May 07, 2024 Commissioners Court

[Pastor John White II of Wesley AME Church in Houston introduced by the Commissioner of Precinct 1.]

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>>> I WOULD LIKE TO CALL MAY 720 24 COMMISSIONERS COURT

ORDER. >> THANK YOU JUDGE. TODAY WE HAVE PASTORED JOHN F WHITE WHO WAS APPOINTED PASTOR OF THE WESLEY CHURCH IN DECEMBER 2023. PRIOR TO THIS HE SERVED IN VARIOUS PASTORAL ROLES THROUGHOUT THE STATE OF FLORIDA. HE ATTENDED TUSKEGEE UNIVERSITY AND THE FLORIDA INTERNATIONAL UNIVERSITY WHERE HE RECEIVED HIS UNDERGRADUATE DEGREE WITH A CONCENTRATION IN BUSINESS. HE EARNED A MASTERS OF DIVINITY FROM THE TURN OF THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY AND INTERDENOMINATIONAL THEOLOGICAL CENTER AND ATLANTA. HE IS MARRIED TO REVEREND MARIA MALLORY WHITE. TOGETHER THEY ARE THE GRATEFUL PARENTS OF TWO SONS TREY AND JOEY. HE IS A FREQUENT TRAVELER TO THE CONTINENT OF AFRICA AND INVITED ME TO JOIN THEM TO GET INTO THAT HOLY WATER. CAN YOU PLEASE JOIN US AND GIVE US THE PRAYER FOR TODAY.

>> THANK YOU COMMISSIONER. AND THANK YOU COUNTY JUDGE AND OTHER COMMISSIONERS THAT ARE HERE WITH THIS OPPORTUNITY. LET US NOW PRAY. WE COME FROM BEL AIR TO BAYTOWN. FROM SPRING TO SHORE ACRES. FROM HUMBOLDT TO HUNTERS CREEK VILLAGE. FROM FIRST, SECOND, THIRD, FOURTH AND FIFTH WORDS. FROM MIDTOWN, MEMORIAL CITY AND MEDICAL AREA. FROM RIVER OAKS DOWNTOWN AND WEST SIX. ALL OVER THE INNER AND OUTER LOOPS TO PRAISE YOUR NAME FOR THE GIFT YOU HAVE GIVEN US CALLED HARRIS COUNTY.

BECAUSE COMMUNITY IS BIGGER THAN US. WE RECOGNIZE THE NEED TO COMMIT OURSELVES TO SOMETHING BIGGER THAN US. SINCE WE HAVE COMMITTED TO A COMMUNITY BIGGER THAN US WE ARE CALLING ON A POWER THAT IS GREATER THAN US. THAT IS WHAT BRINGS US TO THIS MOMENT IN TIME BEFORE THE BALCONIES OF GLORY. TIMES WERE ADULTS ARE APATHETIC AND INDIFFERENT TO THE IN NEEDS OF THE NEIGHBORHOODS THAT ONCE LIVED IN. AND ACCUSTOMED TO THE RUN-OF-THE-MILL. MAKE OUR COUNTY JUDGE AND COMMISSIONERS ALLERGIC TO MEDIOCRITY AND IMMUNE TO THE STATUS QUO. UNCOMFORTABLE WITH AVERAGE AND NEVER SETTLING FOR THE WAY THAT THINGS HAVE ALWAYS BEEN. NEVER SUCCUMBING TO THE PARALYSIS OF FEAR THAT LEADS TO AN ACTION.

GOD WE PRAY FOR THE HARRIS COUNTY TO BECOME A PLACE WHERE CRIME IS ELIMINATED VIOLENCE IS VANQUISHED DRUGS ARE NOT RELATED AND LARGE BUSINESSES ARE WELCOME. JOBS ARE PLENTIFUL AND HOMES ARE SECURE. SMALL BUSINESSES ARE VIABLE AND RESTAURANTS AND MOVIES ARE ENJOYABLE. AND COMMUNITIES CARE ABOUT CHILDREN. GIVE OUR COUNTY JUDGE AND COMMISSIONERS OBEDIENCE SHAPING WELL AND TRANSFORMING MINDS TO WHICH YOU THINK AND LOVE FORCES TO WHICH YOU SPEAK AND HANDS THROUGH WHICH TO HELP. GOD, FAITH THAT THE COUNTY JUDGE AND COMMISSIONERS WITH LIFE-CHANGING SOLUTIONS. TO CLOSE THE GAP BETWEEN MAJOR PROBLEMS AND MINOR RESOURCES.

SOLUTIONS THE CLOSE THE GAP BETWEEN A WIDE DEMAND AND A NARROW SUPPLY. SOLUTIONS THAT CLOSE THE GAP BETWEEN THOSE THAT HAVE JOBS AND THOSE WHO PROVIDE JOBS. GOD WE BOMBARD HEAVEN NOW ON BEHALF OF THE HARRIS COUNTY THAT YOU MAKE IT AN OASIS OF LOVE. A PLACE OF PEACE AND ENTITY WERE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT THRIVES SCHOOLS FLOURISH HOUSING VALUES INCREASE AND VOTERS VOTE. CHILDREN ARE ENLIGHTENED AND SENIORS ARE SAFE. WE SEND TEXT MESSAGES TO HEAVEN ASKING THAT YOU BRING TOGETHER INSPIRED INDIVIDUALS WITH CONCERNED COALITIONS OPTIMISTIC ORGANIZATIONS AND THOSE THAT WOULD COLLABORATE UNDER THE INTENT TO SHARE TOGETHER. TO LEARN TOGETHER LIVE TOGETHER AND PROPEL THIS COUNTY FORWARD TO CONTINUE TO BE A PLACE WHERE WE CAN PARTY AND PLAY. LEARN LIVE WORKOUT AND WORSHIP. WE SEND THIS MESSAGE TO HEAVEN ASKING THAT YOU BLESS THIS COUNTY THAT IS SO BIG AND BOLD THAT THE WORLD WOULD TAKE NOTICE THAT PEOPLE FROM DIFFERENT NEIGHBORHOODS BACKGROUNDS AND ETHIC GROUPS CAN REASON TOGETHER CREATE POLICIES FOR THOSE LEFT BEHIND

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>> THANK YOU PASTOR AND CARL DAVIS FOR JOINING US.

>> THANK YOU FOR THAT BEAUTIFUL PRAYER AND FOR YOUR VISION. LET US RECITE THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE. 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 THE TEXAS FLAG. I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE TEXAS.

ONE STATE UNDER GOD ONE AND INDIVISIBLE.

I WOULD LIKE TO ACKNOWLEDGE EVERYONE THAT WAS PART OF THE RESPONSE TO THE DISASTER OF THIS PAST WEEK. FROM EACH ONE OF OUR COMMISSIONERS HELPING WITH THE COMMUNITY CENTERS AND WITH THE RESCUE EQUIPMENT AND COORDINATION AS WELL AS THE DEPARTMENT HEADS I WAS WITH ADMINISTRATOR RAMIREZ AND THE DEPUTY ADMINISTRATOR OUR COMMUNICATIONS SERVICE DIRECTOR AND MORE WORKING REALLY HARD OVER THE PAST FEW DAYS. SOME DAYS EVEN INTO THE NIGHTS AND NOW THEY ARE HERE FOR COMMISSIONERS COURT SO I WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT A LOT OF FOLKS HAVE BEEN WORKING HERE 24 SEVEN. THE FIRST RESPONDERS MORE THAN ANYTHING. IT WAS INCREDIBLE FOR ME TO BE OUT THERE WITH THEM AS PEOPLE WERE OUT IN THE MIDDLE OF THAT EMERGENCY. TO SEE THOSE COMING TOGETHER THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF DESTRUCTION AND TRAGIC STORIES BUT THERE'S BEEN NO DOCUMENTED DEATH OR SERIOUS INJURY OF 233 RESCUES SO I THINK WE ALL NEED TO BE GRATEFUL FOR THAT WE NOW MOVE ON TO THE RECOVERY PHASE BUT I WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE AND THANK ALL OF THE PEOPLE THAT

HELPED WITH THIS RESPONSE. >> THANK YOU FOR RECOGNIZING THAT. I WANT TO THANK EVERYONE THAT IS SITTING HERE ON THE COURT. EVERY DROP OF WATER THAT FELL NORTH OF US CAME THROUGH PRECINCT 3. ALL OF THOSE ROADS THAT YOU SAW FLOODED ALL OF THAT WAS PRECINCT 3 AND THIS IS HOW THE GOVERNMENT IS SUPPOSED TO WORK. THE COLLECTOR RESOURCES AND WE ADDRESS THE ISSUES. BUT I'M GOING TO MENTION SOMETHING I THINK THAT NEEDS TO BE MENTIONED. AND WE MUST TALK ABOUT IT UPFRONT.

THIS IS AN EVENT THAT TELLS US THERE IS MUCH WORK TO DO.

THERE'S AN EVENT LIKE THIS THAT TELLS YOU THAT YOUR NEIGHBOR TO THE NORTH AND MONTGOMERY COUNTY NEEDS TO DO MORE ON FLOOD MITIGATION. BECAUSE EVERY DROP OF WATER THAT FLOWS FROM MONTGOMERY COUNTY COMES INTO HARRIS COUNTY THROUGH PRECINCT NUMBER THREE. MONTGOMERY COUNTY NEEDS TO ADOPT THE MITIGATION REQUIREMENT IN ARTICLE 14. NO OTHER CONVERSATION HERE. I AM TIRED OF EXCUSES AND THERE IS

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LISTEN 200 HOMES WERE ACTUALLY FLOODED AND IT COULD'VE BEEN WORSE. EVEN THOSE THAT DID FLOOD WE COULD PROBABLY DO

BETTER. THANK YOU. >> I ADVISED FOLKS YESTERDAY I KNOW YOU'RE GOING TO GO STREET TO STREET TO PICK UP THE DEBRIS AS SOON AS IT IS LOGICAL TO DO SO ONCE WE HAVE GIVEN A CHANCE TO PUT ALL THAT MATERIAL OUTSIDE. DOES THIS CONTINUE TO BE THE CASE? I WANT TO MENTION OFF OF WHAT YOU SAID WE WERE LOOKING AT THE RAINWATER FROM THE RIVER AND I TALKED TO THE DIRECTOR OF FLOOD CONTROL. DR. PETERSON. AND I SAID IS THIS JUST INEVITABLE TO SEE THIS KIND OF DESTRUCTION AND THESE FOLKS THAT ARE RIGHT THERE AND DEALING WITH THIS FLOOD? WHAT SHE SAID WAS THERE WERE SOME AREAS THAT COULD BE FLOODING AND THAT'S WHAT WERE OFFERING THE BUYOUT PROGRAM. FOR A LOT OF THIS, THESE ARE HOMES THAT WERE BUILT BEFORE WE ADOPTED OUR STANDARDS. FOR US, WE WOULD HAVE TO GO BACK AND RETROFIT THOSE SO TO SPEAK. AND THAT IS GOING TO BE VERY COSTLY. IN MONTGOMERY COUNTY IN LIBERTY COUNTY THEY HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY OF SEEING THEIR FUTURE IN US. IT IS THE FISCALLY RESPONSIBLE THING TO DO TO BUILD THE STANDARDS AND FORGET ABOUT US ALTHOUGH IT IS NECESSARY I AM WITH YOU AND I THINK THAT YOUR VOICE IS UNIQUELY POSITIONED HERE. OF COURSE I HAVE A GOOD RELATIONSHIP WITH THE COUNTY AND THE JUDGE IS THERE BUT I KNOW I AM NOT A FAVORITE FIGURE. SO I THINK YOUR VOICE IS VERY IMPORTANT AND I'M GLAD

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BECAUSE IF WE'RE GOING TO WAIT 25 YEARS IMAGINE HAVING THIS EVERY YEAR PLUS HURRICANE SEASON. I WILL BE LOOKING FORWARD TO ENGAGING WITH ALL OF YOU ON THIS BODY TO BE ABLE TO GIVE SPACE FOR FLOOD CONTROL TO DO THAT.

>> THANK YOU FOR YOUR WORK. AND FOR YOUR COMMENTS IN PARTICULAR. I WOULD DEFINITELY LIKE TO GIVE US AN UPDATE ON OUR POTENTIAL PARTNERS FOR FUNDING THAT HAVE NOT ADOPTED THOSE MORE RESTRICT STANDARDS. AT SOME POINT THIS WOULD HAVE THE IMPACTS ON ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT. IN THIS OF COURSE WAS NOT A HURRICANE EVENT BUT ADDICTIONS INDICATE THIS WOULD BE AN ACTIVE HURRICANE SEASON. I KNOW THERE WOULD BE A LOT ON THE BALLOT BUT WHEN THAT ISSUE CAME UP BEFORE I WAS THE ONE WHO WAS RELUCTANT TO HAVE A SPECIAL ELECTION WHICH COST $1 MILLION ON THE ANNIVERSARY OF HARVEY BECAUSE I WAS AFRAID THAT THE PEOPLE WOULD NOT VOTE FOR IT. NORMALLY WHEN MORE PEOPLE ARE VOTING FIRST OF ALL YOU GET A MORE ACCURATE PREDICTION OF WHAT THEY THINK WE KNOW THAT THE COST WENT UP BECAUSE OF A HOST OF OTHER ISSUES. BUT WE OUGHT TO THINK AND THINK QUICKLY ON WHETHER OR NOT THEY HAVE THAT APPETITE. I WANT TO STRESS IN PARTICULAR COMMISSIONER RAMSEY TALKING ABOUT OUR COLLEAGUES IN THE STATE LEVEL AND WHAT THEY CAN DO TO BOTH ENCOURAGE AND USE THAT CARE APPROACH. WE CERTAINLY TRIED THAT TO GET THEM TO ADOPT THE STRICTER

STANDARDS. >> I THINK WE DO NEED TO PURSUE THAT FUNDING. WE WILL HAVE A FEW AGENDA ITEMS AND I THOUGHT ABOUT BRINGING THEM UP NOW BUT WE NEED TIME TO DISCUSS THEM. I WILL DISCERN NOT TO MAKE ANYONE UNCOMFORTABLE BUT I WOULD LIKE TO 32 MILLION THAT I CANNOT GET IN THE 2022 BOND THAT I WAS PROMISED. COMMISSIONER GARCIA REFERENCED SOME POTS OF MONEY AND WE NEED SOME MITIGATION FUNDS. THAT MONEY WOULD BE SPENT ENTIRELY MITIGATING WHAT WE JUST WENT THROUGH. THERE IS A BELIEVE SPECIFIC FUNDING IN PRECINCT 3 THAT NEEDS TO BE TALKED ABOUT. WHEN YOU CONSIDER THAT THAT MUCH WATER ENDS UP LEAVING THROUGH THE SAN JACINTO RIVER AND LESS THAN 2% OF THE BOND MONEY IS EVEN SPENT ON THAT WATERSHED THERE IS A DISPROPORTIONALITY RELATED TO THAT. AND WE HAVE TO BE ABLE TO GET THE MONEY COMING THROUGH. AND THE OTHER THING IS IF YOU ARE IN ANY OTHER PART OF THE COUNTY IF YOU MITIGATE ANYTHING IN PRECINCT 3 YOU CAN SEE HOW HELPFUL IT IS IN PRECINCT 1 TWO

AND FOUR. >> I JUST WANTED TO SAY FOR

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TO HELP ADDRESS THIS ISSUE. COMMISSIONER RAMSEY, YOU ARE MAKING SUCH A PRECISE POINT THAT OUR REGIONAL PARTNERS MUST BE PART OF THE COLLECTIVE EFFORT SO THANK YOU TO DR.

PETERSON AND THE HARRIS COUNTY FLOOD CONTROL DISTRICT BECAUSE I KNOW SHE HAS BEEN IN CONVERSATIONS WITH NEIGHBORING COUNTIES ABOUT WHAT COORDINATION WE COULD POSSIBLY BE DOING UNDER THOSE RESPECTIVE PROJECTS. BUT TODAY AND THIS WEEKEND WAS THE EXAMPLE ON WHY THAT HAS TO BE ELEVATED AND PUT INTO A HYPERDRIVE FOCUS. BECAUSE ALL INDICATIONS ARE THAT WE ARE GOING TO BE TALKING ABOUT THINGS LIKE THIS IN THE NEAR FUTURE. I HOPE THAT THAT IS NOT THE CASE. BUT IT DOES APPEAR THAT WE ARE ON THAT TRACK. SO TO ALL OF THOSE WHO ARE AFFECT DID GOD LOVE YOU AND GOD BLESS YOU. I HAVE SEEN ALL TOO MUCH THAT IT IS A TERRIBLE EXPERIENCE FOR PEOPLE TO GO THROUGH. BUT KNOW THAT YOUR MISERY IS NOT FALLING ON DEAF EARS AND WE ARE ALWAYS THINKING OF WAYS HOW TO ACCELERATE THE

DIFFERENCE AND MITIGATIONS. >> COMMISSIONER BRIONES AND

THEN COMMISSIONER ELLIS. >> I WANT TO THANK ALL OF YOU AND ECHO THE SENTIMENTS. THERE WAS AN ABSOLUTE BRUNT OF THIS DEVASTATION BUT YOU AND YOUR ORGANIZATION HAVE BEEN AMAZING RESPONDING TO KEEP EVERYONE SAFE. I AM ALL IN WORKING WITH YOU AND THE REST OF HER COLLEAGUES WHETHER IT IS REGIONALLY WITH HJC AND NEIGHBORING COUNTIES. COUNT ME IN 1000% WORKING WITH THE STATE AND FEDERAL GOVERNMENT. IT IS A SOBERING REMINDER TO ALL OF US THAT HONORABLE HURRICANE SEASON HAS NOT EVEN BEGUN. JUNE 1ST IS RAPIDLY APPROACHING AND THIS IS EXPECTED TO BE ONE OF THE WORST HURRICANE SEASONS EVER. IT IS A REMINDER TO PREPARE AND HAVE A PLAN READY. FOR ALL OF THOSE WHO ARE STILL SUFFERING MAKING SURE THEY ARE CALLING 311. WE HAVE ALL OF HER TEAMS SO ANYTHING THAT WE CAN DO COUNT US IN. WE NEED TO CONTINUE BEING AS TRANSPARENT AND ACCOUNTABLE AS POSSIBLE FINISHING A THIRD OF THE PROJECTS WITH TWO THIRDS STILL TO COMPLETE. I APPRECIATE DR.

PETERSON WORKING SO CLOSELY WITH THE GL OH AND OTHER AGENCIES TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE DELIVERING THE MUCH-NEEDED PROGRESS AND MEANWHILE I KNOW WE'RE GOING TO TALK ABOUT DEFERRED MAINTENANCE BUT THEN WE NEED TO BE MAINTAINING ALL OF THE ASSETS THAT WE CURRENTLY HAVE AND THE ONES THAT WE ARE BUILDING SO THAT THE CONVEYANCE OF WATER AND THE INTENDED USE OF EACH PROJECT HAS THAT MAXIMUM IMPACT. IT'S THE DELIVERING AND THE ONGOING MAINTENANCE. I KNOW WE ARE GOING TO DELVE INTO THIS BUT I APPRECIATE YOUR MAINTENANCE AS WELL. EVERYTHING YOU DO SACRIFICES THIS FOR OTHERS AND IT'S DEEPLY MOVING AND APPRECIATED.

>> COMMISSIONER RAMSEY AND COLLEAGUES I WOULD LIKE TO STRESS FOR US NOT TO REACT ON THE BASIS TO ANY IMMEDIATE CRISIS. WHEN WE LOOK AT THE COST AND BENEFIT RATIO AND WHAT THIS PATTERN HAS DONE IN NEIGHBORHOODS IN CERTAIN SECTIONS OF THIS COUNTY HISTORICALLY WE WILL HAVE A MAJOR DISCUSSION BUT WE CANNOT LOOK AT THIS BASED ON ONE SINGULAR EVENT. IT IS IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT HARVEY WAS A RAIN EVENT AS WELL. WE HAVE YET TO SEE WHAT KIND OF DEVASTATION

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CONTROVERSIAL? >> TO BE CLEAR AT 311 IS FOR THE DEBRIS REMOVAL QUESTIONS. THE NUMBER THAT EVERYONE NEEDS TO REMEMBER IS 211. THAT IS THE ONE THAT WAS MENTIONED YESTERDAY. RIGHT NOW WE HAVE THE FOOD BANK AVAILABLE AND INFORMATION ABOUT THE FOOD BANK AS WELL AS INFORMATION ABOUT THE IMMEDIATE SUPPORT AND NEEDS. AS WE GO ALONG MORE NONPROFITS WILL COME ON BOARD. THEY ARE JUST STARTING UP WHO IS DOING WHAT VIA 211 AS WELL AS APPLICATIONS FOR AGE. AND FEDERAL LOANS ONCE THOSE DO BECOME AVAILABLE. ONE MORE BRIEF NOTE, I AM LEAVING TODAY EARLY TO TRAVEL TO WASHINGTON, D.C. WE ARE MEETING SPECIFICALLY TO ADVOCATE FOR TWO THINGS. THE FIRST IS THE BUYOUT MONEY. A LOT OF THE AREAS AND WE SPOKE WITH RESIDENTS WHO SAY THEY DON'T WANT TO REBUILD BUT THEY ARE FORCED TO REBUILD HERE. TO NOT BE ABLE TO BUY THEM OUT AND FORCING THEM TO REBUILD AND DANGEROUS AREAS IS HEARTBREAKING BUT ALSO NOT VERY SMART. THE PROBLEM IS WE DO NOT HAVE THE FUNDING FOR THIS BE DONE QUICKLY AS IT DOES TAKE AROUND SIX MONTHS AND BY THEN THE RESIDENTS HAVE TO START PUTTING FLOORS AND AND YOU'RE NOT GOING TO WANT TO LEAVE. SO THEY'RE TRYING TO GET THE FUNDING TO COME DOWN FASTER WHETHER IT BE THIS TIME OR IN THE FUTURE. AND ALSO SUPPORT WITH THE AMOUNT OF FUNDING. I CANNOT STRESS ENOUGH THAT BOND PROJECTS ARE STILL YET TO BE COMPLETED. THE VAST MAJORITY OF THEM HAVE STILL BEEN STARTED.

BUT EVEN IF WE DO $32 MILLION THE TRULY GAME CHANGING PROJECT ARE ON THE SCALE OF BRADY'S BAYOU. WHICH WAS SOMETHING THAT TOOK DECADES TO FINALLY COMPLETE. AND IT WAS A SYSTEMIC PROJECT. THE OTHERS ARE NECESSARY AND VALUABLE BUT WERE NOT TURNING THE PAGE AND FLOODING UNLESS WE DO SOMETHING THAT IS TRULY GAME CHANGING. AND FOR THAT WE DO NEED ANOTHER BOND. SO I WILL CONTINUE TO ADVOCATE FOR THIS. AND JUST GIVING THE SPACE FOR FLOOD CONTROL AND COLLEAGUES TO DISCUSS THAT KIND OF DIVISION AND WHAT WE DO WITH 32 MILLIONS WE TALKED ABOUT THIS AS WELL AND I WOULD ASK THAT IF YOU NEED FUNDING THIS WOULD BE A WORTHWHILE PLACE. SOMEWHERE WE CAN GET FLOOD CONTROL AND THE BAND WITH TAKING A LONG TIME AND THAT'S PART OF THE REASON WHY THINGS HAVE BEEN DELAYED BECAUSE THAT 2 1/2 BILLION DOLLAR NUMBER WAS CHOSEN BUT IT DID NOT MET WITH A NUMBER OF PROJECTS THAT NEEDED TO BE DONE. IN KINGWOOD THEY WERE ASSIGNED 10 MILLION DOLLARS AND THAT WAS THE COST OF ONE OF THE SMALLER PROJECTS THAT IS UNDERWAY RIGHT NOW. AND THAT IS WHAT HAPPENED THROUGHOUT THE COUNTY. OF COURSE THAT BOND IS MIRED IN PROBLEMS AND TAKES FOREVER BECAUSE EVERYONE IS ADVOCATING FOR THEIR OWN PRECINCT. SO THAT CAN HAPPEN BUT WE ALSO NEED TO REALLY MOVE FORWARD AND I KNOW WE HAVE SEVERAL ELECTED OFFICIALS HERE

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

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>> I BELIEVE THAT IS DIRECTOR ALMOST ON THAT ONE.

>> THANK YOU JUDGE AND COMMISSIONERS. 291 IS ONE WAY IF YOU SIMPLY REMEMBER TWO OR THREE YEARS AGO WE CHANGED THE POLICY TO ESSENTIALLY OUR RAINY DAY FUND. THE POLICY SPELLS OUT THAT WE WOULD NOT ACCESS THIS UNLESS WE HIT $5 MILLION CAP.

CIRCUMSTANCES HAVE CHANGED AND WE DO NOT HAVE THE MONEY TO BE ABLE TO MANAGE THIS. SOME JUST ASKING FOR THE AUTHORITY TO ACCESS THE PICK AS THE BILLS ARE COLLECTED AND INVOICES ARE PAID SO THAT WE CAN MAKE THESE DEPARTMENTS WHOLE.

>> IS THERE MOTION? >> I THINK MOVE IS PRESENTED.

>> MOTION BY COMMISSIONER RAMSEY AND SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER GARCIA. ANY OPPOSED? THE MOTION CARRIED

UNANIMOUSLY. >> TO MR. RAMOSE'S POINT WHEN YOU HAVE 100 EMPLOYEES WORKING ROUND-THE-CLOCK FOR FOUR OR FIVE DAYS, THE NORMAL DUTIES THEY HAVE ARE PUT OVER HERE WHILE THEY WORK ON THAT. THIS FUND WILL BE VERY HELPFUL IN MAKING US WHOLE AND AT LEAST WE CAN GET BACK TO SOME KIND OF NORMAL SO THAT IS MUCH APPRECIATED.

>> ARE THERE ANYTHING ELSE ON 291? I ENCOURAGE WHETHER WE HAVE COMMUNITY FLOOD CONTROL OR MORE THIS IS BROUGHT IN LIEU OF THE ONE THAT I NORMALLY SEE WITH THE POSSIBLE ACTION RELATED TO THE EMERGENCY SO IF THERE'S ANYTHING ELSE WE CAN KEEP COMING BACK TO THIS ONE AREA DR. REIMANN MY UNDERSTANDING IS YOU NEED SOME FUN TO BE ABLE TO ALLOCATE THE

NECESSARY DEBRIS REMOVAL? >> YES THAT IS THE CORRECT

STATEMENT. >> SO THE MOTION I HAVE HERE IS TO APPROVE THE ACTIVATION OF THE DEBRIS TAYLOR CONTRACT WITH A VALUE NOT TO EXCEED $5 MILLION AND TO PROVE THE ACTIVATION OF THE DEBRIS MONITOR CONTRACT WITH A VALUE NOT TO EXCEED $3 MILLION. MOTION BY COMMISSIONER RAMSEY AND SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER GARCIA. ALL IN FAVOR? ANY OPPOSED? THE MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY. IS THERE ANYTHING ELSE BUDGET DIRECTOR AND COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR ON THESE ITEMS

FOR NOW? >> NO MA'AM.

>> OKAY. THERE ARE NO SCHOOLS CLOSE TODAY. AS OF YESTERDAY WE DID STILL HAVE A SHELTER AT GREENHOUSE INTERNATIONAL CHURCH WITH A COUPLE OF CLIENTS AS WELL AS PETS AND WE ARE WORKING RIGHT NOW ON THE SHELTER TRANSITION PLANS FOR THOSE INDIVIDUALS. WE HAVE ENGAGED IN COORDINATED RECOVERY PLANNING WITH THE VOLUNTEER ORGANIZATION AND WITH HER GROUP OF ORGANIZATIONS HARRIS COUNTER HARRIS COUNTY OEM AND COMMUNITY

[Departments (Part 1 of 2)]

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IN THE EFFORT TO ENCOURAGE CITIZENS TO PARTICIPATE IN JURY SERVICE THE CLERK'S OFFICE CONDUCTS OUTREACH CAMPAIGNS AND PARTNERS WITH CIVIC AND GRASSROOTS ORGANIZATIONS. IN HARRIS COUNTY ALONE THE DISTRICT COURT CLERK'S OFFICE HAS MADE STRIDES LIKE THE INCREASE FROM SIX DOLLARS TO $30 FOR THE FIRST DAY OF SERVICE AND AN INCREASE FROM $40-$58 FOR SUBSEQUENT DAYS IF SELECTED TO SERVE. THE LAUNCH OF THE INNOVATIVE SYSTEM BY WHICH THEY ARE NOW PAID WITH A DEBIT CARD FOR ECU THE IMPLEMENTATION OF EACH ARE A PIONEERING ONLINE RESOURCE DEVELOPED BY THE OFFICE THAT ALLOWS SUMMONED JURORS TO PREREGISTER FOR DISQUALIFICATIO NS AND RESCHEDULE THE JURY SERVICE. AND I WOULD LIKE TO JUST ADD AN INCREDIBLE JOB DURING COVID-19 THEY ARE MANAGING TO DO JURY SELECTION AT ENERGY AND IT WAS JUST HEROIC. BE IT RESOLVED THAT THE HARRIS COUNTY COMMISSIONERS COURT PROCLAIMS MAY 6TH THROUGH 10TH 2024 AS JURY APPRECIATION WEEK IN HARRIS COUNTY TEXAS. THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH FOR YOUR CONTINUED WORK AND I THINK IT IS WORTH GIVING A ROUND OF APPLAUSE FOR JURORS AND THE CLERK'S OFFICE. I KNOW WE HAVE SEVERAL SPEAKERS HERE. PERHAPS WE CAN START WITH THE DISTRICT

CLERK? >> GOOD MORNING MEMBERS OF THE CLERK. ON BEHALF OF THE CLERK'S OFFICE I THANK YOU FOR THE RESOLUTION HONORING JURY APPRECIATION WEEK. FROM MAY 6TH THROUGH THE 10TH WE ARE PROVIDING ALL PERSPECTIVE JURORS DURING THE MORNING CALLS AND WE ARE ALSO RAFFLING DOOR PRIZES AND GIVING EVERYONE AND I SERVED STICKER TO EXPRESS GRATITUDE TO ALL CITIZENS THAT COME TO JURY ASSEMBLY. IN THE LAST THREE YEARS WE WORKED HARD TO IMPROVE THE JURY EXPERIENCE.

HARRIS COUNTY NOW PROVIDES FREE PARKING AND COFFEE FOR ALL JURORS AND THANKS TO BOTH THE LEGISLATURE AND THIS COURT JURY PAY WAS INCREASE TO $30 FOR THE FIRST DAY OF SERVICE AND $50 FOR SUBSEQUENT DAYS. THE DISTRICT CLERK'S OFFICE ASKS ALL SUMMONED JURORS TO PREREGISTER ONLINE OR BY CALLING OUR STAFF. IN THIS PROCESS WE CAPTURE THEIR EMAILS AND THEIR CELL PHONE NUMBERS ENABLING US TO SEE REMINDER NOTICES ABOUT THEIR SERVICE. THIS HAS GREATLY ENHANCED OUR ABILITY TO PREDICT HOW MANY PEOPLE WILL SHOW UP AND CANCEL SOME IF WE SEE IT IS NEEDED. IT ALLOWS A JURY TO ASK TO CLAIM A DISQUALIFICATION OR SCHEDULE FOR MORE CONVENIENT DAY. I AM PROUD OF THESE FEATURES BUT THEY WILL NOT IMPROVE THE APPEARANCE RATE OR DIVERSITY WERE JURIES. UNLESS HARRIS COUNTY CITIZENS KNOW ABOUT IT. THAT IS WHY PLANT ASKED FOR SIGNIFICANT INVESTMENT FOR OUTREACH EFFORTS IN THE UPCOMING BUDGET CYCLE. WE NEED TO GET THE WORD OUT TO ALL COMMUNITIES ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING TRIED BY A JURY OF ONE'S PEERS. AS OUR FOUNDING FATHERS DESIGNED THEM.

THE DISTRICT CLERK'S OFFICE APPRECIATES HARRIS COUNTY JURORS ALL THROUGHOUT THE YEAR. BUT WE DO FOCUS THIS FIRST WEEK OF MAY ON MAKING IT SPECIAL IN RECOGNITION OF THEIR VALUABLE

SERVICE. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU. TIFFANY?

>> NEXT IS REPRESENTATIVE AND JOHNSON.

>> GOOD MORNING. THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE HERE IN SUPPORT OF THIS JURY INITIATIVE. FIRST OF ALL I WOULD LIKE TO THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING THAT YOU HAVE DONE TO ENSURE PUBLIC SAFETY AND GETTING THROUGH THE COURT BACKLOG. YOU WERE INSTRUMENTAL IN THE LEGISLATURE GIVING US SEVEN WAR CRIMINAL FELONY COURTS TO PROCESS TO THOSE CASES. AS MANY OF YOU KNOW THERE IS NOTHING LIKE A JURY WAITING IN THE HALL FOR PEOPLE TO SETTLE AND MAKE DECISIONS ON THAT CASE. BUT I AM HERE FOR A DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVE. I'VE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO STAND UP ON BEHALF OF A NUMBER OF VICTIMS WHETHER THEY ARE VICTIMS OF SEXUAL ASSAULT OR ANY OTHER VIOLENT CRIME. THERE IS NOTHING HARDER THAN TELLING THEM THAT IT IS FINALLY THEIR DAY IN COURT TO GET THEM TO THE PRESSURES OF HAVING TO CONFRONT THEIR ACCUSER AND THEN THE WORST THING THAT CAN HAPPEN, TO SAY THAT WE CANNOT GET A PANEL AND YOU MUST COME BACK. SO THANK YOU TO YOUR COMMITMENT FOR PUBLIC SAFETY AND COMMITTING TO THE JUDGING OF OUR PEERS AND JURY SERVICE HERE IN HARRIS COUNTY.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH. >> NEXT IS REPRESENTATIVE JEAN

WU. >> MORNING COMMISSIONERS AND JUDGE. I AM HERE JUST THE SAME AS REPRESENTATIVE JOHNSON. WE

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I WANT TO EXPAND THIS PROGRAM NEXT TIME BECAUSE WE NEED MORE PEOPLE. I REPRESENT THE IMMIGRANT DISTRICT AND WE HAVE MORE PEOPLE BECOMING CITIZENS AND WE WANT TO ENCOURAGE THEM TO PARTAKE IN THE COMMUNITY. JOIN US AND HELP US DO WHAT IS CORRECT HELPING US TO BE A REPRESENTATIVE COMMUNITY AND HAVE JURORS ACTUALLY LOOK LIKE AND BE REPRESENTATIVE OF ALL OF THE PEOPLE WITHIN THE CITY SO WE ARE TRULY JUDGED BY OUR

PEERS. THANK YOU SO MUCH. >> THANK YOU AND WELCOME TO OUR

NEW COURTROOM. >> THANK YOU REPRESENTATIVE WILL AND REPRESENTATIVE JOHNSON. AND CLERK BURGESS.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR CREATIVITY AND MORE WHEEZE TO WORK CLOSELY AS A LAWYER AND FORMER JUDGE I COULD NOT AGREE MORE. WE WERE ALSO VERY PROUD TO ADVANCE JURY PAY BECAUSE WE NEED JURORS TO REFLECT THE BEAUTIFUL DIVERSITY OF OUR COMMUNITY AND FOR FOLKS WHO ARE LIVING PAYCHECK TO PAYCHECK STRUGGLING TO PAY THE BILLS THIS INCREASE ACTUALLY INC. HELPS THEM TO SHOW UP.

WHEN RESPONSE TO JURY SUMMONS HOVERS AROUND 20% THAT IS LOW AND WITH CREATIVITY AND PERSISTENCE WE ARE IMPROVING THIS. ANYTHING WE CAN DO TO PUSH THESE LEVERS THE BEAUTY OF THE JUSTICE SYSTEM IN THE COUNTRY IS THE RIGHT TO A TRIAL BY JURY IS A CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHT AND WE NEED IT TO BE A JURY OF OUR PEERS. AND AGAIN THAT APPEARS HERE REFLECT THE BEAUTIFUL DIVERSITY. THE LAST POINT I WILL MAKE IS THAT I'M SURE ALL OF YOU SHOW UP FOR JURY DUTY BUT LET US MAKE SERVING ON A JURY SOMETHING THAT IS OUR PRIVILEGE AND HONOR TO BE ABLE TO EXERCISE WITH THE CIVIC DUTY. HELP US TO SPREAD THIS WORD WITH THE AMAZING INITIATIVES AND I AGREE THAT WE NEED TO DO MORE ESPECIALLY IN OUR SHARED AREAS THAT IS THE MOST INTERNATIONAL TO MAKE IT MORE ACCESSIBLE FOR ALL OF OUR FOLKS TO SHOP FOR JURY DUTY. THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP

AND PERSISTENCE. >> THANK YOU SO MUCH.

>> NEXT IS BISHOP JAMES DIXON. TODAY I STAND WITH THE COMMISSIONER AND THE CLERK AND ALL OF US WHO ARE ADVOCATING FOR EXPANDING RESOURCES FOR THESE INNOVATIVE PROGRAMS INITIATED BY HER DISTRICT CLERK. I WOULD LIKE TO GIVE THEM A HAND BECAUSE THEY ARE DOING INNOVATIVE THINGS FOR THE OFFICE THAT WE'VE NOT SEEN BEFORE. IT IS PRETTY SPECIAL. I REPRESENT TO THE NAC CP WITH THE CULTURAL ADVOCATES PERFORMANCE. WE UNDERSTAND THAT WE ARE IN ONE OF THE MOST DIVERSE COUNTIES IN THE NATION AND IT IS IMPORTANT OF COURSE THAT WE HAVE INNOVATIVE OUTREACH PROGRAMS THAT ARE DESIGNED TO INSPIRE AND ENCOURAGE JURY PARTICIPATION SO THE INCREASES MAKE A DIFFERENCE. BUT ALSO DEMONSTRATE THE FACT THAT IT IS HONORABLE TO SERVE IT IS

IMPORTANT AND NECESSARY. >> THANK YOU BUT YOUR TIME IS

UP. >> I WOULD LIKE TO SAY THAT I THINK THAT THIS KIND OF COLLABORATION BETWEEN THE CLERK'S OFFICE AND THE FAITH COMMUNITY AND THE SOCIAL JUSTICE COMMUNITY, WE CAN INCREASE PARTICIPATION AND IMPROVE THE RESULTS WITHIN THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM. SO THANK YOU. WE ARE HONORED TO BE HERE AND WE THANK YOU FOR

EVERYTHING THAT YOU DO. >> NEXT IS AL MALDONADO.

>> GOOD MORNING. MY NAME IS AL MALDONADO. ONE OF THE LARGEST HISPANIC RIGHTS CIVILIZATIONS IN THE COUNTRY. I AM HERE TO SUPPORT EXPRESS OUR WHOLEHEARTED SUPPORT OF THE EFFORTS AND OUTREACH CAMPAIGN TO RAISE AWARENESS AND REPRESENTATIVE OF MINORITY COMMUNITIES. WE NOTE THE VALUE OF JURY DUTY. IT WAS NOT THAT LONG AGO IN JACKSON COUNTY JUST DOWN THE ROAD WHERE MEXICAN-AMERICANS WERE EXCLUDED UNTIL THE 1950S. FORTUNATELY WE WERE ABLE TO SUCCESSFULLY

[00:45:05]

ANYTHING WE CAN DO TO INSIST IN THOSE EFFORTS ARE THERE. WE THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE AND ASK FOR YOUR SUPPORT IN THESE

ENDEAVORS. >> THANK YOU FOR YOUR DECADES OF COMMITMENT AND YOUR SERVICE TO LULAC. IT IS ALWAYS AMAZING

TO SEE YOU HERE. >> GOOD MORNING. MY NAME IS RAY SHACKLE FORD AND I'M HERE ON THE URBAN LEAGUE. I WOULD LIKE TO COMMEND THE DISTRICT CLERK ON THE WORK THAT SHE IS DONE WITH HER TEAM TO BRING IT SO FAR TO THIS POINT. I REMEMBER WE FIRST INCREASE THAT CONVERSATION AND I KNOW THAT WHAT SHE IS DOING IS WORKING. IT IS IMPORTANT AND WE LOOK AT THE COMMUNITIES THAT THEY SERVE. IT IS NOT ENOUGH TO DO THESE KINDS OF INITIATIVES WE MUST DO IT CONSISTENTLY. IT'S NOT ENOUGH TO SAY AT ONE TIME YOU MUST SAY IT AS MANY TIMES AS POSSIBLE. AND DO IT IN INNOVATIVE WAYS. SO WE LOOK AT JURY APPRECIATION WEEK. I LOVE THE CONCEPT AND I THINK WE NEED TO COMMIT TO IT EVEN MORE AND EXPAND IT TO MAKE SURE THAT ALL OF HARRIS COUNTY RESIDENTS ARE ABLE TO BE JUDGED BY A JURY OF THEIR PEERS. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND WE APPRECIATE YOUR

SUPPORT ON THIS INITIATIVE. >> THANK YOU. THAT IS ALL FOR

THIS ITEM. >> THANK YOU FOR YOUR ADVOCACY.

MY SECOND RESOLUTION CELEBRATES BETH M BUGBEE ON THE OCCASION OF HER RETIREMENT. AND 33 YEARS OF SERVICE. WHEREAS MISS BUGBEE IS RETIRING FOR THE HARRIS COUNTY UNIVERSITY'S DEPARTMENT AFTER 33 YEARS OF DEDICATED SERVICE JULY 1990 SHE JOINED THE HARRIS COUNTY INFORMATION MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS DEPARTMENT NOW KNOWN AS HARRIS COUNTY UNIVERSAL SERVICES. IN HER ROLE, SHE HAS BECOME THE PRIMARY FUNCTIONAL SUBJECT MATTER EXPERT IN HUMAN CAPITAL MANAGEMENT FOR THE STARS APPLICATION. SHE WAS INSTRUMENTAL IN SUPPORTING THE HUMAN RESOURCES BENEFITS MODULE AND THE INTEGRATION AND A FUNCTIONAL LEAD FOR PEOPLESOFT CGI BUDGETING SOFTWARE. HER NOTABLE ACCOMPLISHMENTS INCLUDE AN PERMITTING AND SUPPORTING ALL HR SYSTEMS FOR INTEGRATIVE FINANCIAL AND COUNTY SOLUTIONS HELPING ARCHITECT AND DESIGN THE BENEFITS A MINISTRATION SYSTEM SUPPORTING AUTOMATED OPEN ENROLLMENT FOR HARRIS COUNTY FOR NEARLY 3 DECADES. AND PERSEVERING THROUGH THE EXTENSIVE Y2K CODE CHANGE EFFORT RESULTING IN A SEAMLESS TRANSITION FOR ALL OPERATIONAL COMPUTER SYSTEMS INTO THE NEW CENTURY. SHE WILL BE REMEMBERED AS SOMEONE WHO GAVE THE UTMOST ATTENTION TO DELIVERING SERVICE WITH EXCELLENCE. HER DEDICATION TO CONSTANTLY COMING UP WITH CREATIVE SOLUTIONS AND SUGGESTIONS FOR ALL CHALLENGES SHE FACED IS MET WITH GREAT RESPECT FROM CUSTOMERS AND COLLEAGUES. THE PROFESSIONAL WORK ETHIC WILL BE MISSED BY FRIENDS AND COLLEAGUES ALL OF WHOM WISH HER THE ABSOLUTE BEST THAT LIFE HAS TO OFFER. AND FURTHER EXTEND BEST WISHES FOR SUCCESS AND HAPPINESS IN ALL FUTURE ENDEAVORS. NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT THE HARRIS COUNTY COMMISSIONERS COURT COMMENDS AND CONGRATULATES BETH AND BUGBEE AND HARRIS COUNTY TEXAS FOR HER PROFESSIONAL SERVICE AND HER DEDICATION TO THE RESIDENCE OF HARRIS COUNTY AND WE THANK HER AND WE THANK YOU FOR YOUR 33 YEARS OF

SERVICE. >> DIRECTOR PLEASE COME UP THIS IS A ROAST AND TOAST OPPORTUNITY.

>> MORNING JUDGE AND COMMISSIONERS. IT IS A PRIVILEGE TO RECOGNIZE THE EFFORTS THAT BETH HAS CONTRIBUTED TOWARD MODERNIZING NOT JUST THE HR FUNCTIONS BUT MULTIPLE SYSTEMS AND INTERFACES RELATED TO THOSE. THOSE THOUGH

[00:50:05]

THE PRIME MANAGER WHO IS ALSO RETIRED HAS SENT A NOTE SAYING THAT IT HAS BEEN A PLEASURE WORKING WITH BETH FOR 30 YEARS.

SHE HAS ACCEPTED ALL TASKS ASSIGNED TO HER WITH GREAT ATTITUDE AND NEVER COMPLAINED. SHE ALWAYS MANAGED TO MEET PROJECT DEADLINES AND SIMULTANEOUSLY MET EXISTING APPLICATIONS PROVIDING EXCELLENT CUSTOMER SUPPORT THE END-USER COMMUNITY HAS LOVED WORKING WITH BETH BECAUSE SHE UNDERSTOOD THOSE ISSUES AND QUESTIONS AND COULD COMMUNICATE HER RESPONSE IN A MANNER THAT THE USER UNDERSTOOD WHICH IS INCREDIBLY DIFFICULT FOR OUR TECHNOLOGY FOLKS. FROM HER CURRENT MANAGER SHE SAYS IT HAS BEEN A PLEASURE TO WORK AND I APPRECIATE THE EFFORTS THAT SHE HAS PUT TOGETHER AT THE COUNTY AND SIGNIFICANTLY CONTRIBUTED TO OUR SUCCESS. ON THIS MILESTONE IN HER LIFE I WISH HER THE BEST AND I HOPE SHE DOES EVERYTHING SHE HAS DESIRED TO DO. I AM LOSING A GREAT COLLEAGUE AT WORK AND I'M GRATEFUL THAT SHE WILL STILL BE MY FRIEND. HAPPY RETIREMENT. SOME INTERESTING ASPECTS HERE.

YOU MAY NOT KNOW THAT I'M GOING TO SHARE THIS YEAR. BUT SHE IS A HUGE BOARDGAME COLLECTOR. SHE AND HER FAMILY PLAN AND ANNUAL NEW YEAR'S EVE OF BOARDGAMES AND EXTEND THAT INVITATION TO FRIENDS AND COLLEAGUES. AS LONG AS I HAVE KNOWN HER IN THE COUNTY THIS IS WHAT SHE'S DONE. SHE ALSO ATTENDS COMIC

PELLUCID. EVERY YEAR. >> DOES SHE DRESS UP?

>> MY DAUGHTER DOES. THEN I MIGHT SEE YOU THERE THIS YEAR.

>> SHE IS ALSO A BIG FAN OF THE BRITISH SCIENCE FICTION SHOW,

DR. WHO. >> I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU FOR HAVING THIS OPPORTUNITY TO WORK HERE FOR ALMOST 34 YEARS. I'VE WORKED WITH MANY MEMBERS OF ALL OF YOUR DIFFERENT STAFF. AND MANY DEPARTMENTS. IT HAS BEEN GREAT GETTING TO KNOW SO MANY PEOPLE ACROSS THE COUNTY. AND I WANT TO SAY THAT THIS WAS ABOUT ME BUT HEAD HAS ALSO BEEN A TEAM EFFORT AND I'VE ONLY BEEN ABLE TO DO SO MUCH BECAUSE OF THE GREAT PEOPLE WHO WERE WITH ME HELPING ME AND GETTING THIS FORWARD IN MAKING IT HAPPEN.

>> THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE.

>> COMMISSIONER ELLIS THERE ARE NO RESOLUTIONS OUT OF ORDER.

COMMISSIONER GARCIA? >> THANK YOU JUDGE. I AM HUMBLED AND HONORED TO PRESENT THIS FIRST RESOLUTION. I WOULD LIKE TO RECOGNIZE THAT WE ARE JOINED BY THE WIFE OF OUR DEPUTY. OUR HERO. AND JOHN HAMPTON COULD DUKE THE THIRD.

WE ARE ALSO JOINED BY HIS BEAUTIFUL MOTHER MISS SCHWARTZMAN. I JUST WANT TO SAY AND THANK THE MEMBERS OF THE HARRIS COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE COMMAND STAFF FOR BEING HERE AS WELL. ON BEHALF OF SHERIFF GONZALES YOU HAD A TOUGH WEEK AND A TOUGH WEEKEND. TO THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING. UNDOUBTEDLY YOU MANAGE TO GET THROUGH IT IN FINE ORDER BECAUSE JOHN WAS LOOKING OUT FOR EVERYONE. SHE SAID SOMETHING LIKE IT FEELS LIKE HE IS AT WORK AND I SAID HE IS. HE IS AT WORK FOR ALL OF US AND HE CONTINUES TO SERVE AND PROTECT US. SO I WANT TO SIMPLY SAY THAT IT IS ALWAYS A TRAGEDY WHEN WE LOSE ONE OF OUR HEROES. BUT TODAY IS AN EXAMPLE AS HE SAW AT HIS HOMECOMING, THE FAMILY HAS JUST GOTTEN BIGGER. A LOT MORE SONS AND A

[00:55:05]

THE CHALLENGES THAT THIS BRINGS I COULD NEVER TRULY IMAGINE.

HAVING BEEN AN OFFICER AT HPD FOR 20 YEARS AND BEEN THE SHERIFF HERE BEFORE THIS NEVER GETS EASY AND IT NEVER GETS SIMPLE. IT IS ALWAYS UNIMAGINABLE. I WANT TO SAY IT WAS NICE TO HEAR ALL OF THE FUN FACTS THAT WERE SHARED ABOUT JOHN. AND I CANNOT WAIT TO GRAB THE NAME OF HIS FOR FRIEND WHO SPOKE AT HIS FUNERAL BECAUSE HE DID IT SO HONORABLY. AS KATHLEEN MENTIONED HE WAS READY A MONTH AHEAD OF WHATEVER DATE OR EVENT A TRIP YOU MAY HAVE HAD. AND I GATHERED THE FACT THAT HE WAS VERY HANDSOME. AND THAT GOT YOUR ATTENTION PRETTY QUICKLY. AND OBVIOUSLY EVERYONE MADE THE POINT OF HOW MUCH HE ENJOYED BEING A DEPUTY AND SERVING THE COMMUNITY. THE RESOLUTION REALLY SPEAKS FOR ITSELF. BUT THE POINT THAT I DO WANT TO BRING UP, IS THAT APPARENTLY EVERYONE THAT JOHN TUT TOUCHED BECAME INSTANT FAMILY TO HIM. AND HE BECAME A PROTECT THEIR AND A FRIEND TO THEM. HIS SERVICE TO OUR NATION SHOULD ALSO BE MENTIONED. BECAUSE, OBVIOUSLY, HE HAD STAYED CLOSE TO THAT WITH HIS HEART AS WELL. HE TOOK THAT EXPERIENCE TO THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE AND USED IT WISELY AND EFFECTIVELY. TO HIS ENTIRE FAMILY, OUR PRAYERS CONTINUE TO BE WITH YOU ALL. I WANT TO TRY AND EXERT SOME DISCIPLINE AND NOT MAKE THE MOMENT ANY HEAVIER THAN IT ALREADY IS. BUT I WANT TO SAY ON BEHALF OF A GRATEFUL COUNTY AND A GRATEFUL STATE AND A GRATEFUL NATION, WE ARE SO BLESSED THAT JOHN THE THIRD WAS WITH US AND HE CONTINUES TO BE. I LOST MY FATHER AFTER MY FIRST ELECTION IN 2004. HE WAS ONE OF THE BEST FRIENDS I EVER HAD.

EVERY TIME I THINK ABOUT HIM, I GET CHOKED UP. WHAT MAKES IT EASIER FOR ME, IS TO JUST CONTINUE TO TELL STORIES ABOUT HIM. THAT HAS ALWAYS BEEN GOOD MEDICINE FOR ME AND I HOPE THAT BECOMES GOOD MEDICINE FOR YOU. KEEP HIM HERE AND KEEP HIM AMONGST US WITH THOSE STORIES. MAYBE SHARE THE ONES WE DID NOT GET TO HEAR. AND AGAIN I WILL JUST SAY THANK YOU FOR SHARING HIM AND FOR ALLOWING THIS TO GO FORWARD. AND AS I MENTIONED THANK YOU FOR RAISING A GREAT MAN. WE ARE ALL BETTER BECAUSE OF HIM. AND KATHLEEN, AS HIGH-ENERGY AS HE WAS, I HAVE NO IDEA HOW HARD HE MUST'VE WORKED AT THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE MUCH LESS A HOME. BUT I DO ENJOY HEARING ALL OF THE INCREDIBLE STORIES. I WOULD LIKE TO WELCOME YOU BOTH UP BUT I WOULD LIKE TO ASK MAJOR SUAREZ WHO IS HERE ON BEHALF OF SHARESCAN SHERIFF GONZALES IF YOU WOULD COME TO THE PODIUM PLEASE.

[01:02:55]

>> JOHN WAS AN AMAZING SHERIFF'S DEPUTY AND INVESTIGATOR IN THE VIOLENT CRIMES UNIT. JOHN ENDED HIS WATCH AS HE SPENT HIS LIFE. SERVING OTHERS. HE IS IMMENSELY MISSED BY HIS FAMILY, HIS WIFE, HIS FRIENDS AND HIS H CSO FAMILY. I BOUGHT HER A BIRTHDAY CARD IN ADVANCE FOR HIS BIRTHDAY ON JUNE 7TH. PRIOR TO HIS LOSS, TO OUR LOSS I WOULD LIKE TO SHARE WITH YOU. THANK YOU DEAR LORD FOR MY WONDERFUL SON. FOR THE BLESSING THAT HE HAS BEEN FROM THE START. FOR THE FOND MEMORIES THAT WE HAVE MADE AND THE LOVE THAT WE SHARE FROM OUR HEARTS. THANK YOU FOR GIVING HIM TALENTS TO USE AND HIS OWN SPECIAL DREAMS TO PURSUE. AND THE KNOWLEDGE THAT EVERY GOOD GIFT COMES FROM YOU. WE TRUST IN OUR LAUGHTER AND FUN. AND BECAUSE OF YOUR BLESSING MY SON I LOVE YOU. WE WOULD LIKE TO THANK THE HARRIS COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE THE COMMISSIONERS COURT FOR HONORING THE LIFE OF OUR BELOVED JOHN HAMPTON THE THIRD. I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO THANK THE HARRIS COUNTY SPORTS AND CONVENTION CORPORATION AND THE ENERGY PARK FAMILY. THANK YOU ALL.

>> THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. THANK YOU KATHLEEN AND GOD

[01:05:02]

>> THERE WAS A SONG WHEN HE WAS LITTLE JOHNNY WAS JUST A WONDERFUL SON. THE WAY HE IS NOW IS THE WAY THAT HE WAS THEN. SO FULL OF ENERGY. LOTS OF LOVE. HE LOVED TO HUG AND HE WOULD GIVE ME SOMETHING AND HE WOULD LIKE WATCHING MY FACE. HE LIKED SEEING THE REACTION OF ANY OF US. HE WOULD CONSTANTLY BE ASKING WHETHER OR NOT WE LIKED IT. IT MAKES THEM SMILE AND KNOWING THAT HE MADE THEM HAPPY. WE JUST HAVE A LOT OF STORIES AND MEMORIES. HE WAS TRULY WONDERFUL. AND HE BLESSED

US ALL. >> COMMISSIONER BURNESS THAN

COMMISSIONER RAMSEY. >> ROSE AND KATHLEEN YOU HAVE OUR DEEPEST CONDOLENCES. WE FEEL YOUR PAIN AND YOUR LOSS AND WE CAN ONLY IMAGINE THE DEPTHS AND THE CELEBRATION OF LIFE THAT YOU HAD WHEN YOU SPOKE YOU MOVED ALL OF US. WHAT A BEAUTIFUL LOVE YOU SHARED. AND AS A MOM THIS IS THE BIGGEST FEAR THAT WE HAVE TO BURY OUR BABIES. SO THANK YOU FOR SHARING JOHN WITH HARRIS COUNTY HE PASSED IN SERVICE AND I KNOW THAT HE IS NOW AN ANGEL IN HEAVEN SMILING DOWN WITH GREAT LOVE AND PRIDE. AND TO MAJOR SUAREZ AND ALL OF THE OFFICERS THAT ARE HERE TODAY THANK YOU FOR THE SACRIFICES THAT YOU DO EVERY DAY. YOU PUT YOUR LIVES AT RISK TO KEEP US ALL SAFE. WE HONOR AND SALUTE YOU IN LIFE JUST AS WE ARE HONORING AND SALUTING JOHN IN HEAVEN. OUR DEEPEST CONDOLENCES

AND GOD BLESS YOU. >> YOU LOOK AT WHAT HAPPENED HERE AND YOU THINK OF THE GOOD SAMARITAN. SO MANY PEOPLE DRIVE TO BUY. BUT HE DID NOT. HE COULD NOT. THAT IS THE HARRIS COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE. THEY CANNOT JUST DRIVE BY. THEY ARE THERE TO SERVE AND THEY ARE THERE TO HELP. WHEN YOU LOOK AT OUR ROADS I THINK ABOUT MY FAMILY. THAT COULD'VE BEEN MY FAMILY THAT HE STOPPED TO HELP. THANK YOU. WHAT A MEMORY THAT IS FOR THE SACRIFICE OF OTHERS. I DO NOT THINK THAT THERE IS A GREATER THING THAT A PERSON CAN DO THAN TO SACRIFICE THEIR LIFE ON THE BEHALF OF SOMEONE ELSE. THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH. I KNOW IT IS HARD TO COME AND SHARE YOUR WORDS WITH EVERYONE BUT I DO FEEL IT IS IMPORTANT FOR THE COMMUNITY TO CONTINUE TO KNOW HIM. AS I WAS OUT DURING THE DISASTER VISITING WITH FOLKS IT WAS MOSTLY SHERIFF'S OFFICE AND I KNOW THAT I WOULD AS SOON DID YOU KNOW DEPUTY TO DO? AND THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE THAT KNEW HIM WAS AMAZING. IT WAS REALLY SPECIFIC YOU KNOW WE'VE ALL BEEN TO A LOT OF FUNERALS AND PEOPLE ALWAYS SAY NICE THINGS.

YOU'RE NOT GONNA SAY SOMETHING THAT'S NOT NICE. BUT THE THINGS THEY SAY ABOUT HIM I AM NOT TRYING TO CRY IN PUBLIC BUT NOBODY COULD HOLD HER TEARS BACK WHEN YOU ARE SPEAKING.

WITH AND WE CONTINUE TO SUPPORT YOU. I AM LOOKING FORWARD TO BE ABLE TO SAY HELLO ONLY TAKE HER PICTURES IN A MOMENT. AND TO THE MEMBERS OF THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE AGAIN I WANT TO SAY

[01:10:02]

NOW. >> NOW WE'RE JOINED BY TWO SPECIAL GROUPS OF PEOPLE TO SET THE NATIONAL NURSES DAY AND NURSES WEEK RESOLUTION. THE FIRST GROUP, IS THE HARRIS HEALTH SYSTEM NURSES REPRESENTED BY JACKIE BROCK EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT AND CHIEF NURSE EXECUTIVE. THE SECOND GROUP THAT WE HAVE IS TEXAS NURSES ASSOCIATION DISTRICT 9 REPRESENTED BY PRESIDENT MIKE WILK AND IT IS THE LARGEST DISTRICT IN TEXAS. THERE ARE 45 MEMBERS HERE. 4500 MEMBERS STRONG. WE HAVE A LOT OF NURSES IN ATTENDANCE TODAY SO I WOULD LIKE TO ASK THEM ALL TO PLEASE STAND SO THAT WE CAN HONOR YOU AS WELL. RATHER THAN TO READ THE ENTIRE RESOLUTION HERE ARE SOME HIGHLIGHTS. FOR 22 STRAIGHT YEARS THE GALLUP POLL HAS LISTED NURSING AS THE MOST TRUSTED PROFESSION.

UNFORTUNATELY WAY TOO OFTEN NURSES ARE THE VICTIMS OF VIOLENCE IN THEIR WORKPLACE. I AM HAPPY TO NOTE THAT STATE LEGISLATURE PASS TEST HOUSE BILL 112 LED BY NURSE AND STATE REPRESENTATIVE DONNA HOWARD. HB 112 REQUIRES WORKPLACE VIOLENCE PREVENTION PLANS IN CERTAIN FACILITIES. THAT SAID THERE IS MORE WORK NEEDED AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL. IN ATTENDANCE WE HAVE SEVERAL DAISY AWARD WINNERS. THE DAISY AWARD IS GIVEN TO THANK NURSES FOR THE CARE AND KINDNESS THEY PROVIDE. HUNDREDS OF DAISY AWARDS ARE GIVEN OUT EVERY YEAR AT HEALTHCARE FACILITIES ACROSS THE NATION. NOMINATIONS ARE MADE BY PATIENT FAMILIES AND COWORKERS. THIS YEAR'S HARRIS HEALTH SYSTEM CORRECTIONAL HEALTH DAISY AWARD TEAM AWARD RECIPIENT IS THE GRIEVANCE RESOLUTION TEAM. THEY HELP VOICE CONCERNS RELATED TO THE CARE THEY RECEIVE IN THIS TEAM IS BEING RECOGNIZED BECAUSE OF THE COMPASSION AND EXCELLENCE SHOWN HERE. THIS YEAR THE CHIEF NURSE EXECUTIVE AWARD RECIPIENT IS HARRIS HEALTH LBJ HOSPITAL MEDICAL INTENSIVE CARE UNIT TEAM.

NURSING CERTIFICATION IS KEY TO DEMONSTRATING SPECIALIZED KNOWLEDGE AND THE COMMITMENT TO NURSING EXCELLENCE. THE MICU WENT FROM 6 TO 17 NURSES WITH 183% INCREASE. WHEN THE STATE CUT FUNDING DURING THE PANDEMIC HARRIS COUNTY STEPPED UP TO FUND 1000 NURSING POSITIONS. IN RELATED EFFORTS TO HELP THE AREA RESIDENTS INTO THE NURSING PROFESSION PRECINCT 2 HAD A WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT OFFICE THAT OFFERS CERTIFIED NURSING ASSISTANT AND MEDICAL ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT NURSING CERTIFICATE PROGRAMS. 300 APPLICATIONS IS WHAT WE HAVE RECEIVED AND 7% OF THE PURCHASE OF PARTICIPANTS HAVE EARNED THEIR RESPECTIVE CREDENTIALS. ATTENDEES WERE 100% FEMALE WITH A LARGE PORTION OF CLASS MADE UP OF MOTHERS WHO ARE WORKING OR TRYING TO RETURN TO THE WORKFORCE. WE NEED TO ADVOCATE FOR MORE EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES. WE MUST THINK ABOUT HOW IMPORTANT IT IS WHEN YOU HAVE AN AMAZING NURSE FOR MANY NURSING IS A HONOR SO IT IS AN HONOR TO HONOR YOU AND TO THANK YOU FOR ALL THAT YOU DO.

THERE IS A SPECIAL CONNECTION THERE. LET ME ASK THE CORRECTIONAL NURSES TO GIVE THEM ANOTHER ROUND OF APPLAUSE.

[01:15:08]

THANK YOU FOR ALL THAT YOU DO IN THIS VERY DIFFICULT ENVIRONMENT. FOR ALL OF YOU HAVE HAD TO BE IN THE HOSPITAL FOR TIME OR TWO. IN FACT I BELIEVE THERE IS AN IMMERSIVE EMERGENCY ROOM NAMED AFTER ME BECAUSE I WAS GOING THERE TOO OFTEN AS A GET. THAT IS TO THE FAULT OF MY OTHER BROTHERS MY OLDER BROTHERS WERE ALWAYS PICKING ON ME. HONESTLY THOUGH, THANK YOU. I REMEMBER WHEN I WAS AT ST. JOSEPH'S IN AN OVERNIGHT STAY WE HAVE TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT HOSPITAL FOOD THOUGH. HOWEVER IT WAS A NURSE WHO UNDERSTOOD THAT I WASN'T GOING TO EAT. SHE LEFT SHE CAME BACK AND IN HER APRON SHE HAD A HAMBURGER FRENCH FRIES AND A COKE. SHE MADE THIS KID VERY HAPPY. WHEN ONE OF OUR DEPUTIES OR FALLEN MEMBERS IS INJURED WHETHER IT IS THAT BEEN TAUGHT THE LEVEL I TRAUMA CENTER OR THOSE IN PRIVATE HOSPITALS OR NURSES THIS IS THE SPECIAL JIM WE NEED IN THOSE CIRCUMSTANCES. THE FAMILIES ALWAYS APPRECIATE YOU BECAUSE YOU KNOW HOW TO GIVE AN INCREDIBLE PIECE OF MIND. THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP AS WELL. THANK YOU

THOSE ARE MY RESOLUTIONS. >> ARE THERE ANY SPEAKERS?

>> JACKIE BROCK? >> MY NAME IS JACKIE BROCK. I WOULD THE PRIVILEGE OF WORKING WITH THIS WONDERFUL TEAM AND I WOULD LIKE TO RECOGNIZE THE INDIVIDUALS THAT HAVE ONE THESE DIFFERENT AWARDS. I WOULD LIKE TO RECOGNIZE VANESSA AND KATRINA CAMPBELL. AS WELL AS THEIR LEADERSHIP. FOR NURSING MAURY TO TIA AND DANA VILLANUEVA. AND THE ADMINISTRATOR KIKI TO. ALL FROM CORRECTIONAL HEALTH. THE MADISON INTENSIVE CARE UNIT I HAD THE HONOR OF OFFERING THEM THE C AND E AWARD WHICH IS ONE I GET TO SELECT AND PICK MY OWN CRITERIA. AS YOU MENTIONED THERE WAS AN INCREASE IN CERTAIN THE CERTIFICATION RATES WHICH WAS ASTRONOMICAL. THEY HAVE ALSO ACHIEVED OTHER ASTOUNDING OUTCOMES LITERATURE SUPPORTS THE MORE CERTIFIED NURSES WORKING IN AN AREA OF THE GREATER QUALITY OF CARE. I WOULD LIKE TO ASK THE LBJ MEDICAL INTENSIVE CARE UNIT TO STAND AS WELL AS THEIR LEADERSHIP. THE ADMINISTRATIVE DIRECTOR OF NURSING DIRECTOR OF NURSING TAMIKA BROWN AND THE UNIT MANAGER K ON A GREEN. I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO ADD MY THANKS TO YOURS AND JUST RECOGNIZE THE AMAZING WORK THAT ALL THE NURSES DO IT HARRIS HEALTH SYSTEM. THANK YOU FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY.

>> MARCO ALL OF THE DISC? >> LADIES IN GERMAN, AND ESTEEMED MEMBERS OF THE COMMISSIONERS COURT, ABOUT HALF OF THE TEXAS NURSES ASSOCIATION AND DISTRICT 9 I AM DEEPLY HONORED AND HUMBLED TO ACCEPT THIS COMMEMORATION. THIS RECOGNITION IS NOT JUST A TRIBUTE TO THE TIRELESS EFFORT OF NURSES. BUT IT IS ALSO A TESTAMENT TO THE VITAL ROLE THEY PLAY WITH IN OUR COMMUNITY HEALTH. EVERY DAY NURSES DEMONSTRATE UNWAVERING DEDICATION, COMPASSION AND EXPERTISE AS THEY PROVIDE CARE TO THOSE IN NEED. AS WE DO CELEBRATE NURSES WEEK NOT LET US NOT ONLY ACKNOWLEDGE THE

[01:20:02]

TOGETHER WE CONTINUE TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN THE LIVES OF THOSE THAT WE SERVE. THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH.

>> THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH. I WAS REALLY INSPIRED TO SEE EVERYONE. WE KNOW WHEN WE ARE SICK HOW MUCH NURSES MEAN TO US. BUT I THINK COVID-19 REALLY BROUGHT IT TO THE FOREFRONT HOW VITAL YOUR PROFESSION IS AND HOW MUCH YOU ACTUALLY SACRIFICE FOR THE REST OF US. I CANNOT WAIT TO MEET YOU GUYS AND THANK YOU SO MUCH. CONGRATULATIONS TO THE AWARDEES. COMMISSIONER

RAMSEY? >> THIS IS ALSO THE OPPORTUNITY TO RECOGNIZE AMERICAN PUBLIC WORKS WEEK. I SEE SOME OF OUR COLLIES ARE OUT THERE. YOU DON'T REALIZE IT BUT HARRIS COUNTY IS THE CENTER FOR A LOT OF THINGS. THERE ARE 34 CITIES IN HARRIS COUNTY ALONE INCLUDING SEVERAL COUNTIES THAT FEED INTO THIS AREA. WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT PUBLIC WORKS YOU THINK ABOUT INFRASTRUCTURE CLEAN WATER ENERGY WATER AND GAS ALL OF THIS IS PUBLIC WORKS RELATED. PRECINCT 2 AND THREE HAS PARTNERED UP ON THIS PARTICULAR HONOR IN TERMS OF RECOGNIZING PUBLIC WORKS AND OBVIOUSLY THIS IS THE CENTER OF THE UNIVERSE FOR ENGINEERING IN AMERICA AND PUBLIC WORKS IS RIGHT IN THERE. WE HAD THE HONOR OF SERVING AS PRESIDENT OF THIS ORGANIZATION A FEW YEARS BACK. I AM NOT GOING TO SAY HOW FOR EXACTLY BUT THEY DO A GREAT JOB DOING THE BASIC STUFF. WHETHER IT IS FIXING A ROAD OR MAKING SURE YOU HAVE CLEAN DRINKING WATER OR MAKING SURE THE LIGHTS COME ON AT NIGHT THAT IS ALL PUBLIC WORKS RELATED I CELEBRATE NATIONAL PUBLIC WORKS WEEK. THIS IS MAY 19TH THROUGH THE 25TH SO LET'S JUST RECOGNIZE OUR WONDERFUL PROFESSIONALS HERE.

>> AND COMMISSIONER RAMSEY I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO OFFER THAT I STAND BEFORE YOU AS WELL WITH A DEEP SENSE OF GRATITUDE AND APPRECIATION FOR ALL OF THE OUTSTANDING WORK THAT OUR TEAMS DO. AND FOR THE PRECINCT TO TEAM IN PARTICULAR. BEFORE WE DELVE INTO THE REMARKABLE ACCOMPLISHMENTS ALLOW ME A MOMENT TO EXPRESS MY SINCERE THANKS TO THE LEADERSHIP AT PUBLIC WORKS. MY TEAM IN PARTICULAR YOUR DEDICATION AND STRATEGIC GUIDANCE HAVE BEEN INSTRUMENTAL STEERING THIS ESSENTIAL DEPARTMENT TOWARD INCREDIBLE SUCCESS. DRAINAGE MAINTENANCE IS THE FIRST LINE OF DEFENSE. SINCE WE STARTED IN 2019 WE HAVE DITCHED OVER 4.5 MILLION LINEAR FEET OF DITCHES IN PRECINCT 2. I WANT TO TAKE A MOMENT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE DAILY IMPACT OF YOUR HARD WORK ON OUR COMMUNITY AND THE SERVICES PROVIDED BY PUBLIC WORKS ARE THE BACKBONE OF THE PRECINCT FUNCTIONALITY. WHETHER THAT MAINTAINS DRAINAGE OR BUILDINGS AND THROUGHOUT OUR PARKS AND FACILITIES. ENSURING THE OVERALL CLEANLINESS AND FUNCTIONALITY OF PUBLIC SPACES.

YOU PLAY A CRUCIAL ROLE IN ENHANCING THE QUALITY OF LIFE FOR ALL OF OUR RESIDENTS. WHEN YOU ARE PART OF A PRECINCT PUBLIC WORKS TEAM LIKE WE ALL ARE YOU TAKE ON THE PRECINCT ALMOST AS IF YOU ARE THE COUNTY COMMISSIONER. IF NOT JUST AS MUCH IS THE COUNTY COMMISSIONER BECAUSE YOU KNOW THAT THERE IS AN INCREDIBLE AMOUNT OF PRIDE THAT GOES INTO THE WORK THAT YOU DO AND THE RESPONSE THAT THE COMMUNITY SEES AS A RESULT OF THAT WORK. SO I WANTED TO THANK MY TEAM IN PARTICULAR.

YOU ARE THE ONE AND ONLY SO THANK YOU MY FRIEND.

[01:25:05]

>> CONGRATULATIONS AND THANK YOU SO MUCH. COMMISSIONER

BRIONES? >> IN THE SPIRIT OF CONTINUING TO HONOR THE HEROES IN OUR COMMUNITY IT GIVES ME SO MUCH PRIDE TO BRING FORTH A RESOLUTION HONORING TEACHER APPRECIATION WEEK AS I AM THE PROUD DAUGHTER OF TEACHERS I WAS IN EIGHTH AND 10TH GRADE PUBLIC SCHOOL TEACHER MIGHT THREE CHILDREN GO TO HISD AND WE ARE JOINED BY SOME THE GUESTS WHO I WILL INTRODUCE BUT WE ALL HAVE A STORY OF HOW A TEACHER TOUCHED OUR LIVES. HOW THEY BELIEVED IN US CHALLENGED US IN THE EDUCATION THAT IS THE GREAT EQUALIZER AND THE FOUNDATION OF CIVIL SOCIETY. THIS WEEK AND EVERY WEEK OF THE YEAR WE HONOR YOU AND WE THANK YOU. AND ALL OF US TO CONTINUE TO RENEW THE COMMITMENT TO ADVOCATE. AT THE STATE AND FEDERAL LEVEL BECAUSE ON AVERAGE YOU CAN HAVE A 20 YEAR TEACHER WHO IS APPROXIMATELY MAKING 55,000 WHICH IS UNACCEPTABLE. IT IS UNACCEPTABLE THAT THEY MAKE APPROXIMATELY 25% WHAT THEIR PEERS DO. IT'S MORE THAN JUST SAYING THANK YOU IT'S WHAT ARE WE DOING FOR THE WELL-BEING AND APPRECIATION OF TEACHERS. SO MUCH HAPPENS AT THE STATE LEVEL AND I HOPE THAT OUR STATE LEADERS WILL CONTINUE TO PRESS FORWARD. AS A PROUD DAUGHTER OF TEACHERS SEEING HOW HARD MY PARENTS WORK FOR 50 YEARS EACH I HAVE THE MOST PROFOUND GRATITUDE AND FOR EVERYTHING YOU DO FOR MY KIDS AND EVERY OTHER KID IN THIS COMMUNITY. THANK YOU THIS WEEK AND ALL WEEKS. I AM PARTICULARLY THANKFUL TO THE NATIONAL EDUCATION ASSOCIATION AND THE AMERICAN FEDERATION OF TEACHERS WHO CONTINUOUSLY ADVANCE THE RIGHTS OF TEACHERS THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY DAY IN AND DAY OUT. TODAY I AM SO EXCITED BECAUSE WE HAVE REPRESENTATIVES FROM THE SEVEN EYES THESE IN PRECINCT FOR AND WE HAVE 25 IST'S IN HARRIS COUNTY.

>> HARRIS COUNTY IS PROUD OF 25 IST'S AND WE CELEBRATE ALL 25.

TODAY WE HAVE GUESTS FROM SEVEN EYES D'S. FIRST I WOULD LIKE TO THINK THE LEADER IN THIS REGION AND STATE JACKIE ANDERSON. THOSE OF YOU THAT HAVE SIGNED UP TO SPEAK WE WOULD LIKE TO THINK THE TRUSTEES THAT ARE PRESENT. WE HAVE DR. CHARLENE BREAUX AND DR. LILY CHEONG FROM A LEAF IST. WE ONE OF THE BEST SUPERINTENDENTS IN THE WHOLE COUNTRY DR. ANTHONY MAYS WHO LEADS A LEAF IST. WE LOVE WORKING SO CLOSELY WITH YOU AND YOUR TEAM. WE HAVE VARIOUS TEACHERS PRESENT AND THESE ARE THE ONES THAT MANAGED TO GET TEACHER OF THE YEAR AT THEIR OWN CAMPUSES. WE CELEBRATE ALL TEACHERS BUT THESE ARE THE BEST OF THE BEST. WE HAD DENISE SIMPSON AND RENNIE'S CHOICE FROM A LEAF IST. MS. SIMPSON IS ONE OF MY PRECINCT FOR MEMBERS HERE THE LEGACY CONTINUES HERE IN HARRIS COUNTY SO THANK YOU MS. SIMPSON. FROM CY FAIR IST WE HAVE CAITLIN KALVIN AND MCKENZIE IF YOU COULD JOIN US AS WELL. WERE HAVING A BUS ARE COMPS CONTEST IN THE FIRST WINTER CAME FROM CY FAIR SO THANK YOU FOR ALL OF THE TALENTS THAT YOU ARE FOSTERING. FROM HIC WE HAVE ONE OF OUR AMAZING PRINCIPLES ANGELA LAVERNE AND WITH BRENDA RAMIREZ ONE OF HER TEACHERS OF THE YEAR. SO IF YOU COULD PLEASE JOIN US. AND THEN FROM TOMBALL IST OUR SUPERINTENDENT WHO LITERALLY BECAME SUPERINTENDENT OF THE YEAR MARTHA SALAZAR IS PHENOMENAL SHE WAS UNABLE TO BE HERE TODAY BUT WE HAVE ALEJANDRA MARTINEZ JOINING US AS WELL. CONGRATULATIONS. AND

[01:30:02]

AND TEACHERS >> THINK YOU ALSO MUCH. THANK YOU JUDGE AND COMMISSIONERS. TEACHERS PLAY A VITAL ROLE IN SHAPING THE FUTURE IT IS SO IMPORTANT TO SHOW APPRECIATION FOR ALL THAT THEY DO. EXPRESSING GRATITUDE FOR HARD WORK AND DEDICATION IS CRUCIAL. THEY OFTEN GO ABOVE AND BEYOND THE CALL OF DUTY TO SUPPORT THEIR STUDENTS THEIR GROWTH AND THEIR SUCCESS. TEACHERS WEAR MANY HATS EVERY DAY. THEY PLAN LESSONS TEACH VARIOUS SUBJECTS AND CREATE SUPPORTIVE LEARNING ENVIRONMENTS. THEY ASSESS STUDENT PROGRESS PROVIDE FEEDBACK AND COMMUNICATE WITH PARENTS AS WELL AS COLLABORATING WITH COLLEAGUES AND OFTEN ENGAGE IN PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT. CONTINUALLY WORKING TO IMPROVE THIS PRACTICE. THEY ALSO SERVE AS MENTORS COUNSELORS AND ROLE MODELS AND SOMETIMES EVEN CHEERLEADERS FOR THEIR STUDENTS. IT IS DEMANDING BUT INCREDIBLY REWARDING AS A PROFESSION. I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU TO THE TEACHERS FOR YOUR UNWAVERING DEDICATION, PASSION AND COMMITMENT TO SHAPING MINDS AND INSPIRING FEATURES. YOUR IMPACT GOES FAR BEYOND THE CLASSROOM. AND YOUR CONTRIBUTIONS ARE TRULY INVALUABLE. AGAIN, THANK YOU FOR THIS RESOLUTION AND THANK YOU FOR RECOGNIZING THE TEACHERS AND THE HARD WORK THAT THEY DO EVERY DAY. AND A SHOUT OUT TO MY WONDERFUL TEACHERS

AND HISD. THANK YOU. >> THINK PRESIDENT ANDERSON.

>> CAN YOU STATE YOUR NAME FOR THE RECORD PLEASE?

>> PRESIDENT ANDERSON COULD YOU STATE YOUR NAME FOR THE RECORD?

>> I'M SORRY. MY NAME IS JACKIE ANDERSON PRESIDENT OF THE HOUSTON FEDERATION OF TEACHERS.

>> THANK YOU PRESIDENT ANDERSON.

>> THINK A JUDGE AND COMMISSIONERS. DR. ANTHONY MAYS PROUD SUPERINTENDENT OF A LEAF IST. WE SERVE MORE THAN 40,000 STUDENTS HERE. TODAY I HAVE WITH ME TWO OF OUR TEACHERS OF THE MORE THAN 3000 TEACHERS THAT HAVE RECEIVED TEACHER OF THE YEAR. HOW MANY OF YOU CAN RECALL HAVING YOUR LIFE TOUCHED OR FEELING LIKE A TEACHER IS RESPONSIBLE FEW SITTING WHERE YOU ARE NOW. THERE ARE QUITE A BIT OF HANDS. SO I WILL NOT BELABOR THE POINT. I THINK THE COMMISSION HAS SAID IT BEST WE REALLY NEED TO TAKE CARE OF HER TEACHERS. IT IS UNFAIR THAT TEACHERS HAVE TO LIVE WITH ROOMMATES BECAUSE OF THE PAY THAT WE ARE PROVIDING THEM. WE KNOW THAT WE MUST DO A BETTER JOB AND WE KNOW THAT INFLATION IS THE REAL DEAL. EVERYONE ELSE HAS GROCERIES AND GAS AND I KNOW THEY'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT THE COST OF THE TOLL ROADS TO GET TO WORK. WE MUST TAKE CARE OF HER TEACHERS. I AM GOING TO YIELD MY TIME TO THEM BECAUSE THEY'VE BEEN SITTING ANY LOOKING FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY. THANK YOU ALL FOR CELEBRATING OUR TEACHERS.

>> DEAR JUDGE AND COMMISSIONERS ON BEHALF OF ALL TEACHERS I WANT TO EXTEND HEARTFELT GRATITUDE FOR RECOGNIZING AND APPRECIATING OUR EFFORTS. YOUR ACKNOWLEDGMENT MEANS A GREAT DEAL TO US AND SERVES AS A POWERFUL MOTIVATOR TO CONTINUE STRIVING FOR EXCELLENCE WITHIN OUR PROFESSION. IT IS TRULY UPLIFTING TO KNOW THAT OUR HARD WORK AND DEDICATION ARE VALUED BY LEADERSHIP AT SUCH A HIGH LEVEL. YOUR SUPPORT ENCOURAGES US TO PUSH BOUNDARIES AND INNOVATE IN THE CLASSROOM ENSURING THE BEST POSSIBLE EDUCATION FOR STUDENTS. THANK YOU FOR SHINING A SPOTLIGHT ON THE VITAL ROLE THAT WE HAVE SHAPING THE FUTURE. YOUR APPRECIATION FOSTERS A SENSE OF

[01:35:06]

>> HELLO AND GOOD MORNING. THANK YOU COMMISSIONER AND THANK YOU JUDGE FOR HAVING US TODAY. MY NAME IS DENISE SIMPSON FROM A LEAF IST. ON BEHALF OF A LEAF IST OUR STUDENTS STAFF AND PARENTS, TEACHERS AND MORE I WOULD LIKE TO SAY THANK YOU ALL FOR ACKNOWLEDGING WHAT EDUCATORS DO EVERY DAY. AS YOU SAID AND AS WE SAID THE TEACHERS I FEEL ARE THE CORE OF A LOT OF THE REASON WHY WE ARE ALL HERE TODAY.

THERE WAS A TEACHER THAT PLANTED SOMETHING INSIDE OF US AND WANTED IT TO GROW. AND I FEEL LIKE THAT IS SOMETHING THAT TEACHERS DO. WE PLANT THE SEEDS WE WATCH THEM GROW. WE ARE ABLE TO SEE HER KIDS FLOURISH AND IT IS AN HONOR TODAY TO EVEN SEE ONE OF OUR FORMER STUDENTS HERE WHICH WAS QUITE A SURPRISE. SO THAT GOES TO SHOW YOU THAT WHAT WE DO IS VALUABLE AND NEEDED. AND WE THANK YOU FOR APPRECIATING US TODAY AND ALL OF THE EDUCATORS IN THE CITY AND ACROSS THE

NATION. THANK YOU. >> THINK YOU MISSED IT IN AND

CONGRATULATIONS. >> THE MORNING. I'M DR. EMILY QUEK FROM KATIE ICE-T. I'M A SECONDARY SUPERINTENDENT FOR SCHOOL LEADERSHIP AND I WANTED TO COME HERE AND THANK YOU ALL.

ESPECIALLY COMMISSIONER BRIONES. AND ALL OF THOSE THAT ARE IN THE COMMISSIONERS COURT FOR RECOGNIZING THE HARD WORK OF OUR TEACHERS DO. MOST OF US FEEL LIKE WE KNOW WHAT A TEACHER DOES BECAUSE IT SOME POINT WE HAVE HAD A TEACHER IMPACT US. AND WE'VE BEEN IN THE CLASSROOM. VERY RARELY DO WE ACTUALLY KNOW ALL THE WORK THAT GOES IN TO THE CLASSROOM AND THE PREPARATION BEFOREHAND. MANY TIMES AT NIGHT AFTERWARDS WORKING TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR STUDENTS HAVE EVERYTHING THAT THEY NEED AND ON BEHALF OF THE 96,000 STUDENTS IN KATIE ICE-T I APPRECIATE YOUR RECOGNITION OF ALL OF THAT WORK. THANK YOU

VERY MUCH. >> THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE.

>> HELLO. MY NAME IS CAITLIN CALVIN AND I'M HERE REPRESENTING CY FAIR ELEMENTARY DISTRICT TEACHER OF THE YEAR.

FIRST OF ALL I WOULD LIKE TO THINK COMMISSIONER BRIONES AND EVERYONE HERE TODAY FOR ALL OF YOUR KIND WORDS. IT MEANS THE WORLD TO ME AND I'M SURE IT EVERY EDUCATOR HERE TO HEAR YOU ADVOCATING FOR LIKE EDUCATION AND YOUR CONTINUED SUPPORT OF US. I TEACH ELEMENTARY LIFE SKILLS. AS A LIFE SKILLS TEACHER I TEACH 1ST TO 5TH GRADE. WITH DIFFERENT COGNITIVE AND ACADEMIC NEEDS. I CAN HONESTLY SAY I HAVE THE BEST JOB IN THE WORLD. MY STUDENTS INSPIRE ME EVERY DAY AND IT IS BECAUSE OF THE SUPPORT OF MY DISTRICT MY CAMPUS AND I WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO THAT JOB AND BENEFIT THEM WITHOUT YOU. I WOULD LIKE TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONTINUED SUPPORT AND THIS

RESOLUTION. >> CONGRATULATIONS MISS CALVIN.

>> MY NAME IS MCKENZIE CAL GRIN AND I AM ALSO FROM CY FERRY ICE-T. I AM THE SECONDARY TEACHER OF THE YEAR. I TEACH LIFE SKILLS AND DEAF EDUCATION. AND I WOULD LIKE TO SAY THANK YOU FOR THE SUPPORT YOU'VE SAID SUCH KIND WORDS. IT MEANS A LOT ESPECIALLY IN A JOB WHERE WE DO NOT SEE A LOT OF IT.

THANK YOU FOR THE CONTINUED SUPPORT YOU PROVIDE AND I'M SO HAPPY TO BE HERE REPRESENTING CY FAIR ICE-T.

>> CONGRATULATIONS MISS CAL GRIN. THANK YOU FOR WHAT YOU

DO. >> GOOD MORNING. MY NAME IS ALEJANDRA MARTINEZ. I AM IN TOMBALL ICE-T. I TEACH FOURTH GRADE TO DUAL LANGUAGE AT ROSE HILL ELEMENTARY SCHOOL. THIS YEAR I HAVE BEEN RECOGNIZED AS THE ASSOCIATION FOR BILINGUAL EDUCATION TEACHER OF THE YEAR. I AM HONORED TO REPRESENT MY DISTRICT, MY SCHOOL AND MY STUDENTS. IN TOMBALL ICE-T WE PROVIDE THE HIGHEST QUALITY OF EDUCATION WILL PROVIDE A CHOICE TO PURSUE PERSONALIZED INSTRUCTION. ROSE HILL ELEMENTARY EXEMPLIFIES THAT MISSION BY SERVING AS A MODEL SCHOOL FOR BLENDED LEARNING AND DUAL LANGUAGE. AS WE GATHER HERE TODAY LIKE TO TAKE A MOMENT TO SHINE THE SPOTLIGHT ON TEACHERS. THIS WEEK AS WE CELEBRATE TEACHER APPRECIATION WEEK, IT IS IMPERATIVE THAT WE RECOGNIZE THE INVALUABLE CONTRIBUTIONS THE EDUCATORS BACK TO CHILDREN. I KNOW THAT YOUR PARENTS WERE TEACHERS I WOULD LIKE TO CELEBRATE AND HONOR YOU AS WELL. OUR TEACHERS ARE THE ARCHITECTS OF FUTURE.

DEDICATION AND COMPASSION FOR THE INTELLECT IS TRULY COMMENDABLE. I WOULD LIKE TO SAY TO ALL TEACHERS IN PRECINCT

[01:40:01]

>> CONGRATULATIONS AND THANK YOU.

>> MY NAME IS BRIAN WILLIAMS. I REPRESENT SPRING BRANCH SERVING AS THE COMMUNITY SUPERINTENDENT FOR SECONDARY SCHOOLS. THANK YOU COMMISSIONER BRIONES FOR TAKING THE TIME TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE HEART DEDICATION AND HARD WORK FOR TEACHERS. WE APPRECIATE YOU ACKNOWLEDGING THAT THEY INSPIRE AND SHAPE LIVES. A MONTH AND HALF AGO YOU CAME TO ONE OF OUR CAMPUSES SPRING OAKS MIDDLE SCHOOL AND CELEBRATE ONE OF OUR HARD-WORKING TEACHERS. THANK YOU FOR TAKING THE TIME TO REALLY ACKNOWLEDGE AND AFFIRM ALL OF OUR TEACHERS. ON BEHALF OF THE 33,000 STUDENTS I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU.

>> SUPERINTENDENT WILLIAMS? >> MY NAME IS CHRISTOPHER CONTRACT AND THE SECONDARY TEACHER THE YEAR FOR WALLER ICE-T. I WOULD LIKE TO TAKE THIS TIME TO THANK THE COURT IS THIS IS A VERY GREAT DAY. 16 YEARS AGO TODAY I STEPPED AWAY FROM THE BUSINESS WORLD I DECIDED TO CHASE THE CALLING OF MY HEART TO BE A TEACHER. AND I WILL NEVER LOOK BACK. THIS WAS THE MOST REWARDING CAREER THAT ANYONE COULD EVER TAKE. THANK

YOU. >> CONGRATULATIONS MR.

CONTRAST. >> MY NAME IS STEPHEN PUCKETT.

AND THE ELEMENTARY DISTRICT TEACHER OF THE YEAR FOR WALLER ICE-T. IT IS VERY DIFFERENT SEEING TWO MALE FIGURES HERE TEACHER OF THE YEAR SURROUNDED ON OUR CAMPUS IT'S WONDERFUL AT TURPIN ISD ELEMENTARY. WHAT I SAW ON THIS COURT TODAY IS NOT WHAT MANY PEOPLE GET TO SEE SO THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP AND YOUR HUMANITY. MANY PEOPLE DON'T GET TO SEE TEARS FALLING IN THIS PLACE BUT I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU FOR THAT AND FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP. I'VE BEEN HERE FOR 25 YEARS.

IT'S A BUSINESS BUT IT IS ALSO CALLING. WE GET ARE GIFTS FROM GOD. THINGS THAT WE ENJOY DOING AND WHAT WE ARE GIFTED AT. WE GET ARE CALLING FROM THOSE THEY INSPIRE US AND THEN WE HAVE OPPORTUNITIES AS WELL. UNFORTUNATELY MY WIFE AND I CHOSE EDUCATION AS AN OPPORTUNITY. TO USE HER GIFTS THROUGHOUT OUR CALLINGS TO THANK YOU ONCE AGAIN FOR THIS

OPPORTUNITY. >> CONGRATULATIONS AGAIN MR.

PUCKETT. >> GOOD MORNING. MY NAME IS BRENDA RAMIREZ. I AM THE HIC TEACHER OF THE YEAR. BEFORE I SAY ANYTHING I WANT TO THANK JACKIE ANDERSON FOR BEING OUR ADVOCATE EACH ICE-T. AND I ALSO WANT TO THANK YOU ALL HERE.

BEING A TEACHER AND A IS HIC HAS NOT BEEN EASY. BUT LIKE YOU SAID I THINK MY SON IN YOUR CHILD IN THE SAME GRADE LEVEL OR THING TEACHERS. TEACHING IS VERY IMPORTANT AND IS A HARD JOB BUT IT CAN BE DONE. IT IS OUR JOB TO ENSURE THAT OUR CHILDREN ARE PROVIDED WITH HIGH-QUALITY EDUCATION. AND I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR HONORING US TODAY. CONGRATULATIONS.

>> THANK YOU AND CONGRATULATIONS.

>> COMMISSIONER GARCIA? >> THANK YOU COMMISSIONER AND TEACHER BRIONES. I WOULD LIKE TO SAY THANK YOU TO ALL OF YOU FOR YOUR MISSION AND YOUR CALLING HERE AND FOR TOUCHING THE LIVES OF SO MANY. YOU ARE TRULY THE ANSWER TO ALL OF THE CHALLENGES THAT WE ARE FACING RIGHT NOW. YOU ARE PREPARING KIDS FOR PROBLEMS THAT WE DO NOT EVEN KNOW EXIST YET. YOU ARE PREPARING THEM FOR SCIENCES AND MATH THAT IS GOING TO CREATE SUCH INCREDIBLE THINGS. YOU'RE GOING TO PUT THE NEST ASTRONAUT ON MARS AND YOU'RE GOING TO HELP TO BUILD TECHNOLOGY THAT WILL GET THEM THERE. WE ARE SO GRATEFUL. I HAVE ONE FAVOR TO ASK THOUGH. I WAS ONE OF THOSE SPECIAL KIDS IN HOMEROOM. WHEN I GRADUATED AND JOINED THE HOUSTON POLICE ACADEMY, I WENT BACK TO GO VISIT MY HOMEROOM TEACHER THAT I HAD A SPECIAL BOND WITH, MS. SCHAFER, DON'T DO THIS TO THE NEXT KID WHEN I WALKED IN I SAID HELLO MS. SCHAFER AND I'M IN MY UNIFORM AND SHE SAYS THEY LET YOU JOIN? NONETHELESS, THANK YOU. I HAVE EDUCATORS IN MY FAMILY AS WELL IT'S A SPECIAL APPRECIATION BECAUSE YOU ARE TRULY THE ANSWER TO THE

FUTURE. >> THANK YOU. WE HAVE ONE MORE RESOLUTION AND THEN WE WILL TAKE SOME PICTURES I THINK. I THINK SUPERINTENDENT MESA HAD TO LEAVE BUT SEND HIM MY

[01:45:02]

COMMISSIONER BRIONES? >> MY SECOND AND FINAL RESOLUTION TODAY IS SOMETHING THAT I AM VERY PROUD TO BE CELEBRATING FOR THIS MAY. A API HERITAGE MONTH. IF YOU ARE HERE PLEASE JOIN US. I KNOW WE HAVE BROTHER LOW HERE AND SISTER CHEE AND SISTER LOU AND SISTER PIE. THANK YOU. I WAS BLOWN AWAY AS I LEARN MORE SOME GOING TO READ THIS RESOLUTION. WHERE AS THE BUDDHIST TUCCI FOUNDATION IS AN INTERNATIONAL HUMANITARIAN ORGANIZATION FOUNDED IN TAIWAN IN 1966 BY DHARMA MASTER CANYON A BUDDHIST NUN WHO STARTED AFTER BEING MOVED BY THE HARDSHIP SHE SAW AROUND HER MAKING IT HER MISSION TO RELIEVE SUFFERING AND HELP THE POOR. SHE IS AT LIVE IN FIVE CONTINENTS AND 100 COUNTRIES. WITH OVER 10 MILLION MEMBERS WORLDWIDE. THAT IS AMAZING. EVERYTHING YOU DO AROUND THE WORLD. THEY EXPANDED INTO THE U.S. IN 1989 WITH THE MISSION OF CREATING A BETTER WORLD AND HELPING THOSE IN NEED. THE SOUTHERN U.S. CHAPTER I AM SO PROUD IS LOCATED IN HARRIS COUNTY IN PRECINCT 4. THE WORK YOU DO HERE IN HARRIS COUNTY AND THE WORK YOU DO FROM HERE FOR THE WORLD IS TRULY SOMETHING THAT WE ALL APPRECIATE AND RESPECT DEEPLY.

WHETHER IT WAS THE RECOVERY WORK AFTER HURRICANE HARVEY IN 2017 OR THE WORK WITH A LEAF ISD TO LINK IT BACK TO HER LAST RESOLUTION THE FRESH FOOD DISTRIBUTION EVERYTHING THAT YOU DO ON THE FRONT LINES TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE ADVANCING JUSTICE AND EQUITY IS SO VERY MOVING. THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING THAT YOU DO AND FOR SPREADING THE TEACHINGS OF BUDDHISM IN OUR COMMUNITY AND THROUGHOUT THE WORLD. WE ARE VERY PROUD TO HAVE YOU HERE TODAY AND THEREFORE, LET IT BE RESOLVED THAT THE HARRIS COUNTY COMMISSIONERS COURT HEREBY HONORS THE BUDDHIST TUCCI FOUNDATION. THANK YOU FOR WHO YOU ARE AND WHAT YOU DO. AND ALL OF YOUR SERVICE TO THE

WORLD. >> THANK YOU. GOOD MORNING. MY NAME IS SHOWN ROLE. REGIONAL DIRECTOR OF THE BUDDHIST TUCCI FOUNDATION. I AM HONORED TO ACCEPT THIS RECOGNITION ON BEHALF OF ALL OF OUR VOLUNTEERS. WE ARE FAITH-BASED CHARITY ORGANIZATION. WE WERE FOUNDED IN TAIWAN IN 1966. WE STARTED OUR SERVICE IN HOUSTON IN 1991. MAINLY BY HELPING WITH DISASTER RELIEF AND COMMUNITY SERVICE. WHILE WE CONTINUE TO PROVIDE FOR THE UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES IMPACTED BY NATIONAL DISASTERS WORLDWIDE. WE ARE ALSO WORKING WITH THE HOUSTON FOOD BANK TO DISTRIBUTE VEGETARIAN FOOD AT OUR FACILITIES. WE PROMOTE PLANT-BASED EATING AS AN IMPACTED WAY FOR INDIVIDUALS TO COME BACK AND HELP WITH THE GLOBAL CLIMATE CHANGE. WE STRONGLY BELIEVE THAT A DISASTER FREE WORLD CAN ONLY BE REACHED TO HELP BY PURIFYING OUR MIND WITH LOVE AND VOLUNTEERING. THANK YOU AGAIN FOR PASSING THIS RESOLUTION AND WE DO APPRECIATE IT. THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP AND SERVICE.

>> THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH. AND ESPECIALLY FOR RAISING AWARENESS OF THE IMPORTANCE OF WHAT WE EAT AND HOW IT IMPACTS THE ENVIRONMENT. THAT IS IT FOR THE RESOLUTIONS. ARE THERE ANY OTHERS THAT WERE NOT CALLED? OKAY WE WILL NOW BE TAKING PICTURES. MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS MONTH. YOU HAVE THAT ONE? SO WE HAVE A NEW RULE ONLY TAKE TWO RESOLUTIONS OUT OF ORDER. WE WILL CELEBRATE IF YOU DON'T MIND HERE AT THE DAIS.

WE ARE TRYING THIS TODAY BUT I DON'T THINK IT WILL MAKE

[01:50:02]

LET'S DO THIS. I WOULD SAY THIS IS HOW LONG IT TOOK LESS TIME SO RATHER THAN SHUT PEOPLE DOWN LIKE THAT WHY DON'T YOU COME FORWARD AND I'LL READ THAT ONE. OKAY. SO, ACCORDING TO THE NATIONAL INSTITUTE ON MENTAL ILLNESS AND ESTIMATED ONE OUT OF FIVE ADULT IN THE UNITED STATES LIVES WITH MENTAL ILLNESS. AND THOSE ARE DOCUMENTED OF COURSE. SO MANY PEOPLE DO NOT KNOW THAT THEY HAVE A MENTAL ILLNESS OR THEY SIMPLY DO NOT TALK ABOUT IT. YOUNG ADULTS AGED 18 TO 25 HAVING THE HIGHEST PREVALENCE OF MENTAL ILLNESS COMPARED TO OTHER AGE GROUPS. OVER ONE OUT OF FIVE YOUTHS CURRENTLY OR AT SOME POINT DURING THEIR LIFE HAVE OR WILL HAVE A SERIOUSLY DEBILITATING MENTAL ILLNESS. AND ABOUT ONE OUT OF 25 ADULTS IN THE UNITED STATES CURRENTLY LIVES WITH A SERIOUS MENTAL ILLNESS. ACCORDING TO MENTAL HEALTH AMERICA IN 2023 TEXAS WAS RANKED THE 46TH IN THE NATION FOR THE PREVALENCE OF MENTAL ILLNESS AND RATES OF MENTAL HEALTH CARE ACCESS FOR CHILDREN AND YOUTH. AND 35TH IN THE NATION IN THE SAME CATEGORY FOR ADULT'S. WHERE IS HARRIS COUNTY HAS MADE SIGNIFICANT INVESTMENTS IN THE REGIONAL MENTAL HEALTH SYSTEMS BY INCREASING EARLY INTERVENTION FOR YOUTH MENTAL HEALTH DIVERSION FOR ADULTS AND YOUTH AND NON-LAW-ENFORCEMENT CRISIS RESPONSES AS WELL AS SUPPORTIVE AND TRANSITIONAL HOUSING TO IMPROVE THE LIVES OF THOSE WHO LIVE WITH MENTAL ILLNESS IN HARRIS COUNTY. THE EXPERTISE AND COMPASSION OF THE MENTAL HEALTH WORKFORCE SUPPORTING THE HEALING AND RECOVERY OF THOSE THAT THEY SERVE AND THE WORKERS, IS NECESSARY AND THOSE WORKERS DESERVE A SAFE WORKPLACE. AND THE RIGHT TO NEGOTIATE FOR GOOD SALARIES. HARRIS COUNTY RECENTLY HAD THIS LEVEL THE MONTH OF MAY HIGHLIGHTS THE IMPORTANCE OF MENTAL HEALTH AND PROMOTE INITIATIVES AIMED AT ENHANCING MENTAL HEALTH RESILIENCY AND WELLNESS AMONG INDIVIDUALS AND COMMUNITIES TO BRING GREATER MENTAL HEALTH FOR ALL. NOW LET ME JUST SAY AS YOU KNOW I WAS ON A MENTAL HEALTH LEAVE FOR TWO MONTHS FOR TREATMENT FOR DEPRESSION THAT I DID NOT KNOW I HAD DESPITE HAVING FINALLY AND AGREED TO SEE A PSYCHIATRIST AND HAVING A LONGTIME PSYCHOLOGIST. I DO NOT KNOW THAT WITH MENTAL HEALTH IT'S THE SAME AS PHYSICAL HEALTH. THAT IF YOUR DOCTOR IS NOT WORKING OUT YOU CAN FIND ANOTHER ONE. OR IF YOUR MEDICINE IS NOT WORKING YOU CAN TRY A DIFFERENT ONE. JUST LIKE PHYSICAL HEALTH MEDICINE MAY HAVE SIDE EFFECTS, MENTAL HEALTH THAT IS TO HAVE SIDE EFFECTS AS WELL BUT THAT DOES NOT MEAN THAT YOU SHOULD NOT SEEK IT IT JUST MEANS YOU NEED TO TRY SOMETHING ELSE. ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I'VE OBVIOUSLY LEARNED SINCE THEN, IS JUST HOW MANY PEOPLE IN OUR COMMUNITY TRULY HAVE MENTAL ILLNESSES.

PEOPLE COME UP TO ME EVERY DAY WHEN I AM OUT AND ABOUT TO TALK ABOUT THEIR ILLNESS OR THE TREATMENTS THEY ARE NOW SEEKING AND THE NEED FOR MORE. IN HARRIS COUNTY WE HAVE GREAT HEALTH INSURANCE. WE JUST SWITCHED COMPANIES BUT WE HAVE HAD GREAT HEALTH COVERAGE EXTENSIVELY. IN THEORY THE HEALTH INSURANCE HAS PARITY BETWEEN MENTAL HEALTH AND PHYSICAL HEALTH. WE FINALLY FINISHED THE APPEALS PROCESS AND THEY ARE NOW COVERING LIKE TWO DAYS OF MY SEVEN WEEK STAY AFTER EVERY KIND OF FIGHT BECAUSE TO THEM WE HAVE YOU THERE UNTIL YOU ARE NOT IMMINENTLY AT RISK OF DEATH AND EVEN IF YOU WERE GOING TO LEAVE AND GET IMMINENTLY AT RISK WE WOULD'VE ONLY PAID FOR ONE DAY FOR YOU AGAIN TO BE OUT AND BACK IN. SO I WANT TO PUT THAT OUT THERE AS WELL BECAUSE A LOT OF FOLKS ESPECIALLY WITH HEALTH INSURANCE SAY THAT WE ARTY HAVE PARITY. BUT WE REALLY DON'T AND THERE'S A LOT OF WORK THAT STILL NEEDS TO BE DONE IN TERMS OF WHAT GETS COVERED SO THAT IS PART OF THE EFFICACY THAT I'M TRYING TO DO HERE IS I HOPE TO GO BACK TO DC NEXT WEEK. IN TERMS OF OUR COMMUNITY WE DO OF COMMUNITY BASED PROGRAMS WHETHER BE INPATIENT OR INTENSIVE OUTPATIENT AND PARTIAL HOSPITALIZATION. WE HAVE PROGRAMS THROUGH THE HARRIS CENTER AND AS LONG AS THEY ARE HERE THEY ARE NOT AS LONG AS PEOPLE WOULD NEED. IT IS A WORK IN PROGRESS. WE HAVE PARTNERED TO SUPPORT MORE

[01:55:04]

BUT THAT WORK IS RUNNING OUT WITH AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN FUNDING. I REMIND FOLKS THAT CARE ABOUT THE ISSUE THAT THIS IS ONE THAT WE REALLY NEED EFFICACY AROUND FOR CONTINUED COUNTY INVESTMENTS IN MENTAL HEALTH. SUPPORTS ESPECIALLY FOR KIDS AND THOSE WHO WENT THROUGH COVID-19 THOSE NUMBERS ARE JUST EXTREMELY HIGH ESPECIALLY TO TALK TO THE COUNSELORS WITHIN OUR SCHOOL DISTRICTS. SO THANK YOU WITH A PARENTHESIS ON THAT.

BUT BE IT RESOLVED THAT THE HARRIS COUNTY COMMISSIONERS COURT PROCLAIMS MAY 2024 AS MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS MONTH.

AND THANK YOU COLLEAGUES FOR LETTING ME ADD THIS RESOLUTION.

GO AHEAD. >> GOOD AFTERNOON. MY NAME IS DR. DAVID CURTIS. I'M A CHIEF BEHAVIORAL PSYCHOLOGIST. I'M HERE TO SPEAK TO MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS AND TO SHARE OUR PROGRAMS AT THE U OF H FAMILY HEALTHCARE CENTER. IT IS WELL DOCUMENTED IN MORE THAN 20% OF ALL CHILDREN EXPERIENCE MENTAL HEALTH CONCERNS SUFFICIENT ENOUGH TO WARRANT A DIAGNOSIS.

SUICIDE IS THE SECOND LEADING CAUSE OF DEATH IN OUR YOUTH.

FOLLOWING COVID-19 THESE NUMBERS HAVE INCREASED. WE ARE GREAT WE SUPPORTED WITH FUNDING FROM OUR PLATOON CREASE ACCESS FOR MENTAL HEALTH CARE NEEDS ARE FOR THE YOUTH ESPECIALLY IN THE THIRD WARD AND THE EAST END. IN ADDITION TO PROVIDING THE EVALUATIONS AND THERAPIES AS WELL AS THE MET MANAGEMENT WE OFFER BEHAVIORAL HEALTHCARE AND COMMUNITY EDUCATION AND OUTREACH. PRIMARY CARE SHOWS THAT ANYONE VISITING A PEDIATRICIAN CAN BE SEEN THE SAME DAY BY A CONSULTANT WITHOUT LEAVING THE EXAM ROOM OR WITHOUT A REFERRAL. IN COMMUNITY OUTREACH WE PARTNER WITH COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS HELPING THEM BREAK BARRIERS AND BECOME A CERTIFIED PROVIDERS OF MENTAL HEALTH FOR STATE. IN THE FIRST YEAR WE'VE CONDUCTED 950 PATIENT ENCOUNTERS AND TRAINING FOR COMMUNITY MEMBERS. WE ARE LOOKING TO INCREASE PUBLIC AWARENESS IN THIS INITIATIVE.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH. >> THANK YOU ALL FOR THE WORK

THAT YOU DO. >> GOOD AFTERNOON JUDGE AND COMMISSIONERS. MY NAME IS TIFFANY WILLIAMS WOODS. I AM THE DIRECTOR OF CHILDREN AND ADOLESCENT SERVICES AT THE HARRIS CENTER. I AM EXCITED TO BE HERE BUT I AM GOING TO TELL YOU THAT RC SEO WAS SUPPOSED TO BE HERE BUT HE IS ATTENDING A COMPANY CO-CONFERENCE RIGHT NOW. SO I AM EXCITED TO BE HERE BECAUSE AS HE STATED MAY IS MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS. AT THE HARRIS CENTER THIS IS TIME TO CELEBRATE. BECAUSE THIS GIVES US THE OPPORTUNITY TO DISPEL THE SICK STIGMA OF MENTAL ILLNESS. I AM HERE TO GUEST TODAY. TO MY LEFT OF DR. JAMES KENNEY. HE IS APPEAR AT THE HARRIS CENTER. THAT MEANS THAT WE EMPLOY INDIVIDUALS WHO'VE HAVE LIVED EXPERIENCES. THOSE EXPERIENCES CAN BE MENTAL ILLNESS, IDD CONCERNS OR MORE.

SO WE ARE EXCITED TO HAVE THEM HERE. BUT TO HER RIGHT THIS IS ONE OF MY CLIENTS MS. HANNAH VASQUEZ WHO HAS BEEN WITH US FOR ABOUT TWO YEARS RECEIVING SERVICES OF THE SOUTHEAST CLINIC. SHE IS SO BRAVE. SHE IS ACTUALLY A TEACHER AND IN CELEBRATION OF TEACHER APPRECIATION BUT SHE IS HERE TO TALK ABOUT HER EXPERIENCE IN HARRIS CENTER. SO I'M GOING TO

TURN IT OVER TO HER NOW. >> HELLO. MY EXPERIENCE AT THE MENTAL HEALTH CENTER. THEY HAVE A LOT OF RESOURCES THAT I TOOK A VAN TO DRIVE. IF IT WEREN'T FOR THOSE CHEAP OR FREE THERAPY AND MEDICATION OR MICRO-SUPPORT LEVELS I WOULD'VE BEEN IN A MUCH DIFFERENT PLACE RIGHT NOW. IT IS VERY EXPENSIVE. IT'S ALMOST $100 WITHOUT INSURANCE. I WOULD HAVE BEEN IN A DARKER PLACE AND A BIGGER DEBT. BUT IT DID MAKE EVERYTHING A LOT EASIER TO ACCESS. THEY GIVE YOU THE RESOURCES BUT YOU ARE THE ONE THAT HAS TO PUT IN THE WORK. THEY ARE STILL NOT GOING TO FIX IT FOR YOU. I SUGGESTED THEY NEED A BIGGER BUDGET TO REACH OUT TO PEOPLE. AND I LET PEOPLE KNOW THAT HOW EXPENSIVE IT IS THEY SAY IT'S CHEAP TO GET MEDICATION AND IF IT DOESN'T WORK THEY MONITOR IT FOR YOU AND THEY CHANGE IT.

>> THANK YOU AND THANK YOU FOR SHARING YOUR EXPERIENCE.

>> THANK YOU MISS VAZQUEZ FOR SHARING.

>> CAN YOU STATE YOUR NAME FOR THE RECORD?

>> ANNA VASQUEZ. >> THANK YOU. AND AGAIN, MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS IS SOMETHING WE ARE EXCITED TO HAVE HERE.

THANK YOU FOR ACKNOWLEDGING THIS.

[02:00:01]

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH. AND ALL OF YOU THAT WORK IN THIS FIELD AND ADVOCATE I LOVE THAT YOU ARE PEER ADVOCATE IT MAKES SUCH A DIFFERENCE HAVING BEEN THERE TO KNOW SOMEONE WHO HAS LIVED IT AND THEY KNOW YOU HAD PUT IN THE WORK. IT IS REALLY HARD AND I'M JUST SO HAPPY THAT WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO GET THERE ALONG WITH SO MANY OTHER PEOPLE. SO THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU MISS WILLIAMS BROOKS.

>> ARE THERE ANY OTHER SPEAKERS ON THIS ITEM?

>> CHANEL AMORE? >> HELLO. I AM A LICENSED CLINICAL SOCIAL WORKER AND PROGRAM DIRECTOR WITH COMMUNITIES IN SCHOOLS OF HOUSTON. FOR THE LAST 45 YEARS WE HAVE PROVIDED SERVICES TO STUDENTS ON CAMPUS. THIS IS A SERVICE WHERE THE IMPACT TO JUST GO TO SOMEONE ON YOUR CAMPUS AND NOT HAVE TO HAVE A CO-PAY OR ANYTHING ELSE BUT JUST BEING ABLE TO SAY I HAVE A NEED IS SO IMPORTANT. THANK YOU FOR INVITING US HERE TODAY. WE ARE NOW THE LARGEST PROVIDER OF MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES ON SCHOOL CAMPUSES IN HARRIS COUNTY. WE ARE PROVIDING MENTAL HEALTH PROFESSIONALS WITH EVIDENCE-BASED PRACTICES COMBATING ANXIETY AND DEPRESSION. AND TRULY DRESSING PRATTE TRAUMA ON A DAY-TO-DAY BASIS. ALLOWING TEACHERS THE TIME TO TEACH. AND WE JUST WANT TO THANK YOU BECAUSE THIS WORK HAS BEEN ABLE TO BE EXPANDED THROUGHOUT THE HARRIS COUNTY OUR BOOK GRANT. WE WERE TO SAY THANK YOU FOR THAT ON TO BE ABLE TO CONTINUE OUR PARTNERSHIP WITH ORGANIZATIONS TO PROVIDE SERVICE ON CAMPUS.

>> THANK YOU FOR YOUR HELP LETTING US SEE THIS. AND I HOPE THAT WE WILL CONTINUE TO PUSH TO MAKE SURE THAT AS WE CUT HERE OR THERE THAT WE CUT WHAT DOES NOT GO WITH OUR STRATEGIC VISION AND KEEP ALL OF THIS THAT IS IMPORTANT AND HOW WE CAN MAINTAIN AS MUCH FUNDING AS POSSIBLE. I KNOW THAT LOCALLY IT IS STILL TOO SMALL BUT WE COULD POSSIBLY AFFORD TO

ADVOCATE ON THIS. THANK YOU. >> NEXT IS VIRTUAL SPEAKER JULIE KAPLAN. YOU HAVE ONE MINUTE.

>> HELLO. MY NAME IS JULIE KAPLAN. I AM THE JUNIOR COUNSELOR AT THE TRAUMA AND RELIEF CENTER. WE KNOW THAT UNRESOLVED TRAUMA IS THE CONCH READING TO THE MOST SIGNIFICANT PROBLEMS INCLUDING DOMESTIC AND COMMUNITY VIOLENCE. WE KNOW THAT NOT ALL TRAUMA IS ALIKE AND THAT THE REASON IS THE MOST COMMON AND THE MOST DISTRESSING FORM OF TRAUMA AMONG YOUTH IN HARRIS COUNTY. WE WERE FORTUNATE TO RECEIVE FUNDING THAT HAS ALLOWED US TO ENHANCE ACCESS TO BEST PRACTICE MENTAL HEALTH CARE AMONG YOUTH AND WE HAVE TRAINED CLINICIANS IN ONE OF THOSE INTERVENTIONS ALLOWING US TO REACH 1500 YOUTH WE'VE ALSO TRAIN 50 SOCIAL WORK STUDENTS TO INCREASE THE NUMBER OF BILINGUAL TRAUMA AND GRIEF INFORMED PROVIDERS. AND FINALLY WE HAVE PARTNERED TO PROVIDE NO COST TELE THERAPY TO THOSE USE WHO WOULD OTHERWISE BE UNABLE TO ACCESS CARE. THANK YOU SO

VERY MUCH. >> THANK YOU FOR SHARING THAT WITH US AND WE ARE GLAD THAT THESE FUNDS ARE PANNING OUT.

THANK YOU FOR SUPPORTING COMMITMENT AND OF COURSE FOR

THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT. >> THE LAST SPEAKER FOR THIS

ITEM IS JACOB COMMENTED. >> THANK YOU JUDGE ELENA FOR ALLOWING ME TO BE HERE. I WANT TO THANK EVERYONE HERE FOR THROAT ABOUT HELPING PEOPLE WITH MENTAL ILLNESS. MY NAME IS DANIEL CONFERENCE. AND I WANT TO SAY THAT I AM A MEMBER OF THE ST. JOSEPH CLUBHOUSE. THIS IS PART OF THAT MAGNIFICAT HOUSES AND WE ARE COMING FROM ROSEMARY AND THEY FUNDED THE ST. JOSEPH CLUBHOUSE TO HELP MORE MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES IN THE LATE 60S. WHAT I WANT TO SAY NOW IS ALL THEY HAVE A

[02:05:10]

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH. >> IS THERE ANYONE ELSE

TIFFANY? >> THAT IS ALL.

>> OKAY. WE'RE GOING TO TAKE SOME PICTURES NOW. THANK YOU ALL.

[Appearances before court]

[02:33:12]

>> OKAY. THAT WAS THE RESOLUTIONS. WE WILL NOW TAKE

[02:33:15]

THE REST OF THE SPEAKERS. >> AGENDA RELATED SPEAKER

[02:33:21]

[02:33:26]

[02:33:39]

>> GOOD AFTERNOON JUDGE IT ALL GO AND COMMISSIONERS. I AM THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR FAMILY TO FAMILY A LOCAL NONPROFIT HELPING THOSE WITH DISABILITIES SEE POTENTIAL IN OTHER C BARRIERS. I'M HERE THIS MORNING TO ASK HER MOTHER THANK YOU FOR PROVING THE HARRIS CENTER TO ADMINISTER THE INSPIRE PROGRAM. FOR THOSE OF YOU THAT DO NOT KNOW THERE IS A THREE YEAR WAITING LIST FOR THE MEDICALLY DEPENDENT CHILD PROGRAM AND IS 16 TO 18 YEAR HOME AND COMMUNITY-BASED MEDICARE PROGRAM FOR THOSE WITH IDD. BOTH OF WHICH DO NOT COUNT PARENT INCOME FOR CHILD ACCESS MEDICAID. THE STATE PROGRAMS PROVIDE RESPITE THERAPY AND ADAPTIVE AID. BUT MANY YOUNG CHILDREN MUST WAIT UNTIL THEY ARE OVER SIX YEARS OLD ACCESS ANY OF THESE SERVICES. THE INSPIRE PROGRAM WILL HELP MANY FAMILIES WITH YOUNG CHILDREN THAT ARE CONSIDERED ASSET LIMITED OR REPRESENT A POVERTY LEVEL BY PROVIDING THERAPY AND

ADAPTIVE NEEDS. THANK YOU. >> MA'AM CAN ASK A QUICK QUESTION? THANK YOU FOR COMING BACK. WE HAVE DONE SO MANY WONDERFUL PROGRAMS. THANK YOU TO MY COLLEAGUES AND EVERYONE HERE CAN YOU REMIND US WHICH ONE IS THAT SPECIFICALLY? AND

[02:35:10]

AFFORD THERAPY SERVICES. >> OKAY.

>> FOR MY SON WE WAITED 11 YEARS TO GET MEDICAID COMMUNITY SERVICES THROUGH THE HARRIS CENTER. BECAUSE WE WERE ON THAT WAITLIST. THANK YOU SO MUCH. AND PLEASE CONTINUE YOUR ADVOCACY AS WE WORK TO KEEP THESE PROGRAMS GOING AFTER THAT

RUNS OUT. >> IT IS SO IMPORTANT FOR YOUNG KIDS TO GET THESE SERVICES. WE ARE TALKING TO THE NURSES AND WHEN YOU LOOK AT THESE FOLKS IT'S UNDIAGNOSED MENTAL HEALTH PROBLEMS AND THEY END UP HAVING ISSUES WITH THE LAW. NEXT IS SPEAKER NUMBER 30 JOLENE SANDERS. SPEAKING VIRTUALLY ON ITEM 13. YOU HAVE ONE MINUTE. GO AHEAD.

>> MY NAME IS JOLENE SANDERS. THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK AND FOR ACCOMMODATING ME AT A DISTANCE. I AM THE ADVOCACY DIRECTOR WHERE I AM THE LEAD ON ALL ISSUES CHILD AND YOUTH RELATED BUT WE WORK ON A NUMBER OF ISSUES INCLUDING JUVENILE AND CRIMINAL JUSTICE COMMUNITY SUPPORT AND ACCESS TO HEALTHCARE. IN A NUMBER OF OTHER ISSUES THAT ALL IMPACTS CHILDREN AND ADULTS WITH DISABILITIES. I AM ALSO THE MOTHER OF A 19-YEAR-OLD WITH A DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITY AND I WANT TO ECHO THINGS THAT WERE MENTIONED BY PREVIOUS SPEAKERS REGARDING ACCESS TO THESE KINDS OF SERVICES THAT COULD BE PROVIDED BY THE STATE AND THAT COME DOWN TO THE EXTREMELY LONG WAITLIST THAT WE HAVE. TO BE ABLE TO GET A MEDICAID WAIVER AND GET THESE SERVICES FROM THE COMMUNITY. AS WE KNOW THE PANDEMIC EXPOSED HUGE GAPS AND ACCESS TO TECHNOLOGY. WE SAW HOW THAT WORKED WITH ISOLATION. SPENT PLEASE CONTINUE.

>> THERE WERE LOTS OF SUPPORTS AND SERVICES AND THE MENTAL HEALTH OF THE ENTIRE FAMILY SYSTEMS AND WE HAVE YET TO RECOVER FROM ALL OF THIS. I DO NOT THINK THAT THIS IS JUST A VALUABLE RESEARCH BUT IT ADDRESSES A CRITICAL NEED EXPERIENCED BY SO MANY. WITH COMMUNICATION ACCESS AND MORE ESSENTIAL TO THOSE WITH YOUNG LEVELS AND I WANT TO THANK YOU ALL FOR TRYING TO ADDRESS THIS IN A VERY MEANINGFUL WAY. I THINK THE TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE PIECE IS CRUCIAL. WE SAW TOO MANY KIDS GET SENT HOME WITH CHROME BOOKS AND NO ONE KNEW HOW TO USE THEM. OR HOW TO USE THE PLATFORM. SO WE ARE VERY ENTHUSIASTICALLY SUPPORTIVE OF THIS.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH. >> NEXT IS SPEAKER NUMBER 31 JORDAN TCHOUP UNDER COMMISSIONER PRECINCT NUMBER

TWO. YOU HAVE ONE MINUTE. >> GOOD AFTERNOON. I AM THE MANAGER OF CORRELATED ACCESS AND INTAKE AT COALITION FOR THE HOMELESS IN HOUSTON IN HARRIS COUNTY. WE ARE THE LEAD AGENCY OF THE WAY HOME THE LOCAL HOMELESS RESPONSE SYSTEM. WE ARE MORE THAN 100 AGENCIES THAT ARE WORKING TOGETHER TO PREVENT AND END HOMELESSNESS IN HOUSTON AND HARRIS COUNTY FORT BEND AND MONTGOMERY COUNTY. I AM HERE TODAY TO EXPRESS SUPPORT FOR ITEM NUMBER 223 BROUGHT FORTH BY COMMISSIONER GARCIA. THIS REQUEST APPROVAL TO DIRECT HARRIS COUNTY DEPARTMENTS AND OFFICES TO IMPROVE EFFICIENCY AND COORDINATION WITH OTHER STAKEHOLDERS. LIKE US THE COALITION FOR THE HOMELESS AND THE CLEANUP AND MAINTENANCE OF THE COUNTY FLOOD WAYS ESPECIALLY FOR THOSE LIVING IN SHELTERED AS THE LEAD AGENCY THE COALITION IS ACUTELY AWARE OF PEOPLE THAT ARE EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS AND THOSE WERE ON STABLY HOUSED AS THEY ARE VERY VULNERABLE IN TIMES OF DISASTER. DURING HARVEY MORE THAN 25,000 HOUSTONIANS SOUGHT REFUGE IN DISASTER SHELTERS.

AND I WILL END THIS BY SAYING AS THE COORDINATOR FOR THE HOMELESS RESPONSE SYSTEM WE UNDERSTAND THE COMPLEXITIES OF SERVING PEOPLE EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS. AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH HARRIS COUNTY TO DEVELOP A RESPONSE THAT MEETS THE NEEDS OF OUR VULNERABLE RESIDENTS. THANK YOU

FOR YOUR TIME. >> THANK YOU FOR COMING DOWN AND SPEAKING ON THIS ITEM. IT IS SO IMPORTANT TO HAVE YOUR SUPPORT. THERE IS INCREDIBLE AND IMMENSE GRATITUDE TO YOU AND ALL OF THE COALITION FOR YOUR INCREDIBLE WORK. YOU ARE

[02:40:03]

>> THANK YOU. WE WELCOME CORRELATED ACCESS TO ALL OF YOU

AT ALL TIMES. THANK YOU AGAIN. >> THANK YOU COMMISSIONER.

>> NEXT IS MARY LAWLER SPEAKING UNDER ITEM 224.

>> GOOD AFTERNOON. MY NAME IS MARY LAWLER. CEO OF THE AVENUE AND I AM EXTREMELY HAPPY TO BE HERE AGAIN TO SPEAK ABOUT THE PROPERTY TAX EXEMPTIONS FOR NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS THAT OWN AND OPERATE AFFORDABLE RENTAL HOUSING IN HARRIS COUNTY. LAST YEAR AROUND THIS TIME I WAS HERE TO THANK YOU FOR APPROVING A 50% PROPERTY TAX EXEMPTION. I AM VERY PLEASED AND THANKFUL THAT COMMISSIONER GARCIA BROUGHT FORWARD THE REQUEST TO STUDY THE POSSIBILITY OF EXPANDING THAT EXEMPTION TO 100% OF HARRIS COUNTY TAXES. NONPROFITS LIKE AVENUE PROVIDE IMPORTANT AFFORDABLE HOUSING TO LOW INCOME HOUSEHOLDS IN THE COUNTY. WE ARE STRUGGLING WITH RISING COSTS. PARTICULARLY THE PROPERTY INSURANCE COSTS SO GETTING THIS EXEMPTION REALLY HELPS TO MAINTAIN AND PRESERVE THIS AFFORDABLE HOUSING. WE ARE VERY GRATEFUL FOR THIS STUDY.

THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU FOR YOUR ADVOCACY AND FOR BRINGING THIS DIRECTLY TO US. I AM SO PROUD THAT MY COLLEAGUES HAVE SUPPORTED THIS ROUND AND WE WILL CONTINUE TO TRY TO FIND HER WAY FORWARD. THANK YOU FOR YOUR WORK. WERE GOING TO CALL THIS THE MARY LAWLER ACT.

>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. >> THIS IS JULIA DAILY ON SPEAKING ON ITEM 235 USING AN INTERPRETER. YOU'VE ONE

MINUTE. >> GOOD AFTERNOON JUDGE ATAGO AND COMMISSIONERS. I AM A MEMBER OF WORKERS OF AN ORGANIZATION THAT FIGHTS FOR THE RIGHTS OF IMMIGRANT WORKERS IN TEXAS. I HAVE BEEN WORKING AS A DOMESTIC WORKER FOR MORE THAN 20 YEARS IN HARRIS COUNTY. I LIVE IN PRINCETON PRECINCT 4 REPRESENTED BY COMMISSIONER BRIONES. EVERY YEAR CLIMATE CHANGE IS GETTING WORSE. FOR EXAMPLE IN THE WINTER STORM I HAD TO GO TO A SHELTER. WE DESERVE LEADERS AND SYSTEMS THAT WE CAN TRUST AND THAT WORK FOR US. ABBOTT AND ERCOT HAVE FAILED US. THE SOLAR PANEL PROGRAM THAT HARRIS COUNTY IS STARTING IS NEEDED TO HAVE GREEN SOURCES OF ENERGY AND SOMETHING LOCAL AND DEPENDABLE. ELECTRICITY IS TOO EXPENSIVE AND IN MY SMALL APARTMENT I'VE PAID UP TO $450. WE HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY NOW TO ENSURE SOLAR FOR ALL PANELS THAT BENEFITS ALL OF THOSE MOST IN NEED. MY QUESTION TODAY, WHAT IS YOUR PLAN AND COMMITMENT TO IMPLEMENT SOLAR FOR ALL

PROGRAMS IN EQUITABLE WAYS? >> THE PROGRAM IS TAILORED TO FAMILIES THAT HAVE FEWER NEEDS. SO THAT WILL HELP US TO MAKE SURE OBVIOUSLY THIS IS NOT ENOUGH OR BIG ENOUGH PROGRAM FOR EVERYONE. BUT BY DESIGN THERE WILL BE A PARTIAL FOCUS ON LOW INCOME FAMILIES WHO CANNOT JUST HAVE SOLAR PANELS

[02:45:04]

>> NEXT IS ROBERT RAMOS BEGIN ITEM 24 500 TRANSMITTALS.

YOU'VE ONE MINUTE TO SPEAK. >> HELLO AND THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME. MY NAME IS ROBERT RAMOS. I AM THE LOCAL 33 PRESIDENT AND BEING A REPRESENTATIVE THESE WORKING MEN AND WOMEN I'VE HEARD AND UNDERSTOOD ALL OF THEIR STORIES AS WELL AS SHARING MINE IN REGARDING THE FREEZER 2021.

MANY OF US LOST FRIENDS FAMILY PETS AND MOST IMPORTANTLY WE LOST HOPE. IN OUR SYSTEM TO BE THERE FOR US WHEN WE NEED THEM THE MOST. TODAY IS THE OPPORTUNITY TO TAKE THE FIRST STEPS TO INSTILL THAT HOPE BACK TO THE MINDS OF TEXAS AS A WHOLE. WE COME HERE TODAY TO EMBRACE THE NEED TO CHANGE AND TAKE OUR WORK BACK FROM ERCOT. I SPEAK FROM OUR LOCAL 350 MEMBERS ALL THE UNIONS AND RESIDENTS THAT ARE HERE WITH US TODAY THAT SAY WE WILL BE READY FOR THE WORK WHEN IT IS OUR TURN TO DO IT. WE ARE READY TO MAN THOSE GOOD UNION JOBS THAT IT WILL CREATE AND BE READY TO BE THERE WITH THE CITY AND THE

PEOPLE THAT WE LOVE. >> THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT. WE ARE VERY EXCITED TO MOVE THIS ALONG BUT ALSO WORKING TO CREATE THIS CLEAN ENERGY JOBS FOR OUR ORGANIZED LABOR TO PARTNERS AND BROTHERS AND

SISTERS. THANK YOU. >> NEXT IS SPEAKER NUMBER 37 JACKIE METCALF SPEAKING VIRTUALLY ON ITEM 289 UNDER THE SUPPLEMENTAL ITEMS. YOU HAVE ONE MINUTE PLEASE GO AHEAD AND

>> HELLO. THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING ME TO MAKE MY REMARKS OVER THE LINE. I AM COMMENTING ON THE INSTABILITY OF THE ENTIRE SITUATION WITH THE GENT SAN JACINTO SUPERFUND SITE. IT IS A TICKING TIME BOMB AND OUR COMMUNITIES NEED OUR COUNTY TO STEP IN. THE EPA RULED AT THIS SITE IN 2017 AFTER HURRICANE HARVEY FOR FULL REMOVAL AND THAT NORTHERN PIT IS STILL SITTING THERE IN THE RIVER. IN FACT WITH THIS RECENT FLOOD THERE'S SEVEN AND HALF FEET OF WATER ON TOP OF THE SITE. IN THAT SITE IS OVER 200,000 CUBIC YARDS OF CONTAMINATED MATERIALS. THERE'S DIOXIN AND THAT IS ONE OF THE MOST TOXIC VOCALS KNOWN TO MAN. MY FAMILY LEFT THE COMMUNITY WITH OUR DREAM LIFE ON THE RIVER BECAUSE OF THAT TOXIC REALITY THAT THE COMMUNITY HAS STILL FACED. THE COMMUNITIES AROUND THIS AREA HAVE ABNORMALLY HIGH RATES OF CHILDHOOD AND ADULT CANCER.

>> PLEASE CONTINUE JACKIE. >> THERE IS AMONG THE HIGHEST MATERNAL MENTALITY RATES AND MANY OF THESE HAVE BEEN ASSOCIATED WITH EXPOSURE. IT IS CRITICAL THAT THE COUNTY COME TOGETHER TO SEE HOW WE CAN SUPPORT GETTING THE SITE FULLY REMOVED BECAUSE DESPITE THE LEGAL AUTHORITY TO DO SO THE

EPA HAS YET TO FULLY ACT. >> THANK YOU ALL FOR COMING DOWN. THIS IS THE MOST UNDERREPORTED ISSUE IN THE COUNTY. WHEN WE HAVE A FLOOD LIKE THIS AND WE DON'T TALK ABOUT IT ENOUGH. WE WILL HAVE MORE CONVERSATION ON IT BUT IT IS A HUGE ISSUE THOSE WAYS PIT NEEDS TO BE GONE THEY NEED TO BE GONE 30 YEARS AGO AND WE THANK YOU FOR YOUR ADVOCACY.

THANK YOU COMMISSIONER. >> THANK YOU SO MUCH AND JUST A QUICK CHECK ON THE ADMINISTRATOR REVIEWS DO YOU BY ANY CHANCE HAVE ANY STATUS UPDATES ON THIS? THAT SOMEONE WOULD HAVE A TOP OF THEIR MIND?

[02:50:04]

>> POLLUTION CONTROL WOULD BE THE APPROPRIATE DEPARTMENT. SO

IF WE COULD REACH OUT TO THEM? >> OKAY. THANK YOU SO MUCH.

THANK YOU COMMISSIONER RAMSEY AS WELL.

>> NEXT IS NON-AGENDA SPEAKER NUMBER ONE DREW AND TONE. YOU

HAVE ONE MINUTE. >> GOOD AFTERNOON EVERYONE. MY NAME IS DREW AND PHON AND I'M A BUSINESS OWNER HERE IN HOUSTON, HARRIS COUNTY. I'M ALSO THE FOUNDER AND A CHAIRMAN OF A 501(C)(3) NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION CALLED BEDARD A FOUNDATION. THE TWO TIE IN TOGETHER BECAUSE MANY OF THE NEIGHBORHOODS THAT WE SERVICE WE ENCOUNTER STRAY AND ABANDONED ANIMALS THAT WE END UP TRYING TO PROVIDE ASSISTANCE TO YOU. I AM HERE TO ADVOCATE FOR THOSE WHO CANNOT ADVOCATE FOR THEMSELVES. THE ANIMALS OF HARRIS COUNTY. THERE ARE ABANDONED DOG HOTSPOTS IN EVERY PRECINCT. I AM REQUESTING THE COMMISSIONERS CODE TO INCLUDE IN THIS BUDGET FUNDS TO ASSIST ANIMAL RESCUE GROUPS AND NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS PROVIDING FUNDING TO PROVIDE IMMEDIATE LIFESAVING MEDICAL CARE AND ESSENTIALS TO STRAY ANIMALS AND ABANDONED ANIMALS WHO ARE IN DISTRESS. I AM ALSO REQUESTING THE COUNTY CONSIDER BUILDING ANIMAL RESCUES TO PROVIDE THOSE ESSENTIAL LEVELS IMPLEMENTING ALL OF THIS LEVEL. TO IMPLEMENT THE EXECUTIVE ORDER ELIMINATING YOUTH IN HIS NATION TO HEALTHY OR ADOPTABLE PETS AT ALL KILL SHELTERS HERE IN HARRIS COUNTY. IN THE WORDS OF MY GRANDMOTHER, A FOOL IS SOMEONE WHO CONTINUES TO DO THE SAME THING OVER AND OVER EXPECTING A DIFFERENT RESULT.

YOUTH IN HIS NATION IS NOT THE ANSWER. EUTHANIZING ONE GROUP OF ANIMALS TO MAKE ROOM TO EUTHANIZE ANOTHER GROUP WILL NEVER SOLVE THE ISSUES AT HAND. IT IS A PUBLIC SAFETY ISSUE AS WELL IS A MORAL ISSUE. THANK YOU ALL.

>> THANK YOU. I WILL HAVE SOMEONE FOLLOWING UP WITH YOU BECAUSE WE CANNOT DISCUSS THESE NON-AGENDA ITEMS.

>> THANK YOU. >> NEXT IS NON-AGENDA SPEAKER CHAD PATEL. YOU HAVE ONE MINUTE.

>> GOOD AFTERNOON. I APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK HERE TODAY. MY TOPIC IS HOMELESSNESS WHICH IS ONE OF THE MOST DIFFICULT PROBLEMS IN U.S. CITIES. THIS IS SOMETHING THAT WE ALL ARE READY KNOW AND IT IS GETTING WORSE. THE COALITION THE CITY THE AND THE COUNTY SHOW THE REPRESENTATIVES HERE THERE ARE SEVERAL DIFFICULTIES. THE MONEY THAT WE HAVE USED FOR THE CORE REALLY FUNDS IS NOT COMING ANYMORE. AND AS WE KNOW WE HAVE GONE TO WASHINGTON, D.C. LOOKING FOR MORE MONEY.

AND THEY STILL A LOT OF PEOPLE ON THE STREETS. THERE IS A HOLISTIC APPROACH THAT I WOULD LIKE TO SUGGEST BUT IT WILL TAKE MORE TIME. SO TO DISCUSS THIS I WOULD ASK FOR MORE TIME OR SOME SORT OF DISCUSSION IN THE FUTURE. ONE OF THE THINGS TO CONSIDER IS LOOKING AT THE EXISTING FACILITIES THAT THE

COUNTY HAS. >> WOULD YOU LIKE TO HAVE SOMEONE FOLLOW-UP? WILL HAVE SOMEONE MEET WITH YOU. THANK YOU SO MUCH. VICTOR LEE NON-AGENDA SPEAKER NUMBER FOUR.

YOU HAVE ONE MINUTE. >> GOOD AFTERNOON JUDGE AND COMMISSIONERS. MY NAME IS VICTOR LEE. I AM HERE WITH THE FOOD BANK NEIGHBORHOODS. WITH THE PARTNERS AND MEMBERS. I WAS CHOSEN TO REPRESENT BECAUSE I WAS GOING THROUGH SOME TREMENDOUS THINGS ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS. BUT NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE TO HIM EVEN IN THE COURTS AFTER I TOOK MY GRANDBABIES TO CPS AND I GOT DISCOUNTED HERE. I WANT TO STAY ONLINE BECAUSE THE SUNSET CROSSING AND A FEW OTHERS ARE HERE AND THAT'S JUST LEAVING IT FORWARD HERE. LIKE THE ROOF FALLING IN.

[02:55:08]

>> CAN SOMEONE FROM OUR TEAM FOLLOW UP WITH YOU SEE YOU CAN

EXPLAIN EVERYTHING? >> YES.

>> THANK YOU. WE WILL FIND SOMEONE.

>> NON-AGENDA SPEAKER NUMBER SEVEN DEBBIE SOCCER. YOU HAVE

ONE MINUTE. >> THIS WATER JUG REPRESENTS THE WATER THAT IS FLOODING OUR STREETS. THEY ARE NOT CLEANING THE DITCHES OUT. YOU BUILT A TOILET THAT HAS RUINED OUR DRAINAGE. MAYBE NEXT TIME WE SHOULD MEET OVER OFF OF WEST ROAD AND KATIE HOCKLEY. YOU ARE STILL LETTING DEVELOPED LETTERS BUILD UP 10 FEET? YOU QUIT THAT IN THE 90S I THOUGHT? YOU SAID THAT TO ME WHEN I WAS HERE IN 2020. I FELT REALLY BAD FOR EVERYONE IN HERE. ESPECIALLY THE OFFICERS THAT DIED. THERE ARE OTHER OFFICERS DYING TOO BECAUSE YOU'RE NOT PAYING ATTENTION TO ROADS. I KNOW THAT WAS TEXT.ROAD WHERE IT HAPPENED BUT GUESS WHAT, IT HAPPENS ALL THE TIME UNDERNEATH THERE THERE PEOPLE GOING IN THE POND. DO YOU KNOW HOW MANY PEOPLE HAVE FALLEN OFF OR DIED JUST TRYING TO GET DOWN THE ROAD? AND THEN YOU SPED UP EVERYTHING. 5055 WE MUST GO FAST. BUT YOU DON'T EVEN HAVE PROPER SIGNAGE THAT SAYS TO STOP. LET ME POUR THE

WATER ON YOU. >> THANK YOU. WE WILL FOLLOW UP

WITH YOU. >> I MEETING WITH 20 PEOPLE.

YOUR BLOCKING OFF RIVERS. I THINK THAT IS AN IMPORTANT CONVERSATION. I'VE DONE IT WITH FLOOD CONTROL AND

EVERYTHING. >> NEXT IS NOT AGENDA SPEAKER NUMBER 10 DEBORAH SMITH. YOU HAVE ONE MINUTE.

>> HELLO. MY NAME IS DEBORAH SMITH. I WOULD LIKE TO ADDRESS HARRIS COUNTY AND SOME THINGS ABOUT THE HARRIS COUNTY JAIL.

THIS IS ONE OF THE TRAGIC DEATHS IN 2022. I'VE BEEN TO MANY MEETINGS. BUT THIS TIME I AM COMING WITH A TYPE OF SOLUTION. I UNDERSTAND THAT WITH THE LAST MEETING THEY PLAN ON REDUCING THE STAFF TO THE SIZE OF THE BEDS. BUT WHAT I WANTED THEM TO DO ALSO IS TO HAVE ACCOUNTABILITY. THEY NEED TO HAVE A BADGE SWIPE. YOU DON'T NEED TO ASK AN EMPLOYEE WHETHER OR NOT YOU WENT IN THERE OR DID YOUR OUR REAR HALF HOUR CHECK. THEY NEED TO GO IN AND SWIPE FOR ACCOUNTABILITY.

THEY DON'T NEED TO JUST STAND ON THE OUTSIDE OF THE JAIL AND SAY I'M LOOKING IN. THEY NEED TO DO THIS. AND NOT ONLY THE JAILERS BUT I'M ALSO SPEAKING ABOUT THE MEDICAL STAFF. WE NEED ACCOUNTABILITY AS SOMETHING IS TERRIBLY WRONG.

AND WE NEED IT FIXED. I CAN'T BRING MY DAUGHTER BACK. BUT I DON'T WANT THIS TO HAPPEN TO ANYONE ELSE. THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU. REVEREND JUST LET GRIFFIN

YOU HAVE ONE MINUTE. >> GREETINGS YOUR HONOR AND COMMISSIONERS. I AM REVEREND JOSLYN GRIFFIN IF WE COULD PAUSE A MOMENT FOR THOSE THAT HAVE LOST THEIR LIFE IN CUSTODY. NOT ONLY HERE IN HARRIS COUNTY BUT IN THE STATE OF TEXAS AS A WHOLE. I AM THE MOTHER OF EVAN GRIFFIN LEE. WHO WAS BRUTALLY MURDERED HERE IN HARRIS COUNTY JAIL ON MARCH 22ND OF 2022. I AM ASKING IF THERE IS ANY WAY POSSIBLE THAT MY FAMILY AND THE COMMUNITY CAN GET SOME ANSWERS ON WHAT

[03:00:03]

>> THE FIRST RESPONSIBILITY OF THE COUNTY GOVERNMENT IS TO PROTECT ITS CITIZENS. NOT TO PROVIDE LAWYERS FOR ILLEGAL ALIEN CRIMINALS OR TO ARTIFICIALLY LIMIT SOCIAL ISSUES AND NOT TO GIVE MONEY TO SELECT CITIZENS WITH NO STRINGS ATTACHED. THIS IS NOT YOUR MONEY TO GIVE OUT LIKE IT IS CHRISTMAS. RAISING THE FEE CHANGE CHARGE TO RESIDENTIAL AGENCIES FOR CONSTABLES AND MORE FEELING STATE JAIL IT AND HAVING MANY UNNECESSARY LEVELS HEARD SAFETY. IT REALLY WORKS TO PROTECT CITIZENS. THOSE SENTENCING CONVICTED CRIMINALS TO LONGER TIMES PROTECTS OUR PUBLIC SAFETY. COMMISSIONER RAMSEY STROUP RESCUED 200 PEOPLE IN THIS RECENT FLOOD AND EVEN MORE PETS. FOLLOWING THESE RECOMMENDATIONS FOR FLOOD CONTROL WILL GO A LONG WAY TOWARD PROTECTING OUR CITIZENS.

THANK YOU SO MUCH. >> THANK YOU SO MUCH. WE HAVE A

[Departments (Part 2 of 2)]

WITH THAT I WOULD LIKE TO REITERATE THE POSITIVE IMPACT THAT IT WILL HAVE NOT ONLY ON COMMUNITIES IN HARRIS COUNTY BUT IN TEXAS MORE BROADLY AND WE ARE ALL IN THIS TOGETHER. I ALSO WANT TO THANK ALL OF THE COALITION PARTNERS WHO WORK WITH MY OFFICE AND THINK MY STAFF IN PARTICULAR KRISTEN LEE FOR HER TIRELESS WORK AND DEDICATION ON ALL OF THIS. BUT I HAVE TO END WITH HOW I BEGAN. THANK YOU TO THE BITE IN HARRIS

[03:05:04]

THANK YOU. I MOVE ON THE ITEM AS PRESENTED.

>> THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP ON THIS AND EVERYTHING YOU SAID I COULD NOT AGREE MORE. THANK YOU ALSO TO MISS LYNN AND COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR MISS DICKERSON.

MS. BARTON PRECINCT 14 THERE ARE SO MANY OF YOU WHO LED THE CHARGE CREATING THE COALITION FOR THE STATE OF TEXAS AND FOUGHT FOR THAT HARD WORK AND DEDICATION. IF NOT FOR THAT WE WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO APPLY AND SET THE STANDARD FOR THE COUNTRY. I AM GRATEFUL TO YOU AND THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION AND I AM THANKFUL BECAUSE WE'RE SO PROUD TO BE THE ENERGY CAPITAL OF THE WORLD. WE WILL BE THE CAPITAL OF THE ENERGY TRANSITION FOR THE WORLD. IT IS BOTH HERE WE WILL KEEP LEADING AND THIS IS AN EXAMPLE OF HOW HARRIS COUNTY WILL CONTINUE TO LEAD. AND I WANT TO SAY THAT WHETHER IT IS HELPING TO REDUCE ENERGY COST FOR VULNERABLE RESIDENTS OR CREATING HIGH PAYING UNION JOBS OR LESSENING OUR DEPENDENCE ON THE ENERGY GRID HERE IN TEXAS WHICH WE'VE ALL SEEN THE BRUTAL REALITY OF THE LACK OF RELIABILITY, WE ARE CREATING INDEPENDENCE AND JOBS AND LOWERING COSTS FOR PEOPLE. I APPRECIATE THIS BECAUSE IT IS THE HARD WORK AT THE HARRIS COUNTY TEAM MEMBERS THAT IS MAKING THIS HAPPEN. THANK YOU AND I LOOK FORWARD TO THIS GENERATIONAL INVESTMENT AND THE IMPACT THAT IT WILL HAVE ON

HARRIS COUNTY. THANK YOU. >> MR. ELLIS?

>> I WANT TO SAY I THINK MY COLLEAGUES I ONLY ONE AT A FEW POINTS. IT'S PART OF A $7 BILLION COMPETITION. AND IT IS IMPORTANT AS I THINK WE ALL PLAYED A ROLE WITH THE STAFF FINDING A CONSENSUS. I WANT TO STRESS THAT IT IS NOT OVER WITH YET. THERE ARE STILL HURDLES TO GO THROUGH AND WE HOPE THAT ALL OF OUR PARTNERS WITHIN IT WILL BE AMENABLE TO WORKING COOPERATIVELY. BECAUSE THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT WILL HAVE TO SIGN OFF ON IT. I WANT TO THINK MEMBERS OF CONGRESS WHO HAVE VOTED FOR AND THE ONES WHO DID NOT AS WELL BUT WE SHOW UP FOR ALL RIBBON CUTTINGS. IT IS A VERY IMPORTANT AND MONUMENT A PIECE OF LEGISLATION. WHAT I AM PARTICULARLY PLEASED WITH IS THAT THE BIDEN HARRIS MINISTRATION DID FOCUS THIS FUNDING ON THOSE WHO ARE MOST VULNERABLE AMONG US. AND I KNOW THAT ALL OF US SAW THIS REPORT FROM THE TEXAS ENERGY RESEARCH BUT I WANT TO RUN THROUGH THREE QUICK POINTS. 40% OF LOW TO MODERATE INCOME CANNOT AFFORD THEIR ENERGY BILLS. THERE IS A CLOSE TO 100 DEGREE DAY WITHIN THE NEXT WEEK. HOPEFULLY IT WON'T HIT 100 BUT IT WILL BE CLOSE. WITH THE HUMIDITY IT MAY FEEL LIKE 100. WE STILL HAVE MORE WORK TO DO THOUGH. THANK

YOU. >> COMMISSIONERS, AND NO STAFF HAS A SLIDE DECK BUT WE ARE NOT PRESENTING IT. WE WILL SEND IT TO THE OFFICE WITH A LITTLE MORE INFORMATION. JEOPARDY DICKERSON IS HERE ON LISA LYNN. THEY'VE ARTIE BEEN WORKING VERY CLOSELY WITH THE COALITION MEMBERS. WERE NOT TAKING THE HUNDRED $50 MILLION CUT LIKELY LIGHTLY. WE ARE LOOKING AT OTHER WAYS THAT WE CAN MAKE UP SOME OF THIS DIFFERENCE BECAUSE WE KNOW THESE ARE NECESSARY INVESTMENTS.

>> CAN WE MAYBE SAVE IT BECAUSE I HAVE TO LEAVE. I WILL DEFINITELY BE READING IT THOUGH.

>> THAT'S FINE. >> THINK YOU DO COMMISSIONER

GARCIA WE HAVE A MOTION? >> SORRY TO BE THE PARTY POPE

[03:10:12]

ITEM 122 THERE IS NO ACTION NEEDED ON THAT LEGISLATIVE AGENDA ITEM. NO LEGISLATIVE AGENDA ON ITEM 122. OKAY. ITEM 145 IS A PUBLIC HEALTH REQUEST AND THERE IS NO ACTION. 274 PUBLIC HEALTH REQUEST NO ACTION. ON 286 I WOULD LIKE TO TAKE 26 AND 286 TOGETHER. THEY ARE BOTH RELATED TO THE JAIL.

WE ALREADY TOOK 291 AND 292. 295 PRECINCT 1 REQUESTS THEM TOGETHER WITH TO TALK ABOUT. THOSE ARE THE CORRECTIONS. DO YOU KNOW IF COMMISSIONER RAMSEY IS COMING BACK? IN THE INTEREST OF TIME I WOULD MOVE THE CONSENT AGENDA.

>> SO ACCORDING TO THE RULES, CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG TO ASK EACH OF YOU IF YOU HAVE ANY ITEMS ON THE DISCUSSION ITEM THAT YOU WOULD LIKE TO SEND BACK TO THE CONSENT AGENDA?

>> OR ADDITIONAL ITEMS THAT THEY WANT FOR DISCUSSION. IS JUST IF ANYONE WANTS WHEN THEY STRESSED THE JUDGE.

>> I HAVE NONE. >> COMMISSIONER GARCIA? COMMISSIONER BRIONES? JUST TO CONFIRM IT IS THERE WE ARE

ADDING ITEMS 28 AND 37. >> 28 IS ON THERE. 37 IS NOT ON THERE. SO LET ME BRING 37 FORWARD.

>> THANK YOU JUDGE. >> 37 IS TEXT.?

>> YES. >> AND IT IS TRANSPORTATION CORRIDOR. WE ARE PUTTING THIS BACK ON THE DISCUSSION AGENDA.

AS FAR AS THE DISCUSSION ITEMS THAT ARE CURRENTLY THERE, HELLO COMMISSIONER. COMMISSIONER RAMSEY ARE THERE ANY ITEMS THAT

[03:15:07]

AGENDA? >> I WOULD LIKE TO SEND 12 BACK TO CONSENT. AND I WOULD LIKE TO ADD 14 15, 22, 27, 37, 131,

142, 160, 247, AND 276. >> OKAY. ARE YOU OKAY WITH I DON'T WELCOME BACK TO CONSENT?

>> YES. OKAY LET'S SEE THE ONES THAT WE ARE ADDING NOW.

COMMISSIONER RAMSEY WANTS TO ADD 14. ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON DATA USE AGREEMENT. WE ARE PUTTING 14 BACK ON THE DISCUSSION. THE NEXT ONE IS 15. THIS IS THE AGREEMENT WITH HONEYCOMB CLINIC FOR THE REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH ACCESS FUND. SO THAT IS 15 GOING BACK ON DISCUSSION. THE NEXT ONE IS 22. 22 IS EXPANDING EARLY CHILDHOOD PROGRAMS WITH THE ROPE ON THE FOUNDATION. WITH THE EARLY CHILDHOOD IMPACT FUND. NEXT, IS 27. DISCUSSION OF POSSIBLE ACTION ON THE EXECUTIVE PAY REPORT I BELIEVE THAT GOT TAKEN OFF OF THE

AGENDA ENTIRELY? >> WE DO NOT HAVE THE FINAL

REPORT YET. >> YOU'RE TAKING IT OFF OF THIS AGENDA AND YOU'RE PUTTING IT ON A BUSINESS AGENDA?

>> THAT WAS THE MOTION SPECIFICALLY TO TRY AND MAKE IT FOR THIS COURT BUT WE DO NOT HAVE THE ACTUAL NUMBERS. THE COURT SAID IT HAD TO COME BACK ON THE BUSINESS COURT.

>> THE PROBLEM WITH THAT IS THAT WE DO NOT DO DISCUSSION A BUSINESS COURT. AND THIS IS SOMETHING THAT NEEDS TO BE

DISCUSSED. >> FOR NOW, COMMISSIONER RAMSEY CAN WE HAVE IT IS NO ACTION ITEM 27? OKAY ITEM 27 GOES TO NO ACTION. NEXT IS ITEM NUMBER 37. 37 IS THE ITEM THAT COMMISSIONER BRIONES WAS TALKING ABOUT. 131 IS THE INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT FOR IDD SERVICES. THROUGH THE CRISIS INTERVENTION RESPONSE TEAM. THAT IS ITEM 131. OKAY NOW WE

[03:20:12]

>> YOU ARE WORKING TO KEEP US ALL AWAKE. OKAY WE HAVE TWO MORE. 247 AND RISK MANAGEMENT. TRANSMITTAL OF CHANGES TO CLASSIFICATIONS OF CERTAIN POSITIONS. SO THAT IS 247. AND THEN THE LAST ONE THAT YOU WANTED TO DISCUSS COMMISSIONER RAMSEY WAS 276. 247 IS EXECUTIVE SESSION ISN'T THIS THE ONE THAT NEEDS TO GO TO EXECUTIVE SESSION?

>> 276. IS A CONTRACT. IF THERE ANY COMMON QUESTIONS WE CAN

TAKE IT IN EXECUTIVE SESSION. >> BUT 247 IS ABOUT PERSONNEL AND I HAVE THAT QUESTION. SO THAT ONE IS OKAY TO OPEN COURT?

>> IT IS TRANSMITTAL SO IT REALLY DEPENDS ON LARGE BROAD CATEGORIES. IF IT'S ABOUT SPECIFIC PEOPLE IT WILL HAVE TO

GO BACK. >> AND THEN TO 76 IS ON THE SUPREME COURT LAWSUIT. BETWEEN TEXAS AND HARRIS COUNTY. SO I AM ADDING 276 TO THIS DISCUSSION LIST. DO YOU HAVE ANY FEELINGS ABOUT WHAT YOU WANT TO ADD OR TAKE OFF OF THE EXECUTIVE SESSION AGENDA? WAS THAT ALREADY INCLUDED IN THE

LIST THAT YOU GAVE ME? >> I BELIEVE IT WAS INCLUDED.

THE ONLY ITEM THAT WE WOULD HAVE WOULD BE TO 76. OR MAYBE

247. >> C SAID TO KEEP EVERYTHING AS

IS? >> YES.

>> SO COMMISSIONER GARCIA AND EVERYONE ELSE YOU JUST WANT TO KEEP WHAT YOU SAID IN TERMS OF THE EXECUTIVE SESSION? OKAY. SO THEN I HAVE THREE ITEMS THAT I WOULD REALLY LOVE TO BE HERE FOR BUT OTHERWISE THAT IS OKAY. IT'S PRIMARILY 26 INTO 86.

WHICH ARE THE JAIL LEVELS AND ONE OR TWO ON DEFERRED MAINTENANCE. I DON'T KNOW IF THE RULES HAVE ME READING

THROUGH THE LIST AGAIN? >> I THINK YOU SHOULD JUST GO THROUGH EVERYTHING THAT IS ON DISCUSSION BECAUSE THERE ARE A

BUNCH THAT WERE ADDED >> I WOULD FEEL MORE COMFORTABLE IF IT WAS READ INTO ACTION. EXECUTIVE ITEM 266 TO 67 TO 68 TO 69. 270. 271. REGULAR AGENDA ITEMS 10. 11.

13. 14. 15. 16. 22. 23. 25. 26. 28. 31. 32. 37. 63. 102. 131.

142. 164. 166. 160. 164. 166. 213. 223. 224. 225. 247. 272.

[03:25:30]

AND 295. DOES THAT SOUND CORRECT?

>> WHAT ABOUT 245? >> 245. THAT WAS TRANSMITTAL. I APOLOGIZE IT WAS ALREADY TAKEN CARE OF.

>> IS THERE ANYTHING ELSE? >> FOR CLARITY ITEMS TO 66 TO 67 TO 68 AND 269 OR ON THE DISCUSSION?

>> ITEMS TO 66 UNLESS THEY ARE EXECUTIVE SESSION. WE GO FROM 247 TWO 272. SO LET ME CHECK THE EXECUTIVE SESSION LIST.

THOSE ARE ALL FOR DISCUSSION. >> OKAY. HOW ABOUT 271? THAT IS

ALSO A DISCUSSION? >> YES. OKAY. SO, DO WE HAVE A MOTION? THERE ARE NO PUBLIC HEARINGS OR OTHER SPEAKERS. IS THERE A MOTION ITEMS ONE THROUGH 295 WITH THE EXCEPTION OF ITEMS ALREADY VOTED ON AND DISCUSSION ITEMS THAT WERE JUST LISTENED? MOTION AND SECONDED. ALL IN FAVOR? ANY OPPOSED? THE

MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY. >> I'M SORRY ITEM 270?

>> THAT IS ONE OF THE APPOINTMENTS? IT IS ALL OF 266 THROUGH 271 ARE ALL ON THE DISCUSSION LIST.

>> THANK YOU. >> OKAY. SO, WE CANNOT TAKE A BRIEF LUNCH. I MAY JUST HAVE TO NOT BE HERE FOR THOSE ITEMS. AS I HAVE TO LEAVE IT TO:30. SO THAT WILL BE THE TWO JAIL ITEMS AND THE FLOODING ITEM THAT WE'VE ALL BEEN TALKING ABOUT.

DO YOU GUYS THINK HOW LONG WOULD YOU LIKE FOR LUNCH?

>> 30 MINUTES. IS THAT ENOUGH TIME? A 30 MINUTE LUNCH BREAK WOULD BE

>> OKAY. WE ARE BACK. IS 2:18.

>> WERE GOING TO TAKE THE TWO JAIL ITEMS FIRST. I BELIEVE

THOSE ARE ITEMS 26 AND 286. >> JUDGE AND COMMISSIONERS, WE WERE ASKED TO COME BACK LAST MONTH WITH A LINE ITEM ESTIMATE. WE HAVE 1.75 MILLION FROM INTERNAL RESOURCES BACK ON PAGE 2 WE HAVE LINE ITEM FOR FACILITATION SERVICES FOR THE RESIDENT ADVISORY COMMITTEE. TRAVEL AND TRAINING FOR THE JAIL GOVERNANCE AS WE REACHED OUT TO THE NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF CORRECTIONS TO TALK ABOUT PROVIDING US WITH TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE. A JAIL DESIGN CONSULTANT IS DIFFERENT THAN AN

[03:30:13]

THAT'S WHERE WE ARE WITH THE LINE ITEM BUDGET REQUEST.

>> COMMISSIONER RAMSEY? WE INVESTED 1.6 MILLION WITH A CONSULTING REPORT. WHAT IS THE STATUS OF THAT REPORT?

>> THERE IS A DRAFT THAT WAS CIRCULATED INTERNALLY FOR A FINAL REVIEW THAT IS LOOKING MUCH MORE AT THE CURRENT FACILITIES AND WHAT KIND OF WORK NEEDS TO BE DONE TO IMPROVE THOSE FACILITIES IN THE SHORTER TERM. SO WE ASKED THEM TO DO SOMETHING ON THE SHORT TERM?

>> THERE ARE SHORT-TERM THINGS WITH REPAIRS AND REHABILITATION. WERE SURE THEY ARE ON THE LINE AND CAN TALK ABOUT THE SPECIFICS OF THAT CONTRACT. IT'S ABOUT BUILDING

THIS LEVEL. >> I UNDERSTAND GETTING INPUT FROM DIFFERENT GROUPS OF PEOPLE. I AM NOT UNDERSTANDING PAYING MORE CONSULTANTS TO DO THIS. WE HAVE ALREADY PAID A CONSULTANT A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF MONEY. WE OBVIOUSLY NEED INPUT FROM STAKEHOLDERS AND THAT HAS BEEN ORGANIZED. WHAT WE DO NOT NEED TO DO IS PAY FOR MORE CONSULTANTS.

>> THE WORK THAT THEY HAVE DONE ON THE PHYSICAL FACILITIES IS MUCH MORE ON THE SIZE OF THE BOX AND THE LOCATION OF THE BOX. THEY ADVISE THE ARCHITECT AND WORK WITH THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE TO FIGURE OUT WHAT WILL WORK BEST FOR THEIR PROCESSES.

AND IF THERE ARE AREAS THAT INTAKE OR ENTRY THAT NEED TO HAVE A BIGGER AREA THAT ALLOWS FOR BETTER SECURITY. THERE IS A SECOND SET OF EYES AND IT HAS BEEN MORE THAN A FEW MONTHS OF AN ISSUE WE'VE BEEN DEALING WITH THIS FOR YEARS. WERE FINISHING UP WITH THIS REPORT AND THEN THERE WILL BE ANOTHER ONE AND THEN ANOTHER ONE. IS THERE ANY ESTIMATES ON WHEN WE WILL GET TO THE POINT OF ACTUALLY FIXING SOMETHING? WE WILL HAVE THOSE RECOMMENDATIONS FOR THE FIRST ROUND OF FIXES.

WITH REGARD TO MEDIA FIXES MY UNDERSTANDING IS THERE'S MORE

PLANNED BUT SOME ARE ONGOING? >> YES. LIFE SAFETY ISSUES AND ENGINEERING IS ALWAYS WORKING WITH THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE.

THEY ALSO DO REGULAR MAINTENANCE BUT THE BIGGER ITEMS HAVE ENGINEERING HANDLING THIS. THEY HAVE ALREADY DONE SOME WORK AND THERE IS DR. RAMAN.

>> YES WE CONTINUE TO LOOK AT THIS OFFICE ISSUE. BUT AT THE SAME TIME WE ALSO HAVE A LIST THAT HAS BEEN IDENTIFIED FROM THAT INITIAL ASSESSMENT WHICH WOULD LIKELY BE SENT TO THE

[03:35:01]

BEEN PUT TOGETHER. >> SO THE COMMITTEE WILL BE LOOKING AT THAT LIST HOPING TO PRIORITIZE IT AND MAKING SURE WE ARE LOOKING AT INVESTMENTS THAT MAKE THE MOST SENSE FOR OPERATIONS AND INMATES. SO THAT WE MAY HAVE SOME MORE BREATHING ROOM IN TIME FOR LONG-TERM SOLUTIONS.

>> WILL THE IMMEDIATE NEEDS BE DISCUSSED IN THE MAY 9TH MEETING OF THE JAIL COMMITTEE?

>> THAT WILL BE ON THE AGENDA FOR THE INITIAL DISCUSSION.

YES. WE ARE RUNNING SHORT ON THAT ONE. THIS IS 286. IS THERE A SPECIFIC MOTION THAT IS NEEDED? I DIDN'T KNOW IF IT WAS ON THIS ITEM OR ANOTHER ONE?

>> YOU'RE MOVING OUT OF 26? >> YES SIR.

>> LET'S FILL IN COMMISSIONER GARCIA SO HE CAN VOTE ON THIS.

>> THE QUICK COMMENT I HAVE BEFORE HE IS GETTING SETTLED.

FIRST OF ALL I APPRECIATE YOU SHARPENING THE PENCIL FROM LAST MEETING TO THIS MEETING. SECOND OF ALL I APPRECIATE THAT YOU'RE LOOKING AT DIFFERENT BEST PRACTICES AS YOU LOOK AT COMMUNITY INPUT SO I VERY MUCH APPRECIATE ALL OF THIS AND I DO SEE HOW THE EFFORTS THAT WE ARE BEGINNING AND ONLY PARTY FINISHED ARE HIGHLY COMPLEMENTARY AND BOTH NEEDED SO I WILL BE VERY MUCH SUPPORTIVE OF THIS INVESTMENT.

SO THAT IF WERE GOING TO DO WHAT WE'RE DOING RIGHT AND TO THE BEST OF OUR ABILITY. THANK YOU COMMISSIONER GARCIA. I LIKE TO THANK OCA WITH THE RESIDENT ADVISORY BUDGET. THERE IS IS GOOD COLLABORATION BETWEEN THESE DEPARTMENTS WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS ON THIS PARTICULAR ITEM?

>> COMMISSIONER GARCIA I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU FOR THAT FIRST AND FOREMOST. THANK YOU FOR YOUR KIND REMARKS THIS MORNING RECOGNIZING OUR NURSES. I WAS JOINING THE COMMISSIONERS COURT FOR THE POTENTIAL TOPIC OF 286.

>> SO ON 26, WE HAVE A MOTION BY COMMISSIONER ELLIS. WE HAVE

A SECOND? >> SECONDED.

>> SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER BRIONES. ARE OKAY. ALL IN FAVOR? ANY OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES 4 - 1. AS APPROVED AS CAN PRESENTED. QUICK QUESTION FOR ADMINISTRATOR RAMIREZ. SO, JUNE IS THE CHANGES BASED ON WHAT TONYA AND YOU GUYS ARE

DOING HERE? >> IT IS BASED ON WHAT DR.

RAMAN HAS DONE WITH AE COM UNDER THAT REPORT. THEY GOT INTO MORE DETAIL ON THE NEEDS WE HAVE HAD A LIST THAT THEY'VE BEEN LOOKING AT FOR A WHILE NOW. SO IT IS A MATTER OF MAKING SURE EVERYTHING BECOMES PRIORITIZED TO SEE WHAT WILL

MAKE THE MOST SENSE. >> I HAVE ANOTHER QUICK QUESTION WHEN YOU SAID THAT THERE HAS NOT BEEN ANY PROGRESS YOU TALKING ABOUT THE INFRASTRUCTURE SIDE OR THE

POLICY SIDE? >> AE COM WAS HIRED TO DEAL WITH INFRASTRUCTURE. WE KNOW WE HAVE AN INFRASTRUCTURE PROBLEM BECAUSE WE HAVE A JAIL THAT OUT OF COMPLIANCE. AND I STILL DO NOT UNDERSTAND WHY THERE IS NO URGENCY ON MAKING CAPITAL INVESTMENTS TO DEAL WITHOUT HAVING A COMPLIANT JAIL.

>> WHAT IT SOUNDS LIKE, TRYING TO WRAP MY HEAD AROUND THIS IS THAT ON JUNE 8TH YOU GUYS WILL HAVE A PLAN TO ADDRESS THE

INFRASTRUCTURE ISSUES? >> I BELIEVE IT WILL BE THE SECOND MEETING IN JUNE. BUT YES IT IS GOING TO BE WORKING WITH DR. RAMAN THE JAIL GOVERNANCE ADVISORY COMMITTEE TO BE SURE WE CAN FIGURE OUT WHAT WILL MAKE THE MOST SENSE SO WE CAN

[03:40:03]

NEEDS AS WELL? >> I AM ALSO CONCERNED ABOUT THOSE POLICIES. I KNOW YOU'VE LEARNED AND MADE CHANGES AS YOU GO FOR EXAMPLE WITH THE SURVEY ON DETENTION OFFICERS AND IDENTIFYING WHO THE FREQUENT FLYERS ARE AND WHAT HAVE YOU.

SO THAT IS CONTINUING? >> YES. ALL OF THAT WORK CONTINUES AND IS SOON SC JCC GETS BACK UP AND RUNNING AGAIN AFTER THE NEW STRATEGIC PLAN WAS APPROVED I BELIEVE THERE WILL BE A LOT OF WORK GENERATED FROM THAT AREA. WITH THE PROJECTS PRESENTED THAT WE ARE STILL LOOKING AT THAT DO ADDRESS THE CASE BACKLOG WE WILL BE LOOKING AT AGAIN TO FOCUS ON THE INMATE STILL BEING IN JAIL AND NOT WITHIN THE

COMMUNITY. >> AND THEN YOU HAVE THE COMPETENCY RESTORATION. THERE WAS NO UPDATE ITEM TODAY ON THAT SIDE SO WILL YOU HAVE ONE NEXT COURT?

>> WE WILL HAVE A PARTIAL UPDATE NEXT TIME BECAUSE WE ARE TRYING TO DO AN ENTIRE JAIL POPULATION REPORT.

>> THAT IS FINE. THE ONLY REASON I'M RUSHING TO THIS IS BECAUSE I HAVE TO LEAVE SOON. BUT, JUST TO BE CLEAR CHEMIST TONYA MILLS HAVE A FOCUS HERE? I'M GLAD YOU GUYS BEEN LEARNING SO MUCH BUT I FEEL LIKE MAYBE SHE'S HIGHLIGHTING THE STEPS THAT WE ARE TAKING BASED ON WHAT WE NEED TO STUDY BECAUSE OF THE URGENCY WE HEAR EVERY COURT. THIS IS A BIG ISSUE FOR THE COMMUNITY AND I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE STILL CLEAR ON THE LEVEL OF URGENCY?

>> PART OF THE REASON WE WANTED TO SKIP HERE IS WE NEEDED SOME RUNWAY TO GET READY FOR THE RESIDENT ADVISORY COMMITTEE GETTING THEM TOGETHER AND GETTING THE AGENDAS READY FOR THE GOVERNANCE ADVISORY COMMITTEE. ON THE ONE HAND WE ARE TRYING TO HONE IN ON WHAT THOSE KEY INDICATORS ARE THAT REALLY WILL HELP US TO UNDERSTAND WHERE WE NEED TO FOCUS AND WHERE WE CAN GET THE BIGGEST BANG FOR OUR BUCK AS QUICK AS POSSIBLE. BUT THEN WE KEPT GETTING ASKED ABOUT OTHER ISSUES AND SUBSETS. AFTER A WHILE IT KEPT CREEPING BACK OUT AGAIN. SO WE WANTED TO TAKE A BREAK REFOCUS AND HONE IN ON HOW WE GET TO READDRESS THE OVERPOPULATION ISSUE.

>> THIS IS LONG OVERDUE. WE HAVE BEEN TRYING TO BRUTE FORCE HER WAY THROUGH THIS AND WE JUST DID NOT HAVE THE RIGHT PEOPLE. SO I DO SEE THE PROGRESS AT LEAST SINCE I HAVE BEEN HERE FOR THE FIRST TIME IN TERMS OF THE TEAM THAT YOU HAVE BUILT. OBVIOUSLY THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE HAS ALWAYS BEEN A WILLING AND SUPPORTIVE PARTNER BUT THEY CANNOT DO WITHOUT HER SUPPORT AS WELL. I KNOW YOU ARE WORKING HARD BUT MY LAST PLEA IS TO NOT FORGET THE JUVENILE SIDE PLEASE? I DON'T KNOW IF YOU'VE TOURED THE DETENTION CENTER FOR THE KIDS DOWNTOWN? YOU REALLY NEED TO LOOK AT IT. IT IS NOT GOOD. THANK YOU.

[03:45:03]

COMMISSIONER? >> THIS IS THE MOST CRITICAL ISSUE IN HARRIS COUNTY. EVERY DAY THE CLOCK TICKS WE KEEP FAILING AND THIS IS THE DAY THAT SOMEONE IS POTENTIALLY AT RISK. MY HEART GOES OUT TO THE FAMILIES THAT HAVE BEEN COMING AND I WILL CONTINUE TO GO BACK HERE BUT JUST GENERALLY IT IS UNCONSCIONABLE. YOU'VE NOT BEEN CALLED AND THAT IS NOT RIGHT. OUR HEARTS ARE WITH YOU. COMPLETELY. BUT, TO BE CLEAR, JUNE 4TH IF I'M READING THIS CORRECTLY THE IMMEDIATE NEEDS IN PRIORITY ORDER WILL BE PRESENTED JUNE 4TH? IN THE END OF 2024 WILL BE THE MID AND LONG TERM?

>> I DID SWITCH THOSE TWO DATES I APOLOGIZE. BUT WE ARE CLEAR

NOW. >> WE WILL HEAR THE SHORT LIST AND WE CAN IMMEDIATELY START ATTACKING THAT? AND IN THE MEANTIME DR. RAMAN AND THE ENGINEERING TEAM MEMBERS ARE GEARING UP BECAUSE IT WILL BE FULL THROTTLE? YOU ARE ALWAYS FULL THROTTLE AND I APPRECIATE THAT. BUT I WANTED TO BE CRYSTAL CLEAR SO WE DO KNOW WHAT TO EXPECT AND WHAT WE WILL

BE VOTING ON. >> WE DO KNOW THAT THAT'S WHEN

THE JAIL WILL BE CERTIFIED? >> UNFORTUNATELY THAT IS UP TO THE TEXAS COMMISSION ON JAIL STANDARDS. SEVERAL OF US WENT HERE LAST WEEK IN SUPPORT OF THE JAIL STANDARDS MEETING WITH TODD LIKE TWO OF THE FOUR ITEMS THAT THEY SAID WE WERE NOT IN COMPLIANCE WITH AND IT SOUNDED LIKE THEY AGREED THAT THEY WERE HERE WITH CHIEF VAZQUEZ WE FEEL LIKE WE ARE VERY CLOSE ON THEM AND AT THIS POINT WE WOULD'VE THOUGHT THAT WE WOULD'VE ALREADY CLEARED THIS. WITHOUT IT WOULD'VE BEEN MORE CONCISE SO WE ARE HAVING TO DEAL WITH THAT.

>> COMMISSIONER GARCIA? MISS RAMIREZ I KNOW YOU'RE TRYING TO PUT AN ENTIRE PACKAGE TOGETHER BUT THERE ARE AREAS THAT YOU CAN START ON RIGHT NOW WHAT YOU FIZZ OR FIGURE OUT THE RESIDENT COMMITTEE AND THOSE THINGS. LIKE THE OPERATIONAL SIDE THAT IS AVAILABLE TO YOU RIGHT NOW. I WOULD STRONGLY RECOMMEND YOU FIND THOSE OPPORTUNITIES TO IMPACT THOSE CONVERSATIONS.

THANK YOU COMMISSIONER ELLIS. YOU HAVE AN EXISTING VENDOR ON CONTRACT TO WORK ON THE JAIL DESIGN FACILITY AND STUDY? DO YOU ALREADY HAVE SUCH A VENDOR AVAILABLE? WE HAVE THE STUDY THAT IDENTIFIED THE IMMEDIATE AND LONG-TERM OPTIONS AS PRESENTED TO YOUR OFFICE. THAT LIST HAS BEEN TRANSMITTED FOR THE COMMITTEE IT WAS SUBMITTED AND THE COMMITTEE WILL BE VETTING THOSE LATER THIS YEAR. DEPENDING ON WHAT PROJECTS WE ARE GOING TO DO WE HAVE 10 DIFFERENT IMMEDIATE PROJECTS THAT HAVE BEEN IDENTIFIED AND THOSE OF THE IMPROVEMENT VALUES THAT ARE NEEDED FOR THE OPERATIONS ON THE FACILITY.

[03:50:02]

>> DO YOU HAVE A SIGMA SIX PROCESS FLOW PERSON AVAILABLE? WE COULD DEFINITELY PROCURE THAT.

>> SO OBVIOUSLY YOU ARE FAMILIAR WITH THE JAIL CHALLENGES AND OVERCROWDING? WITH THAT CERTIFICATION. AND LARGELY THE SHERIFF HAS TALENT HERE WITH THE ABILITY TO MAKE ROUNDS ON TIME. DALLAS COUNTY USES AN OPEN POD SYSTEM BOTH ON THE MEDICAL SIDE OF THE CORRECTIONAL SIDE. I WOULD STRONGLY ENCOURAGE THAT THAT BE AN IMMEDIATE CONVERSATION. AT LEAST FOR THESE CONCEPTS HERE. BECAUSE, THAT IS WHERE WE CAN ACHIEVE LONG-TERM SUCCESS ON OPERATIONAL COSTS. IN TERMS OF THE STRUCTURE THAT WE ARE PROPOSING TO YOU, DOES THIS ALLOW US THE FASTEST WAY TO GET TO A BETTER PLACE?

>> YES. THERE ARE THREE OPTIONS THAT WE ARE TALKING ABOUT RIGHT NOW. NUMBER ONE IS TO KEEP THE JAIL OPERATIONAL AND ALL THE INFRASTRUCTURE THAT WE WILL HAVE IN THE NEXT 5 TO 6 YEARS.

THAT IS $110 MILLION IMPROVEMENT QUESTS REQUEST THAT WE HAVE SENT YOUR BUDGET OFFICE. AND THEN THERE IS THE LONG-TERM OPTION. THERE ARE TWO OPTIONS PRESENTED. ONE IS TO RENOVATE THE EXISTING JAIL FACILITIES WHERE WE WILL HAVE TO SHIP INMATES TO DIFFERENT PLACES TO THE IMPROVEMENT LIKE THAT WHICH WILL TAKE 11.5 YEARS. BUT IF WE GO INTO A NEW PLACE NOT IN EXISTING JAIL THAT WOULD BE A FASTER PROCESS. AND THAT IS FOR A FIVE-YEAR WHERE THIS IS ALSO PROPOSED. WITH DIFFERENT OPERATIONAL ASPECTS CONSIDERED AND THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE WHICH WILL CONTINUE TO LOOK AT THE SIZE PRESENTED IN THE STAFF REPORTS THAT HAVE BEEN PREPARED. AND THAT IS PROBABLY A DECISION FROM THE CODE AND A POLICY DECISION ON WHY WE SHOULD BUILD THIS FACILITY. OR OUTSIDE THE DOWNTOWN AREA LIKE MANY OTHER PLACES DO.

>> THANK YOU. OBVIOUSLY YOU WILL HAVE THIS REPORT BEFORE THE NEXT MEETING SO WE WILL PLAN TO HAVE A VOTE THEN.

>> THANK YOU COLLEAGUES. NOW I BELIEVE WE VOTED ON ITEM 26 SO NOW WE WILL GO TO 286 AS THERE HAS BEEN SOME DISCUSSION ON BOTH. I THINK THIS IS WHERE I WANTED TO GET SOME INPUT FROM DR. PORTIA. BECAUSE THE ITEM IS TO PULL 25 OUT OF HIS BUDGET?

>> AS I UNDERSTAND THIS HE IS PROPOSED TO PULL 25 OUT OF OUR BUDGET. DANIEL REPORTED THAT AS PART OF THE DEFICIT ISSUE. THAT WE ARE TRYING TO PULL 25 MILLION OUT OF THE COUNTY BUDGET TO COVER THE COST OF THE HARRIS HOW JAIL MEDICAL COSTS.

AND THAT IS THE QUESTION. SO DR. DANIEL RAMOSE?

>> MY MOTHER WOULD BE SO PROUD. WE HAVE MET A FEW TIMES BECAUSE HE CAME UP OF THE LAST MEETING. MY PERSPECTIVE IS THE RECOMMENDATION RECORDED THAT WE HAVE WORKED VERY HARD TO CREATE A DELIBERATE BUDGET PROCESS. IF WE'RE GOING TO TALK ABOUT TAKING 25 MILLION OUT OF HERSELF THEN WE SHOULD UNDERPIN UNDERSTAND THE IMPACT AND WHAT THAT RECOMMENDATION IS GOING TO BE ON THE TAX RATE AND HAVE THOSE CONVERSATIONS TOGETHER.

WE CAN TAKE THIS AND WORK WITH HERSELF AND MEET WITH EACH OF YOU TO UNDERSTAND WHAT THE IMPACT ON THEM AND US WILL BE.

BUT I WOULD NOT RECOMMEND TAKING ACTION NOW BECAUSE WE

[03:55:04]

MEDICAL. >> SO I DON'T SEE ON THE SCREEN NOW. I AM CERTAINLY AMENABLE TO HAVING TO GO

THROUGH THIS PROCESS. >> THANK YOU COMMISSIONER ELLIS AND GARCIA. FIRST AND FOREMOST LET ME THANK YOU ONCE AGAIN I REALLY ENJOYED WORKING WITH THEM AND I AGREE WITH EVERYTHING YOU SAID. I WILL MAKE A COUPLE OF COMMENTS BUT FIRST I WAS TRYING TO SAY SOMETHING ABOUT THE LAST CONVERSATION AND I'M GOING TO ASK TO PLEASE INCLUDE US IN ALL OF THOSE CONVERSATIONS ABOUT IMPROVING THESE FACILITIES.

COMMISSIONER GARCIA YOU ARE ABSOLUTELY CORRECT. IT'S A DIRECT OBSERVATION WITH HOUSING REPORT TO THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE AFFORDING A LOT OF FLEXIBILITY WITH STAFFING. CURRENTLY THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE IS REQUIRED TO HAVE A LOT MORE WITH STAFFING. OPEN HOUSING INCREASES THAT AND AS A MATTER OF FACT JUST LAST WEEK AT THE JAIL COMMISSION A NEW STANDARD WAS PASSED ALLOWING THAT NUMBER TO GO UP TO 172. IN THE OPEN HOUSING SITUATION ONE OFFICE THAT CAN OVERSEE 72 DETAINEES WILL GO A LONG WAY REPRESENTING THE SHORTFALLS NOT TO MENTION THOSE HEALTH FACILITIES AS WELL. SO DO KEEP US IN MIND AS THE FOLKS ARE CREATING THESE REPORTS BECAUSE TO MY KNOWLEDGE

WE'VE NOT SEEN ANY OF THAT. >> ABSOLUTELY. YOU WILL AND YOUR MEDICAL TEAM WILL BE AT THE TABLE EVERY STEP OF THE WAY. AND THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR RAMIREZ IS SHAKING HER HEAD YES AND COMMITMENT TO THIS. I APPRECIATE YOUR TAKING THE TIME TO TAKE ME AND MY TEAM TO DALLAS TO SHOW US WHAT YOU DID TO LEAD THAT TRANSFORMATION IN DALLAS IS JAIL. WITH THE OPEN POD CONCEPT I LOOK FORWARD TO YOUR EXPERTISE EVERY STEP OF THE WAY.

>> JUST THREE POINTS. NUMBER ONE OH TO BE VERY CLEAR THAT THE CURRENT BUDGET HAS BEEN PERPETUATED BASED ON THE BUDGET THAT THE JAIL HEALTH HAD UNDER THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE. IT HAS NEVER BEEN ADJUSTED FOR THE VAST IMPROVEMENT IN SERVICES.

THE QUALITY OUTCOMES THAT THEY ARE CURRENTLY ENJOYING. THAT BUDGET HAS NEVER BEEN ADJUSTED TO THE SERVICES THAT ARE GOING TO BE PROVIDED. TO SAY THERE IS A $25 MILLION SHORTFALL IS VERY MISLEADING. BECAUSE IT IS THE COST OF PROVIDING SERVICES AT THE CURRENT LEVEL. I WAS THERE THIS MORNING WE TALKED ABOUT THE IMPACT OF THE FLOODING IN THE DEFERRED MAINTENANCE. AND WHAT IT DOES TO THE INFRASTRUCTURE. THIS HAS BEEN MENTIONED SEVERAL TIMES AT THE COMMISSIONERS COURT. IS BEEN ISSUED HERE FOR DECADES THE HARRIS COUNTY UNFORTUNATELY AT TIMES HAS BALANCE THIS BUDGET AT THE EXPENSE OF THE HEALTH SYSTEM. AND THE RESULT OF THAT IS WHAT THEY ARE FACING RIGHT NOW. BECAUSE WE'VE NOT INVESTED ADEQUATELY IN ROUTINE MAINTENANCE. IN THE LAST NOTE THAT I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE IS WHEN I CAME IN FRONT OF THE COMMISSIONERS COURT AND EVERY ONE OF MY TOWN HALL MEETINGS AND ONE-ON-ONE MEETINGS WITH COMMISSIONERS, I WAS VERY CLEAR THAT THE TOTAL COST OF OUR FACILITIES PLAN WAS OVER $3.2 BILLION. AND THIS IS WHAT THEY APPROVED LAST YEAR AS PART OF THE BORROWING CAPACITY. THE REMAINING $700 MILLION WAS GOING TO COME FROM PHILANTHROPY. IN THE OTHER 600 MILLION WAS GOING TO COME FROM OPERATIONAL COST SAVINGS AND ROUTINE MAINTENANCE. AND THAT STARTS THIS YEAR. IT STARTS NOW. I SAY ALL OF THAT TO MAKE A POINT ABOUT TAKING $25 MILLION OUT OF THE BUDGET TO COVER THE COST OF SERVICES BEING PROVIDED AT THE JAIL.

THAT REALLY SHORTCHANGES THE SYSTEM AND IT WILL HELP OR RATHER HURT US IN THE LONG TERM WITH THE ABILITY TO MEET ALL OF

[04:00:01]

TO SPEAK. >> THERE IS NO ACTION ON THE ITEM? OKAY. THE NEXT ITEM THAT WE WILL HAVE ARE TAKEN OUT OF ORDER. IT WILL BE ITEM NUMBER 10 WHICH IS TAKEN WITH NUMBER 295 AND THE OFFICE OF THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATION.

>> GOOD AFTERNOON COMMISSIONERS. MY NAME IS TOM HARGIS. WITH ME IS ROMEO SOLACE. THIS UPDATE INTENDS TO PROVIDE ADDITIONAL VISIBILITY INTO THE ARPA PROGRESS. SINCE THE LAST QUARTER OF THE TOTAL DOLLARS COMMITTED BY COMMISSIONERS COURT TOWARD THESE PROJECTS HAS GROWN TO $916 MILLION. WITH PARTICULAR INCREASES IN MULTIFAMILY HOUSING WASTEWATER INFRASTRUCTURE AND CLEAN STREETS SAFE NEIGHBORHOODS PROJECTS. BY THE END OF THE CALENDAR YEAR WE MUST FULLY COMMIT THESE FUNDS AND ENSURE THAT WE HAVE SUFFICIENT INSIGHT INTO EACH PROGRAM PERFORMANCE IN ORDER TO MAKE ACCURATE EXPENDITURE FORECAST THROUGH 2026. THE ESTIMATED AMOUNT OF FUNDING HERE NOW TOTALS $985 MILLION APPROXIMATELY. AND WE WILL SPEAK SHORTLY ABOUT SOME OF THE DIRECT IMPACTS OF THESE PROGRAMS ON RESIDENTS THAT WE ESTIMATE TO REACH MORE THAN 900,000 PEOPLE. LOOKING ACROSS THE FOCUS AREAS, OF HEALTH HOUSING JOBS EDUCATION AND MORE THE PORTFOLIO REMAINS BALANCED ACCORDING TO THOSE COMMISSIONER COURT PRIORITIES. IN THE LAST QUARTER THE LARGEST AMOUNT OF UNCOMMITTED FUNDS REMAINED IN AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND EARLY CHILDHOOD. IN HOUSING CST WORKS TO CLOSE THIS GAP THROUGH 20 POTENTIAL MULTI FAMILY INVESTMENTS AND DEVELOPMENT. IN THE EARLY CHILDHOOD TEAM DAVE COMPLETED THE PROCUREMENT PROCESS FOR SEVERAL PROGRAMS. ACROSS OTHER FOCUS AREAS THE BULK OF THE UNCOMMITTED FUNDS HAVE BEEN FOR POTENTIAL MANURES RENEWALS OF ACTIVE PROGRAMS AND A PRIORITY WILL BE NEGOTIATING AND EXECUTING THE CONTRACT AMENDMENTS FOR THESE RENEWALS.

LOOKING BACK AND LOOKING AHEAD YEAR ONE WAS THE YEAR OF IMMEDIATE RELIEF. YEAR TWO WAS THE YEAR OF INITIATING LONG-TERM STRATEGIC PROGRAMS AND MOVING INTO YOUR FOR WE ARE SEEING AN ACCELERATION OF ACTUAL AND FORECASTED SPIN TOWARD DELIVERY AND IMPLEMENTATION OF THESE PROGRAMS. RECENT DRIVERS INCLUDE MULTIFAMILY DUAL CLOSINGS ACCELERATION OF EARLY CHILDHOOD INITIATIVES THE FY 24 JAIL AND GENERAL FUND SUPPORT COMMITMENT AS WELL AS CONTINUE PARTICIPANT GROWTH ACROSS THESE PROGRAMS.

>> HELLO. MY NAME IS ROMEO'S LEASE AND I AM A DIRECTOR OF THE EMPLOYEE MANAGEMENT OFFICE. THE HEALTH PORTFOLIO WAS THE FIRST TO HAVE A MAJORITY OF FUNDS COMMITTED. IT HAS SEEN SIGNIFICANT EXPANSION AND REACH WITH JUST A FEW EXAMPLES SHOWN HERE INCLUDING OVER 9000 RESIDENTS WHO ENGAGE IN CHRONIC DISEASE PREVENTION 170 AND ROLLED IN MATERNAL AND CHILD HEALTH AND OVER 6000 WHO TESTED FOR ELEVATED BLOOD LEAD LEVELS.

IN HOUSING, WE SEEN SUBSTANTIAL ACCELERATION IN MULTIFAMILY DEVELOPMENT ACTIVITY. CST IS CURRENTLY FOCUSED ON COMPLETING THE ASSOCIATED NEGOTIATIONS WILL ALSO RAMPING UP SINGLE-FAMILY PROGRAMS AND OVER 11,000 INDIVIDUALS HAVE RECEIVED LEGAL ASSISTANCE OVER 400 AFFORDABLE UNITS HAVE BEEN PRESERVED OR CREATED IN THE CENTER HAS REACHED 78%

[04:05:02]

WITH FELONY AND MISDEMEANOR CASES DROPPING BY 58 AND 66 PERCENT RESPECTIVELY SINCE JANUARY OF 2022. OTHER HIGHLIGHTS INCLUDE CHILD ABUSE TRAINING AND OVER 20,000 CALLS FOR SERVICE BEING ADDRESSED BY TELE DEPUTY. WE THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR SUPPORT OF OUR PORTFOLIO AND WE WELCOME ANY

FEEDBACK. >> I KNOW WE WANTED TO TAKE THEM BOTH TOGETHER. I WANT TO MAKE A FEW COMMENTS IF I MIGHT AND THEN BEFORE WE VOTE MAYBE WE SHOULD LOOK AT SEE IF THEY MAKE SENSE TO COME TOGETHER. I'M PROUD THAT WE GOT ALMOST ALIEN DOLLARS FOR COUNTIES IN PARTICULAR TO GET A DIRECT ALLOCATION LIKE SOUTH CAROLINA AND JIM CLYBURN DIRECTING THIS TO THE COUNTY. THEY DID NOT GO VERY FEW PLACES IN THE COUNTRY THE CITIES HAVE TENDED TO BE MORE SUCCESSFUL AND I APPRECIATE WITH THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION IS DONE FOR US.

WE COMMITTED TO INVEST THESE FUNDS TOWARD A FAIR AND EQUITABLE RECOVERY. AND BUILDING AN EVEN STRONGER AND HEALTHIER HARRIS COUNTY. WE MADE A CONSCIOUS DECISION NOT TO USE THESE PRECIOUS FEDERAL DOLLARS TO PLUG HOLES AND ONE-TIME INVESTMENTS. AND I FOR ONE AM PROUD THAT WE DID THIS.

WE CAME UP WITH SOME VERY INNOVATIVE PROGRAMS AND YOU WILL PUT TOGETHER A GREAT TEAM. PRESENT COMPANY BUT THE WHOLE TEAM ALTOGETHER. NOW WE HAVE TO FACE SOME TOUGH DECISIONS. FOR OUR PROGRAMS WE HAVE TO CUT SOME OF THESE AND I THINK YOU HAD A VERY DELIBERATIVE PROCESS. I ENCOURAGE COLLEAGUES TO GO WITH THOSE ALLOCATIONS THAT WE CAME UP WITH WORKING THROUGH THE STAFF BUT WITH THAT I WOULD LIKE TO TURN IT OVER TO COMMISSIONER RAMSEY. WE WOULD HAVE TO DE-OBLIGATE SOME MORE IF WE WERE ADDRESSING THESE IMPORTANT ISSUES THAT YOU

RAISED. >> AGAIN THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUMMARY AS IT IS VERY CLEAR THAT UNLIKE A LOT OF THINGS THIS IS CLEAR IN TERMS OF WHAT YOU ARE DOING AND WHAT YOU'RE NOT DOING. WHEN WE DE-OBLIGATE AS I UNDERSTAND 57.1 MILLION WE STILL HAVE ANOTHER 10 1/2 MILLION OF NEED THAT IS STILL

NOT COVERED. >> CORRECT. THAT IS CURRENTLY BEING DISCUSSED SO THERE WILL BE AN ADDITIONAL 10.5 LIKELY FROM PROGRAMS WITHIN THESE STANDINGS.

>> SO YOU ARE NOT PREPARED TO GO THE ENTIRE AMOUNT AT THIS

POINT? >> WE GOT AS FAR AS WE COULD WITH THE AGREEMENT BUT I THINK WE ARE GETTING CLOSE AT LEAST WITHIN A FEW DAYS TO GET TO THAT FINAL AMOUNT.

>> THANK YOU FOR YOUR WORK ON THIS I ALSO WOULD LIKE TO THANK THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION FOR THEIR SUPPORT AS IT WAS HISTORIC. THE FUNDING THAT WE HAVE PUT THIS TOWARD HAS ALREADY DEMONSTRATED INCREDIBLE SUCCESS. HOMELESSNESS SHOULD BE RANKED AT THE VERY TOP ALONG WITH THE PUBLIC SAFETY INITIATIVES. AND ALL OF THOSE AREAS. RIGHT NOW WE ARE ALSO RANKING THESE NONPROFITS THAT ARE APPLYING FOR THESE RESOURCES AS WELL. AND LIKE YOU I'M GLAD WE DIDN'T PUT THIS INTO REOCCURRING EXPENSES BECAUSE THAT COULD HAVE BEEN MUCH MORE OF A PAINFUL CONVERSATION. I DO HOWEVER WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU ARE LISTENING TO ALL OF US BECAUSE WE ARE ALL GOING TO HAVE PET PROJECTS THAT WE WILL TRY TO SALVAGE. HOWEVER ULTIMATELY WE NEED TO LOOK AT WHETHER OR NOT THE FUNDING IS GOING TO BE EXPENDED AT TIME. IF WE COME BACK TO THIS PAGE TABLE AND WE ARE HAVING TO GIVE MONEY BACK

[04:10:01]

THANK YOU BOTH AND THANK YOU ADMINISTRATOR FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP. I AGREE WITH MR. RAMSEY STATEMENT IT IS INCREDIBLY HELPFUL WITH THE DATA YOU SHOWED AND HOW IT'S BEING TRACKED. ABSOLUTELY FANTASTIC. SECONDLY I KNOW WE NEED TO CHERISH THE TIMES THAT WE HAVE NOW AND IN 2026. OH TO THANK ALL FIVE COURT OFFICES BECAUSE I KNOW HOW COLLABORATIVE AND TIME INTENSIVE THIS CAN BE AND HOW PASSIONATE THE DISCUSSION HAS BEEN. EVERYTHING IS AN OPPORTUNITY AND I APPRECIATE WHAT HAS BEEN DONE FOR THE PURPOSE OF TRANCE PARITY CAN YOU VERY BRIEFLY ACTUALLY DISCUSSED THE STEERING COMMITTEE AND HOW FREQUENTLY YOU ALL WILL BE MEETING SO THAT WE CAN EITHER CONTINUE TO THE OBLIGATE OR REALLOCATE SO THAT WE KNOW THAT WE ARE INVESTING EVERY DOLLAR BECAUSE WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE A VERY SYSTEMATIC PURPOSEFUL PROCESS. TODAY IS ONE DECISION POINT BUT WHAT WILL BE LYING AHEAD? WE MEET EVERY WEEK TO DISCUSS PERFORMANCE ACROSS THIS PORTFOLIO INCLUDING INCOMING PROGRAMS AS WELL AS MONITORING OF CURRENT PROGRAMS. WE ARE GOING TO CONTINUE TO TRACK KEY PERFORMANCE INDICATORS AS WELL AS EXPENSES. WE ALSO MEET WITH THE DEPARTMENTS EVERY WEEK TO GO OVER ALL OF THE EXPENSES ACROSS THAT PORTFOLIO TO MAKE SURE WE ARE STAYING ON TRACK. WE ARE ALSO REQUESTING FINANCIAL FORECAST FOR EVERY PROJECT IN THIS PORTFOLIO. THAT IS WHAT WE ARE TRACKING TO MAKE SURE NOT LEAVING ANY MONEY ON THE TABLE WANTS 2026 REPS AT. I WOULD MOVE ITEM 10 AS PRESENTED. THE ITEM PASSES. NEXT IS ITEM NUMBER 11 REQUESTED BY PRECINCT NUMBER TWO.

>> THANK YOU. I'M EXCITED TO SUPPORT THE WESTFIELD ESTATES SANITARY SEWER CONSTRUCTION PROJECT BRINGING CRITICAL PUBLIC INFRASTRUCTURE TO THE OLD DEAN NEIGHBORHOOD. A NEIGHBORHOOD THAT HAS A HISTORY OF LONG-STANDING INEQUITIES.

THIS PROJECT WAS FUNDED WITH A TOTAL COST OF APPROXIMATELY $40 MILLION THEY OUTLINED FOUR CATEGORIES ELIGIBLE TO USE WITH THE STATE AND LOCAL FISCAL RECOVERY FUND THIS PROJECT DOES FALL WITHIN THE EFFORTS TO MAKE THE NECESSARY INVESTMENTS IN WATER, SEWER, AND BROADBAND INFRASTRUCTURE. IT WILL PROVIDE A MUCH-NEEDED PUBLIC WASTE COLLECTION SYSTEM AND DECOMMISSION OLD SEPTIC TANKS FOR 735 RESIDENTS. THE BENEFIT TO THE COMMUNITY INCLUDES IMPROVED PUBLIC HEALTH AND SAFETY ELIMINATES MAINTENANCE OF PRIVATE SEPTIC AND SEPTIC REDUCTION OF UNSANITARY ODORS AND FREEING OF SPACE ON RESIDENTIAL LOTS. IT IS BEING DONE AT NO CONSTRUCTION COST TO THE RESIDENT. IT WILL BE ADVERTISED WITHIN THE FOURTH QUARTER OF THIS YEAR AND CONSTRUCTION WILL BE COMPLETED BY DECEMBER OF 2026. I'M SORRY LET ME EDIT THAT BY SAYING BEFORE DECEMBER OF 2026. I WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE PARTNERSHIP WITH THE SUNBELT FRESHWATER SUPPLY DISTRICT TO EXPAND THE EXISTING WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANT TO SERVE THESE CUSTOMERS.

THIS PARTNERSHIP IS A CRITICAL COMPONENT IN DELIVERING THE SERVICE TO THE RESIDENTS OF PRECINCT NUMBER TWO.

>> I WOULD LIKE TO SECOND THIS AND I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO NOTE THAT I WISH WE'D SPENT MORE MONEY ON THIS KIND OF STUFF BECAUSE WHAT YOU ARE DOING WITHIN THE NEIGHBORHOOD IS CHANGING IT FOREVER. WELL DONE AND I WOULD LIKE TO SEE MORE OF

THAT. >> MOTION BY COMMISSIONER GARCIA AND SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER RAMSEY. ALL IN FAVOR? ALL OPPOSED? THE ITEM PASSES. THAT IS AN INTERLOCAL

[04:15:06]

>> THIS LOOKS LIKE A NEW PROGRAM? IT FOCUSES ON MENTAL HEALTH AND IT WOULD SEEM LIKE PARTICULARLY IN THE EARLY CHILDHOOD INITIATIVES THERE ARE A LOT OF PROGRAMS WHAT I TOURED LAST WEEK WAS THE WOMEN'S CENTER. AND THEY DO NOT HAVE A DIME OF MONEY IT WOULD SEEM LIKE IF THEY DID THEY GOT VERY LITTLE. IT WOULD SEEM LIKE THAT WOULD BENEFIT THE EXISTING PROGRAM MORE THAN JUST STARTING A NEW PROGRAM. THAT IS MY ONLY

COMMENTS. >> TO THAT SPECIFICALLY IS THAT WHAT YOU ARE REFERRING TO? THEY ARE ALSO PARTICIPANTS THAT THEY ARE WELCOME TO APPLY TO BE PART OF THIS RESILIENCY FUND THAT IS

ALSO ON THE AGENDA. >> THEY ARE DOING A FINE FACILITY NEXT-DOOR. IT WOULD MAKE THE WORLD OF DIFFERENCE.

$323,000 WOULD MAKE A HUGE DIFFERENCE. I THINK THAT WOULD BE A MUCH BETTER WAY TO DO THIS. I WOULD LIKE TO SAY THEY DO A GREAT JOB AND IS A GREAT PROGRAM AS WELL. IT WILL HELP ADDRESS A WAITING LIST THAT HAS BEEN HERE FOR A LONG TIME. I HOPE IT HELPS THEM WHEN I WAS THERE WE PUT MONEY IN THAT PROGRAM SO SOME OF THE PEOPLE WERE HELPING US AND THEY WOULD SERVICE WITHIN THE CAFETERIA THOSE OF THE PEOPLE WITH DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES AND IT WAS MAINSTREAMING THEM / GET BACK INTO THE WORKFORCE. IS THERE ANYTHING THAT YOU WOULD

LIKE TO ADD TO THIS? >> GOOD AFTERNOON. I HAVE NOTHING TO ADD RIGHT NOW. THANK YOU.

>> IS THAT EMOTION? >> SO MOVED.

>> SECONDED. >> MOTION AND SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER GARCIA. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? ALL THOSE OPPOSED? THE ITEM PASSES. NEXT IS ITEM NUMBER 14 COMMISSIONER RAMSEY? THIS IS ONE THAT YOU PULLED AS WELL.

>> MOTION TO VOTE ON THIS. >> MOVED AND SECONDED.

>> IF I DON'T GET IT THAT I WILL ASK. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? ALL THOSE OPPOSED? ITEM PASSES. NEXT IS ITEM NUMBER 15 COMMISSIONER RAMSEY. THAT IS A REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH CARE

ACCESS. >> THIS IS JUST FOR A VOTE.

>> SO MOVED. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? ALL THOSE OPPOSED? THREE EYES AND ONE DAY. ITEM PASSES. ITEM 16 COMMISSIONER THAT IS YOU AS WELL. AND THAT IS THE SUPPORT OPERATIONS OF THE TECHNOLOGY SERVICES. PUBLIC HEALTH ACTS ACCESS. MOTION TO

VOTE ON THIS. >> SO MOVED.

>> MOTION IS MADE AND SECONDED BY GARCIA. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? ALL THOSE POST? 3-1. THE ITEM PASSES. THE NEXT IS ITEM 16 COMMISSIONER THAT IS THE ONE WE JUST DID I'M SORRY. THE NEXT ONE IS ITEM 22 COMMISSIONER RAMSEY? THAT IS THE ONE THAT YOU PULLED AND THAT IS THE EARLY CHILDHOOD IMPACT FUND.

>> JUST VOTE. >> MOVED AND SECONDED. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? ALL THOSE OPPOSED? 3-1. THE ITEM PASSES.

ITEM 23 COMMISSIONER RAMSEY THAT IS THE CONSUMPTION GROUP

WE NEED OF MOTION. SO MOVED. >> MOTIONED AND MADE BY BRIONES AND GONZALES. ALL THOSE OPPOSED? 3-1 THE ITEM PASSES.

[04:20:06]

BRIONES. >> THIS IS ON THE TOPIC OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE WE'VE ALL DISCUSSED BRIEFLY TODAY. I AM EXTREMELY THANKFUL FOR THE OPPORTUNITY AND I HOPE TO GAIN YOUR SUPPORT FRED AND 25. THIS WOULD BE TO WORK HELPING USED TO HAVE EXPERIENCED TRAUMA BECAUSE OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE.

WE KNOW THAT UNFORTUNATELY DOMESTIC VIOLENCE ESCALATED DURING THE PANDEMIC AND HAS CONTINUED AT THOSE RATES. WE KNOW THAT UNFORTUNATELY THERE WERE 100 DEATHS IN HARRIS COUNTY BECAUSE OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE. WE KNOW USE EXPOSED TO DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AND I SAY THIS WITH A HEAVY HEART BECAUSE I THINK OF MANY OF MY FORMER STUDENTS HERE ARE MORE LIKELY TO HAVE DEPRESSION ANXIETY AND THE DATA SHOWS UNFORTUNATELY THE YOUNG BOY WHO EXPERIENCED DOMESTIC VIOLENCE HAS 10 TIMES THE LIKELIHOOD TO LATER BECOME AN ABUSER THEMSELVES. I AM VERY THANKFUL TO ALL OF THE TEAMS AND COMMITTEES THAT ARE WORKING TOGETHER WITH THE FIVE OFFICES AND THE LEADERSHIP HERE TO WORK THIS PROPOSAL UP AND I ESPECIALLY WANT TO THINK TALL YOU MORRIS FROM MY TEAM BECAUSE THIS WOULD INVEST 6.2 MILLION IN FUNDING TO THE HARRIS COUNTY DOMESTIC VIOLENCE COURT EATING COUNSEL AND THAT IS THE COUNSEL THAT WORKS WITH NUMEROUS LOCAL ORGANIZATIONS IN THIS REGION. IT WOULD GO TO BUILD CAPACITY AND MENTAL HEALTH CONSULTATIONS. THERAPEUTIC AND INTERVENTIONS AND PEER SUPPORT ALL FOCUSED ON YOUTH WHO ARE EXPERIENCING TRAUMA AS A RESULT OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE. I AM THANKFUL AND I LOOK FORWARD TO THE POSITIVE IMPACT IT IS WITH A HEAVY HEART I KEEP PAUSING BECAUSE I VIVIDLY REMEMBER BEING IN THE CLASSROOM AND TRYING TO TEACH CHILDREN WHO HAD SO MANY OTHER THINGS THAT THEY WERE HAVING ON THEM WEIGHING THEIR MINDS DOWN. OR LAW SCHOOL WORKING WITH SURVIVORS GETTING RESTRAINING ORDERS AND KIDS THAT WOULD BE IN THESE OFFICES WITH SUCH A FEAR THINKING THAT ABUSER MAY COME AS THEY WERE TRYING TO GET THAT RESTRAINING ORDER. SO AGAIN I AM THANKFUL TO MY TEAM IN PARTICULAR FOR WORKING THIS UP AND FOR EVERYONE WHO HAS BEEN A PART OF ALL OF THE ORGANIZATIONS AND DOMESTIC VIOLENCE COUNSEL. I THINK THE MALL FOR THEIR PARTNERSHIP AND COLLABORATION. THIS IS SOMETHING THAT IS CYCLICAL AND WE ALL HAVE A RESPONSIBILITY TO DO OUR BEST TO MAKE IT STOP. I ALSO WANT TO THINK OR LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS WHO ARE ALL THE FRONT LINES. WE KNOW HOW DANGEROUS IT CAN BE TO RESPOND TO DOMESTIC VIOLENCE. I AM PROUD TO PRESENT ITEM 25. I THINK ALL OF THE PARTNERS AND I MOVE AS PRESENTED. SO THAT WOULD ENHANCE THE RESOURCES I DON'T GUESS THAT MEANS ADDING STAFF BUT THAT'S WHAT THEY'RE GOING THROUGH? COMMISSIONER BRIONES THANK YOU FOR THE WORK THAT YOU AND YOUR OFFICE HAVE PUT INTO THIS PARTICULAR ITEM.

I AM ALSO PROUD TO SUPPORT THIS ITEM. SOMETIMES ANY ATTENTION THAT WE CAN GIVE CHILDREN WHO ARE CAUGHT IN THE CIRCUMSTANCES IS AN INVESTMENT TOWARD PREVENTION IN THE FUTURE. THE STUDIES ALL INDICATE THAT THE LONGER A CHILD IS EXPOSED TO DOMESTIC VIOLENCE IS THE LIKELIHOOD THEY WILL BECOME AN ABUSER. IT IS IN HIM IMPERATIVE THAT WE MAKE THAT DECISION HERE I AM THANKFUL FOR ALL OF THE ADVOCATE AND FOLKS THAT WORK WITHIN THE SPACE. BECAUSE THIS IS A VERY LONELY SPACE. IT IS HEART-WRENCHING AS YOU TOUCHED ON. AND IT IS TRULY A MIRACLE THAT THOSE IN THESE KINDS OF ENVIRONMENTS COME FORWARD AND MANAGE TO SUCCEED. WE'VE SEEN A LOT OF SUCCESS STORIES IN SPITE OF THIS BUT WE CAN'T LEAVE IT TO CHANCE. THIS IS A CRITICAL INVESTMENTS MAKE SO I AM PROUD OF THIS.

>> ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? ALL THOSE OPPOSED? THE ITEM PASSES.

[04:25:07]

COMMISSIONER BRIONES. >> I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO THANK MY TEAM MEMBER DIANA FEATHERSTONE. THANK YOU.

>> ITEM NUMBER 28. A REQUEST OF DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION RELATED TO THE PUBLIC SAFETY BOND PROJECT?

>> SO IN THE SPIRIT OF TRANSPARENCY AND OPENNESS DELIVERING PROGRESS AND MAKING SURE WE ARE COMMUNICATING TO THE PUBLIC WHAT WE ARE DOING WITH THE BOND THAT THEY HAVE PASSED IN 2022 PART OF THE BOND THAT WAS OVERWHELMINGLY PASSED WAS FOR PUBLIC SAFETY. ITEM 28 IS A MOTION TO APPROVE 92.96 DOLLARS WITH 7.31 BEING IN TERMS OF CONTINGENCY. THERE IS A LIST WITH NINE PROJECTS. ONE IS THE SWIFT WATER FACILITY.

THIS PAST WEEK AND THIS WEEKEND THEY HAVE EMPHASIZED WHY WE SO NEED A FACILITY WHERE FIRST RESPONDERS CAN LEARN ADDITIONAL SKILLS SO THAT THEY CAN EVEN MORE APTLY RESPOND ONE IS THE RESPONSE ACTIVE SHOOTER TRAINING FACILITIES. THE ITEM ENUMERATES VARIOUS PROJECTS THAT WAS DONE COLLABORATIVELY WITH VARIOUS LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES THAT PRIORITIZE THESE PROJECTS. I SIMPLY FLAGGED IT BECAUSE AS WE WERE TALKING ABOUT THE FLOOD BOND AND WHAT PROGRESS HAS BEEN MADE AND WHAT HAS YET TO BE COMPLETED I THOUGHT IT WOULD BE IMPORTANT TO HIGHLIGHT HOW THE FUNDS FOR PUBLIC SAFETY PORTIONS OF THE 2022 BOND WILL BE SPENT WITH OUR TAXPAYER DOLLARS. WITH THAT, ARE THERE ANY ADDITIONAL UPDATES THAT THEY WOULD BRIEFLY LIKE TO HIGHLIGHT FOR EVERYONE AND THEIR AWARENESS?

>> GOOD AFTERNOON. I THE COUNTY ENGINEER AND I WOULD LIKE TO STATE THE FACT THAT WE ARE DILIGENTLY WORKING WITH THE CONSULTANTS AND LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES. WHICH WE ARE IN TOWN WORKING VERY HARD TO DELIVER THIS. SOME OF THE PROJECTS ARE ALREADY ONGOING. WE MENTIONED THESE WITH PRODUCT FACILITY THAT HAS ARTIE BEEN APPROVED WE ARE MOVING FAST AND FURIOUS AND WE ARE READY AS SOON AS THIS HAS BEEN CLEARED.

>> WE APPRECIATE YOUR PARTNERSHIP IN THIS IS ALL PART OF THE GOVERNMENT MAKING SURE WE COMMUNICATE OUR PROGRESS IN OPENING CLEAR AND TRANSPARENT WAYS. WITH THAT AND MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE 92.69 MILLION FOR THE IMPLEMENTATION OF PROJECTS ON LIST ONE AND 7.31 MILLION IN CONTINGENCY.

ALL THOSE OPPOSED? THE ITEM PASSES. ITEM 31 IS WHEN I SHOULD NOT OF PULLED SO I WILL MOVE IT. ALL THOSE OPPOSED? THE ITEM PASSES. IS THAT EMOTION? COMMISSIONER GARCIA? OKAY.

MOTION SECOND. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? ALL THOSE OPPOSED? ITEM PASSES. ITEM 37 THREE AND FOUR. THIS ONE IS THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION. I KNOW MY TEAM AND I AND I'M SURE ALL FIVE OFFICES HAD A MYRIAD OF QUESTIONS. I APPRECIATE YOUR PARTNERSHIP AND YOUR PATIENTS I WOULD LIKE TO MOVE THIS FORWARD BUT THERE WERE TWO ITEMS THAT I WANTED TO MAKE FROM THE AMENDMENTS ON. AND I WILL READ THE LANGUAGE IN TOTALITY BECAUSE I THINK WE'VE SHARED THIS WITH ALL OF THE OFFICES AND I KNOW YOU'VE TAKEN A LOOK AT THE UPDATED LANGUAGE. SO READ THIS FOR COURT CONSIDERATION. MOTION TO DIRECT THE OFFICE OF COUNTY ENGINEERING TO RETURN TO THE JULY 15TH MEETING OF THE COMMISSIONERS COURT WITH AN INTERIM MAJOR THOROUGHFARE AND A FREEWAY PLAN ANTI-FP THAT WILL ACCOUNT FOR ALL UNINCORPORATED AREAS AND ALIGNED WITH EXISTING MUNICIPAL M TF P TO BE CONSIDERED BY

[04:30:05]

>> THE FREIGHT MOBILITY STUDY IN THE LAST MONTH WE APPROVED A CONTRACT AND THE SCOPE OF THAT CONTRACT IN ISSUING AN RFQ THEY WILL HAVE MORE COMMUNICATION AS WE MOVE FORWARD WITH THIS PROJECT. A QUICK QUESTION ALONG THE SIDELINE WITH SUPPORT AND WHAT THEY PUT OUT HERE, YOU'VE ESSENTIALLY FUNCTION ON THE CITY OF HOUSTON'S PLANNING COMMISSION ON MAJOR THOROUGHFARES. THIS WILL BE OUR ANSWER TO THAT PROBLEM GOING

FORWARD. IS THAT CORRECT? >> YES. THAT IS CORRECT.

>> ONCE WE GET THIS MAJOR THOROUGHFARE IN PLACE THEN YOU WILL BE ABLE TO FUNCTION MUCH LIKE WE DID WHEN WE HAD EJ THERE'S OTHER ISSUES THAT HAS IMPACTED OUR ABILITY TO REVIEW AND MAKE APPROVALS ON FUTURE DEVELOPMENT. BUT BY DOING THESE MOTIONS THAT COMMISSIONER BRIONES IS PUT OUT HERE WE WILL BE ABLE TO FUNCTION GOING FORWARD PARTICULARLY IN REVIEW

OF THESE OTHER THINGS? >> MR. YOU ARE CORRECT. AS YOU KNOW, WITH HOUSE BILL 3627 AND THE CHALLENGES THAT WE HAVE THEREIN WE ARE NOT TO DENY THIS LEVEL. IT DOES NOT LEAVE SPACE THROUGH THE MAJOR THOROUGHFARE. THIS WILL ALLOW US TO ADOPT A MASTER PLAN WITHIN THE CITY'S E TJ AND REGULATE THE LAND DEVELOPMENT ESPECIALLY IN THE DNA STATION OF THE SENATE BILL 2038. WHERE THEY COULD TAKE THEMSELVES FROM THE CITY. THE MOTION WILL ALLOW US ONCE WE HAVE BEEN APPROVED BY THE COUNTY TO REGULATE ON THESE LEVELS. BUT I WOULD LIKE TO PUT A FOOTNOTE FROM AN EARLIER SESSION THAT EVEN IF THE CODE ADOPTS IT WE STILL HAVE TO GO THROUGH TEXT.FOR THE ADOPTION

AND APPROVAL. >> I KNOW THAT YOU ARE SUPER FAMILIAR WITH THAT. THANK YOU FOR YOUR PARTNERSHIP ON THIS. I KNOW THAT WE HAVE BEEN VERY COLLABORATIVE TODAY AND I LOOK FORWARD TO THEIR ONGOING COLLABORATION AS WE NAVIGATE THESE LEGISLATIVE CHANGES. WITH REGARD TO ITEM 37 THERE IS A TWO-PART MOTION. MOTION HAS TO BE APPROVED SUBJECT TO THESE AMENDMENTS. THE ITEM PASSES. NEXT IS ITEM 63. IS THERE ANY MOTION? DID YOU WANT TO MAKE A MOTION? IS THERE A SECOND? ALL

[04:35:04]

MAINTENANCE. >> COMMISSIONER?

>> ON THIS PARTICULAR ITEM I WANT TO THANK COMMISSIONER RAMSEY FOR BRINGING THIS TO OUR ATTENTION. UNFORTUNATELY THERE IS RECENT EVIDENCE OF HOW MUCH ATTENTION WE NEED TO GIVE THIS.

AND DR. PETERSON I HAVE SEEN INFORMATION FROM YOUR OFFICE THAT JUST SHOWS THE INCREDIBLE WORK THAT IS BEING DONE BY YOUR OFFICE ALONG WITH THE COUNTY ENGINEER AND HELPING TO KEEP MORE PEOPLE OUT OF HARMS WAY. ALBEIT NOT QUICK ENOUGH IN THE SENSE OF NOT HAVING RESOURCES AVAILABLE TO DO THIS. YOUR MAINTENANCE STAYS FLAT IS THAT A CORRECT STATEMENT?

>> GOOD AFTERNOON COMMISSIONER GARCIA. TO YOUR QUESTION, THE ANSWER IS YES. DESPITE THE FACT WE HAVE TAKEN ON MORE AND MORE INFRASTRUCTURE AND PROPERTY AS PART OF THE FLOOD CONTROL DISTRICT RESPONSIBILITY WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE AMOUNT OF FUNDING THAT WE HAVE RECEIVED ADJUSTING FOR INFLATION THE AMOUNT OF FUNDING TREND IS FLAT. THERE IS NOT BEEN AN INCREASE AS WE HAVE CONTINUED TO TAKE ON ADDITIONAL WORK. AND THEN COMMISSIONER GARCIA THE FACT THAT WE HAVE A LOT MORE WORK TO BE DONE YOU HIGHLIGHTED THAT AND AGAIN IT WILL TAKE INVESTMENT TO MAKE SURE THAT THOSE PROJECTS WORK AS THEY ARE INTENDED FOR THE LONG TERM AS WELL. I DO UNDERSTAND THAT IF WE MOVE FORWARD TO THIS AS WE ARE CONSIDERING THAT WE HAVE A TIGHT WINDOW IF WE DECIDE TO PUT THIS BEFORE VOTERS. SO I GUESS THIS IS A QUESTION FOR YOU JAY OR MAYBE JOHN OR WHOEVER IS QUICK TO ANSWER IT WHAT HAPPENS IF THE COURT ADOPTS THIS RATE FOR FLOOD CONTROL THAT REQUIRES VOTER APPROVAL BUT IS THEN TURNED DOWN BY THE PUBLIC? AND WE DON'T HAVE TO STIPULATE THE VA ARE AMOUNT?

>> THAT WOULD BE CALCULATED ONCE WE KNOW WHAT THIS IS. SO THAT IS THE FIRST STEP IN THAT TAX RATE PROCESS SO I BELIEVE THAT WILL HAPPEN AROUND THE BEGINNING OF AUGUST SO WE WILL NOTE THAT AT THAT TIME WE GO TO THE VOTERS IT'S A ONE OR 2% ABOVE THE VA ARE WE WILL ALSO NOTE THAT IF THEY TURN IT DOWN WE WILL KNOW WHAT THAT BENCHMARK IS.

>> DR. PETERSON THE CHALLENGE THAT YOU HAVE IS THAT WE ARE IN THIS PREDICAMENT BECAUSE OF THOSE RATES IN WHICH WE GOT

INTO A FEW YEARS BACK? >> COMMISSIONER WHAT I WOULD SAY RIGHT NOW, IS LOOKING BACK HISTORICALLY THERE IS BEEN A LACK OF CONSISTENT INVESTMENT. CONSISTENCY IN INVESTMENT IS IMPORTANT AND IF YOU LOOK ALL THE WAY BACK INTO THE 2020S THERE WAS A LACK OF CONSISTENT INVESTMENT OVER TIME. IT HAS GROWN AS HER ASSETS HAVE GROWN.

>> MY QUESTIONS WE'VE TALKED A FEW TIMES ABOUT THIS BUT TO BOIL IT ALL DOWN INTO A NUMBER THAT WE CAN AT LEAST UNDERSTAND IT LOOKS LIKE BASED ON YOUR ANALYSIS OVER THE LAST 4 TO 5 YEARS WE'VE AVERAGED $40 MILLION A YEAR IN WHAT WE WOULD CALL MAINTENANCE. THAT COULD BE CORRECTIVE ACTION ARE BUILDING THE FLEET SERVICES. 40 MILLION WOULD BE QUITE THE NUMBER. BUT

[04:40:02]

>> WERE YOU GOING TO GO? >> I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE WE HAVE THIS CLEAR. WERE NOT LOSING ANYTHING BUT WERE TRYING

TO GO HIGHER? >> CORRECT.

>> THE QUESTION IS IF THEY WERE READY TO RAISE THIS ABOVE THE VOTER RATE THE ASSUMPTION IS YOU WOULD'VE VOTED ON THAT

VOTER APPROVAL RATE. >> I GUESS WE CAN GET OUT THERE. BUT WE DON'T LOSE ANY REVENUE. IT JUST HURTS

FEELINGS. OKAY. COMMISSIONER? >> ONE QUICK FOLLOW-UP. IF WE GO DOWN THIS PATH WE WOULD LIKELY PASS TWO BUDGETS. ONE OF THE HIGHER RATE AND ONE WITHOUT IT.

>> SO THAT MEANS IF YOU PASS TWO OF THEM THEN THEY GET A SENSE OF BEING ABLE TO GET THE VW SERVICE OR SOMETHING A BIT BETTER? THEY WILL GET A LOWER QUALITY OF SERVICE OR SOMETHING

HIGHER? >> THAT IS CORRECT.

>> OKAY I HAD A COUPLE OF COMMENTS AND THEN A COUPLE OF QUICK QUESTIONS. FIRST OF ALL THANK YOU AGAIN WE KNOW HOW INCREDIBLY HARD YOU WORK AND WE ARE JUST VERY FORTUNATE TO HAVE YOU AT THE HELM. SO THANK YOU. TO BE CLEAR DO WE KNOW THE FULL MAGNITUDE OF THE DEFERRED MAINTENANCE IN TERMS OF THE DOLLAR AMOUNT BASED ON CURRENT INFRASTRUCTURE?

>> COMMISSIONER WE HAVE BEEN WORKING ON GETTING A HANDLE ON THAT NUMBER. WE DO THINK THAT WE WILL BE ABLE TO BRING BACK TO COURT AT LEAST A DOLLAR AMOUNT OF WHAT WE DO BELIEVE COULD BE DEFERRED MAINTENANCE. SO WE MAY NOT BE QUITE THERE AT THE FINISH LINE IN TERMS OF FINISHING THIS ANALYSIS BUT I DO THINK WE WILL HAVE SOMETHING TO SIT DOWN WITH YOUR STAFF AND

REVIEW. >> RIGHT NOW WE ARE WORKING ON TWO PRONGS ONE IS DEFERRED BASED ON WHAT WE CURRENTLY HAVE AND WHAT WE PROJECT ON THE GO FORWARD BASED ON THE NEW PROJECTS THAT YOU ARE DELIVERING?

>> THAT IS CORRECT. I WOULD ALSO OFFER THAT RIGHT NOW AS COMMISSIONER RAMSEY POINTED OUT CLEARLY THE AMOUNT OF FUNDING WE HAD TO DO MAINTENANCE RIGHT NOW IS SUB LEVEL BUT IF WE WERE TO DO SOMETHING MORE I THINK THAT WE MIGHT HAVE SOME OPTIONS. WE COULD LOOK AT TAKING CARE OF DEFERRED MAINTENANCE OR LOOK AT MAKING SURE THAT WE COULD TAKE CARE OF THE ADDITIONAL INFRASTRUCTURE THAT WE WILL BE BRINGING ONLINE IN THE COMING YEAR AND NEXT SEVERAL YEARS THANKS TO THE CDG PROGRAM AND THE 2018 BOND PROGRAM AND OUR OTHER PARTNERS.

WE ALSO HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO ASK WHAT IS IMPORTANT TO THE COMMUNITY IN TERMS OF WHAT WE ARE DOING IN THAT MAINTENANCE PROGRAM. I FEEL LIKE THERE IS DEFINITELY A CONVERSATION TO BE HAD IN TERMS OF WHAT THE COURT IS LOOKING FOR AND IN TERMS OF A POLICY. AND WHAT THE COMMUNITY IS LOOKING FORWARD TO. WITH STAGGERING DATA THUS FAR I LOOK FORWARD TO THE JUNE UPDATE AND I WANT TO READ THIS FOR EVERYONE SO WE CAN HAVE THAT LEVEL SET. I WAS BLOWN AWAY BY THIS INFORMATION AND THEN WE WILL END WITH THE QUESTION. HARRIS COUNTY POPULATION HAS INCREASED BY APPROXIMATELY 40% SINCE 2000.

INCREASING FROM 3.4 TO 4.7. IN THAT SAME TIMEFRAME STORM WATER MANAGEMENT DRAINAGE INFRASTRUCTURE HAS GROWN BY MORE THAN 24,000 ACRES. OR OVER 58%. SO BASICALLY THE POPULATION HAS GONE UP THE STORM WATER MANAGEMENT DRAINAGE

[04:45:01]

THE DATA PROVIDED? >> BASED ON WHAT I HAVE IN FRONT OF ME COMMISSIONER I THINK YOU ARE CORRECT. WE'VE SEEN THE INCREASE IN POPULATION AND RESPONSIBILITY. AN INCREASE IN OUR TAX RATES. ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU TAKE INTO ACCOUNT THIS REVENUE AND PRESUMABLY IT WOULD HAVE A COMMENSURATE OR DECREASING TREND AS WELL. THIS HISTORIC UNDERINVESTMENT IS TRULY HIGHLIGHTED BY THIS DATA IN 2000 TO 2023. SO MY NEXT QUESTION IS I KNOW THE FLOOD CONTROL DISTRICT IS UNIQUE GIVEN ITS SIZE AND SCOPE. IS THIS TREND SOMETHING WE CAN TO CLAIRE THIS WITH OTHER SIMILARLY LOCATED TRAJECTORIES?

>> WE CAN CERTAINLY BENCHMARK THERE'S A LOT OF SPECIAL-PURPOSE DISTRICTS AND A HIGHER LEVEL OF SERVICE. THEY HAVE ADDITIONAL CYCLES AND I THINK WE DO THE BEST THAT WE CAN. WE MAKE SURE THAT THE COMMISSIONERS COURT HAS SEEN TO PROVIDE US GOING AS FAR AS WHAT WE HAVE WORKING. WE FOUND A WAY TO DO AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE WITH WHAT WE ARE DOING. HIGHLIGHTING THE DATA WE ARE LOOKING AT HISTORY AND THESE ARE THE FACTS. HERE IS THE EVIDENCE. YOU DONE EVERYTHING POSSIBLE SO THERE'S NO COMMENT ON YOUR ABILITY OR LEVEL OF EXCELLENCE.

I KNOW YOU'RE STRETCHING EVERYTHING IS MUCH AS POSSIBLE BUT I LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING THE MAGNITUDE AND WHAT YOU AS AN EXPERT WITH THE SAFETY OF EVERYONE WORKING IN HARRIS COUNTY. SO THANK YOU. WHAT WOULD BE BEST FOR ALL OF YOU TO

MAKE A DECISION? >> I WOULD LIKE TO RECOMMEND EACH OF THE STEPS BECAUSE THIS WOULD BE A POLICY DECISION. WE WOULD HAVE A ROBUST ITEM FOR DISCUSSION AND AT THAT POINT WE WOULD HAVE TO ADD THIS ONTO THE TIMELINE. IN TERMS OF WHEN WE WOULD BE MAKING AND WHEN. THE TIMELINE WILL QUICKLY ACCELERATE AS IS NOTED. THEY WOULD MOVE THIS UP AND DOWN THE TRACK. IT DOES DRASTICALLY CHANGE THE BUDGET WITH THE TAX RATE CALENDAR. IT CONFORMS TO THAT NOTICE AND ETC. WE WOULD VISIT WITH OUR OFFICES AND A SENSE OF WHAT THE SENTIMENT IS.

THERE ARE SOME NATIONAL GROUPS THAT WE WILL BE LOOKING AT C

[04:50:07]

WORKING HEALTH. >> DID YOU JUST NEED TO VOTE?

>> WE MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE.

>> MOTION AND UP SECOND. ALL THOSE OPPOSED? THE ITEM PASSES.

THAT IS OBVIOUSLY THINGS THAT COME TO COURT WITH OUT-OF-STATE TRAVEL THIS ONE HAS TO DO WITH TRAINING AND WE JUST NEED TO VOTE ON THAT. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? ALL THOSE OPPOSED? THERE

IS ITEM 132. >> IS ITEM 5 ITEM 4? THE ITEM PASSES. THE ITEM PASSES. 160. THERE'S THAT HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION. DID WE DO 160? WE NEED TO TAKE OUT BOSTON CONSULTING GROUP. ALL IN FAVOR? MOVE ON AND WE SECOND THIS.

THERE IS THE 164. THIS IS THE RATE OF HOMEOWNERSHIP IN THE HIGHEST PERCENTAGE OF HOMELESS VALUED HERE. THERE IS THE GREATEST NUMBER OF FAMILIES HERE. INCLUDING THOSE THAT ALREADY ACHIEVED HOME VALUES CONTINUE TO RISE AND SO TO THE PROPERTY TAXES. THIS IS PARTICULARLY OVER THE FIRST VULNERABLE SENIORS AND THE DISABLED COMMUNITIES. THIS WILL BE THE FOURTH TIME THAT I HAVE PROPOSED THIS SINCE BEING IN OFFICE. PRIOR TO 2020 WHEN WE FIRST PROPOSED THE MOST RECENT INCREASE IN 2008. I AM MOST PROUD IS 320,000. THE AVERAGE QUALIFYING WOULD ALLOW NO OWING IN COUNTY ASSESSED TAXES. IT

[04:55:09]

HARRIS COUNTY. >> THANK YOU. COMMISSIONER GARCIA THANK YOU FOR BEING A CHAMPION FOR DISABLED AND SENIOR MEMBERS OF OUR COMMUNITY. IT IS REMARKABLE OF YOUR ADVOCACY AND CHAMPIONING OF THIS ISSUE. WE THINK OF FIXED INCOMES AND RISING COSTS GENERALLY WITH INFLATION. THIS IS A HUGE WIN AND I WILL PROBABLY SECOND THIS EXCELLENT INITIATIVE YOU BROUGHT FORWARD. I THINK YOU FOR YOUR ADVOCACY.

I REMEMBER THAT MY GRANDMOTHER WAS LIVING SOCIAL SECURITY TO SOCIAL SECURITY CHECK. THANK YOU ALL. I WOULD NOT HAVE MADE THIS PROGRESS WITHOUT THE SUPPORT OF EVERYONE AROUND THE TABLE. A SLIGHT AMENDMENT TO THE MOON. MAKE SURE I HAVE THIS ACCURATELY GOING TO REREAD IT. I MOVED TO AMD IS ITEM TO INCREASE THE HOMESTEAD TAX EXEMPTION FOR THE 2024 TAX YEAR FOR SENIORS AND DISABLED HOMEOWNERS. THIS IS FOR HARRIS COUNTY. THE HARRIS COUNTY FLOOD CONTROL TO STRICT AND THE HARRIS COUNTY HOSPITAL DISTRICT TO $320,000 WHICH IS THE APPRAISED VALUE OF MEDIAN HOUSE WITH INHARRIS UNTY.

>> HOW DOES THIS WORK? HOW DO MPARE TO OTHER DISTRICTS? WHAT THEY GIVE US. THIS IS AN EMPT OE ELIMINARY INSTITUTE REDISTRIBUTING THIS. DON'T BE IN A HURRY YOU'LL GET THERE. IT'S A SHIFT TO OTHERS. IT IS IMPORTANT. THERE IS THAT ADDITIONAL 22%. WITH COMMISSIONER RAMSEY UP THERE.

THAT WOULD BE A BIG ONE AND THAT WOULD PA THIS ONWITH A BUZZ SAW. APPROVED AS AMENDED. AS AMENDED. THANK YOU. WHERE WE

[05:00:18]

AND DOTTING HER EYES. >> MAKING THE MOTION NOW.

MOTION IN THE SECOND. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? ALL THOSE OPPOSED? THE ITEM PASSES. THIS IS ITEM 166. NEXT IS ITEM 213.

COMMISSIONER GARCIA AND COMMISSIONER RAMSEY PULL THAT ONE. THAT THE HARRIS COUNTY OPPORTUNITY FUND REVOLVG 213.

IT INVOLVES THE LOAN PROGRAM WITH A FANTASTIC PROGRAM THAT PROVIDES SMALL BUSINESSES WITH A MUCH-NEEDED CAPITAL FRUIT LOANS WITH FLEXIBLE TERMS. THIS IS A WIN WIN WIN FOR ALL OF US.

THEY WILL MATCH THE 8 MILLION INVESTMENT WITH AN ADDITIONAL 9 MILLION TO THE FUN. THIS IS WHAT THEY'RE LOOKING YEAR. YOU HAVE UNTIL 2029 TO SPEND THAT? THERE'S MONEY MOVING FROM ONE CATEGORY TO ANOTHER. THEY MOVE THOSE FLEX FUNDS AND IT OPENS UP THE GENERAL FUND FOR OTHER PURPOSES.

>> AS WE WRAP IT UP WE HAVE 2026 WHERE WE HAVE TO SPEND THIS MONEY. THERE WILL BE 2029 ON THE FLEX FUND. JUST LIKE WE'VE BEEN MANAGING THIS CREATING THAT FLEX FUND AND THE ASSOCIATED GUIDELINES THAT WE WOULD USE IT FOR THE PROJECTS CONSISTENT WITH THE PRIORITY OUTCOMES. THIS PARTICULAR PROJECT IS A REVOLVING ONE. IT WOULD CONTINUE PAST THAT 2026 TIME AS THEY REPAY THEIR LOANS. THERE ARE THE SELECTED ZIP CODES IN THE COUNTY. THEY HAVE SOME PRIORITIES INCLUDING INDUSTRIES THAT WERE HEAVILY AFFECTED BY COVID-19. THIS IS IMPORTANT FOR MINORITY BUSINESSES. WITH THAT REVOLVING

[05:05:10]

>> SO THERE IS A MOTION IN A SECOND. I WANT TO THANK MY STAFF BECAUSE THIS CAME OUT OF THE OFFICE. I WANT TO THANK ALL OF THIS HERE. NEXT ITEM IS TO COMMISSIONER BRIONES. ITEM PASSES. NEXT ITEM IS ITEM 223. COMMISSIONER GARCIA. OVER THE PAST THREE MONTHS MY OFFICE HAS BEEN CONTACTED BY A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT INDIVIDUALS AND ORGANIZATIONS. THERE IS HOMELESS ENGAGEMENTS ALONG THE EMBANKMENT OF THE WHITE OAK BAYOU. WE ARE WORKING VERY CLOSELY WITH HOUSTON COUNCILMEMBER CASTILLE AND DISTRICT CAGE AND THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE AS WELL AS THE POLICE DEPARTMENT. AND TEXT.AND WITH THE FLOOD CONTROL DISTRICT. ENGAGING IN THE AREA KEEPING IT CLEAN. I UNDERSTAND WHICH AGENCIES UNDER CHAIN UNDERSTAND AND MAINTAIN THESE TRACTS OF LANDS. I LIKE TO SEE THE HARRIS COUNTY FLOOD CONTROL DISTRICT TAKE A LEAD WHENEVER THERE IS AN ISSUE OR COMMUNITY CONCERN AS IT RELATES TO HOMELESSNESS TAKING PLACE IN WHITE OAK BAYOU. I WAS RIDING MY BIKE AROUND THE AREA THE OTHER DAY IT IS PROBABLY CLOGGING UP SOME KIND OF THE FLOODWAY. THIS IS THE NEAR NORTH SIDE. THESE ARE YOUR COMMUNITY RELATED SITES OR ENCAMPMENTS ON FLOOD CONTROL PROPERTIES. THE LIST ON THE RETURN HAD OVER 30 SITES SHOWING THE SCOPE OF THIS IS YOU TO OUR KNOWLEDGE INCREASING NUMBER TWO. GIVEN THOSE COMPLEXITY THIS WAS THE INTENT TO HAVE FLOOD CONTROL ACT AS LEAD AGENCY COORDINATING WITH COMMUNITY HEALTH AND THE FIRE MARSHAL'S OFFICE. AS WELL AS NON-COUNTY AGENCIES SUCH AS THE CITY OF HOUSTON AND THE COALITION FOR THE HOMELESS.

THIS IS ALL WORKING HERE TO CREATE A STREAMLINED PROCESS

[05:10:03]

MIGHT HAVE? >> COMMISSIONER FIRST I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU FOR FLAGGING THIS ITEM AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP ON THIS. WE'VE SEEN A LARGE NUMBER OF INCREASES HERE. THIS AFFECTS PRECINCT TO WE WANT TO SAY THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP. BRINGING THIS TASK FORCE TOGETHER TO WORK THROUGH THESE CHALLENGES. BECAUSE THIS IS NOT A SINGLE AGENCY THEY CAN DEAL WITH THIS. SO I DON'T SEE ANY GAPS AND I APPRECIATE YOUR LEADERSHIP ON THIS.

>> THANK YOU. TO THE MOTION WILL READ I MOVED TO DIRECT THE HARRIS COUNTY FLOOD CONTROL DISTRICT THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE THE HOUSING AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENTS THE PUBLIC HEALTH SERVICES THE FIRE MARSHAL'S OFFICE THE COUNTY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE WORKING IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE OTHER RELEVANT DEPARTMENTS TO CREATE COUNTYWIDE POLICIES RECOMMENDED BEST PRACTICES HOW TO IMPROVE EFFICIENCY AND COORDINATION WITH ALL AGENCIES INCLUDING THE COALITION FOR THE HOMELESS THE TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION AND OTHERS.

IT'S ALL OWNED BY THE HARRIS COUNTY FLOOD CONTROL DISTRICT ESPECIALLY AS IT PERTAINS ON HOUSE INDIVIDUALS. THIS RECOMMENDATION HAS A SLIGHT AMENDMENT WHERE I WOULD LIKE TO MOVE THE FLOOD CONTROL DISTRICT TO LEAD THE GATHERING AND THE ORGANIZING OF ALL DEPARTMENTS WE'VE JUST LAID OUT. THE RECOMMENDATION WILL RETURN TO COMMISSIONERS COURT AT THE AUGUST 6 COMMISSIONERS COURT MEETING.

>> COMMISSIONER GARCIA I WHOLEHEARTEDLY AGREE. MAY PLEASE THROW OUT A COUPLE OF FRIENDLY AMENDMENTS FOR CONSIDERATION? FIRST TO DIRECT HOMELESSNESS STRATEGY IN RESPONSE TO COURTNEY AN EFFORT TO DRAFT AND SOCIALIZE ANY POLICY WITH ALL LISTED STAKEHOLDERS THAT YOU'VE SAID.

AND THEN TO DIRECT ANY POLICY DEVELOPED SHOULD BE ALIGNED AND BUILT UPON THE 2021 CITY OF HOUSTON HARRIS COUNTY HOMELESS ENCAMPMENT STRATEGY PUBLISHED BY THE COALITION FOR THE

HOMELESS. >> I SUPPORT THAT AMENDMENT.

>> COULD YOU REREAD THAT FIRST PORTION OF YEARS PLEASE? I DON'T THINK MARY LAWLER IS HERE ANY LONGER BUT JUST TO RECAP THERE'S THE INNOVATIVE HOUSING POLICY THAT WOULD UTILIZE THIS. THERE'S MORE HOUSING TO CASH-STRAPPED

[05:15:04]

THESE ARE THE TWO ELIGIBLE ORGANIZATIONS WITH THE INNOVATIVE POLICY THAT CAME OUT OF MY OFFICE. BUT I WANT TO SEE MORE ORGANIZATIONS WITH THIS POLICY I'M REQUESTING FOR CSD TO BRING THIS HERE AND THEN RETURN TO COURT IN AUGUST.

THERE IS THAT POLICY DEVELOPED SO FAR BUT MOST IMPORTANT THERE'S A BIG SPECIAL THANK YOU TO MARY LAWLER WITH HER INCREDIBLE LEADERSHIP AND INNOVATIVE THINKING. THIS IS WHAT THEY WOULD EVALUATE AND PRESENT AND HOW THEY'VE HELPED THAT PRESERVATION WITH AN UPDATED COUNTYWIDE POLICY WITH THE REQUEST TO THE COUNTY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER RECOMMENDATIONS AND THEN THIRDLY TO BRING THE ITEM BACK TO THE COMMISSIONERS COURT FOR FINAL APPROVAL ON AUGUST 6TH OF THIS YEAR. JUST A SLIGHT AMENDMENT I MOVED TO DIRECT THE OFFICE OF COUNTY ADMINISTRATION TO LEAD IN COORDINATING EVERYONE. AS I WOULD LIKE SOMEONE IN CHARGE. THAT IS MY

MOTION. >> ARE THERE ANY DISCUSSIONS? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? THE ITEM PASSES. THE ITEM UP NEXT IS ITEM 225. ITEMS TWO, THREE AND FOUR.

>> ON THIS ITEM IN THE PAST MONTH WE HAVE SEEN SOME DISTURBING USE OUT OF SONOMA COUNTY IN REGARDS TO MANAGEMENT AND CONSULTING. THE AUDIT FOUND THAT THEY FAILED TO MAINTAIN RECORDS FOR MILLIONS OF DOLLARS WORTH OF WORK. THEY MAY HAVE BEEN ENGAGED IN PRACTICES LIKE DOUBLE BILLING WITH EMPLOYEES WORKING IN HARRIS COUNTY. THIS IS A TREMENDOUS CONCERN BECAUSE NOW THIS IS A MAJOR VENDOR IN HARRIS COUNTY. THEY BROUGHT THEM ON FOR THE MOBILE HEALTH PODS. THIS IS THE PROGRAM THIS IS 4.6 MILLION ALREADY OUT THE DOOR. THESE ARE MAJOR PRIORITIES HERE AND THEY CANNOT HAVE THEM HERE WITH MISMANAGEMENT. I'M CONCERNED ON WHETHER THE SCOPE OF THIS AUDIT WOULD FINALLY SIMILAR TYPES OF ISSUES THAT WE ARE SEEING OUT OF SONOMA COUNTY. THEY LACK CAPACITY FOR THE URGENCY REQUIRED. THE FINDINGS ARE MADE DUE TO THIRD-PARTY

[05:20:01]

THIS IS A SCOPE VERY SIMILAR TO THE SONOMA COUNTY AUDIT SO THAT WE CAN BE CONSISTENT IN THE REVIEW OF THE CONCEPT OF ONE TO ANOTHER. THEY WALKED OFF THE JOB IN SONOMA COUNTY AND IT IS CRITICAL THAT WE SUPPORT PUBLIC HEALTH TO HAVE A BACKUP PLAN.

IN THE EVENTS THAT THEY ALSO WALK OFF OF THIS CONTRACT. THE MOTION THEY HAVE THE MANAGEMENT AND CONSULTING IN TEXAS LLC WITH THE FOCUS ON HOW THE BILLING HAS BEEN HERE. MAY CLEARLY BY THE NEWS REPORTS COMING OUT OF CALIFORNIA AND WHAT WE KNOW I AGREED THAT IT NEEDS TO BE IN THE COUNTY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE. THIS IS ALSO IN THE CONTEXT OF HARRIS COUNTY. SO THIS IS THE STRATEGIC PRIORITIES WITH THIS WORK HERE WE NEED PUBLIC HELP TO BEGIN WORKING ON A PLAN B. I LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING HOW EXPEDITIOUSLY THIS WORK CAN BE

CONCLUDED. >> THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMENTS.

I LIKE TO HEAR FROM THE AUDITOR NOW. AND MAYBE MAKE A COUPLE OF GENERAL OBSERVATIONS. I DON'T THINK WE HAVE A CONTRACT RELATED TO THIS DAY ARE INVOLVED IN THE HEART PROGRAM AND I KNOW WE INVESTED A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF MONEY IN THAT. AND THAT SOMETHING THAT MAY HAVE COME OUT OF MY OFFICE AND HE DECIDED TO EXPAND IT. I JUST WANT TO POINT OUT THAT HEART HAS TO SPAT THE APPROPRIATE HEALTH-RELATED RESPONDERS. WITH 11,000 CALLS. SINCE LAUNCHING IN DISTRICT NUMBER FOUR IN 2023. IT'S VERY SUCCESSFUL FREEING THEM UP TO FOCUS ON DANGEROUS SITUATIONS. I WANT TO MAKE THE MOTION THAT I HOPE SUPPORT WILL BE THERE FOR WHATEVER THE COST. I KNOW IT IS A GREAT OPERATION HERE I KNOW YOU'RE LOOKING AT THE SAME SCOPE. I'M HERE BUT I DON'T KNOW ABOUT THE COST

[05:25:01]

QUITE YET. >> THAT IS BETTER. YES. AS FAR AS WHAT WE ARE DOING, THIS IS CONTRACT COMPLIANCE. THEY LOOK AT THE SUPPORT BECAUSE YOU HAVE TO GO TO THE LOCATION THEY DO THIS FOR THE CHARGERS. THERE MAY BE SOME THINGS THAT THEY WANT TO INCLUDE IN THE SCOPE. THIS IS WHAT IT TAKES WITH THE EVENTS THAT SOMETHING ELSE HAPPENS. THANK YOU FOR THAT UPDATE. I COULD NOT AGREE MORE. I WOULD LIKE FOR YOU TO COMPLETE THIS AUDIT THAT YOU ARE WORKING ON WHILE WE LAUNCH THIS EXTERNAL THIRD-PARTY AUDIT. THANK YOU FOR YOUR WORK.

>> WE'VE BEGUN THIS PROCESS GOOD AFTERNOON. WE ARE CURRENTLY EXAMINING WHAT ALTERNATIVE MODELS EXIST GIVEN THE FACT THAT THERE FOLKS DOING THIS WORK AND THE CLASSIFICATIONS DO NOT EXIST RIGHT ON PUBLIC HEALTH. TO BRING IN THIS IN-HOUSE WOULD BE A CHALLENGE AND WOULD REQUIRE MAY BE JOB CLASSIFICATIONS THAT DON'T EXIST FOR US. BUT RIGHT NOW WE ARE IN THE PROCESS OF LOOKING AT CONTINGENCY PLANS IN THE EVENT THAT WE NO LONGER CONTINUE TO CONTRACT WITH THEM.

IF YOU DO HAVE TO PROCESS THOSE JOB CLASSIFICATIONS SEND THEM IN. I KNOW IT IS A PROCESS TO GET THAT DONE BUT BY NO MEANS DO WE WANT TO LET HOW OUR CRIMINAL JUSTICE -RELATED PROGRAMS FALL BY THE WAYSIDE. WHATEVER IT TAKES. WE HAD A

MOTION AND A SECOND. >> CANASTA QUICK QUESTION? I KNOW WE HAD A SUCCESSFUL CORE PROGRAM IN THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE. SINCE WE WERE GOING THROUGH A CHANGE HERE IF THERE ANY INTERIM SUPPORTS IT WE CAN MAYBE GET OUT OF THE CORE FOR THIS PROGRAM THERE MAY BE SOME MERITS THERE.

>> ITEM PASSES. >> THIS IS A RECLASSIFICATION OF PRECINCT 2 CADETS. AND I WANT TO ASK THIS QUESTION. WE DON'T NORMALLY VOTE ON TRANSMITTALS.

>> OKAY. SINCE ITS TRANSMITTAL WERE NOT ABLE TO VOTE ON IT?

[05:30:24]

THEY ALREADY HIRED THEM AS DEPUTIES. THIS WAS PART OF THAT APPROVAL LIST. THERE IS THE EXCEPTION CLAUSE SO AS LONG AS WE ARE HERE ANNUALLY WE PUT ON AT THE TRANSMITTAL AT THE NEXT COURT DATE. SO WE PASSED THE POLICY WE REALIZE THAT THERE IS SOME RECLASSIFICATIONS THAT ARE STANDARD OR HAVE SOME KIND OF TIME SENSITIVITIES. THERE IS RICHER CON TWO. THEY COME UP

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

IT IS INCREASING THIS CONSTITUENCY AND THE OVERALL QUALITY OF LIFE. I APPRECIATE ALL OF THE WORK HERE. IT IS A VERY CREATIVE SOLUTION TO DEALING WITH THE PLACEMENT OF

THE POLES FOR THE CAMERAS. >> COMMISSIONER WHICH ITEM WAS

THAT? >> RULES OF DECORUM. COLLEAGUES I WOULD LIKE TO SUGGEST YOU HAD A VERY PRODUCTIVE DAY. WE DID GO FROM 10:00 THIS MORNING UNTIL MOST THE TIME FOR THE BREAK. SO I WOULD LIKE TO SUGGEST I HEARD THE PRESS COUNT WHICH HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH ME. MY OFFICE DID NOT RESPOND I THINK IT WAS HOUSTON LANDING BUT I THINK THEY WERE RIGHT AS MUCH AS I HATE TO ADMIT THAT. SO WHEN WE GET TO PUBLIC SPEAKERS IN OUR AGENDA SOMETIMES IT'S A LITTLE LATER IN THE DAY. YOU YOUNGER ONES IT'S JUST EASIER BUT FOR THOSE OF US WHO LIVE LONG LESS IT GETS A LITTLE DIFFICULT. SO HOW ABOUT WE GO AHEAD AND VOTE THE CORE MUST BE AWARE THAT THE PUBLIC VOTE AND THEN WE DO THE REST OF THE MOTIONS. THEN WE CAN INVITE ALL OUR FRIENDS AND BUT I THINK THAT WOULD LEAD US

[05:35:03]

SO I WILL SHOW UP AND I WILL PRESENT IT AND IT WILL BE WHEN IT WORKS FOR ME. WHERE VOTING ON MILLIONS OF DOLLARS AND SUBSTANTIVE POLICY DISCUSSIONS. I RESPECTFULLY ASK YOU TO HELP AN OLD MAN HERE. I HOPE I DON'T LOOK 70 YET BUT IF THIS KEEPS GOING ON I WILL START LOOKING LIKE I AM 70 REALLY

QUICKLY. >> IN ORDER TO PROVIDE PROPER SUPPORT FOR SOMEONE SO MUCH YOUNGER THAN I AM GOING TO SECOND THAT MOTION. AND I WILL SAY THAT A LOT OF WHAT I DO HERE WITH DIFFERENT GROUPS I WANT TO RECOGNIZE IS A PROCLAMATION. THAT WAS A GREAT TIME WITH THE TEACHERS. THAT'S HERE FOR THE REST OF THE DAY. THEY HAVE 15 RESOLUTIONS. THEY HAD 18 ON THE PAPER AND I THINK THIS IS WORTH GETTING THE ITEMS UPFRONT THAT WERE GONNA TALK ABOUT AND VOTE ON. IT IS IMPORTANT IN THE CONTEXT TO CELEBRATE THESE GOING ON IN THE COUNTY. MY MOTION WILL BE THE PUBLIC'S STUFF FIRST AND THEN DO A RESOLUTIONS. SOME STILL AND RESTRICT MINE I HAD 17 FROM INTERNS YESTERDAY. I GAVE EACH ONE OF THE RESOLUTION.

OBVIOUSLY WE CAN'T CONTROL THAT. YOU CAN ALWAYS MAKE AN EXCEPTION BUT MANY OF THE OTHERS THAT WE'VE BROUGHT FORWARD WERE HERE. THERE ARE PUBLIC AGENDA ITEMS PICKED IN A SPECIFIC TIME IN THE AFTERNOON FOR THE RESOLUTION OF SOLUTION

LATE SPEAKERS. >> IF WE FINISH EARLIER WE CAN CALL THEM SO THEY COME OR WE MAY END UP PRESENTING THESE RESOLUTIONS IN THE COURTROOM BY MYSELF.

>> AND WHAT KIND A SPECIFIED TIME YOU PROPOSING?

>> WHAT IS YOUR GAS? 2:00 OR 3:00? IT'S A PRACTICAL MATTER.

IF WE HAVE A LUNCH BREAK GIVES YOU TIME TO DO ESSENTIALLY SPEAKERS. THERE IS THAT SUGGESTION. AND THEN YOU WOULD

HAVE TIME FOR RESOLUTIONS. >> YES.

>> I THINK THAT MIGHT END UP AND WHY WOULD WE SAY 4:30 OR 5:00? UNLESS WE END EARLIER AND CAN REACH THEM AND ASKED THEM

TO COME? >> OKAY COMMISSIONER I'M ALL FOR IMPROVING OUR PROCESS BUT WE JUST AMENDED THE RULES LAST QUARTER. THIS SHOULD BE QUITE SOME TIME.

[05:40:41]

>> I SAW THE ARTICLE ON SOCIAL MEDIA. I REALLY DO THINK IT IS GETTING TO THE POINT WHERE THEY EMBARRASSED US HERE. THAT WAS ONE SUGGESTION WE COULD GO TO TWO DAYS A WEEK.

>> THIS IS ALL WHY AM ASKING TO VOTE ON THIS TODAY

RESPECTFULLY. >> BUT WHO'S TO SAY WE WILL FOLLOW IT THEN. THERE IS NO SECRET HERE. I GUESS SOME PEOPLE IT MAY COMMUNICATED WITH. LET'S TIGHTEN DOWN ON THAT. YOU HAVE THE DEPARTMENT HE BRING IT BACK IN A MONTH ENTRY RESOLUTIONS. EVENT JUST GIVE ME NOTICE WHEN TO COME BACK OUT HERE. WHOEVER'S RUNNING THE MEETING NEEDS TO FOLLOW THOSE RULES. I LOVE SOME OF THE SUGGESTIONS THAT WE DISCUSSED THAT IS THE DEPARTMENT HEAD PRESENTING HERE. AND WE WOULD LIKE TO CHANGE THAT FOR 10 MINUTES APPLIES TO EVERYBODY. WITH RESOLUTION SPEAKERS TO GO PAST THE MEETING SOME CANNOT BE GIVEN THE EXTENSION WHILE OTHERS CAN WE NEED TO BE CONSISTENT WITH THE RULES.

THERE IS THE WORKING MOM. THERE'S ROBUST DIALOGUE FOR TRANSPARENCY. THIS MORNING IT WAS PACKED AND THAT IS NOT JUST BECAUSE THERE WERE A BUNCH OF RESOLUTIONS. WHEN YOU'RE DOING THE BUSINESS OF THE COUNTY YOU OUGHT TO BE DOING IT AS

[05:45:01]

SO I THINK IT REALLY WOULD BE MORE TRANSPARENT TO DISCUSS THE KEY ITEMS. EVEN IF IT HAS BEEN DISCUSSED THERE'S USUALLY A LOT OF PRESS ON THAT BACK WROTE MOST OF THEM OF LEFT BY THIS TIME. AND THAT IS PRETTY TYPICAL. SO I THINK HOWEVER WE WANT TO HANDLE THE RESOLUTIONS NO MATTER WHAT KIND OF TWEAKING WE WANT TO DO MOST THE TIME SINCE I'VE BEEN ON THE COMMISSIONERS COURT COURT BUSINESS HAS BEEN DONE AFTER 5:00. WE'VE MADE IT UNTIL 2:00 IN THE MORNING TO IN COURT BUSINESS BEFORE AND THAT'S JUST NOT RIGHT. WE CAN DO

BETTER THAN THAT. >> IS SO IN A MONTH WE WILL COME BACK AND SEE BUT FOR NOW I THINK WE HAVE A BEAUTIFUL CHAMBER WE CAN WATCH ON TV. I WILL BE WATCHING YOU JUST GIVE

ME ENOUGH TIME TO GET THERE. >> IF I COULD THROW OUT ONE LESS THING TO THINK ABOUT OVER THE NEXT FEW MONTHS, THERE WAS AN ALTERNATIVE MOTION FLOATING ABOUT PUTTING ALL RESOLUTIONS FOR BUSINESS COURT DAYS. TO MAKE IT A CLEAR AND BIFURCATION ON THIS LEVEL BUT IF THAT BECOMES SOMETHING THAT THE MAJORITY WOULD SUPPORT WE DO NOT HAVE ANY BUSINESS COURT SCHEDULED FOR AUGUST OR SEPTEMBER. SO IF WE DO GO ON THAT ALTERNATIVE ROUTE IT WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO START AND SO OCTOBER OR THE 4:35 ROUTE IS A DIFFERENCE TORY. IT'S REALLY JUST SOMETHING TO KEEP IN MIND AS WE TALK ABOUT THIS. YOU CAN PASS ALL OF THOSE RESOLUTIONS AND I WILL CHIME IN ON VIDEO.

PEOPLE CAN HAVE THE RECEPTION AFTER. ANYWAY THEY GO.

>> SO THERE IS NO ACTION. >> SO WE WILL BE STARTING WORK ON YOUR CALENDARS FOR THE NEXT FISCAL YEAR. ALL OF THESE CONVERSATIONS WILL BE TAKEN INTO CONSIDERATION. DON'T FORGET TO BRING THIS BACK. THE NEXT ITEM IS PRECINCT 3 TO BE TAKE ITEM 286? OKAY. ITEM 287. OKAY 288. WHERE ARE WE NOW?

>> WE ARE ON 287. >> DO YOU SEE WHY WE SHOULDN'T

BE GOING THIS LATE? >> IT'S ONLY 4:30.

>> AGAIN THIS IS THE PRECINCT 3 QUICK DISCUSSION ON THE IMPACT OF THE CONTRACT DEPUTY WRITES THE INCREASE AT 6.6% WILL THOSE DOLLARS GO BACK INTO THE GENERAL FUND OR WILL THEY BE GOING INTO THE CONSTABLE'S CONTRACT DEPUTY FUND GOING BACK

AND WHERE THE MONEY IS? >> BYLAW THAT FUNDING IS THE GENERAL FUND. BUT IT IS ALL APPROPRIATED TO THE CONSTABLE IN ADDITION TO OUR 20 OR 30%. THE COST OF THE PROGRAM IS IN THE GENERAL FUND IT IS GENERAL FUND REVENUE WHICH OFFSETS THE

COST OF THE PROGRAM. >> BUT THERE HAS BEEN A LOT OF CONVERSATION OF THE LAST FEW YEARS ON HOW TO HANDLE THOSE BUDGETS WHAT IS AVAILABLE AT THE END OF THE YEAR AND WHAT IS NOT AVAILABLE. WE WON'T USE THAT TERM AGAIN BUT IT'S USED TO OFFSET THE COST AND WHAT THEY HAVE?

>> WE SPEND ALMOST $30 MILLION MORE THAN WHAT WE GET ON THE PROGRAM SO EVERY NICKEL GOES BACK.

>> AT THE END OF THE DAY WE GET 70+ MILLION DOLLARS AND AGAIN IT'S A NET POSITIVE FOR THE COUNTY. A MECHANISTIC HERE AND ARGUE AND DEBATE WITH YOU ON THAT. WE GET MORE MONEY THAN

WHAT WE PUT IN. >> SURE.

>> I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY THAT'S HARD TO ADMIT.

>> I MEAN WE COULD. >> I'M JUST MAKING SURE THAT THAT MONEY DOESN'T GO TO THE GENERAL FUND OTHER THAN WHAT

GOES THROUGH. >> EVERY NICKEL GOES TO OFFSET

THE PROGRAM. >> THANK YOU. SO THAT ITEM INFORMATION IS THERE. OKAY NEXT IS ITEM 288. COMMISSIONER RAMSEY? THERE'S RECLASSIFICATIONS I THINK THE

[05:50:03]

IT'S NOT WORKING. >> THE DIRECTOR SENT OUT A MOTION WHICH WOULD EXEMPT MORE POSITIONS. WHAT I WOULD SAY AND I CANNOT STRESS THIS ENOUGH BUT WE'RE THE ONLY JURISDICTION THAT CANNOT TELL YOU HOW MANY POSITIONS WE HAVE. AND THAT IS BECAUSE WE HAD NO BASELINE I THINK WE HAVE 1300 OR SO JOB DESCRIPTIONS WHICH IS ABSURD IT IS MULTIPLES COMPARED TO SIMILAR JURISDICTIONS. WE HAVE A LOT TO DO TO GET TO A BASELINE AND THE POLICY OF PROCESS WAS PUT IN PLACE SO I CANNOT ANSWER THOSE QUESTIONS RIGHT NOW THERE IS BACK AND FORTH ADMIT THAT WE HAVE HAD SOME GROWING PAINS BUT I WOULD NOT WANT TO SCRAP THE ENTIRE CONCEPT. THERE WAS A MOTION TO EXEMPT POSITIONS ESSENTIALLY UNDER 100,000 FROM THIS

PROCESS. >> I COULD READ THAT HERE. I'M AT A FRIENDLY AMENDMENT TRIP WITH THE MOTION THAT CAME WAS A MOTION TO AMEND POSITION MANAGEMENT POLICY TO EXCLUDE ITEMS FOR COURT APPROVAL WEATHER SALARY AND MAXIMUM WOULD BE LESS THAN $50 PER HOUR WORTH THE SALARY RANGE MAXIMUM IS DECREASING EXCEPT FOR ANY RECLASSIFICATIONS THAT MAY RESULT IN A SENATE BILL 23 IMPACT. ANY RECLASSIFICATIONS NOT REQUIRING COMMISSIONER COURT APPROVAL WILL CONTINUE TO BE SUBMITTED AS TRANSMITTAL ON THE AGENDA. THE FRIENDLY AMENDMENT THAT I ADD TO THIS IS TO ADD THE CHANGE OF POSITION MANAGEMENT POLICY TO REMOVE THE NEED FOR APPROVAL OF THE RECLASSIFICATION WITH THE SAME SALARY RANGE. AND I CAN WALK DOWN AND PASS THIS TO YOU IF YOU NEVER SEEN IT.

>> THE BID DEBATE HAS BEEN WHETHER 50 IS THE NUMBER OR 65 IS THE NUMBER. AND $100,000 IS ABOUT THE TOTAL SALARY. I GUESS THE POINT IS THAT THAT WILL HELP A LITTLE IN TERMS OF WHAT IS COMING. BUT IT SHOULDN'T TAKE 10 WEEKS TO DO THIS THAT

IS OUR PROBLEM. >> WE AGREE THAT'S WHY WE ARE PROPOSING THE SUBSET EXEMPT ON THIS LEVEL.

>> WHAT IS YOUR ESTIMATE OF HOW LONG IT WILL TAKE TO GET THIS

RECLASSIFIED? >> THIS IS SHANE CAROUSEL AGAIN. CAN YOU TURN YOUR VOLUME UP PLEASE?

>> OKAY. SORRY WE'VE BEEN REQUESTING DEPARTMENTS TO SUBMIT SOMETHING FOR WEEKS PRIOR TO COMMISSIONERS COURT.

THE VOLUME HAS BECOME SO MUCH ESPECIALLY SOME DEPARTMENTS WANTING TO DO A MASS AMOUNT OF CHANGES AND I THINK THAT'S WHY 10 WEEKS IS COMING UP. WITH THIS CHANGE IF SOMEONE COULD GET US THE REQUIRED DOCUMENTATION FOR JUST THE ONCE OVER $50 AN HOUR I THINK THAT THAT FOR WEEKS SHOULD DO IS

FINE. >> COMMISSIONER THAT HAS BEEN A PROBLEM FOR ME AS WELL IF IT DOES NOT WORK I WOULD BE HAPPY TO SECOND-YEAR MOTION. WE CAN ALWAYS FIND SOME WAY TO FIND OUT HOW MANY FOLKS ARE HEREAFTER ARE NOT HIDING.

>> I KNOW WHAT THE PAY EQUITY STUDY WE'VE LAUNCHED AS WELL AS THIS KIND OF TALENT REVAMPING REVITALIZATION EFFORT THAT WE ARE WORKING ON I LOVE THE ACCOUNTABILITY AND TRANSPARENCY BUT THERE IS INEFFICIENCY AND IT IS UNACCEPTABLE. I FEEL LIKE THIS IS A STEP IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION BUT I WILL BE WATCHING IT CLOSELY BECAUSE I THINK WE ARE LOSING GREAT CANDIDATES AND WE HAVE SO MUCH WORK TO DO THAT WE REALLY CANNOT BE WAITING FOR SIMPLE AND MINISTERIAL APPROVALS ANYMORE. WE APPRECIATE YOUR PARTNERSHIP AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO THE CONTINUED IMPROVEMENTS.

>> COMMISSIONER WHEN WE ORIGINALLY PROPOSED THIS PROCESS, WE ACTUALLY SAID THAT THE DEPARTMENT NEEDED TO PUT THEIR ITEM ON AND WE DON'T FLAG 99.9% OF THEM. THEY'RE REALLY ONLY A HANDFUL THAT ARE BEING MOVED UP TO A DIRECTOR OR THREE

[05:55:07]

BACK. THIS IS 289. >> FOR CLARITY THE ONLY THING THAT PASSED WAS YOUR FRIENDLY ABOUT AMENDMENT.

>> THE MOTION WAS FOR BOTH. >> OKAY. THANK YOU.

>> I THINK WE HEARD FROM JACKIE METCALF THIS MORNING THERE WAS THREE FOOT OF WATER GOING OVER THE SAN JACINTO WASTE HITS DURING THIS RECENT STORM. I SURE APPRECIATE THE COUNTY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE BECAUSE THEY HAVE BEEN SPOT ON IN TERMS OF NOT ONLY THIS SITE BUT ALSO THE JONES ROAD SITE SO THEY'VE BEEN A GREAT ADVOCATE FOR US TO ADDRESS ISSUES THAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN ADDRESSED DECADES AGO. THE ONLY REASON NOW TO PUT THIS ON IS THAT WE ARE IN A 90 DAY WINDOW RIGHT NOW THAT THE RESPONSIBLE PARTIES HAVE TO COME UP WITH A PLAN NOT TO CAP IT BUT TO REMOVE IT AND AT THE END OF THAT 90 DAYS I WOULD LIKE FOR US TO BE PREPARED TO ENGAGE IN TERMS OF REACTING NOT WAITING UNTIL THEY DON'T RESPOND BECAUSE YOU'RE RESPONSIBLE PARTIES WHICH I WILL NOT MENTION THEIR NAMES HAVE A REALLY BAD RECORD OF NOT DOING THE THING THEY SAY THEY'RE GOING TO. SO RIGHT NOW THEY HAVE 90 DAYS AND WE WILL SEE IF THEY DO IT. BUT IF THEY DO NOT I WOULD LIKE FOR US TO AT LEAST BE POISED AND READY TO ENGAGE FOR THE EPA OR WHATEVER ROUTE IS NECESSARY THAT THE COUNTY OFFICE WOULD WARRANT.

>> WE HAVE BEEN MONITORING THE SITUATION FOR MANY YEARS. THE COUNTY FOUGHT LITIGATION ON THE WASTE PITS 10 YEARS AGO. WE ARE VERY MUCH AWARE OF THIS ISSUE AND WE HAVE CONTINUALLY BEEN ENGAGED BOTH WITH THE EPA AND WITH THE COMMUNITY TO MAKE SURE THAT THIS PROCESS IS MOVING ACCORDING TO PLAN. OBVIOUSLY WHEN THE EPA CAME OUT WITH THE LATEST FUNDING SAYING THAT THE PROPOSED PLAN WAS NOT UP TO PAR WE STARTED TO REENGAGE TO MAKE SURE THAT THE CONCERNS WERE HEARD SO WE ARE FOLLOWING THIS AND CONSIDERING THE OTHER OPTIONS IF WE DO NOT THINK THAT

RESPONSE IS ADEQUATE. >> THANK YOU JONATHAN. I WANT THE CONSTITUENTS THAT LIVE ON THE RIVER TO HEAR WHAT HE JUST SAID. THEY APPRECIATE IT MORE THAN YOU'LL EVER KNOW. THEY HAVE HAD TO PUT UP WITH THIS FOR DECADES. AND JUST TO HEAR THAT WORD THAT WE ARE WATCHING AND PAYING ATTENTION THAT WE HAVEN'T FORGOTTEN YOU AND WE ARE PAYING ATTENTION THAT IS SOMETHING THAT THEY ARE THANKFUL FOR.

>> NO ACTION. NEXT IS ITEM 290. COMMISSIONER RAMSEY THAT IS ONE

THAT YOU PULLED AS WELL? >> AGAIN I AM PULLING THIS ITEM NOT TO DO ANYTHING OTHER THAN THE NWBE PROCESS. IT IS NOT WORKING TO SOME EXTENT MUCH LIKE THE RECLASSIFICATION DOES NOT WORK. WE HAVE HAD AN ISSUE WITHIN PRECINCT 3 WHERE WE HAD A VENDOR IDENTIFIED IN JANUARY AND IT WAS ONE THAT PREVIOUSLY HAD AN IN WVEA CERTIFICATION. HOWEVER THEY HAD TO GO BACK AND GET RECERTIFIED WORKED THROUGH THE CITY OF HOUSTON AND SOMETIMES THEIR PROCESS IS NOT AS UP TO SPEED AS IT SHOULD BE.

I AM SAYING WHATEVER WE CAN DO WITHIN THAT CERTIFICATION PROCESS WE SHOULD NOT LET THAT SLOW US DOWN WHETHER IT'S PAYING THE BILLS PROCESSING ARE OR SF CUES MAKING DECISIONS OR PAYMENTS. WE HAVE TO HAVE A FINE TUNED SYSTEM THAT WE ARE NOT SITTING HERE AND WAITING ON THE END WBE OR ANYTHING RELATED

[06:00:03]

>> I COULD NOT AGREE MORE. THIS IS A TOP PRIORITY AND WE NEED TO MAKE SURE ADMINISTRATIVELY AND PRIORITY OF FLEET WE ARE TREATING THIS. I KNOW WE ARE ALL VERY INTERESTED IN SEEING WHAT OTHER CERTIFICATIONS THAT THE COUNTY SHOULD CONSIDER HONORING. AND I KNOW WE ARE GOING TO TALK ABOUT THAT IN A MOMENT WITH POTENTIAL MOTION BUT MY FUNDAMENTAL WORRY IS THAT WE ARE NOT BASING OUR DECISIONS ON UP-TO-DATE DATA.

YOU FOR YOUR PRECINCT DOLLARS PAID FOR THE DISPARITY STUDY TO HAPPEN FOR HARRIS COUNTY. THANK YOU AND NOW WE ARE IN 2024 AND THE STUDY WOULD TAKE A FEW YEARS TO DO. WE NEED TO HAVE THE WORKING NUMBERS AND ROOM FOR IMPROVEMENT I KNOW WE HAD SOME EXTRA DOLLARS WITH OTHER ENTITIES LIKE THE SPORTS AUTHORITY AND POTENTIALLY OTHERS UTILIZED WHAT I THINK IT IS IMPERATIVE THAT WE GET STARTED WITH THE UPDATED HARRIS COUNTY EVENT. WE ARE DIGGING IN ON THAT CRITERIA WE HAVE TO HAVE THREE OF X WITH YOU DON'T HAVE THE UP-TO-DATE DATA WE ARE NOT ADVANCING THE END GOAL AS AGGRESSIVELY AS WE COULD. I KNOW YOU'RE DEEPLY COMMITTED AND CANDID ABOUT THE AREAS THAT WE NEED TO IMPROVE UPON I DON'T KNOW WHAT IT WOULD TAKE TO ASSESS THE OTHER AGENCIES THAT WE SHOULD EXPECT THE

CERTIFICATION FROM. >> COMMISSIONER BRIONES? WE SHOULD TALK ABOUT THE ISSUE IN PRECINCT 3 AND LET YOU KNOW THAT WE WILL HAVE A DIFFERENT CONVERSATION WITH CERTIFICATION VERSUS THE MODERN COMPLIANCE TEAM THAT WE DO HERE SO OF COURSE THIS IS NOT A CERTIFYING AGENCY SO WHEN IT TAKES TOO LONG TO GET A CERTIFICATION FROM THE CITY WE HEAR THAT A LOT. AND SOMETIMES THAT EVEN CONCERNS RENEWALS WHICH WE HAVE TO WAIT ON THE CITY THERE'S NOTHING THEY CAN DO ABOUT THAT AND THE PARTICULAR ONE FROM PRECINCT 3 THERE WAS NO PROOF OF CERTIFICATION AND OF COURSE THEY HAVE TO FLAG THAT BECAUSE THERE IS NO PROOF SO BASED ON OUR OWN POLICIES WE HAVE TO DECLINE IT AND THEN THEY HAVE A CHANCE TO APPEAL. IN MY OPINION IT WORKED OUT VERY WELL BECAUSE THEY DID APPEAL THEY CAME TO THE HEARING WITH THE RECONSIDERATION OF OFFICIAL AND WE DID NOT DENY RIGHT AWAY WE WAITED BECAUSE THEY SAID THEY WERE WAITING ON THE CITY FOR CERTIFICATION AND WE WAITED WITHIN THAT TIMEFRAME WE WERE ALLOWED AND THEY WERE ABLE TO GET THAT CERTIFICATION TO US. THAT ALL WORKED OUT IN LESS THAN 30 DAYS SO THAT IS BASED ON OUR OWN POLICIES AND PROCEDURES. WHEN WE TALK ABOUT THE ISSUE A CERTIFICATION IT IS TALKING ABOUT WHAT WE CAN DO AND IS A COURT DECISION FOR ALL OF YOU IF YOU WANT TO INCLUDE OTHER CERTIFICATION ENTITIES THAT WILL ALLOW US TO ACCEPT MORE THAT ARE CERTIFIED FROM OTHER AGENCIES. THE CURRENT ONCE WE ACCEPT WERE IN THE POLICY THE PAST IN NOVEMBER OF 2020 BEFORE THE STEEL STARTED WE ARE OPEN TO TAKING OTHER INFORMATION SHOULD YOU SO CHOOSE. I BELIEVE WE SET AROUND THE POSSIBLE ONES WE COULD INCLUDE IF YOU WANTED TO DO THAT NOW OR YOU CAN WAIT AND GIVE US TIME TO COME BACK AND POSSIBLY HAVE ADDITIONAL NAMES IT IS UP TO YOU WE ARE ALREADY COVERING THE DISPARITY SYSTEM.

WE STARTED ON THE SCOPE OF WORK WITH THE CLS AND DIRECT RAMOS.

WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO GET A GOOD BUDGET TALKING TO THE CITY WITH A GOOD RELATIONSHIP WE LOOKED AROUND AND WERE ABLE TO PUT THIS REQUEST FORWARD SO WE WERE ABLE TO HAVE THOSE FUNDINGS.

AND THE NEW ONE WOULD START IN THE NEW FISCAL YEAR.

[06:05:02]

>> PLEASE COUNT ON MY VOTE FOR THAT UPDATE ITS DISPARITY STUDY. WITH THE UPDATED CERTIFICATION EXPECTED HOW MUCH DUE DILIGENCE HAS BEEN DONE OR DO YOU NEED TO DO TO TURN BACK? OBVIOUSLY WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT IT IS ROBUST AND WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE ALSO INCREASING THE INTO BB PARTICIPATION AND GOALSETTING. AS AN EXPERT ON THE FRONT LINES, WHAT WOULD YOUR RECOMMENDATION TO THIS COURT BE IN TERMS OF TIMELINE OR RECOMMENDATIONS?

>> I THINK WE CAN BRING SOMETHING BACK WITHIN THE NEXT 90 DAYS. IT'S VERY IMPORTANT FOR US TO HAVE THIS CONVERSATION. WE'D STARTED TO LOOK AT THIS BUT THE TEAM THAT I HAVE WE'VE TOUCHED ON A LITTLE BIT BUT WE ARE LEAN AND I'VE COME TO THE COURT YEAR AFTER YEAR TO TALK ABOUT WHAT THE PROGRAM MEANS TO BE MORE ROBUST AND THAT IS SOMETHING WE ARE GOING TO DO AGAIN THIS FISCAL YEAR. IT IS HOWEVER CHALLENGING TO WORK ON SO MANY REQUESTS WITH THE SAME TEAM THAT WE CURRENTLY HAVE. FOR US ONE OF THE THINGS WE ARE PRIORITIZING RIGHT NOW IS THE DISPARITY STUDY. WE WILL BE WORKING ON THAT. TO HAVE THAT DATA NOT BE POOLED AND INPUT FOR THE REPORTS FOR THE COURT SO THAT'S HOW THAT PRIORITY IS HERE AND WE WILL BE WORKING ON. IF WE COULD HAVE 90 DAYS WE WILL BE COMING BACK WITH A BETTER RECOMMENDATION AND START WORKING WITH THE PTG WHICH IS THE SYSTEM BECAUSE WE NEED THAT SYSTEM TO DO SOME MODIFICATIONS IF WE TAKE ADDITIONAL CERTIFICATIONS WE MAKE SURE THAT WHEN WE SAY GO WE WILL BE ABLE TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY CAN CONNECT TO THE SYSTEMS FROM THESE OTHER AGENCIES AND HAVE THAT INFORMATION CORRECT. WE DO NOT WANT CONTRACTORS TO TELL US THAT WE ARE CERTIFIED AND THEN HAVING TROUBLE FINDING THAT BECAUSE WERE LOOKING INTO DIFFERENT SYSTEMS. WE HAVE TO HAVE CONVERSATIONS WITH THE SYSTEM TO MAKE SURE IT WILL BE READY TO GO AS WELL.

>> AS YOU DO THE DUE DILIGENCE PART OF THE EXPLORATION IN A PARALLEL CHAT BE THE I.T. INTEGRATIONS SO THAT IF AND WHEN THE MAJORITY OF THE COURT PASSES A NEW POLICY WE CAN GO LIVE WITHOUT ANOTHER 90 TO 120 DAY DELAY? IS THAT POSSIBLE?

>> YES. WE CAN WORK ON THAT PARALLEL.

>> MANY THANK YOUSE. >> YOU HAVE DONE A GREAT JOB HERE BUT I DID WANT TO SAY THE DISPARITY IS GOING TO BE PAID WITH GENERAL FUNDS. AND THE MONEY THAT THE COURT PUT ASIDE FOR COMMISSIONER GARCIA AND I DID LIKE 50 OR HUNDRED APIECE I THINK TO ENCOURAGE OTHER ENTITIES TO DO STUDIES MOST OF THEM DIDN'T. I THINK ONE COMMUNITY COLLEGE AND THREE SCHOOL DISTRICTS HAVE MOVING IT FORWARD. I HEARD THAT HIC IS GOING TO BE DOING NOW AND THEY WILL BE PAYING FOR THEMSELVES.

IT TOOK THE COUNTY TWO YEARS AND THE PORT AUTHORITY TOOK NINE MONTHS TO DO THEIRS. BUT I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THE COUNTY WAS GIVEN 9.1% OF CONTRACTS TO MINORITY WOMEN OWNED BUSINESSES OVER THAT FOUR-YEAR TIME FRAME PREVIOUS COURT SAID THE NUMBERS HERE WERE BETTER THE NUMBERS OF THE CITY AND THEY WERE NOT. WE DID NOT COLLECT THE DATA. THEIR CHALLENGES BECAUSE VARIOUS DEPARTMENTS USED DIFFERENT SYSTEMS AND IT IS HARD TO TRACK WHAT IS GOING FORWARD. WHERE APPROACHING THIS GOAL AND IT'S A BIG PROBLEM HAVE THESE FRONTS WHICH IS WHY THE MOTION GIVES YOU THAT TIME FRONT. WHEN SOMEONE WANTS TO COME AND THEY WILL SAY ANYTHING TO GET THERE.

THE CITY SYSTEM PAYS FOR IT. AND WE DON'T GIVE THEM A NICKEL. AND THERE'S IS THE GOLD STANDARD. IT IS CHALLENGING THAT THEY MAKE YOU GO THROUGH HOOPS. AND I'M SURE WHEN THE NEW LEADERSHIP IS IN PLACE I THINK SOMEONE CALLED MY OFFICE TODAY AND THEY NEED MORE REVENUE FROM THE CITY. ONE DECISION COULD BE THAT WE DO GIVE THEM MONEY BECAUSE THEY DO IT FOR US BUT SOMEONE TOLD ME THAT SOMETIMES THE LET YOU TO GO TO ONE OF THESE ENTITIES AND YOU PAY TO GET THAT CERTIFICATION. AND THEY KNOW THAT IS THE GOLD STANDARD BEING THE CITY OF HOUSTON. THERE IS THAT POLICY WITH NONGOVERNMENTAL ENTITIES THAT MAY REQUIRE A FEE FOR

[06:10:03]

WE DID. >> I WOULD BE PROUD TO SECOND THIS. BASED ON THE CONVERSATION THAT WE JUST HAD IN THE LANGUAGE THAT WAS JUST READ WE ARE DEEPLY COMMITTED TO THIS SO I WANT TO MAKE SURE IF YOU HAVE ANY COMMENTS TO MAKE PLEASE

MAKE THEM NOW. >> YES. WE FEEL THAT THAT WILL GIVE US ENOUGH TIME TO COME BACK WITH A LIST AND THEN THE MORE TIME IT WOULD TAKE WILL BE TO AUGUST BECAUSE OF THE OPERATIONAL THINGS WE HAVE TO WORK ON. I AM HAPPY TO COME BACK TO COURT IF ANYTHING CHANGES. AND HAPPY TO WORK WITH EACH OF THESE COURT OFFICES TO SEE ANY CHALLENGES THAT WE MAY

HAVE. >> AND COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR RAMIREZ AND I USED TO HAD THIS OFFICE. YOU HAVE DEEP EXPERIENCE WITHIN THIS AREA ARE YOU COMFORTABLE WITH THIS

LANGUAGE AS WELL? >> YES. I THINK THAT THEY WILL BE HAVING TO PUSH HARD BUT I AM CONFIDENT IN ESTELLA'S TEAM AND KNOW THAT THEY KNOW WHAT THEY ARE DOING.

>> THANK YOU. >> ESTELLA IF YOU CAN'T DO IT TELL US BECAUSE IF YOU NEED MORE TIME YOU NEED TO JUST TELL US. THERE'S A MOTION AND A SECOND. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? ALL THOSE OPPOSED? ITEM PASSES. SO WHAT I HAVE NEXT COMMISSIONER

RAMSEY IS ITEM 295. >> I WILL BE QUICK AND DISTINCT. I HAVE PROMOTED DIRECTOR RAMOSE UP TO DR.

TONIGHT AS YOU DO YOUR DOCTORAL ANALYSIS OF THE BUDGET, I DO APPRECIATE THE LEVEL OF DETAIL THAT YOU HAVE PROVIDED ON THIS.

IT HAS BEEN VERY HELPFUL. I ALSO KNOW THAT WE ARE AT A DEFICIT RIGHT NOW. I KNOW YOUR MANAGEMENT IS HERE LOOKING AT ALL THE OPTIONS AND ALTERNATIVES. WE HAD A GREAT CONVERSATION AND LEAH CAME GIVING FURTHER EXPLANATION ON THIS. IT MAY HAVE A LITTLE TO DO WITH WHAT THEY ARE DETERMINING AT THE JAIL AND MAY STILL HAVE ANOTHER LITTLE BIT TO DO WITH THIS MOVING TARGET. WE HAVE TO MAKE A DECISION FOR DECEMBER OF THIS YEAR BUT WE ALSO HAVE A BUDGET THAT WE ARE CURRENTLY IN A DEFICIT FOUR. WE HAVE 10 1/2 MILLION DOLLARS THAT IS CURRENTLY UNDERWATER ON THE ARPA SIDE. SO CLEARLY WE HAVE DECISIONS TO BE MADE AND THIS IS ONLY MEANT TO GET BACK TO COURT SO THAT WAY YOU KNOW WHERE YOU'RE GOING. WHETHER IT IS RELATED WITH THAT 15 MILLION IN THE DEFICIT NOW ON THE BUDGET. FOR THIS YEAR TO HUNDRED AND 30 FOR FISCAL YEAR 28 AND WE WILL HAVE A BETTER SENSE KICKING OFF THE BUDGET YESTERDAY WITH A FOLLOW-UP SESSION FOR THOSE WHO CANNOT MAKE IT TOMORROW. I THE BEGINNING OF JUNE WE WILL BE READY TO SHARE ALL OF THE OPTIONS WHICH DO INCLUDE THE OPTIONS BEING PRESENTED AS PART OF THIS FIVE-YEAR PLAN. IF DURING THIS FEEDBACK SESSIONS WE ARE NOT GETTING TO 130 AT THAT POINT WE SHOULD SET A TARGET FOR HOW MUCH TO TAKE OUT AND STILL HAVE TO MAKE REALLY HARD DECISIONS ON BOTH FRONTS.

>> THAT IS ALL I HAD. COMMISSIONER?

>> MEMBERS, BEFORE I TAKE US TO THE EXECUTIVE SESSION HAVE I

FORGOTTEN ANYTHING? >> NO.

>> OKAY HERE'S WHAT I HAVE NOW. I THINK SOME OF US MIGHT

[Executive Session]

>> COMMISSIONER AS A POINT OF CLARIFICATION ON ITEM 269, WE

[06:15:02]

RELATED TO A SECURITY GUARD. >> DULY NOTED. OKAY. IT IS CURRENTLY 6:20. COMMISSIONERS COURT HAS RETURNED FROM EXECUTIVE SESSION. I HAVE FOUR PENDING ITEMS. I BELIEVE IT IS ITEM 266. IS THERE AN ITEM MOTION ON 266? MOTION IS MADE AND SECONDED. ALL IN FAVOR? ALL OPPOSED? MOTION PASSES. AS PRESENTED. ITEM 267? MOTION HAS BEEN MADE AND SECONDED. ALL IN FAVOR? ALL OPPOSED? THAT MOTION CARRIES AS PRESENTED. AND THEN I BELIEVE TO 69 IS A MOTION OF NO ACTION. 268 IS ALSO NO ACTION.

>> MOVE AS PRESENTED. >> ON FAVOR? ALL OPPOSED? THE MOTION CARRIES. 269 IS NO ACTION. AND THEN FOR ITEM 271 I HAVE A MOTION IT READS AS SUCH MOTION I'M SORRY ITEM 270 ALSO HAS NO ACTION? IT IS THE ONE YOU'RE ABOUT TO READ. OKAY.

THIS IS ITEM 270. THE MOTION IS TO DIRECT HARRIS COUNTY UNIVERSAL SERVICES WITH THE OFFICE OF COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR THE PURCHASING AGENT AND THE COUNTY ATTORNEY TO BRING BACK THE RECOMMENDED GOVERNANCE STRUCTURE THAT ADDRESSES TECHNOLOGY PRIORITIZATION PROCUREMENT AND BUDGETING FOR HARRIS COUNTY DEPARTMENTS INCLUDING THE DEPARTMENT SERVICED BY UNIVERSAL SERVICES AND THOSE DEPARTMENTS WERE NOT SERVICED BY UNIVERSAL SERVICES. AND ALL OF THOSE ADJACENT TO HARRIS COUNTY AS WELL AS HARRIS COUNTY TECHNOLOGY AND SOFTWARE VENDORS. MOVED AND SECONDED. ALL IN FAVOR? ALL OPPOSED? THE MOTION CARRIES. IS THERE ANYTHING ELSE PENDING?

>> ITEM 271. >> OKAY. ITEM 271 IS A MOTION? IT HAS BEEN MADE AND SECONDED. ALL IN FAVOR? ALL OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES AS PRESENTED. IS THERE NO OTHER PENDING BUSINESS? OKAY. IT IS NOW OR OTHER MATT HAVE A MOTION TO

ATTEND THE MEETING? >> MOTION AND SECONDED.

>> ALL OF IN FAVOR ALL OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES. MARCH 720 24 MEETING FOR THE HARRIS COUNTY COMMISSIONERS COURT IS NOW ADJOURNED AT 6:24 P.M. I'M SORRY MAY 7, 2024.

* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.