Jul 15, 2024 Commissioners Court

MIKE HILL. >> A MORNING. YES, I CAN HEAR

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YOU. >> THANK YOU.

>> YOU'RE WELCOME.

>> GOOD MORNING, EVERYONE. I WOULD LIKE TO CALL THE JULY 15TH, 2024 MEETING OF THE HARRIS COUNTY COMMISSIONERS COURT TO ORDER. COMMISSIONER ELLIS .

>> PRECINCT 4 HAS IMAM AHMAD SHAHEED FOR US THIS MORNING.

[Associate Imam Ahmad Shaheed of Masjid Al-Quran in Houston introduced by the Commissioner of Precinct 4.]

>> IT IS MY WHICH TO INTRODUCE IMAM AHMAD SHAHEED. HE IS THE ASSOCIATE MASJID AL-QURAN. MOHAMMED WAS DONATED BY THE HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPION, MOHAMMED ALI, AND IT SUPPORTS HOUSTON'S OLDEST MUSLIM COMMUNITY, WHICH IS VERY SPECIAL. IMAM AHMAD SHAHEED IS ALSO THE DIRECTOR OF MERCY COMMUNITY CENTER LOCATED IN PRECINCTS FOR, MOHAMMED GANDHI DISTRICT AND THE CENTER SERVES A DIVERSE COMMUNITY ACROSS HARRIS COUNTY BY PROVIDING FOOD, SUPPORTING JUSTICE INVOLVED INDIVIDUALS, ORGANIZING HEALTH FAIRS, BACK-TO-SCHOOL DRIVES AND SO MUCH MORE. IMAM AHMAD SHAHEED WAS BORN AND RAISED IN MIAMI AND CAME TO HOUSTON ON A FULL ACADEMIC SCHOLARSHIP TO THE UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON AND HE GRADUATED WITH A BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN MECHANICAL ENGINEERING AND NOW WORKS AS A SENIOR PROJECT MANAGER FOR BOARDWALK PIPELINE, IN ADDITION TO ALL OF HIS SERVICE IN THE COMMUNITY. HE'S ALSO THE BOARD CHAIR FOR TEACHER AND STUDENT SERVICE SUPPORTS, WHICH SUPPORTS EDUCATORS WITH TEACHING EDUCATIONS AND STEM SKILLS AND HE'S ALSO A PROUD MASTER FOR PACK 713. IMAM AHMAD SHAHEED IS MARRIED TO HIS BELOVED WIFE AND THEY HAVE TWO SONS IN THE FAMILY IS WELCOME TO COME UP. PLEASE, IF YOU WOULD LIKE. 11-YEAR-OLD AND NINE-YEAR-OLD. WITHOUT FURTHER ADO, WE HAD TODAY, IMAM AHMAD SHAHEED. THANK YOU FOR BEING

HERE. >> ALL PRAISE AND THANKS IS DUE TO GOT TO ALLOW US TO WAKE UP THIS MORNING. WE THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING ME THE OPPORTUNITY TO SERVE. EXCUSE ME. WE THANK GOD -- I'M GOING TO START OVER. ALL PRAISE AND THANKS IS DUE TO GOD FOR ALLOWING US TO WAKE UP THIS MORNING. WE THINK OF FOR ALLOWING YOU ALL THE OPPORTUNITY TO SERVE HARRIS COUNTY AND I THINK GOD AND PRECINCT 4 FOR THE HONOR OF BEING INVITED. WITH GOD'S NAME, THE MERCIFUL BENEFACTOR IN THE MERCIFUL REDEEMER, ALL PRAISE IS DUE TO OUR CREATOR , OUR QUALITY URINE, OUR REVOLVER WHO CREATED US IN EXCELLENCE. WE SEE GOD'S HELP AND GUIDANCE IN FINDING THE BEST WAY TO MEET THE NEEDS OF OUR CONSTITUENTS. WE ARE HUMBLED BY THEIR TRUST IN US AND WE ASKED FOR THE WISDOM TO MAKE THE BEST DECISIONS ON THEIR BEHALF. WE ASKED THE ROLLER OF THE HEAVENS AND THE EARTH TO PROTECT OURSELVES AND OUR FAMILIES AND TO ALLOW OUR WORK TO BE A SOURCE OF INSPIRATION AND PRIDE FOR THEM. IT IS SAID IN MY RELIGION, WHEN YOU -- WHEN LEADERSHIP IS FORCED UPON YOU BY THE COMMUNITY, YOU RECEIVE GOD'S HELP, SO WE PRAY THAT GOD, WHO IS THE EPITOME OF JUSTICE, WILL ALLOW YOUR DECISIONS TO BE JUST. GOD, WHO IS INFINITELY PATIENT, ALLOW YOU ALL DELIBERATELY. PRAY THAT SO MANY OF OUR PEOPLE SUFFERING, WE PRAY THAT WITH SO MANY OF OUR FELLOW CUSTODIANS CURRENTLY SUFFERING, THAT OUR CRATER, EVOLVER AND GUARDIAN WILL ALLOW THIS COURT TO BE A HEALING AND MERCY FOR THOSE IN NEED. WE PRAY FOR THOSE IN NEED OF POWER, SAFETY, HEALTH AND SECURITY HERE LOCALLY AND WE ALSO PRAY FOR THOSE WHO ARE IN NEED OF POWER, SAFETY, HEALTH, SAFETY AND SECURITY IN HAITI AND IN GAZA AND SUDAN AND UKRAINE AND JAMAICA AND LIBYA AND SO MANY OTHER PLACES. WE PRAY THAT GOD WILL ALLOW EVERY CHILD AROUND THE WORLD TO EXPERIENCE A DAY WITHOUT BLOODSHED AND A NIGHT WITHOUT NIGHTMARES. WE PRAY THAT GOD PURIFIES OUR INTENTION SO THAT WE MAY ACT IN A WAY THAT IS PLEASING TO GOD. WE PRAY FOR THE ABILITY TO IMPROVE THE WORLD THAT WE LIVE IT, NOT ONLY FOR OUR SAKE, BUT FOR THOSE WE HAVE A RESPONSIBILITY FOR.

FINALLY, WE ASK GOD TO GRANT US THE SERENITY TO ACCEPT THE THINGS WE CANNOT CHANGE, THE COURAGE TO CHANGE THE THINGS WE CAN'T, AND IT WAS HIM TO KNOW THE DIFFERENCE. MAY GOD'S PEACE AND BLESSINGS BE UPON YOU. AMEN.

>> THANK YOU. THANK YOU SO MUCH. IF WE COULD PLEASE TAKE A MOMENT OF SILENCE FOR HARRIS COUNTY SHERIFF THIS THE DEPUTY

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WHO WAS AMBUSHED AND KILLED. >> YES, PLEASE. OUR PRAYERS ARE WITH HIS FAMILY. ALL OF HIS BROTHERS AND SISTERS SERVING IN OUR SHERIFF'S OFFICE AND ALL LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES.

>> THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH. >> THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER.

>> WE WILL 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 THEE, TEXAS, ONE STATE UNDER GOD, ONE AND INDIVISIBLE. GOOD MORNING, EVERYONE. I KNOW THAT IT HAS BEEN A REALLY, REALLY TOUGH TIME. A LOT OF PEOPLE DON'T HAVE POWER. I WOULD VENTURE TO GUESS THAT THERE IS SOMEONE HERE WHO DOESN'T, AND SO -- OH GOODNESS. I KNOW IT'S REALLY FRUSTRATING, AND I WANT EVERYONE TO KNOW THAT WE ARE PUTTING EVERY KIND OF SURE THAT WE CAN ON CENTERPOINT.

SOMETHING ELSE WE ARE WORKING ON IS TRYING TO FIGURE OUT EXACTLY WHAT KIND OF REGULATION OR REQUIREMENT. WHY DID THEY NOT -- WHY DID THEY NOT HAVE MORE HARDENED AND INFRASTRUCTURE. OBVIOUSLY THERE IS NOT A COST INCENTIVE TO DO THAT KIND OF THING UNLESS IT BECOMES A REQUIREMENT. WE HAVE A LOT OF OPERATIONS GOING, IN TERMS OF COOLING CENTERS. WE HAVE 64 OF THEM. WE HAVE 10 POINTS OF DISTRIBUTIONS FOR ICEWATER AND FOOD, BUT YOU CAN CHECK RIGHT HERE AT HARRIS.ORG.

WE ARE WORKING TO PROTECT VULNERABLE OPERATIONS, SO CALLING THE STERILE IS, FOLKS WHO ARE READY WE KNOW ARE VULNERABLE, REACHING OUT TO THE FOLKS IN MOBILE HOMES, REACHING OUT TO OUR NONPROFIT, OUR COMMUNITIES OF FAITH, OUR LABOR ORGANIZATIONS AND OTHERS AND REALLY TRYING TO REACH THE

[Departments (Part 1 of 2)]

I WANT TO THANK MY OFFICE OF EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT TEAM WHOSE CORONATIONS EXPERTISE HAS A SHORT OUR COMMUNITY STAYS INFORMED AND SAFE AND I'M ALWAYS HAPPY TO WORK WITH THEM, BUT I WANT TO HIGHLIGHT THE AVERAGE HOURS THAT MY TEAM HAS WORKED. MY TEAM, IN GENERAL, THE FOLKS WHO ARE SITTING BEHIND ME IS AVERAGING 18 HOURS A DAY AND SO I KNOW THAT THERE IS A LOT OF FRUSTRATION THAT IS NOT GOING TO MAKE ANYBODY BUYS HOT OR LESS SWEATY, BUT I WANT YOU ALL TO KNOW, AND THAT'S VERY MUCH REPRESENTATIVE OF HOW HARD ALL OF US ARE WORKING DAY AND NIGHT AND I WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT IS THE CASE.

WEEKENDS, MORNINGS, NIGHT WHATEVER IT IS, WE ARE ALL OUT THERE WORKING HARD. OUR PRECINCTS ARE OUT THERE, COLLEAGUES, THE COMMISSIONERS HERE HAVE BEEN OUT ON THE GROUND HELPING WITH DEBRIS PICKUP, ESTABLISHING FEUD DISTRIBUTION OPERATIONS WHERE WE CAN EFFICIENTLY GET THE MATERIALS FROM THE STATE TO THEIR DISTRIBUTION SITE OUT INTO THE COMMUNITY PROMOTING IT DEEP INTO THE COMMUNITY, HELPING GET THE WORD OUT ABOUT RESOURCES. EACH MEMBER OF COMMISSIONERS COURT HAS STAFF ALSO WORKING QUITE LONG HOURS IN THE EMIRATE THE OPERATION CENTER WITH US VERY, VERY EFFICIENT ORDINATION. OF COURSE, LAST BUT CERTAINLY NOT LEAST, I WANT TO THANK OUR FIRST RESPONDERS. IT HAS BEEN CARELESS HOURS. HAS BEEN THE SAME NATIONALISM WE ARE LUCKY

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THOSE ARE MEALS READY TO EAT. HUNDRED 22,516 MEALS, 18 TRUCKS OF ICE, WHICH INCLUDE THREE DONATED FROM HBE AND 82,800 BAGS OF ICE AND WE ARE VERY GRATEFUL, OF COURSE, TO OUR FEDERAL PARTNERS, MEMBERS OF OUR DELEGATION AND THE WHITE HOUSE, IN GENERAL. PRESIDENT WAS ON THE PHONE WITH ME TWICE, THE VICE PRESIDENT, BOTH IN SHORT I SAID THAT THEY TURN AROUND OUR FEMA INDIVIDUAL ASSISTANCE AS SOON AS POSSIBLE AND THEY DID, INDEED. I DON'T THINK IT TOOK THEM 12 HOURS.

THEY HAVE NO APPROVED OUR INDIVIDUAL ASSISTANCE SO THAT RESIDENTS CAN GET DIRECT AID. THE RASTER DELETE SPACE ASSISTANCE.GOV AND WE WILL SET UP DISASTER RECOVERY CENTERS.

WE ARE ALSO WORKING TO THINK ABOUT MORE BROADLY SPEAKING ANY OTHER INITIATIVES WE HAVE THAT SUPPORTS THE COMMUNITY AND ONE OF THE MOTIONS ON THE AGENDA TODAY IS ABOUT DEBRIS REMOVAL , USING OUR OWN COUNTY FUNDS IF WE CAN GET REIMBURSED BY FEMA, BY THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AND THAT IS SOMETHING WE ARE GOING TO LOOK AT VERY CREATIVE AND VERY IMPORTANT BECAUSE THAT'S A BIG DEAL. THERE ARE A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO CAN AFFORD TO COME CUT DOWN A TREE, A 3000 DOLLARS TO $4000 COST. SO ANYWAY, OVERALL, THANK YOU TO THE COMMUNITY. THANK YOU TO FOLKS FOR THEIR PATIENTS. THANK YOU TO THE LINEMAN WHO ARE WORKING HARD. KNOW THAT WE ARE GOING TO ASK THE RIGHT QUESTIONS, IN TERMS OF WHAT EXACTLY IS GOING TO GET CENTERPOINT AND UTILITIES TO BETTER PREPARE AND IF YOU ARE ABLE TO VOLUNTEER OR IF YOU NEED HELP, CALL 211. THERE IS A PROMPT ON THE INTRODUCTION AND THE FIRST PROMPT ASKED, DO YOU NEED HELP WITH THE DISASTER OR DO YOU WANT TO HELP SOMEONE WHO'S BEEN IN A DISASTER AND THAT'S ALSO THE PROMPT WE GOT CHANGED, NOT JUST FOR HARRIS COUNTY, BUT THE STATE SO THAT PEOPLE CAN MORE EASILY ACCESS THOSE RESOURCES AND TIMES OF DISASTER AND CAN HELP VOLUNTEER. I WOULD LIKE TO TAKE ITEMS 22 AND 278, BOTH RELATED TO THE DISASTER OUT OF ORDER . IS THERE A MOTION TO TAKE THOSE ITEMS OUT OF ORDER?

>> SO MOVED. >> MOTION BY COMMISSIONER ELLIS AND SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER RAMSEY. THE FIRST ITEM IS 22. I WILL LET ADMINISTRATOR -- EXCUSE ME. DIRECTOR RAMOS ADD ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ON THIS, BUT ESSENTIALLY, WE HAVE $210 MILLION IN THE PIC FIND OR SO AND ABOUT $20 MILLION , YOU THINK IT'S GOING TO COST THAT WE NEED TO APPROVE ACCESS TO

THE PIC FIND. >> WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THERE IS NO DELAYS IN DEPARTMENTS IN THE PRECINCTS BEING ABLE TO

ACCESS DOLLARS TO RESPOND. >> WERE YOU GOING TO

COLLEYVILLE FOR THAT MOTION? >> NOT RIGHT NOW. THANK YOU.

OKAY. MOTION IN A SECOND AND ALL IN FAVOR. ANY A POST? MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY. THANK YOU, JAMES . GO AHEAD,

DIRECTOR. THANK YOU. >> THERE IS $210 MILLION AND WE ARE EXPECTING ABOUT $100 MILLION IN REIMBURSEMENTS RELATED TO GO WITH THAT CAME OUT OF THE PIC FIND AND WE DO BELIEVE THAT WE ARE GOING TO GET THAT FUNDING NEXT FISCAL

YEAR. >> JUDGE.

>> YES, COMMISSIONER ELLIS. >> SO THE $100 MILLION, THAT'S FROM PREVIOUS DISASTERS. RIGHT?

>> THAT'S CORRECT. >> HOW LONG HAVE WE BEEN

WAITING? >> I WILL DEFER IF HE'S ON.

>> YES, COMMISSIONER ELLIS, MOST OF WHAT DANIEL IS TALKING ABOUT IS FROM COVID. OF COURSE, WE WERE SPENDING COVID FUNDS ALL THE WAY THROUGH 2022 OR 2023. THAT IS THE MOST OF THE

MONEY OUTSTANDING IS FROM . >> IS THERE ANYTHING THAT WE NEED TO DO TO EXPEDITE IT OR IS IT A MATTER OF WAITING?

>> IT'S MORE OF HAVING TO GO THERE AUDITS FROM THE STATE, WHICH WE WORK WITH OUR RECOVERY PARTNER, TETRA TECH ON THOSE AUDITS AND THAT IS THE LAST STEP BEFORE YOU CAN GET

REIMBURSED. >> OBVIOUSLY I'M FOR THE MOTION AND WE WILL TAKE THE MOTION. WE HAVE TO ACCESS IT,

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WE HAVE TO GO THROUGH AUDITS. HOW CONFIDENT ARE YOU THAT WE ARE GOING TO GET THE WHOLE $100 MILLION?

>> YES, COMMISSIONER. I'M PRETTY CONFIDENT. WHAT I'VE SEEN IS MOST EXPENSES ARE DEFINITELY COVID AND PROBABLY NO QUESTIONS ASKED. I KNOW THERE WERE GOING TO BE A FEW THINGS THAT WE WILL PROBABLY HAVE TO APPEAL AND THAT SORT OF THING, ESPECIALLY WHEN IT COMES TO SOME OF THE CONSTRUCTION WE DID FOR BARRIERS AND THINGS LIKE THAT, BUT I THINK FOR THE MOST PART, I FELT PRETTY CONFIDENT THAT WE WOULD

DEFINITELY RECEIVE IT. >> ANYTHING OUT OF THE ORDINARY IN TERMS OF THE TIMETABLE FOR GIVING THIS MONEY COMPARED TO PREVIOUS REIMBURSEMENTS OR ARE WE ABOUT ON SCHEDULE?

>> NO, SIR. IN FACT, I THINK IN MY OPINION, I THINK WE WILL PROBABLY COME IN A LITTLE FASTER THAN WHAT WE HAD FOR OTHER EVENTS AND I THINK THAT IS MORE BECAUSE THERE IS NOT A LOT OF CONSTRUCTION AND THINGS LIKE THAT FROM HARVEY THAT TAKE A LOT LONGER, SO I FEEL CONFIDENT THAT WE WILL HOPE WE GET THIS WHEN FINISHED UP FOR OR SOONER THAN WE HAVE OTHER

EVENT. >> OKAY. MR. RAMOS, THANK YOU FOR BEING BACK. I KNOW YOU HAVE HAD A LOT TO DEAL WITH AND HEARTS GO OUT FOR YOU AND YOUR FAMILY, OBVIOUSLY. GIVE ME SOME SENSE OF WHERE WE ARE WITH THE AMOUNT WE ARE HAVING TO PICK NOW, IN TERMS OF RIGHT NOW MONEY.

>> IS $210 MILLION. >> COMPARED TO WHAT WE HAVE

BEEN PREVIOUSLY. >> WE WERE SIGNIFICANTLY HIGHER PRIOR TO COVID AND AGAIN, WE ARE WAITING FOR $100 MILLION THAT WE KNOW ABOUT AND I BELIEVE WE HAVE A LITTLE OVER $100 MILLION THAT IS STILL PENDING. IF YOU GIVE ME ONE

MINUTE, I WILL LOOK IT UP. >> JUST SO WE KNOW WHERE WE ARE, PARTICULARLY AS WE GO THROUGH THE CYCLE. THIS IS A SEASON THAT WILL BE AS ACTIVE AS EXPERTS ARE ANTICIPATING, WE MAY BE IN THIS POSITION AGAIN.

>> FOR CONTEXT, THE POLICY THAT THIS COURT APPROVED US 12 1/2% OF NEW REVENUE AND IT WOULD BE ABOUT $280 MILLION, SO IF YOU CAN'T WHAT WE HAVE IN THE BANK TODAY, PLUS WHAT WE EXPECT TO BE REIMBURSED, WE WILL BE THERE AND I WANT TO ECHO SHANE'S COMMENTS. BASED ON MY EXPERIENCE, THIS IS LIGHTSPEED IN TERMS OF GETTING REIMBURSED AND I FEEL LIKE THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT DOES AN AMAZING JOB TURNING AROUND OUR REIMBURSEMENTS AND MOVING THEM UP TO 100%, WHICH I BELIEVE COVID IS THE FIRST EVER DISASTER WHERE THEY MOVED UP TO

100%. >> I WILL MOVE IT IF THERE ARE NO QUESTIONS FROM OUR COLLEAGUES, JUDGE.

>> I HAVE A BRIEF QUESTION. WE HAVE BEEN APPROVED --

COMMISSIONER RAMSEY. >> I'M GOOD.

>> WE HAVE BEEN APPROVED FOR REIMBURSEMENT ON LETTER A AND B AND IT IS DEBRIS AND WHAT IS THE OTHER ONE?

>> IT'S EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE MEASURES, JUDGE.

>> WE ARE APPLYING AND I WAS IN TOUCH WITH CHIEF KID FROM TDOT THIS MORNING FOR THE OTHER CATEGORIES. THAT WILL BE ROADS AND BRIDGES WATER CONTROL FACILITIES, PUBLIC CONTROLS AND CONTENT, PUBLIC UTILITIES, PARKS AND RECREATION AND OTHER FACILITIES AND THAT'S GOOD NEWS. THE STATE CHECK TO SEE IF WE HAVE OUR MATERIALS READY AND THEY ARE ABSOLUTELY READY AND WE ARE GOING TO BE ASKING FOR THAT.

>> WILL THE MOTION BE TO AUTHORIZE ACCESS TO THE PUBLIC CONTINGENCY FUND AS NEEDED TO FUND EMERGENCY REQUEST?

>> YES. >> ITEM 22 IS WHAT WE ARE

VOTING ON. >> YES, THAT IS CORRECT.

>> SO MOVED. >> SECOND.

>> ALL IN FAVOR? ANY OPPOSE? MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY. IS THAT MOTION OKAY WITH YOU, JAMES.

>> IF YOU COULD REPEAT IT FOR CLARITY.

>> THAN WHAT I HAVE WRITTEN HERE, A MOTION TO AUTHORIZE ON THE TAX IS DEFINED AS NECESSARY FOR THE RESPONSE AND RECOVERY.

>> YES, MA'AM. >> DOES THAT SOUND ABOUT RIGHT? YES, ALL RIGHT. WE HAVE 278 IN THIS WHEN HAS SEVERAL MOTIONS ON HERE. THE FIRST ONE IS LET'S SEE . REQUEST FEMA FUNDING TO HELP WITH PRIVATE PROPERTY DEBRIS MANAGEMENT.

THAT IS THE INITIATIVE THAT WAS SHARED WITH YOU ALL EARLIER.

THE MOTION WOULD BE TO DIRECT ENGINEERING AND HRM TO ENGAGE FEMA ANTIETAM TO OBTAIN PREAPPROVAL FOR THE THREE REMOVAL ON PRIVATE PROPERTY AND ROADS INTO WORK WITH THE COUNTY DEPARTMENTS TO ACCOMPLISH THE PURPOSE OF THAT DIRECTIVE. THAT IS A REALLY BIG DEAL. IF WE GET APPROVED, WE STILL HAVE TREE ISSUES. WE HAVE NEW AND BIGGER ISSUES, INCLUDING BIGOTRY ISSUES, DEBRIS ISSUES FROM BARREL AND WE ARE NOT EVEN A THIRD OF THE WAY THROUGH HURRICANE SEASON, SO TREES ARE STILL ON HOMES AND PROPERTIES AND I SAW SO MANY FAMILIES WHO HAVE HAD TREES ON HOMES, ROOF DAMAGE, TREES IN THE MIDDLE OF THEIR HOMES, WATER FALLING THROUGH BECAUSE OF THE TREE AND UNFORTUNATELY WHEN A TREE OR DEBRIS FALLS ON PRIVATE PROPERTY, HARRIS COUNTY DOES NOT HAVE THE AUTHORITY TO REMOVE IT. THIS WILL BE A REALLY BIG DEAL. I WILL BE

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COMMISSIONER RAMSEY. >> WE ARE GOING TO GO TO 78 OUT

OF TWO? >> I HAVE THE DEBRIS MOTION. I HAVE A MOTION FOR EXTENSION OF A DISASTER DECLARATION, BUT I WANT TO PUT THAT AT THE END, BECAUSE I'M NOT CONVINCED. I WENT TO UNDERSTAND THAT THAT IS NECESSARY.

>> MY COMMENTS ON ITEM 2 ARE, WE HAVE BEEN THROUGH MANY, MANY, MANY HURRICANES AND DISASTERS IN THE COUNTY THROUGH THE YEARS. IT HAS ALWAYS BEEN DIFFICULT, THIS ISSUE OF PRIVATE PROPERTY. ONCE WE CROSS THAT LINE, NOW WE ARE IN PICKING WINNERS AND LOSERS AND I HAVE A REAL CONCERN ABOUT THAT. HISTORICALLY, WE HAVE NOT DONE THAT. IT WOULD BE GREAT IF WE HAD RESOURCES AND ASSETS TO FULLY ENGAGE WITH THAT, BUT THIS WOULD LITERALLY BE CROSSING THE RUBICON, IN TERMS OF HISTORICALLY, WE HAVEN'T AND I THINK THERE ARE REASONS FOR THAT, IN TERMS OF GOING ON PRIVATE PROPERTY AND DOING ANYTHING. SO ONCE YOU GO DOWN THAT ROAD OF, WELL, I'M GOING TO DO IT ON THIS WENT FOR THESE GOOD REASONS AND I'M NOT GOING TO DO IT ON THIS OTHER ONE FOR EQUALLY GOOD REASONS. I DON'T THINK THIS WOULD BE WISE TO MOVE FORWARD WITH.

>> YES, COMMISSIONER ELLIS. >> A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS. THESE ARE VALID CONCERNS, COMMISSIONER RAMSEY. WOULD WE

GET REIMBURSED FOR THIS? >> YES, THAT'S THE IDEA. IF WE DON'T GET REIMBURSED, WE WOULDN'T DO IT. YEAH.

>> OKAY. SO WE WANT TO WIN UNTIL WE KNOW WE ARE GOING TO GET REIMBURSED. IT WAS ESSENTIALLY APPLYING FOR FEDERAL ASSISTANCE GOING TO IT AND DO WE KNOW WITH OTHER COUNTIES HAVE DONE THIS OR CITIES, FOR THAT MATTER?

>> BRIEFLY, COMMISSIONER ELLIS, TO YOUR FIRST POINT, THIS IS ABOUT SOCIAL VULNERABILITY IN THESE COMMUNITIES. IT WAS SO SHOCKING, Y'ALL. THE TREES, THE HOMES THAT HAD TREES ON THEM, AND I'M NOT TALKING ONE. TALKING IN A STREET, FIVE OR SIX OF THEM, WHERE THE GRANDMA GOT UP TO GET FOOD IN THE TREE

FELL WHERE SHE WAS SITTING. >> IF WE ARE GOING TO GET THE

MONEY BACK. >> I KNOW YOU DO, BUT I JUST WANT TO JUMP OFF THAT TO MAKE A POINT, WHICH IS, THAT IS NOT THE ONLY TREE THAT SHE OR ALL OF THESE DIFFERENT PEOPLE HAD WANTED REMOVED. THE FAMILY KNEW THE TREES WERE DANGEROUS, BUT THEY CAN'T AFFORD A $6000 TREE REMOVAL AND SO THE PRIORITY WILL BE ON COMMUNITIES THAT REALLY CAN AFFORD TO GET IT HOLD FROM THE HOUSE OR FROM THE BACKYARD TO THE FRONT AND WE DO HAVE VOLUNTEERS THAT ARE HELPING WITH THAT. WE HAVE TRIED TO RECRUIT VOLUNTEERS, BUT THAT IS 100 SOME ODD VOLUNTEERS RIGHT NOW THAT WILL DO THAT AND IT TAKES SIX FOLKS A WHOLE DAY TO DO THAT PROCESS. ANYWAYS. YES.

>> I WOULD HOPE NONE OF US WOULD BE AGAINST FEDERAL MONEY

TO DO IT. >> FOR FORMABLE POPULATIONS.

>> I WOULD GO TO HOW WE SHOULD BUT IT BY WHAT IS THE CRITERIA, BUT CLEARLY, IF IT IS FEDERAL --

>> I WANT TO BE CLEAR THAT WE WOULD NOT BE DOING ANYTHING AT THIS MOMENT UNTIL WE GET WORD .

>> WE KNOW WE GET THE MONEY. YEAH.

>> THAT WE WOULD BE GETTING THE MONEY TO DO IT IF IT WAS APPROVED BECAUSE I DO SHARE COMMISSIONER RAMSEY'S CONCERNS, IN SPITE OF. SEEN UP CLOSE AND PERSONAL, THE DAMAGE THAT THE STORM HAS CAUSED. HOWEVER, WE ARE GOING TO END UP, I THINK, OWNING HOMES AND RECONSTRUCTION OF HOMES THAT WE DIDN'T INTEND TO THAT THIS IS NOT DONE CORRECTLY. I DO HAVE THOSE CONCERNS, BUT THIS IS SIMPLY TO ASK PERMISSION TO SEE IF IT CAN BE DONE. I WILL SUPPORT THAT. THEN, THE PROCESS BY WHICH WE SELECT THOSE HOMES, THINK WE ARE GOING TO BE RIGHT BACK TO COMMISSIONER RAMSEY'S, BECAUSE THERE IS A LOT OF SOCIAL VULNERABILITY ACROSS HIS COUNTY AND WE ARE GOING TO LEAVE PEOPLE OUT, UNDOUBTABLY AND I JUST DON'T WANT ALL OF THAT.

[00:25:02]

>> I KNOW COMMISSIONER ELLIS HAD ASKED A QUESTION.

>> I HAVE A POINT WHEN YOU GUYS HAVE A MOMENT.

>> I JUST WANT TO GET SOME SENSE OF, IF OTHER COUNTIES HAVE DONE IT, I MEAN, LOOK, ON MOST THINGS WE DO, BY THE WAY, RARELY ARE WE ABLE TO HELP EVERYBODY. WE HAVE TO SORT THROUGH, BUT WE WANT TO DO AS MUCH AS WE CAN AND WE HAVE TO FIGURE OUT WHATEVER THE CRITERIA IS AND I'M ASSUMING THAT YOU COULD LOOK SOMEWHERE IN TEXAS, THE CITY OR COUNTY, IF NOT OUTSIDE, BUT IF IT IS FEDERAL MONEY, WE HAVE TO THROW OUR SLEEVES UP AND FIGURE OUT SOMEHOW WE DO IT IF WE GET IT.

>> THE DIRECTOR IS THE WIND THAT HAS DONE A LOT OF THIS.

>> YES, AND A COUPLE THINGS, NUMBER ONE, FIRST OF ALL, AS A REIMBURSEMENT, IT WOULD FALL ON THE SAME LINES AS THE DEBRIS REMOVAL, WHICH I WANT TO POINT OUT THAT IT IS A 75% TO 25% LOCAL MASS AND IT'S NOT 100% AND THE SECOND THING IS, OUR RECOVERY PARTNER SAYING THAT IT HAS BEEN DONE. FORD AND 40 WILDFIRES IN CALIFORNIA AND STORM RELATED IN FLORIDA, IN THIS WOULDN'T HAVE TO BE LIMITED, TARGETED TO SOME OF YOU CONCERNS. IT'S VERY LIMITED TO CERTAIN AREAS AND THOSE THINGS, SO YOUR OFFICES WOULD HAVE TO BE INVOLVED WITH THAT, JUST BECAUSE YOU ARE GOING TO KNOW THOSE AREAS AND IT'S GOING TO HAVE TO BE A COORDINATED COORDINATION ON THIS AND WE WOULD NOT MOVE FORWARD WITH IT TO COMMISSIONER GARCIA'S POINTED JUST TRYING TO EXPORT TO SEE IF WE COULD GET APPROVAL FOR SOME OF THESE NEIGHBORHOODS OR TRACKS.

>> THERE ARE SOME LESSONS LEARNED FROM FLORIDA AND CALIFORNIA, SINCE NOW WE ARE GOING TO FIND OUT THAT WE ARE GOING TO HAVE FAR MORE NATURAL DISASTER THAN WE WERE

ACCUSTOMED TO. >> COMMISSIONER, AS OF LESSONS

LEARNED, I CAN DAY SHOULD >> IF WE GET THE MONEY, WE HAVE

TIME. >> YES.

>> COMMISSIONER BRIONES. >> THANK YOU. DIRECTOR, SO I'M VERY OPEN AS WELL TO ASKING IF WE CAN GET THE REIMBURSEMENT AND TO BE CLEAR, FEMA WOULD BOTH HAD TO SIGN OFF IN ORDER FOR THIS TO BE ELIGIBLE FOR REIMBURSEMENT.

>> YES, IT IS MAINLY FEMA. YOU ALWAYS GO THERE FEMA FROM AN OBLIGATION STANDPOINT. T HAD TO AUTO IT BUT THEY WOULD BE IN

THE CONVERSATION DIFFERENT . >> JUDGE

>> YES. >> SORRY.

>> COMMISSIONER ELLIS. >> QUICK.

>> I WANTED TO MANAGE EXPECTATIONS HERE ON THIS.

THERE ARE TWO SEPARATE ISSUES AND WHEN IS THE REIMBURSEMENT PERSON FROM FEMA AND THE SECOND IS THE COUNTY'S ABILITY TO ACTUALLY DO THIS AND I THINK ONE OF THE THINGS, AND THIS IS SOMETHING THAT COMMISSIONER GARCIA HAD TALKED TO US ABOUT.

I THINK, CANDIDLY, THREE DISASTERS AGO BECAUSE THIS ISSUE HAS COME UP A LOT. WE ARE WILLING TO WORK THROUGH, BUT THE ISSUES THAT COMMISSIONER RAMSEY SAID RELATED TO THE ABILITY OF THE COUNTY TO USE PUBLIC RESOURCES ON PRIVATE PROPERTY IS A CHALLENGING ONE, SO WE WOULD HAVE TO GO THROUGH THAT MECHANISM TO MAKE SURE WE ARE AUTHORIZED UNDER STATE LAW FOR THE COUNTY TO ACT ON BEHALF OF THAT AND THAT IS PART ONE.

THE SECOND PART OF IT IS, ONCE WE DO IT, CAN WE GET REIMBURSED FOR IT. I JUST WANT TO MANAGE EXPECTATIONS. I MEAN, WHEN WE HAVE LOOKED AT THIS IN THE PAST, IT HAS NOT BEEN SUPER FAVORABLE, BUT WE ARE OBVIOUSLY WILLING TO LOOK AT IT AGAIN, BECAUSE WE KNOW THESE ARE COMPELLING CIRCUMSTANCES.

>> WHAT YOU MEAN SUPER FAVORABLE?

>> WE ARE STILL NOT CLEAR DAY SHOULD

>> THE STATE LAW MAY NOT ALLOW US TO DO IT. I DON'T WANT TO SAY QUIZZICALLY, BUT I WANT TO MANAGE EXPECTATIONS.

>> COMMISSIONER ALICE. >> THANK YOU. I THINK THE ARE ALL VALID POINTS AND SINCE WE DON'T HAVE THE HOMEROOM POWER THAT CITIES HAVE, WE MIGHT LOOK AND SEE IF SOME CITY IN TEXAS HAS EVER DONE IT AND WE ARE TO BE COGNIZANT OF THE 25% MASHED THAT WE WOULD PUT UP, BUT I'M MOVING FORWARD AND FINDING OUT AND I'M ASSUMING ASKING QUESTIONS ON WHETHER OR NOT WE CAN DO IT. IT WOULD BE INTERESTING TO SEE SOME CITY.

DOES TETRA TECH KNOW? >> I BELIEVE GALVESTON COUNTY MAY HAVE DONE THIS. I DON'T KNOW WHICH EVENT. I WILL LOOK

INTO THAT. >> GALVESTON COUNTY FOR THE

CITY OF GALVESTON? >> COUNTY.

>> THAT MAY HELP. >> JUST TO LET YOU KNOW, THE RULES DO CHANGE FROM EVENT TO EVENT AND IT MAY BE A LITTLE DIFFERENT NOW, BUT IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING THAT THEY'VE DONE IT IN THE CITY TOO. I WILL GET THAT INFORMATION

>> COMMISSIONER BRIONES AND COMMISSIONER GARCIA .

>> WOULD QUESTION, JUST TO CONFIRM, THE LOCAL MATCH, THE

[00:30:06]

>> THAT IS CORRECT. >> FOR MY OWN DAY SHOULD

>> WE WOULD HAVE TO PUT UP THE ENTIRE COST AND WE WOULD HAVE

TO SUBMIT FOR REIMBURSEMENT. >> FOR MY OWN KNOWLEDGE, WAS AS REQUESTED DURING HARVEY OR ANY OF THE OTHER STORMS THAT HAPPEN

BEFORE I WAS ON COURT? >> NOT THIS PARTICULAR PROGRAM.

NOT QUITE THE SAME, BUT WE DID GET APPROVAL TO PICK UP ON PRIVATE ROADS, BUT THAT IS A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT PROCESS AND PROGRAM , BUT THAT IS THE CLOSEST THING WE HAVE GOTTEN TO

THIS. >> HOW SOON DO YOU THINK WE COULD GET APPROVAL TO THE EXTENT THAT THEY APPROVED?

>> I'VE BEEN TOLD THAT IT DOES TAKE A LITTLE TIME. THREE OR FOUR WEEKS, POTENTIALLY. THAT'S THE TIMEFRAME THAT I'VE BEEN GIVEN BUT WE WILL START THE DISCUSSIONS RIGHT AWAY AT

THIS MOTION PASSES. >> MY QUESTION, JAY. I KNOW WE ARE GOING TO TALK A LITTLE BIT LATER ABOUT ACTIVATING OUR CONTRACTORS I KNOW WE HAD A LONG CONVERSATION ABOUT THIS A COUPLE COURTS AGO AND MY UNDERSTANDING WAS THE WAY THE BID WAS PUT OUT IN THE WAY THE CONTRACT IS, WE HAVE THESE ONE CONTRACTOR. WE COULD NOT MOVE FORWARD WITH THE CONTRACTORS BASED ON HOW THE BIDS WERE. WOULD WE HAVE TO GO OUT OR WOULD IT FALL WITHIN THE FOUR CORNERS OF THE EXTENT

AGREEMENT. >> WE WILL HAVE TO LOOK AT IT AGAIN. I DON'T KNOW, COMMISSIONER, WITHOUT LOOKING

AT IT AGAIN. >> COMMISSIONER GARCIA AND COMMISSIONER RAMSEY IN AND COMMISSIONER ALICE.

>> I GUESS A LITTLE BIT TO WHAT JAY JUST MENTIONED. WE WILL

HIRE CONTRACTORS TO DO THIS? >> IT'LL BE THE SAME DEBRIS FOLKS THAT WE USE NOW TO REMOVE THE DEBRIS AND IT'S MAINLY JUST GETTING IT FROM PEOPLE'S PRIVATE PROPERTY TO BE PICKED UP. I THINK -- IF WE HAVE SOME GOOD JUSTIFICATION, WE CAN GO TO A SECOND AND I'VE BEEN WORKING WITH ENGINEERING ON DETAILED JUST VACATION, AND I THINK THAT TEMPERATURES WILL BE DONE HAVING A SECONDARY VENDOR OR WHOEVER IT MAY BE SOMETHING THAT HAS MORE INCLUSION, IF YOU WILL PER PRECINCT BECAUSE WE ALL HAVE TONS OF DAMAGE AND I DON'T WANT TO BE WAITING FOR ONE SIDE OF TOWN TO BE FINISHED, SO I WOULD BE MORE INTERESTED IN MAKING SURE THAT THE PRECINCTS WOULD HAVE THE ABILITY TO HAVE PARALLEL CAPACITY.

>> YES, SIR. >> COMMISSIONER RAMSEY IN AND

COMMISSIONER ALICE. >> THERE ARE REALLY TWO THINGS WE ARE PURSUING. ONE, CAN WE OBTAIN FUNDING TO GO ON PRIVATE PROPERTY AND THEN WE HAVE TO DETERMINE THE CRITERIA, WHICH WE WOULD GO ON PRIVATE PROPERTY CAN WE GO ON PRIVATE PROPERTY AND THE CRITERIA THAT WE WOULD USE ON GOING ON PRIVATE PROPERTY, I'M ASSUMING , I'M JUST GOING TO ASSUME HERE AS WE PURSUE THIS WITH FEMA, ARE THEY NOT GOING TO WANT TO WANT TO KNOW WHAT THAT CRITERIA IS IN TERMS OF WHAT WE ARE TALKING ABOUT. WE GENERALLY SITES FOR PEOPLE IN NEED BUT AS I HAVE DESCRIBED TO THE COURT ON MANY OCCASIONS, THERE IS REALLY UNDERSERVED NEIGHBORHOODS, EVEN IN PRECINCT 3 THAT BECAUSE THEY WERE NOT NECESSARILY MEANING A CERTAIN CRITERIA RELATED, THEY WERE EXCLUDED FROM BEING SERVED. KNOWING THE CRITERIA THAT YOU WERE GOING TO GO. I CAN SHOW YOU -- I'VE BEEN IN 100 HOMES THIS WEEK, IN TERMS OF TREES ON PEOPLE'S HOMES AND THERE IS A LOT OF HOMES WITH SOME PEOPLE THAT CAN'T AFFORD IT TO DEAL WITH THE DISASTER AND THEY MAY BE IN THE WRONG ZIP CODE, SO UNDERSTANDING THAT CRITERIA AND DOWN IN THE WEEDS OF THAT CRITERIA IS GOING TO BE IMPORTANT TO UNDERSTAND. I GUESS IT'S TWO THINGS THIS MOTION WOULD BE. PURSUE THE CONVERSATION RELATED TO FUNDING AND THEN PURSUE THE CONVERSATION RELATED TO COULD WE DO IT AND THE CRITERIA

[00:35:02]

VOTING ON. >> COMMISSIONER ALICE.

>> I WOULD MAKE THE SUGGESTION THAT IF WE DON'T KNOW THE BASIS ON WHICH THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AWARDS THE MONEY, FIRST WE OUGHT TO SEE IF WE CAN GET THE MONEY. NOW BEING SENSITIVE TO COMMISSIONER RAMSEY, WHAT YOU ARE SAYING, I WOULD SAY THERE ARE SEVERAL WAYS YOU CAN DO IT. OUGHT TO BE THE SAME CRITERIA COUNTYWIDE. YOU DON'T HAVE TO DO IT BY ZIP CODES. IF YOU WANT TO SAY ANYBODY IN THE COUNTY BELOW WHATEVER, 1000 OR 10% OR WHATEVER IT IS OF THE MEDIUM INCOME, THOSE PEOPLE DO LIVE EVERYWHERE, SO I WOULD SAY DON'T TIE HANDS ON WHETHER OR NOT WE CAN GET THE MONEY UNLESS THEY REQUIRE THAT WHEN IT GOES IN. FIRST I WOULD SEE IF YOU

CAN GET THE MONEY. >> I SUSPECT THEY HAVE

CRITERIA. >> THEY MIGHT. I DON'T KNOW.

AS WE OUGHT TO KNOW. DO YOU ARE NO, IN TERMS OF, DO THEY WANT YOU TO HAVE A PLAN ON WHO IT'S GOING TO GO TO BEFORE YOU ASKED

FOR THE MONEY? >> I WILL TELL YOU, EVENTUALLY THEY ARE GOING TO WANT TO KNOW, MAYBE NOT SPECIFICALLY TO THE

PROPERTY ADDRESS. >> ON DEBRIS COLLECTION, I DON'T THINK THEY SAY BEFORE YOU ASKED FOR REIMBURSEMENT AND BEFORE YOU ASK FOR THE ABILITY TO DRAW THAT MONEY FOR DEBRIS COLLECTION AND THEY WANT TO KNOW WHO'S DEBRIS ARE YOU GOING TO COLLECT? I DON'T THINK THEY DO. WE WOULD KNOW THAT RIGHT NOW BECAUSE WE HAVE AWARDED A CONTRACT.

>> IF YOU ARE TO BRING TO THE DEBRIS IN THE RIGHT AWAY, WE

DON'T HAVE TO LET THEM KNOW. >> AT LEAST FIND OUT, BUT I AGREE. I AM SENSITIVE TO THOSE FOR MY PEOPLE, WHEREVER THEY LIVE, BUT I'M ALSO SENSITIVE AND MAKING SURE THAT WE DON'T JUST GO AND TAKE CARE TO FOCUS DARKLY, THAT MAYBE THE COUNTY HAS LOOKED AT FIRST BECAUSE THEY MAKE THE MOST NOISE, BUT HOW THIS PROPERTY ALL OVER THIS COUNTIES. ARE WE GOING TO TALK ABOUT PRIVATE PROPERTY COUNTYWIDE OR ARE WE JUST TALKING ABOUT UNINCORPORATED OR WHAT ARE WE TALKING ABOUT ON

THIS ISSUE? >> COMMISSIONER, THIS GETS INTO JURISDICTIONAL TYPE OF BOUNDARIES IS MY UNDERSTANDING THAT IT WOULD JUST BE UNINCORPORATED HARRIS COUNTY.

>> OKAY. >> MAYBE IF WE DO THAT, THE CITY WILL CONSIDER DOING SOMETHING SIMILAR. I WANT TO ASK COMMISSIONER RAMSEY ON THE SELECTION CRITERIA AND I THINK WE ARE COMING TO WE CAN ASK AND WE CAN GO FROM THERE.

>> YOU WHEN A MOTION ON THAT? AT LEAST WE AGREED TO APPLY TO

GIVE US THE OPTION. >> YEAH.

>> BEFORE WE TAKE ANY VOTES ON THIS, I KNOW THERE IS ONE

SPEAKER. >> LET ME ASK A QUESTION TOO, WHICH IS, ON COMMISSIONER RAMSEY'S POINT ABOUT HOW TO QUALIFY, I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT I'M UNDERSTANDING WHAT YOU ARE SAYING. I HAD, YOU HAVE, FOR ANY KIND OF PUBLIC PROGRAM, YOU SET A CRITERIA LIKE X PERCENT OF THE POVERTY LINE HAS TO HAVE LOST X AMOUNT DURING A DISASTER OR WHATEVER IT IS AND YOU APPLY THAT ACROSS THE BOARD, SO WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE TO SEE, HYPOTHETICALLY, IF THIS GETS APPROVED? ARE YOU SAYING TO NOT PUT THE THRESHOLD AS LOW? I'M JUST SAYING, LIKE YOUR COMMUNITY DOES HAVE POVERTY SO THAT PEOPLE THAT ARE IN THAT LEVEL WOULD NEED AND THEN THOSE PEOPLE THAT ARE AND WHAT NOT. RIGHT? ARE YOU SAYING THAT SHOULD BE DIFFERENT PER

PRECINCT? >> JUDGE, SPECIFICALLY, I WAS IN THE AREA A LOT ON SATURDAY. THERE WERE 90% WITHOUT POWER ON SATURDAY AND THERE IS A LOT OF FOLKS OUT THERE JUST JUDGING ON WHOSE CAR I PUT ICE IN AND WHOSE CAR I PUT WATER IN AND THEY WERE PEOPLE IN NEED AND WHETHER IT MEETS SOME ARBITRARY CRITERIA CREATED IN A VACUUM, ALL I KNOW IS THERE WERE MANY NEIGHBORHOODS I WENT INTO THIS WEEKEND WITH PEOPLE IN NEED.

THAT IS WANT TO BE SURE THAT IT'S NOT ARBITRARY, IT DOESN'T RESTRICT, AS WE'VE DONE IN SOME CASES, LIMITS IT TO CERTAIN ZIP CODES, NOT PRECINCT 3, SO IT NEEDS TO BE, AND I THINK COMMISSIONER ELLIS HAS SAID THAT, WE NEED TO BE SURE THAT WE UNDERSTAND THE CRITERIA AND BE FAIR BECAUSE

[00:40:02]

OUR COUNTY. >> YES, I THINK THAT'S WHAT I'M NOT GETTING. WHAT WOULD BE NOT ARBITRARY? IF WE SAID, OKAY, IN THE ZIP CODES WHERE THERE IS THIS PERCENTAGE OF POOR PEOPLE, SOME ZIP CODES ARE GOING TO NEED IT AND SOME ZIP CODES ARE NOT GOING TO MEET IT.

>> WHICH IS WHAT THE COURTS HAVE DONE IN THE PAST AND I HOPE WE DON'T DO IT ON THIS ONE.

>> YOU ARE SAYING NOT BY ZIP CODE, BUT INDIVIDUAL.

>> THAT'S MY FEEDBACK. IT'S INDIVIDUAL. THERE ARE HOMES AND NEIGHBORHOODS THAT YOU WOULD CONSIDER .

>> RIGHT. BUT THERE ARE PEOPLE THAT ARE UNDERSERVED.

>> PEOPLE ARE GOING TO HAVE TO MOVE BECAUSE THEY CAN'T AFFORD TO REMOVE A TREE FROM THEIR HOUSE.

>> IT REMINDS ME OF THE FOLKS ON THE EAST FOR THE EAST SIDE OF THE RIVER, LIVING ALONG THE RIVER. BY THE WAY, I'M WONDERING WHATEVER HAPPENED WITH THOSE FOLKS. WE CAN TALK ABOUT IT LATER. COMMISSIONER BRIONES, DID YOU HAVE A

QUESTION ? >> IT SEEMS LIKE WE ALL AGREE, LET'S ASK FEMA AND IF WE ARE GRANTED APPROVAL, THEN WE CAN CREATE ALIGNMENT AMONG THE FIVE OF US AS TO HOW THAT WILL BE OPERATIONALIZED. IN TERMS OF OPERATIONAL, I KNOW ALL OF US HERE HAVE SPENT THE LAST WEEK OUT IN THE FIELD AND I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU TO ALL OF OUR COUNTY PARTNERS AND FIRST RESPONDERS. WE KNOW THE NEED IS TREMENDOUS, SO TO ME, THE WAY THAT I SEE THIS AS WE NEED TO THANK EVERYONE THAT HAS BEEN DONE, BUT WE ALSO KNOW THAT WE ARE STILL CLEANING UP AND PATIENCE IS NOT A VIRTUE I POSSESS. I LOOK FORWARD TO HOPEFULLY GETTING A POSITIVE ANSWER ON HIS PRIVATE PROPERTY ISSUE, AND AS WE EVEN FOCUS ON GOVERNMENT PROPERTY, WE NEED TO FIND BETTER WAYS TO GO FASTER AND BETTER DELIVER. WHAT WE CAN DO, IN TERMS OF OUR ROAD AND BRIDGE CREWS AND OUR OWN COUNTY RESOURCES, AND I LOOK FORWARD AND I'M SO THANKFUL TO THE STATE PARTNERS FOR HOW SUPPORTIVE THEY HAVE BEEN, TO THE COUNTY INTO THE PRECINCTS AND I LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH THEM. WHAT CAN WE DO SO THAT WE DON'T HAVE TO WAIT 72 HOURS FOR THE PODS. I JUST WANT TO THANK ALL OF THE PARTNERS , NONPROFIT, MIKE USED IN FOOD BANK AND CORPORATE PARTNERS LIKE HEB AND WALMART AND COCA-COLA AND SO MANY THAT STEPPED UP TO FILL THAT NEED IMMEDIATELY, SO I JUST WANT US TO BE PREPARED, NOT ONLY TO RESPOND AND RESPOND QUICKLY, BUT ALSO, WHAT MORE CAN WE DO PROACTIVELY SO THAT IMMEDIATELY AFTER A DISASTER, WE CAN BE THERE TO SERVE AND I JUST WANT TO THANK OUR ROAD AND BRIDGE CREW AND I KNOW WHY THE PRECINCTS, MY TEAM, AS SOON AS IT WAS SAFE TO GET ON THE ROADS, THEY HAVE ALREADY PICKED UP 400 DUMP TRUCKS OF DEBRIS AND MORE, I'M SURE, BY THIS MORNING AND, YOU KNOW, WE HAD ABOUT 6000 FOLKS IN OUR COOLING CENTERS. ABOUT 6000 FAMILIES THAT CAME TO THE DISTRIBUTION LINES AND I KNOW ALL OF US ARE RUNNING AT THAT. WHAT MORE CAN WE DO IN COLLABORATION WITH THE FEDERAL AND STATE GOVERNMENT SO THAT WE ARE PREPARED, NOT ONLY TO RESPOND IN THE WEEKS THAT COMES, BUT ALSO JUST SO WE HAVE THE RESOURCES AVAILABLE. IN SUM, I LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING WHAT ENTER THEY GIVE US, BUT IN THE MEANTIME FROM A CONTRACTUAL STANDPOINT, THE LAST THING I WANT IS TO SLOW DOWN WHAT WE ARE ABLE TO DELIVER. ON THE CONTRARY, I WANT TO FIND

CREATIVE WAYS TO EXPEDITE. >> JUDGE, IT'S BEEN A LITTLE

OVER 10 MINUTES. >> MOTION BY COMMISSIONER GARCIA IS SECONDED BY BRIONES TO EXTEND THE SECTION. ALL IN FAVOR? ANY OPPOSE? MOTION CARRIES IT ENDLESSLY. YES,

COMMISSIONER ELLIS. >> I KNOW WE WANT TO THANK OUR STAFF, BUT ON THIS ISSUE, I JUST WANT TO STRESS THAT I THINK WE OUGHT TO MOVE FORWARD TO DRAW DOWN THE MONEY IF WE CAN GET IT. NOBODY IS A 75% TO 25% MATCH AND OTHER CITIES THAT DON'T APPLY, NOT JUST USE THE, PASADENA, ANY OF THE OTHER CITIES THAT DON'T APPLY FOR IT, WE WOULD NOT GO ON PRIVATE PROPERTY IN THOSE JURISDICTIONS AS WELL. THAT IS WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THAT IS CLEAR AND COMMISSIONER RAMSEY, I THINK THAT WE ARE ALL SENSITIVE TO POVERTY IN EVERY PRECINCT. I WANT TO STRESS THAT I DON'T THINK ANYBODY WANTS TO MOVE INTO A PRECINCT THAT HAS THE LARGE INCOME ZIP CODES. MORE OF THEM, JUST TO STRESS, WOULD GO THE OTHER WAY. MOST OF OUR MONEY FOR FEDERAL AID HAS FOLLOWED, AS YOU KNOW. THE COST BENEFIT RATIO, BUT UNFORTUNATELY, THOSE PEOPLE IN NEIGHBORHOODS THAT DIDN'T GET ANYTHING, COULDN'T AFFORD A

HOUSE. >> LET ME TO THE SHOCKING INFORMATION I FOUND OUT AND WAS GOING TO HAVE THIS CONVERSATION, BUT NOW IS A GOOD TIME TO BRING IT UP. FEMA JUST

[00:45:01]

>> I WANT TO STRESS TO YOU, IT MAY BE BECAUSE POVERTY IS JUST SO TREMENDOUS IN THIS COUNTY. THE NUMBER GOES UP A BIT, IN TERMS OF WHO QUALIFIES AS POVERTY, SO IT MAY BE MORE OF A STATEMENT ABOUT HOW MUCH NEED WE HAVE. I MEAN, I'M ALL FOR LOBBYING FOR IT BUT THE FEDS ONLY DEAL WITH A PART OF THAT.

>> WE ARE PURSUING GRANT MONEY. >> I GOT IT. THE KEY IS TO GET AWAY FROM THAT LMI CATEGORY WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT THESE PRICES BECAUSE AS A SEPARATE ISSUE AND I THINK I HEAR CONSENSUS ON THIS ONCE, SO THE FIRST, CAN WE AGREE THAT WE ARE

GOING TO APPLY? >> I HAVE A POINT OF THIS.

>> YES, COMMISSIONER GARCIA, AND THEN WE WILL TAKE THE

SPEAKER. >> ONE OF THE COMPONENTS THAT HAVE BEEN VERY, VERY HELPFUL TO FOLKS IN MY PRECINCT IS THE COLLABORATION THAT WE HAVE WITH NEW HOUSTON, WHICH IS THE LABOR COMPONENT AND SO I WOULD WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT IF WE ARE SUCCESSFUL IN GETTING INFORMATION TO DO THIS, THEN NEW HOUSTON IS INCLUDED ON THIS. I WOULD LIKE TO HEAR THAT IN THE MOTION BECAUSE THEY HAVE JUST BEEN INCREDIBLY PHENOMENAL AT HELPING THOSE FAMILIES THAT HAVE THOSE GREAT CHALLENGES, BUT THEY DO STOP SHORT OF THE MOST KEPT DAMAGES THAT PEOPLE HAVE AND SO THAT MAY BE A WAY FOR US TO DIFFERENTIATE THE GREATEST NEED FROM NEED, AND SO I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE SURE THAT YOUR MOTION INCLUDES THAT WE WOULD LOOK ON WAYS TO INCLUDE

NEW HOUSTON INTO THIS. >> I LIKE THIS. OBVIOUSLY IF THEY MEET THE GUIDELINES BECAUSE WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE CONTROL THE MONEY BUT I THINK THAT WE HAVE ONE SPEAKER.

>> WE WILL TAKE THE SPEAKER. >> SPEAKER NUMBER 15, YOU HAVE

ONE MINUTE. >> HONORABLE JUDGE HIDALGO AND ESTEEMED COMMISSIONERS REGARDING AGENDA ITEM 278 AND OUR RESPONSE TO HURRICANE BERYL, I PRESENT A COMPREHENSIVE TWELVE-STEP RESILIENCE PLAN THAT ADDRESSES, NOT JUST RECOVERY, BUT FUTURE PREVENTION AND PREPAREDNESS.

OUR PLAN DEVELOPED AND IT INCLUDES INNOVATIVE SOLUTIONS LIKE COMMUNITY POWER STATIONS AND NASA INSPIRED RESOURCE HUBS. ALIGNS PERFECTLY WITH CHAPTER 418 OF THE TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE ADDRESSING DISASTER RESPONSE DEBRIS REMOVAL AND RECOVERY. THIS 226,000,007 YEAR INVESTMENT WILL SAVE BILLIONS IN FUTURE DISASTER COSTS, CREATE THOUSANDS OF JOBS AND TRANSFORM HARRIS COUNTY INTO A NATIONAL MODEL OF URBAN RESILIENCE. I RESPECTFULLY REQUEST THE OPPORTUNITY TO PRESENT OUR FULL PROPOSAL , WHICH INCLUDES A

FRAMEWORK FOR IMPLEMENTATION. >> YOUR TIME IS UP.

>> FUNDING AND CONTRACT OPPORTUNITY.

>> THANK YOU. WE GOT IT. THANK YOU.

>> WHICH GROUP ARE YOU WITH? >> SO WELL INTERNATIONAL, THE

NORTH PACIFIC CLUB . >> OKAY. OKAY. WE LOOK FORWARD TO READING IT. THANK YOU SO MUCH.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH. >> THE MOTION IS THE WIND THAT YOU PRESENTED AND ADD THIS ADDENDUM AND SEE IF, NOT FOR PROFIT, LIKE NEW HOUSTON COULD BE INCLUDED.

>> OKAY. >> DOES THAT WORK?

>> OKAY. SO THE MOTION WILL BE OH MY GOODNESS. JUST A MOMENT,

YOU GUYS. I SWITCHED COMPUTERS. >> JAY, WHILE SHE'S LOOKING FOR THAT , I ASSUME THE PROCUREMENT PROCESS, WE WOULD HAVE TO GO THROUGH FOR ANY PARTNER THAT WOULD EXCEED THE $50,000 THRESHOLD? CORRECT? ALL APPLICABLE LAWS AND REGULATIONS

OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT. >> YEAH.

>> THE PART WE ARE ADDING, WE WILL SEE FOR NOT FOR PROFITS

[00:50:03]

>> OKAY. THE MOTION HERE WOULD BE TO DIRECT ENGINEERING AND HRM TO ENGAGE FEMA TO OBTAIN PREAPPROVAL FOR DEBRIS REMOVAL ON PRIVATE PROPERTY AND ROADS AND TO WORK WITH RELEVANT COUNTY DEPARTMENTS TO ACCOMPLISH THE PURPOSE OF THIS DIRECTIVE AND TO ALSO CONSIDER WHETHER NONPROFITS WOULD QUALIFY FOR THIS. DOES THAT SOUND ABOUT RIGHT?

>> NONPROFITS WOULD QUALIFY TO DO THE REMOVAL AS WELL.

>> RIGHT. I MEAN, RIGHT. YOU GUYS WOULD GO THROUGH THAT BASIC LEGAL AND MEET REQUIREMENTS.

>> YES. >> IS THERE A MOTION?

>> SO MOVED. >> A SECOND? ALL IN FAVOR? ANY A POST? MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY. OKAY. LET'S GO TO THE THIRD ONE. COMMISSIONER RAMSEY, STILL GOING TO COME BACK TO THE FIRST ONE, BUT I JUST WANT TO HAVE ALL OF THE INFORMATION HERE. ALL RIGHT. SO THIS IS FLOOD RISK CONTROL REQUESTING APPROVAL TO RELEASE UP TO $10 MILLION FOR THEIR RESERVE FUNDS FOR REMOVING DEBRIS WITHIN CHANNELS, DOWNED TREES, STORM DEBRIS AND THEY HAVE RESERVED FUNDS FOR THAT.

CORRECT, DOCTOR PETERSON? OKAY. SO THAT MOTION WOULD BE TO DIRECT THE FLOOD CONTROL DISTRICT AND THE OFFICE OF MANAGEMENT AND BUDGET TO WORK WITH RELATIVE IT OFFICES TO REMOVE UP TO $10 MILLION FROM THE FLOOD CONTROL DISTRICT 2890 RESERVED FUNDS INTO THE MAINTENANCE FUND FOR DISASTER

RECOVERY EXPENSES . >> SECOND.

>> MOTION BACK TO MR. GARCIA AND SECOND BY COMMISSIONER

ELLIS. ANY COMMENTS? >> JUST AS DIRECTOR PETERS AND I TALKED THIS WEEK, I CAN'T THINK OF ANYTHING MORE IMPORTANT THAN FOCUSING ON THOSE CHANNELS BECAUSE WHEN A TREE IS IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD, IT'S PRETTY OBVIOUS WHAT YOU NEEDED TO DO, BUT WHEN DEBRIS IS DOWN IN A HARD TO GET TO LOCATION ON A CREEK IN THE MIDDLE OF NOWHERE, WE DON'T KNOW IT INTO THE NEXT STORM COMES AND HALF OF HARRIS COUNTY IS FLOODED. WITH HIGH DEGREE OF URGENCY, I SUPPORT THE MOTION AND APPRECIATE DIRECTOR PETERSON'S PRIORITY THAT YOU

HAVE ALREADY GIVEN US. >> DIRECTOR PETERSON, IS $10 MILLION ENOUGH? BY THE WAY, I WON'T PUT ANY -- I WON'T SUGGEST ANY CRITERIA, BUT WILL YOU GET THE TREES WHEREVER THEY

ARE? RICH OR POOR? >> GOOD AFTERNOON OR MORNING.

WE ARE STILL MORNING. FELT LIKE THE AFTERNOON ALREADY. TO YOUR POINT, COMMISSIONER ELLIS, WE DO BELIEVE $10 MILLION IS ENOUGH. THESE FUNDS WILL BE REIMBURSABLE TO FEMA, SO REALLY OUR PRIORITY AS COMMISSIONER RAMSEY POINTED OUT IS TO JUST MOVE QUICKLY. WE KNOW THAT WE ARE AT THE BEGINNING OF HURRICANE SEASON, NOT THE END AND WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE OUT REMOVING THIS DEBRIS AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE . SO WITH THESE $10 MILLION WILL DO IS HELP US PAY FOR CONTRACT SUPPORT AND REALLY STAFF AUGMENTATION TO SUPPORT OUR DAMAGE ASSESSMENTS, AS WELL AS OUR DEBRIS REMOVAL OPERATIONS, AS WELL AS THE ACTUAL FUNDING FOR THE DEBRIS CONTRACTOR.

>> THANK YOU. >> COMMISSIONER BRIONES.

>> I ECHO MY COLLEAGUE SENTIMENTS. THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING YOU DO TO KEEP OUR COUNTY SAFE AND I LOOK FORWARD TO OUR DISCUSSION LATER TODAY ON DEFERRED MAINTENANCE, BUT JUST SEEING THE POSITIVE IMPACT THE PROJECT HAD IN KEEPING OUR COMMUNITY SAFE AND VARIOUS OTHER FLOOD MITIGATION PROJECTS, WHAT YOU ARE DOING IS OF CRITICAL IMPORTANCE WE ARE GRATEFUL FOR YOUR PARTNERSHIP AND I WILL SUPPORT THIS MOTION.

>> OKAY. SO WE HAVE A MOTION BY COMMISSIONER ELLIS. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER GARCIA. I FORGOT WHO MADE THE SECOND.

>> COMMISSIONER ELLIS MADE THE SECOND.

>> GOT IT. ALL IN FAVOR? ANY A POST? MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY. YES, ALL THE FLOOD CONTROL FOLKS, BUDGET, NO UNIVERSAL SERVICES, YOU WERE THERE ALSO ALL MY AND WORKING ALL THE TIME AND I'M GLAD YOU BROUGHT THAT UP, COMMISSIONER BRIONES. OKAY. MOTION FOUR, VERY IMPORTANT FOR EMPLOYEES.

THIS WILL APPROVE OVERTIME CASH OUT FOR EMPLOYEES. WE NEED A MOTION TO AUTHORIZE EMPLOYEES TO CASH OUT COMPENSATORY TIME EARNED THROUGH THE PAY PERIOD ENDING AUGUST 9TH, 2024 FOR RESPONSE AND RECOVERY EFFORTS IN CONNECTION TO HURRICANE.

>> SO MOVED. >> SECOND.

>> MOTION BY THE COMMISSIONERS. ALL IN FAVOR? ANY OPPOSE? MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY. THANK YOU TO ALL OF OUR EMPLOYEES. MOTION FIVE. THIS IS TO SUPPORT DEBRIS REMOVAL

[00:55:04]

>> SO MOVED. >> SECOND.

>> IS SOMEONE FROM ENGINEERING ON HERE?

>> YES, THIS IS JOHN DICE. WE CAN EXPLAIN THOSE. WE GOT THOSE THROUGH PETRA TECH. THEY DID THE ESTIMATES FOR THE DEBRIS REMOVAL AND THEY ARE THE MONITOR.

>> OKAY. AND THEN -- HI, GOOD MORNING, YOU GUYS. WITH THAT ALLOW YOU TO DO EVERYTHING YOU ARE ANTICIPATING MEETINGS OR?

>> WE PUT IN THERE NOT TO EXCEED IF WE DO LOOK LIKE WE ARE GOING TO EXCEED THAT, WE WILL COME BACK TO THE COURT,

BUT WE WOULD EXPECT NOT. >> OKAY. YOU THINK THAT IS

ABOUT WHAT YOU ARE PREDICTING? >> CORRECT.

>> OKAY. >> OKAY. GREAT. WE HAVE A MOTION IN A SECOND. DID YOU GET THAT DOWN? ALL IN FAVOR? ANY OPPOSE? MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY . AND THEN THERE IS ONE MOTION TO APPROVE THE ITEM AS PRESENTED IN THIS WILL ALLOW THAT DEBRIS MANAGEMENT OPERATIONS BEGIN IMMEDIATELY BY -- YEAH. OKAY. CAN WE DO THIS WITHOUT HAVING MADE THE DISASTER DECLARATION EXTENSION OR DO WE HAVE TO GO THERE?

>> JUDGE, YEAH. I GUESS THAT'S MY QUESTION. I KNOW YOU WANTED TO WAIT ON THAT ONE. THE DECLARATION, I THINK, EXPIRED

YESTERDAY. >> YEAH. OKAY.

>> WE NEED TO GO BACK AND DO NUMBER ONE IS WHAT YOU ARE

SAYING? >> OKAY. OKAY. OKAY. OKAY. SO GOING BACK TO NUMBER ONE, ALL RIGHT, SO IT HAS ALREADY BEEN USED TO STATION ORDER TO ENSURE THAT DEBRIS MANAGEMENT OPERATIONS COULD BEGIN IMMEDIATELY, IN OTHER WORDS, THAT USE AFTER THE STORM, NEW PURCHASE ORDERS WERE ISSUED ON JULY 10TH FOR THE DEBRIS HOLLER, WHICH IS A DRC CONTRACT HOLDING $2 MILLION IN THE DEBRIS MONITOR, WHICH IS TETRA TECH TOTALING $500,000 FOR HURRICANE BERYL RECOVERY AND SO THAT IS WHAT WE HAVE USED IT FOR SO FAR. GOING FORWARD, I'M TOLD WE NEED TO EXTEND IT, BUT I BASICALLY WHAT OF THE REASONS THERE GIVEN ME HERE IS THAT IF WE EXTENDED, WE DON'T HAVE TO HAVE AN EMERGENCY COURT TO BE CALLED TO EXTEND IT BECAUSE THERE IS A COMMISSIONERS COURT MEETING SCHEDULED FOR AUGUST 6TH , AND THEN IN CASE WE NEED ADDITIONAL PROCUREMENT, BUT I WOULD LIKE TO UNDERSTAND ON WHAT. I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO UNDERSTAND, DO WE AS COURT NEED TO CERTIFY THE DEBRIS HOLLER AND DEBRIS MONITOR $500,000. I SEEM TO HAVE REMEMBER THAT WE HAVE DONE THAT IN THE PAST WHERE WE SEND IT AS AN EMERGENCY MATTER AND THEN HE CAME BACK

>> GO AHEAD. I DON'T KNOW IF JOHN WANTED ME TO TAKE IT OR NOT. ON SOME OF THE DEBRIS CONTRACTS, THE WAY THAT THEY WERE PRELOADED, THING, THAT IS HOW WE HAD DONE IT. WE WENT THERE PURCHASING BEFORE. SO THE CONTRACTS ARE, ESSENTIALLY, AVAILABLE UPON THE DISASTER, FOR LACK OF A BETTER WORD AND THEY CAN BE ACTIVATED AT THAT POINT. WE CAN BRING THEM BACK AS A TRANSMITTAL, BUT THESE ARE ALREADY BEEN APPROVED IN ADVANCE BY THE COURT. SO IT'S REALLY UP TO YOUR PREFERENCE. I KNOW DWIGHT IS ON AND HE CAN PROBABLY TALK TO THAT. SPEAK TO

THAT. >> A MORNING. YEAH. THE JUDGE IS CORRECT. WE ACTUALLY HAVE THESE ALL REPOSITION FOR COURT

[01:00:03]

PRE-POSITIONED CONTRACTS. >> SO THIS WOULD BE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE ORDER TO APPROVE THE CURRENT DISASTER DECLARATION TO AUGUST 6, 2024. IT IS MY ASSUMPTION THAT THIS IS VERY MUCH IN LINE WITH WHAT WE HAVE DONE IN THE PAST WHEN

THERE HAVE BEEN DISASTERS. >> THAT IS CORRECT, COMMISSIONERS. THE COURT HAS EXTENDED IT UNTIL WE ARE PAST

RECOVERY STAGE. >> I'M PREPARED TO MAKE A MOTION, AND I'M ASSUMING IF WE DON'T, TO BREAK FROM WHAT WE HAVE DONE IN THE PAST, THERE ARE THINGS THAT NEED TO BE TENDED TO THE POSSIBLY WILL BE TENDED TO. IS A SURE

IMPRESSION, JUDGE? >> I THINK THAT IT GIVES THE JUDGE AND THE COURT MORE FLEXIBILITY AND SOMETHING THAT NEEDS TO BE DONE ON AN EMERGENCY BASIS AND WE HAVE THAT EXTRA COURT TO RATIFY. THIS IS REALLY CONSISTENT WITH THE WAY THAT WE HAVE DONE IT IN THE PAST.

>> THE PLACES I'VE BEEN IN, IT'S ALWAYS BEEN DONE, SO I

WILL MAKE A MOTION. >> SECOND.

>> ALL IN FAVOR? ANY OPPOSE? I'M GOING TO ABSTAIN SO NOBODY SAYS I'M DOING THIS FOR SOME SORT OF NEFARIOUS REASON. THE

MOTION CARRIES 4-1. >> JUST DON'T MAKE THAT A PRACTICE BECAUSE IF WE EVER NEED INFO, WE WANT YOU TO VOTE

ON IT. >> DON'T MAKE IT A TRADITION, BECAUSE IF WE NEEDED YOUR VOTE, WE WOULD WANT YOU TO DO IT.

>> I KNOW THAT IT HAS BEEN SAID IN THE PAST THAT THIS IS ME GIVING UP TO PEOPLE WHO GIVE ME DONATIONS, BUT THAT'S NOT THE CASE. THEN WE GO BACK TO THE SIXTH ONE, WHICH IS THE ITEM NEEDS TO BE APPROVED AS PRESENTED.

>> SO MOVED. >> THE ITEM. THIS ITEM THAT WE HAVE HAD FIVE MOTIONS SO FAR IN. THE ITEM ITSELF, WHICH IS AUTHORIZATION AND IT SAYS AUTHORIZATION TO EXECUTE APPROVED CONTRACTS FOR A DISASTER RESPONSE, DEBRIS REMOVAL AND RECOVERY PURSUANT TO CHAPTER 418 OF THE TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE, INCLUDING RATIFICATION OF SUCH EXPENDITURES FOR ACTIONS TAKEN OUT OF PUBLIC NECESSITY AND TO ALLEVIATE SUFFERING. I CONFESS, THIS IS ANOTHER ONE THAT I NEED YOU GUYS TO EXPLAIN, BECAUSE THE QUESTIONS THAT I'VE ASKED, THE ANSWERS ARE NOT SATISFYING TO ME.

>> IT'S A LITTLE LEASE TO APPROVE ITEM 278 WOULD BE MY GUESS. THE QUESTION IS, WHY DO WE NEED TO MOVE TO PROVIDE THEM AS PRESENTED? I AM A SAYING THAT ALL THE ITEMS THAT WE JUST

TOOK ARE VALID. >> CORRECT. I THINK WHAT IT IS, ITEM 278 INCLUDES -- AND INCLUDES ITEMS THAT WERE NOT ON THAT LIST. FOR EXAMPLE, THE APPROVED CONTRACTS. IT'S JUST ADDITIONAL LANGUAGE. IT IS A BELT AND SUSPENDERS APPROACH.

>> IT'S WHAT WE'VE DONE EVERY TIME SINCE I'VE BEEN HERE.

>> THAT'S CORRECT. >> I WAS CALLING IT A LEGAL LEASE BECAUSE IT'S BEEN DONE EVERY TIME.

>> THERE IS ANOTHER CONVERSATION WE ARE GOING TO HAVE BEFORE WE GET OFF TO THIS RELATED TO ADDITIONAL AUTHORIZATIONS UNDER THIS CONTRACT. IN OTHER WORDS, WE HAVE AUTHORIZED ONE VENDOR FOR DEBRIS REMOVAL, BUT CLEARLY WE WOULD LIKELY NEED ANOTHER, AND THAT IS A SEPARATE CONVERSATION

FROM THIS. >> ANOTHER CONVERSATION IS TO BE TALKED ABOUT. I THOUGHT THAT WAS A SEPARATE ITEM, ACTUALLY.

>> I THINK IT IS UNDER THIS WENT. I THINK YOU ARE CORRECT.

THIS BEING ABLE TO ISSUE THE PURCHASE ORDER FOR THE SECOND VENDOR AS IN ADDITION TO THE FIRST FENDER, NOT NECESSARILY -- NOT A REPLACEMENT, BUT FOR MORE CAPACITY AND I KNOW THAT JOHN DICE IS ON THE LINE, AND SO WAS SHANE CAROUSEL AND MR. DOBB'S OFFICE AS WELL. WE HAVE ALL DISCUSSED THE ISSUE. THE REASON WHY WE WANTED IT, WHICH IS TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU UNDERSTAND THAT WE ARE WORKING TO GET ALL THE DOCUMENTATION WE NEED TO BE ABLE TO PROVIDE TO FEMA TO MAKE SURE THAT HAVING A SECOND VENDOR THAT MIGHT NOT BE THE LOWEST BIDDER, BUT A LITTLE BIT HIGHER COST, THAT YOU KNOW THAT THERE IS A BIT OF A RISK THAT FEMA WILL PUSH BACK ON THAT REIMBURSEMENT REQUEST, AND WE ARE DOING ALL OF THE WORK RIGHT NOW TOGETHER TO MAKE SURE

[01:05:01]

>> SO AS WE HAVE COMMUNICATED WITH SEVERAL AND TALKED TO DWIGHT AND SHANE AND WE HAVE TALKED AND WE HAVE PUT SOME CONTEXT TO THIS, WE HAVE NOT PICKED UP EVERYTHING FROM THE DRACO. THERE IS STILL DRACO DEBRIS ON THE STREETS IN HARRIS COUNTY, SO THAT NEEDS TO BE UNDERSTOOD IN TWO, THE STORM, HURRICANE BERYL, PUT A LOT MORE DEBRIS, A LOT MORE SPREAD OUT THROUGHOUT THE COUNTY. FOR EXAMPLE, THE DRACO AND MY PRECINCT, BY MANY NUMBERS, WAS MOST HEAVILY IMPACTED AND IMPACTED THE VILLAGES, COPPERFIELD AND CHANNELVIEW.

HURRICANE BERYL, IT WOULD TAKE ME FIVE MINUTES TO LIST ALL THE NEIGHBORHOODS IT HIT . SO WE NEED ADDITIONAL HELP ON THE GROUND. NOT ONLY IN TERMS OF REMOVAL, BUT EQUALLY IMPORTANT IS THE GROUND MANAGERS, THE MONITORS. SO INCLUDED, IN TERMS OF DOCUMENTATION OF THE CONCERN OMA WHICH I'VE HEARD SHANE EXPRESSED CONCERN AND I'VE HEARD YOU EXPRESS CONCERN AND I'VE HEARD DWIGHT EXPRESS CONCERN. IF YOU ARE CONCERNED ABOUT DOCUMENTATION, THEN YOU HAD BETTER GET ANOTHER VENDOR ON BOARD TO HELP DOCUMENT. RIGHT NOW WE HAVE A VENDOR THAT IS DOING THE HOLLER. THERE'S ANOTHER ONE PROPOSED TO DO THE HOLLER AND TETRA TECH IS THE MONITOR. FOLKS, WE HAVE TO GET ANOTHER MONITOR ON BOARD AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. SO I AM ADVOCATING TODAY THAT WE GET, NOT ONLY ANOTHER HAULER ON BOARD AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. I'VE GOT 154 ZONES THAT WE HAVE TO IDENTIFY. IF YOU CARE TO SEE THE ZONES AND HOW MUCH DEBRIS IS IN EACH ONE, WOULD BE HAPPY TO SPEND IT WITH YOU, BUT IF WE CONTINUE UNDER THE CURRENT PLAN, WE WILL NOT BE ABLE TO PICK UP THE DEBRIS. THAT IS JUSTIN PRECINCT 3. THIS IS THE

CASE IN EVERY PRECINCT . >> I SHARE YOUR CONCERNS.

>> THERE ARE COMPELLING REASONS THAT WE ADD THE OTHER VENDOR AND GET OUR DOCUMENTATION ACT TOGETHER. IF WE HAVE ISSUES ON HOW WE DOCUMENT, THEN WE NEED TO ALL STRAP IT ON, GET OUR DETAIL ORGANIZED AND BE SURE THAT WE DOCUMENT IT AND THAT IS ON DWIGHT AND SHANE AND COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR AND TOM RAMSEY AND EVERYBODY ASSOCIATED WITH THAT, THAT WE DOCUMENT IT. I CANNOT ADVOCATE MORE ADAMANTLY THAT THERE ARE MAJOR ISSUES TODAY WITH THE DEBRIS PICK UP, THE DEBRIS MONITORING THE NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED AND WE NEED TO GET THAT ADDITIONAL HELP ON

BOARD ASAP. >> COMMISSIONER GARCIA AND THEN

ALICE AND THEN BRIONES. >> COMMISSIONER RAMSEY, I WANTED TO ECHO YOUR COMMENTS. I KNOW I SEE SOME OF THE VENDORS IN THE ROOM AND I'M NOT SURE WHO IS RESPONSIBLE. THANK YOU FOR TUNING IN. YOU DIDN'T HAVE TO, BUT THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE. WHAT I WANT TO MAKE SURE IS THAT, BECAUSE I'VE ALREADY HEARD SOME OF THIS, WELL THAT IS A POTENTIAL PILE.

WE ARE NOT GOING TO TOUCH THAT ONE. OH. THIS IS GOING TO BE A BARREL PILE. WE WILL TARGET THAT WENT. WE DON'T NEED TO HAVE ANY OF THAT. IT IS DEBRIS AND DEBRIS IS DEBRIS. I NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE FIGURE OUT A SEAMLESS WAY TO ENSURE THAT THE VENDORS GET PAID ACCORDINGLY, BUT NUMBER TWO, THAT WE GET THIS PICKED UP AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE WITHOUT THIS CONVOLUTION OF , WELL, THAT IS NOT MY PILE, THAT IS SOMEBODY ELSE'S PILE OR THAT THE NEW CONTRACTORS PILE. WE NEED TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO RESOLVE THAT VERY, VERY QUICKLY.

>> JUDGE, IS THERE A MOTION TO EXTEND ANOTHER 10 MINUTES?

>> SURE. >> MOTION BY GARCIA AND SECONDED BY RAMSEY. ALL IN FAVOR? ANY OPPOSE? MOTION

CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY. >> JUDGE.

>> YES, COMMISSIONER ELLIS. >> MY QUESTION IS, WHAT IMPACT WILL IT HAVE IF WE BRING IN ANOTHER VENDOR? I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT IT HELPS, IT DOES NOT HURT. I KNOW THAT IF I HAD A CONTRACT AND I HAD TO GO OUT AND HIRE PEOPLE AND UNDER MY

[01:10:03]

THINK IT IS ON YOU, MR. DICE. >> YES, COMMISSIONER. WE HAVE BEEN LOOKING AT THIS. WE THINK THAT WE CAN GET MORE DEBRIS REMOVED AND BE MUCH MORE EFFECTIVE WITH TWO VENDORS. I THINK THAT IS WHAT THE DOCTOR WOULD'VE SAID IF HE WAS STILL

ON THE CALL. >> OKAY. ANYTHING FROM YOUR PART ON THE PURCHASING END? DOCTOR, YOUR BACK. MY UNDERSTANDING IS, YOU THINK WE WILL GET MORE DEBRIS PICKED UP.

I THINK WE LOST YOU AGAIN. I THINK WE LOST YOU. DWIGHT, ANY

CONCERNS ON YOUR PART? >> COMMISSIONER, FROM MY STANDPOINT, WE HAVE THE CONTRACTS IN PLACE. THEY WANT TO ACTIVATE MULTIPLE VENDORS, THEY CAN'T. FROM THE DOCUMENTATION SIMPLY, YOU KNOW, I WAS JUST GIVING MY RECOMMENDATION. WE JUST NEED TO HAVE THAT PERFORMANCE ISSUES THAT MR. RENZI BROUGHT UP TO GET FROM ENGINEERING, WHICH NORMALLY PROVIDES IT TO US. THAT IS THE DOCUMENTATION WE NEED TO HAVE FROM A PROCUREMENT STANDPOINT. ALL I HAVE TO DO IS PUT THE CONTRACTS IN PLACE AND GET THE VENDORS READY TO GO AND WE HAVE ISSUED A PO FOR THE SECONDARY VENDOR.

>> ON THE REIMBURSEMENT SIDE, ANY CONCERNS? WILL THEY GIVE US THE HIGHER RATE OR DO THEY JUST GIVE A 75% OF WHAT WE SPEND,

PERIOD, HOWEVER WE SPEND IT? >> THEY SHOULD GIVE YOU THE RIGHT THAT WE SPEND, AS LONG AS WE CAN JUSTIFY THE REASONING GOING WITH TWO OR THREE VENDORS BASED ON THE SIZE OF THE CAPACITY OF THE PROJECT THAT WE HAVE IN THE VENDOR IS NOT

PROVIDING THE TRUCK TO US. >> DO THEY GIVE US 100% REIMBURSEMENT, THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT OR 75%?

>> COMMISSIONER, RIGHT NOW, IT'S AT 75%.

>> OKAY. IT MEANS THE COST WILL GO UP ON WHAT WE WILL EXPAND, BUT WE WILL GET 75% PERIOD FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT HOWEVER WE DO IT. IF WE WANT TO GO BRING IN A THIRD OR FOURTH ONE, WHICH, BY THE WAY, MIGHT BE AN OPTION. IF IT HELPS BRING IN MORE VENDORS, WITH THAT HELP YOU TO BRING IN MORE THAN TWO?

>> RIGHT NOW WE ARE JUST SAYING TWO . WE HAVEN'T LOOKED INTO A

THIRD WIN YET. >> OKAY. I THINK YOU OUGHT TO LOOK AT IT. THE CONCERN WAS BROUGHT TO MY STAFF, IF YOU BROUGHT IN ANOTHER ONE, WITH THE FIRST DO AS MUCH BECAUSE THAT LOWER RATE, BUT I'M GOING TO FOLLOW YOUR RECOMMENDATION, BUT I WOULD SAY DON'T JUST DO TWO IF IT WILL GET IT UP. GET THREE. FOUR. I DON'T KNOW WHAT MY COLLEAGUES SAID ABOUT THAT, BUT THE ISSUE IS, A QUALIFIED VENDOR, THE MORE THE MERRIER,

HEY. LET'S GET IT UP. >> I THINK THAT TO THE DOCTOR

AND HIS STAFF, WHO I AND THEY >> CASINO, BRIONES WAS NEXT.

>> I'M SORRY. >> USHER THE SENTIMENT. WE ABSOLUTELY NEED TWO, POTENTIALLY MORE, BECAUSE WE ARE STILL PICKING UP THAT DEBRIS AND I KNOW ALL FOUR OF OUR ROAD AND BRIDGE CREWS ARE AMAZING, BUT EVEN WITH THE VENDOR, IT'S NOT SWIFT ENOUGH AND I WORRY ABOUT FUTURE STORMS. MY QUESTION WAS MORE TO COMMISSIONER ELLIS'S BUT IT WAS GOING TO BE DIRECTED AT THE COUNTY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE. ANY CONCERNS FROM YOUR AND WITH ACTIVATING THE SECOND VENDOR?

>> NO, WHEN WE HAD CONVERSATIONS WITH OUTSIDE COUNSEL ABOUT THIS, THERE IS A PROCESS BY WHICH THE SECOND VENDOR CAN BE ACTIVATED AND SO WE FEEL LIKE IF THOSE CONTROLS ARE PUT IN PLACE, WE CAN DO IT. THE EXISTING RFP ACTUALLY ALLOWS FOR GREATER FLEXIBILITY . FOR EXAMPLE, THE CITY OF HOUSTON, THE WAY THAT HER CONTRACT IS STRUCTURED, THEY

[01:15:01]

>> OUT OF CURIOSITY WITH HER TO THE FOLKS ABILITY IN THE CONTRACT, IF, KNOCK ON WOOD, IF ANOTHER STORM HITS THIS SUMMER, DOES THE CURRENT CONTRACT ALLOW US TO ACTIVATE A THIRD, FOURTH,

ET CETERA? >> YES, THERE IS NO LIMIT TO IT. THERE'S NO LIMITATION THAT SAYS THAT YOU ARE LIMITED TO ONE VENDOR. I THINK THAT DWIGHT CAN SPEAK TO IT. I THINK HE IS FAMILIAR CERTAINLY MORE THAN I AM, BUT WE DIDN'T MAKE THAT SPECIFICATION UNDER THE RFP THAT YOU ARE LIMITED TO ONE.

>> MY LAST QUESTION, DWIGHT, AND IF YOU CAN ROLL THIS IN WITH THE RESPONSE YOU ARE ABOUT TO GIVE TO JAY, BUT HOW SOON, IF THIS IS PASSED TODAY AT COURT, HOW KUHN CAN WE HAVE THE ADDITIONAL VENDOR AND I AGREE WITH THE ADDITIONAL MONITORING AS WELL. HOW SOON COULD THEY BE ON THE GROUND?

>> COMMISSIONER, WE HAVE ISSUED A CONFIRMING TO ENGINEERING THIS PAST WEEKEND. I ASSUME JOHN AND THEM HAVE BEEN IN CONTACT WITH THE SECONDARY VENDORS, BOTH OF THEM, BECAUSE THAT HAPPENED LAST FRIDAY OR SATURDAY. I CAN'T SAY WHAT DATES ARE COMING IN, COMMISSIONER, BUT I KNOW WE HAVE ISSUED CONFIRMING THE PO'S.

>> THIS IS JOHN DICE AGAIN. WE CAN START TOMORROW . WE JUST

NEED A MOTION TO DO SO. >> COMMISSIONER RAMSEY. THANK

YOU. COMMISSIONER RAMSEY. >> JUST QUICKLY, AGAIN, IS JUST AS IMPORTANT ON THE MONITORING SIDE THAT WE GET THAT CONTRACT.

I WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE COUNTY ENGINEERS OFFICE. WHEN THEY ARE OUT THERE TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHAT TO DO NEXT, THEY ARE MAKING THAT ENGINEERING DECISIONS, NOT SITTING AND LOOKING AT CONTRACTS ON WHAT VENDOR MAKES MORE MONEY OR WHAT CONTRACT. THEY ARE TRYING TO GET ASSETS AND RESOURCES PROPERLY DIRECTED. IT'S TO THEIR CREDIT. COMMISSIONER, I HAD THE SAME KIND OF QUESTIONS, BUT HAVING EXPERIENCE AND THE PROCESS THAT THEY ARE LOOKING AT ASSIGNING AND MAKING ASSIGNMENTS AND DOING THE JOB, THEY HAVE REALLY TRIED IT TO STICK TO IT FROM AN ENGINEERING

PERSPECTIVE. >> A QUICK QUESTION, JUDGE.

WHAT IS THE CITY DOING? HOW MANY VENDORS DO THEY HAVE? ONE,

TWO, THREE, FOUR? >> I THINK DWIGHT CAN ANSWER, BUT MY UNDERSTANDING WAS TO HAVE AT LEAST TWO.

>> DO YOU KNOW, DWIGHT? >> YES, THEY HAVE TWO. THE SAME

TWO VENDORS THAT WE HAVE. >> IF WE BROUGHT IN A THIRD, WHO IS THE THIRD ONE? WHO IS NEXT WEEK

>> I WOULD HAVE TO PULL THAT LIST UP. I DON'T HAVE THE NAME OF THE TOP OF MY HEAD, BUT I DO HAVE THREE IN LINE.

>> I WOULD HOPE THAT IF WE ARE IN THE SAME REGION, TRASH IN OUR CITY AND THE CITY OF HOUSTON AND OTHER CITIES, SO IF THEY GO TO THREE, I HOPE YOU WILL GO TO THREE AS WELL IF THAT IS SOME RATIONAL FOR YOU. OKAY.

>> AGAIN, THE CONTRACTS ARE AVAILABLE AND UNDERSTAND THAT ENGINEERING IS NOT FOCUSING ON THE DEBRIS REMOVAL, BUT WITHOUT US KNOWING ANY HISTORY ABOUT THE CAPACITY OR THE NUMBER OF WORK FOR SHAYNA TO DO, WE WILL EXECUTE THE CONTRACTS AS NEEDED BASED ON WHERE THEIR REQUESTS ARE.

>> YOU REMEMBER OUR THIRD ONE OR FOURTH WANT FOR THAT MATTER?

DOES THE PRICE GO UP ANY? >> YES, SIR. IT DOES GO UP

SOME. YES, SIR. >> OKAY. ALL THREE OF THEM GO UP IN PRICE. THE QUESTION IS, I KNOW SOME FOLKS HAVE ASKED ABOUT BLENDED RATES ARE I'M GOING TO REACH OUT TO FEMA TO SEE IF THEY CAN GIVE US GUIDANCE ON BLENDED RATES BECAUSE IN THE PAST THEY HAVE NOT APPROVED WINDED RATES, MEANING THAT WOULD ALLOW THE VENDORS TO COME TO THE

CONCLUSION ON THE AVERAGE COST. >> SEE, IF WE WERE DOING IT AGAIN, THAT WOULD BE MY CONCERN. I'M NOT IN THE TRASH PICKING UP BUSINESS, BUT I WAS AN INVESTMENT BANKER AND IF I WENT IN AND BED AND I AGREED THAT I TAKE AS MANY BONDS AT A CERTAIN PRICE AND THEY DECIDED, WELL, WE ARE GOING TO GO TO THE NEXT PERSON WHO'S ALSO GOING TO TROT OUT SOME OF THOSE BONDS AT A HIGHER PRICE. YOU KNOW, I'M NOT SURE I WOULD BUY AS MANY. THAT IS MY CONCERN. IF IT'S NOT A VALID CONCERN, I'M FINE AND IF YOU ARE TELLING ME IT'S NOT WANT, I WOULD SAY BRING IN AS MANY AS YOU CAN BUT THE NEXT TIME WE DO IT, WE OUGHT TO SEE IF THERE IS SOME WAY IN THE RFP WHEN YOU BRING IN ANOTHER WANT TO HAVE A BLENDED RATE BECAUSE I DO WONDER, COLLEAGUES, SINCERELY, WHY WOULD ONE VENDOR THEY SHUT THINK I AM RIGHT, MR. DICE. DO THEY HAVE ALL OF THESE TRUCKS AND PEOPLE OR WHEN DO THEY SHOW UP, THEY HAVE TO GO HIGHER FOLKS OR FIND FOLKS AROUND THE REGION OR COUNTRY TO GET IT UP.

>> I UNDERSTAND, COMMISSIONER, THAT THERE IS ABOUT 50 TRUCKS

ALREADY HERE. >> 36? FROM OTHER PLACES OR AT

A LOCAL STORY >> NO, THEY WERE BROUGHT IN.

[01:20:02]

>> OKAY. IF I WERE ONE OF THOSE, I WOULD GO -- I HOPE THEY DON'T FOLLOW MY BUSINESS MODEL, I HOPE I WOULD GO WHEREVER GET THE HIGHEST RATE , AND WHEN YOU ARE ALL OUT PICKING THIS UP, DO YOU ALL DECIDE THAT YOU ARE DOING IT BY A CERTAIN PRECINCT? THE WAY OUR LINES ARE DRAWN, YOU GO OUT AND PICK IT UP. I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU HAVE THEM TO FIRING WHEN ANOTHER WHEN HIRING VENDORS. I'M NOT A TRASH HAULER, BUT I UNDERSTAND MATH PRETTY GOOD. WHEN YOU WILL PICK IT UP, DO YOU DO IT BY PRECINCT OR DO YOU JUST DO IT BY WHAT IS OUT THERE? THE WAY OUR LINES ARE DRAWN, HOPE YOU ARE NOT DOING IT BY JUST ONE AND TWO AND THREE AND FOUR.

>> COMMISSIONER, THIS IS MILTON. SORRY, MY CONNECTION WITH SOMETHING GREAT. WE DO PICK UP DEBRIS ZONES .

>> THE ZONES, I SAW YOU DO IT BASED ON GEOGRAPHY, NOT

PRECINCTS. >> THAT IS CORRECT. BASED ON THE ZONES WE SET UP AND ALL OF THOSE AREAS. THE LOGISTICS IS

AROUND THE DEBRIS ZONES. >> DO YOU HAVE ANY CONCERNS ABOUT WHEN YOU BRING IN A SECOND OR THIRD ONE OR FOURTH LINE, WHETHER OR NOT THEY GO AND OFFER THE SAME HAULERS A LITTLE MORE MONEY AND WHOEVER PAYS THE MOST WILL GET MORE

HAULERS? >> COMMISSIONER, I DO HAVE CONCERN, BUT I WILL TELL YOU THAT WHEN I WAS ON THE PRIVATE SIDE AND WHEN I HAD MY STOPS, I GAVE THEM HARD CONTRACT SO I HAVE SOMEONE WITH ME AS A SUB, THEY SHOULD GO SOMEWHERE ELSE.

>> I'M GOING TO TRUST YOUR JUDGMENT AND BEFORE WE FINISH, OUR POWER HERE IS BAD TO. I SAY BRING IN AS MANY AS YOU CAN IF YOU FEEL COMFORTABLE WITH THAT.

>> I KNOW COMMISSION BRIONES HAS A COUPLE QUESTIONS AND I JUST WANTED TO GET MY QUESTIONS ROW QUICK. YOU GUYS, THING, EVERYBODY HAS HAD A COUPLE CHANCES TO ASK. I WANT TO JUST UNDERSTAND. WE HAD TETRA TECH AS THE MONITOR, SO THAT IS IS GOING TO BE THE ONE MONITOR STILL?

>> WE ARE ALSO GOING TO BRING IN A SECONDARY MONITOR.

>> OKAY. THAT WAS ALREADY IN THE PLAN?

>> YES. >> OKAY. AS FAR AS THE HAULERS, WE HAD DRC AND -- ANYWAY, YOU ARE GOING TO SAY THAT YOU ARE GOING TO BRING IN TWO MORE HAULERS OR HOW MANY MORE?

>> ONE MORE HAULER AND ONE MORE MONITOR.

>> OKAY. I COULD HAVE SWORN I REMEMBER HAVING THIS CONVERSATION BEFORE, LIKE AFTER THE SHOW AND WE DECIDED IT WASN'T A GOOD IDEA FOR SOME REASON I'M TRYING TO REMEMBER WHY AND IS IT LIKE, YEAH, BECAUSE IF -- WHY WOULDN'T WE HAVE DONE THIS BEFORE IF IT IS SUCH A SIMPLE SOLUTION AND

THERE IS NO DOWNSIDE? >> I WAS TOLD WHEN I WENT THROUGH. I DIDN'T PULL IT OUT OF THE AIR. I WAS TOLD THE LAST

TIME. >> THE OTHER ONES. I REMEMBER -- I WISH I COULD REMEMBER WHO I WAS TALKING TO, BUT THEY HAD SUCH A GOOD POINT ABOUT, YOU KNOW, WE REALLY DON'T WANT TO SPLIT THIS UP. I DON'T KNOW IF IT IS THE SAME WORKERS CAN'T WORK IN BOTH PLACES OR, I DON'T KNOW. ANSWER ME THIS QUESTION, YOU GUYS , JUST FOR MY PEACE OF MIND. THIS WAS SUCH A GOOD IDEA, WHY DIDN'T WE DO IT EARLIER, AND WHAT IS THE

POTENTIAL DOWNSIDE OF THIS? >> INITIALLY THE NUMBER OF TRACKS THAT WAS PROMISED, AND WE ACTUALLY INVESTIGATED THE SAME IDEA AS WELL AND WE THOUGHT ABOUT IT, BUT AGAIN, FOR THE SAME REASON THAT THEY HAVE A RISK OF REIMBURSEMENT, WE BACKED OUT, BUT WE DID INVESTIGATE THESE AND WE THOUGHT THAT IF THE DEBRIS WOULD BE A LOT MORE, WE WOULD DO THIS, BUT AT THIS TIME, CONSIDERING WE STILL HAVE A DEBRIS THAT WE NEED TO PICK UP AND THIS EVENT AND IT'S A WIDESPREAD EVENT AMONG THE STATE, WE THOUGHT, IN ORDER TO GET OUR COMMUNITY BACK QUICKLY, APPLYING A SECONDARY VENDOR IS

A GOOD IDEA. >> OKAY. AS FAR AS ANY POTENTIAL DOWNSIDES OF THE STRATEGY VERSUS THE PREVIOUS

ONE. >> COMMISSIONER, AGAIN -- JUDGE, SORRY. THERE IS THE RISK OF REIMBURSEMENT AND THAT IS WHAT WE ARE TAKING TO GET OUR COMMUNITY BACK QUICKLY.

>> OKAY. OKAY. THANK YOU. I JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT THAT IS SUPER CLEAR BUT I UNDERSTAND AND I THINK IT IS

[01:25:03]

THAT OR IS THAT EVERY THING? >> IT'S A SHAME, IT'S STILL

AT 75%. >> ALWAYS FOR DEBRIS?

>> YES. >> OKAY. OKAY. COMMISSIONER

BRIONES. >> THAT WAS JUST FOR COVID .

FOR COVID THEY CHANGE IT TO 100.

>> YES, THEY USED TO BE SOMETHING AND THEN THEY CHANGED IT. OKAY. WE WILL LAST. YES, COMMISSIONER BRIONES.

>> WITH THE SECOND MONITOR BE ACTIVATED TOMORROW MONTH OF THE SECOND DEBRIS COLLECTOR JUST TO MAKE SURE THAT IT IS BEING

ACTIVATED IN PARALLEL TRACKS? >> YES, COUNTY COMMISSIONER.

>> OKAY. THERE IS ALIGNMENT THERE. FROM A CONTRACTUAL SIMPLY, BECAUSE I SHARE THE CONCERNS ABOUT STRATEGICALLY ALIGNING INCENTIVES AND COSTS IN THE FUTURE AND I KNOW WE ARE BOX INTO THE FOUR CORNERS ON HOW THIS WAS PROCURED. IS THIS AN ANNUAL RENEWAL TYPE OF CONTRACT SO THE NEXT YEAR FOR THE FUTURE HURRICANE SEASONS WE CAN OUTLINE IT MORE STRATEGICALLY OR FOR HOW LONG ARE WE BOXED INTO THIS

PARADIGM? >> GO AHEAD.

>> I'M TALKING TO DWIGHT HOW WE CAN SET UP OUR CONTRACTS AFTER THE DISCUSSION WE HAVE WE CAN SAY, HEY, WE CANNOT PICK UP BRINGING A SECONDARY OR WE WILL HAVE MORE STRATEGIC WAY OF DEPLOYING AND STILL BE ABLE TO GET REIMBURSED. WE ARE INVESTIGATING THAT AND LOOKING INTO OTHER COMMUNITIES AND HOW THEY HAD THEIR PROJECT SET UP AND OUR GOAL IS, BEFORE WE COME TO THE NEXT SEASON, WE WILL HAVE A BETTER PLAN OF HOW WE GO AFTER THIS COMPANY AND HAVE MULTIPLE OPTIONS

>> JUDGE. >> I WANTED TO ADD THAT WHEN OF THE THINGS WE HAD RECOMMENDED BEFORE LOOKING AT THIS ISSUE, WAS THE PRICE MATCH ISSUES AND WHEN WE ACTIVATED SECONDARY CONTACT, THE SECONDARY VENDOR, RATHER, THEY WOULD MATCH THE

FIRST. >> THAT'S THE BLENDED PRICE TO

SEE IF WE COULD DO IT. >> CORRECT. NOT THE BLENDED

>> ARE WE ALLOWED TO DO THE MATCH, COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR?

>> THE PRICE MATCH. >> YES, WE CAN IF THE SECONDARY

VENDOR WILL AGREE. >> I THINK IT IS SO MUCH WORK.

AT LEAST WE NEED TO, YOU KNOW, TRY.

>> I DO WORK AND I PREFER YOU TO DO IT AT THE LOWER RATE BUT IF YOU HAD TO DO IT AT THE HIGHER RATE BECAUSE YOU HAVE A ROMANCE, IF YOU HAVE THE PERSON WHO HAS MORE MONEY PICKING UP THE MOST, I THINK AFTER HARVEY, I'M NOT SURE, BUT AFTER HARVEY, DID WE GET A SECOND VENDOR? DO YOU KNOW? YOU WERE

HERE. >> COMMISSIONER, WE DID GO WITH THE SECONDARY VENDOR, BUT IT WAS A LITTLE BIT OF A DIFFERENT SITUATION BECAUSE IT WAS REAL CLEAR THE PRIMARY VENDOR CANNOT

PERFORM. >> WE DID NOT GET REIMBURSED.

DID WE SPEND ABOUT $10 MILLION-$50 MILLION EXTRA?

>> ACTUALLY, THAT WAS A SEPARATE ISSUE INTO YOUR POINT, THERE WAS ANOTHER STORM HITTING THE EAST COAST AND THE HAULERS, BECAUSE THERE IS A LIMITED NUMBER OF THEM, HEADED TO THE EAST COAST AND THERE WAS A BONUS PAYMENT THAT THE COUNTY DID TO TRY AND TRACK THEM BACK AND THERE WERE SOME ISSUES WITH THAT AND WE ENDED UP GOING TO ARBITRATION AND GETTING HALF OF THAT BACK , SO THAT WAS THAT PARTICULAR INSTANCE.

>> WE DIDN'T GET REIMBURSED FOR THAT. WE PAID IT BECAUSE WE WANTED TO GET IT UP AND WE WERE WILLING TO PAY FOR IT.

>> WE WERE SUCCESSFUL IN GETTING THE BONUS PAYMENT BACK THEN AND WE WERE SUCCESSFUL GOING THROUGH ARBITRATION AND

GETTING HALF OF THAT BACK. >> FROM THE FEDS OR WHO?

>> FROM THE FEDS. YES. >> I WOULD LOOK AS AN OPTION GOING ON THE ROAD AS WELL. I AM WILLING TO SUPPORT A MOTION OF

20 YOU WILL MAKE ONE. >> I WILL MAKE A MOTION.

>> THAT IS TO BRING IN THE SECOND VENDOR?

>> AND A SECOND MONITOR. >> AND I MAKE A FRIENDLY ADJUSTMENT? IF NEED BE, TO BRING IN A THIRD.

>> OKAY. DID YOU CATCH THAT, JAMES? IT'S A MOTION TO BRING IN A SECOND HAULER OR VENDOR AND A SECOND MONITOR VENDOR TO PICK UP THE DEBRIS AND IF NECESSARY, BRING IN A THIRD OF

[01:30:11]

>> I DID. >> MOTION BY COMMISSIONER RAMSEY AND SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER GARCIA. ANY IN FAVOR? ANY A POST? MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY. CAN ASK A QUICK QUESTION TO CLARIFY FOR ME IN THE RECORD, THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE BLENDED SITUATION AND THE MATCHING.

>> COMMISSIONER, I'M SORRY. IT WOULD BE A AVERAGE OF ALL THE COST BETWEEN THE TWO VENDORS AND WE WOULD BLEND THOSE COSTS TOGETHER AND IF NOT, YOU ARE GOING TO MATCH THE LOW BIDDERS COST OR THE DRC'S FOR PRIMARY OR MOVE IT TO THE SECONDARY, WHICH IS A HIGHER COST. COMMISSIONER WAS ASKING ABOUT THE TWO DOLLAR DIFFERENCE I THINK IT'S A TWO DOLLAR DIFFERENCE OR A THREE DOLLAR DIFFERENCE IN THE TWO AND WE HAD THE SECOND VENDOR GO TO THE CURRENT VENDOR AND DRC'S COST, OR RETAKE DRC AND MOVE IT UP OR WE TAKE A BLENDED RATE AND MAKE THEM BOTH TAKE THAT RIGHT. THAT'S THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN

THE TWO. >> YOU GUYS ARE GOING TO TRY THE BLENDED ONE EVEN THOUGH WE MAY NOT GET REIMBURSED?

>> NO, MA'AM. I THINK WE CAN ASKED THOSE QUESTIONS, BUT IF THE COURT DECIDES, WE CAN ASSIST QUESTIONS BUT FROM YOUR STANDPOINT, THERE MAY BE A RISK INVOLVED, BUT IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO DO THAT, WE CAN DEFINITELY DO IT UP OR DOWN.

>> I THINK THE ANSWER IS, WE WILL GET 75% FOR WHATEVER WE PAY. I THOUGHT THAT WAS THE SAME. IN MY BLENDER, WHEN HE PUT THE STRAWBERRY IN THE BANANAS IN THEY ARE ABOUT EVEN.

MAYBE THIS IS DIFFERENT, BUT WHATEVER IT IS, WE WILL GET

75%.. >> WE ARE GOING TO LOOK AT ALL THE POSSIBLE STRATEGIES THAT YOU JUST LISTED.

>> YES, MA'AM. WE WILL. >> OKAY. I JUST WANTED TO CLARIFY. THANK YOU. SO DO WE STILL NEED TO MOVE THE ITEM? AT WHAT I'M SEEING HERE IS THAT THE EMERGENCY AUTHORITY WAS MOVED IN THE INTERIM TO GET DEBRIS MANAGEMENT OPERATIONS UP AND RUNNING AND NOW THIS IS THE ITEM WHERE WE APPROVE WHAT HAS ALREADY HAPPENED. THAT'S WHAT I SEEM TO RECALL THAT I WAS

ASKING ABOUT EARLIER. >> CORRECT, JUDGE. NOW THAT WE HAVE DONE THE TWO FOR THE ADDITIONAL HAULER AND MONITOR, THE MAIN ITEM, WHICH IS THE CONTRACT. IF YOU COULD APPROVE THAT AND IF WE ARE GOING TO CONTINUE TALKING ABOUT IT, WE NEED TO DO IT TO ANOTHER EXTENSION.

>> SO THAT'S MOVING ITEM 278 AS PRESENTED. MOTION BY COMMISSIONER ELLIS AND SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER BRIONES. ALL IN FAVOR? ANY OPPOSED, THE MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY .

>> TO BE CLEAR, AND PICKS UP ON THE SECOND ONE?

>> AFTER ACTION. YEAH. >> AND THEN LET'S MOVE ON TO OUR RESOLUTIONS. THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH FOR YOUR PATIENCE. I'M

SURE YOU UNDERSTAND. >> ONE LAST COMMENT AND SOME COMMENTS I'VE MADE RELATED TO CENTERPOINT AND, AGAIN, RESPONDING TO A DISASTER IS DIFFICULT, PARTICULARLY WHEN LIKE THIS. WE ALL KNOW THAT, BUT MY COMMENTS AND WHAT I'M GOING TO BE FOCUSED ON AND THE AFTER STORM REVIEW IS COMMUNICATION , COMMUNICATION, COMMUNICATION, BECAUSE UNLESS I KNOW WHAT THE PLAN IS, IT'S HARD FOR ME TO DESCRIBE THE PEOPLE WHAT WE CAN DO AND SHOULD DO. THAT WILL BE THE CONVERSATION RELATED TO COMMUNICATION WITH CENTERPOINT AND THE SECOND THING THAT I WILL BE LOOKING AT, AND I THINK WE ALL WILL, IS THE LOCATION OF OUR SENIOR CITIZEN CENTERS LOCATIONS THROUGHOUT OUR PRECINCTS. THERE IS A LARGE NUMBER. WE KNOW WHERE THEY ARE AND WE KNOW WHERE THEY EXIST THAN ANYTHING WE CAN DO PRIOR TO THE STORM TO ASSURE BETTER RESTORATION OF POWER IN THOSE FACILITIES. THOSE ARE TWO QUICK

COMMENTS . >> YES, COMMISSIONER GARCIA AND

COMMISSIONER ELLIS. >> COMMISSIONER RAMSEY, THANK YOU FOR TOUCHING ON THOSE BECAUSE THOSE WERE EXACTLY WHAT WAS ON MY LIST. I WANT TO EMPHASIZE THAT ON THE CALL YESTERDAY WITH PRECINCT 2 AND COMMUNICATIONS WITH CENTERPOINT WAS A COMMON THREAD ON WHAT WAS DISCUSSED AND THEN ON THE CITY FACILITIES, I WANT TO THANK A ERP FOR THEIR SUPPORT. THEY HAVE BEEN PHENOMENAL AND WORKING WITH OUR VARIOUS SENIOR LIVING FACILITIES, BUT YOU ARE ABSOLUTELY RIGHT. WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT THOSE ARE ALWAYS TOP OF MIND. THANK YOU.

>> COMMISSIONER ELLIS. >> IN ADDITION, ALL OF OUR STAFF AND NOT JUST THE FOLKS WHO ARE BEHIND US, BUT THOSE OUT THERE AND THOSE PEOPLE OUT THERE IN THE HOT, MANY OF THEM

[01:35:04]

HELPED. THANK YOU. >> JUDGING COMMISSIONERS, ALSO, I WOULD LOVE TO BE ABLE TO WORK WITH ALL OF YOUR OFFICES TO GET AN AFTER ACTION REPORT WHEN THINGS SETTLE DOWN A BIT AND WORK WITH EVERYBODY TO FIGURE OUT WHAT IS BEING DONE WELL.

THERE'S A LOT THAT'S BEING DONE REALLY WELL AND WHERE THE GAPS ARE. SO THAT WE ARE PREPARED FOR THE NEXT WHEN IT IS TIME WE ARE LEARNING MORE AND THERE IS A LOT OF NEW STAFF AND DIFFERENT DEPARTMENTS AND ALSO AS A LITTLE BIT TO THE CONFUSION BUT WE WOULD LOVE TO BE ABLE TO FILL THE GAPS AS WE MOVE FORWARD IN COLLABORATION WITH ALL OF YOUR OFFICES.

>> COMMISSIONER BRIONES. >> I SHARE YOUR SENTIMENTS IN TERMS OF SHARED GRATITUDE TOWARDS ALL OF THE TEAM MEMBERS THAT STEPPED UP ACROSS THE COUNTY AND ACROSS THE CITY'S NONPROFITS AND FOR PROFIT. I KNOW THAT WE CAN ALL BE HERE ALL DAY WITH THE STORIES. MY HEART WAS BREAKING TIME AND TIME AGAIN AS THE SENIORS WOULD SHOW UP TO COOLING CENTERS AND MOM WITH BABIES OR PREGNANT AND PETS AND ALL OF US CAN TALK ABOUT ALL THE HOMES THAT WE VISITED, BUT THE BOTTOM LINE IS, WHAT I KEPT RETURNING TO, WE WERE THE ENERGY CAPITAL OF THE WORLD. HOW CAN OVER TO .2 MILLION PEOPLE NOT HAVE POWER AND MORE WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE REGION AND SO I LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING IN A COLLABORATIVE BIPARTISAN WAY WITH THE STATE LEADERSHIP TO SEE WHAT REGULATORY CHANGES WE NEED.

ALSO TO EXPORT THE NEW FINANCING 12, WHICH I KNOW WE ARE WORKING WITH COMMISSIONER DON BUCKINGHAM HOPEFULLY TO BRING IN THE STATE ENERGY FINANCE INITIATIVE . VERY LOW INTEREST. LOANS, TO DO IT FOR THE FIRST TIME HERE IN TEXAS WERE SOLAR FOR ALL, I'M SO THANKFUL TO PRESIDENT BIDEN AND WE WILL HAVE SOME EXTRA RESILIENCY IN THE REGENT AND IT'S A BOTH AND. WE CAN CONTINUE BEING THE GLOBAL LEADER OF ENERGY IN THE THE ENERGY TRANSITION AND THAT IS WHAT OUR PEOPLE DESERVE. SO I LOOK FORWARD TO MORE ANSWERS AND HEIGHTENED COMMUNICATION, BUT DOING IT IN A WAY THAT WE CAN ADVANCE THE BALL BECAUSE WHEN PEOPLE ARE QUESTIONING SHOULD I STAY AND CONTINUE LIVING HERE, YET THE ANSWER IS YES AND TOGETHER WE NEED TO BE A PART OF THE SOLUTION. I'M JUST REALLY THANKFUL AND WHILE I KNOW OUR HEARTS ARE HEAVY, I'M OPTIMISTIC THAT WE WILL CONTINUE LEARNING, ITERATING AND IMPROVING BECAUSE THAT IS WHAT THE PEOPLE DESERVE.

>> THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER. ONE NOTE FOR ADMINISTRATOR RAMIREZ, IF YOU COULD PLEASE CORRELATE THAT WITH THE OFFICE OF EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT. WE HAVE AN AFTER ACTION REPORT CULTURE AND I WAS THE WE FIT IN THERE. THE OTHER POINT IS ON CENTERPOINT. SO I THINK THAT THE STEP TWO REQUIRE REPORT BY THEM IS IMPORTANT AND IT'S NECESSARY. WHAT I'M GOING TO KEEP PUSHING FOR IS SOME SORT OF COMPARISON TO BEST PRACTICES. IDEALLY, AN EVALUATION THAT WILL LOOK AT AUDIT TO SEE IF THEY HAVE BEEN IMPLEMENTING THEIR MANAGEMENT

[01:40:01]

PROBLEMATIC >> I THINK WE CAN. IT JUST DEPENDS ON HOW BROAD YOU GUYS GO.

>> YES, SO ANYWAY, WHAT YOU THINK ABOUT THAT BECAUSE FROM MY MEMORY, I BRING IT UP AND NOBODY ELSE SEEMS EXCITED ABOUT IT. AM I THE ONLY WHEN PUSHING FOR THIS AND AM I NOT UNDERSTANDING A REASON WHY WE SHOULDN'T BE PUSHING FOR IT?

>> JUDGE, I WILL SAY THAT YOU'RE PROBABLY THE ONLY WHEN PUSHING FOR IT RIGHT NOW BECAUSE THE WORK STILL DAYS WE ARE HALFWAY INTO THE POND I THINK AND THERE ARE A LOT OF WORK IN FRONT OF US. HOWEVER, I DO WANT TO COMMEND THE FLOOD CONTROL DISTRICT THAT AND THE WORK THAT HAS BEEN DONE, IT IS ABSOLUTELY VISIBLE. YOU KNOW, WITH THIS, WE'VE HAD MAYBE LESS THAN 100 REPORTED AND STRUCTURAL FLOODING AND SOUTHERN BEACH WASN'T AS FORTUNATE, BUT I WANTED TO COMMEND ALL OF THE WORK THAT FLOOD CONTROL DISTRICT HAS DONE WITH THE RESOURCES. IT WAS A LITTLE DISCOMBOBULATED EARLIER MENTAL COMMISSIONER BUCKINGHAM CAME IN AND PUT US ON A BETTER TRACK, BUT THE WORK THAT HAS BEEN DONE HAS ABSOLUTELY BEEN VISIBLE, SO I AM HEARING QUITE THE CONTRARY. I'M HEARING THAT NEIGHBORHOODS ARE SEEING A VISIBLE DIFFERENCE, AND THEY WENT TO SEE HOW MUCH MORE WORK WE CAN GET DONE. HOWEVER, WE STILL HAVE THOSE RESOURCES, SO I DON'T THINK WE WILL GET READY TO START TRYING TO TELL THE CITIZENS. I WILL BE READY FOR IT. I THINK THAT WE SHOULD KEEP THE PACE FOR THE WORK THAT HAS BEEN DONE. MAINTENANCE WILL BE A BIG CONVERSATION AS COMMISSIONER RAMSEY HAS SAID AND PUT -- HAS MADE A VISIBLE OR VOCAL OR BEEN VOCAL ABOUT THAT, SO WE WILL HAVE TO TALK ABOUT THAT, BUT ABSOLUTELY WITH THE STORM AND IN COMBINATION, THE MINIMAL, I MEAN, ANY HOME. IF IT WERE MY HOME, I WOULD BE DISAPPOINTED, BUT THE MINIMAL NUMBER OF REPORTED STRUCTURAL FLOODING HAS JUST BEEN INCREDIBLE . AFTER THESE TWO EVENTS, THAT'S THE FIRST QUESTION I HAVE BEEN ASKING MY STAFF. WHAT DO WE HAVE REPORTED HANDS THE CONVERSATION HAS TYPICALLY BEEN HERE AS OF LATE. I THINK WE ARE THE TENANTS.

DOCTOR PETERSON, THANK YOU AND YOUR TEAM FOR ALL OF YOUR

INCREDIBLE WORK. >> COMMISSIONER ALICE.

>> I WENT TO GET DOCTOR PETERSON STUFF, BUT I JUST MADE THIS BROAD COMMENT. I WAS HERE WHEN WE DECIDED TO DO THE HARVEY BOND PACKAGE AND THAT HAD DISCUSSIONS IN PRIVATE ABOUT SOMEBODY MAKING THE COMMENT AT THE TABLE. I THINK A STUDY CAME OUT SHOWING SOMEONE IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD. TOM, YOU ARE WATCHING. WAS THAT A $30 BILLION FIGURE? IT WAS $30

[01:45:02]

>> IF WE CAN KEEP THE DISCUSSION ON THE CONTEXT OF THE SPECIFIC CLEANUP EFFORTS. GO AHEAD.

>> SURE. I WANT TO HEAR FROM DOCTOR PETERSON.

>> SURE. THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER ALICE. SO I WOULD SAY WHEN OF THE THINGS I THINK THAT COMMISSIONER GARCIA RAMSEY AND BRIONES, THANK YOU ALL HAVE HIGHLIGHTED THE FACT THAT WE HAVE MADE PROGRESS. I HAVE TO SAY THANK YOU TO THE FLOOD CONTROL TEAM. NOT ONLY HAVE THEY BEEN WORKING ON REMOVING DEBRIS FROM THE CHANNELS ALREADY WHERE WE CAN ACCESS THE DAMAGE AND WORKING 12 TO 16 HOUR DAYS AND WE HAVE ALSO BEEN WORKING TO, VERY, VERY QUICKLY SPIN UP SOME MODELING EFFORTS TO HELP US UNDERSTAND HOW MANY OF THE DAMAGES THAT COULD HAVE HAPPENED HAVE BEEN AVOIDED. WE ARE STILL WORKING ON THIS AND YOU HAVE TO UNDERSTAND THAT IT TAKES A LOT OF TIME IN REVIEWING DETAILS BUT WHAT I WILL TELL YOU IS THAT WE HAVE AVOIDED HUNDREDS OF HOMES FROM BEING FLOODED. FOR EXAMPLE, THANKS TO THE PROJECT THAT WAS SINCE COMPLETED SINCE HARVEY AND THAT WAS REALLY EXCITING AND WE HAVE THE SOUTH SEVER STORMWATER BASIN THAT WE JUST RECENTLY COMPLETED AND THAT WAS A HUGE, HUGE FACING, THAT WITHOUT A DOUBT HAVE MADE AN IMPACT AND WE KNOW THAT THESE PROJECTS HAVE MANY DIFFERENT AND ALTHOUGH IT HASN'T BEEN A RECENTLY COMPLETED PROJECT SINCE HARVEY, THAT IS A TREMENDOUS PROJECT THAT HAS REDUCED THE RISK OF FLOODING FOR THOUSANDS OF HOMES AND THE WORK THAT WE ARE DOING IS MAKING A DIFFERENCE. WE ARE ABLE TO QUANTIFY IT AND WE WILL CONTINUE TO QUANTIFY IT AND AS WE ARE LOOKING TOWARDS THE NEXT STEPS, WHERE WE ARE AT RIGHT NOW, OUR PRIORITIES ARE NUMBER ONE, MAKING SURE THAT WE DELIVER ON THE PROGRAM. HIMSELF AND FOR THE CONFIDENCE THAT THE GLO IS PLACED IN US, AND WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE DELIVER ON THAT PROGRAM BECAUSE IF WE ARE NOT ABLE TO MEET THESE DEADLINES, WE WILL FACE FUNDING BEING TAKEN AWAY AND THAT IS NOT SOMETHING THAT I WANT OR ANYBODY AT THE TABLE ONCE. WE ARE ALL COMMITTED TO SEEING THESE DOLLARS SPENT IN

[01:50:03]

DELIVER TO OUR COMMUNITY. >> AMICIA RAMSEY. OH. YEAH.

>> JUDGE? >> YEAH.

>> A COUPLE THINGS. WE HAD ANOTHER 10 MINUTES AND IF WE WANT TO CONTINUE TO KEEP EXTENDING, WE NEED A MOTION.

SECOND THING IS, IF WE WANT TO TALK ABOUT THE CURRENT BOND IN THE CONTEXT OF CLEANUP EFFORTS FOR AND HOW IT'S HAVING MITIGATE BARREL, I THINK THAT IS FINE. IF WE'RE GOING TO TALK ABOUT THE NEXT BOND, WE SHOULD PROBABLY PUT THAT ON A

COURT AGENDA. >> IS THE ITEM AGENDA UPDATE ON

THE BOND ISSUE? >> THERE IS.

>> IF WE DO NOT UPDATE ON THIS BOND ISSUE, WOULDN'T IT BE

BROAD ENOUGH TO TALK ABOUT? >> ON THIS BOND. I KNOW THAT DOCTOR PETERSON WAS ALLUDING TO THINGS FOR THE NEXT BOND AND BRING US IN, WHICH IS WHAT THE JUDGE HAD ACTUALLY TALKED

ABOUT. >> I WILL KEEP IT TO THIS INCIDENT, WHICH IS THE DESTRUCTION THAT I SAW AND EVERYTHING THEY SHOULD BE MET BEFORE WE GET THERE. THE 10

MINUTES. >> MOTION BY COMMISSIONER ALLISON SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER BRIONES. ALL IN FAVOR ? ANY OPPOSE? SO I AGREE WITH EVERY SINGLE WORD THAT YOU SAID. YES, THE DISTRICT HAS WORKED HARD AND I HAVE A KNOWLEDGE THEM EARLIER AND I WILL ACKNOWLEDGE THEM AGAIN.

YES, THERE HAS BEEN WORK DONE. IT'S OBVIOUS. I MEAN, WE READ ABOUT IT, THAT THE AREAS THAT NORMALLY FLOOD WAS JUST RIGHT AT THE EDGE AND BUFFALO BAYOU HELD, FOR THE MOST PART AND GENERALLY, VERY LITTLE STRUCTURE FLOODING THIS TIME. I ALSO AGREE THAT THE BOND IS CURRENTLY BEING IMPLEMENTED TO MITIGATE THE KINDS OF DAMAGES WE SAW WAS DONE HAPHAZARDLY AND IT WAS NOT ENOUGH AND WE ALL AGREE WITH THAT. YOU ARE NOT TELLING ME ANYTHING THAT I DON'T KNOW. WHAT I'M TRYING TO TALK ABOUT IS THE FACT THAT WE CAN WALK AND CHEW GUM AND FIGURE OUT HOW TO WALK AND CHEW GUM AND I BROUGHT THAT UP BEFORE AND THIS VERY MUCH SOUNDS LIKE EXCUSES TO ME BECAUSE WE, IN 2019 STARTED WORKING ON THIS, SO THIS IS BEEN GOING ON . WELL, 2018 FOR THE BOND AND THAT IS SIX YEARS, SO SIX MORE YEARS UNTIL WE HAVE A DIFFERENT ONE OR START WORKING ON IT. CBD IS FIVE YEARS OLD AND THAT'S WHAT WE ARE GOING TO FOCUS ON. SOMETHING THAT IS FIVE YEARS OLD. I DON'T SEE THAT THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH WORKING TO BETTER MITIGATE THE KINDS OF IMPACTS AND THAT WE DID HAVE AND HAVE HAD MANY TIMES AND WE WERE CATEGORY 1 AND WE BARELY SQUEAKED BY, SO WE CAN'T JUST CELEBRATE THAT AND SAY, OKAY, NEXT, WE HAVE DONE GOOD WORK. THE END. WE ALL DO GOOD WORK.

WE DON'T JUST GO HOME JUST AS WE DONE GOOD WORK. WE GO FORWARD. WE CAN'T JUST SIT ON OUR MORALS AND CLAP ON OURSELVES. IN 2019, WE PASSED A MOTION WHERE WE COULD'VE DONE

[01:55:03]

>> OF COURSE, WE WANT TO LEAN IN. WE WANT TO LEAN IN AND MOVE

QUICKLY. >> RATHER, LET ME SAY, WHAT DO

YOU DISAGREE WITH? >> WHAT I THINK MY CONCERN IS, YOU KNOW, IT COMES DOWN TO PRIORITIES. THE THING THAT I THINK ABOUT IS, WE ARE ALREADY DOING THE WORK INTERNALLY TO LINE OUT PROJECTS THAT WOULD BE APPROPRIATE FOR THE NEXT BOND.

WE ARE DOING PLANNING CITIES THINGS TO THE FUNDING THAT WILL HELP US IDENTIFY WITH THAT NEXT BUNCH OF PROJECTS LOOKS LIKE.

WE ARE DOING THE WORK TO LAY THE GROUNDWORK SO WE CAN HAVE A SUCCESSFUL BOND. IT'S NOT LIKE WE ARE WAITING. WE ARE ABSOLUTELY CATALOGUING, LOOKING AND, FRANKLY, WE ARE NOT EVEN WAITING FOR THE NEXT BOND. WE LOOK EVERY TIME AN OPPORTUNITY COMES OUT FROM FEMA . OPPORTUNITIES COME OUT FROM OUR FEDERAL PARTNERS AND FROM OUR STATE PARTNERS TO SEE, DO WE HAVE A PROJECT AND HOW DOES IT LINEUP WITH PRIORITY SO THAT WE

CAN MOVE IT FORWARD. >> I KNOW, BUT THAT IS NOT TRANSFORMATIONAL. WE CAN TALK ABOUT EVERY LITTLE BIT WE GET.

>> YES, COMMISSIONER. >> DOCTOR PETERSON, I WANT TO THANK YOU. THANK YOU AGAIN BECAUSE, LOOK, THERE IS A

PROCESS . I HAVE THE FLOOR. >> RAMSEY HAD THE FLOOR BEFORE

YOU, COMMISSIONER. >> I WANT TO THANK YOU, DOCTOR PETERSON, AGAIN FOR YOUR WORK. I DID HAVE ISSUES WITH HOW HARVEY WAS PUT TOGETHER. I THOUGHT AND STILL FEEL LIKE PLANS WERE JUST PULLED OFF THE SHELF AND I TRIED HERE MANY TIMES TO CORRECT THAT. I DIDN'T HAVE ANY SUPPORT IN GETTING THAT DONE, BUT NONE THE LESS, WE ARE MOVING FORWARD AND THERE IS STILL YEARS IN FRONT OF US AND UNTIL MORE OF THE WORK GETS DONE , AT LEAST I WILL LOOK TO THE ENGINEER AND COMMISSIONER RAMSEY, BUT UNTIL THE WORK IS DONE, WE STILL DON'T KNOW WHAT WE WOULD BE ASKING VOTERS FOR MANY FUTURE, AND SO I THINK IT IS VERY IMPORTANT THAT THE STRATEGY FOR FLOOD MITIGATION BE DEVELOPED, BUT THE FLOOD MITIGATION STRATEGY FROM WHAT WAS HARVEY SO WHAT WILL BE IN THE NEXT FIVE YEARS, IT'S GOING TO BE DIFFERENT. IT'S GOING TO BE VERY DIFFERENT, SO WE HAVE TO ALLOW THE PEOPLE WHO KNOW THIS WORKS THE BEST TO GUIDE US ON THESE CONVERSATIONS AND

[02:00:01]

YOU ARE DOING. >> AGREED.

>> YOU CONTINUE TO DO THE GOOD WORK THAT YOU ARE DOING AND HOPEFULLY WE WILL ALLOW YOU TO HAVE THAT SPACE. THANK YOU.

>> COMMISSIONER RAMSEY AND THEN COMMISSIONER ELLIS. BE MAKING RESPONSE TO FUTURE BOND ISSUES AND IN RESPONSE TO WHERE WE ARE IN TIMETABLES, I WOULD SIMPLY SAY, I WILL START WITH, THIS IS THE THIRD STORM THAT WE HAVE SURVIVED AND ARE TRYING TO SURVIVE. THE EARLY MAY, CREATED MORE WATER IN PRECINCT 3 COMING FROM THE NORTH THAN HARVEY AND LET ME TELL YOU, CATEGORIES DON'T MATTER IN HURRICANES. WHEN OF THE WORST FLOODING EVENTS IN HARRIS COUNTY HISTORY WAS TROPICAL STORM ALLISON.

SOME ARE FLOODING EVENTS, SOME ARE WENDY VINCE AND SOME ARE A COMBINATION. IT ENDS UP BEING ALL OF THAT, BUT THE GOOD NEWS IS, FROM WHAT I CAN TELL, OUR FLOOD CONTROL, ANY LIKE ANY AGENCY IN AMERICA, IS PROCESSING THAT FLOOD INFORMATION TO MAKE IT BETTER IN THE NEXT TIME. I THINK WE ARE CLOSE, JUDGE. I REALLY DO THINK WE ARE CLOSE TO SAYING, YOU KNOW WHAT, WE'VE DONE THIS, THIS IS WHAT HAS BEEN BUILT, THIS IS WHAT WE HAVE LEARNED FROM WHAT WE'VE ALREADY BUILT AND I'M TELLING YOU THAT YOU GUYS IMPUTED FOR TOURISTIC THINGS OUT THERE, BACK AT $32 BILLION TUNNEL SYSTEM. NOW THAT IS TRANSFORMATIONAL. THAT WOULD KNOCK THE SOCKS OFF OF HARRIS COUNTY IF WE DO THAT. SO I WANT TO TELL THE CITIZENS OF HARRIS COUNTY, WHEN WE ARE GOING THROUGH THREE STORM EVENTS LIKE WE HAVE DONE THIS YEAR AND WE ARE NOT SITTING ON OUR LAURELS, WHAT WE ARE DOING IS, HEY, WHAT ABOUT TUNNELS? THANK YOU AND CONGRESSMAN LINDSAY FLETCHER AND CONGRESSMAN HUNT AS THEY ADVOCATED BECAUSE THE CORE WAS TRYING TO KILL THE TUNNEL PROJECT, BUT THOSE TWO WARRIORS STOOD UP AND THEY MADE IT HAPPEN. WE ARE IDENTIFYING AND GOING FORWARD AND I THINK WE ARE PROBABLY CLOSE TO GETTING TO THE POINT OF SAYING, LET'S HAVE THE BOND ISSUE. I WANT TO HEAR MORE FROM THE FEDS IN TERMS OF THEM PAYING 75% OF IT, BUT THERE ARE SOME THINGS I THINK THAT ARE THERE. I THINK WE ARE CLOSE TO HAVING MANY MORE OF THOSE DETAILED

CONVERSATIONS. >> COMMISSIONER BRIONES.

>> DOCTOR PETERSON, THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE AND THANK YOU FOR ALL THE WORK THAT YOU AND YOUR TEAM DO DAY IN AND DAY OUT. MY SENTIMENT IS THAT IT IS AT BOTH ENDS. FIRST WE NEED TO DELIVER THE PROJECT THAT THE GOVERNMENT HAS COMMITTED TO FOR THE PEOPLE FROM THE 2018 BOND. WE NEED TO GET THAT DONE WITH EXCELLENCE UNDER THE AGGRESSIVE CDBG TIMETABLE AND I THINK COMMISSIONER BUCKINGHAM SO NOW WE CAN HAVE THE FUNDING TO GET IT DONE. NUMBER ONE, WE NEED A COMPLETE. TWO, WE NEED TO MAINTAIN OUR CURRENT ASSETS AND THE COMING ONCE , WHICH I LOOK FORWARD TO DIVING INTO THOSE ITEMS LATER TODAY. THIRD, TO COMMISSIONER RAMSEY'S POINT, I KNOW YOU ARE PLANNING FOR THE FUTURE AND TERMS OF THE PLANNING AS WE TRY TO SAVE THE BB TRS, WHICH IS THE DEEP TUNNEL STUDY AND WE SUBMITTED A 7001 CITY REQUEST SO THAT WE CAN ADD ADDITIONAL CAPACITY AT BARKER AND ATTICS AND WE HAVE TWO OF THE SIX MOST DANGEROUS DAMS IN THE NATION AND WE ALL REMEMBER VIVIDLY WHAT HAPPENED DURING HARVEY. I FEEL THAT Y'ALL ARE RACING AND NOT JUST PARALLEL TRACKS, BECAUSE IT'S MORE THAN TWO MULTIPLE TRACKS AND I LOOK FORWARD, AND SEVERAL YEARS, BEING AT THE POSITION WHERE WE HAVE COMPLETED THE VAST MAJORITY OF THE 2018 PROJECTS, PLUS WE HAVE KICK STARTED SOME OF THESE LONGER-TERM TRANSFORMATIONAL PROJECTS IN COLLABORATION WITH THE FEDS AND THEN WE CAN GO BACK TO THE PEOPLE BUT I THINK IT IS INCUMBENT UPON US TO DELIVER WITH EXCELLENCE AND THEN WE CAN COME BACK AND CONTINUE TO SHOW THE PROGRESS.

I'M THANKFUL AND THE VALUE IS IN ANOTHER PORTION OF PRECINCT 4 AND I WAS ENERGIZED BY SEEING WHAT BETTER POSITION WE WERE IN WITH HURRICANE BERYL THEN WE HAVE BEEN IN THE PAST. I KNOW YOUR DEEP COMMITMENT AND YOU ARE ALWAYS RUNNING TO FIND BETTER WAYS TO PROTECT HARRIS COUNTY. AT THIS POINT IN TIME , I DEFER TO THE EXPERT, WHICH IS YOU, AND WE NEED TO DELIVER THESE PROJECTS AND THAT IS THE TOP PRIORITY AND WE ARE ON

[02:05:01]

YOU. YES, COMMISSIONER ALICE. >> I DON'T THINK THAT ANY OF US ARE THAT FAR APART, IN TERMS OF WHAT WE ARE SAYING AND DOCTOR PETERSON, IT YOU HAVE DONE A GREAT JOB. I DON'T THINK THAT ANYONE OF US INTENDED TO HEAR YOU SAY, IF WE WOULD HAVE GIVEN YOU THE $10 BILLION, WE WOULDN'T HAVE BEEN TO IT. THREE VOTES OF HERE, OR ROUGHLY 5 VOTES TO DO ANOTHER BOND ISSUE, WE DO IT. DOESN'T MEAN THAT WE CAN SPEND IT RIGHT AWAY, BUT SOMETIMES IT'S EASIER FOR US TO GET CAUGHT UP IN CONGRATULATING OURSELVES AND THAT'S JUST PART IN NOT ONLY DO WE DO IT, OUR PREDECESSORS DID IT, BUT WHEN HARVEY CAME, WHAT WE DID WAS REACT AND THAT NUMBER FLOATED FROM $500 MILLION TO AS HIGH AS $10 BILLION. IT WAS THIS CLOSE TO COMING DOWN TO $1 MILLION AND I'M GUESSING, COMMISSIONER RAMSEY, BECAUSE SOMEBODY WAS LOOKING AT POLLING DATA AND BACK THEN, THE ASSUMPTION WAS, FOLKS IN PRECINCT 1 AND TWO AT THE TIME WERE THE ONES IT WOULD BE MORE APT TO VOTE FOR IT AND I PRETTY MUCH SAID, THERE'S NO WAY YOU ARE GOING TO GET TWO AND THIS IS ALL TALK AND I'M NOT GOING TO VOTE FOR IT AND I'M GOING TO CAMPAIGN AGAINST IT AND WE ARE REALLY TRYING TO BE TRUE AND PUT IT ON THE BALLOT IN AUGUST, WHICH WAS A LEAP OF FAITH BECAUSE SO MANY PEOPLE WERE OUT OF TOWN. WHAT WE DID WAS PASS THE LARGEST BOND ISSUE WITH THE SMALLEST NUMBER OF PEOPLE VOTING. MAYBE IN THE HISTORY OF THE COMPANY.

IT WORKED. WE PROBABLY WOULDN'T GET PERMISSION FROM THE STATE TO DO THAT AGAIN. WE VOTED ON THE ANNIVERSARY OF HARVEY. I DID MENTION TO THE COUNTY ATTORNEY, BECAUSE THERE IS AN UPDATE ON THE BOND ISSUE IN BALLOT AND I THINK WE ARE SAFE BECAUSE I KNOW, WHETHER WE ARE GOING TO SAY IT OR NOT, ALL OF THE PROJECTS THAT WE HAVE STARTED, WE DO NOT HAVE ENOUGH MONEY TO FINISH ALL OF THEM, SO OBVIOUSLY AT SOME POINT, DISCUSSION WILL HAVE TO BE HAD ON ADDITIONAL MONEY. NOW THAT IS NOT GOING TO COME IN RIGHT AWAY AND SO WE REALLY GET TO WHEN WE DECIDE OR WHEN THERE ARE THREE OR HOPEFULLY FIVE OF US WHO ARE WILLING TO VOTE TO TAKE THAT RISK AND I JUST WANT TO SAY ON THE RECORD, IT'S UNLIKELY WE GET PERMISSION AND SPEND $1 MILLION TO GO HAVE AN ELECTION ON A NONUNIFORM ELECTION DATE. WHENEVER WE GET TO THAT POINT AND WHEN THERE ARE THREE OR FIVE VOTES TO DO IT, IT WILL BE ON THE UNIFORM ELECTION DATES AND WE WILL HAVE TO MAKE THAT CASE. I THINK IT'S FAIR TO SAY THAT WHEN WE GET THAT ITEM LATER, WE WILL GET TO TALK ABOUT IT, BUT I HATE TO PUT YOU ON THE RECORD.

I DON'T THINK YOU WANT TO GO ON THE RECORD AND SAY ALL THE PROJECTS WE STARTED WE GOT ENOUGH MONEY TO FINISH THEM.

YOU KNOW? THAT WILL BE AN UPHILL CLIMB. AT SOME POINT, WE WILL REACH IT. I HOPE FOR MY COLLEAGUES, WE WILL BE FUTURISTIC ENOUGH NOT TO JUST LEAVE IT HERE FOR OUR

SUCCESSORS. >> THE LARGE NUMBER OF THE 2018 BOND ISSUES WERE STUDIES THAT WILL FOLLOW CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS. SO I THINK THE PREPARATION FOR THE NEXT BOND

ISSUE IS WELL UNDERWAY. >> THEY WILL TAKE TIME TO GET THERE BUT EVEN IF WE WANT TO DO TUNNELS, THAT'S VERY FUTURISTIC . DON'T THINK THAT WE ARE GOING TO MAKE HIM FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TO DO AS MUCH OF IT AS WE ARE THINKING.

YOU KNOW, PEOPLE IN OTHER PARTS OF THE WORLD, SOMETIMES THEY HAVE TO STEP UP AND DO IT. I DON'T THINK WE ARE ALL THAT FAR APART AND ANYTIME WE HAD A DISCUSSION, IT'S NEVER DIRECTED TO YOU ALL BECAUSE I THINK THAT IF YOU HAVE HEARD THREE OR FOUR OF US SAY YEAH, WE ARE READY TO GO TAKE THAT HEAT RIGHT NOW. I DOUBT YOU WOULD SAY, OH, NO. DON'T DO IT. I DON'T THINK THAT WAS THE INTENT.

>> WE HAVE SAID, IF MY MEMORY SERVES ME CORRECTLY, AND I WILL LOOK AT IT COMMISSIONER ALICE, IS THAT WE HAVE SO THAT WE ARE DOWN TO DO THAT, BUT I WILL LOOK .

>> I WOULD BE FOR IT. >> I WAS GOING TO SAY, JUDGE, NO WE'RE TALKING ABOUT ITEMS 126, BUT WE HAVE ALSO BEEN PASSED 10 MINUTES ON THIS. WE WENT TO EXTEND TIME AND

CONTINUE? >> THANK YOU, DIRECTOR AND TO THE DISTRICT AGAIN. OKAY. SAME. EVERYBODY APPRECIATE YOUR WORK.

OKAY. SO LET'S MOVE ON TO RESOLUTIONS, SO THAT IS STARTING WITH THE FIRST ONE AND IT'S A SAD RESOLUTION, BUT ALSO HAPPY BECAUSE OF WHAT THIS PERSON IS SHEET, SO AS YOU ALL KNOW, THE COMMUNITY LEADER AND BUSINESS AND GLEN GONDO DIED

[02:10:06]

>> IS ALL OF YOU KNOW, YOU ALL KNEW GLENN AND HE SUPPORTED ALL OF YOUR WORK IN THE COMMUNITY. WHEN OF HIS PASSIONS WAS TO REDUCE DETERMINATION AND TO ENSURE THAT THERE WAS DIVERSITY AT THE TABLE AND A VOICE AND YOU GUYS EXHIBIT THAT TREMENDOUSLY. IT'S MY PLEASURE TO INTRODUCE TO YOU TODAY, GLENN'S SON ROBERT AND ROBERT WAS BORN IN HOUSTON. HE WENT TO KINCAID. HE WENT TO THE UNIVERSITY OF GEORGE'S UNDERGRAD AND FINISHED OFF HIS MBA AT THE UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN. HE HAD SEVERAL OTHER JOBS BECAUSE GLENN WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT HE HAD OTHER EXPERIENCE AND HE ALSO CAME TO HIM FROM AMAZON AND HE HAS BEEN HERE SINCE 2018. HE HAS NOT BEEN INTO THE COMMUNITY LIKE LYNN BECAUSE HE HAS BEEN WORKING ON THE BUSINESS AND I WANT YOU GUYS TO REALLY KNOW HIM AND HELP HIM IN THE COMMUNITY. THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH, COMMISSIONERS. JUDGE, THANK YOU FOR JOINING WITH US IN OUR COMMUNITY. I THINK MORE IN THE PASSING, BUT ALSO, REALLY TO CELEBRATE HIS LIFE AND EVERYTHING THAT HE HAS ACCOMPLISHED , BUT TO CELEBRATE HIM AS A ROLE MODEL FOR OUR COMMUNITY. FOR ME, PERSONALLY, HE WAS A MENTOR, HE WAS A ROLE MODEL. HE WAS ONE OF MY FIRST SUPPORTERS AND HE WAS SOMEBODY WHO I COULD ALWAYS GO TO AND GET SAGE ADVICE AND MY LOVE FOR HIM IS ABOUT HIS LOVE FOR OUR COMMUNITY AND HIS LOVE FOR HOUSTON AND FOR EVERYONE AROUND HIM. HE WAS A MAN OF FEW WORDS. HE WAS VERY MODEST ABOUT WHAT HE HAD, BUT HE WAS VERY GENEROUS WITH EVERYTHING THAT HE HAD WITH HIS TIME IN HIS MONEY AND WITH HIS LOVE AND WE DO NOT HAVE ENOUGH TIME TO SING HIS PRAISES AND I WILL LEAVE IT

AT THAT. >> THANK YOU, REPRESENTATIVE.

>> THANK YOU FOR TAKING THE OPPORTUNITY TO LET ME SPEAK HERE TODAY. MY FATHER GLEN GONDO MOVED TO HOUSTON IN 1984 AND SPENT THE REST OF HIS LIFE WORKING TO IMPROVE THE CITY AND

[02:15:02]

THAT WORK SO HARD. >> THANK YOU. COMMISSIONER GARCIA AND COMMISSIONER BRIONES.

>> ROBERT, DONNA, GENE, THANK YOU ALL FOR BEING HERE . DONNA, I LAST SAW GLENN WITH YOU OVER AT THE RESTAURANT WHEN WE WERE BOTH THERE AND TOKYO GARDENS WAS WHERE I TOOK MY FUTURE WIFE TO BE WHEN I WAS JUST TRYING TO IMPRESS HER AND SO, LISTEN, ROBERT, YOUR DAD HAS -- YOU KNOW, HE DESERVES A TITLE BECAUSE HE GAVE US SO MUCH AND WE ARE SO GRATEFUL FOR THAT AND SO THE CHALLENGE FOR YOU IS THAT YOU'VE GOT A LEGEND THAT YOU WILL ALL BE STEPPING HIM, BUT JUDGING FROM WHAT DONNA LAY DOWN, YOUR DADDY KNEW WELL THAT HE WANTED TO PREPARE YOU TO HAVE YOUR OWN SPACE IN YOUR OWN TIME AND YOUR OWN IMPACT ON OUR GREAT COMMUNITY. THANK YOU FOR STEPPING IN AND PICKING UP WHERE YOU'RE DONE PLACED THINGS AND PROVIDED FOR US. WE ARE SO GRATEFUL FOR EVERYTHING. HE WAS JUST THE GENTLEMAN.

ALWAYS, WHENEVER I CAME ACROSS HIM, HE WISHES SWEET AND KIND AND GRACIOUS TO RECOGNIZE AND TAKE TIME AND ALWAYS MADE YOU FELT LIKE YOU WERE THE ONLY GUY IN THE ROOM AND SO ALWAYS, ALWAYS RESPECT AND MINDFUL OF THE MANDATORY FATHER WAS AND ALWAYS APPRECIATE HIS KINDNESS AND SUPPORT IN JUST THOUGHTFULNESS TO ME PERSONALLY, BUT TO OUR ENTIRE COMMUNITY. HE REALLY WORKED HARD TO THINK THAT HE COULD NO EVERY NAME OF EVERY PERSON IN THIS GREAT CITY AND THAT'S THE WAY HE LIVED HIS LIFE. ROBERT, OUR CONDOLENCES ARE WITH YOU AND OUR PRAYERS ARE WITH YOU, BUT JUST TO LET YOU KNOW, THAT THE GLEN GONDO NAMES IS IN A VERY, VERY HIGH PLACE. NO ELECTED OFFICIAL CAN CLAIM EVEN A LEVEL IS CLOSE TO WHERE THE NAME IS AT. THANK YOU SO MUCH AND OUR CONDOLENCES ARE WITH

YOU. >> THINK YOU, COMMISSIONER.

>> COMMISSIONER BRIONES. >> I SHARE THOSE SENTIMENTS.

THANK YOU, JUDGE FOR BRINGING THIS RESOLUTION. ROBERT, I'M SO SORRY ABOUT YOUR DAD AND I'M SORRY FOR YOUR LOSS AND YOUR FAMILIES LOSS . ALL OF US HOLD US IN THE HIGHEST ESTEEM AND WHEN THING I NOTICED BEAUTIFULLY ABOUT HIM IS THAT HE WAS A UNITER AND IN THESE CHALLENGING TIMES, WE NEED MORE UNITER'S. CAN HONOR AND RESPECT OF MR. GLEN GONDO AND EVERYTHING HE HAS DONE IN HIS COMMUNITY, I HOPE WE ALL HOLD A PIECE OF HIM AND WERE TO BE UNITER'S BECAUSE HE DID THAT IN A WAY WITH SUCH INTEGRITY IN SUCH HUMILITY AND SUCH WARMTH AND JUST SUCH PASSION AND COMMITMENT. MAY HE REST IN PEACE AND POWER AND MAY WE ALL CARRY THAT UNITER IN HIM AND OUR DEEPEST CONDOLENCES, ROBERT, TO YOU AND YOUR FAMILY.

>> COMMISSIONER ALICE. >> YOU DO HAVE SOME BIG SHOES TO FILL, BUT HE TRAINED YOU WELL. I KNEW YOUR DAD LONG BEFORE YOU WERE BORN, EVEN BEFORE I WAS IN POLITICS AND ALWAYS SPOKE VERY HIGHLY OF YOU, INCLUDING CALLING REPRESENTATIVE CALLING FOLKS TO PUT A LITTLE SQUEEZE ON TO SPEND TIME WITH YOU AND DONNA. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING A FRIEND YOU HAVE BEEN. IT'S A GREAT LOSS, BUT A GREAT LEGACY AND DID HE KNOW HOW TO LIVE LIFE. HE TOOK A VINTAGE OF EVERY DAY AND EVERY YEAR TO HIS FULLEST. A GREAT LOSS, BUT WE ARE GOING TO REMEMBER HIM VERY FONDLY.

>> THANK YOU, ALL. AND I WOULD IMAGINE THAT IT SUCH AN IMPORTANT LEGEND, BUT I HOPE YOU UNDERSTAND THAT WE NEEDED

[02:20:04]

SHOULDN'T TAKE LONG AND THEN WE WILL BE TAKEN PICTURES OF YOU GUYS ARE ABLE TO HANG TIGHT FOR JUST A COUPLE MINUTES. HAVE A SECOND RESOLUTION I WILL BRIEFLY READ. IT IS TO DESIGNATE JULY AS UTERINE FIBROID AWARENESS MONTH IN HARRIS COUNTY. AND THEY CAN GROW TO BE A QUARTER INCH WIDE ALL THE WAY TO THE SIZE OF A GRAPEFRUIT AND ARE ADMITTED TO AFFECT UP TO 80% OF ALL WOMEN WHEN THEY ARE 50. THE OVERALL SYSTEM IS ESTIMATED TO MORE SEVERELY IMPACT BLACK AND HISPANIC WOMEN AND UTERINE FIBROIDS CAN CAUSE WOMEN TO HAVE A WIDE RANGE OF SYMPTOMS, SUCH AS SEVERE PELVIC PAIN, ABDOMINAL OR PELVIC SWELLING, ET CETERA. UTERINE FIBROID AWARENESS MONTH IS UTILIZED TO HELP BRING AWARENESS TO THE DIAGNOSIS OF FIBROIDS AND HOW THEY CAN AFFECT WOMEN, AS WELL AS HOW TO PROPERLY TREAT THEM. ALTHOUGH THE OCCURRENCE IS HIGHER THAN THAT OF ANY OTHER MEDICAL CONDITION IN WOMEN, THE SYMPTOMS ARE OFTEN EXHIBITED TO OTHER CAUSES. HARRIS COUNTY COMMISSIONERS COURT IS RAISING AWARENESS AND ENCOURAGES THAT YOU CHECK WITH THE PHYSICIAN IF YOU EXPERIENCE ANY SYMPTOMS AND GET AN ANNUAL PHYSICAL EXAM. BE IT RESOLVED THAT HARRIS COUNTY COMMISSIONERS COURT PROGRAMS JULY AS UTERINE FIBROID AWARENESS MONTH. DO WE HAVE ANY SPEAKERS ON THAT ITEM?

>> DOCTOR JOHN FISHER. >> IT AFTERNOON. I'M DOCTOR JOHN FISHER. I AM THE MEDICAL DIRECTOR OF THE FIBROID INSTITUTE HOUSTON AND I DO APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK TODAY, ESPECIALLY IN LIGHT OF ALL OF THE RECENT RELATED EVENTS. 2021, THE SET OF TEXAS ACKNOWLEDGED THE MONTH OF JULY AS UTERINE FIBROID AWARENESS MONTH . HOUSE BILL 166. I WOULD LIKE TO THINK JUDGE HIDALGO IN THE COMMISSIONERS OF THIS COURT FOR THIS PROCLAMATION AND THE ACKNOWLEDGMENT DEMONSTRATING. I HAVE

>>> WITH A LARGE NUMBER OF WOMEN'S HEALTHCARE PROFESSIONALS IN THIS TASK. AND I HAVE ASKED SOME OF THEM TO JOIN ME TODAY WHICH THEY WERE UNABLE TO DO, DUE TO PRIOR CLINICAL OBLIGATIONS. TOGETHER WE WILL WORK TO EDUCATE AND PROVIDE THE BEST POSSIBLE CARE TO WOMEN WITH FIBROIDS.

TODAY'S PROCLAMATION WAS TO INCREASE COMMUNITY AWARENESS THE GOALS ESTABLISHED IN 2021. THANK YOU.

>> WHAT HAVE YOU FOUND TO BE BEST IN TERMS OF RAISING AWARENESS TALKING ABOUT SYMPTOMS?

>> WHAT HAVE DONE THROUGHOUT MY CAREER IS MULTIPRONGED, I EDUCATE THE PUBLIC LEVEL DIRECTLY TO WOMEN AND PROFESSIONAL LEVEL TO OTHER PHYSICIANS IN TERMS OF TREATMENT OPTIONS, THE GOOD NEWS FOR WOMEN, THERE ARE OTHER OPTIONS AVAILABLE TODAY THAT TOE AND IT IS A MATTER OF TRYING TO EDUCATE WOMEN AS TO THE OPTIONS BECAUSE NOT ONE OPTION IS BEST FOR EVERY TREATMENT OR PATIENT.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH, GLAD TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THIS AND CONTINUE SPREADING THE WORD ABOUT THE SYMPTOMS AND THE FACT THAT THERE IS TREATMENT AND WOMEN DO NOT HAVE TO LIVE WITH THESE SYMPTOMS. LET ME READ ALL OF THEM, SEVERE PELVIC PAIN, INTENSE UTERINE BLEEDING, ABDOMINAL OR PELVIC SWELLING, CHANGES IN URINARY FREQUENCY, EXCESSIVE OR PAINFUL BLEEDING DURING MENSTRUATION AND REDUCED QUALITY OF LIFE WHICH CAN MAKE NORMAL DAILY ACTIVITY DIFFICULT TO IMPOSSIBLE. I SEE WHAT YOU NEED TO EDUCATE PHYSICIANS. THANK YOU SO MUCH, WOMEN'S HEALTH IS OFTEN FORGOTTEN SO THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. >> COMMISSIONER ELLIS, NO RESOLUTIONS OUT OF ORDER? COMMISSIONER GARCIA.

>> I WILL BE BRIEF, THIS IS TO RECOGNIZE STORMS LIKE OTHER EVENTS REMIND US TO , THAT WE HAVE A LOT OF STRAYS IN OUR COMMUNITY. THIS IS RECOGNIZING THE CLEAR THE SHELTERS , THE NATIONWIDE ADOPTION EVENT AND ENCOURAGING EVERYONE IF YOU HAVE SPACE IN YOUR HOME FOR A FURRY CRITTER , THEY ARE CUTE AND LOVING. AND THEY DON'T TALK BACK. LISTEN, CONSIDER

ADOPTING, THANK YOU. >> COMMISSIONER RAMSEY I DON'T

[02:25:06]

>> ONE SPEAKER. >> THANK YOU, I CAUGHT IT , I

CAUGHT IT. OH, SO CUTE. OKAY. >> I BROUGHT ONE THAT DOES NOT TALK BACK. THANK YOU. I AM THE DIRECTOR AT THE VETERINARY PUBLIC HEALTH, THANK YOU FOR BRINGING CLEAR THE SHELTERS AWARENESS TO IT, THIS IS A NATIONAL EVENT. WE HAVE PARTICIPATED IN YEARS PAST, IT HAS BEEN SUCCESSFUL AUGUST AUGUST 10 THROUGH SEPTEMBER 10, FREE ADOPTIONS, PETS WILL BE VACCINATED NEUTERED AND MICRO-CHIPPED WITH PLENTY TO CHOOSE FROM SO I ASKED THE COMMUNITY TO COME LOOK. THIS MORNING I SAW WE ARE 420 DOGS AND 250 CATS SELECT THE REST OF THE SHELTERS IN THE REGION WE ARE FULL.

>> WHAT IS HIS NAME? >> THIS GUY'S NAME IS COOKIE, I THOUGHT COOKIE WOULD BE AVAILABLE BUT HE ALREADY HAS A HOME WHICH IS A GOOD THING. WE HAVE PLENTY MORE.

>> COOKIE, WE ARE HIRING IN THE K-9 UNIT. CONSIDER APPLYING.

>> THANK YOU, APPRECIATE IT. >> THANK YOU FOR YOUR WORK. I HAVE A LATER ITEM RECOGNIZING THE RESCUE GROUP, THANK YOU FOR WORKING OUT THE AGREEMENT WITH THAT. I DON'T THINK COOKIE WOULD QUALIFY TO BE PART OF THAT , BUT WE USED TO HAVE A LOT OF DIFFERENT AGREEMENTS WITH ENTITIES LIKE THAT. SO YOU AND I COULD HAVE A SEPARATE CONVERSATION ON REACHING OUT TO SOME OF THE OTHER ORGANIZATIONS. I APPRECIATE

SPECIFICALLY WHAT YOU DO. >> ONE MORE THING. I WANT TO THANK ALL OF YOU FOR THE SUPPORT WE HAVE HAD OVER THE LAST YEAR. VERY CREDIBLE FOR ALL OF YOU.

>> THANK YOU, I'M GLAD WE ARE REVIVING THE VETERINARY GROUP YOU LEAD ON, COMMISSIONER RAMSEY AND I HOPE IT HAS BEEN SUCCESSFUL TO GET THE WORD OUT. WE WILL KEEP WORKING ON IT. SO CUTE, WE NEED TO PERSUADE MY FIANCÉ WE NEED ANOTHER CAT.

>> THANK YOU. >> OKAY NO RESOLUTIONS OUT OF ORDER COMMISSIONER RAMSEY, COMMISSIONER BRIONES.

>> PRECINCT 4, TWO RESOLUTIONS. FIRST IS NUMBER FOUR AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR PATIENCE. WE WILL HONOR THE LIFE OF CHEF ALEX AU-YEUNG AND I KNOW HIS WIFE IS HERE, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE. I KNOW THAT THEIR SON AND DAUGHTER HAD TO GO, FROM SAID EATERY PLEASE FEEL FREE TO JOIN US AS WE CELEBRATE THE LIFE AND LEGACY. CHEF ALEX AU-YEUNG WAS BORN IN 1972 IN MALAYSIA, RAISED IN HONG KONG AND MOVED TO HOUSTON AT THE AGE OF 19. BEFORE PURSUING CULINARY ASPIRATIONS, THE CHEFS ENTREPRENEURIAL SPIRIT LET HIM TOWARD SEVERAL BUSINESS VENTURES. HE OPENED HIS RESTAURANT IN 2018 WHICH I AM SO PROUD IS IN PRECINCT WHICH I AM SO PROUD IS IN PRECINCT 4.

THAT EATERY OFFERS MALAYSIAN AND AN ARRAY OF MALAYSIAN STREET FOOD AND HE STRIVED AND SUCCEEDED SPECTACULARLY AT CREATING A HOSPITABLE AND FAMILIAL CULTURE. THE RESTAURANT HAS GARNERED MUCH RECOGNITION UNDER HIS LEADERSHIP, NAMED ONE OF HOUSTON CHRONICLE'S TOP 100 RESTAURANTS AND THE ASIAN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE RISING AWARD, THE CHEF RECEIVED A JAMES BEARD NOMINATION FOR BEST CHEF, THE TEXAS RESTAURANT ASSOCIATION FACE OF DIVERSITY AWARD AND 2023 TEXAS RESTAURANT ASSOCIATION PEOPLE CHOICE AWARD AMONG MANY OTHER ACCOLADES. IN ADDITION TO BEING AN ENTREPRENEURIAL , ENTREPRENEUR WHO WOULD TEACH ENTREPRENEURIAL ISM TO SO MANY IN THE COMMUNITY, HE WAS KNOWN FOR HIS UNWAVERING SUPPORT AND MENTORSHIP FOR OTHER SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS, OTHER ASIAN OWNED BUSINESSES AND HE STEPPED UP ALWAYS, ESPECIALLY WE SAW DURING THE COVID PANDEMIC. HIS MEMORY WILL LIVE ON THROUGH EVERYONE WHO KNEW HIM, ESPECIALLY HIS LOVING WIFE, THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE AND OUR DEEPEST CONDOLENCES TO YOU AND YOUR FAMILY AND HIS SON AND HIS DAUGHTER AND TO THE EATERY FAMILY AND TO ALL THE PATRONS.

NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THE HARRIS COUNTY COMMISSIONERS

[02:30:01]

>> THANK YOU. WHAT A SWEET INTRODUCTION. I AM SO HONORED TO BE HERE. GOOD AFTERNOON JUDGE AND COMMISSIONERS. MY NAME IS OWNER, JUST LIKE SO MANY BUSINESSMEN, HE NEVER HAD INSTANT SUCCESS, HE SPENT 30 YEARS TO EARN HIS BUSINESS EXPERIENCE. BEFORE THE EATERY OPENED IN 2018. DOING -- DURING THE COVID EVENT WE WERE REALLY BLESSED TO HAVE A STABLE BUSINESS, SO ALEX DECIDED TO GET BACK TO SOCIETY. HE PRIVATELY AND PUBLICLY DONATED FOOD TO THE HOSPITAL STAFF AND THE NEEDY. HE ALSO HELPED HIS PEERS AND EVEN COMPETITORS. HE PASSED AWAY IN THE BEGINNING OF THIS YEAR AFTER A SHORT BATTLE.

HIS LIFE WAS SHORT, BUT IT IS REALLY MEANINGFUL. THANK YOU SO MUCH HARRIS COUNTY PRECINCT THANK YOU SO MUCH HARRIS COUNTY PRECINCT 4 PER RECOGNIZING ALEX AND PHAT EATERY. IT MEANS A LOT TO OUR TEAM. THAT MADE ME REALIZE WHEN YOU DO A GOOD THING, PEOPLE NOTICE. PLEASE ALLOW ME TO HAVE 10 MORE SECONDS. I WOULD LIKE TO RECOGNIZE AND THANK SOMEONE. AS YOU KNOW A SENSIBLE BUSINESS CANNOT BE BUILT BY ONLY ONE MAN. I WOULD LIKE TO USE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO RECOGNIZE AND THANK MY DIRECTOR KEVIN LEE, NAME ] THANK YOU VERY MUCH , THEY HELPED ME TODAY.

>> I WANT TO THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER BRIONES. I WANT TO SHARE WITH YOU THAT WE ARE GRATEFUL, JUST LIKE WE WERE TALKING ABOUT, YOUR HUSBAND , AND I SHARED SOME OF THE BEST PART OF YOUR CULTURE WITH SO MANY AND WITH THE REST OF US.

WE ARE GRATEFUL FOR THAT BUT I HAVE A QUESTION. WHO IS THE REAL CHEF AT HOME, YOU OR HIM?

>> WE BOTH. WE REALLY ENJOY COOKING.

>> NOW MY SON IS PICKING UP COOKING SKILLS TOO.

>> READABLE, OUR CONDOLENCES ARE WITH YOU, BUT WE ARE GRATEFUL TO YOU AND YOUR FAMILY.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH. >> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR SHARING WITH US AND TELLING THE STORY. AS YOU KNOW I AM AN IMMIGRANT SO I LOVE HEARING HIS STORY. I DID A LITTLE BIT OF WORK IN MALAYSIA. IT IS VERY CLOSE TO HEART AND I HAVE TO ADMIT I HAVE NOT VISITED AND I WENT TO HIGH SCHOOL IN KATY. I WILL MAKE MY WAY OVER THERE AND I AM SO SORRY THAT HE PASSED AT SUCH A YOUNG AGE. SOUNDS LIKE YOU HAVE A WONDERFUL TEAM AROUND YOU AND YOUR CHILDREN AND WE WANT TO SHOWER YOU WITH

LOVE AND APPRECIATION. >> THANK YOU, WE WILL CONTINUE TO CARRY ON HIS SPIRIT AND GIVE BACK TO THE SOCIETY FOR THE HURRICANE BERYL WE HAVE DONATED FOOD TO THE ELECTRICITY RECOVERY TEAM IN WOODLAND, THAT IS OUR NEW RESTAURANT OPENED IN WOODLAND. WE ARE REALLY GRATEFUL TO HAVE EVERYONE.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.

>> COMMISSIONER BRIONES YOU HAVE ANOTHER.

>> THE LAST RESOLUTION , TOGETHER PLEASE JOIN ME IN CELEBRATING THE CHINESE AMERICAN CITIZENS ALLIANCE HOUSTON COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT FUND I KNOW WE HAVE VARIOUS GUESTS HERE INCLUDING JUDGE TERESA CHANG AND OTHERS IF YOU CAN PLEASE COME UP. IN 1954, THE CHINESE AMERICAN CITIZENS ALLIANCE HOUSTON LARGE CAC A HOUSTON WHICH IS PART OF THE NATIONAL CHINESE AMERICAN CITIZENS ALLIANCE, THE NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION FOUNDED IN 1895 , IN RESPONSE TO THE 1882 EXCLUSION ACT WHICH UNFAIRLY TARGETED CHINESE PEOPLE. WHEREAS, FOR 70 YEARS, CA CA HOUSTON HAS SPEARHEADED EFFORTS AGAINST DISCRIMINATORY IMMIGRATION LAW , IT HAS PROMOTED NATURALIZATION AND CITIZENSHIP , IT HAS PARTICIPATED AND HELPED WITH THE CENSUS COUNT, ADVOCATED FOR EQUAL EDUCATIONAL AND ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITIES AND HAS ENCOURAGED VOTER REGISTRATION

[02:35:04]

AND WE KNOW AND HONOR THE APPROXIMATELY 20,000 CHINESE-AMERICANS WHO SERVED IN WORLD WAR II IN EVERY BRANCH OF THE UNITED STATES ARMED FORCES. AND TODAY, WE HAVE AND WE ARE TECHNOLOGY AND CELEBRATING THE RECENT PAGEANT SO IT IS PART OF THE WORK TO ENGAGE THE COMMUNITY CA CA HOUSTON COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT HOST OF THE FIRST MISS CHINATOWN HOUSTON SCHOLARSHIP PAGEANT. IT WAS IN 1971 , NOW IN PRECINCT 4 IT WAS THE 52ND ANNUAL PADGETT CONGRATULATIONS. AS YOU GIVE MORE THAN $18,000 IN SCHOLARSHIPS TO ALL PARTICIPANTS, REGARDLESS OF HOW THEY DO IN THE PAGEANT. AND ALSO TEACH THEM PUBLIC SPEAKING AND OTHER SKILLS THAT WILL HELP THEM FOR THE REST OF THEIR LIVES. SO WITH THAT, WE WANT TO HONOR FOR VERY 2024, HARRIS COUNTY'S OWN 2023 MISS CHINATOWN FIRST PRINCESS AND MISS TALENT IN THE 2024 MISS CHINATOWN USA PAGEANT, ANOTHER REASON TO BE A PROUD RESIDENT OF HARRIS COUNTY. NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED HARRIS COUNTY COMMISSIONERS COURT HEREBY CELEBRATES EVERYTHING THAT THE CHINESE AMERICAN CITIZEN ALLIANCE HOUSTON COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT FUND DOES IN OUR COMMUNITY. WE ARE HAPPY TO RECOGNIZE YOU AND THE JUDGE WHO IS AN ICON AND ROLE MODEL TO ME AND TO SO MANY IT IS AN HONOR TO HAVE YOU HERE TODAY.

>> THANK YOU, THANK YOU COMMISSIONER BRIONES, GOOD AFTERNOON COUNTY JUDGE AND COMMISSIONERS. I AM THE COCHAIR OF 2024 MISS CHINATOWN HOUSTON PAGEANT. THIS IS THE 52ND PADGETT POSTED BY CHINESE AMERICAN CITIZENS ALLIANCE. LET ME INTRODUCE OUR GROUP. 2024 MISS CHINATOWN HOUSTON. THE CHINESE NEW YEAR. THE SECOND PRINCESS.

GIRLS ARE ELEGANT, BEAUTIFUL AND PASSIONATE ABOUT SERVING THE COMMUNITY. THE PURPOSE OF THE PAGEANT OF THE MISS CHINATOWN IS TO PROVE TO PROVIDE A YOUNG , TO PROVIDE OPPORTUNITY TO THE CHINESE AMERICAN YOUNG WOMEN , APPLYING TO BE ROLE MODELS IN THE COMMUNITY. AND REACH THEIR CULTURE AND REACHING THEIR EDUCATION THROUGH SCHOLARSHIP, THANK YOU FOR THE RESOLUTION. WE ARE VERY HONORED TO BE HERE TO ACCEPT IT TODAY. OUR MISS CHINATOWN WILL GO TO SAN FRANCISCO TO COMPETE IN THE MISS CHINATOWN PAGEANT. OUR GIRLS HAVE DONE WELL IN THE BEST SO WE WISH LUCK TO OUR MISS CHINATOWN 2024 EXPRESS OUR APPRECIATION TO THE COUNTY JUDGE AND COUNTY COMMISSIONERS FOR YOUR DEDICATION IN THE DISASTER RELIEF TO KEEP HARRIS COUNTY ENJOYABLE AND SAFE, THANK YOU

SO MUCH FOR YOUR EFFORT. >> SORRY.

>> MISS CHINATOWN 2024 IS GOING TO HAVE ONE MINUTE REMARKS.

>> THANK YOU. >> GOOD AFTERNOON COMMISSIONERS AND COUNTY JUDGE MY NAME IS INCOMING SOPHOMORE AT TEXAS A&M UNIVERSITY. THIS SATURDAY, I

[02:40:05]

, THANK YOU. >> CONGRATULATIONS.

>> CONGRATULATIONS AND THANK YOU FOR THE 70 PLUS YEARS FOR EVERYTHING YOU HAVE DONE TO UPLIFT THE CHINESE COMMUNITY IN HARRIS COUNTY AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO THE NEXT 70 YEARS

AND BEYOND. >> JUDGE, GOOD TO SEE YOU AND THANK YOU FOR CONTINUING THIS INCREDIBLE LEGACY . THESE LADIES, I DON'T KNOW HOW YOU DO IT. I HAVE BEEN TO SO MANY EVENTS AND HAVE BEEN IMMENSELY IMPRESSED WITH THE INTELLECT, THE TALENT, THAT IS SO PREVALENT AT THE EVENT YOU DO AND SO GRATEFUL TO YOU FOR LIFTING THESE YOUNG LADIES AND HELPING THEM TO BE PROUD OF THEIR CULTURE AND HELPING TO MOVE FORWARD. SO WHEREVER YOU GO, JUST CONTINUE TO SPREAD YOUR WINGS, BUT NEVER FORGET HOUSTON, HARRIS COUNTY BECAUSE WE LOVE YOU, WE APPRECIATE YOU HERE AND WE KNOW WHEREVER YOU GO, YOU'RE GOING TO MAKE AND CONTINUE TO MAKE AN INCREDIBLE IMPACTS. SO, THANK YOU FOR DOING WHAT YOU ARE DOING, JUDGE, THANK YOU BECAUSE YOU KNOW, MY WIFE , WHO YOU MET ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS WAS PART OF THE BEAUTY PAGEANT BACK IN HER DAY AND, NOT THAT I NOTICED , I WAS PARTICULARLY INTERESTED IN THE SWIMSUIT EVENT. LISTEN, THANK YOU FOR WHAT YOU ARE DOING. THESE YOUNG PEOPLE NEED A MENTOR , THEY NEED SOMEONE TO ENCOURAGE THEM, YOU PARTICIPATE IN A PAGEANT THAT IS NO EASY TASK AND IT IS NOT ANYTHING FOR THE FAINT OF HEART, YOU REALLY HAVE TO PUT YOURSELF OUT THERE , SO IT DOES REQUIRE MENTORSHIP AND LEADERSHIP AND SUPPORT. SO THANK YOU FOR WHEN YOU DO BECAUSE YOU ARE HELPING US BECOME EVEN STRONGER AND BETTER. THANK YOU JUDGE, GOOD TO SEE YOU.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH, CONGRATULATIONS. WE WILL NOW TAKE PICTURES.

[02:59:42]

>>> ALL RIGHT COLLEAGUES WE ONLY HAVE FIVE SPEAKERS. SO I

[02:59:46]

[Appearances before court]

[03:01:00]

>> SO, WE ONLY HAVE FIVE SPEAKERS, SO IF IT'S OKAY I

[03:01:09]

>> SPEAKER NUMBER NINE PROBATE COURTS YOU HAVE ONE MINUTE.

>> GOOD AFTERNOON JUDGE HIDALGO AND THE COMMISSIONERS. I AM PROBATE COURT JUDGE, PROBATE COURT SPEAKING ON BEHALF OF THE OTHER FOUR JUDGES. IT IS MY UNDERSTANDING COMMISSIONERS COURT ARRANGED FOR AN INDEPENDENT STUDY FROM THE NATIONAL CENTER FOR STATE COURTS AND AFTER AN INTENSE STUDY THEY DETERMINED HARRIS COUNTY NEEDS EIGHT PROBATE COURTS. CURRENTLY THE LEGISLATURE GAVE US A FIFTH COURT. IN OUR PARTICULAR COURT, WE USE COURT VISITORS TO HELP VISIT GUARDIANS AND AWARDS, OVER 2000 AND THE COURT, WE USE CONTRACT LABOR TO GET THAT ACCOMPLISHED. WE HAVE DETERMINED BECAUSE OPEN WORKS, THE ENTITY HIRING THE CONTRACTORS HAVE RAISED THEIR PRICES IT WOULD BE MORE ECONOMICALLY EFFICIENT IF WE WERE TO HIRE TWO STAFF PEOPLE.

AND SAVE THE COUNTY ABOUT 13,000 OR $15,000. I KNOW THE OFFICE OF COURT ADMINISTRATION THOUGHT IT WAS A WORTHWHILE PROPOSAL, TO SEEK THE ADDITION OF TWO EMPLOYEES, UNDERSTAND BUDGET IS NOT BEHIND US ON THAT, BUT I FELT COMPELLED TO BRING IT TO THE COURT'S ATTENTION. THANK YOU. I WILL TAKE ANY QUESTIONS IF YOU HAVE ANY.

>> WHAT IS THE ISSUE? >> TAKING IT DURING THE BUDGET

OFFICE PROCESS. >> UNDERSTOOD. THE BUDGET PROCESS IS COMING UP SOON, AND HERE'S THE THING, WE , IF WE APPROVE THE REQUEST OUTSIDE THE BUDGET PROCESS, WE HAVE TO APPROVE ALL REQUESTS OUTSIDE OF THE BUDGET PROCESS SO IT SOUNDS LIKE YOU ARE NOT OPPOSED TO IT FOR WHAT IT IS, JUST THE

TIMING? >> WE WANT TO CONSIDER.

>> SO WE CAN CONSIDER EVERYTHING TOTAL. THAT WOULD BE MY POSITION. I KNOW HOW HARD YOU GUYS WORK AND I KNOW THE FIFTH COURT IS NOT ENOUGH SO WHEN IS THE BUDGET PROCESS?

>> WE HAVE MEETINGS SCHEDULED WITH YOU ALL ON OUR RECOMMENDATIONS AND YOU SHOULD BE RECEIVING THE FIRST COPY OF RECOMMENDATIONS IN EARLY AUGUST, IT WILL BE PRESENTED AUGUST 19 WHAT WE WILL DO WITH BUDGET HEARINGS AND THE SAME SCHEDULE LAST YEAR WITH MULTIPLE DISCUSSION ITEMS AND ONE FINAL DAY FOR BUDGET AMENDMENTS.

>> SAY WE APPROVE THE EMPLOYEES.

>> WE WILL COMMUNICATE IN EARLY AUGUST WITH THE DEPARTMENTS.

>> EARLY AUGUST THERE WERE NO.

>> WHAT WAS RECOMMENDED BY OMB.

>> IN TERMS OF WHAT WAS APPROVE THAT WOULD BE SEPTEMBER?

>> FINAL APPROVAL IS SEPTEMBER 20.

>> OKAY WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT THAT TIMETABLE?

>> WE WILL CONTINUE TO WORK HARD TRYING TO MEET THE STATUTORY MANDATE OF THE STATE AND CONTINUE TO DO SO. I APPRECIATE YOUR CONSIDERATION WHEN IT'S TIME BEFORE YOU.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH JUDGE AND TO YOUR COLLEAGUES FOR YOUR WORK.

>> SPEAKER NUMBER 16, TRANSMITTALS, YOU HAVE ONE MINUTE.

[03:05:06]

>> SHE IS MAKING HER WAY.

>> WE HAVE HEARD THE STEPS ARE NOT COMFORTABLE, WE HAVE PASSED

THAT ALONG. >> THAT'S OKAY. GOOD AFTERNOON. I AM HERE JOINING MY PARTNERS WHICH WILL BE HERE SOON, AND CONGRATULATIONS TO RECEIVING THE ACHIEVEMENT AWARD FOR EARLY REACH TWO HARRIS COUNTY, WE ARE GRATEFUL TO BE PART OF THIS GROUNDBREAKING WORK. THROUGH EARLY REACH WE PROVIDE PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT MAKE CRITICAL INVESTMENTS IN CENTERS AND PROVIDE BUSINESS COACHING FOR STRONGER SUSTAINABLE SMALL BUSINESSES IN THE COMMUNITY.

UNITED WAY COACHES HAVE SUPPORTED 38 DIRECTORS, 238 TEACHERS AND 25 LEARNING CENTERS WORKING IN 119 CLASSROOMS SERVING CHILDREN ZERO THROUGH FOUR ACROSS HARRIS COUNTY IMPROVING THE QUALITY OF CARE AND LEARNING. AS ONE CENTER DIRECTOR STATED EARLY REACH HAS ENABLED THEM TO EXPAND REACH TWO MORE CHILDREN HELPING THEM TO DEVELOP SOCIAL EMOTIONAL AND ACADEMIC SKILLS FOR SUCCESS , THE EARLY REACH COACHES, CLASSROOM ASSESSMENTS OKAY. THE EARLY REACH COACHES CLASSROOMS ASSESSMENTS AND POSITIVE FEEDBACK HAVE BEEN CRUCIAL TO SHAPING THE MINDS OF THE STUDENTS. WE ARE THANKFUL TO EARLY REACH, AND TO THE LEARNING CENTER. EXCITED TO SERVE COMMUNITY THROUGH EARLY REACH AND WE THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR WORK.

>> NEXT IS SPEAKER 17, TRANSMITTALS , YOU HAVE ONE MINUTE.

>> GOOD AFTERNOON JUDGE HIDALGO , COMMISSIONERS. I AM HERE TO CONGRATULATE HARRIS COUNTY FOR THE NATIONAL RECOGNITION FOR EARLY REACH. THIS INITIATIVE IS REVOLUTIONIZING ACCESS TO HIGH-QUALITY FOR FAMILIES WHILE STRENGTHENING EARLY LEARNING PROGRAMS AND EMPOWERING TEACHERS. THIS IS A TRUE TESTAMENT TO YOUR VISION AND LEADERSHIP IN OUR STRONG PARTNERSHIP. WE ARE SO EXCITED PARTNERING WITH UNITED WAY AND MANY OTHER AMAZING PARTNERS TO BRING THIS INNOVATIVE EFFORT TO HARRIS COUNTY. THIS PROCEDURES AWARD CELEBRATES THE REMARKABLE PROGRESS ACHIEVED TO DATE SINCE OUR LAUNCH LAST YEAR. ON BEHALF OF THE 1014 STUDENTS IN HARRIS COUNTY THAT HAVE BEEN SERVED TO THIS PROGRAM, WE THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO THIS UPCOMING ENROLLMENT SESSION, THANK YOU

SO MUCH. >> THANK YOU.

>> GOOD TO SEE YOU, THANK YOU FOR COMING DOWN.

>> OKAY WE HAVE SOME AGENDA SPEAKERS WHO JUST SHOWED UP, NUMBER 10,

>> BEFORE WE GO TO THEM I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU SO MUCH. YOU MAKE THIS HAPPEN, WE KNOW THE WORK IS NOT OVER, BUT IT IS A REALLY GOOD START. THANK YOU ALL AND YOUR PARTNERS. YOU WERE

SAYING ANOTHER SPEAKER? >> YES MA'AM NUMBER 10, ]. SPEAKING ON ITEM TO 31 UNDER PURCHASING YOU HAVE ONE MINUTE.

>> GOOD AFTERNOON ESTEEMED PANEL, COMMISSIONERS, JUDGE I AM THE WORKFORCE DIRECTOR AT VOLUNTEERS OF AMERICA TEXAS HERE TODAY TO EXPRESS OUR TRUE AND SINCERE GRATITUDE FOR RENEWAL OF THE HIGHER UP HOUSTON WORKFORCE PROGRAM , TO DATE WE HAVE SERVICED OVER 1000 INDIVIDUALS IN HARRIS COUNTY PROVIDING EMPLOYMENT AND WRAPAROUND SERVICES FOR THESE INDIVIDUALS. TELL THEM ACHIEVE CAREER AND FINANCIAL GOALS , TODAY ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT THINGS I WOULD LIKE TO SHARE WITH YOU IS THAT WITH RENEWING THIS OPPORTUNITY WE ARE ABLE TO CONTINUE THIS WORK WITH OVER 70% OF THE INDIVIDUAL SERVED BEING BLACK WOMEN ANOTHER OVER 20% BEING HISPANIC WOMEN WE ARE HAPPY TO SAY THAT WE ARE IMPACTING SOCIALLY VULNERABLE COMMUNITIES IN A WONDERFUL WAY. WITHOUT THIS OPPORTUNITY WE WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO CONTINUE THIS WORK. WE APPRECIATE THE RENEWAL AND LOOK FORWARD TO CONTINUING THIS WORK, THANK

[03:10:03]

YOU. >> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR

WORK. >> THANK YOU.

>> SPEAKER NUMBER 11,

>> SHE IS MAKING HER WAY. >> GOOD AFTERNOON COMMISSIONERS AND JUDGE HIDALGO. I WANT TO SEND MY GRATITUDE AND SINCERE THANK YOU ON BEHALF OF VOLUNTEERS OF AMERICA TEXAS. I AM THE EXECUTIVE FOR THIS REGION AND AS MANY THINGS HAVE HAPPENED TO THE COMMUNITIES WE ARE SO GRATEFUL YOU GUYS HAVE EXTENDED THIS OPPORTUNITY TO BE ABLE TO IMPACT FAMILIES IN A WAY TO BREAK GENERATIONAL POVERTY WITH THE HOUSTON HARRIS HIGHER UP GRANT WE HAVE 31 CAREER PATHWAYS AND GIVING PEOPLE OPPORTUNITIES THEY COULD NEVER DREAM OF OR SEE ANYONE IN THE COMMUNITY DO. THANK YOU FOR THE WORK YOU DO IN HELPING US ALLOW THESE FAMILIES TO SEE DREAMS AND BUILD FUTURES. THANK

YOU. >> THANK YOU SO MUCH. WHAT A TREAT , ALL OF THE SPEAKERS. THANK YOU ALL IN THE EARLY REACH AND MY COLLEAGUES FOR EVERYTHING THAT THE TEAMS ARE DOING ON BOTH AND WE WILL KEEP WORKING.

>> SPEAKER NUMBER 12,

>> HELLO, GOOD AFTERNOON. I AM THE BENEFICIARY OF THE HIGHER UP SCHOLARSHIP. BEFORE BECOMING A MEMBER OF THE BOA AND HARRIS COUNTY RESIDENT I WAS PURSUING HIGHER EDUCATION IN DETROIT, MICHIGAN. I MOVED TO TEXAS NOVEMBER 2021 AND STRUGGLED TO SEE A CLEAR PATH TOWARD MY CAREER GOALS AND FEELING TRAPPED BY CAN -- FINANCIAL CONSTRAINTS SINCE JOINING THE BOA FAMILY MY LIFE HAS TRANSFORMED. THE HIGHER UP SCHOLARSHIP IS ONLY RELIEVED MY FINANCIAL BURDEN, IT HAS HELPED ME PURSUE MY DREAM OF BECOMING A OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY ASSISTANT, MY CONFIDENCE AND DETERMINATION AND I'M NOW THE ONLY AFRICAN-AMERICAN STUDENT IN MY COHORT. THIS IS IMPORTANT TO ME BECAUSE I KNOW I CAN INSPIRE OTHERS TO PURSUE THEIR GOALS THANKS TO THE VOLUNTEERS OF AMERICA. I AM EXTREME THE GRATEFUL FOR THE OPPORTUNITIES PROVIDED FOR MYSELF AND OTHERS.

THANK YOU.

>> SPEAKER NUMBER 13,

>> GOOD AFTERNOON COMMISSIONERS AND JUDGES. BEFORE I BECAME A PART OF THE HIGHER UP PROGRAM I WAS ON THE VERGE OF BEING HOMELESS. I ACTUALLY BECAME HUMMUS, I HAVE 7 DEGREES BUT I CANNOT FIND A JOB TO SAVE MY LIFE, I CANNOT FIND HOUSING, I DID NOT KNOW WHAT TO DO AND I WAS ON THE VERGE OF LEAVING HOUSTON AND TEXAS AND THEN AFTER JOINING, I PASSED BY TEST, GOT INTO THE PROGRAM AT WESLEY COMMUNITY CENTER. GOT THE SCHOLARSHIP AFTER TWO MONTHS DID THAT COMPLETELY HOMELESS, GOT MY CNA HOMELESS AND MCDONALD'S, WALMART OR BURGER KING WHEREVER I COULD GO. I WAS DEDICATED TO FULFILLING MY GOALS AND I GOT THE STATE LICENSE, WORKING ON MY PHLEBOTOMY AND EKG, I HAVE THREE JOB OFFERS WITH M.D.

ANDERSON, I PICKED ONE AND I HAVE MY ON BOARDING TUESDAY AND I AM SO GRATEFUL FOR THE OPPORTUNITY I WAS GIVEN, A SECOND CHANCE AND TO GET MY LIFE BACK IN ORDER AND THANK

YOU TO THE HIGHER UP. >> CONGRATULATIONS. THAT IS SO

AMAZING. >> NEXT IS SPEAKER NUMBER 14, NAME ] SPEAKING ON ITEM 232 UNDER PURCHASING. YOU HAVE ONE MINUTE.

>> GOOD AFTERNOON I AM SAMANTHA SHERMAN CHIEF PROGRAM OFC. AT WESLEY COMMUNITY CENTER. THANK YOU FOR APPROVING THE ADMINISTRATION OF THE HARRIS COUNTY HIGHER A PROGRAM WITH THE ARPA FUNDS, TO DATE WESLEY HAS HELPED 266 HARRIS COUNTY RESIDENTS, 55% IN THE MOST VULNERABLE AREAS, 87% WOMEN , 52% AFRICAN-AMERICAN AND 39% HISPANIC. THIS FUNDING HAS PLAYED A CRITICAL ROLE IN HELPING HARRIS COUNTY RESIDENTS BUILD SKILLS TO LAUNCH CAREERS IN SOME OF THE REGION'S MOST IN DEMAND FIELDS SUCH AS HEALTHCARE, CUSTOMER SERVICE AND CONSTRUCTION. THESE FUNDS WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO PROVIDE

[03:15:01]

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH. >> NEXT IS NON-AGENDA SPEAKER NUMBER ONE,

>> SHE LEFT. >> OKAY, THANK YOU. NEXT IS NON-AGENDA SPEAKER NUMBER NINE,

>> SHE IS MAKING HER WAY.

>> JOHN WENTZ ENCOURAGES BEING SCARED TO DEATH AND SETTLING UP ANYWAY. HARRIS COUNTY HAS A BIG CRIME PROBLEM, CHILDREN ARE BEING MURDERED LIKE ARE BEING MURDERED, HOWEVER MUCH CONSTABLES AND COMMISSIONERS ARE ASKING FOR, IN TERMS OF COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS FOR THE DEPUTIES AND CONSTABLES, PLEASE GIVE IT TO THEM. WE NEED OUR POLICE OFFICERS TO STAY POLICE AND TO STAY IN HARRIS COUNTY. HAVE SOME OF THE BEST CONSTABLES AND DEPUTIES IN THE WORLD AND WE NEED TO KEEP THEM. I OFTEN WONDER WHY MEN AND WOMEN TAKE THE RISK THAT LAW ENFORCEMENT DOES, I DON'T HAVE THAT KIND OF COURAGE BUT I'M VERY GRATEFUL TO THE HARRIS COUNTY LAW ENFORCEMENT WHO DO, THANK

YOU. >> THANK YOU SO MUCH.

>> JUDGE, THAT'S ALL THE SPEAKERS.

>> OKAY WE WILL SIGN RESOLUTIONS AND CONSENT AGENDA IS QUITE BRIEF. I CAN GO THROUGH IT REAL QUICK IF THAT'S OKAY. OKAY, EXECUTIVE SESSION ITEM 333 IS REQUEST FOR EXECUTIVE SESSION ON THE REAPPOINTMENT OF

>> NO NEED. >> OKAY, 334 IS APPOINTMENT TO

THE LGBTQ COMMISSION. OKAY. >> JUDGE ARE THOSE GOING TO BE

APPROVED AS PRESENTED? >> CORRECT. 335 IS AN AWARD TO PURCHASE LAND FOR THE HARDY YARDS PROJECT.

OKAY, 336 AUTHORIZING AGREEMENT WITH QUARTER HEDGES IN CONNECTION WITH INTERNAL INVESTIGATION FOR THE PROVISION OF LEGAL ADVICE. OKAY. AND THEN DISCUSSION LIST RIGHT HERE. SO LET ME. LET ME MAKE THE CORRECTIONS. WE HAVE NO ACTION ON ITEM 16, RIGHT? OCA REQUESTS NO ACTION. OMB REQUESTS NO ACTION ON ITEM 27 GENERAL OBLIGATION TAX COMMERCIAL PAPER NOTES. ITEM 32 THERE IS A CORRECTION. WE NEED TO CHANGE TAX AND SUBORDINATE LIEN TO HOTEL OCCUPANCY TAX THROUGHOUT THE ITEMS. SO THAT CHANGE NEEDS TO BE MADE, TWICE. ITEM 34 ON ELECTION AND VETERANS DAY HOLIDAYS REQUESTING NO ACTION.

ITEM 67 KINGS LAKE SUBDIVISION COUNTY ENGINEER REQUEST NO ACTION. ITEM 97, IMPROVEMENTS COUNTY ENGINEER REQUESTS NO ACTION. HARRIS COUNTY LEGISLATIVE AGENDA NO ACTION.

AXES HARRIS 2025 ITEM 137 PUBLIC-HEALTH REQUESTS NO ACTION. ITEM 160 RETENTION INCENTIVE PROGRAM OMB REQUEST NO ACTION. PROBATE COURT APPROVED POSITION REQUEST FOR NO ACTION. TRAVEL AND TRAINING CHILDREN'S TESTING CENTER REQUEST NO ACTION ON ITEM NUMBER 183 ROW 16 VISIT TO THE COALITION TO END SEXUAL EXPECTATIONS SUMMIT. 194 CLEAN HEAVY-DUTY VEHICLES GRANTS PROGRAM PUBLIC-HEALTH REQUESTS NO ACTION. 283 THERE IS A CORRECTION CHANGING 210,000 TO 230,000 AND WE NEED TO CHANGE 60,000 TO 80,000 , DOLLARS, FOR ALL OF THOSE. ITEM 292 COURT RESOURCES PRECINCT 4 REQUESTS

NO ACTION. DID I MISS ANY? >> THAT IS GOOD.

>> OKAY THEN DISCUSSION LIST. DO FOLKS NEED TO DISCUSS ITEM 6

[03:20:02]

>> YES, NEED TO DISCUSS. >> ITEM 19 BY COMMISSIONER BRIONES STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURE . ITEM 30 VOTING MACHINE COMMISSIONER COMMISSIONER RAMSEY COMMISSIONER PURPLE FUNDING. ITEM 37 COMMISSIONER GARCIA.

MAJOR THOROUGHFARE AND FREEWAY PLAN. ITEM 38 MINIMUM STANDARDS FOR COMMUNITIES IN HARRIS COUNTY. 121 FLAGGED BY GARCIA, RAMSEY AND COMMISSIONER BRIONES. PLAN TO ADDRESS DEFERRED MAINTENANCE AND TIMELINE FOR ACTION. 138 . 138 IS FLAGGED BY COMMISSIONER RAMSEY AGREEMENT WITH EOP HOUSTON TO LEASE FACILITY, 140 COMMISSIONER RAMSEY TEMPORARY CUSTOMER AGREEMENT TO TAKE CUSTODY OF CERTAIN ANIMALS NEEDING URGENT VETERINARY CARE. 147 COMMISSIONER RAMSEY, USE CREDIT CARD $257. 196 COMMISSIONER RAMSEY AMENDMENT WITH THE TEXAS TO UPDATE LEGAL NOTICE ON FAMILY PLANNING SECTION. 198, COMMISSIONER RAMSEY APPROVAL OF ONE POSITION FOR THE HEALTHY TEXAS WOMEN GRANT.

>> YES. >> 286 LAW ENFORCEMENT SALARY INCREASE. 287 COMMISSIONER RAMSEY HARRIS HEALTH SYSTEM BUDGET AND BOND PROGRAM. 303 COMMISSIONER RAMSEY ON UPDATES TO THE FY 2025 OR FY 25 CURRENT LEVEL SERVICE PROJECTIONS. 343 COMMISSIONER RAMSEY FILED COMMENTS ABOUT PUBLIC PARTICIPATION. OKAY. SO WE HAVE GOT ITEMS SIX , SEVEN, EIGHT , 12 , 18 , 19 , 30 , 37 , 38 , 121. 138. 140. 147. 196. 198.

286. 287. 303. AND 343. DID I MISS ANYTHING?

>> JUDGE 16 NO ACTION? >> LET ME CHECK ON THAT , FOR

YOUR. >> YES SIR THAT'S WHAT WE ARE

REQUESTING, NO ACTION. >> JUST WANTED TO BE SURE.

>> OKAY, ANYTHING ELSE? THAT'S THE IN-HOUSE PLAN PROPOSAL WITH

NO ACTION, CORRECT. OKAY. >> ITEM 36 , IS NOT APPROVED AS

PRESENTED? >> 36 APPROVED AS PRESENTED.

ITEM 36 REQUEST TO PROVIDE UPDATE ON HARRIS COUNTY TRANSPORTATION MASTER PLAN, YES, APPROVED AS PRESENTED.

>> ITEM 133. ITEM 133 IS DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE APPROVAL OF THE FLEET VEHICLE POLICY APPROVED AS PRESENTED.

SO THERE ARE NO PUBLIC HEARINGS. MOTION FOR ALL ITEMS ONE THROUGH 346 WITH THE EXCEPTION OF ITEMS VOTED ON AND DISCUSSION ITEMS JUST LIFTED , AFTER THE BREAK I WILL CONTINUE RECOVERY EFFORTS . I WILL BE IN A PRESS CONFERENCE WITH THE MAYOR AND OTHER LEADERS TO LAUNCH THE DISASTER ALLIANCE FUND PROVIDING GRANTS TO LOCAL NONPROFITS. FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE AND HOME REPAIR, RESEARCH NAVIGATION ET CETERA COMMISSIONER ELLIS WILL PRESIDE OVER MY ABSENCE. A MOTION BY COMMISSIONER GARCIA SECOND BY COMMISSIONER ELLIS. ALL IN FAVOR? ANY OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY IT IS 1:32 AND WE ARE TAKING A LUNCH BREAK UNTIL 2:30. FOLKS,

[Departments (Part 2 of 2)]

[03:25:17]

>>> IT IS NOW TO:40 P.M. AND COMMISSIONERS COURT IS BACK IN SESSION. YOU HAVE THE LIST OF ITEMS BEFORE YOU. THE FIRST WHEN IS ITEM 6, COMMISSIONER RAMSEY. THE AMERICAN INSTITUTES FOR RESEARCH FOR EVALUATION. ITEM 6.

>> THIS IS IN TERMS OF BEING ABLE TO AFFORD IT AND PRIORITIES. WE JUST NEED TO VOTE.

>> IS THAT A SECOND? >> SECOND. THE MOTION HAS BEEN MADE BY COMMISSIONER GARCIA AND SECOND BY COMMISSIONER BRIONES.

ALL IN FAVOR VOTE AYE. ALL OPPOSED VOTE NO. THE NEXT ITEM , COMMISSIONER RAMSEY, I WILL LET YOU AS WELL. THAT IS ITEM

7. >> SAME ISSUE RELATED TO SHARING OF DATA AND OTHER THINGS. I JUST HAVE CONCERNS

ABOUT THAT. >> COMMISSIONER GARCIA, DO YOU

MAKE A MOTION? >> SO MOVED.

>> SECOND. >> ALL IN FAVOR VOTE AYE. ALL

OPPOSED VOTE NO. >> ACTUALLY, MR. CHAIR, IF I COULD. I JUST WILL ASK REAL QUICKLY, OC LETTER A, WHAT IS THE CONTRACT FOR ITEM 6 GOING TO BE INVOLVED FOR?

>> YES, IT'S FOR THE EVALUATION OF REENTRY PROGRAMS, INCLUDING THE WOMEN'S EMPOWERMENT CENTER IN THE

SHERIFF'S OFFICE. >> OKAY.

>> WHAT WILL HAPPEN TO THE PROGRAM AFTER OCTOBER 4TH?

>> SO THIS IS JUST THE EVALUATION OF THE PROGRAM, SO IT WILL BE A ONE-TIME EVALUATION WORK THAT THEY WILL

DO ON THOSE PROGRAMS. >> OKAY. WE WERE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE BOAT. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR VOTE AYE. ALL OPPOSED VOTE NO.

NEXT ITEM IS ITEM NUMBER EIGHT. COMMISSIONER RAMSEY, YOU PULL

THAT ONE. >> SCHOOL READINESS CONSULTING AND THAT SORT OF THING. I KNOW THE SCHOOL READINESS CONSULTING, I THINK THEY ARE -- I DON'T THINK THEY ARE LOCATED

IN HOUSTON. >> COMMISSIONER GARCIA MAKES A

MOTION TO PROVE IT. >> SECOND.

>> ALL OF THOSE IN FAVOR VOTE AYE. ALL OPPOSED VOTE NO. ITEM PASSES. COMMISSIONER RAMSEY, THE NEXT WHEN IS ITEM 12 .

>> CONCERNS ABOUT THE SERVICE AND WE JUST NEED TO VOTE.

>> SO MOVED. >> COMMISSIONER GARCIA MOVES IT AND COMMISSIONER BRIONES SECONDS IT. ALL IN FAVOR VOTE AYE. ALL OPPOSED VOTE NO. MOTION PASSES. THIS IS THE EQUITY GUIDELINES AND IT IS ITEM 18.

>> AGAIN, COMMISSIONER, WE STARTED THIS CONVERSATION EARLIER TODAY ON HOW INFORMATION BE USED. WE ARE CREATING A CHIEF EQUITY OFFICER. IT'S NOT CLEAR TO ME WHAT THE SCOPE OF THE PERSONS JOB WOULD BE. IT SEEMS LIKE THE DIRECTOR WOULD BE ABLE TO HANDLE THAT, PARTICULARLY SINCE WE GOT SUCH A CHALLENGING BUDGET GOING INTO THIS YEAR. SO THIS SEEMS LIKE AN AREA THAT WE COULD ASK MISS GONZALES TO CONTINUE TO SERVE. I GUESS SHE IS SERVING IN TWO ROLES RIGHT

NOW. >> WELL, COMMISSIONER. ACTUALLY THE CHIEF EQUITY OFFICER IN MY OFFICE WAS CREATED AS PART OF THE REORGANIZATION FROM LAST YEAR. THAT POSITION IS ALREADY FILLED IN MY OFFICE AND IT'S BASICALLY TO HELP US COORDINATE ALL THE EQUITY INITIATIVES THROUGHOUT THE COUNTY AND WE HAVE THE EQUITY FRAMEWORK THAT WE USE FOR ARPA AND AS ARPA IS ENDING, WE WANTED TO MAKE SURE WE CONTINUE LOOKING FOR AN EQUITY FRAMEWORK FOR OUR WORK, SO DOCTOR JOHNSON IS A CHIEF EQUITY OFFICER IN MY OFFICE AND THEY USE AN INTERNAL POSITION THAT I RECLASSIFIED TO CREATED. I DID IT WITHIN OUR OWN BUDGET AND NOT ADDING ANY OTHER STAFF. ALTHOUGH WE DO HAVE A BUDGET REQUEST TO GET SOME HELP FOR HER AS SHE WORKS COUNTYWIDE.

>> OKAY. COMMISSIONER BRIONES.

>> I WAS GOING TO SAY THANK YOU , COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR RAMIREZ DRIVING PROGRESS IN THIS REGARD. HAVING CLEAR, SHARED ALIGNED DEFINITIONS OF WHAT WE ARE TALKING ABOUT IS REALLY IMPORTANT AS WE MOVE FORWARD WITH ACTIONS TO MAKE THIS COME FURTHER ALIVE AND I JUST WANTED TO THANK YOU AND THANK DOCTOR JOHNSON AND VERY BRIEFLY WITH UP TO HEAR HOW IF THIS IS

[03:30:03]

>> YES, MA'AM. I WILL LET DOCTOR JONES COME IN AND WALK YOU THROUGH HIGH-LEVEL OF WHAT THIS MEANS.

>> THANK YOU. WELCOME, DOCTOR JOHNSON . I THINK THIS IS YOUR

FIRST TIME SPEAKING TO US. >> YES, IT IS. THANK YOU. THANK YOU COMMISSIONER BRIONES FOR THE QUESTION . IN THE NEXT 6 TO 9 MONTHS, WHAT WE WOULD LIKE TO SEE, ONE WITH THIS FOUNDATIONAL DOCUMENT IS THAT EVERYBODY UNDERSTANDS EQUITY AND WE ARE ALL TALKING ABOUT IT FROM THE SAME VIEWPOINT AND WE ARE USING THE SAME ANALYSIS AND LIVES IN THE SECOND THING IS THAT WE REALLY WANT TO MAKE SURE WE HAVE THE FOUNDATIONAL DOCUMENT TO BRING THE EQUITY MATURITY MODEL INTO FRUITION, AS WELL AS MAKING SURE THAT WE ARE LOOKING AT EQUITY FROM DOING THOSE THREE TRAININGS THAT WERE PASSED IN NOVEMBER 2021, AND THEN ENSURING THAT WE ARE ABLE TO TRACK EQUITY MOVING FORWARD.

>> THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU.

>> APPRECIATE YOU COMING BY MY OFFICE AND BRIEFING ME.

>> YES, SIR. ALWAYS. >> I THINK WE HAD A GOOD EXCHANGE AND GOOD DIALOGUE. THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU. >> I WILL MOVE IT AS PRESENTED.

>> COMMISSIONER BRIONES MAKES A MOTION AND WE APPROVE IT AS A MOTION. ALL IN FAVOR VOTE AYE. ALL OPPOSED VOTE NO. MOTION PASSES AND CONGRATULATIONS DOCTOR JUNCTION. COMMISSIONER BRIONES, THE NEXT ITEM IS YOURS.

>> YES, I KNOW EARLIER THIS MORNING WE TALKED ABOUT ENERGY RESILIENCY AND FRANKLY THE LACK THEREOF THAT WE EXPERIENCED OVER THE LAST WEEK AND SO I AM VERY THANKFUL THAT WE HAVE THE REEF AND I LOOK FORWARD TO THE GROWING AND I DEDICATED TO MAKE SURE THAT IS CONSTANTLY BEING REINVESTED ANOTHER RESILIENCY AND SUSTAINABILITY EFFORTS AND SO FOR THOSE WATCHING OR HERE AT OUR INTERNS, CAN YOU TALK ABOUT WHAT IT CURRENTLY IS AND

WHAT DIVISION IS . >> ON A GO FORWARD BASIS, WHAT WE WANT TO BE SURE IS THAT THE SAVINGS ARE ACCOUNTED FOR SO THAT THE COMMISSIONERS COURT CAN UNDERSTAND WHAT SAVINGS WE ARE ACCOMPLISHING WITH THE WORK THAT WE ARE DOING AND IT'S INTERDEPARTMENTAL WORK ACROSS THE BOARD AND SO WHAT WE WANT TO DO IS HAVE 50% OF ANY SAVINGS GOING INTO THE REEF FUND THAT WILL HELP SUPPORT STAFF THAT WE HAVE THAT DO THIS ENERGY WORK AND THEN ALSO PROJECTS AND THEN THE OTHER 50% WOULD GO BACK TO THE GENERAL FUND FOR THE COMMISSIONERS COURT TO SPEND AS THEY DESIRE. WE DIDN'T WANT TO BE TOO RESTRICTIVE AND HAVE ALL OF THE SAVINGS GO BACK TO REEF.

WITHOUT IS IMPORTANT THAT WE USE SOME OF THE SAVINGS FOR OTHER PROJECTS THAT THE COMMISSIONERS COURT MIGHT WANT THAT AREN'T DIRECTLY LINKED TO ENERGY EFFICIENCY. IF THE COURT WANTS IS BEEN THAT OTHER MONEY ON THAT, GREAT, BUT THIS GIVES YOU MORE FLEXIBILITY FOR WHAT WE WERE HOPING TO ACCOMPLISH.

>> I KNOW THAT WE ARE ALWAYS SMILING BECAUSE THERE ARE SO MANY ACRONYMS IN GOVERNMENT BUT THE REEF IS THE REVOLVING ENERGY EFFICIENCY FUND, SO IT HAS 1.3 MILLION AND I'M VERY SUPPORTIVE OF MOVING THIS 1BC LETTER IN AND CAN YOU TALK ABOUT THE WAYS THAT WE ARE TRACKING THE SAVINGS, PLEASE?

>> YES, SO PART OF THE ISSUE IS WITH THE PC LETTER IN THAT DOES THE UTILITY WORK, IT'S ALSO BEING ABLE TO TRACK WHAT BUILDINGS AND PROJECTS AND WHAT BUILDINGS ARE REDUCING OUR COSTS, OUR ENERGY COSTS AND THAT IS HOW WE PLAN TO TRACK THAT INFORMATION. WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT IT'S VERY DATA-DRIVEN AND THAT WE ARE NOT GUESSING.

>> WONDERFUL. THANK YOU. >> I KNOW THAT WE VISITED ON THIS AS WELL, WORKING WITH PROBABLY 50 CITIES IN TEXAS.

MANY TIMES WE BRING IN, WHAT I WOULD CONSIDER, EXTRA ORDINARY EXPERTS TO ADVISE US ON WHERE WE CAN HAVE SIGNIFICANT REDUCTIONS IN OUR ENERGY COST. SOME OF THAT IS EQUIPMENT RELATED AND SOME OF THAT IS PROCESSED OPERATIONS. I'M ASSUMING THERE WILL BE SOME OF THAT.

>> YES, SIR. IT'S GOING TO DEPEND, AND I DIDN'T BRING THE BACKUP WITH ME, BUT YOU KNOW WE HAVE LOTS OF DIFFERENT PROJECTS AND WE HAVE EXPERTISE IN HOUSE AND WE WORKED VERY DIRECTLY .

ALSO, WITH UNIVERSITY SERVICES, WORKING WITH ENGINEERING BECAUSE THEY ARE THE ONES THAT ARE MANAGING THE FACILITY, SO IT IS VERY MUCH INTERDEPARTMENT AL AND, YOU KNOW, WHAT WE WANT TO DO IS MAKE SURE THAT WE CAN TRACK ALL OF THE DATA INTERNALLY SO THAT THEN WE KNOW WHAT AREAS AND WHAT BUILDINGS

[03:35:03]

>> SO I HAVE A COPY OF THE MOTION. I THINK IT WAS AMENDED, SO I WILL READ IT OUT. THE MOTION WILL BE AS AMENDED AND IT IS MOVED TO AMEND THE POLICY SECTION OF THE STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURES TO READ DURING THE ANNUAL BUDGET PROCESS OFFICE OF SUSTAINABILITY, ALONG WITH OMB AND PRESENT RECOMMENDATIONS TO THE COMMISSION'S COURT ON A REEF BUDGET FOR THE FOLLOWING FISCAL YEAR FOR THE BALANCE OF SAVINGS TO RETURN TO THE GENERAL FUND TO FUND OF SERVICES AND INITIATIVES THAT ALIGN WITH THE ADVANCED TO COUNTIES MINIMIZING THE IMPACTS OF CLIMATE CHANGE IN DISASTERS

AND RELATED OBJECTIVES. >> COMMISSIONER, I WANT TO ASK,

DOES THIS TIE OUR HANDS ANY? >> ON THAT MOTION?

>> YEAH. >> I'M NOT SURE. IF IT'S COMING BACK TO THE BUDGET PROCESS, THEN WE SHOULD BE OKAY. YOU ALL WILL HAVE THAT DOCUMENTATION. WE ARE GOOD WITH IT BEING THE 50/50 SO THAT WAY YOU HAVE THE MAXIMUM POSSIBILITY. YOU KNOW, IT'S UP TO THE WILL OF THE COURT.

>> I WOULD PROVIDE A FRIENDLY AMENDMENT THAT WE STIPULATE THAT 50% OF THE REEF BUDGET BE RETURNED TO THE GENERAL FUND.

HIS WANT TO BE CLEAR, BECAUSE I WANT TO CONTINUE TO REINVEST BACK INTO THE REEF TO KEEP OUR INITIATIVE GOING.

>> I'M GOOD WITH THAT. IS THAT CLEAR?

>> IF YOU WOULDN'T MIND REPEATING IT.

>> IT WOULD BE PRESENT RECOGNITION COURT ON THE REEF BUDGET FOR THE FOLLOWING FISCAL YEAR FOR 50% FOR THE 50% BALANCE OF THE SAVINGS TO BE RETURNED TO THE GENERAL FUND TO FUND SERVICES MEASURES. JUST INSERTING 50% BETWEEN THE

BALANCE. >> IS THAT A SECOND?

>> SECOND. >> ALL OF THOSE IN FAVOR VOTE AYE. ALL OF THOSE OPPOSED SAY NO.

>> I WAS JUST TOLD BY STAFF THAT WE HAVE ALREADY ENGAGED

WITH TEXAS A&M UNIVERSITY. >> I WANT TO PULL MY BOAT.

>> I WANT TO RECONSIDER THE ITEM.

>> OKAY. THE NEXT ITEM, COMMISSIONER RAMSEY, IS ITEM 30

REGARDING VOTING MACHINES. >> COMMISSIONER ALICE.

>> DID I SKIP ONE? >> CAN WE GO BACK TO ITEM 19.

THE ITEM AS AMENDED. >> YES. A FRIENDLY AMENDMENT TO

THE AMENDMENT. >> OKAY. IT'S ALL LOOPED

TOGETHER. >> YES.

>> THANK YOU. >> OKAY. NEXT ITEM IS ITEM 30.

>> SO A QUICK QUESTION, AND I DON'T KNOW IF THE CLERK IS ON THE CALL OR NOT BUT ARE THESE VOTING MACHINES THAT WE WILL BE

USING IN NOVEMBER? >> ARE YOU THERE? I KNOW SHE WAS HEADED OUT CHECKING ON POWER AT SOME OF HER FACILITIES. YOU WANT TO COME BACK TO IT?

>> LET'S COME BACK TO IT. IT'S AN ADDITIONAL AMOUNT OF $26,255,000 FOR A TOTAL CP FUNDING OF 75,215,000 AND THAT THEY SIGNIFICANT INVESTMENT AND I JUST WANT TO KNOW THAT THAT

IS WHAT THE ENDGAME IS. >> DO YOU KNOW, MR. RAMOS?

>> I'M NOT 100% SURE. >> WE WILL HOLD IT AND WILL TRY TO GET HER ON THE PHONE. NEXT ITEM IS 37. MR. GARCIA.

>> YES, SIR AND THIS ITEM, I WANT TO THANK THE COUNTY ENGINEER FOR THEIR WORK ON THIS. WE OBVIOUSLY NEED TO HAVE THE E INTERIM-MAJOR THOROUGHFARE AND FREEWAY PLAN PLAN ADOPTED. THE WHEN THING I WANT TO MAKE SURE BECAUSE IT IS TO BE LATE IN THE ITEM IS THAT IT PROVIDES TWO OPTIONS AND I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE PROVIDING THE OPTION THAT GIVES US THE GREATEST COVERAGE AND SO I WOULD BE MAKING A MOTION THAT READS, MID-TO DIRECT THE OFFICE OF MANAGEMENT AND BUDGET AND THE OFFICE OF COUNTY ENGINEER TO ESTABLISH A RESERVE FUND WITHIN APPROPRIATE BUDGET TO ADDRESS THE IMMEDIATE NEEDS ARISING FROM THE ANNEXATION AND THAT WE ADOPT OPTION WHEN ONE .

>> CAN WE VOTE ON THIS REVERSE?

>> YES, I HAVE COMMENTS ON IT. WHEN WE ARE SUBMITTING MAPS,

[03:40:05]

>> YES, COMMISSIONER. ON OPTION A NUMBER ONE, IT IS INCLUDED IN

ALL OF THOSE. >> THAT IS INCLUDED IN ALL OF

THOSE? >> YES, COMMISSIONER.

>> IS THERE A PROCESS FOR THE PLAN FOR REVISION AND ARE YOU

ANTICIPATING A FREQUENCY? >> COMMISSIONER, WE ANTICIPATE TO DO IT AT LEAST ONCE A YEAR.

>> OKAY. OKAY. THANK YOU. >> COMMISSIONER BRIONES.

>> DOCTOR, MANY THANKS TO YOU AND YOUR TEAM FOR PRESENTING THIS . SO THE MOTION THAT I WAS GOING TO READ IS A MOTION TO APPROVE THE INTERIM-MAJOR THOROUGHFARE AND FREEWAY PLAN FOR THE UNINCORPORATED AREA OF HARRIS COUNTY, INCLUDING ALL 10 CITIES AS PRESENTED IN MAP ONE AND AN AUTHORIZATION TO SUBMIT THE PLAN TO THE TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION TO NEGOTIATE AND EXECUTE AN AGREEMENT CONCERNING FUTURE TRANSPORTATION CORRIDORS AFFECTING ROADWAYS AND TRANSPORTATION PROJECTS IN HARRIS COUNTY. ESSENTIALLY, IT'S A MOTION TO APPROVE THE FIRST ONE.

>> LET ME SUGGEST THIS. >> I WITHDRAW MY AND ADOPT

DOORS. >> OKAY.

>> AT SECOND YOURS. >> THANK YOU. AND IF WE NEED A

FIND. >> JUST TO MAKE SURE THAT, THE MAPS ARE TATTERED OPTION ONE AND OPTION TWO, DOCTOR. DO WE

NEED TO STIPULATE OPTION ONE? >> COMMISSIONER, YOU DON'T AS LONG AS YOU SAY THAT THE ONE THAT INCLUDES 10 CITIES AND INCORPORATED IN HARRIS COUNTY.

>> UNDERSTAND THAT. I SECOND THE MOTION.

>> DO WE HAVE A DISCUSSION? OKAY. YOU HAVE HEARD THE DISCUSSION. ALL OF THOSE IN FAVOR VOTE AYE. ALL OPPOSED VOTE NO. ITEM PASSES AS AMENDED.

>> THANK YOU . >> CLARK, ARE YOU THERE YET?

OKAY. WE WILL GO TO ITEM 37. >> YES, I'M HERE. SORRY ABOUT

THAT. >> OKAY. WE WILL GO BACK TO ITEM 30, AND COMMISSIONER RAMSEY, YOU HAD QUESTIONS ON WHETHER OR NOT THESE VOTING MACHINES ARE FOR THE UPCOMING

NOVEMBER ELECTION. >> CLARK, I HOPE YOU WEREN'T IMPACTED IN YOUR TEAM WASN'T IMPACTED. I KNOW WE HAVE A LOT OF FACILITIES AROUND. I APPRECIATE YOUR WORK IT LET US KNOW WHAT YOU MAY NEED IN IN ANTICIPATION OF THE UPCOMING

ELECTION. >> THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER, FOR PUTTING THIS ITEM ON HERE. OUR TEAMS WERE IMPACTED AND WE DID HAVE SOME FACILITIES, BUT I WAS HAPPY TO SAY THAT ELECTION TECHNOLOGY CENTER WAS NOT WHEN OF THEM THE STORMS. TRUST ME, IF IT WAS, YOU WOULD HAVE RECEIVED A MESSAGE FROM ME BUT THANK YOU TO ALL THE COUNTY TEAMS THAT HAS HELPED TO SUPPORT US. IN TERMS OF THE ADDITIONAL EQUIPMENT, WHEN I CAME TO THE COURT EARLIER THIS YEAR SAYING, HEY, WE ARE NOT ABLE TO CONDUCT EVERYONE'S ELECTIONS OMA WE ARE NOW STARTING TO RECEIVE IT THE ADDITIONAL EQUIPMENT. IT'S NOT ONLY FOR JUST NOVEMBER, IT'S ADDITIONAL EQUIPMENT, BUT IT'S FOR FUTURE ELECTIONS SO WHEN WE DO HAVE THOSE ENTITY ELECTIONS OR WE HAVE OTHER COUNTERPARTS THAT WANT TO RETAIN EQUIPMENT OR HAVE US RIGHT THERE ELECTION, THAT WE WILL HAVE, NOT JUST THE SURPLUS FOR NOVEMBER, BUT ADDITIONAL

EQUIPMENT FOR FUTURE ELECTIONS. >> SO SOME OF THIS WILL BE USED

IN NOVEMBER? >> THAT'S CORRECT. WE ARE ON BOARDING AND HAVING EVERYTHING PREPPED AND READY TO GO FOR NOVEMBER. WE WILL USE THE EQUIPMENT WE HAVE IN-HOUSE, INCLUDING EQUIPMENT AND BACKUP FOR NOVEMBER.

>> THANK YOU, CLARK. I MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE.

>> SECOND. >> MOTION MADE BY COMMISSIONER RAMSEY AND SECOND FROM COMMISSIONER GARCIA. ALL OF THOSE IN FAVOR VOTE AYE. ALL OPPOSED VOTE NO. FOUR -0. ITEM PASSES. MINIMAL STANDARDS FOR COMMUNITIES IN HARRIS COUNTY AND DRAINAGE TO HARRIS COUNTY FACILITIES.

>> I DID WANT TO HIGHLIGHT, YOU READ THIS AND IT'S NOT IMMEDIATELY OBVIOUS, BUT THIS DOES RELATE TO OUR BORDER COUNTIES AND OTHER ENTITIES THAT WORK WITH HARRIS COUNTY AND WANT TO WORK WITH HARRIS COUNTY . THEY NEEDED TO ADOPT OUR STANDARDS AND THE PRIMARY ONE THAT WE ARE LOOKING AT IS CERTAINLY ATLAS 14, BUT JUST NOT THE GENERAL 14, BUT THE

[03:45:02]

MAKE A MOTION . >> THE MOTION WAS MADE BY COMMISSIONER RAMSEY AND SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER GARCIA AND ALL OF THOSE IN FAVOR VOTE AYE. ALL OPPOSED VOTE NO. 4-0.

ITEM PASSES. NEXT ITEM IS 121. GARCIA, RAMSEY AND BRIONES.

>> CAN WE FIRST HEAR FROM DOCTOR PETERSON?

>> IT AFTERNOON. SO THIS IS AN ITEM ASKING FOR SOME GUIDANCE, REALLY ON THE IMPACT OF DEFERRED MAINTENANCE ON THE DISTRICT IN OUR BUDGET. I WOULD LIKE TO WALK US THROUGH COMMISSIONER BRIONES, A LITTLE BIT ABOUT HOW WE GOT HERE AND SOME OF THE DECISIONS THAT I'M LOOKING FOR TODAY AND LAY OUT THE REASONS WHY I THINK DEFERRED MAINTENANCE IS AN ISSUE THAT WE WANT TO CONSIDER AND TALK ABOUT. IN APRIL, COMMISSIONER RAMSEY, YOU PUT AN ITEM ON COMMISSIONERS COURT ASKING FOR A DISCUSSION AROUND DEFERRED MAINTENANCE AND THE IMPACT ON THE FLOOD CONTROL BUDGET AND THAT REALLY STARTED A CONVERSATION THAT WE HAVE BEEN CONTINUING SINCE THEN. WE HAVE TALKED ABOUT THE FACT THAT WE KNOW THAT HARRIS COUNTY SINCE 2000 HAS GROWN. HAS GROWN BY 40% . DURING THAT SAME TIME PERIOD, THE FLOOD CONTROL DISTRICTS ACCEPTS THAT WE ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR HAVE GROWN BY OVER 50%, ALMOST 60% AND YET THE INVESTMENTS AND THE BUDGET FOR OUR MAINTENANCE PROGRAM HAS REMAINED FLAT, SO THIS CHALLENGE THAT WE ARE FACING IS A REAL ONE. NOW WE HAVE MADE SOME INVESTMENTS. WE WERE ABLE TO MAKE KEY INVESTMENTS AFTER HURRICANE HARVEY. WE WERE ABLE TO MAKE KEY INVESTMENTS THANKS TO THE BOND PROGRAM, BUT THEY AREN'T ENOUGH. WE DONE SO PRELIMINARY FINANCIAL ANALYSIS THAT SUGGESTS THAT THE DEFERRED MAINTENANCE BACKLOG COULD BE AS MUCH AS 1 BILLION DOLLARS IN A VERY SIGNIFICANT NUMBER. IF WE WANT TO ADDRESS THIS BACKLOG AND IT'S CRITICAL THAT IDENTIFIES A SENSE OF FUNDING THAT IS SUSTAINABLE AND IS CONTINUED SO THAT WE CAN PLAN. IT'S VERY IMPORTANT THAT IT IS STABLE SO THAT WE CAN MAKE DECISIONS BECAUSE WE CAN'T JUST DO ONE PROJECT ONE-YEAR AND A LOT OF OUR WORK REQUIRES MULTIPLE YEARS TO BUILD TO THE POINT WHERE WE CAN ACTUALLY CONSTRUCT A PROJECT. AND WE HAVE PROVIDED SEVERAL DIFFERENT REVENUE SCENARIOS FOR CONSIDERATION. THESE ARE REALLY DRAFT CONSIDERATION SCENARIOS FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION I DID WANT TO HIGHLIGHT. AND IT'S NOT A NEW PROBLEM. IT'S NOT A PROBLEM THAT YOU STARTED. THIS IS NOT A PROBLEM CREATED BY THIS COMMISSIONERS COURT THIS IS JUST REALLY A PROBLEM THAT HAS BEEN DECADES IN THE MAKING. AND THE CONTROL DISTRICT WAS CREATED IN 1937 AND WE ARE 87 YEARS OLD RIGHT NOW. MANY LARGE INVESTMENTS HAVE BEEN MADE IN THE HISTORY OF THE FLOOD CONTROL DISTRICT, BUT QUITE A NUMBER OF THEM WERE IN THE 50S AND 60S, AND THEN WE ARE GETTING READY TO MAKE ANOTHER BIG INVESTMENT AND WE ARE MAKING A BIG INVESTMENT THROUGH OUR CDBG AND OUR BOND PROGRAM PROJECTS, SO INDUSTRY STANDARD SAY THE LIFE ESTIMATE OF THE ASSETS THAT THE FLOOD CONTROL DISTRICT MAINTAINS IS ON THE ORDER OF 50 YEARS TO 100 YEARS, SO WE ARE NEARING THE END OF THE LIFE OF MANY OF OUR ASSETS AND WHILE THIS IS NOT A PROBLEM THAT THIS COMMISSIONERS COURT CREATED, IT IS ONE THAT IS GOING TO HAVE TO BE RESOLVED SOON BECAUSE FAILURE TO PUT -- FAILURE TO ADDRESS THE MAINTENANCE BACKLOG WILL PUT OUR CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURE AT RISK. TODAY, WHAT I NEED AND CERTAINLY HAPPY TO ANSWER QUESTIONS, BUT I AM SPECIFICALLY LOOKING FOR GUIDANCE NOT ON A SCENARIO, BUT REALLY LOOKING FOR GUIDANCE ON WHETHER OR NOT THIS IS AN ISSUE THAT COURT WANTS TO CONTINUE TO INVESTIGATE AND WE ARE LOOKING FOR INFORMATION ABOUT WHETHER

[03:50:02]

THE COURT DIRECTS. >> I WAS JUST GOING TO SAY, I'VE SEEN A MOTION FROM COMMISSIONER BRIONES . I THINK THIS IS WELL-WRITTEN. I WOULD'VE SUPPORTED, SO IF YOU WANT TO MAKE THE MOTION, I WILL SECOND IT.

>> SURE. FIRST OF ALL, THANK YOU AGAIN, DOCTOR PETERSON.

THIS IS SOMETHING I AM COMMITTED TO AND I APPRECIATE YOU ALL WILLING TO INVEST THE TIME AND EFFORT TO MAKE SURE WE ARE MAINTAINING OUR ASSETS AND NOT ONLY DELIVERING THE NEW ASSETS, BUT MAINTAINING THEM AND I LOOK FORWARD TO GETTING INTO LINE WITH BEST PRACTICES THAN WE CURRENTLY ARE, SO THE MOTION IS, MOTION TO DIRECT THE OFFICE OF MANAGEMENT AND TO PROVIDE POSSIBLE TAX YEAR 2024 TAX RATES TO INFORM THE HARRIS COUNTY FLOOD CONTROL DISTRICT FY 2025 AND FUTURE BUDGETS BASED ON THE 100 67 50 URINE FOR STRUCTURAL REHABILITATION CYCLE SCENARIOS, BOTH INCLUDING AND NOT INCLUDING THE PROJECTED COST OF MAINTENANCE FOR THE 2018 BOND AND CDBG INVESTMENTS FOR CONSIDERATION OF THE AUGUST 6TH 2024 COMMISSIONERS COURT AND WE DIRECT FLOOD CONTROL TO PLEASE RETURN ON AUGUST 6TH WITH PROPOSED BUDGETS FOR THOSE SCENARIOS.

>> SECOND. >> ANY OTHER DISCUSSION?

>> QUICKLY, WE TALKED ABOUT THIS BRIEFLY, BUT DOES THIS INCLUDE MAINTENANCE COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH THE NATURAL

CHANNELS? >> SO IT DOES INCLUDE, CURRENTLY , THE FINANCIAL ANALYSIS DOESN'T DIFFERENTIATE BETWEEN A NATURAL CHANNEL OR THEY SHOULD

>> NATURAL MAY BE MORE DIFFICULT TO DEAL WITH.

>> YES, AND IT DOESN'T TAKE INTO ACCOUNT THAT SOME INFRASTRUCTURE HAS BEEN BUILT MORE RECENTLY THAN OTHERS, WE ARE LOOKING AT IT AND WE WILL BE ABLE TO GET MORE DISCRETE.

>> YOUR MOTION IS SIMPLY TO GET THE DETAILS PUT TOGETHER FOR DISCUSSION ON THE SIXTH AND WE WILL HAVE THOSE CONVERSATIONS

THEN. OKAY. THANK YOU. >> JUST A COUPLE QUICK QUESTIONS AND IT'S VERY WELL WRITTEN. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

>> MY WONDERFUL TEAM. THANK YOU.

>> I JUST WANT TO STAY FOR THE RECORD, I WANT DANCE AROUND IT.

I THINK WE KICKED THE CAN DOWN THE ROAD. I THINK WE OUGHT TO ADDRESS IT AND I WILL BE PREPARED TO BE AMBITIOUS ABOUT THAT IF YOU WANT MORE SPECIFICITY THERE. I DID ASK OMB TO GIVE ME THE IMPACT PER HOUSEHOLD IF WE INCREASED THE RATE TO 8%. IT WOULD BE ABOUT FIVE DOLLARS PER YEAR FOR HOUSE VALUE AND $400,000 WITH A 20% RESIDENTIAL HOMESTEAD AND ABOUT 320,000 TAXABLE VALUE , SO I THINK IT'S TIME FOR US TO ADDRESS IT AND WHEN WE COME BACK, I WILL BE PREPARED TO DO THAT. WE ARE TO HAVE THE OPTIONS, BUT I FOR ONE WILL TAKE THE HEAT COMING WITH IT BUT I WILL ALSO SAY, CALL SOMEBODY ELSE, NOT ME, WHEN THE WATER COMES DOWN AGAIN AND WE CAN MAINTAIN WHAT WE HAVE ALREADY INVESTED IN.

>> I FIND IT INTERESTING THAT WHEN YOU LOOK AT, HOW DID THIS RATE GET SOLO? IT'S THREE SOMETHING SINCE COMPARED TO HOSPITAL DISTRICTS LIKE $.15. WELL, WHEN YOU'RE, IT WENT FROM, WHAT'S THE NUMBER? DANIEL, IT WENT FROM $.12-$.14 DOWN TO THREE CENTS OR FOUR CENTS.

>> TO MY UNDERSTANDING FROM TALKING TO FOLKS THAT ARE HERE, THERE WAS A DECISION BECAUSE OF THE AMOUNT OF GRANT FUNDING TO LOWER THAT TAX RATE TO REPLACE GRANT FUNDING AND THE OTHER FUNDS, BUT I THINK THAT WE AGREE THAT THERE IS NO POINT IN BUILDING A HOUSE TO WATCH IT DECAY IMMEDIATELY.

>> THAT'S JUST A LITTLE BIT OF WALKED DOWN HISTORY WROTE. WHAT

YEAR DID THAT HAPPEN? >> IT LOOKS LIKE IT WAS LATE

1990S. >> IF YOU BUILD IT, YOU HAVE TO

MAINTAIN IT. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU. WE HAVE A MOTION

[03:55:03]

ITEM PASSES NUMBER 4-NUMBER ZERO.

>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. NEXT ITEM IS 138, COMMISSIONER

RAMSEY. YES. >> WE JUST NEED A VOTE.

>> IS THERE A MOTION? >> SO MOVED.

>> MOTION MADE BY COMMISSIONER GARCIA. IS THERE A SECOND.

>> ALL OF THOSE IN FAVOR BOAT AYE . ALL OF THOSE OPPOSED VOTE NO. ITEM PASSES. NEXT IS ITEM 140, COMMISSIONER RAMSEY.

TEMPORARY CUSTODY AGREEMENT. >> I MENTIONED THIS EARLIER WHEN WE HAD COREY HERE, BUT THIS IS A RESCUE AGREEMENT. WE USED TO HAVE MANY OF THESE, A DOZEN OR MORE AND I'M GOING TO WORK WITH COREY AND HIS GOOD PEOPLE AND TRY TO SEE WHAT WE CAN REACH OUT TO THESE OTHER ENTITIES TO HELP US GET THAT NUMBER OF -- UP TO 100% IN TERMS OF PETS. I VOTE .

>> THE MOTION HAS BEEN MADE BY COMMISSIONER RAMSEY AND SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER GARCIA. ALL OF THOSE IN FAVOR BOAT AYE. 4-0. ITEM PASSES. NEXT IS ITEM 147, COMMISSIONER RAMSEY, YOU PULLED THAT ONE, COUNTY LIBRARY.

>> WE NEED TO VOTE. >> SO MOVED.

>> COMMISSION. >> SECOND.

>> MOTION MADE BY GARCIA AND SECONDED BY BRIONES. ALL OF THOSE IN FAVOR BOAT AYE. 3-1. THE ITEM PASSES. NEXT, COMMISSIONER RAMSEY, YOU WANTED ITEM 160, WHICH IS ON CONSENT .

IT WAS NO ACTION. IT WAS LISTED AS AN ACTION FOR NO ACTION.

>> I WANT TO GET CLARIFICATION.

>> THIS IS A REQUEST BY CONSTABLE PRECINCT 5 OF THE APPROVAL OF A RETENTION INTO THE PROGRAM FOR ALL FULL-TIME

DEPARTMENT EMPLOYEES. >> I THINK THIS PROGRAM WAS PULLED BECAUSE THERE WERE ISSUES WITH IT. DID YOUR OFFICE PULL IT BECAUSE THERE WAS SOMETHING NOT CLEAR?

>> SORRY. I APOLOGIZE BEING IN AND OUT THE LAST FEW WEEKS, SHOULD HAVE BEEN CLEAR. WE WANTED TO SIGNAL THAT WE WERE NOT IN FAVOR OF THE ITEM AND I MADE THE MISSED MEDICATION AND IT GOT PULLED. THIS IS THE SAME ITEM THAT WE HAD THAT CAME UP LAST YEAR AND MY CONCERNS ARE THE SAME AND MORE SO NOW.

WANTED THE BIGGEST ISSUES THAT WE FACED AS A COUNTY IS EVERY TIME WE DO COMPENSATION, WE ARE NOT DOING IT COUNTYWIDE AND WE SAW IT WITH THE ATTORNEYS, WHEN THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY GOT A RAISE AND IF THERE WAS A BIG EXODUS FROM THE OTHER ATTORNEY FUNCTIONS TO THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY, WHICH REQUIRED US TO GO AND BACKFILL THOSE POSITIONS AND WE SEE IT WITH ENGINEERS BETWEEN ALL OF OUR BIG STRUCTURE DEPARTMENTS IN THE PRECINCTS. MY OPINION HAVING DONE COMPENSATION AND MY ENTIRE CAREER IS THAT WE CAN HAVE ONE DEPARTMENT GIVING A BONUS WHEN THERE ARE EIGHT OTHER LAW ENFORCEMENT DEPARTMENTS THAT MANY OF THEM WHO CANNOT AFFORD IT AND THAT IS MY ISSUE AND EVEN MORE SO SO COMPARED TO LAST YEAR WHERE WE ARE DOING A SALARY STUDY RIGHT NOW, SO WE CAN TAKEN AS PART OF THAT SALARY STUDY, IT INCLUDED ALL OF THE INCENTIVES, SO I'M NOT SAYING THAT DOING SOME SORT OF RETENTION INCENTIVE FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT IS A BAD THING. I THINK WE SHOULD BE LOOKING AT COMPENSATION COUNTYWIDE AS A PART OF THE DEPARTMENT.

>> DID THIS COME UP IN THE BUDGET DISCUSSIONS WHEN THEY WERE SETTING THEIR BUDGETS WITH YOU?

>> THIS ITEM DAY SHOULD >> RETENTION BONUSES?

>> THIS IS AN ITEM WHERE THEY ARE TRYING TO USE UNSPENT LABOR DOLLARS. THIS IS SOMETHING THAT CAME UP LAST YEAR AND THE COURT DECIDED TO TAKE NO ACTION AND I DISCUSSED IT EARLIER. I JUST DON'T NECESSARILY DISAGREE PHILOSOPHICALLY , WE JUST NEED TO TAKE COMPENSATION IS A COUNTYWIDE ISSUE AS OPPOSED TO

HAVING INDIVIDUAL DEPARTMENTS. >> MY ONLY CONCERN IS THAT THIS MONEY IS IN THIS BUDGET , SO I WILL SAY I WILL PUT IT IN THE CATEGORY OF, HE IS SACRIFICING SO THAT HE CAN RETAIN EMPLOYEES . TO ME, WE DID THE TENSION OFFICERS, I THINK. IT ESSENTIALLY WAS THE SAME THING. THERE HAVE BEEN SOME PRESIDENT ESTABLISH IN TERMS OF DOING THIS, BUT THE MAIN THING IS, HE'S USING HIS OWN BUDGET. JUST TO BE PERFECTLY CLEAR, IF THAT MONEY WAS NOT SPENT, YOU GET TO PUT IT BACK IN THE BUDGET, SEE YOU DO HAVE AN INCENTIVE NOT TO SUPPORT THE

ISSUE. >> COMMISSIONER, I THINK IF YOU WANT TO TALK TO ALL OF THE CONSTABLES THEY WOULD SAY FROM

[04:00:02]

TRY TO WORK WITH THEM . >> THIS IS WHAT HE WANTS TO

SPEND HIS SURPLUS ON. >> COMPENSATION IS FIRMLY IN THE DISCRETION AND THAT'S WHY THEY COME HERE TEST FOR POSITIONS IN AFRICA SALARY CHANGES, SO WITH MY RECOMMENDATION THAT WE TAKE A MORE COUNTYWIDE APPROACH. THIS IS SOMETHING THAT COMES UP IN THE SALARY STUDY AND WE HAVE MONEY SET ASIDE IMPLEMENT THE SALARY STUDY , BUT AGAIN, THERE ARE SOME LAW ENFORCEMENT THE PERMITS THAT WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO AFFORD IT AND I DON'T THINK THAT ANYBODY IS INTERESTED IN CREATING A BIDDING WAR BETWEEN ALL OF OUR LAW ENFORCEMENT

DEPARTMENTS. >> COMMISSIONER BRIONES.

>> I REMEMBER THIS ITEM LAST TIME AND I THINK WE DID VOTE ON IT, BECAUSE I REMEMBER WE LOST. IT WAS THREE AGAINST TWO IN FAVOR, SO MY THING IS, I AGREE WE NEED TO LOOK AT COMPENSATION HOLISTICALLY AND I AM THRILLED WE ARE STARTING THE PAY EQUITY STUDY, WHICH I KNOW INCLUDES LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS AND I MULTIPLE TIMES IS THAT I WANT US TO BE PAYING OUR LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS COMPETITIVELY, AT LEAST 95 TO 97% OF PARITY OF HPD AND OTHER SURROUNDING AGENCIES BECAUSE WE KNOW HOW DIFFICULT OF A TIME WE HAVE FOR RECRUITING AND RETAINING BUT WITH REGARD TO THIS, WE NEED TO HAVE A POLICY THAT WE FAIRLY APPLY TO EVERYBODY BECAUSE IF THERE SOMEONE WHO HAS A BUDGET THAT HAS ALREADY BEEN APPROVED BY THIS COURT AND INSTEAD OF BUYING MORE COPIERS OR MORE CAMERAS OR MORE WHATEVER IT MAY BE, THEY DECIDE, NO, REALLY WANT TO SAY THANK YOU TO MY EMPLOYEES AND THAT IS WHY LAST TIME, WHEN WE VOTED, I VOTED IN FAVOR AND I WORKED VERY CLOSELY WITH THE CONSTABLE PRECINCT 5 AND HERMAN AND ROSEN, MY THREE CONSTABLES, BUT IT SHOULDN'T BE ABOUT THE WHO. RIGHT? IT SHOULD BE ABOUT IT THIS BUDGET IS APPROVED BY COURT, DO WE HAVE A MICRO COUNTYWIDE POLICY SET OUT A SINGLE DEPARTMENT HEAD WERE ELECTED OFFICIAL CAN OR CANNOT THEN USE IT FOR BONUSES. RIGHT? I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE BEING FAIR AND CONSISTENT WITH ALL ACTORS IN THE COUNTY AND I AGREE WITH DOING IT HOLISTICALLY, BUT WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE BEING FAIR AND CONSISTENT AND IT WAS PULLED FOR NO ACTION, SO WE CAN PUT IT ON AGAIN.

>> THAT WAS OUR RECOMMENDATION. AGAIN, I APOLOGIZE. I REALLY MEANT TO CONVEY THE COURT OFFICES THAT OMB WAS A POSTED ITEM, BUT EVEN TO YOUR POINT, COMMISSIONER RAMSEY, WE DID DO A RETENTION BONUS FOR THE RETENTION OFFICERS AND THAT'S A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT. THERE IS ONE DEPARTMENT THAT HAS THE OFFICERS AND WE ARE SPENDING $50 MILLION A YEAR ON OUTSOURCING DIRECTLY RELATED TO STAFFING AND I THINK THAT WAS A SLIGHTLY DIFFERENT CALCULUS. I DO AGREE. WE SHOULD DO COUNTYWIDE AND THAT'S WHY WE ASKED EVERYBODY TO SUBMIT THEIR STRUCTURE SO THAT WE COULD GET IT APPROVED BECAUSE THERE ARE MANY THEM THAT HAD IT WITH THAT IN VOTED ON IN 20+ YEARS AND AGAIN, THIS IS MY RECOMMENDATION IS THE BUDGET DIRECTOR AND COURT CAN DECIDE AND I CAN TELL YOU HAVEN'T SEEN THIS IN OTHER PLACES, YOU GET ONE DEPARTMENT, SOMETHING, ESPECIALLY WHEN WHERE THEY ARE DIRECT COMPETITORS AGAINST EACH OTHER IN TERMS OF STAFFING AND EITHER OTHER ONES ARE GOING TO FOLLOW SUIT AND SOME OF THEM ARE JUST NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO AFFORD THAT. THE BIGGEST WHEN IS THE SHERIFF DEPARTMENT.

>> I DON'T DISAGREE, BUT FOR PURPOSES OF CLARITY, IF THE SHERIFF GONZALES, WHO I THINK VERY HIGHLY OF, IF HE HAD A SURPLUS AND WE KNOW WE STRUGGLE WITH THE TENSION OFFICERS AND I'M SO HAPPY AS THE COURT WE VOTED ON THE 12% RAISE FOR DETENTION OFFICERS, BUT IF I WERE SHERIFF GONZALES AND I HAD MONEY IN MY BUDGET THAT HAD ALREADY BEEN APPROVED BY COURT, COULD I, SHERIFF GONZALES IN THIS HYPOTHETICAL, APPROVED A RETENTION BONUS FOR THE DETENTION OFFICERS?

>> THEY WOULD HAVE TO COME BACK TO COURT AND MY RECOMMENDATION

WOULD BE THE SAME. >> OKAY. ANY ELECTED OFFICIAL

OR ANY DEPARTMENT HEAD. >> THAT'S RIGHT. THE ONLY OTHER IS THE PROBATE COURT WHERE WE HAVE BEEN ADVISED BY

COUNTY ATTORNEY. >> WILL PROBABLY NEED TO MAKE THAT CLEAR IN TERMS OF PUT IT IN WRITING.

>> IS POLICY. >> YOU CAN DO INCENTIVES WITH

YOUR EXTRA MONEY. >> WE CAN UPDATE THE PERSONNEL PART POLICY TO REFLECT THAT, BUT AGAIN, IT'S WHEN WE HAVE CLASSIFICATIONS THAT ARE COMMON AMONG DIFFERENT DEPARTMENTS AND I'VE SEEN IT EVERY PLACE I WORK. WE SIT BETWEEN THE COURT EDMONDS AND THE DIFFERENT PARKS IN THE DISTRICT COURT'S GOT A RAISE AND IMMEDIATELY YOU SAW A BIG EXODUS FROM DISTRICT COURT TO THE CLERK'S AND THEN DISTRICT COURTS CAME BACK TO SAY, WE NEED TO GIVE THE BIGGER RAISES SO THAT WE CAN ATTRACT THOSE PEOPLE BACK. WE HAVE TO TAKE COP COUNTYWIDE WERE WE ARE GOING TO KEEP RUNNING INTO THESE ISSUES WHERE STAFF ARE BEING POACHED ACROSS THE BOARD. WE ARE NOT GROWING THE COUNTY.

ALL WE ARE DOING IS CHANGING UNIFORMS.

>> JUST TO BE CLEAR, WE DON'T CURRENTLY HAVE A POLICY OR WE

DO? >> CORE APPROVES OUR

[04:05:01]

OFFICE OR THE SHERIFF. >> I WILL MAKE A MOTION THAT WE

MOVE ON THIS. >> I WOULD LIKE TO HAVE A

LITTLE DISCUSSION. >> A SECOND.

>> I WOULD SECOND IT. >> I AGREE WITH YOU, MR. RAMOS.

I WANT TO MAKE THE POINT THAT WE KNOW ALL CONSTABLE OFFICES WERE NOT CREATED EQUAL AND YOU WILL HAVE THESE OTHER CONSTABLE OFFICES AND A DISTINCT DISADVANTAGE AND IT IS HISTORICALLY BEEN THERE AND WHEN THEY GO THROUGH THE BUDGET PROCESS, THEY NEVER WILL GET PARITY WITH THOSE THAT TEND TO HAVE THE MOST AND I THINK IT WOULD CREATE PROBLEMS IN THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE AS WELL AND FOR THAT REASON, I CAN'T GO FOR IT. DO YOU HAVE DISCUSSION? THE MOTION HAS BEEN MADE BY COMMISSIONER RAMSEY AND SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER BRIONES. ALL OF THOSE IN FAVOR VOTE AYE. ALL OPPOSED VOTE NO .

OKAY. THE MOTION FAILS FOR LACK OF THREE VOTES TODAY. OKAY. THE NEXT ITEM IS ITEM 196. COMMISSIONER RAMSEY, THIS IS ONE ON GRANTS. THE PUBLIC HEALTH SERVICES FOR APPROVAL TO ACCEPT AN AMENDMENT TO AN AGREEMENT WITH THE TEXAS HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES COMMISSION TO UPDATE ITS LEGAL NOTICE

CONTRACT. >> WE JUST NEED A BOAT.

>> IS THERE A MOTION? >> SO MOVED.

>> SECOND. >> MOTION HAS BEEN MADE BY COMMISSIONER GARCIA AND SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER BRIONES. ALL IN FAVOR VOTE AYE. ALL OPPOSED VOTE NO. 3-1 AND THE ITEM DOES PASS. THE NEXT ITEM, COMMISSIONER RAMSEY. 198.

THIS IS FOR THE HEALTHY TEXAS WOMEN GRANT PROGRAM.

>> WE JUST NEED A VOTE. >> SO MOVED.

>> SECOND. >> MOTION HAS BEEN MADE BY COMMISSIONER GARCIA AND SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER BRIONES. ALL IN FAVOR VOTE AYE. ALL OPPOSED VOTE NO. THREE -1.

THE ITEM PASSES. NEXT, COMMISSIONER RAMSEY, IT IS ITEM 286, LAW ENFORCEMENT SALARY INCREASE .

>> WE ALREADY TOUCHED ON IT IN OUR PREVIOUS DISCUSSIONS. THIS IS REALLY NOT FOR ANY ACTION, BUT, AGAIN, THE QUEUE FOR YOUR EARLY PREP ON BUDGETS, EVEN IN THE SHORT PERIOD OF TIME YOU'RE OUT. WE WERE ALL BACK IN BACK IN THE OFFICE IS WORKING ON EXTRAS BUDGET AND SCENE WHERE WE CAN FIND A DOLLAR OR TWO, BUT I DO THINK THAT WE HAVE A LAW ENFORCEMENT SALARY ISSUE, SOME OF WHICH WE JUST DISCUSSED. I KNOW THE SHERIFF'S DEPUTIES HAVE MADE IT VERY CLEAR IN PUBLIC AND THEY ARE LOOKING TO DO COLLECTIVE BARGAINING IF WE DON'T ENGAGE IN ADDRESS THE ISSUE. SO IN YOUR BUDGET WORLD, WHEN WE ARE LOOKING AT WE ARE ALREADY DOWN, WHAT'S THE

NUMBER? >> I DON'T HAVE IT ON ME, BUT THE LAST TIME IT WAS ABOUT 300 LAW ENFORCEMENT VACANCIES.

>> NO, BUT THE AMOUNT THEY >> SET ASIDE, YES. THIS COURT APPROVED TO PUT A PLACEHOLDER FOR $50 MILLION IN TOTAL COMPENSATION AND IT WILL BE UP TO COURT HOW WE DISTRIBUTE.

>> $50 MILLION, AND IF I DID THE MATH, EVEN IF YOU LOOK AT THE SHERIFF'S DEPUTIES, WHICH WE CERTAINLY SUPPORT THE GOOD JOB THEY DO AND WHAT THEY ARE OUT THERE AND I THINK THEY ARE EXPRESSING THEIR CONCERNS, BUT IF YOU WENT IN AND ADDRESSED THAT WHEN ISSUE, JUST THE SHERIFF'S DEPUTIES, THAT WOULD EAT UP A LARGE PERCENTAGE OF THE $50 MILLION WE HAVE SET ASIDE. THIS IS JUST A HEADS UP AS WE GO INTO OUR BUDGET DISCUSSIONS AND DECIDE THE PRIORITIES GOING FORWARD. THIS IS A LOOMING, LARGE NUMBER THAT I DON'T THINK THAT WE GOT IN

ANYBODY'S BUDGET. >> ANY OTHER DISCUSSION?

>> I KNOW THE ANSWER TO THIS QUESTION BUT FOR ANYONE WHO IS LISTENING BECAUSE I KNOW OUR OFFICE HAS BEEN CONTACTED AND I'M SURE YOURS HAS. I'M THRILLED THAT WE ARE INITIATING THIS PAY EQUITY STUDY FOR ALL EMPLOYEES ACROSS HARRIS COUNTY AND FOR PURPOSES OF CLARITY , ALL EMPLOYEES ACROSS HARRIS COUNTY DOES INCLUDE OUR SHERIFF'S OFFICE AND ALL OF

OUR CONSTABLES. CORRECT? >> THAT'S CORRECT.

>> OKAY. THEY WOULD BE INCLUDED IN THE FIRST SET OF EMPLOYEES IS THE 51,000 AND UNDER, INCLUDING ANY OF THOSE OFFICERS THAT MAY FIT WITHIN THERE. CORRECT?

>> THAT'S CORRECT. >> WE WILL CONTINUE WITH EACH TRANCHE THAT WE HAVE DISCUSSED MULTIPLE TIMES.

>> YES, WE ARE GOING TO GET A FINAL BILL AND WE ARE GOING TO GET THE RECOMMENDATIONS AND WE WILL BRING THEM TO COURT WITH THE DOLLAR FIGURE AND MAYBE WE GET TO MARKET OVER TWO YEARS OR

[04:10:04]

>> I COULD NOT AGREE MORE. WE MUST RECRUIT AND RETAIN TOP TALENT. MY LAST QUESTION WAS, WITH REGARD TO THE $50 MILLION THAT I KNOW, TO ME, IS SACRED THAT HAS SET ASIDE TO MAKE ADJUSTMENTS, I SHARE THE CONCERN THAT $50 MILLION WILL BE ENOUGH TO REMEDY WHATEVER FINDINGS COME FROM THIS PAY EQUITY STUDY AND SO WHEN YOU ARE OUT, DIRECTOR RAMOS, WHEN IT WAS HERE AND WE ASKED IF WE COULD START MAPPING OUT SOME POTENTIAL SCENARIOS OF WHAT THE TOTALITY OF THE DOLLAR ADJUSTMENTS MIGHT LOOK LIKE AND THEN START COMING UP WITH THE GAME PLAN TO GET THERE SO THAT WE HAVE THE DATA, BUT THEN WE

ARE ABLE TO ACT ON IT. >> UNDERSTOOD.

>> WE APPRECIATE YOUR TEAM AND ALL THE SCENARIOS YOU ARE MAPPING OUT FOR US. THANK YOU.

>> SO I JUST LIKE THIS. OBESITY THERE ARE RESTRICTIONS ON WHAT WE CAN DO WITH CERTAIN BUDGETS, LAW ENFORCEMENT BUDGETS, IN TERMS OF EVER REDUCING THEM, SO I WOULD JUST ENCOURAGE MY FRIEND TO KNOW THAT THERE IS A NEED TO BE COGNIZANT THAT THAT IS MORE THAN JUST ASKING FOR THE MONEY. YOU SHOW UP AND LET YOUR VOICES BE HEARD WHEN IT'S TIME TO DETERMINE HOW MUCH MONEY WE HAVE TO SPLIT BECAUSE THIS JUST IS NOT COME OUT OF THIN AIR. ALL RIGHT. NEXT ITEM IS DAY SHOULD

>> I'LL SHOW THAT WITH NO ACTION.

>> YES. >> WE DID WHEN 96. RIGHT?

>> 86. >> 287.

>> 287. THE NEXT ITEM IS 287. >> I KNOW THAT HARRIS HEALTH IS MOVING FORWARD IN A GOOD CLIP, IN TERMS OF THEIR $2.5 BILLION BOND INITIATIVE . OBVIOUSLY THE FOCUS, INITIALLY, IS GOING TO BE ON JFK, BUT IT WOULD BE GOOD AT SOME POINT IF WE CAN GET A BIT OF AN UPDATE FROM HARRIS HEALTH IN TERMS OF WHERE WE ARE IN THE PROGRAM AND I KNOW ALL OF US ARE SITTING HERE ON PINS AND NEEDLES IN TERMS OF THE DOLLARS. AS I UNDERSTAND AND DANIEL AND I HAVE TALKED, ANYTHING THAT HAPPENS WITH THOSE BONDS, THEY HAVE TO COME TO US FOR APPROVAL.

>> CORRECT. >> AT THIS POINT, NO ONE HAVE COME BACK FOR OUR APPROVAL, SO I GUESS THAT IN ITSELF IS SOMEWHAT OF A INITIAL INDICATOR, BUT IT IS ALSO PUT ON, JUST FOR A LITTLE BIT OF SIGNALING THAT TAX REVENUES ARE GOING TO BE DOWN IN THIS COMING YEAR, SO WHATEVER PLANS WE HAVE IN THE HOSPITAL DISTRICT HAS ON THEIR SPENDING WILL BE IMPACTED BY THOSE TAX REVENUES, SO I KNOW JIM ROBINSON IS SERVING ON THE BOARD AND HE IS KEEPING THE HOSPITAL DISTRICT BOARD WELL AWARE OF THAT, BUT MAYBE, IN GENERAL, ARE THERE ANY INITIAL CONCERNS WITH THE PROGRAM OR IS THE HOSPITAL DISTRICT IN GOOD SHAPE AND MOVING FORWARD WITH THE PROGRAM?

>> HE IS WITH US, I BELIEVE. >> GOOD.

>> CAN YOU HEAR ME OKAY? >> GOOD TO SEE YOU.

>> GOOD TO SEE YOU ALL AS WELL. AFTERNOON, COMMISSIONERS. THANK YOU FOR HAVING US. JUST A QUICK CORRECTION. YOU SAID THE JFK

HOSPICE, IT'S LBJ HOSPICE. >> I'M SORRY.

>> IT'S OKAY. IT'S OKAY. TO YOUR POINT ABOUT THE BOND, EVERYTHING IS GOING ACCORDING TO PLAN AND IT'S ACTUALLY BETTER AND EVERYTHING IS MOVING VERY QUICKLY, AS YOU KNOW, WE BROKE GROUND. I'M GETTING A WEEKLY UPDATE ON THE CONSTRUCTION WORK THAT IS ALREADY HAPPENING. AS FAR AS THE BOND PROPOSAL, THE FIRST MONEY THAT WE WOULD LIKE TO BRING TO THE COURT WILL NOT BE UNTIL THE SUMMER OF NEXT YEAR, 2025 AND THE REASON FOR THAT IS THAT A COUPLE OF REASONS, ONE, YOU ARE ABLE TO MANAGE EXPENSES ASSOCIATED WITH THE INITIAL CONSTRUCTION, BUT AS YOU KNOW, COMMISSIONER RAMSEY, ONCE YOU WITHDRAW THE MONEY FROM THE BOND, YOU ONLY HAVE A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF TIME TO SPEND THE MONEY, SO WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE DO THAT CORRECTLY, BUT ALSO INCUR AS LITTLE INTEREST AS POSSIBLE SO THAT WE DON'T WASTE ANY TAXPAYERS MONIES ON

[04:15:03]

>> AS WE HAVE TALKED IN YOUR TEAM HAS WORKED WITH US, IN TERMS OF WHAT THE POTENTIAL CLIENT MIGHT BE IN A PRECINCT 3 AREA, LOOKING AT THOSE LOCATIONS AND YOU WANT TO CONTINUE TO PUSH THAT ISSUE, BUT I DIDN'T WANT YOU TO BECOME OUT OF SIGHT AND OUT OF MIND, AT LEAST FROM THE STANDPOINT AND THAT IS A HUGE DEAL FOR HARRIS COUNTY AND A LOT OF FOLKS, I THINK, HAVE AN INTEREST IN IN AND I'M LOOKING AT DANIEL AND HE THINKS THAT HE HAS A BIT MORE OF INFORMATION.

>> WANTING TO ELABORATE ON, THE BOND SALE WILL BE THE SUMMER OF 2025 AND WE ARE RECOMMENDING TO COME BACK WITH AN INTERIM FINANCE PLAN SIMILAR TO OUR CP PROGRAM TO JUST BE ABLE TO MANAGE EXPENSES UNTIL THE BOND SALE HAPPENS. IF YOU WOULDN'T MIND, I WOULD LIKE TO CLARIFY THAT THE TAX RECEIPTS. ONE THING , AND I WILL TRY TO EXPLAIN INCESSANTLY AS POSSIBLE, BUT IT'S A VERY COMPLICATED. BECAUSE OF THE 10% CAP ON TAXABLE -- OR TAXABLE ASSESSMENTS, FOLKS MARKET RATE AND THEIR TAXABLE RATES, THERE IS A BIG DELTA THERE BECAUSE JUST LAST YEAR , I THINK THAT HOMES AVERAGED 16% GROWTH, SO WHILE ASSESSMENT MIGHT BE GOING DOWN, THE ACTUAL TAXABLE VALUE IS COMING UP . THAT IS SOMETHING WE ARE MONITORING CLOSELY AND JIM ROBINSON DOES AN AMAZING JOB KEEPING US ALL INFORMED. IF THIS WERE TO HAPPEN OVER THE COURSE OF MULTIPLE YEARS, WE WOULD BE IN TROUBLE, BUT AS OF RIGHT NOW, WE STILL HAVE A LITTLE BIT OF CUSHION WHERE THE TAXABLE VALUES ARE GOING UP, JUST NOT AS MUCH AS THEY HAVE IN THE PRIOR YEARS, WHICH I DON'T THINK THAT ANYBODY HAS SEEN THE AMOUNT OF GROWTH THAT'S HAPPENED OVER THE LAST THREE YEARS IN WWW.HARRISCOUNTYTX.GOV /GOVERNMENT/COURT-AGENDA/COURT-

VIDEOS . >> I WANT TO CONTINUE TO SUPPORT ADVOCACY. I REALLY WANT TO THANK EVERYONE AND I ALSO WANT TO TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY AND THANK ALL OF THE HARRIS HEALTH EMPLOYEES, OUR NURSES, OUR MEDICAL STAFF WHO DO AN AMAZING JOB LAST WEEK BRAVING THE STORM AND WE HAD PEOPLE WHO SLEPT IN THE HOSPITALS AND PEOPLE WHO SLEPT IN THE ADMINISTERED THE BUILDINGS, JUST EVO OF THANK YOU TO EVERYBODY WHO HELPED US GET THROUGH THIS.

>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. >> HEY, DOCTOR. I JUST WANTED TO THANK YOU AND YOUR TEAM AND I APPRECIATE YOU RECOGNIZING YOUR STAFF FOR THEIR WORK DURING THIS VERY DIFFICULT TIME AND I JUST WANT TO TO CONTINUE TO TALK ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF THE WORK THAT YOU AND YOUR STAFF DO IN THE COMMUNITY.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH. >> YES, THANK YOU .

>> OKAY. >> THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER FOR

HAVING US. >> I SHOW THERE IS NO ACTION.

>> NO ACTION. NEXT ITEM, ITEM 303 FROM THE OFFICE OF MANAGEMENT AND BUDGET UPDATES TO LETTER FY 25 CURRENT LEVEL

OF SERVICE PROJECTIONS. >> YES, JUST DIRECTOR RAMOS AND I HAVE HAD MANY CONVERSATIONS ON THIS AND WE WILL CONTINUE TO WORK ON THAT, PARTICULARLY AS WE GIVE YOU OUR PRECINCT 3 NUMBERS AND CURRENT LEVEL SERVICE AND GETTING THE GOOD DEFINITION OF WHAT THAT MEANS, BUT IT PROBABLY ADDS MORE TO ME WITH BUDGET AND IT THE SERVICE, SO WE CAN CONTINUE TO WORK THROUGH THOSE. YOU MAY CONSIDER ANOTHER NAME FOR IT NEXT YEAR TO ELIMINATE SOME POTENTIAL CONFUSION THERE BUT, AGAIN, WE ARE WORKING THROUGH THE NUMBERS NOW. THERE IS A LOT OF PRESSURE ON THE BUDGET THIS YEAR BECAUSE OF INFLATION AND OTHER ISSUES.

IS A LABOR IS GOING TO BE ANOTHER FACTOR, BUT THE CURRENT LEVEL OF SERVICE WILL CONTINUE TO HAVE CONVERSATIONS WITH THE ON EXACTLY THAT DEFINITION, BUT THE DEFICIT THIS YEAR, YOU ARE PROJECTING IS ROUGHLY $137 MILLION.

>> THAT'S CORRECT. HOPEFULLY WE CAN FIND SOME THINGS IN SAVINGS HERE OR THERE TO ADDRESS THAT, BUT WE ARE ALL STARTING WITH THE BUDGET THAT IS $137 MILLION IN ALL.

>> THANK YOU. COMMISSIONER RAMSEY, ITEM 343.

[Emergency/Supplemental items]

[04:20:01]

>> ALSO 303 WAS ACCEPTED AS WELL.

>> YES, IT WAS ACCEPTED. ITEM 303 IS ACCEPTED. DO YOU NEED A MOTION? OKAY. ITEM 343, APPROVAL BY COUNTY ATTORNEY TO FILE COMMENTS WITH THE TEXAS COMMISSION ON ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY REGARDING CHANGES TO ITS PUBLIC PARTICIPATION ROLES.

>> YOU GOT TO THE BOTTOM REALLY QUICK. I DON'T THINK WE COULD

GET THERE REALLY QUICK. >> I LIKE TO REFLECT. WE STARTED AT 2:30 AND IT'S 3:34.

>> I'M READY TO GET OUT OF HERE.

>> I DON'T WANT THE COUNTY ATTORNEY TO TAKE THIS PERSONAL, BUT I'M NOT USED TO PROVING SOMETHING I HAVEN'T SEEN IN WRITING, SO THAT'S WHY WE JUST NEED A BOAT.

>> SO MOVED. >> THERE HAS BEEN A MOTION FOR

APPROVAL. IS THERE A SECOND? >> SECOND.

>> MR. GARCIA MAKES A MOTION. ALL IN FAVOR ABOUT AYE. ALL OPPOSED VOTE NO. ITEM PASSES. OKAY. WE HAD FINISHED OUR BUSINESS. WILL SOMEONE MAKE A MOTION TO ADJOURN?

>> MOVED TO ADJOURN. >> SECOND.

>> IT IS 3:35 IN THIS

* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.