Jun 27, 2023 Commissioners Court

I WANT TO ALSO ADD MY APPRECIATION TO MR. THOMAS'S FAMILY.

MY CONDOLENCES TO HIS WIFE AND AND TO THE WHOLE TEAM.

THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER ELLIS.

ONE MORE RESOLUTION FROM YOU.

UNLESS YOU WANT TO TAKE THAT AS PART OF THE AGENDA.

YEAH, THIS THIS IS THE ONE ON SUPPORTING WORKERS.

RIGHT. TO ORGANIZE IS PRETTY STRAIGHTFORWARD.

UH, IT SAYS HARRIS COUNTY RECOGNIZES THAT LABOR UNIONS HAVE SERVED AS A CATALYST FOR SOCIAL, RACIAL, RACIAL AND GENDER EQUALITY AND OFTEN AT THE FOREFRONT OF MOVEMENTS FOR EQUALITY AND CIVIL RIGHTS IN THIS COUNTRY.

UNDER TEXAS LAW, THE RIGHT TO WORK LAW AND THE FIRST AMENDMENT TO THE US CONSTITUTION, EMPLOYEES OF HARRIS CENTER FOR MENTAL HEALTH AND INTELLECTUAL DEVELOPMENT DISABILITIES AND HARRIS COUNTY EMPLOYEES IN GENERAL HAVE THE RIGHT TO ORGANIZE A UNION AND TO TALK TO THEIR COWORKERS ABOUT THE BENEFITS OF UNIONIZATION.

I WANTED TO PASS THIS BECAUSE SOME OF THE CWA LEADERS AND SOME OF THE WORKERS HAD A MEETING WITH ME LAST WEEK AND WANTED ME TO CALL THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OVER AT THE HARRIS CENTER AND SOME OF THE BOARD MEMBERS AND ENCOURAGE THEM TO BE SUPPORTIVE AND NOT IN ANY WAY INTIMIDATE THE PEOPLE WHO WANTED TO ORGANIZE THE UNION AND DIDN'T WANT TO GET INTO A HE SAID SHE SAID, BECAUSE I DON'T KNOW.

SO I SAID, WHY DON'T WE JUST PUT AN ITEM ON THE AGENDA, A RESOLUTION IN SUPPORT OF WORKERS RIGHTS TO ORGANIZE? I DID MENTION I CAN REMEMBER SOME YEARS AGO WHEN, UH, I THINK IT WAS SEIU ASKED A NUMBER OF ELECTED OFFICIALS.

COMMISSIONER GARCIA, I THINK YOU MIGHT HAVE BEEN SHERIFF.

I CAN'T REMEMBER. NO, I WAS ON COUNCIL.

YOU'RE ON CITY COUNCIL WAS ABOUT TEN, 12 YEARS AGO, SOMETHING LIKE THAT.

AND WE WERE OUT AT THE GALLERIA AND I WAS OUT THERE WITH, UH, WITH CONGRESSMAN GENE GREEN.

AND I JUST. I WAS ASKED TO JUST GO OUT THERE AND WALK WITH THE WORKERS.

I DIDN'T KNOW WE WERE GOING TO WALK IN THE MIDDLE OF THE STREET.

WELL, YOU'RE OUT THERE WITH US, AND THAT'S WHAT I'M SAYING.

IF YOU WERE SHERIFF, I WAS GETTING THE CALLS NOT GOING ON COUNCIL.

SO IF I ASK AKEEL AL GREEN AND I WAS LOOKING AT ONE ANOTHER, LIKE IF WE GET TAKEN OFF TO JAIL AND FIRST OF ALL, I HAVE MY MY ONE NICE SUIT ON AND I WAS THINKING THESE FRENCH CUFFS MIGHT BE I DIDN'T KNOW THAT WAS PART OF THE PROGRAM, BUT I FIGURED IF I WAS WILLING TO GO OUT THERE FOR SOME OF THOSE HAVE THE LEAST AMONG US, A JANITORIAL WORKERS AND THEIR RIGHT TO ORGANIZE, TRYING TO GET BETTER WAGES AND PRESSURING DOWNTOWN BUILDINGS, IF I RECALL IT CORRECTLY, UH, TO SIGN AGREEMENTS WITH THEM, UH, FOR A LIVABLE NOW WITH A LIVABLE WAGE, SOMETHING BETTER THAN WHAT THEY WERE GETTING WHEN THESE EMPLOYEES WHO WORKED FOR US ESSENTIALLY AT HARRIS COUNTY, EVEN IF IT'S A SEPARATE ENTITY, WE PRETTY MUCH CONTROL THE BOARD.

I SAID I'D BE MORE THAN HAPPY TO PUT THAT ITEM ON THE AGENDA, AND I HOPE IT PASSES UNANIMOUSLY.

I THINK ALL OF YOU ALL HAVE SEEN IT.

AND I SAY THAT FROM A SINCERE STANDPOINT, VANTAGE POINT OF NOT CASTING ANY ASPERSIONS.

I DON'T KNOW IF ANYBODY WAS DISCOURAGED OR WERE GIVEN THE IMPRESSION THAT SOMEHOW THEY'D BE PENALIZED IF THEY ORGANIZED A UNION.

I BELIEVE THEY HAVE THE RIGHT AND BE CANDID WITH YOU.

ENCOURAGE ALL HARRIS COUNTY EMPLOYEES, UH, IF THEY'RE NOT IN A UNION, THEY HAVE THE RIGHT TO DO IT.

IF THEY WANT TO DO IT, THEY OUGHT TO JOIN ONE.

AND I THINK THEY'D BE WELL SERVED.

IN FACT, IF THERE'S SOME MORE OF THEM, I'LL JOIN ONE MYSELF.

UH, IT'S IMPORTANT, BUT AT THE APPROPRIATE TIME, I DON'T THINK.

I THINK THERE MIGHT BE SOME SPEAKERS ON IT.

I DON'T KNOW. BUT I JUST WANT TO LAY IT OUT.

[00:20:02]

NO, I WILL SECOND THAT.

AND IF WE GO AHEAD AND TAKE A VOTE, I THINK IT'D BE APPROPRIATE FOR ALL THINGS CONSIDERED.

BUT YOU JUST REMINDED ME WHEN WHEN I MET WITH THIS SEIU FOR THE FIRST TIME, UH, IT WAS ONE OF THOSE THEY HAD ME AT HELLO.

BECAUSE THEY WERE REPRESENTING THE JANITORS, OF WHICH MY MOM, UH, HAD BEEN A JANITOR.

AND SO I REMEMBER HOW MY DAD WOULD ALWAYS TRY TO CLOSE THE SHOP DOWN EARLY SO THAT HE CAN RUN OVER AND HELP HER FINISH HER ROUTE IN HER DOWNTOWN BUILDING QUICKER SO SHE COULD GET HOME BECAUSE SHE ALSO DROVE MY SCHOOL BUS IN THE MORNING.

SO I REMEMBER THAT VERY, VERY VIVIDLY AND AND WAS PROUD TO SUPPORT HIM THEN AND STILL DO.

I KNEW YOU'D BE SUPPORTIVE.

AND OF COURSE, SUPPORT IS OUT IN YOUR PRECINCT, YOU KNOW.

HOW WOULD MIDDLETON'S FUNERAL YESTERDAY WAS SCHEDULED TO SPEAK, BUT WAS AFRAID IF I WAS TO CALL YOU.

I WAS AFRAID IF I WENT, ANYBODY WHO SNEEZED WOULD SWEAR THEY GOT IT FROM RODNEY.

SO I DIDN'T GO.

BUT I JUST THOUGHT ABOUT THE ROLE THAT LONGSHOREMEN UNIONS IN PARTICULAR PLAYED.

AND I DIDN'T KNOW MY GRANDFATHER WELL, BUT I KNEW HE FILED A LAWSUIT IN BROWNSVILLE TO FORCE THE BLACK, BROWN AND WHITE UNIONS TO MERGE, AND THEY WANT TO KILL HIM AND ONES WANT TO KILL HIM THE MOST WERE THE BLACK AND BROWN LEADERS WHO HAD JOBS.

BUT THE WORKERS HAD TO WORK IN A SEGREGATED ENVIRONMENT.

AND SO I THOUGHT THIS WOULD BE A NICE AND FITTING THING TO DO IN HONOR OF HOWARD MIDDLETON.

EXACTLY. ARE THERE ANY SPEAKERS TO SPEAK? OH, IF WE'RE ADDRESSING IT LATER, I'LL MAKE MORE REMARKS.

BUT THE BOTTOM LINE IS, IS I'M HUGELY SUPPORTIVE AND I BELIEVE WE NEED TO BE LEADING IN TERMS OF WORKERS RIGHTS HERE IN HARRIS COUNTY.

AND I'M ABSOLUTELY SUPPORTIVE OF THEM BEING ABLE TO HAVE THE RIGHT.

SO, UM, CAN WE TAKE UP THE SPEAKERS BRIEFLY ON THIS ITEM SO WE CAN VOTE ON IT? FIRST IS SPEAKER NUMBER 41.

SETH HUTCHINSON. YOU HAVE ONE MINUTE? HI, MY NAME IS SETH HUTCHINSON.

I'M AN ORGANIZER WITH THE COMMUNICATIONS WORKERS OF AMERICA.

I BEGAN WORKING WITH HARRIS CENTER EMPLOYEES WHO BECAME INTERESTED IN FORMING A UNION WITH CWA AFTER WORKERS AT AUSTIN, TRAVIS COUNTY LOCAL MENTAL HEALTH AUTHORITY INTEGRAL CARE FORMED THEIR UNION LAST YEAR.

I GOT THE PRIVILEGE OF WORKING WITH THEM IN THAT PROCESS, AND FOLKS AT INTEGRAL CARE AND HARRIS CENTER DO VERY SIMILAR WORK AND HAD VERY SIMILAR REASONS FOR WANTING TO FORM A UNION AND TO START TALKING ABOUT IT.

UM, CLIENT CARE.

CARE FOR THE FOLKS IN THE COMMUNITY OR WERE HIGH ON THAT LIST BECAUSE THEY SEE HIGH TURNOVER.

UM, STAFFING ISSUES.

SAME THING IN A LOT OF INDUSTRIES, BUT IN HEALTH CARE IT HAS THAT PARTICULAR IMPACT OF REALLY AFFECTING THE MOST VULNERABLE FOLKS IN OUR COMMUNITIES BECAUSE THESE ARE THE FOLKS THAT ARE DELIVERING THOSE, THOSE MENTAL HEALTH CARE SERVICES.

AND SO AS THEY WERE GETTING IN THE PROCESS OF DOING THAT, IT'S ALWAYS A FEARFUL PROCESS, ESPECIALLY IN TEXAS, ORGANIZING A UNION, UM, AND TAKING THAT STEP.

AND SO THEY GOT SOME PUSHBACK.

UM, AND WE REALLY APPRECIATE THIS, THIS RESOLUTION AS A WAY TO ENCOURAGE WORKERS TO SAY YOUR RIGHTS WILL BE RESPECTED.

THANK YOU. YOUR TIME IS UP. THANK YOU.

THANK YOU. NEXT IS.

SPEAKER 42 CYNTHIA COLE.

GOOD MORNING. I'M CYNTHIA COLE, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR FOR THE AMERICAN FEDERATION OF STATE COUNTY MUNICIPAL EMPLOYEES LOCAL 1550.

HEY, CYNTHIA. YEAH.

GOOD. AMEN.

WE ARE STANDING IN FULL SUPPORT OF THIS SIMPLY BECAUSE WE HAVE ALTHOUGH THERE WAS NOT OFFICIAL, WE HAVE WORKED WITH A LOT OF THE PEOPLE WHO WORK THERE AND THEY DO NEED REPRESENTATION. WE STAND STRONG THAT THAT NO MATTER WHAT, LABOR SHOULD HAVE A PLACE AND PEOPLE SHOULD HAVE A VOICE.

I WANT TO THANK YOU ALL FOR TAKING THIS OPPORTUNITY TO GO AHEAD AND PUT THAT FORTH.

THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT.

THANK YOU. OKAY. THANK YOU.

IS THAT IT? IF I MIGHT, CYNTHIA AM GLAD I ADDED A LINE THAT I GOT FROM SOME OF YOU LEADERS IN LABOR AND IT MADE THE POINT THAT WHEREAS UNIONS CAN BE PRODUCTIVE AND RESOLVING WORKPLACE ISSUES IN A WAY THAT BUILDS COMMUNITY AND MORALE AND IMPROVE PRODUCTIVITY BY GIVING WORKERS A VOICE TO ENGAGE IN MAKING WORKPLACE MORE EFFICIENT AND PRODUCTIVE.

AND OBVIOUSLY, UNION MEMBERSHIP CAN LEAD TO INCREASED WEALTH FOR UNION MEMBER HOUSEHOLDS AND PROVIDE BETTER BENEFITS, HIGHER WAGES AND INCREASED JOB STABILITY.

YOU KNOW, I KNOW WE HAD A DISCUSSION A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO ON COLA AND IT WAS A TIME WHEN I THOUGHT THAT, YOU KNOW, UNIONS IN PARTICULAR PLAY A KEY ROLE.

AND I KNOW YOU WERE DEALING WITH SURGERY THAT DAY AND TRYING TO HELP THESE WORKERS.

SO IT'S IMPORTANT.

I PLAN TO GO TO THE MARCH ON WASHINGTON IN AUGUST.

THIS IS A HISTORIC ANNIVERSARY OF IT.

AND OBVIOUSLY, UNIONS PLAYED A KEY ROLE IN THE CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT.

SO I'M APPRECIATIVE OF THAT.

AND I WOULD MOVE THAT.

WE ADOPT A RESOLUTION MOTION BY COMMISSIONER ELLIS, SECOND BY COMMISSIONER GARCIA.

ANY OPPOSED? NO, I'M IN FAVOR AND I WANT TO JUST ADD THE LAW IN TEXAS IS VERY, VERY

[00:25:08]

FAR TO ONE SIDE WHEN IT COMES TO WORKERS.

IN FACT, A LAW WAS JUST SIGNED BY THE GOVERNOR ON THIS 13TH OF THIS MONTH THAT REMOVES MANDATORY WATER BREAKS FOR CONSTRUCTION WORKERS, WHICH OBVIOUSLY WITH THIS HEAT THAT REACHES 120 DEGREES, IT'S NO WONDER WE HAD OVER 500 DEATHS IN THE JOB IN 2021 AND IT WAS A 20% INCREASE FROM 2020.

SO THE UNIONS AND THE PUBLIC SECTOR IN TEXAS, THEY DON'T EVEN HAVE A RIGHT TO STRIKE.

THEY CAN'T ENGAGE IN, MEET AND CONFER AGREEMENTS.

THIS IS THE VERY BASIC ABILITY FOR THEM TO WORK TOGETHER AND HAVE ONE VOICE.

AND I DO WANT TO SAY IT'S ABSOLUTELY NO KNOCK ON THE HARRIS CENTER.

THE LEADERSHIP, THE EMPLOYEES, THE WORK THEY DO IS DIFFICULT.

IT'S WORKING WITH MENTAL HEALTH PATIENTS FROM KIDS TO THE INCARCERATED.

BUT IN ALL OF THE COUNTY, AS MUCH AS WE WORK ON PASSING POLICIES TO SUPPORT ALL OF US, INCLUDING OUR WORKERS, WE CAN'T HAVE VISIBILITY INTO EVERYTHING.

AND SO THAT'S WHERE BEING ABLE TO ORGANIZE FROM THE GROUND UP AND HAVING THE WORKERS SPEAK WITH ONE VOICE WILL HELP US IDENTIFY ISSUES THAT WE MAY OTHERWISE NOT SEE.

IN AUSTIN, FOR EXAMPLE, WHERE THE MENTAL HEALTH WORKERS ORGANIZED, THEY BROUGHT UP THE ISSUE OF SAFETY AND THEY SAID, YOU KNOW, WE NEED AN ADDITIONAL POLICE OFFICER IN THE BUILDING BECAUSE WE DON'T FEEL SAFE.

SO THESE ARE THE KINDS OF THINGS.

BUT I FULLY SUPPORT THESE WORKERS AND ALL WORKERS, RIGHT.

TO ORGANIZE AND CERTAINLY THINK THE STATE HAS GONE MUCH TOO FAR ON THE SIDE OF ABUSING WORKERS.

SO I'M VERY PROUDLY IN SUPPORT OF THIS ITEM.

THE MOTION CARRIES 4 TO 1 AND JUDGE ON MY OTHER TWO RESOLUTIONS ON THE ONE FOR THE REPORTER, WADE GOODWYN.

YOU KNOW, JUST LEAVE IT ON THE CONSENT AGENDA.

AND ON THE OTHER ONE FOR WORKERS RIGHTS, I PULLED IT BECAUSE A LOT OF THE UNION LEADERS HAVE A CONFERENCE TODAY AND THEY WANT TO BE HERE WHEN WE VOTE ON IT.

I HOPE IT'LL PASS UNANIMOUSLY.

BUT SO WE JUST PULL THAT ONE AND WE'LL DO IT IN TWO WEEKS.

GREAT. THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER GARCIA.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU, JUDGE AND MICHAEL.

THANK YOU, JUDGE.

AND MY FIRST ITEM IS TO ASK A DEAR FRIEND, SOMEONE I HAVE RESPECTED AND ADMIRED AND WORKED WITH FOR, UH, UH, FOR A LONG TIME.

AND THAT IS MR. JOE TURNER. HEY, BIG JOKE.

AND ASK YOU TO MAKE YOUR WAY TO THE PODIUM.

UH, BECAUSE THIS RESOLUTION IS IN HONOR OF, UH, PARKS AND RECREATION MONTH.

AND LET ME JUST EMBARRASS JOE HERE A LITTLE BIT.

FIRST, JOE, DID YOU BRING THE ICE CREAM WITH YOU? OH. OH, MAN.

HE HE NOW LIVES.

HE RETIRED AND HE NOW LIVES IN BRENHAM.

BRENHAM, TEXAS, HOME OF BLUEBELL.

AND DIDN'T BRING ANY ICE CREAM WITH HIM.

WE'LL FORGIVE YOU ON THAT ONE, JOE.

BUT THE MY HISTORY WITH JOE IS THAT WHEN I JOINED THE HOUSTON CITY COUNCIL, ONE OF THE SMARTEST, SMARTEST HIRES THAT MAYOR BILL WHITE MADE WAS TO HIRE JOE TURNER TO BECOME THE DIRECTOR OF PARKS AND RECREATION FOR THE CITY OF HOUSTON. AND I THINK YOU LANDED IN THE JOB AND I GRABBED YOU AND WE WENT OUT TO MY COUNCIL DISTRICT AND WE MET WITH JESSICA HULSEY AND SHE MADE HER PITCH ABOUT A SKATE PARK.

AND AND JOE DELIVERED.

AND THEN A FEW YEARS LATER, I WAS ADAMANT ABOUT IMPROVING MOODY PARK.

AND ONCE AGAIN, JOE DELIVERED.

BUT I'LL JUST SAY THAT JOE WAS ALWAYS A GUY THAT MAY NOT BE ABLE TO DO IT, BUT ONE HE'D ALWAYS HAVE A CONVERSATION WITH YOU AND AND ALWAYS HAD GOOD IDEAS ABOUT, YOU KNOW, WHERE THE STATE OF OUR PARKS OUGHT TO MOVE TO AND LEVERAGED A GREAT DEAL OF HIS PRIVATE SECTOR EXPERIENCE TO MAKE THAT HAPPEN.

AND I WOULD JUST TELL YOU, I DON'T THINK YOU'VE MET.

HAVE YOU MET CHRIS SATTLER WITH MY OFFICE? YES. HE'S A LOT LIKE YOU AND CHRIS, IF YOU'RE LISTENING, THAT'S A BIG COMPLIMENT.

SO, JOE, THANK YOU FOR MAKING YOUR WAY DOWN.

WE TRY TO GET YOU LAST YEAR FOR THE SAME RESOLUTION.

THINGS DIDN'T WORK OUT, BUT IT'S SO GOOD TO SEE YOU AND THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.

AND AS A DIFFERENT ASIDE, HE'S ALSO RETIRED HARRIS COUNTY EMPLOYEE AS WELL.

AND SO. OH, WHERE'S CHRIS? OH, THERE HE IS. THERE YOU ARE.

COME ON, CHRIS. YOU GET OVER HERE TOO, MAN.

UH, BECAUSE, JOE, I JUST WANT TO TELL YOU, YOUR WORK HAS INSPIRED MANY AND CHRIS HERE, UM, NOT TO

[00:30:03]

EMBARRASS HIM, BUT I THINK HE'S OUTDOING YOU.

UH, BUT THAT'S ALSO A COMPLIMENT TO YOU.

SO WITH THAT, I WILL READ THIS RESOLUTION, WHICH IS, UH, WHICH BEGINS WITH JUNE 20TH, 2023 IS NATIONAL.

OH, WAIT A MINUTE. THIS IS THE WRONG.

UH, WE GOT HIM DOWN SIX.

YEAH. NUMBER SIX RIGHT THERE.

THIS IS.

THERE WE GO. PARKS AND RECREATION ARE AN INTEGRAL PART OF COMMUNITIES THROUGHOUT THIS COUNTRY, INCLUDING IN HARRIS COUNTY.

AND RECREATION SPACES AND PARKS PROMOTE HEALTH AND WELLNESS BY ENCOURAGING TIME SPENT IN NATURE, WHICH POSITIVELY IMPACTS MENTAL HEALTH BY INCREASING COGNITIVE PERFORMANCE AND WELL-BEING, AND ALLEVIATES ILLNESSES SUCH AS DEPRESSION, ATTENTION DEFICIT DISORDERS AND ALZHEIMER'S.

THE USE OF PARK AND RECREATION FACILITIES IMPROVES PHYSICAL HEALTH BY PROVIDING SPACE FOR POPULAR SPORTS, HIKING TRAILS, SWIMMING POOLS AND MANY OTHER ACTIVITIES.

ACTIVITIES DESIGNED TO ENCOURAGE ACTIVE LIFESTYLES AND SPORTS AND EDUCATIONAL ACTIVITIES SUCH AS OUT OF SCHOOL PROGRAMS. YOUTH SPORTS AND ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION ARE CRITICAL TO CHILDHOOD DEVELOPMENT, AND PARKS ARE FUNDAMENTAL TO THE ENVIRONMENTAL WELL-BEING OF OUR COMMUNITY AS THEY PROVIDE THE ESSENTIAL AND ADAPTABLE INFRASTRUCTURE THAT MAKES OUR COMMUNITIES RESILIENT IN THE FACE OF NATURAL DISASTERS AND CLIMATE CHANGE. AND THE US HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES DESIGNATED JULY AS NATIONAL PARK AND RECREATION MONTH AND HARRIS AND HARRIS COUNTY PRECINCT TWO AND HARRIS COUNTY, PRECINCT TWO RECOGNIZES THE BENEFITS OF ITS PARKS, HIKING BIKE TRAILS AND RECREATION RESOURCES.

AND SO, UH, I JUST WANT TO AGAIN, UH, TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO ALSO THANK CHRIS AND, UH, AND HIS TEAM.

AND, UH, JOE, YOU, YOU BROUGHT SOME FOLKS OVER TO COME SEE JAMES DRIVER INCLUSIVE PARK.

UM, AND, YOU KNOW, KIND OF COINCIDENTALLY THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT HARRIS CENTER BECAUSE A LOT OF THOSE EMPLOYEES OVER THERE HELPED TO GIVE ME PERSPECTIVE ON THAT PARK AS WELL.

BUT I'LL JUST TELL YOU, THANK YOU FOR ALL YOU DID, ALL YOU DID FOR THE COUNTY, ALL YOU DID FOR THE CITY.

AND, UH, AND SO GLAD THAT YOU'RE ALWAYS THERE FOR COUNCIL WHEN WE HAVE QUESTIONS, BUT APPRECIATE YOU, AND I'LL TURN THE PODIUM OVER TO YOU.

SO I WILL QUICKLY TALK, BECAUSE THOSE THAT KNOW ME KNOW I CAN'T SAY HELLO IN FIVE MINUTES, SO I WILL TALK EXTREMELY FAST.

I'D LIKE TO SAY I DID NOT RETIRE.

I LIKE THE WORD FORMER BECAUSE I AM STILL AT IT.

WELL, YOU ARE. A PARK SHOULD BE A BRIGHT SPOT IN OUR COMMUNITIES THAT IMPROVE THE.

QUALITY OF LIFE IN THIS URBAN ENVIRONMENT FOR ALL ITS MEMBERS.

AS I LIKE TO SAY, A PARK SHOULD BE THE BRIGHT SUNSHINE IN THAT COMMUNITY.

A PARK CAN CHANGE A COMMUNITY AND AT THE SAME TIME IT CHANGE WILL CHANGE LIVES ONE AT A TIME.

YEARS AGO, WHEN I WAS AT THE NCPA, OUR NATIONAL ORGANIZATION, I WAS ON THE BOARD.

A SLOGAN THAT THEY WERE GOING TO USE SAID EVERYONE DESERVES A PARK.

I SPOKE UP AND SAID WE ALL, WHICH WAS PARK DIRECTORS AND COMMUNITIES HAVE PARKS.

WHAT WE REALLY NEED ARE GREAT PARKS.

EVERYONE DESERVES A GREAT PARK.

CONTINUE. SO I WILL ASK EACH OF YOU THEN COMMISSIONERS, I'LL ASK EACH OF YOU TO ENHANCE THE QUALITY OF URBAN LIFE IN HARRIS COUNTY.

PROVIDING SAFE.

AND WELL-MAINTAINED PARKS AND AFFORDABLE PROGRAMS FOR OUR COMMUNITIES.

AND I'LL STOP THERE.

ALL RIGHT, JOE, THANK YOU SO MUCH.

AND CHRIS, LET ME ASK YOU TO COME UP.

I KNOW THIS IS CATCHING YOU A LITTLE BIT BY SURPRISE, BUT YOU'RE USED TO IT.

YES, SIR. THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

AND I JUST WANT TO ECHO JOE'S COMMENTS.

PARKS AND RECREATION IS SO IMPORTANT TO HARRIS COUNTY AND PRECINCT TWO, AND WE THANK YOU FOR YOUR FULL SUPPORT OF OUR PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT.

THAT INCLUDES OUR PARKS, OUR COMMUNITY CENTERS, HIKE AND BIKE TRAILS, OUR WATERWAYS, BECAUSE THEY'RE HEAVILY USED BY ALL THE CONSTITUENTS OF HARRIS COUNTY.

SO THANK YOU, SIR. THANK YOU.

OKAY. OH, COMMISSIONER GARCIA.

THANK YOU FOR BRINGING IT FORWARD.

AND JOE IS SO GOOD TO SEE YOU.

OF COURSE. I GUESS YOU GOT TO YOU BECAME PARKS DIRECTOR.

I GOT AT LEAST I WAS ON COUNCIL BEFORE YOU BECAME PARKS DIRECTOR, BUT YOU WERE MY FAVORITE.

UH, WE WON'T TELL. WAS IT? OLSEN WAS AHEAD OF YOU, RIGHT? WHAT'S HIS NAME? DONALD. UP THERE WAS HIS NAME.

OLSEN, WHO WAS AHEAD OF, YOU KNOW, KATHY WHITMIRE? YEAH. NO, SHE WAS ROXON.

YEAH. THERE YOU GO. YEAH, YEAH, BUT.

BUT LOOK, I'M JUST SO GLAD YOU'RE HERE.

AND, UM, UH, CHRIS IS GOOD TO SEE YOU AS WELL.

UH, I KNOW THAT, UH, UH, COMMISSIONER BROWN JUST HIRED A GREAT GUY BECAUSE I TRIED TO HIRE HIM.

[00:35:01]

ONE OF YOUR SUCCESSORS.

ONE OF THE ONE A FORMER FARMER.

UH, HE JUST JOINED HER TEAM.

BUT, YOU KNOW, I WANT TO ENCOURAGE YOU WHILE YOU HERE TO VISIT WITH ALL OF OUR PARKS DIRECTORS, YOU KNOW, THINK ABOUT HOW WE ALL GO TO THESE NATIONAL CONFERENCES TO COLLABORATE. AND SOMETIMES EVEN HERE, I TELL MY FOLKS ALL THE TIME, COLLABORATE, YOU KNOW, AND FIGURE OUT HOW WE CONNECT THESE TRAILS TO GET TO ALL OF THESE PARKS. YOU KNOW, I GAVE UP SOME GOOD ONES TO YOU, COMMISSIONER GARCIA, IN REDISTRICTING, SOMETIMES I THINK ABOUT IT AND WANT TO REMIND YOU HOW GOOD I WAS.

WELL, YOU KNOW, YOU COULD BE EVEN BETTER.

PEOPLE WANT ME TO HAVE BILL FRANCO, SO.

WELL, GOOD LUCK. YEAH, YOU CAN ALWAYS RUN FOR ONE.

UH, BUT, UH, YOU KNOW, I THINK IT IS IMPORTANT, EVEN WITH SCARCE RESOURCES AND PROGRAMING IS SUCH AN IMPORTANT PART OF IT.

BUT OBVIOUSLY, MOST NEIGHBORHOODS WANT A COMMUNITY CENTER.

THEY WANT A POOL, THEY WANT EVERYTHING ELSE.

AND YOU CAN'T PUT THEM EVERYWHERE.

COUNTY'S ROLE IS I SEE IT.

IT'S MORE TO DO THE REGIONAL PARKS.

IT'S HARD TO GO IN EVERY NEIGHBORHOOD AND WE DON'T GET THE PHILANTHROPIC SUPPORT HISTORICALLY THAT THE CITY GETS.

UH, BY THE WAY, I HOPE THAT WILL CHANGE.

I NO POSITION THAT YOU PUT IN A REQUEST FOR US TO FUND, BUT USUALLY OUR PARTNERS DON'T THINK AS MUCH IN TERMS OF THE COUNTY IN TERMS OF INVESTING.

AND I THINK THE COLLABORATION WOULD DO A LOT TO HELP US ALL.

BUT THANK YOU FOR BRINGING THE RESOLUTION.

I WOULD JUST ANSWER TO YOU, COMMISSIONER, YOU KNOW, WHEN I WENT IN, PARTNERSHIPS WERE EXCLUSIVELY BECAUSE THEY USED TO SAY AND THE POSITION I HELD, WE DON'T HAVE THE MONEY.

AND I SAID, WELL, I KNEW THAT FOR ANYBODY WHO CAME IN THE ROOM, WHAT WE HAVE TO DO IS CREATE THOSE PARTNERSHIPS.

I WILL SAY EACH ONE OF YOU HAVE AN INTERLOCAL DID WITH A COMMISSIONER AT THAT TIME.

SOME OF YOU HAVE MULTIPLE INTERLOCAL, SOME HAVE A COUPLE INTER LOCALS.

BUT IT'S ABOUT PARTNERSHIPS BECAUSE THOSE COMMUNITIES DESERVE THOSE GREAT PARKS AND HOW WE PUT THEM TOGETHER.

OR IS A GOOD FRIEND OF MINE USED TO SAY, IT DOESN'T MATTER WHO OWNS THE PARK, IT'S HOW WE MANAGE THE PARK AND IT MATTERS HOW WE PAY FOR IT.

BECAUSE THE CHALLENGES YOU LEFT WITH A LOT OF THE PARTNERSHIPS I HAVE IS I PUT UP THE MONEY.

THEY SAY THANK YOU, RIGHT? AND IF WE COULD DO IT JOINTLY IN TERMS OF FUNDING, BECAUSE THAT'S THE BIG ISSUE.

WIN WIN. YEAH, A WIN WIN.

THAT'S THE KEY FOR THE COMMUNITIES.

YEAH. THANK YOU.

THANK JOE. THANK YOU, MAN. APPRECIATE YOU COMING DOWN.

ICE CREAM. NEXT TIME, BUDDY.

MR. GARCIA, THANK YOU FOR PUTTING THIS ON THE AGENDA.

UH, PARKS ARE IMPORTANT.

WE JUST WRAPPED UP OUR MASTER PLAN, AND PRECINCT THREE WITH 69 PARKS OVER 200 MILES OF TRAIL.

SO THANK YOU FOR BRINGING NOTICE TO THIS.

I THINK THAT'S A BIG DEAL IN ALL OUR PRECINCTS.

YEAH. THANK YOU, TOM.

THANK YOU, CHRIS. WE HAVE ONE MORE SPEAKER FOR THIS ITEM.

JACOB CLEMMONS SPEAKING ON THIS ITEM.

AND ITEM 167.

YOU HAVE TWO MINUTES THAT WE'RE VOTING ON THESE RIGHT NOW.

WE'RE JUST GOING TO KEEP GOING AND TAKE ALL THE SPEAKERS.

IT'S JUST THAT WE NEEDED TO VOTE ON THE OTHER ONE.

TIFFANY. OKAY.

SO LET US JUST KEEP GOING.

WE'LL TAKE ALL THE SPEAKERS TOGETHER LATER.

OKAY. THANK YOU, JACOB.

YES, SIR. COMMISSIONER GARCIA ANY.

I THINK THERE WAS ANOTHER ONE FOR YOU.

YEAH. NOW.

OUT THIS ONE.

OOPS. THANK YOU.

THIS ONE IS TO NOW RECOGNIZE NATIONAL HOMEOWNERSHIP MONTH.

JUNE 23RD, 2023, IS NATIONAL HOMEOWNER HOMEOWNERSHIP MONTH, WHICH RECOGNIZES THE THE THE ECONOMIC, MENTAL AND OVERALL WELL-BEING OF RESIDENTS WHO OWN THEIR HOMES, AND HARRIS COUNTY COMMUNITY SERVICES DEPARTMENT AND ALL OF OUR PARTNERS INCLUDING AVENUE CDC THAT THE CENTER FOR COMMUNITY CONCERNS THE HOUSTON HOUSING COLLABORATIVE AND MANY MORE ARE WORKING COLLABORATIVELY TO CREATE INNOVATIVE SOLUTIONS, EXPAND EQUITY AND INCREASE OPPORTUNITY FOR HOMEOWNERSHIP TO RESIDENTS WHO HAVE HISTORICALLY FACED MANY ROADBLOCKS TO HOMEOWNERSHIP AND THE COMBINED EFFORTS OF THE DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT, THE TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND COMMUNITY AFFAIRS, THE TEXAS GENERAL LAND OFFICE, THE HARRIS COUNTY COMMUNITY SERVICES DEPARTMENT, THE HARRIS COUNTY HOUSING AUTHORITY, AND THE HARRIS COUNTY HOUSING FINANCE CORPORATION BOARD.

MAKING HOUSING MORE AFFORDABLE AND ACCESSIBLE FOR FIRST TIME HOMEBUYERS TO QUALIFY FOR MORTGAGE FINANCING.

AND HARRIS COUNTY COMMISSIONER S HARRIS COUNTY HARRIS COUNTY COMMISSIONER.

PRECINCT TWO HAS THE LOWEST HOMEOWNERSHIP RATE RATES OF ANY PRECINCT IN HARRIS COUNTY.

ITS RESIDENTS HAVE SOME OF THE LOWEST INCOME EDUCATIONAL ATTAINMENT LEVELS AND HEALTH OUTCOMES.

PRECINCT TWO RESIDENTS WILL BENEFIT SIGNIFICANTLY FROM THE COMBINED INVESTMENTS MADE USING THE ARPA FUNDS AND 2017 HARVEY DISASTER

[00:40:06]

RECOVERY FUNDS TO PROVIDE AT LEAST 250 SINGLE FAMILY HOMES THROUGHOUT PRECINCT TWO AND HARRIS COUNTY BY DECEMBER OF 2026.

BETWEEN THE ARPA SINGLE FAMILY ACQUISITION PROGRAM AND THE 2017 DISASTER RECOVERY SINGLE FAMILY NEW CONSTRUCTION PROGRAM, MOST OF THESE NEW HOMES WILL BE AFFORDABLE TO LOW TO MODERATE INCOME HOUSEHOLDS WHO MIGHT NOT HAVE BEEN ABLE TO AFFORD A SINGLE FAMILY HOME IN TODAY'S HIGH INFLATIONARY MARKET.

AND HOUSING IS A UNIVERSAL HUMAN RIGHT AS RATIFIED BY THE UNITED NATIONS GENERAL ASSEMBLY IN JULY OF 2022, DECLARING THAT LIVING IN A CLEAN, HEALTHY AND SUSTAINABLE ENVIRONMENT IS A HUMAN RIGHT FOR ALL.

ALL RESIDENTS OF HARRIS COUNTY ALSO HAVE THIS RIGHT, INCLUDING ACCESS TO STABLE, AFFORDABLE AND SAFE HOUSING.

AND WITH THAT JUDGE, I WANT TO ALSO JUST THANK MISS HOWELL COSTAS, DIRECTOR COSTAS, FOR HER WORK.

THERE'S GOING TO BE AN ITEM COMING BEFORE US LATER, AND I'M EXCITED ABOUT HER WORK AND CREATIVE THINKING OF HER AND HER TEAM TO HELP TO BRING THAT ITEM FORWARD. BUT TO MY TEAM IN PARTICULAR, UM, WE'VE BEEN AFTER, UH, CREATING MORE SINGLE FAMILY UNITS AND SUPPORTING MORE AFFORDABLE MULTIFAMILY UNITS.

AND MARY, YOU KNOW, THERE'S ANOTHER ITEM ON THIS AGENDA WHICH HAS YOUR FINGERPRINTS ALL OVER IT, AND I'M PROUD OF YOU AND GRATEFUL TO YOU FOR BRINGING THAT TO US.

BUT JUST SIMPLY TO SAY TO ALL OF OUR RESIDENTS, WHETHER YOU LIVE IN PRECINCT TWO OR NOT, WE CARE ABOUT AFFORDABLE HOUSING.

UH, IT IS A HUMAN RIGHT.

IT IS A PATHWAY TO CREATING GENERATIONAL WEALTH.

AND IT'S ABSOLUTELY, UH, TOP OF MIND.

AND I WANT TO THANK EVERYONE INVOLVED FOR WORKING WITH US TO TRY TO ACCELERATE THIS TO, YOU KNOW, AS FAST AS POSSIBLE BECAUSE WE'RE WAY BEHIND THE EIGHT BALL ON THIS AND WE NEED TO DO MORE WITH IT.

SO WITH THAT, UM, THAT'S A, THAT'S A MOTION.

BUT I IF I COULD JUDGE AS A QUICK POINT OF PERSONAL PRIVILEGE, I'VE GOT SOME YOUNG PEOPLE IN THE AUDIENCE THAT I WANT TO TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO RECOGNIZE.

AND THESE STUDENTS, UH, IF THEY'RE MAKING THEIR WAY, I THINK THEY'RE MAKING THEIR WAY.

WHERE ARE THEY? WHERE ARE THEY THING OKAY.

AND WE CAN BRING THEM IN.

WELL, LET ME JUST RECOGNIZE THEM BECAUSE I THINK WE NEED TO COORDINATE THE PHOTO OP.

BUT THESE ARE THE 20 HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS, UH, FROM PRECINCT TWO.

UH, IT IS THE STUDENTS TO GOVERNMENT LEADERSHIP ACADEMY THAT WE HAVE IN THE PRECINCT.

THEY'RE LEARNING ABOUT HOW COUNTY GOVERNMENT WORKS AND ABOUT CIVIC ENGAGEMENT.

UM, AND WE ALSO HAVE COLLEGE STEP UP INTERNS THAT ARE DOING GREAT WORK FOR US AS WELL.

I'D ALSO LIKE TO THANK THE FOR STEP UP INTERNS THAT ARE WORKING WITH THE HARRIS COUNTY PUBLIC HEALTH FOR CONTRIBUTIONS THEY ARE MAKING IN THE MOSQUITO AND VECTOR CONTROL, FINANCE AND VETERINARY CLINIC.

ANOTHER THANKS GOES OUT TO THE FIVE INTERNS WORKING WITH MY POLICY TEAM, COMPLETING VARIOUS ASSIGNMENTS WITH HOUSING, PUBLIC HEALTH, ENVIRONMENTAL PROJECTS, CRIMINAL JUSTICE AND LAW ENFORCEMENT AND OTHER ISSUES.

AND SO TO THOSE YOUNG PEOPLE THAT ARE OUT IN THE HALLWAY, WE'LL GET YOU IN HERE IN.

MINUTE. BUT JUST TO SAY THEY CAN HEAR ME, BUT JUST TO SAY THANK YOU FOR ALL YOU GUYS DO.

AND WE'LL SEE YOU IN A BIT.

THANK YOU, JUDGE.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER RAMSEY.

I DON'T SEE ANY OUT OF ORDER RESOLUTIONS.

IS THAT RIGHT? THAT'S CORRECT.

OKAY. AND WE DO HAVE VARIOUS INTERNS, WHICH IS SO EXCITING.

AND SO WE'LL TAKE WHEN WE TAKE PICTURES, WE'LL WELCOME THEM ALL IN AND THEN WE'LL HEAR FROM ALL THE SPEAKERS.

COMMISSIONER BRIONES THANK YOU.

GEORGIE DALLGOW PRECINCT FOUR HAS TWO RESOLUTIONS TODAY.

I INVITE JOHN LOMAX AND HARRIET LOMAX TO JOIN ME AS WE HONOR THEIR FATHER'S LEGACY.

THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE, JOHN.

WE'RE SO SORRY FOR YOUR LOSS.

PLEASE JOIN ME IN HONORING JOHN NOVA LOMAX.

ON MAY 22ND, 2023, AT THE AGE OF 53, HE PASSED AWAY.

JOHN WAS A SENIOR EDITOR OF TEXAS MONTHLY AND A LOCAL AUTHOR WHO DOCUMENTED HOUSTON WITH A UNIQUE, REFLECTIVE STYLE. HE LEAVES BEHIND HIS SON, JOHN HENRY, WHO WE'LL HEAR FROM IN A SECOND.

AND AGAIN, OUR DEEPEST CONDOLENCES, JOHN.

AND A DAUGHTER, HARRIET ROSE, AMONGST OTHER LOVED ONES.

HE CAME FROM A MULTIGENERATIONAL LITERARY AND MUSICAL FAMILY.

[00:45:02]

HE WAS A PROLIFIC WRITER, RENOWNED JOURNALIST, BORN IN HOUSTON.

HE ATTENDED STRAKE JESUIT COLLEGE PREPARATORY.

HIS THEORY, AND I'M SURE MANY OF YOU WOULD AGREE, IS THAT HOUSTON IS THE SUPERIOR CITY IN TEXAS.

I CERTAINLY AGREE.

HE OFTEN DISPLAYED HIS LIGHTHEARTED SKEWERING OF THE AUSTIN CULTURE, WHICH WAS LIKELY BASED ON HIS ONE SEMESTER ATTENDANCE AT THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT AUSTIN.

HIS WORK INCLUDED A SERIES OF STORIES, BOOKS ON CRIME AND DIVE BARS IN THE HOUSTON AREA, I'M SURE PLACES MANY OF YOU HAVE ENJOYED, AND HIS NUMEROUS MUSINGS ON FACEBOOK AND HIS SOUL OF HOUSTON BLOG.

WHEREAS JOHN ALSO DISPLAYED CONSIDERABLE SKILLS AS A MUSIC WRITER.

HIS JOURNALISTIC WORK APPEARED IN NUMEROUS PUBLICATIONS FROM ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

FROM HOUSTON PRESS, TEXAS MONTHLY, THE NEW YORK TIMES, LA WEEKLY.

HE HAD A GIFT OF STORYTELLING.

HE TOLD STORIES LIKE NO ONE ELSE AND HIS WORDS WILL LIVE ON.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED THAT THE HARRIS COUNTY COMMISSIONERS COURT HEREBY RESPECTFULLY HONORS THE LIFE AND LEGACY OF JOHN NOVA LOMAX, WHO WILL BE DEEPLY MISSED.

AND JOHN, WOULD YOU LIKE TO SHARE A FEW WORDS? AND AGAIN, OUR DEEPEST CONDOLENCES? YEAH, I REALLY JUST WANTED TO SAY I FEEL LIKE, YOU KNOW, A LOT OF US, WE ONLY REALLY KNOW OUR DAD KIND OF IN THIS, LIKE, ONE DIMENSIONAL RELATIONSHIP WHERE IT'S LIKE, YOU KNOW, I DIDN'T REALLY KNOW JOHN NOVA.

I KNEW MY DAD, YOU KNOW.

AND SO IF THERE'S BEEN ONE SILVER LINING TO ALL THE GRIEF THAT WE'VE EXPERIENCED OVER THE PAST MONTH, IT'S JUST BEEN A SEEING JUST THE ENORMOUS OUTPOURING OF LOVE AND EVERYTHING THAT'S COME FROM THE CITY, THE COMMUNITY, EVERYBODY AND OF COURSE, THE COURT.

UM, AND YOU KNOW, THAT'S REALLY, IT'S, YOU KNOW, HELPING ME GET TO KNOW SOMEBODY THAT WAS JUST SO MUCH MORE THAN JUST MY DAD.

SO THANK YOU.

THANK YOU, JOHN. THANK YOU, JUDGE.

COMMISSIONER JOHN GARCIA.

JOHN, JUST JUST TO QUICKLY SAY, LOOK, I'M I READ A GREAT DEAL OF YOUR DAD'S WORK.

NEVER HAD THE HONOR OR PLEASURE OF MEETING HIM PERSONALLY.

UM, BUT REMEMBER ON SEVERAL ARTICLES READING THEM AND GOING.

THIS IS BECAUSE, LOOK, IN POLITICS, YOU DON'T ALWAYS GET THE STORY YOU WANT.

BUT THERE ARE THOSE PEOPLE WHO DO FIND A WAY TO TELL MANY SIDES.

OF AN ISSUE. AND YOUR DAD WAS IMMENSELY TALENTED THAT HE GAVE YOU ALL THE INFORMATION AND THEN HE LET YOU FIGURE IT OUT.

AND I WOULD ALWAYS THOSE THOSE ARTICLES THAT I WOULD READ THAT I, YOU KNOW, WOULD LOOK AT AND JUST KIND OF THINK ABOUT IT AFTERWARDS AND GO, HOW DID THAT WRITER.

CONSTRUCT THIS VERY COMPLICATED ISSUE.

IN SUCH A WAY THAT IS, IT'S EASY TO WALK THROUGH IT, IN HIS WORDS.

AND AND SO I'LL JUST TELL YOU THAT YOU AND I BELONG TO THE SAME CLUB.

I LOST MY DAD IN 2004.

I THINK ABOUT HIM A LOT.

HE'S IMPACTED MY LIFE A GREAT DEAL.

AND THERE'S NO DOUBT THAT YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE SIMILAR MOMENTS LIKE I TEND TO HAVE.

BUT SIMPLY TO SAY THE WAY WE KEEP THEM WITH US IS TO TELL THEIR STORIES.

TALK ABOUT THEM.

REMEMBER THOSE LESSONS, EVEN THE ONES WE DIDN'T WANT TO HEAR.

BUT IT WILL SOMETIMES EASE THE PAIN.

GOD BLESS YOU, MAN. THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER.

THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE, TOM.

THANK YOU. SO SORRY FOR YOUR LOSS.

AND AND THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR WORDS AND AND FOR SHARING YOUR DAD WITH US.

AND ON THIS TOPIC OF DADS AND I KNOW WE HONORED.

SOMEONE WHO PASSED AWAY ON FATHER'S DAY.

HAPPY BELATED FATHER'S DAY TO ALL OF THE FATHERS WHO ARE HERE WITH US.

THANK YOU. AND SPEAKING OF DADS, MY DAD WILL BE RETIRING AFTER 50 YEARS OF EDUCATION LATER THIS WEEK.

AND WE ALMOST LOST HIM.

HE HAD A 10% CHANCE OF LIVING AND HE SURVIVED.

SO I'M HAPPY HE WAS ABLE TO MAKE IT TO THE 50 YEAR MARK.

SO TO ALL THE DADS.

ALL THE DOTS. OUR SECOND AND FINAL RESOLUTION FROM PRECINCT FOUR.

I INVITE ANYONE FROM THE SHARPSTOWN CIVIC ASSOCIATION IN THE SOUTHWEST MANAGEMENT DISTRICT TO PLEASE JOIN US.

WE ARE CELEBRATING LIBERTY FEST, WHICH WE INVITE ALL OF YOU TO.

IT WILL BE SUNDAY, JULY 2ND, WHERE WE CELEBRATE 4TH OF JULY EARLY TOGETHER IN THE SHARPSTOWN COMMUNITY.

SO HERE IS THE RESOLUTION.

[00:50:01]

I WILL BE THERE ON SUNDAY.

I'VE BEEN TAKING MY DAUGHTERS FOR THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS.

IT IS ONE OF THE HIGHLIGHTS OF OUR YEAR AND SUCH A GREAT CELEBRATION.

SO HERE IS THE RESOLUTION.

THANK YOU AGAIN FOR JOINING US TODAY.

WHEREAS LIBERTY FEST IS AN ANNUAL CELEBRATION HOSTED BY THE SHARPSTOWN CIVIC ASSOCIATION AND THE SOUTHWEST MANAGEMENT DISTRICT AND SPONSORED BY TELEMUNDO, HOUSTON CELEBRATING AMERICA'S INDEPENDENCE DAY AT PLAZAMERICAS MALL IN THE SHARPSTOWN AREA IN THE HEART OF PRECINCT FOUR.

WHEREAS THE SHARPSTOWN COMMUNITY CELEBRATES INDEPENDENCE DAY THROUGH THE LIBERTY FEST AND GATHERS TO WATCH FIREWORKS AT THE PLAZA AMERICA'S MALL. AGAIN, YOU ALL ARE ALL INVITED.

WHEREAS LIBERTY FEST CELEBRATES THE DIVERSITY OF COMMUNITIES WITH THE SOUTHWEST DISTRICT ENCOMPASSING SCHOOLS, PLACES OF WORSHIP, BUSTLING BUSINESS CORRIDORS LIKE CHINATOWN, ASIA, WALL STREET, THE GANDHI DISTRICT, AND VARIOUS COMMUNITY CENTERS TO ENSURE AN INCLUSIVE, SAFE CELEBRATION FOR ALL.

WHEREAS ORGANIZATIONS SUCH AS THE SOUTHWEST HOUSTON REDEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY AND THE SOUTHWEST DISTRICT ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY, THE SOUTHWEST HOUSTON CHAMBER OF COMMERCE AND THE SOUTHWEST DISTRICT CIVIC ASSOCIATION PROVIDE SUPPORT TO THE SHARPSTOWN AREA, FOSTERING ITS ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND OPPORTUNITY AND ITS DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION.

LIBERTY FEST SHOWCASES THE RICH HISTORY AND THE CULTURAL TAPESTRY.

I HAVE ALWAYS LOVED HOW INTERNATIONAL THIS CELEBRATION IS OF THE 4TH OF JULY, REMINDING US THAT THIS IS A NATION OF IMMIGRANTS, THAT ALL OF OUR FAMILIES CAME HERE BECAUSE THEY BELIEVED IN THE AMERICAN DREAM AND THE GREAT AMERICAN PROMISE, WHICH I KNOW AS A COMMUNITY WE CAN WORK HARD TO CONTINUE TO TRY TO DELIVER.

AND I ALSO WANT TO THANK ALICE LEE, OUR PRECINCT FOUR CHIEF OF STAFF, WHO WAS A FEARLESS LEADER FOR THE SOUTHWEST MANAGEMENT DISTRICT FOR MANY YEARS.

SO THANK YOU, ALICE, AND MY DAUGHTERS AND MY HUSBAND ALLEN AND I LOOK FORWARD TO CELEBRATING WITH YOU ALL ON SUNDAY.

SO NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED THAT THE HARRIS COUNTY COMMISSIONERS COURT HEREBY OFFICIALLY RECOGNIZES THE FOURTH ANNUAL LIBERTY FEST ON JULY 2ND, 2023. AS AMERICA'S CELEBRATING OUR NATION'S INDEPENDENCE, WE WELCOME AND INVITE YOU ALL.

AND AS WE HEAD INTO THE 4TH OF JULY LONG WEEKEND, WE HOPE THAT YOU AND YOUR FAMILIES HAVE A VERY SAFE HOLIDAY.

AND AGAIN, TOGETHER WE CAN KEEP ADVANCING THE LIBERTIES FOR EVERYONE.

SO WITH THAT, WE'D LOVE TO HEAR A FEW WORDS AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP.

DAVE PETERS.

I'M WITH THE SOUTHWEST MANAGEMENT DISTRICT.

I'M HONORED TO BE HERE TODAY TO ACCEPT THE RESOLUTION AND FOR THE LIBERTY FEST.

IT IS FOR OUR COMMUNITY WITHIN OUR HOUSTON, YOU KNOW, HOUSTON BEING SO BIG.

UH, WE IT'S FOR THE, THE COMMUNITY PEOPLE WHO CANNOT GO ALL THE WAY TO DOWNTOWN TO CELEBRATE THE JULY 4TH.

SO WE ARE HAVING THE CELEBRATION ON THE 2ND OF JULY, WHICH IS WE DON'T WANT TO COMPETE WITH THE CITY OF HOUSTON CELEBRATION.

SO WE ALWAYS HAVE IT RIGHT BEFORE THE ACTUAL JULY 4TH.

SO IT IS ON SUNDAY, JULY 2ND.

SO PLEASE COME OUT.

IT IS FREE, FAMILY ORIENTED AND EVERYBODY'S INVITED AND THERE'S A LOT OF FREE STUFF.

UH, PLEASE COME OUT. THANK YOU.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU. SIR, CAN YOU PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME FOR THE RECORD? DAVID PETERS, THANK YOU.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

OH, GOOD. THANK YOU. YES.

OKAY, GOOD.

GOOD MORNING. AND HONORABLE JUDGE HIDALGO AND COMMISSIONERS.

MY. AND YOU'RE INVITED TO TAKE A PHOTO.

ALL EVERYBODY ELSE.

THAT'S SO MUCH FUN.

SO MY GIRLS LOVE IT. MY NAME IS HARRY SHANI.

I HAVE A PRIVILEGE OF SERVING THAT BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF THE SOUTHWEST MANAGEMENT DISTRICT.

I CAME IN THIS COUNTRY ABOUT 50 YEARS AGO, AND I TRULY BELIEVE THAT THIS IS A REALLY LAND OF OPPORTUNITY, WHICH YOU ALL CAN AGREE THAT 50 YEARS AGO WHEN I CAME HERE AND PERSONALLY I WOULD LIKE TO INVITE ALL OF YOU TO ATTEND THE LIBERTY FEST ON SUNDAY, JULY 2ND PERSONAL INVITATION TO EVERYBODY THAT ALL OF YOU THAT YOU KNOW, KNOW YOU, COMMISSIONER, YOU WILL BE COMING, BUT EVERYBODY ELSE WOULD BE ALLOWED TO SEE

[00:55:03]

YOU ALL THERE. AND I'M VERY PROUD OF THE HARD WORK THAT EVERYBODY HAS DONE, THAT ALL THE BOARD DIRECTORS AND CIVIC CENTERS AND OTHER PEOPLE HAVE DONE IT.

AND THEN OUR DISTRICT, SOUTHWEST DISTRICT IS VERY UNIQUE.

I'M A PROUD, PROUD, PROUD TO HAVE CELEBRATING THE THIS WONDERFUL COUNTRY AND DIVERSITY.

I'M REALLY 4TH OF JULY THE CHILDREN.

OKAY. THANK YOU. HELLO, MY NAME IS CHARMAINE LEBLANC AND I AM A PROUD VOLUNTEER OF THE SHARPSTOWN CIVIC ASSOCIATION.

LIVED IN SHARPSTOWN FOR 25 YEARS.

AND IT'S AN AMAZING AREA.

DESPITE ANYTHING THE MEDIA SAYS, PLEASE COME TO SHARPSTOWN, TO CHINATOWN, TO PLAZAMERICAS.

PLEASE COME TO OUR FESTIVAL, BUT JUST PLEASE COME TO SHARPSTOWN.

IT REALLY IS AN AMAZING PART AND WE'RE SO THANKFUL TO HAVE YOUR SUPPORT FOR OUR AREA THAT'S SMACK DAB IN THE MIDDLE OF YOUR PRECINCT.

WE ARE SO PROUD OF OUR PARKS.

WE ARE 7000 HOMES IN THE SHARPSTOWN CIVIC ASSOCIATION.

THAT'S WAY TOO MANY TO EVER BE ABLE TO REALLY CONTROL.

BUT WE HAVE MANY PARKS.

WE HAVE COMMUNITY CENTERS THAT ARE SO AMAZING AND SO WELL USED AND JUST NEED A LITTLE BIT OF VISUAL HELP OVER AND THAT'S WHAT YOU DO. SO WE'RE LOOKING FORWARD TO THAT.

MY FIRST TIME TO BE HERE, I'M VERY FAMILIAR WITH CITY GOVERNMENT THINGS, BUT I'M VERY EXCITED TO BE HERE AND VERY PROUD OF OUR CITY OF HOUSTON AND HOW THINGS SEEM TO MAJORLY GET DONE.

SO THANK YOU.

SO WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY NOW TO TAKE PICTURES AND WE'LL HAVE THE INTERNS COME IN AND THEN WE WILL HEAR FROM ALL THE SPEAKERS.

AND WELCOME TO YOU ALL.

BUT IT'S WONDERFUL TO HAVE YOU GUYS AND THE FESTIVAL.

SURE SOUNDS AMAZING. PRECINCT FOR ITS 22 INTERNS ARE HERE, SO I INVITE THEM WHEN IT'S THEIR TIME.

WE'RE SO THRILLED TO HAVE YOU.

THE ONE THING. LORD.

[01:21:45]

YES, COMMISSIONER. WE HAVE A COUPLE OF OUR SPEAKERS THAT WE'RE GOING TO LOSE IN ABOUT A MINUTE OR SO.

[Appearances before court]

[01:21:50]

OKAY. THEY'RE HERE TO SPEAK ON THE ON WHAT ITEM?

[01:21:55]

THE THE HOME OWNERSHIP AND THE WOULD NEVER PUT OUT.

[01:22:00]

OH, I'M SORRY. FIVE ON ITEM NUMBER FIVE.

[01:22:03]

UM, WELL, NO, THAT'S THE RESOLUTION.

AND 301301.

THEY'RE HERE TO SPEAK ON 301 SO IF WE, IF WE, IF YOU DON'T MIND, COULD WE TAKE THEM OUT OF ORDER? YES, TIFFANY. SO LET'S START WITH SPEAKER FOR ITEMS FIVE AND 301 AND THEN CONTINUE WITH THE REST OF THE SPEAKERS, PLEASE.

THANK YOU. YES, MA'AM.

FIRST FOR ITEM FIVE IS MARY LAWLOR.

FOR. CAN YOU HEAR ME NOW? YES. OKAY, GREAT.

MORNING. MORNING.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR HAVING ME HERE TODAY.

MY NAME IS MARY LAWLER, AND I'M CEO OF AVENUE.

AND I REALLY APPRECIATE YOU, COMMISSIONER GARCIA, AND ALL OF YOU ON COMMISSIONERS COURT FOR RECOGNIZING THE IMPORTANCE OF HOME OWNERSHIP.

WITH THIS RESOLUTION.

AVENUE HAS BEEN HELPING LOW AND MODERATE INCOME FAMILIES PURCHASE HOMES FOR MORE THAN 30 YEARS.

AND IT IS SO IMPORTANT TO THE HEALTH, WELL-BEING, ECONOMIC SUCCESS OF PEOPLE TO OWN THEIR OWN HOMES.

UM, LAST YEAR, 400 OF OUR CLIENTS PURCHASED HOMES AND MANY OF THEM WERE RIGHT IN PRECINCT TWO AND THROUGHOUT THE REST OF HARRIS COUNTY.

AND IN THAT PURCHASE, THEY LEVERAGED $12 MILLION OF GRANTS SUCH AS THE DOWN PAYMENT ASSISTANCE THAT YOU REFERENCED, WHICH BUILDS WEALTH FOR THEIR FAMILIES.

SO WE REALLY APPRECIATE YOUR RECOGNITION OF THE IMPORTANCE OF HOME OWNERSHIP AND ALL OF THE SUPPORT YOU PROVIDE FOR THOSE PROGRAMS. THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU, MARY.

THANK YOU. APPRECIATE YOUR WORK.

NEXT IS DIANA MARTINEZ.

YES, I WANT TO AS WELL.

THANK YOU FOR BEING ANOTHER VOICE IN BEING ABLE TO PROMOTE HOME OWNERSHIP.

A LOT OF OUR COMMUNITY IS LOSING HOPE BECAUSE OF THE INTEREST RATES THAT WE'RE GOING THROUGH AND THE INCREASE IN THE VALUES OF OUR HOMES.

SO I REALLY WANT TO THANK YOU FOR DOING THAT AGAIN, VOICING US AS A NONPROFIT AGENCY.

WE CONTINUE TO BE A SECRET IN OUR COMMUNITY AND WE WANT THEM TO BE AWARE OF THE SERVICES THAT WE PROVIDE.

WE WANT TO BE ABLE TO PROVIDE THEM WITH THE EDUCATION AND THE COUNSELING TO BE ABLE TO BECOME A SUSTAINABLE HOMEOWNER, NOT JUST A HOMEOWNER.

AND SO AS AVENUE, WE'RE ALWAYS TRYING TO CREATE INNOVATIVE WAYS TO BE ABLE TO HELP OUR COMMUNITY.

AND SO WE CREATED MATCH FUNDS FOR CREDIT PROGRAM TO HELP OUR CLIENTS THAT ARE TRYING TO ESTABLISH OR REESTABLISH CREDIT BY BEING ABLE TO APPLY FOR A SECURED CREDIT CARD.

BUT ANOTHER NUMBER ONE CHALLENGE FOR THEM IS HAVING THE SAVINGS TO BE ABLE TO GIVE THE SECURITY DEPOSIT.

AND SO THROUGH THE THROUGH OUR COLLABORATION WITH THE HARRIS COUNTY HOME OWNERSHIP COLLABORATIVE, WE ARE PART OF THE WORTH INITIATIVE AND WE WERE ABLE TO RECEIVE FUNDING FROM THEM TO BE ABLE TO MATCH OUR CLIENTS $250.

SO IF YOU COULD HELP US IN BEING ABLE TO SPREAD THE WORD TO OUR COMMUNITY ABOUT THE SERVICES THAT WE OFFER AS AN AGENCY WITH AVENUE.

THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT.

[01:25:02]

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

THANK YOU, JUDGE. BLESS YOU.

NEXT. THE MASK OF.

COMMISSIONER, WE'RE NOT SURE IF THE SPEAKER FOR ITEM 301 IS THERE.

SHE HASN'T CHECKED IN WITH US.

MYRA BONTEMS. MYRA. NO, SHE'S NOT THERE.

OKAY. NEXT IS SPEAKER NUMBER FIVE JACOB CLEMENS SPEAKING ON ITEMS SIX AND 167.

DOES IT LOOK LIKE THE PERSON IS HERE? UH, WELL, IF THEY COME BACK, TIFFANY, WE'LL LET YOU KNOW.

REMIND ME. REMIND ME THAT.

WHICH SPEAKER NUMBER IS IT? IT WAS JACOB CLEMENS.

SPEAKER NUMBER FIVE.

OH, RIGHT. OKAY. WELL, WE'LL LET HIM KNOW WHEN WE SEE HIM.

THANK YOU. OKAY.

NEXT IS JOHN LOWMAN.

I'M SORRY. NEXT IS.

RALPH MORRISSEY SPEAKING ON ITEM TEN UNDER COVID 19.

SO WE'LL HEAR FROM MR. MORRISSEY AND THEN WE'LL HEAR FROM FROM JACOB, OR WE'LL HEAR FROM JACOB FIRST.

OKAY. OKAY.

THIS IS ABOUT MY FAVORITE LAW ENFORCEMENT PEOPLE, THE CONSTABLES THAT I AM.

COUNCIL MEMBER ANY GARCIA.

YOU ARE A SHERIFF AND YOU ARE AN OFFICER, BUT YOU WERE NEVER A TRUE OFFICER OF THE LAW ON CONSTABLE.

YEAH. WHAT? THIS IS FROM MY BANK.

WHAT? THAT YOU SHOULDN'T NEED TO IMPROVE.

SO HOUSTON AND TEXAS AND HARRIS COUNTY WILL BE DESIRED SPOTS FOR NEW YORK, ILLINOIS AND CALIFORNIA RESIDENTS FLEEING THE ECONOMIC, ECONOMIC AND PERMANENT PROBLEMS OF THOSE STATES VERSUS MOST MOVING TO FLORIDA.

SO THAT'S WHAT HE ASKED.

NOW, I WAS GOING TO PLAY, UH, UM, SESAME STREET FOR THE PARKS, BUT, UH, WELL, I CAN'T GET THAT OUT IN TIME, SO I'M GOING TO ADD THAT BIT.

SUNNY DAYS SWEEPING THE CLOUDS AWAY AND, UH, CLEAN AIR AND ALL THAT.

I MEAN, THERE ARE MOTHERS FOR CLEAN AIR OUT THERE, AND, WELL, WE NEED TO HAVE PARKS BECAUSE THOSE ARE VERY NECESSARY.

RIGHT? UNCONVENTIONALS.

WELL. AND THEN SHE MUST PAY ATTENTION TO ME, FINALLY.

NO, NO. LESLIE AND GARCIA, Y'ALL HAVE DONE A FINE JOB ABOUT THAT AND USING THAT MONEY TO HELP DEPUTY SHERIFFS AND THAT I HEARD EARLIER TODAY.

I MEAN, Y'ALL ARE REAL SMART.

YEAH. AND NOW.

WELL, FOR UH, UH, UH, UH.

IT'S FOLLOWING ME HAPPY.

THANK YOU. I'M GONNA GET MAD.

OH, THERE'S, UH.

UM. AND THANK YOU.

YOUR TIME IS UP. THANK YOU.

OKAY, MY FOLKS.

RALPH MORSI. YOU HAVE ONE MINUTE.

GOOD MORNING.

GIVE A MAN A FISH AND YOU FEED HIM FOR A DAY.

TEACH HIM TO FISH AND YOU FEED HIM FOR A LIFETIME.

BEFORE THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE GREAT SOCIETY AND THE TRANSFER OF TRILLIONS OF DOLLARS TO FOLKS LIVING IN POVERTY, THE POVERTY RATE WAS ABOUT 12%.

SADLY, IT REMAINS THE SAME TODAY.

I BELIEVE THE PROPOSED $500 FOR 1500 FAMILIES WOULD BE BETTER SPENT HELPING FOLKS DEVELOP A SKILL THAT LIFTS THEM FROM POVERTY, BUILDS SELF-ESTEEM, AND HELPS MEET THE DEMAND FOR SKILLED LABOR.

OUR VERY OWN SAN JACINTO COLLEGE HAS A PLETHORA OF COURSES THAT TRAIN FOLKS FOR HIGH PAYING JOBS, FROM STEM TO WELDING, FROM MARITIME TO NURSING. AT $83 PER SEMESTER.

OUR FOLKS CAN GET A LOT OF EDUCATION FOR $500 EXCUSE ME, $500 A MONTH.

PLEASE DO NOT REPEAT THE MISTAKES OF THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT INSTEAD OF A HANDOUT.

[01:30:03]

OFFER FOLKS A HAND UP.

THANK. NEXT IS EVA THIBODEAU, GRASSICK SPEAKING ITEM 12 UNDER COVID 19.

THANK YOU. MY NAME IS EVA THIBODEAU.

I AM THE CEO OF TEMENOS COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION, AND I'M VERY HAPPY TO BE HERE TODAY IN SUPPORT OF ITEM NUMBER 12, WHICH IS A NEW PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING DEVELOPMENT TO SERVE THOSE WHO ARE EXITING LONG TIME STREET HOMELESSNESS, WHO ARE THE MOST VULNERABLE AMONGST OUR POPULATION.

WE HAVE DEVELOPED OVER CLOSE TO 200 PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING UNITS TO DATE AND WE ARE VERY EXCITED ABOUT THIS PROJECT BECAUSE IT WILL BE IN CONJUNCTION WITH OUR DEAR PARTNERS AND OUR SISTER ORGANIZATION, BREAD OF LIFE.

AND WITH THAT, I AM GOING TO STEP ASIDE AND LET MY DEAR COLLEAGUE AND PARTNER IN ENDING HOMELESSNESS IN GREATER HOUSTON COME UP AND TALK ABOUT BREAD OF LIFE AND A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT THE ACTUAL PROJECT.

SO THANK YOU. GOOD MORNING.

GOOD MORNING, JUDGE. AND THANK YOU, JUDGE AND COMMISSIONER ELLIS AND THE COMMISSIONERS.

THANK YOU FOR ALL THAT YOU HAVE DONE TO HELP US IN HOMELESSNESS IN THE COUNTY.

THIS PROJECT IS A IS EVOLVING FROM IN 19 LET ME SEE.

IN 1999, A GIRL GROUP DESTINY'S CHILD WITH THE WITH THE PROCEEDS FROM THEIR FIRST HIT SONG NO, NO, NO BUILT A YOUTH CENTER IN DOWNTOWN ON THE SAINT JOHN'S CAMPUS.

THAT THAT BUILDING OVER THE YEARS HAS HOUSED IN A IN A NIGHTLY HOUSING FIRST INITIATIVE 150 UNHOUSED PEOPLE EVERY NIGHT FOR ABOUT SEVEN YEARS.

AND IN BETWEEN, IT'S BEEN A STAGING FACILITY FOR DISASTER PRODUCTS TO THE TO THE COMMUNITY.

NOW WE ARE PREPARING TO PROVIDE HOUSING TO 31 VERY DESERVING HOUSTONIANS WHO NEED NEED SUPPORT.

THANK YOU. CONTINUE.

WE'RE JUST GRATEFUL FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SERVE.

THIS IS OUR THIS WILL BE OUR FIFTH HOUSING DEVELOPMENT IN DOWNTOWN IN PRECINCT ONE OVER THESE LAST 17 YEARS.

AND JUST REALLY GRATEFUL TO TO CONTINUE TO BE ABLE TO TO HELP END HOMELESSNESS IN OUR COUNTY.

PASTOR, GOOD TO SEE YOU.

GOOD TO SEE YOU. THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING YOU DO.

THANK YOU ALL. COMMISSIONER, CAN YOU PASS? I WAS JUST GOING TO SAY, I THOUGHT YOU WERE RETIRING.

YOU DON'T ACT LIKE A FELLOW.

YEAH, I'M REWIRING.

REWIRING? YEAH.

SO? SO I THINK I LEFT IT ON THE CONSENT AGENDA BECAUSE I'M HOPING IT'S GOING TO HAVE UNANIMOUS SUPPORT.

BUT YOU.

THIS IS A GOOD STARTING POINT.

YOU'RE GOING TO START CONSTRUCTION IN OCTOBER 2023 AND FINISH A YEAR LATER.

IT'S A VICIOUS AND WE'RE GLAD TO STEP UP, BUT HOPEFULLY WE'LL PASS.

7.2 MILLION.

UH, RICE UNIVERSITY PUT UP A PRIVATE GRANT OF 750 750,000, A FEDERAL HOME LOAN BANK BOARD, FEDERAL HOME LOAN BANK BOARD PUT UP A HALF A MILLION AND THE DEVELOPER FEE OF 143,000 TOTAL SOURCE IS $8.4 MILLION.

AND I KNOW YOU GOT A ONCE YOU GET THE PROJECT BUILT, YOU'LL BE LOOKING FOR PROGRAMING MONEY.

AND YOU KNOW, WE ALL COMMIT TO DOING ALL WE CAN ENCOURAGE OTHER PARTNERS IN THE PRIVATE SECTOR TO STEP UP AS WELL.

AND, YOU KNOW, WE'RE LOOKING FORWARD TO A GREAT GROUNDBREAKING.

BUT THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING THAT YOU AND YOUR TEAM DO.

I KNOW IT'S A TEAM EFFORT, BUT YOU DO A GREAT JOB.

THANK YOU SO MUCH. AND THANK YOU ALL.

SIR, CAN YOU PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME FOR THE RECORD? UH, RUDY RASMUS.

RASMUS. THANK YOU, PASTOR.

THANK YOU. AND THIS FIGHT AGAINST HOMELESSNESS, IT TAKES.

IT TAKES SO MANY OF US WORKING TOGETHER.

SO I APPRECIATE YOUR CONTINUED COMMITMENT.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US.

AND AND WE'RE SO, SO THRILLED.

I'LL BE THRILLED TO VOTE IN SUPPORT OF THIS ITEM AND CONTINUE WITH THE PROGRESS WE'VE MADE SO FAR BY WORKING TOGETHER.

THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU.

AND THANK YOU ALL. THANK YOU.

APPRECIATE YOU. NEXT IS COUNCILMEMBER EDWARD POLLARD SPEAKING VIRTUALLY ON ITEM 33 UNDER COUNTY ENGINEER.

YOU HAVE ONE MINUTE. GO AHEAD, PLEASE.

GREETINGS, HONORABLE JUDGE AND THE COMMISSIONERS OF THE COURT.

THIS IS COUNCILMEMBER EDWARD POLLARD, CITY OF HOUSTON, DISTRICT J.

I AM SPEAKING ON BEHALF OF THE BURNETT BALAN MASTER PLAN.

THIS IS SOMETHING THAT THE ENTIRE COMMUNITY IN THE GULFTON AREA IS EXCITED ABOUT.

AS YOU ALL KNOW, GULFTON IS THE MOST DIVERSE COMMUNITY IN OUR CITY, AND BURNETT BAYLAND PARK IS THE ONLY GREEN SPACE IN THAT AREA.

IT WAS A COUNTY PARK WHICH WAS CITY MAINTAINED.

AND WE'RE LOOKING ON SOME POSSIBILITIES THAT HAVING THE COUNTY TAKE MORE OF AN ACTIVE ROLE IN THE DAY TO DAY.

BUT THIS MASTER PLAN, WHICH WAS SPEARHEADED BY MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY, SUCH AS MOTHERS OF THE PARK WHO OVERSEE

[01:35:04]

THE GROUNDS AND ARE KIND OF OUR EYES AND EARS AROUND THE NEIGHBORHOOD AS IT PERTAINS TO THE PARK.

THEY CAME UP WITH THIS IDEA OF HAVING A MASTER PLAN TO TOTALLY UPGRADE THAT PARK AND SINCE COMMISSIONER BRIONES HAS CAME ABOARD. THANK YOU, SIR.

YOUR TIME IS TREMENDOUS.

MAY I ASK FOR AN EXTENSION, PLEASE? YOU CAN FINISH COUNCIL MEMBER POLLARD.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER.

AND JUST WANT TO ADD REALLY QUICKLY THAT COMMISSIONER BRIONES HAS BEEN VERY ENGAGED WITH THE COMMUNITY.

OUR OFFICES HAVE PARTNERED UP ON MANY INITIATIVES AT THAT PARK RECENTLY, JUST COMPLETING A SOCCER MINI PITCH FOR THE KIDS.

AND SO THIS MASTER PLAN WILL GO A LONG WAYS IN US FINDING OUT WHAT THE POSSIBILITIES ARE FOR THAT PARK, HAVING REAL COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT FOR UPGRADES AT THAT PARK.

AND WE'RE EXCITED THAT IT'S TAKING PLACE.

AND WE WANT TO THANK YOU ALL, AND ESPECIALLY COMMISSIONER BRIONES, FOR HER LEADERSHIP.

BUT THANK YOU FOR YOUR PARTNERSHIP.

COUNCIL MEMBER POLLARD AND MANY THANKS TO MAYOR TURNER AS WELL.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER.

THANK YOU ALL. NEXT IS SPEAKER NUMBER 15, NOELIA.

SPEAKING ON ITEM 33.

HELLO. AND MY NAME IS NOELIA FARDIG.

I GREW UP IN GULFTON AND I GREW UP IN GULFTON, GOING TO BERNARD BAILYN PARK.

WE PLAYED SOCCER, HER BIRTHDAY PARTIES, AND WE ATE PUPUSAS FROM THE VENDORS.

IT'S VERY DIFFERENT NOW.

THE SOCCER FIELDS ARE A MESS.

THERE ARE NO CLEAN BATHROOMS OR WATER FOUNTAINS, BUT MOST IMPORTANTLY, IT ISN'T SAFE.

THIS IS MORE THAN JUST A RANDOM PARK.

15,000 KIDS, 38% OF OUR NEIGHBORHOOD ARE MISSING OUT ON MAKING MEMORIES OF THEIR OWN IN A SAFE PLACE.

WE ARE READY TO DO WHAT IT TAKES TO BRING OUR PARK BACK.

BUT WE WANT WE CAN'T DO IT ALONE.

AND WE ASK THAT YOU HELP US RESTORE BERNARD BAILYN PARK TO WHAT IS MEANT TO BE A SAFE PLACE WHERE THE WORLD CAN COME TO PLAY.

WHAT DOES PUPUSA NEXT IS TAYYIBA TULU SPEAKING ON ITEM 33.

I LOVE IT. MY NEIGHBORHOOD IS MISSING, HAVING A GREAT PARK.

GOOD MORNING, EVERYONE.

MY NAME IS TIWA TULU.

I LIVE IN GALVESTON.

16 YEAR.

BURNETT BELLA BURNETT, BAYLAND PARK.

WE HAVE WANTED BACK FOR MANY YEARS.

I HAVE FOUR BOYS PLAYING.

I HAVE FOUR BOYS THAT WOULD LOVE TO PLAY THERE AND FEEL SAFE.

WE ARE READY TO WORK TO MAKE IT OUR PARK AGAIN.

AND THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR TIME.

THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

NEXT IS LAUREN NEMETH SPEAKING ON ITEM 33.

YOU HAVE ONE MINUTE. THANK YOU VERY MUCH AND GOOD MORNING.

MY NAME IS LAUREN NEMETH AND I AM THE MANAGER OF CIVIC ENGAGEMENT FOR BAKER RIPLEY'S GULFTON SHARPSTOWN LOCATION, WHICH IS IN PRECINCT FOUR.

TO GIVE YOU CONTEXT, BAKER RIPLEY HAS HAD A PRESENCE IN GULFTON SINCE THE 1980S, INCLUDING OPERATING A COMMUNITY CENTER WITHIN NAPOLEON SQUARE APARTMENTS JUST ONE BLOCK AWAY FROM BURNETT BAYLAND PARK.

THE CENTER WAS THERE UNTIL THE THE ADVENT OF OUR COMMUNITY CENTER ON BROOKLYN STREET IN 2020 TEN.

EXCUSE ME. ONE OF MY JOBS IS AS A TRAINER FOR OUR COMMUNITY ENGINEERS CLASS, WHERE WE PROVIDE KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND TOOLS TO HELP OUR NEIGHBORS CREATE AND PROMOTE POSITIVE CHANGE IN THE COMMUNITY.

FOR YEARS, ONE OF THESE CHANGES HAS BEEN FOR OUR NEIGHBORS.

AT TWO HAS BEEN BURNETT BAYLAND PARK.

WE HAVE PROUDLY SUPPORTED OUR NEIGHBORHOOD LEADERS LIKE MARIA HERNANDEZ, FOUNDER OF MADRES DEL PARQUE AND OTHERS WHO ARE WITH US TODAY AS THEY'VE ADVOCATED FOR RESOURCES FOR BURNETT BAYLAND PARK, AS WELL AS THE BROADER COMMUNITY.

THIS MASTER PLAN WILL HEAVILY INVOLVE COMMUNITY INPUT AND REFLECT THE GROWING NEEDS.

THANK YOU. NEXT IS OSWALDO LOPEZ SPEAKING ON ITEM 33.

IT'S A LITTLE NERVOUS.

YOU HAVE ONE MINUTE? GOOD MORNING.

MY NAME IS OSWALDO LOPEZ.

RECENTLY, I INTERVIEWED THE MOTHERS OF THE PARK FOR THE PROGRAM LA SALUD DE LA COMUNIDAD HEALTH OF THE COMMUNITY RADIO CORDILLERA.

THEY TOLD ME THAT THEY HAVE BEEN TROUBLED FOR MANY YEARS TO HAVE A CLEAN AND SAFE PARK FOR THEIR FAMILIES.

THE PEOPLE WHO ATTEND TO THIS PARK BELONG TO A VERY VULNERABLE AND HARD WORKING COMMUNITY.

[01:40:01]

ALTHOUGH THEY WERE SOME IMPROVEMENT DURING THE YEARS, STILL, THERE IS A LONG WAY TO GO.

I TOOK PICTURES AND VIDEOS OF BALAN BALAN PARK AND BALAN PARK AND LIBBEY PARK FOR COMPARISON, AND YOU CAN SEE THERE IS A DIFFERENCE. THE STATE OF THIS PARK.

I BELIEVE THAT IT COULD BE A RISK FOR PUBLIC HEALTH.

I UNDERSTAND THAT COMMISSIONER BRIONES IS TRYING TO FIX THIS PROBLEM THAT IS LONG OVERDUE.

SO I CAME HERE TODAY TO PETITION THE COMMISSIONER COURT TO VOTE IN FAVOR FOR ITEM 33.

THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT.

GRACIAS. THANK YOU.

NEXT IS LUDWIG RIVERA SPEAKING ON ITEM 33.

YOU HAVE ONE MINUTE. OH, GOOD MORNING.

MY NAME IS LULU RIVERA AND MY MOM HAS TO WORK AND CAN'T DRIVE.

IS VERY HARD TO GO TO A PARK AND SHE WON'T TAKE US TO BERNARD BAILYN BECAUSE SHE THINKS IT ISN'T SAFE.

EVEN IF SHE TAKES US TO THE PARK, THERE'S NO POINT.

AS SOMEONE WHO ENJOYS RUNNING, I NOTICE THAT THE FIELDS ARE TOTALLY UNEVEN.

THE HOLES IN YOUR FIELDS MESS UP YOUR ANKLES.

AND WHEN I WANT TO REST, THERE IS NO SHADE.

I LOVE GOING TO A PARKS ARE PRETTY AND FEEL GOOD TO BE WALKING AROUND.

IF YOU COULD TAKE BETTER CARE OF BAILÉN VIRNETX AND MAINTAIN IT, IT WOULD BE PRETTY.

AND. I WOULD LOOK FORWARD TO GOING THERE.

THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.

NEXT IS BRIAN OSORIO SPEAKING ON ITEM 33.

YOU HAVE ONE MINUTE. HELLO.

MY NAME IS BRIAN OSORIO AND I'D LIKE TO STAY EVEN THOUGH WE LIVE CLOSE TO BAYLOR AND BURNET.

WE DON'T GO THERE.

THERE'S NO CLEAN BATHROOMS OR WATER FOUNTAINS AT ALL.

IT'S LIKE THE THING ABOUT GOING TO A PARK NEAR YOU IS THAT IT'S LIKE THE EXPERIENCE.

YOU WANT TO GO THERE, BUT IT'S LIKE YOU GO TO EVENTS, LIKE YOU GO WITH YOUR FRIENDS OR LIKE TO OTHER HOSTED EVENTS.

BUT WE HAVE TO THINK ABOUT HOW THE STATE OF THE PARK IS RIGHT NOW AND WE HAVE TO THINK ABOUT THE EXPERIENCES THAT WE HAD WHILE WE WENT THERE FOR THE FUTURE OF THE OTHER GENERATIONS THAT MIGHT GO THERE, TOO.

SO WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE IT'S IN A GREAT CONDITION SO THAT LITTLE KIDS THAT ARE GOING TO GROW UP AND GOING TO THE PARK WILL ACTUALLY HAVE GREAT EXPERIENCES IN OUR COMMUNITY.

THANK YOU. GREAT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

THANK YOU, MR. OSORIO. AND PRECINCT FOUR IS THE TOP PRIORITY OF PARKS BURNETT BAYLAND FOLLOWED BY BAYLAND.

SO WE'RE SO HAPPY TO BE GETTING YOUR.

NEXT IS MARIA HERNANDEZ SPEAKING ON ITEM 33, USING THE INTERPRETER.

MI NOMBRE ES MARIA HERNANDEZ DE TODOS SOY MADRE ABUELA MIGRANTE LEADER COMUNITARIO PRESIDENTE DE MADRES DEL PARQUE.

HI, MY NAME IS MARIA HERNANDEZ.

MOTHER. GRANDMOTHER.

MIGRANT. AND LEADER OF THE COMMUNITY.

PRESIDENT OF MOTHERS OF THE PARK UN GRUPO DE MADRES PREOCUPADOS POR LA SEGURIDAD DE LAS FAMILIARES CANSADOS DE TANTA NEGLIGENCIA DELINCUENCIA EN NUESTRO PARQUE LOCAL.

I AM ONE OF THE MOTHERS CONCERNED ABOUT THE PARK.

THE SAFETY OF THE PARK AND THE WELL-BEING OF THE FAMILIES IN OUR COMMUNITY IS TOO MUCH OF THE NEGLIGENCE AND THE DELINQUENCY IN OUR PARK.

HACER SIETE ANOS DECIDIMOS EMPEZAR UN PROGRAMA DE LIMPIEZA DE RECICLAJE AND BURNETT BAYLAND PARK Y TODOS ESTOS ANOS HEMOS LLEVADO A NUESTRA COMUNIDAD EVENTOS CULTURALES Y DE RECURSOS.

ABOUT SEVEN YEARS AGO, WE STARTED THIS PARK.

WE STARTED THIS PROGRAM OF CLEANING RECYCLING AT BURNETT BAYLAND PARK.

IN THIS YEARS.

WE ARE HELPING THE PARK THAT WE HAVE BEEN TAKING EVENTS BY BRINGING EVENTS, CULTURAL EVENTS.

ALSO BRINGING SUPPORT TO THE COMMUNITY AND HAVE FOUND OUT THAT THE COMMUNITY WISH TO TO TO BE PART OF THIS.

CON ESTO CUENTA NUESTRA COMUNIDAD DE HACER PARTE QUIERE PERTENECER QUIERE SER ESCUCHADO.

NO IMPORTA LENGUAJES.

QUIERO ESTAR AQUI. WITH ALL THESE WE HAVE FOUND OUT THAT THE FAMILIES WANT TO BE PART OF THIS.

THEY WANT TO PARTICIPATE.

THEY WANT TO SEE HAVE BEEN SEEN.

LISTEN INDEPENDENCY OF IT DOESN'T MATTER THE LANGUAGE THAT THEY SPEAK.

[01:45:08]

THIS IS THE WISH THAT THEY HAVE IN THEIR HEART.

THIS IS THE MOMENT.

COMMISSIONER LESLIE BRIONES, TOMO SU CARGO JUNTO CON SU EQUIPO UN ESTADO PRESENTES E PENDIENTES DE LO HACE FALTA EN EL PARQUE DE LA COMUNIDAD.

SINCE COMMISSIONER LESLIE BRIONES HAS TAKEN CHARGE.

AND IN THIS PART OF THE PARK HANDS.

THEY HAVE BEEN WATCHING THE THE NEEDS OF THE PARK.

WHATEVER IS NEEDED IN THE PARK TO BE HEARING AND THE NECESSITIES OF THE COMMUNITY.

CON EL MASTER PLAN.

NOSOTROS TENDREMOS ESTO OPORTUNIDAD DE TENER UN MEJOR CANCION PARA LAS ACTIVIDADES DE NUESTROS JOVENES E FISICA DE FISICA MENTAL MENTALMENTE.

WITH THE MASTER PLAN FOR THIS PARK, WE ARE HERE TO HAVE A PARK FOR THE FAMILY AT THE BURNETT BAYLAND PARK AND THIS WILL HAVE A CHANGE.

VERY SIGNIFICANT CHANGE TO GET BETTER.

AND THE FOOTBALL.

THE FOOTBALL FIELD AND THE THE CHILDREN WILL FEEL SAFE.

CON UN CON UN.

CENTRO COMUNITARIO MAS GRANDE DE AMPLIO NUESTRAS FAMILIARES TENDRAN ESSER OPORTUNIDAD DE TENER MAS PROGRAMAS PARA ELLOS.

WITH A BIGGER COMMUNITY CENTER.

THE OUR FAMILIES WILL HAVE A BETTER CHANCE TO BE WITH THEIR FAMILY.

LO MAS IMPORTANTE TENDRA UN ESPACIO VERDE DONDE PUEDEN SENTIRSE LIBRES PUEDE CONECTAR CON LA NATURALEZA PUEDEN ESTAR CONECTARSE CON SUS RAICES. THE MOST IMPORTANT THING IS THAT THEY WILL BE IN CONTACT WITH THE NATURE, WITH THE GREEN AREAS, AND THEY WILL HAVE BEEN IN THE PROGRAMS WITH ALL THESE CHILDREN.

AGRADEZCO MENCIONADOS AQUI PRESIDENT.

POR ESTAS PALABRAS.

MUCHAS GRACIAS. GRACIAS.

THANK YOU SO, COMMISSIONER, THE JUDGE AND ALL OF YOU FOR HEARING US. THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.

NEXT IS JAIME GONZALEZ SPEAKING ON ITEM 33.

GOOD MORNING, JUDGE AND COMMISSIONERS.

THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING US TO HAVE COMMENTARY HERE.

I WORK FOR THE NATURE CONSERVANCY IN TEXAS, AND IN 2020 I WORKED WITH THE COUNTY AND THE CITY AND HARC TO MEASURE HEAT ACROSS HARRIS COUNTY.

BELTON IS THE HOTTEST NEIGHBORHOOD IN THE CITY.

AND EVERY TREE, EVERY BIT OF NATURE THAT WE CAN PUT IN THERE IS WORTH A LOT FOR CLIMATE READINESS AND FOR PUBLIC HEALTH.

BELTON IS WHAT IS CALLED A NATURE DEPRIVED NEIGHBORHOOD.

IT GETS A SCORE OF 27 OUT OF 100, AND THAT PUTS IT AT THE LOW END OF COMMUNITIES THROUGHOUT THE COUNTY.

SO IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE GET BERNARD BAILYN PARK'S RENOVATION, RIGHT? IT'S A UNIQUE COMMUNITY WITH UNIQUE NEEDS, AND IT CAN BE A SHOWCASE TO PROMOTE OUR DIVERSITY.

WE HEARD A LOT ABOUT WHAT PEOPLE WANTED IN THEIR PARK.

THEY WANTED MORE NATURAL FEATURES LIKE PONDS.

THEY WANTED BETTER LIGHTING.

THEY WANTED TO REVISIT THE CHAIN LINK FENCE THAT'S GOING AROUND IT AND IS NOT A WELCOMING THING.

I THINK IF WE DO A COMMUNITY ENGAGED PROCESS, WE CAN FURTHER THIS GOAL AND HELP TO GREEN GULFTON.

THANK YOU. SO GOOD TO SEE YOU AGAIN, MAN.

THANK YOU FOR ALL YOU'RE DOING.

REMEMBER THOSE GOOD OLD DAYS, MAN? ALL RIGHT. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU.

THANK YOU, MR.. NEXT IS MARGARET GOETZE SPEAKING ON ITEM 33.

HELLO, I'M MARGARET KATZ AND I'M A PEDIATRICIAN AND I'VE WORKED IN GULFTON FOR OVER 25 YEARS.

AND ALSO IN THAT TIME I'VE LED A COMMUNITY HEALTH WORKER PROGRAM THAT FOCUSES ON HEALTH, EDUCATION AND HELP ACCESSING MEDICAL SERVICES.

FIRST, THANK YOU TO COMMISSIONER BRIONES FOR COMING TO GULFTON, LISTENING TO THE COMMUNITY AND MAKING THIS PROJECT MOVE FORWARD.

FROM MY POINT OF VIEW AND MY EXPERIENCE.

HIGHLAND PARK IS ESSENTIAL FOR THE HEALTH OF EVERYONE WHO LIVES AND WORKS AND WORKS IN GULFTON AND REALLY ALL OF HOUSTON.

MEDICAL RESEARCH HAS PROVEN AGAIN AND AGAIN THAT LIVING CLOSE TO PARKS, TREES, PLAY AREAS FOR ALL AGES WILL HELP US BE HEALTHIER MENTALLY AND PHYSICALLY, NOT ONLY NOW, BUT IN THE YEARS TO COME.

NEXT IS MAYRA MUNIZ SPEAKING ON ITEM 33.

YOU HAVE ONE MINUTE. THANK YOU.

GOOD AFTERNOON. WELL, GOOD MORNING, COURT.

MY NAME IS MAYRA MUNIZ.

I AM WITH MADRES DEL PARQUE, A LOCAL ORGANIZATION FOUNDED BY THE GULFTON COMMUNITY IN BERNARD BAILYN PARK.

[01:50:04]

I HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO WORK WITH THE GULFTON COMMUNITY A FEW YEARS AGO AS A COMMUNITY RESOURCE SPECIALIST.

I WITNESSED FIRSTHAND THE GENEROSITY AND KINDNESS OF THE GULFTON COMMUNITY.

I AM HERE TODAY SUPPORTING THEM, JUST LIKE THEY SUPPORTED ME MANY YEARS AGO.

I ASKED THE COMMISSIONERS COURT TO CONTINUE MOMENTUM AND APPROVE FUNDING FOR THE MASTER PLAN IN BERNARD BAILYN PARK.

I'M EXCITED FOR THIS NEW PHASE OF GULFTON AND LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH THE CITY AND COUNTY TO IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF LIFE OF MY FELLOW HOUSTONIANS WHO ARE DESERVING.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.

THANK YOU. NEXT IS LARISSA JACOBS SPEAKING ON ITEM 33.

YOU HAVE ONE MINUTE. THANK YOU.

I'M LARISSA JACOBS WITH FIT HOUSTON.

AS YOU ALL MANY OF YOU KNOW, WE ARE ALL ABOUT FREE PHYSICAL ACTIVITY ACROSS HOUSTON'S COMMUNITIES.

BUT THAT IS A LOT MORE POSSIBLE IF YOU HAVE INCREDIBLY ENGAGED COMMUNITY AND A GREAT LOCATION TO BE ACTIVE IN.

I'VE BEEN TO A LOT OF THE MEETINGS FOR BURNETT BAYLAND PARK.

I'M SUPER ENCOURAGED BY THE INCREDIBLE LEADERSHIP, FIRST OF ALL, COMMISSIONER BRIONES, BUT ALSO THE PEOPLE.

AND THEY'RE DOING A GREAT JOB.

SO YOU SHOULD SEE THE ENERGY IN THE ROOM.

IT'S AMAZING. PHYSICAL ACTIVITY, OF COURSE, IS, AS PEOPLE HAVE SAID BEFORE ME, IS IS GOING TO REALLY HELP WITH MENTAL WELL-BEING, PHYSICAL WELL-BEING, PREVENTING MANAGING CHRONIC DISEASE. AND PEOPLE NEED A SAFE AND BEAUTIFUL SPACE TO DO THIS IN.

SO WE'RE VERY SUPPORTIVE OF THE MASTER PLAN.

AND, YOU KNOW, AGAIN, I'VE SCARCELY SEEN A GROUP SO EXCITED AS WHAT WE'RE SEEING IN GULFTON AND THEY'RE SHOWING UP.

YOU KNOW, I'VE BEEN TO THE PARK CLEANUPS.

IT IS A BEAUTIFUL THING.

I ENCOURAGE EVERYBODY TO COME CHECK IT OUT.

AND I KNOW THIS PROJECT IS GOING TO BE ABSOLUTELY AMAZING.

I ALSO GREW UP NEAR BURNETT BAYLAND PARK, SO I JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU, MA'AM.

YOUR TIME IS UP. THANK YOU.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH.

IT'S WONDERFUL TO SEE FOLKS ORGANIZE IN SUCH A DIVERSE GROUP OF FOLKS.

SO THANK YOU. AND I WANT TO MAKE SURE YOU ALL KNOW THAT YOU'VE PLAYED A ROLE IN HELPING US MAKE THIS POSSIBLE, BECAUSE WE HAD A BOND AND THE FALL THAT INCLUDED HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS FOR PARKS.

AND THAT'S PART OF THE REASON WE WOULD DO THAT.

AND IT PASSED. YES, I SEE FOLKS CHEERING.

SO, LOOK, THIS ISN'T THERE'S THERE'S OTHER PARKS LIKE WITH THE ISSUES LIKE THE ONES YOU GUYS ARE FACING.

SO HELP US ADVOCATE.

WE DON'T HAVE A UNIFIED FORM IN TERMS OF BEING ABLE TO HAVE AN OVERALL LOOK AT ALL THE PARKS IN THE COUNTY.

SO THIS RECIPE THAT YOU'VE PUT TOGETHER, YOU KNOW, HELP US CONTINUE TO MAKE PROGRESS.

I KNOW THAT WE'VE MADE A LOT OF PROGRESS, BUT THERE'S MORE TO BE MADE.

AND AND I'M JUST SO THRILLED TO SEE ALL OF YOU HERE.

AND I'M ABSOLUTELY IN FAVOR OF THIS AND APPRECIATE EVERYTHING YOU ALL DO FOR THE COMMUNITY.

AND. ECHO. YEAH, I JUST WANTED TO THANK.

THEN BECOMING. BUT ALSO COMMISSIONER BROWNIES.

YEAH. THANK YOU. YEAH, I SAW AN WHITLOCK BACK THERE IN THE BACK, KEEPING A LOW PROFILE, BUT, YEAH, I CAN'T REMEMBER A BICYCLE RIDING FROM THE EAST END FROM FROM HER HOME OUT THERE TO LOOK AT THAT PART, THAT COMMUNITY.

UH, MANY TIMES.

AND I REMEMBER WHEN THAT WAS A TRAGIC ACCIDENT, I THINK FATALITY OF A YOUNG KID OUT THERE.

AND SHE AND PEOPLE IN THIS COMMUNITY HAVE BEEN ADVOCATING FOR COUNTY SUPPORT FOR A LONG TIME.

FOR A LONG TIME. THEY HAVEN'T ALWAYS GOTTEN IT.

SO, YOU KNOW, DESPITE SOME OF THE FOLKS WHO WERE OBJECTING WHEN THAT WAS PUT IN YOUR PRECINCT, I'M GLAD TO HAVE A SMALL HAND IN PUTTING IT THERE.

AND I WANT TO COMMEND YOU FOR STEPPING UP THE WAY THIS OPERATES.

IT'S PRETTY MUCH UP TO WHAT WE LIKE IT OR NOT, EACH COMMISSIONER ON HOW THEY SPEND THOSE FUNDS IN THAT PRECINCT AND YOU MAKE THAT DECISION AND THAT'S A GOOD THING.

COMMISSIONER BROWNIES AND THEN COMMISSIONER GARCIA, THANK YOU.

WELL, BURNETT BAYLAND IS THE TOP PRIORITY FOR PRECINCT FOUR, FOLLOWED CLOSELY BY BAYLAND.

AND SO WE PLAN ON GOING BIG.

WE'VE BEEN SO ENERGIZED WITH ALL OF THE COMMUNITY MEETINGS AND THERE'S SO MANY MORE TO COME.

AND IT WILL BE A MULTI LANGUAGE, DEEP COMMUNITY EFFORT BECAUSE YOU ALL HAVE BEEN ON THE FRONT LINES FOR DECADES AND IT'S BEEN A LONG TIME COMING.

SO I'M SO THANKFUL THAT MAYOR TURNER AND COUNCIL MEMBER POLLARD ARE OPEN TO THE COUNTY, TAKING BACK THE MAINTENANCE BECAUSE I'VE GONE LITERALLY PICKING UP GLASS. OUR KIDS CANNOT PLAY THERE.

IT IS UNACCEPTABLE AND OUR KIDS DESERVE BETTER.

AND I LOVE GULFTON BECAUSE IT'S THE ELLIS ISLAND OF HARRIS COUNTY AND OF TEXAS.

OVER SIX APPROXIMATELY 60% OF THE INDIVIDUALS IN OUR GULFTON COMMUNITY ARE BORN IN ANOTHER COUNTRY.

IT'S A NEIGHBORHOOD OF IMMIGRANTS AND WE DESERVE THE GREEN SPACE ENGULFED IN THAT.

WE HAVE IN MANY OTHER AREAS IN HARRIS COUNTY.

SO THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP.

CONNECT COMMUNITY, MOTHERS, EL PARK, ALL OF THE WORK THAT HAS BEEN DONE FOR YEARS AND WE'RE HAPPY TO BE A SMALL PART AND LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING TOGETHER CLOSELY FOR YEARS TO COME. SO THANK YOU FOR TAKING TIME TO SHARE YOUR PERSPECTIVES.

COMMISSIONER GARCIA THANK YOU.

VERY, VERY APPROPRIATE.

AND I WANT TO THANK THE COMMUNITY FOR COMING DOWN AND SPEAKING AS WELL.

[01:55:02]

BUT I JUST WANT TO SAY, COMMISSIONER BRIONES, BACK WHEN I WAS DOING MY GANG WORK, UH.

THAT PARK WAS MORE THE SITE OF HOMICIDES AND IT WAS THE SITE OF TOURNAMENTS AND, YOU KNOW, EXERCISE AND THINGS OF THAT NATURE.

PEOPLE ACTUALLY WOULD VACATE THE PARK BECAUSE THEY THEY FELT IMMINENT DANGER.

AND SO I JUST WANTED TO THANK YOU BECAUSE YOU COULD HAVE COME IN AND JUST MAINTAINED OR OR YOUR CONTRIBUTION COULD HAVE SIMPLY BEEN, WELL, I'LL MOW THE GRASS, BUT YOU ARE PUTTING TOGETHER A GROUND UP MASTER PLAN WHICH REALLY KEEPS THE COMMUNITY AT THE TABLE AND HELPS THEM CRAFT A VISION AND AN IDEA OF WHAT THAT PARK OUGHT TO BE.

AND BUT, YOU KNOW, WITHOUT SOMEONE WHO'S LISTENING TO THE COMMUNITY AND PAYING ATTENTION AND CARES ABOUT THE COMMUNITY, THE FACT THAT YOU CAN EVEN SAY, I'VE GONE OUT THERE TO PICK UP GLASS AS YOU WALKED AROUND AND UNDERSTAND THAT THAT'S PHENOMENAL.

THAT IS PHENOMENAL. SO I JUST WANT TO APPLAUD YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP AND YOUR COMMITMENT TO YOUR PRECINCT.

AND I KNOW THAT THE COMMUNITY HAS ADVOCATED FOR YEARS BECAUSE I PUT A COMPUTER LAB OUT THERE, AND IF NOT FOR, UM, MAKING THE POINT THAT WE HAD GOTTEN APPROVAL BY THE COUNTY TO PUT THAT LAB, BUT THEN AT THE LAST MINUTE, WE WERE LITERALLY HOLDING THE LAB THAT WE COULDN'T GET PERMISSION TO PUT IT OUT THERE.

AND SO I HAD TO WORK TO ENGAGE HUD AND OTHERS TO MAKE THE POINT THAT SOMEBODY APPROVED.

AND NOW YOU'RE SAYING NO.

BUT ULTIMATELY IT WAS MADE POSSIBLE.

AND AND THEN ALSO, SOME PEOPLE MAY FORGET THAT RICHARD CANTU WAS ONE OF THE PARK DIRECTORS OUT THERE.

AND ALSO WAS DOING HIS VERY BEST TO TRY TO KEEP THE COMMUNITY TOGETHER.

AND SO BUT I'M SO EXCITED FOR THIS.

AND AGAIN, MY HATS OFF TO YOU, BUT THANK YOU TO THE COMMUNITY FOR NOT GIVING UP.

THANK YOU ALL.

THANK YOU. AND I KNOW THE NEXT SPEAKER, TIFFANY, IS MARILYN BURGESS AND ED WILSON.

WE DID HAVE GUIDANCE FROM THE COUNTY ATTORNEY TO TO BEGIN THE DISCUSSION OF THIS ITEM IN EXECUTIVE SESSION BECAUSE OF SOME CYBERSECURITY ISSUES.

SO WE'VE SPOKEN WITH BOTH THE CLERK AND MR. WELLS AND THEY'LL RETURN ONCE WE GET TO ITEM.

UH, WELL, ALL OF THE RELEVANT ITEMS TO THE UNIVERSAL SERVICES ONE.

YES, MA'AM.

NEXT IS SPEAKER NUMBER 28 DOLORES RODRIGUEZ SPEAKING ON ITEM 159 UNDER COMMUNITY SERVICES.

MY NAME IS DOLORES RODRIGUEZ.

SHE'S MAKING HER WAY.

THE FIRST TIME.

WELCOME TO. UM.

GOOD MORNING OR GOOD AFTERNOON.

MY NAME IS LAURA RODRIGUEZ AND I AM HERE TO TALK ABOUT THE BUYOUT PROGRAM.

I LIVE IN HADDONFIELD IN IN A HOUSE MY DADDY HAD BOUGHT WHEN I WAS A TEENAGER.

I GOT MARRIED AND MOVED AWAY, BUT I CAME BACK TO HELP MY MOM AND MY DADDY PASS.

THEN, MAMA, MY MAMA PASSED.

AND STILL.

I AM STILL IN THE HOUSE.

THE HOUSE FLOOD 4 OR 5 TIMES.

HARVEY WAS THE WORST.

WE WERE IN THE MOTEL FOR ABOUT TWO MONTHS, AND THEN WE CAME BACK HOME WITH A BIG MESS.

PEOPLE ASKED ME, LORD, WHY YOU STAY IN THAT HOUSE? WHERE AM I'M GOING TO GO? I DON'T HAVE NO MONEY TO MOVE.

MY MAMA LEFT US THIS HOUSE.

NOW WITH THIS.

GO AHEAD. GO AHEAD.

YES. YES. NOW, THIS BUYOUT PROGRAM.

I'M GOING TO HAVE THE MONEY TO GET A NEW HOME.

A NEW HOUSE.

AND THEN. AND WHEN I DO, I'M GOING TO DANCE ALL OVER THE FLOOR.

MM. I AM READY TO GO.

THIS PROGRAM IS NOT EASY.

I'VE BEEN THROUGH A LOT OF STRESS AND HEALTH PROBLEMS, BUT IT IS HELPING PEOPLE WHO DON'T HAVE ANOTHER WAY TO GET OUT.

[02:00:05]

I AM READY FOR MY NEW HOUSE.

THANK YOU. OKAY.

GOD BLESS YOU. THANK YOU.

NEXT IS DR.

JOE ESTRADA SPEAKING ON ITEM 159.

YOU HAVE ONE MINUTE? GOOD AFTERNOON, JUDGE AND COMMISSIONERS.

I JUST WANTED TO SAY THAT I APPRECIATE YOUR TIME AND ALL OF YOUR EFFORTS TO KEEP OUR COMMUNITIES SAFE FOR EVERYONE. UM, MY NAME IS DR.

JOE ESTRADA, AND I'M THE DIRECTOR OF COMMUNITY IMPACT WITH THE COMMUNITY SERVICE DIVISION.

AND I WANTED TO TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO INTRODUCE YOU TO OUR SPECIAL SOCIAL SERVICES TEAM.

THIS TEAM HAS BEEN ASSIGNED TO ASSIST WITH THE BUYOUT PROGRAM.

AND, YOU KNOW, WE'RE ALL SOCIAL WORKERS, ALL HAVE SOCIAL WORKER BACKGROUNDS, HAVE BEEN DOING THIS FOR MANY, MANY YEARS.

WE'RE ALL BILINGUAL AND MANY OF US COME FROM SIMILAR, SIMILAR BACKGROUNDS AND EXPERIENCES.

AND WE HAVE, YOU KNOW, WORKED WITH JOCELYN ON TRAINING ABOUT THE PROGRAM.

AND EVEN THOUGH THEY WILL HANDLE THE LOGISTICAL PART, WE WANT TO PROVIDE A PEOPLE CENTERED APPROACH AND MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE MEETING PEOPLE WHERE THEY'RE AT, THAT WE'RE LISTENING, AND THAT WE'RE PROVIDING THAT THAT SERVICE.

YOU CAN FINISH. YOU CAN FINISH.

OKAY, GOOD. I WANTED TO INTRODUCE YOU TO THE TEAM.

THEY CAME WITH ME TODAY AND JUST SO THAT YOU COULD PUT THE NAMES TO THE FACES AS WE MOVE FORWARD WITH PROVIDING SERVICES.

DAVID, THANK YOU.

THANK YOU. GOOD AFTERNOON.

MY NAME IS DAVID. ADNAN. THIS.

I'LL BE SUPERVISING THE UNIT HERE.

DE SIERRA. GOOD FOR EVERYBODY.

A THOUSAND AND MORE EMBRYOS.

ALL RIGHT. ALL RIGHT.

STRADA, LET ME JUST THANK YOU AND THANK YOUR TEAM.

AND JUDGE JOE OR DR.

AND BUT I ALSO WANT TO THROW A MAJOR SHOUT OUT.

I DON'T SEE HER HERE.

UH, TELL US. YET ANOTHER EXAMPLE OF HOW CSD IS RETHINKING ITS WORK AND ITS APPROACH. THIS BUYOUT HAS BEEN.

JUST IT'S BEEN CHALLENGING NO MATTER THE TIME, WHETHER WHEN I WAS ON CITY COUNCIL OR NOW.

IT IS A CHALLENGING AND TRAUMATIC EXPERIENCE FOR ALL FOR EVERYONE WHO GOES THROUGH IT.

THE FACT THAT THEY'RE FINALLY BRINGING SOCIAL WORKERS TO THE TABLE TO HELP WORK WITH THE COMMUNITY IS PHENOMENAL.

AND SO I APPRECIATE YOU WILLING TO STEP UP TO DO THIS WORK, BUT THIS IS WHAT WE HAVE NEEDED FOR SO LONG, AND THAT IS SOME A THINKING OF HOW TO KEEP THE COMMUNITY ENGAGED AND TO MAKE THAT DEPARTMENT MUCH MORE COMMUNITY CENTRIC. AND SO I'M EXCITED.

I'M EXCITED AND GRATEFUL TO YOU.

AND AGAIN, TAO, I KNOW YOU CAN HEAR ME.

THANK YOU.

APPRECIATE YOU. THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER.

THANK YOU SO MUCH, JUDGE.

YES, COMMISSIONER, IF I MIGHT, I WANT TO THANK THEM AS WELL.

AND COMMISSIONER GARCIA, I WANT TO THANK YOU.

I KNOW THAT SOME OTHER PEOPLE WHO SIGNED UP AS WELL AND.

I DON'T THINK I REALLY REALIZE QUITE AS MUCH HOW IMPORTANT A HOUSE A HOME IS UNTIL I WAS STUCK IN MINE FOR THE LAST SEVEN DAYS.

IT'S BEEN A LONG TIME SINCE I SPENT THAT MUCH TIME IN MY HOME AND ALONE SINCE I HAD TO WEAR THIS MASK.

THEY GOT OUT. BUT IT REALLY IS IMPORTANT.

THIS IS THE FIRST MANDATORY BUYOUT PROGRAM IN THE HISTORY OF THE COUNTRY.

AND I THINK THAT IF WE HAD KNOWN A LOT OF WHAT WE HAVE LEARNED ALONG THE WAY, WE MIGHT NOT HAVE OPTED TO DO A MANDATORY PROGRAM.

BUT WE AS A BODY DIDN'T MAKE THAT DECISION.

AND I DO WANT TO COMMEND TOWLE FOR WHAT SHE HAS DONE.

SO A LOT OF THESE HOMES ARE IN PRECINCT ONE ALONG GREENS ROAD.

A LOT OF THEM ARE. I GUESS I HAVE ALLEN FIELDS, ALDINE PLACE, BLUEBELL BELL SITES AND MEADOW VIEW LAND WEST AND PRECINCT TWO.

UH, IN PRECINCT THREE HAS HIGHLAND SHORES.

UH, BUT THE BULK OF THEM WOULD BE COMMISSIONER GARCIA AND IN ME.

AND THE DEPARTMENT HAS DONE A GOOD JOB.

AND WE ALL HAVE HEARD YOU.

THE FOLKS FROM TOP AS WELL WHO ARE HERE AND DON'T WANT TO DRAG IT OUT ALL DAY.

BUT I APPRECIATE THE LEADERSHIP OF EVERYBODY.

I DO WANT TO JUST LET MY COLLEAGUES KNOW THAT I'M GOING TO BE PREPARED TO MAKE A MOTION AND I'M GOING TO BE PREPARED TO SECOND IT.

[02:05:01]

GOOD. AND ADDITIONAL FUNDING TO PUT US WHERE IT WOULD BE ON THE FEDERAL LEVEL.

I DON'T THINK SOMEONE'S RESIDENCY STATUS OUGHT TO BE AN ISSUE.

I DIDN'T THINK THAT WHEN WE FIRST STARTED THE PROGRAM ON A MANDATORY BASIS, AND I DON'T THINK IT SHOULD BE A DISTINCTION NOW.

SO THAT ADDITIONAL FUNDING THAT WE'RE GOING TO NEED.

WE'LL HAVE TO COME FROM THE GENERAL FUND AND CSD'S DEPARTMENTAL SURPLUS.

UH, SO I'M GOING TO BE PREPARED TO MAKE THAT THAT MOTION WHEN IT COMES UP.

AND HERE'S WHAT THE LANGUAGE IS.

SO JUST I DON'T KNOW WHERE THE VOTES WILL BE.

I JUST HEARD A SECOND, SO WE'LL SEE WHEN IT COMES UP.

THANK YOU. BUT SO I'M GOING TO MAKE A MOTION TO INCREASE THE ALLOCATION.

OH, GOOD. I'LL SAY BENEFITS, UH, BY $7,706,250, AND THAT WILL ACHIEVE PARITY WITH THE FEDERAL FUNDING LEVEL.

SO I THINK I HEARD THREE HERE.

I'M NOT SPEAKING FOR FOLKS.

SO IF YOU WANT TO SHORTEN YOUR COMMENTS AND GET TO IT, LET'S GET IT OUT.

THANK YOU, SIR.

THANK YOU. YEAH.

NEXT IS JOSE ALAMAN SPEAKING ON ITEM 159.

YOU HAVE ONE MINUTE? HELLO.

GOOD AFTERNOON. THANK YOU.

I WANT TO THANK ALL OF Y'ALL.

UH, I'M HERE TO TALK ABOUT THE BUYOUT PROGRAM.

I MEAN, THEY HELPED MY FAMILY.

UM. THE BUYOUT PROGRAM GAVE ME A CHANCE FOR ME AND MY FAMILY TO HAVE A BETTER AND SAFER LIFE WITHOUT FLOODING.

I MEAN, I'VE BEEN IN ALDINE AND FLOOD AFTER FLOOD AFTER ALL THESE YEARS JUST HOPING SOMETHING WOULD GET BETTER.

AND WHEN THE BUYOUT PROGRAM FINALLY STARTED REACHING OUT TO US, UM, AT FIRST IT WAS LIKE, I COULDN'T BELIEVE IT.

AND THEN, YOU KNOW, WE STARTED MAKING PROGRESS UNTIL FINALLY WE WERE ABLE TO GET OUT AND GET A HOME.

OUT OF OUT OF FLOODING.

SO, YEAH.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR COMING DOWN.

AND AGAIN, WE WISH THAT NO ONE WOULD HAVE TO GO THROUGH A BUYOUT PROCESS, WHETHER VOLUNTARY OR NOT.

BUT THANK YOU FOR YOUR PATIENCE.

THANK YOU FOR KEEPING AN OPEN MIND.

UH, BUT AM EXCITED ABOUT WHAT WE'RE GOING TO PROPOSE TODAY.

NEXT IS ROSENDO CABRERA SPEAKING ON ITEM 159.

YOU HAVE ONE MINUTE? HI, MY NAME IS ROSENDO CABRERA.

AND. I USED TO LIVE IN A LANDFILL.

ON 13TH STREET.

WE USED TO LIVE IN 13TH STREET.

THE FLAGSTONE AREA IS VERY, VERY STRESSFUL WHEN TRACK.

THE STORM EVERY TIME APPEARED ON THE GOLF.

NOW TO MAKE SURE WE ARE OKAY.

IT'S A HUGE RELIEF NOT TO WORRY ABOUT IT ANYMORE.

THE STORM. OUR NEW HOUSE.

IS EVERYTHING.

WE PRAY FOR THEM.

FOR ME AND FAMILY.

TAKE YOUR TIME. EVEN MY WIFE WAS HERE.

IF YOU WANT TO SAY THE SAME THING.

HIPPIES PASS A YEAR AND A HALF.

AND I AM VERY GRATEFUL.

FOR THE CHANCE. TO BE ONE OF THE MILLION.

TO HAVE A CHANGE. THE WHOLE WORLD.

CHALLENGING FOR THE FAMILY.

FOR ME. AND FOR BETTER.

THANK YOU, LINDA. THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER.

WHAT? EVERYTHING. AND YOU THINK WHAT? EVERY THING YOU'VE DONE FOR US.

GOD BLESS YOU. NEXT IS DAMIAN GONZALEZ SPEAKING ON ITEM 159.

HELLO, MY NAME IS MARIO GONZALEZ AND I'M WITH TEXAS ORGANIZING PROJECT.

UM, I JUST WANTED TO SAY THANK YOU TO THE COMMISSIONERS COURT FOR HEARING THE CONCERNS OF OUR MEMBERS.

[02:10:02]

UM, THIS PROCESS HAS NOT BEEN THE BEST FOR THEM.

UM, THIS HAS BEEN A NIGHTMARE.

AND SO TODAY WE SEE THIS ITEM ON THE AGENDA, AND WE WANT TO THANK ESPECIALLY COMMISSIONER ELLIS AND COMMISSIONER GARCIA AND YOUR TEAM FOR LIKE HELPING THE MEMBERS, UM, HAVE A LITTLE BIT OF RELIEF TODAY.

AND WHEN YOU VOTE TODAY, THE ONLY THING THAT I ASK IS THAT YOU ENSURE THAT EVERYBODY HAS ACCESS TO FAIR HOUSING.

UM, WITH THE MENTALITY THAT NO MATTER WHAT STATUS OR WHAT RACE OR COLOR THEY ARE, THAT EVERYBODY HAS THE OPPORTUNITY TO LIVE A DIGNIFIED LIFE.

THANK YOU SO MUCH. WE'LL DO THAT.

THANK YOU. AND LET ME JUST SAY THANK YOU.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU FOR HELPING TO GIVE FOLKS THE COURAGE TO COME HERE AND FIGHT AND ADVOCATE AND TO MAKE SURE THAT.

PEOPLE HEAR YOU BECAUSE ALTHOUGH I WAS ALREADY CONVINCED WE NEEDED TO FIGURE THIS OUT, UM, YOU REALLY HELPED TO MAKE SOME CHANGES HAPPEN.

SO I JUST WANT TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR WORK.

THANK YOU ALL. THANK YOU.

THANK YOU. NEXT IS SPEAKER NUMBER 33.

ADRIANA MORALES SPEAKING ON ITEM 159 USING THE INTERPRETER.

BUENAS TARDES. MI NOMBRE ES.

ADRIANA MORALES.

SOY MIEMBRO DEL PROYECTO ORGANIZADOR DE TEJAS.

MAS CONOCIDO COMO.

HI, MY NAME IS ADRIANA MORALES AND I'M A MEMBER OF THE PROJECT ORGANIZATION FOR THIS, UH, FOR TEXAS.

THIS IS A WELL KNOWN AS TOP.

EL DIA DE HOY ESTOY AQUI.

PORQUE SE PARA INCREMENTAR LOS FONDOS PARA EL PROYECTO.

TODAY. I'M HERE BECAUSE I KNOW THAT YOU'RE GOING TO VOTE IN FAVOR TO INCREASE THE FUNDS FOR THIS PROJECT.

AND THE SIN IS SOLO MENCIONAR.

ESTE VOTO PARA MI ES MUY IMPORTANTE.

THE PROJECT OF RELOCATING.

AND I JUST WANT TO MENTION THAT THIS VOTE IS VERY IMPORTANT FOR US.

CHECK NOSOTROS VAMOS A VIVIENDO CON CON LA CAPACIDAD DE QUEDARNOS INNOVAR.

BECAUSE WE'VE BEEN FOR MANY YEARS CONCERNING THAT WE ARE GOING TO LEAVE WITH NO PROBLEM.

GRACIAS. A DIOS ESTOY UN POCO MEJOR DE MI SALUD.

THANK GOD I'M A LITTLE BETTER ABOUT MY HEALTH.

PERO MI PREOCUPACION CON MIS HIJOS.

BUT MY MAIN CONCERN ARE MY CHILDREN.

SERGIO PASARA CON ELLOS Y NOS QUEDAMOS IN HOGAR AND WILL BE IF I WILL DIE OR NOT BE HERE ANYMORE. WHAT WILL BE MY WITHOUT MY CHILDREN? WITHOUT A HOME? YO QUIERO AGRADECER POR HABER ESCUCHADO Y RESPONDIDO A NUESTRO JUEGO.

I WOULD LIKE TO BE GRATEFUL TO YOU FOR BEING HEARING US AND ANSWER TO MINISTERS TO OUR PRAYING.

PERO PERO EL DIA DE HOY IRME A CASA E DESCANSAR.

BUT HOPE TO GO HOME TODAY AND BE RESTING.

E DEJAR ATRAS DE LA PREOCUPACION E EL MIEDO.

AND THE CONCERN TO BE BEHIND ME AND THERE BE AN AFRAID TODO BEING AFRAID OF LOSING EVERYTHING.

POR ESO CUANDO SU DECISION.

THAT'S WHY I'M ASKING YOU WHEN YOU TAKE YOUR DECISION.

EVERTON. PIENSA EN MI AND MI FAMILIA.

AND WHEN YOU GO TO THINK IN ME, THINK IN MY FAMILY.

LO UNICO PEDIMOS ES UN LUGAR DIGNO DE VIVIR.

THE ONLY THING THAT WE ASK IS A GOOD PLACE WHERE TO LIVE.

MUCHAS GRACIAS. A TODOS.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

AN ESPECIAL ALLY.

POR POR POR APOYARNOS.

AND ESTA ESPECIALLY TO SPECIALLY TO ELLIE.

BECAUSE THE SUPPORT THAT IS GIVING US IN THIS PROJECT.

GRACIAS. GRACIAS.

NEXT IS MARIA GARCIA SPEAKING ON ITEM 159, USING THE INTERPRETER.

BUENAS TARDES, MI NOMBRE ES MARIA CARMEN GARCIA.

GOOD AFTERNOON. MY NAME IS MARIA.

CARMEN GARCIA. YO ESTOY AQUI TAMBIÉN CON LOS MISMOS PROBLEMAS LAS MISMAS ENFERMEDADES ES LA SEGUNDA VEZ ESTOY AQUI CON

[02:15:01]

USTEDES. PERO THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THE SAME ILLNESS, WITH THE SAME SICKNESS.

AND I'M HERE BEFORE YOU, BUT ESTA VEZ VENGO MUY FELIZ DANDO GRACIAS A DIOS USTEDES DEL COMISIONADO EL ES VERDAD POR LA AYUDA NOS ESTA DANDO.

I'M HERE TO BE THANKING YOU.

I'M VERY HAPPY BECAUSE TO HAVE THE HELP THAT IS BEING GIVEN, ESPECIALLY TO COMMISSIONER ELLIS FOR THE HELP THAT HE HAS PROVIDED.

CON LA ESPERANZA DE LA FE LA VIDA EL SENOR ME PRESSED PUES TENGO UNA VIDA MEJOR LOS DIAS WITH THE HOPE THAT THE LORD ALLOW ME TO LIVE, TO HAVE A BETTER DAYS TO LIVE.

GRACIAS A DIOS TODOS USTEDES ESPECIAL VERDAD A TODO ES SUENO SYNERSAGA REALIDAD.

AND I'M GRATEFUL TO YOU ALL AND EVERYTHING THAT ESPECIALLY TO THE PEOPLE THAT IS DOING THIS PROJECT TO BE TENGO UN HERMOSO DIA EL SENOR LOS BENDIGA A MUCHAS MUCHAS GRACIAS.

IGUALMENTE BLESS YOU ALL.

NEXT IS GENOVEVA NUNEZ SPEAKING ON ITEM 159, USING THE INTERPRETER.

YOU EITHER HAVE TO DO TWO MINUTES OR.

BUT IF YOU DO BOTH, I THINK YOU'RE GIVING THEM.

BUENAS TARDES.

GOOD AFTERNOON. IS GENEVA NUNEZ.

MY NAME IS GENEVA NUNEZ.

ESTOY AQUI.

AND I'M HERE TO THANK YOU ALL.

QUIERO AGRADECER EL ABAYARDE ESCUCHADO DE RESPONDIDO EN NUESTRO RICO.

I WANT TO THANK YOU ALL.

YO, ESPERO.

CHICKEN THIS YEAR. THIS CONCERT DEJAR ATRAS LA PREOCUPACION Y EL MIEDO.

APARTE DE LO TODO.

FOR. THANK GOD.

AND THANK YOU ALL FOR THE FOR BEING HEARING MY CONCERNS ABOUT MY CHILDREN.

IF I WILL BE MISSED FROM THIS WORLD.

I WILL CONCERN WHAT WILL HAPPEN TO ALL OF THEM.

I WANT TO THANK YOU ALL FOR TO BEING HEARING US.

AND ALL MY PRAY IS THAT I HOPE THAT WHEN I LEAVE TODAY, I WILL BE IN PEACE WITH NO CONCERNS ANYMORE ABOUT LOSING EVERYTHING THAT I HAVE.

POR ESO LA VIDA.

CUANDO TOMAN DECISION IS ÉVERTON.

PIENSA EN MI.

MI FAMILIA LO UNICO.

THAT'S WHY I ASKED YOU WHEN YOU BROUGHT IN THIS THING IN ME AND MY FAMILY.

PEDIMOS IS SENORA DE UN UN LUGAR VINO DE VIVIR.

THE ONLY THING WE ASK IS TO BE A PLACE, A DIGNIFIED PLACE WHERE TO LIVE.

BENDIGA TODOS ELES.

GOD BLESS YOU ALL, ESPECIALLY LV AND ALL OF YOU TOO.

YES. YES. CHURCH.

IS THAT THE LAST ONE ON THIS ITEM? WE HAVE ONE MORE, COMMISSIONER.

OKAY. NEXT IS SPEAKER NUMBER 37, PERLA GARCIA.

SPEAKING ON ITEM 159 USING THE INTERPRETER.

HOLA. BUENAS TARDES. A TODOS.

GOOD AFTERNOON TO YOU ALL.

MY NAME IS PERLA GARCIA.

ESTOY AQUI. POR CIENTO.

CONTENTA ESCUCHANDO NUESTRAS PREGUNTAS Y TAMBIÉN ENFERMEDADES ACERCA DEL PROGRAMA BUYOUT.

I'M HERE BECAUSE I'M HAPPY THAT YOU ARE GOING TO HEAR ALL THE CONCERNS AND ALL THE THINGS THAT WE HAVE WITH THIS BUYOUT PROGRAM.

TENGAMOS EL APOYO DE USTEDES.

LINDA HIDALGO COMISIONADO.

TO HAVE THE SUPPORT FROM YOU ALL, JUDGE HIDALGO AND ALL THE COMMISSIONERS.

MUCHAS GRACIAS. TAMBIÉN POR ESTE GRANDE PASO JUNTO CON NOSOTROS DE TRATAR DE APOYO DE NUESTRA COMUNIDAD ESPANHA AND VERY OLD.

THANK YOU ALL FOR ALL THESE BIG STEP THAT YOU HAVE BEEN DOING TO HELP OUR COMMUNITY, THE HISPANIC COMMUNITY AND AUMENTO DE LOS BENEFICIOS TO INCREASE THE BENEFITS.

TAMBIÉN QUIERO PEDIR NO NOS VA A DEJAR OLVIDADOS OTRA VEZ IS AS YOU PLEASE DO NOT FORGET US ANYMORE.

[02:20:09]

AGAIN ASEGURAN CONTACTO AL TANTO DE LAS SITUACIONES PASAN AND BE IN CONTACT TO BE KNOWING ALL THE PROBLEMS THAT WILL HAPPEN OR THAT MAY HAPPEN.

COMISIONADO. ADRIAN GARCIA.

MUCHAS GRACIAS.

COMMISSIONER GARCIA THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

COMMISSIONER RODNEY ELLIS MUCHAS GRACIAS.

POR TODO. EL APOYO ESTA DANDO A LA COMUNIDAD DE GREEN'S ROAD.

COMMISSIONER RODNEY ELLIS, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR ALL THE SUPPORT THAT YOU'VE BEEN GIVING THE COMMUNITY.

VERY IMPORTANT. ELLOS SE SIENTEN MUY APAGADOS Y CONFINADOS.

AHORA SI TIENEN CONFIANZA DE THEY FEEL THEY FEEL YOUR SUPPORT AND THEY ARE ALREADY TRUST AND ALL THIS. ESTAN DISPUESTOS A TRABAJAR.

AHORA ESTAN VIENDO ESTAN RESPETANDO SUS DERECHOS.

AND THEY ARE READY TO WORK NOW THAT THEY'RE SEEING THAT THEIR RIGHTS ARE BEING RESPECTED.

THANK YOU. ES TODO. MUCHAS GRACIAS.

GRACIAS. GRACIAS.

NEXT IS SPEAKER NUMBER 38.

ERIC BATTEN SPEAKING ON ITEM 189 UNDER JUSTICE AND SAFETY.

AVENUE COMMISSIONER. AFTERNOON, COMMISSIONERS.

HARRIS COUNTY DEPUTIES. ORGANIZATION.

WE SUPPORT ALL. HARRIS COUNTY LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES HAVE A UNIVERSAL.

USE OF FORCE POLICY ACCOMPANIED WITH PROPER TRAINING.

AND THAT POLICY WHICH INCLUDES DE-ESCALATION TECHNIQUES, A DUTY TO INTERVENE AS WELL AS TRAINING TO RENDER MEDICAL AID.

ONE SIGNIFICANT CHALLENGE THAT MAY BE ENCOUNTERED IS GETTING NINE SEPARATELY ELECTED OFFICIALS TO AGREE ON A POLICY.

HOWEVER, WE BELIEVE THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE POLICY HAS A FRAMEWORK WHERE CONSENSUS MAY BEGIN TO WORK TOWARDS UNIFORMITY.

IT IS OUR SINCERE DESIRE TO WORK TOWARDS INCREASING TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES AND IMPROVE THOSE RELATIONSHIPS THAT INCREASE AWARENESS AND TRANSPARENCY WITH THIS COURT AND THE PUBLIC WE SERVE. THANK YOU.

THANK YOU. NEXT IS SPEAKER NUMBER 43, REVEREND JAMES L CALDWELL SPEAKING ON ITEM THREE 5376 UNDER SUPPLEMENTAL ITEMS. YOU HAVE ONE MINUTE.

THANK YOU. GOOD MORNING, COMMISSIONER GARCIA.

GOOD TO SEE YOU. THE REST OF COMMISSIONERS.

PARDON ME. THANK YOU, HIDALGO.

GOOD MORNING, COUNTY JUDGE HIDALGO AND THE REST OF THE COMMISSIONERS.

IN 1997, CLEAN AIR ACT WAS PASSED AND HOUSTON BECAME NOT ATTAINABLE.

AS A RESULT OF THAT AND OF COURSE, INTO IT WOULD GIVE THEM THE 2007 AND THAT HAS YET HOUSTON HAS YET TO MAKE THAT ATTAINMENT OR REACH THAT ATTAINMENT.

THE REASON WHY I'M HERE THIS MORNING IS BECAUSE 17,000 RESIDENTS IN FIFTH WARD, ALONG WITH 194 LETTERS THAT WERE SENT TO TCU, AS WELL AS COMMISSIONER SPORTS HERE TO ESTABLISH IN 2007, 2022, TCU AGREED TO PUT A REGULATORY MONITOR IN TO WHAT NOW? FIFTH WARD IS A COMMUNITY THAT HAS NEVER HAD AIR MONITORS SINCE ITS EXISTENCE.

SO WE ARE GREATLY APPRECIATIVE OF THAT EFFORT THAT WE HAVE MADE IN REGARD TO.

THANK. THANK YOU. YES, THEY HAVE ONE REQUEST.

OKAY. RIGHT ON. GO AHEAD. AND THAT IS THAT YOU GREATLY CONSIDER VOTING IN FAVOR OF HAVING THIS REGULATORY MONITOR ESTABLISHED IN THE BOARD.

THANK YOU SO MUCH, PASTOR.

JUDGE. COMMISSIONER ELLIS PASS.

I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR WORK ON THIS OVER THE YEARS.

THIS WILL BE THE FIRST REGULATORY AIR MONITOR TO BE PLACED IN FIFTH WARD, AND I HOPE IT'S GOING TO PASS IT.

I THINK IT WILL. AND BY PUTTING IT THERE, I THINK I HOPE IT'LL HELP INFORM STATE POLICY ON THE STATE LEVEL IN A POSITIVE WAY.

BUT AT LEAST WE'RE GOING TO KNOW THE DATA WHETHER ANYBODY LISTENS OR NOT.

BUT THANK YOU. WE THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER, BECAUSE IT'S THROUGH YOUR OFFICE AND YOUR EFFORTS THAT WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO MAINTAIN THE PRESSURE ON TCU TO IN ORDER TO HAVE A REGULATORY MODEL.

YOU HEAVENLY MAN.

BUT YOU'VE BEEN RAISING A LOT OF HELL ON IT, SO WE'LL GET IT DONE.

THANK YOU, SIR. THANK YOU.

THANK YOU SO MUCH. NEXT IS NON-AGENDA SPEAKER NUMBER ONE, WALTER PROTHERO.

THANK YOU, COMMISSIONERS. MY NAME IS WALTER PROTHRO, AND I'D LIKE TO CONTINUE TO INTRODUCE THE GENERAL PUBLIC OF HARRIS COUNTY AND WHAT TO EXPECT USING HARRIS HEALTH FACILITIES. FROM MY EXPERIENCE, CONTINUING WITH THE PHYSICIANS FROM BAYLOR COLLEGE OF MEDICINE AND BEN TAUB, GENERAL HOSPITAL, I NEED TO POINT OUT A DOCTOR, ANDREW

[02:25:06]

POLLACK, IN THE RADIOLOGY DEPARTMENT.

THIS PHYSICIAN CHANGED THE PROCEDURE THAT I WAS SUPPOSED TO HAVE TO ONE THAT WAS TOTALLY UNNECESSARY AND CAUSED SEVERE INJURY.

THIS WAS DONE WITHOUT EXAMINING OR DISCUSSING WITH ME THE CHANGES HE NOTED IN MY RECORD.

BY DOING SO, HE FALSIFIED MY MEDICAL RECORD TO CONCEAL HIS INVOLVEMENT IN THE INCIDENT THAT OCCURRED WEEKS LATER.

ADDITIONALLY, REVIEW BY HARRIS HEALTH DURING SUBSEQUENT INVESTIGATION WERE MISLED BY THE FALSE STATEMENTS HE MADE IN MY MEDICAL RECORD AND POSSIBLY IN ANY SUBSEQUENT INTERVIEWS.

AS I HAVE NOT MET ANDREW POLLACK UNTIL AFTER THE PROCEDURE.

THANK YOU. PLEASE, YOU TAKE IT.

YEAH, SIR. NEXT IS NON-AGENDA.

SPEAKER NUMBER TWO, SARAH BEL EDWARDS.

GOOD AFTERNOON. I'M SARAH CHANTELLE BEL EDWARDS.

I'M HERE STILL TO ADDRESS THE ISSUE ABOUT MY IDENTIFIED WITH THE CITY OF HOUSTON, UM, COMMISSIONER'S COURT CONCERNING THE WORK LABOR LAWS AND MY CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS HAVE BEEN VIOLATED.

AND ALSO ABOUT THE MEDICAL THE PRIVACY OF HAVING YOUR OWN BENEFITS ON A JOB THAT YOU HAVE WORKED FOR AND PAID OUT FOR YOUR CHECK.

EVEN YOUR UNEMPLOYMENT THAT I'M DUE FOR.

I HAVEN'T GOTTEN EVEN PAY CHECKS.

I HAVEN'T GOTTEN EVEN ON.

MY VIOLATION OF MY RIGHTS HAVE BEEN STEPPED ON.

SO I'M HERE TODAY TO TALK TO YOU ALL ABOUT MY CITIZEN'S ABUSE.

THIS IS VERY THIS IS VERY VIOLENT.

THIS IS VIOLATING MY CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS OF GETTING MY WORK LABOR LAW PAYMENTS, WORKMAN'S COMPENSATION, ALL THE ABOVE.

IT STILL STANDS. I'M JUST TRYING TO GET IT ENFORCED.

WHAT'S GOING ON WITH MY IDENTIFY WITH DRIVER'S LICENSE? THANK YOU. YOUR TIME IS UP.

THANK YOU. NEXT IS NON-AGENDA.

SPEAKER NUMBER FOUR, CHRISTOPHER JENKINS.

HELLO TO ALL. GOOD AFTERNOON.

CHRISTOPHER JENKINS.

I'M A DOG DOG CUSTOMER.

I WORK WITH MANY ORGANIZATIONS, NONPROFITS AND MINISTRIES, EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS AND SMALL BUSINESSES.

I'VE RECENTLY BECOME HOMELESS DUE TO THE RESULT OF HUMAN TRAFFICKING WITH MANY OTHERS.

I'M BLESSED TO BE ALIVE WITH MY HEALTH AND STRENGTH BECAUSE SOMETHING I MAKE IT.

FROM MY EXPERIENCE, THE ISSUE HAS BEEN OVERLOOKED AND IGNORED BY THE JUSTICE OF THE PEACE, THE COUNTY AND THE CITY.

FROM MY EXPERIENCES IN COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT AND ECONOMIC GROWTH INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY, I HAVEN'T SEEN REAL SOLUTIONS.

LAST YEAR I HAD TO FILE A WRIT OF MANDAMUS IN MY PRECINCT NUMBER FIVE.

I WON THAT CASE BECAUSE THE ABUSE OF JUSTICE OF THE PEACE AND I FILED A TEMPORARY RESTRAINING ORDER AND A PERMANENT INJUNCTION.

I COME HERE ALMOST EVERY MONTH SAYING THE SAME THING.

BASICALLY, WHAT I'M SAYING IS A LACK OF OVERSIGHT.

I DO. HOW DO YOU SET A PRECEDENT IN THE COURT? DON'T HAVE A REMEDY.

THAT MEANS IT'S THE PROBLEM HAVE BEEN SOLVED.

THAT'S ALL I'M SAYING. LIKE, DO YOU HAVE ANYTHING TO SAY ABOUT THAT? ANYBODY? THANK YOU.

THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU. OKAY. THANK YOU, MISS.

NEXT IS NON-AGENDA.

SPEAKER NUMBER SIX, LLOYD FORD.

HELLO, EVERYBODY. MY NAME IS LORI FORD OF DISTRICT D.

I DIDN'T BRING AN ARMY WITH ME TODAY, BUT I THINK ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE NEED TO BE ADDRESSED TODAY, I'M GETTING A LOT OF CALLS OF PEOPLE THAT HAVE FELONIES OF GETTING HOUSING. THESE APARTMENT COMPLEXES NOT ONLY HAVE BEEN KEEPING THEIR APPLICATION FEES, BUT THEIR DEPOSITS.

SO I THINK IT'S LONG TIME AND USING STANDS THAT THERE HAVE BEEN FELONIES FOR OVER 20, 30 YEARS.

SO I THINK, YOU KNOW, IT'S JUST NO CHECKS AND BALANCES.

I WORK CLOSELY WITH PURE JUSTICE AND VIOLENCE INTERVENTION.

AND IT'D BE A SHAME THAT WE HAVE PEOPLE THAT WORK FOR THE COUNTY AND WORK FOR WHAT WE DO AND DO ALL THESE THINGS, BUT NOT ABLE TO GET FAIR HOUSING.

AND EVEN IN THESE APARTMENT COMPLEXES THAT ARE DOING THIS, NOTHING SPECIAL.

SO FOR THEM NOT BE ABLE TO BE EVEN BE GET ADEQUATE HOUSING AND THESE THINGS, I THINK IS SOMETHING THAT WE NEED TO PUT IN PLACE OF SHOWING THE PRESENCE OF A AT LEAST SOME TYPE OF MAYBE 5 TO 7 YEARS THAT THEY CAN GO BACK, NOT 20, 30 YEARS TO DENY PEOPLE HOUSING.

AND AT LEAST IF THEY'RE TAKING THE APPLICATION FUNDS AND FEES, THAT THEY SHOULD BE ABLE TO GET THAT BACK REGARDLESS OF WHAT THEIR APPLICATION SAYS.

THANK YOU. APPRECIATE IT. THANK YOU.

NEXT IS NON-AGENDA.

SPEAKER NUMBER SEVEN, RANDY DEL BOSQUE.

HELLO, MY NAME IS RANDY. I'M A CURRENT BOARD MEMBER WITH SOUTH BELT BASEBALL PONY.

I'M HERE TO SPEAK ABOUT THE CURRENT SITUATION AT THE BASEBALL FIELD LOCATED AT FRANCO LEE PARK.

[02:30:04]

IT'S TIME FOR HARRIS COUNTY TO STEP IN AND HOLD THE SPORT SOUTH BELT SPORTS ASSOCIATION ACCOUNTABLE FOR THEIR ACTIONS AND RESPONSIBILITIES.

WE UNFORTUNATELY HAD TO CANCEL OUR SUMMER BASEBALL PROGRAM BECAUSE WE DID NOT GET A RESPONSE FROM THE SPORTS ASSOCIATION UNTIL WE ANNOUNCED SUMMER WOULD BE CANCELED.

ONCE SUMMER WAS CANCELED, THEY FINALLY ALLOWED THE USE OF THE FIELDS FOR OUR ALL STAR TEAMS TO PRACTICE.

BUT I NOW FEAR WE WILL BE IN THE SAME SITUATION WHEN IT COMES TO OUR FALL BALL PROGRAM, WHICH IS AN IMPORTANT DEVELOPMENTAL PERIOD FOR OUR YOUNGER PLAYERS MOVING UP.

FURTHERMORE, THE ONCE LEADERS IN OUR COMMUNITY THAT HARRIS COUNTY ENTRUSTED WITH THE RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE YOUTH SPORTS PROGRAM AT EL FRANCO LEE PARK IS NOT HOLDING.

IT'S NOT HOLDING TO THEIR PLAN AND SEEMS NOT TO BE FOLLOWING THE GUIDANCE OF PRECINCT ONE UNTIL THEIR LONG TERM PLAN TAKES PLACE.

SALLY, THE GROUP OF PEOPLE BEING AFFECTED THE MOST ARE THE BOYS AND GIRLS WHO WANT TO PLAY AND LEARN BASEBALL AND OUR ORGANIZATION.

THANK YOU FOR COMING. AND WHILE YOU'RE HERE, I'LL HAVE SOMEBODY OFF MY STAFF TO MEET WITH YOU SINCE YOU'RE HERE.

ARREDONDO YOU HAVE ONE MINUTE.

NEXT IS NON-AGENDA.

SPEAKER NUMBER NINE ONE.

OH, GOOD AFTERNOON. MY NAME IS JUAN ADORNO.

I'M A PARENT VOLUNTEER OF SOUTH BAY BASEBALL PONY COMMISSIONER ALICE FRANCO LEE KESSINGER HEALTH ASSOCIATION, UH, THE SPORTS ASSOCIATION.

PRESIDENTS AND COMPETENCY AND COMPETENCY TO RESPOND TO OUR PRESIDENT.

REPETITIVE PHONE CALLS AND EMAILS LEAVING US WITH UNCERTAINTY HAS CAUSED US TO CANCEL.

THE SUMMER BALL SPORTS ASSOCIATION VOTED TWICE TO HOLD A PARENTS VOTE.

VOTE, VOTE.

IT HAS BEEN PUBLISHED IN THE NEWSPAPER.

NOW WE ARE HEARING THEY ARE NOT GOING TO ARE NOT GOING TO DO IT.

WE WANT OUR COMMUNITY PARENTS TO BE HEARD AND FOR YOU TO HOLD THEM TO THEIR DECISIONS AND YOURS ON THE RFA.

OUR FALL BALL SEASON IS AT RISK.

UM. THE ASSOCIATION SHOULD NOT BE ALLOWED TO BE BIASED TOWARDS OUR ORGANIZATION AND FORCE COMMITTEE MEMBERSHIP TO PLAY FOR AN ORGANIZATION THEY DID NOT VOTE FOR.

WE HAVE A 19 MEMBER ORGANIZATION THAT FOR THE PAST TWO YEARS HAVE MANAGED TO MAKE FRANCO PARK A BETTER PLACE FOR 580 KIDS TO PLAY BASEBALL YEAR ROUND AND YOUR PARK. YOUR TIME IS UP.

THANK YOU FOR COMING.

THANK YOU. NEXT IS NON-AGENDA.

SPEAKER NUMBER 13, JESSICA JIMENEZ.

MY NAME IS JESSICA JIMENEZ, A MOM OF FOUR CURRENT PONY LEAGUE BOARD MEMBER AND A RESIDENT AT CHABOT AREA.

I'M HERE TODAY TO BRING TO BRING IT UP TO YOU.

I NEED YOU TO INTERVENE WITH THE SPORTS ASSOCIATION AT FRANCO LEAGUE COMPLEX.

THEY ARE MAKING POOR DECISIONS THAT ARE AFFECTING OUR CHILDREN.

WITH ME, I HAVE A COPY OF OVER 800 SIGNATURES FROM OUR PARENTS.

I WANT TO KEEP THE PONY GOING.

ALSO HAVE PICTURES HERE OF THE MAJOR IMPROVEMENTS OF US AND ALL OF OUR BOARD MEMBERS THAT HAVE PUT COUNTLESS HOURS THROUGH THOSE FIELDS.

AND ALSO MY KIDS ARE NOT DOING ANYTHING THIS SUMMER.

I BASEBALL BACK.

OKAY, SO GO AHEAD KIDDOS.

TELL HIM WHAT YOU WANT. LET US PLAY AT OUR FIELDS.

THIS IS MY DAUGHTER, SO THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIME.

APPRECIATE YOU. AND LET'S DO SOMETHING ABOUT THAT, OKAY? BECAUSE WE NEED THOSE PARKS BELONG TO OUR TO OUR KIDS.

THEY DON'T BELONG TO ANYBODY ELSE.

THANK YOU. GOD BLESS YOU.

THANK YOU. BEAUTIFUL KID, BY THE WAY.

THANK YOU. AND.

NEXT IS NON-AGENDA SPEAKER NUMBER TEN, BARBARA DENSON.

YOU MAY HAVE HEARD THAT JUST BECAUSE THERE'S CORRELATION DOES NOT MEAN THERE'S CAUSATION.

JUST BECAUSE THERE IS A CORRELATION BETWEEN EATING ICE CREAM AND SHARK ATTACKS DOES NOT MEAN THAT EATING ICE CREAM CAUSES SHARK ATTACKS.

THERE IS SIMPLY A CORRELATION.

BOTH HAPPEN IN THE SUMMER.

BUT WHAT ABOUT WHEN THERE IS NO CORRELATION? PLEASE SEE THE CHART THAT I'VE HANDED EACH OF YOU.

THE RED LINES ARE TEMPERATURE.

THE LOWER BLUE LINE IS CARBON DIOXIDE LEVELS.

THE TEMPERATURES ON OUR PLANET FOR THE LAST 350 YEARS OR SO HAS GONE UP AND DOWN AND UP AND DOWN AND UP AND DOWN.

BUT IN GENERAL, IT'S RISEN JUST A LITTLE BIT, NOT MUCH LIKE A DEGREE AND A HALF CARBON DIOXIDE LEVELS.

ON THE OTHER HAND, IF YOU LOOK AT THE BLUE LINE, WE'RE PRETTY MUCH STEADY UNTIL ABOUT 1859 OR SO.

AND THEN THOSE LINES HAVE INCREASED MORE AND MORE RAPIDLY.

AS YOU CAN SEE, THERE IS NO CORRELATION.

HOW CAN THERE BE CAUSATION? INCREASING CO2 LEVELS CAN'T POSSIBLY BE INCREASING TEMPERATURES.

SAY ONE MORE SENTENCE. INCONVENIENT FACT.

THE CLIMATE'S ALWAYS CHANGED.

IT WASN'T US.

NEXT IS NON-AGENDA SPEAKER NUMBER 12, DANA JONES.

[02:35:01]

GOOD AFTERNOON. MY NAME IS DANA JONES AND I LIVE IN THE MELROSE PARK SUBDIVISION, 1270 HOPPER AND I'VE BEEN ASKING HELP FROM COMMISSIONER ELLIS FOR SOME TIME ABOUT THE DRAINAGE, BUT NOW I'M AT THE POINT WHERE I'M JUST BEGGING FOR, UM.

I'M JUST BEGGING FOR HELP.

WHAT HAPPENS EACH TIME IT RAINS MY YARD AND MY HOUSE FLOOD AND THE FLOODING IS SEWAGE WATER.

MY NEIGHBOR HAS A SEWER MANHOLE IN HER YARD.

SO WHEN IT RAINS, IT FLOODS.

AND SO I'VE ASKED.

AND ASKED AND ASKED.

I DIDN'T FIND OUT THAT THE MANHOLE WAS THERE UNTIL AFTER HARVEY.

THAT'S WHEN I FOUND OUT.

BUT WE'RE SINKING.

MY HOUSE IS SINKING.

MY HOUSE IS ON A FOUNDATION, BUT IT'S SINKING EVERY ROOM IN MY HOUSE.

IT LEANS DIFFERENT DIRECTION.

THE CEILINGS, THE CRACKED WALLS ARE CRACKED.

I'VE HAD PLUMBERS COME OUT TO RUN IN THE CAMERA.

WE'LL HAVE SOMEBODY FOLLOW UP WITH YOU.

AND CAN YOU. NEXT IS NON-AGENDA.

SPEAKER NUMBER 14.

ALEXI SWORSKY.

YOU HAVE ONE MINUTE? I WAS NOT RAISED IN TEXAS, BUT I GOT HERE AS SOON AS I COULD IN 1976, OUR NATION'S BICENTENNIAL.

I LOVE THE INDEPENDENT TEXAS SPIRIT THAT WE KNOW OUR RIGHTS AND NO ONE IS GOING TO TAKE THEM AWAY FROM US.

THAT INCLUDES OUR RIGHT TO VOTE IN THIS PAST NOVEMBER ELECTION HERE IN HARRIS COUNTY.

VOTERS WERE NOT ALLOWED TO VOTE AT 121 POLLS.

THIS IS A SEVERE VIOLATION OF OUR CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS TO RESTORE OUR FREEDOMS. SENATE BILL 1750 ELIMINATES THE RECENTLY CONCOCTED POSITION OF ELECTIONS ADMINISTRATOR IN HARRIS COUNTY AND RETURNS THE RUNNING OF OUR ELECTION TO OUR DULY ELECTED COUNTY CLERK, TANISHA HUDSPETH, AND TAX ASSESSOR COLLECTOR ANN HARRIS.

BENNETT AND IF THE CITIZENS OF HARRIS COUNTY ARE STILL BEING DENIED THE RIGHT TO VOTE, THE TEXAS SECRETARY OF STATE CAN TAKE OVER THE RUNNING OF THE ELECTION AS PROVIDED FOR IN SENATE BILL 1933.

IT'S WRONG FOR YOU TO TAKE TAXPAYERS MONEY AND SPEND IT ON LAWYERS WHO WORK AGAINST THE RIGHTS OF TEXAS CITIZENS.

IT WAS WRONG IN 1876 WHEN THIS LAW WAS WRITTEN INTO THE CONSTITUTION.

THANK YOU. YOUR TIME IS UP NOW.

THANK YOU. NEXT IS NON-AGENDA.

SPEAKER NUMBER 15, ROBIN HARRISON.

YOU HAVE ONE MINUTE. GO AHEAD, PLEASE.

YES. MY NAME IS ROBIN HARRISON, AND MY RIGHTS HAVE BEEN VIOLATED BOTH TIMES BY THE JUSTICE OF THE PEACE PRECINCT 41 AND JUDGE LINCOLN GOODWIN.

ACTIONS REQUIRE INVESTIGATION, AS I'VE HAD FOUR DIFFERENT CASES WHERE I'VE APPLIED FOR A JURY TRIAL, AND HE HAS CIRCUMVENTED ME HAVING THOSE JURY TRIALS.

JUST LAST WEEK, A PLAINTIFF FILED A MOTION FOR SUMMARY JUDGMENT WHEN REQUESTED A JURY TRIAL INSTEAD.

AND I WAS BLINDSIDED INTO A HEARING WHERE I WAS BELIEVING THAT IT WAS MY JURY TRIAL.

AND HE EVEN PROVIDED A JUDGMENT ON THIS CASE WITHOUT EVEN THOUGH I ASKED HIM TO RECUSE HIMSELF BECAUSE OF MY PREVIOUS HISTORY WITH HIM.

FURTHERMORE, THE ATTORNEY REPRESENTING THE THE PLAINTIFF NEEDS TO BE INVESTIGATED AS WELL AS SHE FILED A FALSE AFFIDAVIT WITH THE COURT PRETENDING THAT SHE HAD SENT A CERTIFIED LETTER TO ME. AND WHEN I ATTRACT THE POSTAL REFERENCE THAT SHE PROVIDED, THE LETTER WAS NEVER MAILED OUT, EVEN THOUGH SHE PRODUCED THE CERTIFICATE NUMBER.

HE MAY BE A JUDGE, BUT OTHER PEOPLE DO HAVE RIGHTS.

AND HE DEMEANED ME STATING THAT BECAUSE I HAD BEEN PREVIOUSLY REPRESENTED BY LONE STAR LEGAL.

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

OKAY. FOR ME NOT TO HAVE.

THANK YOU. JUDGE.

THOSE ARE ALL THE SPEAKERS.

THANK YOU, TIFFANY, AND THANK YOU TO ALL THE SPEAKERS.

SO WE'RE GETTING QUITE CLOSE TO LUNCH AND I CAN HEAR THE STOMACH'S GROWLING, SO I SUGGEST WE TAKE THE LUNCH BREAK NOW.

AND THAT WAY WE CAN COME BACK WITH THE REST OF THE AGENDA.

SO, YES.

CJ'S FACE NO GOOD.

OKAY. OKAY. OKAY. I'M SITTING HERE.

SO 145 WE'RE BREAKING FOR ONE HOUR UNTIL 145.

UM, SEE YOU ALL SOON.

THANK YOU. IT'S 153 COMMISSIONERS COURT IS NOW IN SESSION.

I'M GOING TO GO OVER CORRECTIONS FIRST.

[Departments (Part 2 of 4)]

SO ITEM 30.

THE DEPARTMENT HAS REQUESTED NO ACTION ON THAT ITEM.

SAME WITH ITEM 56 UTILITY ADJUSTMENT AGREEMENT.

NO ACTION ITEM 58 ON PAGE EIGHT, THERE IS A CORRECTION.

IT NEEDS TO GO FROM PRECINCT TWO AND THREE TO PRECINCT TWO.

SO IT READS REQUEST FOR APPROVAL TO EXECUTE A THIRD AMENDMENT TO A LEASE AGREEMENT, ETCETERA, ETCETERA.

1307 BAKER PRECINCT TWO.

AND, UH, 39 ON PAGE 17.

[02:40:05]

THE DEPARTMENT HAS REQUESTED NO ACTION.

240 ON PAGE 30.

CAMERAS. THE DEPARTMENT REQUESTS NO ACTION.

312 ON PAGE 40.

ADOPTED COUNTY ROAD.

THE DEPARTMENT REQUESTS NO ACTION.

357 ON PAGE 44 REMOVE LLC BETWEEN TECHS AND GOV AND ADD CODE AFTER GOV SO THAT IT READS TECHS.

GOV CODE 551.076.

371. WORKER PROTECTIONS.

THE DEPARTMENT HAS REQUESTED NO ACTION FOR NOW.

AND THAT IS IT FOR THE CORRECTIONS.

AM I MISSING ANYTHING? YES. I'M SORRY.

GO AHEAD, COMMISSIONER. EXCUSE ME, JUDGE.

IF I COULD REQUEST NO ACTION ON 365.

365. GOT IT.

NO ACTION ON 365.

JUDGE, I HAVE ITEM 173.

TO CORRECT IT FROM EXISTING.

TWO DEPUTY.

UM, WHICH. WHICH ITEM DID YOU SAY? 173. 173.

UM. OKAY. I DON'T HAVE THAT NOTE.

SO WHAT'S THE CORRECTION? I HAVE HERE A REQUEST FOR APPROVAL.

IT SAYS WE HAVE THE FOLLOWING CORRECTION CHANGE EXISTING WITH DEPUTY.

SO IT READS REQUEST FOR APPROVAL OF AN AGREEMENT FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT.

LAW ENFORCEMENT SERVICES WITH C AND P UTILITY DISTRICT USING 100 I'M SORRY, TEN DEPUTY POSITIONS.

YOU KNOW, AND I'LL HAVE QUESTIONS ON THAT.

OKAY, SO THERE'S THAT CORRECTION AND THEN WE'LL FLAG IT ANYWAY SO WE CAN WE CAN DISCUSS IT AT THAT POINT.

UM. OKAY.

CAN YOU GUYS CHURCH? YEAH.

YES. COMMISSIONER GARCIA.

ON ITEM 377, I THINK IT REQUIRES A CORRECTION, UH, TO READ REQUEST BY COMMISSIONER PRECINCT TWO FOR APPROVAL OF A RESOLUTION IN SUPPORT.

A CORRECTION TO BE IN SUPPORT OF.

TO TAKE THAT AND TO CHANGE IT TO REGARDING.

PRECINCT COMMISSIONER, PRECINCT TWO FOR APPROVAL REGARDING THE PROPOSED 2023 HARRIS HEALTH BOND PROPOSITION REGARDING.

OKAY. GOT IT.

UM, ANYTHING ELSE? JUDGE, THERE WERE TWO ITEMS I WOULD PLEASE LIKE TO PULL.

SO WE'RE WE'RE JUST DOING CORRECTIONS RIGHT NOW.

OKAY. DO YOU HAVE ANY CORRECTIONS? I DO NOT. THANK YOU.

OKAY, LET ME GO OVER THE LIST OF DISCUSSION ITEMS. UM, SO.

LET'S START FROM THE TOP HERE.

OKAY. DO FOLKS NEED TO DISCUSS? EXECUTIVE SESSION ITEM 356.

THAT'S A PRECINCT FOR APPOINTMENT.

356 PLEASE.

WAS ONE OF THE TWO.

OKAY. AND I'D ALSO LIKE TO PULL 33.

OKAY. DO FOLKS EACH DISCUSS 357.

UH, YES, THAT'S PART OF THE CONVERSATION.

SO I'M GOING TO I'M GOING TO KEEP THAT ONE FOR DISCUSSION.

WHAT ABOUT 359? A SPECIAL COUNSEL.

UH, AGREEMENT.

OKAY. I'M GOING TO PUT BACK IN THE DISCUSSION IN THE CONSENT AGENDA.

WE NEED TO PULL IT.

OKAY. GOT IT.

WE WILL KEEP 359 IN THE DISCUSSION.

LET'S MOVE ON TO ITEM TEN.

YES. YES.

OKAY, WE'LL JUST.

OH, NO, NO, NO, NO, NO.

UH, SO COMMISSIONER RAMSEY WOULD LIKE TO DISCUSS IT.

ITEM 12.

UM, COMMISSIONER ELLIS, YOU HAD FLAGGED THAT ONE.

DO YOU STILL NEED TO DISCUSS? NO. PUTTING BACK IN CONSENT AGENDA ITEM 14 PRECINCTS TWO AND FOUR HAD FLAGGED.

TELLER DEPUTY UNIT.

YES. YES. THANKS.

OKAY. ITEM 15, PRECINCT THREE.

THAT IS OKAY.

ITEM 18, PRECINCT THREE.

FOOD INSECURE PEOPLE? YES. ITEM 20.

COMMISSIONER RAMSEY, YOU LIKE THAT ONE?

[02:45:04]

BUT IT'S NOW NO ACTION, RIGHT? ITEM 62.

COMMISSIONER GARCIA, DO YOU STILL NEED TO DISCUSS THAT ONE? 62. IT'S A PHEROMONE TRAIL ON FAIRMONT PARKWAY.

YES. OH, COMMISSIONER BRIONES, YOU HAD SAID 30 SOMETHING.

33, PLEASE. THE BRUNET BAYLAND.

33. THANK YOU, JUDGE.

OKAY, SO ITEM 33 GOES BACK ON THE DISCUSSION AGENDA.

UM. WHAT ABOUT ITEM 138? WE DO NEED TO DISCUSS. THAT'S ALSO A WEB ITEM.

YES. 147 PRECINCT THREE FLAGGED THIS ONE.

IT'S AN AGREEMENT ON RISK COMPLIANCE CONSULTING SERVICES.

JUDGE, WHAT'S THE NUMBER? 147? COMMISSIONER RAMSEY.

BUT WE NEED TO PUT. 148.

149 COMMISSIONER RAMSEY THAT IS AN ACCESS DIVISION WITH.

NUISANCE ABATEMENT.

159. THAT IS THE THE BUYOUT PROGRAM WILL DISCUSS IT.

173. THAT'S THE ONE YOU ALREADY FLAGGED.

COMMISSIONER GARCIA.

THE DEPUTY POSITIONS? YES. 182.

COMMISSIONER BRIONES WANTED TO DISCUSS THE, UM, LINEBERGER ITEM 185.

YES. LUSH.

188. COMMISSIONER RAMSEY.

THAT'S A T-C-E-Q ITEM.

YES. YES. 189.

YES. OKAY.

199. COMMISSIONER GARCIA.

OKAY. I'M PUTTING 199 BACK ON THE CONSENT AGENDA.

HOW ABOUT 219? COMMISSIONER RAMSEY? YES. YES. 225.

240. UH, REQUEST NO ACTION BY THE DEPARTMENT.

YEAH. OKAY.

YOU'D INITIALLY SELECTED COMMISSIONER GARCIA, BUT I'M PUTTING IT.

YEAH, IT'S A NO ACTION.

291. COMMISSIONER RAMSEY, THIS IS TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE ON THE VIOLENCE PREVENTION PILOT PROGRAM.

301. COMMISSIONER GARCIA.

301 MULTIFAMILY RENTAL PROPERTIES.

318 COMMISSIONER BRIONES THIS IS DEPARTMENT PARTICIPATION.

319 IS PART OF THE DISCUSSION, SO WE'LL CONTINUE TO PULL IT.

335 COMMISSIONER ELLIS CIVILIAN OVERSIGHT BOARD.

365. COMMISSIONER RAMSEY THIS WELL, COMMISSIONER GARCIA REQUESTED NO ACTION ON 365.

IS THAT OKAY WITH THE DEPARTMENT? UH. ADMINISTRATOR.

THAT DISTRICT CLERK CAN HEAR THE LIST OF MARRIAGES.

LISTENING TO THEM? YES.

THEY'RE ASKING FOR NO ACTION.

YEAH, I'M ASKING FOR NO ACTION ON IT BECAUSE THERE'S SOME LEGAL QUESTIONS, I THINK CLARIFY WHY WE WERE ASKING FOR IT THEN.

YOU CAN. BUT I'M STILL REQUESTING NO ACTION.

YEAH, OKAY. SO WE'LL PUT IT ON THE DISCUSSION.

SO THE CLERK. THE DISTRICT CLERK CAN CLARIFY THE QUESTIONS THAT WE HAVE.

UM, WHAT ABOUT 370 PRECINCT THREE? THIS IS TAX ASSESSMENT AND COLLECTION SYSTEMS THAT CAN GO BACK TO.

OKAY. 370 GOES BACK TO CONSENT.

377. UM, COMMISSIONER GARCIA, DID YOU WANT TO PULL? OH, COMMISSIONER RAMSEY IS THE ONE THAT WANTED TO PULL THIS ONE.

YES, WE NEED TO.

OKAY. AND THEN 378 COMMISSIONER RAMSEY.

UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES.

OKAY. YES. YES.

NO PUBLIC HEARINGS.

ALL RIGHT. SO HERE'S THE YES, 117.

I FORGOT TO MENTION 1177.

OKAY. JUST A MOMENT.

QUICK COMMENT. 117 IS EMERGENCY TRANSPORTATION MEASURE STUDY.

YES. DOES THAT SOUND RIGHT? OKAY. SO LET ME ADD IT TO THE DISCUSSION.

[02:50:02]

TRANSLATED INTO.

JUST TO RECONFIRM. 356 WAS.

PUT ON THE DISCUSSION LIST, PLEASE.

I'M GOING TO GO OVER THE THE FULL LIST.

THANK YOU SO.

NO, I DON'T SEE 356 ON THERE.

IT WAS 356.

IT'S ONE OF THE APPOINTMENT ONES.

IT'S EXECUTIVE SESSION.

OH, YEAH. NO, IT IS THERE.

OKAY. SO LET ME START FROM THE TOP.

SO WE HAVE EXECUTIVE SESSION ITEM 356 EXECUTIVE SESSION ITEM 357 EXECUTIVE SESSION ITEM 359 REGULAR AGENDA.

WE'VE GOT ITEMS. TEN, 14, 15, 18, 20, 3362 117. 138.

189. JUDGE, I'M SORRY.

CAN YOU SLOW DOWN A LITTLE BIT? I'M SORRY. AFTER 182.

OKAY. I'M SORRY. TOO SLOW.

TOO SLOW. YOUR ROLL. 185.

MR. RECONFIRMED 356 FOR DISCUSSION AS WELL.

THREE, 77 AND 378.

AND YES.

EXECUTIVE SESSION ITEMS ARE 356 357 350 I WANT TO DISCUSS IT IN PUBLIC, WHICH IS WHY I WAS PULLING IT FOR PUBLIC SO WE CAN DISCUSS IT IN PUBLIC.

GREAT. JUDGE.

JUDGE, THERE WERE TWO ITEMS I MISSED.

YES, ONCE.

377. OKAY.

AND JUST A QUESTION ON 213 WHEN WE GET THERE, SO DO NEED TO ASK A QUESTION.

SO 377 IS ON THE LIST.

OKAY. AND THEN WHAT WAS THE SECOND ONE? I'M SORRY, 213.

213 IS NOT ON THE LIST.

SO JUST A MOMENT.

IS THE AUDITED CLAIMS. ALL RIGHT. I'M PUTTING THAT BACK.

SO LET ME READ THE LIST AGAIN.

UM. OH, THANK YOU.

YEAH, I GOT IT. IT'S BEEN THERE.

ALL RIGHT, SO WE'VE GOT 356, 357, 359, TEN, 14, 15, 18. 20.

33. 62 117 138 147. 148.

IS THERE A YES? JUST BEFORE YOU VOTE? JUST TO FOR VERIFICATION.

137 IS CONSIDERED A NO ACTION AS WELL.

UH, JUST A MOMENT.

WHICH ONE? THE 137, THE INTERGOVERNMENTAL AND GLOBAL AFFAIRS.

NO. CORRECT.

OKAY. SO IS THERE A MOTION FOR ALL THE ITEMS WENT THROUGH? 380 WITH THE EXCEPTION OF ITEMS ALREADY VOTED ON AND DISCUSSION ITEMS JUST LISTED.

THE MOTION WAS MADE BY COMMISSIONER ELLIS AND THE SECOND BY COMMISSIONER GARCIA.

ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE? ANY OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY.

SO WE WILL START WITH THE ITEM AND WE NEED TO GO TO EXECUTIVE SESSION FOR THAT ONE.

AND OUT OF COURTESY TO MADAM DISTRICT CLERK, WE'LL DO J-WEB AND THEN WE WILL TAKE YOUR JUROR ITEM.

OKAY. SO, SO LET ME WE'LL GO TO EXECUTIVE SESSION.

UM, UP TO YOU GUYS.

WE HAVE TWO TOPICS TO DISCUSS IN EXECUTIVE SESSION.

I SUGGEST WE DISCUSS THEM BOTH.

UM, THE SECOND ONE I THINK SHOULD BE QUITE QUICK AND THEN WE CAN DO THAT ONE.

WE DON'T HAVE TO GO BACK AGAIN.

[02:55:01]

DOES THAT WORK? OKAY, SO WE'RE GOING TO EXECUTIVE SESSION ON TWO SUBJECTS ITEMS 359 AND 357 TO CONSULT WITH OUR ATTORNEYS.

[Executive Session]

IT IS 209 AND WE'RE WORKING FOR EXECUTIVE SESSION.

COMMISSIONER RAMSEY, CAN YOU HEAR US? I CAN'T. THANK YOU.

OKAY. SO. WELL.

WE WERE DUE TO TAKE A BREAK AT 345, SO WE'LL TAKE THIS ITEM, THE ITEM, AND THEN WE'LL TAKE A 15 MINUTE BREAK AFTER THAT.

[Departments (Part 3 of 4)]

UM, JUDGE, YOU WANT TO CALL US BACK IN? YES, IT'S 334 AND COMMISSIONERS COURT IS BACK IN SESSION, AND, UM.

CLERK. DISTRICT CLERK BURGESS.

JUST SO YOU KNOW, KIND OF WHAT WHAT YOU'RE WALKING INTO AS YOU AS YOU PRESENT ON BEHALF OF THE STAKEHOLDERS IS OBVIOUSLY WE NEED TO AT THE END OF THE DAY, WE NEED TO BE ABLE TO RUN BUSINESS IN HARRIS COUNTY.

AND WE ALL NEED TO DO TWO THINGS.

AND THAT'S WHAT, YOU KNOW, TOOK US SO LONG TO DISCUSS IS REALLY PARE IT DOWN.

WE GOT TO FIRST PROTECT THE COUNTY'S CYBERSECURITY AND SECOND, WE HAVE TO MODERNIZE OUR OUR WEB SYSTEM, WHICH IS A SYSTEM THAT'S WORKING ON A 50 YEAR OLD INFRASTRUCTURE AND AS YOU KNOW, ALREADY FAILED LAST YEAR.

UM, THE ISSUE, OF COURSE, IS THE SYSTEM IS VERY INTERTWINED.

SO WHAT GARDNER IS PROPOSING IS TO UPGRADE THE INDIVIDUAL TECHNOLOGY OF THE JUSTICE STAKEHOLDERS WHILE ALSO UPGRADING OUR OVERALL WEB TECHNOLOGY, WHICH WOULD MAKE US MAKE SURE THAT, YOU KNOW, WE FOLLOW ALL THE PRACTICE OF PROCEDURES THAT WE THAT WE REMAIN SAFE AND WOULD ALLOW THE JUSTICE STAKEHOLDERS TO HAVE THE AUTHORITY AND OVERSIGHT THAT THEY'RE LOOKING FOR.

AND SO WHAT WE'RE KIND OF THINKING IS HAVING GIVING THE OPPORTUNITY FOR YOU ALL TO HAVE AN ADDITIONAL DISCUSSION, I THINK I'LL SPEAK FOR MYSELF, BUT I THINK MY COLLEAGUES WILL SHARE THIS.

WE FOUND THE PRESENTATIONS EXTREMELY INFORMATIVE.

WE KNOW THAT NOT ALL OF THE FIVE STAKEHOLDERS HAVE BEEN ABLE TO SIT DOWN AT THE SAME TIME WITH GARDNER AND WITH THE I.T.

DIRECTOR AND AND WITH ADMINISTRATOR AND AND WITH COUNTY ATTORNEY.

AND SO WE WANT TO GIVE THREE MORE WEEKS UNTIL JULY 18TH TO SEE IF WE CAN LAND ON SOME DEGREE OF CONSENSUS AND AND WOULD ASK THAT THE STAKEHOLDERS AND I KNOW THEY'VE PRIMARILY BEEN TOUCHED WITH COMMISSIONER BRIONES, WHO'S, YOU KNOW, HAPPY TO I DON'T WANT TO SPEAK FOR YOU, COMMISSIONER.

UM, CERTAINLY CONTINUES SOME OF THOSE CONVERSATIONS IS FOR YOU AND AND YOUR ELECTED OFFICIAL COUNTERPARTS, IDEALLY TO BE ABLE TO JOIN THE DISCUSSION WITH THESE OTHER STAKEHOLDERS. AND SO HOPEFULLY WE'LL ALL BE ON THE SAME PAGE IN THREE WEEKS.

BUT. YES, IF I CAN JUST ADD TO THAT.

SEEING IT VERY MUCH FROM BOTH SIDES, THE LAWYER, JUDGE AND ME, AND THE IMPORTANCE FOR THE BUSINESS USERS TO NOT ONLY FULFILL THEIR STATUTORY REQUIREMENTS, BUT TO BE ABLE TO DO IT WITH A GREAT DEAL OF CONTROL, CONSISTENCY AND OVERSIGHT, AND RUNNING THE THIRD LARGEST COUNTY, MAKING SURE WE'RE NOT BASING IT OFF OF 50 YEAR OLD TECHNOLOGY, WHICH IS UNACCEPTABLE.

AND WE ALL HAVE MANY EXAMPLES OF THAT AND MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE DOING IT IN A WAY THAT PROTECTS THE CONSISTENCY AND SECURITY OF THE DATA COUNTYWIDE.

AND AS A LAWYER WHO'S BEEN TRYING TO SIT THROUGH THESE TRAININGS, AND I'M NOT AN IT PERSON GARDENER, ESPECIALLY WITH THE MOST RECENT LETTER THAT WE RECEIVED YESTERDAY AT 430.

THANK YOU. I THINK THEY WANT TO SIT DOWN ONE MORE TIME AND I MIGHT BE A PART OF THAT MEETING AS WELL TO HEAR FROM ALL SIDES, BECAUSE IT ACTUALLY IN ALL MY VARIOUS CONVERSATIONS WITH FOLKS WHO HAVE REACHED OUT, IT ACTUALLY SEEMS THEY ALL AGREE MORE THAN YOU DISAGREE.

AND THERE ARE SOME KEY AREAS THAT AT LEAST BASED ON MY MYRIAD OF CONVERSATIONS, I THINK THERE'S A VERY PRODUCTIVE PATH FORWARD.

AND I'M ACTUALLY ENERGIZED IF I WAS ONE OF THE JUSTICE STAKEHOLDERS AT HOW MUCH FLEXIBILITY YOU WILL HAVE BASED ON WHAT GARDNER WAS EDUCATING US ON.

SO KNOWING THAT THIS PROCESS TO TAKE IT INTO A BEST IN CLASS WILL BE A 6 TO 10 YEAR JOURNEY, MOST LIKELY, I THINK AN INVESTMENT OF THREE MORE WEEKS SO THAT EVERYONE'S VOICES ARE HEARD TO THE MAXIMUM DEGREE POSSIBLE WILL BE VERY PRODUCTIVE IN MAKING SURE WE'RE SETTING THIS ON THE BEST PATH FOR SUCCESS.

SO THAT'S KIND OF WHERE OUR THINKING IS.

THAT BEING SAID, I KNOW MANY OF YOU HAVE BEEN WAITING FOR HOURS TO BE HERE TODAY, SO I'LL HAND IT BACK TO JUDGE HIDALGO.

FOR NEXT STEPS? YES, COMMISSIONER.

I JUST WANT TO SAY BRIEFLY THAT I THINK THAT THE DIRECTOR DID A GOOD JOB AND GARTNER DID FEEL VERY COMFORTABLE WITH THAT RECOMMENDATION. BUT WITH THAT SAID, I DO THINK IT MAKES SENSE.

HOPEFULLY, COMMISSIONER BRIONES CAN BE THERE BECAUSE SHE SERVED WITH A LOT OF THEM, AS DID YOU.

WE ALL DO.

BUT YOU COMING OUT OF JUDICIARY BECAUSE COMMISSIONER GARCIA WANTS TO BE IN SHERIFF.

[03:00:05]

BUT I FEEL COMFORTABLE WITH THE RECOMMENDATION.

BUT I WANT TO MAKE SURE THEY UNDERSTAND THE COMMITMENT, AT LEAST ON THIS COMMISSIONER'S PART, TO MAKE A SUBSTANTIAL INVESTMENT GOING FORWARD.

BUT I KNOW IT'LL BE PAINFUL TO DO THAT.

BUT I HOPE I HOPE IT WILL CREATE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR SOME MORE BUY IN.

BUT I'LL BE READY TO VOTE IN THREE WEEKS, AND I HOPE IT'S THE FIRST ITEM ON THE AGENDA.

AND IF I CAN ADD ONE MORE THING, JUST AS A HIGH LEVEL KIND OF CURRENT THINKING.

WE ARE VERY SUPPORTIVE OF GARDNER'S RECOMMENDATIONS AND ASSISTANCE, MAKING SURE WE ARE ACTUALLY NOT ONLY READY FOR THE PRESENT, BUT FOR THE FUTURE.

SO WE'RE VERY SUPPORTIVE.

BUT TO ME, MY WHOLE FRAMEWORK IS I'M SURE YOU ALL HAVE GATHERED IN THE LAST SIX MONTHS IS A BOTH AND RIGHT.

WHAT ARE THE KEY THINGS WE ALL WANT TO ACHIEVE AND WHAT'S THE BEST WAY THAT WE CAN FIND A WAY TO MAKE IT WORK FOR ALL PARTIES? SO I'M VERY ENERGIZED BASED ON ALL MY CONVERSATIONS, AND I LOOK FORWARD TO REALLY DIGGING DEEP TOGETHER TO MAKE SURE WE'RE ALL BEST SERVING THE PEOPLE OF HARRIS COUNTY.

SO I DIDN'T WANT TO BLINDSIDE YOU ON SORT OF WHAT HAPPENED WHEN WE WERE WHEN WE WERE BACK THERE.

BUT WE WELCOME, OF COURSE, THE PRESENTATION, WHATEVER COMMENTS.

CERTAINLY, YOU KNOW, THERE'S ANOTHER ITEM, BUT.

BUT, UH, SO THE FLOOR IS YOURS, MADAM DISTRICT CLERK.

GOOD AFTERNOON.

I'M MARILYN BURGESS, HARRIS COUNTY DISTRICT CLERK.

AND I FIRST HAVE TO SAY THAT WE WERE ALL KIND OF SOMEWHAT OFFENDED BY THE FACT THAT YOU HAD AN EXECUTIVE SESSION DISCUSSING OUR SYSTEM AND WE WEREN'T INCLUDED IN THOSE CONVERSATIONS.

AND SECONDLY, OUR WEB APPLICATION IS NOT OUTDATED TECHNOLOGY.

IT IS NEW SQL SERVER TECHNOLOGY.

IT MAY BE OUTDATED INFRASTRUCTURE.

I'M ONLY TALKING ABOUT THE APPLICATION.

AND AS MR. WOOD SAID IN A PREVIOUS MEETING THAT I WANT TO REITERATE, CYBERSECURITY IS EXTREMELY IMPORTANT TO ALL OF US.

WE WANT TO PROTECT OUR DATA MORE THAN UNIVERSAL SERVICES WANTS TO PROTECT OUR DATA.

IT'S OUR DATA. WE WANT TO PROTECT IT, BUT IT DOESN'T TRUMP LAW.

LAW HAS TO TRUMP AND COME FIRST BEFORE CYBERSECURITY.

WE HAVE TO WORK WITH CYBERSECURITY.

IT'S EXTREMELY IMPORTANT TO ALL OF US.

BUT MANAGING AND FULFILLING OUR STATUTORY AND LEGAL REQUIREMENTS HAS TO BE THE FIRST THING ON IT.

AS AN INDEPENDENTLY ELECTED OFFICIAL CHARGED WITH THE STATUTORY CHARGE STATUTORILY FOR THE CARE, CUSTODIAN AND CONTROL OF ALL THE RECORDS OF THE DISTRICT COURTS AND THE COUNTY COURTS AT LAW.

I DON'T EVEN UNDERSTAND WHY THIS IS A DEBATE.

I CANNOT DISCHARGE MY STATUTORY DUTIES WITHOUT CONTROL OF MY DATA, WHY ANYONE FEELS THAT THAT PROGRAM SHOULD BE IN THE CONTROL OF AN IT DEPARTMENT VERSUS THE ELECTED OFFICIALS CHARGED WITH THAT DUTY IS BEYOND ME.

YOU HAVE NEARLY 90 INDEPENDENTLY ELECTED OFFICIALS TELLING YOU THIS IS THE CHANGE WE NEED IN ORDER TO EFFECTIVELY AND EFFICIENTLY PERFORM OUR STATUTORY DUTIES.

WHY WE ARE ENGAGING AN OUTSIDE INDEPENDENT CONSULTANT WHO KNOWS NOTHING OF TEXAS LAW AND OUR BUSINESS OPERATIONS AS OPPOSED TO HAVING THESE CONVERSATIONS WITH THE PEOPLE WHO USE THIS SYSTEM IS BEYOND ME.

IT'S NOT WORKED UNDER THE CURRENT STRUCTURE, AND WE ARE TRYING TO PROTECT HARRIS COUNTY.

WE OFFERED A PROPOSED COMPROMISE THAT WOULD LEAVE J-WEB UNDER UNIVERSAL SERVICES, BUT WITH A DIRECTOR REPORTING TO THE FIVE JUSTICE DATA OWNERS WITH A SEPARATE BUDGET FUND AND MANAGED BY THE DIRECTOR, OVERSEEN BY THE FIVE DATA OWNERS, THEIR PROPOSAL, NUMBER ONE, HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH ANYTHING ANYONE HAS CONSIDERED. NO ONE EVER PROPOSED REMOVING NETWORK CONNECTIVITY, CYBERSECURITY OR HARDWARE MAINTENANCE FROM UNIVERSAL SERVICES.

PROPOSAL TWO IS A FAIR REPRESENTATION OF WHAT WE WERE LOOKING FOR.

HOWEVER, IT'S NOT 42 NEW POSITIONS.

IT'S TRANSFERRING 42 PEOPLE FROM UNIVERSAL SERVICES TO THIS NEW SECTION.

AND UNIVERSAL SERVICES IDENTIFIED 42 PEOPLE WHO WERE WORKING 100% OF THEIR TIME ON WEB, AND ALL WE WERE ASKING FOR IS 1 OR 2 ADDITIONAL POSITIONS THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR AND MAYBE A DATABASE MANAGER.

THERE'S NO NEED FOR A FINANCIAL MANAGER OR AN HR POSITION UNDER OUR PROPOSAL WHERE IT REMAINS UNDER THE US UNIVERSAL SERVICES UMBRELLA.

THERE'S VERY LITTLE FISCAL IMPACT WITH OUR REQUESTED COMPROMISE.

WE'VE SKATED ON THIN ICE TOO MANY TIMES TO CONTINUE OPERATING THE SAME WAY, AND I URGE YOU TO ADOPT OUR PROPOSED COMPROMISE TO GIVE MANAGEMENT OF THE WEB APPLICATION BACK TO THE FIVE JUSTICE DATA OWNERS.

Q MADAM CLERK, ANY OTHER SPEAKERS ON THIS ONE? SO THE VARIOUS WEB ITEMS. LET ME. OH, GO AHEAD.

THANK YOU, JUDGE. COMMISSIONERS.

ED WELLS I'M COURT MANAGER FOR THE COUNTY COURTS AND OFFICE OF COURT MANAGEMENT.

[03:05:04]

PICKING UP ON SOME OF THE COMMENTS THAT MS..

BURGESS MADE.

IT. IT IS THIS PROCESS HAS BEEN ENTIRELY TOO LONG AND AT TIMES HAS SEEMED MORE THAN DISINGENUOUS, AND THAT HAS BEEN PROBLEMATIC FOR MANY OF US, IF NOT ALL OF US.

UM. WE ARE VERY CLOSE ON MOST THINGS.

WE ARE MILES APART ON A HANDFUL OF THINGS AND WE'VE NEVER REALLY HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO SIT DOWN IN A ROOM AND TALK THROUGH THOSE ISSUES.

BUT THERE ARE A FEW THINGS, AS MS..

BURGESS POINTS OUT, WHERE WE CAN'T GIVE ON THE LAW.

AND THAT'S TRUE OF THE DISTRICT CLERK, THE SHERIFF, THE DA, AND CERTAINLY ALL OF THE JUDGES FROM BOTH THE COUNTY COURT AND DISTRICT COURT LEVELS. AND SO AT TIMES WHEN WE HAVE A REPORT GIVEN TO US FROM AN OUTSIDE CONSULTANT WHO THEN GOES BACK INTO WHAT IT APPEARS TO BE A VACUUM, WORKS OUT SOMETHING THEY THINK IS APPROPRIATE AND THEN REPORTS IT AGAIN.

BUT NO REAL CONVERSATION.

WE'RE NOT MAKING PROGRESS.

AND SO I LIKE THE IDEA OF EXTENDING IT.

I DON'T KNOW IF THREE WEEKS IS THE RIGHT TIME.

PERSONALLY, I THINK WE COULD PROBABLY GET ALL THIS DONE IN AN AFTERNOON IF THE RIGHT PEOPLE ARE AT THE TABLE AND BEING SINCERE.

AND SO HOPEFULLY WE'RE ABLE TO DO THAT VERY QUICKLY.

BUT BUT THE OTHER THING ABOUT IT IS.

WE HAVE TO ADDRESS THAT.

JUSTICE IN HARRIS COUNTY IS A BIG FISCAL NOTE, RIGHT? AND IF WE'RE GOING TO DO THIS AND DO IT WELL, WHICH THERE'S BEEN A TON OF EFFORTS IN THAT AREA OVER THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS.

THIS IS ONE THAT WE HAVE TO GET RIGHT AND MANAGEMENT OF IT BY PEOPLE WHO UNDERSTAND THE BUSINESS, WHO HAVE TECHNOLOGY EXPERTISE WITHIN THEIR OFFICES AND WHO LOOK FORWARD TO A PARTNERSHIP WITH UNIVERSAL SERVICES AND COUNTY ADMINISTRATION ON CERTAIN THINGS.

THE FISCAL NOTES IN PARTICULAR WERE VERY MISLEADING BECAUSE NEVER DID WE PROPOSE A SEPARATE DATA CENTER, A SEPARATE FACILITY, SEPARATE HOUSING FOR THE STAFF.

BUT AS MRS. BURGESS POINTED OUT, IT WAS ALWAYS A HANDFUL OF POSITIONS THAT WERE NEEDED.

AND THEN IF THERE SOMETHING FROM THAT THAT NEEDED TO BE BACKFILLED AT US, LET'S TALK ABOUT THAT.

BUT IT'S NOT 42 POSITIONS, SO IT'S NOT CERTAINLY NOT A $15 BILLION IMPACT AND IT'S NOT A $7 MILLION IMPACT.

IT'S PROBABLY LESS THAN A MILLION.

AND IF THAT'S THE PRICE OF HELPING US GET JUSTICE ON A BETTER PATH WHEN IT COMES TO INFORMATION SYSTEMS, THAT'S A VERY SMALL PATH OR COST AGAINST THE BILLION DOLLARS PLUS THAT HARRIS COUNTY SPENDS ON JUSTICE.

AND SO I HOPE Y'ALL ARE TAKING THAT INTO CONSIDERATION, AND I HOPE WE CAN CONTINUE TO HAVE CONVERSATIONS NOT JUST WITH US AND COUNTY ADMINISTRATION, BUT WITH MEMBERS OF THE COURT AS WELL, BECAUSE I THINK THERE ARE SOME MISUNDERSTANDINGS ABOUT WHAT THIS REALLY IS.

LOOK, I THINK I WANT TO MAKE VERY CLEAR THAT THE REASONS IN EXECUTIVE SESSION IS BECAUSE IT WAS A CONVERSATION ABOUT CYBER SECURITY.

AND SO THE ISSUES AND THE DECISIONS THAT ARE BEING PRESENTED ARE NOT FOR ANY REASON OTHER THAN THE CYBER SECURITY ISSUES WHICH WE CANNOT DISCUSS OUT HERE.

NOW, LET ME LET ME FINISH WHAT I'M SAYING.

LET'S GIVE THESE THREE WEEKS.

LET'S GIVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO SIT DOWN.

I'M HEARING FROM YOU ALL THAT THERE HASN'T BEEN AN OPPORTUNITY TO MEET.

I'VE HEARD FROM THE DEPARTMENTS THAT SEVERAL MEETINGS HAVE TAKEN PLACE WHERE THREE OUT OF THE FIVE STAKEHOLDERS SHOW UP.

SO, LOOK, LET'S NOT LITIGATE WHETHER THE MEETING WAS OR WASN'T.

WE HAVE THREE WEEKS.

LET'S I'M MAKING A PUBLIC INVITATION RIGHT NOW FOR THE FIVE KEY STAKEHOLDERS OF THE OF THE THE JUSTICE STAKEHOLDERS, THE ELECTED OFFICIALS.

SO THAT IS THE SHERIFF, THE DA, THE DISTRICT CLERK.

WHO AM I MISSING? THE COURT OF JUDGE, ADMINISTRATIVE JUDGES, COURTS AND COUNTY COURT FOR DISTRICT COURTS AND COUNTY COURTS.

SO THOSE ARE THE THE FIVE FOLKS THAT WE NEED, THE ADMINISTRATIVE JUDGES FOR LOCAL COURTS, COUNTY COURTS, DA SHERIFF, DISTRICT CLERK, PLUS ADMINISTRATOR, UM, D.A. RAMIREZ, UNIVERSAL SERVICES DIRECTOR SINDHU MENON, AND COUNTY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE.

IF COMMISSIONER LESLIE BRIONES CAN BE THERE, GREAT.

AND YOU KNOW A SECOND ONE OF THE COLLEAGUES CAN MAKE IT.

SO LET'S TRY TO HAVE THAT MEETING.

THE COMMITMENT HAS BEEN IN GARDNER, AND GARDNER WILL BE THE OTHER STAKEHOLDER THEY CAN PRESENT TO YOU ALL WHAT WAS PRESENTED TO US.

AND LET'S SEE WHERE WE LAND THERE.

OKAY. AND AND THEN WE'LL CHECK BACK IN THREE WEEKS.

BUT, YOU KNOW, I JUST DON'T WANT TO GET INTO ANOTHER CONVERSATION WHERE THE MEETING HAPPENED OR DIDN'T HAPPEN.

I MEAN, Y'ALL SEND AN EMAIL, SET A DATE AND AND BE THERE OR BE SQUARE BECAUSE IT SOUNDS LIKE, YOU KNOW, THAT THAT'S WHAT HAS TO HAPPEN.

[03:10:08]

AND WE HEAR FROM BOTH SIDES THAT THERE'S A WILLINGNESS.

SO INSTEAD OF RELITIGATING, WHY HASN'T IT HAPPENED? LET'S JUST GO DO IT.

UM, THE JUDGE.

DID YOU HAVE SOMETHING TO ADD? BUT PAIN. OKAY.

WELL, GOOD AFTERNOON.

RAN OVER HERE. I'VE GOT A JURY, BUT SAW THAT YOU ALL WERE TALKING ON THE ISSUE OF 138 AND IT SOUNDS LIKE IT'S BEING DEFERRED TO LATER, BUT I DID WANT TO MAKE THREE POINTS.

UH, IT'S OKAY.

I'M A TRACK ATHLETE.

BUT THAT DID NOT COME. NO, NO, NO.

I'M GOOD. I'M GOOD. THAT DID NOT HELP ME IN THE RUN OVER HERE A COUPLE OF BLOCKS.

UM, THE THREE THINGS THAT I WANT TO TALK ABOUT, FIRST OF ALL, IS THAT WHAT WE HAVE REPEATEDLY SAID? WHAT I HAVE REPEATEDLY SAID IS THAT THE INTERPRETATION OF THE LAW IS THAT THE DATA OWNERS, THE PEOPLE WHO CREATE, WHO ARE IN CHARGE WITH PROTECTING THAT DATA SHOULD BE IN CHARGE OF THE CONTROL OF THAT DATA.

I DON'T HAVE ADDITIONAL EXAMPLES.

I ACTUALLY DO, BUT I DON'T THINK THERE'S ANY NEED TO GIVE YOU THE EXAMPLES IN THE WAYS THAT THE SOURCE CODES THAT ARE ATTACHED TO OUR DATA HAVE BEEN MANIPULATED IN SUCH A WAY TO IMPEDE A DISTRICT JUDGE FROM DOING THEIR JOB.

THAT IS PROBLEMATIC.

IT'S ILLEGAL, IT'S A VIOLATION.

UM, AND THAT FROM WHAT I'VE SEEN THAT'S BEING PRESENTED BY GARTNER, UM, IS UM, DOES NOT RECOGNIZE THAT THE LEGALITIES OF THAT.

UM, I HAVE SAID IN OTHER MEETINGS THAT THE DISTRICT COURT JUDGES ARE VERY UPSET ABOUT THEIR NON MANAGEMENT OF THEIR OWN FILES AND IN THE WAYS THAT IT HAS IMPEDED THEIR ABILITY TO DO THEIR JOB.

TO SUCH AN EXTENT THAT I'VE HAD TO HOLD BACK JUDGES FROM ISSUING ORDERS REQUIRING THE COUNTY OFFICERS WHO REFUSE TO GIVE THE SOURCE CODE TO THE DISTRICT JUDGES AND WILL CONTINUE TO DO THAT.

BUT THERE'S ONLY SO MUCH OF THAT I CAN DO.

SECOND, THE IDEA OF PLACING NON-JUDICIAL STAKEHOLDERS IN MAKING DECISIONS ABOUT JUDICIAL DATA IS PROBLEMATIC. AND I SEE WITH THE GARTNER PROPOSAL, THEY PROPOSE ADDING MEMBERS TO THE COMMITTEE THAT ARE NOT THE CREATORS, OWNERS, PROTECTORS OR ANYTHING THAT'S RELATED TO THAT DATA.

THAT'S PROBLEMATIC AND WE OBJECT TO IT.

THE THIRD THING I WANT TO TALK ABOUT IS CYBER SECURITY.

THE POINT THAT I HAVE MADE IS THAT WHEN THERE IS AN INVASION OF THE JUDICIAL DATA, WHETHER THAT IS CRIMINAL, CIVIL FAMILY, WHAT HAVE YOU, AS SHOWN BY THE EXAMPLE WHEN THE SUPREME COURT IN COVID HAD A DATA ISSUE, IT WASN'T ABOUT WHO WAS THE KEEPER OF THAT DATA OR WHERE IT WAS HOUSED.

IT WAS IN AN ALLEGATION.

IT WAS AN ATTACK AGAINST A SUPREME COURT FOR FAILING TO PROTECT THEIR DATA AND DOING WHAT WAS NEEDED.

SO CYBER SECURITY IS AN IMPORTANT VALUE TO THE COURTS, NOT ONLY BECAUSE IT SHOULD BE IMPORTANT TO ALL OF US, BUT BECAUSE AT THE END OF THE DAY, WHEN YOU WHEN THE DATA IS INVADED, WHEN THERE ARE ISSUES WITH JUDICIAL DATA, CRIMINAL DATA, FAMILY DATA, THE ONLY PERSON THEY'RE GOING TO POINT TO ARE THE COURTS.

AND SO WE ARE IN A SITUATION WHERE WE CAN'T MANAGE OUR DATA.

BUT WHEN THINGS GO WRONG, WE'RE THE ONES BEING ACCUSED.

BECAUSE IT'S OUR DUTY TO PROTECT IT.

AND SO THE LAST THING I'LL LEAVE YOU WITH IS WHAT I WHAT WE HAVE BEEN LOOKING AT, OF COURSE, IS THE LAW, OBVIOUSLY.

BUT IN REFERENCE IN DOING THAT RESEARCH, WE CAME ACROSS AN INCIDENT 33 YEARS AGO.

WHICH PROMPTED AN OPINION WHICH INVOLVED A DISPUTE BETWEEN THE COUNTY AND THE COURTS AS TO WHO WAS IN CONTROL OF THAT DATA.

AND I'LL LEAVE YOU WITH THIS.

IT SAYS THE COMMISSIONERS COURT IS RESPONSIBLE FOR ESTABLISHING A RECORDS MANAGEMENT PROGRAM FOR NON-ELECTIVE COUNTY OFFICERS.

PERIOD. ELECTED COUNTY OFFICERS ARE DESIGNATED THE RECORDS MANAGEMENT OFFICERS FOR THEIR RESPECTIVE OFFICES AND ARE DELEGATED PREEMINENT AUTHORITY TO DEVELOP AND ADMINISTER THE RECORDS MANAGEMENT PROGRAM FOR THEIR OFFICES.

SO THE DATA THAT IS THE JUDICIAL DATA SHOULD BE AND HAS BEEN UNDERSTOOD AS LONG AS 33 YEARS AGO AND SHOULD BE MANAGED BY THOSE STAKEHOLDERS.

[03:15:05]

THIS WAS AN OPINION FROM THE ATTORNEY GENERAL OF THE STATE OF TEXAS INVOLVING A SIMILAR DISAGREEMENT ABOUT WHO CONTROLS AND WHO SHOULD CONTROL THE DATA.

THIS IS STANDING PRECEDENT.

THIS IS THE THE PRECEDENT THAT WE SHOULD FOLLOW.

THANK YOU, JUDGE. I KNOW THAT IT'S.

I KNOW THE QUESTIONS.

I KNOW IT'S TOUGH. AND TRUST ME, NO ONE TOOK MORE HEAT THAN THAN LAST YEAR IN THE MIDDLE OF A REELECTION AND THIS ISSUE WITH JEB.

AND SO EVEN IF THAT HADN'T BEEN THE CASE, YOU KNOW, I THINK, YOU KNOW, YOU FEEL THE BUCK STOPS WITH YOU FOR US, OR AT LEAST I'LL SAY FOR ME, RIGHT.

I FEEL THE BUCK STOPS HERE.

AND SO WE ALL HAVE THE SAME INCENTIVE TO MAKE THIS WORK.

SO GIVE US THAT THAT OPPORTUNITY.

SIT DOWN, HAVE THE SAME CONVERSATION WE HAD ABOUT CYBER SECURITY, BECAUSE THAT IS WHAT THIS IS ABOUT.

AND AS MUCH AS ALL OF US, YOU KNOW, WE'RE SMART, WE LEARN FAST.

BUT I'LL TELL YOU, WHEN YOU SIT WITH THIS CYBER SECURITY EXPERT AND WITH A DIRECTOR OF MEMNON, IT'S LIKE, WOW, I GET IT NOW.

OKAY, SO SO JUST GIVE US A CHANCE TO SIT DOWN AND LOOK AT THAT AND YOU'LL SEE WHAT I MENTIONED BEFORE YOU SAT.

HERE IS THE WHAT WE'RE LOOKING TO DO IS REALLY OPTION ONE OF THE OPTIONS PLUS.

SO IT'S NOT A MONEY ISSUE.

IT'S IT'S IT'S QUITE A BIG INVESTMENT.

AS COMMISSIONER ELLIS MENTIONED, IT'S QUITE A BIG INVESTMENT.

AND WHERE IT WOULD LAND IS WHERE YOU GUYS WOULD HAVE THE CONTROL THAT YOU WANT AND WE WOULD HAVE THE CYBER SECURITY.

THIS IS NOT A MATTER OF CONTROL.

I MEAN, NONE OF US ACCESS THAT DATA.

I DON'T I DON'T KNOW WHAT EXACT WHICH DATA, WHERE, WHO, WHAT.

I DON'T, YOU KNOW, THAT'S NO SWEAT OFF MY BACK.

BUT WE ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE CYBER SECURITY PART OF IT CERTAINLY WILL NOT LITIGATE THE LAW WITH YOU.

YOU KNOW, WE HAD A CONVERSATION WITH ATTORNEYS IN THE BACK AND THE COUNTY ATTORNEY.

BUT I THINK IT REALLY IT GOES BEYOND THAT LEVEL.

SO, LOOK, WE'VE GOT A LOT OF ITEMS ON THE AGENDA.

I DO ASK THAT THOSE FIVE STAKEHOLDERS GO TO THE MEETING.

I MEAN, OTHERWISE WE'RE JUST GOING TO BE IN THE SAME SITUATION.

OBVIOUSLY, IT'S YOUR PREROGATIVE, BUT I THINK WE HAVEN'T HAD EVERYBODY SHOW UP, ALL OF THEM, PLUS THE YOU KNOW, THE OTHER FOLKS WE MENTIONED IN GARDNER, YOU KNOW, THAT YOU GUYS BE IN THE ROOM AND THEN WE'LL WE'LL TAKE THIS TOPIC BACK UP IN JULY.

BUT THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR FOR BEING HERE YOU ALL.

AND NO, I REALLY THINK EVERYONE INVOLVED IS IS OPERATING IN GOOD FAITH.

AND I TRUST WE CAN GET THIS SORTED OUT.

THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU.

SO, MADAM DISTRICT CLERK, THERE WAS ONE OTHER ITEM THAT COMMISSIONER GARCIA HAD A QUESTION ON, AND THIS WAS ITEM.

365. 365.

AND SO I WANT TO TAKE IT TAKE IT UP BEFORE, UM, SINCE YOU'RE HERE ALREADY, AND THEN WE CAN TAKE OUR BREAK.

YEAH. UM, THIS ITEM CAME TO LIGHT WHEN A DEFENSE ATTORNEY, UH, REACHED OUT TO US BECAUSE MOTHERS AGAINST DRUNK DRIVERS IS ONE OF THE CHARITIES ON OUR LIST.

HE IS SOMEONE WHO REPRESENTS DWI OFFENDERS AND FELT LIKE THIS WAS PREDISPOSING HIS THE JURY AGAINST HIS CLIENT AND THOUGHT IT WAS A CONFLICT THAT SHOULD BE REMOVED. SO WHEN WE GOT THAT, WE WENT BACK TO THE STATUTE AND LOOKED AT THE STATUTE AND THOUGHT, WE NEED TO CLEAN UP THE LIST.

IT'S VERY SPECIFIC ABOUT WHAT CHARITIES QUALIFY TO BE INCLUDED ON A JUROR DONATION FORM AND LISTS FOR THAT HAVE TO BE THERE.

AND THEN IT LISTS SOME THAT CAN BE ADDED THAT PROVIDES SHELTER AND SERVICES TO VICTIMS OF FAMILY VIOLENCE, OFFERS PSYCHOLOGICAL COUNSELING AND CRIMINAL CASES INVOLVING GRAPHIC EVIDENCE OR TESTIMONY, AND A VETERAN'S TREATMENT PROGRAM.

SO I DON'T HAVE ANY REAL ISSUE IN THIS AND WHERE WHICHEVER WAY Y'ALL WANT TO GO WITH IT, I'M FINE WITH.

WE WERE JUST TRYING TO CLEAN IT UP SO IT COMPLIED WITH THE STATUTE.

NOTHING AGAINST ANY OF THE CHARITIES THAT WE'RE PROPOSING TO TAKE OFF, SOME OF THEM THAT I SUPPORT PERSONALLY, BUT THEY DON'T MEET THE STANDARDS IN THE STATUTE.

AND SO IT WAS AN EFFORT TO CLEAN IT UP TO GET IT IN COMPLIANCE.

UM, AND THERE'S BEEN SOME PUBLIC BACKLASH BECAUSE IT LOOKS LIKE WE HATE CHARITIES.

AND I JUST WANTED TO TAKE THE OPPORTUNITY TO SAY IT'S NOTHING AGAINST THOSE CHARITIES.

IT'S JUST GOING BY THE STATUTE OF WHO QUALIFIES FOR JURY DONATION PAY.

JUDGE YES, COMMISSIONER.

MADAM CLERK. THANK THANK YOU FOR THAT.

MY, MY ONLY QUESTION WAS, UM, THE COUNTY ATTORNEY'S INTERPRETATION OF THE LAW AND THE ACTION THAT THEY'RE ALIGNED WITH EACH OTHER BECAUSE MY UNDERSTANDING WAS THIS WASN'T RUN BY THE COUNTY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE.

SO I'M JUST.

I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU GUYS ARE GOOD WITH WHAT'S BEING RECOMMENDED.

YEAH. COMMISSIONER, WE HAVEN'T HAD A CHANCE TO REVIEW IT, SO WE'LL HAVE TO REVIEW IT AND COME BACK.

AND I'M FINE WITH THE DELAY.

I JUST WANTED YOU TO UNDERSTAND I'M NOT GOING AFTER CERTAIN CHARITIES.

IT WAS JUST TO TRY TO GET AN ALIGNMENT WITH THE STATUTE.

GOTCHA. I JUST REACHED OUT TO ASK THE COUNTY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE OPINION ON IT.

[03:20:04]

THEY HADN'T SEEN IT.

SO JUST FOR ALL EVERYBODY'S PROTECTION, I JUST WOULD LIKE TO HAVE THE COUNTY ATTORNEY TAKE A LOOK AT IT.

OKAY. SO WE'LL NO ACTION ON ON ALL THE GARDNER ITEMS, WHICH ARE ALL THE ITEMS, WHICH ARE ITEMS 138 319 AND 357.

AND NO ACTION ON THIS LATEST ITEM, WHICH IS 365.

AND WE WILL TAKE THOSE FOR BACK UP IN JULY.

UM, AND YES.

AND. 359.

ONE MOMENT, PLEASE.

THREE 1503 59 WE NEED TO VOTE.

BUT COMMISSIONER ELLIS ISN'T BACK YET, SO.

SO WHY DON'T WE TAKE THE 15 MINUTE BREAK FROM ITS 359 AND WE'LL BREAK UNTIL 415? THANK YOU.

IT'S STILL.

OKAY. IT'S 425 AND COMMISSIONERS COURT IS BACK IN SESSION.

COMMISSIONER RAMSEY, CAN YOU HEAR US OKAY? SURE CAN. THANKS.

GREAT. OKAY, SO LET'S START WITH ITEM 359, WHICH WE TOOK TO EXECUTIVE SESSION.

[Emergency/Supplemental items (Part 1 of 2)]

IT'S AN AGREEMENT WITH BAKERHOSTETLER AND COMMISSIONER RAMSEY WANTED US TO JUST VOTE.

SO MOVE MOTION BY COMMISSIONER ELLIS, SECOND BY COMMISSIONER GARCIA.

ANY OPPOSED? NO. I'M IN FAVOR.

NOW, LET'S GO BACK TO THE TOP OF THE AGENDA.

[Departments (Part 4 of 4)]

AND THE FIRST ITEM IS ITEM TEN, FLAGGED BY COMMISSIONER RAMSEY.

IT IS TWO POSITIONS FOR THE GUARANTEED INCOME PILOT.

YEAH, THAT'S THERE'S STILL A LOT OF QUESTIONS ON THAT.

I'LL NOT GO THROUGH THE LIST.

IT'S THE SAME QUESTIONS THAT WE PUT ON THE TABLE AT THE LAST MEETING.

SO I THINK WE JUST NEED TO VOTE.

I'LL MOVE IT. MOTION BY COMMISSIONER ELLIS.

ANY OPPOSED? NO.

I'M IN FAVOR.

YOU DID NOT NEED TO DISCUSS 12.

NEXT IS ITEM.

UM, COMMISSIONER ELLIS.

CORRECT? NO, MA'AM.

I'LL MOVE IT. DID WE? YEAH, I'LL MOVE IT. DID WE PUT THAT WAS APPROVED IN THE CONSENT? YES. YES, JUDGE TO CONFIRM.

OKAY. ITEM 14.

THEN THAT IS THE DEPUTY UNIT ITEM.

OH, YES. I WOULD LIKE TO DISCUSS IT, PLEASE.

I WANT TO THANK MY TEAM AND SHERIFF GONZALEZ AND HIS TEAM AND COMMISSIONER GARCIA FOR JOINING THIS MORNING.

THIS DEPUTY PROGRAM, I ASKED MY COLLEAGUES TO PLEASE CONSIDER SUPPORTING THIS INVESTMENT OF 1.7 MILLION IN ARPA FUNDS.

THE REASON I'M SO EXCITED IS BECAUSE, AS WE KNOW, THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE SERVES APPROXIMATELY 2 MILLION HARRIS COUNTY RESIDENTS.

IN THE UNINCORPORATED OF ALL THE CALLS THEY RECEIVE, APPROXIMATELY 60% ARE FOR THESE LOWER LEVEL PRIORITY THREE AND FOUR.

SO 60% OF THE CALL VOLUME.

AND CURRENTLY THE OFFICERS STILL GO OUT TO DO A REPORT, WHETHER THAT'S A ABANDONED VEHICLE, A CRIME TIP, YOU KNOW, A GARAGE DOOR THAT'S BEEN OPENED, SORT OF THINGS THAT NEED TO BE ADDRESSED, BUT THAT CAN BE ADDRESSED VIA A TELEPHONE CALL AND DONE REMOTELY.

SO WHAT THIS DOES IS THIS FREES UP AND BETTER LEVERAGES OUR LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS TIME TO ADDRESS PRIORITY ONE AND TWO, THE MORE CRITICAL, URGENT, YOU KNOW, CALLS RELATED TO VIOLENCE.

SO THE GOAL OF THIS INVESTMENT WILL BE TO REDUCE THE RESPONSE TIME FOR THE PRIORITY ONE CALLS BY APPROXIMATELY 30%.

THIS WOULD BE HUGE, BRINGING DOWN THE RESPONSE TIME FROM 14 MINUTES TO TEN.

SO THINK ACTIVE SHOOTING, AGGRAVATED ASSAULT, THOSE SORTS OF CALLS.

AND THE OTHER FOCUS, WHICH IS VERY NEAR AND DEAR TO ME WITH THE WORK I DID IN LAW SCHOOL WITH DOMESTIC VIOLENCE SURVIVORS IS THEY WILL BE FOCUSING ON DOMESTIC VIOLENCE CALLS TO HAVE SPEEDIER RESPONSE TIME FOR THOSE CALLS.

AND WE KNOW, UNFORTUNATELY, THAT APPROXIMATELY 32% OF THE HOMICIDES THAT THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE ADDRESSES ARE RELATED TO SOME KIND OF DOMESTIC DISPUTE.

SO IF WE CAN GET THE OFFICERS FOCUSED ON THE MOST VIOLENT RELATED CALLS AND BETTER LEVERAGE THE TIME, THIS WILL BE ANOTHER WIN FOR IMPROVING PUBLIC SAFETY IN HARRIS COUNTY.

AND SO I'M REALLY THANKFUL TO SHERIFF GONZALEZ AND PRESIDENT BIDEN AND LEAH BARTON AND THE ARPA TEAM AND THE PRECINCT FOUR TEAM.

AND I JUST ASK THAT YOU PLEASE CONSIDER VOTING IN FAVOR OF THIS ITEM.

[03:25:03]

IF YOU MOVE ON THE ITEM, I PROUDLY MOVE.

AND AND MY POINT, JUDGE, IF I MAY.

YES. JUST WANTED TO THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER BRIONES, BECAUSE YOUR YOUR POINTS ON THIS ITEM ARE SO, SO RIGHT ON.

RIGHT ON POINT. UM.

THE THIS PARTICULAR PROGRAM.

WOULD ALLOW US.

YOU KNOW, RIGHT NOW WE'RE AT ALMOST 15 MINUTES FOR RESPONSE ON PARTY.

ONCE PARTY ONES IS THE MOST EMERGENT URGENT CALL THAT A LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER RUNS TO THAT LIGHTS AND SIRENS.

THE OPTIMUM TIME WAS ALWAYS UNDER FIVE MINUTES.

AND SO THIS IS HOW CRITICAL THIS PARTICULAR ITEM IS.

IT GETS US CLOSER TO TEN.

BUT LOOK, TO WORK WITH YOU TO SEE HOW WE CAN GET CLOSER TO UNDER FIVE, BECAUSE THAT'S THE OPTIMUM TIME.

BUT I JUST WANT TO APPLAUD YOU FOR LEADING ON THIS AND PROUD TO SECOND IT.

SO WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND.

ANY ADDITIONAL COMMENTS? COMMISSIONER RAMSEY.

ALL GOOD. OKAY, GOOD.

ALL RIGHT. ALL IN FAVOR? AYE, AYE.

ANY OPPOSED? I'M IN FAVOR.

AND THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER BRIONES.

THIS IS FANTASTIC.

AND I WAS READING THE BRIEF HERE.

AND THE EXAMPLE OF A THEFT OR, YOU KNOW, YOU WHAT I'VE DONE WITH SILLY LEFT MY PURSE IN MY CAR ONE TIME.

THEY BROKE INTO IT, TOOK IT.

AND IT'S YOU KNOW, AT THAT POINT, WHAT IS THE POLICE OFFICER GOING TO DO BUT TAKE A REPORT.

AND SO BEING ABLE TO LET THEM CALL IN AND INSTEAD BE ABLE TO DEPLOY TO THE LIGHTS AND SIRENS TYPE SITUATIONS OR IF SOMEBODY REPORTS AN ABANDONED VEHICLE.

SO SO IT'S VERY SMART.

AND I'M EXCITED TO SUPPORT YOU, JUDGE.

THANK YOU, COLLEAGUES.

ITEM 15.

COMMISSIONER RAMSEY FLAGGED THIS ONE.

THIS IS A REENTRY CAPACITY SUPPORTS GRANT PROGRAM.

JUST NEED TO VOTE. SECOND.

SECOND. MOTION BY COMMISSIONER.

ERIC GARCIA ELLIS SECOND BY COMMISSIONER BRIAN IS ALL IN FAVOR.

AYE. ANY OPPOSE? NO. I'M IN FAVOR.

COMMISSIONER RAMSEY, YOU FLAGGED THIS ONE.

ITEM. UH, 18.

THIS IS A DISTRIBUTION OF FOODS TO FOOD INSECURE PEOPLE.

NO, I THINK THAT'S GREAT.

I WANT TO JUST APPLAUD, UH, COMMISSIONER, UH, GARCIA ON THIS ONE.

AND I JUST NEED TO FIND OUT HOW I CAN GET THAT PRECINCT THREE.

ME, TOO.

THAT WAS MY QUESTION.

THANK YOU. AND I'M PLEASED TO BRING THIS ITEM FORWARD BECAUSE, AS IT INDICATES, IT WILL HELP TO FACILITATE COLLABORATION BETWEEN PRECINCT TWO AND THE COMMON MARKET TEXAS AND MAKE SOME OF OUR PRECINCT TWO COMMUNITY CENTERS DISTRIBUTE DISTRIBUTION SITES.

UH, WE'RE HAPPY TO PROVIDE AN AVENUE FOR COMMON MARKET TO DISTRIBUTE FRESH FRUIT AND VEGETABLE BOXES VIA OUR COMMUNITY CENTERS IN ORDER TO REACH MORE PRECINCT TWO FAMILIES. AND AS YOU GUYS HAVE HEARD ME SAY BEFORE, WE HAVE AMONGST THE HIGHEST NUMBER OF HEALTH FOOD, HEALTHY FOOD DESERTS, HEALTH DESERTS. UM, AND SO HEALTH CARE DESERTS.

AND SO THIS IS JUST ANOTHER EFFORT TO FURTHER BRING REVIVE, TO THRIVE, UH, TO THE PRECINCT AND HELP SUPPORT OUR, UH, FAMILIES THAT ARE IN NEED.

AND, UH, AND THAT THIS TYPE OF INITIATIVE WILL HELP ADDRESS SOME OF THE HEALTH AND ECONOMIC NEEDS IN OUR COMMUNITY.

SO I'M EXCITED.

MOVE ON THE ITEM AS PRESENTED.

I'LL SECOND. THANK YOU.

MOTION BY COMMISSIONER GARCIA.

SECOND BY COMMISSIONER BY COMMISSIONER RAMSEY ON ITEM 18.

ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. ANY OPPOSED? I'M IN FAVOR. MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY.

ITEM 20.

THIS IS SHIFTING SOME POSITIONS TO OCA.

COMMISSIONER RAMSEY FLAGGED THIS ITEM.

WELL, I'VE DISCUSSED BEFORE THE ANALYST DETAILS.

WE'LL JUST NEED TO VOTE.

SO MOVE. DO HAVE A QUESTION.

YES, JUDGE.

UM, MISS RAMIREZ, I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT, UH, THE.

I KNOW THAT THAT OFFICE IS IN TRANSITION.

UH, BUT THE ENDLESS OFFICE HAS BEEN A VERY, VERY SIGNIFICANT RESOURCE TO MY OFFICE, AND, UH, JUST WANT TO KNOW WHERE WE'RE GOING TO BE AT AND STILL MAKING THEM AVAILABLE.

WE STILL HAVE SOME PROJECTS WE WANT TO GET TO THEM, BUT I KNOW THAT THERE'S A BIT OF TRANSITION THERE, BUT I NEED THAT OFFICE.

[03:30:02]

YES, SIR. AND WE FULLY INTEND TO KEEP THEM OPERATING THE WAY THEY'RE OPERATING RIGHT NOW.

WHAT I WANT TO MAKE SURE IS BECAUSE THEY'VE HAD THIS IS LIKE THEY JUST LOST THEIR THIRD DIRECTOR IN FOUR MONTHS.

AND SO I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THE STAFF, THAT THE FIVE STAFF THAT ARE LEFT HAD SOME DIRECT OVERSIGHT AND SUPERVISION AND SOME ADMINISTRATIVE SUPPORT AS WELL.

SO THEY'LL BE DOING THEIR WORK THE SAME WAY.

THE THIS IS PART OF THE PROCESS AND THE AGENDA ITEM THAT WILL BE COMING BACK ON JULY 18TH.

AS FAR AS RESTRUCTURING FOR OCA, I JUST DIDN'T WANT THE STAFF BEING OUT THERE ON THEIR OWN, SO THEY'LL STILL BE DOING ALL THE WORK.

THEY'LL BE REPORTING DIRECTLY TO ME.

I'LL BE DOING CHECK INS WITH THEM WEEKLY TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY HAVE THE RESOURCES THAT THEY NEED TO KEEP WORKING FOR YOU ALL.

AND YOUR STUDIES, WELL, THEY EVENTUALLY BECOME A STANDALONE ENTITY AGAIN.

UM, I'M.

ARE WE THERE YET? WE'RE NOT THERE YET.

BUT WAS I WAS THINKING I WANTED TO BRING THEM IN.

IF WE CAN GET AGREEMENT ON HOW THEY SHOULD CONTINUE WORKING BECAUSE I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY'RE STILL DOING THE SAME LEVEL OF WORK THAT THEY HAVE BEEN IN THE PAST.

YEAH. ALL RIGHT. I'LL MOVE ON TO ITEM AS PRESENTED.

OKAY. MOTION BY COMMISSIONER GARCIA.

SECOND, SECOND, SECOND BY COMMISSIONER ELLIS.

ANY OPPOSED? NO, I'M IN FAVOR.

COMMISSIONER BRIONES FLAGGED THAT ONE.

NEXT IS ITEM 33.

THANK YOU, JUDGE HIDALGO. THIS IS THE BRUNET BALAN MASTER PLAN ITEM THAT I PLEASE ASK FOR YOUR SUPPORT ON.

I AM SO ENERGIZED BY WHAT WE CAN DO TOGETHER TO REVITALIZE THIS PARK.

IT'S BEEN A LONG TIME COMING.

I WANT TO THANK ALL WE HEARD FROM MANY OF THE COMMUNITY MEMBERS, BUT IT'S AMAZING JUST THE PERSISTENCE FOR DECADES TRYING TO FIGHT FOR RESOURCES FOR THIS COMMUNITY AND PARK.

AND SO I LOVE GOLDEN FOR SO MANY REASONS.

BUT THIS IS, TO ME, THE BEAUTY OF HARRIS COUNTY.

60% OF THE RESIDENTS ARE FOREIGN BORN.

IT IS OUR ELLIS ISLAND.

THERE'S ONLY 32 ACRES OF GREEN SPACE, WHICH IS FAR BELOW THE 118 BASED ON THE TRUST FOR PUBLIC LAND PARK SCORE.

IT'S THE HOTTEST NEIGHBORHOOD IN HARRIS COUNTY.

SO THE HEAT ISLAND EFFECT IS TREMENDOUS.

SO I LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING TOGETHER.

I'M VERY THANKFUL. IT'S BEEN A COUNTY PARK THAT'S BEEN MAINTAINED BY THE CITY AND I'M THANKFUL TO MAYOR TURNER AND COUNCIL MEMBER POLLARD, WHO ARE VERY OPEN TO US, RE TAKING OVER THE MAINTENANCE. BUT IT IS SO NEEDED AND WE'RE TRYING TO DO IT.

AND I THANK RAY GUERRA AND LUIS FAJARDO AND SO MANY MEMBERS OF MY TEAM BECAUSE WE'RE DOING IT IN A WAY THAT'S NOT ONLY FOCUSED ON IMPROVING THE PARK AND WE'RE REALLY LEARNING FROM THE ALL INCLUSIVE PARK THAT YOU DID.

SO THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER GARCIA WE WANT AN ALL ABILITIES, ALL AGES PARK, ONE THAT FOCUSES ON PUBLIC SAFETY, ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY, EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES, THINKING ABOUT HOUSING. WE DON'T WANT THE GREEN SPACE GENTRIFICATION.

SO HOW DO WE BRING IN HOUSING? SO WE BROUGHT TOGETHER ALL THE DIFFERENT GROUPS THAT HAVE BEEN DOING PLANNING EFFORTS, COALESCING THE WORK TO DATE, BUILDING ON IT AND JUST DOING IT IN MULTIPLE LANGUAGES.

I'M SO ENERGIZED BY REALLY MAKING THAT PARK WHAT SO MANY OTHER AREAS.

SO JUST SPEAK ABOUT EQUITY.

WE NEED TO MAKE SURE WE'RE, YOU KNOW, VERY COMMITTED TO INVESTING OUR PRECINCT FOUR FUNDING IN THE AREAS THAT HAVE BEEN LONG UNDERSERVED.

SO I'M SO THANKFUL AND EXCITED.

AND IT'S JUST GREAT.

CAN'T WAIT TO WORK TOGETHER TO SEE WHAT CAN BE IN A WAY THAT'S INCLUSIVE AND REALLY SAFE FOR OUR FAMILIES.

WELL, I SECOND IT.

AND AND AS I MENTIONED EARLIER, I'VE SEEN THAT PARK IN A LOT OF CONDITIONS, MOST OF THEM NOT VERY GOOD.

AND SO I APPLAUD YOU AND THANK YOU FOR REPRESENTING YOUR FOLKS SO WELL ON THIS, ON HEARING THEIR VOICES AND THEIR CONCERNS AND THEIR WISHES.

AND I CAN ONLY WAIT TO JOIN YOU AT THE RIBBON.

THANK AND WELL DONE.

COMMISSIONER BRIONES THANK.

ANOTHER HIGHLIGHT HERE WOULD BE, UH, THERE ARE MANY OPPORTUNITIES TO PARTNER WITH THE CITY OF HOUSTON.

I KNOW WE'VE TAKEN MANY OF THEIR PARKS AND IT MAKES SENSE FOR US TO DO THAT.

WE HAVE MAYBE SOME RESOURCES AVAILABLE TO DEAL WITH THAT.

SO I THINK THIS IS THE EXAMPLE HERE IS US PARTNERING WITH THE CITY TO ADDRESS A A VERY CLEAR NEED IN THAT AREA.

I THINK THERE'S MORE OF THAT OPPORTUNITY OUT THERE.

I AGREE. COMMISSIONER RAMSEY AND ONE OTHER THAT WE'RE LOOKING AT, IT'S IN PRECINCT FOUR, BUT VERY CLOSE TO YOUR OFFICE IS FREED PARK OUT IN THE EAST SPRING BRANCH AREA.

SO WE'VE MET WITH COUNCIL MEMBER AMY PECK, TALKED WITH THE MAYOR ABOUT THAT.

SO I'M TRYING TO FIND AS MANY OPPORTUNITIES TO PARTNER WITH THE CITY TO LEVERAGE OUR RESPECTIVE FUNDING FOR PROGRAMING.

AND I'M THANKFUL TO MY COLLEAGUES IN THE COMMUNITY FOR PASSING THE BOND IN 2022 THAT GIVES US THE FUNDING TO REALLY GO BIG AND MAKE THESE KEY INVESTMENTS FOR THE PHYSICAL AND MENTAL HEALTH OF OUR COMMUNITY.

SO THANK YOU.

AND I OFFICIALLY.

[03:35:01]

SO MOVE. SORRY, COMMISSIONER.

OH, YEAH. I'M JUST WANT TO SAY, IF THREE OF US CAN SHOW UP, I WANT TO COME TO THAT RIBBON CUTTING, TOO AS WELL.

AND THE REASON IS I CAN REMEMBER SOME GOOD FRIENDS THAT CAME DOWN HERE DURING THE REDISTRICTING BATTLES AND GOOD OLD FRIEND OF MINE, ALVIN CHAMBERS.

AND WE'RE REALLY ANGRY ABOUT WHERE THAT CENTER ENDED UP BEING PLACED.

SO I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO GOING OUT THERE AND I'M GOING TO CALL HIM TO COME AND GO TO THE GYM WITH ME.

AND SO I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO THAT.

SOUNDS GOOD. THANK YOU.

WELL, THANK YOU. SO OFFICIALLY I MOVE FOR ITEM 33 SECONDED MOTION BY COMMISSIONER BRIONES, SECOND BY COMMISSIONER GARCIA.

AND YOU POST. I'M IN FAVOR OF MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY.

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

WONDERFUL. THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER BRIONES.

LET'S MOVE ON TO ITEM 60 TWO.

COMMISSIONER GARCIA.

THANK YOU, JUDGE. ON ITEM 62 FAIRMONT PARKWAY.

YES. I JUST WANT TO CALL THIS.

THIS IS REVIVED TO THRIVE BECAUSE IT'S OUR EFFORT TO CREATE A COMPLETE AND CONNECTED 40 MILE LOOP AROUND THE BAY AREA.

AND THIS PROJECT IS A $2.3 MILLION INVESTMENT.

AND WHAT I AM NOW TERMING AS RELATES TO THE 40 MILE LOOP, THE CLOSE THE LOOP PROJECTS.

SO AS WE BUILD MORE, MORE CONNECTIVITY TO THIS 40 MILE LOOP, I'LL BE REFERRING TO THESE AS CLOSE THE LOOP.

THIS IS ANOTHER CLOSED LOOP.

AND SO I AM PROUD TO PRESENT THIS AND WANT TO THANK MY ENGINEERS FOR ALL THEIR COLLECTIVE WORK AND AND LIKE YOU, COMMISSIONER BRIONES, THE COMMUNITY BECAUSE THIS CAME THROUGH ONE OF OUR COMMUNITY PLANS AND SO MOVE ON THE ITEM AS PRESENTED SECOND MOTION BY COMMISSIONER GARCIA, SECOND BY COMMISSIONER ELLIS.

THAT'S ITEM 62.

ALL IN FAVOR? AYE, AYE.

ANY OPPOSED MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY.

ITEM 117.

CHAIR PULL THAT ONE AND I'M FOR IT.

I PULLED IT SO I COULD THANK THE ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT FOR THE WORK THAT THEY DID ON ESTABLISHING A PERMIT PROCESS TO ASSIST WITH REPAIRS TO DAMAGED STRUCTURES.

THE ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT'S WEBSITE WAS UPDATED OVER THE WEEKEND WITH INFORMATION THAT LINK STORM EVENT REPAIR PERMITS WITH RESOURCES THAT FOLKS NEED.

THAT STORM THAT HIT US ON JUNE 21ST SET A RECORD IN TERMS OF WIND.

ACCORDING TO NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE, WIND GUSTS REACHED 97MPH AT BUSH INTERCONTINENTAL AIRPORT, SURPASSING THE PREVIOUS RECORD SET DURING HURRICANE IKE IN 2008.

AND CENTERPOINT REPRESENTATIVES COMPARED THE PROPERTY DAMAGE TO WHAT WE'VE SEEN AFTER CATEGORY TWO HURRICANES IN MY PRECINCT, OVER 100 THE HOMES SUSTAINED DAMAGE IN INVERNESS FOREST, WEST DOOR, CYPRESS STATION, WEST CREEK AND MEMORIAL HILLS.

COMMISSIONER RAMSEY'S AREA HAD SOME DAMAGE AS WELL.

BUT, YOU KNOW, WE USE THE RESOURCES TO BRING IN ONE OF THOSE ON CALL CONTRACTORS TO HELP GET UP DEBRIS, GET DEBRIS UP TO HELP GET THE LIGHTS BACK ON IN NEIGHBORHOODS WE APPRECIATE THE WORK OF.

RED CROSS AND OFFICE OF EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AND ALL OF OUR PARTNERS TO HELP DURING AN EXCESSIVE HEAT WAVE.

IT WAS SO IMPORTANT FOR ALL HANDS TO BE ON DECK.

AND COMMISSIONER RAMSEY, I KNOW OUR STAFFS COORDINATED WORKING TOGETHER BECAUSE YOU HAD SOME DAMAGE OUT THAT WAY AS WELL.

BUT MILTON, ANYTHING YOU WANT TO ADD? I APPRECIATE YOU PUTTING TOGETHER THAT EASY PERMIT PROCESS REAL QUICK.

UH, COMMISSIONER AND JUST.

GOOD AFTERNOON. MILTON HARMON, COUNTY ENGINEER.

UH, THANK YOU FOR THE KUDOS, COMMISSIONER.

AS YOU KNOW, WITH EVERY STORM EVENT, OUR STAFF IS ALWAYS READY TO HELP.

UH, AND WITH THIS STORM, WE HAVE CREATED THIS ENHANCED EXPEDITED PERMIT SUPPORT.

SO WHERE THE FOLKS CAN JUST GO IN INTO OUR PERMITS IS FULLY DIGITAL REQUEST PERMIT.

AND TODAY WE HAVE ACTUALLY WE ARE PROVIDING YARD SIGN IN ALL THOSE NEIGHBORHOODS WITH THE QR CODE SO THEY CAN JUST SCAN IT, THROW IT IN THEIR PHONE, GO TO THE WEBSITE AND SUBMIT THE PERMITTING SO WE ARE READY TO ASSIST OUR CITIZENS.

IN ADDITION TO THAT, COMMISSIONER, UH, AGAIN, THANK YOU FOR YOUR STAFF AND COMMISSIONER RAMSEY'S STAFF WORKING IN COORDINATION FOR THE DEBRIS REMOVAL FROM THE STREET. SO FAR WE HAVE COLLECTED FROM PRECINCT, FROM PRECINCT ONE, WE HAVE COLLECTED 308,068YD³ OF DEBRIS FROM THE STREET.

AND FOR WE HAVE COLLECTED 5091YD³ OF DEBRIS FROM THE STREET.

BUT WE ARE READY TO ASSIST ANYTIME.

THANK YOU, DR. RAHMAN.

GOOD JOB. THANK YOU.

THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER.

[03:40:01]

I APPRECIATE YOU BRINGING THIS ONE UP, BECAUSE OUR STAFF'S YOURS AND OURS AND ALL OF THEM REALLY WORKED THROUGH THE WEEK, NOT ONLY TO PROVIDE COOLING PLACES, BUT TO ADDRESS THE DEBRIS.

THIS WAS AS MUCH DEBRIS AS I'VE SEEN IN IKE AND OTHER OTHER STORMS. IT WAS QUITE SIGNIFICANT.

BUT THE OTHER THING THAT THAT HAPPENED IN THIS ONE I'VE NOT SEEN BEFORE, CENTERPOINT MOBILIZED MOBILE GENERATION STATIONS AND THEY THEY GOT 2 OR 3 NEIGHBORHOODS UP.

THESE MOBILE UNITS WILL GET SIX, 700 HOMES BACK ON LINE IMMEDIATELY.

SO THAT WAS IMPRESSIVE.

I'M GLAD TO SEE THAT THEY HAVE THOSE SORTS OF THINGS TO HELP US IN TIMES LIKE THIS.

RIGHT. THANK YOU.

MOTION BY COMMISSIONER ELLIS.

ANY OPPOSED MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY.

ALL IN FAVOR? AYE, AYE.

MOVING ON TO ITEM 147, COMMISSIONER RAMSEY, THIS ONE YOU FLAGGED.

YEAH. THIS DEALS WITH THE, UM.

UH. UH, ERNST AND YOUNG.

IT SEEMS VAGUE.

THE SCOPE SEEMS VAGUE.

UH, NO. THIS WAS AN ON CALL CONTRACT.

BUT IT DOES SEEM VAGUE, AND WE JUST NEED TO VOTE.

SECOND MOTION BY COMMISSIONER ELLIS.

ALL IN FAVOR? SO A POST.

NO. I'M IN FAVOR.

NUISANCE ABATEMENT ALSO FLAGGED BY COMMISSIONER RAMSEY.

NEXT IS 148.

UH, THIS IS THE TRANSFER OF THREE POSITIONS, I THINK, FROM A SPECIAL REVENUE FUND.

AND THE WHAT I UNDERSTAND THAT WAS, UH, REVENUES BASED ON FEES AND ASSOCIATED WITH THE PROGRAM.

UM, UH.

I THINK THERE'S THERE'S SOME OF THIS MONEY GOING TO HAVE TO COME OUT OF GENERAL FUND.

I GUESS THAT WOULD BE MY CONCERN AT THIS POINT.

UM, KIND OF A GENERAL A I DON'T KNOW WHAT KIND OF BUDGET ADJUSTMENT WE'LL HAVE TO MAKE, BUT I THINK WE JUST NEED TO VOTE.

SO, JUDGE, IF I MIGHT.

YES. DIRECTOR SO, COMMISSIONER, TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTION, THIS IS BUDGET NEUTRAL.

CURRENTLY, THERE'S, I BELIEVE, FIVE STAFF THAT ARE SPLIT.

THEIR COSTS ARE SPLIT BETWEEN THE GRANT AND THE GENERAL FUND.

WHAT THEY'VE DONE IS IS JUST REALIGN THEM SO THAT THREE ARE FULLY IN THE GENERAL FUND, TWO ARE FULLY IN THE GRANT OR VICE VERSA.

BUT IT'S JUST MAKING SURE IT'S SIMPLIFYING THE THE ACCOUNTING FOR THOSE POSITIONS.

SO WILL IT BE FUNDED WITH THE WITH THESE FEES GOING FORWARD? IT'S SOME OF THE POSITIONS ARE FUNDED THROUGH THE FEES, BUT THE FEES DO NOT COVER THE FULL COST OF THE SERVICE.

SO THEY ARE BUDGETED FOR GENERAL FUNDS FOR THIS FUNCTION.

BUT YOU'RE SAYING THAT WAS BUDGETED? CORRECT. IT'S BUDGET.

THIS MOVE IS BUDGET NEUTRAL.

WELL, THEN I'LL SUPPORT IT.

TO MOVE MOTION BY COMMISSIONER ELLIS, SECOND BY COMMISSIONER GARCIA.

AND THAT'S 148.

CORRECT? ALL IN FAVOR? AYE, AYE.

ANY OPPOSED? I'M IN FAVOR.

149. IS A RECLASSIFICATION.

YES, GO AHEAD. AND AGAIN, THESE ARE GRANT GRANT FUNDS.

DIRECTOR, IS IS ARE WE MOVING THESE TO THE GENERAL FUND? THESE ARE VERY SIMILAR.

IT'S JUST A CLEAN UP OF WHERE THESE POSITIONS ARE BEING.

UM, THERE ARE SOME THERE ARE SOME PROGRAMS WITHIN PUBLIC HEALTH WHERE THERE'S A MIX OF FOLKS THAT ARE GENERAL FUND AND A MIX OF FOLKS THAT ARE GRANT FUNDED.

THIS IS JUST THE CLEANUP.

IT'S BUT THIS IS ALSO BUDGET NEUTRAL.

YOU WANT TO MOVE IT, COMMISSIONER? NO. MOVE IT. OKAY.

SECOND. YES, COMMISSIONER GARCIA.

UH, THANK. THANK YOU, JUDGE.

UH, COMMISSIONER RAMSEY, I JUST WANT TO ALSO POINT OUT THAT THESE POSITIONS, AS I UNDERSTAND, WILL BE MOVED TO HELP WORK ON THE LATINO CHRONIC DISEASE COHORT.

THAT. THAT ACCURATE? THAT'S CORRECT. AND, UH, AND THIS IS A INITIATIVE THAT I HAVE BEEN VERY, VERY ANXIOUS TO SEE.

AND, UH, AND SO I'M GLAD THAT IT'S, IT'S FINALLY HERE AT THE TABLE AND LOOKING FORWARD TO SEEING THIS ROLL OUT.

SO I WOULD ADVOCATE FOR YOUR YOU WANT TO MOVE IT? I WANT TO MOVE. MOVE IT. SECOND.

SO I WANT TO ADVOCATE FOR YOUR SUPPORT ON THIS.

COMMISSIONER RAMSEY UH, BECAUSE IN PRECINCT TWO, WE HAVE THE HIGHEST MORTALITY RATE.

WE HAVE THE HIGHEST, UH, HEALTH CARE DESERTS.

WE HAVE THE HIGHEST HEALTHY FOOD DESERTS, UH, HAVE HIGHEST NUMBER OF CHILDREN AND FAMILIES WITHOUT HEALTH INSURANCE.

SO I NEED ALL THE HELP POSSIBLE, UH, TO IMPACT THOSE, THOSE CRITICAL AREAS.

[03:45:05]

SO I WOULD ADVOCATE FOR YOUR SUPPORT ON THIS ITEM.

BUT I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO HEAR FROM THE DIRECTOR ON HOW ARE WE GOING TO THIS IS ARPA FUNDED.

I'M GLAD WE'RE USING SOME OF THE MONEY FOR THIS, BUT.

GIVEN WHAT ALWAYS LAY OUT.

I ALWAYS TALK ABOUT THOSE ISSUES.

HIGHEST RATES OF CANCER.

UM, HIGHEST, UH, UH, CHRONIC DISEASE.

UM, UH, ISSUES.

UH, THIS IS GOOD THAT WE WILL BE WORKING TO GET FOLKS TO THEIR PRIMARY PRIMARY CARE PHYSICIAN TO FOLLOW UP ON, ON HEALTH CARE VISITS.

BUT, UM, I JUST, I'M HOPING THAT THERE IS GOING TO BE A FOLLOW UP TO THIS BECAUSE THIS IS A GOOD FIRST START, BUT WHAT ELSE CAN WE BE DOING? WHAT? WHAT DO YOU SEE BEING THE NEXT EVOLUTION OF THIS? THAT IS NOT GOING TO BE THE STATUS QUO TO WHAT WE'VE ALWAYS DONE.

A GOOD AFTERNOON.

COUNTY JUDGE COMMISSIONERS COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR ANITA COLLINS, CHIEF OF STAFF HERE AT HARRIS COUNTY PUBLIC HEALTH DIRECTOR ROBINSON IS OUT.

I'M COVERING IN HER ABSENCE.

ONCE WE HAVE THESE POSITIONS APPROVED, WE WILL START RECRUITMENT.

JUST AS YOU KNOW FROM A PREVIOUS COURT, WE DID PASS THROUGH ARPA FUNDING FOR CHRONIC DISEASE EXPANSION.

OUR ACCESS COHORT WILL FOCUS ON LATINO POPULATION AND THIS WILL WORK WITH THAT EXPANSION OF OUR CURRENT CHRONIC DISEASE PROGRAMING.

BUT EXPANDING ON THAT WITH THE FOCUS ON THE LATINO COHORT, AS PREVIOUSLY STATED, ONCE WE'RE ABLE TO GET THESE POSITIONS APPROVED, WE WILL START RECRUITMENT.

AND AS WE LAUNCH THE PROGRAM, WE WILL PROVIDE UPDATES, PARTNERING WITH THE PRECINCTS, HOW WE TARGET THOSE AREAS THAT ARE MOST IN NEED USING OUR DATA DRIVEN APPROACH.

UH, AND THANK YOU FOR THAT.

BUT WHAT IS THE NEXT, WHAT DO YOU, WHAT'S THE VISION OF THE FUTURE OF THIS WORK AND HOW DO WE EXPAND IT? PROGRAMING THAT WE CURRENTLY HAVE, YOU KNOW, EXTENDING OUR REACH.

WE HAVE BEEN LIMITED WITH THE RESOURCES THAT WE HAVE AND HOW WE DO THAT.

AGAIN, USING OUR DATA DRIVEN APPROACH AND TARGETING THE AREA.

AS YOU STATED, PRECINCT TWO HAS ONE OF THE HIGHEST MORBIDITY MORTALITY RATES FOR LATINO POPULATIONS.

SO DOING SOME TARGETING IN THAT AREA, WORKING WITH THAT POPULATION AND HOW WE CAN PROVIDE PRIMARY CARE, WHETHER IT'S CONTRACTING WITH FQHCS, BUILDING ON OUR PARTNERSHIPS WITH HARRIS HEALTH SYSTEM AND THAT WE CAN BRING THAT ACCESS TO THE COMMUNITY SO THAT WE CAN IMPROVE THE HEALTH AND OUTCOMES OF OF THAT POPULATION.

THANK YOU. I'LL MOVE ON TO THE ITEM IF YOU WANT A SECOND.

COMMISSIONER RAMSEY. A SECOND.

MOTION BY COMMISSIONER GARCIA.

SECOND BY COMMISSIONER RAMSEY.

ANY OPPOSED MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY.

THAT'S WONDERFUL. COMMISSIONER GARCIA.

I'M EXCITED TO SEE THE PROGRAM AS WELL.

ITEM 159 AND WE ALL WANT TO DISCUSS THIS ONE.

THIS IS THE BUYOUT ITEM.

UM, SO ADMINISTRATOR THAT YOU OR DIRECTOR COSTAS.

DIRECTOR GO AHEAD.

YES, HI.

I AM HERE AND I DID PRESENT SOME INFORMATION HERE.

YES, THANK YOU.

UM, SO TO GIVE YOU A LITTLE UPDATE ON OUR BUYOUT PROGRAM, LET ME GO ON TO THE NEXT SLIDE.

WE ARE ON THE LAST TWO BIG SITES.

SO OUT OF THE FIVE SITES, MOST ALL THE ACQUISITIONS HAVE BEEN COMPLETED.

ON THE TOP THREE RELOCATIONS HAVE BEEN MOSTLY COMPLETED.

FATIMA VILLAGE HAS A FEW RELOCATIONS.

AND WHEN I SAY RELOCATION, IT IS THE HOUSEHOLDS ACTUALLY BEING ABLE TO MOVE AWAY FROM THAT LOCATION TO THEIR NEXT HOME.

SO ROSEWOOD AND GREENS ROAD ARE THE FINAL TWO THAT WE ARE WORKING ON.

AND GREENS ROAD HAS BEEN THE LAST HOLDOUT IN A LARGE PROPERTY WITH OVER 200 HOUSEHOLDS THERE.

AND THE EMINENT DOMAIN PROCESS FINALLY CONCLUDED AT THE BEGINNING OF MAY.

AND SO WE WERE FINALLY ABLE TO ACTUALLY GO INTO THAT SITE BECAUSE PRIOR TO THAT, THE OWNER OF THE PROPERTY DID NOT HAD AN INJUNCTION ACTUALLY AGAINST US FROM BEING ABLE TO GET ON SITE AND INTERRUPT HIS RENTAL INCOME.

NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE.

SO YOU'VE SEEN AND HEARD FROM MANY OF THE RESIDENTS WHO HAVE COME TO EXPRESS THEIR CONCERNS AND DISCONTENT WITH THE PROCESS. SO WE'VE DONE MULTIPLE THINGS TO TRY TO CHANGE THAT DYNAMIC.

FIRST, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE'VE DONE IS TO ACTUALLY HAVE RELOCATION OFFICES PRESENT ON SITE SO THAT THE RESIDENTS CAN HAVE EASY ACCESS

[03:50:09]

TO PEOPLE, TO THE THIS RELOCATION SPECIALIST, THE CASE MANAGERS, TO CLARIFY EXACTLY WHERE THEY ARE IN THEIR PROCESS AND TO TRY TO MOVE THINGS ALONG. CASE MANAGEMENT SERVICES.

WE'VE EXPANDED THAT BEYOND THE INITIAL CONTRACTED SERVICES.

YOU MET CSD'S OWN TEAM THIS MORNING THAT WE INITIATED THIS LAST MONTH.

PRIOR TO THAT, WE HAD THE SUPPLEMENTAL CASE MANAGEMENT TEAM STAFF MEMBERS FROM OUR PRECINCT OFFICES AND THE JUDGES OFFICES WHO HAVE VOLUNTEERED THEIR TIME AND EFFORT TO PROVIDE DIFFERENT VOICES, DIFFERENT WAYS TO LOOK AT THE SITUATIONS AND TO HELP PEOPLE, THE RESIDENTS OF THESE SITUATIONS TRY TO MOVE THEIR PROCESS ALONG.

WE'VE ALSO ARE CAPITALIZING ON OUR SINGLE FAMILY NEW CONSTRUCTION PROGRAM SO THAT OUR BUYOUT CANDIDATES ARE THE ONES WHO ARE FIRST IN LINE TO BE ABLE TO BENEFIT FROM THE HOMES THAT WE ARE BUILDING OR BUYING AND THEY CAN ACCESS.

SO FINALLY, WE HAVE THE SAFE PROGRAM, WHICH IS THE MAIN TOPIC OF OUR REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL TODAY.

THE BENEFITS TO PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN INELIGIBLE BASED ON FEDERAL GUIDELINES THAT THE COMMISSIONERS THE COURT APPROVED TWO YEARS AGO HAS BEEN SMALL.

AND AND THE RESIDENTS WHO NEED THESE SAFE PROGRAM BENEFITS HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO BUY OR RENT HOMES THAT ARE COMPARABLE.

AND THAT'S BEEN THE MAIN LIMITING FACTOR FOR THEM.

NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE. OKAY? YES. COMMISSIONER ELLIS, I WANT TO THANK YOU, DIRECTOR COSTAS, FOR THE WORK THAT YOU'VE PUT INTO THIS.

AND I KNOW IT HAS NOT BEEN EASY.

AS I STATED EARLIER, THIS IS THE FIRST MANDATORY BUYOUT PROGRAM IN THE COUNTRY.

AND I THINK WE OUGHT TO DO AS MUCH AS WE CAN TO TRY TO HELP THESE FAMILIES.

THEY'VE SPOKEN MANY TIMES.

I SENT A MOTION AROUND ESSENTIALLY WHAT THE MOTION DOES.

IT SAYS I MOVED TO INCREASE THE ALLOCATION FOR SAFE BENEFITS.

THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER, FOR SAFE BENEFITS BY $7,706,250.

UM, COMMISSIONER, SHOULD WE LET HER FINISH THE PRESENTATION? OH, DID YOU. HOW DID YOU.

I KNOW WHERE WE'RE HEADED. BUT YEAH, WE HAVE ONE MORE SLIDE AND YOU'LL GET TO THE FINANCIALS OR I'LL GET TO THE FINANCIALS THAT PEOPLE YOU CAN ALL SEE AND I BELIEVE YOU HAVE IT. SO YOU CAN GO ON TO THE NEXT SLIDE.

TIFFANY. ACTUALLY, LET'S GO AHEAD AND SKIP TO THE NEXT ONE, TOO.

SO, YES, TO GET TO THE NUTS AND BOLTS OF THE CIRCUMSTANCES WE'RE TALKING ABOUT NOW, SAFE PARTICIPANTS ARE PEOPLE WHO ARE INELIGIBLE BECAUSE THEY DO NOT HAVE A DEPENDENT OR A PERSON IN THEIR HOUSEHOLD WHO IS ELIGIBLE BASED ON THEIR STATUS.

SO WE BASED ON WHO HAS ALREADY GONE THROUGH THE PROCESS, BEEN ASSESSED OR EVEN HAVE RELOCATED, AND PEOPLE THAT WE ARE NOW IN IN GAUGING AT GREENS ROAD AND WHOM WE STILL EXPECT TO ENGAGE, WE PROJECT THAT THERE ARE 83 TOTAL HOUSEHOLDS THAT NEED SAFE SUPPORT.

SO GREENS ROAD, AS I MENTIONED, IS OUR LAST ONE.

WE HAVE 247 CASES OR HOUSEHOLDS IN GREENS ROAD AREA OF THAT NUMBER, 186 HAVE BEEN ENGAGED AND OF THE 186, WE KNOW THAT 29 NEED THE SAFE BENEFIT.

SIX ONE ADDITIONAL HOUSEHOLDS WE HAVE NOT YET ENABLED TO TALK TO.

AND OF THOSE WE ANTICIPATE ARE PROJECTING THAT MAYBE 20 OF THEM WILL NEED IT.

SO AGAIN, BACK TO THE TOTAL NUMBERS, 83 OF THE 8325 ACTUALLY OWN THEIR MOBILE HOME UNITS OR WE EXPECT THAT THAT'S THE CASE AND 58 OF THEM ARE RENTERS.

SO TYPICALLY IF YOU GO ON TO THE NEXT SLIDE.

I AM PRESENTING.

TWO OPTIONS INITIALLY WAS, AS I MET WITH THE PRECINCT STAFF, I HAD RECOMMENDED A HOME FOR A HOME CONCEPT BECAUSE WHOM WE'RE TALKING ABOUT NOW ARE PEOPLE WHO ARE LIVING IN MOBILE HOMES AND SO LOOKED FOR UM, OPPORTUNITIES OUT IN THE COMMUNITY WHERE PEOPLE COULD IN A REASONABLE REGION AREA THERE, UM, OBTAIN A MOBILE HOME. SO FOR $130,000 THEY CAN FIND ONE.

[03:55:02]

THERE'S ONLY TWO UNFORTUNATELY, THAT I WAS ABLE TO FIND IN ZILLOW.

SO THEY'RE NOT AS AVAILABLE AS WE WOULD LIKE.

NEXT SLIDE. SO THEY COULD ALSO PURCHASE HOMES AND THEN FIND A LOT FOR THEM TO BE PLACED ON.

SO THESE PRICES RANGE FROM 65,000 TO THE 122 OR REALLY HIGHER, $130,000 OR MORE FOR A THREE BEDROOM, TWO BATH HOME. IT JUST DEPENDS ON THE AMENITIES.

NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE.

SO HERE'S THE BASIC MATH OF WHAT WE INITIALLY ALLOWED OR WERE ABLE TO ALLOCATE WAS FROM THE $1.5 MILLION WE ESTIMATED THAT WE COULD PROVIDE HOME HOMEOWNERS WITH 31,000 AND RENTERS WITH 10,000. AND THE CHALLENGE IS THEY CANNOT FIND ANYTHING THAT IS WOULD ALLOW THEM TO BUY A HOME.

FIRST OF ALL, EVEN A MOBILE HOME AND OR TO RENT.

SO RECENTLY, IN LATE APRIL OR EARLY MAY, WE INCREASED THE AMOUNTS.

AND SO THAT'S WHAT YOU SEE OVER HERE.

WE DOUBLED THE AMOUNT FOR HOME OWNERS FROM 31 TO 60,000, AND RENTAL ASSISTANCE INCREASED IT FROM 10 TO 36,000.

ADDED THE RELOCATION INCENTIVE AS AN OPTION BECAUSE THAT IS SOMETHING THAT IS AVAILABLE THROUGH OUR TRADITIONAL PROGRAM.

AND STILL THEY EXPRESSED CONCERN THAT THEY CANNOT MEET THE MARKET PRICES.

SO WE GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE AND THIS IS WHERE WE ARE LOOKING AT OUR TWO OPTIONS.

SO MY FIRST PROPOSAL TO THE DEPARTMENT ARE TO BRING IT UP TO THE 110,000 TO REPLACE THE HOME, PLUS A RELOCATION INCENTIVE TO BRING IT TO ABOUT $130,000 PER HOMEOWNER RENTAL ASSISTANCE, INCREASING IT TO 46,200.

SO ON A TRADITIONAL FEDERAL BASIS, THEY ALLOW UP TO 42 MONTHS OF RENT SUBSIDY.

THE SUBSIDY IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN WHAT THEY'RE PAYING NOW AND WHAT THE MARKET WOULD WOULD CHARGE.

SO WHAT COMMISSIONER ELLIS IS LOOKING AT PROPOSING IS TO MATCH THE FEDERAL LEVEL, WHICH IS IN THE OPTION TO SIGN.

SO WHAT WE ARE FINDING NOW IS THAT AVERAGE REPLACEMENT HOME VALUE AND AGAIN, HERE IS THE DIFFERENCE IS $210,000 PER HOME WITH THE RELOCATION INCENTIVE OF ALMOST 20,000 AND THEN RENTAL ASSISTANCE, THAT COULD GO UP TO 60,000. AND AGAIN, THAT'S FOR 42 MONTHS OF RENT.

SO THE NEED IS 7.7 ON TOP OF THE 1.5 THAT YOU APPROVED US BACK TWO YEARS AGO FOR THE FEDERAL MATCH PARODY.

OR IF WE CHOOSE THE OPTION OF A MOBILE HOME UNIT, EQUAL REPLACEMENT, AND THEN INCREASING THE RENT AND WE WOULD NEED AN ADDITIONAL 4.4 MILLION.

AND THAT IS MY CONCLUSION.

UH, JUDGE? YES, COMMISSIONER GARCIA.

UH, THANK YOU. UM.

UH, MISS COSTAS, I JUST WANT TO THANK YOU, UH, TRULY FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY HEART FOR YOUR WORK ON THIS.

AND, UM.

YOU KNOW THE ANSWERS TO A LOT OF COMPLICATED QUESTIONS DON'T COME VERY EASY.

BUT I WANT TO THANK YOU AND YOUR TEAM FOR WORKING ON THIS AND BEING INNOVATIVE AND CREATIVE TO GET TO THIS SOLUTION. NO DOUBT, NO DOUBT THAT YOUR DADDY IS VERY, VERY PROUD OF YOUR WORK.

AND SO I JUST WANT TO TELL YOU.

THANK YOU. I'M GOING TO SECOND THIS MOTION.

I WANT TO THANK COMMISSIONER ELLIS AND HIS TEAM FOR WORKING WITH YOU ON THIS.

AND AND JUST KNOW THAT IF IF WE HAD GOTTEN THE INFORMATION, WE'D HAVE MADE THE MOTION.

BUT I'M PROUD TO SEE IT ON THE AGENDA JUST THE SAME.

COMMISSIONER GARCIA I'VE BEEN PROUD TO SECOND IT.

AS I STATED, BEING AT HOME WAS REALLY ATTENTIVE WHEN I WENT THROUGH MY BRIEFING.

BUT AS YOU DID DO A GOOD JOB AND I THINK I READ THE MOTION, EVEN READ IT AGAIN.

YOU HAVE IT.

I DO NOT HAVE THE MOTION MISSIONARY.

COMPLETE MOTION IS TO MOVE TO INCREASE THE ALLOCATION FOR SAFE BENEFITS BY $7,706,250 TO ACHIEVE PARITY WITH FEDERAL FUNDING LEVELS.

THAT'S THE MOTION. AND COMMISSIONER GARCIA.

I WANT TO STRESS THAT IN MY JUDGMENT, IMMIGRATION STATUS SHOULD HAVE NO BEARING ON ONE'S ABILITY TO RECOVER FROM A CLIMATE DISASTER OR TO LIVE IN A HEALTHY

[04:00:03]

HOME WITH LESS VULNERABLE FLOODING.

I DO WANT TO SAY, MR. RAMOS, I THINK YOU DID A GOOD JOB.

AND I KNOW THAT I WAS PROBABLY A LITTLE AGGRESSIVE BECAUSE I WAS GOING STIR CRAZY.

BUT BEING AT HOME ON THAT ZOOM WITH YOU ALL BRIEFED ME.

BUT I THINK I HAD MY STAFF PULL A TOWEL.

SORRY I CUT YOU OFF. I CAN'T SEE WITH THE GLASSES ON BECAUSE THEY FOG UP AND I CAN'T SEE WHEN I TAKE THEM OFF BECAUSE MY VISION IS NOT THAT GOOD. UH, BUT IF MY VISION IS IS RIGHT ON THIS ONE, I JUST RAN THROUGH SOME OF THE ITEMS WHERE WE ADDED TO OUR BUDGET FROM, I THINK THE GENERAL FUND, AND I WANT TO RUN THROUGH THEM.

UH, WE ALLOCATE ADDITIONAL BUDGET FOR REQUIRED DETENTION COSTS.

IT WAS IMPORTANT.

$20 MILLION, SIX NEW DISTRICT COURTS, 17,256,000.

A DISTRICT COURTS INCREASE, A COURT APPOINTED ATTORNEY FEES $10 MILLION MARCH ELECTION FOR DEM FOR DEMOCRATS AND REPUBLICANS.

7.8 MILLION 44 POSITIONS FOR DELINQUENT PROPERTY TAX ELECTION 6.5 MILLION BODY-WORN CAMERAS 5 MILLION PURCHASE OF ACCESS TO THEM FOR IN-HOUSE COLLECTIONS.

4 MILLION COUNTY COURTS INCREASE COURT APPOINTED ATTORNEY FEES.

4 MILLION BODY-WORN CAMERAS 3.1 MILLION.

AND THE LIST GOES ON. AND THERE ARE PLENTY OF OTHERS.

AND I JUST DIDN'T WANT TO BE IN A POSITION WHERE THESE FOLKS WHO ARE ESSENTIAL WORKERS, YOU KNOW, HE SAID THEY CATCH THE EARLY BUS.

WE DON'T SEE THEM. THEY ALMOST INVISIBLE BECAUSE THEY GET UP SO EARLY TO GO TO WORK.

SO AS COMMISSIONER GARCIA SAID, I KNOW YOUR PARENTS WOULD BE PROUD.

SO I'M PLEASED TO MAKE THAT MOTION AT THIS TIME.

DIRECTOR COSTAS, LET ME JUST ECHO THE COMMENTS.

WELL DONE.

I MEAN, ANYONE THAT'S SAT IN THAT COURTROOM FOR THE LAST SEVERAL MONTHS AND LISTENED TO THE HEARTBREAKING STORIES OF WHAT'S HAPPENING BECAUSE OF THIS PROGRAM.

THIS IS ONLY RIGHT THIS IS AN ISSUE THAT WE CREATED WHEN WE TOOK THOSE HOMES.

IT'S ONLY RIGHT THAT WE TAKE THIS STEP AND MAKE IT RIGHT.

SO I'LL FULLY SUPPORT THIS.

AND THANK YOU FOR LEADING US TO A GREAT SOLUTION.

YES. DIRECTOR COSTAS, THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP.

AND I AGREE THIS IS THE JUST THING TO DO AND I AM ENTHUSIASTICALLY IN SUPPORT.

SO COMMISSIONER GARCIA MADE THE MOTION.

COMMISSIONER ELLIS HAD THE SECOND.

I THINK IT'S THE OTHER WAY. THE OTHER WAY.

WE STARTED TO LOOK ALIKE. YEAH, RIGHT, RIGHT.

COMMISSIONER ELLIS MADE THE MOTION BY THE HAIR.

COMMISSIONER GARCIA HAD THE SECOND.

ALL RIGHT. ALL IN FAVOR? AYE, AYE. ANY OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY.

I WANT TO SAY SOMETHING FOR THE ORGANIZERS THAT HAVE BEEN RAISING OUR AWARENESS OF THIS PROBLEM IS I'M VERY SORRY THAT THAT YOU GUYS HAVE GONE THROUGH SO MUCH HEARTACHE IN IN HELPING US FIX THIS PROBLEM IS CERTAINLY, YOU KNOW, IT WAS A PROBLEM OF OUR OWN MAKING, CERTAINLY NOT INTENTIONAL. AND I THINK, UM, FLOODING IS A TICKING TIME BOMB IN OUR COMMUNITY AND AND HOPEFULLY WE CAN FIGURE OUT HOW TO DO THESE BUYOUTS AND HOPEFULLY NOW WITH DIRECTOR COSTAS'S LEADERSHIP AND I KNOW MY COLLEAGUES WORKED VERY, VERY HARD ON THIS, WE HAVE A MODEL FOR HOW TO DO THIS SUCCESSFULLY. UM, BUT, YOU KNOW, IT'S SO CRUCIAL THAT THAT WE BE ABLE TO BUY THESE HOMES BACK.

I ALSO DO WANT TO SAY A WORD ABOUT WHAT A BIG DECISION IT IS BECAUSE IT TAKES FUNDS FROM THE RESERVES.

AND AND SO I WANT TO BE VERY CLEAR.

THE WAY WE'RE PAYING FOR THIS $7 MILLION IS WE'RE TAKING SOME MONEY FROM RESERVES AND IT'S A BIG DEAL.

I MEAN, THE RESERVES ARE THERE FOR EMERGENCIES, AND THIS ISN'T SOMETHING WE CAN GET IN THE HABIT OF DOING.

BUT WE HAVE PUT THIS COMMUNITY IN AN EMERGENCY SITUATION BY FORCING THEM TO MOVE OUT.

SO, UM, I THINK IT'S THE BEST WAY WE CAN HELP THEM GET OUT OF THE SITUATION WE PUT THEM IN IN THE FIRST PLACE.

UH, IT AS IT IS DESIGNED NOW, UM, I TRUST THAT IT WILL BE A GOOD PROGRAM AND AN IMPORTANT PROGRAM AND A NECESSARY PROGRAM GIVEN WHERE WE ARE. AND OF COURSE, HAND IN HAND WITH OUR INVESTMENTS IN AFFORDABLE HOUSING.

SO THANK YOU, DIRECTOR COSTAS.

AND TO EVERYONE WHO'S WORKED SO HARD AND TO THE COMMUNITY FOR YOUR PATIENCE, WE REALLY WE GOT THROUGH THIS AS AS EFFICIENTLY AS WE COULD.

JUDGE, I KNOW THERE WERE SOME CONCERNS WHEN I WAS FIRST BRIEFED ON IT, ABOUT IT SETTING A PRECEDENT.

AND, UM, I THINK IT PROBABLY OUGHT TO SET A PRECEDENT IF WE'RE GOING TO DO A MANDATORY BUYOUT PROGRAM.

AND I'M JUST WONDERING, DIRECTOR ACOSTA, YOU WEREN'T HERE, BUT.

AND IF IT'S IN A RECORD SOMEWHERE.

I MEAN, WHEN WE DECIDED TO TAKE THIS AND DO THE FIRST IF MY NOTES ARE RIGHT, FIRST MANDATORY PROGRAM IN THE COUNTRY.

[04:05:04]

WELL, WE TOLD THIS SITUATION, I DON'T WANT TO ASK WHAT WERE WE THINKING? BUT YEAH, I DON'T KNOW.

HOW DID WE GET TO WHERE WE YOU KNOW, IF I'D KNOWN, THEN I COULD HAVE MADE IT REAL EASY.

I'D HAVE SET THE PRECEDENT. I THINK MOST OF US WOULD HAVE SET THE PRECEDENT THEN, IF IT'S GOING TO BE A MANDATORY BATTLE, IF WE WERE GOING TO DO A MANDATORY BUYOUT.

BUT YOU DON'T KNOW. NO.

THINK BECAUSE IT IS SUCH AN UNUSUAL CIRCUMSTANCE, A NEW PROGRAM AND WE, WE KNOW, KNEW NOT WHO WERE LIVING THERE AND WHO IT WOULD ULTIMATELY AFFECT.

SO THINK DURING DISCOVERY, IT DID COME OUT.

AND THAT'S WHY THE SAVE PROGRAM WAS INITIATED RELATIVELY EARLY AS A STOPGAP.

BUT WE LEARNED THAT IT WASN'T ENOUGH.

SO, YES, IT'S A LOT OF HARD LESSONS.

BUT BUT LOOK, THANK YOU AND YOUR STAFF ALSO APPRECIATE MY STAFF, UM, ZOE AND JENNY AND ALL OF MY FOLKS.

COMMISSIONER GARCIA, YOU INHERITED THE FOLKS THAT YOU HAVE FROM ME, BUT THEY WERE COMING HERE FOR A VERY LONG TIME.

AND EVEN WHEN YOU AND OTHERS DIDN'T REPRESENT THEM, I THINK YOU COULD FEEL THAT PAIN.

YEAH, I MEAN, LOOK, I, I, I WAS DEALING WITH IT.

IT IN THE ALDINE AREA THAT WAS IN PRECINCT TWO AS WELL.

I DEALT WITH IT WHEN I WAS ON CITY COUNCIL.

AND SO I'M JUST GLAD THAT WE FINALLY HAVE SOME CREATIVE TALENT HERE AND SETTING AN EXAMPLE FOR OTHER COMMUNITIES TO FOLLOW.

AND SO AGAIN, MISS COSTAS, I CAN'T THANK YOU STRONG ENOUGH, BUT JUST TO SAY I'M VERY, VERY GRATEFUL.

SO I HOPE WE SET A PRECEDENT AND WE OUGHT TO TELL OUR OTHER FRIENDS WHO ARE GOING TO DO A MANDATORY BUYOUT.

AND SO WE SET THE BAR HIGH.

AND LET ME JUST SAY THAT THIS IS EQUITY.

YEAH, THIS IS EQUITY.

YEAH. YEAH, THIS IS A TRUE COMMUNITY EFFORT, SO I AM VERY PROUD THAT WE ARE ALL HERE.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU AGAIN.

THE NEXT ITEM IS 173.

AT THIS POINT, I DON'T I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHETHER WE DO NEED THE CORRECTION OR WE DON'T NEED THE CORRECTION.

173 IT'S THE DEPUTIES TEN EXISTING POSITIONS.

I DO WANT TO I DO WANT TO ADD NOT WELL, MAYBE A CORRECTION OR A MODIFICATION.

I THINK A FRIENDLY AMENDMENT WOULD BE APPROPRIATE AND THAT IN THAT AMENDMENT IS SIMPLY THAT IT WILL READ.

UM, LET ME SEE HOW HOW IT'S A 173 173 THAT IT WILL READ.

A REQUEST FOR APPROVAL OF AN AGREEMENT FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT SERVICES WITH C AND P UTILITY DISTRICT USING TEN EXISTING UNFUNDED DEPUTY POSITION.

GOT IT. AND SO IS THAT A MOTION, COMMISSIONER GARCIA? YES, MA'AM. SECOND. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER ELLIS.

DID YOU ALL GET THE MOTION? YES, JUDGE.

IT'S JUST TO BE ADDING THE WORD UNFUNDED DEPUTY.

CORRECT. A MOTION BY COMMISSIONER GARCIA, SECOND BY COMMISSIONER ELLIS.

AYE. ANY OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY.

ONTO 182.

THAT WAS FLAGGED BY PRECINCT FOUR.

YES, THANK YOU.

I PULLED IT FOR TWO REASONS.

THIS IS THE AD VALOREM TRANSITION DISCUSSION.

FIRST, I WANTED TO THANK OUR COUNTY ATTORNEY, MENIFEE, MR. AYERS, MR. FOMBONNE AND YOUR TEAM FOR WORKING SO HARD ON TRANSITIONING THE COLLECTION OF PROPERTY TAXES IN-HOUSE.

AND AS A REMINDER, THIS IS HUGE FOR RELIEF FOR TAXPAYERS HERE IN HARRIS COUNTY.

BY USING THIS THIRD REMOVING THIS THIRD PARTY CONTRACTOR, WE ARE GOING TO BETTER POSITION INDIVIDUALS.

WE ALL REMEMBER THAT AFTER A YEAR, THESE INDIVIDUALS WOULD BE HIT WITH 43% IN PENALTIES AND INTEREST.

SO BY REMOVING THIS THIRD PARTY CONTRACTOR, TRANSITIONING IT IN-HOUSE TO OUR OWN COUNTY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE, THIS IS A WIN FOR TAXPAYERS AND WILL HELP US HOPEFULLY RECOVER THE TAX PAYMENTS SOONER BECAUSE THERE'S MORE OF AN INCENTIVE TO WORK TOGETHER TO MAKE SURE THAT WE CONTINUE FORWARD.

I ALSO FLAGGED THIS BECAUSE.

IT SEEMS TO NEED.

A MOTION FOR APPROVAL FOR THIS TRANSITION AGREEMENT.

AND SO I WANTED TO MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE TRANSITION AGREEMENT BETWEEN HARRIS COUNTY AND LINEBERGER GROGAN, BLAIR AND SAMPSON LLP. SECOND.

SO IT'S AS PRESENTED, COMMISSIONER.

YES. THANK YOU. OKAY.

MOTION BY COMMISSIONER BRIONES.

AYE. ANY OPPOSED?

[04:10:01]

AND THANK YOU TO EVERYONE WHO'S WORKING ON.

YES, THANK YOU. THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER, FOR YOUR KIND WORDS.

YES, THANK YOU.

YEAH, I KNOW.

MR.. ALL Y'ALL DID A GOOD JOB.

I KNOW MR. VON BLOM IS ON VACATION BECAUSE DALLAS PHONE AND TOLD HIM THAT THOSE LETTERS WERE GOING UP ON YOU OUTSIDE YOUR OFFICE OVER TO MR..

I HEAR SAYING JUSTICE FOR ALL.

SO SAID WHAT ALL OF THE THE HEAT AND.

YOU KNOW, HAND WRINGING THAT WENT INTO GETTING THIS DONE.

IT'S A GOOD THING. AND IT'LL MEAN A LOT TO A LOT OF TAXPAYERS.

AND I KNOW IT WAS NOT EASY TO DO, NOR WAS IT EASY FOR MEMBERS OF THE COURT TO VOTE FOR IT.

THANK YOU, JOHN. JOHN, AS YOU SAID, JOHN'S OUT OF TOWN.

JOHN AND HIS HIS FOLKS, UH, MIMI, JOHN AND OUR COMPLIANCE DIVISION REALLY HAVE WORKED INCREDIBLY HARD IN PUTTING THIS TOGETHER.

AND I DO WANT TO ADD THAT THE JOHN BARKER LAW FIRM WAS INCREDIBLY COOPERATIVE AND WE HAD A GREAT, GREAT RELATIONSHIP AND WAS VERY WAS VERY KIND IN THE WAY THEY THEY APPROACHED IT AS WELL.

AND I WANTED TO THANK LINEBERGER, TOO, BECAUSE IN THIS TRANSITION I WAS READING IN THE TAX YEAR 22, THEY'RE NOT CHARGING THEIR NORMAL 15% OF PENALTY THAT THEY WOULD OTHERWISE.

SO I APPRECIATE THEM WORKING IN GOOD FAITH AS WE TRANSITION THIS.

AND THANK YOU AGAIN. IT'S A HUGE DEAL.

AND DO YOU HAVE ANY UPDATE ON THE TIMELINE, JAY, BY ANY CHANCE? UH, WE ARE WE ARE TRANSITIONED.

UM, ONCE THIS AGREEMENT GOES TO JULY 1ST, WE'RE GOING TO BE TRANSITIONED.

SO DELINQUENT TAXES DELINQUENT? YES. YES, MA'AM.

THAT'S. THAT'S OUR HOUSE.

IT'LL BE COLLECTED IN HOUSE.

THAT'S OUR PROCESS. YEAH.

ARE YOU SAYING THE PENALTY NO LONGER WILL BE APPLIED THIS YEAR? YEAH. 3307.

IT'S NOT GOING TO BE APPLIED THIS YEAR.

WELL DONE. UNDER THE LAW, IT COULDN'T BE.

SO UNDER UNDER THE LAW, FOR WHAT IT'S WORTH, YOU KNOW, I REMEMBER WHEN I WAS ON CITY COUNCIL AND HEARD ABOUT IT, I SAID IT WAS THE WORST FORM OF PORK BARREL LEGISLATION I'D EVER SEEN IN MY LIFE BECAUSE UNDER THE TEXAS LAW, YOU ONLY PAY THE UP TO 20% ON TOP OF THE PENALTIES THAT ARE ALREADY IN THE LAW IF YOU CONTRACT WITH AN OUTSIDE LAW FIRM.

SO IT'S AN AWFUL LAW AND I'D BE CHANGED.

MAYBE I'LL TALK TO THE TAX MAN ABOUT THAT.

BY THE WAY. BUT IT'S LATE IN THE DAY LIVING NIGHT.

THIS IS HUGE. BY TAKING OUT A THIRD PARTY CONTRACTOR, WE ARE ARE HELPING THE TAXPAYERS.

AND I ALSO ASKED THE TAX ASSESSOR COLLECTOR, MS..

BENNETT AND HER TEAM TO WORK AS COLLABORATIVELY AS POSSIBLE WITH THE COUNTY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE BECAUSE THE REAL BENEFIT TO TAXPAYERS IS PRE-JULY FIRST.

SO WE REALLY WANT TO DOUBLE DOWN IN HELPING FOLKS IN HARRIS COUNTY AND COLLECTING OUR TAXES SOONER RATHER THAN LATER.

WE REALLY NEED A TRUE PARTNERSHIP AND COLLABORATIVE SPIRIT THERE.

YEAH, COMMISSIONER, I'D BE REMISS IF I DIDN'T DIDN'T ADD THAT THE TAX THE TAX OFFICE, WENDY CAESAR IN PARTICULAR WITH THE COMPANION OR THE ACT CONTRACT WORKED VERY, VERY HARD.

AND WE HAD A WE HAVE A GREAT RELATIONSHIP AND WE'RE EXCITED SORT OF THIS NEW PARTNERSHIP WITH THEM AS WE REPORT TO THE COUNTY.

SO I KNOW PART OF IT IS UNDER THE OLD MODEL.

I DON'T IT'S NOT PERSONAL WHEN I SAY THIS, BUT THERE'S NO INCENTIVE FOR THE FIRM COLLECTING TO HAVE YOU PAY ON TIME BECAUSE THAT WOULD BE NO COMPENSATION FOR THEM IF YOU PAID ON TIME.

SO WHEN THEY MOVED IN HOUSE WITH THE TOLL ROAD, WHICH IS THE MODEL, THEN YOU HAVE TO REMIND PEOPLE, BUG THEM.

LIKE IF I DON'T PAY MY CREDIT CARD BILLS ON TIME, ALTHOUGH THEY THEY DO GET SUBSTANTIAL INTEREST ON IT, THEY CALL YOU AND I KNOW IN OTHER PLACES THEIR SYSTEMS WHERE THEY SEND IT TO YOUR PHONE, THEY TEXT YOU TO TO LET YOU KNOW PAY OR THE PENALTY.

THAT'S ALREADY UNDER STATE LAW.

ISN'T THAT ONE WITH WHAT DO WE GET 1% A MONTH AND AUTOMATIC 20% IF YOU LATE ON MIDNIGHT JANUARY THE 15TH GUESS RIGHT.

IS IT 15% THEN ONE WHATEVER IT IS, 15% THAN 1% PER MONTH CUMULATIVE.

UH, BUT SO OBVIOUSLY YOU ALL GO THROUGH ALL THAT PROCESS.

YOU KNOW, EVERYBODY IS CALLING IN WITH IDEAS.

BUT THE OTHER PLACES IN THE COUNTRY, MOST PLACES IN THE COUNTRY, YEAH, WE'RE GOING TO BE TRYING TO MAKE THIS AS INNOVATIVE AS POSSIBLE.

WE'RE GOING TO TRY TO WE OBVIOUSLY, WE WANT PEOPLE TO PAY AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE, WORK WITH THEM AND MAKE THIS AS EFFICIENT AS POSSIBLE.

THANK YOU ALL. THANK YOU SO MUCH.

AND LET'S MOVE ON TO 291 TO 91.

JUDGE, I'M SORRY, DO WE WAS THERE ANYTHING FOR 185? OH, SORRY ABOUT THAT.

I'M SORRY. SO I WAS LIKE, I'M SORRY.

I JUST WANTED TO VERIFY.

JUST MAKING SURE YOU'RE PAYING ATTENTION.

NO. UM. YEAH.

185. YES, I DISAGREE WITH THE LITIGATION HERE, AND WE JUST NEED TO VOTE.

SO MOVE. SECOND MOTION BY COMMISSIONER RAMSEY.

A MOTION BY COMMISSIONER ELLIS.

ANY OPPOSED? NO, I'M IN FAVOR.

[04:15:01]

MOTION CARRIES 4 TO 1 188.

AND AGAIN, I VOTE ON THIS NEARLY EVERY MEETING.

THE TCU.

THIS IS ANOTHER LETTER.

I LIKE TO SEE A LETTER THAT WE'RE GOING TO SEND, NOT A A GENERAL SUMMARY.

SO I'M I'M I WOULD OPPOSE THIS SIMPLY BECAUSE I'D LIKE TO SEE THE LETTER THAT'S GOING TO BE SENT BEFORE WE SEND IT.

THAT'S MY REASON FOR VOTING NO.

SECOND. MOTION BY COMMISSIONER ELLIS.

ANY OPPOSED? NO. I'M IN FAVOR.

189 COMMISSIONER ELLIS CHESHIRE.

SHORTLY AFTER GEORGE FLOYD'S MURDER IN 2020, HIS COURT BEGAN IMPLEMENTING CRIMINAL JUSTICE REFORMS BUILT ON PRINCIPLES OF ACCOUNTABILITY, EQUAL JUSTICE AND SAFETY FOR ALL.

SO WE'RE NOW NEARLY THREE YEARS LATER AND AWAY FROM THE PROTESTS AND THE GLARE OF THE LIGHTS, BUT WE ALL PUT ITEMS ON THE AGENDA THAT I KNOW WE WERE VERY SERIOUS ABOUT.

I THINK ALL OF THEM PASS UNANIMOUSLY TO CALL FOR THESE STUDIES ON BEST PRACTICES IN 2022.

THAT WAS THE DEADLIEST YEAR ON RECORD FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT KILLINGS.

OBVIOUSLY, I HOPE MOST OF THEM WERE JUSTIFIED.

NATIONWIDE, OVER 1000 PEOPLE IN TEXAS, LAW ENFORCEMENT KILLED, 119 PEOPLE.

NATIONALLY, AFRICAN-AMERICANS MORE THAN 2.3 TIMES AS LIKELY TO BE KILLED BY A POLICE OFFICER AS A WHITE PERSON, ACCORDING TO WASHINGTON POST.

POLICE STUDIES SHOOTINGS DATABASE.

MORE PEOPLE WERE KILLED BY LAW ENFORCEMENT IN HARRIS COUNTY THAN IN MOST LARGE URBAN JURISDICTIONS AROUND THE COUNTRY.

IN RAW NUMBERS IN HARRIS COUNTY, THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE AND HOUSTON POLICE DEPARTMENT SHOT AND KILLED AT LEAST 24 PEOPLE.

BY COMPARISON, IN 2022, THE LA POLICE DEPARTMENT AND LA SHERIFF'S OFFICE SHOT AND KILLED AT LEAST 24.

THEY ARE DOUBLE THE SIZE OF HOUSTON, HARRIS COUNTY, AUSTIN PD AND TRAVIS COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE SHOT AND KILLED AT LEAST SIX PEOPLE. I THINK THAT HARRIS COUNTY MADE A COMMITMENT TO IMPLEMENTING CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM REFORMS IN 2020 BECAUSE WE UNDERSTOOD THAT WHAT HAPPENED TO GEORGE FLOYD HERE OR TYREE NICHOLS JUST THIS YEAR COULD HAPPEN IN ANY STREET IN AMERICA.

AND THE REQUEST WAS FOR A MODEL USE OF FORCE POLICY AND WHAT COULD BE ONE THAT WOULD BOTH ADVANCE COMMUNITY SAFETY, ACCOUNTABILITY, TRANSPARENCY AND JUSTICE.

SO I'D LIKE TO HEAR FROM THE OFFICE OF JUSTICE AND SAFETY ABOUT WHERE WE ARE ON THE MODEL USE OF FORCE POLICY, WHICH IS WHAT WAS REQUESTED IN 2020.

I WOULD ALSO ADD, AS AN ASIDE, I THINK JUDGE ITEM YOU PUT ON THE AGENDA WAS WAS ITEM NUMBER EIGHT.

IT WAS A REQUEST FOR THE HARRIS COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE AND HARRIS COUNTY CONSTABLE PRECINCTS TO SUBMIT MONTHLY REPORTS TO THE JUSTICE ADMINISTRATION DEPARTMENT FOR SHARING WITH COMMISSIONERS, COURT AND PUBLISHING ON A PUBLIC SITE ON OFFICER USES OF FORCE, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO THOSE WHERE A WEAPON WAS DISCHARGED AND ANY RELATED VIDEO FOOTAGE WITH THE DATA IDENTIFYING WHETHER THE OFFICER WAS ON DUTY OR OFF DUTY.

WHAT KIND OF INJURY INJURIES RESULTED? UH, WHETHER THE USE OF FORCE OCCURRED AND THE RACE, ETHNICITY AND GENDER OF THE PERSON ON WHOM THE OFFICER'S FORCE WAS USED.

I HAVE NOT SEEN THAT ON A WEBSITE.

I'VE LOOKED. I DON'T WANT I'D LIKE TO KNOW WHAT CAME OF THAT AS WELL, SINCE WE ARE THREE YEARS LATER.

I THINK MR. PERRY TURNER IS ON.

I SAW A MINUTE AGO. BUT WHILE WHILE MR. TURNER GETS ON THE LINE.

JUDGE, IF I MIGHT, UM.

I WANT TO COMMEND THE SHERIFF GONZALEZ AND THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE FOR THEIR WORK ON THIS USE OF FORCE POLICY. AND I'M GLAD TO SEE THAT THIS POLICY IS REFLECTING THAT THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE POLICY IS THE MODEL POLICY.

AND I WANT TO COMMEND HIM FOR NOT BEING TOLD TO PUT THINGS ON THE INTERNET.

HE WAS ALREADY DOING IT HERE.

HE HAD IT POSTED ALONG WITH SEVERAL OTHER THINGS.

BUT I ALSO WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THERE'S A LOT OF UNSUNG HEROES IN OUR COMMUNITY.

[04:20:09]

UH, THIS, THIS PARTICULAR ITEM, UM, I, I HAD PUT ON THE AGENDA OR ON THE LIST WHEN WE WERE, UH, UH.

YOU KNOW, REACTING TO GEORGE FLOYD'S MURDER.

AND, UM, UH, BUT I.

BUT I. I'D BE REMISS IF WE DIDN'T, UH, ALSO TAKE TIME TO RECOGNIZE THOSE OFFICERS.

YOU COULD DO THE RIGHT THING UNDER DIFFICULT CIRCUMSTANCES, AND WE OFTEN DON'T GET TO HEAR ABOUT THEM.

AND SO, UH, BUT, YOU KNOW, WHEN WE WERE OUT THERE RECOGNIZING JOSE CAMPOS TORRES, UM, AND HIS AND REMEMBERING HIS LIFE, YOU KNOW, I WAS HAPPY TO SPEAK TO OFFICER CARLOS, WHO WAS THE OFFICER WHO WENT TO THE POLICE CHIEF, UH, TO TELL HIM WHAT HE KNEW ABOUT, UH, TORTOISE'S DEATH.

AND SO THERE'S A LOT OF OFFICERS LIKE THAT THAT ARE, UH, GREAT, YOU KNOW, GREAT ROLE MODELS IN THE COMMUNITY DOING GREAT THINGS.

AND AND I APPLAUD THEM BECAUSE IF NOT FOR THEM, WE'D HAVE A LOT MORE PROBLEMS THAN WE HAVE TODAY.

COMMISSIONER. COMMISSIONER GARCIA, LOOK, YOU RAISE A VALID POINT.

AND I ALWAYS STRESS THAT WHEN I RUN THROUGH THE STATISTICS IS NOT TO POINT AN ACCUSATORY FINGER, BUT IT'S TO MAKE THE POINT THAT FOR SO LONG IN THIS CITY, COUNTY AND IN THIS COUNTRY, YOU JUST DIDN'T TALK ABOUT THESE THINGS.

AND WHEN WE PUT THESE ITEMS ON THE AGENDA AFTER WE LEFT GEORGE FLOYD'S FUNERAL AND THEY PASSED UNANIMOUSLY, IT'S BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, HIS DEATH LED TO THE LARGEST. CIVIL.

THIS DEMONSTRATIONS IN THE HISTORY OF THE WORLD STILL A RECORD FOR IT.

UH. AND SO WHEN WHEN WE TALK ABOUT IN EACH THIS IS ONE YOU PUT ON THE AGENDA.

JUDGE PUT ONE ON, I THINK, I DON'T KNOW 4 OR 5 ON.

WE MIGHT HAVE HAD ABOUT TEN ALTOGETHER.

I CAN'T REMEMBER. BUT, YOU KNOW, THREE YEARS LATER, YOU KNOW, WHEN THE FERVOR AND THE CAMERAS HAVE GONE AWAY.

SO WHEN I ASKED, LIKE, WHAT'S THE MOTTO, USE LIKE I READ THE REPORT, BUT I WANT SOME SENSE OF HOW WE COMPARE THAT TO OTHER PEOPLE.

SO AT LEAST WE KNOW BECAUSE AS YOU KNOW, AT LEAST WHEREVER WE SERVE.

IT WAS ON CITY COUNCIL OR AUSTIN HERE.

EVERYBODY AROUND THE COUNTRY SAYS WHATEVER THEY HAVE IS THE MODEL FOR THE COUNTRY.

SOMETIMES WHEN WE GO TO NICOLE, I WONDER HOW MANY COUNTRIES DO WE HAVE? UH, SO AT LEAST WHEN YOU GOT SOME COMPARATIVE PURPOSE, I'M JUST NOT THAT I'M JUST NOT SO CONFIDENT THAT THE WAY I DO IT IS NECESSARILY THE BEST PRACTICE.

IT WOULD JUST BE MY PRACTICE.

SO. AND THE SHERIFFS MAY BE, I DON'T KNOW.

BUT SO PART OF WHAT WE ASKED FOR THREE YEARS AGO.

WAS THE GOLD.

COME UP WITH WHATEVER THE THE BEST PRACTICE IS.

AND WE MAY DISAGREE ON WHAT IT IS, BUT THAT MEANS THAT THERE HAS TO BE SOME COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS.

AND THEN ON THE STAFF PART, I MEAN, I COULD HAVE JUST WORKED IT UP WITH MY POLICY TEAM, BUT THE REASON WE ALL PUT IT ON THE AGENDA WAS SO WE'D HAVE MORE VALIDITY OR GRAVITAS IF WE WERE THOUGHTFUL INSTEAD OF JUST REACTION REACTING WITH A POLICY IDEA.

IN THE EMOTION OF THE MOMENT AFTER SUCH A HORRIFIC.

NO, I ABSOLUTELY GET IT.

I'M SIMPLY GOING FOR THE FACT THAT, UH, SHERIFF GONZALEZ AND HIS TEAM LOOKED TO PERF THE PROFESSIONAL.

OR POLICE EXECUTIVE RESEARCH FORUM.

POLICE EXECUTIVE RESEARCH FORUM.

ICP A PLACE WHERE CHIEF BROWN USED TO GO TO QUITE A BIT FOR BEST PRACTICES AND POLICY ENHANCEMENTS ALONG WITH THE COMMUNITY.

AND SO I JUST APPRECIATE ALL THE WORK THAT HE PUT INTO IT.

MR. PERRY. I THINK HE MUTED.

HE'S HAVING TECHNICAL DIFFICULTIES.

SOME GET UP A LITTLE WHILE AGO.

DO YOU DID YOU HAVE A COMMENT, COMMISSIONER? YES, PLEASE, JUDGE. THANK YOU.

SO I SHARE YOUR SENSE OF URGENCY AND THREE YEARS LATER, WE HAVEN'T MADE ENOUGH PROGRESS.

THAT BEING SAID, SOME PROGRESS HAS BEEN MADE.

SO I KNOW OUR OFFICE OF JUSTICE AND SAFETY IS IN FLUX, AND I HOPE THAT WE'RE ABLE TO REALLY INVEST SO THAT WE CAN MOVE FORWARD MORE EXPEDITIOUSLY AND TRULY BE A MODEL FOR THE COUNTRY.

ONE COUNTRY NOT, YOU KNOW, A HUNDRED COUNTRIES.

THAT BEING SAID, TRAINING IS A BIG OPPORTUNITY.

I KNOW WE'RE THINKING ABOUT IT COUNTYWIDE.

[04:25:02]

WHAT TRAINING? SO USE OF FORCE TRAINING, IMPLICIT BIAS TRAINING, WHAT TRAINING IS DONE AND HOW ARE WE TRACKING THAT FOR OUR OFFICERS AND BEYOND WOULD BE A BIG BECAUSE WE CAN HAVE A POLICY POSTED ONLINE, POSTED IN MULTIPLE LANGUAGES.

WE'RE INCHING TOWARDS WHERE WE NEED TO GO.

BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY IT'S THAT ONGOING TRAINING AND THEN MAKING SURE THAT WE'RE, YOU KNOW, EMPOWERING WITH TRAINING, BUT ALSO HOLDING ACCOUNTABLE.

AND SO IT SEEMS LIKE WE'VE WE NEED MORE ATTENTION AND FOCUS.

AND I LOOK FORWARD IF WE CAN HEAR FROM PERRY.

BUT I KNOW THAT MISS COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR RAMIREZ HAS BEEN FOCUSED A LOT ON OGS AND KIND OF THE GAPS WE CURRENTLY HAVE AND HOW WE'RE GOING TO RECTIFY THAT.

CAN I CAN OH, WELL, KNOW IF YOU GUYS COULD TEXT ME HIS PHONE NUMBER.

I SOMEHOW GOT CORRUPTED AND I MISSED AND ADMINISTRATOR IS CAN YOU UPDATE US? I KNOW THAT WE HAVE HAD SOME CHALLENGES AND WITH STAFFING ETCETERA AND WHERE WE ARE AND WHERE WE'RE GOING AND WHEN WITH DO YOU MEAN WITH OR DO YOU MEAN AND THEN HOW THIS PLAYS INTO THE USE OF FORCE.

SO WITH. IS IT OKAY FOR ME TO TALK ABOUT STUFFING? YEAH, THAT'S FINE. OKAY.

AT A BROAD LEVEL, YES, IT'S OKAY.

RIGHT. AND SO THIS IS ONE OF THE OFFICES THAT WE'RE LOOKING AT AS WELL.

HARRY, ARE YOU THERE? NO, NO, NO. YEAH.

GO, GO. SORRY.

JUST MAKING SURE. UM, SO THEY'RE ONE OF THE OFFICES THAT WE ARE LOOKING AT AS FAR AS WITH WITH THE RESTRUCTURING THAT'S GOING TO COME BACK IN, IN JULY.

I'VE BEEN MET WITH THEIR STAFF A COUPLE OF TIMES AND THE SENIOR MANAGERS.

UM, YOU KNOW, THEY'VE, THEY'VE BEEN LIMPING ALONG.

THEY HAD A COUPLE OF INTERIM DIRECTORS AND NOW THEY DON'T HAVE A DIRECTOR RIGHT NOW.

SO WE'RE TRYING TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO, HOW TO GET THEM THE SUPPORT THEY NEED SO THAT THEY CAN ACTUALLY REPORT TO COURT AND GET THEIR GET THEIR WORK DONE IN A TIMELY FASHION.

UM, IT WASN'T ONLY OJ'S, IT WAS, UM, YOU KNOW, A BUNCH OF THE, OF THE DEPARTMENTS.

ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE'RE DOING IS WE'RE GOING BACK FOR COURTS BACK SIX MONTHS JUST TO SEE ALL THE ITEMS THAT COURT HAS HAS VOTED ON OR DIRECTED.

OKAY. AND ANY OF THE OCA DEPARTMENTS TO COME BACK WITH SOMETHING AND HAVE WE AND WE'RE SEEING A LOT OF OF OF, YOU KNOW, DROP BALLS.

AND SO THAT'S WHAT WE'RE GOING BACK AND WE'RE GOING TO WE'RE GOING TO BE FIXING THAT.

WE'RE TRYING TO CLEAR THE DECKS AND ALL THE OLD LINGERING WORK TO MAKE SURE THAT THAT WE GET IT UPDATED AND TO YOU, TOO, SO WE CAN TAKE NEXT STEPS.

SO THOSE ARE THE KINDS OF THINGS THAT WE'RE WORKING ON RIGHT NOW.

WELCOME IN PERSON.

I APOLOGIZE. I FEEL LIKE JUDGE PAYNE RUNNING FROM MY OFFICE.

THANK YOU. UM, I DID HAVE A BRIEF PRESENTATION JUST TO GIVE YOU AN OVERVIEW AS TO WHERE WE WERE WITH WITH USE OF FORCE.

AND I APPRECIATE THE COMMENTS FROM THE INTERIM INTERIM COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR AND ALSO FROM COMMISSIONER GARCIA AND ALSO COMMISSIONER ELLIS AS WELL.

UM, IN SUMMARY, I THINK WE ARE IN GREAT SHAPE AS A COUNTY.

UH, WE DID DO A TOP TO BOTTOM REVIEW OF USE OF FORCE POLICIES FROM HARRIS COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE, THE CONSTABLE'S OFFICE, AND ALSO THE FIRE MARSHAL'S OFFICE.

UM, SHORTLY AFTER THE DEATH OF GEORGE FLOYD, THE NATIONAL POLICE ORGANIZATIONS AND ALSO THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE CAME OUT WITH SOME MANDATED LANGUAGE TO MAKE SURE THAT IT WAS UPDATED AND IT AND IT PROTECTED NOT ONLY LAW ENFORCEMENT, ALSO THE COMMUNITIES THAT LAW ENFORCEMENT SERVES.

AND WE CAN ADVANCE THE SLIDE TO THAT UPDATED LANGUAGE.

I'LL GO WITH, YOU KNOW, VERY BRIEFLY.

SLAPPED LIABILITIES. OKAY, NEXT SLIDE.

OKAY. SO THE UPDATED LANGUAGE IN ESSENCE, WHEN TO USE, WHEN TO OR NOT TO USE DEADLY FORCE.

UM, OFFICERS ARE BEING TRAINED IN THAT DE-ESCALATION.

OFFICERS WOULD BE TRAINED IN DE-ESCALATION TACTICS AND TECHNIQUES.

AFFIRMATIVE DUTY TO INTERVENE.

FOR EXAMPLE, IF AN OFFICER IS OUT WITH HIS PARTNER AND ONE OF THE TWO OFFICERS ARE ENGAGED IN EXCESSIVE FORCE.

IT'S INCUMBENT OR MANDATED BY HIS PARTNER TO USE DE-ESCALATION TECHNIQUES.

SO AFFIRMATIVE DUTY TO RENDER MEDICAL AID.

WILL SAY THAT THE INDIVIDUAL WAS IS INJURED DURING HIS ENCOUNTER WITH LAW ENFORCEMENT.

IT'S INCUMBENT UPON THE OFFICERS TO EITHER PROVIDE MEDICAL AID THEMSELVES OR TO CALL FOR MEDICAL AID.

UH, TRAINING OFFICERS SHOULD BE TRAINED ON THEIR RESPECTIVE AGENCY'S USE OF FORCE POLICY ON A YEARLY BASIS.

[04:30:01]

THAT'S MANDATED. THE APPLICATION OF THE POLICY.

THE POLICY POLICY SHOULD BE MADE AVAILABLE TO THE PUBLIC, INCLUDING BEING POSTED ON THE DEPARTMENT'S WEBSITE.

YOU KNOW, ONCE AGAIN, TRANSPARENCY IS KEY.

WE FOUND THAT IF THE COMMUNITY UNDERSTANDS USE OF FORCE POLICIES, THEY'RE MORE LIKELY TO COMPLY WHEN THEY INTERACT WITH WITH LAW ENFORCEMENT.

NEXT SLIDE. NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE.

SO AS I MENTIONED, AFTER WE DID THE TOP TO BOTTOM REVIEW OF WHAT WE HAD IN HARRIS COUNTY, WE FOUND THAT THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE CONSTABLES, THE FIRE MARSHAL'S OFFICE ALL HAD USE OF FORCE POLICIES IN PLACE.

UM, UPDATING THE SLIDE.

ALL THREE AGENCIES HAVE MADE THEY ALL HAVE INCLUDED THE UPDATED USE OF FORCE POLICY IN THEIR RESPECTIVE USE OF FORCE POLICIES.

ONLY TWO. HOWEVER, HARRIS COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE AND THE FIRE MARSHAL'S OFFICE USE OF FORCE POLICIES CAN BE ACCESSED ON THEIR WEBSITE BY THE PUBLIC.

OKAY, NEXT. RECOMMENDATIONS.

SOME THINK WE'RE IN GOOD SHAPE AS FAR AS THE UPDATED LANGUAGE BEING CONTAINED IN EVERYBODY'S FORCE POLICY.

BUT WE BELIEVE THAT THE USE OF FORCE POLICY SHOULD BE POSTED ON EVERYBODY'S WEBSITE IN MULTIPLE LANGUAGES, ESPECIALLY ENGLISH AND SPANISH.

I WOULD RECOMMEND THAT THE HARRIS COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE, AS COMMISSIONER GARCIA STATED, BE OUR MODEL USE OF FORCE POLICY.

AND THIS IS FOR WE'RE GOING TO POST THAT ON OUR WEBSITE.

AND THIS IS FOR THE SMALLER POLICE AGENCIES, THE INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICTS AND THE OTHER 70 OR 80 AGENCIES THAT OPERATE INSIDE HARRIS COUNTY.

ALSO, WE WOULD LIKE TO RECOMMEND THAT THERE'S SOME MECHANISM IN PLACE TO TRACK TO MAKE SURE THAT LAW ENFORCEMENT IS ACTUALLY RECEIVING TRAINING ON THEIR RESPECTIVE USE OF FORCE POLICIES.

SO WE WE PLAN TO ENGAGE UNIVERSAL SERVICES TO MAKE SURE THERE'S SOME TYPE OF, YOU KNOW, VIRTUAL APPARATUS IN PLACE WHERE WE COULD, YOU KNOW, TRACK THAT REQUIREMENT.

UM, LAST BUT NOT LEAST, I THINK ANOTHER REQUEST BY COMMISSIONER GARCIA'S OFFICE.

UM, YOU KNOW, WAS TO ENSURE OR RECOMMEND THAT LAW ENFORCEMENT ARE MADE AVAILABLE TRAINING ON, ON IMPLICIT BIAS.

UH, ABOUT A MONTH OR SO AGO, WE DID HAVE DID HOST A RACIAL ETHNIC EQUITY CONFERENCE.

UM, WE DID HAVE PARTICIPATION FROM THE FIRE MARSHAL'S OFFICE, THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE AND ALSO A FEW CONSTABLES SHOWED UP.

SO, UM, WE WILL CONTINUE TO SUPPORT THEM IN THAT ENDEAVOR.

SO ONGOING EFFORTS.

I MEAN, THIS IS A CONTINUING PROCESS.

WE WILL CONTINUE TO MEET WITH THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE, THE CONSTABLES, THE FIRE MARSHAL'S OFFICE.

I HAVE BEEN COMMUNICATION WITH PRECINCT ONE, CONSTABLE'S OFFICE, PRECINCT FOUR, ALSO THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE, FIRE MARSHALS.

OBVIOUSLY, THEY ARE VERY RECEPTIVE TO OUR INPUT AND THEY'RE WILLING TO TO TO HELP US IN THIS ENDEAVOR.

THE PRECINCT ONE CONSTABLE'S OFFICE IS GOING TO HELP US PUBLISH THE USE OF FORCE POLICIES ON THE ON THE CONSTABLES ON ALL EIGHT CONSTABLE'S WEBSITES.

UH, AS I MENTIONED, WE'LL FIND RESOURCES, POSSIBLY A VENDOR, TO, TO TRANSLATE THOSE USE OF FORCE POLICIES INTO SPANISH OR MULTIPLE LANGUAGES, BUT WITH SUPPORT FOR YOUR SERVICES, CREATING SOME TYPE OF VIRTUAL MECHANISM OR PLATFORM TO TO TRACK TRAINING OR THE USE OF FORCE POLICIES.

AND ALSO AS AN INCENTIVE, FIND OPPORTUNITIES FOR OFFICERS TO RECEIVE SOME TYPE OF CODE ACCREDITATION WHEN IT COMES TO RECEIVING THE IMPLICIT BIAS TRAINING.

AND LAST BUT NOT LEAST, IN ANSWERING COMMISSIONER ELLIS'S QUESTION ABOUT THE USE OF FORCE DASHBOARD, RIGHT NOW WE'RE TRYING TO GATHER THE APPROPRIATE DATA FROM BOTH THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE AND ALSO FROM THE CONSTABLE'S IN ORDER TO STAND UP THAT USE OF FORCE DASHBOARD.

SO WE WILL COME BACK WITH PERIODIC UPDATES AS TO THE STATUS OF THE USE OF FORCE DASHBOARD, RECOGNIZING THAT IT'S VERY IMPORTANT.

COMMISSIONER JONES, DID YOU FINISH? I CAN'T SEE IT, SO I'M SORRY.

NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE. I'M SORRY.

ONE, ONE SLIDE BACK.

I THINK THAT SAYS QUESTIONS.

OH, YEAH. WELL, ON THAT POINT, I DO HAVE A FEW QUESTIONS.

WHAT OTHER SOURCES DID YOU RELY ON TO DEVELOP THE USE OF FORCE RECOMMENDATIONS? SO I THINK THAT THE DOJ MEMORANDUM, WHICH BASICALLY SPELLED OUT THE LANGUAGE THAT SHOULD BE CONTAINED IN USE OF FORCE POLICIES.

ALSO LOOKING AT OTHER POLICIES THROUGHOUT THE UNITED STATES, THE STATE POLICE USE OF POLICE DEPARTMENT, ALSO, YOU KNOW, MY EXPERIENCE, 30 YEARS IN LAW ENFORCEMENT, 25 YEARS IN

[04:35:02]

FIELD OPERATIONS, THE ON SCENE COMMANDER, TASK FORCE OFFICER, TASK FORCE COMMANDER HAVE A LOT OF EXPERIENCE IN IN FIELD OFFICE OPERATIONS, USE OF FORCE AND ALSO HAVE TAUGHT CLASSES ON USE OF FORCE.

DID YOU WORK WITH ANY OUTSIDE ORGANIZATIONS? I'M COMING UP WITH THE RECOMMENDATIONS.

NO, SIR, I DID NOT. OKAY.

DID YOU UTILIZE THE POLICING PROJECT AT NEW YORK UNIVERSITY'S GUIDELINES IN YOUR RECOMMENDATIONS? I WANT TO SAY IF LINDSAY LINDER IS ON THE.

IS, YOU KNOW, IN THE CYBERSPACE.

YOU CAN PROBABLY COMMENT ON THAT.

I KNOW THAT ONE OF OUR POLICY FOLKS, YOU KNOW, DID THE ANALYSIS JUST NOTE, BACK WHEN I CHAIRED THE BOARD OF THE INNOCENCE PROJECT, THERE WAS NYU GUIDELINES AT THE TIME WERE CONSIDERED.

ONE OF THE MODELS AROUND THE COUNTRY.

IS THAT LINDSAY THERE? HI, CAN YOU HEAR ME? YES. GREAT.

YES, WE DID A PRETTY COMPREHENSIVE LITERATURE REVIEW AND LEGAL ANALYSIS WITHIN OUR DEPARTMENT INTERNALLY, AND THAT INCLUDED THE NYU SCHOOL OF LAW'S POLICING PROJECT, AS WELL AS A HOST OF OF OTHER SOURCES AND COURT CASES.

AND WE CAN CERTAINLY COMPILE A LIST OF OF ALL OF THE SOURCES THAT WENT INTO THAT.

BUT WE TRIED TO LOOK AT AT EVERYTHING WHEN WE COMPILED WHAT IS ESSENTIALLY JUST TENANTS, YOU KNOW, THE MODEL.

THERE'S NO MODEL POLICY FROM, YOU KNOW, LETTER A TO LETTER Z BECAUSE AS MR. TURNER MENTIONED, YOU HAVE VERY DIFFERENT YOU HAVE VERY DIFFERENT MISSIONS BETWEEN, YOU KNOW, THE FIRE MARSHAL'S OFFICE AND THE HARRIS COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE AND THE CONSTABLES.

THEY HAVE SORT OF DIFFERENT WAYS OF OPERATING.

AND SO IT MAKES SENSE THAT THEIR POLICIES ARE ARE SHAPED DIFFERENTLY AND THAT THEY HAVE THE AUTONOMY TO, YOU KNOW, DEVELOP POLICIES THAT WORK FOR THEM.

BUT THERE ARE IMPORTANT TENETS THAT THAT RESEARCH SUPPORTS REALLY SHOULD BE INCLUDED IN ANY USE OF FORCE POLICY.

AND A LOT OF THOSE NEW ITEMS THAT THE DOJ RECOMMENDED, AS AS MR. TURNER OUTLINED, WERE WERE KEY.

BUT WE DID A COMPREHENSIVE REVIEW TO SEE WHAT ARE THE TENANTS THAT NEED TO BE INCLUDED IN A USE OF FORCE POLICY.

AND OUR REVIEW OF THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE POLICY, AS WELL AS ALL THE OTHER POLICIES WITHIN THE COUNTY THAT WE WERE ABLE TO GET OUR HANDS ON WAS, YOU KNOW, COMPARED TO THOSE SORT OF IMPORTANT TENANTS THAT NEED TO BE INCLUDED, WHICH, YOU KNOW, PROPORTIONALITY OF FORCE DUTY TO INTERVENE, DOCUMENTATION OF INCIDENTS, THINGS LIKE THAT.

IT INTEGRATE THE PERF POLICE EXECUTIVE RESEARCH FORUMS DE-ESCALATION POLICY CONTINUUM IN YOUR RECOMMENDATIONS? SO IN INTERACTING WITH THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE, PERF WAS ONE OF THE NATIONAL POLICE ORGANIZATIONS THAT THEY INTERACTED WITH.

UM, AND EVEN EVEN THE CONSTABLES DID A PHENOMENAL JOB IN INTERACTING WITH THE COMMUNITY, ACADEMIA, THE PUBLIC DEFENDER'S OFFICE, THE DA'S OFFICE, COUNTY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE.

SO ONCE AGAIN, I THINK WE'RE IN GREAT SHAPE.

WE HAVE. DID YOU INTEGRATE CAMPAIGN ZERO'S EIGHT RESTRICTIONS THAT HAVE BEEN PROVEN TO REDUCE LAW ENFORCEMENT VIOLENCE? LINDSAY CAN ANSWER THAT QUESTION, SIR.

YES. CAMPAIGN ZERO'S RECOMMENDATIONS WERE INCLUDED AS WELL.

I'LL LET THEM. I BELIEVE SO, COMMISSIONER.

WE CAN WE CAN VERIFY THAT FOR YOU AND SEND IT OVER, BUT I BELIEVE ALL EIGHT OF THEM.

YES, SIR. OKAY.

UM. THE NUMBERS THAT I READ OUT EARLIER FROM THE WASHINGTON POST.

WOULD YOU AGREE THEY ARE SOMEWHAT ALARMING.

IF YOU LOOK AT OUR NUMBERS.

NO, ABSOLUTELY. I MEAN I MEAN, I THINK USE OF FORCE DASHBOARD IS SOMETHING WE NEED TO IMPLEMENT.

SO AND ONCE AGAIN, I JUST GOT IN THIS ROLE.

I'VE ONLY BEEN HERE 18 MONTHS, SO THIS CAME DOWN BEFORE MY TIME.

AND I'M COMMITTED TO MAKING SURE THAT WE PUSH SOME OF THESE INITIATIVES.

I NEED TO PUT IT ALL ON YOU.

BUT, YOU KNOW, AROUND THESE ANNIVERSARIES, YOU KNOW, I KIND OF THINK ABOUT IT IN THREE YEARS IS A IT'S A LONG TIME.

I HAVE NO EXCUSES.

AND TO ECHO WHAT THE INTERIM COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR SAID, WE'RE TRYING TO PUSH SOME OF THESE OLD INITIATIVES ACROSS THE FINISH LINE.

MAYBE JAY KNOWS THIS AND HE CAN ANSWER IT.

I'M JUST CURIOUS TO KNOW IN TERMS OF SETTLEMENTS.

I CAN REMEMBER A FEW BIG SETTLEMENTS THAT CAME UP.

IT SEEMS LIKE AFTER GEORGE FLOYD, WE SETTLED A CASE FOR ABOUT $10 MILLION WHERE IT WAS A VERY SIMILAR FACT PATTERN TO THE FLOYD CASE.

YOU KNOW, THAT'S NOT ALWAYS IN MY IN MY POINTS HERE, BUT SOMETIMES THE OLD MAN'S MEMORY COMES BACK LIKE MISS LINDA.

AS I RECALL, YOU USED TO BE ONE OF MY CLIPPERS, RIGHT? I MAYBE CAN'T SEE, BUT I RECOGNIZE THE VOICE.

THAT'S CORRECT. CLASS OF 2015.

BATON ROUGE. RIGHT? THAT'S RIGHT.

GREAT MEMORY. YEAH.

PEOPLE WOULD BE AMAZED WHAT I CAN REMEMBER.

YOU ALWAYS SAID BACK THEN WHEN I WAS AT TYLER IN 2015.

ONCE YOU WORK FOR AT THE TIME, SENATOR ELLIS, YOU ALWAYS WORK FOR SENATOR ELLIS.

AND I SORT OF LAUGHED. AND THEN HERE I AM ALL THESE YEARS LATER.

WELL, YOU KNOW, I DON'T CHANGE MY TUNE MUCH, BUT YOU REMEMBER THAT WE HAVE ANY IDEA IN TERMS OF SETTLEMENTS?

[04:40:02]

NO, I DO. I MEAN, I REMEMBER THAT BECAUSE IT STOOD OUT.

BUT AND WE DID HAVE A SIGNIFICANT, SIGNIFICANT SETTLEMENT.

WELL, I THINK, COMMISSIONER, IT IS IMPORTANT.

AND I THINK, YOU KNOW, THE DAY IS LONG AND AND IT FEELS LONG.

BUT GETTING MY ENERGY. THE TRUTH IS.

WELL, Y'ALL WERE DOING ALL THOSE RESOLUTIONS.

I'M FEELING IT'S AN IMPORTANT ISSUE.

AND THE WAY I THINK ABOUT IT IS THE THE FRAME OF JUSTICE AND SAFETY.

AND SO IT DOESN'T HAVE TO BE ONE OR THE OTHER.

AND WE'VE WORKED SO HARD ON THE PUBLIC SAFETY ASPECT OF IT.

AND THEN AROUND THIS TIME, WE REMEMBER THE JUSTICE PART OF IT, TOO.

AND SO I APPRECIATE THAT.

ADMINISTRATOR RAMIREZ, I'M SO SORRY.

YOUR LAST NAME JUST I FORGET IT SOMETIMES THAT THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR IS IS IS PUSHING THROUGH THESE ITEMS. YES. RIGHT.

YEAH. IT'S IT'S PUSHING THROUGH THESE ITEMS. AND AND I THINK, YOU KNOW, IF THERE'S ANYTHING WE CAN DO, I WOULD I WOULD SUPPORT COMMISSIONER ELLIS.

UM, YOU KNOW REVIEWING THESE AGAIN IN A COUPLE OF MONTHS MAYBE AND TO SEE WHERE MR. TURNER IS IN TERMS OF THESE ADDITIONAL STEPS THAT WE NEED TO SORT OF COMPLETE THE USE OF FORCE.

WORKSTREAM AND THEN THE OTHER ONES, I FRANKLY DON'T REMEMBER WHICH ONES I PUT ON THE AGENDA.

I DON'T THINK IT WAS THE ONE YOU MENTIONED, BUT I DID PUT A COUPLE AND, UM, AND IT IS, WE DON'T JUST NEED TO THINK ABOUT IT WHEN A TRAGEDY OCCURS AND IF WE WANT TO THINK ABOUT IT FROM THE JUSTICE SIDE, IT'S THERE.

AND IF WE WANT TO THINK ABOUT IT FROM THE MONEY SIDE, I'VE ALWAYS SAID, YOU KNOW, THEY OUGHT TO HAVE TO PAY FOR IT OUT OF THOSE BUDGETS BECAUSE WE'RE OVER HERE SETTLING FROM THE GENERAL FUND. AND AND NOW THE LEGISLATURE PREEMPTED US.

ALL RIGHT. BUT BUT BUT IT JUST YOU KNOW, WHETHER YOU LOOK AT IT FROM A FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY STANDPOINT OR FROM A JUSTICE STANDPOINT, IT'S IMPORTANT TO WORK ON THAT, TOO. AND THAT DOESN'T MEAN WE DON'T ALSO WORK ON PUBLIC SAFETY, AND THAT DOESN'T MEAN WE DON'T ALSO RECOGNIZE THE DIFFICULT JOBS THAT OUR PUBLIC SAFETY OFFICERS HAVE AND AND THE INCREDIBLE WORK THAT THAT THOSE WHO WHO WHO MANAGE TO TO DO THE JOB WITH UTMOST PROFESSIONALISM, THE INCREDIBLE JOB THAT THEY DO.

SO SO I'LL LET GO FOR NOW.

BUT I WOULD LIKE YOU JUST LET US KNOW IF YOU FORGET ABOUT HOW MUCH HAVE WE SPENT AS A COUNTY SPENT ON YOU ON LAWSUITS INVOLVING USE OF.

I'LL I'LL HAVE TO DEFER TO, TO, UH, DIRECTOR RAMOS ON THAT ON ON THE.

HE SHOULD. HE MIGHT, YOU KNOW, WE CAN WORK TOGETHER TO GET YOU AN EXACT NUMBER OVER THE LAST FEW YEARS, BUT I CAN TELL YOU IT'S MILLIONS.

OKAY. ALL RIGHT.

SO I THINK WE HAVE MORE WORK TO DO.

BUT I WON'T BELABOR THE POINT BECAUSE WE GOT HURT AND GET ON BACK TO THESE RESOLUTIONS.

WELL, AND THIS ISN'T THE END OF IT.

RIGHT. AND WE'RE GOING TO CONTINUE WORKING ON THIS.

AND, YOU KNOW, FOR POLICIES, WE SHOULD ALWAYS UPDATE AND LOOK AT THEM EVERY COUPLE OF YEARS AND UPDATE THEM FOR CHANGES IN IN LAW AND CIRCUMSTANCE.

SO I THINK THAT THIS IS SOMETHING THAT WE SHOULD START IMPLEMENTING FOR ALL OUR POLICIES.

THANK YOU. I'M JUST GETTING MY ENERGY NOW.

MAYBE WE TAKE A BREAK AND GO AND HAVE THAT SALMON IN THERE.

ALMONDS OVER THERE.

PEANUTS. MY CARBS MIGHT AS BAD AS THAT CANDY BAR.

LET ME HAVE ONE COMMENT BEFORE WE CLOSE.

GO AHEAD, COMMISSIONER RAMSEY.

THANK THANK YOU FOR YOUR GOOD REPORT.

I'LL ECHO WHAT COMMISSIONER GARCIA COMMENTED ON THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE.

I'LL ECHO THAT ON THE COUNSEL'S OFFICE.

THEY FOCUSED ON IT.

THEY GOT THAT IN.

THERE'S SOME DETAILS TO WORK ON IN TERMS OF POSTING, BUT I THINK IT'S A GOOD REPORT.

AND THANK YOU FOR TAKING THE TIME TO GO THROUGH THAT, DIRECTOR.

LOOK FORWARD TO WHAT YOU'LL DO IN THE FUTURE.

THANK YOU, SIR. OKAY.

OKAY. UM, MOVING ON TO ITEM TWO.

YES. UM, I JUST GOT A MESSAGE THAT THEY DO NEED TO REBOOT THE SYSTEM, SO THEY NEED A 15 MINUTE BREAK AT SOME POINT.

OH, WELL, THERE WE GO. 30 MINUTES.

GOOD MOMENT. REALLY? BE READY. ALL RIGHT.

WELL, IT'S 547.

WILL BREAK UNTIL SIX.

IF. IT'S A REQUEST FOR APPROVAL OF A PRESENTATION.

I'VE JUST GOT TO WAIT FOR ALEX TO COME BACK.

OKAY. I'LL ASK WHEN HE GETS BACK.

YES. ALL RIGHT.

IT. IT'S 610.

COMMISSIONER SCOTT IS BACK IN SESSION.

CAN YOU HEAR US, COMMISSIONER RAMSEY? I CAN. THANK YOU.

OKAY, SO LET'S, UM.

LET ME SKIP OVER TO 301.

UM, WHICH IS THE COMMUNITY HOUSING DEVELOPMENT ORGANIZATION.

AND IT'S AN ITEM BY THE COMMISSIONER GARCIA FLAGGED.

THANK YOU, JUDGE.

AND, UM, ON THIS ITEM, I WANT TO THANK, UH, MR. RAMOS. UM, AND AS I MENTIONED EARLIER, MARY LAWLER, WHO WAS HERE TO, TO SPEAK.

I WANT TO THANK HER BECAUSE SHE FIRST BROUGHT THIS ITEM TO ME.

AND, UM, AND WITH THE HELP OF, UH, MR. RAMOS AND DIRECTOR COSTAS, THEY WERE ABLE TO CONSTRUCT THIS, UH, THIS PARTICULAR POLICY.

[04:45:08]

UH, THIS, UM, THIS IS, UH, LEVERAGING SECTION 11.18 25 OF THE TEXAS PROPERTY CODE TO EMPOWER NONPROFITS AND COMMUNITY HOUSING DEVELOPMENT ORGANIZATIONS OTHERWISE REFERRED TO AS CHODOS, SUCH AS THE FOLKS OVER AT AVENUE CDC AND OTHERS, UH, SO THAT THEY CAN CONTINUE TO PRESERVE AFFORDABLE RENTAL HOUSING IN THE FACE OF INFLATION AND INCREASED COST OF LIVING THROUGHOUT OUR REGION.

UH, THERE IS NOW A POLICY THANKS TO THE COLLECTIVE WORK OF MS..

COSTAS YET AGAIN AND, AND HER TEAM OVER AT CSD, UH, THERE IS NOW A POLICY PROPOSAL THAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN CIRCULATED BY, BY MY STAFF TO EVERYONE HERE AND, UM, AND IT WILL PROPOSE THE, THE POLICY AS WELL AS A POTENTIAL BUDGET FOR WHAT THIS PROGRAM WILL ENTAIL.

UM, I BELIEVE THAT WE HAVE FOUND THAT THERE ARE 21 ELIGIBLE PROPERTIES COUNTYWIDE, UH, OF THIS NATURE.

THOSE ARE THE ONES WE KNOW ABOUT.

WE THINK THERE MIGHT BE MORE ONCE IT GOES PUBLIC.

YEAH. HOW MANY MORE? I MEAN, IS THERE. IT'S NOT GOING TO BE TENS.

IT'S NOT GOING TO BE HUNDREDS OF PROPERTIES THAT ARE ELIGIBLE.

GOOD. AND AND THAT THE INITIAL BUDGET IMPACT WE'RE ESTIMATING RIGHT NOW TO BE 1,000,000.5 WHERE WE'LL COME BACK ON THE 17TH WITH THE RECOMMENDATION JUST SO EVERYONE KNOWS THIS THIS INITIAL YEAR BECAUSE OF THE TIMING, THERE'S WE EXPECT TO FOR IT TO BE ABOUT A MILLION AND A HALF UM, AT A 50% ABATEMENT FOR THE PROPERTIES THAT WE BELIEVE TO BE ELIGIBLE.

AND THAT WOULD BE AS PART OF THE FISCAL 24 BUDGET.

MOVING FORWARD, WE CAN TIME IT OUT SO AS IT HAS NO IMPACT ON OUR BUDGET, GOOD DEAL.

AND SO, UM, THIS IS, I'M VERY EXCITED ABOUT THIS BECAUSE AS WE ALL HAVE TALKED ABOUT, AT SOME POINT OR ANOTHER, WE HAVE A AFFORDABLE HOUSING CRISIS. UH, INFLATION IS A REAL THING THAT WE DON'T KNOW WHETHER WE'LL SEE NORMAL, BUT WE ARE HAVING A NEW NORMAL, NO DOUBT.

AND, UM, AND AGAIN, I JUST WANT TO THANK MARY FOR, UH, FLAGGING THIS.

WE HAD A CONVERSATION AND FRANCISCO CASTILLO ON MY TEAM.

I WANT TO THANK HIM, UH, AND AND THOSE ON MY POLICY TEAM FOR THEIR COLLECTIVE WORK.

UH, BUT AGAIN, IT WAS A TEAM EFFORT, AND I WANT TO THANK EVERYONE THAT I'VE ALREADY MENTIONED, UM, FOR THEIR COLLECTIVE WORK.

AND SO WE'LL BE BRINGING THIS ITEM BACK FOR FORMAL APPROVAL IN JULY.

IS THAT FOR THE FOLLOWING MEETING IN JULY? THAT'S CORRECT. GOOD DEAL.

BUT AGAIN, MS. RAMOS, THANK YOU FOR YOUR WORK.

AND SO I THINK THIS ITEM WILL BE A NO ACTION.

CORRECT? OKAY. AND THEN IF I MIGHT JUDGE.

YES, GO AHEAD. UH, JUST A SHAMELESS, SHAMELESS PLUG AT THIS POINT.

AS PART OF OUR FIVE YEAR FINANCIAL PLAN, ONE OF THE ITEMS THAT WE INCLUDED IN THE SCOPE WAS AN ANALYSIS OF THAT ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT TOOLBOX, BECAUSE WE ARE HEAVILY RELIANT ON THAT NEW CONSTRUCTION, THAT PART OF OUR OF NO TAX RATE TO TO CONTINUE TO FUND OUR OPERATIONS AND MAKING SURE THAT IT'S THE RIGHT MIX OF NEW CONSTRUCTION.

LIKE CAN WE PROMOTE DENSITY, CAN WE TAKE THE BURDEN OFF OF HAVING TO BUILD NEW ROADS AND MAINTAIN NEW ROADS TO TO DEAL WITH THE SPRAWL? AND SO THAT THAT RFP IS HITTING THE STREET EITHER IF IT'S NOT ON ALREADY, IT'LL BE ON VERY SHORTLY FOR VENDORS TO START BIDDING ON IT.

MAN DANIEL, I JUST WANT TO THANK YOU FOR SAYING THAT BECAUSE THE REALITY OF IT IS.

RARELY DOES MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENT OF ANY SORT, WHETHER IT BE COUNTY OR CITY, EVER REALLY THINK ABOUT THAT.

WE JUST WE'RE EAGER TO ISSUE OUT BUILDING PERMITS, BUT WE DON'T THINK ABOUT ALL THE OTHER THINGS THAT GO WITH IT.

BUT THEN WE ALSO DON'T THINK ABOUT ALL THE OTHER THINGS THAT HAPPEN WITHOUT A BUILDING PERMIT NECESSARILY.

SO I APPRECIATE THAT WORK.

THANK YOU. NO ACTION ON THE ITEM.

OKAY. SO NO ACTION ON 301.

LET'S GO BACK TO 189 COMMISSIONER ELLIS.

IT HAD A REQUEST FOR APPROVAL OF PRESENTATION, SO.

WE NEED TO VOTE OR DECIDE.

NO ACTION. 189.

I'D LIKE HIM TO COME BACK WITH.

IT DOESN'T NEED AN ACTION.

OKAY, SO WE'LL DO NO ACTION FOR TODAY.

ON 2 TO 13.

COMMISSIONER RAMSEY FLAGGED THAT ONE.

YEAH, JUST A QUICK LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE ALL DISBURSEMENTS EXCEPT FOR THE BOSTON CONSULTING GROUP.

I THINK THAT TOTALS $1,272,963.37.

[04:50:01]

SECOND. MOTION BY COMMISSIONER RAMSEY.

ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE? ANY OPPOSED. I'M IN FAVOR.

IS THERE A MOTION FOR THE APPROVAL OF THE BOSTON GROUP ITEMS? CORRECT. MOTION BY COMMISSIONER GARCIA.

SECOND BY COMMISSIONER ELLIS. ALL IN FAVOR? ANY OPPOSED? NO.

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

NOW LET'S MOVE ON TO TO 19.

COMMISSIONER RAMSEY FLAGGED THAT ONE AS WELL.

60. ITEM.

YEAH, JUST NEEDED A BIT MORE INFORMATION.

UM. THIS IS A REQUEST FOR APPROVAL OF A PROJECT SCHEDULED FOR ADVERTISEMENT.

WE JUST NEED TO VOTE.

SO MOVE. SECOND.

MOTION BY COMMISSIONER GARCIA.

SECOND BY COMMISSIONER ELLIS.

ANY OPPOSED? NO. I'M IN FAVOR.

225. COMMISSIONER RAMSEY.

SO WE'RE MOVING ON TO.

THAT SIMPLE QUESTION HERE IS, IS IS THIS THE COMMISSIONER'S PRECINCT MONEY? WHAT IS IT? THIS IS THE GUN BUYBACK.

IT'S OUR MONEY WERE APPROVED.

IS YOUR MIC ON, COMMISSIONER ELLIS? NO, IT IS NOT.

THAT'S ARPA MONEY.

OKAY. I'LL MOVE IT.

MOTION BY COMMISSIONER ELLIS.