D LIKE TO CALL THIS MAY 16TH, 2023, MEETING OF THE HARRIS COUNTY COMMISSIONERS COURT TO ORDER.

UM, I HAVE SOMEONE LISTED HERE FOR THE PRAYER IMAM.

[Imam Isa Parada of IslamInSpanish Centro Islamico in Houston.]

SO, GOOD MORNING, EVERYONE.

I WOULD LIKE TO WELCOME IMAM ISSA PARADA, WHO WILL BE LEADING US IN PRAYER THIS MORNING.

HE'S THE PROUD FATHER OF EIGHT CHILDREN AND TWO OF THEM ARE HERE TODAY WITH US.

AND HAPPY EARLY BIRTHDAY TO HIS DAUGHTER.

HE HAS ONE BRAND NEW GRANDSON AND HE HAS BEEN MARRIED TO HIS BEAUTIFUL WIFE, FELICIA, FOR 26 YEARS.

HE WAS BORN IN NEW YORK TO SALVADORIAN PARENTS BEFORE MOVING TO HOUSTON AND CALLING ALIEF HOME.

HE WAS RAISED AS A PRACTICING CATHOLIC AND WOULD OFTEN SERVE AS AN ALTAR BOY AT HIS FAMILY'S CATHOLIC PARISH.

AND THEN, AT THE AGE OF 19, HE BEGAN TO RECONSIDER HIS RELIGION AND FELT MORE DRAWN TO ISLAM AS HIS FAITH.

AFTER GRADUATING FROM ELSIK HIGH SCHOOL.

THEN HE WENT ON TO BECOME THE FIRST AMERICAN OF LATINO DESCENT TO GRADUATE FROM THE ISLAMIC UNIVERSITY OF MADINAH IN SAUDI ARABIA, WHERE HE RECEIVED HIS BACHELOR'S DEGREE IN THEOLOGY.

IMAM ISSA BARADA NOW SERVES AS THE EDUCATIONAL DIRECTOR AND INSTRUCTOR AND SPIRITUAL COUNSELOR AT THE ISLAM IN SPANISH.

CENTRO ISLAMICO IN PRECINCT FOUR, THE ONLY LATINO LED AND SPANISH SPEAKING ISLAMIC CENTER IN THE UNITED STATES.

HIS FAMILY'S ROOTS FROM EL SALVADOR ALLOW HIM TO BRIDGE COMMUNITIES.

HIS BACKGROUND, KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING MAKE HIM UNIQUELY QUALIFIED, ALLOWING HIM TO DEVELOP CULTURALLY SPECIFIC EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMING FOR CENTRO ISLAMICO. THANK YOU, IMAM BARADA, FOR CREATING SAFE SPACES FOR PEOPLE FROM DIFFERENT BACKGROUNDS AND DIFFERENT EXPERIENCES CAN COME TOGETHER, SHARE THEIR DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVES, AND UNITE.

AND I KNOW THAT'S WHY WE'RE HERE, TO MAKE SURE WE'RE BRIDGING COMMUNITIES, UNITING SO THAT WE CAN LEAVE A BETTER PLACE FOR OUR CHILDREN AND GRANDCHILDREN.

SO THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR INVITING ME.

ON BEHALF OF ISLAM IN SPANISH, CENTRAL ISLAMICA, WE THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING US TO LEAD YOU IN PRAYER.

I'LL START IN THE NAME OF GOD, THE MOST BENEFICENT, THE MOST MERCIFUL.

ALL PRAISES ARE DUE TO HIM, AND MAY THE GOD'S BLESSINGS BE UPON HIS MESSENGERS.

FROM NOAH, ABRAHAM, MOSES, JESUS UNDER MARY AND MUHAMMAD.

GOD ALMIGHTY, YOU ARE THE MOST PURE.

AND WE ASK YOU TO ALWAYS GUIDE THIS COMMISSIONER'S COURT TO HAVE A PURE INTENTION TO BENEFIT THE PEOPLE OF HARRIS COUNTY.

GOD ALMIGHTY, YOU ARE THE MOST WISE.

PLEASE GRANT THIS COMMISSIONERS COURT WITH WISDOM IN EVERY JUDGMENT THAT THEY DO, AND THEY MAKE FOR THE BETTERMENT OF THE PEOPLE OF HARRIS COUNTY.

GOD ALMIGHTY, YOU ARE THE MOST.

JUST PLEASE GRANT THIS COMMISSIONERS COURT WITH JUST JUDGMENT AND ALWAYS PUSH BACK AGAINST ANY TYPE OF INJUSTICE OR OPPRESSION BECAUSE GOD, YOU KNOW THAT OPPRESSION AND INJUSTICE IS A DARKNESS ON THIS EARTH.

GOD ALMIGHTY, YOU ARE THE MOST PATIENT.

PLEASE GRANT THIS COMMISSIONERS COURT PATIENCE WITH THEMSELVES, WITH THEIR FAMILIES, WITH THE HARRIS COUNTY CITIZENS, AND WITH THEM WITH THEM AS A TEAM THAT THEY'RE ALWAYS PATIENT WITH ONE ANOTHER, STRIVING ALWAYS TO IMPROVE THE ENVIRONMENT HERE IN HARRIS COUNTY.

GOD ALMIGHTY, YOU ARE ALWAYS GUIDING US.

YOU ARE THE BEST OF GUIDES.

PLEASE GUIDE THE COMMISSIONERS COURT TO ALWAYS, ALWAYS KEEP IN THEIR MIND AND IN THEIR HEARTS THE FUTURE GENERATION, THE YOUTH WHO CAN SEE THEM AS GUIDING LIGHTS AND EXAMPLES ON HOW TO WORK CIVICALLY THROUGHOUT THE HARRIS COUNTY COURT AND THROUGHOUT HARRIS COUNTY TO CONTINUE TO BENEFIT THE PEOPLE.

SO WE WILL HAVE GREAT FUTURE LEADERS.

AND I'LL END WITH GOD.

YOU ALWAYS PUSH US TO DO OUR BEST AND YOU LOVE COMPETITION.

MAY GOD GRANT THIS COMMISSIONERS COURT AND HARRIS COUNTY TO BE THE BEST COUNTY IN THE UNITED STATES.

MAY GOD BLESS YOU ALL.

LA BENDIGA TODOS USTEDES.

ASSALAMUALAIKUM. PEACE BE UPON YOU.

INSHALLAH. THANK YOU.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU SO MUCH.

LET'S GO AHEAD AND RECITE THE PLEDGE.

I PLEDGE MY ALLEGIANCE TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS.

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HONOR THE TEXAS FLAG.

I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO TEXAS, ONE STATE UNDER GOD, ONE AND INDIVISIBLE.

HE.

OKAY. SO BEFORE WE GET STARTED ON THE AGENDA, I WANT TO OFFICIALLY WELCOME DEANNA RAMIREZ, WHO BEGAN HER ROLE AS INTERIM COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR ON APRIL 28TH.

DEANNA JOINS HARRIS COUNTY WITH A LONG TRACK RECORD OF PUBLIC SERVICE OVER 20 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE IN TRAVIS COUNTY PLANNING AND BUDGET OFFICE.

SHE WORKED IN THE TEXAS GENERAL LAND OFFICE.

SHE SERVED AS DIRECTOR OF THE DEPARTMENT OF ECONOMIC EQUITY AND OPPORTUNITY AND HAS ALREADY PROVEN TO BE INCREDIBLY VALUABLE.

I ALSO WANT TO THANK AND I KNOW A DIRECTOR OR FORMER ADMINISTRATOR, BIERI HAD A FAMILY EMERGENCY, WHICH IS WHY HE'S NOT HERE TODAY.

BUT I DO WANT TO THANK HIM FOR HIS EXCELLENT SERVICE AS COUNTIES.

THE COUNTY'S FIRST COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR AND IT WAS IT WAS VERY, VERY MUCH A TOUGH, TOUGH JOB TO TAKE ON THE ADMINISTRATOR OF THIS COUNTY, ADMINISTRATOR FOR THIS COUNTY, BUT HE'S HELPED US MAKE DECISIONS IN A MORE DATA DRIVEN, MORE TRANSPARENT WAY. AND I'M VERY GRATEFUL TO HIM.

SO SO THANK YOU AND WELCOME, DEANNA.

WE HAVE SIX RESOLUTIONS TO TAKE OUT OF ORDER THIS MORNING.

[Departments (Part 1 of 2)]

IT'S A ROUTINE PAYMENT OF AUDITED CLAIMS. UM, GO AHEAD. UH, CORRECT.

JUDGE, WE DID NOT HAVE THE BUSINESS COURT MEETING IN THE LAST MEETING, AND THAT'S WHY.

AND SO WE NEED THIS AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE.

THANK YOU, JUDGE. MOVE ON.

THE SECOND ONE.

THERE IS A CERTAIN GROUP IN THERE, COMMISSIONER, THAT I'D LIKE TO THE FM PORTION OF THAT.

SO I THINK MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE ALL DISBURSEMENTS EXCEPT FOR PFM GROUP CONSULTING OF 13,007 50.

UH, ALL IN FAVOR OF COMMISSIONER RAMSAY'S MOTION.

HI. HI. HI.

ANY OPPOSED? ONE MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY.

IS THERE A MOTION FOR THE ITEM? MOTION BY COMMISSIONER ELLIS.

SECOND BY COMMISSIONER GARCIA. ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. AYE. ANY OPPOSED? NO, I'M IN FAVOR.

MOTION CARRIES. 4 TO 1.

THANK YOU. LET'S GO BACK TO THE RESOLUTIONS.

SO THE FIRST RESOLUTION IS PROCLAIMING THE MONTH OF JUNE AS ELDER ABUSE AWARENESS MONTH IN HARRIS COUNTY.

AND I KNOW WE HAVE SOME SPEAKERS SIGNED UP, WHEREAS OLDER ADULTS AND PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES OF DIVERSE BACKGROUNDS CONTRIBUTE TO THE WELL-BEING OF HARRIS COUNTY BY WORKING CAREGIVING, VOLUNTEERING, ACTIVELY PRESERVING CUSTOMS, RITUALS, TRADITIONS.

AS WE AGE, WE BUILD MOMENTUM BY ACCUMULATING KNOWLEDGE, EXPERIENCE, INSIGHT AND WISDOM THAT CAN BE SHARED TO ENRICH OUR COMMUNITY.

THE ABUSE OF OLDER ADULTS AND INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES IS A COMMON CONCERN AFFECTING THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE ACROSS TEXAS, AFFECTING EXCUSE ME, MEN AND WOMEN OF ALL INCOME, ALL CULTURAL, ETHNIC BACKGROUNDS AND ALL COMMUNITIES.

ABUSE AFFECTED MORE THAN 120,000 OLDER ADULTS AND PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES IN TEXAS IN 2022.

AND THIS ABUSE IS GROSSLY UNDERREPORTED BECAUSE OF SOCIAL STIGMA, EMBARRASSMENT AND FEAR.

ELDER ABUSE IS EVERYONE'S BUSINESS, AND IT'S IMPORTANT TO STRENGTHEN OUR EFFORTS TO PREVENT, REPORT AND ADDRESS ELDER ABUSE, BE IT RESOLVED THAT HARRIS COUNTY COMMISSIONERS COURT HEREBY PROCLAIMS THE MONTH OF JUNE 2023 AS ELDER ABUSE AWARENESS MONTH IN HARRIS COUNTY AND URGES ALL RESIDENTS TO WORK TOGETHER TO REDUCE ABUSE AND NEGLECT OF OLDER ADULTS.

AND THIS IS SOMETHING VERY CLOSE TO MY HEART AND MY FAMILY GROWING UP.

THIS WAS WHAT THEY WORKED ON ON A VOLUNTEER BASIS IS PREVENTING ELDER ABUSE AND WORKING WITH ELDER FOLKS WHO HAD BEEN ABUSED AND WERE NOW LIVING IN SPECIAL HOMES. AND IT'S SOMETHING THAT THAT WE ALL DO NEED TO LOOK OUT FOR.

SO, TIFFANY, DO WE HAVE ANY SPEAKERS ON THE RESOLUTION? YES, MA'AM.

FIRST IS CHRISTINA RECTOR.

YOU HAVE ONE MINUTE.

SHE'S MAKING HER WAY.

OKAY.

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THANK YOU FOR WORKING ALONGSIDE OF US AS WE AS ELDER ABUSE.

MY NAME IS CHRISTINA RECTOR.

I'M THE DISTRICT DIRECTOR FOR ADULT PROTECTIVE SERVICES.

ADULT PROTECTIVE SERVICES MISSION IS TO PROTECT OLDER ADULTS FROM ABUSE, NEGLECT AND EXPLOITATION BY PROVIDING SERVICES NECESSARY TO ALLEVIATE FURTHER MALPRACTICE.

THE HOUSTON DISTRICT COVERED 13 COUNTIES.

IN 2022, WE RECEIVED 24,324 INTAKES.

WE COMPLETED 18,000 INVESTIGATIONS AND VALIDATED 10,000 CASES.

ELDER ABUSE IS EVERYONE'S BUSINESS, AS THE COMMISSIONER STATED.

TO REPORT ABUSE, YOU DIAL 1-800-252-5400.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU.

THANK YOU. NEXT IS JOEL LEVINE.

YOU HAVE ONE MINUTE.

GOOD MORNING, JUDGE.

JUDGE HIDALGO AND COMMISSIONERS.

I AM JOEL LEVINE.

DEPARTMENT HEAD EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF HARRIS COUNTY RESOURCES FOR CHILDREN AND ADULTS.

AND IN ADDITION TO OUR PROGRAMS AND SERVICES FOR CHILDREN AND FAMILIES INVOLVED WITH THE STATE CHILD WELFARE SYSTEM AND PREVENTION, EARLY INTERVENTION SERVICES FOR AT RISK YOUTH IN HARRIS COUNTY, WE HAVE TWO VICTIM CENTERED PROGRAMS THAT ADDRESS THE SPECIAL NEEDS OF OUR SENIOR POPULATION AND PROVIDE PROTECTION AND ADVOCACY.

THE HARRIS COUNTY GUARDIANSHIP PROGRAM IS THE LARGEST PUBLIC GUARDIANSHIP PROGRAM IN THE STATE AND CURRENTLY SERVES 1157 WARDS FROM THE COUNTY PROBATE COURTS THAT YOU HAVE ENTRUSTED TO OUR DEPARTMENT'S CARE.

THE SENIOR JUSTICE ASSESSMENT CENTER, THE FIRST OF ITS KIND IN TEXAS THAT WE OPENED IN 2017, UTILIZES A MULTIDISCIPLINARY APPROACH WITH A TEAM OF EXPERTS IN GERIATRIC FORENSIC AND PSYCHIATRIC MEDICINE, CIVIL AND CRIMINAL PROSECUTION.

THANK YOU. YOUR TIME IS UP.

JOE ASKED WHAT CAN CONTINUE YOU.

THANK YOU. I'LL TRY TO GO FAST.

LAW ENFORCEMENT, PROTECTIVE SERVICES AND SOCIAL SERVICES TO ADDRESS THE COMPLEX NEEDS OF SENIOR VICTIMS OF CRIME.

IN THE PAST, OUR SENIOR JUSTICE ASSESSMENT CENTER HAS SERVED 1025 SENIOR VICTIMS, AND WE HAVE HAD 139 CONVICTIONS ON OPEN CASES. AND WE HAVE HELD 428 MULTIDISCIPLINARY TEAM MEETINGS.

I'D LIKE TO THANK THE COMMISSIONERS COURT FOR YOUR SUPPORT OF OUR ADULT GUARDIANSHIP AND OUR SENIOR JUSTICE ASSESSMENT CENTER.

WE'RE ABLE TO MOVE THE SENIOR JUSTICE ASSESSMENT CENTER COMPLETELY INTO THE GENERAL FUND THIS PAST YEAR, AND THAT'S MADE A BIG DIFFERENCE FOR US.

AND I'D LIKE TO JUST REAL QUICK.

BARBARA LOPEZ IS OUR MANAGER OF THE SENIOR JUSTICE ASSESSMENT CENTER AND SHE'S HERE TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS AFTER COURT ABOUT IT.

THANK YOU, JOE.

JOE, LET ME JUST SAY SO GOOD TO SEE YOU, MAN.

THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER. GREAT TO BE HERE.

GOOD DEAL. THANK YOU. NEXT IS TAMMY MERMELSTEIN.

YOU HAVE ONE MINUTE.

GOOD MORNING. I'M TAMMY MERMELSTEIN.

I'M THE VICE CHAIR FOR THE REGION SIX PROTECTIVE SERVICES ADVISORY BOARD AND THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR AT CARE.

THANK YOU FOR THIS RESOLUTION.

TOO MANY VULNERABLE ADULTS SUFFER IN SILENCE AND ACTS SUCH AS PUBLICLY RECOGNIZING ELDER ABUSE BRING THE ISSUE MUCH NEEDED ATTENTION.

ELDER ABUSE AWARENESS MONTH COMES ON THE HEELS OF OLDER AMERICANS MONTH, A DESIGNATION DATING BACK TO 1963.

IN HONOR OF BOTH MONTHS, I WANTED TO SHARE WITH YOU SOME INFORMATION ABOUT OUR COMMUNITIES, OLDER POPULATION.

ON ITS OWN. OUR 60 PLUS POPULATION HERE IN HARRIS COUNTY WOULD BE TEXAS'S SIXTH LARGEST CITY.

WE NOW HAVE MORE 60 PLUS PEOPLE THAN CHILDREN AGES 5 TO 14.

1 IN 4 OLDER HOMEOWNERS IN THE COUNTY ARE HOUSE POOR.

AS RECENTLY AS FEBRUARY, 60% REPORTED THAT THEY STRUGGLED TO PAY NORMAL HOUSEHOLD EXPENSES, AND MORE THAN 1 IN 3 LIVE ALONE, PLACING THEM AT INCREASED RISK FOR LONELINESS AND ABUSE. GROWING OLD ISN'T EASY.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU.

THANK YOU. THAT'S ALL FOR THIS ITEM, JUDGE.

THANK YOU SO MUCH AND THANK YOU TO ALL THE SPEAKERS AND EVERYONE WHO DOES WORK ON THIS.

THANK YOU. THE NEXT RESOLUTION IS CONGRATULATING HARRIS HEALTH'S BEN TAUB HOSPITAL ON ITS 60TH ANNIVERSARY OF PROVIDING PATIENT CARE TO THE PEOPLE OF HARRIS COUNTY.

BEN TAUB IS A KEY REASON WHY HARRIS COUNTY IS AT THE CUTTING EDGE OF MEDICINE.

WE ARE THE THIRD LARGEST SAFETY NET HOSPITAL LEVEL ONE TRAUMA CENTER.

I WANT TO JUST TAKE A MOMENT TO RECOGNIZE EVERYBODY WHO MAKES THE WORK AT BEN TAUB POSSIBLE.

FROM THE CLINICIANS TO THE ADMINISTRATIVE WORKERS, THE INTERPRETERS, EVERYBODY, THOSE WHO PROVIDE SECURITY.

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BEN TAUB HOSPITAL IS A PROUD MEMBER OF THE HARRIS HEALTH SYSTEM.

THE PUBLIC HEALTH CARE SYSTEM WAS CREATED IN 19, WHICH WAS CREATED IN 1966 BY A VOTER REFERENDUM.

BEN TAUB HOSPITAL BEARS THE NAME OF A HOUSTON LEGEND, REAL ESTATE MOGUL, PHILANTHROPIC GIANT AND VOCAL ADVOCATE FOR THE CREATION OF HARRIS HEALTH TO PROVIDE HIGH QUALITY MEDICAL CARE TO OUR MOST VULNERABLE RESIDENTS.

IN ITS 60 YEARS, BEN TAUB HOSPITAL HAS SEAMLESSLY TRANSITIONED FROM TWO FACILITIES ON THE SAME CAMPUS TO.

UM, AND TO SERVE THE COMMUNITY AS A MAJOR ACUTE CARE HOSPITAL WITH 402 BEDS PROVIDING EXPERTISE IN TRAUMA, EMERGENCY MEDICINE, INTENSIVE CARE, STROKE AND CARDIOLOGY.

IT'S ONE OF TWO LEVEL ONE TRAUMA CENTERS IN HARRIS COUNTY.

BEN TAUB HAS BECOME INTERNATIONALLY RECOGNIZED WITH ITS MEDICAL PARTNERS FROM BAYLOR COLLEGE OF MEDICINE.

THEY'VE SERVED THE COMMUNITY PROVIDING LIFE SAVING TRAUMA CARE TO MORE THAN 185,000 AREA RESIDENTS.

TODAY, BEN TAUB HOSPITAL IS HOME TO THE GINNY AND RICHARD MADOFF TRAUMA CENTER, A COMPREHENSIVE STROKE CENTER.

DMV ACCREDITED IS A RECIPIENT OF THE AMERICAN HEART ASSOCIATION AMERICAN STROKE ASSOCIATION'S GET WITH THE GUIDELINES STROKE, GOLD PLUS TARGET AND A DESIGNATED CHEST PAIN AND A MISSION LIFELINE GOLD PLUS RECEIVING CENTER FOR HEART ATTACK CARE.

BEN TAUB IS A LONG TIME RESPECTED MEMBER OF THE TEXAS MEDICAL CENTER AND A VITAL PART OF THE HARRIS COUNTY EMERGENCY RESPONSE SYSTEM FOR MASS CASUALTY AND DISASTER EVENTS.

IN ITS 60 YEARS OF OPERATION, THE HOSPITAL HAS TAKEN CARE OF NEARLY 6 MILLION EMERGENCY PATIENT VISITS.

BE IT RESOLVED THAT HARRIS COUNTY COMMISSIONERS COURT HEREBY CONGRATULATES THE HARRIS HEALTH AND HOSPITAL ON THE OCCASION OF THEIR 60TH ANNIVERSARY, PROVIDING PATIENT CARE TO THE PEOPLE OF HARRIS COUNTY AND THE CITY OF HOUSTON.

I THINK THAT DESERVES A ROUND OF APPLAUSE.

CHURCH. WE DON'T HAVE ANY SPEAKERS SIGNED UP FOR THIS ITEM, BUT GLORIMAR MEDINA FROM BEN TAUB IS ON THE LINE.

GLORIMAR I'M NOT SURE IF YOU WANT TO SAY SOMETHING.

YES, THANK YOU SO MUCH.

MY NAME IS GLORIMAR MEDINA.

I AM THE ADMINISTRATOR, A CEO FOR EVENT OF HOSPITAL.

THANK YOU, JUDGE HIDALGO.

THANK YOU. MEMBERS OF THE COURT.

AS YOU WILL MENTION, BEN TAUB HOSPITAL AS PART OF THE HARRIS HEALTH SYSTEM, HAS ALWAYS BEEN HERE AND STILL IS SERVING OUR COMMUNITY, ESPECIALLY THOSE MOST IN NEED. WE TAKE CARE OF THE HEALTH OF OUR COMMUNITY, AND WE ARE VERY PROUD TO SAY THAT THIS IS OF THE HIGHEST QUALITY, AS YOU WELL MENTIONED.

ON BEHALF OF OUR CEO, DR.

ISMAIL PORSA HARRIS HEALTH SYSTEM, THANK YOU FOR HONORING THE BEN TOP HOSPITAL AND HONORING THE PEOPLE THAT PASSIONATELY WORK HERE TO FOR THE HEALTH OF OUR HARRIS COUNTY COMMUNITY.

MUCHAS GRACIAS POR ESTE RECONOCIMIENTO.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

CONGRATULATIONS AGAIN TO BEN TAUB.

UM, COMMISSIONER ELLIS, DID YOU HAVE ANY RESOLUTIONS OUT OF ORDER? I HAVE ONE JUDGE, AND IT IS NUMBER THREE ON THE AGENDA.

THIS IS A RESOLUTION HONORING MY TEXAS LEGISLATIVE INTERNSHIP CLASS FOR 2023.

I STARTED THE PROGRAM WHEN I WENT TO THE LEGISLATURE IN 1991.

WE'VE HAD OVER 1000 STUDENTS WHO COME THROUGH THE PROGRAM OVER THOSE YEARS, AND WE KNOW SOME OF THEM.

THEY'VE ENDED UP DOING VERY WELL.

UH, AND THERE ARE TWO THAT WE HAVE IN HOUSTON.

ONE I HAVE WITH ME TODAY, COMMISSIONER GARCIA WILL TAKE A PAGE OUT OF YOUR BOOK.

UH, TONY BLACK IS A WEST POINT GRAD AND ALSO A STUDENT AT THE SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY LAW SCHOOL IN BATON ROUGE.

AND HE'S INTERNING WITH THE INNOCENCE PROJECT OUT OF NEW YORK.

THEY LET HIM WORK REMOTELY.

THEY HAVE LET HIM GO UP TO NEW YORK ONCE OR TWICE.

I THINK HE'S ABOUT THE FOURTH ONE WE'VE PUT WITH THEM.

BUT MOST OF THEM ARE IN AUSTIN.

THERE'S ONE OTHER ONE IN HOUSTON WHO HAD TO GO BACK FOR AN EVENT.

SHE'S A STUDENT AT SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY AS WELL.

SHE'S IN CONGRESSWOMAN SHEILA JACKSON LEE'S OFFICE.

BUT WE HAVE THREE MEMBERS OF THE WHO ARE GRADUATES OF THE PROGRAM WHO ARE NOW IN THE TEXAS HOUSE, REPRESENTATIVE AMANDA WILEY, RON REYNOLDS AND ANNA HERNANDEZ.

WE HAVE ONE WHO IS ON THE HOUSTON CITY COUNCIL.

WE HAVE, UH, I THINK AT LEAST TWO, MAYBE THREE WHO ARE JUDGES IN HARRIS COUNTY.

UH, WE HAVE ONE WHO IS A FEDERAL MAGISTRATE.

ALL OF THEM HAVE DONE GREAT THINGS.

EVEN IF THEY CHOSE TO GO INTO PRIVATE PRACTICE.

ONE IS ON THE PORT AUTHORITY.

UH, YOUR APPOINTMENT, BY THE WAY, MINDY, WENDY MONTOYA CLOONAN.

BUT I'M REAL PROUD OF THE PROGRAM.

WE'VE LASTED FOR 30 YEARS.

WE HONORED SENFRONIA THOMPSON THIS YEAR, RAISED A GOOD BIT OF MONEY THAT I THINK WILL HELP US KEEP THE PROGRAM GOING.

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UH, SOME OF THEM HAVE WORKED ON BILLS THAT I WOULD PREFER THAT THEY DIDN'T WORK ON, BUT THEY ALWAYS REMEMBER WHATEVER OFFICE WE PUT THEM IN IS A LEARNING PROGRAM.

SO WITH THAT, I WANT TO LET OLD TONY SIT IN MY CHAIR FOR A MINUTE, IF YOU DON'T MIND.

JARED, IF HE WANTS TO SAY ANYTHING, JUST DON'T TAKE THE MIKE TOO LONG.

IF I COULD JUST READ THE RESOLUTION, BUT DON'T GO OVERBOARD.

ONE LESSON THEY LEARNED IS THAT HUMILITY.

IF ONE OF THEM EVER DECIDES TO RUN AGAINST ME, THEY SHOULD BE HUMBLE ABOUT IT.

UM. GOOD MORNING, JUDGE HILDAGO AND COMMISSIONERS.

I JUST WANTED TO SAY THANK YOU TO COMMISSIONER ELLIS FOR CREATING THE TEXAS LEGISLATIVE INTERNSHIP PROGRAM AND ALLOWING ME TO BE A PART OF ITS LEGACY.

I JUST WANT TO EXPRESS MY SINCERE GRATITUDE FOR THE INCREDIBLE OPPORTUNITY TO INTERN AT THE INNOCENCE PROJECT WITH THE POLICY TEAM.

THIS EXPERIENCE WITH 40 INTERNS AND THE INNOCENCE PROJECT HAS BEEN NOTHING SHORT OF AMAZING, AND I AM GRATEFUL FOR THE KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS THAT I'VE GAINED THROUGH THE DIRECT POLICY WORK.

FROM THE VERY FIRST DAY, I WAS WELCOMED WITH OPEN ARMS AND GIVEN THE CHANCE TO WORK ON MEANINGFUL PROJECTS AND TRULY HAVE BROADENED MY UNDERSTANDING OF PUBLIC POLICY AND THE COMMITMENT TO EXONERATING WRONGFULLY CONVICTED DEFENDANTS.

THANK YOU TO MRS ERIKA LEE CARTER FOR HER MENTORSHIP AND GUIDANCE AND ALSO MUST NOTE THAT I DID TAKE ON A NEW HOBBY WHICH IS CYCLING AND TRULY APPRECIATE THE BIKE LANES THAT ARE ACROSS THE CITY.

UM, LASTLY, I WANTED TO SAY I'M SO GRATEFUL FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE A PART OF TULIP AND AN HONORARY MEMBER OF PRECINCT ONE TEAM AND HAVE ENHANCED MY COMMITMENT TO PUBLIC SERVICE. I HOPE TO STAY IN TOUCH WITH EVERYONE AS I CONTINUE TO PURSUE A CAREER IN POLICY.

THANK YOU AGAIN TO EVERYONE.

UM, THANK YOU. CONGRATULATIONS.

EVEN FOR SUCH A BRIGHT YOUNG MAN.

THAT'S WHAT I THOUGHT. I'D STAND BEHIND THIS, I SAID BEHIND HIS BACK WHILE HE WAS SPEAKING.

BUT SHE DID A GOOD JOB. BUT, YOU KNOW, REALLY, ON MY WORST DAYS IN POLITICS, IT IS A PRIVILEGE TO KNOW THAT THAT YOUNG PEOPLE COMING BEHIND ALL OF US WHO WILL GO TO EVEN HIGHER HEIGHTS AND DO A BETTER JOB THAN ANY OF US HAVE BEEN ABLE TO DO.

SO ON BEHALF OF ALL OF THE INTERNS, WE'RE PROUD OF YOU.

YOU DID A GOOD JOB. YES, SIR.

AND THEY'VE HONORED THE REST OF THEM IN AUSTIN.

YOU KNOW, ALWAYS ENJOY POINTING OUT WHEN SOME OF MY COLLEAGUES WOULD SAY, WELL, RODNEY, YOU PUT THEM ALL IN DEMOCRATIC OFFICES.

I HAD ONE IN MY LAST SESSION WHO WAS WORKING ON THE BATHROOM BILL IN THE LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR'S OFFICE.

SO THAT'S NOT BIPARTISAN.

I DON'T KNOW WHAT HE IS, BUT I HOPE HE HAS GROWN BEYOND IT.

BUT THEY DO A GOOD JOB.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER.

COMMISSIONER GARCIA.

THANK YOU, JUDGE.

I'VE GOT A RESOLUTION, UM, RECOGNIZING, UM, THE FACT THAT WE ARE IN THE, UM, IN THE MONTH OF MAY AND MAY IS CONSIDERED MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS MONTH.

AND I JUST WANT TO FIRST BEGIN BY SAYING THAT, UM.

FROM THE FROM THE DAY THAT I STARTED MY LAW ENFORCEMENT CAREER IN 1980.

UH, TO WHERE WE'RE AT TODAY.

IMMENSE PROGRESS HAS BEEN MADE IN RELATION TO HOW WE UNDERSTAND MENTAL HEALTH.

FIRST AND FOREMOST, UM, HOW WE RESPECT IT.

UM, BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY, THE AMOUNT OF ACCESS TO TREATMENT SERVICES THAT EXIST TODAY THAT USED TO NOT EXIST YEARS AGO IF YOU WANTED TO HELP SOMEONE WHO WAS IN CRISIS.

LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER HAS HIS OR HER ONLY TWO TOOLS WAS AN EMERGENCY DETENTION ORDER.

OR JAIL.

THAT WAS JUST TO TRY TO HELP THAT FAMILY OR THAT INDIVIDUAL FOR THE CIRCUMSTANCE THAT THEY WERE IN.

UM, I WANT TO MENTION THE NAME JEROME.

UM, I CAN'T REMEMBER JEROME'S LAST NAME, BUT JEROME WAS A YOUNG MAN.

A MOUNTAIN OF A MAN. HE WAS A BIG GUY.

UH, WHO I MET ON PATROL ONE DAY.

AND. AND.

AND JEROME WAS HAVING CHALLENGES.

I GOT TO KNOW HIM.

GOT TO LEARN HOW TO COMMUNICATE WITH HIM.

GOT TO KNOW HOW TO DEESCALATE WITH HIM.

AND, UH.

AND I TURNED OUT TO BE HIS TAXI WHENEVER I FOUND HIM OUTSIDE OF HIS NEIGHBORHOOD AND WOULD GET HIM BACK HOME.

UM. UNFORTUNATELY.

UH, WHEN I LEFT PATROL.

A DRONE WAS IN CRISIS ONE NIGHT.

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AND UNFORTUNATELY, HIS LIFE WAS LOST.

THAT PARTICULAR INCIDENT HAS STAYED WITH ME BECAUSE I ALWAYS HAD THE FEELING OF MAN, IF I HAD JUST STAYED IN PATROL, I COULD HAVE BEEN THERE. I COULD HAVE HELPED JEROME.

I COULD HAVE HOPEFULLY PREVENTED THAT FROM HAPPENING.

THIS RESOLUTION IS FOR ANYONE AND EVERYONE.

FAMILIES THAT MAY HAVE SOMEONE IN THEIR HOME WHO MAY KNOW SOMEONE WHO IS STRUGGLING WITH SOME TYPE OF MENTAL ILLNESS. TO LET YOU KNOW THE DAY IS BETTER TODAY THAN IT WAS YEARS AGO.

WE STILL HAVE A LONG WAY TO GO.

I'M SO PROUD TO HAVE THE ACCESS TO HELP MENTAL HEALTH SMART POD IN MY PRECINCT WORKING WITH FAMILIES.

UM, BUT WE'VE GOT SO MUCH MORE TO DO.

AND AND THIS IS SIMPLY TO SAY THAT NOW THE NATIONAL THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT HAS WORKED TO CONSTRUCT NINE, EIGHT, EIGHT.

UM, THERE'S NOW THE, UH, BY VIRTUE OF THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF COUNTIES, A MENTAL HEALTH COMMISSION OF WHICH I AM A PART OF.

UH, BUT SIMPLY TO SAY THAT YOU'RE NOT ALONE.

THERE'S SOMEONE AVAILABLE FOR YOU.

RESOURCES ACCESS IN ALL LANGUAGES.

I BELIEVE MUCH MORE CULTURALLY COMPETENT THAN EVER BEFORE.

UM, SO PLEASE KNOW THAT IF YOU KNOW SOMEONE, PLEASE DIRECT THEM TO THE RESOURCES THAT ARE AVAILABLE, UH, SO THAT THEY CAN BE SUPPORTED.

UM, BUT ALSO TO KNOW THAT IF SOMEONE IS HEARING THIS AND THEY ARE STRUGGLING WITH SOMETHING, TO LET THEM KNOW THAT, TO LET YOU KNOW THAT WE'RE HERE FOR YOU. UM, I'M PROUD OF THE WORK THAT THE MENTAL THAT THE HARE CENTER IS DOING.

AND WE HAVE SOME SPEAKERS IN THAT REGARD.

BUT, UM, YOU KNOW, THE ONE THING THAT WE CANNOT LOSE SIGHT OF AS WELL IS THAT FOR WHEN WE TALK ABOUT MENTAL ILLNESS. AT LEAST FOR ME, I TEND TO IMMEDIATELY THINK OF AN ADULT PERSON.

UM, BUT WE HAVE TO REMEMBER THAT THERE ARE MANY CHILDREN WHO ARE STRUGGLING WITH SOME FORM OF MENTAL ILLNESS, UM, AND ACCESS TO TREATMENT EARLY ON.

QUALITY ACCESS OR QUALITY TREATMENT CAN MEAN THE WORLD OF DIFFERENCE TO THAT YOUNG PERSON'S LIFE, UM, AND LIFE SPAN.

AND SO WITH THAT, I AM HONORED TO PRESENT THIS RESOLUTION THAT READS.

WHEREAS TODAY WE RECOGNIZE THAT MENTAL HEALTH IS AN ESSENTIAL COMPONENT OF OVERALL HEALTH AND WELL-BEING.

AND. WHEREAS, NEARLY 1 IN 5 ADULTS AND TEENS IN THE UNITED STATES LIVE WITH A MENTAL ILLNESS IMPACTING A PERSON'S EMOTIONAL, SOCIAL, ENVIRONMENTAL, FINANCIAL AND OVERALL WELL-BEING WITH SIGNIFICANT DISPARITIES AMONG RACIALLY AND ETHNICALLY DIVERSE COMMUNITIES.

AND. WHEREAS, 908 THE NEW THREE DIGIT NUMBER FOR THE NATIONAL SUICIDE PREVENTION AND MENTAL HEALTH CRISIS LINE LAUNCHED THIS YEAR AND HELPS REDUCE THE STIGMA ASSOCIATED WITH MENTAL ILLNESS AND SEEKING HELP.

AND. WHEREAS, HARRIS COUNTY HAS SIGNIFICANTLY INVESTED IN PREVENTION AND EARLY INTERVENTION WITH THE HEALTHY MINDS HEALTHY COMMUNITIES INITIATIVE, THE BEHAVIORAL HEALTH, SMART POD, MENTAL HEALTH DIVERSION AND REENTRY SERVICES, INCLUDING YOUTH DIVERSION, THE RESPITE, THE RESPITE, REHABILITATION AND REENTRY CENTER, AND THE CLINICAL AND OFFICER REMOTE EVALUATION CORE PROGRAM, OF WHICH WE HAVE AN ITEM ON TODAY'S AGENDA FOR.

WHEREAS HARRIS COUNTY JOINS THE CALL FROM THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF COUNTIES FOR THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TO AMEND THE MEDICAID INMATE EXCLUSION POLICY AND INSTITUTIONS FOR MENTAL DISEASE EXCLUSION POLICY TO ALLOW HARRIS COUNTY THE RESOURCES TO ADDRESS OUR RESIDENTS MENTAL HEALTH.

AND. WHEREAS, WE CALL UPON ALL STAKEHOLDERS, INCLUDING POLICY MAKERS, HEALTH CARE PROVIDERS AND COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS, TO PRIORITIZE MENTAL HEALTH CARE, INCLUDING ALLOCATING MORE RESOURCES TO INCREASE THE WORKFORCE IN MENTAL HEALTH CARE AND WORK AND WORK TOGETHER TO CREATE A MORE JUST AND COMPASSIONATE SOCIETY FOR ALL.

AND I BELIEVE WE ARE JOINED BY MISS CARRIE REESE, UH, TO SHARE A FEW WORDS, I THINK, FROM THE HARRIS CENTER.

MISS REESE. AND.

AND THEN WE'LL ALSO BE JOINED BY MISS DONNA MOOLMAN.

[00:30:09]

AND I'D AND THANK YOU FOR HAVING US TODAY.

MENTAL HEALTH IS AN ESSENTIAL COMPONENT OF EVERYTHING WE WE ARE AND WHAT WE DO EVERY DAY.

IT IMPACTS HOW WE BEHAVE.

IT IMPACTS HOW WE THINK OUR RELATIONSHIPS, OUR WORK AND OUR OVERALL PHYSICAL HEALTH.

AND AS YOU MENTIONED, 1 IN 5 ADULTS ARE IMPACTED BY MENTAL HEALTH CONDITIONS IN THIS COUNTRY EVERY DAY.

AND THOSE NUMBERS ARE EVEN HIGHER IN VULNERABLE POPULATIONS SUCH AS WITH OUR VETERANS.

AND SO BY THE DESIGNATION OF MAY AS MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS MONTH, WE HAVE A UNIQUE OPPORTUNITY TO RAISE AWARENESS IN OUR COMMUNITIES, IN SOCIETY, AROUND THE IMPACTS OF MENTAL HEALTH AND HOW WE CAN CONTINUE TO REDUCE THE STIGMA AND TO REALLY PROMOTE THOSE RESOURCES TO HELP PEOPLE WITH THEIR MENTAL HEALTH CONDITIONS THAT EXIST EVERYWHERE.

SO ON BEHALF OF THE HARRIS CENTER, PLEASE JOIN ME IN SUPPORTING THIS VERY IMPORTANT RESOLUTION TO RAISE AWARENESS AROUND MENTAL HEALTH AND TO SUPPORT OUR FAMILY MEMBERS, OUR FRIENDS AND ALL OF SOCIETY IN GETTING THE HELP THAT THEY NEED TO PROMOTE A HEALTHIER COMMUNITY HERE IN HARRIS COUNTY.

THANK YOU. IS MISS COLEMAN HERE? OH, THERE YOU ARE. OKAY.

GOOD MORNING. MY NAME IS DONNA MOOLMAN.

I. REPRESENT MYSELF, BUT I AM A CONSTITUENT OF COMMISSIONER GARCIA.

THANK YOU FOR INVITING ME FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK, BECAUSE I BELIEVE THE INFORMATION I LEARNED COULD POTENTIALLY HELP SAVE ANOTHER LIFE.

A LITTLE ABOUT ME.

I'VE BEEN A DYSLEXIA SPECIALIST AND A LIBRARIAN FOR MORE THAN 40 YEARS.

OUR SON VINCENT HAS A MENTAL ILLNESS.

VINCENT WAS DOING WELL UNTIL HIS FATHER PASSED AWAY IN SEPTEMBER OF 2020, AND VINCENT FELL APART FOR EMERGENCY HOSPITALIZATIONS BETWEEN JANUARY AND SEPTEMBER 2021.

IT WAS AT THIS POINT THAT VINCENT'S PSYCHIATRIST SUGGESTED CONTACTING THE HARRIS CENTER FROM THE FIRST PHONE CONTACT I HAD WITH THE HARRIS CENTER MORE THAN 18 MONTHS AGO, EVERY TEAM MEMBER NOT ONLY PROVIDED ACCURATE, TIMELY INFORMATION, BUT ALSO ASSURED ME THEY WOULD STAY BY MY SIDE THROUGH THE ENTIRE PROCESS.

THEY ALWAYS RETURNED PHONE CALLS IN A TIMELY MANNER, LISTENED TO MY CONCERNS AND MY CONFUSION, REASSURED ME OF THE POWER OF THE TEAM APPROACH AND WRAPAROUND SERVICES OFFERED BY THE HARRIS CENTER.

TWO WEEKS LATER, VINCENT MADE IT TO THE MPC, AND SINCE THAT INITIAL INTAKE, EVERY PERSON OF HIS CARE TEAM, PSYCHIATRIST, THERAPIST AND ALL NURSES, BOTH IN THE CLINIC, AS WELL AS THE 24 HOUR NURSE'S LINE AND EVERYONE WE'VE SPOKEN TO AT THE MOBILE CRISIS OUTREACH TEAM HOTLINE HAVE BEEN KIND, ATTENTIVE, REASSURING AND WILLING TO STAY WITH US FOR AS LONG AS IT TAKES TO KEEP OUR SON HEALTHY.

I KNOW THE HARRIS CENTER SAVED HIS LIFE FOR THE FIRST TIME IN YEARS.

I DIDN'T FEEL ALONE CARING FOR MY SON.

I'M HAPPY TO REPORT THAT WITH THE HELP AND SUPPORT OF THE ENTIRE TEAM AT THE SOUTHWEST CLINIC AND A 90 DAY STAY AT THE HOSPITAL TO HOME PROGRAM AT THE HARRIS CENTER.

60 ONE 60 LOCATION EIGHT WEEKS AGO.

HE MOVED TO A NEW APARTMENT AT LIGHT RAIL LOFTS.

WHAT DIFFERENCE DOES HAVING ACCESS TO HIGH QUALITY COMMUNITY BASED MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES MAKE AN APPARENT IN A PERSON'S LIFE? THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN LIFE AND DEATH.

THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER GARCIA AND THE ENTIRE COMMISSIONERS COURT FOR THIS RESOLUTION.

GOD LOVE YOU. COMMISSIONER RAMSEY.

COMMISSIONER GARCIA, THANK YOU FOR PUTTING THIS IMPORTANT ISSUE.

THANK YOU. I'VE HEARD AT LEAST TWO STORIES.

IT'S IMPORTANT TO TELL THE STORY.

I FEEL COMPELLED TO TELL THE STORY I HEARD ON SUNDAY, MOTHER'S DAY, WHEN ELIZABETH MCINGVALE Y'ALL ALL KNOW HIS PARENTS.

BUT WHEN ELIZABETH MCINGVALE GETS UP AND SPEAKS OF A VERY DARK PLACE, SHE FOUND HERSELF AT THE AGE OF 15.

AND AS SHE WENT THROUGH THAT DARK PLACE AND VERY LOVING PARENTS, BUT VERY LOVING CARE AS WELL.

SHE WENT THROUGH THAT DARK PLACE AND RECEIVED TREATMENT.

SHE WAS TOLD WHEN SHE WAS 16 THAT SHE WOULD BE INSTITUTIONALIZED FOR THE REST.

THAT'S WHAT SHE WAS TOLD.

BUT HER PARENTS WEREN'T BUYING IT, AND NEITHER DID THE PROFESSIONALS.

SO HER STORY IS THIS SHE IS IN HER 30S.

[00:35:03]

HARRIS CENTER FOR WHAT YOU DO.

IT'S MAKING A REAL DIFFERENCE IN PEOPLE'S LIFE.

THE STIGMA ASSOCIATED WITH IT.

WE DO NEED TO TELL MORE STORIES LIKE WE JUST HEARD BECAUSE THERE IS A THERE IS A GOOD OUTCOME IF WE'LL BE PATIENT, PERSISTENT IN TERMS OF DEALING WITH IT.

SO THANK YOU. I WANT TO SECOND THIS.

THANK YOU, AMANDA.

YOU ALL RIGHT? THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH. GOD BLESS YOU.

THANK YOU, GUYS. GLAD TO HEAR THE PROGRESS.

GOOD TO SEE YOU AGAIN. ALL RIGHT, GUYS, THANK YOU FOR YOUR WORK AND FOR RAISING AWARENESS ON THIS ISSUE.

THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER.

JUDGE, I'M SORRY. WE HAVE ONE MORE SPEAKER FOR THIS ITEM.

GO AHEAD. JACOB CLEMENS, GNAGE, SPEAKING ON ITEMS FOUR AND ITEM EIGHT.

YOU HAVE TWO MINUTES.

YOU KNOW, EVEN HERE.

HEY, GUYS. I'M JACOB CLEMENTS AND I AM A MEMBER OF THE MAGNIFICAT HOUSE, BUT I'M ALSO A CLIENT OF THE HARE CENTER.

IN FACT, I HAVE AN APPOINTMENT WITH THE HARE CENTER MAY THE 22ND OF THIS WEEK, NEXT WEEK.

AND I ALSO WANT TO CONGRATULATE LESLIE BIONDI'S ABOUT HONORING THE JEWISH COMMUNITY, BECAUSE, HEY, WE HAVE A GREAT JEWISH LEADER IN OUR COMMUNITY AND THAT IS KENNY FRIEDMAN AND HE'S GREAT JEWISH LEADER.

NOW, UM, I WANT TO SAY ABOUT MR..

I, UH, COMMISSIONER RAMSEY ABOUT ELIZABETH MCINGVALE.

YEAH. SHE ALSO HAS A PHD, AND THAT'S NOT EASY TO GET.

UM, BUT ALSO ABOUT SAVING MONEY.

NOW HE WANTS TO PUT ON THE SPOT, UM, LINA, ADRIAN AND RODNEY ELLIS, BECAUSE HE SAYS Y'ALL DO SO MUCH FOR OTHER THINGS WHICH ARE FRIVOLOUS, BUT NOT ABOUT FLOODING.

I MEAN, HIS CUSTOMERS COME FROM POOR DISTRICTS, AREAS, AND THAT'S TERRIBLE THAT Y'ALL AREN'T HAVING FLOODING.

I MEAN, WHAT IS THIS COMMISSION SWAGIT RECOGNIZED, BUT STUFF THAT AFFECTS ALL CITIZENS, NOT JUST SOME SPECIFIC CITIZEN GROUP.

BUT I MUST THANK Y'ALL FOR HAVING THIS TALK ABOUT MY MAGNIFICENT HOUSE.

I MEAN, ABOUT THE, UM.

UH, GET IT STRAIGHT.

ABOUT. WELL, UM.

UM. MAC.

MAC. MAC. YEAH.

AND, UM, HOW HE CAN SAVE YOU MONEY.

BUT HE WAS WORKING DOWN BY THE POWER ON THE BOARD AND HELP THE REST OF THE PEOPLE BESIDES JUST SPECIFIC GROUPS.

BUT I WANT TO THANK YOU ALL FOR HELPING OUT.

THANK YOU. YOUR TIME IS UP.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU, JACOB.

ON, HE SAID.

RUBBER GALLEGO SAYS YOU'RE A GREAT MAN.

THANK YOU. HE'S A GOOD ONE, TOO.

ANY OTHER RESOLUTION'S OUT OF ORDER, COMMISSIONER GARCIA? NOPE. I THINK THAT'S IT.

I THINK I SAW LIZA.

PAUL HERE.

OH. WELCOME. WELCOME.

AND I SUSPECT THAT'S WHAT THIS RESOLUTION IS ABOUT.

AND SO THERE'S A THERE'S A COUPLE, AND I WOULD LIKE TO EXERCISE A LITTLE PERSONAL PRIVILEGE.

I NEED SOME HELP TODAY.

AND SINCE WE ARE WORKING ON INTERNS, MINE ISN'T EXACTLY AN INTERN, BUT WE IN PRECINCT THREE BELIEVE WE NEED TO START EARLY.

SO I'M GOING TO ASK NOAH GRAYSON, MARSHALL MACY TO COME UP AND HELP ME.

COME RIGHT OVER HERE. NOAH.

NEVER SAY NO.

WELCOME. UH, JUST SO YOU'LL KNOW A LITTLE BIT ABOUT NOAH.

UH, HE'S A SCHOLAR.

YOU KNOW, I'VE NEVER BEEN CALLED THAT, NOAH, SO THAT IS QUITE THE HONOR THAT YOU'VE ALREADY ACHIEVED THERE IN THE FOURTH GRADE.

HIS PARENTS ARE ASHLEY MARSHALL AND DAMIEN, UH, MASSEY.

AND I THINK THEY'RE HERE.

AND IN THE FALL OF 2013, NOAH UH, A VERY INCREDIBLE AND RESERVED FOURTH GRADE STUDENT AT SAM HOUSTON STATE UNIVERSITY CHARTER SCHOOL, WHERE HE EXCELS AS GIFTED AND TALENTED TO OTHER WORDS, NEVER ASSOCIATED WITH WITH SOME THINGS WE'VE DONE, GIFTED AND

[00:40:10]

NOAH STANDS BEFORE YOU TODAY AS JUNIOR COMMISSIONER.

PRECINCT THREE.

ALL RIGHT. SO I THOUGHT I'D GET NOAH TO HELP ME WITH THE RESOLUTIONS.

AND THIS IS WHAT WE'VE AGREED TO.

I'M GOING TO READ THE RESOLUTION, AND NOAH IS GOING TO MAKE THE MOTION.

NOW, WHEN I GET THROUGH NOAH, I'LL GIVE YOU A NUDGE AND YOU CAN SAY, MOVE ON THE RESOLUTION.

OKAY. SO LET ME READ THE LET ME READ THE RESOLUTION.

THIS ONE, IT RELATES TO A WONDERFUL LEADER IN OUR COMMUNITY THAT UNFORTUNATELY RECENTLY PASSED AWAY.

HIS NAME IS ALAN DANE VERA.

A LIFELONG TEXAS, UH, TEXAN, PASSED AWAY MAY 4TH, 2023, AFTER A LIFETIME OF SERVICE TO HIS STATE AND COUNTRY.

ALAN WAS BORN IN EL PASO.

HE ATTENDED LOYOLA UNIVERSITY IN NEW ORLEANS FULL ROTC SCHOLARSHIP.

YOU CAN READ THERE IN TERMS OF ALL OF HIS ACCOMPLISHMENT AFTER RETURNING FROM MILITARY SERVICE.

ALAN BEGAN HIS PROFESSIONAL CAREER IN ADVERTISING, AND HE'S JUST BEEN AN ACTIVE MEMBER OF THIS COMMUNITY FOR MANY YEARS.

ALAN HAS A LOVE AND AFFINITY FOR DOGS.

IN RECENT YEARS, HE AND HIS WIFE, COLLEEN OPENED THEIR HOME TO ABANDON PUPPIES IN THE HOUSTON AREA.

ALAN WAS A STAPLE AT THE TEXAS LEGISLATURE, AND I'M SURE THE SENATOR, UH, UH, ELLIS, WHEN HE WAS THERE, KNEW ALAN ON OCCASION.

AND, AND, AND THE INTERESTING THING IS ALAN DID DIE RECENTLY WHILE IN AUSTIN.

UH, BEFORE SPEAKING AT THE LEGISLATURE.

SO WE HAVE SO MANY GREAT COMMUNITY LEADERS.

HE IS ONE OF THEM.

AND SO NOW THEREFORE, BE IT.

RESOLVED. HARRIS COUNTY COMMISSIONERS COURT HEREBY CELEBRATES THE LIFE AND SERVICE OF ALAN DANE VERA.

SO DID YOU MAKE THAT MOTION? I MOVE TO APPROVE RESOLUTION.

ALL RIGHT. SECOND.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT.

WE HAVE GREAT JOB.

UH, I DO HAVE A MOTION.

UH, JUDGE, I MOVED TO REPLACE COMMISSIONER.

NOW, NOAH. NOAH, WHAT YOU NEED TO UNDERSTAND IS THERE ARE A LOT OF THERE ARE A LOT OF REASONS PEOPLE MAKE MOTIONS.

AND WE NEED WE NEED TO FULLY UNDERSTAND THOSE REASONS.

BUT ANYWAY, THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER.

JOB. NOAH. WELL DONE, NOAH.

I DON'T THINK I WOULD HAVE GOT THAT IF IT HADN'T BEEN, BUT APPRECIATE IT.

THANK YOU. THE SECOND ONE IS, UH, AND I APPRECIATE, UM, UH, UH, UH, THIS ONE I'LL QUICKLY GO THROUGH IT AND UH, WHEREAS ON COAST TO COAST, ONE CRITICAL TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM SERVES AS THE BACKBONE OF OUR AMERICA'S ECONOMY AND NATIONAL DEFENSE. AND WE HAVE LIVES OF PAUL HERE TODAY.

AND JUST WANTED YOU TO KNOW, LIZA, OUR DISTRICT DIRECTOR OF TRANSPORTATION, ONE OF OUR PARTNERS AT TEXDOT.

SO WHEREAS WE HONOR THOSE BEFORE US WHO HAD THE VISION TO TRANSFORM THE UNITED STATES BY CREATING THE VAST NETWORK OF ROADWAYS, WATERWAYS, RAILROADS, BRIDGES AND INVITATION TO CONNECT ALL OF US FROM LAND, SEA AND ACROSS THE SKY.

WHEREAS WE OBSERVED NATIONAL DEFENSE TRANSPORTATION DAY ON MAY 19TH, AS OUR COMMERCE AND SECURITY DEPEND ON OUR UNMATCHED NETWORK. WE SHOW OUR COMMITMENT TO THIS EFFORT, THE SUPPORT OF MAJOR INITIATIVES INVOLVING OUR HARRIS COUNTY TOLL ROAD SYSTEM, INTERSTATE SYSTEMS, OUR COUNTY ROADS TO MEET THE GROWING TRANSPORTATION NEEDS.

AND. WHEREAS, WE UNDERSTAND THE CRUCIAL ROLE IN THE INFRASTRUCTURE INVESTMENTS AS WE ARE HOME TO THE HOUSTON SHIP CHANNEL, NATION'S LARGEST PORT FOR WATERBORNE TONNAGE AND ONE OF THE WORLD'S BUSIEST WATERWAYS AND GENERATES MORE THAN 339 BILLION IN STATEWIDE ECONOMIC VALUE.

AND. WHEREAS, WE RECOGNIZE THAT ALL WE'VE BUILT HAS SERVED TO UNITE US AS A NATION AND WORDS OF PRESIDENT DWIGHT D EISENHOWER TOGETHER THE UNITED FORCES OF OUR COMMUNICATION AND TRANSPORTATION SYSTEMS ARE DYNAMIC ELEMENTS IN THE VERY NAME WE BEAR UNITED STATES.

WITHOUT THEM, WITHOUT THESE TRANSPORTATION SYSTEMS, WE WOULD BE A MIRROR OF LINES OF MANY SEPARATE PARTS.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED.

THE HARRIS COUNTY COMMISSIONERS COURT HEREBY RECOGNIZES NATIONAL DEFENSE TRANSPORTATION DAY.

NOAH, COULD YOU MAKE THAT MOTION?

[00:45:01]

OH, I SEE.

GOOD JOB. DO WHAT? YOU SAID THAT. LIZA, WOULD YOU LIKE A COMMENT OR TWO? SURE. THANK YOU. UH HUH.

I WANT TO THANK COMMISSIONER RAMSEY FOR ASKING ME TO BE HERE TO BE A PART OF THIS IMPORTANT RESOLUTION.

YOU KNOW, THE NATIONAL DEFENSE, UM, WEEK AND DAY STARTED IN 1957, A YEAR AFTER PRESIDENT DWIGHT EISENHOWER PASSES THE LAND MASS.

UH, THE LANDMARK HIGHWAY ACT.

SO THAT WAS THE BEGINNING OF THE HIGHWAY SYSTEM IN THE UNITED STATES.

AND IT STARTED OUT AS A DEFENSIVE IN INCENTIVE DEFENSE INCENTIVE TO MOVE THE ARMY FROM ONE LOCATION TO THE NEXT THROUGHOUT THE UNITED STATES.

AND THE HIGHWAY PROGRAM HAS GROWN TO NOWADAYS THAT IT IS.

A LOT OF THE TIME WE ARE PROMOTING TRANSPORTING GOODS AND SERVICES TO ALL THE POPULATIONS THAT'S COMING TO THE UNITED STATES AND HERE, ESPECIALLY IN TEXAS. SO WE AT TEXAS OK HERE, WE'RE GOING TO PLEDGE TO CONTINUE TO WORK ON OUR IMPORTANT HIGHWAY SYSTEM TO MAKE SURE THAT IT'S ONE OF THE BEST HIGHWAY SYSTEM IN THE ENTIRE UNITED STATES.

WE THINK WE ARE, AND WE ARE GOING TO CONTINUE TO PLEDGE TO DO THAT.

SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH, COMMISSIONER AND JUDGE AND ALL THE COMMISSIONERS.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MISS PAUL. NOW.

NOW, NOAH, WE'RE GOING TO CONTINUE WITH THE MEETING, BUT IF YOU WANT TO GO SIT WITH YOUR MOM AND DAD, AS ALWAYS, WHEN YOU SPEAK AS WELL AS YOU DID, THERE WILL BE PICTURES INVOLVED.

SO IF YOU CAN HANG AROUND JUST A MINUTE, WE'RE GOING TO GET SOME PICTURES TAKEN.

OKAY. THANK YOU FOR YOUR HELP.

I NEEDED IT. AND I THINK MR. DARCY WILL AGREE WITH THAT.

THANK YOU. APPRECIATE IT.

INCUBATOR. WE HAVE ONE MORE SPEAKER.

JUDGE. SORRY. GO AHEAD.

THANK YOU. I'M MELBA ROY SPEAKING ON ITEMS FIVE AND SIX.

YOU HAVE ONE MINUTE.

GO AHEAD, NOAH.

SPEAK FOR MISS MELVIN, WHICH IS A.

OKAY, GO AHEAD. BUT PLEASE DON'T LET MY SIZE MINIMIZE THIS ATTRIBUTE AS IT COMES FROM A GREAT BIG HEART.

TODAY I STAND BEFORE YOU AS THE JUNIOR COMMISSIONER OF PRECINCT THREE, COMMISSIONER RAMSEY.

IT HAS BEEN SAID THAT EVERY TREE HAS A VOICE OF ITS OWN.

THE OAK ROARS, THE ASH, MORE MULBERRY SINGS AND THE WILLOW WEAVES.

COMMISSIONER RAMSEY, ESSENTIALLY ALL OF THESE, HIS ROARS, HIS VOICE, HIS SINGING AND HIS LEAPING BEAR FRUIT FOR ALL GENERATIONS TO COME. THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER RAMSEY.

PROVIDING A GUIDING LIGHT FOR SAM HOUSTON STATE UNIVERSITY CHARTER SCHOOL, CYPRESS TRAIL CAMPUS AS THEY EMBARK ON THEIR FIRST OFF CAMPUS FIELD TRIP ON NOVEMBER 14TH, 2022.

ALL RIGHT. ALL RIGHT.

I'M GOING TO MAKE THAT MOTION AGAIN.

NO. DON'T RECOGNIZE IT.

HE CAN BE AN INTERN PROGRAM COMMISSIONER.

GREAT, GREAT JOB HERE.

THANK YOU. GOOD JOB, THOUGH.

ALL RIGHT. THEY'RE VERY IMPRESSIVE.

VERY IMPRESSIVE.

UH, COMMISSIONER, IS THAT IT? FOR YOUR RESOLUTION? YES. COMMISSIONER BRIONES.

THANK YOU, JUDGE HIDALGO.

SO, ITEM NUMBER SEVEN.

MR. BOWIE WAS NOT ABLE TO JOIN US TODAY, BUT I JUST WANTED TO TAKE A MOMENT TO RECOGNIZE ONE OF THE PRECINCT FOUR STARS FOR HIS 22 YEARS OF SERVICE.

HE WAS JUST A TREMENDOUS TREASURE TO PRECINCT FOUR.

SO HE HAS SINCE RETIRED.

HE'S WITH HIS FAMILY NOW IN HAWAII.

HE'S AN AVID CYCLIST.

HE ACTUALLY RODE HIS BIKE FROM BOSTON TO SEATTLE.

SO HE'S HE WAS JUST A WONDERFUL PART OF THE PRECINCT FOUR TEAM.

AND HE WILL BE MISSED DEARLY.

SO THANK YOU, MR. BOWIE, FOR YOUR SERVICE.

AND THEN MY OTHER RESOLUTION.

I'D PLEASE LIKE TO INVITE MR. DUNCAN TO JOIN ME AND ANYONE ELSE WHO MAY BE HERE FROM THE EVELYN RUBENSTEIN JEWISH COMMUNITY CENTER.

PLEASE JOIN US.

[00:50:02]

READ THIS RESOLUTION AND TOGETHER CELEBRATE JEWISH AMERICAN HERITAGE MONTH.

SO HERE IS THE RESOLUTION.

WHEREAS THE EVELYN RUBENSTEIN JEWISH COMMUNITY CENTER OF HOUSTON HAS BEEN A SAFE AND WELCOMING ENVIRONMENT FOR FAMILIES AND INDIVIDUALS TO COME TOGETHER FOR FRIENDSHIP AFFILIATION SINCE 1936.

AND. WHEREAS, THE EVELYN RUBENSTEIN JEWISH COMMUNITY CENTER OF HOUSTON IS A LEADING ORGANIZATION THAT CONTINUOUSLY WORKS TO DEVELOP AND STRENGTHEN JEWISH IDENTITY, FOSTER JEWISH VALUES AND ENRICH THE JEWISH COMMUNITY AND THE GREATER COMMUNITY AT LARGE.

AND. WHEREAS, THE EVELYN RUBENSTEIN JEWISH COMMUNITY CENTER OF HOUSTON RESIDES WITHIN THE MEYERLAND NEIGHBORHOOD, PART OF HARRIS COUNTY, PRECINCT FOUR. THE HEART OF HOUSTON'S JEWISH COMMUNITY, WHICH FAMILIES HAVE CALLED HOME FOR NEARLY 70 YEARS.

WHEREAS THE EVELYN RUBENSTEIN JCC'S COMMITMENT TO CREATING A CULTURE OF BELONGING AND INCLUSION IN WHICH PEOPLE OF ALL BACKGROUNDS, ALL ABILITIES AND IDENTITIES ARE WELCOMED, RECOGNIZED AND CELEBRATED.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT.

RESOLVED IN CELEBRATION OF JEWISH AMERICAN HERITAGE MONTH, THE HARRIS COUNTY COMMISSIONERS COURT HEREBY RESPECTFULLY HONORS THE EVELYN RUBENSTEIN JEWISH COMMUNITY CENTER OF HOUSTON FOR THEIR WORK TO IMPROVE THE LIVES OF HARRIS COUNTY RESIDENTS THROUGH A DEEP COMMITMENT TO INCLUSION, SOLIDARITY AND COMMUNITY. THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP AND SERVICE.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU.

I'D LIKE TO SWAGIT. IT'S A TOUGH ACT TO FOLLOW.

SO FIRST OF ALL, I WANT TO THANK THE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS AND ALL YOUR STAFF FOR ALL WHAT YOU DO AND MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN HARRIS COUNTY.

WE MADE A DECISION FOLLOWING HURRICANE HARVEY TO REINVEST AT OUR CURRENT LOCATION, IN PART BECAUSE OF THE COMMITMENT WHICH THE COUNTY MADE TO EXPAND THE BRAYS BAYOU, WHICH WOULD THEN MITIGATE AGAINST FUTURE FLOODING, WHICH ENABLES US TO CONTINUE TO MEET THE NEEDS OF OUR ELDERLY, OUR EXTENSIVE CHILD CARE PROGRAM, OUR HOMEBOUND MEALS ON WHEELS PROGRAM, FUNDED IN PART THROUGH MILLS.

HARRIS COUNTY AREA AGENCY.

SO WE APPRECIATE THE SUPPORT AND ENABLE US TO CONTINUE TO MEET OUR MISSION AND SERVE THE JEWISH AS WELL AS THE BROADER GENERAL COMMUNITY.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP.

COMMISSIONER, THANK YOU FOR BRINGING US FORWARD.

AND I DID TAKE A TOUR NOT LONG AGO.

IT WAS A BIKE RIDE WITH SOME OF THE LEADERS IN THAT COMMUNITY AND GOT A CHANCE TO TOUR THE NEWLY RENOVATED FACILITY.

AND IT IS TRULY A AN ASSET FOR ALL OF HARRIS COUNTY.

SO WE APPRECIATE ALL THAT.

YOU DO. ABSOLUTELY AMAZING.

SO THANK YOU FOR ALL YOU DO.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU. YOU SO MUCH.

DO WE HAVE ANY OTHER RESOLUTIONS OUT OF ORDER? ALL RIGHT, LET'S TAKE SOME PICTURES.

[01:05:12]

[01:05:14]

[01:05:23]

UM. LET'S SEE.

OH. YOU KNOW WHAT? BEFORE THAT, WE SHOULD DO SPEAKERS.

UM, ARE YOU READY TO TAKE UP SPEAKERS, TIFFANY? YES, MA'AM. OKAY, SO WE'LL DO SPEAK.

JUST FOLLOW THE USUAL ORDER.

I GOT TURNED AROUND. YES.

THERE ARE A COUPLE OF FOLKS THAT DID NOT GET TO SIGN UP.

UM, AND I HOPE THAT WE CAN CALL UP, UH, KATRINA, TURN YOUR MIC ON, PLEASE.

I'M SORRY. UM, I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ADD, UH, KATRINA, HILLARY AND EMILY BATTY, UH, TO THE LIST TO SPEAK ON AN ITEM ON THE AGENDA, AS WELL AS COLONEL LEWIS.

UH, HE'S ALSO HERE TO SPEAK ON AN ITEM ON THE AGENDA.

I'LL HAVE. I THINK WE HAVE A DEADLINE TO SIGN UP, BUT PERHAPS YOU COULD.

HOW HOW WOULD WE WORK THAT OUT? UH, COMMISSIONER NEEDS TO MAKE A MOTION TO ALLOW THE SPEAKERS BE SECOND VOTE ON MOVE TO ADD THE THREE PEOPLE.

OKAY. MOTION BY COMMISSIONER GARCIA, SECOND BY COMMISSIONER BRIONES.

ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. ANY OPPOSED? UM. MOTION CARRIES 4 TO 0.

AND COMMISSIONER, YOU SAID IT'S FOR WHICH ITEM? UM, I DON'T REMEMBER THE ITEMS. UM. OH, DO WE GO FOR 76? UH, IS IS BETWEEN HILLARY AND EMILY BATTY AND THEN WHICH IS THE ITEM FOR THE.

BACK TO LOOK AND THEN TO 11 IS.

IS WHOM, COMMISSIONER? COLONEL LEWIS. OKAY.

YOU GOT THAT, TIFFANY? YES, MA'AM.

ALL RIGHT. ALL RIGHT.

SO LET'S START.

TAKE IT FROM THE TOP. TIFFANY, THANK YOU.

MRS. SPEAKER NUMBER 11 JOY DAVIS OF PURE JUSTICE SPEAKING ON ITEM 21.

YOU HAVE ONE MINUTE.

THEN WHENEVER YOU'RE READY.

YEAH, I'M READY.

MY NAME IS JOY DAVIS, AND I AM WITH PURE JUSTICE.

MANY INDIVIDUALS I HAVE SPOKEN WITH THAT HAVE PENDING CASES FEEL AS IF THEY ARE NOT BEING ADEQUATELY REPRESENTED AND WANT TO CHANGE THEIR REPRESENTATION.

THEY DO NOT SEE OR TALK TO THEIR ATTORNEYS UNTIL IT'S TIME FOR THEIR COURT APPEARANCES.

MOST FEEL COMPELLED TO PLEAD BECAUSE THEY HAVE NOT RECEIVED OR FEEL THEY WILL RECEIVE A ROBUST DEFENSE.

THEIR PRIVATE COURT APPOINTED ATTORNEYS UNABLE TO RECOGNIZE THEIR CLIENTS AT THEIR COURT APPEARANCES.

SO THEY SHOUT THEIR NAMES IN HOPES THEY ANSWER.

LAST YEAR, HARRIS COUNTY PAID PRIVATE COUNSEL $56 MILLION TO HANDLE MISDEMEANOR AND FELONY CASES.

PRIVATELY APPOINTED COUNSEL REPRESENTED OVER 85%.

PUBLIC DEFENDER'S OFFICE REPRESENTED ABOUT 13% INSTEAD OF CONTINUING TO PAY THE HIGH COST OF PRIVATE ATTORNEYS.

HARRIS COUNTY SHOULD INVEST MORE IN THE PUBLIC DEFENDER'S OFFICE SO THAT ALL HAVE ACCESS TO EQUAL JUSTICE UNDER THE LAW, REGARDLESS OF WEALTH, RACE OR GENDER.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR COMING.

NEXT, THE SPEAKER NUMBER 14, MIKE FOREMAN SPEAKING VIRTUALLY ON ITEM 172.

YOU HAVE ONE MINUTE. GO AHEAD, PLEASE.

HELLO? YES, SIR.

GO AHEAD, PLEASE. OKAY.

THIS IS MAYOR MIKE FOREMAN.

I JUST WANTED TO SAY THAT WE REALLY SUPPORT THE HARRIS COUNTY PARTNERSHIP THAT WE'VE HAD IN PRECINCT TWO HELPING WITH OUR OUR PUBLIC WORKS BUILDING, WHERE WE ALSO HAVE A.

PART OF THAT FOR.

WE NEEDED THE FUNDING TO MAKE UP FOR SOME INCREASES IN COSTS, AND WE SURE APPRECIATE THAT.

MAYOR, THANK YOU. THIS IS COMMISSIONER GARCIA.

THANK YOU FOR CALLING IN AND I APPRECIATE THE WORK THAT WE'RE DOING TOGETHER.

SO THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH.

[01:10:02]

SO THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR SUPPORT.

COULDN'T DO IT WITHOUT YOU, SIR.

ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. YOU HAVE A GOOD DAY.

ALL RIGHT. YOU TOO, COMMISSIONER.

MAYOR, THANK YOU SO MUCH.

APPRECIATE YOU. YEAH.

THANK YOU. NEXT IS COLONEL LEWIS SPEAKING ON ITEM 211.

YOU HAVE ONE MINUTE.

THANK YOU AND GOOD MORNING, COMMISSIONERS.

COUNTY JUDGE.

I'M DAVE LEWIS. I'M THE DIRECTOR OF VETERANS SERVICES FOR HARRIS COUNTY.

AND ITEM 211 IS A RELATIVELY SIMPLE ITEM, BUT WHAT WE'RE DOING IS VERY INTERESTING AND VERY COMPLEX.

IT ADDS ANOTHER POSITION TO OUR STAFF SERGEANT PARKER.

GORDON FOX SUICIDE PREVENTION GRANT FROM THE VA.

WE'RE ONE OF ONLY TWO COUNTIES IN THE COUNTRY TO DO THIS AND ONE OF ONLY THREE AGENCIES IN THE STATE OF TEXAS TO DO THAT.

IT ALLOWED ME TO BRING ON INITIALLY A STAFF OF EIGHT ADDITIONAL PERSONNEL, NON COUNTY FUNDED, AND THIS ALLOWS US TO RESTRUCTURE SOME BUDGET TO BRING ON A PEER SERVICES COORDINATOR. SO THIS GRANT IS CRITICALLY IMPORTANT FOR WHAT WE'RE DOING IN VETERAN SUICIDE PREVENTION.

VETERANS MAKE UP 3.5% OF OUR POPULATION IN HARRIS COUNTY, BUT THEY MAKE UP 11% OF OUR SUICIDES.

AND THAT SUICIDE TREND FOR ALL POPULATIONS, UNFORTUNATELY, IS RISING RAPIDLY, BUT ESPECIALLY FOR OUR VETERANS.

SO THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY, COLONEL.

THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE AND APPRECIATE THE WORK YOU'RE DOING.

AND AS YOU KNOW, WE WERE TALKING EARLIER THIS MONTH IS MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS MONTH.

AND ALL THE WORK, THE RESOURCES YOU'RE PUTTING ON THE GROUND ARE GOING TO SAVE LIVES.

SO WE'RE VERY GRATEFUL.

THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER. AND WE'RE KIND ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THAT 908 CALL.

AND THANK YOU FOR RAISING AWARENESS ABOUT THAT.

A LOT OF PEOPLE GET CONFUSED ABOUT WHAT WAS THAT, ONE 800 NUMBER 988 PRESS ONE FOR VETERANS.

AND THAT CONNECTS IMMEDIATELY INTO THE COMMUNITY SERVICES.

AND WE'RE ON THE BACKSIDE OF THAT CALL, PROVIDING ASSISTANCE TO VETERANS IN NEED.

SO GOOD DEAL. THANK YOU SO MUCH.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU.

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

NEXT IS SPEAKER 21 JONATHAN HERRERA SPEAKING ON ITEM 345.

YOU HAVE ONE MINUTE? GOOD MORNING. MY NAME IS JONATHAN HERRERA.

UM, I'M HERE TO SPEAK OUT ABOUT THE BUYOUT PROGRAM.

UM, I JUST WANT TO SAY IT WAS VERY NICE SEEING YOU ALL LAUGH AND SMILE.

UM, I WISH I WAS A CASE OF MY GRANDPARENTS BEING KICKED OUT, THEIR HOMES BEING OFFERED $60,000.

WHICH IN HOUSTON IS NOTHING FOR YOU TO.

YOU CAN'T LIVE OFF OF $60,000.

YOU CAN'T GET A HOUSE OFF OF $60,000.

UM, AND I JUST WANT I JUST WANT TO LET Y'ALL KNOW WHAT YOU GUYS ARE DOING TO THEM.

UM. AND MY GRANDMA BEAT CANCER.

AND MY GRANDPA, WHO CAN'T SEE OUT FROM ONE EYE, UM, USES PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION AND THEY LIVE OFF OF THE INCOME. THEY HAVE TWO TRAILERS, ONE THEY LIVE OFF OF, AND THEY DON'T REALLY HAVE TO WORK.

AND NOW THEY'RE BEING TOLD THAT TO MOVE IN WITH THEIR DAUGHTERS, TO MOVE IN WITH THEIR SON.

BUT IT'S JUST. WHY WOULD THEY HAVE TO DO THAT WHEN THEY'RE THEY'RE STABLE THEMSELVES.

AND THAT'S WHAT WE'RE LOOKING FOR.

THAT'S WHAT WE'RE HERE UP HERE ASKING.

THANK YOU. YOUR TIME IS UP.

JONATHAN, FIRST, THANK YOU FOR COMING DOWN HERE AND SPEAKING ON BEHALF OF YOUR FAMILY.

UH, AND JUST KNOW THAT THE ISSUE WITH THE BUYOUT PROGRAM COMPLETELY, COMPLETELY AGREE WITH YOU.

AND I WANT TO THANK, UH, DIRECTOR COSTAS WHO IS WORKING TO TRY TO MAKE THAT PROGRAM BETTER AND MORE, UM, YOU KNOW, MORE FAIR FOR FAMILIES LIKE LIKE YOURS.

AND SO JUST KNOW THAT IT'S, UH, IT'S SOMETHING THAT WE HAVE BEEN STRUGGLING WITH, UH, SINCE THE TIME THAT I'VE BEEN HERE.

AND IT'S NOT FALLEN ON DEAF EARS AND WE CONTINUE TO WORK ON IT.

WE'RE NOT THERE YET, BUT WE'RE ARE MAKING INCREMENTAL PROGRESS ON IT.

BUT I JUST FUNDAMENTALLY, I JUST WISH NO ONE HAD TO BE BOUGHT OUT.

UH, BUT BECAUSE OF WHERE HOMES WERE ALLOWED TO BE DEVELOPED, UH, IN YEARS PAST, UNBEKNOWNST TO FAMILIES LIKE YOURS, UH, YOU GOT PUT IN A, IN A VERY DIFFICULT SITUATION.

SO I APOLOGIZE FOR THAT.

BUT JUST KNOW THAT THIS, UH, THIS PROGRAM IS A PARTICULAR FRUSTRATION FOR ME, AND I'M WORKING HARD WITH THE DIRECTOR TO MAKE SURE THAT THIS PROGRAM IS SOMETHING THAT IS RESPECTFUL OF ALL FAMILIES SO THAT YOU CAN, IF WE DO HAVE TO PARTICIPATE IN A BUYOUT PROGRAM, THAT YOU CAN FIND A NEW HOME THAT YOU CAN BE PROUD OF, UH, THAT, THAT YOU CAN START ANOTHER LIFE, A NEW LIFE IN.

SO THANK YOU. THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER ELLIS SO I WANT TO THANK HIM AS WELL FOR COMING.

I KNOW THERE ARE A NUMBER OF OTHERS AND I WON'T MAKE A COMMENT ON EVERY ONE OF THEM, BUT, UH, DIRECTOR COSTAS HAS PUT A LOT OF WORK INTO THIS AND SOLAR PREDECESSORS, AND I HOPE

[01:15:08]

I KNOW WHATEVER WE DO FOR THIS NEIGHBORHOOD, UH, A GOOD BIT OF WHICH I REPRESENT, WILL HAVE TO DO IT FOR OTHERS AS WELL.

BUT THERE'S OBVIOUSLY A COST ASSOCIATED WITH IT.

AND, UH, IT MEANS WHEN WE GET TO THE BUDGET DISCUSSIONS, WE'VE GOT TO MAKE TOUGH DECISIONS AS WELL, BECAUSE IT'S ONE THING TO FEEL A SYMPATHY FOR FOLKS WHO ARE IN THIS PREDICAMENT, BUT IT'S ANOTHER THING TO BE WILLING TO TO PAY FOR IT.

AND I KNOW WE HAVE A NUMBER OF OTHER TOUGH DECISIONS WE HAVE TO MAKE ABOUT THE BUDGET AS WELL.

BUT I DO THINK IT'S UNFORTUNATE FOR, UH, PEOPLE WHO ARE IN THE PREDICAMENT THAT HIS PARENTS ARE IN, AND THERE ARE OTHERS, I THINK A GOOD NUMBER OF THEM FROM MY PRECINCT HAVE SIGNED UP TODAY. BUT BUT I HEAR ALL OF THEM.

AND MAYBE AT THE END OF THE COMMENTS, I WANT TO ASK DIRECTOR COSTAS TO COME ON AND GIVE ANY THOUGHTS THAT SHE MIGHT HAVE.

YEAH, SO, FOLKS, SO, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE WE TAKE SPEAKERS FIRST AND THEN WE'RE GOING TO GET TO THE ITEM.

WE'LL HAVE THE PRESENTATION CONVERSATION WITH THE DEPARTMENT DIRECTOR.

SO I HAVE ASKED FOR AN UPDATE BECAUSE OF HOW, UH, PERVASIVE THE ISSUES SEEM TO BE.

SO I'M GOING TO WITHHOLD ADDITIONAL COMMENTS UNTIL I RECEIVE THE UPDATE FROM THE DIRECTOR AND DIRECTOR.

COSTAS AND, UH, ADMINISTRATOR, UH, RAMIREZ.

UH, AS I'VE SAID BEFORE, MULTIPLE TIMES IN COURT, WHAT WE NEED TO SEE IS FOR THESE FOLKS TO BE MADE WHOLE.

AND SO, YOU KNOW, IF THAT CAN'T BE POSSIBLE.

WE KNOW BUYOUTS IS SOMETHING WE HAVE TO USE, GIVEN THE NATURE OF OUR CHALLENGES IN THE COMMUNITY.

WE CAN'T DO THAT IF IT'S NOT FEASIBLE.

AND SO, YOU KNOW, I'M SKIMMING THROUGH THE UPDATE RIGHT NOW, AND IT SEEMS THAT THE DIRECTOR DOES HAVE SOME STRATEGIES, FOLKS.

SO LET'S HEAR THAT.

WHAT I'M LOOKING FOR IS NOT THE EXCUSES AS TO WHY IT'S HARD, BUT HOW ARE WE ACTUALLY GOING TO MAKE THESE FOLKS WHOLE? AND IF THERE WASN'T A WAY, THEN WE SHOULD HAVE NEVER EMBARKED ON THIS IN THE FIRST PLACE.

SO THAT'S SEEING AS WE ARE EMBARKING ON IT, THERE NEEDS TO BE A SOLUTION TO TO MAKE IT APPROPRIATE.

SO THAT'S WHAT I'M LOOKING FOR.

AND WE'LL HAVE THE THE CONVERSATION LATER ON TODAY WHEN THE UPDATE COMES UP.

BUT I APPRECIATE EVERYBODY FOR BEING HERE.

NEXT IS. NEXT IS.

SPEAKER 15 MARK BOWRING SPEAKING ON ITEM 345.

YOU HAVE ONE MINUTE? GOOD MORNING.

THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING ME TO SPEAK.

MAY HAVE A DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVE ABOUT THE BUYOUT.

MY MOM WAS ON A FIXED INCOME IS ON A FIXED INCOME.

SHE WAS PRESENTED WITH THE BUYOUT A FEW YEARS AGO.

IT WAS A LONG PROCESS.

WE HAD A COUPLE OF DIFFERENT AGENTS THAT CAME AND WENT AND THEN WE HAD A REALLY GREAT AGENT, JOE MARTINEZ.

AND THEN JACQUELINE COURVILLE REALLY HELPED MY MOM.

SHE WAS ON A FIXED INCOME AND WE WERE ABLE TO GET HER OUT OF THE MOBILE HOME THAT SHE LIVED WITH FOR 50 YEARS.

YOU KNOW, IT WAS PROBABLY TRAUMATIC.

SOMEBODY THAT HAD LIVED IN A MOBILE HOME FOR 80 YEARS, 50 YEARS, 80 YEAR OLD WOMAN AND TRYING TO GET HER TO MOVE.

SHE DID NOT WANT TO MOVE.

I LOOK AT IT A DIFFERENT WAY.

THANK YOU FOR MAKING HER MOVE BECAUSE I WAS ABLE TO GET HER OUT OF THERE AND WE GOT HER A HOME AND SO I WAS ABLE TO HELP HER WITH THE BUYOUT.

SO I REALLY WOULD LIKE TO THANK YOU.

AND I HOPE THE PEOPLE THAT ARE SPEAKING THAT ARE STILL HAVING ISSUES, I HOPE THEY DO GET RESOLVED BECAUSE IT MEANS A LOT FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE ON A FIXED INCOME.

SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR COMING.

NEXT IS PERLA GARCIA SPEAKING ON ITEM 345, USING THE INTERPRETER.

YOU HAVE TWO MINUTES.

BUT AS COMMISSIONER. GOOD MORNING, COMMISSIONER.

EL DIA DE HOY ESTOY AQUI PARA RECORDARLES EL PROGRAMA BUY OUT ES UN DESASTRE.

NO, NO, CAMBIOS.

I'M HERE TODAY TO REMIND YOU THAT THE PROGRAM BUY OUT IS A DISASTER.

THERE'S NO CHANGES. DURANTE UN CAMBIO CON ALGUNAS PERSONAS PERO VARIAS DE LAS PERSONAS HEMOS CUIDADO EN TODAS LAS PERSONAS AQUI PRESENTES VARIOS PROBLEMAS Q TIENEN.

OKAY. SOME PEOPLE HAVE FOUND SOME SOLUTIONS, BUT MANY OF THEM DON'T HAVE THE SOLUTIONS.

MANY OF THEM ARE HERE TO YOU TO TELL YOU WHAT'S THE PROBLEM.

Q LAS PERSONAS SEEING SENALADOS E DICIENDO Q SON PERSONAS ILEGALES TAMBIÉN SON SERES HUMANOS Q MERECEN EL RESPETO A SUS DERECHOS.

HE'S NOT FAIR THAT THEY ARE CALLED ILLEGAL PEOPLE HERE.

THERE ARE HUMAN BEINGS AND THEN THEY SHOULD HAVE A RESPECT FOR THEM.

Q RECURSOS PARA ESTE TIPO DE PROGRAMAS PARA ESTAS PERSONAS PORQUE NO SE PUEDE DEJAR DE NI EN LA CALLE.

THERE SHOULD BE MORE RESOURCES FOR THESE KIND OF PEOPLE.

THEY CANNOT BE IN DEBT.

AND THEN YOU CANNOT GIVE IN THE STREET.

NO ESTA CON UN CAMBIO Q SOLO EN LAS COSAS DE TODOS MRS PARA TODO LO BAJARON A VEINTICUATRO.

IS THAT ENOUGH TO MAKE A CHANGE FOR 42 MONTHS TO 24 MONTHS TO LOWER DOWN TO 24 MONTHS? MILL PARA PERSONAS PARA COMPRAR UNA CASA LO CUAL UNA CASA TAMPOCO ES SUFICIENTE $60,000 FOR A PERSON TO BUY A HOUSE.

[01:20:08]

EL MERCADO NO ESTA CAMBIANDO MONETARY SOLAMENTE ESTA SUBIENDO INTERESES.

THE THE PRICE OF THE THINGS OVER HERE, THE FURNITURE AND ALL THE BIERI HOUSES AND HOUSING HAS NOT GOING DOWN.

IT'S GOING UP. THE HOUSING COMMISSIONER, RODNEY ELLIS ESSER NECESITAMOS MAS DE SU APOYO ISSO AYUDA EN ESTE PORQUE SOMOS COMUNIDAD IMMIGRANT.

COMMISSIONER ELLIS, WE NEED MORE OF YOUR HELP.

WE ARE IN YOUR PRISON.

WE ARE ONLY IMMIGRANT PEOPLE.

ESTO ES MUY ACUSADO PARA TODOS ELLOS A ENFERMEDADES DE DIABETES HASTA CANCER PERSONAS DE LA TERCERA EDAD SOLAMENTE FRUSTRADAS ESTAN TENIENDO UN MALTRATO.

THERE IS A LOT OF PEOPLE SICK WITH CANCER.

WITH DIABETES. PEOPLE ARE UNDER STRESS AND THEY ARE NOT FEELING WELL AND THEY ARE NOT WELL BEHAVED AND PEOPLE IF NOT TREATED THEM WELL.

COMO USTEDES PUEDEN VER VARIAS.

PERSONAS EN PERSONAS TRABAJADORAS PERSONAS DE LA TERCERA EDAD NO ESTAN PIDIENDO OTRA COSA MS RESPETADO SUS DERECHOS.

LIKE YOU CAN SEE OVER HERE, THERE ARE PEOPLE FROM THE SENIOR PEOPLE WHO HERE THEY JUST NOT ONLY ASKING YOU TO BE FOR THEM AND BE RESPECTFUL OF THEM.

THEY RESTORED A COMENZO ESTE PROGRAMA SINCERAMENTE NUEVO UN GRAN CAMBIO NECESITAMOS EL APOYO PARA NUESTRA COMUNIDAD ANY POR FAVOR.

LINA HIDALGO LE PIDO MS ATTENZIONE EN ESTOS CASOS PORQUE INCLUSO AVIDO.

OKAY. I'VE BEEN WORKING WITH THIS PROGRAM SINCE THE BEGINNING.

I HAVEN'T SEEN TOO MANY CHANGES.

PLEASE LET ME SEE.

DALGO PLEASE. JUDGE HIDALGO, HELP US OUT BECAUSE THERE IS A LOT OF THINGS AND THERE ARE A LOT OF PEOPLE MAKING FUN OF US.

COMO COMENTARIOS DE LAS PERSONAS EXTRATERRESTRES POR ESSER ILLEGALS.

AND SO THEY GO OUT OF THE PEOPLE ARE COMING OUT OF SPACE BECAUSE THEY ARE ILLEGAL.

SERIA TODO. MUCHAS GRACIAS.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH. WHAT IS.

THANK YOU. UM. WHAT? WHO HAS BEEN MAKING THESE COMMENTS? CAN NASTASIA MRS COMENTARIOS IGUODALA'S.

LAURA DE LA CRUZ AND THIS IS WORKS ON BEHALF OF THE COUNTY OR PARA TRABAJAR ESTA PERSONA ESTA DENTRO DEL PROGRAMA POCO PEDIMOS Q ESSER RETIRADA RETIRADO DE ALGUNOS CASOS E TAMBIÉN QUIERO DECIR Q ESSER PERSONA ESTA SIENDO EL TRABAJO PORQUE TAMBIÉN SE AGORA SU RIALTO YA TIENE NO DEJAR Q OTRO DE PERSONAS AQUI EN EL INCENTIVO POR FALTA DE INFORMACIN POR PARTE DE ELLA ANY TAMBIÉN ME GUSTARIA Q PORQUE ESO.

THERE IS A LOT OF PROBLEM WITH MS..

CRUZ. SHE IS ON THE ON THE ON THE SYSTEM.

SHE IS ON THE PROGRAM AND SHE'S NOT BEING HELPFUL.

HE HAS HER OWN REALTOR AND THEY THEY DON'T WORK WITH THEIR OWN REALTOR.

THEY WILL NOT RECEIVE THE, THE, THE INFORMATION OR THE MONEY.

AND SOME PEOPLE HAVE LOST THEIR OPPORTUNITY TO GET THAT MONEY BECAUSE THEY WERE NOT INFORMED BY HER.

AND THEY ASKED HER TO BE REMOVED FROM THE PROGRAM.

THANK YOU, JUDGE. I'M WONDERING BECAUSE I KNOW THERE ARE A NUMBER OF THEM WHO ARE HERE AND THEY TOOK THE EFFORT TO COME ALL THE WAY DOWN HERE, IF MAYBE MISS RAMIREZ, IF DIRECTOR COSTAS OR SOMEBODY WHEN WE WHEN WE TAKE A BREAK, IF THEY'RE HERE, IF THEY'RE AROUND, MEET WITH THEM.

I DO WANT TO THANK ZOE MIDDLETON ON MY STAFF WHO SPENT A LOT OF TIME WITH YOU ALL.

I KNOW THE CRUX OF THE ISSUE IS WE SET UP A SAFE PROGRAM IN THE COUNTY, SET ASIDE A MIX OF GENERAL FUNDS AND PHILANTHROPIC DOLLARS TO COMPENSATE UNDOCUMENTED FAMILIES.

WE CANNOT USE FEDERAL MONEY FOR THIS BECAUSE THE PROVISIONS THAT WERE PUT IN THE IN THE FEDERAL LAW.

SO I THINK THE CRUX OF THE ISSUE, IN ADDITION TO SOME ADMINISTRATION ISSUES THAT MAY COME FROM THE INDEPENDENT CONTRACTOR, FROM MY NOTES, I'M NOT SURE, MR. RAMIREZ, BUT I'VE BEEN TOLD THAT.

BUT THE ISSUE IS WE NEED TO PUT MORE MONEY IN IT.

OBVIOUSLY, THESE ARE PEOPLE WHO PAID TAXES AND A LOT OF WAYS THEY'RE THE BACKBONE OF THE ECONOMY.

AND YOU CAN'T FIND ANOTHER HOUSE.

YOU CAN'T RELOCATE AT THAT PRICE.

EVEN IF WE COULD USE FEDERAL DOLLARS, IT WOULD STILL IT WOULDN'T BE ENOUGH, BUT IT WOULD BE BETTER THAN WHAT THEY ENDED UP WITH.

AND WHATEVER WE PUT IN THE SAFE PROGRAM WAS A START, BUT IT WAS NOT NEARLY ENOUGH.

SO THAT MEANS THAT WE HAVE TO FIND GENERAL REVENUE FUNDS IN ORDER TO HELP THEM.

AND I'M GOING TO BE ONE OF THOSE FOR THAT.

AND I THINK AS WE MADE DECISIONS ALONG THE WAY, YOU KNOW, WE WE SPENT A LOT OF THINGS, BUT SOMETIMES THE EQUITY ARGUMENT GETS A LITTLE LOST IN THE SHUFFLE.

BUT BUT SO MAYBE, MISS RAMIREZ, IF THEY'RE STILL HERE, WE TAKE A BREAK SINCE THEY DID TAKE THE EFFORT TO COME DOWN HERE IF THEY CAN MAKE.

NO, NO. QUIERO HABLAR PORQUE TIENE MIEDO REPRESALIAS PORQUE ES LO CUAL ES ESTA PASANDO.

[01:25:02]

YOU KNOW THAT'S WHAT'S HAPPENING.

THEY DON'T WANT. THEY ARE AFRAID OF TALKING BECAUSE SOMETHING MIGHT BE HAPPENING TO THEM.

I DO WANT YOU TO TELL ALL OF THEM DESERVE AN AWARD FOR PROFILING, COURAGE FOR BEING WILLING TO SPEAK.

AND SO HERE'S A COMMUNITY IN MANY WAYS, FOR GOOD REASONS, ARE RELUCTANT TO SPEAK.

AND SOMETIMES WE USE OUR VOICES, ALL OF US, MORE FOR PEOPLE WHO CAN SPEAK FOR THEMSELVES.

BUT HERE'S A COMMUNITY THAT CANNOT ALWAYS SPEAK UP.

SO WE APPRECIATE THE ONES WHO DID, AND THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.

WE HAVE A SIMILAR SENTIMENT.

SO WE SENT A NOTE TO THE CSC TEAM WHO'S ADMINISTERING THIS PROGRAM, AND THEY WILL BE HERE TO MEET WITH YOU ALL SHORTLY SO THAT YOU ALL CAN ALL GET TOGETHER AND CONTINUE SHARING YOUR CONCERNS AND QUESTIONS.

MUCHAS GRACIAS. BRICK OKAY.

AND I WANT TO MAKE THE POINT FOR CSC AND COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR TO TAKE INTO ACCOUNT THE THE FULL VALUE OF THE HOMES BECAUSE TO SAY THEY'RE GETTING SOME MONEY, IF IT'S SO FAR SHORT OF WHAT THE HOME IS WORTH, IT DOESN'T GET US VERY FAR.

AND THEN THE ISSUE OF THE FOLKS THAT DON'T HAVE PAPERS AGAIN, BECAUSE WE STARTED THIS.

SO, I MEAN.

I THINK WE ALL UNDERSTAND WHAT THE ROOT OF THE ISSUE IS, AND I JUST DON'T WANT TO KEEP TALKING PAST EACH OTHER.

JUDGE COMPLETO DE LA CASA MUY POCO A VER COMO PUEDEN MEJORAR LA PHILOSOPHIE EN ESTE PROGRAMA.

SI. MUCHAS GRACIAS. SI EL PROGRAMA DE ESTA RECURSOS PORQUE SI ESTAMOS HABLANDO DE UN POR CIENTO SETENTA POR CIENTO SON ILEGALES.

RIGHT. SO THE LEGAL 70 OR 80% OF THE PEOPLE ARE ILLEGAL SO THAT WE HAVE TO RELOOK OR RETHINK ABOUT THIS PROGRAM.

AND THAT'S WHAT I WANT TO SEE CLEARLY SPELLED OUT.

100% OF THE RESIDENTS WILL BE MADE 100% WHOLE HERE OR WHAT IS IT? YOU KNOW? BUT RIGHT NOW THERE'S JUST KIND OF STORIES AND, UM, IT'S A PIECEMEAL AND SO IT MAKES IT LOOK LIKE THERE'S PROGRESS BEING MADE. BUT WHEN YOU ZOOM OUT, WE'RE TELLING THE SAME STORY.

COMMISSIONER GARCIA DE LA PROGRESO DE TODA LA JUNTA PARA Q PUEDA VER EL PROGRESO FACTIBLE MUCHAS GRACIAS. ALL RIGHT.

I JUST WANTED TO ADD, AND MR. RAMIREZ, WHEN WE SPOKE ABOUT THE LATINO EQUITY FRAMEWORK, THIS IS IN PART ONE, JUST ONE OF THE MANY ISSUES THAT THE LATINO COMMUNITY CONFRONTS.

AND WE HAVE TO GIVE THOUGHT TO THE LATINOS.

AQUI Y VAMOS A TRABAJAR CON ESA BECAUSE THIS THIS PROGRAM, YOU KNOW, I'VE SAID BEFORE THAT I'LL END UP WITH A PRECINCT OF NONE IF WE KEEP BUYING OUT HOME BECAUSE THE MONEY THAT THEY GET, THERE'S ABSOLUTELY NO WAY THAT THEY CAN STAY IN THE SAME COMMUNITIES OF WHERE THEY HAVE LIVED THEIR ENTIRE LIVES.

AND SO I'M AGAIN, I'M GLAD OF THE PROGRESS BEING MADE, BUT WE STILL HAVE A LONG WAY TO GO.

PEDRO MANTENERSE EN EL SITIO EN UN ESTADO DE SU VIDA EL PROGRESO Y COMO PUEDEN MEJORAR.

GRACIAS. GRACIAS.

PRETTY MUCH, JUDGE.

MAYBE. MAYBE WHEN WE FINISH THE SPEAKERS, IF IT'S BEFORE WE COULD BRING UP THAT ITEM, THE TRANSMITTAL 345 EARLIER AND THAT MIGHT KEEP THEM FROM HAVING THAT SINCE EVERYONE'S HERE. YEAH. OKAY.

LET'S CONTINUE WITH THE SPEAKERS.

NEXT IS CARMEN GARCIA SPEAKING ON ITEM 345, USING THE INTERPRETER, YOU GET TWO MINUTES.

BUENOS DIAS, MI NOMBRE ES MARIA.

CARMEN GARCIA QUIJADA VIVO EN EL CORDERO.

CUESTA IN THIS CITY.

THIS GREEN ROAD.

VIVO IN LA TORRE DE LA SALLE.

CERRO CINCO ME SIDO.

NO MUY FELIZ.

MY NAME IS MARIA. CARMEN GARCIA GARCIA.

I LIVE IN THE TRAILER PARK LOCATED ON 1710 GREENS ROAD.

I LIVE ON TRAILER 605, AND FOR 18 YEARS IT HAS BEEN MY HOME AND I HAVE BEEN VERY HAPPY FOR THE VIVIDO E TIEMPO PARA EL TIEMPO.

YO YO ESTABA ENFERMA DE LA VISTA DE.

ESSER TIEMPO DE PRESSION E CANCER PARA EL FINAL DE DIA EN REALIDAD PERTENEZCO A ESTAR ORGANIZACION NO SÉ QUÉ VOY A HACER POR ESO ESTOY AQUI.

AND IT'S BEEN A WHILE SINCE I WAS TOLD THAT WE WOULD HAVE TO RELOCATE FROM HERE.

AND MY WORRIES STARTED SINCE I'VE BEEN HAVING ISSUES WITH MY VISION, BLOOD PRESSURE AND TODAY WITH DEPRESSION.

[01:30:03]

AND I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO.

I BELONG AT PRECINCT ONE, AND THAT'S WHY I'M HERE.

THANK YOU AND HAVE A GREAT DAY.

GOD BLESS. MUCHOS GRACIAS, SENOR.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU. GRACIAS.

PERSEUS. NEXT IS JUVENAL GODINEZ SPEAKING ON ITEM 345, USING THE INTERPRETER.

YOU HAVE TWO MINUTES.

HOLA. MUY BUENOS DIAS.

GOOD MORNING, EVERYONE.

MY NAME IS LUIS VIGIL.

CON EL MISMO CORDERO.

UM, LUIS VIGIL AND I LIVE IN THE SAME PARKING LOT PLACE WHERE SHE MENTIONED YO SOY MAMA SOLTERA DE SISIFO AND A SINGLE MOTHER OF SIX KIDS. UNICA PREOCUPACION ANTES.

MY ONLY CONCERN BEFORE MANTENER EL TRABAJO IS TO KEEP MY JOB.

AHORA EL TRABAJO Y BUSCAR DONDE MOVER.

AND NOW MY WORRY IS TO KEEP MY JOB AND LOOK WHERE I'M GOING TO BE MOVING TO.

OKAY. I DON'T KNOW WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN.

THANK YOU. GRACIAS.

THANK YOU. GRACIAS.

NEXT IS LUCE VIGIL SPEAKING ON ITEM 345 USING THE INTERPRETER.

YOU HAVE TWO MINUTES.

LET ME COME. YEAH.

BUENAS TARDES. MI NOMBRE ES.

MY NAME IS. MI NOMBRE ES ALGO NECESITAMOS DE SALUDA PORQUE ESTOY VIVIENDO UNA SITUACION.

THEY KNOWN TODAY AS DONDE VOY A VIVIR? NO TENGO COSA.

MY NAME IS JUVENAL. I AM.

WE NEED YOUR HELP BECAUSE I DON'T KNOW WHERE I'M GOING TO BE MOVING, WHERE I'M GOING TO LIVE.

I'M UNDER STRESS AND I DON'T KNOW WHERE I'M GOING TO BE MOVING OR LIVE AFTERWARDS.

ESTOY MUY ESTOY MUY ENFERMO Y NO PUEDO TRABAJAR.

ESTOY EN EL AREA DE GREEN ROOM.

AND IN PART OF THE TRAILER.

OKAY. I AM.

I AM. I DON'T HAVE A HOUSE.

I'M VERY SICK AND I CANNOT WALK AND I CANNOT WORK.

I'M LIVING IN THE PARKING LOT OF GREEN ROAD, UH, THE TRAILER AREA.

TENGO DOS ANOS VIVIENDO EN EL AREA DE ENGENHARIA ESTOY PAGANDO MIS GATOS E TAXAS.

NECESITO. I'D BE LEAVING THE THE AIR FORCE 12 YEARS.

I'D BE LEAVING THERE IN THIS AREA FOR 12 YEARS.

AND I'M PAYING ALL MY ALL MY EXPENSES AND MY TAXES AND I NEED YOU HELP.

GOOD. OKAY. THANK YOU.

GRACIAS. NEXT IS GLORIA MANDIOCA SPEAKING ON ITEM 345, USING THE INTERPRETER.

YOU HAVE TWO MINUTES.

STILIM. BUENAS TARDES.

A TODOS, EVERYONE.

GARCIA, GARCIA, LENA, NINA, TODOS TO EVERYONE SOMOS SINCERAMENTE.

I LOVE YOU VERY MUCH.

ASI COMO AMA MI VECINDARIO WHERE I LIVE.

I LOVE MY NEIGHBORHOOD.

FOUR ANOS FOR 17 YEARS.

ESTA SITUACION ENFERMA.

SI SITUATION HAS ME SICK TANTO COMO LA MS COMPANEROS MY HEALTH AND MY ALL MY COWORKERS HERE ES ESO TAMBIÉN POR LA HORA DE LA CRUZ.

I HAVE BEEN TREATED BY LAURA LA CRUZ DE ESTE ESTE ES UN INDOCUMENTADO Y NO CALIFICA PARA NADA.

SHE HAS TOLD ME YOU ARE AN UNDOCUMENTED PERSON AND YOU QUALIFY FOR NOTHING.

DESPUÉS EL TITULO SACHSE MRS LLEGO A LOS CUANDO LO ME DIJO AHORA LO HACE UN HOMBRE PORQUE ESTA INDOCUMENTADO.

THEN WHEN I ASKED FOR THE TITLE, IT TOOK SIX MONTHS TO HAVE IT.

NOW THAT I HAVE IT, SHE TOLD ME, YOU HAVE TO CHANGE IT NOW TO YOUR NAME BECAUSE YOU ARE AN UNDOCUMENTED PERSON.

YO SINCERAMENTE SIENTO TODOS ESTAMOS EN LA MANO DE CADA UNO DE USTEDES.

WE SINCERELY FEEL LIKE WE ARE IN YOUR HANDS.

SO EVERY ONE OF YOU IN YOUR HANDS.

SI ES ALGO.

MUY DIFICIL PARA NOSOTROS ESTAMOS VIVIENDO IN CARNE PROPIA.

IT'S VERY DIFFICULT FOR US TO BE LIVING THIS IN OUR OWN FLESH.

YOU ARE REALLY TOMMY TRAILER CUANTOS POR TODO POR QUÉ TENGO NUEVA NIETOS.

I FIX ALL MY TRAILER.

I PUT SOME MORE ROOMS AND BATHROOMS AND EVERYTHING BECAUSE I HAVE NINE GRANDKIDS.

[01:35:06]

LAST YEAR THEY WENT TO DISNEY WORLD DISNEYLAND AND THEN I WAS HAPPY THAT THEY WERE NOT HERE.

BUT NOW THIS.

THIS YEAR THEY COMING FOR A WHOLE MONTH.

I'M GONNA RECEIVE THEM SO UNA PERSONA PERO ME GUSTA JUGAR CON MI ME GUSTA SER AEDIFICANDI CON ELLOS YO DE ESTE PROBLEMA YO NO QUIERO TRATAR AHORITA PORQUE ELLOS VIENEN A DISFRUTAR NO BUENO DE PROBLEMAS POR FAVOR LES LES IMPLOROU DE LA CORAZON ES TODO PUESTO TIENEN USTEDES AYUDARNOS ESTAMOS YO ESTOY SUFRIENDO POR ESA GENTE.

EVEN YOUR ANY IMPLORING POR FAVOR DE LOS LOBOS.

NO QUIERO ESSER TODOS, POR FAVOR.

GRACIAS. THANK YOU VERY MUCH TO ALL.

I LOVE YOU ALL. I IMPLORE YOU THAT TO HELP ME OUT AND TO HELP MY NEIGHBORS.

BECAUSE WE ALL HAVE A LOT OF PROBLEMS AND THE KIDS ARE COMING AND I DON'T WANT TO STRESS THEM, GIVING THEM ALL THESE PROBLEMS. I JUST WANT TO TEACH THEM AND THEY WILL BE HAPPY WHEN THEY'RE HERE.

AND WE ARE IN YOUR HANDS.

PLEASE HELP US OUT.

THANK YOU. GRACIAS.

NEXT. THE SPEAKER 22, STEPHANIE VALDEZ SPEAKING ON ITEM 345.

YOU HAVE ONE MINUTE.

GOOD MORNING, COMMISSIONERS.

MY NAME IS STEPHANIE VALDEZ.

I'M THE WATER JUSTICE ORGANIZER FOR SIERRA, AND I'M HERE IN SOLIDARITY TO SPEAK ON AGENDA ITEM 345.

I WOULD LIKE TO EXPRESS MY GRATITUDE FOR ADDRESSING COMMUNITY CONCERNS ABOUT THE HARRIS BIO BUYOUT PROGRAM.

I APPRECIATE THE PROGRESS, BUT IT'S CRUCIAL TO MAKE SURE IMPORTANT DOCUMENTS ARE READILY AVAILABLE IN SPANISH.

AS THE AFFECTED COMMUNITY PRIMARILY SPEAKS SPANISH, IT'S ESSENTIAL TO PROVIDE THEM WITH ACCESS TO ALL THE NECESSARY INFORMATION FOR DECISIONS.

I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO HIGHLIGHT THAT SOME COURT DATES ARE RAPIDLY APPROACHING AND MANY PEOPLE ARE STILL STRUGGLING TO ACCESS ADEQUATE LEGAL REPRESENTATION DUE TO CHALLENGES WITH THEIR LEGAL STATUS AS A COURT WITH A MAJORITY LATINO COMMISSIONERS WHO ARE VERY PROUD OF THEIR IMMIGRANT HERITAGE AND UNDERSTAND THIS EXPERIENCE TOO WELL.

I BELIEVE IT IS THE COUNTY'S RESPONSIBILITY TO ADDRESS THESE DISPARITIES AND ENSURE THAT EVERYONE HAS ACCESS TO LEGAL RESOURCES, REGARDLESS OF THEIR LEGAL STATUS OR LANGUAGE BARRIER. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND ALL YOU CONTINUE TO DO.

THANK YOU. NEXT IS LIZBETH SANCHEZ SPEAKING ON ITEM 345.

YOU HAVE ONE MINUTE.

HELLO. HELLO.

MY NAME IS ELIZABETH SANCHEZ.

I'M A SINGLE MOTHER OF FIVE CHILDREN SINCE THIS PROGRAM BEGAN.

UM, I'VE JUST BEEN HAVING NOTHING BUT ISSUES.

UM, MY HELP IS OVER IN AUGUST.

I STILL HAVEN'T FOUND A PLACE.

I'M A LOW INCOME.

I HAVE A LOW INCOME JOB.

IT'S NOT EASY FOR ME JUST TO MOVE OUT AND GO FIND A PLACE, PUT A DEPOSIT DOWN, OR PAY RENT.

UM, I HAD A MEETING WITH THE SUPERVISORS IN APRIL.

I CHANGED MY CASEWORKER.

IT USED TO BE LAURA, AND NOW IT'S RAUL.

ONCE THEY ASSIGNED HIM TO ME, I HAD TWO INSPECTIONS.

THE FIRST INSPECTION, IT PASSED.

BUT BEING SINCE I'M A BIG FAMILY, IT WAS A THREE BEDROOM.

THEY DIDN'T APPROVE IT.

I HAD AN INSPECTION ON FRIDAY.

IT WAS A FOUR BEDROOM, TWO BATH.

UM, APPARENTLY IT DIDN'T PASS BECAUSE, UM, THE INSPECTOR SAID IT WAS A THREE BEDROOM.

THANK YOU. YOUR TIME IS UP.

OH, THANK YOU.

THANK YOU. WANT TO. YOU WANT TO WRAP IT UP? UM, YES, JUST REAL QUICK.

UM, APPARENTLY THEY SAID IT WAS A THREE BEDROOM.

IT WASN'T A THREE BEDROOM.

IT WAS A FOUR BEDROOM.

I WALKED THE COMPLETE HOUSE WITH THE INSPECTOR.

I EVEN HELPED HER OPEN UP THE ROOMS. AND FROM WHAT THEY TOLD ME IS THAT THEY STAYED AT THAT.

THAT IT'S A THREE BEDROOM AND IT WASN'T APPROVED.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU.

THANK YOU. NEXT IS ROSA FIGUEROA SPEAKING ON ITEM 345, USING THE INTERPRETER.

YOU HAVE TWO MINUTES.

SO. MUY BUENOS DIAS, MI NOMBRE ES.

ROSA FIGUEROA.

MY NAME IS ROSA FIGUEROA.

GOOD MORNING, EVERYONE. MIJO.

UM. BINGO.

BINGO. PORQUE ES UNA SITUACION.

MUY DIFICIL. ECONOMIA.

NO ESTA. IN VERDAD PARA PARA QUÉ ESTA PASANDO ESTE TENGO PREOCUPACIONES POR MI HIJO DONDE VOY A PONER LO BUENO VAMOS A VIVIR.

OKAY. UM. I CAME OVER HERE TO TALK TO YOU BECAUSE THE SITUATION, THE ECONOMIC SITUATION IS NOT GOOD.

AND I'M REALLY VERY WORRIED BECAUSE WHAT AM I GOING TO DO? WHERE AM I? WHERE AM I GOING TO PUT MY SON IF I HAVE TO MOVE, UM, TO.

[01:40:03]

PERSONALMENTE ES SI QUITANDO LA CASA.

DONDE EL VIVE PUEDEN DAR UN LUGAR.

DONDE PUEDA EL RESEARCH.

THE ONLY THING WE'RE ASKING IS YOU'RE TAKING THE HOUSE WHERE HE LIVES.

CAN YOU GIVE ME A HOME WHERE HE CAN GO AND LIVE? MUCHAS GRACIAS. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

GRACIAS, SIR. ALL RIGHT.

BYE BYE.

NEXT IS KATRIN HILLARY SPEAKING ON ITEM 76.

YOU HAVE ONE MINUTE.

BUT. I'M EMILY BATTY.

I'M THE SENIOR DIRECTOR OF DEVELOPMENT AT WESLEY COMMUNITY CENTER.

WESLEY COMMUNITY CENTER HAS BEEN IN HOUSTON FOR OVER ALMOST 120 YEARS, AND WE'VE BEEN SERVING THE HOUSTON COMMUNITY SINCE THEN.

OUR GOAL IS TO HELP FAMILIES REACH FINANCIAL STABILITY THROUGH PROGRAMS INCLUDING JOB TRAINING AND FINANCIAL COACHING.

BASIC NEEDS ASSISTANCE SUCH AS FOOD AND RENT AND UTILITY ASSISTANCE AND QUALITY, AFFORDABLE EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION AND A SENIOR CITIZENS PROGRAM. OUR PROGRAMS HAVE BEEN GROWING SIGNIFICANTLY OVER THE LAST TEN YEARS, AND WHILE THAT IS GREAT NEWS FOR US, OUR PARKING HAS NOT BEEN INCREASED DURING THAT TIME.

AND ALTHOUGH WE SERVE THE NEAR NORTH SIDE OF HOUSTON, WE SERVE CLIENTS FROM ALL OVER THE CITY.

AND SO WE LOOK FOR YOUR SUPPORT IN A PARKING PROJECT TO IMPROVE THE PERIMETER OF THE BUILDING THAT OUR.

THANK YOU. YOUR TIME IS UP.

YOU'RE DOING GOOD. AND THAT INCLUDES COVERING THE DRAINAGE DITCHES, WHICH MAKES IT HARD FOR CARS TO PARK AND HARD FOR OUR SENIOR CITIZENS AND OUR FAMILIES WITH YOUNG CHILDREN TO GET TO OUR BUILDING.

AND FOR ADULTS WHO ARE COMING TO ACCESS TRAINING FOR BETTER CAREERS.

SO THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT.

THANK YOU. THANK THANK YOU FOR COMING DOWN.

AND I WANTED TO HAVE YOU HERE BECAUSE OBVIOUSLY YOU KNOW THE STORY OF ME AND WESLEY HOUSE AND BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY, I APPRECIATE AND JUST ABSOLUTELY LOVE THE WORK THAT YOU DO WITH THE COMMUNITY.

AND SO I'M JUST GLAD THAT WE FOUND A WAY TO BE PARTNERS IN THIS.

I WANT TO THANK YOU ALL FOR APPLYING TO OUR PARTNERSHIP PROJECT PROGRAM.

AND AND I'M EXCITED ABOUT MAKING THIS IMPROVEMENT IN THERE.

YOU KNOW, I HAVE VISITED THE WESLEY EARLY AND OFTEN OVER THE YEARS, AND IT IS JUST INCREDIBLE TO THINK HOW YOU GUYS HAVE NAVIGATED IN THE COMMUNITY, HAS NAVIGATED THE OPEN DITCHES AND THOSE NARROW SIDEWALKS.

I'M HOPING, TOO, THAT THIS WILL BRING BRING A LOT OF RELIEF, A LOT OF COMFORT AND MORE SAFETY TO YOU, TO THE CONSTITUENTS AND TO THE COMMUNITY IN GENERAL.

SO, AGAIN, THANK YOU.

I HAVEN'T FORGOTTEN WESLEY.

ALL RIGHT. ALL RIGHT.

THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU.

THANK YOU. NEXT IS.

SPEAKER 13.

COUNCIL MEMBER ROBERT GALLEGO SPEAKING ON ITEM 106.

YOU HAVE ONE MINUTE. GO AHEAD, PLEASE.

THANK YOU. GOOD MORNING, JUDGE AND COMMISSIONERS.

I'M ROBERT GALLEGOS, HOUSTON COUNCIL MEMBER FOR DISTRICT II.

AND I'M PLEASED TO BE ON THE LINE WITH YOU TODAY TO OFFER MY SUPPORT FOR AGENDA ITEM 106, THE PARTIAL RELEASE AND TERMINATION OF USE RESTRICTION, WHICH WILL ALLOW THE NAVIGATION NORWOOD TO REDEVELOP THE FARMER'S BROTHERS COFFEE PLANT BUILDING.

THIS BUILDING HAS A LONG HISTORY IN THE COMMUNITY AND THERE IS A LOT OF POTENTIAL TO BRING NEW LIFE TO IT WHILE MAINTAINING ITS SPIRIT AND HISTORIC PRESENCE.

THERE'S A LOT OF GREAT THINGS HAPPENING IN THE EAST END, AND THIS WOULD BE ANOTHER REDEVELOPMENT THAT COULD POTENTIALLY ADD HOUSING, ART AND RETAIL TO BENEFIT THE COMMUNITY.

THE REQUEST TO RELEASE AND TERMINATE THE INDUSTRIAL USE RESTRICTION WILL ALLOW NAVIGATION.

NORWOOD TO MAINTAIN THE HISTORIC PRESENCE OF THE FACILITY, OPEN A COFFEE SHOP OR CAFE AT THE PROJECT CENTER, PROVIDE WORKFORCE HOUSING, SEVERAL ART STUDIOS AND MAKER SPACES.

AND I WANT TO PERSONALLY THANK COMMISSIONER GARCIA FOR HIS SUPPORT ON THIS ITEM, WHICH WILL CONTRIBUTE TO OUR COMMUNITY'S REVITALIZATION.

COUNCIL MEMBER THANK COUNCIL MEMBER.

COMMISSIONER GARCIA, THANK YOU FOR CALLING IN AND I JUST APPRECIATE WORKING WITH YOU SO WELL.

YOU YOU REPRESENT YOUR CONSTITUENTS SO VERY WELL.

PROUD OF YOU AND GRATEFUL FOR YOU, BUT THANK YOU FOR CALLING IN.

THIS THIS PROJECT IS IMPORTANT.

I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO SEEING IT HAPPEN, BUT COULDN'T HAVE DONE IT WITHOUT YOUR SUPPORT AND YOUR ADVOCACY AS WELL.

[01:45:01]

THANK YOU AGAIN, COMMISSIONER GARCIA, FOR EVERYTHING YOU DO AS WELL.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU.

THANK YOU. COUNCILMAN.

NEXT IS AGENDA.

SPEAKER NUMBER 25 MO CORTEZ SPEAKING ON ITEMS 373 AND 386.

YOU HAVE ONE MINUTE.

THANK YOU, COMMISSIONERS. UM, MY.

MY REQUEST FOR YOU TODAY IS TO PLEASE, PLEASE VOTE NO FOR THIS.

AND PLEASE USE THESE FUNDS AND GIVE IT TO HEART.

UM, YOU KNOW, PLEASE DON'T ADD SAFETY AND MY PERSONAL OPINION AND JUST.

THAT'S ALL I HAVE. PLEASE CHOOSE CARE, NOT CAGES FOR PEOPLE.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU.

NEXT IS SPEAKER 26 CHRISTOPHER RIVERA SPEAKING ON ITEM 3.73.

YOU HAVE ONE MINUTE.

MS. UH, THANKS, EVERYBODY. MY NAME IS CHRISTOPHER RIVERA.

I WORK WITH THE TEXAS CIVIL RIGHTS PROJECT.

AND ALSO HERE TO ECHO WHAT BO SAID, THAT WE SHOULD BE AGAINST FUNDING PROGRAMS LIKE CORE.

I'M ALL ABOUT THE ALTERNATIVE RESPONSE PROGRAMS. I THINK IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT, ESPECIALLY IF WE LOOK AT WHAT HARTE'S DONE.

AND THE FIRST FEW MONTHS WE SAW THAT IT DIVERTED 486 CALLS FROM LAW ENFORCEMENT AND CONDUCTED, YOU KNOW, 300 CALLS FOR VULNERABLE RESIDENTS.

I THINK THAT THIS $800,000 COULD REALLY HELP HEART AND REALLY BECOME FROM A PILOT PROGRAM TO SOMETHING THAT WE REALLY FULLY SUSTAIN AND SUPPORT. SO THAT'S WHY I WANT TO SAY NO TO CORE.

YES. ART, THANKS.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU. NEXT IS BEVERLY ROBERTS SPEAKING ON ITEM 384.

YOU HAVE ONE MINUTE.

NOW. I THINK IT'S STILL MORNING.

GOOD MORNING, JUDGE HIDALGO AND COMMISSIONERS.

I'M HERE TO SPEAK AGAINST THE PROPOSAL THAT WILL PROVIDE MY TAX MONEY TO BUY GIFT CARDS TO PRESENT TO THOSE WHO RELINQUISH THEIR GUNS TO THE CITY.

THIS IS AN OPEN INVITATION FOR THOSE WITH ILL INTENT TO STEAL GUNS TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE OFFER.

THE SECOND AMENDMENT WAS PUT IN PLACE TO ENSURE THAT CITIZENS WILL BE ABLE TO PROTECT THEMSELVES WHEN A GOVERNMENT BEGINS TO OPPRESS THEM UNDER THE GUISE OF PROTECTING THEM.

MILLIONS OF PEOPLE HAVE BEEN AND ARE STILL OPPRESSED OR MURDERED BY LEADERS WHO SEEK TOTAL CONTROL OF THE NATION.

THE PHOTO I HANDED YOU IS ONE OF MANY THOUSANDS OF SUCH PHOTOS THAT DOCUMENT THESE ATROCITIES.

GUN VIOLENCE IS A RESULT OF MENTAL ILLNESS AND FAMILY BREAKDOWN THAT LEAVE MANY PEOPLE WITHOUT A MORAL COMPASS.

TAKING AWAY GUNS IS MERELY PUTTING A BAND-AID ON A MUCH DEEPER PROBLEM THAT COMMUNITIES MUST ADDRESS IN OTHER WAYS.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION OF MY REQUEST TO DENY THIS PROPOSAL.

THANK YOU. COMING.

NEXT IS NON-AGENDA.

SPEAKER NUMBER SIX, JARED.

JARED BAZILE.

YOU HAVE ONE MINUTE? THE. I.

I REALLY DON'T WANT TO GO TO WASHINGTON DC.

MAN, THEY OUT THERE TRIPPING, YOU KNOW? IT'S TOO FAR FOR ME.

BUT I FEEL LIKE I'M ALREADY HEADED THAT WAY AND I DON'T WANT TO GO.

I WANT TO STAY HOME. BUT, UM.

I'M LEAH WITH THIS.

WHEN THE SKY IS FALLING IN THE HEART IS CRYING IN THE BIRDS ARE FLYING IN THE MUSIC TOUCHES SO I SEE MY RISING HEAVENS ONLY I CAME EVERY VIRGIN MY QUEEN IN THE BEAUTY OF MY GOLD.

WHEN THE SKY IS FALLING AND THE HEART IS CRYING AND THE BIRDS ARE FLYING AND THE MUSIC TOUCHES.

SO I SEE MY RISING HEAVENS ONLY I CAME EVERY VIRGIN, MY QUEEN AND THE BEAUTY OF MY GOLD.

NEXT IS NON-AGENDA.

SPEAKER NUMBER EIGHT, BARBARA DENSON.

YOU HAVE ONE MINUTE.

END OF. ALL RIGHT.

SO HE IS PASSING OUT GRAPHS OF TEMPERATURES ON THE PLANET OVER THE LAST 60 MILLION YEARS OR SO.

I DON'T THINK THERE'S ANYTHING CONTROVERSIAL ABOUT IT.

YOU PROBABLY SAW SOMETHING JUST LIKE IT WHEN YOU WERE IN JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL.

[01:50:02]

THERE IS NO QUESTION THAT THE CLIMATE IS CHANGING.

THAT ISN'T WHAT WE'RE SAYING.

THE CLIMATE ON THE PLANET HAS ALWAYS CHANGED.

WOULD YOU AGREE? DESSERTS WERE ONCE FORESTS.

MOUNTAINS WERE ONCE BEACHES.

YOU LEARNED ALL OF THIS IN SCHOOL? I THINK IT TAKES A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF HUBRIS ON OUR PART TO THINK THAT THERE'S ANYTHING WE CAN DO TO GET THE CLIMATE TO QUIT CHANGING AND STAY EXACTLY LIKE IT WAS IN 1972.

I THINK IT'S ALSO OF NOTE THAT WE ARE CURRENTLY AT HISTORICALLY LOW TEMPERATURES WORLDWIDE.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.

THANK YOU FOR COMING TODAY.

LET ME RECOMMEND A GREAT BOOK THAT GETS INTO THIS SUBJECT IN DETAIL.

THE NAME OF THE TITLE IS PARADISE.

WELL, FIRE, ICE.

PARADISE. FIRE! ICE PARADISE.

STEWART IS THE AUTHOR.

REALLY GOOD. REALLY GOOD BOOK.

THANK YOU. AND I MIGHT SUGGEST ANOTHER.

I KNOW THERE'S A LOT OF DEMOCRATS HERE.

THERE IS A BOOK CALLED UNSETTLED THAT WAS WRITTEN BY OBAMA'S UNDERSECRETARY OF THE ENVIRONMENT.

REMEMBER OBAMA FAMOUSLY SAYING THE CLIMATE IS SETTLED.

SO THIS WAS HIS HEAD OF THE ENVIRONMENT AT THE TIME AND AT THE TIME HE BELIEVED IN ALL THAT, TOO.

AND HIS BOOK IS ABOUT HOW HE REALLY DUG INTO THE DATA.

AND WHEN HE REALLY LOOKED AT THE DATA, HE REALIZED IT WAS A MISTAKE.

SO IT IS AN EASY READ.

YOU MAY NOT BELIEVE WHAT I HAVE TO SAY, BUT YOU MIGHT LISTEN TO WHAT HE HAS TO SAY AND IT MIGHT CHANGE WHAT YOU THINK.

SO UNSETTLED BY STEVEN KOONIN.

THANK YOU. NEXT IS AGENDA SPEAKER NUMBER 12, RICHARD CANTU SPEAKING VIRTUALLY ON ITEM 69.

YOU HAVE ONE MINUTE. GO AHEAD, PLEASE.

YES. GOOD MORNING, JUDGE.

COMMISSIONERS. I APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY TO.

SPEAK ON AGENDA ITEM 69.

IT'S A REQUEST TO APPROVE AN INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT BETWEEN OUR EAST ALDINE DISTRICT AND THE COUNTY TO BRING CONNECTIONS, SEWER CONNECTIONS TO NEW HOUSING, MUCH NEEDED NEW HOUSING IN EAST ALDINE DISTRICT.

AS YOU ALL MAY KNOW, I KNOW YOU ALL KNOW THAT THE HARRIS COUNTY BUYOUTS HAVE TAKEN AWAY LOTS OF HOUSING FROM OUR COMMUNITY.

AND SO THIS IS VERY CRITICAL REPLACEMENT HOUSING, NEW HOUSING.

UP TO STANDARD HOUSING THAT PRECINCT TWO IS WORKING ON WITH US AND SUNBELT FRESH WATER SUPPLY DISTRICT.

AND SO WE ARE PROUD TO TO WORK WITH THE COUNTY TO MAKE THESE SEWER CONNECTIONS POSSIBLE AND BRING MUCH NEEDED NEW HOUSING TO EAST ALDINE.

SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

THANK YOU, MISTER CANTU, THANK YOU FOR CALLING IN.

AND AND I APPRECIATE YOU.

I JUST WANTED TO THANK YOU FOR SPEAKING ON THIS ITEM BECAUSE WE NEED MORE AFFORDABLE HOUSING, UH, IN THE IN THE PRECINCT AND IN THE COUNTY IN GENERAL. AND THIS IS GOING TO PROVIDE US SOME OF THAT OPPORTUNITY, BUT IT'S ALSO GOING TO PROVIDE ALDINE RESIDENTS OR PEOPLE WHO WANT TO MAKE ALDINE THE RESIDENT QUALITY HOMES THAT THEY CAN BE PROUD OF.

AND SO I COULDN'T DO THIS WITHOUT YOU.

SO I APPRECIATE YOUR LEADERSHIP OVER AT EAST ALDINE MANAGEMENT DISTRICT, SO THANK YOU FOR CALLING IN.

YES, SIR. I'M PROUD TO DO SO.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR PARTNERSHIP.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU SO MUCH.

JUDGE. THOSE ARE ALL THE SPEAKERS THAT WERE AVAILABLE.

GOT IT. THANK YOU.

SO LET ME GO THROUGH ITEMS THAT NEED ANY MINOR CHANGES.

AND THANK YOU AGAIN TO ALL THE SPEAKERS.

UH, ITEM 33.

THE DEPARTMENT REQUESTS NO ACTION.

WE DO HAVE TWO PUBLIC HEARINGS TODAY, SO WE'LL GET TO THAT LATER.

NO ACTION ON ITEM ONE, 60.

THE DEPARTMENT REQUESTS NO ACTION ON LINE 14 UNDER TRAVEL AND TRAINING ITEM 200.

THE DEPARTMENT REQUESTS NO ACTION ON LINE 29 UNDER TRAVEL AND TRAINING ITEM 200.

CORRECTION ON ITEM THREE.

387 ON PAGE 48.

DELETE WITH ONE TWO YEAR RENEWAL OPTION SO THAT IT READS REQUESTS BY THE OFFICE OF PURCHASING AGENT FOR APPROVAL OF AWARDS.

ET CETERA. ETCETERA, AND DOES NOT INCLUDE THE PHRASE ONE TWO YEAR RENEWAL OPTION.

UH, EXECUTIVE SESSION ITEMS.

[01:55:03]

ON PAGE 45, AN APPOINTMENT TO THE HARRIS HEALTH SYSTEM.

DO FOLKS NEED TO DISCUSS THAT? NOPE. OKAY.

THREE 60.

THREE AN APPOINTMENT TO HARRIS COUNTY REDEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY.

364. TAX REINVESTMENT BOARD.

HOW ABOUT COUNTY ATTORNEY ITEM 365 EXECUTIVE SESSION ON SPECIAL COUNSEL.

UNLESS THERE'S ANY QUESTIONS.

NO. YES.

OKAY. PULL 366 FOR DISCUSSION.

THAT IS ON PAGE 45.

UM, I'VE GOT SOME ITEMS TO PULL AS WELL.

YEAH, LET ME KEEP GOING IN ORDER 367.

DO FOLKS NEED TO DISCUSS THAT ONE? NO. NOPE. 368.

UM, GULF COAST PROTECTION DISTRICT.

SO. OKAY, WHAT ABOUT 379 COUNTY ATTORNEY? IT'S A SETTLEMENT AGAIN, UNLESS THERE'S ANY QUESTIONS.

OKAY. 382.

UH, WE DO NEED TO DISCUSS THAT IN EXECUTIVE SESSION.

NOW, HERE'S SO FOR EXECUTIVE SESSION, I HAVE 366 AND 382.

LET ME GO THROUGH THE REGULAR AGENDA.

DO FOLKS STILL NEED TO DISCUSS ITEM NINE? NO. PUT THAT BACK ON.

OKAY, HOW ABOUT ITEM TEN? THE DATA FELLOWS PROGRAM? YES. ITEM 21, INDIGENT DEFENSE.

YES. WE NEED TO DISCUSS ITEM 22.

WE DO NEED TO DISCUSS.

AND JUDGE, I NEED TO ADD 18.

OKAY, LET ME ADD 18.

ALL RIGHT. UH.

SECOND. OKAY.

ADDING ITEM 18.

ALL RIGHT. WHAT ABOUT ITEM? UH, 30, ALSO 27.

JUDGE ALSO 27.

OKAY, SO ITEM 20.

GETS ADDED TO THE DISCUSSION AGENDA.

DO FOLKS STILL NEED TO DISCUSS ITEM 30? YES. YES. OKAY.

WHAT ABOUT ITEM 32? YES. 33, NO ACTION.

SOME FOLKS HAD PULLED IT.

WE'LL TAKE IT OFF. 39.

UM, ANY DISCUSSION ON THAT ONE? NO, ACTUALLY, I'D LIKE TO REVERSE DIRECTION ON.

I'D LIKE TO REQUEST NO ACTION ON IT.

UM, SO I'LL JUST PUT IT ON HERE.

UM. WE CAN ASK.

PIANO ABOUT IT. ITEM 158.

BACK TO CONSENT.

BACK TO CONSENT. IS THAT OKAY WITH THE REST OF THE.

UH, I DID WANT TO ADD 102102.

OKAY. SO LET'S ADD 102 TO THE DISCUSSION AGENDA.

ALL RIGHT. UM, WHAT ABOUT.

197. I'D LIKE TO ADD 174 197.

YES, I DO WANT TO DISCUSS.

OKAY. LET ME TAKE A LOOK AT 174.

OKAY, LET'S ADD 174 AND 197 AND WE'RE KEEPING 197.

DO FOLKS NEED TO DISCUSS? 218. COMMISSIONER GARCIA, YOU FLAGGED IT ORIGINALLY.

THAT'S A VIRTUAL REALITY TRAINING EQUIPMENT PROGRAM.

NO. OKAY.

I'M PUTTING WELL, JUST I'LL MAKE IT QUICK.

JUST SAY THANK YOU TO CONGRESSWOMAN FLETCHER FOR HER SUPPORT ON THIS ITEM.

THAT'S IT. OKAY. ON CONSENT.

ALL RIGHT. WE'LL PUT IT BACK ON CONSENT.

UM. ALL RIGHT.

WHAT ABOUT 373? YES. AND YEAH, I'D LIKE TO ADD TO 27.

OKAY. AND 321.

227 WE'RE ADDING.

AND WE ARE ALSO ADDING, DID YOU SAY 321?

[02:00:01]

AND. 321.

ALL RIGHT. 373.

COMMISSIONER RAMSEY SAID YES.

375. MICHAEL LANG I'M SORRY.

375. WAS THAT OUR RULES? THAT'S OUR RULES. YES.

YEAH. SO WE SHOULD TALK ABOUT THAT.

AND I WANT TO PULL. 371.

JUDGE. 371.

371. OKAY.

GOT IT. AND I'D LIKE TO PULL 376.

376. IT WAS AT AN EXECUTIVE SESSION.

NO, MA'AM. UM, AND THEN.

JUST A SECOND. COUNTY ATTORNEY 376 IS UNDER YOUR AGENDA.

IS THAT OKAY TO DISCUSS? COURT YEAH.

IF WE NEED TO TAKE INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION, WE WILL.

BUT WE CAN DISCUSS THE AUTHORITY IN OPEN COURT.

OKAY. SO LET ME, LET ME.

SO WE ALREADY HAVE 376 SO WE'RE GOING TO SAY SOMETHING.

COMMISSIONER RAMSEY YEAH.

378 CAN GO BACK TO CONSENT.

OKAY. DO WE STILL NEED 377? COMMISSIONER RAMSEY HAS FLAGGED IT.

OKAY. 378 IS BACK ON CONSENT.

WHAT ABOUT 386? UH, YES, WE SHOULD DISCUSS THAT.

OKAY, SO LET ME GO BACK THROUGH THE FULL LIST.

AND LAST ONE MORE.

UH, 384.

OKAY. JUST A MOMENT.

THREE. A QUICK QUESTION.

YES, JUST A SECOND.

OKAY. DID YOU SAY 384, COMMISSIONER? YES. OKAY.

SO THIS IS 384 AND YES, COMMISSIONER BRIONES, ITEM 368.

THE QUESTIONS FOR THE COUNTY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE.

DOES THIS REQUIRE A NOTICE FOR THE REAPPOINTMENT OF COMMISSIONER GARCIA? IF SO, I'D LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION WHICH DOESN'T REQUIRE PUSHING.

BURTON TYPEKIT 368.

LOOK HERE. I DIDN'T KNOW PROCEDURALLY WE'LL PASS IT IN THE CONSENT AGENDA.

IT WOULD BE THE MOTION TO. YEAH, NO, IT CAN BE.

YEAH. AS PRESENTED IS FINE AS PRESENTED.

UM, OKAY.

SO HERE ARE THE ITEMS. EXECUTIVE SESSION ITEM 366 EXECUTIVE SESSION ITEM 382 REGULAR AGENDA ITEMS TEN.

18. 21.

22. 27.

30. 32.

39. 1021 74.

197. 227.

321. 371.

373. 375.

376. 377.

384 AND 386.

AM I MISSING ANYTHING? JUDGE DID YOU HAVE 33? AND THAT DID HAVE 33.

I HAVE THAT AS NO ACTION COMMISSIONER.

THE DEPARTMENT REQUESTED NO ACTION ON THAT ONE.

SO THAT'S BEING PULLED. THAT'S BEING PULLED, CORRECT.

OKAY. YES.

ALL RIGHT. FOR ITEM 33, WE WE PULLED IT BECAUSE WE HEARD SOME FEEDBACK FROM THE PRECINCTS.

DR. RAHMAN AND I ARE GOING TO MEET AND DISCUSS AND THEN SCHEDULE TIME FOR YOUR CHIEF ENGINEERS AND YOUR CFOS SO WE CAN ALL GET IN THE SAME ROOM AND WORK OUT ANY ISSUES WE MIGHT HAVE. OKAY.

COMMISSIONER BRANAS REGARD TO 366 TO HAVE COMMITMENT AND PREFER LESS 2020 OFFICE. I HAVE TO FIRST DO IT IN EXECUTIVE SESSION.

IN TERMS OF A PERSON.

NO, YOU CAN WE CAN DO IT IN GREECE.

PLEASE HAVE 366 IN PUBLIC DISCUSSION, PLEASE.

OKAY, LET ME MOVE.

366. UM.

ALL RIGHT. OKAY.

ANYTHING ELSE? ALL RIGHT, SO THEN WE NEED TO GO TO THE, UM.

JUDGE, IF I MAY GET SOME CLARIFICATION FOR COURT RECORD.

GO AHEAD. SO ON THOSE APPOINTMENTS THAT YOU ALL SPEAK OF, OF EXECUTIVE SESSION 362 363 364 367 368, THEY WERE APPROVED AS PRESENTED WHEN YOU ALL DO THE CONSENT VOTE. CORRECT.

UM, ITEM 379.

IS THERE A MOTION FOR THAT OR IS THAT ALSO APPROVED AS PRESENTED? WE APPROVE THIS PRESENTED.

YOU NEED A BOOK OR.

ANYTHING ELSE, JAMES?

[02:05:02]

OKAY. AND THEN, UM.

SO PUBLIC HEARINGS WILL TAKE ITEMS 330 TO.

ON PAGE 42 SEPARATELY.

BECAUSE IT NEEDS TO BE TAKEN.

AFTER 104 AND 105.

OKAY. SO 104.

105 AND 332.

I'VE ARE IN THE, UH, IN THE CONSENT AGENDA.

SO REALLY 332 IS THE PUBLIC HEARING.

OKAY. SO, SO THOSE ARE IN THE CONSENT AGENDA.

SO I'M GOING TO PUT 332 IS AS PART OF THE AGENDA BECAUSE THAT'S A PUBLIC HEARING, RIGHT? ALL RIGHT. YEAH, JUDGE, TECHNICALLY WE DO THE PUBLIC HEARING FIRST AND THEN PASS THE CONSENT AGENDA.

THAT WOULD WORK. REALLY? OKAY, SO LET ME DO THAT THEN.

THANK YOU. UM, I HAVE THE NOTE HERE THAT THIS SHOULD BE TAKEN UP SECOND.

JAY SO YOU'RE SAYING NO, ACTUALLY TAKE THE PUBLIC HEARING UP FIRST.

YEAH. BEFORE THE ITEM IS PASSED.

ALL RIGHT. SO LET'S TAKE THE PUBLIC HEARING UP RIGHT NOW.

WE HAVE A PUBLIC HEARING FOR ITEM 332 AND THE PUBLIC HEARING SECTION ON PAGE 42.

I NOW OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING TO CONSIDER APPROVAL OF PROPOSED REVISIONS TO THE ORDINANCE OF HARRIS COUNTY, TEXAS, REGARDING LICENSING OF JUNKYARDS AND AUTOMOTIVE WRECKING AND SALVAGE YARDS. HARRIS COUNTY ORDINANCE.

IS THERE ANYONE WHO WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK FOR OR AGAINST THIS ITEM? SO NOW CLOSE THE HEARING.

IS THERE A MOTION ON THIS ITEM? SO MOVED. A MOTION BY COMMISSIONER GARCIA, SECOND BY COMMISSIONER ELLIS.

ALL IN FAVOR? AYE.

ANY OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY.

AND THAT WAS FOR ITEM 332.

THAT IS FOR ITEM 332.

HAVING MOVED AND SECONDED, THE MOTION PASSES 5 TO 0.

ALL RIGHT. SO ON ITEM 105, JUDGE, IT DOES SAY POSSIBLE ACTION.

SO WHAT'S THE ACTION ON THAT? J. BUT LET ME JUST GET TO IT.

UM. IT'S.

IT'S JUST APPROVAL OF THE PROPOSED AMENDMENTS.

WE NEED TO. YOU NEED TO TAKE THOSE SEPARATE MOTIONS.

UM, WELL, YEAH, WE CAN.

WE CAN TAKE IT THAT WAY JUST AS A SINGULAR MOTION.

SO JUST A MOTION TO APPROVE THE AMENDMENTS AS PRESENTED.

OKAY. DO YOU NEED A 104? NO. 104 IS NOT NEEDED.

OKAY, SO I'LL MOVE ON.

ITEM 105 AS PRESENTED SECOND MOTION BY COMMISSIONER GARCIA, SECOND BY COMMISSIONER ELLIS.

ALL IN FAVOR? AYE.

ANY OPPOSED MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY.

OKAY. SO LET ME GO BACK THROUGH IT ONCE MORE.

EXECUTIVE SESSION ITEM 382 REGULAR AGENDA ITEMS. 1018 2122 2730 3239 102 174 197 227 321 366 371 373 375 376 377 384, 386.

AND THAT. IS THAT ALL GOOD.

IS THERE A MOTION FOR ALL ITEMS ONE THROUGH 366 WAS THERE? UM, YES, MA'AM.

THEN WE MOVE ON TO AGENDA.

SECOND. YES. MOTION.

UM, FOR ALL ITEMS ONE THROUGH 387 WITH THE EXCEPTION OF ITEMS ALREADY VOTED ON AND THE DISCUSSION ITEMS JUST LISTED.

MOTION BY COMMISSIONER GARCIA, SECOND BY COMMISSIONER ELLIS.

ALL IN FAVOR? ANY OPPOSED MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY.

WE ALREADY DID THE, UM.

WE ALREADY DID THE SPEAKERS.

AND SO ONE ITEM THAT WAS REQUESTED FOR THE BEGINNING OF COURT AND I THINK IT'S VERY MUCH APPROPRIATE IS THE EXECUTIVE SESSION

[Executive Session]

UH, SO.

IT IS.

1218. UM, WE'RE BREAKING FOR EXECUTIVE SESSION ON ITEM 382 TO DISCUSS A PERSONAL MATTER WITH OUR ATTORNEYS.

THANK YOU. IT'S 105, SO WE'RE STILL DISCUSSING THE MATTER IN EXECUTIVE SESSION.

SO WE'RE GOING TO THERE WAS A LUNCH BREAK POSTED FOR 1:00, BUT WE'RE GOING TO RETURN TO EXECUTIVE SESSION UNTIL WE EXHAUST THIS MATTER.

[02:10:06]

AT THAT TIME. DO WE NEED A MOTION? YES. OKAY.

SO TO DO THAT, DO YOU NEED ME TO SECOND.

OKAY. THE MOTION IS TO CONTINUE ON EXECUTIVE SESSION UNTIL WE'VE EXHAUSTED THE TOPIC AT HAND, AT WHICH TIME WE WILL COME BACK TO COMMISSIONERS COURT AND BREAK FOR LUNCH.

MOTION BY COMMISSIONER GARCIA, SECOND BY COMMISSIONER BRIONES.

ALL IN FAVOR? AYE.

ANY OPPOSED MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY.

OKAY, SO, UM, IT IS 132 AND WE'RE BACK FROM EXECUTIVE SESSION.

UM, AND WE'LL BREAK FOR LUNCH.

I DO WANT TO MAKE A COMMENT BECAUSE I THINK THIS IS, THIS IS REALLY IMPORTANT, UM, THAT I AM SUPPORTING THE DECISION BY THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR, UH, TO DISMISS A COUNTY EMPLOYEE DUE TO FAILURE OR REFUSAL TO COMPLETE IMPORTANT MANDATED TRAINING THAT WAS ORDERED BACK IN APRIL 11TH, 2023, RESULTING FROM A SUBSTANTIATED SEXUAL HARASSMENT ALLEGATION MADE AGAINST HIM.

I WANT TO THANK THE COUNTY EMPLOYEE WHO HAD THE STRENGTH AND PRESENCE OF MIND TO REPORT THIS AND TO REQUEST AN OFFICIAL INVESTIGATION.

AND IRRESPECTIVE OF THE INCIDENT AND MORE BROADLY, I WANT TO MAKE A POINT THAT THERE'S A CONVERSATION THAT NEEDS TO BE HAD IN HARRIS COUNTY ABOUT THE CULTURE OF SEXISM THAT MIGHT HAVE BEEN TOLERATED, BUT NO LONGER WILL BE.

SEXUAL HARASSMENT IS NOT GENDER BASED, OBVIOUSLY, BUT THE TRUTH IS, WHETHER WITHIN THIS INSTITUTION OR NOT, EVERY WOMAN, INCLUDING MYSELF, HAS A STORY ABOUT A MALE COLLEAGUE OR A BOSS THAT MADE AN INAPPROPRIATE PASS AT THEM AT WORK.

I WANT EVERY COUNTY EMPLOYEE AND THEIR DAUGHTERS AND THEIR GRANDDAUGHTERS AND THEIR SISTERS TO KNOW THAT SEXUAL HARASSMENT AND SEXISM WILL NOT BE TOLERATED IN HARRIS COUNTY.

INSUBORDINATION RELATED TO THAT WILL NOT BE TOLERATED FOR OUR EMPLOYEES.

IF YOU FEEL YOU WERE A VICTIM OF SEXUAL HARASSMENT, WE NEED YOU TO FILE A FORMAL COMPLAINT WITH HUMAN RESOURCES AND RISK MANAGEMENT AND REQUEST AN INVESTIGATION AND THAT WILL BE HIRED, HANDLED INDEPENDENTLY AND WITH PROFESSIONALISM.

AS THIS WAS.

THE CULTURE STILL NEEDS TO CHANGE.

I'VE BEEN HERE FOUR YEARS IN CHANGE AND.

WELL, FIRST, I WAS THE ONLY WOMAN IN THE ROOM.

NOW I REALIZED I WAS ONE OF THREE.

WE'VE COME A LONG WAY FROM THE OLD BOYS CLUB WAY OF DOING THINGS.

BUT I'LL TELL YOU, WE'RE NOT DONE IN THIS COURTROOM.

I'VE BEEN GROPED. NOT BY ANYBODY HERE PRESENT.

UM, THE KIND OF BEHAVIOR THAT MY.

THAT OUR EMPLOYEE FACED IS BEHAVIOR I, FOR ONE, HAVE BEEN A VICTIM OF AS COUNTY JUDGE, NOT FROM THE SAME PERPETRATOR. WE NEED EVERYBODY'S HELP TO MAKE THIS CULTURE CHANGE HAPPEN.

AND IT'S NOT JUST THAT IT'S PAY PARITY.

IT'S SO MUCH MORE.

WHEN WE START TALKING ABOUT SEXUAL HARASSMENT AND WE START TALKING ABOUT SEXISM OUT LOUD, WE CAN CHANGE THE CULTURE.

AND THAT'S WHY I WANTED TO MAKE THESE BROAD COMMENTS.

THE OLD BOYS WAY OF TREATING WOMEN, THE JOKES, THE DEMEANING COMMENTS, THE GROPING, THIS KIND OF THING. IT'S NOT OKAY.

AND IT ENDS TODAY.

AND, UM, I'M GLAD TO TO HAVE COMMISSIONER BRIONES ONCE AGAIN HERE AT THIS DAIS.

IT MAKES THIS EASIER.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU.

UM, SO ANYWAY, BARRING ANY OTHER COMMENTS, IT'S NO ACTION ON THE ITEM.

THE ADMINISTRATOR WILL TAKE HER, MAKE HER DECISIONS.

IT'S 135 AND WE'LL NOW BREAK FOR LUNCH.

IT'S OKAY. IT IS. 252 ON COMMISSIONERS COURT IS BACK IN SESSION.

[Emergency/Supplemental items]

SO THAT'S A GRANT.

AND I WANT TO SAY, COMMISSIONER RAMSEY, YOU HAD FLAGGED IT.

[02:15:01]

I'M NOT SURE THAT THIS IS NECESSARY AND WE JUST NEED TO VOTE.

SO MOVE. MOTION BY COMMISSIONER ELLIS.

SECOND BY COMMISSIONER GARCIA.

ALL IN FAVOR? AYE.

ANY OPPOSED? NO.

I'M IN FAVOR. MOTION CARRIES 4 TO 1.

AND THAT WAS FOR 371.

371. CORRECT? YEAH. NOW WE NEED TO TAKE THE ITEM RELATED TO INDIGENT DEFENSE AND COURT APPOINTED ATTORNEY FEES AGAIN, BECAUSE IN THIS CASE IT'S BECAUSE OF AVAILABILITY.

[Departments (Part 2 of 2)]

AND, UM, REMEMBER THAT ITEM 21, COMMISSIONER INDIGENT DEFENSE.

TYPEKIT. I THINK YOU JUDGE AND COMMISSIONERS.

JUST TO GIVE SOME CONTEXT, ON ITEM 21, AT THE LAST COURT, I PRESENTED THE SECOND QUARTER PROJECTIONS WHICH HAD US.

UM, UH, YOU KNOW, PROJECTED REVENUES OVER PROJECTED EXPENDITURES BY 7.4 MILLION.

SO THAT'S THE NUMBER THAT WE WERE DISCUSSING.

THAT'S HOW MUCH WE HOW MUCH MORE REVENUE THAN WHAT OUR EXPECTED AFTER YOU NET OUT.

UM, ALL OF OUR FORECASTED EXPENSES AND ANY REVENUE WE KNOW IS COMING IN OR OUR PROJECTION OF THE REVENUE THAT'S COMING IN.

CAN I ASK A QUICK QUESTION? DOES THAT INCLUDE THE FACT THAT HARRIS HEALTH, AS I UNDERSTAND IT, IT WAS UNDER BUDGET 30 TO $40 MILLION AND WE COVERED THAT WITH A ONE TIME INFUSION, BUT WE DON'T HAVE RECURRING FUNDING FOR THAT.

AND DOES THAT COVER IF THE SIX OR HOWEVER MANY THERE WERE, IF THOSE GET APPROVED? SO THE SO I CAN RUN DOWN SO THE THAT'S THE GENERAL FUND IS 7.4 MILLION FOR HARRIS HEALTH.

THEY'RE PROJECTED AT $32 MILLION SURPLUS, NOT INCLUDING THE 45 MILLION FROM ARPA AND THAT IS MOSTLY DUE TO THEIR CASH, THEIR THEY'RE EARNING A LOT MORE ON THEIR CASH INVESTMENTS THAN WHAT WAS ORIGINALLY PROJECTED.

SO BASICALLY, IT'S STILL ABOUT A $10 MILLION DEFICIT UNLESS WE SET A DIFFERENT TAX RATE.

THIS IS JUST FOR THE CURRENT YEAR.

UM, NEXT YEAR WE.

I CAN. OH, SO IT'LL END UP BEING ABOUT A $10 MILLION FROM ARPA AS OPPOSED TO 45.

THAT'S A DECISION FOR COMMISSIONERS COURT IF THEY WANT TO AMEND, UM, THE 45 MILLION THAT IS, THAT IS SLATED TO GO TO THEM.

OKAY. AND THEN AS FAR AS THE COURTS AND THEN THE COURTS ARE PROJECTED TO START IN FISCAL YEAR 24.

SO WE MAY INCUR SOME EXPENSES AS THOSE DEPARTMENTS STAFF UP SO THAT THEY'RE AVAILABLE AT THE WHEN THE LAW BECOMES EFFECTIVE.

AND WE'LL HAVE AN UPDATE FOR YOU IN JULY FOR THE THIRD QUARTER PROJECTIONS.

AND AT THAT POINT, WE'LL MAKE A RECOMMENDATION IF THOSE DEPARTMENTS NEED A SUPPLEMENTAL APPROPRIATION IN ORDER TO STAFF.

SO FOR FOR THE COURTS, IT'S A FISCAL YEAR 24 EXPENSE AND WE BUILT THAT INTO THE FORECAST.

IT MAY BE THAT WE NEED TO GIVE EXTRA MONEY TO THE DISTRICT COURTS, THE PUBLIC DEFENDER.

UM, THE DISTRICT CLERK, THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY IN ORDER FOR THEM TO START STAFFING BECAUSE I BELIEVE WE HAVE A VERY SHORT WINDOW OF WHEN THOSE COURTS NEED TO BE ACTIVE.

BUT WE'LL, WE'LL HAVE THAT WE'LL HAVE A RECOMMENDATION FOR THAT IN JUNE OR JULY.

UM, BUT FOR ITEM 21, AS YOU REMEMBER, I BROUGHT TWO SUPPLEMENTALS, ONE FOR THE DISTRICT COURT APPOINTED ATTORNEY FEES AND ONE FOR THE COUNTY COURT APPOINTED FEES. COURT DECIDE COMMISSIONERS COURT DECIDED TO HOLD THE ITEM ASKING FOR MORE INFORMATION.

SO I'VE WORKED WITH THE DIRECTORS OF THE MANAGE ASSIGNED COUNSEL OFFICE, THE DISTRICT COURT ADMINISTRATOR, AS WELL AS THE COUNTY COURT ADMINISTRATOR.

AND WE HAVE A SHORT PRESENTATION TO TO WALK YOU THROUGH THE THE TRENDS.

SO WITH THAT, WHAT WE GET.

COUNTY JUDGE AND COMMISSIONERS, THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO ANSWER SOME QUESTIONS RELATED TO THE PROJECTED INCREASE IN EXPENSES FOR COURT APPOINTED COUNSEL.

MY SLIDE ACTUALLY, I THINK WAS PROVIDED TO YOU IN ADVANCE, BUT IT DOES HAPPEN TO BE SLIDE NUMBER THREE, I BELIEVE.

AND SO I WANT TO TALK YOU THROUGH SOME OF THE TRENDS THAT ARE REPRESENTED IN THE CHART AND THE SLIDE.

AND YES, THAT LOOKS LIKE THE APPROPRIATE SLIDE.

SO MY SLIDE ACTUALLY HIGHLIGHTS CASES BY COUNCIL TYPE AS WELL AS KEY PERFORMANCE INDICATORS, SPECIFICALLY BACKLOG CASES

[02:20:02]

YEAR TO DATE IS 63%.

THAT'S JUST 1% LOWER THAN IT WAS IN FY 19 WHEN IT WAS 64%.

THE PERCENTAGE OF CASES ASSIGNED TO THE PTO HAS MORE THAN DOUBLED FROM 5% IN FY 19 TO 11% IN FY 23.

YEAR TO DATE. AND THEN FINALLY, THE PERCENTAGE OF CASES REPRESENTED BY HIRED COUNSEL IN FY 23.

YEAR TO DATE IS 27%, WHICH IS ONLY 4% LESS THAN THE 31% IN FY 19.

THE MY TEAM LOOKED AT THE THE DATA.

THE SINGLE MOST SIGNIFICANT CORRELATION TO THE INCREASE IN COSTS WAS THE NUMBER OF BILLABLE IN COURT AND OUT OF COURT HOURS FOR EVENTS AND SETTINGS THAT WERE ACTUALLY PAID WITHIN THESE VARIOUS FISCAL YEARS.

JUST TO PUT NUMBERS ON THAT INFORMATION FOR YOU.

WE FIRST OF ALL, CATEGORIZED THAT INFORMATION AS, UM.

CASES PROGRESSED BECAUSE IT'S WORK THAT IS PERFORMED ON CASES THAT ARE NOT NECESSARILY ALL DISPOSED OF, BUT ANY WORK THAT IS DONE WITHIN THE CONTINUUM OF THE CASE, AS LONG AS IT'S AN ALLOWABLE BILLABLE EVENT OR ACTIVITY, AN ATTORNEY CAN SUBMIT A BILL FOR THAT SERVICE OR THAT WORK THAT IS PERFORMED.

SO AN FY SHORT FISCAL YEAR 22, WHICH AS YOU KNOW, WAS JUST A SEVEN MONTH PERIOD WHEN COMPARING THAT TO FY 23 YEAR TO DATE, ALSO A SEVEN MONTH PERIOD.

JUST TO GIVE YOU AN IDEA OF OF WHAT THE IMPACT HAS BEEN, WE SAW A 19% INCREASE IN COURT APPOINTED ATTORNEY COSTS OVER THAT SAME TIME PERIOD.

SO FROM SHORT FISCAL YEAR 22 TO FY 23.

YEAR TO DATE, THERE'S BEEN A 19% INCREASE IN COSTS.

AND DURING THAT SAME TIME PERIOD, WE SAW A 14.85% INCREASE IN THE NUMBER OF CASES PROGRESSED.

AGAIN, THE NUMBER OF ACTIVITIES, EVENTS, SETTINGS THAT AN ATTORNEY CAN BILL FOR SO THAT WE SAW THAT AS BEING THE MOST SIGNIFICANT DRIVER OR INDICATOR OF THE INCREASE IN COSTS.

NOW, ALL OF THIS IS, UM, DOESN'T MEAN AS MUCH IF YOU DON'T PUT IT IN CONTEXT.

AND THE CONTEXT IS THIS IS ALL THE RESULT OF THE WORK OF OUR CRIMINAL DISTRICT COURT JUDGES ACTUALLY MOVING CASES TOWARDS DISPOSITION.

UM, WE HAVE ACTUAL DETAILED INFORMATION ABOUT THE DATA THAT I JUST PRESENTED TO YOU.

IF THAT IS SOMETHING THAT YOU HAVE AN INTEREST IN HAVING ACCESS TO.

I ALSO WANTED TO POINT OUT REGARDING THE $42,490,000 FY 23 YEAR TO DATE TOTAL THAT IS ACTUALLY IN IMDB'S SLIDE.

UM, THAT ONLY 32 MILLION OF THAT IS ACTUALLY THE CRIMINAL DISTRICT COURTS COURT APPOINTED ATTORNEY FEE INCREASE.

THE REST OF THAT IS FOR FAMILY DISTRICT COURTS AS WELL AS FOR JUVENILE DISTRICT COURT, INDIGENT DEFENSE REPRESENTATION, AS WELL AS EXPERTS, INVESTIGATORS AND OTHER SERVICES THAT FALL WITHIN THAT CATEGORY.

BUT ALSO, I WANT TO POINT OUT THAT WHEN ATTORNEYS ARE ASSIGNED TO SERVE FOR THE STATE OR THE DA'S OFFICE AND THEY ARE CONFLICTED OUT, THEN THEY ACTUALLY WE ACTUALLY HAVE TO MAKE SURE THAT THERE'S AN ATTORNEY THAT IS THERE TO REPRESENT THE STATE.

THE TOTAL FOR THE 42 MILLION IS INCLUDES THAT THOSE PARTICULAR VOUCHERS.

UM, AND SO I JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT I POINTED THAT OUT AS WELL.

SO THOSE ARE PRO TEM, UH, HOURS AS WELL AS THE ATTORNEYS THAT REPRESENT THE THE DA'S OFFICE WHEN THEY'RE CONFLICTED OUT.

ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS OR WOULD YOU.

YES, JUDGE.

COMMISSIONER. COMMISSIONER GARCIA.

THANK YOU. UM.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR PRESENTATION.

I AM STILL TRYING TO GET MY ARMS AROUND IT.

THE FRAMEWORK YOU LAID OUT THAT ATTORNEYS HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO BUILD.

I MEAN, THAT THAT'S IN STATUTE THAT'S BEEN A LONG TIME AVAILABILITY.

WHY I STILL DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY THE BREAK.

IN TREND.

THE UNIQUE BRICK AND TREND.

WITH NOW, I STILL DON'T UNDERSTAND IT.

AND THEN COUPLED WITH THE FACT THAT JOE POPULATION HASN'T CHANGED.

[02:25:05]

I THINK I THINK THE DIRECT CORRELATION IS TO THE INCREASE IN NEW CASES WE SEE IN OUR CASELOAD MORE THAN DOUBLE.

I THINK YOU'VE ALSO YOU CAN ALSO LOOK AT THE AVERAGE CASELOAD FOR EVERY CRIMINAL DISTRICT COURT JUDGE.

WE'VE GONE FROM 800 AND ROUGHLY 860 CASES PER JUDGE TO OVER ALMOST 1600 CASES PER JUDGE.

AND SO THE HIGHER VOLUME OF CASELOAD AND THE MORE CASES THAT WE MOVE REQUIRES THAT WE APPOINT MORE ATTORNEYS TO TO DEAL WITH THE WORKLOAD.

SO WHY HAS JOE POPULATION NOT BEEN IMPACTED? I I'D HAVE TO LOOK AT THOSE NUMBERS TO ANSWER THAT QUESTION THOROUGHLY.

BUT I CAN TELL YOU THAT FROM THE INFORMATION THAT I HAVE TAKEN A LOOK AT.

THE JAIL POPULATION IS CERTAINLY A PRIORITY FOR THE CRIMINAL DISTRICT COURT JUDGES, ESPECIALLY THE JAIL POPULATION. THAT IS, THAT INCLUDES CASES THAT ARE AGED THE MOST.

SO THE OLDER CASES.

SO I'D REALLY LIKE TO TAKE A LOOK AT THE DATA TO BE ABLE TO PROVIDE YOU WITH AN ACCURATE RESPONSE TO YOUR QUESTION ABOUT THE JAIL POPULATION.

AND ALSO KEEP IN MIND THAT, UM, NOT JUST THE, THE WORK OF THE JUDGES.

I MEAN, WE PUT 40 MILLION OF ARPA MONEY IN INTO THE KITTY.

WE APPRECIATE THAT.

CATCH THE SHOW.

IF HE'S GONE UP.

UH, THE.

AND HOW MUCH ARE THEY GOING UP IN TERMS OF WHAT WE PAY THE PRIVATE ATTORNEYS THAT ARE APPOINTED BY THE JUDGES? OUR NEW FEE SCHEDULE WENT INTO EFFECT ON FEBRUARY 27TH OF THIS YEAR.

THAT'S A ROUGH IDEA. LIKE, HOW MUCH WAS THE INCREASE IN FEES? LIKE, HOW MUCH DO THEY HOW MUCH MORE THEY PAY IN BY HOUR? I DON'T KNOW IF YOU KNOW OR MAYBE I'VE GOT I'VE GOT MY RESEARCH DIRECTOR HERE AS WELL.

HE MAY HAVE TO ANSWER THAT QUESTION.

BUT I CAN TELL YOU FOR INVESTIGATORS FOR SURE THAT WE'RE PAYING INVESTIGATORS MORE BECAUSE THEY WERE NOT BEING COMPENSATED ON PAR WITH THEIR PEERS IN OTHER COUNTIES.

I DON'T THINK IT WOULD BE IN REQUESTED UNTIL IT WAS LITIGATION.

AND THEN THOSE ISSUES CAME OUT IN COURT.

MAYBE THE COURT APPOINTED LAWYERS WERE NOT ASKING FOR INVESTIGATORS, WHICH IS KIND OF RUNNING THE RIGHT TO FREE MEAL.

BUT MAYBE YOU CAN TELL ME HOW MUCH DID THE FEES GO OR.

JUDGE. COMMISSIONER, YOU KNOW, I WAS GOING TO ASK A RELATED QUESTION, BUT IF MR. POST IS ON OUR AUDITOR, MY QUESTION WILL BE FOR YOU.

BUT IT'S RELATED TO COMMISSIONER ELLIS'S POINT.

BUT YEAH, AND COMMISSIONER, I WOULD LIKE TO SAY THE NEW FEE SCHEDULE IS ONLINE AND IT ACTUALLY HAS A FULL CATALOG OF EVERY FEE AS WELL AS A COMPARISON OF YOU CAN SEE KIND OF WHERE THE CHANGE HAS BEEN.

DO YOU KNOW OFFHAND? YEAH.

OKAY. I JUST AND LOOK, I'M FOR THE FEES GOING UP.

I KNOW AS COMMISSIONER BRIONES ALLUDED TO, THE AUDIT TODAY IS AN AUDIT GOING ON.

WE CERTAINLY READ THE PRESS ACCOUNTS OF, OF PEOPLE, UH, THOSE AT LEAST THAT MAKE $1 MILLION OR MORE AND HOW MANY CASES THEY HAVE. I KNOW THAT STATE LAW THAT WILL SHOW WHAT PERCENT THE COURT APPOINTMENTS ARE OF THEIR PRACTICE.

SO IN SOME OF THOSE, IT WILL BE INTERESTING.

BUT, YOU KNOW, AND I ALSO KNOW LEGALLY WE'RE REQUIRED TO PAY THIS, BUT, YOU KNOW, THE GIST OF MY CONCERN WILL BE INCREASING. THE USE OF THE PUBLIC DEFENDER'S OFFICE AND HOW WE GET THERE.

WE MADE A COMMITMENT AFTER GEORGE FLOYD'S FUNERAL, WE'D BE AT 50%.

AND. MY REACTION IS NOT.

BUT WHEN I LOOK AT THESE NUMBERS OF.

THE EXPANSION OF THAT PUBLIC DEFENDER'S OFFICE IS PRETTY SLOW.

AT THE RATE WE'RE GOING.

I'LL BE DEAD BY THE TIME IT GETS UP TO 50%.

THANK YOU, MR.. JUST COMMENT ON THAT.

AS A REMINDER, WE WE BUILT IN A $7.5 MILLION INCREASE TO THE PUBLIC DEFENDER.

I BELIEVE THAT'S SOMEWHERE IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD OF OF 70 ADDITIONAL STAFF FOR THE PUBLIC DEFENDER.

THAT SHOULD MOVE US.

I BELIEVE THEY'RE AT 16% OF THE OVERALL CASES BETWEEN COUNTY AND DISTRICT UP TO 30%.

SO IT'S A THREE YEAR PLAN.

$7 MILLION. YOU THINK IT'LL BE 7.5 MILLION? 7.5 MILLION? YOU THINK THAT'LL GET THEM THAT WE WORK WITH DOUBLE WHAT THEY'RE DOING? WE I'LL DEFER TO THE PUBLIC DEFENDER, BUT WE'VE WORKED VERY CLOSELY WITH THEM.

THEY PRESENTED US A STAFFING PLAN.

WE FILLED IN THE NUMBERS AND FEEL CONFIDENT IN THEIR ABILITY TO IMPLEMENT ON IT.

SO SO MY REASON FOR ASKING ALONG WITH OTHERS FOR DELAY ON THIS IS.

WE CREATED A MAC.

THIS COURT BEFORE ANY OF US GOT HERE, CREATED A PUBLIC DEFENDER'S OFFICE WITH TREMENDOUS PRESSURE FROM THE OUTSIDE.

MIGHT I ADD. AS INSIDE STORY.

[02:30:03]

UH, BUT THESE NUMBERS ARE JUST DEPLORABLE.

AND, YOU KNOW, IT'S FRUSTRATING FOR ME BECAUSE I WOULD COME HERE WHEN THE OTHER CREW WAS IN POWER AND RAISE CAIN ABOUT IT, AND NOW WE'RE HERE.

UH, IT'S A IT'S A REAL PROBLEM, AND I WANT TO MAKE SURE WE PUT THE PUBLIC DEFENDER ON THE LINE AS WELL AFTER WE HEAR FROM THE.

THE AUDITOR CLEARLY.

PEOPLE WHO GO THROUGH THE SYSTEM ARE BETTER SERVED IF THE JUDGE HERE IN THAT CASE DOES NOT PICK THEM AWAY.

NONE OF US WILL WANT TO BE IN THAT POSITION OR HAVE OUR CHILDREN IN THAT POSITION.

HE WENT TO MACK. WHEN THEY COME UP, I WANT TO KNOW WHAT PERCENTAGE OF THE CASES ARE HANDLED BY MACK, WHICH ESSENTIALLY MEANS SOMEBODY OTHER THAN THE JUDGE HEARING THE CASE WOULD APPOINT THE LAWYER.

DO WE HAVE CASELOAD STANDARDS? HAVE WE LOOKED AT ISSUES LIKE WE GAVE A PAY RAISE TO FOLKS WHO ARE DOING A PROSECUTING SO THEY COULD ATTRACT MORE LAWYERS? ARE THE SALARIES COMPARABLE IN THE PD OFFICE OR DOES IT PUT PEOPLE IN A POSITION WHERE THEY LEAVE THE PD OFFICE AND GO TO A PROSECUTOR'S OFFICE? THEY BOTH NEED IT.

I GET IT. BUT YOU GOT TO HAVE SOME PARITY THERE.

IF WE'RE SERIOUS ABOUT THE QUALITY OF INDIGENT REPRESENTATION.

BUT GIVE US SOME SENSE OF HOW MUCH THESE FEES WENT UP.

IT'S A GOOD THING THEY WENT UP.

BUT I DON'T WANT TO CREATE A SYSTEM WHERE WE JUST MAKING IT EASIER FOR A JUDGE TO GO PICK THE LAWYER FOR SOMEBODY.

THE REAL GOAL, I THINK, OF THIS COURT IS TO EXPAND THAT PD OFFICE AND HOW WE GET THERE.

BUT BEFORE ALL OF US ARE DEAD.

WELL, IN PART, MY MY PERSPECTIVE IS GET YOUR POPULATION DOWN.

I MEAN, THAT'S THAT'S MONEY TOWARDS AN OUTPUT.

UH, NOT EXPANSION OF AN OPERATION.

JUST GETTING JOE POPULATION DOWN.

UH, LOUISIANA PRIVATE JAILS ARE COMING OFF THE MARKET HERE.

THERE'S NO MORE JAILS, PRIVATE JAILS IN TEXAS.

UH, SO WE'RE GOING TO FIND OURSELVES WITH A BIG BILL.

AND THAT'S WHY I WANT TO SEE THIS JAIL POPULATION MOVE.

YOU'VE GOT TO COMMENT ON THE INCREASE.

YEAH. ACTUALLY, HE PROVIDED ME WITH A TABLE AND EVERY SINGLE CATEGORY FOR INDIVIDUAL CASE APPOINTMENT ON NON-CAPITAL FELONIES HAS GONE UP.

SO THAT'S FOR NON TRIAL.

FIRST DEGREE, SECOND DEGREE AND THIRD DEGREE FOR AN EXAMPLE WENT FROM ONE FOR FIRST DEGREE, WENT FROM 120 TO 175.

THIS IS THE HOURLY RATE FROM $120 PER HOUR.

175. YES, SIR.

FOR SECOND DEGREE, IT WENT FROM 95 TO 150.

FOR THIRD DEGREE.

IT WENT FROM 75 TO 125 FOR OUT OF COURT HOURS FOR FIRST DEGREE WORK PERFORMED.

IT ALSO WENT SAME SAME CHANGE FOR OUT OF COURT WORK REGARDING THOSE SAME CHARGES.

AND THEN TO GIVE AN EXAMPLE OF.

THE TRIAL RATES FOR FIRST DEGREE ALSO 122 ONE 7595 TO 150 AND 75 TO 125.

THE BIG DIFFERENCE IS WE'VE CHANGED OUR ENTIRE COST MODEL.

SO NOW WE PAY BY HOUR VERSUS BY SETTING HOW WE USED TO COMPENSATE ATTORNEYS.

AND SO WE BUILT IN SOME QUALITY CONTROL THAT WAY.

AND WE'VE ALSO BUILT IT BUILT IN QUALITY REPRESENTATION AS WELL BY ADDING ADDITIONAL STANDARDS FOR ATTORNEYS TO MEET WHEN THEY ARE APPOINTED TO REPRESENT INDIGENT PARTIES.

SO IF I MIGHT, FROM THE AUDITOR'S PERSPECTIVE, I KNOW THAT YOU GOT A REQUEST FROM A COUPLE OF US TO I THINK WE SIGNED IT.

I'M NOT SURE. YES, IT WAS FROM MARCH 9TH, MR. POST OFFICE.

I DON'T I ASSUME IF YOU HAVEN'T COMPLETED IT YET, BUT I'D LIKE SOME SENSE OF WHERE WE ARE ON THAT AUDIT TO SEE WHAT'S HAPPENING WITH THIS SUBSTANTIAL INCREASE IN FEES FOR PEOPLE TO DO APPOINTMENTS.

IN TERMS OF THE QUALITY OF REPRESENTATION, OFTEN THEY'RE SEEING THEIR LAWYERS IN A HOST OF ISSUES THAT YOU'RE LOOKING AT, MR. POST. I THINK YOU'RE MUTED, MR. POST. ALL RIGHT.

I AM UNMUTED.

BACK IN EARLY MARCH, COMMISSIONER BRIONES AND COMMISSIONER ELLIS ASKED THE COUNTY AUDITOR'S OFFICE TO PROVIDE SOME DETAILED INFORMATION ABOUT THE COSTS RELATED TO THESE COURT APPOINTED ATTORNEYS.

THINGS, FOR INSTANCE, LIKE HOW MUCH OF THE TOTAL PAY TO AN ATTORNEY WAS FOR THINGS LIKE INVESTIGATION EXPENSES, COURT APPEARANCES. IF WE COULD GET INFORMATION ABOUT CLIENT VISITS, THE NUMBER AND TYPES OF CASES BY ATTORNEY.

AND LET ME SAY THAT THAT INFORMATION IS KEPT IN A SYSTEM CALLED VIPS.

NOW, THAT'S NOT PEOPLESOFT.

[02:35:01]

AND WE HAVE BEEN HAVING ISSUES GETTING A DOWNLOAD OUT OF VIPS THAT IS COMPLETE AND ACCURATE, AND WE'VE BEEN THROUGH SEVERAL ITERATIONS.

WE WE RECENTLY HAD A CONVERSATION WITH UNIVERSAL SERVICES.

I BELIEVE THEY'RE GOING TO ADD SOME ADDITIONAL RESOURCES.

AND WE'RE HOPING THAT THIS NEXT DOWNLOAD REALLY WILL HAVE THE INFORMATION THAT WE WANT.

SO WE WANT TO FINISH THIS ASSIGNMENT.

WE WILL AS SOON AS WE CAN GET THE DATA.

AND I SEE SOMEBODY HERE FROM UNIVERSAL SERVICES THAT MAYBE CAN BRING US UP TO DATE ON THAT.

GOOD AFTERNOON, COMMISSIONERS.

COURT CHIEF INFORMATION OFFICER.

UH, WE ARE, TO MIKE'S POINT, MR. POST'S POINT. WE ARE WORKING ON PROVIDING THE DATA LOAD AS WELL AS WORKING WITH, UH, THE COURTS, UH, I MEAN OFFICE AS WELL AS THE AUDITOR'S OFFICE TO ENSURE THE DATA ACCURACY.

SO WHEN DO WE THINK WE'LL GET ACCESS TO THE DATA? SO THE DATA, AS IT, AS IT RELATES TO THE ACCESS TO THE DATA, WE ARE SENDING THE DATA DOWNLOADS TO THE VARIOUS, LIKE I MENTIONED, TO DCA AS WELL AS TO THE AUDITORS.

AND THEY ARE WORKING THROUGH THE LOGIC TO GET THE REPORTS OUT.

SO UM, THE TEAM HAS GOT TOGETHER, WE WOULD NEED, UH, UNTIL PROBABLY JUNE 27TH TO GET THIS CLOSED OUT.

AND SO WHAT IS THE ISSUE MAKING THE TWO COMPATIBLE OR DO WE NEED TO, UH, INVEST RESOURCES IN GETTING OFF OF VIPS? I DON'T HAVE, UM, COMMISSIONER, I HONESTLY, I DO NOT HAVE ALL THE INFORMATION HERE HANDY WITH ME, BUT I CAN PROVIDE IT, UH, AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.

OKAY. THANK YOU.

JUDGE, THANK YOU BOTH.

AND JUST FOR CONTEXT, THAT AUDIT IS VERY MUCH TO GET INTO MORE DETAIL ABOUT THE TOP PAID PRIVATE ATTORNEYS WHO ARE BEING APPOINTED, HOW MANY CASES EACH ONE IS HANDLING, NUMBER OF APPEARANCES, ETCETERA.

SO THAT WILL BE KEY DATA.

BUT I HAVE SOME QUESTIONS, MR. WOODS, TO THESE POINTS.

RIGHT. WE WANT THE JAIL POPULATION TO GO DOWN.

WE WANT THE COURT BACKLOG.

WE'VE MADE PROGRESS. WE WANT IT TO GO DOWN.

I SEE THE CLEARANCE RATE TO DATE FOR THIS FISCAL YEAR IS 104%.

SO THAT MEANS THE JUDGES, AS WE KNOW, RIGHT.

AS A FORMER JUDGE, THEY ARE DISPOSING OF MORE CASES THAN ARE BEING FILED.

THAT'S 4%.

SO IF WE HAVE AN OVER 100% CLEARANCE RATE, WE WILL HOPEFULLY BE ADDING IF THE LEGISLATURE APPROVES SIX COURTS, WHICH WILL HELP SOMEWHAT WITH THE BACKLOG.

MEANWHILE, WE'RE INVESTING IN THE ASSOCIATE AND VISITING JUDGES.

I HAVE SEVERAL QUESTIONS FOR YOU.

ONE, WHAT PERCENT OF THE CASELOAD ARE VISITING AN ASSOCIATE JUDGES HANDLING AND THEN TWO, BIGGER PICTURE.

WHAT OTHER KEY DRIVERS CAN THIS COURT BE OF SERVICE TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE REALLY GETTING THROUGH THE BACKLOG AND AND ACCOUNTING FOR THE FACT THAT CASE FILINGS HAVE DOUBLED? I MEAN, WHAT WHAT WHAT SUGGESTIONS DO YOU HAVE TO GET TO THE WELL, TO YOUR AN ANSWER TO YOUR FIRST QUESTION IS WE CURRENTLY MONTHLY PROVIDE YOUR ARPA PORTFOLIO MANAGERS AND THE TEAM WITH INFORMATION REGARDING HOW MANY CASES THE ASSOCIATE JUDGES AS WELL AS THE VISITING JUDGES WHO STAFF THE ERD AND HOW MANY WHAT THEIR IMPACT IS.

SO WE GIVE THAT INFORMATION MONTHLY TO THE IT MAY BE COUNTY ADMINISTRATION OR OMB OR THE ARPA TEAM.

SO WE DO PROVIDE THAT INFORMATION.

YOUR SECOND QUESTION WAS WHAT OTHER WHAT SUPPORT, WHAT OTHER LEVERS OF CHANGE? WELL, FIRST OF ALL, DO YOU HAVE A BALLPARK AS TO WHAT PERCENT THE ASSOCIATED VISITING JUDGES ARE HANDLING PER MONTH VOLUME IT THAT CERTAINLY WE HAVE AN ACCURATE ANSWER FOR YOU IN THE IN THE REPORT.

UNFORTUNATELY, I DIDN'T BRING THEM NO WORRIES BECAUSE ULTIMATELY MY QUESTION IS WHAT MORE CAN WE BE DOING TO ADDRESS THE BACKLOG OVERPOPULATION? WELL, RIGHT NOW, QUITE, QUITE FRANKLY, THE REQUEST FOR FY 24 ARPA FUNDING IS STILL OUTSTANDING.

IT'S STILL PENDING.

WE MEET TOMORROW WITH THAT SATIRICAL TEAM TO ANSWER FURTHER QUESTIONS REGARDING OUR SUBMISSION.

IF WE LOSE THOSE ASSOCIATE JUDGES, THERE'S SIX OF THOSE JUDGES FOR, YOU KNOW, THEIR ATTORNEYS, SOME WHO HAVE LEFT PRIVATE PRACTICE AND OTHERS WHO HAVE LEFT OTHER EMPLOYMENT.

IF THEY DON'T HAVE ANY ASSURANCES THAT THEY WILL HAVE A JOB.

AND, YOU KNOW, COME OCTOBER, UM, IT'S NOT REALISTIC FOR US TO EXPECT FOR THEM TO STICK AROUND.

AND SO I'M HOPING TO GET AN ANSWER ON JUNE, I THINK COURT COURT IN JUNE, UH, FOURTH OR FIFTH, I THINK YOU ALL ARE GOING TO BE VOTING ON WHETHER OR NOT THE

[02:40:08]

UM, THE OTHER THING IS THE CASE MANAGEMENT ANALYST AND THE COORDINATORS AND ALL THE SUPPORT STAFF.

BUT IT'S NOT JUST THE NEEDS THAT THE DISTRICT COURTS HAVE.

IT'S IT'S THE DA'S OFFICE, IT'S THE CLERK'S OFFICE, IT'S THE SHERIFF PROVIDING BAILIFFS, IT'S THE CLERK'S OFFICE.

IT'S ALL THE SUPPORT, UH, RESOURCES THAT ARE NECESSARY AS WELL WITH THE ADDITION, IF WE ARE FORTUNATE ENOUGH TO GET NEW COURTS, THAT CERTAINLY IS GOING TO HAVE A SIGNIFICANT IMPACT ON OUR ABILITY TO ADDRESS BACKLOG BECAUSE YOU OBVIOUSLY CAN DIVIDE THE ACTIVE CASELOAD BY THE AND INCLUDE THE NEW JUDGES.

AND THEY AS A RESULT OF THAT, ALL JUDGES WILL HAVE A LOWER CASELOAD.

UM, SO I'M HOPEFUL THAT THERE WILL BE SOME POSITIVE MOVEMENT AS A RESULT OF OF THAT BILL.

SO AND LASTLY, I KNOW SEVERAL COURTS AGO WE IN THAT HOLISTIC JUSTICE PACKAGE, WE SAID THAT WE'D LIKE TO SET ASIDE SOME ARPA FUNDING FOR BEST PRACTICES IN THE COURTS, WHETHER IT'S CASE MANAGEMENT, USE OF CONTINUANCES, INCREASED ASSIGNMENT OF CASES TO THE PD'S OFFICE, A WHOLE HOST OF PARTICULAR BEST PRACTICES. AND I KNOW WE'RE GOING TO BE CONVENING WITH THE DIFFERENT JUSTICE STAKEHOLDERS TO DETERMINE WHERE WHICH BEST PRACTICES WE WANT TO DOUBLE DOWN ON AND WHAT ACCOMPANYING ARPA FUNDS WE CAN INVEST.

AND SO WE WELCOME THAT FEEDBACK AND THAT OF THE JUDGES.

SO WE LOOK FORWARD TO THAT MEETING.

YEAH, WE'RE VERY EAGER TO SEE THE REPORT FROM THE NATIONAL CENTER FOR STATE COURTS.

I'M SURE IT CONTAINS PLENTY OF RECOMMENDATIONS FOR HOW WE COULD DO THINGS MORE EFFICIENTLY AND HOW WE CAN INCORPORATE BEST PRACTICES.

SO WE'RE EXCITED ABOUT SEEING THE FINAL PRODUCT.

ME TOO. THANK YOU.

COMMISSIONER RAMSEY. I'M CURIOUS, DO LET ME OPEN POSITIONS? DO WE HAVE IN OUR PUBLIC DEFENDER'S OFFICE? WE KNOW. IF YOU GIVE ME A MINUTE, I CAN PULL THAT.

MR. BUNIN CAN COME.

HE WOULD KNOW. WE DO.

WE DO HAVE OPEN POSITIONS.

I THINK WE DO CURRENTLY HAVE SEVEN OPEN UNFUNDED POSITIONS.

SO THEY'RE OPEN, BUT YOU DON'T HAVE THE OBVIOUSLY THE BUDGET TO MAKE THOSE HIRES.

SO YOU'RE NOT INTERVIEWING.

NOW WE'VE WE'VE FILLED ALL THE POSITIONS WE CAN THIS YEAR.

THE BUDGET OFFICE HELPED US MOVE SOME NON PERSONNEL MONEY TO FILL A FEW POSITIONS, BUT RIGHT NOW WE'VE FILLED ALL WE CAN.

WELL, THE OTHER QUESTION I HAVE HERE IN THE CONVERSATION ABOUT FEES, THE NUMBERS YOU JUST GAVE, THAT'S A SIGNIFICANT INCREASE IN FEES.

THAT'S THAT'S NOT A THAT'S NOT A SMALL AMOUNT.

SO WHEN WE GIVE A SIGNIFICANT INCREASE IN FEES, WHAT IS THE SIGNIFICANT INCREASE IN EXPECTATIONS WE HAVE BY DOING THAT? IF WE HAVE A PROBLEM GETTING COURT APPOINTED ATTORNEYS BEFORE WE RAISE THE FEES.

IS THAT WHY WE RAISED THE FEES? WHY DID WE RAISE THE FEES? COMMISSIONER, IF I COULD ANSWER PROVIDE YOU WITH A FEW ANSWERS TO YOUR QUESTION, JUST AS AN EXAMPLE.

THE NEW FEE SCHEDULE THAT WE ADOPTED IN FEBRUARY, IT ACCOMPLISHES THOSE TWO OBJECTIVES OF ADDRESSING QUALITY CONTROL AS WELL AS WELL AS QUALITY REPRESENTATION BY DOING A FEW DIFFERENT THINGS.

UM, IT REPLACES THE PER COURT APPEARANCE COMPENSATION WITH AN HOURLY COMPENSATION THAT WAS AN ISSUE.

SO WE RESOLVED THAT WITH THE NEW FEE SCHEDULE.

AND ONE THING THAT I ALSO WANT TO POINT OUT BEFORE I FORGET IS REMEMBER THIS WENT INTO EFFECT IN FEBRUARY, SO WE WON'T REALLY SEE THE IMPACT OF THE NEW FEE SCHEDULE FOR A LITTLE WHILE DOWNSTREAM.

UH, THE OTHER THING THAT WE'VE DONE IS AS A RESULT OF THAT, THE COURT APPOINTED ATTORNEYS ARE NOW PAID FOR THE ACTUAL TIME THEY EXPEND ASSISTING CLIENTS INSTEAD OF OF LIMITED TO THE PER COURT APPEARANCE.

THAT WAS AN ISSUE WITH ATTORNEYS BEING COMPENSATED JUST FOR APPEARING IN COURT.

IF THEY WERE GRANTED, FOR EXAMPLE, A CONTINUANCE AFTER APPEARING IN COURT, THEY'RE STILL COMPENSATED FOR THAT.

AND THAT DID NOT FACTOR IN ACTUAL QUALITATIVE TIME WORK THAT WAS PERFORMED ON THE ON THE CASE.

UM, ANOTHER THING THAT WE ACCOMPLISHED, UM, WAS ATTORNEYS NO LONGER ARE PAID SIMPLY FOR SHOWING UP TO COURT.

UM, AND THEY CAN NO LONGER BILL THE MAXIMUM PER COURT APPEARANCE RATE SO THAT, THAT NO LONGER IS A PRACTICE THAT'S IN PLACE.

THEY'RE COMPENSATED FOR ONLY ONE CASE AT A TIME.

NOW, UH, AND THEN WE ALSO BUILT IN QUITE A FEW THINGS THAT ADDRESS, UM, THE QUALITY OF REPRESENTATION AS WELL.

AND THESE THINGS ARE, UM, THINGS THAT WE ARE STARTING TO SEE THE POSITIVE IMPACT OF AS A RESULT OF PUTTING INTO PLACE.

BUT THEY DIDN'T EXIST BEFORE.

AND SO WE'RE TRYING TO GET MUCH MORE QUALITY CONTROL OVER HOW WE USE THE RESOURCES AT OUR DISPOSAL AS A RESULT.

[02:45:08]

AND I'M HAVING A HARD TIME CONNECTING THE DOTS ON.

WE WE PUT MORE MONEY IN THE SYSTEM.

WE WE HAVE INITIATIVES TO GET MORE PUBLIC DEFENDERS.

WE HAVE ALL THESE DIFFERENT, UH, CHANGES.

BUT I SEE NO, THERE'S BEEN SOME IMPROVEMENT, I GUESS, IN THE BACKLOG IN TERMS OF IT'S DROPPING.

BUT I DON'T I DON'T KNOW IF THAT IS A IF THAT IS A PREDICTABLE WHETHER WE'VE GOT A GOOD IDEA OF WHETHER IT'S MORE OF A WE WAKE UP ONE DAY AND WE'VE GOT 20% LESS BACKLOG THAN WE DID, JAIL POPULATION IS DOWN BY 20%.

I MEAN, WE WE'VE GOT SOME REAL, UH, UH, URGENT ISSUES THAT WE'RE HAVING TO DEAL WITH, BOTH FROM WHERE WE CURRENTLY HOUSE THE JAIL POPULATION.

AND IT'S MENTIONED THAT THOSE OPTIONS MAY BE RUNNING OUT.

AND SO WHEN WE DEAL WITH THE BACKLOG, WHEN WHEN SCHERPENSEEL COMES, HE TALKS ABOUT THE INCREDIBLE CHANGES THAT HAVE HAPPENED SINCE YOU WERE SHERIFF COMMISSIONER, THAT IT USED TO BE FAIRLY ROUTINE IN TERMS OF THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE THAT THAT WERE PROCESSED IN TERMS OF GOT TO GO TO COURT.

UH, THESE AREN'T, UH, THESE ARE PRETTY 80,000 FOOT LEVEL QUESTIONS WE HAVE, BUT IT SEEMS LIKE IT'S ALWAYS WE'RE ABOUT 1 OR 2 REPORTS AWAY.

WE NEED, WE NEED TO GET MORE SOFTWARE.

WE NEED TO DO SOMETHING.

IT'S GETTING VERY FRUSTRATING AT OUR TABLE ON KNOWING WE'VE ASKED MANY TIMES, WHAT ELSE CAN WE DO AND THEN WHAT ARE YOUR EXPECTATIONS? I DON'T KNOW.

I'M NOT I'M NOT BLAMING YOU.

I'M JUST SITTING HERE, UH, SAYING WE'RE HAVING THIS CONVERSATION AND ALL THESE NUMBERS ON BACKLOG AND CASES DISPOSED AND CLEARANCE RATE.

AS COMMISSIONER BRIONES MENTIONED, THE 104 104% CLEARANCE RATE.

WHEN ARE WE GOING TO HAVE A BIG DENT IN THE BACKLOG AT 104? THAT'S THAT'S GOOD.

BUT YOU'RE NOT GOING TO GET YOU MAY NOT BE ABLE TO GET THERE AS QUICKLY AS YOU WOULD LIKE.

SO I GUESS IN GENERAL, WE WOULD LIKE TO KNOW MORE ABOUT WHAT YOUR EXPECTATIONS ARE.

AND NOW THAT YOU HAVE INCREASED FEES, UH, MAYBE A PLAN, A BUDGETED PLAN RELATED TO MORE DOLLARS INTO THE SYSTEM COURTS, UH, YOU MENTIONED THE ARPA MONEY THAT YOU'RE GOING TO PUT INTO IT.

IT'S JUST IT WOULD HELP US TO KNOW WHAT YOUR EXPECTATIONS ARE BECAUSE THIS IS, THESE ARE JUST NUMBERS TO ME.

I DON'T KNOW HOW WE ARE IMPACTING, UH, OUR VERY URGENT PROBLEMS OF JAIL POPULATION AND BACKLOG.

COURT BACKLOG. COMMISSIONER UH, IN ADDITION TO OR A PART OF MY FY 24 ARPA REQUEST AS THE POSITION THAT WE'VE TITLED JUSTICE LIAISON, THAT SINGLE POSITION, IF FUNDED, WOULD BE TASKED WITH WORKING WITH THE JAIL MANAGER AS WELL AS WITH OUR COURT COORDINATORS THAT OBVIOUSLY WORK DIRECTLY FOR THE INDIVIDUAL COURTS TO HELP LOOK AT THE JAIL POPULATION AND IDENTIFY, OKAY, ARE THERE SUBSETS OF CASES THAT WE CAN REFER TO THE INDIVIDUAL JUDGES TO TAKE A LOOK AT, UM, PRIORITIZING TO ADDRESS? BUT WITHOUT THAT POSITION, WE HAVE A SIMILAR POSITION IN THE JUVENILE ON THE JUVENILE SIDE, BUT THAT PERSON WORKED FOR JUVENILE PROBATION.

WE DON'T HAVE A SIMILAR POSITION ON THE THE ADULT FELONY SIDE.

AND SO WE'RE HOPEFUL THAT THAT POSITION WILL ALSO BE FUNDED THROUGH THE FY 24 ARPA REQUEST AS WELL.

IT'S IT'S RECEIVED SUPPORT FROM ALL OF OUR JUSTICE PARTNERS THAT HAVE LEARNED THAT THIS IS THE INTENT FOR US TO FILL THAT POSITION IF THE FUNDING BECOMES AVAILABLE.

IS THERE A MOTION? IS THERE A MOTION TO EXTEND DISCUSSION BY TEN MINUTES? YES. MOTION BY COMMISSIONER GARCIA.

SECOND BY COMMISSIONER ELLIS.

ALL IN FAVOR? ANY OPPOSED MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY.

I HAVE A FEW QUESTIONS AND I'LL PASS IT ON TO COMMISSIONER GARCIA AND COMMISSIONER ELLIS AGAIN.

SO WHO SETS THIS FEE SCHEDULE? IS IT THE JUDGES, THE FELONY BOARD? THE FELONY BOARD? AND HOW DOES THE FEE SCHEDULE COMPARE TO NEIGHBORING JURISDICTIONS? IS IT THE SAME OR LOWER? DID WE DID WE CREATE A MATRIX FOR THE ONE WITH THE NEIGHBORING SIMILAR SIZE? UM, WE DID A MATRIX ON THAT.

I DON'T HAVE IT IN FRONT OF ME.

UM, MAYBE YOU CAN. I MEAN, WE'LL BE TALKING ABOUT THIS FOR ANOTHER TEN MINUTES.

[02:50:03]

UM, AND SO FOR THE THE PD, YOU KNOW, WE BROUGHT THIS UP 20, 20, SUMMER, 2020.

50% OF INDIGENT CASES GO TO THE PUBLIC DEFENDER'S OFFICE.

NOW, I ASKED AT SOME POINT, WELL, WHY ARE WE STILL AT 11 OR ANYWAY, YOUR PRESENTATION SAID 11.

I HEARD SOMEONE SAY 16 TO ME IS ALMOST THE SAME THING.

UM. I ASKED WHY? AND SOMEBODY SAID, WELL, IT HASN'T BEEN BROUGHT UP WITH ENOUGH URGENCY.

BUT I FIND ISSUE WITH THAT BECAUSE WE HAVE TALKED ABOUT IT SO MANY TIMES AND WE'VE HAD DIRECTOR BUNIN HERE.

UM, WHAT IS IT? I MEAN, WHO DECIDES WHETHER TO USE THE PUBLIC DEFENDER? IS IT. I GUESS IF THE.

IF THE PUBLIC DEFENDER.

YEAH. WHERE'S JUDGE? SO IS THE DIRECTOR BUTTON.

THE JUDGES USING.

ARE THEY DEMANDING MORE PUBLIC DEFENDERS THAN YOU HAVE TO OFFER? OR ARE YOU.

SOME PUBLIC DEFENDERS TWIDDLING THEIR THUMBS.

IT'S THE FORMER JUDGE.

I THINK. I THINK ALL OF THEM WOULD LIKE TO USE US MORE.

WE'VE REACHED CAPACITY AND SO.

BUT HOW CAN THAT BE? IF SO, YOU'RE REACHING CAPACITY IS UP TO THIS BOARD BECAUSE WE PROVIDE THE FUNDING.

BUT WE HAVE MADE IT CLEAR AT LEAST A MAJORITY OF US, IF NOT ALL OF US, THAT WE WANT TO SEE.

50%. THAT WAS THE GOAL SINCE 2020.

SO YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE TO UNTANGLE THAT FOR US, ADMINISTRATOR, BECAUSE I DON'T UNDERSTAND.

AND THEN SO SIMILARLY, OKAY, SO NOT ALL THE CASES CAN GO TO VERNON'S SHOP FOR WHATEVER REASON.

SO WHY, WHY ISN'T THE FELONY MAC OFF UP AND RUNNING? MY UNDERSTANDING IS THE FELONY JUDGES PASSED THE FELONY MAC LIKE TWO YEARS AGO.

AT LEAST A YEAR AGO.

YEAH, I'M NOT I'M NOT SURE ABOUT THAT.

THAT PREDATES ME, JUDGE.

SO THAT'S ANOTHER ONE TO FIGURE OUT.

I MEAN, I DON'T KNOW IF THE FEES ARE ADEQUATE OR NOT.

OBVIOUSLY THAT'S UP TO THE JUDGES.

BUT WE ALL KNOW THE THE SYSTEM IS NOT IS BROKEN.

I MEAN, THERE'S BEEN ENOUGH REPORTING ON THAT FROM THINK TANK, FROM REPORTERS, FROM JUST EVERYDAY STORIES.

IT'S NOT IT'S NOT IT'S IT COULD BE WORSE, BUT IT'S NOT A GOOD SYSTEM.

THE MAC IS BETTER.

THEY DID IT. IT WAS A BRAVE STEP.

WHERE IS IT STUCK? WHAT CAN WE DO ABOUT IT? AND THEN ON THE JUVENILE SIDE, I MEAN, WE TRIED FIGHTING THAT FIGHT.

WE'RE NOT DONE. UM, BUT, UH.

YEAH, I GUESS. I GUESS THOSE WOULD BE MY QUESTIONS.

AND AND I THINK, YOU KNOW, IF IT'S THIS NEW POSITION OR THE NEW COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR ALONG WITH YOUR DCA, THAT'S ONE OF THINGS I WANT TO TALK ABOUT IS TO WHAT EXTENT THE DCA IS REALLY ARE HELPING YOU WITH THESE THINGS.

BECAUSE TO ME, THE FACT THAT THE MAC IS SEEMS STUCK AND THE EXPANSION, I MEAN, DO WE NEED A SECOND PD LIKE WE WERE TALKING, I WENT TO LAW SCHOOL, I DIDN'T FINISH IN NEW YORK AND THEY HAD THE BROOKLYN DEFENDERS AND THE BRONX DEFENDERS AND THE.

IS THAT WHY WE.

IS IT BECAUSE ONE DEFENDER CAN'T HANDLE ALL OF IT AND PERHAPS WE PUT A DATE FOR.

ANOTHER UPDATE ON THIS TOPIC AND AND THEN A FINAL PIECE THAT MY COLLEAGUES ALREADY BROUGHT UP AND WE HAD DISCUSSED ALREADY MONTHS AGO.

THE BACKLOG IS DOWN OVER 20%, 25, PERHAPS THE JAIL POPULATIONS ARE AT A RECORD HIGH.

THAT JUST DOESN'T ADD UP.

AND WE'RE BASICALLY GIVING Y'ALL THE JUSTICE SYSTEM SO MUCH MONEY AND SO MANY RESOURCES.

I MEAN, ULTIMATELY, IT'S IN THE HOPE THAT THE JAIL POPULATION WILL GO DOWN, BUT SOMEHOW THAT'S NOT COMING BACK.

SO HOW CAN WE CONTINUE TO GIVE THESE RESOURCES? I SPOKE TO A JUDGE RECENTLY WHO SAID THAT IT HAD MAYBE HAD SOMETHING TO DO WITH THE SPEED OF DRUG SAMPLE PROCESSING OR THE NUMBER OF MAGISTRATE JUDGES. I MEAN, I DON'T KNOW WHAT IT IS, BUT I JUST THINK IT'S NOT FISCALLY RESPONSIBLE FOR THE THE CHECKS TO KEEP GOING OUT, SO TO SPEAK.

BUT THE RESULTS AREN'T COMING BACK.

YES, THEY'RE COMING BACK. IN TERMS OF THE DECREASED BACKLOG, THAT'S GOOD.

BUT THE OTHER HALF IMPORTANT ONE, EQUALLY IMPORTANT ONE IS THE JAIL POPULATION.

SO CAN WE TALK ABOUT THAT AGAIN THIS HOW ARE THEY GOING TO REDUCE THE JAIL POPULATION WITH ALL THE MONEY WE'VE ALREADY SPENT, WHEREAS THE FELONY MAC? AND WHAT CAN WE DO TO HELP AND FIGHT FOR 20, 23, THREE YEARS LATER? WHY ARE WE STILL AT 11 OR 16% WHEN WE'VE ASKED THIS QUESTION EVERY FEW MONTHS FOR THREE YEARS? COMMISSIONER GARCIA YEAH.

CAN I JUST BRIEFLY RESPOND? SO, SO AND THE REASON I INTERRUPTED YOU, DIRECTOR, IS BECAUSE YOU'VE BEEN PART OF THE CONVERSATION FOR THE PAST THREE YEARS AS WELL.

[02:55:03]

SO I AGREE WITH THAT.

BUT LAST YEAR I GOT I WAS IN A DEFICIT.

I GOT NO ADDITIONAL MONEY.

I GOT LESS MONEY.

SO THE YEAR BEFORE THAT, WE HAD ALMOST NO GROWTH IN OUR BUDGET.

SO SINCE 2020, WE HAVEN'T GOTTEN FUNDS TO GROW.

AND SO I CAN'T HIRE PEOPLE IF WE DON'T HAVE THE FUNDS TO DO IT.

SO IF I MIGHT.

HOLD ON A SECOND. UM.

TWO QUESTIONS. ONE IS.

ARE YOU? WELL, I GUESS THE FIRST QUESTION I'LL ASK IS, HAS THE NUMBER OF PRIVATE ATTORNEYS GROWN? AND IS THAT IS THAT IS THAT A CORRELATION TO THE INCREASE IN FEES? HOW MANY MORE PRIVATE ATTORNEYS ARE DOING BUSINESS IN THE COURTHOUSE? WHILE THE HIRED COUNSEL, ACCORDING TO THE NUMBERS THAT WE HAVE.

THE PERCENT OF PRIVATE COUNSEL FOR FY 23.

YEAR TO DATE, 27%.

BUT IN FY 19 IT WAS HIGHER.

IT WAS 31% IN FY 19.

SO IT'S ACTUALLY GONE DOWN.

GOTCHA. AND THEN GOING BACK TO THE CONVERSATION ABOUT THE MAC.

HOW DO WE FEEL ABOUT THE REPRESENTATION THAT PRIVATE ATTORNEYS ARE PROVIDING THEIR CLIENTS? THAT IS A QUESTION THAT I THINK INDIVIDUAL JUDGES WOULD BE MORE QUALIFIED TO.

MAYBE THE HEAD OF THE MAC CAN ANSWER IT.

I DON'T KNOW. YOU HEAR THE QUESTION THAT HE WAS ASKING ABOUT DID HERE.

BUT MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT THE QUESTION FIRST OF ALL, INGREDIENTS COMMISSIONER'S COURT.

MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT QUESTION IS DIRECTED TOWARDS DISTRICT COURTS.

AND RIGHT NOW WE'RE CURRENTLY ONLY AUTHORIZED TO OPERATE IN A COUNTY COURTS.

BE HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT COUNTY COURTS.

BUT UNTIL WE HAVE BEEN GIVEN AUTHORIZATION BY THE DISTRICT COURT JUDGES, NOT JUST THE VERBAL VOTE, BUT ACTUALLY A LETTER OF SUPPORT WITHIN THE GRANT, THEN WE ARE NOT AUTHORIZED. WHICH COURT ARE YOU IN? OUR DISTRICT COURTS IN ALL, 16 CRIMINAL COURTS AT LAW.

WE'VE BEEN OPERATING. NO JUVENILES? NO. NO, SIR.

NO FAMILY? NO, SIR.

WE HAVE TO RECEIVE AUTHORIZATION.

WE'D BE WILLING AND READY WHENEVER THESE JUDGES ARE.

AND WHAT DOES THE LAW REQUIRE? AND THAT IS IT. A TWO THIRDS OF THEM WOULD HAVE TO AGREE.

UM, ACTUALLY, IT DEPENDS.

I PASSED A LAW, BUT I JUST FORGOTTEN WHICH.

IT'S TWO THIRDS WITHIN THE JUVENILE COURT AS FAR AS IT IS A MAJORITY.

AS FAR AS WITHIN THE DISTRICT COURTS.

AND HAS THAT BEEN HAS THERE BEEN A ITEM PUT TO THE JUDGES ASKING THEM TO VOTE OR NOT? ACTUALLY, JUDGE HIDALGO WAS FAIRLY ACCURATE.

IT WAS ABOUT TWO AND A HALF YEARS AGO ON JULY 7TH, I BELIEVE, MYSELF AND JEFF BURKHART GAVE A PRESENTATION TO THE JUDGES AND THERE WAS A RECEPTIVE RESPONSE FOR THE MAC.

HOWEVER, THAT RESPONSE MEANS NOTHING WITHOUT A LETTER OF SUPPORT, AND SO THEY NEVER TOOK A VOTE ON IT.

IS IT A PUBLIC VOTE? WE DON'T KNOW. I WAS NOT IN THE ROOM DURING THE VOTE, SO IT'S NOT A PUBLIC VOTE.

SO THE VOTE. SO THEY VOTED ON.

YES, THEY WANT A MAC.

AND WHAT DO THEY NEED TO DO NEXT? NO, THEY HAVEN'T VOTED. THEY HAVEN'T VOTED.

THEY HAVEN'T VOTED. HAS NOT BEEN A PUBLIC VOTE.

SO THEN WHAT HAPPENED TWO YEARS AGO WHERE YOU SAID I WAS CORRECT ON WHAT WAS I YOU WERE YOU WERE CORRECT ON THE TIMELINE AS FAR AS THERE WAS A PRESENTATION BY JEFF BARNHART, THE THEN IDC EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, AND MYSELF, WE JUST SPOKE ABOUT THE MAC TO THE JUDGES WHO WERE IN ATTENDANCE.

MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT THERE WAS A CONVERSATION THAT TOOK PLACE WHERE THEY WERE VERBALLY IN FAVOR, AT LEAST A PROCEEDING WITH THAT, HOWEVER, WOULD NEED FOR THAT TO ACTUALLY HAPPEN.

WE WOULD NEED A LETTER OF SUPPORT IN ORDER TO APPLY FOR AN IMPROVEMENT GRANT.

THE SAME IMPROVEMENT GRANT WHICH WE ARE A PART OF NOW.

AND DO THEY NEED A VOTE IN ORDER TO HAVE A LETTER OF SUPPORT OR WHO WRITES THE LETTER OF SUPPORT? ACCORDING TO IDC, ALL THEY WOULD NEED TO DO IS HAVE A CHIEF ADMINISTRATIVE JUDGE SIGN ON BEHALF OF ALL 23 JUDGES.

SEND US SEND A LETTER AS PART OF A GRANT PACKAGE.

WHO'S THE CHIEF ADMINISTRATIVE JUDGE? OUR CURRENT ADMINISTRATIVE JUDGE IS JUDGE HAZEL JONES.

AND SO JUDGE JONES WOULD SIGN, BUT PRESUMABLY SHE CAN'T SIGN ON BEHALF OF THE 23 JUDGES UNLESS A MAJORITY OF THEM ARE OKAY WITH HER SIGNING.

SO MAYBE MR. WELLS CAN HELP US A BIT ON THIS BECAUSE THAT VOTE IS NOT PUBLIC.

SO THE ONLY WAY WE DON'T KNOW.

WE DON'T KNOW WHO VOTES FOR IT, WHO DOES NOT VOTE FOR IT.

WE NEED ANOTHER MOTION TO EXTEND THIS MOTION.

MOTION TO EXTEND THIS MOTION BY COMMISSIONER, SECOND BY COMMISSIONER BRIONES.

ALL IN FAVOR? AYE, AYE.

ANY OPPOSED MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY.

MR. WOLFF, CAN YOU HELP US WITH THAT QUESTION? WITH. RESTATE THE QUESTION, PLEASE.

SO HOW DO WE KNOW IF WE TRY TO GET TWO OTHER JUDGES? TO DO MAC OR TO USE THE PUBLIC DEFENDER MORE.

IT TAKES A TWO THIRDS VOTE TO GO DO THAT.

HOW WOULD WE KNOW WHO'S VOTING FOR IT AND WHO'S VOTING AGAINST IT?

[03:00:03]

DO THEY KNOW? DO THEY HAVE A PUBLIC VOTE? I MEAN, DO THEY VOTE IN PRIVATE? HOW DOES THIS WORK? THEY VOTE IN EXECUTIVE SESSION.

BUT WHAT COMES OUT OF THAT, TYPICALLY, LIKE WHEN THE COUNTY CRIMINAL COURTS VOTED SUPPORTING THE MAC, THEY TOOK A VOTE.

IT WAS A TWO THIRDS VOTE, AND THEN A LETTER CAME BACK IN SUPPORT THAT WENT TO TDC.

AND THAT WAS WHAT STARTED THE GRANT PROCESS TO FUND THE MISDEMEANOR MAC.

AND SO I WOULD THINK THE PROCESS WOULD BE VERY SIMILAR TO THAT FOR THE FELONY COURTS.

SO IT'S REALLY SORT OF CIRCULAR IS WHERE WE HAD IT, BECAUSE IF THEY DECIDE THEY DON'T WANT TO GO IN, THEY DON'T HAVE TO PUBLICLY SAY IT. I GUESS A REPORTER COULD CALL AND ASK, BUT WE JUST DON'T KNOW.

AND THEN WE LEFT HERE IN A QUANDARY.

AND I DON'T WANT TO JUMP IN TOO MUCH.

BUT THE BROADER ISSUE IS LIKE, HOW DO YOU EXPAND THE PUBLIC DEFENDER'S OFFICE? I COULD SEE, WHAT IS THIS? I CAN SEE $40 MILLION RIGHT HERE.

IF THIS $40 MILLION FOR PRIVATE ATTORNEYS HAD BEEN GIVEN TO THE PUBLIC DEFENDER'S OFFICE.

UH, MR. BENNETT, YOU THINK HE COULD HAVE EXPANDED YOUR OFFICE WITH ANOTHER 40 MILLION BUCKS? YES, SIR. AND BY THE WAY, I DO WANT TO RAISE THE ISSUE.

SOME OF THE OTHER PLAYERS IN THE IN THE SPACE, IN THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SPACE ASKED FOR ARPA MONEY.

DID YOU EVER COME AND ASK FOR ARPA MONEY? I'VE RECEIVED ARPA MONEY.

YES. SO THE CONCERN THAT I HAVE, MR. BONNET, IS THAT IF YOU COME IN AND ASK FOR IT INSTEAD OF RECEIVING IT, I KNOW THERE WAS SOME CONCERN ABOUT HOW LONG WOULD IT LAST, BUT, YOU KNOW, WE'RE DIGGING OTHER HOLES.

WE HAVE TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO FILL WHEN THAT MONEY IS GONE.

BUT, YOU KNOW, JUST MY FRUSTRATION IS IT WILL BE A LONG TIME.

WE'LL NEVER GET THERE.

I KNOW HAYS COUNTY IS AN EXAMPLE.

WITHOUT GETTING THE TWO THIRDS VOTE FROM THE JUDGES, THEY JUST WENT AHEAD THE COMMISSIONERS COURT AND CREATED A SECOND.

THEY CREATED THE FIRST PUBLIC DEFENDER'S OFFICE.

SO AT LEAST YOU PUT PRESSURE ON.

BUT RIGHT NOW HAVE BEEN A LOT OF THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF PRESS COVERAGE ABOUT PEOPLE WHO MAKE $1 MILLION.

I'D ENCOURAGE OUR FRIENDS IN THE PRESS TO DIG A LITTLE DEEPER BECAUSE HOW HOW DO WE GET THERE FROM THE MAC SIDE? I DON'T THINK YOU HAVE CASELOAD STANDARDS YET, DO YOU? WE DO NOT HAVE ANY ACTIVE CASELOAD STANDARDS, BUT WE DO COMPLY WITH THE CASELOAD STANDARDS ESTABLISHED BY THE ITC.

RECOMMEND YOU'D LIKE TO HAVE CASELOAD STANDARDS.

I WOULD. OKAY.

AND WHAT WOULD IT TAKE TO GO AND DO THAT? AT THIS POINT, WE WOULD NEED A A FAIRLY ROBUST LIST, A HIGH LIST IN ORDER TO DO THAT, BECAUSE AT THIS POINT, NOWHERE ACROSS THE COUNTRY HAS ACTIVE CASELOAD STANDARDS.

SO I WANT TO STRESS THE ONLY REASON THAT I SUPPORTED A MAC WAS AS A WAY TO BREAK AWAY FROM THE SYSTEM WHERE THE JUDGES ARE PICKING THE LAWYERS FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE ACCUSED OF A CRIME, AND THEN THE JUDGES SET THE RATE ON WHAT THEY PAY AND WE GET TO BAIL.

I UNDERSTAND BY LAW THIS MONEY'S BEEN SPENT, SAID RIGHT, MR. RAMOS? IT'S BEEN COMMITTED.

THAT'S CORRECT. WE HAVE NO AUTHORITY.

WE'LL HAVE TO PAY IT. BUT AT SOME POINT, AT LEAST, I'M GOING TO BE THE ONE WHO'S JUST GOING TO VOTE NO AND SEE WHAT SEE WHAT THE HELL HAPPENS, BECAUSE WE CAN'T JUST KEEP GOING AROUND IN A CIRCLE.

AND THEN OUR FRIENDS IN AUSTIN WILL FIND AS MANY WAYS AS THEY CAN TO LIMIT OUR ABILITY TO DO THINGS BUT NOT PICK UP THE TAB.

I MEAN, THE LAW OUGHT TO BE CHANGED.

I MEAN, WE PASSED IN THE FAIR DEFENSE ACT WAS ALL THAT THE LEGISLATURE WOULD SUPPORT IT THAT TIME AND IT HADN'T BEEN TOUCHED YET BY THE WAY.

I MEAN, THAT'S ALWAYS A LEGISLATIVE PACKAGE TO GO IN AND SAY CHANGE IT.

SO DON'T NEED A TWO THIRDS. I'LL MAKE IT A PUBLIC VOTE.

SO YOU PUT A LITTLE PRESSURE ON COMMISSIONER BROWN TO CLARIFY WITH REGARD TO THE TWO THIRDS VOTE IN THE COUNTY COURTS, IT REQUIRES A TWO THIRDS VOTE BECAUSE THE INDIGENT DEFENSE PLAN IS A PART OF OUR LOCAL RULES.

AND ANY TIME THERE'S AN AMENDMENT TO THE LOCAL RULES, IT REQUIRES A TWO THIRDS VOTE.

IF THAT PLAN WERE NOT IN THE LOCAL RULES, IT WOULD BE A SIMPLE MAJORITY.

AND THAT MAY BE THE CASE FOR THE DISTRICT COURTS.

I DON'T KNOW. THAT'S COMMISSIONER BRIONES.

SO SEVERAL THINGS. AGAIN, I KNOW WE'RE BRINGING TOGETHER ALL OF THE CRIMINAL DISTRICT COURTS AND OTHER JUSTICE STAKEHOLDERS TO DISCUSS THESE BEST PRACTICES, ARPA INVESTMENTS, THE VISITING ASSOCIATE JUDGES, WHAT'S NEEDED THERE.

AND SO I WOULD LIKE TO HAVE A VERY CANDID CONVERSATION AND GETTING THEIR IDEAS FOR BEST PRACTICES AND THEN JUST REALLY EXPLORING THE APPETITE FOR FELONY MAC.

AND IF THERE ISN'T THE APPETITE, WHY AND IS IT A PLUS B PLUS C, IS THAT THE PUBLIC DEFENDERS PLUS A MAC PLUS A BRONX DEFENDER LIKE THIRD MODEL? RIGHT. AT SOME POINT I RECOGNIZE THERE'S LIMITATIONS ON CAPACITY.

BUT GOING BACK TO THE SENSE OF URGENCY AND ASKING FOR THE 50% PLAN.

MR. BUNIN, MY QUESTION TO YOU, SIR, IS WILL YOU BE READY TO PRESENT THE 50% PLAN? I KNOW YOU'VE BEEN WORKING ON IT.

AS WE PREPARE FOR THE NEW BUDGET CYCLE, WILL YOU BE READY TO PRESENT IT AT THE NEXT COURT MEETING? I CAN DO THAT. I'VE BEEN WORKING WITH MR. RAMOS. WHAT HE'S TELLING YOU IS THE FIRST YEAR OF THAT INCREASE.

[03:05:02]

IF I MIGHT, I WOULD JUST WANT TO REPEAT THE MOTION THAT YOU PASSED, COMMISSIONER BRIONES, IN MARCH.

IT WAS TO DIRECT THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE COORDINATING COUNCIL TO CREATE A COMMITTEE ON INDIGENT DEFENSE AND RETURN WITH A PLAN BY JULY 1ST.

THE FUND EXPANSION OF INDIGENT DEFENSE REPRESENTATION BY PUBLIC DEFENDER OFFICES TO AT LEAST 50% OF INDIGENT APPOINTMENT CASES BY THE END OF FISCAL YEAR 2024.

AND I FULLY I FULLY INTEND TO MAKE THAT A PART OF THE BUDGET ITEM.

IT WOULD BE A LITTLE BIT MORE THAN AMOUNT OF MONEY THAT THAT YOU'VE TALKED ABOUT.

AND I DON'T WANT TO DO IT OVER THREE YEARS BECAUSE WE NEVER GET THERE.

SO AS I'M CONCERNED, IF WE HAVE TO FUND IT WITH ARPA MONEY, DO THAT NOW AND THEN.

IF WE'RE NOT HERE, IF WE ARE HERE, WE HAVE TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO PAY FOR IT LATER.

AND I THINK WE OUGHT TO TAKE THE HAYS COUNTY APPROACH, JUST GO DO IT AND THEN LET THE JUDGES EXPLAIN TO THE PRESS WHY THEY WOULD PREFER TO USE PRIVATE APPOINTED ATTORNEYS, SEND US THE BILL, TELL US THAT BY LAW WE HAVE TO PAY FOR IT.

AND WE JUST STUCK IN THIS CONUNDRUM.

AND COMMISSIONER GARCIA, TO YOUR POINT PART, I THINK FROM WHAT THE SHERIFF HAS SAID ON GETTING PEOPLE OUT IS EITHER THEY'LL TAKE A PLEA IF THEY FEEL AS THOUGH THE QUALITY OF THEIR REPRESENTATION WAS DECENT.

BUT IF THEY GET. SOME LAWYER POINTED.

THEY NEVER SEES THEM.

THEY DON'T TALK TO THEM.

THEY JUST SIT THERE INSTEAD OF GOING TO TRIAL.

OR YOU GO AROUND AND AROUND THEM IS SET FOR TRIAL.

THE CASE IS DISMISSED BECAUSE THEY DIDN'T HAVE A CASE.

AND THEN THE THREE YEAR PLAN IS 30%.

IT DOES NOT EVEN 50? NO, NO, IT'S 50%.

OKAY. DID YOU FIGURE OUT THE COMPARISON WITH NEIGHBORING JURISDICTIONS? AS TO THE GENTLEMAN IN THE BACK.

I'M SORRY, THE FEE SCHEDULE COMPARISON.

UM, WELL, I THINK WE CAN.

WE CAN GET THAT FOR NEXT TIME.

UM, MAYBE, UH, DIRECTOR RAMOS AND ADMINISTRATOR YOU GUYS CAN HELP US GET BECAUSE, I MEAN, WE HAVE TO PAY IT, BUT AT LEAST I WANT TO KNOW WHERE ALL WE SIT.

SO WE HAVE AN UPDATE COMING IN JULY.

UM, IN THE MEANTIME, YOU KNOW, LET'S FIGURE OUT WHAT'S UP WITH THIS JAIL POPULATION NOT COMING DOWN AND EXACTLY HOW THE FELONY MAC WORKS, UM, AND WHERE A FEE SCHEDULE STANDS.

AND MAYBE THAT COULD BE PART OF THE JULY UPDATE.

UM, AND THEN, YOU KNOW, OF COURSE MR. BIDEN'S PLAN AND MR. BANNON, YOU'LL WORK WITH THE BUDGET DIRECTOR ON THAT.

SOUNDS LIKE YOU'RE ALREADY DOING THAT.

WE'VE BEEN WORKING VERY CLOSELY.

SO 50% FOR 2024, NOT OVER THREE YEARS, NO.

THE 50% IS OVER THREE YEARS.

SO THAT WOULD BE FISCAL YEAR 27.

BUT THIS WOULD TAKE US FROM 16 TO 30 TO 30.

DO WE NEED ANY VOTE ON THIS? WE HAVE IT BUILT INTO THE BASE BUDGET.

WELL, IT SOUNDS LIKE WE'RE SAYING MEAN.

WE SAID 50% IN 2020.

YEAH. WHAT WOULD IT SAY? AND IF AND IF WE CAN'T, MAYBE WHAT WE OUGHT TO DO, I HOPE ONE OF US BE PREPARED TO MAKE THAT MOTION.

IF WE CAN GET MR. BUNYAN'S OPERATION AT 30% WATER, GO SET UP A SECOND ONE, WHICH IS WHAT THEY DID IN NEW YORK TO GET THERE.

AND I MIGHT ADD, ALEX, THE TWO OF THEM WERE ANGRY ALONG THE WAY, BUT NOW THEY COMPLIMENT ONE ANOTHER.

ONLY ABOUT 5% OF THE CASES IN IN NEW YORK CITY END UP GOING TO PRIVATE APPOINTED LAWYERS WHEN THERE'S A CONFLICT BETWEEN THOSE TWO PUBLIC DEFENDER OFFICES. AND JUST TO BE CLEAR, THE DIFFERENCE, COMMISSIONER, COMMISSIONER, THE DIFFERENCE IS THEY DIDN'T DO ALL THAT IN ONE YEAR.

WELL, ALEX, I GET IT.

I'VE BEEN HERE SINCE 2017 AND SOME DAMN POINT.

YOU GOT TO MOVE IT. I MEAN, THIS COUNTY, I'M PROUD OF WHAT YOU'VE DONE.

I FOUGHT TO GET THE OFFICE CREATED, BUT THIS IS RIDICULOUS.

THIS IS JUST DRAGGING ON TOO DAMN LONG.

AND SO IT MAY NOT BE THE VOTES, BUT I'M ONE WHO'S FRUSTRATED.

AND WHEN WE GET HERE, I'M GOING TO PUSH FOR THAT BECAUSE AT SOME POINT, ENOUGH IS ENOUGH.

THIS IS JUST CRAZY.

COMMISSIONER RAMSEY, MR. BUNDY, DO YOU RESTRICT THE AMOUNT OF CASES YOUR PUBLIC DEFENDERS TAKE ON? ABSOLUTELY. IN FACT, WE WERE CREATED WITH A GRANT THAT PUT A LIMIT ON THAT.

OKAY. SO UNLIKE THE PRIVATE LAWYERS, THAT CAN TAKE AS MANY AS THEY WANT.

WE WE HAVE LIMITS.

YES. DOES THAT DO YOU AGREE WITH THE LIMITS? YES. OKAY, SO GO FOR 50 IS THE POINT.

SOMEHOW I HEAR YOU LOUD AND CLEAR.

WE'LL PRESENT DIFFERENT OPTIONS.

THIS IS WHAT WE THOUGHT WAS FEASIBLE AND ONE THAT MAY BE ANOTHER PLAN.

BUT 50% EITHER FROM HIS OFFICE OR WE'LL HELP YOU WITH IT.

COME BACK WITH A PLAN. SO WE SET UP A SO IF HE GETS CAN GET TO 30% LET'S SEE HOW LONG IT TAKES ANOTHER ONE TO GET UP TO 20%.

AND IN MY MIND THOSE THEY OFFSET WITH THE PRIVATE ATTORNEY FEES YOU KNOW THERE'S A FIX THAT WOULD COME DOWN.

[03:10:01]

WE ON ON EXPANDING THE PTO OR OR OTHER MODELS TO EXPAND.

IT WILL COME BACK WITH OPTIONS ON HOW TO DO IT.

BUT AGAIN, IT'S IN MY MIND.

I APPRECIATE WHAT YOU'VE DONE, MR. RAMOS AND YOU, MR. ABUNDANT, BUT THIS HAS GONE ON FOR A VERY LONG TIME.

AND WHEN OTHER PEOPLE WERE HERE, I CAME OVER IN ANOTHER CAPACITY TO PUSH TO PUT THEM BEHIND THE EIGHT BALL AND THEN GET HERE.

AND THE OFFICE WAS HANDLING, I GUESS, ALEX, 3%, 5% OF THE CASES WHEN I GOT HERE AND 2017, THAT'S PROBABLY RIGHT.

OKAY. WE'RE AT THE TEN MINUTES.

UM, I THINK WE CAN MOVE ON.

YEAH. THANK YOU.

THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH.

SO NEXT, WE'RE GOING BACK TO THE TOP ITEM TEN.

SORRY, 21 WILL SHOW NO ACTION.

NO ACTION. ITEM TEN COMMISSIONERS RAMSEY AND BRIONES.

IT'S A DATA FELLOWS PROGRAM.

YEAH, I COULD SEE THAT.

WE HAVE 568,000IN ARPA FUNDING TO CREATE DATA FELLOWS PROGRAM AIMED AT CREATING A PIPELINE OF TALENT.

AND THIS MAY IN SOME WAY BE A GOOD IDEA.

I JUST THINK THERE'S BETTER WAYS TO SPEND THE ARPA MONEY.

I'M PREPARED TO VOTE NO ON THIS PARTICULAR, BUT I DO THINK THIS ARPA MONEY IS PRECIOUS.

AS WE JUST DISCUSSED HOW PRECIOUS THIS ARPA MONEY IS.

AND THERE MAY BE BETTER WAYS TO SPEND IT THAN DATA COLLECTORS.

THANK YOU. I'LL MOVE IT.

MOTION BY COMMISSIONER ELLIS.

BUT IS THERE A SECOND? UM.

I'M ALREADY MOVE TO APPROVE.

YES. OKAY.

I SECOND. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER BRIONES.

ALL IN FAVOR? AYE.

AND I HAVE I HAVE A REQUEST FOR WHOEVER'S GOING TO BE SELECTING WHERE THE FOUR FELLOWS AND THE MANAGER GO.

THERE SEEMS TO BE SUCH A DISCORD WITH REGARD TO DATA, AT LEAST BASED ON MY FOUR MONTHS OF EXPERIENCE HERE.

IT IS CRITICAL IF WE DON'T HAVE THE DATA AND THE DATA SPEAKING TO EACH OTHER, IT'S HARD TO MAKE DATA DRIVEN DECISIONS.

AND I THINK THE MULTIPLIER EFFECT POTENTIALLY OF THESE POSITIONS, IF DONE RIGHT AND IF MANAGED CLOSELY, THE MULTIPLIER EFFECT AND THE TRANSPARENCY AND EFFICIENCY COULD BE GREAT.

SO PLEASE CLOSELY MANAGE.

THESE PEOPLE DIDN'T WANT TO CUT YOU OFF, DID YOU WANT TO? NO, I'M SORRY. I'M HERE TO ANSWER QUESTIONS.

OKAY. YOU POINT, THOUGH.

SORRY. YOU. I PRESENTED IT SO.

YES. SO ARE YOU.

MY NAME IS GAYATHRI GARG.

I'M THE MANAGING DIRECTOR OF DATA AND PERFORMANCE IN THE OFFICE OF ADMINISTRATION.

AND THE PROJECT WAS BROUGHT FORTH BY ME AND YOU OVER THE DATA PROGRAM.

I KNOW YOU GET IT DONE, RIGHT.

THANK YOU. I APPRECIATE THAT.

MOTION BY COMMISSIONER ELLIS, SECOND BY COMMISSIONER BRIONES.

ALL IN FAVOR? AYE, AYE.

ANY OPPOSED? NO.

MOTION CARRIES 4 TO 1.

I'M IN FAVOR. I'M GRATEFUL FOR MY TEAM WHO WORKED ON THIS.

THANK. IS 18.

SO I THINK THIS IS YOURS, COMMISSIONER GARCIA.

NO, I THINK. COMMISSIONER.

COMMISSIONER RAMSEY, 18.

EVALUATION OF GRANT STRATEGIES.

COMMISSIONER IS.

SO IS THERE A SECOND SECOND MOTION BY COMMISSIONER ELLIS? SECOND BY COMMISSIONER GARCIA? ALL IN FAVOR? AYE.

ANY OPPOSED? NO, I'M IN FAVOR.

MOTION CARRIES 4 TO 1.

ITEM 22 THE BUDGET.

CAN WE TAKE A BREAK BEFORE WE DO THIS? SURE. 351 LET'S BREAK UNTIL 4:00, IF I COULD.

RAMZAN THANK YOU, MR..

OKAY. IT'S 403.

IT'S 403 AND COMMISSIONERS COURT IS BACK IN SESSION.

SO WE'LL TAKE THE BUDGET ITEM.

GO AHEAD. THANK YOU, JUDGE.

THE FIRST THING I WANT TO TALK ABOUT IS JUST THE CALENDAR.

WE'VE HEARD YOU THERE WAS A DESIRE FROM COMMISSIONER'S OFFICES TO GET TO GET THE BUDGET SOONER.

SO WE ARE REQUESTING A SPECIAL MEETING THE WEEK OF AUGUST 22ND TO PRESENT THE BUDGET.

YOUR OFFICES WILL RECEIVE IT MUCH SOONER THAN THAT, BUT THAT WILL BE THE FORMAL INTRODUCTION.

AND THEN LOOKING AT THE CALENDAR, IN ORDER FOR US TO ADOPT ON THE NIGHT, SEPTEMBER 19TH, WE WILL NEED A SPECIAL MEETING EITHER SEPTEMBER 11TH OR 12TH.

SO I JUST WANT TO FLAG THAT FOR THE COMMISSIONER'S OFFICE.

I FLAGGED WITH ALL OF YOUR STAFFS ALREADY.

BUT PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE DON'T PLAN ANY MAJOR VACATIONS ON THOSE DATES.

I THINK EVERYBODY REMEMBERS HOW FUN IT WAS TO BE DISCUSSING THE BUDGET IN LATE OCTOBER.

WE ARE TRYING TO GET THIS DONE AS EXPEDITIOUSLY AS POSSIBLE.

HAVE THAT ON OUR CALENDAR.

WE'VE REACHED OUT TO YOUR STAFFS AND THEN LUCINDA WILL DO HER THING AND AND GET THOSE FORMALLY SCHEDULED.

[03:15:04]

SO WHATEVER CAN WORK FOR FOR FOR YOU ALL.

SO, DANIEL, IF I MAY, JUDGE, I WANT TO JUST MAKE SURE YOU TELL US THE DATES AGAIN AND LET US KNOW WHEN WE HAVE TO BE HERE.

ASSUMING THE LAW REMAINS AS IT IS FOR US, WOULD HAVE TO BE HERE AT THE LATEST ON SEPTEMBER THE 12TH.

ON THE 19TH IS THE DATE.

IF WE ARE TO MOVE MOVE TO ADOPT THE 19TH OF OF SEPTEMBER, SEPTEMBER.

THAT'S THE IF WE'RE GOING TO VOTE AND ADOPT RATES, AT LEAST FOUR OF YOU NEED TO BE IN THE ROOM.

DANIEL, CAN YOU BE SURE? I STILL THINK THERE'S A BIT OF DISCUSSION CONFUSION WITH CAN BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT WE WERE WAITING ON LAST YEAR, IS FOR THEM TO VERIFY THE, UH, THE TAX ROLLS.

THAT WAS ONE PART OF IT.

THE OTHER PART OF IT WAS BECAUSE THERE'S ALWAYS OUTSTANDING LAWSUITS.

UM, THE TAX ASSESSOR HAS THE ABILITY TO ASSUME THAT SHE'LL COLLECT EVERYTHING BUT 5% OF IT, AND I THINK THAT'S WHAT THEY ENDED UP DOING. IT'S A ROLLING AVERAGE.

THE FIVE YEAR AVERAGE. YEAH, IT'S ROLLING.

I THINK MOST MOST DO THAT.

BUT THAT TOOK A WEEK OR TWO TO GET THE TAX ASSESSOR.

SO IF WE CAN WORK WITH HER OFFICE AND BE SURE THAT SHE'S QUEUED UP ON THE SAME SCHEDULE WE ARE SO THAT WHEN WE MEET IN AUGUST, WE DON'T HAVE THE CONFUSION I THINK WE HAD LAST YEAR.

YEAH. THE JUST TO RECAP FOR FOR FOLKS LAST YEAR, THERE'S A DROP DEAD DATE WHERE YOU NEED TO STOP USING THE CERTIFIED ESTIMATE AND YOU HAVE TO USE THE CERTIFIED ROLL ITSELF.

AND THAT CAUSED THE RATES TO CHANGE, WHICH MEANT WE HAD TO GO THROUGH THE FULL EXERCISE OF AGREEING ON A RATE, THEN POSTING IT AND THEN HAVING THE PUBLIC HEARING AND ADOPTION. THIS YEAR.

IF WE STAY WITHIN THAT SEPTEMBER 20TH DEADLINE, WE CAN USE THE DATA THAT THEY'RE LEGALLY MANDATED TO PROVIDE US ON JULY 25TH.

SO COMMISSIONER GARCIA AND THEN COMMISSIONER ELLIS, UM, MS..

RAMOS ON, ON THIS, UH, THANK YOU FOR ALL YOUR WORK, BY THE WAY, BUT, UM, I'M GLAD YOU'RE GOING TO TAKE A LOOK AT THE SCHEDULE, UH, BECAUSE I'D LIKE TO SEE THIS MUCH EARLIER.

UM, AND THEN I WANT TO ENCOURAGE YOU TO START WORKING ON, UH, ON NEXT YEAR'S FORMAT THAT WE START THE PROCESS LIKE IN JANUARY, FEBRUARY AT THE LATEST.

UH, BECAUSE I'D LIKE TO HAVE BUDGET WORKSHOPS LIKE, YOU KNOW, ONE OF RESPECTFULLY REMIND OUR DIRECTORS THEY DON'T DRIVE THE PROCESS.

WE DO. AND, UH, AND THEN I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU'RE TAKING TIME TO VISIT WITH ME, UH, TO UNDERSTAND MY PRECINCT PRIORITIES.

UNDERSTOOD. AND ONE THING THAT WILL BE DIFFERENT ABOUT THIS YEAR, NOW THAT WE'RE IN A FULL 12 MONTH AS OPPOSED TO STUFFING IT INTO THAT SEVENTH MONTH PERIOD LAST YEAR, IS YOU AND YOUR OFFICE WILL RECEIVE ALL THE BUDGET SUBMISSIONS.

SO EVERYTHING THAT'S ON THE TABLE IN EARLY JULY, YOU'LL GET THE GLOSSY BOOK IN AUGUST.

BUT EVERY PART OF DISCUSSION AND AT THAT POINT, ONCE WE GOT THE INFORMATION, WE VETTED IT, VERIFIED IT, WE'LL BE SENDING BACK DOWN WITH YOU ON YOUR PRIORITIES.

THE OTHER THING TOO, IS THAT, UM, WHERE ARE WE WITH THE REMIND ME WHERE WE'RE AT WITH THE, THE CHOTO, UH, PLAN.

THOSE ARE THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING ABATEMENTS.

SO, UH, US AND THE COUNTY ATTORNEY MET WITH DEO LAST WEEK.

IT'S ACTUALLY AN OLD PROGRAM THAT THE COUNTY USED TO RUN BEFORE THERE WERE SOME CHANGES TO THE LAW.

COUNTY ATTORNEY AND I ARE WORKING THROUGH THE FORMS AND JUST UPDATING THEM, AND THEN WE'RE TRYING TO IDENTIFY THE RIGHT DEPARTMENT TO DO THE REVIEW.

AND IT JUST AS A REMINDER, WE DON'T NEED TO HAVE THEM UNTIL SEPTEMBER.

I WAS ABOUT TO ASK. WE'LL BE ABLE TO DO IT THIS YEAR.

YES, ABSOLUTELY.

GOOD. SO.

CHAIRMAN OF 19TH IS THE LAST DATE OF THE DATE WE HAVE THE DATE THAT WE ARE INTENDING ON ADOPTING.

IF NOT, THEN YOU HAVE TO PUSH IT BACK SEVEN DAYS, WHICH WILL REQUIRE ANOTHER SPECIAL MEETING.

AND THAT'S THE ONLY TIME WE HAVE TO HAVE FOUR OF US HAVE TO BE PRESENT.

CORRECT. IF THE OTHERS, WE CAN HAVE IT WITH THREE.

CORRECT. OKAY. AND I KNOW THE DATES THAT YOU GAVE MY OFFICE.

AT LEAST I CALLED YOU MYSELF TO TALK TO YOU ABOUT THEM BECAUSE THE GAS TAX CONFERENCE IS COMING BACK TO HOUSTON, WHICH IS ALMOST AS BIG AS OTC.

AND I PLAN ON GOING ABROAD FOR THE HAND OFF TO REPRESENT US AT THE HAND OFF TO.

WOULD YOU COME TO HOUSTON NEXT YEAR? SO I WANT TO MAKE SURE YOU KNOW THE DATES I GAVE YOU.

I DON'T HAVE MUCH FLEXIBILITY.

I'LL BE HERE ON THE 19TH.

OTHER DATES WHEN I TRAVEL, I WILL BE UNDERSTOOD.

AND THEN WE ARE STILL INTENDING TO DO THE DEPARTMENT, THE DEPARTMENT BUDGET HEARINGS AT THE STAFF LEVEL, NOT AT THE COMMISSIONERS COURT LEVEL THE WEEK OF SEPTEMBER 4TH.

OKAY. THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER.

THANK YOU. SO WHEN DO THE DEPARTMENTS HAVE TO SUBMIT THE 98% LEVEL OF SERVICE? JUNE 12TH. JUNE 12TH.

AND THEN IT TAKES US ABOUT 2 TO 3 WEEKS TO MAKE SURE ALL THE INFORMATION IS ACCURATE.

[03:20:03]

AND SO THAT JUST TAKES A LITTLE BIT OF TIME AT THE POINT WHERE IT'S READY FOR MY REVIEW, IT'LL BE TURNED OVER TO YOU IN YOUR OFFICES.

AND DANIEL, CAN YOU WALK? RAMOS WHAT YOU RECOMMEND TO THE EXTENT A CERTAIN DEPARTMENT DOES NOT DO THE 90%.

YES. AND WE WE SENT AROUND MOTIONS FOR IT.

BUT OUR OUR RECOMMENDATION IS THAT IF A DEPARTMENT IS NON-RESPONSIVE, THAT COMMISSIONERS COURT AUTOMATICALLY ADOPTED 98% BUDGET FOR THEM.

AND THE LOGIC BEHIND 98%.

THAT'S SO JUST A REMINDER FOR OUR CURRENT LEVEL OF SERVICE FORECASTS.

WE PROJECTED A $20 MILLION DEFICIT AT THE VOTER APPROVED RATE AND $181 MILLION DEFICIT AT THE NO NEW REVENUE RATE.

THAT 2% REPRESENT ABOUT REPRESENTS ABOUT $40 MILLION WORTH OF POTENTIAL SAVINGS.

I DON'T BELIEVE WE'RE GOING TO NEED ALL $40 MILLION OF SAVINGS.

BUT I DO FEEL IT'S IMPORTANT FOR EVERYONE TO PUT THEIR BEST FOOT FORWARD AND PROVIDE THIS BODY AS MANY OPTIONS AS POSSIBLE.

OKAY. THANK YOU.

ALONG THE LINES OF WHAT COMMISSIONER GARCIA REFERRED TO, I NEED TO BE INVOLVED WITH YOU ON THOSE PRIORITIES.

UH, IT'S INTERESTING.

YOU USE THE TERM CURRENT LEVEL OF SERVICE.

UH, THAT MAY MEAN SOMETHING DIFFERENT TO EVERYBODY AT THIS TABLE, BUT, UM, UH, FOR EXAMPLE, WHEN WE LOOK AT BOND MONEY AND WE LOOK AT HOW THE BOND MONEY IS BEING SPENT, AND WE KNOW THAT 17% IS GOING PRECINCT THREE, 22% IS GOING PRECINCT FOUR AND 25% IS GOING TO PRECINCT ONE, AND 27% IS GOING TO PRECINCT.

UH UH, TWO.

UH, I WILL HAVE A CURRENT LEVEL OF SERVICE CONVERSATION WITH YOU.

ON WHAT REDUCING FUNDING TO PRECINCT THREE DOES TO OUR CURRENT LEVEL OF SERVICE.

BECAUSE IT IMPACTS IT.

AND I'LL NOT BE, UH, I'LL BE VERY CLEAR AND TRANSPARENT ON HOW WE'RE NOT SPENDING MONEY MAYBE IN SOME AREAS AND HOW THAT DOES IN FACT AFFECT THE CURRENT LEVEL OF SERVICE.

SO HAVING A PRECINCT LEVEL CONVERSATION RELATED TO HOW YOU SET AND, AND, AND NO DISRESPECT, BUT A GENERIC 98% OR 2% ACROSS THE BOARD REDUCTION.

THAT'S A THAT'S A, UH, NOT A VERY THOUGHTFUL WAY TO DO IT.

IT MAY BE AN EASY WAY TO DO IT IN TERMS OF GIVING PEOPLE REDUCE EVERYTHING BY 10%.

WELL, MAYBE, UH, MAYBE YOU NEED TO HAVE A A REAL CONVERSATION WITH THE DEPARTMENTS AND THE PRECINCTS ON EXACTLY, UH, WHAT THEY NEED FOR THEIR LEVEL OF SERVICE.

IS THERE SAVINGS THAT THEIR CURRENT THAT THEY'RE DOING? BECAUSE THIS YOUR WHOLE CONVERSATION ABOUT CURRENT LEVEL OF SERVICE, I FIND A DISCONNECT WITH IN TERMS OF DELIVERING SERVICES TO CONSTITUENTS.

SO UH, I LOOK FORWARD TO HAVING CURRENT LEVEL OF SERVICE DISCUSSIONS.

I DON'T KNOW THAT YOU CAN, UH, START WITH, UH, BUT WE'RE JUST GOING TO ASSUME YOU'RE GOING TO REDUCE 2%.

UH, AND IF YOU DON'T MEET WITH US, IT'S A GUARANTEED REDUCTION OF 2%.

SO, SO JUST TO BE CLEAR, THE CRIMINAL SERVICE, IT'S A FORECAST.

WE'RE DOING OUR BEST FOR ALL THE DECISIONS THAT COMMISSIONERS COURT HAS MADE TODAY, THE EXPANSION OF THE PTO, WHAT WE KNOW ABOUT INFLATION AND HEALTH CARE, IT'S IT'S A PURELY A PROJECTION ON HOW MUCH WE THINK IT'S GOING TO COST TO RUN THE COUNTY THE EXACT SAME WAY NEXT YEAR.

AND WE COMPARE THAT TO WHAT WE KNOW AND PROJECT ON THE REVENUE SIDE, THE 2% IS BY NO MEANS A 2% ACROSS THE BOARD.

IT'S 2% WORTH OF OPTIONS.

THE WAY I THINK ABOUT IT IS US MAYBE 10%, OTHERS MAY BE 1%, SOME COULD BE 3%.

AND AGAIN, I'M GOING TO GATHER ALL THAT INFORMATION AND I'M GOING TO PRESENT IT TO COMMISSIONERS COURT.

AND YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE 40 AND $40 MILLION WORTH OF DEPARTMENTAL OPTIONS TO CHOOSE FROM.

TO GET TO BALANCE, YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE SOME OPTIONS THAT I'M GOING TO DEVELOP THAT ARE COUNTY WIDE.

I KNOW ALL OF YOU HAVE THOUGHTS ON HOW AND IF.

AND AS I MEET WITH YOU AND YOU SHARE THEM, WE'LL INCLUDE THEM TO BE CONSIDERED.

SO WHAT YOU'RE GOING TO GET AT THE END OF THE DAY IS A SPREADSHEET, A RANK SPREADSHEET THAT SAYS, YOU KNOW, HERE'S THE OPTION, HERE'S HERE'S THE DEPARTMENT, HERE'S HOW MUCH IT IS, HERE'S THE CONNECTION TO ONE OF THE COUNTY PRIORITIES, AND HERE'S WHAT THE IMPACT ON KPIS IS.

AND A RECOMMENDATION FOR US TO EITHER SAY, YES, THIS IS A GOOD IDEA OR NO, AND WE'LL BE SUPER TRANSPARENT AND WE'LL HAVE A LITTLE BOX THAT HAS THE TAX RATE AND HOW MUCH WE CAN

[03:25:02]

AND WE'RE GONNA JUST HAVE TO KEEP GOING DOWN THE LINE UNTIL YOU'RE STARTING WITH WHAT TAX RATE? WE DON'T HAVE A TAX RATE YET BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE THE ASSESSMENT DATA.

I KNOW, I KNOW THAT. BUT ARE YOU GOING TO ASSUME SOMETHING TO DO? THE BUDGET WE'RE GOING TO WHEN WE GET THE DATA, WE'LL MAKE A RECOMMENDATION ON THE TAX RATE.

I THINK THIS YEAR IT'LL BE IT'LL INCLUDE SOME DEBT BUY DOWN.

LAST YEAR YOU ASSUMED ARPA, YOU ASSUMED THE, UH, UH, I'M SORRY, THE, UH, THE ARE WE WERE TRUSTEE UNDER IT AND IT DEPENDED ON WHICH ONE.

THAT WAS A GENERAL ASSUMPTION THOUGH IN THE BUDGET IT WAS WE RECOMMENDED A BUDGET THAT OR SORRY, WE RECOMMENDED A TAX RATE THAT WAS SLIGHTLY BELOW THE VOTER APPROVED RATE FOR THE GENERAL FUND. BUT YOU HADN'T DECIDED WHAT THAT YOU HADN'T DECIDED WHAT TO RECOMMEND AT THAT POINT? WE DON'T KNOW YET JUST BECAUSE WE DON'T KNOW WHAT THE RATES GOING TO BE.

OKAY. SO.

GENERAL FUND.

WE WERE.

CAN YOU JUST. CAN YOU JUST WALK ME THROUGH? I KNOW, I KNOW. YOU SAID OVERALL IT'S A 7 MILLION, BUT I JUST WANT TO UNDERSTAND HOW YOU GOT THERE.

SO. SO LET'S GO BACK TO THE WHEN WE PASSED THE NO NEW REVENUE AT THAT POINT, WHAT WAS OUR GENERAL FUND BALANCE? SO THE THE BUDGET THAT WE ADOPTED WAS, I BELIEVE, 2.1, 2.1, TWO 4 BILLION AND OUR REVENUE NUMBER WAS I THINK.

HE. GIVE ME A SECOND TO PUT IT TOGETHER.

BUT REMEMBER, WE HAD DONE ONE BIG CUT.

WE WE TOOK EVERYBODY DOWN TO THE ANNUALIZED SHORT FISCAL YEAR AMOUNT.

AT THAT POINT, THERE WAS A HANDFUL OF DEPARTMENTS THAT WE TURNED AROUND AT THE VERY NEXT, I THINK WE WE JAIL.

REMEMBER THE JAIL? EXACTLY.

UM. WHERE WE'RE AT RIGHT NOW WHEN YOU LOOK AT.

BUT CAN YOU CONNECT FROM WHERE WE WERE THERE TO WHERE WE ARE RIGHT NOW? I'M AFRAID I'M.

I JUST GOT A LITTLE LOST IN THE PATHWAY HERE BECAUSE WE GAVE SOME COLA, BUT NOW THERE'S MORE COLA.

SO I'M JUST TRYING TO.

WE HAD RECOMMENDED A COLA.

NO, COLA WAS ACTUALLY ADOPTED.

OKAY. I THINK IF WE JUST GO CHRONOLOGICALLY, IT WOULD.

IT WOULD REALLY HELP ME AND I THINK IT WOULD BE GOOD FOR THE PUBLIC AS WELL EVENTUALLY.

JUDGE, IT'S BEEN TEN MINUTES.

IF YOU WANT TO EXTEND, IS THERE A MOTION TO EXTEND THE DISCUSSION? MOTION BY COMMISSIONER GARCIA.

SECOND BY COMMISSIONER ELLIS.

ALL IN FAVOR? AYE.

ANY OPPOSED MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY.

THANK YOU. SO THE REVENUE NUMBER THAT ENDED UP BEING ADOPTED.

SO THIS IS THE REVENUE NUMBER THAT INCLUDED THE NO NEW REVENUE RATE WAS 2.14 BILLION.

OKAY. AND THE BUDGET THAT GOT ADOPTED WAS 2.128.

BILLION. AND THEN AT THAT POINT, AT THE VERY NEXT COURT MEETING, WE RESTORED FUNDING FOR THE JAIL AND JAIL MEDICAL, AS WELL AS INCLUDING ANY CONTRACT, FIRST YEAR CONTRACT PATROLS, WHICH IS A TYPICAL PRACTICE WHEN THE FIRST YEAR THAT A CONTRACT PATROL COMES ON IS NOT PART OF THE ADOPT AS PART OF THE ADJUSTED BUDGET.

WHAT DOES THAT MEAN? WHAT DID THAT LEAVE US WITH? SO WHEN YOU FACTOR IN ALL THE CHANGES THAT HAVE THAT HAVE HAPPENED ON BOTH THE REVENUE AND THE EXPENDITURE SIDE, WE ARE PROJECTING A 7.4. RIGHT. BUT OKAY, SO WE DID JAIL MEDICAL AND FIRST YEAR CONTRACT PATROLS.

SO THEN WERE WE BREAKING EVEN OR WERE WE AT A DEFICIT? WE WERE. WE WERE JUST ABOUT EVEN AT THAT POINT.

OKAY. AND THEN WHERE DOES THE COLA FIT IN? IS THAT PART OF THE 2.14 BILLION? WE DIDN'T HAVE A COLA LAST YEAR IN THE ADOPTED BUDGET.

WHY DO I HAVE IT IN MY HEAD? YOU THAT THERE WAS A COLA.

OKAY, SO NO COLA. WE HAD INCLUDED A BASE COLA IN THE PROPOSED BUDGET.

THERE WERE MULTIPLE MOTIONS FROM FROM COMMISSIONER GARCIA TO INCREASE THE COLA FOR FOR PUBLIC SAFETY.

NOT ALL OF THAT GOT SCRAPPED.

NOTHING HAPPENED. OKAY.

THEN WE CAME BACK IN JANUARY.

YES. AND THEN IN JANUARY THERE WAS MORE FUNDING.

YES. WE WERE PROJECTING A A SMALL SURPLUS ON THE REVENUE SIDE THAT WAS PARTIALLY OFFSET BY HIGHER THAN EXPECTED SPENDING.

WE I THINK WE WERE AT NINE.

I THINK THE NUMBER YOU'RE REFERRING TO IS THE 9 MILLION.

YEAH. YEP. AND THEN WHAT DID WE END UP SPENDING OF THAT 9 MILLION? UM, SO FAST FORWARD TO THE SECOND QUARTER AND YOU KNOW, AS WE GET FURTHER THROUGH THE YEAR, OUR NUMBER, WE START FIRMING UP OUR PROJECTIONS THAT THAT SAME NUMBER, THAT NINE TURNED INTO 7.4 MILLION.

AND WHAT CHANGED BETWEEN THE FIRST QUARTER AND THE SECOND QUARTER WAS THE INCREASE IN THE IN THE DISTRICT AND COUNTY COURT ATTORNEY FEES, WHICH WAS

[03:30:05]

THOSE WERE YES, CORRECT.

SO I THINK THE COMMENT I MADE AT THE TIME WAS IF WE DID NOT HAVE THOSE THOSE TWO SETTLEMENTS THIS YEAR, WE WOULD BE IN DEFICIT.

BUT AS OF RIGHT NOW, WE'RE PROJECTING A SMALL SURPLUS.

BUT WHAT I DON'T GET IS LIKE, OKAY, YOU'RE SAYING, FOR EXAMPLE, THE COURTS WON'T COME UP UNTIL 2024? WELL, IF WE HAVE A BUDGET RIGHT NOW THAT PUTS US AT A $20 MILLION DEFICIT AS IT IS, YOU KNOW, THAT'S THE PROJECTION FOR FISCAL YEAR 24.

SO WE'RE INCLUDING SO WHEN YOU'RE DOING YOUR PROJECTION FOR 20 FISCAL YEAR 24, YOU'RE PUTTING THE COURTS IN, CORRECT? OKAY. ANYTHING THAT HAD COURT ACTION.

SO THAT'S THE COURTS, THE EXPANSION, INCREASED DISTRICT AND COUNTY COURT ATTORNEY FEES IN THERE, BECAUSE TO COMMISSIONER GARCIA'S POINT, THIS YEAR, WE OFFSET IT WITH A ONE TIME JUL SETTLEMENT AND WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO TAKE FROM SOMEWHERE TO PAY FOR THAT.

THAT'S CORRECT. WHEN WE SAID THE DUEL SETTLEMENT SHOULD GO TO LIKE MENTAL HEALTH, IT'S NOT GOING TO GO TO THAT.

IT'S GOING TO GO TO. NO. RIGHT NOW IT'S IT'S OFFSETTING HIGHER THAN EXPECTED COSTS IN OTHER PLACES.

SO YOU'RE SAYING IN YOUR 2023 BUDGET, YOU WANT TO DO A COLA BECAUSE WE HAVE A LITTLE BIT OF THE FISCAL YEAR 24.

OKAY. SO FISCAL YEAR 24, YOU'RE SAYING WE ACTUALLY HAVE A LITTLE BIT OF ROOM.

YES, I THINK WHAT I.

I. I THINK WHAT I SAID WHEN I PROPOSED IT IS THAT OUR FOLKS HAVE JUST NOT GOTTEN ANYTHING.

I THINK OUR CIVILIAN EMPLOYEES HAVE GOTTEN 2.2% OVER THE LAST 36 MONTHS OR SOMETHING THAT IT WAS IMPORTANT FOR US TO BUILD IN A HIGHER THAN EXPECTED COLA, WHICH IS I'M RECOMMENDING AS PART OF THE CURRENT LEVEL OF SERVICE, 2%.

OCTOBER 1ST AT THE BEGINNING OF THE FISCAL YEAR AND THEN AN ADDITIONAL 2% IN APRIL.

SO SIX MONTHS IN.

SO TOTAL 4% FOR ALL EMPLOYEES.

AND THAT'S JUST TO GET FOLKS UP TO SQUARE ONE WHERE THEY SHOULD HAVE BEEN.

SO BUT WHY DID YOU SAY CIVILIAN? FOR ME, IT'S A I'M RECOMMENDING AN ACROSS THE BOARD, TWO AND 2% FOR A TOTAL OF FOUR.

OKAY. AND THEN GOING BACK, THOUGH, NOBODY'S GOTTEN A COLA.

NOBODY GOT ONE CIVILIAN OR NONE OR WHETHER IT BE LAW ENFORCEMENT.

CORRECT. OKAY.

AND WILL THIS 4%, WILL IT PUT US ANYWHERE NEAR WHERE OTHER COUNTIES ARE? I KNOW YOU SENT A TABLE, BUT WAS IT HAS WHAT IT IS.

IT DOESN'T IT DOESN'T SAY WHETHER WE WERE GOING TO ACHIEVE PARITY WITH THEM.

IT DOES. YEAH.

THIS WON'T GET US PARITY WITH SOME OF THE OTHER JURISDICTIONS, BUT IT'LL.

HOW FAR APART ARE WE GOING TO BE? I THINK THE I'M SORRY, I DON'T HAVE THE I HAVE IT OPEN.

TWO MINUTES. I SHOULD NOT BE THE BUDGET PERSON.

LET ME GIVE YOU YOUR NUMBERS.

BUT ANYWAY, YOU'RE SAYING THAT 2024 TAX RATE PROJECTIONS, IF THE VR IS APPROVED, WE'D BE IN A $20 MILLION DEFICIT.

IF THE NRA IS APPROVED, WE'D BE IN A $181 MILLION DEFICIT.

SO WHAT AM I MISSING? HOW ARE WE GOING TO NOT BE IN A DEFICIT? WE WE WILL BE CUTTING TO THE 2% FROM EACH DEPARTMENT.

AND THERE WILL BE OTHER OPTIONS.

THERE'LL BE SOME SOME FEE AND FINE INCREASES THAT HAVEN'T BEEN UPDATED IN A WHILE.

THERE'LL BE SOME OTHER COUNTY WIDE POLICIES.

THE RFP IS FOR FOR HEALTH CARE ARE ARE UP, WHICH THERE'S POTENTIAL FOR SAVINGS THERE.

SO THERE'LL BE AN ENTIRE SUITE OF OPTIONS WHERE OUR GOAL IS TO PUT AS MANY OPTIONS AS POSSIBLE ON THE TABLE.

I JUST FEEL STRONGLY AND COMMISSIONERS COURT CAN REIN ME BACK IS THAT IN THE BASE BUDGET WE NEED TO GET PEOPLE UP TO TO SQUARE ONE, WHICH IN MY MIND, LET ME SAY THIS ONE MORE SENTENCE. SORRY, YOU GUYS.

I HEAR THAT. WHAT? I WANT TO MAKE SURE I'M NOT MISSING IS WHEN WE TALK ABOUT, YOU KNOW, THE PD NEEDS MORE FUNDING AND THE KIDS REALLY DO NEED MORE MENTAL HEALTH.

I MEAN, FOR REAL.

WE JUST HAD THIS CONVERSATION ABOUT SUICIDE PREVENTION TODAY.

AND, YOU KNOW, SO MANY OTHER ISSUES THAT ARE COMING UP.

WE BASICALLY DON'T HAVE ROOM FOR THAT IN OUR GENERAL FUND BUDGET BECAUSE WE WE'RE ALREADY AT A DEFICIT PROJECTED AND WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO IMPLEMENT COST SAVINGS TO PATCH THAT UP.

SO I'M UNDERSTANDING THAT.

YES, CORRECT. OKAY. SORRY.

AND THEN TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTION, I'M SORRY.

SO YEAH, OUR OUR CIVILIAN EMPLOYEES RECEIVE 2.2% FOR FISCAL YEAR 22.

SO THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN, I BELIEVE, MARCH OF 21 THROUGH THROUGH NOW 2.2%.

IN COMPARISON, DALLAS COUNTY IS AT 8.3%.

TRAVIS IS AT 10.5% AND BEAR IS AT 10%.

[03:35:04]

LAW ENFORCEMENT. BUT JUST THE DEPUTY.

SO THAT DOESN'T INCLUDE ANY OF THE SUPERVISORS.

WAS THAT 5.2%? SO IF YOU ADD THE 4%, WE'D BE AT 9.2 DEPUTIES.

WHERE? WHICH COUNTY, WHICH YEAR? NO, SORRY. THAT'S THE OVERALL DEPUTIES IN HARRIS COUNTY.

SORRY. YOU SAID CIVILIAN.

YOU SAID CIVILIAN RECEIVED 2.2% FOR FISCAL YEAR 22 FOR MARCH 2021 THROUGH NOW.

OKAY. SO THAT'S CIVILIAN.

WHAT ABOUT NON CIVILIAN? SO JUST THE DEPUTY.

AND SO IN THAT CIVILIAN NUMBER, IT'S ALSO THE THE SWORN SUPERVISORS AND THE THE DA'S.

BUT FOR DEPUTY POSITIONS, THEY RECEIVE 5.2% OVER THAT SAME TIME PERIOD, 5.2% OVER THE SAME TIME PERIOD.

WHEN DID THEY RECEIVE THE ADDITIONAL THREE? THEY RECEIVED IT AT THE BEGINNING OF THE SHORT FISCAL YEAR.

SO LAST YEAR.

YES. AND THEN WHEN YOU SAID THE SWORN SUPERVISORS, THOSE FALL IN WITH CIVILIANS.

THAT'S CORRECT. OKAY.

UM. OKAY, I GET IT.

COMMISSIONER BRANSON AND COMMISSIONER ELLIS.

SO, DANIEL, I SHARE YOUR COMMITMENT TO WANTING TO KEEP THE CURRENT EMPLOYEES WE HAVE AND INVESTING IN MAKING SURE THEY STAY.

AND I DISAPPOINTED THAT HARRIS COUNTY SO FAR BEHIND BAR TRAVIS AND DALLAS.

MY QUESTION TO YOU IS, AND I SHARE YOUR CONCERN ABOUT HOW ARE WE GOING TO GET THE FUNDING, WHERE IS IT COMING FROM TO PAY FOR IT? BUT I WOULD BE CURIOUS IF YOU COULD MODEL OUT, PLEASE, FOR THE ENGLISH MAJOR LAWYER.

UM. 7% FOR.

ALL RIGHT.

4% AS A BASELINE FOR EVERY SINGLE HARRIS COUNTY TEAM MEMBER.

AND THEN THE DIFFERENTIAL OF THREE BETWEEN THE TWO GROUPS.

YOU WERE JUST SPEAKING OF, COULD WE.

AND I KNOW THE ANSWER IS YES, BUT WHAT WOULD BE THE OPPORTUNITY COST AND OR HOW COULD WE PAY IF WE WANTED TO DO SEVEN? SO SO SO IT'S A LITTLE LESS THAN 12 MILLION PER COLA PERCENT.

SO AN ADDITIONAL 3% ACROSS THE BOARD WOULD BE AN ADDITIONAL 36 MILLION.

GET IF I JUDGE? NOT ONLY HAVE WE NOT KEPT PACE WITH OTHER COUNTIES, TRAVIS AND HARRIS, WE HAVEN'T KEPT PACE WITH THE CITY OF HOUSTON.

THE MAYOR'S BUDGET JUST CAME OUT.

AND HE IS AN EXAMPLE THAT THE CITY OF HOUSTON, THIS IS THE SECOND MAJOR SALARY ANNOUNCEMENT FROM THE MAYOR'S OFFICE.

AND LAST YEAR THEY ANNOUNCED A PAY RAISE AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE CITY AND THE HOUSTON ORGANIZATION FOR PUBLIC EMPLOYEES HOPE THAT REPRESENTS MUNICIPAL EMPLOYEES.

THE AGREEMENT RAISED THE MINIMUM HOURLY WAGE RATE FOR CITY EMPLOYEES TO $15.

THE AGREEMENT ALSO APPROVED ACROSS THE BOARD ANNUAL RAISES OF 3% FOR THE NEXT THREE YEARS.

THAT'S WHAT'S HAPPENING RIGHT DOWN THE STREET FROM US.

AND THE PROPOSAL THAT YOU HAVE, MR. RAMOS, AND THAT YOU PUT A LOT OF WORK INTO IT AND I APPRECIATE IT.

AND, UH, YOU KNOW, I KNOW WE, WE HAD THIS DISCUSSION AT THE TABLE BEFORE WHEN WE WERE MAKING THE INCREASE FOR SOME OF OUR FRIENDS IN LAW ENFORCEMENT.

NOT ALL OF THEM, ONLY SOME OF THEM.

AND IT WAS WELL DESERVED.

BUT I RAISED THE ISSUE ABOUT THESE OTHER FOLKS.

UH, BUT WHAT I WANT TO DO IS MAKE A MOTION THAT INCREASES THIS A BIT.

SO YOUR PROPOSAL WILL COME IN ABOUT $48 MILLION FOR COLA, IS THAT CORRECT? AND 36 MILLION.

SO WITH THE SO 2%, WHICH IS 24 MILLION AND THEN A MID-YEAR 2%, WHICH IS 12 MILLION.

AND IF YOUR NUMBERS ARE RIGHT, A SECOND AGO ON THE 3% THAT I'VE TALKED TO YOU ABOUT TRYING TO DO SOMETHING FOR PEOPLE WHO DIDN'T GET IT BEFORE, THAT WOULD COST ABOUT ANOTHER 18 OR 21 MILLION.

IT'S 21 MILLION.

21 MILLION. SO HERE'S THE MOTION THAT THAT THAT I WANT TO MAKE AND I'LL MAKE A CASE FOR IT.

I WANT TO MOVE TO DIRECT OMB TO UPDATE FISCAL YEAR 24 CURRENT LEVEL OF SERVICE FORECAST THAT INCLUDES A 4% COST OF LIVING ADJUSTMENT FOR ALL COUNTY EMPLOYEES EXCEPT THOSE WHO SALARIES MUST BE SET BY COURT ORDER AND INCLUDE ADDITIONAL 3% COST OF LIVING ADJUSTMENT FOR ALL COUNTY EMPLOYEES WHO DID NOT RECEIVE THE CUMULATIVE 3% DEPUTY INVESTIGATOR INCREASE IN THE PAST TWO FISCAL YEARS.

IN NO WAY DO I WANT TO TAKE AWAY FROM WHAT? I FORENSIC LAW ENFORCEMENT GUY.

BUT WHEN I LOOK AT OUR WORKFORCE AND THE WAY WE ARE LOSING PEOPLE, I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE DO SOMETHING FOR WHAT WE'RE CALLING THE CIVILIAN WORKFORCE. I WANT TO GIVE YOU THE STATS ON WHO THEY ARE.

OVERALL, HARRIS COUNTY'S WORKFORCE HAS ALMOST AN EVEN SPLIT BETWEEN MEN AND WOMEN.

[03:40:02]

BLACK EMPLOYEES REPRESENT OVER A THIRD OF OUR COUNTY'S WORKFORCE.

THE LARGEST RACIAL GROUP AND ETHNIC COHORT OF HARRIS COUNTY LATINO EMPLOYEES REPRESENT OVER A QUARTER OF OUR COUNTY WORKFORCE.

82% OF LATINO WOMEN WHO WORK FOR HARRIS COUNTY MAKE LESS THAN $70,000.

WOMEN EMPLOYEES ARE OVERREPRESENTED IN HARRIS COUNTY'S LOWER PAID POSITIONS.

52% OF EMPLOYEES EARNING $70,000 OR LESS ARE WOMEN.

THE DISPARITIES ARE BIGGER AND INCOME DECLINES.

ALMOST 60% OF EMPLOYEES EARNING BELOW $50,000 ARE WOMEN.

THERE ARE 2.7 TIMES AS MANY BLACK FEMALE WORKERS COMPARED TO WHITE MALE WORKERS EARNING BETWEEN 40,000 AND 49,000.

DESPITE THE FACT THAT ROUGHLY THE SAME NUMBER OF THE SAME NUMBER, THE SAME NUMBER OF BLACK, ALMOST THREE TIMES AS MANY WHITE MEN AS BLACK WOMEN EARNING OVER $150,000.

SO WE WE PASS A LOT OF RESOLUTIONS WHERE WE TALK ABOUT EQUITY AND A HOST OF OTHER THINGS, BUT WE OUGHT TO PRACTICE IT.

I THINK EVERY HARD WORKING FAMILY IN HARRIS COUNTY DESERVES FAIR AND EQUITABLE COMPENSATION.

AND I'M NOT EVEN TRYING TO HAVE US KEEP UP WITH INFLATION, BUT WE OUGHT TO AT LEAST KEEP UP.

IF WE CAN'T KEEP UP WITH DALLAS COUNTY AND TRAVIS COUNTY, WE OUGHT TO AT LEAST TRY TO KEEP UP WITH THE CITY OF HOUSTON.

AND, YOU KNOW, IT'S A CHALLENGE.

AND LOOK, I'M ON THE BALLOT NEXT GO ROUND.

I'M PREPARED TO TAKE THE HEAT.

UH, SO AGAIN, I WANT TO STRESS THAT IF THIS MOTION IS WORKED INTO THIS PROCESS, IF THERE'S A SECOND.

I'M NOT TRYING TO TAKE AWAY FROM ANYTHING WE'VE DONE THAT IS BEHIND US.

BUT I DO THINK WE OUGHT TO HAVE SOME PARITY THERE WITH THOSE FOLKS.

YES. COMMISSIONER BRIONES.

AND TO ADD TO THE FRIENDLY AMENDMENT FOR PURPOSES OF CLARITY AND BRINGING THUS BRINGING ALL HARRIS COUNTY EMPLOYEES TO 7% COLA, JUST SO IT'S CLEAR THAT IT ULTIMATELY IS A 7% FOR ALL EMPLOYEES.

IT'S JUST THE TIMING.

I DON'T BELIEVE THAT'S THE COMMISSIONER.

SO YOUR RECOMMENDATION IS 4%.

YES. FOR EVERYBODY.

FOR EVERYBODY. AND SO WHAT I'M DOING IS ADDING AN ADDITIONAL 3% FOR THOSE WHO DID NOT GET THE INCREASE IN THE PAST.

AND AND JUST SO EVERYONE THAT'S ABOUT 7 MILLION PER PER PERCENT COLA FOR FOLKS THAT DO NOT QUALIFY FOR THAT DEPUTY POSITION BY 21%, 21 MILLION, 21 MILLION. SO THE DEFICIT WOULD GO FROM THE PROJECTED DEFICIT WOULD GO FROM 20 TO 41 MILLION FOR AT THE VOTER APPROVED RATE AND FROM 181 MILLION TO 202 MILLION FOR THE FOR THE NO NEW REVENUE RATE.

WELL, I WANT TO I WANT TO PUT UP A MARKER.

THAT BECAUSE OF THE NO NEW REVENUE RATE, WE DIDN'T GET TO DO THE LAW ENFORCEMENT PAY INCREASE THAT I WAS HOPING TO GET.

AND SO I WANT TO PUT A MARKER OUT THERE FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT AS WELL.

I MEAN, WE'RE WE'RE STILL BLEEDING.

WE'RE BLEEDING OUT ON ALL LEVELS.

AND SO I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE KEEPING LAW ENFORCEMENT IN MIND.

I COULD NOT AGREE MORE.

AND MAYBE WE'RE TALKING PAST EACH.

I COULD NOT AGREE MORE LIKE THE 4% THAT YOU WERE PLANNING FOR EVERYBODY.

I WOULD STILL WANT EVERYBODY, INCLUDING LAW ENFORCEMENT, WHO'S ALREADY GOTTEN A COLA PERIOD.

AND WHAT I BELIEVE COMMISSIONER ELLIS WAS SAYING, THOSE WHO DIDN'T GET IT, THE ONES LEFT BEHIND.

EXACTLY. TO BRING THEM UP TO PARITY, THEY IT'S THE OTHERS GOT THE THREE EARLIER.

NOW THEY'RE GETTING. SO THAT'S WHY FOR PURPOSES OF CLARITY, BRINGING ALL TO 7% IS THE WAY.

BECAUSE I'M WITH YOU, COMMISSIONER GARCIA.

LAW ENFORCEMENT, THEY SHOULD GET EVERY SINGLE PERCENT.

AND I'M WITH YOU IN TERMS OF WE CAN'T LEAVE THE OTHERS BEHIND.

SO THAT TO BE FAIR TO ALL TEAM MEMBERS.

SEVEN DO WE HAVE A MOTION FOR CONTINUED DISCUSSION? MOTION BY COMMISSIONER GARCIA.

SECOND BY COMMISSIONER BROWN. ALL IN FAVOR? ANY OPPOSED MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY.

COMMISSIONER RAMSEY, I SUPPORT YOUR INITIATIVES THERE.

I AGREE WITH WHAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT, COMMISSIONER.

AND AND YOU, COMMISSIONER.

TO BE HONEST, I THINK THE INFLATIONARY PRESSURES THAT WE'RE EXPERIENCING A LOT RELATED TO POLICIES THAT WE DON'T NEED TO GO INTO, BUT BECAUSE OF THE POLICIES, THIS IS IMPACTING OUR EMPLOYEES AT A AT A CRITICAL TIME AND WE NEED TO STEP UP AND DEAL WITH IT, EVEN THOUGH MAYBE WASHINGTON AND MAYBE TO SOME EXTENT, AUSTIN.

SO HERE ON A LOCAL LEVEL, WE NEED TO TAKE CARE OF OUR EMPLOYEES.

AGREE WITH IT. SO ARE YOU GOING TO HOW DO YOU HOW DO YOU GET THERE? I MEAN, DO YOU NEED TO ASK FOR A TIGHTER.

I THINK THAT THAT MOTION WORKS JUST, YOU KNOW, SO NO, SPARE THEM SPARE THE MESSENGER COME AUGUST, YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE TO FIGURE IT OUT.

[03:45:03]

I'M GOING TO PRESENT MY MY ROLE IN THE COUNTY IS I'M GOING TO PRESENT OPTIONS TO THIS BODY.

IT'S JUST YOU'RE YOU'RE MAKING YOUR JOB $21 MILLION HARDER IN AUGUST AND SEPTEMBER.

SO AS LONG AS EVERYONE UNDERSTANDS THAT YOU GIVE US THOSE OPTIONS, WE WILL GIVE YOU AS MANY OPTIONS.

IF WE CAN'T DIGEST THEM, WE JUST SAY WE'RE NOT GOING TO DO IT.

BUT HERE'S A PROBLEM, AND I AGREE.

I MEAN, I THINK WE NEED TO FIX THIS NOW BEFORE IT'S TOO LATE BECAUSE WE CAN'T KEEP HAVING THIS DISPARITY.

WE'RE GOING TO HAVE EVEN MORE TROUBLE RETAINING.

I JUST WANT TO HIGHLIGHT THE POINT THAT WE'RE IN THIS SITUATION TO BEGIN WITH BECAUSE OF, YOU KNOW, WE JUST KEPT PUTTING OURSELVES IN THE HOLE. SO BUT I'M WITH YOU ALL.

I JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT DIRECTOR RAMOS WASN'T SAYING, WAIT A MINUTE, YOU KNOW, THIS IS CRAZY.

I'M AN INSTRUMENTALITY OF THIS BODY.

LIKE IF YOU GUYS WANT IF THE NUMBER WAS 12, I WOULD PRESENT.

WELL, IF X NUMBER OR X NUMBER OR MORE OF OPTIONS SITUATION.

BUT I DO THINK IT'S NOT PICKING FAVORITES, WHICH IS WHAT I HAVE A PROBLEM WITH.

IT'S OUTSIDE OF SYSTEM.

IT SOUNDS LIKE YOU'RE ON BOARD WITH THIS.

UM, SO I MEAN, I'M, I'LL BE CURIOUS TO SEE WHAT PROPOSALS YOU BRING TO SEE IF WE CAN PULL THIS OFF.

BUT AS AN IDEA IS FINE AND I THINK IT'S INCUMBENT ON ALL OF US TO SHOW UP IN THE FALL IS REALLY WHAT WE'RE SAYING.

AND ALSO NEXT YEAR SO WE CAN COME OUT FROM THE RED.

SO THERE'S A MOTION BY COMMISSIONER ELLIS BY REPEATING IT TO REPEAT IT.

YEAH. AND IF I MIGHT, JUST TO BE CLEAR, I'M I WE HAVE DONE WRONG BY OUR EMPLOYEES OVER THE LAST DECADE LIKE WE NEED TO, TO INVEST IN THE FOLKS HERE. WE NEED TO STOP THINKING THAT WE HAVE THIS IDEAL STAFFING MODEL WHERE EVERY POSITION IS GOING TO BE FILLED.

WE NEED TO PRIORITIZE THE FOLKS THAT ARE HERE THAT ARE WORKING FOR US THAT DEDICATED THEIR LIVES TO US.

SO I'M FULLY SUPPORTIVE.

I'M JUST PUTTING A MARKER ON THE GROUND THAT WHEN DECISIONS GET HARD IN AUGUST, SEPTEMBER, THEY JUST GOT A LITTLE BIT THEY'RE GOING TO BE HARD.

THEY'RE GOING TO BE HARD BECAUSE OF WHAT HAPPENED LAST FALL.

ALL RIGHT. SO THE SO THE MOTION IS COMMISSIONER ALLISON, I KNOW THERE'S AN ADDENDUM BY COMMISSIONER BRIANA.

SO DO YOU MIND REREADING YOUR MOTION? I MOVE TO DIRECT OMB TO UPDATE FY 24 CURRENT LEVEL OF SERVICE FORECAST THAT INCLUDES A 4% COST OF LIVING ADJUSTMENT FOR ALL COUNTY EMPLOYEES, EXCEPT THOSE WHOSE SALARIES MUST BE SET BY COURT ORDER AND INCLUDE AN ADDITIONAL 3% COST OF LIVING ADJUSTMENT FOR ALL COUNTY EMPLOYEES WHO DID NOT RECEIVE THE CUMULATIVE 3% DEPUTY INVESTIGATOR INCREASES IN THE PAST TWO FISCAL YEARS.

THUS AND THEN.

CAN'T YOU MEASURE MY LIFE? I THINK YOUR ADDENDUM ACTUALLY MAKES IT SLIGHTLY MORE CONFUSING BECAUSE THE NUMBERS DON'T QUITE.

I JUST WANTED TO BE CLEAR TO EVERYONE THAT WE ARE BEING FAIR AND WE'RE TAKING EVERYONE TO SEVEN, RIGHT? AND SO IF. IF IT COMPLICATES THE MOTION.

UNDERSTOOD. BUT I DON'T WANT THERE LATER TO BE MISUNDERSTANDING WHEN WE GET TO THE MATH.

BUT SO OKAY, SO THE MOTION ENDS ON THE PAST TWO FISCAL YEARS.

PERIOD. MOTION BY COMMISSIONER ELLIS.

SECOND BY COMMISSIONER BRIONES.

ALL IN FAVOR? AYE.

ANY OPPOSED? I'M IN FAVOR. MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY.

THANK YOU. AND WE HAVE FIVE MINUTES TO SPARE ON OUR TEN MINUTE.

DO Y'ALL WANT TO KEEP TALKING? OKAY, UH, LET'S MOVE ON TO.

THERE WERE A COUPLE OTHER MOTIONS THAT WE WEREN'T ABLE TO BECAUSE WE DO WANT TO KEEP TALKING.

SORRY. JUST. JUST THE VOTES.

I IF I MAY, I'LL MOVE TO NUMBER TWO.

GRANTS. I MOVED TO DIRECT OMB TO INCLUDE ANY GRANT FUNDING THAT IS NOT BEING RENEWED IN FISCAL YEAR 24, IN THE FISCAL YEAR 24.

CURRENT LEVEL OF SERVICE FORECAST.

IS THERE A SECOND. SECOND.

SECOND BY COMMISSIONER ELLIS.

MOTION BY COMMISSIONER BRIONES.

ALL IN FAVOR. AND THEN HE OPPOSED.

NO. I'M IN FAVOR.

MOTION CARRIES 4 TO 1.

THERE'S BUDGET PROPOSALS.

THERE'S FOUR MORE. SOMEONE ELSE MOVE.

WE NEED A MOTION TO DIRECT OMB TO CREATE A BUDGET PROCESS THAT REQUIRES COUNTY DEPARTMENTS TO SUBMIT PROPOSALS FOR 98% OF THEIR CURRENT LEVEL OF SERVICE FUNDING LEVELS CONSISTENT WITH ALL STATE LAWS.

IS THERE A MOTION? SO MOVED BY COMMISSIONER ELLIS, SECOND BY COMMISSIONER BRIONES.

ALL IN FAVOR? AYE, AYE.

ANY OPPOSED MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY.

WE NEED A MOTION TO ADOPT A FISCAL YEAR 2024.

CURRENT LEVEL OF SERVICE POLICY FOR ALL COUNTY DEPARTMENTS LIMITING ANY DEPARTMENT TO NO MORE THAN 98% OF OUR REQUESTED BUDGET.

IF A DEPARTMENT IS NOT IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE COUNTY'S BUDGET PROCESS CONSISTENT WITH ALL STATE LAWS.

SO MOVED. MOTION BY COMMISSIONER BROWN IS SECOND BY COMMISSIONER ELLIS.

ALL IN FAVOR? AYE.

ANY OPPOSED? THE COMMISSIONER GARCIA.

NO. MEAN. YES.

YES. OUR MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY.

[03:50:03]

I MOVED. I'M SORRY.

SECOND MOTION BY COMMISSIONER BROWN.

SECOND BY COMMISSIONER ELLIS.

ALL IN FAVOR? ANY OPPOSED? NO. I'M IN FAVOR.

COMMISSIONER GARCIA.

IN FAVOR? MOTION CARRIES 4 TO 1.

FINALLY, WE NEED A MOTION TO DIRECT OMB TO SCHEDULE AND HOLD BUDGET HEARINGS FOR COMMISSIONERS COURT STAFF.

FOR COMMISSIONERS COURT STAFF.

SO THAT'S CORRECT.

OUR RECOMMENDATION IS TO HAVE THE BUDGET HEARINGS AT THE STAFF LEVEL.

DO WE WANT THAT? WELL, WE CAN SHOW UP IF WE WANT THAT.

AS LONG AS THERE'S NOT A QUORUM. THAT'S CORRECT.

AS LONG AS THERE'S NOT A QUORUM. WELL, LET'S TALK ABOUT THAT.

THAT'S OUR RECOMMENDATION, IS TO HAVE IT AT THE AT THE STAFF LEVEL WITH COMMISSIONERS, YOU KNOW, SELF-POLICING QUORUM.

THERE'S NO QUORUM.

IF COMMISSIONERS COURT WANTED TO SCHEDULE THOSE MEETINGS AGAIN, IT WOULD JUST IMPACT YOUR SCHEDULES AND WE WOULD NEED WE WOULD NEED A QUORUM TO BE ABLE TO HOLD THE COMMISSIONERS COURT MEETING. AND THEN YOU WOULD SO YOU WERE THINKING FOR THE WEEK OF THE FOURTH FOR THE STAFF AND THEN SEPTEMBER 11TH OR 12TH FOR US? THAT'S CORRECT. OH, SO WE DO HAVE HEARINGS LATER.

SO THEY WOULDN'T BE THE SAME BUDGET HEARINGS WHERE DEPARTMENTS COME AND SPEAK.

UM, THIS WOULD BE, YOU KNOW, A BUDGET DISCUSSION.

AND IF, IF COMMISSIONERS COURT WANTED TO HEAR FROM SPECIFIC DEPARTMENTS, WE CAN MAKE SURE THAT THAT'S PREPARED, BUT THAT THE ACTUAL, THE FORMAL PRESENTATION OF THE BUDGET AND THE ONES THAT OCCURRED BEFORE I STARTED, THOSE WOULD HAPPEN AT THE STAFF LEVEL, WHICH I BELIEVE WAS THE THE STANDARD PRIOR TO 2021.

I'M OKAY WITH PASSING THIS NOW AND IF WE NEED TO POST IT LATER, WE CAN.

SO IF WE WANTED TO SHOW UP, IF WE ALL WANT TO SHOW, WE COULD POST IT AND HAVE ONE.

THAT'S CORRECT. RIGHT. SO I THINK THAT WORKS.

YEAH. I MEAN, YEAH, Y'ALL CAN HANDLE IT.

I TRUST YOU. OKAY, SO THE MOTION TO DIRECT OMB TO SCHEDULE AND HOLD BUDGET HEARINGS FOR COMMISSIONERS COURT STAFF TO ATTEND THE WEEK OF SEPTEMBER 4TH.

IS THERE A MOTION SO MOVED BY COMMISSIONER ELLIS? SECOND BY COMMISSIONER BRIONES.

ALL IN FAVOR? ANY OPPOSED MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY.

ANYTHING ELSE? DIRECTOR ROMAN? NOPE. THANK YOU.

HOPEFULLY YOU DON'T HEAR FROM ME FOR A LITTLE BIT.

THANK YOU. LET'S MOVE ON TO ITEM 27.

UM, IT'S AN ENERGY INFRASTRUCTURE PILOT.

JUST TAKE A VOTE. SO MOVE.

SECOND. MOTION BY COMMISSIONER ELLIS.

SECOND BY COMMISSIONER GARCIA.

ALL IN FAVOR? AYE.

ANY OPPOSED? NO.

I'M IN FAVOR. MOTION CARRIES 4 TO 1.

ITEM 30.

FLAGGED BY PRECINCTS THREE AND FOUR.

YES. JUST. I WOULD PLEASE LIKE TO INVITE DR.

PETERSON TO SPEAK TO US BRIEFLY ON ITEM 30.

I WANT TO BETTER UNDERSTAND CURRENT MAINTENANCE NEEDS AND THEN IMPLICATIONS SINCE WE'RE BUILDING AND COMPLETING ALL OF THESE NEW PROJECTS WITH THE BOND MONEY.

GLOW. ET CETERA.

WHAT DO WE PROJECT IN TERMS OF MAINTENANCE ON A GO FORWARD? SO CURRENT AND FUTURE.

THANK YOU, DR. PETERSON.

THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER, AND GOOD AFTERNOON, JUDGE AND COMMISSIONERS.

SO THIS REQUEST THAT IS BEEN SUBMITTED BY OMB IS TO PROVIDE AN ADDITIONAL $5 MILLION FROM THE FLOOD CONTROL DISTRICT RESERVE FUND TO SUPPORT INFRASTRUCTURE MAINTENANCE.

SO THE FLOOD CONTROL DISTRICT IS CURRENTLY RESPONSIBLE FOR MAINTAINING 2500 MILES OF CHANNEL AND MORE THAN 2000 ACRES OF STORMWATER DETENTION BASINS. BUT AS THE BOND PROJECTS CONTINUE TO BE COMPLETED, WE WILL SEE ADDITIONAL INFRASTRUCTURE COMING ONLINE.

AND MAINTENANCE IS REALLY A CRITICAL RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE FLOOD CONTROL DISTRICT AND IT AND IT MAKES GOOD FINANCIAL SENSE AS WELL.

SO LAST YEAR, BECAUSE OF BUDGET CUTS, THE FLOOD CONTROL DISTRICT WAS FORCED TO CUT SEVERAL OF OUR SHOVEL READY INFRASTRUCTURE MAINTENANCE PROJECTS AND THE DESIGN OF NEW INFRASTRUCTURE MAINTENANCE PROJECTS WERE PAUSED.

SO THIS REQUEST THAT WE'VE PUT BEFORE COURT TODAY WILL FUND THOSE SHOVEL READY PROJECTS AND IT WILL ALSO FUND VEGETATION MANAGEMENT THAT WE WILL ALSO HAD TO PUT ON PAUSE.

ONE OF OUR MOWING CYCLES.

AND SO THIS WILL FULLY FUND THAT MOWING CYCLE.

YOU KNOW, LOOKING LOOKING FORWARD, WE ARE WORKING ON AN ASSET MANAGEMENT PROGRAM TO GIVE US A COMPREHENSIVE UNDERSTANDING OF OUR MAINTENANCE REQUIREMENTS.

BUT WHAT I CAN SAY IS THAT THE MAINTENANCE THAT WE HAVE RIGHT NOW IS SIGNIFICANT.

THERE'S BEEN SIGNIFICANT DEFERRED MAINTENANCE EVEN.

[03:55:01]

COMMISSIONER RAMSEY AND COMMISSIONER OH OH.

COMMISSIONER RAMSEY, THEN COMMISSIONER GARCIA.

DR. PETERSON, THANK YOU FOR THE SUMMARY THERE.

AND TALKING TO MR. RAMOS, I UNDERSTAND WE HAVE A RESERVE OF 94 MILLION, IS THAT RIGHT? SO THAT THAT'S CORRECT.

BUT THAT NUMBER DOESN'T TAKE INTO ACCOUNT SOME OF THE SPENDING THROUGH THE REST OF THE YEAR.

SO THE WAY TO THINK ABOUT IT IS THEY STARTED THE YEAR WITH 77 MILLION.

THEY'VE RECEIVED 120 MILLION IN TAX RECEIPTS AND THEIR THEIR ADOPTED BUDGET WAS 114.

SO THAT VARIES. I DON'T REMEMBER HAVING THAT CONVERSATION IN OUR TAX DISCUSSIONS LAST YEAR.

IF YOU IF YOU REMEMBER OUR OUR BASE BUDGET, WHICH WAS AT THE VOTER APPROVED RATE INCLUDED, ONE PART WAS THAT WAS THEIR OPERATING BUDGET AND THEN A CONTRIBUTION INTO THE RESERVE. SO THE 94 MILLION AND WE ALSO HAVE A RESERVE ACCOUNT IN OUR GENERAL FUND OF HOW MUCH I BELIEVE THE PICK IS 168, 68 MILLION.

AND THEN WE HAVE OTHER WORKING CAPITAL WHICH IS SOMEWHERE THAT NUMBER FLUCTUATES.

WE GO ALL THE WAY UP TO 1.1 BILLION AND SOMETIMES WE'RE AS LOW AS 300 MILLION.

SO CLEARLY THE 94 MILLION IN RESERVE FOR FLOOD CONTROL WOULD THIS IS A GREAT USE OF IT.

DEFERRED MAINTENANCE, DEALING WITH THOSE KINDS OF ISSUES.

SOUNDS LIKE YOU'VE GOT AN ASSET MANAGEMENT PROGRAM COMING DOWN THE PIKE.

WE'LL KNOW BETTER WHERE THE PRIORITIES ARE GOING FORWARD.

SO JUST REMEMBER THAT 94 MILLION IS THERE, DR.

PETERSON, IN TERMS OF CRITICAL ISSUES COMING DOWN THE PIKE, PARTICULARLY IF YOU DO IDENTIFY SOME DEFERRED MAINTENANCE AREAS THAT ARE GOING TO PUT WATER IN HOMES? ABSOLUTELY, COMMISSIONER.

AND, YOU KNOW, IT IS FISCALLY RESPONSIBLE TO HAVE A RESERVE.

AND I THINK IT'S ALSO APPROPRIATE TO ASK WHAT IS WHAT IS THE RIGHT LEVEL OF RESERVE TO HAVE.

SO, YOU KNOW, WE WILL CERTAINLY CONTINUE TO KEEP THAT ON OUR RADAR AS WE GO FORWARD.

COMMISSIONER GARCIA, THANK YOU.

THANK YOU, DR.

PETERSON, AND APPRECIATE THE WORK THAT YOU'RE DOING.

I KNOW YOU HAVE A RESERVE AND THAT RESERVE IS THERE FOR, UH, EMERGENCIES.

UH, BUT WE WERE HOPEFUL THAT YOUR MAINTENANCE WOULD ALWAYS BE IN YOUR BUDGET, NOT HAVING TO USE RESERVE FUNDS.

SO THANK YOU FOR WHAT YOU'RE DOING.

AND, UM, UM.

THE WHAT WITH, UH, REMIND ME THE CYCLES THAT WE WANTED YOU TO GET TO IN TERMS OF MAINTENANCE.

AND IS THERE THE LIKELIHOOD THAT YOU MAY HAVE TO COME BACK TO US IN THE VERY FORESEEABLE FUTURE TO DO THIS AGAIN? UM, IN ORDER TO STAY ON TRACK WITH MAINTAINING THE NEW INFRASTRUCTURE THAT WE'RE LAYING DOWN AND, AND KEEPING THAT OPERATIONAL? AND THEN WHAT'S THE RISK AT NOT DOING THIS AT THIS TIME AT THIS POINT? SO SO, COMMISSIONER, FIRST, IN TERMS OF THE CYCLES, WE HAVE, YOU KNOW, OUR MAJOR MAINTENANCE WHERE WE WILL DESIGN PROJECTS AND BUILD AND CONSTRUCT THOSE.

WE ALSO HAVE VEGETATION MANAGEMENT WHERE WE MOW MULTIPLE TIMES A YEAR.

AND IN THIS PAST BUDGET CYCLE, ONE OF THOSE MOWING CYCLES WAS CUT IN ORDER FOR US TO BALANCE OUR BUDGET WITH THIS REQUEST.

WE ARE GOING TO FULLY FUND THE MOWING SO THAT WE CAN GET THAT DONE.

AND REALLY THAT YOU KNOW, WILL MEET COMMUNITY EXPECTATIONS AND ALSO HELP US DO PREVENTATIVE MAINTENANCE.

YOU KNOW, LOOKING FORWARD IN TERMS OF, YOU KNOW, WHAT, WHAT WILL WE NEED IN THE FUTURE? THIS PARTICULAR REQUEST WILL TAKE CARE OF OUR MOST IMMEDIATE NEEDS IN TERMS OF GETTING THESE SHOVEL READY PROJECTS DONE.

BECAUSE WHEN YOU HAVE ESPECIALLY FOR INFRASTRUCTURE MAINTENANCE PROJECTS, WHEN WE HAVE THOSE READY TO GO AND GET OUT THE DOOR, WE WANT TO GET THEM BUILT BECAUSE THERE IS A HIGH LIKELIHOOD THAT THERE WILL BE CHANGES IN CHANNEL CONFIGURATIONS.

THESE ARE CHANNELS THAT MIGHT BE ERODING.

THEY'RE GOING TO ERODE MORE, WHICH MEANS THAT WE'VE GOT TO GO BACK AND REDESIGN.

WE DON'T WANT TO DO THAT.

THAT'S NOT A GOOD USE OF TAXPAYER DOLLARS.

AND SO THIS IS REALLY FOCUSED ON GETTING THESE PROJECTS THAT NEED TO BE DONE QUICKLY, DONE.

AND THEN IN OUR UPCOMING BUDGET, WE WILL HIGHLIGHT SOME OPPORTUNITIES FOR ADDITIONAL MAINTENANCE AND ALSO LOOKING AT WAYS THAT WE CAN PRIORITIZE, YOU KNOW, THESE VERY DIFFICULT DECISIONS.

GOOD DEAL. THANK YOU.

THANK YOU. IS THERE A MOTION ON THIS ITEM THEN? SECOND. MOTION BY COMMISSIONER GARCIA.

SECOND BY COMMISSIONER ELLIS.

ALL IN FAVOR? AYE.

ANY OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY.

LET'S MOVE ON TO ITEM 32.

YOU FLAGGED THIS ONE, COMMISSIONER RAMSEY.

IT'S ON A TEN YEAR FINANCIAL PLAN FOR THE COUNTY.

[04:00:05]

UM. UH.

PROBABLY BETTER TO TARGET A FIVE YEAR FINANCIAL PLAN, RIGHT? THAT'S JUST THE NOMENCLATURE I'M USED TO.

WE OUR PLAN WOULD BE TO REFRESH IT EVERY 5 TO 7 YEARS IN THE 50 CITIES AND 20 COUNTIES IN TEXAS I'VE WORKED WITH.

IT IS A NORMAL THING TO HAVE A FORECAST ON A FIVE YEAR BASIS UPDATED ONCE A YEAR.

I DON'T KNOW OF ANYBODY THAT DOES A TEN YEAR.

THERE'S A COUPLE BIG CITIES THAT DO IT IF WE WANT TO AMEND IT TO A FIGHT.

THAT'S JUST WHAT I'M CALLING IT.

IT CAN I DON'T BELIEVE MOST OF THE INFORMATION WILL BE ACTIVE AFTER 5 TO 6 YEARS.

SO. WELL, AND I APPRECIATE YOU RAISING THIS.

MY MY CONCERN WAS WE WORK TO DO THIS AT THE CITY WHEN I WAS ON COUNCIL.

BUT THE REALITY OF IT IS REALLY BEYOND FOUR YEARS, IT ALL BECOMES JUST A PROJECTION.

THERE'S NOT ANYTHING YOU CAN REALLY HANG YOUR HAT ON.

SO I WAS JUST I WAS A LITTLE CONCERNED ABOUT.

HAPPY TO AMEND IT. AND WE CAN DO THAT AT THE RFP.

BUT I THINK THE THE THE SAME INFORMATION IS GOING TO BE THERE.

AND THEN JUST OUT OF CURIOSITY, UM.

WITH THE COLLECTIVE WORK OR BRAIN POWER YOU GUYS SEEM TO HAVE IN THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR'S OFFICE.

WHY DO YOU NEED A CONSULTANT? IT'S A IT'S A CAPACITY ISSUE ONE AND THEN TWO.

YOU KNOW, OUR THOUGHT WOULD BE TO BRING FOLKS THAT HAVE THAT NATIONAL EXPERIENCE THAT CAN TAKE THINGS FROM OTHER COUNTIES, OTHER CITIES OR OTHER STATES, FRANKLY, BECAUSE OF HOW LARGE WE ARE TO BE ABLE TO TO BRING THAT EXPERTISE HERE.

YES. COMMISSIONER, WHAT WAS YOUR EXPERIENCE, MR. RAMOS, IN BALTIMORE? DO YOU ALL NORMALLY BRING IN A CONSULTANT TO DO IT? THAT'S CORRECT. WE HAD PFM DO IT IN 2010, AND THEN OUR UPDATE IN 2017 WAS DONE BY OUR.

THANK YOU. SO DO YOU WANT TO CHANGE THE MOTION TO FIVE, COMMISSIONER? YES. COMMISSIONERS.

OKAY. SO IS THERE A MOTION TO FOR APPROVAL TO SEEK PROPOSALS FROM THIRD PARTY CONSULTANTS TO DEVELOP A FIVE YEAR FINANCIAL PLAN FOR THE COUNTY? MOTION BY COMMISSIONER ELLIS.

SECOND BY COMMISSIONER BROWN. ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE.

ANY OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY.

THANK YOU, COMMISSIONERS. THANK YOU.

ITEM 39 THE JOB DESCRIPTION FOR THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR POSITION.

COMMISSIONERS. SORRY.

GARCIA AND RAMSEY BOTH FLAGGED THIS.

AND MY UNDERSTANDING IS THE JOB DESCRIPTION.

WE'RE NOT GOING TO GO OVER YET BECAUSE.

BECAUSE IT GOT TO EVERYONE A LITTLE BIT LATE.

YEAH. YEAH. I THINK, JUDGE, I JUST WANTED TO, UH, UH, TO REQUEST NO ACTION JUST BECAUSE THE LANGUAGE HERE IS VERY BOILERPLATE, AND I THINK WE WANT TO HAVE A MORE THOUGHTFUL DESCRIPTION OF THIS, OF THIS ROLE TO ENSURE THAT ANYONE WHO'S INTERESTED WOULD KNOW EXACTLY WHAT WE'RE EXPECTING AND HOPING TO GET OUT OF, UH, OUT OF THIS ROLE.

SO, UM, I JUST WASN'T COMFORTABLE WITH THE BOILERPLATE LANGUAGE THAT I SAW HERE.

SO THE ITEM IS FOR A HIRING PLAN, INCLUDING A JOB DESCRIPTION.

IS THERE ANYTHING ELSE NEEDED? UH, I MEAN, IF WE DELAY, YOU WANT TO DELAY THE PART ON THE JOB DESCRIPTION.

BUT AS IT RELATES TO HIRING PLAN, IS THERE ANYTHING WE NEED TO SEPARATE AS PART OF THAT? YEAH. COMMISSIONER ELLIS, THIS IS SHANE CARAZO.

THAT'S ALL WE'RE ASKING IS JUST THE HIRING PLAN.

AND WE'LL PUT OFF THE JOB DESCRIPTION UNTIL THE NEXT COMMISSIONER.

WITH THE HIRING PLAN, WE ARE RIGHT.

SO I'LL MOVE TO HIRING PLAN.

COMMISSIONER RAMSEY YEAH.

I DON'T KNOW HOW WE FUNCTION FOR TWO YEARS WITH OUR JOB DESCRIPTION FOR THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR.

MAYBE WE'RE SEEING A LITTLE BIT OF EVIDENCE OF THE PROBLEM.

SO I WOULD AGREE WITH COMMISSIONER GARCIA THAT WE NEED TO PUT SOME THOUGHT INTO THAT.

LOOK FORWARD TO, UH, UH, ADMINISTRATOR RAMIREZ AND HER HER COMMENTS ON THIS.

BUT THE HIRING PLAN IS GOOD.

AND I AGREE THAT, UH, JOB DESCRIPTION AT THIS POINT, UH, A LITTLE LATE.

COMMISSIONER RAMSEY, I JUST WANT TO LET EVERYONE KNOW THAT I AM NOT GOING TO BE INVOLVED IN LOOKING AT THE JOB DESCRIPTION AT ALL BECAUSE I AM INTERESTED IN APPLYING FOR IT.

SO I WILL NOT HAVE ANYTHING.

YOU JUST DO IT. YOU JUST BE DOING THE JOB RIGHT? YEAH, I'LL JUST READ IT WHEN IT COMES OUT.

ANY OTHER PERSON AND SEE IF IT'S SOMETHING I WANT TO KEEP DOING.

OKAY. SO I WOULD MOVE TO APPROVE THE PROPOSED HIRING PLAN.

AND SECOND IS THAT THE MOTION YOU NEED? CHAIN? YEAH, THAT'S FINE.

WE CAN BRING THE JOB DESCRIPTION BACK AT THE NEXT COURT DATE, SO WE JUST GET THE HIRING PLAN THROUGH.

WE CAN KEEP THINGS MOVING ALONG.

AND SO THAT'S WHAT WE'RE ASKING.

IS THAT A LANGUAGE? OKAY.

[04:05:01]

I DON'T HAVE TO PUT THE JUNE 6TH ANYTHING IN HERE? NO, WE CAN WE'LL BRING IT BACK INTO COURT.

UM, STOP ME IF I'M COLORING OUTSIDE THE LINES FOR.

FOR. CAN I PUT A PLUG FOR THE FOR PROGRESS ON THE DEPUTY COUNTY ADMINISTRATORS? IS THAT CAN I BRING THAT UP? YEAH, I THINK THAT MIGHT BE A LITTLE BIT OUTSIDE.

I THINK AS WE WE'VE TALKED ABOUT BEFORE, THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR CURRENTLY HAS VACANCIES AS A DEPUTY COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR.

SO IF YOU WANT TO GENERALLY DIRECT, OKAY, IF YOU WANT TO GENERALLY DIRECT HER TO MOVE FORWARD ON THAT, YOU WOULD GENERALLY DIRECT.

THESE HAVE BEEN VACANT FOR YEARS AND I REALLY DON'T KNOW WHY.

I THINK ONLY ONE IS FILLED.

SO I WOULD GENERALLY DIRECT PROGRESS THERE FOR EVERYONE'S SAKE.

I GENERALLY AGREE.

I AGREE AS WELL.

AND THERE ARE TOO MANY VACANCIES AND IT SHOWS, SO THAT'LL BE A PRIORITY.

OKAY. SO WE HAVE A MOTION BY COMMISSIONER ELLIS ON THE HIRING PLAN TO MOVE FORWARD, JOB DESCRIPTIONS NOT MOVING FORWARD TODAY.

SECOND BY COMMISSIONER RAMSEY.

RAMSEY ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. AYE. ANY OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY.

CAN YOU REPEAT THE MOTION JUST FOR THE RECORD AGAIN? UH. I THINK I SAID I MOVED TO APPROVE THE PROPOSED HIRING PLAN.

THANK YOU. PERIOD. YEAH.

OKAY. ITEM 102.

IT'S A HIGH MEADOWS AND FRAGRANT FAIRGREEN SUBDIVISION DRAINAGE IMPROVEMENTS.

THAT IS MINE.

JUDGE AND GIVE ME ONE SECOND ON THAT PAGE.

NUMBER OF THE WORLD.

THE I'M JUST EXCITED ABOUT THIS BECAUSE THIS IS GOING TO PROVIDE WITH ALL THE RAIN THAT WE'VE BEEN HAVING.

THIS IS FOREFRONT AT THE FOREFRONT OF MY MIND.

MODIFYING THE OUTFALLS ALONG THE FLOOD CONTROL DRAINAGE CHANNEL, UPSIZING THE STORM SEWER SYSTEM AT JFK BOULEVARD BETWEEN CONNERVILLE AND SHERATON ALONG FERN MEADOW AND DEVANEY TO THE FLOOD CONTROL DRAINAGE CHANNEL THERE, AND 4000 704,790 LINEAR FEET OF CONCRETE PIPING OR STORMWATER TOTAL PROJECT WILL BE JUST OVER 5.5 MILLION.

THIS IS ANOTHER REVIVED TO THRIVE INITIATIVE, AND IT HAPPENS WHEN WE'RE WORKING IN THESE UNDERSERVED AREAS WITHOUT ALLOWING JUST TOTAL NEW CONSTRUCTION TO BE THE SOLE CONTRIBUTOR TO THIS.

BUT THE REAL PRIZE HERE IS THAT THIS PROJECT WILL BENEFIT 374 STRUCTURES AND IT WILL BE COMPLETED BY THE FIRST QUARTER OF NEXT YEAR.

SO JUST EXCITED.

WANT TO THANK HARRIS COUNTY ENGINEERING AND MY ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT FOR THEIR RESPECTIVE WORK BUT JUST EXCITED THAT THE HIGH MEADOWS AND PRAIRIE GREEN SUBDIVISION WILL BE GETTING THIS IMPROVEMENT MOVE AS PRESENTED.

SECOND SECOND MOTION BY COMMISSIONER GARCIA, SECOND BY COMMISSIONER BRIONES.

ALL IN FAVOR? AYE.

ANY OPPOSED MOTION CARRIES.

THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER GARCIA.

UNANIMOUSLY. I'M IN FAVOR.

174. IT'S WESTERN HOLMES DRAINAGE IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS.

JUDGE THIS WAS THE ITEM THAT MISTER CANTU CALLED AND SPOKE ON EARLIER.

UH, THIS IS GOING TO HELP US KNOW THIS IS A SEPARATE ITEM.

UH, THIS IS THE DRAINAGE IMPROVEMENT OVER IN THE WESTERN HOLMES AREA.

AND AGAIN, ANOTHER REVIVED TO THRIVE, UH, PROGRAM PROJECT AND CSD WILL BE REALLOCATING, UH, 274,000 OF CDBG FUNDS AND ADD AND WILL ADD UH, 8.9 MILLION OF ENGINEERING MOBILITY BOND FUNDS FOR THE INSTALLATION OF NEW STORM SEWER SYSTEM UNDERNEATH ALL THE ROADWAY DITCHES IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD, RESTORE THE DITCH AND PIPE CULVERTS ALONG 7400 LINEAR FEET.

THE CONSTRUCTION OF A DETENTION FACILITY ON THE SOUTHERN END OF THE SUBDIVISION OF FIVE 50,000YD³.

AND IT'S ESTIMATED THAT 580 PEOPLE, 524 OF WHICH ARE LOW TO MODERATE INCOME, WILL SEE THESE DRAINAGE BENEFITS, UH, DRAINAGE IMPROVEMENTS DIRECTLY.

SO THANK YOU TO MISS COSTAS AND HER TEAM AND AS WELL AS THE COUNTY ENGINEERING AND MY AND MY GUYS AS WELL MOVE AS PRESENTED SECOND MOTION BY COMMISSIONER GARCIA, SECOND BY COMMISSIONER RAMSEY.

ALL IN FAVOR? AYE.

ANY OPPOSED MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY.

197 WAS FLAGGED BY COMMISSIONER RAMSEY.

IT'S A COUNTY ATTORNEY.

UH, NOTE ON 2022 POPULATION ESTIMATES.

[04:10:03]

JONATHAN YEAH, WE, WE DO.

I DON'T WANT TO SET EXPECTATIONS AND OBVIOUSLY DIVULGE WHAT WE THINK THE LITIGATION PICTURE LOOKS LIKE HERE, BUT WE, BY OUR ESTIMATES AND OUR EXPERTS ESTIMATES, WE THINK THERE'S AN UNDERCOUNT OF BETWEEN 40 AND 45,000 PEOPLE.

AND THE THE FINANCIAL IMPACT ON THAT WE ESTIMATE, IS IT COULD BE AS HIGH AS $150 MILLION IN FEDERAL FUNDING PER YEAR, WHICH IS SIGNIFICANT.

NOW, I'M NOT PROMISING THAT THAT'S WHAT WE'LL BE ABLE TO TO CHANGE THE COUNT TO, BUT THAT'S CERTAINLY WHAT WE'RE GOING INTO WITH OUR GOAL.

WE KNOW WE HAD A LOT OF PEOPLE MOVE HERE FROM CALIFORNIA AND NEW YORK AND OTHER PLACES.

UH, SO WE'LL AND CERTAINLY THAT COULD IMPACT, UH, CONGRESSIONAL SEATS AND OTHER THINGS THAT, UH, SHOULD BE HERE IN TEXAS AND NOT IN CALIFORNIA.

I THINK IT'S A GOOD IDEA TO MOVE IT BECAUSE I KNOW WE HAVE TO PAY FOR THEM WHEN THEY GET HERE.

THEY NEED SERVICES. SECOND COMMISSIONER.

MOTION BY COMMISSIONER RAMSEY. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER ELLIS.

ALL IN FAVOR? AYE.

ANY OPPOSED? COMMISSIONER GARCIA.

ALL RIGHT. I'M IN FAVOR OF MOTION.

CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY TO 27.

UM. ORDERS OF EXEMPTION FROM AD VALOREM TAXATION.

ON ON THIS ITEM, JUDGE.

UM, IS, YOU KNOW, I HAVE, UM, BEEN FIGHTING FOR OUR SENIORS AND AND OUR DISABLED, AND I WANT TO MAKE A MOTION TO INCREASE THE OVER 65 DISABLED HOMESTEAD AMOUNT FROM 250,000 TO 275,000 FOR THE 2023 TAX YEAR.

MY SECOND, I DO WANT TO ASK SOMEONE OVER 65.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH. WHAT ARE THE FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS OF IT? SO IT DOESN'T HAVE ANY IMPLICATION ON HOW MUCH REVENUE WE WE BRING IN.

IT COSTS THE OTHER PAYERS IN THE SYSTEM ABOUT $4 A YEAR.

OKAY. WELL, I GUESS INCOME LEVEL MIGHT NOT FIT, SO I DON'T WANT TO THANK YOU OR NOT, BUT I'LL PUT MY PHONE.

NO, I APPRECIATE IT. UM.

DO YOU SUPPORT THIS? I DO SUPPORT IT.

UM, IT KEEPS PACE WITH THE RATE OF, OF APPRAISAL GROWTH.

SO WE ARE MAKING SURE THAT WE ARE, WE ARE AT VERY MINIMUM MAINTAINING THIS COMMITMENT WE HAVE TO OUR SENIORS AND DISABLED.

GREAT. THANK YOU.

ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER GARCIA.

MOTION BY COMMISSIONER GARCIA.

SECOND BY COMMISSIONER BROWN.

BRIONES ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. ANY OPPOSED? I'M IN FAVOR OF MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY.

JUDGE IS THAT THE ONLY MOTION FOR THAT ITEM OR IS THERE ANYTHING THAT'S IT? NEED ANYTHING ELSE ON IT? WELL, WE'RE AT. NO, THAT'S.

HE'S JUST BEING. YOU GOT TO AMEND IT AND THEN PASS THE PASS THE ITEM.

MOVE THE MAIN ITEM. YOU AMENDED IT, COMMISSIONER.

SO MOVED ITEM AS AMENDED.

SECOND. DOES THAT MAKE SENSE, JAMES? YES, MA'AM. A MOTION BY COMMISSIONER.

A SECOND BY COMMISSIONER GARCIA.

ALL IN FAVOR? AYE.

ANY OPPOSED? CAVANAUGH IS YOUR FAVORITE.

ALL IN FAVOR? MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY.

321. AN MOU WITH THE HARRIS CENTER.

YES, JUDGE.

UM. I'M EXCITED TO SEE THE HARRIS CENTER WILL BE EXPANDING ONE OF THEIR VITAL PROGRAMS IN OUR PRECINCT.

TWO COMMUNITY CENTERS.

THE SUBSTANCE USE DISORDER OUTREACH PROGRAM IS ANOTHER LIFESAVING INITIATIVE BY THE HARRIS CENTER THAT WILL ADDRESS BEHAVIORAL HEALTH DISPARITIES IN HIGH NEED AREAS ACROSS THE PRECINCT. UM.

THE PROGRAM ENABLES COMMUNITY HEALTH WORKERS TO CONDUCT OUTREACH AT OUR COMMUNITY CENTERS AND CONNECT RESIDENTS WITH STRUGGLING RESIDENTS STRUGGLING WITH SUBSTANCE OF SUBSTANCE USE DISORDERS.

UH, TO THE CARE THAT THEY NEED.

SUBSTANCE USE DISORDER PROGRAMS ARE INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT FOR PEOPLE STRUGGLING WITH ADDICTION.

THANKS TO THIS PROGRAM, WE WILL BE ABLE TO CONNECT PEOPLE TO SPECIALIZED CARE THAT IS SPECIFICALLY TAILORED TO THEIR NEEDS.

THESE PROGRAMS CAN ALSO HELP REDUCE THE STIGMA ASSOCIATED WITH ADDICTION BY PROVIDING A SAFE, SUPPORTIVE ENVIRONMENT THAT CAN HELP INDIVIDUALS FEEL LESS ISOLATED AND MORE EMPOWERED TO SEEK HELP.

BY PROVIDING ACCESS TO EFFECTIVE TREATMENT AND SUPPORT, PEOPLE CAN IMPROVE THEIR PHYSICAL AND MENTAL HEALTH, REBUILD RELATIONSHIPS, REGAIN CONTROL OF THEIR LIVES. AND I LOOK FORWARD TO EXPANDING MORE OF THESE GREAT PROGRAMS VERY SOON.

BUT I WANT TO THANK THE HARRIS CENTER.

THEY HAVE BEEN JUST VERY RESPONSIVE TO MY CONCERNS OF THE, UH, HEALTH DISPARITY IN THE PRECINCT.

[04:15:07]

I JUST WISH ALL THE OTHER DEPARTMENTS WOULD BE AS RESPONSIVE TO THE HEALTH DISPARITIES IN MY PRECINCT.

UM, YOU KNOW, JUST GROWING UP IN THE AREA THAT I GREW UP IN PRECINCT TWO.

UH, THIS IS IMPORTANT BECAUSE IT JUST REMINDS ME OF SO, SO MANY FRIENDS THAT I LOST.

UM, WHO WERE GROWING UP, AND THEY'RE HEALTHY.

THEN IT WAS BACK IN.

BACK IN THE DAY. IT WAS INHALANTS, GLUES, UH, SPRAY PAINT, UH, THAT FOLKS WOULD USE AT AND, AND SO TO SEE THIS PROGRAM, I'M VERY, VERY EXCITED ABOUT IT.

JUST, JUST WISH TO GET THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT TO MOVE A LITTLE FASTER TO BRING THOSE PROGRAMS INTO PRECINCT TWO AS WELL.

SO MOVE ON THIS ITEM AS PRESENTED.

SECOND MOTION BY COMMISSIONER GARCIA, SECOND BY COMMISSIONER BRIONES.

ALL IN FAVOR? AYE.

ANY OPPOSED MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY.

ITEM 366, COMMISSIONER BRIONES.

YES. THANK YOU.

COLLEAGUES, IT MAKES ME EXTREMELY EXCITED AND PROUD TO ASK FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION OF DOCTOR CODY PIKE FOR APPOINTMENT TO THE BOARD OF HARRIS HEALTH, A TERM THAT WOULD BEGIN JULY 1ST OF THIS YEAR AND GO UNTIL JULY 1ST OF 2025.

AND THE REASON THAT I'M SO EXCITED TO PRESENT DOCTOR PIKE TO YOU TODAY.

SEVERAL REASONS.

FIRST, DOCTOR PIKE IS EMINENTLY QUALIFIED.

WE HAVE SOMEBODY WHO GRADUATED FROM BAYLOR COLLEGE OF MEDICINE, UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON LAW CENTER.

ALSO MASTERS IS AN ETHICIST.

SO JUST A FABULOUS INTERCONNECTION OF EXPERIENCES.

TALENTS WORKED AT THE TEXAS SENATE TAHIRIH JUSTICE CENTER, THE CHILDREN'S ASSESSMENT CENTER, AND JUST HE'S AN ADJUNCT PROFESSOR AT A MEDICAL SCHOOL.

I MEAN, JUST THERE'S A FASCINATING CONFLUENCE OF SKILLS, TALENTS AND ACADEMIC BACKGROUND.

AND I AM EXTREMELY EXCITED AS WELL BECAUSE I ASK YOU TO HELP MAKE HISTORY FOR HARRIS COUNTY.

DOCTOR PIKE WOULD BE THE FIRST TRANSGENDER INDIVIDUAL TO EVER SERVE ON THE HARRIS HEALTH BOARD.

THEY WOULD HELP HARRIS COUNTY FURTHER BECOME A BEACON OF WHAT I HOPE ONE DAY TEXAS WILL BECOME.

I HOPE THAT ONE DAY I CAN RAISE MY GIRLS IN A TEXAS WHERE EVERYTHING IS BIGGER IN TEXAS MEANS JUSTICE, EQUALITY, FAIRNESS AND RESPECT.

AND UNTIL THAT DAY, WE CAN MAKE HARRIS COUNTY A PLACE WHERE JUSTICE, FAIRNESS, RESPECT AND DIGNITY IS BIGGER.

I AM JUST SO PROUD.

I MOVE AND I ASK THE OFFICE OF COUNTY ADMINISTRATION TO APPOINT CODY MILLER PIKE, A NOMINEE FROM THE COMMISSIONER OF PRECINCT FOUR TO THE HARRIS HEALTH SYSTEM BOARD FOR A TERM BEGINNING JULY 1ST, 2023, ENDING JULY 1ST, 2025.

SECOND, COMMISSIONER, I JUST WANT TO COMMEND YOU AS WELL.

AND I NOTICED THAT DOCTOR PIKE ALSO HAS A JD AND A MASTER'S IN LAW FROM UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON AS WELL.

AND WHAT A TREMENDOUS BACKGROUND.

CLARKSON UNIVERSITY, TRINITY TRINITY.

VERY, VERY IMPRESSIVE RESUME.

SO THANK YOU. AND THEY THEY WILL SERVE US WITH PRIDE.

THANK YOU. UM, WONDERFUL MOTION BY COMMISSIONER BRIONES AND SECOND, BY COMMISSIONER ELLIS.

ALL IN FAVOR? AYE, AYE.

ANY OPPOSED MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY.

IS THAT AS PRESENTED OR AS SPOKEN TO? DOCTOR PIKE? AS PRESENTED.

AS PRESENTED. THANK YOU.

SEE WHAT HAPPENS WHEN HE AFTER FIVE.

THAT'S WHY WE'RE TRYING TO GIVE YOU ALL THAT COLA.

SEE HOW WE MESSED UP THAT OTHER MOTION? THANK YOU, COLLEAGUES.

DR. PIKE, THANK YOU IN ADVANCE FOR YOUR SERVICE.

ALL RIGHT. CONGRATULATIONS.

YOU KNOW, WE'RE GOING TO 371.

IT'S A T-C-E-Q GRANT, I BELIEVE THAT WAS VOTED ON ALREADY.

THAT WAS VOTED ON ALREADY. GOT IT.

THANK YOU. UM, 373.

YES, I'LL BE BRIEF ON THAT.

I'M JUST WANT TO COMMEND, UH, SHERIFF GONZALEZ FOR HIS LEADERSHIP ON THIS.

HE, UH, HE LED ON THIS WHEN HE FIRST TOOK OFFICE.

HE CONTINUES TO EXPAND THIS AND AND GROW THE PROGRAM.

AND IT'S A PROGRAM THAT'S RECEIVED AN APPLE AWARD, AND IT IS ABSOLUTELY SAVING LIVES IN OUR JAIL POPULATION WOULD MUCH WOULD BE MUCH MORE COMPLICATED IF NOT FOR THIS PROGRAM.

MOVE ON TO ITEM. LET ME SECOND THAT.

I CANNOT SAY ENOUGH GOOD THINGS ABOUT CORE AND WHAT THAT IS DOING.

THAT'S A THAT IS A HIGHLIGHT.

ONE OF THE PREMIER PROGRAMS WE'VE GOT IN THE COUNTY.

PROUD TO SECOND. UM.

MOTION BY COMMISSIONER GARCIA.

SECOND BY COMMISSIONER RAMSEY.

ALL IN FAVOR? AYE.

ANY OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY.

[04:20:01]

SO THESE ARE THE RULES.

AND I THINK EVERYBODY SHOULD HAVE RECEIVED THE SUMMARY, UM, OF SORT OF WHAT'S IN THERE.

BUT IT'S NOTHING WE HAVEN'T TALKED ABOUT.

SO YEAH.

ON, ON THESE, UH.

THE. I THINK WE GOT THESE.

VERY, I THINK THE LAST OR MAYBE JUST EARLIER THIS WEEK.

AND I THINK THERE'S STILL A LOT OF DISCUSSION.

WE'VE BEEN HAVING A LOT OF QUESTIONS.

AND SO I WOULD RESPECTFULLY ASK THAT WE TAKE NO ACTION ON THIS SO THAT MY OFFICE AND OTHERS CAN VISIT AND HAVE SOME DISCUSSION.

I WOULD AGREE WITH THAT, JUDGE.

SO AT LEAST OUR STAFFS CAN JUST KIND OF VISIT.

I THINK YOU GUYS GOT THEM LATE.

LET ME JUST GO OVER IT REAL QUICK, JUST SO YOU ALL KNOW THE WHAT'S ON THERE AND THEN WE'LL BRING IT BACK NEXT TIME.

SO ON UNDER AGENDA ITEM B IS THERE WAS SOMETHING THAT CAME UP LAST TIME THAT COLLEAGUES SOME SOME A COUPLE OF Y'ALL EXPRESSED. WELL, THAT SHOULD HAVE COME THROUGH THE BUDGET OFFICE AND IT DIDN'T.

AND SO IT SAYS THAT ANYTHING THAT WOULD RESULT IN A FISCAL IMPACT TO THE COUNTY HAS TO FIRST HAVE A FISCAL ANALYSIS FROM OMB.

SO THAT'S JUST CLARIFYING THAT.

THE OTHER CHANGE IS FOR THAT ONE.

YEAH. THE OTHER CHANGES, LUNCH BREAK.

SO IT SAYS ONE HOUR BEGINNING NO LATER THAN 1 P.M.

SO WE DON'T HAVE A BEGINNING TIME OR AN END TIME SO THAT WE HAVE FLEXIBILITY ON THE LUNCH BREAK.

THE OTHER THE THIRD CHANGE SAYS THAT WE MAY INVITE MEMBERS OF THE COUNTY JUDGE OR PRESIDING MEMBER MAY INVITE MEMBERS OF COURT TO DISCUSS OR DEBATE AN AGENDA ITEM FOR DISCUSSION WITHOUT REQUIRING A FORMAL MOTION SO THAT, YOU KNOW, WE HAD THAT SITUATION LAST TIME WHERE THERE WAS EVERY TIME WE HAVE TO DISCUSS, WE'RE NOT GOING TO BE MAKING A MOTION, THEN THERE IS A CLARIFICATION THAT THERE'S A TEN MINUTE LIMIT ON DISCUSSION FOR EACH ITEM.

BUT THE THE TIME LIMIT APPLIES TO DISCUSSION AMONG THE COURT MEMBERS, BUT DOES NOT LIMIT THE LENGTH OF PRESENTATION BY DEPARTMENT HEADS OR OTHER INVITED PRESENTERS, ALTHOUGH I FEEL LIKE THEY SHOULD PRESENT FOR TEN MINUTES MAX.

AND THAT'S IT. THAT'S THE EXTENT OF THE CHANGES.

UM, THERE'S A, I GUESS A PERHAPS A GRAMMAR, UM, ISSUE HERE.

THE, THE COUNTY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE TO SERVE AS PARLIAMENTARIAN FOR EACH REGULAR SPECIAL AND EMERGENCY MEETING.

SO THEY CHANGE THE WORD EACH TO ALL, ALL TO EACH.

SO THE CHANGES REALLY ARE THEY'RE VERY MINOR AND THEY'RE JUST WHAT WE DISCUSSED IN THE LAST WORD.

I'LL STILL BRING IT BACK.

BUT I JUST WANT YOU GUYS TO KNOW THERE'S NOTHING LIKE EARTH SHATTERING HERE.

IT'S JUST WHAT WE TALKED ABOUT.

UM, I THINK IT MIGHT BE NICE IF WE FIGURE OUT.

SO YOU DON'T HAVE TO JUMP IN IF WE DO THAT CLOCK OR SOMETHING.

MAYBE WHEN WE MOVE DOWNSTAIRS.

SO WHEN WE KNOW WE OPEN AT TEN MINUTES.

I KNOW SOMETIMES, YOU KNOW, PROBABLY PUTS YOU IN A BIND.

YEAH. NO, COMMISSIONER, I THINK WHEN WE COMMENT.

YEAH, WHEN WE MOVE DOWNSTAIRS, I THINK WE ARE GOING TO HAVE A CLOCK THAT'LL BE MORE VISIBLE AND WILL BE EASIER FOR US.

BASEBALL, RIGHT? THAT'S RIGHT. AND AND I HAVE IT COMMISSIONER ON HERE SO.

AND YEAH, THE JUDGE HAS BEEN GREAT.

SHE'S BEEN KEEPING TIME. WE KNOW IF WE SEE IT, IF IT'S ON THE WALL, WE SEE IT ALL.

YOU COULD GET THE SANDMAN LIKE THEY HAVE ON APOLLO.

RUN OUT OF THAT ROOM OR JUST HAVE HAVE A THERE YOU GO, AN HOURGLASS AND AN HOURGLASS.

SO I GUESS IT CAME THROUGH, YOU GUYS.

YEAH, I'LL JUST BRING IT BACK.

I'LL PUT IT BACK ON THE NEXT ONE.

AND THAT WAY YOU GUYS KNOW THE EXACT SAME THING.

WE JUST PUT IN. AND I'VE GOTTEN FEEDBACK FROM PRECINCT ONE AND OBVIOUSLY FROM YOU JUDGE ANYONE ELSE.

AND I THINK PRECINCT FOUR AS WELL.

IF YOU GUYS SEND ME ANYTHING, I'M HAPPY TO MAKE ANY CHANGES CIRCULATED AROUND.

WELL, IF THERE'S ANY IF THERE'S ANY FEEDBACK, LET'S DISCUSS IT KNOW BECAUSE THAT'S THAT'S WHAT WHAT WE'VE WE DISCUSS IT HERE AND THEN WE CAN COME BACK WITH THAT VERSION.

SO THAT'S ACTUALLY PREFERABLE IS JUST IMPLEMENT WHAT WE'D ALREADY AGREED.

THAT'S WHY I DIDN'T THINK IT WOULD BE MUCH OF AN ISSUE.

SO WHAT'S THE WHAT OTHER CHANGES DO YOU GUYS WANT TO IMPLEMENT? SO SORRY. REALLY QUICKLY, GOING TO THE CLOCK.

YOU'VE BEEN KEEPING TIME LIKE A CHAMP.

I'M A VISUAL LEARNER AND SO IT'S HARD.

AND I TRY TO ALWAYS MAINTAIN EYE CONTACT.

AND SO IT'S HARD FOR ME TO TURN.

AND SO FOR WHATEVER IT'S WORTH, I THINK IT WOULD BE REALLY HELPFUL TO VISUALIZE AND SEE IT FOR NOT ONLY FOR US, BUT I THINK FOR THE SPEAKERS TOO, BECAUSE MAYBE NOT EVERYONE SEES.

CAN YOU GUYS, WHOEVER, I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S WE DON'T WANT TO DO IT, BUT WE MOVED AT SOME POINT SOON IN THE NEW BUILDING AND IN AUSTIN THEY PUT UP THE NUMBER, WHATEVER YOU OWN. SO I DON'T HAVE TO ASK Y'ALL, WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT? IF THE NUMBER POPS UP? RIGHT? I THINK WHEN WE GO DOWNSTAIRS, THERE'S THINGS WILL BE MUCH, MUCH BETTER.

TECHNOLOGY WILL. YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU PUT THE NAME OF WHOEVER SPEAKING CORRECT AND THIS IS THE FORMER TEACHER AND ME COMING OUT GOES AWESOME THAT ALWAYS LOOKING TO SEE WHO RAISES FIRST, SECOND AND THIRD.

SO YOU'RE AWESOME AT WATCHING.

BUT HONESTLY, I FEEL LIKE A THIRD GRADER RAISING MY HAND.

AND THEN SOMETIMES SOME PEOPLE WILL JUST INTERRUPT AND SAY IT.

BUT I SEE MY MOM WATCHING ME FROM LAREDO LIKE, DON'T INTERRUPT ME, YOU KNOW?

[04:25:05]

WE HAVE THAT FOR THE NEW COURTROOM.

YEAH, I THINK LUCINDA'S GOT SORT OF ALL THAT WORKED OUT.

SO THERE WILL BE LIKE, A LIGHT OR SOMETHING, IS MY UNDERSTANDING.

OKAY. YEAH, THAT'S WHAT THEY DO IN AUSTIN.

YOU HIT YOUR LITTLE BUTTON BECAUSE SOMETIMES THEY IGNORE MY LITTLE BUTTON.

YOU WOULDN'T DO THAT, WOULD YOU? THAT SMILE. UM.

OKAY. SO ANYTHING ELSE, Y'ALL, BEFORE WE PREPARE THE NEXT DRAFT OF THE RULES? AND I'M SORRY, I'M JUST CURIOUS, BUT THE WHOLE LUNCH THING, AND THIS IS COMING FROM A VERY BIG EATER, BUT ALSO SOMEONE SUPER TYPE-A AND LIKES TO PLAN.

UM, I WOULD LOVE THE.

I KNOW SO MANY DEPARTMENTS HAVE TO BE ON STANDBY AND JUST ALL THE COURT STAFF LIKE WHAT IS MORE CONVENIENT NOT ONLY FOR US, BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY FOR ALL OF THE TEAM.

IS IT BETTER TO BE PREDICTABLE OR I WOULD JUST LOVE BROADER FEEDBACK AND I'D LIKE TO SEE THE OUR STAY AS AS PRESENTED ONLY BECAUSE I USE THE TIME TO.

NOW I CAN TELL PEOPLE I'LL MAKE SOME CALLS.

I'LL BE ON BREAK.

UM, OR I CAN RUN TO AN EVENT, UM, A MISS A LOT OF EVENTS THAT PEOPLE HAVE INVITED ME TO, TO CAN'T MAKE IT.

THEY'LL GIVE ME AN OPPORTUNITY TO DO THAT.

SO AS LONG AS IT'S STANDARD AND SET, IT ALLOWS ME TO PLAN MY DAY AS WELL.

WELL, LET'S KEEP, LET'S KEEP 1 TO 2.

THEN. WE WERE TRYING TO FIGURE OUT HOW WE DIDN'T POST IT THAT WAY.

SO IF SOMETHING CAME UP, IF THE KING OF SPAIN WAS IN TOWN, YOU KNOW, AND WE WANT AND THEY WERE READING A RESOLUTION, YOU KNOW, SO IT'S KIND OF WHAT HAPPENED TODAY. SO WE COULD I MEAN, WE COULD CHANGE IT TO TO LIKE AROUND NO EARLIER THAN ONE.

WE KNOW WE'RE GOING TO DO IT AT ONE UNLESS, YOU KNOW, THERE'S EXTENUATING CIRCUMSTANCES.

OR WE COULD LEAVE RIGHT.

WHEN YOU POST IT THAT WAY.

I THINK YOU GOT TO STOP AT ONE.

BY LAW, WE CANNOT DO ANY COUNTING.

YEAH. UNLESS WE. YEAH, YOU CAN'T DO ANY BUSINESS DURING THAT PERIOD.

SO THAT'S THE ISSUE. SO WHAT ENDS UP HAPPENING IS, IS UM, WE'RE NOT GOING TO POST IT.

AND SO THE CHANGE WOULD PREVENT IT FROM POSTING.

IT'S REALLY WE'LL FOLLOW IT.

WE'LL FOLLOW IT. YEAH. IT'S FOLLOWING A RULE AND THAT'S, THAT'S THE OTHER ISSUE.

YEAH. RIGHT. THAT WAY.

ANY TIME YOU WANT TO DO ANYTHING, YOU CAN CHANGE IT.

YOU CAN. SO WE'LL KEEP IT AS AS IT CAME TODAY.

OKAY. RIGHT.

WHICH MEANS WE ALL KNOW WE'RE GOING.

EVERYBODY KNOWS IT'S FROM 1 TO 2.

BUT IF SOMETHING HAPPENS THAT WAY, WE'RE NOT.

WE HAVEN'T POSTED IT FROM 1 TO 2.

UH, YES, ANOTHER IDEA OUT THERE.

ROLL CALL. VOTE WITH THAT.

MAKE IT EASIER. AND THERE'S ONLY FIVE OF US, SO IT SHOULDN'T BE TOO LABORIOUS.

BUT WITH THAT, MAKE IT EASIER FOR YOU ALL FOR THE RECORDS.

I THINK IT'LL TAKE TOO LONG, I THINK FOR EVERY VOTE, BECAUSE SOMETIMES I DON'T IF I MAKE THE MOTION OR IF I DON'T SAY ANYTHING, I ASSUME YOU KNOW THAT I'M A YEAH, YEAH.

NO, I'LL LET YOU KNOW THAT EVERY TIME I MADE A MISTAKE WITH YOU EARLIER TODAY.

BUT, UM, WELL, SO.

SO IT SOUNDS LIKE THE THING THAT'S CHANGING IS.

I MEAN, I DON'T THINK ANY OF WHAT WE PROPOSE, BUT WE'LL BRING IT BACK ANYWAY TO GIVE FOLKS TIME TO LOOK AT IT.

BUT IT IS THE EXACT SAME THING WE DISCUSSED LAST TIME.

ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU.

THANK YOU, JUDGE. UM, OKAY, SO THAT IS 375.

NO ACTION. 376.

THAT IS AMICUS BRIEFS.

YES, JUDGE, I HAD JUST A FRIENDLY AMENDMENT TO THIS.

NOT THAT I DON'T TRUST THE COUNTY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE, BUT I JUST WANT TO, UM, MAKE A FRIENDLY AMENDMENT THAT THE AMICUS BRIEFS FILED WITHOUT COURT CONSENT MUST BE TRANSMITTED IMMEDIATELY AT THE FOLLOWING UPON THE FILING TO COURT OFFICES.

IT MUST BE.

IT MUST ALSO BE TRANSMITTED AT THE FOLLOWING COURT MEETING.

YEAH, THAT'S ABSOLUTELY NO PROBLEM.

OKAY. DO WE NEED A MOTION FOR THAT? I THINK IF WE WANT TO DO THE IS IT MOTION TO.

I CAN TYPE SOMETHING UP AND SEND IT AROUND.

BUT OR IT WOULD BE MOTION TO PERMIT THE COUNTY ATTORNEY TO FILE AMICUS BRIEFS ON BEHALF OF HARRIS COUNTY AND REQUIRING THE COUNTY ATTORNEY TO SUBMIT SUCH AMICUS BRIEFS TO ALL COURT OF COURT OFFICES IMMEDIATELY UPON FILING AND BE TRANSMITTED AND TRANSMITTED AT THE SUBSEQUENT COMMISSIONERS.

THANK YOU. AGAIN, I VOTED THIS WAY ON MANY SIMILAR THINGS.

I'M JUST NOT COMFORTABLE WITH A BLANK CHECK.

I ALWAYS LIKE TO VOTE ON THINGS BEFOREHAND.

SO I WILL NOT BE SUPPORTING THE MOTION.

I'LL MOVE IT. OKAY.

SO DID YOU GET THE MOTION, JAMES, OR SHOULD I READ IT? IF YOU COULD READ IT. IT'S A MOTION TO PERMIT THE COUNTY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE TO FILE AMICUS BRIEFS ON BEHALF OF HARRIS COUNTY AND TO SUBMIT AMICUS BRIEFS TO ALL OFFICES IMMEDIATELY UPON FILING AND TRANSMIT IT TO THE FOLLOWING COMMISSIONERS COURT MEETING.

UM. MOTION BY COMMISSIONER ELLIS.

SECOND BY COMMISSIONER GARCIA.

[04:30:02]

ANY OPPOSED? NO, I'M IN FAVOR.

MOTION CARRIES 4 TO 1. WHAT'S THE PLURAL OF AMICUS BRIEFS? IT'S A MICKEY.

MICKEY. IT'S A FILE. A MICKEY.

MICKEY. MICKEY. MICKEY.

OKAY. I SAY AMICUS BRIEFS.

AMICUS BRIEFS. OKAY, GREAT.

UM. 377.

COMMENTS WITH THE EPA.

IT'S SAME ISSUE. SO MOVED SECOND MOTION BY COMMISSIONER ELLIS.

SECOND BY COMMISSIONER GARCIA.

ALL IN FAVOR? AYE.

ANY OPPOSED? NO.

MOTION CARRIES 4 TO 1.

I'M IN FAVOR. 384.

UM, THE GUN BUYBACK EVENT SO MOVED SECOND MOTION BY COMMISSIONER ELLIS.

SECOND BY COMMISSIONER GARCIA.

ALL IN FAVOR? AYE.

ANY OPPOSED? NO, I'M IN FAVOR OF MOTION CARRIES 4 TO 1 386.

IT'S THE EXPANSION OF THE HEART PROGRAM.

COMMISSIONER BRIONES YES.

I WANT TO THANK DIRECTOR ROBINSON AND HER TEAM FOR WORKING WITH OUR TEAM IN PLANNING TO EXPAND HEART INTO DISTRICT FOR THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE, WHICH OVERLAPS WITH PRECINCT FOUR.

I'D LIKE TO THANK COMMISSIONER ELLIS FOR BRINGING HEART TO HARRIS COUNTY AND ALSO DIRECTOR ROBINSON.

AND I'M VERY EXCITED BECAUSE NOT ONLY IS IT EXPANDING INTO DISTRICT FOUR, I.E.

PRECINCT FOUR, BUT IT'S ALSO GOING TO BE 24 OVER SEVEN SERVICE IN THE ORIGINAL DISTRICT.

AND SO I'M VERY EXCITED.

AND BECAUSE WE NEED TO DO ESPECIALLY IN MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS MONTH, IT IS A WONDERFUL THING TO BE EXPANDING.

SO THANK YOU, DIRECTOR ROBINSON, AND THANK YOU TO YOUR TEAM.

AND THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER ELLIS.

JUDGE COMMISSIONER, I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR ASKING TO HAVE IT EXPANDED IN YOUR AREA.

THIS WAS ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE COMMITTED TO DO THE AFTERNOON OF GEORGE FLOYD'S FUNERAL, WHICH WE'RE COMING UP ON ANNIVERSARY OF SOON, AND I PLAN TO GO BACK AND LOOK AT ALL OF THE ITEMS WE COMMITTED TO AND PUT THEM ON THE AGENDA, MAYBE AN ADVANCED RACE LOOKING TO MAKE SURE THAT WE WE GET THERE.

I DO WANT TO SAY TO DIRECTOR ROBINSON THAT YOU AND YOUR TEAM HAVE DONE A GREAT JOB, AN ADMIRABLE JOB ON THIS.

AND AS I UNDERSTAND IT, IT IT HAS THE ABILITY TO GO ALL OVER THE COUNTY BECAUSE EVEN IF IT'S IN TWO AND I KNOW YOU SUPPORT IT OR THREE OR 4 OR 1, YOU KNOW, IF AN INCIDENT HAPPENS, IT IMPACTS ALL OF US.

SO I, FOR ONE, WANT IT THROUGHOUT THE COUNTY.

OBVIOUSLY, IT'S A FINANCING ISSUE AND I WOULD FAVOR THOSE COMMISSIONERS WHO WANTED FIRST TO DO IT FIRST.

BUT WE HAVE THE FUNDING.

IT SHOULD APPLY ALL OVER THIS COUNTY.

BUT I'M PROUD TO SECOND THE MOTION FOR THE EXPANSION THAT YOU'RE ASKING FOR.

MOTION BY COMMISSIONER BRIONES, SECOND BY COMMISSIONER ELLIS.

ALL IN FAVOR? AYE.

ANY OPPOSED? NO, I'M IN FAVOR.

MOTION CARRIES 4 TO 1, AND THAT'S VERY EXCITING.

UM, CAN WE, BEFORE WE LEAVE, CAN WE PASS THE RESOLUTIONS? WHO HAS THEM? OH, JUST SO WE CAN ALL SIGN THEM.

SO LET ME, UM.

LET ME JUST PASS THEM AROUND BEFORE WE ALL LEAVE.

YES, THAT WAS ONE. I WANT TO ASK, UH, DIRECTOR COSTAS TO COME ON.

ON A RESIDENTIAL BUYOUTS.

I DIDN'T PULL IT. IT'S A TRANSMITTAL, BUT I WANTED TO GIVE US AN UPDATE.

I KNOW THOSE. OH, THAT'S RIGHT.

HERE. AND WE DID SAY WE WERE GOING TO TALK ABOUT THAT IF YOU'RE AROUND.

OH, THERE. THERE YOU ARE.

HI, GUYS. I HOPE YOU CAN SEE ME AND HEAR ME.

YEAH. AND I KNOW YOU HEARD SOME OF THE CONCERNS AND I APPRECIATE THE TIME YOUR STAFF HAS PUT INTO THIS.

AND OBVIOUSLY THERE'S A LOT OF SENSITIVITY AROUND THE TABLE.

UH, I HAD A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS AND THEN YOU CAN COMMENT.

UH, FIRST OF ALL, FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE ABLE TO GET FEDERAL FUNDS, WE CAN USE FEDERAL FUNDS.

ARE THEY MADE COMPLETELY WHOLE OR DO THEY GET 100% OR DO THEY GET SOMETHING LESS THAN THAT? THEY GET THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN WHAT THE FAIR MARKET, RENT OR HOME.

MINUS THE VALUE OF WHAT THEY LEAVE.

MEANING IF THEY HAD A MOBILE HOME THAT THEY OWN.

AND WE ARE PAYING THEM FOR THAT AND THEN THEY ACTUALLY THEY'RE ABLE TO.

YES. BE COMPLETELY WHOLE IN THE SENSE OF THE VALUE OF THE DOLLAR OF THE HOME THAT THEY WILL FIND.

IT IS TO BE EQUIVALENT TO A LET'S SAY, A THREE BEDROOM HOME TO REPLACE THE THREE BEDROOM HOME THAT THEY LEFT.

NOW, OF COURSE, A CHALLENGE WOULD BE THEY WOULDN'T BE ABLE TO GET A HOME IN A NEIGHBORHOOD AS CLOSE IN AS THEY ARE IN.

CORRECT. EVEN WITH THE SAME AMOUNT OF MONEY.

I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE WE GOT THAT CLEAR WHEN WE WERE DISCUSSING IT EARLIER.

YOU KNOW, IF SOMEBODY IS BEING BOUGHT OUT IN ONE AREA AND YOU GET TO VALUE THAT HOME, YOU COULDN'T GET THAT.

YOU COULDN'T GET A HOME.

AS CLOSE IN, RIGHT? RIGHT. TODAY'S FAIR MARKET VALUE OF HOMES IS THE CHALLENGE I THINK THAT THEY ARE FACING.

AND THEN OBVIOUSLY, WE TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHAT CAN BE DONE.

[04:35:02]

FUNDING. SO THEY GET WHAT THEY WOULD HAVE GOTTEN IF THEY COULD HAVE GOTTEN THE FEDERAL MONEY TO MAKE UP FOR THAT DIFFERENTIAL.

AND I'M ASSUMING WHATEVER WE DO IN ONE AREA, THE PEOPLE HERE TODAY WERE FROM MY PRECINCT, BUT THEY COULD HAVE BEEN FROM SOMEBODY ELSE'S.

WE'D HAVE TO DO THAT EVERYWHERE.

SO WHAT'S THE DO YOU HAVE A ROUGH NUMBER OF WHAT IT'S GOING TO COST RIGHT NOW? SO WE ARE STILL TRYING TO DETERMINE HOW MANY TOTAL HOUSEHOLDS WOULD NEED THIS FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE.

SO AT THIS POINT, WE HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO GO INTO THE GREEN ROAD MOBILE HOME COMMUNITY.

AND SO IT IS A BEST ESTIMATE THAT WE MIGHT HAVE ANOTHER 50 HOUSEHOLDS.

AND CURRENTLY WE KNOW THAT THERE ARE 54 THAT ARE ELIGIBLE.

SO IT COULD BE DOUBLE THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE.

AND IF WE ARE TO MAKE THEM FULLY WHOLE, WE ARE LOOKING IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD OF 10 TO $11 MILLION DIFFERENCE.

AND IS IT YOUR INTENT TO MAKE THAT RECOMMENDATION TO US? WELL, MY INTENT IS TO TRY TO GET MORE ACCURATE AND TO DISCUSS WITH YOU AND AND THEN GET YOUR RECOMMENDATION ON.

YES. ON WHAT THE POTENTIAL ARE, BECAUSE I THINK TO WHERE THE MONEY COMES FROM.

RIGHT. EXACTLY.

EXACTLY. THAT'S OUR CONCERN.

YEAH. OKAY.

ANYTHING ELSE YOU WANT TO ASK? SO WE CAN'T USE.

SORRY, COLLEAGUES, DID YOU HAVE QUESTIONS ON THIS? NO, JUST. I JUST WANT TO THANK DIRECTOR COSTAS FOR HER WORK ON THIS.

UM, AS WE HEARD FROM THESE FOLKS EARLIER TODAY, THIS IS A PAINFUL SITUATION, VERY DIFFICULT.

AND AS YOU'RE TOUCHING ON, UM, COMMISSIONER ELLIS, THE CONCERN HAS ALWAYS BEEN THAT BECAUSE OF CIRCUMSTANCES OR, OR OUR EVENT OR THE EVALUATION PROCESS, UM, THESE FAMILIES CAN'T.

FIND ANYTHING COMPARABLE TO WHERE THEY WERE LIVING IN THE IMMEDIATE AREA.

AND THE BUYOUT IS INTENDED TO KEEP PEOPLE IN THE SAME NEIGHBORHOOD THEY THEY WERE ORIGINALLY IN.

AND THAT'S JUST NOT HAPPENING.

SO WE'RE ACTUALLY DISPLACING PEOPLE WHO WERE ORIGINALLY PRECINCT TO PRECINCT ONE OR EVEN HARRIS COUNTY RESIDENTS, AND THEY'RE JUST HAVING TO FIND SOMEWHERE ENTIRELY NEW TO RELOCATE TO.

IT'S SO.

WHEN DID THIS STARTED? I MEAN, I HAVE 400.

HOW MANY TRUCKS IS IT? DIRECTOR ON THE.

YES. IF YOU LOOK AT 326 OF FOUR, 21 BYTES ARE COMPLETE.

RESIDENTS ARE ALLOWED ONE YEAR TO RELOCATE TO A REPLACEMENT HOME.

FOLKS HAVE BEEN COMPLAINING ABOUT THIS FOR A COUPLE OF YEARS, AT LEAST ONE.

SO AND I RECOGNIZE YOU JUST TOOK OVER.

BUT SO YOU'RE YOU'RE THE HOPE.

OKAY. IT'S ON YOU.

IT'S NOT FAIR. BUT HERE'S WHERE WE ARE, AND YOU'RE CAPABLE OF FIXING THIS, SO.

WHAT MEAN DOES THIS MEAN THERE ARE RESIDENTS THAT.

HAVE BEEN FORCED OUT, THEIR YEAR HAS EXPIRED AND THEY HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO FIND.

SOMEWHERE THEY CAN LIVE WITH THE MONEY THEY WERE GIVEN? NO, NOT YET.

SO THE BUYOUT PROCESS HAS BEEN TAKEN LONGER IN MANY CASES THAN WE HAD ANTICIPATE.

SO WE RECENTLY, FOR INSTANCE, GREENSBORO IS THE BIG ONE THAT WE'VE BEEN HELD OFF ON BECAUSE THE OWNER OF THAT MOBILE HOME TRACK WAS RESISTANT TO SELLING.

SO IS A SINGLE OWNER, WHILE THE PARK ITSELF HAS MORE THAN 200 MOBILE HOMES ON IT.

SO FEBRUARY MEAN MAY 3RD WAS WHEN THE EMINENT DOMAIN JUDGMENT WAS FINALLY GIVEN.

SO WE HAVE A 21 DAY WAIT PERIOD AS REQUIRED BY LAW.

SO HE WILL RECEIVE HIS CHECK BY THE END OF MAY.

AND THAT IS WHEN WE CAN ACTUALLY GO IN AND FULLY ENGAGE AND DISCOVER HOW MANY HOUSEHOLDS, WHAT THEIR SITUATION IS, IF THEY ARE RENTING, IF THEY'RE OWNING, AND WHAT EXACTLY IS THE COMPARABLE.

SO THIS APPLIES TO NOT JUST THE SAFE PROGRAM, BUT PEOPLE WHO ARE FULLY ABLE TO BENEFIT FROM THE RESOURCES.

SO IT'S BEEN A VERY COMPLICATED AND TIME INTENSIVE PROCESS.

AND I HEAR YOU THAT WE DON'T WANT EXCUSES AND WE ARE ALSO HAVING TO WORK WITH SOME OF THE LEGAL ASPECTS OF THIS.

[04:40:04]

I BELIEVE THERE ARE SOME HOUSEHOLDS THAT ARE GETTING CLOSER BECAUSE THEY DID ENGAGE.

EARLIER TODAY, FOR INSTANCE, I HEARD FROM ONE PARENT OR OR RENTER WHO STARTED THIS PROCESS IN AUGUST AND AND SHE NEEDS TO ACCELERATE HER PACE.

SO WE WILL BE AUDITING AND LOOKING AT ALL OF THESE CASES, NOT JUST FROM TODAY, BUT OTHERS AS WELL, SO THAT WE CAN GET THEM MOVING.

SO CAN CAN THERE BE A STANDARD LIKE MAYBE ANY ANY FOLKS THAT ARE GOING TO COME DO IN 2023 WHERE THE YEAR IS GOING TO EXPIRE IN 2023? GET US A SOLUTION ON THAT.

ABSOLUTELY. ABSOLUTELY.

YOU KNOW, AND YES, YOU CAN HAVE A PLAN FOR THE REST, BUT I MEAN, IT GOES BACK TO THE MONEY.

BUT THE THING IS, NUMBER ONE, WE STARTED THIS.

AND NUMBER TWO, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO KEEP IDEALLY WE FIGURE OUT A WAY TO DO THIS IN A WAY THAT WORKS.

AND SO IF WE CAN'T FIGURE IT OUT THIS TIME, WE'RE REALLY IN A PROBLEM BECAUSE THE REGION JUST KEEPS FLOODING.

SO, I MEAN, IT'S GOT AN AFFORDABLE HOUSING COMPONENT TO IT, TOO.

BUT ANYWAY, SO SO I REALLY DO THINK WE OUGHT TO FIGURE THIS OUT.

SO CAN YOU CAN YOU BRING A SOLUTION FOR THE HOMES THAT EXPIRE? THE ONE YEAR EXPIRES THIS YEAR AND AT LEAST START THERE? ABSOLUTELY. ABSOLUTELY.

SO LET LET ME DO THAT HOMEWORK AND COME BACK TO YOU IN JUNE WITH A RECOMMENDATION, AT LEAST ON THOSE.

AND SO THE TIMELINE IS, IS WHAT I'M CONCERNED ABOUT WITH OUR ABILITY TO GET FULLY INTO GREEN ROAD FOR A FULLER PICTURE.

SO I WILL DO MY HOMEWORK ON THE ONES THAT ARE OF URGENCY AND BRING THAT BACK TO YOU IN JUNE AND THEN IN JULY WITH A MORE FULLER PROPOSAL. YEAH.

AND THEN AND THEN THE DOCUMENTED AND UNDOCUMENTED BECAUSE AGAIN, ABSOLUTELY COMMUNITIES WERE SELECTED WITH FULL KNOWLEDGE THAT THERE'S UNDOCUMENTED PEOPLE LIVING THERE.

SO, YOU KNOW.

AND YOU DIDN'T PICK THESE.

OKAY, I KNOW THAT, BUT BUT YOU BUT YOU CAN HELP US FIGURE THIS OUT.

I WILL WORK ON THAT.

YES. AND SO MISTER RAMOS IS NOT HERE, BUT.

OH, THERE WE GO. YEAH.

I MEAN, I DON'T KNOW, MAN.

YOU'RE SAYING YOU WEREN'T HERE WHEN THIS STARTED, AND IT COSTS MONEY, AND IT SOUNDS LIKE WE CAN'T USE ARPA MONEY FOR THIS, RIGHT? BUT I CAN WORK WITH DIRECTOR COSTAS ON A FISCAL NOTE FOR THE UNDOCUMENTED.

I DON'T KNOW, BECAUSE IT'S FEDERAL MONEY.

BUT I MEAN, WE CAN'T PUT THESE PEOPLE THROUGH THIS.

AND A YEAR NOT KNOWING IF YOU'RE GOING TO GET KICKED OUT, THAT'S CRAZY.

SO AT LEAST WE CAN DEAL WITH THOSE AND THEN WE CAN, YOU KNOW, I'LL WORK WITH HER ON GETTING A FISCAL NOTE TOGETHER.

AND IF IT'S ONE TIME, I THINK WE HAVE A LOT MORE OPTIONS.

IT'S THE RECURRING THAT WE STRUGGLE TO FUND.

AND THEN OBVIOUSLY, ANYTIME ANOTHER IDEA, BRIGHT IDEA LIKE THIS ONE IS COMING, Y'ALL WILL GET IN THERE BEFORE WE MAKE A MESS.

THANKS. WE, YOU KNOW, SHOULDN'T SAY THAT, YOU KNOW, FOR A MR. WHAT DON'T. I DON'T REALLY KNOW WHAT HAPPENED HERE.

I THINK IT WAS KIND OF DURING COVID, WASN'T IT, THAT THIS ALL CAME TOGETHER AND THEN WE REPLACED THE DIRECTOR AND PLACE THE DIRECTOR AGAIN.

AND IT'S A VERY UNFORTUNATE SITUATION.

YES. COMMISSIONER JORGE COSTAS, DO YOU KNOW WHAT THE CITY OF HOUSTON IS DOING IN INSTANCES LIKE THIS? ARE THEY ARE THEY GETTING MONEY FROM GENERAL REVENUE OR WHAT ARE THEY DOING? I DO NOT KNOW, BUT I WILL.

NOW. THANK YOU. MIGHT BE ASSUME WE BOTH HAVE THE PROBLEM TO CHECK ON.

I JUST BE CURIOUS.

OR MAYBE OTHER JURISDICTIONS IN TEXAS JUST CURIOUS.

YOU KNOW, I THINK WHAT I UNDERSTAND IS THAT THIS MANDATORY BUYOUT PROGRAM IS UNIQUE TO HARRIS COUNTY AND ONE OTHER COMMUNITY OUTSIDE OF THIS STATE. AND BECAUSE IT IS SO COMPLICATED.

BUT I WILL I WILL SEE IF THE CITY IS DOING SOMETHING SIMILAR.

OKAY. THANK YOU.

YOU'RE DOING A GOOD JOB. WE APPRECIATE YOU SO MUCH.

THANK YOU FOR JUMPING IN AND TAKING THE HELM.

AND AS I THINK OF ADDITIONAL WAYS AND NEED FOR FLEXIBILITY WITH FUNDING, IT REMINDS ME OF THE PHILANTHROPY LIAISON POSITION THAT THE COURT APPROVED.

I DON'T KNOW IF THIS IS ALLOWED COUNTY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE, BUT I WOULD LOVE TO HEAR AN UPDATE ON HOW THE HIRING MAY BE GOING ON THE PHILANTHROPY LIAISON BECAUSE YEAH, THIS ONE RECURRING THEME, ESPECIALLY WITH THE UNDOCUMENTED INDIVIDUALS, THAT'S WHERE PHILANTHROPY COULD POTENTIALLY STEP IN AND STEP UP.

AND WE HAVE HAD TWO ENTITIES IN THE PHILANTHROPIC WORLD THAT HAVE STEPPED UP.

SO HOW MUCH WAS IT THAT WAS PUT IN? WE PUT IN SOME. GR HOW MUCH WAS THAT AND HOW MUCH OF IT WAS PHILANTHROPIC MONEY? 1.5 THAT COMMISSIONERS APPROVED AND UNITED WAY HAS STEPPED UP SO FAR WITH 230,000 AND AND CATHOLIC CHARITIES HAS ALSO OFFERED TO SUPPORT SOME.

[04:45:03]

WE'VE HAD ABOUT I THINK WE HAVE 21 CANDIDATES.

WE'RE ABOUT TO START INITIAL SCREENING INTERVIEWS.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU.

GREAT. THANK YOU GUYS SO MUCH.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU, JUDGE.

ANYTHING ELSE, JAMES? NO, MA'AM.

I'LL JUST SHOW THAT AS STILL BEING ACCEPTED.

ALL RIGHT, TIFFANY.

UM. JAY.

ALL GOOD JUDGE. COMMISSIONER GARCIA, BEFORE WE BEFORE WE ADJOURN, UM, I DID WANT TO ASK IF, RESPECTFULLY, WE COULD ADJOURN IN THE HONOR OF JAMES JR ROBERTS.

HE WAS A PRECINCT TWO LONGTIME PRECINCT TWO EMPLOYEE.

HE WAS SHOT, UM, ALMOST TWO YEARS AGO NOW.

RIGHT. AND, UH, REGRETFULLY, HE LOST HIS BATTLE, UH, COULDN'T OVERCOME HIS INJURIES.

AND WE'RE GOING TO BE, UH, HAVING HIS FUNERAL THIS FRIDAY.

AND SO I JUST WOULD ASK TO HONOR J.R..

THANK YOU. UM, THANK YOU.

AND WE HONOR HIM. IT IS 535, AND WE'RE ADJOURNING IN MEMORY OF J.R..

THANK YOU.

* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.