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>>> GOOD MORNING, IT IS 10:12 A.M., AND I WOULD LIKE TO CALL
[Appearances before court]
THE HARRIS COUNTY COMMISSIONERS COURT ORDER. LOOKING AT TODAY'S AGENDA, WE WILL FIRST LOOK AT THIS BECAUSE BEFOREMOVING ONTO DISCUSSION ITEMS. >> FIRST IS DESIREE MARTINEZ.
YOU HAVE ONE MINUTE. >> GOOD MORNING. MY NAME IS DESIREE MARTINEZ. I'M A LICENSED CLINICAL SOCIAL WORKER WITH THE HARRIS COUNTY DOMESTIC BALANCE COUNSEL. I'M HERE IN SUPPORT OF THE DOMESTIC VIOLENCE ASSISTANCE FUNDS. I WORK FIRSTHAND TO HELP CLIENTS NOT ONLY MEET THEIR BASIC NEEDS, BUT HAVE ALSO HELPED THEM RECEIVE MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES, AS WELL AS MEDICAL SERVICES. WITHOUT THESE FUNDS, OUR CLIENTS WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO AFFORD TAKING THE FIRST STEP TOWARDS THEIR LONG-TERM HEALING. IN THE WORLD WERE NUMBERS MATTER, IT IS DIFFICULT TO SEE HOW THESE FUNDS HAVE MANAGE THE COURSE OF THESE CLIENTS LIVES. I PROMISE YOU THEY HAVE. I HOPE YOU LOOK AT THESE FUNDS AND CONSIDER THIS
FOR HARRIS COUNTY. THANK YOU. >> I'M IN THREE DIFFERENT DISTRICTS. PERSONAL HOME IS IN YOUR DISTRICT. CONSTANT EVALUATIONS, MAKING IT UNATTAINABLE TO BE ABLE TO AFFORD AND LIVE IN OUR HOUSES ANYMORE. CFO COMPANY, TRIPLE NET TAXES ON OUR RENT. DO YOU GUYS THINK IT IS A BUNCH OF RICH BUSINESS OVERS. WHEN YOU INCREASE THE TAX, IT IS DIRECTLY TO THE BOTTOM LINE. WE ARE A LITTLE BIT MORE CONSERVATIVE ON THE SPENDING AND WHATNOT.
>> THANK YOU, YOUR TIME IS UP.
>> CONTINUE. SIR, YOU CAN FINISH.
>> MY MOTHER PASSED AWAY AND WE RENTED THE HOUSE OUT. MY TENANT, WAS THE ONE THAT HAD TO PAY THE TAX INCREASE. IT MIGHT BE $50, $100 MORE PER MONTH. THAT IS A LOT. THIS CAN REPRESENT A 5% INCREASE. MORE IMPORTANT, THEY WANTED TO BUY A HOUSE THEMSELVES. BECAUSE OF INSURANCE COST AND THE RISING MORTGAGE RATES, THEY CAN'T AFFORD TO DO IT. THEY ARE GOING TO CONTINUE RENTING, AND IF I HAVE TO PUT THE HOUSE ON THE MARKET, I ALREADY KNOW THAT THERE ARE GOING TO BE FIVE OR 10 PEOPLE, BECAUSE NOBODY CAN BUY A HOUSE ANYMORE. THE PROPERTY TAXES YOU GUYS ARE IMPOSING, YOU HAVE TO FIGURE
OUT A WAY TO NOT DO THAT. >> THANK YOU. YOU HAVE ONE
MINUTE. >> HELLO, GOOD MORNING JUDGE AND COMMISSIONERS. I'M IN PRECINCT 3. HELLO, COMMISSIONER RAMSEY. I'M HERE TO VOICE MY SUPPORT FOR THE ASSISTANCE FUNDS. I HAVE BEEN IN DOMESTIC VIOLENCE FOR 22 YEARS. KILLED, STABBED, SHOT AT, HARASSED, AND . -- HOPING FOR VIOLENCE FREEDOM. DAY IN AND DAY OUT. VICTIM OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, WHEN THEY HAD TIME TO LEAVE THE VIOLENT RELATIONSHIP. THEY TRIED TO LEAVE THE HARM DOER. THERE ISN'T ENOUGH SHELTER SPACE TO DO SO SAFELY. THIS IS NOT HAPPENING IN ANOTHER COUNTY OR ANOTHER STATE. IT IS OUR RESPONSE ABILITY. GIVING SURVIVORS INCREASED SAFETY, HOPE, A FRESH START FREE OF
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ABUSE, TOOLS TO SLEEP VIOLENCE. INVESTMENT IN THE FUTURE IS NOW. PLEASE CONTINUE TO FUND. THANK YOU.>> ITEM NUMBER TWO. YOU HAVE ONE MINUTE.
>> SHE MAY BE RUNNING LATE. WE WILL CALL HER NAME. IF YOU DON'T MIND ADDING IT TO THE END. OKAY, THANK YOU.
>> GABBY CAMPBELL, ITEM TWO. YOU HAVE ONE MINUTE.
>> GOOD EVENING, MY NAME IS GABBY CAMPBELL. WE SERVE SURVIVORS OF HUMAN TRAFFICKING AND COMMERCIAL SEXUAL EXULTATION, NONPROFIT THAT WE HAVE INDUCED. TODAY I STAND BEFORE YOU AS SOMEONE WHO LIVES AND WORKS IN HARRIS COUNTY.
STRONGLY ADVOCATE THE CONTINUATION OF POTENTIAL EXPANSION OF THE DOMESTIC VIOLENCE ASSISTANCE FUNDS. THIS CAUSES DEEPLY PERSONAL TO ME. NOT ONLY AS A PROFESSIONAL BUT SUPPORTING SURVIVORS, AS SOMEONE WHO IS LOOKING AT DOMESTIC VIOLENCE. THIS IS FROM KELLY SURVIVORS, INCLUDING 180 CLIENTS AND FAMILIES FROM THE LANDING ALONE. FROM THOSE DANGEROUS SITUATIONS, ASSISTANCE WITH MOVING AND RELOCATION COSTS. THE ACCESS TO THE ESSENTIAL ITEMS LIKE MEDICATION, FOOD, TOILETRIES, AND ADDITIONALLY, THIS FUND --
>> ARE YOU ALMOST UP? >> YES. OBTAINING VITAL DOCUMENTS FOR CERTIFICATES WHICH ARE HELD FROM THEIR ABUSERS AND TRAFFICKERS. I IMPLORE YOU TO CONTINUE THIS FUND. IT JUST HELPS EVERY MEMBER OF OUR COMMUNITY.
DOMESTIC VIOLENCE DOES NOT ONLY IMPACT THE FAMILIES, IT IMPACTS EVERYONE IN OUR COMMUNITY. THANK YOU.
>> WE ARE GOING TO CALL THEM TWO AT A TIME BECAUSE THERE ARE
SO MANY SPEAKERS. >> YOU EACH HAVE ONE MINUTE.
>> THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION THIS MORNING. WE PROVIDE TRANSPORTATION FOR VICTIMS OF ABUSE. MOST OF THOSE RIGHT HERE IN THE COMMUNITY OF HARRIS COUNTY. FAR AND AWAY FROM THEIR ABUSERS, SO THAT THEY WOULD NOT BECOME A FATALITY AFTER BEING STOPPED. THIS REPLACED PHONES THAT HAVE BEEN BROKEN BY ABUSERS THAT WANTED TO CONTROL AND TO SHUT OUT THE VICTIMS WHO WERE TRYING TO REACH OUT FOR HELP. THIS COMMISSIONERS COURT THIS MORNING, HAS THE POWER TO VOTE YES TO FUND VICTIM SERVICES THROUGH THE HARRIS COUNTY DOMESTIC VIOLENCE
COORDINATION COUNCIL. >> YOUR TIME IS UP READ
>> REDUCE THE FATALITY RIGHT. >> THANK YOU SO MUCH.
>> GOOD MORNING, COMMISSIONERS. RESPECTFULLY REQUESTING A CONTINUATION OF THE DOMESTIC VIOLENCE ASSISTANCE FUND. THE MOST VULNERABLE MEMBERS OF OUR COMMUNITY. HOTEL, TRANSPORTATION, RENT, LEGAL AID, MEDICINE, AND ALL KINDS OF EMERGENCY ASSISTANCE. THE ABILITY TO ALLOCATE FUNDS, BASED ON THE SPECIFIC FUNDS OF EACH SURVIVOR, HAS BEEN A GAME CHANGER. ALLOWING US TO ADDRESS UNIQUE SITUATION THAT FUNDING IS OFTEN OVERLOOKING. WITHOUT THE EXTENSION, MANY SURVIVORS ESPECIALLY FROM UNDERSERVED AND UNDER MARGINALIZED COMMUNITIES WILL FACE OVERWHELMING BARRIERS TO SAFETY AND HEALING. WE HAVE A DEDICATED STAFF AND INFRA STRUCTURE TO CONTINUE PROVIDING THESE LIFE-SAVING SERVICES. WE NEED YOUR HELP TO SUSTAIN THEM.
>> THANK YOU, YOUR TIME IS UP.
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>> BY EXTENDING THESE FUNDS, YOU'RE NOT GIVING INDIVIDUALS A CHANCE TO REBUILD THEIR LIVES, BUT YOU CAN CREATE A SAFE AND HEALTHY COMMUNITY FOR EVERYONE. THANK YOU FOR YOUR
TIME AND CONSIDERATION. >> THANK YOU.
>> YOU EACH HAVE ONE MINUTE. >> EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR FROM JUSTICE FOR ALL IMMIGRANTS, OUR OFFICE IS LOCATED IN PRECINCT TWO. I HAD TO EXPRESS MY SUPPORT FOR THE DOMESTIC VIOLENCE ASSISTANCE FUND. THE ORGANIZATION PROVIDES PRO BONO LEGAL REPRESENTATION FOR IMMIGRANT SURVIVORS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE. ONE THING THAT WE HAVE SEEN, ESPECIALLY SINCE THE BEGINNING OF THE PANDEMIC, IS THE INCREASE NUMBERS OF VIOLENCE AND DOMESTICATED ACTIONS. MANY ARE FOR AFRAID TO LEAVE THEIR ABUSERS BECAUSE THEY ARE AFRAID OF THE CONSEQUENCES. THEY ARE NOT REPORTING CRIMES. ORGANIZATION HAS A TRUSTED PROVIDER IN HARRIS COUNTY. ALLOWING OUR CLIENTS TO GET WORK PERMITS, A LOT OF WHOM HAVE BEEN ABLE TO OBTAIN LAWFUL PERMANENT RESIDENCY STATUS. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIME AND ATTENTION. THANK YOU.
>> IT IS IMPORTANT FOR THE DOMESTIC VIOLENCE FUND.
INAUDIBLE ]. WE NEED MORE HELP FROM THE COUNTY TO END DOMESTIC
VIOLENCE. >> ELIZABETH SANCHEZ AND BARBIE
KENNEDY, THEY TRIED TO SHARE. >> I'M IN PRECINCT 1, AND IS SHOWING STRONG SUPPORT FOR THE DOMESTIC VIOLENCE ASSISTANCE FUND. THIS IS AN SURVIVING DOMESTIC VIOLENCE ACTIONS. THIS IS SOON AFTER THEY GOT TOGETHER. ONE EVENING HE BECAME ENRAGED, AND STARTED BEATING HER WHILE SHE WAS HOLDING HER TODDLER IN HER HANDS. THE ABUSER PREVENTED HER THREE TIMES. THE HOUSTON POLICE DEPARTMENT, REFERRED HER TO THE OFFICE. WE WERE ABLE TO HELP HER OBTAIN PROTECTION AND ULTIMATELY A PATHWAY TO LAWFUL PERMANENT RESIDENCY.
>> THANK YOU, YOUR TIME IS UP.
>> HELLO, COMMISSIONERS. I AM THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE DOMESTIC VIOLENCE COORDINATING COUNCIL. I'M VERY HONORED TO STAND IN SOLIDARITY WITH SO MANY PEOPLE THAT ARE HERE THIS MORNING. WHAT I WANT TO SAY TO YOU IS TWO WORDS. THANK YOU. WE HAVE RECEIVED DOLLARS TO PRIORITIZE A SEVERELY UNDERFUNDED AND OVERSTRESSED SYSTEM. ALSO, YOU PRIORITIZE THE NEEDS OF WOMEN AND CHILDREN IN THE COMMUNITY. EARLY CHILDHOOD INITIATIVES, ALL OF THOSE THINGS PRIORITIZE MENTAL HEALTH. I REALLY CANNOT EXPRESS TO YOU
>> THANK YOU, YOUR TIME IS UP.
>> YOU HAVE SHOWN LEADERSHIP, COURAGE, AND SAID WITH THAT.
THIS IS MORE THAN 5000 FAMILIES. THIS IS UNPRECEDENTED. AGAIN, THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH. >> YOU EACH HAVE ONE MINUTE.
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>> GOOD MORNING, I'M HERE TO VOICE MY SUPPORT FOR THE DOMESTIC VIOLENCE ASSISTANCE FUND. YOU HAVE SEEN THE GREAT IMPACT THAT IT HAS HAD ON THE SURVIVOR'S LIVES. UNDER FAMILIES, UNDER JOURNEYS OF HEALING. I HAVE NO DOUBT THAT IT HAS CHANGED OUR LIVES. LIVES HAVE BEEN SAVED BECAUSE OF THESE ASSISTANCE. AS AN ADVOCATE, I AM THANKFUL BECAUSE IT HAS BEEN INSTRUMENTAL IN OUR SAFETY PLANNING WITH SURVIVORS.
I JUST WANT TO THANK YOU FOR BEING THE LEADERS THAT OUR COMMUNITY NEEDS. IF IT WASN'T FOR THIS ASSISTANCE, SHE WOULD
TRULY NOT BE THERE TODAY. >> THANK YOU SO MUCH.
>> GOOD MORNING. I LIVE AND WORK IN PRECINCT 2. ON THE ATTORNEY JUSTICE FOR ALL IMMIGRANTS. LEGAL SERVICE PROVIDER WHO PROVIDES IMMIGRATION SERVICES TO LOW INCOME INDIVIDUALS, INCLUDING SURVIVORS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE.
WANTED TO VOICE MY SUPPORT FOR THE DOMESTIC VIOLENCE ASSISTANCE FUNDS. I HAVE SEEN THE DIFFERENCE THAT IT MAKES IN OUR CLIENTS LIVES. OUR CLIENTS HAVE GONE THROUGH HORRIFIC TRAUMA AND ABUSE, AND ARE SEEKING STABILITY, INDEPENDENCE, AND SAFETY. HELPING THOSE SURVIVORS NAVIGATE THE IMMIGRATION SYSTEM, HELPS TO EMPOWER THEM PERSONALLY, AND FINANCIALLY. GIVE THEM ADDITIONAL TOOLS IN THEIR JOURNEY AWAY FROM ABUSE. THANKS TO THIS PROGRAM, THE ORGANIZATION HAS BEEN ABLE TO PROVIDE IMMIGRATION LEGAL SERVICES TO MANY INDIVIDUALS FREE OF COST IN HARRIS COUNTY.
I HOPE YOU CAN CONTINUE TO DO SO IN THE FUTURE. I ASK YOU TO SUPPORT THE RENEWAL OF THIS FUND. THANK YOU.
>> SRIRACHA BROWN, YOU HAVE ONE MINUTE.
>> GOOD MORNING. I HAD THE HONOR OF SERVING AS CHIEF CLIENT SERVICES OFFICER, WITHIN THE CENTER. I'M HERE TO VOICE MY SUPPORT FOR THE DOMESTIC VIOLENCE ASSISTANCE FUND TO CONTINUE. THIS FUNDING PROVIDES THE BASIC LUCY'S BASIC NEEDS FOR DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AND UTILITIES. TRANSPORTATION, CHILDCARE, THEY MAY BE ABLE TO WORK TO GAIN ECONOMIC FREEDOM.
FINANCES MAY NO LONGER BE A BARRIER TO THEIR SAFETY, THEIR WELL-BEING, AND QUITE FRANKLY, KEEPING THEM ALIVE. THESE FUNDS MAY APPEAR TO BE TEMPORARY HELP FOR SURVIVORS. THEY OFTEN BRIDGE THE GAP, THAT ENABLE SURVIVORS TO MAINTAIN SAFETY, AND SELF-SUFFICIENCY IN THE LONG-TERM. IN THE TIME WERE DOMESTIC VIOLENCE SURVIVORS CONTINUE, SERVICES CONTINUE TO RISE. NOW IS THE TIME TO CONTINUE THIS FUNDING. WE ADVOCATE FOR DOMESTIC VIOLENCE ASSISTANCE FUNDING TO CONTINUE
TO HELP SUPPORT. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU.
>> GOOD MORNING. GOOD MORNING TO THE COMMISSIONERS AND THE JUDGE. THIS IS THE SOUTH CORRECTIONAL FACILITY. I'M RESPONSIBLE FOR SENDING MY SON, KNOWING THIS CORRECTIONAL FACILITY WAS KILLING ARMIN. HE CAME BACK TO ME DEAD AND IN A BODY BAG. WHAT DOES SORRY I MEAN IF YOUR ACTIONS DO NOT CHANGE THE COURSE OF WHAT IS HAPPENING TO YOU ALL CONTINUING TO SEND PEOPLE TO LASALLE AND OTHER PRIVATE FACILITIES?
>> YOUR TIME IS UP READ >> THANK YOU ALL.
>> YOU EACH HAVE ONE MINUTE. THIS IS WITH YOUR KOREAN
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LANGUAGE ]. >> RECENTLY, THERE HAS BEEN A PRESSING NEED FOR PROFIT ENDANGERS AND IN THE HARRIS
LANGUAGE ]. >> THERE HAVE BEEN MANY CASES WERE CONFLICTS OF A HOME AND ISSUES BETWEEN THE PARENTS AND CHILDREN, HAVE WORSENED OR LED TO THE UNFORESEEN INCIDENT AFTER CALLING 9112 TO INAPPROPRIATE POLICE RESPONSES.
>> MULTIPLE HIGHLY TRAINED PERSONNEL CAN ADDRESS THE ROOT CAUSE OF ISSUES WITHOUT THE NEED OF POLICE INVOLVEMENT DEPENDING ON THE NATURE OF THE SITUATION.
>> GIVEN THE HARD EFFECTS OF THE PROGRAM BEING SHOWN IN DIFFERENT ONE AND FOUR, I URGE THAT IT WAS INCREMENTED IN ALL OF HARRIS COUNTY. ADDITIONALLY, THE PROMOTIONAL MATERIAL ENSURING MARKETING TOOLS WOULD BE DEVELOPED ALONGSIDE THIS PROGRAM. SO THAT MORE PEOPLE CAN TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE
LANGUAGE ]. >> YOUR TIME IS UP READ
>> YOU CAN FINISH. >> WE HONESTLY REQUEST THAT YOU ALLOCATE THE BUDGETS NEEDED FOR EXPANDING THE DIVERSITY AND THE PROGRAM BY SEIZING THE BUDGET OF THE PATROL OFFICES AND REDUCING THE BUDGET FOR THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S OFFICE.
THANK YOU FOR LISTENING. >> CAN I ASK A QUESTION? WOULD IT BE POSSIBLE FOR YOU TO PROVIDE ME AN EXAMPLE OF AN
LANGUAGE ]. >> INAPPROPRIATE RESPONSE.
SPEAKING IN A GLOBAL LANGUAGE ].
>> I'M TALKING ABOUT HOW THE POLICE RESPONDED TO THE PERSON THAT DOESN'T HAVE ANY WEAPON, OR DOING ANY THREATENING ACT.
HOW THEY RESPOND TO THAT ACTION. THIS IS THEIR SITUATION
LIKE THAT. >> OKAY, THANK YOU.
>> HELLO, AND I RESIDE IN THE HARRIS COUNTY PRECINCT NUMBER FOUR. I'M ALSO A MEMBER OF THE SENIOR CIVIC ENGAGEMENT TEAM.
>> DURING THE RECENT HURRICANE VALLEY, RESIDENTS AND THE HEARTFELT PROGRAM ARE LOOKING AT THE ACCESSORY ACTION BY COOLING CENTERS, WITH THE HELP OF HEART.
>> HOWEVER, A SENIOR FRIEND OF MINE STRUGGLED TO FIND THE HOTELS, WITHOUT POWER AVAILABLE ONCE WE ARE TOO FAR AWAY.
FORCING THEM TO SPEND THE NIGHT IN HER CAR. THIS IS EXPERIENCING SIGNIFICANT PAIN.
>> ENTERING CHILDREN RECEIVE NECESSARY PROTECTION IN A TIMELY MANNER IS CRUCIAL FOR THE WELFARE OF OUR COMMUNITY.
IN SUCH A SITUATION, URGENT PROTECTION IS NEEDED. IT IS NOT SOMETHING THAT CAN BE HANDLED BY POLICE, OR THE FIRE
DEPARTMENT. >> LANGUAGE ]. THANK YOU FOR LISTENING.
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>> ALSO USING THE INTERPRETER.
>> I UNDERSTAND THE HEART PROGRAM IS PROVIDING MANY SERVICES IN THE AREA FROM THE RELATED INSTANCE AND AFTERCARE, PLACING THE POLICE IN THIS EFFORT.
>> I HAVE HEARD THE ACQUAINTANCE THAT THE YOUNG RESIDENTS ARE SELLING AND AND HEALING DRUGS AT SCHOOL, EVEN HIDING IN THE BATHROOM TO USE THEM SECRETLY.
>> PREVENTING IS CRUCIAL WHEN IT COMES TO DRUG ADDICTION.
WHEN SOMEONE STARTS IT IS VERY DIFFICULT TO QUIT DUE TO THE RISK OF RELAPSE. I BELIEVE THAT BY IMPLEMENTING THE HEART PROGRAM, WE CAN SPECIALIZE PERSONNEL AND DRUG RELATED INCIDENTS, AND AFTERCARE. PROVIDING EDUCATION AND MANAGEMENT SERVICES TO YOUNG STUDENTS.
>> INSTEAD OF INCREASING BUDGET FOR CHAIRS AND CONTROL OFFICES, THE BUDGET SHOULD BE MINIMIZED AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE TO MINIMIZE THE HEART PROGRAM. THIS WOULD ALLOW US TO SECURE MORE SPECIALIZED PERSONAL NOT ONLY IN DRUG-RELATED MATTERS, BUT IN THE VARIOUS FIELDS. I ALSO REQUEST THAT THE PROGRAM IS CURRENTLY IMPLEMENTED TO ONE AND FOUR, THIS IS THROUGH THE APPROPRIATE BUDGET ALLOCATION. THANK YOU FOR LISTENING.
>> HELLO, I'M A RECEPTIONIST IN DISTRICT 3.
>> IT IS ESTIMATED THAT 20% OF THE 911 CALLS ARE RELATED TO DRUG ADDICTION AND MENTAL ILLNESS. OVER 80% OF THESE CASES DO NOT RECEIVE THE PROPER CARE, INSTEAD OF RESULTING IN
LANGUAGE ]. >> RECENTLY, IN NEW JERSEY, KOREAN WOMEN SUFFER FROM MENTAL ILLNESS, WERE SHOT AND KILLED TWO TO THE EXCESSIVE POLICE RESPONSE. THE ROOT COST WAS THE LACK OF REPORTING AGENCIES AS THE INCIDENT THAT WOULD SURELY
LANGUAGE ]. >> IS THE SAME SITUATION OCCURRED IN OUR COUNTY, THIS IS THE SAME MANUAL. THE RESULT
LANGUAGE ]. >> PREVENTING THE TRAGEDY FOR THE RESIDENTS IN OUR COMMUNITY, WE MUST EXTEND THE HEART PROGRAM. CURRENTLY UNDER ONE AND 42 RECOVER THE ENTIRE COUNTY. WE NEED THE PROGRAM TO DEPLOY THE MORE PROFESSIONALLY
LANGUAGE ]. >> THANK YOU, YOUR TIME IS UP.
>> TO SECURE THE NECESSARY BUDGET, I HONESTLY REQUEST THAT YOU CONSIDER NOT INCREASING THE BUDGET FOR THE SHERIFF AND THE POLICE, BUT REDUCING THE BUDGET FOR DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S
OFFICE. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU SO MUCH.
>> THANK YOU. >> ALSO USING THE INTERPRETER.
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>> HELLO, I'M A SENIOR MEMBER, RESIDING IN THE LAKEVIEW
LANGUAGE ]. >> LAST YEAR, HELD AN INFORMATIONAL SESSION ABOUT THE HEART PROGRAM. AFTER HEARING THE MAIN POINTS OF THE PROGRAM, I THOUGHT IT WAS EXCELLENT INITIATIVE TO SUPPORT THE COMMUNITY BY ADDRESSING LOCAL ISSUES AND ENSURING THE RESIDENTS HEALTH AND SAFETY WITHOUT THE NECESSARY INVOLVING -- INVOLVEMENT OF THE POLICE
LANGUAGE ]. >> LOCAL RESIDENTS HAVE TRAINED PROFESSIONALS, RATHER THAN THE POLICE. EXAMPLES INCLUDE DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, MANAGING THE HOMELESS, PROVIDING MEDICAL CARE FOR INDIVIDUALS WITH HEALTH ISSUES, DUE TO THE DRUG USE OR ALCOHOL ADDICTION AND MORE.
LANGUAGE ]. >> THERE FOR, I DIVERGE THAT THE BUDGET BE EXPANDED TO THE HEART PROGRAM, CURRENTLY ONLY IMPLEMENT IT IN DISTRICT 1 AND FOUR, TO BE COVERED IN ALL OF HARRIS COUNTY. I SERIOUSLY CONSIDER INCREASING THE BUDGET, AND REDUCE THE BUDGET FOR DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S OFFICE.
THANK YOU FOR LISTENING. >> THANK YOU.
LANGUAGE ]. >> HELLO, I AM AN ACTIVE MEMBER OF THE CITIZEN PARTICIPATION TEAM. I LIVE IN PRECINCT 4.
>> RECENTLY, I HEARD GREAT THINGS ABOUT THE PARK PROGRAM.
I FIRST LEARNED ABOUT THEM THROUGH, I WOULD LIKE TO SHARE THE EXPERIENCE THROUGH THE PROGRAM.
>> NOT LONG AGO, AFTER RETURNING FROM CHURCH, I PARKED MY CAR AND WAS HEADING TOWARDS THE FRONT OF THE DOOR WHEN THE NEIGHBORS DOG STARTED GROWLING, AND APPROACHING ME. I WAS SO STARTLED THAT I FELL AND INJURED MY KNEE. THE DOG, ALSO
SCARED, RAN BACK TO HIS HOME. >>
LANGUAGE ]. >> FORTUNATELY, A SECURITY VEHICLE PASSED BY. FOR THE INTERPRETER, I EXPLAINED THE SITUATION. THEY SAID THEY WOULD TAKE CARE OF IT, BUT I HAVE NOT
LANGUAGE ]. >> AFTER GOING THROUGH THIS EXPERIENCE, I FELT THAT HEART WOULD BE A GOOD SITUATION FOR THIS. I REQUEST THAT THIS IS WIDELY PROMOTED AND IT ENDED NOT ONLY IN DISTRICT 1, BUT THROUGHOUT THE WHOLE AREA OF
LANGUAGE ]. >> YOUR TIME IS UP.
LANGUAGE ]. >> TO MAKE THIS POSSIBLE, I STRONGLY URGE THAT NEXT YEAR'S BUDGET DOES NOT INCREASE THE FUNDS ALLOCATED FROM THE SHERIFF AND PATROL OFFICES.
INSTEAD, INCREASING THE BUDGET FOR DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S, ALLOWING FOR MORE PERSONNEL TO IMPLEMENT IT, AT THE VARIETY OF
HEART PROGRAMS. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU SO MUCH.
>> USING THE INTERPRETER. YOU EACH HAVE ONE MINUTE.
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>> HELLO, I AM CURRENTLY WORKING AS A SENIOR CIVIC
LANGUAGE ]. >> IN MODERN SOCIETY, THERE IS A GROWING NEED FOR ACTION AND CONSIDERATION BY PROFESSIONALLY TRAINED INDIVIDUALS DEALING WITH A DRUG AND SUBSTANCE ABUSE MENTAL ILLNESS PATIENT, DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, AND OTHER
LANGUAGE ]. >> A RECENT EXEMPLARY SITUATION, 3911, AN INNOCENT RESIDENT BECAME A VICTIM DUE TO
LANGUAGE ]. >> I UNDERSTAND THE HEART PROGRAM CURRENTLY IMPLEMENTED IN DISTRICT 1 AND FOUR HAS SHOWN POSITIVE EFFECT, AND I SERIOUSLY URGE THAT THIS PROGRAM IS EXPANDED THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRE COUNTY. I ALSO URGE THAT THIS IS DEVELOPED FURTHER TO PROVIDE SPECIALIZED SERVICES TO PROTECT THE PROPERTY, HEALTH, AND ULTIMATELY THE
LANGUAGE ]. >> FOR SUCH POLICIES TO BE REALIZED, SECURING THE APPROPRIATE BUDGET IS ESSENTIAL. THERE FOR, I REQUEST THAT YOU SERIOUSLY CONSIDER FREEZING THE BUDGET FOR THE SHERIFFS AND POLICE OFFICERS, INCREASING THE BUDGET FOR THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S OFFICE.
THANK YOU FOR LISTENING. >> INC. YOU SO MUCH.
LANGUAGE ]. >> HELLO, I AM A SENIOR MEMBER, RESIDING IN PRECINCT 3. I RECENTLY LEARNED THAT THE HEART PROGRAM, I AM GRATEFUL FOR HARRIS COUNTY COMMISSIONERS.
>> ABOUT FIVE YEARS AGO WHILE RUNNING A SHOP IN PRECINCT 2, I NOTICED AN ELDERLY MAN WHO APPEARED TO BE HOMELESS IN THE
LANGUAGE ]. >> FEELING A SENSE OF COMPASSION, I TRIED TO TALK TO HIM, AND DISCOVER THAT HE WAS A VERY GENTLE MAN, SUFFERING FROM DEMENTIA. IT WAS A VERY COLD WINTER AT THAT TIME, SO I TOOK CARE OF HIM, HOPING FOR HER CARE, I CALLED THE POLICE. THEY CAME, TOOK A LOOK, AND SAID THEY WOULD COME BACK LATER, BUT NEVER DID.
>> A FEW DAYS LATER, ANOTHER HOMELESS PERSON JOINED HIM, CAUSING SOME ISSUES. I HEARD THE BUILDING OWNER EVENTUALLY CHASED BOTH OF THEM AWAY. I STILL WONDER WHERE THOSE GENTLEMEN WITH THE DEMENTIA ARE LIVING NOW.
LANGUAGE ]. >> I UNDERSTAND THE HEART PROGRAM CAN ADDRESS AREAS WHERE THE POLICE ARE FUNCTIONAL. I REQUEST THAT MORE BUDGET BE ALLOCATED TO THE HEART PROGRAM, ALLOWING IT TO BE EXPANDED BEHIND THE DISTRICT, BEYOND THE DISTRICT ONE AND FOUR, TO ALL OF THE AREAS OF HARRIS COUNTY, TO ENCOURAGE MORE DIVERSE HEART PROGRAMS.
>> TO ACHIEVE THIS, I ASKED THAT YOU FREEZE THE CURRENTLY EXCESSIVE BUDGET ALLOCATED TO SHERIFFS AND PATROL OFFICERS, AND REDUCE THE BUDGET FOR THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S OFFICE.
THANK YOU FOR LISTENING. >> THANK YOU SO MUCH.
>> YOU EACH HAVE ONE MINUTE. >> THANK YOU TO THE
[00:40:02]
INTERPRETER. THAT WAS FANTASTIC, THANK YOU.>> CAN WE GIVE HER A HAND? >> THAT WAS REALLY WELL DONE.
>> COME UP HERE AND SPEAK THEIR TRUTH. I'M GOING TO LOVE THE REST OF THE PEOPLE SPEAKING THEIR TRUTH TOO, FIGHTING FOR A BUDGET THAT ACTUALLY KEEP US SAFE. IT DOESN'T HARM OR KILL US. I HAVE A SIMPLE QUESTION. I WOULD LOVE TO HEAR AN ANSWER.
WITH THIS PROPOSED BUDGET SAVE LIVES FROM 36 PEOPLE THAT WERE KILLED? ARE PEOPLE ASKING THINGS TO FUND US, SIMPLE THINGS. LIKE GENERATORS. NOTHING EVER CHANGES. THE STORM, FRANCINE, IS NOW GOING TO MY FAMILY IN LOUISIANA. THEY DON'T NEARLY HAVE THE SAME BUDGET THAT HARRIS COUNTY DOES.
FUNDING THE THINGS THAT WE WANT, TO KEEP US SAFE.
>> THANK YOU, YOUR TIME IS UP.
>> I AM THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF ASIANS AGAINST DOMESTIC ABUSE. ORGANIZATIONS THAT SERVE SURVIVORS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE FOR MIDDLE EAST AND ASIAN COMMUNITIES IN HARRIS COUNTY. I AM HERE TODAY TO VOICE MY STRONG SUPPORT FOR THE CONTINUATION AND EXPANSION OF THE DOMESTIC VIOLENCE ASSISTANCE FUND. MANY OF WHOM ARE IMMIGRANTS WITH NO FAMILY SUPPORT. LOOKING AT THE STAR CLIENTS AND THEIR CHILDREN.
THINGS AS CRITICAL AS CAR REPAIRS, MEDICATIONS, AND GENERAL LIVING EXPENSES ARE BEYOND OUR ABILITY TO COVER.
THESE ARE OFTEN THE KEY SUPPORTS THAT ALLOW SURVIVORS TO MAINTAIN THEIR INDEPENDENCE AND SAFETY. THIS IS NOT JUST ABOUT EMERGENCY SERVICES. THEY ALLOW US TO PROVIDE COMPREHENSIVE CULTURE SPECIFIC SUPPORT TO SOME OF THE MOST --
>> THANK YOU, YOUR TIME IS UP.
>> DO YOU HAVE A LITTLE BIT MORE TO WRAP UP?
>> YES. WITHOUT THEM, MANY OF OUR CLIENTS WOULD HAVE LEFT WITHOUT NO OPTIONS, AND THEY KNOW WHEN TO ESCAPE SITUATIONS.
HARRIS COUNTY, HAS SHOWN INCREDIBLE LEADERSHIP RECOGNIZING THE LEAD AND THE NEED OF THESE SERVICES. THE DEMAND IS STILL GREAT. I URGE YOU TO CONTINUE TO SUPPORT THESE FUNDS, SO THAT WE CAN CONTINUE PROVIDING THE CRITICAL RESOURCES THAT SURVIVORS AND OTHER FAMILIES DEPEND ON. THANK
>> I AM A MEMBER OF THE HARRIS COUNTY BOARD AND ADVISORY DIVERSITY COUNCIL. I'M HERE FOR THE DOMESTIC VIOLENCE ASSISTANCE FUND. ONE MINUTE, I WILL READ MY STATEMENT. I'M A SURVIVOR OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE. DOMESTIC VIOLENCE ISN'T ABOUT ONE TYPE OF ABUSE. MENTAL ABUSE OFTEN LEADS TO PHYSICAL ABUSE, AND 99% OF VICTIMS ARE FINANCIALLY ABUSED. I WAS ONE SUCH VICTIM SHORT OF FINANCIAL RESOURCES MAKING ME FEEL LIKE I COULDN'T DO IT ON MY OWN. HIS UNCERTAINTY DIDN'T CAUSE ME TO STAY, BUT IT CAUSES ME TO GO BACK TO THE PERSON WHO WAS HARMING AND ABUSING ME. IF I KNEW THAT THERE WAS A SAFETY MET -- NET, IT WOULD HAVE STOPPED THE HARM NOT JUST FOR MYSELF AND TO MY SON, BUT ALSO TO MY PARENTS AND MY ENTIRE COMMUNITY. HARRIS COUNTY, IS FINANCIALLY CAPABLE. THIS FUND IS NOT NICE TO HAVE. THIS FUND IS ABOUT THE HEALTH AND SAFETY.
>> THANK YOU, YOUR TIME IS UP READ
>> ALSO THE HEALTH AND SAFETY OF OUR CHILDREN. PLEASE CONSIDER THIS WHEN YOU DECIDE ON HOW TO ALLOCATE THESE FUNDS.
>> YOU EACH HAVE ONE MINUTE. >> ALL RIGHT. HI. I AM THE
[00:45:06]
FOUNDER AND CEO OF FRUSTRATED WELLNESS FOR WOMEN THE OLDEST DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AGENCY FOUNDED BY AN AFRICAN-AMERICAN FEMALE IN HARRIS COUNTY. MORE IMPORTANT, I AM A SURVIVOR. AS A SURVIVOR, I KNOW PERSONALLY HOW THIS HAS HELPED MADE AN EASIER AND MORE EFFECTIVE PROCESS, TO GETTING ASSISTANCE.ON BEHALF OF THE WELLNESS FOR WOMEN, I WANT TO EXPRESS OUR DEEP GRATITUDE FOR THE DOMESTIC VIOLENCE ASSISTANCE FUNDS. THIS HAS ALLOWED US TO CONTINUE PROVIDING CRITICAL SERVICES, FOR SURVIVORS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE THROUGH THE SUPPORT.
WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO ASSIST COUNTLESS WOMEN, WITH RENT, UTILITIES, CAR REPAIRS, HOTEL STAYS, AND SO MANY OTHER ESSENTIALS THAT HAVE EMPOWERED THEM TO BREAK FREE FROM THEIR ABUSER, AND BECOME BEGINNING A LIFE OF INDEPENDENCY.
>> YOUR TIME IS UP. THEY ARE TRYING TO MEET THEIR NEEDS. I MUST ALSO SPEAK TO THE CHALLENGES FROM ORGANIZATIONS LIKE MINE, WHEN OPERATING THE REIMBURSEMENT GRANT. WE ARE IMMENSELY THANKFUL FOR YOUR FUNDING, AND UP FRONT COST. I ALSO WANT TO SAY, YOU SO MUCH FOR THE COMMITMENT THAT YOU HAVE BEEN ASSISTING AND GIVING TO US IN THIS MANNER. WITHOUT YOUR SUPPORT AND COMMITMENT, WE WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO DO THESE VITAL, ESSENTIAL NEEDS. THANK YOU.
>> GOOD MORNING, COMMISSIONERS COURT. I AM THE TEXAS ORGANIZER FOR THE UNITED DREAM. I'M HERE ON BEHALF OF IMMIGRANT YOUTH AND FAMILIES OBSERVED IN HARRIS COUNTY. TODAY, I URGE YOU TO PROPOSE FUNDING FROM THE SV40 IMITATION LAW. DRASTICALLY INCREASING RACIAL PROFILING, AND FOSTERING FEAR AND DIVISION. ULTIMATELY, WEAKENS HARRIS COUNTY AS A WHOLE.
BENEFITING ALL CONSTITUENT PROGRAMS THAT HAVE EDUCATION, HEALTHCARE, AND PUBLIC SAFETY FOR EVERYONE REGARDLESS OF THEIR IMMIGRATION STATUS. I SPECIFICALLY ASK THAT FUNDING FOR THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE NOT BE INCREASED. THE FUNDING FOR THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY BE REDUCED. FUNDING SHOULD BE ALLOCATED TOWARDS THE HEART PROGRAM. IT PROVIDES THE PROGRAM SUPPORT AND COMMUNITIES FOR THE CRISIS. REDIRECTING RESOURCES TOWARD INCLUSIVITY, GROWTH, CREATING A STRONGER AND MORE UNIFIED HARRIS COUNTY. THANK YOU.
>> DIANA WILLIAMS AND MOANING JOSEPH, YOU EACH HAVE ONE
MINUTE. >> I'M HERE AS A MEMBER OF THE SAFETY PROJECT, THIS IS FROM AMENDMENT 25. THIS IS FROM THE COMMUNITY INCARCERATION. I CAN TELL YOU THAT IT WAS A STRUGGLE, TO FIND ADEQUATE AND AVAILABLE RESOURCES, AND SERVICES, TO MEET THESE WOMEN'S BASIC NEEDS. ONE OF OUR BASIC DEMANDS, ADDING QUICK FUNDING FOR THE HOLISTIC AND PUBLIC FOCUS AND THE APPROACHES TO PUBLIC SAFETY, FOR EVERYONE IN HARRIS COUNTY. HARRIS COUNTY HEALTH AND PUBLIC HEALTH, PUTTING HARRIS COUNTY RESIDENTS IN DANGER. HEALTH AND SOCIAL SERVICES, WILL DO MORE FOR CRIME PREVENTION, AND PUBLIC SAFETY. REIMAGINING A HEALTHY COMMUNITY. WE URGE YOU TO LOOK INTO THIS PROJECT AND THIS APPROACH. HELP EXCITE YOUR PLANS FOR 2025,
>> THE MORNING, COMMISSIONERS AND JUDGE. MY NAME IS MONIQUE JOSEPH, A HOLISTIC SERVICE DIRECTOR AT RESTORING JUSTICE HERE IN SUPPORT OF THE COMMUNITY SAFETY BUDGET CAMPAIGN . I DON'T KNOW IF YOU ARE AWARE BUT THE SOCIAL DETERMINANTS OF HEALTH AND CRIMINAL NEEDS ARE EXACTLY STAB EDUCATION AND EMPLOYMENT, QUALITY ACCESS TO HEALTHCARE, NEIGHBORHOOD, BUILT ENVIRONMENT, SOCIAL AND COMMUNITY CONTEXT. WE ARE ASKING THE POLICE TO FIX ISSUES THAT THEY ARE NOT TRAINED TO FIX. WE ARE NUMBER ONE FOR INCARCERATION IN TEXAS, WE ASK YOU REALLOCATE FUNDS AWAY FROM POLICE AND THE D.A. AND PUT THEM INTO REAL THINGS THAT MEET
[00:50:04]
>> MONICA, YOU EACH HAVE ONE MINUTE.
>> GOOD MORNING, I'M A RESIDENT OF PRECINCT 1. I'M SPEAKING IN SUPPORT OF THE COMMUNITY SAFETY BUDGET REQUEST INCLUDING INCREASED FUNDING FOR INDIGENOUS HEALTH SERVICES. I JUST WANT TO HIGHLIGHT THE IMPORTANCE OF LANGUAGE ACCESS FROM THE BUDGET. IT IS WONDERFUL THE COUNTY NOW HAS A LANGUAGE ACCESS MANAGER AND ANALYST, IT'S IMPERATIVE FOR SUSTAINABILITY THE COUNTY NOT RELY ON GRANT AND IN DOMINANCE AND FOCUS ON ROBUST BUDGETS AT THE COUNTY LEVEL TO MEET THE NEEDS OF OUR DIVERSE COMMUNITY. 45% OF HARRIS COUNTY RESIDENTS SPEAK A LANGUAGE OTHER THAN ENGLISH AT HOME, LANGUAGE ACCESS IS ESSENTIAL TO CULTURALLY DIVERSE COMMUNITY.
AS ANOTHER HURRICANE REACHES THE GOLF, I WANT TO HIGHLIGHT THE IMPORTANCE OF PROVIDING WORDINGS AND RESOURCE MATERIALS IN A RESIDENCE NATE IS -- NATIVE LANGUAGE. IT'S THE UPCOMING PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION IS ON COMMUNITY MEMBERSHIP, THEY ENCOUNTER DIFFICULTIES BECAUSE THE BALLOTS IN CANADA INFORMATION ARE ONLY AVAILABLE IN ENGLISH.
>> THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND CONSIDERATIONS.
>> AM HERE TO ADVOCATE FOR THOUGHTFUL ALLOCATION OF OUR COUNTY BUDGET, FOCUSING ON AREAS OF SIGNIFICANTLY IMPACTING OUR COMMUNITY'S WELL-BEING. OUR COMMUNITY, SAFETY AND SECURITY DEPEND ON BEING PREPARED FOR STORMS AND FLOODING, THE CURRENT BUDGET DOES NOT ADEQUATELY ADDRESS THESE NEEDS BY PRIORITIZING IMPROVEMENTS TO INFRASTRUCTURE SUCH AS REINFORCING FLOOD DEFENSES, UPGRADING DRAINAGE SYSTEMS AND ENHANCING MAINTENANCE, WE CAN SIGNIFICANTLY STRENGTHEN OUR COMMUNITIES RESILIENCE AGAINST CLIMATE RELATED DISASTERS. WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO ENHANCE OUR PREPAREDNESS AND RESILIENCE FOR EVERY TEXAN IN HARRIS COUNTY WHO HAS ENDURED THE LOSS OF POWER, HOMES, OR LOVED ONES DUE TO HIGH DISASTERS BY PRIORITIZING THESE AREAS, WE CAN CREATE A FUTURE WHERE OUR FAMILIES AND NEIGHBORHOODS RECOVER FULLY EVEN FACE FUTURE CHALLENGES WITH CONFIDENCE. LET
US INVEST -- >> YOUR TIME IS UP.
>> LET US INVEST IN OUR COMMITTEE SAFETY AND
RESILIENCE, THANK YOU. >> KATIE AND THEN RESOLVED, USING A SPANISH INTERPRETER. YOU EACH HAVE ONE MINUTE.
>> MY NAME IS KATIE RESENTING THE IMMIGRANT LEGAL RESOURCE CENTER IN THE BUDGET COALITION OVER THE COMING MONTHS, WE'LL HEAR A LOT ABOUT A PROPOSED NEW JAIL. MANY WILL FRAME IT AS OUR ONLY OPTION, THIS IS A MAN-MADE PROBLEM ALLOWED TO DEVELOP THEIR DECISIONS LIKE THE ONE YOU ARE MAKING NOW ON THIS BUDGET. THERE ARE MANY OPTIONS FOR DECREASING THE JAIL POPULATION, THE OBVIOUS ONE IS TO FUND THE FULL CONTINUUM OF CARE FOR MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES AS PREVENTION AND THE ALTERNATIVE TO DETENTION INCLUDING RESIDENTIAL STEP DOWN, AND CAMPUS STUDIES. AS ANOTHER EXAMPLE, WE CONTINUE TO HEAR ABOUT -- PAY RAISES FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT BUT WHAT ABOUT THE SPACKLE OF THE STAFF OF HOUSING AND COMMUNITY ENVELOPMENT -- DEVELOPMENT? THERE BUDGET MAKES UP ONLY 3% OF THE SHERIFF'S BUDGET IS PROPOSED TO BE LOWERED BY MILLION DOLLARS WHICH WILL CAUSE LAYOFFS, THERE ARE LEGAL IMITATION THE WHAT THIS COURT CAN DO BUT LEADERS WHO ARE TRULY FIERCE ADVOCATES FOR THEIR COMMUNITY WOULD PUSH AND BE CREATIVE IN HOW TO USE THEIR INFLUENCE.
>> THANK YOU. MAN, I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE YOU KNOW THE PUSH -- A COUPLE OF QUARTS AGO WAS TO SAY LET'S ASK THE VOTERS WHETHER THERE THE WAILING -- THEY ARE WILLING TO FUND THESE ADDITIONAL PAY RAISES. YOUR LAW-ENFORCEMENT WORKFORCE IS AGING OUT, THEY NEED TO RECRUIT THE VERY BEST PEOPLE, THAT'S A GOOD PAY. WE ARE ALSO DOING ANALYSIS BUT MORE -- WERE UPGRADING DOWN THE BUREAUCRACY AND THE FUNDS WE SET ASIDE I DON'T THINK THIS QUITE ENOUGH, HOWEVER, WE HAVE THE COURT NOT PUT THE QUESTION TO THE VOTERS SO THAT IS WHY OUR HANDS ARE TIED, I DID MY DARNDEST TO TRY TO GET THAT OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE MORE FUNDING AND SO -- I JUST WANT YOU TO KNOW WE ARE TRYING TO PUSH THE BOUNDARIES. THERE'S JUST A POINT WHERE IF THE COURT VOTES TO LIMIT FUNDING AND NOT ALLOW THE VOTERS TO DECIDE ON ONE WAY OR THE OTHER, WE HAVE LIMITED FUNDING AND OF COURSE WITH LIMITED FUNDING, THERE ARE LIMITATIONS BUT I JUST WANT TO LET YOU KNOW THERE ARE ATTEMPTS TO DO THIS BECAUSE YOU ARE TAKING A LOT OF YOUR TIME TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR GOVERNMENT IS REALLY MAKING THOSE EFFORTS
[00:55:03]
SO THANK YOU . >> WE WANT TO MAKE SURE IT IS THE ABSOLUTE STATE MINIMUM FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT UP TO THAT
POINT, WE WILL KEEP PUSHING. >> OF COURSE, THANK YOU SO
MUCH. >> HUNTINGTOWN HIGH -- { SPEAKING NON-ENGLISH ]
>> GOOD AFTERNOON, MY NAME IS ROSE ALTHOUGH MIRANDA AND I'M A MEMBER OF THE TEXAS ORGANIZATION PROJECT, WANT TO ASK YOU, OR LOCAL GOVERNMENT TO BUDGET THAT INCLUDES A BETTER LIFE, QUALITIES FOR A FAMILY -- FAMILIES. LIKE MINE.
>> { SPEAKING NON-ENGLISH ] >> TRANSLATOR: WE NEED TO IMPROVE FLOOD PREVENTION PROGRAM SO THAT LOW INCOME FAMILIES LIKE MINE AND GET HOME TO LIVE IN. I AM A PART OF THE BUYOUT PROGRAM AND TO THIS DAY, I STILL STRUGGLE BECAUSE I HAVE NO OPTIONS WHERE I CAN BUY A HOME WITH THE BENEFIT THAT THE PROGRAM IS GIVING -- GETTING MORE MONEY TO THE POLICE AND GIVING MORE PRISONS WHEN THERE IS SO MUCH NEED IN OUR FAMILY.
I ASK YOU TO PUT YOUR HAND IN YOUR HEART. I ASK YOU TO PUT YOUR HAND IN YOUR HEART AND THINK OF US, OUR FAMILIES WILL WORK ON DAWN TO DUSK AND PAY OUR TAXES WITH SACRIFICES. IT IS NOT FAIR THIS MONEY SHOULD GO TO THE POCKETS OF OTHERS WHILE WE ALWAYS SUFFER FROM SO MANY THINGS, THANK YOU VERY MUCH AND I HOPE WHEN YOU VOTE, YOU DO SO FOR A BETTER FUTURE
FOR OUR FAMILIES. THANK YOU. >> ADMINISTRATOR, I WANTED TO ASK YOU ABOUT THE BUYOUT AND WHAT THE UP DATE IS ON THAT . I KNOW WE CHATTED ABOUT IT AND TRY TO MAKE THESE PEOPLE WHOLE.
>> YES, I CAN GET BACK WITH YOU ON THAT, I DON'T KNOW IF WE
ARE TO >> WE ARE A BIT LIMITED OF JUST TALKING ABOUT THE ITEMS ON THERE, SPECIFICS OF THE BUYOUT ARE ON THIS COURT , WE CAN CERTAINLY PUT IT ON THE NEXT
AGENDA. >> THESE ARE NON-AGENDA THE
BEAKERS . >> WE RELATED YOUR LIST -- LIMITED TO ITEMS ON THE AGENDA AND BUYOUT PROGRAM SPECIFIC WAY. YOU WANT HOW MUCH CONTEXT WE ARE SPENDING, AND THE NEXT YEARS BUDGET OR SOMETHING ALONG THOSE LINES WE CAN. THE
SPECIFICS OF THE PROGRAM. >> IS THE SPECIFIC IN THE NEXT
YEARS BUDGET? >> THERE IS CARRYOVER.
>> STOP ME HERE, DOES THAT FUNDING , AND WILL THAT FUNDING
[01:00:04]
MAKE -- IT'S OKAY. WOULD THAT FUNDING MAKE THESE INDIVIDUALSWHOLE. IT >> THE FUNDING IS GOING TO BE ADMINISTERED HOUSE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT LIKE THEY HAVE BEEN ADMINISTERING ALL THE REST OF THE CASES AND THEY ARE WORKING ON ALL THE INDIVIDUAL CASES TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY CAN GET THEM AS MUCH FUNDING AS POSSIBLE WITHOUT STARTING A WHOLE NEW LEVEL OR ROUND OF ADDITIONAL FUNDING. WE ARE GOING BY THE CURRENT CRITERIA THAT THEY HAVE. THE DETAILS, THERE'S SOME VERY SPECIFIC DETAILS FOR SOME CASES THAT WE CAN'T TALK ABOUT AND WE WOULD RATHER NOT TALK ABOUT IN OPEN COURT BECAUSE IT IS SPECIFIC TO THE INDIVIDUALS, THERE IS SOME ISSUES THERE THAT WE HAVE TO DISCUSS, WE WOULD RATHER DISCUSS WITH YOU AND ONE ON ONE SO THAT CAN SEE KIND OF THE
ISSUES. >> I THINK WE'VE HAD THOSE DISCUSSIONS ALREADY MULTIPLE TIMES. THE CONCERN IS HOW CAN WE MAKE SURE THE BUDGET HAS FUNDING TO WHERE WE CAN MAKE THE FOXHOLE -- FOLKS WHOLE ? THIS IS AN ISSUE WE CREATED AND WE CANNOT SAY WE ARE NOT GOING TO ALLOCATE THE MONEY TO BE ABLE TO -- WE WILL DRAW LOWER STANDARD AND ALLOCATE THE MONEY ACCORDING TO THAT LOWER STANDARD. LET US WANT TO MAKE SURE MAYBE -- WEEKEND IS THAT IT LATER AFTER A BREAK OR SOMETHING, IT IS SOMETHING THAT WE'VE BEEN BRINGING UP FOR YEARS, I'VE BEEN BRINGING UP FOR YEARS. WE SPOKE ABOUT IT
PERSON ONLY THREE WEEKS AGO . >> RIGHT, WE HAVE NOT LOWERED STANDARDS ON WHAT FOLKS CAN GET OR ARE ELIGIBLE FOR, THOSE HAVE ONLY BEEN INCREASING AS FAR AS HOW MUCH PEOPLE ARE ALLOWED TO
RECEIVE OVER TIME. >> WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT IS THE FUNDING COMPARED TO MAKING WHOLE, WE ARE SAYING THIS 1% WHOLE BECAUSE WE HAVE TO MAKE EVERYBODY WHOLE AND IT WILL COST MORE. LET'S WORK THAT INTO THE BUDGET BECAUSE OF IT TURNS OUT MORE EXPENSIVE THAN WE THOUGHT , THAT IS OUR FAULT FOR GOING AND BUYING THEM OUT . THEY DID NOT ASK FOR THIS SO THAT'S WHAT I'M SAYING. I THINK, YEAH. THAT'S WHAT LAWSUITS ARE ABOUT, WE ARE NOT SUPPOSED TO DO THIS. WE'VE HAD THIS CONVERSATION BEFORE MANY TIMES. I REALLY WOULD LIKE TO CIRCLE BACK AND HAVE THAT DISCUSSION OF THIS BUDGET DOES NOT INCLUDE THE FUNDING, IT WILL ONLY GET THEM TO 70% THERE IS NO MONEY AND NOT DANCE AROUND IT, I FOR ONE WOULD ASK THAT THE DIRECTOR CAN LOOK AND SEE TO WHERE WE CAN I LOCATE THE FUNDING TO MAKE THESE INDIVIDUALS WHOLE WHO HAVE INCOME LANEY FOR GOING ON FOUR YEARS, SOMEBODY HAD A PANIC ATTACK OVER THIS A COUPLE OF QUARTS AGO AND WE CAUSE THIS, THIS WAS NOT A BARREL TYPE SITUATION.
>> WE WILL WORK ON IT AT THE BREAK AND GET BACK WITH YOU AND CALL DIRECTOR COST IS AS WELL.
>> I'VE SPOKEN WITH HER AS WELL MULTIPLE TIMES.
>> NEXT IS MARLA LOPEZ ALSO USING A SPANISH INTERPRETER, FOLLOWED BY DEMERA'S GONZALEZ.
>> TRANSLATOR: WORKING WITH MY FAMILY IN ACTION AND NON- CIVIC ENGAGEMENT ORGANIZATION THAT PROMOTES ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL JUSTICE, WHEN WE ASK HER COMMUNITY ABOUT THE CONCERNS, THEY SAY THE ECONOMY INFRASTRUCTURE, PREPAREDNESS, AND HELP AFTER STORMS, AND FLOODS ARE PARAMOUNT
IMPORTANCE. >> { SPEAKING NON-ENGLISH ].
>> I THINK IT IS FAIR TO SAY THAT TODAY WE ARE ALL WORRIED, GOD FORBID WE GET HIT BY ANOTHER HURRICANE OR TROPICAL STORM. WE CAN BARELY STAND THE NORMAL RATE . CURIOUSLY, THE PROPOSED BUDGET DOES NOT REFLECT THESE CONCERNS. THE
[01:05:02]
ONLY CHALLENGES TO CHANGE COURSE THROUGH THIS COURSEDECISION. >> { SPEAKING NON-ENGLISH ]
>> TRANSLATOR: WE HAVE SEEN PROGRAMS LIKE HARRIS -- READY HARRIS INFORMATION AND RESOURCES FOR THE PEOPLE IN THE HARRIS COUNTY. WE HAVE TO -- WE HAVE THE POWER TO CHOOSE WE HAVE THE POWER TO CHOOSE THE PATH OF COLLECTIVE PROSPERITY.
>> { SPEAKING NON-ENGLISH ] >> THANK YOU, YOUR TIME IS UP.
>> { SPEAKING NON-ENGLISH ] THANK YOU.
>> I CAN SEE OUR COUNTY BEING THE EXAMPLE OF OUR COUNTRY WERE PEOPLE REGARDLESS OF OUR RACE , LANGUAGE, OR ORIGIN CAN GET AHEAD AND THRIVE WITHOUT CONSTANT LOSS OR FEAR. I ASKED THAT THEY MAKE CHANGES TO THE BUDGET TO BRING THE SHARED VISION TO THE COUNTRY. THANK YOU.
>> DEMERA'S GONZALEZ AND CECELIA, YOU EACH HAVE ONE
MINUTE. >> GOOD AFTERNOON, MY NAME IS -- GONZALEZ AND I AM A COMMUNITY ORGANIZER, TODAY I'M HERE TO ASK ALL OF YOU TO PLEASE VOTE ON FUNDING FOR COMMUNITY PROGRAMS ENOUGH FUNDING FOR MORE POLICE OR JAILS, THE HARSH IMPACT OF HURRICANE BARREL LEFT WAS DISASTROUS, MANY FAMILIES WERE NOT ABLE TO FULLY RECOVER, SOME ARE BEING EVICTED FROM THEIR HOMES AS WE ARE SPEAKING, OTHERS LOST EMPLOYMENT AND SOURCE OF INCOME, TO MAKE MATTERS WORSE, ANOTHER STORM MIGHT HIT OUR CITY, IT BREAKS OUR HEART THAT INSTEAD OF CREATING SOLUTIONS, WE ARE THINKING OF INCREASING POLICE FUNDING AND BUILDING MORE JAILS, WHY DO WE NEED MORE JAILS? WHY DO WE NEED MORE POLICE? THAT WILL NOT SOLVE THE PROBLEM WE HAVE IN HARRIS COUNTY, WHAT PEOPLE NEED IS BETTER AND AFFORDABLE HOUSING, HEALTH CARE FOR ALL AND A BETTER EDUCATION SYSTEM THAT SUPPORTS THE PATHWAY TO COLLEGE. HARRIS COUNTY COMMISSIONERS COURT, YET THE POWER TODAY TO CREATE A BETTER COUNTY FOR OUR FUTURE GENERATIONS. THANK YOU.
>> GOOD MORNING, JUDGE AND COMMISSIONERS. MY NAME IS CELIA FONTANELLE AND I AM A MEMBER OF THE TEXAS ORGANIZING PROJECT.
TODAY, I AM HERE TO ASK COUNTY JUDGE HIDALGO AND COMMISSIONERS VOTE ON THE PHYSICAL BUDGET THAT INCLUDES MORE FUNDING FOR COMMUNITY PROGRAMS AND NOT FUNDING FOR JAILS. THE PEOPLE OF HARRIS COUNTY AND YOUR CONSTITUENTS ARE IN GREAT NEED TO BETTER HEALTH , AFFORDABLE HOUSING, RECREATIONAL PROGRAMS FOR KIDS , AND SCHOOLS. THE VERSION INITIATIVES LIKE THE HEART PROGRAM THAT HELP PEOPLE WHO DO NOT NEED TO BE ARRESTED OUT OF JAIL, WE CANNOT TURN A BLIND EYE NO LONGER. TO THE REALITY WE ARE LIVING IN NOW AND WHAT WE NEED IS MORE -- POLICE OR JAILS. MAY I CONTINUE?
>> GO AHEAD. >> THANK YOU. OUR JAILS, WE NEED SOLUTIONS TO THE LACK OF RESOURCES WE HAVE IN OUR COMMUNITIES SO THAT INSTEAD OF BUILDING JAILS, WE ARE BUILDING STRONGER FAMILY SYSTEMS IN HARRIS COUNTY , OUR JAILS ARE OVERCROWDED AND OUR CHILDREN DO NOT HAVE LIBRARIES OR AFTERSCHOOL PROGRAMS AT SCHOOL, I ASK YOU TO THINK ABOUT THE IS WHEN YOU VOTE . I THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.
>> THANK YOU. >> YOU EACH HAVE ONE MINUTE.
[01:10:19]
>> HI, EVERYONE I WORK AT THE JUSTICE CENTER WORKING FOR IMMIGRANTS AND THE VICTIMS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, LAST MONTH'S MEETING FOCUSED ON THE COUNTY BUDGET AND PARTICIPANTS WERE SHOT TO FIND OUT -- PRIORITIZED OVER EVERYTHING ELSE, TODAY I'M HERE TO HIGHLIGHT THE IMPORTANCE OF LANGUAGE AXIS FOR OUR COMMUNITY MEMBERS, WITH THE HELP OF OTHER ORGANIZERS AND TEACHERS, WE WERE ABLE TO TRANSLATE BUDGET RESOURCES TO VARIOUS LANGUAGES BUT THAT WAS ALL PAID FOR BY US. THE WOMEN FROM OUR GROUP HAVE SHARED DIFFICULTIES ENCOUNTERED WHEN PARTICIPATING IN LOCAL POLITICS, I SAY THIS BECAUSE THINGS LIKE TUNNELS, RESOURCES, OPPORTUNITIES TO GET INVOLVED PRIORITIZE ENGLISH-SPEAKING INDIVIDUALS, I URGE YOU TO THINK ABOUT CENTERING VOICE IS OFTEN IGNORED, THE INTENTION A BULL ABOUT THE WAY YOU CELEBRATE DIVERSITY IN THE CITY, THE WOMEN IN MY GROUP SPEAK FARSI, ARABIC, SPANISH AND ALL OTHER COMMUNITY MEMBERS THAT SPEAK ANOTHER LANGUAGE SHOULD HAVE BEEN -- SHOULD HAVE A SEAT AT THE TABLE OF LOCAL POLITICS AND SHOULD NOT BE LIMITED BY OVERSIGHT FROM OUR COUNTY THAT DOES NOT INTENTIONALLY MAKE THEM PART OF THE CONVERSATION.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON, COURT THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME TODAY AND LISTENING TO ME, I'M IN INTERSEX AND TRANS-LEGAL ADVOCATE, I WANTED TO ASK THE COURT AND ASK THE FORMER JUDGE , THE FORMER MAYOR AND MEDICAL INTERPRETER, THE FORMER SHERIFF AND THE SENATOR, PLEASE COMPLETELY D CARSON RAY HARRIS COUNTY JAIL BY FIVE DAYS, FIVE MONTHS, FROM NOW. FIVE YEARS, FIVE MONTHS, FIVE DAYS FROM NOW, WE HAVE BEEN KICKING THE CAN DOWN THE ROAD AND IT HAS NOT BEEN WORKING IN THE NETHERLANDS, THEY FIGURED OUT HOW TO TRIM DOWN HALF OF THE JAILS IN 15 YEARS, WHAT THEY ARE DOING IS INVESTING IN COMMUNITY CARE, DRUG TREATMENT PROGRAMS, HEART PROGRAM, WE NEED ANOTHER TO ONE TRAUMA HOSPITAL, WE NEED MORE OF THOSE. THESE HURRICANES IT'S ONLY GETTING WORSE. FROM -- THE IN CUSTODY DEATHS AT HARRIS COUNTY JAIL THAT GENERATE 2000 -- FROM JANUARY 2009 TO THE 27TH OF JULY, 2020. JULY 2024 HAS ALLOWED -- 116 DEATHS. THANK YOU. THERE WAS 160 DEATHS NOT INCLUDING -- ACCORDING TO THE COMMISSION ON GEL CENTER
>> RITA AND CHRISTOPHER RIVERA , YOU EACH HAVE ONE MINUTE.
>> IN MORNING, COMMISSIONERS. MY NAME IS FREDA, I'M A UNITED -- MEMBER TO STRONGLY OPPOSE ANY FUNDING INCREASES FOR THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE OR DISTRICT ATTORNEY WHICH WOULD THERE BY GO TO ENFORCEMENT OF SB OR -- FOUR. THIS ALLOW ALLOWS OFFICERS TO ARREST INDIVIDUALS BASED SOLELY ON ASSUMPTIONS ABOUT THEIR IMMIGRATION STATUS OFTEN DRIVEN BY RIPPLE -- RACIAL PROFILING. THIS PRACTICE IS INHUMANE, SPREAD HATE, FEAR, AND DISTRUST MAKING PEOPLE FEEL UNSAFE IN THEIR OWN NEIGHBORHOODS, AS IMMIGRANTS, COMMUNITY MEMBERS, AND TAXPAYERS HAVING FUNDS ALLOCATED TOWARDS THIS WOULD BE A TRAIL -- BETRAYAL TO OUR COUNTY INSTEAD, WE SHOULD INVEST IN FLOOD PREVENTION PROGRAMS IN HOUSTON, WHETHER EVENTS LIKE TORNADOES AND HURRICANES OFTEN CAUSES POWER OUTAGES , HEAT, LEADING TO DEBTS AND HARD-WORKING PEOPLE OF LOW INCOME TO LOSE THEIR HOMES. INVESTING IN A FLOOD PREVENTION PROGRAM WILL NOT ONLY SAVE THE LIVES BUT ALSO REINFORCE OUR COMMUNITY AS OPPOSED TO FUNDING POLICIES THAT HARMS AND DIVIDES US, THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.
>> THANK YOU. >> HEY, MY NAME IS CHRISTOPHER RIVERA, I'M ALSO MEMBER OF THE COMMUNITY SAFETY BUDGET, WE ARE ASKING FOR A FREEZE ON THE SHERIFF'S CONSTABLE AND D.A.
BUDGET TO FUND ALL THE PROGRAMS THAT MY COLLEAGUES HAVE SAID TODAY. JUST TO PUT NAMES TO THOSE PROGRAMS IN VOLUME 1, THERE WAS A PROGRAM THAT WOULD HELP FOR HOUSING, THERE'S TWO PROJECTS THAT GO TOWARDS HOUSING AND COMMUNITY
[01:15:01]
DEVELOPMENT FOR $6 MILLION IN THE LAST TWO YEARS, WE WERE ABLE TO SPEND OVER $332 MILLION ON THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE ALONE IF YOU INCLUDED CONSTABLES, THAT'S ANOTHER 100 MILLION ADDITIONAL MILLION FOR THE D.A., THAT'S NEARLY HALF $1 BILLION THAT'S BEEN USED ON POLICING BUT YET WHEN WE LOOK AT PROGRAMS LIKE HOUSING, THEY ARE ONLY ASKING FOR $6 MILLION, ANOTHER GREAT COMA -- PROGRAM IS FLOOD CONTROL TO IMPROVE OUR MAINTENANCE CAPACITIES AND HIRE MORE PEOPLE TO HELP WITH THOSE ISSUES, THIS IS THE KIND OF FUNDING WE SHOULD BE FUNDING, NOT MONEY TOWARD CRT, THAT SHOULD GO TOWARDS IT AS WELL.THANK YOU. >> ALFREDO DOMINQUEZ AND MARIA TRUJILLO . YOU EACH HAVE ONE MINUTE.
>> HELLO, GOOD MORNING. MY NAME IS ALFREDO DOMINQUEZ, AN EMPLOYEE OF CIVIL RIGHTS COURSE SPEAKING ON BEHALF OF THE COMMUNITY SAFETY BUDGET . POLICE CANNOT STOP HURRICANES, I KNOW THAT'S A -- QUIT THE LINE BUT I KNOW THAT -- I'M LOOKING AT THIS BUDGET AND TRYING TO UNDERSTAND HOW WE GO THROUGH WHAT WE GO THROUGH AND EVEN OUTLINED IN THE BUDGET ITSELF, THE 100 PAGE DOCUMENT TALKING ABOUT THE THREE NATURAL DISASTERS THAT OCCUR THAT NEEDED RESOURCES AND HOW MUCH MONEY WE HAVE TO INVEST TO REBUILD TO GET BACK TO WHERE WE WERE, THESE DISASTERS ARE HAPPENING AND WILL CONTINUE TO HAPPEN THIS YEAR WILL BE THE LIGHTEST YEAR, IN THE FUTURE IT WILL ONLY GET WORSE AND WE ARE NOT PUTTING MONEY INTO THESE .
WE CONTINUE TO SEE INCREASES TO BELIZE FUNDING AS A CATCHALL WHEN CRIME GOES DOWN , WE NEED MORE POLICING WHEN IT GOES UP, WE NEED MORE POLICING, WE HAVE OTHER OPTIONS AVAILABLE, PUTTING MONEY TOWARDS HARRIS HEALTH, HEART. FUNDING POLICING WHICH IT FUNDS THE JAIL POPULATION TWO 50 MILLION ON GEL OUTSOURCING. WE HAVE OTHER OPTIONS AVAILABLE BUT THE COUNTY DOES NOT WANT TO USE THEM. THANK YOU.
>> HELLO, EVERYONE. MY NAME IS MARIA TRUJILLO, THE MANAGER FOR WORKERS DEFENSE PROJECT HERE ON BEHALF OF ESSENTIAL WORKERS , I AM A GRANTS. I KNOW THAT MANY OF YOU IN THIS COURT WANT TO CREATE CHANGE FOR ESSENTIAL WORKERS AND WANT TO CREATE POLICIES THAT PROTECT WORKERS AND I WANT TO HIGHLIGHT AND SAY THAT IMMIGRANTS AND UNDOCUMENTED IMMIGRANTS ARE THE ONES THAT ARE THE BACKBONE OF THE ECONOMY OF THE COUNTY. THEY WANT BETTER PROGRAMS ON A WEEKLY BASIS HOW WORKERS ARE PENDING IN JAILS BECAUSE OF SIMPLE TRAFFIC STOPS OR ANYTHING THAT COULD BE RESOLVED BY CREATING PROGRAMS THAT ACTUALLY VOICE THE NEEDS OF OUR COMMUNITIES. I JUST WANT TO ASK THAT YOU DEEP FUND AND THAT YOU -- THE IMMIGRANT --
>> YOUR TIME IS UP. >> THE IMMIGRANT LEGAL SERVICE FUND, AND THE PROGRAMS THAT OUR ALLIES HERE THAT ALREADY
PRESENTED TOO. >> YOU HAVE ONE MINUTE HERE .
>> TRANSLATOR:, GOOD MORNING, MY NAME IS MARIA AND ABAYAS --
>> { SPEAKING NON-ENGLISH ] >> TRANSLATOR: I'M HERE AS A MEMBER OF THE COMMUNITY THAT YOU ALL REPRESENT.
>> TRANSLATOR: I'M HERE TO DEMAND THAT HARRIS COUNTY TAKES CARE OF IMMIGRANTS, WE ARE ESSENTIAL WORKERS AND WE ARE THE BACK BONE OF THE ECONOMY OF THIS COUNTY.
[01:20:19]
>> TRANSLATOR: I AM HERE TO URGE THAT THE HARRIS COUNTY PRIORITIZES AND CREATES GUIDANCE TO PRIORITIZE SB FOUR IF IT WOULD COME INTO EFFECT FOLLOW THE EXAMPLE THAT DALLAS ADOPTED, TO PROTECT OUR COMMUNITIES AGAINST IT. {
SPEAKING NON-ENGLISH ] >> THANK YOU, YOUR TIME IS UP.
>> I'M HERE TO ASK YOU FREE THE BUDGET FOR THE POLICE, I'M A RESIDENT OF HARRIS COUNTY YOU GUYS SEE THE NEED FOR MY COMMUNITY WE NEED OUR PROGRAMS AND RESOURCES, OPPORTUNITIES FOR YOUTH PROGRAMS TO PROTECT WOMEN THAT ARE VENDOR -- VICTIMS OF GENDER VIOLENCE PROGRAMS THAT WILL REPAIR THE DAMAGE THE POLICE HAVE COST IN OUR COMMUNITIES, I DO NOT TRUST THE POLICE, THE POLICE DOES NOT PROTECT ME BUT ON THE OTHER HAND, THEY HAVE TERRORIZED ME AND MY FAMILY.
>> TRANSLATOR: I HAVE A SON AND DAUGHTER THAT WERE RECENTLY ABLE TO BECOME OF AGE TO BE VOTERS . WHEN ELECTIONS COME, THEY WILL REMEMBER IF YOU PRIORITIZED THE PRIORITIES OF THE COMMUNITY ARE VOICING TODAY OR IF YOU PRIORITIZED THEIR OWN AGENDAS WITHIN THE COUNTY.
SPAM -- >> { SPEAKING NON-ENGLISH ]
>> TRANSLATOR: WE KNOW WHAT WE NEED, WHAT WE NEED FOR YOU IS TO FREEZE THE BUDGET OF THE POLICE.
>> THANK YOU >> GOOD MORNING, MY NAME IS DEVON ENGLISH, HOUSTON POLICY COORDINATOR. I'M STANDING IN SOLIDARITY WITH MY BROTHERS AND SISTERS ASKING FOR REALLOCATION OF RESOURCES IN THE COMMUNITY BUDGET TWO THINGS THAT OUR RESOURCES AND COMMUNITY NEEDS, THE PROBLEM OF DISASTER RECOVERY IS NOT GOING AWAY, IT'S A GROWING PROBLEM. THE PROBLEM OF HOMELESSNESS AND LANGUAGE ACCESS FOR A LOT OF DIFFERENT COMMUNITIES THAT LOOK TO LIVE AND THRIVE IN THE HARRIS COUNTY AREA. THESE PROBLEMS ARE NOT GOING AWAY, I'M USUALLY A PRIVATE PERSON BUT IN THE SPIRIT OF TRANSPARENCY, I WAS DETAINED FOR MASS -- MINOR TRAFFIC VIOLATION ONCE THE INVESTIGATION WAS COMPLETE, THEY DISCOVERED EVERYTHING WAS GOOD TO GO. AS -- I SIT THERE AND WATCH FOR THE SHERIFF DEPUTIES PULLING OVER TO DEAL WITH THIS STOP, I THOUGHT ABOUT THE RESOURCES THAT WERE BEING USED FOR SOMETHING THAT WAS NOT A BIG DEAL . I THINK ABOUT ALL THE OTHER INSTANCES IN OUR COMMUNITY, A LOT OF RESOURCES THAT ARE MISAPPROPRIATED. I THINK FOR POLICING, THERE IS A MATTER OF TRAINING AND A MATTER OF APPROPRIATING RESOURCES THAT THEY HAVE TO THE RIGHT CAUSES. YOU DIVEST INTO THAT FUNDING AND REINVEST INTO WHAT WE ACTUALLY NEED IN THE COMMUNITY RESOURCES, WE EDUCATION AND ACCESS. THANK YOU FOR YOUR
>> SARAH, AND ALISHA YOU EACH HAVE ONE MINUTE.
>> GOOD MORNING, MY NAME IS SARAH IN PRECINCT 4. I'M HERE WITH THE HOUSTON ABOLITIONIST COLLECTIVE AND THE HOUSTON
[01:25:04]
SAFETY BUDGET, I HAVE THE -- FRONTLINE THE MYSTIC VIOLENCE COUNT -- COUNSELOR AND I SEE HOW THE DOMESTIC VIOLENCE ASSISTANCE FUND ADDRESSES ROOT CAUSES OF THE NEEDS OF SURVIVORS INSTEAD OF THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM. THIS INTERSECTS WITH THE COURT ALLOCATING FUNDING FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING, LANGUAGE ACCESS, HEART AND MENTAL HEALTH SUPPORT SERVICES. THANK YOU. GOOD MORNING, MY NAME IS ALICIA, LIVE IN RECENT ONE. SO MANY AMAZING THINGS, I MOVED BY ALL THE DIFFERENT INDIVIDUALS THAT CAME UP TO TALK WITH YOU ABOUT SOME OF THE THINGS THAT ARE DESPERATELY NEEDED IN OUR COMMUNITY. LISTENING TO WHAT THOSE NEEDS ARE FOR TRUSTING THE COMMUNITY PEOPLE COMING TO YOU AND SAYING THESE ARE THE THINGS THEY NEED TO CONCENTRATE ON. I SEE THAT HAPPENING WITH THE DOMESTIC VIOLENCE ASSISTANCE FUNDS, I'M GRATEFUL.ARE LEADING THE WAY WITH OTHER JURISDICTIONS, I'M PROUD TO BE A PART OF CONVERSATIONS NATURALLY -- NATIONALLY WHERE I AM SAYING MY COUNTY WANTS TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS AND THEY BELIEVE IN IT SO MUCH AND THE PEOPLE DOING THIS WORK, THEY BELIEVE IN SURVIVORS AND BELIEVE THIS IS AN EPIDEMIC THAT THEY ARE WILLING TO PUT MONEY TO COMPLEMENT THE SERVICES WE HAVE IN OUR COMMUNITY. TO TRY AND ERADICATE THIS -- THANK YOU FOR THAT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
>> SAVANT MORE? WARREN, AND JASMINE DALLAS . YOU EACH HAVE
ONE MINUTE. >> GOOD MORNING, JUDGE AND COMMISSIONERS, I AM THE ELECTED H ISD TRUST REPRESENTATIVE OF HOUSTON. HARRIS COUNTY RESIDENTS DRIVE-BY NEIGHBORHOODS WHERE HOPE HAS BEEN OVERSHADOWED BY NEGLECT, FAMILIES WHO FEEL FORGOTTEN, LEFT VOICELESS, WITH POLICIES WITHOUT THEIR NEEDS IN MIND. YOU KNOW FIRSTHAND THE STRUGGLES OF THE CHILDREN IN OUR COMMUNITY TO GET TO SCHOOL, TWO HAPPEN TO BE MINE SO THANK YOU FOR STOPPING THIS WHICH WOULD HAPPEN FOR DECADES AS YOU MAKE YOUR FINAL ADJUSTMENTS TO THIS BUDGET, REMEMBER YOU MUST ADDRESS KEY ISSUES LIKE -- PREVENTION FOOD AND SECURITIES, PUBLIC HEALTH INITIATIVES. NOT EVERYONE CAN READ 165 PAGES BUT YOU CAN ENSURE THIS BUDGET ALIGNS WITH THEIR COMMUNITY TRULY NEEDS, THIS BUDGET MUST BE THE CATALYST THAT ENSURES EVERY CHILD AND FAMILY AS THE FUTURE -- HAS A FUTURE THEY CAN BELIEVE IN, LET'S MAKE THIS COUNT FOR -- LESS CAGES, MORE COMMUNITY. GOOD MORNING, MY NAME IS TAMIKA WARREN. NOT ONLY A SURVIVOR OF 18 YEARS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, HIGH RISK MOBILE ADVOCATE AND WE WORK FOR THE HARRIS COUNTY DOMESTIC VIOLENCE COORDINATING COUNCIL.
I'M HERE TO VOICE MY SUPPORT FOR DOMESTIC VIOLENCE -- ASSISTANCE FUNDS BECAUSE I KNOW HOW THESE FUNDS HELP AND EIGHT SURVIVORS AS -- INTERNET PARTNER VIOLENCE -- INTIMATE PARTNER VIOLENCE, THERE'S A MEASURE OF RELIEF FOR SURVIVORS AT MOMENTS WHERE THEIR LIVES ARE HANGING AT THE BALANCE, DUE TO THE LEVEL OF TRAUMA THEY ARE EXPERIENCING OR HAVING TO ENDURE SOME HAVE BEEN BOTH HELPLESS AND HOPELESS, THESE FUNDS HAVE NOT ONLY SERVED AS RELIEF AND EXISTENCE FOR TANGIBLE NEEDS, THEY HAVE THE MENTAL STRESSES AND PRESSERS THAT ARE OFTEN IGNORED ON -- UNSEEN, OVERLOOKED, OR JUST UNSPOKEN. WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO ASSIST SURVIVORS AND THEIR CHILDREN AT CRITICAL TIMES , WHERE THEY MAY NOT HAVE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO OBTAIN OR HAVE ANY OTHER TYPE OF SUPPORT. IT IS MY PRAYER TODAY YOU WILL VOTE FAVORABLY FOR THE APPROVAL OF THE CONTINUATION AND INSPECTION OF THESE FUNDS FOR THE BENEFIT AND LIVES FOR OUR SURVIVORS AND COMMUNITIES.
THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU FOR SHARING YOUR
STORY. >> I'M HERE REPRESENTING THE
[01:30:02]
STUDENTS FROM PRECINCT 1 ON THE TSU CAMPUS. TWO WEEKS AGO, I SHARED A STORY ABOUT A HOUSTONIAN WHO SUFFERED A MENTAL HEALTH CRISIS AT WORK AND POLICE WERE CALLED. INSTEAD OF GETTING THE PROPER CARE AND HELP SHE NEEDED, THIS WOMAN WAS CATAPULTED INTO THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM . ALL OF YOU HAVE POSTED COMMUNITY BUDGET TOWN HALLS AND HAVE HEARD FIRSTHAND FROM HOUSTONIANS, WE ARE ASKING YOU TO INVEST IN COMMUNITY SPACES AND PARKS TO KEEP US SAFE, AND THE HEART PROGRAM AND HARRIS HEALTH, WE ARE NOT FOR INCREASING LAWN IS MADE BUDGET AND WHAT YOU TO INVEST IN PEOPLE AND NOTPUNISH. THANK YOU. >> THAT'S ALL THE SPEAKERS,
[Departments]
JUDGE. >> THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH FOR TAKING THE TIME TO SPEAK, COLLEAGUES, WE HAVE JUST TWO DISCUSSION ITEMS LISTED SO I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW IF YOU ALL WOULD LIKE ANY OTHERS TO ADD BEFORE WE VOTE ON THE CONSENT AGENDA, THE ITEMS LISTED ARE ITEMS THREE AND ITEM TWO, AND ITEM THREE. ARE THERE ANY OTHER ITEM AS YOU WOULD LIKE TO ADD
TO THE DISCUSSION LIST? >> NO.
>> IS THERE A MOTION FOR ALL THE ITEMS ONE THROUGH 11 WITH THE EXCEPTION OF DISCUSSION ITEMS JUST LISTED, THOSE ARE ITEMS ALSO, ALL IN FAVOR? ANY OPPOSED? THE MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY. GREAT, NOW WE TAKE ITEMS TWO AND THREE FOR DISCUSSION AND I WILL PASS THE FLOOR TO DIRECTOR RAMOS, WE DO HAVE A BREAK IN 15 MINUTES SO YOU MAY HAVE TO CUT IT THEN
COME BACK BUT GO AHEAD. >> THANK YOU, I WANT TO DO A QUICK RECAP OF WHERE WE HAVE BEEN. WE PRESENTED A BUDGET ON AUGUST 15TH THAT POINT, WE HAVE A DISCUSSION ITEM, AUGUST 29TH WE HAVE BUDGET HEARINGS ALL WEEK . THANK YOU FOR YOU AND YOUR STAFF'S TIME. IN TERMS OF ONE BEING HERE, I KNOW IT'S -- HARD TO BE HERE NINE HOURS A DAY FOR FOUR STRAIGHT DAYS, TODAY, WE ARE GOING TO BE WORKING THROUGH BUDGET AMENDMENTS . AT THE END OF TODAY, THE HOPE IS TO HAVE A BUDGET THAT CAN BE NOTICED, BUDGET AND TAX RATES CAN THAT CAN BE NOTICED REPUBLIC KAROLINA ADOPTION FOR SEPTEMBER 19TH. I WILL TAKE ITEM THREE FIRST, DISCUSSION ONLY ITEM .
TWO POLICIES PART OF THE FIVE-YEAR PLAN ADOPTED BY
COURT. >> BRIEFLY, CAN YOU WALK US THROUGH IT MORE SLOWLY SO THE MEDIA CAN CATCH ON AS WELL? WHAT WE'VE DONE SO FAR, WHAT WE ARE DOING TODAY AND WHAT WE
WILL BE DOING AFTER THIS. >> TO RECAP, WE -- OMB PROPOSED THE BUDGET UP AUGUST 15TH SINCE THAT POINT, WE HAVE HAD DISCUSSION ITEMS AUGUST 29TH, WE'VE DONE BUDGET HEARINGS FOR ALL THE DEPARTMENTS ALL OF LAST WEEK THEN TODAY, WE ARE GOING TO BE PROPOSING TAX RATES AS WELL AS MAKING BUDGET AMENDMENTS FOR KNOCK ON WOOD THAT WE ARE -- THEY CAN BE NOTICED AFTER TWO DAY IN ORDER TO ADOPT THEM ON SEPTEMBER 19TH NEXT THURSDAY. THERE IS A HANDFUL OF THINGS THAT WE BROKEN UP INTO A QUICK AGENDA. FIRST TECHNICAL FIXES BEEN SHARED WITH YOUR OFFICES, THERE ARE THREE THINGS WE NEED THE AUTHORITY. THESE ARE DECISIONS THE COURT HAS MADE IN THE CASE OF -- NEEDS TO MAKE , THEN WE ARE GOING TO MOVE ON TO BUDGET CUTS, WE RECOMMENDED $28.2 MILLION WORTH OF BUDGET CUTS THAT WILL FREE UP FUNDING FOR SOME ENHANCEMENTS THAT COURT CAN DECIDE ON. FROM THERE, A DISCUSSION AND ACTION ON THE POSITION OF JAIL MEDICAL OVER TO THE HARRIS HEALTH BUDGET.
THEN TAX RATES THAN FROM THERE, WE WILL BE TALKING ABOUT ENHANCEMENTS. WE MADE RECOMMENDATIONS ON THIS SO WE SENT OUT MOTIONS, COURT CAN TAKE THESE UP FOR EACH ONE OF THESE INDIVIDUAL ITEMS, THEY CAN TAKE THAT UP ESTATE IF THEY
SO CHOSE. >> TO CLARIFY ON THE VARIOUS -- VARIOUS SECTIONS SO, THE TECH ALL BUDGET CUTS , AND THE ENHANCEMENTS, THOSE ARE CHANGES TO THE BUDGET BOOKS SO TO
SPEAK. >> OKAY, WE WILL BE ADOPTING THOSE PIECES . AT ONE POINT DO WE -- WHAT POINT DO WE SAY
[01:35:01]
LET'S EXCEPT THE REST OF IT? >> THE COURT CAN DO -- WE MADE RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE COURT DECIDE THEY WANT TO DO THEM WITH THE MOTIONS READING THEM OUT AND GET BACK HOME BEFORE THE STORM IF NOT, WE CAN HAVE THEM AS INDIVIDUAL ITEMS,
DISCUSSION ITEM. >> WHAT I'M SAYING IS THAT THE -- FOR THE TECHNICAL CHANGES AND ALL THOSE DIFFERENT CHANGES, THERE ARE MOTIONS WITH SPECIFIC , SOME SPECIFIC CHANGES IN NOT SO MUCH LIKE THIS IS THE ENTIRE BUDGET WE ARE ADOPTING. GET ONE -- AT WHAT POINT DO WE DO THAT?
>> THE 19TH, WE'RE MAKING MOMENTS TO THE PROPOSED BUDGET AND THIS WILL BE THE BUDGET THAT GETS NOTICED IN THE NEWSPAPERS THAT WILL BE THE BUDGET WE HAVE A PUBLIC HEARING
ON THAN ADOPT ON THE 19TH. >> CORRECT, THIS IS JUST A DRAFT ESSENTIALLY THAT WILL BE THE COURT DECIDING ON BUDGET AND TAX RATES SO, IN THE NEXT MEETING IT GETS VOTED ON.
>> GREAT, WILL THERE STILL BE CHANGES IN THE NEXT MEETING OR
IS IT JUST UP OR DOWN? >> THAT WOULD BE UP OR DOWN.
>> OKAY, SO COLLEAGUES, ANYTHING ELSE BEFORE WE START GOING THROUGH EACH OF THESE? DIRECTOR, DO YOU HAVE MORE IN
YOUR PRESENTATION ? >> WE CAN -- KNOCKED OUT NUMBER TWO AT THIS POINT, NUMBER THREE OF THE TWO POLICIES I JUST WANT TO LOWER -- OUTLINE THEM QUICK, THIS IS A FIVE-YEAR FINANCIAL PLAN. WHAT IS AN OVERHEAD RATE . HARRIS COUNTY MANAGER SPECIAL
FUNDS. >> NUMBER THREE BEING MOTION
>> OKAY, SO ITEM NUMBER THREE. THIS IS DISCUSSION ONLY. WE JUST WANT TO PRESENT THESE POLICIES WILL COME BACK ON THE 19TH FOR NORMAL ADOPTION. THEY'RE BOTH PART OF THE FIVE-YEAR PLAN, ONE IS THE INDIRECT RATE, WE MANAGE A LOT OF SPECIAL FUNDS IN THE BIGGEST OF WHICH IS HECTOR, THE BIGGEST AFTER THAT IS FLOOD CONTROL. RIGHT NOW, THE GENERAL FUND ESSENTIALLY SUBSIDIZES THOSE FUNDS BY NOT CHARGING FOR THE
USE OF OUR SYSTEMS FOR -- >> CAN YOU SLOW DOWN? I WANT TO MAKE SURE EVERYONE CAN CATCH IT SO I DON'T HAVE TO EXPLAIN EVERY DETAIL OF IT LATER TO THEM. YOU'RE SAYING WE MANAGE THE TOLL ROAD, WE MANAGE FLOOD CONTROL. THERE ARE OTHER SPECIAL FUNDS THAT FALL INTO THE PURVIEW OF COMMISSIONERS COURT, WHAT WE ARE ASKING IS A STANDARD OVERHEAD RATE TO CHARGE THEM TO REIMBURSE THE GENERAL FUND THINGS LIKE USE OF OUR INFRASTRUCTURE , USE OF THE I.T. ESPECIALLY UPPER MANAGEMENT AND PIER FOR ALL THOSE THINGS, SIMILARLY ON THE GRANT FUNDS, THERE ARE ONE OF FEW JURISDICTIONS. THEY ARE SUBSIDIZING -- SUBSIDIZING GRANT FUNDS, FOR THE USE OF MY TIME, THE TEAMS TIME. OUR SYSTEMS ET CETERA. 5%, WORTH ALL DEPARTMENTS IN COURTING THE ONES THAT HAVE LARGE GRANT PORTFOLIOS. THE FEDERAL RATE IS 12%. SOME OVERHEAD, WE ARE INVESTING ALL PATH OF FUNDS, SOME PIECE OF INFRASTRUCTURE IF THEY GET A FEDERAL YOUR MARK, THOSE ARE EXEMPTED COMPLETELY FROM THOSE POLICIES. WE ARE DIVESTING THE CBG GRANT BECAUSE HOW THE ADMINISTRATIVE OVERHEAD IS COCKED LATER. ONCE FOR THAT SINGLE PERSONNEL, THEY CAN FUND. IF IT'S FOR ONE PERSON, THEY CAN FUND THE WHOLE PERSON.
>> A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS DIRECTOR. I KNOW THAT THE GRASS WE PURSUE WITHIN PRECINCT 3 WE HAD A 50% RATE, WE HAVE EXPENSES. I CALL THAT OVERHEAD, I WOULD LIKE TO PARTICIPATE IN
[01:40:04]
THE 5%. IF YOU ARE GOING TO CHARGE AND TO SUBMIT A GRANT, WE GET THE GRANT APPROVED. I AGREE WITH INCLUDING 5% IN THE GRANT APPLICATION THAT JUST MAKES A LOT OF SENSE BUT MY CONCERN IS THAT THOSE DOLLARS ARE GOING TO GO IN THE GENERAL FUND PART . NOT WHERE THE GRANT APPLICATION WAS ACTUALLY PREPARED NOT ADDRESS THE COST ASSOCIATED YOU WILL DO THIS , YOU NEED TO MAKE SURE THOSE DOLLARS GO BACK TO WHERE THE OVERHEAD WAS CREATED IN MY PRESENT, WE HAVE A PERSON WHO WORKS FULL-TIME DOING GRANTS, IT'S A 50% HIT RATE. I WOULD UNDERSTAND HOW THAT 5% WILL BE ROLLED BACK INTO AND COVER THE COST OF THAT SPECIFIC GRANT APPLICATION.>> THE FEDERAL RATE IS -- IT CHANGES A BIT BY THE APARTMENT BUT IT AVERAGES AROUND 10% OF THE REASON FOR CHARGING FIVE WAS THAT WE COULD COVER THE GENERAL FUND, MY TIME IN THE OCA GRANT TEAM, THE OTA -- STAFF , THE COUNTY AUDITOR PROCESSING PAYMENTS THEN IT WOULD LEAVE 5% FOR A TOTAL OF 10% FOR DEPARTMENTS TO INCLUDE THEIR ADMINISTRATIVE COST, THOSE WERE THE PRECINCTS WE WERE SILENT ABOUT THEM POLICY, HAPPY TO MEET WITH YOU AND YOUR TEAM TO MAKE AN AMENDMENT TO SOMETHING MORE PRECINCT SPECIFIC.
>> I KNOW SOON THAT IT MIGHT BE, COULD BE POSSIBLY GIVEN BACK , IT LIKELY WILL NOT PROBABLY WON'T COME BACK SPECIFICALLY, I THINK IT LEADS TO SPECIFICALLY ADDRESS THAT, THIS IS VERY GENERIC IN TERMS OF THE 10% THAT WILL GO INTO SOME, THE GENERAL FUND PART. I HAVE GOT A LOT OF CONCERNS, I DON'T WANT TO DISCOURAGE ANY ENTITY FROM MAKING GRANT APPLICATION WHEN YOU DON'T PROVIDE RESOURCES BACK, TO SUPPORT THAT, WE DON'T GO AFTER AS MANY AS BE GOOD OR WE
SHOULD. >> THANK YOU, JUDGE HIDALGO.
DIRECTOR, THANK YOU FOR DOING THE FIVE-YEAR FINANCIAL PLAN. I KNOW THIS IS ONE OF THE KEY RECOMMENDATIONS . I APPRECIATE THE PLANNING AND PROACTIVE MISSIVE YOU'RE THE MEANT AND I SPENT ABOUT EIGHT YEARS OF PHILANTHROPY AS YOU KNOW, I'M ACTUALLY VERY MUCH IN FAVOR OF THIS BUT DO HAVE SOME QUESTIONS IN TERMS OF THE -- HOW WE ARE GOING TO OPERATIONALIZE THIS FIRST, IN TERMS OF LEVEL SETTING SO EVERYONE IS CLEAR,
WHAT'S THE STATUS QUO? >> THE STATUS QUO RIGHT NOW IS ZERO. WE HAVE A POLICY FOR AN OVER READ RATE, THAT'S WHY WE GO BACK TO THE GENERAL FUND, WE ARE RECOMMENDING 5%, THE REASON WE ARE NOT RECOMMENDING 8% OR 10% AS WE WANTED THE OPPORTUNITY, WE WANTED THE OPPORTUNITY TO BUILD THEIR OWN ADMINISTRATIVE COST . THERE'LL BE AN INSTANCE WHERE GRANT DOES NOT ALLOW FOR OVERHEAD, WE WILL MAKE THAT CLEAR, THEY ARE GOING TO NEED AN EXCEPTION FROM OUR POLICY. ALSO BUILT IN IS A PROCESS FOR DEPARTMENTS. WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THE COURT HAS VISIBILITY INTO WHAT WE ARE APPLYING FOR, WHAT THE COSTS ARE WE ARE NOT , IF WE DO NOT CHARGE SOME VERSION OF THIS, WE THE GENERAL FUND ARE SUBSIDIZING THESE INDIVIDUAL
GRANTS. >> MY QUESTION TO YOU AGAIN, THIS IS A GREAT IDEA BECAUSE I KNOW HOW MUCH SUPPORT YOU ARE GIVING TO THE DEPARTMENTS, I KNOW TO THIS DATE THERE HAS BEEN THE SITUATIONAL AWARENESS, THERE IS NO SITUATIONAL AWARENESS, THIS'LL BE WONDERFUL FROM THE TRANSPARENCY, AND CONSISTENCY, WRINKLY FROM A STRATEGIC PERSPECTIVE, WHERE HOPEFULLY GETTING ALL DEPARTMENTS ARE GETTING AS MANY GRANTS AS POSSIBLE AND I'M THRILLED WE HAVE A PHILANTHROPY LAYS ON THEM WE WILL BE OFF TO THE RACES ABLE TO OBTAIN MORE GRANTS, MY QUESTION IS IN TERMS OF OPERATIONS FROM THE OCA GRANTS TEAM THAN THE OMB BUDGET ANALYSIS AND THE TIMELINE BECAUSE WE ALWAYS WANT TO BE AS NIMBLE AS POSSIBLE, HOW DO YOU FORESEE THAT WORKING WITH DEVELOPMENT OF THE DEPARTMENT, SO WE ARE MOVING AS NIMBLY AS
POSSIBLE? >> WHEN THE DEPARTMENT REQUEST THE OCA GRANT TEAM IF YOU ARE ON, PLEASE CHIME IN WHEN THE DEPARTMENT BEGINS THE PROCESS OF APPLYING , THE OCA TEAM IS
[01:45:05]
INVOLVED. OUR OWN B-TEAM IS INVOLVED WITH DEVELOPING THE BUDGET AS -- WHEN THEY FINALIZE THE GRANT APPLICATION THEY COME BACK TO THE OCA AND TEAMS AND REVIEW IT TO MAKE SURE THAT IT'S BUILT INTO IT AS THE PERCENT RATE, IF IT'S NOT BUILT INTO IT, WE WILL ASK THEM TO CREATE AN EXEMPTION FOR COURT TO CONSIDER. ONE THING TO JUST NOTE THAT THE POLICY IS NOT -- WILL NOT CHANGE GRANT OF PLAY -- AGREEMENTS IN PLACE WE ARE TAKING A VERY LIGHT TOUCH ON THIS WHEREAS GRANTS GET RENEWED, WE WILL ASK FOR THE STANDARD TO BE IMPLEMENTED.>> THANK YOU. THE OCA GRANTS TEAM AND OMB TEAM ALSO WORK TOGETHER DAILY ALL ON THE SAME FLOOR HERE IN THE BUILDING. IT IS A CONSTANT BACK AND FORTH WITH COORDINATION AND COLLABORATION THAT HAVE ALSO BEEN WORKING WITH THE DEPARTMENT FOR THAT SAME ISSUE OF MULTIPLE DEPARTMENTS APPLYING FOR THE SAME GRANT AND COMPETING AGAINST EACH OTHER, WE'VE ALREADY, ACROSS THAT AND WORK TO RESOLVE THE SITUATIONS.
ALL OF THAT IS OCCURRING AND WE ARE REBUILDING THAT TEAM TO BE ABLE TO SIMPLIFY AND CREATE GREATER EFFICIENCIES.
>> NO, I THINK THIS IS STRATEGIC IF IMPLEMENTED WELL, VERY CONFIDENT IT WILL BE AND I HAVE CONFIDENCE BUT I KNOW WE HAVE UNTIL THE 19TH, I APPRECIATE YOU NOT ONLY DOING THE FIVE-YEAR PLAN BUT WORKING VERY PURPOSEFULLY TO IMPLEMENT
IT. THANK YOU. >> FOR THE RECORD, THIS POLICY WAS DEVELOPED WITH THE OCA GRANTS TEAM WHEN WE BRIEF DEPARTMENTS ON THE POLICY IT WAS BOTH OF OUR DEPARTMENTS BEING THERE, WE ARE IN LOCKSTEP BECAUSE OF THIS.
>> THE EXCEPTIONS ARE NOT IN THE POLICY, THOSE ARE TO BE DETERMINED AT SOME OTHER POINT. THESE WOULD BE APART FROM WHEN IT COMES TO COURT, THERE WILL BE A GRANT EXCEPTION RECOMMENDATION FROM OMB AND OCA, COURT TO DETERMINE WHETHER TO ACCEPT RIZZ -- EXEMPTION. THAT WAS IT FOR NUMBER ITEM THREE. FOR THOSE POLICIES, HOW DOES MONEY DOES THAT -- HOW MUCH MONEY DOES THAT REPRESENT XE
>> THE OVERHEAD RATE POLICY IS ABOUT $17 MILLION THIS YEAR.
WE'RE GOING TO BACK TO DATING IT, SPECIFICALLY, ON WANTING TO GO FORWARD BASIS OF NOTHING CHANGES, SOMEWHERE IN THE 4 TO 6 MILLION DEPENDING ON THE BUDGETS OF DEPARTMENTS. FOR THE GRANT POLICY, IT SAYS IT IS 2 MILLION THIS YEAR, AND TOTALITY
>>> 50 . DID YOU HAVE THE OTHER PIECES? WHERE WAS
THAT THE LAST? >> THAT WAS IT FOR ITEM 3.
>> LET'S GO BACK TO ITEM 2 THEN.
>> JUDGE IF I MAY. IT MIGHT BE EASIEST, AND THUS THERE ARE ISSUES WITH EITHER WANT TO TAKE, TO VOTE OUT TECHNICAL FIXES AS WELL AS THE CUTS, THE BOTTOM THREE, THE GENERAL MEDICAL, TAX RATES AND ENHANCEMENTS REQUIRE DISCUSSION BUT WE CAN GET THOSE DONE KIND OF IN ADVANCE OF LUNCH TIME.
>> THAT MAKE SENSE. >> I AM PLEASED WITH WHAT THEY SENT OUT SO IS GOING TO ASK TO READ THE MOTION.
>> IF I CAN READ INTO THE RECORD. TECHNICAL FIXES MOVED TO INCREASE FUND 5302 FUNDING BY 35,272,000 35,272,291 , FOR A TOTAL OF $407,740,087 MOVED TO INCREASE FUND 5310 FUNDING BY 1,004,611 FOR A TOTAL OF 13,204,379. MOVED TO AMEND BUDGET TO REFLECT ELECTED OFFICIAL RAISES PREVIOUSLY APPROVED BY COMMISSIONERS COURT MOVED TO AMEND BUDGET TO
[01:50:02]
REFLECT UPDATED BENEFIT RATE OF $19,182 PER EMPLOYEE.>> WE NEED SOMEONE TO MAKE THE MOTION?
>> SOMEBODY WOULD NEED TO MAKE THE MOTION, SECOND AND THEN
VOTE. >> MOTION AND SECOND ALL IN FAVOR? ANY OPPOSED? THE MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY. OKAY.
GREAT, THAT'S THE TECHNICAL CHANGES.
>> I CAN READ THE CUTS INTO THE RECORD WITH ONE MINOR CHANGE MOVED TO AMEND BUDGET TO REFLECT RECOMMENDATION FOR BUDGET CUTS 10 MILLION REDUCTION UNALLOCATED LINE DEPARTMENT 202 10 MILLION REDUCTION ON BUDGET RESERVE LINE DEPARTMENT 202 $6 MILLION A VACANCY SAVINGS DEPARTMENT 202, $1.2 MILLION REDUCTION FINAL BENEFITS DEPARTMENT 202, $1 MILLION RENTAL CAR SAVINGS DEPARTMENT 202 AND LET ME GET THE FINAL NUMBER. 132,000 132,584 CUTS TO THE COUNTY AUDITOR IS A QUICK EXPLAINER THE DISTRICT JUDGES APPROVE THE COUNTY AUDITOR BUDGET THIS IS TO ALIGN THE DISTRICT ALIGN OUR BUDGET BOOK WITH WHAT WAS APPROVED BY THE DISTRICT COURT
JUDGES. >> CAN YOU WALK THROUGH WHAT IT
MEANS? >> THAT'S THE GENERAL ADMINISTRATIVE NON- DEPARTMENT SPENDING. THERE IS FUNDING WE THINK WE CAN GO THROUGH FISCAL YEAR 25 WITHOUT SO WE ARE MAKING THOSE REDUCTIONS IN THAT DEPARTMENT IN ORDER TO FUND
OTHER PROGRAMMATIC PRIORITIES. >> OKAY SO THERE WAS A MOTION BY COMMISSIONER GARCIA, SECOND BY COMMISSIONER ELLIS, ALL IN FAVOR? ANY OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY. OKAY.
>> WE DID INCREASE REVENUE ESTIMATE BY 3 MILLION AND THE INVESTMENT INCOME BASED OFF THE FINAL ESTIMATE OF AVAILABLE RESOURCE PREVENTED BY THE COUNTY AUDITOR SO THERE'S 31.2 MILLION AVAILABLE FOR THE BUDGET ENHANCEMENTS. ALL TOLD.
>> SHOULD WE TALK ABOUT JAIL MEDICAL?
>> SURE I CAN OUTLINE AND DOCTOR IF YOU'RE ON TO COSIGN OFF ON THIS. OMB AND THINK YOU TO THE COUNTY ATTORNEY.
>> SHOULD WE DO A 15 MINUTE BREAK OR LUNCH?
>> WE ARE MOVING SO WELL AND EVERYBODY SO HAPPY FINISH AND I WAS GOING TO GIVE YOU SOME LUNCH.
>> 15 MINUTE BREAK? >> YEAH WE CAN KEEP GOING.
>> LET'S DO A LITTLE BREAK OR YOU CAN KEEP GOING, I HAVE GOT
TO USE THE RESTROOM. >> JUDGE DO YOU WANT MOST TO
KEEP PROCEEDING? >> JANUARY THE MOTION?
>> THE GEL MEDICAL MOVED TO DIRECT OMB AND HER CELL TRANSITION ELIGIBLE JAIL EXPENSE 23 MILLION FISCAL YEAR 25 ALL MEDICAL EXPENSES BY FISCAL YEAR 26 TO THE HARRIS
HEALTH BUDGET. >> SO MOVED AND SECOND.
>> COMMISSIONER ONE SLIGHT CHANGE. ALL ALLOWED JAIL MEDICAL EXPENSE. SOME WILL NOT BE ALLOWED BUT ALL ALLOWABLE.
'S WE WILL TALK ABOUT IT AFTER THE DOCTOR COMES HERE.
>> I THINK THE JUDGE WANTS TO VOTE ON IT.
>> GOOD MORNING OR GOOD AFTERNOON. COMMISSIONERS LET ME START . I WANT TO THANK THE COUNTY ATTORNEY AND OFFICE OF MANAGEMENT AND BUDGET. WE HAVE WORKED VERY DILIGENTLY AND COLLABORATIVELY OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF WEEKS. WITH DAILY MEETINGS AND SOME WEEKENDS AS WELL TO HONOR THE REQUEST BY THE COMMISSIONERS COURT TO FIND A HALF FORWARD THAT IS FAIR AND WORKABLE. WITHOUT CAUSING HARM TO THE COUNTY OR HARRIS HEALTH SYSTEM. I BELIEVE IN COLLABORATION WITH THE COUNTY ATTORNEY AND OFFICE OF MANAGEMENT AND BUDGET WE HAVE FOUND A PATH FORWARD, I BELIEVE WE ARE STILL PUTTING DOTS ON THE EYES AND CROSSING THE T'S BUT AS OF NOW I FEEL KIND OF LAND CONFIDENT WE HAVE A SOLUTION IN FRONT OF US SO I
[01:55:03]
WANTED TO AGREE WITH THAT SENTIMENT AND DIRECTIVE.>> COMMISSIONER GARCIA AND THEN RAMSEY AND BRIONES.
>> I WANT TO THANK YOU BOTH FOR WORKING THROUGH THIS. I KNOW THIS HAS BEEN A BIT OF A MOVING TARGET AT TIMES BUT I WANT TO THANK YOU BOTH FOR YOUR PROSPECTIVE WORK ON THIS ITEM.
THIS IS ONE OF THE MOST CENTRALLY KEY ITEMS IN THE BUDGET . THIS IS A NEW DAY FOR US SO I WANT TO THANK YOU AND YOUR TEAM FOR WORKING THROUGH THIS. I KNOW IT HAS BEEN SOMEWHAT DIFFICULT, BUT DANIEL I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR STAYING AT THE TABLE AND WORKING THROUGH THIS WITH OUR PARTNERS AT HARRIS HEALTH, SO THANK YOU BOTH I WANTED TO SAY THAT.
>> OKAY COMMISSIONER RAMSEY. >> YES, THANK YOU FOR COMING ON , DIRECTOR THANK YOU FOR PUTTING FORTH THIS EFFORT. A COUPLE OF FACTS WE DON'T HAVE A LOT OF EXTRA MONEY THIS YEAR.
SO OUR BUDGET, THE GENERAL BUDGET IN HARRIS COUNTY IS UNDER MUCH STRESS AS ILLUSTRATED BY THE CONVERSATION WE HAVE HAD IN THE LAST TWO HOURS. IT IS MY UNDERSTANDING THAT THE HOSPITAL DISTRICT HAD A SURPLUS THIS YEAR OF OVER
$100 MILLION CORRECT? >> THAT IS NOT CORRECT.
>> WHAT DO YOU THINK THE SURPLUS IS?
>> I THINK YOU ARE REFERRING TO THE THIRD-QUARTER PROJECTIONS WE DID GET UPDATED INFORMATION TO, I APOLOGIZE FOR NOT FLAGGING THAT. WHAT IS THE UPDATED NOW THAT YOU HAVE THE
NUMBER IN HAND? >> ABOUT $80 MILLION.
>> I KNOW WE HAVE DISCUSSED BEFORE, BUT THIS IS SOMETHING HOPEFULLY WE CAN SOLVE IN THE NEXT FEW YEARS TRANSITIONING MAINTENANCE COSTS OVER TO SUSTAINABLE FUNDING SOURCE.
THEY USE ALL THE PRIOR YEAR SURPLUS ON THE NEXT YEAR CIP. I DON'T KNOW IF YOU CAN TALK TO HOW LONG THAT HAS BEEN IN PRACTICE, BUT IT'S NOT NECESSARILY JUST TRANSFERRING TO THE FUND BALANCE THE WAY TRADITIONAL SURPLUS WOULD.
>> THAT'S EXACTLY RIGHT. IN ADDITION TO THAT WE INVEST IN THE SURPLUS ON EXPANDING SERVICES. YOU ARE CORRECT. AS PREVIOUSLY MENTIONED , HARRIS HEALTH WITH A HOST OF ISSUES BUT MAINLY BUDGETARY WAS NOT ABLE TO INVEST AS IT SHOULD HAVE IN THE INFRASTRUCTURE. THE RESULT WHICH IS WHAT EVERYBODY IS AWARE OF. SO WE WERE BEHIND THE EIGHT BALL OVER THE LAST FEW YEARS , WE HAVE BEEN INTENTIONAL AND CORRECTING THAT AND INVESTING A LOT IN THE INFRASTRUCTURE.
>> ALONG THOSE LINES HOW MUCH RESERVES DO WE HAVE? CLOSE TO 1 BILLION IN THE HOSPITAL DISTRICT?
>> I WOULD NOT USE THE RESERVE I WOULD USE THE WORD CASH ON HAND CLOSE TO BILLION DOLLARS WHICH IS SIX MONTHS WORTH OF OPERATIONAL COST. I WOULD USE THE RESERVE IF THERE IS EVER A DAY WITH MORE THAN A YEAR OF OPERATIONAL COST AND I WOULD AGREE WE HAVE A RESERVE, BUT AS OF NOW I WOULD NOT USE THE WORD RESERVE BUT INSTEAD REFER TO THAT AS CASH ON HAND.
>> ONE-MAN CASH ON HAND IS ANOTHER MAN'S RESERVE. IN ANY CASE WE WILL AGREE TO DISAGREE. I THINK THE POINT I'M TRYING TO MAKE IS WE PASSED LAST YEAR $2.5 BILLION BOND ISSUE MOVING FORWARD SO THERE IS A PLAN TO DO CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS. I KNOW AS PART OF THE PLAN YOU HAVE GOT TO ALSO STAFF UP FOR THAT LEVEL ONE TRAUMA. I GET THAT PART, BUT I DON'T SEE ANY DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THIS IS THE 2025 BUDGET THIS IS NOT THE 2024 BUDGET SO IF WE SAY NEXT YEAR HE WILL TAKE OVER RESPONSIBILITY ALL 107 MILLION OF THE JAIL HOSPITAL THAT TAKES A LOT OF PRESSURE OFF THE BUDGET IN HARRIS COUNTY SO MUCH A MATTER OF PRESSURE ON THE HOSPITAL DISTRICT, PRESSURE ON
[02:00:02]
HARRIS COUNTY TO THE TUNE OF THEIR NO BIGGER ITEM THAT WE DO WITH THEM THE JAIL SPECIFICALLY THE JAIL HOSPITAL. I WOULD ADVOCATE AS WE DISCUSS IN THE LAST MEETING, WE MOVE FORWARD WITH COMPLETELY MOVING THIS JAIL AND HOSPITAL BUDGET, MOVING THE WHOLE 107 MILLION THIS YEAR INTO THAT BUDGET AND I THINK FROM MY CHAIR IT LOOKS LIKE THERE ARE RESOURCES TO DOTHAT. >> I WOULD DISAGREE COMPLETELY THAT WE DO NOT HAVE THE CAPACITY TO DO THAT THIS YEAR, BUT AS I MENTIONED DEVIOUSLY IN WORKING WITH THE COUNTY ATTORNEY AND OFFICE OF MANAGEMENT AND BUDGET WE HAVE A PLAN TO TRANSITION TO TAKE ON THE COST IN FY 26.
>> FIRST, THANK YOU TO YOU AND YOUR TEAM TO DIRECTOR AND THE TEAM INTO THE COUNTY ATTORNEY OFFICE TEAM. I KNOW YOU HAVE SPENT COUNTLESS HOURS DISCUSSING OPTIONS AND WHAT IS WORKABLE. I AM VERY COMFORTABLE AND WILL BE VOTING IN FAVOR OF THIS TWO-YEAR PHASE TRANSITION SO THANK YOU AND NUMBER ONE IT ALIGNS WITH BEST PRACTICE FOR OTHER COUNTIES HERE IN TEXAS AND BEYOND , TWO IT WILL BETTER ALIGN INCENTIVE STRUCTURE AND THREE IT WILL CONTINUE TO ENHANCE THE QUALITY OF CARE THAT WE ARE PROVIDING SO I APPRECIATE THE LEVEL OF COLLABORATION AND DEEP COMMITMENT TO MAKING PROGRESS AS ONE COUNTY. SO I WILL BE VOTING IN FAVOR, THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU COMMISSIONER BRIONES AND I WANTED TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT AND ADVOCACY IN A COUPLE WEEKS AGO I HAD TO ADMIT WHEN THIS IDEA WAS FIRST BROUGHT TO OUR ATTENTION I FAILED TO SEE THE VOTE OF CONFIDENCE THAT THIS COURT SPECIFICALLY YOU COMMISSIONER BRIONES PUTTING ON US IN BEING GOOD STEWARDS AND GOOD MANAGERS OF THE FUNDS SO I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR SAYING BY TRANSITIONING THIS COST WE STAND A BETTER CHANCE OF MANAGING THE OPERATIONS AND OVERALL COST SO I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR THAT.
>> OF COURSE AND I HAVE TREMENDOUS CONFIDENCE AND LOOK
FORWARD TO THIS. >> YOU KNOW I AM A COMMISSIONER OF VERY FEW WORDS THAT I WANT TO THANK EVERYONE FOR WORKING ON THIS. WE HAVE COME A LONG WAY, WE HAVE COME A LONG WAY, COMMISSIONER RAMSEY YOU AND I ARE STARTING TO LOOK LIKE AND I THINK IT IS TREMENDOUS PROGRESS FROM WHERE WE WERE LAST TIME WE MET SO I WILL SUPPORT IT AND I WANT TO THANK YOU RARELY DO YOU AND I USE THE SAME LANGUAGE NEXT IF I GET A NAME ABUSED I MAY CALL YOU ALICE. I WILL SUPPORT AND I THINK YOUR COMMENTS WITH ALL OF US WORKING TOGETHER GOT US TO MUCH BETTER PLACE THAN WE WERE LAST TIME WE WENT.
>> JUST FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE PUBLIC AND THE RECORD I THOUGHT IT WAS QUITE CREATIVE THE SOLUTION YOU CAME UP WITH SO I DON'T KNOW IF THE DOCTOR OR IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO EXPLAIN IT.
>> SURE, SO THE PLAN IS FOR THE COURT TO SUSTAIN THE RECOMMENDATION THAT WE HAD TO TRANSFER 23 MILLION OF THE TOTAL EXPENSE TO HARRIS HEALTH AND WE WILL WORK AS AN AMENDMENT TO THE CURRENT ILA AND WORKING TO A NEW ONE
>> ON THE 19 COURT THERE WILL BE AMENDMENT TO THE EXISTING ILA WE HAVE THAT WILL SPEAK TO THIS SPECIFIC FUNDING CAN IS HIM FOR THE EXISTING YEAR AND WE WILL ALSO SPEAK TO THE GO FORWARD STRATEGY WHICH WILL ALLOW FOR THE HARRIS HEALTH TAX RATE TO ABSORB THE COST OR THE ALLOWED EXPENDITURES ROUGHLY 90% OF THE EARNED JAIL EXPENDITURE. FOR MY FINANCIAL PERSPECTIVE IT WILL BE CODIFIED IN THE FORM OF ILA AND VOTED ON BY THIS BODY AND THEN VOTED ON BY THE HARRIS HEALTH BOARD.
>> WHAT I WANT EVERYBODY TO HEAR AS WE ARE NOT CUTTING BACK
SERVICES. >> CORRECT THAT'S RIGHT IT'S GOING TO SUSTAIN THE CONTINUING LEVEL OF SERVICE THAT EXISTS.
[02:05:01]
THE OUTSTANDING LEVEL OF SERVICE THAT EXISTS UNDERHARRIS HEALTH. >> ANYTHING TO ADD ?
>> THANK YOU , YOU ARE CORRECT, JUDGE THIS WAS THE ELEGANT SOLUTION FOR THE ISSUE THAT WAS BROUGHT UP AND ONE THING TO GET NOBODY COOPERATIVE TO COME UP WITH THIS SOLUTION AND I BELIEVE AT THE END OF THE DAY IS GOING TO BENEFIT HARRIS HEALTH, THE COUNTY AND MOST IMPORTANT PATIENTS AND RESIDENTS OF HARRIS COUNTY SO THANK YOU.
>> I THINK ELEGANT IS THE RIGHT WORD. I DON'T KNOW WHO CAME UP
WITH IT. I'M GUESSING RAMOS. >> IT WAS A GROUP EFFORT.
>> THANK YOU ALL AND THANK YOU TO THE HARRIS HEALTH TEAM. SO DIRECTOR YOU WANT TO READ THE MOTION?
>> OKAY JUDGE TO MOVE TO DIRECT OMB AND HARRIS HEALTH TRANSITION ELIGIBLE JAIL RADICAL EXPENSES BY 23 MILLION FY 25 ALL ALLOWABLE JAIL MEDICAL EXPENSE FY 26 TO THE
HARRIS HEALTH BUDGET. >> MOTION . SECOND ALL IN FAVOR? IN YOUR POST? I AM IN FAVOR MOTION CARRIES 4-1. THINK YOU GUYS SO MUCH. APPRECIATE IT.
>> THANK YOU. >> JUDGE WE CAN GO RIGHT INTO TAX RATES BUT I IMAGINE THERE WILL BE SOME DISCUSSION ON THAT
OR WE CAN DO A LUNCH. >> TAKE A BREAK. WE HAVE TWO MORE ENHANCEMENTS AND THE TAX RATE DO YOU WANT TO TAKE A BREAK? DO YOU WANT TO DO LIKE 30 MINUTE BREAK BE BACK AT ALL 1:07 AND THE SPECIAL MEETING OF COMMISSIONERS COURT IS BACK IN SESSION AND I THINK WE WERE GETTING TO TAX RATES.
>> I CAN GO THROUGH THE INDIVIDUAL RATES AND IF YOU WANT TO VOTE TOGETHER. BEFORE I DO THAT I WANT TO SAY SOMETHING BECAUSE YOU ASKED THE QUESTION, WE DON'T NORMALLY DO THIS, BUT I WAS TOLD I NEED TO DO A BETTER JOB TAKING CREDIT FOR OUR WORK, BUT THE ELEGANT SOLUTION YOU DESCRIBED WAS FROM OUR OFFICE. IN PARTICULAR A LAWYER FROM THE OFFICE PAGE ABERNETHY WAS THE MASTERMIND BEHIND WANTING THAT IN THE TAX
CODE. >> THANK YOU GUYS. I'M GLAD YOU MENTIONED IT. THANK YOU THAT'S GREAT.
>> THANK YOU, APPRECIATE IT. >> NUMBER ONE MOST ADMIRED.
>> PAGE AND NICK ARE THE ONE TO PUNCH. OKAY WITH THAT LET ME GO THROUGH THE TAX RATES. SO, FOR HARRIS COUNTY MOVE TO SET PUBLIC IN SEPTEMBER 19, 2024 10:00 YOU TO CONSIDER FOR HARRIS COUNTY PROPOSED 23 FOR TAX RATES PER $100 OF TAXABLE VALUE OF .33454 MAINTENANCE AND OPERATIONS. .05075 FOR DEBT SERVICE TOTAL TAX RATE OF .38529 WHICH IS THE VOTER APPROVED RATE AND TO DIRECT THE OFFICE OF MANAGEMENT AND BUDGET TAX ASSESSOR COLLECTOR AND OTHER DEPARTMENTS TO EXECUTE AND PUBLISH ALL RELATED NOTICES AS REQUIRED BY APPLICABLE LAW.
MOVED TO SAY PUBLIC HEARING SEPTEMBER 19, MOVED TO SAY PUBLIC HEARING SEPTEMBER 19, 2024 10:00 A.M. TO CONSIDER HARRIS COUNTY HOSPITAL DISTRICT DOING BUSINESS AS HARRIS HEALTH PROPOSED 2020 FOR TAX RATE PER $100 OF TAXABLE VALUE. .16212 MAINTENANCE AND OPERATIONS AND .00136 FOR DEBT SERVICE TOTAL TAX RATE OF .16348 WHICH IS THE VOTER APPROVAL RATE TO DIRECT OFFICE OF MANAGEMENT AND BUDGET THE TAX ASSESSOR COLLECTOR AND OTHER RELEVANT DEPARTMENTS TO EXECUTE AND PUBLISH ALL RELATED NOTICES AS REQUIRED BY APPLICABLE LAW. PORT OF HOUSTON AUTHORITY MOVED TO SET PUBLIC HEARING SEPTEMBER 19, PORT OF HOUSTON AUTHORITY MOVED TO SET PUBLIC HEARING SEPTEMBER 19, 2024 AT 10:00 A.M. TO CONSIDER FOR THE PORT OF HOUSTON AUTHORITY PROPOSED 2020 FOR TAX RATE $100 OF TAXABLE VALUE .
[02:10:05]
.00615, FOR THE DEBT SERVICE AND TO DIRECT OFFICE OF MANAGEMENT AND BUDGET TAX ASSESSOR AND CLICK AND OTHER RELEVANT DEPARTMENTS TO EXECUTE AND PUBLISH ALL NOTICES REQUIRED BY APPLICABLE LAW. THOSE ARE THE TAX RATES THAT WEARE MOVING TODAY. >> YES COMMISSIONER ELLIS.
>> POINT OF CLARIFICATION FLOOD CONTROL WAS ALREADY ADOPT.
>> ONE OF THE QUESTION. >> GO AHEAD.
>> JUST TO BE CLEAR I THINK IT IS APPROPRIATE TO SAY THAT THE VA ARE , FOR THE HARRIS COUNTY RATE IS BASED ON THE DISASTER
RATE OF 8% RIGHT? >> THAT IS CORRECT.
>> SO, JUST A COMPLETE UNDERSTANDING. I THINK IF THAT'S CORRECT THAT GIVES US ANOTHER 89 MILLION ABOVE THE
STANDARD. >> ABOVE THE NORMAL 3.5%.
>> TO BE CLEAR, 20 MILLION IS GOING TO THE PICK.
>> 10 IN THE PROPOSED BUDGET AND WE'RE MAKING A RECOMMENDATION WHICH WILL GET TO , TO INCREASE UP TO 20
MILLION TOTAL. >> STILL A $69 MILLION DELTA BETWEEN CLEARLY DEFINED DISASTER MONEY AND EVERYTHING ELSE PLUGGING THE HOLES OF THE BUDGET.
>> I WOULD NOT NECESSARILY SAY THAT, A LOT OF COST WE WERE BORN WERE FROM COUNTY DEPARTMENTS THAT WE WOULD HAVE TO CUT IF NOT FOR THE DISASTER RATE. 20 MILLION IS, WILL BE GOING IF COURT WERE TO ACCEPT MY RECOMMENDATION.
>> COMMISSIONER ELLIS. >> IF ACCEPTABLE I WILL MAKE A MOTION FOR ALL THREE AT ONE TIME.
>> OKAY MOTION AND SECONDED . ALL IN FAVOR? ANY OPPOSED? I AM IN FAVOR, MOTION CARRIES 4-1. GREAT. SO THESE ARE GOING TO COME BACK AT THE NEXT COURT FOR A UP OR DOWN VOTE AND OF COURSE THE FLOOD CONTROL DISTRICT IS ALREADY SET BECAUSE TWO COURTS AGO WE SENT OUT TO THE VOTERS.
>> THAT'S CORRECT THAT'S WHY IT WAS ON A DIFFERENT SCHEDULE TO MEET THE TIMEFRAME TO CALL FOR THE ELECTION SIMILAR TO WHAT WE DO FOR BONDS WHERE IT IS THAT LITTLE SEVEN-DAY WINDOW THAT WE HAVE TO CALL FOR THE ELECTION.
>> IF THE VOTERS VOTE NO WHAT WOULD YOU GO TO?
>> TO THE NORMAL VAR, 148 MILLION FOR THE FLOOD CONTROL
>> 8%. >> THESE ARE GOOD QUESTIONS, I THINK THE REVENUE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE VAR AND THE RATE WE'RE ASKING THE VOTERS TO VOTE ON IS $100 MILLION.
>> EXACTLY ALMOST 100 MILLION.
>> AMENTA ASK THIS QUESTION. SURELY, YOU KNOW THE ANSWER. IS THAT $100 MILLION PERIOD OR $100 MILLION BECAUSE THAT'S NOT ENOUGH TO CONSISTENTLY MAINTAIN ALL THE RESEARCHER ON
A 67 YEAR CYCLE. >> THAT WILL GET US TO THE 67 YEAR REPLACEMENT CYCLE AND RESETS THE BASELINE I BELIEVE THE NUMBER IS 247 OR 248, AND A NUMBER WOULD BE MULTIPLIED BY
3.5% IN PERPETUITY. >> THERE WAS A LOT OF CONVERSATION ON MAKING NEIGHBORHOODS MORE RESILIENT.
THAT IS THE ANSWER TO THAT ISSUE IN TERMS OF IT WOULD IN FACT HELP US RESPOND BETTER TO STORMS IN THE FUTURE.
>> 100% OF DR. PETERSON WAS TO TALK ABOUT THE PROGRAM SIDE OF IT, FOR EVERYONE'S CONTEXT WE ARE ALMOST AT 300 YEAR REPLACEMENT CYCLE WHICH I'M ABOUT TO SAY IS SHAMEFUL FOR A STICTION THIS PRONE TO FLOODING. IF THE VOTERS AGREE I THINK THAT WILL BE AN AMAZING STEP MOVING FORWARD MAKING SURE THE FLOOD CONTROL DISTRICT IS FINANCIALLY SUSTAINABLE LONG-TERM WHICH RIGHT NOW THEY DON'T EVEN HAVE AN OF CASH YEAR-TO-YEAR WITHOUT THE GENERAL FUND SUPPORTING THEM FOR SHORT PERIODS AS THEY GET IN TAX REVENUE.
>> DIRECTOR RAMOS DO YOU MIND REPEATING THAT LAST BIT I DID
NOT CATCH IT. >> SORRY RIGHT NOW WE'RE ALMOST AT A 300 YEAR REPLACEMENT CYCLE. GOING DOWN
TO 67. >> BEFORE THAT YOU SAID WE ARE
AT 200 SOMETHING OR ANOTHER. >> WE ARE ABOUT 300 YEAR REPLACEMENT CYCLE WHICH IS WELL WELL BEYOND ANY NATIONAL STANDARD AND I BELIEVE THE NATIONAL STANDARD WE HAVE
DISCUSSED IS 50 TO 100 YEARS. >> I DO GET THAT. BEFORE
[02:15:04]
COMMISSIONER RAMSEY MADE HIS COMMENT ANYWAY IT'S OKAY I WILL ESCALATOR. I CAN'T REMEMBER EXACTLY WHAT IT WAS.OKAY SO THAT'S THAT. SO ALL WE HAVE LEFT THEN. WOULD YOU LIKE FOR US TO GO NEXT? TAX RATES, BUDGET CUTS WE DID,
ENHANCEMENTS. >> NOW THAT WE HAVE SAID THE AMOUNT AVAILABLE , WHICH IS RIGHT AROUND $31 MILLION WHEN YOU FACTOR IN THE TECHNICAL FIX PLUS THE ENHANCEMENT WE CAN READ OUT OUR RECOMMENDATIONS AND THE COURT CAN TAKE THEM UP INDIVIDUALLY OR VOTE THEM OUT.
>> OKAY GO AHEAD MAYBE YOU CAN READ THEM AND IF WE HAVE QUESTIONS OR AFTER YOU READ THEM ALL WE CAN ASK QUESTIONS.
>> SURE OKAY I WILL GO THROUGH ALL OF THEM AND IF YOU WANT TO TAKE INDIVIDUAL. MOVED TO AMEND BUDGET TO REFLECT OMB RECOMMENDATION FOR BUDGET ENHANCEMENT CONTRIBUTION $10 MILLION FOR A TOTAL OF $20 MILLION. COMMISSIONER PRECINCTS AND THE COUNTY JUDGE OFFICE, 1.3 MILLION PER PRECINCT, $500,000 FOR THE COUNTY JUDGE OFFICE. HARRIS COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE 3.1 MILLION FOR VIOLENT PERSONS TASK FORCE.
$1 MILLION FOR THE TELE-DEPUTY PROGRAM, GENERAL MEDICAL, 1 MILLION FOR THE GEL-BASED COMPETENCY REVIEW PROGRAM THE HARRISON OR 940,000 THE HARRISON OR $940,000 STATE HOSPITAL BED COST INCREASE, $60,000 FOR TEXAS MEDICAL CENTER RENT INCREASE. PUBLIC HEALTH SERVICES, 1.4 MILLION FOR MATERNAL HEALTH. $1 MILLION FOR THE PROGRAM FOR IN-HOUSE TRANSITION. 500,000 FOR VIOLENCE INTERRUPTION PROGRAM.
OFFICE OF COUNTY ADMINISTRATION. 1.5 MILLION DOMESTIC VIOLENCE FUND CONTRIBUTION, $380,000 FOR JUSTICE POSITIONS. HUMAN RESOURCES $700,000 FOR ADDITIONAL POSITIONS. $600,000 PROGRAM OFFICER COMPLIANCE OFFICER DBRA. PRETRIAL SERVICES. $300,000 FOR THE CAR PROGRAM. VETERAN SERVICES DEPARTMENT $200,000 FOR A STAFF ATTORNEY. PIECES ONE AND TWO AND TWO, TWO, EVICTION
PREVENTION GRANT MATCH. >> THAT'S AWESOME I KNOW THEY
LOVE THE PROGRAM. >> JUDGE I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A
MOTION FOR THESE 12 ITEMS. >> SECOND.
>> MOTION AND SECOND. QUICK QUESTION ON THIS ONE. SO, THE DISTRICT 6, BECAUSE OF POPULATION GROWTH , THE CERT CLINICIANS, HAS THERE BEEN AN OPPORTUNITY FOR THEM TO TALK TO THE VARIOUS OTHER ENTITIES THAT DEAL WITH MENTAL HEALTH? WHETHER IT'S THE HEART PROGRAM OR THE HARRIS CENTER? I KNOW THERE NEEDS TO BE MORE COORDINATION AND I'M WONDERING IF THESE FOLKS WILL BE ABLE TO HELP WITH THAT OR IF THAT'S SOMETHING YOU GUYS DO AT THE CENTRAL ADMINISTRATION OF.
>> I CAN GET SOMEBODY WHO IS AN EXPERT IN THIS TO GET ON THE PHONE. I CAN TELL YOU WHEN WE MET WITH THE SHERIFF THESE WERE THE HIGHEST PRIORITIES THEY HAD. IN WORKING WITH THE VARIOUS COURT OFFICERS AND THE SHERIFF, THE TELE-DEPUTY AND VIOLENT PERSON TASK FORCE WAS NUMBER TWO FOR THE NEXT TIER .
I CAN GET SOMEBODY TO SPEAK TO THE PROGRAMMATIC, BUT I CAN TELL YOU THEY LOVE THE PROGRAM AND IT SPEAKS OF ALL THE NEEDS THEY HAVE AND ALL THE REQUESTS THEY MADE AND I BELIEVE THE REQUESTS TOTALED WELL OVER $10 MILLION, THEY SAID THIS WAS ONE OF THE TOP. LET ME CALL OVER AND GET SOMEBODY ON BOARD TO ANSWER SOME PROGRAMMATIC QUESTIONS.
>> OKAY AND I'M WAITING FOR THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR RUN DOWN. THEY ARE WORKING WITH THE BUYOUT FOLKS NOW SO I HAVE TEXTED THEM IF THEY CAN COME BACK DOWN. MAYBE LET'S TAKE A 10 MINUTE BREAK AND WE CAN FINISH WITH THAT. IF THAT'S
OKAY. >> A COUPLE OF CLARIFICATIONS,
DANIEL. >> DANIEL DON'T WORRY BECAUSE MY QUESTION IS MORE ABOUT COORDINATION. IF YOU REACH THEM
THAT'S FINE. >> WILL TRY TO GET SOMEBODY ON
[02:20:02]
BOARD. >> YES OR I CAN JUST GET WITH
THEM. >> A COUPLE QUESTIONS ON THE ANNUAL. ON HEART, DOES ANY OF THE INVOLVE ?
>> I BELIEVE THE FUNDING IS SPECIFIC TO GET IN-HOUSE AND NO LONGER RELY ON THIRD PARTY VENDOR.
>> ANY PART OF THE 1 MILLION INVOLVING?
>> NOT TO MY KNOWLEDGE. LET ME DOUBLE CHECK. TO MY KNOWLEDGE NONE OF THEIR ENHANCEMENT REQUEST INVOLVE IT.
>> THIS IS A GENERAL QUESTION. I COULD ASK IN ANY NUMBER OF PLACES. AS THIS IS NEAR THE END. 25% WE WILL INCREASE THE CONSTABLE CIVIL PROCESS FEES BY 25% AND I THINK THAT WILL
GENERATE TWO? >> THAT WOULD GENERATE THREE, WE PUT INTO MILLION AS A PLACEHOLDER BECAUSE WE KNEW THIS WOULD BE BACK AND FORTH WITH THE CONSTABLE OFFICES SO WE RAN OUT OF TIME AND I WILL TAKE OWNERSHIP OF THAT. WE PUT INTO MILLION IF WE WERE TO IMPLEMENT A FULL INCREASE WHICH IS WILL COVER THE LABOR COST INCREASE AS THE FEE WAS LAST SET IN 2015 THAT DOES NOT INCLUDE THE COST OF GAS OR ANY OF THE NON-LABOR COST. WE ONLY BUDGETED 2 MILLION BECAUSE WE KNEW THAT THERE MAY BE GIVE-AND-TAKE.
>> SEE YOU HAVE A CONVERSATION WITH THE CONSTABLE, I THINK THAT'S WORTH YOUR TIME TO SPEND SOME TIME WITH THEM. I DON'T THINK YOU HAVE FULLY GLEANED FROM THEM ALL OF THE RAMIFICATIONS AND IMPACTS OF DOING THAT BECAUSE OBVIOUSLY YOU'RE COMPETING WITH THE PRIVATE SECTOR AND I THINK THEY ARE AT A SIGNIFICANTLY LOWER NUMBER THAN THAT. SO IT'S WORTH HAVING A CONVERSATION IS MY POINT.
>> SURE AND THIS WILL COME SEPARATELY. WE PUT IN A PLACEHOLDER BASED ON WHERE WE THOUGHT WE WOULD GET IF WE WERE TO GET THE FULL 25% IT WOULD BE CLOSER TO 3 MILLION BASED ON THE IMPLEMENTATION SCHEDULE BUT WE KNEW THERE WAS BACK AND FORTH AND I APOLOGIZE. I GETTING EMAILS FROM THEM BUT I'VE BEEN RUNNING AROUND THE LAST FEW DAYS, ON RECORD I
APOLOGIZE. >> THAT IS A WORK IN PROGRESS.
>> THE 2 MILLION WAS A PLACEHOLDER, WE WILL WORK WITH THEM AND WE WILL BRING A RATE, WE MIGHT DISAGREE ON WHAT IT WILL BE BUT WE WILL WORK AND WILL COME AS INDIVIDUAL VOTE.
NOT PART OF THE OVERALL BUDGET.
>> WHEN WILL BE ADOPTED, YOU HAVE A $50 MILLION SET ASIDE BASED ON THE PAY EQUITY STUDY RIGHT?
>> THAT'S CORRECT, THE FIRST WAVE OF RECOMMENDATIONS WILL COME IN FEBRUARY. COMMISSIONERS COURT COULD TAKE ACTION ON THE RESULTS WOULD COULD WAIT TO GET THE FULL STUDY WHICH IS A FEW MONTHS AFTER. IT WILL BE UP TO THE COURT AND PLEASE JUMP ON IF YOU HAVE MORE TO ADD, BUT THE COURT, WE WILL HAVE THE STUDY, WE WILL BRIEF RESULTS, COURT CAN TAKE ACTION, IT WILL BE UP TO THE COURT DISCRETION BUT WE WANTED MONEY SO WE WERE NOT SCROUNGING FOR DALLAS TRYING TO SAY WE KNOW HOW MUCH YOU ARE WORTH BUT WE CANNOT ACT UNTIL NEXT BUDGET YEAR.
>> SINCE WE HAVE OVER 550 POSITIONS OPENED BETWEEN THE SHERIFF AND CONSTABLE DEPUTIES MOST OF THAT IS RELATED TO OUR ABILITY TO COMPETE WITH AREA LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES. ARE YOU ASSUMING THAT PART OF THAT FIX WILL COME FROM THE 50
MILLION POT? >> THAT'S CORRECT AND THEY ARE PART OF THE OVERALL STUDY. AGAIN I WANT TO REITERATE. AND WE PUT A LOT OF EGGS IN THIS BASKET AND I PERSONALLY PUT A LOT OF MY REPUTATION INTO THIS. WERE NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO COLA TO COMPETITIVE SALARIES. IF WE KEEP PROVIDING COLA WITHOUT DOING THIS CONCRETE STUDY , WE'RE JUST GOING TO PERPETUATE THE INEQUITY AND WE'RE GOING TO PEANUT BUTTER OVER THE PROBLEMS AND NOT ACTUALLY SOLVE THE ISSUES.
>> PEANUT BUTTER. >> SORRY THAT WAS A DAVE BARRY.
>> ON THAT, CAN YOU EXPLAIN WHY THE 50 MILLION IS ENOUGH?
>> IT IS A FIRST STEP. MY BEST ESTIMATE AND I RESERVE THE RIGHT TO BE WRONG ON THIS ONE, THE TOTAL COST WILL BE NORTH OF 100 MILLION. SO WE HAVE TO TAKE THESE IN STAGES. THE BUDGET IN A NORMAL YEAR, REVENUE GOES UP PROPERTY TAX AND NONTAX, A GOOD YEAR 120 MILLION SO WE WOULD NEVER BE ABLE TO DO IT IN ONE YEAR SO THE GOAL IS TO PHASE IT IN, AND A SMART WAY. WE HAVE SPOKEN ABOUT MAKING COMPENSATION MORE PREDICTABLE FOR OUR EMPLOYEES. WE HAVE FITS AND STARTS WHEN WE HAVE GIVEN
[02:25:06]
COLA AND WE HAVEN'T SO WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THERE'S A CLEAR PLAN AND THEN BUILT INTO THE FUTURE OF COMPENSATION FOR THE COUNTY WE WANT TO BE REVIEWING JOB DESCRIPTIONS AND THE MARKET STUDIES EVERY 2 TO 3 YEARS AS A BEST PRACTICE.>> SO IF YOU SAY IT WILL COME, THE FIRST WAVE IN FEBRUARY, DO YOU KNOW WHAT IS INCLUDED IN THAT FIRST WAVE?
>> DO YOU WANT TO TAKE A STAB AT THIS IF YOU ARE HERE?
>> WHAT IS HER TITLE? >> INTERIM CHIEF PEOPLE OFFICER. LET ME MESSAGE HER. I BELIEVE WE ARE FOCUSING ON FOLKS AT THE BOTTOM OF THE PAY SCALE WHICH I BELIEVE I WANT TO
SAY IS SET AT 55,000 >> 51,000.
>> 51,000 SORRY. >> THAT'S GOOD TO HEAR AND DO YOU KNOW WHEN THE SECOND WAVE COMES? SO THERE WOULD BE A HR QUESTION BUT WE CAN GET YOU THE ANSWER TODAY.
>> I SAW AND I CONFESS I DO NOT READ THE FULL ARTICLE BUT THE CITY GAVE SOME SALARY INCREASES. MY UNDERSTANDING IT IS QUITE TIGHT ON CASH DO YOU KNOW HOW THEY DID THAT?
>> I CANNOT SPEAK TO THEM OTHER THAN WHAT I SAW ON THE NEWS. I KNOW IN THE LAST BUDGET THEY USED A SIGNIFICANT PORTION OF ARPA FUNDING TO BRIDGE THEM TO A MORE , A STRUCTURAL SOLUTION.
I DON'T WANT TO SPEAK ON BEHALF OF THE CITY BUT I ONLY KNOW WHAT I SAW IN THE NEWSPAPER.
>> I DON'T THINK WE ARE MISSING ANYTHING, BUT I'M JUST CURIOUS. ABOUT OTHER JURISDICTIONS. PERFORMANCE METRICS. IT WAS GREAT TO SEE THEM HERE. I KNOW THERE IS STILL A WAYS TO GO SO CAN YOU TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT WHERE THEY ARE RIGHT NOW AND WHAT YOU ARE HOPING TO WORK ON? DO YOU HAVE ENOUGH PEOPLE TO SORT OF USHER THE DEPARTMENT TO DO THIS? I KNOW IT'S BEEN A COUPLE YEARS OF THAT.
>> IT IS A JOINT EFFORT PRIMARILY LED BY THE OFFICE OF COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR. TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE AND PERFORMANCE TEAM. WE ARE IN LOCKSTEP WITH THEM WORKING WITH DEPARTMENTS, MY GOAL WOULD BE TO SHRINK THE NUMBER. WE HAVE SO MANY PERFORMANCE MEASURES AT SO MANY LEVELS OF THE VARIOUS DEPARTMENTS THAT I THINK WE NEED TO SHRINK THEM AND NOT TINKER WITH THEM SO YOU CAN SEE A TREND. THAT'S PART OF THE STRATEGIC PLAN, ASKING DEPARTMENTS NOT ONLY WHAT INITIATIVES HELP SUPPORT THE PLAN, BUT ALSO HOW DO YOU KNOW IF YOU'RE BEING SUCCESSFUL. THAT IS SOMETHING WE EMPHASIZED. HOW DO YOU KNOW OR HOW DO YOU ALIGN WITH THE STRATEGIC PLAN AND HOW DO YOU KNOW YOU ARE DOING A GOOD JOB? THE HOPE IS OVERTIME THOSE ANSWERS GET A LOT MORE CONCISE
AND MORE SUBSTANTIVE. >> IT SEEMS TO ME IT'S LIKE PER INITIATIVE SO IT'S LIKE TO INCLUDE SEVERAL OF THEM IN ONE
METRIC KIND OF THING. >> YES AS WELL AS HAVING A NORTHSTAR. USING FINANCIAL FOR THE ADMINISTRATIVE SIDE OF THE COUNTY OUR CREDIT RATING HOW QUICKLY TO REPAY THE BILLS? HOW QUICKLY ARE REPAYING VACANCIES? TO ME YOU KNOW THOSE THINGS YOU HAVE A GOOD IDEA OF HOW WE ARE FUNCTIONING AS A COUNTY. IT IS AN EFFORT AND WE WORK CLOSELY. MY HOPE IS NOW THAT THERE IS A CONCRETE STRATEGIC PLAN DEPARTMENTS WILL RECOGNIZE THAT AND SAY FUNDING IS GOING TO BE TIED TO HOW WELL I SUPPORT THAT PLAN WHICH MEANS I NEED TO BE ABLE TO MEASURE THE PROGRESS.
HOW MANY PEOPLE AM I SERVING? HOW QUICKLY ARE THE WIDGETS TURNED AROUND AND WHAT IS THE ULTIMATE OUTCOME FOR THESE ? I SPENT A LOT OF TIME IN CHILD WELFARE. THERE WERE THREE MEASURES, HOW MANY KIDS WERE IN FOSTER CARE? HOW QUICKLY DID RECLOSE INVESTIGATIONS AND HOW HER KIDS DOING IN FOSTER CARE?
>> SO, MAYBE THE OPPORTUNITY THAT YOU GIVE THEM IS TO SAY OKAY, REPURPOSED THE ONE THAT DOES NOT REALLY HAVE CLEAR METRICS INTO SOMETHING THAT WOULD. SO, GO AHEAD.
>> ONE OF THE THINGS WE TRY TO BRING WAS A LOT OF THE PERFORMANCE MEASURES WHEN I TALK TO DEPARTMENTS THE ONES THAT WERE HERE AND THE ONES THAT HAVE TURNED OVER TO BRING A NEW PRIORITY SYSTEM , THE MEASURES DO NOT NECESSARILY ALIGN PERFECTLY WITH THE NEW STRUCTURE SO YOU WANT TO MAKE
[02:30:01]
SURE WE HAVE THE BUY-IN FROM DEPARTMENTS. I SAID THIS AT THE BUDGET HEARING AND I WILL SAY IT TODAY THE WAY TO MAKE IT WORK IS IT CANNOT JUST BE OMB AND COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR HOLDING FOLKS ACCOUNTABLE. IT HAS TO BE EVERYONE IN THE COUNTY AND WE NEED TO COLLECTIVELY MAKE DECISIONSBASED ON PERFORMANCE MEASURES. >> MAYBE IT'S A MATTER OF FORMAT. I'M SURE YOU HAVE THOUGHT ABOUT THIS BUT I'M SURE IF YOU SAID LIST THREE THINGS AND GIVE THEM A DIFFERENT TEMPLATE AND I AM ALSO WONDERING IF THERE IS A WAY AND I DON'T KNOW IF THIS IS BEST PRACTICE OR NOT I JUST THOUGHT ABOUT IT. IF THERE IS A WAY TO PUT THE NEED. SO I THINK ABOUT EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION, BUT WE CAN ALSO THINK ABOUT LAW ENFORCEMENT PAY. WHAT IS THE STANDARD IN TERMS OF COMPETITIVE PAY AND THEN FOR EARLY CHILDHOOD, HOW MANY CHILDREN IN HARRIS COUNTY NEED HIGH-QUALITY SLOTS WHETHER THEY CANNOT AFFORD HIM OR THERE ARE NOT ENOUGH SO WE CAN SEE THIS IS HOW MUCH OF A GAP WE ARE SERVING. ANYWAY I DON'T KNOW.
>> I THINK THERE IS SOME ROOM THERE. THE OTHER PIECE OF THIS WE WANT TO GET BETTER ON IS HAVING REASONABLE BUT AGGRESSIVE TARGETS FOR ALL OF THESE THAT ARE AROUND NATIONAL BEST PRACTICE. WHAT IS YOUR GOVERNING BODY OR ACCREDITATION BODY SAYING AS THE STANDARD AND ARE YOU MEETING IT? TO ME THE SIGN OF SUCCESS WILL BE THE MEASURES YOU ARE REVIEWING, THAT I AM REVIEWING MATCH WHAT THE DEPARTMENT LOOKS AT ON A DAILY BASIS TO KNOW WHETHER THEY ARE ON THE RIGHT TRACK AND RIGHT NOW THERE'S A LITTLE BIT OF SUNLIGHT BETWEEN THOSE, BUT I THINK THOSE CAN AND SHOULD GET CLOSER OVER THE NEXT FEW
YEARS. >> ON THE JUVENILE PROBATION SIDE WITH THE TEXAS POLICY LAB THEY REALLY HAVE EVALUATIONS FOR EACH PARTICULAR INITIATIVE BUT I SEE WHAT YOU'RE SAYING.
THERE NEEDS TO BE A BROAD MEASURABLE SET OF GOALS.
ANYWAY. I AM TRYING TO SEE. >> SHE IS ON OF THEIR FOLLOW-UP QUESTIONS RELATED TO COMPETITION.
>> YOU KNOW WHAT THE FIRST WAVE OF COMPENSATION RECOMMENDATIONS COMING IN FEBRUARY AND WHEN THE FOLLOWING WAVE COMES.
>> SO, WE HAVE CONTINUED TO PRIORITIZE THE EMPLOYEE POPULATION EARNING LESS THAN 51,000 SO THAT HAS NOT CHANGED THAT REMAINS A PRIORITY IN ADDITION WE WILL RUN STUDIES LEVERAGING FOR APPOINTED FOR DEPARTMENT HEADS THAT DID NOT REPORT TO THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR SPECIFICALLY THOSE WHO REPORT TO THE BOARDS AND THERE IS ALSO A REQUEST IN ADDITION TO THAT, THAT WILL ALSO RUN CONCURRENTLY AND WILL
ALSO BE. >> JUDGE I'M SORRY. I APOLOGIZE. CAN YOU TURN THE CAMERA ON? I DID NOT REALIZE
YOU ARE NOT SHOWING UP. >> I'M SORRY.
>> THANK YOU. >> ONE SECOND, SORRY.
>> JUDGE AS A REMINDER I APOLOGIZE I WAS LATE ON THIS WHEN YOU TO PUT THE TIMER ON SINCE WE HAVING DISCUSSION. 10
MINUTE TIMER IS ON. >> COMMISSIONER RAMSEY WHILE SETTING UP CAN CONFIRM NONE OF THESE PROGRAMS OR ENHANCEMENTS
HAVE TEMA INVOLVED. >> OKAY. I AM WAITING FOR THE
ADMINISTRATOR TO COME BACK. >> JUDGE THE ASSISTANT CHIEF TOMMY DIAZ IS ON IF YOU WANT TO FOLLOW UP.
>> I'M SORRY JUDGE. JUST TO FINISH THE ANSWER TO YOUR PRIOR QUESTION. WE ARE STILL PRIORITIZING THE EMPLOYEE POPULATION EARNING LESS THAN 51,000 ALSO THERE ARE TWO CONCURRENT EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION STUDIES LEVERAGING KORN FERRY RUNNING CONCURRENT TO THAT AND WE HAVE BEEN ASKED TO INCLUDE, AS WELL, CONCURRENT TO THE FIRST WAVE, SPECIFIC GROUPS OF LAW ENFORCEMENT, AT THIS MOMENT AND I APOLOGIZE, I AM IN MY CAR LITERALLY HEADED TO THE OFFICE. I CAN CONFIRM THE POPULATION FOR YOU IN A FEW MINUTES AS SOON AS WE GET DONE
HERE. >> WHAT ABOUT STANDARDIZATION
[02:35:01]
OF EQUIVALENT POSITIONS? HOW FAR ALONG ARE YOU WITH THAT?>> SO ONE OF THE VERY FIRST AREAS FROM A COMPENSATION PERSPECTIVE THAT WE ARE PRIORITIZING BECAUSE IT IS NECESSARY TO PRICE POSITIONS IS DEVELOPMENT OF STANDARD JOB DESCRIPTION. SO AS YOU THINK ABOUT THE ORDER, IF YOU WILL, THE EXPECTATION, REASONABLE EXPECTATION THAT WILL BE SET 'S WE WILL BE PRIORITIZING THE DEVELOPMENT OF JOB DESCRIPTIONS , STANDARDIZED JOB DESCRIPTIONS FOR EMPLOYEE POPULATIONS UNDER 51,000 AND OF COURSE WE WILL LEVERAGE THOSE DESCRIPTIONS TO TAKE THEM TO MARKET TO ACCURATELY PRICE THOSE POSITIONS. SO, YOU NEED, THE JOB DESCRIPTIONS HAVE TO BE DEVELOPED IN ORDER TO ACCURATELY THEN GO TO THE MARKET TO PRICE THE POSITIONS FROM A COMPENSATION
PERSPECTIVE. >> IT SOUNDS LIKE BY THE TIME WE ACT ON THIS AROUND FEBRUARY, THERE ALSO NEEDS TO BE A PROPER SET OF JOB DESCRIPTIONS FOR ANYBODY MAKING UNDER THAT
AMOUNT. IS THAT RIGHT? >> THAT IS CORRECT. THERE WILL BE STANDARDIZED JOB DESCRIPTIONS FOR THAT POPULATION, FOR ALL THOSE POPULATIONS GOING IN THE FIRST WAVE OF THE COMPENSATION AND PAY EQUITY STUDY.
>> OKAY THANK YOU, THANK YOU SO MUCH. HR QUESTIONS? OKAY SO DID
YOU SEE THE CHIEF IS ON? >> ASSISTANT CHIEF DIAZ IS ON.
OR I WAS TOLD HE WAS ON. CHIEF, DO YOU MIND COMING ON?
>> GOOD AFTERNOON. >> HI AFTERNOON CHIEF, HOW ARE
YOU? >> VERY WELL. I HOPE YOU'RE
DOING WELL. >> YES I WAS HAPPY TO SEE THE CERT ENHANCEMENT. I JUST GOT A MESSAGE FROM THE GROUP WORKING WITH THE LEADERS AND THEY SAID 10 MINUTES. SO CHIEF, I AM WONDERING IF YOU GUYS HAVE HAD CONVERSATIONS AND TO WHAT EXTENT OR WHAT WE CAN DO TO HELP WITH THE HARRIS CENTER, THE HEART PROGRAM, THE VARIOUS FOLKS THAT TOUCH THE MENTAL HEALTH SPHERE , IN TERMS OF MAKING SURE YOU GUYS ARE CORRELATING AND LEVERAGING ECONOMY OF SCALE WHERE POSSIBLE. I KNOW THAT IS SOMETHING WE DISCUSSED A WHILE AGO, WE HAD DONE IN A GRANT TO WORK ON THAT AND THEN COVID IT SWUNG CURIOUS IF THAT SOMETHING THAT'S POSSIBLE OR SOMETHING THAT WE BEING MY OFFICE NEEDS TO WORK ON SEPARATELY. OR,
YEAH. >> WHILE I APPRECIATE THE QUESTION AND THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK WITH YOU ALL. CERT IS A CRITICAL PART OF THE TEAM AND OUR LONG-TERM VISION OF HOW TO RESPOND TO INCIDENTS WITH FOLKS FOR HAVING A CRISIS. WE WORK VERY WELL WITH PARTNERS AT HOUSTON POLICE AND THE HARRIS CENTER TO ADDRESS THESE THINGS. WE HAVE DONE SOME PRETTY INNOVATIVE THINGS THROUGH CERT AND ANOTHER COMPONENT CALLED CORE. RIGHT NOW CERT, WE HAVE DEPUTIES WERE PARTNERED WITH A CLINICIAN WHO RESPOND TO CRISES. THIS YEAR WE HAVE ANSWER PROBABLY 3000 CALLS WITH THOSE TEAMS. BOTH IN UNINCORPORATED HARRIS COUNTY WITHIN THE CITY AND WITHIN OTHER JURISDICTIONS AS WELL. SO THOSE TEAMS DO OTHER THINGS AS WELL. TELEPHONE CONSULTATIONS, REFERRALS, JAIL DIVERSION AND TO HELP US ON SWAT CALLOUTS TO MAKE SURE WE APPROACH THOSE THINGS FROM THAT PERSPECTIVE. SO WE HAVE A REALLY GOOD COORDINATION SYSTEM. WHETHER IT'S THROUGH THE HARRIS CENTER OR THROUGH PARTNERS AT THE CITY AND I WILL TOUCH ON ONE MORE PROJECT WE HAVE THE CORE, CLINICIAN AND OFFICER REMOTE EVALUATION PROGRAM. WE HAVE EQUIPPED SOME DEPUTIES WITH IPADS SO THEY CAN HAVE INTERACTIONS WITH CLINICIANS REMOTELY ON SOME OF THE SCENES AND WE COORDINATE THAT THROUGH US AND WE ALSO DISTRIBUTE THOSE TOOLS TO OTHER LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES TO INCLUDE LIKE BAYTOWN AND LA PORTE AND PASADENA AND HPD AND METRO. WE HAVE A GOOD FOUNDATION, BUT I THINK WE ARE ALWAYS LOOKING FOR OPPORTUNITIES TO EXPAND AND/OR PARTNER WITH OTHER FOLKS THAT ARE IN THAT ARENA.
[02:40:01]
>> OF COURSE TELEHEALTH IS ON HERE WHICH IS EXCITING, AS
>> CONTINUE. I HAVE ANOTHER QUESTION ON ANOTHER TOPIC.
>> I WANT TO MAKE SURE, THE CORE , THE PROGRAM CALLED CORE IS THE TELEHEALTH COMPONENT. IT HAS BEEN VERY HELPFUL WITH EVERYONE'S RESOURCES DROPPED EVEN FROM THE SENSE OF MENTAL HEALTH PERSPECTIVE, WE NEED MORE PROFESSIONALS SO THE TELEHEALTH OPTION ALLOWS US TO DEPLOY PERSONNEL AND STILL CONNECT PEOPLE WITH THE APPROPRIATE TREATMENT. SO WE ARE DOING AS MUCH AS WE CAN TO MAKE SURE WE FIND CREATIVE AND INNOVATIVE WAYS TO REALLY ASSIST THAT POPULATION IS GOING THROUGH A CRISIS AND IT IS COMMON.
>> OKAY AM I ALLOWED TO ASK ABOUT THIS DRONE PROPOSAL THAT
OTHERS ARE DOING? >> DO WE HAVE ANYTHING BUDGET ON THERE RELATED TO DRONES? PROBABLY NOT, WE SHOULD
PROBABLY DO IT ANOTHER TIME. >> IT COULD EVENTUALLY COST
MONEY. GO AHEAD. >> I PROBABLY SHOULD'VE STARTED WITH THIS. AS A REMINDER OF THE BUDGET POLICY OR THE SOP THAT COURT ADOPTED BUDGET AMENDMENT WOULD OF BEEN SUBMITTED PRIOR TO THE COURT MEETING SO WE HAVE A LIST WE HAVE SHARED WITH ALL STAFF, COURT WOULD NEED TO DIRECT ME OR I CANNOT STOP ANY COMMISSIONER OR JUDGE FROM BRINGING UP THINGS OUTSIDE THE LIST BUT MY HOPE IS YOU GUYS WOULD HELP SELF POLICE EACH OTHER ON THAT BECAUSE THAT WAS
ADOPTED. >> GREAT, ON THE JAIL POPULATION, OF COURSE WE HAD SO MANY SPEAKERS TALKING ABOUT THE SITUATION IN THE JAIL AND OUTSOURCING, I'M WONDERING IF YOU HAVE ANY UPDATE WITH MISS MILLS, I'M NOT SURE WITH A MORE CONCRETE ESTIMATE OF WHEN WE THINK WE WILL BE ABLE TO STOP OUTSOURCING SO MANY PEOPLE, IN OTHER WORDS IF WE CONTINUE DOING COMPETENCY RESTORATION WORK, IF YOU GUYS RECEIVING THESE INVESTIGATORS TO GET THINGS TO TRIAL QUICKER, IS THERE ENOUGH FOR PROJECTION OR NOT YET?
>> WELL I WOULD KNOW PERSONALLY FEEL COMFORTABLE PROJECTING WHO , REDUCTION PRIMARILY BECAUSE MY PARTNER HANDLES THAT. AND I CAN SPEAK TO IT FROM WHAT THE GOAL IS ON OUR SIDE IS TO MAKE SURE WE ARE COMPLETING INVESTIGATIONS AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE BUT THEY MUST BE COMPLETE, ACCURATE AND THOROUGH. WE HAVE DIFFERENTLY CREATED SOME SOLUTIONS THAT MAY GO OVERLOOKED AND ASSURING WE'RE DOING THINGS AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE AS WE DIRECT THE PROSECUTING BODY WITH THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY, SOME OF THOSE THINGS ARE TECHNOLOGY AND WE HAVE FOUND CREATIVE WAYS TO MAKE SURE EVIDENCE IS SUBMITTED AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE. WHETHER IT'S 911 CALLS, VIDEOGRAPHIC EVIDENCE THROUGH BODY ONE CAMERA, DIGITAL EVIDENCE , WE ARE PUT INTO A SYSTEM. TO THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY OFFICE.
>> JUDGE WE HAVE REACHED 10 MINUTES WE NEED A MOTION TO EXTEND TIME IF YOU WANT TO CONTINUE.
>> THEY SAID THEY ARE HEADED DOWN. IS THERE EMOTION?
>> TO BE CLEAR WHAT WAS READ. A MOTION WITH REGARD TO THE
ENHANCEMENTS. >> A MOTION TO EXTEND TIME. I
APOLOGIZE. >> THAT'S THE MOTION ON THE
TABLE. >> SECOND TO EXTEND AND I LOOK
FORWARD TO VOTING. >> ALL IN FAVOR? TO EXTEND
>> THERE IS NO OPPOSITION, YOU ARE GOOD.
>> GO-AHEAD CHIEF. >> ONE THING I AM PROUD OF FROM THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT AS THEY WERE ABLE TO REALLOCATE RESOURCES TO WORK WITH VARIOUS VENDORS TO BE ABLE TO END ONE OF THE OUTSOURCING CONTRACTS WITH A SAVINGS OF $5 MILLION THE COUNTY WOULD OTHERWISE BURY. A COMBINATION OF ADDITIONAL BEDS AND RESOURCES AT THE JAIL. I'M VERY PROUD OF THAT AND THAT WENT A LONG WAY TO HELPING BALANCE THE BUDGET.
>> I THINK IT IS VERY VERY COMPLICATED. SEEING AS IT IS SO
[02:45:03]
MUCH MONEY. I'M GLAD YOU'RE KEEPING SUCH CLOSE TRACK OF IT.DO YOU FEEL OKAY ABOUT THE SPEED WITH WHICH THE VIDEO EVIDENCE AND IS TURNAROUND OR THE TESTING OF SUBSTANCES ET CETERA IS THAT COMING BACK IN A TIMELY MANNER.
>> I'M VERY IMPRESSED WITH HOW FAST WE ARE ABLE TO GET EVIDENCE TO THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY. WE WORK WELL WITH THEM TO ENSURE WE GIVE THEM THE EVIDENCE. AS FAR AS TESTING THOSE WE WORK WELL WITH THE INSTITUTE OF FORENSIC SCIENCE AND IN GETTING EVIDENCE BACK. WE MEET WITH THEM REGULARLY, WE HAVE A STANDING MEETING WHERE WE TALK ABOUT EVIDENCE TO MAKE SURE WE ARE ON THE SAME PAGE. WE HAVE GOOD PARTNERS OVER THERE AND I WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE WORK FROM THE COURTS AND THEY ARE ADDRESSING CASES FOR FOLKS IN OUR JAIL AND THAT'S PROBABLY KEY, ONCE WE GET THOSE ADJUDICATED FOLKS ARE EITHER FOUND NOT GUILTY OR IF THEY'RE FOUND GUILTY WE GET THEM OVER TO THE TDC, THE FASTER THAT THOSE OCCUR THE FASTER WE CAN GET OUR ARMS AROUND THE POPULATIONS. WITH TECHNOLOGY
AND PARTNERS. >> OH, THANK YOU. MISS MILLS I HAD A QUESTION I ASKED THE ASSISTANT CHIEF A MOMENT AGO. I WAS WONDERING IF YOU HAVE A SENSE OF WHEN THERE MAY BE A TIMELINE OR ANY SORT OF MORE CONCRETE ESTIMATE OF TIME AS FAR AS WHEN THE POPULATION WILL BE AT A LEVEL WHERE WE CAN SAVE OURSELVES TENS OF MILLIONS OR MAY BE MORE THAN WE ARE
SPENDING ON OUTSOURCING? >> YES MA'AM, GOOD AFTERNOON.
MANAGING DIR. WITH JUSTICE INNOVATION OFFICE OF COUNTY ADMINISTRATION. IT IS A LITTLE TOO EARLY TO TELL SOME OF THE INITIATIVES ARE JUST GETTING PUT INTO PLACE WITH THE ASSOCIATE JUDGES HOPING TO BRING DOWN THE TIME TO DISPOSITION ON SOME OF THE FELONY JAIL CASE BACKLOG. WE HAVE SEEN SOME MODEST DECREASES OVER THE LAST FEW MONTHS AND THE AVERAGE DAILY JAIL POPULATION. IT IS JUST TOO EARLY TO TELL. WE WILL TELL YOU MORE WITH A FULL FIRST QUARTER SO WE HOPE TO BRING BACK SOME ESTIMATES IN DECEMBER WHEN WE
CAN SEE THESE THINGS IN MOTION. >> OKAY THANK YOU. THERE IS COMPETENCY REGISTRATION ARE YOU EXPENDING AS FAST AS IT WILL
POSSIBLY GO? >> YES MA'AM AND I THINK THERE IS $1 MILLION GAP. ABSOLUTELY.
>> WE HAD THE CONVERSATION ABOUT THE NEED VERSUS WHAT YOU GUYS ARE BEING ABLE TO SERVE NOW. DO YOU HAVE A BETTER SENSE OF WHO ALL NEEDS COMPETENCY RESTORATION AND ARE AT A POINT WHERE THERE'S NO LONGER A WAITING LIST OR HOW LONG WILL
IT TAKE TO BE AT THAT POINT? >> THAT IS A MUCH MORE DIFFICULT QUESTION TO ANSWER. THERE IS A CONTINUUM OF THINGS THAT WERE BROUGHT ONTO THE TABLE, DISTRICT COURTS ASKED TO HAVE ADDITIONAL EVALUATORS ON THE FRONT END TO MORE QUICKLY EVALUATE FOLKS WHEN THE COURTS HAVE IDENTIFIED SOMEONE AS POTENTIALLY HAVING A COMPETENCY ISSUE. I THINK IT WILL TAKE TIME TO SEE THAT GET FASTER AND THE , THE WAITING TIME AGAIN IT'S TOO EARLY TO TELL WITH BEING ABLE TO GET FOLKS OFF THE STATE HOSPITAL WAITING LIST TO SERVE MORE THROUGH JBCR. AGAIN I THINK THE FIRST QUARTER WILL HAVE ENOUGH INFORMATION WITH SOME OF THE INITIATIVES AND THINGS FUNCTIONING LIKE WE HOPE THEY SHOULD IN THE COURTS AND THE EVALUATIONS THAT WE WILL BE ABLE TO MAKE EDUCATED ESTIMATES WHEN WE MAKE THAT DATA
TOGETHER. >> SOUNDS LIKE WAITING FOR THE WORK TO CONTINUE SHOWING WITH ITS RESULTS AND I WILL CHECK LATER AS WE GO ALONG AND TURNED OF THE NEED VERSUS WHAT WE WERE ABLE TO OFFER. THANK YOU GUYS SO MUCH FOR TAKING THE TIME DIRECTOR AND CHIEF, THANK YOU SO MUCH. ADMINISTRATOR RAMIREZ IS BACK. I WANTED TO CHECK WITH YOU ON THE UPDATE IN TERMS OF
[02:50:03]
THE BUYOUT AND THE BUYOUT PORTION OF THE BUDGET.>> THE FULL AMOUNT OF THE REMAINING BUYOUT FUNDS ARE BEING CARRIED FORWARD TO THE NEXT FISCAL YEAR. AS FAR AS THE GL OH FUNDS RELATED TO THE BUYOUT THE GLO ORDERED EXTENSION TO HAVE UNTIL EARLY 2026 TO SPEND THE FUNDS SO THAT GAVE US A LITTLE MORE TIME TO WORK WITH THE REMAINING FAMILIES, ESPECIALLY GREENS ROAD FOR THE GREENS ROAD PROJECT, 193 FAMILIES HAVE BEEN RELOCATED. 70 ADDITIONAL FAMILIES LOOKING FOR A HOME SO THEY BEEN GIVEN AWARD, SOME OF THEM MAY BE UNDER APPEAL , THEY FEEL THE AWARD IS TOO LOW, THE AWARDS ARE BASED ON FINANCIAL FORMULAS SO IT'S NOTHING THAT ANYONE IS TREATED DIFFERENTLY IT JUST DEPENDS ON THE INFORMATION THAT PARTICULAR FAMILY HAS REGARDING THE FOLKS IN THE HOUSEHOLD, THEN COME , THOSE KINDS OF THINGS. SO THOSE ARE LOOKING FOR WHETHER PURCHASED OR RENTAL AND THERE ARE 12 FAMILIES LEFT WITHOUT AN AWARD. A CD STILL HAS A TRAILER OUT THERE THAT'S OPEN MONDAY FROM FRIDAY ON A WALK IN BASIS AND WITH APPOINTMENTS THEY CAN COME IN AND HAVE APPOINTMENTS, EVENINGS, WEEKENDS, WHATEVER THE RESIDENT NEEDS. ONE OF THE THINGS I KNOW YOU MENTIONED WE HAVE BEEN ADDED FOR YEARS, ONE OF THE THINGS WITH GREENS ROAD IT WOULD JUST COMPLETED EMINENT DOMAIN PROCEDURES IN JUNE 2023. THEY GOT STARTED LATER AND BEFORE THE EMINENT DOMAIN PROCEDURES WERE FINALIZED, THE LANDLORD WOULD NOT ALLOW PARIS COUNTY STAFF ON PREMISES.
SIMILAR KEPT OFF PREMISE BY THE LANDLORD UNTIL WE GOT THAT EMINENT DOMAIN FINALIZED AND FOR THE LAST 14 MONTHS HCD HAS BEEN WORKING TOGETHER ONE THE PROCESS. AT THE FOLKS THAT ARE THERE , THE FOLKS THAT HELP PEOPLE WITH LOOKING FOR NEW PLACES AND THEN THEY HAVE ALSO STARTED WITH SOCIAL WORKERS TO HELP THEM GET THE INFORMATION THEY NEED, MAKE THEIR APPLICATIONS GO TO THE PROCESS WITH A PARTICULAR INSTANCE OF THE SPEAKER EARLIER TODAY MISS MIRANDA, WE WERE ABLE TO CLARIFY THAT THERE IS MORE TIME FOR HER TO KEEP LOOKING AND WORK ON HER APPEAL AND WE ALSO MADE SURE HER SOCIAL WORKER IS REACHING OUT TO HER DIRECTLY THIS AFTERNOON OR TOMORROW AND THE MANAGER FOR THE PROGRAM IS GOING TO BE SITTING IN ON THE CALL TO MAKE SURE THERE ARE NO MISUNDERSTANDINGS ABOUT WHAT THE NEXT STEPS ARE IN THE PROCESS.
>> THREE QUICK QUESTIONS AND THE CONCERN IS HOW MANY TIMES THESE FOLKS HAVE COME WITH TEARS IN THEIR EYES OVER THE YEARS, I KNOW THEY HAVE COME HERE BEFORE THAT SO I DON'T REALLY KNOW WHAT ELSE HAPPENED BEFORE AND OF COURSE THE WOMAN WE HAD TO STOP COURT A COUPLE OF MEETINGS AGO BECAUSE SHE HAD A PANIC ATTACK OVER THIS. SO AS FAR AS THE BARRIERS THAT THESE 12 FAMILIES HAVE , WHAT ARE THEY AND CAN WE ASSIGN SOCIAL WORKERS OR HAVE THE SOCIAL WORKERS CONTACT ALL 12 OR ALL
12 AND ALL 70? >> THAT'S ONE OF THE THINGS I TOLD CALL WITH THE REST OF US IN THE ROOM. ONE OF THE THINGS , AS SOON AS WE'RE DONE WITH COURT WILL GET ON THE PHONE AND TALK ABOUT OKAY HOW DO THEY MAKE SURE THE SOCIAL WORKERS REACH OUT TO EACH OF THE 12 FAMILIES LEFT AT GREENS ROAD AND I WANT TO KNOW HOW MUCH EACH INDIVIDUAL SOCIAL WORKER HAS
REACHED OUT. >> HAVE TO MAKE A MOTION TO
EXTEND. >> EVEN ON THIS ITEM WE WANT TO TRY TO LIMIT DISCUSSION AS MUCH TO BUDGET ENHANCEMENTS. IF YOU WANT TO MAKE THEM ADD MORE MONEY OR SUBJECT MONEY.
>> THAT'S THE QUESTION IF WE NEED MORE MONEY.
>> MOTION TO EXTEND TIME. >> MOTION TO EXTEND THE TIME.
[02:55:01]
MOTION AND SECOND? I CAN MAKE A MOTION.>> I WILL SECOND. >> ALL IN FAVOR? ANY OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY. I KNOW EVERYONE IS READY TO GET OUT OF HERE THE EARLIEST RECORD. SO AS FAR AS THE FUNDING, ANOTHER QUICK THING THE 70 STILL WORKING ON THE APPEAL AND OTHERS A FORMULA BUT THE QUESTION IS, IF I HAD A HOUSE WITH TWO BEDROOMS AND ONE BATHROOM WITH A FORMULA WHAT I RECEIVED FUNDS FOR A HOUSE WITH TWO DREAMS AND ONE BATHROOM OR IS THERE A WORLD IN WHICH I HAD ONE BEDROOM AND ONE BATHROOM?
>> I BELIEVE LIKE FOR LIKE IS THE POLICY. TWO BEDROOMS AND THEN WITH THE COUNTY PAYS FOR IS THE DIFFERENCE IN THE COST.
GOING FROM THIS HOME AND THE MORTGAGE WAS 1000 A MONTH NOW YOU TO COME INTO A HOME LIKE FOR LIKE THE MORTGAGE IS $2000 A MONTH THAN THE RESIDENT EXPECTS TO PAY THE 1000 A MONTH BUT IN THE COUNTY COMES AND PAYS THE EXTRA $1000.
>> SO IN THEORY THOSE 12 HAVE THAT COMING UP AND THE 70 THAT ARE APPEALING WHAT'S GENERALLY THE COMPLAINT?
>> NOT ALL 70 ARE APPEALING, SOME MAY HAVE APPEALS SO THOSE ARE LOOKING FOR HOMES, THE APPEALS ARE USUALLY OF THE NATURE THAT THEY BELIEVE THE FUNDING THAT WAS AWARDED IS INSUFFICIENT FOR THEM TO FIND THE RENTAL OR THE HOME THAT THEY WANT. SO THAT WOULD BE LIKE FOR LIKE.
>> THE QUESTION IS WITH THE FUNDING INCLUDED RIGHT NOW, IS THAT ENOUGH FOR THE SOCIAL WORKERS TO CALL THE 12, PLUS THE PEOPLE APPEALING AND HELP FIGURE OUT WHAT'S THE OBSTACLE? IS IT INSUFFICIENT OR ARE THEY GETTING ONE OR TWO LESS BEDROOMS OR DO WE NEED TO HAVE A DISCUSSION ABOUT HOW TO
SUPPORT THAT? >> MY UNDERSTANDING IS THE FUNDING IS SUFFICIENT RIGHT NOW. WE DON'T NEED ANYMORE FUNDING, THE GOOD NEWS, BECAUSE NOW THE FEDERAL SIDE GOES A LITTLE LONGER WE WOULD HAVE TIME IF SOMETHING WERE TO HAPPEN WHEN WE FOUND THE REMAINING 12 FAMILIES AND THE APPEALS WERE OVER BUDGET THEN WE COULD COME BACK AND SAY WE ARE OVER BUDGET YEARS OF THE AMOUNT WE FOLLOWED ALL THE RULES AND PROCESSES WE ARE ASKING FOR THIS IN ADDITION. I DON'T THINK THAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN NOW BUT WE DO HAVE THE TIME TO DO THAT AS WE GET FURTHER ALONG WITH THOSE
APPEALS. >> KUDOS THE APPEAL GO TO?
>> I DON'T KNOW IF THE DIRECTOR IS ONLINE, THERE IS A
COMMITTEE. >> THAT'S FINE. MY POINT IS I FIGURE IT IS APPEALS, PART OF THE CONCERN IS FOR THE FOLKS, THEY HAVE BEEN APPEALING AND WORKING ON THIS SO THAT'S WHY I'M WONDERING IF IT'S POSSIBLE FOR SOCIAL WORKERS TO REACH OUT TO DO A BASIC CHECK OF LIKE WAS THERE A MISTAKE BEFORE , THEY HAVE TO GO THROUGH WHAT IS A LENGTHY APPEALS PROCESS. THANK YOU FOR FIGURING THIS OUT, IT SOUNDS LIKE YOU HAVE THE ADDITIONAL MONEY THAT YOU NEED AND I WOULD ASK THAT THE CHECK IN WITH THE FOLKS THAT ARE NOT ALREADY
AWARE. >> YOU HAVE OMB COMMITMENT THAT IF THE DOCTOR COMES BACK AND SAYS THE PROGRAM WAS REALLY 10 MILLION WE WILL PUT AN ITEM ON TO GET IT FUNDED WITH THE COURT COMMITTED TO FAIR AND EQUITABLE PROCESS COMMITTED TO FULLY FUNDING THE PROGRAM SO IF THE NUMBER COMES BACK AS NOT ENOUGH
WE WILL PUT IT ON THE AGENDA. >> THANK YOU GUYS I REALLY APPRECIATE IT EVERYBODY WORKING ON THIS. THANK YOU SO MUCH.
>> CAN WE MODIFY THE MOTION PLEASE? I NEED TO VOTE SEPARATELY ON ITEMS SIX, EIGHT AND NINE.
>> JUST A SUGGESTION. WE WILL MODIFY THE MOTION TO PASS THE OTHER ITEMS AND YOU WANT TO VOTE ON YOURS? NO ON THE MAIN
ITEM? >> OKAY. I WOULD VOTE WE WOULD
PASS SIX, EIGHT AND NINE. >> CAN A READOUT SIX, EIGHT AND NINE? I KNOW IT WILL BE CONFUSING FOR JAMES. MOTION TO
[03:00:05]
AMEND BUDGET TO REFLECT OMB RECOMMENDATIONS FOR ITEMS SIX PUBLIC HEALTH SERVICE 1.4 MILLION FROM INTERNAL HEALTH, 1 MILLION HEART IN-HOUSE TRANSITION $500,000 FOR THE VIOLENCE INTERRUPTION PROGRAM ITEM 8 FOR HUMAN RESOURCE DEPARTMENT, $700,000 ADDITIONAL POSITIONS ITEM 9 $600,000 CHIEF PROGRAM OFC. COMMUNICATION POSITION COMPLIANCE OFFICER.>> SECOND. >> MOTION BY COMMISSIONER ELLIS, SECOND BY COMMISSIONER GARCIA. ALL IN FAVOR? ANY OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES 4-1. NOW DO YOU HAVE TO READ AGAIN?
>> REMAINING PORTION OF THE MOTION PREVIOUSLY READ .
>> COMMISSIONER ELLIS MADE THE MOTION FOR THE REMAINING PORTION DID YOU HAVE A QUESTION? AND COMMISSIONER BRIONES MADE THE SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR? ANY OPPOSED? MOTION
CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY. >> ONE MORE ITEM. I APOLOGIZE.
MY FAULT HERE. ONE MORE ITEM I'M GOING TO READ SO MOVED TO SET PUBLIC HEARING SEPTEMBER 19 SEPTEMBER 19, 2024 10:00 A.M.
TO CONSIDER HARRIS COUNTY PROPOSED FY 2025 BUDGET AS AMENDED TO DIRECT OFFICE OF MANAGEMENT AND BUDGET AND ALL RELEVANT DEPARTMENTS TO EXECUTE AND PUBLISH ALL RELATED NOTICES AND DIRECT OFFICE OF MANAGEMENT AND BUDGET TO FILE THE HARRIS COUNTY PROPOSED FY 2025 BUDGET AS AMENDED WITH COUNTY CLERK
AND COUNTY AUDITOR. >> SO MOVED.
>> ALL IN FAVOR? ANY OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY.
THANK YOU ALSO MUCH, GOOD WORK BUDGET AND LEGAL. STAFF AND EVERYONE, THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH. IT IS TO
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.