Jan 30, 2024 Commissioners Court

THANK YOU SO MUCH, PASTOR.

I WILL RECITE THE PLEDGE.

AND I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.

AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS.

ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR.

HONOR THE TEXAS FLAG.

I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THEE.

TEXAS. ONE STATE UNDER GOD, ONE AND INDIVISIBLE.

CHURCH. YES.

YES. COMMISSIONER GARCIA.

THANK YOU. JUDGE, IF, IF I COULD, ASK TO HAVE, ITEM 381, TAKEN OUT OF ORDER, OF COURSE, ALONG WITH THE RESOLUTIONS.

GREAT. THANK YOU.

OKAY, SO LET'S START, WITH THE RESOLUTIONS.

[Departments (Part 1 of 4)]

THE FIRST ONE IS EXTENDING APPRECIATION TO, SOMEONE WHO IS RETIRING AFTER 31 YEARS OF SERVICE TO HARRIS

[00:05:09]

COUNTY. WHEREAS JESSICA COOPER IS BIDDING FAREWELL TO HER ILLUSTRIOUS CAREER WITH HARRIS COUNTY.

AFTER 31 YEARS OF DEDICATED, UNWAVERING SERVICE AND LEAVES BEHIND A LEGACY OF COMMITMENT AND OUTSTANDING CONTRIBUTIONS.

HER CAREER BEGAN IN 1992, SERVING AS A CIVILIAN CLERK FOR THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT.

THEN SUMMER OF 1996, SHE WAS PROMOTED TO OFFICE MANAGER OF THE ALARM DETAIL DIVISION AND SERVED IN THE OFFICE OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, OFFICE OF HOUSING AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND SUBSEQUENTLY THE COMMUNITY SERVICES DEPARTMENT, ALL OF WHICH SHE SERVED AS PART OF THE EXECUTIVE TEAM AND THE LEADERSHIP.

SHE PLAYED AN INSTRUMENTAL ROLE IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF HARRIS COUNTY FITNESS AND WELLNESS PROGRAMS THAT COUNTY EMPLOYEES ALL ENJOY TODAY.

SHE CONTINUOUSLY MENTORED, ENCOURAGED, AND ASSISTED DEPARTMENT STAFF AT ALL LEVELS.

SHE HAS NAVIGATED HARRIS COUNTY WITH GRACE AND PROFESSIONALISM.

HER EXPERTISE HAS LEFT AN INDELIBLE MARK ON THE ORGANIZATION.

SHE ENDS HER CAREER WITH HARRIS COUNTY AS DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF THE COMMUNITY IMPACT DIVISION OF THE COMMUNITY SERVICES DEPARTMENT.

THIS IS ONE OF OUR LARGEST DEPARTMENTS.

HER WEALTH OF KNOWLEDGE AND PRESENCE WILL BE MISSED AS SHE EMBARKS ON A WELL-DESERVED RETIREMENT.

WE CELEBRATE HER FOR HER IMPRESSIVE TENURE, BUT ALSO FOR THE POSITIVE IMPACT SHE HAD ON HER COLLEAGUES AND COMMUNITY AT LARGE DURING THESE 31 YEARS.

ITRILLIONESOLVED THAT JESSICA COOPER.

HARRIS COUNTY COMMISSIONERS COURT EXTENDS APPRECIATION TO JESSICA COOPER AND HARRIS COUNTY, TEXAS, IN RECOGNITION OF OVER 31 YEARS OF SERVICE AND OFFERS BEST WISHES FOR AN ENJOYABLE RETIREMENT.

TIFFANY, CAN YOU INTRODUCE THE GUESTS WHO HAVE JOINED US THIS MORNING? YES, MA'AM. JESSICA COOPER.

OH, MY.

GOOD MORNING AND THANK YOU.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THIS, FOR THIS PLEASURE AND THIS HONOR.

31 YEARS, YOU KNOW, JUST FLIES BY WHEN YOU'RE HAVING FUN, YOU KNOW? SO, WE'VE ACCOMPLISHED A LOT.

WE'VE SEEN A LOT. AND IT GIVES ME GREAT JOY WHEN I TRAVEL THE COUNTY AND SEE THE THINGS THAT OUR DEPARTMENT HAS DONE AND THE THINGS THAT YOU ALL HAVE DONE AS WELL.

AND I THANK YOU.

I LOOK FORWARD TO MY RETIREMENT.

NEXT IS JO ANN ESTRADA.

CONGRATULATIONS. EXCEPT THAT, THERE MUST BE SOMETHING WRONG WITH THE MATH.

YOU LOOK 31.

YEAH. CONGRATULATIONS.

THE SECOND RESOLUTION.

SORRY, JUDGE. THERE WERE THERE WERE MORE SPEAKERS.

YES. OF COURSE. GO AHEAD.

NEXT IS JOANNE ESTRADA.

GOOD MORNING, JUDGE.

COMMISSIONERS, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR GIVING ME THIS OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK.

TODAY I'D LIKE TO EXTEND ALL OF OUR GRATITUDE AND THANKS TO JESSICA.

SHE FOR HER DEDICATION AND COMMITMENT.

THEY HAVE LEFT AN INCREDIBLE MARK ON EVERYBODY THAT SHE HAS, TOUCHED AT THE HARRIS COUNTY COMMUNITY SERVICES DEPARTMENT AND BEYOND.

JESSICA'S JOURNEY WITH US HAS BEEN ONE OF UNWAVERING SERVICE, TIRELESS ADVOCACY, AND UNPARALLELED LEADERSHIP.

JESSICA'S TENURE HAS BEEN DEFINED BY HER BOUNDLESS COMPASSION AND GENUINE CONCERN FOR OTHERS.

HER WARMTH AND EMPATHY HAVE TOUCHED THE LIVES OF EVERYONE SHE'S ENCOUNTERED AND HER ABILITY ABILITY TO LISTEN ATTENTIVELY, ESPECIALLY TO ME WHEN I'M ALL OVER THE PLACE SOMETIMES AND, YOU KNOW, OFFER SUPPORT UNCONDITIONALLY AND INSPIRE, HAVE.

OKAY. THANK YOU SO MUCH.

HAVE MADE HER NOT JUST A COLLEAGUE, BUT A FRIEND AND MENTOR TO MANY.

AS WE BID FAREWELL TO JESSICA, WE ACKNOWLEDGE THAT HER LEGACY WILL ENDURE IN THE COUNTLESS LIVES SHE HAS TOUCHED AND THE POSITIVE CHANGE SHE HAS INSPIRED.

JESSICA, AS YOU EMBARK ON THIS NEW JOURNEY CALLED RETIREMENT, KNOW THAT YOUR LEGACY WILL CONTINUE TO INSPIRE US TO UPHOLD THE VALUES OF COMPASSION, INTEGRITY, AND SERVICE THAT YOU HAVE EMBODIED THROUGHOUT YOUR CAREER.

ON BEHALF OF THE HARRIS COUNTY COMMUNITY SERVICES DEPARTMENT AND THE COUNTLESS INDIVIDUALS WHOSE LIVES YOU HAVE IMPACTED, WE EXTEND OUR HEARTFELT GRATITUDE AND BEST WISHES

[00:10:03]

FOR A FULFILLING RETIREMENT.

MAY THIS NEW CHAPTER BE FILLED WITH JOY, ADVENTURE, AND WELL-DESERVED RELAXATION.

NEXT IS DIRECTOR COSTAS.

I COULDN'T LET THIS OPPORTUNITY GET BY.

SO. YES.

THANK YOU SO MUCH, JESSICA, FOR ALL THAT YOU'VE DONE.

IT IS THE RESOLUTION GIVES YOU A GLIMPSE INTO HER TENACITY AND INDUSTRIOUSNESS.

AND HERE I'M ALSO HERE TO THANK YOU, BECAUSE YOU ARE SUPPORTING AND PROMOTING AN ENVIRONMENT WHERE PEOPLE LIKE JESSICA CAN CONTINUE TO GROW PROFESSIONALLY AND EMOTIONALLY, AND THEY ARE HERE TO BE ABLE TO KEEP SERVING OUR COMMUNITIES SO THAT WE CAN HAVE A BETTER COUNTY.

SO THANK YOU TO ALL WHO ARE PART OF THIS MISSION.

THANK. NEXT IS DEIRDRE DECHELLIS ROBERT.

GOOD MORNING DEIDRE.

ROBERT I AM JESSICA SISTER, AND I REMEMBER WHEN SHE MOVED TO HOUSTON 31 YEARS AGO AND STARTED WITH HARRIS COUNTY.

AND JUST ON BEHALF OF OF MY FAMILY, THE DECHELLIS FAMILY FROM LOUISIANA, WHERE JESSICA IS ORIGINALLY FROM, TO YOURS HERE AT HARRIS COUNTY.

THANK YOU FOR THE YEARS OF ALLOWING HER SPIRIT AND HER GIFTS TO SHINE HERE AT HARRIS COUNTY.

JESSICA IS AN INDELIBLE SOUL WHO GIVES RELENTLESSLY, WHO POURS INTO OTHERS, UNCONDITIONALLY, AND WHO LOVES HER WORK AND HER PASSION.

SHE IS TRULY A SERVANT LEADER, AND WE COULDN'T BE PROUDER.

AND SO, YOU KNOW, THOSE WHO ARE HAPPIEST ARE THOSE WHO SERVE OTHERS.

AND WE BELIEVE THAT JESSICA EMBODIES THAT SPIRIT.

AND WE JUST WANTED TO CONGRATULATE HER ON HER RETIREMENT AND WISH HER ALL THE BEST.

AND THANK YOU, JESSICA.

WE LOVE YOU. THANK YOU.

THAT'S ALL FOR THIS MUCH.

THANK YOU. CONGRATULATIONS.

AND THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR INCREDIBLE WORK.

THANK YOU. SO THE SECOND RESOLUTION CONGRATULATES MELVIN G.

SPINKS FOR BEING NAMED THE 2024 ENGINEER OF THE YEAR, WHEREAS MELVIN G.

SPINKS, PROFESSIONAL ENGINEER WITH 36 YEARS IN THE FIELD OF CONSULTING ENGINEERING, HAS BEEN SELECTED AS THE 2024 HOUSTON AREA ENGINEER OF THE YEAR BY THE HOUSTON ENGINEERS WEEKS WEEK COMMITTEE, AND WILL BE HONORED DURING A NATIONWIDE CELEBRATION OF ENGINEERS WEEK ON FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 23RD.

MELVIN, ATTENDED TEXAS A&M UNIVERSITY, EARNED A BACHELOR OF SCIENCE AND A MASTER OF SCIENCE IN CIVIL ENGINEER, AND BECAME A TEXAS LICENSED PROFESSIONAL ENGINEER IN 1991.

MELVIN FOUNDED AND SERVED AS PRESIDENT AND CEO OF CIVIL TECH ENGINEERING, A HOUSTON BASED CIVIL ENGINEERING FIRM, FOR 25 YEARS.

SINCE BEGINNING HIS CAREER, HE HAS PROVIDED NOTABLE ENGINEERING SOLUTIONS FOR FEDERAL, STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT AGENCIES, INCLUDING HARRIS COUNTY ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT, FLOOD CONTROL DISTRICT, TOLL ROAD AUTHORITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE.

HE'S A SUCCESSFUL TRACK RECORD.

HE BELIEVES IN SERVING THE ENGINEERING COMMUNITY AND THE COMMUNITY AT LARGE, AND HAS SERVED VARIOUS LEADERSHIP POSITIONS CURRENTLY ON THE SEC TEXAS BOARD OF DIRECTORS TO PROMOTE THE BUSINESS INTERESTS OF ENGINEERING FIRMS ACROSS TEXAS.

MELVIN WAS APPOINTED AND SERVED AS A MEMBER OF THE HARRIS COUNTY FLOOD CONTROL TASK FORCE, 1996 TO 2019, SERVED AS CHAIR OF THE CLEAR CREEK FEDERAL FLOOD CONTROL ADVISORY COMMITTEE.

WHEN HE FIRST INITIATED A TEXAS INFRASTRUCTURE REPORT CARD IN 2004, HE LED AN IMPORTANT TOOL TO RAISE PUBLIC AWARENESS AND PROVIDE ELECTED OFFICIALS WITH CRITICAL INFORMATION ON THE STATE OF OUR INFRASTRUCTURE.

WHEREAS THE ENGINEERING COMMUNITY IS PROUD TO BESTOW THIS HONOR UPON MELVIN G.

SPINKS, PROFESSIONAL ENGINEERING BE IT RESOLVED THAT THE HARRIS COUNTY COMMISSIONERS COURT JOINS THE ENGINEERING COMMUNITY IN RECOGNIZING MELVIN G.

SPINKS, PROFESSIONAL ENGINEER, AS THE 2024 ENGINEER OF THE YEAR IN HARRIS COUNTY, TEXAS, AND EXTENDS CONGRATULATIONS.

TO. GOOD MORNING, JUDGE.

COMMISSIONERS, IT IS A DISTINCT PLEASURE THAT, FOR THIS ACKNOWLEDGMENT, I LOOK FORWARD TO REPRESENTING THE ENGINEERS AT NATIONAL ENGINEERS WEEK IN FEBRUARY.

IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT FOR ME, REALLY, TO RECOGNIZE ALL THE ENGINEERS IN THE HOUSTON AND HARRIS COUNTY FOR THEIR SIGNIFICANT CONTRIBUTIONS TO WHAT WE HAVE HERE IN HARRIS COUNTY.

IT'S AN AMAZING AND REMARKABLE OPPORTUNITY TO BE AN ENGINEER.

I CERTAINLY WANT TO RECOGNIZE THOSE ENGINEERS WITH HARRIS COUNTY, THOSE THAT I'VE BEEN ABLE TO SPEND MY LAST 37 YEARS WORKING WITH AT HARRIS COUNTY FLOOD

[00:15:09]

CONTROL DISTRICT.

HARRIS COUNTY ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT AND HARRIS COUNTY TOLL ROAD AUTHORITY.

WHAT REMARKABLE.

ENGINEERS ALSO WANT TO RECOGNIZE THE LAST YEAR'S ENGINEER OF THE YEAR, COMMISSIONER TOM RAMSEY, WITH US TODAY.

SO THANK YOU, TOM, FOR BEING THAT DISTINGUISHED ENGINEER AS WELL.

SO IN MY GRATITUDE, I HAVE MY WIFE WITH ME.

MELISSA LIKE TO ACKNOWLEDGE HER AS WELL.

SHE'S BEEN PART OF HARRIS COUNTY FOR 22 YEARS.

SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH, COMMISSIONER.

MELVIN. MELVIN.

WELL DONE. I KNOW ALL OF US HAVE WORKED WITH YOU ON MANY DIFFERENT PROJECTS AND MANY DIFFERENT WAYS.

BUT IF WE WANT AN HONEST ANSWER AND A CLEAR UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT SHOULD BE DONE, WE CALL MELVIN.

YEAH, BUT I THINK THE SECRET TO MELVIN IS SITTING RIGHT BACK THERE IN TERMS OF MELISSA AND ALL THAT SHE'S DONE AND JUST THE WORK.

SO THANK YOU FOR WHAT YOU DO, NOT JUST IN YOUR CAREER, BUT WHAT YOU DO FOR THE COMMUNITY IN GENERAL.

THANK YOU. YEAH. THANK YOU, THANK YOU COMMISSIONER.

LIKEWISE. WE GO BACK, MY CITY COUNCIL DAYS AND IT'S ALWAYS BEEN A PLEASURE TO VISIT WITH YOU AND, YOU KNOW, HOWEVER, TOM WAS SAYING THAT MELVIN GOT THIS RECOGNITION BECAUSE HE TALKED TO YOU EVERYTHING HE KNEW.

SO. YEAH, I THINK THEY HAD SOME ENGINEERING INSIDE, SOME INSIDE TRAINING.

BUT LISTEN, IN ALL SERIOUSNESS, THANK YOU FOR FOR ALL YOU DO AND, FOR HELPING TO MAKE OUR, OUR COMMUNITY BETTER AND, AND JUST, YOU KNOW, YOU'RE ALWAYS YOU'RE ALWAYS AVAILABLE FOR COUNSEL, WHETHER WE LIKE IT OR NOT, YOU KNOW, BUT YOU GIVE US A YOU GIVE US A PERSPECTIVE VERY CLEARLY.

SO THANK YOU. THANK YOU.

ALL RIGHT. CONGRATULATIONS.

NICE TO SEE YOU, MELISSA.

CONGRATULATIONS. THE FINAL RESOLUTION UNDER MY.

MY AGENDA IS DESIGNATING JANUARY 2024 AS HUMAN TRAFFICKING AWARENESS MONTH.

IT'S A PRESIDENTIALLY DESIGNATED OBSERVANCE DEDICATED TO EDUCATE THE PUBLIC ABOUT HUMAN TRAFFICKING AND THE ROLE THEY PLAY IN PREVENTING AND RESPONDING TO HUMAN TRAFFICKING.

WHEREAS HUMAN TRAFFICKING IS A PUBLIC HEALTH ISSUE AND A CRIME THAT EXPLOITS THE MOST VULNERABLE AMONG US AND CAN HAPPEN TO ANYONE, BUT ESPECIALLY POPULATIONS THAT ARE DISPROPORTIONATELY AT RISK, INCLUDING PEOPLE AFFECTED BY ABUSE, VIOLENCE, POVERTY, UNSTABLE LIVING SITUATIONS, SOCIAL DISCONNECTION OR DISCRIMINATION.

THE US DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES THEME FOR THIS YEAR'S HUMAN TRAFFICKING PREVENTION MONTH IS ACTIVATE CONNECTIONS TO PREVENT HUMAN TRAFFICKING, AND IT'S AN OPPORTUNITY TO HIGHLIGHT THE IMPORTANCE OF COLLABORATING ACROSS MULTIPLE SECTORS TO BUILD HUMAN TRAFFICKING PREVENTION PREVENTION INITIATIVES THAT WORK.

ORGANIZATIONS IN HARRIS COUNTY, SUCH AS THE CHILDREN'S ASSESSMENT CENTER, ONE OF THE LARGEST CHILD ABUSE ADVOCACY CENTERS OF ITS KIND AROUND THE NATION, PROVIDE A SAFE HAVEN TO SEXUALLY ABUSED CHILDREN AND THEIR FAMILIES.

HUMAN TRAFFICKING AWARENESS MONTH IS A REMINDER TO UNITE INDIVIDUALS AND ORGANIZATIONS TO HELP INCREASE AWARENESS AND SUPPORT FOR SURVIVORS OF TRAFFICKING.

NO SINGLE ENTITY ALONE CAN EFFECTIVELY ADDRESS THIS ISSUE, BUT TOGETHER WE CAN WORK TOWARDS ITS PREVENTION AND ITS END.

AND I KNOW IN HARRIS COUNTY, WE'RE ALWAYS LOOKING TO DO MORE.

AND THIS IS A REMINDER OF THAT TO CONTINUE THAT WORK, BE IT RESOLVED THAT HARRIS COUNTY COMMISSIONERS COURT HEREBY DESIGNATES THE MONTH OF JANUARY 2024 AS HUMAN TRAFFICKING PREVENTION MONTH IN HARRIS COUNTY, TEXAS, IN RECOGNITION OF THE COLLABORATIVE EFFORTS OF COUNTY RESIDENTS, COMMUNITY BASED ORGANIZATIONS, AND COMMUNITIES OF FAITH TO PREVENT AND STOP ALL FORMS OF HUMAN TRAFFICKING THROUGH THEIR PROGRAMS AND INITIATIVES.

TIFFANY, IF YOU COULD PLEASE INTRODUCE OUR GUESTS.

FIRST IS STATE REPRESENTATIVE ANN JOHNSON.

SHE. GOOD MORNING, YOUR HONOR.

COMMISSIONERS, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THE INVITATION TO BE HERE THIS MORNING.

COMMISSIONER GARCIA, I'M WEARING A LAPEL PIN FROM BACK IN THE DAYS WHEN YOU WERE OUR SHERIFF AND WE WERE TALKING ABOUT THE BEGINNING OF ADDRESSING THE ISSUE OF PUBLIC AWARENESS AROUND HUMAN TRAFFICKING.

COMMISSIONER ELLIS, WHEN YOU WERE A SENATOR, YOU LED THE CHARGE WITH SENATOR HUFFMAN, SENATOR VANDEPUTTE, AND, OF COURSE, THE DEAN OF THE TEXAS HOUSE, CHAIRWOMAN SENFRONIA THOMPSON. OVER A NUMBER OF DECADES, YOU ALL HAVE WORKED TO ADDRESS THE ISSUE OF HUMAN TRAFFICKING AND HIGHLIGHT THE ISSUES THAT ARE COMING.

AND I'M GOING TO TELL YOU, I'M NOT ONLY HEARING ABOUT, BUT I'M SEEING AN ALARMING TREND FOR OUR VULNERABLE POPULATION.

AND SO WHILE THIS IS AN AWARENESS, I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR CONTINUING TO INVEST NOT JUST IN THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE CENTER, BUT WHAT YOU'VE DONE FOR THE CHILDREN'S ASSESSMENT CENTER.

THEY HAVE BEEN THE LEADERS IN THIS FIGHT WITH ALL OF US WHO HAVE BEEN HERE FOR DECADES, AND THEY CONTINUE TO BE THE TIP OF THE SPEAR TO ADDRESS VULNERABLE POPULATION.

[00:20:02]

COMMISSIONER BRIONES, COMMISSIONER RAMSEY, WHO I ALWAYS SEE AT THOSE EVENTS.

AND, OF COURSE, JUDGE HIDALGO, THANK YOU FOR THE INVESTMENT, NOT ONLY LOCALLY.

AND MY COMMITMENT TO YOU AS A STATE REP IS TO CONTINUE TO WORK WITH YOU AND COLLABORATE FOR THE BENEFIT OF VICTIMS. SO THANK YOU. THANK YOU.

REPRESENTATIVE, JUST ONE MOMENT.

GO AHEAD, COMMISSIONER BRIONES. YOU KNOW, AT FIRST I WANTED TO SAY THANK YOU TO HIDALGO FOR BRINGING THIS TO COURT TODAY.

REPRESENTATIVE JOHNSON, SINCE YOUR DAYS AS A PROSECUTOR NOW IN THE STATE LEGISLATURE, YOU WERE A CHAMPION FOR JUSTICE AND FOR THOSE WHO ARE MOST VULNERABLE IN OUR COMMUNITY.

AND THANK YOU TO ALL MY COLLEAGUES WHO HAVE BEEN WORKING ON THIS FOR DECADES.

I WANT TO THANK THE TEXAS LEGISLATURE AND THE CHILDREN'S ASSESSMENT CENTER IN PARTICULAR.

TO ME, YOU ARE A MODEL OF HOW YOU COMBINE SERVICES TO TRULY AND ROBUSTLY PROTECT THE MOST VULNERABLE.

BUT THIS IS SOMETHING THAT I KNOW WEIGHS ON ALL OF US, BECAUSE HOUSTON IS ONE OF THE NATIONAL HUBS FOR HUMAN TRAFFICKING, AS WE KNOW, IT IS UNACCEPTABLE THAT WE HAVE OVER 300,000 VICTIMS THAT WE KNOW OF IN TEXAS AND THAT HOUSTON IS LEADING, I WOULD SAY, FAILING MOST HEAVILY.

AND IN PRECINCT FOUR, WE HAVE THE BISSONET CORRIDOR.

SO WE'VE BEEN WORKING CLOSELY WITH HPD AND COUNCIL MEMBER POLLARD AND THE CITY DELEGATION, AND WE LITERALLY PRECINCT FOR HELP BUILD BARRIERS TO HELP CURB ACTIVITY.

BUT WE NEED TO BE SO VIGILANT BECAUSE WE KNOW THAT DISPLACEMENT IS A HUGE CHALLENGE.

AND AS WE PREPARE FOR THE WORLD CUP AND OTHER LARGE EVENTS, WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE ALL WORKING IN TANDEM AND OVERCOMMUNICATING THE EFFORTS WE'RE TAKING.

AND SO I JUST WANTED TO SAY THANK YOU FOR BEING ON THE FRONT LINES.

REPRESENTATIVE JOHNSON, THANK YOU FOR YOUR HELP WITH OUR COURTS.

THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING YOU DO AND THE CHILDREN'S ASSESSMENT CENTER.

EVERY TIME I GO, I GET TEARS IN MY EYES BECAUSE IT REMINDS ME OF MY STUDENTS.

I MEAN, WHAT YOU ALL DO IS, IS JUST SO FUNDAMENTALLY NEEDED AND DEEPLY APPRECIATED.

SO THANK YOU, THANK YOU, AND THANK YOU FOR THE ACKNOWLEDGMENT OF THE WORK AS WE GET TO FUTURE EVENTS THAT WE KNOW WILL CAUSE PROBLEMS. I KNOW OUR COUNTY ATTORNEY, CHRISTIAN MENEFEE, HAS ALSO BEEN IN THAT.

I'M ALWAYS PROUD THAT PEOPLE SEE ME AND THINK ABOUT HUMAN TRAFFICKING, AND I GET TO PUBLICLY TALK ABOUT IT, BUT IT REALLY IS THE STAFF WITH THE CHILDREN'S ASSESSMENT CENTER.

THEY WORK 24 OVER SEVEN.

THEY WORK ON THE PREVENTION SIDE, AND THEY OFTEN ARE NOT SEEN OR HEARD FROM.

BUT I DO BELIEVE THEY ARE ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT KEYS IN OUR COMMUNITY TO OUR SUCCESS.

SO THANK YOU. YES. COMMISSIONER GARCIA AND THEN COMMISSIONER ELLIS, THANK, REPRESENTATIVE JOHNSON, THANK YOU SO MUCH.

YOU HAVE BEEN, STEADFAST ON THE ISSUE AND, YOU'VE, TAKEN YOUR PERSPECTIVE, YOUR LOCAL PERSPECTIVE TO THE STATE LEGISLATURE, AND YOU'RE MAKING A DIFFERENCE AS WELL.

SO VERY, VERY GRATEFUL TO YOU FOR YOUR CONTINUED WORK.

BUT TO ALL THE OTHERS WHO SHARE THE SPACE, I REMEMBER MY FIRST MEETING, WHEN I BECAME SHERIFF, THAT I, THAT I HAD IN DC, AND THAT WAS WITH, THE UNITED NATIONS, WELL, NOT THE UNITED NATIONS, STATE DEPARTMENT.

AND, TO TALK ABOUT THIS ISSUE AND WHAT I COULD DO AS A SHERIFF OF, ON THIS MATTER.

AND, IT WAS A IT WAS A VERY INTERESTING MOMENT FOR OUR COUNTRY BECAUSE THEY SHOWED ME THE HUMAN TRAFFICKING MAP, AND IT HAD EVERY OTHER COUNTRY IN THE WORLD, PRETTY WELL DEFINED EXCEPT THE UNITED STATES.

SOON THEREAFTER, THE UNITED STATES WAS INCLUDED, WHICH I THINK WAS A VERY, VERY IMPORTANT, THING TO DO, AN ACKNOWLEDGMENT THAT IT IS HAPPENING RIGHT HERE, IN OUR COMMUNITY DOESN'T REQUIRE, PEOPLE TO BE, BROUGHT FROM OTHER PARTS OF THE WORLD, BUT IT'S HAPPENING RIGHT HERE.

AND SO TO EVERYONE WHO HAS SHARED THIS, THE WORK, MEETING WITH THE VICTIMS, TREATING THEM, SUPPORTING THEM.

I JUST WANT TO THANK YOU, BECAUSE, THE TRAUMA THAT THOSE PEOPLE GO THROUGH IS JUST INCREDIBLE AND HORRIBLE AND, THE WORK THAT'S YET TO BE COMPLETED.

SO THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP.

THANK YOU. AND AS, THOSE THAT DON'T KNOW YOU'VE BEEN INVOLVED IN THIS FIGHT, WHEN PEOPLE COULDN'T SEE IT, WHEN PEOPLE WERE NOT TALKING ABOUT HUMAN TRAFFICKING, IT WAS NOT SOMETHING, THAT PEOPLE ACKNOWLEDGED.

AND YOU HAVE BEEN THERE ON THE FOREFRONT.

I THINK ALSO WHEN WE TALK ABOUT THIS ISSUE, FOLKS LIKE TO SAY IT'S AN INTERNATIONAL POPULATION AND IT IS NOT, ROUGHLY 70% OF THOSE THAT ARE BEING SOLD INTO SEX ARE DOMESTIC MINORS.

THEY ARE OUR POPULATION OF WHICH WE NEED ASSISTANCE.

AND THAT'S WHY YOUR INVESTMENT AND ACKNOWLEDGMENT, JUDGE HIDALGO.

HIDALGO, AS YOU SAID, ABOUT TRAUMA AND ABUSE, THE POPULATION THAT IS CURRENTLY BEING ABUSED LOCALLY, THAT'S THE POPULATION THAT'S GOING TO TURN INTO HUMAN TRAFFICKING VICTIMS. AND THAT'S WHY YOUR INVESTMENT AND PUTTING YOUR MONEY WHERE YOUR TALK IS IN THE CAC AND CENTERS LIKE THAT TO PREVENT THAT VICTIMIZATION IN A LONG TERM,

[00:25:07]

WE GET HIGHLIGHTED AS A HUB OF HUMAN TRAFFICKING.

EVERY MAJOR CITY IS A HUB OF HUMAN TRAFFICKING.

WE'RE ACTUALLY ACKNOWLEDGING IT AND DOING SOMETHING ABOUT IT.

AND I THINK THAT SAYS SO MUCH ABOUT Y'ALL'S LEADERSHIP TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE ISSUE AND TRY TO ADDRESS IT.

MANY PEOPLE LIKE TO PRETEND IT DOESN'T EXIST.

AND SO THANK YOU FOR BEING AT THE FOREFRONT.

COMMISSIONER ELLIS AND THEN COMMISSIONER RAMSEY.

REPRESENTATIVE, I JUST WANTED TO, ECHO THAT COMMENTS AND THANK YOU FOR COMING.

OBVIOUSLY, IT'S A BUSY DAY.

AND, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE A NUMBER OF RESOLUTIONS THAT WE GO THROUGH, BUT IT IS A TIME THAT WE CAN TRY AND ACKNOWLEDGE PEOPLE LIKE THIS CENTER, WHICH HAPPENS TO BE IN MY COMMISSIONER'S PRECINCT, AND IT WAS IN MY SENATE, DISTRICT.

SO I HAVE A LONG RELATIONSHIP WITH HIM, BUT I KNOW HOW BUSY YOU ARE, YOU KNOW, THANK YOU FOR ALL THE THINGS THAT YOU'RE DOING IN AUSTIN AND FOR JOINING US TODAY.

YOU'RE WELCOME. THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP ON THIS ISSUE.

THANK YOU REPRESENTATIVE.

WE ARE INVOLVED IN A LOT OF DIFFERENT ACTIVITIES.

THIS HAS SO MANY ELEMENTS TO IT.

THE CRISIS AT THE BORDER IS CONTRIBUTING HEAVILY TO WHAT'S HAPPENING IN HUMAN TRAFFICKING, AND A LOT OF IT ENDS UP IN THE GREATER HOUSTON AREA, AND WE NEED US TO PAY ATTENTION TO IT. SO WHAT HAPPENS IN THE BORDER? I THINK WE NEED TO GIVE SPECIAL ATTENTION TO.

BUT THE OTHER IS THE SCHOOL DISTRICTS AND THE 15 SCHOOL DISTRICTS THAT ARE IN PRECINCT THREE.

AND THE DISCUSSIONS I'M HAVING WITH THE SUPERINTENDENTS AND THE TEACHERS, THIS IS IN THIS CLASSROOM.

THIS IS ON THESE PHONES RIGHT NOW.

KIDS ARE BEING SOLICITED FOR HUMAN TRAFFICKING IN OUR SCHOOLS AS WE SPEAK.

SO WE DEAL WITH IT IN THE CHILD ASSESSMENT CENTER.

BUT IT IS IT IS UP CLOSE AND IT'S PERSONAL.

SO THANK YOU FOR WHAT YOU'RE DOING IN THE STATE.

WE'LL TRY TO KEEP THINGS FOCUSED HERE IN THE COUNTY.

YOU'RE WELCOME. AND COMMISSIONER RAMSEY, THANK YOU FOR ACKNOWLEDGING AND RECOGNIZING THE DISTINCTION BETWEEN BORDER ACTIVITY AND WHAT'S LOCAL.

AND AS WE TALK ABOUT TRAFFICKING, THE EXPLOITATION OF LABOR OR SEX, AS OPPOSED TO SMUGGLING, AND RECOGNIZING THAT IMPORTANT DISTINCTION OF THE POPULATIONS AND THE FACT THAT YOU'RE RIGHT, IF ANYBODY HAS A CELL PHONE, IF ANYBODY HAS A VULNERABLE KID THAT GOES TO A MALL OR A PLACE WHERE VULNERABLE YOUTH WILL SHOW UP, PIMPS, EXPLOITERS WILL SHOW UP TO TRY TO GET THEM.

AND THAT'S WHY I'M SO GRATEFUL THAT YOU LOCALLY, HAVE NOT ONLY BEEN PART OF NO TRAFFICKING ZONE AND RECOGNIZING VULNERABLE SPACES AND PROTECTING OUR DOMESTIC MINOR POPULATION, BECAUSE THEY ARE SUCH AN IMPORTANT PART OF THIS RECOVERY.

AND SO THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING THAT YOU DO AND DRAWING THOSE IMPORTANT DISTINCTIONS BETWEEN WHAT WE MAY SEE AT THE BORDER AND WHAT WE SEE HERE AT HOME.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR ALL YOUR WORK, REPRESENTATIVE, AND FOR JOINING US.

THANK YOU, SENATOR JOHNSON.

NEXT. NEXT IS DIRECTOR CARRIE MCCRACKEN.

GOOD MORNING. THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME THIS MORNING.

WE WANT TO THANK YOU FOR RECOGNIZING HUMAN TRAFFICKING AWARENESS MONTH AND FOR EVERYTHING YOU DO TO SUPPORT THIS VICTIMS OF THIS HORRIFIC INJUSTICE YEAR ROUND.

SADLY, TEXAS RANKS NUMBER TWO IN THE NATION FOR REPORTED CASES OF HUMAN TRAFFICKING, AND WE AT THE CHILDREN'S ASSESSMENT CENTER ARE PAINFULLY AWARE THAT A LARGE NUMBER OF THOSE VICTIMS ARE CHILDREN.

IN 2020 OF THE 1.6 ONLINE COMMERCIAL SEX ADS THAT WERE POSTED IN TEXAS, 224,000 OF THOSE ARE BELIEVED TO HAVE SOLD CHILDREN.

YOU MAY NOT KNOW THAT THE AVERAGE AGE FOR PERSONS BEING LURED INTO TRAFFICKING IS BETWEEN 12 AND 14, AND UNFORTUNATELY, OVER 90% OF VICTIMS OF SEX TRAFFICKING HAVE A HISTORY OF CHILD SEXUAL ABUSE.

AT THE CAC, WE FACILITATE THE GOVERNOR'S REGIONAL ADVOCACY COUNCIL.

EXCUSE ME. ADVISORY COUNCIL.

I DON'T HAVE MUCH LONGER.

ADVISORY COUNCIL FOR COMMERCIALLY SEXUALLY EXPLOITED CHILDREN.

AND WE PROVIDE THERAPY AND ADVOCACY SERVICES FOR VICTIMS. AND WE HAVE A TRAINING TEAM TO TEACH ADULTS HOW TO WATCH FOR SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS THAT A CHILD MAY BE GROOMED, AND TO TEACH CHILDREN HOW TO AVOID SITUATIONS THAT MAKE THEM VULNERABLE TO TRAFFICKING.

WHEN I WAS A PROSECUTOR IN THE LATE 90S, I AM SORRY TO SAY THAT WE TREATED TRAFFICKING VICTIMS VERY DIFFERENTLY.

I WANT TO APPLAUD YOU FOR RECOGNIZING THAT THESE CHILDREN, MEN AND WOMEN ARE NOT CRIMINALS, BUT VICTIMS, AND TO THANK YOU FOR SUPPORTING INITIATIVES THAT FOCUS NOT ONLY EXCUSE ME NOT ON PROSECUTING THEM, BUT HELPING THEM RESTORE THEIR LIVES.

AND I HAVE TO JUST ANECDOTALLY SAY, REPRESENTATIVE JOHNSON AND I WORKED TOGETHER.

I WAS A PROSECUTOR, THEN BECAME THE DEFENSE LAWYER.

SHE WAS STILL A PROSECUTOR.

SO THOSE OF YOU THAT HAVE PRACTICED LAW, WHEN YOUR ADVERSARY COMES TO YOU AND SAYS, I WANT TO TALK TO YOUR CLIENT, YOU'RE LIKE, WHOA, THIS DOESN'T FEEL RIGHT.

BUT I TRUSTED HER AND I HAD FAITH IN HER.

AND SO I SAID, SURE, YOU CAN TALK TO MY CLIENT, BUT I'M GOING TO BE THERE.

SO SHE WOULD GO BACK THERE AND TALK TO THESE CLIENTS THAT HAD BEEN TRAFFICKED THAT WERE ON THEIR FOURTH PROSTITUTION, 10TH PROSTITUTION CHARGE.

[00:30:08]

SHE SAT DOWN AND SHE TALKED TO THEM AND SHE SAID, TELL ME HOW YOU GOT HERE.

WE CAN DO SOMETHING DIFFERENT THIS TIME.

SO WHEN SHE.

WE ALL KNOW HER HEARTS, WE CAN TELL HER HEART IS IN IT.

BUT SHE WAS ON THE FOREFRONT OF CHANGING THINGS HERE IN HERE IN HARRIS COUNTY.

SO WE'RE SO GRATEFUL TO HER FOR HER SUPPORT.

WE'RE GRATEFUL FOR YOU.

BEFORE I SIT DOWN, I'D BE REMISS IF I DIDN'T INTRODUCE THE PEOPLE THAT THAT HELPED ME DO THIS HARD WORK.

MY ASSISTANT DIRECTOR ASSISTANT EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR JENNIFER HILL, IS IN CHARGE OF EVERYTHING TRAFFICKING AT THE CAC.

KAREN KENNARD IS OUR DIRECTOR OF TRAINING AND EDUCATION.

SO THAT'S WHO YOU CALL WHEN YOU WANT SOMEBODY TO COME TO YOUR CHURCH, YOUR SCHOOL, YOUR HOME, AND TALK TO YOUR CHILDREN ABOUT TRAFFICKING AND HOW TO AVOID THE DANGERS.

AND THEN SARAH HIDING BACK THERE.

SHE'S OUR COMMUNICATIONS OUTREACH DIRECTOR TO HELP US SPREAD THE WORD THROUGHOUT THE COUNTY.

SO AGAIN, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR RECOGNIZING THIS IMPORTANT ISSUE AND FOR SUPPORTING US WITH ALL ALL THE THINGS YOU DO.

JUST A MOMENT, DIRECTOR.

YES, COMMISSIONER GARCIA.

GARY, THANK YOU SO MUCH.

THANK YOU FOR FOR BEING HERE.

AND, THANK YOU TO YOUR TEAM AS WELL.

YOU KNOW, JUST SOMETHING, OCCURRED TO ME WITH WITH, SOME COMMENTS YOU WERE MAKING, AND THAT IS THAT, YOU KNOW, WE NEED TO RECOGNIZE THE FACT THAT NO ONE GROWS UP.

WANTING TO BE INVOLVED WITH HUMAN TRAFFICKING OR THE SEX TRADE.

NO ONE GROWS UP. MAKING THAT A CAREER, WANTING THAT BE A CAREER WISH OR CHOICE.

AND I WOULD ASK THAT YOU THINK ABOUT HAVING CONVERSATIONS WITH OUR LAW ENFORCEMENT LEADERS, BECAUSE ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I TRIED TO DO, WAS TO AND WE MADE SOME PROGRESS IN IT.

I WANTED TO HAVE AN ENTIRE FEMALE VICE UNIT.

BECAUSE, AS WITH MELINDA COVERS, IT'S EASY.

TO DEAL WITH.

THE VICTIM SIDE OF THAT CIRCUMSTANCE.

AND SO I THOUGHT HAVING THAT DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVE ON THE ENFORCEMENT SIDE MAY HELP US MAKE SOME BETTER PROGRESS IN THAT REGARD.

I THINK THAT'S STILL AN IMPORTANT.

IDEOLOGICAL CHANGE TO MAKE.

AND SO I WOULD JUST ENCOURAGE, THAT YOU THINK ABOUT HAVING THOSE CONVERSATIONS.

WE WE ABSOLUTELY WILL.

I WILL TELL YOU, OUR, OUR LAW ENFORCEMENT PARTNERS ARE WONDERFUL.

LIKE, LIKE EVERYBODY, THEY'RE SHORT STAFFED AND BUT BUT THE THEY'VE BEEN VERY SUPPORTIVE.

SO BUT WE WILL CONTINUE TO HAVE THOSE CONVERSATIONS.

AND GUESS WHAT. THERE'S A LOT OF LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES IN HARRIS COUNTY.

SO THERE'S A LOT OF CONVERSATIONS THERE.

BUT THANK YOU FOR THAT.

ALL RIGHT. ALL THE BEST. THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER BROWN.

DIRECTOR MCCRACKEN, THANK YOU AND YOUR TEAM AGAIN.

YOU ALL RUN ONE OF THE MOST WELL RUN HOLISTIC ORGANIZATIONS I'VE EVER SEEN.

BUT I WANTED TO END WITH THE FOLLOWING.

EVERYONE IN HERE, WE CAN DO SOME.

WE SEE SOMETHING. WE CAN DO SOMETHING.

IF ANY OF YOU, WITH YOUR OWN CHILDREN, YOUR OWN FAMILIES, AT YOUR PLACES OF WORSHIP, WITH THE SCHOOLS, THIS IS AN ALL HANDS ON DECK EFFORT.

AND THIS IS MODERN DAY SLAVERY.

SO ALL OF US SHOULD BE OUTRAGED THAT WE LEAD THE NATION AND ONE OF LEAD THE WORLD IN THIS AND THIS.

WE HAVE TO REALLY TURN THE TIDES BECAUSE IT'S ONLY GETTING WORSE IN MANY RESPECTS.

AND SO IF YOU HAVE A BUSINESS OR YOU HAVE A FOUNDATION OR YOU'RE IN THE POSITION TO BE ABLE TO GIVE SO THAT WE CAN AMPLIFY THE EDUCATION AND MESSAGING, THE CHILDREN'S ASSESSMENT CENTER AND OTHER EXCELLENT NONPROFITS WORKING IN THIS SPACE, WE NEED YOUR HELP.

THIS IS AN ALL OF US TYPE OF PROBLEM.

AND YES, IT GETS WORSE AROUND BIG SPORTS EVENTS, BUT THIS HAPPENS EVERY DAY, EVERY ALL DAY.

AND THIS IS MODERN DAY SLAVERY.

SO WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF HISTORY AND THAT ALL OF US TAKES ON THE MORAL OBLIGATION WE EACH HAVE TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT, TO SAY SOMETHING AND TO ACT. SO THANK YOU FOR BEING ON THE FRONT LINES, AND I HIGHLY ENCOURAGE YOU TO LOOK INTO THE CHILDREN'S ASSESSMENT CENTER.

THANK YOU. AND IF I CAN SAY ONE MORE THING, I'M SORRY.

THANK YOU FOR THE ARPA FUNDS THAT YOU GAVE US LAST YEAR, BECAUSE THAT HELPED US INCREASE OUR TRAINING DEPARTMENT SO THAT WE CAN GET INTO SCHOOLS AND TALK TO OUR CHILDREN AND HOPEFULLY GIVE THEM THOSE TOOLS EARLY ON SO THAT THEY WILL NOT BE VULNERABLE TO TRAFFICKING.

SO THANK YOU TO YOU FOR THAT SPECIFICALLY.

WELL, THAT'S SO IMPORTANT.

AND IF THERE'S ANYTHING TO ADD TO COMMISSIONER BRIAN'S STATEMENT, IT'S THAT IT'S, YOU KNOW, ALL OF US KNOW CHILDREN IF WE DON'T HAVE CHILDREN AND IT'S MIGHT BE A LITTLE BIT UNCOMFORTABLE AND AWKWARD TO HAVE THESE CONVERSATIONS.

CULTURALLY SENSITIVE TOPIC.

BUT, YOU KNOW, IF YOU DON'T TALK ABOUT IT, THERE'S NO WAY THE CHILDREN KNOW HOW TO PROTECT THEMSELVES.

THERE'S NO WAY THE CHILDREN KNOW TO SAY NO, OR TO COME TO A PARENT OR A TRUSTED ADULT IF SOMETHING DOES HAPPEN TO THEM.

SO I LOVE THAT YOU HAVE RESOURCES THAT, LADY, YOUR STAFF MEMBER IN THE BACK THAT THAT VISITS COMMUNITIES AND CHURCHES.

[00:35:04]

AND, YOU KNOW, IT IS SO, SO IMPORTANT TO TEACH ALL OF US HOW TO HAVE THOSE CONVERSATIONS WITH THE CHILDREN IN OUR LIVES.

THANK YOU. JUDGE, I'M GLAD YOU MENTIONED THAT THESE WERE ARPA FUNDS BECAUSE THERE WAS ONE TIME FUNDING AND, WE ALL APPRECIATE BEING ABLE TO DISTRIBUTE IT THE WAY WE DID, BUT IT WAS FEDERAL MONEY.

YEAH, I'M GLAD YOU DID.

AND I'D BE REMISS IF I DIDN'T THINK OUR FEDERAL PARTNERS, PARTICULARLY THE ADMINISTRATION, MAKING THE FUNDS AVAILABLE.

BUT WHAT THEY SAID, WHEN IT DOES END, SO WILL THE FUNDING, UNLESS THE CASE IS MADE FOR OTHER PARTNERS, STATE, LOCAL, WHEREVER OR THE FEDS TO DO IT AGAIN FOR TO COME IN AGAIN? AND THAT WAS ONE SCHOOL OF THOUGHT WHEN WE WERE TRYING TO DECIDE HOW TO DISTRIBUTE THIS MONEY, WHETHER OR NOT WE OUGHT TO DO SOME OF THE THINGS THAT WE DID, BECAUSE PEOPLE WOULD COME BACK AND GROW TO EXPECT IT.

BUT I DO THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO KNOW THAT, TO KNOW THAT IT WAS A FINITE AMOUNT OF MONEY, AND UNLESS THAT CASE IS MADE SOMEWHERE ELSE, IT WILL NOT CONTINUE.

BUT IT WAS IMPORTANT WORK, AND I'M SO GLAD WE DECIDED TO SPEND THE MONEY THE WAY WE SPEND IT, I APPRECIATE IT.

WE'RE COMMITTED TO ERADICATING CHILD SEXUAL ABUSE AND I KNOW THAT SOUNDS CRAZY AND TALL A TALL ORDER, BUT WE'RE WE'RE COMMITTED TO GIVING IT A TRY.

AND I CAN TELL YOU THAT, EVEN THOUGH THE ARPA FUNDING HAS RUN OUT, WE WE WILL WE WILL FIND THE RESOURCES AND WE WILL CONTINUE TO MAKE TRAINING A NUMBER ONE PRIORITY FOR THE CAC.

THANK YOU. AND THANKS FOR THE WORK YOU DO.

THANK YOU. ANY OTHER SPEAKERS ON THIS ITEM? NEXT IS TASMA MCGOWAN FROM RESOURCES FOR CHILDREN AND ADULTS.

HEY GOOD MORNING.

THANK YOU, COMMISSIONERS COURT, FOR THIS RESOLUTION ON HUMAN TRAFFICKING AND THIS OPPORTUNITY TO BE HERE.

MY NAME IS TASHA MCGOWAN, AND I'M THE PROGRAM MANAGER WITH HARRIS COUNTY RESOURCES FOR CHILDREN AND ADULTS.

AND I HAVE THE OVERSIGHT OF OUR CHILD SEX TRAFFICKING PROGRAM, SINCE 2018, HARRIS COUNTY RESOURCES FOR CHILDREN AND ADULTS THROUGH OUR SEX TRAFFICKING PROGRAM KNOWN AS OUR HOME SAFE PROGRAM, TO BE ABLE TO ENSURE THAT KIDS RETURNED BACK HOME SAFE HAS PROVIDED CRISIS INTERVENTION CARE COORDINATION SERVICES TO YOUTH WHO HAVE EXPERIENCED COMMERCIAL CHILD SEX TRAFFICKING.

OUR STAFF IS AVAILABLE 24 HOURS A DAY TO RESPOND FROM CALLS, FROM LAW ENFORCEMENT, AND TO PROVIDE SERVICES.

TO VULNERABLE CHILDREN AND THEIR FAMILIES.

WE WORK CLOSELY WITH THE HOUSTON POLICE DEPARTMENT AND HARRIS COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE, THE CHILDREN'S ASSESSMENT CENTER AND CHILD PROTECTIVE SERVICES.

NOT JUST THIS MONTH, BUT ALL YEAR LONG, WE ENCOURAGE THE COMMUNITY TO BE ON THE LOOKOUT FOR SUSPECTED CHILD SEX TRAFFICKING.

MANY OF THESE CHILDREN ARE LOCATED BY TRAFFICKING DURING RUNAWAY EPISODES AND ARE MANIPULATED THROUGH SOCIAL MEDIA.

SO IF YOU EXPECT THAT A MINOR IS EXPERIENCING CHILD SEX TRAFFICKING IN HOUSTON, PLEASE CALL OUR 24 HOUR CRISIS HOTLINE AT 713295 2600. THANK YOU.

LAST FOR THIS ITEM IS JACOB CLEMONS.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR WORK.

FIVE WARRANTS. HUMAN TRAFFICKING BITES.

THE BIG ONE, ACTUALLY, SIX.

AND ANYWAY, WHAT I WANT TO SAY IS EVEN MORE SO.

HANSON. DIE HARD, TRUTH AND JUSTICE PERSON HAS QUESTIONED GREG ABBOTT AS TO WHETHER OR NOT HE IS DOING THE RIGHT THING WHEN IT COMES TO NOT COMING OR RETALIATING AGAINST HUMAN TRAFFICKING, BUT ALSO AS A GOVERNOR SHOULD AND HIS STATE.

AND SO I WANT TO SAY THIS, AS A BUZZ ABOUT THE ADMINISTRATION, THAT KIND OF EXTENDED A LIGHT ONTO THIS HUMAN TRAFFICKING, NO MERCY QUESTION.

GREG ABBOTT BY THANK YOU.

THANK YOU. OH.

HIM. AMERICAN HEART ASSOCIATION.

MY, MY OTHER BROTHER, FRANK CLEMENTS, HAS DONE HEART.

THANK YOU. THOSE ARE ALL MY RESOLUTIONS, COMMISSIONER ELLIS.

THANK YOU JUDGE. I HAVE THREE, BUT I ONLY READ TWO OF THEM.

I JUST WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE OTHER ONE AND TAKE PICTURES.

THIS ONE IS HONORING. HONORING THE HONORABLE HARRISON GRAY JUNIOR WHO IS SET TO RETIRE AFTER DECADES OF DEDICATED PUBLIC SERVICE.

[00:40:01]

HE BEGAN HIS LEGAL CAREER IN 1972 AT A LAW FIRM THAT, HIS NAME WAS THE LEAD PARTNER IN, AND LATER HE BECAME AN ASSOCIATE JUDGE FOR THE STATE OF TEXAS OFFICE OF COURT ADMINISTRATION.

IN 1989 1999, HE BEGAN WORKING FOR HARRIS COUNTY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE AND THE CHILD PROTECTIVE SERVICES DIVISION.

HE SERVED VARIOUS ROLES AS A LEADER WITH THE NATIONAL BAR ASSOCIATION OF HOUSTON LAWYERS ASSOCIATION AND CURRENTLY AS A MEMBER OF THE STATE BAR OF TEXAS GRIEVANCE COMMITTEE.

HE ESTABLISHED A FIRST, PATERNITY COURT IN HARRIS COUNTY, AND WAS ALSO KEY IN ESTABLISHING THE CURRENT FAMILY LAW DIVISION FOR THE DISTRICT COURTS AND THE CHILD PROTECTIVE DIVISION.

HE IS A GREAT FRIEND, AND I'VE KNOWN HIM FOR A LONG TIME, AND I FORGOT I HAD THE RESOLUTION.

I WAS WONDERING WHY WAS HE DOING ALL THIS WORK? WHY WAS HE SITTING HERE TODAY? HE. HE WAS COMING OUT OF LAW SCHOOL WHEN, I WAS TRYING TO FIGURE OUT IF I'D EVER GET INTO A LAW SCHOOL, BUT JUST A GREAT FRIEND.

AND I'M GLAD OUR COUNTY ATTORNEY ASKED ME TO CARRY THIS RESOLUTION, AND HE'S HERE TO SPEAK.

GOOD, MA'AM. JUDGE MEMBERS OF COMMISSIONERS COURT, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR FOR HONORING, THE HONORABLE HARRISON GREGG TODAY.

YOU KNOW, THREE THINGS THAT STUCK OUT TO ME, ABOUT JUDGE GREGG IS ONE.

HE JUST HAD A STORIED CAREER, AND HE'S BEEN LICENSED TO PRACTICE LAW FOR MORE THAN 50 YEARS.

AND I WAS CRACKING UP TO MYSELF.

COMMISSIONER, WHEN YOU SAID YOU'VE KNOWN HIM FOR A LONG TIME, I WAS THINKING, YEAH, I'VE KNOWN HIM FOR 50 YEARS, TOO.

BUT, YOU KNOW, HE'S DONE A BUNCH OF GREAT THINGS.

HE SERVED ON THE BENCH, AS YOU MENTIONED.

AND HE'S HE'S REALLY JUST BEEN A TRAILBLAZER.

ANOTHER IMPORTANT THING ABOUT HIM IS HE'S JUST BEEN INVOLVED IN HIS COMMUNITY.

SO. SO OUTSIDE OF WORK, HE WAS THE LAWYER FOR WHEELER AVENUE BAPTIST CHURCH UNDER THE FORMER PASTOR, REVEREND LAWSON.

HE'S BEEN INVOLVED IN JUST ABOUT EVERY SINGLE, BAR ASSOCIATION HERE IN TOWN.

HE WAS YEARS AGO THE PRESIDENT OF THE BLACK BAR ASSOCIATION.

AND THEN WHEN THEY COULDN'T FIND LEADERSHIP, HE WENT BACK LATER IN HIS PRACTICE AND SERVED AS PRESIDENT AGAIN.

BUT THE POINT THAT MOST TOUCHES ME ABOUT, JUDGE GREGG IS JUST HOW HE'S MENTORED YOUNG LAWYERS.

YOU KNOW, WHEN I CAME TO THIS OFFICE, I SAW TIME AND TIME AGAIN OUR BABY LAWYERS, OUR MID-LEVEL LAWYERS WOULD GO TO HIM FOR ADVICE TO LEARN ABOUT THE PRACTICE.

AND THAT INCLUDES ME. I HAVEN'T BEEN PRACTICING, OBVIOUSLY, AS LONG AS JUDGE GREGG, BUT HE'S MENTORED ME AS WELL.

WHEN I FIRST GOT INTO OFFICE, HE AND I MET, AND HE VERY GENTLY REMINDED ME THAT HE HAD BEEN PRACTICING LAW LONGER THAN I'VE BEEN ALIVE.

BUT ONE OF THE THINGS WE TALKED ABOUT IS HE'S BEEN AT THE COUNTY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE FOR 24 YEARS.

SO HE HAS NOW SEEN FOUR DIFFERENT COUNTY ATTORNEYS, COME TO THE OFFICE.

AND SO I ASKED HIM, HEY, TELL ME ABOUT YOUR EXPERIENCES WITH THE VARIOUS COUNTY ATTORNEYS.

AND HE GAVE ME THE GOOD, HE GAVE ME THE BAD, AND HE GAVE ME THE UGLY.

AND SO I WANT TO KIND OF CLOSE WITH SOME LEVITY.

I'M JUST REALLY GLAD HE'S RETIRING SO THAT THE NEXT COUNTY ATTORNEY DOESN'T GET TO HEAR ABOUT HOW I'VE MESSED UP.

JUDGE GREGG, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR SERVICE.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR YOUR CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE OFFICE.

AND WE'RE JUST SO PROUD OF ALL THE WORK THAT YOU'VE DONE.

WE WE HATE TO SEE YOU GO, BUT WE KNOW THAT FROM TIME TO TIME, YOU'LL CALL IN AND MENTOR OUR LAWYERS AS YOU GO OFF INTO RETIREMENT.

THANK YOU. IS WHAT YOU WANT TO SPEAK. YOU WANT TO SAY ANYTHING? JUDGE. GEORGE.

HARRISON, GREG. YOU KNOW, I.

THE, TO, THE COUNTY JUDGE AND TO THE COMMISSIONERS.

GOOD MORNING.

THANK YOU FOR INVITING ME.

AND I REALLY APPRECIATE YOU, HONORING ME FOR SERVING HARRIS COUNTY FOR THE NUMBER OF YEARS THAT I'VE SERVED.

IT'S BEEN A GOOD SERVICE.

BUT, YOU KNOW, I'M LISTENING TO Y'ALL.

I'M THINKING ABOUT THIS RETIREMENT THING.

IT'S A LITTLE DIFFERENT. WHAT I THOUGHT IT WAS.

YOU KNOW, I, I, BEING AROUND THE, COURT ALL THE TIME.

EVERYBODY CALLING ME, JUDGE GREG.

ATTORNEY GREG, MISTER GREG COMING TO ME.

ADVICE. BUT THESE PAST 2 OR 3 WEEKS, I'VE BEEN AROUND THE HOUSE, I'VE HAD TO GO GET THE TRASH OUT.

HARRISON. HARRISON.

HARRISON. YOU KNOW I'M NOT THE BIG MAN LIKE I USED TO BE.

SO, IT'S RETIREMENT.

I QUITE LIKE IT USED TO BE.

LIKE WHAT? I THOUGHT IT GOING TO BE A RODNEY, YOU KNOW? SO. BUT I'M GOING TO ENJOY IT BEST I CAN.

BUT I'VE ENJOYED MY RUN.

AND HARRIS COUNTY, I'M 70.

I CAME DOWN HERE ABOUT 17.

MY LAW PARTNER. I DON'T KNOW IF HE'S HERE OR BUSH.

YOU CAN CONTINUE TOGETHER.

YOU CAN. AND WE CAME DOWN.

WE DIDN'T KNOW THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE COURTHOUSE AND THE, AND THE POST OFFICE, BUT WE FINALLY FOUND THAT OUT, AND I MATRICULATED THROUGH THE SYSTEM, AS A PROSECUTOR.

SERVED AS A CLERK.

SERVED AS A JUDGE. I'VE SERVED EVERYTHING THEY COULD DO IN HARRIS COUNTY EXCEPT AS A SHERIFF OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.

BUT I REALLY HAVE ENJOYED THE STAY HERE, AND I'VE REALLY ENJOYED BEING WITH THE PERSONS WHO CAME DOWN WITH ME TODAY.

[00:45:03]

I KNOW THEY HAVE A NUMBER OF THE COUNTY ATTORNEY'S ASSISTANT AND SO FORTH BACK HERE AND HELPING THEM DOING ALL THAT I CAN POSSIBLY DO.

AND ONE THING THAT I, TRIED TO LIVE BY DURING THE COURSE OF MY TENURE AS A LAWYER, MY FATHER TAUGHT ME, MY FATHER'S A BARBER, AND I'D HEAR THOSE OLD MEN TALKING IN THE BARBERSHOP A LOT OF TIMES, AND I HEARD HIM SAY ONCE, AND HE KEPT EMPHASIZING.

HE SAID. HE SAID, YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU LIVE YOUR LIFE, TRY TO LIVE AND WALK AS IF YOU'RE ON EGGSHELLS.

THOSE OF YOU HAVE YOUR IPODS OUT, TAKE A LOOK AT WHAT THAT MEANS.

IF YOU LIVE YOUR LIFE AS IF YOU'RE WALKING ON EGGSHELLS, YOU'LL PROBABLY GET A LONG WAY BECAUSE YOU WILL ALWAYS BE CONCERNED ABOUT HOW AND WHAT HAPPENS TO OTHER PEOPLE.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

THANK YOU. JUDGE. GOOD MORNING.

I WOULD LIKE TO THANK EVERYBODY THAT HAS DONE ALL THIS FOR MY HUSBAND.

I'D LIKE TO SAY MY HUSBAND IS A GOOD PERSON.

HE'S A GOOD HUSBAND AND HE'S HANDSOME.

THANK YOU SO MUCH, JUDGE GREG, FOR YEARS OF SERVICE.

AND AND TO YOUR WIFE, MRS. GREG. IT'S SO WONDERFUL TO MEET YOU.

AND CONGRATULATIONS.

I DON'T KNOW WHAT ELSE FOR YOUR SERVICE, JUDGE.

YEAH. I DON'T KNOW WHAT ELSE I CAN CAN ADD.

HE LOOKS PRETTY GOOD TO US, TOO.

YOU LOOK BETTER, THOUGH.

BUT THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE.

THANK YOU. JUDGE, I MIGHT JUMP TO MY LAST RESOLUTION BECAUSE I HEAR YOUNG ONE OUT THERE, AND I CAN REMEMBER THOSE DAYS WHEN MY, WHEN MY KIDS WOULD SHOW UP.

AND THIS IS THE THIRD ONE THAT I HAVE.

IT IS REGARDING THE, THE MURALS THAT WE HAVE UP AND A RESOLUTION, SAYS WHEREAS HARRIS COUNTY IS PROUD TO COLLABORATE WITH STREET ART FOR MANKIND TO CREATE THE BIG DREAMS, TO RETURN CLEAN AIR FOR ALL SUIDAE HUMAN RIGHTS.

KING OF THE ROAD LEGACY ILLUMINATION US.

THEY DO MURALS IN HOUSTON.

THESE MURALS WILL JOIN THE MANY THAT HAVE BEGUN TO REDEFINE THE ARTISTIC LANDSCAPE OF DOWNTOWN HOUSTON, WHERE A STREET ART FOR MANKIND WORKS WITH PROMINENT STREET ARTISTS FROM AROUND THE GLOBE TO RAISE AWARENESS FOR CRITICAL ISSUES INCLUDING CLIMATE CHANGE, GREEN ENERGY, HUMAN RIGHTS, INNOVATION, SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC EQUITY, GLOBAL PEOPLE CENTERED CITIES, QUALITY EDUCATION AND LEGACY.

AND WHEREAS, STREET ART FOR MANKIND HAS BROUGHT INTERNATIONAL ARTISTS AS WELL AS LOCAL ARTISTS TO HOUSTON SUCH AS ALEX ARZU BERLIN, JAIRUS BETTS, EDMUND SMUG, VICTOR ASH, CASE MCCLAIN, SAMSUNG BIMBO, ARCHES OF HOUSTON AND MANY OTHERS.

WE HONOR THEM FOR THEIR ARTISTIC CONTRIBUTIONS THAT EMPHASIZE HOUSTON'S UNIQUE SPIRIT AND DIVERSITY.

AND WHEREAS HARRIS COUNTY IS PROUD TO RECOGNIZE THE CONTRIBUTIONS OF A NUMBER OF ARTISTIC MODELS, WE DID SOMETHING DIFFERENT FROM WHEN THEY'VE DONE THESE AROUND THE WORLD.

WE USE ACTUAL PEOPLE IN OUR COMMUNITY TO BE THE MODELS IN THESE MURALS.

THAT YOUNG PERSON YOU HEAR IS THE KID OF ONE OF THOSE MODELS, BY THE WAY.

THAT'S WHY I DECIDED TO DO THIS NEXT.

I THINK THERE ARE SEVERAL WHO ARE WITH US TODAY, BUT I'M GOING TO CALL THE NAMES OUT OF THE ONES THAT THAT I, THAT I KNOW OF, THAT WE'RE HONORING.

AND I THINK THREE DID COME TODAY.

I'LL MENTION THOSE MURALS IN A SECOND.

BUT LANCE WARE, ABIGAIL VANCE, ZACHARIAS.

BECKHAM. SISK AND NASIR MUHAMMAD, AND JACQUELINE AGUIRRE, ADDED TO OUR VISUAL LANDSCAPE OF OUR DOWNTOWN AREA.

PUBLIC ART, I BELIEVE, CAN ENRICH PHYSICAL ENVIRONMENT, ENCOURAGE CIVIC ENGAGEMENT, FOSTER COMMUNITY PRIDE, AND BOOST LOCAL ECONOMIES BY PROVIDING LOCATIONS THAT ATTRACT VISITORS, ALL WHILE ENHANCING THE QUALITY OF LIFE FOR RESIDENTS AND VISITORS.

HARRIS COUNTY ENCOURAGES ITS RESIDENTS TO EXPLORE THE LATEST ADDITIONS TO THE GROWING NUMBER OF FINE ART MURALS IN DOWNTOWN HOUSTON.

I THINK WE HAVE THE DISTINCTION NOW OF HAVING THE LARGEST OPEN AIR MUSEUM IN THE WORLD, BUT THERE MIGHT BE A FEW PLACES AROUND THE NATION THAT MIGHT WANT TO ARGUE WITH US.

BUT EVEN IF THERE'S SOME PLACE THAT HAS MORE MURALS, THEY'RE NOT AS BIG AS THE ONES IN HOUSTON AND THE MODELS WHO ARE WITH US TODAY.

SOME OF THEM IN SCHOOL, YOU SEEN SOME OF THOSE MURALS AND MAY, BE AWARE OF THEM BUT NOT KNOW WHO THEY ARE.

LET ME SEE HERE THAT SHE SAID SHE SENT THOSE TO ME.

I'LL HAVE THEM COME UP THE THE MIRROR.

LUCILLE. HERE. JUST STAND UP.

[00:50:02]

THE PEOPLE WHOSE FACE IS ON MURALS, THE MODELS TODAY JUST STAND UP TO BE RECOGNIZED.

AND, WOULD YOU GIVE THEM A ROUND OF APPLAUSE AND, TEE TEE BALL.

IF YOU HEAR TEE BODECKER, I CAN'T SEE.

IF YOU HEAR, I WANT YOU TO INTRODUCE THEM.

I WAS LOOKING FOR MY NOTES AND TELL US WHICH WHICH WHICH MURALS ARE HERE.

I KNOW THE ONE FROM THE BALLET IS THERE, BUT I'VE NOT MET ALL THE OH THANK YOU.

I HAVE NOT MET ALL OF THE MURALS, BUT TEBOW WILL COME UP.

I MET HIM WHEN? DURING THE PANDEMIC, WHEN THEY WERE DOING THE THE, ANTI-HUNGER MURAL AND, DEVELOP A FRIENDSHIP WITH THEM.

AND TEBOW, YOU MIGHT SAY YOUR NAME AND JUST TELL THEM WHAT WE'VE DONE TODAY.

HI EVERYONE, AND I THANK YOU FOR FOR HAVING US TODAY.

THANK YOU FOR THE HONOR. THANK YOU JUDGE.

THANK YOU, COMMISSIONERS, FOR GIVING US THIS OPPORTUNITY TO INSPIRE AND AND CREATE ALSO A DYNAMIC, I WOULD SAY, IN THE CENTER OF HOUSTON, OF PEOPLE WALKING AROUND LOVING THEIR CITY, BUT AT THE SAME TIME ENGAGING ON VERY IMPORTANT TOPICS, ONE OF WHICH IS ACTUALLY ABOUT TRAFFICKING, BECAUSE IT'S THE TRAFFICKING MONTH.

AND I'M VERY HAPPY ACTUALLY, BECAUSE ONE OF THE MODELS IS ACTUALLY HERE.

SO IF YOU SEE THAT BEAUTIFUL MURAL WITH THE GIRL ON A HORSE WITH A LASSO RIDING FREEDOM, THAT'S BASICALLY OUR MODEL HERE.

SO I WANT TO THANK YOU, BUT I WANT TO THANK THE GALLERY.

RIGHT? YES. JUST BEHIND ME.

SO I WANT TO THANK ALL THE MODELS.

AND THERE'S BEEN QUITE A FEW.

PART OF PART OF THE CURATION IS TO MAKE SURE WE ALSO CONNECT WITH THE CITY AND THE HOUSTONIANS.

SO TO HAVE THEM ALSO ON THOSE WALLS GIVE THEM AN OPPORTUNITY TO BE SEEN AND TO BE ROLE MODELS FOR OTHERS.

SO IT'S NOT ABOUT US.

ACTUALLY, I'M GOING TO LEAVE THE FLOOR FOR ONCE.

I THINK IT'S PROBABLY THE BEST SO THEY CAN GET A CHANCE TO SPEAK AND TO SAY WHAT THEY THOUGHT ABOUT WHAT I THINK AND WHAT THEY THOUGHT ABOUT THE EXPERIENCE AND THEIR AND THEIR EXPERIENCE OF BEING ON THOSE WALLS.

SO HOW MANY MURALS DO WE HAVE UP NOW? SO WE WE HAVE IN HOUSTON 35.

THERE'S ACTUALLY TWO GOING UP RIGHT NOW.

SO THEY'RE GOING TO BE FINISHED BY THE END OF TODAY.

ONE IS ON THE CROSSING OF DALLAS.

I'M GOING TO TALK TOO MUCH.

I'M CROSSING THE DALLAS AND MAIN STREET.

AND THE OTHER ONE IS ACTUALLY ON THE JUVENILE CENTER, THE DETENTION CENTER, WHICH IS RIGHT HERE.

SO THAT'S THE TWO MORE WILL BE BACK IN MARCH FOR MORE AND ONE IN FEBRUARY ALSO.

BUT IT'S NOT ABOUT US RIGHT NOW.

IT'S REALLY ABOUT THOSE MODELS AND WHAT THEY INSPIRE IN THE COMMUNITY.

SO MAYBE A ROUND OF APPLAUSE FOR THEM.

AND I'M GOING TO ASK THEM TO COME AND INTRODUCE THEMSELVES AND SAY A MARRIAGE AND JUST AND JUST SAY YOUR NAME.

AND THANKS FOR TAKING A BREAK FROM SCHOOL.

I THINK WE ARRANGED TO GET YOU BACK, BY THE WAY.

MY NAME IS.

MY NAME IS JACQUELINE AGUIRRE.

AND, I FELT VERY GRATEFUL TO HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO.

BE PAINTED AS A MURAL.

AND I FEEL VERY PROUD THAT.

A LOT OF.

HISPANICS OR WHOEVER LIKE, NEEDED FREEDOM FOR THEM TO KNOW THAT A LITTLE GIRL HERE TO SHOW THAT FREEDOM IS POSSIBLE AND IS A RIGHT FOR EVERYONE TO HAVE.

RIGHT? YEAH.

I KNOW, I KNOW YOU'RE BASHFUL, BUT I'M CURIOUS.

JACQUELINE. YOU ARE? WHAT YEAR? WHAT GRADE ARE YOU IN SCHOOL? I AM IN SEVENTH GRADE.

OKAY, JACQUELINE. JUST A MOMENT, COMMISSIONER RAMSEY.

JACQUELINE, THANK YOU FOR INSPIRING US BY THE MURAL AND ALSO BY WEARING THAT SHIRT YOU HAVE ON TODAY THAT.

OH, IT SAYS TEXAS A&M ON IT.

JUST, JUST SAYING THANK YOU FOR WHAT YOU DO.

GOT REALLY GOOD EYESIGHT BECAUSE I WAS TRYING TO FIGURE IT OUT.

I THOUGHT IT SAID UT.

THANK YOU. JACQUELINE.

I'M NOT ON THE MURAL.

MY SON IS.

GOOD MORNING AND BLESSINGS TO EVERYONE.

MY NAME IS ALMA GUERRERO.

PICK HER UP TODAY.

AND REPRESENTATION AND REPRESENTATION OF GUERRERO, WHO COULDN'T BE HERE TODAY DUE TO HE'S AT UNIVERSITY.

I WILL READ SOME WORDS WRITTEN BY HIM WITH HIS HEART FULL OF GRATITUDE TO GOD.

I WOULD LIKE TO THANK HIM FOR MAKING ME PERFECTLY AND PERFECT TO MY FAMILY.

YOUR UNWAVERING SUPPORT HAS HAS BEEN MY STRENGTH THROUGH EVERY CHALLENGE.

AND TO THE MAYOR'S YOUTH COUNCIL, I AM DEEPLY THANKFUL FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY TO ADDRESS A TOPIC CLOSE TO MY HEART.

MENTAL ILLNESS.

MENTAL HEALTH STRUGGLES AFFECT COUNTLESS INDIVIDUALS, OFTEN IN SILENCE.

BUT TODAY WE HAVE THE POWER TO CHANGE THAT BY RAISING AWARENESS, FOSTERING UNDERSTANDING, AND ADVOCATING FOR A BETTER SUPPORT SYSTEM.

WE CAN CREATE A WORLD WHERE NO ONE BATTLES ALONE.

FROM THE BEGINNING, THE COMMUNICATION WITHIN OUR TEAM WAS PROFOUND.

WE SEARCHED DEEP INTO THE TRUE MEANING BEHIND THE MURAL.

UNDERSTANDING THE POWER HELD TO INSPIRE AND UPLIFT THOSE WHO GAZED UPON IT.

[00:55:03]

THROUGH THESE CONVERSATIONS, I WITNESSED FIRSTHAND THE TRANSFORMATIVE POTENTIAL OF ART TO SPARK MEANINGFUL DIALOG AND FOSTER COMMUNICATION.

I EXTEND MY DEEPEST GRATITUDE TO THE TALENTED ARTIST EMMANUEL JARRIS, WHOSE VISION BROUGHT THE MURAL TO LIFE.

THANK YOU FOR THIS TIME, AND THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING ME TO BE A PART OF CITY OF HOUSTON ART HISTORY.

GOOD. WHERE IS ANTONIO? IN SCHOOL. WHERE IS HE? IN SCHOOL.

SAM HOUSTON. SAM HOUSTON STATE.

HE'S A FRESHMAN. HE'S A YES! GO, BEARCATS! THE MURAL IS HIS.

THE BLUE ONE. YES YES.

AND SO HE'S SEATED.

YES. AND HE'S JUST IN A RELAXED POSE.

AND ACTUALLY THE ARTIST HAS SAID THAT HE WAS THINKING ABOUT TAKING OFF HIS, APPLE, APPLE WATCH, BUT HE DECIDED TO LEAVE IT ON BECAUSE IT WAS, PART OF THE GENERATION THAT HE WAS IN.

YEAH. IT'S A BEAUTIFUL MURAL, AND THE MESSAGE IS BEAUTIFUL.

THANK YOU. I HOPE WE CAN TAKE A REALLY NICE PICTURE.

I'M HOPING WE CAN GO DOWNSTAIRS OR SOMEWHERE, BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, THE MURALS ARE SO ARTISTIC, AND THIS ONE IS NOT, BUT WE'LL, BUT IT'S JUST SO WONDERFUL THAT YOU GUYS ARE HERE.

AND COMMISSIONER ELLIS HAS BEEN REALLY THE THE BRAINS AND THE, YOU KNOW, ALL THE WORK BEHIND THESE MURALS.

AND IT IS I MEAN, IT'S JUST A KIND OF CREPT UP ON US LITTLE BY LITTLE.

MORE MURALS, MORE MURALS.

AND I THINK, YOU KNOW, SUDDENLY THE COMMUNITY IS REALIZING, OH MY GOSH, IT IS STUNNING IN OUR DOWNTOWN.

AND THERE'S SUCH MEANINGFUL PIECES OF ART.

AND SO JUST KNOW YOU'RE I MEAN, YOU ARE PART OF THIS COMPLETE TRANSFORMATION FOR THE BETTER OF OUR DOWNTOWN AREA.

THANK YOU. AND AND I WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE OF COURSE, BUT THE COMMISSIONER IS TOO, TOO HUMBLE TO MENTION JUST THE BIG ROLE THAT YOU'VE PLAYED.

THANK YOU. AND, YOU HAVE ONE MORE.

I'M NOT, NO, NO, NO, I KNOW, MAYBE LATER, BUT YOU'RE NOT.

YOU'RE NOT ON THIS. NOT ON THIS ITEM.

I JUST WANT YOU TO TALK.

SHE'S BASHFUL. TEBOW, COME BACK.

I WANT YOU TO TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THAT LAST MURAL.

SHE IS ONE OF THE MODELS THAT SPECK AND SISK, AND SHE, SHE DOES HER SPEECH THROUGH DANCE THROUGH.

RIGHT. AND INSTEAD OF SPOKEN WORD, WE'D ALL BE WISE IF I.

IF I COULD GET A BEAUTIFUL INSPIRATION OF THAT, THAT, BALLET MURAL THAT YOU CAN SEE ACTUALLY ON THE BACK OF THE BALLET, MULTI-COLORED.

AND AND IT WAS A TRUE PLEASURE TO WORK WITH YOU, TOO, AND TO BE ABLE TO PAINT THAT ONE.

SO THE ARTIST IS ACTUALLY ACHES FROM FROM IRELAND AND, YEAH.

THANK YOU. OH, YOU DON'T WANT TO SAY A FEW WORDS.

IT WAS REALLY, REALLY GREAT.

I MEAN, THEY ALL LOCAL MODELS.

SO IT LOOKS LIKE ARE THERE 3 OR 4 PEOPLE IN THERE I CAN'T TELL THERE ARE, THERE ARE, THERE ARE TWO PEOPLE.

THERE'S A DUO. THEY'RE DOING A PAS DE DEUX, WHICH IS A FRENCH WORD.

SO EASIER FOR ME.

AND YEAH.

SO THEY WERE, THEY WERE DANCING.

SO IF YOU REALLY LOOK AT THE MURAL, YOU'LL SEE THE PARTNER ACTUALLY IS FACE, CLOSE TO HER.

SO. AND COLLEAGUES AT 11 TOMORROW, WE'RE GOING TO UNVEIL THE LATEST TWO.

THERE'LL BE ONE THAT'S NOT QUITE FINISHED BECAUSE OF THE WEATHER THAT WE'LL DO OVER IN FIFTH WARD.

YOU KNOW, I THINK WE'VE ALSO DONE THREE THAT ARE NOT IN IN DEPTH WITH YOU.

WE'VE DONE THAT.

I'M NOT IN DOWNTOWN WITH A COUPLE OF OTHERS SET OUT IN THE COMMUNITY.

BUT BUT THANK YOU FOR THE WORK THAT YOU'RE DOING AND FOR INVOLVING OUR LOCAL ARTISTS AS WELL.

IT GIVES THEM A CHANCE TO, IMPROVE THEIR RESUME, AND DO A DIFFERENT STYLE BECAUSE THEY'RE SO MASSIVE, UNLIKE SOME OF THE MURALS THAT WE'VE DONE.

AND I THINK THAT, WHAT'S THE FRENCH TERM? HOW DO YOU SAY IT POST.

I DO, I DO DO DO DO FRANCE ANTI-BULLY.

BUT THEY WHAT THEY TOLD ME IN MY PUBLIC SCHOOL HERE WAS RODNEY RAISE IGNORANT.

THAT MEANT STOP IT.

YOU'D NEVER CATCH IT. RIGHT.

BUT THANK YOU FOR THE WORK THAT YOU DO.

WE'RE GOING TO TAKE PICTURES WITH YOU ALL A LITTLE LATER.

THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU ALL.

THANK YOU. AND, THE LAST ONE, I JUST WANT TO MAKE MENTION OF IT, BECAUSE I KNOW WE WANT TO TAKE A PICTURE WITH THEM.

NEXT WEEK, ON FEBRUARY THE 4TH, WILL MARK, ROSA PARKS BIRTHDAY, WHOSE PEACEFUL PROTEST OF SEGREGATION IN THE PUBLIC TRANSIT SYSTEM IN 1950 1955 LED TO A TURNING POINT IN THE CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT, NOT JUST FOR AFRICAN AMERICANS, BUT FOR ALL OF US TO FOCUS ON SOCIAL ECONOMIC INEQUITIES.

AND A RESOLUTION SIMPLY SAYS HARRIS COUNTY COMMISSIONERS COURT BELIEVES THAT A ROBUST AND EQUITABLE PUBLIC TRANSIT NETWORK CAN HELP OVERCOME BARRIERS TO ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL OPPORTUNITIES TO HELP MITIGATE ADVERSE IMPACTS OF CLIMATE CHANGE, AND THAT PUBLIC TRANSIT IS THE BACKBONE OF AN EQUITABLE TRANSPORTATION NETWORK.

AND I THINK I MIGHT HAVE A SPEAKER OR TWO ON THAT IF YOU WANT TO SPEAK.

NOW, COME ON.

COME RIGHT ON UP. ONLY BECAUSE THERE'S SO MANY TODAY.

I WON'T READ THEM ALL, BUT IT IS AN IMPORTANT RESOLUTION AND WE'RE ALL APPRECIATIVE FOR YOU BEING HERE.

THANK YOU. COMMISSIONER ELLIS, COUNTY JUDGE AND MEMBERS OF COMMISSIONERS COURT.

[01:00:05]

I'M GABE CAZARES, THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF LINK HOUSTON.

LINK HOUSTON IS A NONPROFIT ADVOCACY ORGANIZATION THAT ADVOCATES FOR A ROBUST AND EQUITABLE TRANSPORTATION NETWORK SO THAT ALL PEOPLE CAN REACH OPPORTUNITY.

COMMISSIONER ELLIS, THANK YOU FOR RECOGNIZING TRANSIT EQUITY DAY AND THE PIVOTAL ROLE THAT ROSA PARKS PLAYED IN HIGHLIGHTING TRANSIT AS A CIVIL RIGHT.

AND I WANT TO THANK COMMISSIONERS COURT FOR YOUR INVESTMENTS IN GIVING PEOPLE THE FREEDOM TO MOVE SAFELY AND WITH DIGNITY OUTSIDE OF A VEHICLE, AS ALL OF YOU FUND PROJECTS ACROSS YOUR, PRECINCTS.

LINK HOUSTON IS GRATEFUL TO SEE MORE INVESTMENT AND FOCUS ON MULTI-MODAL TRANSPORTATION.

COMMISSIONER ELLIS, I KNOW YOU'RE AN AVID BIKER, SO ONE OF THESE DAYS WE'LL JUMP ON A TANDEM AND TAKE THE ROAD.

SO THANK YOU FOR HAVING US TODAY.

I WANT YOU TO KNOW I'M GOING TO SURPRISE YOU.

I WAS THINKING IN MY LATEST INTERN CLASS, WE WE HAVE, ONE STUDENT WHO'S BLIND, BUT, WE HAD ONE IN A CLASS MAYBE 15 YEARS AGO, AND WE DID A BIKE RIDE AT LBJ RANCH, AND HE DIDN'T THINK HE COULD RIDE, BUT WE INTRODUCED HIM TO A TANDEM, AND HE'S HE'S DOING FINE.

AND IN FACT, BECAUSE HE WAS THERE WITH HIS CANE ON THE FRONT OF THE COVER FROM THE THE INTERNSHIP CLASS, A FOUNDATION FROM THE EAST COAST PUT ABOUT $50,000 IN THAT PROGRAM BACK THEN TO, TO BRING IN MORE STUDENTS.

SO BUT THANK YOU FOR THE WORK THAT YOU'VE DONE OVER THE YEARS, AND WE'RE GLAD YOU'RE HERE.

THANK YOU. AND JUST A MOMENT, WE HAVE ANOTHER COMMENT FOR YOU.

YES. GO AHEAD, MR. ELLIS.

THANK YOU FOR THIS RESOLUTION.

GABE CAZARES, MY BELOVED AMERICAN LEADERSHIP FORUM BROTHER, I WANT TO THANK YOU.

I FEEL THE SPIRIT OF ROSA PARKS LIVES ON THROUGH YOU.

YOU WERE A CIVIL RIGHTS ADVOCATE AND CHAMPION IN OUR COMMUNITY.

THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING, LINK HOUSTON DOES, AND THANK YOU FOR THE THOUGHT PARTNERSHIP THAT YOU HAVE GIVEN TO THE COUNTY AS WE CONTINUE TO WORK TOWARDS MORE ACCESSIBLE, EQUITABLE TRANSIT OPTIONS.

SO THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU.

AND TO ALL YOUR TEAM WHO I SEE HERE.

THANK YOU. AND METRO, IT HAS BEEN WONDERFUL WORKING WITH METRO, AND I HOPE THEY CONTINUE THEIR COMMITMENT TO EXPANDING TRANSIT OPTIONS WITH EQUITY, WITH ACCESSIBILITY, BECAUSE WE REALLY NEED MORE ROBUST PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION OPTIONS.

SO I APPRECIATE YOUR PARTNERSHIP.

AS WE THINK THROUGH THE BUS RAPID TRANSIT AND GULFTON, GABE AND ALL OF THE OTHER PROJECTS WE'RE WORKING ON TOGETHER, THE METRO STOPS THAT ARE MORE ACCESSIBLE MODELS, THE 200 THE PRECINCT FOUR WILL WORK WITH.

SO I APPRECIATE YOU ALL.

AND GABE, YOU DEEPLY INSPIRE ME AND I APPRECIATE YOUR LEADERSHIP AND FOR LIVING ON IN THE SPIRIT TRULY OF ROSA PARKS.

SO IT MAKES ME HAPPY.

GABE. GABE.

THANK YOU MAN. APPRECIATE YOU.

THANK YOU COMMISSIONER.

ANY OTHER SPEAKERS FOR THIS ITEM.

I THINK THAT'S I THINK THAT'S IT.

THANK YOU ALL FOR BRINGING IT FORWARD.

OKAY. COMMISSIONER GARCIA.

THANK YOU. JUDGE.

GOT A COUPLE OF RESOLUTIONS I AM GOING TO.

READ THIS ONE THAT I TAKE A WHOLE LOT OF PRIDE IN.

AND, JUST BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, WE ALL DEPEND ON FOLKS IN OUR OFFICES TO HELP US DO A LOT OF INCREDIBLE THINGS.

AND, THIS OFFICE WOULD NOT BE WHERE IT'S AT TODAY IN TERMS OF ENGAGEMENT WITH THE PUBLIC, IN TERMS OF, SUPPORTING THEM WITH THE ISSUES AND CONCERNS THAT THEY HAVE, FEELING THEM, HELPING TO FEEL MAKE SURE THAT THEY'RE FEELING INCLUDED AND RESPECTED AND, BUT IT IS PEOPLE LIKE CINDY MILLER.

THAT HAVE REALLY HELPED US TURN A VERY, VERY IMPORTANT CORNER TO, TO MAKE SURE THAT NO PART OF PRECINCT TWO IS FORGOTTEN.

AND SO I WANT TO FIRST RECOGNIZE THAT WE HAVE, MISS CINDY MILLER, WHO IS RETIRING FROM PRECINCT TWO THIS MONTH AS THE COMMUNITY LIAISON OF THE NORTH CHANNEL.

AND, SHE IS JOINED HERE BY HER, HER HUSBAND, HER OWN HANDSOME HUSBAND, MARK MILLER.

AND, THIS RESOLUTION READS AS SUCH.

CINDY MILLER IS CELEBRATING HER RETIREMENT FROM HARRIS COUNTY AFTER MORE THAN 28 YEARS.

WOW. BEAUTIFUL.

SERVING RESIDENTS IN THE NORTH CHANNEL AREA.

SHE'LL BE GREATLY MISSED.

CINDY BEGAN HER CAREER IN 1995 WITH THE SCHNELL VIEW THE SCHNELL VIEW INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT.

AT ENDEAVOR LEARNING CENTER IN 2000, CINDY WAS HIRED AS THE ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF HERITAGE HALL SENIOR CENTER

[01:05:10]

IN JACINTO CITY, AND THEN IN 2015, CINDY WAS OFFERED THE DIRECTOR POSITION AT GRAYSON COMMUNITY CENTER AND THEN LATER IN 2018, ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT AT THE MARTIN L FLICKINGER COMMUNITY CENTER.

IN HER CURRENT POSITION AS COMMUNITY RELATIONS LIAISON IN THE NORTH SCHNELL VIEW AREA OF PRECINCT TWO.

SHE CONTINUED TO CONTRIBUTE HER EXPERIENCE AND KNOWLEDGE, CREATING PROGRAMS TO IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF LIFE FOR AREA RESIDENTS, WEARING MANY HATS AND WEARING THEM INCREDIBLY WELL.

CINDY LED EFFORTS INCLUDING MANAGING COMMUNITY CENTER ACTIVITIES, THE SENIOR MEAL PROGRAM, SENIOR OLYMPICS, SENIORS PROGRAMING.

CINDY GREETED CONSTITUENTS AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS WITH SMILES AND HUGS ALL ALONG THE WAY AS COMMUNITY RELATIONS LIAISON FOR THE NORTH SCHNELL AREA.

SHE, HER RESPONSIBILITIES GREW TO INCLUDE FORMING STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIPS, STATISTICAL REPORTING, LOGISTICS AND SUPPORT FOR THE DIVISION'S DAILY ACTIVITIES.

AND CINDY ACTED AS A KEY POINT OF CONTACT FOR RESIDENTS, FAITH AND BUSINESS LEADERS IN THE LOCAL AREA AND DEVELOP RELATIONSHIPS BY ATTENDING MEETINGS AND EVENTS. CINDY IS KNOWN TO HAVE A HUGE HEART OF GOLD.

IF AND THAT'S PUTTING IT, PUT IT MILDLY.

SHE LOVES TO HELP HER COMMUNITY AND ALWAYS ADVOCATES FOR THE RESIDENTS TO HAVE A BETTER LIFE.

IN 2023, CINDY WAS AWARDED A CIRCLE OF EXCELLENCE AWARD FOR HER WORK IN SERVICE IN PRECINCT TWO.

CINDY PLANS TO SPEND MORE TIME WITH HER FAMILY, INCLUDING GRANDSONS LINCOLN AND SAWYER, WHO CAN'T WAIT TO SEE THEIR NAME EVERY DAY.

CINDY, I JUST WANT TO SAY, AND BEFORE YOU MAKE REMARKS, I WANT TO INVITE THE, COMMUNITY RELATIONS TEAM, AND I, I'LL BEGIN WITH NELSON.

SINCE YOU AND NELSON HAVE WORKED CLOSEST TOGETHER.

BUT I'LL TELL YOU, CINDY, I DO NOT TAKE TODAY LIGHTLY THAT, THERE WILL BE A HUGE VOID LEFT IN THE OPERATIONS. BECAUSE WHETHER IT WAS THE PANDEMIC, THE TORNADO, WHATEVER IT MAY HAVE BEEN THAT WE WERE CONFRONTED WITH, YOU WERE THERE JUST DILIGENTLY, STEADFAST AND JUST, LEADING WITH YOUR HEART TO HELP THOSE WHO JUST NEEDED A LITTLE BIT OF LIGHT TO POINT THEM IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.

AND YOU WERE A HUGE, HUGE LIGHT.

FOR MANY WHO WERE STRUGGLING AT THE AT THAT MOMENT.

I APPRECIATE YOU WRITING.

THE HARRIS TRANSIT BUS WITH ME TO UNDERSTAND, HOW THAT SYSTEM WAS WORKING AND, AND SO, SO MANY TIMES, YOU WERE JUST MAKING SURE THAT CHANEL VIEW CHANNEL VIEW, FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO, AREN'T CATCHING ON.

BUT, YOU KNOW, CINDY HAS JUST BEEN INCREDIBLE, AND I'M JUST SO PROUD OF HER AND GRATEFUL TO YOU.

BUT LET ME BEGIN WITH, AND I WANT TO TELL FOLKS, DON'T HOLD BACK.

SO, CINDY, LET US HEAR FROM NELSON ESPITIA.

WHO IS THE THE LEADER OF OUR COMMUNITY RELATIONS DIVISION.

THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER. I'M ETERNALLY GRATEFUL FOR MY STAFF, THE ENTIRE COMMUNITY RELATIONS TEAM.

AS WE LOOK THROUGH PHOTOS YESTERDAY AND, CAME UP WITH SOME BULLET POINTS HERE AND THERE FOR CINDY.

WE STARTED GETTING A LITTLE TEARY EYED, A COUPLE OF US JUST LOOKING BACK AT THE PHOTOS.

HOW FUN AND FUNNY CINDY CAN BE.

I THINK HE PROBABLY GOT SOME OF THOSE PHOTOS, COMMISSIONER, AND PUT A CAMERA IN FRONT OF HER.

AND SHE IS SOMETHING ELSE.

BUT BUT YOU'RE RIGHT, COMMISSIONER.

SHE'S GOING TO LEAVE A VOID BECAUSE THE INSTITUTIONAL KNOWLEDGE THAT CINDY HAS THE WORK ETHIC.

I JOKE THAT MARK STARTED TO RESENT ME BECAUSE I WOULD SEND EMAILS LATE AT NIGHT, NOT EXPECTING MY STAFF TO ANSWER RIGHT AWAY, BUT RIGHT AWAY CINDY MILLER WOULD ANSWER.

WHETHER IT WAS 11:00 OR 12:00 MIDNIGHT.

AND SO I JOKE THAT I GOT IN TROUBLE WITH MARK.

BUT THAT IS JUST HER WORK ETHIC, AND, WE ARE GOING TO MISS YOU, CINDY, SO MUCH.

HI. GOOD MORNING EVERYONE.

NELSON. MERCEDES.

I'M CINDY. I JUST WANT TO THANK YOU FOR SHOWING ME THE ROPES.

WHEN I FIRST BECAME A POLICY ADVISOR FOR COMMISSIONER GARCIA, YOU TOOK ME DOWN TO CHANNELVIEW, AND, I WAS DOING, HOMELESS,

[01:10:09]

POLICY FOR THE COMMISSIONER, AND YOU TOOK ME TO ALL THE SPOTS, AND, REALLY SHOWED ME THE COMMUNITY AND A LOT OF DIFFERENT IDEAS FOR PROGRAMS AND INITIATIVES FOR THE COMMISSIONER CAME FROM JUST FROM YOUR KNOWLEDGE OF THE AREA AND THE STRUGGLES THAT THE COMMUNITY WAS FACING WHEN IT CAME TO HELPING THE HOMELESS POPULATION IN THE AREA.

ALSO, I DO HAVE A COUPLE OF BATTLE SCARS FROM, SOME OF THE COMMUNITY MEETINGS THAT WE HAD.

AND, YOU KNOW, YOU WERE ALWAYS JUST SO PASSIONATE AND SO FEARLESS AND, YOU KNOW, ALWAYS PUT THE BEST FACE FORWARD AND, AND JUST YOU SERVE WITH A LOT OF HEART AND PASSION.

SO, THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING.

AND THANK YOU FOR ALWAYS BEING A GOOD, AMBASSADOR FOR THE COMMUNITY.

ALL RIGHT. YES, COMMISSIONER RAMSEY.

YES, CINDY.

I HOPE WE CAN GET YOUR NUMBER, BECAUSE CHANEL VIEWS A PART OF THE PRECINCT NOW, RIGHT? AND I HAD NO IDEA WHAT, WHAT WE HAD THERE, BUT.

OH, YEAH, EVEN OVER IN THE PRECINCT THREE PORTION OF CHANNELVIEW.

WE WE WE DO KNOW OF YOU DO KNOW OF THE GOOD WORK THAT YOU DO.

YOU SET A REALLY GOOD.

GOOD. YEAH. I WASN'T GOING TO SAY IT.

YEAH. JACKIE DOES LIVE AT THREE, RIGHT? YEAH, YEAH.

THANK YOU FOR WHAT YOU'VE DONE FOR.

THANK YOU. AND, VICTORIA, DO YOU WANT TO SHARE ANYTHING? COME ON. LA NEGRA.

OH MY GOODNESS. GOOD MORNING.

MY NAME IS VICTORIA LATTA.

I'M THE DIRECTOR OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT FOR COMMISSIONER ADRIAN GARCIA, AND I TOLD MYSELF I WASN'T GOING TO CRY.

OKAY. CINDY AND I HAVE HAD THE PRIVILEGE OF WORKING FOR THIS COMMUNITY IN CHANNELVIEW TO IMPLEMENT THE REVIVE TO THRIVE COMMUNITY PLAN. I REMEMBER WHEN I FIRST CAME IN, WE TOURED THE AREA IN HER TRUCK, AND SHE TAUGHT ME MORE THAN ANY STATISTICS COULD EVER TELL ME, BECAUSE WHEN YOU WORK WITH PEOPLE WHO ACTUALLY LIVE IN THE COMMUNITY, IT SHOWS.

AND SO THROUGH HER GUIDING ME, HER HELPING ME, MANY EARLY MORNING, LATE EVENINGS, I MEAN, 10:00 WE'RE WRAPPING UP.

SHE'S STILL ANSWERING QUESTIONS.

SHE'S STILL HELPING PEOPLE.

SHE'S STILL GUIDING ME AND DOING IT WITH SO MUCH PASSION AND SO MUCH PATIENCE IS SOMETHING THAT I COMMEND A LOT.

SHE HAS A WEALTH OF KNOWLEDGE.

VERY EASY TO WORK WITH AS A MOTHER, AS A GRANDMOTHER, I'VE SEEN HER WORK HARD.

AND SO MY SON ACTUALLY HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO PLAY T-BALL WITH HER SON, AND IT WAS SUCH A JOY TO WORK WITH HER AND THEN SEE HER AT THE BALLPARK AS WELL.

AND SO SHE'S JUST A MEMBER OF OUR COMMUNITY THAT'S VERY PASSIONATE AND ALWAYS WILLING TO HELP.

AND THAT'S SOMETHING THAT I ADMIRE FROM HER.

I'M DEFINITELY GOING TO MISS HER.

I PERSONALLY BELIEVE THAT WE HAVE THE BEST LIAISONS IN HARRIS COUNTY, BUT CINDY'S REALLY SOMETHING SPECIAL AND SHE'S REALLY GOING TO BE MISSED.

AND SO THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING.

GOOD DEAL. THANK YOU.

NELSON. NELSON, AM I MISSING ANYONE? BUT NOW A COUPLE OF OTHER LIAISONS.

YEAH, YEAH, COME ON UP.

COME ON UP, GUYS. SANDRA.

WHO ELSE? I WANNA.

THIS IS. THIS IS A ROAST AND TOAST OPPORTUNITY.

YEAH. SO FAR, THE ONLY TOASTING.

THE THE ROASTING.

OKAY.

GOOD MORNING, EVERYBODY.

I HAVE GOT TO SAY, MILLER, I LOVE HER WITH ALL MY HEART.

GOD KNOWS. THE PEOPLE THAT HAVE WORKED WITH CINDY MILLER KNOWS HER HEART.

SHE'S A SERVANT.

SHE'S THERE FOR EVERYBODY.

WHEN I FIRST CAME IN AS COMMUNITY LIAISON, I HAD NO IDEA WHAT I WAS GETTING MYSELF INTO.

BUT I GOTTA TELL YOU, SHE TOOK ME UNDER HER WING AND TAUGHT ME EVERYTHING THAT I KNOW.

AND I THANK GOD FOR HAVING SOMEBODY LIKE HER TO BE PART OF SOMETHING BIG, SOMETHING A VISION THAT OUR COMMISSIONER HAS AND CONTINUES TO ENFORCE AND THAT WE GROW IN OUR HEARTS.

CINDY MILLER WAS THAT PERSON THAT BROUGHT US TOGETHER AND TAUGHT US SO MUCH.

I ALWAYS CONSIDER CINDY MILLER AS A BOOK OF KNOWLEDGE, AN ENCYCLOPEDIA, AND ONE DAY I'M SURE SHE'S NOT RETIRED 100%.

I KNOW HER, SHE'S GOING TO COME BACK, AND THERE'S NO DOUBT YOU GUYS ARE GOING TO LOVE HER.

GOD BLESS. GOD BLESS.

THANK YOU. NOTHING.

MA'AM, CAN YOU PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME FOR THE RECORD? SANDRA. PARDON ME, SON.

[01:15:02]

HELLO. YES, MY NAME IS LETICIA CHAVEZ, AND I JUST AND I'VE WORKED CLOSELY WITH CINDY MILLER THERE AT JFA OF WALLACEVILLE.

AND WE ARE TRULY GOING TO MISS YOU VERY MUCH.

AND I'M SHORT OF WORDS, BUT THANK YOU FOR ALL YOUR SERVICE AND DEDICATION.

THANK YOU CINDY. ALL RIGHT.

LOOSE. WELL GOOD MORNING EVERYBODY.

MY NAME IS LUIS LOPEZ AND I AM ONE OF THE CLOVERLEAF ADVOCATES.

FOR NOW, I JUST WANT TO THANK MISS, MILLER FOR THE, GUIDANCE AND ADVOCATING FOR MY COMMUNITY, AND ESPECIALLY BECAUSE OF THE NEED THAT WE HAD AND, NOT KNOWING WHERE TO GO.

SO I MET HER ONE DAY AND STARTED ASKING QUESTIONS.

AND FROM THE BOTTOM OF HER HEART, SHE STARTED TEACHING ME AND GUIDING ME HOW TO SPEAK WITH OUR RESIDENTS, HOW TO BECOME A GOOD RESIDENT ALSO, AND START LEARNING ABOUT OUR NEIGHBORS.

THE RESOURCES THAT HARRIS COUNTY WAS BRINGING, THE, LEADERSHIP THAT ADRIAN GARCIA, THE COMMISSIONER TODAY, WAS BRINGING US AS RESIDENTS. WE DIDN'T KNOW ANYTHING.

AND I STARTED, THE, WAY OF COMMUNICATING TO ALL MY COLLEAGUES AND ALL THE PEOPLE THAT LIVED AROUND US TO LEARN WHAT OUR STREETS ARE ALL ABOUT.

SO BEING IN THAT GOOD.

BEING IN THAT, I, I GO AHEAD AND TRY TO HELP AS MUCH POSSIBLE FOR NOW.

I'VE BEEN GOING FOR TWO MONTHS ALMOST, WITH HARRIS COUNTY PRECINCT TWO NOW GUIDING OUR COMMUNITY TO, FOLLOW THE FOOTSTEPS THAT MISS CINDY MILLER, HAS PUT IN MY HEART.

AND, YOU KNOW, TO BRING YOU ALL THE BEST OF OUR COMMUNITIES.

SO THANK YOU, CINDY, FOR THE TEACHING.

YOU GOT BIG SHOES TO FILL, LOUIS? YOU GOT BIG SHOES TO FILL.

NOW, THE THE LADY OF THE HOUR.

CINDY. GOD BLESS YOU.

AND AGAIN. THANK YOU.

GOOD MORNING AND THANK YOU.

AND THE COMMISSIONERS.

I DO WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE, MY HUSBAND, MARK, AND ALSO MY SON, TYLER IS HERE, AS WELL.

COMMISSIONER, MY NAME IS CINDY MILLER.

I AM THE RETIRED COMMUNITY LIAISON FOR THE NORTH CHANNEL AREA FOR PRECINCT TWO.

COMMISSIONER ADRIAN GARCIA AND COMMISSIONER GARCIA GAVE ME THE OPPORTUNITY TO SERVE THE RESIDENTS OF PRECINCT TWO IN THE NORTH CHANNEL AREA. FROM THE AMAZING PEOPLE ON THE COMMUNITY RELATIONS TEAM TO THE LEADERSHIP OF NELSON ESPITIA, MERCEDES SANCHEZ AND TO CHRIS BANKS, IT HAS BEEN LIFE CHANGING.

BUT COMMISSIONER GARCIA, THE JOURNEY STARTED WITH BLEACHER COVERS AT THE CHANNEL VUE SPORTS COMPLEX.

THE MILES AND MILES OF SIDEWALKS.

THE SCHOOL ZONES, COMMUNITY PARADES, COMMUNITY PLANS, SAFETY MEETINGS AND THERE'S JUST SO MUCH MORE.

IT HAS BEEN MY PLEASURE AND HONOR TO REPRESENT YOU AND TO WORK ALONGSIDE YOU.

BUT MOST IMPORTANTLY, COMMISSIONER.

I JUST WANT TO THANK YOU FOR ALWAYS TAKING THE TIME TO LISTEN.

AND TO GIVE BACK.

TO THE RESIDENTS AND THE COMMUNITY IN THE NORTH CHANNEL AREA, AND FOR THAT, I AM TRULY GRATEFUL AND MY SINCERE THANKS TO YOU. GOD BLESS YOU.

THANK YOU CINDY. THEN THEY YOU'RE YOU'RE GOING TO BE ABSOLUTELY MISSED.

AND, AND YOU'RE LEAVING AN INCREDIBLE LEGACY.

SO I WANT TO THANK YOU AND SO MANY RESIDENTS.

I KNOW YOU'RE A LIFELONG RESIDENT OF THE AREA, BUT SO MANY RESIDENTS THAT YOU MAY NOT KNOW OR MAY NOT KNOW WHO YOU ARE ARE ABSOLUTELY BENEFITING BECAUSE OF YOUR SERVICE.

SO GOD BLESS YOU.

THANK YOU MARK. THANK YOU.

AND THEN MY SECOND ITEM, JUDGE, IS, TO JUST RECOGNIZE.

I THINK WE'RE HERE.

WE'RE GOING TO BE JOINED BY COREY STEELE OF THE PUBLIC HEALTH DEPARTMENT.

AND THIS IS A RESOLUTION.

I WON'T READ IT ALL OTHER THAN TO SAY THAT, THIS IS, THE OPPORTUNITY TO CONSIDER THE ANIMALS IN HARRIS COUNTY THAT ARE ABANDONED OR WITHOUT SUPERVISION.

[01:20:01]

THE NEED FOR SPAY NEUTER SERVICES ACROSS HARRIS COUNTY IS UNDERSCORED EVERY DAY.

THESE ABANDONED ANIMALS POSE A THREAT TO, TO OUR SOCIETY AND WELL-BEING OF THE COMMUNITY.

AND SO I LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING THE STEPS THAT, HARRIS COUNTY PUBLIC HEALTH TAKES TO TACKLE THIS PRESSING ISSUE IN COLLABORATION WITH LOCAL PARTNERS AND STAKEHOLDERS.

AND I JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU, COREY, FOR YOUR HELP.

WE HAD A PHENOMENAL SPAY AND NEUTER EVENT AT, AT OUR CENTER.

AND, IT'S JUST INCREDIBLE TO SEE JUST HOW MANY FOLKS ARE OUT THERE.

SO, THANK YOU FOR ALL YOU DO.

AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR TEAM.

SO THE FLOOR IS YOURS, MY FRIEND.

EXCUSE ME. WELL, THANK YOU AGAIN.

MY NAME IS COREY STEELE. I'M THE DIRECTOR OF VETERINARY PUBLIC HEALTH AND HARRIS COUNTY PETS RESOURCE CENTER.

THANK YOU. I APPRECIATE IT.

COMMISSIONER GARCIA AND COMMISSIONERS COURT FOR RECOGNIZING SPAY NEUTER MONTH.

COMING UP HERE IN FEBRUARY JUST TO BRING THAT AWARENESS BECAUSE IT'S IT'S IMPORTANT BECAUSE IT'S TEACHER RESPONSIBLE PET OWNERSHIP AND REALLY THE BENEFITS OF SPAY AND NEUTERING AND HOW IT CAN HELP WITH THE POPULATION THAT WE HAVE IN HARRIS COUNTY.

WE ALL KNOW WE HAVE A TERRIBLE ANIMAL OVERPOPULATION.

AND THE SHELTERS ALL OVER THE COUNTY ARE OVERRUN WITH, WITH ANIMALS.

SO, IT'S GOOD TO BRING THIS AWARENESS.

AND, WE HAVE A COUPLE THINGS COMING UP IN FEBRUARY.

WE'RE GOING TO HAVE SOME SPAY NEUTER EVENTS AT OUR SHELTER, SIX DIFFERENT EVENTS.

AND THEN ALSO, LIKE YOU HAD MENTIONED EARLIER WITH PARTNERSHIP WITH OUR COMMUNITY, REALLY TO ACHIEVE THOSE SPAY NEUTERS THAT WE WANT, WE WILL.

DIRECTOR ROBINSON ACTUALLY MET WITH THE EMPTY SHELTER PROJECT, THAT GROUP, TO FIGURE OUT OPPORTUNITIES THAT WE CAN DO TO TO PARTNER WITH THEM, WHETHER THAT'S USING OUR DATA TO FIND AREAS THROUGHOUT THE COUNTY, IN EACH PRECINCT WHERE WE CAN GO AND ADDRESS THE ISSUE, OR, OR JUST PROVIDING STAFF, JUST TO ASSIST IN THAT PROJECT BECAUSE IT'S A COMMUNITY PROBLEM. AND I THINK, YEAH, IT'S JUST IT'S A COMMUNITY PROBLEM.

AND LIKE YOU SAID, WITH PARTNERSHIPS, I THINK WE CAN REALLY GET THERE.

I KNOW WE CAN.

AND IT'S A TOUGH IT'S A TOUGH JOB.

BUT I WILL TELL YOU JUST TO MENTION IT TO OUR COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR, THE SPAY NEUTER EVENT THAT WE HAD, BECAUSE IT'S SUCH A IT'S SUCH A MAJOR ENDEAVOR FOR US.

BUT THE SPAY NEUTER EVENT THAT WE HAD, I THINK IN ONE DAY DID 500, OVER 500, SPAY AND NEUTER OPERATIONS.

AND I THINK IN ONE YEAR HARRIS COUNTY DOES ABOUT 100 PLUS.

AND SO, THESE ARE ALL VOLUNTEERS.

IT WAS FREE. JUST SAYING, I THINK THERE'S A WAY TO COLLABORATE TO SAVE MONEY AND EXPAND OPERATIONS.

YEP. ABSOLUTELY. THAT'S WHY DIRECTOR ROBINSON HAD REACHED OUT TO THEM AND REALLY HAD THAT CONVERSATION.

SO I'M LOOKING FORWARD. GOOD, GOOD.

AND, I'M DISAPPOINTED MAN.

NORMALLY YOU COME WITH A LITTLE FURRY THING.

I DID NOT BRING ANOTHER CHICO.

THIS TIME I APOLOGIZE.

ALRIGHT. NEXT TIME.

GREAT. THANK YOU SO MUCH.

THANK YOU. APPRECIATE IT. ONE SECOND, COMMISSIONER RAMSEY.

DIRECTOR, THANK YOU FOR.

IT'S BEEN A TOUGH COUPLE OF MONTHS WITH THE FREEZE AND THE FLOODS.

YES. AND PARTICULARLY ON PETS IN THE AREA.

BEEN A LOT OF DISPLACEMENT GOING ON.

THANK YOU FOR THE EXTRA TIME AND EFFORT THAT YOU GUYS HAVE PUT IN TO TRY TO BE SURE THAT THAT WE'RE FILLING THAT GAP.

WE'RE NOT QUITE FILLED YET, BUT I APPRECIATE WHAT YOU DO EVERY DAY.

I APPRECIATE THAT, AND I COULDN'T DO WITHOUT THE STAFF THERE.

THEY'RE THERE EVERY DAY TAKING CARE OF THOSE PETS.

THANK YOU DIRECTOR, I THINK, YOU KNOW, TO THE COMMISSIONERS.

WELL, THANK YOU FOR BRINGING THIS ITEM IS SO MUCH ABOUT ACCESSIBILITY.

AND, YOU KNOW, IT'S A CONVERSATION THAT I THINK BEFORE COVID, WE HAD STARTED HAVING WITH THE CITY ABOUT HOW WE CAN BETTER COLLABORATE.

SO PEOPLE ARE NOT CONFUSED ABOUT WHAT SHELTER TO GO TO.

AND THEN COVID TOTALLY THREW THAT FOR A LOOP.

SO I JUST REMEMBERED AND I WANTED TO PASS IT ON, YOU KNOW, PERHAPS RESTARTING THOSE CONVERSATIONS WITH THE CITY TO SEE HOW WE CAN MAKE IT TO WHERE IT'S JUST SO CLEAR AND EVERYBODY KNOWS HOW TO SPAY AND NEUTER THEIR PET.

AND OF COURSE, I LOVE COMMISSIONER GARCIA'S IDEA AND THE INITIATIVES.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR WORK TO YOU AND YOUR TEAM.

OKAY. THANK YOU, I APPRECIATE IT.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU. ALSO FOR THIS ITEM IS, PAUL KWAN.

[Appearances before court (Part 1 of 2) ]

GO AHEAD. COULD YOU REPEAT, PLEASE, TIFFANY.

YES, MA'AM. PAKWAN.

WELL. GOOD MORNING.

MY NAME IS PAUL KWAN.

I'M WITH LENNTECH, INC.

WE ARE A LAND SURVEYING COMPANY AND WE ARE VERY STRONG SUPPORTING ANIMAL WELFARE.

THAT STARTED BACK IN 2005 WHEN THE SPCA.

ACQUIRED A 60 ACRE DONATION LAND FOR THE LARGE ANIMAL SHELTER WE THE FIRM WE DONATED, SERVING SERVICE TO BUILD A FACILITY.

SINCE THEN WE WILL HOPE NOW WE HAVE OUR OWN SPCA KENNEL, LANDTAG KENNEL IN SPCA AND I JUST WANT TO COMMEND THE COUNTY IN HELPING THE ANIMALS AND WE ALWAYS DON'T KNOW THEY NEED OUR HELP BECAUSE THEY CAN'T SPEAK.

BUT SO THAT'S WHY I'M BIG.

AND LAST FOR THIS ITEM IS LEELA BURROWS.

YES. SO? THANK YOU ALL.

[01:25:01]

REFERENCE FOR ADRIAN GARCIA.

MY QUESTION IS TO YOU.

WE HAVE LOOSE ANIMALS.

I STAY IN WOODGATE ONE, TWO AND THREE.

WE HAVE CONSTANTLY CALLED ANIMAL CONTROL.

SPCA SENT OUT, ABUSED OR WHATEVER.

THEN ALSO THEY CALL THE DOG CATCHER.

I'VE EVEN TRIED TO ASSIST.

WE WALK NEIGHBOR DOOR TO DOOR TO FIND OUT WHOSE DOG.

IT'S A CONSTANT PROBLEM WE HAVE IN THE MAIL.

PEOPLE THAT THROW OUR MAIL, WE HAVE IN THE BUSSES TO STOP AT OTHER LOCATIONS BECAUSE KIDS CAN'T GET OFF BECAUSE OF THE DOGS I WANT TO APPLY FOR THIS JOB IS BECAUSE YOU KNOW WHY THEY TOLD ME THAT IT IS NOT A PHYSICAL JOB? THE DOG CATCHER, HE GETS OUT THE SPCA.

MAN, YOU GOT THREE PEOPLE.

I'M A CITIZENS. I'M RETIRED.

IF THIS IS A JOB THAT DON'T CALL ANY TYPE OF PHYSICALITY AND ALL IT REQUIRES IS A HIGH SCHOOL DIPLOMA, I WILL APPLY FOR THE JOB.

I'LL COME OUT OF RETIREMENT BECAUSE IT DOESN'T MAKE ANY SENSE WHERE THE DOG CATCHER IS WALKING LIKE THIS BEHIND THE DOG.

THEY COULD GO WALK THE TRACKS.

IT'S NOT FAIR.

OUR CITIZENS CAN'T EVEN COME OUT TO THE NEW SIDEWALK THAT'S BUILT TO WALK TO YOUR TIME BECAUSE OF THE DOGS.

VIDEO. THANK YOU.

YOU HAD SOMEONE FOLLOW UP WITH YOU.

BUT. I'M SORRY.

THANK YOU. AND WE'LL CALL.

THAT DOESN'T WORK. OKAY? I'LL ASK, SOMEONE FROM PUBLIC HEALTH TO VISIT WITH YOU AS WELL.

YEAH, THERE'S NOT MANY THINGS IN PRECINCT THREE THAT'S BETTER KNOWN THAN CHAMPIONS GOLF CLUB.

COMMISSIONER RAMSEY.

[Departments (Part 2 of 4)]

AND WE, WE LOST A LEGEND HERE IN THE LAST COUPLE OF WEEKS, AND I'M GOING TO TAKE A FEW MINUTES AND RECOGNIZE HIM.

JACKIE BURKE, AGE 100.

WAS GRADUATED, THIS PAST WEEK.

AND JUST A FEW, A FEW FACTS ABOUT JACKIE AND AND HIS LEADERSHIP.

HE COMES FROM A LARGE AND LOVING FAMILY, COUNTLESS FRIENDS.

JOHN JOSEPH JACK BURKE, AGE 100.

PASSED HERE IN THE LAST FEW WEEKS.

COMMONLY REFERRED TO AS JACKIE.

HE WAS BORN IN FORT WORTH, SAME AS ME, ON JANUARY 23RD, 1923.

HE GAVE HIS FIRST GOLF LESSON AT 13 AT THE RIVER OAKS GOLF CLUB, AND TURNED PROFESSIONAL AT AGE 17.

LEGENDS OF THE GAME WOULD COME TO THIS AREA LIKE BYRON NELSON AND BEN HOGAN, AND JIMMY DEMARET AND BABE DIDRIKSON ZAHARIAS FROM BEAUMONT WERE FREQUENT VISITORS.

HE REALLY PUT HOUSTON ON THE MAP WHEN IT CAME TO GOLF, AND IT IS CENTERED AROUND CHAMPIONS AND SOME OTHER AREAS.

BUT IN 1942, SOON AFTER, SOON AFTER AMERICA ENTERED THE WORLD WAR TWO, JACKIE JOINED THE MARINE CORPS.

AS YOU WOULD EXPECT, HE SERVED UNTIL 46.

AFTER HIS TIME IN THE MARINES, HE BEGAN HIS PGA TOUR IN 49.

HE WON FOUR TOURNAMENTS IN 1950.

HIS 1952 SEASON WAS NOTED FOR WINNING TOURNAMENTS IN FOUR SUCCESSIVE WEEKS.

IT JUST DOESN'T HAPPEN THEN.

IT DOESN'T HAPPEN NOW.

FIVE OVERALL FOR THAT, FOR THAT YEAR.

SO HE SET SOME INCREDIBLE RECORDS.

HE WON THE MASTERS, BEEN INVOLVED IN THE LEADERSHIP.

BUT WHAT HE DID AT AT CHAMPIONS FOREST GOLF CLUB AND WHAT HE CONTINUES TO DO IN THE COMMUNITY, I WAS ENCOURAGED BY HIS SON.

I WENT OUT AND I SAID, WELL, I LIKE TO PLAY, BUT MY PROBLEM IS I PLAY LEFT HANDED.

AND HIS SON SAID, THAT'S GREAT, SO DO I.

SO JACKIE BURKE'S SON PLAYS LEFT HANDED.

I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO, NOT HITTING IN THE WOODS EVERY TIME.

SO OF HIS ACCOMPLISHMENTS, JACKIE'S PROUDEST WAS FOUNDING AND OPERATION OF THE CHAMPIONS GOLF CLUB AND HIS LIFELONG FRIEND JIMMY DEMARET, FOUNDED IN 1957. JUST IT'S GOOD THAT WE PAUSE WHEN LEADERS LIKE THIS PASS AND REMEMBER THE LEGACY THAT THEY LEAD. WE'VE GOT A FRIEND OF HIS, I THINK, ON LINE, REPRESENTATIVE SAM HARLESS, WHO IS GOING TO SPEAK TO THIS RESOLUTION IS I UNDERSTAND, SAM, YOU CAN SPEAK TO THIS.

IN ORDER BACK IN THE DAY.

IN ORDER TO JOIN CHAMPION FORREST, YOU HAD TO PLAY A ROUND OF GOLF WITH JACKIE, AND YOU MAY OR MAY NOT GET IN BASED ON THAT ROUND OF GOLF.

DID YOU HAVE TO PLAY GOLF WITH JACKIE, TO GET IN THE CHAMPIONS? NO, SIR. WHEN I JOINED.

AND THANK YOU, YOUR HONOR AND COMMISSIONERS, FOR ALLOWING ME TO CALL IN.

BUT. NO, SIR. WHEN I JOINED, HE WASN'T DOING THAT ANYMORE.

BUT, YOU KNOW, OUR COMMUNITY LOST A GREAT LEADER.

HE ESTABLISHED CHAMPIONS GOLF COURSE IN 1957, AT THE HEIGHT OF HIS CAREER.

PROFESSIONAL GOLF.

HE AND JIMMY DID IT BECAUSE THEY WANTED TO GROW THE GAME OF GOLF.

AND, ESPECIALLY ON THE AMATEUR LEVEL, THEY DO A BIG TOURNAMENT EVERY YEAR FOR TWO MAN AMATEUR TEAMS.

[01:30:01]

THAT'S PEOPLE COME IN FROM ALL OVER THE COUNTRY TO PLAY IN IT.

HE ENCOURAGES, KIDS TO COME OUT AND PLAY.

HE GIVES THEM A CARD AND PUT IT IN THEIR POCKET, AND THEY CAN PLAY FOR FREE SO LONG AS THEY, YOU KNOW, WAS RESPECTFUL TO THE COURSE, THE MEMBERS AND THE GAME.

AND I WAS FORTUNATE ENOUGH TO GET TO CALL JACKIE A SECOND DAD.

AND WHEN HE WAS IN HIS FINAL DAYS, HIS ONLY WISH WAS THAT WE DO OUR VERY BEST TO CONTINUE THE GAME OF GOLF AND GROW IT.

AND CHAMPIONS GOLF COURSE IS ONE OF TEN GOLF COURSES IN THE COUNTRY THAT WAS FORTUNATE ENOUGH TO HOLD EVERY USGA EVENT.

SO IT'S A TRUE LEGACY TO WHO HE IS.

AND. THANK YOU.

AND THANK YOU, COMMISSIONERS AND, THE HONORABLE JUDGE FOR ALLOWING ME TO CALL IN AND AND THANK YOU FOR RECOGNIZING MR. BURKE. THANK YOU, REPRESENTATIVE HARLESS.

THANK YOU FOR WHAT YOU DO IN AUSTIN.

AND THANK YOU FOR WHAT YOU DO BACK HERE, IN HARRIS COUNTY.

THANK YOU FOR CALLING IN.

THANK YOU. REPRESENTATIVE.

SO NICE TO HEAR YOUR VOICE.

BYE BYE. THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER, FOR BRINGING THIS AND ALL ALL OUR BEST WISHES TO THE FAMILY OF JACKIE BURKE JR AND I.

YES, MA'AM. THANK YOU.

I'M HAPPY TO LEARN ABOUT ALL THAT HE'S DONE.

I ALSO HAVE ON MY TO DO LIST TO LEARN TO PLAY GOLF.

IT SOUNDS LIKE I'M WORSE THAN YOU ARE, SO MAYBE WE'LL WE'LL HANG OUT AT THE GOLF COURSE AT SOME POINT.

YEAH. SO WE'RE GOING TO TAKE COMMISSIONER BROWN'S RESOLUTIONS, AND THEN WE WILL TAKE TWO QUICK ITEMS BEFORE WE TAKE PICTURES.

IT'LL BE ITEMS 381 AND 79.

GO AHEAD, COMMISSIONER. THANK YOU, JUDGE HIDALGO, I HAVE THREE RESOLUTIONS TODAY.

THE FIRST IS HONORING THE CHINESE COMMUNITY CENTER.

AND HAPPY LUNAR NEW YEAR TO ALL OF YOU.

I'M HONORED THAT WE HAVE MISS JAMIE LYNN, WHO IS THE CEO OF THE CHINESE COMMUNITY CENTER, AS WELL AS MR. ERNEST HUI, OUR BOARD CHAIR OF THE CHINESE COMMUNITY CENTER.

SO THANK YOU FOR YOUR OVER 30 YEARS OF SERVICE TO OUR COMMUNITY.

I'M SO HONORED THAT THE CHINESE COMMUNITY CENTER IS IN PRECINCT FOUR, BUT EVERYTHING YOU DO FROM THE EDUCATIONAL, CULTURAL AND SOCIAL SERVICES PERSPECTIVE IS AMAZING.

I AM SO THANKFUL THAT YOU NOT ONLY HAVE ESL PROGRAMS, SENIOR EMPLOYMENT PROGRAMS, BENEFITS ENROLLMENT CENTER, WHICH WAS THE FIRST OF ITS KIND IN TEXAS, HOMEBUYER EDUCATION PROGRAM, WHICH IS THE ONLY US DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT AFFILIATE IN TEXAS, THAT YOU PROVIDE THESE SERVICES IN CHINESE AND VIETNAMESE, AND THAT YOU DO SO MUCH TO TEACH AND CELEBRATE OUR COMMUNITY.

AND I KNOW THEY ARE HERE, AND THEY WILL INVITE YOU.

FEBRUARY 10TH IS THE LUNAR NEW YEAR FESTIVAL AT THE CHINESE COMMUNITY CENTER, AND THIS IS THE YEAR OF THE DRAGON.

AND NOT ONLY THE YEAR OF THE DRAGON, BUT THE YEAR OF THE GOLDEN DRAGON, WHICH HAPPENS ONLY APPROXIMATELY EVERY 60 YEARS.

AND SO, AS WE EMBARK IN THIS YEAR OF THE DRAGON, WHICH SYMBOLIZES THE POWER AND THE WISDOM AND THE HOPE TO ME, WHAT YOU ALL DO AT THE CHINESE COMMUNITY CENTER EXEMPLIFIES THAT BECAUSE YOU BRING AND EMPOWER OUR COMMUNITY TO STAY CONNECTED TO THE BEAUTIFULLY RICH CULTURE.

SO THANK YOU FOR ALL YOU DO.

I AM HONORED TO HAVE THE CENTER IN THE PRECINCT.

SO CONGRATULATIONS ON YOUR OVER 30 YEARS OF SERVICE AND HAPPY LUNAR NEW YEAR! WAS. GOOD MORNING EVERYONE.

MY NAME IS ERNEST HOY. I'M THE NEWLY MINTED BOARD CHAIR.

AND I ALSO WANT TO RECOGNIZE, OF COURSE, JIMMY LIN, WHO'S OUR CEO FOR THE CHINESE COMMUNITY CENTER.

AGAIN, OVER 30 YEARS OF SERVICE, YOU KNOW, MORE THAN HALF OF THE 45 YEARS OF THE CHINESE COMMUNITY CENTER'S EXISTENCE, BY THE WAY.

SO IT IS ALSO A VERY IMPORTANT YEAR FOR US AS WELL.

THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER BRIONES, FOR, DOING YOUR HOMEWORK AND PRETTY MUCH TELLING MY WHOLE SPEECH.

SO THAT'S GREAT. I CAN SPEND MY TIME ON OTHER THINGS.

BUT. SO I REALLY APPRECIATE THAT.

AND, AGAIN, THANK YOU.

YEAH. AND, REALLY, YOU KNOW, THE THE COMMUNITY, THE LEADERS HERE IN HOUSTON HAVE ALWAYS SUPPORTED US ALL THE ALL THE, THE FOUNDATIONS AND AND THE AND THE FUNDERS.

WE REALLY ARE SO BLESSED TO HAVE ALL OF YOU SUPPORT US HERE IN THE COMMUNITY.

AND JUST SO EVERYONE KNOWS, YOU KNOW, THE CHINESE COMMUNITY CENTER, WHILE IT SAYS CHINESE COMMUNITY CENTER, WE SERVE THE ENTIRE COMMUNITY, YOU KNOW, WHETHER ANY, ANY DIVERSE, RACE ETHNICITY OR ANY NEED, WE SERVE THE ENTIRE COMMUNITY.

SO HOPE ALL OF YOU CAN TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THAT.

A LOT OF PROGRAMS, GREAT PROGRAMS THAT YOU CAN BE A PART OF.

FOR THIS COMING FEBRUARY 10TH, AS YOU MENTIONED, THAT FROM 10 TO 4 AT THE CHINESE COMMUNITY CENTER, IT'S LOCATED OFF A TOWN PARK IN BELTWAY EIGHT ON THE WEST SIDE.

IT'S GOING TO BE A PROGRAM FOR US TO CELEBRATE, AND REALLY, YOU KNOW, BE A GREAT TIME TO, TO SEE ABOUT CULTURE, THE CHINESE CULTURE AND ASIAN CULTURE AND THE YEAR OF THE DRAGON, WHICH IS ONE THAT IS BRINGING GOOD FORTUNE AND, AND LUCK TO EVERYONE.

WE WELCOME ALL THE COMMISSIONERS, ALL THE LEADERS OF THE COMMUNITY AND ALL THE COMMUNITY TO COME AND ATTEND OUR EVENT.

RIGHT. IT STARTS AT TEN.

[01:35:01]

MOST OF THE THINGS START AT 11 IF YOU MAKE SURE YOU GET THERE BY 11.

DEFINITELY. AND YOU CAN STAY UNTIL FOUR.

THANK YOU SO MUCH. AND, GOD BLESS.

THANK YOU SO MUCH. BOARD CHAIR CHEN.

THIS. MISS TIMLIN, WOULD YOU LIKE TO SAY A FEW WORDS? YES. GOOD MORNING.

AND WHAT A PLEASURE.

AND QUITE AN HONOR.

ESPECIALLY WHEN I SEE COMMISSIONER.

COMMISSIONER ELLIS AND HE USED TO BE AT OUR PRECINCT.

RIGHT. AND OF COURSE, COMMISSIONER GARCIA, HE'S BEEN ALWAYS A SOLID SUPPORT TO THE SOUTHWEST HOUSTON, TO THE ASIAN COMMUNITY. AND WE'RE JUST VERY HONORED THAT, YOU KNOW, WE'LL BE RECOGNIZED, ESPECIALLY IN SUCH A DIVERSE NEIGHBORHOOD.

SOUTHWEST HOUSTON, ESPECIALLY, IN THE HARRIS COUNTY, THE GREATER HOUSTON AREA.

WE ACTUALLY HAVE THE MOST VIBRANT BUSINESS, SMALL BUSINESS, ACTIVITIES, PLUS THE MOST DIVERSE NEIGHBORHOODS.

SO, ONCE AGAIN, I WOULD LIKE TO EXTEND OUR INVITATION TO ALL THE HARRIS COUNTY COUNTY RESIDENTS TO JOIN THIS MULTICULTURAL CELEBRATION. THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU, MISS.

YOU MADE. THANK YOU.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP.

AND I ALSO WANT TO THANK ALICE LEE, WHO IS MY WONDERFUL CHIEF OF STAFF, WHO HAS LONG BEEN INVOLVED WITH THE CHINESE COMMUNITY CENTER AND BEYOND.

NOW, I'D LIKE TO RECOGNIZE CONRAD JO, WHO KEEPS ME STRAIGHT ON ALL ISSUES RELATED TO, EVERYTHING IN PRECINCT THREE.

BUT THANK YOU ALL FOR WHAT YOU DO.

WE MISS WE MISS YOU ALL IN TERMS OF THAT PART OF US THAT THAT USED TO BE IN PRECINCT.

THANK YOU FOR WHAT YOU CONTINUE TO DO COUNTYWIDE.

ALL RIGHT, JUDGE, I JUST WANT TO THANK THEM AS WELL.

COMMISSIONER BEHRENDS, I REPRESENTED HIM WHEN I WAS IN THE SENATE, BUT, AND COMMISSIONER RAMSEY, YOU KNOW, IS SUCH AN IMPORTANT ASSET IN OUR COMMUNITY.

WE ALL FEEL AS THOUGH WE STILL REPRESENT HIM, BY THE WAY.

BUT THANK YOU FOR BRINGING THIS.

OH, OF COURSE. THANK YOU.

HAPPY NEW YEAR.

HAPPY NEW YEAR. TOUCH ME.

MOVE TO THE NEXT ONE. YES.

AND I KNOW YOU HAVE AN ITEM THAT GOES WITH IT.

YES. SO THE NEXT RESOLUTION GOES WITH ITEM 341.

AND THIS IS TO RECOGNIZE THE FEBRUARY AS AMERICAN HEART MONTH.

AND I INVITE ALL OF THOSE WHO ARE HERE FROM THE AMERICAN HEART ASSOCIATION TO PLEASE JOIN ME, AS WELL AS DOCTOR BROWN FROM OUR HARRIS COUNTY PUBLIC HEALTH.

AND BEFORE I START, THIS ONE IS OF ALL OF THEM ARE DEEPLY PERSONAL TO ME, BUT THIS ONE IS REALLY PERSONAL.

MY MOM'S FATHER, MY PATERNAL GRANDFATHER, DIED OF A MASSIVE HEART ATTACK AT AGE 45, AND I REMEMBER HEARING ABOUT THAT AS A CHILD, AND 45 SEEMED REALLY FAR OFF.

I'M 43, AND THE THOUGHT AND I WAS, AS I WAS PREPARING FOR TODAY, READING THAT 1 IN 5 HEART ATTACKS, ARE THESE UNKNOWN, THAT YOU JUST DON'T KNOW THERE'S ANY SORT OF ISSUE, AND THAT EVERY 33 SECONDS ONE PERSON DIES OF A HEART ATTACK.

AND AS WE KNOW, CARDIAC ARREST IS THE LEADING CAUSE OF DEATH.

SO AS WE THINK OF THE OVER 800,000 PEOPLE WE LOSE TO HEART ATTACKS EVERY YEAR.

AND AS WE THINK OF THE DEEP EDUCATION AND PREVENTION WORK THAT YOU ALL DO WITH HARRIS COUNTY PUBLIC HEALTH AND THE AMERICAN HEART ASSOCIATION, I JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU.

AND I ALSO WANT TO THANK YOU BECAUSE YOU SO KINDLY DONATED TO CPR TRAINING KITS TO THE MARY JO PECKHAM AQUATIC AND FITNESS CENTER, WHICH WE WILL PROUDLY USE TO BE TRAINING AS MANY PRECINCT FOUR TEAM MEMBERS AS POSSIBLE.

AND WE INVITE EVERYONE IN THE COMMUNITY AND OTHER PRECINCTS TO COME AS WELL.

SO THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING THAT YOU DO TO KEEP OUR COMMUNITY HEALTHIER AND SAFER.

AND I JUST APPRECIATE MISS PAUL, MISS BUTCHER AND DOCTOR BROWN, YOU BEING HERE TODAY.

SO THANK YOU. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THAT PERSONAL STORY, COMMISSIONER BRIONES, AND FOR SUPPORTING US TODAY WITH THE PROCLAMATION ON BEHALF OF THE AMERICAN HEART ASSOCIATION. I WANNA THANK ALL OF THE COMMISSIONERS FOR THE WORK THAT THEY DO.

AND DOCTOR BROWN AND HER TEAM THIS YEAR, WE'RE FOCUSING EXTRA ON CPR DURING FEBRUARY IS HEART MONTH, WITH MORE THAN 350,000 PEOPLE THAT EXPERIENCE CARDIAC ARREST OUTSIDE OF HOSPITAL, INCLUDING 23,000 CHILDREN.

CPR IS A CRITICAL SKILL THAT CHILDREN AS YOUNG AS NINE YEARS OLD CAN LEARN ABOUT.

NINE OUT OF TEN OF THOSE WHO EXPERIENCE A CARDIAC ARREST OUTSIDE THE HOSPITAL DO NOT SURVIVE.

HANDS-ONLY CPR IS A TECHNIQUE THAT THE AMERICAN HEART ASSOCIATION RECOMMENDS TO INCREASE THE LIKELIHOOD OF PEOPLE PERFORMING CPR.

IN ONE OF THOSE EMERGENCIES.

LIKE YOU SPOKE OF, TWO STEPS OF HANDS-ONLY CPR ARE TO CALL 911 AND PUSH HARD AND FAST IN THE CENTER OF THE CHEST.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US AND CHALLENGING EVERY HOUSEHOLD IN HARRIS COUNTY TO HAVE SOMEONE WHO KNOWS HANDS-ONLY CPR TO BE THE BEAT FOR THEIR FRIENDS, FAMILY AND

[01:40:09]

COMMUNITY. THANK YOU SO MUCH MA'AM.

CAN YOU PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME FOR THE RECORD? YES. HEATHER BUTCHER.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. GOOD MORNING, JUDGE, COMMISSIONER AND COMMISSIONERS.

MY NAME IS DOCTOR ERIKA BROWN.

I AM THE DIVISION DIRECTOR FOR COMMUNITY HEALTH AND WELLNESS AND THE LOCAL HEALTH AUTHORITY FOR HARRIS COUNTY PUBLIC HEALTH.

AS YOU STATED, FEBRUARY IS RECOGNIZED AS AMERICAN HEART MONTH.

AND FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 2ND, IS NATIONAL WEAR RED DAY, WHICH RAISES AWARENESS FOR CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASE IN WOMEN.

AGAIN, AS YOU STATED, HEART DISEASE IS THE LEADING CAUSE OF DEATH NOT ONLY IN HARRIS COUNTY BUT ALSO ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

AND IT RE, EXCUSE ME.

IT REFERS TO SEVERAL CONDITIONS.

IT'S CALLED CORONARY HEART DISEASE, BUT WE KNOW IT ALSO AS CORONARY ARTERY DISEASE CAD.

THIS DOES AFFECT OVER 300,000 LIVES.

AS OF 2021.

AND THE CDC ALSO ESTIMATED THAT SOMEONE HAS A HEART ATTACK.

UNFORTUNATELY, EVERY 40S.

THE RISK FACTORS FOR HEART DISEASE ARE HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE, HIGH CHOLESTEROL, SMOKING AND DIABETES.

13.4% OF ADULTS OVER 18 SMOKED IN HARRIS COUNTY IN 2024.

I'M TAKING HEALTHY STEPS TO LIVE HEALTHIER LIVES CAN SIGNIFICANTLY HELP LOWER THE RISK OF HEART DISEASE AND HEART ATTACKS, AND HARRIS COUNTY PUBLIC HEALTH JOINS HEALTH CARE AGENCIES SUCH AS THE AMERICAN HEART ASSOCIATION AND OTHER COMMUNITIES AROUND THE UNITED STATES TO RAISE AWARENESS TO HEART DISEASES, IMPACT ON THE FAMILIES AND INDIVIDUALS.

THAT AND SHARE INFORMATION ON WAYS TO PREVENT HEART DISEASE.

WE PROVIDE ROUTINE HEALTH CARE EXAMS THAT INCLUDE BLOOD PRESSURE, CHOLESTEROL, DIABETES SCREENING, AND OTHER PHYSICAL EXAMS. THROUGH OUR HEALTH SERVICES PROGRAMS, WE PROVIDE EDUCATION ON METHODS TO LOWER THE RISK OF HEART DISEASE, SUCH AS EATING A HEALTHIER DIET, BEING MORE ACTIVE, QUITTING SMOKING, LEARNING HOW TO REVERSE PRE-DIABETES, AND MORE THROUGH OUR CHRONIC DISEASE PREVENTION PROGRAM.

THIS PROGRAMING IS DELIVERED AGAIN THROUGH OUR, CHRONIC DISEASE PREVENTION PROGRAMING, OUR NUTRITION AND PHYSICAL ACTIVITY PROGRAM, THE TOBACCO AND VAPING CESSATION PROGRAM, AND THE DIABETES PREVENTION PROGRAM.

AND AGAIN, WE ARE SO PROUD TO STAND WITH OUR COMMUNITY PARTNERS, TO OFFER THIS PROGRAMING AND THIS THESE EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS FOR FREE OR AT LOW COST.

SO THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR HAVING US.

THANK YOU, DOCTOR BRANNON.

THANK DIRECTOR ROBINSON AND ALL OF YOUR TEAM.

AND I ALSO WANT TO THANK YOU BECAUSE YOU ARE IN THE COMMUNITY CONSTANTLY.

HARRIS COUNTY PUBLIC HEALTH AND AMERICAN HEART ASSOCIATION WERE IN SPRING BRANCH AND PRECINCT FOUR FOR THIS EVENT.

WE DID WITH BIT HOUSTON AND SO MANY OTHER COMMUNITY PARTNERS AND COUNCIL MEMBER AMY PECK TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAD HEALTHY FOOD AND JUST EVERYTHING THAT YOU DO TO EDUCATE ON HEALTHY EATING, STAYING ACTIVE, SCREENINGS AND PREVENTION AND TREATMENT IS JUST REALLY REMARKABLE.

AND SO I HOPE WE ALL WEAR RED ON FRIDAY.

BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY, WE ALL TREAT OURSELVES BETTER SO THAT HOPEFULLY WE CAN BE AROUND FOR MANY, MANY RACES AND MANY, MANY MORE YEARS.

SO THANK YOU FOR BEING ON THE FRONT LINES.

THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU ALL.

GOOD MORNING. MY NAME IS EMILY PAUL.

THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER BRIONES.

JUDGE HIDALGO AND COMMISSIONERS FOR THE RECOGNITION OF AMERICAN HEART MONTH THIS FEBRUARY.

I ESPECIALLY WANT TO RECOGNIZE EACH OF THE COMMISSIONERS EFFORTS TO JOIN THE AMERICAN HEART ASSOCIATION'S NATION OF LIFESAVERS.

THIS CPR INITIATIVE WITH THE COUNTY BEGAN FROM AN ASK FROM COMMUNITY MEMBERS WHO WERE LOOKING FOR RESOURCES ON HOW TO RESPOND IN THE EVENT A LOVED ONE HAD A CARDIAC EMERGENCY.

THIS ACTUALLY HAPPENED IN PRECINCT ONE, COMMISSIONER ELLIS.

SO, COMMISSIONERS, THANK YOU AND YOUR TEAMS FOR RESPONDING TO THAT CALL.

WE ARE PROUD TO REPORT THAT ALL FOUR PRECINCTS ARE RECEIVING AMERICAN HEART ASSOCIATION HANDS-ONLY CPR TRAINING MATERIALS.

A SPECIAL THANK YOU TO PRECINCT ONE AND PRECINCT FOUR, WHO WILL ALSO BE REVIEWING THEIR CARDIAC EMERGENCY RESPONSE PLANS AT COMMUNITY CENTERS. PREPARATION IS ESSENTIAL TO SAVING LIVES.

WE LOOK FORWARD TO CONTINUING THIS IMPORTANT WORK TOGETHER THROUGHOUT HARRIS COUNTY.

THANK YOU. SO LET'S TAKE A VOTE ON ITEM 341, WHICH IS AN APPROVAL TO ACCEPT FROM THE AMERICAN HEART ASSOCIATION DONATION OF TWO CPR KITS.

SO MOVED. SECOND.

MOTION BY COMMISSIONER BROWN.

SECOND BY COMMISSIONER ELLIS.

THANK YOU, COLLEAGUES, AND THANK YOU AGAIN, AMERICAN HEART ASSOCIATION, FOR THE DONATION.

[01:45:03]

MY LAST RESOLUTION IS TO CELEBRATE THE 10TH ANNIVERSARY OF CHI TREE ACADEMY.

IF YOU COULD, PLEASE JOIN ME.

MIMI. WHEN WE HAVE ANDY LEE AND WE HAVE MELINDA BROWN, SUSAN TRAN, PLEASE COME.

AND WE HAVE DANIEL RODRIGUEZ.

IF Y'ALL COULD PLEASE COME.

SO, KYRIE, CONGRATULATIONS ON YOUR 10TH ANNIVERSARY.

AND THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING THAT YOU DO TO CONTINUE TO PROMOTE AND ENRICH AND DEEPEN VIETNAMESE TRADITIONS IN OUR COMMUNITY. I'M SO THANKFUL THAT EVEN ONE OF MY AMAZING TEAM MEMBERS, DANIEL RODRIGUEZ, WHO'S OUR DIRECTOR OF TALENT, HIM AND HIS DAUGHTER ISABELLA, I KNOW THEY JUST RAVE ABOUT THE EDUCATION THEY RECEIVE AND JUST THE IMPORTANCE OF IT.

AND AS WE HAVE THE THIRD LARGEST VIETNAMESE POPULATION IN THE US HERE IN HARRIS COUNTY.

SO YOUR WORK IN CHI TRE IS JUST SO FUNDAMENTALLY IMPORTANT.

AND AS SOMEONE WHO I KNOW THAT I STRUGGLE SOMETIMES TO TEACH MY CHILDREN SPANISH AND MAKE SURE THAT THEY STAY SO DEEPLY ROOTED IN OUR MEXICAN AMERICAN TRADITIONS, I KNOW THAT OUR VIETNAMESE AMERICAN FAMILIES WHO WANT TO STAY ROOTED, REALLY TURN TO YOU AND YOUR LEADERSHIP.

SO THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE AND FOR EVERYTHING YOU DO FOR THE COMMUNITY.

AND I LOOK FORWARD TO MANY MORE DECADES OF WORKING TOGETHER.

SO THANK YOU. THANK YOU.

MY NAME IS MIMI NGUYEN AND I'M THE CURRENT PRINCIPAL AT CG ACADEMY.

THANK YOU, JUDGE LINA HIDALGO AND COMMISSIONER LESLIE BRYAN FOR THIS INCREDIBLE HONOR.

TEN YEARS AGO, I WAS LINING UP REGISTERING MY DAUGHTER FOR VIETNAMESE SCHOOL AT CHI ACADEMY, AND HERE I STAND TODAY TO RECEIVE THIS SPECIAL HONOR.

AND TELL YOU HOW SPECIAL OUR SCHOOL IS.

THE MOTTO OF OUR SCHOOL IS HOP.

HOP, WHICH TRANSLATES LEARNING IS FUN AND HAVE FUN WHILE LEARNING.

THAT IS THE PHILOSOPHY THAT DRIVES OUR INSTRUCTION AND LEARNING EXPERIENCES.

OUR VOLUNTEER TEACHERS ARE NOT TRAINED EDUCATORS, BUT THEY WORK HARD TO ENGAGE OUR STUDENTS AND INSTILL IN THEM A LOVE AND RESPECT FOR THE VIETNAMESE CULTURE AND TRADITIONS.

THE NAME OF OUR SCHOOL, HAJJI, MEANS TO CULTIVATE THE MIND.

IT IS OUR HOPE THAT WE NOT ONLY EDUCATE THE MIND, BUT ALSO STIR THEIR HEARTS SO THAT THE CHILDREN WE TEACH TODAY WILL BE BACK TO SERVE THE COMMUNITY THAT CREATED THEM.

I'M PROUD TO SAY MY DAUGHTER, WHO I REGISTERED TEN YEARS AGO, IS NOW A PROUD TO AT THE SCHOOL THAT WE TAUGHT.

THAT SHE ATTENDED.

AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO GROW TO, TO GROW TO AND CONTINUE TO BE A SPECIAL PART OF THE HOUSTON DIVERSITY LANDSCAPE.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU, PRINCIPAL WYNNE.

AND THANK YOU. GOOD MORNING EVERYONE.

MY NAME IS ANDY LEE, AND, I'M ONE OF THE CO-OWNERS OF THE CHI CHI ACADEMY, WHICH IS A, A VOLUNTEER BASED NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION THAT WAS CREATED TEN YEARS AGO WITH THE MISSION THAT WE WANT TO, HELP ANYONE WHO HAS THE NEED TO LEARN THE VIETNAMESE LANGUAGE AND CULTURE.

SO, I'M SO THRILLED.

SO HAPPY TO BE HERE TODAY.

YOU KNOW, BACK THEN, WE NEVER THOUGHT THAT ONE DAY WE'RE GONNA.

I'M GONNA STAND IN FRONT OF YOU AND RECOGNIZE BY THE HARRIS COUNTY, BY THE CHURCH AND COMMISSIONERS.

SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

THANK YOU. MR.. AND, ALSO, NEXT MONTH THAT WE, WE WANT TO CELEBRATE OUR TEN YEAR ANNIVERSARY AND WE WANT TO COMBINE WITH THE TEDX EVENT. SO IT'S GOING TO BE A BIG EVENT FOR US.

AND WITH THAT, I'D LIKE TO TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO THANK YOU.

MELINDA BROWN.

SUSAN, SUSAN TRAN, AND MIMI, THEY ARE THE, THE CURRENT BOARD MEMBERS OF THE ORGANIZATION.

AND THOSE ARE THE ONES THAT KEEP THE SCHOOL GOING.

THANK YOU, MR. LEE.

THANK YOU. OKAY.

AND. YES, COMMISSIONER.

ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU.

THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER, FOR BRINGING THIS.

AND FIRST LET ME LET ME BEGIN, BY SAYING THAT WE WILL ALWAYS HAVE, THE COMMUNITIES BACK THERE WAS A RECENT, SOME RECENT EVENTS AT A COUPLE OF THE VIETNAMESE TEMPLES.

AND SO WE JUST WANT TO LET YOU KNOW THAT I'M OFFENDED BY THAT.

BUT SIMPLY TO SAY THANK YOU FOR ALL YOU DO.

[01:50:02]

SO BACK WHEN I WAS WITH HPD, WE, WERE PIONEERS IN CREATING, THE SPANISH, ENGLISH, TRAINING CLASSES FOR POLICE OFFICERS.

AND THEN WE SAID, YOU KNOW, THE COMMUNITY, THE VIETNAMESE COMMUNITY IS GROWING.

AND SO OUR SECOND ENDEAVOR WAS TO CREATE, THE VIETNAMESE CLASSES FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS.

SO AT THE RISK OF OFFENDING YOU, LET ME TRY THIS.

COME ON BY THAT CANOE BARN.

PLUM. HOW DID I DO? ABBY? D I THINK I CAN RECOGNIZE THE NAME OF THE SPECIAL MEAL.

I WAS NOT ORDERING A HAPPY MEAL.

YOU GOT AN A FOR EFFORT.

I WAS TRYING TO SAY THANK YOU FOR ALL YOU DO.

FOR ME. RIGHT? RIGHT.

SOUNDED GREAT TO ME. WELL, I'M GLAD.

I'M GLAD IT WAS FOOD, NOT SOMETHING ELSE.

THERE. THAT'S ALL.

YEAH, EXACTLY.

YOU'D BE POLITE. JUST BECAUSE OF THAT, WE JUST WANT TO LET YOU KNOW THAT THERE'S A TASK DEDICATED FOR ADULTS THAT WE CAN HELP WITH.

ADULTS WITH PRONUNCIATION.

YEAH, I NEED A LOT OF HELP.

THE MICROPHONE SO WE CAN HEAR.

THEY DON'T NEED CONTROL.

WE ALL NEED TO ENROLL.

SO. YEAH. GO AHEAD.

YES, SIR. I JUST WANT TO SHARE WITH YOU THAT, OUR SCHOOL HAS A SPECIAL CLASS, FOR ADULT BEGINNERS TO HELP WITH THE PRONUNCIATION. SO IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN THAT, THEN PLEASE, COME TO OUR SCHOOL ON SUNDAY.

JUST A QUESTION. YOU NEED REMEDIAL, CLASSES? YEAH. WHEN? WHEN IS THE EVENT, THE CELEBRATION AND THE TEN YEAR.

SO IT'S THE 18TH OF FEBRUARY.

OKAY. OH, THAT'S THE DAY BEFORE MY BIRTHDAY.

I HAVE A VIETNAMESE, DRESS THAT I'VE BEEN WANTING TO WEAR, AND SO I'LL SEE YOU GUYS THERE.

OKAY. AWESOME.

CONGRATULATIONS. I'M SO EXCITED TO LEARN ABOUT YOUR WORK AND ABOUT THE CELEBRATION THAT YOU HAVE COMING UP.

THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU ALL.

AND THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING HE DOES TO ENRICH OUR COMMUNITY.

AND AS I FEEL LIKE WE ALL HAVE SO MUCH TO LEARN, RIGHT, HOW DO WE DEEPEN OUR CONNECTION TO OUR ROOTS AND CELEBRATE EACH OTHER'S RICH DIVERSITY? SO THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING YOU DO.

SO. SO LET'S JUST MENTION, THERE'S A FEW MORE ITEMS HERE.

THREE THAT WE HAVE FOLKS IN PERSON TO BE HONORED.

SO WE'RE GOING TO HONOR THEM BEFORE WE TAKE THE PICTURES.

SO, WE'LL START TWO PEOPLE IN PERSON, ONE DOG AND DOG.

THAT'S COMMISSIONER BRIONES WILL TAKE THAT ONE.

NOBODY CAUGHT IT. OKAY.

ITEM 381, COMMISSIONER GARCIA.

YES, JUDGE. THANK YOU.

ON ITEM 381, I AM, JUST, EXCITED AND HONORED, TO REAPPOINT, TO HAVE, TO PRESENT THAT, COMMISSIONER WENDY MONTOYA CLOONAN TO BE, REAPPOINTED FOR, THE PORT OF HOUSTON AUTHORITY.

SHE'S DONE A PHENOMENAL JOB.

I CONTINUE TO HEAR JUST HOW EFFECTIVE SHE'S BEEN.

SHE HELPED TO LEAD AND, CHAMPION THE MWB PROCESS, OR PROGRAM THROUGH THE PROCESS.

AND, YOU KNOW, I SEE HER AS A FUTURE.

FUTURE, LEADER IN OUR COMMUNITY CONTINUE TO BE A LEADER IN OUR COMMUNITY, BUT, IN PARTICULAR ON THE PORT OF HOUSTON.

AND, MAYBE WE'RE LOOKING AT AND I'M HOPEFUL THAT WE'RE LOOKING AT A FUTURE CHAIR OF THE PORT OF HOUSTON AUTHORITY.

SO I JUST WANT TO, MOVE ON.

THE ITEM AS PRESENTED TO REAPPOINT COMMISSIONER WENDY MONTOYA CLOONAN AS A NOMINEE FOR THE PORT OF HOUSTON AUTHORITY, I PROUDLY SECOND, THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER.

WENDY'S ON THE LINE.

YEAH. SHE WANTED TO SPEAK.

YES. LET'S PUT HER ON.

GOOD MORNING.

WELL, THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING ME TO SAY A FEW WORDS.

FIRST AND FOREMOST, COMMISSIONER GARCIA, THANK YOU FOR NOMINATING ME IN THE VERY BEGINNING.

THANK YOU FOR NOMINATING ME AGAIN FOR ANOTHER TERM.

AND THANK YOU, JUDGE AND COMMISSIONERS, FOR THE CONSIDERATION OF THE REAPPOINTMENT TO SERVE THIS TERM.

IT'S TRULY AN HONOR AND A PRIVILEGE.

I MEAN, I THINK WE ALL KNOW THE PORT IS THE ENVY OF MANY, GIVEN OUR SCALE AND IMPACT.

IT'S A PILLAR OF THE CONTINUED VITALITY OF OUR REGION.

AND IT'S AN ASSET THAT REQUIRES STEWARDSHIP AND DEDICATION.

AND IF YOU ALL APPROVE MY REAPPOINTMENT TODAY, I TRULY DO LOOK FORWARD TO CONTINUING TO SERVE IN THIS FIDUCIARY CAPACITY FOR THE BETTERMENT OF THE PORT AND OUR REGION AT LARGE.

YOU KNOW, I STATED IN THE VERY BEGINNING, MY COMMITMENT HAS ALWAYS BEEN TO GIVE MY BEST TO THE ENDEAVOR TO BE OPEN AND ACCESSIBLE, FOR THE END GOAL OF JUST BRINGING VIABLE

[01:55:01]

SOLUTIONS FOR OUR COLLECTIVE BEST INTERESTS.

SO WITH THAT, I WOULD BE TRULY HONORED TO HAVE YOU ALL APPROVE MY REAPPOINTMENT TODAY.

WENDY, THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE.

THANK YOU FOR ALL YOU'RE DOING AND FOR YOUR SACRIFICES.

I KNOW THAT BEING A MEMBER OF THE PORT IS NOT JUST A MATTER OF SHOWING UP, BUT THERE'S A LOT OF WORK INVOLVED.

SO THANK YOU FOR YOUR WILLINGNESS TO CONTINUE TO SERVE.

AND I'M HONORED TO TO MAKE THE MOTION.

AND I'M THANKFUL TO.

YES, SECOND COMMISSIONER ELLISON, THEN COMMISSIONER BRIONES.

AND THEN WE'LL VOTE ON AND THEN COMMISSIONER, EVERYBODY WANTS TO TALK ABOUT YOU, COMMISSIONER MONTOYA.

GO AHEAD. COMMISSIONER ELLIS.

COMMISSIONER ELLIS. I MEAN, COMMISSIONER GARCIA, I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR NOMINATING HER FIRST GO AROUND.

AND, COMMISSIONER BRIONES, THANK YOU FOR SECONDING IT OBVIOUSLY, THIS TIME.

AND, COMMISSIONER, I WANT TO SAY HOW PROUD WE ALL ARE OF YOU FOR THE WORK YOU'RE DOING.

AND IN PARTICULAR, I'M PROUD OF THE FACT THAT ALONG WITH THE CHAIR, CURRENT CHAIR AT THE PORT, YOU LED THE EFFORT, YOU CHAIRED THE COMMITTEE ON SMALL MINORITY WOMEN OWNED BUSINESSES AND REALLY TOOK IT TO HEART.

AND YOU ALL MADE SIGNIFICANT STRIDES.

AND I JUST WANT TO TO THANK YOU FOR THAT.

AND I'LL BE PROUD TO VOTE FOR THIS ITEM AGAIN.

COMMISSIONER BRIONES AND THEN COMMISSIONER RAMSEY.

THANK YOU, JUDGE HIDALGO.

COMMISSIONER MONTOYA CLOONAN, THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE AND THE EXCELLENCE THAT YOU BRING EVERY DAY TO YOUR SERVICE ON THE PORT AND FRANKLY, THE EXCELLENCE YOU BRING TO EVERYTHING YOU DO. SO THANK YOU FOR CHAMPIONING THE MWBE PROGRESS THAT WE HAVE MADE, AND THANK YOU FOR CONTINUING TO MAKE SURE WE CAN TAKE IT TO NEW HEIGHTS.

I HAVE WORKED WITH YOU FOR MANY DECADES SINCE OUR DAYS AT VINCENT AND ELKINS, AND I'M JUST YOU ARE A TRUE SERVANT LEADER, AND YOU'RE A VISIONARY AND YOU KNOW HOW TO THINK BIG BUT ALSO GET THINGS DONE.

SO THANK YOU FOR YOUR WILLINGNESS TO CONTINUE SERVING, AND I VERY MUCH APPRECIATE IT.

THANK YOU COMMISSIONER.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH. MR..

THANK YOU FOR YOUR WISDOM, DISCERNMENT, LEADERSHIP ON THE PORT.

THERE'S NOTHING MORE IMPORTANT TO THE GREATER HOUSTON AREA THAN THE THE PORT AND THE PORT AUTHORITY, AND THAT JUST DOESN'T HAPPEN BY ACCIDENT.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP.

LOOKING FORWARD TO WHAT WE'VE GOT COMING DOWN THE PIKE.

SO THANK YOU. THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER, I APPRECIATE IT.

THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER MONTOYA.

WE'RE SO THRILLED, SO, SO THRILLED TO VOTE ON THIS.

SO WITHOUT FURTHER ADO, WE HAVE A MOTION BY COMMISSIONER GARCIA, SECOND BY COMMISSIONER BRIONES.

CONGRATULATIONS. CONGRATULATIONS.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE.

THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH.

THANK YOU. VERY HONORED.

THANK YOU. CONGRATULATIONS.

NEXT WE WILL TAKE ITEM 79.

AND THAT IS, COMMISSIONER ELLIS.

JUDGE, JUST QUICKLY, BECAUSE, BETH WHITE IS HERE.

THIS IS AN IMPORTANT PROJECT TO MY PRECINCT.

BUT TO BE HONEST WITH YOU, IT'S AN IMPORTANT ONE TO ALL OF US.

IT IS THE HILL AND SAMS PROJECT.

THIS IS THE REQUEST.

APPROVAL OF INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT BETWEEN HOUSTON PARKS BOARD, HARRIS COUNTY FLOOD CONTROL DISTRICT, THE CITY OF HOUSTON, AND OBVIOUSLY, PRECINCT ONE. THE TOTAL COST OF THIS PARK PROJECT IN THE HEART OF SUNNYSIDE WILL BE $28.5 MILLION.

PRECINCT ONE, WHICH IS COUNTY FUNDING.

WE'RE PUTTING UP 19 MILLION.

THE BROWN FOUNDATION MADE A GENEROUS $7.5 MILLION GIFT, AND THAT WAS SECURED BY THE PARKS BOARD IN PARTICULAR.

I WANT TO THANK, ANNE ZIKER, THE PRESIDENT, RYAN SMITH, THE SENIOR PROGRAM OFFICER, HERMAN STUDY, WHO'S A TRUSTEE, FOR THE BROWN FOUNDATION AND ALSO A MEMBER OF THE PARKS BOARD FOR THEIR WORK ON THIS.

AND ADDITIONAL $2 MILLION CAME FROM OUR STATE AND FEDERAL PARTNERS.

CONGRESSMAN AL GREEN SECURED $1 MILLION GRANT, AND A STATE REPRESENTATIVE, ALMA ALLEN, SECURED $1 MILLION GRANT.

THE FLOOD CONTROL DISTRICT IS LOOKING AT UNIQUE PROJECTS THAT WILL HELP US WITH CLIMATE CHANGE AND FLOOD CONTROL ISSUES.

IT'S ALONG SIMS BAYOU, ONE OF OUR MAJOR, WATERSHEDS.

IT IS ADJACENT TO A BIKE TRAIL, WHICH IS ON THE OPPOSITE SIDE OF THE BAYOU.

PART OF WHAT WE'RE GOING TO DO AT THE PRECINCT WITH COUNTY FUNDS IS CONSTRUCT A BRIDGE TO CONNECT IT TO COMMISSIONER GARCIA IS TREMENDOUS CONNECTIVITY FOR YOU AND I FOR PRECINCTS ONE AND TWO. IT WILL MAKE IT OUT YOUR WAY, COMMISSIONER BRIONES.

AS WELL, A TOTAL OF ABOUT 20 MILES OF, PROTECTED BIKEWAYS ALONG THE BAYOU THAT WILL BE COMPLETED WITHIN ABOUT ANOTHER YEAR.

THE REST OF IT WILL GET US ALL THE WAY TO THE BOTANICAL GARDENS.

IT REALLY IS AMAZING.

AND IT'S AN EXAMPLE OF WHEN WE WORK TOGETHER, WHAT WE CAN DO.

BUT IT'S ALSO IMPORTANT.

AND BETH WHITE, I THINK, IS COMING DOWN FROM MY OFFICE BECAUSE I WANT TO LET HER LET HER SAY SOMETHING.

IT'S IMPORTANT TO ALL PRECINCTS BECAUSE NORMALLY ON THE COUNTY SIDE, TO MY KNOWLEDGE, WE DON'T GET THE PHILANTHROPIC SUPPORT.

USUALLY OUR PARTNERS AT THE CITY GET IT, BUT BUT WE DON'T GET IT.

[02:00:04]

AND I THINK THIS IS SOMETHING THAT THAT HAPPENS TO BE IN MY PRECINCT, BUT I HOPE IT'S A BEGINNING FOR ALL OF OUR PRECINCTS TO LOOK FOR WAYS THAT WE CAN GO TO OTHER PARTNERS, PARTICULARLY IN PHILANTHROPIC COMMUNITY.

AND THAT IS IN NO WAY TO DISCOUNT THE SIGNIFICANT DONATION OF THE KINDERS IN PARTICULAR.

THE WORK THAT THEY'RE DOING ON THE EAST BAYOU PROJECT, WHICH COMMISSIONER GARCIA HAS PUT IN A SIGNIFICANT CONTRIBUTION, AND WE PUT IN A SIGNIFICANT ONE.

I THINK IT'S 10 OR 20 EACH.

AGENT, I CAN'T REMEMBER THAT WE PUT IN ON THAT PROJECT AS WELL, BUT I HOPE IT'S THE BEGINNING.

WITH A LOT OF PROJECTS THAT I'VE DONE WITH THE, WITH THE PARKS BOARD, I TOLD BETH IT WOULD BE GOOD.

WE TEND TO HAVE REGIONAL PARKS, AS YOU KNOW, AND WE HAVE TO DO A BETTER JOB OF WORKING THE PHILANTHROPIC COMMUNITY.

SOME OF IT'S ON US, AND SOME OF IT IS THE PROFILE THAT'S NORMALLY ASSOCIATED WITH A CITY AS OPPOSED TO A COUNTY.

SO I DON'T THINK IT'S A CONTROVERSIAL ITEM AT ALL.

I JUST WANT TO BRING IT UP BECAUSE BETH HAS BEEN HERE FOR A COUPLE OF HOURS, AND SHE'S HERE COLLEAGUES, IF THAT'S OKAY.

I WANT TO LET HER SPEAK.

IT WAS MY MISTAKE. I THOUGHT SHE WAS SIGNING UP.

SHE THOUGHT I WAS SIGNING UP.

I GUESS SHE FIGURED FOR $7.5 MILLION, THE LEAST I COULD DO WAS PUT HER ON THE ON THE LIST.

BUT BE HONEST WITH YOU, I JUST FORGOT.

BUT, BETH, YOU AND YOUR YOUR COLLEAGUE ARE HERE.

I THINK IT'S PAM.

AND JUST SAY YOUR NAME FOR THE RECORD.

WELL, THANK YOU SO MUCH, COMMISSIONER.

AND IT'S IT'S ALWAYS A PLEASURE TO BE HERE WITH COMMISSIONERS COURT.

AND I JUST WANT TO SAY WE'RE THRILLED TO BE MOVING THIS PROJECT FORWARD.

WE'RE SO GRATEFUL FOR OUR PARTNERSHIPS WITH ALL OF THE COMMISSIONERS AND THE JUDGE FOR REALLY TAKING BAYOU GREENWAYS TO A WHOLE OTHER LEVEL.

AND ONE OF OUR STRATEGIC PRIORITIES, OF COURSE, IS TO EXPAND AND FURTHER CONNECT VIA GREENWAYS AND OUR PARTNERSHIP WITH THE COUNTY TO GET THAT SYSTEM IN PLACE HAS BEEN A GAME CHANGER.

WE'RE NOW AT OVER 152 MILES THAT ARE OPEN TO THE PUBLIC ON BAYOU GREENWAYS, SO HAVING THE HILL AT SIMS IS THIS MAJOR REGIONAL DESTINATION ALONG BAYOU GREENWAYS IS REALLY SIGNIFICANT.

WE WERE HIRED BY PRECINCT 1 IN 2019 TO START THE PLANNING PROCESS TO TAKE.

TO LOOK AT. COULD WE ADD RECREATIONAL AMENITIES TO THIS AMAZING DETENTION SITE? IT'S ONE OF THE HIGHEST PEAKS IN THE CITY AT 60FT.

WE WILL BE, HAVING A REALLY HILLY EXPERIENCE FOR PEOPLE.

AND WHEN YOU GO UP TO THE TOP AND YOU SEE THE VISTA, OKAY, YOU CAN WRITE.

I CAN KEEP GOING. SO I'M SORRY, I CAN GO ON AND ON ABOUT BY GREENWAYS, AS ALL OF YOU KNOW.

BUT, WE JUST WANT TO SAY WE'RE HONORED TO PARTNER AND FOR THE FURTHERING THE STRATEGIC PRIORITY FOR BUILDING ON BIO GREENWAYS, CREATING AN INTERCONNECTED NETWORK OF PARKS AND TRAILS FOR A MORE RESILIENT REGION.

AND ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE'RE SO EXCITED ABOUT IS THE PUBLIC PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP, THE COMMITMENT FROM THE BROWN FOUNDATION TO SUPPORT THIS PROJECT BECAUSE THEY SEE IT AS TRANSFORMATIVE, AND IT'S GOING TO BE A MODEL FOR WORKING ON MULTI-BENEFIT PARKS AND REALLY COMBINING FLOOD DETENTION.

I DON'T NEED TO TELL YOU, COMMISSIONER RAMSEY, COMBINING FLOOD CONTROL DETENTION WITH CREATING PARKS IS OUR FUTURE AND MAKING THIS A MUCH MORE RESILIENT PLACE. SO THANK YOU AGAIN, AND I LOOK FORWARD TO BEING OUT THERE WITH ALL OF YOU AS WE CELEBRATE THIS SITE NEXT YEAR.

ALEX, I WANT TO I WANT TO STRESS TO HOW IMPORTANT, HOW SIGNIFICANT THIS IS FOR ALL OF US.

BETH IS SUCH A TROOPER.

BY THE WAY, WE WERE OUT YESTERDAY IN IN THE MUD, ON THE HILL AT SAM'S, AND SHE HAD A HEALTH SCARE.

SHE'S DOING FINE NOW.

AND I LOOKED AND I FIGURED, SURELY SHE'S NOT WALKING UP ALL THE WAY UP THIS HILL.

SHE DID WALK HALF THE WAY UP, AND THEN THEY SHE GOT IN ONE OF THOSE LITTLE CARTS, WHICH PROBABLY WAS NOT ALL THAT SAFE IN THAT MUD.

BUT WE SPENT ABOUT TWO HOURS OUT THERE.

BUT IT IS IMPORTANT FOR ALL OF US.

SOMETIMES I CALL YOU ALL WHEN I GO TO YOUR PARKS.

I KNOW THE CITY BECAUSE THE FOCUS TENDS TO JUST BE ON THAT ENTITY.

USUALLY THEY WORK THROUGH THE MAYOR'S OFFICE AND YOU GOT TO WORK THROUGH 4 OR 5 OF US.

BUT I WAS AT ZOOBY PARK OVER THE WEEKEND.

I WAS AT ONE OF YOURS, COMMISSIONER RAMS, AND I CALLED.

I THINK IT WAS DURING THE HOLIDAYS, TELLING YOU, I DIDN'T KNOW IT WAS WAY OUT HERE, BUT I'M GLAD I CAME.

AND, COMMISSIONER GARCIA, I CALLED YOU ABOUT THAT VIEW OUT.

LIKE WHEN I'VE GONE OUT TO TO YOUR AREA AS WELL.

AND, JUDGE, I KNOW YOU TOOK ALL OF OUR PARKS, AND, I'LL SAY BEHIND THE SCENES BACK TO YOU.

YOU HAVE TOLD ME WHICH PRECINCTS HAVE THE BETTER ONES, BUT THE OTHER TWO, WE'RE TRYING TO CATCH UP.

BUT THIS IS SIGNIFICANT.

BUT MY PRECINCT. BUT REALLY, FOR ALL OF US TO TRY AND FIND BETTER WAYS THAT WE CAN GET OUR PHILANTHROPIC PARTNERS TO FOCUS ON THE COUNTY AS WELL.

AND THE CITY, BUT THAT'S A TREMENDOUS OPPORTUNITIES OUT THERE.

BUT THANK YOU, BETH, AND I'LL DIE TO WHATEVER.

THANK YOU. SO, COMMISSIONER RAMSEY.

[02:05:02]

YEAH. THANK YOU.

IT'S EXCITING TO SIT DOWN WITH YOU.

EVERY TIME WE MEET YOU THINK ABOUT 22 WATERSHEDS IN HARRIS COUNTY.

WE LOOK AT THOSE, AND EVERY ONE OF THEM IS A TRAIL OPPORTUNITY.

ABSOLUTELY. AND EVEN SOME OF THOSE IN TERMS OF THE SPRING CREEK WATER TRAIL, WHICH IS IN CONSIDERATION RIGHT NOW.

SO I THINK, WE HAVE GREAT POTENTIAL TO DO MORE.

I KNOW IT'S BEEN CENTERED MUCH IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON, BUT THERE'S SO MUCH OUT IN THE COUNTY, I THINK, THAT WE CAN PARTNER WITH YOU ON.

AND I'LL JUST SAY I'M GOING TO RECOGNIZE THE, PRECINCTS FOR WHAT PRECINCTS? ONE, TWO, THREE AND FOUR, IN TERMS OF WHAT IS BEING DONE RIGHT NOW IN GREEN SPACE AND, AND PARKS AND OTHER, OTHER, I WOULD SAY VISIONARY.

WE TEND TO DEAL WITH THE BASICS, BUT WHEN WE START TALKING ABOUT PARKS AND OTHER THINGS, YOU DON'T HAVE TO DO ANYTHING BUT GO THROUGH A PANDEMIC AND REALLY REALIZE HOW IMPORTANT PARKS ARE TO OUR WELL-BEING.

THANK YOU FOR WHAT YOU DO WELL, THANK YOU AND I LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING YOU TOMORROW DURING OUR PLANNING SESSION.

AND, COMMISSIONER BRIONES, OUR RECENT ANNOUNCEMENT WITH YOU TO TAKE A LOOK AT NOT JUST BIO GREENWAYS AND CONNECTORS LIKE ALONG BUFFALO BAYOU, BUT BUT PARKS AND THE THE WORK YOU'RE DOING IN BURNETT BAYLAND AND THE PARTNERSHIPS BECAUSE PARKS AND TRAILS.

THERE IS NO RECOGNITION OF POLITICAL BOUNDARIES FOR THE PEOPLE WHO USE THOSE PARKS.

SO I REALLY APPRECIATE EVERY EVERY COMMISSIONER HERE FOR THE INVESTMENTS THAT YOU'VE MADE.

WE APPRECIATE YOUR WE APPRECIATE YOUR PARTNERSHIP, MISS WHITE.

THANK YOU. YOU HAVE AN EXCELLENT TEAM, AND WE'RE ALL ENERGIZED BY THE PARTNERSHIPS AND FUNDAMENTALLY BELIEVE WE CAN DO MORE IF WE DO IT TOGETHER.

AND THANK YOU TO THE PHILANTHROPIC PARTNERS AS WELL.

TO YOUR POINT, COMMISSIONER ELLIS.

SO WE APPRECIATE IT AND LOOK FORWARD TO ALL THAT IS TO COME.

THANK YOU. AND IF YOU WOULDN'T MIND, INDULGE ME.

I ALSO WANT TO THANK DOCTOR PETERSON AND HER TEAM AT THE FLOOD CONTROL DISTRICT.

THEY ARE SO INNOVATIVE AND TAKING SUCH A CREATIVE APPROACH AND REALLY PUSHING THE ENVELOPE WITH US AND LOOKING AT NATURE BASED SOLUTIONS, WHERE.

IT MAKES SENSE.

SO IT'S AN EXCITING TIME TO BE DOING THIS WORK.

SO THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU.

DOCTOR PETERSON DID SHOW UP OUT THERE WITH HER.

OH, SHE DID WITH HER FANCY SHOES ON WHEN SHE STARTED, BUT THEY WERE A LITTLE MUDDY.

BUT THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. THANK YOU.

SO COMMISSIONER ELLIS MADE THE MOTION SECOND BY COMMISSIONER GARCIA.

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

IT'S A BIG DEAL.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU TO ALL THE STAFF ACROSS THE COUNTY AND VARIOUS OFFICES.

THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH.

NEXT, THE FINAL ITEM BEFORE THE PICTURES IS ABOUT A DOG, DELTA.

AND SO LET ME WELCOME THE FIRE MARSHAL'S OFFICE, FOR THIS, FOR THIS RETIREMENT.

LET'S SPEAK FIRST.

GO AHEAD. I JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU TO THE COURT FOR ALLOWING US TO BRING DELTA DOWN HERE AND ACKNOWLEDGING HIS SERVICE.

A TEN YEAR WORKING CAREER FOR A DOG IS QUITE A LENGTHY CAREER FOR A DOG.

AND, HE HAS KEPT, SERGEANT TESSIER BALANCED.

AND I'M VERY GRATEFUL TO THE COURT FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION OF, HOPEFULLY ALLOWING ME TO REPLACE HIM SO THAT I CAN KEEP SERGEANT TESSIER UNTIL HE'S READY TO RETIRE.

I, HOPEFULLY WE'RE GOING TO SEND DELTA HOME WITH, SERGEANT TESSIER, AND HE'LL TAKE ON THE RESPONSIBILITY OF, HANDLING A NEW DOG, WHICH SHOULD TAKE HIM WELL INTO TO HIS YEARS OF RETIREMENT FOR HIMSELF AS WELL.

THANK YOU. AND REMIND US A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE WORK THAT DELTA HAS DONE.

SURE. SO DELTA IS AN ACCELERANT DETECTION K-9 SERGEANT TASHA MADE ME PROMISE I WOULD NOT MAKE HIM SPEAK.

DELTA. DELTA IS TRAINED TO DETECT, ODORS OF ACCELERANTS THAT ARE USED IN STARTING FIRES AND, THROUGH THROUGH HIS ABILITY, WHICH IS MANY MILLION TIMES GREATER THAN THAT OF A HUMAN BEINGS. HE'S ABLE TO SAVE US A LOT OF HUMAN RESOURCES, WHERE WE WOULD BE RANDOMLY TAKING SAMPLES FOR DEBRIS.

THE DOG IS ABLE TO LOCATE AND, GIVE US INDICATORS SUGGESTING WHERE IT IS THAT WE SHOULD LOOK FOR DEBRIS SAMPLES, SPEEDING UP OUR WORK.

AND, HIS PROCESS, ALLOWS US TO DETER ARSON AND, AND TO, MAKE BETTER USES OF OUR HUMAN RESOURCES COMMISSIONER RAMSEY.

649 DEPLOYMENTS.

IT'S WHAT HE'S DONE UP TO THIS POINT.

THAT'S JUST THAT'S JUST, MIND NUMBING, 4008, CAREER TRAINING HOURS.

I MEAN, YOU GO DOWN THE LIST OF WHAT, THIS, THIS PARTICULAR DOG HAS DONE.

IT'S JUST WE DON'T WE DON'T STOP AND THINK ABOUT IT AND RECOGNIZE IT.

BUT THE QUESTION IS, WHERE IS WHERE IS HE GOING TO RETIRE TO? WELL, HE'S, I'M GOING TO TELL A LITTLE STORY HERE.

IT'S SUPPOSED TO HAVE A KENNEL IN THE BACKYARD, BUT HE'S THIS DOG HAS HIS OWN BEDROOM AND, SERGEANT SHOOTOUTS.

SO SERGEANT TESSIER IS, HAS A UNIQUE LIFE.

HE'S DEDICATED HIMSELF TO PUBLIC SERVICE, AND, HE HE HAS BOTH AN ARMORY IN HIS HOUSE AND A ROOM FOR HIS DOG.

[02:10:08]

AND, THEY WILL HAVE, QUITE A JOYOUS ADVENTURE.

HE'S ALREADY ONE OF THE FAMILY.

HE'S GOT PICTURES UP ON THE MANTEL AND, ROUTINE.

SOMETIMES HE'S NOT SURE HE'S A DOG.

YEAH. DOES DELTA WANT TO SAY A FEW WORDS? DON'T SAY.

MY WIFE SEVERAL YEARS AGO ACTUALLY PAINTED A PORTRAIT OF DELTA THAT THEY HAVE HANGING IN THEIR HOUSE, JUST LIKE YOU WOULD ANYTHING ELSE.

SO, CHIEF MITCHELL, THANK YOU.

AND, SERGEANT. OH, GO AHEAD, COMMISSIONER BRIONES.

YES, CHIEF. WESTON.

SERGEANT, THANK YOU SO MUCH, K-9 DELTA, WE APPRECIATE YOUR YEARS OF SERVICE.

AND ALSO JUST THE THE TONE OF LEADERSHIP THAT FIRE MARSHAL CHIEF CHRISTENSEN SETS FOR YOUR TEAM.

ALL OF YOU DO YOUR WORK WITH SUCH JOY AND LOVE AND WITH SUCH A SENSE OF SERVICE.

SO THANK YOU TO CANINE DELTA.

IF YOU EVER NEED A DOG SITTER, I VOLUNTEER.

ALICE AND I ARE HUGE ANIMAL LOVERS.

DO WE HAVE THIS TINY TOKEN OF OUR DEEP APPRECIATION? AND I ALSO WANT TO THANK YOU, BECAUSE THE BAYLAND WARMING CENTER THAT WE HAD DURING THE FREEZE, CHIEF CHRISTENSEN WAS THERE PLAYING WITH THE KIDS.

I MEAN, EVERYTHING YOU ALL DO, YOU DO WITH SUCH GREAT LOVE.

SO THANK YOU FOR THE LOVE THAT YOU WILL CONTINUE TO SHOW K-9 DELTA.

AND AGAIN, IF YOU NEED A DOG SITTER, YOU KNOW WHERE TO GO.

SO THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE.

THANK YOU, THANK YOU. READY TO TAKE YOU UP ON YOUR OFFER.

BUT IT'S LIKE MY DREAM DOG.

I'VE ALWAYS WANTED A LARGE GERMAN SHEPHERD.

HOW OLD IS DELTA? HE'LL BE 11 NEXT MONTH. WE'LL BE 11.

OH, SO HE'S BEEN DOING SINCE HE WAS ONE? YES. YEAH. WOW.

YES, WE HAD 14 MONTHS.

WOW. THANK YOU GUYS.

THANK YOU TO THE TEAM CHIEF SERGEANT AND DELTA.

AND WE'LL GO TAKE SOME PICTURES NOW.

OH, YOU KNOW WHAT? WE NEED TO VOTE ON THIS.

SO THIS IS I WANT TO SAY WE'RE GOING TO ALLOW HIM.

ARE WE GOING TO ALLOW DELTA TO RETIRE MOTION BY COMMISSIONER GARCIA, SECOND BY COMMISSIONER BRIONES.

WE'LL TAKE PICTURES AND WE'RE GOING TO TAKE A 15 MINUTE BREAK AFTER PICTURES.

OKAY. BECAUSE.

[02:39:06]

AND A LITTLE BIT LONGER.

[02:39:08]

OKAY. SO WE ARE CONTINUING AND.

[02:39:15]

11. OH ALL RIGHT.

[02:39:18]

SO WE WILL HEAR TIFFANY FROM SPEAKER NUMBER 11 PLEASE.

[02:39:22]

YES, MA'AM. MARTHA CRUZ, NON-AGENDA RELATED.

YOU HAVE ONE MINUTE AND SHE'LL BE USING THE INTERPRETER.

I'M SORRY, COMMISSIONER, I'M THE COMMISSIONER 109.

LIKE AN INSECT.

OKAY. THERE ARE FOUR BENEFICIOS.

LAS PERSONAS TRABAJADORAS COMO MEDICAID ESTAMPAS.

[02:40:04]

HOW SAVING IT CAN ALSO KILL.

EL GOBIERNO DE LA LA LA LA DROGA.

I WOULD LIKE YOU TO.

I WOULD LIKE TO ASK YOU THAT ALL THEY HAVE GET TO THE PEOPLE THAT WORKS.

THE HELP OF HOW SAVING FOOD STAMPS, MEDICARE AND THAT HELP THAT THE GOVERNMENT GIVES TO US TO REACH THE PEOPLE THAT WORKS AND NOT THE PEOPLE THAT DO DRUGS.

OKAY. I'VE BEEN THE SAME.

I LOVE PRESENTS.

UNO, UNO.

CUATRO CINCO.

UN GRAN TRABAJO BENDIGA.

WE BLESS THE PRESENT ONE AND TWO ON THE COURT.

AND WE ASK GOD TO BLESS YOU.

YOU CAN. THANK YOU.

THANK YOU. OKAY, SO WE WILL BREAK FOR LUNCH.

IT'S 1248 AND WE WILL BE BACK HERE AT TWO.

ALL RIGHT, IT'S 220 AND COMMISSIONER SQUIRT IS BACK IN SESSION.

AND, TIFFANY, IF YOU COULD PLEASE TAKE THE REST OF THE SPEAKERS.

[Appearances before court (Part 2 of 2) ]

YES, MA'AM.

FIRST IS AGENDA.

SPEAKER NUMBER 25, CORETTA BROWN SPEAKING ON ITEMS 15 AND 16 UNDER COVID 19.

NO. HOW ARE YOU DOING? MY NAME IS CORETTA BROWN.

SHE'S MAKING HER WAY.

I'M WITH BRIDGES TO EMPOWERMENT, AND I'M COMING TO SPEAK.

I NOTICED WHEN I WAS LOOKING THROUGH THE AGENDA THAT THIS PARTICULAR ITEM, IS NOT UTILIZING MINORITY WOMEN BUSINESS, AND I THINK THAT'S A PROBLEM.

I THINK THAT IN THE CULTURE THAT WE'RE CURRENTLY IN RIGHT NOW, MAKING SURE THAT WE ARE DOING CONTRACTS WITH INDIVIDUALS WHO USUALLY WILL NOT RECEIVE A CONTRACT IS A GOOD THING, ESPECIALLY WITH THE ATTACK ON DIVERSITY INSIDE OF OUR PUBLIC COLLEGE AND UNIVERSITIES.

NEXT IS JESS GRIFFIN SPEAKING ON ITEM 31 UNDER COUNTY ADMINISTRATION.

THANK YOU. GREETINGS EVERYONE.

I AM REVEREND JOSLYN GRIFFIN AND I REPRESENT PARTICIPATORY DEFENSE ALONG WITH JUSTICE FOR EVAN MOVEMENT 2022.

I'M JUST IN CONCERN ON A MATTER OF OUR, JUDICIAL SYSTEM AT HARRIS COUNTY JAIL AND TO WITNESS, COURT 240 AND JUDGE CARVEY GIVEN CAL FRENCH SIX MONTHS IN JAIL ALONG WITH A $500 FINE.

AND THIS IS A FATHER THAT HAS PROVEN HIMSELF AND TO OVERLOAD THE JAIL THAT'S ALREADY CROWDED.

THAT'S THE PROBLEM THAT I HAVE WITH IT.

ALSO WITH TIMOTHY GRIFFIN THAT IS THERE, THAT HAS SO MANY DIFFERENT PROBLEMS WITH THE STAFF THERE INSIDE THE JAIL.

I'M ASKING IF THERE'S ANY WAY COMMISSIONER AND, COUNTY JUDGE, THOSE OF YOU HERE ON THIS, CHAIR HERE, PLEASE, IF WE COULD TRY AND HELP OUR DEFENDANTS THERE.

THANK YOU. MA'AM, WE'LL HAVE SOMEONE VISIT WITH YOU.

YES. OH, JUST THE, DID YOU MISS SOMETHING? YES. I DIDN'T KNOW IF I WAS SPEAKING ON ONE ITEM OR BOTH ITEMS BECAUSE I SIGNED UP FOR TWO ITEMS. OKAY? I DIDN'T SPEAK ON THE SECOND ONE.

YOU DIDN'T USE ALL YOUR TIME, I DON'T THINK I CAN'T REMEMBER.

DO YOU WANT TO JUST GO 30 MORE SECONDS FOR YOUR.

YES. LET ME PULL IT UP RIGHT QUICK.

OKAY. SO, ON, MY LAST FRIDAY, I WAS IN JUDGE DIANA KIRBY'S COURT, WHERE I WITNESSED HER HOLD A FATHER IN CONTEMPT OF A COURT AND SENTENCED HIM TO SIX MONTHS IN HARRIS COUNTY JAIL WITH A $500 FINE.

HE DID NOT COMMIT A VIOLENT CRIME AT ALL, SHE RECOGNIZED DURING THE HEARING, AND IT SHOULD BE ON RECORD THAT HE IS SUFFERING FROM SEVERE EMOTIONAL TRAUMA, AND EVEN RECOMMENDED HIM GETTING A THERAPIST FOR FREE AFTER HE GETS OUT OF JAIL.

HER VERDICT WAS, ACCORDING TO THE RULES FOR HER SENTENCING WAS UNJUST BECAUSE THE RULES ARE NOT EQUITABLE FACING MEN WITH THESE TYPE OF CHALLENGING ISSUES.

WITH HER KNOWING AND ACKNOWLEDGING THAT PSYCHOLOGICAL ISSUES WERE AT HAND.

THANK YOU MA'AM. YOUR TIME IS UP.

NEXT IS. SPEAKER 27 DOMINIQUE MR SPEAKING ON ITEM 146 UNDER TOLL ROAD AUTHORITY.

YOUR SPEAKER IS NOT WORKING SO HOT.

AND SO. OKAY.

OKAY. MY NAME IS DOMINIC MASLAK.

[02:45:01]

AND ONE THING I WANT TO TALK ABOUT IS ITEM 146.

YES, I'M FORD, HARRIS COUNTY FIRE, HOUSTON AND METRO NEEDS TO WORK ON THE UNIVERSITY PROJECTS.

I'M VERY MUCH FOR THAT ITEM.

SECOND OF ALL, WANTED TO COMMEND COMMISSIONER ELLIS FOR PROVIDING BUSSES FOR THE PARK AND RIDE SERVICE FROM GREEN'S POINT TO WREATHS ACROSS AMERICA. I'VE ALSO BEEN CONCERNED ABOUT THE KIDWELL, TRANSIT DEVELOPMENT THING AT FOR THE BRT LINE AS OPPOSED TO TRANSIT ORIENTED DEVELOPMENT, AND I TOLD DIANE LUDER AT METRO THAT WE NEED TO HAVE HARRIS HEALTH AND HARRIS, AND, AND THE HEALTH SYSTEM THERE IS YOU CAN HAVE THE BEST HEALTH SYSTEM IN THE WORLD, BUT YOU CAN'T GET TO IT.

WHAT'S THE DIFFERENCE? AND LASTLY, THE JUDGE, YOU HAVE TO PUT IN A NEW MEMBER TO THE METRO BOARD.

PLEASE PUT SOMEBODY IN.

I KNOW CHRIS WAS A GOOD GUY, BUT WE NEED SOMEBODY WHO.

RIGHT. YOUR TIME IS UP.

THANK YOU. PIERPOINT.

THANK YOU. NEXT IS.

SPEAKER 28 INGRID ROBINSON SPEAKING VIRTUALLY ON ITEM 152 UNDER ECONOMIC EQUITY AND OPPORTUNITY.

YOU HAVE ONE MINUTE. GO AHEAD PLEASE.

HI, THIS IS INGRID ROBINSON, PRESIDENT OF THE HOUSTON MINORITY SUPPLIER DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL.

I WANTED TO SPEAK ON THE MWBE UTILIZATION REPORT.

FIRST, I'D LIKE TO, RECOGNIZE THE PROGRESS THAT'S BEEN MADE BY THE DEA OFFICE IN TERMS OF INCREASING SPEND WITH MINORITY AND WOMEN OWNED COMPANIES.

BUT I DO BELIEVE THAT THERE ARE A COUPLE OF THINGS THAT COULD BE DONE TO EXPEDITE, THE WAY, THE GROWTH IN MINORITY SPEND ONE IS FOR HARRIS COUNTY TO DIRECTLY ACCEPT HMS DC CERTIFICATION.

OUR CERTIFIED MINORITY OWNED BUSINESSES REPRESENTS 2% OF HOUSTON'S GDP.

THERE'S OVER A THOUSAND CERTIFIED BUSINESSES WHO ARE B2B BUSINESSES LOOKING TO DO BUSINESS WITH ORGANIZATIONS LIKE HARRIS COUNTY.

I'D ALSO LIKE TO, TO CONTINUE THE WORK THAT WE'VE BEEN DOING IN THE CONVERSATIONS WITH, DWIGHT AND HIS TEAM IN PROCUREMENT AND ESTELLA AND MAYA IN THE DEA OFFICE, TO LOOK AT WAYS IN WHICH BEST PRACTICES COULD BE ADOPTED, TO ENSURE THAT THERE IS MORE INCLUSION, OF MWV IN CONTRACTING OPPORTUNITIES BY LOOKING AT THINGS LIKE EXCLUSIONS, LOOKING AT WAYS TO PARTNER AND TRAIN, MINORITY OWNED BUSINESSES, TO BE ABLE TO, BE BETTER CONTRACTORS AND WIN CONTRACT AWARDS, WHICH IS WHAT WE WANT.

THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER ELLIS.

THANK YOU, MISS ROBINSON.

AND I KNOW YOU WERE HERE EARLIER AND HAD TO LEAVE AND COME ON VIRTUALLY.

BUT LOOK, THANK YOU FOR YOUR WORK.

AND I WANT TO ASK TIO TO, TO VISIT WITH YOU.

GIVE GIVE THEM A CALL.

AND I KNOW, SEVERAL OF US ARE HERE, ARE INTERESTED IN SEEING IF THAT CAN BE DONE, THE PROS AND CONS, BUT AT LEAST SEEING WHAT THEIR RECOMMENDATION IS ON IT.

AND, I WANT TO WORK WITH YOU TO CONVENE A NUMBER OF ENTITIES WHO HAVE JUST STARTED PROGRAMS SO THOSE ENTITIES CAN SHARE BEST PRACTICES.

AND I CAN ONLY UNDER THE LAW ASK ONE OF MY COLLEAGUES TO JOIN ME.

SO WE'LL TRY TO WORK SOMETHING OUT AND MAYBE PULL TOGETHER SOMETHING IN THE NEXT 30 DAYS JUST SO WE CAN SHARE THE, THE GOOD THINGS THAT, WE, THAT WE'RE DOING. BUT THANK YOU FOR COMING.

AND THANKS FOR COMING ON VIRTUALLY.

NEXT IS SPEAKER NUMBER 30, KAREN KNAPP SPEAKING ON ITEM 163 UNDER PUBLIC HEALTH SERVICES.

HI, MY NAME IS KAREN KNAPP AND I'M A VOLUNTEER WITH MOMS DEMAND ACTION FOR GUN SENSE IN AMERICA.

WE ARE HERE TODAY TO ASK THE COURT TO PROVIDE THE FUNDING REQUESTED BY HARRIS COUNTY PUBLIC HEALTH FOR THEIR COMMUNITY VIOLENCE INTERVENTION AND PREVENTION PROGRAMS, HIGH RATES OF INCARCERATION AND LIMITED ACCESS TO RESOURCES SUCH AS HOUSING, EMPLOYMENT, EDUCATION AND HEALTH CARE HAVE HELPED LEAD TO A DISPROPORTIONATE IMPACT OF GUN VIOLENCE ON OUR BLACK AND BROWN COMMUNITIES.

VIOLENCE INTERVENTION PROGRAMS ADDRESS THESE DISPARITIES BY FOCUSING RESOURCES IN THE COMMUNITIES MOST AFFECTED BY GUN VIOLENCE.

HERE IN TEXAS, WE ARE WE FACE POLICY LIMITATIONS BECAUSE OF STATE LAW, AND CVI INITIATIVES REPRESENT ONE OF THE STRONGEST TOOLS WE HAVE TO SAVE LIVES.

HARRIS COUNTY CVI PROGRAM IS DIFFUSED AT LEAST 30 CONFLICTS AND CONFRONTATIONS INVOLVING GUNS SINCE ITS INCEPTION IN 2021, BASED ON EVERY TOWN'S GUN VIOLENCE CALCULATOR THAT SAVED HARRIS COUNTY TAXPAYERS $42 MILLION, PLEASE TAKE ACTION TODAY TO INVEST IN COMMUNITY VIOLENCE INTERVENTION PROGRAMS IN HARRIS COUNTY TO SAVE LIVES AND IN OUR COMMUNITIES.

NEXT IS NON-AGENDA SPEAKER NUMBER NINE SAVANNAH CRIBBS.

YOU HAVE ONE MINUTE TO THE PREVIOUS SPEAKER.

SORRY, JUST I'M TAKING A PAGE OUT OF COMMISSIONER ELLIS'S BOOK TO SAY WE'RE GOING TO BE MAKING TOUGH BUDGET DECISIONS LATER THIS YEAR.

[02:50:07]

AND SO YOU'VE GOT TILL AROUND SEPTEMBER, AUGUST TO MOBILIZE FOLKS, BECAUSE AT THAT TIME, IT'S VERY EASY TO SAY, WE HAVE THIS MUCH MONEY. LET'S GIVE IT ALL TO LAW ENFORCEMENT, BECAUSE EVERYBODY GETS CLAPS FOR THAT OR TO THE COURTS.

AND SO THAT'S WHEN IT'S GOING TO BE REALLY IMPORTANT TO SAY, OKAY, WE HAVE TO THERE ARE MANY PRIORITIES.

AND WE HAVE TO ALSO BE ABLE TO APPORTION SOME TO PROGRAMS THAT WORK THAT MAY NOT BE AS SEXY.

BUT BUT THAT ARE REALLY IMPORTANT.

SO I HOPE YOU GUYS HELP US GET THE FOLKS THAT ARE GOING TO ENCOURAGE THAT, THAT OUTCOME.

THANK YOU. NON-AGENDA SPEAKER NUMBER NINE, SAVANNAH CRIBBS.

GOOD MORNING. MY NAME IS SAVANNAH KREBS, AND I'M HERE TODAY TO DEMAND A CEASE FIRE RESOLUTION FOR GAZA AND END TO MILITARY AID IN ISRAEL.

AS A RESIDENT OF PRECINCT TWO, I CANNOT EMPHASIZE ENOUGH THE URGENCY OF MY CONCERNS.

WE CANNOT IDLY STAND BY AND BE COMPLICIT IN THE MURDER AND ETHNIC CLEANSING OF THOUSANDS UPON THOUSANDS OF INNOCENT PEOPLE, BECAUSE WE CONDEMN THE ACTIONS OF A FEW.

I MAY NOT HAVE PALESTINIAN BLOOD, BUT WHAT I DO HAVE ARE CHILDREN, BASIC HUMAN EMPATHY, AND THE INCREDIBLE AMOUNT OF PRIVILEGE TO BE BORN A WHITE AMERICAN. LET US ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THE ONLY DIFFERENCE BETWEEN MY CHILDREN AND THOSE CHILDREN IN PALESTINE ARE THE GEOGRAPHICAL LOTTERY OF THEIR BIRTH.

AS WE SPEAK, THERE ARE TODDLERS MY DAUGHTER'S AGE FIGHTING FOR RAW FLOUR SPILLED INTO THE STREETS.

THERE ARE LITTLE BOYS MY SON'S AGE BEARING THE TRUE WEIGHT OF THE MEETING BIG BROTHER, AS THEY SACRIFICE THEIR FOOD AID AND SHELTER FOR THEIR LITTLE SIBLINGS AND PARENTS THAT THEY LOVE SO MUCH.

IT IS OUR MORAL OBLIGATION AS HUMAN BEINGS TO SAFEGUARD THE LIVES OF ALL CHILDREN, REGARDLESS OF THEIR PLACE.

THANK YOU. NON-AGENDA SPEAKER NUMBER 13 ALEXI SWORSKY.

FAMILIES CLAIM THAT THERE HAVE BEEN NEARLY 70 DEATHS IN THE HARRIS COUNTY JAIL IN THE LAST THREE YEARS.

THE HARRIS COUNTY JAIL IS RUN LIKE A JAIL IN A THIRD WORLD COUNTRY.

WHY WAS SHIRLEY WILLIAMS HOUSTON, A 73 YEAR OLD WITH DEMENTIA, RELEASED FROM THE JAIL OUT INTO THE COLD AND DARK AT 4 A.M.

ON JANUARY 11TH? IS THERE EVEN A PROTOCOL FOR RELEASING MENTALLY IMPAIRED INMATES FROM THE JAIL? IT SEEMS LIKE RELEASING PRISONERS FROM THE JAIL WHO HAVE LOW FUNCTIONING MENTAL ABILITIES WITH NO OTHER FAMILY BEING INFORMED, IS A COMMON PRACTICE OF THE HARRIS COUNTY JAIL.

THEY BECOME INSTANTLY HOMELESS WITHOUT EVEN A BASIC MENTAL ABILITY TO TAKE CARE OF THEMSELVES.

SHIRLEY WILLIAMS BODY WAS FOUND 20 MILES AWAY A WEEK AFTER BEING RELEASED IN DAWSON PARK.

THAT'S JUST THIS YEAR.

JANUARY 18TH, A FEW WEEKS AGO.

HOW LONG ARE THEY GOING TO BE STUDIES AT THE JAIL INSTEAD OF ACTIONS TAKEN TO DRASTICALLY IMPROVE THE SAFETY OF BOTH THE JAILERS AND THE INMATES? PLEASE PRIORITIZE THE COUNTY'S RESOURCES TO PROTECT THE LIVES OF THOSE IN THE HARRIS COUNTY JAIL, BOTH THE JAILERS AND THE JAIL.

THANK YOU. NON-AGENDA SPEAKER NUMBER 14.

CLAUDIA. OBED, YOU HAVE ONE MINUTE.

HELLO. I'M HERE TO DEMAND THAT THIS COURT PASS A RESOLUTION IN SUPPORT OF A PERMANENT CEASE FIRE AND ENSURE THAT NONE OF OUR TAX DOLLARS GO TO FUND GENOCIDE.

THANK YOU, MISS HIDALGO.

LAST TIME I WAS HERE, YOU EXPRESS YOUR SYMPATHY TOWARDS OUR PEOPLE.

AND THANK YOU FOR CREATING THE MENTAL HEALTH HOTLINE.

BUT THAT'S NOT ENOUGH.

IT'S LIKE OFFERING HELP FOR MENTAL HEALTH WHILE STILL REMAINING IN A TOXIC RELATIONSHIP AND SUPPORTING THE NARCISSIST CAUSING THE ISSUES.

IT'S SORRY.

THOUGHTS AND PRAYERS DON'T STOP BULLETS.

ACTIONS ARE THE ONLY WAY.

THE KILLING AND THE DISPLACEMENT WILL STOP.

FOR IT'S BEEN GENERATIONS BY NOW.

100 PLUS DAYS PLUS 75 YEARS.

AND YOU SHOULD KNOW AND SEE FOR YOURSELF THE GENOCIDAL ACTS BEING COMMITTED BY ISRAEL AND GOVERNMENTS ALL OVER THE WORLD NOW, NOT ONLY IN PALESTINE BUT IN THE MIDDLE EAST, AND PEOPLE HERE IN THE US ARE BEING AFFECTED AS WELL ON OUR OWN SOIL BY ZIONISM.

WE NO LONGER FEEL SAFE IN OUR OWN CITY.

WE MUST TAKE ACTION TO END THIS FOR NOT ONLY THEM, BUT FOR OUR CITIZENS.

YO. GO AHEAD. NON-AGENDA SPEAKER NUMBER 15 CAMERON HALL.

THANK YOU. NON-AGENDA.

HOWDY. AND, MY NAME IS CAMERON HALL, AND MY WIFE AND I ARE VOTERS IN PRECINCT TWO.

THIS IS MY FIRST TIME COMING TO COMMISSIONERS COURT.

AND I'M HERE TO ASK THE COURT TO PASS A RESOLUTION CALLING FOR A CEASE FIRE IN GAZA.

[02:55:04]

HAVE YOU SEEN THE PROTESTS GOING ON AROUND HARRIS COUNTY? HAVE YOU SEEN THE SHEER AMOUNT OF PEOPLE THAT SHOW UP TO SUPPORT A FREE PALESTINE AND AN END TO THE VIOLENCE? THE PEOPLE OF HARRIS COUNTY SHOW UP AND SHOW OUT.

THEY WANT A CEASE FIRE.

THIS IS NOT A DIVISIVE ISSUE.

CALLING AN END TO THE KILLING WOULD NOT CREATE DIVISION DOING NOTHING WHILE TENS OF THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE DIE WITH BOMBS.

OUR TAXES PAID FOR IS WHAT CAUSES DIVISION.

YOU MUST STAND AGAINST HATE AND VIOLENCE.

YOU MUST STAND WITH PEACE AND LIBERTY.

PASS A RESOLUTION CALLING FOR A CEASE FIRE.

NON-AGENDA. SPEAKER 16 JENNY STOGNER MCDAVID.

THANK YOU. GOOD AFTERNOON, COMMISSIONERS.

JUDGE JANICE MCDAVID.

I'M ALSO AN ADVOCATE HERE.

I'M CALLING FOR A CEASE FIRE.

AND YOU KNOW THE STATISTICS.

IF YOU WATCH THE NEWS, AND LISTEN TO PODCASTS, IT IS SOMEWHAT OF A LOCAL ISSUE.

I KNOW CITY COUNCIL HAS AMENDED THEIR INVESTMENT POLICY TO NOT ALLOW INVESTMENTS IN ONE ONE PARTICULAR FOREIGN COUNTRY.

NOT TO MENTION THE FACT ISRAELI BONDS ARE NOT PARTICULARLY GOOD INVESTMENTS RIGHT NOW.

AND OCTOBER 23RD.

THE THREE RATING AGENCIES DOWNGRADED AMIDST, A VERY GOOD INVESTMENT.

BUT NOT THAT JUST THAT, BUT BDS, THE BOYCOTT, DIVESTMENT AND SANCTIONS MOVEMENT.

OR THAT THE BILL THAT PASSED THE STATE LEGISLATURE IN 2017, THIS RELATES TO PREEMPTION, AND IT TAKES AWAY YOUR LOCAL CONTROL TO NEGOTIATE CONTRACTS THAT ARE, WE ELECT YOU TO NEGOTIATE OUR CONTRACTS, NOT BIG BROTHER IN AUSTIN.

SO MAYBE WHEN YOU SEND YOUR LOBBY TEAM TO AUSTIN, YOU CAN LOOK, YOUR TIME IS UP.

OKAY? THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU.

NON-AGENDA SPEAKER NUMBER 17, MARISSA HANSEN.

I AM DEEPLY CONCERNED ABOUT THE ENMESHED RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN SOME HARRIS COUNTY ELECTED OFFICIALS AND A CONVICTED PEDOPHILE.

EDDIE DUCAT WAS CONVICTED OF SEXUAL ASSAULT OF A 14 YEAR OLD GIRL WHEN HE WAS 28 YEARS OLD.

HE IS A REGISTERED SEX OFFENDER.

WHILE I BELIEVE IN SECOND CHANCES, THOSE CHANCES SHOULDN'T INCLUDE PLACING PEDOPHILES IN ENVIRONMENTS WITH CHILDREN.

ELECTED OFFICIALS IN HARRIS COUNTY HAVE NOT ONLY ALLOCATED FUNDS ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS TO DECHERT, THEY HAVE PARTNERED WITH HIM ON SEVERAL INITIATIVES TARGETED AT CHILDREN.

THEY HAVE DONE THIS DESPITE DECHERT'S RECORD AS A REGISTERED SEX OFFENDER BEING PUBLIC INFORMATION THROUGH A SIMPLE GOOGLE SEARCH.

D'ACCORD. AS A MOTHER, COMMISSIONER BRIONES, WOULD YOU TRUST YOUR TWO DAUGHTERS WITH A REGISTERED SEX OFFENDER? YES OR NO? YES OR NO? NO. YOU WOULDN'T.

THEN WHY DID YOU DONATE OVER $10,000 OF TAXPAYER FUNDS TO DECKARD'S CHURCH? THANK YOU. YOUR TIME IS UP.

THEY'RE USING DECKARD'S CHURCH.

THANK YOU. YOUR TIME IS UP. A WARMING CENTER.

MAY I CONTINUE? YOU GUYS WILL. THANK YOU.

NEXT IS NON-AGENDA SPEAKER NUMBER 18, DAVE PARKER.

SO I'M GOING TO SPEAK VERY QUICKLY.

I'M SORRY, I, DAVE PARKER, UNDER PENALTY OF PERJURY.

STATE THE FOLLOWING. I WAS WITNESS TO CRIMINAL VIOLATIONS OF THE FIRST, FOURTH, SIXTH, EIGHTH AND 14TH AMENDMENTS.

I WAS MADE MADE AWARE AFTER THE FACT, AND I'M CURRENTLY IN POSSESSION OF IRREFUTABLE PROOF FROM JUDGE KIRBY'S OWN FACEBOOK PAGE OF INTERACTIONS WITH THE DEFENDANT BEFORE HER COURTROOM, IN VIOLATION OF JUDICIAL CODE OF CONDUCT AND ETHICS, THAT UPON ENTRY, I WAS UNABLE TO EVEN TAKE A SEAT BEFORE JUDGE KIRBY BEGAN TO ENGAGE MYSELF IN A MANNER MOST HOSTILE, RESULTING MYSELF BEING FORCED TO RETREAT FROM THE COURT UNDER THREAT OF ARREST, AND SHE WOULD GLADLY HAVE HER BAILIFFS CARRY OUT SUCH AN ACTION THAT UPON REENTRY TO THE 280TH, I WAS AGAIN SINGLED OUT AND THREATENED TO NOT DISRUPT HER COURTROOM AND ACTION THAT HAD NOT TAKEN PLACE, AND BEING THREATENED TO NOT MAKE A SINGLE MOVE.

THE COURT WATCHERS, ONE AND ALL, WERE RELEGATED TO THE VERY BACK OF THE COURTROOM, DESPITE THERE BEING ONLY A HANDFUL OF OTHER INDIVIDUALS PRESENT, ALL OF WHICH WERE PERMITTED TO HAVE THEIR DEVICES, INCLUDING TWO LADIES WEARING LAPTOPS WITH SEVERAL PROGRAMS THAT I, AS A MEMBER OF THE PRESS, WAS SINGLED OUT BY, JUDGE KIRBY THREATENED THAT I SHOULD BE CONCERNED ABOUT MY SELF PRESERVATION.

I ASKED FOR CLARIFICATION, WHICH SHE PROVIDED IN A MANNER MOST CHILLING THAT I WITNESSED.

THE REMAINDER OF THE HEARING WOULD LOVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK MORE ON MY OBSERVATIONS OF HER BEHAVIOR TOWARDS DEFENDANTS.

PLAINTIFF'S ATTORNEY. THANK YOU.

YOUR TIME IS UP. I'LL BE HERE TILL CLOSE.

THANK YOU. NON-AGENDA SPEAKER NUMBER 20.

EMMANUEL RAMOS, YOU HAVE ONE MINUTE.

[03:00:05]

HELLO, SERGEANT RAMOS, UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS.

I'M A PROUD HOUSTONIAN.

I'VE ALSO BEEN COMMISSIONED BY THE CITY OF HOUSTON MAYOR'S OFFICE OF CULTURAL AFFAIRS.

I HAVE A PERMANENT ART INSTALLATION AT BUSH INTERCONTINENTAL AIRPORT, WHICH I'M VERY PROUD OF.

I'M A CONSTITUENT OF RODNEY ELLIS, WHO I CONTINUE TO VOTE FOR AS WELL AS LINA HIDALGO.

I'M HERE WITH GROWING CONCERNS THAT OUR CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS ARE BEING VIOLATED BY FOREIGN ENTITIES.

WHEN I FIRST JOINED THE MARINE CORPS 20 YEARS AGO, AT THE AGE OF 17, I WAS SENT OFF AT 19 TO IRAQ AND TOLD WHO MY ENEMIES WERE.

I MET A BEAUTIFUL PEOPLE, A BEAUTIFUL CULTURE, WHICH I WAS IMMERSED IN DURING MY TIME IN SERVICE BOTH THERE AND IN AFGHANISTAN.

I NOW SEE OUR COUNTRY BEING THRUSTED INTO YET ANOTHER CONFLICT.

AND AGAIN, I'M BEING TOLD WHO OUR ENEMIES ARE.

THESE BOOKS I TOOK UPON MYSELF TO READ ABOUT THE PEOPLE WHO WE'VE BEEN TOLD ARE OUR ENEMIES.

I'VE GOT GROWING CONCERNS THAT THERE ARE FOREIGN NATIONS THAT ARE LOOKING TO ASSERT OUR CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS AND FREEDOMS OF SPEECH, WHICH I ACTUALLY SIGNED A CONTRACT WITH THE CITY OF HOUSTON. THANK YOU.

YOUR TIME IS UP, RIGHT? BEING VIOLATED. THANK YOU.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE.

THANK. THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE.

AND CAN YOU, SIR? SIR, CAN YOU STEP OUTSIDE WITH THAT? THOSE ARE ALL THE SPEAKERS, JUDGE.

THANK YOU SO MUCH, TIFFANY.

AND THANK YOU TO ALL THE SPEAKERS.

SO NOW WE WILL TAKE THE CLERK'S ITEM.

[Departments (Part 3 of 4)]

IS SHE AVAILABLE? YES, WE WILL TAKE THE COUNTY CLERK'S ITEM 193 REGARDING THE JOINT PRIMARY ELECTIONS COST ESTIMATE.

AND THE CLERK CLERK HUDSPETH, I BELIEVE, IS JOINING US ON THE LINE.

SHE'S AT A CONFERENCE AND REQUIRED TRAINING.

HELLO, CORP MEMBERS, CAN YOU HEAR ME? WE CAN HEAR YOU, BUT WE CAN'T SEE YOU YET.

OKAY, I'M TRYING TO WORK ON THAT.

IS SAYING. HOLD ON JUST A MOMENT.

OH, THERE YOU ARE.

CAN YOU SEE ME NOW? YES, WE CAN SEE YOU AND HEAR YOU.

OKAY. IF I'M TOO CLOSE TO THE CAMERA, DON'T LAUGH AT ME.

TELL ME I'M TOO CLOSE AND I'LL BACK UP.

YOU'RE OKAY? IT'LL BE FINE.

OKAY. GOOD AFTERNOON, COURT MEMBERS.

THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH FOR THIS TIME.

TO COVER, SOME IMPORTANT ITEMS IN REGARDS TO THE UPCOMING PRIMARY ELECTION.

I AM AT A COUNTY CLERK CONFERENCE, AND SO I AM JUGGLING TODAY.

JUST A COUPLE BRIEF UPDATES.

IN TERMS OF WHERE WE ARE WITH THE JOINT PRIMARY, WE ARE IN, WEEKLY MEETINGS AS WE CONTINUE TO TALK TO OUR PARTIES AND, AND MAKE SURE THAT WE, MEET ALL THE STANDARDS PRIOR TO MARCH 5TH, AT THIS TIME.

AND I THINK WE'RE SPECIFICALLY TALKING ABOUT ITEM 193, THERE IS A COST ESTIMATE IN TERMS OF MINIMUM TO POSSIBLE MAXIMUM.

RIGHT NOW WE'RE AT, OVER A LITTLE BIT OF, $11 MILLION.

WE ARE SLIGHTLY OVER $1 MILLION IN OUR PRE ESTIMATE.

AND WHAT I MEAN IN TERMS OF PRE ESTIMATE, OBVIOUSLY THAT'S ABOUT 75% OF THE ESTIMATE.

AND AFTER THE ELECTION WE'LL KNOW THE FULL EXTENT.

SO WE ARE IN THE BALLPARK BETWEEN 11 TO A MAX OF 14 MILLION.

SO THE AGAIN THE EARLY ESTIMATE PRE ESTIMATE IS A LITTLE OVER 11 MILLION.

AND WE ARE GIVING WE'RE WE'RE GIVING SOME INSIGHT THAT IT COULD BE BETWEEN THE 11 TO 14 MILLION ONCE THE ELECTION IS ACTUALLY COMPLETED.

WE HAVE MET WITH THE BUDGET OFFICE AND THE APPROPRIATE ENTITIES, SO WE HAVE ENOUGH FUNDING TO GET THROUGH THIS MARCH 5TH ELECTION.

BUT WE'LL COME BACK TO COURT WITH A SUPPLEMENTAL TO DISCUSS THE REMAINING SPRING ELECTIONS INTO NOVEMBER AND WHAT WE BELIEVE THE TOTAL, NEEDS WILL BE IN TERMS OF COST.

SO, JUST WANTED TO GIVE THAT UPDATE.

OBVIOUSLY SOME THINGS HAVE CHANGED SINCE JANUARY 9TH.

COURT. WE DO HAVE THE JOINT PRIMARY ASPECT, AND WE ARE WORKING ON ALL THE LOGISTICAL PIECES WITH THAT.

BUT AGAIN, THAT ESTIMATE IS BETWEEN 11 AND 14 MILLION.

I'LL TAKE ANY QUESTIONS IN TERMS OF THIS ITEM.

COMMISSIONER RAMSEY. SO YOU'RE REALLY ASKING, FOR ADDITIONAL FUNDING? CLARK, TO HANDLE THE PRIMARY.

SO ACTUALLY.

BUT WITH THAT ESTIMATE, GIVEN THAT ESTIMATE ALLOWS US TO HAVE ENOUGH FUNDING TO GET THROUGH THE MARCH 5TH PRIMARY.

HOWEVER, JUST TO GET THROUGH MARCH PRIMARY, THAT'S.

YEAH, THAT'S CORRECT, SIR.

AND SO WHAT WE WILL DO IS FOLLOW IN MARCH 5TH, WE WILL COME BACK AND AND HAVE A SUPPLEMENTAL DISCUSSION IN TERMS OF THE UPCOMING REMAINING ELECTIONS

[03:05:03]

AND WHAT WE BELIEVE WE WILL NEED IN TERMS OF ADDITIONAL FUNDING.

BUT WE IN FACT, AFTER MEETING WITH BUDGET MANAGEMENT AND LOOKING AT OUR BUDGET AS A WHOLE, HAVE THE FUNDS THAT WE NEED TO GET THROUGH MARCH 5TH.

COMMISSIONER ELLIS.

THANK THANK YOU, MARK HUDSPITH.

WILL THE PARTIES END UP REIMBURSING THE COUNTY FOR THE FULL COST OF RUNNING THE PRIMARIES OR PARTIALLY? THAT'S A VERY GOOD QUESTION, COMMISSIONER.

THE STATE ACTUALLY REIMBURSES ALL COUNTIES AND IT WILL NOT BE FOR THE FULL AMOUNT.

THERE IS ONLY A CERTAIN PORTION THAT IS, THAT IS REIMBURSED PER THE STATE OF TEXAS FOR THE PRIMARY ELECTIONS.

AND SO IT WILL NOT BE THE TOTAL COST.

AND AS WE MOVE FORWARD ON THAT PIECE, WE WILL HAVE A BETTER PICTURE IN TERMS OF WHAT THE COUNTY WILL INCUR ON THE BACK END THAT WILL NOT BE REIMBURSED BY THE STATE OF TEXAS, BUT THEY DO NOT REIMBURSE THE 100% AMOUNT BASED ON THE THE COST THAT WE'LL HAVE FOR THIS ELECTION.

IT'LL JUST BE GOOD WHEN YOU WHEN YOU DO FIGURE IT OUT TO MAKE NOTE AND TELL US IF YOU DON'T MIND.

SOMETIMES WE GET SO MANY EMAILS.

WOULD JUST BE INTERESTING TO MAKE NOTE OF AND MAYBE PUT SOME ATTENTION ON IT.

BUT AGAIN, KUDOS TO YOU AND EVERYONE INVOLVED IN GETTING THE, THE PARTIES TO DO A JOINT PRIMARY.

I HOPE IT'LL GO WELL, AND WE ALL COMMIT TO DOING ALL WE CAN TO MAKE SURE IT'S A MODEL GOING FORWARD THAT THAT EVERYBODY FEELS GOOD ABOUT.

I KNOW THAT, THE DIRECTOR, RAMOS, WANTED TO ADD SOMETHING.

SURE. JUST FOR CONTEXT, COMMISSIONERS COURT, THE THAT $11 MILLION NUMBER REPRESENT REPRESENTS ABOUT $2 MILLION ABOVE THE BUDGET.

WE'VE BEEN IN CONSTANT COMMUNICATION WITH THE CLERK'S OFFICE ON ON THE STATUS OF THINGS THEY CAN GET THROUGH THE PRIMARY.

WE'LL WORK TOGETHER ON GETTING AN ACCURATE NUMBER FOR THE RUNOFF AND ALL THE PREP WORK FOR THE REST OF THE FISCAL YEAR FOR THE GENERAL ELECTION.

COMMISSIONER RAMSEY. YEAH, A COUPLE OF AGAIN, THANK YOU.

CLERK. WE'VE TALKED A COUPLE MORE TIMES THIS WEEK GETTING THROUGH THE DETAILS OF IT.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR HARD WORK.

IT, IT CHANGES A BIT EVERY DAY.

BUT JUST TO ENCOURAGE EVERYBODY INVOLVED IN THIS PROCESS, I AM CONCERNED, ABOUT A COUPLE OF THINGS.

AND AS WE GO THROUGH AND WE WE DO THE PRIMARIES.

PRIMARIES DIFFERENT THAN THE GENERAL.

BUT ON THE PRIMARY, THERE'LL BE A DEMOCRAT JUDGE AND A REPUBLICAN JUDGE AT EVERY POLLING LOCATION.

AND I THINK WHAT WE WOULD ASK IN TERMS OF THE REPUBLICAN PARTY IS THAT 50% OF THE PRECINCTS, 50% OF THE POLLING LOCATIONS, WOULD HAVE A JUDGE THAT WOULD DELIVER THE THE MACHINES, THE BALLOTS.

AND ONE TO PICK UP.

IN A PRIMARY. I THINK YOU CAN DO THAT.

AT LEAST THAT'S MY UNDERSTANDING THAT AGAIN, YOU'D HAVE A DEMOCRAT REPUBLICAN JUDGE AT EVERY POLLING LOCATION.

BUT IN THE SPIRIT OF DOING A JOINT ELECTION, IT WOULD SEEM TO ME A ENCOURAGING THING TO THE VOTERS OF HARRIS COUNTY WOULD BE TO, ALLOW THAT TO HAPPEN IS I UNDERSTAND THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY DOESN'T WANT TO DO THAT.

AND I'M JUST LIKE I WAS, PETITIONED, OVER THE LAST SEVERAL WEEKS TO HAVE A JOINT, IN THE SPIRIT OF HAVING A JOINT ELECTION, I WOULD HOPE THAT, THERE WOULD BE AN AGREEMENT, WHERE 50% OF THE POLLING LOCATIONS, COULD HAVE THE EQUIPMENT DELIVERED AND PICKED UP BY A REPUBLICAN.

50% WOULD BE DEMOCRAT.

THAT WOULD BE IN THE SPIRIT OF A JOINT ELECTION.

YOU SEE POSSIBILITY OF DOING THAT.

SHE THROWS UP ON YOU. OH, NO.

WE CAN'T HEAR YOU, CLARK.

SHH. SHE FROZE UP IN CHURCH.

I'M GONNA TEXT HER. YEAH.

YES. LET'S SEE IF SHE COMES BACK ON.

ALL RIGHT. CAN YOU HEAR US? CLARK? HUDSPETH? YES. CAN YOU ALL HEAR ME? YES. GO AHEAD. COMMISSIONER ELLIS DID.

SHE HAD A QUESTION.

OH. YOU WANT TO REPEAT IT, COMMISSIONER? IT MIGHT HAVE BEEN BROKEN ON HER HAND.

DID YOU. DID YOU? WAS IT CLEAR WHAT I WAS TALKING ABOUT? CLERK. YES, SIR. YES, I DID ACTUALLY HEAR IT.

I JUST DIDN'T KNOW IF YOU ALL, HEARD ME SPEAKING.

YEAH. SO, COMMISSIONER, WE HAVE DISCUSSED THIS IN GREAT LENGTH.

THIS ISN'T TECHNICALLY AN ITEM ON.

[03:10:02]

IT HAPPENS.

SIR, WE CAN'T HEAR YOU.

THE COMMISSION, I KNOW THAT, YEAH.

WE LOST YOU. YOU WANT TO START OVER AGAIN? OH, AGAIN.

OKAY. SORRY ABOUT THAT.

LET ME TRY AGAIN. CAN YOU HEAR ME NOW? YES. YOU'RE GOOD. YES.

OKAY. I'M GOING TO TRY A SEPARATE ROOM, JUST IN CASE.

CAN I COME IN THERE AND JUST FINE.

DID.

IF WE DON'T GET THEM, MAYBE WE CAN COME BACK TO IT.

BUT I KNOW THE FOUR OF US ON OUR SIDE WOULD CERTAINLY BE WILLING TO REACH OUT TO OUR MEMBERS.

CAN CAN YOU ALL HEAR ME? YES, I CAN HEAR YOU.

OKAY. OKAY, GOOD.

SORRY. I LITERALLY MOVED INTO, LIKE, THE OTHER SIDE OF THE DOOR.

AND JUST TO MAKE IT VERY SHORT AND SWEET, THE PARTIES ARE WORKING TOGETHER, TO NEGOTIATE, YOU KNOW, PICKING UP, DROPPING OFF.

JUST SO YOU ALL KNOW, IT IS 100% AT EVERY SINGLE VOTING LOCATION IN TERMS OF EARLY VOTING ELECTION DAY, THERE ARE CODE.

THEY'RE CONSIDERED CO JUDGES UNDER THE CODE.

THERE ARE JUDGES AT EVERY SINGLE SITE ON BOTH SIDES.

PARTY IN TERMS OF APPOINTMENTS AND THE AND THE WORKERS.

THE THE CHAIRS ARE WORKING TOGETHER, TO MAKE THE DECISIONS ON WHO DROPS OFF AND WHO PICKS UP EQUIPMENT.

SO WE ARE WORKING FEVERISHLY.

OUR STAFF IS AROUND THE CLOCK TO GET AS CLOSE TO THE NUMBERS IN TERMS OF 5050 FOR DROP OFF AND PICK UP, BUT AGAIN, IT WILL HAVE TO BE COORDINATION AMONGST THE PARTIES TO AGREE TO THAT. BUT WE ARE WORKING FEVERISHLY AROUND THAT.

WE'RE ALSO WORKING WITH YOUR STAFFS IN TERMS OF POLLING LOCATION, AVAILABILITY IN EVERY COMMISSIONER'S PRECINCT AND WILL CONTINUE TO DO THAT UP UNTIL ELECTION DAY.

AND THE REASON I BRING IT UP NOW THAT THAT'S AN IMPORTANT ISSUE.

THERE'S A LOT OF FLEXIBILITY, I WOULD THINK, IN THAT.

YEAH, I THINK YOU CAN HEAR THAT.

IT IS A DECISION THAT THE REPUBLICAN PARTY AND THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY CAN AGREE TO OR NOT.

AND CURRENTLY, I THINK WE'RE IN THE BALLPARK OF 60% DEMOCRAT, 40% REPUBLICAN.

AND IF WE WANT TO ENCOURAGE FUTURE JOINT ELECTIONS, I THINK A LITTLE COOPERATION WOULD BE APPRECIATED.

SO I WOULD PETITION, REACH OUT.

THAT'S NOT A BIG THING TO, ALLOW EQUIPMENT TO BE DELIVERED AND PICKED UP BY A PARTICULAR ONE OF THE TWO JUDGES IN EACH ONE OF THOSE, IT WOULD SEND A GREAT MESSAGE TO THE VOTING PUBLIC THAT, YOU KNOW WHAT, WE CAN COOPERATE, AND WE CAN'T.

IF WE DON'T DO IT, IT'S GOING TO SEND ANOTHER KIND OF MESSAGE THAT WE REALLY DON'T WANT TO DO JOINT ELECTIONS.

IF WE DON'T EVER HAVE ANOTHER JOINT ELECTION, IT'LL BE ON THE HANDS OF THE DEMOCRATS, NOT THE REPUBLICANS.

COMMISSIONER BROWN AND THEN COMMISSIONER CLARK.

MANY THANKS TO YOU AND YOUR TEAM FOR YOUR TIRELESS EFFORTS AND FOR WORKING WITH BOTH PARTIES.

AND THANK YOU FOR THIS PRIMARY COST ESTIMATE.

IT'S ABOUT 5.2 MILLION.

WITH REGARD TO ELECTION WORKERS, CAN YOU PLEASE GIVE US AN UPDATE ON ALL THE EFFORTS THAT ARE BEING TAKEN TO RECRUIT AND PLAN FOR AND DEPLOY ELECTION WORKERS? ABSOLUTELY. THANK YOU FOR THAT QUESTION.

AND I JUST ALSO WANT TO SAY THANK YOU AS WELL, COMMISSIONER BRIONES, YOU WERE VERY MUCH SO CHAMPION ARPA FUNDS FOR THE OUTREACH PLAN, AND WE WERE ABLE TO BE AWARDED THOSE FUNDS TO CONTINUE TO DO OUTREACH AND AND PUBLICATIONS FOR THE UPCOMING PRIMARY IN TERMS OF ELECTION WORKERS.

WHEN THERE IS A PRIMARY ELECTION, THE OWNERSHIP IS PRETTY MUCH SOLELY ON, THE POLITICAL PARTIES FOR RECRUITMENT.

NOW THAT IS A JOINT WE DO SUPPORT.

THE COUNTY CLERK'S OFFICE DOES SUPPORT, THOSE THOSE ASSIGNMENTS AND THOSE APPOINTMENTS TO THE BEST OF OUR ABILITIES.

BUT IT STARTS WITH THE PARTIES.

SO WE'RE DOING THAT.

BUT WE'RE ALSO DOING WORKER RECRUITMENT ALONG WITH THE CORE PROGRAM, FOR THIS ELECTION CYCLE.

THERE ARE SOME ALSO CAMPAIGNS GOING ON IN NOT ONLY IN THE HIGH SCHOOLS BUT IN THE COLLEGES.

WE ARE APPLIED FOR A GRANT TO START GETTING A PROGRAM AROUND COLLEGE STUDENTS AND GETTING PARTICIPATION FOR WORKING.

BUT AGAIN, THIS IS SOMETHING THAT WE'RE WORKING DAY AND NIGHT WITH THE PARTIES TO ENSURE THAT WE HAVE ENOUGH ELECTION WORKER, RECRUITMENT THAT IS SOLELY PRETTY MUCH ON THE PARTIES. WE DO EMERGENCY ASSIGNMENTS AND WE DO THAT, YOU KNOW, A COUPLE OF WEEKS OUT BEFORE ELECTION DAY, IF FOR ANY REASON THE POLITICAL PARTIES CANNOT PLACE A WORKER IN CERTAIN LOCATIONS, THEN THE COUNTY CLERK'S OFFICE SIMPLY COMES IN TO SUPPORT EMERGENCY ASSIGNMENTS.

THANK YOU. HUDSPITH, CAN YOU PLEASE JUST EDUCATE EVERYONE WHO'S LISTENING? HOW MANY WORKERS TOTAL ARE WE AIMING TO HAVE FROM EARLY VOTING AND THEN ON ELECTION DAY? I DON'T HAVE THOSE NUMBERS RIGHT IN FRONT OF ME, COMMISSIONER.

BUT I WILL TELL YOU EARLY NUMBERS IN TERMS OF LOCATIONS, AND I WILL MAKE SURE WE GET THIS BACK TO THE COURT.

[03:15:02]

THE EXACT NUMBER OF WORKERS.

SO I'LL GIVE YOU SMALL ESTIMATES.

ON THE EARLY VOTING SIDE, WE ARE LOOKING AT 79 TO 80, VOTING LOCATIONS.

THAT 79 TO 80 EARLY VOTING LOCATIONS WE ARE STILL WORKING ON CONFIRMATIONS ON ON THE FINAL LIST.

IN TERMS OF ELECTION DAY, WE ARE IN A BALLPARK OF ABOUT 540 TO 545 POLLS ON ELECTION DAY, DUE TO THE AGREEMENT THAT ELECTION DAY POLLS WOULD BE ADDED.

AND SO I'LL GIVE YOU EXACT NUMBERS.

ONCE I HAVE THEM, I'LL MAKE SURE THAT I PROVIDE THIS TO THE COURT, BUT I DON'T WANT TO THROW A NUMBER OUT THERE THAT IS NOT ACCURATE.

SO BUT I THINK IT HELPS TO GIVE THOSE LOCATIONS, WHICH IS THE 79, I THINK 79 TO 80 EARLY VOTING SITES AND IN THE BALLPARK OF 540 TO 540 FOR ELECTION DAY SITES. I HOPE THAT IS HELPFUL.

AND WE'LL MAKE SURE THAT WE PROVIDE THE AMOUNT OF WORKERS THAT WILL BE REQUIRED FOR THIS ELECTION AS A WHOLE TO HAVE IT FULLY STAFFED.

THANK YOU. CLARK HUDSPETH, I APPRECIATE THE CANDOR AND YOUR COMMITMENT AND YOUR TIRELESS EFFORTS.

THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER ELLIS.

SO I'M THINKING THAT YOU PROBABLY ARE DEALING WITH BOTH PARTIES MORE THAN ANY OF US.

ANY FIVE OF US MAY DEAL WITH OBVIOUSLY ONE PARTY MORE THAN THE OTHER.

BUT SO I WOULD ASK YOU TO GIVE OUR STAFF SOME SENSE OF, WHAT ROLE WE CAN, CAN PLAY EVEN WITH.

DO'S AND DON'TS OF WHAT WE SHOULD NOT SAY.

YOU KNOW, I'M ALWAYS TRYING TO BE A LITTLE CAREFUL NOT TO ENRAGE EITHER SIDE.

AND BEFORE WE MEET WITH THEM, OR I THINK, EACH OF US, AND THEN GIVE US SOME SENSE OF WHAT WE SAVE WHEN, YOU KNOW, BY DOING IT JOINTLY. BUT I THINK WE'D BE WISE TO WHATEVER WE CAN USE OUR BEST, POLITICAL, MANEUVERING, PERSUASIVE ART TO TRY TO GET THE TWO OF THEM TO WORK TOGETHER, BECAUSE IT WILL SAVE US A HELL OF A LOT OF MONEY AND GIVE US MORE MONEY TO INVEST IN YOUR OFFICE GOING FORWARD AND OTHERS.

BUT SO. AND I'M NOT SURE WHAT YOU DEAL WITH BOTH SIDES MORE THAN WE DO.

1,000%. YES, SIR.

I TALKED DAILY SOME SENSE OF OF HOW WE CAN BE BE HELPFUL AND HOW WE CANNOT BE HELPFUL PRIVATELY.

YOU DON'T WANT TO DO IT NOW.

OKAY. THANK YOU. I JUST WANT TO GIVE ONE TIDBIT JUST TO ONE PART ANSWER.

I WON'T ANSWER IT ALL.

WE WILL NEED TO LEAN HEAVILY IN ON SUPPORT FOR CONFIRMATION OF POLLING LOCATIONS.

UNLIKE NOVEMBER, IT CAN BE A CHALLENGE, TO GET LOCATIONS TO CONFIRM AND PARTICIPATE IN THE MARCH PRIMARY.

AND THIS IS WHERE WE'LL BE, YOU KNOW, CONTINUALLY TALKING WITH YOUR STAFFS DIRECTLY TO HELP US, CONFIRM THOSE POLLING LOCATIONS THAT TYPICALLY DON'T SERVE AS POLLING LOCATIONS IN A PRIMARY. GOOD, GOOD PROGRESS IS BEING MADE EVERY DAY ON THAT.

THANK YOU, CLERK, FOR WHAT YOU'RE DOING.

BUT JUST TO TELL YOU, WE'RE ABOUT HALF RIGHT NOW.

SO I GOT MY MY LIST ABOUT AN HOUR AGO OF THOSE POLLING LOCATIONS THAT THE CLERK'S OFFICE NEEDS HELP WITH.

YEAH. AND I'M THINKING THAT, YOU KNOW, COLLEAGUES, IT'S ONE OF THOSE DEALS WHERE BECAUSE WE DO HAVE THE LONGEST BALLOT IN THE COUNTRY AND WE HAVE SO MANY POLLING PLACES.

WELL SAID. SEEING. IT'S A IS AN INSTANCE WHERE WE JUST TOO BIG TO FAIL.

SO IF IT DOES NOT WORK OUT, IT'S, IT'S BIG PROBLEMS ON ON BOTH SIDES.

AND SOMETIMES I THINK WE CAN HELP LETTING SOME OF THESE FOLKS KNOW WHO HISTORICALLY JUST LIKE A CERTAIN PLACE, BUT IT DOESN'T MEET ADA STANDARDS. AND WE HAVE A SETTLEMENT IN PLACE ON THAT ISSUE.

SO, YOU KNOW, IT'S NOT EASY SOMETIMES TO TELL PEOPLE THE TRUTH.

BUT IF YOU KNOW, WE CAN'T VIOLATE A COURT SETTLEMENT BECAUSE SOMEBODY'S ACCUSTOMED TO GOING TO A CERTAIN PLACE AND IT'S NOT ADA ACCESSIBLE, AND I KNOW HOW THEY WORK IT, THEY'LL CALL YOU AND SAY IT'S SOMEBODY ELSE'S FAULT AT THIS TABLE.

THEN THEY CALL US AND SAY, IT'S YOUR FAULT.

BUT, YOU KNOW, AT SOME POINT, I THINK MOST PEOPLE APPRECIATE WHEN YOU JUST TELL THEM, WE MAY MAKE THEM ANGRY, BUT YOU JUST TELL THEM WHY IT WON'T WORK.

ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU.

THANK YOU SO MUCH. CLERK.

GOOD LUCK WITH YOUR CONFERENCE AND WE ARE ALL BEHIND YOU.

WE REALLY APPRECIATE YOU AND YOUR TEAM.

THANK YOU. WORKING HARD TO MAKE HARRIS COUNTY PROUD.

JUDGE. IS THERE ANY ACTION ON THIS? YES. NO.

NO ACTION. SHE WAS JUST PRESENTING.

THANK YOU. I WAS GOING TO ASK MR. RAMOS. SO, IF SOMETHING COMES UP AND YOU NEED TO PUT SOMETHING ON THE AGENDA, YOU HAVE PLENTY OF TIME TO DO IT.

THIS ITEM IS NOT BROAD ENOUGH, ANY, BUT THAT'S SUFFICIENT FUNDING.

NOW, THERE IS SUFFICIENT FUNDING TO GET THROUGH THE PRIMARY.

ONCE WE HAVE A RECONCILIATION OF THE COST OF THE PRIMARY AND THE PROJECTION FROM THE CLERK ON THE COST OF THE RUNOFFS, AS WELL AS THE PREP WORK FOR THE GENERAL, WE WILL COME BACK WITH A WITH A FIRM NUMBER.

GREAT. SO WE'RE GOING TO NOW LOOK AT THE CONSENT AGENDA FIRST.

ANY CORRECTIONS? YEAH. CORRECT THAT. HE.

OH, ITEM. YES.

I'LL GIVE YOU ONE. ITEM 14 CAN GO BACK ON CONSENT.

[03:20:02]

OKAY. JUST LET ME GET THERE IN A MOMENT.

IF IT'S OKAY, LET ME GO THROUGH, ANY CORRECTIONS HERE OR NO ACTION.

SO PAGE 30.

EXCUSE ME. ITEM 31 ON PAGE FIVE.

OCA HAS REQUESTED NO ACTION.

WE DID RECEIVE THE BRIEFING ON WHAT YOU PLAN TO PRESENT AT THE NEXT COURT.

SO AT LEAST I WILL CALL FOR, FOR SURE FOR THERE TO BE A PRESENTATION AT THE NEXT COURT.

IT'S SO IMPORTANT WITH THOSE VIDEOS THAT CAME OUT.

I MEAN, WE REALLY NEED TO.

YES, ABSOLUTELY. AND THERE'S A LOT OF WORK GOING ON IN THE BACKGROUND.

SO WE'LL HAVE A LOT TO REPORT ON NEXT.

RIGHT. AND I KNOW, I KNOW THERE IS I KNOW THERE IS DIRECTOR.

AND THAT'S WHY I FEEL COMFORTABLE NOT BRINGING IT UP TODAY.

IS THAT THE JAIL? THAT'S THE JAIL.

YES. UPDATE. YEAH.

AND BE SURE WE GET A REALLY GOOD, DEEP DIVE INTO HARRIS HEALTH BECAUSE I KNOW THAT'S A PART OF IT.

AND MAKE SURE WE GET THAT.

YES, SIR. AND I WILL REITERATE, YOU KNOW, MY CONCERN ABOUT IF THEY MAKE A PRESENTATION TO ME, IT'S LIKE THE JAIL, THE THE FOX GUARDING THE HENHOUSE.

SO JUST MAKING SURE THAT WE ARE LOOKING AT WHAT IS THIS THE STANDARD AND TO WHAT EXTENT ARE THEY MEETING IT OR WHATEVER.

RIGHT. AND THAT'S THAT'S, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE'RE MAKING SURE THAT WE'RE ALL TALKING TO EACH OTHER AND WE'RE ALL ALIGNED AND, AND THAT THERE ARE NO QUESTIONS AMONG THE OCA, HARRIS HEALTH AND THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE THAT WE ALL UNDERSTAND ALL PARTS OF THE PRESENTATION.

SO WE MAKE SURE AND WE GO AROUND AND EVERYBODY GETS GETS THEIR INPUT AND THEIR QUESTIONS ANSWERED UP FRONT.

AND THAT'S WHAT WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT IT'S A NICE SMOOTH PROCESS.

AND YOU ALL UNDERSTAND THAT WE'RE ALL WORKING ON IT.

ADMINISTRATORS THERE A LACK OF URGENCY EITHER ON THE JAILS PART OR THE HARRIS HOUSE PART.

I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S IT'S A IT'S A LACK OF URGENCY.

I THINK THAT EVERYBODY HAS THEIR, THEIR OWN, KIND OF AREAS THAT THEY'RE FOCUSED ON, AND SOMETIMES WE'RE NOT QUITE PERFECTLY ALIGNED.

I THINK THAT'S ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE'RE TRYING TO, TO MAKE SURE THAT WE DO AND THAT WE SHOW THE SUPPORT, FOR THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE SO THAT WE CAN GO AHEAD AND, AND ACTUALLY MAKE SOME, SOME REALLY GOOD, PROGRESS AT THE JAIL BECAUSE WE KNOW IT'S PEOPLE'S LIVES.

AND, WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE MAKING SOME GOOD PROGRESS THERE.

ONE THOUGHT FOR THE COUNTY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE TO CONSIDER IS WHETHER WE GO TO EXECUTIVE SESSION ON, ON A LIKE SOME OF THE INCIDENTS THAT HAVE TAKEN PLACE.

I DON'T KNOW IF THAT'S ALLOWED IF THERE'S ENOUGH INFORMATION ABOUT THAT YET, BUT I KNOW SOME OF IT'S, YOU KNOW, INVOLVES HARRIS HEALTH, SOME OF IT DOESN'T.

I FOR ONE, HAVE QUESTIONS.

SO SO LET ME JUST PUT IT OUT THERE FOR FOR MY STAFF AND THE COUNTY ATTORNEY AND, THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR TO CONSIDER THAT OPTION.

AND IF IT'S NOT POSSIBLE OR IT'S NOT READY, THAT'S ALL RIGHT.

SURE. I THINK AT A, AT A FUTURE TIME, I'M NOT SURE.

THERE'S THIS THIS ITEM.

YEAH. YOU DON'T WANT TO POSSIBLY.

I MEAN, THE NEXT FOR NEXT MEETING.

YES, ABSOLUTELY. WE WE CAN WE CAN WORK ON THAT WITH THEM AGAIN TO THE SAME POINT OF LIKE BUT I KNOW THAT IT PUTS US AT A LEGAL LIABILITY TO HAVE A CONVERSATION IN THE OPEN.

ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU GUYS.

SO ANYWAY NO ACTION ON ON THAT ONE.

AND IN TERMS OF WE'LL TAKE 33 AND 41 TOGETHER ON THE BUDGET, 34 IS A DISCUSSION ABOUT THE BUDGET CALENDAR. OMB HAS REQUESTED NO ACTION FOR RIGHT NOW.

ITEMS 155, 156 AND 157 ON THE IT POLICY.

UNIVERSAL SERVICES WOULD LIKE A LITTLE BIT MORE TIME HAS REQUESTED NO ACTION.

185 UNDER FIRE MARSHAL LAW ENFORCEMENT ROSTER.

FIRE MARSHAL REQUESTS NO ACTION.

267. THERE'S A CORRECTION.

WE'RE GOING TO CHANGE 1.7 MILLION TO 1.4 MILLION.

SO IT READS IN THE ADDITIONAL AMOUNT OF 1.4 MILLION TO PROVIDE ADDITIONAL SERVICES.

THAT IS A CIVIC HARD HEART.

COMMUNITY SERVICES.

287 A CORRECTION AGAIN.

SO WE'RE GOING TO REPLACE THE WORDS OF A RENEWAL OPTION TO THE WORDS FOR THE COUNTY JUDGE TO EXECUTE AN AGREEMENT.

IT'LL SAY REQUEST FOR APPROVAL FOR THE COUNTY JUDGE TO EXECUTE AN AGREEMENT WITH UNBIASED CONSULTING, LLC.

NO. ITEM 380.

AN APPOINTMENT. COMMISSIONER.

GARCIA, I'VE GOT HERE.

NO ACTION. IS THAT RIGHT? NO ACTION ON THAT ONE.

AND LET ME READ THE DISCUSSION ITEMS NOW.

YES. IS ITEM 84 NO ACTION? IS THAT THE LEGISLATIVE ONE? NO, MA'AM. THAT WAS A ENGINEERING.

THAT'S RIGHT. JUDGE 84, I THINK.

SUPPOSED TO BE NO ACTION. NO ACTION.

AND THE LEGISLATIVE RELATION WHILE WE'RE ON IT.

NO ACTION. THANK YOU.

SO HERE'S OUR DISCUSSION AGENDA.

YES. THANK YOU.

IF I COULD ASK JUDGE TO PUT 163 ON THE DISCUSSION AGENDA.

YES. JUST A MOMENT.

[03:25:01]

163. IN THE DISCUSSION AGENDA.

AND. THIRD ITEM IS AN INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT.

OKAY. IT'S GOING ON THERE, COMMISSIONER.

THANK YOU. OKAY, SO HERE IS WHAT WE'VE GOT.

EXECUTIVE SESSION ITEMS 382.

THREE. DO WE NEED TO GO TO EXECUTIVE SESSION ON THAT ONE? IT'S AN APPOINTMENT.

NOPE. OKAY.

WHAT ABOUT 383? THAT ONE WE DO NEED TO DISCUSS, RIGHT? YEAH. OKAY, SO WE'LL GO TO EXECUTIVE SESSION ON THAT ONE.

384. DO WE NEED TO GO TO EXECUTIVE SESSION ON 384? 385. NOPE.

386. AND.

387. NOPE.

THREE EIGHT.

OH, YEAH. I'M FOR THAT ONE.

YEAH. ME TOO.

SO, JUDGE. YES, THESE ARE THE APPOINTMENTS.

382 384 3853 86 387 388.

THOSE ARE ALL ALL AGAIN AT THE END.

THEY'RE APPROVED AS PRESENTED.

YES. THANK YOU.

396 COUNTY ATTORNEY, UNLESS THERE'S ANY QUESTIONS.

OH, WHAT ABOUT 397 SAME.

AND THOSE TWO ARE RELATED.

OKAY. ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS ON 396 OR 397.

NO QUESTIONS. OKAY. SO FOR FOR EXECUTIVE SESSION, I ONLY HAVE 383.

AND JAMES, THEY ARE AS PRESENTED.

THANK YOU FOR THE QUESTION.

MOVING ON TO THE REGULAR AGENDA, WE'VE GOT ITEM 20, FLYBY PRECINCT THREE.

I WANT TO ADD 17 17.

ALL RIGHT. COMING UP, 17 I THINK 14 IS I'D LIKE TO GO BACK ON YOU LIKE GO BACK ON.

OKAY. ITEM 17 IS AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN FUNDING.

SO I'M PUTTING THAT ON HERE.

AND DID YOU SAY YOU HAVE 14 ALSO, COMMISSIONER? NO, HE'S, PUT IT BACK ON.

PUT IT BACK ON CONSENT.

PUT ON CONSENT? YES, 14. GOT IT.

OKAY, SO WE'VE GOT ITEM 20.

ITEM 17.

DO YOU STILL NEED TO DISCUSS ITEM 21, COMMISSIONER RAMSEY? YES. WHAT ABOUT ITEM 30? ON MAY 27TH.

JUDGE AT 2727.

AND YES, 30 NEEDS TO STAY.

OKAY. SO 27 IS AN AGREEMENT WITH SCHOOL READINESS CONSULTING.

I'M PUTTING THIS ON HERE.

AND 30 WILL STAY.

AND I'LL GO BACK THROUGH THE FULL LIST IN A MOMENT.

AFTER 30. WE HAVE, WHERE WE HAVE 32, 31 WHERE WE ARE.

RIGHT. 32. YES, YES.

IT'S ONLY 32.

33. YES.

34 IS NO ACTION, RIGHT? NO ACTION. THAT WAS THE BUDGET CALENDAR.

41 GOES WITH 33, 79 FLAGGED BY COMMISSIONER 43.

JUDGE. EXCUSE ME.

THREE. OKAY. GOT IT.

43. AND 44.

OKAY. 43 LAND ACQUISITION AND 44 THREE JOB CODES.

I'M ADDING THOSE BOTH ON HERE.

WHAT ABOUT 79, COMMISSIONER ELLIS? DID WE ALREADY DO THAT ONE? WE ALREADY DID THAT ONE. WE DID IT.

OKAY. 129 COMMISSIONER RAMSEY.

YES. 129.

THAT IS, ADMINISTRATION BUILDING REMODEL.

130. COMMISSIONER ELLIS, DO YOU NEED TO DISCUSS THAT ONE? YES. 152.

REQUESTED BY PRECINCTS ONE AND TWO.

YES. ONE.

60 THREE.

I THINK, COMMISSIONER RAMSEY.

OH, NO, COMMISSIONER, THAT NEEDS TO STAY.

OKAY. 183 COMMISSIONER AT 164 AS WELL.

JUDGE. YES.

LET ME ADD 164.

164 IS ABOUT.

[03:30:02]

THE GUARANTEED INCOME PILOT.

164. WHAT ABOUT 183? COMMISSIONER GARCIA, DO YOU STILL NEED TO DISCUSS THAT ONE? 183? YES.

187 COMMISSIONER.

OH, WE ALREADY WE ALREADY DISCUSSED THIS ONE.

YEAH. THAT WAS DEALT TO THE DOG.

193 WE DISCUSSED ALREADY.

YEAH WE DO. 191 JUDGE YES.

191. IS A COUNTY ENGINEERING LEASING SPACE.

PUTTING ONE ANYONE ON THEIR 278 WAS FLAGGED BY PRECINCT THREE.

YES. 310.

PRECINCT THREE.

YES. OH.

I'M SORRY. PUT THAT ON. CONSENT.

PUTTING 310 BACK ON CONSENT.

WHAT ABOUT 340? OH 341. WHERE WE DISCUSS, COMMISSIONER BRIONES.

WHAT ABOUT THE CLIMATE ACTION PLAN? YEAH. THREE.

WE'LL LEAVE THAT ONE. 395 T-C-EQ COMMISSIONER RAMSEY YES.

398 YES.

403 WAS FLAGGED BY COMMISSIONER RAMSEY.

YES. 413.

COMMISSIONER GARCIA, I KNOW YOU WANT TO DISCUSS THIS ONE.

414 COMMISSIONER BRIONES.

YES. 415 COMMISSIONER GARCIA FLEX FUND.

416 COMMISSIONER GARCIA YES.

THERE ARE TWO PUBLIC HEARINGS.

I'LL GO OVER THEM IN A MOMENT.

OKAY. SO HERE'S HERE ARE THE DISCUSSION ITEMS WE HAVE.

EXECUTIVE SESSION ITEM 383.

DISCUSSION ITEMS 20 1721.

I'M MISSING ANYTHING.

IT'S. OKAY, LET ME GO THROUGH THE PUBLIC HEARINGS.

YES. JUST WANTED TO SEE IF COMMISSIONER PRECINCT ONE WAS GOING TO MAKE THE CORRECTION FOR 405.

THAT WAS EMAILED.

OH, YEAH. WE DO. YEAH.

WE WANT TO MAKE A CORRECTION.

WE LEFT TWO NAMES OFF.

JUST WORK THEM IN AND ALPHABETICAL ORDER.

JACQUELINE AGUIRRE AGUIRRE AND DIANA LOT.

THOSE ARE TWO OF THE MODELS THAT, YOU TAKE IT AND OFF IN FRONT OF HER BETWEEN SISK AND NASIR.

AND WE'LL EMAIL IT TO YOU REAL QUICKLY IF THAT HELPS.

YES, SIR. I HAVE THE EMAIL. THANK YOU.

OKAY. WE'VE GOT A CORRECTION ON 405.

CAN I GO BACK TO CONSENT? YES. YES, MA'AM.

YES. YOU ALL WANT ME TO TALK ABOUT IT? OKAY. SO, ANYTHING ELSE? ALL RIGHT, SO LET ME GO THROUGH THE PUBLIC HEARINGS, AND THEN WE'LL.

AND THEN WE'LL TAKE A VOTE. SO IN 342.

WE NOW HAVE A PUBLIC HEARING FOR ITEM 342.

AND I NOW OPEN A PUBLIC HEARING TO CONSIDER APPROVAL TO FOR THE REQUEST BY THE OFFICE OF COUNTY ENGINEER

[Public Hearings]

FOR A PUBLIC HEARING FOR APPROVAL OF THE REVISION TO THE SUBDIVISION PLAT ENTITLED DREAMLAND PLACE, SECTION TWO, PARTIAL REPLAT NUMBER FIVE, UNDER LOCAL GOVERNMENT CODE 232 .009 C1.

PRECINCT THREE.

ARE THERE ANY SPEAKERS? SINCE THERE ARE NO SPEAKERS, I NOW CLOSE THIS PUBLIC HEARING.

IS THERE A MOTION ON ITEM 342? MOTION BY COMMISSIONER GARCIA, SECOND BY COMMISSIONER RAMSEY.

MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY.

ANY OPPOSED?

[03:35:02]

NEXT UP, A SECOND PUBLIC HEARING.

I NOW. OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING TO CONSIDER APPROVAL OF THE REVISION TO THE SUBDIVISION PLAT ENTITLED SAINT CHARLES PLACE PARTIAL PLAT NUMBER 15, UNDER LOCAL GOVERNMENT CODE 232 .009 C1.

PRECINCT THREE.

ARE THERE ANY SPEAKERS FOR OR AGAINST THIS ITEM? SINCE THERE ARE NO SPEAKERS, I NOW CLOSE THIS PUBLIC HEARING.

IS THERE A MOTION ON ITEM 343? MOTION BY COMMISSIONER RAMSEY, SECOND BY COMMISSIONER GARCIA.

IS THERE A MOTION FOR ALL THE ITEMS ONE THROUGH 416, WITH THE EXCEPTION OF ITEMS ALREADY VOTED ON AND DISCUSSION ITEMS JUST LISTED? MOTION BY COMMISSIONER GARCIA.

THERE A SECOND, SECOND, SECOND BY COMMISSIONER BRIONES.

SO WE'LL WE'LL SAVE THE EXECUTIVE SESSION ITEM FOR LAST, AND WE'LL START WITH ITEM 20, COMMISSIONER RAMSEY.

[Departments (Part 4 of 4)]

IS THIS A 17 GOES BEFORE 20.

THANK YOU. WELL, 17.

17. 17. THANK YOU.

THANK YOU, THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT.

I DON'T. I DIDN'T NOTE DOWN WHO FLAGGED THAT ONE.

I DID, YOU DID. IT'S A REQUEST BY THE OFFICE OF COUNTY ENGINEER FOR APPROVAL TO APPROPRIATE $337,546 TO ADMINISTER.

I THINK THE PROGRAM DESCRIBED IN THE PREVIOUS 14 ITEM 14, WHICH IS 3 MILLION.

IS THAT THE ADMINISTRATIVE COST ASSOCIATED WITH, ITEM? 14. MISCHA BARTON WITH OFFICE OF COUNTY ADMINISTRATION.

NOW THAT IS SOME ADDITIONAL LABOR TO SUPPORT THE 11 NEIGHBORHOODS ASSOCIATED WITH THE CLEAN STREETS, SAFE NEIGHBORHOODS INITIATIVES AND ASSOCIATED ENGINEERING PROJECT MANAGEMENT. SO THAT'S NOT JUST THAT'S NOT RELATED TO THOSE FEW PROJECTS.

IT'S IT'S MORE OF A PROGRAM REVIEW.

IT'S IT'S ACROSS ALL 11 NEIGHBORHOODS, WHICH REPRESENT $22 MILLION WORTH OF INVESTMENT BECAUSE IT LOOKED LIKE IN THE PREVIOUS IN ITEM 14 THAT WE'VE ALREADY APPROVED ON CONSENT, THAT THERE WERE ADMINISTRATIVE DOLLARS PUT IN EACH ONE OF THOSE.

AND THOSE ARE ADMINISTRATIVE DOLLARS ALLOCATED TO EACH PRECINCT, RIGHT, WHICH IS SEPARATE APART FROM THIS, THESE ARE OTHER DOLLARS.

OKAY. I'M OVER IT.

THAT'S ALL THE QUESTION I HAVE. I'M OVER IT.

MOTION BY COMMISSIONER ELLIS, SECOND BY COMMISSIONER GARCIA ON ITEM 17.

AND NOW WE MOVE TO ITEM 20.

AGAIN, HARRIS COUNTY.

IS THIS A NEW PROGRAM CALLED FUEL? HAVE WE DONE THAT BEFORE? YES. THIS IS A PROGRAM OF THE EARLY CHILDHOOD INITIATIVES TEAM WITHIN THE CEO.

IT IS? YES.

SO IS THIS A FIRST, AMOUNT OF FUNDING? SO THE THE MAIN PROGRAM WILL BE ARPA FUNDED, AND, THERE'S CURRENTLY AN ACTIVE RFP ASSOCIATED WITH THE PROGRAM.

THIS IS ONE OF OUR, FIRST ATTEMPTS TO SECURE SUSTAINABLE FUNDING AND ENGAGE PHILANTHROPY TO SUPPORT THE EARLY CHILDHOOD INITIATIVES GOING FORWARD.

OKAY, THAT WAS MY QUESTION.

I'M OKAY. MOTION BY COMMISSIONER ELLIS, SECOND, SECOND BY COMMISSIONER BRIONES.

ITEM 21, COMMISSIONER RAMSEY.

THESE ARE TWO POSITIONS, I THINK, EARLY CHILDHOOD RELATED.

IT TOTALS 818,000.

I'M ASSUMING THAT'S 18.

18 MONTHS. IS THAT RIGHT? THESE GO THROUGH 2026.

AND THESE ARE MORE ADMINISTRATIVE THAN ANYTHING MANAGER RELATED.

YES. OKAY.

THAT'S THAT WAS JUST MY QUESTION.

MOVE IT. MOTION BY COMMISSIONER ELLIS.

SECOND BY COMMISSIONER GARCIA.

ALL IN FAVOR? ANY OPPOSED? NO, I'M IN FAVOR OF MOTION.

CARRIES 4 TO 1.

ITEM 27.

THIS IS AN ITEM THAT LOOKS LIKE, IF IT'S CLEAR WE ARE HIRING A CONSULTANT TO EVALUATE THE PROGRAM.

SO THIS IS AN OVERVIEW.

COULD COULD OUR OWN STAFF EVALUATE THE PROGRAM? WE WOULD NEED TO TO DEDICATE STAFF AND ASSOCIATED DOLLARS.

SO THIS IS MORE OF A STAFF AUGMENTATION MORE THAN ANYTHING ELSE TYPE.

YES. YEAH. AND IT'S AN INDEPENDENT THIRD PARTY EVALUATION.

THEN I'LL MOVE IT.

MOTION BY COMMISSIONER ELLIS, SECOND BY COMMISSIONER GARCIA.

DID YOU HAVE A QUESTION? OH, NO, I WAS JUST. THANK YOU.

[03:40:03]

DEPUTY COUNTY ATTORNEY.

BARTON. CONGRATULATIONS.

NO, I AGREE, I LIKED THE FACT THAT IT WAS AN INDEPENDENT THIRD PARTY EVALUATION SO THAT THE DATA, THERE'S MORE INTEGRITY TO THE EVALUATION.

SO I'M VERY SUPPORTIVE.

THANK YOU. WE HAVE A MOTION A SECOND.

ANY OPPOSED ON ITEM 27? NO, I'M IN FAVOR.

CONGRATULATIONS. ITEM 30, COMMISSIONER RAMSEY.

AND. YES.

YES, VICE CHAIR.

THANK YOU, DEPUTY.

AS IS THIS AGAIN, MORE, AN ASSESSMENT OF WHAT THE PROGRAM IS, OUTCOMES, ALL SORTS OF THINGS.

IT IS. AND THIS ONE WAS PREVIOUSLY APPROVED.

THIS IS JUST MOVING IT FROM OCA TO DEO.

OKAY. QUESTION.

MOTION BY COMMISSIONER ELLIS, SECOND BY COMMISSIONER GARCIA.

COUNTY DEPUTY COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR.

MOTION CARRIES ONE.

YES. THE COUNT.

THIS IS THE FIRST DAY IN THE JOB WHERE WE HAVE COURT, RIGHT IT IS.

TAKE A PICTURE. NO, I'M NOT LYING.

YEAH, IT'S IT'S LIKE IT'S WHAT HE'S GOING TO TELL YOU.

YEAH. IT'S NOT GOING TO GET ANY BETTER.

IT'S LIKE A SORT OF JUST IT'S LIKE A WEDDING NEVER GETS BETTER THAN THAT FIRST DATE.

DON'T. DON'T SAY THAT TODAY, COMMISSIONER.

COME ON. YOU'RE HITTING IT OUT OF THE PARK FOR THE FIRST TIME.

SO. WELL, THAT'S WHY.

THAT'S WHY I WANT TO GET 4 OR 5 OUT THERE THAT YOU CAN.

THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER RAMSEY.

ITEM 32.

AGAIN. THIS IS, THIS HAS NO BUDGET IMPACT.

THAT'S CORRECT. IS THAT RIGHT? AND AGAIN, THIS IS THE OFFICE OF SUSTAINABILITY.

SO YOU JUST KIND OF MOVING IT FROM ONE ACCOUNT TO ANOTHER.

IT WAS A TECHNICAL CORRECTION.

OKAY. THAT'S MY QUESTION I MOVE IT.

MOTION BY COMMISSIONER ELLIS, SECOND BY COMMISSIONER GARCIA.

MOTION CARRIES 4 TO 1 ON ITEM 32.

ITEM 33.

DIRECTOR RAMOS.

THANK THANK YOU, JUDGE TIFFANY, IF YOU WOULDN'T MIND PULLING UP THE PRESENTATION.

AND WE'LL TAKE THAT ONE WITH ITEM 41 AS WELL.

THANK YOU. JUDGE. COMMISSIONERS.

I'M DANIEL RAMOS. I'M THE COUNTY'S BUDGET DIRECTOR.

I WANT TO GIVE YOU AN UPDATE ON OUR FIRST QUARTER PROJECTIONS.

SO THIS IS DATA STARTING AUGUST.

SORRY, OCTOBER 1ST THROUGH THE END OF DECEMBER, BUT WE'VE ANNUALIZED IT TO LOOK AT HOW WE EXPECT TO END THE YEAR.

NEXT SLIDE PLEASE, STEPHANIE.

NEXT SLIDE. SO I DO REALLY QUICKLY WANT TO SLIDE THREE PLEASE.

I DO VERY QUICKLY WANT TO SHOW HOW WE FINISHED FISCAL YEAR 23.

AS YOU KNOW, FISCAL 23 STARTED OFF A LITTLE BIT ROCKY AS WE DEFAULTED TO THE N AND R, WE'RE WE'RE TRYING TO MAKE DECISIONS IN REAL TIME ON ON RESTORING THE FUNDING AS WE GOT BETTER THAN EXPECTED REVENUE NEWS.

WE ARE AT WE FINISHED THE GENERAL FUND AT $6.5 MILLION IN THE POSITIVE.

I CAN TELL YOU THIS IS MY 11TH BUDGET CYCLE.

THIS IS THE CLOSEST I'VE EVER SEEN A JURISDICTION BE TO THEIR BUDGET.

SO WE REALLY ARE ON THIS RAZOR'S EDGE.

AND I'LL GO MORE INTO DETAIL ABOUT WHAT HAPPENED ON THE GENERAL FUND IN A SECOND.

FLOOD CONTROL.

THERE WAS AN $18.7 MILLION SURPLUS.

THIS WAS ALL RELATED TO VACANCIES.

I DO NOT EXPECT THIS TO HAPPEN MOVING FORWARD.

THEY HAVE BEEN VERY AGGRESSIVE OF NOT ONLY FILLING THEIR SLOTS, BUT ALSO DOING STAFF AUGMENTATION IN ORDER TO IMPLEMENT ALL OF THE CDBG, THE BOND PROGRAM, ETC..

AND HARRIS HEALTH FINISHED THE YEAR WITH $252 MILLION IN SURPLUS.

THAT WAS LARGELY DRIVEN BY BETTER THAN EXPECTED, INVESTMENT INCOME.

SO WHEN THEY, WE, THE COUNTY, HELP INVEST THEIR CASH BECAUSE THEY HAVE SO MUCH CASH ON HAND.

EVEN MARGINAL CHANGES TO THE INTEREST RATE ADD UP VERY QUICKLY.

THERE WAS ALSO A SUPPLEMENTAL MEDICAID APPROPRIATION, WHICH IS A NEGOTIATION BETWEEN HARRIS HEALTH AND THE STATE AND THE STATE AND THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.

THAT ENDED UP COMING IN AND THAT THAT LARGELY DROVE THEIR SURPLUS.

NEXT SLIDE PLEASE. SO IN TERMS OF WHAT HAPPENED IN 23, WE DID SPEND SIGNIFICANTLY MORE THAN WHAT WE ANTICIPATED, LARGELY DRIVEN BY $34 MILLION IN ABOVE BUDGETED INDIGENT DEFENSE, $8.6 MILLION FOR BODY CAMERAS.

FIVE OF THAT HAD BEEN PLANNED BUT WAS CUT AS PART OF THE NER.

AND THREE OF THAT WAS THE EXPANSION OF THE BODY WORN CAMERA PROGRAM TO THE JAIL.

AND THEN THERE WAS $5.5 MILLION MORE THAN ANTICIPATED, UTILITIES COST.

AS WE BROUGHT ON ADDITIONAL BUILDINGS, WHICH WE DRAW DOWN MORE ENERGY AS WELL AS HIGHER, HIGHER RATES AFTER WE REBID THE CONTRACT.

THAT WAS OFFSET BY 18.3 IN INVESTMENT INCOME.

SAME STORY AS HARRIS HEALTH.

WE DO SHORT TERM CDS, MONEY MARKET ACCOUNTS.

[03:45:03]

AND EVERY TIME THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT RAISES THEIR BENCHMARK BECAUSE WE HAVE SO MUCH CASH ON HAND, IT IT IT ADDS UP QUICKLY.

WE GOT $9.5 MILLION OF NON PICC FUNDED FEMA REIMBURSEMENTS.

I REALLY CREDIT TO DIRECTOR CARRIZAL, HIS TEAM AND OUR CONSULTANT DO A GREAT JOB WORKING AND STAYING AT FEMA TO GET OUR REIMBURSEMENTS.

THERE WAS ALSO A ONE TIME SETTLEMENT RELATED TO OPIOIDS, WHICH WHICH HIT LAST YEAR, AS WELL AS $4.8 MILLION IN VEHICLE SALES TAX.

THERE WAS THIS GOLDEN KIND OF TIME PERIOD WHERE PRICES WERE STILL REALLY HIGH AS THE SUPPLIERS RECOVERED FROM COVID, BUT THERE WAS ALSO MORE SUPPLY, SO THERE WAS A LOT OF TRANSACTION TRANSACTIONS HAPPENING.

WE'VE SINCE ADJUSTED THE BUDGET.

DON'T EXPECT TO SEE A SURPLUS HERE IN FUTURE YEARS.

AND PLEASE PAUSE OR STOP ME IF ANYBODY HAS ANY QUESTIONS AS WE GO ALONG.

SO IN TERMS OF FISCAL YEAR 24, AGAIN THIS IS BASED ON DATA, BUT IT IS AN ANNUAL BASED ON DATA IN THE FIRST QUARTER.

BUT IT IS AN ANNUALIZED PROJECTION FOR EVERYBODY BUT HARRIS HEALTH.

WE'RE EXPECTED TO BE $5.1 MILLION ABOVE OUR, MORE REVENUE THAN WE'RE EXPECTED TO SPEND.

AND I'LL GO INTO MORE DETAIL IN A SECOND.

FLOOD CONTROL IS LOOKING TO SPEND EVERY NICKEL.

AS I'VE SAID, THEY'VE BEEN SUPER AGGRESSIVE ABOUT FILLING THEIR VACANCIES AND AUGMENTING THEIR STAFF THROUGH CONTRACTS IN ORDER TO DELIVER ON ALL THE PROJECTS THAT THAT WE'VE COMMITTED TO AS A COUNTY.

AND HARRIS HEALTH, AGAIN, THIS IS JUST THEIR FIRST QUARTER FINISHED 27, $28.7 MILLION IN THE BLACK, SLIGHTLY HIGHER THAN EXPECTED REVENUE, SLIGHTLY LOWER THAN EXPECTED COST.

NOTHING REALLY KIND OF THIS IS WITHIN THEIR THE MARGIN THAT THEY PLANNED FOR DURING THE YEAR.

NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE. SO WE'RE PROJECTED TO BRING IN $24.6 MILLION IN IN REVENUE IN UNBUDGETED REVENUE.

NEXT SLIDE PLEASE.

THAT'S DRIVEN BY JEWEL LITIGATION.

IT WAS 8.4 MILLION.

THIS IS WHAT I REPORTED ON LAST YEAR.

WE JUST HAPPENED TO GET THE CHECK IN FISCAL YEAR 24 AS OPPOSED TO FISCAL YEAR 23.

SO IT MADE THIS YEAR LOOK BETTER.

IT MADE LAST YEAR LOOK A LITTLE BIT WORSE.

WE GOT A SECONDARY, SUPPLEMENTAL GRANT FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.

PLEASE DON'T ASK ME WHAT SCAP STANDS FOR, BUT IT IS A REIMBURSEMENT FOR UNDOCUMENTED IMMIGRANTS THAT WE DETAIN AT OUR JAIL.

THERE WAS A BASELINE AMOUNT THAT WE DID BUDGET FOR FEDERAL GOVERNMENT ADDED.

SO IT'S HELPING TO DEFRAY SOME OF THE ADDITIONAL JAIL COSTS, OUTSOURCING, JAIL, MEDICAL, ETC..

WE ALSO GOT MORE THAN EXPECTED, CONTRACT PATROLS.

SO AS WE SO YOU'LL SEE, SURPLUS ON THE REVENUE SIDE, BUT YOU'LL ALSO SEE A CORRESPONDING DEFICIT FOR OUR 30% PORTION.

AND THEN WHEN WE PURCHASED 1010 LAMAR, THERE ARE SOME TENANTS THAT ARE GOING TO THAT WE NEED TO GET, GET GIVE THEM TILL THE END OF THE YEAR.

THERE'S A LITTLE BIT OF REVENUE THERE THAT WE JUST DIDN'T ANTICIPATE.

NEXT SLIDE. SO AS YOU CAN SEE, IT'S ABOUT 8.4 FOR THE JEWEL LITIGATION, 7.7 FOR THE SCAP GRANT, 4.8 MILLION FOR THE CONTRACT PATROLS, AND THEN 1 MILLION FOR LEASE REVENUE.

NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE. SO THAT WAS THE GOOD NEWS.

THE BAD NEWS ON THE SPENDING SIDE WERE PROJECTED TO SPEND 19.5 MILLION ABOVE OUR BUDGET.

THAT DOES INCLUDE THE 5 MILLION OF UNALLOCATED THAT THAT, YOU KNOW, BUDGET RESERVE.

I'M GOING TO STOP CALLING IT BUDGET RESERVE.

IT'S 5 MILLION IN UNALLOCATED DOLLARS.

SO IT'S REALLY CLOSER TO $24.5 MILLION ABOVE WHAT WE INITIALLY, OR WHAT WHAT THE BUDGET COURT ADOPTED.

REALLY QUICKLY JUST TO FOLLOW UP ON THE WE TALKED ABOUT A LITTLE BIT.

WE KNOW THAT ELECTIONS ARE GOING TO NEED A SUPPLEMENTAL, AND WE'RE WORKING VERY CLOSELY WITH THEM ON WHAT THAT NUMBER IS.

SO WE'LL COME BACK IN THE PRIMARY.

THIS IS NOT INCLUDE ANY OF THAT MONEY.

SO IF YOU SEE THE 5.1 IN SURPLUS PLEASE DON'T GO SPENDING THAT THAT NUMBER IS PROBABLY IS ALMOST CERTAIN TO GO DOWN WHEN WE GET THE FINAL NUMBER FROM THE CLERK. NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE.

SO IN TERMS OF THE DEPARTMENTS WHERE WE'RE SEEING A SURPLUS, UNIVERSAL SERVICES IS ABOUT 6 MILLION, ROUGHLY EQUALLY SPLIT BETWEEN LABOR AND NON-LABOR.

SO WHAT WE'RE SEEING IS ABOUT, THEY HAVE A CONSISTENT NUMBER OF VACANCIES.

DIRECTOR MENDEN AND I, WE ACTUALLY DETAILED ONE OF MY STAFF OVER THERE TO HELP THEM BUILD THEIR BUDGET BACK WHEN DIRECTOR MENON WAS APPOINTED.

SO WE FEEL PRETTY CONFIDENT THAT THAT THE BUDGET IS IN A SHAPE WHERE THERE'S THERE'S TRANSPARENCY INTO IT.

THERE IS A STAFFING PLAN THAT THAT YOU CAN LOOK AT AND IT MAKES SENSE.

SO WE I FEEL CONFIDENT THAT WE'LL SEE THE SHRINK OVER TIME.

IF NOT, I KNOW THERE'S AN ASK FOR CYBERSECURITY.

I'VE WORKED WITH DIRECTOR MENON TO SAY, HEY, IF WHEN THAT ASK, COME CHARGE IT.

WE'LL WE'LL SEE WHERE THE CHIPS LIE.

IN TERMS OF THE SURPLUS, PRETRIAL SERVICES IS ALL VACANCIES.

[03:50:05]

IT'S A VERY HARD JOB.

THE PAY IS NOT NECESSARILY COMPETITIVE WITH SOME OF OUR OTHER SIMILAR POSITIONS.

THIS IS ONE THAT WE'RE TARGETING AS PART OF THE PAY EQUITY STUDY TO BE AGGRESSIVE WITH, JUVENILE PROBATION.

WHAT HAS HAPPENED THERE IS THEY RECEIVED A GRANT FROM THE STATE, AND THIS WAS A STATE WIDE GRANT TO ALL JURISDICTIONS TO RAISE SALARIES FOR JUVENILE PROBATION. BECAUSE WE WERE SO AGGRESSIVE WITH OUR 7% COLA, WE ENDED UP NOT NEEDING AS MUCH TO MATCH THAT GRANT THAT THAN WHAT WE HAD ANTICIPATED.

AND THEN $2.2 MILLION IN PURCHASING.

THIS IS ALL VACANCIES.

DWIGHT AND I HAVE SAT DOWN MULTIPLE TIMES.

HE HAS A STAFFING PLAN THAT HE'LL BE BRINGING TO COMMISSIONERS COURT, WHICH WE THINK WILL BE A VERY HIGH IMPACT AND IN INCREASING PROCUREMENT TURNAROUND THAT WILL COME, PROBABLY IN THE NEXT QUARTER.

THAT WAS GOING TO BE MY QUESTION.

WHEN WILL IT COME? DWIGHT, IF YOU'RE ON IF YOU WANT TO ANSWER THAT.

DWIGHT AS YOU. COME ON.

I VERY MUCH LOOK FORWARD TO THIS NUMBER BEING ZERO BECAUSE ALL THOSE VACANCIES HAVE BEEN FILLED.

SO WOULD YOU PLEASE SPEAK TO US ABOUT THE PROGRESS BEING MADE AND WHEN YOU PLAN ON COMING TO COURT? I DO WANT TO CLARIFY, COMMISSIONER AND THE JUDGE, THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME ON.

SO OF THE VACANCIES YOU SEE ON THERE, A LARGE PORTION OF THOSE VACANCIES ARE ON HARRIS HEALTH SIDE TEAM, NOT HARRIS COUNTY SIDE.

HARRIS HEALTH DOES REIMBURSE US FOR THOSE POSITIONS, AND WE'RE TRYING TO FILL THOSE AS FAST AS WE CAN.

WE ONLY HAVE THREE ON THE COUNTY TEAM THAT ARE AVAILABLE AT THIS POINT.

WE'VE HAD OFFERS OUT FOR ALL THREE OF THOSE.

SO. THE PROBLEM WE'RE HAVING IS AS FAST AS WE FILL THEM, AS FAST AS WE'RE LOSING PEOPLE.

AND I'LL BE GLAD TO SIT DOWN WITH YOU, COMMISSIONER, AND TALK THROUGH SOME OF THOSE, OPTIONS TO TRY TO RETAIN FOLKS.

WE'VE BECOME THE TRAINING ZONE FOR MOST PROCUREMENT TEAMS AROUND METRO CITY OF HOUSTON.

AND NOW, TEXAS CHILDREN, WE'VE LOST TWO MORE TO TEXAS CHILDREN.

SO WE'RE DOING OUR BEST TO TRY TO KEEP THOSE VACANCIES FILLED.

BUT WE DO HAVE A PLAN WE'RE WORKING ON NOW WITH, DANIEL'S OFFICE THAT WE LOOK TO, USE SOME OF THE SURPLUS WE HAVE TO BRING ON THE NEW STRUCTURE, AS WELL AS TRY TO KEEP SOME OF THOSE STAFF MEMBERS, WITHIN HARRIS HEALTH TEAM AND WITH HARRIS COUNTY TEAM.

BUT AGAIN, 7 OR 8 OF THOSE POSITIONS ARE ON THE HARRIS HEALTH TEAM.

AND FORTUNATE ENOUGH FOR ME AGAIN, WE WON'T USE THOSE FUNDS.

WE'LL TRY TO DO OUR BEST NOT TO, WASTE THOSE FUNDS.

BUT THAT'S SOMETHING THAT HARRIS HEALTH IS ACTUALLY PAYING THOSE FEES AND TRYING TO KEEP THOSE STAFF MEMBERS ON.

THANK YOU FOR CLARIFYING THAT, DWIGHT.

SO OF THE 2.2, WHAT PERCENTAGE THEN RELATES TO HARRIS HEALTH PROCUREMENT SLOTS VERSUS OUR HARRIS COUNTY PROCUREMENT? ABOUT 8,080% 8080 TO 82% IS 82% IS RELATED TO HARRIS HEALTH.

YES, MA'AM. WE ONLY HAVE THREE VACANCIES ON OUR SIDE NOW.

AND WE'RE WE'VE GOT TWO OFFERS OUT.

AND WE JUST LOST ANOTHER INDIVIDUAL, A MANAGEMENT ROLE, BECAUSE THEY'RE RELOCATING FOR WORK.

SO, WE'LL BE ADVERTISING FOR THAT.

MAJORITY OF THAT LOSS THAT WE'RE HAVING IS FROM THE HARRIS HEALTH TEAM.

AND SO AGAIN, THERE'S NO EXCUSE ON BOTH SIDES BECAUSE BOTH SIDES ARE STRUGGLING.

BUT WE'RE TRYING TO FIND EVERY AVENUE TO BUILD THOSE RELATIONSHIPS WITH U OF H AND OTHERS TO BRING IN STAFF THAT'S, YOU KNOW, DIRECTLY RELATED TO THAT CAN COME IN AND START DOING THE WORK IMMEDIATELY. BUT AGAIN, OUR PROBLEM IS WE'RE LOSING THEM WITHIN THE FIRST TWO YEARS.

BUT OUR PLAN IS TO BRING BACK TO COURT A PLAN FOR HARRIS COUNTY SIDE TO REVISE THE STRUCTURE TO AS PER WHAT WAS REQUESTED BY PROTIVITI.

AND START ROLLING THAT OUT WITH SOME OF THE SURPLUS THIS YEAR TO TRY TO IMPROVE EFFICIENCIES ON THE PROCUREMENT SIDE FOR HARRIS COUNTY.

AND SO OUR GOAL IS, IS IF IF THE POSITIONS AREN'T COMPLETELY FINALIZED AND REVIEWED BY THE BUDGET OFFICE, BY I MEAN BY HR, BY THE COURT IN FEBRUARY TO BE THE MARCH 5TH COURT, FOR SURE, WE'LL BE PRESENTING IT.

BUT WE WANTED TO MEET WITH EACH DEPARTMENT, COURT MEMBER TO PROVIDE THEM WITH WHAT WE'VE DONE AND WHAT OUR PLAN OF ACTION IS.

IN CASE YOU HAD QUESTIONS BEFORE COURT EVEN, REVIEWED THE PLAN.

SO I'VE REACHED OUT TO EACH OFFICE ALREADY LAST WEEK TO ASK FOR MEETINGS WITH EACH ONE, THE COURT MEMBERS AND THE JUDGES OFFICE TO DISCUSS THIS.

WELL, I LOOK FORWARD TO SITTING DOWN TOGETHER AGAIN, DWIGHT, SO THAT WE CAN DO ALL THAT WE CAN TO BEST POSITION YOU AND YOUR TEAM FOR SUCCESS, BECAUSE THE PROCURE TO PAY IMPROVEMENTS TO ME ARE JUST CRITICAL AND NEED TO BE MOVED ALONG MORE QUICKLY.

SO THANK YOU FOR THESE POINTS OF CLARIFICATION.

YES, MA'AM. DIRECTOR RAMOS, THANK YOU.

YES. COMMISSIONER ELLIS, DID YOU HAVE A COUPLE? BUT WERE YOU FINISH? YOU HAVE SOME MORE? I HAVE A COUPLE MORE SLIDES.

OKAY. NEXT SLIDE.

SO. SO AGAIN, THAT WAS KIND OF THE GOOD NEWS.

THE BAD NEWS, IN TERMS OF THE DEFICIT, WHERE WE SPENT $13 MILLION ON 1010 LAMAR.

THIS WAS JUST A CRITICAL, NEED.

[03:55:01]

WE WERE OVERCROWDED IN OUR DOWNTOWN SPACE AS WE WE ADD COURTS, AS WE, AS WELL AS WHEN WE TAKE FAMILY LAW.

AND IT'S IT'S BEING REBUILT.

WE JUST WERE OUT OF SPACE DOWN HERE.

JAIL OUTSOURCING ACCOUNTS FOR $11 MILLION OF THE SURPLUS, COMMUNITY SERVICES, OUR COMMUNITY SERVICE, HOUSING AND HOUSING DEPARTMENT.

THIS IS THE SAFE PROGRAM.

IF YOU REMEMBER, LAST JUNE, WE HAD A CONVERSATION.

COURT APPROVED THE THE HIGHER LEVEL OF REIMBURSEMENT TO MATCH THE FEDERAL, THE FEDERAL REIMBURSEMENT.

THEY DIDN'T NEED THE FUNDING BACK THEN.

AND I BELIEVE THE MOTION WAS EVEN SPECIFIC TO TO COME OUT OF RESERVES IN ORDER, WHICH I THINK IS AN APPROPRIATE USE.

IT'S A ONE TIME PROGRAM.

USING ONE TIME RESOURCES IS A IS AN APPROPRIATE USE.

THEY DO THEY ARE STARTING TO TO WRITE CHECKS ON AND START TO CLOSE ON SOME OF THESE PROPERTIES.

SO THEY NEED THE FUNDING TO BE ABLE TO TO NOT HAVE ANY DELAYS.

OF THE JAIL MEDICAL TROOP.

SO WE, THE WAY OUR CONTRACT WITH HARRIS HEALTH WORKS FOR THE JAIL IS WE DO, EQUAL QUARTERLY DISTRIBUTIONS AT THE END OF THE YEAR.

WE RECONCILE THE COSTS.

IF YOU REMEMBER, LAST YEAR THERE WAS A $6 MILLION SURPLUS.

THIS YEAR, THERE'S A $6.8 MILLION DEFICIT.

THIS WAS LARGELY DRIVEN BY THEIR USE OF CONTRACT LABOR.

THE COST OF CONTRACT LABOR IS ROUGHLY DOUBLE IN FTE.

SO THERE'S MORE TO COME.

WE WILL HAVE A MORE COORDINATED PRESENTATION FROM FROM ME, THE SHERIFF, THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR AND HARRIS HEALTH AT THE NEXT COURT AND DELVE INTO WHAT'S HAPPENING IN FISCAL YEAR 24.

ON CONTACT PATROL. LIKE I SAID, THERE WAS A $4.8 MILLION REVENUE SURPLUS, BUT THERE'S ALSO A $6 MILLION DEFICIT BECAUSE WE MORE CONTRACTS THAT DELTA IS OUR 30%.

THAT THE COUNTY PAYS FOR INDIGENT DEFENSE IS 5.3 MILLION.

IF YOU REMEMBER, LAST YEAR WAS $36 MILLION OVER BUDGET.

AND I HAVE A SLIDE, NEXT, TO TALK ABOUT THAT.

AND THEN THE APPRAISAL DISTRICT IS 2.3.

THIS IS OUR PROPORTIONATE SHARE OF THE LEGALLY MANDATED ELECTION IN MAY.

NEXT SLIDE PLEASE. ON ON INDIGENT DEFENSE.

WE HAVE TO LOOK AT IT HOLISTICALLY.

BETWEEN THE PUBLIC DEFENDER, THE DISTRICT AND COUNTY OF COURT APPOINTED ATTORNEYS, THE SOME OF THOSE.

WE ADJUSTED THE BUDGET BY ALMOST 26 MILLION LAST YEAR.

ABOVE, FISCAL YEAR 23.

WE ARE STILL $5.3 MILLION SHORT.

OUR OUR HOPE HAD BEEN LAST YEAR WAS A LITTLE BIT OF AN ABERRATION, KIND OF AN OUTLIER.

THAT'S PROVING TO NOT BE THE CASE.

BUT IT DOES MAKE SENSE AS WE'VE WE'VE ADDED MONEY, CAPACITY, FACILITIES FOR ADDITIONAL COURT CAPACITY.

WE'RE STARTING TO SEE THE COST OF RUNNING THOSE COURTS GO UP.

AND THEN WE ARE RECOMMENDING TO MOVING ON TO ITEM 41.

WE ARE RECOMMENDING TWO SUPPLEMENTALS ONE FOR $7 MILLION TO FUND THE SIF PROGRAM AND $2.3 MILLION FOR THE HCAT ELECTION. THE HCAT ELECTION IS THEY'RE THEY'RE USING A PLACEHOLDER OF $14 MILLION.

2.3 IS OUR PORTION.

IF IT COMES IN CHEAPER, WE WOULD DO A RECONCILIATION AND THEY WOULD REMIT BACK TO US THE DIFFERENCE.

THANK YOU. AND THAT'S ALL MY, THE PRESENTATION, COMMISSIONER ELLIS.

YEP. THANK YOU FOR THE WORK THAT YOU'RE DOING.

I THINK THAT THAT SLIM MARGIN REINFORCES THAT WE HAVE TO INVEST EVERY DOLLAR WE HAVE WISELY.

I WANT TO GET SOME SENSE FOR FISCAL YEAR 24.

HOW DOES THIS SURPLUS COMPARE TO PRIOR PRIOR FISCAL YEAR? SO LAST YEAR, OUR FIRST QUARTER PROJECTION WAS 9 MILLION.

SO RIGHT AROUND THERE, I WOULD SAY THE THE SHORT FISCAL YEAR BEFORE THAT, WE HAD ALMOST A $60 MILLION SURPLUS.

AT THE END OF THE YEAR, WE WERE CLOSER TO $100 MILLION IN THE IN THE TWO YEARS BEFORE THAT.

SO WE REALLY HAVE NARROWED THE GAP, THE GAP IN TERMS OF OUR SPENDING VERSUS OUR OUR RECURRING REVENUE.

AND JUST TO REINFORCE IT, IF NOT FOR THE GAP GRANT, IF NOT FOR THE SETTLEMENTS, WE WOULD BE WE WOULD HAVE BEEN IN DEFICIT THESE LAST TWO YEARS.

WHICH NOBODY WANTS TO BE A PATTERN.

WE APPRECIATE THOSE SETTLEMENTS FROM THE COUNTY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE, BUT MAKE SURE WE FUNDED THEM ADEQUATELY SO THEY CAN TRY TO FIND US SOME MORE WRONGDOERS SO WE CAN GET OUR MONEY. SO THE SECOND QUESTION IS, GIVEN THAT HARRIS HEALTH HAS THAT BUDGET SURPLUS, WHAT DOES OMB RECOMMEND THAT WE WE DO WITH THAT? ADDITIONAL ARPA MONEY TO 10 MILLION IN ARPA FUNDING.

SO I BELIEVE THAT 10 MILLION WAS HAS BEEN SPENT, I THINK, IN TERMS OF HARRIS HEALTH AND OUR OUR CONTRACT WITH THEM RELATED TO THE JAIL.

I PREFER TO HAVE THAT DISCUSSION ON THE 20TH, WHEN WE CAN ALL BE IN THE ROOM ON THE SAME PAGE.

[04:00:05]

DO YOU HAVE SOME SENSE OF, WHAT LEGISLATION THAT WAS APPROVED LAST SESSION, WHAT IMPACT IT WILL HAVE ON OUR REVENUES GOING FORWARD.

SO THERE THERE WAS NO.

AND WE TRACK THIS VERY CLOSELY ALONG WITH THE IGA TEAM.

I THINK THERE WAS ALMOST THERE WERE OVER A THOUSAND BILLS FILED, RELATED TO THE TAX RATE.

VERY FEW OF THEM IMPACT OUR OVERALL REVENUE.

AND THIS SESSION THEY ESPECIALLY TARGETED ISDS.

SO ANY OF THE THE CHARTER AMENDMENTS THAT PASSED EARLIER THIS YEAR THAT HAD NO IMPACT ON US, THAT WAS THAT WAS SQUARELY FOCUSED ON THE ISD TAX RATES. MOST OF THE THE LEGISLATION THAT WE SAW WAS MORE ABOUT PICKING WINNERS AND LOSERS IN THE TAX SYSTEM, GIVING THIS THIS GROUP A TAX BREAK AND SPREADING THAT COST TO THE OTHER PAYERS.

AND WE CAN SEND OVER SOME OF OUR BILL RESPONSES THAT WHERE WE RESPONDED THERE.

SO THERE WASN'T TOO MUCH OF AN IMPACT IN TERMS OF OUR TAX RATE.

WE HAVE SEEN THAT THERE ARE MANDATES THAT GET PUT ON US ON SB SIX, FOR EXAMPLE, SIGNIFICANTLY INCREASE THE NUMBER OF POLLING LOCATIONS THAT THE CLERK HAS TO HAS TO PROVIDE. THAT'S A DIRECT COST TO HARRIS COUNTY.

THE CHANGE IN HOW THE APPRAISAL DISTRICT IS SET UP, YOU HAVE SOME SENSE OF WHAT IMPACT WHEN THOSE ELECTIONS ARE HELD, IF THAT WILL HAVE ANY IMPACT ON US GOING FORWARD.

I THINK IT'S TOO EARLY TO TELL AND IT DEPENDS.

MY MY THOUGHT WOULD BE THAT THE FOLKS THAT ARE GOING TO RUN FOR THOSE JOBS ARE FOLKS THAT ARE IN THE INDUSTRY.

SO THERE MIGHT BE INSTANCES WHERE THERE'S A MORE FAVORABLE LOOK AT, ESPECIALLY HIGH DOLLAR.

WHAT WE SEE IS.

THERE ARE LOTS OF FOLKS WHO WILL PROTEST THEIR ASSESSMENTS, BUT MOST OF THEM SETTLE FOR SOMEWHERE AROUND THE 10% CAP, SO IT REALLY DOESN'T IMPACT OUR REVENUE. BUT WHAT WE DO SEE, ESPECIALLY FOR NEW CONSTRUCTION, THESE HUNDRED MILLION DOLLAR LUXURY CONDO, LUXURY CONDOS OR APARTMENTS, THESE BIG INDUSTRIAL SPACES.

THOUGH SOME OF THE COURTS, THE BOARD'S DECISION WILL HAVE A MATERIAL IMPACT IF THEY YOU KNOW, WE WE THINK THAT IT'S WORTH $500 MILLION AND THEY THINK IT'S WORTH 250.

AND THE BOARD IS REALLY THE ONE THAT ENDS UP SETTLING THOSE, THOSE DISPUTES.

SO WE IT'S TOO EARLY TO TELL WHAT WHAT IMPACT IT WILL HAVE.

I WE DO RETAIN OUR BOARD SEAT AND OUR OUR BOARD MEMBER IS IS AMAZING AND FEEL CONFIDENT THAT HE HE'S ABLE TO TO LOOK OUT FOR OUR INTERESTS. BUT IT'S ALSO THE ISD'S INTEREST THE MUDD'S.

EVERYBODY HAS THE SAME INTEREST IN TERMS OF HOW THESE APPEAL THE APPEAL PROCESS GOES.

THANK YOU. MR.. COMMISSIONER RAMSEY.

YEAH. THAT WHOLE PROCESS OF HCD HOW THEY GO THROUGH, YOU KNOW, JUST IT SEEMS LIKE THE COMMERCIAL PROPERTIES, THEY'VE GOT THEIR ROUTINE OF SUING AND THEN THEY SETTLE THE INDIVIDUAL HOMEOWNERS.

THEY HAVE A PROCESS OF APPEALING.

AND I ASK THEM ONE TIME WHAT THE NUMBER WAS.

AND THEY SAID ROUGHLY 90% OF THE PEOPLE THAT APPEALED THEIR APPRAISAL GOT IT CHANGED.

I SAID, WHAT DOES THAT MEAN? YOU'RE WRONG 90% OF THE TIME ON MOST PEOPLE'S PROPERTY.

WELL, THAT'S ONE WAY TO LOOK AT IT.

SO THAT WHOLE PROCESS.

SO YOU'RE YOU'RE LOOKING AT THE DYNAMIC OF NOT ONLY WHAT HAPPENED IN AUSTIN AND THE TAX IMPLICATIONS THERE, BUT THERE'S ALSO OTHER TAX, CHANGES RELATED TO PUBLIC HOUSING AND SIGNIFICANT IMPACTS TO THOSE VALUES.

AND, AND I GUESS YOU'RE STAYING ON TOP OF THAT IN TERMS OF WHAT THE FINANCIAL IMPACT IS TO US AND PROJECTING THAT GOING FORWARD.

YEAH, WE WORK VERY CLOSELY, ESPECIALLY WHEN WE GET THE INITIAL WE GET THE FIRST BATCH OF DATA, KIND OF THE INITIAL PROJECTION, I BELIEVE SOMETIME IN MAY.

AND THAT'S WHERE WE WE START DIGGING INTO THE DATA, LOOKING TO SEE IF WE SEE ANY PATTERNS THAT MIGHT HAVE A MATERIAL IMPACT ON OUR BUDGET AND OUR TAX SYSTEM.

GENERALLY. WHAT HAPPENS UNLESS THERE'S GOING TO BE A CONSISTENT ECONOMIC DOWNTURN WHERE HOUSING PRICES GO DOWN TWO, THREE YEARS IN A ROW BECAUSE WE'RE CAPPED AT 3.5% INCREASES.

AND AS LONG AS APPRAISALS STAY ABOVE THREE AND A HALF, IT DOESN'T HAVE A HUGE IMPACT.

WHERE WE REALLY SEE THE DIFFERENCE IS ON THE NEW CONSTRUCTION, YOU KNOW, THESE BIG COMMERCIAL, YOU KNOW, MULTIFAMILY LUXURY, THOSE TYPES OF BUILDINGS. SO WE KEEP ONE, YOU KNOW, ONE EAR TO THE GROUND ON THAT.

WE HAVE VERY LIMITED ABILITY TO AFFECT IT OUTSIDE OF OUR BOARD MEMBER.

I'M ACTUALLY NOT ALLOWED LEGALLY TO COMMUNICATE WITH EACH CAT ABOUT SPECIFIC PROPERTIES.

SO WE WE DO OUR BEST, BUT THERE ARE LIMITS.

IF THERE AREN'T MATERIAL CHANGES, WE WILL COME TO COURT.

YOU KNOW, WE WILL WORK WITH IGA AND SEE IF THERE THERE ARE WAYS FOR US.

COMMISSIONER ALICE ON, HARRIS HEALTH HOSPITAL DISTRICT AND WILL BE MORE INVOLVED IN THEIR BUDGETING THIS YEAR, PARTICULARLY AS THEY GO INTO

[04:05:10]

THEIR BOND ISSUE.

AND WHEN WE SEE SURPLUSES DEVELOPING THERE, OBVIOUSLY WE NEED TO FINE TUNE WHAT WE'RE DOING, PARTICULARLY IF WE'RE GETTING PURSUING ARPA MONEY AND OTHER, OTHER POTS OF MONEY, BECAUSE WE COULD BE USING THAT OVER HERE ON THIS SIDE, MAYBE, MAYBE MORE EFFECTIVELY IN MY LAST QUESTION.

AND, COMMISSIONER, DO YOU MIND IF I JUST COMMENT ON THAT REALLY QUICKLY? I AGREE, AND WE WE ARE SUPER INVOLVED.

THEY HAVE CHANGED.

WE HAVE GOTTEN ON THE SAME PAGE IN TERMS OF CALENDAR.

SO THEY WILL BE IN THAT INITIAL.

BUT IF YOU REMEMBER THE LAST TWO YEARS THEY HAVEN'T BEEN IN THE INITIAL BUDGET BOOK.

WE'VE WE'VE GONE AND ADDED THEM.

SO THERE MIGHT BE SOME FOOTNOTING THAT WE WILL NEED TO DO, BUT WE ARE ON THE SAME PAGE.

THEY DO SHARE WITH US THEIR QUARTERLY PROJECTIONS.

THEY WILL PARTICIPATE IN THE CURRENT LEVEL OF SERVICE FORECAST.

SO WE ARE MERGING, YOU KNOW, BEING MUCH CLOSER IN TERMS OF OF OVERSIGHT AND COURT AND COOPERATION BETWEEN US WITH THEIR SURPLUS.

AND THIS IS SOMETHING THAT WE'RE WORKING WITH THEM AS PART OF THE BOND.

YOU KNOW, FOR OUR CIP, ESPECIALLY THE SHORT TERM.

SO SOME OF THE MORE PREVENTATIVE MAINTENANCE WE'RE USING COMMERCIAL PAPER, WE THINK THAT MIGHT BE A GOOD FIT FOR THEM ON SOME OF THEIR REGULAR MAINTENANCE PROJECTS, AS OPPOSED TO USING THE PRIOR YEAR SURPLUS TO FUND THEIR NEXT YEAR'S CIP.

SO WE ARE WORKING ON THAT, AND WE HOPE TO BE ABLE TO PROVIDE A BRIEFING FEBRUARY OR MARCH ON WHAT OUR RECOMMENDATION IS FOR BOTH THE BOND AND THEIR COMMERCIAL PAPER PROGRAM.

SO THE LAST QUESTION RELATES TO THE PUBLIC DEFENDER.

AND THERE'S THEY STRUGGLE WITH HIRING PEOPLE.

AND WE GO INTO THE BUDGET YEAR KNOWING THAT'S A STRUGGLE.

YET WE BUDGET MORE THAN THEY'RE ABLE TO HIRE.

AND WE THAT'S THAT SOUNDS LIKE OUR MODE OF OPERATION.

AND OBVIOUSLY KNOWING WHAT YOU KNOW NOW, MAYBE WE SHOULD BUDGET.

MAYBE WE SHOULD BUDGET IT IF WE WE WE SHOULD BUDGET WHAT WE KNOW WE CAN HIRE, I GUESS IS WHAT I'M SAYING.

SO ON THAT ONE, THE THE REASON WE DID IT, I BELIEVE I SHARED THIS WITH COURT.

AND, YOU KNOW, I LOOK AT THE BUDGET, THE BUDGET HOLISTICALLY FOR INDIGENT DEFENSE.

SO THE CHOICE NOT OVER THERE, YOU JUST THROW IT ACROSS THE FENCE.

SO SO THAT WAS THE IDEA WAS, YOU KNOW, WE WANT TO GIVE WE WANT TO GIVE THE PUBLIC DEFENDER AS MUCH OF A RUNWAY.

AND THEY ARE HIRING.

THEY ARE HIRING VERY AGGRESSIVELY.

THEY JUST, YOU KNOW, THESE THINGS TAKE TIME TO BE ABLE TO BUILD OUT THE STAFF.

AND I KNOW COURT OFFICERS ARE VERY INVOLVED IN HELPING RESTRUCTURE THE OFFICE AND CREATE, YOU KNOW, A STRATEGIC PLAN FOR THE EXPANSION.

BUT WHETHER WE WE PUT THE MONEY IN THE PUBLIC DEFENDER OR WE PUT THE MONEY ON THE COURT APPOINTED ATTORNEYS, YOU KNOW, IT'S BEEN THE DESIRE OF THIS COURT TO GET TO 50% OF, OF CASES GOING.

SO WE WANTED TO GIVE THEM THAT AND IT JUST OFFSETS THE DEFICIT.

I THINK MORE THAN ANYTHING, WHEN I LOOK AT THE DATA FOR INDIGENT DEFENSE, IT'S THIS IS OUR NEW NORMAL.

SO WE HAVE TO BUDGET FOR THIS NEW NORMAL, WHICH IS JUST SIGNIFICANTLY HIGHER THAN IT WAS FISCAL YEAR 22, THE SHORT FISCAL YEAR, ETC..

OKAY. COMMISSIONER BRIAN AND THEN COMMISSIONER ELLIS.

THANK YOU JUDGE. ONE QUICK QUESTION.

WE WILL BE REIMBURSED 100% OF WHATEVER THE CAT ULTIMATELY COSTS TO RUN THE ELECTION.

THAT'S CORRECT. SO SO WE WILL WRITE A CHECK TO EACH CAT.

EACH CAT WILL WRITE A CHECK FOR THE FULL COST OF THE ELECTION TO THE CLERK.

THERE'LL BE A RECONCILIATION AND WE'LL ADJUST.

THEY WILL EITHER REMIT IT TO US OR GIVE US A CREDIT ON FUTURE PAYMENTS.

AND HOW LONG DOES THAT TIMETABLE TEND TO TAKE? MY EXPERIENCE BEING HERE AS IT TAKES BETWEEN FOUR WEEKS TO.

TO SIX WEEKS TO GET A FULL ACCOUNTING OF THE ELECTION COSTS.

AND MY NEXT QUESTION RELATES TO INDIGENT DEFENSE.

SPECIFICALLY, THE COURT APPOINTED ATTORNEYS FEES.

AND I FULLY RECOGNIZE THERE'S A CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHT TO COUNSEL.

I'M FULLY IN SUPPORT OF THAT, AND I'M NOT FULLY IN SUPPORT OF SPENDING HIGHER AMOUNTS ON APPOINTED COUNSEL FOR LESS THAN THE BEST QUALITY OF LEGAL REPRESENTATION.

AND I KNOW WE'VE INVESTED TO HOPEFULLY GET THE PUBLIC DEFENDERS TO 50% CAPACITY IN TERMS OF CASELOAD AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.

BUT IN THE MEANTIME, IF IT'S $88 MILLION, AND IF THIS CONTINUES TO GO UP AND AGAIN FULLY RESPECTING THE INDEPENDENCE OF THE JUDICIARY, MY QUESTION TO THE COUNTY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE IS I KNOW.

LAWYERS ARE APPOINTED BY WHATEVER MECHANISM WHICH VERY MUCH NEEDS TO BE IMPROVED.

NEXT THEY'RE PAID, AND THEN WE'RE JUST SENT THE BILL TO PAY.

IS THERE ANY WAY IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE JUDICIARY, BUT IS THERE ANY WAY TO CREATE ADDITIONAL CHECKS AND BALANCES? BECAUSE THESE NUMBERS, ESPECIALLY GIVEN THE TYPE OF REPRESENTATION FOR THESE APPOINTED COUNSEL, IT'S JUST DEEPLY CONCERNING.

AND I FEAR THAT THAT NUMBER MIGHT CONTINUE TO INCREASE.

AND THE QUALITY OF JUSTICE IS NOT COMMENSURATELY BEING INCREASED WITH SUCH REPRESENTATION.

SO WHILE WE GET TO 50%, WHILE WE CONSIDER ALTERNATIVE DEFENSE MODELS, AND WE'RE WORKING IN THIS INDIGENT DEFENSE COMMISSION, I'M JUST VERY WORRIED ABOUT THOSE PROJECTIONS.

[04:10:08]

SO RECOGNIZING THE RIGHT TO COUNSEL, ARE THERE CHECKS AND BALANCES OR CONTROLS SO THAT WE'RE NOT JUST FORCED TO PAY THE BILL? IF THERE ISN'T ACCOUNTABILITY AND TRANSPARENCY INTO THESE ATTORNEYS AS IT RELATES TO THE COURT APPOINTED, ATTORNEY SYSTEM, THE COUNTY'S OBLIGATION IS ONCE THE JUDGE SIGNS OFF ON THAT ADMINISTRATIVELY, THEN WE DON'T HAVE THE ABILITY TO IN ANY WAY SORT OF CURTAIL IT SITS OUR WE WE HONOR THE VOUCHER AS PRESENTED AND SIGNED OFF ON BY THE AND APPROVED BY THE JUDGE.

I THINK A MORE COMPREHENSIVE WAY THAT THE THE ANSWER, AND I THINK YOU ALLUDED TO IT IS TO MANAGE ASSISTANCE COUNSEL PROGRAM EXPANSION OF THAT AND THE PUBLIC DEFENDER'S OFFICE AND EXPANSION OF THAT.

AND THAT DOES REQUIRE, THE JUDGES TO SIGN OFF ON.

SO THIS IS REALLY A LARGER CONVERSATION BETWEEN THE JUDICIARY AND, AND MEMBERS OF THE COURT AND THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATION AS A WHOLE.

I, FOR ONE, AS A FORMER JUDGE, LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING CLOSELY WITH THE COURTS AS WE WORK ON LEVER A PLUS B, PLUS C TO GET TO THE SYSTEM YOU KNOW EVERYONE DESERVES.

IN THE MEANTIME, TRYING TO SEE WHAT ADDITIONAL CLARITY AND TRANSPARENCY AND OVERSIGHT WE CAN ADD IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE JUDICIARY, BECAUSE THESE NUMBERS ARE STAGGERING.

AND THERE'S SLIGHTLY DIFFERENT MODELS IN OTHER COUNTIES IN TEXAS THAT WE CAN LOOK AT WHERE THE JUDICIARY, USES THE COUNTY AUDITOR THAT THE DISTRICT JUDGES APPOINT THE COUNTY AUDITOR.

I KNOW THAT HAPPENED IN TRAVIS COUNTY WHEN WHEN WE'RE HAVING A LOT OF ISSUES WITH INDIGENT, INDIGENT DEFENSE COSTS THAT WE COULD NOT PROPERLY PROJECT.

AND, YOU KNOW, SO THE COUNTY AUDITOR WORKED VERY CLOSELY WITH THE WITH THE DISTRICT JUDGES, TO TO PUT IN SOME, FRAMEWORK FOR THEM TO, TO WORK WITHIN FOR, FOR THESE TYPES OF INVOICES.

AND I REMEMBER THAT, THE COMMISSIONERS COURT AND THE BUDGET OFFICE PROVIDED ANY ASSISTANCE THAT THAT WAS NEEDED.

SO THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE CAN LOOK AT AND SHARE.

I'D LOVE TO WORK TO GET SOME OTHER MODEL JUDICIARY AND WITH OCA AND COUNTY ATTORNEYS AND BUDGET OFFICE, JUST TO SEE WHAT FRAMEWORKS WE MAY BE ABLE TO ADOPT AS INTERIM MEASURES WHILE WE WORK FOR THE GOLD STANDARD.

AND, COMMISSIONER, IF I COULD.

OH, I'M SORRY. GO AHEAD, COMMISSIONER, IF I COULD A FOLLOW UP THE THERE'S A $2.3 MILLION COST TO THE COUNTY FOR THE ELECTION THAT WE'RE NOT GETTING BACK, BUT THE CLERK. SO THE CLERK WILL GET A COST.

GET A CHECK FROM HCD FOR THE FULL COST OF THE ELECTION.

JUST SOME PORTION OF THAT'S GOING TO COME FROM US THAT WE'RE NOT GETTING BACK.

AND THAT'S THE 2.3.

CORRECT. COMMISSIONER ELLIS.

CORRECT. THANK THANK YOU, CHURCH.

AND THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER RAMSEY, FOR RAISING THE THE ISSUE AND COMMISSIONER BRIONES FOR THE WORK THAT OUR OFFICES HAD BEEN DOING TOGETHER TO, TRY AND IMPROVE THE SITUATION. DO YOU KNOW IF PUBLIC DEFENDERS ARE PAID THE SAME SALARY, SALARY THAT ASSISTANT ASSISTANT DISTRICT ATTORNEYS ARE PAID? I WOULD DEFER TO THE PUBLIC DEFENDER, BUT I BELIEVE THAT AT LEAST AT THE LOWER RANKS, THEY'RE THE SAME OR VERY SIMILAR.

BUT THERE IS A DEPARTURE AS THEY MOVE UP THROUGH THE PAY SCALE.

BUT I WOULD ASK, MAYBE, MAYBE THE DEPARTURE HAS SOMETHING TO DO WITH THE PROBLEM OF THE COST THIS LATE HOUR.

I WON'T GO INTO A TIRADE, BUT I HAVEN'T THOUGHT OF ANY ISSUE THAT HAS FRUSTRATED ME MORE DURING MY TIME IN PUBLIC OFFICE THAN, THE LACK OF COMMITMENT TO A PUBLIC DEFENDER. LAST THING WE WANT TO DO IS PUT LESS MONEY IN MOST PROBLEMS THAT COME ACROSS LIKE THIS, MONEY HAS SOMETHING TO DO WITH IT.

BUT, MR. BUNIN, IF YOU WERE LISTENING, CAN YOU GUESS OUR QUESTION? YEAH. MR. BUTTON. ALEX BUTTON, CHIEF PUBLIC DEFENDER.

IT WAS THE INTENT OF COURT THAT THERE BE PARITY BETWEEN THE TWO OFFICES AND WHEN WE WERE FIRST FORMULATED.

BUT OVER TIME, THERE HAVE BECOME DISPARITIES.

I WOULD SAY. YES.

ENTRY LEVEL EMPLOYEES, ENTRY LEVEL LAWYERS IN BOTH OFFICES ARE PRETTY SIMILAR RIGHT NOW.

BUT UPPER MANAGEMENT, THERE'S A BIG DISPARITY BETWEEN WHAT I'M ABLE TO PAY AND WHAT THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY HAS RAISED SALARIES.

SO WE HAVEN'T CAUGHT UP IN THOSE AREAS.

SO AND THESE ARE THE KIND OF EXPERIENCE FOLKS YOU WANT TO KEEP HERE.

YOU KNOW, YOU DON'T WANT THEM LOOKING FOR SOMEWHERE ELSE.

SO IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT THAT WE GET THAT PARITY AND WE DON'T HAVE IT RIGHT NOW.

WHAT'S YOUR TURNOVER RATE, MR. BUNIN? I JUST CAN'T GIVE YOU A NUMBER.

BUT, I MEAN, TYPICALLY WE DON'T HAVE A LOT OF PEOPLE LEAVING, BUT, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE LEAVE FOR OTHER THINGS.

THEY'VE BECOME JUDGES.

BUT THEY GET PAID MAYBE TO GET.

YEAH, YEAH, I THINK THE ISSUE IS JUST ONE OF FAIRNESS, REALLY.

IT'S NOT THAT PEOPLE ARE LEAVING HERE IN DROVES.

IT'S THAT, THEY SHOULD GET THE SAME AS THEIR THEIR COMPATRIOTS OVER AT THE DA'S OFFICE, THAT'S ALL.

[04:15:02]

SO I WANT TO STRESS THAT BECAUSE I'M JUST ASSUMING PART OF THE ISSUE WOULD BE PAY.

BUT I KNOW, YOU KNOW, I DON'T WANT TO BEAT THIS DRUM TO DEATH.

I WAS THE ONE PUTTING WAGES OR HOW LATE WE BEING HERE TONIGHT? BUT, YOU KNOW, WE DID MAKE A COMMITMENT.

I KNOW, ON ANNIVERSARY OF GEORGE FLOYD'S DEATH, I'M GOING TO PUT ITEM ON THE AGENDA AND WE'LL SEE WHAT PROGRESS WE'VE MADE ON THOSE THINGS.

AND WE COMMITTED TO AT HIS FUNERAL.

BUT TO GET TO 50% WAS ONE OF THOSE.

AND I THINK IF THIS WILL BE FOUR YEARS LATER AND I AND WE MADE A BABY TO DO IN TWO YEARS, THANK YOU.

ANYTHING ELSE YOU WANT TO ADD, MR. BANNON? ANYTHING YOU WANT TO ASK? ONLY THAT, TO THE POINT THAT WAS MADE ABOUT, YOU KNOW, THAT WE HAVE A SURPLUS RIGHT NOW.

WE CAN'T WE CAN'T HIRE PEOPLE IF WE DON'T HAVE THE MONEY AT THE BEGINNING OF THE YEAR.

I MEAN, WE HAVE HIRED AS MANY PEOPLE AS YOU HAVE FUNDED US FOR THIS YEAR BEFORE WE CAN DO IT AND IT WILL HAPPEN.

BUT IT CAN'T HAPPEN OCTOBER 1ST.

IT'S GOT TO HAPPEN THROUGHOUT THE YEAR.

AND EVERY WEEK I COME IN HERE AND THERE ARE NEW PEOPLE, GETTING ORIENTATION.

SO I KNOW WE'RE DOING IT.

AND IS IT FAIR TO SAY, I HEAR IT'S VERY NICE UNDER UNDER STATE LAW, WE REALLY HAVE NO POWER OVER WHAT IS PAID TO APPOINTED COUNCILS.

THAT IS PURELY AT THE DISCRETION OF THE JUDGES.

THEY MAKE THE DECISION ON THE STATE LAW.

WE GET TO BAIL, BUT WE DO HAVE DISCRETION OVER HOW MUCH WE FUND YOUR OFFICE.

IS THAT FAIR COMMENT? THAT IS TRUE.

COMMISSIONER. ONE THING TO JUST ADD, WE ARE IN THE CLS.

LAST YEAR AS PART OF THE BUDGET PROCESS, LAST YEAR, WE FUNDED THE FIRST PHASE.

WE WILL BE COMING WITH A RECOMMENDATION TO FUND THE SECOND PHASE OF THE EXPANSION.

AND AGAIN, I LOOK AT IT HOLISTICALLY BETWEEN THOSE THREE DEPARTMENTS.

IT TO ME IT REALLY DOESN'T MATTER.

IT MY PREFERENCE IS THAT A PUBLIC DEFENDER DOES IT BECAUSE WE HAVE SEEN IT IS A LITTLE BIT CHEAPER WITHOUT THAT.

BUT I WANT YOU TO COME IN ON THE DIFFERENCE.

THE STUDY WE'VE DONE ABOUT THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A PUBLIC DEFENDER AND A COURT APPOINTED LAWYER, THAT NOT ONLY DOES IT SAVE MONEY.

YOU GET A BETTER SHOT AT JUSTICE? IS THAT A FAIR COMMENT? I AGREE WITH THAT.

WELL, YOU CAN'T SAY THAT ABOUT EVERY PRIVATE COURT APPOINTED LAWYER.

MANY ARE GOOD ONES.

BUT OVERALL.

THE SYSTEM SUPPORTS THE PUBLIC DEFENDER'S OFFICE BECAUSE WE HAVE THE RESOURCES TO DO EVERYTHING THAT NEEDS TO BE DONE FOR CLIENTS.

LAST POINT, AND I ALWAYS MAKE THIS POINT WHEN I TALK TO JUDGES ABOUT IT, AND I'LL SAY IT ABOUT THE FIVE, ALL OF US IN THIS ROOM, NONE OF US IN THIS ROOM.

GOD FORBID ONE OF OUR LOVED ONES CAME IN CONTACT WITH THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM.

WOULD WANT THE JUDGE TO PICK THE LAWYER OR ONE OF OUR LOVED ONES.

SO IT'S NOT RIGHT TO PUT OUR CONSTITUENTS IN A POSITION WHERE THEY HAVE TO DO THAT.

JUDGES DON'T PICK THE PROSECUTOR, AND THEY SHOULD NOT PICK THE LAWYER.

FOR SOMEONE ACCUSED OF A CRIME, THAT'S ONE OF THE FUNDAMENTAL NOTIONS OF FAIRNESS.

AND IF ABA REALLY HAD SOME GUTS SINCE I'M A MEMBER, THEY WOULD MAKE THAT A, YOU KNOW, ONE OF THEIR, WHAT THEY CALL THEM, THEY DON'T CALL THEM.

IT'S IF YOU DON'T HAVE A LICENSE, YOU CAN'T PRACTICE LAW, BUT IT'S JUST ONE OF THEIR STANDARDS THAT THEY LIST BEST PRINCIPLES UNDER THE ABA IN TERMS OF INDIGENT DEFENSE.

YOU WANT TO ELABORATE ON THAT, MR. BANNON? YEAH.

SO THE ABA DOES NOT, YOU KNOW, WE'RE REGULATED BY THE STATE OF TEXAS HERE.

THEY'RE THE ONLY PEOPLE THAT SUPPORT OUR BAR CARDS.

BUT THE ABA IS A RESPECTED NATIONAL ORGANIZATION.

THEY HAVE SET PRINCIPLES FOR PUBLIC DEFENSE, AND WE'RE TRYING TO FOLLOW THOSE.

AND THAT'S THE BEST WE CAN DO.

THANK YOU. DOES THE PUBLIC DEFENDER'S OFFICE ONLY TAKE MISDEMEANORS? NO. YOU TAKE VERY SERIOUS FELONY CASES, INCLUDING MURDER.

OKAY. THANK YOU. WHAT'S YOUR BREAKDOWN? I THINK THAT'S WHERE HE'S HEADED.

WHAT PERCENTAGE OF YOUR CASES ARE MISDEMEANORS COMPARED TO FELONIES? OH, IT.

IT'S PROBABLY.

MAYBE MAYBE 6040, MAYBE 7030.

SOMEWHERE AROUND THAT.

MOST OF THE MOST MORE OF OUR CASES ARE FELONIES RIGHT NOW.

QUESTION, NOT ABOUT THE PUBLIC DEFENDER.

CAN WE MOVE ON OR DID YOU HAVE SOME? DID YOU HAVE A QUESTION ON THE PUBLIC DEFENDER? YEAH. WELL, JUST GENERALLY EVEN BEYOND THE PUBLIC DEFENDER IN THE DA, I KNOW THAT THERE.

WE RECENTLY APPROVED A CONSULTANT FOR A PAY DISPARITY STUDY ACROSS THE COUNTY.

CORRECT. THAT'S CORRECT.

AND IT'S ONE OF THE ISSUES HOLISTIC ACROSS THE COUNTY, ALL DEPARTMENTS, INCLUDING THESE TWO THAT WE HAPPEN TO BE TALKING ABOUT.

BUT IN TERMS OF GENDER, IN TERMS OF RACE, IN TERMS OF PAY, POSITION, ETC., THAT IS OUR GOAL.

AND TO LOOK AT LIKE POSITIONS AND MAKE SURE THERE'S OKAY.

AND WHAT IS THE TIMELINE? CAN YOU REMIND ME? DIRECTOR, IF YOU'RE ON, YOU MIND JUMPING IN? AND THEN. YES, SIR.

[04:20:02]

MR. SHANE CARAZO, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF HUMAN RESOURCES AND RISK MANAGEMENT.

SHANE, WE WERE ASKING ABOUT THE TIMELINE FOR THE FOR THE DISPARITIES, THE PAY EQUITY STUDY.

YEAH. SO, THAT THE RFP FOR THE CONSULTANTS WHO'S GOING TO ASSIST US WITH THIS IS SUPPOSED TO BE RELEASED ON FRIDAY.

IT'S JUST DOWN THE STREET FOR ABOUT 30 DAYS AND SEE IF WE GET A CONTRACT SHORTLY AFTER THAT.

WE WOULD BE STARTING A STUDY.

DISPARITY STUDY. AND HOW LONG DO WE ANTICIPATE IT TAKING? I'M TRYING TO THINK, AS WE TALK ABOUT THE BUDGET AND AND WHEN WE COULD IMPLEMENT POTENTIAL RECOMMENDATIONS.

YEAH. I MEAN, OUR, OUR PLAN WAS TO, YOU KNOW, START OUT THE LOWER PAID POSITIONS.

BUT OF COURSE, IF THERE'S, YOU KNOW, SOME OF THE ISSUES LIKE WE'RE DISCUSSING TODAY, WE CAN DEFINITELY TAKE THOSE, YOU KNOW, OUT OF OUT OF ORDER AND, YOU KNOW, PUT THAT AS MORE OF A PRIORITY.

AND THEN THE OTHER THING IS, YOU KNOW, IT'S JUST GOING TO BE THE MONEY PART, WHICH WE'LL HAVE TO WORK WITH THE BUDGET OFFICE AS WELL ONCE WE FIND THOSE, YOU KNOW, THOSE DISPARITIES. SO WILL YOU BE? WILL YOU GUYS HAVE IT FOR BUDGET SEASON? WE WILL HAVE SOME PORTION OF THE SALARIES WE'RE TRYING TO PRIORITIZE.

I THINK THE WHERE WE LEFT OFF AT WAS ANYBODY MAKING UNDER 56,000.

IF IT'S COURTS DESIRE TO ALSO LOOK AT THE ATTORNEY CLASSES, THAT WOULD BE ONE THAT WE COULD TAKE OUT OF ORDER.

IT WILL REALLY DEPEND ON WHEN THE WHEN IT GETS AWARDED, BUT WE WILL HAVE SOME PORTION.

SO IN MY HEAD AS OF LAST YEAR, I CAME AND I MADE A RECOMMENDATION FOR A 4% COLA COURT SAID NO, WE WANT TO DO 7%.

I THINK THIS YEAR WHAT MY RECOMMENDATION IS GOING TO BE IS RESERVING SOME AMOUNT OF MONEY TO DO THE FIRST PHASE, FIRST TWO PHASES OF THE SALARY STUDIES.

I THINK IT'S, YOU KNOW, FORT BEND COUNTY, WHICH IS MUCH SMALLER THAN US.

THEIR THEIR SALARY STUDY, I BELIEVE, WAS BETWEEN 60 AND $80 MILLION TO IMPLEMENT.

SO THE 7% REALLY HELPED.

LIKE WHEN WE LOOK AT SOME OF OUR SOME OF THE PAY STUDIES THAT WE'VE DONE SINCE THAT POINT WHERE WE'VE LOOKED AT INDIVIDUAL CLASSIFICATIONS, WE'RE A LOT CLOSER, BUT THERE STILL IS A MEANINGFUL GAP, I WONDER, AND THIS THIS MAY BE TOO IN THE WEEDS, BUT I WONDER IF YOU GUYS MAKE A NOTE FOR WHEN THE CONSULTANT STARTS FOR US TO HAVE A ROADMAP OR YOU KNOW, WHICH ONES WILL WE GET BEFORE THE BUDGET SEASON AND WHICH ONES ARE LEFT OVER.

AND I THINK THAT WAY WE'LL HAVE A BETTER SENSE OF HOW MUCH MONEY TO, YOU KNOW, HOLD BACK ON AND WHATNOT.

ON THAT TOPIC.

YOU KNOW, WE WENT TO THE, HARRIS HEALTH LAST WEEK OR SOMETHING, AND THEY WERE TALKING ABOUT HOW THEY DID NOT RECEIVE NOT HARRIS HEALTH HARRIS CENTER, HOW THE MENTAL HEALTH WORKERS DID NOT RECEIVE THE COLA.

IS THAT RIGHT? AND WHO ELSE DIDN'T RECEIVE IT? AND YOU KNOW, WHAT CAN WE DO ABOUT THAT.

SO SO THOSE THEY'RE NOT COUNTY EMPLOYEES, EVEN THOUGH THEY HAVE HARRIS IN THEIR IN THEIR NAME.

THERE'S BEEN THERE'S BEEN TIMES WHERE THEY'VE RECEIVED MORE COMPENSATION THAN, THAN OUR EMPLOYEES HAVE.

AND THIS YEAR WE ENDED UP GETTING IT.

I THINK THAT'S A CONVERSATION TO HAVE WITH THEIR DIRECTOR.

ONE THING THAT I'M REALLY INTERESTED IN DOING, WHAT IS WHAT I'VE SEEN HAPPEN OVER THE LAST COUPLE YEARS, AND I THINK IT WAS A PROBLEM BEFOREHAND, IS THE DEPARTMENTS AREN'T ASKING TO ADJUST THE HARRIS CENTER CONTRACT TO REFLECT THEIR NEW COSTS.

AND SO I WANT TO COME AND I KNOW COMMISSIONER ELLIS IS VERY INTERESTED IN THIS, HAS ASKED ME FOR THE BREAKDOWN OF OUR CONTRACTS WITH THEM, IS TO WORK WITH THE DEPARTMENT, WORK WITH HARRIS CENTER, AND MAKE SURE WE WE ARE IN AGREEMENT ON THE SERVICE LEVEL THAT COMMISSIONERS COURT HAS AGREED TO WITH THE HARRIS CENTER, WITH WHAT THOSE DEPARTMENTS HAVE AGREED TO, AND MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE NOT ASKING THE HARRIS CENTER TO TO SUBSIDIZE US.

SO THAT'LL BE SOMETHING THAT WE'LL WORK WITH THEM ON AND COME AND MAKE A RECOMMENDATION TO, TO COMMISSIONERS COURT.

IS THERE ANOTHER ORGANIZATION LIKE THAT WHERE I MEAN, OBVIOUSLY HARRIS HEALTH HAS THEIR OWN SALARIES.

SO YOU'RE SAYING HARRIS CENTER HAIR ANYBODY THAT THAT IS MANAGED BY A BY A BOARD OR ANOTHER ENTITY.

SO SO SO JUVENILE PROBATION DID NOT THERE ARE EMPLOYEES THERE.

THERE ARE WEIRD QUASI WITH THE STATE.

BUT THEY THAT'S WHY I'M WONDERING.

LOOK, THE POINT HERE IS BECAUSE THEY ARE MANAGED BY A DIFFERENT BOARD AND WHATNOT.

BUT WHAT WHAT I'M TRYING TO MAKE THE POINT I'M TRYING TO MAKE IS PERHAPS IT'S WORTH TAKING A LOOK AT IT FOR THE SAKE OF CONSISTENCY AND LIKE YOU SAID, SO THAT NO ONE SIDE IS SUBSIDIZING THE OTHER SIDE.

AND IF THAT MEANS YOU HAVING MORE CONVERSATIONS WITH, WITH, THE DIRECTORS OVER THERE IN THESE ENTITIES, JUST THINK ABOUT IT. I DON'T KNOW, I 100% AGREE.

AND IF THEY'RE SORT OF UNDER OUR UMBRELLA, IT MAKES SENSE.

WE ALSO DON'T WANT TO BE IN A POSITION WHERE WE'RE COMPETING AGAINST THEM FOR STAFF.

SO THAT, I MEAN, YOU ALL HAVE HEARD ME HARP ON THIS.

LIKE, THE NUMBER ONE THING WE CAN DO IS, IS FIX SOME OF THESE COMPENSATION ISSUES TO HELP THE THE DEPARTMENTS DELIVER ON THE SERVICE LEVELS YOU GUYS WANT THEM TO.

OKAY, SO IS THERE A MOTION ON THE WHEEL JUST ON THE ADJUSTMENTS FOR ONE SUPPLEMENTAL BUDGET APPROPRIATIONS AS

[04:25:03]

PRESENTED ON ITEM ONE.

YES. MOTION BY COMMISSIONER ELLIS, SECOND BY COMMISSIONER BRENNAN.

OH. COMMISSIONER. SPECIFIC LANGUAGE LIKE MOTION TO APPROVE SUPPLEMENTAL BUDGET APPROPRIATIONS AS PRESENTED BY THE OMB.

I THINK PRESENTERS ARE APPROVED AS PRESENTED.

WORKS OKAY. MOTION SECOND BY COMMISSIONER GARCIA.

THANK YOU. AND THANK YOU TO YOUR TEAM.

AND I'LL SHOW. ITEM 33 IS NO ACTION.

CORRECT. THANK YOU. SO AND THAT WAS ITEM 41 THAT WE TOOK THE ACTION UNDER.

THANK YOU JAMES. ITEM 43.

I DON'T REMEMBER WHO FLAGGED THAT ONE.

FANNIN AND LAMAR. OKAY.

SO, WE'RE NEGOTIATING TO ACQUIRE ADDITIONAL PARKING GARAGE.

THAT'S. WE CURRENTLY GOT 2000 EMPLOYEES THERE.

I THINK YOUR MIC MIGHT BE OFF.

WE'VE GOT ROUGHLY 2000 EMPLOYEES, 490 PARKING PLACES.

OBVIOUSLY WE KNEW THAT.

THIS LOOKS LIKE A BIT LATE IN THE GAME TO JUMP IN HERE.

AT THIS POINT TO GET PARKING.

WE'VE KNOWN THIS FOR A LONG TIME, I GUESS AS A POINT.

SO THE ON ON IF YOU WANT TO JUMP IN OVER ME, PLEASE DO.

BUT THIS IS ONE WHERE WE WE HAVE TRIED AT VARIOUS POINTS.

I BELIEVE AT ONE POINT WE EVEN WENT SO FAR AS ATTEMPTING TO EMINENT DOMAIN THE THE FACILITY.

IT'S ON THE MARKET NOW.

OUR CONCERN OR MY CONCERN AS AS THE, YOU KNOW, THE BUDGET DIRECTOR KIND OF LEAVING ASIDE THE OPERATIONAL ISSUES RELATED TO PARKING IS WE'RE ALMOST THE SOLE TENANT AT THIS POINT.

SO IF IF IT GETS SOLD TO A DIFFERENT OWNER, THEY MIGHT HAVE A DIFFERENT USE IN MIND.

THEY MIGHT NOT HONOR OUR RATES WHEN THE CONTRACT COMES UP.

SO THAT'S OUR CONCERN.

AND DOCTOR RAHMAN AND I HAVE GONE BACK AND FORTH ABOUT HOW DO WE BE PROACTIVE TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE NOT SUBJECT TO THESE, YOU KNOW, THESE CHANGE IN MARKETS, BUT THIS IS ONE WE WE HAVE AT VARIOUS POINTS HAVE TRIED TO TO PURCHASE.

BUT WE'RE WE'RE TRYING TO FIGURE ALL THAT OUT RIGHT NOW.

WE'RE WE'RE TRYING TO NEGOTIATE A DEAL NOW THAT IT'S FOR SALE, I BELIEVE.

AND I CAN GIVE YOU.

AND THEY KNOW HOW DESPERATE WE ARE FOR PARKING.

IT'S ALWAYS A BAD TIME TO GO.

WE ALSO HAVE A CONTRACT WITH THEM, SO WHOEVER TAKES IT OVER IS GOING TO.

IT'S JUST MOVING FORWARD IN THE FUTURE AND ANYTIME WE CAN CHANGE TRADE CAPITAL DOLLARS FOR OPERATING DOLLARS IS A WIN FOR THE COUNTY.

OKAY, THAT'S ALL OUR QUESTIONS.

IS THERE A MOTION ON ITEM 43? MOTION BY COMMISSIONER ELLIS, SECOND BY COMMISSIONER BARNES.

LET'S TAKE A BRIEF TEN MINUTE BREAK AT 406, AND WE'LL BREAK UNTIL 415.

OKAY. IT IS 425 AND COMMISSIONERS COURT IS BACK IN SESSION.

AND I'M GOING TO GET STARTED BECAUSE A FEW OF THESE ARE FLAGGED BY COMMISSIONER RAMSEY.

SO WE CAN BEGIN GOING THROUGH HIS QUESTIONS.

SO THE FIRST ONE IS ITEM 44.

SO. SO BUDGET ADMINISTRATOR, THESE ARE.

ON ITEM 44, YOU'RE CREATING THREE POSITIONS.

NO, WE'RE CREATING THE.

SO WHEN I, WHEN I TOOK OVER, I FELT THE OFFICE WAS A LITTLE TOP HEAVY.

WE HAD A LOT OF DIRECTORS AND MANAGERS AND NOT A LOT OF ANALYSTS.

SO WHAT I WANTED TO DO WAS CREATE A CAREER PATH.

SO WE HAVE AN ENTRY LEVEL ANALYST, INEXPERIENCED AND THEN A SENIOR TO BE ABLE FOR FOLKS THAT MAYBE AREN'T READY TO MANAGE OR DON'T WANT TO MANAGE, THAT THERE WAS A CAREER PATH FOR THEM TO BE ABLE TO CONTINUE TO GROW IN THEIR CAREER.

WE ARE JUST REALIGNING THE STAFFING.

SO WE'RE GOING TO HAVE AN ANALYST ONE, TWO AND THREE, AND THEN WE'LL HAVE DIRECTOR, DEPUTY EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR AND THEN MYSELF.

SO DO YOU THINK THIS MAKES YOU FLATTER? YES. IN YOUR MIND THIS MAKES YOU FLATTER.

AND I THINK IT'S MUCH CLEARER BECAUSE A LOT OF THE WE'RE GETTING RID OF THE MANAGER POSITION.

I FOUND NOT ANALYST ONE REPORT AND ANALYST TWO REPORTING ANALYST THREE IT'S NOT THAT.

NO. IT'S A FLATTER VERSION OF THAT WHERE YOU'VE GOT EXPERTISE IN EACH ONE OF THESE POSITIONS.

THAT'S CORRECT. IT'S A QUESTION.

OKAY. I'M NOT GOING TO CALL IT UP FOR A VOTE RIGHT NOW, COMMISSIONER RAMSEY, JUST TO WAIT FOR COMMISSIONER GARCIA.

I KNOW YOU HAD A QUESTION ALSO ON ITEM 129.

SO THIS IS, THIS IS TO RELEASE RETAINAGE.

ON THE FIRST FLOOR PROJECT.

DOES THAT MEAN WE'RE READY TO MOVE INTO THE FIRST FLOOR PROJECT? GOOD AFTERNOON. GOOD AFTERNOON, JUDGE HIDALGO.

MEMBERS OF THE COURT. COMMISSIONER, WE ARE NOT READY YET.

[04:30:05]

BUT WE'RE EXPECTING TO BE MOVING ON TO THE COURT AND THE SECOND COURT OF MARCH.

THAT'S WHAT WE ARE TARGETING.

APPARENTLY AFTER, THE INITIAL WORK THAT HAS BEEN COMPLETED BY THE GONZALEZ GROUP, OUR SECURITY TEAM PROVIDED SOME ADDITIONAL RECOMMENDATION TO DO SOME UPGRADE. AND THOSE UPGRADES ARE GETTING DONE, BY OUR OTHER CONTRACTORS, LMC AND FISC.

THEY ARE DOING THE WORK AND FINALIZING THE REMAINDER OF THE WORK.

SO THE RETAINAGE OR YOUR WE'RE TALKING ABOUT VOTING ON, THEY'VE COME THEY'VE COMPLETED ALL THE WORK.

YESTERDAY COMPLETED ALL THE WORK THEY HAD ON THEIR CONTRACT, AND IT'S ACCEPTABLE IN TERMS OF THE CONTRACT, THIS PARTICULAR CONTRACT.

THERE'S NO OTHER WORK LEFT TO BE DONE WITH THIS PARTICULAR FIRM.

GONZALEZ. THAT IS CORRECT.

THANK YOU. DID YOU HAVE A QUESTION, COMMISSIONER ELLIS? THAT WAS ITEM 129, COMMISSIONER.

AND THIS WAS ON RETAINING THE RETAINAGE WERE RELEASING THE RETAINAGE ON THE CONTRACTOR FOR THE FIRST FLOOR.

COURTROOM AND COUNTY ENGINEER WAS TELLING ME THAT IT'S GOING TO BE READY SOMETIME IN MARCH.

OKAY. AND I'M JUST CURIOUS.

IT'LL BE READY FOR COURT MEETING SOMETIME IN MARCH.

WHEN WILL IT BE FINISHED WITH THE WORK? IN CASE ONE OF US WANT TO GO AND DO SOMETHING ELSE DOWN THERE.

COMMISSIONER WILL BE SUBSTANTIALLY COMPLETED BY FEBRUARY 14TH.

THE ONLY WORK THAT WILL BE LEFT IS THE, LIFT FOR THE ADA COMPLIANCE, WHERE, WE ARE PUTTING IN THE BACK OF THE ROOM.

THAT WILL BE DONE AT THE END OF THE MONTH, BUT AT ANY TIME, COMMISSIONER, YOU CAN WALK IN THERE.

YOU'LL YOU'LL BE ABLE TO SEE THAT WE ARE SUBSTANTIALLY COMPLETE FOR MOST OF OUR WORK.

SO I MAY WANT TO DO SOMETHING DURING BLACK HISTORY MONTH THERE.

SO THAT'S WHY I'M ASKING.

SO IF YOU JUST LET MY OFFICE KNOW AND I WILL LET MY COLLEAGUES KNOW, I DO PLAN TO GO, YOU KNOW, AND HAVE AN EVENT DOWN THERE DURING BLACK HISTORY MONTH.

ABSOLUTELY, COMMISSIONER. ONE OTHER THING I WANT TO KNOW.

WE'LL BE SETTING UP SOME MOCK CODE SESSION WITH YOUR STAFFER AS WELL, SO THEY CAN ALREADY GO TEST ALL THE, EQUIPMENTS AND EVERYTHING, BEFORE WE DO THE CODE IN MARCH.

OKAY. NOW, I THINK THAT'S A GOOD IDEA WITH MY COURT.

SEE IF THEY CAN WORK ON SOME THINGS TO SPEED UP THIS.

OUR DISCUSSIONS.

DIRECTOR, WHAT DID YOU SAY IS WE NEED TO DO BY THE END OF MARCH SOMETHING IN THE BACK.

I DIDN'T CATCH IT.

JUST. THAT IS A LIFT FOR, ADA COMPLIANCE.

OH, I SEE, SO RIGHT NOW, IF YOU ARE, IF YOU ARE, CHALLENGED WITH MOBILITY, YOU CAN GO FROM THE FRONT, BUT FOR OPERATIONAL PURPOSE, WHAT WE WANTED TO DO DURING THE COURT IS IN SESSION.

WE DIDN'T WANTED THEM FROM THE FRONT DOOR.

WE WANTED THEM IN THE BACK OF THE ROOM SO THAT IT DOESN'T DISRUPT YOUR SESSION.

OKAY, THAT MAKES SENSE.

LIKE WATER DRIPPING. NO, NO, NO, A LIFT FOR LIFT.

OKAY. YEAH, YEAH, THAT'S A BRITISH ECHO.

HE HAS AN ECHO IN THERE.

YEAH, YEAH. GOT IT. THANK YOU SO MUCH.

YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN. YEAH.

LIKE A ROBOT. YEAH.

AND YOU'RE LOOKING FOR A ROBOT.

AND THEY TALK ABOUT A STOP SIGN.

THEY TALK ABOUT A RED LIGHT.

COMMISSIONER ELLIS, YOU HAD A QUESTION ON ITEM ONE.

I JUST NEED TO VOTE. DO PRESENT NOT VOTING ON THAT ITEM.

SO, MR. RAMSEY, IF YOU WANT TO MOVE IT.

WELL, LET'S SEE ANY UPDATES ON COMMISSIONER GARCIA.

I DON'T WANT TO TAKE ANY ACTION WITHOUT HIM.

I THINK. COMMISSIONER RAMSEY, WHAT ABOUT ITEM THE DID YOU FLAG? 1063. YEAH, YEAH, I WAS GOING TO ASK MR. MAIER. I'M JUST TRYING TO REMEMBER WHEN I WAS IN THE LEGISLATURE, IF SOMEBODY COMES BACK AFTER WE VOTED AND WANT TO BE SHOWN VOTING YES AND NO, AND IT DOES NOT CHANGE THE CHANGE THE VOTE. IS THAT PERMISSIBLE UNDER THE LAW HERE? YEAH. I MEAN, THAT'S NOT BEEN THE PRACTICE HERE.

WE WE NORMALLY AND WE DO IT AS IT LEGAL.

I DON'T I'M NOT SURE BUT I WOULD PREFER NOT BACK IN MY OFFICE.

I MIGHT NOT BE IN HERE I SEE.

YEAH I WOULD PREFER WE JUST WAIT I THINK.

OH, WELL. HEY, I'M NOT SURE.

TO SAVE. TO SAVE MONEY. I'LL SEE YOU IN AUSTIN.

YOU KNOW, SOMEBODY WAS NOT HERE.

AND YOU WANT TO SAY.

BECAUSE I WANT I LET YOU ALL VOTE AND THEN JUST COME BACK AND ADD MY VOTE WHILE IT'S STILL A QUORUM IN THE ROOM.

IS THAT LEGAL? WELL, THE LEGISLATURE MAKES ITS OWN RULES, AND WE'RE UNFORTUNATELY NOT, AS FLEXIBLE ON THAT.

SO I THINK IN THE INTEREST OF JUST KEEPING CONSISTENCY, JUST WOULD LOOK, WHEN PEOPLE START WAITING ON ME, IT TAKES ME A BIT.

WHEN I TURN 70, I WILL HAVE A SHORTER TIME FOR USE.

COMMISSIONER. WE HAVE A LONG TIME AGO FOR THAT.

YEAH, YEAH, I'LL BE SAYING I KNOW, I KNOW IN APRIL, IN APRIL WE HAVE COMMISSIONER.

OKAY. SO WE DISCUSSED COMMISSIONER GARCIA, ITEM 44, AS COMMISSIONER RAMSEY HAD A QUESTION ON THAT.

[04:35:04]

ARE YOU READY TO VOTE ON THAT ITEM? SURE. WELL, MOTION BY COMMISSIONER ELLIS, SECOND BY COMMISSIONER GARCIA.

COMMISSIONER RAMSEY ALSO HAS QUESTIONS ABOUT 129.

ARE YOU READY TO VOTE ON THAT ONE, COMMISSIONER GARCIA? WE JUST AS JUST OUT OF CURIOSITY, COMMISSIONER.

RAMSEY, WHAT WHAT WAS YOUR CONCERN WITH RELEASING THE RETAINAGE? I WANT TO BE SURE THAT THAT ROOM ON THE FIRST FLOOR IS, IN FACT, COMPLETE AND READY FOR US TO OCCUPY.

THAT'S TYPICALLY WHEN YOU RELEASE RETAINAGE.

GOT IT. HE ASSURED ME, MILTON ASSURED ME THAT IT WAS AND WILL BE IN THAT ROOM IN MID-MARCH.

SO. SO, DOCTOR RAYMOND, I KNOW THAT, MY OFFICE HAS BROUGHT, SOME, ISSUES TO TIGHTEN UP WITH THAT COURTROOM.

YOU'RE COMFORTABLE THAT THOSE ISSUES ARE BEING ADDRESSED.

YES, COMMISSIONER. WE WORKED WITH, PATTY TURNER, FROM THE OFFICE OF THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR, TO ADDRESS A LOT OF THOSE SECURITY CONCERNS THAT WE HAD.

AND SO ALL THE UPGRADES WILL BE COMPLETED.

AND AS MENTIONED, THE EARLIER, BY END OF FEBRUARY WILL BE DONE.

SO WE'RE EXPECTING THE SECOND COURT IN MARCH.

I WILL BE ABLE TO HOST IT IN THE NEW CHAMBERS.

WE'LL BE DOING A COUPLE OF MOCK COURTS BEFORE THAT WITH YOUR STAFF.

SO. BUT AT ANY TIME, YOUR STAFF IS WELCOME TO VISIT.

IT'S ALMOST SUBSTANTIALLY COMPLETE.

IN TERMS OF THE SECURITY UPGRADES, MOST OF THE WORK IS ALREADY DONE.

WONDERFUL. THANK YOU.

DOCTOR, I'LL SECOND THE MOTION BY COMMISSIONER ELLIS, SECOND BY COMMISSIONER GARCIA ON ITEM 129.

COULD SOMEONE MAKE A MOTION? COMMISSIONER ELLIS WILL BE PRESENT, NOT VOTING.

ITEM 130.

MAKE A MOTION. MOTION BY COMMISSIONER RAMSEY.

SECOND. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER GARCIA.

ANY OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES 4 TO 0.

ITEM YES.

152. PRECINCTS ONE AND TWO BOTH WANTED TO DISCUSS THIS ITEM.

IT'S MWB.

UTILIZATION REPORT.

JUDGE, IF I MIGHT, I WANT TO LET THE DEPARTMENT MAKE ANY OPENING COMMENTS YOU WANT TO MAKE.

I YOU KNOW, IT'S AN IMPORTANT ISSUE, COMMISSIONER GARCIA.

YOU AND I, HELPED LEAD ON THIS ISSUE.

AND INITIALLY, WHEN THE COURT AGREED TO DO A DISPARITY STUDY, PRECINCT ONE WAS PROUD TO PAY FOR IT.

PROUD THAT WHEN THE COURT CHANGED A BIT, THEY REIMBURSED US FOR THAT.

SIX 5700, WHATEVER IT WAS, AND PAY FOR THAT DISPARITY STUDY.

AND, I THINK IT MAKES THE CASE IT'S, EASY TO, TO TALK ABOUT ALL OF THE OPPORTUNITIES THAT ARE HERE.

BUT THE REALITY IS THOSE OPPORTUNITIES WOULD NOT BE SPREAD EQUITABLY.

AND WE JUST DIDN'T KNOW.

BUT THE NUMBERS WERE FOR MINORITY AND WOMEN OWNED BUSINESSES, SO IT WAS EASY FOR HARRIS COUNTY TO SAY THAT THE NUMBERS HERE WERE BETTER THAN THEY WERE EVEN AT THE CITY AND MAKE A COMMENT. I THINK ONE OF MY COLLEAGUES SAID AT THE TIME, BEFORE WE AGREE TO DO A DISPARITY STUDY, SOMETIMES YOU DON'T HAVE TO HAVE A BIG BUREAUCRACY AND A PROGRAM, AND ALL OF THAT.

AND OF COURSE, WHEN I STUDY CAME OUT, THE NUMBERS WERE JUST SO EMBARRASSING.

THE NUMBERS, NOW, FOR AFRICAN AMERICANS, I THINK THAT ON TOP OF MY HEAD, WHEN I READ MY NOTES WITH 5%, I THINK WHEN THAT DISPARITY STUDY CAME OUT, IT WAS POINT 5%.

AND THAT IS A SUBSTANTIAL INCREASE FROM POINT 5%.

YOU TELL ME IF I'M WRONG, THEN I'LL LET YOU MAKE ANY GENERAL COMMENTS YOU WANT ON THE OVERALL NUMBER FOR MINORITIES AND WOMEN AT THE COUNTY MAY HAVE BEEN ABOUT 9%.

AM I AM I RIGHT? DIRECTOR. THAT'S CORRECT, THAT'S CORRECT.

9% IN TOTAL.

AND NOW THESE NUMBERS ARE SUBSTANTIALLY HIGHER THAN THAT MWBE UTILIZATION RATE OF 27.4 AND CONTRACT DOLLARS WERE CLOSE TO 30%.

ASPIRATIONAL GOAL.

WE MAKE TREMENDOUS PROGRESS.

I KNOW WE HAVE CHALLENGES IN TERMS OF BUILDING OUR LOCAL CAPACITY.

I HOPE MORE FIRMS ARE COMING IN AND I HOPE WE PUT THE FUNDING THERE IN YOUR DEPARTMENT SO WE CAN TRY TO GO TO THAT NEXT LEVEL.

WHILE WE ENCOURAGE SOME OF THESE FIRMS TO MERGE WITH OTHERS, WHETHER THEY HAPPEN TO BE MWBES OR NOT AND STILL HOPING TO BE MWBE CONTROLLED SO WE CAN HAVE MORE OF THEM ENDED UP BEING PRIME.

SO WE STILL HAVE A GOOD DISTANCE TO GO, BUT IT'S MAKING PROGRESS.

COMMISSIONER GARCIA AND I CHALLENGED THE COUNTY TO PUT UP, I THINK WE WERE GOING TO PUT UP 100,000 A PIECE FROM OUR BUDGET.

RIGHT? WHICH WAS NOT MUCH.

WE WERE REALLY GOING TO BE OUT THERE AGGRAVATING PEOPLE WITH $200,000.

BUT OUR COLLEAGUES AGREED TO PUT 2 MILLION IN AND ONLY A ONLY ONE COMMUNITY COLLEGE, MAYBE FOUR SCHOOL DISTRICTS HAVE AGREED, AND I THINK THEY'RE

[04:40:04]

GETTING CLOSE TO A STUDY COMING BACK FROM LONE STAR COMMUNITY COLLEGE.

I HAVEN'T GIVEN UP ON OTHERS.

I HOPE THEY STILL WILL.

AND THE PORT AUTHORITY'S MADE A TREMENDOUS DIFFERENCE.

BUT I WON'T LET YOU MAKE ANY OPENING COMMENTS THAT YOU WANT TO MAKE.

AND, COMMISSIONER WILL, COMMISSIONER ELLIS, I TOO WANT TO JUST MAKE, SOME QUICK REMARKS ON THIS.

STILL, I WANT TO THANK YOU AND YOUR AND YOUR TEAM FOR THE PROGRESS THAT, COMMISSIONER ELLIS WAS TOUCHING ON.

THIS IS, VERY SIGNIFICANT.

AND, YOU KNOW, OF THE OF THE NEARLY 1 BILLION IN, PRIME CONTRACTS, ALMOST 20%, HAS GONE TO, MDBS.

THAT'S VERY, VERY EXCITING TO SEE.

I, I JUST REMEMBER, AT COUNCIL WHEN I WAS ON COUNCIL, I REMEMBER HEARING DIRECTORS OPPOSE GIVING, YOU KNOW, PRIME CONTRACTS TO MINORITY OWNED BUSINESSES BECAUSE, YOU NEEDED TO HAVE EXPERIENCE.

BUT HOW DO YOU GET EXPERIENCE IF YOU'RE NOT GIVEN THE OPPORTUNITY? AND WE'RE DEFINITELY CREATING THE OPPORTUNITY HERE.

SO I'M VERY, VERY EXCITED ABOUT THIS.

TO YOUR OFFICE FOR HELPING TO TRACK ALL THE WORK BEING DONE.

BUT I ALSO WANT TO THANK OUR DIRECTORS FOR HEARING WHAT THE, COMMISSIONER'S COURT IS SAYING ABOUT OUR, VALUE AND VISION TOWARDS, ALLOWING MWBES TO TO PARTICIPATE IN COUNTY OPPORTUNITIES.

THE ONLY THING THAT, WE STILL, I SHOULD SAY THE ONLY THING.

BUT ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE STILL NEED, TO WORK ON, STELLA, IS THE TRACKING OF PAYMENTS FOR OUR EMPLOYEES.

I THINK THAT'S STILL ELUSIVE TO US.

BUT NONETHELESS, I'M VERY, VERY EXCITED ABOUT THE PROGRESS THAT WE'VE MADE.

AND I WANT TO THANK YOU AND YOUR OFFICE FOR HELPING TO TRACK, THE MOVEMENT THAT WE'RE MAKING.

WELL. THANK YOU. COMMISSIONER BRIONES AND THEN COMMISSIONER RAMSEY.

DIRECTOR GONZALEZ, THANK YOU FOR THE PROGRESS THAT YOU AND YOUR TEAM HAVE HELPED TO DRIVE IN THE COUNTY.

AND THANK YOU TO MY COLLEAGUES HERE WHO HAVE BEEN ON THE FRONT LINES BEFORE I ARRIVED.

SO THANK YOU. SO I'M ENERGIZED TO SEE THE PROGRESS.

BUT THERE ARE SEVERAL THINGS THAT JUMPED OUT AT ME, DIRECTOR GONZALEZ, THAT I'D LOVE YOUR PARTNERSHIP AS WE CONTINUE TO DRIVE FURTHER IMPROVEMENT.

SO NUMBER ONE.

THERE IS THE PRIME AWARDS VERSUS THE SUB AWARDS.

SO WE KNOW THERE'S A LOT OF PROGRESS WITH REGARD TO THE SUB.

SO MBES RECEIVED THE MAJORITY 71.5% OF THE COUNTY'S SUB AWARDS, BUT STILL TRAILED BEHIND IN PRIME AWARDS, SPECIFICALLY 17.4. SO MAKING SURE THERE'S THE PIPELINE, BUT ALSO THAT WE'RE HELPING TO EMPOWER AND MAKE IT EASY FOR MOVE FROM SUB TO PRIME IS ONE AREA. I LOVE THE NUMBERS WITH REGARD TO CONTRACT DOLLARS AWARDED, AND AGAIN, TO SEE THAT PROGRESS FROM 9 TO 27% OVERALL IS AMAZING. BUT WHEN WE WERE DRILLING DOWN ABOUT DISBURSEMENTS, ACTUAL DISBURSEMENTS, NOW WITH THE NEW METHODOLOGY, ALL DOLLARS OUT THE DOOR. SINCE SO MANY OF THE CONTRACT RENEWALS ARE NOT SUBJECT TO MWBE GOAL SETTING, I WAS ALARMED TO SEE THAT THERE'S STILL SUCH A DISPARITY IN PAYMENTS, I.E.

THE AMOUNT OF MONEY GOING TO MWBES, SO ONLY 9.8% OF DISBURSEMENTS WERE GOING TO MWBE.

SO IF YOU COULD HELP US TRIANGULATE THOSE CONTRACTS, THAT MIGHT BE RENEWALS PRE MWB PROGRAM.

HOW ARE WE HELPING TO TRANSITION SO THAT WHEN WE'RE THINKING OF ALL OF THE COUNTY'S PROCUREMENT, IT'S ALL UNDER THIS NEW PARADIGM SO THAT WE CAN NOT ONLY BE FOCUSED ON THE AWARDS NOT ONLY SUB TO PRIME BUT ALSO THE ACTUAL DISBURSEMENT.

SO AGAIN, EXCELLENT PROGRESS.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO CONTINUING TO JUST MAKE MARKED PROGRESS MOVING FORWARD.

AND THEN LASTLY, ONE LAST COMMENT.

I KNOW WE TALKED ABOUT IT IN THE LAST UPDATE AS A WOMAN, RIGHT.

AS A FEMALE HISPANIC, I'M ALSO INTERESTED VERY MUCH IN THE INTERSECTIONALITY.

SO I SEE WHITE WOMEN NUMBERS.

BUT WHAT ABOUT AFRICAN AMERICAN WOMEN? WHAT ABOUT LATINAS? SO JUST MAKING SURE THAT WE'RE HONING THE DATA TRACKING.

AND THEN TO COMMISSIONER GARCIA'S POINT, JUST IMPROVING ON HOW THAT ONGOING TRACKING AND REPORTING IS BEING DONE.

SO WITH THAT, THANK YOU AGAIN.

AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO BEING ON THIS JOURNEY OF PROGRESS TOGETHER.

THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH.

DIRECTOR. THANK YOU FOR THE FOR THE UPDATE.

I'M GOING TO ECHO ONE OF THE BACK TWO OF THE ITEMS, REFERENCED.

I KNOW HAVING BEEN A PERSON THAT SERVED IN THESE CONTRACTS FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS, I FOUND IT INTERESTING THAT NO ONE EVER ASKED ME FOR MY REPORT CARD

[04:45:09]

WHEN THE PROJECT WAS OVER.

THEY ALWAYS WANT TO KNOW WHAT I WAS GOING TO DO, BUT THEY DIDN'T KNOW WHAT I ACTUALLY DID.

AND MY FRIEND NATHAN KENNEDY, I WAS ONE OF THE FEW PEOPLE SHE WOULD SUB WITH BECAUSE MANY TIMES THEY WOULD PUT NATHAN ON THE ON THE PROJECT, BUT NATHAN NEVER GOT ANY WORK.

SO I THINK WE'RE YOU'RE HEARING THAT COMMON CONCERN THAT AND THAT'S EASILY VERIFIED AT AT A SIMPLE ACCOUNTING OF HOW YOU'RE DOING TRACKING IT THROUGH THE, THROUGH THE PROGRESS.

BUT WITH THAT SAID, WE ALSO NEED, THE PROGRAM NOT TO SLOW DOWN PROJECTS.

AGREED. AND I THINK THERE'S BEEN DELAYS WAITING ON THE CEO TO MAKE DECISIONS.

PLEASE, WORK WITH, THE COUNTY ENGINEER, THE OTHER DEPARTMENTS THAT THAT ARE DEPENDING ON YOU TO GIVE AN APPROVAL TO MOVE FORWARD.

I KNOW IN ONE CASE, A FOUR MONTH DELAY.

YOU KNOW, A FOUR MONTH DELAY IN A CONSTRUCTION PROJECT IS HUGE.

THAT'S A BIG DEAL.

THAT'S MONEY. THAT'S MONEY LOST.

SO I'M NOT GOING TO ADVOCATE THAT WE START TRACKING THOSE KINDS OF THINGS YET.

BUT I WOULD ASK THAT YOU WORK CLOSELY WITH YOUR COLLEAGUES, WITH THE OTHER DEPARTMENTS TO BE SURE THAT ASKING BEING SURE, IMPLEMENTING THE PROGRAM IS NOT, INHERENTLY CREATING DELAYS.

THERE'S ONE CASE EXAMPLE OF, A PRECINCT THREE FEDERALLY FUNDED PROJECT THAT TOOK FIVE MONTHS TO GET APPROVED.

AND THEN FINALLY, BECAUSE WE COULDN'T FIND A THE CORRECT OR ELIGIBLE OR SOMEONE WHO CHECKED ALL THE BOXES, WE HAD TO GO TO THE FOURTH PERSON QUOTED, WHICH MEANS YOU PAID A LOT MORE MONEY.

NOW, IF WE'RE ALL FINE WITH THAT, I'M JUST SAYING THERE'S A COST TO THE PROGRAM.

I THINK IF WE REALLY GET OUR OUR ENGINE FINE TUNED HERE, WE CAN HAVE OUR CAKE AND EAT IT TOO.

NOT SLOW ANYTHING DOWN, HAVE MORE OF OUR DIFFERENT COMMUNITIES REPRESENTED.

BUT, AT THE END OF THE DAY, WE'VE GOT TO DO THIS IN A WAY THAT WE'RE NOT COSTING MONEY ON CONSTRUCTION SITE.

YES, COMMISSIONER GARCIA, THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER RAMSEY.

JUST, YOU JUST REMINDED ME OF SOMETHING.

MR. MEYERS, IF WE CAN WORK TOWARDS MAKING SURE THAT BETWEEN.

PURCHASING. THE AUDITOR AND DEO.

THAT THINGS ARE ALIGNED.

BECAUSE I'M BECAUSE I'M HEARING THAT THERE HAVE BEEN SOME DELAYS AND I DON'T THINK IT'S ON DEO SIDE, BUT I THINK IT'S SOMEWHERE BETWEEN PURCHASING AND AUDITORS OFFICE.

SO WE CAN WORK TO UNDERSTAND THAT.

ON, ON THE DEO SIDE THOUGH, STILL I DO WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT BECAUSE I'VE HEARD THAT SOME MOVES HAVE BEEN REJECTED OR SOME CONTRACTS HAVE BEEN REJECTED.

AS AN MWB CONTRACT, BUT THEY WERE INVOLVED.

SO I THINK THERE'S THERE'S BEEN A COUPLE OF HICCUPS.

YEAH. SO IF WE CAN MAKE SURE TO TIGHTEN THAT UP A LITTLE BIT AND BUT OVERALL THE PROGRESS IS GREAT.

AND, JUST WANT TO THANK YOU AND YOUR TEAM FOR ALL YOU'RE DOING.

COMMISSIONER ELLIS, I GOT A FEW MORE COMMENTS, BUT I WANT TO LET YOU MAKE ANY COMMENTS YOU WANT TO MAKE.

SHORT AND SWEET, PLEASE.

YES, IT WILL BE SUPER SWEET.

I WILL KEEP IT SHORT.

JUST WANTED TO MAKE ONE MAJOR, UPDATE.

THAT IS WHAT THE SUBCONTRACTOR PAYMENT, DUE TO THE SUPPORT FROM UNIVERSAL SERVICES AND OUR OWN OPERATION IMPROVEMENTS LED BY OUR NEW DIRECTOR, MAYA THORNTON.

WE ARE NOW CURRENTLY TRACKING SUBCONTRACTOR PAYMENT.

WE STARTED IN OCTOBER 2023, BUT SINCE THAT IS THE NEW FISCAL YEAR, THAT REPORT WON'T COME UNTIL THE SUMMER.

BUT THAT IS GREAT NEWS.

SO WE'LL HAVE MORE ROBUST PAYMENT DATA FOR YOU ALL.

WONDERFUL. SO JUST A FEW COMMENTS BECAUSE IT IS AN IMPORTANT ISSUE.

AND I THINK MY STAFF FOR THE WORK THAT THEY DID, EVEN WHEN IT WAS KIND OF LONELY, RAISING THIS ISSUE, I MENTIONED A ROUND TABLE.

AND THE REASON I WANT TO DO THAT MAY BE DOWNSTAIRS, TO BE HONEST WITH YOU, ON THE FIRST FLOOR, IS BECAUSE WE HAVE ADVOCATED FOR THESE PROGRAMS AND BEEN FAIRLY SUCCESSFUL AT IT, BECAUSE OF THE WORK THAT STARTED HERE.

THE PORT AUTHORITY HAS SET UP A PROGRAM.

HARRIS HEALTH HAS DONE A PROGRAM.

I SAID ONE COMMUNITY COLLEGE IS COMING ON BOARD FORT BEND COUNTY, MISSOURI.

[04:50:04]

CITY METRO FOLLOWED.

ALI. THREE SCHOOL DISTRICTS ARE COMING ONLINE AT A TIME WHEN THERE ARE LEGAL CHALLENGES GOING ON AROUND THE COUNTRY, WHICH IS WHY THESE EXPENSIVE DISPARITY STUDIES ARE SO EASY AND THAT THIS STUFF WAS EASY TO DO.

THE COUNTY WOULD HAVE DONE IT A LONG TIME AGO.

I'VE ASKED THE AUDITOR, I THINK WE PUT SOMETHING IN WRITING SOMETHING.

I'LL PUT SOMETHING ON THE AGENDA TO START A REPORT CARD.

I WANT HIM TO DO IT FOR OTHER ENTITIES AS WELL.

BUT A REPORT CARD FOR DEPARTMENTS, WHICH IS SOMETHING WE CAN UNDERSTAND.

I THINK COMMISSIONER RAMSEY MADE REFERENCE TO A REPORT CARD A B C D F BECAUSE IT'S LOOKING GOOD.

NOW I LOOK AT THAT BLACK NUMBER THAT'S A 700% INCREASE FROM, WHERE WE STARTED AT POINT 5% TO A 5% GOAL.

THAT IS, AS A 900%, THAT REFLECTS A 4.5 PERCENTAGE INCREASE ON 900% INCREASE FROM WHERE IT WAS IN THE DISPARITY STUDY. I JUST MENTIONED THAT NUMBER BECAUSE IT WAS ONE THAT WAS LOOKED SO BAD.

I WANT TO ENCOURAGE THE LEGAL DEPARTMENT BE PREPARED FOR A LEGAL CHALLENGE, AND I, FOR ONE, WILL SAY WE OUGHT TO TAKE IT ALL THE WAY TO THE UNITED STATES SUPREME COURT. IF IT DOES COME, WE OUGHT TO START SOME MENTORING PROGRAMS. THE MINORITY SUPPLIER DIVERSITY COUNCIL CAME UP EARLIER.

I WANT YOU ALL TO COME BACK WITH A RECOMMENDATION ON IF WE SHOULD ACCEPT THAT CERTIFICATION.

I DON'T KNOW THE PROS AND THE CONS.

LOOK, I HAD ONE OF THESE BUSINESSES IN MY PARTNER WAS HISPANIC.

ANY TIME WE DIDN'T GET SOMETHING, WE NEVER BELIEVED IT WAS BECAUSE WE JUST WEREN'T AS GOOD AS OTHERS.

AND SOMETIMES I HAD TO TELL PEOPLE WHEN THEY COME IN NOW TO COMPLAIN, I WONDER WHERE WERE THEY? IT WAS PRETTY LONELY WHEN I WAS HERE BY MYSELF SAYING THE COUNTY OUGHT TO HAVE A PROGRAM AND IT DIDN'T COME DOWN HERE AND SAY ANYTHING, BY THE WAY.

BUT NOW, ANYTIME SOMEBODY DOESN'T GET A CONTRACT, THEY COMPLAIN.

SO LOOK, I GET THAT AND I DON'T LIKE TO GET INTO A INDIVIDUAL COMPANY'S CONTRACT.

USUALLY THAT'S WHAT WILL GET YOU PUT IN HANDCUFFS INSTEAD OF THE FRENCH CUFFS.

SO I'M REAL CAREFUL.

I'M REAL SENSITIVE TO THAT.

AND I TELL THEM OUR JOB AS POLICY MAKERS IS TO ADVOCATE FOR OVERALL POLICY AND THEN LET THE CHIPS FALL WHERE THEY MAY.

BUT LOOK, IT IT IS IMPORTANT AND WE NEED TO GIVE YOU DEPARTMENT THE RESOURCES THAT YOU NEED.

AND WHEN THIS PROGRAM WAS SET UP, SOME OF MY FRIENDS CAME IN AND RECOMMENDED WE FOLLOW THE CITY'S MODEL, COMMISSIONER GARCIA, WHICH IS A SUBCONTRACTOR PROGRAM.

SO ALL OF THE OVERALL NUMBERS ARE CONSIDERABLY HIGHER THAN OURS, LIKE ABOUT 13, 14, 15 POINTS HIGHER, AM I RIGHT? I CAN'T REMEMBER OFF THE TOP OF MY HEAD.

AREN'T THEY CLOSE TO 4,445%? THE LAST TIME I CHECKED, IT WAS CLOSE TO 40.

IT'S A SUBCONTRACTOR PROGRAM.

MOST OF THE. MINORITY WOMEN OWNED BUSINESSES ARE SUBCONTRACTED.

BUSINESSES. THEY CAN ONLY DO THAT WORK.

AND THEN THEY WANTED US TO SET UP OUR PROGRAM WHERE EVEN IF YOU WERE A MWV AND GOT TO BE THE PRIME, YOU STILL HAD TO GO AND MEET THE MWBE GOAL.

AND I THOUGHT THAT WAS CRAZY.

THE FIRST TIME I GOT A CHANCE TO BE THE PRIME.

AND SOMEBODY WOULD TELL ME, THEN I GOT TO MEET THE GOAL AND I WISH YOU WERE HERE.

MY ATTITUDE WAS, I WAS BLACK WHEN I WENT TO BED LAST NIGHT, LOOKED UP THE SHADE THIS MORNING I WAS BLACK.

LOOKING AT THE ZOOM, I SEE ONE HEAVYSET BLACK GUY.

THAT'S ME. NOW YOU TELL ME IF I GET A CONTRACT, I'M NO LONGER BLACK.

AND THEN THE MOMENT IT'S OVER WITH, GUESS WHAT, RODNEY, YOU'RE BLACK AGAIN.

THAT WAS NUTS. AND YOU ALL AGREED TO JUST STOP THAT.

SO THAT'S WHY I PROGRAM DOES NOT MAKE THEM MEET THAT GOAL.

BECAUSE WE WANT THEM TO BE IN A POSITION WHERE THEY ARE MAJOR BRANDS.

ONE DAY MAY NOT BE IN OUR LIFETIME.

PROBABLY WON'T TO GET TO BE A ECOM, BUT I'M SO GLAD WE DID NOT DO THAT.

BUT THANK YOU FOR YOUR WORK, DIRECTOR.

THANK YOU. ANYTHING TO ADD ON YOUR END? NO, THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH.

THANK YOU SO MUCH TO YOU AND YOUR TEAM.

SO THAT WAS JUST A DISCUSSION ITEM.

SO NO ACTION.

THANK YOU. 163.

I LIKE THAT ONE, JUDGE.

OKAY. GO AHEAD. COMMISSIONER.

THANK YOU. ON ON THIS ONE, I, I JUST WANTED TO, THANK THE.

HEALTH DEPARTMENT BECAUSE I WAS PLEASED TO SEE THE EXPANSION OF THE DEFINITION OF AN ELIGIBLE PATIENT.

TO ENSURE THAT WE WERE SERVING UNHOUSED PATIENTS AT BEN TAUB, AS WELL AS TO SEE THAT ALL VICTIMS OF GUNSHOTS, STABBING OR AGGRAVATED ASSAULTS WOULD, WOULD BE SCREENED BY THE HOSPITAL, PROGRAM.

THEN, AND THEN ALSO, I'M VERY EXCITED THAT THIS PROGRAM IS COORDINATED, WITH THE HOUSTON AREA WOMEN'S CENTER.

[04:55:07]

TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE NOT MISSING OPPORTUNITIES TO SERVE THE VICTIMS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE OR SEXUAL ASSAULT.

SO JUST WANTED TO ACKNOWLEDGE, THAT THAT, PART OF THE PROGRAM.

SECOND, DO YOU WANT TO MOVE IT? YEAH. MOVE ON. MOTION BY COMMISSIONER GARCIA ON ITEM 163, SECOND BY COMMISSIONER ELLIS.

THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER GARCIA.

ITEM 164.

THINK COMMISSIONER RAMSEY FLAGGED THAT ONE.

SO IS ESSENTIALLY THAT WE HAVE A NAME CHANGE HERE.

AND. ON THE WHAT USED TO BE UPLIFT, UPLIFT.

AND NOW IT'S WHAT GUARANTEED INCOME PILOT GIPP WHAT? IS THAT JUST A NAME CHANGE HERE? GOOD AFTERNOON, BARBIE ROBINSON.

DIRECTOR, HARRIS COUNTY PUBLIC HEALTH.

GOOD AFTERNOON, COMMISSIONERS.

JUDGE, THAT IS, THE, PUBLIC NAME THAT WE USE TO MARKET THE GUARANTEED INCOME PROGRAM, BUT GUARANTEED INCOME PROGRAM IS THE STANDARD NAME IN THE INDUSTRY, TO NORMALIZE AND, STANDARDIZE THESE TYPES OF PROGRAMS. BUT THE PROGRAM IS CALLED UPLIFT HARRIS COUNTY.

AND WE'RE INCREASING THE BUDGET BY $300,000 OVER WHAT WE ORIGINALLY THOUGHT.

YES, TO PROVIDE INCENTIVES FOR THE RESEARCH.

WHAT WE'VE LEARNED AS BEST PRACTICES FROM OTHER PROGRAMS AROUND THE COUNTRY.

WE KNOW THAT THE EVALUATION IS CRITICAL TO PROVE THE CONCEPT THAT THESE PROGRAMS WORK.

AND WHAT WE LEARNED IS THAT PROVIDING GOOD INCENTIVES ALLOWS US TO REDUCE THE NUMBER OF FOLKS THAT DROP OUT OF THE EVALUATION.

AND SO WE'VE INCREASED THE BUDGET TO GO FROM 10 TO $15 FOR SURVEYS TO 20 TO $40, BASED ON THE RECOMMENDATIONS OF OUR CONTRACTOR, AS WELL AS SOME BEST PRACTICES THAT WERE IDENTIFIED IN THE FIELD OF THIS WORK.

SO I CAN'T BE HAPPENING.

HOW MANY PEOPLE HAVE APPLIED SO FAR? I BELIEVE WE WERE, CLOSE TO 60,000.

THERE'S THE START OF THE APPLICATION, AND THEN THE COMPLETION RATE.

AND SO WE'VE SHARED THOSE NUMBERS, BUT, WE'VE WORKED DILIGENTLY TO INCREASE THE NUMBERS.

WE'VE COMPARED THOSE TO COOK COUNTY AND CHICAGO, AND OUR APPLICATION RATES ARE HIGHER THAN BOTH OF THOSE JURISDICTIONS.

AND SO AT AROUND 30% FOR THE POPULATION THAT ACTUALLY QUALIFIES FOR THE PROGRAM.

BUT I CAN'T REMEMBER OFF THE TOP OF MY HEAD THE EXACT NUMBER.

I SAW IT THIS MORNING BECAUSE I HAD AN INTERVIEW ABOUT IT.

AND SO WE WERE AS OF YESTERDAY, WE WERE AT 70, 67,100 AND SOMETHING, AND THEY'RE RECEIVING 400 CALLS A DAY FROM POSSIBLE APPLICANTS.

THAT'S GREAT. I'M VERY EXCITED ABOUT IT, AND I'M PROUD TO MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE IT.

MOTION BY COMMISSIONER ELLIS.

IS THERE A SECOND, SECOND, SECOND BY COMMISSIONER BRIONES? ALL IN FAVOR? AYE.

MOTION CARRIES FOR ITEM 164, COMMISSIONER GARCIA.

MARK, YOU IN FAVOR? YEAH, OKAY, I DIDN'T I DIDN'T VOTE AGAINST IT.

ONE 183, COMMISSIONER GARCIA.

ONE FOR SMITH'S SALARY.

OH, YEAH. I WANT TO, JUST, THANK AND, AND, THANK THE, THE SHERIFF AND AND THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE FOR, THEIR INCREDIBLE WORK LAST COURT MEETING.

WE RECOGNIZE THE THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE, NEW DETENTION, CAPTAIN RANK AND, AND THAT OUR DETENTION OFFICERS, ARE DOING PHENOMENAL WORK WITHIN THE, THE HARRIS COUNTY, CORRECTIONAL SYSTEM.

TODAY, OUR COMMUNICATION OFFICER SUPERVISORS WILL, DESERVINGLY RECEIVE A PAY INCREASE, MOSTLY PAID, BY OUR, THROUGH OUR PARTNERSHIP WITH THE GREATER HARRIS COUNTY 911.

AND THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE CURRENTLY HAS 13 COMMUNICATION OFFICER, SUPERVISORS, WHO ON AVERAGE, HAVE 8 TO 10 COMMUNICATION OFFICERS UNDER THEIR SPAN OF CONTROL, LIKE THEIR COUNTERPARTS WITH DETENTION OFFICERS AND CERTIFIED PEACE OFFICERS.

OUR COMMUNICATION OFFICERS WORK 24 OVER SEVEN, AND THEY ARE ABSOLUTELY AN INTEGRAL PART OF OUR PUBLIC SAFETY DISPATCHING CALL, PROVIDING VITAL INFO TO OUR DEPUTIES IN THE FIELD.

UNLIKE, THEIR SUPERVISOR COUNTERPARTS, THEY ALSO, SIT DOWN AND DISPATCH CALL CALLS FOR SERVICE, TAKE EMERGENCY AND NON-EMERGENCY CALLS, AND PERFORM MANY OTHER COMMUNICATION OFFICER FUNCTIONS IN THE, EMERGENCY DISPATCH CENTER IF THEY'RE SHORT STAFFED.

JUST AS A POINT OF REFERENCE.

[05:00:02]

IN 2001, THE EMERGENCY DISPATCH CENTER OF THE HARRIS COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE RECEIVED A 1,033,620 EMERGENCY CALLS.

911. THESE ARE THE 911 CALLS AND 465 AND 828,000 NON-EMERGENCY CALLS. IN 2000, 22, THEY RECEIVED 9009, 93 AND FIVE 519 EMERGENCY CALLS AND 456 675 NON-EMERGENCY CALLS.

IN LAST YEAR, THEY WERE RIGHT BACK UP TO A MILLION, 91,935 EMERGENCY CALLS AND 473 AND 292 NON-EMERGENCY CALLS.

THESE, DISPATCHERS.

AND JUST TO GIVE EVERYONE A SENSE OF APPRECIATION FOR, THE FACT THAT THESE ARE SUPERVISOR PAY RAISES.

THE. AND THE POINT BEING THAT THE SUPERVISORS ALSO DO THE FRONT LINE JOB AS WELL, WHENEVER THEY'RE SHORT STAFFED.

BUT IF YOU'VE NEVER HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO SIT IN THEIR CHAIR AND HAVE THOSE EARPHONES, IN BOTH OF YOUR EARS AND LISTEN TO SOMEONE CRYING, SCREAMING, CALLING FOR HELP, BEGGING FOR HELP AND RESPONSE, THEN YOU HAVEN'T, YOU DON'T HAVE.

WE DON'T HAVE AN APPRECIATION FOR WHAT THESE FOLKS DO.

THEY ARE TRULY THE FRONT LINE, TO GETTING, LAW ENFORCEMENT SUPPORT TO VICTIMS OF CRIME AS IT'S TAKING PLACE. THEY HEAR IT.

THAT'S WHY THE EMERGENCY CENTER, THE NEW BUILDING THAT, THEY WERE ABLE TO RECEIVE WAS SO CRITICAL BECAUSE, PREVIOUSLY, THEY DIDN'T HAVE ANYWHERE TO DECOMPRESS. THEY DIDN'T HAVE ANYWHERE TO RELAX, FROM, TRULY STRESS DAY IN AND DAY OUT, MINUTE BY MINUTE, PEOPLE CALL IN. WHY ISN'T SOMEONE HERE, FOLKS WHO'VE HAD, CAR CRASHES AND ARE JUST DESPERATE TO HAVE, YOU KNOW, AN AMBULANCE AND LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER SHOW UP? SO I JUST WANT TO THANK, SHERIFF GONZALEZ AND HIS TEAM FOR, YOU KNOW, MAKING SURE THAT, THEY'RE THINKING ABOUT EVERYBODY AND ALL AREAS OF THEIR OPERATIONS AND, JUST APPLAUD WHAT THE SUPERVISORS DO.

I MOVE ON THE ITEM AS PRESENTED.

SECOND MOTION ON ITEM 183 BY COMMISSIONER GARCIA, SECOND BY COMMISSIONER BRIONES.

THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER GARCIA.

I REMEMBER WHEN WE VISITED THE CENTER, AND WE'RE TALKING TO SOME OF THOSE FOLKS.

AND THEY ARE THEY ARE ABSOLUTELY INCREDIBLE.

THANK YOU. 191 I BELIEVE THAT'S COMMISSIONER RAMSEY'S FLAG.

SO 191 191, SPACE LEASE SPACE FOR THE COUNTY CLERKS ELECTIONS DEPARTMENT.

I'VE GOT ALL THAT ANSWERED.

WE JUST VOTE. SO MOVED.

MOTION BY COMMISSIONER GARCIA.

SECOND BY COMMISSIONER ELLIS.

ANY OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY ON 191.

LET'S MOVE ON TO 278.

ALSO FLAGGED BY COMMISSIONER RAMSEY.

THAT'S ANOTHER THIRD PARTY ASSESSMENT.

WE JUST NEED TO VOTE. SO MOVED SECOND MOTION BY COMMISSIONER ELLIS ON 278.

SECOND BY COMMISSIONER GARCIA.

FLAGGED BY COMMISSIONER BEHRENDS.

I'M IN FAVOR. ITEM 344.

YES. DIRECTOR LYNN, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THIS ANNUAL REPORT.

IF YOU COULD PLEASE GIVE LIKE A FEW MINUTE BRIEF SUMMARY ON SOME OF THE KEY HIGHLIGHTS.

IT'S AMAZING HOW MUCH OF THE PROGRESS HAS BEEN STARTED, AND SPECIFICALLY, I'D LOVE TO HEAR MORE ABOUT YOUR PLANS FOR THE COMMUTER SURVEY THAT YOU'RE PLANNING AND THE COUNTYWIDE RECYCLING PROGRAM.

THANK YOU. GOOD AFTERNOON.

JUDGE AND COMMISSIONERS.

LISA LIN, DIRECTOR OF SUSTAINABILITY.

AGAIN, THANK YOU AGAIN FOR LETTING ME KIND OF PROVIDE, SOME JUST REALLY QUICK HIGHLIGHTS.

AS YOU CAN SEE, OUR CLIMATE ACTION PLAN FIRST ANNUAL REPORT REALLY TRIES TO KIND OF BRING TO LIGHT SOME OF THE INITIAL, KIND OF HIGH IMPACT ACTIONS THAT WE'VE STARTED TO SEE.

AS YOU CAN SEE IN THE EXECUTIVE SUMMARY BEING SHOWN, WE'RE REALLY TRYING TO KIND OF SPOTLIGHT SOME OF THE INITIAL DATA POINTS THAT ARE STARTING TO BUBBLE UP.

AS A REMINDER, THERE ARE 32 ACTIONS ACROSS THE CLIMATE ACTION PLAN ACROSS THREE DIFFERENT SECTORS BUILDINGS AND ENERGY, CLEAN FLEET AND COMPUTING, AND SUSTAINABLE PROCUREMENT AND WASTE MANAGEMENT. AND WE REALLY WANTED TO, YOU KNOW, SAY THANK YOU TO A LOT OF OUR PARTNERS WHO'VE BEEN HELPING US, PARTNERS ACROSS THE COUNTY IN YOUR OFFICES AND DIFFERENT COUNTY DEPARTMENTS, TO HIGHLIGHT AROUND THE BUILDINGS AND ENERGY SECTOR.

OUR ENERGY MANAGER, GLENN BRODIN, HAS BEEN CO LEADING A LOT OF THESE INITIATIVES WITH ENGINEERING DEPARTMENTS, BUILDING OPERATIONS AND SERVICES TEAM, INCLUDING GREG MEDLIN AND

[05:05:07]

SEAN BEAUDRY, TO REALLY HELP LOOK AT SOME OF THESE INITIAL ENERGY AUDITS, DEMAND RESPONSE PROGRAMS WHERE WE CAN ACTUALLY START SEEING SOME INITIAL UTILITY SAVINGS.

SO WE HIGHLIGHT SOME OF THAT WITH SOME KIND OF HEAT MAPS AND VISUALIZATIONS OF SOME OF THOSE, KIND OF, SAVINGS FOR, FOR THE COUNTY IN TERMS OF HOW DO WE REDUCE ELECTRICITY AND HOW DO WE START LOOKING AND MEASURING, CAPTURING THOSE, UTILITY BILL SAVINGS.

ON THE CLEAN FLEET SIDE, WE'VE BEEN WORKING WITH, OUR UNIVERSAL SERVICES PARTNERS, ON, ON KIND OF GETTING THOSE EVS INTO OPERATION.

AS YOU CAN SEE, WE'VE ACTUALLY DOUBLED THE NUMBER OF EVS IN IN 2023, ADDING TO POLLUTION CONTROL SERVICES, KIND OF FLEET OF BOLTS.

NOW, COMMISSIONER GARCIA, YOUR TEAM, PRECINCT TWO, SHERIFF'S OFFICE, UNIVERSAL SERVICES, ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT, ALL HAVE KIND OF SOME EV PILOTS TO TO KIND OF WORK THROUGH AND START OPERATIONALIZING.

AND THEN FINALLY IN THE WASTE MANAGEMENT SIDE, WE WANT TO THANK THE HARRIS COUNTY PUBLIC HEALTH TEAM AND HARRIS COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY TO START LOOKING AT SOME WASTE AUDITS FOR, FOR FOR COUNTY BUILDINGS TO HELP US UNDERSTAND WHAT'S ACTUALLY WHAT KIND OF WASTE IS BEING GENERATED, IN COUNTY BUILDINGS AND WHAT ARE THE OPPORTUNITIES FOR WASTE DIVERSION.

RIGHT. SO HOW DOES THAT HELP US REDUCE THAT DEMAND ON LOCAL LANDFILLS? BY POTENTIALLY INTRODUCING RECYCLING, OR EVEN COMPOSTING SERVICES.

SO THIS IS JUST KIND OF INITIAL SNAPSHOTS OF WHAT ARE THOSE OPPORTUNITIES FOR US TO, TO LOOK AT.

AND, I WOULD PASS TO, COUNTY ENGINEER'S OFFICE, WHO'S KIND OF LEADING THE EFFORT ON THE, ON THE RECYCLING, KIND OF SCOPING.

BUT IN TERMS OF THE, EMPLOYEE COMMUTER SURVEY, THAT'S IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE HR TEAM.

SO SHANE'S GROUP IN HELPING FIGURE OUT, YOU KNOW, WHAT ARE THESE, COMMUTING PRACTICES THAT OUR COUNTY EMPLOYEES ARE LOOKING AT.

AND, YOU KNOW, TO THE POINT EARLIER ABOUT THE PARKING DEMAND, HOW CAN WE START LOOKING AT SMART WAYS TO TO KIND OF ALLEVIATE SOME OF THOSE PARKING CHALLENGES, WHILE STILL KIND OF MAKING SURE THAT PEOPLE ARE STILL ABLE TO GET DO THE WORK THAT THEY, THAT THEY NEED TO DO.

AND THEN THE LAST POINT, COMMISSIONER, TO YOUR POINT ABOUT THE STAFFING UPDATES, WE'RE EXCITED TO KIND OF BRING, A NEW TEAM OF TALENT TO OUR OFFICE.

WE HAVE, FIVE NEW STAFF MEMBERS, STAFF MEMBERS JOINING US SOON.

AGAIN, WANT TO THANK THE COURT AND COURT OFFICES AND DEPARTMENTS WHO HAVE HELPED US KIND OF, WITH THE INTERVIEW AND SCREENING PROCESS AND OTHER DEPARTMENTS WHO'VE HELPED US KIND OF THINK ABOUT WHAT'S THIS KIND OF HOLISTIC SUSTAINABILITY TEAM THAT WE NEED TO BRING TO THE TABLE.

SO WHEN WE BRING ON FOLKS WHO'VE WORKED IN OTHER CITIES, OTHER COUNTIES, SOME HAVE ENGINEERING BACKGROUNDS, SOME HAVE WORKED IN NATURAL RESOURCES CONSERVATION.

AND WE ACTUALLY ALSO JUST WELCOMED OUR DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY COMMUNITY ENERGY FELLOW LAST MONDAY.

DOCTOR LUPITA MONTOYA, SO VERY EXCITED FOR WHAT 2024 HAS IN STORE FOR US.

THANKS. WELL, THANK YOU AGAIN, DIRECTOR LYNN.

WE LOOK FORWARD TO CONTINUING TO BUILD ON THE PROGRESS TOGETHER AND PLEASE KEEP US.

I KNOW YOU'VE BEEN DOING SUCH A GREAT JOB WORKING WITH ALL OF THE FIVE OFFICES ON OPPORTUNITIES, AND I KNOW MY TEAM AND I ARE PARTICULARLY EXCITED ABOUT THE SOLAR PANELS THAT WE WILL BE ON FOR PRECINCT FOUR BUILDINGS.

SO THANK YOU FOR THAT AND FOR ALL THE PROGRESS.

AND AGAIN, WE LOOK FORWARD TO AGGRESSIVELY PRESSING FORWARD SO THAT WE CAN BE LEADING IN THE ENERGY TRANSITION.

THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER ELLIS AND THEN COMMISSIONER RAMSEY AND THEN COMMISSIONER GARCIA, I WANT TO THANK YOU AS WELL.

MISS LANNAN, I ALWAYS APPRECIATE SEEING A BICYCLE.

LOOKS LIKE WHEN WE GET OUT HERE TONIGHT, EVEN IF IT'S DARK, I CAN MAKE IT TO TO MY HOUSE.

THAT IS A HIGH END BICYCLE, I CAN TELL.

SO YOU WISE TO KEEP IT IN YOUR OFFICE? THERE'S SOME DOWNSTAIRS IN THE BASEMENT THAT ARE AVAILABLE FOR COUNTY EMPLOYEES, COMPLIMENTS OF PRECINCT ONE.

FOR THOSE WHO ARE NOT IN VERY GOOD SHAPE, THAT ELECTRIC ONE'S A PEDAL ASSISTED ONE'S DOWN AS WELL.

BUT LOOK, I WANT TO COMPLIMENT YOU ON THE GREAT WORK YOU'VE DONE.

YOUR OFFICE HAS INITIATED IMPLEMENTATION OF 31 OUT OF 32 CLIMATE ACTION PLANS, AND THAT'S IMPRESSIVE.

AND YOUR ABILITY TO LEVERAGE, GRANT FUNDING TO GET YOUR OFFICE UP AND GOING IS AMAZING.

AND I, FOR ONE, AM COMMITTED TO, MAKING SURE WHEN WE DON'T HAVE OTHER RESOURCES THAT WE PAY FOR IT, I CANNOT THINK OF A MORE IMPORTANT ISSUE FOR US AND ENERGY CAPITAL OF THE WORLD THAN HAVE A CLIMATE ACTION PLAN, AND TO MAKE CLIMATE JUSTICE BE A VERY IMPORTANT PART OF WHAT WE DO.

SO THANK YOU. COMMISSIONER RAMSEY, A DIRECTOR.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR REPORT.

I THINK, AND COMMISSIONER ELLIS JUST MENTIONED IT.

WE'RE IN THE ENERGY CAPITAL OF THE UNIVERSE HERE IN HOUSTON.

THERE'S SO MUCH THAT HAPPENS ON THAT PORT.

THERE'S SO MUCH THAT HAPPENS ON THE WEST SIDE THAT IS ENERGY DRIVEN, POLICY DRIVEN.

I WOULD ENCOURAGE YOU, THERE'S THIS IS PROBABLY THE LARGEST CENTER OF ENGINEERING IN THE WORLD AS WELL.

THERE'S A LOT OF A LOT OF THESE COMPANIES WOULD BE MORE THAN HAPPY TO PARTNER WITH YOU.

[05:10:01]

I JUST TOURED LINDELL'S FACILITY.

THAT'S A4000 ACRE, FACILITY THERE.

AND, COMMISSIONER GARCIA'S AND MY PRECINCT, AND WHAT THEY'RE DOING RELATED TO THESE ISSUES IS EXTRAORDINARY.

SO, I THINK JUST BEING AWARE OF IT, WHAT'S GOING ON? AND NOT THAT YOU WOULD ENGAGE ON POLICY OF LNG EXPORTS, BUT I WOULD TELL YOU, WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT LNG, LIQUID NATURAL GAS HERE IN THE, IN THE, IN TEXAS, CLEANEST BURNING FUEL YOU CAN YOU CAN IMAGINE IT'S REPLACING A LOT OF THE COAL FIRED, UNITS WORLDWIDE.

SO WE ARE CONTRIBUTING IN A POSITIVE WAY TO, QUOTE UNQUOTE, THE CARBON FOOTPRINT WORLDWIDE, EVEN IF IT'S IN A NATURAL GAS KIND OF A WAY.

SO WE SHOULDN'T WE SHOULDN'T DISCOUNT ALL THE STRATEGIES THAT THE EXXONS AND THE BP'S AND THE AND THE LINDELL'S AND OTHERS ARE CURRENTLY IMPLEMENTING, AND WE SHOULD AT LEAST BE AWARE OF THEM SO THAT WE CAN, COMPLEMENT THEM IN WHAT, IN WHAT WE'RE DOING.

BUT THANK YOU.

COMMISSIONER GARCIA. THANK YOU.

JUDGE. LISA, AGAIN, THANK YOU, FOR ALL THE ALL THE GOOD WORK YOU'RE DOING AND JUST REALLY EXCITED THAT, THAT YOU'RE HERE AND YOU'RE HELPING TO MOVE, THE BALL FORWARD.

THIS IS SOMETHING THAT'S BEEN IMPORTANT TO ME SINCE I GOT HERE, AND I'M GLAD THAT MY OFFICE IS AT, IS VERY, VERY INVOLVED IN THIS.

AND I'M ALSO EXCITED THAT, THE PRECINCT TWO, INVESTMENTS, TO THE FURTHER TO FURTHER THE PLAN ARE, ARE NOTED AS WELL.

SO THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR THAT BECAUSE MY, MY FOLKS HAVE BEEN JUST WORKING VERY, VERY TIRELESSLY ON THIS.

TO THAT END, I WANT TO, MAKE SURE THAT, YOU KNOW, WE'RE HEARING FROM YOU ABOUT, YOU KNOW, WHERE THE BOTTLENECKS ARE, WHERE THE, THE THE CHALLENGES ARE TO MOVE THINGS FORWARD.

I WANT TO REEMPHASIZE TO ALL OF OUR DIRECTORS THAT WE'RE ALL A TEAM HERE AND THAT WE OUGHT TO WE ALL NEED TO BE WORKING TOGETHER, TOWARDS THE GOAL OF SUSTAINABILITY.

AND, AND IF DIRECTORS DON'T HAVE SOMEONE IN MIND, TO SERVE AS A POINT PERSON AND LIAISON, WITH, WITH SOME AUTHORITY TO YOUR OFFICE, I WOULD HOPE THAT THEY WOULD BE ACTIVELY THINKING ABOUT THAT.

THAT'S HOW WE'RE GOING TO GET TOGETHER IN A ALL OF COUNTY GOVERNMENT APPROACH.

AND, YOU KNOW, I'M GLAD THIS WINTER STORM, WE'RE NOT OUT OF WINTER YET.

BUT I'M GLAD THAT THIS, WINTER STORM WASN'T WHAT IT WAS, A FEW YEARS AGO.

BUT WE STILL NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE TAKING ADVANTAGE OF THESE, THESE OPPORTUNITIES TO, YOU KNOW, REALLY SHOW OUR COMMUNITY THAT WE ARE MUCH MORE RESILIENT, BECAUSE FOLKS COUNT ON US FOR WARMING CENTERS, FOLKS.

COUNT ON US FOR COOLING CENTERS.

YOU KNOW, FOLKS CAN COUNT ON US, FOR A GREAT DEAL.

AND I WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE COMMISSIONER JONES FOR STANDING UP A WARMING CENTER.

THANK YOU. IN THIS, PAST, WINTER STORM.

SO, AGAIN, LISA, THANK YOU FOR YOUR GOOD WORK.

AND, AND, JUST KEEP US POSTED.

YES, COMMISSIONER. ONE QUICK THING.

THANK YOU, JUDGE HIDALGO. DIRECTOR LYNN, I WOULD LOVE YOUR PARTNERSHIP.

AND DOCTOR RAHMAN AND TEAM'S PARTNERSHIP ON THIS.

WE'VE BEEN THINKING ABOUT HOW, AS A PRECINCT, WE EVALUATE THE IMPACTS OF THE HORIZONTAL INFRASTRUCTURE OR CONSTRUCTION, ROADWAY MANAGEMENT, MAINTENANCE, ETC., IN TERMS OF HOW WE'RE MEASURING THE CARBON IMPACT THERE.

AND SO HOW ARE WE BUILDING IN THIS IMPACT OF HORIZONTAL INFRASTRUCTURE THROUGHOUT OUR COUNTY? WORK, I THINK, WOULD BE A GOOD WAY TO CONTINUE ADDING TO THE DEPTH OF THE IMPROVEMENTS THAT WE'RE MAKING.

AND I'M SURE DOCTOR RAHMAN AND TEAM WOULD BE GREAT THOUGHT PARTNERS.

AND MY TEAM WILL BE REACHING OUT TO DISCUSS AND GET YOUR THOUGHTS.

SO THANK YOU, THANK YOU.

SOUNDS GOOD. DIRECTOR, A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS FROM ME.

I HAD A REALLY INTERESTING CONVERSATION WITH THE THE NEW PRESIDENT OF THE AND CEO OF THE GREATER HOUSTON PARTNERSHIP.

AND, YOU KNOW, WE KNOW COMMISSIONER RAMSEY ALLUDED TO WHAT ALL THE VARIOUS OIL AND GAS COMPANIES ARE DOING ON THE ENERGY TRANSITION.

AND ONE THING WHERE WE, YOU KNOW, WE KIND OF AGREED WHAT WE AGREED ON MANY THINGS, BUT ONE SORT OF KEY NUGGET THAT WE WALKED OUT OF THE MEETING WITH IS THESE COMPANIES HAVE THE INCENTIVE TO DEVELOP ALTERNATIVE ENERGY SOURCES.

[05:15:03]

HOWEVER, THEY DO NOT HAVE THE INCENTIVE TO CONTINUE EMPLOYING OUR WORKFORCE.

AND SO I'M JUST WONDERING IF, IF THAT FALLS UNDER YOU OR IF THAT FALLS UNDER, A DEO OR CSD.

BUT I JUST WANT TO FLAG FOR YOU AND THE DEPARTMENT OF COUNTY ADMINISTRATION, YOU KNOW.

HOW CAN WE LOOK MORE BROADLY AT THE ENERGY TRANSITION AND HOW CAN WE SUPPORT THAT, WHETHER IT IS APPRENTICESHIP TRAININGS AND WHATNOT? AND THE CHP HAS BEEN A LOT OF LISTENING SESSIONS.

I KNOW WE ALL HAVE DISCUSSED THAT WITH THEM.

HAVE YOU CHATTED WITH THEM ALREADY? DIRECTOR YES, I, WE, I SERVE ON THE CHP HOUSTON ENERGY TRANSITION INITIATIVE, THE HEAVY ADVISORY STAKEHOLDER GROUP.

SO WE'RE WE'RE CONSTANTLY IN CONVERSATION WITH WITH HP FROM THAT FRONT.

IN TERMS OF KIND OF THE WORKFORCE FRONT, WE DO, KIND OF PARTNER WITH OTHER ENTITIES WITH DIO THROUGH THE RESILIENT WORKFORCE COLLABORATIVE THAT'S, BEEN FUNDED BY THE JP MORGAN CHASE FOUNDATION AND BEING KIND OF SHEPHERDED BY THE HOUSTON COMMUNITY COLLEGE.

SO THAT HELPS KIND OF BRING THAT HOLISTIC CONVERSATION OF WHAT ARE THE FUTURE WORKFORCE NEEDS AND WHERE THE EMPLOYER IS AT THAT TABLE TO HELP KIND OF SHAPE THAT PROGRAM.

SO THERE'S A COUPLE DIFFERENT WORKFORCE THINGS WITH CLEAN ENERGY, AND THE ENERGY ENERGY TRANSITION THAT WE'VE BEEN A PART OF.

AND SO WE'LL MAKE SURE WE'RE DOING EVERYTHING WE CAN DO.

BECAUSE I DON'T WANT TO FIGURE OUT, YOU KNOW, WE CAN WE CAN BE MORE EFFICIENT IF WE GO SOMEWHERE ELSE OR WE HIRE FEWER PEOPLE OR WHATEVER.

SO THE THIS OTHER TWO BRIEF QUESTIONS ON THE, RECYCLING PROGRAM, IS THERE A WORLD IN WHICH YOU MOVE TOWARDS, YOU KNOW, I GET IT THAT YOU NEED TO IMPLEMENT IT.

AND DIRECTOR RAYMOND, WITHIN THE COUNTY AS AN ENTITY, AS A GOVERNMENTAL ENTITY.

BUT WHAT CAN WE DO TO SUPPORT RECYCLING, OR IS IT EVEN WORTH IT, IN TERMS OF A POSITIVE IMPACT ON THE ENVIRONMENT BEYOND THE WALLS, SO TO SPEAK, OF COUNTY GOVERNMENT? SO I'LL JUST, YOU KNOW, LEAVE THAT, FOR, FOOD FOR THOUGHT.

AND THEN AND THEN, THE THE OTHER POINT IS, I DON'T KNOW IF YOU GUYS SAW THIS NETFLIX DEAL ABOUT THE TWINS.

THEY DID A STUDY WITH 21 SETS OF TWINS.

AND ANYWAY, IT'S SUPPOSED TO BE ABOUT HEALTHY FOOD, BUT REALLY TURNS OUT TO BE ABOUT THE ENVIRONMENT.

IT'S A STUDY OUT OF STANFORD. IT'S VERY INTERESTING.

AND I LEARNED THAT THERE ARE MORE GREENHOUSE GASES IN GLOBAL AGRICULTURE, THAN IN THE GLOBAL TRANSPORTATION SECTOR, PARTICULARLY IN TERMS OF LIVESTOCK FARMING.

JUST THE THE CONNECTION BETWEEN THE TWO.

AND SO I WONDER IF THAT'S WITHIN YOU OR PUBLIC HEALTH.

BUT JUST AS WE THINK ABOUT CLIMATE CHANGE AND WHAT WE CAN DO, ANYTHING WE CAN DO TO HELP FOLKS EAT MORE VEGETABLES, DISCOVER HEALTHIER FOODS, AND EAT MEAT MORE SPARINGLY, THAT ALL HAS THE BIGGEST IMPACT.

OTHER LIKE MUCH MORE THAN RIDE A BIKE OR, YOU KNOW, TURN OFF YOUR LIGHT OR RECYCLE THIS OR THAT.

AND I KNOW THERE'S OTHER LEADERS AROUND THE WORLD AND IN THE, AROUND THE COUNTRY THAT HAVE, YOU KNOW, THOUGHT ABOUT THAT.

I THINK DOCTOR FAUCI HAS SOMETHING IN OUR HOSPITALS ALREADY.

WE TALKED ABOUT THIS THE DAY OF THE BOND.

BUT, YOU KNOW, JUST I JUST WANTED TO PUT THAT OUT THERE ALSO AS ANOTHER ANGLE TO COME AT THINGS FROM, AGAIN, OUTSIDE THE WALLS OF COUNTY GOVERNMENT.

YES. I THINK THAT THAT MAKES A LOT OF SENSE.

PLANT RICH DIETS HAVE BEEN KIND OF POPPING UP IN OTHER, CLIMATE WORK TOO.

SO DEFINITELY WELCOME A CONVERSATION WITH DIRECTOR ROBINSON ON HOW DO WE KIND OF INTEGRATE THAT INTO OUR WORK AS WELL.

OKAY, SO, WE WILL ACCEPT THE REPORT.

MOVING ON TO ITEM 395, COMMISSIONER RAMSEY.

[Emergency/Supplemental items]

IT'S NICE TO KNOW WE'RE SORRY.

THE COUNTY ATTORNEY, WANTS TO BE AUTHORIZED TO MAKE CERTAIN FILE COMMENTS WITH THE TEXAS COMMISSION ON ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY.

I'M ASSUMING WE WILL HAVE WE WE DON'T HAVE THOSE PREPARED YET.

I CAN'T GO FOR SOMETHING.

THE COMMENTS AREN'T PREPARED.

BUT, SARAH UTLEY FROM MY OFFICE SENT ROGER BRIDGEWATER IN YOUR OFFICE A SUMMARY OF WHAT THE COMMENTS WOULD, WOULD SAY IN SUBSTANCE.

SO IT WOULD BE A LONGER VERSION OF, OF THAT EMAIL.

OKAY. WELL, HE'S HIS WIFE'S IN HOSPITAL, SO THAT'S WHY HE'S NOT HERE.

I APOLOGIZE.

WE DID NOT KNOW THAT, BUT I'M HAPPY TO SEND IT TO WHOEVER YOU WANT US TO SEND THEM TO.

IF YOU HAVEN'T SENT THOSE TO MY OFFICE TO ME AS WELL, I'D LIKE TO TAKE A LOOK AT THEM.

I BELIEVE SARAH DISCUSSED WITH KRISTEN LEE, BUT WE CAN SEND THEM OVER.

I KNOW YOU GUYS WANT TO VOTE ON THAT AT THE END.

[05:20:01]

OR ARE YOU READY TO VOTE ON IT NOW? I'M GOOD. I'M OKAY. MOTION BY COMMISSIONER ELLIS.

IS THERE A SECOND? SECOND BY COMMISSIONER BRIONES ON ITEM 395? ALL IN FAVOR, SAY AYE.

398, COMMISSIONER RAMSEY.

THE COUNTY ATTORNEY WANTS TO FILE AN AMICUS BRIEF ON BEHALF OF THE COUNTY.

WE HAVE THOSE COMMENT COMMENTS READY AS WELL.

THOSE ARE NOT. SO THIS WAS A VERY LAST MINUTE THING.

WE'VE BEEN ASKED TO FILE COMMENTS IN SUPPORT OF THE UNITED STATES LITIGATION AGAINST TEXAS, CHALLENGING SB FOUR, WHICH IS THE I THINK EVERYBODY KNOWS IS THE, I GUESS, ANTI-IMMIGRATION BILL THAT WAS JUST PASSED BY THE LEGISLATURE, ALLOWING, LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS IN TEXAS TO ESSENTIALLY ENFORCE IMMIGRATION LAWS.

THE SUBSTANCE OF OUR COMMENTS WILL BE EFFECTIVELY TO SAY THAT THIS WILL HURT LAW ENFORCEMENT IN HARRIS COUNTY BY DOING A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT THINGS, BUT ESPECIALLY DISCOURAGING UNDOCUMENTED FOLKS FROM COMING FORWARD AND IDENTIFYING THEMSELVES.

AGAIN, THAT THE BRIEF IS NOT READY.

THIS HAS MOVED VERY, VERY QUICKLY.

THE LITIGATION WAS JUST FILED ABOUT A WEEK AND A HALF AGO, AND WE JUST GOT IN TOUCH WITH, WITH THE FOLKS AT DOJ WHO ARE LEADING THIS LITIGATION PROBABLY A FEW DAYS AGO.

SO I WILL MOVE.

SECOND. SECOND. MOTION BY COMMISSIONER BRIONES.

SECOND BY COMMISSIONER GARCIA. ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. ANY OPPOSED? NO. MOTION CARRIES 4 TO 1 ON 398 403, COMMISSIONER RAMSEY.

WE JUST NEED TO VOTE.

MOVE! SECOND MOTION BY COMMISSIONER GARCIA, SECOND BY COMMISSIONER ELLIS.

MOTION CARRIES 4 TO 1 FOR 13.

FLAGGED BY BOTH COMMISSIONER GARCIA AND COMMISSIONER RAMSEY.

ON THIS PARTICULAR ITEM BECAUSE THERE'S A NUMBER OF CONFLICTS WITH OUR CURRENT CALENDAR.

AND AS IT RELATES TO BOTH HCAC BOARD MEETINGS AND AND, TEXAS ASSOCIATION COUNTY CONFERENCES, WHICH WE NEED TO TRY AND ATTEND FOR OUR HOURS.

AND, SO I WOULD JUST, SEE IF YOU COULD, WORK TO ADDRESS, AN OPPORTUNITY TO FIND ALTERNATE DATES FOR COMMISSIONERS COURT SO WE CAN AVOID THOSE CONFLICTS BEING ON THE BOARD OF, YOU KNOW, THOSE AND THEN NEEDING OUR HOURS.

IT'S MAKES IT A LITTLE CHALLENGING, COMMISSIONER.

YES. OKAY, WELL, JUST ONE THING WE'RE TRYING TO FIGURE OUT IS WOULD IT BE HELPFUL TO JUST BE ABLE TO MOVE IT ONE DAY TO THE WEDNESDAY AND KEEP IT ON THE SAME WEEK, JUST BECAUSE IT'S REALLY HARD TO FIND FOR DIFFERENT, GET TO A DIFFERENT WEEK, AND THEN WE HAVE INVOICES THAT NEED TO BE PAID.

SO WE WANTED YOU TO ALSO THINK ABOUT WOULD BE I WOULD BE OPEN TO THAT.

WITH THE EXCEPTION WHEN IT RELATES TO THINGS LIKE HVAC.

THAT WOULD THAT'S A PERFECT SOLUTION.

YEAH. FOR EACH BUT WHEN IT RELATES TO THE TECH CONFERENCES, BECAUSE SOMETIMES SOME OF US ARE ON PANELS AND THINGS OF THAT NATURE.

SO IT COULD BE STILL CHALLENGING FOR THAT WEEK.

SO WE COULD JUST LOOK FOR SOME ALTERNATIVES.

AND WOULD THOSE BE THEN ON A DIFFERENT.

SO THEN THOSE WOULD BE FOR DIFFERENT MEETINGS BEYOND THE ONE, TWO, THREE, FOUR, FIVE THAT WHERE THE HJC MAYBE WE COULD DO MORE BUSINESS COURTS OR ANYWAY COMMISSIONER ELLIS AND THEN COMMISSIONER THE WEEK THAT THE TECH CONFERENCE MEETS, IT STARTS ON TUESDAY.

I KNOW COMMISSIONER RAMSEY HAS GONE AND HAD TO SIT IN YOUR ROOM ALL DAY, YOU KNOW.

WELL, I'M GOING I'M GOING AGAIN THIS TIME.

SO YOU MIGHT PULL THAT ONE TO MONDAY BECAUSE I THINK THAT'S IN MY RIGHT.

IS THAT A TUESDAY? THAT'S A TUESDAY THAT'S COMING UP.

SO MOVE IT TO I MIGHT JUST A THOUGHT WHATEVER.

BECAUSE WE ALL HAVE TO. FOUR OF US AT LEAST HAVE TO GO GET THOSE HOURS.

AND IT CAN BE A SCRAMBLE AT THE LAST MINUTE.

AND YOU'RE FLYING ALL OVER THE STATE TRYING TO DO IT.

AND THAT ONE'S CLOSE. SO I WAS JUST LOOKING FOR THAT.

IT'S IT'S EVERY YEAR, WHETHER IT'S THE MONDAY OR THE FRIDAY WOULDN'T MATTER TO ME.

I DON'T KNOW, WE JUST HAVE TO DO THAT ONE WEEK OR IF YOU GOT THEM, I DON'T.

I'M I'M AMENABLE.

IF YOU FIGURED OUT IF WE HAVE TO MEET TWO WEEKS IN A ROW, IF THAT DOESN'T JAM YOU ALL UP.

BUT AT LEAST FOR THAT YOUNG INSTITUTE, THAT'S THE 19TH.

YEAH, THAT'S MONDAY, THE 19TH OF FEBRUARY.

AND IT'S AROUND THAT TIME EVERY YEAR.

BUT THAT ONE'S A REAL A REAL HASSLE.

BECAUSE I LOOKED I WENT THROUGH EVERYTHING THEY HAD.

THAT'S THAT'S THE ONLY ONE THAT'S.

YEAH, THAT'S WHAT WE GET THE LARGEST NUMBER OF HOURS AND IT'S CLOSE TO US.

WE CAN EVEN GO AND COME HOME.

YEAH, WE GET TO GO TO COLLEGE STATION.

YEAH. AND ANYTHING TO GO TO COLLEGE STATION.

WE CAN RIDE OUR BIKES A WHOLE NOTHER COUNTRY.

THAT'S RIGHT, THAT'S RIGHT IS DOWN THERE.

AND YOU GO TO COLLEGE STATION NOW AND YOU CAN RIDE YOUR BICYCLE ON THE WAY.

THERE YOU GO. IN COLLEGE STATION, YOU'RE NOT GOING TO FIND A WHOLE LOT OF BIG STUFF.

I HAVE A FUNNY STORY.

BE SURPRISED. I'M SERIOUS.

YOU'D BE SURPRISED AT COLLEGE STATION.

WELL, I GUESS IT IS. YEAH.

AND AND THE PLACES IN ANYWAY ISN'T THAT CROWDED.

[05:25:02]

COMMISSIONER RAMSEY, DID YOU HAVE ANYTHING ELSE? YEAH. JUST, IT IT WOULD SEEM THAT THIS IS BETTER DISCUSSION IN, OCTOBER AND NOVEMBER.

NOT IN FEBRUARY.

RIGHT. BECAUSE AND A LOT OF US HAVE, HAVE AT THIS POINT IN, IN THE YEAR.

WE PLAN VACATIONS, WE PLAN HOLIDAYS AND I THERE'S, THERE'S SOMETHING EVERY WEDNESDAY AT LEAST ON MY, MY SIDE OF THE FENCE.

SO WEDNESDAYS ARE PRETTY HARD.

UNDERSTOOD. SO YOU'RE GOING TO COME.

YEAH. AND AND AND JUST, JUST JUST SO I DON'T HEAR IT FROM MY STAFF WHO SPENT A LOT OF TIME IN JULY, AUGUST AND SEPTEMBER OF LAST YEAR WITH YOUR SCHEDULERS TRYING TO GET THESE DATES.

IT'S REALLY HARD PINNING YOU ALL DOWN, ALL FIVE.

SO JUST JUST UNDERSTAND WE WILL WORK DILIGENTLY TO TRY TO DO IT, BUT WE ALSO ARE GOING TO NEED SOME A LITTLE BIT OF FLEXIBILITY ON YOUR ENDS ON SOME OF THE ISSUES THAT WE FACE, BECAUSE WE CAN NEVER ACCOMMODATE EVERYBODY'S, YOU KNOW, MEETINGS AND, PUBLIC APPEARANCES AND CONFERENCES.

AND IT JUST WE WIND UP LIKE WE HAVE.

IT'S HARD. IT'S A HARD THING LISTENING.

THE ONLY COMMISSIONER RAMSEY'S STAFF, THEY KNOW ANY REASON TO GO TO COLLEGE STATION, HE'LL GO.

BUT AT LEAST FOR THAT ONE, IF I WAS TO ASK THE LISTENING FOR WAS PROBABLY WANT TO GO TO THAT ONE.

YEAH. UNDERSTOOD. IT'S CLOSE AND GET BUT YOU KNOW WE WE SHOULD HAVE CAUGHT THAT AND FOR OTHER TRAVEL I MEAN WE GET IT SOMETIMES IF WE AND FOR H-GAC.

RIGHT. AND THAT THIS TAC CONFERENCE.

BUT NOW WE HAVE NO SHAME TO COMING HOME VIRTUALLY.

I'VE DONE IT FROM KIGALI, RWANDA.

SO I'M NOT ASKING YOU TO CHANGE.

YEAH. THOSE THINGS. I JUST WANT TO KEEP LUCINDA ON MY STAFF FOR A LITTLE LONGER.

NOT EVER GO LIKE, TELL US NOT HER.

YEAH. OH, DIRECTOR OR COLLEAGUE.

SO THERE IS THOSE MONTHS WHEN I WAS IN OHIO.

SO THERE'S ONE CHORD THAT I CANNOT MAKE.

I HAVE A COMMITMENT THAT I MADE ALMOST A YEAR AGO IN IT'S THE ONE IN MARCH BEGINNING OF MARCH.

SO. SO ANYWAY, WHILE WE'RE SHUFFLING THINGS, I'M GOING TO SAY THAT OTHERWISE I'M GOING TO HAVE TO DEFER TO MY COLLEAGUE HERE TO RUN THE COURT THAT THAT WEEK, THAT DAY.

AND AND JUST A THOUGHT, SOMEBODY MENTIONED FRIDAY OR MONDAY, BUT THEN I'M THINKING, OKAY, WELL WHEN DOES THE STAFF PREPARE? WHICH LEADS ME TO THINK.

JUST MAYBE. JAY, STOP ME HERE IF YOU NEED TO, BUT I WONDER IF THERE COMES A TIME TO CONSIDER HAVING THE AGENDA DEADLINE BE LIKE WEDNESDAY AND SUPPLEMENTAL AGENDA BE THURSDAY, YOU KNOW, SO STAFF HAS MORE TIME TO TALK TO THE DEPARTMENTS.

WHILE IT'S NOT THE WEEKEND, I CAN I CAN SAY WITHOUT ANY HESITATION THAT THE COURT STAFF WOULD BE VERY EXCITED TO IT'D BE EASIER FOR THEM.

I THINK THE CHALLENGE ENDS UP BEING THAT THE OFFICES, NOT JUST YOUR FIVE, BUT BUT THE DEPARTMENTS REALLY PUSH IT TO THE EDGE THERE.

BECAUSE OF THAT, I THINK MORE BUSINESS COURTS.

YOU MADE A POINT OF SAYING THAT EARLIER I THINK WILL ACTUALLY HELP THE SITUATION.

AND SO IF, IF, IF, IF WE CAN COORDINATE WITH THAT BUSINESS COURT, I'M SORRY, WE HAVE TO BE HERE OR TWO.

CORRECT. THREE HAVE TO BE HERE.

AND SO, I MEAN, I THINK ONE AND THIS IS SOMETHING, LUCINDA AND I TALKED ABOUT OF SUGGESTING WHEN WORKING WITH THE JUDGES OFFICE TO TRY TO GET MORE BUSINESS COURTS AND MAYBE EXPAND SOME OF THE NON, DISCUSSION ORIENTED THINGS ON, ON TO THERE SO THAT WE CAN GET MORE SORT OF THROUGHPUT IN THE, IN THE, THE MEETINGS.

AND SO MAYBE A FEW MORE BUSINESS COURTS AND MORE, LESS HEAVY AGENDAS THAT, THAT YOU GUYS CAN HAVE MORE DISCUSSION ON.

GO AHEAD. COMMISSIONER. JUDGE.

I'M SORRY. MR. MEYERS, IF WE CAN ALSO MAKE SURE TO MAKE AN EFFORT TO GET AS MUCH, PROCUREMENT ON THE AGENDA FOR THOSE BUSINESS COURSES.

OF COURSE. THAT'S EXACTLY.

COMMISSIONER, YOU AND I ARE ON THE SAME PAGE.

THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO.

YEAH, COMMISSIONER. AND WHEN WE MOVE DOWNSTAIRS TO THE GLORIOUS COURTROOM, FOR THOSE WHO ARE WHO THINK THEY.

AND, YOU KNOW, THE GREAT CATHEDRAL OR SOMETHING, WE MOVED DOWN, WE COULD JUST DO A RESOLUTION COURT WHERE I'M SURE ALL FIVE OF US WOULD BE THERE. I'M SURE FOUR WILL BE THERE.

AND YOU COULD DO THAT ON LIKE A MONDAY OR FRIDAY.

SERIOUSLY, PEOPLE COULD COME AND THAT'S MORE OF A CEREMONIAL THOUGHT.

AND THEN DON'T DO THEM ON THE DAY, YOU KNOW, WHICH WE COULD GET A LOT MORE DONE BECAUSE TODAY WE WENT LONG REALLY RESOLUTION.

WE ALL GET THE PRESSURE. AND I'M SEEING NOW SOME OF THEM THAT, YOU KNOW, THEY SHOP THEM AROUND BUT IT'S REAL.

SO I WILL ALERT ON THAT TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO BE CLEVER ON THAT.

SO IF ONE WON'T DO IT I FIND OUT.

OH, I THOUGHT I WAS YOUR FIRST CHOICE.

NO, YOU'RE THE FOURTH CHOICE, RIGHT? I KNOW, YOU KNOW, FOR YEARS THE STAFF WORKED SO HARD OVER THE WEEKEND, BUT A LOT OF TIMES THEY CAN'T GET AHOLD OF THE DEPARTMENT HEADS OVER THE WEEKEND.

SO THEY'RE SCRAMBLING MONDAY TO TO GET INFORMATION.

SO THAT'S WHY I MEAN, I GET I THINK WHAT YOU'RE SAYING, JAY, IS LEGALLY THEY ARE ABLE TO SUBMIT UNTIL FRIDAY OR I MEAN, CAN WE STOP?

[05:30:01]

COULD WE CONSIDER SAYING YOU HAVE TO HAVE IT IN EVEN FOR SUPPLEMENTAL ON THURSDAY.

SO IT GIVES THEM TWO BUSINESS DAYS AS OPPOSED TO JUST ONE? ABSOLUTELY. JUDGE. YOU CAN DO THAT.

IT IS IT IS THEN ANOTHER DAY SOONER.

CLEARLY I'M NOT THE ONE THAT SUBMITS THESE THINGS.

SO ANYWAY. BUT THE POINT IS THEY DON'T HAVE ENOUGH TIME.

SO ANYWAY, MAYBE IT SOUNDS LIKE YOU CAN VISIT WITH OUR OFFICES AND SEE AND, YOU KNOW, COUNTY ATTORNEY VIEW AND CHAT WITH WITH MY STAFF AND WE CAN BRING SOMETHING TO TO SOLVE THIS AND DIRECTOR KNOW ADMINISTRATOR, WE ALL KNOW THAT, THAT YOU GUYS PUT THIS TOGETHER LAST YEAR AND I THINK IT'S JUST A COMEDY OF ERRORS WITH OVERSIGHT AND ME BEING OUT AND WHATNOT.

SO ANYWAY, THANK YOU FOR THE FLEXIBILITY.

ITEM FOUR.

SO NO ACTION HERE, CORRECT, COMMISSIONER GARCIA? CORRECT. THANK YOU. OKAY.

ITEM 414, COMMISSIONER BRIONES.

AND HOLD ON.

413 YES.

SO 414 I JUST WANTED TO THANK MY WONDERFUL TEAM MEMBER, NEJAT, WHO IS HERE WITH US.

THIS IS A PARTNERSHIP AT NO COST TO THE COUNTY BETWEEN THE UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON SCHOOL OF SOCIAL WORK AND PRECINCT FOUR, SO THEY WILL HAVE SOCIAL WORK INTERNS HELPING AT OUR COMMUNITY ASSISTANCE DEPARTMENT.

SO AS FOLKS, OUR CONSTITUENTS CALL AND HAVE COMPLAINTS, CONCERNS, QUESTIONS, THEY WILL BE CONNECTED IN A MUCH MORE DEEP, ROBUST, MEANINGFUL, HOLISTIC WAY TO SERVICES IN THE COMMUNITY.

AND SO BY WORKING WITH THESE GRADUATE STUDENTS AGAIN, ALSO ON THE TALENT PIPELINE PIECE, WE HOPE THEM TO, YOU KNOW, GET FIRED UP ABOUT GOVERNMENT WORK.

AND HOPEFULLY IT'LL BE A PIPELINE NOT ONLY FOR PRECINCT FOUR, BUT FOR THE ENTIRE COUNTY.

AND YET, THIS WAS YOUR VISION AND YOUR BABY.

AND I JUST APPRECIATE YOUR HEART HUSTLE AND HIGHER STANDARDS.

SO AS SUCH, I MOVE AS PRESENTED.

SO MOTION BY COMMISSIONER BRIONES ON ITEM 415.

SECOND BY COMMISSIONER ELLIS.

THAT WAS 414, CORRECT? YES. THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU.

AND THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER BRIONES.

AND NOW WE MOVE ON TO 415, WHICH IS COMMISSIONER GARCIA'S.

THANK YOU. JUDGE.

JUST VERY EXCITED ABOUT, OUR, YOU KNOW, CRIME PREVENTION THROUGH ENVIRONMENTAL DESIGN PROGRAM, THESE TWO ITEMS, 14, RATHER 415 AND 416, WILL DEAL WITH A VARIETY OF IMPROVEMENTS, INCLUDING SOLAR LIGHTS IN THE NORTH SHORE COMMUNITY AND PROMENADE, IMPROVEMENTS, IN SOUTH HOUSTON.

SOUTH HOUSTON IN PARTICULAR HAS.

RARELY, IF EVER, BEEN DIRECTLY SUPPORTED OUTSIDE OF FLOODING, BY, HARRIS COUNTY.

SO I'M VERY EXCITED AND WANT TO THANK, MAYOR SOTO FOR HIS PARTNERSHIP OUT THERE.

BUT THE PROMENADE WILL BE VERY EXCITING BECAUSE IT WILL HELP TO INSTALL SIDEWALKS AND STREET LIGHTS, AS WELL AS, GREEN SPACES, IN THE COMMUNITY. IT'S IT'S REALLY GOING TO BE REALLY SWEET WHEN IT'S, WHEN IT'S DONE.

BUT, JUST WANT TO THANK EVERYBODY FOR THEIR WORK ON THIS AND JUST MOVE ON THE ITEM AS PRESENTED.

THANK YOU ON BOTH, COMMISSIONER GARCIA.

YES. OKAY.

SO THAT'S A MOTION ON ITEMS 415 AND 416 BY COMMISSIONER GARCIA, SECOND BY COMMISSIONER BRIONES.