[00:00:02]
GOOD MORNING EVERYONE.WELCOME. SO EXCITED TO HAVE EVERYONE IN THIS NEW COURTROOM YOU'RE INAUGURATING IT.
THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE.
AND I'D LIKE TO CALL THE APRIL 23RD, 2024 MEETING OF THE HARRIS COUNTY COMMISSIONERS COURT TO ORDER.
COMMISSIONER ELLIS. JUDGE, I THANK PRECINCT FOR TODAY.
AND THANK YOU FOR JOINING US AT OUR FIRST OFFICIAL FULL MEETING AT THE NEW COURT.
AND PLEASE HELP ME WELCOME REVEREND STEPHANIE WILKINS.
[Associate Pastor Stephanie Wilkins of St. John’s Downtown Church in Houston introduced by the Commissioner of Precinct 4. ]
REVEREND WILKINS IS A NATIVE HOUSTONIAN AND GRADUATE OF JAMES MADISON HIGH SCHOOL IN SOUTHWEST HOUSTON.SHE EARNED HER UNDERGRADUATE DEGREE AT MORGAN STATE UNIVERSITY IN BALTIMORE, MARYLAND.
SHE SPENT 27 YEARS EDUCATING CHILDREN, AND THEN SHE RECEIVED HER CALLING FOR HER SECOND CAREER SERVING GOD THROUGH MINISTRY.
AND SHE ANSWERED THIS CALLING IN 2013.
SHE CURRENTLY SERVES AS ONE OF THE ASSOCIATE PASTORS AT SAINT JOHN'S DOWNTOWN, AND SHE FEELS PASSIONATELY ABOUT WORKING IN THE AREAS OF SOCIAL JUSTICE AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT.
SHE STRONGLY BELIEVES IN WORKING COLLABORATIVELY WITH OTHER CHURCH GROUPS AND OTHER CHURCHES AND ORGANIZATIONS TO BRING SERVICES TO SENIOR CITIZENS TO THEIR COMPLEXES.
SHE HAS BEEN ACTIVE WITH FOOD BANKS AND SET UPS AND DISTRIBUTION.
SHE SEES HER CALL AS ONE THAT FOLLOWS THE EXAMPLE OF CHRIST JESUS.
THIS IS WHAT SHE SAYS. JESUS IS WHAT I WOULD CALL A FIRST RESPONDER.
JESUS WENT WHERE THE TROUBLE WAS AND THAT IS WHAT I AM CALLED TO DO.
WE ARE HONORED TO HAVE YOU TODAY.
SHE'S THE PROUD MOTHER OF TWO SONS, A GRANDMA TO SIX BEAUTIFUL GRANDCHILDREN, AND SHE IS ONE OF MY SPIRITUAL ADVISORS AND SOMEONE I RESPECT DEEPLY.
SHE MADE ME SOUND LIKE I REALLY DONE SOMETHING TODAY.
THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER BRIONES.
THIS IS AN AWESOME SPACE, OKAY? AND I'M SO GRATEFUL TO BE HERE TO, I GUESS, OFFER THE INAUGURAL INVOCATION.
SO WHATEVER IS YOUR STANCE? LET US GO IN PRAYER.
MOST HOLY ONE, THE NAME THAT IS HIGHER THAN ANY NAME.
WE KNOW YOU BY MANY NAMES, BUT YOU ARE LOVE.
YOU ARE EVERYTHING WE NEED AND MORE.
WE COME BEFORE YOU THIS MORNING, HUMBLE AND GRATEFUL FOR ANOTHER DAY TO BE OF SERVICE TO YOU, TO BE OF PURPOSE BY SERVING YOUR PEOPLE.
THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING US TO GATHER TOGETHER IN THIS BEAUTIFUL SPACE, TO SEEK THE BEST COURSE OF ACTION AND OUTCOME FOR THOSE YOU HAVE ENTRUSTED TO EACH OF US.
FOR EACH OF THE COMMISSIONERS IN PRECINCTS ONE, TWO, THREE, AND FOUR, AND FOR THE JUDGE WHO LEADS THEM, FAITHFULLY TOUCH THEIR HEARTS AND THEIR MINDS, SO THEY WILL SEEK TO ACT JUSTLY FOR ALL PEOPLE, NOT JUST FOR SOME. GIVE THEM THE COURAGE TO SPEAK OUT AGAINST INJUSTICE AND TO SPEAK UP FOR JUSTICE, WHEREVER AND WHENEVER IT IS NEEDED FOR ALL ISSUES AND CONCERNS OF THIS DAY, AND EVEN FOR THE SUCCESSES AND THE JOYS OF THIS DAY, LET THEM BE REVEALED AND LET THEM LEAD US ALL TO A PRODUCTIVE OUTCOME.
LET US LISTEN NOT ONLY WITH OUR EARS AND OUR HEADS, BUT WITH OUR HEARTS.
LET US KNOW THAT WHATEVER WE DO WILL HONOR YOU.
WE THANK YOU FOR THE PEACE THAT YOU PROVIDE, AND WE LIFT IT ALL UP IN YOUR PRECIOUS AND HOLY NAME.
[00:05:01]
THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU, REVEREND WILKINS.I CAN'T THINK OF A BETTER PRAYER FOR FOR OUR FIRST MEETING.
SO LET'S NOW STAND AND RECITE THE PLEDGE.
I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.
AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS.
ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL.
HONOR. I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO TEXAS, ONE STATE UNDER GOD, ONE AND INDIVISIBLE.
SO WE HAVE SOME HOUSEKEEPING NOTES HERE.
[Departments (Part 1 of 2)]
FIRST, THE OFFICE OF COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR HAS REQUESTED TO REMIND ALL COURT OFFICES, DEPARTMENTS AND MEMBERS OF THE GENERAL PUBLIC THAT ALL SEATS IN THE COURTROOM ARE AVAILABLE ON A FIRST COME, FIRST SERVE BASIS AND CANNOT BE RESERVED.AND WE, AT THE REQUEST OF PRECINCT ONE, WE ARE TAKING THE UPLIFT HARRIS ITEM BEFORE RESOLUTIONS.
WE HAVE, I THINK, 13 RESOLUTIONS.
SO WE'RE GOING TO TAKE SOME IMPORTANT ITEMS BEFORE THAT JUST BECAUSE I KNOW ALL THE PRESS IS HERE.
AND THERE'S SEVERAL SPEAKERS SPECIFICALLY FOR THAT, THOSE COUPLE OF ITEMS. AND SO WE WILL ALSO TAKE ITEM 30 ON THE STRATEGIC FRAMEWORK OUT OF ORDER.
AND 34 AND 37 TO GIVE OMB ENOUGH TIME TO PRESENT THEIR BUDGET REPORT.
THAT'S AT THE REQUEST OF PRECINCT FOUR.
AND ALSO BASED OFF THE COUNTY ATTORNEY'S RECOMMENDATION, IS THAT WE START BY TAKING UP THE UPLIFT HARRIS ITEM, WHICH WE HAVE TO DISCUSS IN EXECUTIVE SESSION WITH OUR ATTORNEYS.
THERE YOU GO. FOR 94 AND THEN 94, AND THEN THAT WE TAKE ITEMS FOR 57 AND FOR 94 IS ON O'DONNELL.
I ALMOST WONDER, J IF WE COULD TAKE O'DONNELL LATER AS THAT ONE ALSO TIME SENSITIVE OR.
YES, IT IS JUST FOR THE COUNTY ATTORNEY.
IT'S TIME SENSITIVE. OKAY, SO SO WE WILL BE EFFICIENT, FOLKS.
I KNOW THERE'S A LOT OF FOLKS HERE, BUT THIS IS SORT OF A UNIQUE COURT IN THAT WE'RE WAITING TO DECIDE WHETHER TO DISBURSE THE UPLIFT HARRIS FUNDS BEFORE THE FINAL COURT RULING. AND WE HAVE TO DISCUSS THAT WITH THE LAWYERS AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.
SO. SO WE'LL GO BACK TO EXECUTIVE SESSION ON THOSE ITEMS. 494 ON UPLIFT HARRIS 457 AND ON 458 ON O'DONNELL.
AND THEN WE WILL RETURN DISCUSS UPLIFT HARRIS.
AND DISCUSS THE PURCHASING ITEM AS WELL THAT I KNOW FOLKS ARE HERE.
THEN WE'LL MOVE TO SPEAKERS AND GO AHEAD AND TAKE THE ITEMS THAT COMMISSIONER BRIAN HAS REQUESTED.
THANK YOU. I'M WILLING TO HEAR THOSE ITEMS AND YOUR ITEM IN PARTICULAR, IN ORDER.
BUT A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE HERE TO SPEAK, AND I'M AND I'D LOVE TO HEAR THEM SPEAK BEFORE WE GET INTO OUR RESPECTIVE ITEMS. SO I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO CONSIDER YOUR ITEM IN CONTEXT WITH THE IMPROVEMENTS WE'RE MAKING TO OUR PROCUREMENT PROCESS, WHICH ARE REFLECTED IN ITEMS 387 AND 407.
AND WHICH ONE? COMMISSIONER 387 407 AND 487.
AFTER PUBLIC SPEAKERS 87 SECOND.
OF THREE, 87, 407, OR 387, IS A REQUEST FOR APPROVAL TO PROVIDE A PROJECT MANAGER FOR A PROCURE TO PAY INITIATIVE.
SURE. AND WHICH OTHER ONE? IT'S 387 407 AND 487.
REQUEST BY THE COUNTY JUDGE FOR APPROVAL TO RETURN ALL PROCUREMENT TO THE PURCHASING AGENT.
YEAH, I THINK THEY ALL GO TOGETHER.
AND THEY'RE RELATING TO RELATED TO THE PURCHASING AGENT.
SO WE'LL TAKE ALL OF THOSE TOGETHER.
ALL RIGHT. SO THERE'S A MOTION ON THE TABLE.
THERE'S BEEN A SECOND. DO WE NEED A MOTION TO TAKE THOSE ALL THOSE TOGETHER?
[00:10:07]
I'M. I'M REQUESTING THAT THEY BE TAKEN TOGETHER.BUT THE MOTION IS TO HEAR THEM AFTER PUBLIC SPEAKERS.
THAT'S FINE. IS THERE A MOTION NECESSARY? YEAH. JUDGE, IF THERE'S A MOTION ON THE TABLE, YOU CAN JUST TAKE THE VOTE AND OR IF YOU IF EVERYONE AGREES, THEN WE CAN JUST IF YOU WANT TO JUST AGREE BECAUSE YOU CAN ORDER IT THAT WAY, THEN JUST SAY YOU COULD DO IT.
I'D RATHER STAY WITH THE MOTION.
OKAY, SO IT IS 1023, AND WE'RE HEADED TO EXECUTIVE SESSION ON THOSE THREE.
THERE'S A MOTION A SECOND, AND THEN NOW WE CALL A VOTE.
YEAH. WE CAN. I THINK IT'S JUST THAT THERE'S NO NEED TO JUDGE.
SO I DON'T THINK IT'S NECESSARY UNLESS YOU WANT TO TAKE A TAKE THE VOTE.
OKAY. THE MOTION ON TABLE, AS COMMISSIONER BROWN SAID AND SECONDED.
WHO SECONDED IT? I DID, RAMSEY OKAY.
ANY OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY.
I'M SORRY. JUST TO VERIFY IT WAS MOTION BY COMMISSIONER GARCIA, SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER RAMSEY.
OKAY, SO DO WE NEED A MOTION TO PUT.
UPLIFT HARRISON EXECUTIVE SESSION.
DOES ANYONE DISAGREE ON THAT? OKAY, GUYS, IT'S GOING TO TAKE A LONG TIME.
IF WE TAKE A MOTION ON THINGS EVERYONE AGREES ON.
SO LET'S TRY NOT TO DO THAT, OKAY? IT'S 1024 AND WE'RE OFF TO EXECUTIVE SESSION.
[Executive Session]
AND YOU CAN START SAYING, OKAY, IT'S IT'S 11:00 AND COMMISSIONERS COURT IS BACK FROM EXECUTIVE SESSION.SO OUR HEARTS GO OUT TO THE DEPUTY AND THE FAMILY.
APPARENTLY HE WAS IN A WORKING A TRAFFIC ACCIDENT, AND HE'S IN CRITICAL CONDITION, SO.
SO LET'S JUST TAKE A QUICK MOMENT OF SILENCE.
HE WAS. HE'S AT MEMORIAL HERMANN RIGHT NOW IN THE MEDICAL CENTER.
SO LET'S SAY A QUICK MOMENT OF SILENCE, THEN SEND HIM SOME SOME HEALING SOME HEALING THOUGHTS.
OKAY, SO COMMISSIONER ELLIS IS BACK.
SO? SO WE WENT TO EXECUTIVE SESSION ON THREE DIFFERENT ITEMS. THE FIRST ONE FOR 94 WAS ON UPLIFT.
AND AND WE'RE WE'RE NOT TAKING ANY SPECIFIC, SPECIFIC ACTION HERE.
WE'RE STAYING THE COURSE. SO WE DECIDED TO DO NOTHING, WHICH MEANS THAT THE PROGRAM WILL PROCEED.
NO COURT HAS BLOCKED THE COUNTY FROM SENDING OUT THE PAYMENT.
GIVEN THAT THE STATE IS SO FOCUSED ON THIS, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO TAKE IT ONE PAYMENT AT A TIME.
BUT THE FIRST PAYMENT IS NOW OUT THE DOOR.
OF THOSE, ONLY 1600 HAVE BEEN VERIFIED, AND THOSE ARE THE FOLKS THAT WILL RECEIVE THE PAYMENT TODAY.
AND I WANT TO MAKE THE POINT THAT THE COURT OF APPEALS DID RULE FOR US.
AND SO I'M PLEASED TO SEE THAT WE HAD A BIPARTISAN RULING IN FAVOR OF HARRIS COUNTY.
AND I SURE HOPE THAT THE THAT THE TEXAS SUPREME COURT CAN ALSO SEE PAST THE POLITICS.
BUT CERTAINLY IF WE'RE NOT ABLE TO MAKE THE PAYMENTS LATER, IT'LL BE ON THE ATTORNEY GENERAL.
I DO WANT TO TAKE THE SPEAKERS, AND THEN WE WILL TAKE THE SPEAKERS ON 457 AND 458, WHICH IS THE O'DONNELL ITEMS, AND WE WILL TAKE SOME ACTION ON THAT ITEM.
SO, SO TIFFANY, IF YOU WANT TO START WITH THE SPEAKERS, DO WE HAVE A WHOLE LOT OF SPEAKERS? WE MIGHT AS WELL TAKE ALL OF THEM AT THIS POINT.
WE DO HAVE A LARGE NUMBER OF SPEAKERS.
OKAY. I THINK, TIFFANY, I THINK YOU'RE NEEDED.
WE HAVE 60 SPEAKERS FOR RESOLUTION.
OKAY. SO LET'S GO AHEAD AND HEAR THE SPEAKERS FOR THESE TWO ITEMS.
[Appearances before court ]
OH YES.FOR I'M SORRY. FOR ITEM FOR 94.
[00:15:01]
THOSE ARE UPLIFT AND THE TWO O'DONNELL ITEMS. AND AND ONE QUICK MATTER.WELL, WE CAN SEE THEM THERE ON THE BACK OF THIS TECH SAVVY ROOM.
AND IF WE LEAN ON THE WALLS, THE CAMERA SHAKE.
SO, ANYWAY I'M JUST PASSING ALONG, BUT, YOU KNOW, MAYBE WE'LL JUST TOLERATE THEM SHAKING.
SO, JUDGE. SO THE MOTION WILL BE MADE AFTER THE SPEAKERS ARE CORRECT? YES. ALL RIGHT.
WE HAVE SPEAKER NUMBER 33, SERGIO LIRA.
HE'S SPEAKING ON ITEM 216 AND 494.
SERGIO, WE'RE GOING TO SEND YOU A RESOLUTION.
FIRST SPEAKER IN THE NEW CHAMBER.
WONDERFUL. GOOD TO SEE EVERYONE TODAY.
FIRST OF ALL, I JUST WANT TO SAY THAT I'M JUST SO HAPPY TO SEE EVERYONE.
FORGIVE ME, BUT I'M JUST HERE TO SAY THAT GREATER HOUSTON LULAC 4967 STRONGLY SUPPORTS UPLIFT.
HARRIS. YOU KNOW, THIS COUNTRY HAS BEEN CONSISTENTLY SUPPORTING AND BAILING OUT THE WEALTHY.
DO YOU REMEMBER WHEN THEY BAILED OUT WALL STREET? DO YOU RECALL, YOU KNOW, ALL THE TAX ABATEMENTS? DO YOU KNOW THAT YOU KNOW, A WEALTHY BUSINESSMAN RECEIVED PPA LOANS, FEDERAL MONEY, TAXPAYER MONEY.
BUT I'M HERE TO LET YOU KNOW THAT HOUSTON IS FACING IS IS WAS WHAT DO YOU CALL IT? IT WAS CREATED IN SWAMPLAND.
SO WE'RE FACING, YOU KNOW, HURRICANE SEASON, ELECTRICAL BILLS ARE SKYROCKETING.
AND JUNE AND JULY, THEY'RE ABOUT 600 OR 700.
SO IT JUST MAKES LOGICAL SENSE TO SUPPORT THE POOR.
IF WE CAN SUPPORT THE WEALTHY, WE CAN SUPPORT THE POOR.
SO I'M STANDING HERE TODAY ON BEHALF OF GREATER HOUSTON LULAC.
YES, MA'AM. THANK YOU FOR COMING, MR. LEHRER. THANK YOU. JUDGE THE OTHER SPEAKERS FOR THOSE ITEMS HAVE NOT SHOWN UP YET.
SO WE DON'T HAVE SPEAKERS FOR 457 OR 458 HERE CURRENTLY, CORRECT? OKAY. SO COUNTY ATTORNEY, DO WE WAIT UNTIL THEY SHOW UP TO VOTE ON THOSE TWO ITEMS? NO, THOSE SPEAKERS AREN'T HERE.
THEN YOU CAN MOVE FORWARD ON IT.
OKAY. SO IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE ITEMS 457 AND 458? I'LL MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE AS WRITTEN.
457 AND 458 COMMISSIONER RAMSEY HAS MADE A MOTION.
IS THERE A SECOND? THERE IS NO SECOND THE MOTION DIES FOR LACK OF A SECOND.
THERE WERE A COUPLE ITEMS THAT PRECINCT FOUR WANT TO TAKE OUT OF ORDER.
WOULD YOU LIKE TO TAKE THAT BEFORE THE RESOLUTIONS OR AFTER THE RESOLUTIONS AFTER, PLEASE?
[Departments (Part 2 of 2)]
OKAY. SO LET'S.YES. I'M SORRY, THIS IS MARICELA.
YEAH. REAL QUICK. I DO NEED A MOTION FOR ITEM 4.94.
SO THERE'S NO NO MOTION ON THAT ONE? NO. NO ACTION.
WE'RE JUST STAYING THE COURSE.
OKAY, SO THEN LET'S MOVE ON TO THE RESOLUTIONS.
FIRST. HERE I HAVE ITEM THREE.
SO THIS IS A REQUEST TO CONGRATULATE RICHARD RICK GOODMAN FOR MORE THAN 30 YEARS OF SERVICE TO THE RESIDENTS OF HARRIS COUNTY. AND OUR FIRST HONOREE HERE, MR. RICHARD GOODMAN, MANAGER OF TRAFFIC OPERATIONS FOR THE HARRIS COUNTY ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT, HAS ELECTED TO RETIRE AFTER 30 YEARS OF PUBLIC SERVICE.
NOW, THE DEPARTMENT HAS 51,050 SIGNALIZED TRAFFIC INTERSECTIONS AND 1600 SCHOOL ZONE BEACONS OVER THE LAST 31 YEARS, HE HELPED IN THE RESPONSE TO HURRICANE HARVEY.
HE HAS SPEARHEADED THE RESEARCH AND IMPLEMENTATION OF THE OF THE ADVANCED TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT SYSTEM, WHICH LINKED ALL MAJOR CORRIDORS THAT WERE ON FIBER OPTIC COMMUNICATIONS, AND HE HAS OVERSEEN THE COMPLETION OF A CELLULAR, CELLULAR, MODERN MODEM PROJECT.
THE OFFICE OF COUNTY ENGINEER, AND MR. GOODMAN'S TEAM HAVE BEEN PRIVILEGED AND ARE GRATEFUL FOR THE SUPPORT AND EXPERTISE THAT HE HAS BESTOWED THROUGHOUT HIS CAREER, AND HE IS LOOKING FORWARD TO DEVOTING TIME TO
[00:20:09]
FAMILY AND FRIENDS IN PURSUING VARIOUS INTERESTS.BE IT RESOLVED THAT HARRIS COUNTY COMMISSIONERS COURT HEREBY COMMENDS AND CONGRATULATES RICK GOODMAN AND HARRIS COUNTY, TEXAS, IN RECOGNITION OF HIS PROFESSIONAL DEDICATION AND FOR 30 YEARS OF SERVICE TO THE RESIDENTS OF HARRIS COUNTY.
CONGRATULATIONS. I KNOW DOCTOR RAHMAN IS ONE OF THE SPEAKERS, SO GO AHEAD, DIRECTOR.
GOOD MORNING MEMBERS OF THE COURT.
TODAY I'M HERE IN A BITTERSWEET MOMENT TO CELEBRATE THE RETIREMENT OF ONE OF OUR GREAT EMPLOYEE, RICK GOODMAN.
SO RICK IS A TRUE SERVANT LEADER FOR HARRIS COUNTY.
HE STARTED IN HARRIS COUNTY IN 1993.
DURING HIS TENURE, RIC PROGRESSIVELY ADVANCED THROUGH VARIOUS POSITIONS.
HE HAS STARTED AS A TRAFFIC INSPECTOR, MOVED TO OUR CHIEF INSPECTOR, MOVED TO A PROJECT MANAGER IN THE TRAFFIC TEAM AND HE'S RETIRING AS OUR OPERATION MANAGER FOR OUR TRAFFIC SYSTEM.
AND MANY OF YOU KNOW WHEN HE STARTED, WE HAVE 400.
SIGNALS SIGNALIZED INTERSECTION IN HARRIS COUNTY.
AND TODAY WE HAVE 1050 SIGNALIZED TRAFFIC INTERSECTION.
IF HE HAS PLAYED A VITAL ROLE DURING THE RECOVERY FOR HURRICANE HARVEY.
HIS TEAM AND HIS EFFORT RESULTED, RESTORING ALL 1363 LOCATIONS TO SAFE OPERATIONS WITHIN 16 DAYS OF THE STORM. PASSING.
IN FALL OF 2023, RIEK OVERSAW THE COMPLETION OF OUR CELLULAR MODEM PROJECT.
FOR THE ENTIRE HARRIS COUNTY SYSTEM.
WHICH BROUGHT COMMUNICATION TO 100% OF THE DEPARTMENT'S SIGNALIZED INTERSECTION TODAY.
THROUGHOUT RICK'S LEADERSHIP DURING HIS ENTIRE TIME, HE HAS MENTORED HUNDREDS OF OUR EMPLOYEES, OUR MANAGERS. SO THANK YOU RICK, FOR YOUR YEARS OF SERVICE, DEDICATION AND FRIENDSHIP.
ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU, COMMISSIONERS COURT.
I'M HONORED TO RECEIVE THIS COMMENDATION.
I HAVE A FEW MEMBERS HERE, AND THERE ARE OTHERS WATCHING REMOTELY.
IT'S BEEN MY HONOR AND PLEASURE TO SERVE HARRIS COUNTY.
THANK YOU AGAIN. CONGRATULATE.
LET'S MOVE ON TO THE NEXT RESOLUTION.
AND WE'LL BE EXCITED TO TAKE A PICTURE WITH YOU, MR. GOODMAN, AND YOUR FAMILY.
THIS IS A RESOLUTION TO DECLARE THE MONTH OF APRIL 2024 AS MOSQUITO SEASON.
WE PROBABLY ALL ALREADY NOTICED, BUT IT'S IMPORTANT.
WHEREAS THE ARRIVAL OF WARMER TEMPERATURES IN HARRIS COUNTY CREATES THE IDEAL BREEDING CONDITIONS FOR MOSQUITOES, HARRIS COUNTY IS HOME TO ABOUT 56 MOSQUITO SPECIES, OF WHICH A FEW CAN CARRY SERIOUS DISEASES SUCH AS WEST NILE VIRUS, ZIKA VIRUS, SAINT LOUIS, SAINT LOUIS ENCEPHALITIS, DENGUE AND CHIKUNGUNYA. HARRIS COUNTY PUBLIC HEALTH IS COMMITTED TO PROTECTING THE HEALTH AND WELL-BEING OF OUR COMMUNITY MEMBERS, AND THEIR MOSQUITO AND VECTOR CONTROL DIVISION IMPLEMENTS A COMPREHENSIVE MOSQUITO CONTROL PROGRAM THAT INCLUDES SURVEILLANCE, LARVICIDING, ADULT SIGHTING, VIRAL TESTING, AND
[00:25:04]
PUBLIC EDUCATION.PUBLIC AWARENESS IS CRITICAL IN REDUCING MOSQUITO POPULATIONS, SO HERE'S WHAT WE NEED FOLKS TO DO.
USE INSECT REPELLENT CONTAINING DEET OR OIL OF LEMON EUCALYPTUS OR OTHERS.
AND THANK YOU TO OUR HARRIS COUNTY PUBLIC HEALTH DEPARTMENT.
I'VE SEEN THE OPERATION AND ONE OF THE THE GREAT PROJECTS THEY HAVE THAT GOES SOMETIMES UNNOTICED.
GOOD MORNING, BARBIE ROBINSON, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF HARRIS COUNTY PUBLIC HEALTH.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR RECOGNIZING AND RAISING AWARENESS OF OUR OUR NEED TO BE HYPER VIGILANT FOR MOSQUITO VECTOR SERVICES AND PROGRAMING TO PREVENT THE SPREAD OF VECTOR BORNE DISEASES WITHIN HARRIS COUNTY.
AS YOU MENTIONED, THE SAFEGUARDS THAT WE WANT EVERYONE TO TAKE NOW THAT IT'S GETTING WARMER OUTSIDE.
AND I JUST WANTED TO SHARE SOME STATISTICS, NOT AS A SCARED STRAIGHT, BUT JUST TO BE VIGILANT.
THE THREE THE THESE THREE DISEASES COMPRISE 75% OF THE VECTOR BORNE DISEASES WITHIN THE COUNTY.
WE WANT TO PREVENT YOU FROM HAVING A COMMUNITY BORNE IN THE COUNTY.
THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU SO MUCH.
THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR WORK INTO THE THE DIVISION DIRECTOR.
THANK YOU. MY FINAL RESOLUTION THAT WILL MOVE TO COMMISSIONER ELLIS'S RESOLUTION.
IT'S AROUND THE HARRIS COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY.
WHEREAS HARRIS COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY'S MISSION IS TO ENRICH LIVES, TO STRENGTHEN COMMUNITIES IN TODAY'S WORLD, INTERNET ACCESS NOT ONLY CONNECTS USERS WITH SCHOOL, WORK AND OTHER SERVICES, IT ALSO ALLOWS PEOPLE TO CONNECT TO OTHERS IN THEIR COMMUNITY TO ENACT POSITIVE CHANGE.
THE LIBRARY OFFERED NEARLY 2100 COMPUTER AND TECHNOLOGY CLASSES AT ITS 26 BRAND LOCATIONS JUST IN 2023, ACROSS THE COUNTY, ONLINE AND IN ADDITION TO PATRONS USING THE LIBRARY'S FREE PUBLIC WI-FI NEARLY 2.6 MILLION TIMES IN SUPPORT OF HARRIS COUNTY UNIVERSAL SERVICES NITRO PARTNERSHIP WITH MOTOROLA, THE LIBRARY.
IN 2021, THE LIBRARY WAS AWARDED A FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION EMERGENCY GRANT OF APPROXIMATELY $30 MILLION, THE LARGEST SUCH GRANT AWARDED TO A LIBRARY AND AN ADDITIONAL $15 MILLION IN 2022 TO PROVIDE BETTER, MORE EQUITABLE ACCESS TO THE DIGITAL TOOLS, THE LIBRARY AND COMMUNITY PARTNERS DISTRIBUTED 40,000 MOBILE WI-FI HOTSPOTS, 30,000 LAPTOPS AND IN RECOGNITION OF THESE PROGRAMS, THE LIBRARY WAS DESIGNATED A 2023 VISIONARY DIGITAL INCLUSION TRAILBLAZER BY THE NATIONAL DIGITAL INCLUSION ALLIANCE. WHEREAS THE LIBRARY MEETS ALL FEDERAL COMMUNICATION COMMISSION'S CRITERIA TO BE DESIGNATED A BROADBAND COMMUNITY ANCHOR INSTITUTION, PROVIDING OUTREACH, ACCESS EQUIPMENT AND SUPPORT SERVICES TO FACILITATE GREATER USE OF BROADBAND SERVICE BY VULNERABLE POPULATIONS.
CONGRATULATIONS. EDWARD MILTON, LIBRARY DIRECTOR FOR HARRIS COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY.
THANK YOU, COMMISSIONERS COURT, FOR THIS DESIGNATION.
IT REALLY SETS US UP FOR FUTURE OPPORTUNITIES IN SPACE IN TERMS OF BROADBAND.
IN THE NEAR FUTURE THERE WILL BE A BROADBAND EQUITY ACCESS DEPLOYMENT PROGRAM THAT WILL BE REQUESTING FOR PROPOSALS SO THAT TO HELP SUPPORT INFRASTRUCTURE AND CONNECTIVITY THROUGHOUT THE COUNTY, THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY.
[00:30:08]
HAVE LONG TERM SUSTAINABLE SOLUTIONS FOR BROADBAND ACCESS TO PEOPLE WITHIN THEIR HOMES, WHICH IS AFFORDABLE.AND SO THAT MEANS THAT THERE THERE'S GOING TO BE THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE WHO DON'T HAVE ACCESS.
I'M TY BEECHAM. I'M THE IT DIRECTOR FOR HARRIS COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY.
I WANTED TO THANK YOU ALL THIS MORNING FOR CONSIDERING THIS RESOLUTION TO DESIGNATE THE PUBLIC LIBRARIES AS COMMUNITY ANCHOR INSTITUTIONS PROVIDING BROADBAND SERVICES TO UNDERSERVED POPULATIONS.
OF COURSE, WE'VE BEEN IN THAT BUSINESS FOR OVER A QUARTER OF A CENTURY.
LONG BEFORE THE TERM COMMUNITY BROADBAND INSTITUTION WAS COINED.
THIS RESOLUTION, AS EDWARD SAID, DOES COME AT A CRITICAL TIME.
THE EMERGENCY CONNECTIVITY FUND, WHICH PROVIDED TENS OF THOUSANDS OF HARRIS COUNTY CONSTITUENTS WITH INTERNET CONNECTIVITY, AS WELL AS THE AFFORDABLE CONNECTIVITY PROGRAM, WHICH GAVE HOME INTERNET SUBSIDIES TO TENS OF THOUSANDS MORE, ARE BOTH, UNFORTUNATELY, ENDING.
AND AS WE FACE THESE DIFFICULT CHALLENGES WE ARE SEARCHING FOR, YOU KNOW, SUSTAINABLE SOLUTIONS THAT ARE GOING TO HELP US CONTINUE THE WORK OF BRIDGING THE DIGITAL DIVIDE IN HARRIS COUNTY.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH.
THANK YOU. AND CONGRATULATIONS.
THANK YOU. OKAY, WE'LL MOVE ON TO COMMISSIONER ELLIS.
I'LL PASS IT ON TO YOU. THANK YOU.
ONE OF OUR GREAT LEADERS THERE ASKED ME TO DO IT.
HE WAS KIND ENOUGH TO DEFER ON SPEAKING, AND I'LL JUST GO AND PRESENT IT.
BUT HE WASN'T ONE THAT ALL OF US TO SIGN.
THE SECOND ONE RELATES TO BLACK MATERNAL HEALTH.
THIS IS BLACK MATERNAL HEALTH WEEK.
SECOND POINT THAT I'LL JUST HIGHLIGHTED IS, WHEREAS THE DISEASE CONTROL CENTER ESTIMATED 80% OF MATERNAL DEATHS ARE PREVENTABLE, AND NUMBER THREE, HARRIS COUNTY PREGNANCY RELATED DEATH RATE HAS CONSISTENTLY BEEN HIGHER THAN THE US RATES SINCE 2016, WITH AN INCREASE OF 31.65 PER 100,000 LIVE BIRTHS IN 2019 TO 54.85 PER 100,000 LIVE BIRTHS IN 2019.
I APPRECIATE THE WORK THAT BARBARA ROBINSON AND HER TEAM HAVE BEEN DOING ON THIS ISSUE.
THEY HAD A GREAT CONFERENCE HERE IN HOUSTON WHERE THEY GATHERED OVER 200 ATTENDEES FROM LOCALLY AND AROUND THE COUNTRY, 300 VIRTUALLY TO ADDRESS THE ISSUE OF BLACK MATERNAL HEALTH. AND WE ARE PIONEERING WHAT CAN BE DONE.
JUST THANK YOU FOR COMING ALONG WITH TWO OTHER COUNTY CHAIRS FROM COOK COUNTY AND WAYNE COUNTY, AND THEY SHOULD KNOW IF HOUSTON, HARRIS COUNTY, DETROIT, WAYNE COUNTY, CHICAGO, COOK COUNTY CAN LOWER THE RATES FOR BLACK INFANT DEATHS BY 9%. OUR NATIONAL STATISTICS WOULD BE ON PAR FOR ALL RACIAL AND ETHNIC GROUPS IN THE COUNTRY.
SO IT WAS IMPORTANT THAT ALL THREE OF YOU ALL WOULD BE IN HOUSTON FOR THAT.
I THINK, DOCTOR BARBARA ROBINSON MAY BE.
OH, SHE'S HERE. THAT MEANS SHE'S ALREADY COMPLIED WITH THE LAW AND GOT THAT FIRST CHECK OUT.
SO I'M GLAD SHE'S HERE, BUT SHE MAY WANT TO SAY SOMETHING.
YEAH. THANK YOU ALL FOR RECOGNIZING THIS WEEK AS BLACK MATERNAL HEALTH WEEK.
I'M JOINED BY DOCTOR ERIKA BROWN, WHO RUNS OUR COMMUNITY HEALTH AND WELLNESS DIVISION AND OUR MATERNAL, CHILD AND ADOLESCENT HEALTH PROGRAMING, WHICH WE DID NOT HAVE PRIOR TO OUR TENURE IN THIS ROLE, WHICH EVERY HEALTH DEPARTMENT AROUND THE COUNTRY HAS.
SO WE'RE BEGINNING THE PROCESS OF TRYING TO ADDRESS THESE DISPARITIES.
AND THANK YOU FOR ALL THE INVESTMENTS YOU'VE MADE TO RAISE THIS ISSUE.
WE ARE ON THE NATIONAL STAGE, BUT NOT IN A GOOD WAY.
HARRIS COUNTY'S MATERNAL AND INFANT MORTALITY RATES FOR AFRICAN AMERICAN BABIES AND BIRTHING PERSONS IS HIGHER THAN THE NATIONAL AVERAGE AND HIGHER THAN THE STATE, AND SO WE HAVE DONE A NUMBER OF THINGS TO BRING PROGRAMING TO REDUCE THOSE DISPARITIES AND PARTNER WITH OUR PARTNERS ACROSS THE MEDICAL COMMUNITY TO TRY TO REDUCE THOSE DISPARITIES.
AND SO I ALSO WANTED TO SHARE THAT WE ISSUED OUR FIRST MATERNAL HEALTH REPORT LAST LAST WEEK, AS WELL AS OUR MATERNAL HEALTH BILL OF RIGHTS, WHICH IS AVAILABLE FOR ANY OF YOUR TIME, IS UP. ANY BIRTHING PERSON.
[00:35:02]
I WANT TO SHARE THEM WITH YOU.WE'LL SHARE THESE WITH YOU, COMMISSIONER BRIONES AND THEN COMMISSIONER RAMSEY.
THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER ELLIS, FOR BRINGING FORTH THIS RESOLUTION.
DIRECTOR ROBINSON, DOCTOR BROWN, DOCTOR HUGHES, THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP HERE IN HARRIS COUNTY.
AND I HAVE HOPE BECAUSE YOU ALL ARE AT THE HELM AND WE ARE INVESTING THIS MONEY.
BUT FOR EVERYONE WHO IS LISTENING, JUST TO UNDERSCORE THE FACT THAT HARRIS COUNTY, WE HAVE THE WORLD'S LARGEST MEDICAL CENTER, ONE OF THE BEST MEDICAL CENTERS IN THE WORLD, AND HARRIS COUNTY LEADS THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA IN BLACK MATERNAL MORTALITY.
THAT IS UNCONSCIONABLE AND UNACCEPTABLE.
AND THROUGH THE WORK OF ACCESS, OUR MATERNAL HEALTH COHORT, OUR REPRODUCTIVE ACCESS FUND, AND SO MUCH OF THE WORK YOU'RE DOING TO EDUCATE AND HELP WITH ACCESS, WE'RE LUCKY TO HAVE YOUR LEADERSHIP, AND WE ALL NEED TO DOUBLE DOWN AS A COMMUNITY TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE DRIVING PROGRESS, BECAUSE THE CURRENT STATE OF PLAY IS UNACCEPTABLE.
THANK YOU. COMMISSIONER ROBINSON, THANK YOU FOR YOUR WORK ON THIS.
THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER, FOR BRINGING THIS TO TODAY.
IF I MIGHT MAKE ONE CHANGE, I HAD SOMEONE CONTACT ME LAST NIGHT.
RATHER THAN REFERRING TO BIRTHING PERSONS.
WE USE TERMINOLOGY INTERCHANGEABLY.
WE TRY TO HAVE AN EXPANSIVE DEFINITION.
I USUALLY SAY BIRTHING PERSONS AND MOMS, SO I DON'T HAVE ANY OBJECTIONS.
COMMISSIONER GARCIA THANK YOU DIRECTOR.
AND THANK YOU, YOUR TEAM, FOR ALL THAT YOU'RE DOING ON THIS MATTER.
COMMISSIONER ELLIS, THANK YOU FOR BRINGING THIS ITEM TO COURT.
AND I THINK AS COMMISSIONER JONES HAS TOUCHED ON AND I IMAGINE IT'S THE HEART OF A MOTHER SPEAKING THAT HARRIS COUNTY, BEING HOME TO THE MEDICAL CENTER AND STILL HAVING THIS AND SO MANY OTHER HEALTH DISPARITIES, IT IS JUST BEYOND ME HOW THAT CAN BE.
IF ANYTHING, WE SHOULD BE LEADING IN MEDICINE.
WE SHOULD BE LEADING IN COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT.
AND AND WE SHOULD BE SHOWING OTHER FOLKS HOW TO GET IT DONE.
SO I APPRECIATE THE WORK BEING DONE.
BUT THE GOAL SHOULDN'T BE EQUITY IN CHILD OR INFANT MORTALITY.
THE GOAL SHOULD BE ELIMINATING IT ACROSS ALL COMMUNITIES.
THE LATINO COMMUNITY IS NOT FAR BEHIND.
AND AND SO I JUST SAY TO ALL OF OUR MOTHERS THAT THIS IS SOMETHING THAT IS A PRIORITY FOR ANYONE WHO HAS GONE THROUGH THIS GOD BLESS YOU. AND BUT I HOPE THAT WE WILL FIND A WAY TO DEMONSTRATE A MODEL THAT WILL SAVE COUNTLESS OF LIVES ACROSS THE COUNTRY.
I DO WANT TO SAY, IN ADDITION TO THE RESOLUTION.
AND IT'S ALWAYS IMPORTANT TO DO IT.
AND I'M PROUD THAT WE DID THAT BECAUSE IT'S SO EASY FOR US ALL TO PASS RESOLUTIONS.
UNFORTUNATELY, THEY TAKE MORE THAN VERY IMPORTANT RESOLUTIONS.
BUT I JUST WANT TO STRESS THAT AND THANK YOU FOR THE WORK YOU'VE DONE IN THAT AREA.
MY LAST ONE I WANT TO THANK DIRECTOR COSTAS.
COSTAS AND I WERE TALKING YESTERDAY, AND I SAW WE HAD 18 RESOLUTIONS, AND I SAID, I DON'T THINK I NEED A SPEAKER, BUT IT IS IMPORTANT THAT HARRIS COUNTY COMMEMORATES THE 56TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE FAIR HOUSING ACT, WHICH PASSED ON APRIL THE 11TH, 1968.
WITH THAT, OUTLAWED HOUSING DISCRIMINATION MADE IT ILLEGAL.
AND IT WAS A PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES FROM TEXAS THAT SIGNED THAT LAW.
BUT IT'S A STRAIGHTFORWARD RESOLUTION.
IS IT $100 MILLION? WE PUT 100, OVER $100 MILLION OF FUNDING FROM THE BIDEN-HARRIS ADMINISTRATION INTO DOING SOMETHING TO MAKE HOUSING FAIRER. AND THAT'S MY LAST RESOLUTION.
[00:40:01]
YOU NOTICE HOW QUICKLY I WENT THROUGH THEM? THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER GARCIA.THANK YOU. AND MY FIRST ITEM IS WE ALL HEARD THE TRAGIC NEWS OF A YOUNG LIFE THAT WAS LOST.
AND YOU KNOW, I'M ALWAYS PROUD WHEN OUR LOCAL TALENT IS ABLE TO GET TO INCREDIBLE PLATFORMS AND BE CELEBRATED WHETHER IT'S AS MUSICIANS OR ARTISTS OF OTHER FORMS OR AS ATHLETES.
AND YOU KNOW, WE RECENTLY TALKED ABOUT HOW.
AND BUT RECENTLY WE ALSO SUFFERED WITH OUR LOCAL FAMILY IN THE LOSS OF A LIFE OF JAVON COLES.
AND I'D LIKE TO ASK MISTER COLES GRANDFATHER TO JAVAUGHN TO PLEASE MAKE HIS WAY TO THE PODIUM.
FIRST AND FOREMOST, AN INCREDIBLE ATHLETE AND A GIFTED COMMUNITY MEMBER OF HARRIS COUNTY.
JAVON WAS A MEMBER OF HOUSTON CHRONICLE'S ALL GREATER HOUSTON TEAM THIS YEAR.
HE FINISHED WITH 76 TOTAL TACKLES, 11 TACKLES FOR LOSSES AND FOUR SACKS.
WHILE IN HIGH SCHOOL, HE ATTENDED SAN JACINTO COLLEGE AS A DUAL CREDIT STUDENT AND WAS ACCEPTED INTO OVER A DOZEN AREA UNIVERSITIES ACROSS THE COUNTRY.
THE NATIONAL ARBOR SOCIETY PLANTED TEN TREES IN HIS NAME.
MR. COLES WAS DEDICATED TO HIS GOALS.
I REMEMBER THOSE KIND OF DAYS.
IT'S IMPORTANT TO REMEMBER AND HONOR THE LIFE OF SUCH A PROMISING YOUNG MAN.
AND A FEW MORE DETAILS ABOUT JAVON.
HE WAS 18 YEARS OLD AND WAS A SENIOR AND FOOTBALL PLAYER TO THE NORTH SHORE HIGH SCHOOL MUSTANGS.
EARNING DUAL CREDITS, AS I MENTIONED.
AND ON HIS WAY TO AN INCREDIBLE COLLEGE CAREER, NO DOUBT.
HE HAD AN INCREDIBLE COMMITMENT TO EDUCATION, HIS FAMILY AND COMMUNITY.
AND HE HAD BEEN RECENTLY NAMED STUDENT OF THE MONTH AS AN HONOR STUDENT AND TOP ATHLETE.
HE PLANNED TO PURSUE HIS PASSION AT LAMAR UNIVERSITY.
AT THE CELEBRATION OF LIFE SERVICE, HUNDREDS OF COMMUNITY MEMBERS PAID THEIR LAST RESPECTS, WITH CONGRESSWOMAN SHEILA JACKSON LEE AND HOUSTON MAYOR JOHN WHITMIRE DECLARING MARCH 16TH 2024 AS JAVON COLES DAY.
WE'LL HAVE TO UNDERSTAND WHERE THAT CAME FROM.
AND TRAYVON IS SURVIVED BY HIS MOTHER, BRITTNEY COLES, FATHER, JARVIS PAYNE GRANDPARENTS, RENEE AND PRACTICE AND COLES, FAMILY MEMBERS AND COACHES AND TEAMMATES, ALL WHO WILL DEARLY MISS.
JAVAUGHN. HE OBVIOUSLY MADE AN INDELIBLE IMPACT ON OUR COMMUNITY.
AND SO, MR. COLES, JUST TO SAY AGAIN, YOU'RE HERE BECAUSE WE WANTED TO FIRST GIVE THE FAMILY A LITTLE BIT OF BREATHING TIME AFTER THIS INCREDIBLE TRAGEDY.
BUT IT WAS NOT LOST ON ME BEING THAT YOUR FAMILY AND JAVAUGHN ARE MEMBERS OF MY PRECINCT THAT WE WANTED TO TAKE THE FIRST OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE YOU HERE.
TO KNOW THAT WE'RE ALSO CELEBRATING AND HONORING AND REMEMBERING JAVAUGHN.
GOD BLESS YOU. AND THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.
[00:45:03]
IF YOU'D LIKE TO SAY ANY PRAYER, ANY WORDS, YOU YOU KNOW, THIS IS A DIFFICULT TIME.A LITTLE BIT YOU KNOW, SATURDAY WAS PROM.
IN TWO WEEKS, THREE WEEKS, HIS GRADUATION.
SO WE KIND OF STAND IN THE BACKGROUND.
BUT THROUGH THIS ALL, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE KIND OF THE COMMUNITY HAS KEPT US GOING.
NOW IF WE CAN SAVE ONE LIFE, THAT'S, YOU KNOW, ONE LESS, YOU KNOW, TEAR ONE LESS HEARTACHE.
SO I WANT TO THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER GARCIA.
AND I WANT TO THANK THE COURT FOR HAVING ME HERE TODAY.
THANK YOU. COMMISSIONER BRIONES HAS SOMETHING TO SAY TO YOU, SIR.
YES, MA'AM. MR. COLES, OUR DEEPEST CONDOLENCES, SIR.
THANK YOU. I CAN ONLY IMAGINE THE PAIN YOU AND YOUR FAMILY MUST BE GOING THROUGH.
THANK YOU. AND WE HOPE THAT MISS JORDAN'S LIFE WAS NOT LOST IN VAIN.
AND WE HOPE THAT ALL OF US HERE TODAY AND EVERYONE LISTENING, CAN RECOMMIT OURSELVES BECAUSE WE KNOW THAT THE LEADING CAUSE OF DEATH FOR TEENAGERS IN HARRIS COUNTY IS GUN RELATED VIOLENCE.
AND WE ARE SO SORRY FOR YOUR LOSS.
AND WE WOULD LIKE TO HONOR HIS LEGACY AS WE CONTINUE MOVING FORWARD.
THANK YOU. COMMISSIONER. SIR, WE'RE SO SORRY.
WE'RE WE'RE HAVING YOU AND YOUR FAMILY IN OUR IN OUR PRAYERS.
AND IT WAS NICE TO HEAR ABOUT HIM AND ALL THE WONDERFUL THINGS HE DID.
AND I KNOW THE COMMUNITY WILL MISS HIM.
THE FACT THAT SO MANY PEOPLE CAME OUT TO HONOR HIM.
AND SO I KNOW OUR PUBLIC HEALTH DIRECTOR WAS JUST SPEAKING.
AND SO WE'D LOVE TO HEAR FROM YOUR FAMILIES, SEE IF WE CAN GET YOU GUYS LOOPED IN.
WE'RE TRYING TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT.
AND OBVIOUSLY, WE WISH WE COULD HAVE PREVENTED THAT AS WELL.
OKAY. THANK YOU. JUDGE. THANK YOU.
YOU KNOW, AND JUST LASTLY, YOU KNOW, WE ALWAYS FELT THAT, YOU KNOW, HE WAS JUST OURS.
BUT THROUGH THIS TRAGEDY, WE FOUND OUT THAT, YOU KNOW, HE BELONGED TO EVERYBODY.
SO ALL WE CAN DO IS KIND OF MOVE FORWARD WITH OUR CAUSE.
ARE. THE NEXT RESOLUTION I HAVE IS A LITTLE LIGHTER, THANK GOD.
THIS ONE IS WHERE I'M PLEASED TO WELCOME ANDY ESCOBAR.
ANDY, WHERE ARE YOU, MY FRIEND? COME ON. COME ON DOWN.
AND THEN WE WILL TAKE THIS TIME TO CONSIDER THE NEED TO PROTECT THE RIGHT OF ALL, TO LIVE FREE FROM ENVIRONMENTAL HAZARD AND HARM, AND TO INVEST IN YOUR PLANET TO PRESERVE OUR HEALTH AND OUR LIVELIHOODS, THE NEED TO RECOGNIZE OUR RESPONSIBILITIES AND A GLOBAL LIGHT TO COMBAT CLIMATE CHANGE AND ENSURE THAT THE MULTIPLE OF VULNERABLE HUMAN COMMUNITIES AND DIVERSE ECOSYSTEMS CONTINUE TO THRIVE.
I LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING HARRIS COUNTY URGE ALL RESIDENTS TO DO THEIR BEST TO BE GOOD STEWARDS OF THEIR ENVIRONMENT AND TO RECOGNIZE THE IMPORTANCE OF EARTH DAY IN HARRIS COUNTY.
BUT THIS RESOLUTION READS WHERE EARTH DAY IS COMMEMORATED ANNUALLY ON APRIL 22ND, REMINDING US OF OUR COLLECTIVE DUTY TO SAFEGUARD THE ENVIRONMENT AND ADVOCATE FOR SUSTAINABLE PRACTICES.
AND HARRIS COUNTY HAS TAKEN PROACTIVE MEASURES TO DRIVE POSITIVE CHANGE, EXEMPLIFIED BY THE ADOPTION OF THE CLEAN ENERGY STRATEGY AND IN COLLABORATION WITH RESIDENTS, TO DEVISE A CLIMATE ACTION PLAN TAILORED TO OUR COMMUNITIES.
[00:50:01]
GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS, AND IMPROVE AIR QUALITY.HARRIS COUNTY HAS SECURED GRANTS OFFERED TO LOCAL GOVERNMENTS UNDER THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION'S INFLATION REDUCTION ACT, INCLUDING THE USDA URBAN COMMUNITY FOREST GRANT, THE DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY'S ENERGY EFFICIENCY AND CONSERVATION BLOCK GRANT, THE EPA'S CLIMATE POLLUTION REDUCTION GRANT, AND THE DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY'S CONSUMER ELECTRONICS, BATTERY RECYCLING, REPROCESSING, AND BATTERY COLLECTION GRANT, AMONG OTHERS.
THE COUNTY ENCOURAGES RESIDENTS TO ALSO SEIZE THE OPPORTUNITIES AFFORDED BY THE BIDEN CLEAN ENERGY PLAN TO SAVE ON HOUSEHOLD EXPENSES BY UTILIZING TAX CREDITS FOR INVESTMENTS IN SOLAR POWER.
I WANT TO TALK MORE ABOUT THAT.
THESE HISTORIC INVESTMENTS REPRESENT A PIVOTAL MOMENT FOR INDIVIDUALS, ORGANIZATIONS AND GOVERNMENTS TO UNITE IN ADVANCING POSITIVE ENVIRONMENTAL CHANGE IN EARTH DAY.
HE'S 50 YEARS OLD, HAS BEEN WITH THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE SINCE 2003.
AND SO WE WE JUST HIS FAMILY MUST BE HURTING JUST SO MUCH.
SO LET'S JUST THINK ABOUT HIM AND ALL THE GOOD HE DID FOR OUR COUNTY AND 20 YEARS IN LAW ENFORCEMENT AND A LOT OF LOVE FOR THE FAMILY. WE'LL KNOW MORE, I'M SURE, AS THE DAY GOES, DAYS GO BY AND THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE SHARES MORE INFORMATION.
SO ON BEHALF OF HARRIS COUNTY, A BIG A BIG STATEMENT OF SUPPORT AND LOVE TO THE FAMILY AND GRATITUDE FOR THE DEPUTIES SERVICE TO THE COMMUNITY, GRATITUDE FOR HIS FAMILY HAVING SHARED HIM WITH US, BECAUSE THESE ARE NOT EASY JOBS.
COMMISSIONER, I JUST FELT THEY WERE TEXTING ME AND I DIDN'T.
I DIDN'T WANT TO NOT TELL FOLKS ABOUT IT.
ANDY IT'S A TOUGH DAY TO DAY, BUT EARTH DAY WILL MAKE IT BETTER FOR GENERATIONS TO COME.
I'M BORN AND RAISED IN UNINCORPORATED HARRIS COUNTY.
AND WE WERE FOUNDED AFTER HURRICANE HARVEY.
RIGHT? A DISASTER THAT REALLY SHOOK US.
AND I'M REALLY PROUD TO SAY THAT WE'VE BROUGHT TOGETHER 27 DIFFERENT NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS THAT ARE REALLY FOCUSED ON DIFFERENT ISSUES FROM AIR, WATER, LAND RESOURCE RECOVERY, REALLY FOCUSING ON DISPLACED PEOPLE, EQUITY AND TRANSPARENCY.
AND I'M REALLY PROUD THAT WE'RE HELPING WITH THE CLIMATE JUSTICE ACTION PLAN WORK.
AND I'M ALSO REALLY EXCITED TO SAY THAT WE'RE SUPPORTING WITH HOME WEATHERIZATION INITIATIVES.
AND THAT'S REALLY WHAT I WANT TO HIGHLIGHT.
I THINK ALL OF US LIVE IN A HOME.
AND I THINK WE LEARNED A LOT AFTER WINTER STORM URI OF HOW FEARFUL PEOPLE CAN BE.
SO I'M EXCITED TO EXPAND MORE HOME WEATHERIZATION ACROSS HARRIS COUNTY.
AND LOOK, IN LIGHT OF THIS TRAGEDY THAT WE HAVE UPON US, I WOULD ASK IF YOU COULD GATHER SOME FOLKS TOGETHER AND CONSIDER PUTTING SOME PLANTS IN HONOR OF ALL OF OUR FALLEN DEPUTIES, BUT THIS ONE IN PARTICULAR.
GOOD DEAL. COMMISSIONER BRIONES.
YES. OUR DEEPEST CONDOLENCES TO OUR DEPUTY AND HIS FAMILY.
ANDY, THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP.
COMMISSIONER GARCIA, THANK YOU FOR BRINGING THIS FORWARD.
SO YESTERDAY WAS EARTH DAY, AND WE RECEIVED I'M SURE MOST OF YOU HEARD THIS, BUT WE RECEIVED THE AMAZING NEWS THAT COMMISSIONER GARCIA JUST MENTIONED THAT WE WERE SELECTED FOR THE SOLAR FOR ALL GRANT FROM THE EPA.
I KNOW PRECINCT FOUR WORK CLOSELY WITH THE TEAM.
[00:55:07]
WE WERE AWARDED ALMOST $250 MILLION.I'M SO FIRED UP BECAUSE THIS WILL HELP CREATE HIGH PAYING UNION JOBS.
THIS WILL HELP LOWER ELECTRICITY BILLS FOR OUR MOST VULNERABLE COMMUNITY.
THIS WILL HELP US MAKE THE COMMUNITY MORE RESILIENT.
AND SO I LOVE THAT WE'RE THE ENERGY CAPITAL OF THE WORLD.
BUT IT IS YOU, MISTER ESCOBAR, ON THE FRONT LINES, YOU, YOUR TEAM AND SO MANY ORGANIZATIONS.
SO WE'RE GRATEFUL AND IN MEMORY OF ALL OF THOSE WHO WE LOVE AND HAVE LOST AS WE CONTINUE THESE GENERATIONAL INVESTMENTS, WE HOPE THAT WE'RE CREATING A BETTER PLACE FOR ALL OUR FAMILIES.
SO THANK YOU, ANDY. THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU ALL.
OH, GO AHEAD, COMMISSIONER GARCIA.
RESOLUTION IS ONE FOR A COUPLE OF EMPLOYEES.
COMMISSIONER GARCIA, I'M SORRY YOU HAD A FEW MORE SPEAKERS.
READY. GO AHEAD IF YOU CAN HEAR US.
OH, I'M RIGHT HERE. OH, THERE YOU ARE.
OH, YOU DON'T LOOK LIKE A RANDY.
OH. I'M LIKE, I DON'T KNOW WHAT OTHER RANDY LOOKS LIKE.
GOOD MORNING. THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE TODAY.
AND I'M SPEAKING ON THE EARTH DAY RESOLUTION.
AND THE THEME FOR THIS YEAR WAS EARTH VERSUS PLASTICS.
AND WE DO. WE ARE HOME TO THE LARGEST PETROCHEMICAL INDUSTRIAL COMPLEX IN THE ENTIRE NATION.
AND THE PLAN OF THE PETROCHEMICAL INDUSTRY IS TO EXPAND.
AND RIGHT NOW WE REALLY ARE HAVE ALL THESE OPPORTUNITIES AND FUNDING TO TRANSITION, RIGHT.
AND TRULY, IT CAN BECOME DEBILITATING AND IT BE A HANDICAP ON, ON OUR LIVES.
THANK YOU. RANDY, THANK YOU SO MUCH.
THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU.
AND ON THE ON THE GRANT TO THE SPEAKERS THAT ARE HERE FOR THIS.
SO WE WILL HAVE A LARGER EVENT TO CELEBRATE.
AND AND IT'S GOING TO BE A LONG TERM PROJECT.
SO, SO WE'LL HAVE AN EVENT DEDICATED TO THAT AND MAKE SURE THAT LABOR IS THERE.
AND OF COURSE, ALL THE STAKEHOLDERS AT THE COUNTY.
ANY OTHER SPEAKERS ON EARTH DAY? TIFFANY. YES, MA'AM.
OH, CAREFUL. OKAY, I CAUGHT IT, BUT I'M GOOD.
YOU BROUGHT A. YOU BROUGHT A CHEERLEADING SQUAD.
I SEE, I'VE EVEN WALKED UP HERE.
YES. SO MY NAME IS JENNIFER HEDAYA.
I'M THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF AIR ALLIANCE HOUSTON.
WE ARE THE LONGEST RUNNING ADVOCACY NONPROFIT IN HARRIS COUNTY SOLELY FOCUSED ON CLEAN AIR.
WE DO THIS BY RUNNING CAMPAIGNS ON EVERY MAJOR SOURCE OF AIR POLLUTION, INCLUDING THE FOSSIL FUEL INDUSTRY, ALONG THE SHIP CHANNEL, AND BY REDUCING TAILPIPE AND MOBILE EMISSIONS FROM OUR TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM.
I WORKED FOR MANY YEARS AT HARRIS COUNTY.
SOLAR FOR ALL IS AN EXCELLENT EXAMPLE, AND CONGRATULATIONS ON THAT.
BUT I WOULDN'T BE A GOOD ADVOCATE IF I DIDN'T OFFER A FEW MORE IDEAS WHILE I WAS HERE.
SO NEXT UP, HOW ABOUT SIDEWALKS FOR ALL SEWAGE AND DRAINAGE INFRASTRUCTURE FOR ALL SINGLE USE PLASTIC REDUCTION FOR ALL CEMENT AND CONCRETE PLANT BANS FOR ALL, AND NO MORE NEW HIGHWAYS ONCE AND FOR ALL.
WE ARE READY TO BE BOLD AND TRANSFORMATIONAL WITH YOU.
CONGRATULATIONS ON SOLAR FOR ALL AND THANK YOU FOR THIS RESOLUTION.
[01:00:01]
THANK YOU JENNIFER. THANK YOU FOR ALL YOU GUYS DO.THANK YOU. NEXT IS STEPHANIE VALDEZ.
I WANT TO START OFF BY SAYING MY DEEP CONDOLENCES TO THE OFFICER THAT PASSED AWAY.
THANK YOU, JUDGE HIDALGO. MY NAME IS STEPHANIE.
I'M THE WATER JUSTICE ORGANIZER WITH SIERRA, THE COALITION FOR ENVIRONMENTAL EQUITY AND RESILIENCE.
I WANT TO EXTEND MY HEARTFELT CONGRATULATIONS TO THE HARRIS COUNTY COMMISSIONERS FOR THEIR UNWAVERING, UNWAVERING COMMITMENT TO SUSTAINABILITY AND RESILIENCE FROM ENSURING THAT THE HARRIS COUNTY CLIMATE ACTION PLAN IS COMMUNITY INFORMED AND LED TO SECURING A MULTI-MILLION DOLLAR GRANT FROM THE EPA TO 150 MILLION, THAT'S LIFE CHANGING. THESE ACCOMPLISHMENTS ARE NOT JUST NUMBERS ON A PAGE.
THEY REPRESENT REAL, TANGIBLE PROGRESS IN THE FIGHT AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE.
AND AS A VERY CONCERNED GEN Z AND AS SOMEONE DEEPLY PASSIONATE ABOUT ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE, I AM INSPIRED BY THE PROACTIVE MEASURES THE HARRIS COUNTY IS. THANK YOU. YOUR TIME IS UP.
THANK YOU. YOU WANT TO WRAP IT UP OKAY? YES. TEN MORE SECONDS.
HOWEVER, EARTH DAY IS NOT JUST A DAY FOR CELEBRATION.
IT'S ALSO A TIME FOR REFLECTION AND ACTION, AND A REMINDER TO RECOMMIT OURSELVES TO CONTINUE TO ADVOCATE FOR POLICIES AND INITIATIVES TO PROTECT OUR PLANET AND PROMOTE SUSTAINABILITY. THANK YOU, COMMISSIONERS, AND THANK YOU, JUDGE DIGO.
THANK YOU. THE WORK CONTINUES.
ABSOLUTELY. THAT'S ALL FOR THIS ITEM.
HAVE ANYONE ANYONE ELSE? NOW THAT'S ALL FOR THIS SIDE, RIGHT? OKAY, SO THE NEXT ITEM THAT I HAVE IS IN HONOR OF TWO INCREDIBLE EMPLOYEES THAT I HAVE HERE.
AND I WILL ASK THEIR BOSS CHRIS, IF YOU'LL MAKE YOUR WAY DOWN, PLEASE.
AND INVITE THEODOSIA, DRUMMER AND DALE BATES DOWN TO THE PODIUM AS WELL.
THESE TWO PHENOMENAL EMPLOYEES MADE A COMMITMENT TO THE BETTERMENT OF HARRIS COUNTY.
THEY HAVE SERVED THE COUNTY IN THEIR DAILY ROLES.
AND NOW, BY SAVING THE LIFE OF A COMMUNITY MEMBER THEY HAVE JUST ADDED ONE MORE INCREDIBLE ELEMENT TO OUR EXISTENCE.
THERE'S NO DOUBT THAT THEIR CPR QUALIFICATIONS AS WELL AS THE RESIDENT THAT THEY WHOSE LIFE THEY TOUCH, MISTER GLENN POSH.
AND THIS IS FROM THE WORDS OF MISTER POSH.
I'M A MECHANICAL ENGINEER AND STILL WORK FULL TIME FOR A GERMAN COMPANY SUPPLYING VIBRATION MONITORING EQUIPMENT TO THE OIL, GAS, POWER AND PETROCHEMICAL INDUSTRIES. I'VE ALWAYS TAKEN MY HEALTH SERIOUSLY.
I WATCH WHAT I EAT, MINIMIZING CARBS AND SUGAR TO THE EXTENT POSSIBLE, AND GO TO THE GYM EVERY WEEKDAY WEEKDAY MORNING, ALONG WITH PLAYING PICKLEBALL ON SATURDAY AND SUNDAY MORNINGS AT CLEAR LAKE PARK.
SO I'VE ALWAYS FELT THAT I WAS DOING THE RIGHT THINGS TO STAY HEALTHY AND HAVE A GOOD, ACTIVE LIFE.
WE HAVE TWO DAUGHTERS WHO WORK IN THE EDUCATION FIELD, AND MARCH THE 11TH TO THE 16TH WAS THEIR SPRING BREAK, SO I DECIDED TO TAKE THE WEEK OFF TO SPEND TIME WITH THEM. AND AND THE TWO GRANDSONS.
WE HAD JUST STARTED A GAME MAYBE FIVE MINUTES, AND IT WAS MY TIME TO SERVE.
I DON'T RECALL HITTING THE GROUND OR ANYTHING FOR THAT MATTER.
FOR THE NEXT 24 HOURS, I WAS FORTUNATE TO BE PLAYING WITH A COUPLE OF LADIES AND A GUY WHO WORKED IN THE MEDICAL BUSINESS AND TOOK IMMEDIATE ACTION DELIVERING CPR, ONE REALIZED THE FACILITY AT CLEAR LAKE PARK HAD A DEFIBRILLATOR.
SHE WENT TO THE OFFICE AND TWO EMPLOYEES, MISS THEODOSIA, DRUMMER, AND MR. DALE BATES CAME IMMEDIATELY WITH A UNIT AND GOT MY HEART PUMPING AND STAYED UNTIL THE AMBULANCE CAME.
THERE'S NO DOUBT THESE TWO EMPLOYEES PLAYED A KEY PART IN GIVING ME BACK MY LIFE.
[01:05:04]
RIGHT THERE AT THE PARK.ADDITIONALLY, GENTLEMEN FROM MR. COOLEY'S TEAM CAME TO METHODIST HOSPITAL AND CHECKED ON ME LATER THAT EVENING.
SO WITH SO WITH MINE BEING LOW, MY HEART RHYTHM WAS INTERRUPTED AND STOPPED.
I'LL HAVE SOME ACTIVITY RESTRICTIONS LIKE NO BATTERIES NEAR MY UPPER LEFT CHEST.
I NOW HAVE ELECTROLYTES DAILY AND REALIZE THE VULNERABILITY WE ALL HAVE.
I OWE THEM MY LIFE AND PLAN TO GET WITH THEM FOR LUNCH IN A FEW WEEKS.
BUT LET ME LET ME JUST SAY THAT ONE IS THAT YOU KNOW, THE OLD POLICEMAN HAD MADE JUST KNOWS THAT WE WILL CONFRONT THESE KIND OF CIRCUMSTANCES AT ANY GIVEN TIME.
AND THEN WE SAID, WELL, LET'S PUT THEM OUT IN THE COMMUNITY CENTERS AS WELL.
AND THEN WE SAID, YOU KNOW WHAT? OUR BUSSES IS ANOTHER AREA.
OUR BUSSES ARE NOW EQUIPPED WITH THEM.
AND OUR EMPLOYEES THROUGHOUT PRECINCT TWO HAVE RECEIVED THIS LIFE SAVING TRAINING.
AND SO I. JUST WANTED TO SAY YOU KNOW, WE TAKE TRAINING SOMETIMES FOR GRANTED.
SOMETIMES WE'RE LIKE, OH, I GOT SO MANY OTHER THINGS TO DO.
WHY DO I HAVE TO GO TO THIS TRAINING CLASS? BUT THIS IS WHEN YOU SEE YOUR TRAINING KICK IN.
AND SO I JUST WANT TO SAY TO THE BOTH OF YOU, THANK YOU.
THANK YOU FOR RESORTING TO YOUR TRAINING.
IT COULD HAVE BEEN AS SIMPLY AS.
I'LL JUST CALL 911 FOR YOU TO TELL ME WHERE YOU'RE AT.
BUT YOU TOOK YOU TOOK IT TO THE NEXT STEP.
YOU KNEW WHAT RESOURCES WE HAD AVAILABLE, AND YOU PUT IT TO WORK.
AND SO I'M SO PROUD OF BOTH OF YOU.
AND AND I KNOW THERE YOU GOT A PROUD PAPA NEXT TO YOU WITH DIRECTOR CHRIS SADLER.
SO, CHRIS, WHY DON'T YOU EMBARRASS HIM A LITTLE BIT FOR ME? AND BUT I JUST WANT TO SAY THAT THIS IS AN EXAMPLE OF WHY THINKING AHEAD TO THESE ISSUES IS CRITICAL.
YES, SIR. GOOD AFTERNOON, JUDGE AND COMMISSIONERS.
MY NAME IS CHRIS SADLER. I'M THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS FOR COMMISSIONER GARCIA.
TODAY. I'M HERE TO SPEAK ON BEHALF OF THEO AND DALE BATES.
I WOULD LIKE TO EXPRESS MY APPRECIATION FOR THEIR SWIFT ACTIONS ON MARCH 11TH.
THEIR QUICK ACTIONS MADE A LIFE DIFFERENCE.
SO ONCE AGAIN, I'D LIKE TO SAY THANK YOU TO THEO AND DALE FOR YOUR SERVICE AND DEDICATION.
ALL RIGHT, THEODOSIA, YOU WANT TO SHARE A COUPLE OF WORDS? DON'T BE SHY. THANK YOU.
DISTINGUISHED GUEST AND COMMISSIONER AND JUDGE AND MY SUPERIOR STAFF, AS WELL AS MY DIRECTORS, MISS TICO HOUSEMAN AS WELL.
MR. SADLER, THANK YOU FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY.
I JUST DO WANT TO SAY THAT IT IS IMPORTANT FOR COMMUNITY SERVICE.
SOMETIMES. WE OFTEN FORGET HOW IMPORTANT IT IS OUT THERE.
AND SO SOMETIMES WE DON'T OFTEN REMEMBER WHAT WE DO ALL THE TIME IN THE COMMUNITY.
WE MAY NOT BE RECOGNIZED FOR IT.
BUT THE THING FOR ME, I'M GOING TO TAKE A NICE QUOTE FROM MR. GARCIA TO A STAFF MEETING IS THAT WHEN YOU WORK IN THIS TYPE OF COMMUNITY SERVICE, YOU WANT TO LEAVE A LEGACY BEHIND.
AND I THINK THAT'S WHAT'S IMPORTANT.
QUOTED MR. GARCIA STAFF MEETING.
SO I JUST WANTED TO THANK YOU GUYS FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY.
AND I DEFINITELY WANT TO ALSO RECOGNIZE MY COWORKER, MR. DALE BATES, WHO CAME OUT ALSO.
IT WAS A LITTLE TRAUMATIZING FOR US, FOR SURE, BUT JUST FOR HIM TO BE RECOGNIZED FOR ALL HIS SERVICE THAT HE HAS COMMITTED HE'S BEEN HERE FOR OVER 22 YEARS WITH THE COMMUNITY.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU, THEODOSIA.
PROUD OF YOU, DALE. I DON'T REALLY HAVE ANYTHING TO SAY.
[01:10:03]
JUST THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER.THANK YOU, COURT, FOR HAVING US TODAY.
CONGRATULATIONS. THANK YOU SO MUCH.
THOSE ARE MY ITEMS. OKAY, COMMISSIONER RAMSEY.
YEAH. QUICKLY. FOOTNOTE ON EARTH DAY.
AND THE OTHER THING THAT HAPPENED THIS WEEK IS THOSE SAN JACINTO WASTE PITS HAVE BEEN DIRECTED TO BE CLEANED UP IN THE NEXT AND HAVE A PLAN IN PLACE IN THE NEXT 90 DAYS FOR THOSE FOR THOSE PEOPLE WHO LIVE IN THAT NEIGHBORHOOD IN HIGHLANDS AND JUST NORTH OF I-10 AT THE SAN JACINTO RIVER.
THIS HAS BEEN AN ENVIRONMENTAL DISASTER FOR 30 YEARS, AND THE EPA IS WAY OVERDUE.
THE RESPONSIBLE PARTIES INTERNATIONAL PAPER BEEN WAY OVERDUE TO GET THAT CLEANED UP.
THEY'VE BEEN TOLD TO GET IT CLEANED UP AND THEY'RE TO HAVE A PLAN IN 90 DAYS.
NOW I GET TO DO SOMETHING THAT'S JUST FUN.
I'M GOING TO ASK THE PRINCIPAL, WILL FAULKNER OF ATASCOCITA HIGH SCHOOL, TO COME UP.
I WAS GOING TO ASK HIM TO COME FIRST.
I'M GOING TO ASK COACH ELTON IRVIN TO COME UP, TO ASK TO SEE TO HIGH SCHOOL.
MY PRINCIPAL IN HIGH SCHOOL WAS STACY.
CALDWELL. MY COACH WAS MONTY JACK DRISCOLL.
DON'T THINK PRINCIPALS AND COACHES DON'T MAKE A BIG DIFFERENCE IN PEOPLE'S LIVES.
NOW, FOR THE HEROES, I'M GOING TO ASK TORY BLAYLOCK TO COME UP.
FONTENO. JORDAN PARKER AND JELANI WATKINS.
THESE YOUNG MEN HAVE JUST DONE SOMETHING THAT IS ONLY DONE IN A GENERATION, MAYBE THREE GENERATIONS.
ON MARCH 23RD, 2024, AT THE VICTOR LOPEZ CLASSIC HELD AT RICE UNIVERSITY.
THE ATASCOCITA HIGH SCHOOL RELAY TEAM SHATTERED THE PREVIOUS NATIONAL RECORD OF 39.76 SECONDS BY CLOCKING IN AT 38.92 SECONDS, SET BY FORT WORTH IN 1998.
INCREDIBLE. TO PUT THIS IN CONTEXT, THIS TEAM WOULD HAVE BEEN WOULD HAVE BEAT JESSE OWENS IN THE 1936 OLYMPICS.
WHAT THEY'RE ABOUT AND BY THE WAY, THEY'RE RUNNING FOR IS IT DISTRICT OR REGION? STATE. STATE. OH I'M SORRY, THEY'RE RUNNING FOR STATE NEXT WEEK.
SO WE'RE GOING TO KEEP KEEP AN EYE ON THAT.
I THINK IT'S APPROPRIATE THAT WE DO RECOGNIZE UNDER THE GUIDANCE OF ELTON IRVIN, WHO'S COACHING EXPERIENCE INCLUDES SIGNIFICANT CONTRIBUTIONS AT ATASCOCITA AND HUMBLE SUMMER CREEK, AND NOTABLY AIDING TWO CONSECUTIVE UIL SIX A TRACK AND FIELD TITLES IN 2021 AND 2022.
SO I IT'S IT'S IT'S GREAT TO RECOGNIZE THE ACCOMPLISHMENTS OF YOUNG MEN.
IT'S GREAT TO RECOGNIZE THEIR MENTORS, THEIR COACHES.
AND LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING WHAT ELSE THESE YOUNG MEN AND YOURSELVES ARE GOING TO MAKE HAPPEN.
THANK YOU FOR WHAT YOU'VE DONE.
CONGRATULATIONS. COACH, TELL US HOW YOU SHAVED ALMOST A SECOND OFF THAT RECORD.
GET BACK IN THE HURRY. HEY, I DO WANT TO RECOGNIZE THE GUYS.
I TELL EVERYONE. SO, TORI BLAKE, LEX IS A JUNIOR.
HE JUST SIGNED WITH OKLAHOMA FOR FOOTBALL.
SENIOR. HE'S GOING TO IOWA FOR TRACK AND FIELD.
[01:15:01]
HE'S GOING TO TCU FOR TRACK AND FIELD.AND JALEN WATKINS IS GOING TO LSU FOR TRACK AND FIELD AND FOOTBALL.
I SEE I HAVE A TWIN BROTHER AT SUMMER CREEK HIGH FOR LAST THREE YEARS.
I JUST DRIVE THE BUS. I GET HIM THERE.
SO NOTHING WOULD BE POSSIBLE WITHOUT THEM, THE STAFF AND PARENTS.
HEY, I DO WANT TO TAKE THIS MOMENT TO RECOGNIZE EVERYTHING.
SO I HAVE SOME QUOTES THAT I LOVE TO SAY.
ONE OF MY FAVORITE QUOTES IS LIFE IS FULL OF HURDLES.
GET OVER IT. SO YOU'RE GOING TO BE A HURDLE IN LIFE.
JUST GET OVER IT. SO AND THE OTHER THING IS CONTROL THE CONTROLLABLES.
SO I'M HAPPY TO SEE LENA BACK UP HERE.
CONGRATULATIONS. AND WADE TO NOT DROP THE BATON.
THAT'S THE SCARIEST PART FOR ME.
YEAH. WELL, I MEAN, IN THE OLYMPICS THEY DROP THE BATON.
YES, YES. SO THAT'S A BIG DEAL.
YES. THANK YOU. THANK YOU GUYS FOR CONGRATULATIONS ON YOUR ACHIEVEMENT.
AND THANK YOU FOR BEING PART OF OUR COMMUNITY AND FOR YOUR KIND WORDS.
SO SO ONE THING THAT COMMISSIONER RAMSEY WANTS TO DO, YOU KNOW, JUST TO SHOW HOW PROUD HE IS, HE WANTS TO CHALLENGE Y'ALL YEAH, WE CAN WE CAN DO A TEN YARD DASH.
ALWAYS GO THROUGH EPIC BATTLES IN FOOTBALL.
AMEN. WHERE THE LAST TWO STANDING IN THE REGION.
AMEN. FOR THE HARD WORK THAT HIS GRANDSON HAS PUT FORTH FOR NORTH SHORE HIGH SCHOOL.
COMPETITOR ON THE FIELD AND OFF THE FIELD.
ANY OTHER RESOLUTIONS, COMMISSIONER RAMSEY.
COMMISSIONER BRIONES, THANK YOU.
SO WE HAVE FOUR RESOLUTIONS FOR PRECINCT FOUR.
THE FIRST ONE ACTUALLY IS A PARTNERSHIP WITH PRECINCT THREE.
SO THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER RAMSEY, TO YOU AND YOUR TEAM FOR WORKING WITH US.
AND IT IS A RESOLUTION OBSERVING NATIONAL CRIME VICTIMS RIGHTS WEEK FROM APRIL 21ST TO 27TH.
WE WILL THEY WILL BE A PART OF ONE OF OUR NEXT RESOLUTIONS.
SO IN TERMS OF THE CRIMES WEEK.
I'M SURE MANY OF US HAVE BEEN THE VICTIM OF CRIME.
I'VE BEEN THE VICTIM OF CRIME SEVERAL TIMES THROUGHOUT MY LIFE.
AND YOU NEVER FORGET THAT FEAR AND THOSE MEMORIES.
SO THIS WEEK OF APRIL 21ST TO 27TH, AND EVERY WEEK THROUGHOUT THE YEAR, WE NEED TO MAKE SURE WE'RE ALL CHAMPIONING THE RIGHTS OF VICTIMS. AS WE WORK TO ACHIEVE JUSTICE FOR ALL VICTIMS OF CRIME, WHILE WE WORK TO UPHOLD EVERYBODY'S CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS.
WE ARE VERY THANKFUL TO HAVE A JUSTICE COMMUNITY OF VERY DEDICATED PROSECUTORS, DEFENSE ATTORNEYS, JUDGES, VICTIMS, ADVOCACY GROUPS, AND IT REALLY TAKES A COMMUNITY.
AND SO WE ARE VERY GRATEFUL TO ALL OF YOU TODAY.
WE ARE JOINED BY VERY SPECIAL SPECIAL GUESTS.
IF YOU COULD PLEASE JOIN US AS WELL.
THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR AT THE SENIOR JUSTICE ASSESSMENT CENTER, WE HAVE CELESTE BYRUM, THE DIRECTOR OF VICTIM SERVICES AT THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S OFFICE, CARRIE MCCRACKEN, THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE CHILDREN'S ASSESSMENT CENTER.
AND THESE INDIVIDUALS REPRESENT MANY LEADERS WHO WORK THROUGHOUT HARRIS COUNTY TO ADVOCATE FOR VICTIMS. I PRAY AS A MOM OF THREE LITTLE GIRLS, MY BIGGEST FEAR IS THAT I WILL LOSE THEM OR THAT THEY TOO WILL BE VICTIMIZED.
AND THANK YOU AGAIN, COMMISSIONER RAMSEY, FOR YOUR PARTNERSHIP ON THIS.
I'M THE DIRECTOR OF VICTIM SERVICES AT THE HARRIS COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S OFFICE.
THE THEME OF THIS YEAR'S NATIONAL CRIME VICTIMS RIGHTS WEEK IS HOW WILL YOU HELP? IT'S A WONDERFUL OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO REFLECT ON THE TREMENDOUS VICTIM ADVOCACY WORK OCCURRING DAILY HERE IN HARRIS COUNTY.
[01:20:01]
LAST YEAR, VICTIM ADVOCATES FROM THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S OFFICE AND CHILDREN'S COURT SERVICES PROVIDED ADVOCACY, EMOTIONAL SUPPORT AND CRIMINAL JUSTICE INFORMATION TO OVER 17,000 VICTIMS AND SURVIVORS OF VIOLENT CRIME.VICTIM ASSISTANCE COORDINATORS AND SOCIAL WORKERS PROVIDED COURT ACCOMPANIMENT, INFORMED CRIME SURVIVORS OF THEIR RIGHTS, AND HELPED FIND COMMUNITY RESOURCES TO ALLEVIATE TRAUMA VICTIMS MAY EXPERIENCE IN THE WAKE OF A VIOLENT CRIME.
CHILDREN'S COURT SERVICES PROVIDED COMFORT AND A FRIENDLY FACE IN THE COURTROOM.
OUR FURRY CANINE FRIENDS FROM COMMUNITY PARTNER HOPE ANIMAL ASSISTED CRISIS RESPONSE BROUGHT SOLACE AND REASSURANCE TO DOZENS OF VICTIMS AND WITNESSES WHO FACED THE NERVE WRACKING EXPERIENCE OF COURTROOM TESTIMONY.
WE ARE PASSIONATE ABOUT OUR MISSION TO HELP THOSE WHO HAVE BEEN MADE VULNERABLE DUE TO VIOLENT CRIME, AND WE ARE APPRECIATIVE TO COMMISSIONERS BRIONES AND RAMSEY FOR THEIR SUPPORT OF THIS MISSION AND FOR HONORING THESE EFFORTS DURING NATIONAL CRIME VICTIMS RIGHTS WEEK.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MISS BERM.
AND CAN WE TAKE A MOMENT TO THANK ALL OF OUR LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS? HAPPY TO HAVE GUS AND MURPHY, OUR THERAPY DOGS HERE, TOO.
AS A DOG LOVER, I HOPE THEY CAN COME OVER HERE IN A SECOND.
THANK YOU. WHAT YOU DO IN THE DA'S OFFICE LESS.
IT'S IT'S IT IT DOESN'T GO UNNOTICED.
SO THANK YOU FOR YOUR FOCUS ON THEM ON A DAILY BASIS AND YOUR CONTINUED ACTIVITIES.
THANK YOU. GOOD TO SEE YOU AGAIN.
I'M GOOD TO SEE EVERYBODY AGAIN.
THANK YOU. JUDGE HILDAGO, MEMBERS OF COMMISSIONERS COURT.
I AM JOEL LEVINE, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF HARRIS COUNTY RESOURCES FOR CHILDREN AND ADULTS, WHERE THE COUNTY DEPARTMENT THAT SERVES PROVIDES SERVICES, RESOURCES AND SUPPORTS FOR THE VULNERABLE CHILDREN AND ADULTS OF HARRIS COUNTY.
I'M GOING TO HIGHLIGHT FOR THIS RESOLUTION OUR SENIOR JUSTICE ASSESSMENT CENTER PROGRAM THAT WE STOOD UP IN 2017 THAT PROVIDES PROSECUTION AND RESTORATION FOR ELDER VICTIMS OF ABUSE AND EXPLOITATION.
AND OUR CENTER SINCE OPENING, WE CALL IT SGACC SENIOR JUSTICE ASSESSMENT CENTER.
SINCE OPENING IN 2017, WE HAVE SERVED 2226 ELDERLY VICTIMS AND AS A RESULT OF THESE SERVICES, COORDINATION AND COLLABORATION BETWEEN SGACC AND ITS PARTNERS, THERE HAVE BEEN 473 CRIMINAL CONVICTIONS FOR ELDER.
THE PARTNERS INCLUDE ADULT PROTECTIVE SERVICES OF THE STATE OF TEXAS, LAW ENFORCEMENT, GERIATRIC AND FORENSIC MEDICINE, PROSECUTORS, SOCIAL SERVICE AGENCIES, AND MORE.
AND I DO HAVE WITH ME UP HERE, BARBARA LOPEZ AND TARA HINTON WITH ME RIGHT HERE.
SORRY, OUR OUR DEPUTIES OF THE OUR ADULT SERVICES DIVISION.
SO THANK YOU. THANK YOU, DIRECTOR LEVINE AND MISS LOPEZ.
THANK YOU, PRESIDENT MCCRACKEN.
I'M THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE CHILDREN'S ASSESSMENT CENTER.
AND LIKE YOU SAID, COMMISSIONER RAMSEY, NOBODY CHOOSES THAT.
CHILDREN THAT ARE VICTIMIZED AND DON'T RECEIVE HELP FOR THEIR TRAUMA CAN SUFFER MANY ADVERSE CONSEQUENCES LIKE POVERTY, UNWANTED PREGNANCY, MENTAL HEALTH PROBLEMS, DRUG ADDICTION, AND TOUCHES WITH THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM.
SO I AM STANDING HERE TODAY TO THANK YOU GUYS FOR ALL THE RESOURCES THAT YOU HAVE GIVEN US AT THE CHILDREN'S ASSESSMENT CENTER, AT THE DA'S OFFICE, AND ALL THE OTHER WONDERFUL COUNTY DEPARTMENTS THAT HELP VICTIMS. YOU KNOW, WE SPENT A LOT OF TIME TALKING ABOUT WHAT TO DO ABOUT BAD GUYS.
[01:25:07]
SO THANK YOU FOR GIVING US THE RESOURCES SO THAT I AM PROUD TO SAY EVERY SINGLE STAFF MEMBER AT THE CHILDREN'S ASSESSMENT CENTER IS TRAUMA INFORMED.THEY HAVE UNDERGONE THAT TRAINING, AND LAST YEAR YOU ALLOWED US TO BRING ON EIGHT NEW STAFF MEMBERS.
SABRINA SWAN IS BACK HERE WITH US TODAY.
SHE LEADS UP CHILDREN'S COURT SERVICES.
SO I APPLAUD YOU FOR SUPPORTING VICTIMS. IT'S VERY IMPORTANT.
ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR DOING THIS EVERY DAY.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THIS RESOLUTION.
I AM THE DIRECTOR OF STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIPS AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT FOR THE JUSTICE CENTER.
WE OFFER FREE, CULTURALLY SENSITIVE LEGAL AND SOCIAL SERVICES TO IMMIGRANT SURVIVORS OF CRIMES LIKE DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, SEXUAL ASSAULT, STALKING, HUMAN TRAFFICKING, AND FORCED MARRIAGE.
THE SURVIVORS WE SERVE FACE INCREDIBLE OBSTACLES TO JUSTICE, INCLUDING LANGUAGE BARRIERS, LACK OF RESOURCES, AND A COMPLEX IMMIGRATION SYSTEM.
ALL OF THE SURVIVORS WE SERVE HAVE A RIGHT TO PROTECTION UNDER US LAW.
LAST YEAR, WE SERVED IN HARRIS COUNTY 439 SURVIVORS AND THEIR FAMILIES WITH COMPLEX IMMIGRATION CASES AND SOCIAL SERVICES.
DESPITE OUR EFFORTS IN OUR COMMUNITY, MANY NEEDS REMAIN UNMET.
FOR THIS REASON, WE STRESS THE NEED FOR STABLE AND CONTINUOUS FUNDING SO THAT OUR WORK CAN CONTINUE TO ENABLE SURVIVORS TO FULLY ENGAGE IN SOCIETY AND PURSUE THE JUSTICE THAT THEY SO DESERVE.
THANK YOU. THAT'S IT FOR THIS ITEM.
WE'RE SO GRATEFUL. THANK YOU AGAIN.
YOU GUYS. SO THE NEXT ITEM IS ITEM 16. I ASK YOU ALL.
OH. I'M SORRY. I WAS JUST GOING TO ASK.
CAN Y'ALL HELP ME GET HIM TO BEHAVE LIKE THOSE GUYS OVER THERE? THEY'RE WONDERFUL. MAYBE THEY CAN STAY ALL DAY, RIGHT? THANK YOU. ARE THEY RELATED TO AN ITEM? THEY WERE PART OF THE VICTIM'S WEEK.
THEY'RE. THEY'RE THERAPY DOGS FOR VICTIMS. SO THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR.
THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU.
YOU'RE WELCOME TO STAY FOR THE PICTURE.
THERE'S NO PERSONAL INTEREST IN THAT AT ALL.
THEY'RE BEAUTIFUL. THANK YOU FOR BRINGING THEM.
OKAY, SO THE NEXT ITEM, IF I MAY, IS ITEM 16, AND I JOIN YOU ALL TO PLEASE HELP US CELEBRATE AUTISM ACCEPTANCE MONTH. AND WOULD ALL OF THE GUESTS WHO ARE PLEASED HERE TODAY, THE SELIG, MARY JANE WILLIAMS, JUDY BLAKE, UNI PATRON, JAYNA MILLER, RODNEY KELLER, AND EMILY JOYCE. IF YOU COULD PLEASE JOIN US.
SO WORLD AUTISM, WE ARE VERY THANKFUL YOU'RE HERE.
AND I WAS SO GRATEFUL TO PARTNER WITH YOU ALL ON THIS.
AS A FORMER PUBLIC SCHOOL TEACHER, IT IS TO ME AND AS A MOM, ALL OF OUR CHILDREN, ALL OF OUR PEOPLE NEED TO BE NOT ONLY ACCEPTED, BUT CELEBRATED, AND WE NEED TO MAKE SURE WE'RE BEING AS INCLUSIVE AS POSSIBLE.
SO THANK YOU FOR THE WORK THAT YOU DO EVERY DAY.
IN TERMS OF SOME DATA FOR YOU ALL, IT IS ESTIMATED THAT MORE THAN 5.4 MILLION AMERICAN ADULTS AND 800,000 TEXANS ARE ON THE AUTISM SPECTRUM, 5.4 MILLION US 800,000 TEXANS. SO WE'RE SO GRATEFUL FOR THE WORK OF THESE ORGANIZATIONS WHO ARE HERE TODAY.
THERE'S EXCELLENT, EXCELLENT WORK.
SO WE'RE HERE TO CELEBRATE FAMILY TO FAMILY NETWORK KNOW AUTISM KATIE AUTISM SUPPORT EASTER SEALS OF GREATER HOUSTON, UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON, CLEAR LAKE CENTER FOR AUTISM AND DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES, AND THE AUTISM SOCIETY OF TEXAS.
THANK YOU FOR WHAT YOU DO FOR ALL OF OUR FAMILIES.
[01:30:07]
WE ALL HAVE SOMEBODY WE KNOW WHO'S CLOSE TO US, WHO IS ON THE SPECTRUM, AND SO TOGETHER WE NEED TO BE CELEBRATING THEM.I ALSO WANT TO THANK THE HARRIS CENTER FOR MENTAL HEALTH AND INTELLECTUAL DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES FOR PROVIDING EDUCATIONAL, SOCIAL AND HEALTH SERVICES TO PEOPLE WITH AUTISM, INCLUDING THROUGH ITS COFFEE HOUSE PROGRAM, WHICH HELPS SECURES EMPLOYMENT AND ENCOURAGES COMMUNITY THROUGH FOSTERING INTERPERSONAL COMMUNICATION.
I WANT TO THANK CONSTABLE PRECINCT FIVE, CONSTABLE HEAP BECAUSE PRECINCT FOUR AND CONSTABLE HEAP, WE'VE PARTNERED TO START PRECINCT FOR ALL ABILITIES, WHERE WE'RE HIRING ADULTS WITH INTELLECTUAL DISABILITIES AGAIN TO CREATE A MORE INCLUSIVE COMMUNITY IN OUR EMPLOYMENT AND BEYOND.
SO WITH THAT, WE ARE THRILLED TO WELCOME YOU TO THE NEW COURTROOM AND TO ACKNOWLEDGE APRIL 2024 AS AUTISM ACCEPTANCE MONTH.
OH, WONDERFUL. I KNOW Y'ALL ARE SIGNED UP TO SPEAK.
THANK YOU FOR RECOGNIZING APRIL AS AUTISM ACCEPTANCE MONTH.
AUTISM IS A DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITY THAT CAN CAUSE SOCIAL COMMUNICATION AND BEHAVIORAL CHALLENGES.
DID YOU KNOW THAT ABOUT 1 IN 54 PEOPLE HAS AUTISM? ONE OF THOSE IS MY SON, WHO IS 17 YEARS OLD.
HE'S MY REASON THAT I'M ACTIVE AS A VOLUNTEER IN THE AUTISM COMMUNITY.
WE HAVE MORE THAN 4000 MEMBERS ACROSS KATIE AND THE GREATER HOUSTON AREA.
I'M PROUD OF THE WORK WE DO AND THANKS FOR THIS RECOGNITION.
MA'AM, CAN YOU PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME FOR THE RECORD? HI, I'M JANA MILLER.
THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU, MISS MILLER.
GOOD AFTERNOON, JUDGE HIDALGO AND COMMISSIONERS.
MY NAME IS MARY JANE WILLIAMS, AND I'M EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF FAMILY TO FAMILY NETWORK.
A SPECIAL THANK YOU TO COMMISSIONER BRIONES FOR YOUR WORK IN PRECINCT FOUR, WHERE WE'RE LOCATED.
ALMOST 60% OF THE OVER 700 FAMILIES THAT WE SERVE EVERY YEAR HAVE A CHILD OR CHILDREN WITH AUTISM.
FOR OVER 30 YEARS, FAMILY TO FAMILY NETWORK HAS HELPED FAMILIES AS THEY JOURNEY FROM ONE LIFE STAGE TO ANOTHER WITH THEIR CHILDREN, WHILE ALSO AIDING THEM WITH THE CORRECT WORDS TO USE THE EXACT PLACE TO LOOK, THE RIGHT PERSON TO CONNECT WITH WHEN THEY'RE TRYING TO FIND SERVICES AND SUPPORT FOR THEIR CHILDREN OR ADULTS WITH DISABILITIES IN THAT COMPLEX EDUCATION, HEALTH CARE AND SOCIAL SERVICE SYSTEMS. WE BELIEVE ALL YOUR TIME IS UP.
SO THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THAT TODAY.
THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU.
GOOD MORNING, JUDGE HIDALGO AND COMMISSIONERS.
MY NAME IS LIZ SEELIG, AND I AM MOST IMPORTANTLY THE MOTHER OF A 12 YEAR OLD AUTISTIC SON NAMED JACK AND ALSO THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE KNOW AUTISM FOUNDATION.
I HAVE SPENT MUCH OF MY CAREER IN MARKETING COMMUNICATIONS AND I'M VERY BLESSED IN THAT.
IN 2014, I WAS ABLE TO UTILIZE MY CAREER IN THAT, IN THAT ASPECT, TO BE ABLE TO DISTRIBUTE GRANTS FROM THE PRIVATE SECTOR TO FOUNDATIONS.
AND ONE OF THEM WAS AN AUTISM ORGANIZATION.
SINCE THEN I'VE HAD PERSONAL JOURNEYS WITH MY SON WANDERING AND TO A SWIMMING POOL.
AND DROWNING IS THE NUMBER ONE CAUSE OF DEATH FOR INDIVIDUALS WITH AUTISM.
[01:35:05]
BECOME AN ADVOCATE OVERALL TO FIGURE OUT WAYS THAT WE CAN BETTER SERVE THE COMMUNITY, WHETHER IT'S THE PARENTS OR THE CHILDREN.THE KNOW AUTISM FOUNDATION, WHICH I REPRESENT, IS A WONDERFUL ORGANIZATION, AND THEIR MISSION IS TO EDUCATE FAMILIES AND PROVIDE RESOURCES AND TO HELP FAMILIES ALONG THEIR JOURNEY OF AUTISM.
WE PRIMARILY OFFER FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE TO LOWER AND MIDDLE CLASS FAMILIES WHO NEED ASSISTANCE IN PAYING FOR THOSE OUT OF POCKET EXPENSES THAT MAY BE COVERED BY INSURANCE AND ARE JUST SO SUBSTANTIAL AS WELL AS INDIVIDUALS WHO DON'T HAVE HEALTH INSURANCE.
SO WE ARE SO APPRECIATIVE OF YOU HAVING US HERE TODAY AND RECOGNIZING US.
WE LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH YOU IN LARGER WAYS MOVING FORWARD.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER BRIONES.
I REPRESENT THE HARRIS CENTER AND THE COFFEE HOUSE PROGRAM.
I WANT TO SHOUT OUT TO THE HARRIS CENTER, WHO ALSO HAS PUT ALL THE HARD WORK AND DEDICATION TOWARDS ME AND OTHER PEOPLE LIKE ME, WHO HAVE GIVEN PEOPLE A CHANCE TO UNDERSTAND US.
I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR THE COURT FOR HAVING US TO HEAR TODAY.
IT REALLY MEANS A LOT. THANK YOU.
MY NAME IS RODNEY KELLER, AND I REPRESENT THE HARRIS CENTER.
ON BEHALF OF THE HARRIS CENTER, I'D LIKE TO THANK THE COURT FOR DECLARING APRIL AS AUTISM ACCEPTANCE MONTH AS MANAGER OF THE COFFEE HOUSE PROGRAM, WHICH IS A PROGRAM THAT HELPS INDIVIDUALS WITH AUTISM BECOME MORE INDEPENDENT SO THAT THEY CAN GET ACCESS TO COMMUNITY AND MORE INCLUSIVITY.
IT'S IMPORTANT THAT THESE INDIVIDUALS BE RECOGNIZED FOR THEIR SKILLS AND THEIR TALENTS.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MR. KELLER. THANK YOU.
THANK YOU ALL FOR WHAT YOU DO.
BUT, COMMISSIONER, THANK YOU FOR BRINGING THIS ITEM FORWARD.
AMANDA, PLEASE GIVE EVERYBODY MY REGARDS BACK AT THE SHOP.
BUT EVERYONE HERE IS OUR NEIGHBOR, AND AND WE ARE OUR BROTHERS KEEPERS AND SISTERS KEEPERS.
THANK YOU ALL, AND WE APPRECIATE YOUR WORK.
PLEASE DON'T LET MY MY MOVING BACK AND FORTH BE REFLECTIVE OF MY ATTENTION, APPRECIATION.
WE'RE DEALING WITH UPDATES ON THE UPLIFT PROGRAM AND OF COURSE THE DEPUTY.
BUT I SO APPRECIATE YOUR WORK.
THANK YOU SO MUCH. AND I KNOW THERE'S MORE WORK TO BE DONE.
THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU.
SO THE TWO FINAL RESOLUTIONS MOVING TO ITEM 17.
AND I PLEASE INVITE AS WE GET STARTED, MARTA CASTRO, RUBEN REYES, LIBBY, MARILYN, CHRISTINA DELICIA, JENNY, MYRNA, JANET AND JAZZ WHO ARE HERE WITH US TODAY.
IF YOU COULD MAKE YOUR WAY DOWN AND NEXT WE ARE CELEBRATING GARIFUNA SETTLEMENT DAY, WHICH I AM VERY THRILLED THAT YOU ALL ARE HERE.
SO IF YOU COULD PLEASE MAKE YOUR WAY.
ONE OF THE THINGS I LOVE MOST ABOUT HARRIS COUNTY IS ITS INCREDIBLY RICH DIVERSITY, AND I AM SO PROUD THAT ONE OF THE LARGEST GARIFUNA COMMUNITIES IS HARRIS COUNTY AND ALL OF THE UNITED STATES, AND SPECIFICALLY PRECINCT FOUR.
SO WE'RE SO HAPPY TO CELEBRATE YOU TODAY.
AND IT IS WONDERFUL THAT NOW SO MANY PEOPLE CALL HARRIS COUNTY HOME FROM THE GARIFUNA COMMUNITY.
AND WE'RE REALLY GRATEFUL FOR THE LUMLEY LEMIEUX INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATION, WHICH REALLY DOES AN AMAZING JOB SHARING THE BEAUTIFUL GARIFUNA CULTURE ACROSS HARRIS COUNTY.
SO WITH THAT, WE'RE THRILLED TO WELCOME YOU.
AND WE ARE VERY EXCITED TO RECOGNIZE GARIFUNA SETTLEMENT DAY HERE IN HARRIS COUNTY.
[01:40:06]
SO BIENVENIDOS Y FELICIDADES.MUCHISIMAS. GRACIAS, COMMISSIONER BRIONES, AND THANK YOU TO ALL OF THE REST OF THE COMMISSIONERS TODAY, ON BEHALF OF INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATION AND THE GARIFUNA NATION, WE STAND HERE 227 YEARS LATER, PRESERVING OUR CULTURE MOVING TO ANOTHER COUNTRY AND FIRST GENERATION GARIFUNA AMERICAN. SO THIS IS AWESOME FOR US, RIGHT? TODAY, THE GARIFUNA NATION STANDS TALL, ABOUT 300,000 STRONG IN THE WORLD, ABOUT 7000 ROUGHLY IN HARRIS COUNTY.
ALL RIGHT. YAY! SALIMAN. ORGANIZATION, ALONG WITH ELDERS, HISTORIANS, FREDERICK, CULTURAL GROUPS AND OTHER ORGANIZATIONS WILL CONTINUE TO WORK ON CULTURAL CONSERVATION, LAND CONSERVATION, SOCIAL AND ECONOMICAL CONTRIBUTIONS NOT ONLY TO THE WORLD, BUT SPECIFICALLY TO HOUSTON.
RIGHT. I'M GOING TO GIVE THE WORLD TO CONTINUE.
I WANT TO THANK THE JUDGES, THE COMMISSIONERS, FOR RECOGNIZING US IN THE HARRIS COUNTY.
IT IS SO IMPORTANT TO US BECAUSE WE'VE BEEN HERE FOR OVER 100 YEARS.
IT'S THE PRESENCE OF GARIFUNA PEOPLE IN IN TEXAS, AND THIS IS THE FIRST TIME WE ARE RECOGNIZED AND IS VERY IMPORTANT TO US. AS IT WAS MENTIONED, WE WERE EXILED FROM SAINT VINCENT AFTER FIGHTING FOR OUR LAND, FOR OUR HISTORY, FOR OUR FREEDOM.
AND THEN WE WERE PUT INTO HONDURAS.
NOW WE ARE HONDURAN, BUT RECENTLY, OVER 100 YEARS WE ARE TEXANS.
SO WE ARE VERY PROUD PEOPLE AND GLAD TO BE HERE AND APPRECIATE THIS RECOGNITION.
ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU AND WELCOME.
THANK YOU. I JUST NEED TO ADD THAT THE GARIFUNA NATION WERE NEVER SLAVES.
THAT IS VERY IMPORTANT INFORMATION.
TO KNOW FOR HISTORY, RIGHT? THAT WE'VE WORKED VERY HARD TO PRESERVE OUR CULTURE.
ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.
FELICIDADES GRACIAS, GRACIAS, GRACIAS.
SO THE AND I WOULD LIKE TO SAY IF YOU COULD SHARE SOME INFORMATION, I'D LOVE TO GO VISIT BACK HOME.
EXCUSE ME, CAN I PLEASE HAVE THE LAST SPEAKER STATE HIS NAME? FOR THE RECORD, MY NAME IS RUBEN REYES.
THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU, MR. REYES. GOOD JOB, COMMISSIONER.
IT IS A RESOLUTION HONORING THE HOUSTON AREA URBAN FORESTRY COUNCIL.
SO NICHOLAS GRIFFIN, PRESIDENT OF UFCW, IF YOU COULD PLEASE JOIN US.
AND THEN LAURA MEDIC, WHO IS ON THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF THE HOUSTON AREA URBAN FORESTRY COUNCIL AND WHO'S ALSO A WONDERFUL HARRIS COUNTY PRECINCT FOR TEAM MEMBER LAURA, IF YOU COULD PLEASE JOIN US AS WELL.
SO THIS AS WE CELEBRATED EARTH DAY YESTERDAY AND AS WE CELEBRATE EARTH DAY EVERY DAY, AS WE SHOULD, WE ARE VERY PROUD TO HONOR THE GREAT WORK OF THE HOUSTON AREA URBAN FORESTRY COUNCIL.
FOR OVER THREE DECADES, H.R., UFCW HAS STRIVED TO ENHANCE HOUSTON'S URBAN FOREST TO MAKE ENVIRONMENTALLY SUSTAINABLE FUTURE POSSIBLE.
YOU HELP IMPROVE OUR AIR QUALITY, OUR WATER QUALITY, YOU HELP US CONTROL STORMWATER, CONSERVE ENERGY, PROVIDE HABITATS FOR WILDLIFE, ENHANCE BIODIVERSITY, AND BRING SO MANY IMPROVEMENTS TO OUR COMMUNITY THAT WILL HELP PROTECT PRESERVE OUR ENVIRONMENT.
I'M VERY THANKFUL THAT RECENTLY WE PARTNERED TOGETHER, WE HAD OVER 100 PARTICIPANTS AND PLANTED OVER 1600 TREES IN PRECINCT FOUR TOGETHER THIS YEAR. AND THIS IS AN ISSUE THAT I CARE DEEPLY ABOUT, NOT ONLY AS A MOM WHO WANTS TO PRESERVE THE ENVIRONMENT FOR MY KIDS, GRANDKIDS, AND GREAT GRANDKIDS, BUT IT VERY MUCH WORRIES ME THAT I REPRESENT, FOR EXAMPLE, GULFTON AND RIVER OAKS AND GULFTON IS 17 DEGREES HOTTER.
THE HEAT ISLAND EFFECT IS IMMENSE.
SO THE WORK THAT YOU ALL DO IN THE HOUSTON AREA, URBAN FORESTRY COUNCIL IS CRITICAL IN TERMS OF ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE, EQUITY, HEALTH AND THE PRESERVATION OF OUR ENVIRONMENT FOR GENERATIONS TO COME.
SO WITH THAT, WE ARE SO PROUD TO HONOR YOU.
[01:45:02]
AND I. TURN IT OVER TO OUR PRESIDENT, MR. GRIFFIN. THANK YOU, JUDGE HIDALGO AND COMMISSIONERS, MY NAME IS NICK GRIFFIN, AND I'M THE PRESIDENT OF THE HOUSTON AREA URBAN FORESTRY COUNCIL AND AN URBAN FORESTER WITH THE HARRIS COUNTY FLOOD CONTROL DISTRICT.THE HOUSTON AREA URBAN FORESTRY COUNCIL WAS FORMED IN 1986.
SINCE THE EVENT'S INCEPTION IN 2007, OVER 25,000 TREES HAVE BEEN PLANTED ACROSS HARRIS COUNTY.
I WOULD LIKE TO TAKE THIS TIME TO THANK OUR EVENT SPONSORS HARRIS COUNTY FLOOD CONTROL, CENTERPOINT ENERGY, THE TEXAS A&M FOREST SERVICE, HARRIS COUNTY PRECINCT FOUR, H-E-B, TREES FOR HOUSTON, ENVIRONMENTAL DESIGN INCORPORATED, AND OUR MANY VOLUNTEERS.
YEAR AFTER YEAR. TREES PROVIDE AN IMPORTANT ENHANCEMENT TO OUR EXISTING STORMWATER INFRASTRUCTURE, AND ARE THE ONLY PART OF OUR INFRASTRUCTURE THAT INCREASES IN VALUE OVER TIME. THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER BRIONES, FOR RECOGNIZING THE HOUSTON AREA URBAN FORESTRY COUNCIL WITH THIS RESOLUTION.
I LOOK FORWARD TO CONTINUING THIS PARTNERSHIP ACROSS ALL FOUR PRECINCTS.
AND THANK YOU. YOUR TIME IS UP.
THANK YOU. CONTINUE. THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP.
WE TOO LOOK FORWARD TO CONTINUING THE PARTNERSHIP.
WONDERFUL, LAURA. THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE TO HARRIS COUNTY.
YOU REPRESENT THE HEART, HUSTLE AND HIGHER STANDARDS OF PRECINCT FOUR AND OF ALL OF HARRIS COUNTY.
SO THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP.
THANK YOU SO MUCH. WE APPRECIATE Y'ALL.
CAN I SAY ONE QUICK THING? I JUST WANTED TO SAY QUICKLY THAT THERESA HOUSTON DID DONATE ALL THE TREES FOR THE COMPETITION AND TREES.
HOUSTON HAS PLANTED 70,000 TREES THIS PAST YEAR AND GIVING AWAY TREES.
SO. MAN GOES TO THE INCREDIBLE HOUSTON AREA FOR COUNCIL IS JUST AWESOME.
I'M SO APPRECIATIVE TO BE ON THE BOARD.
SO AND THANK YOU COURT VERY MUCH.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP. PARKS DEPARTMENT, THANK YOU AND THANK YOU.
I THINK THAT'S ALL CORRECT, COMMISSIONER.
SO THOSE ARE ALL THE RESOLUTIONS.
[01:58:47]
THEY TAKE A PICTURE?[01:58:48]
YEAH, YEAH.[02:02:07]
OKAY. OKAY.JUST A REQUEST OF COUNTY ATTORNEY.
SO JUST TO REPEAT IT IS 1251 AND WE'RE BREAKING UNTIL 2:00 FOR LUNCH.
THANK YOU SO MUCH, COLLEAGUES.
IT IS 210 AND COMMISSIONERS COURT IS BACK IN SESSION.
IF I'M CORRECT, LET'S TAKE UP THE REST OF THE SPEAKERS.
FIRST IS JACOB CLEMENTS SPEAKING ON ITEMS 14 AND 16.
ONE DAY ON THE RELAY RACE IN THE AUTISM.
WELL, I WAS CONFUSED THAT I DIDN'T SPEAK WITH THEM.
BUT ANYWAY, WHAT I WANTED TO SPEAK TO RIGHT NOW IS THE ESSENCE OF THE PUBLIC.
PUBLIC ASK PEOPLE TO VOTE BECAUSE THE RUNOFF, WELL, NOT RUNOFF, BUT JARVIS JOHNSON AND MARTIN COOK ARE TWO MAIN CONTENDERS FOR THE DEMOCRATIC SEAT TO REPLACE JOHN WHITMIRE.
AND THEN THERE ARE HARRIS COUNTY APPEALS CLERKS THAT ARE ALSO RUNNING LIKE ERIKA MCCUTCHEON.
AND SO I HAVE WELL, ALL I CAN SAY IS I HAVE LEFT HERE FOR MISTER RODNEY COMMISSIONER RODNEY ELLIS TO SIGN THE SHIRT THAT YOU, MISTER GARCIA, YOU MISTER RAMSEY, AND YOU, MISS THANK YOU.
JACOB. NEXT IS CARL DAVIS SPEAKING ON ITEM 64 UNDER COUNTY ENGINEER.
GOOD AFTERNOON, COMMISSIONERS.
I'M CARL DAVIS WITH THE HOUSTON SOCIETY FOR CHANGE AND A GENERAL BOARD MEMBER OF THE A.M.E.
CHURCH. BUT TODAY I AM HERE AS A BOARD MEMBER OF THE UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON FAMILY HEALTH CARE CLINIC, WHERE GLORIA MOLINA SERVES AS OUR CHAIR. IT'S AN AFFORDABLE, COMPREHENSIVE PRIMARY CARE SERVICE IN ONE CONVENIENT LOCATION AT THE TILMAN FERTITTA FAMILY COLLEGE OF MEDICINE, AND
[02:05:03]
WE HAVE SUBMITTED OUR APPLICATION TO BECOME AN FQHC THAT PROVIDES HEALTH CARE TO UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES.I TRULY UNDERSTAND THE IMPORTANCE OF HAVING ACCESS TO HEALTH CARE IN YOUR COMMUNITY, AND I'M HERE TODAY TO SUPPORT THE EAST HARRIS COUNTY HEALTH CARE AND SOCIAL SERVICE HUB IN THE CHANNELVIEW AREA WITH A ONE STOP SHOP TO ADDRESS THE HEALTH CARE NEEDS WITHOUT PUTTING THEIR HEALTH ON THE BACK BURNER BECAUSE OF TRANSPORTATION AND OTHER ISSUES.
WE ALL WANT TO HEAR YOUR COMMUNITY THAT PROVIDES HARRIS COUNTY.
THANK YOU. YOUR TIME WITH A HEALTHY WORKFORCE AND HEALTHY ENVIRONMENT.
THANK YOU. NEXT IS RUTH NASRALLAH SPEAKING ON ITEM 64.
YOU HAVE ONE MINUTE. I THINK YOU LEFT.
YEAH. I DON'T THINK SHE'S HERE ANYMORE.
ALL RIGHT. THANKS. NEXT IS MOHAMMED NASRALLAH SPEAKING ON ITEM 64.
YEAH. THEY'RE NOT HERE EITHER.
NEXT IS CHRISTOPHER JENKINS SPEAKING ON ITEM TWO 60 TWO.
APPROVAL OF CREATION, FOR A PROBATE ADMINISTRATOR OF A RESOURCE TO FAMILIES AND DESCENDANTS OR SMALL ESTATES WHO ARE UNABLE TO AFFORD AN ATTORNEY OF WHOSE ESTATES ARE KNOWN OR NOT SUITABLE FOR THEIR NEXT OF KIN.
THEY HAD A PAUSE ON PAYMENTS, BUT LACKED CONTINGENCY TO PREVENT RESIDENTS FROM BEING HOMELESS.
AS WELL AS THE COVID 19 PANDEMIC.
THE JUSTICE OF THE PEACE, ON THE OTHER HAND, HAD OUTDATED SYSTEMS IN WHICH THEY IN WHICH THEY HAD ABUSED THEIR AUTHORITY, AND IT DEMONSTRATES THEIR CHARACTER AND WHAT THEY THINK THE RESIDENTS OF THIS COMMUNITY ARE.
THEY SHOW A LACK OF EMPATHY AND COMPASSION, LACK OF ACCOUNTABILITY, OVERSIGHT AND TRANSPARENCY, AND WHICH HAS EXACERBATED THE PROBLEM, LEAVING PEOPLE TO HOMELESSNESS THEY HAVE LACK. THANK YOU. YOUR TIME IS UP.
OKAY. THANK YOU. AND THIS HOME VETERANS, SENIORS.
THANK YOU, THANK YOU. NEXT IS JUDGE JERRY SIMONEAU SPEAKING ON ITEM TWO 60 TWO.
JUDGE, I THOUGHT THAT WAS YOU.
AND I REGRET NOT CALLING YOU UP EARLIER.
I JUST, YOU KNOW, I STILL REFUSE TO BUY NEW GLASSES BECAUSE I KEEP LOSING THEM.
AND ANYWAY, IT WAS NOT MY INTENTION TO KEEP YOU WAITING AT ALL.
I AM MERELY A CITIZEN HERE, AND I WILL TAKE MY PLACE IN TURN.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR GIVING ME THE TIME.
I'M JERRY JUDGE JERRY CIMINO, HERE TO TALK ON THE OFFICE OF PUBLIC PROBATE ADMINISTRATOR.
MY CANDIDATE FOR THAT HERE IS, IS BRANDON COFIELD.
WOULD THAT BE OKAY? YES. GO AHEAD. THANK YOU.
JUDGE AS WE ALL KNOW, CAN YOU STATE YOUR NAME FOR THE RECORD, PLEASE? YES. YOUR HONOR BRANDON COFIELD, THANK YOU.
AS YOU ALL KNOW, PROBATE AND INHERITANCE IS SUPER IMPORTANT TO BELONGINGNESS.
AND, OF COURSE, WEALTH GENERATION.
BUT AT THE SAME TOKEN, THAT ENDS UP SERVING AS A BARRIER TO ACCESS TO JUSTICE FOR A LOT OF PEOPLE, WHETHER IT'S BECAUSE OF THEIR SOCIOECONOMIC STATUS, JUST UNDERSTANDING THE FORMS THAT THERE ARE FOR INDIVIDUALS THAT DO TRY TO FILE SOMETHING PRO SE.
SO THIS POSITION WILL WORK IN A COUPLE OF WAYS.
YOUR TIME IS UP. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
DO YOU WANT TO GO AHEAD AND FINISH THAT SENTENCE? SURE. EFFECTIVELY, IT WILL PROVIDE A UNIVERSAL STANDING TO BE ABLE TO HELP PROPERTIES AND INDIVIDUALS THAT ARE STUCK GET UNSTUCK.
NEXT IS ANNA GONZALEZ SPEAKING ON ITEM 337 UNDER PURCHASING.
GOOD AFTERNOON, JUDGE AND COMMISSIONERS.
I'M HERE. MY NAME IS ANNA GONZALEZ.
[02:10:07]
I'M HERE TO SUPPORT THE FOR THE FLOCK CAMERAS COUNTYWIDE.AND REASON I'M VERY PASSIONATE ABOUT THIS IS BECAUSE OUR AREA CONSTANTLY, WE HEAR GUNSHOTS.
SOMETIMES WE HAVE TO CALL PRECINCT SIX TO COME AND ASSIST.
BUT OF COURSE, IT'S NOT A HIGH PRIORITY.
AND LATELY IT'S BEEN CONSTANT MORE AND MORE.
SO I THINK WITH THESE FLOCK CAMERAS AND I THINK IT CAN HELP OUR COMMUNITIES, AND NOT ONLY IN DENVER HARBOR, IN THE CITY LIMITS, BUT IN THE COUNTY IN ORDER TO KIND OF CURTAIL SHOOTING.
SHOOTING IS JUST PEOPLE JUST DECIDE TO PULL OUT THEIR GUNS AND SHOOT.
SO I THINK THESE WOULD HELP US.
HEY, ANNA. ANNA, THANK YOU FOR COMING DOWN, AND I.
AND I APPRECIATE YOU SPEAKING ON THE FLOCK SYSTEM AND JUST SO YOU KNOW THAT WE'RE WE'RE THE COUNTY NOW HAS THE OPPORTUNITY, AND THE CITY HAS ONE AS WELL.
SO I JUST SPOKE TO THE AREA POLICE CHIEFS ASSOCIATION YESTERDAY.
I KNOW THAT DENVER HARBOR IS IN GOOD CONVERSATIONS WITH MAYOR WHITMIRE.
SO I WOULD ASK THAT Y'ALL KEEP THIS IN FRONT OF HIM.
OKAY. THANK YOU, SIR. YOU'RE WELCOME.
GOOD TO SEE YOU. THANK YOU, THANK YOU.
NEXT IS JEREMY SMITH SPEAKING ON ITEM 390 UNDER COMMISSIONER PRECINCT ONE.
JUDGE. COMMISSIONERS, THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.
I'M A NATIONWIDE EXPERT ON VOTER REGISTRATION.
MY FAMILY'S FROM HUMBLE AND LAPORTE, AND OUR OFFICE IS IN PRECINCT FOUR, SO WE HAVE DEEP ROOTS.
I WOULD LIKE TO TALK ABOUT VOTER REGISTRATION IN THE COUNTY LIKE THE REST OF THE COUNTRY.
HARRIS COUNTY HAS SEEN A PRECIPITOUS DROP IN CIVIC ENGAGEMENT OVER THE LAST FOUR YEARS.
FEWER PEOPLE ARE UPDATING THEIR VOTER REGISTRATIONS OR SIGNING UP IN THE FIRST PLACE.
AND SO HARRIS COUNTY HAS BEEN AN INNOVATIVE PLACE FOR MANY YEARS ON VOTING RIGHTS, AND WOULD JUST ENCOURAGE THE COUNTY TO AFFIRMATIVELY TAKE EFFORTS TO HELP SUPPORT ALL OF THE DIFFERENT GROUPS WHO ARE IMPACTED BY THIS.
THERE'S SOME SIMPLE THINGS THAT CAN BE DONE BY THE COUNTY TO HELP IMPROVE THIS ACROSS THE BOARD.
JUDGE, COMMISSIONER, JUST A COUPLE OF QUICK QUESTIONS.
I'M TOLD THAT YOU'RE DOING SOMETHING IN SEVERAL OTHER COUNTIES.
WHAT IS THAT AND WHAT IS IT SPECIFICALLY YOU'RE ASKING US TO DO? AND THE LAST POINT IS WE'LL MAKE SURE WHATEVER IT IS, IT IS NONPARTISAN.
YES, COMMISSIONER. SO THESE ARE NONPARTISAN EFFORTS THAT OTHER COUNTIES AND CITIES HAVE TAKEN UP TO AFFIRMATIVELY WELCOME PEOPLE WHEN THEY ARRIVE TO THE COUNTY, WHICH ESSENTIALLY THE SENDING OF A LETTER WITH THE BASIC COUNTY SERVICES ENCOURAGING PEOPLE TO REGISTER, TO VOTE, TO SIGN UP FOR DIFFERENT SERVICES THAT YOU ALL OFFER, TO GIVE THEM AN INTRODUCTION TO THE AREA IS VERY LIKE SORT OF A STRAIGHTFORWARD, WELCOMING LETTER WHEN PEOPLE TURN 18, WHEN THEY BECOME A NEW CITIZEN OR WHEN THEY ARRIVE IN THE COUNTY.
SO DALLAS, TRAVIS COUNTY, NEW YORK CITY, BOSTON, THE STATE OF MICHIGAN, A NUMBER OF TAKEN UP THIS SORT OF THING THAT USED TO BE MORE COMMONLY DONE BY MAJOR NATIONAL NONPROFITS BUT IS NO LONGER THE CASE, AND IT COMPLIES WITH STATE LAW.
IT COMPLIES WITH STATE LAW, TOTALLY NONPARTISAN.
IT'S SORT OF WOULD ENCOURAGE THE COUNTY TO PUT ITSELF FORWARD AND WELCOME THOSE PEOPLE DIRECTLY.
AND HOW MUCH IS DALLAS SPENDING ON IT? AND WHAT IS TRAVIS COUNTY? TRAVIS COUNTY IS SPENDING? I BELIEVE THEY'RE DOING A $50,000 PILOT WITH THE INTENT TO DO ABOUT $300,000 A YEAR.
DALLAS COUNTY IS SPENDING IN THE REALM OF HALF $1 MILLION.
SOMETHING HERE HARRIS IS OBVIOUSLY, YOU KNOW, BY FAR THE LARGEST SOMETHING LIKE $300,000 A YEAR WOULD WELCOME EVERYBODY, LIKE IN YOUR VARIOUS PRECINCTS GIVEN THE COMPRESSION THAT WE'VE HAD FOR THE PAST FOUR YEARS, THE 700,000 KIND OF REDUCED AMOUNT THAT WE WOULD SEE SOMETHING LIKE $1.1 MILLION THIS YEAR WOULD SEE THE COUNTY ADD ABOUT 200,000 MORE VOTERS.
OKAY. JUST AND JUST AT THE APPROPRIATE TIME, I'M GOING TO ASK THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR'S OFFICE TO WORK WITH THE LEGAL DEPARTMENT AND THE CLERK AND THE TAX ASSESSOR AND COME BACK AT THE NEXT COURT WITH SOME SORT OF PROPOSAL AND WITH THE COUNTY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE TO MAKE SURE IT DOES COMPLY WITH STATE LAW.
IF WE DON'T HAVE A WHOLE LOT OF DISCUSSION, WE CAN JUST DO THAT.
[02:15:02]
DO YOU GUYS FOLKS HAVE QUESTIONS FOR LATER? OR WE CAN JUST YEAH.IF YOU'D LIKE TO MAKE YOUR MOTION, COMMISSIONER I'LL JUST MAKE A MOTION TO HAVE IT IN HERE.
SOME ELECTED OFFICIALS ARE CALLING IN AT 3 P.M..
IS THAT STILL THE CASE? YEAH, I'LL DO IT AFTER WHEN THEY CALL.
OKAY, SO THEN YOU GUYS WILL REMIND ME OF THAT.
OKAY, SO WE'LL HAVE TO WAIT UNTIL THAT, THEN THAT SEND THE MOTION AROUND.
OKAY. AND THEN THE OTHER QUESTION.
SO COMMISSIONER ELLIS HAS TO LEAVE BY 530.
CORRECT. SO LET'S KEEP IN MIND THE TIME AS IT QUICKLY FLIES BY.
THANK YOU SO MUCH, MISS SMITH.
NEXT IS TERRY CHEN SPEAKING ON ITEM 47.
I AM A RESIDENT OF PRECINCT ONE.
I'M AN ORGANIZER FOR WOODY JUNTOS AND I'M A MEMBER OF HOUSTON LEADS.
PLEASE END JAIL OUTSOURCING AND KEEP HARRIS COUNTY TAX DOLLARS IN HARRIS COUNTY.
AND I HOPE THIS ISN'T A STALLING TACTIC FOR THAT SPENDING.
I ALSO WANT TO SHOW SUPPORT FOR UPLIFT HARRIS DURING THIS TIME.
ECONOMIC EQUITY IS AN IMPORTANT AND PROVEN WAY TO IMPROVE OUR COMMUNITIES.
ANOTHER WAY IS ENVIRONMENTAL EQUITY, WHICH INCLUDES NOT APPROVING PERMITS FOR A CEMENT BATCH PLANTS AND NOT EXPANDING FREEWAYS WHICH ADD TO OUR AIR POLLUTION, REDUCE FLOOD DRAINAGE AND DISPLACE HOMES, LOCAL BUSINESSES AND PLACES OF FAITH.
AND LAST BUT NOT LEAST, PLEASE CALL FOR A PERMANENT CEASE FIRE AND FREE PALESTINE.
THANK YOU. MICHAEL KNIGHT SPEAKING ON ITEM 47.
YOU HAVE ONE MINUTE. THANK YOU.
I WANTED TO ADDRESS THE ISSUE OF CENTRALIZED PURCHASING.
I HAVE SUCCESSFULLY MANAGED BUSINESSES AND THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE FOR 45 YEARS IN THIS TOWN.
I HAVE CONSULTED ALL OVER THE WORLD AND I'VE OVERSEEN MILLIONS IN PURCHASING.
TODAY, I'M A BUSINESS OWNER RESPONSIBLE FOR HALF $1 BILLION WORTH OF MULTIFAMILY REAL ESTATE.
I'VE HEARD FROM TWO OF YOU ABOUT THIS ISSUE.
TELL US SOME PAPERWORK AND COMPLIANCE ISSUES EXIST.
THEY DON'T SUGGEST EMPLOYEES ARE MAKING IRRESPONSIBLE DECISIONS OR WASTING PUBLIC MONEY.
I SEE AN OPPORTUNITY TO FIX RUN OF THE MILL COMPLIANCE ISSUES, NOT A SYSTEMIC PROBLEM.
BEGGING FOR AN OVERHAUL, SPENDING MONTHS HAVING BUREAUCRATS FILLING OUT A SCORECARD DESIGNED BY ACADEMICS TO EVALUATE PEOPLE AND COMPANIES THEY HAVE NEVER MET, WHO PROVIDE SERVICES THEY ARE NOT FAMILIAR WITH, IS SIMPLY NOT EFFECTIVE OR EFFICIENT.
THOSE CLOSEST TO THE ACTION KNOW BEST.
THE BEST RESULTS COME WHEN WE HAVE MANAGERS LEADING THOSE FOLKS EFFECTIVELY.
NOT WHEN WE TAKE RESPONSIBILITY AND ACCOUNTABILITY AWAY FROM THEM OR DO IT FOR THEM.
CENTRAL CONTROL IS JUST DEFINITELY NOT THE ANSWER.
THANK YOU. KEVIN ENGLISH SPEAKING ON ITEM 47.
GOOD AFTERNOON, COUNTY JUDGE AND COMMISSIONERS.
I'M ALSO A RESIDENT OF PRECINCT FOUR IN HARRIS COUNTY.
ANY TIME A CORPORATION IS RECEIVING A CONTRACT TO DO WORK IN THE COUNTY, WE NEED TO KNOW WHO IT IS AND HOW THE DECISION WAS MADE FOR INSTANCES LIKE TAX ABATEMENTS FOR LARGE DEVELOPERS, ACCORDING TO THE REPORTS FROM THE COUNTY.
THEY NEED TO KNOW THAT THERE'S GOING TO BE CHECKS TO SEE IF THEY HAVE PROPER CERTIFICATIONS.
YOUR TIME IS UP. IF THEY HAVE PAST VIOLATIONS OF SAFETY OR WORKER PROTECTIONS.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. THANK YOU SO MUCH AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR WORK.
THANK YOU. REBECCA RAYNER SPEAKING ON ITEM 489.
[02:20:10]
GOOD AFTERNOON, ESTEEMED MEMBERS OF COMMISSIONERS COURT.THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO ADDRESS YOU TODAY.
I'M THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF GREATER NORTHSIDE MANAGEMENT DISTRICT.
I'M HERE TO EXPRESS MY FULL SUPPORT FOR AGENDA ITEM 489.
FOR MANY YEARS, OUR DISTRICT HAS GRAPPLED WITH THE CHALLENGES OF MAINTAINING CLEANLINESS ALONG THE BAYOU, RECEIVING MANY CALLS FROM THE BUSINESSES ALONG THE BAYOU, PARTICULARLY THE LITTLE WHITE OAK, WHICH COURSES THROUGH OUR AREA.
THE ISSUE OF HOMELESS ENCAMPMENTS AND ACCUMULATED TRASH ALONG THE BAYOU IS A PERSISTENT CONCERN THAT DEMANDS OUR ATTENTION, DESPITE OUR BEST COLLABORATIVE EFFORTS WITH RESOURCES AT HAND.
AND WHAT I MEAN, COLLABORATIVE.
THE CITY, THE COUNTY WE'VE ALL BEEN MEETING FOR YEARS ABOUT THIS ISSUE.
WE'VE BEEN WE'VE OFTEN FIND OURSELVES UNABLE TO FULLY ADDRESS THE ISSUE.
THIS IS WHY ITEM 489 IS IMPORTANT.
JUST I WANT TO SAY, BY ALLOCATING ADDITIONAL RESOURCES TO ADDRESS BAYOU MAINTENANCE, WE CAN SIGNIFICANTLY ENHANCE THE CAPACITY TO TACKLE WATERWAY POLLUTION AND IMPROVE THE SURROUNDING AREAS. WE HOPE THAT SUPPORTING THIS ISSUE, WE CAN MAKE MEANINGFUL STRIDES RESTORING THE BEAUTY AND VITALITY OF OUR WATERWAYS.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU.
THANK YOU FOR COMING AND THANK YOU AND THE MANAGEMENT DISTRICT FOR TAKING ON SO MANY OF THE AREA NEEDS WITHIN YOUR MANAGEMENT DISTRICT BOUNDARIES, MANY OF WHICH ARE NOT YOUR RESPONSIBILITY, BUT YOU OWN IT, YOU WORK TO ADDRESS IT, AND BECAUSE IT'S THE RIGHT THING TO DO.
BUT I APPRECIATE YOU FOR ALL THAT YOU'VE DONE AND AND FOR BEING HERE TO ADVOCATE FOR THIS.
WELL. THANK YOU. WE COULDN'T DO IT WITHOUT GREAT PARTNERS LIKE PRECINCT TWO.
THANK YOU, THANK YOU, NON-AGENDA.
SPEAKER NUMBER ONE, WALTER PROTHERO.
FROM EXPERIENCE, AS I'VE PREVIOUSLY REPORTED TO HARRIS HEALTH OF AN INCIDENT AT BEN TAUB CONCERNING THE CHIEF OF INTERNAL MEDICINE FOR BAYLOR COLLEGE OF MEDICINE, DOCTOR DAVID HYMAN.
MY VERY FIRST INTRODUCTION, DOCTOR HYMAN, WAS ONE THAT WOULD SURPRISE ANYONE ON MY FIRST VISIT.
DOCTOR HYMAN WAS BRIEF, DID ASK A FEW QUESTIONS, AS MOST PHYSICIANS WOULD DO AT BEN TAUB.
WHEN I ASKED QUESTIONS, HE JUST BRUSHED THEM OFF AND IGNORED MY CONCERNS.
WHEN IT CAME TO GOING OVER LAB RESULTS, HE WAS TOTALLY LOST.
HE COULD NOT EXPLAIN ANY PART OF THE LABS OR SPECIAL QUESTIONS I HAD.
HIS ABILITY TO COMMUNICATE MEDICAL OUTCOMES WAS TRULY DEFICIENT.
FIRST I WANT TO SAY MY CONDOLENCES TO THE FAMILY OF THIS OFFICER THAT LOST HIS LIFE TODAY.
AND WITH THAT BEING SAID, I ASK FOR EVERYONE TO HEAR THE HEART OF A MOTHER.
MY SON, JALEN ANDERSON, WAS IN LASALLE CORRECTIONAL FACILITY IN OLA, LOUISIANA.
HE LOST HIS LIFE DUE TO THE MEDICAL NEGLIGENCE IN THIS CORRECTIONAL FACILITY.
MY SON WAS TRANSFERRED FROM HARRIS COUNTY DUE TO THE OVERCROWDING.
HE STARTED HAVING SEIZURES AND WAS TRANSFERRED TO A ONE MAN SALE, AND HE CONTINUED HAVING SEIZURES.
HE WAS FINALLY TAKEN TO HARDNER MEDICAL CENTER, WHICH HE WAS PRONOUNCED DEAD AT 8:59 P.M..
AS I WENT TO THE WARDEN TO SPEAK TO JOHN STARKEY HERE AT THIS FACILITY, HE GAVE ME NO ANSWERS.
I HAVE NOT HEARD ANYTHING FROM ANYONE.
MA'AM, YOU CONTINUE TO WRAP UP YOUR REMARKS.
I HAVEN'T HEARD ANYTHING FROM ANYONE.
MY SON LOST HIS LIFE BECAUSE OF THIS MEDICAL NEGLIGENCE.
[02:25:03]
HE HAD SEVERAL SEIZURES AT THIS FACILITY AND NO ONE CAME TO HIS AID.HE DIED ON APRIL THE 3RD AT 859.
AND NATASHA YOUNG, WHICH IS THE LADY THAT CALLED ME THE CHAPLAIN.
SHE DID NOT CALL ME UNTIL MIDNIGHT, AND I DID NOT KNOW THAT MY SON WAS GONE.
AND I JUST I'M VERY HURT ABOUT WHAT HAPPENED TO HIM.
AND I HAVE NOT HEARD ANYTHING FROM THE SHERIFF'S COUNTY OFFICE.
THEY HAVEN'T GIVEN ME HIS PROPERTY.
THE THE THE CAPTAIN THAT CALLED ME ONE TIME TO JUST TELL ME THAT HE SENDS OUT HIS CONDOLENCES TO ME.
NO ONE ELSE HAS REACHED OUT TO ME.
AND ON THE THIRD WILL BE 30 DAYS.
AND I HAVEN'T HEARD ANYTHING FROM ANYONE.
I'M SO SORRY. I'M SO SORRY FOR YOUR LOSS.
I KNOW WE HAVE AN OVERCROWDING PROBLEM TODAY.
WE'RE GOING TO RECEIVE ANOTHER UPDATE ON THE JAIL.
I'M. I'M. I REALLY DON'T THINK THAT WE SHOULD BE OKAY WITH WITH THESE DEATHS.
WHETHER IT BE LASALLE, WHETHER IT BE HERE.
BECAUSE COMMITTING A CRIME PRETRIAL IS NOT A DEATH SENTENCE.
AND SURE, SOME PEOPLE WERE ILL AND WERE GOING TO DIE.
BUT I'M SURE YOUR SON IS QUITE YOUNG, BY THE LOOKS OF YOU.
YEAH, HE WAS 29 YEARS OLD, SO I'M.
AND WE'LL WE'LL SIT WITH YOU AND SEE.
SEE IF THERE'S ANYTHING WE CAN DO TO CONNECT YOU WITH THE RIGHT PEOPLE.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU. MA'AM, I, I ALSO WANTED TO JUST OFFER MY CONDOLENCES TO YOU AND YOUR FAMILY.
AND I KNOW THESE THESE CIRCUMSTANCES ARE A LITTLE COMPLICATED.
THIS IS TRAGIC AND IT'S UNACCEPTABLE.
AND MR. SPENCER'S, SHERIFF GONZALEZ'S CHIEF OF STAFF.
AND YOU WILL GET MORE INFORMATION PROMPTLY.
THANK THANK YOU ALL FOR COMING.
WHEN HE CALLED ME AND COMPLAINED ABOUT THE SECOND SEIZURE.
SOMETHING SHOULD HAVE BEEN DONE ABOUT THAT.
IT TOOK SIX SEIZURES, SIX SEIZURES FOR HIM TO HAVE, FOR SOMEBODY TO TRY AT LEAST TO DO ANYTHING.
AND WHY IS IT THAT 55 PEOPLE HAVE DIED IN THAT SAME FACILITY? 55 MEN HAVE DIED DUE TO LACK OF OF NO MEDICAL STAFF OR A LACK OF PEOPLE NOT KNOWING WHAT TO DO IN THOSE TYPE OF SITUATIONS.
THIS IS NOT RIGHT AND THIS WOULD NOT STAND WITH ME.
IT'S A TRAGEDY AND THIS CANNOT GO ON.
THIS IS TOO MANY MEN THAT ARE DYING IN THIS FACILITY.
SOMETHING HAS TO BE DONE ABOUT THIS.
I CAN'T THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU SO MUCH.
OH, MY NAME IS FABIAN CALLUS, AND I'M SPEAKING THESE ARE QUESTIONS ON BEHALF OF MY FAMILY.
WHAT TRAINING IS PROVIDED TO THE STAFF? TO IDENTIFY MEDICAL EMERGENCIES.
HOW OFTEN IS TRAINING? WHAT IS THE PROTOCOL FOR NO SEIZURE ACTIVITY? WHO NOTED THE INITIAL PROTOCOL OBSERVATION? WAS THE GUARD UP TO DATE WITH MEDICAL EMERGENCY PROTOCOL AND TRAINING? IF NOT, WHY WERE THEY ALLOWED TO WORK? WAS MY BROTHER, JAYLEN ANDERSON ANDERSON CONDITION NOTED IN MEDICAL RECORDS.
AND WHY WAS HE NOT TRANSPORTED TO EMERGENCY EMERGENCY ROOM FOLLOWING THE FIRST SEIZURE? WHEN DID THE FIRST SEIZURE START WITH THE IN GOD'S NOTES AND HOW MUCH TIME PASSED BETWEEN HIM FINALLY BEING TRANSPORTED TO THE HOSPITAL? WHAT IS THE PROTOCOL NOTED FOR SEIZURE ACTIVITY? WHY IS THE PROTOCOL NOT FOLLOWED? DID THE GUARD CONTACT ANYONE FOLLOWING THE FIRST SEIZURE? HOW OFTEN ARE THE GUARDS MAKING ROUNDS WITHIN THE LASALLE UNIT IN LOUISIANA? WHAT IS THE POLICY REGARDING DEATH NOTIFICATIONS? DOES THE LASALLE UNIT HAVE IMMEDIATE ACCESS TO EMERGENCY CONTACT INFORMATION? WHEN A PERSON IS TRANSFERRED FROM A HOUSTON HARRIS COUNTY JAIL, ARE THE INMATE'S RECORDS MAINTAINED DIGITALLY OR PAPER RECORDS? WHO HAS ACCESS TO THESE INMATE'S RECORDS? AND MY LAST QUESTION IS WHAT CAUSED THE DELAY OF THE DEATH NOTIFICATION? IF THE RECORDS ARE DIGITAL? THANK YOU. THANK YOU. AND I WILL ASK OUR FOLKS THAT ARE LEADING THE THE JAIL POPULATION REDUCTION ABOUT SEE, THAT'S THE KIND OF QUESTIONS, AT LEAST THE FIRST CHUNK ON THE MEDICAL CARE.
WE SAY, OKAY, HOW ARE WE GOING TO GET THEM TO THE BUDGET?
[02:30:03]
BUT ACTUALLY WE NEED TO EVALUATE WHETHER THEY'RE DOING THE JOB PROPERLY.SO I YOU KNOW, I'LL MENTION IT AGAIN.
IT MIGHT BE THAT YOU GUYS DID SOMETHING ON THAT ALONG THAT LINE ALREADY.
I KNOW I HAVEN'T BEEN BRIEFED BY YOU THIS WEEK, BUT I APPRECIATE THOSE QUESTIONS.
THE SOLUTION IS TO ALSO NOT SEND PEOPLE TO LASALLE.
SO OUR FOCUS IS TO REDUCE THE JAIL POPULATION.
BUT WE'LL LOOK INTO THE CONTACT INFORMATION POINT.
GOOD AFTERNOON. I'M HAROLD ANDERSON.
I'M THE FATHER OF JAYLEN ANDERSON.
AND. MAN, IT'S JUST ROUGH, YOU KNOW? YOU DON'T. YOU DON'T WAKE UP TO BURY YOUR CHILD, YOU KNOW? I'M JUST AT A LOSS FOR WORDS.
I'M JUST HERE TO SUPPORT MY FAMILY AND TRY TO BE HERE THE BEST WAY THAT I CAN FOR THEM, YOU KNOW? I THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.
THANK YOU FOR COMING. I'M SORRY.
HELLO. MY NAME IS SANDRA CALLAS AND I ALSO SUFFER FROM SEIZURES.
JAYLEN ANDERSON WAS MY LITTLE BROTHER, SO I CAN JUST IMAGINE WHAT HE WAS GOING THROUGH.
HE ACTUALLY DIED FROM SOMETHING.
HE DIDN'T DIE FROM A SEIZURE, SO IT JUST TOOK THEM TOO LONG TO RESPOND TO HIS MEDICAL CALL FOR HELP.
I LOVE MY BROTHER. I LOVE MY FAMILY.
I JUST THANK Y'ALL FOR GIVING US A CHANCE TO SPEAK.
AND I JUST PRAY THAT NOBODY ELSE HAS TO GO THROUGH THIS.
IF SOMEBODY SAYS THEY NEED HELP, GIVE THEM HELP.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR HELPING US RENEW OUR COMMITMENT TO THIS.
AND AGAIN, WE'RE SO SORRY FOR YOUR LOSS.
THANK YOU. NEXT IS LAKISHA MENIFEE.
HELLO, MY NAME IS DOCTOR LAKISHA MENIFEE.
AND JUST LIKE JALEN'S FAMILY, I HAVE A SAD REPORT IN REGARDS TO THE RESPONSE OF HARRIS COUNTY PRECINCT FOUR AS IT RELATES TO THE PROTECTION OF ITS CITIZENS.
AND ON FEBRUARY 16TH, I CALLED TO GET SUPPORT FROM OFFICERS.
AND AS OPPOSED TO GETTING SUPPORT, I WAS ASSAULTED BY OFFICERS.
TO THIS DAY, I'VE BEEN REQUESTING THE BODY CAM VIDEO FROM THOSE OFFICERS AND HAVE NOT RECEIVED IT.
DURING THE ALTERCATION WITH POLICE OFFICERS, THEY CONTACTED EMS AND TOOK MY BLOOD WITHOUT A WARRANT WHILE I WAS HANDCUFFED FOR HOURS AND MY DRESS WAS OPEN AND NO ONE COVERED ME UNTIL I ASKED FOR A SHEET TO BE COVERED.
I WENT TO SAINT LUKE FOR SUPPORT AS OPPOSED TO GIVING ME SUPPORT.
THEY TRIED TO COMMIT ME AS BEING INSANE.
I WENT TO METHODIST HOSPITAL AND THE NURSE TOLD ME THAT THEY WOULD NOT TAKE ANY DOCUMENTATION FROM THE RAPE KIT UNTIL I TALKED AND GOT A PSYCHIATRIC EXAM, BECAUSE THEY NEEDED TO KNOW WHAT I WAS GOING TO SAY TO THE DEFENSE ATTORNEY.
THAT IS WHAT THE NURSE TOLD ME AT THE HOSPITAL.
AND EVEN THROUGH ALL OF THAT, I DIDN'T GET AN OPPORTUNITY TO TAKE A BREAK.
THANK YOU SO MUCH. AND WE'LL FOLLOW UP WITH YOU.
NEXT IS NON-AGENDA SPEAKER NUMBER SIX, MICHAEL DICKERSON.
OKAY. NEXT IS NON-AGENDA SPEAKER NUMBER 11, PATRICIA BARBA.
MY NAME IS PATRICIA BARBA, AND I'D LIKE TO TELL YOU THAT I DON'T STAND ALONE.
I STAND WITH A COMMUNITY WITH SIGNATURES HERE.
[02:35:03]
ONE YEAR. IT TOOK MY SON TO ALMOST GET KILLED ON MY ROAD RIGHT IN FRONT OF MY HOUSE.IT'S OVER 60 MILES AN HOUR AND I HAVEN'T HEARD A RESPONSE.
THE SHERIFF DEPARTMENT CAN ONLY DO SO MUCH.
THEY CAN'T GO OUT THERE AND STOP THESE CRIMINALS AND GO.
WE WANT Y'ALL TO HELP US SAVE LIVES BEFORE.
WE DON'T WANT TO HEAR CONDOLENCES OR I'M SORRY, OR THIS OR THAT.
I'M PROVING TO YOU THE DANGER.
IS THERE 60 MILES AN HOUR? IT'S A LITTLE SHORT ROAD.
AND AND SHARING WHAT YOU'VE BEEN CONFRONTING WITH.
BUT OVER THE TIME THAT WE'VE BEEN IN TOUCH WITH YOU WE'VE ACTUALLY.
AND SO THAT'S BEEN THE DELAY IN TRYING TO RESPOND TO THE ISSUES YOU'RE CONFRONTING.
YES, SIR. AND SO I'M HOPEFUL TODAY WILL BE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO MOVE SOME EFFORTS FORWARD.
OUR COUNTY ENGINEER HAS REALLY WORKED ON THIS.
AND AND BUT, YOU KNOW, WE'RE WORKING TO, TO TRY TO BRING THAT RESOLVE TO YOU AND OTHER NEIGHBORS.
SO THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE.
SO THAT WAS THAT WAS THE SPEAKERS.
LET ME LOOK AT THE TABLE OF CONTENTS.
SO ANY CORRECTIONS HERE? ITEM 24, PAGE THREE.
ARPA NUISANCE ABATEMENT PROGRAM.
AGREEMENT WITH B2C COUNTY ENGINEER HAS REQUESTED NO ACTION ITEM 141, PAGE 16 WITH AUTO ARC ARCHITECTS. COUNTY ENGINEER REQUEST NO.
ACTION ITEM 145 ON PAGE 17 HAS A CORRECTION.
WE NEED TO CHANGE PRECINCT ONE TO PRECINCTS ONE AND TWO.
SO IT READS REQUEST FOR APPROVAL TO NEGOTIATE, ETC., ETC..
WE NEED TO ADD LITTLE AFTER NECESSARY.
NO ACTION ON THE HARRIS COUNTY LEGISLATIVE AGENDA, CORRECT? NO ACTION ON ITEM 202 ON PAGE 23, PAGE 25, ITEM 223.
HOUSING COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT REQUESTS NO ACTION ON THIS AGREEMENT.
SAME NO ACTION REQUEST FROM THE DEPARTMENT.
ON PAGE 29, OMB REQUESTS NO ACTION.
DOES THAT MEAN YOU GUYS ARE WORKING WITH THE JUDGE AND THEM ON IT? I'M SORRY, JUDGE, WE SENT A NOTE TO YOUR STAFF EARLIER THAT THAT CAN COME BACK ON.
IT CAN COME BACK? CONCERNS HAVE BEEN ADDRESSED.
OKAY, WE'LL BRING THAT BACK THEN.
WE NEED TO CHANGE PRECINCT TWO TO PRECINCT THREE.
SO IT SAYS ON THE BASIS OF LOW QUOTE FROM HOUSTON FREIGHTLINER FOR WATER TRUCK FOR PRECINCT THREE.
SHERIFF'S OFFICE REQUESTS NO ACTION.
AND THAT IS IT FOR THE CORRECTIONS.
LET ME BRING UP DISCUSSION ITEMS. AND JUST REMEMBER, WE HAVE AROUND THREE HOURS BEFORE COMMISSIONER ELLIS HAS TO LEAVE.
OKAY, SO EXECUTIVE SESSION ITEM 453, AN APPOINTMENT OF FRANCISCO CASTILLO.
[02:40:01]
NO. OKAY.DON'T NEED TO GO TO EXECUTIVE SESSION.
ITEM 454, APPOINTMENT OF BRENDA SYKES.
WE'LL PUT THAT BACK ON CONSENT.
LET'S SEE 459 APPOINTMENT OF THE COUNTY ATTORNEY TO THE SPORTS AUTHORITY.
OKAY, WE'LL PUT THAT ON CONSENT.
THAT IS APPOINTMENT OF JESSICA BRAND.
NO, TO THE PUBLIC DEFENDER BOARD.
NO PROBLEM. OKAY, THAT GOES BACK ON CONSENT.
IS THAT ONE FOR FOUR 60 ONE JUDGE THAT WAS FOR 60 ONE, CORRECT? PAGE 57.
NOW KELLY, ADMINISTRATION FOR EXECUTIVE SESSION TWO.
OH, MARIA LEONA, NOMINEE TO THE HARRIS COUNTY AREA AGENCY ON AGING FOR 62, PAGE 57.
DO FOLKS NEED TO DISCUSS THAT? NO. OKAY.
WILL THOSE BE APPROVED? CONNIE.
AND THEN WE HAD ADDITIONAL EXECUTIVE SESSION, WHICH WE DISCUSSED ALREADY.
455 JUDGE, WE JUST NEED TO VOTE.
SECOND IS THAT IS THAT ONE OF THE EXECUTIVE SESSION ITEMS? YEAH. WE DON'T NEED TO. I DON'T NEED TO GO.
I JUST NEED TO VOTE. I HAVE MAYBE THAT'S NOT EXECUTIVE SESSION.
OH, NO, IT'S AN EXECUTIVE. THAT'S NOT A THAT'S NOT AN EXECUTIVE.
IT'S NOT. YES, I'LL GET TO THAT.
LET ME GO IN ORDER HERE BEFORE I LOSE MY PLACE.
OKAY. SO WHAT IS IT? 455 YOU SAID 55.
IT'S WHAT IT SAID. WAS IT OKAY? OKAY. SO SO 455.
WE NEED TO VOTE. SO MOTION BY COMMISSIONER RAMSEY OR NO MOTION BY WHO'S GOING TO MAKE THE MOTION? GARCIA. GARCIA MAKES THE MOTION SECOND.
ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. ANY OPPOSED? NO. I'M IN FAVOR OF MOTION CARRIES FOR TWO.
AND THE OTHER TWO WERE DISCUSSED ALREADY IN THE EXECUTIVE SESSION.
I'M MAKING SURE I DIDN'T MISS ANYTHING ELSE.
COMMISSIONER RAMSEY AN AGREEMENT WITH THE MACARTHUR FOUNDATION FOR SAFETY AND JUSTICE.
DO PEOPLE NEED TO GO TO EXECUTIVE SESSION ON THAT? NO, NO. OKAY.
AND THEN I DON'T THINK THERE'S ANY OTHER EXECUTIVE SESSION ONCE A JUDGE.
WILL THAT BE APPROVED AS PRESENTED? 456 IS THE BYLAWS OF THE HARRIS COUNTY HISPANIC CULTURAL HERITAGE COMMISSION.
COMMISSIONER RAMSEY FLAGGED THIS ONE.
JUST NEED A VOTE SO MOVED SECOND MOTION BY COMMISSIONER GARCIA.
ANY OPPOSED? NO. MOTION CARRIES 4 TO 1.
I ALSO WAS GOING TO ADD 19 AND 20.
AND THOSE TWO WE JUST NEED TO VOTE.
ALL RIGHT. MOTION BY COMMISSIONER ELLIS.
SECOND BY COMMISSIONER GARCIA.
AND THESE ARE ITEMS 19 AND 20.
AYE. ANY OPPOSED? NO I'M IN FAVOR OF MOTION CARRIES 4 TO 123.
OKAY, WE'LL KEEP THAT ON THE DISCUSSION.
COMMISSIONER GARCIA, THIS IS THE PUBLIC NUISANCE 26 A POSITION.
OKAY. WE NEED TO ADD 25 AND JUST VOTE.
OKAY. SECOND MOTION BY COMMISSIONER GARCIA ON 25.
THAT'S A DATA USE AGREEMENT WITH THE UT HEALTH.
ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. ANY OPPOSED? NO. I'M SORRY, WHO'S THE SECOND MOTION BY ELLIS, SECOND BY GARCIA.
OKAY. ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. ANY OPPOSED? NO, I'M IN FAVOR.
OKAY, SO 24 WAS ALSO FLAGGED BY COMMISSIONER GARCIA.
SO I'LL KEEP IT FOR DISCUSSION.
WE'LL LEAVE IT FOR DISCUSSION 29.
[02:45:01]
I DEFINITELY WANT TO DISCUSS.I THINK GARCIA, IS THAT WHICH ONE IS THAT? 29 IS THE IS THE UPDATE ON THE JAIL POPULATION? SO WE'LL KEEP THAT ONE ON THE DISCUSSION.
ITEM 30 IS THE DISCUSSION ON THE STRATEGIC FRAMEWORK.
IT LOOKS LIKE SEVERAL FOLKS FLAGGED THAT, SO WE'LL KEEP IT.
ITEM 32 IS A GOVERNANCE ADVISORY COMMITTEE.
GARCIA AND BRIONES BOTH FLAGGED THAT YOU GUYS STILL NEED TO DISCUSS.
33, THAT IS POSITION TO THE JUVENILE PROBATION DEPARTMENT, COMMISSIONER GARCIA.
NO. SO WE'LL PUT THAT BACK ON CONSENT, OKAY? IT GOES BACK ON CONSENT 34.
IT IS A CURRENT LEVEL OF SERVICE PROJECTION.
COMMISSIONER. BRIONES WANTED TO DISCUSS THIS ONE.
36 IS ADDITIONAL POSITIONS FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT DEPARTMENT.
PRECINCT TWO FLAGGED THIS ONE.
I'M GOOD. OKAY, WE'LL PUT THAT BACK ON CONSENT.
37 SUPPLEMENTAL BUDGET APPROPRIATIONS.
COMMISSIONER BRIONES WANTED TO DISCUSS THIS, CORRECT? YES, PLEASE. OKAY.
53. WE COULD PUT THAT WITH 3434 ALONG WITH 37.
GOT IT. JUDGE, WE NEED TO ADD 44.
I JUST HAD SOME QUESTIONS OKAY.
SO 44 IS COMMERCIAL PAPER FUNDING FOR, YOU KNOW, COMMERCIAL PAPER FUNDING.
OH YEAH. FOR UNIVERSAL SERVICES 311.
SO I'M PUTTING 44 ON THE DISCUSSION AGENDA.
NEXT WE HAVE ITEM 53 APPROVAL TO CONTINUE.
DEPARTMENT ALLOWANCE AND INCENTIVE PAY.
COMMISSIONER GARCIA FLAGGED IT.
OKAY. WE'LL KEEP IT FOR DISCUSSION.
134 PRESENTED BY PRECINCT THREE IS THE NEIGHBORHOOD TRAFFIC CALMING POLICY.
YOU'RE STILL HERE. WE NEED TO TALK ABOUT IT.
YES. YOU STILL NEED TO DISCUSS.
216 THAT IS A DATA SHARING AGREEMENT WITH GIVEDIRECTLY THAT HAS BEEN FLAGGED BY PRECINCTS TWO AND THREE. DO YOU GUYS STILL NEED TO DISCUSS? OKAY. 219 A PROPOSAL FOR A MOBILE HEALTH EXPANSION STRATEGY.
THAT WAS FLAGGED BY PRECINCT TWO.
DO YOU STILL NEED TO DISCUSS? OKAY, 230 RECOMMENDATIONS FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING ON THE HARDY TOLL ROAD.
ALL RIGHT. 234 AN AGREEMENT WITH LAW ENFORCEMENT SERVICES.
FLAG. YES, I APOLOGIZE I'D LIKE TO RETURN 230 BACK TO CONSENT AGENDA.
OKAY. WE'RE PUTTING 230 BACK ON CONSENT.
THAT'S AFFORDABLE HOUSING ON THE HARDY.
IT'S A CONSTABLE AGREEMENT WITH ROD PROJECT OWNER.
OKAY. 241, FLAGGED BY PRECINCT TWO, A SALARY STUDY.
I'M NOT SURE IF THIS WOULD BE OKAY IF THIS.
IS THIS AN EXECUTIVE SESSION ITEM? COULD CAN IT BE RATHER? I MEAN, I THINK IT JUST DEPENDS ON WHAT YOU'RE ASKING.
I MEAN, ARE YOU LOOKING FOR CONSULTATION WITH WITH THE COUNTY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE ABOUT IT? YEAH. IS THIS AN SP 23 CONTEXT? IS THAT WHAT YOU'RE ASKING? YEAH.
OKAY. YEAH, THAT WOULD BE OKAY.
OKAY. SO LET ME MOVE THAT UP TO EXECUTIVE SESSION AND WE'LL PUT IT WE'LL PUT IT HERE AT THE END.
ALL RIGHT. SO GOING BACK TO WHERE WE WERE.
262 IS THE PROBATE OFFICE OF PROBATE ADMINISTRATOR, APPLIED BY PRECINCTS THREE AND FOUR. YOU CAN GO BACK HOME.
OKAY. WE'RE PUTTING THIS BACK ON CONSENT.
WE HAVE SOME SPECIFIC LANGUAGE THAT WE ASKED FOR AS PART OF THE MOTION.
SO IT DOESN'T NECESSARILY NEED TO BE DISCUSSED, BUT CAN YOU READ IT TO US?
[02:50:02]
SURE. OR I CAN READ IT IF YOU CAN PASS IT OVER.I MEAN. SO THE MOTION IS MOTION TO APPROVE THE CREATION OF THE OFFICE OF PUBLIC PROBATE ADMINISTRATOR, TO BE ONE FINANCED THROUGH FISCAL YEAR 25 USING FUND 23.
CAN YOU SLOW DOWN A LITTLE BIT, TOO? SO APPROVE THE CREATION OF THE ADMINISTRATOR TO BE.
TO BE WHAT? FINANCE THROUGH FISCAL YEAR 25 USING FUND 2356 AND FUND 2161 AND CONTINUED BEYOND FISCAL YEAR 25, CONTINGENT ON AVAILABLE FUNDING FROM THE PROBATE COURTS.
ARE FOLKS OKAY WITH THAT MOTION? YES, YES. ALL RIGHT.
SO MOVED MOTION BY COMMISSIONER ELLIS, SECOND BY COMMISSIONER BRIONES.
ANY OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY.
MY APOLOGIES. I WANTED TO RETURN ITEMS 23 AND 24 TO CONSENT AGENDA.
OKAY, SO WE ARE RETURNING 23 AND 24.
THESE ARE ARPA RECOVERY FUNDS.
AND, JUDGE, CAN 262 GO BACK ON THE CONSENT AGENDA, AS AMENDED? YES. JUST A MOMENT.
262 GOES BACK TO CONSENT AGENDA.
CORRECT. IT IS BACK ON CONSENT AGENDA, COMMISSIONER ELLIS OKAY, BUT IT WAS ALREADY VOTED ON.
RIGHT? RIGHT. WE ALREADY VOTED ON IT, CORRECT? YES. COMMISSIONER BRIONES.
OH, NO, I WAS JUST POINTING OUT THE SAME THING.
OKAY. 264 FLAGGED BY COMMISSIONER GARCIA, LAW ENFORCEMENT DRONE ACADEMY CONFERENCE.
YES. JUST WANT TO TAKE NO ACTION ON LINE 30.
OKAY. I THINK THAT'S WHAT THAT IS.
YES. SO LINE 30 IS THE LAW ENFORCEMENT DRONE ACADEMY CONFERENCE.
IS THAT OKAY? OKAY. SO WE'RE DOING NO ACTION FOR THAT ONE.
AND JUST FOR THE REST OF US OKAY.
YES. AND JUDGE ALSO ON ITEMS 287 408415 AND 418, THOSE CAN RETURN TO CONSENT.
OKAY. SO 287 IS BACK ON CONSENT.
THAT IS FLOOD CONTROL DISTRICT WETLAND, WETLAND DESIGN, CREATION AND PLANTING 300 NO 408.
YEAH, I'M JUST GOING IN ORDER BECAUSE OTHERWISE I'LL LOSE MY PLACE.
ITEM 300 IS ALSO FLAGGED BY COMMISSIONER GARCIA ASHBRITT.
327, FLAGGED BY COMMISSIONER RAMSEY.
IT'S AGREEMENT FOR LEGAL SERVICES.
THIS VOTE SO MOVED SECOND MOTION BY COMMISSIONER GARCIA.
SECOND BY COMMISSIONER GARCIA. ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. ANY OPPOSED? NO, I'M IN FAVOR.
347 IS REQUEST TO APPROVE A VENDOR NAME TO CORRECT THE VENDOR NAME.
COMMISSIONER RAMSEY, YOU FLAGGED THAT ONE 347.
I JUST NEED TO VOTE THIS VOTE.
SO MOVED SECOND MOTION BY COMMISSIONER BRIONES.
SECOND BY COMMISSIONER ELLIS ON 347.
ANY OPPOSED? NO, I'M IN FAVOR OF MOTION.
387 FLAGGED BY COMMISSIONER GARCIA.
THAT IS PROJECT MANAGER FOR PROCURE.
390 A REQUEST FOR DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION REGARDING EXISTING EFFORTS FOR VOTING.
OKAY, SO THIS IS WHERE THE WE'RE STILL WAITING FOR THE ELECTED OFFICIALS.
DO WE NEED TO HEAR FROM THEM FIRST? I THINK THEY'LL BE PLEASED WITH THE MOTION OKAY.
IS THAT OKAY? J. OH, WE HAVE TO WAIT TILL THEY CALL HIM.
I'LL DO THAT. YEAH, AND I'LL SEND A MOTION AROUND.
OKAY. SO WE'LL KEEP THAT IN DISCUSSION FOR NOW.
391 THAT IS REQUESTED BY SEVERAL PRECINCTS ON VISION ZERO.
407 IS A TRANSMITTAL ON PROCURE TO PAY.
SO COMMISSIONER GARCIA WANTS TO TAKE.
IS THAT THE ONE THAT GOES WITH IS THAT THE ONE THAT GOES WITH 387 407 GOES WITH 387.
[02:55:04]
COMMISSIONER. YES. OKAY.AND THEN YOU WANTED 408 BACK ON CONSENT.
CORRECT. SO THAT IS CORONAVIRUS LOCAL FISCAL RECOVERY FUND.
ALL RIGHT. AND THEN 409, COMMISSIONER GARCIA, RETURN TO CONSENT.
OKAY, WE'RE RETURNING 409 TO CONSENT.
HOLD ON, HOLD ON. I DO WANT TO HOLD THAT ONE.
OKAY? I WANT TO EMBARRASS SOMEBODY.
YEAH. CONGRATS. CALL THE PRESS.
415 IS SUBDIVISION DRAINAGE IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM, COMMISSIONER GARCIA? YES. IS THAT THE ONE YOU WENT BACK ON? CONSENT. BACK ON CONSENT.
OKAY, SO 415 GOES BACK ON CONSENT.
418. COMMISSIONER GARCIA, THIS IS OKAY.
473 DEMA CONSULTING THAT'S FLAGGED BY COMMISSIONER RAMSEY.
YEAH, IT'S FOR THE HEART PROGRAM.
I WANT TO DISCUSS THAT AS WELL. LET'S DISCUSS IT.
OKAY, SO, COMMISSIONER GARCIA ALSO WANTS TO DISCUSS, AND WE WILL KEEP IT ON DISCUSSION 487 THAT IS TO MOVE PROCUREMENT BACK TO THE PURCHASING AGENT.
AND I WOULD LIKE TO DISCUSS, AS WELL AS PRECINCTS TWO AND THREE, 489.
IT'S A COUPLE OF PRECINCTS WOULD LIKE DISCUSSION OF DEFERRED MAINTENANCE.
I KNOW FOLKS WANT TO TALK ABOUT THAT.
OKAY. 490 A COUPLE OF PRECINCTS WANT TO TALK ABOUT OUR RULES OF PROCEDURE, AND 491 IS TRAINING FOR THE INTERIM CHIEF PEOPLE.
OFFICER. YEAH, WE NEED TO KEEP THAT.
OKAY, SO HERE WE DON'T HAVE ANY PUBLIC HEARINGS ON THE AGENDA.
SO LET ME GO BACK THROUGH THE LIST AND MAKE SURE I DIDN'T MISS ANYTHING.
WE HAVE EXECUTIVE SESSION ITEM 241.
REGULAR AGENDA ITEMS 26, 29, 30, 32, 34, 44.
OKAY. 282 IS A APPROVAL OF PAYMENT OF AUDITED CLAIMS. I'M ADDING THAT BACK IN HERE.
OR DO YOU WANT TO VOTE ON THAT ONE, COMMISSIONER? WELL, IT'S TWO MOTIONS.
OH, YEAH. YEAH. I WANT TO ADD 473 FOR DISCUSSION.
WE'RE RIGHT NOW MAKING MOTION QUICK MOTION ON 282.
SO THIS WAS A MOTION FOR ALL THE PAYMENTS OF AUDITED CLAIMS, EXCEPT FOR BOSTON CONSULTING GROUP.
COMMISSIONER ELLIS MADE THE MOTION.
SECOND COMMISSIONER GARCIA HAS THE SECOND.
ANY OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY.
NOW WE NEED A MOTION FOR THE PAYMENT OF AUDITED CLAIMS TO BOSTON CONSULTING GROUP.
MOTION BY COMMISSIONER ELLIS, SECOND BY COMMISSIONER GARCIA.
473. OH, I HAVE IT FOR DISCUSSION.
OKAY. SO OKAY, SO NOW WE HAVE ITEM 300, ITEM 387, WHICH WE'RE GOING TO TAKE WITH 407 THREE 9391, 407 409 473 487.
AND I THINK YOU WANT TO TAKE 487 487 407 AND 387 AND 487. OKAY.
[03:00:09]
ALL RIGHT. NOW FOR 87.SHOULD I GO BACK OVER IT REAL QUICK? I THINK WE'RE GOOD.
REGULAR AGENDA 26, 29, 30, 32, 34, 44, 37, 53, 134, TWO, 12, TWO, 16, TWO, 19, TWO, 34, 303, 87, THREE, 93, 91, 407, 409, FOUR, 73, FOUR, 87, FOUR EIGHT, 89, 490, AND FOUR, 91.
35 IS THE STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURE FOR BUDGET PROPOSALS.
CAN WE. IT'S MOVED TO ADOPT THE BUDGET STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURES AS PRESENTED.
IS THAT RIGHT? ALL RIGHT, THAT'S THE MOTION.
AND 36 IS AS ALSO AS PRESENTED.
WHAT'S. WHAT'S THAT ONE COMMISSIONER OR DIRECTOR RAMOS.
AS PRESENTED, YOU NEED A MOTION.
AND THIS IS AN UNFUNDED MANDATE OR SOMETHING, RIGHT? THAT'S CORRECT. OKAY.
SO I KNOW THAT WE WANTED TO TAKE COMMISSIONER BRIONES.
YOU HAD TWO ITEMS. JUDGE. YES. WE HAVE TO DO THE MOTION RIGHT.
ACTION. YES. BEFORE WE GET TO THAT, I HAD A QUICK QUESTION.
COMMISSIONER GARCIA WANTED ON 241 FOR EXECUTIVE SESSION.
I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE I UNDERSTAND WHY OR WHAT WHAT THE DISCUSSION WOULD BE ABOUT, BECAUSE I AS I UNDERSTAND THE ITEM, IT'S THE CONSTABLE OF PRECINCT EIGHT IS REQUESTING A SALARY STUDY FOR ELECTED CONSTABLES.
AND SO FOR ALL THE ELECTED CONSTABLES.
NOW, IF THIS IF I IF I MIGHT SUGGEST IF IT'S SOMETHING THAT WOULD BETTER THAT SHOULD BE SENT TO AND THROUGH COME BACK THROUGH SHANE CASTLE OR OR OCA.
IT'S JUST A STUDY, AS I UNDERSTAND WHAT HE'S ASKING.
GOT IT? YEAH. IF YOU CAN MAKE SURE THAT THAT'S THE ROUTE THAT.
IS THAT THE MOTION I'LL SECOND.
SO WHAT'S THE MOTION? THE MOTION IS TO J DIRECTED TO HIM TO DO AND TO BRING BACK A RECOMMENDATION SECOND.
AND THAT WAS ON THE ITEM WE HAD MARKED FOR EXECUTIVE SESSION.
THANK YOU. AND JUDGE, SORRY TO KEEP CHANGING THE LIST, BUT 249 AND 250 ARE BOTH SUPPLEMENTAL APPROPRIATIONS THAT IF COURT'S GOING TO PASS UNANIMOUSLY, BUT THEY ARE BOTH UNBUDGETED ITEMS THAT WE'D LIKE TO DISCUSS WHICH ONES? TWO 4949 AND 250 THERE'S TWO REQUESTS FOR SUPPLEMENTAL APPROPRIATIONS FROM THE COUNTY CLERK.
AND SO WE ALREADY PUT IT ON CONSENT, SO WE DON'T NEED TO MAKE IT.
SO, JUDGE, THERE'S A MOTION ON THE FLOOR MADE BY COMMISSIONER GARCIA TO SEND ITEM 241 TO TO RETURN BACK TO THE COURT. RIGHT.
OKAY. SO LET'S START WITH THAT MOTION BY COMMISSIONER GARCIA TO SEND THAT ITEM TO HRM.
HR. YEAH, NO. WHICH NUMBER WAS IT? IT'S ITEM 241 241 BACK TO HIM.
TO EVALUATE AND THEN COME BACK TO COURT.
IS THERE A SECOND, SECOND, SECOND BY COMMISSIONER ELLIS? ALL IN FAVOR? AYE.
ANY OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY.
SO WE DON'T HAVE ANY EXECUTIVE SESSION ITEMS RIGHT NOW.
SO THEN RAMOS, YOU HAD AN ISSUE 249 AND 250.
OKAY. SO 249 IS PCNS FOR ELECTION TECHNOLOGY CENTER AND ELECTIONS DEPARTMENT.
AND SO YOU'RE SAYING WE PUT IT ON THE CONSENT AGENDA, BUT YOU'RE SAYING WE NEED TO DISCUSS IT, PER THE POLICY, WE WE FLAG ITEMS AS SUPPLEMENTAL APPROPRIATIONS. 250 WE RECOMMENDED FOR 249 AGAINST IF COURT WANTS TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THEM, THAT'S FINE.
[03:05:04]
BUT I FEEL LIKE I NEED TO FLAG IT FOR YOU ALL THAT THIS IS ABOUT $7 MILLION.OKAY. SO WHY DON'T WE LEAVE? 249 UP FOR DISCUSSION.
THE ONE THAT HE RECOMMENDED AGAINST.
SO I'LL, I'LL I'LL FLAG THAT ONE.
AND THEN, COMMISSIONER GARCIA, YOU HAD A POINT.
I'LL COME BACK TO IT IN A SECOND.
MY STAFF'S GETTING SOME CLARITY ON IT.
ALL RIGHT, SO WE'LL JUST GIVE THAT A MOMENT.
AND SO, COMMISSIONER BRIONES, YOU HAD WANTED TO TAKE A COUPLE OF ITEMS OUT OF ORDER.
YES. AND I'M TRYING TO FIND 34 AND 37, WHICH ARE ALSO BUDGET ITEMS. WHAT ABOUT 30? I THINK YOU MENTIONED 30 AT SOME POINT.
OR ANYWAY, THAT'S WHAT I HAD ON MY SHEET OF PAPER.
NOT OUT OF ORDER. OKAY. SO SO WE CAN DO 34 AND 37 OUT OF ORDER AND THEN 30.
NO. ACTUALLY, ON ITEM 53 AND ITEM 54.
APPARENTLY THEY HAVE LINES TWO, THREE AND FIVE IN EACH ONE, AND I'D LIKE TO REQUEST NO ACTION ON THOSE THREE WITHIN ITEMS 53 AND 54, TWO, THREE AND FIVE ON BOTH OF THEM.
YES, MA'AM. TWO ITEMS, 53 AND 54.
OKAY. SO LET'S JUST PULL THAT UP SO EVERYBODY'S AWARE.
OKAY. SO 53 ITEMS TWO, THREE AND FOUR.
CAN ANYONE TELL US WHAT THOSE ARE? I'M HERE. I'M PULLING UP THE BACKUP.
BUT IF YOU IF YOU GUYS HAVE IT TOP OF MIND.
DIRECTOR RAMOS, PERHAPS DIRECTOR CARRIZAL, IF YOU HAVE, YOU HAVE IT.
OKAY. DO YOU MEAN COMMISSIONER? GARCIA. TWO, THREE AND FIVE IN ITEMS 53.
I'M JUST AFRAID I'M LOOKING AT THE WRONG TABLE BECAUSE THIS ONE IS.
IT WOULD BE PRECINCT TWO, PRECINCT ONE, AND PRECINCT THREE.
BUT I DON'T THINK YOU MEAN THAT.
NO, I MEAN LINES TWO, THREE AND FIVE.
I DON'T KNOW WHICH WHICH LINES WHERE.
YEAH, THIS IS SHANE. I BELIEVE COMMISSIONER IS PROBABLY REFERRING TO ITEM NUMBER 54.
THAT'S WHERE WE HAVE THE DIFFERENT POSITION.
OKAY. AND HE'S JUST WANTING TO STRIKE THOSE THREE LINES OFF THE BACKUP OKAY.
GO AHEAD COMMISSIONER OKAY I THINK I GOT IT STRAIGHT.
SO NUMBER ONE IS THAT ON ITEM 53 I'D LIKE TO TAKE NO ACTION UNTIL WE GET CLEAR.
I GUESS IT'S WHAT'S THE PHRASE? WHAT'S THE WAY TO SAY IT? CLEAR QUALIFICATIONS.
AND THEN TO TAKE NO ACTION ON ITEM 54 FOR LINES TWO, THREE, AND FIVE.
OKAY. SO IS IT OKAY FOR US TO TAKE NO ACTION ON 53? JANE AND I GUESS.
I MEAN, DOES ANYONE HAVE ANY ISSUES WITH THAT? I DO NOT KNOW.
OKAY. SO WE'LL TAKE NO ACTION ON 53 FOR NOW.
AND THEN ON 54, YOU WANTED TO STRIKE LINES TWO, THREE AND FIVE.
SO THAT'S CONSOLE PRECINCT ONE, CONSTABLE.
PRECINCT ONE AND CONSTABLE PRECINCT FIVE.
IS THAT CORRECT? RECLASSIFICATIONS.
AM I LOOKING AT THE CORRECT TABLE? I THINK I DON'T HAVE MY FILE WITH ME, BUT I'M.
ALL I KNOW IS THAT IT'S LINES TWO, THREE AND FIVE.
SHANE, DO YOU KNOW WHICH THOSE ARE? YES. ONE SECOND HERE, COMMISSIONER.
I CAN YOU KNOW WHAT THOSE ARE.
[03:10:03]
AND WHEN WE'RE DONE WITH THIS, I.PLEASE HAVE A QUESTION ON 250 FOR DIRECTOR RAMOS.
YEAH. SO ITEM OR LINE TWO IS A RECLASSIFICATION CONSTABLE.
LET'S SEE, NUMBER FIVE IS A CONSTABLE FIVE A CLERK TO A DEPUTY.
YEP. THOSE ARE THE ONES I WANT TO.
IS IT OKAY? DIRECTOR KURZEL IF WE MR..
KURZEL. IF WE IF WE KEEP THAT OFF THOSE TWO, THREE AND FIVE.
YEAH. I MEAN, THIS IS THE OFFICE MANAGEMENT BUDGETS, POSITION MANAGEMENT POLICY.
NEED TO COME TO COURT FOR APPROVAL.
NOT NOT NECESSARILY A SERVICE CIVIL SERVICE COMMISSION OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.
WE HAVE AN EXCEPTION, A WAY TO DO IT THROUGH A TRANSMITTAL, BUT I DON'T SEE A PROBLEM WITH IT.
THAT'S WHAT THE COURT DESIRES.
VERY GOOD. THANK YOU. SO YOU WANT TO SO, DIRECTOR RAMOS, ARE YOU SUGGESTING THAT WE TAKE NO ACTION ON 54 ENTIRELY OR JUST THOSE THREE LINES? THOSE THREE LINES, PLEASE.
OKAY. I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE WE'RE NOT STEPPING ON YOUR GUYS'S AUTHORITY.
NO, THAT WAS THE WHOLE POINT OF THE.
THE POLICY WAS OKAY, THAT COMPENSATION IS SQUARELY IN COMMISSIONERS COURT'S AUTHORITY.
WE WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU ALL HAD VISIBILITY.
WE CREATED A PROCESS WHERE THERE WAS VISIBILITY AND WE'D BE ABLE TO TRACK THESE.
SO THIS IS EXACTLY HOW THE POLICY IS SUPPOSED TO WORK.
AWESOME. OKAY. SO IS THERE A MOTION ON ITEM 54? ALL OF THE ITEM EXCEPT FOR LINES TWO, THREE AND FIVE.
SO MOVED. MOTION BY COMMISSIONER GARCIA, SECOND BY COMMISSIONER ELLIS.
ANY OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY, AND SO WE WILL TAKE NO ACTION ON LINES TWO, THREE AND FIVE.
AND THEN COMMISSIONER BRIONES HAD A QUESTION ON 250, PLEASE.
SO 249 AND 250 ARE THE TWO COUNTY CLERK ELECTION RELATED ITEMS, TO BE CLEAR? 249 YOU WANT TO DISCUSS BECAUSE YOU DON'T RECOMMEND DIRECTOR RAMOS.
THAT'S CORRECT. AND THEN WITH REGARD TO 250, HOWEVER, I MY UNDERSTANDING BASED ON OUR LAST MEETING IS THAT WE WANTED TO DO AN AMENDMENT TO SUBSTITUTE 1 MILLION IN CAPITAL COSTS AND THEN 2.7 IN GENERAL FUND 2.7 MILLION IN GENERAL FUND.
IT WOULD BE CLEANER IF WE WERE TO HAVE THAT AMENDMENT.
IF NOT, WE CAN HANDLE THAT INTERNALLY.
I DON'T THINK THE CLERK CARES WHETHER SHE GETS THE MONEY IN THE GENERAL FUND OR OR IN CIP FOR THE IPADS, FOR JUST AN ABUNDANCE OF CLARITY AND TO MANAGE EXPECTATIONS.
THE LAWYER IN ME PREFERS, IF WE COULD PLEASE 250 MOTION TO APPROVE ADDITIONAL BUDGET ALLOCATION WITH AN AMENDMENT BY THE OFFICE OF MANAGEMENT AND BUDGET TO SUBSTITUTE 1 MILLION IN CAPITAL COSTS FOR A TOTAL OF 2.7 MILLION IN GENERAL FUNDS.
DID YOU GUYS GET THAT? YES, JUDGE. OKAY.
MOTION BY COMMISSIONER BRIONES, SECOND BY COMMISSIONER GARCIA.
ANY OPPOSED? I'M IN FAVOR, YES.
AND JUST ONE QUICK DISCUSSION.
I THINK MR. MEYERS, WE'VE TALKED ABOUT THIS WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THERE'S A PROCESS IN PLACE.
SO I'D LIKE TO OFFER DIRECTION THAT THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR WORKS WITH IGA TO IDENTIFY POTENTIAL UNFUNDED MANDATES AFTER THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION, SO THAT WE CAN BEGIN TO ANTICIPATE BUDGETARY IMPACTS. YES, SIR.
OKAY. SO WE HAD A MOTION AND A SECOND.
AND AGAIN THIS IS FOR JUST ITEM 250 CORRECT.
AND THE 249 WILL STAY ON THE DISCUSSION.
OKAY. SO WE HAVE A MOTION A SECOND.
MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY OKAY.
SO I DO THINK I NEED TO GO BACK THROUGH THE LIST NOW.
[03:15:01]
NO EXECUTIVE SESSION ITEMS. REGULAR AGENDA ITEMS, 26, 29, 30, 32, 34, 44, 37, 134, 212, TWO, 16, 219, 234, 249, 303 87, THREE, 93, 91, 407, 409, FOUR, 73, FOUR, 87, FOUR, 89, 490, AND FOUR, 91.DOES THAT SOUND OKAY? ALL RIGHT. DO WE HAVE A MOTION FOR ALL THE ITEMS ONE THROUGH 499 WITH THE EXCEPTION OF.
ALREADY VOTED ON AND DISCUSSION ITEMS JUST LISTED MOTION BY COMMISSIONER GARCIA.
ANY OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY.
SO WE HAVE REPRESENTATIVE JOHNSON ON THE LINE ON ITEM 390.
IS THAT STILL THE CASE? SHE'S HERE LIVE AND IN PERSON.
GOOD AFTERNOON, JUDGE HIDALGO.
AND I DO WANT TO WELCOME YOU TO THIS AMAZING NEW FACILITY THAT YOU ALL HAVE CREATED FOR US.
I FEEL THE SAME WAY ABOUT THIS PROPOSAL, WHICH IS VOTER PARTICIPATION.
AND VOTER ENGAGEMENT IS KEY FOR US AS ELECTED OFFICIALS, WITH US BEING BEHOLDEN TO THE WILL OF THE PEOPLE AND THE HIGHEST LEVEL AND THE GREATEST LEVEL OF TRANSPARENCY, THERE IS NOTHING MORE RESPONSIBLE FOR US AS ELECTED OFFICIALS THAN EVERY TWO YEARS OR EVERY FOUR YEARS, TO HAVE EVERY CITIZEN ENGAGED AND ABLE TO GO TO THE BALLOT BOX AND TELL US WHAT IS IMPORTANT TO THE VALUES OF THEM.
AND SO I APPRECIATE THE COMMISSIONER ELLIS RAISING THIS ISSUE ABOUT OUR GREAT STATE, THE RECOGNITION THAT SO MANY PEOPLE ARE COMING TO THIS COMMUNITY OF WHICH WE NEED THE GROWTH, BUT ALSO THE RECOGNITION THAT MANY OF THE RULES THAT WE HAVE IN PLACE, THAT THERE ARE THINGS THAT WE COULD DO BETTER AND DO MORE TO ENGAGE PEOPLE AT EVERY LEVEL.
AND SO I WELCOME, I SUPPORT, AND I ASK THAT YOU HAVE A ROBUST DEBATE AND HOW WE CAN INCREASE OUR VOTER ENGAGEMENT, NOT ONLY AT THIS POINT FOR OUR COMMUNITY, BUT ALSO A STAND FOR OUR DEMOCRACY AND THE FACT THAT WE ARE ULTIMATELY BEHOLDEN TO AND ACCOUNTABLE TO THE PEOPLE TO JUDGE.
YES, COMMISSIONER ELLIS, IF I MIGHT, REPRESENTATIVE, I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR COMING IN.
WHAT I PLAN TO DO IS OFFER A MOTION.
I THINK A COUPLE OF MORE OF YOUR COLLEAGUES ARE TRYING TO COME UP.
WE'RE GOING TO TRY TO DIAL IN.
AND ONE OF WHAT I'M GOING TO DO IS MAKE A MOTION.
I HOPE WE'LL BE SUPPORTED BY THE COURT TO DIRECT THE OFFICE OF COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR, IN COORDINATION WITH THE RELEVANT COUNTY AGENCIES AND DEPARTMENTS, TO CREATE A LIST OF RECOMMENDED OPTIONS TO INCREASE VOTER REGISTRATION AND PARTICIPATION IN HARRIS COUNTY ELECTIONS, AND TO SUBMIT OPTIONS TO THE COMMISSIONER'S COURT FOR CONSIDERATION BY JUNE 4TH, 2024.
IF THEY CAN'T DO IT BY JUNE 4TH, TELL US.
BUT LOOK, THE TURNOUT, AS YOU KNOW, WAS DISMAL THIS LAST GO ROUND.
WE OUGHT TO ALL BE EMBARRASSED IF SOMEBODY WANTS TO VOTE FOR OR AGAINST US.
I THINK THEY OUGHT TO BE ABLE TO DO THAT, AND WE OUGHT TO DO AS MUCH AS WE CAN TO REMOVE THOSE HURDLES, SOME OF WHICH YOUR COLLEAGUES, MY FORMER COLLEAGUES, OUR FRIENDS IN THE LEGISLATURE PUT IN PLACE.
AND AND I THINK TIME IS OF ESSENCE.
I HAVE NOT TALKED TO THE COUNTY JUDGE OVER IN TRAVIS COUNTY YET, BUT I DID CALL.
BUT I DID TALK TO COMMISSIONER DEXTER MCCOY LATE LAST NIGHT.
AND HE'S LOOKING AT IT, FORT BEND COUNTY.
IF THE COURT DOES NOT DO IT, HE'S GOING TO PAY TO DO IT JUST FOR HIS PRECINCT.
SO I JUST WANT TO LET YOU KNOW.
AND I WANT TO TELL THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR'S OFFICE.
I KNOW THEY WANT A LITTLE MORE TIME, BUT I THINK TIME IS OF ESSENCE.
IF THEY CAN'T COME BACK BY THE NEXT COURT, LET US KNOW.
BUT, YOU KNOW, UNLESS Y'ALL WANT TO MEET MORE OFTEN.
I KNOW YOU HAD A LOT GOING ON.
YOU'RE WELCOME. EVERYTHING YOU AND ALL YOUR COLLEAGUES DO IN AUSTIN.
THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER ALLISON.
YOU'RE RIGHT. WHAT WE HAVE HEARD IS WE WANT TO MAKE IT EASIER TO VOTE AND HARDER TO CHEAT.
YEAH, WE GOT TO MAKE SURE THAT PEOPLE CAN PARTICIPATE.
[03:20:04]
SO THANK YOU. I WANT TO THANK MY DEATHBED.I HEARD HE'S GOING TO SECOND IT.
RIGHT, MR. AYER? WELL, IS HE? IS HE GOING TO SPEAK? I THINK HE WANTS TO SPEAK. IF HE'S GOING TO SPEAK.
YES. COMMISSIONER GARCIA, REPRESENTATIVE JOHNSON, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR FOR COMING DOWN.
AND AND YOU, I LIKE THE WAY YOU PHRASED IT EASIER TO VOTE, HARDER TO CHEAT.
AND WHO CAN ARGUE AGAINST THAT? THAT'S RIGHT. AND SO THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP.
ALWAYS APPRECIATE HEARING FROM YOU.
COMMISSIONER BRIONES HAS A COMMENT FOR YOU AS WELL.
THANK YOU. REPRESENTATIVE JOHNSON.
YOU'RE MY REPRESENTATIVE IN AUSTIN.
THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING YOU DO TO FIGHT, FOR WHICH I CLAIM ALL DISTRICT, BY THE WAY.
WE WILL SHARE HER WITH EVERYBODY.
BUT THANK YOU FOR BEING ON THE FRONT LINES OF THE FIGHT FOR OUR DEMOCRACY AND BEYOND.
AND SO WE COULDN'T AGREE MORE WITH EVERYTHING THAT YOU JUST SAID.
AND I'M HIGHLY SUPPORTIVE OF THIS ITEM.
THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER ELLIS, FOR BRINGING IT FORWARD.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIME.
THANK YOU FOR COMING DOWN. YOU KNOW, I THINK I WANT TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM.
YES. CLERK HUDSPETH IS ON THE LINE.
I DO SEE THE DISTRICT CLERK HERE.
AND THE TREASURER, JUST TO MAKE SURE THAT THE ELECTED OFFICIALS JUDGE DIDN'T WANT TO SPEAK.
IS THE CLERK HUDSPETH WANT TO SPEAK ON THIS? WELL, WE'RE GOING TO BRING IT BACK UP.
SHE'S ON RIGHT NOW. YEAH, I THINK SHE'S ON RIGHT NOW.
CLERK. HUDSPETH. ARE YOU? WE HAVE ALL THIS FANCY TECHNOLOGY NOW.
I JUST GOT THAT NOTE. IF NOT, WE'LL LET US BE HERE.
CAN YOU ALL HEAR ME? OH, YEAH. OH, WE CAN HEAR YOU.
HELLO, JUDGE AND COMMISSIONERS.
I JUST LOOK FORWARD TO THE MOTION, I BELIEVE THE MATTER WAS OCA WAS TAKEN IT ON.
I WOULD MEET WITH MYSELF AND THE TAX ASSESSOR COLLECTOR'S OFFICE TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THIS ITEM.
BUT CAN YOU ALL HEAR ME? SORRY. YES, MA'AM.
OKAY. THAT THAT IS ALL THAT I WANTED TO ADD IN AGREEANCE WITH VOTER PARTICIPATION.
WE'RE WORKING AROUND THE CLOCK TO MAKE SURE THAT EVERY ELECTION IS SHOWING ITS VERY BEST EFFORT TO MAKE SURE THAT VOTING IS EQUAL ACROSS THE BOARD AND THAT WE HAVE THE PROPER TOOLS IN PLACE.
THE ONE THAT THAT WE PUT BACK ON DISCUSSION, I THINK IT'S 49 249 CLERK HUDSPETH AND WE CAN GET THE PERSPECTIVE OF OF THE DIRECT BUDGET DIRECTOR AS WELL.
IS THAT OKAY? I JUST FIGURED SINCE SHE'S ON.
OKAY. ALL RIGHT. SO SO GO AHEAD.
CLERK. HUDSPETH ON ON 249, PLEASE.
YES. THANK YOU ALL SO VERY MUCH.
JUST SO YOU ALL KNOW, I'VE WORKED VERY CLOSELY WITH THE OFFICE OF WITH OCA AND OMB BY HAVING WEEKLY MEETINGS THROUGHOUT OUR ELECTION CYCLES TO TALK ABOUT THE VARIOUS THINGS THAT I'VE DISCUSSED WITH THE COURT MEMBERS IN PREVIOUS MEETINGS, THAT WE WOULD COME BACK AFTER HAVING TIME TO ASSESS IN THE MIDDLE OF ELECTIONS WHAT THE NEEDS ARE.
SO THE REQUEST FOR THE PCNS IS A VERY PERTINENT NEED, NOT NECESSARILY A WANT, BUT A NEED.
THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR SUPPORT.
THERE IS A NEED FOR ADA ADDITIONAL EMPLOYEES AND RECRUITMENT COORDINATORS.
SO I'LL GIVE YOU ALL JUST A LITTLE BIT OF BACKGROUND SHORTLY AND ALLOW FOR QUESTIONS.
THAT MEANS CLEANING, ASSESSING, AUDITING RENDERING, RENDERING, READING ALL THE EQUIPMENT BETWEEN ELECTION CYCLE AFTER ELECTION CYCLE OUT OF THE NEED OF ORDERING ADDITIONAL EQUIPMENT.
JUST SO YOU ALL KNOW, WE DON'T HAVE A HUGE, MASSIVE TEAM THAT SUPPORTS THAT.
WE DO UTILIZE THE SUPPORT OF TEMPS BUT WE NEED FULL TIME POSITIONS.
THE AMOUNT OF MONEY WE'RE PAYING FOR TEMPS COULD BE THE AMOUNT THAT WE'RE SPENDING FOR FULL TIME PC INS OF TRAINED AND FULLY ACCURATE INDIVIDUALS WHO CAN HANDLE THIS EQUIPMENT BY STATE LAW.
AND SO THAT IS WHERE THE MAJORITY OF THE PCN REQUEST GOES.
THAT MEANS THESE INDIVIDUALS WILL BE READY TO ACCEPT THIS EQUIPMENT, BE TRAINED IN TIME ENOUGH TO ACCEPT IT, AND READY THAT EQUIPMENT BETWEEN NOW AND NOVEMBER, WHICH IS ALREADY A A VERY IMPORTANT PART OF THIS ASPECT OF THE JOB THAT WE HAVE TO DO IN TERMS OF THE ADA.
AS YOU ALL KNOW, EVERY SINGLE VOTE CENTER HAS TO BE ASSESSED.
[03:25:04]
THAT'S EARLY VOTING AND ELECTION DAY.WE ALSO HAVE A CONCERN WHERE MANY OF THESE.
AS YOU ALL KNOW, WE HAVE ELECTION WE HAVE TWO ELECTIONS SIMULTANEOUSLY GOING ON AT ONE TIME.
SO IT'S MORE SO WE'RE SPENDING THE MONEY, BUT WE'RE SPENDING THEM ON TEMPS AND WE NEED THE SUSTAINABILITY AND THE AND AND THOSE THAT ARE TRAINED READY TO DO THE JOB. BETWEEN NOW AND AS WE MOVE INTO THE NEW FACILITY THROUGH NOVEMBER AND FUTURE ELECTIONS, WHERE WE'LL HAVE THE CAPACITY TO DO MORE ELECTIONS, JUST LIKE THE MAY 4TH ENTITY ELECTION.
SO WE WORK VERY CLOSELY WITH OCA AND BUDGET MANAGEMENT, WALKING THROUGH EVERY STEP OF WHAT THE INDIVIDUALS DO FOR THEIR DAY TO DAY JOBS, THE HOURS, THE AMOUNT OF IMPACT IT WILL HAVE.
AND AGAIN, WE'RE SPENDING THE MONEY ON TEMPS.
WE NEED THE SUSTAINABILITY AND THE FULL TIME EMPLOYEES.
AND THAT MONEY WOULD APPROPRIATELY GO FOR A MORE SUSTAINABLE PROGRAM.
ALONG WITH HAVING THOSE MEETINGS, I'VE ANSWERED MANY QUESTIONS IN TERMS OF, YOU KNOW, IF WE GET A CERTAIN AMOUNT HERE AGAIN, WHAT YOU ALL SHOULD KNOW IS WE'RE ALREADY PREPARING FOR NOVEMBER, AND IN JUNE, WE'LL GET THIS EQUIPMENT IN AND WE'LL IMMEDIATELY UTILIZE THESE INDIVIDUALS BY GETTING THEM TRAINED.
SO THAT'S MOST OF WHAT I NEED YOU ALL TO KNOW IN TERMS OF HIGH, HIGH LEVEL IMPACT.
I'M HAPPY TO TAKE ANY QUESTIONS THAT YOU MAY HAVE.
DIRECTOR, WOULD YOU MIND MAKING THE PRESENTATION AS WELL SO THAT WE CAN HAVE THE INFORMATION BEFORE WE ASK QUESTIONS? YEAH, ABSOLUTELY.
AND FIRST OF ALL, I WANT TO THANK THE CLERK.
AND WE DO FEEL LIKE WE HAVE THE INFORMATION NECESSARY TO HELP SUPPORT THEM IN TERMS OF THIS ITEM.
YOU KNOW, I THINK SO WE HAVE A FEW CONCERNS, FIRST AND FOREMOST OF WHICH IS THERE IS A MARGINAL COST FROM MOVING FROM TEMPORARY EMPLOYEES TO FTES. ALSO, WHEN YOU MOVE FROM FROM TEMPORARY TO FULL TIME EMPLOYEES, YOU LOSE THE ABILITY TO BE REIMBURSED FOR THEM BY THE ENTITIES THAT WE CONTRACT WITH.
ALSO, JUST TO TO HAVE IT SAID WE HAVE THE THE CLERK AND THE TAX ASSESSOR COLLECTOR RECEIVE SIGNIFICANTLY MORE POSITIONS THAN THEY HAD WHEN WHEN IT WENT OVER TO THE ELECTIONS ADMINISTRATOR.
SO WE'VE LAYERED ON COSTS OVER AND OVER IT SINCE IN MY SHORT TIME HERE, IT JUST FEEL, YOU KNOW, THE CLERK HAS DONE AN AMAZING JOB GETTING ELECTIONS HERE IN THE COUNTY FROM CRISIS LEVEL UP TO A BASELINE LEVEL OF EXCELLENCE.
I THINK IT'S TIME THAT WE SLOW DOWN AND UNDERSTAND WHERE THE INVESTMENTS ARE.
WE'RE PROJECTING A $76 MILLION NEXT YEAR BEFORE YOU TOUCH COMPENSATION.
SO WE ARE NO LONGER A COUNTY THAT CAN JUST GO INTO THE BACK ROOM AND COME OUT WITH THE CHECK.
AND I KNOW CLERK, YOU AND I SPOKE YESTERDAY AND OBVIOUSLY, I THINK CERTAINLY MY COMMITMENT AND THE WAY THE COURT HAS WORKED HAS BEEN VERY, VERY COMMITTED TO ELECTIONS AND MAKING SURE YOU ALL HAVE THE FUNDING YOU NEED.
IDEALLY BE A BUSINESS COURT BEFORE THAT.
AND SO THE QUESTION IS, DO YOU GUYS HAVE A FUNDAMENTAL DISAGREEMENT ABOUT THE, THE FTES AND WHETHER WE CAN GET REIMBURSED FOR THEM OR IF THERE'S A WAY YOU GUYS COULD WORK SOMETHING OUT IN THE NEXT COUPLE OF WEEKS, OR I JUST WANT, YOU KNOW, WE'RE WE'RE TIGHT ON TIME.
I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE SOMETHING FRUITFUL TO ADD HERE.
AND I THINK THAT WOULD BE THE CASE IF YOU GUYS ARE SORT OF STUCK.
I DO BELIEVE THERE IS SOME FUNDAMENTAL DISAGREEMENT IN TERMS OF THE NEED.
YOU KNOW, IT'S REALLY HARD BECAUSE I'M IN THE OPERATION AND WE KNOW THAT, YOU KNOW, UNFORTUNATELY, WE DON'T HAVE A SYSTEM WHERE OUR BUDGET MANAGEMENT CAN BE IN THE OPERATION AND PHYSICALLY SEE, WHILE I WELCOME A TOUR OF WHERE WE'RE AT NOW AND WHAT HAS TO BE DONE.
WHERE WE'RE AT NOW IS THAT WE ARE PUTTING ALL HANDS ON DECK.
HERE IS THE OTHER SIDE OF THIS.
EVEN THOUGH THERE MAY HAVE BEEN MORE EMPLOYEES THAN IT WAS 2 OR 3 YEARS AGO, WE AGAIN, WE ARE GETTING TO RECEIVE THOUSANDS PIECES OF ELECTION EQUIPMENT WITH THE STAFF THAT I HAVE NOW ON THE ELECTION TECHNOLOGY SIDE ALONE, MY STAFF CANNOT HANDLE THAT AMOUNT OF EQUIPMENT COMING INTO A NEW FACILITY.
AND SO I AM VERY MINDFUL OF WHERE WE'RE AT.
[03:30:03]
WE HAVE WORKED CLOSELY TOGETHER, BUT THERE IS A GAP AND AND AT THE LATEST WE WILL FEEL AND SEE THE IMPACT.AND AGAIN, THERE ARE PIECES OF THIS EQUIPMENT THAT TEMPS CAN'T HANDLE.
COMMISSIONER RAMSEY AND THEN COMMISSIONER BRIAN'S.
CLERK. IT'S GOOD TO GOOD TO SEE YOU TODAY.
I'M. I'M GOING TO TELL YOU THAT I THINK WE SHOULD SUPPORT WHAT SHE'S ASKING FOR.
AND I THINK WHAT SHE'S IDENTIFIED IS AN OVERRELIANCE ON TEMP HELP, WHICH THAT'S CONSTANTLY FEEDBACK TO FROM MY CONSTITUENTS IN TERMS OF THAT OVERRELIANCE.
BUT I DON'T THINK WE START IF WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A CONVERSATION ABOUT ELECTIONS, IF WE'RE GOING TO HAVE 2 OR 3 PEOPLE HAVE SPOKE ALREADY TODAY THAT WE NEED TO REALLY COMMIT TO DO A GOOD JOB ON ELECTIONS, BE SURE THAT WE GET ALLOW PEOPLE TO VOTE AND THEN TO TURN THIS DOWN OR DELAY THIS.
I DON'T THINK THAT IS CONSISTENT WITH WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT.
SO I WOULD SUPPORT IT AND WOULD MAKE A MOTION.
CAN YOU WALK US THROUGH YOUR RATIONALE, WHY IT'S WORTH FORFEITING THE STATE REIMBURSEMENT PIECE AND WHAT THAT TOTAL AMOUNT IN FORFEITED REIMBURSEMENT WOULD LOOK LIKE? AND THEN SECONDLY, COULD YOU PLEASE GIVE US A QUICK UPDATE ON THE KGB TEXAS COMMUNICATIONS OUTREACH, WHICH I THINK IS HIGHLY RELEVANT TO TODAY'S ITEMS THAT WE'VE BEEN DISCUSSING.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER.
SO I THINK THERE MIGHT BE SOME MISUNDERSTANDING IN TERMS OF A REIMBURSEMENT PIECE.
I HEARD. MR. RAMOS MENTIONED THAT THE REIMBURSEMENT WERE FOR ENTITIES, NOT FOR MAJORITY OF OUR ELECTIONS.
SO IN THIS CASE, THE ONLY ENTITY WHERE WE'RE RECEIVING PAYMENT FOR IS FOR HCAD.
SO I THINK THERE MIGHT HAVE BEEN A MISSTATEMENT.
ALSO, THE ENTITIES ARE NOT REIMBURSING FOR TEMP WORKERS.
AND THAT IS THE POINT THAT I WANT TO BRING HOME SO THAT WE UNDERSTAND THERE THE ELECTION COST THAT ENTITIES DO RECEIVE, WHICH IN THIS CASE IS JUST ONE HCAD IS IN TERMS OF HOW MANY POLES, THE AMOUNT OF WORKERS, JUST THE DAY TO DAY LOGISTICAL ITEMS, NOT TEMPS, THAT IS COVERED BY THE COUNTY.
AND THAT IS WHERE I'M, YOU KNOW, WANTING TO MAKE THE POINT THAT WE ARE SPENDING THE MONEY WE REALLY NEED TO BECOME MORE SUSTAINABLE BY HIRING THE FULL TIME STAFF IN THE PLACE OF THAT. SO I HOPE THAT I DON'T KNOW IF THERE'S AN ADDITIONAL QUESTION OR CONCERN THERE, BUT THERE MIGHT BE SOME THOUGHT THAT WE'RE GETTING CONSISTENT REIMBURSEMENT FROM ENTITIES, AND THAT'S SIMPLY NOT TRUE.
THANK YOU. AND VERY BRIEFLY, ON THE KGB, TEXAS COMMUNICATIONS OUTREACH.
YES. THE CAMPAIGN FOR IS CONTINUING ON WITH KGB WILL BE WORKING WITH THEM THROUGH NOVEMBER.
RIGHT NOW THE MESSAGING IS KEEPING UP THE VOTE, OBVIOUSLY WE'RE IN A SMALLER ELECTION CYCLE.
THERE ARE 25 EARLY VOTING LOCATIONS AND 151 ELECTION DAY, WHICH IS JUST SD 15 AND AND HCAD ON TO MAY 28TH. SO THE MESSAGING CAMPAIGN THROUGH SOCIAL MEDIA, THROUGH MANY DIFFERENT AVENUES IS BEING UTILIZED.
MOST OF THE DOLLARS ARE BEING PUSHED TOWARD NOVEMBER.
WHERE WE'LL GO BACK TO TV ADS, RADIO ADS, SO ON AND SO FORTH FOR THE NOVEMBER ELECTION.
RIGHT NOW, WE WOULDN'T HAVE ENOUGH RESOURCES TO DO TV AND RADIO FOR MAY 4TH, MAY 28TH.
AND NOW, MAY I ADD POSSIBLY JUNE 15TH.
WHAT YOU'RE WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT TODAY IS JUST BASED ON OUR ASSESSMENT FOR THE LAST COUPLE OF MONTHS ALONG THAT TIME, WE'VE LEARNED, OH, THERE MIGHT BE A JUNE 15TH ELECTION RUNOFF ELECTION FOR HK.
SO WE WILL CONTINUE ALL OF OUR COMMUNICATION BASES, ELECTION FACT SHEETS THAT GO OUT EVERY WEEK.
PRESS RELEASES. I DID A PRESSER LAST THURSDAY BRINGING AWARENESS TO THE MAY 4TH ELECTION, AND WE WILL CONTINUE TO DO THAT THROUGHOUT THE COURSE OF THE NEXT COUPLE OF MONTHS AND MAY BE HAVE TO COME BACK IN REGARDS FOR THE JUNE 15TH RUNOFF ELECTION.
[03:35:01]
THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER ELLIS.SO, JUDGE, I THINK THAT WE HAVE UNDERFUNDED ELECTIONS IN THIS COUNTY FOR FAR TOO LONG.
AND, MR. RAMOS, I THINK YOU'VE DONE A GOOD JOB OF TRYING TO HOLD THE LINE.
NOW, WE'LL SAY THAT I ONE WHO'S WILLING TO PUT MY MOUTH UP WHERE I GOT ALSO OPENED UP THE CHECKBOOK.
SO I KNOW WE DO HAVE TO PAY FOR IT AT SOME POINT.
BUT WITH THAT, IN THE INTEREST OF TIME, I WILL SECOND COMMISSIONER RAMSEY'S MOTION.
OKAY, SO WE HAVE A MOTION BY COMMISSIONER RAMSEY AND A SECOND BY COMMISSIONER ELLIS.
I JUST HAVE ANOTHER QUESTION ON THE ON THE TEMPS.
SO, I MEAN, IF THERE'S A FACTUAL DISAGREEMENT, IT'S SORT OF TOUGH TO SQUARE THAT.
BECAUSE SO HOW MUCH MORE HOW MUCH MORE WOULD IT COST, ACCORDING TO RAMOS.
SO IS THAT A11 TIME COST OR A RECURRING 1.433? SO SO DIRECTOR HUDSPETH IF IF THE TEMPS.
BUT YOU'RE SAYING THAT THE POINT ABOUT THE REIMBURSEMENT IS NOT RELEVANT? IS THAT WHAT YOU'RE SAYING? RIGHT. WE'RE NOT REIMBURSED FOR? I THINK THE POINT THAT DOCTOR DIRECTOR RAMOS WAS MAKING IS THAT THERE IS SOME SORT OF REIMBURSEMENT FOR TEMPORARY WORKERS, AND THAT IS WHERE I SAID IT'S JUST NOT TRUE. THAT REIMBURSEMENT THAT WE RECEIVED, THE REIMBURSEMENT THAT WE RECEIVED ARE JUST SPECIFICALLY TO THE SERVICES WE PROVIDE TO ENTITIES.
IN THIS CASE, THE ONLY ENTITY THAT CONSISTS OF IS HCD.
I AM TALKING ABOUT THE NEED FOR THE LONG TERM FOR EVERY ELECTION.
I'M SORRY. THAT IS THIS ELECTION.
SO I CAN SEE WHERE THIS IS GOING.
I, I UNDERSTAND THE COMMITMENT TO EXCELLENCE ON THE ELECTIONS.
IT'S GOING TO CREATE A BIGGER DEFICIT NEXT YEAR IF COURT'S OKAY WITH THAT.
WELL, BUT I DO WANT TO CLARIFY, BECAUSE I REMEMBER A HEARING IN THE PAST ABOUT LIKE THE CITY'S REIMBURSE US OR LIKE THE SCHOOL DISTRICT THAT THEY HIRE EVERY TIME THERE'S AN ELECTION, WE GET SOME AMOUNT BACK WHEN WE DO AN ELECTION FOR THEM.
WHEN WE'RE DOING AN ELECTION FOR THEM.
AND HERE'S WHERE I, I TOTALLY GET THE DEFICIT.
THE, THE, THE PIECE THAT WE'RE DEALING WITH IS WE HAVE TO DO THE WORK ANYWAY.
AND SO WHO'S GOING TO BE HERE TO DO THAT WORK? AND WHAT I'M SAYING TODAY IS THAT WE KNOW WE HAVE A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF WORK THAT'S GETTING READY TO TAKE PLACE FROM THIS POINT FORWARD, AND WITHOUT THESE RESOURCES, WE ARE GOING TO FALL FLAT.
AND WE KEEP THE EDUCATIONAL KNOWLEDGE.
WE'RE TRAINING INDIVIDUALS AND THEY'RE LEAVING TO GO GET FULL TIME POSITIONS.
AND UNFORTUNATELY THE WORK WE HAVE TO DO DOES NOT STOP.
SO I UNDERSTAND THE DEFICIT, BUT THE PIECE OF THIS IS WE HAVE TO DO THE WORK.
AND I'M JUST WONDERING, SO, CLARK HUDSPETH, WHEN YOU WHEN WHEN YOU CONDUCT AN ELECTION FOR A SMALLER CITY, DO THEY ONLY REIMBURSE YOU IF YOU HAVE A TEMP? KNOW WHEN WE HAVE AN ELECTION WHERE THERE ARE OTHER ENTITIES, SCHOOL DISTRICT, CITIES AND THINGS OF THAT NATURE, WE CHARGE THEM SPECIFICALLY FOR THE AMOUNT OF VOTE CENTERS, FOR THE AMOUNT OF ELECTION WORKERS, ELECTION WORKERS, MEANING ELECTION JUDGES AND CLERKS, NOT TEMPORARY EMPLOYEES WHO WORK FOR THE COUNTY CLERK'S OFFICE TO DO THE WORK.
DOES THAT MAKE SENSE? AND SO AND SO BREAKDOWN IS FOR THE OPERATIONS TO RUN THE ELECTION.
FROM A YOU KNOW, STANDPOINT OF WHAT TYPE OF ELECTION IS IT? HOW MANY STAFFING ARE WE GOING TO NEED FOR ELECTION DAY FOR EARLY VOTING? THE MACHINES, THAT SORT OF THING.
RIGHT. AND YES, WHILE IT TIES TO THE WORK THAT WE DO FULL TIME, THAT WORK HAS TO BE DONE EITHER WAY.
[03:40:02]
IN THIS CASE, AS I'VE MENTIONED, MAY WE HAVE HAD NOW IN NOVEMBER, WE'LL HAVE FEDERAL, STATE, SOME SOME SMALLER ENTITIES.SORRY IF I MISCHARACTERIZED IT.
MIGHT MY CONCERN MY CONCERN IS WHEN THEY MOVE AWAY FROM FROM INTO FTES, THEN WE TAKE THEM COMPLETELY OUT OF THE REALM OF AND IT'S PROBABLY REIMBURSEMENT IS PROBABLY THE WRONG TERM.
WELL, SO THAT'S WHAT I'M JUST WONDERING IS, IS BECAUSE OF I MEAN, I ALSO SUPPORT THIS, BUT JUST BECAUSE OF THE FISCAL SITUATION, I WONDER IF WE COULD USE THE NEXT COUPLE OF WEEKS TO GET TO THE BOTTOM OF EXACTLY, YOU KNOW, IS IT REIMBURSEMENT OR IS IT NOT.
AND AND AND AND CLERK TO SEE WHETHER THERE'S A POSSIBILITY OF SHIFTING FEWER OF THEM TO TEMP.
SO THAT WOULD JUST BE WHAT I ADVOCATE FOR.
BUT BUT I KNOW WE HAVE A MOTION ON THE TABLE.
YEAH. JUDGE. YEAH, I WAS GOING TO SAY AND I THINK WE REACHED OUR TEN MINUTES ON THIS, IF YOU WANT TO CONTINUE DISCUSSION OR WE CAN JUST GO AHEAD AND VOTE ON FOLKS WANT TO VOTE ON THE MOTION OR CONTINUE DISCUSSION.
I'D LIKE A VOTE. OKAY. SO MOTION BY COMMISSIONER RAMSEY AND SECOND BY COMMISSIONER ELLIS.
ANY OPPOSED? OKAY. MOTION I'M JUST GOING TO ABSTAIN BECAUSE I'M, I DON'T I DON'T LIKE JUST SPENDING MONEY WITHOUT KNOWING ALL THE INFORMATION, BUT I DO SUPPORT THIS SUPPORT VOTING OBVIOUSLY.
ALL RIGHT, SPEAK ON THAT ITEM.
WELL, I CAN'T SEE YOU GUYS, BUT FEEL FREE TO.
WELCOME, WELCOME, WELCOME, WELCOME.
COME ON UP TO TEST OUR NEW SPEAKER SETUP.
AND WE'RE GLAD YOU GUYS ARE HERE TO SPEAK ON THIS.
YEAH, I LIKE THAT THEY COME UP TOGETHER.
WELL, NORMALLY I WOULD SAY LADIES FIRST, BUT SHE INSISTED THAT I GO FIRST.
I'M RON REYNOLDS, STATE REPRESENTATIVE FOR DISTRICT 27, CHAIR OF THE TEXAS LEGISLATIVE BLACK CAUCUS.
I'M HERE TODAY TO SPEAK IN FAVOR OF THE COUNTY VOTER REGISTRATION OUTREACH.
UNFORTUNATELY MY COLLEAGUE AND I, WE FLED THE STATE TO GO TO WASHINGTON, DC TO ADVOCATE FOR FEDERAL VOTING PROTECTION BECAUSE WE'VE SEEN A RAMP UP OF VOTER SUPPRESSION LAWS THAT DIRECTLY IMPACT OUR VOTERS.
WE'VE SEEN RECENTLY THAT VOTER REGISTRATION AND VOTER TURNOUT HAS BEEN DOWN IN HARRIS COUNTY.
I THINK THAT THIS IS A STEP IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.
AND THIS IS A VERY EFFICIENT WAY TO DO IT, TO CONTINUE.
THERE ARE CERTAIN AMOUNT OF OUR VETERANS THAT THAT WILL BE ASSISTED BY THIS.
I THINK THIS IS A VERY COST EFFICIENT WAY TO RELIEVE SOME OF THE BURDENS, BURDENSOME ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS THAT THE TAX ASSESSOR'S OFFICE IS GOING TO HAVE. AND I THINK THAT THIS IS A GREAT WAY TO DO IT, TO HAVE MORE PEOPLE PARTICIPATE IN OUR DEMOCRACY AND TO COMBAT A LOT OF THE UNFORTUNATE TARGETING OF HARRIS COUNTY FROM THE STATE OF TEXAS.
I THINK THIS IS A GREAT WAY TO USE THE THE TAXPAYERS DOLLARS TO HELP MAKE VOTING MORE ACCESSIBLE, BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY, PEOPLE TO HAVE ACCESS TO VOTER REGISTRATION SO THAT THEY CAN PARTICIPATE IN THEIR DEMOCRACY AND COMBAT MANY OF THE CHALLENGES THAT WE SEE IN TEXAS RIGHT NOW.
AND THIS WILL CERTAINLY WILL HELP.
AND WE DO HAVE A MOTION READY.
BUT THANK YOU, REPRESENTATIVE REYNOLDS.
THANK YOU, REPRESENTATIVE MORALES.
SO WONDERFUL TO HAVE YOU HERE.
COMMISSIONERS, THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK.
[03:45:01]
YOU KNOW, TODAY I SPENT THE ENTIRE MORNING SPEAKING TO YOUNG PEOPLE.AND THESE YOUNG FOLKS ASKED ME, WHAT CAN WE DO? WHAT CAN WE DO TO CHANGE THE CRAZY THINGS THAT ARE HAPPENING IN OUR SCHOOL? OUR SCHOOL IS RUN WITHOUT DEMOCRATIC LEADERSHIP, AND I HAVE TO SAY, IT'S RUN UNDER A DICTATORSHIP, TO BE HONEST.
TO BE QUITE FRANK THEY ASKED ME, WHAT CAN WE DO TO CHANGE THIS? THESE WERE 18 YEAR OLD STUDENTS.
THEN I WENT TO UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON AND THE MARIACHI DIRECTOR CAME TO ME AND SAID, DO YOU KNOW UNDER THE ANTI DEI ACTIONS THAT HAVE TAKEN PLACE IN THE LEGISLATURE, WE NO LONGER HAVE A UNIVERSITY LED MARIACHI PROGRAM.
IT IS NOW FORCED INTO THE HANDS OF THE STUDENTS.
AND WITH THAT WE HAVE HAD LESS PARTICIPATION.
AND I SAID, THE WAY TO CHANGE THIS IS TO GET OUT AND VOTE.
THIS PROPOSAL WILL HELP INCREASE THE VOTER TURNOUT IN HARRIS COUNTY ELECTIONS.
TEXAS IS HOME TO ABOUT 409,018 YEAR OLD US CITIZENS, ACCORDING TO THE 2022 US CENSUS BUREAU DATA.
ACCORDING TO THE BUREAU, 39.6 OF TEXANS AGES 18 TO 24 WERE REGISTERED TO VOTE IN NOVEMBER AND 2022.
GOOD TO HEAR FROM BOTH OF Y'ALL.
THANK THANK YOU FOR COMING, JUDGE.
YEAH, JUDGE AND COLLEAGUES, I JUST WANT TO MAKE TWO QUICK POINTS BEFORE I MAKE THE MOTION.
HARRIS COUNTY HAS ALMOST 2.6 MILLION REGISTERED VOTERS YET.
LESS THAN ONE OUT OF FIVE REGISTERED VOTERS CAST THEIR BALLOT DURING THE LAST TWO ELECTION CYCLES.
AND THAT'S. THAT'S EMBARRASSING.
MR. RAMOS, I APPRECIATE YOU REALLY DUG INTO THESE NUMBERS.
SO WE KNEW WHAT WE WERE DOING ON THE PREVIOUS ITEM, THIS ITEM.
WHEN HE COMES BACK WITH SOME RECOMMENDATION, IT'S GOING TO COST SOME MONEY.
AND LOOK, I BELIEVE IN BEING FISCAL CONSERVATIVE, BUT I'M TELLING YOU, I'LL MAKE THE CASE WHEN IT'S TIME TO SET THE TAX RATE, TAKE INTO ACCOUNT THERE'S NOTHING MORE IMPORTANT THAN WE CAN INVEST IN THAN THE INFRASTRUCTURE OF THIS DEMOCRACY.
I WANT TO STRESS THAT. BUT YOU DID A GOOD JOB.
I DON'T WANT YOU IN ANY WAY THINK THAT BY BY MAKING THAT MOTION.
AND HOW? WELL, I KNOW THAT CLERK HUDSPETH'S OFFICE, SHE COULD BE REMOVED FROM OFFICE, ALTHOUGH WE HAVE TO MAKE THOSE FINANCIAL DECISIONS FOR OFFICE, NOT US. AND I'M SENSITIVE TO THAT.
BUT I REALLY DO WANT YOU TO KNOW.
THAT'S WHY I MADE THE DECISION TO SECOND THE MOTION.
SO THIS MOTION I HAVE AND IT WILL COME BACK.
I WANT TO REPRESENTATIVES TO KNOW BECAUSE YOU YOU CALLED ME REPRESENTATIVE MORALES WHEN YOUR COLLEAGUES OUT OF AUSTIN CALLED ME AND TOLD ME WITH TRAVIS COUNTY WAS DOING LEFT A MESSAGE, AND I JUST NEVER GOT AROUND TO CALLING BACK.
SO YOU CALLED ME TO NUDGE ME, AND I THINK YOU SAID, DO YOU RETURN YOUR PHONE CALLS FROM LEGISLATORS? WE RETURN OUR CALLS FROM FORMER FROM FORMER LEGISLATORS.
SO THE MOTION IS TO DIRECT OCA IN COORDINATION WITH THE RELEVANT COUNTY AGENCIES AND DEPARTMENTS, TO CREATE A LIST OF RECOMMENDED OPTIONS TO INCREASE VOTER REGISTRATION AND PARTICIPATION IN HARRIS COUNTY ELECTIONS, AND TO SUBMIT OPTIONS FOR COMMISSIONERS COURT CONSIDERATION BY JUNE 4TH, 2024.
IF THEY CAN'T DO IT BY THE FOURTH, OBVIOUSLY THEY'LL TELL US THAT AT THAT AGENDA AND WE'LL WAIT.
BUT I KNOW TIME IS A IS OF ESSENCE.
AND I HAVE A SECOND JUDGE MOTION BY COMMISSIONER ELLIS, SECOND BY COMMISSIONER GARCIA.
ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. ANY OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY.
AND, JUDGE JUST AS A JUST TO BRING BACK THE POINT MR. RAMOS, I APPRECIATE YOU DOING THE JOB THAT YOU WERE ASKED TO DO, AND THAT IS TO REMIND US ABOUT HOW TO DEAL WITH THESE EXPENDITURES AS THEY COME.
BUT IT REMINDS ME THAT AS I SEE FRANCIS IN THE BACK THAT CONVERSATION UNDERSTANDING THESE UNANTICIPATED FUNDING CHALLENGES, I NEED TO BE DEALT WITH.
I DON'T WANT TO. I THINK IT'S UNFAIR TO BOTH MR.
[03:50:03]
RAMOS AND TO THE CLERK AS AN EXAMPLE, THAT WE BE DEALING WITH THIS IN MIDSTREAM RIGHT BEFORE AN ELECTION.WE SHOULD HAVE BEEN HAVING THIS CONVERSATION AS SOON AS THE SESSION ENDED.
AND SO I'M JUST REMINDING US THAT THIS CONVERSATION SHOULD HAVE BEEN A LOT EASIER THAN IT WAS.
AND AND SO I'M JUST PUTTING THIS BACK ON TOP.
GOOD. AND MISS CESAR HAS BEEN HERE.
MISS CESAR, I'M NOT GOING TO ASK YOU TO.
BUT THANK YOU FOR THE WORK THAT YOU DID, AND THEY'LL COLLABORATE WITH YOUR OFFICE AS WELL ON THIS.
ALL RIGHT. WELL, THANK YOU ALL.
AND TO THE CLERK I HAD REQUESTED SOME ITEMS OUT OF ORDER.
AND ALSO COMMISSIONER BRIONES.
SO I'D LIKE TO TAKE 387, 407 AND 487 TOGETHER.
AND COMMISSIONER GARCIA 380 747 ARE YOURS.
OR YOU WANTED TO DISCUSS? NO. I'M ME.
AND TO BE CLEAR, JUDGE AND MADAM CLERK, YOU GUYS ARE ARE HERE.
DO YOU NEED TO SPEAK AS WELL? QUESTIONS THAT YOU HAVE. OKAY.
THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU GUYS ON ITEM 387.
I'D LIKE TO HAVE DWIGHT JOIN US IF AT ALL POSSIBLE, IF YOU CAN COME ONLINE.
YES, SIR. I'M HERE. COMMISSIONER.
DWIGHT CAN YOU DISCUSS SOME OF THE ISSUES YOU'VE BEEN HAVING THAT REQUIRE THE PROJECT MANAGER? THAT'S IN THIS ITEM THE LAST PROCUREMENT AUDIT THAT WAS DONE IN YOUR OFFICE, HAD TWO HIGH PRIORITY FINDINGS, THREE MODERATE PRIORITY FINDINGS, AND ONE LOW PRIORITY FINDING.
AND SO, CAN YOU SPEAK TO THE PROGRESS YOU MADE SINCE THAT AUDIT? AND AND TO THE EXTENT TO WHICH ANY OF THESE ISSUES REMAIN.
COMMISSIONER, THAT AUDIT BACK I THINK WAS IN 2021 OR 2022.
AND WE ACTUALLY HAVE RESOLVED ALL THOSE ITEMS A YEAR, YEAR AND A HALF AGO.
COMMISSIONER. A LOT OF THOSE WERE ADDRESSED IMMEDIATELY.
SO THOSE HAVE ALL BEEN COMPLETED.
AND THAT'S BEEN CLOSED OUT BY THE AUDITOR'S OFFICE.
IN REGARDS TO THE PROJECT MANAGER.
MY STAFF AND MY TEAM HAS BEEN MY LEADERSHIP, AND I'VE BEEN WORKING IT DIRECTLY MYSELF.
BUT WE WANT A PROJECT MANAGER TO COME IN TO ENSURE THAT THE INTERVIEWS ARE GETTING SET UP TIMELY, WITH HR GETTING THROUGH THE FIRST ROUND OF INTERVIEWS SO WE CAN GET THAT STAFF ON BOARD. WE'RE ALSO WANTING TO WORK ON THE TRAINING OF THE NEW WORKFLOWS THAT GO ALONG WITH THE NEW ROLES OF THE NEW POSITIONS, AND THEN OF COURSE, ONBOARDING OUR NEW PIA SPECIALIST TRAINING LEAD AND OUR CATEGORY VENDOR DIRECTOR.
SO WHILE WE'RE WORKING DIRECTLY WITH THEM, COMMISSIONER, I JUST CAN'T KEEP UP WITH THE WITH THE AMOUNT OF WORKLOAD COMING THROUGH ON OUR DAY TO DAY BASIS ALONG WITH THIS ROLLOUT, AND I'VE GOT MY TWO DEPUTIES WORKING IT, BUT IT'S A LITTLE OVERWHELMING.
SO WE'RE JUST ASKING TO UTILIZE THE SERVICES THAT LOOKED AT OUR CURRENT PROCURE TO PAY PROCESS AND USE ONE OF THEIR INDIVIDUALS THAT ALREADY KNOWS THE INTERNAL REVIEWS THAT THEY'VE DONE, AND COME IN AND ASSIST US WITH THAT AND HELP US AT THE VERY END WITH OUR KPI ROLLOUT AS WELL.
GOOD DEAL. AND DWIGHT, AS YOU KNOW, I, I MADE THE FIRST MOTION ON PROCURE TO PAY.
I THINK IT'S, WHAT, TWO YEARS, TWO AND A HALF YEARS AGO NOW.
AND I WAS EXCITED TO SEE THIS TRANSMITTAL FINALLY COME TO COURT.
SO I'D LIKE TO TALK ABOUT A FEW OF THE RECOMMENDATIONS FOUND WITHIN THE TRANSMITTAL.
BUT REGARDING THE INVOICE AGING, I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR ALL THE GREAT PROGRESS IN ADDRESSING THE AGING INVOICE ISSUES WE'RE EXPERIENCING IN HARRIS COUNTY.
THESE ACCOUNT PAYABLE REPORTS SHOW INVOICES BEING PAID ON AVERAGE OF 14 DAYS, WHICH IS OUTSTANDING.
HOWEVER, THOSE 14 DAYS IS NOT ENTIRELY ACCURATE BECAUSE MY OFFICE CONTINUES TO RECEIVE CALLS FROM PRIME CONTRACTORS, SUBCONTRACTORS LETTING US KNOW THAT THEIR INVOICES ARE STILL 60, 90, 100 DAYS PLUS PAST DUE.
[03:55:04]
THERE IS A LOT OF CONFUSION IN THE VENDOR COMMUNITY ABOUT WHEN THE INVOICE CLOCK ACTUALLY STARTS IN HARRIS COUNTY.AND SO AND IT'S AND IT'S THE CLOCK DOESN'T START.
I THINK THE MEASUREMENT HERE IS WHEN IT HITS THE AUDITOR'S OFFICE, WHICH IS NOT ENTIRELY BECAUSE THERE IS A REVIEW PROCESS THAT'S I THINK THEY CALL IT AN INVOICE REVIEW PROCESS THAT'S INSTITUTED, WHICH IS ACTUALLY TAKING A BULK OF THIS TIME PRIOR TO IT GETTING TO THE AUDITOR'S OFFICE.
AND SO SO, SO, DWIGHT, THANK YOU FOR YOUR WORK.
AND I KNOW THAT YOU'RE OVERWHELMED, AND I KNOW THAT YOUR STAFF IS WORKING HARD.
SO I'LL BE SUPPORTING THAT PARTICULAR ITEM.
BUT TO MR. POST IN THE AUDITOR'S OFFICE, I'M NOT SURE IF YOU'RE ONLINE.
I'M HERE. OKAY, SO, MIKE, THE TELL ME WHEN THE ACCOUNT PAYABLE CLOCK STARTS FOR A VENDOR.
AM I ACCURATE THAT THERE IS A PRE-REVIEW PROCESS BEFORE IT GETS TO YOUR OFFICE? YOUR OFFICE IS DOING GREAT AT 14 DAYS, BUT THE REALITY OF IT IS, IS THAT VENDORS ARE SUBMITTING THEIR INVOICES, AND IT'S SITTING IN THE VARIOUS DEPARTMENTS FOR A TIME BEFORE IT ACTUALLY GETS TO YOU.
IS THAT IS THAT AN ACCURATE ASSESSMENT? WELL, IT'S A LITTLE BIT COMPLEX, BUT LET ME TRY TO KIND OF GIVE AN OVERVIEW.
IF YOU LOOK AT THE PURCHASE ORDERS THAT DWIGHT ISSUES, IT INSTRUCTS THE VENDORS TO SEND THOSE INVOICES TO THE AUDITOR'S OFFICE.
WHEN THEY COME INTO THE AUDITOR'S OFFICE, WE HAVE A DATE.
AND FOR OUR DASHBOARDS AND OTHER PURPOSES, THAT IS THE DATE THAT WE'RE USING.
THE MEASURE, THE ONES THAT HAVE AGED PAST 30 DAYS.
NOW, THERE ARE ANOTHER GROUP OF INVOICES, FOR INSTANCE, WITH ENGINEERING.
AND THEY HAVE THESE PROGRAMS WHERE THEY ARE WORKING WITH THE VENDOR TO MORE OR LESS CREATE THE INVOICES. AND AND IN THOSE CASES, YES, THERE IS SOMETHING GOES ON BEFORE IT COMES TO THE AUDITOR'S OFFICE.
AND THAT IS SOMETHING THAT WE ARE WE'RE DEBATING IT.
WE'RE DISCUSSING IT BECAUSE AS WE MOVE INTO THIS AIR POINT THREE, AIR 3.0 WORLD, WE REALLY WANT TO BE ABLE TO GIVE MANAGEMENT ACCURATE NUMBERS ON HOW LONG INVOICES ARE AGING.
IF YOU GO TO THE PROMPT PAY ACT THEY HAVE A DEFINITION FOR THEIR 30 DAYS, WHICH TIES TO WHEN YOU WOULD PAY INTEREST. AND THEY SAY IT'S THE LATER OF TWO DATES, THE DATE THAT IT COMES IN, IN OUR CASE TO THE AUDITOR'S OFFICE OR THE DATE THAT THE GOODS WERE RECEIVED.
WE ARE WORKING IN AIR 3.0, AND I'M ON THAT EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE TO DESIGN OUR SYSTEM SO WE CAN CAPTURE SOME OF THIS INFORMATION SO WE CAN USE THE SAME 30 DAY CLOCK BASICALLY AS THE PROMPT PAY ACT DEFINES.
SO YOU ALSO HAVE ISSUES OCCASIONALLY WHERE DEPARTMENTS INSTRUCT VENDORS SEND IT TO ME, DON'T SEND IT TO THE AUDITOR. I WANT TO LOOK AT IT FIRST.
WE ARE TRYING TO GET ALL VENDORS TO SEND THEM TO THE AUDITOR'S OFFICE.
WE DON'T CARE IF THEY ALSO SEND THEM TO THE DEPARTMENT SO THE DEPARTMENT CAN GET LOOKING AT THEM.
BUT, YOU KNOW, WE NEED TO HAVE THEM SO WE CAN GET OUR PROCESSING STARTED.
AND THEN I COULD GO ON AND ON ABOUT THIS BECAUSE I'M SO ENGAGED IN ALL THESE CONVERSATIONS, SOME OF THE COMPLAINTS I BELIEVE THAT YOU'RE GETTING INVOLVE SOME OF THESE FEDERAL GRANTS, AND THERE ARE EXTRA STEPS THAT WE HAVE TO GO THROUGH WITH SOME FEDERAL GRANTS THAT DELAY THE TIME BETWEEN WHEN WE GET THE INVOICE AND WHEN THE PAYMENTS MADE. AND WE'VE HAD MEETINGS TO TALK ABOUT THOSE STEPS AND HOW CAN WE MINIMIZE THOSE?
[04:00:01]
HOW CAN WE STREAMLINE THOSE? SO WE'RE ALL FOCUSED ON GETTING THE VENDOR PAID QUICKER.AND THERE'S A LOT OF MOVING PARTS.
BUT WE'VE GOT SOME VERY DEDICATED PEOPLE THAT THIS IS BASICALLY WHAT THEY'RE DOING FULL TIME IS THEY'RE TRYING TO COME UP WITH BETTER DESIGNS, BETTER PROCESSES, BECAUSE WE WE WANT THESE VENDORS TO BE PAID AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE.
MIKE, THANK YOU FOR TALKING ABOUT THE COMPLEXITY OF THIS.
BUT YOUR OFFICE WAS IN THE FIRST MEETING.
I CALLED TWO AND A HALF YEARS AGO TO TAKE A LOOK AT THIS, AND I'M JUST STILL SURPRISED THAT WE DON'T HAVE WHAT SOUNDS LIKE ANY MORE CLARITY TODAY, TWO AND A HALF YEARS LATER THAN WE HAD TWO AND A HALF YEARS AGO.
AND THAT WE STILL CAN'T SEEM TO BE COMPLIANT WITH THE PROMPT PAYMENT ACT.
AND SO I'M NOT SURE WHO IS RESPONSIBLE.
EXCUSES FOR OURSELVES THAT, WELL, IF IT'S A FEDERAL GRANT, IT'S ONE THING.
IF IT'S A OTHER FUNDING, IT'S ANOTHER THING.
AND SO AND THE VENDOR COMMUNITY IS JUST THE VENDOR COMMUNITY, THEY THEY JUST NEED ONE CHANNEL TO SUBMIT THEIR INVOICES. AND IF IT'S TO YOUR OFFICE, LET IT BE YOUR OFFICE.
IT KIND OF MAKES SENSE THAT IT OUGHTA THAT THE PROCESS OUGHT TO START IN YOUR OFFICE.
BUT I DON'T WANT TO TOUT A ERRONEOUS 14 DAY TURNAROUND WHEN THAT'S NOT ACCURATE AT ALL.
AND SO I AND THEN I WANT TO UNDERSTAND WHERE.
CAN THIS AGING PEOPLESOFT UPGRADE AND VENDOR PORTAL HELP US? CAN WILL THAT BE, TO SOME DEGREE, ANY ALLEVIATION OF PAIN FOR THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY TO GET THEIR PAYMENTS ANY SOONER THAN THEY'RE CURRENTLY GETTING THEM NOW? WILL PEOPLESOFT WITH THE WITH THE UPGRADE HELP AND I'M AND OR THE VENDOR PORTAL I THINK WAS CREATED IS THAT IS THAT GOING TO HELP AND AND DO WE HAVE CLEAR CHANNELS FOR THAT TO FOR THEM TO USE REGARDLESS OF WHAT POT OF MONEY THEY'RE GETTING PAID FROM? YES. AND I MEAN, YES, A LOT IS GOING ON.
YOU TALK ABOUT THE VENDOR PORTAL.
I KNOW THAT THAT'S BEING WORKED ON BY UNIVERSAL SERVICES.
BRIAN SPECTER'S WORKING ON THAT.
THAT'S CERTAINLY SOMETHING THAT WE ALL WANT THAT'S GOING TO REALLY HELP.
WE'RE LOSING YOU, MR. AUDITOR. LOTS OF SOUND, MIKE.
OKAY, WELL, THERE YOU GO. THERE YOU ARE.
CAN YOU. CAN YOU HEAR ME NOW? YES, YES, YES.
OKAY, SO I KNOW THAT VENDOR PORTAL IS EXTREMELY IMPORTANT.
IT'S GOING TO HELP IN A NUMBER OF AREAS.
RIGHT NOW, SOME OF THE DELAY IS CAUSED BECAUSE VENDORS DO NOT SEND IN THE INVOICES WITH ALL THE INFORMATION THAT'S REQUIRED, THAT WE CAN PROCESS THEM EFFICIENTLY AND QUICKLY.
AND SO I'M SENDING OUT LETTERS TO VENDORS SO THAT I CAN TRY TO GET THEIR COOPERATION.
BUT WHEN YOU GO AWAY FROM THE PAPER AND YOU GET THIS PORTAL, THEN THEY'RE GOING TO BE GUIDED THROUGH AND IT'S GOING TO STOP THEM IF THEY DON'T HAVE THE PROPER INFORMATION.
THIS PROGRAM THAT IS BEING DEVELOPED BY SINDHU'S DEPARTMENT, SHE'S GOT A PROJECT MANAGER.
AIR IS ONE OF THE TWO PROGRAMS, AIR AND PEOPLESOFT THAT ARE USED TO PROCESS THESE VENDOR PAYMENTS.
THE ENHANCEMENTS IN THIS AIR 3.0 ARE ALSO GOING TO HELP A LOT.
THEN THIS PROMPT PAY ACT I BELIEVE IS SORT OF THE FROSTING ON THE CAKE.
IT'S A COMPLEX THING TO ENACT BECAUSE IT TAKES A LOT OF PROGRAMING BECAUSE TO CALCULATE THE INTEREST AND CALCULATE THE 30 DAYS I TOLD YOU THE BASIC FORMULA WAS THE LATER OF TWO DATES.
SO YOU DON'T WANT TO PAY INTEREST ON THOSE DAYS.
[04:05:06]
REQUIRE AND HOW MANY DAYS DO THEY TAKE.AND THERE'S SOME EXCEPTIONS THERE IN HOW YOU COUNT THE 30 DAYS.
THAT IS SOMETHING THAT IS COMPLEX ENOUGH THAT RIGHT NOW I ONLY KNOW OF TWO COUNTIES OUT OF THE 254 COUNTIES IN TEXAS THAT HAVE IMPLEMENTED THE PROMPT PAY ACT, TRAVIS COUNTY HAS IMPLEMENTED IT.
AND HIDALGO, COUNTY DOWN IN THE RIO GRANDE VALLEY HAS IMPLEMENTED IT.
THEY'RE NOT PERFECT IMPLEMENTATIONS.
BUT THEY AT LEAST DID SOMETHING ESPECIALLY TRAVIS COUNTY.
THEY'VE DONE IT IN A VERY SIMPLE WAY, AND THEY'RE PAYING MORE INTEREST THAN THEY SHOULD, BECAUSE THEY DON'T CAPTURE ALL THE INFORMATION THAT WOULD LIMIT THE INTEREST TO WHAT THE PROMPT PAY ACT REQUIRES.
BUT I KIND OF, YOU KNOW, BEEN IN, I DON'T KNOW, SOME SORT OF WAIT MODE ON THIS FOR A LONG TIME BECAUSE KATIE SHORT POINTED THIS OUT.
I HAVE TO ADMIT BEFORE THAT I WAS NOT AWARE OF THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE PROMPT PAY ACT.
AT THAT TIME, YOU KNOW, WE DID HAVE SOME DISCUSSIONS WITH DAVE BERRY AND OTHERS.
BUT NOW WITH SINDHU, WITH THIS AIR 3.0, I MEAN, IT'S BEEN ABOUT TEN MINUTES.
ONE SECOND. MR. COUNTY AUDITOR, IS THAT THE MOTION YOU HAD, COMMISSIONER BRIONES? OH, NO, I HAVE A COMMENT, BUT IT IS THE TEN MINUTES.
IS THERE A MOTION? THERE BE A MOTION TO EXTEND TIME.
IF YOU WANT TO CONTINUE WITH THIS CONVERSATION, I MOVE TO EXTEND TIME.
SECOND MOTION BY COMMISSIONER GARCIA, SECOND BY COMMISSIONER BRIONES.
ANY OPPOSED? COMMISSIONER RAMSEY, WERE YOU IN FAVOR? OKAY. MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY.
I DO HAVE A QUESTION. FINISH MY MY REMARKS.
AND MR. MEYERS, YOU WERE DIRECTOR OF DEO WHEN I STARTED THIS.
AND NOW YOU'RE THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR.
SOMEONE NEEDS TO TAKE CHARGE OF THIS PROJECT.
AND IT SOUNDS LIKE CINDY'S RESPONSIBLE FOR SOME OF IT.
SOUNDS LIKE MIKE'S RESPONSIBLE FOR SOME OF IT.
I SOUNDS LIKE DWIGHT'S RESPONSIBLE FOR SOME OF IT.
I WANT SOMEONE TO BE SOLELY RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS, BECAUSE TWO AND A HALF YEARS, IT'S ABSOLUTELY RIDICULOUS THAT WE CAN'T FIND A WAY TO BE COMPLIANT WITH THE PROMPT PAYMENT ACT.
AND SO I WILL WAIT TO HEAR WHO IS GOING TO BE RESPONSIBLE FOR RUNNING THIS? PROCESS, BRINGING ALL THE PLAYERS TOGETHER AND GIVING THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY.
BECAUSE IT'S IT'S DISINGENUOUS THAT 14 DAYS IS OUR TURNAROUND AND IT'S NOT THAT IS NOT ACCURATE.
AND SO THERE'S A THERE'S AN INVOICE REVIEW PROCESS THAT'S IN A LOT OF DIFFERENT PLACES.
AND THAT IS THE 90, 100, 120 DAYS THAT I'M HEARING FROM BUSINESS PEOPLE.
YES, SIR. YOU KNOW, HAPPY TO TAKE DIRECTION FROM THE DAIS ON IF YOU WANT OCA TO TAKE A REALLY HARD LEAD ON THIS.
THERE'S ALSO ISSUES WITH ALL THE DIFFERENT SYSTEMS THAT THE DEPARTMENTS USE.
SO PART OF IT IS, IS PART OF THE PROBLEM IS TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHEN THE CLOCK STARTS.
SO THERE'S, YOU KNOW, THERE'S JUST A LOT OF DIFFERENT SYSTEMS THAT DON'T HELP US.
I KNOW THAT DIRECTOR MENON IS DOING YEOMAN'S WORK IN, IN TRYING TO, TO GET NEW PROCEDURES IN PLACE SO THAT THEY REVIEW EVERYTHING TO MAKE SURE THAT THAT UNIVERSAL SERVICES HAS SOME INSIGHT INTO IT.
SO WE'LL, WE'LL, WE CAN WORK ON IT SOME MORE.
AND I CAN GET BACK TO YOU WITH A PLAN WITH AND SOCIALIZE IT WITH ALL THE OFFICES TO SEE HOW WE CAN SPEED THIS UP AND AND GET WHAT THE COURT'S LOOKING FOR.
I WILL MAKE A MOTION TO APPOINT YOU AS PROJECT MANAGER OF THIS PROJECT.
[04:10:06]
YES, SIR. YES, COMMISSIONER BRIONES.SO, AUDITOR POST, THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE TODAY.
AND THEN I HAVE SOME SPECIFIC QUESTIONS ABOUT THE PROCURE TO PAY IMPROVEMENTS.
AND I AM. ERICA, ARE YOU AVAILABLE? AND WHILE SHE GETS ON TO ANSWER THE QUESTIONS WHILE SHE'S COMING ON.
SO I'M THANKFUL FOR THE PROGRESS.
AND I KNOW WE'RE ALL COMMITTED TO CONTINUOUS IMPROVEMENT.
THERE HAS BEEN PROGRESS WITH PROCURE TO PAY.
SO PROGRESS. BUT WHETHER IT'S 500, 400, 300 AGED INVOICES, ESPECIALLY FOR MWB BUSINESSES THAT MIGHT BE SMALL OR LOCAL BUSINESSES, THAT'S A CHALLENGE. SO I WANT TO SEE MARKET PROGRESS.
MY UNDERSTANDING THE CONTRACT LIFE CYCLE PROJECT WAS PUT ON HOLD FOR NOW.
IS THAT CORRECT OR IT'S IN ITS INITIAL STAGES? IT'S IN ITS INITIAL STAGES NOW, I THINK.
OUR OFFICE SORT OF TAKEN IT OVER.
NOW I'M SORT OF LEADING THAT EFFORT AND LOCKSTEP WITH UNIVERSAL SERVICES.
WE HAVE A PROJECT MANAGER DESIGNATED, WE HAVE AN RFP FOR A CRM PROCESS.
AND SO WE'RE WE'RE TAKING IT OVER.
WHEN DO WE ANTICIPATE THAT WILL BE COMPLETED? WELL, I THINK THE RFP IS SUPPOSED TO BE OUT WITHIN THE NEXT COUPLE OF WEEKS.
SO AGAIN, YOU KNOW, THROUGH THE NORMAL PURCHASING PROCESS OF AT THE, AT THE COUNTY.
AND THEN WE'LL SELECT SOMEONE AND HOPEFULLY GET AN IMPLEMENTATION AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE.
BUT I DON'T I CAN GIVE YOU AN EXACT TIME WITHIN PROBABLY THE NEXT COUPLE OF WEEKS.
THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. AND THEN THE AIR 3.0 AUDITOR POST.
HAS IT BEEN CONNECTED TO PEOPLESOFT YET, OR IF NOT, WHEN WILL IT? WELL, I THINK I WELL, LET ME JUST SAY, IN CASE EVERYBODY DOESN'T UNDERSTAND WHEN INVOICES COME IN TO THE AUDITOR'S OFFICE, THEY'RE SCANNED INTO A A PROGRAM.
AND THIS WAS DEVELOPED IN-HOUSE.
YOU'VE BEEN USING OPENTEXT, AND THAT'S WHERE THE DEPARTMENTS REVIEW THE INVOICE, WHERE THEY DO, YOU KNOW, WHAT THEY NEED TO DO TO MAKE THE MATCH AND THEN DO THE RECEIVING, AND THEN IT COMES BACK TO THE AUDITOR'S OFFICE.
SO YOU HAVE TWO PROGRAMS. AND PART OF THIS 3.0 PROJECT IS THESE PROGRAMS ARE INDEPENDENT AND THEY DON'T COMMUNICATE WITH EACH OTHER. AND SO THAT BRINGS REDUNDANCY BECAUSE YOU HAVE TO REENTER SOMETHING THAT WAS ENTERED INTO AIR INTO PEOPLESOFT.
SO WITH THIS PROGRAMING SINDHU'S TEAM IS HEADING UP.
WE'RE GOING TO INTEGRATE THESE SO THAT WE HAVE MORE EFFICIENCY, LESS ROOM FOR ERROR, BECAUSE EVERY TIME YOU HAVE TO KEY SOMETHING IN, YOU CAN YOU CAN YOU CAN MAKE A MISTAKE.
I DO ALSO I DO I JUST WANT TO MAKE THIS GENERAL COMMENT.
WHEN I LOOK BACK A COUPLE OF YEARS AND I LOOK AT THE NUMBER OF ITEMS THAT ARE OUT THERE THAT ARE OVER 30 DAYS, I THINK WE MADE FANTASTIC PROGRESS.
BUT LIKE COMMISSIONER GARCIA SAYS, IF YOU'RE ONE OF THOSE VENDORS AND YOU'RE WAITING 60 DAYS TO GET PAID, THE FACT THAT THE AVERAGE VENDOR IS IN MUCH BETTER CONDITION THAN THEY WERE TWO YEARS AGO HOW DOES THAT HELP ME? BECAUSE I'M STILL WAITING 60 DAYS.
SO WHERE THE OVERALL SITUATION HAS IMPROVED, WHERE THERE ARE FEWER VENDORS THAT ARE
[04:15:08]
AGING OUT PAST 30 DAYS, WE'VE STILL GOT THESE POCKETS OF OF INVOICES THAT REALLY HAVEN'T IMPROVED MUCH. AND ESPECIALLY I THINK THOSE WHERE YOU HAVE SOME GRANT AT THE END, SOME GRANT REQUIREMENTS AT THE END, AND THOSE BECAUSE YOU MENTIONED OR DIANA MENTIONED.THOSE ARE KIND OF FRONT END SYSTEMS. AND HOW DO YOU HOW DO YOU START THE CLOCK WHEN THINGS ARE IN THOSE SYSTEMS? AND THEN WE GET THEM LATER IN THE AUDITOR'S OFFICE.
SO YOU'VE GOT SOME GROUPS OF INVOICES THAT WE'VE GOT WORK TO DO ON.
BUT A LOT OF IMPROVEMENT HAS HAPPENED.
TO GO BACK TO MY QUESTION ABOUT THE 2021 AUDIT OF THE PROCUREMENT DEPARTMENT, IS MISS PERKINS ON? YES, YES, I AM.
THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER BRIONES.
THANK YOU. THE 2021 PURCHASING PROCUREMENT AUDIT.
THE SCOPE INCLUDED TESTING A SAMPLE OF PROCUREMENT COMPLETED BY THE PURCHASING AGENT THAT WAS FUNDED BY STATE DOLLARS, FEDERAL DOLLARS AND GENERAL FUND DOLLARS TO LOOK FOR COMPLIANCE WITH LOCAL GOVERNMENT CODE, TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE INTERNAL POLICIES AND FEDERAL GOVERNMENT CODE.
AND WHAT WERE THE MAIN CONCLUSIONS? THERE WAS CERTAIN ISSUES.
I IDENTIFIED WITH PORTIONS OF THE FEDERAL REQUIREMENTS AND THEN MONITORING OF THE POA PROCESS, IN ADDITION TO KEEPING DOCUMENTATION ON THE NUMBER OF VENDOR QUOTES.
THE ISSUES THAT WAS IDENTIFIED IN THE 2021 AUDIT HAVE ALL BEEN REMEDIATED BASED ON OUR FOLLOW UP TESTING OF THE PURCHASING AGENTS PROCESS, AND THAT WAS REMEDIATED IN 2021 OR 2022 SHORTLY AFTER THE AUDIT.
WELL, THANK YOU FOR THAT SUMMARY, MISS PERKINS.
AND SO THE PROCUREMENT DEPARTMENT, AS WITH ALL DEPARTMENTS THAT ARE CUSTOMARILY AUDITED, WHICH IS A REGULAR BEST PRACTICE, THEN WORK WITH THE AUDITOR TO COME UP WITH AN ACTION PLAN REMEDIATION PLAN, AND THEY WORK COLLABORATIVELY TO IMPLEMENT IT.
IS THAT STANDARD PRACTICE? THAT IS CORRECT.
OKAY. THANK YOU, MISS PERKINS, FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP AND YOUR HELP IN DRIVING CONTINUOUS IMPROVEMENT.
IS THERE SO IS THIS ONE 387 OR 407.
THIS DISCUSSION THAT WE'RE HAVING IS 407.
RIGHT? COMMISSIONER GARCIA IT IS, IT IS IT'S ACTUALLY BOTH IT'S BOTH.
OKAY. SO WOULD YOU LIKE TO CONTINUE THE DISCUSSION? I'M NOT SURE IF MY COLLEAGUES HAVE COLLEAGUES.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS ON 387 OR 407? OKAY. SO WE DO NEED A MOTION ON 387.
MOTION. IS THERE A MOTION AS PRESENTED? IF IS AN OPTION.
I MOVE ON THE ITEM AS PRESENTED.
SECOND. SECOND. A MOTION BY COMMISSIONER GARCIA.
SECOND BY COMMISSIONER BRIONES.
ANY OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY.
AND THIS IS FOR BOTH ITEMS. CORRECT? WELL, ORAL SEVEN IS A SEVEN.
IS THE TRANSMITTAL OKAY? OKAY. SO NOW FOR 87, WHICH I KNOW FOLKS SEVERAL FOLKS WANTED TO TALK ABOUT.
SO I'LL LET YOU GUYS ASK ANY QUESTIONS FIRST.
SO WHILE WE HAVE ERICA PERKINS HERE, CAN YOU SHARE A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE AUDIT AND THEN ALSO WHAT THE MANAGEMENT ACTION PLANS ARE EXACTLY.
AND THE IMPACT OF SORT OF DOING JUST THAT? ABSOLUTELY. I'LL GIVE A QUICK SUMMARY OVER ALL THREE PROCUREMENT AUDITS WE'VE TOUCHED ON.
THE PROCUREMENT AUDIT WE DID BACK IN 2021 OF THE PURCHASING AGENT.
[04:20:03]
AND THOSE ARE WITHIN HECTOR FLOOD CONTROL AND ENGINEERING.SO WE DID AUDIT THOSE PROCESSES TO ENSURE THAT CONTROLS WERE IN PLACE.
SUCH THAT WHEN THE COUNTY AUDITOR APPROVES CLAIMS, VENDOR CLAIMS FOR PAYMENT THAT THERE IS A ASSURANCE LEVEL OF CONTROLS BEING IN PLACE TO MAKE SURE THOSE VENDOR PAYMENTS ARE COMPLIANT AND LEGAL.
SO IN THE THREE AUDITS OF HECTOR ENGINEERING AND FLOOD CONTROL, WE LOOKED AT THEIR PROCESSES FOR IDENTIFYING THE MOST QUALIFIED VENDOR AS REQUIRED BY GOVERNMENT CODE.
WE IDENTIFIED OPPORTUNITIES FOR IMPROVEMENT IN THAT PROCESS BECAUSE THE TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE STATES THAT FOR PROFESSIONAL SERVICES, THE VENDOR MUST BE HIGHLY QUALIFIED BASED ON THE COMPETENCY AND QUALIFICATIONS.
OUR RECOMMENDATIONS AFTER REVIEWING THOSE PROCESSES WAS TO CREATE POLICY AND PROCEDURE SO THAT EMPLOYEES IDENTIFY HOW TO DOCUMENT THE SELECTION OF THE MOST QUALIFIED VENDOR.
THERE WAS PROCESSES ALREADY IN PLACE IN THOSE DIFFERENT THOSE THREE DEPARTMENTS TO VET THE VENDORS INITIALLY AND IDENTIFY THEIR COMPETENCIES AND QUALIFICATIONS.
OUR RECOMMENDATION WAS FOR THAT FINAL SELECTION OF VENDOR TO HAVE DOCUMENTATION AS TO HOW THAT VENDOR WAS SELECTED, EITHER THROUGH A SCORING PROCESS, EVALUATION COMMITTEE, WHATEVER IS MOST RELEVANT TO THAT DEPARTMENT'S PROCESS.
IN BOTH THE FLOOD CONTROL AND IN THE ENGINEERING AUDIT, WE ALSO IDENTIFIED AN OPPORTUNITY TO STRENGTHEN THE CONTROLS AROUND CONFLICT OF INTEREST DOCUMENTATION SUCH THAT THOSE EMPLOYEES THAT HAVE A ABILITY TO INFLUENCE THE VENDOR SELECTION PROCESS HAVE A HAVE DOCUMENTATION AS TO WHETHER THEY HAVE A CONFLICT OF INTEREST FOR THAT SPECIFIC PROJECT.
AND THEN THERE IS A PROCESS OR A POLICY WITHIN THAT DEPARTMENT HOW TO MANAGE CONFLICTS SHOULD THEY ARISE WITH THOSE EMPLOYEES THAT HAVE THE ABILITY TO SELECT VENDORS.
AND THEN ONE ADDITIONAL JUST IN THE ENGINEERING AUDIT REPORT, ONE ADDITIONAL ISSUE THAT WAS IDENTIFIED WAS AROUND THE DEBARMENT OF VENDORS.
OUR RECOMMENDATION WAS TO PUT PROCESSES IN PLACE TO FIRST VERIFY THAT VENDORS ARE NOT ON THE FEDERAL DEBARMENT LIST PRIOR TO THOSE VENDORS BEING AWARDED A CONTRACT FOR THE HECTOR AUDIT, BECAUSE AT THE TIME OF OUR AUDIT THEY HAD RECENTLY IMPLEMENTED THEIR PROCUREMENT POLICIES AND STOOD UP A PROCUREMENT TEAM.
THERE WAS ONLY ONE PROCUREMENT THAT HAD TOOK PLACE POST THEIR IMPLEMENTATION OF THEIR NEW PROCUREMENT TEAM AND NEW POLICIES. SO WE WILL BE CIRCLING BACK WITH THE PROCUREMENT OR, I'M SORRY, WITH THE HECTOR DEPARTMENT TO DO A LARGER, LARGER SAMPLING, SAMPLING, TESTING OF THOSE PROCUREMENTS THAT HAVE TAKEN PLACE SINCE THEY HAVE PUT IN THOSE PROCUREMENT STRUCTURES.
SO DID YOU WRITE THE MANAGEMENT ACTION PLAN SECTIONS OR WHO WROTE THAT? NO, ACTUALLY OUR WRITINGS END AT THE RECOMMENDATION.
SO THOSE OF THE WORDS OF EACH OF THE LEADERS WITHIN THAT DEPARTMENT THE RESPONSIBLE PARTY, WHO WE WILL ULTIMATELY FOLLOW UP WITH TO GAIN EVIDENCE THAT THE ACTION PLAN WAS IMPLEMENTED, IS ALSO LISTED IN THE MANAGEMENT ACTION PLAN SECTION.
SO THERE IS A RESPONSIBLE PARTY.
AND MANAGEMENT ALSO IDENTIFIES DUE DATES BY WHICH THEY FEEL THEY CAN IMPLEMENT THEIR ACTION PLANS.
AND IF THE IF WE IMPLEMENT WHAT THE DEPARTMENT'S DECIDED WOULD BE THEIR ACTION PLAN.
AND. DON'T CENTRALIZED PROCUREMENT THE WAY OTHER COUNTIES DO IT.
WHAT WOULD BE THE DIFFERENCE IN TERMS OF IMPACT OR BENEFITS? I THINK THAT IF MANAGEMENT IMPLEMENTS THEIR ACTION PLANS, THAT WILL ADDRESS THE SELECTION PROCESS OF THAT MOST QUALIFIED VENDOR, WE WILL HAVE INTERNAL CONTROLS IN PLACE TO GAIN ASSURANCE AND ACCOUNTABILITY AND
[04:25:09]
TRANSPARENCY OF THE SELECTION OF THE MOST QUALIFIED VENDOR.WITH ANY VENDOR SELECTION PROCESS, THERE IS INHERENT RISK BUILT INTO THAT PROCESS.
YOUR QUESTION WAS THE PROS CONS OF CENTRALIZATION OF PROCUREMENT VERSUS NOT RIGHT.
WHAT I MEAN, BECAUSE I THINK THERE'S WE COULD SAY, OKAY, LET'S ADDRESS JUST THOSE THINGS.
BUT WHY WHY IS IT THEN THAT ALL THE OTHER COUNTIES HAVE PROCUREMENT UNDERNEATH THE PURCHASING AGENT, WHO OF COURSE, WHOSE JOB OBVIOUSLY IS IS PURCHASING? WHAT'S THE ADDED BENEFIT? SURE, SURE.
SO FOR HARRIS COUNTY, THE ADDED BENEFIT ACTUALLY WAS MENTIONED EARLIER.
DATA CENTRALIZATION TO ALLOW LEADERSHIP TO MAKE DATA DRIVEN DECISIONS.
SO WE DON'T HAVE CENTRALIZATION OF THE CONTRACT DATA.
FOR BOTH REPORTING TO MANAGEMENT, MAKING THOSE INFORMED DECISION MAKING, OF COURSE, THE STRUCTURE OF THE PURCHASING AGENT, AS WITH THE COUNTY AUDITOR BY TEXAS STATUTE, THEY'RE STRUCTURED SUCH THAT THEY CREATE INDEPENDENT CHECKS AND BALANCES WITHIN A LOCAL COUNTY GOVERNMENT.
SO IN HARRIS COUNTY THE CENTRALIZATION OF THE PROCUREMENT PROCESS UNDER THE PURCHASING AGENT GIVES ADDITIONAL INDEPENDENCE AND OBJECTIVITY IN THEIR PROCUREMENT PROCESS.
OKAY. WOULD THERE BE ANY WAY THAT A MEMBER OF COURT OR OF STAFF COULD CALL THE PURCHASING AGENT AND HAVE A CONVERSATION ABOUT WHO THEY'D LIKE CHOSEN? AND COULD THAT HAPPEN WITH A DEPARTMENT HEAD? IS IT HAPPENING WITH DEPARTMENT HEADS? DWIGHT WOULD BE THE EXPERT.
BUT BASED ON HIS PROCUREMENT POLICY THAT WAS APPROVED BY COMMISSIONERS COURT IN 2022.
HIS POLICY STATES THAT FOR PROCUREMENTS OVER 50,000, THERE WILL BE AN EVALUATION COMMITTEE THAT WILL BE INDEPENDENT AND THEY WILL SCORE AND THEY AWARD WILL BE MADE BASED ON THE SCORING.
DWIGHT, I HOPE I CAPTURED THAT CORRECTLY.
IF I MISSPOKE, PLEASE CORRECT ME.
THERE'S NO INDIVIDUAL THAT CALLED ME AT THIS POINT.
AS FAR AS AS MY DIRECTOR ROLE TO INFLUENCE US BASED ON THE POLICY THAT I'M AWARE OF.
SO BUT RIGHT NOW, IN THE AUDITS, YOU FOUND ERICA.
SO IS IT CONCEIVABLE THAT IT COULD HAVE JUST BEEN A VERBAL CONVERSATION BECAUSE IT WASN'T DOCUMENTED ON PAPER? THAT COULD BE A POSSIBILITY, YES.
WHICH OBVIOUSLY WOULDN'T HAPPEN WITH DWIGHT.
SO SO LET ME JUST LEAVE IT THERE.
GO AHEAD, COMMISSIONER RAMSEY.
I'M GOING TO START WITH THE AUDIT AS I READ IT.
YOU DID NOT FIND ANY ISSUE RELATED TO.
A SELECTION OF AN UNQUALIFIED CONSULTING FIRM TO DO WORK.
DID YOU? NOW, COMMISSIONER RAMSEY, DID YOU FIND ANY EVIDENCE THAT THE VENDOR.
BEHAVED IN AN INAPPROPRIATE MANNER TO SECURE A PROJECT, DID YOU? WE DID NOT TEST TO SEE IF THE VENDOR BEHAVED IN AN INAPPROPRIATE MANNER.
WELL, IN FACT, YOU ONLY TALK TO 12.
THERE ARE ONLY 12, I THINK CONTRACTS THAT YOU LOOKED AT.
EIGHT OF THOSE WERE PRIOR TO 2019, WHICH MEANS EIGHT OF THEM, A OF THE 12 WERE PRIOR TO THE CURRENT COUNTY ENGINEER, FLOOD CONTROL DIRECTOR AND TOLL ROAD DIRECTOR.
BUT WE HAD DIFFERENT SAMPLE SELECTIONS.
IT WAS THREE DIFFERENT AUDITS.
I THINK THIS IS CLEARLY, IN MY OPINION.
A ACT TO TRY TO CONSOLIDATE AND CONTROL.
[04:30:02]
I THINK WE HAD THIS DISCUSSION AT THE LAST COMMISSIONERS COURT MEETING, AND WE SAW NO VALUE IN CONSOLIDATION.BUT I THINK AN IMPORTANT ISSUE, PROBABLY THE MOST IMPORTANT ISSUE IS THE ENGINEERING PRACTICE ACT.
AND I FEEL COMPELLED TO COMMUNICATE THAT THE REASONS WHY WE HAVE AN ENGINEERING PRACTICE ACT.
AND I'LL GO BACK TO MARCH 18TH, 1937.
IN NEW LONDON, NOT VERY FAR FROM WHERE I GREW UP IN EAST TEXAS, A SCHOOL WAS DESIGNED BY SOMEONE THAT HAD NO BUSINESS DESIGNING A SCHOOL.
AND ON MARCH 18TH, THAT SCHOOL BLEW UP IN OVER 300 CHILDREN, AND TEACHERS DIED BECAUSE UNQUALIFIED PEOPLE WERE INVOLVED IN THE DESIGN.
I'LL NOT PARTICIPATE IN ANY SYSTEM THAT ENCOURAGES UNQUALIFIED PEOPLE TO BE SELECTED.
SO THE ENGINEERING PRACTICE ACT TO GET BACK TO THAT, WHO SHOULD BE INVOLVED IN SELECTION OF QUALIFIED INDIVIDUALS? IT SHOULD BE QUALIFIED PEOPLE TO REVIEW WHETHER OR NOT YOU'RE QUALIFIED.
SO UNLESS A REGISTERED PROFESSIONAL ENGINEER IS INVOLVED IN THE SELECTION OF PROFESSIONAL SERVICES, I DOUBT VERY SERIOUSLY THAT WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A FULL COMPLIANCE WITH ENGINEERING PRACTICE ACT.
SO WHAT I SEE PROPOSED BY DOCTOR RAHMAN REG, PROFESSIONAL ENGINEER, SEEMS LIKE AN ADEQUATE RESPONSE TO THE CONCERN OF DOCUMENTATION.
I HAVE GREAT CONFIDENCE IN DOCTOR RAYMOND P.
I HAVE GREAT CONFIDENCE IN DOCTOR PETERSON.
P I HAVE GOT GREAT CONFIDENCE IN ROBERTO TREVINO.
P SO MY MOTION ON THIS IS SIMPLY TO ADOPT THE RECOMMENDATIONS MADE BY THE AUDITOR'S OFFICE TO BETTER DOCUMENT THE REALLY GOOD SYSTEM WE HAVE IN PLACE NOW.
ON SELECTING QUALIFIED INDIVIDUALS.
OH, BY THE WAY, SINCE ETHICS WAS BROUGHT UP KIND OF IN AN INFERRED BUT INSULTING WAY.
REGISTERED PROFESSIONAL ENGINEERS ARE REQUIRED FOR ETHICS.
EVERY YEAR ONE YEAR ONE HOUR TRAINING.
SO FOR 40 PLUS YEARS I'VE BEEN A REGISTERED PROFESSIONAL ENGINEER.
EVERY YEAR I HAVE TO GET ETHICS TRAINING.
THAT'S WHY MOST PEOPLE WHEN YOU WHEN YOU POLL INDIVIDUALS OUT THERE, WHEN YOU POLL THEM, THEY THINK ENGINEERS ARE THE MOST HIGHLY ETHICAL.
AND TO INFER THAT THE DIRECTOR OF THE TOLL ROAD OR THE FLOOD CONTROL DIRECTOR OR THE COUNTY ENGINEER WOULD DO ANYTHING OTHER THAN FOLLOW THE DIRECTIONS BECAUSE THEY'RE LICENSED, THEY ARE COMMITTED TO RESPOND TO THE PUBLIC'S GOOD, NOT THE COUNTY GOOD.
SO WHEN I'M LOOKING AT THIS, I AGREE WITH DOCUMENTATION.
I AGREE WITH THE RECOMMENDATION OF THE AUDITOR, ALTHOUGH I WILL TAKE ONE EXCEPTION.
NUMBER ONE, YOU USE THE WORD LACK OF DOCUMENTATION.
FOR THE MOST QUALIFIED BIDDER.
I WOULD LOSE MY ENGINEERING LICENSE IF I BID ON A PROJECT.
SO I WOULD ENCOURAGE THE AUDITOR'S OFFICE AND ANYONE ELSE INVOLVED WITH THIS PROCESS TO FULLY UNDERSTAND THE ENGINEERING PRACTICE ACT AND KNOW THAT THERE IS NO BIDDING THAT GOES ON.
YOU HAVE TO SUBMIT A STATEMENT OF QUALIFICATIONS.
[04:35:05]
SECOND MOTION BY COMMISSIONER RAMSEY.SECOND BY COMMISSIONER GARCIA.
ANY ADDITIONAL DISCUSSION? OKAY. ALL IN FAVOR? AYE AYE AYE.
AND HERE'S WHY. WHETHER YOU GUYS AGREE WITH ME OR NOT, MY COLLEAGUES.
AND OF COURSE, I'VE ENORMOUS RESPECT FOR EACH OF YOU GUYS.
AND I KNOW WHAT IT'S LIKE FOR PEOPLE TO IMPUGN YOUR INTEGRITY BASED ON SKETCHY FACTS.
TRUST ME, I'M NOT INTERESTED IN THAT.
THE PROPOSAL OF PUTTING PROCUREMENT BACK IN THE PURCHASING DEPARTMENT THAT WILL ACTUALLY PROTECT YOU, MY COLLEAGUES AND THE TAXPAYERS HAVING PROCUREMENT OUTSIDE THE PURCHASING DEPARTMENT, IN DEPARTMENTS THAT SERVE AT THE PLEASURE OF EACH OF YOU AT THE PLEASURE OF COMMISSIONERS COURT.
MAKES EVERY COMMISSIONER VULNERABLE, AND IT ALSO MAKES OUR DEPARTMENT HEADS VULNERABLE.
THAT'S WHY IT'S NOT DONE THAT WAY ELSEWHERE.
THAT'S WHY ELSEWHERE THERE IS DOCUMENTATION.
AND IT'S ALSO IN AN INDEPENDENT DEPARTMENT THAT IS STATUTORILY DESIGNED TO MANAGE PURCHASING.
SO I WILL COME BACK TO THIS BECAUSE I KNOW IT'S IMPORTANT.
I'M GOING TO CONTINUE WORKING ON IT AND CONTINUE WORKING ON IT WITH THE COMMUNITY.
I'M GLAD THAT YOU GUYS ARE ADOPTING THESE THESE BASIC BASE LEVEL RECOMMENDATIONS.
BUT OF COURSE, THESE ARE THE FLOOR NOT QUITE THE ENTIRE FLOOR AND CERTAINLY NOT THE CEILING.
THANK YOU TO THE AUDITOR AUDITOR'S OFFICE FOR THE DETAILED AUDIT.
YOU DID NOT FIND ANY NONCOMPLIANCE OF LAW, CORRECT? RIGHT. AND DID YOU SAY IN THE AUDIT REPORT OPPORTUNITIES FOR IMPROVEMENT, OR DID YOU SAY MISMANAGEMENT? I DON'T BELIEVE I USE THE WORD MISMANAGEMENT.
THAT WAS NOT INCLUDED IN OUR RECOMMENDATION.
AND THE PROCESS BY WHICH WE ARE DOING PROCUREMENT WAS ACTUALLY ADOPTED IN 2022.
IS THAT CORRECT? ONLY FOR PROCUREMENT UNDER THE PURCHASING AGENT, NOT FOR PROCUREMENT UNDERNEATH THE COUNTY ENGINEER HECTOR OR FLOOD CONTROL.
AND ACCORDING TO THE TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE, CHAPTER 2254.
AND THE AND THE PURCHASING POLICY MANUAL THE LAW STATES OR IDENTIFIES A DISTRICT BEING THE FLOOD CONTROL DISTRICT AND AN AUTHORITY BEING HECTOR AS SEPARATE ENTITIES.
OF A COUNTY THAT CAN SOLICIT FOR PROFESSIONAL SERVICES.
IS THAT CORRECT? I WOULD NEED LEGAL COUNSEL TO ASSIST ON THAT QUESTION.
WE DID CONFIRM WITH THE COUNTY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE THAT TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE SECTION 2,254.004 IS APPLICABLE TO ALL PROFESSIONAL SERVICE PROCUREMENTS.
AND THAT WAS THE EXTENT OF OUR LEGAL OPINION REQUEST FROM THE COUNTY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE.
SO JUST, JUST TO SHARE WITH YOU THE CODE UNDER SECTION 2250 4-002 SECTION ONE GOVERNMENTAL ENTITY MEANS SUBSECTION B, A DISTRICT AUTHORITY, COUNTY, MUNICIPALITY, OR OTHER POLITICAL SUBDIVISION OF THE STATE.
THAT THIS AUDIT RATHER WAS NOT ON THE AUDITORS AUDIT PLAN.
[04:40:01]
IS THAT CORRECT? THAT IS INCORRECT.IT WAS ON THE AUDIT PLAN? YES IT WAS.
THERE WAS WELL, RATHER YOU HAD SENT AN EMAIL SAYING THAT WHILE YOU PREFERRED CENTRALIZED.
A CENTRALIZED PROCESS IS THAT AM I GETTING SOME OF THE WORDING CORRECT? AND YOU PUT OUT AN EMAIL TO THE DIRECTOR SAYING WHY YOU YOU WERE YOU APOLOGIZE FOR, I GUESS THIS BEING POLITICAL.
AND YOU ALSO STATED THAT WHILE YOU RECOMMENDED.
WAS THAT IS THAT ALSO ACCURATE? I DON'T KNOW THAT I SAID I RECOMMENDED OUR OFFICIAL RECOMMENDATION IS IN THE AUDIT REPORT.
I DO SEE THE BENEFITS OF A CENTRALIZED PROCUREMENT.
SO I WOULD JUST SAY TO THE AUDITOR I WOULD YOU KNOW, YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO BE OBJECTIVE.
AND AND WHEN THERE'S AN EMAIL LIKE THAT, IT KIND OF GIVES A PERCEPTION THAT IT'S NOT.
AND SO THAT THIS AUDIT WAS ATTEMPTED IN A PARTICULAR WAY TO HAVE PARTICULAR FINDINGS.
I THINK CAN HURT THE INTEGRITY OF THE CREDIBILITY OF THE AUDITOR'S OFFICE.
SO I WOULD JUST BE VERY CAREFUL WITH THAT.
CALL FOR THE QUESTION. COMMISSIONER.
COMMISSIONER ELLIS AND THEN COMMISSIONER BRIONES.
I JUST HAVE A QUICK COMMENT AFTER THE VOTE.
JUDGE, WE'RE WELL PAST OUR TEN MINUTES.
IS THERE A MOTION TO EXTEND DISCUSSION? DID YOU SAY YOU SAID MOTION COMMISSIONER GARCIA? I SAID CALL FOR THE QUESTION.
COMMISSIONER BRIONES, I KNOW YOU WANTED TO SAY SOMETHING.
OKAY, SO WE HAVE A MOTION BY COMMISSIONER GARCIA.
WOULD YOU BE ABLE TO PLEASE REPEAT THE MOTION? COMMISSIONER RAMSEY.
IT WAS TO ADOPT THE RECOMMENDATIONS MADE BY THE AUDITOR'S OFFICE.
DOES THAT SOUND ABOUT RIGHT, COMMISSIONER RAMSEY? THAT'S RIGHT. AND, JUDGE.
JUDGE, I BELIEVE WE'VE ALREADY VOTED ON THAT, THAT PARTICULAR MOTION.
SO, SO SO THERE'S THERE'S THE ONLY THE ONLY OTHER ITEM RELATED 47 IS THE THE MOTION AS PRESENTED.
I MEAN, IS THE ITEM AS PRESENTED.
SO I THINK CALL THE QUESTION WOULD BE SORT OF TO END DISCUSSION IF THAT'S THE INTENT.
YEAH. SO WE VOTED BUT I DON'T THINK SHE ANNOUNCED A VOTE.
OH OKAY. I'M SORRY I APOLOGIZE.
TO BE CLEAR, THE VOTE WAS ON COMMISSIONER RAMSEY'S ITEM NOT CORRECT ON COMMISSIONER RAMSEY.
THAT'S CORRECT. SO? SO WHICH ITEM IS IT ON? COMMISSIONER RAMSEY? 47 487 487.
RIGHT. FOR FOR AN ALTERNATE MOTION.
OKAY. YES. SO YOUR MOTION IS TO ADOPT THE RECOMMENDATIONS MADE BY THE AUDITOR'S OFFICE.
AM I MISSING ANYTHING? THAT'S RIGHT. AND THAT'S ON 487.
SO MOTION BY COMMISSIONER RAMSEY WHO HAS THE SECOND I DO COMMISSIONER GARCIA IS THE SECOND.
AND I HAVE SEEN FOR THE REASONS I MENTIONED.
THANK YOU SO MUCH, COLLEAGUES.
AND I JUST WANT YOU TO KNOW WE APPRECIATE IT.
IT WAS A LIVELY DISCUSSION, BUT WE APPRECIATE THE WORK THAT YOU ALL DID.
CORRECT. NOT TO EXECUTIVE SESSION.
COMMISSIONERS COURT. I'M GOING TO DEFER TO HARRIS HEALTH IF THEY'RE STILL ON.
I KNOW THEY HAD A HARD STOP AT FIVE.
CAN YOU HEAR ME NOW? TIFFANY, DO YOU MIND PULLING UP THEIR THEIR PRESENTATION? THEN WE'LL GO THROUGH THE GENERAL FUND AND FLOOD CONTROL RIGHT AFTER THIS.
YOU CAN MOVE TO THE NEXT SLIDE.
JUST TO STATE MY NAME, I'M VICTORIA NIKITIN.
I'M REPRESENTING HARRIS HEALTH.
FINANCE. AND THANK YOU, MR. RAMOS, FOR PUTTING US UP.
[04:45:06]
I WILL DO THIS VERY QUICKLY.SO OUR YEAR END PROJECTION WAS FIRST CONSTRUCTED ON THE FIVE MONTH RESULTS THAT ENDED IN FEBRUARY.
BUT THE YEAR END PROJECTION REMAINS THE SAME AS YOU SEE HERE.
WE ARE PROJECTING AT THIS POINT IN TIME.
OBVIOUSLY, THIS IS AN ESTIMATE TO FINISH WITH A 5% COMPARED TO THE 2.3 BUDGET PROJECTION. THE REASONS ARE TWOFOLD.
ONE WE ARE UNDER BUDGET BY LESS THAN 1% FOR OUR REVENUES.
HOWEVER, IN TERMS OF THE EXPENSES, WE'RE DOING BETTER THAN BUDGET BY 3.5%.
AND SO THIS TOGETHER COMPOUNDS.
AND BRINGS US TO A MORE POSITIVE MARGIN THAN WE ANTICIPATED.
IF THIS HOLDS TRUE TO THE END OF THE YEAR, AND WE DO FINISH AS PRESENTED HERE, THAT WOULD ALLOW US TO FUND SELF-FUND HALF OF OUR CAPITAL PROGRAM.
AND JUST FOR THE COURT'S AWARENESS, WE HAVE SELF-FUNDED INFO, OUR CAPITAL PROGRAM FOR THE PAST THREE YEARS. NEXT PAGE PLEASE.
OKAY. SO OUR OPERATING REVENUE OBVIOUSLY IS ONE SIDE OF THAT EQUATION.
THEN IT IS MADE UP OF THE NET PATIENT REVENUES AS, AS A HOSPITAL DISTRICT.
AND THEN THE THIS THE LAST THIRD IS MEDICAID SUPPLEMENTAL PAYMENTS.
SO VERY QUICKLY OUR NET PATIENT SERVICE REVENUE IS CURRENTLY PROJECTED TO BE JUST A LITTLE BIT OVER WHAT WE ORIGINALLY ANTICIPATED. WE HAVE RECEIVED A ONE TIME REMEDY PAYMENT BASED ON THE LEGAL SETTLEMENT THAT WAS A NATIONWIDE SETTLEMENT FOR THE 340 BE DRUG PROGRAM.
FOR MEDICAID SUPPLEMENTAL PROGRAMS. THIS IS JUST TO REMIND EVERYONE ONE MORE TIME.
THIS IS A SET OF PROGRAMS THAT ARE CREATED TO BRIDGE THE COST OF SERVICES FOR MEDICAID AND LOW INCOME PATIENTS THAT WE SERVE. THESE ARE SUPPORTED BY THE STATE AND FEDERAL DOLLARS, AND IT'S A MULTITUDE OF OF DIFFERENT PROGRAMS THAT MAKE UP THAT THAT PIECE OF OUR PIE.
SO CURRENTLY, WHAT WE ARE PRESENTING FOR YOU TODAY INCLUDES A BEST CASE SCENARIO.
HOWEVER, I JUST WANT TO BE TRANSPARENT.
THERE IS AROUND $140 MILLION FOR ONE OF THE PROGRAMS THAT IS STILL AT RISK.
IT'S A NEW PROGRAM INITIATED IN FEDERAL FISCAL 22.
IT'S CALLED HARP OR HOSPITAL AUGMENTED REIMBURSEMENT PROGRAM.
IT ADDS TO THE UNCERTAINTY, AND WE'RE NOT ABLE TO TO GET ANY BETTER INFORMATION AT THIS POINT IN TIME, AS SOON AS WE'RE ABLE TO DO SO, OBVIOUSLY, WE ARE IN CONSTANT CONVERSATION WITH THE OMB ON THAT.
JUST TO FINISH OFF ON THE INTEREST INCOME AND OTHER.
WE HAVE PROJECTED A SIZABLE AMOUNT OF INTEREST INCOME JUST BECAUSE THE INTEREST RATES ARE SO HIGH.
THEY ARE ON TRACK AND WILL BE MAYBE 4 MILLION MORE THAN BUDGETED AT THIS POINT IN TIME.
WE WILL SEE HOW THE DEVELOPMENTS CONTINUE.
AND THEN THE NEXT SLIDE SHOWS THAT ENTIRE OPERATING REVENUE PIECE.
IF YOU LOOK AT THE VERY BOTTOM, THERE'S TOTAL NET REVENUE LINE.
[04:50:03]
0.7 OF A PERCENT.AND WITH THAT, I WILL MOVE VERY QUICKLY THROUGH THE EXPENSE, WHICH IS YOU CAN MOVE ON, PLEASE.
SO THE EXPENSE SIDE OF OUR EQUATION THERE ARE SEVERAL FACTORS THAT ARE CONTRIBUTING TO BEING BETTER THAN WE ANTICIPATED. ONE THE BENEFIT EXPENSE IS TRENDING LESS THIS YEAR THAN ANTICIPATED, WHERE SELF-INSURED ENTITY WILL WORK WITH OUR ACTUARY. AND SO WHAT THEY ANTICIPATED LAST YEAR AND WHICH HELD TRUE BECAUSE A LOT OF OUR EXPENSES WERE RUNNING REALLY, REALLY HIGH FOR THE PAST THREE YEARS RELATED TO MOSTLY THE PANDEMIC AND THE AFTER EFFECTS OF THE PANDEMIC AND EMPLOYEES GETTING CARE.
SO AT THIS POINT IN TIME, IT SEEMS TO BE LEVEL.
SO AT THIS POINT, IT SEEMS TO BE A LITTLE BIT LESS THAN ANTICIPATED.
OUR PHYSICIAN SERVICES ARE EXPECTED TO BE ABOUT $25 MILLION LESS THAN ORIGINALLY PROJECTED BECAUSE OF THE VACANCIES THAT ARE NOT BEING ABLE TO FILL BY BY THE, BY THE CANDIDATES THERE ON THE NEXT PAGE, IF YOU WOULD, PLEASE.
THANK YOU. SO ON THE NEXT PAGE WE TALK HOW MANY VACANCIES DO YOU CURRENTLY HAVE OUT OF CURIOSITY? SO WE HAVE A COUPLE OF THOUSAND OF FULL TIME.
I CANNOT PROVIDE YOU THIS NUMBER AT THIS TIME.
SO ON THE PURCHASE SERVICES THE BIGGEST ITEM OF VARIANCE, THERE IS A DECREASE IN THE MEDICAL SUBSIDY IN THE MEDICAL INSURANCE SUBSIDY THAT WE PAY FOR OUR PATIENTS THAT PARTICIPATE THROUGH THE MARKETPLACE.
AND THEN WE ALSO ARE GOING TO NOT SPEND THE AMOUNT OF INTEREST THAT WAS EXPECTED FOR THE DEBT ISSUANCE THAT WILL MOVE ON TO FISCAL 25.
SO IF YOU MOVE TO THE NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE, YOU WILL SEE THE FULL AMOUNT.
AGAIN. THE VERY LAST LINE SHOWS WHERE WE ARE IN VARIANCE TO THE ANTICIPATED BUDGET.
AND THAT IS THE 3.5% IF YOU LOOK AT THE VERY RIGHT.
AND THEN THE FOLLOWING SLIDE SHOWS THE FULL PICTURE OF REVENUES AND EXPENSES.
AND THAT'S JUST AN ILLUSTRATION.
THERE'S THE FOOD PHARMACY EXPANSION.
THE OBSERVATION UNIT AT LBJ HOSPITAL IS DONE.
THE BEN TAUB HOSPITAL IS NEXT.
WE HAVE STARTED INTERVENTIONAL RADIOLOGY CONSTRUCTION SPACE AT LBJ.
CARDIAC CATH IS GOING TO TENTATIVELY OPEN IN SEPTEMBER, AND WE HAVE UPGRADED OUR TIME AND ATTENDANCE SYSTEM, WHICH IS CHRONOS EKG AS WELL.
AND SO ON THE NEXT PAGE JUST VERY QUICKLY BEFORE I FINISH, WE HAVE ADDITIONAL STRATEGIC INITIATIVES THAT HAVE BEEN SUBMITTED EITHER OUT OF CYCLE OR THAT ARE NEEDING TO BE FUNDED, THAT WE HAVE MADE SOME DECISIONS TO FUND ALREADY.
ONE OF THEM IS THE MEDICAL SUPPLIES I'VE PUMPS REPLACEMENT.
THAT IS A VERY LARGE IMPLEMENTATION PROJECT FOR US.
AND WE WILL BE ROLLING THAT OUT AHEAD OF THE SCHEDULE.
THERE'S NEEDS FOR FURNITURE REPLACEMENT IN MULTIPLE FACILITIES, AND THERE'S NEEDS FOR ADDITIONAL IT CONSULTING COSTS THAT WE WILL ALSO BE FUNDING. FROM SOME OF THE SAVINGS THAT I HAVE HIGHLIGHTED FOR YOU PRIOR TO THAT.
SO THE SIZE OF THE CAPITAL BUDGET THE ACTUAL CAPITAL CAPITAL BUDGET WITHOUT GRANTS WAS 187 PLUS WITH GRANTS, THE TOTAL BUDGET IS 232 MILLION.
WE HAVE ALLOCATED THE FUNDS OF 210,000,022 MILLION REMAINS TO BE STILL
[04:55:03]
ALLOCATED. SO THAT COMPLETES MY QUICK PRESENTATION.I REALLY APPRECIATE THE TIME THAT WAS GIVEN AND I YIELD BACK TO MR. RAMOS. THANK YOU SO MUCH.
AND THANK YOU FOR THE GOOD NEWS.
TIFFANY, IF YOU DON'T MIND PUTTING UP OUR POWERPOINT.
YOUR MICS ON, RIGHT? YES. OKAY. AND DIRECTOR RAMOS, AFTER YOU GIVE US THE HIGHLIGHTS, I HAVE SEVERAL MOTIONS I WOULD PLEASE LIKE TO MAKE FOR THE COURT'S CONSIDERATION.
ABSOLUTELY. SO, TIFFANY, IF YOU COULD SKIP TO SLIDE FOR THE FISCAL YEAR 20 4Q2 PROJECTION.
SO JUST TO CUT TO THE CHASE, EVERY QUARTER, WE LOOK AT OUR OUR BUDGET TO ACTUALS AND GIVE A PROJECTION OF WHERE WE THINK WE'RE GOING TO FINISH THE YEAR. WE'RE PROJECTING A $16 MILLION DEFICIT IN THE CURRENT YEAR.
THAT'S LARGELY DRIVEN BY TWO THINGS.
ONE, LESS THAN EXPECTED PROPERTY TAXES RELATED TO MORE APPEALS, MORE THAN AVERAGE APPEALS, AS WELL AS HIGHER THAN EXPECTED COSTS FOR INDIGENT DEFENSE. FLOOD CONTROL IS PROJECTING A $9 MILLION DEFICIT.
WE ACTUALLY DO THINK THEY'RE GOING TO SPEND THIS.
AND I'LL DEFER TO DOCTOR PETERSON WHEN WE GET TO THEIR SECTION.
BUT THEY DO HAVE A PLAN TO TO TO TRANSFER THIS INTO THEIR CAPITAL FUND TO FINISH SOME PROJECTS.
NEXT SLIDE. NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE.
ONE IS THE JEWEL SETTLEMENT, WHICH WE ACTUALLY ANTICIPATED LAST YEAR.
THE CHECK HAPPENED HIDDEN THIS YEAR.
SO IT MAKES LAST YEAR LOOK WORSE.
THE FED JUST SAID THEY'RE KEEPING RATES FLAT, SO WE ANTICIPATE THIS GOING INTO NEXT YEAR AS WELL.
NEXT SLIDE. WHERE WE'RE SEEING THE THE DROPS IS REALLY ON THAT PROPERTY TAXES.
WHAT WE'VE SEEN IS EVERY YEAR THE NUMBER OF APPEALS CONTINUES TO GO UP.
YOU ACTUALLY I JUST THIS WEEK I ACTUALLY SAW ADS WHERE, HEY, DID YOU GET YOUR YOUR APPRAISAL? DO YOU NEED HELP APPEALING IN THE OLD WORLD TYPICALLY EACH.
SO HERE IN TEXAS WE HAVE A 10% CAP ON HOW MUCH YOU CAN PAY.
SO IF YOUR HOUSE IS WORTH A MILLION AND IT GOES TO 1.1, THAT'S THE MOST WE CAN TAX.
IT DOESN'T MATTER IF THE ASSESSMENT IS 1.5.
TYPICALLY HCD WOULD SETTLE SOMEWHERE BETWEEN THAT 1.1 AND THAT 1.5.
WE DO GET TO BUILD THAT INTO THE NEXT FISCAL YEAR, BUT FOR THIS YEAR, IT'S A $15 MILLION HIT.
SO THIS IS THE ONLY SLIDE WHERE WE'RE COMPARING Q1 TO Q2.
WE JUST WANTED TO TO BE ABLE TO WALK FOLKS.
WHAT WHAT HAS REALLY GOTTEN WORSE.
THE LION'S SHARE OF THAT IS INDIGENT DEFENSE.
THE VOLUME ALSO CONTINUES TO BE HIGH.
THIS COURT HAS MADE SERIOUS INVESTMENTS IN OUR JUSTICE SYSTEM.
WE'RE STARTING TO SEE IT, BUT IT COSTS MONEY TO KEEP THE MACHINE ROLLING.
WHEN WE SWITCHED TO HHS, WE EXPECTED THEM TO LOWER THE NUMBER OF AMBULANCE RUNS.
SO MEMORIAL HERMANN AND SAINT SAINT JOE'S GIVES US ABOUT $1 MILLION EACH IN FREE CARE.
ANYTHING ABOVE THAT WE HAVE TO PAY.
SO IT'S A LITTLE BIT MORE THAN WHAT WE ANTICIPATED.
THIS IS WE GOT A LOT MORE LICENSE REQUESTS THAN WHAT WE HAD BUILT INTO THE BUDGET.
I KNOW MY TEAM OR WE'VE BRIEFED EACH OF YOU ON THE FIVE YEAR PLAN.
ON THE APPRAISAL DISTRICT, THE BIGGEST CHANGE IS WHEN THE STATE LEGISLATURE TAX REFORM PASSED THE VOTERS BECAUSE THEY TOOK IT AS A AS A TAX CREDIT.
THIS IS A ONE TIME ISSUE THAT WILL BE RESOLVED NEXT YEAR.
NEXT SLIDE. IN TERMS OF THE DEPARTMENTS.
AGAIN, THIS IS A BUDGET TO TO THE SECOND QUARTER PROJECTION.
[05:00:03]
THE THE FOUR DEPARTMENTS HERE IT'S ALL VACANCIES.THESE DEPARTMENTS HAVE SOME AMOUNT OF TURNOVER.
THEY HIRE OUR HIRING SKILLED STAFF.
AND THEN IN TERMS OF OVERALL DEFICIT, AGAIN, INDIGENT DEFENSE.
THIS IS A $20 MILLION DEFICIT.
THIS IS ABOVE THE $24 MILLION ADJUSTMENT THAT WE MADE AS PART OF THE BUDGET PROCESS LAST YEAR.
DENTON. LAMAR, FOR PURPOSES OF EVERYONE'S CLARITY, WHAT DO YOU ANTICIPATE WE WILL SPEND ON INDIGENT DEFENSE IN THIS FISCAL YEAR? TOTAL. NEXT SLIDE PLEASE.
WE ACTUALLY SO WE ANTICIPATE IT'S $20 MILLION OVER.
THAT'S ABOUT I BELIEVE IT'S CLOSE TO 100 MILLION OVERALL.
AND I AT LEAST DO NOT HAVE ANY MORE PATIENCE ON THIS.
THIS IS MONEY GOING TO PRIVATE APPOINTMENT COUNCILS.
AND WE ALL KNOW THAT THERE'S NO CAPS ON THE NUMBER OF CASES.
SO I, I KNOW WE ARE WORKING ON THE INDIGENT DEFENSE COMMISSION, BUT WE NEED TO MAKE MUCH MORE PURPOSEFUL, AGGRESSIVE PROGRESS, NOT ONLY FOR FISCAL REASONS, BUT FOR SIMPLY FOR THE ADMINISTRATION OF JUSTICE.
SO THANK YOU FOR YOUR PARTNERSHIP ON THIS, DANIEL, AND FOR CONTINUOUSLY REMINDING US.
SO THAT'S ABOUT $3 MILLION WORTH OF SALARIES THAT THEY'VE ADDED.
IT'S JUST GOING TO TAKE SOME TIME FOR THEM TO START ABSORBING THE COURT APPOINTED.
CAN I ASK A QUICK FOLLOW UP ON THAT.
AND MAYBE THIS IS WHAT COMMISSIONER BEHRENDS WAS ALLUDING TO ON THE CAP ON HOURS.
LIKE ONCE THEY COME BACK AND LOOK AT IT, THEY REALIZE THAT THE ATTORNEY WORKED 24 HOURS IN A DAY.
AND SO THE JUDGE WAS SAYING, WELL, COULDN'T COMMISSIONERS COURT, COULDN'T SOMEBODY ELSE TAKE A HOLISTIC LOOK? IS THAT LEGALLY FEASIBLE? THAT'S GOING TO BE ONE OF OUR RECOMMENDATIONS IN THE FIVE YEAR PLAN IS WE THINK THAT THERE'S THERE NEEDS TO BE MORE OVERSIGHT AND TO ENSURE THAT WE'RE GETTING WE SEE SOME BILLS WHERE YOU'RE BILLING 70 HOURS IN A WEEK, AND THEY MAY NOT HAVE MET WITH THEIR CLIENT ONCE DURING THAT TIME PERIOD, AND WE REPRESENT ONLY 50% OF THEIR OVERALL CASES.
THE COUNT, THE COUNTY THAT IS THAT AND THEIR PRIVATE.
SO IT SOUNDS LIKE WE WE MAY HAVE SUPPORT WITH THE JUDICIARY.
SO THAT'S INTERESTING FOR YOU GUYS TO START THIS CONVERSATION.
SO IF YOU HAVEN'T ALREADY. AND THEN THE OTHER QUICK POINT IS ON THE THE THE PUBLIC DEFENDER.
THE MAC IS THE A PRIVATE COUNTY COUNSEL.
ARE THEY PAID MORE THAN THE PD LAWYERS? IT'S A LITTLE BIT OF APPLES TO ORANGES BECAUSE THE PAYMENT STRUCTURE IS IS IT'S MUCH MORE AKIN TO A BILLABLE HOUR AS OPPOSED TO THE THE PUBLIC DEFENDER, WHICH IS WE PAY THEIR SALARIES, WE MIGHT PAY THEM SOME COMP TIME, BUT FOR THE MOST PART IT JUST THEY HAVE A CASELOAD THAT THEY MANAGE.
I JUST I MEAN, I KNOW WE'VE ALL TALKED TO THE DIRECTOR OF A PUBLIC DEFENDER AND HERE BECAUSE I KNOW YOU HAVE MORE PRESENTATION, BUT I WONDER IF ONE OF THE CHALLENGES IS THAT BECAUSE I ALSO HEARD ABOUT THIS, MIGHT BE THAT THE LAWYERS FIND THAT WORKING AS PRIVATE COUNSEL IS MORE PROFITABLE.
BY AND LARGE, WHEN WE'VE DONE THE FINANCIAL ANALYSIS AND WHY WE WERE SO SUPPORTIVE OF GETTING AND YOU'LL SEE IN CLS, WE BUILT IN EVEN MORE MONEY INTO THE PUBLIC DEFENDER WAS BECAUSE WE KNOW WE GET A SLIGHT WE GET A BETTER DEAL, AT VERY LEAST FINANCIALLY.
AND I KNOW THAT THERE ARE BENEFITS ON THE ON THE ALLOCUTION ADDRESSES.
AND, DANIEL, IF COMMISSIONER ELLIS'S TEAM OR MY TEAM HAS NOT SENT YOU THE LATEST UPDATE FROM OUR INDIGENT DEFENSE COMMISSION, WHICH IS A COLLABORATION, AS YOU KNOW, BETWEEN JUDGES, LAWYERS, ACTIVISTS, INDIVIDUALS WHO HAVE BEEN AFFECTED BY THE SYSTEM, THEY'RE COMING UP WITH ALL THESE RECOMMENDATIONS AND GUIDELINES.
SO, DOCTOR NASH, I SEE HER RIGHT HERE.
IF YOU COULD PLEASE INVITE DANIEL TO OUR NEXT MEETING.
THANK YOU. COMMISSIONERS ALLISON STAFF ASKED ME TO COME PRESENT AT THE NEXT ONE.
WE THE 2.7, THAT WAS ITEM 250, WHICH, WHICH ALREADY PASSED.
[05:05:02]
THEIR BILLS.2.1 FOR THE TAX ASSESSOR COLLECTOR.
I WANT TO FLAG THIS IS NOT THE TOTAL OF THEIR DEFICIT.
THIS IS WHERE WE WE UNDERSTOOD IT AND WE FELT LIKE IT WAS ELIGIBLE.
ABOUT 1.8 OF IT IS ADDITIONAL MAILINGS THAT THEY DID.
ABOUT 900,000 WAS THE VOTER REGISTRATION CARDS, WHICH IN THE TRANSITION FROM THE ELECTIONS ADMINISTRATOR TO THE TAX COLLECTOR, NOBODY FLAGGED THAT THIS IS THEY DO IT EVERY TWO YEARS. SO THIS WAS A YEAR.
AND THE OTHER BALANCE WAS WE HAD TO NOTIFY HOMEOWNERS OF THE TAX REFORM.
AND THEN THERE WERE SOME OVERAGES IN THE IN THE COST FOR THE A ONE.
SO AND THEN THE 1.2 FOR THE DISTRICT COURTS, AND I KNOW RICHARD WAS A JUDGE PAYNE IS HERE IF THERE ARE FOLLOW UP QUESTIONS.
ABOUT 380 OF THEM ARE IN JAIL.
SO AGAIN, YOU'LL ALWAYS HEAR ME SAY THIS.
THE SINGLE MOST EXPENSIVE THING THAT WE DO IS OUTSOURCE INMATES.
AND THEN ALSO, THERE'S ABOUT A $200,000 WORK FOR ADDITIONAL BODY WORN CAMERAS.
WE HAVE MORE DEPUTIES THAN WE ANTICIPATED WHEN WE BUILT THE BUDGET, AND SO WE NEED MORE CAMERAS.
MR. RAMOS AND ADMINISTRATOR AND I SEE DOCTOR MILLS.
OH. WELL, MISS MILLS I AM STILL CONCERNED THAT WE'RE NOT GETTING A RETURN ON INVESTMENT ON INDIGENT DEFENSE. BACKLOG.
I MEAN, NOT BACKLOG, BUT THE THE OVERCROWDED OF OUR COUNTY JAIL.
YOU WE HEARD JUST HEARD FAMILIES UP HERE TODAY FRUSTRATED THAT THEIR LOVED ONE WAS IN ANOTHER STATE.
AND THAT THAT IS THE SHERIFF IS FORCING TO THAT SITUATION.
SO I'M, I'M WANTING TO SEE SOME APPROACH TO ENSURING THAT WE'RE NOT JUST GIVING WE'RE NOT PAYING FOR ATTORNEY VISITS, WHICH IS OBVIOUSLY IMPORTANT, BUT I WOULD LOVE TO SEE SOME DIRECT CORRELATION BETWEEN THIS MONEY THAT'S BEING INVESTED AND OUR JAIL POPULATION.
I DON'T KNOW WHO'S GOING TO COME UP WITH IT.
SO, COMMISSIONER, I CAN COMMIT TO WORKING WITH THE RELEVANT PARTIES WHEN WHEN WE STARTED DOING THE THE FIVE YEAR PLAN AND, AND BCG CAME IN AND WAS LOOKING AT OUR SPEND, THEY WERE BLOWN AWAY BY HOW MUCH WE WERE PAYING IN THIS AREA.
I CAN WORK WITH THE DISTRICT COURTS AS WELL AS OTHER PARTNERS TO SEE WHAT ELSE WE CAN DO ON THIS, BECAUSE IT IS IT'S PROBABLY THE THING THAT'S GOTTEN UP THE OUTSIDE OF OUTSOURCING. IT IS THE SINGLE MOST EXPENSIVE THING WE'VE DONE OVER THE LAST TWO YEARS.
I MEAN, 44 MILLION OVER, OVER THE BUDGET TWO YEARS AGO IS ASTRONOMICAL.
THAT'S MORE THAN WE SPEND ON ON A LOT OF DEPARTMENTS HERE IN THE COUNTY.
HOW LONG WILL IT TAKE YOU TO COME BACK WITH SOME LEVEL OF SOME FIRST FINDINGS? 30 DAYS. YOU NEED 60 DAYS.
WE WERE PLANNING TO PRESENT THE FIVE YEAR FINANCIAL PLAN IN JUNE ON THE COURT IN JUNE.
IF THAT WORKS FOR YOU, WE CAN HAVE THAT ALONG WITH SOME OF THE OTHER SAVINGS OPTIONS.
AND I THINK, COMMISSIONER, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT THAT WE NEED TO WORK ON IS THAT THERE ARE SO MANY DIFFERENT INITIATIVES UNDERWAY AND BEING ADDRESSED AND FUNDED IN DIFFERENT POCKETS. WE NEED TO PUT THEM ALL TOGETHER.
THAT'S WHAT WILL MAKE A DIFFERENCE.
AND OTHERWISE WE'RE GOING TO BE STUCK WITH THESE ODD, YOU KNOW, OUT OF COUNTY EXPENSES AND THE THE REALLY TRAGIC ISSUES THAT CAN ARISE WITH WITH THAT.
AND THAT BRINGS ME BACK TO MY POINT THAT I MADE EARLIER IN OUR CONVERSATION.
YES, SIR. I APPRECIATE ALL THE STUDIES.
I APPRECIATE ALL THE DATA, BUT I WANT SOME RECOMMENDATIONS.
I WE'RE NOT GIVING PEOPLE THESESE OPPORTUNITIES HERE TO DO RESEARCH.
WE'RE LOOKING FOR RIGHT RECOMMENDATIONS.
[05:10:10]
JAIL POPULATION STUDY AS WELL.AND THAT'S NOT REALLY A STUDY.
YOU GOT A LOT OF CONSULTANTS WORKING FOR YOU.
SOMEONE'S GOT TO COME UP WITH SOME RECOMMENDATIONS.
WE WILL. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? ANYTHING ELSE? DOCTOR RAMOS? IF NOT BEFORE TRANSITIONING TO THE CLOSE OF, IT'S OUR RECOMMENDATION TO MOVE ITEM 37 AS PRESENTED.
DID WE MOVE COMMISSIONER ELLIS COMING BACK? SHOULD WE HOLD FOR HIM? OKAY, LET'S HOLD FOR NOW.
SO DID YOU ALREADY GO OVER? YES. WE WE HAVE A FEW MORE SLIDES AND I'LL TRY TO RUN THROUGH THEM AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE.
NEXT SLIDE PLEASE. NEXT SLIDE.
ONE MORE. SO AGAIN WE DO THAT.
THIS AGAIN IS OUR ATTEMPT TO QUANTIFY HOW MUCH IS IT GOING TO COST TO RUN THE COUNTY THE EXACT SAME WAY NEXT YEAR WITH ALL THE LEGISLATIVE CHANGES, THE INFLATION, OUR BENEFITS, ANY COURT DECISIONS THAT HAVE BEEN MADE FROM LAST YEAR.
WE ARE RECOMMENDING TO BUILD IN 30 MILLION TO PLAN AROUND MAKING ADDITIONAL CUTS, TO BE ABLE TO TO IMPLEMENT THE FIRST PHASE OF THE PAY EQUITY CLASS AND COMP STUDY. NEXT SLIDE.
SO JUST TO SKIP THE CHASE, WE'RE AT THE VOTER APPROVED RATE.
WE ARE PROJECTING A $76 MILLION DEFICIT.
AND WE'LL GO INTO WHAT THAT MEAT IS MADE UP OF.
IF WE WERE TO DEFAULT TO THE LNWR AGAIN COMMISSIONER BRYAN SAID TO COMPLY WITH YOUR WITH THE AMENDMENT THAT YOU MADE TO THE POLICY, WE'RE NOT ABLE TO TELL YOU THE EXACT TAX RATE THAT IS THAT WOULD GET US TO, TO BALANCE.
BUT WHAT WE CAN SAY IS THAT IT'S ABOUT 1.1 CENT WORTH OF OF TAX TO GET THERE.
TO MAKE CLEAR, DANIEL, YOU WILL FINISH THIS YEAR, 24 FISCAL YEAR.
ARE YOU PROJECTING WE'RE IN THE HOLE ON THAT 16 MILLION.
YEP. AND THEN NEXT YEAR WE'RE PROJECTING.
YEAH. IF NOTHING CHANGED OKAY.
SO ON THE REVENUE SIDE, I JUST DO REALLY WANT TO HIT.
THERE WAS A VERY BIG CHANGE IN HOW AND HOW MUCH REVENUE WE CAN COLLECT AS A COUNTY.
WHEN THE LEGISLATURE PASSED SB TWO.
SO BUT FOR THE MOST PART, PROPERTY TAX IS FAIRLY IT'S A PRETTY COMPLICATED EQUATION.
BUT VERY SIMPLY, IT'S LAST YEAR'S REVENUE PLUS 3.5% PLUS ANY NEW CONSTRUCTION MINUS AN AVERAGE A CALCULATION FOR THE AMOUNT OF SUCCESSFUL APPEALS NEXT YEAR.
NEXT SLIDE. SO WE ARE SO IN TERMS OF THE GOOD NEWS FOR NEXT YEAR, AGAIN, WE WENT OVER IN THE FIRST QUARTER PROJECTION, BUT THE INTEREST RATES ARE STAYING HIGH. AND WE HAVE SO MUCH CASH IN THE MARKET THAT EVEN LITTLE CHANGES OR A MAINTENANCE OF THE OF INTEREST RATES BY THE FED GETS US A LOT MORE REVENUE.
CONTRACT PATROL, THAT'S TWO SIDED.
IT'S OUR COSTS ARE GOING UP ON IT.
AND WE ALSO HAVE ADDITIONAL CONTRACTS.
I THINK THAT'S JUST A FUNCTION OF WHERE GROWING COUNTY.
AND IT'S NOT GETTING ANY COLDER HERE.
SO WE CONTINUE TO SEE HIGHER THAN EXPECTED MIX MIXED BEVERAGE PURCHASES.
NEXT SLIDE. NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE.
SO ON THE EXPENSE SIDE, WE'RE PROJECTED TO GO 201 MILLION OVER FISCAL YEAR 24 BUDGET.
AS YOU CAN SEE, A BIG CHUNK OF THAT IS ARPA BACK OUT.
WE'LL GO THROUGH EACH OF THESE INDIVIDUALLY.
NEXT SLIDE. SO IN TERMS OF RECURRING TRANSFERS, I DO THINK THIS COURT HAS HAS BEEN VERY DISCIPLINED IN NOT AT CONTINUING TO LAYER ON NEW COSTS.
YOU CAN SEE WE APPROVED 21.5 MILLION.
11 OF THAT IS THE MISSISSIPPI OUTSOURCING CONTRACT, WHICH WE WERE FORCED TO DO BY THE STATE.
3 MILLION OF THAT IS THE ELECTIONS WAREHOUSE.
[05:15:02]
AGAIN, WE HAD NO OTHER OPTION.THOSE WERE THE ADDITIONAL POSITIONS THAT WE APPROVED FOR PROCUREMENT IN ORDER TO STAFF THEM.
SO IN TERMS OF ARPA BACK OUT THERE WAS ABOUT 45 MILLION OR THAT'S THE NEW COST.
IT WAS A LITTLE BIT LOWER LAST YEAR FOR THE LASALLE AND THE MTC CONTRACTS.
WE USE ARPA TO OFFSET THAT COST WITHOUT ANY ADDITIONAL ARPA.
WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO EAT THAT COST IN THE GENERAL FUND.
FINE BECAUSE THE COUNTY SIGNED UP FOR 7%.
IT WOULDN'T MATTER IF IT WAS SPLIT LAST YEAR, WE WOULD STILL BE HAVING THIS COST.
25 OF THAT IS THE DEFICIT FOR THIS YEAR.
SO THE $25 MILLION DEFICIT, WE DON'T HAVE TO EAT IN FISCAL YEAR 25.
THAT IS ADDITIONAL JUST KIND OF NORMAL INFLATION COSTS THEIR COST OF BUSINESS GOING UP.
6.9 FOR CONTRACT PATROL AND BODY WORN CAMERAS.
WE ENTERED INTO TWO NEW JERSEYS.
WE GOT WE SET A TAX RATE THAT'S HIGHER TO PAY, AND THAT MONEY GOES TO THE JERSEYS.
AND THEN 4 MILLION IN NEW TECHNOLOGY BEING DEVELOPED.
AGAIN, WE COURT HAS A GOAL OF GETTING TO 50%.
WE IN PRIOR LAST YEAR SUBMITTED A FUNDING PLAN TO GET THEM THERE WITHIN THREE YEARS.
THIS IS THE NEXT PHASE OF THAT.
AND WE HAVE THE DIRECT CORRELATION BETWEEN USING MORE PUBLIC DEFENDERS AND FEWER OUTSIDE ATTORNEYS, BECAUSE IT SEEMS LIKE THE MORE PUBLIC DEFENDERS YOU HAVE, THE FEWER OUTSIDE ATTORNEYS. BUT YOU'VE NOT SEEN THAT NUMBER.
IN FACT, THAT NUMBER CONTINUES TO GO UP.
IF WE'RE IN THE SAME POSITION AT THE BEGINNING OF THE FISCAL YEAR, I'M GOING TO HAVE SOME QUESTIONS AND SAY, YOU'VE ADDED STAFF, BUT WE'RE STILL SEEING MORE MORE ON THE COURT APPOINTED SIDE.
SO I KNOW, COMMISSIONER, IS YOU'RE LEAVING IN 20 MINUTES.
SO WE DID HAVE A MOTION ON THE PREVIOUS ITEM.
BEFORE WE FORGET, THEN WE CAN CONTINUE DISCUSSING THIS ONE.
IS THERE A MOTION? MOTION ON 37 IS PRESENTED.
MOTION BY COMMISSIONER BROWN IS SECOND BY COMMISSIONER ELLIS.
ANY OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY.
AND THEN DIRECTOR RAMOS, YOU WERE GOING OVER 34.
YES, BUT I WANT TO BE SENSITIVE TO WHAT WE HAVE LEFT AND THE TIME WE HAVE LEFT, COMMISSIONER.
I'LL TRY TO BLOW THROUGH THESE LAST FEW SLIDES AND GET TO THE MOTIONS.
KIDS AT THE JUVENILE PROBATION HAS GONE UP, SO THAT'S 2.4 MILLION.
NEXT SLIDE. IN TERMS OF INFLATION, THAT WE'VE ACTUALLY BEEN PRETTY LUCKY.
NEXT SLIDE. I ALSO WANT TO DO A QUICK SHOUT OUT TO OUR SUSTAINABILITY TEAM.
THAT'S AMAZING. THANK YOU GUYS.
ON THE COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS.
OUR HEALTH CARE WENT UP BY 14 MILLION.
THIS IS SIGNIFICANTLY LOWER THAN THE THAN HOW MUCH IT HAD GONE UP OVER THE PRIOR YEAR.
SO SWITCHING TO AETNA REALLY DID RESET OUR BASELINE.
AND THEN ON WORKER'S COMP AND PENSION THEY OFFSET EACH OTHER ON THE WORKER'S COMP.
NEXT SLIDE. SO I KNOW THERE'S BEEN DISCUSSIONS AS PART OF THE CLS SOP.
[05:20:06]
MY COMMITMENT TO YOU ALL WAS TO COME WITH ALL GRANTS THAT WERE LAPSING.WE REVIEWED THEM AND MADE RECOMMENDATIONS ON THESE, YOU KNOW, AS DISCUSSING WITH COURT.
OUR RECOMMENDATION IS PROBABLY GOING TO CHANGE AND JUST HAVE THEM ALL GO THROUGH THE BUDGET PROCESS.
NEXT SLIDE. ON FLOOD CONTROL AND LET DOCTOR PETERSON JUMP IN.
WE'RE PROJECTING A $9 MILLION SURPLUS.
THIS IS SIMPLY AND I'M TOTALLY MAKING UP NUMBERS HERE.
THIS IS NOT CONTEMPLATE ANY OF THE NEW CONSTRUCTION THAT IS THAT IS CURRENTLY GOING UNDERWAY.
DOCTOR PETERS, I'LL TURN IT OVER TO YOU IF YOU HAVE ANYTHING TO ADD.
YEAH. THANK YOU, DIRECTOR RAMOS.
I MEAN, I KNOW WHAT WE ARE FACING IN TERMS OF, YOU KNOW, ADDITIONAL COSTS THIS YEAR.
AND THEN THE OTHER ITEM THAT DIRECTOR RAMOS RAISED WAS RELATED TO THE SURPLUS.
AND I DID WANT TO FLAG FOR COURT THAT THIS SURPLUS IS YOU KNOW, OBVIOUSLY WE HAVE ADDITIONAL INFRASTRUCTURE COMING ON BOARD, BUT WE ALSO HAVE A STRUCTURAL ISSUE WITH OUR BUDGET WHERE OUR MAJOR MAINTENANCE WORK THAT WE DO.
SOME OF IT STARTS IN THE FALL, IN NOVEMBER.
PARDON ME. SO WHEN WE CHANGE FISCAL YEARS.
I WAS LOOKING AT YOU. DIRECTOR PETERSON, WOULD YOU TURN ON YOUR CAMERA? AND IF NOT, CAN WE COME BACK TO YOU BECAUSE.
YEAH. IS IT NOT ON? I AM SO SORRY. NO, WE'RE NOT SEEING YOU, AND WE'RE JUST REQUIRED TO HAVE YOU ON.
ABSOLUTELY. YES, I WAS ON, BUT I THINK THE PRESENTATION, I THINK IF YOU STOP SHARING THE SCREEN, THEN WE WILL SEE DIRECTOR PETERSON, AND THEN WE CAN ADD THAT SCREEN.
DIRECTOR PETERSON, CAN YOU PUT YOUR CAMERA ON AGAIN? YES, YES.
LET ME STOP IT AND WE'LL START AGAIN.
DOES THAT WORK? YES. OKAY, GREAT.
SO AS I WAS SAYING, OBVIOUSLY WE HAVE INCREASED COSTS THIS YEAR, BUT WE ALSO HAVE A STRUCTURAL ISSUE RELATED TO OUR BUDGET, WHERE SOME OF THE MAJOR WORK THAT WE DO ON OUR MAINTENANCE PROGRAM STARTS IN NOVEMBER, AND THAT HAPPENS TO ALIGN DIRECTLY WITH THE START OF OUR FISCAL YEAR DUE TO US HAVING TO GET ALL THE PAPERWORK, ALL THE POS, ALL THE WORK ORDERS IN PLACE SO WE CAN HIT THE GROUND RUNNING, IT FORCES US TO ENCUMBER THOSE FUNDS IN THIS FISCAL YEAR, SHOWING THAT IT LOOKS LIKE A SURPLUS, WHEN IN ACTUALITY WE ACTUALLY SPEND THOSE DOLLARS NEXT FISCAL YEAR, AND WE KNOW WE'LL TALK ABOUT IT LATER.
BUT DEFERRED MAINTENANCE IS SUCH A CRUCIAL ISSUE FOR US.
AND SO WE ARE WORKING TO BRING SOME IDEAS BACK TO COURT.
AND I CAN TURN IT BACK TO YOU, DIRECTOR RAMOS.
WE ARE RECOMMENDING THAT WE ADOPT A 5% OR 95% OF CLS.
SO THAT'S 5% WORTH OF OPTIONS FOR COURT TO CONSIDER.
THAT IS NOT A 5% ACROSS THE BOARD CUT.
THAT IS JUST GETTING 5% WORTH OF OPTIONS FOR YOU ALL TO CONSIDER OVER THE SUMMER AS WE DEVELOP THE BUDGET AND THEN THE BUDGET HEARINGS, WHICH WERE PART OF THE SOP. SO ANY QUESTIONS? I KNOW COMMISSIONER ELLIS AND COMMISSIONER BRIONES BOTH HAD MOTIONS.
I HAVE MOTIONS IF THERE'S NO OTHER QUESTIONS ON 3434, CORRECT? YES, I HAVE A MOTION, BUT I'LL GO AHEAD.
FIRST, I MOVED TO DIRECT OMB TO INCLUDE A $50 MILLION PLACEHOLDER IN THE FISCAL YEAR 25 CURRENT LEVEL OF SERVICE PROJECTION TO IMPLEMENT THE FIRST PHASE OF THE PAY EQUITY STUDY.
GOOD. IT'S SECOND BY COMMISSIONER GARCIA.
ANY OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY.
25 CLS CURRENT LEVEL OF SERVICE.
SECOND. SECOND BY MOTION BY COMMISSIONER BROWN AND SECOND BY COMMISSIONER GARCIA.
[05:25:05]
ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. ANY OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY.THE THIRD PART IS I MOVED TO REQUEST LAPSING GRANTS TO GO THROUGH THE BUDGET ENHANCEMENT PROCESS.
SECOND MOTION BY COMMISSIONER BRIONES.
SECOND BY COMMISSIONER GARCIA.
ANY OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY.
ANY OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY.
ANY MOTIONS TO ADD COLLEAGUES BEFORE WE MOVE ON? JUST JUST A QUICK ONE.
DANIEL, I'LL ASK YOU BEFORE I MAKE THIS MOTION, BUT IT SEEMS TO ME THAT YOUR $76 MILLION DEFICIT.
AND MY MOTION WOULD BE TO SHIFT THE 56,348,000 FOR JAIL OUTSOURCING, RATHER THAN THAT COMING FROM THE GENERAL FUND THAT IT SHOULD COME OUT OF ARPA.
QUESTION. COMMISSIONER ELLIS HAS A QUESTION.
HAVE WE OVER EXTENDED ON ARPA MONEY, AND IF SO, WHAT WOULD WE CUT? I MEAN, IS IS.
THE SHORT ANSWER IS WE ARE ESSENTIALLY FULLY COMMITTED ON ARPA, SO WOULD REQUIRE CUTTING OTHER ITEMS. I'M NOT PREPARED TO DISCUSS THE OVERALL ARPA.
I THOUGHT WE OVER COMMITTED AND WE'VE GOT TO CUT ARPA PROJECTS.
AREN'T THEY MEETING TOMORROW TO DO THE FINAL VOTING WITH ALL OF THE FIVE OFFICE MEMBERS OF THE ARPA STEERING COMMITTEE? YES. THAT'S ACCURATE.
WE HAVE 800 THE MEETING TOMORROW OR THE MEETING TOMORROW.
YOU KNOW BY HOW MUCH WE'VE OVEREXTENDED.
SO WE BELIEVE THAT WE HAVE $985 MILLION AVAILABLE, INCLUDING INTEREST.
WE'VE ONLY COMMITTED 895 MILLION.
WE HAVE UNTIL DECEMBER OF THIS YEAR TO DETERMINE WHAT WE'RE GOING TO SPEND THE ARPA MONEY ON.
THAT'S CORRECT. WE'LL RECOGNIZE AND WE'RE IN THE HOLE.
AND RECOGNIZING THE GREAT SOURCE OF THAT HOLE IS GEL OUTSOURCING.
SO MIGHT I RECOMMEND, COMMISSIONER, IF DIRECTING US TO TO WORK WITH OCA AND THE AND THE STEER CO ON OPTIONS TO COME BACK AND PRESENT IT ULTIMATELY. AND I THINK YOU'VE HEARD ME SAY THIS BEFORE, BUT WHETHER THINGS COME OUT OF FUND BALANCE OR ARPA, DOES IT REALLY MATTER IN THE SAME WAY THAT LIKE A SMALL COUNTY WHO ARPA WAS, WHAT SAVED THEM FROM BANKRUPTCY? AND SO WE CAN WORK TOGETHER AND THINK THROUGH POTENTIAL OPTIONS? I WOULDN'T WANT TO SHORTCHANGE THE ENTIRE BUDGET PROCESS.
AND ALSO ARPA, I REALLY WANT FOLKS TO THINK ABOUT IT.
IF WE WERE TO USE ANY, AND I'M NOT SAYING I'M RECOMMENDING IT, BUT JUST IF WE WERE TO USE ANY, MY RECOMMENDATION WOULD STILL BE TO TO MAKE SOME OF THE CUTS SO THAT IT'S A IT ACTS AS A BRIDGE FOR US TO GET BACK ON, ON MORE STABLE FINANCIAL FOOTING, NOT NECESSARILY AS AN ONGOING.
I AGREE WITH THAT. I'LL CHANGE IT JUST TO SIMPLY LOOK AT THAT, RECOGNIZING THE DEFICIT THAT WE HAVE THIS YEAR, THE DEFICIT THAT'S COMING DOWN THE PIKE, WE REALLY NEED TO TAKE A REAL HARD LOOK AT THAT ARPA FUNDING AND WHAT WE'RE GOING TO FUND AND WHAT WE'RE NOT GOING TO FIND.
UNDERSTOOD. AND IF A MIKE COMMISSIONER.
SO WHEN COMMISSIONER ELLISON COMMISSIONER GARCIA.
SO WHEN THE STURKO MEETS THEY CAN PUT THEY SHOULD PUT THIS ON THE TABLE.
BUT I WOULD JUST I APPRECIATE YOU DOING IT BECAUSE I'D HATE FOR US TO JUST VOTE BLINDLY.
I WOULD HAVE HAD IT AND NOT KNOW WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT.
NOT FUNDING. WE OUGHT TO KNOW THAT.
AND I AGREE THAT WHEN YOU ALL MEET AND I APPRECIATE THE COLLABORATION BETWEEN THE FIVE OFFICES AND DEPUTY COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR BARTON, YOUR LEADERSHIP ON ARPA HAS BEEN PHENOMENAL. BUT TOMORROW WHEN YOU ALL DISCUSS REALLOCATING THE 64 MILLION, THIS SHOULD AT LEAST BE ON THE TABLE IN CONSIDERATION WITH ALL OF THE COMPETING INTERESTS GIVEN THE FINANCIAL REALITY.
SO THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP.
GREAT. SO DO WE NEED A MOTION OR ARE YOU GUYS ALREADY ON THIS JUDGE? YOU DON'T NEED A MOTION FOR THIS.
[05:30:04]
SO AGAIN, I THINK THAT'S ONE THAT WE CAN WORK WITH HARRIS HEALTH ON, ON PRESENTING WHAT THAT WOULD MEAN FOR THEM.GIVE US AN UPDATE THE NEXT MEETING.
SO COMMISSIONER ELLIS HAS ABOUT 13 MORE MINUTES.
SO LET'S SEE IF WE CAN FINISH THE DISCUSSION ON KEY ITEMS. SO. SO COLLEAGUES, I STAND HERE FOR YOUR RECOMMENDATIONS.
WHAT WOULD WHAT WOULD THE COMMISSIONER WANT TO GET HIS TWO BITS ON? DID WE VOTE ON YOUR ITEM? YOU HAD ITEM RELATED TO FLOOD CONTROL, THE DEFERRED MAINTENANCE.
THAT'S THAT'S REALLY THE TO LOOK INTO IT.
OKAY. I DON'T THINK YOU WEREN'T MAKING A MOTION TODAY.
THERE'LL BE A MOTION JUST TO SIMPLY LOOK INTO IT.
OKAY, SO THERE'S THE STRATEGIC FRAMEWORK.
YOU MIGHT BE INTERESTED IN THE JAIL POPULATION.
YOU MIGHT BE INTERESTED IN I THINK PROBABLY STRATEGIC FRAMEWORK BECAUSE WE HAVE A VOTE.
I DON'T THINK WE HAVE A VOTE TODAY.
LET'S TAKE UP STRATEGIC FRAMEWORK.
TIFFANY, CAN YOU PUT UP THE PRESENTATION? I'M GOING TO TAKE IT QUICKLY AND GO WITH JUST THE FIRST SIX SLIDES.
THANK YOU. DIANE RAMIREZ, COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR.
AND THROUGHOUT THIS WHOLE PROCESS WE WERE VERY DELIBERATE IN OUR ENGAGEMENT.
WE WORKED WITH DEPARTMENT HEADS REPORTING TO OCA, PRIMARILY COUNTY CHAMPIONS FROM A WIDE RANGE OF DEPARTMENTS AND AT ALL CAREER LEVELS TO INFORM THE FOUNDATIONAL ELEMENTS, GOALS, COMMUNITY INDICATORS AND OBJECTIVES.
WE HAD COUNTY EMPLOYEES AND OVER 1600 COMMUNITY MEMBERS RESPOND TO SURVEYS, AND EACH COURT OFFICE HELD STRATEGIC PLANNING CHARRETTES TO OBTAIN MORE COMMUNITY FEEDBACK ON THE FRAMEWORK. AND IMPORTANTLY, THIS FRAMEWORK WAS INFORMED BY ONE ON ONE MEETINGS WITH EACH OF YOU AND WITH A SPECIAL MEETING OF THE COMMISSIONERS COURT HELD ON APRIL 1ST, 2024.
AS COMMISSIONER GARCIA HAS MENTIONED THAT LAST YEAR, OUR PURPOSE, VISION AND GUIDING PRINCIPLES.
SO WE DEVELOPED DEFINITIONS TO ENSURE THAT THERE WAS BROAD UNDERSTANDING OF OUR PURPOSE STATEMENT.
AND, AND WE ALSO MADE SURE THAT COUNTY EMPLOYEES ARE RESIDENTS AND STAKEHOLDERS CAN UNDERSTAND OUR OWN EXPECTATIONS OF HOW WE WILL DO OUR WORK AND SERVE OUR RESIDENTS.
SO THE SIX GOALS AND 23 OBJECTIVES IN THIS NEW STRATEGIC FRAMEWORK ARE DIFFERENT FROM OUR EXISTING EIGHT GOAL AREAS IN 26 PRIORITY OUTCOMES. THOSE GOAL AREAS AND PRIORITY OUTCOMES WERE DEVELOPED BY A CONSULTANT AND PRESENTED TO COMMISSIONERS COURT FOR APPROVAL.
THESE SIX GOALS IN 22 AND 23 OBJECTIVES BEFORE YOU FOR APPROVAL TODAY WERE DEVELOPED BY YOU, OUR COLLEAGUES AND OUR RESIDENTS, WITH THE EA CONSULTING TEAM SERVING AS A SOUNDING BOARD SCRIBE AND ADVISOR.
I WON'T GO THROUGH THE REMAINING SLIDES, BUT I WANT TO SAY THAT, YOU KNOW, ONCE A STRATEGIC FRAMEWORK IS APPROVED, THE NEXT PHASE OF THE STRATEGIC PLANNING PROCESS WILL INVOLVE A DEEPER DIVE INTO THE DEPARTMENTAL INITIATIVES THAT CAN HELP US ACHIEVE OUR STRATEGIC GOALS AND OBJECTIVES, WITH A FOCUS ON WORKING WITH DEPARTMENTS AND WITH COMMUNITY WORK GROUPS TO DEVELOP THE LIST OF INITIATIVES.
THE FRAMEWORK CLEARLY SETS THE DIRECTION THAT THE COURT ENVISIONS FOR HARRIS COUNTY, AND GIVES COUNTY DEPARTMENTS A PATH TO FOLLOW FOR THE TYPE OF WORK THEY MUST FOCUS ON OVER THE NEXT FIVE YEARS TO MOVE THE COUNTY CLOSER TO THE NORTH STAR.
AS WE'VE ALREADY DISCUSSED, OUR RESOURCES ARE CONSTRAINED MORE SO NOW THAT THE STATE HAS LIMITED OUR ABILITY TO RAISE A LEVY SUFFICIENT TO KEEP UP WITH POPULATION GROWTH, INFLATION, THEIR UNFUNDED MANDATES, AND EMERGING ISSUES AND THREATS.
STATES ALSO LIMITED LOCAL CONTROL OF BUDGETS AND PROGRAMS, SO WE MUST ULTIMATELY ALLOW.
[05:35:01]
FIND THE BUDGET TO THE STRATEGIC PLAN AND TO THE DELIVERY OF STRONG OUTCOMES THROUGH THE USE OF PERFORMANCE MEASURES AND DATA.THE FRAMEWORK YOU'RE CONSIDERING TODAY IS A CRITICAL STEP FOR ACHIEVING THAT ALIGNMENT.
AND THEN, OF COURSE, WE'D BE HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS.
COMMISSIONER ELLIS, I THINK YOU DID A GOOD JOB.
THE BEST ROLES I CAN GIVE YOU AS A MOTION, BUT YOU GOT ABOUT FOUR MINUTES.
WHAT TURNS INTO A THORN? YEAH, AND ONE MINUTE, BUDDY.
COMMISSIONERS. GOOD TO BE WITH YOU.
SO APPROVAL OF THE FRAMEWORK COMPLETES PHASE ONE OF THE STRATEGIC PLAN PROCESS.
IN PHASE TWO WE'RE GOING TO BE WORKING WITH DEPARTMENTS INDIVIDUALLY AND IN COHORTS TO DEVELOP THE SPECIFIC INITIATIVES NEEDED TO ACHIEVE THE PLAN, THE GOALS AND OBJECTIVES IN THE PLAN.
AND YOU KNOW, THAT WILL GIVE YOU A COMPLETE STRATEGIC PLAN THAT WILL BE COMING BACK TO YOU AT A LATER DATE FOR FOR APPROVAL, IN ADDITION TO WORKING WITH THE DEPARTMENTS. AS AS DIANA SAID, WE'LL BE CONVENING COMMUNITY WORKING GROUPS FOR EACH GOAL TO ADVISE ON THE INITIATIVES AND ALSO HOW THE COUNTY CAN WORK WITH ITS PARTNERS TO LEVERAGE LEVERAGE RESOURCES.
THE DEPARTMENT WORK INCLUDES DOCUMENT AND DATA REVIEW, INTERVIEWS AND WORKSHOPS TO UNDERSTAND THE ALIGNMENT OF CURRENT AND PLANNED POLICIES AND PROGRAMS WITH THE STRATEGIC FRAMEWORK, AND TO IDENTIFY OPPORTUNITIES TO SUPPORT THE GOALS AND OBJECTIVES.
SO WE'LL DO SECONDARY RESEARCH BENCHMARKING.
WE'LL CONSULT SUBJECT MATTER EXPERTS AS NEEDED TO INFORM THE INITIATIVES.
AND, YOU KNOW, THE INITIATIVES CAN TAKE A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT FORMS. COULD BE REPURPOSING OF CURRENT RESOURCES.
COULD BE IMPROVING SERVICE DELIVERY AND PROGRAM PERFORMANCE, REDESIGNING PROGRAMS BASED ON DATA AND EVIDENCE, EXPANDING PARTNERSHIPS, ADOPTING NEW POLICIES, MAKING NEW INVESTMENTS.
AND THAT STAGE OF THE PROJECT IS SCHEDULED FOR FOR MID JUNE.
SO WE'LL BE DOING A LOT OF WORK OVER THE NEXT FEW MONTHS TO DEVELOP CANDIDATE INITIATIVES GIVEN, YOU KNOW, GIVEN RESOURCE CONSTRAINTS THAT YOU WERE JUST TALKING ABOUT, IT'S GOING TO BE CRITICAL TO TO SELECT THOSE INITIATIVES CAREFULLY.
I'VE ALSO TOLD THE SPC, I THINK IT WOULD BE WISE FOR FOR THE COURT TO PICK, SAY, FIVE OBJECTIVES TO ELEVATE IN PRIORITY.
AND AND JUST TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU ARE GETTING THE, THE RESULTS YOU ABSOLUTELY NEED FROM THE STRATEGIC PLAN OVER THE NEXT FIVE YEARS. JUDGE.
THANK YOU. YES, COMMISSIONER. I'D LIKE TO MOVE TO ADOPT THE STRATEGIC FRAMEWORK AS DRAFTED.
A SECOND BY COMMISSIONER GARCIA.
ANY OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR ALL THE HARD WORK, EVERYONE.
THANK YOU, THANK YOU. JUDGE, CAN WE TAKE UP 219? THANK YOU. TEAM 219 YES.
219 IS THE MOBILE HEALTH EXPANSION STRATEGY.
COMMISSIONER GARCIA FLAGGED THAT ONE.
TUNE IN ON PAGE 24, COMMISSIONER ROSZEL 29 ON ITEM 219.
DURING THE OCTOBER 10TH AND 31ST COURTS, PUBLIC HEALTH WAS INSTRUCTED TO MEET WITH PRECINCT OFFICERS GATHERED INSIDE TO THE SPECIFIC NEEDS OF EACH PRECINCT, AND MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS FOR EACH PRECINCT RELATED TO PROGRAMING TO ADDRESS CONSTITUENT HEALTH NEEDS.
AND SO THE MOTION MADE AT THE SEPTEMBER 12TH COURT READ.
MOTION TO INCREASE HARRIS COUNTY PUBLIC PUBLIC HEALTH'S BUDGET BY 2 MILLION.
TO EXPAND COMMUNITY HEALTH SERVICES COUNTYWIDE IN AN EQUITABLE WAY.
PUBLIC HEALTH DID NOT MEET WITH PRECINCT TWO TO DISCUSS HEALTH NEEDS.
DESPITE THIS, THE PROPOSAL READS A COUNTY WIDE INTEGRATED MOBILE HEALTH STRATEGY.
[05:40:10]
DISPARITIES WITHIN PRECINCT TWO AND DURING THE OCTOBER 31ST COURT, IT WAS STATED THAT STAFFING FOR THE PODS WAS DEPENDENT ON FILLING VACANCIES AT PUBLIC HEALTH. IF THIS IS THE CASE, I WOULD THINK THAT THIS REPORT WOULD ADDRESS PERMANENT FUNDING FOR THE PODS OR OTHER HEALTH CARE OPTIONS, JUST AS IT DOES FOR THE OTHER THREE PRECINCTS. CAN DIRECTOR ROBINSON WALK THE COURT THROUGH THE DATA USED TO MAKE THE DETERMINATION THAT HEALTH PODS ARE ADDRESSING THE HEALTH NEEDS OF MY CONSTITUENTS? AND CAN DIRECTOR ROBINSON EXPLAIN TO THE COURT HOW THE HOW THE SERVICES OFFERED AT THE PODS DIFFER FROM THOSE OFFERED AT ANY OTHER PUBLIC HEALTH CLINIC LOCATED ANYWHERE IN HARRIS COUNTY? AND THEN LASTLY, CAN DIRECTOR ROBINSON EXPLAIN TO THE COURT HOW THE SERVICES OFFERED AT THE PODS WERE WERE DEVELOPED BASED ON DATA AND DIFFER FROM THE MOBILE HEALTH PROGRAM RECOMMENDATIONS FOUND IN THE HEALTH EXPANSION DOCUMENT.AND CAN DIRECTOR ROBINSON PROVIDE THE COURT WITH THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE ATTACKED OR KILLED BY DOGS DESECRATED? THE AGGREGATED BY PRECINCT OVER THE PAST TWO YEARS.
AND CAN DIRECTOR ROBINSON PROVIDE THE DATA DRIVEN RATIONALE AS TO WHY THERE ARE NO VETERINARY PUBLIC HEALTH INTERVENTIONS RECOMMENDED FOR PRECINCT TWO IN THIS REPORT? GOOD AFTERNOON OR GOOD EVENING.
BARBIE ROBINSON, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF HARRIS COUNTY PUBLIC HEALTH.
SIR, I PROBABLY WILL NEED TO GO ONE BY ONE FOR EACH OF THOSE QUESTIONS, BUT I BELIEVE YOUR FIRST QUESTION OR THE FIRST STATEMENT THAT YOU MADE REGARDING RECOMMENDATIONS FOR PRECINCT TWO AS WE UNDERSTOOD THE DIRECTION FROM THE COURT, IT WAS THAT BECAUSE THERE WERE PODS AND PRECINCT TWO THAT WE NEEDED TO GO BACK AND FIGURE OUT A STRATEGY FOR ONE, THREE AND FOUR.
SO I, I WOULD HAVE TO DEFER BACK TO THE COURT IN TERMS OF THAT DIRECTION.
SO THAT'S MY RESPONSE TO THAT FIRST QUESTION WITH RESPECT TO THE NUMBER OF INCIDENTS RELATED TO VETERINARY, PUBLIC HEALTH AND DOGS THAT WAS NOT WITHIN THE SCOPE OF WHAT WAS PRESENTED TODAY, BUT I WILL GLADLY GO BACK AND HAVE MY TEAM BRING THAT DATA BACK TO YOU AS IT RELATES TO THE RESOURCES THAT ARE NECESSARY.
AS WE UNDERSTOOD THE DIRECTION FROM THE COURT THAT PRECINCT TWO HAD PODS, AND THAT WE WERE TO GO BACK AND FIGURE OUT A STRATEGY TO BRING SOME LEVEL OF PARITY OF SERVICES AVAILABLE TO ONE, THREE AND FOUR.
AND SO THAT IS WHY WE WENT WE BELIEVE THAT YOU HAD ALREADY HAD WHAT, BASED ON THE DISCUSSION, THAT PRECINCT TWO HAD ALREADY RECEIVED SOME FUNDING FOR PROGRAM RELATED TO PODS, AND THAT WE NEEDED TO FIGURE OUT PROGRAMING OR RECOMMENDATIONS FOR PROGRAMING FOR ONE, THREE AND FOUR.
COMMISSIONER GARCIA, YOU CAME UP WITH AND WHAT THE COUNTY DID WAS ESSENTIALLY SWEEP A FUND, TOOK SOME FUNDING THAT WAS IN THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT, BUT WAS NOT SPENT.
IT DIDN'T COME BACK TO THE TABLE.
AND THE ONLY AND I'M NOT CRITICIZING IT, THEY ONLY DID THAT FOR ONE PRECINCT.
SO WHEN I MADE THIS MOTION, IT WAS TO GO AND GET INITIALLY MY PRECINCT AND THE OTHER THREE PRECINCTS, WHO WOULD NOT GIVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO DO THAT, A CHANCE TO GET PARITY.
THAT WOULD BE SOMETHING YOU ALL WOULD HAVE TO SORT OUT.
I DON'T KNOW, I DON'T KNOW THOSE NUMBERS FOR MY PRECINCT EITHER, BY THE WAY.
BUT FOR THIS ONE, THIS WAS AN OPPORTUNITY TO JUST HAVE PARITY FOR THE OTHER PRECINCTS.
AND BE HONEST WITH YOU, THE POD SOUNDED SO GOOD.
I'D BEEN HAPPY TO GET THE PODS TO BE HONEST WITH YOU, BUT WHAT THE COURT SETTLED ON WAS DATA DRIVEN PROCESS AND WHAT SHE CAME UP WITH.
AT LEAST MY STAFF AGREED TO IT.
AND IT TURNED INTO THIS, COMMISSIONER RAMSEY.
WELL, EVERY QUESTION COMMISSIONER GARCIA HAS, I GOT.
SO I DON'T KNOW THAT I GOT ANYTHING PRECINCT THREE.
SO IF IF TWO OF US ARE SITTING HERE SAYING, I WONDER WHERE THE SPENT THE MONEY, WE PROBABLY SHOULD LOOK INTO THAT AND FIGURE THAT OUT BEFORE WE MAKE ANY ACTION ON THEM.
[05:45:06]
DETERMINE POD SERVICES.SO WHERE'S THAT DATA COMING FROM? SECONDLY THERE WAS DEBATE.
FROM WHAT I UNDERSTOOD, THAT THE DIRECTOR DIDN'T AGREE THAT PODS WERE A GOOD STRATEGY TO USE.
SO I THINK THAT'S STILL OPENS THE DOOR FOR US, FOR MY OFFICE.
THAT SHOULD HAVE HAD A CONVERSATION ON WHAT SHOULD BE A GOOD STRATEGY TO DO IN THE PRECINCT.
SO I'M STILL BESIDE MYSELF THAT MY OFFICE WOULD JUST BE PASSED OVER, EVEN IN A DISCUSSION TO PUBLIC HEALTH STRATEGIES FOR MY PRECINCT.
BUT THIS WAS WHEN I MADE THE MOTION.
I WAS JUST TRYING TO GET PARITY FOR THE OTHER THREE PRECINCTS.
AM I MISSING SOMETHING, DIRECTOR ROBINSON? AND NO. WE. AND TO ADDRESS COMMISSIONER RAMSEY, WE MET WITH YOUR STAFF.
WE MET WITH ONE, THREE AND FOUR.
TO COMMISSIONER GARCIA'S POINT, WE BASED ON THE DIRECTION WE BELIEVE WE GOT, THAT THE PODS WERE IN PLACE IN PRECINCT TWO, AND WE NEEDED TO GO DETERMINE AND MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS FOR PROPOSALS FOR ONE, THREE AND FOUR.
COMMISSIONER RAMSEY, YOU WERE INVITED TO THE MEETING.
YOUR STAFF WERE THERE TO MAKE A RECOMMENDATION FOR THE MOBILE VILLAGE STRATEGY.
AS AN ECONOMIES OF SCALE APPROACH BASED ON THE NEEDS WITHIN YOUR RESPECTIVE PRECINCTS AND THE AMOUNT OF MONEY THAT WAS YOU GUYS HAD PROPOSED TO ALLOCATE BY PRECINCT COMMISSIONER BRIONES.
SO MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT WE WERE THE GOAL WAS TO CREATE PARITY IN EACH OF THE FOUR PRECINCTS.
THIS SO THAT WE'RE ALL CLEAR IS 3.3 MILLION, 1.1 MILLION FOR PRECINCT FOUR, 1.1 MILLION FOR PRECINCT THREE, 1.1 MILLION FOR PRECINCT ONE.
JUST TO FACT CHECK, THAT'S WHAT THIS IS.
WE'RE WE'RE WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THE PROGRAMING.
THERE IS NOW FOUR POINT IN THE FISCAL YEAR 25 BUDGET.
THERE WILL BE 4.4 MILLION, 1.1 MILLION FOR EACH OF THE PRECINCTS.
SO HYPOTHETICALLY, AND I'M COMMITTED TO BEING FAIR AMONGST ALL OF OUR PRECINCTS.
SO THANK YOU, DIRECTOR ROBINSON.
BUT MY QUESTION, HYPOTHETICALLY TO COMMISSIONER GARCIA'S POINTS, IF NEXT YEAR HE DIDN'T WANT THE 1.1 HIS ALLOCATION, LET'S CALL IT TO BE SPENT FOR THE PODS.
IF HE WANTED A OFF RAMP HYPOTHETICALLY AND WANTED TO DO SOMETHING ELSE, THEN IS IT ARE WE FOCUSED MORE ON THE 1.1 ALLOCATION OR THE PRESCRIPTION OF THESE PROPOSED SERVICES FOR THE NEXT YEAR? RIGHT. IS THAT FOR ME OR FOR DIRECTOR RAMOS? FOR ME, FROM A PROGRAMMATIC PERSPECTIVE, WE CAN DO WHATEVER DIRECTION THE COURT PROVIDES.
AND COUNTYWIDE, I FEEL LIKE WE'VE HAD THIS EXACT CONVERSATION ABOUT THREE TIMES ALREADY.
CAN WE JUST VOTE ON IT? YEAH, I WOULD MOVE.
AND SO I, I WOULD PROPOSE A MOTION TO DIRECT THE HARRIS COUNTY PUBLIC HEALTH TO COMPLETE AN ASSESSMENT AND PROVIDE RECOMMENDATIONS FOR COMMISSIONER PRECINCT TWO AS A PART OF THE MOBILE HEALTH EXPANSION PROPOSAL.
SO IF I MIGHT BEFORE THAT'S A I CAN'T SECOND IT FOR THE SIMPLE REASON.
AND IF WE WERE TO GO BACK AND SAY, DIVVY UP THIS MONEY TO PUT PRECINCT TWO IN IT RESPECTFULLY, IT WOULD MEAN THAT THE POD PROGRAM WAS PRECINCT TWO HAS AND BELIEVES IT'S A GOOD PROGRAM.
THE OTHER THREE PRECINCTS WOULD STILL MISS.
I'M NOT I'M NOT DEBATING THE MONEY.
OKAY? I'M DEBATING THE FACT THAT MY OFFICE HASN'T HAD A CONVERSATION ON PUBLIC HEALTH POLICY.
[05:50:01]
OKAY, SO IF I MIGHT, I'D LIKE TO MAKE A SUBSTITUTE MOTION TO ADOPT THIS RECOMMENDATION FOR THE OTHER THREE PRECINCTS.BUT THEY CAN STILL GO DO AN ASSESSMENT, HAVE THE DISCUSSION WITH YOU FOR YOUR PRECINCT.
BUT THIS ITEM THEY GOT DIRECTION WAS ALL ABOUT PARITY.
MY MOTION IS HAS TO DO WITH TO COMPLETE AN ASSESSMENT AND PROVIDE RECOMMENDATIONS.
I'M JUST SAYING THAT THE DIRECTOR WAS GIVEN DIRECTION TO MEET WITH EACH PRECINCT AND TO DISCUSS PUBLIC HEALTH STRATEGIES, AND THAT HASN'T HAPPENED.
I KNOW COMMISSIONER ROSZEL HAS TO LEAVE, SO WHY DON'T WE TAKE ONE MOTION AT A TIME? OKAY, SO I DO WANT TO.
BECAUSE I DON'T WANT TO RUSH OUT.
IF THAT WAS A SOME CONFUSION, IT MIGHT HAVE BEEN ON THE PART OF NOT THE DIRECTOR, BUT US, BECAUSE WHAT I INTENDED WAS ONLY PARODY.
AND TO BE HONEST WITH YOU, I WAS HOPING I'D GET THE PODS, BUT IT HAD ALL THIS DATABASE STUFF IN IT.
THAT'S WHAT MY COLLEAGUES VOTED FOR.
AND MY STAFF MET WITH HERS AND CONVINCED ME WHAT WOULD DO THIS, BUT.
SO I WOULD LIKE TO JUST MOVE TO GO AHEAD AND ACCEPT THIS RECOMMENDATION.
BUT I'M FOR HER DOING AN ASSESSMENT ON YOUR PRECINCT, BUT THAT WOULD BE ADDITIONAL MONEY.
SO THE DIRECTOR KEEPS ASKING FOR DIRECTION.
SO I WOULD ONLY BE ABLE TO VOTE FOR YOUR ITEM IF IT INCLUDES THAT THE DIRECTOR COMPLETE A THE MOTION AS READ AND ADDING TO IT THAT THE DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC HEALTH COMPLETE AN ASSESSMENT AND PROVIDE RECOMMENDATIONS.
THAT'S WHAT I'M. THAT'S ALL I'M SAYING.
AND WE'D MAKE A DECISION THEN ON THAT ADDITIONAL MONEY.
I DON'T HAVE A PROBLEM WITH IT. AGAIN, MY CONCERNS WERE NOT ABOUT THE MONEY.
MY CONCERNS IS, IS WE DID HAVE A CONVERSATION.
AND IF WE CAN FIGURE OUT HOW TO MEASURE THAT, I'M FINE.
BUT I KNOW WE WE PROVIDED THAT WE SENT AND WE SENT TO ALL PRECINCTS THE PROPOSAL.
AND SIR, COMMISSIONER GARCIA, WE HAVE THE DATA.
WE KNOW. RIGHT? WE DID OUR FIRST MOBILE VILLAGE WITHIN YOUR PRECINCT BECAUSE WE KNEW THAT THERE WAS THERE'S TREMENDOUS UNMET NEED IN PRECINCT TWO, PRECINCT THREE, PRECINCT ONE, PRECINCT FOUR. AND SO WE DID OUR FIRST MOBILE VILLAGE, WHICH IS WHAT THIS RECOMMENDATION SPEAKS TO.
WE KNOW THAT WE CAN AUGMENT THOSE SERVICES BASED ON THE DATA.
THAT'S HOW WE ARRIVED AT THAT PROPOSAL.
SO WE HAVE THE DATA READILY AVAILABLE.
TO SHARE WITH YOU COMMISSIONER RAMSEY, WE SHARED THAT DATA FROM A BASELINE PERSPECTIVE OF WHERE YOUR FOLKS WERE GETTING SERVICES NOW AND HOW THE MOBILE VILLAGE STRATEGY STRATEGY WOULD AUGMENT THE LEVEL OF SERVICES IN VARIOUS CATEGORIES ACROSS OUR PROGRAMING WITHIN YOUR PRECINCT.
THAT'S WHAT WE SHARED WITH YOUR STAFF.
I WILL SECOND THE MOTION AS AMENDED.
SO I WANT TO MAKE SURE IT'S CLEAR AND DIRECT.
ROBINSON I DON'T THINK IT CONFLICTS WITH WHAT YOU HAVE ON THE TABLE.
THE MOTION IS TO APPROVE THIS ITEM AND TO DIRECT HARRIS COUNTY PUBLIC HEALTH TO COMPLETE AN ASSESSMENT AND PROVIDE RECOMMENDATIONS FOR COMMISSIONER PRECINCT TWO AS PART OF THE MOBILE HEALTH EXPANSION PROPOSAL.
IT DOES NOT COME OUT OF THIS MONEY.
BUT THE MOTION WOULD BE TO APPROVE THIS ITEM AND TO DIRECT HARRIS COUNTY PUBLIC HEALTH TO COMPLETE AN ASSESSMENT AND PROVIDE RECOMMENDATIONS FOR COMMISSIONER PRECINCT TWO AS PART OF THE MOBILE HEALTH EXPANSION PROPOSAL.
DOES THAT MAKE SENSE TO YOU, DIRECTOR ROBINSON? I DON'T THINK IT'S INCONSISTENT.
ABSOLUTELY. THANK YOU, THANK YOU.
THANK YOU. SO WE HAVE A MOTION BY COMMISSIONER ELLIS, A SECOND COMMISSIONER GARCIA.
ALL IN FAVOR? I HOW DO YOU GUYS FEEL ABOUT THE LANGUAGE OF THE MOTION? THE CLERK'S OFFICE.
I JUST SENT IT TO YOU. I JUST I JUST SENT IT TO MYSELF AS WELL.
OKAY. ANY OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY.
I'M SORRY, JUDGE, I'M. SINCE I WAS TALKING, WOULD YOU BE TO GIVE ME WHO SECONDED THE MOTION? COMMISSIONER GARCIA. GARCIA AND IT'S FIVE VOTE.
ALL RIGHT. YES, THAT IS HAPPY.
OKAY, COMMISSIONER, CAN WE TAKE A LITTLE BATHROOM BREAK? LET'S LET'S BREAK FOR TEN MINUTES UNTIL SIX, 10 OR 8 MINUTES UNTIL 610.
[05:55:04]
LIKE I SAID, I HAVE TO GO.OKAY, I GOT IT. ALL RIGHT, ALL RIGHT, SO IT'S 615 SIX AND COMMISSIONERS COURT IS BACK IN SESSION.
SO THAT'S ITEM 134, COMMISSIONER RAMSEY.
YEAH. JUST A COUPLE OF COMMENTS.
I THINK COMMISSIONER BRIONES HAD SIMILAR COMMENTS.
AND I'M GOING TO READ YOUR MOTION COMMISSIONER, BECAUSE I THINK IT CAPTURES SOME OF WHAT I WAS INTO USE A LOT FEWER WORDS THAN I DID.
BUT TO DIRECT THE COUNTY ENGINEER TO RETURN ON JULY 15TH, 2024, COMMISSIONERS COURT WITH A REVISED TRAFFIC CALMING POLICY ADDRESSING ALL PRECINCT COMMENTS, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO, THE FOLLOWING ITEMS ONE 134 COMMISSIONER GARCIA IS FLAGGED BY COMMISSIONER RAMSEY. SO THE REASON I THINK IT NEEDS MORE WORK, IT CURRENTLY REQUIRES IT.
IT DOES NOT REQUIRE TRAFFIC STUDY TO BE DONE BEFORE THE PETITION PROCESS.
THAT COULD BE PROBLEMATIC FOR ALL OF US AS WE PEOPLE GO THROUGH AN EXTENSIVE PETITION PROCESS FOR SPEED HUMPS, AND THEN THEY DO A TRAFFIC STUDY AND DETERMINE WHETHER IT'S NOT APPROPRIATE, WE SHOULDN'T DO IT.
SO THE FIRST REQUIREMENT ON THIS WOULD BE TO A TRAFFIC STUDY PRIOR TO THE PETITION PROCESS.
SECOND POINT, I AGREE WITH COMMISSIONER BRIONES ENHANCED PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT REQUIREMENTS TO INTEGRATE COMMUNITY STAKEHOLDER FEEDBACK DURING ALL PHASES OF TRAFFIC CALMING STUDY DEVELOPMENT AT THE DIRECTION OF THE PRECINCT PROVIDE A FRAMEWORK FOR SUCH ENGAGEMENT, INCLUDING ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES AND RELEVANT AGENCIES.
THE MORE INVOLVEMENT WE CAN GET WITH THE COMMUNITY, THE BETTER.
THE THIRD POINT IS TO REVISE THE ROADWAY ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA THAT ALLOWS CONSIDERATIONS FOR TRAFFIC CALMING NEEDS FOR BUSINESSES AND MULTI-FAMILY RESIDENCES, AND FOR INCLUDE LANGUAGES WHERE IMPLEMENTATION IS DEPENDENT ON FUNDING AVAILABILITY, AND FIVE PERMIT PRECINCTS TO EXPAND TRAFFIC CALMING STUDY SCOPE TO THE NEIGHBORHOOD LEVEL IF DESIRED.
SO THOSE ARE FIVE ITEMS THAT WOULD, I THINK, ENHANCE WHAT I THINK.
IS YOUR MIC ON? I CAN SUPPORT THOSE CHANGES.
IN FACT, THEY'RE ALMOST IDENTICAL TO THE ISSUES I BROUGHT UP WITH THE DOCTOR DURING MY BRIEFING.
YEAH, YEAH, WE'RE IN THE RIGHT NEIGHBORHOOD.
DO WE HAVE A MOTION? THEN I MAKE A MOTION.
SECOND WOULD Y'ALL PLEASE REPEAT THE MOTION? PRECINCT FOUR CIRCULATED IT.
DO YOU GUYS YOU GUYS DON'T HAVE IT? OKAY, I CAN DO WHAT I CAN DO.
WHAT? COMMISSIONER ALLISON BRINGING A COPY OF IT, AND THAT'S FINE.
Y'ALL CAN DEFINITELY EMAIL IT TO ME.
YEAH, I MEAN, I'M HAPPY TO READ IT REAL QUICK.
IT'S IT'S I MOVED TO DIRECT THE OFFICE OF COUNTY ENGINEER TO RETURN TO THE MAY 7TH, 2024 COMMISSIONERS COURT WITH A REVISED TRAFFIC CALMING POLICY ADDRESSING THE FOLLOWING ITEMS. NUMBER ONE, ENHANCED PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT REQUIREMENT TO INTEGRATE COMMUNITY STAKEHOLDER FEEDBACK DURING ALL PHASES OF TRAFFIC CALMING.
NUMBER TWO INCLUDE CONSIDERATION OF TRAFFIC CALMING NEEDS FOR BUSINESSES AND MULTIFAMILY RESIDENCES.
NUMBER THREE INCLUDE LANGUAGE WHERE IMPLEMENTATION IS DEPENDENT ON FUNDING AVAILABILITY.
SO PRECINCT FOUR WHEN WE SENT IT OUT WE HAD USED MAY 7TH, BUT COMMISSIONER RAMSEY USED JULY 15TH, JULY 15TH AND SO MAY 7TH IS SOON.
YEAH. SO THEN WE'RE CHANGING IT FROM MAY 7TH TO JULY 15TH, CORRECT? YES, MA'AM. SO DID YOU WANT TO MAKE THE MOTION COMMISSIONER OR.
OKAY TO HAVE COMMISSIONER RAMSEY MAKE IT? OKAY, COMMISSIONER RAMSEY MAKES THE MOTION.
COMMISSIONER BEHRENDS HAS A SECOND.
ANY OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES 4 TO 0.
IF I COULD JUST ADD. THANK THANK YOU, COLLEAGUES, FOR YOUR IMPROVING THIS PROCESS.
AND I JUST WANT TO THANK DOCTOR RAHMAN FOR THE WORK BY HIS STAFF AS WELL AS MY MY TEAM AS WELL.
WE HAVE A RUNNING JOKE INSIDE THE OFFICE REGARDING THIS THING.
[06:00:03]
SO JUST SO THAT HE CAN HEAR IT I'M OFFICIALLY NAMING THIS POLICY THE JUAN HERNANDEZ PRO SPEED BUMP POLICY.YOU'LL GET A KICK OUT OF THAT.
SO THANK YOU. THANK YOU COMMISSIONER.
SO LET'S MOVE BACK TO THE TOP.
YOU FLAGGED THAT ONE ON PUBLIC HEALTH.
I HAVE SOME QUESTIONS FOR MISS BARTON.
AND AS I UNDERSTAND IT, THIS REQUEST IS TO MOVE AN ARPA FUNDED MANAGER, A PCN TO MANAGE REENTRY CAPACITY.
MISS BARTON, CAN YOU WALK THE COURT THROUGH THE ORIGIN OF THIS PCN? WHY IT REMAINS OPEN.
AND IF IF IT WOULD BE A CANDIDATE FOR THE OBLIGATION FROM ARPA AS IT HAS NOT BEEN FILLED.
YES. THIS POSITION IS ASSOCIATED WITH THE REENTRY CAPACITY SUPPORTS PROGRAM THAT WAS ORIGINALLY PLANNED TO BE IN THE HOUSING AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT.
WHEN SAMANTHA MARIANI LEFT HOUSING COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT REEVALUATED THAT WORK, THEY SAW THAT PUBLIC HEALTH WAS ENGAGED IN REENTRY WORK THROUGH THE ACCESS PROGRAM, AS WELL AS OTHER NONPROFIT CAPACITY, SUPPORTS PROGRAMS, AND FELT THAT PUBLIC HEALTH WOULD BE A BETTER FIT FOR THAT EFFORT.
SO THE RECRUITING FOR THE PROGRAM WAS WAS PAUSED, WHILE PUBLIC HEALTH ALSO REVIEWED THE RESPONSES TO AN RFP THAT HAD BEEN CONDUCTED FOR AN ADMINISTRATOR OF THAT REENTRY CAPACITY SUPPORTS PROGRAM.
THAT RFP HAS NOT YET BEEN AWARDED, AND THAT PROGRAM AS A WHOLE IS A CANDIDATE FOR REALLOCATION, JUST LIKE ALL OF OUR OTHER PROGRAMS THAT HAVEN'T YET BEEN COMMITTED AND OR, FRANKLY, ANY PROGRAMS THAT HAVE BEEN COMMITTED.
SO BASED ON THAT, I WOULD REQUEST NO ACTION ON THIS ITEM AND HAVE THE OCA COME BACK WITH A PLAN TO OBLIGATE THE PCN FROM HOUSING COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT AND THE ARPA FUNDS FROM PUBLIC HEALTH SERVICES.
IS THAT ALL RIGHT? DEPUTY COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR.
IF. IF IT TURNS OUT THAT THE STURKO RECOMMENDS KEEPING THE ALLOCATION THAT THEY HAVE PLANNED FOR REENTRY CAPACITY SUPPORTS AND RECOMMENDS THAT WE MOVE FORWARD WITH THE RFP, THERE WILL BE ADMINISTRATIVE NEEDS ASSOCIATED WITH IT, BUT THAT COULD BE REQUESTED AGAIN IN CONJUNCTION WITH THAT RFP AWARD.
SO I THINK THAT INVESTMENT REENTRY IS IMPORTANT.
RIGHT NOW THERE'S NOBODY WORKING IT.
MAYBE IT WOULD BE DELAYED HIRING OR SOMETHING.
SO. SO IT WOULD IT WOULDN'T HAMPER THE PROGRAM.
SO AS I THINK ABOUT A PROCESS PERSPECTIVE CERTAINLY COMMISSIONERS COURT HAS THE AUTHORITY TO TO OBLIGATE FUNDS AT ANY TIME THERE IS BUDGET ASSOCIATED WITH THAT PCN.
AND SO THAT THAT HAS PREVIOUSLY BEEN APPROVED.
SO IF WE CHOOSE TO TO OBLIGATE THAT BUDGET NOW, WE WOULD BE INFORMING SERCO OF THAT DECISION.
AND AGAIN, IF THEY WANTED TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THE PROGRAM AS A WHOLE.
IF THEY CHOOSE NOT TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THAT AWARD.
THEN OF COURSE, WE WOULD BE OBLIGATING BOTH THE PCN AND THE THE OTHER FUNDS HAVEN'T BEEN BEEN ALLOCATED, COMMISSIONER BRIAN, SINCE THE STAIRCASE MEETING TOMORROW TO HAVE THIS HOLISTIC DISCUSSION ON CHANGES TO THE ALLOCATION, ETC..
COULD WE HAVE NO ACTION? AND THEN DEPENDING ON THE DECISIONS TOMORROW, COME BACK IF NEEDED.
AND IF NOT THEN YES, YES CERTAINLY.
AND THE POSITION IS NOT CURRENTLY ADVERTISED.
SO WE'LL TAKE NO ACTION ON ITEM 26.
THAT'S THE UPDATE ON THE JAIL.
THANK YOU. JUDGE. COMMISSIONERS.
A LOT LESS CLAUSTROPHOBIC HERE THAN IN THE COURT.
DISCUSSING THE JAIL UPDATE ITEM.
NEXT SLIDE. STANDARD CAVEATS HERE ON THIS PAGE.
[06:05:04]
NEXT SLIDE PLEASE.SPOTLIGHT OF RECENT ACTIVITIES AND THE UPDATES I WOULD HIGHLIGHT.
THE DEO RETENTION SURVEY CLOSED ON 418 WITH OVER 1000 RESPONDENTS.
AND THE OTHER THING I'D NOTE HERE ON THIS PAGE IS WE'VE BEEN WORKING WITH HARRIS CENTER TO BETTER UNDERSTAND THE COMPLEXITIES OF FOLKS IN CUSTODY WITH COMPETENCY ISSUES RAISED AND HOW THOSE ISSUES ARE IMPACTING LONG STAYS, AND WORKING ON STRATEGIES TO HELP MITIGATE SOME OF THOSE.
SO IF YOU GUYS COME UP WITH A GREAT IDEA ON THAT THIRD BULLET, FOR EXAMPLE, HOW WOULD WE PAY FOR IT WITH THEIR DO WE NEED TO SAVE SET SOME MONEY ASIDE FOR JAIL ISSUES OR I DON'T MAYBE JUST SOMETHING FOR THE COMMITTEE TO DISCUSS TOMORROW, BECAUSE I WOULD HATE FOR YOU GUYS TO NOT HAVE ANY MONEY TO DO THESE THINGS WITH.
AND THEN IT COSTS US MORE BECAUSE THE JAILS ARE OVERCROWDED.
IT IS WE ARE SPENDING IT AT THE IN MISSISSIPPI AND LOUISIANA.
IF WE FIND THINGS THAT ARE THAT WE'RE ABLE TO REDUCE OUR POPULATION.
I WILL NEVER SAY NO TO THAT OR RECOMMEND AGAINST.
OKAY. WELL, JUST TO CONSIDERATION FOR THE DISCUSSION TOMORROW AND HOW IT ALL STACKS UP.
SO I LOOK FORWARD TO NEXT MEETING TO HEAR THAT.
BUT IN THE MEANTIME, QUICK QUESTION.
ARE WE CONSISTENTLY DOING EXIT INTERVIEWS WITH EACH INDIVIDUAL WHO LEAVES? THOSE ARE STARTING.
I ACTUALLY HAD AN EMAIL FROM SHANE TODAY.
THOSE HAVE BEGUN ON EVERYONE EXITING IN APRIL.
EXCELLENT. I LOOK FORWARD TO THAT FEEDBACK AS WELL.
THANK YOU. YOU BET. NEXT SLIDE PLEASE.
AND THIS IS MR. MICHAEL HILL. ARE YOU ON STILL? I AM, THANK YOU TANYA.
IN THE INTEREST OF TIME, WE WILL BE BRIEF.
IN FACT, WE'VE SEEN A THOUSAND MORE MEDICAL SCREENINGS COMPARED TO NOVEMBER OF 2023.
THE PERCENTAGE AS FAR AS WHO NEEDS TO SEE A PROVIDER POST THE INTAKE SCREENING REMAINS RIGHT AROUND AT 41%, 17% FOR FOR MENTAL HEALTH, PERCENT OF DETAINEES HOUSED WITHIN 48 HOURS IS 99.5%.
WE HAD A SINGLE DAY IN MARCH WHERE I BELIEVE THERE WERE 22.
THAT WAS A STAFFING ISSUE, ALONG WITH SOME DELAYS OF WHEN WE RECEIVED THOSE PATIENTS.
THAT WAS CORRECTED IMMEDIATELY, AND WE'RE BACK TO 100% IN THE MONTH OF APRIL.
NEXT AVAILABLE APPOINTMENT. WE WENT INTO DETAIL ABOUT THAT LAST MONTH.
AND YOU CAN SEE OUR NUMBER OF SEATS ARE 67.
WE HAD MENTIONED TWO KEY THINGS WITH RESPECT TO OUR SERVICES IS ACCESS TO CARE AND MEDICATIONS.
YOU CAN SEE OUR MEDICATION ADMINISTRATION PIECE OF THE METRIC PAGE CONTINUES TO EXCEED EXPECTATIONS.
AND ALMOST ANOTHER 10,000 KEEP ON MEDICATIONS.
WE HAD MENTIONED THIS LAST MONTH.
WE WE WE DISTRIBUTE MORE MEDICATIONS IN THE JAIL THAN THE REST OF THE HARRIS HEALTH SYSTEM COMBINED.
AND WE AND WE, WE DO IT VERY EFFECTIVELY.
COMMISSIONER GARCIA, I WOULD LIKE TO POINT OUT OUR MEDICAID ASSISTANCE TREATMENT NUMBERS FOR MARCH.
AND DOCTOR EGAN'S CAN A LITTLE BIT OF DETAIL.
WE ACTUALLY SCREENED 203 PATIENTS IN THE MONTH OF MARCH FOR MATT.
DOCTOR EGAN'S, WOULD YOU LIKE TO COMMENT, PLEASE? YES. GOOD EVENING, JUDGE AND COMMISSIONERS.
THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY.
[06:10:08]
SO THAT INCREASED OUR POPULATION.WE HAD THOSE 203 THAT WERE SCREENED THROUGH THE MEDICATION ASSISTED TREATMENT PROGRAM.
AND SO WHAT WE WERE ABLE TO DO WITH OUR IT DEPARTMENT WAS TO INSTALL THE DASH TEN, WHICH IS A DRUG ABUSE SCREENING TEST THAT YIELDS A QUANTITATIVE INDEX OF THE DEGREE OF CONSEQUENCES RELATED TO DRUG ABUSE.
SO THAT ALLOWED US TO INCREASE THE SCREENING AT THAT TIME.
SO YOU DID SEE AN INCREASE IN THE NUMBER OF SCREENINGS.
AND SO WE HOPE TO CONTINUE TO SEE THAT MOVING FORWARD EVEN NEXT MONTH WITH APRIL AND DOCTOR EGAN.
BECAUSE I WAS ACTUALLY TRACKING THIS NUMBER.
MY QUESTION, THOUGH, IS WHY THE DROP OFF FROM 203 TO ONLY 63 BEING RECEIVING I GUESS BEING ELIGIBLE FOR TREATMENT AND THEN ONLY 27 ULTIMATELY RECEIVING THE TREATMENT.
THOSE INDIVIDUALS WHO SCORE BETWEEN 3 AND 5 GET ADDITIONAL SCREENING THERE.
THEY SEE THE SUBSTANCE ABUSE COUNSELORS, THOSE INDIVIDUALS TO DETERMINE WHETHER OR NOT THEY WILL QUALIFY BETWEEN THAT THREE AND THREE AND FIVE SCORE RANGE, WHICH IS ONE THAT NEEDS AN ADDITIONAL ASSESSMENT.
WHAT HAPPENS ONCE WE HAVE THOSE 63 AND THEY ARE INTERVIEWED BY THE SUBSTANCE ABUSE TEAM? IT'S WHETHER OR NOT THEY WANT TO PARTICIPATE IN THE PROGRAM.
GOTCHA. I WOULD ENCOURAGE OF STRONGER CONVERSATION WITH THE COURT.
THAT'S RELATED TO THE POTENTIAL PATIENTS.
YES, SIR. WE WILL DEFINITELY LOOK INTO THAT.
THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU, DOCTOR TANYA, THAT CONCLUDES OUR PRESENTATION.
THANK YOU. ACTUALLY, PARDON ME, MR. HILL. THANK YOU FOR THESE UPDATES.
THANK YOU FOR THE PROGRESS THAT'S BEEN MADE.
DO YOU HAVE UPDATES FOR US WITH REGARD TO PROGRESS THAT HAS BEEN MADE? UNFORTUNATELY, COMMISSIONER, THANK YOU FOR THE QUESTION.
WE CONTINUE TO WORK ON THAT ON A REGULAR BASIS.
BUT CONTRACT STAFF STILL REPRESENTS OVER 20% OF OUR OF OUR LABOR FORCE RIGHT NOW.
JUST TO CONFIRM, FROM YOUR VANTAGE POINT, WE'RE STILL IN COMPLIANCE WITH REGARD TO ALL OF THE JAIL MEDICAL ITEMS. CORRECT? THAT IS CORRECT, COMMISSIONER.
AND THANK YOU TO DOCTOR PORSA AND THE TEAM.
THANK YOU, MR. HILL. IF IF THERE'S A DEATH IN THE JAIL.
DO Y'ALL GET INVOLVED IN IT FROM THE STANDPOINT OF MEDICAL? FOR LACK OF A BETTER WORD, LESSONS LEARNED.
IS THERE ANYTHING WHEN YOU LOOK INTO IT? I KNOW THERE'S ALL KINDS OF PAPERWORK PROBABLY YOU NEED TO FILL OUT, BUT JUST PURELY FROM A MEDICAL STANDPOINT.
AND AND DOES THAT HELP GUIDE YOU IN CHANGING MAYBE SOME PROTOCOLS OR OTHER THINGS THAT, THAT THAT THE JAIL'S INVOLVED WITH? THANK YOU.
COMMISSIONER. I WILL LET DOCTOR HIGGINS EXPLAIN, BUT BUT THE SHORT ANSWER IS EVERY DEATH GETS REVIEWED BY THE MEDICAL TEAM, ALONG WITH THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE TEAM, IN A COMBINED EFFORT TO TO TO UNDERSTAND LESSONS THAT WE COULD POTENTIALLY LEARN.
BUT, DOCTOR HIGGINS, YOU WANT TO ADD TO THAT? YES, SIR.
YES. WE PERFORM A ROOT CAUSE ANALYSIS ON EACH DEATH THAT OCCURS IN THE FACILITY.
[06:15:02]
WITH OUR MORBIDITY AND MORTALITY TEAM EACH, WE LOOK AT EVERY ASPECT FROM THE TIME THE PATIENT ENTERS THE FACILITY AND THINGS THAT, BASED UPON OUR POLICIES AND PROCEDURES THAT WE SHOULD HAVE DONE TO THE TIME OF DEATH, IF THERE ARE ANY OPPORTUNITIES, THEN WE DO PUT IN A CORRECTIVE ACTION PLAN.THOSE CORRECTIVE ACTION PLANS HAVE A DUE DATE.
AND SO OUR GOAL IS TO SATISFY THOSE CORRECTIVE ACTION PLANS THROUGH EDUCATION OTHER ADDITIONAL POLICY CHANGES THAT MAY NEED TO OCCUR. AND SO THAT IS HOW WE INVESTIGATE OR THAT'S HOW WE REVIEW EACH OF THE DEATHS THAT OCCUR WITHIN THE FACILITY.
JUST A QUICK QUESTION FOR, FOR YOU TWO GENTLEMEN ON THE AND KIND OF JUMPING OFF OF THAT AND COMMISSIONER BRIAN'S POINT AS WELL, I'M STILL GRAPPLING WITH THE FACT THAT I KNOW YOU GUYS HAVE A REALLY TOUGH JOB.
I MEAN, EVERYBODY YOU GUYS, THE SHERIFF, EVERYBODY WHO'S TRYING TO RUN THAT JAIL.
WHAT? I'M NOT I FEEL LIKE I STILL CAN'T SEE FROM YOUR PRESENTATIONS IS OKAY.
SO WE DID A WE DID AN EVALUATION OF WHAT HAPPENED IN THIS DEATH.
I MEAN, THAT'S JUST ONE THAT I SAW.
AND SO I'M JUST WONDERING IF THERE'S A WAY FOR US TO HAVE SORT OF LIKE THE ULTIMATE GOAL AND WHERE WE ARE NOW UNDERSTANDING THAT WE'RE DEALING WITH CONSTRAINTS RIGHT NOW, BUT JUST JUST SO THAT WE CAN MOVE IN THAT DIRECTION.
AND TO THE POINT ABOUT THE THE JAIL STANDARDS.
I MEAN, I THINK THAT'S A GREAT POINT TO ME.
WE NEED TO HAVE THAT AS A BASE, BUT NOT NECESSARILY AS THE GOAL, BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, THE THE TC DOESN'T EVEN AIR CONDITION A WHOLE LOT OF THEIR PRISON.
I MEAN, IT'S NOT LIKE THEY NECESSARILY ARE GOING TO SET THE BEST STANDARD.
SO I'M JUST GOING TO CONTINUE TO CHALLENGE YOU GUYS.
AND AND THE LEADERSHIP HERE ON ON HOW WE CAN HAVE HAVE SORT OF MORE ASPIRATIONAL GOALS, SO TO SPEAK, BUT ALSO REALISTIC ONES, AND ONLY BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, YOU ALL HEAR ABOUT THE FOLKS THAT END UP HAVING REALLY TERRIBLE EXPERIENCES. I KNOW NOT ALL OF YOU, ALL OF IT IS UNDER CONTROL.
THANK YOU. JUDGE. THAT'S THAT'S A VERY GOOD POINT.
WE CAN IDENTIFY THAT IN A COLUMN AS THIS THIS BENCHMARK.
AND ON TOP OF THAT WE WOULD THEN PUT IN OUR OWN GOAL.
AND THEN HOW DO WE MEASURE TO THAT? AND WHY WOULD OUR BENCHMARK BE DIFFERENT THAN THAN THE STANDARD? WELL, I THINK THAT SOME OF THE NUMBERS IN CONTEXT.
RIGHT. AND BUT I WOULD ALSO SAY, I MEAN, IN MY MIND, RATHER THAN SAYING WHY WOULD THE BENCHMARK BE DIFFERENT? OKAY. BECAUSE WE HAVE A WHOLE LOT OF PEOPLE AND NOT ENOUGH ROOMS. I WOULD SAY, YOU KNOW, WHAT'S THE IDEAL BENCHMARK, RIGHT.
OBVIOUSLY, THEY CAN'T ALL SEE A CLINIC, A CLINICIAN WITHIN 30 MINUTES.
WE CAN'T EVEN DO THAT IN THE FREE WORLD.
RIGHT. BUT WHAT'S WHAT'S IDEAL.
AND AND WHAT DO WE NEED TO DO IN ORDER TO GET THERE? AND THE ANSWER MAY SIMPLY BE FURTHER REDUCE THE JAIL POPULATION OR THE ANSWER MAY BE MORE CLINICIANS OR I DON'T KNOW, BUT I JUST FEEL LIKE IF WE DON'T, IF WE DON'T EVEN ASK THE QUESTION, IT'S GOING TO BE HARD FOR US TO MOVE IN THAT DIRECTION.
AND TO THE EXTENT THAT WE KNOW THE ANSWER, WE CAN BEGIN THINKING ABOUT, IS THERE A PATH TO GET THERE? HOW CAN WE HOW CAN WE ALLOCATE FUNDS TO THAT? ET CETERA. ET CETERA.
AND THANK YOU AGAIN FOR YOUR WORK.
THANK YOU. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS FOR DOCTOR EGAN OR MR. HILL? THEN NEXT WE HAVE HARRIS CENTERS HERE TO PROVIDE AN OVERVIEW AND UPDATE ON THE COMMUNITY ASSISTANCE RESOURCE PROGRAM AND THE GEL BASED COMPETENCY RESTORATION PROGRAM.
AND DOCTOR HOLMES HAS GRACIOUSLY AGREED TO PROVIDE BOTH OF THOSE UPDATES.
GOOD AFTERNOON, JUDGE AND COMMISSIONERS.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR HAVING US HERE.
IT'S BEEN A GREAT DAY, VERY FULL OF LEARNING FOR ME.
MY NAME IS DOCTOR KRISTEN HOLMES AND I WORK FOR THE HARRIS CENTER.
I AM LOCATED AT THE HARRIS COUNTY JAIL.
AND SO A COUPLE OF THE PROGRAMS I'LL BE SPEAKING ABOUT TODAY.
THE FIRST IS THE COMMUNITY ASSISTANCE REFERRAL PROGRAM.
[06:20:03]
SO CAAP IS RESPONSIBLE FOR IDENTIFYING INDIVIDUALS NEEDING COMMUNITY ASSISTANCE THAT ARE BEING RELEASED INTO THE COMMUNITY ON A GENERAL ORDER BOND OR A PR BOND.WHAT ARE THE THINGS THAT YOU NEED? WHAT'S GOING TO HELP YOU GET TO YOUR COURT APPEARANCE? DO YOU HAVE CHILD CARE NEEDS? IS IT TRANSPORTATION NEEDS? WHAT BARRIERS ARE IN PLACE? MANY TIMES PEOPLE SAY, I DON'T HAVE ANYWHERE TO GO.
I DON'T KNOW WHERE I CAN GET MY MEDICATION.
THERE'S A LOT OF FACTORS THAT CONTRIBUTE TO RECIDIVISM AND THAT REVOLVING DOOR THAT YOU SPEAK ABOUT.
AND SO OUR CLINICIANS SITS WITH THAT INDIVIDUAL TO DO THAT NEEDS ASSESSMENT.
AND OUR HOPE IS TO REDUCE RECIDIVISM AND MITIGATE NON COURT APPEARANCE.
DO YOU KNOW HOW YOU'RE GOING TO GET THERE.
HAVE YOU MADE IT TO YOUR CLINIC APPOINTMENT? THERE ARE A LOT OF SUPPORTS THAT WE PROVIDE TO TRY AND HELP THESE INDIVIDUALS TO RETURN TO COURT.
SO THEY DON'T THEN GET A WARRANT ISSUED FOR NON APPEARANCE.
AND ARE THEIR BASIC NEEDS GETTING MET.
ADDITIONALLY WE ARE LOOKING TO EXPAND INTO THE FELONY SIDE.
SO RIGHT NOW WE WORK WITH MISDEMEANANTS, RIGHT.
WE CAN REFER TO OUR RESPITE REHAB AND REENTRY CENTER.
BUT LOOKING AT THE FELONY SIDE OF THE HOUSE, WHAT ARE WE DOING FOR FELONIES? AND BECAUSE THEY HAVE THE SAME STRUGGLES LINKING TO RESOURCES, NON COURT APPEARANCE, THINGS OF THAT NATURE.
SO WE WANT TO PREVENT NOT JUST MISDEMEANORS BUT ALSO FELONIES FROM ENTERING REENTERING THE SYSTEM.
AND DOCTOR HOLMES, COULD YOU PLEASE SHARE WHY Y'ALL ARE NOT WORKING WITH THE INDIVIDUALS THAT ARE WITH THE FELONY? SO WITH FELONIES RIGHT NOW, I THINK WHEN WE STARTED THE FELONIES YOU'RE LOOKING AT THE GENERAL ORDER BOND AND THE PR BOND.
SO A LOT OF TIMES THESE BONDS ARE ISSUED TO MISDEMEANORS VERSUS FELONIES.
SOMETIMES THERE'S NOT THERE'S A LOT OF BOND CONDITION ISSUES AND THINGS OF THAT NATURE.
SO SOMETIMES THERE'S MITIGATING FACTORS THAT PREVENT THE FELONS FROM EXITING THE JAIL.
AND SO WHO PROVIDES THE MENTAL HEALTH TREATMENT WHILE THOSE WITH FELONIES ARE IN OUR JAIL? THE HARRIS CENTER PROVIDES THE MENTAL HEALTH TREATMENT EVEN IF THEY HAVE A FELONY.
PATIENTS WITHIN THE HARRIS COUNTY JAIL RECEIVE MENTAL HEALTH TREATMENT THROUGH THE HARRIS CENTER.
AND WE'RE IN COLLABORATION WITH MANY OF OUR COMMUNITY PARTNERS.
JUST THE SAME QUESTION I ASKED THE GENTLEMAN WITH HARRIS HEALTH IN TERMS OF I KNOW THIS WAS FOCUSED ON THE RESOURCE PROGRAM, BUT BUT JUST WOULD CHALLENGE YOU TO WORK WITH THE DEPARTMENT TO SEE ABOUT, YOU KNOW, WHAT OUR ULTIMATE BENCHMARKS ARE AND WHAT DO YOU GUYS NEED TO GET THERE? YES, MA'AM. THANK YOU.
YES, MA'AM. NEXT SLIDE PLEASE.
SO LOOKING AT JAIL BASED COMPETENCY RESTORATION.
SO YOU KNOW, COMPETENCY RESTORATION IS IT'S ON EVERYBODY'S RADAR RIGHT NOW.
YOU KNOW, I THINK OF THIS AS NOT A REVOLVING DOOR, BUT KIND OF A DOOR THAT'S BEEN SLAMMED SHUT.
AND THEN I'M ALSO A PROUD ADVOCATE OF MENTAL HEALTH.
AND SO AS I SIT HERE AND THINK ABOUT THESE TWO PIECES, THE JAIL IS THAT PERFECT COLLISION OF ALL OF THOSE THINGS, RIGHT? WE WE ARE SERVING PEOPLE.
THEY'RE THEY'RE NOT JUST SPIN NUMBERS.
THEY'RE NOT JUST CAUSE NUMBERS.
THEY'RE NOT JUST EMPLOYEE IDENTIFICATION NUMBERS.
THESE ARE PEOPLE. AND EVERY DECISION THAT WE MAKE IS IMPACTING PEOPLE SPECIFICALLY ON THE COMPETENCY RESTORATION PIECE, WHERE SOMEONE CAN ENTER THE SYSTEM AND COMPETENCY CAN BE RAISED OVER AND OVER AND OVER AGAIN.
THERE IS NO MECHANISM RIGHT NOW TO PREVENT, YOU KNOW, SOMEONE CAN COME IN DECOMPENSATE NEED TREATMENT, COME BACK, THEY DECOMPENSATE THEY GET TREATMENT, THEY RESTORE, THEY DECOMPENSATE.
SO WHEN WE'RE LOOKING AT JAIL BASED COMPETENCY RESTORATION AND KIND OF DIGGING MORE INTO THE NUMBERS A LITTLE BIT, YOU KNOW, OUR GOAL WAS TO APPLY THE MODELS AND PRINCIPLES THAT OCCUR AT STATE HOSPITAL AND APPLY THEM IN A JAIL SETTING.
WE STARTED AS A 20 BED PILOT PROGRAM AND VERY QUICKLY MOVED TO A 50 BED INTENSIVE SERVICE PROGRAM.
WE BEGAN IN JANUARY OF 2021, TOWARDS THE END, WELCOMING OUR FIRST PATIENT.
AND THIS WEEK WE WILL WELCOME OUR FOURTH 400TH PATIENT INTO THE PROGRAM.
SO IT'S BEEN I EVEN THINKING ABOUT IT, I WAS LIKE, GOSH, I CAN'T 400 FACES.
AND AS I STAND HERE AND LISTEN TO, YOU KNOW, PARENTS WHO ARE GRIEVING, I'VE TALKED TO MANY PARENTS.
[06:25:02]
I TAKE THOSE PHONE CALLS.AND AS SOMEONE WHO HAS HAD A LOVED ONE IN OUR COUNTY JAIL IN THE PAST, AS SOMEONE WHO WORKS HERE, I TRY AND TELL PARENTS, LOOK, IF IT WAS MY KID, IF IT WAS MY SON, I'D WANT THEM HERE WITH ME, I WOULD.
MY STAFF SEES THEM EVERY SINGLE DAY, SIX DAYS A WEEK.
WE DO SELF-CARE SUNDAYS SO THEY GET SIX DAYS A WEEK OF PROGRAMING.
WE DO MINDFUL MOVEMENT AND YOGA PRACTICES.
I CAN'T GIVE THEM SNACKS AND CANDY AND REWARDS LIKE I WOULD MAYBE AT AN INPATIENT HOSPITAL.
BUT WHAT I CAN DO IS PROVIDE THEM WITH THE VERY BEST LEVEL OF SERVICE THAT WE CAN DO.
OUR PROGRAM IS RUNNING AT 92%.
AND THAT'S BECAUSE A TEAM, THESE PATIENTS, THEY'RE PEOPLE.
MANY WILL REENTER THE COMMUNITY.
AND SO WE CREATE A COMMUNITY WITHIN THE JAIL.
A 50 BED COMMUNITY AND WE ASK OUR PATIENTS TO BE THEIR BEST SELVES.
AND SO WHEN I LOOK AT JUST SOME DATA FROM 2021 TO APRIL WE'VE HAD OVER 1100 COURT ORDERED ASSESSMENTS FOR THE PROGRAM. BOTH OCR AND JBC ARE SO OUTPATIENT, COMPETENCY AND JAIL BASED.
AGAIN. WE'LL WELCOME OUR 400TH PATIENT THIS WEEK.
OUR RESTORATION RATE IS AT 92% IN TOTAL, AND OUR AVERAGE LENGTH OF STAY IS AT 65 DAYS.
AND SO WHEN I THINK ABOUT THE STATE HOSPITAL WAITLIST OVERALL AS OF 326, THERE WERE A TOTAL OF 319 INDIVIDUALS ON THE OVERALL STATE HOSPITAL WAITLIST FOR THE HARRIS COUNTY JAIL, AND THE AVERAGE NUMBER OF DAYS WAITING WAS 247 DAYS.
FOR JBCA. OUR WEIGHTLESS SITS AT 31, SO WE DO HAVE PATIENTS IN QUEUE THAT ARE PREPARED TO COME INTO THE PROGRAM, AND OUR AVERAGE NUMBER OF WAIT DAYS FOR THIS YEAR IS AT 46 DAYS TO END.
SO I DON'T UNDERSTAND HOW THIS PROGRAM IS DIFFERENT FROM THE YOU KNOW, WE WERE LOOKING INTO THE GENTLEMAN THAT HAS BEEN IN THE JAIL FOR NINE YEARS, AND I REMEMBER US DISCUSSING IT'S A COMPETENCY RESTORATION ISSUE.
SO THESE ARE TWO DIFFERENT PROGRAMS OR WHAT AM I MISSING.
AND THEN INTERNALLY IN HARRIS COUNTY, WE HAVE OUR OWN WAIT LIST.
WHEN JOKER CAME INTO EFFECT, ATTORNEYS HAVE THE OPTION OF REFERRING THEIR PATIENT INTO THE PROGRAM.
SO THE COURT WE'RE A REFERRALS IN AND A REFERRALS OUT PROGRAM.
SO THE COURT AGREES TO REFER A PATIENT TO US.
WE DO AN ASSESSMENT, DETERMINE IF THEY ARE APPROPRIATE.
MY GOAL WITH ASSESSMENT IS I TRAIN MY TEAM WHEREVER THE BEST FIT IS FOR THAT PATIENT.
AND WE MAKE THAT RECOMMENDATION.
AND THE COURT DECIDES FOR COMMUNITY SAFETY.
IS THAT THE BEST PLACE FOR THEM TO GO? SO THE ARPA MONEY THAT WE INVESTED INTO COMPETENCY RESTORATION AND THE CONVERSATION WE'VE HAD ABOUT WE NEED TO EXPAND COMPETENCY RESTORATION, IS THAT THIS PROGRAM OR.
YES. SO WITH ARPA FUNDING, ARPA GAVE US AN ADDITIONAL TEN INTENSIVE BEDS.
SO HHC, THE STATE GAVE US A MATCH TO GO FROM 20 BEDS TO 40.
AND THEN ARPA MONEY GAVE US THE EXTRA TEN INTENSIVE BEDS TO GO UP TO 50.
AND WE ADDED A 20 BED STEP DOWN UNIT.
SO WE CALL IT A PRE AND POST UNIT.
WE PREPARE PATIENTS TO COME INTO THE UNIT INTO JOKER.
BUT IT'S ONLY 20 BEDS, SO WE JUST NEED TO MAKE THIS ONE WAY LARGER.
IT SOUNDS LIKE. WELL, AGAIN, WITH THAT ASSESSMENT PIECE, WE HAVE 300 PEOPLE ON THE WAITLIST.
THERE'S A CERTAIN PORTION THAT DO NEED STATE HOSPITAL.
THEY NEED THAT HIGH LEVEL OF CARE.
THERE ARE PEOPLE THAT CAN BE RESTORED IN A JAIL BASED SETTING WHEN WE MAY ONCE THEY FINISH THE PROGRAM, WE RETURN THE DISPOSITION TO COURT AND THEN THE ATTORNEYS, THE PERSON CAN BE PROGRAMMATICALLY REMOVED FROM THE PROGRAM.
SO THE COURT SENDS US A DISPOSITION SAYING, HEY, JOKER, WE RECOGNIZE THEY'RE COMPLETED.
AND THEN THE ATTORNEYS WILL WEIGH IN ON THEIR OPINIONS OF COMPETENCY AT THAT POINT.
DO YOU ONLY DEAL WITH MISDEMEANORS? NO, MA'AM. WE WE'RE LARGELY FELONIES.
FELONY BASED. WE'RE ABOUT 87% FELONIES, 13% MISDEMEANORS.
MANY OF OUR PATIENTS ARE ON THE MSU, THE MAXIMUM SECURITY LIST UNIT.
AND SO THEY WOULD BE WAITING FOR A VERY LONG TIME.
NOW, IN THE EVENT THAT SOMEONE IS IN JDCR AND THEIR NAME, LET'S SAY, COMES UP ON THE WAITLIST TO GO TO A PROGRAM, IF WE'RE NOT 100% SURE THAT THEY'RE GOING TO RESTORE OUT OF US, THEY'RE OBVIOUSLY THEY'RE GOING TO THE NEXT LEVEL OF CARE.
I'M GOING TO BE QUIET AND FOLLOW UP WITH MY STAFF THROUGH MY STAFF.
[06:30:03]
SO DOES THIS.YOU'RE SAYING SOME FOLKS NEED COMPETENCY.
RESTORATION WITHIN CAN DO IT WITHIN THE JAIL, AND THE OTHER ONES NEED TO DO IT IN THE STATE HOSPITALS? CAN WE NOT BUILD OURSELVES HOSPITAL BASED COMPETENCY RESTORATION? IF HARRIS COUNTY HAD A FORENSIC HOSPITAL, IT WOULD PROBABLY BE THE FIRST OF ITS KIND.
WE LIVE IN THE MEDICAL CENTER.
I MEAN, BECAUSE I KNOW WE HAVE INPATIENT PROGRAMS AROUND HERE.
SO ANYWAY, JUST FOOD FOR THOUGHT.
I DON'T, I DON'T KNOW, CAN WE EMBED WITH UT HEALTH OR SOMETHING? I'M I'M GOING TO STOP BECAUSE I'VE TAKEN SO MUCH TIME AND EVERYONE'S TO GO HOME.
WELL, ANYWAY FOOD FOR THOUGHT.
ANY OTHER. YOU'RE DONE WITH YOUR PRESENTATION.
YES, MA'AM. THANK YOU SO MUCH.
YOU'RE WELCOME. THANK YOU. YOU'RE WELCOME.
SO I'LL MOVE THROUGH THESE SLIDES PRETTY QUICKLY.
BUT AT A HIGH LEVEL, ON 415 THE POPULATION WAS 9443.
THAT'S 122 INCREASE FROM LAST MONTH.
SO OUR ADP HAS INCREASED ANOTHER 122 INMATES SINCE OUR LAST REPORT.
OUTSOURCING IS AT 1548 AS OF 415, WHICH IS UP 88 FROM THE PREVIOUS MONTH.
PAPER READY HAS HAD A DECREASE OVER THE LAST THREE WEEKS EACH WEEK.
WE'VE GONE FROM 588 ON FOUR ONE OR WE'RE AT 588 ON FOUR ONE DOWN FROM 650 ON 318.
TRANSFERS HAVE INCREASED THE LAST THREE WEEKS.
WE WERE 129 TRANSFERS ON FOUR ONE, WHICH IS UP FROM 48 TRANSFERS.
AS OF YESTERDAY TO BEING 27 DAYS, WHICH IS IS GOOD.
TANYA THE COUNTY ATTORNEY'S JUST INFORMED ME WE'VE BEEN OVER THE TEN MINUTE KIND OF KIND OF LIMIT.
SO CAN WE WRAP IT UP? YEP. AND JUST JUST FOR CLARIFICATION, IT DOESN'T TECHNICALLY APPLY TO DISCUSSION PRESENTATIONS BY DEPARTMENT HEADS, BUT IT'S JUST IT'S 650 JUDGE. AND I'M. YEAH.
THANK YOU. I JUST WANTED TO BE I JUST WANT TO POINT THAT OUT OKAY.
TWO MINUTES. I WOULD LIKE TO GO NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE.
AND WE WE STARTED WORKING ON THAT THIS MONTH AND DRILLING INTO IT.
AS OF FOUR, 15, 233 PEOPLE WITH STAYS OVER 1000 DAYS.
WHAT WE DID IN THE TABLE ON THE RIGHT OR I'M SORRY, ON THE LEFT IS GROUP FOLKS BY LIKE, CHARGES.
SO IT'S NOT, YOU KNOW, CATEGORIES.
OFFICIALLY, WE JUST TRIED TO PUT FOLKS IN, LIKE, CHARGES.
77% OF THAT TOP COAT OF THIS COHORT IS IN THOSE TOP THREE CATEGORIES.
THEY INCLUDE CHARGES LIKE CAPITAL MURDER, MURDER, MANSLAUGHTER AND VARIOUS AGGRAVATED OFFENSES.
WE WERE PRETTY CERTAIN THAT A HIGH NUMBER OF THOSE FOLKS WERE HAD COMPETENCY ISSUES.
IT WAS 13% OR 31 OF THE 233 WITH COMPETENCY ISSUES.
AND SOME OF THAT DATA IS ON THE NEXT SLIDE.
SO 31 OF THE 233 PEOPLE WITH STAYS OVER 1000 DAYS ARE INVOLVED IN THE COMPETENCY PROCESS, THE HIGHEST STAY THAT WE'VE BEEN LOOKING AT, THE 3244 AND NOW 75 DAYS, IS IN THAT 28 OF 31 OFFENSES ARE VIOLENT OFFENSES.
AND SO SOMEONE SITS IN THE JAIL.
AND THE ISSUE IS NOT A COMPETENCY IS NOT RAISED.
[06:35:01]
SO THERE MAY BE MANY REASONS FOR THAT.YOU KNOW, IT COULD BE THAT THE PERSON'S MENTAL HEALTH DECOMPENSATED AS THEY SAT IN THE JAIL.
YOU KNOW, THERE'S ATTORNEYS THAT CHANGE, COURTS THAT CHANGE.
THERE'S A WHOLE BUNCH OF REASONS. SO BUT JUST ON ITS FACE THE FIRST FILING DATE AND THE FIRST TIME COMPETENCY IS RAISED AS AN AVERAGE OF 397 DAYS, ON THE DAYS SINCE THE LAST MOTION, THE AVERAGE IS 133 DAYS.
SINCE THE LAST MOTION WAS RAISED THE NUMBER OF DAYS WAITING FOR STATE HOSPITAL 236 DAYS WITH THE HIGHEST AS 130 AND THE DAYS SINCE LEGAL RESTORATION.
SO WHEN SOMEBODY RETURNS FROM ANY COMPETENCY RESTORATION PROGRAM, WHETHER IT'S JAIL BASED OR THE STATE HOSPITAL, THE AVERAGE TIME IS 446 DAYS BEFORE THAT PERSON SENDS THEIR LEGAL RESTORATION, 446 DAYS.
AND SO IN THIS TIME, THE QUESTION IS, WHAT CAN WE BE DOING TO GET THIS PERSON'S CASE MOVED FORWARD? SO THAT THAT, I THINK, IS ONE OF THE KEY METRICS.
THANK YOU, DOCTOR HOLMES AND MISS MILLS FOR THIS ADDITIONAL DATA.
AND TO THIS IS INCREDIBLY HELPFUL TO SEE AND STAGGERING AND CLEARLY UNACCEPTABLE.
I THINK WE ALL CAN AGREE ON THAT.
AND TO THE STATE OF URGENCY THAT WE ALL FEEL.
TO COMMISSIONER GARCIA'S POINT, THIS DATA IS INCREDIBLY HELPFUL.
WE'RE GOING TO TALK ABOUT THAT IN A SECOND.
BUT JUST IMMEDIATE LOWER HANGING FRUIT CHANGES MID-TERM LONG TERM SO THAT WE'RE JUST CONTINUOUSLY DRIVING PROGRESS WHERE WE CAN AND BRINGING IN THE OTHER STAKEHOLDERS, BECAUSE I KNOW THERE'S A LOT OF LEVERS OF CHANGE.
AND I HOPE THAT NEXT WEEK'S MEETING WITH THE JAIL COMMISSION GOES BETTER THAN PAST ONES.
WE. IN THE INTEREST OF TIME, I CAN BE DONE.
IF Y'ALL HAVE ANY QUESTIONS AS YOU LOOK AT THE DATA, PLEASE FEEL FREE TO REACH OUT.
YEAH. THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU GUYS.
OKAY, SO THAT'S A NO ACTION, BUT WE'LL MOVE ON TO 32.
AND COMMISSIONER GARCIA BOTH FLAGGED THAT ONE.
IT'S THE JAIL ADVISORY COMMITTEE THAT COMMISSIONER BEHRENDS WAS JUST TALKING ABOUT.
YES. COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR RAMIREZ, WOULD YOU PLEASE GIVE US A QUICK UPDATE ON WHERE WE ARE AND WHERE WE ARE IMMEDIATELY HEADED? THANK YOU FOR THE PROGRESS YOU'VE MADE SINCE OUR LAST MEETING.
YES, MA'AM. SO I WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE GOT YOU THE THE LIST OF OF ALL THE MEMBERS THAT WERE NAMED BY THE MEMBERS OF COMMISSIONER'S COURT TO THE GOVERNANCE ADVISORY COMMITTEE. IT'S IN THE BACKUP AS WELL AS THE RESIDENT ADVISORY COMMITTEE.
AND WE'RE WORKING INTERNALLY TO REASSIGN FOLKS TO MAKE SURE THAT WE CAN SUPPORT THIS WORK.
INTERNALLY WE'RE EXPECTING THE FIRST MEETING OF THE OF THE GOVERNANCE ADVISORY COMMITTEE TO OCCUR IN THE NEXT COUPLE OF WEEKS, AS SOON AS WE CAN GET EVERYBODY SCHEDULED, EVERYBODY'S SCHEDULES PUT TOGETHER, THEN THEY'LL GO AHEAD AND FIGURE OUT HOW HOW TO HOW OFTEN TO MEET THEIR CADENCE, BECAUSE WE'RE RUSHING TOWARDS THE JUNE PRODUCTION OF RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE FIRST SET OF RECOMMENDATIONS.
SO WE'RE ON THAT PATH AND WE NEED TO MEET IT.
ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE TALKED ABOUT LAST TIME ALSO WAS NEEDING SOME RESOURCES I THINK FACILITATION, A THIRD PARTY FACILITATOR FOR THE RESIDENT ADVISORY COMMITTEE WOULD BE WOULD BE CRITICAL TO HAVE SOME, SOME THIRD PARTY OBJECTIVE ORGANIZATION THAT CAN THAT CAN HELP US OUT.
THERE MIGHT BE SOME OTHER NEEDS THAT THE GOVERNANCE ADVISORY COMMITTEE MIGHT IDENTIFY IN THE FUTURE.
WHAT IDENTIFIED IN, IN THE BACKUP WAS SOME INTERNAL FUNDING.
WE HAVE FUNDING THAT'S ONGOING IN THE OCA BUDGET FOR LANGUAGE ACCESS PROGRAMS. I MADE A MISTAKE IN HOW I REFERENCED IT IN THE BACKUP.
I LINKED IT TO THE HOUSTON ENDOWMENT GRANT.
AND THAT'S THERE ARE TWO SEPARATE KINDS OF LANGUAGE ACCESS PROGRAMS. SO I APOLOGIZE FOR THAT.
IT'S ONGOING. SO NEXT FISCAL YEAR, STARTING OCTOBER 1ST, IT'LL STAY IN THE BUDGET.
SO IT'LL BE THEY'RE STILL AVAILABLE.
[06:40:01]
SO WE WERE PROPOSING IS TO SET THAT MONEY ASIDE ON A ONE TIME BASIS THIS YEAR FOR ANY KIND OF NEEDS THAT THE GOVERNANCE GOVERNANCE ADVISORY COMMITTEE MIGHT, MIGHT IDENTIFY. AND WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE COULD WE COULD GO FAST.THANK YOU. RAMSEY COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR THANK YOU FOR YOUR WORK ON IT.
PREVIOUSLY ON THE JAIL HAS BEEN SAID.
WE'VE WE'VE COLLECTED A WHOLE LOT OF DATA.
IT SEEMS LIKE WE'RE EXTREMELY FOCUSED ON IT.
I JUST DON'T SEE THE SHERIFF, I WOULD ASSUME.
I KNOW HE'S GOT PEOPLE ON THE CALL, BUT IT'S ONE THING TO GATHER A BUNCH OF DATA, AND THEN IT'S.
IT'S SOMETHING ELSE TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT.
EVERYTHING THAT HAPPENS IN THE JAIL IS UNDER HIS DIRECT CONTROL.
SO IF THERE ARE THINGS AND ISSUES IDENTIFIED, I WOULD ASSUME THAT HE WOULD RESPOND IMMEDIATELY.
WE KNOW CERTAIN ELEMENTS HAVE BEEN.
SO I'M STILL IN A FOG IN TERMS OF THE ISSUES STILL REMAIN.
PEOPLE ARE STILL DYING IN THE JAIL.
WE SEEM TO BE VERY VERY FOCUSED.
I JUST DON'T SEE A LOT OF ACTIVITY ON THE SHERIFF'S SIDE TO TO DEAL WITH IT.
SOME OF THIS IS BUDGET RELATED.
SOME OF THIS IS COURT RELATED.
I MEAN, ALL THE ALL THE DIFFERENT PEOPLE THAT ARE INVOLVED.
BUT IF THIS COMMISSION DOESN'T GET THE ATTENTION OF THE SHERIFF TO DO SOMETHING IN AN URGENT WAY, I THINK WHAT YOU'RE DOING, WHAT WE'RE DOING IS, IS A911 URGENT RESPONSE.
I WOULD HOPE THAT THE THAT THE SHERIFF WOULD REACT IN A RATHER 911 RESPONSE.
HE STILL HASN'T COME HERE TO HAVE THAT CONVERSATION.
WE ASKED THAT OVER OVER A MONTH AGO, IF NOT SIX WEEKS AGO.
BUT WHAT WE HAVE SEEN IN WORKING WITH THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE FROM HIM, THROUGH THE COMMAND STAFF, THROUGH THROUGH LINE LEVEL STAFF, HAS BEEN JUST OPENING UP THE DOORS TO US TO HELP THEM WORK THROUGH THE THE PROCESSES.
AND THAT'S WHY WE'RE STEPPING INTO TO HELP TO THE EXTENT THAT WE CAN.
AND I DON'T KNOW IF MR. SPENCER, ANYTHING THAT YOU WANT TO ADD OR.
AND WHILE HE WALKS OVER HERE, TO BE CLEAR, SHERIFF GONZALEZ WILL BE CHAIRING THE GOVERNANCE COMMITTEE, CORRECT? YES, HE HAS COMMITTED TO DO THAT.
COMMISSIONER RAMSEY, THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMENTS AND YOUR SUPPORT.
I CAN TELL YOU THE ISSUES THAT ARE BEING ADDRESSED HERE ARE FRONT AND CENTER FOR THE SHERIFF, AND HAVE BEEN SINCE HE TOOK OFFICE IN 2017.
WE ARE WORKING AND HE'S IN THOSE MEETINGS DAILY WITH COUNTY ADMINISTRATION, ALL THE OTHER CRIMINAL JUSTICE PARTNERS AND CERTAINLY AN OPEN BOOK AND ANY QUESTIONS OR ANY MEETING YOU WOULD LIKE TO HAVE WITH HIM.
I'M SURE HE'D BE WILLING TO HAVE IT.
I'M SOMEWHAT REACTING TO A FAMILY THAT CAME AND SPOKE HERE TODAY, AND DOES NOT LOOK LIKE THEY'VE BEEN GIVEN ALL THE INFORMATION THAT I WOULD THINK YOU'D NORMALLY EXPECT, SO I'LL START THERE.
I WOULD HOPE THAT THAT THAT FAMILY'S CONTACTED AND THEY GET ANSWERS.
I SPOKE WITH THAT FAMILY IN THE HALLWAY AFTERWARD, AND WE'VE HAD MULTIPLE PEOPLE FROM OUR OFFICE SPEAK WITH THEM, BUT WE HAVE A SENSE OF URGENCY TO GET THEM ANSWERS. AND THANK YOU FOR THAT.
WE CAN THANK YOU, I APPRECIATE IT.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR. YES, COMMISSIONER GARCIA.
YEAH. JASON, FIRST OF ALL, THANK YOU FOR YOUR WORK.
AND PLEASE CONTINUE TO CONVEY TO THE SHERIFF OUR CONDOLENCES AND OUR THOUGHTS AND PRAYERS FOR OFFICER OR DEPUTY KUDO AND AND HIS FAMILY TO THIS PARTICULAR ITEM.
AND OBVIOUSLY, THE SHERIFF HAS THE MOST KNOWLEDGE FOR THE SUBJECT AREA.
SO IT'S FITTING THAT HE IS THE CHAIR OF THE GOVERNANCE COMMITTEE.
[06:45:03]
AND I WANT TO CONTINUE TO STRESS THE IMPORTANCE OF COLLABORATING WITH THE SHERIFF AND THE ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT THAT IN ORDER IN ORDER RATHER TO HAVE SUCCESS IN THIS PROCESS.ANY NEW JAIL FACILITY WILL NEED TO BE CRAFTED WITH THIS POPULATION IN MIND.
AND, AND I WOULD ALSO ASK THAT PARTICULAR ATTENTION BE GIVEN BECAUSE I KNOW THAT IT'S CONCERNING TO MR. RAMOS AS OUR BUDGET DIRECTOR, WHEN THE BUDGET DOESN'T SEEM TO WORK OUT AS INTENDED.
AND SO I WANT TO CONTINUE TO GIVE THAT PARTICULAR ATTENTION.
BUT TO THAT END YOU KNOW, JASON, I JUST YOU KNOW, PLEASE GIVE CHIEF BURGOS AND EVERYBODY OUR HIGHEST REGARDS. VERY FEW PEOPLE GIVE THE JAIL THE PROPER ATTENTION THAT DESERVES FROM OUR STANDPOINT, OBVIOUSLY, YOU GUYS ARE LIVING IT. AND AND WITH THE CLASSIFICATION THAT YOU HAVE THESE DAYS, IT'S NOT THE JAIL THAT I USED TO WALK AROUND.
AND SO I CONTINUOUSLY KEEP THAT IN MIND.
AND SO WITH THAT, I DO HAVE A MOTION TO DIRECT THE OCA TO PROVIDE SPECIFIC LINE ITEM REQUESTS FOR ANY NEW FUNDING TO SUPPORT THE JAIL AND COMMUNITY SAFETY INFRASTRUCTURE COMMITTEES TO BE BROUGHT TO THE NEXT COURT.
DO WE NEED DO WE NEED A VOTE, A MOTION A VOTE ON THAT? WELL, I'M HAPPY TO PROVIDE A DETAILED LINE ITEM REQUEST.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR WORK.
THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR SUPPORT.
THANK YOU. SO I DO NEED A MOTION FOR FOR 32.
SO THOUGHTS HERE ON 32? I THINK THAT THAT MOTION THAT COMMISSIONER GARCIA JUST MADE, IT COVERS WHAT WE NEEDED THERE.
THERE'S NOTHING ELSE THAT WE WOULD WE WOULD NEED WITH THIS MOTION.
SO CAN I SECOND COMMISSIONER GARCIA'S MOTION, PLEASE? DO YOU GUYS HAVE THE LANGUAGE? OKAY. MOTION BY COMMISSIONER GARCIA, SECOND BY COMMISSIONER BRIONES.
ANY OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES 4 TO 0.
I THINK EITHER RAMSEY OR GARCIA FLAGGED THAT ONE, I CAN'T REMEMBER, I DID.
OKAY A QUICK QUESTION IS, I'M ASSUMING EVERYTHING'S GOING WELL WITH THE 311 IMPLEMENTATION.
IF IT'S NOT ARE WE WORKING ON THE ISSUES? GOOD EVENING. JUDGE AND THE COMMISSIONERS, SINDHU MENON EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF UNIVERSAL SERVICES AND THE CHIEF INFORMATION OFFICER.
COMMISSIONER. COMMISSIONER RAMSEY, EVERYTHING IS GOING WELL WITH 311 PROJECT.
WE HAVE MINOR ISSUES, WHICH IS POST GO LIVE.
WE HAVE THE STABILIZATION ISSUES, A LITTLE BIT OF ERROR, ERROR OR BUG FIX.
OTHER THAN THAT, WE DON'T HAVE ANY MAJOR ISSUES.
SO PEOPLE CALL 311 AND THEY GET TO THE RIGHT SPOT 95% OF THE TIME.
SECOND MOTION BY COMMISSIONER RAMSAY.
SECOND BY COMMISSIONER GARCIA.
ANY OPPOSED? THAT WAS ON ITEM 44.
THANK YOU. DIRECTOR. THANK YOU.
MOVING ON TO ITEM 212, COMMISSIONER GARCIA.
AN ITEM? 212. I JUST WANTED TO PULL THIS ITEM JUST TO RENEW OUR COMMITMENT TO BRINGING TO LIGHT THE DIVERSE ISSUE OF DIABETES IN HARRIS COUNTY.
DIABETES REMAINS AMONGST THE LEADING CAUSES OF DEATH IN HARRIS COUNTY.
IT PREVENTS ITS PREVALENCE, SPEAKS TO A LARGER ISSUE AND THE ROOT CAUSES TO BATTLE THIS.
THIS DISEASE CANNOT BE DONE IN A VACUUM.
MY PRECINCT DOES WORSE THAN THE REST OF THE COUNTY AND THE STATE OF TEXAS.
[06:50:06]
THIS IS SOMETHING THAT SHOULD MAKE US UNCOMFORTABLE THROUGH COLLABORATIVE EFFORTS AND A COMMITMENT TO HEALTH EQUITY.AND ALSO JUST TO PUT IN THE FOREFRONT THAT WE KNOW DIABETES IS A PROBLEM.
HOWEVER THERE IS AND I AND I'M TRYING TO REMEMBER THAT FOR.
AND MAYBE IF DOCTOR PORSCHE IS ON THE CALL OR SOMEONE FROM HERSELF.
BUT I REMEMBER SOMETHING TO THE EFFECT THAT FOR EVERY PRESCRIPTION OF DIALYSIS THAT IN HARRIS COUNTY PEOPLE ARE STILL RECEIVING APPROXIMATELY 20 TO 30% LESS TREATMENT THAN THEY SHOULD BE RECEIVING BECAUSE OF THE SHORTAGE OF RESOURCES AND CAPACITY.
AND SO I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE CONTINUE TO KEEP THIS IN THE FOREFRONT OF OUR MINDS.
AND SO I JUST WANTED TO PULL THIS ITEM JUST TO GIVE IT SOME RENEWED ATTENTION.
I MOVE ON THE ITEM AS PRESENTED.
SECOND, THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER MOTION BY COMMISSIONER GARCIA.
SECOND, BY COMMISSIONER BRIONES.
ANY OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY FOR ITEM 212.
IT WAS FLAGGED BY PRECINCTS TWO AND THREE.
IT'S A DATA SHARING AGREEMENT WITH GIFT DIRECTLY.
COMMISSIONERS, WE JUST NEED A VOTE.
OKAY. IS THERE A MOTION ON 216? SO MOVED. SECOND MOTION BY COMMISSIONER GARCIA.
SECOND BY COMMISSIONER BRIONES.
ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. ANY OPPOSED? NO. I'M IN FAVOR.
MOVING ON TO 234, COMMISSIONER GARCIA.
YOU FLAGGED THIS ONE AN AGREEMENT WITH ROD? YES. THE REASON I PULLED THIS IS, IS TO THE DIRECTOR A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS TO THE COUNTY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE.
DOES THIS AGREEMENT FOLLOW THE PARAMETERS OF THE OF THE PATROL NEIGHBORHOOD CONTRACT PROGRAM? I'M NOT SURE IF THIS PROPERTY IS UNDER CONSTRUCTION IS GOING TO BE UNDER CONSTRUCTION, BUT I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THIS DOESN'T BELONG AS A, RATHER AS AN EXTRA EMPLOYMENT EFFORT RATHER THAN AS A PATROL CONTRACT, BECAUSE THEY'RE BEING CONTRACTED NOW FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF THEN THE CONSTRUCTION IS DONE, AND THEN WE HAVE A CONTRACT THAT WILL WE HAVE CONTRACT DEPUTIES THAT MAY OR MAY NOT BE PURSUED IN THE FUTURE.
AND GENERALLY SPEAKING MOST OF THESE TYPES OF, OF SITUATIONS ARE PAID FOR ENTIRELY BY THE CONSTRUCTION COMPANY. WHO WANTS TO HIRE OFF DUTY PERSONNEL? SO. SO JUST SO I'M UNDERSTANDING YOUR QUESTION, COMMISSIONER, YOU'RE ASKING IF THIS IS FALLING UNDER THE THE CONTRACT DEPUTY SYSTEM OR IS IT FALLING UNDER THE OR SHOULD IT BE RATHER AN EXTRA EMPLOYMENT PROGRAM? OH. UNDERSTOOD. YEAH. SO SO YEAH, WE DON'T NORMALLY DO THAT.
SO IF THE CONTRACTS COMING THROUGH US THIS WAY, IT'S STRUCTURED AS A CONTRACT DEPUTY PROGRAM.
WE DO NOT DO THOSE OTHER TYPES OF CONTRACTS.
NOW, WHETHER IT SHOULD OR NOT IS NOT THAT'S MORE OF A POLICY QUESTION.
NOT ONE THAT THAT I CAN I CAN OPINE ON.
BUT THE YOU KNOW, I'M JUST REALLY UNCOMFORTABLE WITH IT.
MAKE A MOTION. MOTION BY COMMISSIONER RAMSAY ON ITEM 234.
SECOND. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER BRIONES.
ALL IN FAVOR? AYE, AYE. ANY OPPOSED? ABSTAIN. I'M NOT SURE I ENTIRELY UNDERSTAND THIS ONE.
I'M WITH COMMISSIONER GARCIA ON THIS ONE.
COMMISSIONER GARCIA, ARE YOU OKAY IF IT DOESN'T PASS? IT JUST. IT DOESN'T FIT THIS THE NEED I IN MY OPINION, BUT I BUT IT'S UP TO COMMISSIONER.
[06:55:02]
WORKS FOR, I THINK FOR EVERYONE.OKAY. LET'S AND I'LL OTHERWISE IT WOULD JUST FAIL AND LET'S HOLD IT AND THEN WE CAN OKAY.
I'LL MAKE SURE I CAN GET YOU YOUR ANSWERS.
AND THEN AND THEN WE'LL CIRCLE BACK AND I'LL WORK WITH PRECINCT ONE ON IT.
WOULD IT FAIL IF IT WAS 2 TO 1? BUT IT NEEDS THREE VOTES BECAUSE OF THE THREE.
OKAY. ITEM 300 FLAGGED BY PRECINCT TWO.
I'M SORRY, JUDGE, JUST FOR CLARIFICATION, ARE WE GOING TO PUT IT ON HOLD OR.
I HAVE A FEW QUESTIONS FOR OUR D.O.
YES. MR. GONZALEZ DRC STATED THAT IT WOULD HAVE AN MDB GOAL OF 20% AND THE CURRENT PARTICIPATION IS 8.06%.
WHY ARE WE THERE? AND AND THAT THE VENDORS UTILIZATION PLAN YOU KNOW PLAN TO COMMIT TO DO BY WHAT? WHAT RATHER WHAT WAS THE UTILIZATION PLAN BY THIS PARTICULAR VENDOR? DID THESE COMMITMENTS HAPPEN? IF NOT, WHY NOT? AND I UNDERSTAND THAT ONE ANSWER THEY'RE PROVIDING IS THAT THEIR WORK WASN'T OR HASN'T STARTED, BUT IS THAT THE CASE? FOR ALL THE VENDORS LISTED, I UNDERSTAND WE'VE ALREADY UTILIZED DRC AT LEAST ONCE LAST YEAR.
AND AND THERE WAS NO PARTICIPATION AT THAT TIME.
SO DID YOU APPROVE ANY CHANGES TO THE UTILIZATION PLAN? DID THE VENDORS SWAP OUT WHERE DID THE VENDORS ADD IT? HOW MANY TIMES CAN A VENDOR FAIL TO MEET MDB GOALS AND CONTINUE TO BE RECOMMENDED FOR RENEWAL? AND DOES PURCHASING RECEIVE NOTICE OF MDB RESULTS IN TIME FOR IT? FOR IN TIME TO REBID IF GOALS AREN'T MET BEFORE THE CURRENT CONTRACT EXPIRES? YES. GREAT QUESTION, COMMISSIONER GARCIA.
SO FIRST OF ALL, WHEN WE GOT THIS FOR RENEWAL, WHAT MY TEAM DOES ON THE MONITORING SIDE IS GOING TO BE TO DO SOME INVESTIGATION AND SEE WHAT'S GOING ON WITH HOW THEY'RE MEETING THE GOAL.
IN THIS PARTICULAR CASE, WE HAD TO DIG TO FIND HOW THE ORIGINAL GOAL OF THAT 20% WAS LISTED.
AND THEY CAME UP WITH A MORE REALISTIC GOAL OF 9.45%.
IT WAS DISPOSAL COST OF $437,000, WHICH WAS ALMOST HALF OF THE OVERALL PROJECT COST.
AND THAT'S DIRECTLY PAID TO A LANDFILL.
SO IT DOESN'T GO TO LIKE AN MWD CONTRACTOR.
SO ONCE WE LOOKED AT THAT, WE SET A MORE REALISTIC GOAL OF 9.45.
AND THEY'RE MUCH MORE CLOSER TO MEETING THAT GOAL.
AND THEN WE'RE ALSO HAVING TO REDO THE UTILIZATION PLAN BECAUSE IT IS A NEW GOAL.
SO MY TEAM'S WORKING ON THAT RIGHT NOW.
AND WE DO SEND TO TO DWIGHT AND PURCHASING.
WE HAVE A FORM THAT WE CREATED THAT GIVES DEALS RECOMMENDATION FOR RENEWAL BASED ON MWD GOALS.
AND WE DO BELIEVE THAT WE DON'T WANT TO UNILATERALLY SAY D.O.
SAYS NO, DON'T RENEW, BECAUSE WE KNOW THAT THAT COULD HAVE A HUGE IMPACT ON THE COUNTY.
SO WE JUST GIVE OUR BEST OUR RECOMMENDATION TO PURCHASING.
AND THEY DO GET THAT BACK IN WRITING FROM US.
THE ONE IS THAT IT WOULD BE HELPFUL TO KNOW THAT THE GOAL HAS CHANGED.
IT WASN'T IN THE PAPERWORK THAT WE SAW.
AND THEN SECONDLY IS THERE WOULD THERE BE ANY PROBLEM IN HOLDING THIS BECAUSE THE RATIONALE THAT THEY'VE GIVEN THAT THEY THAT THEY THIS LANDFILL SCENARIO DOESN'T FIT INTO AN MWBE PARTICIPATION GENERALLY IS FLAWED.
[07:00:06]
IS ONE COMPONENT OF THE SCENARIO.BUT THERE'S OTHER PLACES WHERE AND I'M MWB COULD HAVE BEEN UTILIZED.
AND I DEAL WITH THIS DURING THE CONSTRUCTION OF LIGHT RAIL, THE ORIGINAL ARGUMENT BEING MADE WAS THAT THE TRAINS WERE ONE PIECE AND THE RAILS WERE ANOTHER PIECE. AND SO THERE'S VERY LITTLE PARTICIPATION FOR MDBS TO PARTICIPATE.
BUT WHEN YOU FACTOR IN THAT, YOU NEED A TRUCK TO DELIVER THE LIGHT RAIL, YOU NEED TRUCKS TO DELIVER THE TRAINS, AND YOU NEED FUEL TO POWER THOSE TRUCKS, AND YOU NEED SAFETY DEVICES FOR THOSE.
WORKERS TO USE AND FOOD FOR THOSE FOLKS TO CONSUME.
THERE'S A LOT OF PLACES WHERE AN MDB CAN PARTICIPATE, AND SO IS THERE ANY HARM IN HOLDING THIS ITEM, DWIGHT? NO, SIR. WE HAVE IF WE CAN BRING IT BACK ON THE MAY 7TH.
I THINK THAT'S JUST A CONCERN TO GET IT BEFORE HURRICANE SEASON SO WE CAN TAKE NO ACTION.
COMMISSIONER. GOOD DEAL. I'D LIKE TO HOLD IT FOR.
WHEN'S THE NEXT BUSINESS COURT? I THINK THE NEXT COURTS MAY 7TH COMMISSIONER I THINK WILL BE A FINAL THAT I THINK THEY SHOULD GIVE US ENOUGH TIME AND IT WOULD BE JUST A CONVERSATION.
SO I JUST HATE ACCEPTING THAT THERE'S NO PLACE FOR AN MWB TO PARTICIPATE TO BE.
UNDERSTOOD, COMMISSIONER. WE'RE HAPPY TO HAVE THE CONVERSATION.
THANK YOU. OKAY, SO NO ACTION ON 409.
WAS THAT 300 OR 409, 303, 300? THAT'S WHAT I MEANT. OKAY, SO IT'S ACTUALLY FIVE.
SO NOW NOW LET'S GO FOR 409 WHICH WAS ALSO FLAGGED BY COMMISSIONER GARCIA.
THAT'S. THIS IS THE EMBARRASSING MOMENT.
THIS IS THE ROAST AND TOAST MOMENT.
AND I WANT TO TAKE A GREAT STRIDES AT ROASTING.
DIRECTOR RAMOS SINCE YOU HAVE ARRIVED IN HARRIS COUNTY AND IN SPITE OF A LOT OF CONVERSATIONS I HAD BEFORE, YOU'RE ACTUALLY BEFORE MR. BERRY'S ARRIVAL.
THE THERE WAS A LOT OF GRIEF I GOT BECAUSE OF THE CHANGES THAT TOOK PLACE.
BUT MR. BERRY PROVIDED A BREATH OF FRESH AIR.
BUT YOU HAVE ACTUALLY BROUGHT US A GUST OF FRESH AIR.
AND SO I JUST WANT TO COMMEND YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP EARLIER TODAY, WHEN YOU'RE HOLDING YOUR GROUND ON WHY THERE'S ISSUES WITH THE FUNDING THINGS THIS WAY OR THAT WAY WITH THE THE COUNTY CLERK.
SO THAT DIDN'T HAVE TO BE THE CASE.
BUT YOUR PROFESSIONALISM IS WHAT WAS BEING SEEN IN FULL DISPLAY.
AND AND SO I JUST WANT TO CONGRATULATE YOU AND YOUR DEPARTMENT FOR RECEIVING THE DISTINGUISHED BUDGET PRESENTATION BY GOVERNMENT FINANCE, BY THE GOVERNMENT FINANCE OFFICERS ASSOCIATION OF THE UNITED STATES AND THE LAND OF THE PENGUINS. AND, YOU KNOW YOU KNOW, CANADA IS WHERE I'M GETTING TO.
BUT I ALSO WANT TO THANK YOU AND YOUR STAFF FOR YOUR YOUR DEDICATION, YOUR HARD WORK.
YOU HAVE MADE THE COMPLICATED PROCESS OF MANAGING BILLIONS OF TAXPAYERS DOLLARS MORE EFFICIENT, EFFECTIVE, AND ABSOLUTELY TRANSPARENT.
AND AND I WOULD JUST TELL YOU THAT EVERY DIRECTOR THAT I'VE SPOKEN TO APPRECIATES YOUR APPROACH.
THEY LIKE THE FACT THAT THEY THINK THEY CAN HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO EXPRESS THOUGHTS OR CONCERNS OR FRUSTRATIONS AND THAT YOU'RE ALWAYS LOOKING AT HOW TO IMPROVE THINGS AND AND SUPPORT THEM IN THEIR RESPECTIVE PROCESSES.
SO, MR. RAMOS, I JUST WANT TO SAY JOB WELL DONE AND KEEP UP THE GREAT WORK.
THANK YOU COMMISSIONER. LET'S SEE IF I'M STILL THIS WELL LIKED AFTER THE BUDGET PROCESS.
AND, AND LET ME JUST SAY, IF YOUR MOM IS WATCHING, SHE DONE GOOD WITH THIS LITTLE BOY.
[07:05:02]
YES. I MOVE ON TO ITEM S PRESENTED COMMISSIONER BURNS AND I SECOND, I'M JUST VERY.I ECHO EVERYTHING COMMISSIONER GARCIA JUST SAID.
THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING YOU DO, DIRECTOR RAMOS, TO PUSH US INTO A MORE ACCOUNTABLE, TRANSPARENT, EFFECTIVE BEST PRACTICES COUNTY THAT WE ALL ARE VERY COMMITTED TO BEING. AND SO YOU YOU LEAD EVERY DAY, ALL DAY.
AND I KNOW MY TEAM AND I ARE VERY ZEALOUS AND CONTACT YOU ALL THE TIME.
AND YOU'RE SMILING OUT OF LOVE.
FOR ALL OF US HERE IN HARRIS COUNTY.
ESPECIALLY MY FAVORITE THING YOU'VE DONE IS THE PUBLIC BUDGET, TOWN HALLS AND ALL THE PRECINCTS.
I AM JUST COUNTING DOWN THE DAYS UNTIL WE DO IT AGAIN, SO WE APPRECIATE YOU.
CONGRATULATIONS. THANK YOU, THANK THANK YOU COMMISSIONER.
I REALLY HAVE ENJOYED HAVING BASIC ENGINEERING CONVERSATIONS.
AS WE AS WE TRY TO REACH THAT THAT POINT OF CONSISTENT CLS AND AND OTHER ISSUES.
BUT YOU HAVE BEEN CONSISTENT AND AND REALLY IN COUNTY GOVERNMENT THAT'S THAT IS THE ABSOLUTE BEST PLACE WE CAN BE WHEN YOU'RE CONSISTENT IN WHATEVER YOU'RE DOING THAT ALLOWS US THEN TO DO OUR BUDGETS AND DO DO OUR MANAGEMENT AND DO THE DETAILS.
BUT WHEN IT CHANGES EVERY OTHER WEEK THAT'S A PROBLEM.
SO THANK YOU FOR WHAT YOU'RE DOING.
I DON'T KNOW ABOUT THOSE LOS ANGELES DODGERS.
YOU NEED TO KIND OF RETHINK THAT.
AND NOBODY'S PERFECT, OKAY? RIGHT. AND I JUST WANT TO THANK MY TEAM.
THIS IS THIS IS THEIR WORK AND THEIR ACCOMPLISHMENT.
CONGRATULATIONS TO YOU AND YOUR TEAM.
YES, I THINK 391 WAS I UNLESS THEY GOT VOTED.
JOHN AND I DIDN'T SEE IT, BUT I THINK IT'S A REQUEST FOR AN UPDATE.
REQUEST FOR AN UPDATE 391 PAGE 50 ON VISION ZERO.
ALL MY COLLEAGUES FLAGGED THIS ONE.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP ON THIS.
WOULD YOU PLEASE PROVIDE AN UPDATE? GOOD AFTERNOON. JUDGE AND MEMBERS OF THE COURT.
I'M HAPPY TO PRESENT TO YOU THE PROGRESS TOWARDS THE VISION ZERO IMPLEMENTATION FOR HARRIS COUNTY.
I'LL TRY TO BE FAST AND NOT GO OVER MY TEN MINUTES.
THANK YOU. WHAT? I WANTED TO REMIND EVERYBODY THIS IS A STRATEGY TO ELIMINATE FATALITIES AND SERIOUS INJURIES WHILE INCREASING SAFETY, HOUSING AND EQUITABLE MOBILITY FOR ALL USERS.
BY ESTABLISHING THAT ONE LOSS OF HUMAN LIFE IN TRAFFIC INCIDENT IS UNACCEPTABLE.
A REAL QUICKLY, DOCTOR RAYMOND, IF YOU WILL EXCUSE ME.
IT'S BEEN POINTED OUT THAT COMMISSIONER ELLIS IS THE ONE THAT REQUESTED THIS PRESENTATION.
AND I TRUST EVERYTHING YOU'RE DOING WITH VISION ZERO.
I DON'T KNOW IF MY COLLEAGUES WANT TO HEAR, SO I PULLED IT TO.
I VERY MUCH TRUST AND RESPECT YOUR WORK AND APPRECIATE IT.
TO ME, THIS IS SO CRITICAL BECAUSE WE HAVE SOME OF THE MOST DANGEROUS ROADS, AND IT IS JUST UNACCEPTABLE THAT, YOU KNOW, APPROXIMATELY 160 PEDESTRIANS DIED JUST LAST YEAR. AND WE SEE THESE TRAFFIC ACCIDENTS CONSTANTLY.
SO JUST I KNOW IT'S IT'S JUST TRAGIC.
AND I KNOW WE CAN ALL AGREE ON THAT.
IF WE I KNOW ALL THE PROGRESS YOU'VE MADE, WE'VE MET MANY TIMES WITH THE TEAM.
SO OUR GOAL I LOVE HOW ASPIRATIONAL AND BOLD IT IS, RIGHT? THE GOAL IS TO ELIMINATE ROAD RELATED DEATHS BY 2036 YEARS FROM NOW.
SO HOW EXACTLY ARE WE GOING TO MEET THIS GOAL, AND HOW MUCH MORE AGGRESSIVE ARE WE GOING TO BE IN TERMS OF DELIVERING THE PROGRESS THAT HAS YET TO BE DONE? SO COMMISSIONER, I'LL START WITH THE FIVE ELEMENTS OF VISION ZERO THAT WE ARE WORKING ON.
THE PLAN THAT CONSISTS MULTIDIMENSIONAL, DATA DRIVEN ANALYSIS TO IDENTIFY OUR HIGH INJURY NETWORK, CREATE MEASURABLE GOALS, AND DEFINITELY ACCOUNTABLE ACCOUNTABILITY AND TRANSPARENCY IS THE KEY ELEMENT OF IT.
SO WE ARE WORKING ON THE SIX E'S OF OUR VISION ZERO STRATEGIES.
[07:10:05]
COMMISSIONER STARTS WITH EDUCATION.DEVELOPING AND TRAINING OUR RESIDENTS AND THE USERS OF THE ROAD.
ENGINEERING, ESTABLISHING GUIDELINES FOR SAFETY IMPROVEMENT.
WE HAD IN OUR ITEM 134 IS ONE OF THE ELEMENTS WHERE YOU SEE MORE AND MORE GUIDELINES ARE PUTTING UP TO MAKE A BETTER ROADWAY SYSTEM ENFORCEMENT, WHERE WE ARE WORKING WITH OUR LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCY AND ENCOURAGING AND COLLABORATING TO ENSURE THAT THE VIOLATORS ARE YOU KNOW WE REDUCE THE VIOLATIONS OF TRAFFIC RELATED INCIDENTS AND THEN ENCOURAGEMENT WITH OUR REGIONAL PARTNERS IN COLLABORATION WITH CSC AND ALL THE AGENCIES TO ENSURE THE SAFETY PROGRAM.
AND WITH THAT SAID, YOU KNOW, WE WORK HAND TO HAND WITH OUR AUTHORITY IN TERMS OF OUR HARRIS COUNTY ROADWAY NETWORK EVALUATION OF YOU KNOW, TO WHICH MEANS WE ARE ALSO LOOKING INTO THE METRICS WE PUT TOGETHER PUBLISHING ANNUAL REPORT, CONDUCTING STUDIES, AND UPDATING OUR HIGH INJURY NETWORK.
AS ALL OF YOU ARE DOING A LOT OF IMPROVEMENTS ON OUR ROADWAY SYSTEM AND LOOKING AT EVERYTHING THROUGH A LENS OF EQUITY ESTABLISHED FUNDING SOURCES FOR IMPLEMENTATION, ENSURING BIKE PED IMPROVEMENTS AND SOCIALLY VULNERABLE COMMUNITIES.
SO YOU KNOW WHAT? I'LL GIVE YOU A SHORT SNAPSHOT, COMMISSIONER, FOR WHAT WE DID IN YEAR 2023, WITH ALL OF YOUR SUPPORT, WE FINISHED 61 TRANSPORTATION PROJECT THAT IS RELATED TO OUR VISION ZERO PROGRESS FOR $222 MILLION WORTH OF WORK.
WE FINISHED 404 TRAFFIC STUDIES.
AS IT RELATES TO AREAS OF SAFETY CONCERN, WE INSTALLED 289 SCHOOL ZONE FLASHERS TO ENSURE SAFETY FOR OUR KIDS. AND WE MAINTAIN 1433 SCHOOLS ON FLASHERS ALL OVER THE COUNTY.
OF COURSE, WE HAVE 1071 TRAFFIC SIGNALS.
SO THESE ARE SOME OF THE HIGH LEVEL SNAPSHOTS COMMISSIONER, WE ARE WORKING ON.
WE HAVE RECEIVED $26 MILLION OF OF FEDERAL AND STATE GRANTS THIS YEAR.
THAT IS ALSO RELATED TO OUR VISION ZERO INITIATIVES.
WE HAVE SUBMITTED 18 FEDERAL AND STATE GRANTS OUT OF $400 MILLION.
THAT'S RELATED TO OUR SAFE ROADWAY.
SO THESE ARE SOME OF THE HIGH LEVEL SNAPSHOT THAT ALSO INCLUDES A $50 MILLION DEDICATED INVESTMENT THAT HARRIS COUNTY AND THIS COURT HAS ALLOCATED FROM PROPOSITION B FROM THE 2022 BOND.
AND MANY OF THE PROJECTS THAT'S BEEN INITIATED BY FROM Y'ALL'S OFFICE.
COMMISSIONER, I KNOW IT'S LIKE.
IF I CAN JUST SAY THANK YOU FOR THIS PROGRESS, I KNOW A LOT MORE HAS TO BE DONE.
WE'RE ALL IN, WE'RE COMMITTED.
AND MY ONLY CHALLENGE AND REQUEST, WHICH I KNOW MY TEAM HAS TALKED WITH YOU ABOUT, IS JUST MAKING SURE THE HARRIS COUNTY DESIGN STANDARDS REFLECT OUR GOALS AND VISION ZERO, AND MAKE SURE THAT THEY EXPRESSLY SHOW OUR COMMITMENT TO SAFETY RELATED DESIGN STANDARDS.
AND SO AS THE LAWYER NON ENGINEER NON P, WHICH I HAVE SO MUCH RESPECT FOR THE PIECE, IT SEEMS LIKE WE NEED MORE ALIGNMENT BETWEEN THE HARRIS COUNTY DESIGN STANDARDS AND VISION ZERO WITH THAT.
THANK YOU. I LOOK FORWARD TO CONTINUING THE PROGRESS.
THANK YOU COMMISSIONER. THANK YOU DOC.
I'LL NOT DIG DEEP LIKE WE COULD GO.
TEXAS TRANSPORTATION INSTITUTE, PLEASE WORK WITH THEM.
THEY THEY FOCUS ON THESE TYPE OF ISSUES.
SO TT I THEY'RE NOT VERY FAR FROM YOU.
WHEN I WENT THERE RECENTLY, THEY SAID ONE THING.
IF WE WOULD SIMPLY PUT A SIGN ALERTING THE DRIVER OF A CURVE AHEAD, YOU WOULD ELIMINATE 40% OF THE ACCIDENTS THAT WOULD OCCUR ON THAT ROAD.
THAT'S WHAT KEEPS ME UP AT NIGHT, BECAUSE I DON'T HAVE SIGNS ON EVERY CURVE OUT THERE.
AND I KNEW IF I DID, WE COULD ELIMINATE 40% OF THE ACCIDENTS THAT WOULD OCCUR ON THOSE TYPE OF, I THINK ALMOST AFFORDABLE THINGS THAT WE CAN DO IN THE NEAR TERM, WE CAN WORK TOGETHER AND TRY TO FIGURE THAT OUT.
COMMISSIONER, THANK YOU FOR YOUR RECOMMENDATION.
AND WE'D BE HAPPY TO WORK WITH TEXAS TRANSPORTATION INSTITUTE.
AND I DO KNOW THAT THEY ARE THE LEADING AGENCY IN TEXAS ON THIS AREA.
THANK YOU, THANK YOU, DIRECTOR, AND THANK YOU, COMMISSIONERS.
SO WE WILL ACCEPT THE THE REPORT.
[07:15:01]
THAT WAS 391.OKAY. SO NOW FOR 73 FLAGGED BY PRECINCTS TWO AND THREE.
DID WE HAVE A CHANCE TO VOTE ON THIS ONE EARLIER? I CAN'T NO OKAY.
WHAT NUMBER IS IT? 473 ON PAGE 58.
AND COMMISSIONER RAMSEY SAID WE JUST NEED TO VOTE FOR 73.
CORRECT? WELL, WHILE WE'RE WAITING.
HE'S HERE. RIGHT? SO MY DAD'S AN ELECTRICAL ENGINEER.
MECHANICAL. OH, YEAH, I KNEW THAT.
IT'S LATE. OKAY, I DID KNOW THAT, BUT IT'S LATE.
ALL RIGHT. FOR 73? YEAH, FOR 73.
THIS IS, IN FACT, I WAS MEETING WITH THE POLICE CHIEFS YESTERDAY, AND PUBLIC HEALTH WAS THERE PRESENTING, AND THEY MENTIONED HOW DEMA WOULD BE TAKING OVER HEART IN SOME REGARDS.
AND I GUESS THIS IS THE ITEM HERE.
THERE IS AN INVESTIGATION INVOLVING DIMA AND AND SO I'M NOT SURE WHETHER THIS IS AN APPROPRIATE CONTRACT TO GET INTO AT THE MOMENT.
I DON'T KNOW HOW LONG THAT INVESTIGATION.
I KNOW THAT AN OUT OF STATE THERE'S BEEN AN OUT OF STATE REQUEST TO AUDIT THIS THIS FIRM.
AND SO I'M JUST CURIOUS WHETHER WE NEED TO GET INTO THIS RELATIONSHIP AT THIS POINT.
I'VE HEARD THE SAME THING, COMMISSIONER.
AND THAT'S WHY I WAS GOING TO VOTE NO.
IN FACT, I HAD A REPORTER CALL ME.
DO WE HAVE UPDATES? WE FLAGGED THIS FOR THE COUNTY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE AS WELL.
WE ARE AWARE OF IT. AND WE'RE WE'RE HERE TO ASSIST.
I KNOW THE I KNOW THE PUBLIC HEALTH DIRECTOR IS IS AWARE OF THAT SITUATION.
AND I'D ALSO LOVE IF AUDITOR POST IS STILL ON.
AND BY THE WAY, THIS IS AN AMENDMENT.
IT'S THEY HAD FORGOTTEN TO PUT AN EXHIBIT.
THERE'S ACTUALLY ALREADY AN ONGOING CONTRACT.
AND SO, DIRECTOR ROBINSON, I SEE YOU.
COURT BARBIE ROBINSON, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF HARRIS COUNTY PUBLIC HEALTH.
WE WERE MADE AWARE OF REPORTS IN NEWSPAPER IN SONOMA COUNTY RELATIVE TO DIMAS CONTRACT THERE.
BUT BACK DURING COVID WHERE THEY ACTUALLY HAD SOME CLAIMS FOR SALARIED EMPLOYEES THAT THEY DIDN'T ENUMERATE THEIR HOURS BECAUSE TYPICALLY YOU DON'T YOU DON'T ENUMERATE HOURS FOR SALARIED EMPLOYEES.
BUT AS YOU INDICATED COMMISSIONER BRIONES THIS IS A TECHNICAL CORRECTION WHERE WHEN WE ORIGINALLY SUBMITTED THE INFORMATION FOR DIMAS CONTRACT EXPANSION WE DID NOT INCLUDE THE BUDGET ITEM.
AND SO AUDITORS OFFICE AND PURCHASING RECOMMENDED THAT WE COME BACK BEFORE YOU ALL TO HAVE THIS DOCUMENT ADDED WE HAVE NOT HAD ANY ISSUES, BUT I'LL LEAVE THAT TO AUDITOR POST AND TO DWIGHT TO DISCUSS FROM A PURCHASING PERSPECTIVE.
AUDITOR POST. WOULD YOU PLEASE GO FIRST? OKAY. WE'VE BEEN AWARE OF THIS.
WE WERE CONTACTED BY SONOMA COUNTY OPEN RECORDS REQUESTS.
THEY WANTED COPIES OF OUR INVOICES THAT WE HAD PAID DEMA.
WE HAVE HAD AN ALLEGATION THAT THERE IS SOME DOUBLE BILLING.
SONOMA COUNTY PERHAPS GOT BILLED FOR THE SAME HOURS FOR THE SAME PERSON AS HARRIS COUNTY.
OUR INTERNAL AUDITORS ARE GOING TO GET THEIR RESPECTIVE INVOICES.
SONOMA COUNTY'S SUPPLYING THOSE.
WE'RE GOING TO LOOK AT THIS THE THE COUNTY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE IS ALSO AWARE OF THIS.
I CAN'T SAY THAT WE'VE, YOU KNOW, COME TO ANY KIND OF CONCLUSION.
[07:20:09]
INVOICES, AND, AND WE'RE GOING TO CHECK AND SEE IF WE SEE ANYTHING WE THINK IS IRREGULAR.AND HOW QUICKLY CAN YOU CONCLUDE THIS AUDIT? WELL, AGAIN.
OKAY. I DON'T KNOW IF ERIC IS STILL STILL ON, BUT I KNOW THAT IT'S A TOP PRIORITY.
ERICA HAS PULLED SOME PEOPLE OFF OF OTHER ENGAGEMENTS, SO I THINK THIS IS JUST A MATTER OF WEEKS.
BUT DON'T GO TOO. NOT TOO FAST, THOUGH.
THOROUGH, THOROUGHLY AND FAST.
HOW'S THAT? DWIGHT, WOULD YOU.
I'M SORRY. WOULD YOU ALL BE IN A POSITION TO PRESENT AN UPDATE AT THE MAY 7TH COURT BASED ON THE FINDINGS THAT YOU WILL HAVE UP UNTIL THEN? DEFINITELY. WE CAN DO THAT.
DO YOU HAVE ADDITIONAL INSIGHT? OH. PARDON ME, I'M SORRY.
GO AHEAD. COMMISSIONER. NO, I WAS JUST WONDERING IF YOU HAD ADDITIONAL INSIGHT.
DWIGHT. I HAVEN'T SEEN ANYTHING OTHER THAN WHAT THE SPECULATIONS ARE.
THIS ATTACHMENT WE'RE ADDING IS JUST REALLY TO CLARIFY THE BUDGET, THE POSITIONS, THE HOURLY RATES AND THE INDIVIDUALS SO THAT WE CAN HAVE SOME MORE DOCUMENTATION FOR FOR THE AUDITOR WHEN THEY PAY THE BILLS.
BUT AGAIN, THERE'S NO CHANGES IN THE CONTRACT ITSELF THAT'S ALREADY IN PLACE.
WELL, OTHER THAN THESE ENHANCEMENTS.
GOT IT. IF THEY'RE IF HOLDING THE ITEM DOESN'T CREATE A PROBLEM, I CAN'T VOTE FOR IT.
AND SO IT'LL BE UP TO MY COLLEAGUES TO DECIDE WHAT THEY WANT.
MY PREFERENCE WOULD BE TO HOLD IT.
AND THEN I LOOK FORWARD TO THE AUDIT FINDINGS TO THE MAXIMUM EXTENT.
GIVEN THE ALLEGATIONS, AS MUCH AS I LOVE HEART, WHICH IS AN INDEPENDENT MATTER, AND I HOPE DEPENDING ON WHAT WE LEARN ON MAY 7TH, WE CAN FIND AN ALTERNATIVE VENDOR THROUGH ALL THE COMPLIANCE PROCESSES AND OR INTERNALIZE IT WITH PUBLIC HEALTH.
FIND A PATH FORWARD. BECAUSE HEART IS CRITICALLY IMPORTANT.
SO MY PREFERENCE WOULD BE TO HOLD IT.
AND I VERY MUCH LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING WHAT YOU LEARN ON MAY 7TH.
I CONCUR WITH YOU, COMMISSIONER.
I HAD I HAD PULLED IT TO TWO VOTE NO.
I EQUALLY HAVE CONCERNS ABOUT ONGOING PAYMENTS TO DMA.
IS THAT THE CASE, DWIGHT? COMMISSIONER. I CAN'T SPEAK TO.
IF THEY'RE PAYING THE INVOICES, I'D HAVE TO REFER TO THE PUBLIC HEALTH AND THE AUDITOR'S OFFICE, BECAUSE I DON'T SEE THE INVOICE SIDE OF THINGS, BUT I ASSUME THAT'S THE CASE IF THERE'S NOTHING AS ISSUES.
I UNDERSTAND THERE ARE SOME INVOICES IN THE PIPELINE.
WHAT? WHAT WOULD YOU HAVE US DO? WHAT WOULD HAPPEN IF WE IF WE WAIT UNTIL NEXT COURT TO APPROVE THIS ITEM? AND, YOU KNOW, HOW MUCH CAN WE WAIT WITHOUT DELAYING THE PROGRAM IN ORDER TO DETERMINE WHETHER THE ALLEGATIONS ARE CREDIBLE? BECAUSE, OF COURSE, IT'S EASY FOR FOLKS TO ALLEGE.
SURE. YEAH. I THINK YEAH, I THINK I NEED TO GO BACK TO MY FINANCE PERSON.
I DO KNOW THAT AS WAS MENTIONED EARLIER TODAY, THEY ARE A SMALL PROVIDER.
AND SO BEING ABLE TO MAKE PAYROLL IS AN ISSUE FOR THEM.
AND SO I'M NOT SURE IF THAT WILL HALT SERVICES IF WE'RE NOT.
ONE, IT'S ALREADY BEEN DELAYED BECAUSE OF A CLERICAL ERROR.
THEY FAILED TO ATTACH THE BUDGET TO AN EXHIBIT.
I'M NOT SURE WHO DID, BUT ALAS, THAT DIDN'T HAPPEN.
TWO ABSOLUTELY EVERYONE IS INNOCENT UNTIL WE HAVE EVIDENCE.
AND AS A FORMER JUDGE, I TAKE THAT VERY SERIOUSLY.
AND WE HAVE ENOUGH OF EVIDENCE FROM A SIMILAR COUNTY.
[07:25:01]
AND WE GOT A CALL ABOUT POTENTIALLY DOUBLE BILLING WITH THE HARRIS COUNTY PERSONNEL.AS FIDUCIARIES OF TAXPAYER MONEY, I LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING WHAT WE LEARN BASED ON THE EVIDENCE.
AND I JUST RECEIVED WORD FROM MY DIVISION DIRECTOR THAT THE PROGRAM WILL WILL STOP IN TERMS OF THE FUNDING ASSOCIATED WITH THAT, IT WAS NOT DIMA'S RESPONSIBILITY OR THEIR FAULT THAT THAT TECHNICAL GLITCH HAPPENED, AND THEY WERE IN THE PROCESS OF BRINGING THEIR PEOPLE ON.
I'M JUST SHARING THE IMPLICATIONS OF THAT.
I'M JUST WONDERING IF, IF, IF IF DWIGHT OR THE AUDITOR ARE IN A POSITION TO MAKE A RECOMMENDATION OR OR RAMOS I MEAN, I'M JUST TRYING TO FIND MY CALIBRATE, SORT OF WHERE HOW HOW ALARMING THIS IS TO WHERE WE'RE GOING TO STOP AN IMPORTANT PROGRAM.
I WOULD DEFER TO THE OPERATIONAL DEPARTMENT.
THE MONEY HAS BEEN APPROPRIATED.
I THINK THIS IS REALLY ABOUT COURT'S COMFORT WITH MOVING FORWARD WITH A SPECIFIC VENDOR.
OKAY. SO YOU'RE SAYING THE ENTIRE PROGRAM WOULD STOP DIRECTOR ROBINSON? NO. I BELIEVE THE EXPANSION COMPONENTS OF IT.
SO IT IS RIGHT INTO MY PRECINCT.
YES. AND I THINK TO THE EXTENT THAT THERE'S SOME SHARED STAFFING BETWEEN THE TWO, IF YOU RECALL, RIGHT, THEY WERE RAMPING UP IN TRANCHES OF PEOPLE AND TEAMS. AND SO THAT WOULD, THAT WOULD THERE WOULD BE AN IMPACT, I DON'T KNOW, ALL OF THE CONFIGURATIONS OF THEIR DAY TO DAY OPERATIONS.
DO YOU DO I OR THE AUDITOR, YOU GUYS IN A POSITION TO MAKE A RECOMMENDATION AT THIS POINT? COMMISSIONER, I MEAN JUDGE, I DO NOT FROM THIS POINT BECAUSE I DON'T AGAIN, THERE'S NOT ENOUGH DETAILS FOR ME TO SAY IF THEY'RE GUILTY OR NOT GUILTY.
BUT I DON'T FEEL COMFORTABLE GIVING RECOMMENDATION TO MOVE FORWARD.
IF THERE IS CONCERNS FROM THE COURT, THEY'RE NOT WILLING TO VOTE ON AN ITEM.
WELL, IT SOUNDS LIKE EVERYONE WANTS TO HOLD IT.
THAT'S AND SO WE'LL WE'LL ADDRESS IT AT THE NEXT COURT.
YES. COMMISSIONER GARCIA, MR. POST. LET ME GET BACK.
MY QUESTION TO YOU IS, ARE YOU SIMPLY RESPONDING TO QUESTIONS THAT SONOMA COUNTY HAS FOR YOU, OR ARE YOU HAVE YOU INITIATED A FULL AUDIT ON THIS CONTRACT WITH THE CONCERNS THAT SONOMA COUNTY HAS EXPRESSED? YEAH, WE'RE GOING TO TAKE A THOROUGH LOOK AT IT.
THERE'S SOME SPECIFIC THINGS SONOMA COUNTY IS POINTING TOWARD.
OF COURSE WE'LL REPORT ON THAT.
IT'S THIS IS LITERALLY SOMETHING WE'VE JUST STARTED WITHIN THE LAST COUPLE OF DAYS, BUT WE WILL BE ABLE TO MOVE THOROUGHLY AND GET TO SOME SORT OF A CONCLUSION, I THINK.
AND YES, WE WILL REPORT IN IN MAY BACK WHERE WE ARE.
WE'LL REPORT SOONER IF WE FIND SOMETHING SIGNIFICANT.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH.
SO WE'RE GOING TO TAKE NO ACTION ON THIS ITEM.
IF I IF MY BRAIN IS WORKING CORRECTLY.
THIS IS DEFERRED MAINTENANCE PRESENTATION.
I PUT THIS ON HERE AS WE GO INTO OUR BUDGET CYCLE.
AND THIS SIMPLY IS TO WORK WITH THE DIRECTOR, HARRIS COUNTY FLOOD CONTROL DIRECTOR, DOCTOR PETERSON, TO ENGAGE AND GIVE SOME INDICATOR OF THE SCOPE OF THE PROBLEM RELATED TO DEFERRED MAINTENANCE ON OUR FACILITIES. IT'S REALLY HARD TO BEGIN TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO FUND IT OR DEAL WITH THE ISSUES UNTIL WE KNOW THE TOTAL SCOPE.
SO I THINK THIS AGENDA ITEM IS JUST TO ALERT THE COURT THAT DIRECTOR PETERSON WOULD ENGAGE IN TRYING
[07:30:08]
TO, IN SOME WAY, DEFINE FOR US THE NATURE AND EXTENT OF THE DEFERRED MAINTENANCE.AND OBVIOUSLY, AS WE GET INTO THE BUDGET, AS WE GET INTO THE TAX RATES AND OTHER THINGS, WE'LL BE FULLY INFORMED AND CAN MAKE DECISIONS BASED ON REAL INFORMATION. SO THAT WAS MY THAT'S THE REASON FOR THE AGENDA ITEM IS TO CALL ATTENTION TO THAT.
I KNOW DIRECTOR PETERSON IS HERE, AND WE'VE HAD CONVERSATIONS ABOUT WANTING THE COURT TO BE AWARE OF THE REQUEST AND THE ISSUE AND TRYING TO GO INTO THIS BUDGET CYCLE WITH AN UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT WHAT IT IS WE REALLY NEED FOR MAINTENANCE OF OUR FLOOD CONTROL FACILITIES.
THANK YOU. COMMISSIONER TINA, DO YOU WANT TO JUMP IN WITH SOME OF THE WORK YOU'VE ALREADY DONE? YEAH. I MEAN, SO COMMISSIONERS JUDGE, YOU KNOW, MY TEAM, YOU KNOW, WE'VE HAD REALLY AN EXTENDED CONVERSATION WITH THE COURT FOR THE PAST SEVERAL YEARS ABOUT THE CHALLENGES OF DEFERRED MAINTENANCE.
YOU KNOW, OVER THE PAST 20 YEARS, HARRIS COUNTY POPULATION HAS GROWN.
YOU KNOW, MY TEAM HAS BEEN DIGGING INTO THE DATA AND THE DETAILS AND LOOKING AT, YOU KNOW, THE YOU KNOW, WHAT IS THE TOTAL NUMBER OF ASSETS IN TERMS OF DOLLARS THAT THE FLOOD CONTROL DISTRICT HAS? AND HOW CAN THAT HELP INFORM? YOU KNOW, WHAT WE MAY NEED IN THE FUTURE? SO, YOU KNOW, THE THE REQUEST THAT COMMISSIONER RAMSEY HAS MADE IS FOR US TO BRING BACK INFORMATION TO TO START A CONVERSATION WITH THE COURT ABOUT THESE CHALLENGES, WHAT THE MAGNITUDE OF THE NEED LOOKS LIKE, AND WHAT FUTURE NEEDS COULD BE IN THE, YOU KNOW, IN THE COMING YEARS.
AND I THINK THAT THAT'S A REALLY IMPORTANT CONVERSATION FOR US TO HAVE.
AND I'D LIKE TO COME BACK AND BRING THE COURT, YOU KNOW, A SET OF DATA POINTS AND A COMPREHENSIVE SUMMARY OF THE TYPE OF INFORMATION THAT YOU MAY NEED AS YOU APPROACH, YOU KNOW, DECISIONS AROUND OUR BUDGET.
SO THE MOTION WAS FOR MANAGEMENT BUDGET TO PROVIDE A STRATEGY FOR TACKLING THE HARRIS COUNTY FLOOD CONTROL DISTRICT DEFERRED MAINTENANCE AT THE MAY 7TH, 2024 COMMISSIONERS COURT. I SECOND THAT.
ALL RIGHT. MOTION BY COMMISSIONER RAMSEY AND SECOND BY COMMISSIONER BRIONES.
ANY OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY.
THANK YOU FOR ALL YOU DO, DOCTOR PETERSON AND DOCTOR PETERSON.
DOES THIS GIVE YOU ENOUGH DIRECTION TO DEVELOP A PLAN ON HOW SUCH A MAINTENANCE FEE WOULD BE UTILIZED? COMMISSIONER, I THINK IT GIVES US ENOUGH DIRECTION TO BRING BACK SOME PRELIMINARY DATA POINTS.
SO I THINK WHAT WE CAN BRING BACK AT THE NEXT COURT IS A STRATEGY, MAYBE A TIMELINE, AROUND THE BIG PICTURE OF WHAT AND HOW THIS, YOU KNOW, QUESTION COULD INTERACT WITH THE BUDGET PROCESS.
AND THEN WE COULD COME BACK IN JUNE WITH MORE DETAILS AROUND THE SPECIFICS.
GOOD DEAL. AND IF AND IF COMMISSIONER RAMSEY, YOU'LL BE TAKING LEAD ON THIS.
BUT I WOULD ASK THAT WE DO ALSO GIVE SOME ATTENTION TO THE ISSUE OF ENCAMPMENTS. I KNOW WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THE INFRASTRUCTURE MAINTENANCE, BUT BUT THE THE ENCAMPMENTS IS THE NUMBER ONE THING I GET SO MANY CALLS ABOUT.
AND SO THAT WAS A SPEAKER TODAY CAME.
SO IF WE CAN JUST MAKE SURE THAT THAT'S ALSO PART OF THE THOUGHT PROCESS.
DOCTOR PETERSON, ABSOLUTELY WONDERFUL.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER RAMSEY.
SO THAT'S THAT'S THAT FOR THAT ITEM.
YEAH. AND I'M JUST REMINDING WE WE ADOPTED SOME PRETTY SPECIFIC THINGS IN TERMS OF HOW TO.
THAT MIGHT HELP OUR, OUR OUR MEETINGS IN TERMS OF TIMING.
I JUST PUT THIS ON TO SAY WE DID HAVE CERTAIN RULES RELATED TO MAYBE THE RESOLUTIONS.
RESOLUTIONS ABIDE BY THE RULES ADOPTED.
[07:35:02]
THAT'S A TEN MINUTE DEAL.WE HAVE OUR SHERIFF HERE COUNTY ATTORNEY WHO KEEPS US KEEPS US ON ON TRACK.
WELL, AND THEN THE COURT APPEARANCES, I MEAN, TODAY.
AND THIS ISN'T MEANT TO CRITICIZE, I.
BUT WHEN WHEN PEOPLE COME HERE AT 10:00 AND THEY DON'T SPEAK UNTIL TWO, YOU KNOW, THAT WE.
AND THIS WAS WE'LL CALL THIS A ONE OFF.
BUT NO, MAN, THEY'RE ALL REALLY LONG IT SEEMS SEEMS LIKE WE GET TO THAT POINT.
SO WE OUGHT TO THINK THROUGH THAT WHETHER WE HAVE A RESOLUTIONS MEETING AND, AND DEAL WITH RESOLUTIONS SEPARATELY OR WE DO WHATEVER WE CAN DO.
BUT 755 MAY NOT BE THE BEST TIME AND AND I'LL JUST STOP THERE. COMMISSIONER. I'M SORRY.
RAMSEY, I WAS JUST GOING TO SAY I SEE YOUR RECOMMENDATIONS.
YES. DO YOU HAVE THEM IN FRONT OF YOU? SO THE MOTION WOULD BE TO LIMIT THE RESOLUTIONS, ABIDE BY THE RULES ADOPTED, AND MORE RESPECT FOR COURT APPEARANCES WOULD BE THE THREE AND THE THERE WAS ANOTHER ONE ON THE ITEMS. SO THE COUNTY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE DID AN EXCELLENT JOB CIRCULATING SOME MOTIONS THAT BASICALLY EXPAND ON WHAT YOU JUST SAID.
COMMISSIONER RAMSEY, I DON'T KNOW IF YOU HAVE A COPY OR WE COULD MAKE WE HAVE PRINTERS NOW.
MINOR EDITS FOR THE TEAM'S CONSIDERATION.
KNOW THESE ARE YOUR RULES, NOT MINE.
JUST TO BE CLEAR, I THINK THESE ARE GREAT.
DO YOU WANT ME TO READ IT? OKAY. WITH REGARD TO ITEM 490, NUMBER ONE.
AND I'M GOING TO BE REFERENCING THE NUMBERS IN THE INITIAL RULES.
AND I'M GOING TO JUST SAY IVG FOR PURPOSES OF CLARITY, FOR THE RECORD, AS FOLLOWS.
YOU MEAN. EXCUSE ME? WHAT DO YOU MEAN? IVG? IT'S GUARDING THE NUMBER.
DO WE HAVE THE FULL COPY OF 4G? 4G ON THE COURT RULES? OH, I GOT IT.
YEAH. SO 4G, I'M JUST GOING TO USE THE NUMBERS.
OKAY, SO MOTION TO ADD 4G AS FOLLOWS.
EACH MEMBER OF THE COURT CAN PLACE NO MORE THAN TWO RESOLUTIONS PER REGULAR COURT MEETING.
ADDITIONAL RESOLUTIONS MAY BE PLACED ON THE BUSINESS COURT AGENDA WITH NO LIMITATIONS.
DO YOU MEAN TO READ THEM ALL SO YOU CAN THINK ABOUT IT? NO, I WOULD SUCK AT THAT ONE.
I WOULD. I DIDN'T GET THAT EMAIL.
I'LL I'LL FORWARD IT TO YOU RIGHT NOW.
MARICELA. THERE'S A FEW MINOR CHANGES THAT WE NOTICED.
TELL ME WHEN YOU'RE GOING TO READ. AND THEN TWO MOTION TO REPLACE FOR SI ONE AS FOLLOWS.
A MEMBER OF THE COURT MAY ADD AN ITEM TO THE DISCUSSION LIST, OR REMOVE AN ITEM TO THE CONSENT AGENDA THAT WAS PREVIOUSLY PLACED ON THE DISCUSSION LIST.
ONCE A MEETING HAS COMMENCED, BY ASKING THE JUDGE OR PRESIDING OFFICER FOR ADDITIONAL ITEMS TO BE PLACED FOR DISCUSSION OR REMOVED TO THE CONSENT AGENDA.
IF A MEMBER DOES NOT REQUEST ADDITIONAL ITEMS, THE JUDGE OR PRESIDING OFFICER SHALL PROCEED WITH THE DISCUSSION LIST AND CONSENT AGENDA AS PRESENTED.
MOTION TO AMEND FOR F AS FOLLOWS.
THE COUNTY JUDGE OR PRESIDING MEMBER OF THE COURT HAS DISCRETION TO MODIFY THE ORDER OF BUSINESS AND ROUTINE PROCEDURAL MATTERS IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE PROVISIONS OF THE TEXAS OPEN MEETINGS ACT, TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE, CHAPTER 551.
UPON APPROVAL BY A MAJORITY OF COMMISSIONERS COURT SECOND AND THEN FOR MOTION TO ADD THE FOLLOWING TO 4F1. AND THIS IS WHERE ONE OF THE EDITS J.
BY THE WAY, EACH MEMBER OF THE COURT CAN REQUEST ITEMS. WE BASICALLY STRUCK THE NO MORE THAN ONE, SO EACH MEMBER OF THE COURT CAN REQUEST ITEMS TO BE TAKEN OUT OF ORDER.
[07:40:09]
MOVING ITEMS. SECOND, AND THEN FIVE MOTION TO AMEND FOR E AS FOLLOWS.SO THE. IT'S A STRIKE THROUGH THE WORD TYPICAL.
SO IT USED TO READ THE TYPICAL ORDER AND IT WOULD READ THE ORDER OF BUSINESS FOR THE MEETINGS OF THE COURT SESSION SHALL BE ONE CALL TO ORDER, TWO OPENING PRAYER, WHICH SHALL BE INCLUSIVE OF THE VARIOUS RELIGIONS IN HARRIS COUNTY.
THREE UNITED STATES PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE FOUR.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE TO THE TEXAS STATE FLAG FIVE.
RESOLUTIONS AND SIGNING OF RESOLUTIONS SIX.
PHOTOGRAPHS. SEVEN PUBLIC COMMENTS SHALL BE NOTICED IN THE AGENDA.
EIGHT LUNCH BREAK ONE HOUR, GENERALLY PRIOR TO 1 P.M..
NINE CORRECTIONS AND CLARIFICATIONS.
SO THESE ARE THE ONES THAT THE COUNTY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE CIRCULATED AND WE DID THOSE MINOR EDITS.
THANK YOU JAY. SO DO YOU GUYS HAVE THAT NOW? YES, JUDGE I DO.
THERE ARE SEVERAL MOTIONS ON THE TABLE BY COMMISSIONER BRIONES, SECOND BY COMMISSIONER GARCIA.
ANY OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES 4 TO 0.
I KNOW THIS IS A LOT OF WORK FOR YOU GUYS.
CAN I ASK YOU ONE MORE THING? THANK YOU. JUDGE. YES, COMMISSIONER.
THIS HAS BEEN BOTHERING ME A LONG TIME.
NOT THAT IT'S A BIG DEAL, BUT I'VE ONLY WORKED FOR 50 CITIES AND 20 COUNTIES.
I'VE BEEN THROUGH MORE OF THESE MEETINGS THAN I CARE TO.
DON'T YOU HAVE TO FILE SOMETHING BEFORE YOU COME TO COURT? EXPLAIN THE REASONS WHY YOU ABSTAINED.
NO, NO, NO. SO? SO THERE'S TWO SEPARATE THINGS.
IF YOU ARE RECUSING YOURSELF FROM THE VOTE FOR A REASON, THEN YOU DO HAVE TO PLACE SOMETHING ON FILE, AND THAT'S USUALLY BASED ON A CONFLICT OR SOMETHING, SOMETHING AKIN TO THAT. SO THERE ARE TWO SEPARATE THINGS, BUT I UNDERSTAND WHAT YOU'RE ASKING.
THANK YOU. AND THEN I'M VERY THANKFUL TO THE POINT JUST TRYING TO RESPECT FOLKS TIME.
SO THAT'S SWITCHING SEVEN AND EIGHT BY PUTTING PUBLIC COMMENTS BEFORE THE LUNCH BREAK.
SO THANK YOU FOR ALL OF YOUR THOUGHTFUL SUGGESTIONS.
I MEAN, LOOK, THESE ARE THESE ARE GUIDELINES.
THANK YOU GUYS. SO THE TWO MAX RESOLUTIONS WILL TAKE EFFECT MAY 7TH.
491 FLAGGED BY COMMISSIONER RAMSEY.
IT'S PAGE 92, COMMISSIONER RAMSEY.
WHEN I VOTED ON THIS, ALL I KNEW IS THAT WE WERE GIVING A CONTRACT TO APEX HR STRATEGIES.
WELL AFTERWARD, AND I, I ASKED THIS TO COME BACK ON THE COURT, AND BECAUSE I VOTED IN FAVOR OF IT, IT MEANS THAT I CAN PUT IT BACK ON AND HAVE A REVOTE.
CORRECT. I WANT A REVOTE BECAUSE I'VE DISCOVERED THAT ONE.
AND IT WAS NOT COMPETITIVELY BID.
THE PERSON THAT WENT TO IS A FORMER HARRIS COUNTY EMPLOYEE THAT HELD THAT POSITION.
AND THE FIRM THAT IT WAS GIVEN TO IS A NEWLY FORMED BUSINESS WITH HER.
SO AT THIS POINT, THAT'S ENOUGH FOR ME TO VOTE AGAINST IT.
IS THERE A MOTION ON 491? YEAH, THIS IS SIMPLY A REVOTE ON THAT APEX STRATEGIES.
DWIGHT, DID YOU HAVE ANY COMMENTS OR GUIDANCE? COMMISSIONERS AND JUDGE THIS INDIVIDUAL.
[07:45:07]
AND SO IF THE COURT SO DESIRES NOT TO DO THIS CONTRACT WITH THIS INDIVIDUAL, THAT'S THEIR PREROGATIVE.BUT APEX IS THE LLC THAT SHE CREATED.
BUT WE DID THE SAME THING WITH PREVIOUS EMPLOYEES JOE MADDEN, ROBERT SWORDS, A FEW TO COME TO MIND.
NO. THE COUNTY, NO. THE HR PROCESS.
SO THEY'RE ABLE TO COME IN AND DO SOME OF THE WORK.
THERE'S A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT DO THIS BUSINESS.
IT WAS A PERSONAL SERVICE AGREEMENT WHICH IS ALLOWED BY THE STATUTE.
YEAH. YES. AND THE REASON THAT WE DIDN'T GO THROUGH THE COMPETITIVE BIDDING PROCESS IS ONE, THIS WAS A PERSON THAT HAS EXPERIENCE IN HARRIS COUNTY, ESPECIALLY IN HUMAN RESOURCES.
AND TWO, THAT, YOU KNOW, I'VE HEARD FROM NUMEROUS COURT MEMBERS THAT WE NEEDED TO TO MAKE MOVE FASTER ON FIXING SOME OF THE ISSUES THAT WE HAVE IN HUMAN RESOURCES.
I THINK A LOT OF IT HAS TO DO WITH LACK OF, OF STAFF RESOURCES.
SO I THINK THAT, YOU KNOW, THAT THAT WAS THE REASON THAT WE'RE TRYING TO EXPEDITE IT.
AN INITIAL. OH GO AHEAD. SORRY, I STAND BY MY PRIOR VOTE.
CORRECT. YEAH. I'M SORRY, I'M ASKING FOR A REVOTE.
SO SO THE JUST PROCEDURALLY THAT WORKS.
HE'S ASKING FOR THE FOR THE ITEM TO BE RECONSIDERED.
A VOTE OF YES WILL ALLOW THE ITEM TO BE RECONSIDERED.
SO SO WE'RE ASKING COMMISSIONER RAMSEY IS MAKING A MOTION TO RECONSIDER THIS ITEM.
CORRECT. SO EFFECTIVELY WHAT HAPPENS IS BY VOTING YES, YOU'RE ALLOWING THE ITEM TO BE RECONSIDERED.
AND THEN THAT ALLOWS COMMISSIONER RAMSEY AND THEN THEN THE ITEM WOULD THEN BE BACK.
COMMISSIONER RAMSEY COULD THEN CAST A NO VOTE.
I THINK THAT'S WHAT HE'S REALLY TRYING TO DO HERE.
YEAH. I MEAN, YEAH, I'M WITH COMMISSIONER BRIAN, SO THEN WE'D HAVE TO LOOK INTO THE OTHER GENTLEMAN.
THIS IS A I UNDERSTAND SHE USED TO WORK AND THEN SHE WAS FRUSTRATED BECAUSE WE WEREN'T MOVING.
SO THEN. BUT NOW WE NEED HER TO IN ORDER TO DO THE FINISH THE THE COMPENSATION WORK AND THE HR WORK.
I WOULD JUST OFFER THIS PERSPECTIVE.
I JUST AS I MENTIONED EARLIER, YOU GOT A LOT OF CONSULTANTS THAT YOU'RE BRINGING ON.
AND I'M NOT SURE WHAT THEY'RE ALL DOING.
PROCURE TO PAY WAS UNDER QUIDDITY, I THINK.
AND WE'RE STILL TWO AND A HALF YEARS INTO IT.
AND AND SO I AM YOU KNOW, COMMISSIONER RAMSEY RAISES SOME, SOME ISSUES.
SO I'M RIGHT NOW DEBATING WHERE I'M GOING TO BE ON THIS ITEM.
YOU HELD SOME LEADERSHIP ROLES IN TRAVIS COUNTY.
YOU'RE NOW THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR.
MISS BARTON HAS A NOW A NEW LEADERSHIP ROLE.
WHY DO WE NEED FOR FOR THIS? PART OF WORK.
WHY DO WE NEED A CONSULTANT? PART OF THE ISSUES THAT WE DO HAVE A LOT OF OF NEW WORK IN, IN OCA.
AND, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE HIRED A BUNCH OF PEOPLE.
I'VE MOVED PEOPLE AROUND TO TRY TO GET EVERYBODY IN THE AREAS, THE NEW AREAS OF WORK.
BUT THERE JUST SOME AREAS WHERE WE NEED EXPERTISE THAT WE DON'T HAVE IT IN-HOUSE.
SO YOU GOT SHANE? SHANE WAS OVER.
CORRECT. YOU KNOW, I THINK THAT'S THAT'S ONE OF THE ISSUES.
BUT ALSO SHANE IS VERY SHORT HANDED.
SO A LOT OF THE WORK THAT I'VE BEEN ASKING SHANE TO DO, YOU KNOW, I'VE BEEN HEARING FROM COURT ABOUT AND COURT MEMBERS ABOUT IT'S TAKING TOO LONG, YOU KNOW, WHERE ARE WE? AND SO I JUST THAT'S PART OF THE ISSUE.
IT'S ADDING MORE RESOURCES TO HR AS WELL, RIGHT.
COMMISSIONER, WOULD YOU LIKE TO MAKE THE MOTION THEN? TO MAKE A MOTION TO RECONSIDER? IS THERE A SECOND? ALL RIGHT. THE MOTION DIES FOR LACK OF A SECOND.
I'M. I'M DONE WITH EVERYTHING.
IT WAS REALLY A TREAT TO BE IN THIS NEW COURTROOM.
I VOTE THAT WE OPEN THE CURTAINS NEXT TIME.
IT IS 809 AND COMMISSIONERS COURT IS NOW ADJOURNED.
[07:50:04]
GOOD NIGHT.