[00:00:10]
COMMISSIONER ELLIS, THANK YOU.CHAIR. WE ARE BLESSED TO HAVE PASTOR KEON HENDERSON WITH US TODAY FROM THE LIGHTHOUSE CHURCH.
[Pastor Keion Henderson of The Lighthouse Church and Ministries in Humble]
HE'S A BESTSELLING AUTHOR, A TREASURE.THE CONGREGATION CONTINUES TO BLOSSOM WITH MORE THAN 15,000 DEDICATED MEMBERS AND OVER 800,000 UNIQUE WEEKLY VIEWERS WORLDWIDE ON ALL SOCIAL MEDIA PLATFORMS. ABOUT 2 MILLION FOLKS, IF YOU COUNT HE'S INTERNATIONAL MEDIA PLATFORMS. 26 YEARS IN ACTIVE MINISTRY, PAST CITIZEN IS KNOWN TO EDUCATE, NURTURE AND EQUIP HIS CONGREGANTS WITH LIFE CHANGING LESSONS, NAVIGATE THEIR FAITH AND SOUND VALUES AND BIBLICAL PRINCIPLES.
PRINCIPLES. BY WAY OF HIS ACCELERATOR FOR ENTREPRENEURIALSHIP, ONE OF WHOM I MET THIS MORNING THROUGH THE WEIGHT OF HIS WORDS, IMPECCABLE JUDGMENT, AND SOPHISTICATED UNDERSTANDING OF THE FORCES SHAPING THE WORLD.
HE WILL LEAVE TODAY ABOUT NOON TO GO TO GHANA AND THEN TO NIGERIA.
THE JOHN MAXWELL INSTITUTE RATED HIM AS ONE OF THE TOP 250 LEADERS IN OUR NATION.
HE'S BORN IN GARY, INDIANA, BUT GOT HERE AS QUICKLY AS HE COULD.
SO SHE PLEASE WELCOME OUR PASTOR TODAY.
IT IS. IT IS MY HONOR TO PRAY FOR YOU.
AND I'M GLAD TO BE A HOUSTONIAN.
THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING US TO CALL YOU IN THE TIME OF STORM.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR BOUNTIFUL BLESSINGS AND AMAZING GRACE.
YOUR ROLE WITH MAJESTY AND ARMED WITH STRENGTH.
AND BECAUSE OF YOU, THE WORLD STANDS EVEN WHEN SHE STUMBLES.
YOU HAVE ALL WISDOM AND POWER, EVEN WHEN IT SEEMS NOT TO BE SO.
BECAUSE THE EARTH IS YOURS, THE FULLNESS THEREOF, AND THEY THAT DWELL THEREIN.
YOU GIVE WISDOM TO THE WISE AND KNOWLEDGE TO SCHOLARS.
YOU REVEAL DEEP AND MYSTERIOUS THINGS, AND ONLY YOU KNOW WHAT LIES HIDDEN AHEAD.
AND IT IS BECAUSE OF THAT REASON WE COME TO YOU TODAY.
FOR WE ARE A CITY ON A HILL THAT CANNOT BE HIDDEN.
YOU'RE FROM. YOU'RE FORMERLY FROM GARY? YES, SIR. UH, I THINK THE WEATHER IS TURNING A LITTLE BIT TOUGH UP THERE RIGHT NOW.
I HAD A HAD A PARTNER WHO WAS ORIGINALLY FROM GARY, AND WE WORKED TOGETHER AT THE POLICE DEPARTMENT.
HE WENT ON TO HAVE A GREAT CAREER WITH THE FBI.
BUT HE TOLD ME THAT WHEN HE LEFT GARY, HE HAD A SNOW BLOWER BURNING CEREMONY.
YEAH. WELL, CAN I SAY THIS TO YOU, MR. GARCIA? THAT THE CITY ITSELF.
HOUSTON, WHEN I WAS IN GARY, WE WERE AT 40% ECONOMIC IMPOVERISHMENT.
UM, WE WERE LOSING ABOUT 50% OF OUR HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS.
AND TO DATE, NONE OF THE HIGH SCHOOLS THAT WERE UP WHEN I WAS IN SCHOOL ARE STILL STANDING AND COMING TO A CITY LIKE HOUSTON, WHERE PROSPERITY CONTINUES TO TO AVAIL ITSELF.
I SAY TO ALL THOSE IN LEADERSHIP, CONTINUE TO DO WHAT YOU DO.
SO THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR WORK AND YOUR EFFORTS.
GOOD TO HAVE YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU.
THANK YOU SIR. THANK YOU. PASTOR.
THANK YOU. WELCOME AND SAFE TRAVELS.
OKAY, WE'LL RECITE THE PLEDGE.
[00:05:10]
PLEDGE] WE HAVE TEN RESOLUTIONS TO TAKE OUT OF ORDER THIS MORNING.SO LET ME START WITH ITEM ONE UNDER RESOLUTIONS.
[Departments (Part 1 of 3)]
AND THAT IS DECLARING THE WEEK OF NOVEMBER 13TH THROUGH 19, 2023 AS NATIONAL APPRENTICESHIP WEEK IN HARRIS COUNTY.AND IT GOES TO WHAT THE PASTOR WAS TALKING ABOUT, THE IMPORTANCE OF ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY.
WE'VE INVESTED OVER $30 MILLION TOTAL IN WORKFORCE TRAINING AND APPRENTICESHIPS.
THE WHITE HOUSE RECOGNIZED OUR PROGRAM AS A BEST PRACTICE IN WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT.
IT HELPS FOLKS MAKE A CAREER, A LIFE IN THE JOBS, THE AREAS WHERE WE NEED MORE PEOPLE.
SO IT HELPS THE EMPLOYERS, IT HELPS THE EMPLOYEES, AND IT HELPS THE COMMUNITY.
WHEREAS NATIONAL APPRENTICESHIP WEEK IS CELEBRATING ITS NINTH ANNIVERSARY, RAISING AWARENESS OF THE VITAL ROLE OF APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAMS AND WANT TO HIGHLIGHT THE APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAM.
FOLKS START BEING PAID AS STUDENTS.
THE HARRIS COUNTY APPRENTICESHIP ADVANTAGE PROGRAM, IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE TEXAS GULF AREA LABOR FEDERATION AND WITH EMPOWER, IS A TARGETED INVESTMENT TO EXPAND OCCUPATIONAL TRAINING PROGRAMS AND APPRENTICESHIP SLOTS.
THIS IS A HUGE DEAL, BE IT RESOLVED THAT HARRIS COUNTY COMMISSIONERS COURT HEREBY DECLARES THE WEEK OF NOVEMBER 13TH THROUGH 19TH, 2023 AS NATIONAL APPRENTICESHIP WEEK IN HARRIS COUNTY, TEXAS, IN RECOGNITION OF THE SUCCESSES AND VALUE OF APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAMS FOR REBUILDING OUR ECONOMY.
I SEE HENRY COWELL, SOME LEADERS FROM LABOR HERE, PAUL PUENTE AND OTHERS.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR FOR THE WORK YOU ALL DO ON THIS.
HOW DO WE KEEP GOOD JOBS HERE IS BY MAKING SURE THAT WE'RE TRAINING PEOPLE, YOUNG PEOPLE AND ALL PEOPLE AND THE JOBS OF THE FUTURE AND THE JOBS THAT CURRENTLY HAVE HIGH NEED AND HIGH PAY.
SO WE'LL HEAR FROM OUR SPEAKERS.
THANK YOU, JUDGE, AND GOOD MORNING, COMMISSIONERS.
WE REALLY APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE WITH YOU TODAY.
WE REALLY APPRECIATE THE RECOGNITION THAT THE COUNTY SEES IN THE IMPORTANCE OF LABOR MANAGEMENT APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAMS IN OUR REGION'S WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT SYSTEM.
WE APPRECIATE THE INVESTMENT IN IT.
WE APPRECIATE THE FOCUS ON INCREASING ACCESS TO THESE PROGRAMS AS WELL.
BUT UNION APPRENTICES GET SO MUCH MORE.
THEY'RE PLACED IN JOBS THAT PROVIDE LIVABLE WAGES AND BENEFITS, A VOICE ON THE JOB AND SAFETY.
THEY'RE MENTORED ON THE JOB BY SKILLED CRAFTSPEOPLE.
WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO DO NOW IS JUST INVITE UP SOME OF THE PARTICIPANTS IN OUR APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAM THAT ARE ACTUALLY TRAINING OUR APPRENTICES TO SPEAK A BIT ABOUT WHAT THEY'RE DOING WITH THE COUNTY RESOURCES, AND TO DISCUSS THE PROGRESS WE'VE BEEN MAKING SINCE THE COUNTY MADE THIS INVESTMENT.
SIR. CAN YOU PLEASE, PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME FOR THE RECORD? OH, SURE.
HENRY CARLISLE, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE TEXAS GULF COAST AREA LABOR FEDERATION, AFL-CIO.
THANK YOU. DIDN'T REALIZE I'D BEEN SUBPOENAED.
[00:10:01]
SORRY. SO GOOD MORNING.THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME HERE TODAY.
I'M THE EXECUTIVE SECRETARY FOR THE HOUSTON GULF COAST BUILDING AND CONSTRUCTION TRADES COUNCIL.
UM, THE APPRENTICESHIP READINESS, AS KNOWN THE AARP MR THREE PROGRAM, HAS A MULTI CRAFT CORE CURRICULUM THAT PROVIDES STUDENTS WITH THE OPPORTUNITY TO DEVELOP THE ESSENTIAL SKILLS REQUIRED FOR ADMISSION TO THE BUILDING TRADES APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAMS. ALONG WITH THE CHANCE TO UNDERSTAND THE DIFFERENT CRAFT TRADES BETTER AND CHOOSE A PROGRAM THAT BEST FITS THEIR INTERESTS AND SKILLS.
THE INVESTMENT BY THE HARRIS COUNTY IS OPENING UP THE OPPORTUNITY FOR 100 NEW PRE-APPRENTICESHIP PARTICIPANTS IN OUR TRAINING PROGRAM, PROVIDING THEM A DIRECT PATHWAY INTO THE EXCITING FUTURE THROUGH ONE OF OUR BUILDING TRADES APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAMS. AS WE CELEBRATE NATIONAL APPRENTICESHIP WEEK, WE ALSO CELEBRATE THE PARTNERSHIP WITH HARRIS COUNTY AND EXPAND THE OPPORTUNITIES FOR GOOD PAYING, SAFE CONSTRUCTION JOBS THROUGH THE APPRENTICESHIP ADVANTAGE PROGRAM.
THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU PAUL.
MY NAME IS HORACE MORALES, TRANSPORT WORKERS LOCAL 260 PRESIDENT.
AND I JUST WANT TO SAY, UM, OUR MEMBERS, WE WORK THROUGHOUT THE METRO SYSTEM.
WE DRIVE BUSSES AND MAKE SURE THEY KEEP RUNNING.
METRO WORKS CLOSELY WITH TRANSPORT WORKERS UNION LOCAL 260, REPRESENTING BUS DRIVERS, MECHANICS AND OTHER WORKERS TO GET AHEAD OF THE CLEAN ENERGY TRANSITION. OUR BUS MECHANICS PROGRAM IS NOTABLY LOCATED IN PRECINCT ONE.
THAT'S WHY WE ARE BUILDING A NEW DEPARTMENT OF LABOR APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAM TO TRAIN MECHANICS TO MAINTAIN AND REPAIR THE ELECTRIC BUSSES METRO IS CONVERTING TO.
WE EXCITED THAT THE APPRENTICESHIP ADVANTAGE IS FUNDING THIS NEW APPRENTICESHIP, INVESTING OVER 1 MILLION TO TRAIN NEW MECHANICS TO WORK ON METRO BUSSES.
THANK YOU. FINISH. AND THANK YOU FOR INVESTING.
UH, PERSONALLY, I JUST WANT TO THANK THE COMMISSIONERS COURT AND MY BOARD MEMBERS AND MY.
AND I'M GOING TO SAY THIS AND SHUT UP.
UH, THE, THE BUS MECHANICS METRO.
AND I THINK, UH, COMMISSIONER RODNEY ELLIS WAS WITH US AT THE BEGINNING OF THIS FIGHT WHERE THE MECHANICS WEREN'T TRAINED AND WE HAD THE WORST TRANSIT SYSTEM IN THE NATION.
WE WERE LAUGHING STOCKS BECAUSE WE TOOK INITIATIVE TO GO TO SAINT JACQUES COLLEGE AND CONVINCE OUR LEADERS TO PROPERLY TRAIN US AND HAVE AN APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAM.
NOW WE'RE THE BEST TRANSIT SYSTEM IN THE NATION.
GOOD MORNING. MY NAME IS MARK GRADY.
BUT DURING THE PANDEMIC, THE THEATER AND LIVE EVENTS WORKERS WERE OUT OF JOBS FOR 18 MONTHS.
WE DIDN'T SEE ANY WORK FOR 18 MONTHS.
UM, THROUGH THE COUNTY'S INVESTMENT IN THIS PROGRAM, IT'S ALLOWING US TO BUILD A HOMEGROWN, SKILLED WORKFORCE WORKFORCE THAT CAN STAFF ANY KIND OF LIVE EVENTS LIKE THEATERS, CONCERTS, CONVENTIONS OR MEGA SPORTING EVENTS SUCH AS THE 2026 WORLD CUP.
MY NAME IS JENNIFER HERNANDEZ, AND I'M A BUSINESS REPRESENTATIVE FOR THE INTERNATIONAL UNION OF PAINTERS AND ALLIED TRADES DISTRICT COUNCIL TEN, AND WE'RE PROUDLY LOCATED IN PRECINCT ONE.
I'M ALSO A PROUD JOURNEY WORKER AND A PRODUCT OF OUR UNION APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAMS.
[00:15:04]
APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAMS ARE NOT ONLY EARN WHILE YOU LEARN, BUT ARE BRIDGE TO MEANINGFUL CAREERS FOR INDIVIDUALS FROM DIVERSE BACKGROUNDS, INCLUDING WOMEN AND PEOPLE OF COLOR AND TRANSFORMING LIVES.THANK YOU, HARRIS COUNTY, FOR INVESTING IN THE APPRENTICESHIP ADVANTAGE PROGRAM AND CREATING A WORLD WHERE EQUALITY, OPPORTUNITY AND EQUITY ARE NOT MERE DREAMS, BUT A REALITY FOR ALL. THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU.
GOOD MORNING. MY NAME IS CHRIS ROMO.
I'M THE TRAINING DIRECTOR FOR LOCAL 54 SHEET METAL APPRENTICE SCHOOL.
PROUDLY LOCATED IN PRECINCT FOUR.
THE HARRIS COUNTY APPRENTICE ADVANTAGE PROGRAM IS A HISTORIC INVESTMENT.
ENABLING APPRENTICE SCHOOLS TO TRAIN ELEVATOR INSTALLERS, STRUCTURAL IRON AND STEEL WORKERS, PAINTERS, PIPEFITTERS, PLUMBERS, ELECTRICIANS, AND SHEET METAL WORKERS.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH, COMMISSIONER BROWN.
THANK YOU. SO WE'RE GOING TO SWITCH.
I THOUGHT SHE HAD SOMETHING FOR YOU.
BUT THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU FOR YOUR WORDS.
AND I'VE RUN THE ARPA GRANT PROGRAM.
I OVERSEE THE PROGRAM'S FINANCES, ADMINISTRATION, DATA TRACKING, REPORTING, AND OUR TRAINING, OUR PARTNERS, AND BEING THE POINT OF CONTACT FOR THE COUNTY. I WANTED TO GIVE YOU AN UPDATE ON WHAT WE'RE DOING.
ADDITIONALLY, 40% OF APPRENTICES ARE RESIDENTS WHO LIVE IN PRECINCT TWO, 24% LIVE IN PRECINCT ONE, 21% LIVE IN PRECINCT FOUR, AND 15% LIVE IN PRECINCT THREE.
IN REGARDS TO RACE AND ETHNICITY, 9% ARE AFRICAN AMERICAN, 16% ARE LATINO, AND 30% ARE WHITE.
WE LOOK FORWARD TO CONTINUE WORKING WITH YOU.
YOUR TIME IS UP. AS WE CONTINUE TO INCREASE AND EXPAND ACCESS TO OUR APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAMS. THANK YOU. THANK YOU.
I'M THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE DEPARTMENT OF ECONOMIC EQUITY AND OPPORTUNITY.
THANK YOU FOR THE RESOLUTION HONORING NATIONAL PARTNERSHIP WEEK.
THE INITIATIVE IS INCREASING ACCESS FOR GROUPS TRADITIONALLY UNDERREPRESENTED IN APPRENTICESHIPS, THOSE WHO ARE UNDEREMPLOYED, OPPORTUNITY YOUTH, PEOPLE OF COLOR AND WOMEN, JUST TO NAME A FEW.
WE ARE WORKING WITH TWO VENDORS, TEXAS GULF COAST AND NPOWER, TO ADVANCE OPPORTUNITIES VIA US DEPARTMENT OF LABOR REGISTERED APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAMS IN TRADITIONAL AND HIGH GROWTH EMERGING INDUSTRIES.
TO DATE, BOTH VENDORS HAVE SERVED 333 HARRIS COUNTY RESIDENTS.
WE LOOK FORWARD TO OUR FIRST EVALUATION REPORT COMING TO COURT IN THE SUMMER OF 2024.
DR. KHALIL, MR. BRYANT, MS.. FIORINA, OUR DIRECTOR GONZALEZ, AND THE EMPOWER LEADERSHIP.
THANK YOU, JUDGE HIDALGO, FOR BRINGING THIS RESOLUTION.
WE ARE SO ENERGIZED TO PARTNER AND DO THE LARGEST INVESTMENT IN APPRENTICESHIPS EVER IN HARRIS COUNTY HISTORY, AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO MAXIMIZING THE IMPACT SO THAT WE CAN CONTINUE IN OUR SHARED COMMITMENT TO MAKING SURE THAT ALL INDIVIDUALS IN HARRIS COUNTY HAVE A FAIR SHOT, AND IS A FORMER PUBLIC SCHOOL TEACHER, AND I KNOW, MR. CARLISLE, WE SHARE THIS EXTRA PASSION.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MR. GARCIA.
[00:20:02]
AND THEN COMMISSIONER ELLEN. THANK YOU, JUDGE HANEY AND EVERYONE.THANK YOU ALL FOR WHAT YOU'RE DOING.
UM, YOU KNOW, AS I WAS SAYING EARLIER THIS MORNING THAT WHEN I ASKED FOR THE PEOPLE'S PERMISSION TO SERVE THEM IN THIS ROLE, TALKED ABOUT OFTEN HOW I HAVE AMONGST THE LOWEST MEDIUM INCOME OF ALL OF HARRIS COUNTY.
THIS IS A GAME CHANGER PROGRAM.
THIS IS LITERALLY PROVIDING A PATHWAY FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE MOTIVATED, INSPIRED.
UH, YOU KNOW, LOOKING FOR A PLACE TO FIT IN.
APPLY THEIR SKILLS AND WORK HARD.
AND SO I CANNOT BE MORE PROUD OF THIS PARTICULAR PROGRAM AMONGST THE MANY THINGS WE'VE DONE.
THIS IS AT THE TOP OF THOSE RESPECTIVE PROGRAMS. AND I WANT TO APPLAUD AFL-CIO, UH, FOR THEIR RESPECTIVE WORK IN THIS REGARD.
DYNAMIC. IT'S A GAME CHANGER IN TERMS OF FAMILIES AND POVERTY.
IT'S A GAME CHANGER IN TERMS OF FAMILIES WHO CAN'T AFFORD HEALTH INSURANCE.
IT'S A GAME CHANGER FOR FAMILIES WHO ARE RENTING INSTEAD OF OWNING WHERE THEY LIVE.
IT'S A GAME CHANGER IN SO MANY WAYS.
SO I JUST COULDN'T BE MORE PROUD OF HOW YOU AND THE REST OF THE LEADERSHIP OF AFL REALLY JUST THOUGHT THROUGH WHAT IT WAS GOING TO TAKE TO MAKE THIS PROGRAM SUCCESSFUL.
ONLY TWO STATES OUTPACE US, BUT NOT BY MUCH.
THIS IS THE LOCAL, THE SINGLE LARGEST LOCAL APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAM IN THE COUNTRY.
AND I'M VERY, VERY PROUD OF THAT.
UM, AND TO THE GENTLEMAN FROM METRO, UH, THANK YOU FOR WHAT YOU'RE DOING, MAN, BECAUSE WE WANT HARRIS COUNTY TO REMAIN THE ENERGY CAPITAL OF THE NATION.
BUT THE EV COMPONENT OF THIS IS GOING TO HELP US BECOME THE CLEAN ENERGY CAPITAL OF THE NATION.
AND AS A SON OF AN AUTO MECHANIC, YOU KNOW, I APPRECIATE YOU, BROTHER.
UH, SO, LISTEN, THANK YOU FOR ALL YOU'RE DOING.
YOU'RE REALLY, REALLY CHANGING THE LIVES FOR GENERATIONS TO COME.
WE'RE VERY PROUD OF THAT. THANK YOU.
COMMISSIONER ELLIS. I JUST WANT TO ECHO MY COLLEAGUES COMMENTS.
THANK YOU FOR BRINGING THIS FORWARD AND BEING THE LEADER ON PUSHING US TO TO DO IT.
I THINK ANNIE AND PAUL, YOU ALL HAD ME GO OVER AND SPEAK TO SOME CLASS.
THEY WERE GRADUATING FROM ONE SECTION.
BUT IT IS VERY IMPRESSIVE AND I'M GLAD YOU GOT.
I HADN'T SEEN HARRIS MORRIS SPEAK SINCE I WAS ON CITY COUNCIL.
WE BOTH HAD HAIR AND I'M GLAD TO SEE HE'S HE'S STILL TALKING.
HE'S GOING TO DATE US GOING BACK TO THOSE BATTLES OVER METRO ISSUES.
BUT LOOK, IT'S A GOOD THING AND I HOPE THAT THE STATISTICS CONTINUE TO BEAR OUT THE VERY POSITIVE NUMBERS THAT THEY DO NOW, BECAUSE WHEN THIS FEDERAL MONEY IS GONE, IT WILL BE A CHALLENGE FOR US TO COME UP WITH THE RESOURCES AND WE'LL BE LOOKING FOR OTHER PARTNERS IN THE PUBLIC SECTOR AS WELL TO STEP UP.
BUT IT'S A GOOD THING AND A GOOD DAY AND WELL WORTH COMMEMORATING WITH THIS RESOLUTION.
COMMISSIONER RAMSEY. IT IS EXCELLENT THAT WE PAUSE AND RECOGNIZE THE GROWTH AND LABOR AND HOW IMPORTANT IT IS TO JUST THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT IN HARRIS COUNTY.
BUT I THINK IT ALSO REMINDS US THAT HOW IMPORTANT IT IS THAT WE CONTINUE TO DO INFRASTRUCTURE, THAT WE CONTINUE TO FOCUS ON MAJOR INVESTMENTS IN THE COUNTY SO WE CAN KEEP OUR FOLKS WORKING, AND WE DON'T GO THE ROAD OF A LOT OF PLACES WHERE THEY'RE SPENDING LESS IN THE ECONOMY.
WE NEED TO CONTINUE TO GROW THE ECONOMY, AND HARRIS COUNTY IS DOING GREAT.
WE NEED TO BE SURE WE'RE CONTRIBUTING TO AND HELPING TO MAKE THAT A FACT.
SO THANK YOU FOR YOUR EFFORTS.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU ALL.
THERE'S ONE MORE SPEAKER FOR THIS ITEM.
DIANA SIGNS, AND I'M THE DIRECTOR OF NPOWER.
[00:25:01]
I'M HONORED TO REPRESENT NPOWER HERE AND HIGHLIGHT SOME OF OUR SUCCESSES IN THE COMMUNITY OF HARRIS COUNTY.AT NPOWER, WE BELIEVE IN WORKING WITH STUDENTS HOLISTICALLY, SO WE ENSURE THAT OUR TRAINEES HAVE ACCESS TO FULL WRAPAROUND SERVICES WITH A SOCIAL SERVICE MANAGER ON STAFF, AND THEY PROVIDE RESOURCES SUCH AS CHILD CARE, MENTAL HEALTH RESOURCES AND SO FORTH.
RIGHT. SINCE OUR LAUNCH IN MARCH OF 2023, WE'VE PROUDLY GRADUATED 31 STUDENTS SO FAR.
WE'RE AT OUR SECOND COHORT AND ABOUT TO GRADUATE 60 MORE STUDENTS.
UM, WE JUST BELIEVE IN WE KNOW WE'RE MAKING A POSITIVE IMPACT IN THIS COMMUNITY.
SO WE KNOW WE'RE MAKING A BIG IMPACT HERE IN THIS COMMUNITY.
IS THIS A NURSING ALSO? NO IT'S TECHNICAL TRAINING AND IT IT.
AND I LOVE TO SEE YOU KNOW AFLCIO AND POWER TO BIG PARTNERS ON THIS.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE WORK AND CONGRATULATIONS.
THANK YOU. OKAY, WE'LL MOVE ON TO ITEM TWO UNDER RESOLUTIONS.
I BELIEVE WE HAVE SOME LEADERS HERE FROM THE RYAN WHITE PLANNING COUNCIL WHO ARE WHO LONG BEEN WORKING TO SUPPORT FOLKS LIVING WITH HIV AIDS. AND THIS RESOLUTION DESIGNATES FRIDAY, DECEMBER 1ST AS WORLD AIDS DAY IN HARRIS COUNTY.
WHEREAS IN THE GREATER HOUSTON AREA, 30,988 RESIDENTS ARE CURRENTLY LIVING WITH HIV.
AN ESTIMATED 6000 OR MORE ARE UNAWARE OF THEIR POSITIVE HIV STATUS.
IN 2021, OVER 1182 NEW CASES OF HIV WERE DIAGNOSED IN OUR AREA.
DESPITE THE AVAILABILITY OF FREE OR LOW COST HIV TREATMENT SERVICES, STIGMA, DISCRIMINATION, DISPARITY AND OTHER BARRIERS CONTINUE IMPACTING ACCESS TO HIV MEDICAL CARE.
THROUGH ITS ROBUST HIV AIDS PROGRAM, THE HARRIS HEALTH SYSTEM SERVES NEARLY A QUARTER OF THOSE DIAGNOSED WITH HIV AIDS IN HARRIS COUNTY, AND THE RYAN WHITE HIV PROGRAM ENSURES ALL PEOPLE LIVING WITH HIV, BOTH NATIONALLY AND IN THE GREATER HOUSTON AREA, HAVE ACCESS TO HIGH QUALITY MEDICAL CARE.
THE MESSAGE OF WORLD AIDS DAY SUPPORTS THE MILLIONS GLOBALLY AND THOUSANDS LOCALLY WHO SERVE, WHO LIVE WITH HIV, AND ENCOURAGES CONTINUED PROGRESS IN BREAKING DOWN THE BARRIERS THAT PREVENT PEOPLE FROM ACCESSING LIFE.
AND I WANT TO REMIND FOLKS THAT THOMAS STREET HEALTH CENTER WAS THE VERY FIRST FREESTANDING HIV FACILITY IN ALL OF THE UNITED STATES, AND THAT WAS WAS CREATED RIGHT HERE IN HARRIS COUNTY.
WELCOME. THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU.
MANY THANKS FOR THIS IMPORTANT RESOLUTION.
I AM SCOTT BOYLE AND I AM THE VICE CHAIR OF THE PLANNING COUNCIL.
AND UNFORTUNATELY, THE CHAIR OF THE COUNCIL WAS CRYSTAL STAR.
UH, HAS LOST HER VOICE, SO SHE ASKED ME TO SPEAK.
AND OTHER MEMBERS WE HAVE HERE ARE RONNIE GALLEY, WHO'S THE CO-CHAIR OF THE OPERATIONS COMMITTEE.
AND THEN WE ALSO HAVE KENYA GALLARDO, WHO IS A NEW MEMBER.
AND MOST OF US ARE NOT NEW TO HIV.
AS A MATTER OF FACT, MY WIFE AND I WORKED IN HIV IN THE 1980S AT THOMAS STREET CLINIC.
WE WERE THE SOCIAL WORKERS THERE, AND IN THOSE DAYS WE PUT PEOPLE IN THE HALLWAYS AND STRETCHERS AND WHEELCHAIRS, YOU KNOW, AND PEOPLE HAD TO WAIT HOURS TO JUST TO SEE A DOCTOR.
IT HAS DRASTICALLY CHANGED AND THINGS HAVE IMPROVED.
UM, I MYSELF HAVE BEEN WORKING WITH THE COUNCIL SINCE 19.
AND AT THIS TIME WE ARE COMPLETE.
[00:30:05]
AND. MOST OF THEM WHO RECEIVED THEIR DIAGNOSIS FELT AS THOUGH THEY WERE RECEIVING A DEATH SENTENCE, BECAUSE MOST OF THEM DIED WITHIN LIKE SIX MONTHS.THE RYAN WHITE PLANNING COUNCIL HAS PROVIDED MANY, MANY SOCIAL SERVICES FOR THESE PEOPLE AND NOW THEY HAVE INFORMED MEDICAL CARE, ANTIRETROVIRAL MEDICATION AND THE RYAN WHITE PLANNING COUNCIL, WHICH HELPS INDIVIDUALS ACCESS THIS IMPORTANT CARE.
AND PEOPLE ARE LIVING LONGER AND HAVE SIGNIFICANTLY, SIGNIFICANTLY LONGER LIVES AND FEWER SYMPTOMS. SO MUCH HAS CHANGED SINCE THE EARLY DAYS, AS I SAID.
HIV IMPACTS PEOPLE, YOUNG PEOPLE, OLD PEOPLE, SONS, DAUGHTERS.
AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR UNWAVERING SUPPORT OF THE RYAN WHITE PLANNING COUNCIL, WHICH I MUST SAY HAS BEEN FEDERALLY RECOGNIZED BY HRSA AND OFTEN CALLED UPON BY OTHER PLANNING COUNCILS IN THE UNITED STATES OF THE WORK TO DO AND HOW TO DO IT.
THANK YOU ALL. THANK YOU SO MUCH, COMMISSIONER.
COMMISSIONER GARCIA'S GONNA ADD A FEW A FEW WORDS.
I JUST WANT TO JUST TELL YOU, I THINK YOU YOU GUYS KNOW JUST HOW SPECIAL YOUR WORK IS TO ME, HOW IT'S TOUCHED MY FAMILY. BUT I JUST WANT TO SAY THAT I'M GOING TO MISS YOU AT THOMAS STREET.
BUT I WANT TO JUST SAY THAT WE HAVE YOUR BACK.
HOWEVER, WE CAN HELP BUT CONTINUE DOING THE GOOD LORD'S WORK BECAUSE YOU'RE REALLY YOU'RE YOU'RE REALLY AT THE EPITOME OF, OF A OF A WORK THAT HAS FOR WHAT YOU JUST SAID, HAS REALLY DEMONSTRATED A CHANGE.
YEAH. UM, IT WAS, IT WAS A DEATH SENTENCE.
SO MANY WAYS. THERE WAS MEDICINE, BUT IT WAS OUT OF REACH OF SO MANY.
YES. UM, PLACES LIKE TEXAS DIDN'T RECOGNIZE TREATMENT FOR MANY UNTIL JUST YEARS BACK.
SO IT WAS JUST REALLY INCREDIBLE HOW IT'S MOVED ALONG.
BUT THIS WORK ALSO NEEDS TRUSTED MESSENGERS.
YOU GUYS. THANK YOU. THANK, THANK YOU SO MUCH.
THANK YOU. AND COMMISSIONER ELLIS, I'M GLAD YOU GOT YOUR CUP ON SUNDAY WHEN I CAME BACK TO THE DESK.
OKAY, COMMISSIONER ELLIS, WE'LL MOVE ON TO YOUR RESOLUTIONS.
SHOULD I HAVE TO? AND I HAVE A EXPERT WITNESS ON ONE OF THEM.
THIS IS ONE ON HBCUS AND HISPANIC SERVING INSTITUTIONS.
THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION RECENTLY PUT OUT A RULING CHALLENGING TEXAS TO DO MORE TO AVOID POSSIBLE LITIGATION OVER MAYBE RACIALLY DISCRIMINATORY FUNDING POLICIES FOR HISTORICALLY BLACK COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES.
THIS RESOLUTION CALLS FOR GOVERNOR ABBOTT AND STATE LEADERS TO APPROPRIATELY RESPOND TO THE BIDEN-HARRIS REQUESTS RELATED TO PRAIRIE VIEW, GOING BACK TO THE HISTORIC MORRILL ACTS. THAT WAS ONE THAT PASSED, THAT CREATED THE GREAT UNIVERSITIES LIKE A&M, BUT THEY WERE WHITE UNIVERSITIES, A SEPARATE ONE PASSING BY LATER FOR HISTORICALLY BLACK UNIVERSITIES THAT WERE BEING CREATED.
BUT THEY WERE SUPPOSED TO BE SEPARATE BUT EQUAL.
AND THAT OBVIOUSLY HAS NOT BEEN THE CASE.
IT APPEARS THAT THERE ARE ALSO ONGOING FUNDING DISPARITIES WITH TEXAS, OTHER HBCU BEING TEXAS SOUTHERN AND POSSIBLY SOME HISPANIC SERVING INSTITUTIONS SUCH AS UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON DOWNTOWN.
GOVERNOR BUSH, IN RESPONSE TO A SIMILAR BUT NOT THE SAME MANDATE FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION AND CIVIL RIGHTS, DID DO AN AGREEMENT WHICH OBLIGATED TEXAS TO DO WITH HIS FUNDING, HISTORIC AMOUNT OF FUNDING FOR PURVIEW AND TEXAS SOUTHERN.
THAT FUNDING CONTINUED AT PRAIRIE VIEW, BUT IT HAS DECLINED FOR PURVIEW OF 5% AND 14.6%.
FUNDING FOR DOWNTOWN DROPPED 15%.
I THINK I HAVE ONE RESOURCE, WITNESS JOHN BRITTON, WHO IS ON THE LINE, I BELIEVE.
IS THAT CORRECT? GOOD MORNING EVERYONE.
JUST SAY YOUR NAME. PROFESSOR BRITTON.
HE'S A FORMER DEAN OF LAW SCHOOL AT TEXAS SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY, AND ALSO WAS ONE OF THE LEADERS WITH THE LAWYERS COMMITTEE ON CIVIL RIGHTS THAT FILED THE HISTORIC LAWSUIT, WHICH LED TO A MASSIVE SETTLEMENT IN THE STATE OF MARYLAND, AND THAT WILL BE REPLICATED IN OTHER STATES AROUND THE COUNTRY.
[00:35:06]
I HOPE IN TEXAS, WE'LL GET AHEAD OF THE CURVE.YES, SIR. PROFESSOR BRITTON, YOU HAVE TO SAY YOUR NAME FOR THE RECORD.
AND YOU CAN TESTIFY, PROFESSOR.
AS COMMISSIONER RODNEY ELLIS SAID, I'M A FORMER DEAN OF THE THURGOOD MARSHALL SCHOOL OF LAW.
I WAS CHIEF COUNSEL FOR THE LAWYERS COMMITTEE FOR CIVIL RIGHTS UNDER LAW, AND I WAS THE FIRST AFRICAN-AMERICAN TENURED PROFESSOR AT THE UNIVERSITY OF CONNECTICUT SCHOOL OF LAW, AND I STARTED BACK IN 1969 AS A CIVIL RIGHTS LAWYER IN MISSISSIPPI.
THE OFFICE FOR CIVIL RIGHTS OF THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION, PARTICULARLY UNDER FORMER PRESIDENT CLINTON, ALONG WITH THE OFFICE FOR CIVIL RIGHTS IN THE JUSTICE DEPARTMENT, INVESTIGATED SEGREGATION AND UNEQUAL STATE TREATMENT OF HBCUS, PARTICULARLY WITH LAND GRANT FUNDING.
THEY DID NOT TAKE THE ACTION THAT WAS NECESSARY IN THE STATES.
AS A RESULT, THE OFFICE FOR CIVIL RIGHTS IN THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION REACHED AGREEMENT.
REACHED AN AGREEMENT OF A CONTRACT BETWEEN THE FEDERAL DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION AND THE STATE TO MAKE UP FOR THE FUNDS THAT WERE NOT SUBMITTED TO THEM.
AND PRAIRIE VIEW IS A LAND GRANT UNIVERSITY AND ALSO DESERVES FUNDING TOO.
AND MOST STATES CHEATED OR ROBBED THE HBCUS DURING THIS TIME.
SO THE QUESTION NOW REALLY IS FOR THE HBCUS AND THE ACS TO COME TOGETHER AND ASK THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION AFTER THE PRESIDENT AND THOSE AGENCIES SENT THE GOVERNOR OF TEXAS THE FACTS ABOUT THE LOW LEVEL OF FUNDS FOR THESE HBCUS AND ASK NOW THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION TO ENTER INTO A CONTRACT WITH THE STATE OF TEXAS TO COMPLY.
AND ABOUT TWO YEARS AGO, WE SETTLED THAT CASE FOR OVER 700 AND $500 MILLION.
THIS IS WHAT NEEDS TO BE DONE IN ORDER TO MAKE EQUAL RIGHTS FOR EDUCATION FOR CHILDREN OF COLOR.
COMMISSIONER BRIONES. NO, I JUST WANTED TO SAY THANK YOU, DR.
BRITTON. AND THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER ELLIS, FOR BRINGING THIS.
WE NEED TO LEARN FROM HISTORY AND BE ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF HISTORY TO MAKE SURE THAT ALL OF OUR CHILDREN, WHETHER IT'S IN K THROUGH 12 AND HIGHER EDUCATION, HAVE EQUAL ACCESS TO HIGH QUALITY EDUCATION.
AND WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR RIGHTS ARE BEING ADVANCED, NOT RETROGRESSED.
AND I LOOK FORWARD TO THE DAY TEXAS IS ON THE LEADING END OF THIS SPECTRUM.
BUT UNTIL THEN, I APPRECIATE THE WORK OF DR.
BRITTON AND ALL OF THOSE WHO ADVOCATE FOR OUR RIGHTS IN THIS STATE AND AROUND THE COUNTRY.
GOVERNOR HOGAN IS ON THE WAY OUT THE DOOR.
HE SIGNED AN AGREEMENT FOR THE FIRST AFRICAN AMERICAN GOVERNOR OF MARYLAND TO IMPLEMENT.
ONE SORT OF MARCH OF DIMES AND I WON'T READ IT ALL.
MR. GARCIA, YOU MENTIONED ON THE AIDS ISSUE BEING PERSONALLY AFFECTED.
I KNOW YOU WERE NOT LUCKY ENOUGH WITH YOUR FAMILY MEMBER, BUT IT SAYS WHEREAS 1 IN 8 BABIES IS BORN PRETERM EACH YEAR IN HARRIS COUNTY, REPRESENTING 12.3% OF ALL COUNTY BIRTHS.
AND WHEREAS THE MONTH OF NOVEMBER IS RECOGNIZED AS PREMATURITY AWARENESS MONTH AND NOVEMBER 17TH IS RECOGNIZED AS WORLD PREMATURITY DAY TO RAISE AWARENESS.
I APPRECIATE THE WORK OF ALL OF OUR COUNTY AND CITY DEPARTMENTS ON THIS IMPORTANT ISSUE, AND I DO HAVE ONE RESOURCE WITNESS DIRECTOR ROBINSON HERE, AND MAYBE OTHERS HAVE TOO.
JUDGE. COMMISSIONERS BARBIE ROBINSON, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF HARRIS COUNTY PUBLIC HEALTH.
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I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR RESOLUTION RECOGNIZING NOVEMBER 17TH AS PREMATURITY AWARENESS DAY AND NOVEMBER AS PREMATURITY AWARENESS MONTH.PREMATURE BIRTH IS A GLOBAL CONCERN AFFECTING MILLIONS OF FAMILIES EVERY YEAR.
AND SO WE DON'T KNOW ALL OF THE CAUSES OF PREMATURE BIRTH.
BUT WE DID. I WANT TO SHARE SOME THINGS THAT WOMEN CAN DO, BIRTHING PERSONS CAN DO TO REDUCE THE RISK OR MITIGATE THE RISK OF PREMATURE BIRTH, AND THAT IS TO MAINTAIN A HEALTHY OKAY, JUST BECAUSE THIS IS INFORMATIONAL.
MAINTAIN A HEALTHY WEIGHT AND LIFESTYLE.
AVOID SMOKING AND USING ALCOHOL.
AVOID DRUGS AND OR ABUSING PRESCRIPTION MEDICATIONS.
GET PRENATAL CARE AS SOON AS YOU THINK YOU'RE PREGNANT AND THROUGHOUT YOUR PREGNANCY.
SEEK MEDICAL ATTENTION FOR ANY WARNING SIGNS OR SYMPTOMS OF PRETERM LABOR.
IF YOU'VE HAD A PREVIOUS PRETERM BIRTH AND WAIT AT LEAST 18 MONTHS BETWEEN PREGNANCY.
WE THANK YOU FOR ALL OF THE INVESTMENTS THAT YOU ALL HAVE MADE IN OUR PROGRAMING TO ADVANCE, YOU KNOW, EQUITY IN TERMS OF BIRTHING OUTCOMES FOR WOMEN, BIRTHING PERSONS, AS WELL AS INFANTS.
AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO SHARING THAT WORK.
WE WILL BE BACK BEFORE COURT TO SHARE MATERNAL BILL OF RIGHTS THAT ARE DESIGNED TO HELP BIRTHING PERSONS, AS WELL AS PROFESSIONALS TO TO RAISE AWARENESS OF THE CONDITIONS AND CAUSES OF POOR OUTCOMES FOR BIRTHING PERSONS AND INFANTS.
I'M THE DIRECTOR OF MATERNAL CHILD HEALTH COLLECTIVE IMPACT AT MARCH OF DIMES.
AND EVERY DAY WE LEAD THE FIGHT FOR THE HEALTH OF ALL MOMS AND ALL BABIES, ENSURING THAT EVERY MOM, BIRTHING PERSON AND BABY HAS THE BEST POSSIBLE START IN 2003. MARCH OF DIMES LAUNCHED PREMATURITY AWARENESS MONTH TO BRING ATTENTION TO THE ALARMING RISE IN PRETERM BIRTH RATES.
INITIATIVES TO FIGHT PRETERM BIRTH, INCLUDING MATERNAL AND INFANT HEALTH, HOME VISITING PROGRAMS SUCH AS THOSE AT HARRIS COUNTY PUBLIC HEALTH, AS WELL AS PAID PARENTAL LEAVE, SUCH AS THOSE OFFERED BY HARRIS COUNTY.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR COLLECTIVE EFFORTS.
THANK YOU SO MUCH, COMMISSIONER.
THAT DESERVES A ROUND OF APPLAUSE.
COMMISSIONER GARCIA. THANK YOU.
JUDGE. UM, TODAY, UH, IT'S A LITTLE BIT WITH A HEAVY HEART, BUT NONETHELESS, I'M EXCITED TO WELCOME GLENN O'NEILL, CO-FOUNDER AND PRESIDENT OF THE 500 AND 1C3 NONPROFIT CURE SANFILIPPO FOUNDATION.
O'NEILL IS THE FATHER OF ELIZA.
ELIZA O'NEILL, WHO WAS DIAGNOSED IN 2013 WITH SAN FILIPPO SYNDROME NUMBER THREE.
HE CO-FOUNDED THE CURE SANFILIPPO FOUNDATION TO ADVOCATE FOR AND FUND RESEARCH FOR TREATMENTS FOR A CURE OR CURE FOR ALL CHILDREN WITH SANFILIPPO SYNDROME. IN TEN YEARS, THE FOUNDATION HAS GROWN TO INCLUDE MORE THAN 125 PARTNER FAMILIES OF CHILDREN WITH SANFILIPPO SYNDROME AROUND THE COUNTRY AND WORLD.
MISSION. THE FOUNDATION HAS HELPED FUND 45 PLUS GRANTS AROUND THE WORLD, WHICH HAVE LED TO THREE CLINICAL TRIALS SO FAR. TREATING CHILDREN WITH SANFILIPPO SYNDROME.
RARE. GEOMETRIC GENOMICS INSTITUTE.
PRIMER. ADVANCING ETHICAL RESEARCH, AND MANY OTHERS.
GLENN WAS THE 2017 FOR SANOFI GENOCIDE TORCH AWARD WINNER, AND RECEIVED THE
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2017 GO-FUND ME TRAILBLAZER AWARD IN RECOGNITION OF THEIR WORK AT THE AT THE FOUNDATION AND IN THE AREA OF RARE DISEASE.GLENN, ALONG WITH HIS WIFE KARA, WERE AWARDED THE PORTRAITS OF COURAGE HONOR BY AN AWARD IN 2015, AND IN 2017 THEY RECEIVED THE SOUTH CAROLINA CHILD ADVOCATES AWARD FROM THE SOUTH CAROLINA AMERICAN ACADEMY OF PEDIATRICS.
GLENN AND KARA AND THEIR SON BECKHAM AND THEIR DAUGHTER ELIZA LIVE IN COLUMBIA, SOUTH CAROLINA, AND YOU CAN LEARN MORE ABOUT CURE SANFILIPPO FOUNDATION AT CURE SANFILIPPO FOUNDATION.ORG.
UH, WORLD SANFILIPPO AWARENESS DAY IS ABOUT SPREADING AWARENESS AND SPARKING CONVERSATIONS GLOBALLY ABOUT A RARE DISEASE, THE SANFILIPPO SYNDROME.
IT ALSO HONORS THE FAMILIES OF THESE PRECIOUS CHILDREN AND DUE TO ITS NEURODEGENERATIVE NATURE AND MULTISYSTEM IMPACT, SANFILIPPO SYNDROME IS OFTEN CALLED CHILDHOOD ALZHEIMER'S.
IT CAUSES CHILDREN TO LOSE ALL SKILLS THEY'VE GAINED.
AND OFTEN NOT SURVIVE INTO THE SECOND DECADE OF LIFE.
IT IS ESTIMATED THAT SANFILIPPO SYNDROME AFFECTS ONE IN EVERY 70,000 BIRTHS, AND IS CLASSIFIED AS A RARE DISEASE BECAUSE IT AFFECTS FEWER THAN 200,000IN THE UNITED STATES.
SYLVESTER SANFILIPPO, THE MINNESOTA PEDIATRICIAN AND RESEARCHER WHO FIRST DESCRIBED THE ENZYME DEFECT THAT CAUSES THE DISORDER WHEN HE FIRST PRESENTED HIS FINDINGS IN 1963.
AND CHILDREN WITH SANFILIPPO SYNDROME ARE BORN WITH A SINGLE GENETIC DEFECT, A SINGLE CHANGE IN THEIR DNA THAT CAUSES THEIR BODIES TO LACK A NECESSARY AN ENZYME.
SIGNS OF SANFILIPPO CAN BE PRESENT IN THE NEWBORN IN THE NEWBORN PERIOD OF A CHILD'S LIFE, BUT OFTEN GO UNNOTICED WITHOUT SCREENING. MOST SYMPTOMS ARE TYPICALLY RECOGNIZED BETWEEN 1 AND 6 YEARS OF AGE, WHEN THE CHILD BEGINS SHOWING SIGNS OF DEVELOPMENTAL DELAY. RELENTLESS AND DEVASTATING, SANFILIPPO HAS A 100% MORTALITY RATE.
WITH CHILDREN TYPICALLY PASSING AWAY IN THEIR EARLY TEENS.
CURRENTLY, THERE IS NO FDA APPROVED TREATMENT OR CURE.
BUT THERE IS RESEARCH HAPPENING AND THERE IS HOPE.
THANK THINK. THINK YOU TOOK CARE OF MOST OF MY SPEECH.
AGAIN, I'M GLENN, PRESIDENT AND CO-FOUNDER OF CURE SANFILIPPO FOUNDATION.
THANK YOU TO THE COMMISSIONERS COURT.
AS YOU HEARD, AND I'LL JUST REPEAT QUICKLY, SANFILIPPO IS A GENETIC DISEASE.
IT'S DEVASTATING, TERMINAL AND RAPIDLY DEGENERATIVE.
IT'S ABOUT THE WORST THING YOU CAN HEAR AS A PARENT, AND THERE'S NO APPROVED CURE OR TREATMENT.
DOCTORS OFTEN TELL PARENTS TO SIMPLY TAKE YOUR CHILD HOME AND LOVE THEM.
THERE'S NOT A LOT THAT CAN BE DONE.
THEY LOSE THE ABILITY TO WALK, TALK, FEED THEMSELVES.
THEY'LL HAVE SEIZURES, SUFFER SEVERE, SEVERE DEMENTIA BEFORE PASSING AWAY IN THEIR TEEN YEARS.
I KNOW THIS BECAUSE MY DAUGHTER WAS DIAGNOSED TEN YEARS AGO, RIGHT ABOUT AT FRANKIE'S AGE.
BUT SHE'S NOT. UNFORTUNATELY, SHE'S LOST.
SHE'S FULLY DEPENDENT UPON OTHERS 24 OVER SEVEN TO HELP WITH EVERY BASIC NEED.
IT'S NOT THE LIFE YOU ENVISION FOR YOUR CHILD OR YOUR FAMILY.
THE TAKE YOUR CHILD HOME AND LOVE THEM.
THERE'S NOTHING YOU CAN DO. DID NOT SIT WELL WITH US.
CURE SANFILIPPO FOUNDATION IS ABOUT HOPE.
HOPE IS NOT SEEING YOUR CHILD SIMPLY FADE AWAY AND DIE.
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HOPE IS GIVING YOUR CHILD A CHANCE AT A BETTER LIFE THAN THE TRADITIONAL COURSE THIS DISEASE TAKES.THAT'S WHAT OUR FOUNDATION WORKS ON BY FUNDING RESEARCH, CLINICAL TRIALS, AND IMPORTANT PROJECTS THAT BRING BRING US CLOSER TO REACHING THE GOALS OF ONE OR MORE APPROVED FDA TREATMENTS. OUR BIGGEST NEEDS AT THE MOMENT ARE INCREASED FUNDING TO GIVE MORE CHILDREN A CHANCE BY FUNDING MORE RESEARCH AND CLINICAL TRIALS.
ANOTHER NEED IS THAT WE'RE A POINT WHERE A FEW SANFILIPPO CLINICAL TRIAL PROGRAMS ARE NEEDING THE FDA TO USE THE FLEXIBILITY AT THEIR DISPOSAL AND APPLYING THE ACCELERATED APPROVAL PATHWAY PATHWAY FOR SANFILIPPO SYNDROME TO EXPEDITE THE OPPORTUNITIES FOR CHILDREN TO RECEIVE A TREATMENT.
WE WANT HOPE FOR MIKE'S GRANDDAUGHTER, FRANKIE AGAIN, WHO'S JUST FOUR YEARS OLD.
I WANT TO AGAIN THANK THE COURT FOR THIS RESOLUTION AND THIS OPPORTUNITY.
AND THANK YOU FOR MAKING WORLD SANFILIPPO AWARENESS DAY KNOWN THIS THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 16TH.
I REPRESENT HONORABLY REPRESENT THE HARRIS COUNTY.
FOLKS, THE FEW HARRIS COUNTY FAMILIES AFFLICTED WITH THIS DISEASE.
AND FIRST OF ALL, COMMISSIONER GARCIA, I VERY MUCH APPRECIATE YOUR EMOTION ABOUT THIS.
UM, AND I'VE INTRODUCED MYSELF BETTER KNOWN AS ABBY'S FATHER IN THIS CONTEXT.
WELL, LET'S BE HONEST, IN MOST CONTEXTS.
UM, ABBY WAS DIAGNOSED WITH SAN FELIPE IN 2017.
THE MOST IMPORTANT PART OF THIS, AGAIN, IS AWARENESS.
WHEN ABBY WAS DIAGNOSED IN 2017, AND ABBY IS A VERY RARE CASE OF THIS RARE DISEASE, AS SHE HAS AN ATTENUATED FORM AND WASN'T EVEN DIAGNOSED UNTIL HER EARLY 20S AND IS 28 RIGHT NOW, STILL STILL WITH US BECAUSE SHE HAS AN ATTENUATED FORM OR SLOWER PROGRESSING FORM OF THE DISEASE.
BUT THE AWARENESS IS IMPORTANT.
WE WENT THROUGH THREE NEUROLOGISTS, MULTIPLE DOCTORS WHO HAD NEVER HEARD OF THIS DISEASE.
AND SO NOT JUST THE PUBLIC BUT THE MEDICAL COMMUNITY BEING ABLE TO RAISE AWARENESS IS SO CRITICAL.
AND AGAIN, THE FUNDRAISING THAT WAS MENTIONED.
AND ONE OF THOSE THREE TRIALS THAT CURED SAN FILIPPO FOUNDATION ACTUALLY FINANCED.
SO WE APPRECIATE THE COMMISSIONERS COURT, THIS RESOLUTION.
WE APPRECIATE EVERYTHING YOU GUYS HAVE DONE.
WE ARE WE UNFORTUNATELY WELCOME.
MIKE LIKES INTO THE SAN FILIPPO FAMILY, BUT WE APPRECIATE ALL THE SUPPORT YOU GUYS PROVIDE US.
THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU.
AND JUDGE UM, GLENN AND YOU ALL, MIKE IN PARTICULAR.
YOU KNOW, THOSE OF US IN ELECTED OFFICE ASK A GREAT DEAL OF OUR STAFF, RIGHT? IF IT'S A WINTER STORM.
MIKE IS THERE. STAFF IS THERE.
THESE ROLES HAVE A GREAT DEAL OF AUTHORITY.
UM, BUT IN CIRCUMSTANCES LIKE THIS.
THE TRAJECTORY THAT FRANKIE MAY BE ON.
UM. BUT I WANT TO POINT OUT THAT IN MY CAREER I'VE SEEN. THE WORST OF A LOT OF PEOPLE.
THE GREAT BABY. AND IT JUST MAKES ME REALIZE HOW MUCH I TOOK FOR GRANTED WITH MY DAUGHTER.
BUT TO THE EXTENT THAT WE CAN.
WE GOT YOUR BACK. AND IN FACT.
ONE OF THE. THINGS I TRY TO PUSH IN OUR HEALTH INSURANCE WAS.
DO WE DO ANYTHING FOR SANFILIPPO? SO THINK IT'S GOING TO TAKE THOSE LITTLE THINGS TO MAKE AN IMPACT FOR OTHER FAMILIES.
[00:55:02]
BUT I WILL SAY THIS.FOR BEING THE COUNTY THAT HAS THE WORLD RENOWNED MEDICAL CENTER.
WE OUGHT TO BE ABLE TO DO SOMETHING.
AND YOU HAVE MY COMMITMENT. GOD BLESS YOU.
YEAH. MIKE. THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER AND COMMISSIONERS COURT FOR DOING THIS RESOLUTION WHEN ASKED.
AND I JUST HAD A SIMPLE HOPE FOR THIS RESOLUTION.
I KNEW IT WASN'T GOING TO CHANGE MUCH.
BUT NOW THAT EVERYBODY'S HEARD ABOUT THIS DISEASE AND KNOWS A LITTLE BIT ABOUT SOMETHING, NOVEMBER 16TH IS WORLD SANFILIPPO DAY IS ACTUALLY THE DAY OF ELIZA'S BIRTHDAY, AND THAT'S WHY THAT IS THAT DAY.
I HOPE YOU ALL TAKE YOUR TIME TODAY AND GO TO CURE AND THE CURE SAN FILIPPO WEBSITE AND LEARN ABOUT THIS DISEASE AND LEARN ABOUT THESE FAMILIES AND THESE KIDS. AND ONCE YOU DO, WE CAN GET THAT MOMENTUM GOING TO HELP CURE THIS DISEASE.
AND I KNOW IT CAN HAPPEN BECAUSE MY YOUNGEST DAUGHTER, CHLOE, WAS DIAGNOSED WITH CHILDHOOD LEUKEMIA 18 YEARS AGO, AND ONE OF THE FIRST THINGS THEY TOLD US WAS, HAD THIS BEEN DIAGNOSED WITH THIS 20 YEARS AGO, SHE'D BE DEAD.
IT WAS BECAUSE PEOPLE STARTED RECOGNIZING CHILDHOOD CANCER AND PEOPLE STARTED TALKING ABOUT IT.
PEOPLE STARTED RAISING MONEY FOR IT.
THEN THAT SHORT TIME SHE WAS ABLE TO BE CURED.
AND I KNOW THAT YOUR DAUGHTERS PROBABLY WON'T.
BUT SOMEDAY, WHEN A DOCTOR GOES AND TELLS THAT FAMILY.
THAT THEIR DAUGHTER HAS SANFILIPPO.
AND THEY SAID, THIS IS HOW WE'RE GOING TO CURE IT.
AND THANK YOU ALL FOR PASSING THIS.
I REALLY DO APPRECIATE IT MEANS A LOT TO ME AND MY FAMILY.
THANK YOU. COMMISSIONER BRIONES.
THANK YOU. JUDGE. FIRST OF ALL, COMMISSIONER GARCIA, THANK YOU FOR BRINGING THIS.
MR. LYKES, WE'LL ALL BE THINKING ABOUT FRANKIE AND ELIZA AND ABBY AND AND I AGREE WITH YOU.
YOU KNOW, AS, AS FIRST OF ALL, YOU'VE BROUGHT SO MANY OF US IN THIS ROOM TO TEARS.
AS PARENTS, IT'S IT'S OUR WORST FEAR THAT WE WILL OUTLIVE OUR CHILDREN OR GRANDCHILDREN.
AND IF WE THINK OF THE IMPORTANT RESOLUTIONS THAT YOU ALL BROUGHT TODAY, WHETHER IT WAS.
WHEN WE THINK OF PREMATURE BIRTHS, WE SHOULD NOT HAVE 1 IN 8 BABIES HERE IN HARRIS COUNTY.
WE SHOULD NOT BE HAVING WORSE OUTCOMES THAN THE COUNTRY AND SAN FILIPPO.
I MEAN, THERE'S SO MANY ROOM FOR OPPORTUNITIES.
AND SO I HOPE THAT TOGETHER, EVERYONE IN THIS ROOM, THE NETWORKS WE HAVE, WHETHER IT'S A DONATION, DOCTORS CONNECTIONS AT THE MEDICAL CENTER TO REALLY HELP BE THIS PLACE OF INNOVATION AND PROGRESS.
AND AS A MOM, MY HEART IS WITH YOU 1,000%.
SO THANK YOU FOR YOUR ACTIVISM AND HELPING TO IMPROVE OUTCOMES FOR MANY OTHER CHILDREN TO COME.
YEAH. I JUST WANT TO THANK YOU AS WELL.
I KNEW, MIKE, YOU WERE DEALING WITH AN ISSUE, BUT I DIDN'T KNOW WHAT IT WAS.
BUT IT'S CERTAINLY EDUCATIONAL.
SO THANK YOU. YES, COMMISSIONER RAMSEY.
MIKE, THANK YOU FOR LETTING US WALK AROUND YOUR LIFE.
BUT MORE THAN THAT, TRYING TO ENGAGE ON THIS VERY, VERY DIFFICULT DISEASE.
BUT AS MR. GARCIA HAS SAID, WE GOT YOU BACK.
THANK YOU. AND YOU KNOW, ALL OUR TEAMS ARE THERE TO SUPPORT YOU AND YOUR TEAM, COMMISSIONER.
UM, YOU KNOW, WE WE WE CAN ONLY IMAGINE THE PAIN THAT WE'RE THERE FOR YOU.
AND I'M SO GLAD THAT YOU GUYS HAVE TAKEN THAT PAIN TO RAISE AWARENESS.
AND I WAS JUST CHECKING OUT IS CURE SANFILIPPO FOUNDATION.ORG.
SO YOU SURE HAVE ADDED QUITE A QUITE A FEW DOZEN PEOPLE WHO NOW ARE JOINING YOUR CRUSADE.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER GARCIA.
THANK YOU. I BELIEVE YOU HAVE ONE MORE RESOLUTION.
COMMISSIONER GARCIA. WOULD YOU LIKE TO GO OVER IT NOW? I DO JUDGE.
OKAY. JUST TO RECOGNIZE THAT WE'VE HAD SOME INCREDIBLE SERVANT LEADERS IN OUR COMMUNITY AND EUGENE
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JEFFERSON, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS JEFF MILLER, THE THIRD WAS A FRIEND, A LEADER, AND SOMEONE WHO SERVED THE COMMUNITY OF GALENA PARK WITH INCREDIBLE PASSION.WE WELCOME HIS SON, JEFF HERE TODAY TO SHARE A FEW WORDS.
HOWEVER, SOME OF THE HIGHLIGHTS OF JEFF SENIOR'S CAREER INCLUDE THAT HE WAS A LONGTIME GALENA PARK TRUSTEE. AMONGST HIS GREATEST ACCOMPLISHMENTS WAS TO HAVE BEEN A BOARD MEMBER FOR 25 CONTINUOUS YEARS. HE SERVED WITH 21 GALENA PARK ISD BOARD MEMBERS AND FOUR SUPERINTENDENTS.
SERVED AS BOARD PRESIDENT FOUR TIMES.
THE LAST TIME DURING THE 2021 SCHOOL YEAR AND SERVED AS A BOARD MEMBER, WHICH COINCIDED WITH MANY AND KNEW MANY NEW UPGRADED DISTRICT FACILITIES. BUILDING UPGRADES INCLUDE NEW SCHOOLS AND THE GALENA PARK STADIUM, AND HE SERVED FROM 1997 TO 2022. AND HE GOT TO SEE A LOT OF GOOD FOOTBALL CHAMPIONSHIPS.
YES HE DID. SO JEFF, WELCOME US AND IF YOU'LL INTRODUCE YOURSELF.
THANKS, GUYS. I'M JEFFREY MILLER.
HE WAS THE FIRST PERSON IN HIS FAMILY TO GO TO COLLEGE, AND HE WORKED HARD TO PUT HIMSELF THROUGH SCHOOL, WHERE HE EARNED A BACHELOR'S AND MASTER'S AND A JURIS DOCTORATE DEGREE IN LAW. MY MOTHER'S SIDE OF THE FAMILY HAS DEEP ROOTS IN THE GALENA PARK AREA, AND WHEN THEY WERE MARRIED AND MOVED BACK TO HOUSTON, HE EMBRACED THE THE CITY AS ITS OWN.
BUT AS IT IS, I'M GRATEFUL TO BE HERE.
I MISS HIM VERY MUCH, AND I TAKE COMFORT IN KNOWING THAT A SERVICE, A CONTRIBUTIONS TO OUR COMMUNITY HAVE AFFECTED SO MANY FAMILIES AND WILL CONTINUE TO DO SO FOR MANY YEARS TO COME. THANK YOU AGAIN.
AND LISTEN, THANK NOBODY SERVES LIKE THIS WITHOUT A FAMILY SUPPORT.
HE DID IT. I GOT TO KNOW HIM WHEN I WAS SHERIFF.
UH, HE WAS HE WAS A PASSIONATE GUY.
YEAH. YEAH. THERE'S A SPECIAL GROUP OF PEOPLE OVER THERE ON THE EAST SIDE.
THAT'S RIGHT. GOD BLESS YOU, MAN.
THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU FOR SHARING YOUR DAD WITH US.
YES, WE'RE GOING TO HONOR KRISTA WILLIAMS. YATES. AND WHILE I SPEAK, IF YOU COULD WALK UP KRISTA, PRECINCT THREE IS HOME TO A PLACE THAT GIVES OVER 29,000 FEMALE ATHLETES AN ABILITY TO TRAIN AND MAKE THEIR DREAMS COME TRUE.
IT IS WITH GREAT HONOR THAT WE RECOGNIZE TWO TIME OLYMPIAN AND KINGWOOD HIGH SCHOOL SOFTBALL COACH KRISTA WILLIAMS YATES AS A 2024 TEXAS SPORTS HALL OF FAME INDUCTEE.
THANK YOU. I COULD READ ANOTHER FIVE PAGES OF THINGS THAT YOU'VE DONE, KRISTA.
BUT AGAIN, THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP.
I'VE GOT FIVE GRAND GRANDDAUGHTERS.
I DON'T KNOW THAT ANY ARE IN SOFTBALL YET, BUT WE'LL BE WORKING ON IT.
BUT FIRST, I JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU.
UM, IT'S AN AMAZING HONOR AND I'M APPRECIATIVE OF EVERYTHING THAT I'VE EVER HAD.
AND THAT'S WHAT MADE ALL THIS COME TRUE.
AND I JUST FEEL LIKE THIS PALES IN COMPARISON TO THE STORY THAT YOU JUST SHARED UP HERE.
UM, BUT I'M STILL A COACH AND A TEACHER, AND I JUST WANT TO SAY TO EVERYBODY IN THE ROOM THAT ALTHOUGH WE HAVE ONLY A MINUTE TO SPEAK, YOU HAVE SUCH A POWERFUL MINUTE TO MAKE IN SOMEBODY'S LIFE, AND IT MAKES ALL THE DIFFERENCE.
JUST LIKE Y'ALL MADE A DIFFERENCE IN MINE.
THANK YOU. COMMISSIONER, YOU HAVE A SECOND RESOLUTION.
I DO, AND THIS WAS ON A MUCH SADDER NOTE.
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UH, I THINK DAVID MILLS.DAVID, ARE YOU HERE? UH. ON OCTOBER 28TH, 2017, 16 YEAR OLD KAYLI MILLS, A KLEIN COLLEGE HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT, WAS KILLED IN A ONE CAR ROLLOVER CRASH 500 YARDS FROM HOME.
SHE WAS RIDING IN THE BACK SEAT, REMOVED HER SEATBELT TO TAKE A SELFIE WITH A FRIEND.
THE CAR VEERED OFF THE ROAD AND BEGAN TO FLIP.
SHE WAS EJECTED AND DIED INSTANTLY.
HER THREE FRIENDS WERE WEARING THEIR SEAT BELTS AND THEY SURVIVED.
WHEREAS SINCE 2017, THE KAYLI MILLS FOUNDATION HAS SOUGHT TO HONOR KAYLEE'S MEMORY BY RAISING AWARENESS ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF SEATBELT USE.
AND WHEREAS 1 IN 10 AMERICANS ADMIT THEY DO NOT REGULARLY WEAR SEATBELTS, THIS NUMBER IS HIGHER FOR TEENS WHO ARE THREE TIMES MORE LIKELY TO DIE IN A VEHICLE CRASH THAN ANY OTHER AGE GROUP.
SEATBELTS REDUCE FATALITIES BY 45% AMONG DRIVERS.
WHEREAS EACH YEAR ON NOVEMBER THE 14TH, WE CELEBRATE NATIONAL SEATBELT DAY AS A CHANCE TO ADVOCATE AND THE IMPORTANCE OF WEARING A SEATBELT. AND THIS YEAR, WE'RE GOING TO REMEMBER KALEY AND THAT EFFORT AS WE REMIND OUR CHILDREN, GRANDCHILDREN AND ANYBODY WE COME, THE IMPORTANCE OF IT.
AND TO BE ABLE TO TELL A STORY, AS SAD AS IT IS, IS SOMETHING THAT IS HELPFUL.
PLEASE, PLEASE SHARE AND OFFER A MOMENT.
THANK YOU TO ALL THE COMMISSIONERS FOR HAVING US HERE.
JUDGE HIDALGO, UM, SIX YEARS AGO, WE LOST OUR DAUGHTER, AND WE'VE MADE IT OUR MISSION TO DO WHAT WE CAN TO TO CHANGE THE STATISTICS, NOT JUST HERE LOCALLY, BUT ACROSS THE UNITED STATES.
AND I DO WANT TO THANK, UH, FIRST, I WANT TO THANK THANK TOM OVER HERE WITH WITH METRO.
TODAY IS NATIONAL SEATBELT DAY, AND I'M PROUD TO AND I REALLY WANT TO THANK LEE VELA HERE WITH UH, WITH CLEAR CHANNEL, WHO IS PUTTING UP 2000 BILLBOARDS ACROSS THE UNITED STATES TODAY TO REMIND DRIVERS NOT JUST ON TEXAS ROADS, BUT ACROSS THE UNITED STATES TO WEAR TO WEAR THEIR SEAT. YOU KNOW, LOOK, IT'S SIMPLE.
UM. IT SEEMS LIKE IT'S COMMON SENSE, BUT EVERYBODY IN THIS ROOM HAS BEEN IMPACTED OR KNOWS SOMEBODY THAT'S BEEN IMPACTED BY BY CRASHES, WHETHER IT BE FATAL OR SERIOUS INJURIES.
UM, LOSING A LOVED ONE IS HARD AND BUCKLING UP IS EASY.
AND SO WE'RE, WE'RE WE'RE GOING TO CONTINUE TO HAVE THAT CONVERSATION.
RAISING AWARENESS IS ALL ABOUT HAVING THAT CONVERSATION, UH, REMIND YOUR LOVED ONES BECAUSE WE NEVER IMAGINED THAT THAT THAT WE WOULD SAY GOODBYE TO OUR DAUGHTER FOR THE LAST TIME. SHE WAS VERY GOOD ABOUT WEARING HER SEATBELT, BUT SHE LET HER GUARD DOWN AND AND SO I JUST WANT TO JUST REMIND EVERYBODY HERE TO THAT LOOK, SOMEBODY COUNTING ON YOU TO MAKE IT HOME SAFE.
THANK YOU. DAVID, IS THAT THAT PIN YOU HAVE? YES, SIR. OUR SEATBELT RIBBON ON OUR SEATBELT AWARENESS RIBBON WAS WAS CREATED.
UH, SO THAT WE CAN HAVE A UNIVERSAL SYMBOL FOR SEATBELT AWARENESS.
CAR CRASHES ARE THE LEADING CAUSE OF DEATH IN THIS COUNTRY FOR PEOPLE AGES ONE THROUGH 54.
AND IT'S THREE TIMES MORE LIKELY FOR TEENAGERS.
IT'S DEFINITELY THE LEADING CAUSE OF DEATH IN TEENAGERS.
AND WE'VE DONE SCHOOL PROGRAMS ALL OVER THIS COUNTRY.
WE HAVE SCHOOL PROGRAMS IN ALL 50 STATES.
IT STARTS WITH AWARENESS, BUT THAT'S THROUGH EDUCATION.
PARTNERING WITH SCHOOLS AS WELL AS ORGANIZATIONS LIKE METRO AND CLEAR CHANNEL.
SO, UM, IN ORDER TO GET YOUR MESSAGE OUT, YOU JUST GOT TO HAVE THAT CONVERSATION AND KEEP IT GOING.
COMMISSIONER BRIONES HAS A THANK YOU.
COMMISSIONER RAMSEY, FOR BRINGING THIS.
COUNT ON US TO HELP SPREAD THE WORD.
SUPPORT THIS. AND IT ALL STARTS HERE AT THE LOCAL LEVEL.
AND WE PLAN ON TAKING THIS THING NATIONWIDE.
[01:10:01]
JUST AGAIN, COMMISSIONER RAMSEY, THANK YOU FOR FOR THIS.AND IT'S A IT'S A REALLY SIMPLE THING AS YOU LAID OUT TO DO.
AND I JUST WANT TO THANK YOU FOR HELPING TO BRING AWARENESS.
YOU KNOW, IT WAS ONE OF THOSE THINGS THAT I, I THINK I DID OKAY WITH MY DAUGHTER IN TERMS OF MAKING SURE SHE WAS THE BACK SEAT POLICE AND, AND SHE WOULD ALWAYS GIVE ME A LOT OF GRIEF IF SHE SAW ME MOVING WITHOUT IT BEING FASTENED.
BUT JUST AS A, YOU KNOW, TO TRY TO FIND A LITTLE LIGHTER SIDE, IF WE CAN.
WHEN I WAS WITH THE HOUSTON POLICE DEPARTMENT.
UH, THE REQUIREMENT OF WEARING YOUR SEATBELT WASN'T IN EFFECT IN THE EARLY 80S.
IT WAS THE COPS WHO FOUGHT IT THE HARDEST.
AND WE FINALLY GOT AROUND THAT.
AND BUT IT'S IT'S, YOU KNOW, IT'S IMPORTANT TO RECOGNIZE THAT A SIMPLE DEVICE LIKE THAT SEATBELT CAN MEAN THE WORLD OF DIFFERENCE IN A FAMILY'S LIFE.
AND SO JUST WANT TO SAY THAT OUR PRAYERS REMAIN WITH YOU.
UH, TODAY'S BEEN A LITTLE BIT OF A HEAVY DAY.
SO THANK YOU FOR YOUR STRENGTH AS WELL.
THANK YOU GUYS. COMMISSIONER ELLIS.
I JUST WANT TO THANK YOU FOR TURNING YOUR PAIN INTO SOMETHING THAT CAN HELP SO MANY PEOPLE.
IT WAS BRILLIANT TO TEAM UP WITH LEE VELA AND HIS FOLKS AND DO THAT, THAT NATIONWIDE.
IT'S NOT HERE, BUT THAT IS A REQUIREMENT IN SOME PLACES IN THE WORLD.
THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH AND FOR GIVING US THE TOOLS ABOUT HOW TO RAISE AWARENESS.
SO THANK YOU AND SO SORRY FOR YOUR LOSS.
LEE. ALL RIGHT, SO WE'LL MOVE ON TO COMMISSIONER BRIONES.
THANK YOU, JUDGE HIDALGO. I HAVE TWO RESOLUTIONS TODAY.
SO I'D LIKE TO PLEASE BRING UP ALL OF OUR GUESTS AND.
IT IS INDIA'S FESTIVAL OF LIGHTS.
IT IS THE LARGEST AND MOST IMPORTANT HOLIDAY CELEBRATED IN INDIA.
OVER A BILLION PEOPLE ACROSS THE WORLD CELEBRATE DIWALI, AND IT MARKS THE HINDU NEW YEAR AND IS CELEBRATED FOR FIVE DAYS IN PRECINCT FOUR.
I'M SO HONORED THAT THE GANDHI DISTRICT IS IN PRECINCT FOUR ASIATOWN, AND THAT WE HAVE THE LARGEST CONCENTRATION OF ASIAN AMERICANS IN PRECINCT FOUR, AND WE BROUGHT DIYAS TO MY COLLEAGUES HERE.
AND THE SYMBOLISM OF THE DAIS.
THE FAMILIES PUT BRIGHTLY BURNING CLAY LAMPS OUTSIDE THEIR HOMES.
AND WHAT THIS SYMBOLIZES IS THE INNER LIGHT EXPELLING DARKNESS AND THE TRIUMPH OF GOOD OVER EVIL, WHICH I THINK IS BEAUTIFUL AND VERY POWERFUL AND IS SOMETHING I THINK WE ALL NEED TO HOLD ON TO AS WE CONTINUE TO PUSH FOR LIGHT IN ALL OF OUR LIVES AND IN EVERYTHING WE DO.
AND TODAY, AS WE CELEBRATE DIWALI, WE HAVE THREE REALLY KEY ORGANIZATIONS THAT ARE DEEP LEADERS IN OUR COMMUNITY. WE HAVE INDIA HOUSE, HOUSTON.
SO OVER FOUR DECADES OF SERVICE TO OUR COMMUNITY.
THANK YOU FOR ENRICHING THE LIVES OF COUNTLESS RESIDENTS.
WE HAVE THE INDO-AMERICAN ASSOCIATION, WHICH PROMOTES AND CHAMPIONS THE INDIAN ARTS IN OUR COMMUNITY, AND ODISHA, USA, WHICH EMPOWERS HINDU VOICES AND INCREASES INVOLVEMENT IN CIVIC ENGAGEMENT.
SO BE IT, THEREFORE RESOLVED THAT THE HARRIS COUNTY COMMISSIONERS COURT IS HONORING INDIA HOUSE, HOUSTON INDO-AMERICAN ASSOCIATION, USA AS WE ALL CELEBRATE DIWALI.
WE'D LOVE TO SHARE BEFORE MY TIME STARTS IF YOU ALLOW ME.
THERE WAS A LEADER HERE WHO WAS TALKING ABOUT EMPOWER IF IF YOUR OFFICE CAN CONNECT ME WITH THEM.
I WORK FOR A VERY LARGE TECHNICAL TECHNOLOGY COMPANY.
WE HAVE A LOT OF AI TRAINING, AND WE CAN HELP WITH THE FREE TRAINING AND THE CSR PROGRAM.
[01:15:04]
AND AS HINDUS, DEVOUT HINDUS, WE WILL MAKE SURE ACROSS OUR TEMPLES WE SAY A PRAYER FOR ALL THE FAMILIES WHO ARE AFFECTED AND ARE GOING THROUGH TOUGH TIMES.AND THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER AND EVERYONE.
AND JUDGE, MY NAME IS ASHISH AGARWAL.
I'M THE CO-FOUNDER AND CHAIR OF DEESHA USA.
AND FIRST OF ALL, I WOULD LIKE TO RECOGNIZE AND GIVE MY HEARTFELT THANKS AND APPRECIATION TO HARRIS COUNTY COMMISSIONER PRECINCT FOR LESLIE BRIONES FOR SPONSORING THIS PROCLAMATION RECOGNIZING DIWALI HERE IN HARRIS COUNTY.
I'M JOINED HERE WITH A NUMBER OF LEADERS FROM OUR HINDU COMMUNITY.
JAY PARIKH, HE'S OUR CO-FOUNDER FOR DEESHA USA, SUBHASH GUPTA, PRESIDENT OF HSS.
TARA NASEEM, PRESIDENT OF HINDUS OF GREATER HOUSTON, DR.
MAHARISHI PATEL, WE WERE TALKING ABOUT DOCTORS.
WE HAVE A DOCTOR IN THE HOUSE, DR.
MERCY PATEL. HE'S THE COMMUNITY AFFAIRS ADMINISTRATOR FOR BAPS SWAMINARAYAN TEMPLE.
TOGETHER, THESE LEADERS AND ORGANIZATIONS HAVE A COLLECTIVE MEMBERSHIP OF 20 PLUS THOUSAND MEMBERS.
AND HERE WE WOULD LIKE TO THANK ONE OF OUR OWN SINDHU MENINGIE FOR FACILITATING THIS.
WE REALLY APPRECIATE YOUR HELP.
DIWALI, AS YOU MENTIONED, IS A FESTIVAL TO CELEBRATE.
CELEBRATED BY OUR BILLION HINDUS, JAINS, SIKHS, BUDDHISTS ALL OVER THE WORLD AND IT IS EXTREMELY SIGNIFICANT TODAY BECAUSE IT SIGNIFIES THE VICTORY OF GOOD OVER EVIL, WHICH IS VERY MUCH APPLICABLE.
WE ALL KNOW IN THE CURRENT WORLD AFFAIRS THAT'S GOING ON HERE IN HARRIS COUNTY, BRINGING IT LOCAL.
WE HAVE OVER 100,000 HINDUS RIGHT HERE IN HARRIS COUNTY WITH 80,000 VOTING MEMBERS.
AGAIN, THANK YOU AND APPRECIATE THE RECOGNITION YOU HAVE GIVEN US.
THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU.
AND NAMASTE, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN.
ON BEHALF OF INDIA HOUSE AND MYSELF, I WISH YOU ALL A VERY HAPPY DIWALI.
IT'S MY TRULY MY HONOR TO BE PRESENT HERE.
STAND BEFORE THIS ESTEEMED COMMISSIONER'S COURT.
DIWALI AS IT SYMBOLIZES, IS VICTORY OF GOOD OVER EVIL.
LIGHT OVER DARKNESS AND KNOWLEDGE OVER IGNORANCE.
DIWALI IS ACTUALLY A TRUE REMINDER TO TELL US THAT WE ALL HAVE THE POWER TO DISPEL DARKNESS AND BRING WARMTH AND LOVE IN THE LIFE OF EVERYONE.
OF. I TRULY FEEL THAT THIS RESOLUTION OF COMMISSIONER IS A COMMITMENT TO THE KINDNESS, EMPATHY AND COMPASSION.
WISH YOU ALL A VERY, VERY HAPPY DIWALI.
NAMASTE AND HAPPY DIWALI TO EVERYBODY.
I'M JOINED WITH MY COLLEAGUES RADHIKA, DAVE, BOARD MEMBER AND REBECCA PRISONER AS WELL.
INDO-AMERICAN ASSOCIATION IS HUMBLED TO BE HONORED AND RECOGNIZED ON THIS FESTIVE OCCASION.
DIWALI, WE'VE HEARD, IS A TIME TO CELEBRATE IT.
CELEBRATE THE VICTORY OF LIGHT OVER DARKNESS, GOOD OVER EVIL AND KNOWLEDGE OVER IGNORANCE.
JUST HEARD HIM SAY THAT IT'S TIME TO CELEBRATE AND APPRECIATE LIFE.
IT HAS BEEN A BIG WEEK FOR US.
I WAS DESIGNATED AS A HOUSTON CULTURAL TREASURE BY BIPOC ARTS NETWORK FUND THIS WEEK.
TODAY OCCUPIES A POSITION OF PROMINENCE IN THE BIPOC ARTS ECOSYSTEM.
WE BREAK BARRIERS, WE BUILD BRIDGES THROUGH MUSIC.
JUST BE A MINUTE AND MORE AND THROUGH OUR COLLABORATIONS WITH OTHER COMMUNITIES, THUS MAKING HOUSTON AN EVEN MORE DIVERSE AND COSMOPOLITAN PLACE TO LIVE IN. BEING RECOGNIZED BY THE COMMISSIONERS TODAY WILL HELP AMPLIFY ITS WORK AND SPREAD ITS MESSAGE THROUGHOUT THE COUNTY AND BEYOND, AND WE THANK YOU SINCERELY FOR THIS HONOR.
AND LASTLY, THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER BRIONES, FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP AND THE LEADERSHIP OF ALL THE COMMISSIONERS AND JUDGE, AS WELL, AND COMMITMENT TO SOCIAL JUSTICE AND MAKING THIS AN EVEN EQUAL SOCIETY.
THANK YOU ALL. HAPPY HAPPY DIWALI.
[01:20:04]
THANK YOU. WE'RE HONORED TO HAVE YOU.HAPPY DIWALI AND LET US ALL CHOOSE LIGHT AND BE A LIGHT AND CONTINUE TO PUSH FOR GOOD.
SO THANK YOU. THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH.
THANK YOU. AND NEXT TO ME I'VE GOT.
SO MY FINAL RESOLUTION, I'D LIKE TO INVITE MR. TOM LAMBERT AND ALL OF THE METRO BOARD MEMBERS AND ANY OTHER METRO TEAM MEMBERS TO PLEASE JOIN US.
AND I ASK MY COLLEAGUES AND EVERYONE HERE TODAY TO JOIN ME, PLEASE, IN HONORING AND CELEBRATING THOMAS TOM LAMPERT ON HIS RETIREMENT FROM METRO.
AND HE'S IN HIS 45TH YEAR OF SERVICE TO METRO.
BUT WE ARE JUST INCREDIBLY THANKFUL.
AND AS. THE COMMISSIONER FOR PRECINCT FOUR.
THE BLOND AND BRUNET BLOND STOPS ALONG THE WORK THAT WE'RE DOING IN THE UNIVERSITY CORRIDOR.
IT'S DEEPLY ENERGIZING EVERYTHING YOU'RE DOING TO EXPAND TRANSIT OPTIONS.
SO THANK YOU. SO JOIN ME IN CELEBRATING.
WHEREAS SINCE JOINING METRO IN 1979 AS A SECURITY INVESTIGATOR, TOM LAMBERT HAS PROUDLY SERVED METRO FOR 44 YEARS IN VARIOUS LEADERSHIP CAPACITIES, LEADING A TEAM OF MORE THAN 4000 TO DELIVER SAFE, CLEAN, RELIABLE, ACCESSIBLE AND FRIENDLY PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION FOR METRO'S 1300MI² OF SERVICE AREA.
WHEREAS, UNDER MR. LAMBERT'S LEADERSHIP, METRO HAS EXPANDED LIGHT RAIL SERVICE AND THE AGENCY'S NEW BUS NETWORK HAS INCREASED THE HIGH FREQUENCY NETWORK, EXPANDED LATE NIGHT AND WEEKEND SERVICES TO SUPPORT HARRIS COUNTY FAMILIES, AND HAS BECOME A TEMPLATE FOR TRANSIT ORGANIZATIONS AROUND THE GLOBE FOR ITS OVERNIGHT, SYSTEM WIDE EXECUTION.
CONGRATULATIONS, AND TOM LAMBERT IS CURRENTLY OVERSEEING THE IMPLEMENTATION OF A $7.5 BILLION VOTER APPROVED PLAN TO BRING 500 MILES OF TRAVEL IMPROVEMENTS, INCLUDING NEW METRO RAPID BUS RAPID TRANSIT PROJECTS, BOOST AND ENHANCEMENTS TO HIGH FREQUENCY ROUTES AND UPGRADES TO 9000 BUSSES.
HE'S ALSO GUIDED THE AGENCY TO UNDERTAKE THE TRANSIT ORIENTED DEVELOPMENT, AND I'M VERY EXCITED TO BE WORKING WITH YOU ALL AND THE ADDICKS PARK AND RIDE AS WE RE-ENVISION WHAT THAT CAN BE FOR TRANSIT ORIENTED DEVELOPMENT.
AND YOU HAVE JUST CHAMPIONED HARRIS COUNTY AND HOUSTON GOING TO THE NEXT LEVEL WITH REGARD TO TRANSIT, MR. LAMBERT, AND ON BEHALF AS A PROUD HARRIS COUNTY RESIDENT AND AS ONE OF THE COMMISSIONERS HERE, WE'RE JUST INCREDIBLY THANKFUL FOR EVERYTHING YOU'VE DONE TO DRIVE PROGRESS HERE.
SO NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED THAT HARRIS COUNTY COMMISSIONERS COURT HEREBY RESPECTFULLY CONGRATULATES TOM LAMBERT ON HIS RETIREMENT AND THANKS HIM FOR HIS LEADERSHIP AND SERVICE.
THIS REALLY IS A REPRESENTATION OF ALL THE METRO EMPLOYEES.
I'VE HAD THE GREAT HONOR OF WORKING WITH SOME VERY PASSIONATE, TALENTED, COMMITTED PUBLIC SERVANTS, AND THAT'S HOW WE DELIVER QUALITY OF LIFE IMPROVEMENTS TO THIS COMMUNITY. I'VE BEEN BLESSED TO WORK WITH A BOARD OF DIRECTORS THAT HAVE BEEN PASSIONATE ABOUT SERVING THIS COMMUNITY AND DOING THE RIGHT THING FOR THIS COMMUNITY, AND SOMETIMES DOING THE RIGHT THING IS NOT ALWAYS EASY, BUT YOU DO THE RIGHT THING BECAUSE YOU'RE TRYING TO IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF LIFE FOR PEOPLE IN THIS COMMUNITY.
I WANT TO GIVE A SPECIAL RECOGNITION.
[01:25:06]
ON COUNTY INFRASTRUCTURE.METRO OPERATES ON CITY INFRASTRUCTURE.
IT'S NOT OUR INFRASTRUCTURE, BUT WORKING COLLECTIVELY TOGETHER, BUILDING UPON THOSE PUBLIC PUBLIC PARTNERSHIPS BRING TREMENDOUS VALUE TO THIS COMMUNITY.
WHAT YOU DO EACH AND EVERY DAY BRINGS VALUE TO THIS COMMUNITY, BRINGS VALUE TO FAMILIES, SHOWS YOUR COMPASSION AND YOUR CARING FOR THE PEOPLE THAT LIVE IN THIS COMMUNITY.
AND I'M VERY PROUD TO HAVE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO WORK IN AN AGENCY THAT GAVE ME THE ABILITY AND OPPORTUNITIES TO DO THINGS I NEVER DREAMED I'D HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO DO.
SO I WANT TO THANK THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS.
I WANT TO THANK ALL MY COLLEAGUES AT METRO.
I WANT TO THANK THE ELECTED LEADERSHIP OF THIS COMMUNITY AND ALL THE PARTNERS WE WORK WITH, BECAUSE THAT'S WHY WE'RE GOING TO BE SUCCESSFUL IN SERVING THE NEEDS OF ONE OF THE FASTEST GROWING COUNTIES IN THIS COUNTRY, AND THE THINGS WE COLLECTIVELY DO TOGETHER IS GOING TO MAKE IT TREMENDOUSLY.
SO, COMMISSIONER, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
THANK YOU. WE'RE GRATEFUL FOR YOUR SERVICE.
GOOD MORNING. I'M SANJAY RAMABHADRAN, CHAIR OF THE METRO BOARD OF DIRECTORS, COMMISSIONER BRIONES.
I LEARNED DURING MY TIME AT METRO THAT YOU NEVER FOLLOW TOM LAMBERT WHEN YOU'RE SPEAKING ANYWHERE.
WE ARE ON THE LONG GAME IN TERMS OF IMPROVING QUALITY OF LIFE AND MOBILITY ACROSS HOUSTON, HARRIS COUNTY REGION, THAT THAT'S WHAT'S GOING TO ALLOW US TO CONTINUE TO THRIVE AS A REGION. TOM LAMB IS REALLY HUMBLE.
IT'S AN ABSOLUTE TREAT TO WATCH HIM INTERACT WITH THE 4100 PLUS STRONG METRO FAMILY.
HE KNOWS SO MANY OF THEM AND THEIR FAMILIES BY NAME, AND HE'S KNOWN THEM FOR DECADES.
BIG SHOES TO FILL AS MY COLLEAGUES ON THE BOARD.
AND I TRY TO LOOK FOR WHO FOLLOWS TOM LAMBERT AS A CEO.
BUT HORACE MARV'S BROUGHT UP WHAT ALL HE HAS DONE FOR THE REGION, IF I MAY, UH, IN ADDITION TO BEING NAMED THE OUTSTANDING PUBLIC TRANSIT AGENCY MANAGER UNDER HIS LEADERSHIP AS PRESIDENT AND CEO, HOUSTON METRO HAS BEEN RECOGNIZED NOT ONCE, BUT TWICE, IN JUST A SPAN OF FIVE YEARS BY TRANSIT AGENCIES ACROSS THE COUNTRY AS THE OUTSTANDING PUBLIC AGENCY OF THE YEAR, NOT ONCE, BUT TWICE.
YOU TALKED ABOUT THE METRO NEW BUS NETWORK.
WE MUST BE DOING SOMETHING RIGHT IN HOUSTON.
IF NEW ZEALAND AND NEW YORK CITY COME DOWN TO SEE WHAT WE DID WITH THE NEW BUS NETWORK, AND WE WERE ONLY ONE OF TWO AGENCIES WITH INCREASING RIDERSHIP PRE-PANDEMIC, AND THAT TOO, IN DOUBLE DIGIT NUMBERS.
ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD, WE CAN THANK TOM FOR HIS COMMITMENT NOT JUST TO METRO, NOT JUST TO HOUSTON AND HARRIS COUNTY, BUT FOR THE TRANSIT INDUSTRY ACROSS THE COUNTRY AND ACROSS THE WORLD. SO THANK YOU, TOM.
THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER SCOTT, FOR RECOGNIZING HIM, OBVIOUSLY.
COMMISSIONER GARCIA AND THEN COMMISSIONER RAMSEY.
THEY MUST HAVE FOUND YOU ON A ON A ON A IN A BABY CARRIER THAT THEY LEFT ON THE BUS.
BUT LISTEN, THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE.
TO STAY ONE PLACE FOR AS LONG AS YOU HAVE IS NOT EASY.
BUT IT'S ALSO A COMMITMENT TO THE VISION THAT YOU AND OTHERS, SHIRLEY IN PARTICULAR, HAD.
AND AND I REMEMBER MY LATE BROTHER ALSO BECOMING AN EARLY PART OF THE METRO SYSTEM.
I THINK IT WAS AN 85 THAT HE JOINED.
WE'RE IN IT TOGETHER AS YOU LAID OUT.
WELL, THAT WE SHARE INFRASTRUCTURE AND AND RIGHT OF WAY, BUT WE ALSO SHARE A VISION THAT ONE DAY I LOOK FORWARD AS I LAID OUT TO YOU.
[01:30:01]
IF YOU DON'T USE IT, NOBODY ELSE WILL.AND IT'S EVERYBODY'S SYSTEM THAT CAN PROVIDE US SO MUCH, SO MUCH MOBILITY ENHANCEMENT.
SO THANK YOU FOR YOUR WORK AND ALL THE BEST TO YOU.
WHAT'S WHAT'S WHAT'S THE NEXT CHAPTER LOOK FOR YOU.
LOOK LIKE FOR YOU. GREAT I'M GOING TO GO PLAY COWBOY COMMISSIONER ARE ALL THE BEST.
THANKS. COMMISSIONER RAMSEY AND THEN COMMISSIONER ELLIS.
TOM, I CAN'T I CAN'T THINK OF A LEADER IN THIS COMMUNITY THAT IS MORE CONSISTENT THAN YOU ARE.
YOU LISTEN AND JUST LOOKING AT BOB FRY THERE, MAYOR FRY AND LOOKING AT DON ELDER.
AND SOMEHOW WE ALL GOT IN THE ROOM AND FIGURED OUT THAT ALL THE MONEY THAT WE WERE SENDING TO METRO, THERE WAS A WAY TO MAKE THAT A VALUE TO THOSE 14 CITIES.
NOW WE STILL GOT 33 CITIES IN THE IN THE COUNTY THAT WE PROBABLY NEED TO DO SOME MISSIONARY WORK ON.
BUT AGAIN, THANK YOU FOR WHAT YOU DO.
AND JUST Y'ALL, Y'ALL HAVE DONE A GOOD JOB OF NOT BEING OUT THERE IN AN AGGRAVATING WAY, BUT BEING OUT THERE IN A WAY THAT THAT MAKES A DIFFERENCE TO THE COMMUNITY.
SO YOU WERE THERE THROUGH I CAN REMEMBER DAN ARNOLD.
BUT WE WEREN'T THE ONLY ONES THAT DIDN'T TAKE IT.
LOS ANGELES DIDN'T TAKE IT EITHER.
AND THEN ONCE WE WOKE UP AND WE WANTED THAT MONEY FOR RAIL.
YOU'VE BEEN IT. JUST WHAT A GREAT RIDE.
PARDON THE PUN, BUT 44 YEARS IS JUST AMAZING.
WHAT'S THE SECRET? AS I RECALL, YOU DON'T DRINK MUCH.
DON'T SMOKE. YOU KNOW WHAT A LIFE.
WELL, LIVE. AND THANK YOU ON BEHALF OF ALL OF US.
AND PARTICULARLY YOU HAD SOME CHALLENGING BOARD MEMBERS OVER THE YEARS.
AND I CAN REMEMBER THEY WEREN'T ALWAYS AS FRIENDLY AS THEY'VE ALL BEEN.
OUTSTANDING BOARD MEMBERS ALL BEEN OUTSTANDING.
BUT THANK YOU FOLKS FOR A GREAT CAREER.
THANK YOU SIR, AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING WHAT'S NEXT.
GO OFF INTO THE SUNSET, COWBOY.
I KNOW WE GOT TO WORK TOGETHER.
ONLY A LITTLE BIT, BUT IT'S JUST BEEN WONDERFUL.
AND TO ALL THE BOARD MEMBERS, SANJAY.
THANK YOU. REALLY APPRECIATE YOU ALL.
AND I HOPE YOU DON'T DO MORE THAN THE COWBOY.
I CAN'T TELL YOU THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE MEN I MET AT MY MENTAL HEALTH TREATMENT WHO JUST RETIRED, AND THEY JUST, YOU KNOW, THEY HAD NO PLANS AND THEY JUST LOST THEIR MIND. SO EVERY TIME SOMEBODY SAYS, I'M RETIRING, I SAY, OKAY, WELL, YOU MAKE SURE YOU HAVE A PLAN AFTER YOU REST A LITTLE BIT.
UM, SO ANYWAY, I APPRECIATE YOU.
OKAY, LET'S TAKE SOME PICTURES.
[01:54:43]
FIVE. IT'S 1159.[01:55:22]
THIS. OKAY.[01:55:28]
IT IS 1209.[01:55:30]
COMMISSIONERS COURT IS BACK IN SESSION.[01:55:31]
WE'LL TAKE THE REST OF THE SPEAKERS.FIRST IS. SPEAKER 25 RICHARD WELCH SPEAKING ON ITEM NINE.
JAIL OVERCROWDING GREW EXPONENTIALLY.
MULTIPLE FELONY OFFENDERS TURNED LOOSE ON PR BONDS THAT COMMITTED EVEN MORE FELONIES.
CRIME IS UP AND YOU'VE WENT ABSENT FOR A MONTH.
OUR MONEY WOULD HAVE BEEN WOULD HAVE BEEN BETTER SPENT BUYING A BAT SIGNAL.
THREE OF YOUR STAFFERS, INCLUDING YOUR CHIEF OF STAFF, HAVE BEEN INDICTED FOR A BID RIGGING SCANDAL.
AT THE CENTER OF THE BID RIGGING SCANDAL WAS ADRIAN GARCIA'S DEPUTY CAMPAIGN MANAGER.
THANK YOU. PRETTY MUCH. EVERYTHING YOU SAID IS IS INACCURATE.
I'M REALLY SORRY THAT YOU'RE GETTING FALSE INFORMATION.
OKAY, WE'LL HEAR FROM THE NEXT SPEAKER.
NEXT IS. SPEAKER 26 ADRIANNA TOMAZ SPEAKING ON ITEM TEN UNDER COVID.
YOU HAVE ONE MINUTE. GOOD MORNING.
MY NAME IS ADRIANA TAMEZ, CEO, TEJANO CENTER.
COMMISSIONERS. WHAT AM I THANKFUL FOR? I'M THANKFUL FOR YOU.
WE RECENTLY OPENED AND I'M NOT KIDDING YOU.
THERE WERE YOUNG ADULTS. THIS IS A DEVELOPMENT FOR YOUNG ADULTS AGING OUT OF FOSTER CARE.
THERE WERE YOUNG ADULTS CAMPING OUT AT THE LAWN.
WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT CHILLS, I'M NOT KIDDING.
IT'S THE TRUTH. SO IT'S AMAZING.
THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU.
TODAY I'M SPEAKING TO ITEM TEN AND IT IS THE LOSS A DEVELOPMENT MULTIFAMILY DEVELOPMENT WITH A STANDALONE PRE-K OR EARLY CHILDHOOD CENTER ON ON THAT SITE WHICH WILL BENEFIT NOT ONLY THE RESIDENTS BUT ALSO THE COMMUNITY.
I COULD GO ON AND ON AND ON, BUT I'M LIMITED TO MY MINUTES.
SO THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER GARCIA.
AND DR. THOMAS, THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.
AND BECAUSE YOU'RE HERE, I JUST WANT TO HIGHLIGHT THE THINGS THAT YOU'RE YOU'RE TOUCHING ON.
AND THE FACT IS THAT THIS IS ARPA MONEY THAT IS BEING INVESTED IN THIS PARTICULAR PROJECT, 4 MILLION THAT WILL ALLOW FOR CSD TO ACQUIRE THE 5.4 ACRES THAT WILL BE UNDER CONSTRUCTION JUST SOUTH OF THE BRAYS BAYOU IN THE GULF GATE PINE VALLEY AREA.
AND ONCE COMPLETED, THE PROJECT WILL.
IT'LL BE OCTOBER OF NEXT YEAR WHEN IT WILL BE COMPLETED, AND THIS WILL PROVIDE 134 130 NEW BEAUTIFUL DEVELOPMENT OR UNITS, 109 OF WHICH WILL BE AFFORDABLE FOR WORKING FAMILIES.
HERE'S A PRETTY COOL DATA POINT.
THE PROJECT SCORED 103 OUT OF 100.
ITS STATUS AS A 9% LOW INCOME HOUSING TAX CREDIT PROJECT, AND PROVIDING DOZENS OF UNITS WITHIN AN AREA DEEMED UNDER THREAT OF GENTRIFICATION. SO IT'S A MAJOR ISSUE FOR ME.
BUT WITH THAT BEING SAID, AND BECAUSE YOU AND THE CENTER FOR COMMUNITY CONCERNS HAVE DONE SO MUCH, YOU'LL BE PROVIDING A FREE PRE-K FACILITY, ABSOLUTELY, FOR THE RESIDENTS.
[02:00:07]
IS EVEN MORE SPECIAL.SO, JUDGE, I KNOW THAT WE WILL NORMALLY HEAR THIS LATER, BUT SINCE THE ELECTED OFFICIAL AND THE CEO IS HERE, I'D LIKE TO, YOU KNOW, ASK FOR A POINT OF PERSONAL PRIVILEGE AND MOVE ON THIS ITEM AS PRESENTED.
THANK YOU. COMMISSIONER. YES, COMMISSIONER.
I'D LIKE TO SECOND IT AND LET'S SEE.
DO YOU GUYS KNOW THE ITEM NUMBER? THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT.
WONDERFUL. SO THERE'S A MOTION BY COMMISSIONER GARCIA, SECOND BY COMMISSIONER ELLIS.
ANY OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY.
THANK YOU. ANY OTHER SPEAKERS.
NEXT IS SPEAKER 27 MICHAEL NICHOLS SPEAKING ON ITEM 12 UNDER COVID.
AND JUDGE WHILE MIKE IS MAKING HIS WAY UP HERE.
I'D ALSO LIKE TO ASK, UH, AMANDA MEAN SAMANTHA RATHER.
ALL RIGHT. GOOD REPRESENTATIVE.
IT'S ON. OKAY. AND I THINK TAO IS ON ALSO FOR THE PRESENTATION.
OKAY, WELL, FIRST I JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU.
AND GOOD MORNING TO THE COMMISSIONERS.
AND I HAVE THE PLEASURE TODAY OF GIVING AN UPDATE ON ON WHERE THINGS ARE WITH OUR CHIP PROGRAM AND SOME NEW DEVELOPMENTS ON SOME POTENTIAL OPPORTUNITIES FOR CONTINUED INVESTMENT IN PROGRAMING TO HELP US SUSTAIN THE REMARKABLE IMPACT AND TRANSFORMATION THAT WE'VE SEEN TO DATE.
SO JUST TO ON BACKGROUND, RIGHT CHIP IS A $150 MILLION JOINT FUNDING EFFORT THAT WAS LAUNCHED IN OCTOBER OR I'M SORRY OF OCTOBER OF 2020, PREDOMINANTLY USING CARES ACT FUNDING.
AND THE INITIAL GOAL THAT WAS SET WITH CHIP 1.0 WAS TO PROVIDE HOUSING AND SUPPORTIVE SERVICES TO 5000 PEOPLE EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS OR AT RISK OF FALLING INTO HOMELESSNESS AS A RESULT OF THE ECONOMIC IMPACTS OF THE COVID PANDEMIC, AND THE GOAL WAS TO DO THAT IN TWO YEARS.
BY MARCH OF 2021, MERELY SIX MONTHS INTO THE PROGRAM, THE APPROXIMATELY 8100 INDIVIDUALS HAD BEEN PLACED INTO HOUSING OR RECEIVED SUPPORTIVE SERVICES, WELL SURPASSING THAT GOAL. AROUND THE SAME TIME, THE AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN ACT FUNDING WAS MADE AVAILABLE TO CONTINUE CARES PROGRAM ACTIVITIES TO SUPPORT AND ADDRESS THE IMPACTS OF THE PANDEMIC, AND ALSO TO FORMULATE A LONGER TERM STRATEGY TO HELP WITH LONG TERM RECOVERY.
IN RESPONSE, CHIP 2.0 WAS CONCEIVED AND THE NEW ITERATION OF THIS PROGRAM INTENDED TO NOT ONLY MEET THE IMMEDIATE NEEDS OF THE PANDEMIC CRISIS, BUT ALSO STRATEGICALLY LEVERAGE OUR FEDERAL FUNDING TO COMBAT HOMELESSNESS MORE COMPREHENSIVELY.
SPECIFICALLY, HARRIS COUNTY'S INVESTMENT OF $35 MILLION IN ARPA FUNDS WAS FOCUSED ON IMPLEMENTING LONG LASTING, PERMANENT SOLUTIONS TO HOUSING AND SUPPORTIVE SERVICES FOR HOMELESS POPULATIONS AND HELPING ESTABLISH THE CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURE THAT'S NEEDED AT THE SYSTEM LEVEL TO HELP BRING OUR REGION CLOSER TO ENDING HOMELESSNESS ALL TOGETHER.
SO THE GOALS OUTLINED FOR CHIP 2.0 WERE TO SERVE AN ADDITIONAL 7000 INDIVIDUALS.
AND I'M EXCITED TO ANNOUNCE TODAY THAT AS OF LAST WEEK, CHIP 2.0 HAS SERVED 6437 INDIVIDUALS, OR ABOUT 92% OF THEIR TARGET GOAL THAT WAS IDENTIFIED WITH AT LEAST A YEAR OVER A YEAR REMAINING IN THE PROGRAM, AND A TOTAL OF 16,000 INDIVIDUALS ACROSS BOTH PHASES OF CHIP.
BUT THROUGH OUR ANALYSIS AT THE SYSTEM LEVEL, THESE INVESTMENTS IN CHIP, WE'VE IDENTIFIED THEY HAVE YIELDED OTHER RESULTS FOR OUR SYSTEM IN ADDITION TO JUST OUTPUTS ON PEOPLE SERVED. THIS INCLUDES ACCELERATING AND EXPANDING OUR CAPACITY TO SERVE FOLKS IN PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING.
THESE ARE OUR MOST VULNERABLE HOMELESS RESIDENTS IN THE COMMUNITY.
FOR CONTEXT, OF THE 35 MILLION IN ARPA FUNDS THAT WENT FOR 2.0, 21 MILLION OF THEM WENT TO SUPPORTING PERMANENT HOUSING DIRECTLY OR NAVIGATION SUPPORTS TO HELP CHRONICALLY HOMELESS INDIVIDUALS THROUGH THEIR JOURNEY TO SECURING HOUSING.
SO AS A RESULT OF THAT, 1600 NEW SLOTS OF PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING WERE CREATED, AND AS A RESULT OF THE NAVIGATION SUPPORTS, WE HAVE SEEN A REDUCTION OF A HALF FOR THE LENGTH OF TIME FOR INDIVIDUALS THAT ARE HOMELESS FROM REFERRAL TO HOUSING.
[02:05:01]
THESE ARE TWO VERY IMPORTANT SYSTEM METRICS THAT HUD HAS IDENTIFIED, AND ALSO TO COUNTY PRIORITY OUTCOMES THAT HAVE BEEN IDENTIFIED FOR HOMELESSNESS.THE SECOND IS THE LAUNCHING OF THE GROUNDBREAKING FIRST OF ITS KIND IN TEXAS SYSTEM WIDE DIVERSION PROGRAM THAT EMPLOYS CONFLICT RESOLUTION AND HOUSING PROBLEM SOLVING TECHNIQUES AHEAD OF FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE TO TRY TO STEM THE TIDE OF NEWLY INFLOW INTO HOMELESSNESS.
THIS PROGRAM HAS SUCCESSFULLY DIVERTED NEARLY 6300 INDIVIDUALS TO DATE, AND AT THE SYSTEM LEVEL, WE'RE SEEING REDUCTIONS IN THE ANNUAL SYSTEM INFLOW OF ONE THIRD WHEN YOU COMPARE OUTCOMES PRE CHIP TO POST CHIP.
WE CAN'T UNDERSCORE THIS ENOUGH BECAUSE WE KNOW THAT IN ORDER TO REALLY MAKE A DENT IN HOMELESS WE HAVE TO BREAK THE CYCLE OF WHEN SOMEONE BECOMES HOUSED ANOTHER FALLS INTO HOMELESSNESS. AND SO PREVENTING HOMELESSNESS ALTOGETHER IS GOING TO BE CRITICAL TO OUR SUCCESS.
CHIP 2.0 ALSO EXPANDED THE SUITE OF INTERVENTIONS THAT ARE MADE AVAILABLE, AND CREATED SPECIALIZED, SUPPORTIVE SERVICES THAT AIM TO INCREASE ACCESS AND SKILLS FOR BASIC NEEDS.
THIS INCLUDED MENTAL HEALTH AND BEHAVIORAL HEALTH TEAMS VIA HARRIS CENTER, WHO DEPLOY A ROVING, FULLY MOBILE TEAM OF CLINICAL PROFESSIONALS TO PROVIDE WRAPAROUND SUPPORTIVE SERVICES TO PEOPLE IN CRISIS AND GET CONNECTED TO PERMANENT HEALTH CARE.
TO DATE, OVER 1200 INDIVIDUALS HAVE BEEN SERVED IN THIS PROGRAM.
THIS DEMAND IS WELL OVER THE ANTICIPATED DEMAND THAT WE EXPECTED, AND THE FEEDBACK THAT WE'VE GOT IS THE SERVICE IS EXTREMELY IMPACTFUL AND MEANINGFUL FOR THE HOMELESS INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE ON THEIR WAY TO HOUSING, WHO HAVE TRADITIONALLY BEEN UNABLE OR UNWILLING TO ENGAGE IN MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES.
WE'VE ALSO EXPANDED INCOME AND EMPLOYMENT SERVICES TO DATE, SERVING OVER 1100 INDIVIDUALS, AND THESE SERVICES WERE DESIGNED TO HELP MAKE THE CONNECTIONS TO EMPLOYMENT AND INCREASE ACCESS TO INCOME, LIKE SOCIAL SECURITY BENEFITS.
BOTH OF THESE PROGRAMS ARE PROVIDED TO CLIENTS IN AN INTEGRATED HOUSING SETTING, WITH THE TEAMS WORKING HAND IN HAND WITH OUR HOUSING PROVIDERS AND OUR CASE MANAGERS TO CREATE A SUPPORTIVE ENVIRONMENT TO ADDRESS THE MULTIFACETED NEEDS OF INDIVIDUALS EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS, WITH THE ULTIMATE GOAL OF IMPROVING STABILITY AND WELLNESS.
THIS EXPANSION, COUPLED WITH THE OPENING OF OUR NAVIGATION CENTER EARLIER THIS YEAR, HELPED TO REACTIVATE OUR ENCAMPMENT DECOMMISSIONING EFFORTS, AND TO DATE, WE HAVE DECOMMISSIONED 113 ENCAMPMENTS, WITH NEARLY 90% OF THE INDIVIDUALS ENGAGED EITHER IN HOUSING OR ON THEIR WAY TO HOUSING.
THIS IS THE LARGEST REDUCTION OUR REGION'S EVER SEEN IN HISTORY.
AND LASTLY, WE'VE SEEN A REDUCTION OVERALL HOMELESSNESS OF 1,818% SINCE THE PRE-PANDEMIC NUMBERS.
SO I JUST WANT TO MAKE A NOTE ON THESE LAST TWO STATS HOW IMPRESSIVE THESE ARE WHEN YOU CONSIDER THE INSURMOUNTABLE CHALLENGES THAT WERE AHEAD OF US WITH THE PUBLIC HEALTH CRISIS AND THE ECONOMIC DOWNTURN OF THE PANDEMIC.
AND I THINK IT REALLY JUST DEMONSTRATES THAT WITH HOUSING, WITH SUPPORTIVE SERVICES THAT ARE INDIVIDUALIZED AND TAILORED TO MEET THE UNIQUE NEEDS, IS THE DIFFERENCE MAKER WHEN IT COMES TO SERVING THE NEEDS OF PEOPLE EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS.
THE CHIP PROGRAMS ARE CURRENTLY FUNDED THROUGH EARLY 2025, AND SO TO ANTICIPATE FOR THE REDUCTIONS IN FUNDING, THE COALITION FOR THE HOMELESS HAS PULLED TOGETHER A FUNDING WORKGROUP MADE UP OF CHIP FUNDERS TO DEVISE A PLAN FOR HOW WE PLAN TO MANAGE THESE REDUCTIONS AND THESE SHORTFALLS.
AND SO I WANTED TO JUST HIGHLIGHT WHAT WE WHAT WE STAND TO LOSE.
WE CURRENTLY STAND TO LOSE 1600 SLOTS OF PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING.
SO NOT ONLY WILL THE INDIVIDUALS THAT ARE CURRENTLY HOUSED IN THAT PROGRAM, WILL THEY LOSE THEIR FUNDING FOR SUPPORTIVE SERVICES OR THEIR SUBSIDY? WE ALSO LOSE THE ABILITY AT THE SYSTEM LEVEL TO BACKFILL THOSE UNITS.
AS FOLKS MOVE OUT OF PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING.
WE HAVE THE ABILITY TO MOVE PEOPLE FROM THE WAITLIST AND WE WILL LOSE THAT ABILITY.
WE ALSO EXPECT A REDUCTION IN RAPID REHOUSING.
AND AS A RESULT, NOT ONLY WILL THE PACE OF OUR REHOUSING OR HOUSING PLACEMENTS SLOW, BUT THE PACE OF OUR ENCAMPMENT DECOMMISSIONING EFFORTS WILL SLOW AND LIKELY AN INCREASE IN UNSHELTERED HOMELESSNESS WILL RESULT.
AND THEN LASTLY, 150 STAFF ACROSS OUR WAY HOME PROVIDER NETWORK ARE AT RISK OF LOSING THEIR FUNDING, AND THAT MEANS ORGANIZATIONS WILL HAVE TO MAKE A DECISION AND DETERMINE IF THEY CAN ABSORB THOSE STAFF INTO OTHER PROGRAMS, OR RISK LETTING THEM GO AND LOSING THAT EXPERTISE THAT HAS BEEN BUILT WITHIN OUR SYSTEM.
AND SO AS PART OF OUR OVERALL PLANNING EFFORT, THE FUNDING WORKGROUP EXAMINED OUR OUTCOMES, OUR DATA TO UNDERSTAND WHAT INTERVENTIONS ARE MISSION CRITICAL FOR US TO PRESERVE SO THAT WE CAN SUSTAIN THE IMPACT THAT WE'VE SEEN TO DATE AND TRY TO PRIORITIZE THOSE INVESTMENTS FOR CONTINUED INVESTMENT.
[02:10:07]
THE GOALS THAT WE IDENTIFIED AT THE WORKGROUP ARE TO PRESERVE OUR INVESTMENTS IN PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING AND RETAIN OUR SLOTS FOR THE CHRONICALLY HOMELESS INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE CURRENTLY HOUSED WITH EXPIRING FUNDS.IT'S NOT SURPRISING THIS IS THE NUMBER ONE PRIORITY.
CONTINUED INVESTMENT IN OUR SYSTEM LEVEL REHOUSING SUPPORTS LIKE NAVIGATION CENTER OPERATIONS, UNIT ACQUISITION AND LANDLORD ENGAGEMENT, AND ENCAMPMENT DECOMMISSIONING AND HOMELESS OUTREACH.
THESE ACTIVITIES, THE IMPACT THAT THEY HAVE ON OUR REHOUSING SYSTEM ARE OFTEN UNDERESTIMATED, BUT THEY ARE CRITICAL FOR US TO SUSTAIN OUR MOMENTUM AROUND EXITS INTO PERMANENT HOUSING AND KEEP THE FLOW THAT WE'RE SEEING.
BUT WITH ANTICIPATED REDUCTIONS IN PERMANENT HOUSING FUNDING, THE SYSTEM WILL HAVE TO ADJUST THEIR PRIORITIZATION TO MEET THE DEMAND FOR MORE VULNERABLE POPULATIONS AND NO LONGER TARGETING THE RAPID REHOUSING ASSISTANCE NEWLY HOMELESS.
AND AS NEXT STEPS, I WORKED WITH MY COLLEAGUES AT CSD TO SORT OF QUALIFY, QUANTIFY AND EXPLORE WHAT INVESTMENTS OR WHAT FUNDING IS AVAILABLE ACROSS OUR GENERAL FUNDS, OUR ENTITLEMENTS AND OTHER REVENUE SOURCES THAT CAN BE USED TO SUPPORT THESE HOMELESS ACTIVITIES MOVING FORWARD AND HELP US MAKE A PLAN FOR HOW WE CAN MAXIMIZE THE IMPACT WITH THESE AVAILABLE RESOURCES THAT WE HAVE.
AND SO YOU'LL SEE ON YOUR SLIDES, THERE'S ONE WITH TWO GRAPHS.
SEE THAT THE CITY HAS INVESTED 19 MILLION AND THE COUNTY HAS INVESTED 16 MILLION ON ON AN ANNUAL BASIS, IN ADDITION TO THE 50 MILLION THAT COMES FROM THE CONTINUUM OF CARE ANNUAL ALLOCATION.
AND THEN THE GRAPH TO YOUR RIGHT, LOOKING AT COUNTY INVESTMENTS SPECIFICALLY, THIS WILL GIVE A BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT'S POSSIBLE MOVING FORWARD AS IT RELATES TO FUNDING TO SUPPORT HOMELESS ACTIVITIES.
AND YOU WILL SEE THAT BASED ON WHAT WE KNOW, WE SEE, WE HOPE TO SEE, OR WE ANTICIPATE RATHER A PEAK IN THAT AVAILABLE FUNDING NEXT YEAR, IN 2024, WITH A SOME RUNWAY IN 2025 BEFORE A SIGNIFICANT REDUCTION IN 2026.
AND SO WITH A BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF THAT AVAILABLE FUNDING, I WANTED TO PRESENT JUST A FEW OPTIONS OR SCENARIOS FOR CONTINUED INVESTMENT THAT GIVES AN IDEA OF SOME OF THE COST AND POTENTIAL IMPACT OF THESE OPTIONS.
THERE'S FOR THE DETAILS FOR THESE FOUR OPTIONS ARE INCLUDED ON A TABLE.
I WON'T GO INTO THE WEEDS UNLESS WE HAVE QUESTIONS, BUT JUST HIGH LEVEL WITH OPTION NUMBER ONE.
WITH NO CONTINUED INVESTMENT, WE KNOW THAT THIS MEANS WE'RE GOING TO REVERT BACK TO PRE-COVID FUNDING LEVELS AND LOSE A SIGNIFICANT PORTION OF OUR PERMANENT HOUSING INVENTORY TO THE SUM OF ABOUT 2300 SLOTS A YEAR.
COUPLING THAT WITH OTHER REDUCTIONS IN ELIMINATIONS FOR REHOUSING SUPPORTS.
SO ESSENTIALLY MAINTAIN OR PRESERVE THOSE 2300 UNITS OF PERMANENT HOUSING.
AND THIS IS AT A COST OF $12 MILLION ANNUALLY.
THE THIRD OPTION INCLUDES THE OPTION FOR NUMBER TWO.
SO MAINTAINING OUR PERMANENT HOUSING RESOURCES BUT ADDING INVESTMENTS IN REHOUSING SUPPORTS LIKE NAVIGATION CENTER OPERATIONS, ENCAMPMENT DECOMMISSIONING AND OUTREACH, LANDLORD ENGAGEMENT AND UNIT ACQUISITION.
AND THIS SUMS TO A TOTAL OF $28 MILLION ANNUALLY.
AND THIS WOULD YIELD AN OPPORTUNITY FOR US AS A COC OR A CONTINUUM OF CARE TO REACH FUNCTIONAL ZERO FOR CHRONIC HOMELESSNESS BY THE END OF 2025. AND THAT MEANS THAT OUR SYSTEM WOULD HAVE ENOUGH INVENTORY TO PROVIDE A HOUSING OPTION FOR EVERYONE ON THE WAITLIST WITHIN 30 DAYS, AND THAT THE PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING BEDS THAT ARE CURRENTLY RESTRICTED TO THE HUD DEFINITION OF CHRONICITY WOULD BE ABLE TO BE OPENED UP FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE DISABLED BUT DON'T HAVE THE LENGTH OF TIME TO MEET CHRONICITY. IT WOULD ALSO GIVE US THE ABILITY TO LARGELY END UNSHELTERED HOMELESSNESS AND PROVIDE SHELTER NAVIGATION BEDS TO ANYONE WHO NEEDS ONE OR IS INTERESTED IN ONE.
AND SO THAT THAT SUMS UP MY PRESENTATION.
REALLY AN OPPORTUNITY HERE FOR US TO NOT ONLY REINFORCE OUR COMMITMENT TO HOUSING AND SERVICES AND CONTINUE TO BUILD OUR RESILIENCY AHEAD OF ANY FUTURE DISASTERS, PUBLIC HEALTH CRISES OR ECONOMIC DOWNTURN.
[02:15:10]
COCK AND COUNTY TO EFFECTIVELY END CHRONICALLY HOMELESSNESS, WHICH WOULD BE HUGE.AND IF TAO IS ON TO ADD TO ANYTHING BEFORE WE OPEN UP TO QUESTIONS.
COMMISSIONER GARCIA. HEY, THANK YOU, JUDGE SAMANTHA.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR PRESENTATION.
AND AND THANK YOU FOR WHAT YOU HAVE DONE.
I KNOW YOU'RE ABOUT TO TURN A NEW PAGE IN YOUR BOOK OF, OF OF YOUR JOURNEY.
AND I JUST WANT TO SAY, YOU KNOW, UH, GREAT THAT YOU ARE A WONDERFUL DAUGHTER.
SO THANK YOU FOR DOING WHAT YOU'RE ABOUT TO DO.
BUT THAT BEING SAID, I'M GLAD YOU LAID OUT THE THE OPTIONS THAT WE HAVE BEFORE US.
AND LET ME ALSO SAY, JUDGE, THAT, YOU KNOW, AT THE VARIOUS CONFERENCES THAT I'VE BEEN AT, UM, I THINK IT'S BEEN PROBABLY AT THREE DIFFERENT ONES WHERE I'VE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE IN THE SAME ROOM WITH THE I GUESS IT'S WHAT'S THE OFFICIAL TERM, THE THE OFFICE OF HOMELESSNESS AND SOMETHING BY THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, THE INTERAGENCY COUNCIL ON HOMELESSNESS.
THERE YOU GO. I ALWAYS GET THAT ONE WRONG.
THEY'VE NEVER MISSED THE OPPORTUNITY TO TOUT THE SUCCESS OF HOUSTON, HARRIS COUNTY.
AND I'M SO GLAD THAT THEY DON'T LEAVE THE HARRIS COUNTY PART OFF.
HOWEVER, IT'S ALL ABOUT MONEY.
IF WE HAVE THE MONEY TO INVEST INTO THIS, UH, THEN WE CAN CONTINUE TO DO GREAT THINGS.
AND SO I JUST WANT TO TAKE A FLAG, IF YOU WILL.
AND, UH, I KNOW THAT THERE'S A LOT OF, UH, VARIABLES THAT ARE TO BE DECIDED.
AND AND I'M GOING TO BRING AN ITEM ON THE COURT LATER.
BUT JUST SPEAKING RIGHT NOW, SAY, TO MR. RAMOS AND TO THE ADMINISTRATOR THAT WE SHOULD BE THINKING ABOUT WHAT STRATEGY, UH, ASIDE FROM CUTTING OTHER AREAS OF PROGRAMING, UH, WHAT STRATEGY CAN WE PUT IN PLACE THAT WILL ALLOW US MAYBE, YOU KNOW, IDEALLY GET TO THE FULL, YOU KNOW, 39 MILLION, UH, BUT AT LEAST NOT LET US LOSE THE GROUND THAT WE HAVE ACHIEVED.
RIGHT. AND WE CAN JUST HOLD THE LINE FOR WHERE WE'RE AT RIGHT NOW.
BUT, UM, YOU KNOW, LOOKING AT LOOKING AT WAYS THAT WE CAN APPROACH THIS, UH, WITHOUT WITHOUT, YOU KNOW, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A LOT OF TOUGH DECISIONS ONCE ARPA RUNS OUT.
BUT I THINK AMONGST THE ONES THAT IMPACT THE QUALITY OF LIFE OF SO MANY AROUND HERE, UH, AND ALSO DEMONSTRATING THE SUCCESS THAT WE'VE ACHIEVED IN THE LIVES OF THOSE THAT WE WOULD ONCE CALL HOMELESS.
UH, MANY OF THEM HAVE GONE ON TO BE PRODUCTIVE FOLKS BECAUSE WE'VE ENGAGED THEM AND WE'VE PROVIDED A STRUCTURED PATHWAY FOR THEM TO GET INTO, UH, SUPPORTIVE HOUSING, TO GET INTO JOBS, TO GET TO GET RE RECONNECTED WITH SOCIETY.
UH, WE'VE TAKEN THEM OFF THE STREETS PERMANENTLY, AND THAT IS NOTHING SHORT OF A MIRACLE.
AND SO I JUST THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE BE THINKING IN ADVANCE.
UM, WE HAVE ABOUT TWO YEARS LEFT ON THIS FUNDING.
AND SO I THINK WE OUGHT TO BE THINKING NOW HOW WE CAN BUILD THAT CAPACITY TO CONTINUE THE FUNDING IN THOSE TWO YEARS ONCE WE LOSE THIS ARPA MONEY.
SO AGAIN, SAMANTHA, THANK YOU FOR YOUR WORK.
I APPRECIATE YOU STEPPING INTO THIS ROLE.
UM, AND I WANT TO THANK MY STAFF AS WELL.
MERCEDES, UH, SHE TOOK THE HELM ON THIS EARLY ON, AND THEN FRANCISCO.
UH, SO AGAIN, JUST APPRECIATE YOU HATE TO SEE YOU LEAVING, BUT I'M JUST SO PROUD THAT YOU ARE, UH.
YOU'RE JUST BEING A GOOD DAUGHTER.
AND DON'T STRAY TOO FAR, OKAY? YES, SIR. THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY.
I MEAN, IT WAS MY PLEASURE, COMMISSIONER ELLIS.
THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER GARCIA.
AND IT WAS A GREAT PRESENTATION.
I WANT TO GIVE MR. RAMOS A CHANCE TO RESPOND, AND THEN I MIGHT HAVE SOME IDEAS AS WELL.
[02:20:05]
OPERATIONS. WE WERE CREATIVE.KNOWING THAT SOME OF MY COLLEAGUES ARE NOT WITH US NOW, HAD THE ATTITUDE THAT IF YOU DO THESE CREATIVE THINGS, THEN YOU GO CREATE A CONSTITUENCY THAT WILL COME BACK AND ASK FOR YOU TO CONTINUE IT, BUT THERE'LL BE SOME TOUGH OPTIONS.
SO I'D BE CURIOUS TO HEAR WHAT MR. RAMOS. OH, LISTEN.
IT WAS NOT MY INTENTION TO GET INTO THE POLICY DISCUSSION IN THE MIDDLE OF THE SPEAKERS, BECAUSE WE HAD AGREED IN THE PAST TO LET ALL THE SPEAKERS GO FIRST SO THAT THEY DON'T HAVE TO WAIT THROUGH LUNCH.
SO CAN I CAN I JUST ASK BEFORE WE CONTINUE, UM, ARE WE ALLOWED TO GO INTO LUNCH A LITTLE BIT TO HEAR ALL THE SPEAKERS? YEAH. SO WE'LL FINISH THIS, TRY TO KEEP IT BRIEF, AND THEN IF YOU GUYS ARE OKAY, FINISH TAKING THE SPEAKERS AND WE'LL TAKE THE LUNCH A LITTLE BIT LATER.
THANK YOU. OKAY, MR. A MOTION, WAIT 1:00.
THAT'S WHY WE HAVE SEVERAL MONTH LONG PROCESS.
I DO THINK OUR CURRENT LEVEL OF SERVICE FORECAST THIS YEAR IS LARGELY AND ESPECIALLY NEXT YEAR, IS LARGELY GOING TO BE DRIVEN BY WHICH ARPA INVESTMENTS WE WANT TO WE WANT TO SUSTAIN AND PRIORITIZE.
SO WE'LL BE WORKING WITH THE ARPA TEAM WILL BRING AN ITEM AT SOME POINT BEFORE THE PROCESS, SO WE CAN GET FEEDBACK FROM THE COURT AS EARLY AS POSSIBLE ON WHICH ITEMS WHICH ARPA INVESTMENTS WERE.
YOU ALL WILL PRIORITIZE AS WE MOVE FORWARD.
SO I'M THINKING AFTER ARPA WAS LIFE AFTER ARPA IS WHAT I'M HEADING TOWARD.
ONE OF THE REASONS THAT I WAS VERY EXCITED THAT LAST COURT YOU ALL APPROVED UNANIMOUSLY TO START A STRATEGIC PLANNING PROCESS IS BECAUSE THAT'S THE WAY THAT WE CAN GET TO YOUR PRIORITIES, BECAUSE WE CANNOT BE ALL THINGS TO ALL PEOPLE.
AND SO WE NEED TO FIGURE OUT WHAT THE COMMISSIONERS COURT WANTS TO DO WITH OUR LIMITED RESOURCES.
AND IN THE MEANWHILE, WE WILL BE LOOKING AT ALTERNATIVE RESOURCES, ALTERNATIVE FUNDING SOURCES.
I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT AND I WANT TO RAISE IT BECAUSE A LOT OF THIS IS WRAPAROUND SERVICES.
BUT TO WHAT EXTENT IS SOME OF THIS MONEY CAPITAL INVESTMENTS? THERE ARE SOME CAPITAL INVESTMENT, BUT A LOT OF THEM, I WOULD SAY THE LION'S SHARE WOULD HAVE TO COME FROM OPERATING.
BUT ALSO KEEP IN MIND IT'S NOT JUST GENERAL FUNDS.
WE'RE GOING TO BE LOOKING AT GRANTS.
CDBG IS A IS WE WE PROBABLY LEAD THE NATION OR SECOND OR THIRD IN THE NATION, HOW MUCH CDBG WE RECEIVE AND MAKING SURE WE'RE PRIORITIZING THAT FUNDING ALONG WITH THE GENERAL FUND TO TO MEET YOUR PRIORITIES.
I KNOW WE HAVE SPEAKERS. I WON'T BELABOR IT, BUT HOW MUCH DID WE GET IN CDBG MONEY? YOU KNOW, AND WHEN WE USE CDBG MONEY, IF YOU USE IT IN THE CITY LIMITS, I THINK YOU GOT TO TRACK TO MAKE SURE THAT IT'S FOR PEOPLE WHO WOULD BE UNINCORPORATED. AM I RIGHT? CORRECT. RIGHT.
WE CANNOT OVERLAP WITH THE CITY OF HOUSTON'S BECAUSE THEY ALSO RECEIVE CDBG FUNDS.
SO THE HOMELESSNESS IS WHERE IT MAY OVERLAP BECAUSE OF THEIR LACK OF AN ADDRESS, BUT OTHERWISE ON AN ANNUAL BASIS, OUR ENTITLEMENT FUNDS ARE SOMEWHAT SMALL RELATIVE TO THE CITY.
AND THE CITY IS ABOUT DOUBLE THAT.
NOW, LOOK, I'LL LEAVE IT AT THIS.
A LONG TIME AGO, WHEN I WAS ON THE CITY COUNCIL, THEY TRIED TO.
THEY PUT ON A BALLOT TO USE SOME BOND MONEY FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
AND THEN I WAS PUSHING FOR THAT AS I LEFT CITY COUNCIL.
BUT THEY PUT IT ON THE BALLOT AND IT WAS ABOUT 20 MILLION.
I DON'T THINK THE CITY ISSUED ALL OF THAT DEBT AT SOME POINT.
BUT THAT'S ONLY FOR CAPITAL EXPENSES.
YOU COULDN'T USE IT FOR THE WRAPAROUND SERVICES.
I DON'T THINK BOND MONEY WOULD QUALIFY FOR THAT.
[02:25:08]
THAT HAVE BEEN MADE, ALL OF THE ARPA RELATED PROJECTS, AND WHAT WE CAN DO.SO YOU HAVE A BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT THE PROJECTS CAN BE CARRIED FORWARD AND WHICH ONES CAN'T.
YEAH. I'LL END WITH JUST SAYING THAT IT'S GOING TO BE AN UPHILL CLIMB.
IT WAS A ONCE IN A GENERATION.
I MEAN, I THINK THAT THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION GAVE US SOMEWHAT COMPARABLE TO WHAT LBJ PUT FORWARD DURING THE GREAT SOCIETY, BUT THEY'RE GOING TO BE A LOT OF GREAT PROGRAMS FROM APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAMS UP AND DOWN THE LINE.
SO IT'S ALWAYS INTERESTING TO GET IDEAS ON HOW WE CAN SPEND THE MONEY.
BUT I ALWAYS LIKE TO POINT OUT THOSE PEOPLE HAVE TO SHOW UP WHEN WE MAKE A DECISION.
I'LL BRING IT IN HERE, AND THAT'S USUALLY A TOUGHER DECISION.
COMMISSIONER RAMSEY AND THEN COMMISSIONER BARRIOS.
SAMANTHA, THANK YOU FOR THE UPDATE.
I THINK YOU'RE IDENTIFYING A VERY IMPORTANT THING, WHICH WE'VE TALKED ABOUT MANY DAYS.
WE'RE REACHING THAT PERIOD WHERE THE ARPA MONEY RUNS OUT.
WE NEED TO BE GOOD STEWARDS OF THE DOLLARS WE HAVE AND CAN.
ADMINISTRATOR, APPRECIATE YOU POINTING THAT OUT.
WE ALSO NEED TO UNDERSTAND THAT, AT LEAST FROM WHAT WE UNDERSTAND, THE CITY OF HOUSTON'S FINANCES ARE NOT EXACTLY IN A GREAT SHAPE.
SO WE KNOW THERE'S ISSUES THERE AS THEY TRY TO FIGURE OUT THEIR HOUSE.
HOPEFULLY IT DOESN'T IMPACT OUR HOUSE.
AND WE'LL HAVE TO FIGURE OUT WHAT, WHAT DOLLARS WE'RE ABLE TO AFFORD.
IT DOES PAY ATTENTION TO WHAT THINGS COST.
SO WE WILL KEEP AN EYE ON THIS ONE, PARTICULARLY ANYTHING RELATED TO WHERE ARPA MONEY WAS SPENT.
HOW ARE WE GOING TO GET BY ON THE OTHER SIDE OF IT? AT LEAST WHAT I'VE BEEN TOLD AT THIS POINT.
AT THE END OF ARPA, THOSE POSITIONS GO AWAY AND WE GO TO ANOTHER, ANOTHER MODE.
WE ALWAYS CAN MAKE OTHER DECISIONS, BUT AT LEAST WE KNOW WHEN THERE'S ARPA POSITIONS IN PLAY.
THOSE ARE GOING TO GO AWAY AT THE END OF ARPA.
COMMISSIONER BEGINS. SO FIRST OF ALL, MS..
MISS MARIANI, THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP, MR. NICHOLLS AND THE COALITION OF THE HOMELESS.
THANK YOU. IT'S ENERGIZING TO SEE THE PROGRESS THAT HAS BEEN MADE.
AND I KNOW WE ALL SHARE THE COMMITMENT OF BEING STRATEGIC, PURPOSEFUL AND PLANNING AS FAR AHEAD OF TIME IN SEEING HOW WE CAN SUSTAIN IT IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE CITY, FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AND HOPEFULLY THE STATE.
BUT THIS THESE RESULTS ARE STAGGERING.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU, DIRECTOR COSTAS AND DIRECTOR RAMOS AND COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR RAMIREZ, BECAUSE YOU'LL BE AT THE FRONT LINES AS WE HEAD TOWARDS THE CLIFF IN TWO YEARS. THANK YOU.
THANK YOU ALL. AND THIS HAS REALLY BEEN A TEAM EFFORT.
COMMISSIONER, REMEMBER, WE WERE JUST TALKING ABOUT THIS WITH MR. NICHOLS AT WHERE WE COFFEE SHOP, A BREAKFAST PLACE.
HE SAID, JUDGE, WE CAN FIX THIS.
AND THEN WE'VE WORKED TOGETHER OVER THE PAST FEW YEARS, AND IT'S A SUCCESS STORY.
AND LET'S HOPE THAT IT'S A LONG TERM SUCCESS STORY.
SO CONGRATULATIONS TO YOU ALL.
AND I'M SO THRILLED TO CONTINUE WORKING ALONGSIDE YOU.
THANK YOU GEORGE. THANK YOU FOR THE TIME.
THANK YOU, SAMANTHA, FOR YOUR WORK.
ONE IS THANK YOU TO THE HARRIS COUNTY.
THIS COULD NOT BE DONE WITHOUT HARRIS COUNTY'S REALLY THOUGHTFUL WORK.
POST COVID AND COVID HIT HARRIS COUNTY AND THE CITY OF HOUSTON, THE COALITION GOT TOGETHER AND WE WERE GETTING READY TO SPEND A HUGE AMOUNT OF MONEY ON MOTELS AND TESTING AND AND EMERGENCY SHELTERS, AND WE SPENT IT FOR ABOUT A MONTH.
AND THEN WE REALIZED HOW MUCH BETTER WE COULD DO IF WE HOUSED PEOPLE.
AND THAT'S WHAT YOU WORKED ON, AND THAT'S WHAT THE CHIP PROGRAM DID.
[02:30:01]
IT HOUSED AND MANY, MANY THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE.TONIGHT THERE ARE 9000 PEOPLE IN SUPPORT OF HOUSING.
THAT MEANS VOUCHERS FROM THE HOUSING AUTHORITIES.
THEY'RE THERE AND THEY CAN STAY THERE.
THEY'LL BE THEY'LL BE ABLE TO STAY THERE POST, POST COVID, BECAUSE OF OUR EXCELLENT WORK IN GETTING MOVING OUR NOFO FROM 25 MILLION TO $57 MILLION.
THE SECOND THING, WHICH IS VERY IMPORTANT, AND I'LL SAY THIS TO THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATORS AND TO THE FINANCE FOLKS WHEN WE SHOWED UP HERE, WHEN I SHOWED UP HERE FIVE YEARS AGO. WE FOUND OUT THAT THE HARRIS COUNTY, WHICH BEEN AND THE NUMBER THAT THEY GAVE US WAS $96,000 A YEAR FOR EVERY PERSON WHO IS LIVING ON THE STREET.
MOST OF THAT MONEY WAS EMERGENCY HEALTH CARE.
NATIONAL AVERAGE IS A SMALLER THAN THAT, AND I THINK THAT WAS PROBABLY A LITTLE HIGH.
TODAY WE HAVE ABOUT 1700 PEOPLE LIVING ON THE STREET, ABOUT 2000 WHO ARE LIVING IN SHELTERS.
NOW WE CAN IF WE GO BACK TO THAT, WE'RE BACK TO SPENDING 40 TO $60,000 A YEAR WHAT IT COST US IN FEDERAL MONEY. MOST ALL OF THIS IS FEDERAL MONEY.
IT'S $20,000 PER PERSON, PER YEAR TO HOUSE SOMEBODY IN THEIR OWN APARTMENT WITH THEIR OWN LEASE, WITH THEIR NAME, REFRIGERATOR, AIR CONDITIONING, ALL THAT CASE MANAGEMENT, PROFESSIONAL CASE MANAGEMENT AND SUBSIDY FOR THAT ROUTE.
THAT IS A GOOD DEAL ECONOMICALLY WHEN I'M WORRIED ABOUT IS WE BUILT THIS GREAT SYSTEM.
AND WE DON'T WANT TO THROW IT OUT.
PEOPLE FROM ALL OVER THE COUNTRY COME TO SEE WHAT WE'RE DOING.
LOS ANGELES, NEW YORK, CHICAGO, SPOKANE, SEATTLE, DENVER.
STATES COME BECAUSE THEY THEY SAY, HOW DO YOU DO THIS? HOW DO YOU DO USE THIS COMPLEX FEDERAL FUNDING THAT IS SO HIGHLY POLICED WITH WITH NO FINDINGS? HOW DO YOU DO IT? AND IT IS UNIQUE TO THIS CITY SO AND TO THIS COUNTY.
UM, CAN I MAKE ONE INTRODUCTION TO MY SUCCESSOR? OH, YES, IF SHE'S HERE.
SHE IS ACTUALLY SIGNED UP TO SPEAK TO WELCOME.
OKAY. WE'LL TAKE WE'LL TAKE HER NOW.
I KNOW, MR. NICHOLS, YOU'RE RETIRING AT THE END OF THE YEAR FROM THIS POST.
YEAH. THIS WOULD NOT BE DONE WITH A COMMISSIONERS COURT.
YOUR STAFF? THEY ALL WORKED TIRELESSLY ON AND ON AND ON TO GET THIS DONE.
IT WOULD NOT BE DONE WITHOUT YOU.
WE'RE SO EXCITED TO WORK WITH YOU.
YOU. WELL, IT'S HARD TO FOLLOW THE LOVELY SAMANTHA AND THEN MIKE, BUT I WILL TRY MY DARNDEST.
WHAT YOU ALL DID. WE'VE TALKED.
SAMANTHA DID A GREAT JOB WITH THE NUMBERS.
MIKE TALKED RIGHTLY ABOUT THE FINANCE.
WHAT I WANT YOU TO KNOW IS THAT OBVIOUSLY WE INCREASE HOUSING FOR INDIVIDUALS, BUT YOU ACTUALLY STRENGTHEN AND SOLIDIFY A HOMELESS SYSTEM THAT ALLOWED PROVIDERS TO KNOW THEY COULD COUNT ON IT. THEY KNEW WHAT WAS GOING TO HAPPEN.
IT WASN'T AT THE WHIM OF ANYTHING THAT FLOWS, INFLUENCE, MONEY, WHATEVER.
SO THESE ARE THESE REALLY KIND OF ESOTERIC THINGS THAT TO US ON THE STREET, REALLY MATTER BECAUSE IT SHOWS US SMART, EFFICIENT, ACCOUNTABLE GOVERNMENT, WHICH IS WHAT WE NEED TO BE ABLE TO EXPEND THOSE DOLLARS AND DO WELL BY THE PEOPLE WE'RE SERVING.
WE ALSO KNOW THAT YOU SUPPORTED A FAIR AND JUST ROBUST RESPONSE SYSTEM, AND WE WILL ONLY BE ROBUST CONTINUE AS LONG AS WE INCLUDE THAT LEVEL OF FUNDING AND COMMITMENT TO THE KIND OF WORK WE'RE DOING.
I LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH EVERYONE THAT HAS BEEN INVOLVED.
I AM SO LUCKY TO LEAD FROM A POSITION OF BEING A HEAD.
I'M JUST GOING TO RUN ACROSS THAT CLIFF AND HIT THAT OTHER CLIFF, BECAUSE I THINK IF WE CONTINUE WITH WHAT WE TALK ABOUT HERE, NOT ALL THE OTHER THINGS, THE NUMBERS YOU NEED TO KNOW, BUT REALLY TALK ABOUT THE COMMITMENT TO SHOW UP WITH EACH OTHER AND WALK THROUGH ALL OF THESE DIFFERENT OPTIONS.
WE WILL FIND THE WAYS TO WORK THE SYSTEMS. AS LONG AS WE STAY CLEAR ABOUT THAT STRATEGY, ABOUT WHAT THE END RESULT NEEDS TO BE.
[02:35:04]
SO I JUST WANT TO TELL YOU, I SEE ON A REGULAR BASIS EVERY DAY, PEOPLE WHO ARE GETTING SERVED BY THIS PROJECT AND THIS PROGRAM, AND FOR YEARS THEY WERE PEOPLE WHO COULDN'T GET INTO HOUSING, COULDN'T FIGURE OUT HOW TO GET INTO HOUSING.AND YOU ACTUALLY CREATED BY GETTING TOGETHER AND DECIDING TO PUT THIS ON THE FOREFRONT, EVEN WITH THESE CRAZY DOLLARS THAT WE WEREN'T SURE WE'RE GOING TO, YOU KNOW, STAY OR WHATEVER THEY'RE GOING TO DO, THEY ACTUALLY GOT HOUSED AFTER YEARS OF BEING ON THE STREET.
SO I JUST WANT TO PERSONALLY THANK YOU PROFESSIONALLY.
THANK YOU. YOU'VE MADE MY WORK DIFFICULT, IMPACTFUL AND MEANINGFUL OVER THE LAST THREE YEARS.
BUT I LOOK FORWARD TO THAT CLIFF, BECAUSE I THINK WE'RE GOING TO FIND THE NEXT BEST BRIDGE TO WHATEVER WE NEED TO DO, BECAUSE PEOPLE ARE COMMITTED AND SHOW UP AND DO THE WORK THAT THEY'RE SUPPOSED TO DO. SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR TIME.
YES, COMMISSIONER GARCIA, I JUST WANT TO THANK YOU.
AND JUST DON'T FORGET, I HAD MY NUMBER.
YEAH, YEAH, AND BUT I'M VERY I'M VERY, VERY HOPEFUL THAT BETWEEN THE SYNERGY OF MR. RAMIREZ TAO, WHO COMES FROM A YOUR SPACE AND WITH YOU STEPPING INTO YOUR NEW ROLE, THAT THERE WILL BE THAT SYNERGY OF CREATIVITY AND INNOVATION THAT WILL HELP US MOVE FORWARD.
AND THEN DANIEL WILL CUT THE CHECK, RIGHT? NO, BUT I FEEL LIKE I NEED TO KNOW YOU MUCH BETTER.
BUT BUT IN ALL SERIOUSNESS, LOOK, YOU YOU TOOK ON A DIFFICULT TASK.
UM, YOU COORDINATED WITH SAMANTHA AND MIKE AND TAO, AND YOU GUYS COLLECTIVELY CREATED JUST A NEW THRESHOLD FOR PEOPLE TO LOOK TO GOVERNMENT.
SO IT WAS PRETTY NEAT TO HOST A COUPLE OF MAYORS HERE, ONE FROM LA IN PARTICULAR, TO LEARN FROM US AND, AND AND SEE WHAT WE'RE DOING. AND AND I COULDN'T BE MORE PROUD OF THAT MOMENT.
AND AS I'VE SAID, WHEN PEOPLE TOUT AT THE NATIONAL LEVEL TOUT THE WORK OF HOUSTON, HARRIS COUNTY, TOO OFTEN THEY, THEY DON'T MENTION HARRIS COUNTY, BUT MANY TIMES THEY THROW IT IN EVERY TIME.
BUT BUT AGAIN, WE WOULDN'T HAVE BEEN ABLE TO TO GET THERE IF NOT FOR YOUR WORK AS WELL.
AND SO I'M EXCITED TO SEE YOU CONTINUING TO HELP US MOVE FORWARD.
SAMANTHA. MIKE, JUST REALLY APPRECIATE EVERYTHING YOU GUYS HAVE DONE.
MISS YOUNG. ONE IS ON THE MENTAL HEALTH PIECE.
AND I JUST WANT TO CHALLENGE YOU TO, TO HELP US ADVANCE THAT EVEN MORE, BECAUSE OBVIOUSLY MENTAL HEALTH IS A BIG COMPONENT OF THAT. UM, THE SECOND THING I'LL SAY TO JUST GIVE YOU ANOTHER ANOTHER TIP FOR YOU AND MISS COSTAS IS.
DIRECTOR. COSTAS IS THE THE OCA DIRECTOR OF PHILANTHROPY.
AND I'M CONVINCED THAT WE'LL FIND A WAY TO MAKE THIS HAPPEN.
THERE ARE SO MANY WORTHY PROGRAMS. I MEAN, DON'T GET ME STARTED WITH THE MENTAL HEALTH INVESTMENTS OR THE EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION INVESTMENTS.
BUT THE GOOD THING IS, THIS ISN'T A SURPRISE.
WE CAN PLAN FOR IT, AND WE HAVE ENOUGH CREATIVE AND SMART PEOPLE MORE THAN ENOUGH.
I THINK THAT WE FIND THIS CHALLENGE JUST DELICIOUS, AND WE'LL AND WE'LL FIGURE IT OUT.
THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU.
SO WE'LL CONTINUE WITH THE SPEAKERS.
NEXT IS SPEAKER 29 MARK EICHENBAUM SPEAKING VIRTUALLY ON ITEM 12 UNDER COVID.
YOU HAVE ONE MINUTE. GO AHEAD PLEASE.
UH, GOOD. I'M IN LA RIGHT NOW, SO I'M TRYING TO DO MY MATH HERE.
UM, YES. JUDGE AND COMMISSIONERS.
MARK EICHENBAUM, SPECIAL ASSISTANT TO THE MAYOR OF THE CITY OF HOUSTON FOR HOMELESSNESS.
I JUST WANTED TO CALL IN BECAUSE JUST TO RELAY HOW HAPPY THE CITY IS AND THE MAYOR IS FOR OUR PARTNERSHIP AND THE RESULTS THAT WE'RE ACHIEVING THUS FAR.
AS COMMISSIONER GARCIA HAS NOTED, THE CITY AND COUNTY'S PARTNERSHIP TOGETHER, AS WELL AS WITH THE HOMELESS SYSTEM AND THE LEAD AGENCY IS REALLY UNHEARD OF. YOU HAVE EVERYWHERE FROM AUSTIN TO DALLAS TO DENVER TO CHICAGO TO LA, YOU NAME IT. CITIES ARE AND COUNTIES ARE TAKING WHAT WE'RE AN INCUBATOR FOR IN HARRIS COUNTY, AND THEY ARE TAKING THE LESSONS LEARNED AND BASING THEIR OWN RESPONSES ON HARRIS COUNTY AND THE CITY'S WORK.
[02:40:05]
IN FACT, THE MAYOR WAS JUST AT A US CONFERENCE OF MAYORS.CONTINUE. CONTINUE. MARK, CONTINUE.
THAT SAID, HOW IN THE WORLD DOES THE CITY OF HOUSTON AND HARRIS COUNTY WORK TOGETHER ON THIS? HOW DO I GET HOW DO I GET MY COUNTY TO TO WORK WITH US? AND I THINK THE, YOU KNOW, THE MAYOR WAS PRETTY CLEAR, IF YOU IF YOU WANT TO DO SOMETHING BIG AND YOU WANT TO HAVE A BIG IMPACT, YOU HAVE TO WORK TOGETHER.
IT'S WHAT WE DO IN THE GREATER HOUSTON AREA, AND WE'RE LUCKY TO HAVE A COURT THAT BELIEVES IN DRIVING IMPACT AS AS MUCH AS AS YOU GUYS DO, THAT ARE WILLING TO WORK WITH THE CITY AND WITH THE HOMELESS SYSTEM.
NOW, AT THE SAME TIME, WHILE WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO INCREASE THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE, WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO SERVE BY 700% DURING COVID, WE'RE KIND OF BACK TO GOING POTENTIALLY TO THE DARK AGES OF WHERE WE WERE LOOKING AT GOING BEFORE THE PANDEMIC, AND THAT IS WHERE WE'RE HAVING, YOU KNOW, UP TO 350 FOLKS FALLING INTO HOMELESSNESS EVERY MONTH, BUT ONLY ENOUGH HOUSING TO HOUSE CLOSE TO 80 OF THEM.
THAT WOULD MEAN THAT THERE WOULD BE MORE PEOPLE ON THE STREETS.
THAT WOULD BE INCREASES IN HOMELESSNESS THAT WE'VE ONLY SEEN OVER THE PAST DECADE.
ONLY ONCE THAT WAS RIGHT AFTER HARVEY.
AND SO THERE'S NO MISSION ACCOMPLISHED MOMENT.
WE HAVE TO KEEP THE MOMENTUM GOING.
AND SO I THINK THE CITY LOOKS FORWARD TO WORKING WITH HARRIS COUNTY ON WHAT THAT NEXT STEP IS, AND HOW WE CAN SUSTAIN AND EVEN ENHANCE THESE RESULTS IN THE FUTURE.
I CAN'T THANK, YOU KNOW, THE COMMISSIONERS COURT ENOUGH, AS WELL AS THE LEADERS AND THE STAFF THERE AT CCSD AND AT THE HEALTH AND THE AMAZING WORK THAT SAMANTHA HAS DONE.
IT'S BEEN GREAT TO HAVE A POINT PERSON AT THE COUNTY TO WORK WITH, AND OF COURSE, THANKFUL FOR THE COALITION FOR THE HOMELESS AND MOST IMPORTANT, FOR ALL THE AGENCIES, THE 100 DIFFERENT AGENCIES OF OUR COLLECTIVE COMBINED COMMUNITY RESPONSE AS THE WAY HOME.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR YOUR.
THANK YOU. AND FOR MENTIONING OUR INVESTMENTS TOO, BECAUSE WE WE DO WORK SO HARD ON THIS AS WELL.
AND IT'S JUST EASIER FOR PEOPLE TO WRAP THEIR HEADS AROUND THE CITY.
AND SO THANK YOU FOR ACKNOWLEDGING THAT WHEN YOU ALL TALK ABOUT AND JUDGE, I WILL TELL YOU AT THAT MEETING WITH ALL THE OTHER MAYORS EVERY SINGLE TIME, MAYOR TURNER SAID HOUSTON HE ALSO SAID HARRIS COUNTY, BECAUSE THIS IS AN EQUAL PARTNERSHIP HERE.
NEXT IS SPEAKER NUMBER 30, JOHN CARROLL SPEAKING ON ITEM 256 UNDER COMMISSIONER PRECINCT THREE.
IS THERE ANY ACTION ON ITEM 12? NO. UM, IS IT JUST A TRANSMITTAL? YEAH. AN UPDATE? NO.
I REPRESENT SPRING CLEAN SPORTS ASSOCIATION.
WE'RE A MULTI-SPORT NONPROFIT OUT OF SPRING, TEXAS, AND WE WE SERVE ABOUT 2500 YOUTH BASEBALL PLAYERS AND ANOTHER COUPLE THOUSAND ADULT SOFTBALL PLAYERS THROUGH OUR RELATIONSHIP AND OUR LEASES WITH HARRIS COUNTY PRECINCT THREE.
WE IDENTIFIED AN OPPORTUNITY TO EXPAND OUR LEASE WITH PRECINCT THREE, AND WE'RE HERE TO TALK ABOUT SUPPORT FOR TAKING OVER BURROUGHS PARK.
GIVE US AN OPPORTUNITY TO INVEST.
AND IN THE FIELDS THERE THAT'LL ALLOW IT TO OPEN UP FOR ADDITIONAL PLAY.
OTHER THAN WHAT'S THERE NOW? WE HAVE ABOUT A THOUSAND SOFTBALL PLAYERS THAT THAT WANT TO PLAY AT BURROUGHS.
THANK YOU. NEXT IS ZACH ZAVORAL SPEAKING ON ITEM 257.
YOU HAVE ONE MINUTE. HELLO, MY NAME IS ZACH ZAVREL.
WE'RE BEING REMOVED BY DECEMBER 1ST.
WE'RE JUST NOTIFIED ON FRIDAY WE NEED.
[02:45:01]
WE WOULD LOVE TO FINISH OUR SEASON IN THE SPRING.WE ARE VERY PROUD OF WHAT WE'VE BUILT WITH OUR GIRLS SOFTBALL TEAM.
WE LOVE TEACHING THESE GIRLS LIFE LESSONS ABOUT REDEMPTION AND ABOUT CHARACTER, AND ABOUT POSITIVE TEAM BUILDING ACTIVITIES, LEADERSHIP, AND ACCOUNTABILITY. I DON'T THINK I NEED TO EXPRESS TO ANY OF YOU WITH DAUGHTERS WHO ARE DAUGHTERS WHAT THAT MEANS TO THESE YOUNG WOMEN AND WITHOUT THESE FIELDS.
ANYWHERE TO PLAY. THANK YOU, THANK YOU.
AS WE AS WE NOTED, WE'RE GOING TO BE WORKING ON IT.
NEXT IS RYAN KETO SPEAKING ON ITEM 257.
YOU HAVE ONE MINUTE. GOOD AFTERNOON.
RYAN CATO, CO-FOUNDER, TEXAS TIGERS YOUTH ATHLETICS COACH AND CURRENT BOARD MEMBER.
WE ARE A 501 C, THREE NOT FOR PROFIT THAT CURRENTLY INHABITS BURROWS PARK.
NONE OF THESE THINGS HAPPEN IN A VACUUM, AND THE TRANSFER OF BURROWS PARK AT PRESENT TO ANOTHER ORGANIZATION EFFECTIVELY EVICTS US FROM THE GOOD THAT WE ARE ABLE TO DO IN THE COMMUNITY AND THE GIRLS THAT WE ARE ABLE TO HELP.
I'D LOVE TO GIVE A DESCRIPTION OF OUR ORGANIZATION AND THE THINGS THAT THE GIRLS ARE HAVE ACCOMPLISHED THROUGH PHILANTHROPIC ENDEAVORS, SUCH AS VOLUNTEERING AT HOMELESS SHELTERS, YOU KNOW, PICKING UP ALL THE TRASH IN THE PARK ON A REGULAR BASIS.
THEY'LL SHOW UP EARLY TO PRACTICE AND LEAVE LATE JUST TO MAKE SURE THAT IT'S CLEAN.
GREAT. THANK YOU. YOUR TIME IS UP.
GREAT. THANK YOU RON. THANK YOU.
APPRECIATE IT. NEXT IS VIRGINIA ERIN SPEAKING ON ITEM 257.
YOU HAVE ONE MINUTE. OKAY, I'M VIRGINIA ARINS, AND I'M HERE TO TALK ABOUT BORRAS PARK AND OUR SOFTBALL ORGANIZATION THAT'S CURRENTLY PRACTICING OUT THERE.
THIS IS JUST, YOU KNOW, TEN OUT OF ALL THE TEAMS THAT PRACTICE OUT OF THERE.
BUT AS YOU CAN SEE, THE INFIELD IS COMPLETELY DIFFERENT.
BUT AS YOU HEARD, YOU KNOW, THERE'S ABOUT 70 BASEBALL FIELDS ALONE IN PRECINCT THREE.
WHY TAKE FOUR FIELDS THAT ARE OPERATED, BEING USED BY EVEN IF THEY'RE PRIVATE TEAMS YOU'RE TAKING AWAY FROM THESE GIRLS? I DON'T KNOW IF YOU REALIZE, BUT GIRLS AND SPORTS BY THE AGE OF 14, 14 ARE DROPPING OUT OF SPORTS AT TWO TIMES THE RATE OF MALES BECAUSE OF LACK OF ACCESS.
THANK YOU FOR THANK YOU, THANK YOU.
NEXT IS JASON HARNSBERGER SPEAKING ON ITEM 257.
YOU HAVE ONE MINUTE. THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER RAMSEY.
HOWEVER, SOFTBALL AND BASEBALL FIELD SPACE IS ALREADY AT A PREMIUM AND HARD TO COME BY LOCALLY.
MAKING THE FEW FIELDS AT THIS PARK MULTI-USE WILL DECREASE SUPPLY EVEN FURTHER.
BURROUGHS PARK HAS AMPLE SPACE TO ADD ADDITIONAL FIELDS.
A BETTER SOLUTION WOULD BE TO ADD CAPACITY.
PLEASE DON'T FORCE THE CURRENT USERS TO FIND SPACE THAT'S LESSER THAN WHAT YOU ALREADY OFFER.
DAVIS SPEAKING ON ITEM 266 UNDER TRANSMITTALS.
BEFORE WE GO TO THAT, I JUST WANT TO ASK A QUESTION ON THIS.
WELL, FIRST OF ALL, IS THERE A MOTION TO SUSPEND COURT RULES AND HAVE THE LUNCH BREAK COMMENCE AT THE END OF ALL PUBLIC SPEAKERS? SO MOTION BY COMMISSIONER ELLIS, SECOND BY COMMISSIONER GARCIA.
ALL IN FAVOR? ANY OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY.
I KNOW THIS IS THIS IS IN YOUR PRECINCT.
COMMISSIONER. I'M JUST WONDERING, FROM WHAT I READ, I THINK WE GOT THIS FROM THE STAFF.
IS IS. AND THE WOMAN WHO SPOKE, MS..
[02:50:03]
IS THAT THE IDEA? THE PLAN IS CURRENTLY THERE'S 100 PLUS, MAYBE 150 THAT ARE USED IN THE FIELD PRACTICE FIELDS, AND THEY'VE BEEN THERE FOR YEARS.SO WE'RE GOING FROM OVER 100 TO OVER A THOUSAND.
WHAT WE ALSO WANT TO DO IS WORK WITH THE TIGERS, WITH THE PEPPERS, AND FIGURING OUT A SCHEDULE THAT WILL WORK FOR EVERYONE. BUT THERE WILL BE IMPROVEMENTS MADE TO THE CURRENT FIELDS.
THE PEOPLE THAT ARE TAKING THE SPRING PLAN ARE VERY FLEXIBLE IN HOW WE DO THIS, BUT THE OBJECTIVE IS TO GET MORE UTILIZATION, NOT LESS UTILIZATION, ON OUR FIELDS. SO IT IS CONCEIVABLE TO HAVE A FIELD THAT SERVES BOTH.
I MEAN, I GUESS ALL OF THIS GOES TO IS IT POSSIBLE, YOU KNOW, SOME MENTIONED, SOME OF THE SPEAKERS SAID, GIVE US A LITTLE BIT MORE TIME AND WOULD IT, COMMISSIONER RAMSEY, WOULD IT, WOULD IT INCONVENIENCE YOUR PLANS TO SAY, GIVE THESE FOLKS ONE MORE COURT SO THAT THEY CAN VISIT WITH YOUR TEAM AND FIGURE OUT THE PLANS? WE CERTAINLY WE CERTAINLY DO WANT TO VISIT.
THERE'S A LOT THAT WOULD HAVE TO BE DONE, BOTH FROM THE PEPPERS AND THE SPRING LINE.
THE GIRLS ARE ALWAYS OUT THERE.
IT'S NOT LEAGUE SOFTBALL THAT THEY PARTICIPATE IN.
SO YOU TAKE FOUR AWAY AND YOU SAY, OKAY, WELL, WE'RE GOING TO CONVERT TWO FIELDS.
WELL, WHAT DO WE DO IN THE INTERIM? AND NOW WE'RE ONLY TWO FIELDS FOR THE TEN TEAMS. AND IF WE TRY TO GO GET RESERVATIONS ELSEWHERE, IT'S VERY DIFFICULT.
NOT TO MENTION SCHEDULE WISE, YOU KNOW, THESE ARE TEN, 11 YEAR OLD GIRLS.
WE CAN'T BE PRACTICING AT 8 TO 10 AT NIGHT.
YOU KNOW, THEY'RE NOT CAPABLE OF HANDLING SOMETHING OR SUSTAINING THAT.
AND AS PARENTS, THAT'S PROBABLY NOT OUR WISEST DECISION TO MAKE.
SO I UNDERSTAND WHERE THEY'RE COMING FROM.
THEY NEED MORE FIELDS AS WELL.
BUT AT THE SAME TIME, IF YOU LOOK AT GIRLS SPORTS.
YOU KNOW, AND THERE'S NO WAY TO HAVE THE FOUR FIELDS BE FOR BOTH THE BOYS AND THE GIRLS.
IS THAT THE POINT YOU'RE TRYING TO MAKE WITH YOUR IMAGE? YEAH. IF YOU LOOK AT A SOFTBALL FIELD IN COMPARISON TO A BASEBALL FIELD, IT'S A DIRT INFIELD.
THE PITCHING, YOU DRAG YOUR FOOT IN THE DIRT.
IF YOU TRY TO DO IT ON A BASEBALL FIELD, IT DOESN'T REPLICATE THE SAME.
THE DISTANCES ARE DIFFERENT, PLAYS DIFFERENT.
WHEN A BIG SOFTBALL HITS GRASS VERSUS WHEN IT HITS DIRT.
IT'S JUST THEY'RE SIMILAR IN THEIR RULES AND LIKE FOLLOWING ALONG IN THE GAME.
BUT TO ACTUALLY BE A PLAYER AND PARTICIPATE, IT'S TWO DIFFERENT BALL GAMES.
AND AGAIN THE OBJECTIVE IS TO BE SURE WE MAXIMIZE THE USE OF THE FIELDS, PERIOD.
YEAH, WELL, LOOK, I DID I WAS NOT AWARE OF THIS UNTIL THIS MORNING.
AND OBVIOUSLY I REPRESENT THE WHOLE COUNTY.
AND SO I WOULD REQUEST COMMISSIONER RAMSEY, IF IT'S POSSIBLE FOR US TO, TO WORK TOGETHER BETWEEN NOW AND THE NEXT CHORD, UNLESS THERE'S SOME SORT OF URGENCY THAT YOU HAVE FOR THIS. YOU KNOW, I'M NOT COMFORTABLE VOTING ONE WAY OR THE OTHER TODAY.
I'M JUST I'M NOT COMFORTABLE VOTING YES.
I'M NOT COMFORTABLE VOTING NO.
YES, MA'AM. I'M COMFORTABLE SAYING, LET'S HOLD IT AND LET'S VISIT.
NOW, IT MAY BE THAT WE'RE RIGHT BACK HERE NEXT WEEK.
YOU KNOW, SOMETIMES THERE ISN'T A PERFECT SOLUTION FOR THINGS.
OKAY. WILL IT BE HELPFUL TO JUDGE? IF YOU REMEMBER, I AM SHORT 32 MILLION IN BOND FUNDS, AND SINCE YOU REPRESENT THE ENTIRE COUNTY, THOSE BOND FUNDS WOULD HELP US BUILD FIELDS YOU KNOW THAT WE'RE CURRENTLY SHORT ON.
WELL, YOU KNOW, I STAND WITH YOU ON THAT, COMMISSIONER.
UM, SO SO YOU JUST NEED TO READ THE TRANSCRIPT FROM THE LAST COURT.
[02:55:04]
YOU HAVE AN OPEN INVITATION TO PRECINCT FOUR.WE HAVE 15 SOFTBALL FIELDS, WHICH I AGREE, WE NEED MORE AS A PROUD GIRL MOM.
BUT YOU ALL HAVE AN OPEN INVITATION.
WE'LL CONTINUE WITH THE SPEAKERS.
THEN THAT DAVIS SPEAKING ON ITEM 266.
I'VE HAD MY BUSINESS, K DAVIS ASSOCIATES, 23 YEARS IN THE COUNTY AND MY NONPROFIT FOR SEVEN.
UM, I BELIEVE WITH EVERYTHING IN ME THAT WE ARE OUR BROTHER'S KEEPER.
I'M VERY IMPRESSED WITH THIS PROGRESSIVE HARRIS COUNTY COURT.
I'M AN ART ENTHUSIAST, LIKE MUSIC.
IT'S UNIVERSAL, AND IT SPEAKS IN A WAY THAT PEOPLE WILL LISTEN.
SO I DONATED THE BRONZE ARTWORK AND I DONATE BRONZE ARTWORK TO THE PUBLIC.
I DONATED THE GEORGE FLOYD STATUE TO HARRIS COUNTY.
IT STANDS AS A BEACON TO REMIND US THAT WE MATTER AS CITIZENS AND THAT YOU CARE.
ADDING A CIVILIAN OVERSIGHT COMMISSION STRENGTHENS YOUR COMMITMENT.
THE OPTICS ARE IMPORTANT TO US.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. YOU CAN CONTINUE.
YOU. I FEEL LIKE WE'VE JUST GOT TO DO BETTER.
THE NEXT GENERATION IS COUNTING ON US.
I THINK WE AS CITIZENS WOULD LIKE TO HELP YOU.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR COMING.
AND THANK YOU FOR THAT SUBSTANTIAL DONATION.
I KNOW YOU PAID OVER $100,000 TO IT AND IT IS BEAUTIFUL.
MY PLEASURE. AND IT STANDS BEAUTIFULLY OVER IN THOMAS PARK.
SPEAKER 37 KRISTA STONEHAM SPEAKING ON ITEM 298.
YOU HAVE ONE MINUTE. GOOD AFTERNOON.
I'M THE PRESIDENT AND CEO OF THE HOUSTON LAND BANK.
THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME HERE TODAY.
I'M HERE TO EXPRESS MY SUPPORT AND GRATITUDE TO THE PRECINCT STAFF DIRECTOR, COSTAS, AND EVERYONE ELSE INVOLVED IN THE CONVERSATIONS OF CREATING AN INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE HOUSTON LAND BANK AND THE COUNTY.
WE ARE THE ONLY LAND BANK IN THE STATE OF TEXAS.
WE'RE THE LARGEST IN THE COUNTRY, AND WE SERVE NOT JUST AFFORDABLE HOUSING NEEDS, BUT WE ALSO MOVE INTO ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE AND TO CREATE PARKS AND GREEN SPACE, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, FOOD INSECURITY SOLUTIONS, BASICALLY WHATEVER'S NEEDED FOR THE COMMUNITIES THAT NEED TO BE SERVED.
HOWEVER, OUR LIMITATIONS ARE CURRENTLY IN THE CITY LIMITS.
WITHOUT AN INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT, WE SEEK HERE TO BE A STRATEGIC PARTNER TO HELP WITH SOLUTIONS SUCH AS WHAT YOU WERE DISCUSSING, TO BE A PART OF THE CHANGE THAT'S SO NEEDED IN THESE NEIGHBORHOODS.
SO THANK YOU. YOUR TIME IS UP.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR COMING.
GREAT WORK. NEXT IS SPEAKER NUMBER 40 CHRISTINE HOLLAND SPEAKING ON ITEM 312.
THANK YOU FOR LETTING ME BE HERE TODAY.
I'M THE CEO OF REBUILDING TOGETHER HOUSTON.
SAFE, HEALTHY HOUSING IS A HUMAN RIGHT.
I'M HERE TO SPEAK ABOUT THE NEED FOR HOUSING REHABILITATION IN HARRIS COUNTY.
REBUILDING TOGETHER IS THE ONLY ORGANIZATION IN OUR REGION TO PROVIDE HUNDREDS OF NON DISASTER REPAIRS TO LOW INCOME HOMEOWNER FAMILIES EVERY YEAR, BASED ON CENSUS DATA AND THE KINDER INSTITUTE MY HOME IS HERE SURVEY, WE ESTIMATE THAT THERE ARE OVER 119,000 FAMILIES IN HARRIS COUNTY, INCLUDING SENIORS, VETERANS AND WORKING FAMILIES WITH CHILDREN WHO ARE LIVING IN HOMES WITH HEALTH AND SAFETY HAZARDS.
EVERY HOUSE WE SEE HAS A LEAKING ROOF OR ACTIVE MOLD, OR NO HOT WATER, OR A DANGEROUS ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, OR HOLES IN FLOORING OR ALL OF THE ABOVE.
WE'RE TURNING AWAY HUNDREDS OF FAMILIES EVERY YEAR AND THERE'S NO OTHER RESOURCE FOR THEM.
I REALLY JUST HAD 11 MORE SECONDS ON MY ONE MINUTE AND THEN I'LL HAPPY TO ANSWER QUESTIONS.
[03:00:01]
IF THEY LOSE THEIR HOMES OR THEIR HOMES ARE UNINHABITABLE.MANY OF THESE HOMES WILL NOT WITHSTAND THE NEXT HURRICANE, AND THEY NEED OUR HELP.
DR. THOMAS WAS HERE EXCITED ABOUT BRINGING THAT FOR YOUNG PEOPLE TRANSITIONING OUT OF FOSTER CARE.
BLESS YOU. AND AND AFFORDABLE HOUSING TO ME HAS BEEN AN IMMENSE PRIORITY.
SO I JUST WANT TO THANK YOU FOR COMING HERE AND SHARING YOUR VOICE.
THANK YOU, THANK YOU. THANK YOU.
NEXT IS. SPEAKER 41 CHRIS HENSMAN SPEAKING ON ITEM 312.
YOU HAVE ONE MINUTE. THANK YOU.
MOST AMERICANS HOLD THE MAJORITY OF THEIR WEALTH IN THEIR HOMES.
AND FOR A SUBSET OF OUR HOMEOWNERS HERE IN THE COUNTY, DEFERRED MAINTENANCE ISSUES ARE ERODING THE VALUE OF THEIR HOMES, THE HEALTH ENVIRONMENT OF THEIR HOMES, BOTH PHYSICAL AND MENTAL HEALTH.
AND SO WE WANT TO BE A PART OF THE SOLUTION HERE.
NEXT IS NON-AGENDA SPEAKER NUMBER FIVE, CAROLINA FARRIS.
I'M HERE AGAIN. I WAS HERE LAST MONTH.
KARINA FARIAS. I'M A BOARD CERTIFIED FAMILY LAW PRACTITIONER HERE IN HARRIS COUNTY.
RUSHING TO GET TO MY 130 TRIAL HERE IN HARRIS COUNTY.
I WANT YOU TO AGAIN REMEMBER THE NEED FOR COURT INTERPRETERS AND FAMILY COURTS.
I WENT AHEAD AND FILED A COMPLAINT WITH THE JUSTICE DEPARTMENT.
I DON'T KNOW IF YOU KNOW MANY PUERTO RICAN CUBAN PEOPLE, BUT WE'RE VERY STUBBORN.
WHEN WE SET OUR MIND TO SOMETHING, WE DON'T STOP UNTIL WE ACCOMPLISH.
THE RECORD NUMBER IS 338121HKB.
YOU ALREADY HAVE COURT INTERPRETERS IN CRIMINAL COURTS.
YOU HAVE THEM IN ONE FAMILY COURT IN THE 20TH.
YOU'VE HAD SPEAKERS HERE SPEAK ABOUT HOMELESSNESS.
WE NEED COURT INTERPRETERS AND FAMILY COURTS.
THANK YOU. DID YOU FINISH? NO. IS IT A QUICK POINT? YES. IT'S $150 AN HOUR WITH THE TWO HOUR MINIMUM, WHETHER OR NOT YOU USE THEM FOR FIVE MINUTES, ONE MINUTE OR NOT AT ALL.
THESE PEOPLE THAT NEED INTERPRETERS NEED EQUAL ACCESS TO JUSTICE.
DO NOT DELAY JUSTICE FOR NON-ENGLISH SPEAKERS IN OUR COUNTY.
THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU.
NEXT IS NON-AGENDA SPEAKER NUMBER SEVEN.
KATIE. MR.. YOU HAVE ONE MINUTE.
I LIVE IN PRECINCT TWO AND I'M HERE TODAY TO CALL ON THE COMMISSIONERS COURT TO REPRESENT THE PEOPLE OF HARRIS COUNTY BY JOINING OTHER AMERICAN MUNICIPALITIES IN PASSING A RESOLUTION CALLING FOR A CEASE FIRE IN PALESTINE.
EVEN AFTER EVERYTHING OUR COUNTRY HAS BEEN THROUGH IN RECENT YEARS, I'M SEEING PEOPLE WHO HAD NOT YET LOST THEIR FAITH IN OUR GOVERNMENT LOSE IT NOW, WATCHING THE GENOCIDE OF PALESTINIANS IN REAL TIME.
WHILE MOST AMERICAN ELECTED OFFICIALS DENY THE FACTS, TWO THIRDS OF AMERICANS SUPPORT A CEASE FIRE.
A COMMISSIONERS COURT. CEASE FIRE RESOLUTION GOES BEYOND TAKING A POLITICAL STANCE.
THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU.
SPEAKER NUMBER NINE MARTHA CRUZ.
SHE'LL BE USING THE INTERPRETER.
YOU HAVE ONE MINUTE. UM, COMMISSIONER WARREN.
UH. ESTA ESTA ES UNA BENDICION.
[03:05:05]
IT'S A BLESSING FOR HOUSTON.UH, BUT QUIERO PEDIR, POR FAVOR.
IT'S INVESTING A LOS LUGARES DE GOBIERNO PARA UN LIVRE DE DROGA.
IT'S BEEN A PRIVILEGE BEING HERE.
GRACIAS. NEXT IS NON-AGENDA SPEAKER NUMBER 12, NATALIE CARTER.
I STAND BEFORE YOU TODAY TO SHED LIGHT ON A CRITICAL ISSUE THAT REQUIRES IMMEDIATE ATTENTION.
YOUR TIME IS UP. MAY I CONTINUE, PLEASE? IS IT QUICK? YES.
OKAY. YOU'RE THE ONE THAT I DIRECTLY WANT TO ADDRESS AS WELL, SIR.
WE HUMBLY ASK YOU TO PRIORITIZE THE NEEDS OF THE MOST VULNERABLE CONSTITUENTS.
BY TAKING ACTION TODAY, YOU CAN RESTORE HOPE AND RESTORE THE LIVES AND FAITH OF OUR CONSTITUENTS AND AND PROVIDE AND REASSURE THE COMMITMENT TO PROVIDING AFFORDABLE AND SAFE HOUSING.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR COMING.
SPEAKER 13. HANNAH THORNBURG, YOU HAVE ONE MINUTE.
GOOD AFTERNOON. MY NAME IS HANNAH THORNBURG.
I'M A MEMBER OF JEWISH VOICE FOR PEACE, AND I'M HERE TO CALL ON HARRIS COUNTY COMMISSIONERS COURT TO DEMAND AN IMMEDIATE CEASE FIRE AND FREE FLOW OF HUMANITARIAN AID INTO GAZA. IT'S BASED ON THE JEWISH VALUE THAT ALL HUMAN BEINGS ARE CREATED EQUAL FROM OUR MANDATES TO PRESERVE LIFE AND PURSUE JUSTICE, THAT I KNOW WE NEED A CEASEFIRE, A LIFTING OF THE SIEGE ON GAZA, AND TO FOCUS ON ENDING THE ROOT CAUSE OF THE VIOLENCE.
WE'RE CURRENTLY SEEING ISRAEL'S DECADES LONG SYSTEM OF OCCUPATION, DISPOSSESSION AND APARTHEID.
SAFETY FOR JEWS, PALESTINIAN AND ALL PEOPLE COMES FROM SOLIDARITY, NOT SUBJUGATION.
THE UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT IS SUPPORTING ISRAEL IN ITS PUBLICLY STATED INTENTION TO COMMIT GENOCIDE AGAINST PALESTINIANS, AND OUR TAX DOLLARS ARE FUNDING THE WEAPONS THAT MAKE THAT POSSIBLE. DON'T YOU WANT THAT FEDERAL MONEY TO FUND UNION APPRENTICESHIPS, HEALTH CARE, HOUSING, PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION? RIGHT HERE IN HARRIS COUNTY, YOU HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE MODELS FOR ELECTED OFFICIALS IN DEFENDING HUMAN RIGHTS AND STANDING ON THE SIDE OF JUSTICE TO TELL OUR PALESTINIAN TIME IS UP. IT'S FAST THAT YOU HAVE THEIR BACK.
CEASE FIRE NOW. THANK YOU, THANK YOU.
I MEAN, IT'S A FOUR LETTER WORD, BUT HEY, I WAS TOLD, LIKE TO TELL, LIKE TO USE THAT WORD.
WOULD YOU, IF YOU WERE A LAW ABIDING CITIZEN, WOULD YOU LIKE TO BE CALLED A CRIMINAL? I WOULDN'T, AND THAT MAKES A BIG ONE.
ANOTHER THING THAT I WANT TO TALK ABOUT IS POOR TOM RAMSEY.
HE IS GETTING SHAFTED BY BY Y'ALL, ALL THE COMMISSIONERS, BY HIS NOT BEING GIVEN THE FUNDS TO MAINTAIN HIS PROPERTY, HIS FUNDS, HIS GROWTH, I MEAN.
THANK YOU. NEXT IS NON-AGENDA SPEAKER NUMBER 16.
OMAR AHMED, YOU HAVE ONE MINUTE.
HELLO, MY NAME IS OMAR AHMED AND I'M A COMMUNITY ORGANIZER WHO LIVES IN PRECINCT.
[03:10:06]
TODAY, I'M HERE TO ADVOCATE FOR THOSE IN OCCUPIED PALESTINE WHO ARE NOT HERE TO ADVOCATE FOR THEMSELVES.I'D LIKE TO THINK THAT THIS IS ONE OF THE REASONS YOU'VE ENCOURAGED ME TO BECOME A BETTER ORGANIZER.
THE MAIN RESPONSIBILITIES OF COUNTY GOVERNMENT ARE SAFE STREETS AND SAFE STREETS.
OUR 2022 ROADS AND PARKS BOND HAS NOT RESULTED IN THE EQUAL SHARE OF DOLLARS FOR PRECINCT THREE, AS AGREED ON BY THE VOTERS, WHO WERE SUPPOSED TO HAVE AN EQUAL SHARE IN PRECINCT THREE.
CRIME ON THE STREETS CONTINUES AT A HIGH RATE.
WE NEED MORE CONSTABLES AND DEPUTIES AND FOR THE JUDGES TO KEEP THE DANGEROUS CRIMINALS IN JAIL.
BUT EVEN JAIL INMATES ARE COVERED UNDER DUE PROCESS AND CRUEL AND UNUSUAL PUNISHMENT LAWS.
OUR JAIL HAS BEEN FAILING STATE INSPECTIONS AND HAS A HIGH DEATH RATE.
WE ARE NOT A COMMUNIST COUNTRY WITH LITTLE TO NO REGARD FOR INDIVIDUAL RIGHTS.
THANK YOU. NEXT IS CLAUDIA OBEID.
HI, MY NAME IS CLAUDIA ABBATE.
I'M A PROUD FIRST GENERATION PALESTINIAN, BORN AND RAISED IN HOUSTON, TEXAS.
I GREW UP LISTENING TO MY GRANDPARENTS FIRST HAND ACCOUNTS OF WHEN THEY WERE KICKED OUT OF THEIR HOMES AND ROBBED OF THEIR BUSINESS AND BANK ACCOUNTS IN 1948, DURING THE FIRST NAKBA. HOUSTON IS HOME TO MANY ARABS, ESPECIALLY PALESTINIANS, WHO CAME HERE DUE TO DISPLACEMENT OF THE SAME GENOCIDE THAT WE ARE WATCHING TODAY, INCLUDING MY FAMILY. MY FATHER OWNS A SMALL BUSINESS IN HARRIS COUNTY.
THEY ATTENDED COLLEGES HERE, OWNED BUSINESSES, SHARE THEIR CULTURE AND FOOD WITH THE HOUSTON COMMUNITY, AND ARE PROUD TO CALL HOUSTON THEIR HOME, YET ARE CONSTANTLY SILENCED AND STRIPPED OF THEIR FIRST AMENDMENT RIGHTS.
FIRSTHAND ACCOUNTS BEING CENSORED AT UNIVERSITIES AND SOCIAL MEDIAS.
AND BABIES DYING IN INCUBATORS DURING LACK OF POWER.
PEOPLE WATCH WITHOUT BATTING AN EYE.
YET THE DIFFERENCE IS THAT WE WERE BORN HERE.
SO PLEASE JOIN US AND CALL FOR A CEASEFIRE.
IT WOULD BE GREATLY APPRECIATIVE OF THE HOUSTON COMMUNITY.
THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU.
NEXT IS NON-AGENDA SPEAKER 19 HAMZA OWAIS.
CAN EVERYONE HEAR ME? YEAH, SURE. YEAH.
HELLO. MY NAME IS HAMZA, AND I'M HERE AS A NATURALIZED CITIZEN OF THE UNITED STATES, RESIDENT OF PRECINCT THREE, AND A CONSTITUENT CONSTITUENT OF HARRIS COUNTY TO WHOM I PAID MY TAXES TO.
MY GRANDPARENTS THEMSELVES HAD TO MIGRATE DURING THE PARTITION OF INDIA.
AND WE AND MY, UH, IT'S A GENERATIONAL TRAUMA THAT I DO NOT WANT OTHERS TO GO THROUGH.
UM, SINCE OCTOBER 7TH, WE'RE CONTINUOUSLY SEEING HORRIFYING VIDEOS OF THOUSANDS OF CHILDREN AND ELDERLY AND EVERYDAY PEOPLE, SCHOOLS, UN CENTERS AND HOSPITALS BEING BOMBARDED, HAVING THEIR FOOD, WATER AND FUEL BEING CUT OFF.
AND ALL THIS WITH THE BACKING OF THE UNITED STATES WITH FUNDING FROM OUR TAXES.
[03:15:07]
YOUR TIME IS UP. JUST ONE SECOND.NEXT IS NON-AGENDA SPEAKER NUMBER 20, WHILE ABU ALI.
I KNOW MY STORY COULDN'T HAVE BEEN WRITTEN ANYWHERE ELSE IN THE WORLD EXCEPT AMERICA.
I WANT THE PRINCIPLES THAT I GREW UP WITH KINDNESS, EMPATHY, COMPASSION TO BE UNIVERSAL.
WHEN YOUR VALUES ARE CLEAR, YOUR DECISIONS ARE EASY.
AND I JUST WANT TO CALL FOR A CEASE FIRE.
ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH.
IT'S NOT ON THE AGENDA, SO WE CAN'T SPEAK ABOUT THIS AT LENGTH.
NOW, THE HOSPITALS WITHOUT ELECTRICITY AND, OF COURSE, THE HOSTAGES STILL TAKEN.
SO, UM, I KNOW THE PRESIDENT'S CALLED FOR A HUMANITARIAN PAUSE.
I'M VISITING WITH SOME LEADERS AND BOTH COMMUNITIES HERE SOON.
AND AND I VERY MUCH DENOUNCE THE VIOLENCE THAT IS TAKING PLACE.
UM, SO THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH FOR YOUR WORDS.
YEAH. THERE ARE ONE MORE, ONE MORE.
OVER THE NEXT MONTH, YOU WILL RECEIVE EMAILS FROM HOUSTON TEACHERS LIKE SKYWALKER TALKING ABOUT HER COUSIN STUDENTS, HOUSTON JOURNALISTS LIKE TY JOPLIN, WHO HAS WORKED IN GAZA, AND MORE.
WE HOPE THESE STORIES INFORM YOUR DECISION TO CALL ACTION TO CEASE TO FIRE.
IT HAS BEEN SEEN ON THE LIST OF THE DEAD 36 TIMES IN 37 DAYS.
THE FIRST 14 NAMES WERE ALL TAKEN AT ONCE, INCLUDING NINE CHILDREN UNDER 13 YEARS OF AGE.
THE NEXT 12 NAMES WERE TWO FAMILIES OF SIX THIS PAST WEEK.
HER AUNT SUCCUMBED TO HER INJURIES THE DAY AFTER.
IF I CAN HAVE 30S, I CAN'T GRIEVE THEM BECAUSE I HAVE FAMILY THAT YOUR TIME IS UP.
BUT SHE SAYS SHE'S BEEN A REGISTERED VOTER SINCE SHE WAS 18 AND FEELS UNREPRESENTED.
SHE FEELS THAT SHE IS ASKING YOU TO PLEASE REPRESENT HER, AND SHE'S ASKING YOU FOR A CEASE FIRE.
SHE'S ASKING SO THAT WHEN HER REMAINING FAMILY CALLS HER, SHE CAN GIVE THEM SOME GOOD NEWS.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR COMING.
OKAY, THAT'S ALL THE SPEAKERS? YES. TIFFANY.
[Executive Session]
YES, MA'AM. GREAT.ALL RIGHT, SO WHY DON'T WE BREAK FOR LUNCH? IT'S 133. WE'LL BE BACK AT 230, AND WE'LL CONTINUE WITH OUR AGENDA.
COMMISSIONERS COURT IS BACK IN SESSION.
WE ALREADY HEARD FROM ALL THE SPEAKERS.
WE NEED TO GO OVER AND FIGURE OUT WHAT THE CONSENT AGENDA IS.
LET ME ASK COUNTY ATTORNEY THIS.
DO YOU GUYS NEED US TO GO TO EXECUTIVE SESSION FOR ANY OF THE EXECUTIVE SESSION ITEMS TONIGHT? I'M SORRY IF ANY OF THE DISCUSSION ITEMS JUDGE OR THE EXECUTIVE SESSION ITEMS. JUST EXECUTIVE SESSION.
THERE'S TWO 9291, 292, 293 AND 304.
DO YOU ALL NEED US? DEFINITELY 304. WE NEED TO DISCUSS IN EXECUTIVE SESSION.
TO TO TO 90 I DON'T KNOW WE TO 90.
WE DO NOT NEED TO GO IN TO 90.
WELL TO 91 IS THOSE ARE APPOINTMENTS.
YEAH. SO YOU DO NOT NEED TO GO IN.
BUT ASIDE FROM THAT THERE'S NOTHING ELSE OKAY.
SO I'LL MOVE THAT UP TO EXECUTIVE SESSION.
[03:20:02]
299. ALL RIGHT, SO I DON'T NEED TO GO TO EXECUTIVE SESSION ON 291.UM, COMMISSIONER ELLIS, DO YOU NEED TO GO TO EXECUTIVE SESSION ON 292? DON'T LET SOMEONE ELSE DOES.
WHAT ABOUT 283? NO. OKAY, SO THOSE ARE THE EXECUTIVE SESSION.
SO WE'LL SHOW THOSE APPROVED AS PRESENTED.
YES. AS PRESENTED TO 129221292293299.
AND 304 WOULD BE THE ONES FOR EXECUTIVE SESSION.
AND SO RIGHT NOW WE HAVE THE OEM TEAM.
MARK SLOAN AND MELBARDIS ARE HERE AS WELL AS SINDHU.
SO WHAT I WAS GOING TO ASK COLLEAGUES IS AFTER WE FINISHED GOING OVER THE LIST OF DISCUSSION ITEMS, IF WE COULD START WITH THE EXECUTIVE SESSION AND THAT WAY THEY CAN GO BACK. UM, OKAY.
AWESOME. SO AS FAR AS DISCUSSION ITEMS. UM, I'M TRYING TO FIGURE OUT IF THERE'S A WAY TO DO THIS WITHOUT COMMISSIONER GARCIA.
IS THERE A WAY? DIRECTIONS? YES. GOOD.
THANK YOU. SO LET'S LET ME GO OVER THE CORRECTIONS.
UM. OKAY, SO THERE IS ITEM 26. NO ACTION.
WE NEED TO CHANGE THE WORD ALTERNATIVE TO ASSISTANCE.
SO IT READS REQUEST FOR APPROVAL OF TWO POSITIONS FOR THE HOLISTIC ASSISTANCE RESPONSE TEAM.
TETRA TECH. WE NEED TO CHANGE.
WE NEED TO CHANGE 27 TO 29 SO THAT IT READS PROGRAM MANAGEMENT FOR HARRIS COUNTY FOR THE PERIOD OF OCTOBER 29TH, 2023.
THAT'S IT. THOSE ARE ALL THE QUESTIONS.
DO YOU HAVE ANYTHING ELSE, JAMES? JUST TO GO BACK ON TO 56 AND TO 57.
WELL, WE STILL HAVEN'T GONE OVER THE DISCUSSION ITEMS. YES, MA'AM. SO.
OKAY, SO LET'S GO BACK TO THE DISCUSSION ITEMS. SO, COMMISSIONER, WE DON'T NEED TO DISCUSS TWO 9291 293, 292 OR 293 THOSE ARE APPOINTMENTS AND AN ITEM BY THE COUNTY ATTORNEY THAT THEY SAID THEY DON'T NEED TO GO BACK ON. SO WE SHOULD GO BACK ON 299 AND 304 REGULAR AGENDA ITEMS. UM, COMMISSIONER GARCIA, YOU YOU FLAGGED ITEM TEN.
YES. UM, DO WE IS THAT ONE SAY THAT AGAIN? DID WE VOTE ON IT? YOU ALREADY MOVED ON IT.
DID WE VOTE ON 12? ALSO, YOU TOOK NO ACTION.
WHAT ABOUT SO 13? WE WILL DISCUSS 14 302 WITH 13.
YES. WE WILL TAKE 302 WITH 13.
14, COMMISSIONER RAMSEY HAD FLAGGED 14.
YOU CAN SAY, OKAY, WHAT ABOUT 15, COMMISSIONER RAMSEY? OKAY, SO WE'LL DISCUSS 15.
SO. SO KEEP WHICH ONE? MR. RAMOS? 15.
WE'RE STILL GOING TO DISCUSS 14 AND 15.
WHAT'S WHAT'S THE MOTION FOR ITEM 14? APPROVE AS PRESENTED.
THANK YOU. 51 COMMISSIONER GARCIA FLAGGED 51 THAT IS EASTERN DISTRICT BIKEWAY REPORT.
96 COMMISSIONER ELLIS, QUICK QUESTION.
OKAY. 112 HAD THE CORRECTION COMMISSIONER RAMSEY, YOU FLAGGED IT.
OKAY. WHAT ABOUT 115? UH. YES.
214. COMMISSIONER RAMSEY EARLY CHILDHOOD RESILIENCY FUND.
UM, SO I FLAGGED THOSE IN CASE WE COULD TAKE NO ACTION IF IT'S POSSIBLE.
COMMISSIONER RAMSEY, JUST FOR ONE COURT.
UM, AND LET US KNOW HOW WE CAN BE SUPPORTIVE, IF AT ALL.
THIS IS A HEARING FOR THE HOUSING FINANCE CORPORATION.
[03:25:03]
GOT IT. UM, WHAT ABOUT 294, COMMISSIONER RAMSEY? YES, 298.UH, THIS IS AN ILA WITH THE HOUSTON LAND BANK.
UH, WE'RE GOING TO TAKE UP WITH 13 303.
COMMISSIONER ELLIS, I HAVE A QUICK REQUEST.
OKAY. 305 COMMISSIONER RAMSEY, THESE ARE MURALS.
OKAY. 308 COMMISSIONER RAMSEY.
CAR IN-CAR CAMERA SYSTEM FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT.
NO. BACK TO BACK TO BACK TO CONSENT.
OKAY. WHAT'S THE ACTION ON THAT OR IS IT NO ACTION? NOW. KEEP IT.
OKAY. SO KEEP IT FOR THE DISCUSSION.
OKAY. WHAT ABOUT 309, COMMISSIONER RAMSEY? THAT'S YOUR ITEM? YES. 311.
YEAH, WE HAVE IT FOR DISCUSSION.
AND 312 I THINK PRETTY MUCH EVERYBODY FLAGGED AND JUDGE DID TOO.
DID YOU SAY 2002? YES, MA'AM. NOT RIGHT NOW.
WE CAN PULL IT FOR DISCUSSION.
IT'S THE IMMIGRATION REPRESENTATION PROJECT.
OKAY, I'M GOING TO PUT IT BACK ON HERE.
SO SO HERE'S HERE'S WHERE WE ARE.
UM. I THINK THAT'S WHAT I'M SEEING, COMMISSIONER.
BUT MAYBE I'VE GOT IT WRONG SOMEHOW.
UM, OKAY, SO HERE'S WHERE WE'RE AT.
WE HAVE EXECUTIVE SESSION ITEMS 299 AND 304.
AND, COMMISSIONER GARCIA, WE WILL TAKE THOSE BEFORE THE REGULAR AGENDA, BECAUSE THE FOLKS, THE VARIOUS FOLKS ARE HERE ALREADY FOR THE EXECUTIVE SESSION, FOR REGULAR AGENDA.
I'VE GOT ITEMS 13 AND 302 WHICH WILL TAKE TOGETHER ON THE JAIL 15.
AND YOU KNOW WHAT, COMMISSIONER? I'M JUST I'M GOING TO PUT THOSE IN EXECUTIVE SESSION SO YOU CAN ASK MARK ABOUT THEM BECAUSE OR OR CAN WE, CAN WE HAVE THEM COME IN? I'LL ASK HIM IF WE IF HE IT CAN BE DISCUSSED IN OPEN COURT.
AND IF IT CAN BE THEN WE CAN THEN HE CAN EXPLAIN IT TO YOU OUT HERE.
UM, SO BUT I'LL PUT I'LL PUT IT UP THERE FOR NOW.
JAY. IS THAT OKAY? YEAH, AND THAT'S FINE FOR NOW.
BUT I DO THINK YOU PROBABLY WILL HAVE TO BE IN EXECUTIVE SESSION.
AND DO YOU GUYS NEED ME TO GO BACK OVER IT? NO, MA'AM. I JUST GOT A QUESTION ON ITEM 107.
[03:30:01]
PERFECT. AND.ALL RIGHT, SO THEN IT'S TIME FOR THE MOTION.
LET ME WAIT AND SEE IF COMMISSIONER RAMSEY NEEDED ANYTHING ELSE ON THE CONSENT AGENDA.
DID YOU HAVE SOMETHING ELSE, COMMISSIONER RAMSEY? OKAY. OKAY. IS THERE A MOTION FOR ALL ITEMS ONE THROUGH 312, WITH THE EXCEPTION OF ITEMS ALREADY VOTED ON AND DISCUSSION ITEMS JUST LISTED? MOTION BY COMMISSIONER GARCIA, SECOND BY COMMISSIONER ELLIS.
ANY OPPOSED? UM, I'M IN FAVOR OF MOTION.
I THOUGHT YOU WERE MAKING A JOKE.
I'M SORRY. DIANA. THAT'S OKAY.
WE'RE GOING TO EXECUTIVE SESSION ANYWAY.
WE'RE GOING TO EXECUTIVE SESSION ON 251 252 299 AND 304.
SO OKAY, IT'S 411 AND COMMISSIONERS COURT IS BACK IN SESSION.
SO WE'RE BACK FROM EXECUTIVE SESSION.
WE TOOK FOUR ITEMS ON 251 252.
APPROVE AS PRESENTED. CORRECT.
COMMISSIONER RAMSEY, THOSE ARE THE ANNEXES.
I'M SORRY. THE TWO ANNEXES WE TOOK TO EXECUTIVE SESSION FROM OEM.
OKAY. SO IS THERE A MOTION ON 251 252? MOTION BY COMMISSIONER BRIONES.
IS THERE A SECOND? SECOND BY COMMISSIONER ELLIS.
ANY OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY.
IS THERE A MOTION FOR THAT PLAN? SO MOTION BY COMMISSIONER GARCIA, SECOND BY COMMISSIONER ELLIS.
ALL IN FAVOR? ANY OPPOSED? NO. I'M IN FAVOR.
AND THAT'S AS PRESENTED. CORRECT.
THANK YOU. ON ITEM 304, WE'VE GOT SEVERAL MOTIONS.
THE FIRST ONE IS TO DIRECT UNIVERSAL SERVICES, OCA AND OEM TO BRING BACK A MOTION NEXT COURT TO ENSURE UNIFORM CYBERSECURITY ACROSS ENTITIES SERVICED BY UNIVERSAL SERVICES, NOT SERVICED BY UNIVERSAL SERVICES AND THOSE ADJACENT TO HARRIS COUNTY, AS WELL AS HARRIS COUNTY VENDORS.
THEN WE HAVE A MOTION TO DIRECT THE HARRIS COUNTY OFFICE OF HOMELAND SECURITY AND EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT TO DEVELOP AN EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT CYBER INCIDENT RESPONSE COORDINATION PLAN IN COLLABORATION WITH UNIVERSAL SERVICES, HARRIS COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE, COUNTY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE AND OTHER DEPARTMENTS AS NEEDED BY SEPTEMBER 2024, WITH A DRAFT OF THE DOCUMENT BY FEBRUARY 2024.
THE THIRD OF FOUR IS TO DIRECT THE OFFICE OF MANAGEMENT AND BUDGET.
OFFICE OF COUNTY ADMINISTRATION AND UNIVERSAL SERVICES, WITH A REVIEW OF THE UNIVERSAL SERVICES BUDGET TO ASSESS CURRENT FUNDING LEVELS AND FUTURE INVESTMENTS NEEDED FOR CRITICAL TECHNOLOGY UPDATES, AND TO COME BACK TO COMMISSIONERS COURT WITH A RECOMMENDATION BY JANUARY 9TH, 2024.
AND FINALLY TO DIRECT THE COUNTY THE OFFICE OF COUNTY ADMINISTRATION, COUNTY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE, COUNTY AUDITOR'S OFFICE AND PURCHASING DEPARTMENT TO WORK WITH UNIVERSAL SERVICES TO FINALIZE LANGUAGE IN AN AGREEMENT REQUIRING ALL HARRIS COUNTY ENTITIES INCLUSIVE OF SERVICES, INCLUSIVE OF ENTITIES SERVICED BY UNIVERSAL SERVICES ENTITIES NOT
[Departments (Part 2 of 3)]
SERVICED BY UNIVERSAL SERVICES.ANY OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY.
THAT'S IT FOR EXECUTIVE SESSION ITEMS. WE'LL MOVE ON TO REGULAR AGENDA.
SO WE'LL START WITH ITEMS 13 AND 302.
TOGETHER. THESE ARE THE JAIL ITEMS. AND I'LL PASS IT ON TO ADMINISTRATOR RAMIREZ.
THANK YOU. JUDGE. COMMISSIONERS DIANA RAMIREZ.
SO WE HAVE A POWERPOINT PRESENTATION.
I HOPE WE'LL YES, WE'RE GETTING IT UP.
UM, AND WHAT WE'RE GOING TO DO IS, IS WALK THROUGH THE FRAMEWORK THAT THAT WE'RE PROPOSING FOR OUR, UM, STANDING ITEM FOR THE COURT, FOR THE HARRIS COUNTY JAIL UPDATES, CONDITIONS REPORT.
UM, CAN I GET THE NEXT SLIDE? SO TODAY WE'RE GOING TO WE'RE GOING TO COVER THE HAVE AN INTRODUCTION.
UM, WE'RE PROPOSING THAT WE WE COVER SEVERAL DIFFERENT AREAS ACTIVITIES AND ACTIONS.
[03:35:04]
PERFORMANCE MEASURES, DATA AND TRENDS, PRESENTATIONS, REPORTS AND STUDIES, CHANGING CONDITIONS AND THEN HAVE TIME FOR QUESTIONS.NEXT SLIDE. SO IN THE INTRODUCTION, BUT WE WANT TO DO IS OKAY IS TO USE A STANDING ITEM TO HELP YOU PULL EVERY LEVER THAT YOU NEED TO PULL TO ADDRESS THE CHALLENGES IN THE JAIL.
SO AT EVERY MEETING WE'RE GOING TO, THIS ITEM IS GOING TO BE ORGANIZED SO THAT WE CAN PROVIDE YOU WITH THE UPDATES ON THE WORK THAT WE'VE DONE AND THE WORK THAT'S COMING UP, AND ANY DATA STACK LEVEL ACTIONS AND ANY NEW COMMISSIONER'S COURT ITEMS THAT THAT WILL EVOLVE FROM THIS PRESENTATION.
SOME CAVEATS. WE ALWAYS HAVE THE CAVEATS.
THE COMPLEXITY AND SCOPE OF THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM REALLY REQUIRES COLLABORATION WITH A WIDE RANGE OF PARTNERS, EACH WITH THEIR OWN CONSTITUTIONAL STATUTORY AUTHORITIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES.
SO WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO WORK CLOSELY WITH EVERYBODY.
UM, THEN CHANGING CONDITIONS, WE ALWAYS HAVE TO CONSIDER WHAT'S CHANGING NEW STATE LAWS, NEW TEXAS COMMISSION ON JAIL STANDARDS MANDATES.
AND THAT'S GOING TO INEVITABLY DISRUPT OUR WORK AND EVEN REQUIRE, YOU KNOW, CHANGES IN COURSE.
AND WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO PIVOT AND BE NIMBLE.
BUT WE'RE COMMITTED TO WORKING CLOSELY WITH THE COMMISSIONER'S COURT, THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE, ESPECIALLY, AND OTHER STAKEHOLDERS IN THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM TO ADDRESS THESE ISSUES AND KEEP COMMISSIONERS COURT UP TO DATE.
WE CAN ADDRESS SOME OF THESE ISSUES, AND WE CAN BE ABLE TO FREE UP SOME OF THOSE COUNTY DOLLARS.
NEXT SLIDE. SO SINCE OCTOBER 31ST.
SO WE ONLY HAD TWO WEEKS THIS TIME BETWEEN COURT MEETINGS.
WE'VE MET WITH THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE SEVERAL TIMES TO REVIEW THIS PRESENTATION.
WE'VE REENGAGED WITH EXISTING TEAMS AND COMMITTEES BECAUSE WE WANT TO.
A LOT OF DEPARTMENTS ACROSS THE COUNTY, INCLUDING SOME OF THE COURT OFFICES, ARE DOING RESEARCH, WORKING ON ON HOW TO ADDRESS SOME VARIOUS NUMBERS OF JAIL ISSUES.
AND SO WE WANT TO BRING THOSE ALL TOGETHER AND WORK WITHIN THE SYSTEM THAT'S ALREADY IN PLACE.
WE'VE STARTED PROJECT MANAGEMENT PROTOCOLS FOR ASSIGNMENTS SO WE CAN TRACK WHO'S DOING WHAT AND KEEP EVERYONE ACCOUNTABLE FOR PRODUCING THOSE THAT WORK.
HAVE THEY BEEN IMPLEMENTED, OR IS IT A STUDY THAT'S SITTING ON A SHELF SO THAT WE CAN COME BACK AND SEE, NOT AGAIN, NOT REINVENT THE WHEEL AND HAVE TO ORDER ANOTHER STUDY IF WE ALREADY HAVE SOME ANSWERS.
AND THEN FOLLOWING THE THE JAIL STANDARDS COMMISSION MEETING, WE MET WITH THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE, OMB PURCHASING AND COMMISSIONERS COURT REPRESENTATIVES SO THAT WE COULD HAVE A CONTRACT IN PLACE FOR THIS COURT TO BUDGET FOR ADDITIONAL JAIL BEDS.
SINCE WE HAD TO HAVE THOSE THOSE INMATES SENT OUT BY DECEMBER 1ST.
SO THIS WAS THE ONLY CHANCE WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO GET THAT DONE.
SO MOVING TO PROJECTS AND PROGRAMS. ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE'VE TALKED ABOUT A LOT IS A DETENTION OFFICER RETENTION PROGRAM.
AND SO THIS, THIS, UM, THIS, UH, GRAPH SHOWS KIND OF WHERE WE ARE WITH THE WITH THE NUMBER OF EMPLOYEES OF, IN THE DETENTION OFFICER CORPS.
AND, YOU KNOW, IF YOU LOOK AT WHEN WE STARTED THE THE NEW THOUSAND DOLLAR INCENTIVE PROGRAM IN APRIL, WE WERE ANTICIPATING THAT WE WOULD HAVE A STABILIZATION AND AN INCREASE IN THE NUMBER OF, OF DETENTION OFFICERS AT THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE, AND WE HAVEN'T MET THAT. IT HASN'T, YOU KNOW, THE THE FOLKS THAT HAVEN'T RESPONDED TO THE INCENTIVE.
[03:40:02]
AND, YOU KNOW, PART OF IT, I THINK, IS, YOU KNOW, GETTING A GETTING THE PROMISE OF $1,000 IN SIX MONTHS WHEN YOU'RE IN A REALLY STRESSFUL JOB MIGHT NOT JUST OBVIOUSLY ISN'T ENOUGH.UM, AND SO THE FIRST, UM, INCENTIVE WAS PAID IN OCTOBER.
SO WE'LL SEE IN SIX MONTHS OR THREE MONTHS IF THAT'S CHANGING.
BUT FOR US, WHAT THAT MEANS IS THAT WE NEED TO DO SOMETHING DIFFERENT AND NOT JUST RELY ON THIS EVERY SIX MONTH INCENTIVE BECAUSE THE, YOU KNOW, IT REALLY HASN'T RESULTED IN ANY IN ANY IMPROVEMENT IN RETENTION SO FAR.
NO. WELL, IF WE GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE, THEN YOU CAN SEE IN, UM, THAT WE HAVE TWO, TWO NUMBERS TO TWO SEPARATE, UM, GRAPHS.
BASICALLY THE RED LINES UM, INDICATE FOR THE DETENTION OFFICER ONE POSITION.
SO THE ENTRY LEVEL DETENTION OFFICER, WHAT THE ATTRITION TRENDS ARE HAVEN'T CHANGED.
THEN FOR THE FOR THE HIGHER LEVEL DETENTION OFFICERS, UM, YOU KNOW, THE AFTER THE INCENTIVE PERIOD, THE THE ACTUALLY THE ATTRITION TRENDS INCREASED A LITTLE BIT.
SO I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S PEOPLE ARE RETIRING OR GOING ON AND MOVING INTO THE LAW ENFORCEMENT SIDE.
SO THOSE ARE THINGS THAT WE NEED TO, UM, REALLY DIG INTO AND UNDERSTAND.
CAN YOU CLARIFY HOW TO READ THIS CHART? YEAH. SO THE TOP TOP LINES SO THE THE DOTTED LINE WHICH IS REALLY FAINT IS, IS THE BASICALLY THE, THE DAILY ATTRITION TRENDS, THE DAILY ATTRITION RATES.
AND SO THE ATTRITION FOR THE DETENTION OFFICER ONE IS AVERAGES, YOU KNOW, FOR THE APRIL THROUGH SEPTEMBER OF 2022 WAS ABOUT 2.5% ATTRITION.
THEN IT INCREASED IN OCTOBER TO MARCH TO 2.7.
SO BASICALLY IN REALITY, NOTHING REALLY CHANGED.
UM, WHICH IS, YOU KNOW, DISAPPOINTING.
OF COURSE, WE JUST ADDED THE, UM, THE BIG, UM, UH, PAY RAISE FOR DETENTION OFFICERS, AND THE FIRST $1,000 INCENTIVE PAY HAPPENED IN THE THOUSAND DOLLARS HAPPENED IN OCTOBER, TOO.
SO MAYBE WE'LL START SEEING SOME MOVEMENT IN THESE NUMBERS OVER THE NEXT FEW MONTHS.
WE'RE HOPING WE WILL, BUT WE FEEL THAT THE NEXT STEPS FOR THE DEO RETENTION INCLUDES THAT WE LOOK AT THEIR PAY SCALE FOR THE DETENTION OFFICERS, BECAUSE RIGHT NOW, THE PAY SCALE KIND OF HAS A CURVE THAT GOES LIKE THIS, RIGHT? IT STAYS PRETTY FLAT.
AND THAT'S FROM ANECDOTAL EVIDENCE THAT WE'VE HEARD FROM THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE.
SO I THINK, YOU KNOW, WE CAN CHANGE THAT CURVE FROM THIS.
MORE TO THIS, I THINK WE MIGHT MAKE AN IMPACT.
IF PEOPLE KNOW THAT A TWO YEARS, THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE A BIGGER BOOST IN PAY.
SO THAT'S SOMETHING THAT THAT WE'VE ALREADY STARTED TALKING TO THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE WITH.
I'VE ALREADY BRIEFED SHANE CARRIZAL AND HR ABOUT THAT.
WE NEED TO WORK ON IT AND BRING THAT TO THE FOREFRONT AND START START WORKING ON THAT NOW AND NOT WAIT FOR THE FOR THE BIG ARPA FUNDED PROGRAM. WE NEED TO TO TAKE CARE OF IT.
UM, IS THERE ANYTHING ELSE BESIDES THE PAY THAT WE CAN DO THAT COULD HELP THEM, UM, IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF THEIR WORK LIFE? WHAT CAN WE DO FOR THEM? UM, GOOD.
OKAY. AND SO WHAT WE WANT TO DO IS, IS PREPARE THIS IN THE NEXT, IN THE COMING DAYS OR WEEKS, UM, SO THAT WE CAN, WE CAN HAVE THAT SURVEY OUT TO THEM.
AND THEN BY DECEMBER, WE'LL LET YOU KNOW HOW MANY SURVEYS IF WE'VE GOTTEN ANY BACK.
UM, AND WHAT KIND? THE RESULTS WERE SEEING.
IS THERE ANYTHING ELSE BEYOND THE PAY THAT COULD HELP US RETAIN THE DETENTION OFFICERS? AND THEN WE.
HAS BEEN WORKING WITH THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE ON HIRING DETENTION OFFICERS.
SO FOR DECEMBER, I'VE ASKED SHANE TO HAVE A REPORT FOR US, A ONE PAGER ON WHAT ARE THE EXACT STEPS THAT YOU'RE TAKING AND WHAT ARE AREAS WHERE WE CAN IMPROVE, WHERE WE CAN HAVE MORE OUTREACH, AND WHO ARE YOU REACHING OUT TO? WHO ARE YOU RECRUITING FOR THESE POSITIONS? BECAUSE I THINK THAT'S ALSO REALLY CRITICAL.
SO THAT'S THAT'S WHAT WE'RE DOING.
ON THE DETENTION OFFICER PAY AND PAY SCALE AND RECRUITMENT AND RETENTION.
[03:45:02]
AND THEN WE GET TO THE ACTION PLAN AND REPORTING TIMELINE.SO WE'RE GOING TO COME BACK FOR TWO MEETINGS IN DECEMBER AND THEN IN JANUARY.
AND SO WHAT WE'RE WE'RE LOOKING AT RIGHT NOW FOR ACTION ITEMS AND UPDATES IS AGAIN THE DETENTION OFFICER RETENTION, HAVING THE UPDATE ON THE PAY SCALE INITIATIVE, HOPEFULLY ACTUALLY HAVING A DRAFT PACE, NEW PAY SCALE TO START LOOKING AT AND THEN HAVING THE RESULTS OF THE SATISFACTION AND RETENTION SURVEY.
THEN WE WANT TO HAVE A LIST OF AN INITIAL PROJECT IDEAS FOR WHAT WE'RE THINKING IS WHAT WE CAN DO.
AND AS WE GO THROUGH SOME OF THE, THE SOME OF THE DATA SLIDES THAT THAT FOLLOW, YOU'LL SEE SOME AREAS WHERE WE MIGHT HAVE SOME VERY SPECIFIC SUBPOPULATIONS OF, OF INMATES THAT WE COULD TRY TO ADDRESS.
AND THEN AS WE'RE MOVING FORWARD, THEN WE CAN START LOOKING AT MORE SYSTEMIC CHANGES.
WHAT ABOUT OTHER JURISDICTIONS DNA ON THIS ONE? I MEAN, LOVE THE TIMELINE.
THEY HAD A AND I'VE GOT THE PICTURES.
CAN YOU SEE YOURSELF AS A CORRECTION OFFICER? START BUILDING YOUR CAREER FULL BENEFITS, FULL RETIREMENT AFTER 23 YEARS LIFETIME PAY? I MEAN, IT SOUNDS GOOD.
I WAS, I WAS PAYING I WANT TO DO THAT, YOU KNOW, AND THEN I REALIZED WHAT IT WAS FOR, I DON'T KNOW I DON'T KNOW IF THEY RETAIN THEIR OFFICERS OR NOT, BUT I JUST WONDER WHAT YOU'VE HEARD FROM COUNTERPARTS AROUND THE NATION.
AND WE HAVEN'T HAD TIME TO DO THAT YET.
BUT WE WILL. AND THAT WAS IN SAN FRANCISCO A WEEK AGO, VISITING MY SON.
THEY ALSO HAD THOSE ADVERTISEMENTS FOR DETENTION OFFICERS, WHICH I WAS LIKE, HMM, INTERESTING.
CAN I ADD THAT TO YOUR LIST, OR CAN YOU ADD THAT TO THE, YOU KNOW, WHILE YOU GET THE SURVEYS BACK? ALSO LOOK AT OTHER PLACES. HOPEFULLY IN JANUARY WE CAN HAVE A NEXT STEP.
YEAH, DEFINITELY. AND I'VE GOT STAFF HERE AND LISTENING IN THE OFFICE AND TAKING ALL THE NOTES ON, ON ANY OF YOUR ADDITIONAL IDEAS OR CHANGES THAT YOU WANT TO SEE IN THE REPORT? UM, THEN WHAT WE'RE GOING TO LOOK AT THE SUMMARY OF ALL OF THE PROGRAMS AND ALL OF THE THINGS THAT COMMISSIONER'S COURT HAS ALREADY APPROVED HAS ALREADY, UM, ALLOCATED FUNDING FOR.
SO WE CAN SEE EVERYTHING THAT'S OUT THERE AND FIGURE OUT WHERE ARE THE GAPS.
AND SO SUMMARY OF DIVERSION PROGRAM, SUMMARY OF THE FUNDED INITIATIVES TO DATE, WHETHER IT'S ARPA, OTHER GRANTS OR GENERAL FUND AND THEN ANY EXISTING ANALYZES AND RECOMMENDATIONS, WE NEED TO KNOW WHAT WE'VE ALREADY DONE, BECAUSE WE'VE HAD EVEN JUST THE TWO YEARS THAT I'VE BEEN HERE AT HARRIS COUNTY.
AND I DON'T KNOW IF THERE'S A CENTRAL REPOSITORY FOR ALL THAT INFORMATION OF WHAT HAVE WE DONE SO FAR, WHAT? YOU KNOW. SO WE'RE NOT DOING THE SAME THING AND SPINNING OUR WHEELS.
UM, ONE OF THE THE THINGS THAT I WAS TALKING TO TAMMY NARVAEZ ABOUT IS, IS SHE JUST HAD THE THE TRAINING FOR THE COMMUNITY FUNDING FROM OUR CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATION.
AND SO I STARTED TALKING TO HER ABOUT, YOU KNOW, CRIMINAL JUSTICE AND THE JAIL.
AND, AND SHE SAID THAT WE DO REALLY GOOD WORK AND GET A LOT OF MONEY, LIKE FROM FLOOD CONTROL AND SOME OTHER AREAS, HOUSING, BUT WE DON'T FOR CRIMINAL JUSTICE AND THAT THERE IS MONEY OUT THERE.
SO I THINK WE NEED TO START LOOKING AT THAT, AND WE'RE GOING TO TRY TO WORK TO PUT SOMETHING TOGETHER, A PROPOSAL TOGETHER, TO SUBMIT TO THE APPROPRIATE, YOU KNOW, MEMBERS OF, OF OUR DELEGATION FOR THAT.
BUT IT'S IT'S SO NUANCED ABOUT, YOU KNOW, WHY PEOPLE ARE THERE AND WHAT, YOU KNOW, WHAT'S HAPPENING TO THEM THAT YOU HAVE TO GET DOWN INTO, INTO THE WEEDS ON THIS TO REALLY UNDERSTAND WHAT'S HAPPENING.
[03:50:02]
THAT QUITE WELL ENOUGH YET.DO YOU KNOW YET WHETHER THERE'S SOME OF THAT DATA THAT EITHER IS NOT COLLECTED OR WE CAN'T GET ACCESS TO IT FROM OUR ACCOUNT FROM THE RELEVANT COUNTERPARTS? I'M NOT SURE YET. I KNOW THAT THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE IS IS SUPER PARTICIPATORY WITH US AND ALWAYS A GREAT PARTNER WITH US AND AND ALWAYS HELPS US OUT, UM, WITH, WITH DATA. SO I KNOW FROM THEM WE HAVE A LOT OF GOOD INFORMATION, YOU KNOW.
SO WHILE THEY'RE THERE, WE KNOW WHAT'S HAPPENING.
BUT IT'S, YOU KNOW, THE REASONS THAT FOLKS ARE COMING INTO THE SYSTEM, HOW THEY'RE COMING IN.
I THINK THOSE ARE THE AREAS THAT WE'RE GOING TO NEED TO DIG INTO.
SO WE'RE GOING TO BE LOOKING TO, TO WORK WITH WITH ALL THE OTHER CRIMINAL JUSTICE STAKEHOLDERS TO MAKE SURE THAT WE CAN FIGURE OUT, YOU KNOW, WHAT KIND OF DATA WE CAN GET SO THAT WE CAN REALLY ANALYZE IT AND UNDERSTAND IT.
YEAH. AND DO YOU HAVE PRETRIAL ON YOUR LIST OF AGENCIES OKAY.
THANK YOU. UM, THANK YOU FOR THE REPORT.
AND, UH, YOU TOUCHED ON A FEW THINGS THAT WERE ON MY MIND.
REAL QUICKLY. JUST ON THE DETENTION OFFICER RETENTION.
ONE IS THAT AND YOU TOUCHED ON IT WAS HOW MANY ARE MOVING OVER INTO THE LAW ENFORCEMENT SIDE.
I THINK THAT'S GOOD FOR STAFF AND IT'S GOOD FOR YOU.
SO YOU CAN TRACK THE MOVEMENT FROM.
SO IT DOESN'T LOOK LIKE ALL SUDDEN WE'VE HAD A RESIGNATION OF, YOU KNOW, 50 PEOPLE ALL AT ONCE.
IT'S ACTUALLY PEOPLE THAT ARE SIGNED UP FOR AN ACADEMY.
BUT TO THAT END, I DO WANT, UH, I WANT YOU ALL TO WORK WITH THE SHERIFF TO DETERMINE HOW MANY DETENTION OFFICERS HE HAS THAT HAVE A LAW ENFORCEMENT LICENSE, BECAUSE THAT'S GENERALLY GOING TO BE A GOOD INDICATOR OF PEOPLE WHO ARE WAITING FOR AN ACADEMY, EITHER HERE OR SOMEWHERE ELSE.
AND THEN WE'RE GOING TO LOSE ONE WAY OR THE OTHER.
UM, AND I DO UNDERSTAND THAT THERE'S PROBABLY A VERY, UH, THERE'S A RESTRICTIVE.
PROGRAM IN PLACE FOR THIS, AND I WOULD APPRECIATE A CONVERSATION WITH THE SHERIFF JUST TO UNDERSTAND IT AND AND DETERMINE WHETHER THAT'S REALLY SERVING HIM AND US IN THE BEST POSSIBLE WAY.
I USED TO HAVE A SIGNIFICANT NUMBER OF INDIVIDUALS THAT WERE REFERRED TO AS TECHNICAL VIOLATORS.
I THINK THEY CAME UNDER BLUE WARRANTS, MAYBE.
AND THESE WERE PEOPLE WHO DID NOT COMMIT A NEW CRIME.
THEY JUST WEREN'T PAYING THEIR FINES.
THEY WERE SHOWING UP TO COURT LATE.
THEY WEREN'T MAKING THEIR MEETINGS AND THINGS OF THAT NATURE.
I THINK WE NEED TO TAKE A LOOK AT THAT.
I DON'T KNOW HOW MUCH OF THAT THAT THE POPULATION IS THAT.
BUT TO THAT END, AND YOU DID TOUCH ON IT AND THAT WAS ON PRETRIAL.
I DO HIGHLY RECOMMEND SOME TIME AND MOTION STUDY OF THE OVERALL INMATE RELEASE PROCESS, BUT SPECIFICALLY BEGINNING WITH PRETRIAL, BECAUSE I DON'T THINK THE NUMBER HAS CHANGED ANY.
I THINK WE STILL HAVE, WHAT, 75% OF THE POPULATION IS PRETRIAL STATUS, AND IT'S HUGE.
AND SO SO I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHAT IS THE DRIVER OF THAT LACK OF CHANGE WITH EVERYTHING THAT WE'VE DONE? I JUST DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY WE STILL HAVE A 75% PRETRIAL STATUS.
AND THAT'S PEOPLE THAT ARE IN JAIL BUT HAVEN'T DETERMINED GUILTY OR INNOCENT ONE WAY OR THE OTHER.
THE TO THE TO THE THE SHERIFF.
THE SHERIFF HAS DONE SOME INCREDIBLE PROGRAMING IN THE JAIL WITH LIKE THE WOMEN'S EMPOWERMENT CENTER. OTHER THINGS OF THAT NATURE.
[03:55:01]
HOWEVER THAT COMES FROM HIS EXISTING STAFFING MODEL.I THINK WE HAVE TO TAKE A LOOK AT WHAT ARE THE ALL THE PROGRAMS THAT HE'S DOING.
BECAUSE WHEN WE LOOK AT STAFFING, WE ALSO CORRELATE THAT WITH THE JAIL STANDARDS MODEL.
BUT REALLY IT'S HIS PROGRAMMATIC APPROACH TO REHABILITATION REENTRY THAT IS ALSO CONSUMING SOME OF THAT STAFFING. AND SO THE QUESTION IS ONE IS THAT SHOULD THAT WORK BE DONE BY DETENTION OFFICERS, OR CAN WE SUPPORT HIM WITH SOCIAL WORKERS OR OTHER CIVILIAN TYPE OF PERSONNEL? AND IF THAT'S THE CASE, THE PROGRAM COULD BE LARGER? YEAH. YEAH, EXACTLY.
BUT AT LEAST THAT WAY WE WE KNOW THAT DETENTION STAFF IS DIVISION WORKING IN DETENTION.
AND, AND THE PROGRAM STAFF IS WORKING ON, ON PROGRAM AREAS.
I HAVE MET WITH THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON DOWNTOWN.
THEY HAVE A LAW ENFORCEMENT ACADEMY.
UM, HE DIDN'T ACTUALLY KNOW WHETHER HE HAS A DETENTION OFFICER ACADEMY AS WELL, BUT I WOULD STRONGLY SUGGEST A VISIT WITH HIM TO SEE IF THERE'S SOME TYPE OF COLLABORATION THAT WE CAN DO.
BECAUSE THE REASON I USED TO RECRUIT FROM THERE WAS BECAUSE THOSE KIDS ARE PAYING THEIR OWN DIME.
THEY'RE GOING TO SCHOOL IN THEIR OWN TIME.
AND IF THEY WASH OUT, THEY WASH OUT THERE.
THREE QUALIFY THEM FOR HIRING.
AND SO WE WOULD KNOW THAT THEY'RE ELIGIBLE FOR OUR ENVIRONMENT.
AND THEN WE WOULD PUT THEM THROUGH AN ABBREVIATED ACADEMY.
BUT WE WERE ABLE TO BRING IN OVER 200 PEOPLE LIKE THAT AND CREATED A PIPELINE.
YEAH, RIGHT. THAT'S WHAT WE NEED.
IT'S LARGELY OFF OUR BOOKS DID CREATE A INCENTIVE PROCESS WHICH WE CAN THINK ABOUT THAT IF THEY.
WORKED OUT WELL IN A YEAR TIME.
THEN USE ASSET FORFEITURE MONEY TO PAY THEIR TUITION AS SORT OF LIKE AN ROTC PROGRAM.
SO I WOULD JUST SUGGEST THOSE THAT SOME SOME CONVERSATIONS IN THAT REGARD.
BUT I THINK THAT IF WE IF WE WORK TO IDENTIFY HIS STAFF THAT HAS A LAW ENFORCEMENT LICENSE, THOSE INDIVIDUALS ARE READY TO GO, GO TO PATROL.
YEAH. AND THEY'RE NOT GOING TO WAIT ON AN ACADEMY UNLESS THEY KNOW ONE IS PLANNED AND DON'T.
AND THEN WE DON'T HAVE TO ARGUE WITH HIM ON WHY YOU'RE ABOUT TO LOSE 50 PEOPLE AND WORK WITH HIM A LITTLE BIT, I GUESS, TO SCHEDULE, YOU KNOW, CLASS BUDGET OR SOMETHING OF THAT NATURE.
BUT, UM, I DON'T THINK WE HAVE EFFECTIVELY FIGURED OUT THE SCHEDULING OF THOSE TRANSFERS.
YOU CAN PREDICT SOME SEPARATIONS EXACTLY.
BUT IF THEY HAVE A LICENSE, THEY WILL.
YEAH. YEAH. GENERALLY SPEAKING THEY WANT THAT.
THEY THEY WANT TO GO OUT INTO A DIFFERENT SCOPE OF WORK AND THEY'RE THEY'RE INSPIRED FOR THAT.
BUT WE CAN AT LEAST SCHEDULE THEM.
THEY CAN STAY WITHIN THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE ENVIRONMENT.
RIGHT. LIKE KILLING HIM, HELPING FILL THOSE HOLES IN THE IN LAW ENFORCEMENT.
RIGHT. OKAY. AND THE POPULATION, UM, YES.
INMATE POPULATION. SO THE NEXT SLIDE EIGHT FOR THE INMATE POPULATION.
SO AS YOU CAN SEE, I MEAN, ALL OF THE ARROWS FOR ALL OF OUR LOCATIONS ARE PRETTY MUCH AT THE YELLOW.
UM, WE HAVE SOME BEDS AVAILABLE.
BUT AS YOU KNOW, THERE ARE ISSUES WITH WITH CLASSIFICATION.
AND THEN WITH THE RATIO THAT'S, THAT'S REQUIRED OF DETENTION OFFICER TO INMATES.
SO THAT'S WHAT KEEPS SOME OF THOSE, THOSE BEDS EMPTY.
AND THOSE ARE FOLKS THAT ARE THAT THAT ARE READY, CLEARED AND READY TO GO TO THE STATE JAIL.
AND BY LAW IS WHAT I'VE HEARD.
AND WE'RE I'M DOING SOME RESEARCH.
I'M GOING TO TALK TO TRAVIS COUNTY FOLKS.
BUT, YOU KNOW, TDC HAS 45 DAYS TO COME AND PICK THEM UP.
[04:00:02]
ON THE OTHER HAND, THEY'RE MAKING US HOLD FOLKS THAT SHOULD GO TO THEM FOR AN EXTRA 45 DAYS, RIGHT? SO THAT'S AN ISSUE ON OUR DIME.SO WHO ARE YOU TALKING TO ON THAT? UM, WELL, ONE TRAVIS COUNTY IN THE PAST USED TO HAVE, UM, AN AGREEMENT WITH TDC THAT IF THEY SPENT IF THEY DELAYED THEIR PICKUP, THAT THEN HAD TO PAY HIM PAY.
TRAVIS COUNTY AND THEY HAD AN ACTUAL MOU.
I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S STILL THE CASE OR THE LAW CHANGED.
AND NOW IT'S LIKE, YEAH, YOU'RE STUCK WITH THEM FOR 45 DAYS.
BUT I THINK THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE NEED TO TAKE A LOOK AT AND SEE.
AND MAYBE THERE'S A WAY THAT WE CAN GET SOME HELP FROM THE STATE IN THAT IN, IN THAT ARENA.
AND WE'RE LOOKING INTO WE GET REIMBURSED.
THERE'S A CHANGE IN THE LAW WHERE WE'RE ALLOWED TO CHARGE TQG MOVING FORWARD.
I NEED TO FIGURE OUT WHAT THE EFFECTIVE DATE OF THAT LAW IS.
YEAH. LOOK, THIS IS THIS HAS BEEN A CONVERSATION FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS.
THEY WILL WAIT. THEY WILL PUSH THE ENVELOPE TO THE VERY END.
YOU KNOW, IF ANYTHING, WE SHOULD OUTSOURCE PAPER.
READY? PUT HIM RIGHT NEXT TO TDC AND THEY'RE THERE.
BUT IT'S COSTING US TO OUTSOURCE OTHERS, RIGHT? I MEAN, YOU KNOW, WE NEED WE NEED TO GET REIMBURSED, BUT IDEALLY THEY JUST TAKE THEM.
AND I DO FEEL LIKE, YOU KNOW, LEANING ON US TO THE EXTENT THAT YOU DON'T NEED TO HEAR THIS, BUT JUST IN CASE, I FEEL LIKE, YOU KNOW, COMMISSIONER RAMSEY SURELY CAN HELP YOU WITH THE STATE MORE THAN ANY OF US.
THAT'S WHY I WANTED TO KNOW THE WHO.
AND, YOU KNOW, THERE'S THERE'S TO BE A PERSON.
YEAH, IN CHARGE OF IT, RIGHT? IT'S YOU PROBABLY.
YOU PROBABLY GOT AN IDEA. YEAH.
AND MAYBE COMMISSIONER BRIONES CAN HELP WITH THE JUDGES AND THE DATA THERE.
AND, YOU KNOW, OBVIOUSLY, COMMISSIONER GARCIA KNOWS THE JAIL.
THOUGHT MAYBE YOU COULD ANSWER THE QUESTION ABOUT.
BUT IF HE'S NOT AVAILABLE, I'M HAPPY TO TRY.
WELL, WHAT IF I DID WANT TO SAY THAT I APPRECIATE THE SHERIFF AND CHIEF VASQUEZ? BECAUSE I WAS AT THE STATE JAIL COMMISSION HEARING AND REALLY WORKED TO COMMUNICATE.
I THINK THEY HEARD IT, OR AT LEAST THE IN THE BACKGROUND.
I HEARD THAT THEY APPRECIATED THE JUDGE'S OFFICE BEING PRESENT MYSELF AND HEARING JUST HOW MUCH WE'VE INVESTED IN TO THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE AND JAIL OPERATIONS IN PARTICULAR.
UM, BUT THEY WERE RELENTLESS NONETHELESS, BECAUSE THEY HAD US GIVE UP SOME VARIANCE BITS, WHICH SHE SAID IT WASN'T GOING TO BE TOO PAINFUL.
BUT ALL THAT TO SAY IS THAT THE SHERIFF WAS THERE, MADE A PHENOMENAL PRESENTATION.
SHE HELPED TO ANSWER QUESTIONS HIMSELF.
AND I THINK IT WAS GOOD THAT THEY SAW A LITTLE BIT OF SUPPORT FROM US THAT THAT DAY.
WE SAW IT AND WE APPRECIATE IT.
THANK YOU FOR MAKING THE TRIP.
YOUR TEAM HAS BEEN PHENOMENAL WORKING WITH YOU.
I THINK WE HAVE MADE IT CLEAR TO THE STATE THAT WE'RE ALL PULLING IN THE SAME DIRECTION.
WE ALL HAVE THE SAME GOAL TO MAKE THE JAIL SAFER FOR THE PEOPLE WHO LIVE THERE AND WORK THERE.
SO. ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS I CAN ANSWER? I'M HAPPY TO. AGAIN.
AND. CHIEF, DID YOU HAVE ANYTHING TO ADD ON? ON ON WHO? THE CONTACT IS.
WE COULD TALK WITH WITH THE DIRECTOR OVER INTAKE, JUST AS A REFERENCE.
WHERE HARRIS COUNTY IS, IS USUALLY SITS AT THE TOP OF THE PICKUP RATE.
THEY PICK UP FROM US ON AVERAGE, ABOUT 21 TO 23 DAYS.
SO. SO YES, IF WE GO OVER 45 DAYS, THEN THE STATE'S ON THE HOOK.
THEY'VE ALWAYS KIND OF BEEN LIKE THAT.
THERE'S BEEN A THE RECENT CHANGE THAT Y'ALL TALKING ABOUT IN THE LAW.
THEY KEEP US AT A, AT A HIGH PRIORITY DUE TO OUR, OUR POPULATION LEVEL.
SO, I MEAN, YEAH, WE CAN TALK TO, UM, I BELIEVE IT'S MR. HUMPHRIES. WAS THE DIRECTOR OVER.
AND THAT PART ON THE INTAKE PROCESS.
AND DON'T MIND WORKING WITH MR. RAMIREZ'S OFFICE TO SET THAT UP.
[04:05:05]
SOMETIMES THAT RATE GETS DOWN TO ABOUT 18 DAYS ONCE THEY'RE KEYED IN AND SET ON THAT, THAT PAPER READY LIST.I THINK THE QUESTION IS, IS THERE ANY WAY TO GET IT? WE CAN SUPPORT IN MAKING IT FASTER, BUT THANK YOU.
YEAH, YEAH. BECAUSE IT IT'S 500 PEOPLE.
RIGHT. AND THEN WE'RE ASKING THEY'RE ASKING US FOR 350 MORE BEDS.
NO THANK YOU. THANK YOU TO US.
OKAY. YES. AND SO SLIDE NINE TREND OF INMATE BOOKINGS AND RELEASES.
AND SO WE HAD RESEARCH AND ANALYSIS DIVISION.
AND IF YOU LOOK AT THE BOOKINGS AND RELEASES THEY PRETTY MUCH TRACK EACH OTHER VERY CLOSELY.
UM, HOWEVER YOU SEE THAT THE AVERAGE DAILY POPULATION HAS KIND OF JUST CREPT UP ANYWAY FROM 20, YOU KNOW, WITH A HIGH IN 2022, IT'S DROPPING A LITTLE BIT, BUT THERE'S STILL A, UM, A DIFFERENCE THERE.
AND ONE OF THE THINGS THAT AND YOU HAVE THIS IN YOUR BACKUP, THE THE REPORT ON THE CORRELATION BETWEEN THE THE CASE BACKLOG AND THE JAIL POPULATION, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT THEY SAW WAS AN INCREASE IN THE LENGTH OF STAY OF, OF INMATES.
AND ANOTHER THING THAT THEY SAW WAS THAT, UM, THE THE NUMBER OF BONDS THAT WERE BEING REQUIRED, GREATER THAN $10,000, IT FLIPPED BEFORE IT WAS.
THERE WERE MORE BONDS UNDER 10,000, AND NOW THERE'S MORE BONDS OVER 10,000.
AND IT'S HAPPENED IN THE LAST YEAR OR TWO.
AND SO THAT'S SOMETHING THAT THAT I THINK WE'RE GOING TO WANT TO LOOK AT AND SEE, YOU KNOW WHAT'S CAUSING THAT? IS IT, YOU KNOW, JUST THE LEVEL OF OF THE CHARGES FOR THE INMATE.
BUT THOSE ARE THOSE ARE THINGS THAT WE'RE WE'RE SEEING THAT WE HAVE QUESTIONS ABOUT.
ADMINISTRATOR LET ME JUST DO WE KNOW IF THE TWO OF THE ADDITIONAL HEARING OFFICERS THAT WE GOT FUNDING FOR, HAS THAT ALREADY BEEN STOOD UP AT THE JPC SO WE CAN I DON'T KNOW, WE WILL WE WILL BRING BACK A REPORT ON THAT ON DECEMBER 5TH AND LET YOU KNOW WHICH KINDS OF HEARINGS IS THAT FOR AT THE JPC WHEN THEY'RE BROUGHT IN.
SO WE WERE DOWN A COUPLE OF HEARING OFFICERS.
SO THERE WAS ONLY ONE PERSON HEARING THE CASES.
AND SO WE PART OF THE BUDGET PROCESS A COUPLE NEW OFFICERS.
DOES THAT IF THE JUDGE HAS SET BAIL OVER $10,000, HOW DOES THAT CONNECT WITH THE HEARING OFFICERS? MAYBE YOU'RE TRYING TO SEPARATE THINGS.
MY THEORY OF WHY THE BONDS HAVE GONE UP IS BECAUSE OF ALL THIS.
YOU KNOW, LAST YEAR WITH THE ELECTION, SO MUCH NEWS ON THIS JUDGE SAID THIS BOND AND AND SO AND SO WHEN AND DID YOU KNOW AND IT'S LIKE THEY'RE THE ONLY WAY TO MAKE SURE THAT NOBODY HURTS ANYBODY IS TO LOCK EVERYBODY UP.
AND THE JUDGES DON'T HAVE A CRYSTAL BALL.
AND IT'S A MATTER OF, YOU KNOW, HOW MUCH DO THEY HAVE THE, THE, THE MENTAL, YOU KNOW, STRENGTH, FOR LACK OF A BETTER WORD, TO MAKE THE RIGHT DECISIONS AND NOT SO MUCH THE DECISIONS FOR THE CAMERA.
UM, AND SO ANYWAY, THAT'S MY WORKING THEORY.
SO I'LL BE CURIOUS TO SEE WHAT COMES.
AND YOU KNOW, THEY'RE JUST SO, SO MANY DATA POINTS.
AND, YOU KNOW, YOU LOOK AT A AT A TREND AND IT JUST IT JUST RAISES MORE QUESTIONS.
RIGHT. MORE AREAS OR LIKE WHAT DOES THIS ACTUALLY MEAN.
AND HOW CAN WE HOW CAN WE ADDRESS IT.
AND I THINK THE POINT HERE, THIS IS GREAT.
I MEAN THIS IS BEYOND WHAT, WHAT I'VE SEEN ANYWAY.
AND YOU'RE BUILDING ON THE STUDIES THAT WE'VE DONE.
AND I THINK LIKE WHAT YOU'RE SAYING ON THE DETENTION OFFICERS.
RIGHT. LIKE WE GAVE THEM $1,000.
IT DIDN'T DO ANYTHING. SO LET'S FIGURE OUT WHAT ELSE AND THEN LET'S DO SOMETHING.
AND THAT'S KIND OF HOW I FEEL WITH THIS TOO, IS LIKE WE MAY NOT NECESSARILY UNTANGLE IT 100%, BUT, YOU KNOW, KIND OF LIKE FLY THE PLANE AND BUILD IT AT THE SAME TIME BECAUSE OF, YOU KNOW, JUST THE URGENCY OF THE SITUATION.
EXACTLY. AND TAKE THE BITE SIZED PIECES THAT WE CAN AND AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.
[04:10:01]
AND TO REALLY DIG INTO THE INTO THE WEEDS ON THE DATA.THE ISSUE IS WE'RE GOING TO NEED TO PRIORITIZE THESE AND FIGURE OUT WHERE WHERE DO WE THINK WE WILL GET THE BIGGEST BANG FOR THE BUCK OF REALLY UNDERSTANDING WHAT'S HAPPENING, BEING ABLE TO TO MAKE A CHANGE, TO HAVE A POSITIVE OUTCOME.
SO RIGHT NOW IT'S JUST A LAUNDRY LIST.
WHAT WE'RE GOING TO DO IS WE'RE GOING TO WORK WITH THE STAKEHOLDERS AND THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE TO TRY TO FIGURE OUT, OKAY, WHO DO WE KNOW? WHICH ONES DO WE REALLY NEED TO DIG INTO? WHICH ONES ARE ARE THE ARE THE ONES WHERE WE CAN HAVE ACCESS TO THE DATA EASILY SO THAT WE CAN ACTUALLY COME UP WITH SOMETHING THAT'S MEANINGFUL AND MEANINGFUL INSIGHT ON WHAT THE ISSUE IS.
SO THAT'S THAT'S GOING TO BE COMING BACK.
COMMISSIONER RAMSEY. THANK YOU.
ADMINISTRATOR. THE THE SUMMARY IS IS INTERESTING.
UH, IT LOOKS LIKE YOU'RE ASKING THE QUESTIONS.
AND THE SHERIFF'S PROVIDING WHAT DATA HE CAN PROVIDE.
IT. I WOULD THINK THIS WOULD BE MORE SHERIFF DRIVEN ON WHAT THE NEEDS ARE.
UH, MAYBE IT'S JUST A PERCEPTION.
IT LOOKS LIKE YOU'RE YOU'RE DIVING DEEP INTO DETENTION PAY.
YOU'RE. I AGREE WITH COMMISSIONER GARCIA ON.
WE NEED TO GENERATE A POOL, A FORM LEAGUE, IF YOU WILL, OF PLACES WE CAN PULL DETENTION OFFICERS.
I KNOW WORKING IN EAST TEXAS AROUND A LOT OF PRISON UNITS.
UM, THAT'S NOT THE BEST JOB IN THE WORLD TO GO WORK IN ONE OF TDCJ'S PRISON UNITS.
AND SO THEY WOULD THEY WOULD WORK YOU THROUGH THERE.
THERE WAS ONLY SO MANY WEEKS YOU COULD YOU COULD YOU COULD BE ON THE CELL LINES.
SO THAT WHOLE PROCESS OF FIGURING OUT HOW YOU CAN CREATE A FEEDER SYSTEM FOR DETENTION OFFICERS AND DETENTION OFFICER SERVES, THERE'S KIND OF LIKE BEING A PRIVATE YOU WORK THROUGH THAT AND YOU GET TO BE A SERGEANT.
THERE DOESN'T SEEM TO BE A WELL DEFINED FUTURE COMING OUT OF THAT FOR DETENTION OFFICERS.
SO THAT'S A WHOLE NOTHER THAT'S A WHOLE NOTHER SET OF INITIATIVES.
BUT I KNOW WHEN FAMILIES CAME HERE TALKING ABOUT THE THEIR, THEIR RELATIVES, THEIR LOVED ONES LOCKED UP, THEY WOULD BRING STORIES OF, WELL, YOU PEOPLE NEED A NEW CHILLER.
SO I WOULD, AND I KNOW THAT WE'VE GOT AT LEAST TWO STUDIES GOING ON RELATED TO THE JAIL CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS. UM, I CONSIDER THIS ONE OF THE TOP PROBLEMS WE'VE GOT IN THE COUNTY.
I DON'T KNOW THAT WE'RE APPROACHING IT AS ONE OF THE TOP PROBLEMS IN THE COUNTY.
WE WE CERTAINLY WHEN WE NEED TO OUTSOURCE, WE OUTSOURCE.
BUT IN TERMS OF THAT FACILITY.
AND THE COMMENTS THAT HAVE BEEN MADE IN THIS COURT FROM RELATIVES THAT HAVE COME IN IS I HOPE MY RELATIVE GETS OUTSOURCED, BECAUSE THE WORST PLACE YOU CAN BE IS IN THAT JAIL DOWN THE STREET.
THERE ARE A LOT BETTER OFF IN OUR OUTSOURCED FACILITIES THAN THEY ARE IN THE JAIL.
SO THAT'S A SAD COMMENTARY ON THE JAIL AND WHAT WE NEED TO DO.
SO I DON'T KNOW IF, AGAIN, IF THERE'S ANY ARPA MONEY OR ANY BAILING WIRE AND DUCT TAPE THAT WE CAN DO ON THE JAIL TO PROVIDE AND PROVIDE AND BUY A LITTLE TIME THAT WE CAN FIND THE FINAL SOLUTION.
RIGHT. AND UM, I DID UM, I DID TALK TO, TO MR. RAMOS AND ALSO TO DR.
RAHMAN ABOUT IT BECAUSE WE DO HAVE A PLAN FOR THAT.
AND I'LL, I'LL LET, UM, MR. RAMOS TALK ABOUT THE, UM, THE FUNDING SOURCE.
AND THEN DR. RAHMAN WARNED HIM THAT WE WOULD PROBABLY GET GO INTO THIS AREA.
SO THE ANY OF THE JAIL UPGRADES ARE PART OF OUR UNVOTED DEBT.
SO I'VE WORKED WITH DR. HERMAN AND GIVEN HIM THE FULL GREEN LIGHT.
SO I'LL DEFER TO HIM ON THE TIMING AND SOME OF THE THE HIGH PRIORITY LIST.
[04:15:02]
ONE IS WE CREATED THE CAPTAIN RANK.AND I BELIEVE THEY'RE GOING TO ANNOUNCE THE FIRST WAVE, WHICH IS INCREDIBLY EXCITING.
IT'S THE FIRST TIME THAT THERE'S EVER BEEN A CAPTAINS RANK FOR ANY DETENTION OFFICERS.
ALSO, WE'RE WORKING WITH THE SHERIFF ON TRANSITIONING OUT THE LAW ENFORCEMENT SERGEANTS AND MOVING THEM INTO PATROL SO THAT WE HAVE MORE OPPORTUNITIES FOR ADVANCEMENT FOR THE DETENTION OFFICERS.
I AGREE WITH YOU. IT'S NOT JUST ABOUT COMPENSATION, AND IT'S ABOUT THE CAREER WORK.
THE I THINK WE'RE TOUCHING ON A LOT OF THINGS.
TO THE EXTENT THAT WE CAN DON'T KNOW WHETHER IT IS POSSIBLE OR NOT, BUT WE NEED.
UM, FOR LACK OF BETTER WORDS, A TASK FORCE.
UM, MAYBE JUDGE BRIONES CAN HELP US WITH THIS, BECAUSE WHAT WHAT IS WHAT'S THAT? FUNDAMENTALLY, AT THE AT THE POINT OF OUR PROBLEM IS THAT.
UM, WE HAVE A MUCH LONGER STAY RATE OF STAY AND STAY IN JAIL THAN WE'VE EVER HAD BEFORE.
COUPLED WITH THE FACT THAT WE HAVE A HIGHER NUMBER OF INMATES IN CUSTODY WHO HAVE BEEN CHARGED WITH MURDER AND, UM, I DON'T REMEMBER WHAT MY NUMBER WAS WHEN I CAME IN.
TODAY, THE SHERIFF HAS APPROXIMATELY 900 TO 1000 INDIVIDUALS THAT ARE CHARGED WITH MURDER.
YET THEIR TIME TO GO TO TRIAL.
IS MUCH LONGER THAN EVER BEFORE.
AND SO THE QUESTION OF IF WE IF WE.
UH, POPULATION THAT IS CHARGED WITH MURDER.
IT COULD THINK, IT REALLY COULD GET US TO A MUCH, MUCH BETTER PLACE.
AND IT MAY GIVE THE SHERIFF THE OPPORTUNITY TO INSTITUTE SOME OTHER TYPE OF PROGRAMS THAT WOULD ALLOW FOR BURNED EARLY RELEASE LIKE I USED TO HAVE.
BUT WE HAVE 1900 TO 1000 FOLKS THAT ARE CHARGED WITH MURDER, AND THEIR STAY IN JAIL IS ALMOST A YEAR BEFORE THEY GO TO TRIAL.
AND EVEN IF YOU'RE NOT CHARGED WITH MURDER, YOU'RE YOU'RE STAY IN JAIL IS AT A DISTANCE.
NOW IT'S 200 DAYS IN TWO YEARS.
I THOUGHT I HEARD AT SOME POINT.
I THINK IF WE COULD, YOU KNOW, LOOK AT ALL THESE OTHER THINGS.
THAT THAT SHOULD BE THE HIGHEST PRIORITY.
I LIKE THAT BECAUSE IT CAUSES EVERYBODY TO FOCUS.
YEAH, YEAH. RATHER THAN WHAT WE GOT, WE GOT 9000 ISSUES AND PEOPLE.
WHAT CAN WE DO THERE? THE OTHER DATA POINT.
WHO ARE ON THE STREETS AND WE'RE LOOKING FOR THEM.
SO JUST KNOW THERE'S 600 WHO COULD HAVE 2300.
YEAH. WELL, AND I THINK THAT IS A REALLY GOOD POINT BECAUSE THAT'S BEEN INTRACTABLE.
SO MAYBE FOCUSING ON THOSE TWO AND THEN AN IDEA, YOU KNOW YOU'LL PRIORITIZE IT AS YOU SEE FIT.
DIANA. BUT IS THE THE REVOLVING DOOR.
YOU KNOW NOW THAT I'M SO I'M ON THE MENTAL HEALTH THING BECAUSE IT'S A HUGE PERCENTAGE THAT HAVE A MENTAL ILLNESS AND THEY KEEP COMING BACK AND THEY KEEP COMING BACK. AND BUT THEN WE ONLY PROVIDE THE ADEQUATE SERVICES FOR FOLKS WITH THE LOWER CHARGES.
BUT WHAT GOOD DOES IT DO FOR THESE OTHER ONES TO NOT HAVE IT? AND THEN IT'S THE SAME, SAME KIND OF PROBLEM.
SO, UM, YOU KNOW, MAYBE THAT'S A SECTION OF YOUR OF YOUR OF YOUR, UH, PRESENTATION GOING FORWARD.
NOW, THAT'S A LONGER TERM THING.
AND I HEAR WHEN COMMISSIONER RAMSEY IS SAYING, YOU KNOW, WHAT CAN WE DO WITH DUCT TAPE?
[04:20:03]
FOR NOW, I THINK WE ALL UNDERSTAND THERE'S A SHORTER PIECE.AS MUCH AS THAT'S ABSOLUTELY NECESSARY, WE DON'T WANT IT TO FALL ON ITSELF.
BUT, YOU KNOW, THERE'S A WHOLE JUVENILE FACILITY THAT WE WERE GOING TO BUILD AND WE STOPPED BECAUSE, YEAH, IT WAS PRETTIER AND CLEANER, BUT IT WAS JUST A WAREHOUSE FOR THE KIDS. AND AND ALL THE RESEARCH WILL TELL YOU YOU DON'T WANT TO DO THAT TO THEM.
AND SO I WOULD HATE TO DO THE YOU KNOW, OBVIOUSLY KIDS AND ADULTS IS DIFFERENT, BUT BUT SURELY SOMEBODY FIGURED OUT HOW WE CAN HAVE A BETTER ENVIRONMENT THAT WILL HELP, THAT WILL HELP KEEP US SAFER.
SO, YES, COMMISSIONER ELLIS, MR. ELLIS AND THEN COMMISSIONER RIGGS, WAS DR.
RAHMAN GOING TO SAY SOMETHING ABOUT THE FACILITY? ARE YOU THERE, DR. RAHMAN, IF DR.
AND, UH, MEMBERS OF THE COURT.
WE'VE BEEN WORKING ON THE FACILITY ASSESSMENT.
BUT JUST ALSO FOR THE COURT, WE HAVE SPENT $20 MILLION ON THE 17 NORTH AND THE CENTRAL FACILITY.
UH, TURNER CONSTRUCTION FINISHED THE FIRST PHASE OF WORK THAT INCLUDED AN EMERGENCY GENERATOR, A NEW SWITCHGEAR, DOCKING STATION, UNDERGROUND FUEL SYSTEM, AND REPLACING MANY OF THE ACCESS DOOR ON VARIOUS BUILDINGS.
SO WE ALSO HAVE COMMISSIONER, 39 PROJECTS THAT ARE IN DIFFERENT PHASES OF ASSESSMENT.
AND THAT'S WHAT I WAS TALKING TO, DIRECTOR RAMOS, THAT ONCE WE COME BACK WITH THE REPORT, WE'LL BE WORKING ON PHASING THOSE PROJECTS THAT WENT TO GO WORK ON WHICH BUILDING ONCE WE HAVE THE PLAN READY.
SO, YOU KNOW, BEGINNING FIRST QUARTER OF NEXT YEAR, WE'LL BE COMING BACK TO DR..
DIRECTOR RAMOS FOR FUNDING REQUEST ON DIFFERENT PHASES OF THOSE PROJECTS.
AND I DO THINK THAT, IF I MAY, THE JUDGE RAISES A VALID POINT IN ADDITION TO AS WE FIGURE OUT WHAT WE'RE GOING TO DO GOING FORWARD, IN ADDITION TO THE ENGINEERING ISSUES, YOU WANT TO HAVE SOMEBODY THAT LOOKS AT BEST PRACTICES SO THAT WHATEVER WE DO DOWN THE ROAD, WE ACCOMMODATE THOSE CONCERNS THAT OTHER PEOPLE AROUND THE COUNTRY HOPEFULLY HAVE ADDRESSED IN A FEW PLACES, AT LEAST IN TERMS OF A STATE OF THE ART FACILITY AT SOME POINT.
AND WE'RE ALSO MAKING PHONE CALLS.
SO WE'LL BE AS PART OF THE PRESENTATION WE BRING TO THE COMMISSIONERS COURT.
COMMISSIONER, THERE WILL BE ALSO BRINGING SOME OF THE STANDARD PRACTICE.
OKAY. THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER BRIONES.
RAHMAN. THANK YOU FOR THE WORK THAT YOU'VE ALREADY DONE AND WILL DO.
UM, SO I AGREE, I'D LIKE TO SEE THE FACILITIES PIECE AND ALSO THE HEALTH IMPROVEMENTS.
WE GOT A GREAT BRIEFING FROM HARRIS HEALTH ON THE IMPROVEMENTS THEY'VE MADE IN THE LAST SIX MONTHS.
AND THERE'S STILL A LOT OF WORK TO BE DONE.
AND I THINK THAT'S A KEY COMPONENT.
AND SO I FOUND THAT UPDATE TO BE VERY HELPFUL.
AND THEN ON THE VIPER VIOLENT PERSONS WARRANT TASK FORCE, IT WOULD BE TO YOUR POINT ABOUT IF WE'RE GOING TO DOUBLE DOWN ON MURDER, THOSE WHO ARE ALREADY INCARCERATED FOR MURDER AND THEN THOSE WHO ARE STILL WITH AN OPEN WARRANT.
AND THAT INTERCONNECTS VERY MUCH WITH THE LASER FOCUS ON MURDER AND OTHER AGGRAVATED OFFENSES.
BUT ADMINISTRATOR DOMINUS, THANK YOU.
YES. UH, DIRECTOR, ADMINISTRATOR RYDER, UM, DO YOU NEED A MOTION TO FOCUS ON THE.
DO YOU NEED A MOTION TO HELP YOU FOCUS ON THE MURDER POPULATION OF THE COUNTY JAIL? YES. I MEAN, I THINK THE MORE GUIDANCE WE GET AND MOTIONS FROM YOU ON WHAT YOUR PRIORITIES ARE FOR US TO, TO WORK ON, I'M I'M GLAD FOR THAT BECAUSE I THINK THAT THAT HELPS US DIRECT OUR RESOURCES IN THE PLACES THAT THAT YOU THINK WE CAN GET THE MOST BANG FOR THE BUCK.
[04:25:09]
WELL. SO LENGTH OF STAYS IS A BIG ISSUE RIGHT NOW.AND I THINK THAT THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE NEED TO LOOK AT.
UM, YOU KNOW, IT'S AT THE PLEASURE OF THE COMMISSIONERS COURT.
BUT WHAT YOU WANT US TO, TO FOCUS ON, WE COULD SAY TO FOCUS ON THE, YOU KNOW, THE DETENTION OFFICER INCENTIVES AND, AND LENGTH OF STAY WITH A PARTICULAR VIEW TO THE HIGHER WHAT DO YOU CALL IT, HIGHER CHARGES.
HERE'S WHY. BECAUSE WHEN COVID THE EXPERIENCE I HAD IS, YOU KNOW, LIKE I REMEMBER, UM, FOR THE SHERIFF, HE SAID, WE'VE IDENTIFIED LIKE 700 PEOPLE OR SOMETHING THAT ARE LOWER LEVEL.
AND SHE THOUGHT ONLY 50 OF THEM WERE LOWER LEVEL.
YOU KNOW, IT'S LIKE PEOPLE ARE.
WELL, I MEAN, I GUESS THE DATA SAYING THAT THERE'S AT LEAST ABOUT 900, 900 OR 1000 SO THAT ARE CHARGE CHARGED WITH MURDER, NOT NOT BEING INVESTIGATED, BUT CHARGED WITH MURDER.
AND SO, UM, THESE ARE PEOPLE ALREADY CHARGED.
UH, OKAY. SO THEN HOW ABOUT THIS? THIS IS A MOVE FOR THE ADMINISTRATOR, RAMIREZ, AND THE TEAM TO PRIORITIZE THE LENGTH OF STAY, THE DETENTION OFFICER, THE DETENTION OFFICER, RETENTION AND PARTICULAR FOCUS ON THOSE CHARGED WITH MURDER.
SECOND MOTION BY COMMISSIONER GARCIA, SECOND BY COMMISSIONER ELLIS.
ANY OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY.
I DIDN'T WANT TO SAY THAT MR. BURY CHAIRED THE JAIL POPULATION COMMITTEE TO SAY WE NEED TO APPOINT A NEW CHAIR.
SOUNDS LIKE IT MIGHT BE YOU, BUT WE'LL GET THAT DONE PRETTY QUICKLY.
IT'D BE GOOD TO CONSULT WITH THEM, BECAUSE, AS YOU SAID, ALL THOSE OTHER ACTORS INDEPENDENTLY ELECTED IN THE PROCESS AND THE CHAIN, YOU HAVE A LOT OF INFLUENCE ON WHAT WE CAN DO WITH THOSE PEOPLE CHARGED WITH MURDER ON THE RAMON DIRECTOR, RAMON PEACE.
SO YOU SAID YOU'RE CONSULTING WITH WITH YOUR TEAM.
IS WAS LOOKING AT OTHER JAILS ELSEWHERE.
I MEAN, I JUST THINK IT'S A DIFFERENT KIND OF MINDSET AND EXPERTISE.
YOU KNOW, WHAT YOU MAY ACHIEVE WITH THE ARCHITECTS VERSUS WHAT, YOU KNOW, SOME FOLKS THAT ARE MORE ON THE I DON'T KNOW, SOCIAL SCIENCES SIDE, IT'LL TAKE A FULL COLLABORATION BETWEEN THE THE PHYSICAL SPACE AND THE ARCHITECTURE WITH THE SERVICES AND, AND THE SIGHTLINES FOR THE FOR THE DETENTION OFFICERS AND THE, YOU KNOW, THE LIGHT AND YOU KNOW, ALL THE THINGS THAT THAT NEED TO HAPPEN IN, IN A JAIL.
RAMON AND I HAVE ALREADY BEEN TALKING A LOT ABOUT THIS, ABOUT HOW WE'RE GOING TO WORK ON THIS, HOW WE'RE GOING TO MESSAGE THIS, HOW WE'RE GOING TO, YOU KNOW, TALK TO THE ADVOCATES ABOUT THIS, HOW WE'RE HOW HOW WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT THIS IS A.
EXCESS AND AND WHAT AND HOW WE WE BRING IN THE COMMUNITY TO TO TALK ABOUT THIS BECAUSE EVERYBODY'S GOING TO WANT TO HAVE SOME KIND OF SAY ON, ON SOME PARTS OF IT.
[Emergency/Supplemental items (Part 1 of 2)]
AND THEN HERE ARE THE THINGS THAT WE CAN WORK AROUND WITH EVERYBODY.RIGHT. AND SO WE'VE WE'VE ALREADY STARTED TALKING ABOUT THAT AND BRINGING IN UM, MISTER RAMOS ALSO ON, ON THE, ON THE FUNDING SIDE TO FIGURE OUT, YOU KNOW, THE DELIVERY METHODS THAT THAT MIGHT BE HELPFUL FOR US IN THIS ISSUE.
THANK YOU FOR THIS REPORT, ADMINISTRATOR.
IT'S IT'S SO IMPORTANT AND A BIG CONCERN FOR ALL OUR COMMUNITY.
SO THANK YOU. AND LET ME JUST GO QUICKLY TO SLIDE 11 BECAUSE THAT'S WHERE WE HAVE THE THE ITEM FOR UM FOR CHIEF BOSQUEZ TO UPDATE THE COURT ON, ON WHAT HAPPENED WITH THE THE LAST JAIL STANDARDS MEETING.
AND THEN FOR MISTER DOBSLAW, THE PURCHASING AGENT, TO TALK ABOUT ITEM 302.
AND THAT WAY WE CAN WE CAN GET THROUGH TO THE TO THE END OF THE PRESENTATION.
AT THE LAST COMMISSION MEETING, THEY MADE A MOTION TO PRESS THE COUNTY INTO SEEKING MORE OUTSOURCING BEDS BY DECEMBER 1ST. AND IF WE DIDN'T, THEN THEY HAD PUT A PLAN TOGETHER WITHIN THE MOTION TO TAKE OUR VARIANCE BEDS AWAY IN INCREMENTS OF 144 PER MONTH, UNTIL ALL 580 HAD BEEN TAKEN OFF OPERATIONALLY.
[04:30:01]
AND WE EXPECTED THAT ON OUR END THEY NEEDED TO SHOW PROGRESSIVE SANCTIONS MOVING FORWARD.SO IT WASN'T COMPLETELY OUT OF THE BLUE.
AGAIN, IT'S TIED TO HAVING THE DEFICIENCIES THAT ARE ON FILE CURRENTLY IN THE REPORT.
ONE OF THOSE BEING THE 48 HOUR PROCESSING TIME, WHICH THEY WERE GOOD WITH OUR PROGRESS ON THAT.
THE TWO OTHER DEFICIENCIES ARE TIED DIRECTLY TO STAFFING.
SO WHEN YOU LOOK AT RATIOS OF INMATES TO TO STAFF.
IT WOULD IT WOULD INCREASE THE STAFF THAT WE HAVE ON HAND AGAINST THE NUMBERS OF INMATES THAT WE HAVE, AND HOPEFULLY HELP US TAKE THE LAST TWO DEFICIENCIES OFF WITH THE END GOAL OF GETTING THE JAIL BACK IN FULL COMPLIANCE WITH WITH STANDARDS.
THANK YOU. SO DO WE NEED A MOTION ON ITEM 302? YES. SO MOVED.
SECOND. MOTION BY COMMISSIONER GARCIA.
ANY OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY.
UM, AND THEN, UM, MR. RAMOS, UM, JUST FOR THE RECORD, ON THE FUND SOURCE FOR FOR THAT.
SO WE'RE GOING TO BE USING THE FIRST 5 MILLION AND LIQUIDATING OUR UNBUDGETED RESERVES.
THE OTHER ADDITIONAL 5 MILLION WILL HAVE TO COME OUT OF OUR GENERAL FUND CASH BALANCE.
AT THIS POINT, I'M NOT RECOMMENDING ANY DRASTIC ACTION.
WE STILL HAVE A LOT OF THE FISCAL YEAR.
BUT I DO THINK THIS IN COMBINATION, WE'RE SEEING INCREASED COSTS ON THE HARRIS HEALTH PORTION OF MEDICAL, WHERE THE FIRST QUARTER PROJECTIONS ARE REALLY GOING TO DRIVE THE REST OF THE YEAR.
ALL THAT TO SAY, THERE PROBABLY ISN'T GOING TO BE A LOT OF MONEY FOR NEW PROGRAMING IN YEAR.
I JUST WANT TO WARN EVERYBODY WITHOUT OFFSETTING IT SOMEWHERE ELSE IN THE BUDGET.
WILL THIS PUT US DOWN TO SO WE'RE RIGHT NOW WE'RE AT NEGATIVE FIVE.
UM, WE'RE STILL TRYING TO RECONCILE FISCAL YEAR 20 THREES JAIL MEDICAL EXPENDITURES.
BUT WE HAVE TO WE GIVE THEM THE FULL AMOUNT UP FRONT.
IT LOOKS LIKE IT'S CLOSER TO A $5 MILLION DEFICIT.
SO THAT WOULD MEAN AFTER OUR UNBUDGETED RESERVE, WE'RE NEGATIVE TEN TO START THE YEAR.
SO IF THAT HAPPENS, WE COULD SEE REALLY, YOU KNOW, REALLY BAD OUTCOMES FOR OUR JAIL POPULATION.
SORRY. JUST TO BUILD ON THAT POINT, THE ISSUE IS NOT SO MUCH US.
IT LOOKS LIKE THE STATE LEGISLATURE IS BEING CAREFUL TO BRACKET IT TO THE BORDER COUNTIES.
THE ISSUE IS RIGHT NOW WE'RE NOT COMPETING AGAINST ANYBODY FOR THESE BEDS.
NOW, THESE ARE THE ONLY BEDS THAT ARE AVAILABLE.
SO I KNOW WE'RE THE ONLY ONES REALLY PUTTING THE MONEY OUT THERE.
YOU BE THE JUDGE, MR. SPENCER, ON SENATE BILL FOUR.
UM, DON'T REMEMBER THE DETAILS OF IT, BUT I REMEMBER SOMETHING JUST SPARKED A MEMORY THAT, UM.
THE SHERIFF OR CHIEF OF POLICE ANY AUTHORITY TO DICTATE THE.
THE ABILITY, WHETHER OR NOT TO.
NOT TO MY KNOWLEDGE, COMMISSIONER.
THEN I WOULD STRONGLY RECOMMEND IF IF WORK ISN'T ALREADY BEING DONE ON POLICIES AND PROCEDURES TO NAVIGATE FOR SOMETHING LIKE THAT SHOULD BE DONE.
[04:35:03]
BE NICE TO HAVE A UNIFORM APPROACH TO THAT AMONG ALL AGENCIES.THANK YOU FOR THE PRESENTATION.
[Departments (Part 3 of 3)]
THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH.AND AND, CHIEF, THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.
JUDGING. AND I'LL JUST SAY REAL QUICK, WE WE REALLY APPRECIATE ALL Y'ALL.
SUPPORT COMMISSIONER GARCIA GOING TO AUSTIN AND AND BEING ABLE TO TALK TO THE COMMISSION AND SHOW THE SUPPORT FROM THE COURT THAT WAS HIGHLY IMPACTFUL AND THINK IT HELD OFF SOME OTHER REMEDIAL ACTIONS THAT THE STATE WAS LOOKING AT BRINGING DOWN.
THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU, THANK YOU.
OKAY. LET'S MOVE ON TO ITEM 15.
COMMISSIONER RAMSEY FLAGGED THIS ITEM.
NOW LET CAN GO. WELL, THIS WAS MR. RAMOS. YOU HAD A MOTION FOR THIS.
THERE IS? YES, I SENT IT AROUND.
THIS MOTION TO REPLACE THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S OFFICE APPROVED EXEMPTION REQUEST WITH 108% POSITION BUDGETING, FLEXIBILITY AND REPLACE THE LIST OF OPTIONS FOR INACTIVATION DELETION WITH PCN NUMBER 10017884 AND NUMBER 10017871. CAN YOU JUST ADD ONE QUICK CLAUSE TO THAT OR THE OR EQUIVALENT POSITIONS OR EQUIVALENT POSITIONS? DO YOU NEED ME TO READ IT AGAIN JAMES.
IS THERE A MOTION? MAKE A MOTION.
SECOND MOTION BY COMMISSIONER RAMSEY.
SECOND BY COMMISSIONER ELLIS. ALL IN FAVOR? AYE, AYE. ANY OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY.
THANK YOU SO MUCH. AND THANK YOU TO THE DA'S OFFICE.
MR. RAMOS, THANK YOU FOR ENGAGING.
VERY HELPFUL. AND I APPRECIATE ALL THE DEPARTMENTS AND YOU KNOW, YOUR SUPPORT.
WE ARE SLOWLY STARTING TO PUT THE PILLARS AROUND HAVING A BUDGET THAT MAKES SENSE.
THAT'S ACCOUNTABLE AND TRANSPARENT.
ITEM 51 FLAGGED BY COMMISSIONER GARCIA.
SORRY, JUDGE. WAS THERE GOING TO BE A SECOND MOTION TO APPROVE THE ITEM MOVED TO OTHERWISE APPROVE AS PRESENTED? SO APPROVE AS AMENDED.
A SECOND. MOTION BY COMMISSIONER BRENNAN.
SECOND BY COMMISSIONER GARCIA. ALL IN FAVOR? ANY OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY.
JUDGE. ON ITEM 51, JUST TO MAKE THE POINT THAT CONNECTIVITY AND COMMUNITY IMPROVEMENT HAS BEEN AT THE TOP OF MY LIST SINCE BECOMING THE COMMISSIONER. THEREFORE, I'M EXCITED TO ANNOUNCE THAT THIS AGREEMENT WITH THE EAST END DISTRICT FOR STUDY AND DESIGN OF TWO KEY BIKE CONNECTIVITY PROJECTS, MILBY STREET AND FOREST HILL AT 72ND STREET.
THESE PROJECTS ARE PART OF MY REVIVE TO THRIVE INITIATIVE, AND WILL INCLUDE EXTENSIVE COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT TO MAKE SURE OUR INVESTMENTS ARE ALIGNED WITH THE COMMUNITY, WITH WHAT THE COMMUNITY WANTS AND NEEDS.
MARTHA IS ALREADY WORKING ON SEVERAL SIGNIFICANT INVESTMENTS IN THE EAST END, INCLUDING THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE BUFFALO BAYOU EAST MASTER MASTER PLAN, THE REIMAGINED NAVIGATION BOULEVARD, REIMAGINED COMMERCE STREET, AND MOST NOTABLY, THE DESIGN OF THE JOHN R HARRIS PARK.
I WANT TO THANK ALL OF THE COLLECTIVE PARTNERS, ALL THOSE WHO CAME OUT ON A CHILLY DAY DURING THE PANDEMIC TO PROVIDE INPUT ON THIS PLAN, AND SO I'M EXCITED THAT WE'RE MOVING FORWARD ON IT.
SO MOVE ON THIS ITEM AS PRESENTED.
THANK YOU COMMISSIONER. THANK YOU.
MOTION BY COMMISSIONER GARCIA, SECOND BY COMMISSIONER BRIONES.
ANY OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY.
COMMISSIONER RAMSEY, IF I MIGHT JUDGE, THERE IS ONE ITEM THAT WE'RE GOING TO NOT TAKE ACTION ON.
BUT I THINK IT WOULD BE HELPFUL FROM COMMUNICATING AND IN A VERY TRANSPARENT WAY, WHAT IS BEING PLANNED RELATED TO THE CONTRACT PATROL RATES.
AND IF I COULD TAKE THREE MINUTES AND MISTER RAMOS, IF YOU CAN PROVIDE KIND OF A BIT OF AN OVERVIEW.
AND AGAIN, THIS IS A PREVIEW OF WHAT WE'RE GOING TO TALK ABOUT IN A MONTH OR AT THE NEXT MEETING.
IT'S ITEM, IT'S ITEM 26 THAT WE'RE TAKING NO ACTION ON.
BUT AT LEAST US BEING ABLE TO COMMUNICATE WHAT IS GOING TO BE BROUGHT BACK IN THE CONTEXT.
[04:40:01]
IF YOU CAN GIVE AN OVERVIEW OF WHAT THAT MIGHT BE.SURE. SO THE THE ITEM AS PRESENTED.
AND OF COURSE IT MIGHT CHANGE BETWEEN NOW AND THEN.
BUT THE OUR HARRIS COUNTY OPERATES WHAT'S CALLED A CONTRACT DEPUTY PROGRAM, WHERE SCHOOL DISTRICTS HOA'S MUNICIPAL UTILITY DISTRICTS CAN CONTRACT WITH EITHER THE CONSTABLE'S OR THE SHERIFF TO PROVIDE A DEDICATED DEPUTY FOR A CATCHMENT AREA.
CURRENTLY, WE CHARGE ONLY DIRECT COSTS, SO THAT IS THE COST THE DEPUTY THERE SUPPLIES FLEET.
WE'RE RECOMMENDING TWO CHANGES.
SORRY TO TAKE A STEP BACK. WE'RE RECOMMENDING TWO CHANGES.
BUT THE PROGRAM THE CUSTOMER IS ALLOWED TO CHOOSE EITHER 100%.
SO THAT MEANS THAT DEPUTIES SPEND 100% OF THEIR TIME IN THAT CATCHMENT AREA, 80% OR 70%.
RIGHT NOW WE HAVE ROUGHLY 1200 CONTRACT DEPUTIES, ABOUT 350IN THE SHERIFF.
THE BALLOTS IN THE CONSTABLE PRECINCTS.
WE'RE RECOMMENDING TWO CHANGES.
ONE IS TO CHARGE AN ADMINISTRATIVE FEE.
BUT WE ARE LEGALLY MANDATED TO RECOUP THE FULL COST OF THE PROGRAM.
WE'RE RECOMMENDING THE FEDERAL RATE, WHICH IS AROUND 11%, FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT.
WE'RE ALSO RECOMMENDING MOVING AWAY FROM NEW SUBSIDIZED CONTRACTS.
SO CONTRACTS IN THE FUTURE NOT TO CHANGE ANY OF THE EXISTING 70 OR 80% CONTRACTS.
BUT IF YOU HAVE 1,070% CONTRACTS TODAY, YOU'RE 11TH PERSON HAS TO BE 100.
AND WE'LL REMAIN 100 THROUGH THE THROUGH THE LIFE OF THAT CONTRACT.
DEPUTY, IF IT'S 70% TODAY, IT'LL SAY 70% TODAY THROUGH THE LIFE OF THAT CONTRACT.
SO THAT'S THE PROGRAM WE SPEND ROUGHLY 130 MILLION OR SORRY, WE SPEND ROUGHLY 120 MILLION.
WE GET REIMBURSED FOR ABOUT 90 OF IT.
SO I MEAN, WE SUBSIDIZE OVER $30 MILLION.
EVENTS AS WELL AS THE COUNTY AS A WHOLE.
COMMISSIONER, ARE YOU FINISHED? YEAH. SO THIS WILL PUT US IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE STATE LAW REQUIREMENTS.
THAT. THAT'S ME AND THE COUNTY ATTORNEY'S OPINION.
YEAH. WHAT I'M WONDERING IS, HOW LONG ARE THESE CONTRACTS? NORMALLY. SO I'M WONDERING FOR THOSE THAT WE ARE WAITING UNTIL THEY EXPIRE.
OKAY. SO THEY'RE ALL WITHIN A YEAR.
SO OUR RECOMMENDATION IS BECAUSE THEY THOSE CONTRACTS CAN SERVE OTHER ENTITIES.
SO WE'RE NOT RECOMMENDING CHANGING ANY OF THE EXISTING 70% CONTRACTS.
SO FOR EXAMPLE, TOMBALL ISD HAS 1,070% CONTRACTS.
AS LONG AS THEY WANT THOSE DEPUTIES, THEY WILL STAY 70% CONTRACTS.
WHAT WE'RE SAYING IS WHEN YOU GET TO THAT 11TH PERSON, WE'RE ASKING YOU TO TO PAY FOR THE FULL 100%.
OH, YEAH. YOU'RE GOING TO DO IT.
BOM BOM. ARE YOU THERE? I'M HERE. YEAH, YEAH.
I ALWAYS THOUGHT THAT WE WERE OUT OF COMPLIANCE WITH THE WITH THE LAW.
BUT JUST WALK US THROUGH WHAT THE LAW DOES REQUIRE.
IT'S EXACTLY WHAT MR. RAMOS SAID, WHICH IS THAT YOU RECOUP THE FULL COST OF OPERATING THOSE, THOSE CONTRACTS.
THE IDEA IS TO COME IN FULL COMPLIANCE BY CHARGING FOR OVERHEAD.
YOU KNOW, WHEN THAT LAW WAS PUT IN PLACE I DON'T I COULD FIND OUT IN A FEW.
SO IT AND IT'S NOT IT'S NOT MEANT THAT I THINK WE CAN ALL HAVE INSIGHT AND COMMENTS ON THESE CONTRACT DEPUTY PROGRAMS. BUT THE NUMBERS ARE SIGNIFICANT.
WE GOT TO BE SURE THAT IT'S IN THE CONTEXT OF THAT.
I CAN'T THINK OF ANYTHING MORE IMPORTANT THAN 1200 OFFICERS WE'VE GOT.
I THINK THE SHERIFF HAS ROUGHLY 2500.
[04:45:02]
FEEL SAFE. I NEED SOMEBODY TO HELP IN TERMS OF MAKING OUR NEIGHBORHOODS SAFER.SO THERE'S A BIGGER PICTURE THAT WE NEED TO LOOK AT.
BUT THESE ARE VERY IMPORTANT TOPICS.
I JUST WANT TO GIVE A PREVIEW BECAUSE WE'RE GOING TO HAVE THE CONVERSATION AT THE NEXT MEETING, BUT WE'LL FULLY VET EVERYTHING FROM BECAUSE I HAD THE SAME QUESTION YOU DID.
IF WE GOT TO PAY ADMINISTRATIVE, HOW DO WE DO? HOW DO WE DO THE OTHER.
SO WE'LL GET INTO THAT AT THE NEXT MEETING.
BUT I JUST WANT TO GIVE CONSTITUENTS WHO MAY OR MAY NOT BE PAYING ATTENTION.
THIS IS GOING TO BE A VERY IMPORTANT ITEM TO THEM.
AND I THINK THE BENEFIT OF THIS ADMINISTRATIVE FEE IS $8 MILLION.
14. IS IT 14? SO IT'S $14 MILLION IF YOU CHARGE WHAT YOU'RE WHAT YOU'RE PROPOSING.
WHAT DOES IT MEAN WHEN IT'S 70% OR 80%? AND SO WHEN SOMEBODY ENTERS AN AGREEMENT.
SO LET ME LET ME ASK THIS QUESTION MORE CLEARLY.
YOU SAID WE'RE WE WE ARE MOVING AWAY FROM NEW SUBSIDIZED CONTRACTS.
WE WILL NOT CHANGE EXISTING 70 TO 80% ONES.
SO I HEARD THAT AS YOU SAYING, 70 TO 80% ONES ARE SUBSIDIZED CONTRACTS.
SO THEY, THEY ASKED US FOR FOR DEPUTIES.
THEY WORKED WITH CONSTABLE HERMAN TO GET A CONTRACT SIGNED.
THOSE DEPUTIES SPENT OUR DEDICATED 70% OF THE TIME TO TOMBALL ISD.
ELSEWHERE IN CONSOLE PRECINCT FOUR, BUT THEY ONLY PAY.
TOMBALL ISD ONLY PAYS 70% OF THE VALUE OF THAT CONTRACT.
ALL RIGHT. SO THEY'RE PAYING FOR 70% AND THEY'RE GETTING 70%.
SO I DON'T SEE HOW THAT'S SUBSIDIZED.
OH, SO THEY'RE SUPPOSED TO WORK 30% OF THE TIME ELSEWHERE, BUT THEY DON'T.
WE DON'T KNOW BECAUSE THAT INFORMATION IS NOT SHARED WITH US.
THERE AREN'T TRACKING MECHANISMS. SINCE WE CAN'T BE SURE IT'S BETTER IF WE JUST DO THE 100% ONES.
THE 11TH ONE IS GOING TO HAVE TO COME AT 100%.
BUT HOW? LIKE THIS CONTRACT WITH TOMBALL? IT'S NOT FOR 99 YEARS.
I MEAN, HOW MANY YEARS IS IT FOR THEIR THEIR ONE YEAR RENEWAL? SO THIS ITEM COMES EVERY YEAR RIGHT WHERE WE UPDATE THE FEE.
SO WHY IS IT THAT IN A YEAR WE WOULDN'T SHIFT THE 70% WANTS TO 100% ONCE? I THINK THAT'S JUST THE BIG SHOCK TO THE SYSTEM.
NO, THEIR ONE YEAR ANNUAL RENEWALS, I THINK THAT'S THAT'S THAT'S THE POINT.
JUDGE I WAS TRYING TO THINK WHAT WHAT DOES THE LORD REQUIRE? WELL, THE OTHER THE OTHER THING, THE OTHER THING ABOUT THIS, AT SOME POINT YOU'RE GOING TO PRICE NEIGHBORHOODS OUT OF THE PROGRAM, RIGHT.
AND THE ONES YOU'RE GOING TO PRICE OUT THE FIRST ARE THE ONES THAT YOU MAYBE WANT TO MOST SERVE.
THERE COULD BE EVEN CLASSIFIED AS ALMOST UNDERSERVED.
SO THERE COULD BE A LOT OF CONTRACTS THAT ARE WE WE THINK THERE'S BEEN AT LEAST 1 OR 2 THAT YOU'VE GONE UP ON THE RATE LAST TWO YEARS.
BUT THE OTHER THING THAT WE CAN TALK ABOUT IS THOSE PCNS.
SO WHEN THE CONTRACT GOES AWAY, DOES A PCN GO AWAY? SO MOST OF THE CONSTABLES AND CERTAINLY THE SHERIFF HAVE VACANCIES.
MOST OF A PORTION OF THE CONTRACT PATROL IS IN THE ADJUSTED BUDGET, WHICH IS EXEMPTED FROM SB 23.
SO THE PERSON WOULD GO AND FILL A GENERAL FUND POSITION.
THE CONTRACT PCN, IF THE CONTRACT WERE TO CANCEL, WOULD GO AWAY.
WELL, I'LL JUST SAY I THINK THIS IS A REALLY BAD IDEA AND WE CAN GET INTO IT AT THE NEXT MEETING.
[04:50:07]
IN TERMS OF THE IMPACT ON ON NEIGHBORHOODS, THE IMPACT ON AT VERY TIME WHEN WE NEED MORE PATROLS OUT THERE, NOT LESS PATROLS OUT THERE. THE TIMING COULD NOT BE WORSE.I KNOW WE TALK ABOUT IT WHEN IT COMES UP, BUT THE OTHER SIDE OF THAT WOULD BE THE EQUITY ARGUMENT.
AND SO WHAT WE'RE DOING IS SUBSIDIZING IT FOR MY NEIGHBORHOOD THAT I LIVE IN NOW.
BUT THOSE NEIGHBORHOODS, THE POOR NEIGHBORHOODS CANNOT AFFORD IT.
I MEAN, MANY OF THEM HAVE ASKED ME AND I SAID, WELL, YOU GOT TO COME UP AND PAY YOUR PART.
AND I ALWAYS WONDERED IF A NEIGHBORHOOD IS PAYING FOR A PATROL, DO THEY PAY FOR THE RETIREMENT BENEFITS? YEAH, IT'S THE RATE IS THE SALARY.
THE BENEFIT COSTS, WHICH ARE WHAT DROVE HAS DRIVEN THE COST.
SO THEY CALCULATE THE BENEFIT.
AND SO THE NEIGHBORHOOD HAS IT FOR 25 YEARS AND THAT PERSON RETIRES.
THE RATE WAS HIGH ENOUGH TO PAY FOR THEIR RETIREMENT BENEFITS.
CORRECT. BUT IF YOU'RE PAYING FOR A NEIGHBORHOOD FOR PATROL.
THERE WON'T BE REQUIRED SHERIFF OR OTHER PATROL OF THAT NEIGHBORHOOD, WHICH WOULD FREE THEM UP TO GO SERVE IN UNDERSERVED NEIGHBORHOODS.
I THINK THE WORST CASE SCENARIO IS 1200 OFFICERS OFF THE STREET, AND THAT DOESN'T HELP ANYBODY, I THINK, BECAUSE THEN THE FEW OFFICERS, THE FEW PATROL THAT YOU DO HAVE ARE NOW GOING TO BE SPREAD AMONGST ALL THOSE CONTRACTS THAT YOU'VE JUST LOST, THAT WE'RE NO LONGER DOING SERVICE.
SO AGAIN, THERE'S A LOT OF CONCERN RELATED TO THIS PARTICULAR ITEM.
AND I THINK WE NEED TO THINK THROUGH THAT $100 MILLION OF INVESTMENT FROM PEOPLE OUTSIDE THE COUNTY GET PROVIDING SUPPORT FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT AND IN PARTICULAR THE PATROLS.
I KNOW WE'RE DISCUSSING IT WHEN IT COMES UP AT THE NEXT MEETING, BUT FROM MY VANTAGE POINT, I JUST THINK THE FUNDAMENTAL RESPONSIBILITY OF GOVERNMENT IS PUBLIC SAFETY, AND IT OUGHT TO NOT BE A LITTLE BETTER FOR A NEIGHBORHOOD LIKE THE ONES THAT WE LIVE IN, AND WE CAN AFFORD IT, BUT THEN THE GOVERNMENT DOESN'T.
JUST FROM MY PHILOSOPHICAL STANDPOINT, I THINK PART OF IT IS IF YOU'RE INVESTING IN ONE NEIGHBORHOOD, YOU CAN MAKE IT BETTER IN ANOTHER NEIGHBORHOOD, BUT THAT THAT WILL END UP BEING THE DEBATE. OKAY, SO NO ACTION ON THAT ONE.
SO DID YOU NEED ITEM 61, COMMISSIONER RAMSEY? JUST A QUICK COMMENT ON IT.
WERE. THE INITIAL INVESTMENT HERE IS 300,000.
BUT IS THERE A $30 MILLION COMMITMENT FOR THIS PROJECT? COMMISSIONER I CAN ANSWER THAT ONE.
NO THERE ISN'T. THE 300,000 IS FOR DESIGN PHASE.
OKAY. THERE'S NO THERE'S NO MAKING.
WE'RE NOT THIS IS NOT A COMMITMENT FOR 3,100%.
NO, THIS IS JUST THE 300,000 TO BE ABLE TO DO THE DESIGN WORK.
MOTION BY COMMISSIONER RAMSEY.
SECOND BY COMMISSIONER GARCIA.
ANY OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY.
I WAS JUST TRYING TO SEE IF WE COULD FINISH FASTER.
YOU CAUGHT ME. OKAY, IT'S 534.
COMMISSIONER DUCHESS, DID YOU REPEAT IT AGAIN? I'M SORRY THAT APPARENTLY THEY WEREN'T.
IT'S 541 AND COMMISSIONERS COURT IS BACK IN SESSION.
AND WE'LL START WITH THE ITEMS THAT WERE FLAGGED BY PRECINCT 1 OR 2.
AND ITEM 96 WAS FLAGGED BY PRECINCT ONE.
YEAH. DOCTOR PETERSON, ARE YOU THERE? DR. PETERSON. YES.
GOOD. GOOD EVENING. GOOD EVENING.
COMMISSIONER, I KNOW YOU'VE GOT A LOT GOING ON.
I NOTICED THAT THESE PROJECTS ARE FUNDED THROUGH ZERO FOUR AND ZERO FIVE FUNDS.
SO I GOT A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS.
ONE IS DOES THE PRIORITIZATION FRAMEWORK APPLY TO THESE PROJECTS? SO IN SOME CASES, YES.
[04:55:03]
IN SOME CASES NO.UM, IN TERMS OF THE WAY THAT WE THINK ABOUT THIS WORK.
SO FOR EXAMPLE, THE CYPRESS PARK BASIN, IT WAS ORIGINALLY A BOND PROGRAM PROJECT.
THE GOFORTH PARK WAS A PROJECT THAT WAS CREATED MUCH, MUCH EARLIER THAN THE BOND PROGRAM.
SO IT DOES NOT HAVE A PRIORITIZATION FRAMEWORK SCORE.
THESE PROJECTS ARE SOMEWHAT UNIQUE, AND THAT THESE ARE INNOVATIVE PROJECTS THAT WE ARE LOOKING AT EXPLORING AND INVESTIGATING. SO TO THE EXTENT THAT WE CAN, I DO THINK THAT THE PRIORITIZATION FRAMEWORK SCORE IS AN IMPORTANT PIECE OF DATA, BUT THERE MAY BE INNOVATIVE OPPORTUNITIES THAT WE WANT TO EXPLORE OUTSIDE OF SOMETHING THAT IS SPECIFICALLY COVERED BY THE PRIORITIZATION FRAMEWORK SCORE.
AND I THINK THESE PROJECTS TEND IN THAT DIRECTION SINCE WE AREN'T ACTUALLY CONSTRUCTING A BASIN, WE'RE ACTUALLY EXPLORING THE USE OF THESE BASINS IN A DIFFERENT WAY, AND WE REALLY DON'T HAVE ALL THE INFORMATION TO NECESSARILY QUANTIFY THE BENEFITS, WHICH IS PART OF THE REASON THAT WE WANT TO DO THIS PROJECT AND HOW MUCH HAS BEEN SPENT ON THESE PROJECTS SO FAR.
UH, THERE HAS BEEN NO FLOOD CONTROL DOLLARS SPENT ON THESE PROJECTS THUS FAR.
THOSE DOLLARS HAVEN'T BEEN SPENT.
HISTORICALLY, THESE PROJECTS WERE STORMWATER DETENTION BASINS CREATED BY THE FLOOD CONTROL DISTRICT.
BUT I DON'T HAVE THOSE NUMBERS OFF THE TOP OF MY HEAD.
AND HOW ARE DECISIONS MADE ABOUT WHICH PROJECTS TO WORK ON FIRST, AND HOW MUCH IS IN THOSE FUNDS, AND HOW IS IT DISTRIBUTED THROUGHOUT THE COUNTY? YES.
SO THESE PROJECTS WERE SELECTED REALLY BECAUSE COMMISSIONER RAMSEY HAD IDENTIFIED THIS AS A PRIORITY, WHERE HE WANTED TO FOCUS ON INNOVATION.
SO THAT IS HOW THESE PROJECTS WERE SELECTED.
PRECINCT THREE TOOK THE LEAD ON IDENTIFYING THESE LOCATIONS, WORKING WITH ENGINEERING TO DEVELOP THE PLANS AND IN TERMS OF THE FUNDING.
SO WE HAVE ZERO $4, WHICH WERE A SET OF FUNDING IN THE BOND PROGRAM THAT HAD $100 MILLION.
AND THE WAY THAT THAT FUNDING WAS ENVISIONED TO WORK WITH IT WOULD BE SPLIT BETWEEN EACH PRECINCT, 25 MILLION EACH, THE ZEO FIVE, WHICH IS THE INNOVATION FUNDING THAT IS A $25 MILLION FUND.
TO DATE, ABOUT 5 MILLION HAS BEEN SPENT ON A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT STUDIES.
AND THEN WHAT I HAVE BEEN PROPOSING AND TALKING WITH A LOT OF YOUR OFFICES ABOUT IS WORKING WITH EACH OF YOU TO IDENTIFY WHAT ARE SOME PRIORITIES THAT EXIST SO THAT WE CAN LOOK AT INNOVATION ACROSS HARRIS COUNTY.
SO MY SUGGESTION, COLLEAGUES, WOULD BE THAT I DON'T HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THESE PROJECTS, BUT IF WE HAVE A PRIORITIZATION FRAMEWORK AND SOMETHING WAS IN ANOTHER QUARTILE, AND THEN SOMEHOW WE COME UP WITH FUNDING SOMEWHERE ELSE TO GO AND DO IT.
WHAT I DON'T WANT TO DO IS GO BACK TO WHAT I THINK, PUT US IN A POSITION WHERE THAT WAS A CASE TO BE MADE FOR SOME PRIORITIZATION FRAMEWORK, WHERE CERTAIN PRECINCTS WERE LEFT, EITHER INTENTIONALLY OR ACCIDENTALLY OR WHATEVER, ON THE SIDELINES.
BUT I JUST DON'T WANT TO BE IN A POSITION WHERE I KNOW WE WE MADE A DECISION TO MOVE FORWARD WITH A WHOLE HOST OF PROJECTS, AND I DON'T THINK ANY REASONABLE PERSON EVER THOUGHT THAT THE MONEY WAS THERE TO FUND ALL OF THEM.
AND NOW SOME PEOPLE ARE GOING TO BE LEFT OUT AND THEY'RE GOING TO BE ANGRY.
SO AT LEAST I WOULD WANT TO SAY THE JUSTIFICATION WAS WE HAD A PRIORITIZATION FRAMEWORK.
AND AT LEAST FOR ME, I WOULD SAY I'D GO BACK TO THE VOTERS AND ASK FOR THE ADDITIONAL MONEY, BUT I JUST I DIDN'T WANT TO WHEN I NOTICED THESE, THESE TWO, AND I WAS WONDERING WHERE THE FUNDING WAS COMING FROM, BECAUSE I KNEW THEY WERE NOT IN THE QUARTILE IN WHICH WE WERE.
WE DON'T HAVE FUNDING FOR ALREADY ON THE BOND PROJECTS.
OKAY. SO DO YOU NEED SOME GUIDANCE ON HOW TO SPLIT? I'D HATE FOR THIS.
I HEARD YOU SAY ONE FUN SEO FOUR IS 100 MILLION IS 25.
AND THEN YOU SAY HOW THAT'S GOING TO BE DONE.
[05:00:01]
YES. SO YOU KNOW WHERE WHERE WE ARE AT.I'M JUST RAISING THE ISSUE BECAUSE I ASSUME THESE ARE THE ONLY PROJECTS.
I THINK WHEN I LOOKED AT THE LIST, MY LITTLE CURSORY REVIEW WAS AT PRECINCT ONE.
CAN YOU BRING IT BACK NEXT TIME, DR.
PETERSON? WITH THE WITH THE PROPOSAL.
SO WE CAN REALLY LOOK AT THE NUMBERS AND UNDERSTAND WHERE THE MONEY CAME FROM AND EVERYTHING.
YEAH, ABSOLUTELY. WE CAN APPROVE THESE.
AND THEN YOU CAN BRING THE THE PLAN FOR THE THEME.
YEAH. THIS THESE ARE NOT, NOT NOT A LOT OF MONEY.
YEAH. AND IT IS INNOVATIVE IN THE SENSE THAT WE'RE NOT DIGGING ANOTHER HOLE.
WE'RE PUTTING PUMPS, WE'RE PUTTING A PUMP IN ONE OF THEM.
ON THE OTHER ONE, WE'RE PUTTING A GATE IN.
SO THESE ARE NOT TERRIBLY EXPENSIVE, BUT THEY HAVE TREMENDOUS BENEFIT.
WELL, NO, A GOOD PRICE. I THINK THEY WOULD BE A GREAT EXAMPLE OF WHAT ELSE WE MIGHT WANT TO.
I KNOW THE GOOD PROJECTS, AND THE ONLY REASON I CAUGHT IT WAS THAT WAS THE AREA I TOOK IN AND REDISTRICTING WHERE, YOU KNOW, I WAS WILLING TO SPLIT THE COST, HOPING TO NOT HAVE TO PAY FOR SIDEWALKS AS AN EXAMPLE.
AND I DON'T KNOW IF I GOT THIS FROM YOU, BUT IT WAS THE.
DETENTION BASIN OUT AT THE END OF WHITE OAK BAYOU.
I WAS TALKING ABOUT TWO YEARS AGO.
IF IT WAS IN MY PRECINCT, I'D PUT TRAILS OUT THERE.
AND THEN ONCE I GOT IT IN MY PRECINCT, I WENT OUT THERE AND THE TRAILS WERE THERE AND I WAS WONDERING, I ASKED RUSS, POPPY, WHERE DID THIS COME FROM? BECAUSE THE PRECINCT DID NOT PAY FOR IT.
SO I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE BEING EQUITABLE, BECAUSE I KNOW WHEN SOME OF THESE PROJECTS ARE NOT GOING TO BE FUNDED, THAT THEY IN QUARTILE ONE PEOPLE ARE GOING TO ASK WHY. THE COMMISSIONER.
OR IS IT MAINLY THE Z05 THAT IS PRIMARILY ZERO FIVE? THAT IS THE INNOVATION.
THAT IS CORRECT. 0505 CORRECT.
AND OUT OF THESE PROJECTS, WHICH OF THE IS IT ZERO FIVE THAT'S PAYING THE MAJORITY OF THESE PROJECTS? THAT IS CORRECT.
SO I LIKE THE NAME INNOVATION.
WHAT MAKES THESE PROJECTS INNOVATIVE.
SO, AS COMMISSIONER RAMSAY SHARED, THESE PROJECTS ARE REALLY LOOKING AT TAKING AN EXISTING STORMWATER DETENTION BASIN AND MAKING SOME CHANGES THAT COULD ALLOW THEM TO ACTUALLY PROVIDE ADDITIONAL STORAGE IN THE LONG TERM.
IT REQUIRES ACTIVE MANAGEMENT, IT REQUIRES OPERATIONS, WHICH ARE TWO THINGS THAT THE FLOOD CONTROL DISTRICT REALLY HAS HISTORICALLY NOT TAKEN ON BECAUSE THEY ARE EXPENSIVE AND IT IS AN ACTIVE MANAGEMENT, AND THERE IS SOME LIABILITY AND RISK THAT WE REALLY NEED TO THINK THROUGH.
AND SO WORKING ON THESE TWO PROJECTS, WE'RE GOING TO BE ABLE TO GATHER DATA, GATHER GATHER INFORMATION ABOUT WHAT YOU KNOW, HOW MUCH MAINTENANCE, HOW MUCH EFFORT IS THE OPERATIONS THERE.
THERE ARE COMPANIES ALL OVER THIS COUNTRY THAT ARE SELLING ALL SORTS OF SENSORS THAT WILL ALLOW YOU TO DO ALL SORTS OF DIFFERENT THINGS WITH YOUR, YOU KNOW, YOUR RAIN BARRELS AND YOUR STORMWATER DETENTION.
SO THIS IS REALLY THE FIRST STEP IN EXPLORING THIS.
AND AGAIN, I WOULD SAY THAT WE AREN'T RECOMMENDING THIS, BUT WE HAVE TO UNDERSTAND IT.
WE HAVE TO UNDERSTAND THE VALUE THAT THIS COULD PROVIDE AND THEN MAKE REALLY INFORMED DECISIONS ABOUT IT AS TO WHETHER OR NOT THIS IS SOMETHING THAT WE WHERE WE WANT TO TAKE THE FLOOD CONTROL DISTRICT, BUT WE CAN'T MAKE THOSE DECISIONS WITHOUT GATHERING SOME OF THIS DATA.
AND SO THAT'S WHY IT'S IT'S REALLY IN MY PERSPECTIVE FOR 40 YEARS.
WE POUR WATER, POTABLE WATER, WE PUMP WASTEWATER.
BUT FOR SOME REASON WE WON'T PUMP STORMWATER.
BUT YOU GO TO TEXAS CITY, YOU GO TO SUGARLAND, YOU GO TO A LOT OF OTHER PLACES.
AND TO ME, FOR A LITTLE BIT OF MONEY, WE'RE GOING TO INCREASE THE CAPACITY OF A DETENTION BASIN.
WELL, MY MY POINT ON THIS IS THAT I KNOW THAT I'VE BEEN ASKING MY STAFF ABOUT PUMP STATIONS AND THEY THEIR THEIR INSTINCT IS GO, NO, BECAUSE YOU'VE GOT TO MAINTAIN THEM AND YOU GOT TO DO ALL THE WORK THAT DR.
[05:05:01]
PETERSON'S TOUCHED ON.BUT I KEEP HEARING OTHER PLACES USING THEM.
AND SO, LOOK, I'M NOT GOING TO FAULT YOU FOR DOING THE WORK ON THIS.
AND HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN WORKING ON THIS PARTICULAR PROJECT? THIS ONE FOR TWO YEARS.
SO I'M NOT GOING TO FAULT YOU ON IT.
I JUST BUT A LITTLE BIT TO COMMISSIONER ELLIS'S POINT, I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE LEARN FROM IT AND AND THEN FIGURE OUT, YOU KNOW, HOW WE HOW WE GO FROM THERE.
BUT IF WE DIDN'T PUT THE CONSTRAINTS ON THESE FUNDS AT THE TIME THAT WE HAVE, THAT WE PLACE THEM THERE, I DON'T THINK THAT'S NECESSARILY YOUR FAULT.
I THINK WE PROBABLY SHOULD HAVE THOUGHT OF THIS AS A AS A GROUP SIDE.
YOU KNOW, I'M, I'M ALL OBVIOUSLY I'M ALL FOR INNOVATION AND I DON'T WANT TO.
YOU KNOW, I JUST DON'T WANT TO STOP WORK THAT'S BEEN GOING ON.
AND WE ALL ASSUME THAT THERE'S OPPORTUNITY TO DO SO.
I'M SO SUPPORTIVE, PLAYS A SECOND EMOTION.
THAT'S WHAT I'M HOPING THAT DOCTOR PETERSON CAN BRING BACK.
THAT WOULD BE GREAT. WHICH IS WHY THERE'S A BALANCE MIGHT LEARN NOT TO DO IT WELL OKAY.
VALUABLE LEARNING. THAT'S RIGHT.
ALL IN FAVOR. ANY OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY.
AND THEN, DOCTOR PETERSON, WILL YOU BRING BACK THE IDEAS ON THE ZERO FOUR, ZERO FIVE OR BOTH SO THAT, YOU KNOW, WE DON'T HAVE TO BE GUESSING AT IT? OKAY. THANK YOU. AND I'LL SHOW THAT I WILL BRING BACK THE OH FIVE.
OKAY. 112 FLAGGED BY COMMISSIONER RAMSEY.
THAT'S THE HOLISTIC ASSISTANCE RESPONSE TEAM.
JUST ONE. ABOUT NO ONE AT TIME.
THERE'S ALSO ITEM 115 IS THE SAME THING.
BOTH OKAY. MOTION BY COMMISSIONER ELLIS ON 112 AND 115.
SECOND BY COMMISSIONER BRIONES.
THIS IS THE IMMIGRANT LEGAL FUND.
MOST OF THIS FUNDING PROVIDES SERVICES FOR VICTIMS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AND HUMAN TRAFFICKING.
EVERY INDIVIDUAL, REGARDLESS OF THEIR IMMIGRATION STATUS, DESERVES ACCESS TO JUSTICE.
IMMIGRANTS OFTEN CONTRIBUTE SIGNIFICANTLY TO THE ECONOMY BY PROVIDING LEGAL SERVICES.
WE ENABLE IMMIGRANTS TO WORK LEGALLY, PAY TAXES, AND FULLY PARTICIPATE IN THE ECONOMY AS WELL IN THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM, CONTRIBUTING TO THE OVERALL GROWTH AND PROSPERITY OF THE COMMUNITY. ENCOURAGING IMMIGRANTS TO ACCESS LEGAL SERVICES ALSO ENHANCES PUBLIC SAFETY.
WHEN PEOPLE FEEL SECURE IN THEIR STATUS, THEY ARE MORE LIKELY TO COOPERATE WITH LAW ENFORCEMENT, REPORT CRIMES, AND ENGAGE WITH THE LEGAL SYSTEM CONTRIBUTING TO SAFER COMMUNITIES FOR EVERYONE.
I ALSO WANT TO JUST SAY THAT THE WORK THAT WE'VE BEEN DOING ON THIS AREA, ESPECIALLY AROUND VISAS, IS, IS GETTING SOME ATTENTION.
BUT I JUST, YOU KNOW, AGAIN, WANT TO THANK TORI FOR HER GOOD WORK.
WE WOULDN'T BE ABLE TO GET THIS ATTENTION IF NOT FOR THIS.
BUT HERE'S SOME FASCINATING STUFF.
COLLEAGUES, HERE'S A SURVIVOR SERVICES SUCCESS STORY.
THIS IS COMING FROM THE JUSTICE CENTER.
[05:10:07]
PARTNER VIOLENCE.TARA'S INTERDISCIPLINARY TEAM SPRANG INTO ACTION TO PROVIDE HER AND HER FAMILY MUCH NEEDED GUIDANCE REGARDING THEIR OPTIONS FOR IMMIGRATION RELIEF AND, ON A BROADER LEVEL, OVERALL STABILIZATION FOR THEIR LIVES.
TARA WAS HAS CHANGED THE FAMILY'S IMMIGRATION COURT VENUE TO HOUSTON AND HELPED THEM APPLY FOR AND OBTAIN WORK AUTHORIZATION BASED ON HER PENDING ASYLUM APPLICATION.
THIS HAS ENABLED MARY TO FIND A STEADY JOB, RENT AN APARTMENT, PROVIDE FOR HER CHILDREN, AND TARA HAS ALSO SUPPORTED MARY'S WORK WITH LAW ENFORCEMENT AS A SURVIVOR OF A CRIME.
AS A RESULT OF THAT CRIME, MARY'S COOPERATION WITH THE INVESTIGATION.
TARA SUBMITTED A U-VISA APPLICATION FOR MARY AND HER CHILDREN.
THIS IS WHY I'M SO PROUD OF THIS PARTICULAR WORK.
UM, THIS, UH, THIS VICTIM IS GOING TO HELP LAW ENFORCEMENT TAKE A VIOLENT OFFENDER OFF THE STREETS.
UM, AND AND IT JUST DEMONSTRATES.
AND IT'S IT'S IT'S WHAT IS GETTING THE ATTENTION OF OTHERS WHERE THEY SEE ALL THE DOTS BEING CONNECTED ARE OUR DASHBOARD THAT WE RECENTLY ANNOUNCED IS IS A PART OF THAT CONVERSATION.
AND SO I'M VERY, VERY PROUD AND EXCITED TO MOVE ON THIS ITEM AS PRESENTED.
SECOND MOTION BY COMMISSIONER GARCIA.
ALL IN FAVOR? ANY OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY.
LET'S MOVE ON TO 261 FLAGGED BY COMMISSIONER BRIONES.
YES. THIS ONE I'M JUST SO EXCITED ABOUT.
AND SO I THANK THE CITY OF HOUSTON.
PRECINCT FOUR WILL BE TAKING OVER THE OPERATIONS AND MAINTENANCE.
WE'RE GOING TO REVITALIZE AND RENOVATE THE FACILITY, JUST AUGMENT PROGRAMING.
AND I THANK MAYOR TURNER AND COUNCIL MEMBER AMY PECK FOR THEIR PARTNERSHIP.
AND THEN MIREYA AYALA AND STEVE WRIGHT ON MY TEAM TO MAKE THIS HAPPEN.
AND I'M PARTICULARLY ENERGIZED FOR SEVERAL REASONS.
WE'RE LEVERAGING TAXPAYER DOLLARS.
AND IT'LL BE GREAT BECAUSE COUNCIL MEMBER PECK WILL KEEP HAVING AN OFFICE THERE IN PRECINCT FOUR.
WE'LL HAVE A PRESENCE SO WE CAN MORE QUICKLY ADDRESS CONSTITUENTS NEEDS.
SECOND, I'M EXCITED BECAUSE THERE'S A SENIOR HOUSING COMPLEX RIGHT THERE AND VARIOUS OTHER APARTMENT COMPLEX THAT'S IN THE VERY TRANSITIONING PART OF EAST SPRING BRANCH THAT'S VERY UNDERSERVED.
[Emergency/Supplemental items (Part 2 of 2)]
AND JUST TO MAKE IT AN ALL ABILITIES PARK, ESPECIALLY FOR OUR SENIORS TO BE ABLE TO USE WILL.SECOND MOTION BY COMMISSIONER BRIONES, SECOND BY COMMISSIONER GARCIA.
ANY OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY.
A WONDERFUL 294 COMMISSIONER RAMSEY.
THAT IS THE BILINGUAL PAY POLICY.
DO WE HAVE? I THINK THE COST ON THIS CURRENTLY.
ADMINISTRATOR WAS AT 3.1 MILLION.
THAT'S CORRECT. DO WE HAVE AN IDEA OF WHAT WHAT IS GOING TO COST TO FULLY IMPLEMENT? SO WE HAVE TO MAKE SOME ASSUMPTIONS ON THAT ONE, I THINK, SHANE, IF YOU WANT TO JUMP IN HERE, SAID, YOU KNOW, THE UPPER BOUND IS PROBABLY DOUBLE THAT SINCE WE ALREADY HAVE THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT ENGINEERING, I BELIEVE THE COURT.
SO SOME OF OUR BIG PUBLIC FACING ENTITIES.
MY RECOMMENDATION FOR THIS IS TO HAVE THE PROGRAM IN PLACE, LOOK AT THE POLICY AND THEN FOR COMMISSIONERS COURT TO PRIORITIZE WHICH DEPARTMENTS THEY EXPAND TO, FOR EXAMPLE, THE JUSTICE OF THE PEACE.
THERE'S MONEY IN THERE ALREADY TO START THE PROGRAM.
THERE'S THERE'S DEDICATED FUNDING THAT WE CAN DOLE OUT TO THOSE DEPARTMENTS.
SO ARE YOU GOING TO BRING THAT BACK? CORRECT? I DON'T THINK WE'RE IN A FISCAL POSITION TO JUST OPEN UP THE DOORS ON THIS.
OKAY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU SO MUCH.
[05:15:02]
MOVE ON TO THE SECOND MOTION.IT'S A TRANSMITTAL. OH, TRANSMITTAL.
OKAY, WE'LL SHOW IT. ACCEPTED.
THANK YOU. WE ACCEPT 298 COMMISSIONER RAMSEY AND GARCIA.
THIS LOOKS LIKE A LIKE A GOOD PROGRAM.
IT IT APPEARS TO ME A WAY TO GET DERELICT PROPERTY BACK ON THE TAX ROLLS.
UH, IN THE LAND BANK, UH, WE CALL IT THE HOUSTON LAND BANK.
IS THIS IN COOPERATION WITH THE CITY OF HOUSTON? IT IS.
THAT ENTITY IS A STATE NONPROFIT AND IS AFFILIATED WITH THE CITY.
AND OUR OBJECTIVE WITH THIS AGREEMENT IS TO EXPAND THE REACH INTO HARRIS COUNTY AND ALLOW US TO AND THE ENTITY TO WORK WITH US TO TAP INTO LAND THAT IS IN THE COUNTY.
SO DO YOU FEEL LIKE WE HAVE ENOUGH INPUT IN IT TO HOW TO AS WE PARTNER WITH THE CITY OF HOUSTON AND THE LAND BANK, OBVIOUSLY NOW WE'RE CONTRIBUTING TO THE TO THE PROGRAM, BUT WE'RE A FULL PARTNER ON THAT.
RIGHT? SO THAT WILL BE PART OF THE AGREEMENT TERMS THAT WE HAVE NOT YET FULLY FLESHED OUT.
BUT THE EXPECTATION IS THAT WE WILL HAVE MORE PARTICIPATION FROM THE COUNTY.
YES, ON THE BOARD AND OTHER WAYS.
OKAY. THANK YOU. GEORGE, I JUST WANT TO ADD THAT GIVEN THE PERPETUAL NEEDS AND SIGNIFICANT DISPARITIES FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING, ENVIRONMENTAL CONCERNS, AND ACCESS TO AFFORDABLE AND HEALTHY FOOD THROUGHOUT ALL OF PRECINCT TWO, AS WELL AS HARRIS COUNTY, IT'S GOOD TO SEE AN ITEM LIKE THIS COME FORWARD, MS..
COSTAS, AND WANT TO THANK YOU AND YOUR TEAM, BECAUSE GIVEN ALL THE GOOD WORK THAT THE HOUSTON LAND BANK HAS DONE, AND I'M PROUD THAT I TOOK A VOTE ON HOUSTON CITY COUNCIL TO CREATE IT.
AND AND IT CONTINUES TO DO INSIDE THE CITY LIMITS OF HOUSTON SOME INCREDIBLE WORK.
SO BUT A POINT TO MAKE HERE IS THAT, ACCORDING TO THEIR WEBSITE, THE HOUSTON LAND BANK HAS REINVESTED AN ESTIMATED A TOTAL OF 89 MILLION IN ASSESSED PROPERTY VALUE THROUGH FORMER DEVELOPMENTS PUT BACK INTO THE MARKET THAT HAVE BEEN PUT BACK INTO THE MARKET.
ACQUIRED OVER 850 UNDERDEVELOPED, VACANT AND OR BLIGHTED PROPERTIES IN NINE OF HOUSTON'S HIGHEST NEEDS NEIGHBORHOODS, INCLUDING THE NEAR NORTH SIDE AND DENVER HARBOR NEIGHBORHOODS LOCATED IN PRECINCT TWO.
AND WHILE AFFORDABLE HOUSING IS A CORE MISSION, THE HOUSTON LAND BANK ALSO UNDERSTANDS HOW ENVIRONMENTAL CONCERNS AND DISPARITIES IN ACCESS TO HEALTHY AND AFFORDABLE FOOD OPTIONS ARE ALSO TIED TO THE SUCCESS OF THESE NEIGHBORHOODS.
A POTENTIAL PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN THE HOUSTON LAND BANK AND HARRIS COUNTY COULD BE A MAJOR GAME CHANGER IN ADDRESSING MANY OF OUR COUNTY'S BIGGEST NEEDS, ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU CONSIDER HOW, UNDER CURRENT STATUTE, TEXAS COUNTIES ARE NOT ALLOWED TO HAVE THEIR OWN LAND BANKS, WHETHER IT'S REMEDIATING BROWNFIELDS AT THE FORMER TAXI CAB OR INCINERATOR SITES, AND WORKING WITH CSD OR POLLUTION CONTROL TO CREATE NEW AFFORDABLE HOUSING OR PUBLIC PARKS AND GREEN SPACE.
PARTNERING WITH HARRIS COUNTY FLOOD CONTROL DISTRICT AND THE OCA TO FIND INNOVATIVE WAYS TO BUILD AND INSTALL SOLAR PANELS AND LAND FORMERLY OCCUPIED BY HOMES IN THE MANDATORY BUYOUT AREAS, TO PROVIDE SOLAR POWER TO LOCAL COMMUNITIES, AND COORDINATING WITH PUBLIC HEALTH, TO FINDING WAYS TO CONVERT FOOD DESERTS TO BECOME COMMUNITY GARDENS THAT PRODUCE NUTRITIOUS AND DELICIOUS FOOD.
SO IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING THAT THIS AGREEMENT HAS BEEN LONG IN THE WORKS FROM A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT FOLKS IN THE COUNTY AND AT THE HOUSTON LAND BANK, AND AS THE COMMISSIONER OF PRECINCT TWO, WITH AND HAVING AMONGST THE GREATEST DISPARITIES IN THE COUNTY, I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO THE POTENTIAL THAT THIS AGREEMENT AND PARTNERSHIP COULD BRING TO OUR BEAUTIFUL COMMUNITIES IN PRECINCT TWO AND THROUGHOUT HARRIS COUNTY.
SO FINALLY, I'D LIKE TO ALSO RECOGNIZE THE HOUSTON LAND BANK CEO AND PRESIDENT KRISTA STONEHAM, AND THE HOUSTON LAND BANK BOARD CHAIR MATT ZEISS, AS WELL AS CSD DIRECTOR TAO COSTAS.
AND LAST BUT NOT LEAST, AND FOR THEIR LEADERSHIP ON THIS ITEM.
[05:20:05]
I MOVE ON THE ITEM AS PRESENTED.SECOND MOTION BY COMMISSIONER GARCIA, SECOND BY COMMISSIONER ELLIS.
ARE YOU GOING TO VOTE NO AGAIN? OKAY. 303 COMMISSIONER ELLIS.
YES, YES, THIS IS A THIS IS A NEW INSURANCE AGREEMENT, AND IT'S FOR $428 MILLION.
AND I SENT THIS REQUEST AROUND.
I DON'T KNOW IF I'LL MAKE IT A MOTION OR NOT, OR JUST A REQUEST AROUND.
UH. I MENTIONED WHEN THE ISSUE CAME UP A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO.
I'VE GOT A GREAT DOCTOR, AND HE HAD ME TAKE ONE OF HIS HIGH END TESTS TO SCAN MY BODY, AND THE RESULTS CAME BACK AND SAID THEY SAW A LITTLE SPOT SOMEWHERE.
AND SO HE SAID, YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU'RE OVER 60, STUFF HAPPENS.
YOU DON'T JUST START CUTTING EVERY TIME THERE'S A SPOT.
AND THE NEXT YEAR I WENT IN AND I WANTED TO TAKE THE SAME.
UH, EXAM AND IT WAS DENIED FIVE TIMES.
AND I'M FORTUNATE TO HAVE SOMEONE THAT DOES THE APPEALS FOR ME.
BUT NOW, HOW MANY PEOPLE HOW MANY COUNTY EMPLOYEES WOULD GO IN APPEAL FIVE TIMES AND JUST GO TAKE A TEST? I'D HATE TO FIND OUT.
BUT IN THE NUMEROUS COUNTY EMPLOYEES WHO RUN INTO THAT PREDICAMENT WITH 18,000 PEOPLE HERE.
AND I SPOKE TO THE CEO OF A COMPETING INSURANCE CARRIER THAT ASKED WAS OUT OF MY MIND TO ASK FOR THIS, BUT AND I'LL ASK HR OR HUMAN RESOURCES IF I WERE TO MAKE IT AS A MOTION, BECAUSE IF THEY DON'T AGREE TO DO IT, I'M GOING TO VOTE NO ON ITEM AND I'M GOING TO RAISE HELL EVERY TIME I THINK ABOUT IT. THERE'LL BE SOME MORE. EVERY AGENDA, COMMISSIONER, IT'S A LITTLE BROAD.
I DON'T THINK THE ITEM ALLOWS YOU TO MAKE A MAKE A MOTION, BUT IF YOU CAN JUST DIRECT.
WELL, HERE'S MY REQUEST TO DO.
I WANT TO KNOW IF THEY'RE GOING TO DO IT OR NOT.
I WOULD LIKE TO REQUEST HR HUMAN RESOURCES TO CREATE A MEDICAL CLAIMS MONITORING DASHBOARD, WITH CLAIMS AGGREGATED BY TYPE AND CLAIMS DATING FROM JANUARY 2023.
THE DASHBOARD SHOULD INCLUDE, BUT NOT BE LIMITED TO, TOTAL CLAIMS PAID, TOTAL CLAIMS DENIED, PRIOR AUTHORIZATIONS, AND PRE CERTIFICATIONS. THE DASHBOARD SHOULD ALSO INCLUDE THE TOP CLAIMS DENIAL REASONS IN ANY OTHER MEANINGFUL CLAIMS AND SERVICES. MONITORING ANALYTICS AS NECESSARY.
THE TOTAL CLAIMS BY TYPE SHOULD BE PRESENTED QUARTERLY.
AND I WILL REACH OUT TO, YOU KNOW, CIGNA AS WELL.
THEY'RE GOING OFF THE CONTRACT YOU KNOW, NEXT MONTH.
SO I WILL REACH OUT TO THEM TO OBTAIN THAT THAT INFORMATION AS WELL.
SO AETNA SAID YES BUT CIGNA HASN'T GIVEN AN ANSWER.
I HAVE NOT HAD NOT HAD A CHANCE TO REACH OUT TO THEM YET.
BUT I WILL REACH OUT, REACH OUT TO THEM.
I KNOW THEY DO HAVE REPORTS ON THE SITUATION YOU WERE JUST TALKING ABOUT.
I JUST NEED TO AND I'M TRYING TO HAVE THEM DO IT FOR YOU.
I DON'T WANT YOU TO HAVE TO DO ALL THAT PAPERWORK.
THEY KNOW. I'M SURE THEY HAVE A RECORD OF ALL THE CLAIMS THAT THEY DENY.
THANK YOU. I DO HAVE LIGHTING ON THE LINE.
HOW DO YOU TELL ME THEY TOLD YOU TO BE FINE? JUST WHEN I GET DENIED BEFORE I CALL THEM, I'LL CALL YOU.
YES, SIR. COMMISSIONER GARCIA.
YEAH. SHANE, BEFORE YOU DROP OFF, I DID HAVE A QUESTION WHICH DETERMINES MY VOTE ON THIS THING.
UM, I THINK I RECALL THAT ONE OF THE OTHER COMPETITORS FOR THIS ITEM HAD A BETTER MWB, UH, PROGRAM THAN THIS 10%.
IS THAT. AM I REMEMBERING THAT CORRECTLY? YES, SIR. THERE WAS ANOTHER VENDOR THAT HAD A AND KIND OF GOT TO LOOK AT THE DOLLAR AMOUNTS INSTEAD OF THE PERCENTAGES BECAUSE IT'S BASED OFF OF THE ADMIN FEE.
[05:25:01]
BUT WE WENT BACK TO AETNA AND THEY PRETTY MUCH MATCHED WHAT THE OTHER VENDOR YOU KNOW HAD IT WAS THEY HAD 10% IS WHAT WE REPORTED BACK WHEN WE DISCUSSED THIS.YEAH I THINK THAT WAS DWIGHT CAN CHIME IN, BUT I THINK THAT WAS THE GOAL.
BUT THE ACTUAL AMOUNT IS 12% OF THE ADMINISTRATION FEE.
DWIGHT. IS THAT CHANGE THAT COMMISSIONER TO UPDATE THE 12%? WHEN WE ORIGINALLY PRESENTED THIS TO COURT, IT WAS THAT 10% WAS IN THE CONTRACT FOR THE OFFICE.
YEAH. SO I JUST WANT TO SUGGEST IF THEY COMMITTED TO IT JUST TO AVOID ANY POSSIBLE LITIGATION, IF THEY JUST SEND IT AS A SEPARATE ITEM, I'D BE JUST RELUCTANT TO I WANT TO KNOW IF THAT CAN BE DONE.
OTHERWISE I'M A NO VOTE ON THIS THING.
I JUST DON'T THINK IT'S. YEAH.
THANK YOU. JUDGE. REALLY QUICKLY.
JUST WHAT IS THE CORRECT NUMBER ON THE MWB? IT'S SUPPOSED TO BE 12% OR 12.4.
SO OUR GOAL WAS TEN, BUT THEY COMMITTED 12.
I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY VOLUNTARILY THEY COMMITTED TO GO TO 12.
I DON'T WANT TO GET SUED. CORRECT.
I THINK THEY'VE CAME BACK NOW AND SAID ORIGINALLY IT WAS 10%, BUT NOW THEY'VE AGREED TO GO TO 12%.
1.2 MILLION. AND PLEASE, COUNTY ATTORNEY, LET ME KNOW IF IF THIS GOES INTO TOO MUCH DETAIL.
BECAUSE IT COULD BE COMPETITIVE IN YEAR ONE, BUT EACH YEAR WE PAY MORE.
I'M I'M CONCERNED ABOUT ESCALATING COSTS.
AND IF WE NEGOTIATED MAX DELTAS FOR RENEWAL OPTION YEARS I DON'T KNOW IF I CAN ASK COMMISSIONER BROWN IS WE YOU KNOW WE ARE SELF-INSURED. SO WE WE WE ESSENTIALLY REIMBURSE OUR CLAIMS THAT THEY PAY.
SO IT'S ALREADY BEEN NEGOTIATED FOR EACH POTENTIAL RENEWAL YEAR OPTION.
WHAT THOSE ADMINISTRATIVE FEES ARE.
DIRECTOR RAMOS HAS THAT ANSWER.
SO THE AETNA, CIGNA, NOMADIC, BLUE CROSS, WHOEVER IS HERE, THEY'RE JUST A PASS THROUGH.
THEY'RE DOING THE ADMINISTRATIVE PAPERWORK TO PROCESS CLAIMS. ET CETERA. WHEN WE ACTUALLY PAY A DOCTOR IT COMES OUT OF OUR CASH.
SO WHILE YOU'RE DEALING WITH AN INSURANCE CARRIER EARLIER THIS YEAR, AND WE AGREED THAT WE WOULD MAKE NO CHANGES TO OUR PLANS, WHAT WE'RE SAYING IS WE WILL COVER X NUMBER OF THINGS AT THIS LEVEL, EITHER 100%, 80%, 70%, 50%.
SO THE REALLY WHAT WE'RE HERE IS THE ADMINISTRATIVE FEE WHICH WE'VE NEGOTIATED.
THE COSTS GET DRIVEN BY THE PROVIDERS AND THE VOLUME GETS DRIVEN BY OUR EMPLOYEES.
SO THAT'S WHERE WE'VE SEEN THE BIG DELTAS.
IT'S NOT NECESSARILY THE INSURANCE CARRIER THAT'S DRIVING THE THE PRICE INCREASES.
WE'VE WE SAW BEFORE WE REBID THE CONTRACT.
SO WITH REGARD TO THE PROVIDER COSTS AND THE DELTAS THAT MAY BE THERE, WHEREAS A BLUE CROSS OR SOME PROVIDER TENDS TO BE THE ONE NEGOTIATING WHAT CHARGES THE INSURANCE COMPANY WILL PAY.
HARRIS COUNTY THEN STEPS INTO THAT ROLE TO DO IT DIRECTLY WITH THE PROVIDERS.
OR HOW EXACTLY HOW ARE WE CONTROLLING COSTS WITH THAT LEVER? I.E. WITH THE PROVIDERS CHAIN.
YEAH. SO SO WE PAY IN THIS CASE AETNA.
THEY ARE THE ONES THAT CONTRACT WITH THE PROVIDERS.
AND THEY DO THIS WITH ALL THEIR THEIR CLIENTS.
SO THEY DO THAT ON OUR BEHALF ALONG WITH OTHER, YOU KNOW, ENTITIES AND IS ARE THERE ANY CONTROLS BUILT IN THERE? YOU KNOW, AS OF THE, AS OF THEIR CONTRACTS WITH THE DIFFERENT PROVIDERS? UM, YOU KNOW, THEY THEY DO ENTER CERTAIN CONTRACTS WITH THEM FOR, YOU KNOW, IT IS DIFFERENT.
SO THE PROVIDERS, COMMISSIONER GARCIA AND THEN COMMISSIONER ELLIS, THANK YOU.
SO, UM, REMEMBER, I THINK AT THE BEGINNING OF THIS AND I THINK I RECALL FROM ONE ON CITY COUNCIL.
[05:30:05]
SO 428 MILLION IS NOT THE ACTUAL CONTRACT.NO, NO, I WAS GOING TO SAY MOST OF THAT IS CLAIMS COSTS.
I WOULD SAY PROBABLY 90 TO 95% OF THAT CLAIMS IT'S CLAIMS. YEAH. THAT'S SO WE'RE BASICALLY PUTTING THAT IN A BANK ACCOUNT FOR WHAT WE BELIEVE OUR EMPLOYEES WILL DRAW AGAINST.
THAT GOES INTO THE FUND THAT YOU'RE REFERRING TO.
SO SO THAT'S BASICALLY A BANK ACCOUNT.
CORRECT. THE ACTUAL ADMINISTRATION OF THIS IS HOW MUCH? UH, DON'T HAVE THE FIGURE HERE FROM ME.
IT'S ROUGHLY AROUND 10 MILLION.
OKAY. UM, AND SO WE'RE PAYING THAT JUST TO ADMINISTER CLAIMS. YEAH TO MINISTER CLAIMS AND YOU KNOW, THEY THEY DO OTHER PROGRAMS. YOU KNOW FOR US LIKE JUST CASE MANAGEMENT AND FOLKS GOING HOSPITALS MENTIONED WE GET TO USE THEIR NETWORK.
YOU KNOW, THEY PROVIDE THE NETWORK FOR US, WHICH THEY GO OUT AND CONTRACT WITH THOSE PROVIDERS.
SO THOSE THOSE ARE THE KIND OF THINGS THAT THAT WE'RE PAYING FOR.
YEAH. AND WELLNESS THEY PROVIDE.
YEAH. SO THIS IS JUST KIND OF GETTING ME TO ANOTHER PLACE.
BUT I'M JUST WONDERING IF WE CAN DO IN-HOUSE PROPERTY TAXES.
WHY CAN'T WE DO IN-HOUSE MEDICAL.
SO I'LL LET ME WORK ON THAT AND I'LL GET BACK AT SOME POINT.
COMMISSIONER ELLIS AND THEN COMMISSIONER RAMSEY.
SO, SHANE, I'M ASSUMING THAT THEY DON'T HAVE A FLAT FEE OF 10 MILLION AND SOMEHOW HOW MUCH IS DRAWN DOWN AND CLAIMED IF IF LESS IS DRAWN DOWN IN CLAIMS, DOES THAT ADMINISTRATIVE FEE GO UP? UH, NO, THE REGISTRATION FEE IS.
IT'S A SET FEE THAT WE PAY, LIKE PER MEMBER.
PER EMPLOYEE. DON'T GO DOWN EITHER.
SO IT'S BASED ON THE COUNT OF, UM, EMPLOYEES AND RETIREES THAT WE HAVE.
SO I WAS JUST TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHO SHOULD I BE MAD AT IF MY IF MY DOCTOR SAID, GO TAKE THE TEST AND I GO TAKE IT ONE YEAR, AND THEN THE NEXT YEAR, HE TELLS ME, TAKE IT AGAIN.
AND SOMEBODY SAYS, WELL, NO DENYING THAT.
SO WHO SHOULD I BE MAD AT SINCE I'M STILL HERE? YOU KNOW, I ALWAYS MENTIONED MY DADDY LIVED TO BE 99.
YEAH. COMMISSIONER, IT'S ONE OF THOSE PROGRAMS THAT IN ALL OF THEM HAVE THEM.
IT'S JUST THE. THEY TRY TO MANAGE COST AND MANAGE, YOU KNOW, MANAGE THE CARE AND JUST, YOU KNOW, THERE'S CERTAIN THINGS THEY WANT TO, YOU KNOW, HAVE TO GO THROUGH TO GET TO CERTAIN, YOU KNOW, JUST DIFFERENT.
FOR EXAMPLE, IF SOMEONE HAD A HURT SHOULDER AND THEY HAVE TO GO THROUGH, YOU KNOW, THEY WANT AN MRI.
THEY MAKE THEM DO PHYSICAL THERAPY.
SAY THOUGH, IS IT IS IT AETNA SLASH CIGNA OR CIGNA.
WHO'S THEY. SO WHAT THEY WHAT COMMISSIONER ELLIS WERE UP TO WOULD HAVE BEEN UNDER CIGNA.
BUT AETNA WOULD HAVE A SIMILAR PROGRAM AS WHAT CIGNA WOULD HAVE.
SO SO I GUESS THE ANSWER IS CIGNA.
OH, COMMISSIONER, IT'S A IT'S A COST CONTROL.
THERE'S A COST CONTROL MEASURE SO THAT FOLKS DON'T GO AND AND ABUSE THE THE IMAGING THAT THAT PARTICULAR BENEFIT. SO WE CAN WORK WITH WITH AETNA NOW IF WE WANT TO WAIVE.
WHEN THE DOCTOR I MEAN THE DOCTOR IS THE LAST PERSON ALIVE THAT STUDIED UNDER DEBAKEY.
IF IT GROWS, THEN WE'RE GOING TO GO DO SOMETHING.
I MEAN, THAT'S JUST AS NUTTY THING IN THE WORLD.
I'M JUST SAYING, WHO WANTS TO LAY IN THAT MACHINE LIKE YOU IN A CASKET FOR 45 MINUTES? WELL, HEY, I'M STILL, YOU KNOW, $88,000 AT THE MENTAL AND THE MENTAL HEALTH PLACE.
THE PSYCHIATRIST SAID, AND THEY SAID, WELL, WE'RE GOING TO DENY IT BECAUSE SHE WENT TO OHIO.
WHY COULDN'T SHE DO IT IN HOUSTON? WELL, THE PSYCHIATRIST WROTE, SHE CAN'T DO IT IN HOUSTON BECAUSE THEY KNOW HER IN HOUSTON.
AND ANYWAY, WE'RE STILL FIGHTING THAT ONE.
YES. SO. SO, JANE, WE'RE DEPENDING ON THE AETNA.
TO MANAGE ON OUR BEHALF THE VALUE OF WHATEVER WE'RE GETTING.
AND, UM, YOU KNOW, THAT'S WHAT WE'RE PAYING THAT THAT ADMINISTRATION FEE.
BUT SINCE THE COUNTY IS PAYING FOR WHATEVER SERVICES ARE RENDERED.
UH, YEAH, THAT'S AN INTERESTING THAT'S AN INTERESTING POSITION.
I DON'T KNOW, WHENEVER THEY'RE, IN ESSENCE, FIGURING OUT WHERE WE'RE GOING TO SPEND OUR MONEY.
[05:35:03]
AND HOW WE'RE GOING TO SPEND OUR MONEY OUT OF THE CONTEXT OF THE OF THE CONTRACT.BUT THERE'S STILL A LOT OF OF FLEXIBILITY IN TERMS OF WHAT THEY APPROVE AND WHAT THEY DON'T APPROVE.
IS THAT STILL APPROVES OR NOT APPROVES CERTAIN, AS MR. ELLIS REFERS TO.
YOU GO IN AND WELL, WE'RE GOING TO DO THIS, BUT WE'RE NOT GOING TO DO THAT.
I DON'T. I DON'T QUITE UNDERSTAND HOW THEY KNOW WHEN TO SAY NO.
MR. ELLIS, YOU CANNOT TAKE THAT NEXT TEST.
THEY DETERMINE WHAT'S COVERED AND NOT COVERED.
AND I'M NOT SURE MR. COMMISSIONER ELLIS'S CASE THAT THAT WAS YOU KNOW THE ISSUE OR WHAT.
SO I SEE THE TENOR OF THE CONVERSATION GOING, THIS IS A NATIONAL BEST PRACTICE.
THE REASON THAT WE PAY THEM THE 10 MILLION IS BECAUSE THEY'RE NEGOTIATING ON BEHALF OF THE MILLIONS OF CUSTOMERS THEY HAVE IN THEIR NETWORK, AS OPPOSED TO US WOULD BE GOING, YOU KNOW, KIND OF HAT IN HAND TO METHODIST TO SAY, WELL, KELSEY SIEBEL WOULD BE WILL YOU TAKE OUR TAKE OUR PATIENTS LIKE WE WOULD HAVE TO BUILD AN ENTIRE INFRASTRUCTURE AROUND DELIVERING THIS SERVICE WHERE THERE ARE COMPANIES THAT WE CAN CHARGE.
SO I JUST WANT TO MAKE THAT POINT OF CLARIFICATION.
IT'S ONLY A BEST PRACTICE BECAUSE IT HASN'T BEEN DONE.
AND SO CAN Y'ALL DO IT AFTER I'M 99? YEAH. WELL YEAH YOU CAN, BUT.
RIGHT. SO SO I'VE GOT SO MY TWO ISSUES HERE.
ARE THEY GOING TO GET THEIR MEDICATIONS AND ALL THAT? ANYTHING CHANGE.
IT WOULD JUST BE IT'S THE SAME DRUG THAT MAY JUST BE A DIFFERENT BRAND UNDER AETNA.
SO WE WE'VE BEEN WORKING TO TRY TO MATCH THIS.
YOU KNOW JUST PERFECT. YOU KNOW AS MUCH AS WE CAN WITH OUR CURRENT PLAN.
AND SECONDLY WHOSE WORD DO I HAVE THAT THIS IS GOING TO BE A 12% INDIVIDUAL GOAL NOT A 10%.
AND AND I HAVE IT IN WRITING FROM YOU KNOW AETNA ABOUT THE ONE POINT.
CAN YOU BRING SOMETHING AS A TRANSMITTAL OR JUST TO CONFIRM THAT IT'S BEEN IT'S BEEN DONE.
OKAY. IS THERE A MOTION ON 303.
SO MOTION BY COMMISSIONER ELLIS.
SECOND BY COMMISSIONER GARCIA.
ANY OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY.
THANK YOU. COLLEAGUES, I KNOW Y'ALL DID THE BRUNT OF THE WORK ON THIS.
THANK YOU. AND ALL THE STAFF THAT AS PRESENTED AS PRESENTED.
ITEM 308, COMMISSIONER RAMSEY.
MY MOTION HERE IS I'LL MAKE A MOTION FOR THE PURCHASING DEPARTMENT TO HOLD PANASONIC BODY-WORN CAMERAS AND IN-CAR CAMERA SYSTEMS FROM AUCTION TO ALLOW SAFE SCHOOLS COMMISSION TO IDENTIFY LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES WITHIN THE EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS WHO MAY BENEFIT FROM THIS DONATION.
WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO BE ABLE TO SECURE THESE USED CAMERAS AND PUT THEM OUT THERE.
SECOND. MOTION BY COMMISSIONER RAMSEY.
SECOND BY COMMISSIONER GARCIA.
I'M IN FAVOR, BUT I'M JUST CURIOUS, HOW MANY CAMERAS ARE WE TALKING ABOUT? AS A FORMER TEACHER, I LOVE THIS IDEA, BUT WHAT'S THE SCOPE OF CAMERAS COMPATIBILITY? VALUE OF DONATION IS IN CHARGE OF FEES.
THAT'S A REALLY GOOD QUESTION.
I LOVE IT, BUT MR. BRIONES CAN FOLLOW UP WITH MY PURCHASING TEAM TO SEE WHERE THEY'RE AT WITH THAT.
BUT I KNOW THAT THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE AND SEVEN OF THE EIGHT CONSTABLES HAVE MOVED TO THE NEW SYSTEM.
SO IF YOU COUNT THE NUMBERS, THEY'RE BASICALLY IT'S GOING TO BE SEVERAL THOUSANDS OF CAMERAS.
AND I DON'T KNOW HOW MANY ARE IN GOOD SHAPE OR NOT, BUT I CAN FOLLOW UP AND SEND OUT A NOTE TO ALL DEPARTMENT PRECINCTS AND COMMIT AND THE JUDGE'S OFFICE LETTING YOU GUYS KNOW EXACTLY WHAT WE HAVE AVAILABLE AND WHAT WE CAN DONATE.
AND THEN WE'LL WORK WITH YOU GUYS ON HOWEVER Y'ALL WANT TO DISTRIBUTE IT OUT.
[05:40:03]
AND I'LL JUST MAKE THIS AS A REQUEST BEFORE WE GIVE THEM BECAUSE I WANT TO MAKE.IS IT OKAY? RIGHT? OKAY. YEAH. AGAIN.
BECAUSE BECAUSE WE, I WANTED TO TO JUST MAKE SURE THAT WE DON'T HAVE ANY, ANY, UM.
TO ANY UNFORTUNATE CONSEQUENCES.
LIKE, YOU KNOW, WHERE MY HEAD IMMEDIATELY GOES IS THE JUVENILE BOARD AND HOW THE THE, THE THE THE BLACK AND THE BROWN KIDS ARE THE ONES THAT GET IN TROUBLE AND THE WHITE ONES NEVER DO. AND I DON'T KNOW.
I JUST DON'T KNOW. SOMEHOW THIS TIES INTO THAT.
SO I'M GLAD FOR THE COMMISSION TO LOOK AT IT.
ALL RIGHT. SO WE HAD A MOTION A SECOND.
ANY OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY.
COMMISSIONER RAMSEY, I DID TALK TO THE CLERK BECAUSE THIS ITEM WAS ON THERE, AND I WANTED TO TELL YOU THAT SHE WILL BE AT THE NEXT COMMISSIONERS COURT TO GIVE A DETAILED UPDATE ON THE ELECTION.
AND I PERSONALLY THINK SHE'S DONE THE VERY BEST JOB THAT SHE COULD UNDER THE CIRCUMSTANCES.
MY SIMPLE COMMENT WAS I WANTED TO HAVE ONE SIMPLE COMMENT.
I THOUGHT YOU DID A VERY GOOD JOB OF THIS ELECTION.
JUST APPRECIATE WHAT SHE'S DONE.
WE'LL HEAR A FULL REPORT AT THE NEXT ONE, BUT APPRECIATE HER EFFORT.
IT WAS GIVEN TO HER AT THE LAST MINUTE.
SO THAT'S JUST THE ACKNOWLEDGMENT.
YES. THANK YOU. CLERK HUDSPETH, LET'S MOVE ON TO 311.
I THINK THIS ONE WAS PULLED BY PRECINCTS TWO AND THREE.
THE NEW COMMITTEE THAT THE COMMISSIONERS COURT CREATED A FEW MONTHS AGO.
RIGHT. THE INTEGRATED JUSTICE TECHNOLOGY COMMITTEE, AND IT HAS SEVEN VOTING MEMBERS.
AND THE SEVENTH MEMBER IS CAN BE CHOSEN FROM A GROUP OF FIVE AT LARGE MEMBERS.
AND THOSE MEMBERS WERE ARE THE PRETRIAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT, PUBLIC DEFENDER'S OFFICE, OFFICE OF MANAGED ASSIGNED COUNSEL, COMMUNITY SUPERVISION AND CORRECTIONS, AND JUVENILE PROBATION DEPARTMENT.
THE. THE BOARD OF THE ITC HAS VOTED TO ADD THREE MORE DEPARTMENTS TO THAT TO THAT AT LARGE GROUP, INCLUDING REPRESENTATIVE OF THE CONSTABLE'S, A REPRESENTATIVE OF THE OF THE JUSTICES OF THE PEACE, AND THEN THE COUNTY CLERK'S OFFICE.
AND THAT HADN'T COME TO TWO COMMISSIONERS COURT FOR APPROVAL AND WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT WHAT THE BOARD IS DOING, THE COMMITTEE IS DOING, IS IN ALIGNMENT WITH THE COURT'S MOTIONS AND ORDERS.
SO THEY HAD WHAT THEY DECIDED AS AS BOARD IS THAT THE AMONG THE AT LARGE COMMITTEE MEMBERS, THEY WOULD VOTE AMONG THEMSELVES TO SEE WHO WOULD REPRESENT THEM AS A VOTING MEMBER, AND THAT THE THE AT LARGE GROUP VOTED FOR THE CONSTABLES, THE CONSTABLES.
REPRESENTATIVE CONSTABLE ROSEN.
SO I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THE COMMISSIONERS COURT KNEW WHAT WAS GOING ON AND THAT IF YOU WERE IN, YOU WERE IN ALIGNMENT AND SUPPORTED THE ADDITION OF THOSE THOSE THREE AT LARGE MEMBERS, THE WAY THAT THEY CHOOSE AMONG THEMSELVES FOR FOR WHO'S A VOTING MEMBER, YOU KNOW, WE DON'T HAVE ANY ANY ISSUE WITH THAT.
WE'RE FINE. WE HAD THE FIRST BOARD MEETING WAS ON MONDAY.
I THINK WE DISCUSSED THE THE JOB POSTING FOR THE DIRECTOR.
CINDY IS DOING A LOT OF GREAT WORK.
UM, ON THE ON ON THE BUDGET WITH OMB AND, AND THEN WE ALSO TALKED ABOUT THERE'S A GOVERNANCE, UM, DOCUMENT THAT WE'RE WORKING ON.
WE'RE GOING TO ADD SOME ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES.
AND THEN WE ALSO STARTED TALKING ABOUT THE SERVICE LEVEL AGREEMENTS.
AND SO SINDHU AND ED WELLS FROM THE COUNTY COURTS ARE GOING TO START WORKING ON THAT OVER THE NEXT COUPLE OF MONTHS AND COME BACK IN JANUARY TO THE BOARD WITH AT LEAST THE FRAMEWORK. AND THEN ONCE THE DIRECTOR IS, IS HIRED, THEN THE DIRECTOR WILL KIND OF PUT, PUT THE FINAL TOUCHES ON IT AND GET IT TO THE BOARD FOR FOR APPROVAL AND SIGNATURE. BUT SO THE ONLY QUESTION HERE IS ON THE THAT AT LARGE MEMBERSHIP.
AND IF THE COURT IS OKAY WITH THAT, OR IF YOU WANT TO HOLD WITH WHAT YOU HAVE SO FAR.
YES. COMMISSIONER GARCIA, UH, ADMINISTRATOR, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE BACKGROUND ON THIS.
[05:45:05]
BUT NONETHELESS, I'M I'M HAPPY ABOUT THE PROGRESS IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE IJC.AND SO WE'VE BEEN HAVING AND STRUGGLING WITH DATA SHARING AND DATA COLLECTION BETWEEN ALL THE JUSTICE STAKEHOLDERS, NOT JUST RECENTLY, BUT FOR YEARS.
AND SO IT'S GOOD TO SEE STEPS FINALLY BEING TAKEN TO CORRECT THIS ISSUE.
UM, YET EARLIER THIS YEAR, AS YOU WERE ALLUDING TO, WE DID AGREE ON A SEVEN VOTING MEMBER BOARD AS IT WAS LAID OUT BY OUR CONSULTANTS.
WE PAID A GREAT DEAL OF MONEY FOR THAT DIRECTION.
AND SO, UM, AND YET THE DIFFERENCE OF WHAT I'M JUST HEARING WAS NOT IT DIDN'T COME BACK TO US.
AND SO I, I THINK THAT WE OUGHT TO JUST MOVE FORWARD WITH HOW WE HAVE DIRECTED, UH, THE DIRECTOR TO MOVE AND WITH THE COUNSEL THAT WE'VE GOTTEN FROM OUR CONSULTANTS.
SO, UM, I THINK THIS COURT HAS THE AUTHORITY TO CONSTRUCT THE BOARD AS IT HAS BEEN.
AND SO I MOVE ON THE ITEM AS PRESENTED.
SO I HAVE A FEW QUESTIONS, BUT I THINK CLERK BURGESS IS HERE AND JUST AT A HIGH LEVEL.
AND TO ME, THE KEY IS THE BYLAWS, GOVERNANCE DOCUMENT AND THE SERVICE LEVEL AGREEMENTS.
I THINK THAT IS WHERE THE TRUE KIND OF ROADMAP FOR THE FUTURE IS GOING TO BE.
AND SO I WOULD LOVE TO HEAR WHAT BURGESS HAS TO ADD ANYTHING.
BUT TO ME. WE DO NEED SOME CLARITY ON WHO IS FAIR GAME FOR THIS ROTATING MEMBER.
AND SO I IF YOU COULD SHARE CLERK BURGESS WHY THESE ADDITIONAL MEMBERS WERE ADDED INTO THIS SEVENTH ROTATING KIND OF CATEGORY AT LARGE. PERHAPS THIS ADDITIONAL INFORMATION WOULD BE HELPFUL.
YES. GOOD EVENING AND THANK YOU.
AND THESE ADDITIONAL PEOPLE, THE CONSTABLE'S AND THE JP'S, HAVE BEEN A PART OF THIS GROUP SINCE THEN, AND THE WHOLE PURPOSE OF THE INTEGRATED JUSTICE TECHNOLOGY COMMITTEE IS, FOR ALL OF US, VARIOUS AGENCIES, TO WORK TOGETHER COLLABORATIVELY IN ORDER TO BRING ABOUT CHANGE AND EFFICIENCIES IN THE SYSTEM.
WE'VE BEEN WORKING ON ISSUING WARRANTS AND CITATIONS ELECTRONICALLY WITH THEM.
THEY'RE AN INTEGRAL PART OF THE JUSTICE SYSTEM IN HARRIS COUNTY, AND SOMEONE THAT WE WORK VERY CLOSELY WITH THROUGH THIS GROUP, THE JUSTICE OF THE PEACE, HAVE THEIR OWN SEPARATE WORKING GROUP WITHIN THE WHAT WAS PREVIOUSLY JIM'S BOARD AND THEN THE JTC BOARD, AND THEY'RE AN INTEGRAL PART OF IT.
I'M SORRY, CLARK, I THINK YOUR CAMERA IS NOT ON.
IF I KNEW HOW TO DO IT, I WOULD BE HAPPY TO.
I'VE HAD SO MUCH TROUBLE GETTING ON AND STAYING CONNECTED.
I'VE KEEP GETTING KICKED OFF AND I'M ON MY CELL PHONE NOW AND I DON'T.
IT'S A DIFFERENT COUNTY. EMPLOYEES ARE SUPPOSED TO HAVE THEIR CAMERAS ON.
UM, SO I NOTICED WE GOT THE GIST OF IT.
CLARK BURGESS. AND THANK YOU, MR. ESSER, FOR REMINDING US OF THE RULES.
SO IT SEEMS AS SOMEONE WHO WAS PART OF THE PLAY BY PLAY AND WHO DOES NOT WANT TO BE A PART OF THE PLAY BY PLAY, BECAUSE I BELIEVE THE BOARD NEEDS TO DEVELOP ITS GOVERNANCE AND THEN JUST FOCUS ITS ATTENTION ON DRIVING PROGRESS, NOT HAVING TO COME BACK FOR EVERY SINGLE THING.
IT SEEMS LIKE THE LETTER THAT WAS SIGNED ON WAS NOT A FULL RENDITION OF EVERY SINGLE TERM, BECAUSE THAT WAS GOING TO BE AGREED ON AT THE NEXT MEETING. AND SO, FOR EXAMPLE, THE COUNTY CLERK, I KNOW SHE HAD BEEN ON THE LETTER AND THEN DIDN'T WANT TO BE ON IT.
[05:50:09]
SUBJECT OF THE DISCONNECT.YOU KNOW, I THINK WE NEED TO GET ON THE SAME PAGE, YOU KNOW, NO PUN INTENDED.
BUT I DO THINK THERE WAS A LOT OF ITERATIONS AT THAT POINT IN TIME.
AND I THINK THIS IS A LEVEL OF DETAIL THAT IS UNPRODUCTIVE FOR US TO SPEND TIME ON PERSONALLY.
AND SO I WOULD JUST SAY I WOULD MOTION TO ADD THE COUNTY CLERK, A REPRESENTATIVE OF THE CONSTABLE'S AND A REPRESENTATIVE OF THE JP'S TO THE LIST OF THE AT LARGE MEMBERS ELIGIBLE TO SERVE AS THE SEVENTH VOTING MEMBER, AND THEN FOR IT TO BECOME CRYSTAL CLEAR IN THE ITERATION OF THIS GOVERNANCE DOCUMENT AND THE SERVICE LEVEL AGREEMENTS.
WHAT IS AGREED TO BECAUSE THIS IS VERY UNPRODUCTIVE.
I THINK COMING BACK, JUST A POINT OF ORDER, RESPECTFULLY DIDN'T MAKE A MOTION ON THE ITEM.
IS THERE A SECOND? I'LL SECOND THAT AND I'LL SAY, WHY THANK YOU, CLERK BURGESS, I KNOW YOU CAN'T TALK, BUT AT LEAST I'LL TELL YOU.
EARLIER, WHEN I WAS IN THE LEGISLATURE, WHEN I FIRST GOT HERE, I HAD SUCH A PROBLEM JUST GETTING DATA ON THE RACIAL IMPACT OF WHAT WE WERE DOING IN OUR JUSTICE SYSTEM.
AND IT ALWAYS GOT LOST IN THAT TECHNOLOGY COMMITTEE AND COMMISSIONER BRIAN, IT JUST DROVE ME CRAZY.
AND I KNOW THAT IT WAS AT A TIME WHEN, I GUESS WHAT I, WHAT I SAID DIDN'T MATTER TOO MUCH UNTIL THAT COURT CASE STARTED ROLLING OVER THE FEDERAL COURTHOUSE AND THINGS GOT A LITTLE DIFFERENT, BUT IT WAS JUST SO DIFFICULT.
AND WHEN I THINK OF WHAT WE JUST WENT THROUGH, ISSUES WE TALKED ABOUT IN EXECUTIVE SESSION EARLIER, IT JUST IT JUST IT JUST FRIGHTENS ME TO TO GET BACK INTO THAT, INTO THAT MODE AGAIN.
AND IN MY MIND, I THOUGHT THIS ISSUE WAS SETTLED.
I DON'T WANT TO THANK THE COMMITTEE.
IN A CERTAIN WAY IN WHICH WE END UP BACK WHERE WE WERE, AND THAT WAS NOT A GOOD PLACE TO BE IN.
I MEAN, EVEN BEFORE I GOT HERE.
JUST ASK HIM. I THINK IT WAS A COMMITTEE CREATED BY BRUCE, BY MR. HYATT. I THINK IT WAS IN HIS SHOP, AND IT WAS JUST LIKE HE WAS IN A LITTLE BLACK BOX AND IT JUST DROVE ME CRAZY.
I SHARE IT. FIRST OF ALL, I SHARE YOUR COMPLETE COMMITMENT TO CYBER SECURITY.
AND I MEAN, WE HAVE THIS ANTIQUATED SYSTEM.
SO THIS IS JUST ONE SEAT OF A ROTATING MEMBER.
SO IF ANYTHING, IT DILUTES THE POWER OF THE SEVENTH MEMBER BECAUSE YOU'RE ADDING MORE MEMBERS.
BUT TO NOT HAVE 16 JUSTICE OF THE PIECES WHO LITERALLY WORK ON CASES ALL THE TIME, IF THIS IS GOING TO BE A JUSTICE TECHNOLOGY PIECE, TO NOT HAVE A RELEVANT STAKEHOLDER, THAT'S JUST ONE SEAT OF A ROTATING IT.
AND I AGREE THAT I PRAY ALL OF THESE STAKEHOLDERS ARE AS ON WE'RE ONE TEAM.
IT NEEDS TO BE CRISP, CLEAR, ACCOUNTABLE AND PROTECTED.
AND I BELIEVE THAT ALL OF THESE STAKEHOLDERS SHARE IT.
BUT I DON'T THINK THAT ELIMINATING THE PIECE FROM THIS ONE SEVENTH, I.E.
THE SEVENTH SEAT THAT IS A ROTATING EACH YEAR SERVES THESE BIGGER PICTURE END GOALS.
SO I THINK WHAT WE'RE SOLVING FOR IS THIS ANTIQUATED SYSTEM.
AND WHAT WE'RE SOLVING FOR IS JUST YEARS OF LACK OF PROGRESS, AND WE'RE FINALLY MAKING PROGRESS.
AND IF I HEARD YOU CORRECTLY, YOU ALL ARE WORKING TOWARDS THE SERVICE LEVEL AGREEMENTS AND THE GOVERNANCE DOCUMENT, CORRECT? YES WE ARE.
HOWEVER, I DO NEED TO MENTION AND I'M SORRY THAT, YOU KNOW, CLARK BURGESS CAN'T CAN'T BE ON CAMERA BECAUSE AT THE AT THE BOARD MEETING YESTERDAY, THEY DID TALK ABOUT OTHER AREAS THAT THEY WERE GOING TO BE SEEKING CHANGES FROM THE FROM THE COURT'S ORDERS REVOLVING AROUND KIND OF THE DATA GOVERNANCE AND THE USE OF DATA AND THE COUNTY ATTORNEY'S ROLE AS IT STIPULATED IN THE ORDERS.
AND THAT'S WHY I'M IN SUPPORT OF MY COLLEAGUES HERE TO MY LEFT.
[05:55:07]
OR THE CONSTABLES, WHICH MEANS THAT IT DILUTES THE VOTE OF THE OF THE APPOINTED FOLKS.WHAT WAS YOUR MOTION, COMMISSIONER, TO TO MOVE ON IT AS, AS AS PRESENTED AND TO KEEP THE OR TO KEEP THE CURRENT, THE CURRENT, THE CURRENT STRUCTURE? MY QUESTION WOULD BE WHETHER BECAUSE THERE WAS STILL A QUESTION ABOUT HOW THIS SEVENTH MEMBER IS APPOINTED.
AND I JUST WANT TO UNDERSTAND WHETHER CAN WE CLARIFY THAT? IT'S LIKE, AS THE TITLE SAYS, IT'S ROTATING.
AND THEN I ALSO JUST WANTED TO CLARIFY THE TERMINOLOGY OF AT LARGE.
WHAT DOES THAT REFER TO? UM, I THINK THAT THEY'RE JUST A MEMBER OF THE COMMITTEE AS A WHOLE.
UM, AND THEN AS OPPOSED TO LIKE A SUBCOMMITTEE.
AND SO THEN THERE'S THE BOARD THAT ARE THE VOTING MEMBERS.
AND THEN ONE ONLY ONE OF THE FIVE GETS A VOTE EVERY, YOU KNOW, PER YEAR.
YEAH. SO I THINK IT'S A I THINK IT'S OKAY.
AND I THINK IT WOULD BE GOOD TO, TO MAKE SURE THAT ALL THE AT LARGE COMMITTEE MEMBERS ARE ALSO VOTED, ALSO INVITED TO ALL THE BOARD MEETINGS, EVEN IF THEY'RE NOT VOTING LIKE I'M NOT VOTING, IT'S I THINK IT'S GOOD FOR THEM TO BE THERE.
PRETRIAL SERVICES, CSC, JUVENILE PROBATION.
DO YOU HAVE INPUT TO THAT SO THEY COULD ALL BE THERE? I THINK THAT THAT'S YOU KNOW, I THINK THAT THAT'S AN EASY, EASY RESOLUTION.
SO, I MEAN, I COULD PUT LIKE TO KEEP THE CURRENT JUST TO FRIENDLY AMENDMENT TO YOUR MOTION, COMMISSIONER, TO KEEP THE CURRENT STRUCTURE AS PRESENTED TO TO CLARIFY THAT THE THE SEVENTH, THE SEVENTH MEMBER WILL BE SELECTED BASED ON AN ANNUAL ROTATION OF THE FIVE OPTIONS AND FIVE EXISTING PERSONS OF THE FIVE EXISTING SLICING OFF OF VERY CRITICAL KEY PIECE OF OUR STRUCTURE.
IS THAT THE LAW OR A RULE? WHAT IS IT? WHERE I THINK WE'VE ACTUALLY.
YEAH, WE'VE PREVIOUSLY SENT OUT GUIDES ON THIS.
IT'S JUST UNFORTUNATE THIS HAPPENED.
BUT YEAH, I THINK I THINK WHAT I'M HEARING AND OF COURSE WE'VE STRUGGLED WITH WANTING TO GET INPUT FROM ALL THESE DIFFERENT AGENCIES AND ELECTED OFFICIALS.
AND THINK, THINK WE'RE KIND OF CREATING A PROBLEM FOR OURSELVES.
I COMPLETELY AGREE WITH YOU, COMMISSIONER RAMSEY.
IF I COULD, I JUST MY POSITION IS REALLY SIMPLE.
UM. WE SPENT A GREAT DEAL OF AMOUNT OF MONEY.
WE STAYED IN EXECUTIVE SESSION FOR QUITE SOME TIME DISCUSSING THIS.
IT HASN'T EVEN REALLY BEGUN TO WORK.
LET'S GIVE THE CURRENT STRUCTURE AN OPPORTUNITY TO MOVE FORWARD.
AND IF FOLKS WILL HAVE AN OPEN MIND AND WITH ALL DUE RESPECT, WITH 1976.
THE VOTE WE TOOK TO ADOPT THE CURRENT STRUCTURE IS A CHANGE THAT IS A PART OF OUR OVERALL EVOLUTION.
SO WE HAVE NOT STOOD STILL IN TIME.
THE CONSULTANTS GAVE US DIRECTION OF WHAT IT WAS GOING TO TAKE TO MODERNIZE THIS COUNTY.
THIS WAS ONE OF THE FUNDAMENTAL RECOMMENDATIONS.
SO LET'S LET'S JUST GIVE THE EXISTING PROCESS SOME OPPORTUNITY, AND MAYBE THERE'LL BE A TIME WHEN SOMETHING IS BROUGHT BACK, BUT TO NOT EVEN TAKE THE FIRST STEP.
YEAH, I THOUGHT WE ALREADY AGREED ON THIS.
AND I HEAR CLARK AND I REGRET THAT THERE'S THIS, THIS VIDEO ISSUE.
BUT, YOU KNOW, WE'VE DISCUSSED THIS AD NAUSEUM AND, AND THE ISSUE THAT WE ENCOUNTER THAT PERHAPS THE CLERK DOES NOT ENCOUNTER IS, IS THE VARIOUS ELECTED OFFICIALS STONEWALLING ARE APPOINTED OFFICIALS.
AND THIS IS A VERY SERIOUS ISSUE THAT WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE THE DATA IS PROTECTED.
WE HIRED THE CONSULTANTS AND WE WE NEED TO BE ABLE TO HAVE SOME SORT OF BALANCE WITH.
[06:00:03]
AND STILL THE ELECTED OFFICIALS ARE OVERWHELMED, THE APPOINTED ONE.BUT IT CAN'T BE, YOU KNOW, 6 TO 1 OR WHATEVER IT IS.
THEN THE COMMITTEE WILL BE WHAT IT'S BEEN SINCE 1970.
IT WAS A IT WAS IT LED US TO THE CURRENT PROBLEM.
BUT LOOK, WE'RE GOING IN CIRCLES.
UM, CAN WE TAKE A VOTE AND GO FROM HERE? BECAUSE WE ALREADY SPENT SO MUCH TIME ON THIS.
UM, SO. SO WHAT? I WANT TO CLARIFY MOTION BY COMMISSIONER GARCIA TO KEEP THE CURRENT STRUCTURE AS PRESENTED.
DOES THAT WORK, JAMES? IS THAT CLEAR ENOUGH? YES, MA'AM. UM, TO CLARIFY THAT THE SEVENTH MEMBER WILL BE SELECTED.
HOW DO I SAY THAT? THE SEVENTH MEMBER WILL BE SELECTED FROM AMONG THE FIVE EXISTING OPTIONS, AND THAT SEAT WILL ROTATE. UM ANNUAL ROTATION ANNUALLY.
THAT'S CLEAR THAT, YOU KNOW, YOU CAN'T COME BACK ON THE THIRD YEAR IF YOU SERVE THE FIRST YEAR.
UM, AND THEN, YOU KNOW, AND THAT THAT ALL AT LARGE MEMBERS WILL BE INVITED TO OBSERVE THE MEETINGS.
UM. IS THAT WHAT YOU SAID? NON-VOTING. EXISTING.
MOTION. YES. IF YOU WOULDN'T MIND JUST READING THE HERE.
JUST TO BE CLEAR. MOTION TO KEEP THE EXISTING STRUCTURES PRESENTED.
TO CLARIFY THAT THE SEVENTH MEMBER WILL BE SELECTED FROM AMONG THE FIVE EXISTING OPTIONS.
AND THAT SEAT WILL ROTATE ANNUALLY.
AND THAT ALL OUR AT LARGE MEMBERS WILL BE INVITED TO OBSERVE THE MEETINGS.
AND I'M GETTING, UM, JUST SOME FEEDBACK AND I'M OBVIOUSLY NOT IN FAVOR OF THIS, BUT FOR WHATEVER IT'S WORTH, I HAVE BEEN ASKED TO BRING UP SOME OF THESE FIVE DON'T WANT TO SERVE, AND SO IF IT'S AN AUTOMATIC ANNUAL, YOU'RE ON DECK.
CAN YOU DECLINE AN APPOINTMENT AND THEN IT GOES TO THE NEXT CHRONOLOGICAL NUMBER BASICALLY.
I THINK SO. HEY, LET'S HAVE DIRECTOR REDMOND GIVE US SOME DIRECTION AT A AT THE NEXT 40.
TO FIRST TRY TO GET HIM TO SERVE.
I MEAN, IT SEEMS EASY ENOUGH IF THEY DON'T.
IF THEY DON'T, IF THEY DON'T GO, THEN THEY PUT SOMEBODY ELSE.
WE CAN WE'LL BE SELECTED FROM THE EXISTING FIVE OPTIONS.
AND WHILE SHE'S WORKING ON THE LANGUAGE, I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW, PLEASE, WHEN THE SERVICE LEVEL AGREEMENTS WILL BE READY AND WHEN WE ANTICIPATE HIRING THE DIRECTOR, BECAUSE WE REALLY NEED A SPRINT AT THIS PROGRESS.
AND SO THE POSITION HAS BEEN POSTED, I BELIEVE IT'S BEEN A LITTLE OVER A WEEK.
THEY'RE WORKING ON THE THE RUBRIC OF QUESTIONS AND SCORING.
MENON IS IS ON ON THE LINE AND SHE COULD SHE COULD ANSWER THIS.
BUT WE TALKED ABOUT THE PROCESS AND WE'RE HOPING THAT WE CAN GET, UM, INTERVIEWS.
THE POSITION CLOSES IN, UH, LATE NOVEMBER, THEN INTERVIEWS DECEMBER AND JANUARY AND HOPEFULLY GET SOMEONE IN IN IN PLACE JANUARY, FEBRUARY TIMEFRAME. UM, ASSUMING WE GET GOOD CANDIDATES IN THE FIRST WEEK, I THINK THERE WERE THREE APPLICANTS.
AND THEN FOR THE SERVICE LEVEL AGREEMENTS IS MS. MENON AND MR. WELLS ARE GOING TO BE WORKING ON IT ON THE FRAMEWORK AND THE BIG BUILDING BLOCKS OF THE SERVICE LEVEL AGREEMENT.
AND THEN AS SOON AS THE AS THE DIRECTOR IS HIRED, THEN THEY'LL TAKE THE FRAMEWORK AND START FILLING EVERYTHING IN AND TWEAKING IT TO MAKE SURE THAT, THAT THEIR TECHNICAL EXPERTISE IS REFLECTED IN IT.
UM, TO KEEP THE CURRENT STRUCTURES PRESENTED.
TO CLARIFY, THE SEVENTH MEMBER WILL BE SELECTED FROM AMONG THE FIVE EXISTING OPTIONS PRETRIAL SERVICES DIRECTOR, THE FIRST ASSISTANT CHIEF DEPUTY PUBLIC DEFENDER, OR THEIR FIRST ASSISTANT CHIEF DEPUTY, OFFICE OF MANAGEMENT COUNCIL EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, OR THEIR FIRST ASSISTANT CHIEF DEPUTY, COMMUNITY SUPERVISION CORRECTIONS DEPARTMENT DIRECTOR, OR THEIR FIRST ASSISTANT CHIEF DEPUTY JUVENILE PROBATION DEPARTMENT, OR THEIR FIRST ASSISTANT CHIEF DEPUTY.
AND THAT SEAT WILL ROTATE ANNUALLY.
[06:05:02]
AVAILABLE. OPTION.ALSO ALL AT LARGE MEMBERS WILL BE INVITED TO OBSERVE THE MEETING.
YOU GOTTA LET. WHAT HAPPENED TO OLD SCHOOL PRINTER? YOU REMEMBER THOSE? MAYBE ALL THIS JUDGE, JUST TO BE SPECIFIC.
TO OBSERVE ALL BOARD MEETINGS.
[Emergency/Supplemental COVID-19 items]
KEEP THE, UH.BUT. SO YOU GOT IT RIGHT? YES, MA'AM. AS YOU READ IT.
GREAT. UM, MOTION BY COMMISSIONER GARCIA.
AND SECOND BY COMMISSIONER ELLIS.
ANY OPPOSED? NO. I'M IN FAVOR OF MOTION.
OKAY. LAST ITEM, FOLKS, AND I DO WANT TO SAY THANK YOU TO EVERYONE WHO'S WORKED ON THIS.
WE ALL HAD TO GIVE AND TAKE, AND WE'RE ALL OPERATING GOOD FAITH.
I THINK YOU MADE A GOOD POINT. LET'S GIVE IT A TRY.
LET'S JUST LET'S GIVE IT A TRY AND SEE WHERE WE LAND.
312. EVERYBODY LIKED THIS EXCEPT FOR COMMISSIONER BRIONES.
AND MY FIRST. IT DOESN'T MATTER. GO AHEAD.
YEAH. I JUST WANTED TO SAY I THOUGHT YOU ALL DID A GREAT JOB ON IT.
WE NEED TO HURRY UP AND GET THIS MONEY OUT OF THE DOOR.
AND WE NEED TO DO IT IN SUCH A WAY THAT WE AVOID AS MANY PITFALLS AS POSSIBLE.
AND I JUST WANTED TO COMMEND YOU ON DOING A GOOD JOB.
AND I'M FOR IT. I'LL MOVE IT AT THE APPROPRIATE TIME.
SECOND. MOTION BY COMMISSIONER ELLIS, SECOND BY COMMISSIONER GARCIA.
ANY OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY.
THERE ARE NO PUBLIC HEARINGS ON THE AGENDA.
JAMES. ANY CLARIFICATION? NO, MA'AM. 20 ITEMS, ONE DISCUSSION.
IT'S 654 IN COMMISSIONERS COURT IS NOW ADJOURNED.
ALL RIGHT.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.