Jan 09, 2024 Commissioners Court

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WAITING FOR EVENT TO BEGIN. IF THERE HAS BEEN A CHANGE, PLEASE CONTACT VITAC AT 800-590-4197 OR CC@CAPTIONEDTEXT.COM. THANK YOU. ] THIS IS THE MEETING FOR HARRIS COUNTY.

[Pastor Carlos Bonilla of Trigo Limpio in Houston introduced by the Commissioner of Precinct 2.]

>> GOOD MORNING AND HAPPY . TODAY IT GIVES ME GREAT PLEASURE TO INTRODUCE PASTOR CARLOS BONILLA OF TRIGO LIMPIO IN HOUSTON INTRODUCED BY THE COMMISSIONER OF PRECINCT NUMBER TWO , HE IS AN ORDAINED MINISTER. HE HAS SERVED IN THE CHRISTIAN MINISTRY FOR 48 YEARS, WOW, WHEN DID YOU START AT THE AGE OF TWO ? HE IS A PASTOR IN HOUSTON, HE IS ALSO PASTORING AT OLYMPIC CHURCH , TEACHING THE GOSPEL TO EVERYONE HERE AND ABROAD. HE IS THE PROUD HUSBAND AND FATHER OF THREE CHILDREN. HE GREW UP IN THE REPUBLIC OF INAUDIBLE ], SERVING HIS COUNTRY AS A SOLDIER . HE IS A LOVING HUSBAND, FATHER , AND GRATEFUL PASTOR. WHAT A BEAUTIFUL STORY, PASTOR CAN USE LEAD US IN A PRAYER ?

>> I COME BEFORE YOU IN THE NAME OF YOUR SON, JESUS CHRIST.

I GIVE YOU THANKS FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY TO PRAY FOR THE COMMISSIONERS . I ASK YOU FOR YOUR BLESSING ON THIS MEETING.

THAT YOU WILL BLESS EVERYTHING THAT WILL BE DONE TODAY, LORD. AND THAT YOU WILL BLESS ALL EMPLOYEES , THEY ALL WORK TOGETHER. LORD, PLEASE BLESS BTHISUILDING.

JESUS, PLEASE ADVANCE WHAT IS ACCORDING TO YOUR WILL .

BLESS EVERYONE THAT IS HERE TODAY, LORD. AND THAT EVERYTHING THAT WILL BE DONE IS IN ACCORDANCE TO YOUR WILL. I ASK YOU TO LOOK OVER THEIR FAMILY, DAUGHTERS AND SONS.

WE DO HAVE A GREAT ENEMY THAT DOES NOT WANT US TO ENJOY LIFE, THANK YOU FOR YOUR PROTECTION, WE KNOW ANGELS WILL WATCH OVER. THANK YOU JESUS. ALL OF WHAT I ASK IS IN YOUR

NAME. AMEN . >> PASTOR , THANK YOU FOR COMING DOWN. YOU ARE THE FIRST PERSON TO LEAD US IN PRAYER.

I DO APPRECIATE THAT . OUR WORKERS ARE THE ONES THAT DO ALL OF THE WORK, THEY ARE OUT ON THE STREET. I DO APPRECIATE

IT. >> YES, THANK YOU PASTOR.

>> WE WILL NOW RECITE THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE.

>> I PLEDGE THE LEGIONS TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS, ONE NATION UNDER GOUT INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL.

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>> NOW THE TEXAS PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE.

>> HONOR THE TEXAS FLAG. I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THEE, TEXAS, ONE STATE UNDER GOD, ONE AND INDIVISIBLE

>> BERNICE JOHNSON PASSED AWAY RECENTLY, AND SHE WAS LIKE A SISTER. THE COMMISSIONER WILL TRY TO JOIN US LATER. WE ALL KNOW THAT WE LOST A CLOSE FRIEND. WE ARE SENDING ALL OF OUR THOUGHTS TO COMMISSIONER ELLIS, AND TO THE FAMILY. WHAT A TOUGH TIME. WE WILL GET STARTED ON

[Departments (Part 1 of 2)]

>> UNFORTUNATELY, HE IS NOT HERE TODAY. CAN WE GO TO THE NEXT ONE AND COME BACK? I DO APOLOGIZE.

>> THAT IS OKAY. HE IS RETIRING , SO THAT IS OKAY.

THE NEXT ONE IS ABOUT A CONGRESSWOMAN. I DO NOT KNOW IF YOU READ THE NEWS, SHE WAS A MENTAL HEALTH NURSE. SHE DIED FROM COMPLICATIONS, UNFORTUNATELY SHE HAD COMPLICATIONS FROM SURGERY. THAT IS WHY THIS IS SO HARD FOR SO MANY PEOPLE. WE HONOR THIS DEDICATED PUBLIC SERVICE.

SHE REPRESENTED TEXAS FOR 30 YEARS. SHE SERVED IN THE TEXAS LEGISLATOR, AS A DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND EDUCATION. SHE DEDICATED HER LIFE TO SERVE THE COMMUNITY, THE STATE AND THE COUNTRY, FOR FIGHTING FOR EQUAL RIGHTS AND JUSTICE. SHE WORKED AS A NURSE, A STATE LEGISLATOR, SHE WAS A TRAILBLAZER. SHE WAS THE FIRST WOMAN TO BE ELECTED FOR ANYTHING IN DALLAS. SHE WAS THE FIRST AFRICAN-AMERICAN WOMAN TO SERVE . SHE WAS THE FIRST AFRICAN-AMERICAN DALLAS NURSE. SHE WAS THE FIRST AFRICAN WHO THE FIRST AFRICAN-AMERICAN FEMALE CHIEF OF PSYCHIATRIC HOSPITAL IN HOUSTON. SHE WOULD ADVOCATE FOR A WRONGFUL CONVICTION . SHE WORKED TO EXPAND THE DALLAS LIGHT RAIL.

SHE DID STAND UP FOR EDUCATION, FOR WOMEN AND GIRLS.

WE EXPRESS OUR CONDOLENCES TO HER FAMILY, FRIENDS, AND EVERYONE WHO HAS BEEN HELPED THROUGHOUT HER LIFETIME.

>> THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER ELLIS.

>> CAN WE JUST TAKE A MOMENT OF SILENCE FOR CONGRESSWOMAN

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A GREAT TRAILBLAZER. >> THANK YOU. THOSE ARE TITHE TWO RESOLUONS . COMMISSIONER GARCIA?

>> THANK YOU. I AM EXCITED TOT PRESENT THIS FIRST RESOLION.

BECAUSE IT SPEAKS TO OUR OWN. I WANT TO WELCOME UP GLORIA GALLEGOS, PLEASE COME UP TO THE PODIUM IF YOU ARE HERE.

THERE SHE IS. AS SHE MAKES HER WAY, I WANT TO READ WHAT THIS OCCASION IS ABOUT. SHE IS RETIRING FROM PASADENA INDEPENDENT SCHOOL . SHE IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE BILINGUAL PROGRAM. THIS WAS A PROCESS THAT INVOLVED A LOT OF PEOPLE.

AND RECOGNIZING THE BOARD MEMBERS. GLORIA DID A STUDY ON HISPANIC STUDENTS , BECOMING PROFICIENT IN ENGLISH. THIS WAS PUBLISHED IN TEXAS , AND IT CONTINUES TO BE A WAY TO ASSESS FOR NON-ENGLISH SPEAKERS. A LOT WAS ACCOMPLISHED UNDER HER LEADERSHIP SHE HELPED OTHERS OVERCOME LANGUAGE BARRIERS. HER PASSION IS EDUCATION, SHE HAD NUMEROUS INNOVATED AND IMPLEMENTATION OF A BILINGUAL CURRICULUM. AS WELL AS ASL , WHICH MY DAUGHTER PARTICIPATED IN. SHE HELPED THOSE TO SUCCEED, THERE WAS BEHAVIOR INTERVENTION PROGRAM. SHE WORKED WITH MIGRANT WORKERS, AND HOMELESS AND SPECIAL EDUCATION PROGRAMS. LET ME HIGHLIGHT THAT LADY IS A PRODUCT SHE LEFT , AND HER FAMILY MOVED TO EL PASO, WHERE SHE MET THE LOVE OF HER LIFE. AND JUAN WAS AN ENGINEER AND HE HELPED GLORIA ACHIEVE HER GOALS THROUGHOUT HER LIFE. GLORIA WAS PHENOMENAL. I APOLOGIZE, I ALWAYS REFER TO YOU AS GLORIA.

SHE WENT ON TO YOU RECEIVE A DEGREE FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON, GRADUATING IN 1983. SHE RECEIVED HER MASTERS, WITH A CERTIFICATION AS EDUCATIONAL DIAGNOSTIC TECHNICIAN. AS A NON-ENGLISH SPEAKER , SHE LED A COMMUNITY EFFORT TO UNDERSTAND ENGLISH LANGUAGE. SHE SERVED MORE THAN 55,000 STUDENTS, 80% ARE HISPANIC. SHE CAME TO THE DISTRICT IN

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BILINGUAL EDUCATION, THIS JUST REMINDS ME , I REMEMBER THOSE DAYS, BILINGUAL EDUCATION FROM WHAT DII REMEMBER WAS A SCIPLINE. AND SOMETIMES IF A SPANISH WORD SLIPPED OUT, SOMETIMES WE GOT THE PADDLEBOARD. I WANT TO SAY PERSONALLY, THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING THAT YOU HAVE DONE.

EDUCATION IS NOT A TYPICAL FOCUS OF A COUNTY COMMISSIONER. I AM PROUD OF THE WORK THAT WE HAVE DONE. WE ESTABLISHED THE STEM , MIDDLE SCHOOL, YOU KNOW, YOU AND I TALKED ABOUT HOW TO DO MORE OF IT. I AM GOING TO MISS YOU, BUT WE KNOW YOU ARE NOT GOING TO GO VERY FAR. YOU WILL CONTINUE TO LEVERAGE YOUR EXPERIENCES. AND SHARE YOUR INCREDIBLE KNOWLEDGE, CONGRATULATIONS. 42 YEARS IN ONE PLACE IS REMARKABLE. SO CONGRATULATIONS.

>> THANK YOU. I HAD A MISSION AND IT HIS -- WAS ACCOMPLISHED. JUDGE AND COMMISSIONERS THANK YOU SO MUCH. YOU WERE INSTRUMENTAL DURING COVID , TO TRY TO TEACH COMMUNITY IN A AREA WHERE NOT EVERYONE HAD A COMPUTER. WHEN I REACHED OUT, AND I SAID CAN WE FIND RESOURCES ? YOU ANSWERED THE CALL, IF IT HAD NOT BEEN FOR THE COMPUTERS, OR THE INTERNET, YOU PROVIDED COMPUTERS, INTERNET SERVICES. THIS REQUIRED A $10 MILLION PROJECT.

AND WITHOUT THAT OUR KIDS WOULD HAVE BEEN LEFT BEHIND. WE ARE A LARGE DISTRICT. WE ARE A POOR COMMUNITY. 84% MINORITY, 86% ECONOMICALLY DISADVANTAGED. THANK YOU FOR THAT, AND THANK YOU FOR WHEN WE ASK FOR AID. YOU WILL ALWAYS FIND SOMEBODY FOR US, AND FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY HEART, I WANT TO TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO THANK YOU FOR ALL OF THE SUPPORT THAT YOU HAVE GIVEN US.

>> GLORIA, WE ARE HERE TO PRAISE YOU. I HOPE THAT THE DISTRICT RECOGNIZES THE IMPACT THAT YOU HAVE MADE. AND THAT THEY WORK HARD TO CONTINUE THE LEGACY THAT YOU HAD BUILT. AND THE FOCUS THAT YOU PROVIDED. YOU HAVE PROVIDED FOR SO MANY PEOPLE. YOU CONTRIBUTED AND YOU WORKED HARD, AND YOU PLAY BY THE RULES. YOU ACCOMPLISHED ALL OF THAT. THERE IS NO DOUBT THAT YOU HAVE TOUCHED MANY FAMILIES. THEY NOW ARE THE FIRST , JUST TO GRADUATE FROM HIGH SCHOOL. AND THERE ARE ALSO MANY FIRST IS YO, U KNOW, LIKE GOING TO EGCOLLE. SO THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING THAT YOU HAVE DONE, GLORIA. LOVE YOU, AND WE WILL MISS YOU. THANK YOU FOR YOUR WORK. BUT

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>> EVEN THOUGH I WAS SUCCESSFUL, IT WAS NOT JUST ME, BUT IT WAS WITH THE GRACE OF GOUT, -- GOD AND MY TEAM

DID ALL OF THE WORK. >> AND OF COURSE THE SUPPORT OF MY HUSBAND AND FAMILY, I WOULD LIKE YOU TO STAND UP, BECAUSE YOU SACRIFICE SO MUCH. THANK YOU SO MUCH. I KNOW I

ONLY HAD ONE MINUTE. >> THANK YOU, JUDGE. AND THANK YOU TO THE COMMISSIONERS FOR HONORING GLORIA. THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE TO THE LATINO COMMUNITY . THANK YOU FOR THE SACRIFICE FROM YOUR FAMILY. YOU MADE LANGUAGE ACCESS INAUDIBLE ] AND CONGRATULATIONS.

>> THANK YOU. IT WAS NOT A JOB, IT WAS A MISSION. SO THANK YOU SO MUCH. I APPRECIATE IT.

>> COMMISSIONER RAMSEY? >> IS A PRIVILEGE TO RECOGNIZE A GROUP OF FOLKS. THIS IS NOT JUST ONE DAY, BUT THROUGHOUT THE YEAR. EVERY YEAR JANUARY 9 WE CELEBRATE NATIONAL LAW ENFORCEMENT DAY. WE CELEBRATE NATIONAL LAW ENFORCEMENT APPRECIATION DAY FOR THOSE WHO PROTECT THE COMMUNITY. WE HAVE OVER 100 OFFICES, SHERIFF, JAIL, DISTRICT ATTORNEY AND COUNTLESS CITIES. WE ALL WAKE UP EVERY DAY WITH A SENSE OF APPRECIATION. TO ENSURE THAT LAW AND ORDER, WHICH IS NOT AN EASY TASK, WE WANT TO RECOGNIZE THOSE WHO GO AFTER CRIMINALS, THIS IS FOR OUR SAFETY. THIS IS ABOUT RESPECTING FAMILIES AND THEIR SPOUSES. AND AGAIN WE WANT TO RECORD AND I THE NATIONAL LAW ENFORCEMENT APPRECIATION DAY. WE WILL CELEBRATE JANUARY 9TH , 2024 AS NATIONAL LAW ENFORCEMENT APPRECIATION DAY. I WOULD LIKE OFFICER WARNER AS TO COME

UP . >> GOOD MORNING. I AM A MAJOR WITH IT SHERIFF'S OFFICE , ALL OF THE MEN AND WOMEN , AND THE COMMISSIONERS COURT, THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT. NOT JUST TO US BUT TO OUR STATE AND FEDERAL PARTNERS.

>> MY NAME IS OFFICER EAGLETON, I WANT HATO TNK YOU FOR HONORING US. WE HAVE PRECINCT NUMBER THREE, I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU FOR RECOGNIZE US. AWE WANT TOPPRECIATE AND THANK YOU GUYS , FOR ALL G,OF THE FUNDIN WITHOUT THIS FUNDING WE WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO> DO OUR JOB.

MY NAME IS ISAAC, THANK YOU DGCOMMISSIONERS, AND THE JUE , FOR ALL OF YOUR SUPPORT. WE THANK YOU FOR THE FUNDING, WITHOUT THAT WE WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO DO WHAT WE DO OR TO DO SOME PROJECTS THAT WE HAVE IN THE DEPARTMENT. SO

THANK YOU. >> JUST QUICKLY, HAVE YOU GUYS EVER CONNECTED , DID YOU KNOW THAT ISAAC STARTED WITH PASADENA POLICE DEPARTMENT? PROBABLY BECAUSE YOU WERE SENT

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>> THANK YOU AND CONGRATULATIONS.

>> COMMISSIONER RAMSEY, THANK YOU FOR BRINGING UP THIS. AND THANK YOU TO THE HUNDRED AGENCIES IN THE COUNTY. I HAVE THREE LITTLE GIRLS, THE LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS MAKE ME FEEL SAFE . MY GODFATHER RETIRED FROM LAW ENFORCEMENT , SO I HAVE A LOT OF RESPECT AND GRATITUDE, NOT JUST ONE DAY,

BUT EVERY SINGLE DAY. >> THANK YOU SO MUCH. LET'S

GIVE THEM A ROUND OF APPLAUSE. >> I THINK THAT IS ALL FOR THE RESOLUTIONS. NOW WE WILL TAKE PICTURES.

>> WE WILL CONTINUE WITH THE AGENDA . WE ARE GOING TO GO

[Appearances before court ]

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SPORTS AUTHORITY BOARD. >> MY NAME IS FRIEDMAN.

>> I AM HERE TO REPRESENT THE SPORT AUTHORITY , WE COMPLETED A GREAT FOOTBALL CHAMPIONSHIP GAME LAST NIGHT. WE ARE HAPPY TO BE HERE. THE CHARITY FOR THIS EVENT WAS HOUSTON LOVES TEACHERS. WE RAISED OVER $3 MILLION FOR HOUSTON AREA TEACHERS. THAT IS 20 SCHOOL DISTRICTS IN THE COMMUNITY THAT GOT FINANCIAL HELP. SOME WILL BE AWARDED TO TEACHERS SO THAT THEY CAN BUY SUPPLIES FOR THE CLASSROOM. AND COMMISSIONER RAMSEY DONATED $75,000, COMMISSIONER, THANK YOU SO MUCH. I AM PLEASED TO HAVE SEVERAL MEMBERS OF THE BOARD. THIS IS MORE ALICE -- SAMMY I AM SO SORRY YOU THE

TIME. >> HERE WE HAVE

FROM HOUSTON OILERS. >>

>> YES, IT HAD BEEN A WHILE AGO. IN THE BACK WE HAVE CHAD BURKE. I WANT TO THANK YOU , ESPECIALLY TO THE

COMMISSIONERS. >> THANK YOU, KENNY . TO BE HERE SATURDAY , AND SEE THAT IT WAS PACKED WITH TEACHERS.

AND YOU DID A TWO OUR EVENT WITH THEM, AND WE TRIED TO ENCOURAGE, THEY HAD SO MUCH ENTHUSIASM. AND PEOPLE WERE ACTUALLY NOTICING WHAT THEY DID. AT THAT GATHERING SATURDAY MORNING, THE MATCHUP AND THE PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN WHAT YOU ALL DID AND WHAT THE TEACHERS DID, IS APPROPRIATE.

AND ONCE AGAIN , PUBLICLY I WANT TO SAY YOU DID AN AWESOME JOB THIS WEEKEND. I WANT TO THANK EVERYONE WHO IS HERE.

WHAT A GREAT PLACE, HARRIS COUNTY.

>> I AM SORRY THAT JANICE BURKE WAS NOT ABLE TO BE WITH US TODAY, AND SHE DOES DESERVE OUR THANKS. SHE PARTICIPATED IN THE OFFICIAL TRANSFER THIS MORNING. SHE IS HANDING OFF THE BATON , TO WASHINGTON, THAT IS THE NEXT LOCATION FOR THE CHAMPIONSHIP. THIS IS PART OF THE CHARGE OF THAT SPORTS AUTHORITY, TO RAISE MONEY FOR THE COMMUNITY . ALL OF THE NUMBERS ARE NOT FINAL YET, BUT WE HAVE $200 MILLION. WE ARE DELIGHTED TO DO THAT, AND WE ARE PROUD TO BE PART OF IT, THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT. AND I DO HAVE A HELMET AND I ALSO

HAVE HATS. >> FIRST OF ALL, WHAT A GREAT

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WE BRING EVERYONE ALONG. >> I APPRECIATE IT BUT WE HAVE MORE EVENTS COMING. NEXT WE HAVE THE WORLD CUP , WE'VE BEEN WORKING ON THIS FOR OVER 10 YEARS . I THINK IT WILL BE

FABULOUS FOR THE COMMUNITY. >> THANK YOU GUYS SO MUCH.

>> ONE QUICK THING, AND THIS IS PERSONAL, BUT WHEN WE TALK ABOUT HOUSTON LOVES TEACHERS, I WANT TO

>> THANK YOU, LINDA. WE DO HAVE A HELMET FROM THE EVENT THAT WE WOULD LIKE TO GIVE TO THE COMMISSIONERS TO KEEP THEIR

WE HAVE SOME OTHER GOODIES. >> THANK YOU.

>> THIS IS A GREAT LOGO BY THE WAY.

>> THIS IS GOING TO GO TO THE COMMISSIONERS.

>> THOSE ARE FOR THE OTHER COMMISSIONERS.

>> I REMEMBER THIS ALL TOO OFTEN.

>> THIS IS AMAZING. >> DO WE HAVE ANYBODY ELSE WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A COMMENT? AND THANK YOU, WITH AND CONGRATULATIONS TO A WONDERFUL EVENT LAST NIGHT.

>> COMMISSIONER GARCIA? >> THANK YOU TO KITTY AND ALL OF THE BOARD MEMBERS, IT IS GREAT TO SEE YOU. I APPRECIATE THE TIME AND EFFORT THAT YOU PUT INTO THIS. THE ONLY DOWNSIDE TO THE EVENT , THAT DID NOT WORK OUT, WAS UT , SO DO NOT LET THAT HAPPEN AGAIN .

>>

>> BUT LISTEN, CONGRATULATIONS AND THANK YOU FOR ALL THAT YOU

DO. >> COMMISSIONERS, I WOULD LIKE

TO TAKE PICTURES. >> TIFFANY, WE ARE GOING TO CONTINUE WITH THE SPEAKERS.

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>> FIRST IS JACOB, SPEAKING ON ITEMS NUMBER ONE AND NUMBER THREE.

>> HE IS MAKING HIS WAY UP.

>> I WAS LOOKING, BUT FIRST MY NAME IS JACOB, I WAS LOOKING PRESCHOOL . IT SAYS , ALL THAT HOLDS AUTHORITY IN THE NATION AND THE WORLD.

HONORING LAW ENFORCEMENT , THE POLICE OFFICERS. I ALSO WANT TO AUTOGRAPH THIS PAPER FOR ME. WE ARE GOING TO HANG THIS WITH OTHER CELEBRITIES. I HOPE YOU

WILL LIKE THAT. >> THANK YOU. >> YOU WILL HAVE TO LOOK AT

THE BOTTOM. >> NOT THE BASEBALL. >> I LOVE IT. THANK YOU.

>> NEXT WE HAVE SONIA , SPEAKING ON ITEM 0227 . >> LET ME START BY SAYING I DO

NOT HAVE A GIFT. >> DEPUTY CEO IN THE HOUSTON AREA WOMEN'S CENTER, COMMUNITY-BASED ORGANIZATION THAT PROVIDES SERVICES TO DOMESTIC ABUSE COMMUNITY. WE ARE GOING TO BUILD THIS INFRASTRUCTURE, AND DEVELOP PROTOCOLS. ON BEHALF OF THE TEAM I WANT TO THANK ALL OF YOU, THE COMMISSIONERS, FOR THIS SPECIAL VIOLENCE IS A PUBLIC HEALTH PROBLEM , IT AFFECTS ADULTS, SURVIVORS, BOTH MEN AND WOMEN.

IT IS ESTIMATED THAT TWO OUT OF THREE RAPES ARE NOT

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THE RECOMMENDATION WILL GUIDE THE TEAM'S EFFORTS TO EXPAND TRAUMA INFORM HEALING PRACTICES TO ALIGN WITH THE MISSION. WE ARE PLEASED THAT THE HARRIS COUNTY CERT IS HERE, WE KNOW THAT THE COURT IS GOING TO HELP US STAY ACCOUNTABLE .

>> SEWING YOU DEATH -- SONJA, I APPRECIATE YOUR REMARKS. I WANT TO THANK ALL OF THE OTHER AGENCIES WHO HAVE BEEN ACTIVELY WORKING ON THIS FOR DECADES. WHAT YOU DO IS COMMENDABLE. AND THE CERT ALLOWS US TO HAVE ACCOUNTABILITY. SO I APPRECIATE YOUR SERVICE AND EVERYTHING THAT YOU HAVE DONE OVER THE YEARS.

>> THANK YOU. >> JUST STAY CALM AND, -- COMMENT, WITH MENTAL HEALTH, IT IS ABOUT AWARENESS, LIKE WHAT IS DEPRESSION OR ANXIETY . SOMETIMES THEY DO NOT REALIZE THAT THEY HAVE A PROBLEM. IT IS SIMILAR TO DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, FOLKS THINK IT IS ALWAYS PHYSICAL VIOLENCE, BUT THERE IS EMOTIONAL VIOLENCE AND ABUSE, ECONOMICAL ABUSE, AND PSYCHOLOGICAL ABUSE. I AM CURIOUS WHAT YOU CAN DO IN TERMS OF RAISING AWARENESS .

SO THEY DO NOT TALK THEMSELVES OUT AND GETTING HELP? >> I THINK THAT IS IMPORTANT, AWARENESS. FOR BOTH DOMESTIC ABUSE, SEXUAL ABUSE AND TRAFFICKING. WE KNOW THAT THESE CRIMES ARE NOT REPORTED OR UNDERREPORTED, SOMETIMES THE SURVIVOR IS BLAMED FOR THE ABUSE. SO THIS PARTICULAR CERT TEAM DOES INCLUDE ORGANIZATIONS , YOU KNOW, IT ALSO INCLUDES AND OTHER MENTAL HEALTH ORGANIZATIONS TO ENSURE THAT PEOPLE ARE GETTING ACCESS ONCE THE SURVIVORS COME TO AN ORGANIZATION, IT IS ACCESSING RESOURCES WITHIN THE COMMUNITY AND HELP THEM NAVIGATE THE SYSTEM. AND BRINGING UP AWARENESS TO THE ISSUE IS

IMPORTANT BUT WE HAVE TO BE ABLE TO DO IT AS A COLLECTIVE. >> LET US KNOW IF THERE IS A

WAY THAT WE CAN HELP, K THANYOU COMMISSIONERS. >> THANK YOU.

>> NEXT WE HAVE ANGEL FLORISTS . >> GOOD MORNING. I REPRESENT HARRIS COUNTY SOCIAL WORKERS BOARD.THANK YOU TO YOUR EFFORTS, THE BOARD WAS PASSED IN 2021. WE WERE ABLE TO GET OUR FIRST QUARTER MEMBERS SUPPORT , WE HAVE QUALIFIED PEOPLE FROM THE COUNTY, TO REPRESENT THE DIVERSE COMMUNITY. THE BOARD WILL BE FULL BY THE END OF 2023. WE LEARNED STRATEGIES AND RECEIVE RESOURCES ON POLICY, REVIEW

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>> THANK YOU. >> I AM EXCITED TO SEE THIS COME TO FRUITION.

>> THANK YOU. >> NEXT WE HAVE MIKE DOYLE TALKING ON 283 .

>> GOOD MORNING. MY NAME IS MIKE DOYLE, FROM THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY. WE WANT ALL OF OUR ELECTION VOTERS, TAXPAYERS, AND I AM HERE BECAUSE WE HAVE IN THIS COUNTY INCLUDING THE RECENT CITY ELECTION, AND THIS INCLUDES THE REPUBLICAN PARTY, WE HAVE A SYSTEM WHERE WE SHARE, A THEIR PAY IN HALF, AND MORE IMPORTANTLY LEAD TO GUARANTEEING PROBLEMS IN THE SELECTION , AND WE KNOW IN THE PAST YEAR, WITH 21 LAWSUITS , REJECTED IN THE COURT OF LAW, ON HOW THE POWER ELECTIONS ARE DONE. IT WAS AN ATTEMPT TO MAKE SURE THAT THE SELECTION DOES NOT WORK IN THE WAY IT NEEDS TO. IT WILL COST MORE TO THE TAX PLAYERS. THE ELECTION WORKERS WILL HAVE THEIR PAY CUT IN HALF. TO ENSURE INAUDIBLE ] HAS THE RESOURCES THAT THIS BLATANT ATTEMPT TO ATTACK THE VOTING SYSTEM. YOU NEED MORE RESOURCES, AND MORE

>> THANK YOU. >> CARED RICHARDSON . >> MY NAME IS KAREN RICHARDSON. I AM AN ELECTIVE WHICH IS AN ORGANIZATION THAT COMPRISE OVER 700 WATER DISTRICT NUMBER I COME HERE TODAY WITH THE CONCERNED WITH THE GENERAL ELECTION. IN THE PAST FOUR YEARS THE COUNTY CONDUCTS THIS ELECTION ON BEHALF OF THE WATER DISTRICT, AND OTHER DISTRICTS, HE CAME TO OUR ATTENTION THAT THIS THEY WILL HAVE TO PAY ELECTED OFFICIALS , AND CHANGE OUT VOTING MACHINES. MANY OF MY COLLEAGUES WILL SPEAK ON THIS FRANCHISE ISSUES . WE EMPLOY THE COUNTY TO DO THE RIGHT THING, TO HAVE

HAVE THE RESOURCES TO CONDUCT ELECTIONS. >> RIDGE EDEN ADAMS , YOU

HAVE ONE MINUTE. >> WE ARE A GENERAL COUNSEL TO EMERGENCY ELABORATE ON THE CONCERN, IT WILL COST THE TAXPAYER MORE TO PAY LAW FORMS TO CONDUCT ELECTIONS, LAWS AND PROCEDURES MUST BE FOLLOWED. IT IS THE SAME COST TO PROCESS MAILING

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THE CLERK'S OFFICE . >> THIS ELECTION CANNOT BE CONDUCTED WITHOUT MACHINES OR WORKERS. THE COUNTY HAS LEASED EQUIPMENT FOR THE PAST 10 YEARS. AS OF TODAY THE VENDORS WILL NO LONGER IS TOO LATE. IF THE COUNTY RUN ELECTION WAS HELD, THEY WOULD WORK WITH THE COUNTY,

INAUDIBLE ] >> MY NAME IS MONICA, I AM AN ATTORNEY. WE REPRESENT WATER DISTRICT . I AM HERE LIKE MY COLLEAGUES TO DISCUSS THE MAY ELECTION. AND THIS MIGHT RESULT, IF THE COUNTY CLERK DOES NOT OFFER SERVICES. IT IS OUR UNDERSTANDING THAT THE COUNTY CLERK AGREED TO REFUSE THE SAME OPPORTUNITY TO LOCAL JURISDICTION, THOSE ENTITIES WILL HAVE NO CHOICE BUT TO CONDUCT THEIR OWN ELECTION. THE RESULT OF THIS THE VOTER WILL RECEIVE A BALLOT, FROM SEPARATE GOVERNMENT ENTITIES, AND IF THEY WANT TO VOTE IN PERSON

THEY WILL HAVE TO GO TO FOUR DIFFERENT LOCATIONS. >> THANK YOU.

>> RUTH ALICE >> THANK YOU OPFOR THIS PORTUNITY TO ADDRESS YOU, I AM THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE WATER BOARD IN TEXAS. WE DO EDUCATION AND ADVOCACY , WE ARE THAT BEAKER FOR BIPARTISAN ISSUE . IT IS NOT TRANSPARENCY. THIS IS TO GIVE A VOICE TO OUR CONSTITUENTS.

WE ARE HOPEFUL THAT THE COUNTY WILL COLLABORATE ON THIS ISSUE TO MAKE IT EASY AS POSSIBLE FOR THE VOTER. AND TO ENCOURAGE THEM TO VOTE . SO THAT THEIR VOICE IS HEARD. THAT IS WHAT

WE WANT TO ACCOMPLISH. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. >> I THINK THIS IS THE LAST

SPEAKER? >> NO, THERE IS ONE MORE. >> TAYLOR CABIN ARE --

INAUDIBLE ] >> WE DO ADVOCACY WORK FOR THE WATER DISTRICT, WE HAVE 300 DISTRICTS IN THE COUNTY, WE REPRESENT ABOUT 700,000 REGISTERED VOTERS WERE I LOOKED ON LOT OF PEOPLE. WE WANT TO HAVE COST SAVINGS, AND THE STATE ELECTION TO BE

>> JUDGE, I WOULD LIKE TO ASK IF WE COULD GET -- >> THIS IS IN MY FULL REPORT.

THANK YOU SO MUCH, AS YOU CAN SEE THE COUNTY CLERK IS A BUSY PERSON RIGHT NOW. AND IN 2024, WE HAVE MANY ELECTIONS THAT WE HAVE TO CONDUCT. THE CLERK'S OFFICE WILL CONDUCT, WHAT IS REQUIRED BY LAW, THE PRIMARY ELECTIONS, AND 15 SPECIAL ELECTIONS, BUT HAVE NOT YET

[01:05:08]

AND THE STATE REQUIRED ELECTIONS, WILL WHAT WE FOCUS ON. HERE ARE SOME OTHER ITEMS TO KNOW. WE STARTED WORKING IN THE PRIMARY IN THE FALL, AND I WILL TALK MORE ABOUT THAT IN THE FULL REPORT. ALL OF THE EQUIPMENT AND RESOURCES HAVE TO BE READY FOR THE ELECTION. AND IN 2022 WE HAD 375 DAY ELECTION . AND THAT PUTS A LARGER CAPACITY ON THE ELECTION OFFICE TO HAVE ENOUGH EQUIPMENT . AND IN THIS CASE, THIS PRIMARY, THE MINIMAL AMOUNT WE WOULD HAVE TO HAVE A MINIMUM OF 500 POLLS . WE ARE STILL IN NEGOTIATION WITH BOTH POLITICAL PARTIES, WE WILL HAVE A MEETING REGARDING LOCATIONS. BECAUSE IT WAS THEIR DECISION ON WHERE THE PRIMARIES, WE CANNOT RINSE AND REPEAT AN AUDIT EQUIPMENT AFTER EVERY ELECTION NO MATTER THE SIZE OF THE ELECTION AND PREPARE FOR THE RUNOFF AND ALL OF THE OTHER ELECTIONS THAT I JUST LISTED IT IS NOT JUST A MATTER OF MAKE SURE THAT WE COVER THE VOTERS HERE. AND IT IS A MATTER OF WHAT WE HAVE IN HOUSE, WE SIMPLY DO NOT HAVE ENOUGH EQUIPMENT OR CAPACITY TO SERVE EVERYONE. AND WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE THAT WE DO IT PROPERLY. ONCE AGAIN, I HAD A CONVERSATION WITH THE STATE, LOCAL ENTITIES, TO MAKE SURE BEFORE WE CAME TO A DECISION, AND AS I COME BACK TO COURT, WE WILL TALK ABOUT WHAT WE NEED TO BE ABLE TO DO TO CONDUCT THE ELECTION FOR EVERYBODY IN THE

FUTURE. >> COMMISSIONER RAMSEY? >> THANK YOU FOR COMING DOWN TODAY. WE ARE NOT GOING TO SOLVE THIS WITHIN THE NEXT 10 MINUTES. BUT WHAT I THINK IS IMPORTANT, THAT YOU CAME DOWN AND DEFINED THE PROBLEM. FROM MY CHAIR, MY COMMITMENT IS THAT WE ARE GOING TO FIGURE THIS OUT. IT MAY NOT BE LIKE IT WAS IN 2022, AND IT MAY NOT BE THE WAY IT WAS IN 2018, 2016 OR 2014. BUT WE HAVE TO FIGURE IT OUT. WE HAVE TO SAY, AND WE WILL HELP TO TRY TO FIGURE OUT WHAT YOUR OPTIONS ARE AND WHAT CAN BE DONE. BUT ONCE AGAIN, TO THE CLERK, THANK YOU FOR WHAT YOU ARE DOING. AND WE KNOW THAT YOU DO NOT KNOW

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AND ONCE AGAIN WE HAVE NEW THINGS AND DIFFERENT THINGS, AND WE HAVE TO SIT IN A ROOM AND TRY TO FIGURE IT OUT. THANK YOU FOR WHAT YOU ARE DOING TO HELP US TODAY.

>> THANK YOU. >> SINCE WE ARE TALKING ABOUT THIS ITEM , SINCE WE ARE TALKING ABOUT THIS ITEM, I WOULD LIKE TO MOVE THAT WE CONSIDER THE ITEM RIGHT NOW.

>> WE HAVE MORE SPEAKERS RIGHT NOW. AND WE ARE HAVING A CONVERSATION BEHIND THE SCENES.

I DO NOT WANT TO BE RUSHED. BECAUSE THE SPEAKERS ARE WAITING. I REALLY WANT TO DATE

INDICATE THE TIME TO THIS TOPIC. >> I WOULD LIKE TO RECAP

DECEMBER , FOR THE PRIMARY. >> I WILL SPEAK FOR MYSELF, AT LEAST I WOULD LIKE TO DISSECT THIS QUESTION OF THE SPECIAL DISTRICT AND THE QUESTION OF THE JOINT PRIMARY.

AND UNDERSTAND Y THE ISSUES AND WHAT WE FULLCAN DO. I FEEL LIKE WE NEED TIME. CLERK, IT IS MY UNDERSTANDING THAT YOU ARE AVAILABLE WHENEVER YOU ARE FREE, WE WILL BREAK FROM WHAT WE ARE DOING AND HAVE A CONVERSATION WITH YOU. DOES THAT WORK WITH YOU?

>> IT WOULD BE HELPFUL IF I COULD DO IT RIGHT NOW, I DO HAVE A MEETING WITH THE STATE THIS AFTERNOON. MOST OF MY REPORT WILL PROBABLY ANSWER YOUR QUESTIONS .

>> HOW MANY SPEAKERS DO WE HAVE LEFT? >> WE HAVE THREE.

>> WE ARE GOING TO FINISH WITH THE SPEAKERS. THAT WAY WE DO NOT KEEP THE SPEAKERS WAITING.

>> NEXT WE HAVE PAULA GARCIA. SHE IS GOING TO USE AN INTERPRETER. YOU HAVE ONE

MINUTE. >> GOOD MORNING COMMISSIONERS. I AM HERE TODAY TO ASK IF YOU CAN YOU FORGET ABOUT THE TRUTH . THE ECONOMIC CRISIS . AND REMEMBER PRICES ARE GOING UP .

SO THAT PAYMENTS ARE LOW. WE ARE JUST SURVIVING . SO WHAT I AM ASKING , TO EXTEND THE PROGRAM, SO THAT WE CAN HELP THE LIVES OF OUR FAMILY IN THE COUNTY . EVERY SINGLE FAMILY DESERVES TO HAVE FOOD ON THE TABLE. IT IS HARD TO MAKE PAYMENT ON WATER , INSURANCE, BECAUSE OF EVERYTHING THAT IS GOING ON. THANK YOU SO MUCH.

>> THANK YOU. >> NEXT WE HAVE HANNAH . YOU HAVE ONE MINUTE.

>> GOOD MORNING AND HAPPY NEW YEAR. I AM HERE AGAIN TO CALL THE COMMISSIONERS AND DEMAND A

[01:15:20]

>> NEXT WE HAVE ALEXA. >> YOU HAVE ONE MINUTE. >> I AM HERE TO SPEAK ON PUBLIC SAFETY. WE NEED TO BE ABLE TO ELECT WHAT THE PEOPLE WANT. MR. DOYLE DOES NOT REPRESENT ME. THERE WERE ACTIONS THAT CONTINUE , AND MY POOL THERE WERE 13 EMPLOYEES, BUT ONLY 12 PEOPLE WHO WERE VOTING. OBVIOUSLY THAT IS A WASTE OF TAXPAYERS MONEY. THE NOVEMBER ELECTION, 24 MACHINES WOULD JUST SIT IN THE ROOM. I HAVE CONFIDENCE THAT WE WILL BE WHERE WE NEED TO BE ON ELECTION DAY. THE REPUBLICAN PARTY DOES HAVE THE RIGHT TO

HAVE A SEPARATE ELECTION. >> YOUR TIME IS UP. >> NEXT WE HAVE ANDREW

PATTERSON, AND YOU HAVE ONE MINUTE. >> THANK YOU. COMMISSIONERS, FIRST OF ALL CONGRATULATIONS. I AM HERE FOR THE SUIT IS IN -- HERE FOR THE CITIZENS. WE CAN ADD A $10 MILLION BONUS TO THE ECONOMY IF CERTAIN ACTIONS ARE TAKEN, INFRASTRUCTURE HERE IN THE COUNTY, AND THE CITY OF HOUSTON. YOU WANT TO BUILD A GREATER HOUSTON IN THE FUTURE, YOU HAVE TO GO AHEAD AND TAKE CARE OF THESE THINGS FIRST OF ALL. WATER COSTS APPROXIMATELY $1 MILLION. YOU HAVE TO LOOK AT PIPE REPAIR, PIPE REPAIR ARE BEING DONE IN JAPAN AND CALIFORNIA TO PREVENT RUPTURE IN THE PIPES, THIS IS WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO SEE DONE HERE.

BECAUSE IF THERE IS A RUPTURE PEOPLE WILL NOT HAVE WATER. THANK YOU.

>> AND I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU TO ALL OF THE SPEAKERS. COOLER, IT SENDS LIKE --

[Departments (Part 2 of 2)]

>> YES, BUT I DO HAVE INFORMATION THAT YOU NEED THAT WILL LEAD UP TO THE NEXT QUARTER. IN TERMS OF THE REPORT, WE HAVE TRANSPARENT AND FAIR ELECTION. THIS ELECTION WAS UNDER THE COUNTY PROGRAM TO ALLOW PROGRAMS GOING TO SEE THIS FROM NOW ON, IS LONG AS WE CAN IN HARRIS COUNTY WE R THINK OU STAKEHOLDERS EVERYWHERE. AND VOTER REGISTRARS, THE COUNTY'S OFFICE, HUMAN SERVICES, LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES, BUDGET MANAGEMENT AND ADMINISTRATION. THIS LAST ELECTION ERWE HAVE 41 CENTS, AND THE TREND IS THAT THE EARLY BUDDING CALOCATIONS AE USED ON LOTION. THEY WILL RETURN TO THAT

[01:20:07]

THERE WAS A COMPREHENSIVE VOTER EDUCATION CAMPAIGN. WE HAD IT ON RADIO, SOCIAL MEDIA, AND EMAIL FACT SHEETS. FOR TRAINING AND RECRUITMENT, THE STAFF HAS 800 JUDGES PER 900 ELECTION DAYS. AND APPOINTED NOVEMBER ELECTION. THIS IS A PROGRAM THAT WE WANT TO CONTINUE AND UTILIZE AND ENHANCE AS WE LEARN ABOUT THE CAPABILITIES WITH THE SERVICE PROGRAM. THE OVERALL TURNOUT IN DECEMBER, WAS OVER 200,000 VOTERS . $68,000 , I AM SORRY, 68,000 VOTED ON ELECTION DAY . THIS WAS THE TURNOUT FOR THE RUNOFF ELECTION. THAT IS PRETTY MUCH THE DETAILS OF THE RUNOFF, I DO NOT KNOW IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS. DO YOU HAVE

ANY QUESTIONS QUESTION >> DID YOU HAVE A COPY? >> YES, I DO HAVE A COPY FOR

YOU. >> I HAVE A QUESTION NOT ON THE RUNOFF BUT I HAVE A

QUESTION REGARDING PRIMARIES. >> WITH THE FACILITY, THAT I BROUGHT UP SINCE THE LAST UPDATE. AND WE ARE MEETING TO ADDRESS THE ELECTIONS DEPARTMENT, THIS INCLUDES THE COUNTY HELP OF INTRADAY DASH -- WITH THE HELP OF ENGINEERING WE WILL LOOK AT CONDUCTING ] AND HAVE SHORT-TERM AND LONG-TERM PLANS FOR THE NEXT JANUARY REPORT, WE WILL ASK PERMISSION TO WORK TOWARDS THE SHORT-TERM , LONG-TERM PLANS . WORKING WITH THE FACILITIES THAT WE HAVE, ENGINEERING HELP US IDENTIFY PERFORM A GOOD PRIMARY ELECTION. YOU KNOW THAT ELECTIONS WERE CONDUCTED IN 2024, LATE IN NOVEMBER, I MET WITH BOTH THE DEMOCRAT AND REPUBLICAN PARTIES. MY REQUEST FROM BOTH PARTIES WAS TO AGREE TO A JOINT PRIMARY. WE WANT TO TO HAVE TRANSPARENCY BUT WITH THE PRIMARY ELECTIONS, BY LAW, WHERE BOTH PARTIES RUN THEIR ELECTIONS, THE COUNTY CLERK WILL PROVIDE EQUIPMENT. SINCE THOSE MEETINGS THAT DEMOCRATIC PARTY HAS CHOSEN A JOINT PRIMARY, THE REPUBLICAN WANTS SHARED LOCATIONS BUT NOT A JOINT PRIMARY . BASED ON TEXAS CODE, BOTH PARTIES HAVE TO TO AGREE A JOINT PRIMARY AND ASIN THIS CE, AND I WILL GIVE YOU THE RESULTS, ON WHAT THE PARTIES DECIDED AND ATWE KNOW TH THE CHALLENGES WE FACE.

THAT TOP TWO CHALLENGES THAT WE WILL FACE IS RECRUITING , AND THIS IS GOING TO BE UPON THE PARTIES, WE NEED MORE LOCATIONS, ANDHEY CAN VOTE ANYWHERE, JUST LIKE A GENERAL ELECTION. ON ELECTION DAY THIS MEANS, WE WILL HAVE 500 PLUS LOCATIONS GONE BUT THE LOCATIONS HAVE NOT BEEN SETTLED, WE WILL GET CLOSER TO THAT IN THE FUTURE. AND THAT MEANS WITH SHARED LOCATIONS, THAT MEANS BOTH PARTIES WILL BE ABLE TO GO TO BOTH LOCATIONS, THERE WILL BE TWO SEPARATE LOCATIONS TO IF THEY ARE VOTING IN THE COUNTY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE BASEMENT ON ELECTION DAY, WHEN YOU WALK IN THE JOINT

[01:25:01]

AHEAD AND TAKE YOUR QUESTIONS. >> FIRST OF ALL, THANK YOU FOR EXECUTING THIS HOW MUCH TIME, IF THE PARTY WANTED TO CHANGE, NO WE ARE GOING TO HAVE NOT ONLY A SHARED LOCATION BUT A SHARED JOINT PRIMARY, WHAT IS THE DEADLINE FOR THAT DECISION?

>> SO THE DEADLINE THAT I GAVE WAS BEFORE THE HOLIDAYS BUT WE DO HAVE A MEETING WITH BOTH PARTIES TOMORROW TO DISCUSS NEGOTIATIONS AND CONTRACTS. AND FOR EVERY , LET'S SAY WE LISTEN TO EVERYTHING IN THE MEETING WE ARE GOING TO GO AHEAD AND DO A JOINT PRAYER, WE WOULD HAVE TO DO IT TOMORROW. THE REPUBLICAN PARTY HAS MADE THEIR DECISION. I AM OPEN FOR US TO HAVE A DISCUSSION. AND TOMORROW WE WILL GET DOWN INTO THE CUSP OF WHAT THIS MEANS IN

TERMS OF NUMBERS. >> I SEE THIS AS A LOGISTIC CHALLENGE. SO THE DEADLINE , LET'S SAY IN THE NEXT 24 HOURS THE DECISION DOES NOT CHANGE, WE HAVE TO ADMINISTER THESE DECISIONS. YOU SAID NOT HAVING ENOUGH EQUIPMENT . SO DOES THAT MEAN THE 500 LOCATIONS, WHATEVER EQTHE UIPMENT THAT WE HAVE, LDWE WOU HAVE TO DIVIDE IT BASED ON HISTORIC DATA?

>> THAT IS CORRECT. THE EQUIPMENT THAT WE HAVE IS THE EQUIPMENT THAT WE HAVE ONLY .

AND IT WILL BE BASED ON HISTORICAL DATA. AND ONCE AGAIN, WE NOTICED SOMETHING IMPORTANT. ON ELECTION DAY WE CANNOT PUT EVERY SINGLE PIECE OF EQUIPMENT IN E THE FIELD, BECAUSE WE HAVTO HAVE BACKUP EQUIPMENT IF A LOCATION HAS A CHALLENGE AND NEEDS MORE EQUIPMENT, OR LET'S SAY A SCANNER DOES NOT WORK WE WOULD HAVE TO BRING IN NEW EQUIPMENT.

SO THIS IS FOR ANY ISSUES THAT COME UP ON ELECTION DAY, THAT IS THE BACKUP THE MAJORITY OF

THE EQUIPMENT IS GOING TO BE IN THE FIELD. >> WHAT PERCENTAGE THAT WOULD

HAVE TO BE BACKUP? >> AT LEAST 20% . AND THIS IS AN EARLY ESTIMATE, AND ONCE

AGAIN I WILL HAVE EXACT NUMBERS AND EXACT ESTIMATE COST. >> WHAT ABOUT PHYSICAL SPACE REALITY? DO YOU HAVE A CONCERN WITH THE 500 LOCATIONS? AND WE HAVE TO HAVE TWO SEPARATE ROWS OF MACHINES, DO YOU HAVE ANY SPACE CONSTRAINTS OR CHALLENGES THAT WE SHOULD BE

AWARE OF? >> THAT IS A CHALLENGE THE REALITY , SOME FACILITIES WILL SAY WE HAVE THIS AMOUNT OF SPACE. WE WOULD LIKE IT TO BE IDEAL, YOU KNOW, THAT THE FACILITIES DO HAVE TO AGREE TO CONTRACT WITH US, BUT NOT ALL OF THE SPACES WILL ALLOW FOR BOTH PARTIES TO BE IN THE SAME ROOM. WHILE IT IS A SHARED LOCATION, AND I AM GRATEFUL FOR

[01:30:09]

AND OUR CHALLENGE RIGHT NOW, IS TO WORK ON THOSE LOCATIONS. >> THE LAST LOCATION IS COST. BECAUSE OF THE SHARED PRIMARY. WE HEARD COMMENTS ABOUT WE NEED MORE ELECTION

WORKERS . >> WHAT I DID WITH THE PARTIES AFTER WE HAD THE FIRST MEETING, WE HAD A PROPOSAL, YOU KNOW, THE PROS AND CONS. THE SHARED LOCATION VERSUS NOT SHARED.

WE CAN PAY THE ELECTION WORKERS WHAT THEY MAKE IN NOVEMBER . AND THEY ARE STATE-FUNDED, THE AMOUNT THAT WE SPEND IN NOVEMBER IS NOT WHAT WE WILL SPEND IN MARCH. A WORKER WILL MAKE $12 AN HOUR, NEED TO HAVE THE SAME TRAINING, AND THEY WILL NOT GET THE $17 CHARGE, INCLUDING TRAINING. WHEN THERE IS A JOINT, YOU DO NOT HAVE TO HIRE A RECRUIT SO MANY WORKERS, THEY WILL WORK TOGETHER, SO WE ARE ABLE TO PROVIDE THE SAME AMOUNT IN NOVEMBER. AND IN THIS CASE BECAUSE IT IS SHARED BUT SEPARATE, WE HAVE TO PROVIDE THAT INCENTIVE WITH TWO SEPARATE SETUPS IN TERMS OF $17 AN HOUR TIMES TWO , SO THE PAY IS AN ITEM THAT WE LISTED UNDER CHALLENGES AS WELL AS FACILITIES AND EQUIPMENT. WE WANT TO MAKE THIS WORK FOR EVERYONE INVOLVED . AND THAT IS THE CHALLENGE THAT WE KNOW, BOTH POLITICAL PARTIES WILL HAVE IN TERMS OF HER EQUIPMENT WAS A CHALLENGE IN 2022, AND IT WAS A CHALLENGING PREVIOUS ELECTIONS BEFORE. AND THE THOUGHT THAT WE DO A JOINT PRIMARY, WE DO EVERY OTHER ELECTION AND BOTH PARTIES WILL

WORK TOGETHER. >> HOW MUCH MORE EXPENSIVE IT WOULD BE SHARED VERSUS JOINT ?

>> COOLER, ONCE AGAIN THANK YOU. I THINK YOU GAVE A GOOD SUMMARY ON THE ISSUES. I WANT TO TALK FIRST ABOUT THE PRIMARY. SO THE PRIMARY, WHEN YOU SAY SHARED LOCATION, THAT MEANS BOTH WILL CONDUCT , BOTH DEMOCRAT AND REPUBLICAN PARTY WILL CONDUCT AT THE SAME LOCATION? I HAVE NOT HEARD YOU SAY ANYTHING ABOUT SHARED EQUIPMENT AND IN FACT THEY

WILL BE ABLE TO SHARE EQUIPMENT, IS THAT TRUE? >> IN TERMS OF ELECTION DAY, WITH A SHARED LOCATION, SHARE EQUIPMENT MEANS THERE IS A SHARED ELECTION. AND IT IS NOT 10 OVER HERE IN 10 OVER THERE. THEY HAVE TO HAVE CONTROLLERS, SCANNERS, AND SO WHEN YOU START TO TALK ABOUT NOT ENOUGH EQUIPMENT THAT IS WHAT I MEAN. IN EVERY ELECTION IT IS SHARED, THEY WILL PROCESS ALL OF THE QUESTION IS THAT THEY WILL ASK, ARE YOU GOING TO VOTE IN THE DEMOCRAT OR REPUBLICAN PRIMARY QUESTION BUT IN THIS CASE LIKE TO SHARE EQUIPMENT. AND THAT WAS THE PROPOSAL THAT WAS BROUGHT FORTH, AND I KNOW, DEFTLY I ANSWERED YOUR QUESTION.

>> LET'S SAY YOU HAVE 10 ON THE REPUBLICAN SIDE, AND 10 ON THE DEMOCRATIC SIDE. AND IF ONE BREAKS DOWN, CAN YOU GAD -- GRABBED FROM THE OTHER SIDE ?

>> THE REALITY IS THAT WITH SOME OF THESE LOCATIONS WHEN YOU START SPLITTING IT MAY NOT BE 10 OR 10 , IT COULD BE 6 OR 4 AND YOU DO NOT KNOW WHAT THE TURNOUT IS TO BE IN EVERY

[01:35:05]

>> IT IS NOT GOING TO BE A JOINT, IT IS A SHARED LOCATION. WE DID PROPOSE JOINT .

>> I REMEMBER THERE WERE TWO LINES . >> WE DID A FULL MOCKUP ON WHAT THE JOINT WILL LOOK LIKE, BOTH PARTIES WILL COME IN. I EVEN SUGGESTED, YOU CAN HAVE ABE REPUBLICAN JUDGE . AND THAT PROPOSAL IS EXACTLY, YOU KNOW, I WOULD LOVE TO SEE THE FUTURE GO AND CREATE, YOU KNOW, CONSISTENCY WITH ALL OF OUR ELECTION .

>> THE REPUBLICAN PARTY WILL HAVE TO HAVE THE X NUMBER OF JUDGES, LIKE THE DEMOCRATS.

WHAT WOULD HAPPEN IF BOTH THE REPUBLICANS OR THE DEMOCRATS CANNOT FIND JUDGES?

>> THEY HAVE TO FIND SOMEONE. IT IS THE PARTY'S RESPONSIBILITY. WE WILL SUPPORT THEM , IN TERMS OF TRAINING BUT WE DO NOT HOLD THE RESPONSIBILITY LIKE WE DO

IN PRIMARY ELECTIONS. >> I DO EXPRESS CONFIDENCE IN YOUR ROWHOUSE, BECAUSE YOU HAVE DONE THIS BEFORE. I THINK THE PROBLEM TODAY IS THE MAY ELECTION, AND I MENTIONED THIS EARLIER, WE ARE HAVING AN WAS NOT FOR THIS ELECTION, COULD WE NOT DO A SPECIAL PURPOSE DISTRICT ELECTION?

>> IF IT WAS NOT FOR THE HCAD , I TELL YOU RIGHT NOW WE ARE GOING TO HAVE CONSTRAINTS WITH EQUIPMENT AND WE WILL NOT BE ABLE TO DO THE ENTITY ELECTIONS WITH OR WITHOUT IT. AND AFTER I MET WITH THE STATE, WE HAVE TO HAVE A REDUCED AMOUNT OF POLLING LOCATIONS, AND EVEN THEN WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE THAT WE WORK WITH TEAMS, LIKE THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE, TO GIVE US THE CLEARANCE IF WE HAVE ENTITIES, IT COULD BE 30 ENTITIES , THAT WOULD BE ADDITIONAL BALLOTS, ADDITIONAL LOCATIONS, WORKERS, TRAINING AND THINGS OF THAT NATURE. WHEN I SAY NOT ENOUGH EQUIPMENT I AM

TALKING ABOUT NOT HAVING CAPACITY. >> THE PROBLEM WAS CLEARLY DEFINED, 700 -- 70,000 VOTERS WHO CANNOT VOTE, AND THAT IS GOING TO BE A BIG PROBLEM. WHAT WAS USED PRIOR TO THE EQUIPMENT, THAT COULD BE USED DURING THIS ELECTION, SO WE HAVE TO FIGURE OUT IF YOUR OFFICE CAME RUNNING , FOR ALL OF THE REASONS THAT YOU JUST SAID, WHAT ENTITIES CAN DO THIS ? IS THERE A ENTITY OUT THERE THAT CAN MUSTER ALL OF THE RESOURCES FOR THE SPECIAL ENTITIES? AND THERE ELECTIONS? WE WANT TO WALK OUT HERE, WE KNOW WHAT THE ISSUES ARE, FOR EVERYTHING, BUT THE ENTITY ELECTIONS. THAT KEEPS ME UP AT NIGHT. IN MY SPREE SING -- DISTRICT, WE WANT THEM TO HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO VOTE. AND IT IS THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE BOARD, RIGHT NOW WE DO NOT HAVE A PLAN. AND THEY DO NOT KNOW HOW ARE THEY ARE GOING TO RUN IT. WE ARE THE COUNTY . WE HAVE TO WORK WITH THEM, NOT TO

[01:40:06]

>> THE ASSESSOR'S OFFICE IS REPRESENTATION TODAY. THEY CAN PROVIDE THE VOTER ] TO ALL OF THE ENTITIES TO BE ABLE TO RUN THEIR ELECTIONS, AND WE CAN PROVIDE THAT MAIL PIECE. THE CLERK'S OFFICE HAS NOT RUN ENTITY ELECTIONS ON AN EVEN YEAR, IT IS ALWAYS ODD YEARS. WITH THOSE MACHINES, THOSE ENTITIES THAT HAVE MACHINES IN HOUSE CAN STILL USE THOSE BYLAW UNTIL 2025. THAT WILL GIVE THEM THE CAPABILITY TO UTILIZE THIS EQUIPMENT UNTIL NEXT YEAR. THE OVERALL END GOAL IS THAT WE NEED TO ACQUIRE MORE EQUIPMENT

TO BE ABLE TO DO ELECTIONS. >> ENTITY ELECTIONS WERE HANDLED BY

NOT IN 2020 . >> YOU ARE RIGHT, NOT IN 2020.

>> 2060? >> >> LEGISLATION HAS CHANGED DRASTICALLY SINCE 2018, THEY ARE DIFFERENT ITEMS. THE LEGISLATION THAT IMPACTS US RIGHT NOW IS 924, AND IT REQUIRES US TO HAVE MORE EQUIPMENT AND RESOURCES IN THE FIELD FOR OTHER ELECTIONS BUT ALL OF THESE ELECTIONS WILL RUN IN TANDEM WITH EACH OTHER. AND I CANNOT PULL EQUIPMENT FROM THE PRIMARY RUNOFF, YOU KNOW, WE CANNOT PAY PETER TO PAY PAUL. EVERY ELECTION WILL BE ORGANIZED. AND ONCE AGAIN WE CANNOT MEASURE WHAT HAPPEN IN 2018 THAT WILL HAPPEN IN 2024. SO MANY ASPECTS OF THE PROCESS HAS CHANGED.

>> I GOT IT. >> COMMISSIONER GARCIA? >> THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE AND ANSWERING QUESTIONS. I WANT TO BEGIN WITH , THIS IS A RARE TIME THAT I AGREE WITH SENATOR COURT AND OTHER REPUBLICAN LEADERS. YOU HAVE SHOWN THAT YOU CAN RUN AN ELECTION. SO THANK YOU FOR YOUR WORK AND YOUR LEADERSHIP. AND YOUR RESPECTIVE TEAM AS WELL. I AM TRYING TO UNDERSTAND SO THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY HAS APPROVED A JOINT ELECTION, BUT THE REPUBLICAN PARTY HAS NOT. THEY WANT TO HAVE A SHARED LOCATION. WHAT ARE YOU BEING TOLD FUNDAMENTAL REASON FOR NOT HAVING A JOINT ELECTION?

>> I THINK THE REPUBLICAN PARTY, THEY CAN SPEAK TO THIS BETTER THAN I CAN, MOST OF THEIR REASONING IS GIVING ME INFORMATION ABOUT THE PLACE IN 2022. THE PRIMARY AT THAT TIME, ALL OF THE INFORMATION , AND THE CHALLENGES THAT TOOK PLACE ON ELECTION DAY, WAS NOT A JOINT PRIMARY. EVERYTHING FROM RECRUITING ELECTION WORKERS TO CHALLENGES WITH THE EQUIPMENT, AND THE RESPONSE TIME TO THOSE CHALLENGES TO THE EQUIPMENT, THERE IS A LIST OF CONCERNS, WHICH I BELIEVE IS ANOTHER REASON WHY WE NEED A JOINT PRIMARY. SO WE ARE NOT EXTENDED IN TERMS OF RESOURCES AND CAPACITY. MOST OF IT IS BASED OFF THE CONCERNS THAT THEY HAD THAT THEY EXPERIENCED IT 2022 ELECTIONS. IT GOES BACK TO THE REASON WHY I SUGGEST THAT WE DO

A JOINT PRIMARY. >> IS THIS SOMETHING THAT MONEY IS GOING TO SOLVE?

>> NO, SIR. THERE IS NO AMOUNT OF MONEY THAT WE CAN PUT ON THIS TO GET EQUIPMENT ON TIME.

WE DO NEED MORE EQUIPMENT, AND WE ARE WORKING ON THE FACILITY. WE ARE ALREADY WORKING TOWARDS THE END GOAL. WE CANNOT PUT MONEY ON SOMETHING RIGHT NOW AND HAVE IT IN TIME FOR EVERYONE SELECTIONS. HOWEVER, THE END GOAL IS THAT WE BE ABLE TO TALK ABOUT THE RESOURCES, TO BE BETTER IN NOVEMBER . AND PREPARE FOR 10 YEARS FROM NOW .

>> SO WE DO HAVE TO GIVE YOU SOME MONEY, THAT WILL BE NECESSARY, IF BOTH PARTIES

[01:45:08]

CAN AGREE TO JOINT ELECTION. >> I WILL COME BACK WITH ESTIMATES, AND WHAT WE NEED FOR ANY ITEM, WHETHER IT IS TRAINING TO ADDITIONAL WORKERS. AND WE WILL HAVE A THOROUGH

BREAKDOWN ON WHAT THAT WILL LOOK LIKE . >> HAS ONE PARTIES SPRAWL GOLD

-- PARTY STRUGGLED MORE? >> WHAT I HAVE LEARNED FROM THE STAFF, IT IS IMPACTING BOTH SIDES. AND BOTH SIDES HAVE ADMITTED THAT THIS IS A CHALLENGE. I CANNOT TELL YOU FROM MY EXPERIENCE, WHICH ONE OR THE OTHER IS GOING TO HAVE A DEFICIT. WHAT I AM SAYING, I DO NOT WANT TO SEE IT DEFICIT AT ALL. AND I WANT TO MOVE THIS FORWARD.

>> TO THE ISSUE OF THE SENATOR FIXING THE ELECTION ISSUES WITH LEGISLATION, 924,

AND 924 IS HAMPERING YOU ON MOVING FORWARD? >> IN TERMS OF RESOURCES BUT ONCE AGAIN HAVING MORE LOCATIONS ON ELECTION DAY, TYPICALLY, YOU KNOW, WE CAN REDUCE THE NUMBERS QUITE A BIT IN THE PRIMARY. I HAVE TO HAVE MORE, AND WE HAVE TO NEGOTIATE ON THE SHARED LOCATIONS. AND EVERYONE WILL WANT THEIR LOCATION IN A PARTICULAR AREA FOR THEIR VOTERS. SO GOING FROM 375 TO 500 PLUS, THIS IS THE IMPACTED OF THE SERVICES.

>> JUST A LAYOUT OF THE LEGISLATION , ON 924 , YOU HAVE BEEN GIVEN A VERY COMPLICATED COMBINE PRECINCTS. AND THE CONSOLIDATION IS ONLY PERMITTED IF THE VOTING PRECINCTS SHARE THE SAME U.S. REPRESENTATIVE DISTRICT? SHARE THE SAME STATE SENATORIAL DISTRICT ? THE SAME STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION DISTRICT? AND THE SAME COUNTY COMMISSIONER PRECINCT. AND THEY WOULD NOT CROSS THE BOUNDARY OF A CITY WITH A POPULATION OF MORE THAN 10,000.

DOES THIS LEGISLATION HELP OR HURT YOUR EFFORTS TO RUN AND AFFECTED ELECTION?

>> IT DOES CREATE CHALLENGES TO RUN A TYPICAL PRIMARY. YOU NEVER KNOW HOW IT WILL WORK ON THE OUTSIDE, WE WILL MAKE SURE AND ARTICULATE TO THE COURT THE NEEDS AND IT PLACES MORE CHALLENGES IN FRONT OF US. WE ARE NOW IN A POSITION WHERE WE CAN DO ALL THE WORK THAT WE CAN TO EXECUTE ON IT , BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY IT TRAPS US AS A COUNTY.

AND ONCE AGAIN 924 IS DIFFERENT FOR MONTGOMERY COUNTY OR GALVESTON COUNTY, ALL OF THE COUNTIES COMBINED IN THE STATE OF TEXAS WILL NOT SEE THE AMOUNT OF VOTERS OR RESOURCES AND WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT THE POLLING LOCATIONS ARE ADEQUATE FOR THE COUNTY. YOU LAID IT OUT PERFECTLY. AND THE BOTTOM LINE IS THAT LEGISLATION THAT MIGHT BE WORKABLE FOR SMALLER COUNTIES, WHEN IT COMES TO HARRIS COUNTY WE ARE GOING TO HAVE TO DO MORE TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE PROPER IN COMPLETING ELECTIONS WITH INTEGRITY. I WILL SAY THERE ITI LEGISLATION AND I BELIEVE WE ARE GOING TO BE MORE ACTIVE, GOING BACK TO LEGISLATURES AND ASKING, HERE IS WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE BACK HOME, WHERE WE HAVE TO GO AND WORK IT. AND HERE IS WHAT WE NEED TO CONTINUE TO BE

>> LET ME CLOSE WITH ONE MORE QUESTION, AND I ALSO WANT TO SAY, YOU HAVE PROVEN THAT YOU CAN RUN ELECTION . THE PROOF THAT YOU RUN ELECTION, WE TRUST YOU TO RUN THE ELECTION.

[01:50:06]

>> THE FIRST MEETING WAS IN NOVEMBER, WITH BOTH PARTIES, AND THEY BOTH HAVE TO BE PART OF THE PROCESS. I CAME BACK WITH MANY PROPOSALS TO LAY IT OUT. I HAVE CALLED INDIVIDUALS THAT ARE DECISION-MAKERS IN THE PRIMARY ALONG THE WAY, IS MANY AS I CAN, COMMISSIONER RAMSEY HAS BEEN HELPFUL. HE HAS ANSWERED MY CALLS . I ASK HIS ADVICE IN TERMS OF THE PRIMARY.

AND I SAY I IN THE CLERK AND I WANT TO MAKE THIS WORK FOR EVERYBODY, TELL ME WHAT I CAN DO TO ACHIEVE THIS JOINT PRIMARY QUESTION AT THE END OF THE DAY BOTH PARTIES WILL HAVE TO MAKE A DECISION. ADD TO YOUR QUESTION, COMMISSIONER, I THOUGHT IT WAS VERY THOUGHTFUL, AND THANK YOU. I HAVE CONTACTED DIFFERENT PERSONS ACROSS THE AISLE, AND TO SAY THIS IS THE PLAN, WE ARE GOING TO FOLLOW THE LAW, WE ARE GOING TO BE IN COMPLIANCE BUT I HAVE HAD A DISCUSSION WITH THE SECRETARY OF THE STATE, ON WHAT I AM FACING, AND I SAY I NEED YOUR GUIDANCE AND I WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT WE ARE FACING CHALLENGES. AND I WILL SAY THAT THE CONVERSATION WAS FRUITFUL. I BELIEVE THAT THE REPUBLICAN PARTY DOES UNDERSTAND WHAT THE CHALLENGES WILL BE, AND WHAT WE WILL FACE. THERE IS NO MAGIC WAND. I HAVE THE COMPETENCE TO RUN THE ELECTION, BUT I AM NOT A MAGIC WAND. IN MARCH WE WILL FACE ELECTION CHALLENGES. BY NOT CHOOSING A JOINT PRIMARY WE WILL HAVE TO HAVE EARLY VOTING PROCESS, AND ON ELECTION DAY, I'M NOT GOING TO SAY WE WILL NOT HAVE CHALLENGES HIM BUT I CAN TELL YOU THAT WE ARE TO FACE CHALLENGES AND EVERYONE WILL BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR THEIR DECISIONS.

>> THOSE CHALLENGES SOUND LIKE WHAT WE HEARD PREVIOUSLY. WITH THAT SPECIAL ENTITY ELECTIONS, I GET A CALL FROM THE MAYORS IN MY PRECINCT , AND I ASKED THEM IN THE FUTURE WHEN YOU ARE MAKING A DECISION LIKE THAT, GIVE US A TRANSMITTAL. IS

THERE ANOTHER VENDOR THAT WE COULD CONTRACT? >> DOES NOT ALLEVIATE THE OWNERSHIP OF WHAT THE ENTITIES HAVE HAD TO DO IN THE PAST ON EVEN YEARS, SO AGAIN, HAI VEN'T SENT THE EMAIL STJU YET. AIAGN, I TALKED TTOHE STATE AND THEY SET THE MANDATES ON WHAT TYCOUN CLERKS ARE IRREQUED TO ORPERFM ELECTIONS AND WHAT ENTITIES ARE A T REQUIRED. THIS IS NOT REQUIREMENT BUT OTTHAT'S N WHY NOT DE THIS . DECISIONIT'S BECAUSE THE STATE DOES NOT RE QUIRE IT. I MADE THE DECISION BECAUSE WE SIMPLY DON'T THE EQUIPMENT TO BE ABLE IT. I REALLY COWISH WE ULD DO EVERYONE'S BUT IT IS ARE DEALING E WITH AND WHAVE E ONASPECT OF IT AND GI LESLATION IS AT THE TOP ITOF

. >> MADAM CLERK, FOTHANK YOU R YOUR LEADERSHIP AND YOUR THOUGHTFUL ANSWERS AND I JUST HOPE AND OUI WILL CALL T AND TH ASK E SENATOR TO PLEASE STEP IN ANDNGHELP YOU BRI THE REPUBLICAN PARTY TO A ELJOINT ECTION, PRIMARY ELECTION. K I THINTHAT IS PHYSICALLY RESPONSIBLE TO DO AND, AGAIN, YOU HAVE BEEN MISTREATED YOUR ABILITY TO RUN ELECTIONS. THAT ABILITY SHOULD DEFINE HATRUST AD I VE HOTRUST IN YOU. WE SULD ALL HAVE PETRUST IN YOU, I HO.

>> I HAVEN'T HAD A CHANCE TO SPEAK. THANK YOU. I GO WITH WHAT EVERYBODY SAID. THISIS A

[01:55:05]

>> JOINT PRIMARY AND NON-JOINT PRIMARY SEPARATE. IN 2020 WAS THE FIRST TIME THAT WE LAID OUT -- LET ME SAY THIS. THERE WAS ENCOURAGEMENT FROM JOINT PRIMARIES IN THE PAST BUT IN 2020 IT WAS THE FIRST TIME THAT WE DID A MOCK SET UP FOR EVERYONE'S OFFICES AT THE TIME TO LOOK AT WHAT THAT WOULD ENTAIL. WITH THE SET UP WITH THE LIKE. HOW IT ACTUALLY WORKED AND WHERE WE HAD A SHARED LOCATIONS, WHICH IS ALWAYS A GOOD THING BECAUSE VOTERS ARE NOT CONFUSED ON, DO I GO ON ONE SIDE TO THE OTHER BECAUSE IT WAS TOTALLY SEPARATE AND YOU CAN VOTE AT CERTAIN POLLS AND THEY CAN IS WHERE COUNTYWIDE AND WE HAVE SHARED LOCATIONS BUT, AGAIN, WHEN OF S THE BIGGEST CONCERNS AND CHALLENGES AND IUES AT THE TIME WAS, NOT ENOUGH ADEQUATE EQUIPMENT. WHEN WE SAY 512, THAT TIMES TWO, SO WE ARE LOOKING AT 1024 IN TERMS OF EQUIPMENT SET UP. THAT WAS THE FIRST TIME -- NOT THE FIRST TIME, BUT IT IS WHERE CHALLENGES SHOWED IN TERMS OF SPLITTING PER AREA, PERCY THINK AND PER AMOUNT OF REGISTERED VOTERS AND HAVING ENOUGH EQUIPMENT FOR A TURNOUT FOR

BOTH PARTIES. >> 2020 WAS A NINE JOINT PRIMARY .

>> IT WAS SHARED LOCATIONS. THAT'S CORRECT. >> THAT'S WHAT I'M UNDERSTANDING IS. IT WOULD BE HELPFUL FOR THE PUBLIC. HAVE WE HAD A LONG HISTORY OF NON-JOINT

PRIMARIES OR HAVE WE HAD A LONG HISTORY OF JOINT PRIMARIES? >> WE'VE HAD A LONG HISTORY OF

NON-JOINT PRIMARIES. >> WHAT IS THE ISSUE THIS YEAR?

>> IT'S THE SAME ISSUE IN 2020. EQUIPMENT. RECRUITMENT. WORKERS. COST. THOSE ARE THE

TOP THREE. >> WHY WAS THIS NOT AS MUCH OF AN ISSUE IN 2022 OR IT WAS.

>> IT WAS AN ISSUE IN 2022. >> IF WE LOOK BACK, THE PRIMARIES HAVE NOT BEEN SUCCESSFUL, SO TO SPEAK. THEY HAVE BEEN SECURE, BUT THEY HAVE NOT BEEN CONVENIENTLY RUN AND EFFECTIVELY RUN AND IF I'M HEARING YOU CORRECTLY, YOU ARE SAYING THE PART OF THE REASON, THE MAJOR REASON BEHIND THAT, IS THE LACK OF WILLINGNESS TO HAVE A JOINT PRIMARY AND WE CAN

JUST DO THAT AND EVERYBODY WOULD DO SO MUCH BETTER. >> THAT'S CORRECT. WE ARE

REPEATING HISTORY. >> THAT'S A GOOD WEIGHT SAYING IT AND LET ME UNDERSTAND SOMETHING ELSE. ARE WE NEARLY REPEATING HISTORY OR ARE WE EXACERBATING ERRORS OF THE PAST? I'M FEELING TO CATCH WITH THE RELEVANCE OF THE LEGISLATION AND I DON'T WANT TO EXAGGERATE. I JUST WANT TO UNDERSTAND, IS THERE A REASON WHY A NON-JOINT PRIMARY THIS YEAR STANDS TO BE BOTH SUFFICIENT THAN A NON-JOINT PRIMARY TWO YEARS AGO OR FOUR

YEARS AGO. >> TO MAKE IT SHORT AND SWEET IS, WE ARE GOING TO FACE THE CHALLENGES THAT WE FACED BEFORE. I WOULD LIKE TO SAY THAT WE MADE MANY STRIDES, IN TERMS OF MOVING THE OFFICE FORWARD AND CORRECTING SOME OF THE ISSUES WE'VE SEEN IN THE PAST, BUT THE REALITY, THOSE TOP ISSUES, LIKE YOU WERE SAYING WHETHER WE EXACERBATE THEM OR NOT IS, ON ELECTION DAY ON MARCH 5TH WITHOUT THE JOINT PRIMARY ASPECT, WE ARE GOING TO FACE THE CHALLENGES BETWEEN NOW AND MARCH 5TH, ELECTION DAY, WHERE BOTH PARTIES WILL NOT BE

[02:00:02]

ON MY OFFICE TO BE ABLE TO ADDRESS THOSE. >> I THINK, AND I WILL ASK HIM A QUESTION I WILL PASS ON TO YOU, MR. RAMSEY, BUT IT SEEMS TO ME, TWO THINGS, WHEN IS THE COMMISSIONER CAN HELP MEET WITH YOU AND CHAT WITH THE LEADERS OF THE PARTY AND SEE IF THERE IS A WAY TO TURN THE PAGE ON THIS SO WE CAN HAVE MORE EFFICIENT PRIMARIES AND I WOULD ASK YOU, CLERK, TO CONSIDER CHATTING WITH THE MEMBERS OF THE MEDIA THAT ARE HERE AND JUST MAKING IT CLEAR WHAT ARE THE CHALLENGES AND MAYBE YOU CHOOSE TO DO THIS AFTER THE FACT OR WHATEVER, BUT I THINK THAT IT'S IMPORTANT FOR THE PUBLIC TO UNDERSTAND, YOU KNOW, THIS REPETITIVE STORY. EXACTLY WHAT YOU SAID. THERE IS NOT A WORLD WHERE WE HAVE EQUAL EQUIPMENT AND WHERE WE HAVE FULLY STAFFED PRIMARIES AND WHERE WE ARE NOT REPEATING HISTORY AND I THINK WE OWE IT TO THE VOTERS TO SAY, YOU KNOW, THIS IS WHAT WE ARE SETTING OURSELVES UP FOR. WE HAVE SET OURSELVES UP FOR THIS BEFORE AND YOU CAN'T DO THIS AND EXPECT A DIFFERENT OUTCOME. ANYWAY, THAT IS JUST A THOUGHT AND IF, IN FACT, THE PARTIES DO NOT AGREE TO HAVE A JOINT PRIMARY, I WENT TO CONFIRM WITH YOU THAT WE WOULD MEET IN THE NEXT COURT AND HAVE A BUDGET FROM YOU THAT WOULD SAY, YOU KNOW, THIS IS THE ABSOLUTE BEST

WE CAN DO, WHICH IS WHAT WE'VE DONE IN THE PAST. >> THAT'S CORRECT. YES, MA'AM.

HE MENTIONED SOMETHING ABOUT THE VOTER ROLLS AND I WAS WATCHING THE FOLKS OVER HERE AND YOU SEEMED TO DISAGREE. IS THERE SOMETHING ABOUT THE TAX PROFESSOR INVITING THE ROAST?

>> WE HAVE A REPRESENTATION FROM THE TAX OFFICE HERE. NO? OKAY. OKAY. I WANTED TO MAKE SURE WE WERE ON THE SAME PAGE. THANK YOU. THAT WAS A SHORT QUESTION. CLERK, THANK YOU. LET

US KNOW HOW WE CAN HELP. >> DID COMMISSIONER RAMSEY? >> A QUICK FOLLOW-UP. AGAIN, I TRY TO PUT THINGS IN BOTTLES AND THIS IS A DIFFERENT BOX. NOT THAT WITH A SWEET NOT THAT WITH THAT. THAT'S OVER HERE IN A BOX AND WE ARE HAVING TO EXTEND RESOURCES TO DEAL WITH THAT. DOES THE JOINT PRIMARY AT ALL IMPACT OUR ABILITY TO DO ENTITY ELECTIONS?

>> NO, SIR. IT STILL IS A MATTER OF NOT HAVING ENOUGH EQUIPMENT READY.

>> YOU CAN'T SAY THAT, WELL, IF WE WOULD HAVE A JOINT PRIMARY, WE WOULD BE ABLE TO DO THE

ENTITY ELECTIONS IN MAY. YOU ARE NOT SAYING IT? >> NO, SIR. I JOINT PRIMARY IS A JOINT PRIMARY AND THIS IS THE BIGGEST AND LARGEST CAPACITY ELECTION WE WILL HAVE AND REMEMBER, HE WILL FOLLOW WITH THE RUNOFF. AGAIN, NO MATTER HOW SMALL OR LARGE, WE STILL HAVE THE SAME WORK THAT HAS TO BE DONE. YOU ARE CORRECT. BUT AS I SAY, WELL IF WE HAVE A

JOINT, WE CAN DO ENTITY ELECTIONS. >> AGAIN, THANK YOU. I'M SO HAPPY THAT THE MEDIAS HERE AND I SHARE THE SENTIMENT ON THIS AND YOU HAVE BEEN CRYSTAL CLEAR THAT WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO POSITION THIS COUNTY FOR GREATER SUCCESS THAT BOTH PARTIES WOULD AGREE ON A JOINT PRIMARY. HOWEVER, TO THE EXTENT WE DO NOT, WE HAVE CLEAR CHALLENGES WITH EQUIPMENT, STAFFING, SPACE AND IT WILL RESULT IN APPROXIMATELY DOUBLE

THE COST. >> THAT'S CORRECT. >> I'M AN OPTIMIST AND I WILL ALWAYS BE AN OPTIMIST AND I'M AN OP THE MYSTIC ABOUT BEING AN OPTIMIST BUT I HOPE IN THE NEXT 24 TO 48 HOURS, THIS LAST DEADLINE, I REALLY HOPE THAT THE REPUBLICAN VOTERS IN DEMOCRATIC VOTERS CAN BE VOCAL ABOUT THEIR DESIRE. AT THE END OF TODAY, I HOPE WE CAN TRANSCEND PARTISANSHIP BECAUSE THIS IS ABOUT LOGISTICS AND A FUNDAMENTAL RIGHT TO VOTE AND IF WE ALL AGREE THAT VOTING IS IMPORTANT AND THAT IT'S FUNDAMENTAL TO OUR DEMOCRACY, WE WENT FREE, FAIR ELECTIONS WITH INTEGRITY, I HOPE THAT AS HARRIS COUNTY ENDS AND AS

[02:05:05]

>> CLERK, THANK YOU FOR THE CHRISTMAS CONVERSATIONS, THE NEW YEAR'S CONVERSATIONS.

>> THE CLERK DIDN'T HAVE A BREAK. >> THAT'S REALLY THE REASON I PUT THE AGENDA ITEM ON TODAY. NOT THAT WE WOULD SIT HERE AND SOLVE THE PROBLEM TODAY BUT WE AT LEAST NEED TO DEFINE THE PROBLEM TODAY BECAUSE WE HAVE A CHANCE TO DO SOMETHING TODAY

THAT WE WON'T HAVE IN TWO WEEKS. >> YES, SIR.

>> THANK YOU TO THE ENTIRE COMMISSIONERS COURT ON THIS AND JUST SO YOU KNOW, I CALLED MY COLLEAGUES AND ELECTION DEMONSTRATORS ACROSS THE STATE. ARE Y'ALL DOING JOINT PRIMARIES A NEGATIVE AMOUNT OF THEM TO DO WAS ARE DOING JOINT PRIMARIES AND THE PARTIES HAVE COME TOGETHER TO DECIDE THAT THEY WILL CONTINUE WITH THIS. THANK YOU FOR THE DIALOGUE AND I LOOK

FORWARD TO COMING BACK JANUARY 30TH. >> THANK YOU, CLARK. IF YOU CAN HANG WITH US FOR A MOMENT WITH THE COUNTY ATTORNEY TO MAKE COMMENTS HIS CASE THERE'S

ANYTHING ELSE. >> YES, MA'AM. >> IT AFTERNOON. I CAME HERE TO SUPPORT THE COURT TODAY BECAUSE THIS IS GOING TO HEAVILY IMPACT MY OFFICE. THE COURT TALKED A LOT ABOUT -- YOU TALKED A LOT ABOUT HOW PEOPLE HAVE STATED PUBLICLY THAT THEY SUPPORTED THE CLERK AND THE CLERK HAS BEEN VERY CLEAR HER THAT SHE WOULD LIKE A JOINT PRIMARY BECAUSE OF THE EFFICIENCIES THAT WILL PROVIDE US AND HELP US AVOID THE MISUSE AND IF WE DON'T HAVE IT, IT COULD CREATE MANY, MANY ISSUES. FIRST, NO GOOD REASON NOT TO DO IT. AS THE CLERK MENTIONED, MANY COUNTIES HERE IN THE STATE OF TEXAS DO IT AND IT'S NOT A PARTISAN THING. DALLAS COUNTY DOES IT. SUPER BOWL COUNTY, CRANE COUNTY DOES IT.

OVERWHELMINGLY WENT FOR FORMER PRESIDENT TRUMP IN THE 2020 ELECTION. YOU HAVE PARTIES COME TOGETHER IN MANY, MANY COUNTIES, BUT THE REASON I'M HERE TODAY IS BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, IN THE PAST COUPLE OF CYCLES, WE SEEN ELECTION CONTEST AND THE AUDITS BY THE STATE AND THE CONTEST FILED HERE, THAT CREATES HUNDREDS OF HOURS OF WORK FOR OUR OFFICES.

WE ARE LOSING A LOT OF PEOPLE TO HAVE TO DO THIS TYPE OF WORK WHEN THEY COULD BE DOING OTHER STUFF TO BETTER SERVE THE RESIDENTS OF HARRIS COUNTY BECAUSE WE ARE HAVING TO DEAL WITH THESE UNSERIOUS ISSUES. THE OTHER POINT THAT THE COUNTY CLERK DID MAKE AND I'M GLAD IT SHE DIDN'T MAKE IT SO THAT I COULD BECAUSE I THINK IT'S MORE APPROPRIATE FOR ME TO MAKE IT IS, ANOTHER PIECE OF LEGISLATION THAT WAS PASSED WAS SP 1933 AND THIS IS A BILL, WHICH IS NOW WELL THAT ALLOWS THE SECRETARY OF STATE COME IN AND MICROMANAGE THE CLERK IF THERE ARE A RECURRING SET OF ISSUES THAT OCCUR IN THE ELECTIONS AND I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO VERY PUBLICLY LEVEL SET THAT THE REPUBLICAN PARTY HAS AN OPPORTUNITY TO HELP US AVOID ISSUES HERE. OKAY? IF WE ARE GOING TO GO ON TWITTER AND IN THE MEDIAN SAY THAT YOU SUPPORT THE COURT, EVERYBODY SHOULD DO THE RIGHT THING AND ACTUALLY PUT THEIR MONEY WHERE THEIR MOUTH IS. I WILL END WITH, THE METHOD OF ELECTION CONTEST BECAME DURING THE LAST AUDIT, I HAVE SENIOR MEMBERS OF MY TEAM HERE THAT ARE HAVING TO INVEST SUBSTANTIAL AMOUNT OF THEIR TIME WORKING ON THIS. WHAT OF OUR CONCERNS AND I KNOW THE CLERK SHARES THE CONCERN, IS THAT IF THERE ANY KIND OF ISSUES THAT WILL BE DOING WITH THE BLOWBACK THAT WOULD SEEM FROM STATE REPRESENTATIVES, STATE SENATORS, SO IN MY MIND, THIS IS -- YOU HAVE TWO CHOICES HERE. EITHER TO THE JOINT PRIMARY OR IF THERE ARE ISSUES THAT ARE A RESULT OF US NOT HAVING ENOUGH EQUIPMENT, THAT YOU COME TO THE TABLE AND BE HELPFUL AND COLLABORATE WITH US TO FIND SOLUTIONS AS OPPOSED TO THROW STONES. I THINK THE

COMMISSIONER HAD A QUESTION. >> JUST ONE FOLLOW-UP COMMENT. THIS IS GETTING A LITTLE PARTISAN AND WE ARE GOING TO HAVE THE CONVERSATIONS WITH REPUBLICAN PARTY AND THEY WILL EVALUATE, BUT LET'S BE REAL CLEAR. HE INHERITED A MESS, WHICH DIDN'T HAVE ANYTHING TO DO WITH THE REPUBLICAN PARTY, SO GOING FORWARD, I WOULD RATHER TALK ABOUT WHAT WE CAN

[02:10:05]

IT'S A SHAME WE DIDN'T ORDER MORE BEFOREHAND. >> POINT WELL TAKEN AND I RESPECTIVELY DISAGREE FOR O TW REASONS. ONE, IT IS PARTISAN AND THAT'S BECAUSE THE LAW MAKES PITARTISAN. WE DIDN'T CHOOSE THAT THIS WAS A W LATHAT WAS PASSED AND S HASINCE BEEN AMENDED HEBY T FOLKS ARE ON STATEMENTS THAT NOARE UN AND IT SAYS THE PARTIES HAVE TO AGREE.

HERE, THE COURT IS RECOMMENDED THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY HAS OCCURRED HEIN T REPUBLICAN ARTY HAS NOT AGREED AND BY LAW, PARTISAN. HETWO, T 2022 ELECTION TO THSERVE E IN ANY WAY IMPACT THE ISANALYS IS THE E ATHER TO DO PRA JOINT IMARY BECAUSE THE ANREPUBLIC PARTY FELT THAT DUE TO PREVIOUS ITEMS. IT WAS A ONNO FLY ZE. THEY DWOULDN'TISCUSS HAVING IN JOT PRIMARIES. EWI DON'T VI E EACH IS RELEVANT TO OTHER ARAND IF WE E LOOKING FORWARD, THIS RTIS AN OPPOUNITY FOR EVERYBODY TO COME TO THE E, TABL ANCOLLABORATE D MAKE A DECISION AND PONOT JUST SUPRT THE ALVOTERS, BUT SO IF SPECICALLY SUPPORT THE WOMAN WHOSE AN ELECTED COUNTY CLERK.

>> NTTHANK YOU. COUY ATTORNEY, THANK YOFOR D SPEAKING UP ANNT YOU MEIONED EARLIER THAT NOT RIGHT WILL S SIGNIFICANTLY IMPACT CEYOUR OFFI. HOW SO?

>> WHENEVER THERE IS TWCONFLICT BEEEN THE STATE COAND HARRIS UNTY GOVERNMENT, WE GET RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF IT. WE DID ON O THE 2020 ELECTNS BUT IF THERE IS AN AUDIT, WE ARE NOW HAVING A TO SPEND HOURSND HOURS OF NG TIME REVIEWI ALL THE RE DOCUMENTS BEFO THEY GO LKOUT THE DOOR, TAING WITH THE ELECTIONS OFFICE, BUT THAT THEY TALK TO OFTHE SECRETARY STATE'S OFFICE TOF THEY TALK TOHEM AND WHEN A ELECTION CONTESTBOUT, THESE ARE LEGAL THE LAST SET OF TELECTION CONTEST,HE EVIDENCE FOR THE TH CASE LIGHT WITH E COUNTY T AND THAT MEANS THAMY TEAM HAS TO ON WORK WITH THE ELECTIS DEPARTMENT TO MAKE SURE THE ARE PROPERLY DEDUCTED FOR THIS PEOPLE'S PART POSTAL ARE BEING SENT OUT AND TO TALK ABOUT THEIR PROCESSES AND HOW BEST TO PRESENT TO MAKE SURE THAT THE COURT INITTHE PUBLIC UNDERSTAND . IT NTIS A SUBSTANTIAL AMOU OF WORK AND I WANT TO GIVE A SPECIAL THANK YOU TO JOHN WHO SITTING THERE WHO BUT IT A SUBSTANTIAL AMOUNT HEO WORK FOR PEOPLE IN T ELECTIONS OFFICE AND FOR PEOPLE IN THE COUNTY'S ATTORNEY'S OFFICE. WOULD H YOU MIND SPENDIG TIME WITTHE CLERK AND HER FOLKS BUT IT'S A LOT OF WORK THAT GOES INTOIT. I'M JUST TRYING TO BE PROACTIVE NOW AND SAY, HEY, THREE MONTHS FROM NOWA WE MIGHT FIND OURSELVES WITH WHOLE LECTURE PRACTICE. FOLKS ARE IN A POSITION TO SOLVE THIS PROBLEM AND ALL T THE OPERATIONL REASONS SUPPORDOING IT, WE

SHOULD PUT THE POLITICS ASIDE. >> WITH THAT FORESEEABLE AMOUNT OF WORK BEING PLACED ON YOUR OFFICE, IS THAT GOING TO REQUIRE YOU TO COME BACK TO THE SCORING SAY, I NEED A BUDGET OF

ANY SORT? >> IF YOU GIVE MONEY, WE WILL BE HERE TO ASK. I CAN GUARANTEE

THAT. >> A DEAL. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU. ANYTHING TO ADD?

DID YOU HAVE SOMETHING TO FROM THE TAX OFFICE? >> GOOD MORNING, JUDGE AND COMMISSIONERS. HARRIS COUNTY TAX OFFICE. THE IMPORTANCE OF THE CLERK TO CONDUCT AN ELECTION WOULD IMPACT THE TAX OFFICE TREMENDOUSLY BECAUSE WHAT THAT MEANS IS, FOR EVERY, MUD, WATER DISTRICT THAT CONDUCTS STATE ELECTIONS OUTSIDE OF THE COUNTY COURT, THE TAX OFFICE HAS TO PROVIDE ROLE. IF SHE HAD ENOUGH EQUIPMENT, AND OF STAFF, AND IF EVERYTHING, WE WOULD ONLY PRODUCE ONE ROLE, BUT INSTEAD, IF THERE ARE 300 CONDUCTED IN THE ELECTION, THAT IS 300 INDIVIDUAL TAX ROLLS AND THE TAX OFFICE WILL HAVE TO SUPPORT ANY PHONE CALLS THAT COME THROUGH PERTAINING TO THE ROLE. THIS IS ALWAYS BEEN A PROBLEM.

ALWAYS, BECAUSE YOU MAY HAVE SOME THAT DECIDED TO DO IT WITH THE CLERK AND SOME DECIDE TO DO IT ON THEIR OWN AND THE TAX OFFICE HAS TO SUPPORT AND AS YOU KNOW, THE TAX OFFICE AS THIRTYSOMETHING PEOPLE AND WE ARE TRYING TO GROW IT BECAUSE WE WOULD ALSO HAVE TO GROW ALL AREAS IN ORDER TO HANDLE THOSE TYPES OF ELECTIONS. I JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY ARE IN UNDERSTANDING THE IMPORTANCE OF UNDERSTANDING SHE GETS THE STAFF AT AND EQUIPMENT

[02:15:06]

AND SO FORTH. >> THAT'S VERY HELPFUL. >> MISS CAESAR. JUST A QUESTION AND YOUR WORK WITH THE CITY ELECTION, THE SMALLER CITY ELECTIONS. SAME THING?

>> SOMETHING. SAME THING. IT'S FOR HUNDRED PEOPLE DOING THE ELECTION OUTSIDE OF THE COUNTY COURT, WE HAVE TO PRODUCE 400 GOALS AND SUPPORT ALL 400 PLUS THE CURRENT ELECTION A SPECIAL

DISTRICT ELECTION. >> SHE HAS DECIDED NOT TO DO THE SPECIAL ENTITY ELECTIONS.

YOUR OFFICE DAY SHOULD >> I HAVE TO PROVIDE THE ROLE. >> GOT IT. THANK YOU.

>> JUST SO WE ARE ON THE SAME PAGE, NEXT COURT, WE WILL WORK TO SEE HOW WE CAN SUPPORT. NEXT COURT, WHAT I'M EXPECTING IS A PROPOSAL ON WHAT HAVE WE HAD BEFORE AND WOULD HAVE THE RESULTS OF THAT BEEN AND HOW DOES THAT LEAD INTO WHAT WE NEED AND WHAT WILL THAT COST AND I'VE HEARD YOU LOUD AND CLEAR THAT GIVING THE CONSTRAINTS OF A NON-JOINT PRIMARY, IT IS THAT NO AMOUNT OF RESOURCES CAN MAKE UP FOR THAT IF WE DON'T MANAGE TO GET THE PARTIES TO AGREE AND I ALSO HEAR COMMISSIONER RAMSEY AND THE TAX ASSESSORS OFFICE IN THE FOLKS HERE FROM THE SPECIAL DISTRICTS, THAT THE SPECIAL DISTRICTS CONNECTING IS ITS OWN CHALLENGE. I THINK THE RESULT OF IT IS, THERE ISN'T NECESSARILY A PERFECT SOLUTION

HERE, BUT WE ARE GOING TO DO THE VERY BEST WE CAN. >> WE WILL COME BACK WITH A MORE THOROUGH SUMMARY REPORT AND LIKE I SAID, WE WILL COME BACK TO THE COURT TO TALK ABOUTG SHORT-TERM-LONG-TERM FACILITY WITH ENGINEERI AND THIS IS WORKING IN TANDEM WITH EACH

OTHER AND WE ARE DOING EVERY SINGLE THING WE CAN. >> THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU, ALL, VERY MUCH. >> OKAY, COLLEAGUES, THOSE WERE ALL THE SPEAKERS AND THE DISCUSSION WITH THE CLERK AND WE HAVE 30 MINUTES UNTIL OUR LUNCH BREAK. NEXT DAY SHOULD

>> JUDGE, FOR ITEM 283 AND 116, IS THERE ANY ACTION? >> NO ACTION.

>> WE ARE GOING TO GO OVER ANY ITEMS THAT HAVE MINOR ERRORS AND WE WILL GO OVER THE CONSENT AGENDA. ALL RIGHT. SO STARTING WITH ITEM 36 ON PAGE SIX, THERE IS A CORRECTION NEEDED THERE AND WE NEED TO CHANGE PRECINCT 2 TO PRECINCT 3 SO THAT IT SAYS THE -- SO THAT THE END IS, PRECINCT 3. ON ITEM 42, THE FINAL INVESTMENT MEMO, THE COUNTY ENGINEER REQUEST NO ACTION. ON ITEM 84, UNIVERSAL SERVICES, NO ACTION . 85, AGAIN, UNIVERSAL SERVICES, NO ACTION. 86, SAME THING. NO ACTION. 123. THE TEDISTRICT OF COURTS ADMINISTRATION HAS REQUESD NO ACTION. 192, NO ACTION FROM PURCHASING. 226, NO ACTION FROM PRECINCT FOUR. 260, NO ACTION ON THE UPDATE OF THE SECURITY PROGRAM. 274, NO ACTION. WE ARE GOING TO BE BRINGING THIS RESOLUTION BACK. SO THOSE ARE WHAT I HAVE, JAMES. AM I MISSING ANYTHING?

>> NO, MA'AM. NOT YET. >> NOT YET. THANKS. VOTE OF CONFIDENCE. IF HISTORY IS ANY INDICATION, I THINK YOU ARE RIGHT. LET'S DISCUSS T WHAT WE ARE GOING TO BE TALKING ABOUT.

CONSENAGENDA, THERE IS ONE EXECUTIVE SESSION ITEM, WHICH IS THE UPLIFT HARRIS PROGRAM.

I BELIEVE WE DO HAVE TO TAKE THAT TO EXECUTIVE SESSION TO TALK TO THE COUNTY ATTORNEY. IS

THAT RIGHT? >> YES, THAT'S CORRECT. >> WE WILL LEAVE THAT IN EXECUTIVE SESSION AND THE OTHER WITH THAT WAS LISTED WAS THE SECURITY UPDATE BUT THAT'S GOING TO COME BACK LATER. NOW FOR THE REGULAR AGENDA AND, COLLEAGUES, WE DO IT AT THE END BUT THIS ONE, FOR SURE, WE ARE GOING TO DO IT IN CASE COMMISSIONER ELLIS JOINS US. I DON'T EXPECT THEM TO BUT MAYBE HE WILL CHANGE HIS MIND. ITEM 42 IS COUNTY ENGINEER AND THAT

WOULD HAVE BEEN FLAGGED BY PRECINCT 3. >> JUDGE, CAN I AT SIX?

>> YES, JUST A MOMENT. COMMISSIONER RAMSEY IS ADDING ITEM 6 TO THE DISCUSSION LIST AND ITEM 6 IS TEXAS CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL RELATED. LET ME PUT THIS ON HERE. ALL RIGHT. WE

[02:20:13]

>> YES. >> WHEN I LOVE YOU, COMMISSIONER GARCIA AND THIS IS

A SHERIFF'S ITEM. >> YES. >> 174.

>> CAN WE HAD 126? >> 126. JUST A MOMENT. THAT IS A NEW PROGRAM BY THE DEPARTMENT OF ECONOMIC EQUITY AND OPPORTUNITY. I'M PUTTING THIS ON HERE. 126. THEN WE WILL HAVE 174 BY PRECINCT TO. THIS IS RFP FOR DISTRIBUTED ENERGY RESOURCES. OKAY. THEN ITEM 225 . HANG ON A SEC. OKAY. ITEM 225 IS A PRECINCT FOR TELEMEDICINE. 226, PRECINCT 4 REQUESTED NO ACTION, SO PUTTING THAT BACK. THEN THE OTHER ONE. 229. THIS IS REQUESTED BY OCA.

DO YOU GUYS STILL NEED TO DISCUSS THIS? >> IT'S JUST A SHORT

PRESENTATION. >> SHORT PRESENTATION. GREAT. COMMISSIONER GARCIA, THIS IS A SUBCULTURE STUDY REPORT BY THE DEPARTMENT OF ECONOMIC EQUITY.

>> JUDGE, COULD WE ADD TO 61? >> JUST A MOMENT. 261. HIS INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE HARRIS HEALTH -- HARRIS CENTER AND HARRIS COUNTY ON MISDEMEANOR NONAPPEARANCE. WE ARE ADDING TO 61 AND LET ME GO TO TO ANYONE. COMMISSIONER GARCIA, FINAL INVESTMENT MEMO ON AGING TRANSPORTATION FLEET? 282, COMMISSIONER RAMSEY . U.S. SUPREME OF JUSTICE ON COLONY

RIDGE. >> YES. >> 283, WE ARDIE TOOK, SO I'M GOING TO TAKE THAT OUT. THAT WAS COMMISSIONER RAMSEY SELECTION ITEM. IS THAT OKAY?

>> YEAH. >> 285, COMMISSIONER RAMSEY, THIS IS AN AGREEMENT ON THE

FOOD PHARMACY PROGRAM. >> YES. >> I UNDERSTAND THERE HAVE BEEN PRODUCTIVE CONVERSATIONS THERE AND BEFORE I FORGET, I'M COMMITTING TO SUPPORT YOU ON THIS ONE, BUT I KNOW YOU WANT TO DISCUSS IT ANYWAY. ALL RIGHT. PUBLIC HEARINGS, WE DO HAVE A PUBLIC HEARING THAT WE WILL TAKE UP AFTER THE DISCUSSION ITEMS AND IT'S A

ROUTINE ITEM. ANYTHING ELSE, JAMES? >> YES, MA'AM. ITEM 82. THE

LEGISLATIVE APPEARED >> NO ACTION ON THE LEGISLATIVE ACTION.

>> FOR THE RECORD, THE PUBLIC HEARING ITEM IS ITEM 228. >> THE PUBLIC HEARING ITEM IS

ITEM 228. CORRECT. >> THANK YOU. >> ALL RIGHT. ACTUALLY, LET ME GO BACK OVER THEM. THE EXECUTIVE ITEM 284, REGULAR AGENDA ITEM, 683, 111, 126, 174, 225, 229, 235, 281 -- 261.

HEARING ITEM 228. DID I MISS ANYTHING, COLLEAGUES? >> THAT'S RIGHT.

>> IS THERE A MOTION FOR ITEMS ONE THROUGH 285 WITH THE EXCEPTION OF ITEMS ALREADY

VOTED ON? >> YES, I'M SORRY, JUDGE. 230. >> 230. OKAY. LET ME AT THIS.

THIS IS TRANSMITTAL ON THE PURE CURD TO PAY PROCESS IMPROVEMENT INITIATIVES. I'M GOING TO ADD THAT I'M GOING TO READ THE LIST AGAIN. OKAY. HERE WE ARE. EXECUTIVE SESSION 24, REGULAR AGENDA ITEM 6, ITEM 83, 111, 126, 174, 225, 229, 230, 235, 261, 281, 282, 285 IN PUBLIC

[02:25:29]

HEARING ITEM, 228. IS THERE A MOTION? >> MOVED.

>> SECOND. >> DISCUSSION ITEMS JUST LISTED, MOTION BY COMMISSIONER GARCIA AND SECONDED BY RAMSEY. ALL IN FAVOR? ANY OPPOSE? CARRIES NUMBER 4-0. LET'S START WITH THE REGULAR AGENDA. THE FIRST ITEM, WHICH IS ITEM NUMBER 6, BELIEVE IT WAS FLAGGED BY COMMISSIONER RAMSEY. LIKE WE ARE PUTTING THE TEXAS CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL UPDATE , ANY AND ALL REFERENCES TO THE COUNTY MINISTRY THERE AND WE ARE PUTTING THIS EARLY CHILDHOOD IMPACT FIND, WE ARE PUTTING THAT OVER IN THE DEPARTMENT OF EQUITY AND -- ECONOMIC EQUITY AND OPPORTUNITY. WHY WOULDN'T WE PUT THAT IN THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION? IT WOULD SEEM LIKE THERE WOULD BE PEOPLE IN THEIR THE DEAL WITH SIMILAR ISSUES. IT MAKES NO SENSE TO ME TO PUT SOMETHING VERY, VERY DIFFERENT THAN DEU O TO MANAGE IT. IT LOOKS BUREAUCRATIC AND I THINK WE WOULD BE BETTER SERVED PUTTING IT IN AN AREA WHERE YOU ACTUALLY HAVE PEOPLE THAT DEAL WITH EARLY CHILDHOOD ISSUES EVERYDAY. I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY WE ARE PUTTING IT THERE.

>> IT WAS PART OF THE ORGANIZATION THAT I BROUGHT TO COURT A FEW MONTHS AGO LESHER AND BASICALLY WHAT WE ARE TRYING TO DO IS, EARLY CHILDHOOD FOR US ALSO IS A BIG INDICATOR OF ECONOMIC STRENGTH AND FOR THE FAMILIES BEING ABLE TO AFFORD CHILDCARE SO THEY COULD BE IN THE WORKFORCE FOR CHILDREN WHO GET BETTER PRESCHOOL EDUCATION, SO THE ISSUE FOR US WAS, AT THE TIME, WE THOUGHT IT MADE SENSE TO BE WITH THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT SIDE. THERE ARE 20 ISSUES THAT THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION COULD HELP WITH. I WOULD YOU SAY

WOULD MAKE MUCH MORE SENSE. >> JUDGE? >> COMMISSIONER, I WANTED TO POINT OUT. WHEN OF THE CHALLENGES WE WOULD HAVE ON THAT IS THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION IS A SEPARATE ENTITY. IT'S ON UNDER THE AUSPICES OF THE COMMISSIONERS COURT AND IT WOULD BE A SITUATION WHERE WE WOULD HAVE TO DO AN TIENRELY DIFFERENT SORT OF OCPRESS, SO I THINK AS I DEUNRSTAND IT OMFR A MECHANISMS PERSPECTIVE, THIS IS THE PRAPOPRIATE COUNTY TO

GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENT THAT THE JUDGE AND THE T COURDAY SHOULD >> I RSUNDETAND THE LACK OF

CURRENT TROLL. >> I WANT TO POINT THAT OUT. A THAT'S NOT NECESSARILY

GOOD THING . EITHER >> I'M OF SUCCESS D.PRESENTE >> SECONDED. ANY OPPOSE? MOTIONIE GOING 3-1. YOU GUYS ARE MATH E TO FORGIVE MY TODAY BECAUSE I'M TRYING MY .

BESTALL RIGHT. 83. IS COMMSIONER >> HERE WE ARE , PUTTING, AGAIN UNDER THE THDEPARTMENT OF E MWB PROGRAM RAREQUEST NEW PROGMMING TO ENHANCEMINORITY OWNED E BUSINESSNTERPRISES, INCAPACITY USG THIS, YET, DESCRIBE THE COPE OF THIS PARTICULAR DAY

SHOULD >> YES, I RBELIEVE THAT DIRECTO GONZALES IS ON AND LIREADY TO D A TTLE BIT OF LEVEL SETTING WITH THE COURT AND BACK TO WHY THEY ARE PREPARING THIS.

>> IT AFTERNOON, COMMISSIONERS COURT. TO LEVEL GISET, WE ARE BRINNG THIS TO THE COURT TO JA FOLLOW WITH THE NUARY 10TH, 2023 COURT FOORDER AND THAT WAS R US TO COME BACK AND HALF A PROGRAM THAT HAD A WEFOCUS FOR INTERVIEES AS WE DO RANDY COUNTIES PROGRAM USING CHAPTER 381 AUTHORITY, SO THAT'S WHAT WE HAVE DEVELOPED SOHERE. IT'S PALLET, THE SCOPE IS VERY SMALL. WE ARE LOOKING AT A GRANT RANGING FROM $50,000-$100,000 THAT COULD BE GIVEN TO EDO'S THAT COULD APPLY IN A WICOMPETITIVE WAY AND THEY LL BE DIRECTLY SUPPORTING THE

[02:30:03]

GET A VOTE ON THE DESIGN. >> I THINK THE ISSUE HERE IS, KNOW THAT COMMISSIONER GARCIA AND I, WHEN THIS CAME UP BEFORE, THERE WAS ONE PARTICULAR GROUP THAT WAS, IN FACT, CHAD WAS HERE AND WHAT'S HAPPENING OUT ON THE BOARD AND THEY WERE DOING A GREAT JOB UNDER OUR OWN PROGRAM, SO LOOKING AT THESE CONTACTS OF THE GREAT PLWORK THEY ARE ALREAY DOING, THINK THE PEOE WERE A PART OF THIS BEFORE, BAY AREA HOUSTON ECONOMIC, BAYTOWN WES CHAMBERS, ECONOMIC ALLIANCE, HOUSTON PORT, THAT'S CHAD. AGAIN, A LOT OF THIS WAS BASED ON EFFECTIVENESS AND PERFORMANCE. IS NOT CLEAR TO ME THAT THIS NEW PROGRAM WOULD BE THAT, SO AGAIN, FOR ALL THOSE ENTITIES THAT WERE RECEIVING, THIS IS GENERAL FUND DOLLARS,

AS I UNDERSTAND. >> THAT IS CORRECT. >> I KNOW WHEN COMMISSIONER GARCIA AND I, WE HAD TO TAKE MONEY OUT OF OUR PRECINCT DEFINED. THOMAS WAS HAVING A VERY REAL IMPACT, I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT JUST BECAUSE THESE ORGANIZATIONS WERE SUPPORTED PREVIOUSLY, THAT IS AND MAKE THEM BAD. IN FACT, IT MAY BE AN INDICATOR THAT THEY ARE DOING A PRETTY GOOD JOB, SO OBVIOUSLY WHEN YOU TAKE GRANTS FROM PEOPLE OR TAKE APPLICATION, YOU ARE NOT GOING TO DISQUALIFY THOSE PEOPLE THAT HAVE BEEN WORKING WITH THE COUNTY AND IN MY MIND, DOING A GOOD JOB. THERE'S NO OTHER CRITERIA OTHER THAN EFFECTIVENESS IN THE MARKETPLACE AND IN I'D AND I THINK A LOT OF THESE ARE DOING

THAT AS WELL. >> COMMISSIONER, THEY WOULD NOT BE DISQUALIFIED. THEY WOULD BE ENCOURAGED TO APPLY AND THIS IS JUST ONE PROGRAM THAT CAN BE USED WITH THE CHAPTER 3 AUTHORITY BUT THAT DOES NOT REPLACE FOR ANY COURT OFFICE TO ENTER INTO A EDO AGREEMENT.

>> THANK YOU. >> COMMISSIONER GARCIA. >> THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR YOUR WORK AND I WANTED TO PUT A PERSONAL PRIVILEGE TO GIVE A SHOUT OUT TO MY TEAM THEY SHOW.

TOGETHER. THEY LAUNCHED IT IN 2022 AND IT IS A EIGHT WEEK INTENSIVE SMALL BUSINESS AND IT IS SPECIFICALLY DESIGNED TO PROVIDE TRANSACTION LEVEL, SE HANDS-ON MANAGEMENT TRAINING TO HELP BUSINESS LEARN HOW TO IMPLEMENT BUSINESS STRATEGIES AND PRACTICES TO OVERCOME SYSTEMIC BARRIERS TO BUSINESS GROWTH. WE HAVE GRADUATED 55 BUSINESSES FROM THE SERIES AND AT THESE ARE ALL PRIMARY LOCATED WITHIN PRECINCT 2. THE TRAINING COURSE INCLUDES BASIC UNDERSTANDING OF THE ROLE OF PROCUREMENT. HOW TO IDENTIFY CONTRACTING OPPORTUNITIES. HOW TO BUILD A COMPETITIVE BID PRICING STRATEGY. HOW TO BUILD SMALL BUSINESS FINANCIAL CAPABILITY AND HOW TO BUILD AND MANAGE BUSINESS CREDIT, SO VERY, VERY EXCITED AND I MET WITH MANY OF THESE FOLKS AND IT JUST WARMS MY HEART TO SEE THE OSCAR SPIRIT STRONG AND ALIVE AND YOUR PROGRAM IS EFFECTIVELY MIRRORING POWER. I'M EXCITED ABOUT THAT, BUT AS WE'VE SPOKEN, I WOULD ENCOURAGE THAT WE THINK ABOUT HOW TO INCREASE THE FUNDING SO THAT WE CAN WORK WITH MORE OF THE -- OR RATHER, WORK TO ADDRESS THAT THE CONTRACTS ARE RELATIVELY SMALL COMPARED TO THE OVERALL REQUEST. WE ALSO NEEDED TO ADDRESS THE ISSUE OF DIVERSITY

[02:35:02]

FLUENT. >> SURE. THANK YOU SO MUCH, COMMISSIONER GARCIA AND I WILL SAY THAT WE ARE LOOKING FORWARD FOR THIS PROGRAM TO ALSO EXPAND WHAT HE'S BEEN ABLE TO DO TO GO COUNTYWIDE IN THE PROGRAM WILL AND TO PROVE TO THE EXTENT THAT THEY CAN CONTRACT WITH THE COUNTY. ROUGHLY WE COME BACK AND ARE ABLE TO PROVIDE IN OUR REPORT, THE OUTCOMES THAT YOU

JUST MENTIONED. >> WONDERFUL. THANK YOU. >> DIRECTOR GONZALES, THANK YOU AND YOUR TEAM AND TO THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR. ENERGIZING TO SEE THE PROGRESS, COLLEAGUES, COMMITMENT TO OUR MWB PROGRAM AND NOW THAT WE HAVE A 26% UTILIZATION RATE, THEY CAN FOR THE FOCUS GROUPS YOU HAVE BEEN CONDUCTING TO GET THE FEEDBACK FROM THESE MWB EASE ON WHAT'S WORKING AND WHAT'S NOT AWARE OF THE PAIN POINTS AND WORKING WITH THE COUNTY, SO I'M VERY MUCH IN FAVOR OF THIS PILOT. MY ASK OF YOU, PLEASE IS THAT SINCE IT'S A VERY SMALL FOCUSED PILOT AND A PILOT BY NATURE AS WE ARE TRYING TO LEARN SOMETHING, WHAT IS THE IMPACT AND WHAT IS IT NOT AND WHY, IF YOU COULD JUST MAKE SURE TO SEE WHAT IMPACT THIS PILOT HAS OR DOESN'T HAVE. IT'S CAREFULLY MARKED SO THAT WE CAN THEN COMPARE WHAT IS THE OVERALL OUR ALLIES, SO TO SPEAK, BETWEEN THIS FRAMEWORK VERSUS OTHER CHAPTER 381 AGREEMENTS VERSUS STRUCTURES BECAUSE WE ARE COMMITTED TO INCREASING THE UTILIZATION AND SPREADING OPPORTUNITY AND MAKING IT EASIER TO WORK WITH THE COUNTY BUT WE KNOW THAT WE HAVE SUCH LIMITED RESOURCES, TIME AND MONEY WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE MAXIMIZING INPUT. I THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP AND I'M ENERGIZED BY THE PROGRESS AND I LOOK FORWARD TO

CONTINUING AND WITH THAT, I MOVE IS PRESENTED. >> MOTION BY COMMISSIONER BRIAND AND SECOND BY COMMISSIONER GARCIA. THIS IS ITEM 83. ALL IN FAVOR. ANY A POST. MOTION CARRIES NUMBER 4-0. MOVING ON TO ITEM 111. COMMISSIONER GARCIA.

>> THANK YOU, JUDGE. THIS IS A VERY SPECIAL DAY FOR THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE AND IN PARTICULAR, TO THE DETENTION OPERATIONS BECAUSE THEY WILL BE -- THE SHERIFF WILL OFFICIALLY PROMOTE THE FIRST DETENTION CAPTAIN IN THE HISTORY OF THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE.

>> THAT'S EXCITING. >> THIS ENDEAVOR IS CONTINUING A VISION THAT I HAD AND THAT WAS TO CREATE A PROFESSIONAL DETENTION OFFICER CAREER PATH, SO I'M EXCITED THAT THEY ARE CONTINUING ON THIS PATH. IT'S GOING TO BE GOOD FOR THE OPERATIONS. IT'S GOOD TO PROVIDE THE DETENTION OFFICERS WITH DIVISION THAT THEY CAN CONTINUE THEIR CAREER WITHIN DETENTIONS WHILE STAYING IN THOSE OPERATIONS AND IT WILL FURTHER FORTIFY THE PROFESSIONALISM OF THAT VERY, VERY CRITICAL OPERATION. I ALSO WANT TO TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO REMIND FOLKS THAT, YOU KNOW, DEPUTIES WILL BE PUT INTO INTERESTING CIRCUMSTANCES AND THEY WILL BECOME THE SUBJECT OF FIVE AND 10:00 NEWS SHOWS AS THEY DID SOMETHING HEROIC. THEY

[02:40:04]

THE ITEM AS PRESENTED. >> SECOND. >> COMMISSION. THIS IS A ITEM 111. ALL IN FAVOR? ANY OPPOSED. MOTION CARRIES NUMBER 4-0. CONGRATULATIONS. THANK YOU. 126

. >> AGAIN, THIS WAS THE SAME ISSUES AS I HAD ON THE PREVIOUS

ONES ON THE D.O.. WE JUST NEED TO VOTE. >> SO MOVED.

>> SECOND. >> MOTION BY COMMISSIONER GARCIA AND SECOND BY COMMISSIONER BRIONES. ALL IN FAVOR . ANY OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES. MOVING ON.

COMMISSIONER GARCIA. >> ON THIS ITEM, JUDGE, I AM EXCITED TO SEE THIS FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF PROJECTS AT 12 COUNTY FACILITIES. FINALLY, FINALLY, MAKE IT TO THE AGENDA.

I WANT TO REMIND US THAT, YOU KNOW, THIS WORK STARTED WHEN COMMISSIONER CAGLE WANTED TO

GET OFF THE PUBLIC POWER POLE BOARD >> RIGHT.

>> HE THREW IT AT ME AND SAID, THIS WILL BE A LOT OF FUN FOR YOU. SO THROUGH THAT EXPERIENCE AND ASKING TWO FUNDAMENTAL QUESTIONS, WHEN WAS TO THE CONVERSATION WE JUST HAD. DO WE WORK WITH MWB EASE AND THE ANSWER WAS NO AND THE SECOND QUESTION WAS, WHAT ARE THE OPPORTUNITIES TO PURCHASE CLEAN ENERGY AND THE ANSWER WAS, WE DON'T DO THAT AND THEN THE SUBSEQUENT CHALLENGE WAS GOING TO BE THAT WE WERE ABOUT TO GET LOCKED INTO A 10 YEAR CONTRACT, I THINK. IT WAS EITHER 10 OR 15 YEAR CONTRACT AND SO WE OPTED TO GET OUT OF THE PUBLIC FIRE PULL, WHICH ALLOWED US TO HIRE OUR OWN CONSULTANTS AND BUILD A PROCESS AND A FRAMEWORK AND A STRATEGY TO PURCHASE OUR OWN ENERGY AND OUR OWN POWER AND AS A CONSEQUENCE, HAS ALLOWED US TO DEVELOP A STRATEGY TO CREATE A MUCH MORE SUSTAINABLE COUNTY AND SO I WENT TO GIVE A SHOUT OUT TO KRISTY LEE IN MY OFFICE ON HER WORK AND I WANT TO THANK THE ADMINISTRATOR ANITA'S, AS

WELL AS MISS LEE. LINDA? >> LISA LYNN. THERE WE GO. I HAD THE ELLS ALL JUMBLED UP.

LISA LYNN, FOR HER WORK AS WELL. THIS IS, YOU KNOW, HAVING BEEN A PROPONENT AND I KEEP SAYING IT. THIS IS A CORRIDOR OF HESITATION BECAUSE IT WAS THE FIRST CONFERENCE THAT I ATTENDED THAT I STEPPED INTO SOLAR -- WHAT WAS IT, SOLAR DAY SHOW SO GUARD. SO SMART. SO SMART AND IT'S ALL WHAT OTHER COUNTIES WERE DOING AND I CAME BACK TO MY STAFF AND I SAID, WE HAVE TO DO THIS, BUT IT WAS OUR INVOLVEMENT IN THE PUBLIC POWERFUL THAT DID NOT ALLOW US TO PURSUE THAT, SO WE WERE THERE. THIS WILL ALLOW US TO PROVIDE SOLAR PANELS AND BATTERIES FOR COUNTY BUILDINGS AND THIS WILL -- THIS JUST REMINDS ME THAT WHENEVER I WAS SHERIFF, WAS WORKING HARD TO KEEP THE LIGHTS ON BMYUILDING WHEN IT WASN'T JUST R FO

[02:45:01]

>> SOND. MR. RAMSEY. A >> WE HAVE QUICK COMMENT AS WE GO. I'ME ASSUMING THE OFFIC OF SUSTAINABILITY WILL MONITOR H THE LONG-TERM AND HIM OF THE SELLERS. WE HAVE LEARNED A LOT THE LAST 20 YEARS ON WHAT NOT TO DO, SO ROUGHLY ATWE WON'T DO TH.

RESPONSIBILITIES, AND I'M NT LOOKING AT OUR COUY IN MINNESOTA, THAT WOULD BE A PARTY

OF THAT RESPONSIBILI. I CERTAINLY WOULD SUPPORT THAT. >> A WADEAL.

>> THE MOTION S CIBY COMMISSIONER GARA AND SECONDED. ALL IN FAVOR. ANY OPPOSE? MOTION CARRIES 4-0. THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER GARCIA. MOVING ON TO ITEM 225. NO. YES.

225. >> THANK YOU. THIS PROJECT Y IS REGARDING THE COMMUNITCENTER.

IT IS TO CREATE A VIRTUAL HEALTHCARE SITE IN PARTNERSHIP WITH HARRIS HEALTH AT NO COST, OTHER THAN INA COMPUTER, A WEBCAM, A PRTER, A SCALE THAT HARRIS HEALTH ALREADY HAS AND IT WILL CTBE IN PARTNERSHIP WIT PRECIN 14 AND I WANT TO THANK THE DOCTOR AND HIS TEAM AND MY PRECINCT 4 CHIEF OPERATION OFFICER, STEVE WRIGHT AND ALL POSSIBLE AND THE REASON THAT I'M SO EXCITED. FOR MANY REASONS. WE ALL KNOW HOW DIFFICULT THAT ACCESS TO HEALTHCARE AREAS AND IN THIS IT 60% OF THE INDIVIDUALS ARE LOW INCOME. 40% LIKE HEALTH INSURANCE AND IT'S A PROXIMALLY 85% PEOPLE OF COLOR AND JUST BEING ABLE TO GO THERE IT WILL HAVE MULTILINGUAL ACCESS TO HAVETHESE VIRTUAL VISIT. VERY ENERGIZED. I HOPE IT SOMETHING THAT WE CAN SPREAD THROUGHOUT COMMUNITY CENTERS, BUT WE HAVE THE EXCELLENT WORK OF HARRIS HEALTH AND LET'S MAKE IT MBMORE ACCESSIBLE FOR OUR COMMUNITY MEERS TO ACCESS. I'M VERY THANKFUL TO HARRIS HEALTH, THE

DOCTOR AND MY TEAM AND I MOVE TO 25 AS PRESENTED. >> SECOND.

>> MOTION -- >> A POINT OF DISCUSSION. LET ME OFFER A TECHNICAL TERM,

COMMISSIONER. YOU GO, GIRL. >> THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER GARCIA.

>> MOTION BY COMMISSIONER BRIONES ON 225 AND SECONDED BY GARCIA. ALL IN FAVOR? ANY OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES NUMBER 4-0 AND CONGRATULATIONS. I'M SERIOUS TO SEE HOW IT GOES. IT

WOULD BE WONDERFUL IF IT WORKS OUT. >> THANK YOU. WE WILL BE TRACKING HOW MANY INDIVIDUALS UTILIZE IT AND HOW WE ARE TRYING TO GET THE WORD OUT SO

THAT WE CAN INCREASE UTILIZATION. >> DOES THE NON-UNINSURED FOLKS STATION I GUESS BECAUSE WE ARE GETTING IN TOUCH WITH HARRIS HEALTH.

>> EXACTLY. >> OKAY. >> YES, THANK YOU.

>> 229. THAT'S THE UPDATE BY OCA. >> ALL RIGHT. LET'S TALK FAST.

GOOD AFTERNOON, COUNTY JUDGE, COMMISSIONERS. ONLY A BARN WITH THE OFFICE OF COUNTY MINISTRATION HERE WITH SO IS, DIRECTOR. LAST FALL WE COMMITTED TO PROVIDING QUARTERLY UPDATES TO ENSURE THAT YOU HAVE VISIBILITY INTO OUR AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN PROGRESS. SINCE LAST QUARTER, THE TOTAL DOLLARS COMMITTED BY COMMISSIONERS RE: HUNDRED $90 MILLION WERE PARTICULAR INCREASES IN MULTIFAMILY HOUSING IN EARLY CHILDHOOD IN ADDITION TO THE JAIL CAPACITY IN GENERAL FUND COMMITMENT MADE DURING THE BUDGET PROCESS. THIS YEAR, WE NOT ONLY NEED TO FULLY COMMIT OUR ARPA FUNDS BUT ENSURE THAT WE HAVE SUFFICIENT INSIGHT INTO EACH PROGRAM'S PERFORMANCE TO MAKE ACCURATE EXPENDITURE FORECAST FOR 2026

[02:50:03]

THE CLIPS, PLURAL. JUST A SAFETY HITS THE COURT BACKLOG, THE COURT CAPACITY EXPIRE AND THE ONLY PROGRAMMING IS GEL BASE COMPETENCY RESTORATION. THE HERE CENTER IS VERY GOOD AT PURSUING ADDITIONAL GRANTS TO GET TO MAKE THAT PROGRAM MORE SUSTAINABLE AND WE APPRECIATE THE HELP FROM YOUR OFFICES AND IGA IN SECURING LETTERS OF SUPPORT.

>> I'M THE DIRECTOR OF THE MANAGEMENT OFFICE. THE HEALTH PORTFOLIO WAS THE FIRST TO HAVE A MAJORITY OFFENSE COMMITTED AND IS SEEING SIGNIFICANT EXPANSION AND REACH. JUST A FEW EXAMPLES ARE SHOWN HERE, INCLUDING NEARLY 4000 RESIDENTS ENGAGED IN CHRONIC DECEASED PREVENTION AND 3600 CHILDREN RECEIVING COUNSELING AND 4800 RESIDENTS TESTED FOR ELEVATED BLOOD LEVELS. IF WE GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE. HOUSING, WE HAVE SEEN SUBSTANTIAL ACCELERATION A MULTI FAMILY ACTIVITY AND WITH A FOCUS ON COMPLETING ASSOCIATED NEGOTIATIONS WHILE ALSO RAMPING UP SINGLE-FAMILY PROGRAMS. THE CHIP PROGRAM HAS ALSO HOUSED OVER 10,000 PEOPLE EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS SINCE EXCEPTION, INCLUDING 1600 IN THE CURRENT ARPA FUNDING FACE.

ON THE NEXT SLIDE FOR JOBS IN EDUCATION, WE HAVE PARTICULARLY -- WE ARE EXCITED ABOUT THE UPCOMING UPLIFT LAUNCH AS IN THE HEALTH PORTFOLIO. THEY HAVE SEEN EXPENDED PARTICIPATION WITH EARLY REACHING FULL CAPACITY AND WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS CONTINUING TO GROW. TAXIS AND RAMPS UP AT THE END OF JANUARY, SO WE WILL BE ASKING FOR YOUR HELP TO SPREAD THE WORD ABOUT OUR FREE TAX ASSISTANCE AVAILABLE TO LOW INCOME RESIDENTS ACROSS THE COUNTY. FINALLY, WITH OUR NEXT FIGHT ON JUSTICE AND SAFETY, REDUCTIONS TO THE COURT BACKLOG ARE SIGNIFICANT WITH FELONY AND MISDEMEANOR CASES IN THE BACKLOG DROPPING BY 55 AND 60%, RESPECTIVELY, SINCE JANUARY OF 2022. OTHER HIGHLIGHTS INCLUDE CHILD ABUSE PREVENTION EFFORTS BY THE CHILDREN'S ASSESSMENT CENTER, THE LAUNCH OF TELE DEPUTY AND SUPPORT FOR THE DETENTION OFFICER OF ATTENTION, AMONG OTHERS. WE THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONTINUED SUPPORT OF THE ARPA PORTFOLIO AND YOUR PARTNERSHIP AND WE WELCOME ANY FEEDBACK.

>> THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU. >> YES, COMMISSIONER RAMSEY.

>> STANDARD QUESTION. WE KNOW THE CLIP, ECLIPSE ARE COMING AND YOU ARE MONITORING THAT

VERY CLOSELY. THAT'S WHEN SIDE OF IT. >> YES.

>> THE OTHER SIDE OF IT IS THE DOLLARS THAT WE, QUOTE/UNQUOTE, INVESTED IN ALL OF THESE DIFFERENT PROGRAMS AND EVEN THOUGH THE FUNDING MAY STOP AN ANALYSIS OF THOSE INVESTORS WILL BE, I THINK, WARRANTED, WE PUT AN X NUMBER OF DOLLARS IN A CERTAIN PROGRAM. WHAT, IN FACT,

[02:55:08]

YOU HAVE PLACES THAT YOU HAVE TO MAKE OTHER INVESTMENTS. >> TO YOUR FIRST QUESTION, WE DID AN ANALYSIS LAST YEAR AND THE ANALYST OFFICE WILL BE KEEPING THAT UPDATED AS WE ADD NEW PROGRAMS. PART OF THE REASON WE HAVE BEEN OVER ALLOCATED FROM A PLANNING PERSPECTIVE IS BECAUSE WE KNOW THAT NOT EVERYTHING IS GOING TO MATERIALIZE AS WE EXPECTED AND THAT'S WHY WE ARE GETTING DOWN TO THAT 100% COMMITMENT BY THE END OF THIS YEAR. WE ARE GOING TO NEED TO MAKE CONTINUAL ADJUSTMENTS THIS YEAR SO THAT WE HAVE OUR BEST POSSIBLE FORECAST AT THE END OF THIS YEAR BECAUSE TREASURY, AS OF YET, HAS NOT ALLOWED FOR ADJUSTMENTS BETWEEN PROGRAMS IN 2025 AND 2026. WE HAVE PROVIDED FEEDBACK TO TREASURY BASED ON THEIR RECENT INTERIM GUIDANCE THAT WE WOULD LIKE THE ABILITY TO DO THAT AND WE DON'T HAVE A PERFECT CRYSTAL BALL, BUT CURRENTLY, WE NEED TO HAVE OUR BEST POSSIBLE FORECAST AND BY THE END OF 2024 BECAUSE WE WON'T BE ABLE TO MAKE CHANGES AFTER THAT POINT. WHEN THE RELIEF VALVE WE HAVE IS THE FLEX FUND AND WE ARE WORKING WITH COUNTY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE TO LOOK AT WHICH PROGRAMS WE MAY BE ABLE TO MOVE INTO THE FLEX FUND BECAUSE, OF COURSE, THOSE BEING GENERAL FUNDS, WE WOULD HAVE GREATER FLEXIBILITY THERE BUT THOSE CHANGES WOULD

HAVE TO HAPPEN BEFORE THE END OF THIS YEAR. >> THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU. ANYTHING ELSE, COLLEAGUES? >> I WOULD SAY THANK YOU SO MUCH. IT'S REALLY IMPRESSIVE AND I KNOW IT'S BEEN A LONG TIME THAT YOU GUYS HAVE PUT INTO THIS AND YOUR TEAM IS PUT INTO THIS AND THANK YOU SO MUCH AND, YEAH. I HAVE MINOR

FEEDBACK THAT I WILL SAVE IT FOR LATER. >> OKAY. WE ARE GOING TO BREAK FOR LUNCH. WE WILL BE BACK AT 2:00 AND WE WILL BREAK FOR LUNCH THEN.

>> CO

>> OKAY, IT'S 2:04 AND COMMISSIONERS URT IS BACK IN SESSION, AND WE'RE STARTING WITH ITEM 230. IT'S A TRANSMITTAL ON PROCURED PAY. I THINK THIS WAS COMMISSIONER

GARCIA'S ITEM. >> THANK YOU, JUDGE. ON, ON THIS IS JUST SOME QUESTIONS, MAYBE -- COULD HELP ME WITH THAT? HOW'S THE COUNTING HOLDING USER DEPARTMENT ACCOUNTABLE? TO PROCESS PENDING INVOICES. AND, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE EXISTING CHARGING GRAPHS THAT SHOW US THE DEPARTMENTS WITH MOST INVOICES WAITING FOR A REVIEW. AND SO CAN THEY COME TO BEGIN IDENTIFYING DEPARTMENTS WITH THE MOST INVOICES NOW, AND START HOLDING THEM ACCOUNTABLE WITHOUT THE

NEED OF A CONSULTANT? >> YEAH, I THINK WE CAN. AS FAR AS HOLDING THEM ACCOUNTABLE, WE ALREADY HAVE THE DASHBOARD, SO THE PORT WANTS EITHER OCA OR, YOU KNOW, SOME OF THE DEPARTMENT TO BE THE ONE HOLDING FOLKS ACCOUNTABLE FOR THOSE LATE INVOICES, AND ASKING FOR CHECK INS, AND ASKING TO SEE WHAT'S GOING ON. YOU KNOW, WE'RE GETTING READY TO HAVE ALL OUR TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE TEAM PUT TOGETHER, NO CA, AND THE PURPOSE OF THAT TEAM IS ALSO TO GO IN AND HELP DEPARTMENTS IF THEY'RE HAVING PROBLEMS, HOW CAN WE HELP YOU? SO THIS MIGHT BE AN AREA THAT WE COULD GO IN AND HELP THEM IF THEY'RE STILL HAVING PROBLEMS, AND NOT HAVE OUTSIDE CONSULTANTS.

>> YOU NEED A MOTION FOR THAT? AND I WOULD SAY IT WOULD BE HELPFUL FOR US, IF, WITH THE DEPARTMENT, SO THAT THEY'RE NOT QUESTIONING THEM, WHY ARE YOU PICKING ON US? BUT IT'S ACTUALLY THE COURSE DIRECTING US TO GO AHEAD AND, YOU KNOW,

WORK WITH THEM. >> I WAS GOING TO SAY, COMMISSIONER, I THINK THIS IS A TRANSMITTAL. BUT I THINK WE CAN

BRING IT. >> I'LL LOOK TO SEE IF THERE'S ANOTHER ITEM THAT WE CAN PUT SOMETHING ON. IF NOT NEXT

MEETING. >> AND THEN, IN ADDITION TO, DO WE KNOW WHAT TO EXPECT FROM THE PEOPLESOFT UPGRADE? EXCUSE ME.

[03:00:05]

WHY? >> RIGHT.

>> AND THEN WHEN EVALUATING, IF WE WILL STILL REQUIRE ADDITIONAL ADD-ONS AND A CONSULTANT AS WELL. AND THEN, LASTLY, THE WHITE, IF YOU'RE ONLINE, CAN YOU PROVIDE SOME INSIGHT INTO STAFFING IN THE COUNTY'S PURCHASING DEPARTMENT? ARE THERE STILL STAFFING NEEDS IN PURCHASING THAT ARE IN FACT

IN THE PURCHASING PROCESS? >> HI, COMMISSIONER GARCIA.

THIS IS PAGE MACINNES. I'M TURNING MY VIDEO ON. HOPE YOU GUYS CAN SEE ME OKAY. I WANTED TO WATCH ASSISTANCE PURCHASING AGENTS. HE'S CURRENTLY OUT ON VACATION. WE ARE STILL ASSESSING OUR STAFFING NEEDS AT THIS TIME. WE'VE BEEN WORKING CLOSELY WITH OCA THROUGHOUT THIS ENTIRE PROCESS. WE'RE ALSO CURRENTLY WORKING WITH THE HR TEAM REGARDING SOME ROLLS AND JOB DESCRIPTIONS, AND SOME DATA FOR YOU, HOURLY RATES AND THINGS MOVING FORWARD. SO WE CAN DEFINITELY GATHER THAT DATA AND GET HARD NUMBERS AND AN UPDATE OUT TO YOU.

>> WONDERFUL. THANK YOU SO MUCH.

>> NO PROBLEM. >> THANK YOU, JUDGE. S.

>> YES, COMMISSIONER BRIONES?

>> M MCGINNIS? >> YES, MA'AM.

>> WOULD YOU PLEASE PROVIDE A QUICK UPDATE IN TERMS OF THE SPEED WITH WHICH VENDORS ARE GETTING PAID?

>> I KNOW WE WERE AT 90 DAYS VERSUS OTHER JURISDICTIONS, OR THE 35 DAY MARK. WHAT PROGRESS HAS BEEN MADE? WHERE ARE WE?

>> SO FOR VENDOR PAYMENTS, THAT'S ACTUALLY NOT WITHIN PURCHASE THINGS DIRECT REAL HOUSE. WE ARE PART OF THAT OVERALL PROGRAM AND PLOT SIZE. I'D LIKE TO DEFER TO OCA AND POSSIBLY THE AUDITOR'S OFFICE REGARDING THE QUICKNESS OF THE PAYMENTS, AS WE ONLY SEE THAT PURCHASE ORDER AND GETTING THE INITIAL ORDER OUT TO THE COMMUNITY.

>> THANK YOU, MS. MCGINNIS. I'LL SEE IF LEAH BARTON IS

AVAILABLE ONLINE . >> YES, I'M HERE.

>> OKAY, THANKS. >> MS. BARTON, THE QUESTION WAS, WHAT PROGRESS HAS BEEN MADE IN TERMS OF THE SPEED WITH WHICH VENDORS ARE PAID? I KNOW THAT WAS ONE OF THE PROCURE TO PAY FINDINGS THAT HARRIS COUNTY WAS THAT APPROXIMATELY 90 DATE IN COMPARISON TO OTHER JURISDICTIONS THAT HOVER AROUND

30 DAYS. >> YES, SO WE HAVE MADE PROGRESS ON OUR INVOICE TIMELINESS WHEN WE BEGAN THE PROCURE TO PAY PROJECT, WE HAD MORE THAN 1000 INVOICES THAT WERE AGED OVER 90 DAYS. THAT NUMBER IS CURRENTLY DOWN AROUND, I'M LOOKING AT THE DASHBOARD RIGHT NOW, ABOUT JUST OVER 600. AND WE HAD, WE SAW, WE SAW ANOTHER SPIKE, OF COURSE, OVER THE FISCAL YEAR CLOSE, BUT THAT RECOVERY HAS HAPPENED MUCH MORE QUICKLY THAN PRIOR TIMES. I THINK ONE OF THE CHALLENGES IS THAT WE CAN'T CURRENTLY MEASURE AND TO AND INVOICE TIMELINESS FOR EACH INVOICE, AND THAT'S PART OF WHY THE AUDITOR'S OFFICE, IN COLLABORATION WITH THE UNIVERSAL SERVICES, HAS KICKED OFF THE AIR A 3.0 PROJECT THAT WILL CONNECT AIR TO PEOPLESOFT AND LET US SEE THE FULL

TIMELINESS OVER THAT PORTION. >> AND WHEN WILL THAT BE

COMPLETED? >> SO THAT, THAT IS SCHEDULED TO BE COMPLETED THIS YEAR. THEY'RE CURRENTLY REQUIRING REFINEMENTS AND WORKING OUT A MORE DETAILED TIMELINE. I WILL SAY, JUST LOOKING AT THE AVERAGE DAYS TO CLOSE ON THE AUDITOR'S OFFICE DASHBOARD, WE SEE THAT THE AVERAGE IN DECEMBER WAS 10 DAYS FOR AIR REVIEW, 11 DAYS IN PEOPLESOFT.

SO FOR A TOTAL OF 21 DAYS. SO OUR AVERAGE IS LOOKING MUCH BETTER, BUT WE KNOW THAT THERE ARE OUTLIERS THAT EXCEED THAT, AND THAT'S WHAT WE NEED THE VISIBILITY INTO BY CONNECTING

AIR TO PEOPLESOFT. >> THANK YOU, MS. BARTON. AND IF I COULD PLEASE GO BACK TO MS. MCGINNIS VERY BRIEFLY.

THESE NEW POSITIONS THAT PURCHASING MAY BE REQUESTING, ARE THOSE COMING IN JANUARY 30TH COURT?

>> THAT IS OUR TARGET. COMMISSIONER BRIONES, THAT'S DEFINITELY WHAT WE'RE ANTICIPATING TO SHOOT FOR. I DO NEED TO RUN SOME THINGS AND GET UPDATES WITH OUR HRT IN THE WHITE ON WHERE WE'RE AT WITH FINALIZING JOB DESCRIPTIONS. I KNOW MYSELF AND OTHERS IN MY OFFICE HAVE BEEN WORKING CLOSELY ON FINE-TUNING THOSE ITEMS TO MAKE SURE , TOO, WE'RE

[03:05:03]

YOU KNOW, HIGHER STAFF. >> AND THAT THIS IS A BIG PICTURE QUESTION, AND I KNOW IT'S A BIT CHALLENGING TO ANSWER, BUT ONCE THESE POSITIONS ARE FILLED, HOW MUCH, AND I KNOW THIS IS A MULTIFACETED PROBLEM THAT'S VERY COMPLEX. THAT BEING SAID, HOW MUCH PROGRESS WILL BE MADE? KIND OF, AGAIN, I THINK OF THINGS LIKE A TEACHER SOMETIMES. ARE WE AT, LIKE, A B STUDENT WHO IS GOING TO GO TO A D+ ONCE THESE POSITIONS ARE FILLED? WHAT IS THE RELATIVE PROGRESS THAT THESE POSITIONS WILL TAKE US TO?

>> SO THE RELATIVE PROGRESS THAT I'M SHOOTING FOR, AND I WOULD HOPE, YOU KNOW, MY TEAM, AS WELL AS THE WHITE, WOULD STAND BEHIND, IS, YOU KNOW, WE DEFINITELY WANT TO BE A+ STUDENTS IF WE'RE GOING TO LOOK AT IT IN A TEACHERS MIND-SET.

WE DEFINITELY WANT TO GO ABOVE THE BAR, SO I FEEL RIGHT NOW OUR TEAM, WE ARE WORKING AS HARD AS WE CAN WITH THE RESOURCES WE HAVE, BUT I, I DO KNOW, AND OUR TEAM KNOWS, THAT THE, THE PACE OF THE PROGRESS, THE GUIDELINES AND REQUIREMENTS WE HAVE IN THE PUBLIC SECTOR, YOU KNOW, TAKE TIME. SO WE WANT TO MAKE SURE, IF ANYTHING, TOO, OUR TIME AND JUST THE ROBUST NATURE OF OUR COMMUNICATION TO GET PROJECTS OUT QUICKER IS WHAT WE'RE AIMING FOR TO HOPEFULLY GET TO, YOU KNOW,

THAT A AND A+ SITES. >> AND I AGREE WITH YOU, THE GOAL IS ABSOLUTELY A PLUS PLUS. THE PART OF ME GETTING TO THE CAPITAL A+ PLOTS IS BEING REALLY BRUTALLY HONEST ABOUT WHERE WE ARE NOW, AND WHAT ARE THE PROBLEMS WE'RE SOLVING FOR, AND HOW WE'RE GOING TO SOLVE THEM, AND BY ONE? AND SO JUST AS AGGRESSIVELY AS POSSIBLE, DRIVING THESE PROCURE TO PAY MEASURES IN TERMS, BECAUSE TO ME, IT'S ONE OF THE LARGEST CHALLENGES WE FACE AS A COUNTY . IF WE COULD SOLVE THIS, AND I USE AIR QUOTES, BECAUSE AGAIN, I KNOW IT'S A HUGE PROBLEM, BUT IF WE COULD MAKE DRAMATIC PROGRESS, I'VE TOLD COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR RAMIREZ, TO ME, THIS IS ONE OF THE TOP PRIORITIES THAT WE NEED TO SOLVE FOR. BECAUSE IT AFFECTS EVERYTHING WE DO IN TERMS OF WHAT WE CAN AND CANNOT GET DONE IF THINGS ARE STUCK IN PURCHASING. SO I KNOW EVERYONE HAS THE BEST OF INTENTIONS. I KNOW THE GOAL IS A+. BUT WE WANT TO BE A RESOURCE ON THE COURT TO HELP YOU GET TO A+, BUT WE NEED THAT, YOU KNOW, FIRE AND AGGRESSION IN TERMS OF THE PACE OF PROGRESS. SO THANK YOU FOR STANDING IN, AND JUST KNOW THAT WE WANT TO HEAR THE BRUTAL HONESTY AND WE WANT TO BE PARTNERS IN GETTING TO THE A+. SO THANK YOU.

>> ALL RIGHT. AND THANK YOU SO MUCH.

>> JUDGE, JUDGE, JUDGE. APPARENTLY COMMISSIONER ELLIS IS ON THE WEB X AND WANTS TO ASK A QUESTION.

>> SO WE'LL HEAR FROM COMMISSIONER GARCIA, THEN COMMISSIONER RAMSEY, AND FINALLY COMMISSIONER ELLIS. WE HAVE COMMISSIONER ELLIS ON THE LINE. WELCOME, COMMISSIONER.

WE'VE ALL BEEN THINKING ABOUT YOU. GO AHEAD.

>> I THINK COMMISSIONER BRIONES HAS TOUCHED ON THE SAME ISSUE.

I MEAN, I PUT THIS ITEM TOGETHER ABOUT TWO YEARS AGO, AND THE PROGRESS MADE ON IT HAS BEEN VERY, VERY MINIMAL, AND SO I'VE JUST, TO ECHO HER COMMENTS, I JUST WANT TO SEE THAT AGGRESSIVENESS TO GET US IN LINE WITH, WITH WHERE WE OUGHT TO BE AT, OR THE SIZE OF COUNTY WE ARE FOR THE RESOURCES WE HAVE AND FOR THE AMOUNT OF VENDORS THAT WE'RE WORKING WITH. I KNOW THAT'S A HUGE UNIVERSE, BUT BY THE SAME TOKEN, MUCH IS GIVEN, AND MUCH IS EXPECTED.

>> COMMISSIONER RAMSEY, COMMISSIONER ELLIS?

>> WHAT IS THE LEGISLATIVE REQUIREMENT ON PAYMENT? WE'RE

REQUIRED SO MANY DAYS TO -- >> YES. I BELIEVE IT'S THE

FRONT PAY ACT. >> FRONT PAY ACT IS 30 DAYS.

IT'S 30. WE'RE OPERATING IN A 90 DAY? SO I THINK WE'RE -- AND WE CAN TALK ABOUT THIS, SORT OF IN DIFFERENT WAYS. IT'S JUST WHEN THE 30 DAY PERIOD STARTS. IT CAN BE A LITTLE BIT OF A GRAY AREA. AND I THINK AUDITOR CAN PROBABLY SPEAK TO THIS BETTER THAN I CAN, BUT THAT'S ALWAYS BEEN THE CASE. THE ISSUE, AND IT'S ONE OF THE REASONS WHY, YOU KNOW, WE SCRAMBLE SOMETIMES TO BE ABLE TO GET PAYMENTS AND HAVE PEOPLE, HAVE THE NEED FOR MORE MEETINGS, AS WELL. BUT IT'S WHEN THE, THE INVOICE HAS BEEN SUBMITTED AND APPROVED AND SIGNED OFF ON IS IT THE 30 DAY PERIOD STARTS. AND OFTEN TIMES, AND I THINK TO THE POINT COMMISSIONER GARCIA HAD MADE EARLIER, THE DEPARTMENT OF OUR HOLDING IN THE INVOICES AND ARE NOT SAYING THAT THE WORK IS COMPLETED OR APPROVED. BUT FOR THAT VENDOR, FROM THE VENDOR'S PERSPECTIVE, THEY'VE DONE WHAT THEY NEEDED TO DO AND THEY'VE SUBMITTED IT. AND SO THAT'S WHERE WE HAVE THAT, AND THAT'S ONE OF THIS ENTIRE LARGER EFFORT THAT, THAT ADMINISTRATOR RAMIREZ IS TEAM IS SORT OF WORKING ON. OUR OFFICE IS INVOLVED IN THE CONTRACT LIKE MANAGEMENT ASPECT OF IT AS WELL, BUT THAT'S WHERE THIS

MOVEMENT COMES FROM. >> SO THAT OUT OF THE COUNTY

[03:10:03]

TEACHER. >> RIGHT.

>> SO PEOPLE PLAYING GAMES WITH, WELL, I DIDN'T GET THAT INVOICE TILL LAST, LAST NOVEMBER. WELL --

>> OR WASN'T CORRECT, AND I NEEDED, YOU KNOW, MORE

INFORMATION? >> SO YOU'RE THE REFEREE?

>> RIGHT, AND WE'RE WORKING WITH THE COUNTY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE, THE AUDITOR'S OFFICE, PURCHASING AND UNIVERSAL SERVICES. SO ALL THE BIG PLAYERS IN THIS ARENA.

>> WHAT WE'RE SAYING IS, IT'S OKAY TO THROW A RED FLAG AND BRING IT TO COURT IF PEOPLE ARE PLAYING RIGHT.

>> OKAY. SOUNDS GOOD. WE WILL.

>> COMMISSIONER ELLIS? >> THANK YOU. THANK YOU ALL -- JUST AT THE ITEMS THAT I MISSED MY STAFF --

>> OKAY. DID YOU HEAR THAT? >> I D.DI

>> WE CAN HEAR YOU, T BUJUST BARELY. WE HEARD ATTH -- DRAY

HEARD THAT. >> I D HEARIT. LET EEME S ABOUT

THE LOGISTICS OF PTHATART. >> OKAY. K THANYOU. AND I'M

HERE. THANK YOU ALL. >> K THANYOU.

>> , OKAYSO WE'LL ACCEPT THE TRANSMITTAL, AND I ECHO THE MESSAGE BY MY GUCOLLEAES, SO IT'S AT LEAST FOUR SAOF US YING HE HISAME TNG. 35ITEM 2, COMMISSIONER GARCIA.

YOU,HANK GEYOU, JUD. THANK JUDGE. FIRST, I BEWANT TO GIN B AND KING MS. GONZALEZ CEO. R THE GREATEHOUSTON BUSINESS T PROCUREMENFORM, AND THE LATINOS OF HOUSTON, COFOR NDUCTING THESE FOCUS GROUPS. AT AND WH S,BASED SURVEY WHICH HAS PROVIDED US ,WITH SOME VERY VALUABLE INFORMATION. WE'VE GREAT DEAL FROM HEARING DIRECTLY FROM ANTHESE CURRENT D POTENTIACONTRACTORS, THAND ONE ING I THINK WILL BE GREAT FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF POTENTIAL TO SUBCONTRACRS IS WHAT I ATHELPED THE CITY OF HOUSTON, AND IT'S CALLED IN CONTRACTS FIVE, THMEANING THAT ESE EAVENDORS WILL GET RL ON-THE-JOB TRAINING FOR OT POTENTIAL, PENTIAL CONTRACTORS WILL GET REAL IN ON-THE-JOB TRAING, CONTRACTS IN R FIVE WILL TAKE A VENDOER THROUGH A LADDS GGUP OF GETTING BIER CONTRACTS. BUT IT NIWILL BE ACCOMPAED WITH ALL THE EDUCATION AND, WAND TRAINING THATE TALKED ABOUT EARLIER. AND IN ORDER FOR, FOR A VENDOR TO GRADUATE FROM THEIR STARTING CONTRACT TO THEIR SUBSEQUENT AND SO ON AND SO FORTH, IT O WIL REQUIRE FOR THEM TCOMPLY G WITH ALL OF THE TRAININAND EDUCATION COMPONENTS . THEN THE SECOND LEVEL WOULD BE, YOU 5 KNOW, IT WOULD GO FROM0 TO 100, 150 TO 100. AND I THINK IT ENDS AT 250,000. THIS HAS BEEN VERY, VERY SUCCESSFUL AT THE CITY OF HOUSTON. I KNOW WE CAN BE SUCCESSFUL WITH IT HERE. WHAT I DON'T KNOW, JAY, IS WHETHER WE HAVE THE SAME HE STATUTORY AUTHORITY THAT T CITY HAS AT CREATING THIS. I DON'T KNOW WHETHER WE HAVE IT E HERE AT THE COUNTY. THAT'S BN A QUESTION THAT I'VE, I'VE BEEN MEANING TO ASK. SO IF YOU COULD HELP TO RESEARCH THAT,

THAT WOULD BE VERY HELPFUL. >> YES, COMMISSIONER. WE CAN

LOOK INTO THAT. >> BUT ANULTIMATELY, YOU KNOW, THE PARTICIPTS BELIEVE THAT SMALLER CONTRACTS WILL ALSO ALLOW THEM TO ALLOW THEM THE LA OPPORTUNITY TO DEVELOP RETIONSHIPS WITH PRIMES, INCREASE VISIBILITY, AND GAIN HARRIS COUNTY, SAY R SPECIFIC EXPERIENCE BY GETTING THEI FOOT IN THE DOOR. VENDORS BELIEVE THEY CAN PROVE THEIR VALUE FOR FUTURE OPPORTUNITIES. AND WE'VE LEARNED THAT BOTH CURRENT AND POTENTIAL SUBCONTRACTORS VALUE, IN PERSON LUNCH AND LEARN TYPE OF FORMAT. AND THE HMS D.C. EXPO ONE AND THE MEET THE BUYER TWO EVENTS TO GET IN FRONT OF DECISION-MAKERS AND BUYERS, AS WELL AS FOR KIGENERAL RELATIONSHIP BUILDING, NETWORNG, AND TRAINING. IN TERMS OF BARRIERS, THOSE SURVEY RESPONDENTS AND FOCUS GROUPS MENTIONED OVERALL CONTRACT SIZE AS A BARRIER PREVENTING THEM FROM GAINING MORE WORK FOR THE COUNTY. INCREASED AVAILABILITY AND/OR PROMOTION OF SMALLER CONTRACTS WOULD PROVIDE GREATER OPPORTUNITY FOR MORE DIVERSE BUSINESSES TO, TO -- AND SO I BELIEVE THAT BY FOLLOWING THESE INSIGHTS, WE CAN HELP THE -- TO DEVELOP SOME CONTRACTORS AND DIVERSE BUSINESSES WHO OTHERWISE MAY HAVE NOT HAD AN OPPORTUNITY. AND SO I'M JUST GLAD THAT, THAT THE WORK WAS DONE, THEY'VE GIVEN US SOME GOOD FEEDBACK. WE KIND OF VIEW THAT THIS WAS THE CASE, BUT IT'S GOOD TO HAVE IT VALIDATED. SO THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE

WORK, BOTH DEO AND THE OCX. >> THAT WAS TO: 35, SO WE'LL ACCEPT THE TRANSMITTAL, AND I ECHO THE COMMISSIONER'S REMARKS

[03:15:11]

>> JUDGE? >> YES?

>> ON COMMISSIONER YOELLIS'S QUESTION, I THINK, COMMISSIONER, ARE U ON? IF YOU JUST WANT TO DIRECT THE CLERK'S OFFICE FOR ALL, TO SHOW YOU AS VOTING AYE ON ALL PREVIOUSLY APPROVED ITEMS? THAT SAID. BUT YOU HAVE TO STAY ON

FOR ANY SUBSEQUENT -- >> YEAH, OKAY. COULD YOU PLEASE DIRECT ME? I'M ASKING YOU TO SHOW ME A VOTING AYE ON THE

ITEMS I MISSED EARLIER. >> YES SIR. ALL THE APPROVED

[Emergency/Supplemental items (Part 1 of 2)]

ITEMS, YEAH. >> ON THE APPROVED ITEMS.

>> ON THE APPROVED ITEMS, OKAY.

>> OKAY, LET'S MOVE ON TO ITEM 261. I THINK THAT WAS

COMMISSIONER RAMSEY. >> I HAD A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS.

I NOTICED THAT IT'S IDENTIFIED, THIS IS UNDER, I THINK THIS IS A PORTABLE BOTTLE AND OBJECTIVES THERE TO MITIGATE THE CAUSES OF E MISDEMEANOR NONAPPEARANCE. AND THEY LIST THREASONS FOR NONAPPEARANCE AS BEING LACK OF TRANSPORTATION, LACK OF CHILDCARE, LACK OF PERMANENT HOUSING, LACK OF ACCESS TO ON PHONES, COMPUTER, CONFUSION AND MISINFORMATI ABOUT COURT DATES, SUBSTANCE USE DISORDERS, MENTAL HEALTH PROBLEMS, LACK OF SUFFICIENT NOTICE, MEDICAL EMERGENCIES. SO DO WE HAVE ANY KIND OF INFORMATION RELATED TO, WE'VE MADE CERTAIN INVESTMENTS IN THESE AREAS UP TO THIS POINT. WHAT HAS BEEN THE SUCCESS OF GETTING PEOPLE TO COURT, IMPLEMENTING THESE, THESE MEASURES? DO WE HAVE ANY

INFORMATION ON THAT? >> COMMISSIONER, I BELIEVE MIKE JORDAN ELLIE FROM OUR RESEARCH AND ANALYSIS TEAM IS AVAILABLE TO ADDRESS THAT, AND IF WE DON'T HAVE AN ANSWER RIGHT NOW,

I'LL GET YOU ONE. >> OKAY. BUT IT WAS JUST --

>> IS MR. GIORDANELLI ON THE LINE? WHY DON'T WE KEEP GOING, AND THEN WE'LL COME BACK TO IT? I'M GOING TO LEAVE 261 UNADDRESSED. 281, THIS IS COMMISSIONER GARCIA'S FLAG AND

ITEM. >> YES, THANK YOU, JUDGE. I'M EXCITED TO HAVE THIS ITEM ON THE AGENDA TODAY. WE ARE ACTIVELY SEEKING FUNDING TO UPGRADE OUR AGING FLEET THROUGH THE ACQUISITION OF -- 24 TO 39 PASSENGER BUSES , THE BUYOUT OF LEASED VEHICLES AND THE PROCUREMENT OF SERVICE VEHICLES. OUR OPERATIONS DEPARTMENT PLAYS ACRUCIAL ROLE IN TRANSPORTING SENIOR CITIZENS, COMMUNITY GROUPS, VOLUNTEERS, YOUTH, OR, AS MY CONNIE WAS SAYING, YOU, THE VARIOUS PRECINCTS TO EVENTS AND ACTIVITIES IN HARRIS COUNTY AND SURROUNDING AREAS. THE PROPOSED FLEET UPDATE IS ESSENTIAL TO FULFILLING OUR MISSION TO PROMOTE SOCIAL AND PHYSICAL ACTIVITY AMONG SENIOR CITIZENS, ENABLING THEM TO REMAIN ACTIVE AND CONTRIBUTORS TO THEIR COMMUNITIES. BY FACILITATING REGULAR ENGAGEMENT, WE STRIVE TO COME -- TO COMBAT ISOLATION WITHIN THE ELDER POPULATION, AND REDUCE THE PREVALENCE OF LONELINESS AND DEPRESSION. FURTHERMORE, ENHANCING OUR FLEET WILL ADDRESS TRANSPORTATION CHALLENGES IN PRECINCT YOU WHERE PROJECT TRANSIT OPTIONS ARE LIMITED. BY PROVIDING RELIABLE TRANSPORTATION FOR OUR COMMUNITY, VOLUNTEERS AND YOUTH, WE AIM TO ELIMINATE BARRIERS AND EMPOWER INDIVIDUALS TO CONNECT WITH ONE ANOTHER. THIS INITIATIVE ALIGNS WITH OUR COMMITMENT TO FOSTERING COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT AND ENHANCING THE OVERALL WELL-BEING OF THE RESIDENTS IN PRECINCT 2. SO PRECINCT 2 IS DEDICATED TO EDUCATION, EDUCATING, AND EMPOWERING ITS RESIDENTS, RECOGNIZING THAT ENGAGEMENT IS THE FOUNDATION FOR UNDERSTANDING COMMUNITY NEEDS. OUR COMMITMENT EXTENDS TO ENSURING EQUAL ACCESS TO E- EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES SPANNING FROM PRK TO SENIORS, SENIORS, TO SENIORS.

EDUCATION, IN TURN, LEADS TO EMPOWERMENT, OPENS DOORS TO VARIOUS OPPORTUNITIES. FOR 2024, WE HAVE 900 TRIPS SCHEDULED FOR 6000 PRECINCT 2 RIDERS, WITH AN ESTIMATED 104,000 -- 104,263 PLANNED MILES. SO THIS IS VERY, VERY IMPORTANT. SO I'M EXCITED. I MOVE ON THE ITEM AS PRESENTED.

GARCIA, SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER BRIONES. THAT WAS ITEM 281 AT ALL IN FAVOR? TRENT 26

>> ANY OLD POSTS? MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY. YES. OKAY.

THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER GARCIA. WE'LL MOVE ON TO 282,

COMMISSIONER RAMSEY. >> THIS ITEM DEALS WITH THE

[03:20:03]

WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO DO IS NOT SIT HERE AND DO NOTHING. WHAT I'D LIKE TO DO IS ORGANIZE A TASK FORCE LED BY THE COUNTY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE THAT WOULD INCLUDE THE COUNTY ENGINEER'S OFFICE, THAT WOULD INCLUDE FLOOD CONTROL. I THINK WE NEED TO PARTNER WITH THE DOJ IN TERMS OF INVESTIGATING THIS, BECAUSE WE ARE REALIZING DOWNSTREAM IMPACTS AS WE SPEAK.

FROM AN ENVIRONMENTAL STANDPOINT, SEDIMENT IN THE, IN THE RIVER DISCHARGES FROM -- THE TCE Q HAS ALREADY DOCUMENTED DISCHARGES AT THE WEST WATER TREATMENT PLANTS.

THAT, OF COURSE, FLOWS INTO LAKE HOUSTON, WHICH IS THE WATER SUPPLY FOR HALF THE COUNTY. SO I THINK WE OUGHT TO DO MORE THAN JUST SIT HERE AND HOPE, AND I WOULD MAKE A MOTION THAT WE DO ORGANIZE A TASK FORCE THAT WOULD BE LED THROUGH THE COUNTY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE AND WOULD INCLUDE THE COUNTY

ENGINEER AND FLOOD CONTROL. >> AND, COMMISSIONER RAMSEY, THE -- INCLUDING COUNTY ENGINEER FLOOD CONTROL TO PARTNER WITH THE DOJ TO IDENTIFY DOWNSTREAM IMPACTS AND PREDATORY LENDING PRACTICES BY THE SAME DEVELOPER?

>> WELL, THE DOJ IS DOING AN INVESTIGATION. WE SHOULD BENEFIT FROM WHAT THEY FIND IN THEIR INVESTIGATION. BUT WE ARE, WE ARE IN VERY REAL TIME EXPERIENCING IMPACTS BECAUSE OF THAT, I'LL USE THE TERM THEY USE, PREDATORY DEVELOPER. SO -- YOU -- THE FIRST PART OF YOUR PRESENTATION, YOU WERE TALKING ABOUT THE PREDATORY LENDING PRACTICES, AND WHEN YOU SAID THAT THE SAME DEVELOPER HAD BOUGHT ADDITIONAL LAND IN YOUR PRECINCT, WHAT, WHERE MY MIND JUMPED WAS, ARE THEY GOING TO HAVE THE SAME BUDGETARY LENDING PRACTICES THERE?

>> GREAT QUESTION. THERE IS THE PURCHASE OF PROPERTY IN HARRIS COUNTY, AND ARE THEY GOING TO TRY THEIR SAME BAD ACTIVITIES IN HARRIS COUNTY THAT THEY DID TO IT IN LIBERTY COUNTY? THAT'S ONE POINT. BUT THE OTHER POINT IS US UNDERSTANDING FULLY, AND MITIGATING FOR THE IMPACTS OF WHAT -- THIS IS A 60,000 PERSON DEVELOPMENT. THIS ISN'T A SMALL LITTLE BUNGALOW. IT'S 60,000 PEOPLE THAT ARE THERE, AND THEY'VE BEEN SOLD GOODS, AND WE'RE REAPING THE BENEFITS, OR THE LACK THEREOF, DOWNSTREAM.

>> DO YOU GUYS HAVE THOUGHTS, MAYBE, OF COUNTY ATTORNEY, THE

[03:25:01]

>> YES, JUDGE. JUST VERY BRIEFLY, THIS IS OBVIOUSLY THE FIRST WE'RE HEARING ABOUT THIS POTENTIAL TASK FORCE, AND WE'D WELCOME THE OPPORTUNITY TO VISIT WITH COMMISSIONER RAMSEY TO SORT OF UNDERSTAND WHAT THE GOALS OF THE TASK FORCE ARE AND IDENTIFY WHAT WE'RE ALREADY DOING IN THE COUNTY THAT MAY IMPACT SOME OF THESE CONCERNS AND MAYBE TABLE IT AND COME BACK AT A LATER MEETING TO SEE IF THIS MAKES THE MOST SENSE AS

AN APPROACH TO THIS ISSUE. >> THAT WOULD BE GREAT IF WE COULD, AGAIN, HAVE A CONVERSATION ABOUT WHAT WE COULD DO . THAT SOUNDS GOOD, JONATHAN.

>> OKAY, AND THAT WAY THE PARTIES CAN TALK ABOUT IT. AND I WAS KIND OF TALKING ABOUT THIS WITH YOU, COMMISSIONER RAMSEY, WENDY, WHEN WE WERE WAITING FOR THE MEETING TO START. IN TERMS OF JUST OTHER IMPACTS OF DEVELOPMENT THAT MAYBE WE HAVEN'T THOUGHT ABOUT BEFORE, BECAUSE WE'RE JUST SORT OF LOOKING AT THE FLOOD CONTROL SIDE. BUT I KNOW THAT, I KNOW THAT OUR DISORIENTATION FRAMEWORK HAS A FACTOR IN THE ALGORITHM THAT LOOKS UNDER ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS, BUT I DON'T KNOW HOW MUCH GOES INTO THAT. SO ANYWAY, I'M JUST THINKING, AS WE HAVE THIS CONVERSATION, I'LL ASK MY STAFF TO REMEMBER THIS AS WELL, THAT WE CAN TALK ABOUT THE COMEDY DOWNSTREAM IMPACTS, WE CAN TALK ABOUT THE PREDATORY LENDING, AND MAYBE TAKE A LOOK AT ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS THAT HONESTLY I HAVEN'T EVEN THOUGHT ABOUT UNTIL I CHATTED WITH SOME COLLEAGUES LAST NIGHT AHEAD OF THE GAME, AND I WAS LIKE KIND OF TAKEN ABACK BY THEIR FEEDBACK. SO ANYWAY, JUST PUTTING THAT OUT THERE TO THE POSSIBLE FUTURE STAKEHOLDERS.

BUT I'LL FOLLOW-UP WITH VMI STAFF.

>> OKAY. I APPRECIATE IT. >> NAKED, COMMISSIONER. WE'LL BRING THIS BACK THEN, SO NO ACTION ON 282 FOR NOW. OKAY, SO NOW WE HAVE ITEM 285, COMMISSIONER RAMSEY IS ON THE

PHARMACIES. >> YEAH. WE HAD -- WE HAD, WE HAD SOME LENGTHY DISCUSSION ON THIS BEFORE. TO QUICKLY SUMMARIZE, HARRIS HEALTH ALLOCATED $497,358 OF OUR MONEY TO THREE PRECINCTS FOR FOOD PHARMACIES, AND I HAD SOME, A GOOD MEETING WITH HARRIS HEALTH ON THE CRITERIA THAT THEY USED IN TERMS OF, HOW DID THEY EVALUATE WHERE THESE MONIES AND DOLLARS WOULD BE SPENT, BECAUSE OBVIOUSLY THEY WEREN'T BEING SPENT IN PRECINCT 3. AND I SAID, WELL, THERE WERE WONDERFUL EXISTING WORKING RELATIONSHIPS WITH ENTITIES WITHIN THE OTHER THREE. THAT DOESN'T MEAN THERE WEREN'T, THERE'S NOT A NEED IN PRECINCT 3, AND I IDENTIFIED SEVERAL THAT WE COULD, WE COULD LOOK AT. MY MOTION ON THIS WOULD BE THAT AN DIADTIONAL $165,786 IN ARBOR FUNDS BE LOALCATED TO FOOD FARMACIES, CALOTED AT EITHER -- LINES CORYPRESS HILL CENTERS, OR NONPROFITS SUCH AS PAM. THAT'S AN ON MALARIA AND INISTRIES. IN TOORDER CCOMPLISH THE SAME THING WITHIN PRECINCT 3 THAT PROPOSED AND IS ONGOING IN THE OTHER O THREE. SI THINK, I ME.RECIATE INTHE MEETG WITH THEY'VE IDENTIFIED Y SOME VER BE R THINGS THAT COULD DONE. LKI DID TA TO LEAH, AND WE COWOULD, OF URSE, GO THROUGH THE ITARBOR COMMTEE AND BE THSUE AT WE'RE NOT IMPACTING SOMETHING THAT WE WOULD NOT T WANTO, BUT IT'S TPOSSIBLE THA WE WOULD DEBE ABLE TO INTIFY THOSE FUNDS WITHIN ARPA , AND THEN COME BACK AT PRTHE APOPRIATE TIME AND HAVE THAT SO COMPLETE. AT LEAST WE AYNEED TO S THAT'S A GOOD ALTHING, AND LOW PEOPLE TO MOVE THFORWARD WI, DO WE, DO WE, NEDO WE PARTR WITH SQUATTING LINES, WITH THE CENTERS, OR PAM, OR COUNTY, OR THE OTHER AREA ADMINISTRATORS.

WHICH ONE? BUT NTAT LEAST I WAED THE COURT VETO GIVE SOME LEL OF ENCOURAGEMENT THAT WE, BOTH HARRIS HEALTH AND THE ARPA COMMITTEE, MOVE ALFORWARD WITH EVUATING SUCH A THING.

>> SO IT ARE WORKING TOGETHER ON A SOLUTION, WHETHER THAT IS THE , IS IT HAM?

>> YEAH, THAT'S ONE OF THEM. >> COULD BE CANADA.

>>OR CANADA. OR IF IT'S THE, PARTNERING WITH HARRIS HEALTH FOR THERE TO BE A SLIGHTLY DIFFERENT MODEL, GIVEN FACILITY CONSTRAINTS. BUT, BUT I'M, AS I ONSAID EARLIER, COMMISSIER, COMMITTED FOR MY TEAM TO WORK WITH H YOURS AND HARRIS HEALTTO GET ITHIS THROUGH.

>>'LL SECOND YOUR MOTION. >> THANK YOU.

>> SO MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT WE'RE NOT ENTIRELY SURE YET IF

[03:30:09]

>> I DON'T BELIEVE WE NEED A MOTION AT THIS TIME. HAPPY FOR A PROPOSAL TO COME BEFORE THE ARPA --

>> OKAY, SO IT'LL GO TO -- YEAH? SO THE POINT IS, WE WANT A FOOD FARMACIES TYPE PROGRAM THAT IS OF SIMILAR SCOPE AND COMMISSIONERS, OR EQUAL SCOPE E IN COMMISSIONER RAMSEY'S PRINCT. AND SO YOU GUYS WILL WORK TO FIGURE OUT THE ARPA STEERING HACOMMITTEE OR SEPARATELY HOW WE MAKE TT HAPPEN, GIVEN WHATEVER RESOURCE -- SPACE RESOURCES ARE AVAILABLE. DOES THAT SOUND ACCURATE?

>> I MEAN, HISTORICALLY,SITHERE HAVE BEEN TIMES WHERE COMMISONERS COURT HAS DIRECTED THE STEERING COMMITTEE TO CONSIDER CERTAIN THINGS, SO IF YOU'D LIKE TO DO THAT, THE MOTION, CERTAINLY HAPPY TO TAKE THAT AS WELL. BUT WE CAN, WE CAN WORK WITH PRECINCT 3 AND HARRIS HEALTH ON THE PROPOSAL

IF NEEDED. >> GOOD.

>> OKAY, SO IT SOUNDS LIKE WE'RE GOOD TO GO, AND WE'LL BE

LOOKING OUT FOR THAT, LEAH. >> OKAY.

>> OKAY, SO THAT LEAVES US WITH THE PUBLIC HEARING, AND THEN WE

GOT A COUPLE PENDING ITEMS. >> SORRY, JUDGE, 285 WILL BE NO

ACTION? >> NOT FOR NOW, JAMES.

>> THANK YOU. >> SO LET ME, LET ME READ THE PUBLIC HEARING HERE REAL QUICK, AND THEN WE'LL GO BACK TO THE

ITEMS. >> JUDGE?

>> YES? >> I'VE HAD MY STAFF LOOK INTO THE 2021 TEXAS STATUTES ON EXECUTIVE SESSIONS, SPECIFICALLY THE SECTION 551 ON 071, AND I DON'T THINK THAT ALLOWS US TO GO INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION. I DON'T THINK THE REASONS THAT I UNDERSTAND, AND CERTAINLY WHAT JUDGE BROADWATER ON MY STAFF LOOKED AT, WOULD BE SOMETHING WE WOULD NEED TO

GO INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION ON. >> ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT THE

UPLIFT HARRIS ITEM? >> YEAH. I DON'T KNOW WHY WE

[Public Hearings]

WOULDN'T DISCUSS IT HERE. >> LET ME GET THE PUBLIC HEARING DONE, AND THEN WE'LL MOVE ON TO THE EXECUTIVE SESSION PIECE. OKAY. THE PUBLIC HEARING. WE HAVE A PUBLIC HEARING FOR ITEM 228 ON PAGE 30 OF THE AGENDA. I NOW OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING TO CONSIDER APPROVAL, TO, OF THE REVISION TO A SUBDIVISION PLAT ENTITLED ST. CHARLES PLACE PARTIAL RE-PLAT NUMBER 16 UNDER LOCAL GOVERNMENT CODE 232.009 CHAPTER 1, PRECINCT 3. TIFFANY? IS THERE ANYONE WHO WOULD LIKE TO

SPEAK FOR OR AGAINST THIS ITEM? >> NO SPEAKERS, JUDGE.

>> SINCE THERE ARE NO SPEAKERS, IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION? I KNOW CLOSEST PUBLIC HEARING. IS THERE A MOTION FOR THIS ITEM?

>> MOVE. SORRY. >> MOTION BY COMMISSIONER GARCIA, SECOND BY COMMISSIONER RAMSEY. ALL IN FAVOR OF APPROVING. ANY OPPOSED? MOTION PASSES ON 228 UNANIMOUSLY. NOW

[Emergency/Supplemental items (Part 2 of 3)]

SO THERE'S STILL THE MISDEMEANOR NONAPPEARANCE ITEM , IF THE GENTLEMAN IS AVAILABLE.

>> I BELIEVE HE'S CHANGED HIS SETTINGS ON HIS COMPUTER, SO HE

IS AVAILABLE. MIKE? >> HE IS AVAILABLE?

>> YOU CAN HEAR ME NOW? >> YES. TRY AGAIN. YOU SOUND A

LITTLE QUIET, BUT. >> LET ME LEAN IN A LITTLE BIT

AND SEE IF THAT HELPS. >> YEAH, THAT WOULD BE GOOD.

ALL RIGHT. YES, PERFECT. >> SORRY.

>> SO THAT ITEM 261. >> SO, TO ADDRESS COMMISSIONER RAMSEY'S QUESTION ABOUT NONAPPEARANCE RATES AND IF THERE'S BEEN ANY STUDIES, WE HAVE NOT DONE ANY TYPE OF FOCUSED STUDY ON NONAPPEARANCE RATES. WE DO HAVE, ON OUR DASHBOARD ON THE FORMER OGS, NO OCA TEAM , HAS A DASHBOARD THAT DOES HAVE SOME UDINFORMATION ABOUT -- FAILURE TO APPEAR.

>> JGE, I THINK MR. GIORDANELLI'S CAMERA IS NOT

ON. >> I APOLOGIZE.

>> SURE. >> THANKS. I WAS JUST THINKING ABOUT THAT, AND I WAS LIKE -- THANK YOU. THANK YOU SO MUCH.

>> DID YOU, DID YOU HEAR MY ANSWER TO COMMISSIONER RAMSEY'S

QUESTION? >> NO DATA?

>> NO. WE DON'T, WE HAVEN'T DONE ANY TYPE OF STUDY, PER SE, BUT WE DO HAVE SOME DATA ON FAILURE TO APPEAR THAT IS ON OUR, JUST ON OUR GENERAL WEBSITE.

>> AND WE CAN SEND YOU THE LINKS TO THE, TO THE DASHBOARD, TO THE WEBSITE, TO EACH OF THE OFFICES, SO YOU HAVE IT, AND

[03:35:04]

YOU MIGHT HAVE. >> OKAY.

>> OKAY. IS THERE A MOTION ON 261?

>> MOTION BY COMMISSIONER BRIONES, SECONDED BY

[Executive Session]

>> AYE. >> NO.

>> I'M IN FAVOR. MOTION CARRIED 4-1. FINALLY, EXECUTIVE SESSION ITEM, AND COMMISSIONER RAMSEY HAD ASKED THE QUESTION, ARE WE ALLOWED TO TAKE INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION?

>> SURE. COMMISSIONER RAMSEY HAD ASKED WHETHER OR NOT 551071 APPLIES HERE. OUR UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT THE REQUEST FROM COMMISSIONER BRIONES AND WHAT THE COURT IS ASKING FOR HIS LEGAL ADVICE, LEGAL OPINIONS FROM OUR OFFICE, WHICH WE -- BELIEVE FITS UNDER 071. OBVIOUSLY ANY, THIS IS SOMETHING THE COURT, IF IT WANTED US TO HAVE OPEN DISCUSSION, IT COULD, BUT, BUT WE BELIEVE IT FAIRLY FITS UNDER THE 071 INCEPTION. AGAIN, THAT IS UP TO THE COURT, IF THEY WANT TO DO AN OPEN SESSION, BUT WE BELIEVE IT IS ELIGIBLE UNDER EXECUTIVE SESSION , AND THOSE ITEMS WILL BE DISCUSSED THERE.

CAN BE DISCUSSED THERE. >> I THINK DUE TO THE NATURE OF WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT, I THINK THE MORE TRANSPARENCY, THE BETTER. AND I WOULD RECOMMEND WE HAVE AN OPEN DISCUSSION RATHER THAN A, WHAT WAS THE WORD, DISCUSSION?

>> SO I'M DEEPLY COMMITTED TO TRANSPARENCY, BUT SPECIFICALLY THERE'S SOME LEGAL QUESTIONS THAT I BELIEVE VERY MUCH FOR AN EXECUTIVE SESSION, AND THEN WE CAN COME BACK AND DISCUSS OTHER LIMITATION RELATED ITEMS, ET CETERA. BUT THERE IS A VERY KEY LEGAL QUESTION THAT I THINK WE ALL NEED BRIEFING ON.

>> AGAIN, THAT'S THE COURTS, THE COURTS CALL.

>> I'M GOOD, I'M GOOD TO GO TO EXECUTIVE SESSION.

>> OKAY. SO IT'S 243. WE ARE GOING TO EXECUTIVE SESSION ON ITEM 284, AND WE ARE CONSULTING WITH OUR ATTORNEYS ON LEGAL

ANALYSIS. >> JUDGE, I WILL NOT BE

ATTENDING. >> AND TO SAY THAT FOR THE RECORD. AND SO COMMISSIONER RAMSEY WILL ON THE LINE? OH YEAH, I SEE YOU. CAN YOU HERE IS OKAY?

[Emergency/Supplemental items (Part 3 of 3)]

>> YES, CAN YOU HEAR ME? >> IT'S 3:49. MISSIONERS COURT IS BACK IN QUESTION, AND WE HAD SOME QUESTIONS ON 284 FOR OPEN COURT, SO I'LL GIVE AN OPTION -- ASK THOSE QUESTIONS. SO.

>> THANK YOU. DIRECTOR ROBINSON, ARE YOU ON, PLEASE?

>> THAT AFTERNOON. >> GOOD AFTERNOON. WOULD YOU PLEASE TELL US MORE ABOUT THE THIRD-PARTY EVALUATION THAT WILL BE CONDUCTED AS PART OF UPLIFT HARRIS?

>> YES. TO EXAMINE THE EFFICACY OF THIS, OUR GUARANTEED INCOME HIGHLIGHT PROGRAM, WE HAVE ENGAGED A VENDOR TO EVALUATE OUTCOMES RELATIVE TO THOSE THAT PARTICIPATE IN UPLIFT HARRIS COUNTY TO SEE WHAT TYPES OF IMPACT THESE DOLLARS HAVE ON THEIR LIVES, WHETHER OR NOT IT HELPS THEM BECOME MORE SELF-SUFFICIENT, WHETHER IT IMPROVES THEIR MENTAL HEALTH AND WELL-BEING, WHETHER IT CHANGES THEIR LIFE TRAJECTORY IN TERMS OF LOOKING AT GENERATIONAL POVERTY, ET

CETERA. >> THANK YOU. COMMISSIONER

RAMSEY? >> DIRECTOR, IS THERE A CRITERIA THAT YOU WILL USE TO CONSIDER CANDIDATES TO BE IN

THE PROGRAM? >> YES, SIR. WE'RE LOOKING AT THIS PROGRAM WAS DEVELOPED AND APPROVED OUT OF THE ARPA STEERING COMMITTEE , THE FOCUS GROUP, AND THEN THE STEERING COMMITTEE, LOOKING AT THOSE PARTICIPANTS THAT ARE EXPERIENCING THE DEEPEST LEVEL OF POVERTY WITHIN OUR COUNTY.

THOSE INDIVIDUALS THAT ARE AT 200% OF THE FEDERAL POVERTY LEVEL . EXAMINING THOSE FOLKS, OR LOOKING AT THE FOLKS THAT ARE WITHIN 10 Z.I.P. CODES WITHIN OUR COUNTY THAT REPRESENTS THE DEEPEST LEVEL OF POVERTY IN HARRIS COUNTY.

>> WOULD THAT INCLUDE UNDOCUMENTED FOLKS?

>> CURRENTLY IT DOES NOT, THE PROGRAM DOES NOT.

>> OKAY. SO, SO FOR THIS, COMMISSIONER ELLIS, DID YOU

HAVE A QUESTION? >> NO, JUDGE. I'M, I'M, I AM OF THE POSITION THAT WE HAD A NUMBER OF PEOPLE WHO'VE EXPRESSED SOME INTEREST -- COME TOO FAR TO SLOW THE PROGRAM DOWN ANYMORE, SO I'M HOPING THAT, I THOUGHT WE'D GIVEN THE

[03:40:02]

>> COMMISSIONER ELLIS, COULD YOU PLEASE REPEAT THE LAST SENTENCE? SORRY. THIS IS -- I DIDN'T HEAR YOU.

>> YOU CAN HEAR ME? I'M SORRY. CAN YOU HEAR ME NOW?

>> YES. >> YES, COMMISSIONER ELLIS.

>> I WAS GOING THROUGH A POOR WI-FI PART. BUT NO, I DON'T HAVE ANY QUESTIONS. I WOULD HOPE WE CAN MOVE FORWARD. I WOULD HOPE WE CAN MAKE A DECISION TODAY TO EITHER SAY, GO, OR NO GO. MY THEORY IS THAT IF WE MAKE ANY SUBSTANTIAL CHANGES --

HAVING TROUBLE HEARING. >> YOUR CONNECTION -- YOUR

CONNECTION IS BAD. >> WOULD BE TO MOVE FORWARD, BECAUSE I THINK WITH A DELAY,

WE HAVE A LOT OF PROBLEMS. >> COMMISSIONER ELLIS, DIRECTOR ROBINSON, ON, ON THIS, ON THE ELIGIBILITY, IS, IS EMPLOYMENT, EXISTING CURRENT EMPLOYMENT, IS NOT ONE OF THE CRITERIA?

>> NO, IT'S NOT. WE'RE REALLY LOOKING AT THOSE INDIVIDUALS THAT CAN DOCUMENT THAT THEY'RE AT AN INCOME OF 200% OF FPL OR

LOWER. >> THE NURSE STUDY OF WAS FACING THEIR PROGRAM ON WORKING, WORKING HOUSEHOLDS, AND THAT THIS PROGRAM WOULD BE BENEFICIAL FOR -- TO ADDRESSING HOUSING NEEDS. SO THIS IS, THIS IS A CHANGE FROM WHAT THE

REPORT PROVIDED. >> I'M, I'M NOT REALLY SURE WHETHER IT'S A DIVERGENCE FROM THAT. I THINK THE HYPOTHESIS IS THAT INDIVIDUALS THAT ARE EXPERIENCING DEEP POVERTY , WHERE WE'VE SEEN THESE MODELS AROUND THE COUNTRY IS WHERE INDIVIDUALS ARE EXPERIENCING DEEP, DEEP POVERTY WHEN THEY'VE HAD THIS INFUSION OF FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE, WHETHER IT'S FOR, WHETHER THEY'RE HELPING TO OUTSET A HOUSING COST OR UTILITY BILLS ARE AN UNEXPECTED EMERGENCY EXPENSE, THAT THESE TYPES OF FUNDS HAVE HELPED INDIVIDUALS CLIMB OUT OF, CLIMB OUT OF DEEP POVERTY TO IMPROVE SELF-SUFFICIENCY AND WELL-BEING

AND GREATER SUCCESS. >> YES. I JUST HAVE TWO MORE QUICK QUESTIONS, DIRECTOR ROBINSON, AND THANK YOU AGAIN FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP ON THIS PROGRAM. COULD YOU PLEASE, NUMBER ONE, TELL US ABOUT THE INTERSECTION OF UPLIFT HARRIS WITH OUR WORK IN ACCESS? AND NUMBER TWO, IF THIS LAUNCHES BY NEXT MONDAY, COULD YOU JUST WALK US THROUGH THE TIMELINE IN TERMS OF HOW LONG THE APPLICATION WINDOW WILL BE, WHEN FIRST PAYMENTS WOULD BE MADE TO THE INDIVIDUALS

SELECTED, ET CETERA? >> I BELIEVE OUR COMMITMENT TO YOUR COURT WAS THAT THE FIRST PAYMENTS WOULD GO OUT IN MARCH OF 2024 . WE'RE HOPING THAT, AS, RIGHT, APPLICATIONS ARE PROCESSED AS A ROLLING BASIS, THAT AS THEY ARE APPROVED AND PARTICIPANTS ARE APPROVED, THREE WEEKS FROM THAT APPROVAL PERIOD, THEY WOULD RECEIVE THEIR, THEIR FIRST PAYMENT. AND I WAS TRYING TO WRITE DOWN YOUR OTHER QUESTIONS SO THAT I COULD ANSWER. WHAT WAS YOUR OTHER QUESTION?

>> THE ACCESS COHORT. >> OH, THE ACCESS COHORT, YEAH.

SO A SUBSET OF PARTICIPANTS ARE ALSO FROM, THOSE INDIVIDUALS THAT ARE PARTICIPATING IN ANY OF THE ACCESS COHORT, WHICH THERE ARE FIVE COHORTS, AND THOSE INDIVIDUALS ARE GOING TO BE PART OF OUR EVALUATION AS WELL, BUT THE PREMISE BEHIND THAT IS THOSE INDIVIDUALS THAT ARE IN NEED OF A MULTITUDE OF SERVICES ACROSS SYSTEM THAT ALSO MEET THE ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA OF 200% FPL ARE SOME OF THE INDIVIDUALS WITH THE DEEPEST POVERTY WITHIN OUR COUNTY, AND WE ALSO WANT TO BE ABLE TO HELP SUPPORT AND LIFT THEM TO GREATER, GET THEM OUT OF THE SAFETY NET SYSTEM AS WELL.

>> SO ANY ELIGIBLE INDIVIDUAL WITHIN THE FIVE CURRENT COHORTS? JUST -- OKAY. THANK YOU. I DON'T HAVE ANY OTHER QUESTIONS. THANK YOU, DIRECTOR ROBINSON.

>> SO WE, THIS WAS APPROVED . I, JUST FOR THE RECORD, DID NOT VOTE IN FAVOR OF IT, BUT IT'S ALREADY BEEN APPROVED. WHAT CHANGE, TODAY, WITH TODAY'S MEETING, IN TERMS OF WHY THIS

AGENDA ITEM? >> I WILL DEFER TO THE COUNTY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE. I BELIEVE WE HAD, YOU KNOW, A LEGAL ISSUE THAT WE WERE TRYING TO RESOLVE RELATIVE TO THE OPERATIONS OF

[03:45:06]

OFFICE. >> DIRECTOR ROBINSON HAS IT RIGHT. THEY WERE THEY REQUEST AND AN EXECUTIVE SESSION FOR CONSULTATION WITH THE COUNTY'S ATTORNEY, WHICH IS OUR OFFICE,

AND THAT'S WHAT WAS HAPPENING. >> AND IT DEALT WITH

ELIGIBILITY? >> IT DEALT WITH MANY THINGS,

INCLUDING ELIGIBILITY. >> OKAY, AND YOU'RE SATISFIED THAT OPEN MEETINGS ACT WAS NOT VIOLATED BY HAVING AN EXECUTIVE

SESSION? >> YES, COMMISSIONER. WE'RE SATISFIED THAT THERE WAS NO -- OF THE OPEN MEETINGS ACT. DO YOU KNOW SOMETHING TO BE DIFFERENT?

>> I WAS JUST, JUST CURIOUS. I DID NOT READ IT THE WAY Y'ALL READ IT, BUT CLEARLY Y'ALL CAN READ IT ONE WAY. I READ IT THE

OTHER. >> YOU DIDN'T READ WHAT?

>> THE SECTION YOU REFERENCED IN TERMS OF WHEN YOU GO INTO

EXECUTIVE SESSION. >> OKAY, SO THERE'S CASE LAW, AS WE PRESENTED TO YOU BEFORE. THERE IS CASE LAW SAYING THAT ANY TIME THAT THE LORD NEED TO PROVIDE LEGAL ADVICE TO THE COUNTY, IT'S PROPER TO GO BACK TO EXECUTIVE SESSION. AND IF YOU'D LIKE TO HAVE A CONVERSATION ABOUT THIS IN THE FUTURE WE CAN TALK ABOUT IT BEFORE THE MEETING.

>> OKAY, WELL. >> OH, YES, COMMISSIONER

GARCIA. >> YEAH, JUST AS, AS WE MIGHT GO FORWARD, I WOULD JUST ASK THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR THAT, I THINK THROUGH YOU OR YOUR OFFICE NEEDS TO BE VERY INVOLVED IN THIS, WITH ALL THE CHALLENGES THAT WE'RE HAVING, AND JUST KEEP US ALL INFORMED.

>> SO ON THAT POINT IS THERE -- I THINK THAT THIS IS NOT THE FIRST TIME THAT A PROGRAM LAUNCH IS DELAYED. I REMEMBER THERE WAS ONE, I CAN'T REMEMBER WHAT IT'S ABOUT, BUT I THINK HOW WAS HEADING IT UP. SHE'D JUST STARTED. DO YOU GUYS REMEMBER WHAT IT WAS? ANYWAY, IT SEEMS TO HAPPEN THAT WE , OVER AND OVER AGAIN, THAT WE'RE ABOUT TO LAUNCH SOMETHING THAT'S PROBABLY NOT THE ONLY REASON WHY THIS IS DELAYED, TBU WE'RE ABOUT TO LAUNCH SOMETHING, AND THE WEBSITE DOESN'T HAVE THE VARIOUS LANGUAGES, AND THE, D ANTHE PHONE NUMBER IS PRIMOPERLY SET UP AND WHATNOT, D AN THIS HAPPENS HAPPENS ACROSS DEPARTMENT AND SSACRO VENDORS.

OF COURSE, THERE ARE MANY PROGRAMS THAT ARE H LUNC PROPERLY. BUT I WJUSTANTED TO USE OTHISPPORTUNITY, A MINISTRATOR, RETO ADDSS DO PUSH FOR SOME SORT OF A TANDARDIZATION IN OFTERMS WHAT WE EXPECT, IN TERMS OF QU ALITY, BEFORE SOMETHING IS LAUNCHED, E AND WE'RALWAYS ASKING SAFOR THE ME THINGS, WH ICH IS LANGUAGE ACCESS, PROFESSIONAL TRANSLATIONS, AND WE'RE ONE NUMB SO THAT NOT GIVING AN UNFAIR ADVANTAGE O COMPUTERWHO ARE MORE LITERATE. PROGRAMS THAT NEDON'T CESSARILY ADVANTAGE THOSE WHO APPLY ALEARLY. IT'S WAYS THE SAME THING, AND WE SPKIND OF EARHEADED THIS WITH THE COVID VACCINES. SO, T SO I WOULD JUS ASK FOR THAT. THERE IS ALSO AN ISSUE OF , E AND THE REASON W HAD VETO GO TO EXECUTI W,SESSIO NO AND WE KNEW THIS PROGRAM, WE DISCUSSED THIS ADPROGRAM ALREY. WE'VE PASSED TIT SOME SORT OF S MISCOMMUNICATION BETWEEN THE DEPARTMENT ATTORNEY'S OFFICE. AND SO TO T THE EXTENTHAT WE N'CAN -- I DOT KNOW WHAT THE SITUATION WAS THERE, BUT IT MAY BE THAT, THAT THE DEPARTMENT BIDIRECTOR, RONSON, OR THE COUNTY S ADMINISTRATOR'OFFICE NEEDS TOS BRING THOSE KIND SOF ITEMS TO USOONER TO DISAY, HEY, THE SCREPANCY STWHERE YOU GUYS JUST WANTED TO PUT A F PLUG FOR THAT IN TERMS O THE, OF THE LAUNCH . , DIRECTOR ROBINSONSO I, I HAVE TO STEP . OUT FOR A LITTLE BITUNI WAS ASKING MY COTERPART UTIN COOK COUNTY ABO EYTHE VENDOR, AND TH DID SOME EMWORK THERE. THEY SEED QUITE CONFIDENT ABOUT IT. BUT, SO WHEN, WHEN DID YOU N SAY THAT THE PROGRAM C BE

LAUNCHED? >> WITHIN EITHER THE NEXT, BY FRIDAY, THREE E DAYS, PENDING TE OUTCOMOF THE DELIBERATIONS FROM THIS M PARTICULAR MEETING. I'THHIGHLY CONFIDENT THAT EY'LL BE ABLE TO MOVE THIS PROJECT LIFORWARD.

>> WHAT I WOULD KE US TO GIVE A SPECIFIC DATE. DIRECTOR, SO IF WE DO APPROVE THIS, I WOULD SAY , YOU , KNOW, JUST, YOU KNO, SAY MONDAYAND MAKE SURE THAT IT'S PROPERLY LAUNCHED. AND AGAIN, IF THERE'S ANY ISSUES L THAT COME UP, WE HAVE A SPECIA MEETING I THINK THIS THURSDAY. I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S STILL POSSIBLE TO POST ITEMSTO THAT, OR IT'S SOMETHING LPTHAT ADMINISTRATOR RAMIREZ CAN HE WITH.

>> JUDGE, IF I MAY, WE WERE PUSHING FOR FRIDAY, BECAUSE

MONDAY IS A HOLIDAY. >> OKAY, WELL, FRIDAY. SO CAN WE ILSAVE, YOU KNOW, THE APPLICATIONS WL OPEN ON FRIDAY? YOU MENTIONED SOMETHING ABOUT ROLLING. I JUST WANT TO CONFIRM THAT THERE ISN'T AN ADVANTAGE TO PEOPLE WHO ARE

[03:50:05]

LIKE THAT. >> THAT'S CORRECT. WHAT I MEANT WAS IN TERM OF THE PROCESSING OF THE APPLICATION, NOT THE METHODOLOGY OF THE RANDOMIZED PROCESS. APOLOGIES.

>> OKAY. AND THEN THE, THE MAIN CONCERN HERE, AND THE QUESTIONS THAT WE'VE ALL GOTTEN, IS, IS CAN THE UNDOCUMENTED POPULATION APPLY FOR THIS PROGRAM? OBVIOUSLY THE REASON I SUPPORT THIS PROGRAM, AND I TALKED ABOUT THIS BEFORE, IS NOBODY HAS A SOLUTION TO POVERTY. IT'S PERVASIVE, ALL AROUND THE WORLD, AND HOW CAN WE ADDRESS IT IN THE MOST EFFECTIVE WAY? THERE IS A, THIS IDEA OF A GUARANTEED INCOME HAS BEEN POPULARIZED, WHETHER IT'S, IT'S US TALKING ABOUT IT NOW, COUNTRIES AROUND THE WORLD, THE FATHER OF CAPITALISM, MILTON FRIEDMAN. WHETHER IT'S, IT'S, I THINK NIXON HAD SOMETHING LIKE THIS, MARTIN LUTHER KING. THIS SEEMS TO BE THE BEST KIND OF INITIATIVE TO TACKLE AND EQUALITY, TO TACKLE POVERTY. SO IF IT WERE FOR ME, I'D WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT EVERYBODY'S INCLUDED. I DO WANT TO MAKE CLEAR TO THE, THE FOLKS THAT I KNOW , I RECOGNIZE SOME FROM SPANISH MEDIA HERE.

UNFORTUNATELY, WE WON'T BE ABLE TO, BECAUSE THIS PROGRAM IS WITH FEDERAL FUNDS, WE WON'T BE ABLE TO OFFER THIS PROGRAM TO THE UNDOCUMENTED POPULATION. WHAT I DO COMMIT TO DO, AGAIN, IN THE SPIRIT OF SUPPORTING THE ECONOMIC GROWTH OF OUR REGION, IS TO EXPLORE WAYS IN WHICH WE CAN IDENTIFY OTHER FUNDS, PERHAPS PRIVATE FUNDS TO WHERE WE CAN HAVE A SIMILAR INITIATIVE. NOW, THIS WOULD TAKE A LONG TIME. IT'S NOT SOMETHING THAT, THAT WILL HAVE A, A PROGRAM FOR THE UNDOCUMENTED POPULATION ANYTIME SOON. BUT, YOU KNOW, I CERTAINLY, IF THERE HAD BEEN A WAY, I WOULD HAVE BEEN HAPPY TO TRY TO MAKE THAT POSSIBLE, BECAUSE I THINK IT'S KIND OF WHAT WE WERE TALKING ABOUT WITH COVID AND THE VACCINE. IF WE SUPPORT THE ECONOMY MORE BROADLY, THAT SUPPORTS ALL OF US, VERSUS LEAVING PEOPLE OUT ARTIFICIALLY. SO I JUST WANTED TO ANSWER A QUESTION, AND I KNOW PEOPLE HAVE BEEN ASKING IT. SO ANYWAY, WITH THAT SAID --

>> JUDGE. >> YEAH?

>> JUDGE. IF I MIGHT, I'M IN HARRIS COUNTY, SO I HOPE THE WI-FI IS BETTER. THAT WOULD PUT SOME ARPA MONEY ON THIS. BUT , LOOK, I THINK IT'S A GREAT PROGRAM. I'M EXCITED. I DON'T KNOW, I GUESS YOU'D ADVISE US IF THERE'S A NEED FOR SOME MOTION TO DO ANYTHING AND MOVE FORWARD. I WOULD SUGGEST THAT THE DIRECTOR, COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR, I, ANY OF US WHO ARE INTERESTED, 02 HAD SOME PRESS EVENT, ONCE WE KNOW.

LET'S NOT GUESS A DELAY. HOPEFULLY IT'S SLIGHT. AND I DON'T WANT TO THINK IT'S GOING TO OPEN UP FRIDAY, AND IT'S GOING TO BE SOME OTHER DAY. SO ONCE YOU KNOW, MY SUGGESTION IS, LET'S MAKE THAT PUBLICLY AVAILABLE. PRESS CONFERENCE, SOCIAL MEDIA, WHATEVER, SO THAT PEOPLE KNOW. AND IF ANYTHING CHANGED IN TERMS OF WHO CAN APPLY BY, BY THIS, THIS SLIGHT DELAY , WE OUGHT TO MAKE THAT CLEAR. I JUST DON'T WANT TO -- LIKE, WE KIND OF GUESS IT UNTIL WE TALK TO THE VENDOR. MAYBE HAVE SOMEBODY FROM THE VENDOR ONLINE OR WHATEVER WHEN THERE'S

SOME PRESS AVAILABLE. >> YEAH, AND THAT THE SPIRITS OF MY REMARK, COMMISSIONER, TO MAKE VERY CLEAR OUT OF THE APPLICATION ON FRIDAY WAS ELIGIBLE, WHO'S NOT, AND WHAT IS THE APPLICATION GOING TO OPEN UP? AND TO KNOW THAT EVERYBODY'S DOING THEIR VERY BEST TO HAVE A APPLICATION PROCESS. BECAUSE IT IS, IT IS AN IMPORTANT PROGRAM. AND I HOPE THAT IT HAS A POSITIVE IMPACT. SO ANYWAY, DO WE NEED TO VOTE ON THAT ITEM, OR HAS THE, HAS THE PROGRAM ALREADY

BEEN APPROVED? >> YOU DON'T NEED TO VOTE ON

IT. >> OKAY, SO, SO WE'LL TAKE NO ACTION ON THIS ITEM. ANYTHING ELSE FROM MY COLLEAGUES, ANYTHING ON THE AGENDA? COUNTY ATTORNEY, JAMES?

>> NO, MA'AM. >> ALL RIGHT, WELL, IT'S 4:06.

I PROPOSE THAT WE ADJOURN IN THE MEMORY OF CONGRESSWOMAN EDDIE

* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.