Jun 25, 2024 Commissioners Court

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ALL RIGHT. GOOD MORNING EVERYONE.

IT IS 10:11.

AND I'D LIKE TO CALL THE JUNE 25TH, 2024 MEETING OF THE HARRIS COUNTY COMMISSIONERS COURT TO ORDER.

COMMISSIONER ELLIS.

I THINK, COMMISSIONER GARCIA.

YEP. YEP.

[Rev. Carissa Baldwin-McGinnis of Northside Episcopal Church in Houston introduced by the Commissioner of Precinct 2.]

MCGINNIS. SHE SERVES AS VICAR OF NORTHSIDE EPISCOPAL CHURCH, A CHURCH OF THE EPISCOPAL DIOCESE OF TEXAS, IN THE NEAR NORTH SIDE OF HOUSTON. THE CHURCH IS ACTIVE IN THE COMMUNITY, PROVIDING BILINGUAL SERVICES IN ENGLISH AND SPANISH, PROVIDING YOUTH ACTIVITIES, INTERNSHIPS AND A BEAUTIFUL PRAYER GARDEN THAT PARISHIONERS WORK TO BUILD TOGETHER.

KARISSA WENT FROM THE FIELD OF HUMAN RIGHTS BASED IN WASHINGTON, DC, TO FAITH BASED COMMUNITY ORGANIZING IN SOUTH TEXAS, BEFORE ATTENDING DIVINITY SCHOOL IN HER HOMETOWN OF AUSTIN, TEXAS.

SHE SERVES ON THE BOARDS OF SAINT FRANCIS, SAINT FRANCIS MINISTRIES, AND SALINA, KANSAS, AND THE EPISCOPAL FOUNDATION OF TEXAS IN HOUSTON.

SHE IS THE CURRENT PRESIDENT OF THE ALUMNI STEERING COMMITTEE OF THE SEMINARY OF THE SOUTHWEST, AND BEFORE BEING COMMISSIONED TO START NORTHSIDE EPISCOPAL CHURCH, CARISSA SERVED EPISCOPAL CONGREGATIONS IN HOUSTON AND LOS ANGELES WITH CONSISTENT FOCUS ON SPIRITUALITY AND SOCIAL JUSTICE.

REVEREND BALDWIN MCGINNIS LOVES TO LOVES A CONTEMPLATIVE PRAYER AND A GOOD DANCE PARTY.

YOU KEEP THE CONGREGATION ACTIVE THAT WAY AND INTERESTED, RIGHT? SHE AND HER WIFE, PAM, ARE THE PROUD PARENTS OF THREE EXTRAORDINARY CHILDREN CARISSA LOOKS FORWARD TO MEETING ALL THE COMMUNITY AND AND WELCOMING EVERYONE WITH WITH A SPIRITUAL STRONG SPIRITUAL PRAYER FROM THE COMMUNITY OF NORTHSIDE.

REVEREND, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US TODAY.

AND THE FLOOR IS YOURS.

THANK YOU. THE PEACE OF GOD BE IN THIS PLACE.

HOLY ONE, GIVE TO ALL GATHERED HERE THIS DAY.

THE SPIRIT OF WISDOM, CHARITY AND JUSTICE.

MAKE THE YOUTH AND YOUNG ADULT LEADERS PRESENT TO BE A LIGHTHOUSE OF MORAL DIRECTION SHINING FOR US.

THE WAY TO A MORE BENEVOLENT TOMORROW.

GIVE THOSE WITH THE MOST POWER EARS TO HEAR AND THOSE WITH THE LEAST COURAGE TO SPEAK.

AND IN ALL THINGS, O HOLY ONE, EMPOWER US IN OUR COMMON PURPOSE TO PROMOTE AND PURSUE THE WELL-BEING OF US ALL.

AMEN. THANK YOU SO MUCH.

THANK YOU SO MUCH, COMMISSIONER.

AND THANK YOU, REVEREND.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THAT PRAYER.

AND YOU MENTIONED YOUNG PEOPLE, AND IT REALLY PULLED AT MY HEART BECAUSE I KNOW WE'VE ALL BEEN READING ABOUT JOCELYN NUNGARAY AND SHE WAS 12. AND WHAT A TERRIBLE, TERRIBLE, TERRIBLE THING THAT HAPPENED TO HER AND HER FAMILY.

IT'S ALMOST UNSPEAKABLE.

AND IT'S THE KIND OF THING THAT YOU WISH JUST COULDN'T HAPPEN IN THIS WORLD.

SO I WANTED TO JUST TAKE A MOMENT AND ACKNOWLEDGE AND AND JUST TAKE A MOMENT OF SILENCE FOR HER AND TO SEND LOVE TO THE FAMILY.

THANK YOU. OKAY, LET'S RECITE THE PLEDGE.

I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS.

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

HONOR THE TEXAS FLAG.

I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO TEXAS.

ONE STATE UNDER GOD, ONE AND INDIVISIBLE.

[Departments (Part 1 of 2)]

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THERE ARE SIX RESOLUTIONS TO BE TAKEN OUT OF ORDER.

COMMISSIONER GARCIA, I HAVE A NOTE THAT YOU WOULD LIKE TO HIGHLIGHT YOUR SUMMER INTERN.

SO I WAS THINKING YOU COULD DO THAT AFTER YOUR RESOLUTIONS AND BEFORE COMMISSIONER RAMSAY'S.

THE DISTRICT COURT JUDGES REQUEST THAT ITEM 18 ABOUT THE JAIL BE TAKEN UP AS SOON AS POSSIBLE AFTER LUNCH.

SO MY STAFF WILL REMIND ME OF THAT.

AND DOCTOR PORSA REQUESTS THAT 330 BE TAKEN UP AFTER 2:00 PM.

BUT I SEE YOU REQUESTED NO ACTION, COMMISSIONER RAMSAY.

SO IT SOUNDS SO. SO JUST NEVER MIND ABOUT THAT.

SO LET ME TAKE THIS OFF.

ALL RIGHT. SO LET'S START HERE WITH RESOLUTIONS AND LET ME FIND MY PLACE.

OKAY. SO ITEM NUMBER ONE UNDER RESOLUTION IS AN APPROVAL OF A RESOLUTION TO DESIGNATE JUNE AS NATIONAL IMMIGRANT HERITAGE MONTH IN HARRIS COUNTY.

AND SO I'M AN IMMIGRANT.

IT JUST SO HAPPENS TO BE IMMIGRANT HERITAGE MONTH.

AND I'M NOT TRYING TO BE INSENSITIVE.

OBVIOUSLY, WE KNOW THAT IT WAS TWO IMMIGRANTS WHO ARE SUSPECTED OF KILLING JOCELYN.

BUT WE SUBMITTED THE ITEM ON JUNE 17TH, SO WE DIDN'T KNOW WHO THE SUSPECTS WERE AT THAT POINT.

EITHER WAY, THOUGH.

THE FACT THAT TWO IMMIGRANTS COMMITTED THIS TERRIBLE CRIME DOES NOT MEAN THAT THEY COMMITTED THE CRIME BECAUSE THEY ARE IMMIGRANTS.

AND IT'S VERY, VERY EASY TO MALIGN ENTIRE COMMUNITIES WHEN TRAGEDY HAPPENS.

AND THAT'S ALWAYS AN EASY POLITICAL STRATEGY TO WHIP PEOPLE UP AND AND GET PEOPLE ANGRY.

AND SO I JUST WANT TO TO MENTION, BECAUSE I'VE SEEN THE VARIOUS CONVERSATIONS LEADING UP TO A PRESIDENTIAL DEBATE THIS WEEK, THAT. EVEN IF WE WANTED TO MALIGN IMMIGRANTS, AND WE WANTED TO SAY THAT IMMIGRATION IS THE REASON THAT THIS HORRIBLE TRAGEDY HAS HAPPENED.

THE FACT OF THE MATTER IS, PRESIDENT BIDEN AND THE LEADERS IN THE SENATE HAD AGREED ON AN IMMIGRATION PACKAGE THAT WOULD HAVE KEPT THOSE GENTLEMEN IN MEXICO AND WOULD HAVE SENT BACK ANYONE WHO DIDN'T CROSS AT A LEGAL BORDER CROSSING SITE.

THAT IS A FACT.

AND WHEN THE CURRENT PRESIDENT DECIDED THAT THE CURRENT PRESIDENT, HE WISHES WHEN THE FORMER PRESIDENT DECIDED THAT HE DID NOT WANT BIDEN TO HAVE A WIN ON IMMIGRATION, HE TOLD HIS PARTY TO PULL OUT OF THAT AGREEMENT.

SO BLAMING THINGS ON THE CURRENT IMMIGRATION POLICY IS ABSOLUTELY POLITICAL.

AND IT REALLY BREAKS MY HEART THAT PEOPLE WOULD POLITICIZE THE SADNESS THAT THAT TRAGEDY, THE TRAGEDY, THE SADNESS THAT THE FAMILY IS GOING THROUGH.

AND I CAN ONLY IMAGINE THE THINGS THAT THAT THE VARIOUS GROUPS ARE TELLING THE FAMILY.

SO, YOU KNOW, IF, IF, IF WE REALLY WANT TO MAKE IMMIGRATION ILLEGAL, TOTALLY ILLEGAL, THE WAY TO DO IT WOULD PROBABLY BE JUST MAKE IT A CRIME ILLEGALLY FOR ANYONE TO HIRE IMMIGRANTS.

I'LL GIVE THE THE PARTY OF TRUMP THAT IDEA RIGHT NOW.

BUT OF COURSE, THEY DON'T ACTUALLY WANT TO MAKE IMMIGRATION ILLEGAL BECAUSE THEY KNOW THAT THE ECONOMY SPINS BECAUSE OF IMMIGRANTS, AND THIS COUNTRY WOULD NOT WORK WITHOUT IMMIGRANTS.

AND SO EVIL HAPPENS REGARDLESS OF IMMIGRATION STATUS.

IT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH WHY THEY COMMITTED THIS CRIME.

AND I HOPE THAT ALL OF US WILL BE RESPONSIBLE AND HOLD FAST TO.

YES, THERE'S A HORRIBLE TRAGEDY AND THERE'S A DEBATE ABOUT IMMIGRATION, BUT THIS IS BEING SPUN IN WAYS THAT ARE DETRIMENTAL TO OUR WELL-BEING AS A SOCIETY. SO I JUST I JUST HAD TO SAY THAT AND AGAIN MY HEART GOES OUT TO THE FAMILY AND, AND I'LL BE AT THE FUNERAL, AND I KNOW THAT OUR ENTIRE COMMUNITY IS SENDING THEM ALL THE LOVE.

SO THAT'S MY RESOLUTION IS ON IMMIGRANT HERITAGE MONTH, AND WHAT I HAVE HERE, I SEE, COMMISSIONER ELLIS, YOU DO NOT HAVE ANY RESOLUTIONS? YES. JUDGE HIDALGO, WE HAVE A COUPLE OF SPEAKERS.

OKAY GO AHEAD, COMMISSIONER RAMSEY.

AND THEN WE'LL TAKE THE SPEAKERS.

YEAH. ONE QUICK POINT.

THE CELEBRATION OF LIFE FOR THIS YOUNG LADY WILL BE ON THURSDAY AT 3 P.M..

WE ALL KNOW WHERE GALLERY FURNITURE IS ON I-45.

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YOUNG 30 YEAR OLD MOM AS SHE GOES THROUGH WHAT SHE GOES THROUGH.

SO WE TALK A LOT OF POLITICS, BUT I THINK THE FOCUS NOW SHOULD BE ON ENCOURAGING THIS INCREDIBLE LOSS OF THIS FAMILY. AND THE EXAMPLE THAT WE CAN BE IS EMBRACING THAT FAMILY, ENCOURAGING THAT FAMILY AND AND PROVIDE SUPPORT. SO I WANTED YOU ALL TO BE AWARE.

EVERYBODY'S WELCOME.

THAT'S AT THREE, 3:00 ON THURSDAY AFTERNOON.

GALLERY FURNITURE.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU.

JUDGE. YES, COMMISSIONER GARCIA, THANK YOU.

COMMISSIONER RAMSEY, THANK YOU FOR THAT.

AND I DO WANT TO ADD MY CONDOLENCES TO THE FAMILY.

I THINK THIS IS A TIME OF MOURNING.

ANYTIME ANY LIFE IS LOST IS TRAGIC, ESPECIALLY A YOUNG LIFE.

SO I JUST ASSUME THAT WE ARE AS A COMMUNITY, AS THE LARGEST COUNTY OF TEXAS, IN A STATE OF MOURNING FOR THIS FAMILY. AND I LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING THE JUSTICE SYSTEM WORK AND WORK WELL.

I WAS GLAD TO SEE A $10 MILLION BOND SET AND BUT I THINK RIGHT NOW THE FAMILY NEEDS TO KNOW THAT WE'RE MOURNING FOR THEM.

NO PARENT SHOULD OUTLIVE THEIR CHILDREN.

AND AND EVERYTHING ELSE SHOULD BE AT THE AT THE SIDE.

BECAUSE RIGHT NOW, IT IS A TIME TO HONOR THIS BEAUTIFUL CHILD AND AND SUPPORT THAT FAMILY.

GOD. GOD BLESS HIM.

THANK YOU. COMMISSIONER.

ALL RIGHT, SO WE'LL TAKE THE SPEAKERS.

FIRST IS ZENOBIA LY.

YOU HAVE ONE MINUTE.

GOOD MORNING, JUDGE HIDALGO AND COMMISSIONERS.

IT IS WITH GREAT HONOR THAT I SPEAK TO YOU TODAY TO SUPPORT THE COUNTY'S PROCLAMATION TO MAKE JUNE THE IMMIGRANT HERITAGE MONTH, AND I ECHO THE SENTIMENTS OF THE COMMISSIONERS AND JUDGE EARLIER.

MY NAME IS ZENOBIA LY.

I AM THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF HOUSTON IMMIGRATION LEGAL SERVICES COLLABORATIVE.

WE ARE A NETWORK OF 30 PLUS IMMIGRANT SERVING LEGAL AND SOCIAL SERVICES, HEALTH CARE AND ADVOCACY GROUPS.

OUR VISION IS TO CO-CREATE A VIBRANT AND RESILIENT ECOSYSTEM WHERE OUR IMMIGRANTS, MIGRANTS AND REFUGEES BELONG.

APPLYING THE MODEL OF CONVENING INCUBATE AND LAUNCH, WE LAUNCHED PROGRAMS TO MEET EMERGING NEEDS AND FILL GAPS IN SERVICE.

ONE SUCH PROGRAM IS THE DEPORTATION DEFENSE HOUSTON, WHICH IS THE PRECURSOR OF HARRIS COUNTY'S IMMIGRATION LEGAL SERVICES FUND THAT, SINCE ITS IMPLEMENTATION TWO YEARS AGO, HAVE HELPED NEARLY 300 HARRIS COUNTY RESIDENTS DETAINED BY ICE TO OBTAIN RELEASE AND RELIEF FROM FROM DETENTION.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK TO YOU.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP IN HONORING AND CELEBRATING THE IMMIGRANTS DIVERSITY AND CONTRIBUTION TO THE COUNTY AND THE COUNTRY.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU.

AND A REMINDER, THE PROGRAM GIVES LEGAL REPRESENTATION TO FOLKS SO THAT IF THEY HAVE A LEGAL CASE, THEY CAN STAY.

THAT'S ALSO BEEN SPUN.

ANY OTHER SPEAKERS? YES. ONE MORE.

NEXT IS TALK.

COSTAS. GOOD MORNING.

GOOD MORNING. THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME JOIN IN THIS CELEBRATION.

MY NAME IS TAO COSTAS, AND I AM A PROUD AND GRATEFUL IMMIGRANT WHOSE FAMILY CAME TO THE US AFTER THE FALL OF SAIGON.

THE OPPORTUNITIES OF THIS GENEROUS COUNTRY AND THE EMBRACE OF OUR NEW NEIGHBORS HAVE BROUGHT ME HERE TODAY AS A LEADER AMONG LEADERS WHO ARE COMMITTED TO BUILDING A COMMUNITY WHERE EVERYONE CAN THRIVE, NO MATTER WHERE THEY CAME FROM.

I HAVE THE PRIVILEGE OF SERVING AS THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF HARRIS COUNTY HOUSING AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT.

OUR TEAM HELPS HARRIS COUNTY RESIDENTS SET A STRONG FOUNDATION FOR THEIR LIVES AND SAFE WITH SAFE, STABLE HOMES AND FOR SOME TO EVEN REACH THE AMERICAN DREAM OF OWNING A HOME.

IN THIS MISSION, WE SUPPORT LOW AND MODERATE INCOME HOUSEHOLDS, INCLUDING HOUSEHOLDS WHO COME FROM AFAR.

SINCE 2021, HARRIS COUNTY HAS HELPED OVER 1300 INDIVIDUALS FROM IMMIGRANT COMMUNITIES.

WE'VE DEDICATED RESOURCES TO BUILD A HEALTHY, PRODUCTIVE SOCIETY WHERE MEN AND WOMEN CAN LIVE SAFELY AND FULLY CONTRIBUTE.

HARRIS COUNTY FUNDS IMMIGRATION LEGAL SERVICES THAT YOU JUST HEARD OF THAT HELP FAMILIES ACCESS FAIR AND AFFORDABLE REPRESENTATION DURING DEPORTATION PROCEEDINGS.

WE SUPPORT SURVIVOR LEGAL SERVICES TO HELP IMMIGRANTS WHO'VE BEEN VICTIMS OF CRIME.

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ALL OF THESE SERVICES ARE VITAL TO SUPPORT OUR COMMUNITY, FULL OF IMMIGRANTS WHO WANT TO WORK AND GIVE BACK.

I AM ONE OF THOSE PROUD IMMIGRANTS WHO IS EXTREMELY GRATEFUL TO BE HERE ALONGSIDE ALL OF YOU.

AS I GET TO GIVE BACK TO THE COUNTRY THAT HAS GIVEN SO MUCH TO ME.

THANK YOU. JUST WANT TO SAY THAT I WAS ACTUALLY THINKING ABOUT YOU THIS PAST FATHER'S DAY.

BECAUSE I REMEMBER HEARING YOUR WORDS AT THAT VISTA.

GROUNDBREAKING. AND HE MUST BE SO PROUD OF YOU.

THANK YOU. AND THANK YOU FOR THE WAY YOU ARE HONORING HIM.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU SO MUCH, DIRECTOR.

THANK YOU. ANY OTHER SPEAKERS? THAT'S ALL. OKAY, SO THIS, THE RESOLUTION ACKNOWLEDGES THE AS THE MOST, MOST ETHNICALLY DIVERSE COUNTY IN TEXAS.

HARRIS COUNTY IS HOME TO 1.2 MILLION FOREIGN BORN RESIDENTS AND 364 ETHNIC GROUPS, INCLUDING 33 GROUPS ONLY FOUND IN HARRIS COUNTY.

AT LEAST 145 LANGUAGES ARE SPOKEN IN HARRIS COUNTY, AND MORE THAN 80 NATIONS HAVE CONSULAR REPRESENTATION, SERVING BOTH VISITORS AND RESIDENTS.

IMMIGRANTS IN THE US HAVE CONTRIBUTED $382.9 BILLION TO FEDERAL TAXES, AND $196.3 BILLION IN STATE AND LOCAL TAXES, LEAVING THEM WITH $1.6 TRILLION IN SPENDING POWER.

SHOWCASING IMMIGRANTS SIGNIFICANT ROLE IN DRIVING ECONOMIC GROWTH THROUGH ENTREPRENEURSHIP, INNOVATION, AND LABOR.

HARRIS COUNTY'S DIVERSITY OF CULTURES, LANGUAGES, AND TRADITIONS AMONG THE CITIZENRY OF THE UNITED STATES IS A SOURCE OF STRENGTH THAT ENRICHES THE FABRIC OF OUR NATION, AND HARRIS COUNTY HONORS IMMIGRANTS AND CELEBRATES THEIR REMARKABLE COURAGE AND CONTRIBUTIONS THAT PUSH OUR COMMUNITY FORWARD AND IN THE YEAR, YEARS TO COME.

THEREFORE, HARRIS COUNTY COMMISSIONERS COURT PROCLAIMS JUNE 24TH AS NATIONAL IMMIGRANT HERITAGE MONTH, WHICH IT IS THE NATIONAL IMMIGRANT HERITAGE MONTH.

I BELIEVE THAT'S ALL FOR MY RESOLUTIONS.

AND I DON'T THINK, COMMISSIONER ELLIS, YOU DON'T HAVE ANY OUT OF ORDER.

CORRECT? OKAY.

I DON'T THINK HE HAS ANY.

OUT OF ORDER. COMMISSIONER GARCIA.

I AM HONORED TO PRESENT TODAY'S RESOLUTION THAT RECOGNIZES THE AFL-CIO AND THEIR EFFORTS FOR DISASTER RECOVERY.

AND WE'RE JOINED TODAY BY JANE MALONEY.

HANNAH KHALIL AND AMY ZENTMYER.

IF YOU ALL WILL COME TO THE PODIUM AND LET ME READ THIS RESOLUTION, BECAUSE DURING THIS LAST SET OF THIS LAST STORM THAT WE JUST HAD THERE WERE A LOT OF TREES ON PEOPLE'S HOUSES.

I DON'T KNOW IF ANYBODY HERE CAN REGRETFULLY RELATE WITH THAT.

BUT WHEN YOU CALL 311 AND OTHERS, YOU KNOW, WE HAD TO TELL YOU WE COULDN'T TOUCH YOUR PRIVATE PROPERTY.

HOWEVER, THESE INDIVIDUALS AND THEIR COLLECTIVE MEMBERSHIP WERE JUST PHENOMENAL.

IT WAS LIKE AN ARMY OF BEAVERS AND SQUIRRELS JUST CLIMBING ALL OVER THE PLACE AND CHOPPING STUFF DOWN AND HELPING PEOPLE GET SOME DEGREE OF RECOVERY IMMEDIATELY.

AND THAT IS IMMENSELY COMMENDABLE AND MUCH, MUCH APPRECIATED.

WE CAN'T GOVERNMENT CAN'T TOUCH PEOPLE'S PRIVATE PROPERTY IN SPITE OF THE THE HORRIFIC DAMAGE.

BUT YOU AS VOLUNTEERS MOBILIZED WITHOUT HESITATION.

AND YOU WENT TO THE HARDEST HIT PLACES.

AND I SAW YOU WORKING, AND IT WAS JUST IMPRESSIVE.

AND YOU JUST WARMED MY HEART.

SO THIS RESOLUTION READS, AFTER THE IMPACT OF THE MAY 16TH, 2024, THAT STORM LOCAL YOU KNOW, UNIONIZED WORKERS UNDER THE TEXAS GULF COAST AREA LABOR FEDERATION WERE INTEGRAL IN ASSISTING THE RECENT NATURAL DISASTER RECOVERY AND NEW ECONOMY FOR WORKING.

HOUSTON. NEW HOUSTON.

WORKING ALONGSIDE THE TEXAS GULF COAST AREA LABOR FEDERATION AND OTHER PARTNERS PLAYED A PIVOTAL ROLE IN COORDINATING CLEANUP EFFORTS AND PROVIDING ESSENTIAL AID TO IMPACTED HOUSEHOLDS AND SEVERAL NONPROFITS, INCLUDING THE ORGANIZED RESILIENCE GROUP, THE TEXAS GULF COAST AREA LABOR FEDERATION, THE NEW HOUSTON WERE QUICK TO HELP AND AND OPERATE DISASTER AID PROGRAMS, HELPING TO CONNECT HARRIS COUNTY RESIDENTS DIRECTLY WITH RESOURCES SUCH AS FEMA, DEBRIS REMOVAL, FOOD, WATER AND FOOD AND WATER AID, AND OVER 100 SKILLED TRADES APPRENTICES, WORKERS,

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RESIDENTS OF NEIGHBORHOODS MOST IMPACTED BY THE STORM, INCLUDING FIFTH WARD, KASHMERE GARDENS, CLOVERLEAF, DENVER HARBOR, INDEPENDENCE HEIGHTS, ACRES HOMES SPRING BRANCH SAW THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THESE PROGRAMS, SHOWING LOCAL DISASTER RECOVERY CAN BE STRENGTHENED AND QUICKLY DELIVERED UPON THROUGH COUNTY AND LABOR PARTNERSHIPS USING THEIR SKILLED LABOR, INFRASTRUCTURE, CRAFTSPEOPLE, AND RAPID RESPONSE MOBILIZATION CAPACITY.

AND WE RECOGNIZE THE DEDICATION AND HARD WORK OF THE SKILLED TRADES APPRENTICES WORKERS AND VOLUNTEERS FROM LOCAL UNIONS WHO GENEROUSLY CONTRIBUTED THEIR TIME AND EXPERTISE.

AND LET ME JUST SAY, A WHOLE LOT OF ENERGY TO CLEAN UP STORM DEBRIS AND PROVIDE ESSENTIAL SERVICES TO AFFECTED, AFFECTED HOUSEHOLDS.

I AM JUST AGAIN, JUST SO GRATEFUL.

AND AS I MENTIONED, I SAW YOU GUYS IN ACTION AND IT WAS JUST IMPRESSIVE.

THANK YOU FOR ALL THAT YOU DID.

COLLECTIVELY. AND I TELL YOU WHAT, I SAW YOU DOING YOUR UNION BREAKS LUNCH BREAKS AND BUT YOU WOULD GET RIGHT BACK AT IT, AND IT WAS JUST AND I WAS AND IT WAS HARD TO KEEP UP WITH Y'ALL BECAUSE I WAS VISITING THE HOUSES WHERE I WAS BEING TOLD THAT YOU GUYS WERE AT, AND I'D GET THERE, AND THE DEBRIS WAS ALREADY PILED UP ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, AND YOU GUYS HAD ALREADY LEFT TO ANOTHER, ANOTHER LOCATION.

SO THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU.

AND, ANNIE, YOU'VE GOT THE FLOOR, MAN.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU SO MUCH.

SO ANNIE KHALIL, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE TEXAS GULF COAST AREA LABOR FEDERATION AND CHAIR OF NEW ECONOMY FOR WORKING HOUSTON ON BEHALF OF THE FEDERATION'S 90 AFFILIATED UNIONS AND 62,000 UNION MEMBERS.

A REAL HEARTFELT THANKS FOR TAKING THE TIME TO RECOGNIZE THE CONTRIBUTIONS OF UNION MEMBERS TO DISASTER RECOVERY IN THE WAKE OF THE STORM AND PARTICULARLY YOU, COMMISSIONER GARCIA, FOR LEADING THIS.

I THINK YOU'RE RIGHT. THE AFL-CIO HAS A UNIQUE COMBINATION OF SKILLED CRAFTSPEOPLE TRAINED THROUGH UNION APPRENTICESHIPS, ORGANIZATIONAL INFRASTRUCTURE, AND RAPID RESPONSE MOBILIZATION CAPACITY.

AND WE LEARNED THAT IF LOCAL GOVERNMENT WORKS CLOSELY WITH US TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF WHAT WE CAN BRING TO THE TABLE IN THESE KINDS OF EMERGENCIES, WE CAN RECOVER FASTER AND WE CAN MAKE SURE RECOVERY HITS MORE PEOPLE.

SO WE REALLY LOOK FORWARD TO EXPLORING HOW WE CAN WORK WITH THE COUNTY, BECAUSE WE KNOW THAT THAT THE DERECHO STORM WAS NOT THE LAST HOUSTON IS GOING TO FACE.

WE'RE GOING TO FACE MORE FREQUENT EXTREME WEATHER EVENTS, ELECTRIC GRID VULNERABILITY.

WE NEED TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO WORK TOGETHER TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR COMMUNITIES ARE AS RESILIENT AS POSSIBLE.

I'M GOING TO TURN IT OVER TO JAY AND AMY, AND WE'VE GOT A COUPLE OF OUR APPRENTICES WHO WORKED HERE ON THE JOB WITH US AS WELL.

THANK YOU. SO MY NAME IS JAY MALONE.

I'M THE COMMUNICATIONS DIRECTOR AT THE GULF COAST AFL-CIO.

ON FRIDAY THE 17TH, WE GET A CALL FROM A FAMILY IN NORTHEAST HOUSTON.

A TREE HAD FALLEN ON THEIR HOME, AND THEY WERE TRAPPED INSIDE.

WE CALLED THE ELEVATOR CONSTRUCTORS UNION, AND THEY IMMEDIATELY SET OUT, BOUGHT CHAINSAWS, AND SPENT THE REST OF THE DAY REMOVING THE TREE AND FREEING THE FAMILY, AND THEN MOVING NEXT DOOR TO HELP ANOTHER FAMILY IMPACTED BY THE STORM.

SO THROUGH THIS, WE SAW THE NEED AND WE IMMEDIATELY STOOD UP.

A WEEK LONG PROGRAM THAT PULLED TOGETHER SKILLED TRADES WORKERS UNION AND COMMUNITY VOLUNTEERS TO REMOVE THE DEBRIS FROM HOMES AND RESIDENTS ACROSS HARRIS COUNTY.

AND WE'RE THANKFUL FOR EVERYONE WHO SHOWED UP FOR THE COMMUNITY AFTER THE STORM, AND THANKFUL ESPECIALLY FOR THE INVESTMENT FROM HARRIS COUNTY COMMISSIONERS COURT THAT HELPED US TO EXPAND ENROLLMENT IN NINE DIFFERENT SKILLED TRADES UNION APPRENTICESHIPS OVER THE PAST YEAR.

MANY OF THE APPRENTICES ARE DIRECT BENEFICIARIES OF HARRIS COUNTY ARPA INVESTMENT.

AND WE'RE VERY THANKFUL THAT YOU'RE DOING THIS TO TO GROW OUR CAPACITY IN THE COMMUNITY.

WONDERFUL. THANK YOU MA'AM.

HI. MY NAME IS AMY ZACK MAIER, AND I'M THE CAMPAIGNS DIRECTOR FOR NEW ECONOMY FOR WORKING HOUSTON OR NEW HOUSTON.

WE'RE A NEW NONPROFIT THAT BRINGS TOGETHER THE POWER OF LABOR UNIONS, COMMUNITY ORGANIZING, AND PUBLIC POLICY INNOVATION TO PUT THE NEEDS OF WORKING FAMILIES AT THE CENTER OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT DECISION MAKING.

IN THE WAKE OF THE STORM, WE WERE PROUD TO COLLABORATE WITH LABOR UNIONS AND COMMUNITY GROUPS TO SERVE HOUSTONIANS IN NEED.

THE AFL-CIO AND WORKERS DEFENSE PROJECT CONNECTED US WITH SKILLED WORKERS, WHO WE THEN COORDINATED TO SERVE FAMILIES AND NEIGHBORHOODS IN NEED THAT WERE IDENTIFIED BY WORKING CLOSELY WITH PRECINCT STAFF AND COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS LIKE WEST STREET RECOVERY AND TEXAS ORGANIZING PROJECT.

WE WERE ABLE TO HELP OVER 125 FAMILIES IMPACTED BY THE STORM AND DISPATCHED OVER 100 SKILLED TRADES WORKERS AND VOLUNTEERS FROM 12 DIFFERENT

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AND THANK YOU FOR TODAY'S RECOGNITION AS WE PREPARE FOR THE NEXT STORM, WE HOPE TO DEEPEN OUR COLLABORATION WITH HARRIS COUNTY TO RESPOND QUICKLY.

GOOD DEAL. THANK YOU, THANK YOU.

ANY WORDS FROM THE THE GUYS ON THE GROUND? MY NAME IS MIGUEL SALINAS.

I'M PART OF TEXAS LOCAL 84 IRONWORKERS UNION, AND I'M GLAD TO BE AT CYPRESS FOR YOU.

ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU, THANK YOU.

MY NAME IS DARIO DARIEL WILLIAMS. I'M PART OF THE IUPAT, THE PAINTERS, LOCAL 550, DISTRICT TEN, AND IT WAS MY PLEASURE TO HELP OUT WITH THE STORM AND ALL THE FAMILIES THAT ARE IMPACTED.

I MYSELF HAVE NEEDED HELP FROM FEMA.

BEING A KATRINA VICTIM MYSELF IN 2005.

SO GIVING BACK WHAT WAS GIVEN TO ME REALLY MADE ME FEEL GREAT.

GOOD DEAL. THANK YOU.

AND I ACTUALLY ENDED UP AT THE HOME OF A FEW TEACHERS.

SO I MEAN, AND LIKE YOU SAID, YOU'RE.

I MEAN, A LOT OF THE PEOPLE VOLUNTEERING WERE HAD ALSO BEEN AFFECTED SO MUCH TO BE COMMENDED.

SO THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH.

AND I GUESS YOU GOT YOU GOT A CROWD IN THE BACK.

IS THAT THEY WITH YOU? NO. NO. OKAY.

I THOUGHT THEY WERE PART OF YOUR AUDIENCE.

BUT ANYWAY, CONGRATULATIONS.

AND THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER BRIONES.

COMMISSIONER GARCIA, THANK YOU FOR BRINGING THIS RESOLUTION FORWARD.

I ECHO YOUR SENTIMENTS 1,000%.

HANEY J.

AMY. MIGUEL DARIEL.

THANK YOU. AND 100 PLUS VOLUNTEERS.

THANK YOU FOR ALWAYS SHOWING UP.

THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING YOU DO TO FIGHT FOR WORKING FAMILIES AND TO HELP WORKING FAMILIES RECOVER.

MY TEAM AND I WERE SO IMMENSELY GRATEFUL WHEN YOU SHOWED UP TO THE WEST HOUSTON MOBILE HOME COMMUNITY AND ON BEHALF OF MY CONSTITUENTS, OUR CONSTITUENTS, THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU.

WE ARE GRATEFUL FOR YOUR PARTNERSHIP.

IN DISASTER RECOVERY, I'M ENERGIZED BY OUR APPRENTICESHIP PARTNERSHIP AND LOOK FORWARD TO BUILDING ON THAT SO THAT TOGETHER WE CAN KEEP ADVANCING OPPORTUNITY AND JUSTICE.

SO MY PROFOUND GRATITUDE.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU GUYS.

THANK YOU GUYS SO MUCH.

STICK AROUND. WE'RE GOING TO HAVE SOME PICTURES IN A BIT OKAY.

THANK YOU SO MUCH. YOU'RE WELCOME.

THANK YOU. AND I'VE GOT ANOTHER RESOLUTION THAT IS TO RECOGNIZE OUR OUR PARKS AND RECREATIONAL ACTIVITIES.

AND SO I'M PLEASED TO WELCOME MIKE TO TO SHARE A FEW WORDS ABOUT PARK AND RECREATION MONTH.

AND WE'RE ALSO JOINED BY PEGGY TURNER.

WHERE ARE YOU, PEGGY? ARE BEAUTIFUL.

COME ON DOWN.

PEGGY IS A CTORS OF TIER MEMORIAL HERMAN.

AND AND I, YOU KNOW, I JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU.

ALL OUR PARKS ARE JUST INCREDIBLE.

THEY'RE AN ESSENTIAL PART OF OUR COMMUNITY.

AND AND YOU KNOW WHAT WHAT WE BE LIKE IF WE JUST DIDN'T COMMIT TO PROTECTING AND IMPROVING OUR GREEN SPACE.

AND SO THIS RESOLUTION QUICKLY READS, PARKS AND RECREATIONS ARE AN INTEGRAL PART OF COMMUNITIES THROUGHOUT THIS COUNTRY, INCLUDING HARRIS COUNTY RECREATION SPACES AND PARKS PROMOTE HEALTH AND WELLNESS BY ENCOURAGING TIME SPENT IN NATURE, WHICH POSITIVELY IMPACTS MENTAL HEALTH BY INCREASING COGNITIVE PERFORMANCE AND WELL-BEING, AND ALLEVIATES ILLNESSES SUCH AS DEPRESSION, ATTENTION DEFICIT DISORDERS, AND ALZHEIMER'S.

THE USE OF PARK AND RECREATION FACILITIES IMPROVES PHYSICAL HEALTH BY PROVIDING SPACE FOR POPULAR SPORTS.

HIKING TRAILS, SWIMMING POOLS, AND MANY OTHER ACTIVITIES DESIGNED TO ENCOURAGE ACTIVE LIFESTYLES, SPORTS AND EDUCATIONAL ACTIVITIES SUCH AS OUT OF SCHOOL PROGRAMS AND YOUTH SPORTS AND ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION ARE CRITICAL TO CHILDHOOD DEVELOPMENT, AND PARKS AND RECREATION INCREASES A COMMUNITY'S ECONOMIC PROSPERITY THROUGH INCREASED PROPERTY VALUES, EXPANSION OF THE LOCAL TAX BASE.

INCREASED INCREASED TOURISM, THE ATTRACTION AND RETENTION OF BUSINESSES, AND CRIME REDUCTION AND PARKS ARE FUNDAMENTAL IN THE ENVIRONMENTAL WELL-BEING OF OUR COMMUNITY, AS WELL AS THEY PROVIDE THE ESSENTIAL AND ADAPTABLE INFRASTRUCTURE THAT MAKES OUR COMMUNITIES RESILIENT IN THE FACE OF NATURAL DISASTERS AND CLIMATE CHANGE.

AND THE US HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES DESIGNATED JULY AS NATIONAL PARK AND RECREATION MONTH, AND HARRIS COUNTY PRECINCT TWO RECOGNIZES THE BENEFITS OF ITS PARKS, HIKE AND BIKE TRAILS, AND RECREATION RESOURCES.

SO THANK YOU ALL, MIKE.

YOU ARE THE BOMB, BROTHER.

YOU ARE THE BOMB. YOU JUST YOU AND MR. SADLER. I'M NOT SURE IF CHRIS JOINED US TODAY.

I'M JUST SO PROUD OF ALL OF YOU FOR EVERYTHING YOU DO.

[00:30:03]

PEGGY, YOU WILL ALWAYS HAVE A PLACE IN HEAVEN FOR YOUR WORK ON JAMES DRIVER PARK.

IT CONTINUES TO BE OUR MOST USED PARK CONSISTENTLY.

SYLVAN BEACH GETS A SEASONAL ATTENTION, BUT JAMES DRIVER, BECAUSE ALL THE ATTENTION THAT YOU HELPED THE HELPED US TO BRING TO IT, TO MAKE SURE IT WAS AN INCLUSIVE PARK HAS HAS REALLY JUST BEEN MEASURABLE AND JUST IMPACTFUL.

SO THANK YOU SO MUCH.

SO I WILL TURN IT OVER TO YOU GUYS.

SO THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.

MARK. MIKE.

OH, OKAY. AGAIN, MY NAME IS PEGGY TURNER, AND I'VE BEEN A PARKS AND RECREATION PROFESSIONAL AT TWO DIFFERENT MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENTS IN THE HOUSTON AREA FOR 42 YEARS, BUT NOT IN MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENT.

I WORKED FOR TIER MEMORIAL HERMAN.

IT'S ONE OF THE NATION'S LEADING REHABILITATION HOSPITALS.

I'M THE ADAPTED SPORTS AND RECREATION COMMUNITY PROGRAM COORDINATOR.

SO TIER BELIEVES IN INVESTING IN HUMAN LIVES EVEN AFTER INSURANCE DOESN'T PAY, AFTER SOMEONE DISCHARGES AND GOES HOME.

WE COULD NOT DO WHAT WE DO AND CONTINUE TO IMPROVE.

CHILDREN AND ADULTS LIVES IN THEIR REHABILITATION AND RECOVERY.

WITHOUT PARKS AND RECREATION, WITHOUT THE INVESTMENT IN RECREATION.

JUST JUDGE AND COMMISSIONERS, I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR ALL THAT YOU DO FOR THE MULTITUDE OF PARKS AROUND THE THE COMMUNITY IN HARRIS COUNTY.

COMMISSIONER GARCIA, ESPECIALLY WHEN I STARTED MY CAREER IN THE HOUSTON AREA 42 YEARS AGO, THERE WAS NOT ACCESSIBLE PLACES FOR PEOPLE TO PLAY ONCE THEY HAD A CATASTROPHIC INJURY.

I ALSO WANT TO THANK THE THE STAFF, MIKE AND CHRIS AND AND YOUR TEAM FOR INVESTING SO MUCH BEFORE ADA AND AND DISABILITY AND INCLUSION AND ALL THE ACRONYMS WERE OUT THERE.

YOU HAD IN YOUR HEART TO SERVE THE RESIDENTS AND CITIZENS, NOT JUST IN YOUR PRECINCT, BUT THE ENTIRE GREATER HOUSTON AREA.

SO THANK YOU FOR JAMES DRIVER INCLUSIVE PARK.

THANK YOU, JUDGE AND COMMISSIONERS.

I WAS LOW ON THE TOTEM POLE OF PUBLIC SERVICE.

I ADMIRE AND RESPECT GREATLY WHAT EACH OF YOU DO AND SO MUCH OF THAT I DON'T EVEN KNOW.

THANK YOU, THANK YOU PEGGY.

APPRECIATE YOU. MIKE.

YES. GOOD MORNING. MY NAME IS MIKE.

TRUE. I'M THE DIRECTOR OF PARKS AND RECREATION FOR PRECINCT TWO.

I'M GRATEFUL AND HUMBLED TO BE HERE THIS MORNING REPRESENTING OUR DEPARTMENT.

ON OUR WAY HERE THIS MORNING, I WAS THINKING ABOUT THE CHILDHOOD PARK I USED TO VISIT AROUND THE CORNER OF MY HOME NAMED ROBINSON PARK.

I COULD RIDE MY BIKE THERE.

IT HAD ONE METAL SLIDE AND TWO SWINGS AND I WOULD BRING WAX PAPER WITH ME SO I COULD SLICK UP THE SLIDE AND ZIP DOWN.

SO WITH THAT SAID, WE JUST APPRECIATE ALL OF YOUR SUPPORT FOR PARKS AND RECREATION, AND I ENCOURAGE YOU TO VISIT A PARK DURING THE MONTH OF JULY.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH. ALL RIGHT, MIKE, THANK YOU SO MUCH.

APPRECIATE YOU GUYS.

AND MISS TURNER, I USED TO WORK AS AN INTERPRETER AT TIR, AND IT WAS JUST MAGICAL TO SEE THE PROGRESS.

SO YOU GUYS DO AMAZING, AMAZING WORK.

YOU STILL SORT OF WORK IT.

TEAR THEM BECAUSE YOU SUPPORT THE PARKS THAT WE'RE ABLE TO TAKE PATIENTS TO.

THANK YOU. THERE YOU GO. THANK YOU.

AND LASTLY, I HAVE I WANT TO RECOGNIZE THE INTERNS THAT ARE JOINING US TODAY.

NOW THAT IT'S SUMMER, MY OFFICE IS HOSTING STUDENTS THAT WANT TO LEARN ABOUT HOW COUNTY GOVERNMENT WORKS.

WE HAVE 20 STUDENT TO GOVERNMENT HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS IN THE AUDIENCE TODAY AND 12 STEP UP COLLEGE INTERNS.

SO WILL EVERYBODY PLEASE STAND? ALL THE INTERNS PLEASE STAND.

ALL RIGHT, LET'S RECOGNIZE YOU GUYS.

THANK YOU. AND AND LOOK, WE HAVE HIRED SEVERAL INTERNS OUT OF THIS PROGRAM, SO TRUST ME, WE'RE PAYING ATTENTION TO YOUR GOOD WORK.

SO THANK YOU ALL FOR BEING HERE.

AND THANK YOU ALL FOR PARTICIPATING IN THE INTERNSHIPS.

ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU.

COMMISSIONER RAMSEY. YEAH.

AS I WATCHED TEXAS A AND M LAST NIGHT BARELY LOSE THE NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP, I REFLECTED THAT, WELL, AT LEAST TODAY WE'RE GOING TO CELEBRATE A A STATE CHAMPION IN BASEBALL.

COACH. DOUG RUSH, WOULD YOU COME DOWN AND HAVE YOUR HAVE YOUR GUYS FOLLOW YOU? AS I READ THE RESOLUTION, THIS IS TOMBALL HIGH SCHOOL, YOUR STATE SIX A CHAMPIONS.

[00:35:01]

BUT YOU KNOW, EVERY TEAM I WAS EVER A PART OF AND I KNOW I PLAYED I PLAYED A LITTLE BALL IN HIGH SCHOOL.

BUT, YOU KNOW, I STILL REMEMBER I'M LOOKING AT YOU GUYS.

I STILL REMEMBER MY COACH, JIMMY MOORE.

HE DIED TWO YEARS AGO.

YOU'LL FORGET A LOT OF THINGS THAT HAPPENED IN YOUR HIGH SCHOOL EXPERIENCE, BUT YOU'LL NEVER FORGET YOUR HIGH SCHOOL COACH.

SO REMEMBER.

REMEMBER THAT. REMEMBER THE EXPERIENCE THAT YOU'VE JUST HAD.

IN SUCCESS QUICKLY.

THE TOMBALL HIGH SCHOOL COUGARS CAPTURED THE 2024 UIL 60 BASEBALL STATE CHAMPIONSHIP BY DEFEATING PEARLAND HIGH SCHOOL 4 TO 1 AT DELL DIAMOND IN ROUND ROCK, TEXAS, THE SECOND CHAMPIONSHIP IN SCHOOL HISTORY.

THAT'S IMPRESSIVE.

THE COUGARS, UNDER THE DIRECTION OF HEAD COACH DOUG RUSCH, FINISHED THE SEASON WITH AN IMPRESSIVE 41 AND THREE RECORD, GOING UNBEATEN IN THE FINAL 30 GAMES OF THE SEASON, INCLUDING A 12 ZERO PLAYOFF RUN.

THAT'S HARD.

WHEREAS BESIDES THE TREMENDOUS HOME FIELD ACCOMPLISHMENT OF THE COUGAR BASEBALL, ONE OF THE MOST IMPACTFUL EVENTS HAPPENED OFF THE FIELD IN 2022. MEMBERS AND FRIENDS OF THE COUGAR TEAM LIVES WERE TAKEN FROM THEM BY AN ESCAPED CONVICT.

I KNEW THE COLLINS FAMILY.

I KNEW THE FIVE BOYS AND THEN THE GRANDFATHER THAT WERE MURDERED.

AND THAT MEMORY IS WITH YOU ALL TODAY.

THE MEMORY OF YOUR TEAMMATES YOU REMEMBER, OF YOUR FAMILY.

AND AND DON'T FORGET THAT FAMILY.

REMEMBER THAT FAMILY BECAUSE THEY WERE OUT THERE CHEERING YOU ON THE THE THOSE THAT THAT THAT AREN'T WITH US THERE CHEERING YOU ON.

THEY KNOW WHAT YOU DID.

THEY KNOW WHY YOU DID IT.

SO THE TOMBALL COUGARS COME TOGETHER AFTER THIS HORRIFIC EVENT TO HONOR THE LIVES AND MEMORIES OF THEIR FRIENDS, THE YOUNG MEN.

THE TOMBALL BASEBALL REPRESENTED THEMSELVES, THEIR SCHOOL, THEIR TOWN, THEIR COUNTY, AND WITH UTMOST PROFESSIONALISM.

THESE YOUNG MEN OVERCAME ADVERSITY, PUT TOGETHER ONE OF THE GREATEST TEXAS HIGH SCHOOL BASEBALL SEASONS ON RECORD.

YOU ARE TO BE CONGRATULATED.

THANK YOU FOR WHAT YOU'VE DONE.

COMMISSIONER BRIONES. THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER RAMSEY.

COMMISSIONER RAMSEY AND I GET TO SHARE TOMBALL.

AND SO I THANK YOU FOR BRINGING THIS RESOLUTION.

CONGRATULATIONS. WE'RE SO PROUD OF YOU.

AND GO COUGARS.

THANK YOU COACH.

THANK YOU. TEAM COACH.

YES. THANK Y'ALL I REALLY APPRECIATE Y'ALL HAVING US HERE.

IT'S A BIG HONOR.

THANK YOU. COMMISSIONER RAMSEY AND MR. REID AND THE REST OF THE COMMISSIONERS COURT.

MY WIFE'S BACK HERE.

SHE'S A PRINCIPAL AT OAKCREST ELEMENTARY.

SHE'S ACTUALLY A COUSIN OF CHRIS COLLINS.

SO WHO LOST ALL THREE OF THEIR BOYS? SO THAT WAS AN IMPACTFUL THING TO US.

WHALEN WAS ON PART OF OUR BASEBALL TEAM A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO, AND CARSON WOULD HAVE GRADUATED THIS YEAR.

HE WAS A FOOTBALL PLAYER, AND MANY OF THESE GUYS WERE REALLY GOOD FRIENDS WITH HIM.

BUT ANYWAY, THESE GUYS ARE ABOUT A THIRD OF THE TEAM.

THE REST OF THE TEAM IS OFF PLAYING EITHER BASEBALL AND SOME OTHER STATE WITH THEIR SELECT TEAM, OR THEY'RE DOING FOOTBALL SACK CAMP OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.

BUT A LOT OF THESE YOUNG MEN HERE WERE VERY INSTRUMENTAL IN US GOING 41 AND THREE AND WINNING OUR LAST 30 BASEBALL GAMES.

BUT THAT WAS AN INCREDIBLE ACCOMPLISHMENT.

AND WE WERE REALLY HAPPY THAT IT WAS FINALLY AN ALL HOUSTON STATE CHAMPIONSHIP.

AGAIN. I DON'T KNOW IF Y'ALL KNOW THIS, BUT THE HOUSTON AREA DOMINATED UP.

OH MY TIME UP.

OH NO. THE HOUSTON AREA DOMINATED BASEBALL FOR A LONG TIME, AND DALLAS KIND OF TOOK IT OVER FOR THE LAST 5 OR 6 YEARS.

SO WE'VE KIND OF TAKEN BACK THE MANTLE.

MORE IMPORTANTLY, THESE GUYS ARE AWESOME, AWESOME YOUNG MEN.

THEY'RE GOING TO BE GREAT LEADERS IN THE FUTURE.

SO WELL DONE, GUYS.

WHO WHICH ONE IS CADE? ARABI? CADE AARON BD IS RIGHT HERE.

CADE. YES.

IS THAT AN LSU SHIRT YOU GOT ON THERE? YES, SIR. IT IS. IS IT OKAY.

WELL I JUST CHECKING.

YEAH. HAVE YOU SIGNED WITH LSU YET? YES SIR I DID. YOU OKAY? I PROBABLY SHOULDN'T SAY THIS, BUT JUST REMEMBER THAT PORTAL STILL EXISTS.

WE WANT YOU.

COULD CAN YOU. THAT'S AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY PORTAL.

CONGRATULATIONS ON THAT.

THAT'S THAT'S THAT'S DIFFICULT TO DO.

AND ALL OF YOU.

AND I'M GOING TO SAY YOUR NAME OR TRY TO.

DANIEL O'BRIEN.

BRANDON SNITZER.

CADE, MARK SCHWARTZ SCHWARTZ, KEEGAN DIMMER, BLAKE WITT, KOBE FOSTER COLEMAN, RYAN MARTIN, HRINKO,

[00:40:04]

I JUST AND IT COULD BE A SPRING GAME NEXT YEAR, BUT IF I COULD JUST COME COACH THIRD BASE.

I'VE ALWAYS WANTED TO COACH THIRD BASE.

YOU GOT IT. SO MAYBE THAT WE CAN ARRANGE THAT.

CONGRATULATIONS, GUYS.

WE'LL BE TAKING TAKING PICTURES.

APPRECIATE IT. THANK Y'ALL.

YEAH. COACH, BEFORE YOU STEP AWAY COMMISSIONER RAMSEY JUST MADE A VERY, VERY SALIENT POINT.

I REMEMBER ALL MY COACHES COACH BARNES, COACH STAFFORD WHEN I PLAYED IN, IN HIGH SCHOOL AND IN MIDDLE SCHOOL, AND YOU HAVE NO IDEA YOU DO.

BUT TO EVERYONE ELSE, WHEN A COACH SPEAKS TO YOU AND MOTIVATES YOU THROUGH SOME OF THE TOUGHEST CIRCUMSTANCES AND HELPS YOU TO FOCUS ON THE COLLECTIVE TEAM RATHER THAN YOURSELF THOSE ARE GOING TO BE WORDS THAT YOU WILL HEAR ON MANY OCCASIONS THROUGHOUT THE COURSE OF YOUR LIFE. AND SO, COACH, I JUST APPRECIATE YOU AND ALL COACHES FOR YOUR COMMITMENT TO HELPING DEVELOP A FUTURE GENERATION OF LEADERS AND GOOD MEN.

SO THANK YOU SO MUCH.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU COACH, AND TO ALL THE TEAM.

I THINK IT TAKES STRENGTH IN HERE TO TO GET TO WHERE YOU GUYS HAVE GOT TO.

SO I'M REALLY EXCITED TO SEE I KNOW YOU GUYS ARE GOING TO KEEP PLAYING SPORTS, BUT LONG AFTER THAT, YOUR WORK ETHIC AND HOW YOU'RE ABLE TO CONTROL YOUR EMOTIONS AND FOCUS, THAT'S A BIG SKILL YOU GUYS HAVE.

SO KEEP IT UP.

CONGRATULATIONS. WE'RE SO PROUD OF YOU.

AND COACH. THANK YOU FOR LEADING THESE YOUNG MEN.

CONGRATULATIONS. AND TO YOUR WIFE AS WELL.

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR FOR YOUR COMMITMENT TO EDUCATION.

CONGRATS YOU GUYS.

OH YEAH. THE HAIR. THE HAIR IS GREAT.

I MEANT TO SAY SOMETHING ABOUT THE HAIR.

ALL RIGHT COMMISSIONER BRIONES, DO YOU HAVE ONE MORE? JUST QUICKLY, THE KSBJ 89.3.

THIS IS OUR 42ND ANNIVERSARY.

I KNOW KSBJ HAS GOT US THROUGH MANY A DIFFICULT DAY.

PUT A LITTLE JOY IN A STEP IN OUR WALK.

SO JUST WANTED TO RECOGNIZE THEM, THE RESOLUTION STATED.

AND AND JUST RECOGNIZE THEM, CELEBRATE THEIR ACCOMPLISHMENT.

THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER RAMSEY.

COMMISSIONER BROWN THANK YOU, JUDGE HIDALGO.

PRECINCT FOUR HAS TWO RESOLUTIONS TODAY.

FIRST, I ASK THAT YOU JOIN ME IN CELEBRATING INTERNATIONAL DOMESTIC WORKERS DAY.

AND I WOULD PLEASE LIKE TO INVITE LAUREN ASHLEY SIMMONS, OUR TEXAS ORGANIZING DIRECTOR FOR THE NATIONAL DOMESTIC WORKERS ALLIANCE, AMONG MANY OTHER LEADERSHIP ROLES SHE HOLDS AND WILL HOLD.

WE ALSO HAVE LETTY ORTEGA, WHO'S THE TEXAS ENFORCEMENT ORGANIZER OF THE NATIONAL DOMESTIC WORKERS ALLIANCE, LA NACIONAL DE TRABAJADORES DE HOEGER, AND TIFFANY DAVIS, LEAD ORGANIZER, NATIONAL DOMESTIC WORKERS ALLIANCE HOUSTON CHAPTER.

SO HARRIS COUNTY COMMISSIONERS COURT IS PROUD TO RECOGNIZE INTERNATIONAL DOMESTIC WORKERS DAY, WHICH WAS ON JUNE 16TH.

AND I ASK EVERYONE HERE TODAY AND EVERYONE WATCHING TO TAKE A MOMENT TO REFLECT AND TO SHOW YOUR RESPECT FOR OUR DOMESTIC AND CARE WORKERS.

THEY ARE THE BACKBONE OF OUR ECONOMY, AND THEY OFTEN MAKE IT POSSIBLE FOR SO MANY OF US TO BE ABLE TO REALIZE AND FULFILL OUR DREAMS. AND EVEN THOUGH THEY FULFILL SUCH AN ESSENTIAL ROLE IN OUR COMMUNITY, DOMESTIC AND CARE WORKERS, THE MAJORITY OF WHOM ARE WOMEN OF COLOR, ARE AMONG THE MOST VULNERABLE AND MARGINALIZED EMPLOYEE GROUPS IN THE UNITED STATES.

DOMESTIC WORKERS EARN NEARLY 40% LESS THAN THE MEDIAN HOURLY WAGE OF THOSE IN OTHER FIELDS.

FEWER THAN 10% ARE COVERED BY AN EMPLOYER PROVIDED RETIREMENT PLAN, AND LESS THAN 5% RECEIVE EMPLOYER SPONSORED HEALTH INSURANCE COVERAGE.

ALL OF THIS IS COMPLETELY UNACCEPTABLE, AND 82% OF DOMESTIC CARE EMPLOYEES REPORT FACING FOOD INSECURITY AND 48% REPORT EXPERIENCING HOUSING INSECURITY.

FURTHERMORE, WOMEN IN THESE LOW WAGE WORK SITUATIONS ALSO FACE A HIGHER INCIDENCE OF SEXUAL ASSAULT AND HARASSMENT.

WHOLLY UNACCEPTABLE, AND A QUARTER OF THEM REPORTED SEXUAL HARASSMENT COMPLAINTS FROM THE SERVICE SECTOR, WHICH INCLUDE JOBS AND DOMESTIC CARE.

[00:45:08]

THERE'S SO MUCH WORK TO BE DONE, AND WE'RE SO GRATEFUL TO PARTNER WITH OUR LABOR PARTNERS.

WE'RE GRATEFUL FOR THE ESSENTIAL WORKERS BOARD, WHO ARE BRINGING US IDEAS ON HOW HARRIS COUNTY CAN CONTINUE TO ADVANCE OPPORTUNITY AND JUSTICE IN THIS REALM, AND WE ARE COMMITTED TO CONTINUE TO MAKE PROGRESS.

WE'RE SO THANKFUL FOR THE IMMEASURABLE CONTRIBUTIONS OF OUR DOMESTIC AND CARE WORKERS IN HARRIS COUNTY, AND WE COMMEND THE HOUSTON NATIONAL DOMESTIC WORKERS ALLIANCE WE DREAM IN BLACK CHAPTER FOR ADVOCATING FOR THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE DOMESTIC WORKERS BILL OF RIGHTS IN HOUSTON, WHICH ENTITLES DOMESTIC WORKERS TO BASIC LABOR RIGHTS AND PROTECTIONS.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, THAT THE HARRIS COUNTY COMMISSIONERS COURT HEREBY RESPECTFULLY OBSERVES AND HONORS INTERNATIONAL DOMESTIC WORKERS DAY AND ENCOURAGES ALL TO JOIN IN ADVOCATING TO ENSURE THAT DOMESTIC AND CARE WORKERS RECEIVE THE COMPENSATION, BENEFITS AND RESPECT THAT THEY DESERVE.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE.

THANK YOU FOR WHAT YOU DO.

THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER BRIONES AND ESTEEMED COMMISSIONERS, AND GOOD TO SEE YOU.

JUDGE HIDALGO, THANK YOU FOR HAVING US HERE TODAY.

DOMESTIC WORKERS DO THE WORK THAT MAKE ALL WORK POSSIBLE, AND WE TALK ABOUT THAT A LOT IN NATIONAL DOMESTIC WORKERS ALLIANCE.

IT'S ALSO VERY FITTING THAT THIS IS NATIONAL IMMIGRANT HERITAGE MONTH, BECAUSE THIS WORK IS PRIMARILY DONE BY MIGRANT WOMEN AND WOMEN OF COLOR AND HAS HISTORICAL ROOTS IN SLAVERY, WHICH IS WHY WE SEE THAT THIS WORK IS OFTEN UNDERVALUED AND IS RIFE WITH ABUSE.

CARING FOR CHILDREN SO THAT PARENTS CAN GO TO WORK, KEEPING ELDERLY LOVED ONES COMFORTABLE AND SAFE IN THEIR HOMES, AND MORE.

BUT AROUND THE WORLD, THIS WORK IS NOT SEEN AND VALUED AND IS EXPLOITED, AND IN THE WORKERS ARE EXTREMELY VULNERABLE.

INTERNATIONAL DOMESTIC WORKERS DAY, WHICH IS JUNE 16TH, MARKS THE ANNIVERSARY OF THE 2011 PASSAGE OF INTERNATIONAL LABOR ORGANIZATION CONVENTION 189 FOR DECENT WORK FOR DOMESTIC WORKERS, ESTABLISHING INTERNATIONAL LABOR LAW FOR DOMESTIC CARE WORKERS.

SO WE HAVE INTERNATIONAL ACKNOWLEDGMENT OF THIS WORK, BUT WE ARE STILL FIGHTING EVERY DAY FOR FEDERAL FOR A FEDERAL BILL OF RIGHTS FOR DOMESTIC WORKERS AND ALSO FOR LOCAL AND MUNICIPAL PROTECTIONS.

AND SO HOPEFULLY WE CAN CONTINUE TO PARTNER WITH THIS COURT AND THE COMMISSIONERS AND THE JUDGE TO SEE HOW WE CAN BEST UPLIFT THIS WORK AND PROVIDE SOLID PROTECTIONS FOR CARE WORKERS. THANK YOU SO MUCH.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP, MISS SIMMONS.

AND WE STAND IN SOLIDARITY, MISS MISS ORTEGA.

THANK YOU, THANK YOU.

QUICK QUESTION. ARE YOU GUYS IN TOUCH WITH OUR ESSENTIAL WORKERS BOARD ALREADY? ABSOLUTELY. WE WERE VERY EXCITED TO BE A PART OF THAT BOARD AND TO GET THAT PASSED A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO.

AND SO WE'LL BE SEEING YOU GUYS AGAIN WITH SOME RECOMMENDATIONS THROUGH THAT BOARD AS WELL.

YEAH, I'M SURE THERE MUST BE SOMETHING WE CAN HELP WITH EVEN IF IT'S A LITTLE STEP.

BUT THANK YOU. THANK YOU GUYS SO MUCH.

THANK YOU, THANK YOU.

OUR FINAL RESOLUTION FROM PRECINCT FOUR IS AGENDA ITEM NUMBER EIGHT.

AND BEFORE I DELVE INTO THAT, I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU TO ALL INTERNS ACROSS HARRIS COUNTY WHO HAVE DECIDED TO SPEND YOUR SUMMER WITH HARRIS COUNTY PRECINCT FOUR.

I'M SO THANKFUL FOR THE 45 INTERNS WHO HAVE DECIDED TO SPEND THEIR SUMMER.

SOME OF THEM ARE COMING BACK FOR THE SECOND SUMMER, WHICH WE SO APPRECIATE.

WE HAVE SIX OF THE 45 HERE TODAY, SO COULD YOU BRIEFLY STAND UP AS A FORMER HIGH SCHOOL TEACHER? THIS MAKES ME SO PROUD.

YOU GIVE ME AND YOU GIVE US TREMENDOUS HOPE FOR THE FUTURE.

SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

AND THE FINAL RESOLUTION AND I ASK, PLEASE, OUR GUESTS WHO ARE HERE TODAY, CHARLIE LEE, BRIAN PHAN, DON DANH VO TRUNG NGUYEN.

IF YOU'RE HERE, PLEASE COME UP.

SONNY LAM, MICHELLE NGUYEN, MELODY NGUYEN, MARYANN NGUYEN IF YOU COULD, PLEASE JOIN US.

AND DOCTOR LEE, THE FOUNDER OF LEE'S GOLDEN DRAGON, IF YOU COULD, PLEASE JOIN US.

SO WE ARE HERE.

SO AS WE THINK ABOUT IMMIGRANT HERITAGE MONTH AND WE REFLECT THAT HERE IN HARRIS COUNTY, OVER 26% OF OUR POPULATION WERE BORN OUTSIDE OF THE US.

AND AS WE REFLECT THAT OUR GREAT STATE OF HOUSTON, APPROXIMATELY 20% OF OUR POPULATION WAS BORN OUTSIDE OF THE US.

[00:50:05]

AND I ASK YOU ALL TO JOIN ME TO CELEBRATE THE 50TH ANNIVERSARY OF LEE'S GOLDEN DRAGON, LION AND DRAGON DANCE ASSOCIATION IN 1974.

SIFU DOCTOR ALAN LEE RETURNED TO HOUSTON WITH A DESIRE TO SHARE HIS CHINESE CULTURE WITH HIS FELLOW HOUSTONIANS, AND HE FOUNDED LEE'S GOLDEN DRAGON, LION AND DRAGON DANCE ASSOCIATION, THE FIRST OF ITS KIND IN HOUSTON.

THIS HAS SINCE GROWN IN THE LAST 50 YEARS.

AND THIS IS BEAUTIFUL BECAUSE YOU ALL MAY KNOW THAT IN CHINESE CULTURE, THE LION SYMBOLIZE COURAGE AND POWER, WHILE THE DRAGON SYMBOLIZES CONFIDENCE AND ADVENTUROUSNESS, AND THESE ARE TOGETHER SEEN TO REPRESENT SUCCESS AND AMBITION.

AND THIS ART FORM DATES BACK MORE THAN A THOUSAND YEARS AND IS TRADITIONALLY PERFORMED AT MAJOR CELEBRATIONS INCLUDING LUNAR NEW YEAR, MID-AUTUMN FESTIVAL, WEDDINGS AND IS A WAY TO BRING GOOD FORTUNE, PROSPERITY AND TO CHASE AWAY EVIL SPIRITS.

AND ON JULY 6TH, HAPPY 50TH ANNIVERSARY IN ADVANCE.

WE'RE CELEBRATING THE 50 YEARS OF CULTURE.

AND THEY HAVE PERFORMED NOT ONLY IN THE HARRIS COUNTY REGION, BUT THEY'VE PERFORMED FOR MULTIPLE PRESIDENTS, INCLUDING PRESIDENTS JIMMY CARTER AND GEORGE H.W.

BUSH. THEY'VE PERFORMED AT THE ROCKETS AND A MULTITUDE OF OTHER PERFORMANCES.

AND I'M JUST HONORED THAT THEY'RE HERE TODAY.

I'M HONORED FOR EVERYTHING THEY DO TO TEACH US ABOUT THE RICH LEGACY, CULTURE AND HERITAGE.

AND TO ME, THIS IS THE BEAUTY OF HARRIS COUNTY THAT WE CAN UNITE.

WE CAN COME TOGETHER TO CELEBRATE OUR UNIQUENESS AND THE BEAUTY OF OUR DIVERSITY, AND TOGETHER WE KEEP BUILDING A MORE INCLUSIVE COMMUNITY.

SO IT GIVES HARRIS COUNTY COMMISSIONERS COURT GREAT HONOR TO CELEBRATE THE 50TH ANNIVERSARY OF LEE'S GOLDEN DRAGON, LION AND DRAGON DANCE ASSOCIATION.

THANK YOU AND CONGRATULATIONS.

OH MY GOODNESS. I DIDN'T BRING MY MY ENVELOPE RIGHT.

I HAVE SOME TO SHARE.

AND WE ASKED THE COUNTY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE AND WE GOT LEGAL SIGN OFF.

SO I HAVE SOME. TISSUE.

BEAUTIFUL. OKAY.

JUDGE AND COMMISSIONERS.

COMMISSIONER BRIONES, YOU'VE SAID EVERYTHING THAT I WAS ABOUT TO SAY SO I COULD LEAVE THAT.

NO, I'M JUST JOKING.

YOU'VE REALLY DONE YOUR HOMEWORK.

AND, COMMISSIONER BRIONES, I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR PROVIDING US A RESOLUTION FOR OUR LEASE.

GOLDEN DRAGON.

WE ARE GOING TO CELEBRATE OUR 50TH ANNIVERSARY, AS YOU KNOW.

AND IN 1974, I FOUND IT AND FORMED THIS GROUP NOT ONLY TO PASS THE CULTURE AND PROMOTE THE CHINESE HERITAGE AND EVERYTHING LIKE THAT, BUT TO TAKE THE YOUTHS AND ALL OUR MEMBERS OFF THE STREET, GIVE THEM SOMETHING TO DO THAT THEY CAN BE PROUD OF AND ESTABLISH A SENSE OF ACCOMPLISHMENT FOR THEM.

SO I THINK I'VE ACCOMPLISHED THAT, AND WE CONTINUE TO TAKE NEW MEMBERS AND, YOU KNOW, JUST GIVE THEM SOMETHING TO DO INSTEAD OF HANGING OUT IN THE STREETS.

WE HAVE PERFORMED NOT ONLY DURING THE LUNAR NEW YEAR, BUT ALL YEAR ROUND.

I MEAN, THERE'S SO MUCH DEMAND AND AND PEOPLE ARE REALLY AWARE OF THIS CULTURE AND REALLY HIRING US.

WE WE'RE HAVING EVEN TURN SHOWS DOWN BECAUSE WE WERE SO BUSY AND WE HAD PERFORM ALL OVER THE COUNTRY AS WELL AS INTERNATIONALLY.

WE HAVE PERFORMED FOR WALT DISNEY PRODUCTIONS.

NICE. THE PREMIERE OF MULAN, WE DONE KUNG FU PANDA.

WE PERFORMED LIKE YOU SAID.

FOUR US PRESIDENTS GOVERNOR ABBOTT OUR DIFFERENT MAYORS AND I HAVE TO SAY, TWO OF YOU, COMMISSIONERS BRIONES AND COMMISSIONER GARCIA, WE'VE DONE.

AND LIKE I SAID, WE'RE GOING TO BE CELEBRATING OUR 50TH ANNIVERSARY, JULY 6TH AT LAMBERT BALLROOM.

AND WE WANT TO EXTEND THE INVITATION TO EVERY SINGLE ONE OF YOU.

AND PLEASE LET ME KNOW.

RSVP IF YOU WANT TO JOIN US.

I'LL TALK TO YOU PERSONALLY.

AND I WANT TO SAY A SPECIAL HELLO TO COMMISSIONER GARCIA.

HE'S BEEN A WONDERFUL FRIEND TO US.

AND THANK YOU. THANK YOU, DOCTOR LEE.

THANK YOU. NOW, LET'S FEED THESE GUYS.

SO BEAUTIFUL, YOU GUYS.

IT'S JUST AMAZING.

OH, GO AHEAD, COMMISSIONER BRIONES.

OH HI.

I HOPE YOU GUYS ARE SEEING THE.

IT'S REALLY COOL FROM THIS SIDE, SO I'LL TURN AROUND IN A MINUTE, BUT SO WE'RE GOING TO SIGN RESOLUTIONS AFTER THE PICTURES.

[00:55:07]

SOONER THAN LATER. AND THEN WE'LL TAKE PICTURES IN THE ORDER THAT THE RESOLUTIONS WERE DONE.

AND, THANK YOU AGAIN.

THIS IS SO JOYFUL.

THANK YOU. JUDGE.

DOCTOR LEE, THANK YOU SO MUCH.

IT'S SO GOOD TO SEE YOU AND I.

I HAVE JUST GOT TO SAY THAT YOU ARE AN INCREDIBLE COMMUNITY LEADER.

YOUR YOUR COMMENTS ABOUT WHY THIS IS SO IMPORTANT NOT ONLY FROM A CULTURAL PERSPECTIVE, BUT FROM A DEVELOPMENT PERSPECTIVE FOR THESE YOUNG PEOPLE AND HOW IT ENCOURAGES THEM TO GIVE BACK TO THEIR COMMUNITIES.

AND SO I JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU BECAUSE YOU COULD BE DOING SO MANY OTHER THINGS.

BUT YOU TAKE A PART OF YOUR HEART AND YOU GIVE IT TO THESE YOUNG PEOPLE AND YOU GIVE IT TO THE COMMUNITY.

SO THANK YOU SO MUCH.

AND YOU MAKE IT ALL LOOK SO EASY.

SO THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP.

AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMITMENT.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU. DOCTOR.

COMMENTS. WE LOOK FORWARD TO THE NEXT 50 YEARS, DOCTOR LEE.

CONGRATULATIONS. OKAY, WE'LL TAKE PICTURES.

OKAY. OKAY.

OKAY.

[01:00:15]

OH.

WE DON'T GET.

[01:32:02]

[01:32:04]

[01:32:07]

[01:32:09]

[01:32:12]

[01:32:13]

YOU WANT TO TURN ON YOUR SIDE? I HAVE NO WHERE'S ALL THIS? HERE. THERE'S THREE BUTTONS.

MAKE IT COOL. MISS IT? VERY MUCH. IT MUST BE RIGHT HERE.

RIGHT? OH, THERE.

THERE IT IS. YES, MA'AM.

YOU MIGHT.

WORKS. THERE'S A.

[Appearances before court]

OH, NO. WE'RE STILL HERE. LET'S TAKE SPEAKERS.

THANK YOU. FIRST IS JACOB CLEMENS SPEAKING ON ITEMS ONE, FOUR AND FIVE.

YOU HAVE ONE MINUTE.

[01:35:19]

HE WAS AN IMMIGRANT, BUT HE HAS HE HAD DIFFERENT POLICIES AND POLITICS IN JUDGE LINA HIDALGO.

BUT NONETHELESS, I BELIEVE THAT I HAVE THE SAME POLICIES AS MY FATHER.

AND WELL TIM HAD COMMISSIONER TOM RAMSEY IS IN HERE BECAUSE I HAD THIS. YEAH.

OH IT WAS TAKE ME OUT TO THE BALL GAME.

TAKE ME OUT TO THE BALL TO SELL ME SOMETHING.

CRACKERJACK. WELL, I CAN'T SING, BUT WELL WHAT I WANTED TO SAY THANK YOU.

YOUR TIME IS UP.

BYE. NEXT IS CESAR ESPINOSA SPEAKING ON ITEM ONE.

YOU HAVE ONE MINUTE.

THEY MAY HAVE. HE MAY HAVE LEFT ALREADY.

WE'LL SEE IF HE COMES BACK.

I DON'T SEE HIM IN THE ROOM RIGHT NOW.

OKAY, OKAY. THANK YOU.

NEXT IS SPEAKER NUMBER 12, CHRISTOPHER JENKINS, SPEAKING ON ITEMS 167 AND 180.

YOU HAVE ONE MINUTE.

GOOD AFTERNOON. CHRISTOPHER JENKINS, CEO FEATURE HOOD ORGANIZATION CLT AT TOP.

I'M SPEAKING ON 180 AND 167 180 IS THE COUNTY ATTORNEY.

I NOTICED THAT BRIONES AND OUR COUNTY ATTORNEY IS SUING APARTMENTS FOR PEOPLE THAT'S LIVING IN DEPLORABLE SITUATIONS AND CONDITIONS.

I HAD A SITUATION TWO YEARS AGO WHERE OUR LANDLORD THAT I DIDN'T HAVE ANY RIGHTS AND SOLIDARITY FOR JUNETEENTH.

I TOTALLY DISAGREE WITH THAT.

SINCE I'M SPEAKING ON BOTH DURING THE COVID PANDEMIC, THE COUNTY DID NOT HAVE A CONTINGENCY PLAN IN PLACE TO PROTECT ITS RESIDENTS, PARTICULARLY PROTECTED CLASS OF CLASSES OF PEOPLE.

AND WITH THAT SAID, ALONG WITH THAT IN THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT, IT JUST CAUSED THE HOMELESSNESS TO GO UP THE JAIL OVERCROWDING BECAUSE PEOPLE WEREN'T PROTECTED DURING THE COVID PANDEMIC.

HAVING THESE DIRTY LANDLORDS TAKE MONEY FROM THE COUNTY AND THE CITY AND NOT, YOU KNOW, TAKING CARE OF THEIR CITIZENS.

AND SO I WANTED TO REALLY ADDRESS THAT WITH THE COUNTY ATTORNEY, BECAUSE THIS DID HAPPEN IN YOUR YOUR PRECINCT WE WE TALKED ABOUT IN THE PAST, BUT WHEN YOU START SHUTTING SOME OF THESE DIRTY LANDLORDS DOWN.

THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU SO MUCH.

NEXT IS BARBARA DENSON SPEAKING ON ITEMS 210 AND 211.

YOU HAVE ONE MINUTE.

HI BARBARA DENSON, ITEMS 210 AND 211 ARE ABOUT ACCEPTING MONEY TO REPLACE DIESEL BUSSES AND EMERGENCY VEHICLES WITH ELECTRIC ONES. OVER HALF OF THE ELECTRIC BUSSES IN THE UNITED STATES ARE SITTING IDLE DUE TO A COMBINATION OF SOFTWARE ISSUES, MECHANICAL PROBLEMS, AND WAITING ON REPLACEMENT PARTS.

ELECTRIC BUSSES AVERAGE LESS THAN 2000 MILES BEFORE NEEDING REPAIR, WHILE DIESEL BUSSES AVERAGE ALMOST 5000 MILES.

ELECTRIC BUSSES ARE NOT ONLY UNRELIABLE, BUT ALSO COST 30% MORE TO REPAIR THAN VEHICLES POWERED BY AN INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE.

AS TO EMERGENCY VEHICLES, IN ADDITION TO THE AFOREMENTIONED ISSUES, THE OTHER PROBLEM IS THAT THE TWO EMERGENCIES THAT TYPICALLY HAPPEN IN HOUSTON ARE THAT THE ELECTRICITY'S OUT OR THERE'S A FLOOD.

NEITHER ONE OF THOSE CIRCUMSTANCES IS A GOOD TIME TO RELY ON AN ELECTRIC VEHICLE.

ACCEPTING THIS MONEY TO DO SOMETHING STUPID IS JUST STUPID.

THANK YOU. BARBARA. THANK YOU, THANK YOU.

NEXT IS MO CORTEZ SPEAKING ON ITEM 253 UNDER PURCHASING.

YOU HAVE ONE MINUTE.

[01:40:03]

ESSENTIALLY, I JUST WANTED TO SAY ASK PLEASE DISCONTINUE THE USE OF OUTSOURCING.

I KNOW THE TJS HAS SAID THAT, YOU KNOW, THIS HAS TO HAPPEN AND THINGS LIKE THAT.

I DID THE MATH.

AND JUST MAKING A SIMPLE ASSUMPTION.

FROM 620, THE TOTAL WAS 9319 FOR THE TOTAL AMOUNT OF PEOPLE IN JAIL.

AND IF YOU MAKE AN ASSUMPTION IT'S $100, $108 A DAY TO JAIL, SOMEBODY THAT COMES OUT TO LIKE ONE, $1 MILLION A DAY.

SO PLEASE FIGURE OUT A WAY TO, TO GET PEOPLE RELEASED AND HAVE PROPER REENTRY WHERE PEOPLE ARE ABLE TO GET RESOURCES WITHOUT HAVING TO BE ADDICTED OR ON DRUGS OR THINGS LIKE THAT TO GET ACCESS TO THESE RESOURCES OR HAVE TO GO TO JAIL TO GET THESE RESOURCES.

AND THEY'RE NOT EVEN GETTING THOSE THERE BECAUSE PEOPLE ARE DYING FROM DIABETES AND THINGS LIKE THAT.

SO PLEASE CEASE WITH THE USE OF CROWDSOURCING.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU.

SPEAKER 15 BRANDY HARLOW SPEAKING ON ITEM 282 UNDER PURCHASING.

YOU HAVE ONE MINUTE.

GOOD MORNING, JUDGE AND COMMISSIONERS, I'M BRANDY HARLOW, THE CEO OF SOUTH POST OAK RECYCLING CENTER, A SECOND GENERATION OWNED METAL RECYCLING COMPANY CELEBRATING 30 YEARS IN THE COUNTY. WE ARE PRESENTLY YOUR METAL RECYCLERS.

I COME TO YOU TODAY EXTREMELY CONCERNED ABOUT ITEM 282, THE SCRAP METAL CONTRACT ON YOUR AGENDA TODAY.

LAST YEAR ALONE, YOU GENERATED OVER $50,000 WORTH OF RECYCLED METALS FROM YOUR PARTICIPATING LOCATIONS.

TODAY, YOU ARE VOTING TO ACCEPT A BID FOR $9,638 FOR THE SAME MATERIAL THAT NETTED YOU OVER $50,000 LAST YEAR.

AS RECENT AS MAY OF THIS YEAR, YOU HAVE NETTED $20,000 WITH US MANAGING YOUR RECYCLED MATERIAL VERSUS THE 9368 THAT'S PROPOSED WITH AGENDA ITEM 2282, YOU WILL BE MAKING A DECISION BASED ON A SINGLE BID OFFER, WHICH WILL DECREASE YOUR YEARLY REVENUE BY $40,000 PLUS Y.

WE DID NOT INITIALLY.

YOUR TIME IS UP. MAY I REQUEST CONTINUE? THANK YOU. NOT ONLY ARE YOU LOOKING FOR A $40,000 LOSS IN REVENUE PER YEAR, BUT A $200,000 REVENUE LOSS OVER THE COURSE OF THE CONTRACT.

WHY? WE DID NOT INITIALLY RECEIVE THE BID NOTIFICATION THROUGH BONFIRE WHEN IT WAS POSTED AS WE NORMALLY DO SUBMITTED.

WE ENDED UP SUBMITTING IT THE DAY THAT IT WAS DUE, UNAWARE THAT THE DEADLINE WAS 2 P.M., SO WE WERE A FEW HOURS LATE.

I KNOW GUIDELINES ARE IMPORTANT AND I RESPECT AND AS A RESIDENT AND A BUSINESS OWNER IN THE COUNTY, I THINK THAT A $200,000 LOSS IS WORTH CONSIDERING.

I'D ENCOURAGE YOU TO RECONSIDER YOUR VOTE.

NUMBER 282 AT THIS TIME, ON THE BASIS OF A LOSS.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. THANK YOU.

JUST A SECOND. IF BEFORE YOU STEP AWAY IF DO I.

YEAH. DO YOU HAVE SOMETHING TO ADD? JUST BRIEFLY. IF IT GOES LONG, MA'AM, WE'LL WE'LL HAVE TO MOVE IT TO LATER.

BUT I'M JUST WONDERING IF YOU HAVE ANYTHING TO ADD AND OR IF IT WOULD BE A PROBLEM TO HOLD IT UNTIL YOU'RE ABLE TO LOOK INTO IT, JUDGE, THEN TALK THROUGH IT.

BUT I WOULD LIKE TO GET SOME OF THE FACTS ACCURATE BEFORE WE TO PRESENT THE COURT, RATHER THAN WHAT'S BEEN ONLY STATED TODAY.

BUT WE'LL BE GLAD TO HOLD IT IF YOU LIKE.

DO YOU WANT TO SHARE YOUR PERSPECTIVE JUST BRIEFLY, DWIGHT, OR CAN YOU PLEASE.

I'D LIKE TO SEE I MEAN, FROM MY PERSPECTIVE AS FAR AS THE FACT THAT IT WASN'T SHE WASN'T NOTIFIED.

I'D HAVE TO GET WITH BONFIRE TO PROVIDE IF THE INDIVIDUAL WASN'T NOTIFIED, BECAUSE THE SYSTEM DOES AUTOMATICALLY NOTIFY THEM ALL.

AND THEN IF THE FACT THAT THE INCUMBENTS HAD OUR CONTRACT FOR TEN YEARS, THEY KNOW THAT THE BIDS ARE DUE AT 2 P.M.

EVERY MONDAY. SO I WILL BE GLAD TO HOLD IT.

COMMISSIONER AND JUDGE.

I'M SORRY JUDGE, IF YOU GUYS SO FEEL THAT, YOU KNOW, WE CAN LOOK AT THE REVENUE BECAUSE I DON'T WANT TO HURT THE COUNTY WITH THE REVENUE.

SO I'LL BE GLAD TO RECONSIDER AT THIS POINT.

I WASN'T AWARE OF SOME OF THESE INFORMATION THAT WAS PRESENTED TODAY AT COURT, SO I'LL BE GLAD TO HOLD IT.

IT'S NOT GOING TO HURT THE COUNTY.

I MEAN, I THINK IT'S JUST A MATTER OF CHECKING THE BONFIRE NOTIFICATION AND OTHERWISE.

I MEAN, AT LEAST FROM MY PART, I WOULDN'T QUESTION IT IF EVERYTHING WAS DONE PER THE THE SYSTEMS. YES, MA'AM. WE CAN HOLD IT FOR TWO WEEKS AND BRING IT BACK IN JULY.

IT'S NOT A PROBLEM. OKAY WITH THAT? AND IF YOU COULD, PLEASE.

IS IT. IF IT'S APPROPRIATE, IS IT TO CHAT WITH MISS? YES, I'D BE GLAD TO.

SHE CAN CONTACT ME DIRECTLY.

OKAY. SHE HAS MY CONTACT INFORMATION.

IF NOT, I CAN. I CAN CHAT WITH HER TODAY.

AFTER THIS CALL.

OKAY, WE'LL LOOK INTO IT.

THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU.

SO, JUDGE, ARE WE GOING TO PUT TO NO ACTION ON 282? YES. CORRECT.

THANK YOU. NEXT IS SPEAKER 16 ANTHONY COLUMBO SPEAKING ON ITEM 283 UNDER PURCHASING.

YOU HAVE ONE MINUTE. THANK YOU.

[01:45:06]

I'M ANTHONY COLOMBO, PRESIDENT OF MC TWO CIVIL.

AND ON ITEM 282, WE WERE THE APPARENT LOW BIDDER ON THIS PROJECT AT 24 MILLION.

AND YOU HAVE THE AGENDA ITEM TO AWARD TO THE SECOND BIDDER FOR 27 MILLION, WHICH IS A $3.5 MILLION PREMIUM OVER A CAPABLE CONTRACTOR. WE HAVE FILED A FORMAL PROTEST ON IT.

I WOULD REQUEST THAT YOU HOLD THE JOB AWARD UNTIL THE PROTEST HAS BEEN COMPLETELY VETTED.

AND WE'VE HAD OUR CHANCE TO TO SPEAK TO EVERYONE.

THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU FOR COMING.

I KNOW IT'S BEEN IT'S BEEN PULLED.

SO I KNOW THAT AS YOU GO THROUGH THE PROTEST PROCESS.

OKAY. I HAVE A WHITE PAGE TOO.

IF I CAN LEAVE IT.

IS THAT AN ALLOWABLE THING? SURE. YES. RIGHT HERE.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

THANK YOU, THANK YOU.

NEXT IS SPEAKER 17 DANIEL ARAGON SPEAKING ON ITEM 332 UNDER COMMISSIONER PRECINCT THREE, YOU HAVE ONE MINUTE.

HE'S ON HIS WAY.

THANK YOU. IT WAS 432, ACTUALLY.

SO I AM HERE TO VERY CONCERNED ABOUT WHAT'S GOING ON WITH METRO.

I'M SURE YOU'RE AWARE THAT THE UNIVERSITY PROJECT WAS JUST CANCELED.

I KNOW THEY WANT TO SAY DEFER FOR LATER, BUT IT'S BEEN CANCELED.

AND THIS IS PART OF THE METRO NEXT PLAN THAT WAS APPROVED BY THE VOTERS.

SO I'M HERE TO URGE COMMISSIONERS COURT TO SUPPORT THIS PROJECT AND TO ENCOURAGE AND TO HOPEFULLY PUSH THE METRO APPOINTEES, THE ONES WHO WERE APPOINTED BY THIS COURT TO SUPPORT THIS PROJECT.

HOPEFULLY, COMMISSIONER GARCIA.

I'M A PRECINCT TWO RESIDENT.

YOU VOICE YOUR SUPPORT FOR THIS PROJECT? THIS PROJECT? NO EXAGGERATION, IS A ONCE IN A GENERATION PROJECT FOR OUR COMMUNITY.

AND I WANT TO THANK COMMISSIONER ELLIS FOR YOUR SUPPORT.

I SAW YOUR TWEET ABOUT THIS PROJECT THAT MADE ME WANT TO COME HERE FOR THE FIRST TIME, TO ADDRESS THIS COURT.

I THINK THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT.

THIS WAS A VOTER APPROVED CRIME IS UP, AND I HOPE THIS COURT AND SUPPORTS IT.

THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU FOR COMING.

AND I THINK I FOR ONE, I'M GOING TO REQUEST THAT THAT THE MEMBERS VOTE BECAUSE I THINK THAT IT'S VERY IT'S INAPPROPRIATE TO, TO KEEP, FOR ALL INTENTS AND PURPOSES, CANCEL PROJECT AND WASH THEIR HANDS OF THE FACT THAT THEY DID THAT.

SO I WANT TO SEE WHO STANDS WHERE.

AND, YOU KNOW, WE NOT ENOUGH PEOPLE RIDE METRO BECAUSE IT'S NOT ROBUST ENOUGH.

SOME PEOPLE, MANY PEOPLE DEPEND ON IT, BUT MOST MORE PEOPLE WOULD RIDE IT IF IT WAS ROBUST, ANYWHERE NEAR TO THE LEVEL OF EVERY OTHER BIG CITY IN THE COUNTRY BUT IN THE WORLD.

SO. SO I AGREE WITH YOU, AND I WOULD JUST LIKE TO SEE WHERE THAT MAJORITY CAME FROM.

YEAH. THE PROCESS.

SO I'M SURE YOU'RE AWARE THERE'S BEEN A NEW BOARD AT METRO.

A FEW MONTHS AGO.

ALL THE INFORMATION ABOUT THE PROJECT JUST DISAPPEARED OVERNIGHT, AND THEY SAID IT WAS UNDER REVIEW.

AND THEN LAST WEEK, THEY SAID THAT IT WAS TOO EXPENSIVE.

AND JUST A FEW MONTHS AGO, THE PREVIOUS BOARD WAS FULLY COMMITTED TO THE PROJECT.

SO I'M NOT SURE WHAT'S GOING ON.

RIGHT. AND WE SHOULD KNOW THERE'S A REASON THAT'S SUPPOSED TO BE PUBLIC, AND IT'S NOT JUST A SORT OF DICTATORIAL FIGURE.

THANK YOU, THANK YOU.

AND I HOPE YOU SUPPORT THIS. THANK YOU FOR COMING DOWN.

AND I JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU FOR YOUR YOU'RE TAKING TIME OUT OF YOUR SCHEDULE TO COME BY.

YOU KNOW, WHEN WHEN THIS PROJECT WAS BEING DISCUSSED, METRO DIDN'T HAVE IT RIGHT AT THE VERY BEGINNING.

AND SO I WENT DOWN THERE TO TO SPEAK ABOUT IT BECAUSE THE COMMUNITY WAS UPSET WITH IT.

WE WERE ABLE TO CRAFT A COMPROMISE.

AND AND THAT'S THE AND I WENT BACK TO ENDORSE THE CONTINUATION OF IT AT THAT TIME.

AND THAT'S WHAT I LAST THOUGHT WE HAD.

SO I'M IN CONVERSATIONS WITH METRO ON SEEING.

WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN TO THE PUBLIC SAFETY AMENITIES THAT I WANTED TO SEE COME THROUGH THIS? SO WE'LL BE FOLLOWING UP WITH THAT.

SO THANK YOU FOR COMING DOWN, AND I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT.

I KNOW YOU RECENTLY, UP TO 200 BUS SHELTERS THAT'S A BIG ISSUE WITH METRO RIGHT NOW.

SO THANK YOU. AND FOR ALL THE PEDESTRIAN PROJECTS, PARK PROJECTS THAT YOU ARE WORKING ON.

AND JUST ONE MORE QUICK THING.

I WOULD LIKE WE WOULD LIKE TO SEE MORE PUBLIC TRANSIT IN HARRIS COUNTY.

METRO IS THE METROPOLITAN TRANSIT AUTHORITY OF HARRIS COUNTY, BUT IT DOESN'T GO TO ALL OF HARRIS COUNTY.

THAT'S TRUE. AND A LOT OF THE PARKS LIKE JUNETEENTH PARK, I CAN'T ACCESS IT BECAUSE I DON'T HAVE A CAR.

[01:50:01]

THANK YOU. GOOD DEAL. THANK YOU.

THANKS FOR COMING. NEXT IS AGENDA.

SPEAKER NUMBER 18, NADEEM MAZARI SPEAKING ON ITEM 414.

YOU HAVE ONE MINUTE.

GOOD AFTERNOON. I THINK IT IS.

GOOD AFTERNOON. MY NAME IS NADEEM MAZAR.

I'M THE CEO OF CUSTOM TECHNOLOGY SOLUTIONS.

I'M HERE TO LEND MY VOICE AND SUPPORT FOR THIS INITIATIVE.

I'VE BEEN IN BUSINESS FOR 23 YEARS.

MY ASSOCIATION GOES BACK WITH HMS DUKE ABOUT EIGHT AND ONE THIRD OF MY BUSINESS LIFE.

I'M MUCH RICHER FOR IT TODAY.

WHEN I BEFORE I JOINED THE COMMUNITY.

AND THE REASON I SAY THAT IS EVEN THOUGH WE PROMOTE EQUITY AND EQUILIBRIUM IN BUSINESS, WE BASICALLY ARE FUNDAMENTALLY CREATING COMMERCE AND WEALTH AND BRIDGING THE GAP BETWEEN THOSE WHO HAVE AND WHO HAVE NOT.

OUR CHAPTER INCLUDES BUSINESSES THAT ARE 1 MILLION IN SIZE TO OVER 10 BILLION.

AND FOR THOSE WHO ARE AT THE LOWER END OF THE ECONOMIC SPECTRUM, WE ARE INCUBATORS OF BUSINESS.

AND FOR THOSE WHO ARE MATURE BUSINESSES, WE ARE BASICALLY WE SERVE AS A BRIDGE.

FOR ME PERSONALLY, I BELIEVE I HAVE LEARNED ABOUT MORE.

YOUR TIME IS UP. YOU CAN CONTINUE BRIEFLY.

YES. IT'S MORE BEEN FOR ME ABOUT GIVING THAN GETTING BUSINESS, AND I'M MUCH RICHER FOR IT TODAY.

AND IF YOU WERE TO SUPPORT OUR INITIATIVE, I THINK YOU WOULD HAVE HELPED THE LANDSCAPE AND ECONOMIC FOOTPRINT OF THE CITY.

THANK YOU, THANK YOU.

NEXT IS MICHAEL ZHANG SPEAKING ON ITEM 414.

YOU HAVE ONE MINUTE.

GOOD AFTERNOON, COUNTY JUDGE AND COMMISSIONERS.

THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY.

MY NAME IS MICHAEL ZHANG, CO-FOUNDER OF ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEERING CONSULTING.

WE ARE A CERTIFIED VETERAN OWNED, A MINORITY OWNED ENGINEERING CONSULTING FIRM.

I'M ALSO A BOARD MEMBER OF THE HOUSTON MINORITY SUPPLIER DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL.

I'M HERE TO SUPPORT THE PROPOSAL OF THE DEPARTMENT OF ECONOMIC EQUITY AND THE OPPORTUNITY TO ACCEPT HMS DCS CERTIFICATION OF MINORITY OWNED BUSINESS, AKA AND B, I ASKED THAT YOU APPROVED ACCEPTANCE OF HMS D'ARCY CERTIFICATION.

HMS D'ARCY WORKS CLOSELY WITH HARRIS COUNTY AND OTHER PROCUREMENT ORGANIZATIONS IN THE PUBLIC AND PRIVATE SECTORS.

TO INCREASE ACCESS TO CONTRACT OPPORTUNITIES FOR MWBES LIKE US, AND BY APPROVING THE PROPOSAL, IT WILL MAKE IT EASIER FOR DIVERSE SUPPLIERS LIKE US TO DO BUSINESS WITH.

YOUR TIME IS UP. YOU WANT TO WRAP UP REAL QUICK? WOULD YOU? ABOUT FINISHED.

YEAH, IF YOU DON'T MIND, SIR.

THANK YOU. SO AS PART OF THE DC BOARD AND ALSO PART OF THE MWBE CERTIFIED BUSINESS WE ARE BENEFITED A LOT FROM CERTIFICATION. THE COUNCIL HELPED US TO CONNECT WITH MAJOR CORPORATIONS, YOU KNOW, MAKE CONNECTIONS, YOU KNOW, MAKING CONTRACTING OPPORTUNITIES AND ALSO CONNECT US WITH, YOU KNOW, DIFFERENT AGENCIES IN THE COUNTY, IN THE CITY OR IN THE STATE AS A WHOLE.

SO WE REALLY THINK THIS IS A GREAT OPPORTUNITY WHERE COUNTY ACCEPT MS DC CERTIFICATION SO IT CAN BENEFIT FROM THE PURCHASING STANDPOINT AND ALSO BENEFIT LIKE MINORITY OWNED BUSINESS AT THAT POINT.

SO THAT'S ALL I HAVE.

AND THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIME AND APPRECIATE IT.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU.

NEXT IS NANETTE GRAY SPEAKING ON ITEM 414.

YOU HAVE ONE MINUTE.

HELLO, JUDGE AND COMMISSIONERS, MY NAME IS NANETTE RAY, AND I'M THE PRESIDENT AND CEO OF TNR ADVISORS AND MANAGEMENT CONSULTANTS.

I ALSO SERVE AS A I'M A CERTIFIED MWBE BOARD MEMBER AND CURRENTLY SERVE AS THE CHAIR OF THE MWBE INPUT COMMITTEE FOR THE HOUSTON MINORITY SUPPLIER DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL. I'M HERE TO SPEAK TO YOU IN SUPPORT OF THE PROPOSAL FOR D.E.O.

OFFICE TO ACCEPT HMS DECK CERTIFICATION HMS DECK HAS HELPED MY COMPANY GROW AND SUSTAIN BY PROVIDING EXCELLENT TRAINING AND DEVELOPMENT SERVICES SUCH AS THEIR PATHWAY TO EXCELLENCE, MBA, LEADERSHIP ACADEMY, SUPPLIER IDOL.

SO MUCH SO THAT OUR FIRM HAS BEEN AWARDED LEVEE IMPROVEMENT DISTRICTS.

WE'RE AN ACCOUNTING FIRM AS WELL AS MUD DISTRICTS, AND WE ALSO SERVE AS THE FIRM FOR COMMISSIONERS.

GARCIA'S PRECINCT TOGETHER.

SO ALL OF THAT HAS WORKED TOGETHER TO HELP GROW OUR FIRM AND HELP US GROW.

SO IN CLOSING, I ASK THAT YOU SUPPORT THIS CERTIFICATION FOR MSC CERTIFICATION.

[01:55:03]

SPEAKER NUMBER 22, DOCTOR APRIL DAY, SPEAKING ON ITEM 414.

YOU HAVE ONE MINUTE.

ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR HAVING ME HERE TODAY.

AGAIN, MY NAME IS APRIL DAY, DOCTOR APRIL DAY WITH THE WOMEN'S BUSINESS ENTERPRISE ALLIANCE.

AND WE'RE HERE TO ALSO ASK THE ACCEPTANCE OF THE WBA WEBBANK WBA CERTIFICATION AND THE DEO INITIATIVES.

SO I WANT TO SHARE A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE BENEFITS AND A LITTLE BIT ABOUT WBA.

SO WE WERE ESTABLISHED IN 1995 AND WE CERTIFY RIGHT NOW WE HAVE ABOUT 830 CERTIFIED WOMEN BUSINESS ENTERPRISES.

BUT BECAUSE WE ALSO DOUBLE AS AN SBA RESOURCE CENTER, WE SERVICED OVER 1500 BUSINESSES, MALE WOMEN AND MINORITY BUSINESSES.

WE SERVICE FROM MICRO ENTERPRISES THAT ARE UNDER 1 MILLION, UNDER TEN EMPLOYEES TO OVER 20 MILLION THAT SUPPORT THE ECONOMY.

ENHANCE THE SMALL BUSINESS ECOSYSTEM OF OUR CITY.

IN ADDITION TO OUR CERTIFICATION, WE ARE A FULLY COMPREHENSIVE BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT ORGANIZATION.

WE HAVE CAPACITY PROGRAMS THAT INCUBATE, LAUNCH AND SCALE THE BUSINESSES.

WE HAVE TWO SBA RESOURCE CENTERS THAT SERVE WOMEN, MINORITIES, SMALL BUSINESSES.

AND THANK YOU. YOUR TIME IS UP.

OKAY. THANK YOU. YOU CAN WRAP UP QUICKLY.

OKAY. THANK YOU. IN ADDITION TO THOSE BUSINESSES, OUR GOAL IS TO MAKE SURE THAT BUSINESSES ARE CONTRACT READY AND HAVE OPPORTUNITIES FOR THOSE PROCUREMENT CONNECTIONS AND ALSO HAVE ACCESS TO CAPITAL, BECAUSE WE KNOW THAT THAT'S VERY IMPORTANT.

WE DO THIS BY PARTNERING WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF ECONOMIC EQUITY OPPORTUNITY ON CERTIFICATION.

AND I THINK TOGETHER WE CAN REDUCE THE BARRIERS THAT EXIST FOR THE SMALL BUSINESS COMMUNITY, SPECIFICALLY WOMEN AND MINORITY COMPANIES.

THIS WILL HELP US TO ENHANCE THE SUPPLIER DEVELOPMENT AND SUPPORT AND ENHANCE YOUR PROGRAM.

SO WE HOPE THAT YOU ACCEPT THE CERTIFICATION SO THAT WE CAN CONTINUE TO BUILD THIS GREAT CITY.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE TIME.

THANK YOU. NEXT IS INGRID ROBINSON SPEAKING ON ITEM 414.

YOU HAVE ONE MINUTE.

GOOD MORNING, JUDGE AND COMMISSIONERS.

THANK YOU. I'M HERE TO SPEAK ON BEHALF OF THE HOUSTON MINORITY SUPPLIER DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL.

AS PRESIDENT AND CEO, WE HAVE BEEN WORKING WITH THE COUNTY AND OTHER GOVERNMENTAL OFFICIALS FOR OVER 51 YEARS AS A MINORITY BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT ORGANIZATION AND INCUBATOR.

WE CONTINUE TO OFFER SCHOLARSHIPS OVER $2 MILLION IN SCHOLARSHIPS TO MINORITY OWNED BUSINESSES, AS MENTIONED FROM SOME OF OUR MEMBERS THAT HAVE SPOKEN BEFORE ME, WE OFFER TRAINING AND DEVELOPMENT, TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE, CONNECTIONS TO PROCUREMENT OPPORTUNITIES, ACCESS TO INFORMATION AND TO DECISION MAKERS.

AND OUR JOB IS TO CONNECT MINORITY OWNED BUSINESSES ACROSS TEXAS WITH CERTIFIED MBAS FROM BOTH THE PUBLIC AND THE PRIVATE SECTOR. SO WE APPRECIATE YOUR SUPPORT AND ENCOURAGE YOU TO VOTE IN SUPPORT OF THIS INITIATIVE.

TO HAVE HMS D'ARCY CERTIFICATION RECOGNIZED BY HARRIS COUNTY.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU.

ZANN DEFEATED OR DEFEATED? SPEAKING ON ITEM 414.

YOU HAVE ONE MINUTE.

HI. HEY. GOOD MORNING. MY NAME IS ZANDER.

AND I'M ALSO HERE TO SUPPORT HARRIS COUNTY'S ACCEPTANCE OF WBA CERTIFICATION.

I OWN TWO COMPANIES.

THEY'RE BOTH CERTIFIED BY WBA.

ONE IS FIDELITY FUELS.

WE CURRENTLY HOLD CITY OF HOUSTON WASTE MANAGEMENT, REPUBLIC SERVICES AND HISD CONTRACTS.

YOU KNOW, COMPLETELY BECAUSE WE HAVE WBA CERTIFICATION.

MY OTHER COMPANY'S THIRD ROCK RENEWABLES.

WE OWN THE LICENSING AGREEMENT TO MARKET A PATENTED TECHNOLOGY THAT TAKES END OF LIFE.

TIRE SIDEWALLS ARE REMOVED, READY FOR LANDFILL.

INSTEAD, WE USE IT TO BUILD SUSTAINABLE ROADS AND PARKING LOTS.

RICE UNIVERSITY IS WRITING CARBON CREDITS FOR US.

THIS. YOU WILL NOT GET POTHOLES.

IT'S LESS EXPENSIVE TO BUILD.

WBA SUPPORTS THIS PROJECT AND HAS WORKED RELENTLESSLY TO PUT US IN TOUCH WITH THE RIGHT PEOPLE WITH THE LARGER ORGANIZATIONS.

EXXONMOBIL RECENTLY DONATED THEIR BOOTH AT THE NATIONAL CONFERENCE IN DENVER AND 100% DUE TO DOCTOR DAY'S INVOLVEMENT WITH THE WBA.

WE'RE ALSO LOOKING FOR BECAUSE WE'RE CHANGING THE WAY ROADS ARE BUILT.

AND THERE ARE ROADS THAT ARE 12 YEARS OLD, BUT BECAUSE WE'RE CHANGING THAT.

CONTINUE. OKAY.

THANK YOU. NO, MA'AM.

NO. CONTINUE. CAN I WRAP IT UP? YOU GOT. YOU GOT ME AT POTHOLES THAT YOU DON'T HAVE TO.

THANK YOU. I KNOW I WAS LIKE, YES.

SO ANYWAY, YOU WILL NEVER GET A POTHOLE.

BUT THE CHALLENGE IS WE'RE LOOKING FOR CIVIL ENGINEERS AND GEOTECH ENGINEERS THAT WANT TO LEARN HOW TO BUILD THIS WAY.

AND THIS IS NOT NEW.

GEORGE W BUSH'S CIVIL ENGINEER, DIRECTOR OF DOT, ACTUALLY PATENTED THIS.

BUT NOW WE HAVE A SUSTAINABILITY PLATFORM.

NOW THAT THAT WE BELIEVE IN, WE HAVE TEST ROADS THAT ARE 12 YEARS OLD AND THEY'VE NEVER BEEN REPAIRED.

[02:00:05]

LASALLE COUNTY JUST VOTED TO PUT IN A TWO MILE ROAD.

42,000 TIRES WILL BE DIVERTED FROM A LANDFILL.

AND CITY OF PEARLAND JUST VOTED UNANIMOUSLY TO PUT IN TWO ROADS.

WHAT WE'RE LOOKING FOR IS THE SUPPORT FOR THE CIVIL ENGINEERS, AND THAT'S WHERE THE WBA COMES IN, BECAUSE WE'VE GOT THIS ENORMOUS RESOURCE NOW WHERE WE CAN FIND CIVIL ENGINEERS AND GEOTECH CONSTRUCTION COMPANIES THAT WANT TO LEARN HOW TO BUILD DIFFERENTLY, BUILD SUSTAINABLE AND AND HELP US, YOU KNOW, WE GENERATE A MILLION TIRES IN THE UNITED STATES A DAY. AND THIS IS A VIABLE, HISTORICALLY PROVEN YOU KNOW, PROCESS THAT WORKS.

SO I APPRECIATE YOUR TIME TODAY.

AND AGAIN, IT'S IT'S DUE TO DOCTOR DAY AND THE WBA THAT'S GIVEN US THIS PLATFORM TO MAKE THIS HAPPEN.

WE'LL FOLLOW UP WITH YOU.

OKAY. GREAT. THANK YOU.

NEXT IS CATHY HALL SPEAKING ON ITEM 414.

YOU HAVE ONE MINUTE.

WELL GOOD AFTERNOON COMMISSIONERS.

MY NAME IS CATHY HALL, AND I'M THE PRESIDENT AND FOUNDER OF A TIME FOR MARKETING, A BOUTIQUE DIRECT MARKETING CONSULTANCY.

I SPEAK ON BEHALF OF AGENDA ITEM 414 AS A CERTIFIED MWBE AND VICE CHAIR OF THE MWBE INPUT COMMITTEE OF THE HOUSTON MINORITY SUPPLIER DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL, APPROVING THE ACCEPTANCE OF HMS STCW CERTIFICATION IS THE RIGHT THING TO DO.

HMS STCW SDC CERTIFICATION BRINGS QUALIFIED, VETTED BUSINESSES THAT ARE THOROUGHLY INVESTIGATED TO THE TABLE, AND IT MAKES IT EASIER FOR A SMALL BUSINESS LIKE MYSELF TO DO BUSINESS WITH ENTITIES LIKE HARRIS COUNTY.

HMS SDC HAS HELPED ME BECOME CORPORATE READY WITH EXCELLENT PROGRAMS AND HAS MADE VALUABLE INTRODUCTIONS.

EXPANDING THE COUNTY LIST TO INCLUDE HMS EDC WILL NOT ONLY INCREASE THE POOL OF STRONG BUSINESSES AVAILABLE TO THE COUNTY, BUT WILL MAKE FOR A STRONG AND DIVERSE COUNTY BUSINESS ECOSYSTEM.

GOD BLESS YOU, COMMISSIONERS, FOR ALL THAT YOU DO.

THANK YOU, THANK YOU.

JUDGE, IF I MIGHT, I JUST WANT TO THANK ALL OF THEM FROM COMING.

I THINK THAT WAS THE LAST ONE WITH YOUR GROUP AND SAY THAT I HOPE I'LL SEE SOME OF YOU ALL.

I'LL BE OUT AT DICK HEPPNER'S HOME GOING CELEBRATION THIS WEEKEND.

HE WAS THE FIRST HEAD OF THIS ORGANIZATION AND COMMISSIONER, YOU MIGHT REMEMBER, HE WAS VERY HELPFUL ON SO MANY ISSUES OVER THE CITY AND EVEN IN HIS LATER YEARS, WERE CALLED IN TO HELP US WHEN WE WERE LOOKING AT THE POLICY HERE.

SO HOPE TO SEE SOME OF YOU ALL AT HIS FUNERAL ON SATURDAY.

ALL RIGHT. AND THANK YOU FOR COMING.

THANK YOU. NEXT IS SENATOR MOLLY COOK SPEAKING VIRTUALLY ON ITEM 432.

YOU HAVE ONE MINUTE. GO AHEAD PLEASE.

HEY, Y'ALL, THIS IS STATE SENATOR MOLLY COOK REPRESENTING DISTRICT 15, AND I AM REALLY EXCITED.

THE DISTRICT 15 IS HOME TO MANY OF METRO'S HIGHEST RIDERSHIP ROUTES, SEVERAL OF WHICH I RIDE REGULARLY MYSELF.

SO I'M HERE TO SPEAK IN SUPPORT OF THE PLANNED UNIVERSITY BRT LINE, AND TO THANK YOU ALL FOR EXAMINING IT TODAY.

I URGE US ALL TO URGE METRO TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THIS PROJECT AND DO RIGHT BY THE VOTERS AND THE PUBLIC HEALTH AND SAFETY OF OUR REGION.

AS YOU ALL KNOW, I'M AN EMERGENCY ROOM NURSE.

I'M ACTUALLY AT WORK TODAY, STEPPED AWAY FROM THE DESK TO CALL IN, AND EVERY DAY IN THE E.R., I SEE THE NEED FOR TRANSFORMATIVE PUBLIC TRANSIT.

I CARE FOR VERY SICK PATIENTS WHO ARE SOMETIMES DROPPED OFF AN UBER WITH NO WAY HOME.

I MEAN, WOMEN COVERED IN BRUISES WHO WOULD HAVE LEFT ABUSIVE SITUATIONS EARLIER IF THEY HAD ACCESS TO BETTER TRANSPORTATION, AND SENIORS WHO MISSED APPOINTMENTS BECAUSE THEY CAN NO LONGER DRIVE, AND THEY CRAVE THE COMMUNITY AND CONNECTION THAT ROBUST PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION OFFERS THEM, I AM FRESH OFF OF KNOCKING ON THOUSANDS OF DOORS IN MY DISTRICT, AND THE PEOPLE IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON, UNINCORPORATED HARRIS COUNTY AND THE SMALL CITIES ALL WANT MORE INVESTMENT IN PUBLIC TRANSIT.

THANK YOU. YOUR TIME IS UP. YOU CAN CONTINUE.

THANK YOU. ACCESS TO SAFE, AFFORDABLE, FREQUENT PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION IS ALWAYS AT THE TOP OF THEIR LIST OF NEEDS AND CONCERNS.

THE UNIVERSITY BRT LINE IS NOT JUST A BUS LINE.

IT'S A LIFELINE FOR SO MANY OF THESE PEOPLE, AND IT HOLDS THE POTENTIAL TO BE THE NEW BACKBONE FOR OUR ENTIRE SYSTEM, CONNECTING WITH THOUSANDS OF FAMILIES WHO LIVE ALONG IT.

THIS LINE WOULD CONNECT THE MOST HIGH POPULATION DENSITY AND HIGH JOB AREAS WITH EDUCATION CENTERS AND HEALTH CENTERS.

MANY OF THE FAMILIES WHO LIVE ALONG THIS LINE EARN LOWER MODEST INCOMES AND LIVE WITHOUT A CAR.

THIS WOULD OFFER THEM THE OPPORTUNITY AND CONNECTION TO JOBS AND HEALTH CARE FACILITIES LIKE AIR.

MY PATIENTS NEED THIS LINE, MY CONSTITUENTS NEED THIS LINE, AND ALL OF HOUSTON DESERVES THIS HISTORIC INVESTMENT IN THE FUTURE OF OUR CITY.

SO THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH FOR DISCUSSING IT TODAY, AND FOR WHAT I HOPE WILL BE YOUR SUPPORT OF THIS HISTORIC PROJECT.

THANK YOU ALL. SENATOR RODNEY ELLIS, I WANT TO THANK YOU.

CONGRATULATIONS AS WELL.

ON ON YOUR ON YOUR VICTORY.

AND I APPRECIATE YOU TAKING THE TIME IN THE EMERGENCY ROOM TO CALL IN, BECAUSE OBVIOUSLY IT'S A VERY IMPORTANT ISSUE.

[02:05:02]

IT'S AN EMERGENCY. YEAH, RIGHT.

SENATOR, THIS IS COMMISSIONER GARCIA.

THANK YOU. LIKEWISE FOR TAKING TIME OUT TO SPEAK ON THIS.

AND YOU KNOW WHAT? YOU HIT ON THE POINT THAT IS PART OF THE CONVERSATION I'M WITH METRO ON, AND THAT IS RIDERSHIP HAS GOT TO BE A MAJOR PART OF THE FOCUS. SO THANK YOU FOR TOUCHING ON THAT AND CONGRATULATIONS AS WELL.

AND I WILL SEE YOU SOON.

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

THANK YOU SO MUCH, SENATOR.

THANK YOU. NEXT IS SPEAKER 28 ALEXANDER SPIKE SPEAKING ON ITEM 432.

YOU HAVE ONE MINUTE.

GOOD AFTERNOON, COMMISSIONERS AND COUNTY JUDGE.

MY NAME IS ALEX SPIK. I'M WITH AIRLINES HOUSTON'S CLIMATE TEAM.

WE ARE THE AIR POLLUTION NONPROFIT OF THE HOUSTON AREA AND BELIEVE EVERYONE HAS A RIGHT TO CLEAN AIR.

I'M HERE IN FAVOR OF ITEM 432 AND METRO'S UNIVERSITY LINE.

OH MY GOODNESS. JUST LOST IT.

THE BEST RESEARCH ON CLIMATE SUGGESTS WE NEED TO DOUBLE RIDERSHIP ON PUBLIC TRANSIT EVERY YEAR FOR THREE YEARS TO MEET GLOBAL GOALS.

THERE IS NO ACTION ON CLIMATE WITHOUT EXPANSION OF TRANSIT.

THE LINE'S LOSS WOULD IMPACT FOLKS ALL ACROSS HARRIS COUNTY, INCLUDING PRECINCTS ONE, CASHIER, PRECINCT ONE, KASHMERE GARDENS, FOUR TOWNS AND TWO SECOND WARD.

THE PROJECT CONTRIBUTES TO THE OBJECTIVES OF ADOPTED THROUGH THE HARRIS COUNTY STRATEGIC FRAMEWORK.

KEEPING THIS PROJECT MOVING IS A TEST OF HOW DEDICATED THE COUNTY IS TO THE STRATEGIC STRATEGIC FRAMEWORK.

ACHIEVING A SAFE, FAIR, HEALTHY, RESILIENT AND CONNECTED HARRIS COUNTY WILL BE UNDERMINED BY THE ULINE'S LOSS.

IN PARTNERSHIP WITH URBAN DESIGNS FOR URBAN DESIGN FOR HEALTH AIRLINES, HOUSTON HAS MODELED THE HEALTH IMPACT OF THE UNIVERSITY LINE.

THE ENVIRONMENT AND HEALTH BENEFITS INCLUDE, BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO LOWER TYPE TWO DIABETES RATES, HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE, HEALTH DISEASE RATES, AND LOWER DEPRESSION AND DISTRESS RATES.

THIS REPORT ISN'T QUITE READY, BUT I DID SEE THE NEED TO SHARE OUR RESULTS AND GIVE THE PAUSE.

GIVEN THE PAUSE ON THE METRO.

ON THE METRO NEXT PROJECT.

I'LL SHARE IT ALL WITH YOU ALL LATER TODAY.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU SO MUCH.

NEXT IS NON-AGENDA SPEAKER NUMBER ONE, WALTER PROTHEROE.

YOU HAVE ONE MINUTE.

THANK YOU. COMMISSIONERS.

MY NAME IS WALTER PROTHRO.

COUNTY COMMISSIONERS, I WOULD LIKE TO CONTINUE IN THE LINE OF THE ISSUES WITH HARRIS HEALTH, AS OTHER COUNTY AGENCIES HAVE AVOIDED THEIR RESPONSIBILITIES.

I WOULD LIKE TO START WITH THE OFFICERS AND DEPUTIES THAT ARE POSTED AT HARRIS HEALTH.

AS MY FIRST ENCOUNTER WITH HARRIS HEALTH, THE PHYSICIAN HAD PHYSICALLY ASSAULTED ME AFTER I HAD STATED I WOULD REPORT HIM FOR READING MY CHART OUT LOUD AND VERBALLY ABUSING ME. I CONTACTED THE OFFICER NEAR THE SURGICAL EMERGENCY CENTER AND HE REFUSED TO TAKE ANY ACTION, AS HE STATED THAT THERE WAS NO WAY HE WAS GOING TO TAKE A REPORT ON A DOCTOR.

THIS SHOULD BE ADDRESSED BY THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATORS TO MAKE SURE PATIENTS ARE IMMEDIATELY CAN IMMEDIATELY REPORT PHYSICAL ABUSE WITHOUT WORRYING ABOUT RETALIATION LIKE I HAD.

NEXT IS THE ISSUE WITH THE HARRIS COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S OFFICE, WHICH WILL NOT MAKE ANY REPORTS ON ISSUES WITH HARRIS HEALTH.

EVEN WITH AUDIO AND VIDEO EVIDENCE.

THANK YOU. YOUR TIME IS UP.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MR. PROTHEROE. NEXT IS NON-AGENDA SPEAKER NUMBER FIVE, MICHAEL DICKERSON.

YOU HAVE ONE MINUTE.

GOOD MORNING. MY NAME IS MICHAEL DICKERSON.

I'M HERE TO SPEAK ON JAMES DRIVER PARK.

IT'S VERY IRONIC THAT THIS MORNING ACCOMMODATIONS WERE GIVEN TO THEM.

BUT I'M HERE TO SPEAK ABOUT A SAFETY ISSUE.

THAT CHILDREN AT THE PARK ARE BEING INJURED ON A PIECE OF EQUIPMENT THAT IS SUPPOSED TO BE USED FOR THEIR RECREATION.

I WANTED TO BRING UP ONE OF THE PARENTS IN THIS MORNING, BUT THEY'RE UNDOCUMENTED, SO THEY.

THEY DIDN'T WANT TO APPEAR.

BUT THE CHILDREN ARE GETTING INJURED OUT THERE ON THIS EQUIPMENT.

I TOLD MY SUPERVISOR MIKE TRUE AND CHRIS SADLER, WHO WAS HERE THIS MORNING, BUT NOTHING WAS DONE ABOUT IT.

AND AS A MATTER OF FACT, I LOST MY JOB JUST BY BRINGING BRINGING THE ISSUES UP.

SO IF SOMEONE CAN.

COMMISSIONER GARCIA, IF YOU CAN TAKE CARE OF THAT, I APPRECIATE IT.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU SO MUCH.

AND, SIR, WHAT WAS WHAT WAS THE ISSUE SPECIFICALLY? THERE'S A THERE'S AN AREA OUT AT PARK AT JAMES DRIVER WHERE CHILDREN AND I HAVE PICTURES OF IT.

[02:10:03]

SMALL CHILDREN CAN FALL 7 TO 8FT.

I MEASURED 7 TO 8FT.

AND I TOLD MY SUPERVISORS ABOUT IT, AND NOTHING WAS EVER DONE ABOUT IT.

AND I AND I EVEN CONTACTED THE COMMISSIONER GARCIA'S OFFICE, AND STILL NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE ABOUT IT.

AND I KNOW THAT I HADN'T SPOKEN WITH HIM DIRECTLY, SO I CAN'T PLACE THE BLAME ON YOU.

BUT I DO PLACE BLAME ON THE FACT THAT I HAVE DOCUMENTED THIS AND SENT IT IN AND TOLD THEM ABOUT IT.

AND THERE'S TO TO MY RECOLLECTION, THERE'S AT LEAST THREE CHILDREN THAT GOT INJURED OUT THERE AND NO ONE'S DONE ANYTHING ABOUT IT.

AND WHEN I BROUGHT THE ISSUES UP, THEY STARTED TO RETALIATE AGAINST ME.

WELL, WE'LL BE SURE TO FOLLOW UP AND WORK WITH THE COMMISSIONER ON IT.

I APPRECIATE IT. THANK YOU FOR COMING DOWN.

YES, SIR. THANK YOU.

NON-AGENDA SPEAKER NUMBER SEVEN, MARCUS ALLEN.

YOU HAVE ONE MINUTE.

I'M MARCUS ALLEN. I'M A RESIDENT IN CREEKSIDE PARK VILLAGE.

IT'S ONE OF THE MOST NORTHERN COMMUNITIES IN THE HARRIS COUNTY, ADJACENT TO SPRING CREEK AND IN THE 100 YEAR FLOODPLAIN.

OUR REQUEST TO THE COMMISSIONERS TODAY IS TO FOLLOW UP TO MY REQUEST TO THE HARRIS COUNTY FLOOD CONTROL DISTRICT TO UPDATE THE MODELS OF FLOODING IN THE AREA, AND ALSO TO THE COUNTY JUDGE FOR THE PLANNING AND SAFE EVACUATION OF RESIDENTS IN THE 100 YEAR FLOODPLAIN.

THE SIGNIFICANT DEVELOPMENT IN THE AREA ALL ALONG OUR COUNTY AND OUTSIDE OF OUR COUNTY IS PROBABLY GOING TO BRING MORE DIFFICULTY THAN HURRICANE HARVEY, WHICH ISOLATED MY NEIGHBORHOOD FOR TWO DAYS.

AND OUR MAIN ACCESS WAY OUT.

GOSLING WAS COMPLETELY FLOODED.

THANK YOU. I HAVE THE DOCUMENT HERE I SUBMITTED TO HARRIS COUNTY FLOOD DISTRICT FOR YOUR.

AND I ALSO SUBMIT IT TO YOUR OFFICE.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MARCUS.

THANK YOU FOR COMING BY.

WE'LL VISIT AGAIN.

THANK YOU, THANK YOU. AND I'LL HAVE MY TEAM CHECK IN WITH YOU AS WELL.

NON-AGENDA SPEAKER NUMBER EIGHT.

AND YVONNE, YOU HAVE ONE MINUTE.

SHE'S MAKING HER WAY.

HOW MANY MINUTES IN THE MINUTES I GOT? HOW MANY MINUTES? ONE MINUTE. ONE.

CORRECT. OKAY.

WHAT? YOU HAVE A BUNCH OF CROOKS DOWN THERE? FALSIFYING MY RECORDS.

AND YOU, YOUR WITNESSES THAT I'M NOT DEAD AND TRYING TO TAKE MY PROPERTY.

I DIDN'T NEED THAT MEANS.

NEXT IS NON-AGENDA SPEAKER NUMBER 11, ALEXI SWIRSKY.

YOU HAVE SOMEONE CHECK WITH CHECK IN WITH YOU.

12 YEAR OLD JOCELYN NUNGARAY AND 11 YEAR OLD MARIA GONZALEZ ARE JUST A FEW OF THE HARRIS COUNTY RESIDENTS MURDERED BY ILLEGAL ALIENS, WITH THE GIRLS ALSO SEXUALLY ASSAULTED.

THIS EVIL DOESN'T HAVE TO HAPPEN IN HARRIS COUNTY.

MAYOR JOHN WHITMIRE NOTED THAT THERE ARE MORE THAN 900 MURDER OR CAPITAL MURDER SUSPECTS OUT ON BAIL IN HARRIS COUNTY, AND THAT MANY OF THEM ARE FUGITIVES WHOSE WHEREABOUTS ARE UNKNOWN. IN 2017, HARRIS COUNTY JUDGE I'M SORRY, HARRIS COUNTY SHERIFF ED GONZALEZ ANNOUNCED THAT HIS DEPARTMENT WOULD END THE FEDERAL PROGRAM UNDER WHICH DEPUTIES WERE TRAINED TO IDENTIFY SUSPECTS WITH DEPORTATION ORDERS.

FORTUNATELY, ICE HAS ALREADY LAUNCHED DETAINERS WITH THE HARRIS COUNTY JAIL FOR MARTINEZ AND PENA, THE MURDERERS WHO BRUTALLY RAPED AND ASSAULTED JOCELYN FOR TWO HOURS.

WE NEED COUNTY OFFICIALS WHO WILL STAND UP TO PROTECT CITIZENS RIGHT TO LIVE.

NOT THE RIGHT TO MURDER AND NOT THE RIGHT TO ILLEGALLY EMIGRATE.

IT IS WELL KNOWN THAT THE COUNTRY WHERE JOCELYN MURDERS WERE FROM VENEZUELA, IS EMPTYING THEIR PRISONS INTO THE UNITED STATES.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU.

NON-AGENDA SPEAKER NUMBER 13, MARISSA HANSON.

YOU HAVE ONE MINUTE.

IT TOOK EIGHT DAYS FOR YOU TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE DEATH AND BRUTAL RAPE OF 12 YEAR OLD JOCELYN AND GARY.

I UNDERSTAND YOUR SILENCE.

BUT AS LEADERS OF THE HARRIS COUNTY COMMUNITY, YOU ARE OSTRACIZING A LARGE GROUP OF PEOPLE? ESPECIALLY WITH THE NATURE.

THIS WAS A CHILD, I GUESS, BECAUSE SHE DIDN'T HAVE FENTANYL IN HER SYSTEM AND A RAP SHEET AS LARGE AS A CVS RECEIPT.

[02:15:08]

YOU HAVE DAUGHTERS, I.

FOR THE LIFE OF ME, I CANNOT UNDERSTAND HOW YOU COULD MAKE THIS A POLITICAL STANCE.

AND, LINA IF YOU ACTUALLY HAD MET WITH THE FAMILY.

THIS HASN'T. WE HAVEN'T BEEN TALKING ABOUT POLITICS OR ANYTHING.

WE'RE THERE SUPPORTING HER.

THANK YOU. YOUR TIME IS UP.

THANK YOU. NEXT IS AGENDA.

SPEAKER NUMBER 29, DIEGO DEGENHART, SPEAKING ON ITEM 432.

HE'S MAKING HIS WAY. GOOD AFTERNOON.

ON BEHALF OF THE MANY WHO ARE UNABLE TO SPEAK TODAY, I URGE YOU TO PUBLICLY SUPPORT THE UNIVERSITY BRT AND ENSURE THAT METRO DELIVER TO THE RESIDENTS OF THE REGION FOR THE TRANSFORMATIVE PROJECT THAT WE ARE POISED TO RECEIVE IN THIS REGION.

AS THE COUNTRY'S THIRD LARGEST COUNTY HOST OF THE FOURTH LARGEST CITY, IT IS A DISSERVICE AND DOWNRIGHT DISRESPECTFUL TO FAIL TO MEET THE VISION AND NEEDS OF THE LONG EXPRESSED METRO CONSTITUENCY.

YOUR CONSTITUENTS.

THE UNIVERSITY BRT IS A ONCE IN A GENERATION CATALYTIC PROJECT POISED TO BRING A POSITIVE TRANSFORMATION IN A REGION FACING INCREASING HARDSHIPS AND CHALLENGES. OUR REGION'S CHALLENGES REQUIRE ALL OF US TO RISE UP AND MEET THE MOMENT.

RESIDENTS AND VOTERS HAVE ALREADY DONE THEIR PART FOR DECADES.

NOW, I ASK YOU, PLEASE ENSURE YOUR SUPPORT IN ENSURING METRO DOES THE SAME AND DELIVERS ON THIS PROMISE.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU.

THANK YOU. NEXT IS AGENDA.

SPEAKER 27 GABE CAZARES SPEAKING ON ITEM 432.

GOOD AFTERNOON. MY NAME IS GABE CAZARES, GUTIÉRREZ.

I AM EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF LINK HOUSTON.

WE ARE A NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION THAT ADVOCATES FOR EQUITABLE TRANSPORTATION SOLUTIONS, AND WE'RE APPALLED BY METRO'S RECENT DECISION TO ABANDON THE FEDERAL GRANT PROCESS FOR THE UNIVERSITY CORRIDOR PROJECT, THE BACKBONE OF THE METRO NEXT MOVING FORWARD PLAN, WHICH WAS SUPPORTED BY 68% OF HARRIS COUNTY VOTERS IN 2019.

THE UNIVERSITY LINE IS EXPECTED TO BE THE LARGEST IN THE NATION, CONNECTING TO OVER HALF OF METRO'S LOCAL ROUTES, AND WOULD ENSURE THE SUCCESS OF THE SILVER LINE AND THE GULFTON REVITALIZATION AND TRANSIT PROJECT, FORMERLY KNOWN AS GULFTON BRT, THROWING YEARS OF COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT OUT THE WINDOW, LEAVING NEARLY $1 BILLION ON THE TABLE AND NOT LISTENING TO THE CALL OF HARRIS COUNTY VOTERS FOR TRANSFORMATIONAL CHANGE JUST DOESN'T THINK YOUR TIME IS UP.

YOU CAN CONTINUE. WE URGE YOU TO.

WE URGE THIS BODY TO MAKE YOUR VOICES HEARD AND ASK METRO TO MOVE THE METRO NEXT UNIVERSITY CORRIDOR PROJECT TO THE NEXT PHASE OF THE PROCESS.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.

THANK YOU, THANK YOU, MR. CAZARES. THANK YOU FOR COMING DOWN.

THANK YOU. GOOD TO SEE YOU.

THOSE ARE ALL THE SPEAKERS, JUDGE.

[Departments (Part 2 of 2)]

DID MO CORTEZ LEAVE ALREADY? I THINK SO.

OH, NO. I WAS TRYING TO MAKE SURE I DIDN'T MISS MO BEFORE HE LEFT.

I WANTED TO TALK ABOUT THE JAIL.

BECAUSE THERE IS THERE IS SOME.

I DON'T WANT TO HIDE THE BALL ON THE JAIL ITEM.

WE'LL HAVE A PRESENTATION. BUT ONE OF THE THINGS THAT CAME OUT OF THIS ANALYSIS, THANKFULLY THE ANALYSIS WAS DONE, BUT OF COURSE, IT'S IT'S I WISH THIS HAD BEEN DONE YEARS AND YEARS AND YEARS AGO.

IS THAT THERE IN THE COMPETENCY RESTORATION ISSUE? THERE IS ONE GENTLEMAN WHO'S BEEN AT OUR JAIL 18 YEARS 18 YEARS, BECAUSE OF THE WAY THAT THEY SEND HIM TO THE STATE HOSPITAL FOR RESTORATION AND THEN GO BACK TO THE JAIL, AND THEY BOOK HIM UNDER A NEW NUMBER.

AND SO IN REALLY DIGGING THROUGH EVERY LITTLE PIECE OF THE SYSTEM THE, THE ADMINISTRATION OF JUSTICE LEADERSHIP HAS FOUND THIS, AND THERE ARE SEVERAL RECOMMENDATIONS THAT ARE COMING TO COURT TODAY.

THAT'S WHY THE JUDGES ARE SPEAKING.

BUT I JUST DIDN'T WANT TO LISTEN TO THE SPEAKERS ON THE JAIL AND THEN JUST NOT SAY ANYTHING.

SO ANYWAY, IF MO IS LISTENING WE'LL DISCUSS THIS MORE LATER.

[02:20:01]

SO THEN WE'LL TAKE WE'LL TAKE A LUNCH BREAK IF MY COLLEAGUES AGREE.

YES. CAN I SUGGEST MAYBE WE DO THE CONSENT AGENDA? YEAH. NO, THAT'S THAT'S WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT.

OKAY, SO FIRST THE TABLE OF CONTENTS IS ITEM 18.

SO WE WILL TAKE 18 AND 329 TOGETHER.

THEY'RE BOTH RELATED TO THE JAIL.

ITEM 19.

I WOULD LIKE TO TAKE 19 FOR 33 RELATE TO EXECUTIVE PAY AND PAY EQUITY AND 323 AND 429 RELATED TO DEPARTMENT HEAD PERFORMANCE EVALUATION.

SO ALL FOUR OF THEM WHICH ARE RELATED TO JUST BASIC SYSTEMS AT THE COUNTY.

AND ITEM 73, THERE'S A CORRECTION.

SO WE NEED TO CHANGE P118 DASH.

25. IS THAT A HYPHEN? YEAH. THERE WE GO.

P118. HYPHEN 25.

HYPHEN ZERO ONE. HYPHEN ZERO ONE.

HYPHEN 043.

02G112. HYPHEN.

HYPHEN ZERO ZERO.

HYPHEN ZERO THREE.

HYPHEN 005.0.

YES, JUDGE.

BEFORE I FORGET, I THINK PER OUR RULES, WE NEED A VOTE FIRST TO CHANGE THE ORDER THAT YOU'RE MOVING IN.

I'M NOT MOVING. I JUST MENTIONED IT, BUT.

YES, OF COURSE. I DON'T MIND WHEN WE DISCUSS IT.

THEY'RE IMPORTANT ISSUES.

OKAY, SO I'M JUST MENTIONING THOSE ARE THE REQUESTS TO TAKE THOSE ITEMS TOGETHER.

BUT IF FOLKS DON'T WANT TO TAKE THEM TOGETHER, WE DON'T HAVE TO TAKE THEM TOGETHER.

OKAY. ITEM 144 NO ACTION IS NEEDED ON THE LEGISLATIVE DISCUSSION.

ITEM 147 US HAS REQUESTED NO ACTION ON THE FLEET POLICY.

177 JUROR PAYMENTS.

THE DISTRICT CLERK HAS REQUESTED NO ACTION.

JURY SELECTION PLAN. DISTRICT COURTS REQUEST NO ACTION.

THAT'S 184 194.

NO ACTION IS ON A GRANT.

210. THERE'S A REQUEST TO TAKE FROM COMMISSIONER GARCIA TO TAKE 210 AND 211 TOGETHER.

THEY BOTH RELATE TO TC VOLKSWAGEN ENVIRONMENTAL MITIGATION PROGRAM.

217 A REQUEST TO TAKE 217 TO 56 AND 264 AS THEY RELATE TO HEART AND EDEMA, AS DOES 214, AS DOES 214 TWO SEVEN.

214 217 256 264.

OKAY. AND THEN 256.

ON HEART, THERE'S A CORRECTION.

SO WE CHANGE 860,354.90 WITH DOLLARS TO $859,926.34. SO, COMMISSIONER RAMSEY, YOU'RE REQUESTING 214 217 256 TO 64.

RIGHT. OKAY.

AND THEN, JUDGE.

YES. ON ITEM 25, THERE SHOULD BE NO ACTION ON ITEM 25.

OKAY, SO ITEM 25 IS A TAX AND SUBORDINATE LIEN REVENUE BONDS.

THANK YOU, I MISSED THAT.

22 WE AGREED NO ACTION ON THAT ITEM.

283 NO ACTION.

ON THE OTHER ITEM THAT'S BEING LOOKED INTO ON 323.

SAME NOTE ABOUT TAKING THEM TOGETHER.

OKAY. 330 PRECINCT THREE REQUEST.

NO ACTION.

THAT'S THE HARRIS HEALTH BUDGET ITEM 364, AN ORDER FROM THE BOARD OF DISTRICT JUDGES.

BUDGET AMENDMENT AND DISTRICT CLERK REQUEST NO ACTION.

OKAY. ANY OTHER CORRECTIONS? ALL RIGHT. SO LET'S GO OVER THE DISCUSSION ITEMS. SO EXECUTIVE SESSION, WE'VE GOT EXECUTIVE SESSION 394, A NOMINEE FOR THE HARRIS CENTER.

DO FOLKS NEED TO GO TO EXECUTIVE SESSION ON THAT? NO. OKAY.

395 IT IS THE VETERINARY PUBLIC HEALTH ADVISORY COMMITTEE.

396 TEARS NUMBER 11.

OKAY. 397 ANOTHER TEARS.

NO. 398.

MANAGER SIGNED COUNCIL BOARD.

NO, NO.

[02:25:01]

399 NO, NO.

OKAY. 400 HARRIS COUNTY SAFE SCHOOL COMMISSION.

NO. 401 PUBLIC DEFENDER BOARD.

402 INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION.

BOARD FOR OH THREE.

SAFE SCHOOL COMMISSION.

NO. WHAT ABOUT FOR 20? COUNTY ATTORNEY? THAT'S A SETTLEMENT.

I THINK IT'S IF THERE'S ANY QUESTIONS.

NO, NO, NO QUESTIONS ON FOR 20.

OKAY. SO WE WILL PUT THAT ON CONSENT.

JUDGE. YES, THEY WILL BE APPROVED AS PRESENTED, CORRECT THROUGH 94 THROUGH 403.

CORRECT. THANK YOU.

OKAY, NOW LET'S MOVE ON TO THE REGULAR AGENDA.

DO FOLKS NEED TO DISCUSS ITEM NINE? OKAY. ITEM TEN, FLAGGED BY COMMISSIONER RAMSEY.

11 AND 12.

YES, 18 IS THE JAIL ITEM.

SO 18 AND THREE, 29.

19. YES.

OKAY. 20 AS WELL IS I THINK GOES WITH 1922. YES.

23 BCG MONITORING PROJECTS.

73 IS THE FLOOD CONTROL DISTRICT PROJECT THAT HAD THE THE NUMBER CHANGE.

COMMISSIONER GARCIA 73 UNDER COUNTY ENGINEER.

YES. 146.

COMMISSIONER GARCIA, YOU FLAGGED THAT ONE AS UAS POLICY? YES. OKAY.

147. THE FLEET POLICY, COMMISSIONER RAMSEY, THERE'S NO ACTION.

THERE'S NO ACTION. OH, RIGHT.

RIGHT, RIGHT, RIGHT.

THANKS. OKAY.

THAT ONE IS NO ACTION.

ONE 60 IS GRANT FUNDING BRIEFLY.

OKAY. 210 IS A TK ONE THAT GOES WITH 211.

214 AUDITOR.

WE'LL TAKE A VOTE AT SOME POINT.

YEAH, THAT'LL BE TAKEN WITH THOSE OTHER.

OKAY. OH, RIGHT WHERE YOU SAID 214 217.

ET CETERA. ET CETERA.

ALL RIGHT. AND THEN OBVIOUSLY TO 7217.

YES. DID YOU GET 210 AND 211? DID I GET. YES. 210 AND 211.

OKAY. SO WE HAVE ALSO 214, 217, 256 AND 264.

THEN WE HAVE TWO 8268.

COMMISSIONER RAMSEY FLAGGED THAT ONE.

YES. WE NEED TO TALK.

269 YES.

270 YES.

276 FLAGGED BY PRECINCT ONE.

YES. 323 YES.

THAT'S COMMISSIONER ELLIS'S ITEM.

YES. 329 YES.

WE'LL GO WITH THE OTHER ITEM IF FOLKS WANT THAT, VOTE FOR THAT.

330. NO ACTION.

SO THAT'S THE HARRIS HEALTH ONE.

YEAH. WITH AND JUST TO MAKE A NOTE WE SHOULD.

OUR PRAYERS ARE WITH DANIEL RAMOS.

YEAH, I WAS YES, THAT'S REASON I PULLED THAT.

AMEN. YEAH. THANK YOU.

WE NEED HIS INPUT. I WAS I WAS GOING TO WAIT TILL AFTER THE AGENDA TO.

BUT THANK YOU FOR THAT.

ABSOLUTELY. YEAH. THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER RAMSEY.

331 ON THE PIC FUND.

COMMISSIONER RAMSEY FLAGGED IT.

YES. 332 COMMISSIONER RAMSEY AND BRIANNA'S.

YES, PLEASE. 335.

COMMISSIONER GARCIA, ON THE DOMESTIC VIOLENCE DOCKET.

414 ALLISON BRIONES 424, FLAGGED BY COMMISSIONER RAMSEY.

NATIONWIDE PHARMACEUTICAL? YES. 429 I WOULD LIKE TO TAKE WITH THE OTHER THREE ITEMS. 432 COMMISSIONER ELLIS.

433 YES, YES.

AND 435 TRANSFER OF COUNTY EMPLOYEE BENEFITS.

OKAY, SO LET ME LET ME JUST GO OVER IT HERE ONCE MORE.

SO NO EXECUTIVE SESSION ITEM, EXECUTIVE SESSION ITEMS THAT I CAN SEE.

REGULAR AGENDA ITEM 910, 11, 12, 12, 18, 19, 20, 22, 23, 73, 2373, 146, ONE

[02:30:10]

AND THEN LET'S VOTE ON A JUDGE REAL QUICK.

I HAVE A QUESTION. ITEM 21.

OKAY. IT'S A DISCUSSION ITEM.

OKAY. 21 IS THE DEPARTMENT BUDGET HEARINGS, DISCUSSION REGARDING HOLDING DEPARTMENT BUDGETS.

BUDGET HEARINGS. DO YOU GUYS HAVE A APPROVE AS PRESENTED? YEAH, IT'S FINE TO APPROVE AS PRESENTED.

IT'S A DISCUSSION ONLY.

SO I DON'T THINK THERE CAN BE A VOTE ON THAT.

OH, SO JUST JUST A NO ACTION.

NO ACTION, NO ACTION.

OKAY. THANK YOU THEN AS WELL AS ITEM 148148 IS IT GOVERNANCE POLICY? THAT'S A DISCUSSION. POSSIBLE APPROVAL.

SO IT WOULD BE APPROVAL.

IS THAT OKAY? YEAH.

YES. SO APPROVED AS PRESENTED.

CORRECT. YES.

OKAY. SO LET'S LET ME GO OVER THE THE ITEMS THAT FOLKS WANT TO TAKE TOGETHER. JUST BECAUSE THERE ARE SEVERAL.

AND WE NEED TO VOTE ON THAT.

SO LET'S IS THERE A MOTION TO TAKE ITEMS 18 AND 329 TOGETHER, BOTH RELATED TO THE JAIL.

SO MOVED. YES.

MOTION BY COMMISSIONER ELLIS, SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER RAMSEY.

ALL IN FAVOR? AYE.

ANY OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY.

OKAY. IS THERE A MOTION TO TAKE 210 AND 211 TOGETHER, AS THEY'RE BOTH RELATED TO THE T-C-E-Q SETTLEMENT? SECOND MOTION BY COMMISSIONER GARCIA, SECOND BY COMMISSIONER ELLIS.

ALL IN FAVOR? AYE.

ANY OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY.

IS THERE A MOTION TO TAKE 214, 217, 256 AND 264 TOGETHER AS THEY RELATE TO HEART AND EDEMA.

MAKE A MOTION. SECOND MOTION.

COMMISSIONER RAMSEY.

SECOND BY COMMISSIONER ELLIS.

ALL IN FAVOR? AYE.

ANY OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY.

IS THERE A MOTION TO TAKE ITEMS 19 433, 323 AND 429 TOGETHER AS THEY RELATE TO HR POLICIES.

SO MOVED. MOTION BY COMMISSIONER ELLIS.

SECOND. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER BRYANT.

ALL IN FAVOR? AYE.

ANY OPPOSED? I'M IN FAVOR, COMMISSIONER GARCIA.

EXCUSE ME. JUST TAKING SOME ITEMS TOGETHER.

YEAH. SHE'S HERE, SO HE'S IN FAVOR.

OKAY, SO THE MOTION CARRIES 5 TO 0.

GREAT. OKAY, SO NOW WE NEED A MOTION FOR ALL THE ITEMS ONE THROUGH 35, WITH THE EXCEPTION OF ITEMS ALREADY VOTED ON AND DISCUSSION ITEMS JUST LISTED.

SO MOVE. SECOND MOTION BY COMMISSIONER ELLIS, SECOND BY COMMISSIONER BRIONES.

ALL IN FAVOR? AYE.

ANY OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY.

OKAY. SO LUNCH.

LET'S TAKE LUNCH. OKAY. SO IS 1:00.

AND WE WILL TAKE A BREAK UNTIL TWO FOR LUNCH.

IT'S IT'S 1246.

OH MY GOODNESS. OKAY, I KNOW I DID THE SAME THING.

JUST. YES.

OKAY. THIS IS GOING TO HAPPEN MANY MORE TIMES.

IT IS 1246.

WE'RE TAKING A LUNCH BREAK UNTIL QUARTER TILL TWO.

AND YES.

IT'S ALWAYS ONE.

[02:35:06]

COMMISSIONERS COURT IS BACK IN SESSION.

AND SO LET'S START WITH THE FIRST DISCUSSION ITEM.

DO YOU HAVE A MATCH, COMMISSIONER? THANK YOU. THANK YOU.

NINE. OKAY.

NINE. THERE IT IS.

THANK YOU. OKAY.

GO AHEAD. COMMISSIONER. SO UNDER ITEM NINE, THIS IS A REQUEST FROM THE OFFICE COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR FOR APPROVAL TO EXTEND TWO POSITIONS IN SUPPORT OF LOCAL FISCAL RECOVERY FUND.

AGAIN, THIS IS ADMINISTRATION TYPE.

JUDGE I'M SORRY, COMMISSIONER, I'M SORRY TO INTERRUPT.

I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE WE BACK.

DID WE? OH, I THOUGHT I SAID THAT I APOLOGIZE.

MAYBE YOU DID NOT. 12.

YOU DID JUDGE. OKAY.

THAT'S ME. I'M I MUST OKAY.

I COULD HAVE BEEN ME. I WAS LIKE, OKAY, GO AHEAD COMMISSIONER, CAN I GO COUNTY ATTORNEY OKAY.

YES, SIR I APOLOGIZE.

I DID NOT HEAR THAT.

THAT'S OKAY. SO MY CONCERNS HERE RELATES TO WE'VE GOT A BUDGET ISSUE THAT WE ALL KNOW, AND WE'VE GOT A BUDGET ISSUE THAT ARPA MAY OR MAY NOT BE ABLE TO HELP US ON.

AND THAT'S ALMOST A MONTHLY EVALUATION OF WHAT WE MIGHT USE ARPA FUNDS FOR OR WHAT WE NOT.

I WOULD THINK THAT ANY EXTENSIONS WE WOULD DO IN ARPA WOULD HAVE TO BE HEAVILY VETTED, PARTICULARLY ON THE ADMINISTRATIVE SIDE.

ANYWAY, I'M I'M NOT IN SUPPORT OF THE THIS PARTICULAR ITEM.

IT'S TO EXTEND THE LIFETIME OF TWO POSITIONS IN THE BEHAVIORAL HEALTH, OKAY, PORTFOLIO.

AND I. COMMISSIONER, I FEEL VERY STRONGLY ABOUT IT BECAUSE OF MY EXPERIENCE.

AND I THINK EVEN WITH WHAT RECENTLY HAPPENED TO ONE OF OUR TEAM MEMBERS HERE, FAMILIES IS YOU KNOW, MENTAL HEALTH AND BEHAVIORAL HEALTH IS SO IMPORTANT.

I THINK IF WE NEED TO CUT, WE OUGHT TO LOOK AT OTHER PROGRAMS THAT MAYBE ARE NOT AS SUCCESSFUL.

BUT I UNDERSTAND WHERE YOU'RE COMING FROM.

NEED A MOTION? NEED A MOTION ON IT? YEAH, I'LL MOVE IT. MOTION BY COMMISSIONER ELLIS, SECOND BY COMMISSIONER GARCIA.

ALL IN FAVOR? AYE.

ANY OPPOSED? NO.

MOTION CARRIES 4 TO 1.

ITEM TEN.

REALLY? THE SAME.

SAME ISSUE.

THIS ONE'S A LITTLE DIFFERENT IN THAT THIS PARTICULAR POSITION IS NOT CURRENTLY IS UNFILLED.

SO IT WOULD SEEM LIKE THAT THAT WOULD BE AT LEAST ONE WE COULD DELAY.

SO THE POSITION IS CURRENTLY UNFILLED.

BUT MY TEAM IS TRYING TO ABSORB SOME OF THAT WORK.

AND WE'RE STRUGGLING TO MAINTAIN THAT.

THE BIG THING THAT THEY DO IS THE FEDERAL TREASURY REPORTING REQUIREMENTS.

AND THAT TAKES UP A HUGE PORTION OF THEIR TIME.

SO IT WOULD PUT SOME OF THE TRACKING THAT WE ARE REQUIRED FOR US TO DO WITH THE TREASURY REPORTING AT RISK.

I'LL MOVE IT. I'LL MAKE A MOTION FOR IT.

SECOND MOTION.

MOTION BY COMMISSIONER ELLIS.

SECOND BY COMMISSIONER GARCIA.

ALL IN FAVOR? AYE, AYE.

ANY OPPOSED? NO, I'M IN FAVOR.

MOTION CARRIES 4 TO 1.

ITEM 11.

SAME ISSUE.

WE CAN JUST VOTE.

I'LL MOVE IT. MOTION BY COMMISSIONER ELLIS, SECOND BY COMMISSIONER GARCIA.

ALL IN FAVOR? AYE.

ANY OPPOSED? NO, I'M IN FAVOR.

MOTION CARRIES 3 TO 1.

ITEM 12 HAS TO DO WITH WOMEN HEALING AND EMPOWERING WOMEN.

HOW WAS THIS PARTICULAR ENTITY CHOSEN TO DO THIS WORK? WAS IT WORK THROUGH PURCHASING? YES, THIS WAS A COMPETITIVE RFP, AND THEY WERE THE MOST QUALIFIED SELECTED.

THERE WERE A NUMBER OF VENDORS SELECTED.

THOSE CONTRACTS HAVE COME TO COURT OVER THE LAST FEW COURTS.

IS IS PURCHASING ONLINE? DWIGHT. YES, SIR.

QUICK QUESTION THIS DOES THIS FOLLOW ALL YOUR PURCHASING PROTOCOLS AND ARE YOU FINE WITH IT? YES, SIR. THIS IS ONE OF MANY OF THEM THAT HAVE COME TO COURT ALREADY.

THIS IS JUST THE LAST OF THE THE ONES THAT WERE GOING THROUGH OUR PROCESS.

IT DID FOLLOW THE NORMAL PROCUREMENT PROCESS.

THANK YOU. I'LL MOVE IT.

SECOND MOTION BY COMMISSIONER ELLIS.

SECOND BY COMMISSIONER BRIONES.

ALL IN FAVOR? AYE, AYE.

ANY OPPOSED? NO, I'M IN FAVOR.

MOTION CARRIES 3 TO 1.

EXCUSE ME. 4 TO 1.

ALL RIGHT. ARE YOU GOOD FOR US TO MOVE ON TO 18? OKAY, SO THAT ONE WE WOULD TAKE ITEMS 18 AND 329 TOGETHER AS THEY'RE BOTH RELATED TO THE JAIL.

[02:40:03]

THANK YOU JUDGE. AND WE'VE GOT TONYA MILLS WITH JUSTICE INNOVATION HERE AND JUDGES CONIGLIO AND BELL ALSO HERE TO OFFER THEIR SUPPORT AND ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS.

TONYA. SURE.

GOOD AFTERNOON. JUDGE.

COMMISSIONERS. TONYA MILLS, MANAGING DIRECTOR OF JUSTICE INNOVATION WITH OFFICE OF COUNTY ADMINISTRATION.

WITH ME IS THE HONORABLE JUDGE GORDILLO AND THE HONORABLE JUDGE BELL.

AND WE'VE BEEN COLLABORATING FOR A NUMBER OF MONTHS ON BOTH ANALYSIS ON WHAT'S HAPPENING IN THE JAIL AND DRIVING THE JAIL POPULATION, AND THEN SOLUTIONS TO REDUCE THAT.

AT THE REQUEST OF COMMISSIONER GARCIA, WE QUIT COMING WITH ANALYSIS THAT WE DON'T HAVE SOLUTIONS.

SO WE'RE HERE TODAY TO TALK ABOUT SOME OF THOSE.

THANK YOU. THE ANALYSIS IS IS RATHER DENSE, AND I WANT TO BE RESPECTFUL OF EVERYONE'S TIME.

I'LL MOVE AS FASTLY FASTLY AS QUICKLY AS I CAN THROUGH THE SLIDES.

I KNOW WE HAVE A BUSY DAY.

BUT THERE IS A STORY TO TELL ON THE DATA TODAY, AND I'D LIKE FOR US TO BE ABLE TO LOOK AT THAT IN THE SOLUTIONS TO ADDRESS THAT.

NEXT SLIDE PLEASE. HERE WE'RE LOOKING AT JUST AN OVERVIEW OF THE JAIL POPULATION BETWEEN 20 AND 2020 AND 2024. BETWEEN THAT TIME, WE'VE SEEN A 13% INCREASE IN THE JAIL POPULATION.

THOUGH TO DATE IN 2024, WE'VE SEEN A 3% REDUCTION IN THE JAIL POPULATION OVER LAST YEAR.

IT'S STILL 11% HIGHER THAN WE WERE IN 2020.

AND THE ADP TENDS TO INCREASE THROUGH THE SUMMER MONTHS.

THE AVERAGE OF THAT OVER THE LAST FIVE YEARS HAS BEEN ABOUT A 5% AVERAGE BETWEEN MAY AND AUGUST.

IF WE WERE TO SEE A 5% INCREASE FROM WHERE WE ARE TODAY IN 2024, OUR ADP WOULD BE AROUND 9600.

FOR CONTEXT, THE JAIL'S RATED CAPACITY IS 10,022.

THAT INCLUDES 574 VARIANCE BEDS THAT WE DON'T HAVE TODAY THAT WOULD HAVE US.

OUR DESIGN CAPACITY IS 9448.

SO 9600 WOULD PUT US IN A FURTHER OVERCROWDED CRISIS.

NEXT SLIDE PLEASE. SO JUSTICE INNOVATION CONDUCTED ANALYSIS TO IDENTIFY KEY DRIVERS AS WELL AS PRIORITY POPULATIONS WITHIN THE JAIL. WE'LL START HERE BY LOOKING AT IN CUSTODY POPULATION.

AND WE'VE THIS IS SNAPSHOTS OF IN CUSTODY POPULATION IN 2020 AND 2024 TO NOTE CHANGES.

THE TABLE IS LOOKING AT EVERYONE IN CUSTODY BY THE HIGHEST UNDISPOSED CHARGE BY CHARGE CATEGORY.

BETWEEN 2020 AND 2024.

SNAPSHOTS. THERE WAS A 1726 PERSON INCREASE, OR 267,000 GEL BED DAYS.

IN IN TOTAL IN CUSTODY POPULATION.

ALL CHARGE CATEGORIES SAW GROWTH IN THIS TIME.

THE TWO WITH THE HIGHEST GROWTH WERE THE VIOLENT AND SERIOUS CHARGE CATEGORIES.

THOSE TWO REPRESENTED 90 OR I'M SORRY, 59% OF THE PEOPLE IN CUSTODY.

NEXT SLIDE PLEASE.

HERE WE'RE LOOKING AT THE SAME COHORT.

BUT WE'RE LOOKING AT THEM BY HIGHEST LEVEL AND DEGREE.

FELONIES ACCOUNT FOR 91% OF THE PEOPLE IN CUSTODY AND 97% OF THE JAIL BED DAYS CONSUMED AS OF MAY 2020 FOR FELONIES ALONE GREW BY 1199 PEOPLE.

MISDEMEANORS GREW BY 527.

FELONIES ACCOUNTED FOR 90% OF THE 267,000 JAIL DAY INCREASE.

CAPITAL FELONIES GREW BY 59 TO 286 PEOPLE, WITH A 671 DAY AVERAGE LENGTH OF STAY IN 2020 FOR FIRST DEGREE FELONIES GREW BY 353.

WITH A TO TWO 2378 PEOPLE WITH A 340 DAY AVERAGE LENGTH OF STAY.

PEOPLE WHOSE HIGHEST CHARGE IS A FELONY ARE DRIVERS OF THE JAIL POPULATION.

NEXT SLIDE PLEASE.

HERE WE'RE LOOKING AT THE SAME COHORT.

BUT WE'RE WE'RE LOOKING AT TIME BANDS BY THE NUMBER OF DAYS THAT INDIVIDUALS HAVE BEEN IN CUSTODY.

IN CONSIDERATION OF TIME, I'M GOING TO GO STRAIGHT TO THE 1399 PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN IN CUSTODY FOR MORE THAN A YEAR, WITH AN AVERAGE LENGTH OF STAY OF 761 DAYS. NEXT SLIDE.

IN THE PREVIOUS SLIDE, WE SAW THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE IN CUSTODY BY THE TIME IN TERMS OF DAYS.

HERE WE'RE LOOKING AT THAT 1399 PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN IN CUSTODY FOR MORE THAN A YEAR.

AND IN TERMS OF YEARS, 66% OF THE 1399 PEOPLE IN CUSTODY FROM MORE THAN ONE YEAR HAVE BEEN IN CUSTODY FOR 1 TO 2 YEARS, WITH AN AVERAGE LENGTH OF STAY OF 515 DAYS.

32% HAVE BEEN IN CUSTODY FOR 2 TO 5 YEARS, WITH AVERAGE LENGTHS OF STAYS RANGING FROM 880 TO 1595 DAYS.

[02:45:08]

NOW, IN COMING SLIDES, I'M GOING TO TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT HOW WE TYPICALLY EVALUATE GEL BEADS CONSUMED OR AVERAGE LENGTH OF STAYS.

WE LOOK AT BOOKING TO WHATEVER THE EVALUATION DATE IS OR THEIR LENGTH OF OR THEIR RELEASE DATE.

PARTICULARLY WHERE STATE HOSPITAL AND STATE HOSPITAL WAITLIST IS CONCERNED WHEN ONCE PEOPLE HAVE TRANSFERRED OUT, THAT CAN CHANGE.

AND WE'LL LOOK AT ONE IN PARTICULAR.

NEXT SLIDE PLEASE.

SO I KNOW SO FAR IN THE PRESENTATION IT SEEMS LIKE I'M ONLY THE BEARER OF DEPRESSING NEWS, BUT THIS IS ONE OF MY FAVORITE PIECES OF ANALYSIS BECAUSE IT LETS US SEE HOW SMALL CHANGES CAN HAVE A BIG IMPACT.

SO IN THE TABLE, WE'RE LOOKING AT EVERYBODY WHO HAD BEEN IN CUSTODY FOR THE ENTIRE YEAR OF 2023.

WE'LL FOCUS ON THE RIGHT OR I'M SORRY, ON THE FAR LEFT, THE THE FELONIES.

WE START WITH WHO'S IN CUSTODY ON THE BEGINNING OF THE YEAR.

THERE WERE 8932 PEOPLE WHOSE HIGHEST CHARGE WAS A FELONY, THAT WERE IN CUSTODY, WITH AN AVERAGE LENGTH OF STAY DURING THAT YEAR OF 145 DAYS. 49,182 PEOPLE WERE ADDED AS NEW BOOKINGS IN THE YEAR, WITH AN AVERAGE LENGTH OF STAY OF 40 DAYS AND PREVIOUS ANALYSIS.

WE'VE DISCUSSED HOW ABOUT 66% OF THE PEOPLE WHO ARE WHO ARE BOOKED OR SUBSEQUENTLY RELEASED WITHIN THREE DAYS, AND ABOUT 81 WITHIN 30 DAYS.

SO WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE FOLKS WHO HAVE BEEN NEW BOOKINGS, THEIR LENGTH OF STAY IS GOING TO BE A LOT LOWER.

DROWNDED A LITTLE BIT BY THAT.

BUT IN TOTAL THERE WERE 58,114 PEOPLE FOR WITH AVERAGE LENGTH OF STAYS OF ABOUT 56 DAYS CONSUMING 3.2 MILLION, ALMOST 3.3 MILLION BED DAYS.

THIS ACCOUNTED FOR 53% OF THE PEOPLE WHO WERE BOOKED, AND 91% OF ALL THE GEL BED DAYS IN 2023.

AND IF YOU TAKE THOSE GEL BED DAYS AND DIVIDE BY THE NUMBER OF DAYS IN THE YEAR, YOU GET TO 8952 PEOPLE IN THE ADP WERE REPRESENTED BY OR WERE FELONIES IN THE JAIL. SO A REDUCTION OF FIVE DAYS GOING FROM 56 TO 51 DAYS IN 2023, WOULD HAVE EQUALED 832 FEWER PEOPLE IN CUSTODY. THAT'S ROUGHLY 60% OF THE PEOPLE WE HAVE OUT OF OUTSOURCED RIGHT NOW.

WAIT, SAY THAT AGAIN. IF WE'D REDUCED THE LENGTH OF STAY IN 2023 BY FIVE DAYS, 56 TO 51, IT WOULD HAVE EQUALED AN 832 PERSON REDUCTION IN THE ADP, OR ROUGHLY 60% OF THE PEOPLE WE HAVE OUTSOURCED.

SO SMALL CHANGES IN THE LENGTH OF STAY ARE WILL HAVE A BIG IMPACT IN THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE IN CUSTODY.

NEXT SLIDE PLEASE.

IN CONSIDERATION OF TIME.

NEXT SLIDE. IN CONSIDERATION OF TIME WE'LL WE'LL MOVE THROUGH THIS PRETTY QUICKLY THERE.

OH THAT'S GOOD.

SO IN THE PREVIOUS SLIDES WE'VE SEEN HOW FELONIES ARE IMPACTING THE ADP BEHAVIORAL HEALTH, SPECIFICALLY THOSE WHERE COMPETENCY IS RAISED OR THEY ARE INCOMPETENT TO STAND TRIAL HAVE EVEN MORE IMPACT ON THE ON THE AVERAGE DAILY JAIL POPULATION.

AND JUDGE BELL AND JUDGE CORNELIA MIGHT TALK ABOUT THIS A LITTLE BIT MORE IN DETAIL.

PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN IDENTIFIED AS HAVING A MENTAL HEALTH OR BEHAVIORAL ISSUE AT THE TIME OF BOOKING HAS ALMOST DOUBLED BETWEEN 2020 AND 2023.

THE SHARE OF TOTAL BOOKINGS BY THOSE INDIVIDUALS WITH BEHAVIORAL HEALTH ISSUES IS ALSO INCREASING FROM 18 TO 29% DURING THE SAME TIME FRAME BETWEEN 20 AND 2023.

NEXT SLIDE PLEASE.

WHEN COMPETENCY IS RAISED OR AN INDIVIDUAL IS INCOMPETENT TO STAND TRIAL, LENGTHS OF STAY ALSO INCREASE.

NOW THESE ARE HIGHLY COMPLEX CASES WITH A MULTITUDE OF PEOPLE INVOLVED AND AGENCIES INVOLVED WHICH MAKE THEM COMPLEX.

THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE FOUND INCOMPETENT HAS GROWN BY 38%, OR 573 PEOPLE, FROM 1495IN 2020 TO 2068IN 2023. FROM 2020 TO 2023, THE AVERAGE LENGTH OF STAY FOR THESE FOLKS HAS ALSO INCREASED.

NOW, THIS NUMBER THAT I'M DISCUSSING HERE INCLUDES MISDEMEANORS.

NEXT SLIDE PLEASE.

PEOPLE ON THE STATE HOSPITAL WAITING LIST PENDING TREATMENT HAVE INCREASED YEAR OVER YEAR.

THIS GROUP HAS INCREASED 71% FROM 189IN 2020 TO 323 PEOPLE THROUGH MAY OF 2024.

[02:50:03]

THAT GROUP COMBINED HAS SEEN A 52% INCREASE IN AVERAGE LENGTH OF STAY BETWEEN 2020 AND 2023.

THE CHART ON THE RIGHT IS DEMONSTRATING FELONIES ON A STATE HOSPITAL WAITING LIST, AND YOU CAN SEE THAT THE AVERAGE LENGTH OF STAY FOR THE FELONIES ON STATE HOSPITAL WAITING LIST IS DOUBLE THAT OF ALL OTHER FELONIES.

STATE HOSPITAL WAITING LISTS HAVE GROWN FROM 148 DAYS IN 2020 TO 274 ON AVERAGE IN 2023.

IT'S AN INCREASE OF 126 DAYS.

THE HIGHEST WAIT TIME IS JUST OVER 1100 DAYS ON THE WAIT LIST.

WHEN? WHEN? WHEN ANALYZING EXCEPTIONALLY HIGH JOB DAYS, WE COLLABORATED A GREAT DEAL WITH THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE AND HARRIS CENTER, AND WE DISCOVERED AN INDIVIDUAL WHO'S BEEN IN CUSTODY FOR 17.87 YEARS.

THIS INDIVIDUAL HAD HAD MULTIPLE TRIPS TO THE STATE HOSPITAL, AND WHEN HE WOULD COME BACK FROM THE STATE HOSPITAL, HE WOULD BE BOOKED BACK IN AND GET A NEW BOOKING DATE.

SO HE DOESN'T BUBBLE UP WHEN WE IN OUR NORMAL ANALYSIS.

SO IT TAKES A GREAT DEAL OF HANDWORK TO LOOK AT THAT.

WE'RE WORKING VERY, VERY CLOSELY WITH THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE AND THEIR RECORDS DIVISION TO UNDERSTAND IF THERE ARE ANY OTHERS INVOLVED, BUT WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT THE COMPLEXITY OF THESE CASES AND HOW EXPANSIVE THEY ARE, IT CREATES A LOT OF GAPS.

SO WE'RE GOING TO BRING SOME SOLUTIONS THAT HELP CLOSE SOME OF THOSE GAPS SO THAT THIS DOESN'T HAPPEN.

AND I WILL SAY THANK YOU FOR IDENTIFYING THAT.

YES, MA'AM. AND I THE MINUTE AND I MEAN, IN THE PHONE CALL WHEN WE BROUGHT IT TO JUDGE BELL'S ATTENTION, THE CASE WAS REASSIGNED TO HER COURT.

DURING THAT PHONE CONVERSATION, AND I THINK THE DISTRICT COURTS HAVE RESPONDED EXCEPTIONALLY FAST IN ADDRESSING THIS CASE, AND I APPRECIATE THEM AND THE COLLABORATION WITH THAT. THANK YOU.

THANK YOU GUYS. NEXT SLIDE.

SO SO WE KNOW STATE HOSPITAL WAITLISTS ARE LONG.

WE HAVE ADDITIONAL TOOLS IN HARRIS COUNTY TO ADDRESS STATE HOSPITAL OR, I'M SORRY, COMPETENCY ISSUES.

HARRIS COUNTY OPERATES A 50 BED JAIL BASED COMPETENCY RESTORATION PROGRAM.

IT BEGAN IN 2021 WITH A CAPACITY FOR 20 PATIENTS.

IT WAS EXPANDED IN 20TH MARCH OF 2023 TO 50 BED CAPACITY WITH GRANT FUNDS FROM ARPA.

THOSE FUNDS WERE DISCONTINUED IN JUNE OF THIS YEAR.

AS OF JUNE 11TH, JBCA HAS SERVED 416 PATIENTS.

JBCA HAS AN OVERALL RESTORATION RATE OF 90%, RESTORING 275 OF THE FOLKS IN THEIR CUSTODY OR IN THEIR PROGRAM.

NEXT SLIDE. JBCA OUR OUTCOMES TODAY HERE WE'RE JUST SHOWING IN THIS TABLE THE AVERAGE NUMBER OF PEOPLE ON THE WAIT LIST TO ENTER TREATMENT AT A STATE RUN PSYCHIATRIC HOSPITAL IS 185, AS COMPARED TO 33 AND JBCC FOR THE AVERAGE WAIT TIME TO ENTER THE STATE HOSPITAL IS 221 DAYS, AS OPPOSED TO BETWEEN 90 AND 120 DAYS.

WITH JBCA AND THE RESTORATION RATE FOR JBCA IS 90%.

AT THE TIME WE DID ANALYSIS FOR THIS, THE STATE RANGED FROM 40 TO 60%.

JOKER IS MORE EFFECTIVE AT REDUCING RATE WAIT TIMES, IMPROVING RESTORATION RATES, AND REDUCING COMPETENCY POPULATION IN THE JAIL POPULATION.

152 FEWER PEOPLE ARE WAITING FOR RESTORATION BEDS THAN FOR JOKER THAN AT THE STATE.

AND AGAIN, JBCA HAS A 90% RESTORATION RATE.

NEXT SLIDE. SO FELONIES ARE ABSOLUTELY KEY DRIVERS OF THE JAIL POPULATION.

A SIGNIFICANT PORTION OF THIS IS PRETRIAL.

74% ARE PRETRIAL.

AND IN SOME OF THE ANALYSIS, WE SHOWED YOU HOW REDUCING THE AVERAGE LENGTH OF STAY CAN HAVE A DRAMATIC IMPACT ON REDUCING THE ADP, AND HOPEFULLY ALSO HAVING AN IMPACT ON REDUCING OUTSOURCING AND THE COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH THAT.

MENTAL HEALTH AND COMPETENCY CASES ARE RISING IN THE JAIL.

FELONY COMPETENCY CASES HAVE TWICE THE STAY THEN OVERALL FELONIES, AND JBS IS AN EFFECTIVE TOOL IN THE COURT'S TOOLBOX WITH RESPECT TO COMPETENCY RESTORATION. NEXT SLIDE PLEASE.

SO PROPOSALS THAT WE'LL PUT TOGETHER THAT WE'VE PUT TOGETHER HERE ARE IN TWO PHASES.

THE FIRST THAT WE'RE LOOKING AT IS RESPECT WITH RESPECT TO DISTRICT COURTS AND GENERAL PROCESSING OF FELONY CASES.

WE'VE WORKED CLOSELY WITH PRECINCT FOUR STAFF AND THE DISTRICT COURTS TO COME UP WITH SOME SOLUTIONS TO EXPEDITE OR HELP REDUCE THE LENGTH OF TIME THAT FOLKS SPEND IN JAIL.

[02:55:01]

WE'RE GOING TO LOOK AT STRATEGIES AIMED AT REDUCING THE LENGTH OF STAY WHILE FOCUSING ON PUBLIC SAFETY.

AND REDUCING THE LENGTH OF STAY CAN HAVE A SUBSTANTIAL IMPACT ON THE ADP.

AND AGAIN, OUTSOURCING AND THE MONEY THAT WILL BE SPENDING NEXT YEAR ON THAT.

NEXT SLIDE PLEASE.

THE SECOND SET OF RECOMMENDATIONS THAT WE HAVE COME WITH RESPECT TO COMPETENCY RELATED CASES, I KNOW I WENT AT LIGHT SPEED THROUGH A VERY COMPLEX COMPETENCY PROCESS, BUT JBCA HAS A SHORTER WAIT, QUICKER RESTORATION, 90% RESTORATION RATE AND IS HELPING TO CONTROL OR REDUCE THE ADP FUNDING NEEDS.

JUSTICE INNOVATION HAS BEEN WORKING WITH OMB TO IDENTIFY FUNDING FOR APPROXIMATELY $998,000 TO ABSORB THE 645,000 IN EXPIRED ARPA FUNDING, TO ADD CARE COORDINATORS TO STREAMLINE REQUESTS FOR RESOURCES FROM DISTRICT COURT JUDGES MORE QUICKLY.

ADD A PSYCHIATRIC DOCTOR AND A PSYCHIATRIC NURSE TO IMPROVE OUT OPPORTUNITIES TO MAINTAIN COMPETENCY, SO THAT INDIVIDUALS CAN SEEK QUICKER LEGAL DISPOSITION IN THEIR CASES.

AGAIN, COMPETENCY CASES ARE HIGHLY COMPLEX, WITH A LOT OF OF INDIVIDUALS AND AGENCIES INVOLVED, AND OUR GOAL IS TO SEE HOW WE CAN HELP IMPROVE OPPORTUNITIES FOR COMMUNICATION AND STREAMLINE PROCESSES AND CLOSE SOME OF THOSE GAPS.

AND SO WE'LL TALK ABOUT A LITTLE BIT OF THAT ON THE LAST PAGE.

I'M ALMOST DONE, I PROMISE.

ADDITIONAL PROPOSALS UNDER STAFF REVIEW ARE TO ESTABLISH A SYSTEM OR DATABASE TO STREAMLINE THE MANUAL PROCESS OF COMMUNICATION WITHIN THE COMPETENCY PROCESS.

WE'VE BEEN WORKING WITH THE JUDGES ON INTERIM SOLUTIONS TO THAT JUDGE.

AND I HAVE A FEW IDEAS THAT WE'RE GOING TO PUT INTO PLACE.

BUT I THINK WE NEED TO LOOK AT LONGER TERM, MORE PERMANENT SOLUTIONS.

AND SOME OF THAT, WE HAVEN'T IDENTIFIED THOSE YET, BUT SOME MAY BE INVESTMENTS, IMPROVED DATA COLLECTION AND IMPROVED TRACKING OF COMPETENCY CASES FOR BETTER EVALUATION OF BOTH PROGRAMS AND COURT PROCESSES BECAUSE OF THE INCREASE IN COMPETENCY CASES.

OCA IS RECOMMENDING THAT WE COLLABORATE WITH THE DISTRICT COURT JUDGES TO EVALUATE THE CREATION OF A FULL TIME, FULLY RESOURCED COMPETENCY RESTORATION DOCKET.

CURRENTLY, IT'S A SIDE HUSTLE.

IS THAT FAIR? AND THEY MEET TWICE A, TWICE A WEEK.

AND THEN FINALLY, A RECOMMENDATION FROM THE HARRIS CENTER FOR CONSIDERATION IS THAT THEY WOULD CENTRALIZE ALL FORENSIC JAIL DETENTION INMATES WITH COMPETENCY FACTORS UNDER A SINGLE UMBRELLA. AGAIN, THIS IS RELATED TO STREAMLINING AND CLOSING THE OPPORTUNITY FOR GAPS SO THAT WE DON'T EVER, EVER SEE SOMEBODY IN CUSTODY THAT HAS FALLEN THROUGH THE CRACKS AT 17.8, SEVEN YEARS.

THANK YOU AND JUDGE.

MAY IT PLEASE THE COURT.

USUALLY I'M THE ONE RECEIVING THAT.

IT'S SO GOOD TO SEE YOU. GOOD AFTERNOON, COMMISSIONERS COUNTY JUDGE.

THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

I'M NATALIA CONIGLIO, THE PRESIDING JUDGE OF THE 351ST DISTRICT COURT, ONE OF OUR FELONY COURTS.

SO THIS IS AN ISSUE THAT THAT TANYA HAS DUG INTO IS IS CLOSE TO HOME.

I'M ALSO ONE OF THE CO PRESIDING JUDGES OF THE COMPETENCY RESTORATION DOCKET, WHICH MISS MILLS ADEQUATELY ACCURATELY DESCRIBES AS A SIDE HUSTLE.

BUT WE DO HUSTLE HARD AND GET IT DONE.

I'M HERE AS A RESOURCE AND TO SHED LIGHT ON SOME OF THE WAYS IN WHICH THE PROGRAM WORKS AND THE DATA THAT MISS MILLS HAS CAST, GIVE SOME CONTEXT FOR IT AND IDENTIFY SOME OPPORTUNITIES TO REDUCE DELAYS, IF THAT IS WHAT THE COMMISSIONERS ARE INTERESTED IN NOT ADVOCATING FOR ANYTHING, ONLY HERE AS A RESOURCE.

THE COMPETENCY DOCKET, JUST TO GIVE SOME BACKGROUND, WHEN SOMEBODY, YOU KNOW, AS A JUDGE, MY JOB IS TO PROVIDE ACCESS TO THE COURT TO ENSURE THAT BOTH SIDES GET A RESOLUTION. EVERYBODY WANTS JUSTICE.

A PERSON WHO IS ON THE VICTIM SIDE, AN ACCUSED PERSON.

THE SOONER THEIR CASE GETS RESOLVED, THE SOONER THERE'S CLOSURE FOR EVERYBODY INVOLVED.

AND THAT'S ONE OF MY MAIN RESPONSIBILITIES AS A JUDGE IN THE CONTEXT OF COMPETENCY.

WHEN SOMEONE IS FOUND INCOMPETENT, IT MEANS THAT THEY CANNOT UNDERSTAND THEIR LEGAL PROCEEDINGS.

THEY CANNOT MEANINGFULLY ASSIST THEIR COUNSEL IN REPRESENTING THEM.

THEY IT IS SOMEONE CAN BE SEVERELY MENTAL ILL AND SUFFER DELUSIONS, BUT BE ABLE TO ASSIST IN THEIR OWN DEFENSE AND BE PRESENT IN COURT PROCEEDINGS.

SO IT IS A LEVEL OF SIGNIFICANT AFFECT IN YOUR ABILITY TO PARTICIPATE IN THE PROCESS.

AND SO EVERYTHING STOPS.

THERE'S LEGAL MECHANISMS, STATUTORY MECHANISMS IN PLACE.

WE CANNOT MOVE FORWARD.

WE CANNOT EVEN HEAR FROM AN INCOMPETENT PERSON BECAUSE THEY, THEIR COUNSEL CANNOT ADVISE THEM ON WHAT TO DO.

[03:00:01]

YOU KNOW, BUT THE RANGES SOMEONE SOMEONE MIGHT BE PSYCHOTIC AND HAVE DELUSIONS.

SOME FOLKS MIGHT HAVE DEMENTIA AND SIMPLY NOT BE CAPABLE OF UNDERSTANDING.

FOR THAT REASON, SOME FOLKS MIGHT BE INTELLECTUALLY DISABLED AND HAVE THE INABILITY TO UNDERSTAND.

FOR THAT REASON, WE HAVE AN INCREDIBLE TEAM AT THE HARRIS CENTER THAT WORKS WITH THE POPULATION, AND I JUST WANT TO COMMEND MISS MILLS AND MISS SAMIA KRISTEN HOLMES FROM THE HARRIS CENTER FOR THE INCREDIBLE WORK THAT THEY DID TO DIG IN AND VISIT WITH EACH OTHER AND WITH US TO REALLY PROVIDE THIS RAPPORT AND TRY TO SHED LIGHT ON WHAT WE DO. THE URGENCY OF SOME OF THE DELAYS THAT HAPPENED IN THIS PROCESS ARE, YOU KNOW, EXPOUNDED NOT JUST BECAUSE IT'S CRITICAL FOR BOTH SIDES TO GET JUSTICE, LIKE WITH ANY CASE, INCLUDING FOLKS WHO ARE IN CUSTODY WAITING FOR THEIR DAY IN COURT.

BUT THE POPULATION WHO'S INCOMPETENT IS PARTICULARLY VULNERABLE AND HAS HIGH NEEDS.

AND SO I WOULD SAY THAT POTENTIALLY THAT CAN BE SEEN AS ADDING TO THE URGENCY OF NEEDING TO RESOLVE THESE ISSUES.

THERE'S THREE THINGS OR TWO THINGS THAT MISS MILLS POINTED OUT IN HER REPORT THAT I WANTED TO CAST SOME LIGHT ON.

ONE IS THE JBC R PROGRAM.

THERE WAS A TIME PERIOD IN THE MIDDLE OF COVID, AND THE STATE LEGISLATURE WAS WAS ON IT WHERE PEOPLE WERE WAITING UP TO TWO YEARS TO GET TO A STATE HOSPITAL.

AND SO THAT'S BEEN SLIGHTLY IT'S BEEN REDUCED TO UNDER A YEAR AT THIS TIME, BUT IT IS STILL A LONG PERIOD OF TIME.

THE JBC, R PROGRAM BEATS THAT AS FAR AS HOW QUICKLY THEY CAN RECEIVE SOMEBODY AND GIVE THEM THE CARE THAT THEY NEED.

AND THAT IS VERY HELPFUL.

IT ALSO MEANS THAT THEY GET TO STAY CLOSE TO HOME.

SO THE PROCESS IF SOMEONE HAS TO GET SHIPPED OUT TO A HOSPITAL IS THAT WE HAVE TO BRING THEM BACK, MAYBE BENCH WARRANT BACK, MAYBE THEY DO GET RELEASED AND THEY HAVE TO COME BACK TO COURT, BUT WE HAVE TO BRING THEM BACK THEN FOR THEIR PROCEEDINGS AND THAT CAN TAKE SOME TIME.

THE DELICACY, ONCE SOMEONE HAS BEEN RESTORED IS HIGH.

SO ONE OF THE OTHER RESOURCES THAT MISS MILLS IDENTIFIED IN HER REPORT IS FOR CARE WORKERS AND ADDITIONAL MEDICAL STAFF AT THE HARRIS CENTER TO ASSIST IN MAINTAINING COMPETENCY ONCE IT HAS BEEN RESTORED.

AND SO DIGGING INTO THOSE NEEDS, I THINK, IS A WORTHWHILE VENTURE FOR FOR YOU ALL TO DO.

BUT THERE'S ALSO AN OPPORTUNITY BEFORE A PERSON IS RESTORED EITHER AT JBCA OR THE HOSPITAL MEDICATION AND TREATMENT.

WHAT COMPETENCY MEANS IS YOU'RE MEDICALLY STABLE IF THAT'S WHAT'S REQUIRED, BUT ALSO THAT YOU UNDERSTAND.

AND SO HAVING RESOURCES IN PLACE WHERE YOU'RE NOT WAITING UNTIL YOU GET THAT BED AT JBCA TO START BECOMING EDUCATED OR GETTING STABILIZED COULD ALSO SIGNIFICANTLY REDUCE THE RATES EVEN LOWER THAN WHAT WE HAVE NOW WITH OUR VERY SUCCESSFUL, VERY IMPORTANT JOKER PROGRAM.

IDENTIFYING OPPORTUNITIES FOR MEDICAL STAFF AT HARRIS CENTER TO SUPPORT EXPANSION IN THE OUTPATIENT COMPETENCY RESTORATION PROGRAM COULD BE A GREAT BENEFIT TO FOLKS NOT NECESSARILY HAVING TO WAIT IN JAIL.

THERE'S LOTS OF CONSIDERATIONS THAT A JUDGE MAKES AND OTHER PEOPLE MAKE IN THAT DECISION.

BUT INFORMATION AND RESOURCES, THERE'S ALWAYS LOW HANGING FRUIT.

FOLKS THAT DON'T HAVE HOMES, FOLKS THAT DON'T HAVE A WAY TO GET TO MEDICAL APPOINTMENTS, FOLKS THAT DON'T HAVE A CARE TEAM, THAT IF THEY HAD THOSE THINGS, THEY WOULD BE ABLE TO BE OUT OF THE JAIL.

SO I WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT SOME OF THOSE SUCCESSES.

YEAH. I THINK THAT THOSE ARE THE MAIN AREAS.

JBCA HAS BEEN INCREDIBLE RESOURCE FOR COMPETENCY RESTORATION PROGRAM, EXPANSION OF THE CAPACITY OF THE TEAM WHO HANDLES THIS POPULATION, TO DO MORE SERVICES BEFORE AND AFTER THE PROGRAM, AS WELL AS SOMETHING THAT WILL BE COMING UP IN A COUPLE OF WEEKS IS SOMETIMES WE'LL HAVE A STATE JAIL FELONY OR A THIRD DEGREE FELONY, WHICH IS THE LOWEST LEVEL FELONY. IT DOESN'T EVEN GET TO THE COMPETENCY DOCKET UNTIL SIX MONTHS AFTER THE CASE HAS BEEN FILED.

NOW, FOR A REGULAR CASE, SIX MONTHS IS AN UNACCEPTABLE AMOUNT OF TIME BECAUSE THAT'S THE MINIMUM SENTENCE YOU SERVE IF YOU'RE GUILTY, RIGHT? LOTS OF THOSE FOLKS CAN GET A TIME SERVED, OFFER A MISDEMEANOR OFFER, A PROBATION OFFER.

BUT BECAUSE THEY'RE INCOMPETENT, THAT'S NOT ON THE TABLE.

AND SO KIND OF DELAYS PAST THAT TIME.

BUT ONE OF THE THINGS THAT'S CAUSING THAT DELAY IS INADEQUATE STAFFING IN THE HARRIS CENTER FOR BEING ABLE TO COMPLETE ASSESSMENTS.

MENTAL HEALTH IS A CRISIS.

THE POPULATION IN NEED OF RESTORATION IS EXPANDING, AND WE DO NEED ADEQUATE STAFF FOR THE COURTS TO BE INFORMED OF WHEN SOMEONE IS INCOMPETENT, SO THAT THE RESTORATION PROCESS CAN START SOONER RATHER THAN LATER.

AND THE SIX MONTH STARTING POINT IS, IS A TRAGEDY.

SO I JUST WANT TO BRING THAT UP.

I KNOW MR. DIRECTOR WOODS IS GOING TO BRING IT UP NEXT CYCLE, AND MISS JUDGE BELL IS GOING TO TALK ABOUT IT MORE.

BUT AS A FLAG, THERE'S THE BEFORE THE DURING AND THEN THE, THE DURING DURING THAT ARE OPPORTUNITIES TO ADDRESS THIS LENGTH OF STAY.

AND YOU KNOW THE TIME THAT PEOPLE HAVE BEFORE THEIR JUSTICE COMES ON BOTH SIDES.

SO THANK YOU FOR LISTENING TO ME.

I'M ALWAYS AVAILABLE TO ANSWER QUESTIONS ON THIS PROGRAM, ON WHAT WE DO SO THAT YOU ALL CAN MAKE YOUR DECISIONS APPROPRIATELY.

THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME IN YOUR TIME.

COMMISSIONER BRIONES AND THEN COMMISSIONER GARCIA.

[03:05:01]

I WANT TO THANK YOU ALL FOR REACHING OUT AND ACTIVELY ENGAGING AND HELPING NOT ONLY TO IDENTIFY THE PROBLEMS, BUT ALSO WHEN WE COME WITH THESE ARE PROBLEMS AND HAVING A COLLABORATIVE EFFORT TOWARDS SOLVING THOSE PROBLEMS. THE CAYCE TANYA WAS ABLE TO IDENTIFY AND WE WERE ABLE TO TAKE ACTION ON IT ONLY CAME AS A DIRECT BYPRODUCT OF US SITTING AT THE SAME TABLE, LOOKING OVER INFORMATION AND COMING UP WITH WAYS TO SOLVE THE PROBLEMS. WE WANT TO GET RID OF JAIL OUTSOURCING WORSE THAN YOU ALL DO BECAUSE IT SLOWS DOWN OUR PROCESS.

BUT THERE ARE THINGS THAT JUDGE CORNELIO AND TANYA HAVE MENTIONED THAT I JUST DON'T THINK SOMETIMES GETS THE LEVEL OF ATTENTION IT NEEDS.

SO I'LL BE REAL BASIC WHEN SOMEONE COMES INTO YOUR COURT, IF THERE'S ANY INDICATION FROM THEIR ATTORNEY THAT THIS PERSON IS NOT COMPETENT, THEY HAVE TO GET AN EXAM.

AND UNTIL THAT EXAM COMES BACK, EVEN ON A TRESPASS OR A PCS LESS THAN A GRAM, SOMETHING THAT I WOULD GENERALLY BE ABLE TO HAVE THE CASE RESOLVED AND THEY'RE NO LONGER THERE. I CAN'T, I CAN'T UNTIL THAT EVALUATION COMES BACK.

SO IF IT TAKES BECAUSE I THINK WE ORIGINALLY AT 6.5 CLINICIANS, NOW WE'RE DOWN TO TWO CLINICIANS.

IT'S TAKING SIX MONTHS EVEN ON OUR MOST LOW OR LOWEST LEVEL CASES TO GET THAT EVALUATION DONE.

IF YOU LOOK AT THE TIMES WE TALKED ABOUT HOW A REDUCTION OF FIVE DAYS COULD HELP US RELIEVE 60% OF WHAT WE'RE OUTSOURCING, LOOK AT THE NUMBERS THAT WE CURRENTLY HAVE, THE NUMBERS OF PEOPLE THAT WE HAVE IN JAIL.

JUST WAITING.

AN EVALUATION WHEN THOSE CASES COME BACK CAN HELP YOU GET TO THE NUMBER AND HELP US KEEP ALL OF THE RESIDENTS IN HARRIS COUNTY AND STOP SPENDING OUR MONEY IN OTHER COUNTIES.

THEN WHEN WE'RE LOOKING AT NOT JUST THE IDENTIFICATION OF THE PEOPLE THAT ARE CHARGED WITH THE OFFENSE.

THE JVC PART IS VERY IMPORTANT.

IF WE GO BACK TO ONLY HAVING 25 DAYS OR 25 BEDS AVAILABLE, THEN THE STATE JAIL HOSPITAL, ALL OF THOSE PEOPLE WILL CONTINUE TO WAIT IN THE JAIL WITHOUT THOSE BEDS, AND THAT DRIVES UP OUR NUMBERS.

ALSO, IN TALKING TO OUR PARTNERS AT THE JAIL, SOME OF THE PEOPLE WITH THE MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES ARE CREATING OR THEY HAVE THE HIGHEST STAFF STAFFING NEEDS.

THEY HAVE MORE NEEDS THAN THE AVERAGE PERSON THAT IS INCARCERATED IN THE JAIL PRETRIAL.

IF WE'RE ABLE TO GET SOME OF THOSE PEOPLE INTO ENVIRONMENTS THAT ARE MORE CONDUCIVE TO THEIR PRODUCTIVITY, THEN WE END UP IN A SPACE WHERE WE DON'T HAVE TO TAP THE RESOURCES OF OUR JAIL QUITE AS MUCH.

THERE ARE A NUMBER OF THINGS THAT WE CAN DO, BUT IT'S JUST US SOUNDING THE ALARMS AS IT RELATES TO THE STAFFING ISSUE, AS IT WERE.

REGARDING THE CLINICIANS, WE ARE DOWN TO TWO AND WE MAY BE DOWN TO ONE NEXT MONTH.

IF WE HAVE ONE CLINICIAN THAT IS DOING THE TESTING FOR THE FELONY COURTS.

YES. OUR GOAL IS TO HELP BE COMMUNITY PARTNERS AND ADDRESS THE PROBLEM.

I CHEER ON OUR COLLEAGUES BECAUSE DESPITE THE CONDITIONS, DISTRICT COURTS, THE FELONY COURTS HAVE A CLEARANCE RATE OF 105%.

WE HAVE BEEN OVER 100% FOR WELL OVER A YEAR AS IT RELATES TO WHAT WE'RE ABLE TO DO.

WE CAN'T DO THAT IF WE CAN'T GET THE EVALUATIONS DONE AND THE NUMBERS WILL GO UP, AND IT WILL CREATE MORE PROBLEMS AND MORE CASES AND UNDERMINE THE SAFETY RIGHT HERE IN HARRIS COUNTY. SO THAT'S WHY WE'RE HERE.

WE ARE OPEN TO ANY QUESTIONS.

I KIND OF THINK WE'VE TAKEN THE APPROACH.

I DON'T MIND BEING CALLED OUT ON SOMETHING I'VE DONE WRONG OR SOMETHING THAT'S NOT WORKING, BECAUSE IF I SWEEP IT UNDER THE RUG, LET'S BE REAL HONEST, IT'S UNDER THE RUG, BUT IT NEVER GETS FIXED.

SO WE'LL ANSWER THE QUESTIONS.

IF THERE ARE THINGS THAT NEED TO BE FIXED, WE ARE PARTNERS THAT WILL SIT AT THE TABLE AND HELP FIX THEM, BUT WE ALL WANT TO GET TO A BETTER PLACE.

THESE ARE SOME IDEAS THAT WE HAVE AND WE ARE READY FOR ANY QUESTIONS YOU ALL HAVE BECAUSE TRANSPARENCY BREEDS PROGRESS.

THANK YOU SO MUCH, COMMISSIONER BRIONES.

AND THEN COMMISSIONER GARCIA.

THANK YOU, JUDGE. FIRST OF ALL, MISS MILLS, YOU ARE A TREMENDOUS BLESSING TO HARRIS COUNTY.

THANK YOU FOR THIS POWERFUL DATE THAT YOU'RE PROPOSING.

SO THANK YOU, JUDGE CONIGLIO AND JUDGE BELL, THANK YOU FOR YOUR PARTNERSHIP.

AND DOCTOR SAMIYA RANA ON MY PRECINCT FOUR TEAM AND OUR POLICY TEAM.

THANK YOU FOR BEING ALL IN AND FOR BEING WORKING ON THIS DEEPLY FOR MONTHS.

AND I APPRECIATE THE PARTNERSHIP TO MY CORE, BECAUSE I KNOW THE JAIL IS A TOP PRIORITY FOR ALL OF US, AND IT IS A TRAGEDY AND IT'S A TRAVESTY.

AND SO I'M SO THANKFUL.

AND YOU TALK ABOUT SIDE HUSTLES.

THESE JUDGES NOT ONLY ARE LEADING ON THIS JAIL ISSUE, THEY'RE LEADING ON THE INDIGENT DEFENSE COMMISSION.

THEY'RE LEADING ON LANGUAGE ACCESS.

YOU ALL EMBODY THE FIGHT FOR JUSTICE FOR VICTIMS AND JUSTICE FOR DEFENDANTS, AND JUSTICE FOR ALL WHO WORK IN OUR JAIL AND IN OUR COURTS.

SO THANK YOU.

I AM ALL IN TO ME.

I WAS SHOCKED AND VERY DISAPPOINTED TO LEARN THAT THE ARPA FUNDING FOR THE JAIL BASED COMPETENCY RESTORATION EXPIRES IN JUNE 2024.

[03:10:08]

SO MY TEAM AND I ARE ALL IN, AND I JUST WANTED TO SAY THANK YOU.

AND AS A FORMER JUDGE, I'M ENERGIZED BY THE FACT THAT WE CAN USE TECHNOLOGY SOLUTIONS SO THAT THESE INDIVIDUALS I MEAN, WHAT A TRAVESTY THAT THIS PERSON GOT LOST IN THE SYSTEM ON EVERYONE'S WATCH.

THAT SHOULD NEVER HAPPEN AGAIN.

AND SO INVESTING IN THE TECHNOLOGY SOLUTIONS, THE PROCESSES, THE POLICIES SO THAT WE'RE CONSTANTLY ADVANCING JUSTICE IN HARRIS COUNTY.

SO I LOOK FORWARD TO A FULL TIME DOCKET FOR RESTORATION THAT WOULD BE COUPLED WITH THE PROCESSES AND THE TECHNOLOGY.

AND I APPRECIATE JUDGE CONIGLIO AND JUDGE BELL AND THE OTHER CRIMINAL DISTRICT COURT JUDGES THAT HAVE BEEN WORKING WITH US.

AND OF COURSE, MISS MILLS, YOU ARE INVALUABLE, AND YOU GIVE ME HOPE THAT WE CAN MAKE MARKET AGGRESSIVE PROGRESS IN DELIVERING AND DOING BETTER BY THE PEOPLE OF HARRIS COUNTY. SO MY DEEPEST GRATITUDE.

YEAH. JUDGE.

JUDGE CORNELIA AND BELLE AND I STILL REMEMBER YOUR HUSBAND.

DING! DING DING DING DING DING. BUT DOCTOR MILLS AS WELL.

COMMISSIONER BRIONES SAID IT.

WELL, AND I DO WANT TO BEGIN BY SAYING JUDGE BRIONES, THANK YOU FOR LEVERAGING YOUR EXPERIENCE ON FROM THE BENCH.

IT'S BEEN VERY HELPFUL. WE HAVE MISSED YOU HERE.

AND SO I REALLY APPRECIATE THE ATTENTION.

AND, DOCTOR MILLS, THANK YOU FOR GETTING TO THE RECOMMENDATIONS PLACE.

AND BUT JUDGE JUDGES, I CAN'T OVEREMPHASIZE HOW PROUD I AM FOR Y'ALL WILLING TO STEP UP.

I BELIEVE YOUR EXAMPLE IS GOING TO ENCOURAGE OTHERS TO PARTICIPATE AS WELL.

I THINK WE'RE LOOKING FOR AT MINIMUM, THREE AS MANY AS SIX.

IS THAT IS THAT THE NUMBER OF JUDGES I HEARD THAT I'VE BEEN TOLD ARE LOOKING TO PARTICIPATE IN THIS PILOT PROJECT AT SIX.

SIX. YEAH. SO I KNOW YOU'LL YOU'LL ENCOURAGE OTHERS TO COME ALONG AND AND PARTICIPATE THE THE, YOU KNOW, 30 DAYS AND DAY, 30 DAYS IN CUSTODY WAS MY AVERAGE.

I DON'T KNOW WHAT IS, YOU KNOW, APPROPRIATE IF YOU WILL, BUT OVER A YEAR ABSOLUTELY IS WRONG.

AND SO THANK YOU FOR YOUR WILLINGNESS TO PARTICIPATE AND TO LEVERAGE YOUR RESPECTIVE PLATFORM TO HELP US GET TO A BETTER PLACE.

AND THE MONEY THAT WE'RE SPENDING ON OUTSOURCING CAN GO TO OTHER, MORE, YOU KNOW, VALUABLE, COMMUNITY CENTRIC PROJECTS AND PROGRAMS. AND WE GOT TO SAVE THAT MONEY AND WE CAN DO IT.

BUT IT DOESN'T IT DOESN'T HAPPEN WITHOUT YOUR LEADERSHIP AND YOUR PARTICIPATION.

AND SO I'M JUST VERY EXCITED THAT Y'ALL WERE WILLING TO COME FORWARD AND, AND AND SUPPORT THIS, THIS EFFORT.

AND I'M GLAD THAT WE'RE SEEING THESE RECOMMENDATIONS COME FORWARD.

SO VERY, VERY EXCITED.

SO THANK YOU.

THANK YOU. AND AGAIN, COMMISSIONER, OBEDIENCE TO YOUR STAFF FOR HELPING TO NAVIGATE THIS FORWARD.

IT'S VERY EXCITING.

THANK YOU. COMMISSIONER ELLIS AND THEN COMMISSIONER RAMSEY.

I TOO, JUST WANT TO ADD MY APPRECIATION TO JUDGE BAILEY AND JUDGE CONIGLIO.

YOU TANYA COURSE AND ALSO JUDGE BRIONES FOR THE WORK ON THIS.

AND LOOK, WE WERE BLESSED TO HAVE THIS FEDERAL MONEY TO COME TO US.

AND WE USED IT FOR CREATIVE PROGRAMS LIKE THIS.

THIS IS ONE OF THOSE THINGS WE SHOULD HAVE BEEN DOING ANYWAY.

IT'S AN EFFECTIVE USE OR STRATEGY TO SAFELY MOVE THE PROCESS ALONG.

AND I KNOW BUDGET MANAGEMENT IS GOING TO DO ALL THEY CAN.

LOOK AT THE MONEY, WE'RE GOING TO MAKE SOME DECISIONS IN THE NOT TOO DISTANT FUTURE ABOUT HOW MUCH MONEY WE HAVE TO SPEND, AND I'M GOING TO BE SUPPORTIVE OF THAT BECAUSE IT'S NOT ENOUGH FOR US TO JUST KEEP GOING THROUGH THE WISH LIST AND THEN JUST KEEP MOVING AROUND THOSE SHARES.

AT SOME POINT, WE GOT TO MAKE THE FIVE OF US TOUGH DECISIONS ABOUT WHETHER OR NOT WE'RE GOING TO HAVE ENOUGH MONEY.

WE KNEW THE FEDERAL MONEY WAS GOING TO GO AWAY WHEN IT CAME IN.

WE'RE LUCKY TO HAVE IT SAYS A LOT ABOUT THE LEADERSHIP THAT WE HAVE IN WASHINGTON, DC.

BUT YOU DID A GOOD JOB ON IT.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH, COMMISSIONER RAMSEY.

THANK YOU FOR THAT 22 MINUTE PRESENTATION.

I REALIZE IT COULD HAVE BEEN LONGER, BUT THAT THAT WAS GOOD.

THE DATA IS IMPORTANT.

IT'S REALLY HARD TO MAKE DECISIONS IF YOU DON'T HAVE DATA.

THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER BRIONES, FOR YOUR COUNSEL AND DIRECTION ON THIS.

[03:15:02]

IS THAT CLINICIANS WITHIN HARRIS CENTER, WITHIN HARRIS HEALTH, ORIGINALLY, WE WERE ALLOCATED FOR SIX HARRIS CENTER. ORIGINALLY THEY HAD 6.5 ALLOCATION.

NOW THEY'RE DOWN TO TWO.

WE'RE JUST WITHOUT ADDITIONAL.

THEY HAD THEY USED TO HAVE SIX AND NOW THEY'RE DOWN TO TWO.

WHY ARE THEY DOWN TO TWO? BECAUSE IT APPEARS THAT SOMEBODY ELSE IS PAYING.

THERE'S THERE'S A LAWSUIT IN A DIFFERENT COUNTY THAT REQUIRED THEM TO HIRE CLINICIANS.

WHAT THEY DID IN ORDER TO TRACK CLINICIANS WAS TO SIGNIFICANTLY RAISE THEIR PAY RATE.

AND NOW THEY'RE POACHING CLINICIANS FROM ALL OVER.

AND GIVEN WHAT THEY PAY VERSUS WHAT HARRIS COUNTY PAYS, IT'S JUST IT'S APPLES TO ORANGES.

IF THEY HAVE TO DO FIVE EVALUATIONS A WEEK SOMEWHERE ELSE, AND THEY CAN DO IT ONLINE AND THEY GET PAID $30,000 MORE, THEY'RE NOT INCLINED TO STAY AND DO IT FOR HARRIS COUNTY, WHERE THEY HAVE MORE EVALUATIONS THEY'RE REQUIRED TO DO, AND THEY MAKE LESS MONEY.

THEY ARE. THEY'RE LEAVING.

AND I, I GUESS THIS IS AN ALARM BELL TO ME BECAUSE, I MEAN, I'VE SAT IN YOUR OFFICE AND YOU'VE BEEN STRAIGHT UP WHEN WE TALKED ABOUT THE ISSUES.

WE'VE WORKED REALLY HARD TO GET TO A PLACE WHERE WE'RE REDUCING OUR NUMBERS IN OUR BACKLOG.

IF WE COME IN HERE TO YOU NEXT MONTH AND SAY WE'RE DOWN TO ONE CLINICIAN AND ALL THESE EVALUATIONS, SO I CAN'T EVEN PROCESS ANYTHING, I FEEL LIKE IT UNDERCUTS A LOT OF THE WORK THAT ALL OF US HAVE PUT IN TO GET THIS COUNTY MOVING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.

I LOOK FORWARD TO SOMEONE COMING TO THIS COMMISSIONERS COURT WITH A RECOMMENDATION TO EITHER ADD MORE CLINICIANS, INCREASE THE PAY, DO DO THE SPECIFICS WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT SOLUTIONS.

I KNOW WE'VE JUST I KNOW WE'VE JUST ADDED TODAY.

WE'VE ALREADY VOTED ON ADDING NUMEROUS PEOPLE SPENDING ARPA MONEY.

I LOT RATHER SPEND THAT ARPA MONEY ON CLINICIANS RATHER THAN MAYBE SOME OF THE OTHER THINGS WE'VE BEEN SPENDING THE ARPA MONEY ON.

Y'ALL CLEARLY HAVE CONNECTED THE DOTS BETWEEN WHAT COULD HAPPEN IF WE HAD MORE CLINICIANS AND IF IT'S A PAY ISSUE.

I WISH THAT SOMEBODY WOULD COME TO COURT AND ASK US FOR A SPECIFIC.

WE NEED TO INCREASE IT THIS MUCH AND WE NEED TO ADD THOSE POSITIONS.

I THINK YOU WOULD FIND A VERY ENCOURAGING YEAR, AT LEAST FROM WHAT WE'VE HEARD TODAY, BECAUSE IT'S YOU ACTUALLY HAVE PROVIDED DATA THAT WILL ALLOW US TO MAKE, I THINK, A GOOD DECISION. COMMISSIONER, IF I MIGHT, THE THE JULY COURT WILL HAVE A RECOMMENDATION SPECIFIC.

DIRECTOR WOODS WILL BE COMING WITH THAT.

THEY WE DIDN'T GET IT IN IN TIME FOR THIS COURT, BUT THEY HAVE BEEN ACTIVELY WORKING WITH OMB FOR SPECIFICALLY THAT REQUEST AND THEN IN JULY WILL COME WITH SPECIFIC RECOMMENDATIONS AROUND WHAT WHAT IS A PILOT TO HELP REDUCE THE OVERALL JAIL POPULATION AND, AND ALSO WORK WITH OMB ON THE FUNDING FOR THE JOKER FSP THAT WE BROUGHT TODAY.

SO ALL OF THOSE WILL COME.

IT'S BEEN FERRETED OUT.

THE MATH HAS BEEN DONE.

WE KNOW WHAT WE NEED.

WE WILL BRING THE SPECIFIC REQUESTS.

THANK YOU IN JULY. WE APPRECIATE IT.

THANK YOU SIR. THANK YOU. I'M SORRY.

OH, YES. NO. WELL I JUST WANTED TO THANK YOU GUYS AS WELL.

AND IT REALLY IS A TEAM EFFORT.

JUDGE BELL, YOU WERE GOING TO SAY SOMETHING.

OH NO, I WAS GOING TO POINT TO RICHARD AND SAY HE'LL BE HERE NEXT MONTH.

OKAY. THE REQUEST, WE'VE BEEN GOING OVER NUMBERS, BUT WE DON'T WASTE YOUR TIME.

IF WE DON'T HAVE THE I'S DOTTED, T'S CROSSED, AND YOU ABLE TO LOOK AT SOLUTIONS THAT INCLUDE NUMBERS TO SHOW YOU HOW WE PLAN ON GETTING WHERE WE'RE GOING.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOU GUYS.

JUST YOUR HUMILITY ALSO AND WORKING DIGGING IN DOING THIS AND REALLY JUST FOR THE BETTERMENT OF THE COMMUNITY.

THANK YOU GUYS SO MUCH.

THANK YOU, DIRECTOR MILLS.

THIS IS IMPORTANT. I MEAN, IT'S IT'S SAD.

YOU KNOW, IT REALLY IS TRAGIC.

VICTIMS PERPETRATORS, MAYBE THEY WERE INNOCENT.

YOU KNOW, IT JUST IT'S WHICHEVER WAY YOU SLICE IT.

BUT THE TRUTH IS, FOR 18 YEARS, NOBODY REALIZED THIS.

SO I'M REALLY GRATEFUL.

AND, OF COURSE ADMINISTRATOR RAMIREZ FOR TAKING THIS SERIOUSLY.

THIS REQUEST I'VE HAD FOR MANY YEARS.

AND AND YOU REALLY DID TURN YOUR FOCUS TO IT AND AND FOUND DIRECTOR MILLS.

SO THANK YOU ALL.

AND SAME GOES TO YOU.

YOU KNOW, YOU CAN CALL ME OR WRITE ME ANYTIME.

THANK YOU. JUDGE, IF I MAY DIRECTOR MILLS, I WANT AGAIN.

I CAN'T THANK YOU ENOUGH.

I WAS AFRAID WE WERE WRITING A BOOK.

AND RATHER THAN SOLVING A PROBLEM.

BUT THANK YOU.

TO THAT END, I'D LIKE FOR YOU TO MAKE SURE THAT PRETRIAL POPULATION IS NEXT ON YOUR YOUR LIST.

AND AND THEN THE OTHER IS TO HELP IDENTIFY ANY

[03:20:02]

AND AND THE OTHER SYSTEMS, IS IT IS IT? CRIME LAB TESTING.

IS IT, YOU KNOW, IS IT DIGITAL EVIDENCE? IS IT SOME OTHER THING THAT WE CAN WORK WITH OUR COLLECTIVE PARTNERS AND AND WORK TO ADDRESS? SO THANK YOU AGAIN VERY MUCH.

AND I JUST CAN'T SING YOUR PRAISES ENOUGH.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU ALL.

THANK YOU. OH, YES.

GO AHEAD. OH. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? I DON'T THINK SO.

THANK YOU. I THINK SOME MOTIONS WERE SENT AROUND.

BUT OTHER THAN THAT, I THINK WE'RE GOOD.

JUDGE COMMISSIONER RAMSEY, ON THE OTHER ITEM, 329 THAT WE'RE TAKING WITH THIS ONE, THAT WAS ABOUT THE GENERATORS.

DID YOU DID YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS ON THAT OR DID YOU GET THOSE ANSWERED? WELL, THAT THAT'S PRETTY SIMPLE.

I'M IT GETS BACK TO THE BASICS.

WE CLEARLY HAVE CLOSE TO 10,000 PEOPLE AT RISK WHEN WE HAVE A STORM EVENT.

WHEN I CALLED THOSE PEOPLE THAT PROVIDE POWER IN THE GREATER AREA, I ASK THEM, WELL, TELL ME ONE OF THE VULNERABLE AREAS AND DID NOT EVEN HESITATE, SAID THE COUNTY JAIL.

SO SHAME ON ALL OF US IF WE DON'T LOOK AT THE GENERATORS AT THE JAIL, BECAUSE WHEN WE KNOW THERE'S GOING TO BE ANOTHER STORM, WE KNOW THAT WE'RE GOING TO BE KNOCKED OUT OF POWER.

WE'VE ALREADY HAD ONE STORM THIS YEAR WITH A MILLION PEOPLE THAT WERE OUT OF POWER.

SO I WOULD ASK, MY MOTION IS TO SIMPLY ASK THE COUNTY ENGINEER, STARTING WITH THE JAIL, TO EVALUATE THOSE GENERATORS IF WE NEED TO UPGRADE SIGNIFICANTLY, TO BE SURE THAT WE CAN HAVE SOME ASSURANCE THAT WE DON'T HAVE 10,000 PEOPLE WITHOUT POWER.

I CAN'T EVEN BEGIN TO IMAGINE NO POWER IN THE JAIL WITH 10,000 PEOPLE.

NOT JUST AIR CONDITIONING, BUT JUST ALL THE OTHER SECURITY THINGS, THE PROTECTION, THE HEALTH.

SO AS A MATTER OF PRIORITY, THAT WOULD BE MY MOTION IS TO ASK THE COUNTY ENGINEER TO, STARTING WITH THE JAIL, EVALUATE THE COUNTY FACILITIES IN TERMS OF GENERATORS AND WHAT RECOMMENDATIONS HE WOULD HAVE TO GET THOSE UP TO STANDARD.

AND COMMISSIONER EXCUSE ME.

WE HAVE DOCTOR RAHMAN AND AND CHIEF BOSQUEZ FROM THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE WITH GOOD NEWS FOR YOU ON ON THE JAIL GENERATORS, GENTLEMEN.

GOOD AFTERNOON COMMISSIONER RAMSEY AND MEMBERS OF THE COURT.

JUST WANTED TO UPDATE YOU.

FIRST OF ALL, THANK YOU ALL FOR APPROVING THE FOUR GENERATORS IN THE LAST COMMISSIONERS COURT, PART OF THE HUNDRED AND $10 MILLION CAPITAL PROJECTS THAT YOU ALL APPROVED IN THE LAST QUARTER INCLUDES FOUR GENERATORS TWO OF THEM IN 1200.

BAKER AND ONE OF THEM IN 1307.

BAKER. AND WE HAVE ANOTHER ONE AT THIRD.

WAIT. 1307.

NO, SORRY. IT'S 1201 COMMERCE FACILITY.

OUR 701 FACILITY HAD NEW GENERATORS THAT'S BEEN INSTALLED LAST YEAR.

AND THE JPC IS RUN BY THE CENTRAL PLANT WITH UPGRADED EQUIPMENT.

SO WITH THESE FOUR NEW GENERATORS, ONCE WE INSTALL IT WE'LL HAVE THE REDUNDANCY AND THE RESILIENCY IN TERMS OF POWER FUNCTION.

THANK YOU, DOCTOR AMON.

WHEN WILL THOSE GENERATORS BE IN PLACE? COMMISSIONER, OUR GOAL IS TO HAVE IT IN PLACE WITHIN THE NEXT 12 TO 18 MONTHS.

OKAY, SO WE'RE WITHIN A YEAR OF BEING FEELING BETTER ABOUT THE JAIL.

I MEAN, THAT'S THE GOOD NEWS IS WE'VE GOT THEM ORDERED.

I WOULD ASK THAT, YOU SEE IF THERE'S ANY WAY TO EXPEDITE THAT TO GET THE GENERATORS IN PLACE BEFORE THEN.

ABSOLUTELY, COMMISSIONER.

OUR PROJECT TEAM IS LOOKING INTO IT AS WE GET TO THE VENDOR.

THAT'S GOING TO BE ONE OF OUR VERY FIRST THING TO SEE IF WE CAN PAY SOME EXTRA FEE TO SEE IF, IF WE CAN GET IT SHIPPED QUICKER.

DOCTOR MAN, THANK YOU FOR ANTICIPATING THE QUESTION BEFORE IT'S EVEN ASKED.

GOOD JOB. OKAY.

SO WE DON'T NEED THE MOTION THEN, COMMISSIONER RAMSEY? NO. OKAY.

YES, I WOULD IF I WOULD STILL THINK THE REST OF FACILITIES THAT WE HAVE.

YEP. BECAUSE WE GO THROUGH A STORM AND WE NEED COOLING CENTERS.

WE NEED OTHER THINGS.

THERE OUGHT TO BE SOME LEVEL OF OF COMFORT THAT WE'VE GOT ENOUGH FACILITIES IN THE COUNTY TO HANDLE AN EVENT.

SO WHAT? SO WHAT'S THE MOTION AGAIN? TO EVACUATE ALL COUNTY FACILITIES.

IN TERMS OF THE BACKUP POWER GENERATORS AND MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS ON UPGRADES OR REPLACEMENT.

I'LL SECOND THAT IS THE ADMINISTRATOR RAMIREZ AND DIRECTOR RAMON.

[03:25:03]

DOCTOR RAMON, YOUR STAFF ARE GOING TO BE THE ONES DOING THIS WORK.

YEAH. JORDAN.

COMMISSIONER. YOU KNOW, WE FEEL WE COULD DO IT IN ABOUT 12 MONTHS.

ONE OF THE THING WE WOULD NEED A CLARIFYING YOU KNOW, CLARIFICATION IS AT THIS POINT, COUNTY ENGINEERING MANAGES CERTAIN GENERATORS AND THE CERTAIN GENERATORS IS MANAGED BY PRECINCTS AND OTHER DEPARTMENTS, SUCH AS SOME OF THESE IN TERMS OF MAINTAIN WANTED CLARIFICATION IN TERMS OF DOES THAT MOTION INCLUDES ALL COUNTY FACILITIES, ALL GENERATORS.

I TRUST YOUR DISCERNMENT ON PRIORITIES RELATED TO THESE.

I KNOW SOME OF THESE FACILITIES ARE UNDER WORKING WITHIN THE PRECINCTS, WORKING WITHIN DIFFERENT COUNTY DEPARTMENTS.

SO AS BEST WE CAN TRY TO IDENTIFY THOSE AREAS, PROBABLY STARTING WITH POTENTIAL COOLING CENTERS THAT MIGHT END UP BEING COOLING CENTERS AS YOUR FIRST LEVEL OF FOCUS.

THAT COULD BE COMMUNITY CENTERS, IT COULD BE LIBRARIES.

IT COULD BE THOSE THAT MIGHT BE OPEN TO THE PUBLIC DURING TIMES OF EMERGENCIES.

THANK YOU COMMISSIONER. OKAY.

SO WE'LL KEEP IT AS TO EVALUATE ALL COUNTY FACILITIES IN TERMS OF THE BACKUP POWER GENERATORS AND MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS ON UPGRADES OR REPLACEMENT.

AND THOSE A MOTION BY COMMISSIONER RAMSEY, SECOND BY GARCIA, I BELIEVE.

YEAH. COMMISSIONER BRONZE.

OKAY. ALL IN FAVOR? AYE, AYE. ANY OPPOSED? I'M IN FAVOR. MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY.

AND THEN JUST CLARIFICATION FOR ITEM 329.

YEAH. SO FOR THE THE JAIL WE DO HAVE A FEW I MOTIONS HERE.

SO DIRECT THE COUNTY, THE OFFICE OF COUNTY ADMINISTRATION TO WORK WITH DISTRICT COURT JUDGES TO EVALUATE THE POSSIBILITY OF CREATING A FULL TIME, FULLY RESOURCED COMPETENCY RESTORATION DOCKET AND TO RETURN WITH A RECOMMENDATION FOR CONSIDERATION BY COMMISSIONERS COURT WITHIN 45 DAYS.

ADDITIONALLY, TO DIRECT THE OFFICE OF ADMINISTRATION AND THE OFFICE OF MANAGEMENT AND BUDGET TO WORK TOGETHER TO IDENTIFY FUNDING OF APPROXIMATELY $998,240, AND TO RETURN WITH RECOMMENDATIONS FOR CONSIDERATION BY COMMISSIONERS COURT WITHIN 30 DAYS, TO ABSORB THE $645,000 LOST IN ARPA FUNDING FOR THE JBCA PROGRAM.

TO ADD CARE COORDINATORS TO THE FORENSIC SINGLE PORTAL AUTHORITY.

TO STREAMLINE REQUEST FOR RESOURCES FROM DISTRICT JUDGES, TO ADD A PSYCHIATRIC DOCTOR AND A PSYCHIATRIC NURSE TO FSPA THE FORENSIC SINGLE AUTHORITY TO SUPPORT EFFECTIVE MEDICINE MANAGEMENT FOR THOSE ON THE STATE HOSPITAL WAIT LIST AND THOSE RETURNING, AND TO IMPROVE OPPORTUNITIES TO MAINTAIN COMPETENCY SO INDIVIDUALS CAN SEEK QUICKER DISPOSITION OF THEIR LEGAL CASES.

MOTION. SO MOVED.

SECOND MOTION BY COMMISSIONER BRUINS.

SECOND BY COMMISSIONER GARCIA.

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

OH. SO RELIEVED.

WE'RE MAKING PROGRESS. THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH.

OKAY, SO THEN WE GO TO THE NEXT JUDGE.

YES. BEFORE WE GO TO THE NEXT ITEM, I, I IF WE COULD TAKE A MOMENT TO GO BACK TO ITEM 12, I THINK DWIGHT WANTED TO JUST CLARIFY ONE OF HIS SOME OF HIS COMMENTS.

OKAY. ITEM 12 ON THE PUBLIC HEALTH SERVICES ON EMPOWERING WOMEN.

COMMISSIONER RAMSEY I'M SORRY, JUDGE, AM I? GO AHEAD, GO AHEAD. YOU HAD ASKED ABOUT THE RFP AND THE BID PROCESS.

I WAS INCORRECT IN WHAT I STATED PRIOR TO.

WE ACTUALLY DID A LARGER RFP PRIOR TO A DIFFERENT PROJECT, BUT THIS ONE HERE, PARTICULARLY WE PROVIDED GUIDANCE TO PUBLIC HEALTH SINCE IT'S A SUBRECIPIENT AWARD.

THEY WERE ABLE TO GO THROUGH THE, THEIR INTERNAL PROCUREMENT PROCESS AND SELECT THE ACTUAL VENDOR THROUGH THEIR PROCESS.

BECAUSE IT WAS NOT REQUIRED BY STATE STATUTE TO ACTUALLY BID THAT SERVICE.

SO I JUST WANTED TO CLARIFY THAT, PUT THAT OUT TO YOU.

IT MAY NOT CHANGE YOUR DECISION, BUT IT DID NOT GO THROUGH MY OFFICE.

IT WAS NOT MY RECOMMENDATION TO THIS COURT TO AWARD TO THAT INDIVIDUAL.

SO I JUST WANTED TO CLARIFY THAT IT DOESN'T CHANGE.

I STILL VOTED NO.

YES, SIR. THANK YOU.

YES, SIR. OKAY.

AND THEN LET'S MOVE ON TO ITEM 19.

DISCUSSION. POSSIBLE ACTION ON EXECUTIVE PAY FROM KORN FERRY.

AND SO THAT ONE IS THE ONE THAT WE'RE TAKING.

SO IT'LL BE 19 AND 433 RELATED TO EXECUTIVE PAY AND PAY EQUITY AND 323 AND 429 RELATED TO DEPARTMENT HEAD PERFORMANCE EVALUATION.

AND THEY'RE ALL RELATED TO TO COUNTY HR SYSTEMS. AND SO DO YOU GUYS WANT TO GIVE AN UPDATE ON THE KORN FERRY?

[03:30:02]

WE HAVE OUR REPRESENTATIVE FROM KORN FERRY, MANY OFOEDU ODU WHO'S ON THE LINE, HE SHOULD BE ON THE LINE.

HE'S GOING TO BE MAKING A PRESENTATION.

HE HAS A POWERPOINT PRESENTATION FOR OPEN COURT TO TALK ABOUT THE PROCESS AND THE METHODOLOGY THAT HE USED.

ONCE WE GET TO THE TO THE PORTION WHERE WE'RE IDENTIFYING THE SPECIFIC RECOMMENDATIONS FOR PAY FOR THE DEPARTMENT HEADS, WE WOULD ASK THAT YOU TAKE IT INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION SO THAT THAT CAN THAT CAN HAPPEN BACK THERE BEFORE YOU ALL MAKE A DECISION.

THAT WOULD BE GREAT.

MANY. ARE YOU ON THE LINE? YES, I AM, I'M HERE.

CAN YOU HEAR ME? OKAY. YES.

THANK YOU. AND, TIFFANY, CAN YOU PUT UP HIS SLIDE DECK SO YOU CAN SHARE THAT CONTENT AND MANY JUST JUST LET LET THEM KNOW WHEN YOU NEED A NEW SLIDE.

OKAY. PERFECT.

OKAY. GREAT.

THANK YOU GUYS FOR HAVING ME.

MY NAME IS MINNIE. I'M A PRINCIPAL AT KORN FERRY.

FOR THOSE WHO DON'T KNOW, KORN FERRY IS A ORGANIZATIONAL CONSULTING FIRM.

WE SPECIALIZE IN ANYTHING AROUND PEOPLE, PRIMARILY COMPENSATION CAREER PATHING, JOB ARCHITECTURE SALES COMPENSATION, DESIGN, VALUE PROPOSITIONS.

ANYTHING AROUND THE PEOPLE OF ORGANIZATIONS IS, IS KIND OF WHAT WE WE DO AND HOW WE WORK WITH, WITH CLIENTS.

SO HAPPY TO TO KIND OF WALK THROUGH THIS AND LET YOU KNOW WHAT WE'VE BEEN DOING THE PAST FEW MONTHS IN TERMS OF THIS STUDY.

YOU CAN GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE.

SO FIRST WE'LL KIND OF GIVE A BACKGROUND ON OUR METHODOLOGY AND HOW WE HELP DETERMINE AND INFLUENCE PAY OR INFORM PAY. AND THEN WE'LL GET INTO THE COMPENSATION ANALYSIS PORTION OF IT AND KIND OF SOME OF OUR FINDINGS.

NEXT SLIDE. SO PROJECT BACKGROUND AND METHODOLOGY.

SO OVER THE LAST 2 OR 3 MONTHS, IF YOU GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE WE THIS IS KIND OF THE KIND OF THE FLOW OF WHAT WE WENT THROUGH.

SO WE MET WITH KIND OF A OBJECTIVE PROJECT TEAM DIANA'S TEAM AS WELL AS SOME KEY STAKEHOLDERS.

AND WE RECEIVED A LOT OF JOB DOCUMENTATION.

SO JOB DESCRIPTIONS ORG CHARTS SALARY INFORMATION.

WE ALSO SCHEDULED INTERVIEWS WITH ALL 17 EXECUTIVE DIRECTORS 16, I THINK ARE SITTING I THINK THERE WAS ONE INTERIM.

SO 17 FOLKS AND WE MET WITH, WITH EVERY SINGLE ONE OF THEM, ABOUT 45 MINUTES EACH.

WE TOOK THAT INFORMATION AND EVALUATED THE JOB.

SO WITHOUT LOOKING AT COMPENSATION AND I'LL GET MORE INTO DETAIL ABOUT THAT.

AND THEN WE TOOK KIND OF FROM A LEVELING CRITERIA.

WE TOOK THAT AND WENT INTO THE MARKET AND COMPARED JOBS AND CONTENT.

AND COMPARE THAT TO THE MARKET.

AND THEN WE ALSO BUILT A SALARY STRUCTURE AS WELL.

YOU GUYS CURRENTLY ALREADY HAVE A SALARY STRUCTURE THAT HOUSES ALL OF YOUR EXECUTIVE DIRECTORS.

BUT WE WE WE CREATED A NEW ONE, A FEW DIFFERENT OPTIONS.

TO, TO ENHANCE THAT AND PUT YOU IN WHAT WE BELIEVE IN A MORE COMPETITIVE POSITION.

AND THEN WE ALSO OBVIOUSLY ARE NOW DOING THE COMMUNICATION PIECE IN TERMS OF COMMUNICATING SOME OF OUR FINDINGS.

SO THIS IS KIND OF THE THE FLOW OF THE PROJECT.

IF YOU GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE.

HERE ARE ALL OF THE WONDERFUL EMPLOYEES THAT WE MET WITH.

WE HAD A GREAT CONVERSATIONS LEARNED A LOT OF A WONDERFUL THINGS ABOUT THE THINGS THAT YOU GUYS ARE DOING.

EACH EACH EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR IS THEIR OWN CEO, ESSENTIALLY IS WHAT WE KIND OF CAME TO REALIZE.

AND ALL THE THINGS THAT YOU GUYS ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR.

SO. AND THEN THE CONVERSATIONS WERE AROUND YOU KNOW EACH INDIVIDUAL IN THEIR BACKGROUND, BUT ALSO.

WHAT WHAT ARE YOU DOING? WHAT ARE YOU DOING ON A DAY TO DAY BASIS? WHAT ARE SOME LONG TERM GOALS? WHAT ARE WHAT IS A BUDGET THAT YOU'RE MANAGING? WHAT IS THE CAPITAL BUDGET THAT YOU'RE MANAGING? WHAT ARE SOME SPECIAL PROJECTS? YOU KNOW, WHAT ARE SOME QUALIFICATIONS IN ORDER FOR YOUR ROLE TO BE SUCCESSFUL? WHO REPORTS INTO YOU? SO WHAT TYPES OF ROLES REPORTING TO YOU? ALL OF THAT WENT INTO THE DISCUSSION WITH EACH EACH MEMBER HERE.

AND DEFINITELY APPRECIATIVE OF EVERYBODY'S TIME.

AND THEY HELPED KIND OF INFORM AS ONE DATA POINT OF THE OF KIND OF THE ANALYSIS.

LET'S GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE, JOB EVALUATION.

SO KORN FERRY IS KNOWN FOR JOB EVALUATION.

WE HAVE A HAY METHODOLOGY IS IS KIND OF HOW WE REFER TO IT AND HOW WE LOOK AT IT AND KIND OF THE PURPOSE OF LOOKING AT IT THIS WAY IS

[03:35:04]

WHAT IS IT, PAY AT TARRANT COUNTY, AND WE CAN LOOK AT JOB TITLES AND SAY, WHAT IS THE PAY OVER THERE? LET'S PAY THE SAME OVER HERE.

WE SAY, WELL, WHAT ARE YOU WHAT IS THE JOB? THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF FINANCE AT HARRIS COUNTY DOING VERSUS THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF FINANCE AT TARRANT COUNTY.

WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE? HOW BIG IS YOUR ROLE? AND WE LOOK AT THREE DIFFERENT FACTORS KNOW HOW PROBLEM SOLVING, ACCOUNTABILITY.

KNOW HOW IS WHAT ARE SOME OF THE BASIC FUNDAMENTALS YOU NEED IN ORDER TO DO THE JOB OR SOME QUALIFICATIONS.

DO YOU NEED A BACHELOR'S DEGREE? DO YOU NEED A MASTER'S DEGREE? DO YOU NEED TEN YEARS EXPERIENCE? 15 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE? DO YOU NEED A PHD? YOU KNOW THOSE TYPES OF CHARACTERISTICS IN TERMS OF WHAT DO YOU NEED IN ORDER TO BE QUALIFIED AND WHAT TYPE OF KNOWLEDGE THAT YOU'VE ACQUIRED IN YOUR PAST? HAVE YOU MANAGED TEAMS BEFORE? HAVE YOU MANAGED A BIG GROUP? HAVE YOU MANAGED BUDGETS? THOSE ARE ALL KIND OF QUALIFICATIONS OF YOUR EXECUTIVE DIRECTORS TODAY.

SO THAT'S ONE DATA POINT.

THE OTHER DATA POINT IS PROBLEM SOLVING.

SO WHAT TYPE OF PROBLEMS ARE YOU SOLVING? YOU KNOW, HOW MUCH AUTONOMY DO YOU HAVE? ARE YOU REPORTING IT TO SOMEBODY? ARE YOU ARE THERE ARE YOUR PROBLEMS REALLY THE SAME? ON A, YOU KNOW, DAY TO DAY BASIS OR ARE THEY DRASTICALLY DIFFERENT? HOW BIG OR SMALL ARE THEY? OBVIOUSLY, I'VE KIND OF SAT IN THIS CONVERSATION AND SEEN SOME OF THE ISSUES THAT ARE THAT THAT YOU GUYS ARE TRYING TO TO FIX.

SO THOSE TYPES OF THINGS IS WHAT WE'RE ALSO MEASURING, AS WELL AS IF BETWEEN EACH LETTER, BETWEEN EACH LEADER IS WHAT TYPES OF ISSUES OR PROBLEMS ARE THEY? ARE THEY HAVING TO THINK THROUGH AND FIX.

AND THEN ACCOUNTABILITY HAS PERTAINS TO YOU KNOW SIZE.

SO BUDGET SIZE EMPLOYEE COUNT.

SO HOW MANY EMPLOYEES DOES EACH EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR KIND OF OVERSEE? NOT DIRECT REPORT, BUT IN TERMS OF THE ENTIRE KIND OF ORGANIZATION, THAT ENTIRE PURVIEW.

YOU KNOW WHAT? HOW MANY EMPLOYEES ARE KIND OF UNDERNEATH THEM? AND AND ALL OF THAT TOGETHER, WE EQUATE TO IT.

WE WE EQUATE THAT TO EQUAL A JOB SIZE.

IF YOU GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE REAL QUICK, KIND OF INFORMED A LITTLE BETTER.

SO THIS KIND OF PUTS A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT.

SO FROM A FLOW PERSPECTIVE, WE LOOKED AT, WE DID INTERVIEWS, WE REVIEWED ORGANIZATIONAL CHARTS, WE REVIEWED JOB DESCRIPTIONS AS THEY'RE WRITTEN TODAY. AND THE REASON WHY WE DID INTERVIEWS AS WELL AS JOB DESCRIPTION, IS SOMETIMES THERE ARE THINGS WITHIN A JOB DESCRIPTION OR THE THINGS THAT SOMEONE IS DOING THAT IS NOT IN A JOB DESCRIPTION.

AND SOMETIMES VICE VERSA.

SO WE, WE USE BOTH TO KIND OF HELP US GET A GOOD INDICATION OF EXACTLY WHAT, WHAT THAT ROLE IS DOING.

IN ADDITION, I THINK IT ALSO GIVES US INSIGHT AND UNDERSTANDING INTO LIKE WE MIGHT HAVE QUESTIONS JUST READING THE JOB DESCRIPTION.

WE MIGHT HAVE QUESTIONS LIKE, WHAT DO YOU MEAN BY THIS OR WHAT? WHAT DOES THIS MEAN.

AND SO WE'RE ABLE TO GET THAT THROUGH THE INTERVIEW PROCESS AS WELL.

AND THEN WE TAKE THAT AND THEN WE MEASURE IT THROUGH OUR JOB EVALUATION METHODOLOGY.

RIGHT. SO TO, TO ENHANCE AGAIN, WE HAVEN'T TALKED ABOUT COMPENSATION.

WE HAVEN'T LOOKED AT COMPENSATION.

THIS IS THIS IS STRICTLY JUST ABOUT WHAT IS A JOB DOING? WHAT ARE THE QUALIFICATIONS OF THE ROLE? YOU KNOW, WHAT ARE WHAT ARE THE DAY TO DAY OPERATIONS? WHO DO THEY REPORT TO, ETC., ETC.? AND SO WE, WE, WE PLUG IT INTO OUR, OUR EVALUATION PROCESS.

AND THEN THAT HELPS US DETERMINE HOW BIG THE ROLE IS FROM A JOB LEVEL PERSPECTIVE.

AND SO THAT'S, THAT'S KIND OF THE FLOW OF HOW IT WORKS.

GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE.

SO HERE ARE THE THE DIFFERENT LEVELS.

SO CURRENTLY TODAY YOU GUYS ARE OPERATING AND HAVE ABOUT FIVE DIFFERENT LEVELS OF EXECUTIVE DIRECTORS.

AND I BELIEVE I THINK WE WERE ABLE TO VALIDATE THAT THERE ARE DIFFERENCES.

AND WHAT WE MEAN BY DIFFERENT LEVELS IS THERE'S EVEN THOUGH EVERYONE'S A DIRECTOR OR EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, THERE ARE THERE ARE MORE THERE ARE DIFFERENT THERE ARE DIFFERENT LEVELS OF EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR LEADERSHIP.

AND SO I THINK WE'RE ABLE TO VALIDATE THAT AND AND, AND, AND PLACE ROLES AS THEY COMPARE TO EACH OTHER.

AND THAT'S ALSO WHAT WE DID AS WELL.

WE, YOU KNOW, WE LOOKED AT HARRIS COUNTY TOLL ROAD AND SAID, WHAT'S THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN HARRIS COUNTY TOLL ROAD AND PRETRIAL SERVICES?

[03:40:06]

IF THERE'S A 15% DIFFERENCE IN SCOPE, RESPONSIBILITIES ACCOUNTABILITY, PROBLEM SOLVING TECHNIQUES, SOMETIMES IT HAS TO DO WITH QUALIFICATIONS.

SOME OF THESE ROLES SAID REQUIRED A A MASTER'S DEGREE.

SOME REQUIRED JUST A BACHELOR'S DEGREE, SOME REQUIRED TEN YEARS OF EXPERIENCE IN MANAGEMENT.

SOME REQUIRED FIVE.

RIGHT. SO ALL THOSE THINGS TOGETHER HELPED US DETERMINE WHAT TYPE OF LEVEL IS THIS ROLE AND TO GIVE YOU GUYS SOME CONTEXT AS TO WHAT 21 THROUGH 25 MEANS THE 21 AT A LET'S THINK OF A A PUBLIC COMPANY.

IT IS THESE ARE ALL VP, EXECUTIVE LEVEL TYPE LEVELS.

IT'S KIND OF HOW I WANT TO DESCRIBE IT.

AND OUR LEVELING SYSTEM GOES ALL THE WAY DOWN TO 8 OR 6, I SHOULD SAY.

WE, WE RARELY SEE SIX AND SIX IS LIKE TO GIVE YOU GUYS CONTEXT, SIX IS LIKE FACTORY WORKERS, HIGH VOLUME TYPE POSITIONS ROLES THAT YOU KNOW, YOU'RE BEING TOLD WHAT TO DO EVERY SINGLE DAY.

THERE IS NO LEADERSHIP RESPONSIBILITY.

THERE'S NO YOU DON'T NEED A BACHELOR'S DEGREE.

IT'S FRESH OUT OF, YOU KNOW, KIND OF HIGH SCHOOL DIPLOMA SOMETIMES NOT EVEN HIGH SCHOOL DIPLOMA.

SO JUST TO GIVE YOU CONTEXT, WHEREAS IN THE 20S RSVP'S SENIOR DIRECTOR, DIRECTOR SVP THOSE TYPES OF TYPES OF POSITIONS, JUST TO GIVE YOU GUYS CONTEXT AS HOW IT HAD AS IT RELATES TO OUTSIDE OF YOUR ORGANIZATION.

AND INVALIDATING THIS PROCESS, WE AGAIN HAVE MET WITH DIANA AND HER AND SOME OF HER TEAM, AS WELL AS THE COMPENSATION TEAM TO VALIDATE, AGAIN, JUST THE LEVELING.

SO, FOR EXAMPLE, I WOULD COME AND SAY, HEY, I BELIEVE THE PUBLIC HEALTH ROLE IS A 24.

AND, YOU KNOW, THE QUESTION IS, WELL, WHY? AND THEN I'LL BE ABLE TO EXPLAIN WHY.

HERE'S MY UNDERSTANDING OF THE POSITION.

HERE'S SOME OF THE THINGS THAT THE ROLE IS DOING.

AND I WOULD BE ABLE TO GET THAT FEEDBACK FROM KIND OF WE HAVE A INTERNAL PROJECT TEAM COMPENSATION TEAM IN TERMS OF UNDERSTANDING AND MAKING SURE THAT SOME OF THOSE THINGS ARE VALIDATED ON HOW WE'RE THINKING.

SO IT'S A VERY COLLABORATIVE APPROACH TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE ON THE RIGHT TRACK ON ON HOW WE ARE, ARE ARE THINKING SO HERE, HERE ARE KIND OF THE LEVELING THAT THEN THIS HELPS INFORM THIS HELPS THIS IS WHAT HELPED INFORM COMPENSATION.

SO THE NEXT SLIDE. EXTERNAL COMPETITIVENESS GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE.

SO HERE'S HOW WE LOOKED AT THE THE MARKET.

AND HERE'S KIND OF SOME BASIC METHODOLOGY AROUND HOW WE LOOKED AT THE MARKET.

SO YOU GUYS WILL HEAR THINGS LIKE P25, P50, P75 AND AS THAT WHAT THAT MEANS IS THOSE ARE DIFFERENT MARKET POSITIONS.

SO P25 MEANS IN LAYMAN'S TERMS, IT'S AT THE LOWER END OF THE MARKET WHEREAS P75 IS AT THE HIGHER END OF THE MARKET.

AND AS YOU CAN SEE THERE, YOU KNOW, P75 MEANS 75%.

YOU ARE PAID HIGHER THAN 75% OF OF THE OF YOUR COMPETITORS WITHIN THE MARKET.

KORN FERRY HAS THEIR OWN PAY DATABASE THAT YOU KNOW, OVER 200,000 PARTICIPANTS PARTICIPATE IN ANNUALLY.

AND WE USED A DIFFERENT DIFFERENT CUTS.

AND THE REASON WHY IS YOU CAN SEE WE USE ALL INDUSTRIES.

SO THAT MEANS THAT THERE'S NO IT'S INDUSTRY AGNOSTIC.

FROM A LEADERSHIP PERSPECTIVE.

WE ALSO WENT A LITTLE BIT MORE GRANULAR AND SAID, LET'S JUST LOOK AT BUSINESS AND PROFESSIONAL SERVICES TYPE COMPANIES AND PUBLIC SECTOR TYPE COMPANIES.

WE ALSO LOOKED AT SPECIFIC FUNCTIONAL CUTS.

SO EXECUTIVE MANAGEMENT, HUMAN RESOURCES, CORPORATE AFFAIRS, FINANCE AND ACCOUNTING.

FOR EXAMPLE, HUMAN RESOURCES, WE WE LOOK AT THE, YOU KNOW, AT A VP OF HUMAN RESOURCES, RIGHT.

WE WOULDN'T LOOK AT ALL INDUSTRY.

FOR HUMAN RESOURCE, WE WOULD LOOK AT MAYBE ALL INDUSTRY, BUT THEN WE WOULD GET MORE GRANULAR AND SAY ALL INDUSTRY, HUMAN RESOURCES AND EXECUTIVE MANAGEMENT.

THAT'S KIND OF THE KIND OF THE FLOW OF HOW IT WORKS.

SAME THING WITH FINANCE AND ACCOUNTING.

YOU GUYS HAVE A BUDGETING EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR.

YOU ALSO HAVE ALSO HAVE AN ENGINEERING.

SO THOSE TYPES OF FUNCTIONS WE THOUGHT WERE SPECIFIC TO THOSE SPACES.

AND ALSO THE OTHER REASON WHY FOR GOING WITH THIS METHODOLOGY IS DURING THE INTERVIEW PROCESS AND UNDERSTANDING THE BACKGROUNDS OF SOME OF THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTORS.

YOU KNOW, ONE OF THE QUESTIONS WE ASKED WAS YOU KNOW, WHO ARE THE COMPARATORS? I MEAN, WHO ARE YOUR COMPETITORS? NOT JUST WHO COMPETES, WHO DO YOU COMPETE WITH FOR TALENT, BUT WHO POTENTIALLY LIKE, WHERE HAVE YOU BEEN IN THE PAST AND WHERE COULD YOU GO?

[03:45:01]

SOME OF THE BACKGROUNDS OF ALSO SOME OF YOUR EXECUTIVE DIRECTORS AS WELL CAME FROM VARIOUS BACKGROUNDS.

SO WE WANTED TO MAKE SURE WE REPRESENTED A COMPENSATION COMPARATOR THAT REFLECTS WHERE YOU CAN LOSE YOUR TALENT TO AND WHERE YOU'RE COMPETING WITH FOR TALENT.

SO THAT'S ALSO THE THE REASON WHY WE HAVE KIND OF A MULTIPLE DIFFERENT RATES OF CUTS.

WE ALSO TAILORED ANY COMPENSATION NUMBERS TO HARRIS COUNTY.

WE USE IF YOU GUYS AREN'T FAMILIAR, THE ECONOMIC RESEARCH INSTITUTE, WHICH WE CALL IRI AND THAT SHOWS THE COST OF LABOR ALL THE WAY DOWN TO THE ZIP CODE.

YOU CAN GET BY STATE, YOU CAN GET BY CITY, YOU CAN GET BY COUNTRY.

IT'S IT'S IT'S A REALLY ROBUST DATABASE THAT MANY COMPANIES USE TO AGAIN, KEEP UP WITH THE COST OF LABOR IN SPECIFIC AREAS.

OBVIOUSLY, TEXAS IS A HUGE STATE.

SO THE COST OF LABOR IN HOUSTON IS GOING TO BE DIFFERENT THAN THE COST OF LABOR IN AUSTIN OR WITH EVEN WITHIN HOUSTON.

THERE'S ALSO GOING TO BE DIFFERENT WAGES OF PAY FROM A COST OF LABOR PERSPECTIVE.

SO WE, WE, WE TAILORED EVERYTHING TO ABOUT 9% OVER THE NATIONAL AVERAGE TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ACCOUNT FOR THE HOUSTON MARKET.

NEXT SLIDE.

AND AGAIN, THIS IS THIS IS AGAIN, JUST TO HIGHLIGHT A LITTLE BIT MORE IN DEPTH ON THE COST OF LABOR.

SOMETIMES PEOPLE DON'T DON'T UNDERSTAND THE COST OF LABOR.

PEOPLE LOOK AT THE COST OF LIVING VERSUS THE COST OF LABOR, OR THEY LOOK AT, OH, YOU KNOW, IF HOUSING PRICES GO UP, THEN, YOU KNOW, MAYBE I SHOULD BE PAID MORE.

THAT'S NOT NECESSARILY THE 1 TO 1 METHODOLOGY THAT IS ACCRUED WITHIN THE COST OF LABOR.

BUT AGAIN, TO FOR THIS THE SAKE OF THIS CONVERSATION, WE WE MADE SURE TO ACCOUNT FOR ALL COMPENSATION NUMBERS.

SO, FOR EXAMPLE, IF IT SAID THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF TOLL ROADS SHOULD BE PAID $100,000 IN THE MARKET, WE ADDED A 9% COST OF LABOR AVERAGE BECAUSE WE SAID, OKAY, WELL, THE HEAD OF TOLL ROAD IN HOUSTON, WHAT DOES THAT MEAN? AND SAME THING. IF WE WERE IN CALIFORNIA WE WOULD ADD MAYBE 20%.

IF WE WERE IN ARKANSAS, WE MIGHT GO UNDER 100% NATIONAL AVERAGE.

WE MIGHT GO DOWN TO 90%.

SO JUST TO GIVE YOU GUYS CAN I INTERRUPT? CAN I GET YOU TO TO SPEED UP A LITTLE BIT? I KNOW YOU'RE GETTING INTO SOME EXAMPLES, BUT WE'VE BEEN AT IT 16 MINUTES, AND WE HAVE A LOT OF ITEMS TO STILL COVER.

THANK YOU, THANK YOU. YES.

YES, MA'AM. IF WE GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE.

SO HERE IS THE RECOMMENDATION.

SALARY RANGE OF RECOMMENDATION.

GO AHEAD. SO IF YOU LOOK ON THE LEFT SIDE SO THIS IS A REPRESENTATION OF THE P50 WHICH IS THE MARKET MEDIAN.

TO GIVE YOU GUYS PERSPECTIVE, YOU GUYS ARE SITTING AT LEAST FROM A, A EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR PERSPECTIVE ON AVERAGE ON THE LOWER END.

AND THAT MEANS, OBVIOUSLY NOT EVERY SINGLE ROLE IS AT THE LOWER END OF THE OF THE KIND OF THE MARKET COMPARATOR.

BUT ON AVERAGE IF YOU PUT ALL THE ROLES TOGETHER, IT'S, IT'S TOWARDS THE, THE, THE P25 SITTING TOWARDS THE P25, THIS RANGE HERE, IF YOU LOOK TO THE RIGHT, RECOMMENDED THAT IS THE RANGE THAT WE ARE RECOMMENDING THAT YOU GUYS ADOPT THAT REPRESENTS A MORE AGAIN, A MORE COMPETITIVE P50 MARKET MEDIAN, WHICH MEANS YOU ARE PAID RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF COMPANIES.

THE LEFT SIDE, IF YOU SEE CURRENT BASE SALARY, THAT IS HOW YOU'RE CURRENTLY.

THAT'S YOUR CURRENT RANGES RIGHT NOW.

AND THEN THE RIGHT SIDE IS, IS YOUR IS YOUR IS OUR RECOMMENDATION.

SO THIS IS ONE RECOMMENDATION I FEEL THE NEXT SLIDE AND THIS IS THE, THE SECOND RECOMMENDATION.

SO THIS IS ASSUMING BECAUSE OBVIOUSLY THERE IS A COST TO, TO BOTH.

BUT OBVIOUSLY THERE'S PROBABLY A LITTLE BIT MORE SIGNIFICANT COST TO THE P50.

BUT THIS IS THE REPRESENTING THE P25.

AND THIS IS A LITTLE BIT JUST AN ENHANCEMENT.

THE RANGES ARE A LITTLE BIT ENHANCED.

THE MINIMUM AND MAXIMUM ARE MORE EVENLY DISTRIBUTED.

AND SO THIS IS A KIND OF A ADOPT REPRESENTATION OF YOUR CURRENT RANGES.

[03:50:02]

THANK YOU. MANNY. WE APPRECIATE IT.

SO THAT'S THE END OF THE PRESENTATION FOR OPEN COURT.

IF THE COURT WANTS TO HAVE QUESTIONS ON THAT PART OUT HERE, OR IF YOU WANT TO GO INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION, WHATEVER YOU DESIRE.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR WORK.

AND JUST A REMINDER AS IT RELATES TO THE SCALE OR ANY OF THE POLICY QUESTIONS, THOSE HAVE TO BE DONE IN OPEN COURT.

WE CAN'T GO BACK THERE AND TALK ABOUT COULD WE DISCUSS THE RELATED ITEM FROM COMMISSIONER ELLIS FOR 33 AND WELL, I THINK 323.

YES. AND I PLEASE HAVE A QUESTION ON THIS.

FIRST OF ALL. YES. ADMINISTRATOR RAMIREZ.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR DELIVERING THIS PROGRESS INTO THE KORN FERRY TEAM.

THANK YOU. ADMINISTRATOR RAMIREZ, WHAT IS YOUR RECOMMENDATION BASED ON ALL OF THIS DATA? I THINK IF THE COMMISSIONERS COURT WANTS TO BE VERY POSITIVE ABOUT RECRUITMENT AND RETENTION OF THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTORS AND THE EXECUTIVE PAY, THEN 50TH PERCENTILE MAKES SENSE.

IF THE COURT IS IS HAPPY WITH HOW THINGS ARE RIGHT NOW AND DOESN'T FEEL THAT THERE'S A THREAT THAT WE'RE GOING TO BE LOSING EXECUTIVE DIRECTORS THEN, YOU KNOW, WE COULD STAY AT THE 25TH PERCENTILE, BASICALLY WHERE WE ARE RIGHT NOW.

I THINK IF YOU GO TO THE 50TH PERCENTILE, THEN WHEN YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT THE PAY EQUITY STUDY LATER THAT'S GOING TO START LATER THIS YEAR, THEN WE WOULD WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THAT WE'RE LOOKING AT A 50TH PERCENTILE FOR ALL COUNTY EMPLOYEES AND NOT JUST THE EXECUTIVES.

COMMISSIONER RAMSEY DIRECTOR, THANK YOU FOR THE AGAIN, THE DATA, DID THIS INCLUDE BENEFITS? NO, SIR. IT ONLY INCLUDED PAY.

DIRECT PAY.

WELL, I'VE ONLY WORKED IN HARRIS COUNTY FOR 40 YEARS.

SO 40 YEARS.

I'VE HEARD ONE OF THE REASONS YOU GO TO WORK AT HARRIS COUNTY IS THE BENEFITS.

SO IT MAKES ZERO SENSE TO ME WHY ANYBODY WOULD DO A COMPENSATION STUDY AND NOT INCLUDE BENEFITS IN THE COMPENSATION. SO I WOULD THINK IF YOU REALLY WANT TO UNDERSTAND WHY PEOPLE COME TO WORK HERE OR LEAVE HERE, YOU BETTER START WITH THE BENEFITS AND THE FACT THAT YOU REMOVE THOSE OR NOT YOU.

THE FACT THAT KORN FERRY DID NOT INCLUDE THAT IN THE ANALYSIS DOESN'T MAKE ANY SENSE TO ME.

THAT'S THAT'S ONE OF SEVERAL REASONS WHY I DON'T THINK WE'RE PREPARED TO HAVE THIS CONVERSATION TODAY.

THE OTHER THING I WOULD SAY RECOGNIZING COMMISSIONER ELLIS ITEM LATER ON, WE'RE STARTING TOP DOWN. I THINK WE SHOULD START BOTTOM UP AND IF WE WOULD LOOK AT COMPENSATION, IF WE LOOK AT BENEFITS, WE NEED TO GET AN UNDERSTANDING OF THOSE BEFORE WE, I THINK ARBITRARILY, MAYBE EVEN CAPRICIOUSLY START DOWN THIS ROAD RELATED TO WHAT I WOULD THINK IS A HIGHLY GENERIC SALARY STUDY.

WHEN I WAS IN BUSINESS, WE GOT ROUTINE UPDATES ON COMPENSATION STUDIES FROM MANY DIFFERENT AGENCIES THAT WERE THEY THEY REALLY DIDN'T.

YOU JUST HAD TO BE A MEMBER OF AN ASSOCIATION AND YOU GOT IT.

SO I KNOW WE PAID LARGE SUMS OF MONEY TO GET THE KORN FERRY STUDY.

BUT BEFORE WE BEGIN TO TAKE ACTION, I REALLY THINK WE BETTER DO OUR HOMEWORK ON COMPENSATION, WHICH INCLUDES BENEFITS, BEFORE WE START MAKING THOSE DECISIONS. THANK YOU.

THANK YOU. ADMINISTRATOR.

YES, COMMISSIONER. ELLIS.

GEORGE, I KNOW YOU WANT ME TO BE BRIEF.

I THINK WHEN YOU TAKE A BREAK.

OH, YES. OKAY. 331.

LET'S TAKE A BREAK UNTIL 345.

OKAY. IT'S 353, AND COMMISSIONERS COURT IS BACK IN SESSION.

COMMISSIONER ELLIS, YOU HAD THE FLOOR.

JUDGE. THANK YOU.

AND I FIRST WANT TO SAY THAT I'M VERY SENSITIVE TO TRYING TO RECRUIT AND RETAIN

[03:55:03]

AT THE VERY TOP, AS WELL AS PEOPLE AT THE VERY BOTTOM.

I ASKED MY STAFF TO TRY TO COME UP WITH A TIMELINE ON HOW LONG AGO MY OFFICE PUT IN A REQUEST TO LOOK AT WHAT WE PAY PEOPLE AT THE BOTTOM.

AND AND AS BEST WE CAN TELL.

COMMISSIONER GARCIA, YOU DID A REQUEST ON A $15 AN HOUR SHORTLY AFTER YOU GOT HERE, AND THEN SOMETIME AFTER THAT, I PUT IN A REQUEST TO DO A PAY EQUITY STUDY.

SO IN ADDITION TO THOSE PEOPLE WHO MAKE THE MINIMUM WAGE, OTHER PEOPLE MAKE MORE THAN $15 AN HOUR BUT ARE STILL AT THE BOTTOM, AND THE BACKBONE OF OUR WORKFORCE ARE ADEQUATELY COMPENSATED.

WE CALLED IT A PAY EQUITY STUDY.

SO, AS BEST AS MY MEMORY CAN FIGURE OUT, IT WAS SOMETIME IN 2020 WHEN I PUT IN THAT REQUEST.

AND THEN AT LEAST WE HAVE ON RECORD IN 2022.

PRECINCT ONE PUT ITEM ON THE AGENDA FOR DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION REGARDING THE COMPENSATION STUDY PERFORMED BY HARRIS COUNTY HUMAN RESOURCES DEPARTMENT.

AND THEN I CAME BACK ON MARCH THE 14TH, 2023, WITH A REQUEST FOR AN UPDATE AND POSSIBLE ACTION RELATED TO THE PRIOR REQUEST.

AND IT HAS JUST TAKEN SO LONG.

SHANE, I'M GONNA LET YOU COME IN IN A MINUTE, BUT I WANT TO GIVE YOU A COUPLE OF FACTOIDS THAT WE MAY NOT BE AWARE OF.

HERE'S ONE FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN RESOURCES.

MORE THAN HALF OF HARRIS COUNTY'S WORKFORCE IS PAID UNDER $75,000 PER YEAR.

OVER ONE FIFTH OF THE EMPLOYEES EARNED BELOW $50,000 A YEAR.

SO WHAT THAT MEANS IS THAT THE MAJORITY OF THE WORKERS AT THE LOWER END OF THE PAY SCALE END UP BEING WOMEN OR PEOPLE OF COLOR.

NOW, I SUSPECT A LOT OF THEM STAY HERE BECAUSE OF THE BENEFITS, BUT WE'RE NOT PAYING THEM NEARLY ENOUGH TO MAKE ENDS MEET. AND I THINK WE OUGHT TO DO BOTH, BUT I WANT TO MAKE THE POINT THAT WE'RE GOING TO MAKE SOME DECISIONS ON HOW MUCH MONEY WE HAVE TO SPEND IN THE NEXT BUDGET CYCLE, SOMETIME THIS SUMMER.

I REMEMBER THE OLD SAYING WHEN I WOULD LISTEN TO THE PREACHER, WHICH IS NOT THAT OFTEN, BUT HE HAD SOMETHING IN THE SERMON ALONG THE LINES OF EVERYBODY WANTS TO GET TO HEAVEN, BUT NOBODY WANTS TO DO WHAT THEY HAVE TO DO TO GET THERE.

SO I DON'T THINK I NEED TO ELABORATE ON IT OTHER THAN JUST MAKE THE POINT.

WE HAVE TO HAVE MORE MONEY.

AND I THINK IT'S SO EASY FOR PEOPLE IN OUR POSITION IN MY YEARS IN GOVERNMENT.

IT'S AMAZING HOW MANY PEOPLE WOULD HAVE BRILLIANT IDEAS ON WE, ON WHAT WE COULD DO, BUT WHEN IT WAS TIME TO COME UP WITH THE MONEY, THEY'D SAY, CUT SOMEBODY ELSE'S AND THEN YOU GET THAT INERTIA.

SO I THINK THAT WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE DON'T JUST TAKE CARE OF OUR GREAT PEOPLE AT THE TOP WHO HAVE TO RUN THESE ORGANIZATIONS AND CREATE MORE INEQUITY AND MORE FRICTION BETWEEN SOMEBODY RUNNING THE ORGANIZATION AND THOSE PEOPLE THAT THEY HAVE TO HAVE DO THEIR JOBS EVERY DAY IN ORDER FOR OUR ORGANIZATION TO WORK.

AND WE HAVE NOT KEPT PACE WITH OTHER PEOPLE ON COLA.

LAST YEAR, THE COURT PASSED A CRITICAL 7% COLA FOR ALL CIVILIAN EMPLOYEES, AND IT MADE CUMULATIVE ADJUSTMENTS OF 9.2%. 2022 PURE COUNTIES COLA OF THE LAST YEAR WAS IN 2021 WAS AT LEAST 10%.

TRAVIS COUNTY 14.5.

DALLAS COUNTY 13.3.

BEXAR COUNTY 10%, PLUS AN ADDITIONAL 5% IN FISCAL YEAR 2025.

SO JUST AS OUR COUNTY AS GOOD BENEFITS COUNTY GOVERNMENT IN GENERAL PAYS OR DOES MORE WITH BENEFITS THAN STATE GOVERNMENT OR THE CITIES IN MOST JURISDICTIONS, I THINK, DIANA, YOU SAW THAT EVEN IN TRAVIS COUNTY WHEN YOU CAME OUT OF THAT.

SO I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE WE DON'T DO SOMETHING AND CREATE MORE OF A SCHISM FOR FOLKS WHO ARE AT THE BOTTOM THAN WE ALREADY HAVE, BECAUSE THEY WATCH WHAT WE DO AS WELL, AND THEN WE HAVE OTHER PEOPLE.

LOOK, I'M SENSITIVE FOLKS IN THE ELECTED CLASS, YOU YOU KNOW, ALL OF THE JUDGES CAME IN AND IT'S A SENSITIVE ISSUE FOR US AS WELL.

BUT IF WE WANT TO KEEP SOME OF THE GOOD FOLKS WHO HAVE PRESENT COMPANY EXCLUDED, YOU KNOW.

SO I'M NOT TALKING ABOUT US.

IF SOMEBODY PICKS US UP IN THE PRESS.

[04:00:01]

YOU'VE GOT TO REALLY WANT TO DO THIS.

AND SO EVEN PEOPLE THAT WE HAVE BEEN AFRAID OF LEAVING.

HOW ABOUT HOW ABOUT PUTTING IT THIS WAY? PEOPLE THAT I'VE SEEN COME HERE AS DEPARTMENT HEADS AND HAVE LEFT WILL TELL ME PRIVATELY.

WHAT THEY MISS MOST WAS HAVING THAT IMPACT ON PUBLIC POLICY, AND WHAT THEY MISS LEAST IS THE LITTLE MONEY THAT THEY MADE.

SO THEY ENJOYED IT.

BUT, YOU KNOW, LOOK, I ENJOYED ALL OF MY 26 YEARS IN THE TEXAS SENATE, MY SIX YEARS ON CITY COUNCIL, ALL MY TIME HERE.

I ALWAYS TELL PEOPLE WHEN I WAS WITH THE STATE, IT WAS AN HONOR AND A PRIVILEGE, BUT IT WAS A $600 MONTH HONOR, $7,200 A YEAR.

AND SINCE I TOOK ALL OF THE BENEFITS, USUALLY I HAD TO WRITE A CHECK BACK.

SO I JUST THINK THAT WHEN WE DO THIS, WE NEED TO MAKE SURE IT DIDN'T COST NEARLY AS MUCH MONEY TO TAKE CARE OF FOLKS AT THE BOTTOM AS IT WILL COST TO TAKE CARE OF PEOPLE AT THE TOP.

BUT I'M AFRAID WE'RE GOING TO DO THAT, AND THEN WE'RE GOING TO KEEP WAITING FOR THIS PAY EQUITY STUDY THAT WAS FIRST REQUESTED IN 2020.

AND THEN THERE WAS A FOLLOW UP TO IT IN 2022 AND THEN AGAIN IN 2023.

AND THEN I ASSUME SHANE, EITHER YOU OR DIANA, IF YOU WOULD.

I KNOW COMMISSIONER BRIONES WANTS TO SAY SOMETHING, BUT GIVE ME GIVE ME SOME SENSE OF WHEN THAT WOULD COME BACK.

WHEN WOULD WE KNOW? SO, SHANE, I DON'T KNOW IF YOU YOU WANT TO ANSWER THAT.

WHAT WHAT I HAD SAID AND JUST CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG.

SHANE. SO THE PAY EQUITY STUDY, WE'RE EXPECTING THAT THE CONTRACT WILL BE BACK ON THE AGENDA.

WE'RE HOPING FOR JULY 15TH.

I KNOW THE COUNTY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE HAS A LOT OF CONTRACTS ARE WORKING ON, SO THEY'RE WORKING ON IT AS PART OF THE CONTRACT TO DO THE STUDY.

TO DO THE STUDY. CORRECT.

SO WHEN WOULD WE GET RESULTS? SO I WOULD SAY IT'S LIKE SIX MONTHS.

SHANE, CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG TO DO THE FIRST PHASE, IF ALL THEY'RE FOCUSING ON IS THE PEOPLE UNDER $51,000.

I BELIEVE THAT WAS THE FIRST PHASE.

YEAH, I THINK WE YOU KNOW, WE COULD MAKE SOME DEFINITELY SOME PROGRESS WITH THE LOWER.

SHANE. SHANE, A LITTLE LOUDER.

GET A LITTLE CLOSER TO YOU. YEAH.

IT'S A LITTLE LOUDER. YEAH. SORRY ABOUT THAT.

YEAH. I DO THINK WITHIN SIX MONTHS, YOU KNOW, WE COULD PROBABLY SHOULD BE ABLE TO GET A BIG PORTION OF THOSE DONE.

YOU KNOW, A LOT OF THIS WILL TAKE APARTMENT PARTICIPATION BECAUSE THEY'LL HAVE TO GET HIS JOB DESCRIPTIONS AND THINGS LIKE THAT.

BUT ASSUMING WE GET GOOD COOPERATION, I THINK WE COULD GET A LARGE CHUNK OF THOSE DONE.

AND SHANE, WHEN I LOOK AT THE REPORT THAT YOU GAVE TO US, SEVEN 1823 YOU ALL MADE A RECOMMENDATION.

WHEN WE LOOK AT PAY EQUITY AND I THINK THE LANGUAGE SAYS FOCUS ON THOSE PEOPLE THAT FALL IN THAT CATEGORY THAT I JUST JUST MADE REFERENCE TO FIRST, AM I CORRECT? YES, SIR. UNDER 51,000 AT THE TIME WAS WHAT WE WERE YOU KNOW, RECOMMENDING.

AND REALLY IT WAS THOSE THAT WERE OUTSIDE THE SALARY RANGE, YOU KNOW, THEY WEREN'T EVEN MAKING THE MINIMUM OF THE SALARY RANGE.

SO WE'RE JUST TRYING TO TAKE BITES YOU KNOW, SMALL BITES TO TRY TO MAKE A DENT IN THE PROGRESS.

AND EVEN BEFORE YOU DO THE STUDY, YOU HAVE SOME ROUGH IDEA OF WHAT IT'S GOING TO COST.

YOU GOT SOME ROUGH BALLPARK FIGURE IN TERMS OF HOW MUCH MONEY.

YEAH. SO BACK THEN AGAIN, THIS WAS BEFORE THE 7% COLA, BUT BUT JUST FOR LIKE TACKLING THOSE INDIVIDUALS, I THINK THERE WAS 1500 OR SO OF THEM AND IT WAS AROUND $10 MILLION IS WHAT WE CALCULATED AT THAT TIME.

AND FOR THE EXECUTIVE PAY OPTION, WHATEVER THE HIGHER OPTION IS, HOW MUCH WILL THAT COST? IT'S ABOUT A LITTLE OVER A MILLION.

OKAY. SO I'M JUST AFRAID IF THIS MILLION GOES FORWARD, HOW MUCH IS OUR SHORTFALL FOR THE YEAR SO FAR? WHAT DO WE HAVE TO COME UP WITH A WAY TO TO FOR FISCAL YEAR 25, THE DEFICIT IS 130 MILLION.

SO WE GOT A DEFICIT OF 130 MILLION.

AND THAT 130 MILLION THOUGH INCLUDES $50 MILLION FOR THE PAY EQUITY STUDY.

OKAY. SO I JUST I WOULD FEEL BETTER IF WE DID IT ALL AT THE SAME TIME.

NOW, I HOPE WE'RE NOT GOING TO LOSE ANYBODY BEFORE THEN.

I DON'T WANT TO HURT THEIR FEELINGS, BUT I KNOW IF I LOOK, I KNOW WHAT IT WAS LIKE.

THERE WERE TIMES IN MY LIFE WHEN I WAS ONE OF THOSE PEOPLE AT THE BOTTOM.

AND EVEN IF YOU DON'T SAY IT, YOU HAVE TO WALK IN AND SMILE, YOU KNOW, AND ACT LIKE IT DOESN'T MATTER TO YOU.

BUT IT DOES. AND IT HAS AN IMPACT ON WHETHER OR NOT YOU DO WHAT YOU OUGHT TO DO TO MAKE THAT ORGANIZATION OPERATE THE WAY IT SHOULD.

YES, SIR. AND THAT'S WHY ONE OF THE OPTIONS FOR THE IMPLEMENTATION TIMELINE IF THE COMMISSIONERS COURT CHOOSES TO INCREASE THE SALARIES FOR THE FOR THE EXECUTIVES.

ONE IS, YOU KNOW, NEXT PAY PERIOD.

ANOTHER ONE IS EFFECTIVE OCTOBER 1ST, THE NEW FISCAL YEAR.

AND A THIRD OPTION IS WAIT UNTIL YOU KNOW, WE WE GET THE, THE PAY FOR THE FOLKS AT THE BOTTOM AND DO IT AT THE SAME TIME.

SO THOSE ARE OPTIONS.

YEAH. MY PREFERENCE WOULD BE TO DO IT AT THE SAME TIME, BECAUSE MY FEAR IS WE WILL TELL THOSE PEOPLE AT THE BOTTOM AGAIN TO WAIT.

[04:05:07]

THAT'S THE COMMON REFRAIN THAT ALWAYS COMES UP.

SO THAT WOULD BE MY PREFERENCE.

I KNOW COMMISSIONER BRIAN HAS SOMETHING TO ADD.

I WANTED TO JUST ADD SOMETHING BEFORE WE GO AROUND.

ANOTHER TIME IS THE TIMELINE, DIANA, BECAUSE AND I'VE REVIEWED IT A LITTLE BIT, WHAT COMMISSIONER ELLIS IS TALKING ABOUT.

BUT, YOU KNOW, I MEAN, YOU WEREN'T HERE FOR A LOT OF THIS, BUT THERE WAS AN ITEM, 20 2019 THAT COMMISSIONER GARCIA HAD, 2019 2020, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE HAD SO MANY DIFFERENT ITEMS TO TRY TO HAVE THIS COMPENSATION STUDY AND THEN 2021.

SO ANYWAY.

ARE YOU ABLE TO JUST SHINE A LIGHT FOR US A LITTLE BIT ON WHAT HAS BEEN HAPPENING? HOW IS THIS DIFFERENT? AND I ALSO WANT TO SAY, COMMISSIONER RAMSEY, I VERY MUCH AGREE WITH WHAT YOU SAID ABOUT THE THE BENEFITS AND ALSO WITH COMMISSIONER ELLIS SAID SO ON ON THE TIMING, I THINK.

SO ALL OF THE, THE, THE TIMES THAT HAS COME TO COURT EVEN THE LAST TIME ON IN MARCH WAS THE MONTH BEFORE I TOOK TOOK THIS ROLE.

BUT MY UNDERSTANDING IS AFTER THAT THE DECISION WAS MADE TO LOOK FOR ARPA FUNDING FOR FOR THE STUDY.

AND SO, I BELIEVE, SHANE, THERE WAS A LOT OF WORK DONE TO GET THE, THE, THE STUDY VETTED THROUGH THE STEERING COMMITTEE AND GETTING IT APPROVED AND GETTING THAT THAT FUNDING APPROVED.

AND THEN IT WENT THROUGH THE PROCUREMENT PROCESS.

YES, YES.

THE AUDIT. THAT'S CORRECT.

OKAY. THANK YOU.

COMMISSIONER BRIONES.

SO I SHARE YOUR CONCERNS, COMMISSIONER ELLIS, AND YOUR COMMITMENT.

SO IN TERMS OF THE CONCERNS, IN ADDITION TO THE TERRIBLE STATISTICS YOU CITED, ONE THAT REALLY JUST CAPTURED ME IN THE MOST.

THIS IS SO UNACCEPTABLE.

HALF OF THE EMPLOYEES IN HARRIS COUNTY, HALF EARNING LESS THAN $50,000 PER YEAR, ARE BLACK AND LATINA WOMEN.

AND I KNOW YOU ALL HAVE BEEN WORKING ON THIS SINCE 2019, AND I JOINED THE PARTY HERE IN 2023.

AND I KNOW WE HAVE ALSO SET ASIDE THE $50 MILLION TO IMPLEMENT THE CHANGES FOR THE PAY EQUITY STUDY.

AND TO ME, THAT $50 MILLION IS SACRED, RIGHT? BECAUSE WE CAN'T GO DOWN THE ROAD AND THEN SAY, HEY, WELL, WE DON'T HAVE MONEY TO IMPLEMENT THE FINDINGS.

I AM DEEPLY TROUBLED.

MR. CASTLE, HOW LONG IT HAS TAKEN.

I KNOW WE PASSED THIS LATEST STUDY OCTOBER 2023, WHEN I WAS HERE.

AND IF THE CONTRACT STILL HASN'T BEEN AWARDED AND THEN YOU'RE SAYING ONCE IT IS AWARDED, IT'LL STILL TAKE SIX MONTHS FOR THE FIRST TRANCHE OF DATA, WHICH IS THE 51,000 AND UNDER INDIVIDUAL.

IS THAT CORRECT? YEAH, YEAH.

I THINK TO GET A LARGE PORTION I MEAN, OF COURSE, IF WE, WE GET THE JOB DESCRIPTIONS AND THINGS LIKE THAT WITH FROM THE DEPARTMENTS, YOU KNOW, SOONER DEFINITELY CAN IMPLEMENT IT, YOU KNOW, SOONER THAN SIX MONTHS.

THIS IS ANOTHER EXTREMELY URGENT ISSUE.

AND SO TO ME, WE NEED TO HAVE FIRM COMMITMENTS TO THE GREATEST DEGREE POSSIBLE WHEN WE'RE GOING TO ACTUALLY BE ABLE TO DELIVER THIS PROGRESS.

TO ME, I SEE IT AS A BOTH AND AND I COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR AND I, WE WERE VERY CLEAR WITH YOU RECENTLY.

DO THE 16 GET IT DONE QUICKLY.

WE WANT TO DELIVER PROGRESS ON PAY EQUITY.

LET'S DO IT FOR THE LEADERSHIP.

THE TRUTH IS, MY HEART IS WITH THE LOWER PAID WORKERS, RIGHT? AS AS SOMEBODY WHO USED TO WORK MULTIPLE PART TIME JOBS, PLUS FINANCIAL AID, YOU KNOW, ETC., ETC.

AND I WISH WE ALL HAD IT WRAPPED IN A BOW NOW.

AND SO I WANTED TO THROW IT BACK TO YOU.

MY FINAL POINT IS A QUESTION I KNOW WE GAVE YOU CLEAR DIRECTION TO GET THIS STUDY DONE AS SOON AS POSSIBLE TO MAKE IT RIGHT IN TERMS OF EQUITY FOR THESE PEOPLE. AND WE GAVE THIS MANDATE ALMOST A YEAR AGO FOR THE ALL EMPLOYEES, WITH A SPECIAL FOCUS ON THE LOWER PAID.

FROM YOUR VANTAGE POINT, AS OUR COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR, WHAT WOULD BE YOUR RECOMMENDATION IN TERMS OF ACTION AND TIMING THAT YOU WOULD WANT US TO CONSIDER AT THIS POINT IN TIME.

SO I THINK THAT WAITING UNTIL WE HAVE THE $51,000, FOLKS ALSO HAVE THE PAY FOR THEM THAT PAY EQUITY AND WAITING FOR THE LEADERSHIP TO ALSO GET THAT.

TO ME, IT MAKES SENSE.

IT'S A MORALE ISSUE AND IT'S A LEADERSHIP ISSUE.

YOU KNOW, THERE THERE'S A BOOK ABOUT, YOU KNOW, LEADERS EAT LAST.

AND I THINK IT'S TRUE.

AND I THINK WE SHOULD SHOW IT.

AND SO I THINK THAT AT THE LEADERSHIP LEVEL, FOLKS HAVE A LOT OF WORK.

THEY DO A LOT THERE.

WE HAVE REALLY GOOD EXECUTIVE DIRECTORS THAT DO GREAT WORK FOR THE COUNTY.

[04:10:06]

THANK YOU. AND THEN ON THIS BENEFITS JUST SO WE CAN LEVEL SET AND WE CAN ALL BE CLEAR AS WE MOVE FORWARD.

WHY WERE BENEFITS NOT INCLUDED IN THIS KORN FERRY ANALYSIS? AND WILL THEY BE INCLUDED IN THE PAY EQUITY ANALYSIS FOR ALL TEAM MEMBERS AND ON THE PAY EQUITY ANALYSIS FOR ALL TEAM MEMBERS.

SHANE. ARE THE BENEFITS INCLUDED IN THAT ANALYSIS OR NOT? YES. THEY SHOULD BE INCLUDED IN THAT ANALYSIS.

YES. OKAY, GREAT.

AND SO FOR FOR THIS ANALYSIS, I THINK A LOT OF THE ONE WE WERE WORKING REALLY QUICKLY, WE WERE GIVEN A VERY SHORT TIME FRAME FOR, FOR DELIVERY.

SO I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT IT WAS SOMETHING THAT WAS DOABLE.

WE ALSO WERE USING INTERNAL RESOURCES IN HR AND AN EXISTING CONTRACT THAT THEY HAD WITH KORN FERRY.

SO WE WANTED TO MAKE SURE THERE WAS SOMETHING THAT COULD BE THAT, THAT THEIR METHODOLOGY COULD TAKE ON.

WELL. AND SINCE THEY'RE THE WAY THEY DO THEIR METHODOLOGY AND THEY, THEY LOOK AT AT THE PAY, THEY'RE NOT LOOKING AT JUST COMPARING TO OTHER URBAN COUNTIES IN TEXAS OR LARGE URBAN COUNTIES THROUGHOUT THE NATION.

THEY'RE LOOKING PUBLIC SECTOR, PRIVATE SECTOR, STATE, FEDERAL, LOCAL.

SO IT'S IT'S A BIGGER IT'S IT'S A BIGGER CATEGORY OF TYPES OF JOBS THAT THEY'RE LOOKING AT FOR EXECUTIVE PAY.

AND WHEN YOU LOOK AT BENEFITS ON THE PRIVATE SECTOR, IF WE'RE ASKING FOR THEM TO LOOK AT BENEFIT ALL BENEFITS, THEN I MEAN, THE PRIVATE SECTOR GETS STOCK OPTIONS, GETS ALL SORTS OF OTHER THINGS THAT ARE NOT A THING AT THE COUNTY.

SO THAT WOULD HAVE TAKEN A LOT LONGER TIME FOR KORN FERRY AND MORE MONEY FOR THEIR CONTRACT FOR THEM TO TEASE ALL THAT OUT.

AND SINCE THIS HAPPENED IN APRIL MAY AND WE HAD TILL JUNE 4TH WAS THE ORIGINAL DATE THAT WE HAD, WE WERE GIVEN BY COURT AND WE ACTUALLY MET THAT DATE AND IT WAS JUST DELAYED FOR OTHER PURPOSES, OTHER REASONS.

WE WANTED TO MAKE SURE THERE WAS SOMETHING THAT WE COULD ACTUALLY GET DONE, AND THAT WAS REASONABLE.

JUDGE. YES. COMMISSIONER RAMSEY AND THEN COMMISSIONER GARCIA AND THEN COMMISSIONER ELLIS, A COUPLE OF THINGS.

I DON'T KNOW WHY WE WOULD TAKE ACTION TODAY AS WE GO INTO THE BUDGET CYCLE.

AND YOU MENTIONED EARLIER, ADMINISTRATOR, THAT OCTOBER 1ST WOULD MAKE A LOT MORE SENSE THAN YOU.

I THINK WE'RE GOING TO NEED TO OCTOBER THE 1ST TO FIGURE OUT THE DETAILS, PARTICULARLY IF YOU'RE GOING TO TRULY TAKE A BOTTOM UP LOOK AT IT.

THAT'S ONE TWO COMPENSATION.

ONE THIRD OF YOUR COMPENSATION IS BENEFITS.

AND I KNOW IT'S A LITTLE ANECDOTAL ON THE REASONS WHY PEOPLE COME TO WORK AT THE COUNTY, BUT I'VE HAD LONG, LONG TERM FRIENDS THAT TELL ME I WORK AT HARRIS COUNTY BECAUSE OF THE BENEFITS AND THEIR STOCK OPTIONS THEY COULD GET.

THERE'S ALL KINDS OF OTHER THINGS THEY COULD GET, BUT THEY WORK HERE AND THEY STAY HERE BECAUSE OF THE BENEFITS.

WE'VE GOT EXTRAORDINARY PENSION HEALTH, A LOT OF OTHER BENEFITS.

SO I THINK IT'S A MAJOR FLAW.

AND TO BECAUSE OF URGENCY, WE'RE GOING TO LEAVE OUT PROBABLY THE MOST SIGNIFICANT THING TO DEAL WITH COMPENSATION IN HARRIS COUNTY, WHICH IS THE BENEFITS MAKES AGAIN NO SENSE TO ME.

I THINK WE'RE GOING TO NEED TILL OCTOBER 1ST TO FIGURE OUT THE TOP, THE BOTTOM AND THE BENEFITS.

AND AT THAT POINT, WE SHOULD BE ABLE TO HAVE THAT DIRECTION TO US SO WE CAN MAKE A DECISION.

THAT WOULD BE MY RECOMMENDATION.

AND AS FAR AS AS WHEN WHEN THE COURT MAKES A DECISION THAT'S THAT'S UP TO YOU.

WE WERE DIRECTED TO BRING IT BACK JUNE 4TH.

THEN WE WOUND UP WITH A DELAY.

SO JUNE 25TH WAS THE NEXT ONE.

SO THIS IS DEFINITELY YOUR CHOICE ON WHEN WHEN YOU IF YOU WANT US TO BRING IT BACK.

WE'RE HAPPY TO.

I WAS TOLD TO DESIGN A BRIDGE ONE TIME, AND I WAS TOLD TO DO IT IN A MONTH.

AND I SAID, WELL, YOU WANT THE BRIDGE TO STAND UP OR FALL DOWN? THEY SAID, I'D LIKE FOR IT TO STAND UP.

I SAID, OKAY, I'M GOING TO NEED TWICE AS MUCH TIME.

SO I THINK TO DO IT RIGHT.

LET'S TAKE THE TIME.

UNDERSTOOD. ALSO, THE ONLY OTHER THING ON ON BENEFITS IS THAT I THINK WE DO NEED TO LOOK AT, AT OUR BENEFIT STRUCTURE, BECAUSE AS WE'RE SEEING WITH THE YOUNGER GENERATIONS, THERE'S NOT THE SAME INTEREST IN BENEFITS.

IT'S MORE ABOUT PORTABILITY OF BENEFITS.

IT'S MORE IT'S A DIFFERENT TYPE OF INTEREST IN BENEFITS.

SO I THINK THAT THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE COULD ALSO LOOK AT IF WE'RE LOOKING AT AGE 35, WHEN THEY BEGAN TO SAY, MAN, THOSE BENEFITS ARE REALLY NICE.

BEEN HERE TEN YEARS.

[04:15:01]

COMMISSIONER GARCIA AND THEN COMMISSIONER ELLIS THANK YOU FOR THIS STUDY.

FINALLY. IT IS PROBABLY ONE OF THE BEST CONSULTANT PRODUCTS THAT WE'VE HAD, AND BUT IT JUST TAKES ME BACK TO A COUPLE OF THINGS.

ONE WAS WHEN I WAS SHERIFF.

JUST AS OUR SHERIFF IS CONTENDING WITH RETENTION.

IN IN THE JAIL IN PARTICULAR.

AND WE'VE DONE SOME THINGS TO HELP SHORE THAT UP.

I HAD PROPOSED A MULTI YEAR PLAN TO HELP GET OUR GUYS AND GALS UP TO PARITY WITH THE, WITH THE REGION WITH THE MOST COMPETITIVE AGENCIES AND A LITTLE BIT TO DOCTOR MILLS THE COMMENT SHE AND I HAD, WE'RE DOING A LOT OF STUDIES.

WE CAN TAKE SOME ACTION.

AND I BELIEVE, I KNOW I IT PROBABLY OBVIOUSLY DIDN'T TURN INTO A MOTION FOR SOME REASON, BUT I KNOW THAT WE TALKED ABOUT A MULTI YEAR PLAN TO RAISE SALARIES AND AND APPARENTLY, YOU KNOW, COMMISSIONER ELLIS LAID OUT THAT WE HAVE HAD A LOT OF CONVERSATIONS ON THIS.

I JUST DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY IT NEVER MATERIALIZED INTO ACTION.

I'M NOT SURE IF THAT WAS UNDER BILL JACKSON'S WATCH.

I'M NOT SURE IF THAT WAS UNDER DAVE BERRY'S WATCH.

DON'T KNOW IF THAT WAS UNDER YOUR WATCH.

SO I AM READY TO PUT FORTH A PLAN TO MOVE US FORWARD SO THAT WE CAN TAKE CARE OF OUR LOWER PAID EMPLOYEES.

AND AND LOOK, MY STAFF HAS WORKED HARD TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE DEALING WITH COMPRESSION AND COMPENSATION AND REWARDING OUR EMPLOYEES.

BUT WE'RE OBVIOUSLY GIVEN A FINITE NUMBER OF RESOURCES.

IT'S WHY I PUSHED TO INCREASE THE PRECINCT BUDGETS SO THAT WE COULD TAKE CARE OF OUR EMPLOYEES.

IN THE IN IN THOSE OFFICES.

WE NEED TO HAVE THAT SAME TYPE OF THOUGHT FOR ALL OF OUR EMPLOYEES.

AND WE DIDN'T NEED THIS KORN FERRY STUDY TO UNDERSTAND THAT.

SO I'M CURIOUS AS TO WHY WE CANNOT TAKE AN ACTION TODAY TO START TO COMPENSATE OUR LOWER EMPLOYEES AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE AND TAKE CARE OF OUR EXECUTIVE DIRECTORS.

IF YOU WANTED TO FUND A PERCENTAGE INCREASE, WE DON'T HAVE I DON'T KNOW IF WE HAVE THE FUNDING RIGHT NOW.

WE CAN LOOK AT IT.

IF YOU WANTED TO DO THAT, YOU COULD DIRECT US TO TO LOOK AT IT AND WHAT WE CAN AFFORD ON AN ONGOING BASIS THAT WILL TAKE RESOURCES FROM THE COMMISSIONER'S COURT FOR NEXT FISCAL YEAR, BECAUSE WE'LL IT'LL, YOU KNOW, IT'LL BE KIND OF TAKING THE CREAM OFF THE TOP AND THAT'S FINE.

SO YOU CAN DO THAT IF YOU'D LIKE.

THE THE ISSUE IS THAT IT WOULD BE ANOTHER COLA ACROSS THE BOARD, WHICH IS FINE FOR THE, FOR THE, THE LOWER PAID EMPLOYEES, BUT ALSO AT WHAT LEVEL, YOU KNOW, WHERE DO YOU GO.

IT'S UNPLANNED AND WE WOULDN'T HAVE PAY EQUITY ISSUES RESOLVED.

RIGHT. EVERYBODY AT WHAT, UNTIL WHATEVER LEVEL YOU YOU SAID IT WOULD MOVE UP THE SAME AMOUNT SO WE WOULDN'T ADDRESS PAY EQUITY WITH THAT.

AND WE DON'T WE DON'T KNOW WHAT THE NUMBERS ARE YET.

SO THAT WOULD BE SOMETHING THAT IF YOU WANTED IT WE COULD WE COULD MAKE IT HAPPEN.

BUT YOU KNOW, I THINK THAT WE WOULD WIND UP YOU KNOW, NOT REALLY SOLVING ANY OF THE, THE BIG PROBLEMS THAT, THAT WE'VE SEEN WITH PAY EQUITY.

THE. I JUST WISH WE HAD.

BEEN THOUGHTFUL ABOUT MOVING FORWARD ON THIS COLLECTIVELY.

AND SO IT TOOK THE STUDY OF THE EXECUTIVE LEVEL TO HAVE A CONVERSATION ABOUT OUR LOWER PAID EMPLOYEES AND HOW TO BUDGET THAT.

BUT I KNOW THAT I HAVE BEEN TALKING ABOUT A MULTI YEAR PLAN TO TAKE CARE OF OUR EMPLOYEES AND GET THEM UP TO PARITY AND I JUST REGRET THAT FOR WHATEVER REASON, WE JUST DIDN'T DO IT.

THE CAN KEPT GETTING KICKED DOWN THE ROAD.

I AGREE, I UNDERSTAND THAT.

AND I THINK NO MATTER WHAT, IT'S GOING TO HAVE TO BE A MULTI YEAR, MULTI YEAR PROGRAM BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, $50 MILLION SOUNDS LIKE A LOT, BUT IT'S GOING TO GET EATEN UP FAST.

AND, YOU KNOW, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO DEAL WITH PAY, PAY EQUITY, PAY PARITY.

THERE ARE AREAS WHERE WE DO HAVE A LOT OF TURNOVER, SOME OF THE PROFESSIONAL AREAS.

[04:20:02]

SO THERE ARE THERE ARE PRESSURES ALL THROUGHOUT THE PAY SCALE I THINK WHERE YOU SEE THE WHERE FOLKS HAVE THE, THE MOST, YOU KNOW HEARTBURN ABOUT IT AND EMPATHY ABOUT IT IS WITH A, WITH THE WORKERS AT THE LOWER LEVELS BECAUSE WE KNOW IT'S JUST SO HARD TO MAKE ENDS MEET.

COMMISSIONER ELSE.

JUDGE, I WANT TO MAKE THE POINT THAT EXECUTIVE PAY WAS INCLUDED IN THAT ORIGINAL REQUEST FOR THEM TO DO A STUDY ON EQUITY.

IT WAS NOT PRIORITIZED.

THE LOWER INCOME PEOPLE WERE.

THEN WE MADE A DECISION FROM THIS DAIS THAT WE WANTED TO ACCELERATE THIS PART.

I ALSO WANT TO JUST STRESS THAT IT'D BE GREAT TO DO A MULTI YEAR COMMITMENT, BUT WE THE FIVE OF US UP HERE, WE ARE IN CHARGE OF THE MONEY WE WILL HAVE OR WILL NOT HAVE IN ORDER TO DO IT.

BECAUSE IF WE STARTED OFF BY SAYING WE GOT $130 MILLION DEFICIT, WE GOT TO DEAL WITH AT SOME POINT, WE JUST CAN'T KEEP COMING UP WITH IDEAS AND PROGRAMS THAT WE WANT TO FUND.

SO WE HAVE TO MAKE A MULTI YEAR COMMITMENT.

WE CAN'T DO IT BY ONE YEAR AT A TIME.

WE GOT TO MAKE A MULTI YEAR COMMITMENT.

WE'RE GOING TO PAY FOR IT OR AS WE COME BACK WE'VE GOT TO CUT SOMETHING.

AND, YOU KNOW, FOR CIRCUMSTANCES BEYOND OUR CONTROL WITH WHAT THE STATE DID WITH A CAP ON US, YOU KNOW, WE DID SOME THINGS THAT LOWERED OUR TAX RATE, WHICH IS THE LOWEST IT'S BEEN IN A VERY LONG TIME.

AND THEN IT MAKES IT MORE DIFFICULT TO GO UP BECAUSE OF THAT STATE STATUTE.

SO THERE WERE CIRCUMSTANCES THAT CAME ALONG.

BUT, YOU KNOW, WE JUST GOT TO MAKE THOSE TOUGH DECISIONS.

I JUST WANT TO STRESS THAT, YOU KNOW, I'LL TAKE THAT HEAT IF WE WANT TO DO THESE THINGS.

AND WE'D BE WORSE OFF IF WE'D DONE WHAT MOST OF OUR PEERS DID WITH THAT FEDERAL MONEY AND JUST PLUGGED IT IN TO TAKE CARE OF THINGS THAT THEY HAD TO DO, AND THEN THEY TRIED TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO HOW TO GO MAKE THOSE CUTS.

WE'RE LUCKY WE DID NOT DO THAT.

CERTAINLY TEMPTATION TO DO IT I AGREE.

I THINK THE COLA YOU KNOW EVEN IF WE DID ACROSS THE BOARD THIS SO I'M LOOKING AT THE THE ALMOST 40% RAISE A COLA IS IS $24,000 FOR A PARKS CARETAKER.

A COLA IS LESS THAN $3,000 BECAUSE THEY MAKE A LOT LESS THAN OUR EXECUTIVES.

AND SO I THINK PRIMARILY WE NEED CONSISTENCY.

IT'S A SHAME THAT WE HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO DO THIS UNTIL NOW.

I'M GLAD TO UNDERSTAND WHY.

YOU KNOW, I THINK IT WAS BEST INTENTIONS TO TRY TO SAVE US MONEY TO DO IT WITH ARPA.

AND, YOU KNOW, IT'S IT'S NOT IDEAL.

I WISH IT HAD BEEN DONE BEFORE, LIKE COMMISSIONER GARCIA SAID.

BUT THE TRUTH IS, WE WOULD EXACERBATE THE PROBLEM IF WE GRANT COLAS OR ADDITIONS ADDITIONAL SALARIES IN AN INCONSISTENT WAY.

AND AND I AGREE, I LOVE THE WAY YOU SAID IT, ADMINISTRATOR, THAT LEADERS EAT LAST.

I REALLY I WAS BOTHERED AND I ABSTAINED FROM THAT VOTE REQUESTING THE THAT EXECUTIVE STUDY AND OF COURSE THE OTHER RAISE BECAUSE IT JUST DOESN'T MAKE SENSE TO GIVE THESE ENORMOUS SUMS OF MONEY WHEN WE HAVE PEOPLE MAKING A LOT LESS THAN THAT.

AND THE $38,000 IS WHAT A PARKS CARETAKER MAKES WHICH IS A QUARTER OF WHAT SOME OF THESE GUYS MAKE THAT WOULD BE GETTING THE RAISE.

SO WE APPRECIATE I APPRECIATE EVERYONE.

I JUST BELIEVE IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT FOR THE COUNTY'S PROFESSIONALISM TO KEEP IT CONSISTENT.

SO MY MOTION WOULD BE IF THIS IS ALLOWED J OR HOWEVER I NEED TO SAY IT, BUT THE SPIRIT OF IT IS TO TAKE NO ACTION ON 19 THAT YEAH, I DON'T THINK THAT ACTUALLY REQUIRES ANYTHING, JUST WON'T TAKE ANY ACTION.

JUDGE IF I, IF I COULD JUST I KNOW THIS ISSUE WAS BROUGHT UP AND I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE JUST FOR A POINT OF CLARIFICATION HERE ON THE PAY EQUITY STUDY I THINK COMMISSIONER BROWN WAS RIGHT THAT IT STARTED OFF IN OCTOBER, AND IT SORT OF PROGRESSIVELY TAKEN A VERY LONG TIME.

I JUST WANT TO BE CLEAR, IT IS STILL NOT TECHNICALLY IN OUR OFFICE.

WE HAVE NOT RECEIVED THE CONTRACT.

IT IS STILL WITH DEO.

IT'S BEEN A SIX MONTH PROCESS.

WE ARE HAPPY TO DO WE I FULLY, FULLY RECOGNIZE THE WILL OF THE COURT IS TO MOVE THIS AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE AND WE CAN GET IT ON JULY, BUT WE ACTUALLY DON'T HAVE THE CONTRACT YET. IT HASN'T BEEN SENT OVER TO US.

WELL, THAT WOULD BE MY OTHER REQUEST.

AND I THINK YOU'VE SHOWN IN THIS COURT ALREADY, ADMINISTRATOR, THAT YOU ARE VERY EFFICIENT AND REALISTIC.

AND SO I BELIEVE THAT EVERYBODY THERE AND, AND NOT HERE ON THE, ON THE SCREEN WILL DO EVERYTHING THEY CAN TO DO THIS AS EFFECTIVELY AND EFFICIENTLY AS POSSIBLE.

NOW THAT WE'RE ALL ON THE SAME PAGE AND THAT THIS IS REALLY A PRIORITY WHEN IT COMES TO THE TIMELINE.

YES. AND I THINK ONE OF THE THINGS TO JAY'S POINT, YOU KNOW, THE FACT THAT WE'RE HAVING TO DO IT'S SITTING IN DEO BEFORE IT GETS TO THE COUNTY ATTORNEY, I THINK GETS TO

[04:25:09]

SO THIS IS ANOTHER EXAMPLE WHERE WE NEED TO DO BETTER, AND AND WE'RE WORKING ON IT.

AND I'VE ALREADY TALKED TO THE PURCHASING AGENT, AND I'VE BEEN WORKING WITH YOU KNOW, THE AUDITOR, AND I'M GOING TO BE WORKING WITH THE COUNTY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE, AND WE NEED TO DO BETTER AND BE FASTER WITH THESE PROCUREMENTS.

JUST A QUICK POINT.

YES, COMMISSIONER, BECAUSE I DON'T THINK WE WANT TO REINFORCE INEQUITIES.

IS IT COMMON IN SOME GOVERNMENTAL ENTITIES? IF YOU DO A COLA TO MAKE SURE THE COLA APPLIES TO CERTAIN GROUPS OF PEOPLE ON THE BOTTOM IN THE MIDDLE, AND NOT NECESSARILY FOLKS WHO ARE AT THE TOP, BECAUSE I DON'T WANT TO JUST REINFORCE THE INEQUITY THAT THAT HAS EXISTED FOR 50 YEARS.

WELL, FROM MY EXPERIENCE WITH IN TRAVIS COUNTY, WHAT THEY WOULD DO IS, IS NOT NECESSARILY YOU KNOW, CUT IT OFF AT, AT, AT THE TOP.

BUT WHAT THEY WOULD DO IS THEY WOULD INSTEAD OF HAVING LIKE IF WE HAD A 3% COLA FOR EVERYBODY, THEN THE FOLKS BELOW A CERTAIN RANGE WOULD ACTUALLY GET A DOLLAR AMOUNT, A FIXED DOLLAR AMOUNT, THAT WOULD BE A HIGHER PERCENTAGE FOR THEM BECAUSE IT JUST OTHERWISE IF WE WENT WITH 3% FOR SOMEONE WHO MAKES $30,000 A YEAR, YOU'RE NOT GETTING ANYTHING RIGHT.

YOU'RE NOT SEEING ANYTHING IN YOUR PAYCHECK.

AND SO WHAT WHAT COMMISSIONERS COURT IN TRAVIS COUNTY WOULD DO WOULD SAY, HEY, FOR, YOU KNOW, THE BOTTOM THE BOTTOM AMOUNT THAT WE'RE GOING TO GIVE TO ANYBODY IS $3,000. AND THEN EVERYBODY ELSE, YOU KNOW, UP TO THIS LEVEL AND THEN EVERYBODY ELSE GETS 3%.

AND SO IT WOULD REALLY MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN SOMEONE'S PAYCHECK AT THE BOTTOM END OF THE PAY SCALES, IF THEY GOT AN ACTUAL JUST DOLLAR FIGURE INSTEAD OF A PERCENTAGE.

SO IF YOU WOULD WHEN YOU DO THIS, I'D LOOK AT YOUR EXPERIENCE.

I JUST DON'T HAVE IT.

WELL, ADRIAN, YOU HAD IT AS SHERIFF.

BUT DEALING WITH A BIG ORGANIZATION LIKE THAT YOU KNOW, BUT I HAD THE SAME SALARIES IN THE CONSTITUTION FOR 26 YEARS.

I JUST GOT MY 600 A MONTH.

IT DIDN'T GO UP, DIDN'T GO DOWN.

BUT WE WANT TO MAKE SURE.

YEAH, THAT'S RIGHT.

BUT WE WANT TO MAKE SURE.

AND THEN THE, THE THE LAST POINT IS I HOPE THAT WHEN YOU MEET WITH THE DEPARTMENT HEADS, BECAUSE WE DON'T WANT TO LOSE ANY OF THEM, I HOPE WHEN YOU ALL MEET, YOU LET THEM KNOW, AT LEAST FROM THIS DISCUSSION, SOMETHING'S COMING.

BUT WE'RE SENSITIVE TO JUST TAKING CARE OF THEM.

AND THEN THOSE OTHER PEOPLE WHO'VE BEEN STUCK THERE AT THE BOTTOM.

AND, YOU KNOW, IT'S BEEN A MANDATE FROM ALL OF US UP HERE TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT EQUITY.

SO I THINK IT'S COMING.

BUT, YOU KNOW, I.

COMMISSIONER, IF I MAY, I, I JUST LOOK, WE'VE DONE A STUDY, AND NOW WE'RE NOT GOING TO ACT ON THE STUDY.

BUT I'VE ABSOLUTELY BEEN ADVOCATING FOR SALARY IMPROVEMENTS FOR OUR LOWEST PAID EMPLOYEES.

WHY CAN WE NOT APPROVE THE KORN FERRY STUDY AND IMPLEMENT IT ONCE WE GET A LOWER PAID SCALE? I WANT I WANT OUR DIRECTORS TO KNOW THAT WE HAVE THEIR BACK, BUT IT WON'T GO INTO EFFECT UNTIL WE HAVE THIS OTHER PLAN THAT HAS BEEN LONG ELUSIVE.

AND SO I WANT THEM TO KNOW THAT WE'RE GOING TO TAKE ACTION ON KORN FERRY, BUT IT WILL BE IMPLEMENTED ONCE WE BRING THE THE OTHER HALF OF THE PLAN FORWARD. THAT'S ONE OF THE OPTIONS THAT WE LAID OUT SO THAT HOW DO WE DO THAT AND HOW DO WE DO THAT AND KNOW IF WE HAVE THE MONEY.

THAT'S THAT'S SOMETHING THAT MR. RAMOS HAD TO WORK ON BECAUSE BECAUSE I'M JUST SAYING, WHEN I'M LOOKING AT $130 MILLION SHORTFALL AND THEN WE'LL SAY WE'RE GOING TO PUT THIS MILLION OFF, BUT, YOU KNOW, WE GOT TO EARMARK ON THIS OTHER MONEY.

WELL, WHAT ABOUT THE 130? IT WORKS THE SAME WAY WITH EVERYBODY.

WITH ALL EMPLOYEES.

IT WORKS THE SAME.

I COULDN'T VOTE FOR THAT.

I MEAN, I RESPECT ALL THE DEPARTMENTS, BUT I FOR ONE, COULDN'T DO THAT IN GOOD CONSCIENCE.

I THINK ONCE IT COMES BACK, THAT WOULD BE MY INTENTION IS TO TRY TO DO IT ALL TOGETHER FOR THE SAKE OF CONSISTENCY.

THE THING I WILL, BUT I AGREE WITH YOU, COMMISSIONER ELLIS.

ALTHOUGH I APPRECIATE THE SENTIMENT, COMMISSIONER GARCIA, THE ONE THING THAT I'M THINKING ABOUT NOW THAT COLLEAGUES MAY, WE MAY WANT TO INCLUDE OR JUST, YOU KNOW, ADVISE. ADMINISTRATOR, HERE IS THE CONVERSATION THE JUDGES CAME TO.

NOW WE'RE TALKING ABOUT COLAS BECAUSE THEY DIDN'T GET A COLA.

IT'S AN UNCOMFORTABLE DISCUSSION TO HAVE WHEN YOU'RE IN PUBLIC OFFICE.

BUT I WILL TELL YOU, THERE ARE OTHER HARRIS COUNTY ELECTED OFFICIALS THAT HAVE STOPPED.

YOU KNOW, I'M NOT GOING TO NAME ANY NAMES, BUT HAVE STOPPED ME AND HAVE SAID, YOU KNOW, THERE WAS INFLATION FOR ME TOO.

SO I'M JUST GOING TO PUT IT OUT THERE TO MAYBE THINK ABOUT THAT.

[04:30:03]

SO, JUDGE, I THINK, COMMISSIONER.

YEAH, I WOULD SUGGEST THAT WE DO INCLUDE THE JUDGES AND THE OTHER ELECTED OFFICIALS.

AND IF IT GIVES ANY OF THEM SOME DISCOMFORT, I KNOW IT'S A SEPARATE STATUTE.

SO IT'S A SEPARATE PROCESS THAT YOU HAVE TO GO THROUGH TO DO THAT.

BUT I WOULD SUGGEST IF IF I FEEL UNCOMFORTABLE, ANYBODY ELSE FEELS UNCOMFORTABLE, DON'T TAKE IT.

BUT BUT I KNOW I'VE TALKED TO PEOPLE IN JAY, I'M NOT GOING BECAUSE THAT'S ON HERE.

I'M NOT VIOLATING ANYTHING, AM I? OKAY. I JUST SAW YOU REACHED DOWN OVER YOUR PHONE.

I THOUGHT YOU. YEAH, BUT.

SO I THINK YOU OUGHT TO INCLUDE THEM, AND WE JUST DECIDE WHETHER WE DO THAT OR NOT.

BUT. AND I WOULD SAY ALL OF THE ELECTED OFFICIALS.

SO FOR ELECTED OFFICIALS, SALARY SETTING, THERE'S A SPECIFIC CALENDAR AND PROCESS.

AND IT HAS TO BE DONE BEFORE THE BUDGET IS ADOPTED AND ALLOW FOR A GRIEVANCE PERIOD.

SO I'VE BEEN WORKING WITH SHANE.

WE'RE WORKING IN AN RCA TO BRING BACK JULY 15TH FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION ON ELECTED OFFICIAL SALARIES.

AND WE'RE GOING TO BE RUNNING THAT BY THE COUNTY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE TO MAKE SURE WE'RE BACKING UP FROM ALL THE DATES THAT ARE REQUIRED.

BUT THAT DECISION WILL HAVE TO BE MADE BEFORE OCTOBER 1ST.

SO JUST SO YOU KNOW, COMMISSIONER RAMSEY SAID SHE GOT A LITTLE MORE TIME.

CAN YOU INCLUDE BENEFITS? OH, YES. IN THE PROCESS, I NEED TO CHECK WITH WITH SHANE AND THE PURCHASING OFFICE.

IF THE CONTRACT ALLOWS US TO DO THAT OR IF WE HAVE TO GO AND BID IT OUT.

COMMISSIONER BRIONES. SO JUST TO RECAP, AND I SHARE MANY OF MY COLLEAGUES CONCERN AND COMMITMENT.

ONE, JUST STARTING WITH THE ELECTED OFFICIALS, THOSE WHO DID NOT GET THE 7% COLA THAT WE GAVE TO EVERYONE ELSE.

YOU AND I HAVE TALKED ABOUT THIS AT LENGTH, SO I LOOK FORWARD TO THE RECOMMENDATIONS AT THE JULY COURT.

I WOULD BE VERY SUPPORTIVE BECAUSE INFLATION HIT THAT GROUP OF INDIVIDUALS AS WELL.

AND I'M I WOULD BE FINE FOR US FIVE TO BE EXEMPTED FROM THAT.

RIGHT. BUT ALL OF THE OTHER ELECTED OFFICIALS HERE IN HARRIS COUNTY THAT DIDN'T.

NUMBER TWO, WE NEED APPLES TO APPLES.

I WOULD STRONGLY FAVOR THAT.

BENEFITS BE INCLUDED FOR ALL HARRIS COUNTY TEAM MEMBERS BECAUSE WE NEED APPLES TO APPLES COMPARISONS.

THREE I'M STILL DEEPLY CONCERNED ABOUT THE TIMELINE.

WITH ALL DUE RESPECT, MR. CASTLE, AND I'M EXTRA CONCERNED NOW KNOWING THAT IT HASN'T EVEN HIT THE COUNTY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE, BECAUSE WE ALL WANT THIS STUDY TO HAVE STARTED A YEAR AGO OR MANY YEARS AGO WHEN I WASN'T EVEN HERE.

AND SO MY MY WORRY IS AND I LOOK AT MR. SHAH, THANK YOU FOR STANDING IN FOR DIRECTOR RAMOS AND MISS PEREZ.

IF WE ARE AIMING, OR AT LEAST ME, I WOULD AIM FOR THAT 50TH PERCENTILE.

COULD WE START WORKING ON BUDGETARY PROJECTIONS FOR ALL HARRIS COUNTY EMPLOYEES? AS WE PLAN? WE HAVE THE $50 MILLION THAT WE'VE SET ASIDE.

THAT, TO ME ANYWAY, IS SACRED.

BUT WE KNOW THAT $50 MILLION MAY NOT BE ENOUGH TO REACH PAY EQUITY FOR EVERY SINGLE HARRIS COUNTY EMPLOYEE.

SO I WOULD LIKE TO START HAVING WORKING NUMBERS OF WHAT THE TOTALITY IS SO THAT TO MY COLLEAGUES POINT, WE CAN PLAN HOW WE'RE GOING TO PAY FOR IT, BECAUSE I DON'T WANT TO WAIT AND WAIT AND WAIT FOR THE STUDY AND THEN FIND OURSELVES SEARCHING FOR MONEY.

SO IF EVERYTHING COULD BE AGGRESSIVELY UNPARALLELED TRACKS, THAT WOULD BE MY STRONG PREFERENCE AND REQUEST.

SO AND THEN DIO, MISS DIRECTOR GONZALEZ, WOULD IT PLEASE BE POSSIBLE FOR YOU TO COMMIT WHEN YOU CAN TAG THE COUNTY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE SO THAT WE CAN BE SURE THIS PAY EQUITY STUDY IS STARTED AS SOON AS POSSIBLE? YES, COMMISSIONER. I'VE ALREADY ASKED MY TEAM TO SEE WHERE THE ASK IS.

AS YOU ALL KNOW, WE OUR GOAL IS TO GET ALL GOAL REQUESTS BACK WITHIN FIVE BUSINESS DAYS.

SO THIS SHOULD NOT BE ANY LONGER THAN THAT DELAY.

SO I'M ASKING RIGHT NOW TO GET THAT UPDATE.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

JUDGE. YES.

YEAH. JUDGE.

COMMISSIONERS, I THINK I CAN.

IN TERMS OF THE WHERE IT IS RIGHT NOW, I KNOW THIS IS AN ISSUE FOR EVERYONE.

SO THE MWB PLAN THAT WAS CONSTRUCTED WAS WAS ACTUALLY NOT APPROVED.

SO APPARENTLY WE HAVE TO WAIT AN ADDITIONAL TEN DAYS TO SEE IF THEY WILL PROTEST IT IN ORDER.

AND I KNOW DWIGHT CAN OFFER SOME, SOME GUIDANCE ON THAT.

WHO DID IT? I'M SORRY. DWIGHT.

DWIGHT. YEAH. I CAN ONLY SPEAK TO THE POINT OF.

MY STAFF. JUST INFORMED ME THAT THE RECOMMENDED AWARDED VENDOR WAS THEIR UTILIZATION PLAN WAS REJECTED, SO I'D HAVE TO REFER BACK TO DIRECTOR STELLA MISS GONZALEZ, SO THAT SHE CAN DETERMINE, YOU KNOW, IF THERE'S AN OPTION FOR IT TO BE FIXED OR NOT.

I DON'T KNOW THAT THERE'S ENOUGH DETAILS.

I JUST GOT INFORMED MY STAFF THAT A FEW MINUTES AGO.

SO IT IS SOMETHING WE'RE WORKING ON TOGETHER AS A TEAM, TRYING TO FIGURE OUT IF WE CAN GET THIS RESOLVED OR NOT.

[04:35:05]

MAYBE WHAT WE DO IS HAVE AN UPDATE AT THE NEXT COURT ADMINISTRATOR AND THEN YOU, YOU AND DIRECTOR GONZALEZ AND AND MR. DOBSLAW CAN UNTANGLE THIS AND AND THEN JUST COME BACK AND FILL US IN.

AND I THINK, YOU KNOW, WE'RE ALL PRETTY MUCH SAY THE SAME THING.

PARALLEL TRACKS BENEFITS.

HOW MUCH IS IT COST? DOES THAT SOUND OKAY, COLLEAGUES? THANK YOU. YEAH.

OKAY. SO JUDGE, JUDGE WILL PROBABLY PRIORITIZE THIS AS SOON AS IT COMES TO OUR DESK.

YES. SO WE'LL MAKE SURE IT GETS ON THAT.

THANK YOU. OKAY.

SO THAT'S THAT. COMMISSIONER ELLIS, DO YOU STILL NEED TO DISCUSS YOUR ITEM ON PAY EQUITY? NO, JUDGE.

OKAY. YES.

IS THERE GOING TO BE NO ACTION ON 19? A NO ACTION ON 19 AND NO ACTION ON FOR 33.

IS THAT RIGHT? SUGGESTION.

DEANNA, I DON'T NEED TO DO ANYTHING.

I THINK THE DISCUSSION.

PLEASE. I DON'T NEED TO MAKE ANY MOTIONS.

IT'S PRETTY CLEAR. IS THAT RIGHT? YOU ALL OKAY? THANK YOU.

SO ON 323.

AND I KNOW IT MATCHES A LOT WITH YOURS.

COMMISSIONER ELLIS. I DON'T KNOW IF YOU WANT TO START OR IF YOU WANT ME TO START ON 429.

YOU CAN, YOU CAN.

OH, YEAH. HERE IT IS.

SO WHAT I WANT TO DO IS COME UP WITH SOME PROCESS SO THAT WE ARE CONSISTENT WITH HOW WE EVALUATE ALL EXECUTIVE DIRECTORS.

I KNOW THAT EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION ISSUE IS THERE.

BUT I WANT TO LOOK AT BEST PRACTICES AROUND THE COUNTRY FOR GOVERNMENTAL ENTITIES ON THE BEST WAY TO DO IT.

SO WHAT I DID WAS COME UP WITH A SERIES OF STEPS HERE THAT I THINK WOULD MAKE SENSE, YOU KNOW, LIKE EIGHT EVALUATION CATEGORIES THAT TYPICALLY ARE USED.

THIS IS JUST FROM THE RESEARCH THAT MY STAFF GOT FROM THE ICMA IS THAT THE CITY MANAGERS, COUNTY MANAGERS ASSOCIATION, YOU LOOK AT PROFESSIONAL SKILLS AND STATUS, LEADERSHIP, ORGANIZATION COORDINATION, POLICY EXECUTION, MANAGING RESULTS AND RESOURCES SUPERVISION, CITIZEN RELATIONS, STAFFING, HUMAN RESOURCES MANAGEMENT, INTERGOVERNMENTAL RELATIONS, PUBLIC RELATIONS AND COMMUNICATIONS BOARD RELATIONS, RELATIONS WITH ELECTED MEMBERS OF THE GOVERNING BODY. SO WHAT I WAS TRYING TO DO WAS COME UP WITH SOMETHING THAT WOULD BE A STANDARD PROCESS TO EVALUATE THE ENTIRE GROUP OF FOLKS ON THAT LEVEL OR DEVELOP A FAIR, CONSISTENT, EQUITABLE PROCESS FOR PERFORMANCE EVALUATIONS OF THE COURT.

THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR CAN SET CLEARER AND MORE INFORMED EXPECTATIONS FOR OUR LEADERS AND DEPARTMENT DIRECTORS, I THINK, DESERVE SOME FEEDBACK ON AN ONGOING BASIS, A ROUTINE BASIS.

THIS WILL HELP WITH RECRUITMENT AND RETENTION OF TOP TALENT.

INVERSELY, IF WE ONLY BRING UP ISSUES OF PERFORMANCE AT THE LAST MINUTE WHEN SOMEONE'S JOBS ARE AT RISK, WE'RE CREATING A WORK ENVIRONMENT AT RISK, ALIENATING HIGH PERFORMING EMPLOYEES AND STRONG CANDIDATES.

SO DELAY IN. I HAVE A MOTION THAT I THINK I SENT AROUND.

I'LL READ IT, JUDGE, BEFORE YOU LEAVE US OUT.

AND MY MOTION WOULD BE SIMPLY TO DIRECT THE OFFICE OF COUNTY ADMINISTRATION AND DEPARTMENTS DESIGNATED BY THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR TO DEVELOP A UNIFORM, FAIR AND EQUITABLE PROCESS BASED ON RESEARCH BEST PRACTICES FOR EVALUATION OF THE PERFORMANCE OF EXECUTIVE DIRECTORS OF DEPARTMENTS AND AGENCIES THAT REPORT TO THE HARRIS COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR AND COMMISSIONERS COURT.

THE PERFORMANCE EVALUATION PROCESS SHOULD BE COMPLETE BY DECEMBER 31ST, 2024, AND SHOULD BE CONDUCTED IN ORDER TO BE DETERMINED BY THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR.

COMMISSIONER. OH, DID YOU? I WOULD SECOND THAT, BUT I KNOW YOU HAVE AN ITEM, JUDGE.

SO I WANTED TO. OKAY. MOTION BY COMMISSIONER ELLIS, SECOND BY COMMISSIONER BRIAN'S GOT SOME COMMENTS.

YES, COMMISSIONER RAMSEY THIS ITEM CONFUSES ME.

IS THERE CONCERN? AND IT'S ON.

IT'S CONFUSING ON A COUPLE OF LEVELS.

SO IF WE WANT TO ADOPT BEST PRACTICES.

I REVIEWED WHAT THIS COURT HAS DONE SINCE 2019.

AND EITHER THROUGH COURT ACTION OR POTENTIAL ACTION.

THERE'S BEEN TWO COMMUNITY SERVICES DIRECTORS GONE J.

THERE'S BEEN TWO JAD DIRECTORS GONE.

THERE'S BEEN A BUDGET OFFICER GONE.

THERE'S BEEN A POLLUTION CONTROL DIRECTOR GONE.

UNIVERSAL SERVICES TWO.

GONE. GONE.

COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR ONE GONE.

HECTOR. DIRECTOR.

GONE. ENGINEERING.

DIRECTOR. GONE.

DEO. DIRECTOR.

[04:40:02]

DIRECTOR. GONE.

SO IF THAT'S AN EXAMPLE OF BEST PRACTICES, I DON'T WANT ANY PART OF IT.

THAT'S ONE POINT.

THE SECOND POINT, I THINK IT'S VERY CONFUSING TO THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR.

AS I'VE SAID BEFORE, I'VE ONLY WORKED WITH 50 CITIES IN TEXAS.

SO THESE ISSUES ARE VERY SIMILAR TO A CITY MANAGER IN A CITY.

AND YOU ASK THE CITY MANAGER WHAT THEIR JOB IS.

THE CITY MANAGER RUNS THE CITY, RIGHT? EVERYBODY IN THE CITY REPORTS TO THE CITY MANAGER.

THE CITY MANAGER REPORTS TO THE CITY COUNCIL.

AND IF WE DON'T LIKE THE JOB, THE CITY MANAGER GOES.

WE FIRE THE CITY MANAGER.

AND BELIEVE ME, THE AVERAGE TENURE OF A CITY MANAGER IS WHAT, DIANA? LESS THAN FIVE YEARS.

SO I THINK IT'S APPROPRIATE IF WE WANT TO TALK ABOUT POLICIES.

I THINK THIS WAS INITIATED BECAUSE SOMEONE WAS CONCERNED ABOUT SOMEONE BEING EVALUATED AND REVIEWED INAPPROPRIATELY.

WELL, I'VE BEEN CONCERNED ABOUT PEOPLE BEING EVALUATED INAPPROPRIATELY FOR FIVE YEARS.

SO I THINK IF WE'RE GOING TO CLEAN THIS MESS UP, WHICH IT MIGHT BE TIME TO START CLEANING THE MESS UP.

I THINK MISS RAMIREZ AT LEAST OWES AN EXPLANATION ON WHAT HER POWERS.

AND I'LL USE THAT WORD BECAUSE IT'S A POWERFUL POSITION SHE CAN HIRE AND SHE CAN FIRE ANYBODY ON THE ORG CHART THAT REPORTS TO EVERY NON-ELECTED EMPLOYEE IN HARRIS COUNTY, REPORTS TO THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR.

THAT COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR HAS THE POWER THROUGH A PROCESS TO HIRE AND TO FIRE.

I JUST WANT TO UNDERSTAND THE CLARIFICATION.

ARE WE ADOPTING A POLICY THAT EMPOWERS THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR TO INITIATE THAT? OR WE RELIEVING OURSELVES OF THE POWER THAT HAS BEEN HISTORICALLY AT THE COMMISSIONERS COURT LEVEL, THE FIVE COMMISSIONERS? AND IT'S INTERESTING, AS I LOOK BACK AT HOW THE COMMISSIONERS COURT HAS OPERATED IN THE PAST, RARELY DID IT GET INVOLVED, AS WE HAVE BEEN INVOLVED AS THIS COURT HAS BEEN INVOLVED IN THE LAST FIVE YEARS.

I THINK THERE WERE PRETTY STABLE POLICIES PRIOR TO 2019.

I THINK THEY WERE PRETTY ROUTINE.

YOU HAD PEOPLE THAT WORKED AT THE COUNTY A LONG PERIOD OF TIME.

I AGREE WITH YOU, COMMISSIONER.

THERE'S A PROBLEM IN RIVER CITY WITH HOW THIS IS HANDLED.

BUT I DON'T THINK THIS SOLVES THAT PROBLEM.

WE HAVE A LOT OF QUESTIONS TO ANSWER IN TERMS OF IN TERMS OF WHO IS EMPOWERED TO MAKE DECISIONS ON DIRECTORS, COUNTY DIRECTORS, IN TERMS OF REPORTING TO THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR OR REPORTING TO THIS COURT.

I DON'T THINK THIS IS READY TO BE EVEN VOTED ON OR MUCH LESS BEING IMPLEMENTED.

CAN I MAKE A STAB AT IT? YES. AND THEN I'D LIKE TO ADD SOMETHING BECAUSE IT WAS MY MOTION.

COMMISSIONER, I APPRECIATE YOUR COMMENTS.

AND WHAT I DID WAS LOOK TO THE INTERNATIONAL CITY COUNTY MANAGEMENT ASSOCIATION.

THEY EVALUATION HANDBOOK FOR BEST PRACTICES FOR PERFORMANCE EVALUATIONS.

AND THEN I HAD MY TEAM VISIT WITH COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR RAMIREZ STAFF ON IT.

AND THEN I CALLED HER MYSELF AND SAID, HERE'S WHAT I'M GOING TO PROPOSE, BECAUSE I WANT TO MAKE SURE WE'RE DOING AS MUCH AS WE CAN TO EMPOWER YOU TO MAKE THOSE DECISIONS.

NOW, I WOULD SAY TO YOU THAT PRIOR TO 2019, SINCE THAT'S THE DATE YOU MADE REFERENCE TO, I GOT IN 2017, MY SENSE OF HOW IT WORKED WAS THAT IF YOU WANTED TO STAY AROUND HERE, YOU AS A DEPARTMENT HEAD, YOU HAD TO MAKE SURE YOU COUNT TO THREE, AND AT THE END OF THE DAY WAS COUNTING TO THREE.

AND THEN THERE WERE CERTAIN MEMBERS WHO WERE KNOWN TO GET INTO THE BUREAUCRACY MORE THAN OTHERS.

MY PREDECESSOR WAS ONE OF THEM.

AND THEY HAD HE HAD AN ALLIANCE WHEN HIS COLLEAGUES AND THEY PRETTY MUCH KIND OF DIVVY UP WHO'D KIND OF RUN WHAT.

BUT THERE WERE A LOT OF DEPARTMENTS THAT REALLY OPERATED IN INERTIA, IN MY OPINION.

[04:45:07]

AND THE THREE WOULD SHIFT FROM TIME TO TIME.

AND WHEN WE DECIDED TO PUT THIS SYSTEM IN OF A COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR BY A VERY CLOSE VOTE, MIGHT I ADD, IT WAS REALLY THE MOVE AWAY FROM THAT OLDER SYSTEM THAT HAD BEEN IN PLACE HERE AT THIS COUNTY FOR A VERY LONG TIME NOW.

SINCE I'VE BEEN HERE, I'VE SEEN SOME CHANGES TOO.

I SEEN FOUR PEOPLE UP HERE AT THE DAIS COME AND GO, ALL GOOD PEOPLE.

BUT, YOU KNOW IN NUMBER, THAT DIDN'T HAPPEN.

BUT BEFORE I GOT HERE, YOU KNOW, YOU CAME HERE.

USUALLY ENDED UP GOING OUT, YOU KNOW, IN A IN A IN A WHEELCHAIR WHEN YOU'RE READY TO RETIRE.

BUT SO A LOT HAS CHANGED.

BUT THIS IS NOT SOMETHING THAT I CAME UP WITH IN A VACUUM.

AND DIRECTOR RAMIREZ.

ADMINISTRATOR RAMIREZ, IF YOU IF THERE'S SOME CHANGES YOU WANT TO MAKE, YOU DIDN'T SAY IT.

I'M SORRY IF I DIDN'T INCORPORATE THEM, BUT WHEN I CAME UP WITH IT, I HAD MY STAFF VISIT WITH YOUR TEAM.

THEN I CALLED YOU.

I WAS OUT OF TOWN, BUT I SAID, THIS IS WHAT THEY'VE COME UP WITH.

IS THERE ANYTHING IN HERE THAT OUGHT TO CHANGE? AND EVEN I'D SAY IT AGAIN, IF THAT'S SOMETHING ELSE YOU THINK OUGHT TO CHANGE.

GOOD. BUT I JUST DON'T WANT YOU TO THINK, COLLEAGUE, THAT I JUST DID IT IN A I JUST DID IT IN A VACUUM.

I KNOW IT, I KNOW THIS ISN'T, BUT I AM SAYING YOU AND I CAN RESPECTFULLY DISAGREE ON WHEN THE LAST FIVE YEARS AND THE NUMBERS OF PEOPLE THAT HAVE BEEN EVACUATED WITH NO PROCESS AT THIS DAIS.

WELL, AND I ACTUALLY AGREE WITH YOU, COMMISSIONER RAMSEY, BECAUSE THAT'S THAT'S THE PROBLEM I HAVE.

I THINK I AGREE WITH BOTH OF YOU ALL.

SO YOU NAMED ALL OF THESE FOLKS, RIGHT? AND I REMEMBER EVERY ONE OF THEM.

AND THE TRUTH OF THE MATTER IS, IF YOU GO BACK TO THE TRANSCRIPT, THE THE VIDEO HISTORY OF COURT, YOU CAN SEE JUST HOW A LOT OF THESE FOLKS WERE TREATED IN PUBLIC.

AND WE HIRED THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR TO HAVE THE PROCESS THAT ANY ENTITY, ANY COMPANY, WOULD HAVE.

BUT WE'VE GONE.

THE TRUTH OF THE MATTER IS WE HAVE GONE AROUND HER.

I THINK IT IS AN APPROPRIATE PLACE TO.

TO YOUR POINT, IF IT'S ALLOWED J FOR US TO HAVE AN OPEN DISCUSSION NOW ON, ARE WE ARE WE NOT GOING TO FOLLOW THE PROCESS THAT WE'VE LAID OUT THE, THE 40% RAISE THE, THE, THE, THE EXECUTIVE STUDY, SEVERAL BUDGET ITEMS, YOU KNOW, THAT THAT HAVE TO DO WITH PERSONNEL HAVE HAVE GONE AROUND THE ADMINISTRATOR.

SO I WHAT I'M TRYING TO DO AND IT LINES UP WITH WHAT COMMISSIONER ELLIS IS PROPOSING, IS PROFESSIONALIZE OUR PROCESS SO THAT IT IS CONSISTENT, SO THAT IF YOU DON'T GET A BENEFIT AS A DIRECTOR, IF YOU'RE FRIENDS WITH THREE COMMISSIONERS, OR YOU GET ALONG WITH ONE OF THEM BECAUSE YOU BOTH LIKE BASEBALL.

I MEAN, YOU KNOW, I'M NOT PICKING ON YOU.

I'M JUST SAYING SOMETHING.

OKAY, LET ME PICK SOMETHING ELSE.

SOCCER. AND THEN.

AND THERE YOU GO. CYCLING.

OR THAT YOU GET CHEWED OUT IN PUBLIC BECAUSE YOU DON'T LIKE CYCLING, YOU KNOW, OR WHATEVER.

IT'S JUST. IT CAN'T BE THAT WAY.

AND SO I THINK, COMMISSIONER ELLIS, CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG, BUT WHAT YOU'RE PROPOSING IS THERE NEEDS TO BE A SPELLED OUT SYSTEM, BECAUSE THERE DOES SEEM TO BE CONFUSION TO COMMISSIONER RAMSEY'S POINT.

AND WHAT I'M SAYING IS THE SPELLED OUT SYSTEM NEEDS TO OPERATE IN PUBLIC.

AND WHILE ALL THESE GETS MADE, WE HAVE GOT TO MOVE AWAY FROM PUBLICLY HARANGUING OUR DEPARTMENT HEADS BECAUSE MANY TIMES IT'S OVER UNFOUNDED ACCUSATIONS.

BUT EVEN IF THE ACCUSATIONS WERE NOT UNFOUNDED, IT WOULD BE INAPPROPRIATE.

I DON'T KNOW OF ANY ENTITY THAT DOES THAT.

I GUESS IF YOU'RE ON TRIAL, THEY DO.

THAT IS PUBLIC. BUT THESE FOLKS, THEIR HR DISCUSSIONS NEED TO HAPPEN IN EXECUTIVE SESSION.

AND, AND I WOULD LIKE TO SAY BECAUSE YOU ALLUDED TO IT, COMMISSIONER RAMSEY, THIS THIS I, YOU KNOW, HAS BEEN AN ISSUE.

IN FACT, COMMISSIONER BROWN AND I HAD SOME MEETINGS AROUND THIS WHEN SHE FIRST GOT HERE AND IT HAD BEEN AN ISSUE.

YOU KNOW, WHEN I STARTED TO THE POINT OF ALL THOSE NAMES YOU'VE NAMED, I TRUST ME THERE'S A LOT OF THAT THAT DID NOT DID NOT GO DOWN RIGHT.

DOESN'T MEAN THEY WERE THEY NEEDED TO STAY.

BUT ANYWAY.

BUT YOU MENTIONED THE THE ITEMS. SO THAT'S AN ITEM.

THAT WAS FOR DISCUSSION ON THE PUBLIC HEALTH DIRECTOR PERFORMANCE.

SAME THING. A LOT OF PUBLIC.

SHE'S NOT HERE BECAUSE OF THE AND I'M SAYING THIS WITH HER PERMISSION, MENTAL AND PHYSICAL TOLL THAT THOSE ATTACKS OVER THE MONTHS AND AT THIS POINT YEARS HAVE TAKEN ON HER.

AND I BELIEVE IT WHEN I HEAR IT AND AND I, I AM VERY COMFORTABLE STANDING UP FOR HER, FOR HER SERVICE TO THE HISPANIC

[04:50:08]

FOR EXAMPLE, SHE'S SO NEW AND ESSENTIAL PROGRAMING, NON-EXISTENT PROGRAMS LIKE THE COVID 19 DIVISION, THE ACCESS PROGRAM.

3400 MEMBERS REFERRED TO SERVICES THE RISE PROGRAM, WHICH HAS HELPED 8000 INDIVIDUALS ON HEALTH SERVICES, INCLUDING MENTAL HEALTH AND SOCIAL ASSISTANCE.

THE MATERNAL AND CHILD HEALTH INITIATIVE, FEDERAL FUNDING FOR COMMUNITY FUNDED PROJECTS ON CHILD HEALTH.

HEALTHY START FUNDING.

THAT'S AROUND TOTAL SOME 5 OR $6 MILLION.

WE REESTABLISHED A COUNTY IMMUNIZATION PROGRAM DIABETES PREVENTION, OPERATIONAL EXCELLENCE.

THERE WAS NO STRATEGIC PLAN.

NOW THERE IS ONE.

THEY'VE AWARDED $252 MILLION IN GRANTS OR SPECIAL REVENUE TO PROVIDE ADDITIONAL PROGRAMS. LEADERSHIP REORGANIZATION.

HUMAN RESOURCES THAT HAS REDUCED VACANCY AND TURNOVER RATES.

TIMELY PAYMENT OF INVOICES.

ENVIRONMENTAL PUBLIC HEALTH ON LEAD ABATEMENT.

NEIGHBORHOOD NUISANCE ABATEMENT.

COMMUNITY HEALTH STATUS REPORTING ON HEALTH DISPARITIES.

LEADING CAUSE OF DEATH. PRECINCT COMMUNITY.

I'VE READ A THIRD OF THE DOCUMENTS.

I'M NOT GOING TO KEEP GOING.

INCLUDING A 16 PAGE MEMO THAT EXPLAINS EVERYTHING PUBLIC HEALTH HAS DONE FOR THE HISPANIC POPULATION, SERVING OVER HALF A MILLION HISPANIC RESIDENTS WITH TARGETED PROGRAMS SPECIFICALLY IN HISPANIC LARGELY HISPANIC AREAS.

SO IS THERE ENOUGH FUNDING FOR EVERY SINGLE PERSON IN THE COUNTY? NO, OF COURSE NOT.

WE NEED MORE PROGRAMS ACROSS THE BOARD.

BUT WHILE NOBODY SHOULD BE ATTACKED IN PUBLIC I'M PARTICULARLY PARTICULARLY.

AND JUST BECAUSE YOU BROUGHT THIS UP, I'M GOING TO STAND UP FOR DIRECTOR ROBINSON AND AGAIN AT HER WITH HER PERMISSION, SHE DID FILE A COMPLAINT WITH THE COUNTY.

AND THAT IS CLAIMING RACE, SEX AND AGE DISCRIMINATION.

AND IN THE KIND OF BEHAVIOR, I MEAN, IT HASN'T BEEN US YET, BUT BUT IT'S IT PUTS US AT RISK TO TREAT PEOPLE THAT WAY, MUCH LESS IN PUBLIC, WHEN THEY COULD EASILY THEY COULD EASILY SUE THE COUNTY IF THERE'S A PATTERN.

AND I, FOR ONE, SEE A PATTERN.

SO, SO THAT THAT'S MY MY MOTION TO ADD TO COMMISSIONER ELLIS'S IS FOR THE OFFICE OF COUNTY ADMINISTRATION TO DEVELOP A POLICY INFORMED BY RESEARCH BEST PRACTICES STIPULATING THAT PERFORMANCE EVALUATIONS OF DEPARTMENT HEADS REPORTING TO THE OFFICE OF COUNTY ADMINISTRATION BE CONDUCTED BY THEIR DIRECT SUPERVISOR, THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR, AND, WHERE RELEVANT, DISCUSSED WITH APPROPRIATE HUMAN RESOURCES PROTOCOLS AND ONLY IN EXECUTIVE SESSION THAT THE OFFICE OF COUNTY ADMINISTRATION RETURNED TO JULY 15TH, 2024.

THE MEETING FOR APPROVAL OF THE POLICY, WHICH SHALL EXEMPT DEPARTMENT HEADS WHO DO NOT REPORT TO THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR.

AND I SAW YOU HAVE THAT ORG CHART.

TWO COMMISSIONER RAMSEY.

BUT IT'S WAS THE FIRE MARSHAL SHERIFF'S CIVIL SERVICE.

ANYWAY. DIANA. DIANA I'M SURE KNOWS IT OFF THE TOP OF HER HEAD THAT ARE EXEMPTED.

BUT LOOK, I O RESOURCES FOR CHILDREN, ADULTS, PUBLIC DEFENDER, AGRILIFE EXTENSION AND VETERANS SERVICES AND MAC MANAGE COUNCIL.

SO I'M REALLY GLAD WE'RE DOING THIS.

I THINK IT'S LONG OVERDUE.

I AGREE WITH EVERYTHING YOU SAID, COMMISSIONER, AND AND I THINK, YOU KNOW, WE TURN THE PAGE AND IF WE TO HAVE A CONVERSATION RIGHT NOW ON ARE WE I MEAN, DO WE ACTUALLY RESPECT THAT THE DIRECTOR MAKES THESE DECISIONS AND HOW EXACTLY DOES IT HAPPEN? I THINK IT'S TIME TO DO IT, COMMISSIONER BEHRENDS.

SEVERAL POINTS.

SO I COME AT THIS NOT ONLY AS ONE OF THE FIVE INDIVIDUALS SITTING HERE, BUT I WAS A CHIEF TALENT OFFICER AND CHIEF OPERATIONS OFFICER FOR EIGHT YEARS AT A NATIONAL ORGANIZATION.

SO I COULD NOT AGREE MORE WITH THE NEED FOR PERFORMANCE EVALUATION TO CREATE CLARITY, CONSISTENCY, AND FROM AN ORGANIZATIONAL HEALTH PERSPECTIVE, IT WILL IMPROVE THE CULTURE IF WE'RE GOING TO KEEP RECRUITING AND RETAINING THE BEST TALENT.

SO I'M VERY IN FAVOR OF AN EVALUATION SYSTEM THAT IS BEST IN CLASS.

WE CREATED A WELL, THIS WAS CREATED BEFORE I GOT HERE, BUT I'M VERY SUPPORTIVE.

ADMINISTRATOR RAMIREZ OF YOU SUPERVISING THE DEPARTMENT HEADS.

AND I SEE IT AS A BOTH.

AND YOU ARE RUNNING POINT QUARTERBACKING, MANAGING THESE DEPARTMENT HEADS AND IN THE ANNUAL EVALUATION OR.

WELL, FRANKLY, I LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING WHAT YOU PROPOSE BY DECEMBER 31ST.

I DO THINK THERE NEEDS TO BE A COMPONENT FROM EACH OF THE FIVE OFFICES, SIMILAR TO THE WAY WE DO COMMITTEES TO GET A PORTION, AND YOURS COULD BE WEIGHTED MORE HIGHLY AND WE COULD FIND AN EQUITABLE WEIGHTING SYSTEM.

BUT FOR EXAMPLE, FLOOD CONTROL.

WE WORK WITH DOCTOR PETERSON AND HER TEAM, DOCTOR RAHMAN, AND HIS TEAM VIRTUALLY DAILY ON A MYRIAD OF PROJECTS, LITERALLY HUNDREDS OF PROJECTS.

SO THERE'S A LOT OF DATA POINTS THAT YOU MAY SEE, AND THERE'S A LOT OF DATA POINTS THAT THE FIVE OF US MAY SEE.

[04:55:06]

AND SO I, I THOUGHT COMMISSIONER ELLIS'S VERSION WAS MORE ALIGNED WITH KIND OF MY CURRENT THINKING, BUT I WOULD HAVE A FRIENDLY AMENDMENT SAYING SOME KIND OF KIND OF HYBRID, BOTH AND SORT OF MODEL THAT COULD BE WEIGHTED IN A FAIR WAY GIVEN THE AMOUNT OF EXPOSURE WE HAVE TO THE DEPARTMENT HEADS. AND I WOULD AGREE THAT I WOULDN'T FEEL COMFORTABLE JUST DOING AN EVALUATION OF THE DEPARTMENT HEADS BY MYSELF IN A SILO.

I THINK THAT THE WAY THAT THE DEPARTMENT HEADS WORK WITH THE MEMBERS OF COMMISSIONERS COURT IS VERY IMPORTANT, AND IT'S IMPERATIVE FOR FOR THEIR WORK AND MY WORK AS WELL.

SO I, I DON'T THINK IT WOULD IT WOULD MAKE SENSE FOR IT TO JUST BE IN A SILO WITH ME.

I WOULD DEFINITELY WANT AN EXECUTIVE SESSION ITEM TO GO OVER, GET YOUR INPUT, MAKE SURE I UNDERSTAND WHERE EVERY MEMBER OF COURT STANDS WITH WITH THAT PERSON, WITH WITH THAT DEPARTMENT HEAD.

ON ON THE PERFORMANCE METRICS, I THINK THAT'S JUST CRITICAL.

YOU KNOW, IT'S I WORK FOR YOU AND AT THE PLEASURE OF THE COURT.

SO I WOULD WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THAT WE KEPT THAT GOING.

AND AND I ALSO SEE IT.

SO THANK YOU FOR THAT. AND I AGREE WITH YOU.

IT'S A COMPLETE PARTNERSHIP.

AND THIS DOVETAILS NICELY AS WE DIVE IN DEEPLY AND AGGRESSIVELY INTO THE PAY EQUITY WORK.

AS WE MAKE THESE ADJUSTMENTS.

WE NEEDN'T LET PEOPLE KNOW WHAT WE'RE EXPECTING OF THEM AND HAVE THE DATA TO BE ABLE TO MAKE DATA DRIVEN DECISIONS ABOUT PERFORMANCE, BUT WE NEED CLARITY, SO I THINK IT'LL BE TREMENDOUS FOR OUR CULTURE.

AND WHEN I STEPPED IN A YEAR AND A HALF AGO, PRECINCT FOUR HAD ZERO PERFORMANCE EVALUATION.

AND WHEN WE CONTACTED HIM, THEY'RE LIKE, NO.

AND SO I WANT TO THANK DOCTOR BLAKE ELLIS AND DANIEL RODRIGUEZ.

THEY HAVE CREATED ONE FOR PRECINCT FOUR AND WE ARE JUST EVERY HIRING EVALUATION DECISION.

WE HAVE THE DATA TO MAKE DATA DRIVEN DECISIONS.

SO I THINK THIS IS A HUGE STEP IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.

AND I LOOK FORWARD TO THE HYBRID PROPOSAL.

SO IN TERMS OF THE LANGUAGE, COMMISSIONER ELLIS, LET ME GO TO YOUR LANGUAGE.

IT WAS TO DIRECT THE OFFICE OF COUNTY ADMINISTRATION AND THE TO DETERMINE.

YEAH. YOU MEAN READ IT AGAIN? I HAVE IT NOW, BUT YOU SHOULD READ IT.

OH, I SEE, I MOVED TO DIRECT THE OFFICE OF COUNTY.

I MOVED TO DIRECT THE COUNTY, THE OFFICE OF COUNTY ADMINISTRATION AND DEPARTMENTS DESIGNATED BY THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR TO DEVELOP A UNIFORM, FAIR AND EQUITABLE PROCESS BASED ON RESEARCHED BEST PRACTICES FOR EVALUATION OF THE PERFORMANCE OF EXECUTIVE DIRECTORS OF THE DEPARTMENTS AND AGENCIES THAT REPORT TO THE HARRIS COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR AND COMMISSIONERS COURT.

THE PERFORMANCE EVALUATION SHOULD BE COMPLETE BY DECEMBER 31ST, 2024, AND SHOULD BE CONDUCTED IN ORDER TO BE DETERMINED BY THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR.

IT SOUNDS LIKE COMMISSIONER BRIONES IS SAYING THE PERFORMANCE SHOULD BE CONDUCTED BY WITH INPUT BY THE MEMBERS OF COMMISSIONERS COURT, BUT THE FINAL DECISION LIES WITH THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR. I'M GOOD WITH IT.

BASED ON THE TOTALITY OF YOU GET IT? AND SO WHAT I WOULD ADD, COMMISSIONER BROWN, IS AND MY MIND WAS NOT ALTERNATE MOTION TO COMMISSIONER.

THIS IS FROM A SEPARATE ITEM.

BUT I THINK THE OPERATIVE PART OF MINE IS WE'RE NOT GOING TO HAVE THIS DONE TOMORROW.

RIGHT. IT'S NOT TILL DECEMBER.

AND SO I WOULD LIKE FOR US TO PASS A POLICY THAT THE DEPARTMENT HEAD JOB PERFORMANCE IS HANDLED BY THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR WITH INFO FROM US.

OR IF YOU DON'T WANT TO ADD THAT, THEN AT LEAST TO SAY THAT DEPARTMENT HEAD JOB PERFORMANCE IS DISCUSSED IN EXECUTIVE SESSION, WHERE PERSONNEL MATTERS SHOULD BE AND ARE HANDLED TO PROTECT THE INTEGRITY OF THE HUMAN RESOURCES PROCESS.

BECAUSE I DON'T WANT, I WANT, I DON'T WANT US TO CONTINUE DRESSING PEOPLE DOWN IN PUBLIC, WHETHER THEY HAVE DONE SOMETHING WRONG OR NOT.

YES. COMMISSIONER RAMSEY, ONCE A YEAR AND NEARLY EVERY CITY IN TEXAS, THERE'S AN AGENDA ITEM TO EVALUATE THE PERFORMANCE OF THE CITY MANAGER.

THAT'S NOT MEANT TO BE ANYTHING OTHER THAN THAT.

AND AND I TOOK EVERYTHING THAT'S BEEN SAID AT THIS POINT.

IT'S OKAY FOR US TO ASK FOR AN EVALUATION AT ANY TIME, AT ANY POINT.

BUT TO MY OTHER POINTS I KNOW WHAT I HAVE EXPERIENCED AND WHAT I HAVE SEEN, I GUESS.

CALL ME A LITTLE SUSPICIOUS, PARTICULARLY WITH ALL THIS CONVERSATION AROUND CONSOLIDATION.

AND I JUST GET VERY UNTRUSTING IN TERMS OF ARE THESE PURE MOTIVES IN TERMS OF WHAT WE'RE HEADED

[05:00:06]

SO I DID WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU GET THE LAST PART OF THE NO COMMISSION.

NOT THE LAST PART. JUST.

CAN YOU. THE MOTION YOU READ THE WHOLE THING WOULD BE TO DIRECT THE OFFICE OF ADMINISTRATION DEPARTMENTS, DESIGNATED BY THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR TO DEVELOP A UNIFORM, FAIR AND EQUITABLE PROCESS BASED ON RESEARCH, RESEARCHED BEST PRACTICES FOR THE EVALUATION OF THE PERFORMANCE OF THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTORS THAT REPORT TO AGENCIES AND COMMISSIONERS COURT THAT THE THE EVALUATION WILL BE DONE BY DECEMBER 21ST, 2024.

THAT PERFORMANCE EVALUATIONS BE CONDUCTED BY THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR WITH INPUT FROM BY THE MEMBERS OF COURT.

BUT THE FINAL DECISION MADE BY THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR THAT PERSONNEL MATTERS BE HANDLED IN EXECUTIVE SESSION TO PROTECT THE INTEGRITY OF THE HUMAN RESOURCES PROCESS.

AND I LIKED WHAT YOU SAID, COMMISSIONER RAMSEY, THAT WE HAVE WE HAVE A ONCE A YEAR ITEM TO EVALUATE THE PERFORMANCE OF THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR, IF YOU WANT TO ADD THAT.

BUT I'M JUST SAYING IT'S IT'S YOU CAN DO IT AT ANY TIME.

YOU CAN EVALUATE ANYBODY.

RIGHT. BUT WE ALSO WOULDN'T WANT TO TO PUBLICLY HARANGUE ADMINISTRATOR RAMIREZ.

ASKING FOR AN EVALUATION IS NOT PUBLICLY ARRANGED.

RIGHT. THAT'S WHAT I'M SAYING IS, LIKE, I'M TRYING I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE WE'RE SAYING YOU AND I ARE SAYING THE SAME THING, BUT I JUST DON'T WANT THE RECORD TO BE IN ANY WAY MISREAD. I AGREE THAT IT'S OKAY TO EVALUATE.

I JUST WANT TO MAKE IT CLEAR THAT TO COME AND INTERRUPT PEOPLE AND ACCUSE THEM OF THINGS, AND WHETHER THEY DID THEM OR NOT IS NOT OKAY AT EVERY COURT.

I MEAN, IT'S CRAZY.

YEAH. WELL, WITH RESPECT TO TO MY EVALUATION, I MEAN, I'VE TAKEN INPUT AND FEEDBACK FROM EACH OF THE COURT MEMBERS AT DIFFERENT POINTS IN TIME AT DIFFERENT CHECK INS.

AND I TAKE THAT VERY SERIOUSLY AS, AS PART OF, YOU KNOW, MY PERFORMANCE EVALUATIONS OF KEEPING ME WITHIN KIND OF, YOU KNOW, THE GUTTERS OF THE LANE. SO, YOU KNOW, I THINK THAT THAT'S REALLY IMPORTANT, AT LEAST FOR ME IN MY EVALUATION, THAT THAT I KEEP GETTING CONSTANT CHECK INS FROM YOU ALL ABOUT, HEY, YOU'RE REALLY GOING.

I'M NOT HAPPY WITH THIS.

OKAY, WELL, LET'S FIGURE OUT HOW TO, YOU KNOW, HOW TO GET EVERYBODY, YOU KNOW, GET ME BACK ON ON TRACK.

SO I'M I'M SUPER COMFORTABLE WITH WITH THAT AND AND VERY OPEN TO TO GETTING FEEDBACK FROM YOU ALL.

AND I HAVE IN THE PAST AND I DO ALWAYS ENDEAVOR TO DO BETTER.

AND THAT'S ONE OF THE THINGS I MOST RESPECT ABOUT YOU.

WE MEET WEEKLY AND YOU'RE SO EAGER AND OPEN FOR FEEDBACK, AND I THINK THAT'S A MODEL FOR THE ENTIRE COUNTY.

SO THANK YOU FOR YOUR OPENNESS TO IT.

I TO MOVE TO THE THE MOTION ON THE TABLE, THOUGH I KNOW WE HAVE FOLKS FROM METRO AND OTHER ORGANIZATIONS WAITING.

YEAH, IT WAS A MOTION.

DID YOU HAVE ANY FEEDBACK ON THE MOTION? SO IS THE MOTION FOR FOR THE ACTUAL EVALUATIONS TO BE DONE BY THE END OF THE YEAR.

BECAUSE THE PROPOSAL OR THE PROPOSAL FOR FAIR EQUITABLE PROCESS.

YEAH, YEAH, YEAH. THE PROCESS.

BUT THEN TO COMMISSIONER BRIAN'S POINT, WE'RE ALSO CLARIFYING THAT IN THE PROCESS, THE THE DIRECTION WE'RE REQUESTING.

AND OBVIOUSLY WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO APPROVE IT.

AGAIN, THE DIRECTION RIGHT NOW THAT WE HAVE IN MIND IS THAT YOU WOULD CONDUCT THE PERFORMANCE EVALUATIONS WITH INPUT FROM THE MEMBERS OF COURT, AND THE FINAL DECISION WOULD WOULD SIT ON YOU.

AND I'M SAYING IN THE MEANTIME, LET'S ALL AGREE THAT PERSONNEL MATTERS ARE HANDLED IN EXECUTIVE SESSION TO PROTECT THE INTEGRITY OF THE HUMAN RESOURCES PROCESS.

YEAH, PLEASE. IS DECEMBER 31ST ENOUGH TIME? DO YOU WANT MORE TIME TO COME UP WITH THE PROCESS? NO. DECEMBER 31ST IS PERFECT.

AND THAT'S ONE THING THAT I HAD INCLUDED IN THE RCA ON THE EXECUTIVE PAY.

SO THAT'S THAT'S GOOD.

I'M I'M HAPPY WITH THAT, BECAUSE WHAT I WANT TO DO IS MAKE SURE THAT FIRST WE HAVE THE PROCESS, THEN WE SET THE EXPECTATIONS.

I SIT DOWN WITH EACH DEPARTMENT HEAD.

THEY KNOW THEIR EXPECTATIONS.

THEN WE DO THE EVALUATION AFTER SIX MONTHS OR A YEAR, AND THEN WE DO THEM ANNUALLY.

SO MR. MR. ADMINISTRATOR, YOU CURRENTLY HAVE THE POWER TO DISCIPLINE AND PROVIDE CORRECTIVE ACTION TO THE DIRECTORS THAT REPORT TO YOU, CORRECT? YES, SIR.

OKAY. SO ALTHOUGH COMMISSIONER ELLIS IS PROVIDING A FORMAL EVALUATION PROCESS, YOU HAVE YOU HAVE THE THE POWER CURRENTLY TO CORRECT DISCIPLINE, COUNSEL, GUIDE AND TERMINATE ANYONE THAT THERE'S FIVE DEPARTMENT HEADS THAT ARE REPORT TO ME THAT IT HAS TO BE HIRING AND FIRING HAS TO BE RATIFIED THROUGH THE COMMISSIONER'S COURT, BUT YOU HAVE THE POWER TO.

YES, SIR. COUNSEL.

MENTOR. YES, SIR.

CORRECT. DISCIPLINE.

RIGHT UP.

PEOPLE FOR THEIR LACK OF PERFORMANCE OR FOR ISSUES THAT YOU SEE.

[05:05:02]

IT JUST THIS IS IT JUST FORMALIZES A TOTALLY DIFFERENT THING, FORMALIZES THE PROCESS TO COMMISSIONER COMMISSIONER RAMSAY'S POINT.

I'M NOT RELINQUISHING MY AUTHORITY TO YOU.

BECAUSE I HAVE.

I GOT ELECTED TO FIGHT FOR MY PRECINCT.

THAT'S WHAT I'M GOING TO CONTINUE TO DO.

YES, SIR. AND AND SO IT'S IMPERATIVE THAT WE ALSO THINK ABOUT HOW THAT HOW YOU BACK THOSE SITUATIONS, HOW YOU BACK UP YOUR EVALUATIONS.

AND SO I WOULD THAT WOULD BE MY POINT.

YES, SIR. AND THAT'S WHY I WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT THAT YOU ALL UNDERSTOOD THAT ANY EVALUATION, I MEAN, I WOULD LET YOU KNOW, JUST LIKE I ADVISED.

COMMISSIONER THE THE DEPARTMENT HEADS WHAT KIND OF MY AGREEMENT WITH THEM HAS BEEN? LOOK, IF I'M HEARING FROM A COMMISSIONER, THE JUDGE, THAT THEY'VE GOT A PROBLEM WITH ONE OF YOUR PROGRAMS OR WITH YOU, I'M GOING TO CALL YOU AND LET YOU KNOW YOU NEED TO TAKE CARE OF THIS SAME THING.

IF YOU HEAR THAT THEY HAVE PROBLEMS WITH ME, YOU BETTER TELL ME.

LET'S LET'S HAVE THOSE OPEN COMMUNICATIONS, BECAUSE WE'RE ALL HERE TO SERVE THE COMMISSIONERS COURT AND THE TAXPAYERS AND THE RESIDENTS.

SO THEY ALL KNOW THAT THAT'S THE WAY, THAT'S THE WAY WE OPERATE AND WE COMMUNICATE AND WE WE TRY TO MAKE SURE THAT THAT WE'RE COVERING THE NEEDS OF THE COMMISSIONERS COURT.

I'M MORE CONCERNED ABOUT THE NEEDS OF THE COMMUNITY.

YES, SIR. I THINK WE'RE SAYING THE SAME THING.

I THINK THEY CAN BOTH TAKE PLACE.

WE CAN FIGHT FOR THE COMMUNITY, AND WE CAN TREAT OUR EMPLOYEES PROPERLY AND FOLLOW STANDARD PROCEDURES.

SO DO WE NEED TO REREAD THE MOTION, OR DID YOU GET IT? THAT'S OKAY. SO I YES, I WOULD PREFER PLEASE TO REREAD IT.

MY APOLOGIES. OKAY. SO I AT LEAST WOULD BE HAPPY TO VOTE FOR THE PRECINCT ONE MOTION AS STATED.

I AM DISINCLINED TO VOTE FOR THE AMENDMENT FOR A VARIETY OF LEGAL REASONS, WHICH THE COUNTY ATTORNEY AND EXECUTIVE SESSION.

WE HAVE TALKED ABOUT THE ROLE OF EXECUTIVE SESSION AND HOW FOLKS NEED TO HONOR IT AND WHAT HAS AND HAS NOT TRANSPIRED AFTER RECENT LITIGATION, ETC.

SO I THINK THAT IS ANOTHER CONVERSATION THAT WE NEED TO HAVE CLARITY ON.

PERHAPS AT THE NEXT COURT MEETING IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE COUNTY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE.

SO I'M WILLING TO VOTE ON PRECINCT ONE'S VERSION.

SO SO THIS AMENDMENT, IF I MIGHT SUGGEST THIS.

SO IF THERE'S SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE VETTED WITH LEGAL, WE OUGHT TO BRING THAT BACK.

BUT I'D LIKE FOR US TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THE PART THAT I COUNT PRETTY GOOD.

YOU GET UP TO SIX AND I'VE LOST, BUT I CAN GET TO THAT 3 OR 4.

SO THE PART I THINK YOU'RE AGREEING TO IS THE AMENDMENT I SENT OUT AFTER DECEMBER 31ST, 2024.

YOU'RE ADDING WHAT AGAIN? SAY THAT PART AGAIN.

SO THE THAT THE EVALUATIONS BE CONDUCTED BY THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR WITH INPUT BY THE MEMBERS OF COURT, WITH THE FINAL DECISION MADE BY THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR.

IS THAT CLEAR? I GOT THE FIRST PART FOR YOU.

SO THAT IS ON ITEM, ON COMMISSIONER ELSE'S ITEM, WHICH IS FOR 33.

EXCUSE ME, WHICH IS THREE, 323.

SO IS THERE A SECOND ON THAT ONE? I THINK I MAKE A MOTION.

COMMISSIONER. YES, I WILL SECOND THAT SECOND BY COMMISSIONER BEHRENDS.

ALL IN FAVOR? AYE.

ANY OPPOSED? NO, I'M IN FAVOR.

I'M FOR IT. COMMISSIONER GARCIA, I DON'T KNOW IF YOU'RE IN FAVOR OR AGAINST.

WHEN YOU DON'T SPEAK ON AN ITEM, YOU'RE VOTING IN THE AFFIRMATIVE.

OKAY, SO 4 TO 1.

OKAY. SO ON MY ITEM, THOUGH, I DON'T I DON'T UNDERSTAND THE ISSUE HERE.

WHAT I'M TRYING TO SAY.

JAY, ARE THERE ISSUES WITH EXECUTIVE SESSION? WE HAVE A BUNCH OF ITEMS LEFT.

YOU CAN RUN IT DOWN BY THE END, BUT I'M NOT GOING TO, YOU KNOW, GIVE UP ON LET'S RESPECT OUR DEPARTMENT HEADS AND NOT HEARING THEM IN PUBLIC WITHOUT A REAL REASON FOR WHY WE DON'T WANT TO DO THAT.

SO ARE THERE LEGAL FIRST TIME IN FIVE YEARS WE'VE DONE THAT? THAT'S RIGHT. I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO CHANGE THINGS.

YEAH, I THINK I THINK THE SPECIFIC QUESTION IS WHETHER OR NOT SORT OF THE, THE, THE RESTRICTIONS AROUND REQUIRING PRACTICE BY MENEFEE.

COMMISSIONER BEHRENDS, I FORGOT I WROTE IT WITH HIM.

SO THE COUNTY ATTORNEY HIMSELF HELPED DRAFT THIS.

YEAH, YOU CAN GIVE ME A REAL REASON HERE.

I'LL HAVE TO ASK HIM. I'M NOT.

I'M NOT AWARE THAT I FORGOT, BUT I DID, I DID.

RESPECT IS NON-NEGOTIABLE AND PERSONNEL MATTERS SHOULD HAVE AN EXTRA SENSITIVITY THAT JUST HAS NOT BEEN RESPECTED AT VARIOUS LEVELS.

SO I HAD ASKED THE COUNTY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE MONTHS AGO, ACTUALLY, TO PROVIDE A BRIEFING TO ALL FIVE OF US ON WHAT IS INBOUNDS AND OUT OF BOUNDS AND WHAT EXECUTIVE SESSION MEANS, AND WITH REGARD TO THE SENSITIVITY AROUND PERSONNEL MATTERS.

SO I WOULD LIKE FOR THAT BRIEFING AT THE NEXT MEETING.

COUNTY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE, PLEASE.

SURE. WE'RE HAPPY TO DO THAT.

SO BUT THE BOTTOM LINE IS RESPECT IS NON-NEGOTIABLE.

AND WE SHOULD RESPECT THE RULES.

[05:10:01]

SO I WOULD REQUEST THAT YOU RUN THAT DOWN AND WE CAN TALK ABOUT RESPECT AT THE NEXT COURT.

BUT THIS I NEED, I THINK, FOLKS WHO ARE NOT GOING TO SUPPORT IT NEED TO GO ON THE RECORD ABOUT EXACTLY WHAT THE PROBLEM IS WITH THAT SENTENCE, BECAUSE WE HAVE A DIRECTOR THAT HAS FILED A COMPLAINT THAT WE HAVE ALL SEEN HOW SHE'S BEEN TREATED, AND SHE'S NOT THE ONLY ONE.

SHE'S NOT THE ONLY ONE THAT'S FILED A COMPLAINT AGAINST SOME MEMBER OF THIS COURT.

I'LL JUST SAY IT THAT WAY BECAUSE OF INAPPROPRIATE COMMENTS FROM THIS TABLE.

YEP. NOW THAT THAT AS COMMISSIONER BRIAN SAID, WE OUGHT TO HAVE MORE SENSE ABOUT OURSELVES THAN TO MAKE INAPPROPRIATE COMMENTS FROM THIS DAIS ABOUT PEOPLE. TELL ME WHAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT, COMMISSIONER.

WHICH COMPLAINT? FROM WHOM? BY WHOM? I CHOOSE NOT TO.

OKAY, WELL, UNTIL YOU MAKE AN ACTUAL ALLEGATION WITH DETAILS.

AND THAT'S WHAT HAPPENED. WHICH ONE OF THESE? YOUR COMMUNITY SERVICES.

TWO ARE GONE, JAD.

RIGHT. THAT'S WHAT I'M SAYING.

GO WATCH HOW THEY WERE TREATED.

COMMISSIONER. I KNOW THAT'S WHAT I'M SAYING.

SO THAT'S WHAT I AM.

WHAT I AM SUSPICIOUS OF, RIGHT, IS WHY NOW? WHY AFTER FIVE YEARS OF INAPPROPRIATE BEHAVIOR? BECAUSE WE'VE SAID YOU'RE NOT GOING TO DO THIS IS WHY, COMMISSIONER RAMSEY.

THIS IS WHY. AND I'M BEING CANDID WITH YOU, OKAY? THIS IS WHY. BECAUSE I KNEW THAT THERE ARE SOME OF US ON THIS DAIS THAT HAVE A PENCHANT FOR THAT KIND OF BEHAVIOR.

AND I USED TO COUNT ON THAT VOTE AS MY THREE.

BUT NOW WE HAVE A DIFFERENT MEMBER OF COURT, AND THAT PERSON NOW VOTES WITH YOU.

AND I HAVE NOTHING TO LOSE TO BE ABLE TO GET THIS DONE.

POINT OF ORDER TO HAVE ITEM BEFORE COUNTY ATTORNEY.

I BELIEVE WE'RE STILL ON ON COMMISSIONER ALYSSA'S ITEM.

DIDN'T WE VOTE ON THAT OR ARE WE NOT? NO LONGER ON THAT. I'M ON MY ITEM ON 29.

SO IT'S 29.

IT'S PAST DUE, COMMISSIONER.

BUT BEFORE I KNEW IF I DID THIS, I COULDN'T GET SUPPORT FOR MY ITEMS. BUT NOW THERE'S MORE PEOPLE ON COURT.

THE DIFFERENT PEOPLE.

YOUR COLLEAGUE HAS BEEN REPLACED.

THAT'S WHY I'M SURPRISED THAT MY COLLEAGUE FROM PRECINCT FOUR DOES NOT WANT TO SUPPORT IT.

AND I WOULD LIKE TO UNDERSTAND EXACTLY WHY, BECAUSE WE HAD THIS ISSUE IN THE PAST.

WHERE IS THERE IS THERE A GERMANE ITEM ON THE AGENDA? YES, IT'S IT'S ITEM 29 IS WHAT SHE IS.

I LITERALLY PUT THAT ON THERE.

AS A LAWYER AND FORMER JUDGE.

JAY, I LOOK FORWARD TO THE BRIEFING IN EXECUTIVE SESSION AT THE NEXT MEETING.

NO, THAT IS ON 429.

THE ITEM IS ON TODAY AND WE CAN DISCUSS IT WITH COMMISSIONER WITH ATTORNEY MENIFEE.

EVERYONE CAN SEE HOW YOU GUYS ARE TRYING TO STEP OVER ME.

WHAT IS THE FEAR? I WOULD JUST REALLY LIKE TO UNDERSTAND.

OKAY, SO DO WE HAVE A LEGAL ISSUE? YES OR NO WITH MY ITEM? YEAH. WHAT I WOULD ASK IS THAT WE SORT OF HOLD ON THAT I NEED TO CONFER WITH THE COUNTY ATTORNEY, SO I'M GOING TO HOLD IT TO NOT TILL THE NEXT COURT TILL LATER TODAY, BECAUSE I HAVE PUT AN ITEM ON THE AGENDA.

AND YES, FOR YEARS DEPARTMENT HEADS HAVE BEEN MISTREATED IN PUBLIC.

COMMISSIONER RAMSEY, I AGREE, AND A VALID COMPLAINT HAS BEEN FILED AND WE ALL WATCHED IT HAPPEN OVER THE PAST FEW MEETINGS OF COMMISSIONERS COURT.

AND WE CAN'T GASLIGHT PEOPLE AS TO WHY WE'RE NOT SUPPORTING THIS, I HONESTLY DO NOT UNDERSTAND THE REASON I CAN'T.

SO I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW, AND I THINK THE DEPARTMENT HEADS DESERVE TO KNOW, AND I THINK THE EMPLOYEES DESERVE TO KNOW.

BUT BECAUSE WE ALL TOOK A GOOD GAME ABOUT RESPECT AND AND THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR.

BUT WHEN PUSH COMES TO SHOVE, WE GIVE THESE MASSIVE RAISES WITHOUT EXPLANATION.

WE WE ARE OKAY INSULTING PEOPLE IN PUBLIC.

SO LET'S GET THIS CHANGED.

WE'RE TRYING TO MAKE THE COUNTY BETTER.

I CALL THE QUESTION NO.

WE'RE REVIEWING A EXECUTIVE.

THE QUESTION THAT COMMISSIONER BRIONES SAID WAS STANDING IN THE WAY OF HER VOTING FOR THIS QUESTION.

AND THAT QUESTION WAS WHETHER IT'S LEGAL OR NOT.

SO WE'RE RUNNING THAT DOWN.

UNLESS THAT'S NOT ACTUALLY THE REASON.

I REALLY THINK WE NEED TO KNOW WHAT THE REASON IS, BECAUSE WE'RE TRYING TO MAKE THE COUNTY BETTER.

WE SHOULD HAVE DONE THIS A LONG TIME AGO, BUT NOW WE HAVE TO DO IT.

AND I AM DETERMINED TO STAND UP FOR THE PEOPLE WHO'VE BEEN INSULTED IN THE PAST WITH NO REASON, AS WELL AS AS WELL AS DIRECTOR ROBINSON. AND I MEAN, JUST JUST WATCH THE TAPES FROM THE PAST FEW COURTS AND FROM THE PAST FEW YEARS.

SO LET'S LET'S GET THIS DONE.

AND IF SOMEBODY WANTS TO VOTE NO, THEN VOTE NO.

AND I'D INVITE THE PRESS. JUST REASONS AS TO WHY.

AND IT'LL BE ON THE RECORD.

YES. SO IS IT LEGAL OR CAN WE COME BACK TO IT LATER IF I CAN, IF WE CAN TAKE A FIVE MINUTE RECESS.

LET ME LET ME CALL.

OKAY. SO IT'S 513.

[05:15:01]

EXCUSE ME. NO, UNTIL 5:30 P.M..

EXCUSE ME UNTIL 5:20 P.M..

THANK YOU.

OKAY, IT'S 531 AND COMMISSIONER SCOTT IS BACK IN SESSION.

JAY? YES.

JUDGE. THANK YOU. YEAH. I APOLOGIZE FOR THE SLIGHT DELAY.

YEAH, I JUST WANTED TO. I JUST WANTED TO BE ABLE TO CONFER WITH WITH CHRISTIAN AND JOHN.

SO THERE'S ACTUALLY NO ISSUE WITH THE MOTION AS IT'S PRESENTED AT ALL.

THE REQUIREMENT.

WELL, WHAT YOU'RE ESSENTIALLY SAYING IS YOU WANT TO MAKE A POLICY RECOMMENDATION THAT THAT ON ON PERSONNEL MATTERS, THEY OUGHT TO BE THEY OUGHT TO BE DONE IN AN EXECUTIVE SESSION AND KEPT IN EXECUTIVE SESSION.

PERFECTLY APPROPRIATE POLICY.

JUST A POINT OF CLARIFICATION.

IT DOESN'T SORT OF LEGALLY BIND YOU, BUT IT IS A POLICY OF THE COURT AND THAT COURT MEMBERS WOULD HAVE TO HONOR THAT.

AND IF THAT'S SOMETHING THEY CHOOSE TO DO, THAT'S FINE.

SO MY QUESTION IS CURRENTLY ALL PERSONNEL MATTERS ARE SUPPOSED TO BE HANDLED IN EXECUTIVE SESSION.

AND UNDER TEXAS LAW, YOU KNOW, I'M USED TO ATTORNEY CLIENT PRIVILEGE, RIGHT.

SO UNDER TEXAS LAW, ONCE WE LEAVE EXECUTIVE SESSION, WE HAVE SEEN THAT SOME MEMBERS WILL SPEAK TO THE PRESS, SOME WILL SPEAK AT THE DAIS. WHAT UNDER TEXAS LAW IS OR IS NOT REQUIRED BASED.

IS THERE ANY PRIVILEGE OR WOULD THAT BE A POLICY MATTER THAT IT'S A POLICY PRIVILEGE? I'M SORRY, I'M SORRY, COMMISSIONER, I SHOULDN'T LET YOU CONTINUE.

NO, THAT IT'S NOT THAT'S NOT PRIVILEGED.

THE CONVERSATIONS YOU HAVE BACK THERE ARE AMONG THE FIVE OF YOU CAN CAN BE TALKED ABOUT HERE.

NOW, WHAT THE JUDGE IS SUGGESTING IS A POLICY THAT SAYS YOU SHOULD NOT DO THAT.

BUT THERE'S NO THERE'S NO ACTUAL LEGAL RESTRICTION ON YOUR BEING ABLE TO DO IT OUT.

BUT THAT POLICY ALREADY EXISTS.

I MEAN, THAT WAS WHAT WE WERE BRIEFED ON WHEN WE GOT HERE.

SO THAT POLICY ALREADY EXISTS.

IT CERTAINLY IS A TRADITION, I THINK.

I THINK THAT IS A FAIR, FAIR STATEMENT.

COMMISSIONER GARCIA, THE TRADITION HAS BEEN THERE ALL ALONG, WHICH HAS NOT BEEN WHICH HAS NOT BEEN RESPECTED.

AND I DID SPEAK TO THE PRESS ABOUT WHY THERE WAS A 40% SUDDEN RAISE TO THE DIRECTOR OF THE TOLL ROAD AUTHORITY, AUTHORITY, BECAUSE I DIDN'T UNDERSTAND MYSELF WHAT IT WAS.

THE COMMUNITY WAS UP IN ARMS. THEY WERE ASKING WHY I NEED TO SAY I DON'T KNOW.

SO SO I KNOW, I MEAN, I'M VERY PROUD OF THAT.

THAT'S NOT THIS.

SO THIS HAS BEEN YOU KNOW, WE LITERALLY HAD A MEETING WITH WOMEN COMMISSIONER BRIONES AND I AND OUR STAFF THAT HAD SELF-ORGANIZED TO DISCUSS HOW THEY WERE BEING MISTREATED, INCLUDING IN THIS PUBLIC FORUM.

AND WE BOTH PROMISED PROGRESS ON THIS TO THE WOMEN.

WE CAN'T GOVERN BY BULLYING.

WE CAN'T GOVERN BY STRONG ARMING.

WE CAN'T GOVERNMENT BY MAKING IT.

SO WHETHER IT'S YOU WERE BRIEFED ON IT WHEN YOU TOOK OFFICE OR NOT, THE TRUTH OF THE MATTER IS, RIGHT NOW, IF SOMEONE DOESN'T DO IT, ONE OF US WANTS THAT PERSON AND THEIR ALLIES MAKE ANY KIND OF ACCUSATIONS THAT BORDER ON SLANDER AND NOT ONLY REDUCES MORALE IN THE COUNTY, HARMS THE INDIVIDUAL'S FUTURE JOB PROSPECTS, HARMS THE PROGRAMS THEY'RE RESPONSIBLE FOR MANAGING, AND LIMITS HOW WE CAN ATTRACT THE FUTURE TALENT.

SO IT'S NOT LEGALLY BINDING, BUT IT'S A COURT POLICY.

SO WE HOLD OURSELVES TO A STANDARD BECAUSE WE HAVE NOT BEEN HOLDING OURSELVES TO A STANDARD.

SO SO THAT IS MY REQUEST.

AND, YOU KNOW, SHOULD WE DISCUSS HR MATTERS INCLUDING PERFORMANCE AND PAY AND OPEN COURT.

IS THAT STANDARD BEHAVIOR SHANE OR DIANA? AS FAR AS I KNOW, MOST COMMISSIONERS COURT BOARDS TRY TO DISCUSS THAT IN EXECUTIVE SESSION.

IT'S THAT'S THAT'S WHAT YOU DO.

THAT'S WHAT I ALWAYS ASK YOU TO DO.

BUT IT'S NOT WHAT WE DO. COMMISSIONER RAMSEY, THERE HAS BEEN JUST ALL THE ATTACKS ON COMMISSIONER.

WHAT HAPPENED WITH COMMISSIONER, WITH DIRECTOR ROBINSON? AND WHAT ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT? WHAT? WHAT ARE YOU DISCUSSING? I'M GIVING A SPECIFIC EXAMPLE.

I THINK COMMISSIONER BROWN'S I SPOKE.

WELL, YES, THERE THERE WERE THINGS WE TALKED ABOUT IN EXECUTIVE SESSION.

YOU COME OUT OF EXECUTIVE SESSION, YOU TALK ABOUT.

I MADE NO ACCUSATION TO DIRECTOR TREVINO.

I THINK HE'S GREAT AT HIS JOB.

I WAS ASKED WHAT JUST HAPPENED, AND I SAID THERE WAS JUST A 40% INCREASE, AND I DON'T KNOW WHY.

THAT'S WHAT I SAMPLED.

AND THEN THERE'S LITIGATION ABOUT IT, GENERAL NORIEGA, AND NOW THERE'S A LAWSUIT AGAINST ONE MEMBER OF COURT, AND NOW THE COUNTY HAS SOME LEGAL LIABILITY AND ATTORNEY'S FEES ASSOCIATED.

SO YES, WE HAVE A POLICY AND IT SHOULD BE RESPECTED AND WE SHOULD HOLD OURSELVES AND EVERYONE ACCOUNTABLE BECAUSE WE ALREADY HAVE THIS POLICY.

WE'RE GOING TO HAVE IT.

LET'S HOLD OURSELVES ACCOUNTABLE.

TOTALLY. AND AS I ONLY DID ONE YEAR OF LAW SCHOOL.

BUT WITH THAT, I CAN TELL YOU ANYONE CAN FILE A LAWSUIT.

[05:20:01]

WE'RE WITH THE WOMEN AGAIN AGAINST THE DIRECTOR.

I DID NOT MENTION HIM BY NAME.

THE PRESS ASKED ME ABOUT IT BECAUSE IT BECAME PUBLIC.

I NEVER MENTIONED HIM BY NAME.

IT WAS OTHERS WHO MENTIONED HIM BY NAME.

AND YOU KNOW, I ALSO HAD A LAWSUIT TRYING TO REMOVE ME FROM OFFICE BECAUSE I WENT ON MENTAL HEALTH LEAVE.

I ALSO HAD A LAWSUIT OVERTURNING THE RESULTS OF THE ELECTION.

I MEAN, I GOT A LOT OF LAWSUITS, AND WE'RE ABOUT TO HAVE TO REIMBURSE ANOTHER LAWSUIT.

THAT'S THAT THAT I'M SURE EVENTUALLY COME TO AN END.

THAT'S THAT'S ALL MADE UP. SO THERE'S.

I MEAN, WHAT ELSE DO YOU GUYS WANT TO TALK ABOUT? I HAVE NEVER, NOR SHOULD ANYONE BRING A DEPARTMENT HEAD TO THE DICE, WHETHER IT'S DIRECTOR ROBINSON OR SOMEBODY ELSE, AND ACCUSE THEM OF THINGS LIKE, YOU DON'T DO ANYTHING FOR THE HISPANIC COMMUNITY.

INTERRUPT THEM.

IT'S HAPPENED WITH MANY OTHER DIRECTORS.

I DON'T WANT TO CALL OUT DIRECTOR MANON, BUT GO BACK AND LOOK AT THAT TAPE.

AND I DIDN'T TALK TO HER, BUT GO BACK AND LOOK AT THAT TAPE.

GO BACK AND LOOK AT HOW HOW BRUCE HOWE WAS TREATED.

JOHN BLUNT AND MANY.

I'M NOT GOING TO NAME ALL THE WOMEN, BUT LET'S JUST SAY YOU AND I, COMMISSIONER BRIONES, WERE IN MY OFFICE.

THAT WHERE YOU CAN SEE THE MURAL OF LADY JUSTICE WITH SEVERAL WOMEN DIRECTORS AND YOU AND ME COMMITTED TO THEM TO FIGHT FOR RESPECT FOR THEM AND THE DISRESPECT THAT I, I DIDN'T MENTION NAMES EARLIER.

I WAS TALKING ABOUT RESPECT.

BUT WE KNOW WHO.

WHO MOSTLY DOES THIS IN COMMISSIONER'S COURT AND BEHIND CLOSED DOORS.

SO IS THERE IS PAY PAY IMPORTANT TO SUCCESSFUL ORGANIZATION? DIRECTOR. ADMINISTRATOR RAMIREZ.

I'M SORRY, WHAT WAS THE LAST PAY IMPORTANT TO A SUCCESSFUL ORGANIZATION? IS PAY IMPORTANT, RIGHT.

SINCE WE DID ALL THIS WORK ON PAY? YES. RIGHT.

SO WHAT ABOUT RESPECT? IS RESPECT IMPORTANT TO A SUCCESSFUL ORGANIZATION? YES. RESPECT AND GOVERNANCE AND A LOT OF OTHER THINGS ARE IMPORTANT.

SO THERE'S A LOT OF THINGS.

IS IT STANDARD FOR PERFORMANCE ISSUES TO BE DISCUSSED IN PRIVATE? YES. IS THERE A REASON THEY'RE THERE? ALSO SOMETIMES WHEN PEOPLE ARE ASKING QUESTIONS, MEMBERS OF THE BOARD ARE ASKING QUESTIONS ABOUT A PROGRAM, RIGHT? WHICH IS TOTALLY APPROPRIATE.

BUT PERFORMANCE ACCUSATIONS, PERSONAL ATTACKS, INTERRUPTIONS.

THAT'S NOT OKAY.

WE CAN CLEARLY SAY, HEY, WHAT'S UP WITH THIS? THAT'S GREAT. BUT IF I BELIEVE THAT A DEPARTMENT HEAD IS IGNORING MY AN ENTIRE POPULATION, I'LL GO TALK TO HIM.

PARTICULARLY WHEN IT'S NOT TRUE, BECAUSE THE NUMBERS BEAR THE EXACT OPPOSITE.

SO IS IT IS THERE A REASON, LEGAL REASON WHY WE CANNOT PASS THIS POLICY? J. NO, MA'AM.

THERE'S NOT. AND IT MIGHT IT EXIST? YEAH I HAVE IS IT WRITTEN SOMEWHERE? I'VE NOT SEEN IT WRITTEN ANYWHERE.

NO I THINK THAT'S, THAT'S A GOOD THAT'S A GOOD POINT.

SO IT IS VERY MUCH BEEN THE TRADITION OF COMMISSIONERS COURT AND AS DIANA SAID, AS THE ADMINISTRATOR SAID MULTIPLE JURISDICTIONS, TOO HAVE PERSONNEL MATTERS DISCUSSED ONLY IN EXECUTIVE SESSION, BUT THAT IS VERY MUCH THE NORM.

THIS IS EFFECTIVELY CODIFYING WHAT THAT WHAT THAT WHAT THE BEST PRACTICES IN OTHER JURISDICTIONS AND WHAT WE WE HAVE TRIED TO PRACTICE HERE IN THE COUNTY. SO LOOK, THE ONLY PEOPLE THAT CAN GET RID OF US AS MUCH AS THE VARIOUS LAWSUITS ARE TRYING TO DO THAT, COMMISSIONER BRIAN, IS ALL THE LAWSUITS THAT HAVE BEEN FILED AGAINST ME, AND THERE'S PROBABLY GOING TO BE MORE.

THEY DON'T EVEN LIKE WHAT MY FIANCE LOOKS LIKE.

I MEAN, THEY ATTACK ME FOR ANYTHING, BUT THERE'S NO LEGAL REPERCUSSION.

NOBODY NONE OF US CAN GET RID OF THE OTHER PERSON OTHER THAN IN THE BALLOT BOX AND, YOU KNOW, DRAWING THE PRECINCT BOUNDARIES.

BUT WHAT WE CAN DO.

TRUE. YEAH. NO, TOTALLY.

BUT WHAT WE CAN DO IS HOLD OURSELVES TO A STANDARD AND SAY THIS COMMISSIONERS COURT IS GOING TO BEHAVE ACCORDING TO A STANDARD SO THAT IF THAT DOESN'T HAPPEN, WE KNOW, HEY, WE ALL ADOPTED A STANDARD, AND THERE IS AT LEAST AN UNDERSTANDING THAT THAT'S NOT OKAY.

AND IT IS MY HOPE THAT THIS WILL MAKE IT TO WHERE THAT KIND OF DISRESPECT DOESN'T HAPPEN ANYMORE.

WHAT DO YOU PROPOSE ARE THE RAMIFICATIONS OF SOMEBODY THEN COMES OUT AND DISRESPECTS ANOTHER MEMBER OF COURT, OR ANOTHER DEPARTMENT HEAD, OR ANOTHER ELECTED OFFICIAL? SO PART OF A POLICY IS WHAT'S THE POLICY? AND THEN WHAT ARE THE RAMIFICATIONS FOR NOT FOLLOWING A POLICY.

SO WE'RE GOING TO CODIFY THE RULES.

WE SHOULD TRULY MAKE IT A ROBUST POLICY.

SO WHAT DO YOU PROPOSE. I DON'T KNOW THAT WE'RE ALLOWED TO.

CAN YOU BE CLEAR ABOUT WHAT YOU RECOMMENDED? CLEARLY YOU HAVE SOMETHING. BASICALLY THE QUESTION WAS IS THIS REQUIRED UNDER TEXAS LAW? NO, THE ANSWER WAS NO.

YEAH. WHAT YOU SAID COUNTY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE MR. ESSER IS THIS WOULD BE A POLICY THAT THE COURT WOULD BE CODIFYING MOST POLICIES, LAY OUT WHAT THE POLICY'S OBJECTIVE ARE, WHAT THE POLICY IS.

AND TO THE EXTENT A POLICY IS NOT COMPLIED WITH, WHAT ARE THE RAMIFICATIONS? SO IF THERE ARE ANY I MEAN, WE CAN'T BE VERY CLEAR AND HOLD OURSELVES ACCOUNTABLE.

[05:25:01]

I CAN'T DO THAT. I CAN'T MAKE A RAMIFICATION.

IF YOU HAVE AN IDEA, COMMISSIONER BRIONES, PLEASE, PLEASE ENLIGHTEN ME.

BUT THE POINT IS TALKING ABOUT EXECUTIVE SESSION.

WHAT DOES THIS HAVE TO DO WITH WHAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT? YOU'RE ASKING WHAT THE RAMIFICATIONS ARE OF WHAT THE EXECUTIVE SESSION FOR PERSONNEL MATTERS TO BE TALKED ABOUT ONLY IN EXECUTIVE SESSION.

AND IF ONE BREACHES THAT POLICY, WHICH IS CODIFIED BY COURT, WHAT ARE THE RAMIFICATIONS? RAMIFICATIONS, RIGHT. WE'RE NOT TALKING ABOUT ELECTIONS.

I UNDERSTAND, AND WHAT I'M SAYING IS THAT I DON'T KNOW THAT THERE ARE RAMIFICATIONS POSSIBLE BECAUSE I CANNOT SAY, LET'S HOLD A VOTE AND HAVE COMMISSIONER ELLIS OUT AND, YOU KNOW, WHOEVER THE OPPONENT WAS BACK IN, OR YOU GUYS CAN HOLD A VOTE AND SAY, TAKE OUT HIDALGO, PUT IN LADY WHO'S WHO SUED ME.

YES, I WOULD LOVE THAT BECAUSE I WANT US TO BE ON THE RECORD, ESPECIALLY EMPLOYEES.

MY FRIENDS IN LABOR, WE TALK A GREAT GAME ABOUT.

WE RESPECT WORKERS.

WE GIVE 40% RAISE TO ONE PERSON ABOUT WE WANT TO GIVE PAY RAISES.

KUMBAYA THE STANDARDS THAT WE FOLLOW.

AND YET WE ARE.

I STILL DON'T UNDERSTAND AND WOULD LIKE A CLEAR SENTENCE AS TO WHY WE CANNOT APPROVE A POLICY THAT SAYS DON'T HIRING PEOPLE IN PUBLIC, WHICH I HAVE NEVER DONE, SAYING, ANSWERING, ANSWERING WHY DID SOMEBODY GET A 40% RAISE IS NOT HARANGUING.

IT'S SAYING, I HAVE NO IDEA.

MY COLLEAGUES DID NOT EXPLAIN IT AND THEY WERE MAKING THINGS UP.

JUDGE, I BELIEVE THERE'S A POINT OF ORDER.

SURE. SO I MAKE A MOTION.

IS THERE A SECOND? MOTION DIES FOR LACK OF A SECOND.

CAN WE MOVE ON? OKAY.

COMMISSIONER ELLIS, YOU DON'T SUPPORT THIS EITHER.

CAN I UNDERSTAND WHY WE DON'T HAVE AN ITEM ON THE AGENDA? I'LL JUST PUT IT BACK NEXT TIME.

BECAUSE I DO BELIEVE WE NEED TO RESPECT EVERYONE.

AND I DON'T KNOW WHAT KIND OF 40% INCREASE ALLIANCE IS GOING ON OVER HERE.

YOU KEEP SAYING THINGS LIKE THAT, BUT YOU'RE THE ONLY ONE THAT'S VIOLATED THE VERY POLICY THAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT.

EXPLAIN. YOU QUIT VIOLATING THE POLICY.

THAT'S JUST THAT'S THE IRONY THAT COMMISSIONER GARCIA SPEAKS TO ROBINSON AND TO ALL THESE WOMEN THAT THAT WAS OKAY.

YOU'RE OKAY WITH THAT, JUDGE? YES, JUDGE. I THINK THIS ITEM IS PASSED.

WE JUST NEED TO WE NEED TO RESPECT PEOPLE.

AND EVEN THOUGH AS STRONGLY AS YOU SAY IT, WHAT YOU'RE SAYING IS ILLOGICAL.

AND SAME WITH THE LADY TO YOUR RIGHT.

OKAY, GO AHEAD, COMMISSIONER.

GO AHEAD. I'M CALLING A POINT OF ORDER.

OKAY. SO DO YOU NEED TO DO SOMETHING? MOVE ON. YES.

THE NEXT ITEM IS 217, THE HEART PROGRAM.

AND I'D LIKE TO WHAT ABOUT 20 AND 21? YEAH. IS IT A GROUP OF THEM TOGETHER? THERE'S 217, 256 AND 264.

IT'S THE NEXT ONE IS ITEM 20 OH OH.

IT'S ITEM 20. YES, COMMISSIONER.

AND THEN 22.

OKAY, THAT WAS COMMISSIONER GARCIA.

AND ITEM 20 IS ON THE SUCCESSION POSITION.

BROUGHT BY MY OFFICE.

SO IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS, HAPPY TO ANSWER.

JUDGE, IF I IF I MIGHT, I THINK YOU DID A GOOD JOB ON THE SUCCESSION ISSUE.

AND DO WE NEED A MOTION ON IT? YES, SIR. IF IF THERE ARE NO QUESTIONS, I THINK WE'RE TRYING TO SOLVE A PROBLEM THAT DOESN'T EXIST.

I MEAN, YOU WE HAD APPRECIATE THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR CALLS ME OFTEN, AND WE HAVE GOOD, CLEAR CONVERSATIONS, AND I JUST DIDN'T AGREE. I THINK WE'RE TRYING TO SOLVE SOMETHING I DON'T.

I DON'T KNOW THAT THE PROBLEM EXISTS THAT WE'RE TRYING TO SOLVE.

SO I WOULD NOT BE SUPPORTIVE.

I MIGHT HAVE ONE QUICK QUESTION AND I'LL MAKE A MOTION TO TO APPROVE IT AS ADOPTED.

TRAVIS COUNTY HAS THIS SYSTEM IN PLACE, I BELIEVE.

YES, SIR. AND I KNOW LOS ANGELES HAS A SIMILAR SYSTEM SO THAT WHEN THERE IS A CHANGE IN THE DEPARTMENT, YOU HAVE SOME CONTINUITY OF LEADERSHIP OF SOMEBODY RETIRES OR WHATEVER.

SO IT IS AT LEAST I KNOW THOSE TWO DO IT.

YES, SIR. OKAY.

AND IT JUST IT MAKES IT EASIER TO BE ABLE TO YOU KNOW, HAVE THAT CONTINUITY AND HAVE THE PERSON WHO'S RETIRING OR LEAVING THE OFFICE BE AVAILABLE TO HELP RECRUIT AND TRAIN THEIR REPLACEMENT.

DOES THIS HAVE A BUDGET IMPACT? IT SHOULDN'T. IT SHOULD BE ONE TIME FUNDING FOR THE FOR THE NEW POSITION.

[05:30:01]

SO IT IS A IT IS.

YES. IT WOULD DEPEND ON THE POSITION.

I MOVE ADOPTION. SECOND QUESTION.

I WOULD SUPPORT THIS ITEM.

HOWEVER, I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THIS DOESN'T NECESSARILY PRECLUDE A SEARCH.

I MEAN. OH, NO NO, NO.

A SEARCH WOULD STILL BE BE PART OF THE OF THE REGULAR RECRUITMENT PROCESS.

WOULD STILL BE PART OF PART OF THE OF OF THE WHOLE SITUATION.

YES. THIS ITEM 22ND JUDGE THIS ITEM 20.

OKAY. SO WE HAVE A MOTION BY COMMISSIONER ELLIS, SECOND BY COMMISSIONER GARCIA.

ALL IN FAVOR? AYE, AYE.

ANY OPPOSED? NO.

I'M IN FAVOR OF MOTION CARRIES 4 TO 1.

NOW, LET'S LOOK AT ITEM 22, COMMISSIONER.

RAMSEY. IT'S ON THE NON-COMPLIANT DEPARTMENTS.

PERHAPS A BUDGET.

WOULD YOU LIKE TO MAKE A PRESENTATION ON THIS BEFORE? NO, THERE'S NO PRESENTATION.

IT'S JUST. IT'S JUST JUST WHAT IT IS.

IT'S FOLLOWING THE POLICY.

YEAH. SO IF I UNDERSTAND OUR BUDGET PROCESS, WE GO IN THE, IN THE UNDER THE SPIRIT OF CONTINUING LEVEL OF SERVICE CLS, WE'VE GONE THROUGH AND WE'VE INCREASED THE BUDGET IN EVERY DEPARTMENT BY PERCENT, WHATEVER WAS PRESENTED AT COURT. YEAH.

SO I THINK IT IS NOW WE'RE ASKING EVERY DEPARTMENT AFTER WE INCREASE IT 4%, WE'RE ASKING THEM TO CUT 5%.

I THINK THAT'S INTERESTING.

I'VE JUST NEVER SEEN THAT BEFORE.

FIRST, YOU GIVE A DEPARTMENT WHERE YOU'RE GOING TO INCREASE YOUR BUDGET 4% TO MAINTAIN CURRENT LEVEL OF SERVICE BASED ON NOTHING.

SO THAT'S JUST ONE OF THOSE I KNOW WE'LL SAY 4%.

THEN YOU SAY WE'RE GOING TO CUT IT 5% AGAIN BASED ON NOTHING.

I WOULD BE IN FAVOR OF A MORE SURGICAL.

SOME SOME DEPARTMENTS MAY NEED TO BE CUT 20%.

OTHERS MAY NEED A 15% INCREASE.

SO I THINK IT'S RATHER MINDLESS TO GO DOWN THIS ROAD.

AND SO FOR THOSE REASONS WHEN YOU'RE ENFORCING CONSTABLE PRECINCT SIX.

HARRIS COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE, PROBATE COURT, DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S OFFICE.

THIS IS INTERESTING.

IT'S 6 MILLION.

THAT'S THE MOST SIGNIFICANT IMPACT.

UNIVERSAL SERVICES FOR 40 444,000.

AND THE COUNTY CLERK'S AND YOUR YOUR MEASURE STANDARD IS SO ARBITRARILY SET, I DON'T EVEN UNDERSTAND THAT I WILL NOT SUPPORT THIS BECAUSE IT'S NOT BASED ON DATA, IT'S NOT BASED ON FACTS.

IT'S NOT EVEN BASED ON COMMON SENSE.

JUDGE. YES.

JUST A QUICK COMMISSIONER ELLIS.

YEAH, I KNOW I SPOKE TO DIRECTOR RAMOS ABOUT THIS ABOUT 5 OR 6 DAYS AGO ON.

AND JUST JUST WALK US THROUGH WHY WE'RE DOING THIS.

AGAIN. I'M ASSUMING IT'S BECAUSE WE KNOW WE HAVE TO MAKE UP THIS 130 MILLION.

SO REQUEST WENT OUT TO ALL DEPARTMENTS.

WILL YOU USE YOUR BEST EFFORTS? WILL YOU COME UP WITH WHAT YOU THINK OUGHT TO BE CUT? BECAUSE WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO CUT SOMETHING.

AND THIS WAS, I THINK, AN ENFORCEMENT MECHANISM.

SO IF THEY DIDN'T DO IT, YOU HAVE TO DO SOMETHING.

AND WHAT A FEW DEPARTMENTS, MAYBE WHERE THERE'S A CHANGE IN THE ELECTED OFFICIAL, WE HAVE TO MAKE A JUDGMENT CALL.

IF ONE PERSON GOING OUT OF OFFICE DIDN'T DO IT WE COULD, WE WOULD.

I WOULD PROBABLY VOTE TO PUT THE MONEY BACK IN WHEN WE CROSS THAT BRIDGE.

I'VE SEEN SOMETHING SIMILAR TO THIS DONE IN MY YEARS IN STATE GOVERNMENT.

IF GOVERNOR'S OFFICE ASKED DEPARTMENT HEADS TO GO IN AND MAKE A CUT, UNIVERSITIES AND THEY DIDN'T DO IT, THE TRIGGER, THE HAMMER WAS WE'RE GOING TO CUT IT BY THIS AMOUNT. IF YOU THE PERSON OVER THAT DEPARTMENT WON'T COME IN AND TELL US SURGICALLY WHAT YOU THINK CAN BE CUT.

THAT'S MY SENSE OF WHAT HE WAS TELLING ME.

AS I MENTIONED, I WAS OUT OF TOWN WHEN HE TOLD ME HE WAS LATE AT NIGHT WHEN I CHATTED WITH HIM.

BUT IS THAT PRETTY MUCH THE GIST OF THIS? YEAH. THAT'S CORRECT. SO FOR ONE, JUST ONE POINT OF CLARIFICATION.

UNIVERSAL SERVICES WAS TAKEN OFF THE LIST.

SO THERE. AND THE CLERK'S OFFICE WAS TAKEN OFF.

A CLERK'S OFFICE IS STILL ON THE LIST.

BUT THE OTHER THING THAT I WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT WAS ONE, WE GET SERIOUS SUBMISSIONS FOR THE CLS ITEMS, AND WE GET THEY GET EVALUATED BASED ON THE CRITERIA THAT WAS PROPOSED IN THE BUDGET PROPOSAL POLICY.

SO WE HAD A SET OF CRITERIA THAT WE KIND OF VETTED THROUGH COURT AND GOT APPROVED, AND BASED ON THAT CRITERIA, WAS THE REASON FOR WHY WE DID THE CLS APPROVALS FOR THE BUDGET

[05:35:07]

SO WE'RE NOT CUTTING 5% ACROSS THE BOARD, BUT THE REASON FOR THAT WAS BECAUSE OF THE DEFICIT THAT WE DO NEED TO COVER AND FIND Y FIND A WAY TO MAKE A GROUND FOR.

AND HOW MANY DEPARTMENTS DO YOU HAVE? ROUGHLY 80. SO OUT OF THE 80, ONLY ABOUT FOUR DIDN'T DO IT.

I DO WANT TO SAY IN DEFENSE OF THE CLERK, SHE DID HAVE ABOUT 3 OR 4 ELECTIONS TO RUN.

SO I'M SENSITIVE TO THAT.

CORRECT. I THANK MY STAFF, DID TALK TO HER ABOUT IT.

BUT WITH THAT SAID I'LL MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE IT.

I'LL SECOND. MOTION BY COMMISSIONER ELLIS.

SECOND BY COMMISSIONER BRIONES.

ALL IN FAVOR? AYE.

IS THIS TO BE APPROVED AS PRESENTED? YES. YES, MA'AM. CORRECT.

ANY OPPOSED? NO.

I'M IN FAVOR. MOTION CARRIES 4 TO 1.

OKAY. ITEM 23, COMMISSIONER RAMSEY.

THIS IS BOSTON CONSULTING GROUP.

SO WE WE HIRED BOSTON CONSULTING GROUP, AND WE ALL AGREED WITH THE RECOMMENDATIONS THEY MADE FOR MORE REVENUE. AND THAT WAS PRIMARILY THE OBJECTIVE OF BOSTON CONSULTING GROUP.

I WOULDN'T NECESSARILY CALL IT LOW HANGING FRUIT.

I'D CALL IT FRUIT ON THE GROUND.

I MEAN, IT WAS PRETTY PRETTY OBVIOUS AND PRETTY SIMPLE.

PICK IT UP AND PUT IT IN THE BASKET.

I DON'T KNOW WHY WE WOULD NEED TO HIRE A CONSULTANT TO HELP US FIGURE OUT HOW TO ADDRESS SUCH OBVIOUS TRAFFIC FEES, PARKING FEES, THOSE SORTS OF THINGS.

I SEE NO NEED OF IT.

WE'VE ALREADY SPENT 800,000 ON THE STUDY.

I SEE NO NEED TO BRING IN SOMEBODY, PARTICULARLY NOW THAT WE'RE CLEARLY RUNNING SHORT OF MONEY.

WHY IT WOULD MAKE SENSE TO BRING SOMEONE ON BOARD TO HELP WITH THAT.

SO ONE THING I DO WANT TO CLARIFY IS THAT WE'RE NOT ASKING FOR ANY SUPPLEMENTAL FUNDING FOR THIS.

IT'S WITHIN OUR EXISTING BUDGET.

WE JUST WANTED TO BE TRANSPARENT.

AND THE OTHER REASON WE WANT TO BRING IT UP IS BECAUSE TO A LOT OF DISCUSSIONS WE'VE HAD TODAY, YOU KNOW, WE'VE IDENTIFIED A LOT OF AREAS WHERE WE HAVE POTENTIAL SAVINGS BECAUSE IT'S IT'S FRUIT ON THE GROUND AND WE NEED TO BE DILIGENT ABOUT GETTING TO THAT AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE, BECAUSE OUR RUNWAY IS QUITE SHORT.

DEFICIT FACING WE'RE FACING NEXT YEAR.

SO THE POINT OF THIS IS TO MAKE SURE THAT THE IMPLEMENTATION IS QUICK, EFFICIENT, AND IT'S DONE RIGHT.

AND MR. SHAH BCG'S COVERING 50% OF THE COST.

CORRECT. I DON'T KNOW THE EXACT PERCENTAGE, BUT YES, THE COST IS SUBSIDIZED.

IF I, IF I COULD I LOOK, I SUPPORT MR. RAMOS'S WORK.

HE IS HE HAS BEEN PHENOMENAL.

HOWEVER, THIS ITEM IS JUST MY MY CONSTERNATION WITH IT.

IT'S JUST HOW IT'S WRITTEN.

I DON'T LIKE THE IDEA THAT A COMPANY IS SUBSIDIZING US TO HIRE SOMEONE.

IT JUST FEELS BAD.

AND AND SO IS THERE A DIFFERENT WAY TO PRESENT THIS? I MEAN, THEY DEFINITELY DO GET A BENEFIT FROM THIS.

THEY ARE TRAINING UP THEIR STAFF TO BASICALLY COME OUT AND TALK TO GOVERNMENTS AND WORK WITH THEM.

AND HOW BETTER TO DO THAT THAN TO BE EMBEDDED WITHIN THE COUNTY GOVERNMENT FOR AN EXTENDED PERIOD OF TIME, ESPECIALLY WHEN WHICH I DON'T HAVE AN ISSUE WITH.

IT'S JUST HOW THIS IS WRITTEN.

I DON'T LIKE THAT THIS COMPANY IS SUBSIDIZING THIS.

AND WHICH BUT I APPRECIATE THAT.

I'M JUST WONDERING IF THERE'S A DIFFERENT WAY TO PRESENT THIS.

YEAH. FELLOWSHIP.

IT WOULD BE A IF WE CAN REWRITE IT A LITTLE BIT, I'M HAPPY TO SECOND IT.

I'LL MOVE IT WITH THAT FRIENDLY AMENDMENT WITH THAT.

ALL RIGHT. SECOND CHANGE.

SO WHAT WILL IT READ? YOU GUYS NICER? NO, YOU'LL CALL IT, BUT YOU CALL IT A CLERKSHIP.

FELLOWSHIP. FELLOWSHIP. FELLOWSHIP? FELLOWSHIP.

YEAH. WITH BCG, JUST REQUEST, AS WOULD BE STATED, AS ORIGINALLY STATED.

BUT MAYBE WE CHANGE THE END THAT AS PART OF THE FIVE YEAR COUNTY PLAN WITH BCG AS A FELLOWSHIP.

I THINK WITH WITH BCG IT'S FINE WITH BCG OKAY.

BCG SO REQUEST FOR APPROVAL TO HIRE DIRECTOR OF SPECIAL PROJECTS ON A CONTRACT BASIS FROM BOSTON CONSULTING GROUP BCG FOR ONE YEAR TO ASSIST OMB WITH IMPLEMENTING MONITORING PROJECTS THAT ARE PART OF THE FIVE YEAR COUNTY PLAN WITH BCG.

PERIOD. THERE'S A MOTION BY COMMISSIONER ELLIS.

SECOND. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER GARCIA.

ALL IN FAVOR? AYE.

ANY OPPOSED? I'M IN FAVOR OF MOTION CARRIES.

JUST QUICK. QUICK POINT.

MAKE SURE LEGAL YOU VET IT SO WE DON'T HAVE TO PUT ITEM ON THE AGENDA.

SO WE ACCEPTING A GIFT FOR THIS? YES. IT'S NOT. SO JUST TO BE CLEAR, THE WAY IT'S STRUCTURED IS THAT IT'S ESSENTIALLY DISCOUNTING THEIR RATE.

OKAY. SO THIS IS REALLY AN INTERNAL MECHANISM.

SO YEAH I THINK THEY'RE PRESENTING IT AS GIVING US SOMETHING WHEN EFFECTIVELY THEIR HOURLY RATE IS 500.

[05:40:06]

SO THAT'S THAT'S HOW IT SHOULD BE.

THEY'VE BEEN DOING A GOOD JOB.

YEAH. IF WE HAVE IF WE HAVE IT AT 10:00, THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE TO COME IN AND DO AN INTERVENTION ON US.

RIGHT. DO WE NEED TO TAKE THE VOTE AGAIN SINCE I WASN'T ABLE TO CALL IT OR IS IT OKAY.

I'M SORRY JUDGE. WHAT WAS THAT.

SO I WAS SAYING WE VOTED BUT I DIDN'T GET TO FINISH CALLING THE VOTE.

YOU DID NOT. I'M SORRY I APOLOGIZE.

DO IT AGAIN. OKAY. SO MOTION BY COMMISSIONER ELLIS, SECOND BY COMMISSIONER GARCIA.

ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. ANY OPPOSED? NO, I'M IN FAVOR OF MOTION.

CARRIES 4 TO 1.

OKAY. 73, COMMISSIONER GARCIA.

I JUST WANT TO SAY THAT I WANT TO THANK DIRECTOR OR DOCTOR PETERSON FOR HER WORK OVER AT THE HARRIS COUNTY FLOOD CONTROL DISTRICT. AND I'M EXCITED FOR THE FORWARD MOMENTUM OF THE PANTHER CREEK FEASIBILITY STUDY TO SERVE THE RESIDENTS OF GALENA PARK.

THE PURCHASE OF THIS SIX ACRE TRACT WILL PROVIDE 32 ACRE FEET OF STORMWATER STORAGE TO MITIGATE FUTURE FLOODING EVENTS IN THE AREA.

THIS PROJECT WAS INITIATED AS A PART OF THE HARRIS COUNTY FLOOD CONTROL DISTRICT 2018 BOND PROGRAM, LOCATED PRIMARILY IN GALENA PARK.

THE PANTHER CREEK WATERSHED IS JUST NORTH OF BUFFALO BAYOU, JUST EAST OF LOOP 610 EAST, AND IS APPROXIMATELY TWO SQUARE MILES.

THE STUDY HAS EXPERIENCED SIGNIFICANT STRUCTURAL.

THE STUDY AREA HAS EXPERIENCED SIGNIFICANT STRUCTURAL FLOODING IN RECENT YEARS, WITH OVER 190 STRUCTURES BEING FLOODED DURING HURRICANE HARVEY.

THIS LAND ACQUISITION WILL ACCOMMODATE THE CONSTRUCTION OF A DETENTION POND TO REDUCE FLOODING IN THE FUTURE, AND THIS PROJECT IS CURRENTLY IN PRELIMINARY ENGINEERING.

I JUST I WANT TO THANK THE FLOOD CONTROL DISTRICT FOR KEEPING THE GALENA PARK, THE CITY OF GALENA PARK IN THEIR IN THEIR ON THE FRONT BURNER OF THEIR WORK.

I'VE HEARD ALL TOO OFTEN FROM MAYOR MOYA HOW CHALLENGED THE AREA WAS DURING HURRICANE HARVEY.

AND ALL THOSE OF THIS PROJECT IS IS A FEASIBILITY STUDY.

YOU KNOW, YOU DON'T GET ANYWHERE UNLESS YOU STUDY IT FIRST.

AND SO I'M EXCITED TO MOVE ON THIS ITEM AS PRESENTED SECOND.

AND I'M HOPEFUL THAT WE'LL SOON ALSO SEE A JACINTO CITY PROJECT TO HELP MITIGATE THEIR FLOODING CONDITIONS.

THANK YOU. MOTION BY COMMISSIONER GARCIA.

SECOND BY COMMISSIONER RAMSEY.

ALL IN FAVOR? AYE.

AYE. ANY OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY.

NEXT IS 146, COMMISSIONER GARCIA, ON US? YES. I WANT TO THANK DIRECTOR MAIMONA.

FOR HER WORK AND HAVE HER COME AND PROVIDE US A PRESENTATION ON THE UNMANNED AIRCRAFT SYSTEMS. I'VE BEEN WATCHING A LOT OF UFO STUFF, AND SO THIS ALMOST SOUNDS LIKE WE'RE DOING A UFO PROGRAM HERE.

BUT I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR WORK.

I KNOW THAT YOU HAVE STARTED WITH THE WITH THE CIVILIAN AGENCIES OR DEPARTMENTS, IF YOU WILL.

BUT TO HAVE A POLICY AND GUIDANCE FROM YOUR OFFICE IS CRITICAL, AND I'M HOPEFUL THAT WE'LL SOON SEE ONE A UNIVERSAL POLICY FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT, IF THEY CHOOSE TO ADOPT IT, I THINK IT WOULD BE IN THEIR BEST INTEREST.

BUT THANK YOU FOR ALL OF YOUR WORK, DIRECTOR.

AND THE FLOOR IS YOURS.

THANK YOU COMMISSIONER.

GOOD EVENING JUDGE.

GOOD EVENING COMMISSIONERS.

SINDHU MENON, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, UNIVERSAL SERVICES I'M JOINED TODAY BY MR. JEREMY BROWN, WHO WHOSE TEAM HAS LED THE DEVELOPMENT OF THIS POLICY, ALONG WITH THE COMMITTEE THAT INCLUDED MEMBERS FROM COUNTY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE, FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF ENGINEERING, FLOOD CONTROL, DISTRICT FIRE MARSHAL'S OFFICE AND UNIVERSAL SERVICES.

SO ALL THE TEAMS CAME TOGETHER.

THEY ALSO COLLABORATED WITH MULTIPLE DEPARTMENTS, INCLUDING THE AUDITOR'S OFFICE, COMMISSIONERS COURT OFFICES COUNTY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE, COUNTY JUDGES OFFICE, ENGINEERING, FIRE MARSHAL'S OFFICE, FLOOD CONTROL APPRAISAL, DISTRICT RISK MANAGEMENT, LAW ENFORCEMENT, COMMUNITY JUSTICE, COMMUNITY OCA, HOMELAND SECURITY AND EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT, POLLUTION CONTROL, PUBLIC LIBRARY, PUBLIC HEALTH, TAX OFFICE AND TOLL ROAD, ETC..

SO THIS POLICY WAS DEVELOPED AS A GROUP EFFORT AND IT IS EXPECTED TO ADDRESS THE NON-LAW ENFORCEMENT BOTH IN THE EMERGENCY AS WELL AS NON-EMERGENCY SITUATIONS.

WONDERFUL. THANK YOU.

IS THERE ANYTHING THAT WE NEED TO KEEP IN MIND ON THE DEVELOPMENT OF THIS POLICY, THAT YOU FIND ANYTHING THAT WAS OF PARTICULAR INTEREST OR OR CONCERN THIS FROM AN ASSET MANAGEMENT PERSPECTIVE, I THINK THE NEXT STEPS THAT THE COMMITTEE WOULD BE WORKING ON IS DEVELOPING AN

[05:45:08]

SO GETTING A GRIP OF HOW MANY DRONES DO WE OWN, HOW MANY DRONES ARE OWNED BY EACH DEPARTMENT SO THAT THERE COULD BE A INTERDEPARTMENTAL COLLABORATION THAT CAN BE BUILT.

WONDERFUL. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR COLLECTIVE WORK.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU.

ON THIS ITEM AS PRESENTED.

SECOND MOTION.

MOTION BY COMMISSIONER GARCIA.

SECOND BY COMMISSIONER BRIONES.

THAT IS ON 146.

ALL IN FAVOR, SAY AYE. AYE.

ANY OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY.

NEXT IS 160 COMMISSIONER RAMSEY CDBG-DR GRANT.

QUICK COMMENT. I KNOW I VOTED NO ON A COUPLE OF THINGS TODAY RELATED TO STAFFING INCREASES, BUT I'M GOING TO MAKE THE MOTION TO SUPPORT THIS STAFFING INCREASE BECAUSE I THINK COSTAS HAS DONE AN OUTSTANDING JOB.

AMEN. OF MANAGING HER RESPONSIBILITIES.

SHE DIDN'T HAVE TO CUT WHAT SHE HAS CUT, BUT SHE DID CUT.

SHE IS A GREAT EXAMPLE OF THE SURGERY THAT WE MAY NEED, NOT THE GENERIC 5%, BUT MORE THE SURGERY.

SO I THINK WHEN WHEN SOMEONE DOES SOMETHING GREAT, WE OUGHT TO OUGHT TO SAY IT ANYWAY.

I MAKE A MOTION, WE APPROVE AND SO MOVE.

THANK AGAIN. TILE SECOND, A MOTION BY COMMISSIONER RAMSAY ON ONE 60.

SECOND BY COMMISSIONER GARCIA.

ALL IN FAVOR? AYE, AYE.

ANY OPPOSED? IN FAVOR? MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY.

210, COMMISSIONER GARCIA, AND 211 ON THE TCU GRANTS FOR THE ENVIRONMENTAL MITIGATION PROGRAM VOLKSWAGEN.

I AM EXCITED BECAUSE HARRIS COUNTY HAS ALWAYS LED THE WAY IN ENERGY, AND ACTIONS LIKE THIS WILL HELP KEEP US IN THE KEEP US AS THE ENERGY CAPITAL OF THE WORLD. I'M VERY PROUD THAT MY PRECINCT IS THE FIRST IN THE COUNTY TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THIS GRANT OPPORTUNITY, BUT I HOPE WE'RE NOT THE LAST.

THE EV THE EVS EVS RATHER REDUCE EMISSIONS, LOWER NOISE POLLUTION AND PROMOTE ENERGY RESILIENCE.

THE TRANSITION TO EVS IS ALSO A DOLLARS AND CENTS ISSUE.

THEY REQUIRE LESS MAINTENANCE THAN THAN GAS POWERED VEHICLES AND COST LESS TO REPAIR.

THAT SAVINGS WILL GO BACK INTO OPERATIONAL EFFICIENCIES, ENSURING WE'RE GOOD STEWARDS OF TAXPAYERS DOLLARS.

AND I DON'T OFTEN GET TO THANK TC.

BUT I'D LIKE TO DO THAT.

SO THANK YOU TO TC FOR SELECTING PRECINCT TWO FOR THIS GRANT.

AND ALSO, I'D LIKE TO THANK RAY BURNS, OUR DIRECTOR OR PRECINCT TWO DIRECTOR OF FLEET.

AND IT, JOSE JIMENEZ DEPUTY CHIEF OF STAFF FOR SUPPORT SERVICES OVER AT PRECINCT TWO FOR LEADING IN THIS EFFORT AND FOR THEIR HARD WORK IN THE PURSUIT OF THIS GRANT.

SO I'M VERY EXCITED.

SO SOME OF THE NUTS AND BOLTS, IS THAT THE TEXAS OR THE TV EMP GRANT ACCEPTED EIGHT PRECINCT TWO PROPOSALS.

ACCEPTED. YEAH.

ACCEPTED. EIGHT PRECINCT TWO PROPOSALS, INCLUDING FOR FIVE BUSSES, THREE SEMI TRACTORS AND THE ASSOCIATED CHARGING INFRASTRUCTURE.

AND THERE WAS NO REQUIRED MATCH.

THE ELECTRIC BUSSES PRODUCED NO EXHAUST FUMES, WHICH MEANS THEY DON'T EMIT HARMFUL POLLUTANTS SUCH AS NITROGEN OXIDE, PARTICULATE MATTER, CARBON MONOXIDE. THIS LEADS TO IMPROVED AIR QUALITY, REDUCING RESPIRATORY PROBLEMS AND OTHER HEALTH ISSUES ASSOCIATED WITH AIR POLLUTION.

AND WE KNOW THAT WHEN YOU'RE STUCK IN TRAFFIC, YOU SOMETIMES GET THOSE EMISSIONS BACK INTO THE INSIDE OF THE VEHICLE.

SO THIS IS VERY EXCITING FOR OUR SENIORS WHO GENERALLY WILL BE USING THESE VEHICLES.

ELECTRIC VEHICLES ALSO ALSO OFFER A SUSTAINED BENEFIT OF RESILIENCY AS A BYPRODUCT.

THIS REDUCES DOWNTIME AND CONTINUED MAINTENANCE COSTS TO SAVE MONEY FOR CONTINUED OR INCREASED OPERATIONS.

THE TEXAS VOLKSWAGEN ENVIRONMENTAL MITIGATION PROGRAM, THE TEXAS VIMP PROGRAM PROVIDES GRANTS TO REPLACE OR UPGRADE OLDER VEHICLES AND EQUIPMENT WITH LOWER EMISSIONS ALTERNATIVES.

THE VOLKSWAGEN STATE ENVIRONMENTAL MITIGATION TRUST IS IS PART OF A SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT IN THE LITIGATION BETWEEN EPA AND VOLKSWAGEN ALLEGING THAT VOLKSWAGEN VIOLATED PROVISIONS OF THE FEDERAL CLEAR CLEAN AIR ACT WHEN IT MANUFACTURED CARS WITH EMISSION DEFEAT DEVICES.

SO VERY EXCITED.

AND YOU KNOW, WE JUST NEED BUSSES IN GENERAL, BUT EXCITED THAT THESE ARE ELECTRIC BUSSES THAT WE WILL BE RECEIVING.

SO AGAIN JOSE AND RAY, THANK YOU, THANK YOU.

AND RAY, JUST REAL QUICKLY, JUST A BRAG ON MY GUY.

RAY IS AN INTERESTING CHARACTER.

[05:50:01]

BUT THIS GUY ALSO HAS AN INCREDIBLE FAMILY STORY THAT I WOULD LIKE TO SHARE AT SOME LATER POINT.

JUST PULL THIS BOOTSTRAPS UP AND GOT HERE AS QUICKLY AS HE COULD BUT REALLY, REALLY ACCLIMATED TO TO THE, TO THE AREA AND HAS JUST BEEN PHENOMENAL.

HE WAS THE FIRST ONE TO OR RATHER THROUGH HIS WORK WE BECAME THE FIRST TO HAVE A PRECINCT CHARGING STATION.

AND SO, RAY, I JUST THANK YOU SO MUCH.

AND JOSIE, THANK YOU FOR FINDING SUCH GREAT TALENT LIKE RAY.

I MOVE ON TO ITEM AS PRESENTED.

IS THERE A SECOND? NOPE.

OH, NO. RAY BURNS. RAY BURNS MOTION BY COMMISSIONER GARCIA, SECOND BY COMMISSIONER.

IN FAVOR. HI, HI.

HI. ON BOTH ITEMS. YES. ANY OPPOSED TO 210 AND 211? YEAH. THANK YOU. ANY OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY ON 210 AND 211.

214 WILL TAKE 214 WITH 217, 256 AND 264 RELATED FROM FEMA.

AND I'D LIKE TO GIVE ADMINISTRATOR RAMIREZ AN OPPORTUNITY TO UPDATE US FIRST.

THANK YOU, JUDGE AND COMMISSIONERS.

I JUST WANT TO DO A LITTLE BIT OF TABLE SETTING AND GOING BACK TO JUNE 4TH WHEN WE HAD A SIGNIFICANT DISCUSSION ON ON THESE ITEMS. AND ON THE ISSUES WITH THE, THE DHIMMA CONTRACT.

SO AT, AT THAT COURT COMMISSIONERS COURT DIRECTED ME TO HELP SHEPHERD THIS SECOND AMENDMENT THROUGH WITH THE ALL THE PARTICIPATING DEPARTMENTS, WHICH INCLUDES PUBLIC HEALTH SERVICES, THE COUNTY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE, THE PURCHASING OFFICE AND THE AUDITOR'S OFFICE.

AND THREE THINGS THAT THAT THE COURT ASKED US IS, YOU KNOW, THIS A SECOND AMENDMENT, A NEW RFP AND AN OPTION FOR TAKING THIS INTERNAL AND WHAT THE COSTS FOR THAT ARE.

SO THE RF, A DRAFT RFP AND THE OPTION FOR TAKING THIS INTERNAL ARE ON MY DESK.

I'M I'M GOING TO BE REVIEWING THEM AFTER TODAY.

TO LOOK AT IT AND MAKING SURE THAT IT GETS SHARED WITH THE COURT OFFICES THAT EVERYBODY UNDERSTANDS WHAT WE'RE LOOKING AT SO WE CAN GET IT TO THE COURT BY, BY THE TIMELINES THAT THAT YOU STIPULATED ON JUNE 4TH.

THE THIRD ITEM, THE DMA, SECOND AMENDMENT WAS ASKED FOR TO BE BROUGHT BACK ON THIS COURT.

MY TAKEAWAY FROM JUNE 4TH WAS THAT MAJORITY OF THE COURT DID NOT WANT A GAP IN SERVICE FOR THIS PROJECT, AND THAT YOU DIDN'T WANT THE THE SERVICE FORM TO CHANGE TO INCLUDE LAW ENFORCEMENT.

SO THOSE WERE THE CONVERSATIONS THAT I HEARD AND WERE MY TAKEAWAYS, AND THAT WAS WHY WE WERE STRIVING TO GET BACK TODAY WITH A SECOND AMENDMENT FOR THE CONTRACT WITH DEMA.

WHEN I MET WITH THE THE DEPARTMENTS, WHAT I ASKED FOR WAS MAKE SURE THAT IT'S EVERYTHING'S LEGAL.

WE MEET ALL LEGAL REQUIREMENTS, THAT THERE'S NO CHANGE TO THE SCOPE OR BUDGET SO THAT IT STAYS WITHIN THIS CURRENT CONTRACT AND DOESN'T TRIGGER HAVING TO GO OUT FOR A NEW COMPETITIVE BID THAT THE CHANGE TO A FEE FOR SERVICE STRUCTURE MAKES IT VERY CLEAR AND EASY FOR THE AUDITOR TO BE ABLE TO AUDIT THE CLAIMS SO THAT THE INVOICES CAN BE PAID AND THAT IT STILL REMAINS FEASIBLE AND OPERATIONAL FOR PUBLIC HEALTH TO IMPLEMENT.

SO THOSE WERE THE FOUR THINGS THAT THAT I ASKED THE THE DEPARTMENTS.

EVERYBODY SAID, YES, WE'RE THERE.

WE WE REVIEWED THE BACKUP IT GOT SHARED WITH, WITH SOME OF YOUR OFFICES.

NOW, YOU KNOW, I HAVE TO SAY THAT IN CASE THAT THE COMMISSIONER'S COURT DECIDES THAT THEY REALLY DON'T WANT TO DO BUSINESS WITH DIMA ANYMORE, THIS SECOND AMENDMENT, IF YOU CHOOSE NOT NOT TO AUTHORIZE IT, THEN, YOU KNOW, I WOULD RECOMMEND THAT YOU GET LEGAL LEGAL ADVICE FROM THE COUNTY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE ON WHAT OTHER STEPS ARE TO TERMINATE THE CONTRACT.

TOTALLY. SO THAT'S THAT'S AN ON ON YOUR PLATE, UNFORTUNATELY.

BUT THIS IS WHAT WE HAVE FOR A SECOND AMENDMENT, AND WE FEEL THAT IT IT MEETS THOSE REQUIREMENTS.

AND WITH THAT, I'LL TURN IT OVER TO DWIGHT AND JOHN AND MIKE POST AND AND PUBLIC HEALTH COMMISSIONER ELLIS.

WELL, IF THEY WANTED TO SAY SOMETHING FIRST, I CAN WAIT.

IS THAT YOUR PREFERENCE, MR. RAMIREZ? IF I THINK THAT BECAUSE THERE'S SEVERAL ITEMS THAT ARE TOGETHER.

SO IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS ON ANY OF THE ITEMS, THEY'RE THE EXPERTS.

I WAS JUST KIND OF HELPING ADMINISTRATIVELY.

I WANT TO SAY I THINK YOU PUT YOU DID A GREAT JOB.

YOU PUT A LOT OF EFFORT INTO IT.

AND I VISITED WITH ALL OF THEM.

AND AT THE APPROPRIATE TIME, I'D LIKE TO MOVE ITEM 214 AS IT RELATES TO DIMA.

[05:55:01]

AND THEN I WANT TO ALSO MOVE 217, 256 AND 264 AS PRESENTED.

REMIND ME WHAT IS IN ITEM 214.

IS IT THE $860,000 PAYMENT? I BELIEVE 214 AND THEN THE SETTLEMENT ITEM ARE RELATED.

214 WILL BE ALL OF THE AUDITED CLAIMS, RIGHT? YEAH. AND HERE COMES THE AUDITOR.

HE CAN CLARIFY.

WE MAY WANT TO SEPARATE THE ITEM.

YES, SIR. YES I'LL TRY TO DO THAT.

I FIRST WANT TO APOLOGIZE FOR SOME CONFUSION.

MY INTENT WAS 217.

THAT'S THE ITEM FOR YOU TO DECIDE WHETHER TO APPROVE THE $860,000.

NOW THAT IS WRITTEN THAT IT'S SUBJECT TO OR CONTINGENT UPON YOU APPROVING. 256 SO THIS THIS ITEM, 256 WAS PUT TOGETHER BY THE COUNTY ATTORNEY, THE PURCHASING AGENT, DIANE'S PEOPLE, THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT, MY PEOPLE, BECAUSE THE $860,000 THAT WE SHORT PAID, WE DIDN'T PAY.

DIMA, THAT NEEDS SOMETHING FOR THE AUDITOR TO COMPARE IT AGAINST TO PAY IT AND THE THE AMENDMENT THE SECOND AMENDMENT TO THE CONTRACT THAT DIANA WAS TALKING ABOUT THAT SETS THIS UP UNDER THIS NEW PAYMENT PROVISION TO GO FORWARD WITH FUTURE INVOICES. SO IT'S A LITTLE BIT COMPLICATED.

SO IF WE CAN APPROVE 217 AND THE SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT, THAT IS 256, THEN THOSE TWO TOGETHER WILL ALLOW US TO PAY DIMA THE $860,000 THAT WE'VE BEEN HOLDING BACK.

IF YOU APPROVE THE 264 ITEM YOU'RE REALLY SAYING WE'RE ENTERING INTO AN AMENDED AGREEMENT WITH DIMA GOING FORWARD, AND THEY'RE GOING TO BILL US DIFFERENTLY THAN THEY BILLED US IN THE PAST, AND THAT WILL BE EASIER FOR US ALL GOING FORWARD.

SO THAT'S KIND OF HOW THEY BREAK OUT.

SO I SUPPOSE WHAT I'M SORRY, WHAT I WAS TRYING TO OH, I SAW COMMISSIONER BROWN'S HAND AS WELL.

AND COMMISSIONER ELLIS. OKAY, I WAS, I WAS TRYING TO MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE ALL THREE.

IS THAT A PROBLEM? NO.

AND THEN I DIDN'T DO 214 IN ITS ENTIRETY, BECAUSE I'M ASSUMING IT'S ALL OF THE AUDITED CLAIMS IT IS.

AND SO I'M ASSUMING COMMISSIONER RAMSEY WILL WANT TO VOTE AGAINST THIS ONE.

RIGHT. SO THAT'S WHY I WAS I WOULD LIKE TO VOTE ON THESE SEPARATELY OKAY.

ALL RIGHT I THINK THERE'S ISSUES IN ALL THREE OF THEM.

OKAY. SO MOVE TO SEPARATE THE ITEM FROM ALL THE OTHER AUDITED CLAIMS. SO I'LL SECOND IT.

SO WE VOTE ON THE FIRST ONE 214 FIRST.

SO HE'S MOVING TO SEPARATE THE DEMON.

SO JUST SO HERE'S A MOTION FOR THE DEMON ITEM UNDER ITEM 214.

MOTION MADE BY COMMISSIONER GARCIA, SECOND BY COMMISSIONER ELLIS.

SEPARATE IT TO SEPARATE THE VOTE ON ALL THE AUDITED CLAIMS EXCEPT EDEMA EXCEPT EDEMA.

A MOTION ON ALL THE AUDITED CLAIMS EXCEPT EDEMA MADE BY ON ITEM 214.

MOTION MADE BY COMMISSIONER GARCIA.

SECOND BY COMMISSIONER ELLIS. ALL IN FAVOR? AYE, AYE. ANY OPPOSED? I'M IN FAVOR OF MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY.

AND NOW, IF I'M. IF I MIGHT, I'LL MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE EDEMA.

OF COURSE. I HAVE SOME A COUPLE QUICK QUESTIONS.

AFTER. AFTER. COMMISSIONER.

MIKE. YOU SAID WE WE'RE WE'RE WITHHOLDING THE 860,000 BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE SOMETHING TO COMPARE AGAINST, RIGHT? MY UNDERSTANDING AFTER READING YOUR AUDIT IS THAT WE AUTHORIZE WORK WITHOUT A PURCHASE ORDER.

IS THAT ACCURATE? THEY STARTED WORK BEFORE THEY HAD A PURCHASE ORDER, WHICH WAS CONTRARY TO WHAT THE CONTRACT SAID THEY SHOULD DO.

THAT IS TRUE.

THEY LATER GOT THE PURCHASE ORDER TO COVER THE WORK THAT THEY HAD DONE, BUT THEY STARTED WORK WITHOUT THE PURCHASE ORDER.

AND SO THE AMENDMENT THAT WOULD BE VOTED ON LATER IS TO MAKE THIS LEGAL, TO BE PAID.

WELL, WE PAID THOSE PAYMENTS ALREADY.

THOSE PAYMENTS WE MADE WHEN THE PURCHASING AGENT ISSUED A PURCHASE ORDER FOR AN

[06:00:06]

NOW, DWIGHT MIGHT WANT TO TALK ON THAT A LITTLE BIT BECAUSE THAT HAPPENS ONCE IN A WHILE.

AND WE HAVE ALWAYS IN THE AUDITOR'S OFFICE.

IF THE PURCHASING AGENT DOES EVENTUALLY ISSUE A PURCHASE ORDER THAT COVERS THE SERVICES, THEN WE WILL AT THAT TIME PAY FOR THOSE SERVICES.

BUT BUT MY QUESTION IS THE AMENDMENT IS TO MAKE IT LEGAL TO PAY THE THE 860,000.

IF WE DON'T AMEND IT, WE CANNOT LEGALLY PAY IT.

THAT'S WHERE IT GETS REALLY CONFUSING, BECAUSE ONE ITEM IS CALLED A SUPPLEMENT.

AND THAT ITEM IS TO MAKE SETTLEMENT.

COMMISSIONER, IF I MAY, COMMISSIONER.

SO THERE'S TWO DIFFERENT THINGS.

THE PURCHASE ORDER ISSUE AND THE AUDIT REPORT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH THE 860,000.

THE 860,000 IS ACCOUNTS FOR WORK THAT WAS DONE BY DEMA.

BUT WHEN THE CONTRACT HADN'T BEEN EXPANDED YET TO ACCOUNT FOR THE EXPANSION OF THE PROGRAM.

AND SO THERE WHAT WE HAVE IS A SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT AND ESSENTIALLY WHAT THAT DOES.

AND IT'S PRETTY COMMON.

AND WE HAVE THESE ON COURT FAIRLY, FAIRLY REGULARLY IS WE'RE COMPENSATING A SERVICE OR A SERVICE PROVIDER FOR SERVICES RENDERED.

EVEN IF THE CONTRACT WASN'T COMPLETELY CLEAR ON WHETHER THOSE SERVICES WERE COVERED BY THE CONTRACT.

AND YOU DO THAT ESSENTIALLY TO AVOID LITIGATION BECAUSE YOU HAVE RECEIVED SOMETHING OF VALUE.

SO THAT'S WHAT THE SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT IS.

THE PURCHASE ORDER ISSUE, AS MR. POST EXPLAINED, HAS TO DO WITH INVOICES THAT HAVE ALREADY BEEN PAID.

SO AND THEN THE AMENDMENT HAS TO DO WITH WORK GOING FORWARD.

SO THERE'S THERE'S THREE DIFFERENT THINGS.

SO I JUST I1I CAN'T VOTE FOR WORK DONE WITHOUT A CONTRACT.

I HAVE YOU KNOW, I REMEMBER YOU, MR. POST, COMING TO ME WHEN I WAS SHERIFF ALONG WITH THE COUNTY ATTORNEY THREATENING TO REMOVE ME FROM OFFICE BECAUSE WE HAD DONE WORK WITHOUT PURCHASE ORDERS.

AND I REMEMBER THAT, TOO.

SO I DON'T REMEMBER IT, BUT I BELIEVE YOU.

I AND SO SO IF WE'RE DOING SOMETHING TO MAKE AN ITEM LEGAL TO BE DONE, THEN THAT TELLS ME THAT SOMETHING IMPROPER TOOK PLACE, AND I.

AND I JUST CAN'T VOTE FOR THAT COMMISSIONER.

I DO WANT TO SAY IT'S PRETTY COMMON.

I MIGHT JUST ASK THEM, HOW COMMON IS IT, MR. POMBO, FOR THAT TO HAPPEN? I ASSUME IT'S FAIRLY COMMON.

I JUST WANT TO CLARIFY THE AMENDMENT AND THE SETTLEMENT HAVE NOTHING TO DO WITH MAKING THE PURCHASE ORDER ISSUE LEGAL.

THOSE ARE TWO SEPARATE THINGS.

NOW, OF COURSE, YOU CAN DEFINITELY VOTE AGAINST THE SETTLEMENT OR THE NEW CONTRACT, BUT THEY'RE NOT RELATED.

BUT JUST A QUESTION.

JUST ON THIS ONE POINT, IS IT FAIRLY COMMON WHERE VENDORS START WORK BEFORE A PURCHASE ORDER IS ISSUED? AND IS THAT WHY WE HAVE SETTLEMENT AGREEMENTS ON THE COURT AGENDAS ON A REGULAR BASIS? I WOULD SAY IT'S FAIRLY COMMON.

YEAH. OKAY.

COMMISSIONER BRIONES AND THEN COMMISSIONER ELLIS AND THEN COMMISSIONER RAMSEY.

SO SEVERAL THINGS.

FIRST, COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR RAMIREZ, THANK YOU FOR QUARTERBACKING THE SEVEN POINT SAVE AND STRENGTHEN HEART PLAN THAT WE PASSED.

I APPRECIATE EVERYTHING YOU DO.

SECOND OF ALL, I APPRECIATE THE TEAMWORK THAT I HAVE SEEN BETWEEN THE PURCHASING OFFICE, THE COUNTY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE AND THE AUDITOR'S OFFICE AND THE PUBLIC HEALTH DEPARTMENT AND THE OCA.

SO, AUDITOR POST, THANK YOU FOR ALL THE TIME YOU AND YOUR TEAM AND I SEE TWO OF YOUR AMAZING TEAM MEMBERS BACK THERE.

I WANT TO CONFIRM, BASED ON THE DIFFERENT AUDITS THAT YOU HAD STARTED AND HAVE COMPLETED, IS IT YOUR RECOMMENDATION THAT THESE ITEMS BE MOVED FORWARD? THE PAYMENTS MOST SPECIFICALLY? IT IS MY RECOMMENDATION THAT WE GO FORWARD WITH THE PAYMENT OF THE 860,000.

I DON'T SEE ANYTHING IN MY JUDGMENT THAT WOULD PREVENT ME FROM THINKING THAT OUGHT TO GET PAID.

AND WE DID, AS YOU MENTIONED, DO SOME AUDITS, AND ONE OF THEM WAS BASED ON SOME FRAUD ALLEGATIONS.

AND WE FOUND SOME LACK OF DOCUMENTATION.

I UNDERSTAND, YOU KNOW, THAT'S CONCERNING.

WE ALSO DID AN AUDIT, WHICH I CALL A CONTRACT REVIEW AUDIT.

AND WE HAD FIVE OBSERVATIONS IN THAT AUDIT.

BUT I FEEL LIKE ALL OF THOSE ARE BEING OR HAVE BEEN ADDRESSED BY DEMA AND OR THE HEALTH HEALTH DEPARTMENT.

[06:05:02]

I MEAN, I LOOK AT IT LIKE THIS, THIS 860,000, EVERY INDICATION FROM THE HEALTH OFFICE, HEALTH DEPARTMENT IS THEY GOT THOSE SERVICES.

ALL OF THESE SERVICES ARE ARE COME ARE UNDER DWIGHT'S PURCHASE ORDER.

SO THEY'RE INCLUDED IN IN, IN IN THAT AND WE FINALLY HAVE SOMETHING TO MATCH THEM AGAINST THIS SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT, WHICH IS ON COURT FOR YOUR APPROVAL TODAY.

SO I RECOMMEND THAT WE PAY THE 860,000.

NOW, YOU'VE GOT ANOTHER ITEM ON THERE THAT DIANA TALKED TO YOU ABOUT.

THAT IS AN AMENDMENT GOING FORWARD IF YOU WANT TO GO FORWARD WITH DIMA.

THIS AMENDMENT SETS US UP SO THAT WE HAVE AN AGREEMENT WITH THEM ON HOW WE'RE GOING TO GET, BUILD AND PAY.

SO THAT'S A DECISION POINT.

BUT I, I WOULD THINK YOU ARE GOING TO PAY THE 860,000.

SO YOU ARE COMFORTABLE NOT TO RECOMMENDATION.

YES. AND THEN FROM A LEGAL PERSPECTIVE, THANK YOU SO MUCH AUDITOR POST FOR ANSWERING ALL OF OUR QUESTIONS.

AND I ESPECIALLY WANT TO THANK TREVOR NOLLEY FROM OUR PRECINCT FOUR TEAM.

YOU EMBODY THE HEART, HUSTLE AND HIGHER STANDARDS.

SO THANK YOU, TREVOR.

NOW THIS IS MORE ON THE LEGAL SIDE.

SO JOHN MR. FOMBONNE, FROM A LEGAL PERSPECTIVE, THIS SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT MEETS THE AMENDMENT.

IS THAT YOUR RECOMMENDATION THAT BASED ON ALL OF YOUR DUE DILIGENCE AND COLLABORATION WITH THE OTHER COUNTY DEPARTMENTS, THAT THE COURT MOVED FORWARD WITH THIS? I MEAN, IT'S OUR POSITION THAT THIS SETTLEMENT PLUS THE NEW CONTRACT WOULD COVER THE COURT.

IN TERMS OF TAKING LEGAL ACTION TO PAY THIS AND FUTURE INVOICES.

AND TO BE CLEAR, AND FOR EVERYONE LISTENING TO LEVEL SET, THE JANUARY 2025 TERMINATION DATE OF THE MASTER AGREEMENT STILL HOLDS CORRECT.

I DID LOOK AT THE AMENDMENTS.

THERE'S A NEW TERMINATION DATE.

I ALSO WANT TO POINT OUT TO THE COURT THAT THIS CONTRACT, JUST LIKE ALL OF OUR CONTRACTS, HAS A TERMINATION FOR CONVENIENCE PROVISION.

THIS COURT CAN TERMINATE THIS CONTRACT WITH 30 DAYS NOTICE AT ANY TIME, AS WELL AS A TERMINATION FOR CAUSE PROVISION WHERE THE COURT CAN GIVE DEMA AN OPPORTUNITY TO CURE.

AND THEN IF THEY DO NOT CURE ANY ISSUES, THEY CAN TERMINATE THE CONTRACT.

OKAY. SO AS WE DISCUSSED, I KNOW AT LENGTH LAST TIME, I LOVE HEART, NO PUN INTENDED.

I WANT TO SAVE AND STRENGTHEN IT.

AND SO I'M SO ENERGIZED THAT WE'RE WORKING ON HOW TO BRING IT IN HOUSE.

AND THEN ON PARALLEL TRACKS JULY 15TH, A NEW RFP FOR POTENTIALLY A FUTURE VENDOR SO THAT WE HAVE A PLAN A AND PLAN B IN PLAY, KNOWING THAT THERE'S THE JANUARY 2025 EXPIRATION.

SO THANK YOU AGAIN FOR QUARTERBACKING ALL THAT.

AND SO THIS WOULD BE AN INTERIM SOLUTION SO THAT THE WORK CAN CONTINUE.

IS THE EXECUTIVE SUMMARY OF THESE ITEMS CORRECT? CORRECT. YES.

OKAY. THANK YOU.

I HAVE COMMISSIONER ELLISON AND COMMISSIONER RAMSEY, BUT SO I JUST WANT TO STRESS THAT THIS HEART PROGRAM WAS ONE OF THE HALLMARK INITIATIVES THAT WE PASSED AFTER GEORGE FLOYD'S FUNERAL, WE MADE A COMMITMENT TO PUT A PROGRAM IN PLACE.

THIS WAS ONE OF THEM.

BY ALL MEASURES THAT I'VE SEEN, IT IS WORKING.

IT WAS DONE ON A SHORT FUZE WITH A RELATIVELY SMALL BUDGET.

AND I THINK THAT THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT AND ALL OF THE PLAYERS INVOLVED HAVE DONE A GOOD JOB.

I APPRECIATE THE WORK OF COMMISSIONER BRIONES AND HER STAFF, MY STAFF WHO SHEPHERDED THIS THROUGH THE PROCESS.

ADMINISTRATOR RAMIREZ, SHE DID A GOOD JOB UNDER CHALLENGING CIRCUMSTANCES.

I'M HOPING WE CAN MOVE FORWARD WITH IT.

I LIKE THE IDEA OF HAVING AN IN-HOUSE PROGRAM.

I KNOW THERE ARE CHALLENGES WITH THAT, BECAUSE THERE ARE CERTAIN THINGS UNDER STATE LAW THAT CREATE PROBLEMS FOR US TO DO THAT.

SO WE HAVE TO LOOK AT SOME AGREEMENTS WITH PROBABLY OTHER GOVERNMENTAL ENTITIES WHO MAY NOT BE AS INTERESTED IN HEART AS WE ARE.

HOPEFULLY THAT WILL CHANGE IF THERE ARE PROBLEMS THAT THE COURT HAS WITH THIS VENDOR, I HOPE THEY CAN FIND ANOTHER VENDOR.

BUT I JUST WANT TO STRESS AGAIN I APPRECIATE COMMISSIONER GARCIA.

I HATE YOU HAVE TO GO THROUGH THAT WHEN THEY CAME TO YOUR OFFICE.

BUT I JUST WANT TO STRESS, WE'VE BEEN VOTING ON THEM HERE FOR.

WELL, YEAH, BUT BUT WE HAVE BEEN VOTING ON THEM ON THOSE VERY SAME ARRANGEMENTS HERE WHERE CONTRACTORS STARTED SOMETHING BEFORE EVERYTHING

[06:10:03]

AND SO WE OUGHT TO MAKE SURE WE MAKE NOTE OF THAT IN THE FUTURE.

THAT'S JUST HOW IT OPERATES.

WAS IT A PERFECTLY DRAWN CONTRACT? PROBABLY NOT.

OR MANY OF THEM WENT TO COUNTY.

PERFECTLY DRAWN? PROBABLY NOT.

BUT ON THE WHOLE THIS PROGRAM HAS BEEN A TREMENDOUS SUCCESS.

I HOPE IT TO END IT TODAY.

IF WE DON'T HAVE THE SUPPORT OF EVERYBODY ON THE COURT, THAT THE FOLKS WHO ARE RUNNING THE PROGRAM WOULD DO AS MUCH AS THEY CAN TO EARN THAT SUPPORT, BECAUSE IT REALLY DOES A LOT TO REDUCE INEXCUSABLE RACIAL DISPARITIES IN OUR CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM.

SO AT THE APPROPRIATE TIME, I'D JUST LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION FOR 217, 256 AND 264.

COMMISSIONER RAMSEY FOLLOWED BY COMMISSIONER GARCIA.

YEAH. I WANT TO TAKE A BIT OF A SUMMARY ON WHERE WE'VE BEEN AND WHERE WE'RE GOING.

APPRECIATE YOU ALL REPOST.

AND AND YOUR EFFORTS ARE THESE NINE INVOICES THAT HAD POSITION TITLES AND RIGHTS THAT WERE NOT SUPPORTED BY THE ORIGINAL CONTRACT OR THE FIRST AMENDMENT IDENTIFIED BY YOU? IS THAT WHAT WE'RE PAYING WITH 217, WHICH IS MY ITEM? YEAH. TWO 217 AND 256, WHICH I SAY MY ITEM IS CONTINGENT UPON THAT ITEM WITH THOSE TWO ITEMS. THAT'S WHAT WE'RE PAYING.

SO THERE'S ANOTHER CONVERSATION ON SELECTION AND HOW THEY WERE SELECTED.

WHO WAS NUMBER TWO IN TERMS OF THE SELECTION? THAT I THINK IT'S WORTH THAT CONVERSATION.

I WOULD ENCOURAGE COURT MEMBERS TO LOOK AT THAT IN TERMS OF OF WHO WAS NUMBER TWO.

ON ON THIS ONE.

AND IT'S WORTHY OF A PARTICULARLY WHEN YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT A CONTINUING PROGRAM.

AND MY COMMENTS REALLY MY QUESTIONS REALLY HAVE MORE TO DO.

NOT WITH HEART BUT WITH DIMA.

AND WHEN I LOOK AT THE CONTRACT AND AGAIN, STARTING IT WITHOUT A PO AS A CONSULTANT, HAVING DONE THAT FOR 42 YEARS, THAT'S KIND OF THE YOU NEVER DO THAT.

AND IN MY COMPANY, IF YOU EVER DID THAT, YOU WEREN'T THERE ANYMORE BECAUSE WE WERE IN A POSITION AND I GOT NOT GET PAID.

SO THAT'S PRETTY SERIOUS WHEN I LOOK AT THE CONTRACT WORK STARTING MARCH 21ST.

BUT DIMA WASN'T INCORPORATED IN TEXAS TILL MARCH 22ND.

THIS IT JUST ODD.

JUST IT'S IT'S NOT JUST ANY ONE THING.

IT'S A BUNCH OF THINGS.

THAT TEXAS ADDRESS, AS AS WAS COMMUNICATED PREVIOUSLY, IS A HEALTH SMART POD AND INCORPORATION.

AND NO ONE HAS A PROBLEM WITH THAT.

I THINK THAT'S INTERESTING.

THE SCOPE OF THE CONTRACT IN TERMS OF OF WHAT WAS DONE, THIS GETS INTO THE QUALITY OF THE WORK DELIVERED.

I GAVE YOU THE DATA LAST TIME.

I'LL READ IT AGAIN.

WHAT'S IN THE AMENDMENT IN MY PACKET IS FOR 2021, 2022 ASSUMED INFORMATION. WE'VE GOT REAL INFORMATION HERE IN 2023.

I DON'T KNOW WHY THAT WASN'T REFERENCED.

LET ME GIVE YOU THE 23 DATA.

SO THERE WERE 5863 CALLS RESPONDED TO UNDER THE DHIMMA CONTRACT THAT YOU ARE ABOUT TO PAY, 2048 WERE WELFARE CHECKS.

I'M JUST TRYING TO UNDERSTAND, IS THAT WHAT EVERYBODY EXPECTED? AND SOME OF US ON COURT HAVE DONE SOME ASKING FOR DATA.

AND I'M TELLING YOU THAT DATA CHANGES EVERY DAY.

THAT'S JUST ODD HOW THE DATA CHANGES.

MEET THE CITIZEN 1623.

SUSPICIOUS PERSON 509.

DISTURBANCE FAMILY AND OTHER 134.

UNKNOWN MEDICAL EMERGENCY 112.

BUT HERE'S WHAT I HIGHLIGHTED IN THE LAST COURT.

MENTAL HEALTH 287.

THAT'S LESS THAN 5% OF THE TOTAL COST.

SO WHEN PEOPLE CAME AND SPOKE AT THE LAST COMMISSIONERS COURT THEY WERE MOST CONCERNED ABOUT IS I THINK THAT'S THE THAT WAS THE FOCUS OF THE CENTER OF THE PRIORITY OF THE PROGRAM HAD TO DO WITH MENTAL HEALTH.

WELL, LESS THAN 5% OF THOSE CALLS DEALT WITH THAT.

I WENT BACK AND CHECKED THE WEBSITE TODAY.

THAT DATA HAS BEEN TAKEN DOWN.

I FIND THAT ODD.

YOU WON'T FIND 287 ON THE WEBSITE THAT.

[06:15:01]

I'M JUST READING THE INFORMATION YOU HAVE HERE.

I THINK THERE'S ENOUGH INFORMATION HERE TO CAUSE US TO BE CONCERNED ABOUT PAYING THIS INVOICE ONE AND MOVING FORWARD WITH DIMA FOR ANOTHER SIX MONTHS OR SEVEN MONTHS.

I THINK THIS DOESN'T CLEARLY MEET THE TEST IN TERMS OF BASIC INFORMATION, SCOPE OF SERVICES.

DID YOU SATISFY THE CONTRACT? I KNOW YOU'RE LOOKING AT AT JUST WAS A CONTRACT THIS WAY.

AND AND I'M SORRY.

I'M GOING TO HAVE TO CALL THE SETTLEMENT A SETTLEMENT SCHEME.

THAT'LL BE MY WORD.

AND THAT'S MY INTERPRETATION OF TRYING TO MAKE RIGHT SOMETHING THAT AIN'T RIGHT.

SO I WILL NOT BE SUPPORTING ANY OF THIS.

I HAVEN'T VOTED FOR DOMA FROM DAY ONE.

I WILL NOT BE VOTING FOR ANY OF THIS.

THAT DOESN'T HAVE ANYTHING TO DO WITH HEART.

THAT'S A WHOLE NOTHER ISSUE.

BUT IF DIEM IS INVOLVED, I'M NOT SUPPORTING IT.

YES. MR. POST THE THE THINGS THAT I FOUND IN YOUR AUDIT WERE THAT WELL, COMMISSIONER RAMSEY POINTED OUT THAT THEIR ADDRESS WAS MY HEALTH CARE PIE IN THE PARKING LOT.

THEIR TEXAS ADDRESS.

AND THAT THEY WERE NOT REGISTERED WITH THE STATE OF TEXAS TO DO BUSINESS, NOR DID THEY HAVE INSURANCE WHEN THEY STARTED THEIR WORK.

IS THAT ACCURATE IN YOUR REPORT? YES OR NO? IT GETS A LITTLE BIT COMPLICATED.

YES. WHEN DIMA STARTED.

AND DWIGHT MIGHT KNOW THIS BETTER THAN I DO, THEY.

WE FIRST CONTRACTED WITH THEM.

THEY WERE SO PROPRIETOR.

AND THERE WAS AN EXEMPTION, I BELIEVE, TO REGISTERING.

THEY CHANGED THE FORM FROM A SOLE PROPRIETOR TO AN LLC.

I KNOW THIS, THEY ARE CURRENTLY REGISTERED TO DO BUSINESS IN TEXAS.

THAT INSURANCE COVERAGE.

DWIGHT, I THINK YOU'RE WORKING WITH THEM TO GET ALL THE PIECES TOGETHER, AND YOU MAY KNOW A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT THE BACKGROUND THAN I DO, BUT I THINK YOU MENTIONED TO ME AND SOME OF MY PEOPLE THAT THERE WAS SOME CONFUSION BECAUSE IT WAS WRITTEN ONE WAY IN THE REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL AND A DIFFERENT WAY IN THE CONTRACT.

BUT THEY ARE.

AND I SAW AN EMAIL JUST A LITTLE WHILE AGO.

IT LOOKS LIKE THEY ARE GETTING THE INSURANCE REQUIRED TO WIPE.

PLEASE COMMENT.

COMMISSIONER. YES, THE INSURANCE THAT YOU'RE REFERRING TO IN THE ORIGINAL AUDIT IN 22, THEY THEY WERE STILL OBTAINING THEIR AUTOMOBILE INSURANCE WHEN THEY WERE OBTAINING ALL THEIR VEHICLES FOR THE PROGRAM.

BUT THEY DID HAVE GENERAL LIABILITY AND WORKERS COMPENSATION.

THE ERRORS AND OMISSIONS IN UMBRELLA COVERAGE WAS NOT IN THERE.

BECAUSE MY I DON'T THINK THAT WAS A REQUIREMENT OF THE CONTRACT, EVEN THOUGH IT WAS WRITTEN IN THE AGREEMENT.

THERE WAS SOME TRANSITIONING BETWEEN OUR OFFICE AND THE COUNTY ATTORNEY ON STANDARD LANGUAGE THAT WENT TO THE AGREEMENT.

BUT AS FAR AS THE INSURANCE, THEY HAVE AN UP TO DATE WITH THEIR INSURANCE.

THE AND WE HAVE IT ALL UP TO CURRENT TO DATE.

AS FAR AS THE SOLE PROPRIETORSHIP, YOU ARE CORRECT.

THERE WERE SOLE PROPRIETORSHIP AND THEY WERE EXEMPT BASED ON THE FACT THAT THEY WERE LISTED AS A SOLE PROPRIETOR.

AND THEY DID FILE FOR AN LLC IN MARCH.

AND WE HAVE THE DOCUMENTATION SHOW THAT THEY'RE NOT REQUIRED TO BE REGISTERED AND DO BUSINESS IN TEXAS IF THEY'RE A SOLE PROPRIETORSHIP.

SO BUT THEY DID START THE WORK WITHOUT THESE THINGS IN PLACE.

THEY DID START TO WORK WITHOUT THE AUTOMOBILE AT THAT POINT, BECAUSE THERE WAS A CONSIDERATION ABOUT USING COUNTY VEHICLES FOR AUTOMOTIVE, FOR FOR USE OF THIS PROGRAM RATHER THAN THEIR PERSONAL ONES.

BUT YOU'RE CORRECT WITH THAT AUTOMOTIVE.

YES, SIR. AND THAT THEY START WORK WITHOUT BEING REGISTERED IN THE STATE OF TEXAS.

I WOULD ASSUME THEY DID, SIR, BECAUSE THEY WEREN'T REQUIRED AT THE TIME.

THEY SUBMITTED THEIR BID AND GOT IT AWARDED THE CONTRACT TO HAVE TO BE REGISTERED WITH THE STATE OF TEXAS.

THERE'S AN EXEMPTION AND I GOT APPROVAL.

I GOT A RESPONSE FROM THE COUNTY ATTORNEY AGREEING THAT THEY ARE NOT REQUIRED TO BE REGISTERED.

THERE'S AN EXEMPTION THAT ALLOWS A SOLE PROPRIETORSHIP TO WORK IN TEXAS WITHOUT BEING REGISTERED.

AND AND WE HAVE THAT SOLE PROPRIETORSHIP CERTIFICATION, I WILL VERIFY, BUT I THINK WE DO HAVE THAT COPY, SIR.

AND I'LL VERIFY IT FOR YOU, COMMISSIONER, TO MAKE SURE AND, AND MR. POST, YOU'VE BEEN HERE ALL DAY.

YOU HEARD THE EXHAUSTIVE CONVERSATION ABOUT HOW TO TREAT FOLKS.

THE, THE TRAINING THAT WE REQUIRE OF EMPLOYEES AND, AND WE

[06:20:07]

YOU DIDN'T FIND EVIDENCE THAT IT HAD BEEN DONE BY STAFF AS REQUIRED.

THAT'S RIGHT. AND WHEN WE WENT OUT AND WE DID THIS COMPARISON OF THE CONTRACT TERMS WITH WHAT DIMA HAD ACTUALLY DONE, THIS WAS AN AREA WHERE THEY HAD NOT FULFILLED THE CONTRACT.

NOW MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT THE PEOPLE ARE GETTING THE TRAINING.

SO WHAT WE'VE GOT HERE IS DEFICIENCIES.

AND SO.

SO YES, MR. POST, I JUST GOT A FEW MORE AND SOME, I GUESS, EFFORT ON THE PART OF DEMA NOW TO GET EVERYTHING CORRECT THAT IT'S BEEN, IT'S BEEN POINTED OUT. SO ON THE POINT OF THAT TRAINING THE WAS IT YOU TO FOUND THAT DEMA HAS BEEN SUED FOR CIVIL RIGHTS VIOLATIONS IN CALIFORNIA? I HAVE NOT FOUND THAT.

OKAY. I THINK THAT IS SOMETHING THAT HAS BEEN FOUND.

THE THE OTHER QUESTION IS WELL, I THINK THAT'S GOING TO BE IT, MR. BOSS. THANK YOU FOR YOUR WORK ON THIS.

AND I'M GLAD THAT THERE'S EFFORT TO BRING THIS IN HOUSE.

THE SHERIFF HAS BEEN VERY VERY SUPPORTIVE OF HEART, AND HE WANTS TO SEE IT CONTINUE.

SO I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THERE'S NO DISRUPTION TO IT.

I WILL ONLY SUPPORT THE THE PAYMENT IF THERE IS A A COMMITMENT TO BRING THIS IN HOUSE AND, AND AT WORST, NOT ALLOWED FOR US TO EXERCISE OUR TERMINATION CLAUSE.

JUST TO INSERT INSERT MYSELF HERE.

I AGREE, I THINK IT'S FINE TO, YOU KNOW, IF THERE'S ENOUGH CONCERNS THAT WE NEED TO GO FOR ANOTHER ONE.

I WOULD JUST WANT TO NOT SEE AN INTERRUPTION IN THE PROGRAMING.

I DO WANT TO ASK, JUMPING OFF OF WHAT COMMISSIONER RAMSEY WAS SAYING ABOUT THE THE CATEGORIES COMMISSIONER THAT YOU WERE SAYING ABOUT THE WORK. I DON'T KNOW, DIRECTOR ROBINSON, IF YOU'RE ON THE LINE OR SOMEONE FROM THE PUBLIC HEALTH DEPARTMENT, CAN THAT KIND OF GO OVER THAT? BECAUSE THAT'S A LITTLE BIT MORE SORT OF PROGRAMMATIC? GOOD EVENING, JUDGE BARBARA ROBINSON, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF HARRIS COUNTY PUBLIC HEALTH.

I THINK WE'VE SHARED THIS INFORMATION PREVIOUSLY, BUT THE MEET THE CITIZEN CATEGORY IS A CATCH ALL CATEGORY.

AND INCLUDES ACTUALLY SOME PRETTY SUBSTANTIVE ACTIVITIES THAT THE RESPONSE TEAMS ARE RESPONDING TO THE THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE RECOGNIZES THAT THAT CATEGORY NEEDS TO BE MORE GRANULAR, AND THEY'RE WORKING ON UPDATING THE CALL CODES TO REFLECT WHAT EXACTLY THE TEAMS ARE RESPONDING TO ON THE GROUND. SO IT'S NOT NECESSARILY THOSE FOLKS OUT SHAKING HANDS AND GIVING OUT STICKERS AND COLORING COLORING BOOKS, BUT THEY'RE ACTUALLY RESPONDING TO SOME SUBSTANTIVE ISSUES. I THINK THE OTHER ONE WAS THE TERM WELFARE CHECKS, IF YOU WANT TO DEFINE WHAT THAT MEANS AS WELL, DIRECTOR ROBINSON.

YEAH. SO THAT'S WHERE FAMILY MEMBERS CAN HAVE FRAGILE FAMILY MEMBERS OR HAVE A HIGH LEVEL OF ACUITY.

IT OFTEN IMPACTS SENIORS OR THOSE SUFFERING FROM VARIOUS CHRONIC DISEASE WHERE FAMILY MEMBERS, FOR EXAMPLE, ARE CONCERNED ABOUT THEIR HEALTH AND WELL-BEING.

AND WE'LL CALL AND THEY'RE ACTUALLY RESPONSIBLE FOR ADMINISTERING BASIC LIFE SUPPORT SERVICES IN THAT PARTICULAR CATEGORY.

SO IT'S NOT JUST A WELFARE CHECK TO SAY, HEY, HOW ARE YOU DOING? IN SOME INSTANCES IT IS BUT MANY OF THOSE INSTANCES ARE INDIVIDUALS WITH SOME ACUTE MEDICAL AND BEHAVIORAL HEALTH CHALLENGES.

AND IS YOUR TEAM IN THE PROCESS OF UPDATING THE WEBSITE.

SO IT'S CLEAR WHAT SOME OF THOSE TERMS MEAN.

SO SOMEONE WOULDN'T JUST LOOK AT IT ON THE SURFACE AND THINK IT MEANS SOMETHING.

YEAH. YEAH.

WE'RE IN THE PROCESS OF WORKING WITH THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE TO BECOME TO GET MORE GRANULAR ON THE CATEGORIES AND THE METRICS THAT WE'RE COUNTING DIRECT.

APPRECIATE THE TIME YOU PUT INTO THIS, AND YOU AND YOUR TEAM PUT IT TOGETHER AT A LIGHTNING SPEED WHEN WE GAVE IT TO YOU.

SO I APPRECIATE THE WORK THAT YOU AND YOUR TEAM HAVE DONE.

SO, I MEAN, SO ON THAT ONE, JUST A QUICK QUESTION, I GUESS, IS, IS IT IS THERE A WAY FOR US TO PAY FOR THE WORK ALREADY DONE? AND I GUESS THIS QUESTION FOR DIRECTOR ROBINSON AS WELL, AND THEN AND, AND LIMIT ANY

[06:25:02]

IF THERE WERE IF IF THE WILL OF THE COURT WERE TO SAY, LET'S TRANSITION AWAY FROM DMA, WHAT WOULD YOUR THOUGHT BE ON THAT? WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT THE TAKING IT IN HOUSE.

LIKE WHERE WOULD THAT BE? AND YEAH, YEAH, I WOULD DEFER TO DWIGHT AND THE COUNTY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE IN TERMS OF THE TIME FRAME, IF YOU ALL DECIDED TO TERMINATE THE AGREEMENT, AS YOU KNOW IT TAKES TIME TO RAMP UP PROGRAMS AND WE'D HAVE TO GET LICENSURE AND HIRE STAFF.

AND SO CUTTING OVER FROM ONE TO THE OTHER, THERE'D HAVE TO BE A TRANSITION PERIOD, WHICH WE OFTEN DO FOR CONTINUITY OF OPERATIONS.

SO YOU KNOW, WOULD TAKE SOME TIME FOR US TO RAMP UP AN IN-HOUSE PROGRAM.

AND WE'RE PREPARED TO PROVIDE THOSE DETAILS DURING THE JULY 15TH COURT AS MY TEAM ARE FEVERISHLY WORKING ON GETTING THAT INFORMATION TOGETHER.

OKAY. YES, COMMISSIONER ELLIS, WHAT ARE SOME OF THOSE LEGAL STATUTORY ISSUES THAT I KNOW YOU YOU SAID AT THE LAST COURT MEETING WHEN THIS CAME UP.

YEAH. SO SOME OF IT IS RELATED TO HAVING THE LICENSURE AND AUTHORITY TO OPERATE AS AN MS ENTITY.

THERE IS A ANOTHER OPTION FOR US TO ACTUALLY UTILIZE EMTS.

BUT THERE IS A PROTRACTED PROCESS WITH THE STATE TO ACTUALLY RECEIVE THOSE CERTIFICATIONS AND LICENSING.

I DID SPEAK TO LORI CHRISTENSEN AT THE SUGGESTION OF COMMISSIONER GARCIA.

THEY OPERATE UNDER A DIFFERENT AUTHORITY, AND THEY DON'T PROVIDE EMT SERVICES TO THE PUBLIC.

THEY ACTUALLY PROVIDE EMT SERVICES TO LAW ENFORCEMENT.

WHEN THERE'S AN ACTIVE SHOOTER OR A CRISIS OR SOME OTHER KIND OF INCIDENT.