Feb 27, 2024 Commissioners Court

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IS 9:06 AND I'D LIKE TO CALL THE MEETING TO ORDER. JUDGE

[Pastor Keenan Smith of Crosby Church in Crosby introduced by the Commissioner of Precinct 3. ]

>> WE HAVE THE PRIVILEGE OF INTRODUCING PASTOR KEENAN SMITH, IF YOU WANT TO MAKE YOUR WAY UP HERE. HE IS THE LEAD PASTOR AT THE CROSBY CHURCH . HE IS BEEN MARRIED TO HIS WIFE SINCE 1981. HE ANSWERED THE CALL. THAT CALL IN 1982 TO SERVE IN THE MINISTRY. 1982 HE ALSO STARTED A SMALL CONSTRUCTION COMPANY, BUT ALWAYS KEEPS PASTORED ON THE STRAIN NARROW. IN HOUSTON, HE CAN A MINISTRY IN PASADENA IN 1991. HE COFOUNDED TEAM DECO TEEN IMPACT, AN INTERNATIONAL GROUP OF -- ATHLETES . WHICH IS AN INTERESTING SIDEBAR. HE IS BEEN ON THE CROSBY CHAMBER OF COMMERCE SINCE 2005, WELCOME,

PASTOR. >> THANK YOU. CAN WE PRAY? LORD, IT IS A GREAT HONOR AND PRIVILEGE TO GATHER HERE TODAY IN THIS ROOM. LORD, WE KNOW YOU ESTABLISHED GOVERNMENTS AND PLACED THEM AND REMOVE THEM, SO IT IS WITH GREAT HUMILITY THAT WE STAND HERE TODAY IN YOUR PRESENCE. BECAUSE OF YOUR GRACE AND GOODNESS. LORD, WE THANK YOU FOR THE RICH HERITAGE WE ENJOY AND CELEBRATE THAT IS TEXAS. BUT SPECIFICALLY, HARRIS COUNTY. WE PRAY FOR YOUR WISDOM, FOR YOUR COUNSEL AS WE GOVERN. LORD, WE PRAY THAT YOU -- OUR THOUGHTS WOULD BE YOUR THOUGHTS. BECAUSE THEY ARE INFILTRATED WITH YOUR CONVICTION OF YOUR HOLY SPIRIT. LORD, THAT YOU WOULD GIVE US YOUR COUNSEL AND WISDOM. YOU SAID THAT YOU KNOW THE PLAN THAT YOU HAVE FOR US. PLANS TO BLESS US, TO PROSPER US AND NOT TO HARM US. PLANS TO GIVE US HOPE IN THE FUTURE. LORD, IT IS BECOME TESCO BECAUSE OF YOUR WISDOM THAT WE HAVE THAT HOPE.

I PRAY THAT WISDOM UPON EACH ONE OF US AS WE DISCUSS AND GUIDE. THAT YOU STRENGTHEN US IN OUR COMMUNITY AND REGION.

THAT EVERY HOUSEHOLD, BUSINESS, FAMILY , GOD WILL KNOW YOUR PRESENCE. WE WANT TO JUST THANK YOU FOR YOUR GOODNESS THAT YOU CONTINUE TO POUR OUT UPON US. LORD, WE DO NOT RECEIVE THAT OR ACCEPT THAT LATELY. BUT WE THANK YOU FOR THE GRAVITY YOU PLACED UPON OUR LIVES. AS YOU GUIDE US, WE THANK YOU FOR THAT. IT IS IN YOUR NAME THAT WE ASK THESE THINGS, OH GOD. AMEN. GOD BLESS YOU ALL.

>> PASTOR? BEFORE YOU STEP AWAY. SO GOOD TO SEE YOU. ARE

YOU STILL RIDING MOTORCYCLES? >> I AM STILL WRITING MOTORCYCLE AND HORSES AND EVERYTHING ELSE THROUGH THE SANCTUARY WHEN THE OCCASION CALLS.

>> THERE YOU GO. GOOD TO SEE YOU AND THANK YOU FOR COMING DOWN AND IN JOINING US TODAY. I MISS VISITING YOUR CHURCH.

MAYBE THE COMMISSIONER WON'T CHARGE ME A TOLL IF I WANT TO

VISIT. >> WE ARE IN THE SAME PLACE.

WE WILL RIDE HORSES AFTER. >> THANK YOU, PASTOR. TODAY IS THE DAY FOR RIDING HORSES. PLEASE STAND FOR THE U.S.

PLEDGE AND THEN THE TEXAS PLEDGE.

>> I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. -- HONOR THE TEXAS FLAG. I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THEE, TEXAS, ONE STATE UNDER GOD, ONE AND INDIVISIBLE.

>> WE HAVE RESOLUTIONS. I AM WAITING ON MY MAN. I VOTED FOR

[Departments (Part 1 of 3)]

>> THANK YOU. I AM EXCITED TO PRESENT THIS RESOLUTION. WE

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HOWEVER, THE EMPTY SHELTER PROJECT HAS HIGHLIGHTED THIS ISSUE. AND TACKLED IT HEAD-ON, ABSOLUTELY. THE WORK HAS BEEN TREMENDOUS AND EXTREMELY IMPACTFUL. A SINGLE EVENT HELD BY THE EMPTY SHELTER PROJECT IN PRECINCT TWO SAW OVER 475 ANIMALS WHO WERE EVENTUALLY SPAYED OR NEUTERED IN ONE DAY.

AND IN 3.5 YEARS, THEY HAVE IMPACTED 17,000 ANIMALS BEING SPAYED AND NEUTERED. I LOOK FORWARD TO WALKING THE EMPTY SHELTER PROJECT CONTINUE ITS EFFORTS IN FIGHTING ANIMAL OVERPOPULATION AND SERVING THE COMMUNITY. BUT THIS RESOLUTION JUST SPEAKS TO THEIR INCREDIBLE WORK OVER THE YEARS.

RECOGNIZING THAT IT WAS STARTED IN HOUSTON AS A -- RESCUE GROUP THROUGH AN INITIATIVE BORN FROM THE VISIONARY MINDS OF CANINE ANGELS RESCUE. THAT EMERGE AS A BEACON OF HOPE IN RESPONSE TO THE PRESSING STRAY ANIMAL PER OVERPOPULATION CRISIS FACING HARRIS COUNTY. THE EMPTY SHELTER PROJECT'S UNWAVERING COMMITMENT RESONATES THROUGH ITS -- OF FREE SPAY, NEUTER, AND VACCINATION SERVICES IN HARRIS COUNTY. STRATEGICALLY REACHING UNDERSERVED NEIGHBORHOODS ACROSS GREATER HARRIS COUNTY. WITH THE MISSION ENCOMPASSING OVER 450 ANIMAL -- CAREFULLY SELECTED SITES, I AM EXCITED THAT PRECINCT TWO HAS BEEN A HOST TO SEVERAL OF THESE EVENTS. AND THEN, RECOGNIZING THAT THE NUMERIC IMPACT OF THEIR ENDEAVORS THERE IS TESTAMENT TO THEIR TIRELESS DEDICATION , AS I MENTIONED, OVER 17,000 SPATE AND NEUTERS ALREADY CONDUCTED AS OF FEBRUARY, 2024.

IN 2024, THE EMPTY SHELTER PROJECT STRIVES TO PERFORM A STAGGERING 408,547 FIRST AND SECOND GENERATION STRAY ANIMALS, SAVING AN ESTIMATED 7.7 MILLION IN TAXPAYER DOLLARS. THIS NOTEWORTHY AND MILESTONE WOULD MITIGATE THE UNWANTED OVERPOPULATION PROBLEM AND THE EMPTY SHELTER PROJECT INITIATIVES TRANSCEND MERE STATISTICS , INVITING A FUNDAMENTAL PILLAR IN ADDRESSING THE OVERPOPULATION CRISIS. THEIR EFFECTIVE LOW-COST OR FREE SPAY AND NEUTER PROGRAMS, COUPLED WITH STRATEGIC OUTREACH TARGETING UNDERPRIVILEGED COMMUNITIES WITH LIMITED VETERINARY SERVICES, EXEMPLIFY A COMPLEMENTARY -- COMPREHENSIVE APPROACH TO TACKLE THIS ISSUE. I WILL SAY IT'S JUST THE WORK IS NOT ENOUGH, IT IS VERY EXCITING TO SEE WORK WITH HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS. I THINK ULTIMATELY WE ARE SEEING SOME NEW VETERINARIANS, AS A RESULT -- -- COME AS A RESULT.

PRECINCT TWO HAS HAD A FEW CHALLENGES . IN REGARDS TO STRAY ANIMALS. BUT ALSO BECAUSE OF IRRESPONSIBLE OWNERS AS WELL. BUT I THINK BOTH OF THOSE ISSUES GET ATTENTION AND AWARENESS AS A RESULT OF YOUR WORK. AND I HAVE ALREADY SHARED WITH THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR 400 A DAY.

AND WE DO LESS THAN 400 A YEAR. I THINK WE NEED TO FIGURE OUT SOME BUSINESS PRACTICES HERE. AND MAKE YOU A STRATEGIC PARTNER TO HARRIS COUNTY. PLEASE, COME ON UP AND SHARE A

FEW WORDS. >> I AM RANDALL KISSLING. I WOULD LIKE TO INTRODUCE NORA , AND MARY. A COUPLE OF OUR TEAM

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CALVINIST -- HARRIS COUNTY . >> I AM MARY TIPTON. TERRY

COULD NOT MAKE IT. >> THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.

>> ON BEHALF OF THE EMPTY SHELTER PROJECT, I WOULD LIKE TO THANK THE COMMISSIONERS FOR THE HONOR OF THIS RECOGNITION.

PUTTING IN AN EMPTY SHELTIE PROJECT -- EMPTY SHELTER PROJECT PUTS IN A LOT OF EFFORT. WE APPRECIATE THE COMMISSIONERS HELP IN SECURING SUITABLE FACILITIES AND PROVIDING THE LOGISTICAL SUPPORT FOR THESE BIG EVENTS. I WANT TO GIVE YOU ONE EXAMPLE OF WHAT WE EXPERIENCE ON A REGULAR BASIS. JUST THIS PAST WEEKEND, WE HELD A SMALL CLINIC AT OUR HEIGHTS LOCATION. A FAMILY HAD MADE APPOINTMENT FOR THREE VERY LARGE DOG. AFTER WE TALKED ABOUT THE -- WE DISCOVERED THEY HAD NINE MORE DOGS THAT NEEDED SERVICES. WE ARE CURRENTLY MAKING APPOINTMENT FOR EACH OF THEM, THEY WILL ALL BE VACCINATED, MICROCHIPPED AND ALTERED SO THEY HAVE NO MORE PUPPIES. IT IS CITIZENS LIKE THESE THAT DESPERATELY NEED OUR HELP. WE BELIEVE THE EMPTY SHELTER PROJECT IS ONE OF THE KEY COMPONENTS TO ALLEVIATING THE HOMELESS AND STRAIGHT PROBLEM IN OUR COMMUNITY. WE APPRECIATE YOUR PAST SUPPORT AND THE DOOR TO A CONTINUED PARTNERSHIP WITH THE COUNTY.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH. >> THANK YOU.

>> WILL TAKE SOME PICTURES AFTER WE FINISHED THE

RESOLUTION. >> I JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU VERY BRIEFLY FOR YOUR WORK , FOR YOUR SERVICE TO THE ANIMALS IN OUR REGION AND TO THE STUDENTS AND BILLING THAT PIPELINE. I LOVE YOUR NAME. EMPTY SHELTER PROJECT. THAT IS THE NORTHSTAR WE SHOULD ALL BE ASPIRING TO, ALL LEVELS OF GOVERNMENT. NONPROFIT PARTNERS. I JUST THINK YOUR NAME IS POWERFUL. TODAY, WORLD SPAYED A IS SOMETHING TO BE CELEBRATED. I ENCOURAGE ALL PET OWNERS IN THIS ROOM AND WHO MAY BE LISTENING TO LEAN INTO WORLD SPAY DAY.

>> COMMISSIONER, I FORGOT TO MENTION, THEY TAKE WALK-INS OR STRAIGHTENS . STRAY IN. PEOPLE HAVE FOUND SOME STRAYS THE DATE OF. AND THEY KNOW THE EVENT IS TAKING PLACE. AND THEY ARE WORKED ON. I THINK YOUR WHOLE APPROACH AND ATTITUDE ABOUT THIS IS JUST VERY INNOVATIVE. I JUST APPRECIATE YOU SO VERY MUCH. THANK YOU AGAIN FOR ALL YOU DO.

>> WE WILL GET THE PICTURES IN A SECOND-PERIOD COMMISSIONER RAMSEY, YOU HAVE AN ITEM TO ON PAGE TWO.

>> WE HAVE SOME GUESTS THAT I THINK WILL SPEAK TO THIS RESOLUTION. IT IS RELATED TO REVEREND SAMUEL MATTHEWS. I THINK WE HAVE WITH US LITTRELL SHANNON, SAM , HENRY MATTHEWS, DONALD PRESTON AND MAGNOLIA MATTHEWS WHO WILL BE SPEAKING.

IF YOU CAN COME STAND HERE. AS WE GO THROUGH THE RESOLUTION. THE HISTORIC -- COMMUNITY WAS ESTABLISHED IN NORTHERN HARRIS COUNTY IN 1872. AS A TRAIN STOP BETWEEN SPRING AND -- AND NAMED AFTER THE RAILROAD SUPERINTENDED.

WHEREAS MANY YEARS AFTER ITS FOUNDING, THE POPULATION ROSE TO OVER 250 PEOPLE. PRETTY SHOCKING. AND CURRENTLY, MANY RESIDENTS ARE DIRECT DESCENDENTS OF THE ORIGINAL

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>> THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER RAMSEY. IT IS INDEED UP PLEASURE TO BE HERE. I GET ALL PRAISES TO GOD. I RECOGNIZE MY PASTOR REVEREND JAMES E NASH SENIOR. I AM ALSO REMEMBERING MY PARENTS BEING THE YOUNGEST OF 14 CHILDREN. REVEREND SAMUEL MATTHEWS AND LUCY MATTHEWS THAT SERVED THE -- COMMUNITY FOREVER. I FEEL HUMBLED , I FEEL HONORED ALSO TO BE HERE AND EXCEPT THAT RESOLUTION. I ACKNOWLEDGE THE COMMUNITY MEMBERS AND FAMILY MEMBERS THAT ARE HERE WITH ME TODAY. AND WE THANK YOU ALL SO VERY MUCH.

>> THANK YOU FOR COMING. PLEASE HANG AROUND FOR A PICTURE AFTER THIS. THANK YOU ALL. WE CELEBRATE RICHLY THE HERITAGE THAT YOU BRING TO THAT. OF HARRIS COUNTY .

>> I ASSUME THAT WAS MISSED MAGNOLIA MATTHEWS?

>> YES. >> THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.

COMMISSIONER RAMSEY YOU HAVE ANOTHER ONE, IT IS PAGE TWO

ITEM THREE. >> I DO. WE ARE GOING TO RECOGNIZE WOMEN IN CONSTRUCTION WEEK. I THINK WE HAVE A COUPLE OF THE FOLKS . I WOULD LIKE HILLARY MULLINS TO COME ON UP AND TO PROBABLY EMBARRASS HER, I WANT JENNIFER TO COME UP. AS I GO THROUGH, SHE IS WITH PRECINCT THREE. BUT JENNIFER CAN COME UP AS WELL. WERE AS WE CELEBRATE MARCH THIRD THROUGH THE NINTH THIS YEAR AS WOMEN IN CONSTRUCTION WEEK, TO REFLECT ON THE CONTRIBUTIONS MADE BY THE WOMEN IN THE CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY THAT WORKED TO INCREASE THE AWARENESS AND RECRUITMENT OF MORE WOMEN TO THIS FIELD. AND WHEREAS THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF WOMEN IN CONSTRUCTION HELD THE FIRST WOMEN IN CONSTRUCTION WEEK IN 1998 , IT HAD GROWN TO EXPAND EACH YEAR SINCE. AS WE CELEBRATE THIS WEEK, WE ARE RECOGNIZING THE 16 WOMEN IN CONSTRUCTION PROFESSIONALS WHO FOUNDED -- IN 1953. AND OFFER SUPPORT TO THE NETWORK AFTER FINDING THAT WOMEN REPRESENTED ONLY A SMALL FRACTION OF THE INDUSTRY. THAT HAS CHANGED. TO THIS DAY, CONSTRUCTION REMAINS, EVEN THOUGH IT IS A MALE-DOMINATED FIELD, WOMEN REPRESENTED ONLY 10%. STRIDES CONTINUE TO BE MADE IN THIS AREA. I KNOW FROM HARRIS COUNTY AND OUR PERSPECTIVE, I AM SEEING NEW LEADERS STEP UP EVERY DAY ALMOST. SO IT IS WITH GREAT PRIVILEGE TO RECOGNIZE WOMEN IN CONSTRUCTION WEEK, MARCH 3RD THROUGH THE NINTH, 2024. AND HEREBY ORDER THIS RESOLUTION. WOULD YOU CARE

TO SPEAK? >> YOU MAY KNOW THAT LADY FROM

OUR CHAT THERE. >> SURE. EVERYBODY COME UP,

PLEASE. >> I WILL READ BECAUSE I GET NERVOUS. COMMISSIONER RAMSEY, THANK YOU SO MUCH. MY NAME IS HILLARY MULLINS, I AM PRESIDENT OF THE -- HOUSTON CHAPTER THREE. WE WERE CHARTERED ALMOST 70 YEARS AGO. I AM JOINED TODAY AS WELL BY ANGELA TAYLOR, SHE IS OUR SOUTH CENTRAL REGIONAL DIRECTOR. SANDY FIELD, SHE IS OUR CURRENT

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>> CONGRATULATIONS. >> I HAVE ONE OTHER THING.

>> FIRST OF ALL, COMMISSIONER. THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER RAMSEY FOR PUTTING THIS ON. AND COMMISSIONER ELLIS, THANK YOU FOR CHAMPIONING OUR -- I AM EXCITED BY THE PROGRESS WE HAVE MADE. BUT CLEARLY THERE IS SO MUCH MORE PROGRESS. AS A MOTHER OF THREE GIRLS, I WAS MOVED TO SEE THIS ON THE AGENDA. I APPRECIATE THIS AND YOUR LEADERSHIP, PRESIDENT MULLINS.

I HOPE THAT 10% OF TRYING -- MULTIPLYING THE NUMBER UP.

MANY OF THE PARENTS IN THIS ROOM -- WOULD MY LITTLE GIRLS ASKED ME IN CERTAIN SPACES WHY THERE ARE NO WOMEN WHO IS NEVER DONE IT, OR WHY THERE IS NO LITTLE WOMEN IN X SPACE, IT IS HARD TO EXPLAIN THAT IN 2024. I AM HAPPY THIS IS OUR 26TH ANNUAL. WE ARE ALL IN AN HARRIS COUNTY TO MAKE SURE WE ARE MAXIMIZING OPPORTUNITIES NOT FOR ALL WOMEN, BUT ALL PEOPLE THROUGHOUT THE COUNTY. THANK YOU FOR BEING ON THE FRONT LINES OF THE PROGRESS. I LOOK FORWARD TO CELEBRATING EACH YEAR AND SEEING THE GAINS WE HAVE.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR SUPPORT. IT HELPS US.

>> HAVING WORKED IN CONSTRUCTION SITE FOR OVER 40 YEARS, I CAN ONLY LOOK WITH OPTIMISM AT HOW MUCH GOOD YOU WILL DO ON THOSE CONSTRUCTION SITES. BELIEVE ME, WE NEED A WOMAN'S TOUCH ON A LOT OF THOSE SITE , IN TERMS OF GETTING SOME THINGS CLEANED UP. I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO TAKE THE PERSONAL PRIVILEGE IN RECOGNIZING JENNIFER ALMONTE.

SHE IS STANDING RIGHT THERE. YES, I WILL PROBABLY THAT'LL PROPERLY ACKNOWLEDGE HER. RAISE YOUR HAND. SHE IS OUR ROAD AND BRIDGE SUPERINTENDED. UNFORTUNATELY, WHEN YOU THINK OF ROAD AND BRIDGE SUPERINTENDENTS, YOU NOT THINK OF JENNIFER ALMONTE. SHE IS A COLONEL IN THE AIR FORCE. SHE HAS BEEN ON OCCASION INVITED TO THE PENTAGON TO LECTURE ON HOW YOU MAINTAIN AIR FORCE BASES . I FIGURE IF SHE CAN MAINTAIN AIR FORCE BASES, SHE CAN MAINTAIN THIS 6800 MILES OF ROAD IN PRECINCT THREE. BY THE WAY, SHE IS DOING AN EXTRAORDINARY JOB OF THAT. I JUST WANTED TO PERSONALLY RECOGNIZE HER , AND THIS SEEMED LIKE A GOOD TIME. I WILL HAVE THIS TO YOU AND YOU GET TO GO BACK TO WORK AFTER.

>> THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER RAMSEY. I AM SO GLAD THAT YOU BROUGHT THIS FORWARD. MISS MULLINS, IN ADDITION TO THE RESOLUTION THAT THE COUNTY HAS MADE REFERENCE TO. WE HAVE BEEN AGGRESSIVE IN ENCOURAGING MORE WOMEN OWN BEEN -- BUSINESSES, AND WOMEN WHO WANT TO WORK FOR COMPANIES AS WELL.

BUT OWNING THEIR OWN BUSINESSES. AS A RESULT OF MY EFFORTS, WE HAVE ENCOURAGED -- COMMUNITY COLLEGES -- IT IS AN ITEM ON THE AGENDA, WE WILL OPEN IT UP TO ENCOURAGE OTHERS TO SET UP PROGRAMS AND BE TRANSPARENT SO WE CAN SEE THE NUMBERS OF HOW MANY WOMEN OWNED BUSINESSES. I WISH THERE WAS A WAY TO TRACK THOSE AND KEY POSITIONS. THANK YOU.

COMMISSIONER RAMSEY, THANK YOU FOR BRINGING THE RESOLUTION

FORWARD. >> WE WILL TAKE PICTURES LATER.

YOU HAVE PAGE TWO ITEM FOUR. >> THE FIRST ONE IS TO HONOR THE LIFE OF DOROTHY LEE BOLDEN. I KNOW WE HAVE MULTIPLE PEOPLE HERE, IF YOU ALL COULD PLEASE COME . BONNIE, LAUREN,

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SPEAKING OF FIRSTS, SPEAKING ABOUT THE CHAMPIONS. PLEASE JOIN US. TODAY WE ARE HERE TO HONOR THE LIFE OF DOROTHY LEE BOLDEN. TODAY WE ARE HERE TO HONOR THE WORK OF THE NATIONAL DOMESTIC WORKERS ALLIANCE, WHICH SHE FOUNDED. HER STORY IS A POWERFUL ONE. AS WE ALL KNOW, WE CAN ALL TAKEN INSPIRATION FROM THIS TODAY AND HOPEFULLY PUT IT INTO ACTION AND HER LEGACY AND MEMORY. HER MOTHER WAS A DOMESTIC WORKER. AT A YOUNG AGE, SHE GREW UP NOT ONLY HELPING HER MOTHER WITH THE WORK SHE WAS DOING AND ALSO HELPING HER MOTHER WITH HER SIBLINGS. AND DOROTHY LEFT SCHOOL AND BECAME A DOMESTIC WORKER HERSELF. TALK ABOUT A VISIONARY, A CHAMPION AND LEADER. IN 1968, SHE LED THE DOMESTIC WORKERS UNION MOVEMENT DURING THE CIVIL RIGHTS ERA. IT IS AMAZING THAT HERE IN HOUSTON HER LEGACY CONTINUES WITH THE HOUSTON NATIONAL DOMESTIC WORKERS ALLIANCE AND WE DREMAN BLACK CHAPTER. -- WE DREAM IN BLACK CHAPTER. NOT ONLY DID SHE HELP START THE NATIONAL DOMESTIC WORKERS UNION OF AMERICA, BUT SHE ROSE IN SUCH PROMINENCE TO WORK WITH THE REVEREND MARTIN LUTHER KING. TO END BEING AN ADVISER TO PRESIDENTS FORD, CARTER AND REAGAN IN ALL MATTERS HELPING TO ADVANCE WORKERS RIGHTS, ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY AND REFORM. SO WE ARE SO HONORED THAT TODAY YOU ALL ARE HERE. AND I KNOW YOU ARE AT THE FRONT LINES OF HELPING TO ADVANCE THE JUSTICE AND OPPORTUNITY HERE IN HARRIS COUNTY. WE ALL KNOW WE HAVE MADE TREMENDOUS PROGRESS, BUT THE WORK CONTINUES. KNOWING WE HAVE YOUR LEADERSHIP HERE TO CONTINUE DOROTHY'S WORK IS JUST DEEPLY MOVING AND INSPIRING AND WE WANT TO DOUBLE DOWN IN THE SUPPORT. I KNOW I DO. WITH VAC, HARRIS COUNTY COMMISSIONER, IS SO THRILLED TO RESPECTFULLY HONOR DOROTHY LEE BOLDEN AND THE WORK OF THE NATIONAL DOMESTIC WORKERS ALLIANCE AND THE WE DREAM IN BLACK ALLIANCE. IT IS ORDERED THAT THIS RESOLUTION BE INCLUDED IN THE MINUTES OF COMMISSIONERS -- FOR CENTURIES TO COME. WITH THAT, WE LOOK FORWARD TO HEARING FROM YOU.

THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. >> THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER BRIONES. GOOD MORNING ESTEEMED COMMISSIONERS. MY NAME IS LAUREN ASHLEY SIMMONS, I AM THE TEXAS ORGANIZING DIRECTOR FOR THE NATIONAL DOMESTIC WORKERS ALLIANCE . THE HOUSTON CHAPTER.

SINCE 2007, WE HAVE ORGANIZED BLACK AND BROWN CARE WORKERS .

MOST OF WHOM WERE IMMIGRANTS TO THIS COUNTRY. HERE IN HARRIS COUNTY, WE HAVE A WE DREAM IN BLACK CHAPTER THAT FOCUSES ON ORGANIZING BLACK CARE WORKERS. WE WERE ESTABLISHED IN 2019 RIGHT COVID BEGAN AND WE SAW WITH SO MUCH IMPORTANCE THE ESSENTIALIST OF THE WORK THAT OUR CARE WORKERS DO IN THE SERVICE WE PROVIDE IN OUR COMMUNITIES. THE WORK THE BLACK CARE WORKERS DO TODAY, ALONG WITH THE -- RACES IN THE WORKPLACE LIKE -- AND WAGES THAT ARE INEXTRICABLY LINKED TO THE NARRATIVE ROOTED IN SLAVERY THAT THE WORK IS NOT VALUABLE.

WE SAY IN TRENTON, THIS IS THE WORK THAT MAKES ALL WORK POSSIBLE. TO GAIN WE GATHER TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT TRUTH AND UPLIFT OUR DOMESTIC WORK FOR MOTHER DOROTHY BOLDEN. SHE'S THE UNSUNG MOTHER OF THE DOMESTIC WORKERS MOVEMENT . AS A BLACK HOUSECLEANER AND CIVIL RIGHTS LEADER, SHE ORGANIZED OVER 10,000 WORKERS THROUGH THE NATIONAL DOMESTIC WORKERS UNION. TODAY WE STAND HERE ON HER SHOULDERS AS MEMBERS OF THIS ORGANIZATION AND STAFF TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE WORK THAT CARE WORKERS DO AND WE ARE VERY PROUD AND THANKFUL FOR THIS MOVEMENT IN HIS RE-. HISTORY.

>> EITHER OTHER SPEAKERS? >> GOOD MORNING, COMMISSIONERS.

MY NAME IS BONNIE. I AM AN IMMIGRANT DOMESTIC WORKER, I'M HUMBLED AND HONORED TO REPRESENT THE HOUSTON CHAPTER OF THE NATIONAL DOMESTIC WORKERS ALLIANCE. . THREE YEARS AGO, I SUFFERED WAGE THEFT AND WORKPLACE ABUSE , DUE TO MY UNDOCUMENTED THAT IS. THROUGH THE NATIONAL DOMESTIC WORKERS ALLIANCE, I HAVE FOUND EMPOWERMENT AND HAVE BEEN ABLE TO -- TO OUR COLLECTIVE EFFORTS, WE STRIVE TO ENSURE THAT EVERY DOMESTIC WORKER IS HEARD, RESPECTED AND EMPOWERED IN THE WORKPLACE AND BEYOND. THIS RECOGNITION SIGNIFIES A CRUCIAL STEP TOWARDS ACKNOWLEDGING THE SIGNIFICANT,

[00:30:03]

>> THANK YOU. >> GOOD MORNING, ESTEEMED COMMISSIONERS AND FELLOW COMMUNITY MEMBERS. MY NAME IS MELINDA WAFER. AS A PROUD MEMBER OF THE NATIONAL DOMESTIC WORKERS ALLIANCE , I AM SO HONORED TO ACCEPT THIS RESOLUTION. AS SOMEONE WHO BECAME A CAREGIVER FOR MY HUSBAND AND MY MOTHER, I HAVE EXPERIENCED FIRSTHAND THE PHYSICAL AND MENTAL EXHAUSTION AND CHALLENGES THAT THIS TYPE OF WORK INDOORS. THAT IS WHY ADVOCATE PASSIONATELY FOR MINIMUM WAGES, DOMESTIC WORKERS TO BE PAID ABOVE THE LIVING WAGES , TO RECEIVE ADDITIONAL BENEFIT IT , TO BE TREATED WITH RESPECT AND RECOGNIZE FOR THEIR VITAL ROLE IN OUR SOCIETY. I WOULD LIKE TO THANK THE COMMISSIONERS COURT FOR RESPECTFULLY HONORING DOROTHY LEE BOLDEN AND THE NATIONAL DOMESTIC WORKERS ALLIANCE . THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU AGAIN FOR BEING HERE AND FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP AND WORK. I HOPE YOU KNOW THAT WE ARE HERE HONORING YOU TODAY AS PART OF OUR BLACK HISTORY MONTH, BUT THE TRUTH IS, IT IS 365 DAYS A YEAR. ALL DAY, EVERY DAY. WE HAVE MADE PROGRESS BUT IT IS NOT ENOUGH. WE ARE ALL IN, WE ALL WANT TO KNOW YOUR INPUT ON HOW WE COULD BE BETTER PARTNERS. I BELIEVE DEEPLY THAT ALL OUR OPPORTUNITIES IN JUSTICE ARE INTERWOVEN. IN DOROTHY'S NAME TODAY AND ALWAYS , WE LOOK FORWARD TO DOUBLING DOWN AND WORKING

TOGETHER. >> THANK YOU, WE WILL TAKE PICTURES SHORTLY. YOU HAVE ONE MORE?

>> I DO. I WOULD LOVE TO INVITE ALL OF THE SPEAKERS FOR THE #TEAMFERAL RESOLUTION, LONE STAR PAWZ TO COME UP. WE HAVE MR. KWAN, MISS WANG, MS. LEBLANC , WE HAVE MR. STEELE. WE HAVE SOME SPECIAL GUESTS AS WELL. COULD YOU ALL PLEASE MAKE YOUR WAY? BY THE WAY, ALL OF THESE ANIMALS WOULD LOVE A GOOD HOME. IF YOUR HEART IS TOUCHED TODAY THAT --

>> IT WAS WILL TO CUDDLE IT, JOHN.

>> I HAVE TO CONFESS, I LOVE DOGS. SPEAKING OF MY CATS. WE ADOPTED A CAT LIKE EIGHT YEARS AGO. THIS MORNING, IT WAS 4:00 A.M., I WAS PREPARING FOR COURT, AND MY CAT WAS KEEP ME COMPANY AS WE PREPARED. SHE STANDS IN SOLIDARITY AS WELL.

BUT THE REASON I AM SO HAPPY IS, I THINK ANIMALS SEE WHO WE WISH WE COULD BE AND THEY LOVE THE BEST PART. THEIR UNCONDITIONAL LOVE IS INSPIRING. I WANT TO THANK ALL OF YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP. AND EVERYTHING THAT YOU DO. THANK YOU AGAIN, COMMISSIONER GARCIA FOR YOUR RESOLUTION, WHICH COMPLEMENTS NICELY. TODAY IS WORLD SPAY DAY. WE NEED TO MAKE SURE ALL OF OUR PETS ARE SPAYED AND NEUTERED. THIS IS A PUBLIC HEALTH ENDEAVOR THAT WE ARE ALL PART OF. LET'S PLEASE MAKE SURE WE HAVE ALL THE DONE OUR PART. I'M SO HAPPY. I WANT TO THANK ALL OF YOU. MS. LEBLANC, EVERYTHING YOU DO, NOT ONLY IN OUR -- COMMUNITY BUT WITH THROUGHOUT THE COUNTY IS JUST UNBELIEVABLY RESPECTED AND VALUED. SO THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE TODAY AND BEING HERE ALWAYS. MISS WANG, YOUR PARTNERSHIP AS WELL IS UNPARALLELED. AND VERY NOTICED AND RESPECTED. MR. KWAN, I KNOW YOU HAVE DONE SO MUCH TO HELP OUR ANIMALS . TALK ABOUT A HEART OF GOLD. HE FINDS OUT AN ANIMAL KNEE SURGERY AND WE DO NOT HAVE FUNDING, GUESS WHO COMES TO THE REST? THANK YOU. I HAVE A FEW THINGS TO SHARE.

[00:35:10]

I LIKE CATS. THANK YOU. WOULD YOU ALL LIKE TO SPEAK?

>> HI, BABY . I LOVE, LOVE ANIMALS. I KNOW WE HAVE A LOT OF SPEAKERS. PLEASE, IF YOU COULD JOIN US. THANK YOU SO MUCH MISS WANG FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP.

>> FOR THE RECORD, MY CAT IS NOT CRYING.

>> MONICA, HE MAY COME HOME. THIS MONICA ONE A LATE

VALENTINE'S DAY GIFT? >> -- I AM A PROUD RESIDENT HARRIS COUNTY PRECINCT FOUR IN SOUTHWEST HOUSTON. THANK YOU FOR THE RECOGNITION FOR MY WORK AND THE OPPORTUNITY FOR ME TO SPEAK TODAY. FOR MORE THAN SEVEN YEARS, I HAVE BEEN HEAVILY INVOLVED IN CAT RESCUE. WITH HELP FROM VARIOUS LOCAL ORGANIZATIONS, SUCH AS HOUSTON PETS ALIVE, #TEAMFERAL, HOPE AND LONE STAR PAWZ. I HAVE -- HUNDREDS OF COMMUNITY CATS AND REST YOU SIMILAR NUMBERS OF DOMESTICATED CATS FOR ADOPTION. I WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THEIR CONTRIBUTION TO ANIMAL WELFARE IN OUR COMMUNITY. WE HAVE ONE OF THE WORST ANIMAL OVERPOPULATION CRISES AMONG THE LARGEST METROPOLITAN AREAS IN THE UNITED STATES. SHELTERS AND RESCUES ARE OVER CAPACITY DID. THE MAJORITY OF THE YEAR.

ANIMAL ABANDONMENT HAS DRAMATICALLY INCREASED, DUE TO TOO MANY UNWANTED LITTERS AND DIFFICULTY EXTENDING ANIMAL TO MUNICIPAL SHELTERS, ESPECIALLY SINCE THE PANDEMIC. RESCUERS ARE EXHAUSTED. TO FIX THE PROBLEM AT ITS ROOT, WE MUCH HAVE SPAY AND NEUTER LAWS FOR ALL OWNED CATS AND DOGS. WE MUST MAKE IT A PRIORITY TO PREVENT MORE LITTERS FROM BEING BORN. SO WE CAN ALLOCATE RESOURCES TO HELP ANIMALS THAT ARE ALREADY HERE. THIS WILL INCLUDE EXPANDING TNR RESOURCES, WHERE WE CAN CONTROL THE RATE OF BIRTHS, WE

[00:40:02]

>> THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR SERVING THE LONE STAR PAWZ BOARD. WHILE WE HAVE THE NEXT WEEK OR COME UP, WE SHOULD ALSO RECOGNIZE MY AMAZING CHIEF OF STAFF WAS A SAINT IN MANY WAYS.

SHE IS A SAINT TO THE ANIMALS AND HARRIS COUNTY, MISS ALICE LEE. SHE MAY ADOPT ALL OF THESE ANIMALS. SHE RESCUES CATS ALL THE TIME. THANK YOU FOR BEING SAFE TO THE ANIMAL.

>> I'M ASHLEY RUSSELL, I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU FOR HAVING APPEARED . AND THANK YOU FOR RAISING AWARENESS TO THE ANIMAL ISSUES. I DO REPRESENT LONE STAR PAWZ, BEHIND ME I HAVE TWO PEOPLE. MS. DONNA AND MS. TAYLOR . OUR RESCUE STARTED IN 2022 , WE MADE OUR FIRST ADOPTION IN DECEMBER, A CAT NAMED HANK. SINCE THEN, WE HAVE ADOPTED OUT OVER 800 ANIMALS SINCE DECEMBER OF 2022. WE HAVE JUST BEGUN. BUT OUR MISSION IS TO NOT DECEIVE THE HOMELESS ANIMAL, BUT TO REHABILITATE, FIND A HOME FOREVER, TRANSPORT THEM TO THEIR HOMES. AND DUE TO THEIR NOT BEING ENOUGH HOMES, AND THE LACK OF RESPONSIBLE OWNERS , MANY DIFFERENT FACTORS ARE GOING TO PLAY. ALSO, ANOTHER BIG THING THAT IS IMPORTANT, IS BRINGING THE RESCUE COMMUNITY TOGETHER AS A WHOLE. THAT REALLY NEEDS TO HAPPEN. WE ALL NEED TO BE WORKING TOGETHER TO

MAKE A BIGGER -- >> TIME IS UP.

>> PLEASE CONTINUE. >> BEHIND US HERE WE HAVE MISS LESLIE, THE MAMA CAT. HER BABIES ARE HERE, HER SIX BABIES. THAT IS LESLIE, SHE GAVE BIRTH TO THIS LITTER AND THEN SIX MONTHS AGO, SHE GAVE BIRTH TO ANOTHER LITTER. THIS IS HER SECOND LITTER OF KITTENS IN SIX MONTHS. THAT GIVES YOU AN IDEA OF HOW FAST THEY CAN MULTIPLY WHEN THEY ARE NOT PROPERLY VETTED OR SPAYED OR NEUTERED. BEING WORLD SPAY DAY, IT'S A PERFECT EXAMPLE TO BRING THAT UP. WHAT TO SAY THANK YOU SO MUCH ALL PEOPLE WHO HAVE DONATED TO OUR MISSION AND RESCUE. MR. QUINE, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR ALL YOUR CONTRIBUTIONS AND EVERYTHING YOU HAVE DONE FOR LONE STAR PAWZ . SO FAR, WE DO TRANSPORT OUR ANIMALS TO OVER 12 STATES IN THE U.S. ALREADY. AGAIN, WE HAVE JUST BEGUN. WHAT THE CATAPULT THE WORK OF OUR MISSION BY BUILDING A CAT -- IN TEXAS. IT IS UNDER CONSTRUCTION RIGHT NOW. IT SHOULD BE OPEN IN THE BEGINNING OF APRIL. THAT IS GOING TO BE AN ADOPTION AND EVENT CENTER TO HOST CAT THAT'S CALLED -- THERE WILL BE ADOPTABLE CATS THERE. IT WILL ALSO BE A PLACE FOR OTHER RESCUES AND US TO COLLABORATE AND COME UP WITH BETTER SOLUTIONS FOR THE COMMUNITY. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

AND LEADERSHIP. >> GOOD MORNING. MY NAME IS PAUL QUAN. I AM THE PRESIDENT OF -- BUT TODAY I'M ABOUT MY SUPPORT TO SUPPORT THE ANIMAL RESCUE ORGANIZATIONS AND THEIR EFFORTS TO SAVE DOGS AND CATS THAT NEED HUMAN FRIENDS. MANY OF MY EMPLOYEES ARE STRONG ANIMAL LOVERS AND VOLUNTEER THEIR RESOURCES. -- AS THE CITIZEN, WE ARE COMMITTED TO GIVE BACK TO THE COMMUNITY. SUPPORTING #TEAMFERAL, LONE STAR PAWZ, SPCA AND OTHERS, GIVES A SATISFACTION KNOWING THAT WE ARE ABLE TO HELP THE DOGS AND CATS -- GIVING THEM FOOD IN THEIR STOMACHS AND WARM BED THAT NIGHT. AT THE SAME TIME , OUR FINANCIAL SUPPORT HELP THE COMMUNITY BY REDUCING THE NUMBER OF STRAY DOGS AND CATS , LESS AND LESS RUNNING AROUND THE NEIGHBORHOODS. WE UNDERSTAND THE GOVERNMENT CANNOT DO EVERYTHING. IT IS OUR OWN RESPONSIBILITY AS CORPORATE CITIZENS TO CONTRIBUTE BACK.

THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU. GOOD SEEING YOU.

STEELE. -- I RUN HARRIS COUNTY PETS RESOURCE CENTER. THANK YOU FOR INVITING US OUT AND BRING AWARENESS TO OUR ADOPTIONS AND FOSTER OPPORTUNITIES. YOU HAVE DAKOTA , THIS IS ABBY. I FELT BAD, LAST TIME I DID NOT BRING A PUPPY I BROUGHT TO. I BROUGHT TWO. I WANTED TO ENCOURAGE EVERYONE TO COME OUT

[00:45:03]

>> THANK YOU. >> YOU SAW THE NAMES OF THE

CATS, RIGHT? >> YOU DO KNOW THE WAY TO MY HEART. THAT IS THE NAME OF MY KITCHEN GARDENER. I WILL KEEP

MY PROMISE. >> MY NAME IS CHARMAINE LEBLANC. -- I AM A PROUD SUPPORTER OF COMMISSIONER BRIONES, WITH EVERYTHING THAT PRECINCT FOUR DOES FOR OUR NEIGHBORHOOD. LOTS OF PEOPLE HAVE SAID WONDERFUL THINGS ALREADY. THE TWO THINGS I WOULD LIKE TO MENTION ARE, FOR ONE, WE CAN SPAY AND NEUTER EVERY ANIMAL IN THE WORLD, BUT IT IS FUNDING THAT MAKES IT HAPPEN. WE ALREADY HAVE ORGANIZATIONS LIKE THE -- CANINE ANGEL, WE HAVE BOOTS ON THE GROUND WITH ALL OF THESE RESCUES. THERE ARE HUNDREDS AND HUNDREDS OF MORE RESCUES JUST LIKE THIS , WITH ALL OF US NORMAL PEOPLE THAT ARE DOING ALL THE WORK AND WE ARE HAPPY TO DO IT. THE COUNTY NEEDS TO HARNESS THESE VOLUNTEERS. THE VOLUNTEERS ARE THE ONES GOING TO THE SHELTERS EVERY DAY THAT ARE SCOOPING AND FEEDING . AND WE ARE HAPPY TO BE DOING IT. BUT WE HAD FUNDING TO FURTHER OUR TNR, ESPECIALLY ON OUR COMMUNITY CATS, WE COULD BE GOLDEN. THE CITY OF HOUSTON COULD BE FIRST OF SOMETHING IN A GOOD WAY THAT WOULD BE CONTROLLING OUR OVERPOPULATION OF ANIMALS. LET'S DO IT. THANK YOU ALL

VERY MUCH. >> IT IS UP TO YOU IF YOU WANT

TO KEEP IT IN >> I DO. I HONOR MY PROMISE.

>> IS ON MY CAT, CHICA, YOU ARE NOT BEING REPLACED. IT IS HARD.

>> SHOULD BE STOP FOR PICTURES?

>> THERE ARE A COUPLE OF ITEMS THAT ARE KIND OF A RESOLUTION.

>> IS THAT PAGE FIVE? ITEM 26? >> CAN WE DO FOR 13?

>> PAGE 53 ITEM 413? >> THIS ITEM 413 IS WITH REGARD TO --, WHICH IS A PHENOMENAL EMPLOYER IN THE NORTHWEST HARRIS COUNTY REGION, IF YOU COULD JUST JOIN US, MS. WENDY HALL. WE HAVE THE DIRECTOR OF COMMUNICATIONS. TODAY WE ARE TALKING ABOUT -- ADOPT A COUNTY MILE IS ONE WAY. WE ALL HAVE VERY SIMILAR PROGRAMS THROUGHOUT THE COUNTY. IF YOU DO NOT GO HOME WITH A CAT OR DOG, PERHAPS YOU MIGHT BE INSPIRED TO ADOPT A COUNTY MILE, -- YOU HAVE BEEN WORKING WITH US FOR YEARS. AND WE ARE SO THANKFUL. AND WE JUST WANTED TO RECOGNIZE EVERYTHING YOU DO. NOT ONLY TO EMPLOY SO MANY PEOPLE, AND IT IS BILLIONS OF DOLLARS IN LOCAL AND ECONOMIC ACTIVITY. THEY EMPLOY OVER 10,000 PEOPLE. IT IS THE LARGEST EMPLOYER IN PRECINCT FOUR. WE HAVE 400 SQUARE FEET -- 400 MILLION SQUARE FEET OF THIS AMAZING FACILITY. THE RESEARCH AND ELEPHANT -- DEVELOPMENT -- IS SO EXCITING. I'M REALLY JUST THANKFUL FOR EVERYTHING YOU DO FROM AN ECONOMIC DEVELOP THEM POINT AND FROM A WORKER SAFETY AND ENVIRONMENTAL STANDPOINT. BUT ALSO HELPING US KEEP OUR ROADS CLEAN. I JUST SIMPLY WANTED TO SAY, THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME HERE

[00:50:04]

HAVING US HERE TODAY. >> COMMISSIONER RAMSEY?

>> IT WAS GOOD SEEING YOU. I REMEMBER WHEN YOUR CHAIRMAN CAME OVER FROM JAPAN . I TOLD HIM EVERYTHING ABOUT EAST TEXAS AND HE TOLD ME EVERYTHING ABOUT JAPAN. BUT WHAT REALLY RESONATED WITH ME, HE TALKED ABOUT HIS 50 YEAR PLAN FOR DAIKIN. AND I WOULD LIKE TO CHALLENGE THE AMERICAN COUNTIES, GET OFF YOUR 50 DAY PLAN AND ADOPT A 50 YEAR PLAN.

IT IS IMPRESSIVE WHAT YOU'RE DOING OUT THERE, THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER RAMSEY.

>> COMMISSIONER D1 DO ITEM 38?

>> YES. 38 IS AN ITEM, IF EVERYONE ON THE -- PART COMPLAIN THAT SCOPE PLEASE JOIN US. I AM TAKING IT UP WITH ITEM 38 BECAUSE THEY ARE IMPROVEMENT HOURS HOW IS COUNTY PERSONNEL POLICIES AND PROCEDURES THAT INDICATE PROGRESS IN VARIOUS AREAS, ONE OF WHICH IS MAKING SURE THAT OUR TEAM MEMBERS IN HARRIS COUNTY HAVE THE TRAITS NECESSARY TO BE ABLE TO NOT ONLY COMPLY WITH THE PROGRESS WE HAVE MADE, BUT MAKING SURE WE ARE DOING THE RIGHT THING BY OUR EMPLOYEES WHO ARE TRYING TO BE GOOD PARENTS. WITH REGARD TO 226, I AM SO THRILLED TO BE HERE WITH ONE OF MY FORMER COLLEAGUES, JUDGE SANDO, WHO IS BEEN ADVOCATING FOR LACTATION CALLS FOR YEARS. AND TO SOME OF OUR EARLIER CONVERSATION THIS MORNING, IT IS NOT JUST WOMEN WHO SHOULD BE ADVOCATING FOR EQUITY FOR WOMEN. WE NEED OUR WONDERFUL MALE COUNTERPARTS. YOU HAVE BEEN ON THE FRONT LINES FOR ADVOCATING, THANK YOU. AND OUR VERY FIRST LATINA PRESIDENT OF THE HOUSTON BAR ASSOCIATION, LEANNA GOMEZ IS HERE. SHE HAS CHAMPIONED IT AS HER -- IN HER TENURE. AND WE ALSO HAVE -- WITH CHAMPIONED IT AS WELL. THE REASON I AM SO EXCITED AT SEVERAL THINGS, IT ALWAYS STARTS FROM HOME. I HAVE THREE LITTLE GIRLS, AS I OFTEN MENTIONED. IT IS SO HARD.

ANYONE WHO MAY HAVE HAD THE EXPERIENCE OF BREAST-FEEDING IN THIS ROOM, YOU KNOW THAT WHEN IT IS TIME TO PUMP HOW PAINFUL AND UNCOMFORTABLE IT CAN BE. AND IF YOU DO NOT HAVE THE BRAKES WE NEED FROM OUR WORKPLACE TO BE ABLE TO DO WHAT WE WANTED TO DO AS A PARENT AND AS A PERSON, AND AS AN EMPLOYEE, IT IS REALLY CHALLENGING. I'M REALLY HAPPY THAT HARRIS COUNTY IS MOVING FORWARD AND OUR COURTS IN PARTNERSHIP WITH HBA HAVE BEEN CHAMPIONING THIS. I ALSO WANT TO THINK THAT SCOPE THANK DR. -- THEY HAVE MOVED IN LIGHTNING SPEED TO GET THIS DONE. IT IS DEEPLY ENERGIZING.

I AM EXCITED NOT ONLY FOR THE HARRIS COUNTY EMPLOYEES, BUT ALSO FOR ANYONE VISITING OUR COURTHOUSES FOR THE LAWYERS, LITIGANTS, JUDGES, ALL OF OUR STAFF PEOPLE, THIS IS WHAT WE NEED TO BE DOING. AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO MAKING THIS HAPPEN THROUGHOUT HARRIS COUNTY AND TO THE WONDERFUL EMPLOYERS LIKE -- DAIKIN , THEY ARE AHEAD OF THE CURVE . I CHALLENGE ALL HARRIS COUNTY EMPLOYEES, MAKE SURE THAT YOU NOT ONLY IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE LAW, BUT DO BECAUSE IT IS THE RIGHT THING TO DO AND MAKE SURE YOU ARE ALLOWING THESE BREAK TIMES FOR YOUR TEAM MEMBERS TO BE ABLE TO EXPRESS MILK. I'M SO THRILLED. I KNOW WE HAVE SEVERAL SPEAKERS WHO HAVE SIGNED UP. COULD WE HAVE THE MADAM PRESIDENT OF THE HOUSTON BAR ASSOCIATION?

>> THIS IS THE OLDEST BAR IN TEXAS AND ONE OF THE LARGEST VOLUNTEER BARS IN THE MOST DIVERSE CITY IN THE NATION. I

[00:55:03]

FINALLY, I WOULD LIKE TO THINK MY FIRM AND FAMILY, ESPECIALLY OUR CHILDREN FOR THEIR SUPPORT AND THE TIME NECESSARY TO GUIDE THE INITIATIVE TO COMPLETION. BY ACCEPTING THE LACTATION CLAUSE, WE ARE SENDING THE MESSAGE THE HARRIS COUNTY IS DESIGNATED TO ACCESS THE JUSTICE. INCLUDING NURSING MOTHERS WHO MAY SERVE AS JURORS, LITIGANTS, AND COURT STAFF. AS WELL AS FEMALE ATTORNEYS, WHO PRACTICE AT THE HIGHEST LEVEL OF THEIR -- AND BELONG IN THE COURTHOUSE. THANK YOU AGAIN TO COMMISSIONER BRIONES FOR HER CONTINUED AND UNWAVERING SUPPORT IN THIS INITIATIVE. AND THANK YOU ALL

FOR YOUR TIME TODAY. >> HELLO, I AM THE JUDGE OF THE 127 CIVIL DISTRICT COURT IN HARRIS COUNTY. I AM ALSO THE CHAIR OF THE FACILITIES COUNTY FOR THE BOARD OF DISTRICT JUDGES IN HARRIS COUNTY. FIRST AND FOREMOST, I WANT TO THANK COMMISSIONER BRIONES FOR HELPING US GET THIS PUSHED FORWARD. I ALSO WANT TO DEARLY THINK PRESIDENT GOMEZ, WITHOUT COMMISSIONER BRIONES AND -- IT WOULD NOT HAVE GONE AT THIS LIGHTNING PACE. THERE ARE A LOT OF PEOPLE HERE TO THINK, FPM, DCA, ERIC HARRIS, HE DID A LOT OF LOADS ON THE JUDGE INSIDE.

ON TOP OF THE DISTRICT COURT JUDGES, ON BEHALF OF ALL THE JUDGES IN HARRIS COUNTY AND THE DOWNTOWN COMPLEX, THANK YOU.

IT IS IMPORTANT THAT WE ARE WELCOMING TO EVERY SINGLE PERSON THAT COMES INTO THE COURTHOUSE COMPLEX. REGARDLESS OF YOUR STATUS, WELLNESS PART ARE UNBELIEVABLY IMPORTANT TO ALTHOUGH THE COMING. ON TOP OF ALL OF THIS, IT IS IMPORTANT THAT WE CONTINUE TO BE A NATIONAL LEADER IN JUSTICE.

THANK YOU FOR HELPING US ACHIEVE THAT . COMMISSIONERS,

THANK YOU, THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU, JUDGE. WE ALSO HAVE JUDGE THORTON AND THEN WE HAVE MINDY DAVIDSON.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR ALLOWING ME TO SPEAK. THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER. YOU HAVE JUST BEEN OUTSTANDING IN TERMS OF WHAT YOU BRING TO THE TABLE IN TERMS OF THE LACTATION POD.

IT IS THE DREAM OF THE PRESIDENT OF THE HBA. THAT DREAM SHE ASSIGNED TO ME. TO HELP FACILITATE. I'M SO PROUD OF WHAT WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO ACCOMPLISH. I'M SO PROUD THAT WE ARE OPENING OUR DOORS TO NURSING MOTHERS, UNDERSTANDING THE IMPORTANCE OF THEM IN THIS PROCESS. THANK YOU AGAIN. AND I WILL NOT TAKE ANYMORE OF YOUR TIME. EXCEPT TO SAY, AGAIN, THIS IS JUDGE THORTON, AND I DO APPRECIATE ALL OF YOUR

SUPPORT. >> THANK YOU, JUDGE. LESLIE, WE HAVE OUR EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE HOUSTON BART DIRECTOR,

MINDY DAVIDSON. >> HELLO, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR GIVING ME THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK. I WON'T TAKE MUCH TIME EITHER. EXCEPT TO JUST GIVE A HUGE THANKS FOR THE PARTITION FOR THE HOUSTON BAR ASSOCIATION FROM THE COURTS, TO THE STAFF, THE JUDGES, THE JUDICIARY, EVERYBODY. WE JUST ARE INCREDIBLY GRATEFUL FOR THIS PARTNERSHIP. AS WE MAKE OUR COURT COMPLEX WELCOME TO ALL. THANK YOU SO MUCH.

>> THANK YOU TO ALL OF THE PARTNERS. WE GREATLY APPRECIATE YOUR PARTNERSHIP IN MAKING SURE WE ARE DRIVING HARRIS COUNTY FORWARD . LET'S NOT ONLY DRIVE HARRIS COUNTY

[01:00:03]

TO BE. >> COMMISSIONER BRIONES, THANK YOU SO MUCH. BUT TO EVERYONE WHO UNDERSTANDS THE VALUE OF THIS, IT HELPS THAT THERE IS A MOM SITTING AT THE TABLE.

HELPING TO THINK ABOUT MOM'S. AND FAMILIES. SO COMMISSIONER BRIONES, THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP IN THAT REGARD. AND I WANT TO THANK OUR JUDGES. -- I WAS GOING TO NAME YOU SOMEONE ELSE. THANK YOU FOR YOUR ADVOCACY ON THIS. IS SO CRITICAL. OUR COURTHOUSES ARE PLACES WHERE CRITICAL DECISIONS ARE BEING MADE. AND YOU DON'T WANT SOMEONE DISTRACTED AND HAVING TO SUBJECT THEMSELVES TO SOMEPLACE WHERE THEY CANNOT HAVE ANY PRIVATE THE AND NOT BE ABLE TO BE WITH THEIR FAMILIES IN A VERY RESPECTFUL WAY. SO THIS IS HUGE I JUST ALSO WANTED TO THANK DR. RAMAN. HE IS A GUY THAT GETS IT AND GET ON IT QUICKLY. I'M VERY EXCITED. BUT I JUST WANT TO SAY, THIS IS ONE OF THE FIRST ITEMS THAT I HEARD COMMISSIONER BRIONES TALK ABOUT WHICH HE FIRST CAME TO THE TABLE. TO SEE THE VISION BE DISCUSSED TO SEEING IT DONE , IT IS A BIG MOMENT. THANK YOU ALL FOR BEING HERE.

>> THANK YOU COMMISSIONER BRIONES FOR BRINGING IT UP.

AND I THINK WE SHOULD TAKE A BREAK. THE JUDGES WANT TO GET BACK TO COURT. I ASSUME NO ONE WILL BE AGAINST PUTTING THIS ON

THE AGENDA. >> ONE MORE.

>> WE HAVE -- THAT IS HERE. ITEM 451. WOULD BE HONORED

>> YOU HEARD THE MOTION. I WILL SECOND ITEM 459. WHO MADE THE

SECOND? >> GARCIA.

>> LET'S TAKE A BREAK. >> ALL IN FAVOR?

CONGRATULATIONS. >> IT PASSES.

>> CONGRATULATIONS.

[Appearances before court ]

TIFFANY CAN YOU CALL THEM UP IN THE ORDER THEY ARE LISTED.

>> THIS IS BECAUSE 15, KATHY WEST IS ON ITEM NUMBER SEVEN ON COVID-19. YOU HAVE ONE MINUTE.

>> GOOD MORNING. MY NAME IS KATHY WEST. I AM WITH LAUNCH POINT, WE HAVE BEEN AROUND 30 YEARS. I'M HERE TODAY TO TALK ABOUT, AND WAS DEAF TO GET YOUR SUPPORT. WE HAVE OVER 300 GUYS THAT COME OUT OF PRISON COME TO OUR LOCATION TO GET THEIR I.D., BIRTH CERTIFICATE, SOCIAL SECURITY. THEY HAVE BEEN OUT OF PRISON FOR A WHILE. WE ASK, WHY ARE YOU HERE? YOUR COUNSELOR SHOULD OF HAD THE STUFF DONE. BUT THEY ARE NOT DOING WHAT THEY NEED TO GET DONE. WE HAVE DONE THAT, AND WE ENCOURAGE YOU TO COME OUT EVERY FRIDAY TO SEE. WE HAVE A LIEN OF GUYS TO COME TO GET HELP. WE HELP THEM GET THAT, AND WE ALSO HELP THEM GET TRAINED AND GET A JOB. WE WOULD LOVE FOR YOU TO COME OUT, COMMISSIONERS , AND HAVE YOUR STAFF COME OUT AND SEE WHAT LAUNCH POINT IS DOING. IF IT'S OKAY, -- WE HAVE PICTURES WHERE WE SHOW YOU HOW THEY COME

OUT EVERY FRIDAY. >> THANK YOU, YOUR TIME IS UP.

>> NEXT THE SPEAKER 18, DANIEL COHEN . SPEAKING ON ITEM 16 UNDER COUNTY ADMINISTRATION. YOU HAVE ONE MINUTE.

>> HE STEPPED AWAY? I THINK HE IS HERE. OKAY. JUST SAY HER NAME FOR THE RECORD. YOUR NAME .

>> MY APOLOGIES. MY NAME IS DANIEL COHEN, CHAIR OF AN

[01:05:06]

JUSTICE FOR MICHAELA, SOLITARY FOR ALL.

>> NEXT IS -- SPEAKING ON ITEM 16. YOU HAVE ONE MINUTE.

I AM -- JOSLYN GRIFFIN. I AM THE FOUNDER OF JUSTICE FOR EVAN LEE FOUNDATION. AFTER THE CUSTODIAL DEATH OF EVAN, I INITIATED THIS ORGANIZATION. HOWEVER, IT HAS BEEN TWO YEARS SINCE MY SON'S CUSTODIAL DEATH IN HARRIS COUNTY JAIL.

STILL NO ACCOUNTABILITY, AS THOUGH HE IS STILL THERE. NO ONE HAS CAME TO OUR HOME IN RESPECT OF THE FAMILY. BUT I'M HERE TO SPEAK ON MICHAELA. MICHAELA SAVAGE, SHE WAS ASSAULTED IN THE HARRIS COUNTY JAIL AND HAD A MISCARRIAGE . A VERY BAD ABUSE FOR HER. ALSO, WITH THEM TELLING HER, GO AND TELL YOUR MOTHER. I THINK IT IS VERY BAD ON THE STAFF. TODAY WE ARE PAYING $50.3 MILLION TO PRIVATE PRISON COMPANIES --

>> THANK YOU, YOUR TIME IS UP.

>> NEXT IS SPEAKER 21 . SPEAKING ON ITEM 16. YOU HAVE

ONE MINUTE. >> GOOD MORNING, COMMISSIONERS.

-- I SENT AN EMAIL WITH THE LINK TO A VIDEO FROM THE LAST JAIL COMMISSION MEETING IN AUSTIN , WHERE THE REPRESENTATIVES WERE SPEAKING. I DON'T KNOW IF YOU'VE SEEN IT OR HEARD, BUT THEY MADE SOME REALLY SHOCKING AND BEYOND DISTRESSING COMMENTS. THEY ADMITTED THEY DID NOT KNOW WHAT THE STANDARDS WERE IN THE FACILITIES WHERE WE ARE HOUSING PEOPLE IN LOUISIANA AND MISSISSIPPI. THAT WAS A QUESTION FROM THE COMMISSIONERS AND THEY SAID THEY HAD NO IDEA WHAT THE STANDARD WERE. WE DON'T KNOW THE STAFFING RATIO, THE POLICIES, WE HAVE NO IDEA WHAT TYPE OF MINIMUM STANDARDS WE ARE HOUSING OUR PRETRIAL POPULATIONS AND IN MISSISSIPPI.

YOU'VE INVESTED IN -- , OUTSOURCING, BODY CAMERAS AND COURTS. AS OF TODAY, YOUR AVERAGE LENGTH OF STAY IS 240 DAYS, WHICH IS UP FROM 178 IN NOVEMBER. NONE OF THESE THINGS HAVE WORKED. WHAT YOU NEED TO DO IS LOOK AT THE OVERCROWDING FROM THE JUSTICE MANAGEMENT INSTITUTE RECOMMENDATIONS. YOU NEED TO FOLLOW THE RECOMMENDATIONS.

>> THANK YOU, YOUR TIME IS UP.

>> THANK YOU FOR COMING. >> NEXT SPEAKER IS ROBERT -- SPEAKING VIRTUALLY ON ITEM 96. YOU HAVE ONE MINUTE.

>> THANK YOU, I AM ROBERT FIDEL. I AM THE PRESIDENT OF -- PLANNING AND INFRASTRUCTURE. I WANT TO EXPRESS OUR SUPPORT FOR THE ALL DEAN RESEARCH COMPREHENSIVE STUDY THAT NORTHEASTERN DISTRICT -- AND WE WENT TO COMMEND THE COUNTY STAFF IN THEIR METHODOLOGY FOR HOW THEY PUT THAT COMPREHENSIVE STUDY TOGETHER. IN PARTICULAR, WE COMMEND THEM FOR PULLING THE COMMUNITY ON PRIORITIZING PROJECT THAT CAME OUT OF THE STUDY. WE THINK IT IS A GREAT WAY TO EQUITABLY ADDRESS THE COMMUNITY'S NEEDS . AND WE HAVE PARTICULAR SUPPORTS OF THE PROJECT THAT HAVE TO DO WITH AFFORDABLE HOUSING, PARKS AND -- INFRASTRUCTURE. I WANTED TO COMMEND THE COUNTY AND STAFF FOR PUTTING THE PLAN TOGETHER AND EXPRESSING OUR

SUPPORT FOR IT. >> THANK YOU.

>> ROBERT, THIS COMMISSIONER GARCIA. THANK YOU FOR CALLING.

>> NEXT IS RICHARD CANTU, ALSO SPEAKING ON ITEM 96 VIRTUALLY.

YOU HAVE ONE MINUTE. >> GOOD MORNING, COMMISSIONERS. MY NAME IS RICHARD CANTU, I AM THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE EAST ALDINE -- WE TOO ARE VERY APPRECIATIVE OF THE COUNTY FOR UNDERTAKING THIS ALDINE

[01:10:02]

>> THANK YOU. >> RICHARD, THIS COMMISSIONER GARCIA. THANK YOU FOR CALLING END.

>> THANK YOU, SIR. >> NEXT SPEAKER IS NUMBER 22, MARIAM --'S BEGIN ON ITEM 16. YOU HAVE ONE MINUTE.

>> GOOD MORNING, AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. I AM MARIAM -- AND ATTORNEY WITH A WASHINGTON, D.C. BASED ORGANIZATION CALLED RIGHTS BEHIND BARS. YOU'VE HEARD MENTION OF MICHAELA SAVAGE, SHE IS MY CLIENT AND REFILE THE CASE ON HER BEHALF TOMORROW AFTER SHE WAS ASSAULTED AT LEAST SIX TIMES IN THE HARRIS ACCOUNTING DECIBEL COUNTY JAIL, INCLUDING ONE BY A GUARD LED TO HER MISCARRIAGE AND ANOTHER WILL INCIDENT BY THE SAME GUARD WHO BIT HER AND SAID, GO TELL YOUR MOTHER ABOUT THAT. -- SHE WAS PLACED IN SOLITARY CONFINEMENT, ATTEMPTED SUICIDE AND SHE WAS INNOCENT OF THE CHARGES SHE WAS IN THERE FOR. OF THE CHARGES WERE DROPPED. SHE IS EMBLEMATIC OF THE STORIES THAT COME OUT OF THAT FACILITY AND ARE INCREDIBLY DAMAGING TO PEOPLE'S LIVES. THERE ARE HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE WHO SHOULD NOT BE IN THERE BECAUSE OF TRUMPED UP CHARGES FROM THE D.A. PEER --. PEOPLE ARE WATCHING -- WE HOPE YOU WILL TAKE SERIOUS MISS SAVAGE'S CASE AND TAKE A REAL LOOK AT WHAT IS HAPPENING INSIDE OF THE JAIL. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.

>> THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. >> NEXT IS SPEAKER NUMBER 23, SPEAKING ON ITEM 16. YOU HAVE ONE MINUTE.

>> GOOD MORNING, COMMISSIONERS. HAVE BEEN UNACCEPTABLE NUMBER OF CUSTODY DEATHS, ABUSE AND -- IN HARRIS COUNTY JAIL. ALL THE COURT HAS DONE IS TO THROW MORE MONEY AT THE PROBLEM, RATHER THAN ACTUALLY INVESTIGATING -- AND INVESTING IN RESEARCH AND SOLUTIONS THAT NOT ONLY SAVE OUR TAXPAYERS MONEY BUT SOLVE THE ROOT PROBLEM OF THE HARRIS COUNTY JAIL NONCOMPLIANCE, WHICH IS OVERCROWDING. THEY HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO MEET THE BARE MINIMUM STANDARDS FOR THREE YEARS DUE TO OVERCROWDING. WE HEARD TODAY THEY HAVE FELT AGAIN FOR THE FIFTH TIME. YOU HAVE SPENT MORE THAN $30 MILLION TO ADD SIX NEW COURTS IN HOPES OF PROSECUTING PEOPLE FASTER, THE AVERAGE LENGTH OF STAY HAVE GONE FROM 170 DAYS IN NOVEMBER TO 240 DAYS. YOU IS THAT $50 MILLION TO SHIP REACHOUT PEOPLE FROM OUR NONCOMPLIANT JAIL TO PRIVATE PRISONS TO FORCE THEM TO FACE EVEN MORE VIOLENT CONDITIONS WITHOUT ACCESS TO THE FAMILY AND LEGAL COUNSEL. THESE ARE JUST SOME EXAMPLES OF HOW THE RETURN ON YOUR INVESTMENT IS NOWHERE TO BE FOUND, NOR IS IT AFFECTED. THE ONLY REAL SOLUTION IS THAT HOST

>> YOUR TIME IS UP. NEXT IS NOT AGENDA SPEAKER NUMBER ONE , WALTER PROCTOR. YOU HAVE ONE MINUTE.

>> MY NAME IS WALTER -- , COUNTY COMMISSIONERS I WOULD LIKE TO CONTINUE TO INTRODUCE THE GENERAL PUBLIC OF HARRIS COUNTY ON WHAT TO EXPECT WHEN USING HARRIS HEALTH FACILITIES FROM EXPERIENCE. AS I PREVIOUSLY REPORTED TO HARRIS HEALTH, -- I HAD AN EVENT WITH RESIDENT DR. -- STEWART AND HER PROFESSOR , DR. SUSAN SAMPSON R. ASECORDED, DR.

STEWARD NEVER PHYSICALLY EXAMINED ME. LYAND WAS ON THERE ORTO ENTER INFMATION INTO A COMPUTER. HOWEVER, DR.

STEWARD FALSIFIED THE INFORMATION THAT SHE HAD EXAMINED ME AND DR. SAMPSON , WHO ONLY BRIEFLY INEXAMINED ME, WHICH MEDICAL INFORMATION WAS SPARES, BUT SIGNED ON DR.

STEWARD'S FALSE ENTRIES. IS SO MANY TIMES, R THE SENIOR STAFF AT BAYLOCOLLEGE OF MEDICINE HAVE A PROBLEM WITH MAKING FULL AND CONCISE ENTRIES SO THAT PATIENTS CAN HAVE EFFECTIVE CARE IN THE FUTURE.

>> THANK YOU. >> NEXT IS NOT AGENDA SPEAKER, JEFFREY WALK-IN JUNIOR. YOU HAVE ONE MINUTE.

[01:15:03]

>> HOW ARE YOU GUYS DOING TODAY? I WAS AT A -- AT 1200 CONGRESS STREET JUVENILE PROBATION OFFICE. I WAS NOTICING THE POLICIES THAT WERE STATED WHEN I FIRST STARTED WORKING THERE, THEY WERE NOT BEING FOLLOWED. IT SEEMS LIKE WHEN YOU DO FOLLOW THE POLICIES AND TRY TO ACTUALLY HELP YOUTH, AND GO WITHOUT PHYSICALLY RESTRAINING THEM IT SEEMS LIKE YOU GET CAST ASIDE AS AN OUTSIDER. THAT IS WHAT I NOTICED AT THIS LOCATION I WAS WORKING AT. I HAVE RAN INTO A LOT OF PARENTS OUTSIDE OF THE FACILITY WHERE THEY WOULD TELL ME HOW I WOULD HELP THEIR KID , TALKING TO THEM. AND SINCE THEY HAVE BEEN RELEASED, I HAVE CHANGED THEIR LIVES. A LOT OF THEM EVEN COME TO MY HOME. BECAUSE I AM A PRO BOXER AS WELL. THEY WILL TELL ME, THANK YOU FOR HELPING ME WHILE I WAS IN THERE. AND TALKING TO ME AND GIVING ME A STRONG MIND. THAT WAS A LOT OF UPLIFTING. BUT IT SEEMS LIKE THEY JUST WHAT YOU GUYS THAT I WANT YOU GUYS LOOK INTO THE SITUATION .

>> THANK YOU, YOUR TIME IS UP .

>> THANK YOU FOR ALL YOU DO. >> NEXT IS NOT AGENDA SPEAKER NUMBER FIVE, GEORGE MORRISON. HAVE ONE MINUTE.

>> GOOD MORNING, MY NAME IS GEORGE MORRISON, I AM REPRESENTING TOP DOG FIREWORKS REQUESTING APPROVAL FOR THE VOLLEY FIREWORKS SEASON. I KNOW IT SOUNDS TRIVIAL WITH EVERYTHING THAT HAS BEEN TALKED ABOUT PRIOR TO ME, BUT THE -- COMMUNICATION INTRODUCED A COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT AS ONE OF THE LARGEST IN THE U.S. -- IS THE FESTIVAL OF LIGHT, THE WALLY, THE RELIGIOUS EXPERIENCE I RECOMMEND EVERYONE SEES. THE NEW SEASON THAT IS NOW APPROVED IN SEVERAL OTHER COUNTIES IS UP FOR THIS COUNTY TO BE APPROVED. THE STATE APPROVED THE NEW SEASON IN JUNE, EFFECTIVE SEPTEMBER 1ST OF LAST YEAR, I'M HOPING THAT YOU TAKE THIS RESOLUTION TO HEART AND APPROVE IT SO THEY CAN PURCHASE THE FIREWORKS IN HARRIS COUNTY VERSUS GOING TO ANOTHER STATE OR COUNTY.

>> THANK YOU FOR COMING DOWN. I LOOK FORWARD TO SUPPORTING THAT

ITEM. >> NEXT IS NOT AGENDA SPEAKER NUMBER SEVEN, CHRISTOPHER JENKINS. YOU HAVE ONE MINUTE.

>> GOOD EVENING , EVERYONE. AND CHRISTOPHER JENKINS, CEO AND FOUNDER OF FEED THE HOOD FOUNDATION. I'M SPEAKING ON A NON-AGENDA ITEM ABOUT THE UNDERUTILIZATION OF THE VARIOUS PROGRAMS -- MENTAL HEALTH PROGRAMS, IT IS LED TO THE INCREASE IN HOMELESS POPULATIONS AND JAIL OVERCROWDING. THIS IS LED TO DEATHS, AS CONTRIBUTING TO HEALTH -- MENTAL HEALTH CRISIS. DUE TO AN OVERSIGHT, THIS IS TURN THE HARRIS COUNTY JAIL INTO A DEAF SITE. I STAND IN SOLIDARITY WITH MICHAELA, HER ATTORNEY, PASTOR GRIFFIN, AND OTHER -- AND WHAT WE CAN DO TO KEEP OUR COMMUNITIES SAFE FROM NEGLIGENCE AND LAW ENFORCEMENT. HOW NYMA HAVE TO BE MISTREATED AND ABUSED BEFORE WE SAY ENOUGH IS ENOUGH. THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE IN HARRIS COUNTY IN 2024. MANY PEOPLE HAVE EFTO DIE BORE WE TAKE NOTICE? PLMANY PEOE IN OUR HACOMMUNITY VE REACHED OUT TO -- TINEITHER HAS ME TO IC COMMUNATE BACK AND SHOW THNO

EMPAY. >> YOUR TIME IS UP. NEXT IS NOT AGENDA SPEAKER NUMBER NINE, DAVE -- YOU HAVE ONE MINUTE.

MY NAME IS DAVE -- I AM WITH -- FIREWORKS INTERNATIONAL, A WHOLESALER OUT OF KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI. I'M HERE TO SPEAK ON BEHALF OF MY IS OWNER COLLEAGUES IN HARRIS COUNTY SO FIREWORKS ON THE DIWALI CELEBRATION. WE ARE VERY EXCITED WITH THE PROPOSITION OF HARRIS COUNTY OPENING IT UP FOR THIS HINDU CELEBRATION. IT IS CELEBRATED, I HAVE SEVERAL CUSTOMERS ACROSS THE COUNTRY, SOUTH CAROLINA, OKLAHOMA, WHO HAD BEEN VERY SUCCESS WITH THE CELEBRATION.

IT IS A DIFFERENT TYPE OF FIREWORKS CELEBRATION. NOT YOUR TYPICAL AS OF JULY OR NEW YEAR'S. IT IS FAMILY, BACKYARD, SPARKLERS, SMALL FOUNTAINS. TO GIVE YOU A VISUALIZATION AS FAR AS DEVICES, IT IS NOT THE BIG BLOOMS AND AERIAL . NOISE IS NOT PART OF DIWALI, AS FAR AS THE FIREWORKS. IT IS COLOR AND VERY MUCH A RELIGIOUS CELEBRATION. THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR TIME.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH. >> NEXT IS NOT AGENDA SPEAKER NUMBER 12, MIRIAM WRIGHT. THE OF ONE MINUTE.

[01:20:11]

>> HELLO, I'M HERE TODAY. IF YOU CAN GO TO THE HANDOUTS WITH ME IT WILL MAKE IT EASIER TO EXPLAIN. COMMISSIONER ELLIS, I'M HERE TO SPEAK MOSTLY TO YOU. I HOPE YOU WILL MAKE AN APPOINTMENT WITH ME AFTER THIS. THERE ARE FOUR LEVELS -- THAT IS RECOMMENDED BY THE BIKE ADVISORY FOR THE BIKE PATH -- ONE 23 AND FOUR. YOU HAVE PROTECTED BIKE LANES, AND IT'S USEFUL FOR PEOPLE OF ALL SKILL LEVELS, THAT MEANS CHILDREN. -- IS LEVEL 4, BUT FOR SKILL LEVEL. IF YOU GO TO THE THIRD PAGE, YOU WILL SAY I PUT IN SOMETHING THAT YOU CALL A PROTECTIVE BIKE LANE ON THE STREET, THE CITY IS SAYING THAT IS GOOD FOR PEOPLE OF ALL AGES. THAT IS WHAT WE HAVE DONE ON SOME OF OUR STREETS. BY PUTTING THESE PARTIALLY PROTECTED BIKE LANES IN, YOU HAVE CHILDREN NOW THAT ARE GOING IN PLACES WHERE BUSES ARE PULLING INTO THEM. INTO THE

BIKE LANE. >> THANK YOU, YOUR TIME IS UP.

>> PLEASE LOOK AT PAGE FOUR. PLEASE. WILL YOU MAKE AN

APPOINTMENT WITH ME, PLEASE? >> MY STAFF WILL CALL YOU. IS

THAT IF HER SPEAKERS? >> WE HAVE ONE MORE. NOT AGENDA SPEAKER NUMBER 15, ALEXI -- YOU HAVE ONE MINUTE.

>> I AM SO SORRY. >> WHY WAS -- A 73-YEAR-OLD WITH DEMENTIA RELEASED INTO THE DARK AT 4 A.M. -- HER BODY WAS FOUND 20 MILES AWAY DAYS LATER. -- SHE PROBABLY FROZE TO DEATH . HER FAMILY WAS NOT CONTACTED FOR HER RELEASE.

COMMISSIONER GARCIA, I HAVE BEEN TOLD WHEN YOU WERE THE SHERIFF, THERE WAS A RULE THE FEMALE INMATE COULD NOT BE RELEASED BETWEEN THE HOURS OF 10:00 P.M. AND 4:00 A.M., IS THE RULE STILL IN EFFECT? IF NOT, WHY WAS SHIRLEY RELEASED AT 4:00 A.M. ARE THERE ANY RULES ABOUT RELEASING MENTALLY INCOMPETENT PEOPLE WITH OUT COUNTING THEIR FAMILY AND NO ONE TO PICK THEM UP? PLEASE PRIORITIZE REFORMING THE HEALTH COUNTY JAIL. THE ONLY COMMISSION I'VE HEARD EXPRESSED CONCERN ABTHOUT E JAIL THAT IS BEING RUN BY A -- LIKE A THIRD WORLD COUNTRY. CONDITIONS THAT THE ARJAILERS E RAMSEY. S COMMISSIONER I HOPE YOU ALL TAKE IN ONMORE

[Departments (Part 2 of 3)]

ACTI AND LESS STUDIES. >> IS THAT IT ON SPEAKERS?

>> THAT IS IT. >> MEMBERS, WE HAVE S.TWO CORRECTION THERE WILL BE NO ACTIONS ON ITEM 351 AND 364.

464. NO ACTION ON 351 AND 464. ARE THERE ANY OTHER ITEMS IN NEED OF CORRECTIONS? ITEMS THAT NEED TO BE FLAGGED AS NO ACTION? IF NOT, YOU HAVE YOUR LIST IN FRONT OF YOU FOR THE ITEMS FOR THE EXECUTIVE SESSION. HERE ARE THE ONES I AM ASSUMING WE WILL PROBABLY WANT TO GO BACK ON. THE APPOINTMENT

FOR METRO . >> COMMISSIONER ELLIS, I DO HAVE A FEW ITEMS THAT I WANT TO FLAG FOR NO ACTION. IT WILL BE ITEM 40, LINE 22 AND 23. AND IT IS ALSO ITEM 227, LINE 16. AND I AM 247 -- ITEM 247. THESE ITEMS ARE UNDER REVIEW BY THE -- WORKING ON A DRONE A POLICY THE . I WOULD LIKE TO HOLD THE ITEMS UNTIL THE POLICY HAS BEEN DRAFTED.

>> THAT IS ITEM 40 , ITEM 223 AND ITEM 247?

>> IT IS ITEM 40, LINE 22 AND 23. ITEM 220 SEVEN, LINE 16

AND LINE 247 -- ITEM 247. >> YOU SEE THE ITEMS FOR THE EXECUTIVE SESSION? I WILL NOT GO THROUGH ALL OF THE. HERE ARE THE ONES I THINK WE WILL GO BACK ON. IF SOMEONE WANTS TO ADD SOMETHING LET ME KNOW. 465 , THE METRO APPOINTMENT. 466, SECURITY BRIEFING. 467, WE HAVE TO GO BACK ON THE EMPLOYEES GRIEVANCE HEARING. I WILL NOT CALL THOSE OUT UNLESS

YOU SEE THEM, YOU SEE THEM? >> I SEE THEM.

>> THERE IS ANOTHER ITEM I WANT TO GO BACK TO. THAT IS ITEM

[01:25:03]

484. >> 484, SPECIAL COUNSEL AGREEMENT. OKAY, WE WILL GO BACK ON THOSE. I WILL MAKE SURE I GO BACK THAT. 484. EXECUTIVE SESSION. OKAY. ALL OTHER ITEMS NOW IDENTIFIED WILL BE PLACED ON THE CONSENT AGENDA. MEMBERS ? I WOULD WANT TO MAKE SURE YOU WANT TO ADD ANYTHING OR TAKE SOMETHING OFF? COMMISSIONER BRIONES FIRST.

>> I WOULD LIKE TO RETURN ITEMS TO 38, 226 AND 413. 38, 226 AND 413, RETURN THEM TO CONSENT. YOU ALREADY MENTIONED NO OPTION 464. AND I WOULD LIKE TO REQUEST DISCUSSION

ITEM 19 , POSSIBLE ACTIONS. >> YOU WANT TO PULL IT OFF OF

CONSENT? >> 19 AND THE OTHERS ARE READY

-- THANK YOU. >> I WOULD LIKE TO PULL ITEM

96 FOR DISCUSSION. >> COMMISSIONER -- CAN YOU SAY

THAT AGAIN? >> RETURN TO CONSENT PLEASE, ITEMS 38 , 226 AND 413 PLEASE . AND THEN I WOULD PLEASE LET THE FLAG FOR DISCUSSION ITEM 19, THE FISCAL YEAR 25 BUDGET

CALENDAR. >> YOU SAID 96, COMMISSIONER

GARCIA? RAMSEY? >> I WANT TO RETURN TO CONSENT

25 , 296 , 322 , 473 . >> I WILL MAKE STA AB AT THIS.

>> I GOWAS ING DDTO A, I WANT SORRY, 260 , 296 . I'M NOT 196 , 260 , 382 AND 469.

>> I WILL TRY , IF I GET IT WRONG YOU TELL ME. I AM KNOWN TO BE A LITTLESPEEDY. YOU HAVE IT HERE. YOU ARE BETTER THAN ME. IT LOOKS LIKE , YOU HAVE TO HELP ME. IS THAT ADDING 19? YOU WANT TO ADD TO THE CONSENT AGENDA 19? AND 96. DO I NEED

TO GO THROUGH ALL OF THEM? >> 19 FOR DISCUSSION.

>> OKAY, THE DISCUSSION ITEMS WILL BE, ITEM SIX , ITEM SEVEN , ITEM EIGHT , ITEM 10 , ITEM 13 , ITEM 14 , ITEM 15 , ITEM 16 , ITEM 17 , ITEM 18 , ITEM 34 .

>> ITEM 19 IS ALSO ON IT. >> OKAY, ITEM 19. ITEM 34.

ITEM 47? ITEM 93 , ITEM 96 , ITEM 130 , ITEM TWO SONS TONIGHT -- 269, ITEM 260. ITEM 302 , ITEM 338 , ITEM 49 -- 109, -- ITEM 409, 473, 469, ITEM 488, 509 . YOU

THINK I GOT IT RIGHT? >> 472 IS STILL ON DISCUSSION,

CORRECT? >> DO YOU THINK I GOT IT RIGHT? 302? WHEN I SAID 302 I MEANT 382. READ THEM TO US.

>> THE DISCUSSION WE HAD RIGHT HERE IS SIX, SEVEN, EIGHT , 10 , 13 , 14 , 15 , 16 , 17, 18, 19, 30 FOUR, 47 , 93 , 96 , 130

[01:30:05]

>> MEMBERS? ARE YOU ALL RIGHT WITH THAT? YOU OKAY? COMMISSIONER BRIONES, ARE YOU OKAY?

>> I AM OKAY. >> THAT IS CORRECT, COMMISSIONER. I WANT TO POINT OUT ITEM 34 INVOLVE A NEGOTIATION. THERE WILL BE PORTIONS THAT WILL BE DISCUSSED

IN THE EXECUTIVE SESSION. >> SHOULD WE TAKE THAT TO EXECUTIVE SESSION FIRST AND COME BACK?

>> I THINK IF YOU WANT TO GO TO EXECUTIVE SESSION -- IT SHOULD BE ON THEIR ON CERTAIN PORTIONS THAT WE TALK ABOUT

RELATED TO NEGOTIATIONS. >> IS THAT OKAY WITH YOU ALL?

ARE WE OKAY? OKAY. >> I HAVE A FEW QUESTIONS TO VERIFY? FOR POTHE APINTMENT 458, 463 463, 469 1 THROUGH 47

THOSE ARE ? ALL APPROVED >> THAT WAS MY IMPLICATION. AND ALTHOUGH GREAT -- ARE ALL OF THOSE OKAY?

>> I WILL ENTAKE 469 OFF OF CONST AND PUT IT ON 470.

>> YOU WANT TO DISCUSS IT? OKAY. WE WANT TO TAKE A BREAK FOR LUNCH SO I JUST WANT TO KNOW WHAT WE ARE TAKING TO EXECUTIVE SESSION. COMMISSIONER GARCIA?

COMMISSIONER BRIONES? >> I HAVE A QUESTION ON ITEM 20. IT IS A PRESENTATION. AND 21, WHERE THE BE ANY ACTION --

WILL THERE BE ANY ACTION? >> THEY WERE AWARDED , SO WE WOULD NOT NEED TO BRING THEM BACK.

>> OH, YOU ARE BRINGING THEM BACK?

>> THEY WERE POLICIES AND THEY SHOULD OF BEEN POSSIBLE ACTION.

I DO NOT BELIEVE THEY WERE NOT FLAT FOR DISCUSSION. CAN

BRING THEM BACK. >> NO ACTION.

>> ITEM 153 IS THE LEGISLATIVE RELATIONS ITEM, WERE THERE ANY

ACTIONS? >> A LOT OF ACTIONS BUT NO NEED

TO TALK ABOUT THEM TODAY. >> THANK YOU, THAT IS ALL I

HAVE. >> IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA? COMMISSIONER GARCIA MOVES IT, COMMISSIONER RAMSEY SECONDED. ALL IN FAVOR VOTE AYE. ALL OF JOSE NAY. -- IT PASSES. LET US COME BACK AT 1:10? IT IS NOW 1206 AND WE ARE BACK IN SESSION THE FIRST ITEM WE HAVE FOR DISCUSSION IT IS EITHER NUMBER 6, YOU WANT TO GO FIRST? SO COMING ON THE LINE JUST WALK US THROUGH WHAT YOU ALL ARE

PLANNING TO DO, DIRECTOR. >> GOOD AFTERNOON COMMISSIONERS. EXCUSE MY VOICE, I AM A LITTLE UNDER THE WEATHER. THIS WE WORK THROUGH THE FOCUS AREA TEAM TO REVISE THE DISPARITY FUND GRANT AGREEMENT SO MORE ENTITIES WOULD BE ELIGIBLE TO REPLY BECAUSE WE HAD A SURPLUS OF FUNDING AFTER THE FIRST ROUND WE DID WITH THE STUDY GRANT PROGRAM. THIS IS WHAT WE CAME UP WITH WITH THE FOCUS AREA TEAM AND IT GOT APPROVED SO WE COULD HAVE ADDITIONAL ENTITIES

APPLY FOR THE PROGRAM. >> I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR THE GREAT WORK THAT YOU AND YOUR TEAM HAVE BEEN DOING. FOR MY COLLEAGUES I WANT TO REMIND THEM THIS IS THE DISPARITY STUDY FOUND WE CREATED AND JUST GOING BACK IN HISTORY, IN MAY OF 2018, PRECINCT 1 PUT UP $600,000 TO DO A DISPARITY STUDY AND COLLEAGUES IN THE COURT WERE CANDID ENOUGH TO REIMBURSE PRECINCT 1. AND IN JANUARY 2020 THE COUNTY RELEASED DISPARITY STUDIES SO IT TOOK QUITE A WHILE. IN NOVEMBER OF 2020, HARRIS COUNTY PROGRAM BEGAN OPERATING AND IN FALL OF 2021 COMMISSIONER GARCIA AND I PUT UP $100,000

[01:35:01]

>> THE LANGUAGE IN THE POLICY PAST NOVEMBER 2020 DOES STATE THAT THE PROGRAM RUN OUT OF MY DEPARTMENT IS SUNSET IN FIVE YEARS, AND IT'S NOVEMBER 2025 UNLESS REENACTED AND IT DOES SAY WE SHALL PERFORM THE STUDY PRIOR TO THE SUNSET DATE.

>> THE STANDARDS AT THAT TIME COULD HAVE CHANGED BUT AT THAT TIME YOU HAD TO DO ONE ABOUT EVERY FIVE YEARS. THE STATE HAS NORMALLY DONE IT EVERY FIVE YEARS UNTIL IT COULD NOT GET FUNDED. THE STATE DOES COLLECT THE DATA. I JUST WANT TO STRESS THAT AND GOING THROUGH ALL OF THE HOOPS THAT WILL BE REQUIRED I THINK YOU MENTIONED TO ME EARLIER WHEN WE CHATTED YESTERDAY, WE HAVE TO MAKE A DECISION ON DO WE FEEL COMFORTABLE OPERATING ONE WITHOUT THE STUDY? IN THIS ENVIRONMENT I WOULD BE VERY NERVOUS ABOUT THAT. I JUST WANT TO STRESS THAT AND PUT THIS ON EVERYBODY'S MIND. I MENTIONED TO YOU. $900,000 LEFT? I WOULD BE SENSITIVE TO USE THE MONEY, THE BIGGEST BANG FOR THE BUCK. $900,000 WOULD LET THEM ALL DO THAT ONE. THE OTHER SCHOOL DISTRICTS WHO WANTED TO DO THEM COULD HAVE COMBINED WITH ONE STUDY AND FOR COMMUNITY COLLEGES ALL BY THE SAME THING, THE SAME CAPACITY BUT THEY COULD HAVE DONE AS WELL BUT THAT DID NOT HAPPEN. SO IN THE GUIDELINES DOES IT GIVE YOU THE LATITUDE TO HAVE THAT

DISCUSSION? >> MY TEAM WILL COME UP WITH THE EVALUATION CRITERIA WITH THE INTEREST AND APPLICATION PROCESS D ANWE CAN FIDENITELY WORK WITH THE FOCUS AREA TEAM WHICH HAS MEMBERS OF YOUR URCOT OFFICES TO KEMA SURE WE HAD PREFERENCES GIBRINNG IN THEIR OWN ARDOLLS WHICH MEANS THEY

ARE GOING TO RALEVEGE. >> SOMEONE WHO COULDN'T ACCESSTH IS EFFUND BORE, THEY MAY WE WILL APUT UP PART OF IT IF

[01:40:04]

YOU PUT UP APART. >> CORRECT. >> I WANT TO UGRUN THROH MY CO LLEAGUES SO YOU T KNOW WHAAN IMPACT THIS PROGRAM HAS HAD. SINCE WE DID Y OUR STUDBY CATEGORIES THAT I HAVE 900% THERE'S BEEN A INCREASE IN N-THE AFRICAAMERICA N BUSINESSES WHO GOT FROM THE COUNTY. IT WENT FROME .5 PCENT TO 5%, 900% INCREASE FOR HISPANIC OWNED BUSINESSES, WE WENT FROM 4.6 TO 7 E.POINT ON THAT'S 154% ASIAN , OWNED BUSINESSESWE WENT FROM 5.7 -- THINK WE WENT FROM -- .6 25.7%, THAT'S F950% INCREASEOR WOMEN SSOWNED BUSINEES, WE WENT FROM .8% TO 3.2%. AT THE 25% INCREASE IF MY MATH IS RIGHT. THAT IS AMERICANE OWNED BUSINESSES, WENT FROM .3 TO A 300% INCREASE AND FROM POINT WANT TO .4. THAT IS A 300% INCREASE. KITHESE PROGRAMS ARE MANG ECA DIFFERENCE. IT REFLTS THE TONE INCREASE FROM 18.3 PERCENTAGE POINTS, 201% INCREASE AND ALL AND WHAT WE'VE DONE WITH T ALL OF THIS. NINE POINONE PERCENT TO 20.4.

THANK YOU FOR THE WORK THAT YOU'RE DOINGON THIS.

>> THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP ON THIS AND TAKING HARRIS COUNTY FORWARD AND THANK YOU TOESMY COLLEAGUES. DIRECTOR GONZAL I AM ENERGIZED BY THE NUMBERS JUST HESTATED AND WE TALKED ABOUT T WORK WE NEEDED TO DO AND FOCUS ON THE AMOUNTS NOT ONLY AWARDED WITH THE AMOUNTS PAID OUT, WITH THE CONTINUED PROGRESS, BEFORE I CONTINUE SOME OF MY PROGRESS I JUST WANT TO CONFIRM AND MAKE SURE WE ARE HOLDING OURSELVES ACCOUNTABLE, ARE WE GOING TO HAVE THE FUNDING TO DO OUR NEXT ONE WHEN THE TIME COMES AND WE HAVE ANOTHER COUPLE OF QUICK

QUESTIONS? >> WE WILL GET TOGETHER AND

COME BACK WITH OPTIONS >> THE REASON I LIKE THIS ITEM IS HOW CAN WE MAKE DATED DRIVEN DECISIONS AND WE DON'T HAVE THE DATA. WE ARE TALKING, OR PROGRESS, THANK YOU. WE HAVE BEEN ENCOURAGING OTHER ENTITIES WHILE INCREASING FOR, NAMELY HOUSTON COMMUNITY COLLEGE, KATY ISD AND OTHERS AND IN THE MEANTIME IT'S A GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO EXPAND ENTITIES THAT ARE ELIGIBLE AND SO I AM VERY MUCH IN FAVOR OF THIS IN PARTICULAR IN TERMS OF LOOKING I KNOW THE 900,000 WILL NOT COVER EVERY OTHER ENTITY AND I HOPE PEOPLE START BRINGING DOWN OUR DOOR BUT I AM PARTICULAR. I KNOW YOU'VE BEEN IN CONVERSATIONS WHICH WILL BEAT ME TO MY NEXT QUESTION. I'M INTERESTED IN THE HARRIS COUNTY HOUSTON SPORTS AUTHORITY GIVEN ITS TREMENDOUS ECONOMIC IMPACT ESPECIALLY AS WE PREPARE FOR THE WORLD CUP. THAT'S ONE ENTITY ALONG WITH OTHERS I AM REALLY INTERESTED IN EXPLORING HARRIS COUNTY CENTER FOR MENTAL HEALTH, THE GULF COAST AUTHORITY THAT IF WE APPROVE THIS EXPANSION OF WHO IS ELIGIBLE, THOSE ARE SOME OF THE EXPANSIONS THAT COULD UNVEIL THEMSELVES WHICH COULD HELP THE MULTIPLIER EFFECT FOR THE INVESTMENT WE ARE MAKING. THANK YOU, I LOOK FORWARD TO BUILDING ON THIS PROGRESS, I HOPE WE WILL EXPAND ELIGIBILITY AND I REALLY HOPE THE ENTITIES HAVE DEEPEST LOCAL WORK UNVEILING THEMSELVES. MY QUESTION IS WHAT IS THE LATEST ON ANY OF THOSE ENTITIES I MENTIONED FOR SPORTS

AUTHORITY? >> THEY ARE INTERESTED. AFTER THIS GETS PASSED, IN DOES GET PAST TODAY WE WILL ABLE TO START WORKING ON THE DRAFT TAKING THE GUIDELINES, WHERE WE HAVE A GOOD FIRST DRAFT FROM THE LAST ROUND AND IT'S UPDATING THOSE AND GETTING THEM OUT. EVERY ENTITY WE WILL BE SURE TO RECEIVE THE INFORMATION WORKING WITH ALL COURT OFFICES SO WE HAVE AN ORGANIZATION YOU WANT TO REACH OUT TO INDEPENDENTLY, LAST YEAR I BELIEVE WE DID PERSONAL LETTERS TO EACH ENTITY AND MAKE SURE THEY ARE ON THE LIST TO GET THE APPLICATION KIND OF LIKE A GOOGLE FORM AND WE WILL TAKE IT FROM THERE. WE WILL HAVE Y REALY IN-DEPTH CONVERSATIONS WITH EACH ENTITBECAUSE THEY HAVE A LOT OF QUIET CONVERSATIONS ONCE

[01:45:03]

>> THANK YOU DIRECTOR GONZALES FOR EVERYTHING YOU AND YOUR TEAM DO TO ADVANCE HARRIS COUNTY. I APPRECIATE IT.

>> THANK YOU FOR PUTTING THIS ON HERE. I AGREE, WHEN WE INITIATED THIS AND SET ASIDE ARPA MONEY TO PURSUE ENTITIES, THE COMMON THING FOR ME TODAY IS GOING TO BE THE CLOCK IS TICKING ON ALL THE ARPA MONEY, WE HAVE TO GET FOCUSED REAL QUICK TO EXPAND OUR FOCUS, IT MAY NOT BE APPROPRIATE FOR US AT THIS TIME TO KEEP FOCUSED ON WHAT WE WERE ALREADY DOING IN TERMS OF TRYING TO GET CERTAIN ENTITIES INVOLVED, THAT'S ONE THING. KNOWING THAT AT SOME POINT, THE MONEY IS GOING TO RUN OUT AND WE ARE GOING TO HAVE TO FIGURE THIS OUT.

>> I THOUGHT WE WERE USING OUR MONEY FOR THIS? THE FLEXPHONE, I JUST WANT TO MAKE -- BECAUSE WE WERE TRYING TO USE ARPA

MONEY. >> THAT IS.

>> IT IS? >> IT'S PART OF THE FLEX FUND POOL. SO IT DOESN'T HAVE THE SAME DEADLINES.

>> IT HAS THE SAME DEADLINES. >> FLEX FUND DOES NOT HAVE THE

SAME DEADLINES AS ARPA. >> WHAT IS THE DEADLINE?

>> ITS GENERAL RIGHT? WHEN WE STARTED.

>> I KNEW WE DIDN'T HAVE THE DEADLINE THAT'S WHY I THOUGHT IT WASN'T ARPA MONEY. AS ARPA BUT WE FLIPPED IT, IS THAT A

FAIR COMMENT? >> YES.

>> YOU CATCH ME TALK WITH >> WHEN YOU RUN OUT, YOU RUN

OUT. DEADLINE OR NOT. >> COMMISSIONER GARCIA?

>> REALLY QUICK, THE COMMISSIONER MADE ME THINK OF THE WORLD CUP AND THAT I AM SURPRISED THAT THE SPORTS AUTHORITY HAS NOT PARTICIPATED. THEY DON'T NECESSARILY DO PURCHASING AT A GREAT LEVEL. BUT THEY DO SIGN A BUNCH OF AGREEMENTS WITH A BUNCH OF FOLKS. SO I WOULD WANT TO SEE WORK BEING DONE TO MODIFY THEIR AGREEMENT SO THAT IT DOES REQUIRE SOME TYPE OF PARTICIPATION FOR. I DON'T WANT TO SALES IS RATHER THAT EACH AGREEMENT THEY DO SIGN

COMES WITH A GOAL. >> SO IF I MIGHT , KNOWING THE LEGAL WORLD LEGAL TERRAIN THAT WE ARE IN, I THINK COMMISSIONER GARCIA IS STATING AS FAR AS LETTING IT GO THEY SHOULD DO THAT. BUT SOME OF THE THINGS THEY DO, EVEN -- IT'S GOING TO TAKE FOREVER TO DO A DISPARITY STUDY. YOU MIGHT BE AT THE WORLD CUP, DEPENDS ON HOW LONG IT TAKES TO DO THE STUDY.

DEPENDS ON HOW PEOPLE DILLYDALLY AROUND. I DON'T THINK IT WILL TAKE THE COUNTY AS LONG THIS TIME AS IT DID LAST TIME. THAT IS A GOOD TWO YEARS, COMMISSIONER. BUT I ALSO WANT TO ENCOURAGE YOU, TO DO THAT IS JUST GOOD BUSINESS. AND OTHER CITIES WHERE THEY HAD NO PROGRAM AND THE WORLD CUP COMING, THEY FIGURED OUT HOW TO MAKE SURE THAT WAS SPREAD AS EQUITABLY AS POSSIBLE BUT I ALSO WANT TO STRESS THAT THE AUTHORITY IS ALSO CITY AND COUNTY AND WE SHOULD ASK OUR FRIENDS AT THE CITY AS WELL WHETHER OR NOT THEY WOULD BE WILLING BECAUSE THERE'S A LIMITED AMOUNT OF MONEY TO WANT TO RUN OUT. WE'VE HAD A TREMENDOUS IMPACT ON THE COUNTY AS A RESULT OF WHAT WE DID. METRO DID A DISPARITY STUDY, THEY HAVE NOT IMPLEMENTED THE RECOMMENDATIONS YET, THEY HAVE NOT IMPLEMENTED THEM FROM THEIR OWN CONSULTED. HARRIS HEALTH. I KNOW THEY CRINGE EVERY TIME I MENTION A NUMBER BUT IT WAS RATHER UNCOMMON IN AN URBAN AREA TO HAVE ZERO PARTICIPATION FROM AFRICAN-AMERICANS SPENDING THAT MUCH MONEY BUT THEY ARE MAKING TREMENDOUS PROGRESS. THEY NOTED THAT THEY DO IT. THE COUNTY HAS FOLLOWED US AND THAT IS COMING OUT. A FRIEND OUT THERE WAS A LITTLE EMBARRASSED CATEGORIES, AFRICAN-AMERICANS, IT WAS .8%, THIS FRONT FELT BAD

[01:50:02]

THE MID-90S. >> WHAT WE ARE DOING IS NOT EXPANDING THE MONIES. YOU'RE JUST OPENING UP THE

ELIGIBILITY. >> ON THE SPORTS AUTHORITY ISSUE, WHEN I WAS RUNNING DEL, WE HAD CONVERSATIONS WITH ONE OF THE SPORTS AUTHORITIES CONSULTANTS THAT THEY HAD HELPING THEM ACQUIRE CONTRACTS FOR THE VENDORS FOR FOOD AND CONCESSIONS SO THEY WERE VERY OPEN THEN. I'M SURE DIRECTOR GONZALES WILL BE ABLE TO TAKE THOSE CONVERSATIONS AND GET US

MOVING FORWARD ON THAT. >> COMMISSIONER BRIONES WOULD YOU LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION ON THIS ITEM?

>> I WOULD MOVE ITEM 6 AS PRESENTED.

>> SECOND. >> SECOND. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR VOTE AYE. AYE HAS A 4-0. PAGE TWO ITEM 7, COMMISSIONER RENZI, THAT IS THE ONE YOU PULLED.

>> AGAIN IT IS -- WHAT ITEM? WE ARE PURSUING 409,000 $50 TO ADD TO THE ADMINISTRATION OF THIS PROGRAM. IS THAT AN

ACCURATE REPRESENTATION? >> YES COMMISSIONER RAMSEY.

THAT COMMISSIONER'S LABOR DOLLARS TO FUND A PROGRAM MANAGER FOR THREE OF THE PROGRAMS UNDER THE EARLY CHILDHOOD INITIATIVES PORTFOLIO.

>> WE HAVE COMMITTED AND MANAGER POSITIONS 118,000 THIS

IS IN ADDITION TO THAT? >> THIS OUR NEW PROGRAMS WHICH IS FUEL WITHIN THE HARRIS CENTER, NEW PROGRAMS COMING ONLINE SO WE NEED ADDITIONAL PROGRAM MANAGERS FOR THOSE.

>> THERE IS PROBABLY A MORE URGENT NEED IN THE COUNTY THAN

ADMINISTRATIVE POSITIONS. >> HOW MUCH TO BE DEDICATED FOR

CHILDCARE GREAT 100 203 >> IT'S ABOUT 178, 170

MILLION. >> I KNOW WE WANT TO MAKE SURE WE ADMINISTER PROPERLY. THIS DISCUSSION IS THEIR ELECTION? COMMISSIONER GARCIA MOVES AND WE APPROVE ITEM 7. ALL IN FAVOR VOTE AYE. ALL OPPOSED DRONE NO. NEXT ONE IS ITEM 8. HE WILL

GET AN OPPORTUNITY. >> SAME TYPE OF QUESTION.

APPARENTLY WE ARE MOVING THIS TO THE DEL AND THE HARRIS COUNTY EDUCATION DEPARTMENT, IT WOULD APPEAR TO ME HARRIS COUNTY EDUCATION WOULD BE THE PERFECT SPOT FOR THIS PROGRAM, NOT IN DEL. CAN YOU EXPLAIN WHY WE ARE MOVING OUT OF THE

EDUCATION DEPARTMENT? >> YES THIS IS A PART OF THE RESTRUCTURE, IT HAPPENED LATE LAST YEAR SO THIS IS JUST CHANGING THE NAME AND ONE OF THE CONTRACT SO WE CAN CONTINUE

THE SERVICES. >> IS NOT CHANGING IT OUT OF DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION, IT'S CHANGING AND DEL WILL HAVE A CONTRACT FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION. IT STAYS THE SAME.

IT IS THE INTERNAL PART WITH THE REORGANIZATION.

>> WHY COULDN'T THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT HANDLE IT?

>> I DON'T KNOW THAT PART. >> HARRIS COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION IS A SEPARATE ENTITY SO WE WOULD HAVE TO HAVE A TOTALLY DIFFERENT STYLE OF DEGREE.

>> WE WOULD HAVE TO TRUST THEM TOO --

>> YOU COULD CHARACTERIZE IT THAT WAY. YES COMMISSIONER.

>> TO BE CLEAR THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION IS PROVIDING THE SERVICES IN COLLABORATION WITH THE NONPROFIT IT'S JUST THE VEHICLE FOR THE HARRIS COUNTY MONEY TO GO FROM ONE OF OUR

[01:55:01]

OKAY. >> THEY'RE STILL DOING IT IS JUST WHERE THE AGENT IS IN THIS PROCESS. WE ARE HIRING PEOPLE

TO MANAGE IT. >> NOTHING NEW. THIS IS ACTUALLY JUST A NAME CHANGE ON THE CONTRACT.

>> ALL THOSE IN FAVOR VOTE AYE. ALL THOSE OPPOSED VOTE

NO. >> THREE YES AND ONE NO, ITEM PASSES. NEXT ONE IS ITEM 10, COMMISSIONER RENZI, YOU PULLED THAT ONE. COMMISSIONER GARCIA MOVES IT,

>> SECOND. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR VOTE AYE.

>> ALL THOSE OPPOSED VOTE NO. NEXT IS ITEM 13 MR. RAMSEY

PULLED THAT ONE. >> THIS IS THE COVID TESTING AND IS THIS A CONTINUATION, IS THIS A NEW PROGRAM, IS THIS BUILDING OFF OF SOMETHING WE ARE ALREADY DOING?

>> GOOD AFTERNOON COMMISSIONERS BARBARA ROBINSON DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC HEALTH THIS IS OUR CONTINGENCY PLANNING IN THE EVENT WE HAVE A SURGE IN COVID OR IF THERE IS A DECLARATION OF ANOTHER EMERGENCY. LESSONS LEARNED FROM OUR PREVIOUS RESPONSES THAT WE NEED TO BE PREPARED AND STAY READY. THIS IS JUST A PLACEHOLDER THAT IN THE EVENT THAT WE NEED TO DEPLOY ADDITIONAL TESTING ET CETERA WE ARE READY TO DO THAT, WE ALREADY HAVE A NTCORACT ON THE BOOKS. IT'S COA NTINUATION

OF JUST AYSTING READY. >> CTDIREOR NSROBION ONE OF MY KEY FESTAFRS HAD IT HE SAID I THOUGHT I ITHAD , D I DINOT WANT TO SPREAD IT UNTIL I COULDA KE IT HOME NDTEST A I DIDN'THA

E IT. >> THE BIGGEST M PROBLEI HAVE

EEN FIS THELU. >> HE SAID IT COULD BE

ALLERGIES. IS TITHAT EMOON? >> COMMISSION GARCIA MOVES IT EM. NE COMMISSIOR BRIONES SECOND, ALL AVTHOSE IN FOR AYVOE E. ALL THOSE OPPOSED VOTE NO.E ONE NO. , COMMISSIONER NERAMSEY, THE XT Y ONE U PULLED IS

BOUGHT. >> 14, SECONDED, ALL THOSE IN FAVOR VOTE I? OPPOSED VOTE NO. THE ITEM RAMSEY, OMMISSIONER ITEM 15 IS WHEN YOU PULLED AS

WELL. A >> MOVEDBOUT.

>> SECONDED. HO >> ALL TSE IN FAVOR VOTE AYE. THE ITEM PASSES. NEXT IS ITEM 16 Y,COMMISSIONER RAMSE

YOU PULLED THAT ONE. HE >> THIS IS T JAIL STAFF AND

CONDITIONS. >> WE HAVE A PRESENTATION AND WE WILL HAVE THREE E PRESENTERS WWILL BE AS EFFICIENT AS POSSIBLE WITH THE TIME. WE WILL HAVE TONYA MILLS WHO RECENTLY JOINED THE OFFICE OF COUNTY ADMINISTRATION, ABLE TO VISTEAL HER FROM TRAS COUNTY AND WE WILL HAVE THE CHIEF FROM HCS O AND THEN MICHAEL HILL HEONLINE FROM HARRIS ALTH. TONYA?

>> THANK YOU. GOOD AFTERNOON COMMISSIONERS MY NAME IS TONYAO MILLS MANAGING DIRECR WITH OCA WITH A FOCUS ON JUSTICE AND JAIL ISSUES. I WILL BE PROVIDING PART L OF THE UPDATE, WE WILBE SHARING WITH HARRIS HEALTH AND THE XTSHERIFF'S OFFICE. NE SLIDE PLEASE. NEXT SLIDE. SO THIS SLIDE OUTLINES A FEW STANDARD CAVEATS WE WOULD LIKE TO HIGHLIGHT, WE HAVE BEEN WORKING CLOSELY WITH THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE AND WE WILL BE BRINGING AN INFO GRAPHIC WITH OUTLINES IN SOME KEY INDICATORS AND METRICS. SINCE THE DECEMBER UPDATE, I JOINED IN JANUARY. ALSO DR. JOHANSEN JOINED US IN MID FEBRUARY AS THE NEW DIRECTOR OF RAD, SHE HAS HIT THE GROUND RUNNING. WE WORK CLOSELY WITH JAIL STAFF AND COMMAND STAFF ON A VARIETY OF THINGS FROM JAIL POPULATION TO LIATTENTION STAFFING AND WE WILL OUTNE SOME OF THOSE IN GREATER DETAIL LATER IN THIS.

NEXT DISCUSSING THE JAIL RADIO PROJECT. CHIEFS ARE YOU ON? P2

YES I AM HERE. >> NEXT SLIDE PLEASE.

>> THE RADIO PROJECT IS ON TRACK TO COMPLETE AS SCHEDULED.

WE HAVE BEEN WORKING WITH THE U.S. WITH THIS AS WELL AS MOTOROLA. THE PHASES ARE ON TIME. THE RADIOS ARE EXPECTED

[02:00:01]

THIS YEAR. TONYA? >> THANK YOU CHIEF. WE HAVE MICHAEL HILL. MICHAEL, ARE YOU AVAILABLE?

>> YES, THANK YOU TONYA AND COMMISSIONERS FOR THE UPDATE, MY NAME IS MICHAEL HILL, I HAVE WITH ME OR CHIEF MEDICAL OFFICER AS WELL TO ASSIST ME. NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE. JUST FOR POINT OF REFERENCE, TRANSITION AND HEALTHCARE SERVICES IN MARCH OF 2022 AND WE HAVE SPENT THE FIRST TWO YEARS ICBUILDING THE FOUNDATION FOR THE MEDICAL SERVE DELIVERY PLATFORM IN THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE BASED ON JUST A FEW STRATEGIES. ONE IS TO IMPROVE OUR ACCESS TO CARE TO ENSURE TIMELY CARE AND ELIMINATING BACKLOGS TO IMPROVE SAFETY QUALITY WITHIN THE JAIL, TO MINIMIZE ESCORT DEPENDENCY AS WELL AS PATIENT MOVEMENT ALL CULMINATING INTO WHAT WE BELIEVE IS THE OFFICE. A FEW THINGS WE WILL JUST TOUCH ON AND I WOULD LIKE TO POINT YOUR ATTENTION TO JULY OF 2023 WHICH IS WHEN WE IMPLEMENTED OUR SYSTEM, SAYING JUST A FEW WORDS ON WHAT THAT MEANS TO US BOTH CLINICALLY AND FROM AN EFFICIENCY PERSPECTIVE?

>> THE PARADA PACKAGER IS A MACHINE WHICH ALLOWS OUR MEDICATION PRESCRIPTIONS AND VERIFIED BY PHARMACY TO GO INTO A MACHINE THAT AUTOMATICALLY PACKAGES AND DISPENSES THOSE MEDICATIONS IN A PACKAGE. THIS ALLOWS NURSING TO HAVE A MORE TIMELY OR EFFICIENT PROCESS AS IT RELATES TO DISPENSING MEDICATIONS TO PATIENTS. IN ADDITION IT ALSO INCREASED OUR PATIENT SAFETY AS IT RELATES TO PROVIDING PATIENTS WITH THE APPROPRIATE MEDICATIONS THEY NEED.

>> THANK YOU. IN AUGUST OF 2023 WE WERE NOTIFIED BY THE TEXAS COMMISSION OF JAIL STANDARDS OF THE TWO DEFICIENCIES IDENTIFIED FOR THE MEDICAL DIVISION WERE IN FACT REMOVED AND AS OF TODAY WE HAVE NO MEDICAL DEFICIENCIES WITH RESPECT TO THE TEXAS JAIL COMMISSION. WE SUBMITTED A TRACKING'S CENTER AND I KNOW CHIEF CAN COME UNDER THIS AS WELL. THIS IS SOMETHING YOU WOULD SEE AND IN EMERGENCY ROOM WHERE WE CAN TELL WHERE EVERY PATIENT IS IN THE JOINT PROCESSING CENTER AND WHERE THEY ARE AT IN THE PROCESS AND WHAT TIMELINES THEY ARE BUMPING UP AGAINST WITH RESPECT TO STANDARDS AND HOW THE HOURS THEY CAN SPEND IN THE JOINT PROCESSING CENTER. AS A RESULT WE HAVE NOT HAD ANYONE GO BEYOND THE 48 HOURS SINCE I BELIEVE NOVEMBER, CHIEF,

ADVANCED THREATS. >> I WOULD ADD TO THAT THE JAIL HAS REMOVED THAT DEFICIENCY AS OF A COUPLE WEEKS

AGO AS WELL. >> REPLACED THE CTH SCAN AT THE JAIL AND THAT ALLOWS US TO PERFORM THE SCHEDULED CTS ON SITE AND ALSO ALLOWS THE ESCORTS THAT WOULD OTHERWISE BE GOING OUT TO THE HOSPITALS TO STAY WITHIN THE FACILITY TO USE THOSE DETENTION OFFICERS AND OTHER AREAS TO MOVE PATIENTS THROUGHOUT THE SYSTEM. AND AS CHIEF MENTIONED IN JANUARY OF 2024, WITH THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE ON THE INTAKE PROCESS, THAT DEFICIENCY HAS BEEN REMOVED. NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE.

OUR FOCUS PRIORITIES REMAIN THE SAME, OUR NUMBER ONE FOCUS PRIORITY IS STAFFING, CURRENTLY OPERATING AT 522 PRODUCTIVE FTES. CONTRACT LABOR NOW REPRESENTS 26% OF OUR LABOR POOL. I WILL END THE PRESENTATION AFTER THE DOCTOR TALKS ABOUT A FEW OF THE QUALITY METRICS WITH THE INITIATIVES WE PUT IN PLACE AND ARE GOING TO PUT IN PLACE THROUGHOUT THE NEXT 4 TO 6 WEEKS THAT WILL MINIMIZE THE RUN RATE WITH RESPECT TO CONTRACT LABOR AND BUDGET MUCH

MORE THAN WHAT WE HAVE. >> CAN HE BE AUDIO OR DOES HE HAVE TO SHOW FACE? UNLESS YOU'RE IN THE EMERGENCY ROOM.

YOU HAVE TO SHOW YOUR FACE. >> IF YOU'RE THERE.

>> THERE HE IS. >> WHAT A HANDSOME FELLOW.

>> CONTINUED TO STAY ON TOP OF OUR SICK REQUESTS, WE RECEIVE OVER 400 TODAY, AS WELL TREES ARE TRIAGED WITHIN 24 HOURS OF RECEIPT. EDUCATION ADMINISTRATION CONTINUES TO RUN SMOOTHLY, BOTH MEDICATION PASSES WHICH ARE OVER 400,000 MEDICATIONS MONTHLY AS WELL AS THE COUPON PERSON MEDICATIONS OF 6000 PER MONTH. WE ALSO PROVIDE MEDICATION ADMINISTRATION SERVICES TO THE WOMEN'S EMPOWERMENT CENTER AS WELL. THE INTAKE PROCESS IS VERY SMOOTH. WE'VE HAD NO

[02:05:01]

>> MANY OF OUR FIRST DOSE MEDICATIONS ARE BEING DISTRIBUTED TO PATIENTS WITHIN 72 HOURS, THE MAJORITY OR WITHIN 24 HOURS. IN MANY JURISDICTIONS AS IT RELATES TO JAILS, THOSE PATIENTS DON'T SEE A PROVIDER UNTIL 40 TO 72 HOURS, IT USUALLY TAKES THEM ABOUT 45 DAYS BEFORE THEY ARE GETTING THEIR FIRST DOSE OF MEDICATION. THIS IS A BIG WIN FOR THE PATIENT TO COME INTO THE FACILITY.

>> THANK YOU. NEXT SLIDE PLEASE? A COUPLE OF THINGS WE ARE WORKING ON, WILL BEGIN WORKING WITH OUR COMMUNITY PARTNERS, INCLUDING OUR FRIENDS AT HEALTH TO OFFER ASSISTANCE IN REENTRY PROGRAMS, REENTRY CLINICS AS PEOPLE BEGIN TO GO BACK INTO THEIR COMMUNITIES. WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THE HEALTH CARE THEY RECEIVE IS NOT A BARRIER AS THEY ENTER THE COMMUNITY AND YOU CAN SEE THE FOLKS WE'VE STARTED TO TALK WITH WITH RESPECT TO DEVELOPING THOSE TYPE OF CLINICS WE WILL EXPAND THE CARE AND SPECIALTY SERVICES AND WE HOPE TO CONTEST CONDUCT OUR FIRST MAMMOGRAMS IN THE MONTH OF MAY FOR THOSE FEMALES WHO ARE DUE THEIR ANNUAL MAMMOGRAPHY. OKAY DR.

HIGGINS. >> SAID THANK YOU. I'M FOCUSED ON A COUPLE HEAT THINGS HERE. OUR INITIAL HEALTH ASSESSMENTS, THOSE HEALTH ASSESSMENTS OR WHEN THE PATIENT COMES INTO THE FACILITY ENSURING THOSE ARE PERFORMED WITHIN THE FIRST 48 HOURS, WHAT WAS SPOKEN ABOUT EARLIER REGARDING OUR COMPLIANCE WITH TEXAS COMMISSION ON JAIL STANDARDS. ON A MONTHLY BASIS WE SEE WHEN THEY AVERAGE MORE THAN 4000 PATIENTS COMING TO THE FACILITY, ALL OF THOSE PATIENTS ARE SCREENED FOR TV. AS YOU CAN SEE HE THE PERCENTAGE REFERRED TO MEDICAL AND MENTAL HEALTH PROVIDERS, AND OVERLAP OF THOSE INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE REFERRED TO BOTH MEDICAL AND MENTAL HEALTH. A LITTLE FURTHER DOWN YOU WILL SEE AS IT RELATES TO CHRONIC CARE WE INCREASE THE AMOUNT OF VISITS AS WE MOVE PROVIDERS TO THE FLOORS TO SEE PATIENTS.

THIS MEANS THAT PATIENTS ARE WAITING LESS TIME TO SEE CHRONIC CARE PROVIDERS. IN ADDITION THEY ARE BEING CARED FOR AND WE ARE ACTUALLY ABLE TO SEE THE PATIENT FOR FREQUENTLY. FINALLY SOME QUALITY METRICS WE ARE LOOKING TO AS A FUTURE STATE, PROVIDER PRODUCTIVITY REPORTS AS WELL AS CHRONIC CARE OUTCOMES. SO THAT IS WHAT WE ARE FOCUSING ON CURRENTLY WITH OUR ELECTRONIC MEDICAL RECORD AND OR QUALITY.

ON WITH RESPECT TO STAFFING AND IMPACT CONTRACT LABOR HAS HAD, THAT IS THE REASON WE HAVE THE BUDGET VARIANCE WE HAVE RIGHT NOW. WE LISTED 10 DIFFERENT INITIATIVES WE RATHER PUT IN PLACE ALREADY, PLAN TO PUT IN FACE PLACE EFFECTIVE MARCH 1ST. YOU CAN READ THOSE. WE'VE IMPLEMENTED A STRATEGIC HIRING FREEZE. IF WE CAN HIRE A HARRIS HEALTH EMPLOYMENT, TRUTH IS, IT WILL DO THAT OTHER THAN THAT HE WILL NOT ADD TO WHAT WE CURRENTLY HAVE. WE ARE MODIFYING SCHEDULES TO EXTEND COVERAGE AND IMPLEMENT IN AN OVERTIME STRATEGY IS A SUPPLEMENTAL POSITIONS TO REDUCE CONTRACT LABOR, WORKED WITH CONTRACT NURSING FOLKS TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE NOT PAYING ANY TYPE OF OVERTIME TO CONTRACT NURSING, WE HAVE MINIMIZED THEIR SCHEDULES, IMPLEMENTED A HOLD TO BE IMPLANTED FOR THE REST OF THE FISCAL YEAR. THIS DOES NOT IMPACT PATIENT CARE. WE WILL BE STABILIZING THE ENVIRONMENT AND WORKING WITH WE HAVE AND IN FUTURE BUDGET YEARS WE WILL LOOK AT ADDITIONAL MODALITIES. WORKING WITH OUR MEDICAL SCHOOL PARTNERS TO SEE IF THEY CAN HELP US WITH THE SERVICE SERVICE WE CURRENTLY OUTSOURCE AGENCIES AND REDUCE OUR CONTRACT LABOR AND ANCILLARY AREAS, WE WILL ALSO DEVELOP WEEKLY MANAGEMENT TOOLS FOR EACH ONE OF THESE INITIATIVES SO YOU CAN REPORT ON OUR PROGRESS ON HOW EACH ONE OF THESE IS IMPACTING THE BUDGET. IN ADDITION, THE SHERIFF WILL

[02:10:02]

PRESENTATION, THANK YOU. >> ANY QUESTIONS?

>> IS THERE ANY ACTION IN THIS ITEM? YES SIR?

>> JUST HAD A COUPLE QUESTIONS . PIVOTING OFF THE LAST POINT HE WAS MAKING, WHEN HE SAYS THERE'S BEEN AN IMPACT TO THE BUDGET, IT IS OVERBUDGET, THAT'S WHAT I HEARD, DOES THAT IMPACT THE HOSPITAL DISTRICT BUDGET OR HARRIS COUNTY BUDGET? WORKING WITH THE SHERIFF AND MR. RAMOS SO WE CAN COME UP AND FIGURE THAT OUT BUT WE ARE STILL IN THE EARLY STAGES OF THAT AND THAT'S WHY THEY ARE REPORTING ON WHAT WE'RE DOING MOVING FORWARD BUT WE HOPE TO HAVE SOME INFORMATION FOR YOU

ALL AT A LATER DATE. >> THIS CONTRACT WORKS SLIGHTLY DIFFERENTLY THAN MOST OF OUR OTHER CONTRACTS, WE GIVE THEM EVEN THE QUARTER DISTRIBUTIONS AND RECONCILIATIONS. SO FISCAL YEAR 23 IS IMPACTING US IN FISCAL YEAR 24. FISCAL YEAR 24 BUDGET WILL IMPACT US IN FISCAL YEAR

25. >> THERE'S A BIKER FACILITY, FOR JUNE 20 POINT ONE. 21 MILLION RECEIVED FOR JAIL IMPROVEMENTS. WHAT IS THE STATUS OF THAT?

>> I WOULD REFER TO THE SHERIFF OR COUNTY ENGINEER ON

THAT. >> THAT MAY BE SOMETHING YOU CAN'T ANSWER TODAY BUT IT WOULD BE NICE TO KNOW, IS THIS IS A REPORT THAT IT WOULD BE NICE TO KNOW, IN JUNE OF 2021, THERE WERE 350 MILLION IDENTIFIED I THINK BY THE SHERIFF, ON CERTAIN MAINTENANCE ITEMS OF THE JAIL. DO YOU KNOW

THE STATUS OF THAT? >> I WOULD REFER TO THE

DIRECTOR IF HE IS ON. >> I THINK IN GENERAL A LOT OF THE THINGS WE HAVE TO DEAL WITH DEFERRED MAINTENANCE IS A CHRONIC PROBLEM IN A LOT OF OUR FACILITIES BUT IT IS NEVER MORE EVIDENT I THINK IN THE JAIL AND WSPEAK TO THE PROBLEMS OF THE TRAIL WHETHER IT BE DEATH RELATED OR OTHER.

CLEARLY WE ARE ALMOST IN COMPLIANCE, WE ARE NOT QUITE

THERE YET, IS THAT RIGHT? >> CORRECT.

>> WE HAVE NOT ADDED THE JAIL CAPACITY SINCE 2003.

POPULATION HAS GROWN BY ONE .3 MILLION. NOT EVEN TO MENTION THE CRIME ISSUES. AT EVEN TO MENTION WHAT A WRITTEN PAPER TO IN TERMS OF 265,000 CASES THAT ARE HAVING TO BE -- MAY OR MAY NOT HAVE AN IMPACT. MY MOTION WOULD BE FOR THE SHERIFF, IN SUPPORT OF THE SHERIFF TO MEET WITH US ON MARCH 26 TO PROVIDE AN UPDATE OF HIS PLAN TO DEAL WITH THESE ISSUES. WE'VE GOT A LOT OF NUMBERS HERE FROM A COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR STANDPOINT YOU'RE ASKING THE RIGHT QUESTIONS TO GO THROUGH. IT WOULD BE GOOD TO HEAR FROM THE SHERIFF IN TERMS OF IS THIS THE DIRECTION THAT HE WOULD LIKE FOR IT TO GO D ANPARTICULARLY MAYBE ANSWER E TH$320 LLMIION THAT OTWE G, INI THK IDENTIFIED UNIN JE OF 2021 AND WHAT WEARE DOING WITH THAT? HAT PIS THELAN ATFOR TH? IT ERTAINLY LIKE A REACTIONARY POSITION NOW. WE ARE TRYING DEAL WITH THE C CHRONIHEALTH ISSUES WITH PRGOD AND OGRESS IS BEING MADE BUT I STILL HEARD -- I HAVEN'T HEARD A PLAN TO WIDEAL TH THE BASIC DEFERRED MAINTENANCE HIISSUES WITN THE JAIL GOING E'FORWARD. 'VE GOT CONSULTANTS S AND REPORTBUT THIS HAS BEEN, INI'M GOING TO MY FOURTH YEAR ON COURT. I ET HAVE Y TO SEE A PLAN TO DEAL

WITH THE ISSUES >> RKWE'VE BEEN WOING VERY CLOSELY 'WITH THE SHERIF'S OFFICE ON THIS. WITH CHMY LAST ECK WITH DR. ROMANO HE TALKED HETO ME ABOUT HOW G WAS GOINTHROUGH AND GOING TO BE E BRIEFING MON THE PLANS FOR NA THE MAINTENCE THAT YOU ARE T. TALKING ABOU I KNOW IT IS ON

[02:15:02]

OCCURRING. >> IF THEY HAVE A RATIO IN STH JAIL IS THAT THEHERIFF'S RESPONSIBILITY TO FIND SOMEONE TO FIX IT OR DOES HE CALL THE COUNTY ENGINEER

>> THEY WERE TOGETHER. >> HE HAS CERTAIN --I GUESS YOU WOULD KNOW.

>> IT'S A MONEY THING. >> MOST OF THE ISSUES LIKE THAT, THE BIG TICKET ITEMS, WE TOOK CARE OF IT. LAST YEAR WE HAD, I'M NOT SURE, THE ISSUE IN THE JAIL. WE HAVE IDENTIFIED THE SIGNIFICANT NUMBER OF PROJECTS, THE DRAFT THAT IS CURRENTLY UNDER REVIEW AND WE WILL BE PRESENTING IT. I'M GOING TO BE PRESENTING IT NEXT MONTH COMMISSIONER.

CATEGORIZING IN TERMS OF MAINTENANCE. IT'S ABOUT 320

SOMETHING MILLION DOLLARS. >> I'M GLAD YOU AND BART ARE INVOLVED. THAT WAS MY BIG QUESTION AND I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO THAT REPORT IN MARCH.

>> YOU GO FIRST PLEASE. >> THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR YOUR REPORT. MY CONCERN IS, LOOK, WE HAVE FULL BUILDINGS THAT ARE NOW GETTING CLOSE TO END HIS LIFE SO WE ARE GOING TO HAVE THESE MAINTENANCE ISSUES COMING UP MUCH MORE FREQUENTLY THAN WE HAVE EVER HAD TO DO BEFORE. THE MAINTENANCE ISSUE IS ONLY GOING TO GET WORSE BEFORE IT GETS BETTER IN SPITE OF ANYTHING ELSE. THE ONE DRIVER THAT WE DO HAVE IS THE POPULATION. I'VE NOT HEARD A CONVERSATION ABOUT A VERY STUBBORN OVERCROWDING CONDITION. I HAVE NOT HURT A DISCUSSION ABOUT A VERY STUBBORN INCREASING PRETRIAL STATUS RATE AND I'VE NOT HEARD A CONVERSATION ABOUT 632 STATE JAIL READY INMATES THAT ARE IN OUR COUNTY JAIL. SO WHILE WE STRUGGLE THE DOLLARS AND WHAT MAINTENANCE IS GOING TO BE IT IS OUR JAIL POPULATION THAT THE SHERIFF HAS ZERO CONTROL OVER.

I WOULD ENCOURAGE SOME ATTENTION TO HOW DO WE IMPACT THE JAIL POPULATION? PRETRIAL IN MY DAY WAS IN THE MID-70S I THINK AND IT HAS GOTTEN WORSE SINCE THEN. I AM NOT SURE -- WE HAVE ACTUALLY HAD ZERO CONVERSATION ABOUT THAT THAT I CAN REMEMBER. SO I WOULD WANT TO SPEND SOME TIME LOOKING AT THE WORLD PROCESS OF WHAT IS CAUSING THE JAIL POPULATION THAT WE HAVE YET TO IDENTIFY. THE MAINTENANCE PROBLEM WILL GET A LITTLE BIT BETTER IF WE DIDN'T HAVE THE POPULATION

PROBABLY DIDN'T HAVE TODAY. >> COMMISSIONER GARCIA THAT POINT IT IS A GREAT SEGUE AND WE WILL GET TO YOUR QUESTIONS AS WELL. THERE IS MORE IN THE PRESENTATION OF CLICK FACTS ON PRETRIAL THAT TONYA HAS BEEN WORKING ON. WE WILL GET TO THAT IN A SECOND. WHAT YOU SAY IS ABSOLUTELY CORRECT AND ONE OF THE THINGS IS THAT THE JAIL IS REALLY EASY TO GET FOCUSED ON BECAUSE OF THE OVERPOPULATION, BECAUSE WE HAVE AN OUTSIDE ACCOUNTABILITY MODEL WITH THE COMMISSION ON JAIL STANDARDS THAT THE REST OF THE SYSTEM DOESN'T. IT'S A WHOLE SYSTEM AND WE CAN'T TREAT THE JAIL AS A SILO, ONE THING TO GET THE PEOPLE COMING IN AND GOING THEY DON'T HAVE THE AUTHORITY OF THE TO HOLD THEM AS SAFELY AS POSSIBLE WITHIN THE JAIL.

THAT'S THE KIND OF MOVEMENT YOU NEED TO START MAKING AS WE START DIGGING INTO THE NUMBERS ON WAS IN JAIL, HOW LONG, BLACK

[02:20:09]

YOU AND GIVE THE FACT THAT OUR JAIL POPULATION -- THAT THE JAIL POPULATION . A HIGHER RISK OF ELATION THAN WE HAVE HAD BEFORE. IN THOSE 630 SOME ODD STATES, WHY CAN'T WE THINK OF OURSELVES TO AUSTIN WHEN THEY ARE READY WE JUST DO THAT?

>> THAT'S THE BIG QUESTION. I DON'T KNOW IF THE CHIEF WANTS

TO EXIST >> I WOULD LIKE THE COUNTY ATTORNEY TO WEIGH ON IT. WE ARE LEADING TO THE 45TH DAY AND GET THAT INSTALLATION IS COSTING US A LOT OF MONEY JUST BECAUSE OF THE SECURITY MEASURES AROUND IT, EVERYTHING ELSE THAT GOES WITH IT. THEY ARE TECHNICALLY ON DAY ONE, NOT OUR PROBLEM IS THAT WE GIVE THEM A COURTESY FOR 45 DAYS. WHY CAN'T WE JUST

TAKE THEM? >> I THINK THERE IS A STATUTE THAT THEY HAVE 45 DAYS TO PICK THEM UP FROM US.

>> I KNOW THEY HAVE 45 DAYS, BUT I AM SAYING IS THEY ARE

READY MY CAN WE DROP THEM OFF? >> I DON'T KNOW IF ANYBODY'S EVER DONE THAT. WE HAVE TO CHECK AND SEE.

>> COMMISSIONER GARCIA. I MAY HAVE AN ANSWER TO THAT. WE'VE TALKED TO TDC ABOUT THE TARGETED POPULATION. IT'S NOT FOR LACK OF US TRANSPORTING, THEY ONLY RECEIVE ON AVERAGE STATEWIDE, TAKING IN ABOUT 800 PRISONERS ACROSS THE STATE EVERY WEEK. SO THAT'S WHAT THE RESTRICTION IS, THEY DON'T HAVE ENOUGH PRISONS OPEN SO THEY LEAVE THEM IN THE COUNTY

JAILS LONGER. >> LET THEM OUTSOURCE

>> I AGREE WITH YOU AND WE ARE HAVING CONVERSATIONS WITH PAROLE BOARD BECAUSE MORE THAN THE PAPER READY INMATES WE ON AVERAGE HAVE ABOUT 450 PERSONS LOCKED UP UNDER TECHNICAL VIOLATIONS, NOT A NEW CRIME, TECHNICAL VIOLATION ONLY IN THE AVERAGE LINK TO STAY ON THOSE IS ABOUT 120 DAYS. FOR ME, THAT'S A HIGHER PRIORITY THAN PAROLE BECAUSE WHEN THEY ARE FINALLY PROCESSED THEY ARE NOT TAKING BACK TO THE STATE FACILITY THEY RELEASE THEM FROM THE COUNTY JAIL. THEY KEEP HUNDREDS OF INMATES WITH NO NEW CHARGE AND TO VIOLATION ONLY.

PATIENT WILL WHO WE COULD DO CLAIMANT WHO ARE OUR RESPONSE ABILITY. SO IN A TIMELY MANNER AND THE STATE DIGS US?

>> I THINK WE NEED TO MOVE THE CONVERSATION UP FROM -- NO INSULT, ONE ADMINISTRATOR TO ANOTHER ADMINISTRATOR IT MAY NEED TO BE A COMMISSIONER TO SOME LEGISLATIVE OFFICIALS.

BECAUSE THERE IS NOTHING MORE OF A CHRONIC PROBLEM THAN WHAT'S HAPPENING IN HARRIS COUNTY JAIL. FOR THEM TO TREAT US LIKE LOVING COUNTY WITH 50 PEOPLE AND IS JUST NOT RIGHT.

>> YES THAT'S THE KEY. >> I'M WITH YOU.

>> THANK YOU. >> COMMISSIONER BROWN?

>> I WILL WAIT UNTIL WE HEAR THE REST OF THE PRESENTATION BECAUSE IT WILL TAKE TO SOME OF MY QUESTIONS.

>> THANK YOU . SO THERE WE GO. SO WHAT WE ARE WORKING ON NOW, WHAT WE ARE REFERRING TO IS INFOGRAPHICS, BRINGING YOU DATA THAT ALSO TELLS A STORY AND NOT YOU HAVING TO DECIDE OR FIGURE OUT WHAT THE DATA IS. YOU WILL TRY TO BRING YOU SOMETHING INFOGRAPHICS ON A REGULAR BASIS AND ADD TO THEM AS WE UNDERSTAND METRICS THAT ARE IMPORTING TO YOU THAT WE SHOULD BE ADDING TO THESE. THE FIRST PAGE OF THE INFOGRAPHICS IS LOOKING AT A FEW QUICK FACTS REGARDING THE JAIL POPULATION.

ALL THE DATA DISCUSSED IS A SNAPSHOT DATA, A POINT IN TIME COUNT. IT'S FROM 2/19/24. 1430 31 BEDS OUTSOURCED, AN INCREASE OF 117 FROM THE DECEMBER REPORT TO

[02:25:01]

THIS PAGE OF THE GRAPHIC I WILL SLOW DOWN AS I GO THROUGH AND FEEL FREE TO STEP IN AT ANY POINT WITH QUESTIONS YOU MIGHT HAVE. WE ARE LOOKING AT THE SAME SNAPSHOT DATA FROM 9211 INMATES THAT WE ARE FOCUSING ON COVERTS DRIVING THE CONSUMPTION OR JAIL POPULATION. ALL OF THE PEOPLE IN CUSTODY WERE CATEGORIZED INTO OFFENSIVE CATEGORIES BASED ON THEIR HIGHEST CHARGE. THE TABLE TOWARD THE TOP LEFT BY TODD TO CHARGE CATEGORIES WE ARE SHOWING YOU, NUMBER OF INMATES IN CUSTODY IN THOSE TALK TO CHARGE CATEGORIES. YOU HAVE VIOLENCE AND OTHER, 4345 INMATES IN CUSTODY THAT FELL IN THE VIOLENT OFFENSE CATEGORY, 47% OF THE POPULATION. CONSUMED THE JAIL DAVE EASY. AND JUST A WAY OF MEASURING VOLUME AND LENGTH OF HAVE THE SAME. TO SEE HOW CERTAIN YOU WILL HEAR THIS DAY IS AN OUTSIDE IMPACT. FOR REFERENCE ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE SHEET YOU SEE A FEW BULLET POINTS. WE HAVE SHOWN YOU THE TOP FIVE CHARGES IN EACH OF THOSE CHARTS IS FOR REFERENCE AND IF YOU WILL NOTE THE TOP, THE OTHER CATEGORY IS A REVISION TO REVOKE AND THAT IS WHAT THE CHIEF IS REFERRING TO. ALSO IMPORTANT TO NOTE ON THIS PAGE IS AS OF 2/19 THERE WERE 133 INMATES IN CUSTODY AFTER THE 9211. 233 INMATES IN CUSTODY WITH STATES GREATER THAN 1000 DAYS PER. 59 HAD STATES GREATER THAN 350 DAYS IN THE HIGH STAY WAS 1319.

>> PLEASE DIG IN AND TELL US WHY.

>> WE ARE AT A VERY HIGH LEVEL AT THIS POINT, WORKING WITH A DATA GOVERNANCE GROUP TO BE ABLE TO PUT TOGETHER MORE DATA.

THAT'S OUR INTENT, TO BRING YOU JUST DO THAT. WE WANT TO PAINT A PICTURE OF WHO THESE FOLKS ARE AND WHY THEY ARE HERE. WE WANT TO LOOK AT CAUSATION AND HOW WE ARE STACKING UP TO OTHER STATES AS WELL. ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS ON THIS PAGE? NEXT SLIDE PLEASE. THIS GRAPHIC IS LOOKING AT THE ADP. WE ARE COMPARING 2023-2024 TO DATE. THE JAIL POPULATION AS YOU ALL ARE PAINFULLY AWARE IS A PRODUCT OF AN ENTIRE ECOSYSTEM BUT ONE POSITIVE THING TO TAKE AWAY IS YOU WILL NOTE IN 2023 THERE WAS A 9.4% REDUCTION IN THE JAIL POPULATION THROUGHOUT THE YEAR. THAT IS MANY, MANY MOVING PARTS AND COLLABORATING EFFORTS FOR JUSTICE PARTNERS PULL TOGETHER TO TRY TO FIND A SUSTAINED DECREASE. STILL THE JAIL IS EXPERIENCING OVERCROWDING AND FULL OF LAUGHING SHORTAGES IN THE JAIL. NEXT SLIDE. OFFICER DETENTION STAFFING. HERE WE ARE LOOKING AT JUST DETENTION OFFICER STAFFING. IN 2023 THE VACANCY RATE AVERAGED ABOUT 11%, 373 SEPARATIONS IN 2023.

358 NEW HIRES FOR 15 DL NET LOSS IN 2023. THE TURN ON THE RIGHT IS ILLUSTRATING FIELD PHYSICIANS VERSUS VACANT POSITIONS IN 2023 AND AT THE END OF THE YOU WILL NOTICE THE TOTAL NUMBER OF POSITIONS DECLINED. THAT WAS A 57 PCN UNFUNDED PCN REDUCTION TO CLEAN THOSE UP INITIATED BY OMD. ALSO NOTEWORTHY ON THIS SLIDE IS THE BULLET POINT FOR! AT THE BOTTOM

[02:30:02]

SO WE ARE JUST BEGINNING TO THE RETENTION AND IMPACT OR POTENTIAL IMPACT OF THE SALARY INCREASES AND RETENTION INCENTIVES PUT IN PLACE LAST YEAR. BUT THIS INITIAL DATA IS CERTAINLY PROMISING ON THAT. NEXT SLIDE? CHIEF FAST GUYS, SORRY I WAS GEEKING OUT ON DATA I BELIEVE IT IS YOU NOW.

>> YES, THEY CLEARED THE PROCESSING FIDECIENCY , THEY CLEARED THATCIDEFIENCY AND THEY MAINTAINED TWO. STHEYAID WHEN WE IWEREN AUSTIN THEY FEEL ERWE WE VERY FCLOSE,ATAL ABLE TO PRESENT DATA SHOWING IN0 23 WE DELIVERED ON-TIME ROUNDS AT 99.4, 99.6%. THAN HALF A OFPERCENT F. THEY WANTED TO HACONTINUE TT. WE ASKED THTHEM WHAT EY WANTED TO SEE AND THEY SAID 100%. WE ARE WORKING ON . THOSE THINGS FACILITIES LOOKS GREAT WHEN WE WERE ON SITE Y MOST RECENTLAND AGAIN, WHAT ATHEY SAID INUSTIN AND TMOST RECENTLY,HEY SEE CONTINUOUS IMPROVEMENT AS WE MOVE JUFORWARD, THEY ST HAD SOME CONCERNS WITH STAFFING AT CERTAIN TIMES OF THE DAY. THEY SAID OUTSOURCING IS MAHELPING U KE VAST IMPROVEMENTS.EF

>> TONYA BORE YOU GO ON I ALSO WANT TO SAY WE WENT TO AUSTIN FOR THE JAIL STANDARDSE HEARING AND WE A RECOMMENDING THAT AS LONG AS WE ARE OUT OF COMPLIANCE THAT WE WILL INVITEO THE COMMISSIONERS ATTEND S WITH US. IT MAKEA BIG TH DIFFERENCE WITH E COMMISSION THAT WE HAVE THERE. I BELIEVE A COMMISSIONER GARCI NGATTENDING PAST MEETIS. IT'S T REALLY CRITICAL THATHEY HAVE ONE OF THEIR INFECTED OF ELECTED

OFFICIALS THERETO. OU >> COMMISSIONER GARCIA Y HAVE

MOST IN THE SPACE. >> MMTHANK YOU.

>> ON THAT, COISSIONER BRIONES JOINED US A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO WHEN ERTHE JAIL COMMISSION WAS HE AND T WE APPRECIATE THAT SUPPORAND THE SUPPORT YOOF THE WHOLE COURT.

THANK U. >> THANK YOU.

>> NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE. >> FUTURE UPDATES FOR THE COMMISSIONER SUPPORT. WE HOPE TO -- NEXT COURT SESSION, TO BRING SOME DETENTION OFFICER INFORMATION, HIRING PAY SCALE INITIATIVES AND HIRING SURVEYS, WE ARE PRETTY EXCITED. WE ARE LAUNCHING RETENTION SURVEYS. WE WERE ABLE TOWORK WITH A GROUP IN THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE THAT IS AN EMPLOYEE RELATIONS COUNSEL, HELPING US CRAFT GESOM OF THOSE QUESTIONS AND NERATING SUPPORT FROM THE MEMBERS FOR BEING ABLE TO HELP RESPONDENTS TO THAT SURVEY. WE ARE LOOKING FOR THE DATA. YOU LOOK AT JAIL FACILITY OVERVIEW. THIS WILL TAKE A LITTLE LONGER THE NEXT SESSION BUT WE WILL CONDUCT FOR MANAGEMENT WITH THE CONTEXT THAT WE HAD TODAY. MR. GARCIA MENTIONED THE POPULATION HAS CHANGED AND IS A DIFFERENT DYNAMIC MANAGING INMATE IS IN WHERE LARGE PORTIONS ARE AGING OR HAVE SIGNIFICANT MENTAL ILLNESS IS ONLY. WE WILL GIVE ANALYSIS ON THAT. LASTLY, THE JAIL PROFILE REPORT. WE WILL LOOK AT BOOKINGS, RELEASES AND OTHER RELEVANT JAIL DATA OVER THE LAST FEW YEARS. WE WILL ANALYZE THE DATA TO UNDERSTAND CHANGES OR SHIPPING DYNAMICS BETWEEN THE JAIL POPULATION AND HOW THOSE CHANGES IMPACT THE OFFICERS AND INMATES IN CUSTODY. WE ARE LOOKING VERY CLOSELY AT HIGH JAILBAIT DAY

[02:35:04]

>> REAL QUICKLY ON THAT LAST POINT, ARE YOU WORKING WITH THE PUBLIC DEFENDER'S OFFICE TO GIVE SOME DIRECTION ON THOSE THINGS THAT ARE LONGER THAN USUAL?

>> WE TEND TO ENGAGE THE PUBLIC DEFENDER'S OFFICE, ALSO WITH REPRESENTATION WE WOULD LIKE TO UNDERSTAND AS WE LOOK AT THAT, ARE THERE DIFFERENCES IN STAYS AND OUTCOMES?

>> AS WELL AS THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S OFFICE, SOMETIMES IT'S JUST A MATTER OF THEM PUSHING TO CLASS OR PUSHING THEIR ATTORNEYS TO BE READY FOR TRIAL.

>> YES, ABSOLUTELY. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS?

>> THANK YOU. >> I HAVE PLENTY. FIRST OF ALL WELCOME. I CAN TELL ALREADY YOU'LL BE A WONDERFUL ADDITION THANK YOU VERY MUCH. FIRST ON THE HEALTHCARE FUNDS, MR. , THANK YOU. IT IS GOOD THAT WE ARE NOW IN COMPLIANCE AT LEAST WITH REGARD TO THE HEALTHCARE INDICATORS. I APPRECIATE THE STEP PLAN TO MAKE SURE THE OVERAGES ARE VERY MUCH PRODUCED AND CONTROLLED BECAUSE THAT'S VERY UNSUSTAINABLE, AS WE KNOW.

I APPRECIATE THAT YOU ALL TOOK THE TIME TO TAKE ME TO DALLAS TO SEE THE JAIL HEALTHCARE FACILITY THERE AND THE WONDERS THAT WAS LIKE IN DALLAS. I HATE TO ADMIT IT AS SOMEONE WHO LOVES HOUSTON, THE DALLAS JAIL HEALTHCARE FACILITY IS INFINITELY BETTER BUT NOW THAT WE ARE IN COMPLIANCE I LOOK FORWARD MR. HEALTH TO YOUR IDEAS ABOUT HOW WE ARE NOT ONLY MEETING STANDARDS BUT TO DELIVER AND FAR EXCEEDING DALLAS SOMEDAY. WITH REGARD TO CHIEF BASKET I WISH YOU YOU TREMENDOUSLY AND ALL OF THE WONDERFUL MEN AND WOMEN SERVING THERE IN THE JAIL EVERY DAY. I KNOW THAT WE ARE DOING WHAT WE CAN AND WE KNOW THAT THIS IS JUST STILL NOT ENOUGH. WHETHER IT IS GOING TO THE STATE, I HOPE OUR SHERIFF GARCIA IN PARTNERSHIP WITH COMMISSIONER RAMSEY AND THE PARTNERS WE HAVE AT THE STATE LEVEL, I HOPE YOU CAN GET THOSE 656 TO BE TAKEN SO WE CAN GET THOSE OFF OUR LEDGER. THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE THAT WE HAVE OVER 1400 PEOPLE OUTSOURCING TO THREE PRIVATE PRISONS. IT'S AN ACCEPTABLE FORM OF JUSTICE PERSPECTIVE AND UNACCEPTABLE FROM A PHYSICAL STANDPOINT AND RETURN ON INVESTMENT THAT WE ARE STEWARDS UP. WE KNOW THAT THIS IS UNSUSTAINABLE IN THE SENSE OF URGENCY WE FEEL HIS HEART SO I APPRECIATE SO MUCH THESE UPDATES AND WE KNOW WE ARE STILL NOT THERE. WE ARE FAR FROM THERE. I HOPE EVERYONE CAN HAVE A FIRE UNDER THEM. EVERY TIME SOMEONE COMES TO SPEAK OR EVERY ARTICLE WE SEE, WE CAN'T HAVE THESE NUMBERS OBJECTS, USING THESE PRIVATE PRISONS, WE MUST LEAN ON THE STATE TO HELP US IN THIS EFFORT WITH THE EXPERTISE OF COMMISSIONER GARCIA AND THE CHAIR. I AM CONFIDENT WE CAN BE MAKING MORE MARKET IMPROVEMENTS BUT TO YOUR POINT I AGREE. WITHOUT THE COOPERATION, WE NEED THE PARTNERSHIP OF THE DA AND THE PUBLIC DEFENDER DOUBLING DOWN ON INTAKE , JVC HEARINGS, THAT WE NEED TO BE HAVING SIMULTANEOUSLY IN BOTH COURTROOMS, ALWAYS CONCURRENTLY SO WE ARE REMOVING THE INDIVIDUALS AND RECONNECT THEM TO THE FAMILIES AND JOBS. IT IS SYSTEMIC, WHETHER IT IS OR JAIL, WHETHER IT IS OUR COURTS, REENTRY, IT IS. THE FIRE IS SHARED AMONGST SOME OF THE PARTNERS. I LOVE WHAT YOU SAID ABOUT HAVING TEAM MEETINGS BETWEEN HERSELF AND THE JAIL. WE ARE ALL RESPONSIBLE FOR THE

[02:40:03]

>> THANK YOU. ONE OTHER CATEGORY I WOULD LIKE TO SEE SOME THOUGHT GIVEN TO IS, REGRETFULLY REGRETFULLY, AGAIN, THE SHERIFF DOESN'T DECIDE WHO COMES TO HIS FACILITY BUT WE DO HAVE PEOPLE THAT ARE VERY CRITICAL, AND A VERY CRITICAL STATE OF HEALTH AND WHEN FOLKS PASS WHILE THEY ARE IN OUR CUSTODY, DUE TO SOME PRE-EXISTING MEDICAL CONDITION, OR WHETHER SOMETHING TERRIBLE HAPPENS IN OUR FACILITY, THEY ARE ALL CATEGORIZED AS IN CUSTODY DEATH. YET THERE ARE PEOPLE ARE -- AT LEAST THERE WAS IN MY TIME FOLKS WHO RUN LIFE-SUPPORT SYSTEMS AND I WOULD ALSO ASK THAT, AS YOU LOOK AT THOSE UNIQUE POPULATIONS, AND BY STAFF DID SOME QUICK CALCULATIONS, ONE PERSON THAT HAS BEEN THERE FOR 3000 DAYS WAS THERE WHEN I WAS SHERIFF. THAT'S RIDICULOUS.

IT'S TO ALSO LOOK AT HOW MANY IT TAKES TO WE HAVE THAT ARE IN A COUNTY HOSPITAL BED THAT ARE LIKELY GOING TO PASS, REGRETFULLY. AND WHAT CAN WE BE DOING WITH THOSE INDIVIDUALS IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S OFFICE, THE PUBLIC DEFENDER AND THE JUDGES? I DON'T KNOW WHAT THAT NUMBER LOOKS LIKE TODAY. DUE TO ALLOW THOSE FOLKS TO HAVE A RESPECTFUL CIRCUMSTANCE AND IT NOT BE CONSIDERED AN IN CUSTODY DEATH I WOULD LIKE TO SEE THAT AS WELL.

>> YOU BEST. >> QUICK COMMENT DO YOU HAVE ACCESS TO THE DATA YOU NEED TO MAKE AND IDENTIFY TRENDS?

>> THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE HAS GRACIOUSLY PROVIDED US ACCESS TO ANY AND ALL DATA WE NEED FROM THE CASE MANAGEMENT SYSTEM. WE ARE WORKING WITH DATA GOVERNANCE TO TIE THAT TO THE CORE DATA WE NEED AND I EXPECT TO HEAR IN THE NEXT WEEK OR SO. WE ARE DOING SOME GROUNDWORK WITH PUTTING THE INFRASTRUCTURE TOGETHER FOR THIS ANALYSIS. I HAVE A GOOD FEELING WE WILL GET ALL THE DATA WE NEED TO PAINT THIS

PICTURE FOR YOU ALL. >> I WOULD HOPE TO THE EXTENT YOU GET THE DATA YOU CAN PUT IT ON -- YOU CAN PUT IT ONLINE . THAT IS UNDERSTANDABLE BECAUSE OBVIOUSLY WE ARE JUST PART OF ONE OF THE MAJOR ACTORS IN THIS PROCESS AND THERE ARE SO MANY INDEPENDENT ENTITIES. AND THOSE INDEPENDENTLY ELECTED OFFICIALS, IT MAKES IT REAL CHALLENGING. THE POINT IS THIS IS YOUR -- IS THIS YOUR FIRST PRESENTATION? I ALWAYS TELL

[02:45:01]

>> I TOOK IT, I WILL SEND IT TO YOU. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS

COMMISSIONER RAMSEY? >> I WANT TO REMIND -- I THINK I HEARD AND THE REASON I AM ASKING FOR THE SHERIFF TO COME IS, ONE, SO THAT HE KNOWS HE IS NOT ALONE. IT'S NOT RIGHT THAT HE IS SITTING THERE TAKING THE HEAT FOR A LOT OF THINGS HAPPENING IN THE JAIL AND MUCH IS NOT IN HIS DIRECT CONTROL.

THE MOTION AND IT WAS MARCH 27TH? WE OUGHT TO GET A FOR THE SHERIFF TO COME, ONE, AND HAVE A CONVERSATION AROUND A PLAN TO COMMISSIONER BRIONES'S POINT IN TERMS OF WE DO NEED A PLAN.

WE'VE GOT DATA NOW AND WE LEARN SOMETHING AND EVERYONE OF THESE UPDATES. WE LEARNED WE HAVE 1000 SOME ODD THAT THE STATE IS IMPACTING IN OUR JAILS AND THAT'S ANOTHER ACTION ITEM WE NEED TO TAKE BUT BEING THE -- AND I APOLOGIZE FOR THE NERD ENGINEER, IT WOULD BE SO NICE TO SEE A PLAY ON ON A PIECE OF PAPER WITH SOME DATES ON IT. WE KNOW WHAT THE PROBLEM IS AND WE KNOW WE ARE NOT IN CONTROL OF EVERYTHING BUT WE ARE IN

CONTROL OF SOME THINGS. >> WHAT I WOULD RESPECTFULLY SUGGEST IS WE ASK WHEN WE MAKE A MOTION, MAYBE CHANGE IT TO SAY THAT IS THE NEXT COURT DATE WORKS FOR HIM. ALL THOSE IN

FAVOR? >> WHAT IS TO BE QUICKLY

>> THE SHERIFF WILL APPEAR AT THE NEXT COURT ON WHICHEVER ONE IS MOST PRACTICAL AS SOON AS ONE PRACTICAL, I JUST DON'T

KNOW SCHEDULE. >> ROAD TRIP TO THIS VISIT, STATE FRIENDS TO TALK ABOUT THE PAPER READY FOLKS, PLEASE.

>> WE WILL CONTINUE AN EDUCATION ON THAT.

>> COMMISSIONER RAMSEY MADE THE MOTION.

>> ALL IN FAVOR? >> SECOND BY BOTH COMMISSIONERS

. >> ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? AYE.

THE NEXT ITEM IS ITEM 18, THIS IS THE ILA FOR THE HARRIS COUNTY CENTER FOR MENTAL HEALTH AND IDD.

>> ABOUT. >> MOTION TO APPROVE, COMMISSIONER BRIONES? SECOND, ALL THOSE IN FAVOR FOR AYE.

THREE AYES AND ONE NO. >> NUMBER 17?

>> THAT WAS IT -- I'M SORRY 18 -- I S WA18 OR 17.

>> GO BACK TEAM. >> GO BACK TO . 17 W NOWE ARE ON 17. BACK ON 17. WE DO JUST NEED TO VOTE?

>> I MOVE IT. >> IT HAS ITBEEN WH, ALL THOSE N FAVOR, EEVOTE THR IN AYE. FO UR AYES. OH. THREE AYES, ONE NO. I'M SORRY. T I DIDN'HEAR YOU. S

>>HOW THAT AS BEING PRAS ESENTED.

>> YES, THREE AYES, ONE NO. HE >> T NEXT IS OR19 REQUEST F POSSIBLE 25DISCUSSION, BUDGET COUNTS, BR COMMISSIONER IONES? TOTEMOVE AS PRESEND IN OFTERMS THE FISCAL YEAR 25 LEBUDGET CANDAR. IN TERMS SSOF THE POIBLE ACTION I WANT TO ADOPTSE

THIS PROPOD. >> MAKES THE MOTION? G SECOND SAID, IA ALL OF THOSE IN FAVOR VOTE AYE.

ALL OF THOSE OPPOSED VOTE NO.

>> I ORWANT TO THANK DIRECT RIMMERS, THANK YOU NGFOR EVERYTHI YOU'RE DOING TO AY PROGRESS THE W WE DO BUDGETING PRACTICES AND EI APPRECIATE THELEMENT OPERATING IN THE COMMUNITY TO IT. GOD BLESS PRYOU. I REALLY APECIATE IT TO YOU AND YOUR T TEAM.

>>HANK YOU COMMISSIONER. >> APPROVED PPAS PRESENTED.

>> AROVED AS PRESENTED. >> ITEM 34 FOR NPARKING

FACILITIESEAR THE COUNTY. >> ARE REMAKING VITHIS PURCHASE TO PRODE MORE E OFFICE SPACE OR PROVIDADDITIONAL PARKING?

>> WE HAVE PREVIOUSLY HAD AN AUTHORITY CTTO ASSOCIATE THE TW DIRE S GARAGES. THE DEVELOPER HASINCE WANTED TO TALK ABOUT

[02:50:01]

>> WE ARE D BUYING IT FOR OFFIC SPACE ANADDITIONAL PARKING? IT WOULD DEPEND ON THE PRICE FOR ALL THREE.

>> AGAIN WE KNOW WE HAVE A PROBLEM WITH OUR TEXISTING FACILITIES DOWNTOWN ANDHE PARKING ASSOCIATED WITH IT. IS THIS GOING TO MITIGATE THAT PART?

>> I WOULD PREFER TO HAVE A CONVERSATION IN >>CLOSED SESSIO IF POSSIBLE. HE IS JUST ASKING FOR -- IT'S NOT AN EXCEL EXECUTIVE ISSUE, HE IS JUST ACTING

PARKING IS THAT CORRECT? >> HELP US MITIGATE AND FRANKLY ON THE PARKING FACILITY WE ARE ALMOST 100% OF THE CUSTOMERS WE ARE TRYING TO CUT OUT THE MIDDLEMAN.

>> THAT MAKES SENSE. >> ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? DO WE NEED TO TAKE INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION OR VOTE ON? APPROVED AS IS COMMISSIONER GARCIA MOVED TO APPROVE IT ALL THOSE IN FAVOR VOTE AYE. ALL THOSE OPPOSED VOTE NO. THE ITEM PASSES. NEXT IS ITEM 47 COMMISSIONER GARCIA. A KEY FEATURE CONSULTANTS.

>> THANK YOU. UNFORTUNATELY WITH MY SISTER. AND THEN I WAS A CUB SCOUT THERE. AND SO I AM SO EXCITED TO CONTINUE TO BE CONSIDERED PART OF THE WESLEY FAMILY, THE WESLEY HOUSE AS WE HAVE CALLED THE HAS DONE SO MANY INCREDIBLE THINGS FOR DECADES AND FOR AREA KIDS, SENIORS, HIGH SCHOOL AND MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENTS, THEY ARE JUST PHENOMENAL. I JUST WANT TO SAY TO THEM THANK YOU FOR CONTINUING TO BE A PART OF THE FABRIC OF THE COMMUNITY AND I AM BLESSED TO BE IN THIS ROLE TO CREATE A PARTNERSHIP LIKE THIS FOR THE WESLEY COMMUNITY CENTER. I ABSOLUTELY MOVE AS PRESENTED.

>> SECOND. THE ONE THANK YOU.

>> BROWN APPROVES, ALL FAVOR VOTE AYE. FOUR AYES, THIS ITEM PASSES. ITEM 93, COMMISSIONER GARCIA?

>> YEAH SIMILARLY I AM EXCITED THE TRAILS MASTER PLAN APARTHEID REVIVED THE THRIVING INITIATIVE. THIS IS BEING PRESENTED. THE GOAL OF THE PROJECT WAS TO HAVE THE CONFIDENCE OF UNDERSTANDING OF OUR OPEN SPACES AND DEVELOP A COMMUNITY LED DIVISION TO MAKE AN IMPROVEMENT TO ALL PARTS, THE MASTER PLAN IMPROVES 50 PARTS, 3300 ACRES, 27 MILES OF TRAILS, INCLUDING 17 PARTS AND THIS MASTERPLAN IS INSTRUMENTAL IN THE FUTURE DEVELOPMENT OF OUR PARKS AND TRAILS, ENSURING THEY REMAIN SAFE AND INVITING, EASILY ACCESSIBLE, ULTIMATELY CONTRIBUTING TO THE PREMIER DESTINATION FOR LIVING, WORKING AND RECREATION FOR OUR CLIENTS, THIS ONE IS ALSO VERY ORIENTED TOWARDS IMPLEMENTATION. MUCH OF THAT WE ARE ALREADY WORKING ON, SUCH AS REIMAGINING THE BEACH, JOHN HARRIS AND VETERANS MEMORIAL PARK IN ADDITION TO OTHER PARK IMPROVEMENTS. I WANT TO THANK THE COMMUNITY LEADERS THAT STEPPED UP AND WERE PART OF THE PLANNING PROCESS FOR GIVING OUT THEIR TIME, THEIR THOUGHTS, THEIR VISIONS, SO THAT WE CAN JUST HAVE A MORE VIBRANT PLACE FOR GENERATIONS TO COME. I AM EXCITED ABOUT THIS ITEM AS PRESENTED.

>> SECOND. >> ITEM HAS BEEN MOVED BY GARCIA AND COMMISSIONER BRIONES. FOUR AYES, THE ITEM PASSES. COMMISSIONER GARCIA AS

>> 96. I'M EXCITED TO APPROVE THE REGION CONFERENCE OF STUDY AS A PART OF REVIVED THRIVE. THIS REPORT EXAMINED THE PLANNING EFFORTS IN THE COMMUNITIES OF THE AIRLINE IMPROVEMENT CONDITIONS DISTRICT, NORTH HOUSTON DISTRICT, DID ANALYZE PREVIOUS PLANS AND STUDIES THROUGH EXTENSIVE COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT AND DETERMINED THE TOP 20 PROBLEMS TO ADDRESS THE COMMUNITY NEEDS AS WITH ALL THE

[02:55:03]

AS PRESENTED. >> I WILL SECOND IT BECAUSE I HAVE TO REPRESENT THAT AREA. WE WILL BE WRITING SOON. MOVED BY COMMISSIONER GARCIA, SECOND BY ELLIS, ALL THOSE IN FAVOR VOTE AYE. ITEM PASSES. NEXT, COMMISSIONER RAMSEY.

>> THAT IS A DEMOLITION. OBVIOUSLY PROJECT. I THINK YOU

ARE MUTED, DOCTOR. >> COMMISSIONER, AT THIS TIME WE DO HAVE NO PLANS, THIS IS JUST FOR THE DEMOLITION. WE PLAN TO START WITH THE DEMO AT THIS TIME. WE PLAN WITHIN THE NEXT 12 TO 18 MONTHS OUR GOAL IS TO DEMOLITION THIS BUILDING.

THE MASTER FACILITIES PLAN YOU'RE DOING FOR THE COUNTY? YOU. WE HAVE TWO DIFFERENT PLANS GOING ON AT THIS TIME, WE ARE WORKING ON ONE OF THEM, WITH A LOT OF THE STAKEHOLDERS IN TERMS OF THE LAW ENFORCEMENT AND JUSTICE FACILITY IN DOWNTOWN. THE OTHER ONE IS ON FOR THE COUNTY FACILITY PLAN.

THE VERY FIRST ESCAPED TO DO AN ASSESSMENT OF THE FACILITY AND ITS CONDITION WHICH I AM WORKING WITH THE BUDGET OFFICE.

WE HAVE DONE A WINDSHIELD ASSESSMENT LAST YEAR AND WE ARE GOING TO MOVE TO THE NEXT TO DO A MORE DETAILED ASSESSMENT OF OUR BUILDINGS UNDERNEATH, BUILT ON THAT WORKING ON OUR OVERALL BEST NEEDS AND DIFFERENT OFFICE SPACE WORKING WITH THE DIFFERENT COUNTY ADMINISTRATION COMMISSIONER.

>> QUESTIONS . >> THAT IS A GREAT LOCATION FOR SOMETHING. YOU FIGURE THAT OUT PRETTY QUICK.

>> ON THE FIRST PIECE OF THE FACILITIES MASTER PLAN , COMPLEX AREA DOWNTOWN, WHEN WILL THAT KICK OFF OR HAS IT KICKED OFF AND WHAT ARE SOME OF THEM, THE ANTICIPATED TIMELINE SPEAKING KEY OURSELVES ABREAST OF?

>> OUR GOAL IS TO HAVE A STAKEHOLDER MEETING THAT INVOLVES ALL OF YOUR OFFICE NEXT MONTH. IN THE MONTH OF MARCH WE WANT TO SIT DOWN WITH EVERYBODY WE ARE GOING TO SIT WITH OUR JUSTICE STAKEHOLDER IN TERMS OF GOALS. WE ARE ALSO PLANNING ON THE FRANKLIN. SO TIMELINE WISE WE ARE THINKING OF NEXT MONTH, BASED ON THAT COMMISSIONER WE ARE DRAWING UP AS SCHEDULED. I DON'T WANT TO COMMIT A TIMELINE WITHOUT GOING DOWN THE SCOPE OF THE STUDY AND THE COMPLEXITY AS YOU KNOW.

MANY OF THE DIFFERENT DEPARTMENT HEADS AND DEPARTMENTS FOR THE JUSTICE COMMITTEE, THEY ALL HAVE A LOT OF NEEDS AND WE DISCUSSED ALL OF THESE, UNDERSTANDING THE SCOPE AS A WHOLE SAYING IT WOULD TAKE 12 MONTHS OR 18 MONTHS. WE ARE DOING OUR STAKEHOLDER MEETING NEXT MONTH.

APPRECIATE THAT. >> GREAT ARTICLE IN TODAY'S HOUSTON CHRONICLE POINTS OUT THAT 300 ENTIRELY EMPTY OFFICE BUILDINGS DOWNTOWN, COULD BE CONVERTED AT LEAST BY 23 MILLION SQUARE FEET OF CLASS D AND BELOW OFFICE SPACE IN DOWNTOWN HOUSTON. HOUSTON LIKELY HAS ABOUT FOUR POINT ONE NRG STADIUM'S OF VACANT OFFICE SPACE SUITED FOR SOMETHING. AT LEAST WHEN YOU LOOK AT OPTIONS ME KNOW HOW LONG IT'S GOING TO TAKE TO CONSTRUCT A BUILDING. WE OUGHT TO AT LEAST BE ABLE TO CONSIDER WHAT TO DO TO HELP OUR PARTNERS IN THE CITY SO WE DON'T END UP ON ALL OF THAT WITH SOME NICE NEW COUNTY

[03:00:05]

>> WE CAN SELL IT. DEVELOPER WANTED TO PUT SOMETHING THERE.

APPROVED. >> COMMISSIONER RAMSEY MOVES THE ITEM 2ND. COMMISSIONER RAMSEY SECOND SET, ALL THOSE IN FAVOR VOTE AYE. FOUR AYES, NO NAYS THE MOTION PASSES. THANK YOU DR. IMAM, THE ITEM IS NUMBER 260. YOU PULLED THAT ONE. IT IS APPROVAL AUDITED CLAIMS.

>> WE JUST NEED TO MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE ALL EXCEPT FOR THE BOSTON CONSULTING GROUP'S OF $931,900.91.

>> COMMISSIONER RAMSEY MAKES A MOTION TO APPROVE. ALL ITEMS INTO BOSTON, COMMISSIONER GARCIA SECONDED, ALL THOSE IN FAVOR VOTE AYE. ALL THOSE OPPOSED VOTE NO.

>> SOMEONE NEEDS TO MAKE THE OTHER MOTION.

>> I NEED MY SUGAR. APPROVE THIS ONE. FOUR AYES, NO NAYS, ITEM PASSES. ALL IN FAVOR VOTE AYE. ALL OPPOSED, BUT NO.

THREE AYES, ONE NAY, THE ITEM PASSES.

>> ITEM 269. COMMISSIONER RAMSEY. PAY EQUITY.

>> WE ARE DOING A PAY EQUITY STUDY. I LOOKED AT THE 18,000 EMPLOYEES, LOOKING AT THE $4 BILLION BUDGET AND OF THAT AMOUNT, SALARY IS ONE .7 BILLION. SO WE WILL GO INTO A STUDY ON SALARIES AND I WANT EVERYBODY TO BE AWARE, I DON'T KNOW WHAT OUR CONSULTANTS ARE GOING TO SAY OR NOT SAY. THERE IS A WHOLE LOT OF MONEY THAT COULD BE -- COULD BE IDENTIFIED IN TERMS OF ADDRESSING. OBVIOUSLY WE WANT EVERYBODY TO GET PAID FAIRLY AND WE NEED TO BE SURE WE DO THAT. CLEARLY ONCE WE GET THE REPORT, AND ONCE YOU HAVE THE REPORT IN YOUR HAND YOU'RE OBLIGATED TO DO SOMETHING. SO THAT'S WHAT WE'LL DO. I WILL SAY IF WE HAVE SIGNIFICANT PAY CHANGES OVER A PERIOD OF TIME, WE WILL NOT BE ABLE TO SUSTAIN THE CURRENT LEVEL OF STAFF, GOING TO MAKE SIGNIFICANT CHANGES IN PAY. JUST WANTED THAT TO BE CLEAR AS WE GO INTO

THE STUDY. >> COMMISSIONER BRIONES?

>> THANK YOU COMMISSIONER RAMSEY. MR. RAM US, COULD YOU WALK US THROUGH HOW YOU ARE PREPARING FOR THIS? I HAVE A

FEW QUICK COMMENTS. >> I WOULD REFER TO THE

DIRECTOR. >> IN TERMS OF FINANCIAL?

>> ON THE BUDGETING SIDE WHAT ARE OUR RECOMMENDATIONS GOING TO BE, DEPENDING WHAT THE NUMBER GOES BACK AT. EARLY GAS IS PROBABLY SOMEWHERE BETWEEN 80 AND 100 MILLION DEPENDING ON THE SCOPE. WE RECOMMEND PHASING IT IN OVER 2 TO 3 YEARS, PICKING A HIGH PRIORITY HIGH TURNOVER POSITION, ONE GENERATING OVERTIME, PRIORITIZING AND WORKING OUR WAY THROUGH THE CLASSIFICATIONS . THERE ARE TWO THINGS GOING ON. ONE IS WE ARE TRYING TO GET GOOD, CONSISTENT JOB DESCRIPTIONS AND NORMALIZING THE PAY. WHEN WE LOOK DEPOSITIONS, ENGINEERS, ATTORNEYS, THINGS LIKE THAT WERE THERE IS THE SAME KIND OF PROFESSIONAL SERVICE, WE HAVE ATTORNEYS DOING DIFFERENTLY IN ONE DEPARTMENT THAN ANOTHER FOLKS AT THE SAME TIME AND ANALYSTS, TRYING TO NORMALIZE THOSE THINGS SO WE ARE NOT CANNIBALIZING EACH OTHER'S STAFFS WHICH WE ARE SEEING CONSISTENTLY TODAY, ALSO LOOKING AT, IF YOU REMEMBER A CONSULTANT ON BOARD, I THINK LAST YEAR TO PRESENT AND IT WAS -- WE HAVE THE SAME TITLE THAT WE ARE MAKING % 40VARIANCES FROM E THMEDIAN . OPARTF THAT

[03:05:10]

INCLUSE BENEFITS. >> R THANK YOU FOSHARING YOHOW U ARE PLANNING FOR THIS. L SEVERATHINGS. STHANK YOU. THI IS WVERY NEEDED ASE ALL KNOW.

A DECISION AVE WHEN WE PRESENT THE CLS IN

APRIL. >> A COUPLE QUICK THINGS. ONE,D FAIRNESS A EQUITY IS TA FUNDAMENL EIMPORTANCE. TWO, W HEAR FROM EVERY THDEPARTMENT EY HAVE TROUBLE RECRUITING G AND RETAININFOLKS. THIS N WILL BE KEY IHELPING US E BE COMPETITIVAND I WANT US TO ER LEAD WITH EVY OTHER NS GOVERNMENTAL ITITUTION. I WANT US TO BE AS COMPETITIVE ESPECIALLY HARRIS COUNTY DEMAND SO MUCH RIF FOLKS IN COMPASON TO SURROUNDING FACOUNTIES, FROM IRNESS AND EQUITY, GLI FEEL VERY STRONY AND I CANNOT WAIT FOR THE DATA BUT A TALENT TEAM THAT WILL BE ABLE TO IMPLEMENT SUCH CHANGES WITH EXCELLENCE AND SPEED. AND SO I WANT US TO I PREPARE NOT ONLY FINANALLY BUT FOR THE MENTATION AND THIS IS SOMETHING THAT WILL HELP US ADVANCED THE WORK LLOF THE COUNY FUNDAMENTAY AND I AM IN FAVOR AND I WOULD MOVE --

>> I DO -- THANK YOU FOR THAT. AS I MENTIONED EARLIER. I HAVE SOME PRIMARY PRIORITY AREAS BECAUSE THEY ARE HIGH-PERFORMING AND TALENTED AND I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE HAVING A SENSE OF PRIORITY AND URGENCY WITH OUR TOP ENGINEERS AS WELL AS THOSE WHO ARE HANDLING A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF OUR STEQUIPMENT DOLLARS. SO I WOULD JU ASK THAT THAT THAT BE A TOP PRIORITY FOR US TO ADDRESS.

WE'VE GOT BILLIONS OF DOLLARS PL THAT ARE BEING MANAGED AND IMEMENTED AND EXECUTED BY THE CONTROL DISTRICTS, BY THE COUNTY ENGINEER. WE GOT OUR HOUSING MONEY AND HEALTHCARE MONEY AND YOU KNOW, STRATEGIES TO TAKE OUR PHYSICAL SERVICES TO ANOTHER LEVEL. CYBERSECURITY REMAINS THE TOP PRIORITY FOR US. FOR THOSE INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE HIGH-PERFORMING, I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE PUTTING THEM TOP OF MIND.

>> I VERY MUCH AGREE. THERE WERE TWO TOWNHOUSE IS MY FAVORITE THING IN THE WORLD. I WOULD LIKE TO BETTER UNDERSTAND. I KNOW THE SPECIALIZED TALENT FOR THOSE ON THE LOWER END OF THE PAY SCALE, WHERE DO WE THINK THE POTENTIAL LARGEST GAPS IN EQUITY AND FAIRNESS ARE AND/OR WE ARE NOT LEANING INTO THE COMPETITIVE ADVANTAGE. IF WE COULD JUST -- CALLING OUT EVERY WEEK AS I DO SEEING AS WE WILL MAKE THOSE ADJUSTMENTS AND HOW WE ARE PRIORITIZING AND IN SOME I AM REALLY EXCITED ABOUT THIS AND I HOPE WE CAN MOVE AT LEAST SPEED WITH GREAT PURPOSE AND I MOVE AS PRESENTED.

>> THIS PROPOSAL COMES FROM AN ITEM THAT I STARTED TALKING ABOUT WHEN I WAS TRYING TO GET A DISPARITY STUDY DONE DIDN'T QUITE HAVE THE SUPPORT. WE PUT AN ITEM ON THE AGENDA, APRIL THE FOURTH, 2023 FOR HUMAN RESOURCES TO THE AVAILABLE PLAN WITH MILESTONES AND IDENTIFYING ANY PAY DISPARITIES BASED ON RACE RACE, ETHNICITY PAY, GENDER. IT IS UNFORTUNATE IT HAS TAKEN SO LONG BUT IT IS IRREFUTABLE LOW SALARIES ARE THE TOP REASON EMPLOYEES LEAVE A NEW JOB. PARTICULARLY THE ONES AT THE BOTTOM. AT THE TOP AS WELL OBVIOUSLY BUT I WANT TO BE CLEAR, I WOULD HATE TO HAVE MY STAFF TO THIS WORK AND WE FIGURE OUT HOW WE DO SOMETHING FOR THOSE OF US AT THE TOP AND FORGET THOSE AT THE BOTTOM. IF THAT HAPPENS AND I JUST WANT TO MENTION WOMEN, ESPECIALLY WOMEN OF COLOR ARE OVERREPRESENTED IN

[03:10:06]

LIKE AN ASIAN EMPLOYEES EARN ABOVE AVERAGE K AND TAKE A ABOVE AVERAGE, BLACK AND LATINO EMPLOYEES ARE BELOW AVERAGE, 6K AND 8K RESPECTIVELY. 60% OF EMPLOYEES WITH $50,000. MY DESCRIPTIVE EMPLOYEES, $50,000 A YEAR, AFRICAN-AMERICAN AND LATINA WOMEN. I WANT TO MAKE SURE WE DON'T LOSE SIGHT OF THAT BECAUSE SOMETIMES THERE'S A TENDENCY TO DO THAT. I DO AGREE. WE SHOULDN'T HAVE TO WAIT. I HOPE THIS STUDY DOES NOT TAKE AS LONG AS THE DISPARITY STUDY TOOK. I WANT TO STRESS THE BENEFITS RECENTLY, MANY PEOPLE STAY. EVEN THOSE AT THE BOTTOM OF THE SCALE BECAUSE I'VE HEARD SOME PEOPLE TELL ME AT LEAST IN BENEFITS IF YOU STAY IN HARRIS COUNTY, MAKE IT WORTH IT FOR PEOPLE TO TAKE LESS MONEY AND STAY ALL THE TIME. THAT IS THE GOLD STANDARD AND I ALWAYS MENTIONED THAT BECAUSE LOOKING FOR EFFICIENCIES, SOMETIMES WE LIKE TO CUT THOSE BENEFITS. IT DOESN'T MATTER TO SOME OF YOU ALL BUT THE OLD MAN WILL BE 70. IT MATTERS TO ME. I'LL BE

WATCHING. >> I BELIEVE IN THE ORIGINAL MOTION TO BRING THIS FORWARD. WE ARE GOING TO BE PRIORITIZING FOLKS WITH THE 56,000 AND BELOW, OUR HOPE IS TO TAKE A COMPREHENSIVE LOOK, WHAT I HAVE SEEN HERE IN MY SHORT TWO YEARS, WE PRIORITIZE ONE GROUP AND WE SEE A HUGE MIGRATION OF SIMILAR POSITIONS TO THAT GROUP AND THEN WE HAVE TO GO BACK AND MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE NOT CREATING COMPRESSION WHERE WE ARE GIVING THE FRONTLINE STAFF AND IT'S A REAL STRUGGLE TO GET FOLKS TO WANT TO PROMOTE UP THE RANKS. THAT'S THE GOAL OF THIS, TO KNOW WHERE WE ARE, TAKE ACTION, PHASE IT IN AND TAKE ACTION ON IT. BEST PRACTICE IS THAT YOU'RE LOOKING AT YOUR CLASSIFICATION EVERY THREE YEARS AS A MINIMUM.

THANK YOU. I THINK I HEARD A MOTION FROM COMMISSIONER, COMMISSIONER BRIONES. COMMISSIONER GARCIA SECOND. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF AYE. ALTHOUGH SUPPOSED TO KNOW. THREE AYES, ONE NAY, ITEM PASSES. NEXT ITEM COMMISSIONER RAMSEY IS CALIFORNIA GRADING SOLUTIONS, CCS ACADEMY ITEM 338.

>> JUST A QUICK. I NOTICED THAT OBVIOUSLY THIS IS WITHIN THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT, HARRIS COUNTY OR COMMUNITY SERVICES AND -- WHEN WE ARE DOING -- IT IS PAYMENTS TO TO VENDORS. AND WHAT'S THE -- WHAT'S THE TWO VENDORS ON THIS PARTICULAR

ASSIGNMENT? >> DIRECTOR --

>> IS IT 296? >> IS THAT DIRECTOR ROBERTSON ?

>> IS SAID TO 97. >> 338. UNDER DIRECTOR

ROBINSON. >> CALIFORNIA CREATIVE SOLUTIONS. WITH THE ADVANTAGE OF HIRING A CALIFORNIA FARM TO

DO THIS? >> THAT AFTERNOON BARBIE ROBINSON DIRECTOR OF HARRIS COUNTY PUBLIC HEALTH. I WILL PROVIDE AN EXPLANATION OF THE PROCUREMENT PROCESS WHICH WE

FOLLOWED AND ADHERED TO. >> COMMISSIONER I'M NOT SURE AGENCIES SUBMITTED. THEY DON'T WORK IN A MULTITUDE OF LARGE STATES, EIGHT OR NINE OF THOSE ARE IN THE STATE OF TEXAS FOR THE HEALTH COMMISSION, WORKING IN TEXAS FOR SOME OF THE SERVICES. THE REFERENCES FOR GOOD BASED ON WHAT I LOOKED AT AND THE SCORING AND THE PROCESS WAS DONE AS FAR AS WHAT WE DO IN PROCUREMENT. I UNDERSTAND YOU WOULD LIKE TO HAVE LOCAL VENDORS HIGHER BUT AT THIS POINT YOU CAN'T GIVE PRESSURE TO LOCAL VERSUS NONLOCAL WHEN IT COMES TO PROCUREMENT

PROCESS. >> IS ALL ACCORDING TO THE

CRITERIA. >> YES SIR.

>> IS THAT EMOTION? I MOVE IT. >> SECOND.

[03:15:01]

>> ELDEST MOVED IT AND COMMISSIONER BROWN SECONDED.

ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, VOTE AYE. COMMISSIONER RAMSEY IS 382 CIVIL HOUSTON IMPROVEMENT. 3-2.

>> 3-2. >> THAT IS MY MURAL AGREEMENT.

>> QUICK QUESTION. IS THIS COMING OUT OF THIS IS COMING

OUT OF GENERAL FUNDS? >> IT WILL COME OUT OF MONEY THAT PROCEEDS WHEN CONTROLS OUT OF MY BUDGET OR IT WILL COME OUT OF SOME MONEY DESIGNATED FOR MY BUDGET.

>> THE ONLY REASON I ASK IS THAT THIS IS A 381 AGREEMENT AND I KNOW I'VE DONE 381 AGREEMENTS AND ANY ONE.I'VE

ALWAYS COME OUT OF MY -- >> NUMBER EIGHT IS A 31 OR

381? CHAPTER 381? >> THAT IS WHAT WE USE.

>> IS COMING OUT OF OUR DOLLARS.

>> I WANT TO BE SURE. I KNOW WHAT WE ARE DOING.

>> THAT HAS 381 AGREEMENT. >> A380 ONE AGREEMENT.

>> I WILL MOVE IT. >> SECOND.

>> MOTION MADE BY ELLIS, SECOND, VOTE AYE. THOSE OPPOSED VOTE NO. COMMISSIONER BRIONES.

>> I WANTED TO SAY A THANK YOU TO EACH DAC, THEY ARE DOING A TRASH BASH. THIS IS THE 30TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE TRASH BASH.

IF YOU WANT TO GET SOME FRESH AIR ON MARCH 24TH WE INVITE YOU TO COME PICK UP TRASH. I APPRECIATE WHAT EACH DAC DOES ON A HIGH-LEVEL POLICY BUT ALSO ON A DAY-TO-DAY LOCALIZED WAY.

I MOVE 409 IS PRESENT. >> COMMISSIONER BRIONES MOVES,

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

LANGUAGE SS. >> THANK YOU. GO AHEAD.

>> THIS MAKES ME SO HAPPY AND WE ARE PUSHING HARRIS COUNTY FORWARD. I WANT TO THANK THE HOUSTON ENDOWMENT FOR THE GRANT. THIS IS AN ITEM TO ACCEPT HOUSTON ENDOWMENT OF $515,000 TO START A LANGUAGE ACCESS OFFICE IN HARRIS COUNTY.

AS ONE OF THE MOST DIVERSE PLACES IN THE NATION, THIS WILL HELP US TO BE ABLE TO BETTER SERVE OUR CONSTITUENTS AND BE SURE WE ARE GIVING THEM ACCESS TO THE GREAT SERVICES TO ADVANCE OPPORTUNITY AND JUSTICE IN THIS COUNTY AND I AM VERY THANKFUL FOR THIS PARTNERSHIP WITH PHILANTHROPY AND I LOOK FORWARD TO MORE OF THAT BEING DONE NOW THAT WE HAVE A PHILANTHROPY LIAISON AND I AM VERY THANKFUL AND EXCITED TO DO

THIS. >> I JUST WANT TO ECHO COMMISSIONER BRIONES'S REMARKS. IT'S EXCITING TO MAKE SURE THAT HARRIS COUNTY IS GIVING THOUGHT TO THE FACT THAT WE ARE THE MOST DIVERSE COUNTY IN TEXAS, IF NOT IN AMERICA AND THAT WE ARE PAYING ATTENTION TO HOW TO SERVE THAT VERY DIVERSE POPULATION BETTER. SO I AM EXCITED TO MOVE ON THIS ITEM OR

SECOND DATE. >> I DISLIKE HOW LUCKY WE ARE.

JONES WOULD BE SO PROUD, AND DOING A REALLY GOOD JOB OF FOCUSING ON THE EQUITY. ON A GROUP OF PROGRAMS THAT A LOT OF TIMES, PEOPLE IGNORE. THE ITEM HAS BEEN MOVED BY COMMISSIONER BRIONES, SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER GARCIA, ALL THOSE IN FAVOR VOTE EYE. ALTHOUGH SUPPOSED TO KNOW. FOUR AYES, NO NAYS. NEXT ITEM IS 488, SUPPLEMENTAL FOR THE COUNTY ATTORNEY. ITEM 488, ALL THOSE IN FAVOR VOTE AYE. ALL THOSE OPPOSED VOTE NO. THREE AYES, ONE NAY. THE ITEM PASSES. THE

NEXT ONE IS 509. >> WITH THIS TEAM OF LANGUAGE ACCESS AND ADVANCING OPPORTUNITY AND IMPROVING SERVICE FOR OUR CONSTITUENTS , I WANTED TO POINT OUT THAT THERE IS MORE THAN 850,000 PEOPLE IN HARRIS COUNTY LAP REPORTED TO HAVE LIMITED ENGLISH PROFICIENCY, ALMOST 1 MILLION PEOPLE HAVE REPORTED, IMAGINE WHAT THE REAL NUMBER IS. I'M SO THANKFUL AND COMMISSIONER GARCIA, THIS WAS

[03:20:01]

>> THANK YOU. I AM ALSO JUST EXCITED. TO BE HONEST WITH YOU I ALSO WANT TO TAKE A SECOND TO APOLOGIZE TO EMPLOYEES BECAUSE I TOOK IT FOR GRANTED THAT HARRIS COUNTY HAD THIS IN PLACE. BECAUSE I COME FROM HOUSTON CITY COUNCIL AND IF THE POLICE DEPARTMENT WHERE WE HAD A LONG-STANDING BILINGUAL FOR EMPLOYEES AND JUST TO MY SURPRISE I DID NOT REALIZE IT WAS NOT THE CASE IN HARRIS ACTION, I WANTED TO APOLOGIZE FOR NOT KNOWING THAT AS EARLY AS THEY SHOULD HAVE. I'M EXCITED THAT EVERYONE INVOLVED AND OTHERS WERE INSTRUMENTAL IN PUTTING THIS TOGETHER. I ALSO WANT TO SAY TO THE JUDGES WHO HAVE BEEN SUPPORTIVE OF CREATING A TRANSLATION PROGRAM THAT THIS IS ALSO A PART OF THIS. I AM VERY EXCITED TO FINALLY SEE THIS ITEM GET ON THE AGENDA. I KNOW WE HAVE TRIED TO GET IT ON A FEW TIMES BEFORE BUT WE GOT IT TODAY AND MOVE ON THE ITEM AS PRESENTED.

>> SECOND. >> I AM SO PROUD TO SUPPORT IT AS WELL. RESEARCH SHOWS THAT BILINGUAL EMPLOYEES OFTEN EARN UP TO 20% LESS THAN THEIR MONOLINGUAL COWORKERS IN THE

SAME ROLE. >> AND THEY DO 50% MORE WORK.

COMMISSIONER GARCIA, SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER BRIONES, ALL THOSE IN FAVOR VOTE E.AY FOUR AYES, NO YSNA, THE EMIT PASSES. HAVING PESKIPD ANYTHING?

>> IRNO S. TAKING 469 TO EXECUTIVE SESSION? > IT IS NOW E.THRE WE WILL TAKE FOR 65 -- THE

[Executive Session]

HAVE A HISKIPPED ANYTNG? >> 484.

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

N, HE GREETED TO US. >> THIS IS THE REQUEST FOR THE OFFICER COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR. MOVED FOR THE APPROVAL TO APPOINT COMMISSIONER LESLIE WITH COMMISSIONER TOM RAMSEY AS ALTERNATE AND TO APPOINT COMMISSIONER ADRIAN GARCIA WITH COMMISSIONER RODNEY ELLIS. AS HIS ALTERNATES. FOR A TERM

ENDING DECEMBER 31ST 2024. >> COMMISSIONER NANCY

SECONDED. >> ANY OBJECTION? HEARING THAT, THE MOTION IS ADOPTED 4-0. WITH THAT, THEY WOULD DO THE SAME THING WITH BOTH OF THEM, DID WE MAKE IT ON BOTH?

>> WE CAN'T DO THAT. THE OTHER ONE IS FOR THE METRO APPOINTMENT AND A NUMBER OF VERY CAPABLE PEOPLE WHO WERE APPLYING ONLINE, SENT THE LETTERS AND AND OBVIOUSLY THESE ARE ALWAYS TOUGH DECISIONS AND GREAT PEOPLE WHO APPLY. THE PERSON I WANT TO MAKE A MOTION FOR, COMMISSIONER BRIONES, IS FOR LIBBY. SHE HAS A MASTERS IN COMMUNITY REGIONAL PLANNING AND

[03:25:01]

THIS IS THE SEAT THAT HE HAD TO VACATE BECAUSE HE WANTED HIS ELECTION TO BE CITY CONTROLLED. THERE MAY HAVE BEEN ONE OTHER AFRICAN-AMERICAN APPOINTED IN THE HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF THE TWO SLOTS WE HAVE ON THIS BOARD. I THINK WE NEED TO HAVE EVEN MORE DIVERSITY THAN WE HAD IN THE PAST. IT HAPPENS TO BE A MOMENT BROUGHT TO MY ATTENTION BY ONE OF MY COLLEAGUES, SHE IS VERY CAPABLE AND I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A

MOTION TO APPOINTED. >> SECOND.

>> HEARING NO SECOND, WOULD YOU LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION?

>> I WOULD LIKE, MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE APPOINTMENT OF HOLLY MARIA TO THE METRO BOARD OF DIRECTORS FOR A TERM ENDING

JANUARY 31ST 2025. >> MOTION HAS BEEN MADE AND

PROMPTLY SECOND. >> I WILL SUPPORT THE MOTION COMMISSIONER. I ALSO HAD AN ALTERNATIVE THAT I WILL NOT PUT INTO BUT I AT LEAST WANT TO MENTION THE NAME. SHELLEY, AN EXTRAORDINARY LEADER IN OUR AREA, JUST WANT TO MENTION OF HER AS WE TALK ABOUT FUTURE APPOINTMENTS BUT I SUPPORT

HOLLY MARIA FLYNN. >> ALL VERY CAPABLE

COMMISSIONER GARCIA. >> I JUST WANTED TO I HAD THE PLEASURE OF NOMINATING CHRIS, THE LAST TIME WE WERE AROUND. I THINK IT'S GOOD FOR ALL OF US TO LOOK FOR SOME TALENT AND RECOMMEND THOSE FOLKS AND GET THE SUPPORT AND SO -- I AM EXCITED. BUT THE TOWN THAT CAME UP -- I DO THINK IT WILL MAKE A GREAT CONTRIBUTION TO THE METRO BOARD.

>> THANK YOU. >> I WANT TO THANK ALL OF THE CANDIDATE WHO EXPRESSED INTEREST. IT'S WONDERFUL WHEN WE HAVE SUCH A LEVEL OF TALENT IN HARRIS COUNTY. I HOPE ALL THOSE WHO ARE INTERESTED WILL CONTINUE TO WANT TO SERVE AS COUNTY IN SOME CAPACITY BECAUSE I WAS DEEPLY ENERGIZED WITH THE CANDIDATES AND I KNOW THAT WE ALL ARE COMMITTED TO MAKING SURE WE HAVE SOMEBODY ON THE METRO BOARD THAT REPRESENTS THE COUNTY AND WILL HELP ADVOCATE FOR THE EQUITY, THE ACCESSIBILITY, THE EASE OF USE, THE INNOVATION AND BEST PRACTICES FOCUSED ON SUSTAINABILITY AND RESILIENCY IN THE FUTURE, NOT NOT ONLY IMPROVING METRO NOW BUT AS WE THINK THROUGH THE FUTURE OF METRO NEXT. ALL OF THE CANDIDATES WERE VERY WELL-QUALIFIED I APPRECIATE, EXCEPTIONALLY WELL-QUALIFIED AND I APPRECIATE HER

WILLINGNESS TO SERVE. >> I WANT TO THANK YOU ALL FOR THE WORK YOU PUT IN THIS AND I DO WANT TO SAY THAT DIVERSITY

IS VERY IMPORTANT. >> IN THE PASTOR KNOW ALL THE PEOPLE WHO WERE APPOINTED BY THE COUNTY AND TWO SLOTS OF THE COUNTY HISTORICALLY, THEY GENERALLY WERE ALL MEN. BY D AN LARGE, AANNGLO MAN AND VERY LITTLE DISCUSSION ABOUT IT OR ANYBODY EVEN QUESTIONING AN ISSUE T BUWITH THAT, SAIDIT IS IMPORTANT EXTREMELY IMPORTANT OR ALL OF US AND YSALWA DIFFICULT DECISIONS. T I HADHED EA OF PUTTING ROBERTO ON THE BO ARD ALTHOUGH COMMISSIONER GARCIA YOU HEMADE T MOTION. IT WAMY IDEA BECAUSE WITH A LOT T OFHE T'SPORTS 'S HARD TO HAVE THE TIME ITO GO DOT AND TI OUGHT ABOUT IT BECAUSE DIRECTOR ROBINSON ARON THE HRIS HEALTH BOARD. I REMEMBER WHEN I GOT HERE THEREIS CONTROVERSY ABOUT THE HARRIS RDHEALTH BOA AND I THOUGHT S A SLIDE WAMINE BECAUSE I TOLD THAT THINGS CHANGE. I PROBABLY DIDN'T ACT THE WAY EDI WAS EXPECT TO ACT.

I LOSTTHAT SLIDE. I NOMINATED IX BISHOP DON. ON THE SLIDE I THOUGHT I WAS GOING TOTOHAVE I TO APPOINT, GUES A D GREAT PERSON, HATO HAVE BEEN AN AFRICAN-AMERICAN TH BECAUSE EY FELT A LITTLE F PRESSUREROM ME PUSHING A PEHIGH PROFILE RSON FOR THAT AND AI DID MAKE COMMENT, I HOPE ON BISHOP DIX WOULD EDBE CONSIDER FOR THE SLOT DOWN THE ROAD. HE THINKS ME EVERY TIME I SEE HIM. HE E ENDED UP I THPOSITION HE IS K IN NOW. I THINTHE ISSUE OF'MINORITY WOMEN'S IS EXENTERPRISES IS TREMELY IMPORTANT FOR METRO.

[03:30:01]

VERY WELL AND IN FACWHEN I >> TO HER I SAID I CAN'T REMEMBER, DID I BACK YOU IN THE RUNOFF? SHE SAID, I DIDN'T MAKE IT. IF YOU BACK TO ME EARLIER, MAYBE I WOULD HAVE. I SAID YOU KNOW, THAT ISA PRETTY GOOD POINT. I LOOK FORWARD TO

WORKING WITH HER. >> I COULDN'T AGREE MORE. YOU BACK HER IN PREVIOUS ELECTIONS BUT THE MORE COMMUNITIES CAN ALL HEUNITE AND SUPPORT EACH OTR AND REALLY TAKE ONHARRIS COUNTY CONTINUED CTINUOUS NEW LEVELS AND BE A MODEL FOR THE UNITED STATES. I LOOK FORWARD TO CONTINUING THE GREAT WORK ALONGSIDE A GREAT SPIRIT OF UNITY.

>> MY VOTE TODAY WOULD NOT BE TO VOTE AGAINST HER BUT TO MAKE THE POINT THAT THERE ARE FAR TOO FEW AFRICAN-AMERICANS IN KEY POSITIONS THAT WE WILL POINT PEOPLE TO IN HARRIS COUNTY. KEWITH THAT, COMMISSIONR BRIONES MA THE MOTION,

[Departments (Part 3 of 3)]

I VOTED NO. BEING A THREE AYES, ONE NAY , THE MOTION PASSES. LAST ITEM IS READY. 466 WITH AN AMENDMENT YOU WANT TO READ? OR AS IS DO YOU HAVE A NEW MOTION?

>> I HAVE A SUBSTITUTE MOTION RATHER. THE MOTION WILL READ , IT'S A MOTION FOR THE OPPOSITE ADMINISTRATION TO FORM A COMMITTEE TO DEVELOP A GOVERNANCE MODEL FOR FACILITY SECURITY TO INCLUDE THE HARRIS COUNTY FIRE MARSHAL, SHERIFFS COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE AND SAFETY AND SECURITY DIVISION WITHIN THE OFFICE OF COUNTY ADMINISTRATION. AND TO REVIEW, RATHER FOR THIS COMMITTEE TO REVIEW PREVIOUS FACILITY RECOMMENDATIONS MADE IN AN APRIL 2017-2019 COURT ITEM AND DETERMINE IMMEDIATE IMPLEMENTABLE PRIORITIES.

>> IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR BOAT AYE. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR AGAINST FOLKS KNOW. HAVING FOUR AYES, NO NAYS

. >> WE STILL HAVE ONE MORE ITEM,

484. >> 484. COMMISSIONER GARCIA MOVES THAT WE APPROVED 484 AS PRESENTED, I SECOND IS. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR BOAT AYE. ALL THOSE OPPOSED NO. THE AYES HAVE IT, FOUR AYES, NO NAYS. ALL

* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.