Nov 12, 2024 Commissioners Court

[00:00:07]

>> GOOD MORNING, EVERYONE. IT IS 10:09 AND I WOULD LIKE TO CALL THE NOVEMBER 12, 2024 MEETING OF THE HARRIS COUNTY COMMISSIONERS COURT TO ORDER. AS WE GET TO THE PRAYER, I WANT TO TAKE A MOMENT TO RECOGNIZE COMMISSIONER GARCIA, 42 YEARS OLD FROM THE FIRE DEPARTMENT OF A FIREFIGHTER THAT PASSED AWAY LAST WEEK IN THE LINE OF DUTY. BATTLING A WAREHOUSE FIRE. IN THE GREATER EAST END. HE SERVED WITH THE HOUSTON FIRE DEPARTMENT FOR 10 YEARS. WE ARE KEEPING HIS PARENTS AND OTHER FAMILY MEMBERS, COLLEAGUES, AND LOVED ONES IN OUR PRAYERS AND I KNOW THAT THERE ARE REPRESENTATIVES FROM THE FIRE MARSHAL'S OFFICE HERE AND I WANT TO RECOGNIZE THEM AS WELL FOR THE WORK THAT THEY DO IN LAW ENFORCEMENT. LET'S HAVE A MOMENT OF SILENCE IN MEMORY OF MARCELO GARCIA AREA. THANK YOU. WE WILL NOW CONTINUE WITH THE

[Bishop Christopher Edwards of The Lord’s Temple Church in Houston introduced by the Commissioner of Precinct 3.]

PRAYER, COMMISSIONER RAMSEY, WILL YOU INTRODUCE CUMIN ? >> WE HAVE CHRISTOPHER EDWARDS AS THE BISHOP, A PEER, A PASTOR AND FOUNDER OF THE LORD'S TEMPLE CHURCH IN HOUSTON. HE CONSECRATED ON AUGUST 6, 2024 WITHIN THE INTERNATIONAL FELLOWSHIP. HE IS A DISTINGUISHED MUSICIAN, MOTIVATIONAL SPEAKER, AND BRINGS ALL OF THAT TOGETHER IN TERMS OF BEING A MINISTER. HIS MUSICAL JOURNEY BECAME A THE AGE OF FIVE. HIS BACKGROUND, HIS TRAINING, HAS ALL BEEN WITHIN THIS AREA AT AGE 18. ACCEPTING THE CALL OF MINISTRY.

AND HAS SEEN NOT FULFILLED THERE IN THE LORD'S TEMPLE CHURCH. HE IS A RENAISSANCE MAN. WE GET TO SEE HIM A LOT IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD. HE IS ONE OF THESE GUYS THAT NOT ONLY TALKS ABOUT IT ON SUNDAY BUT DOES SOMETHING ABOUT IT ON MONDAY THROUGH SATURDAY. BISHOP?

>> THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER. LET'S GO TO GUIDING PRAYER. FATHER, WE HONOR YOU TODAY. YOU ARE AN AMAZING GOD. WE ACKNOWLEDGE YOUR SOVEREIGNTY IN YOUR PRESENCE AND WE INVITE YOU TO BE IN THE MIDST OF THIS PARTICULAR SETTING, GOD. I ASK THAT YOU WILL SHOW YOUR PRESENCE KNOWN. WILL YOU PLEASE ALLOW US TO COME TOGETHER WITH WISDOM, UNITY, SO THAT YOU WILL GET THE GLORY OUT OF HARRIS COUNTY. WE LIFT UP ALL OF OUR COMMISSIONERS AND ALL OF OUR JUDGES AND THOSE FIRST RESPONDERS AND WE SAY A SPECIAL PRAYER FOR THE FIREFIGHTER WHO LOST HIS LIFE THIS WEEK. WE ASK THAT YOU WILL COVER HIS FAMILY AND CONTINUE TO LIFT THEM AND KEEP THEM ENCOURAGED DURING THIS TIME OF LOSS. AS WE COME TO A CONCLUSION IN THIS PRAYER, WE FATHER, ASK THAT YOU WILL UNITE US IN THIS COUNTY AND CAUSE THIS MEETING TO BE LEAD WITH GRACE, WISDOM, AND CLARITY. SO THAT WE WILL BE BETTER TOGETHER. IT IS IN JESUS

NAME, THANK GOD. AMEN. >> THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU SO MUCH, BISHOP.

>> LET'S NOW RECITE THE PLEDGE. >> I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS, ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL. HONOR THE TEXAS FLAG; I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THEE, TEXAS, ONE STATE UNDER GOD, ONE AND INDIVISIBLE.

>> I WANT TO START COURT BRIEFLY FOR THINKING VOTERS FOR PASSING PROPOSITION A WHICH IS A HISTORIC STEP TOWARDS MAKING HARRIS COUNTY , IF YOU LIKE MONDAY, IT IS TUESDAY. IT IS A BIG STEP TOWARDS MAKING HARRIS COUNTY FULLY FLEDGED RESILIENT. AND I WANT TO THANK OUR FINANCIAL DISTRICT, EACH ONE OF MY COLLEAGUES, AND ALL OF THE FOLKS THAT MADE IT POSSIBLE FOR US TO PUT THAT ON THE BALLOT. IT WAS IMPORTANT TO ASK THE VOTERS WHAT THEY WERE WILLING TO INVEST IN THIS. I'M GRATEFUL THEY DECIDED TO DO SO. THIS WILL ALLOW US TO INVEST IN MAINTENANCE OF THE FLOOD CONTROL STRUCTURE THAT WE HAVE BEEN BUILDING OVER THE LAST FEW YEARS. AND IF YOU THINK ABOUT IT, THE FLOOD CONTROL INFRASTRUCTURE, BAYOUS,

[00:05:06]

[Departments (Part 1 of 3)]

RATES ARE GREATER THAN IN THE STATE AND THE NATION EVEN WHEN WE ADJUST FOR POPULATION SIZE.

DISCRIMINATION AND HEALTH DISPARITIES CONTINUE TO PREVENT MANY PEOPLE LIVING WITH HIV TO OBTAIN MEDICAL TREATMENT AND CARE THAT WILL EXTEND THEIR QUALITY OF LIFE. THE RYAN WHITE HIV PROGRAM PROVIDES SERVICES TO INDIVIDUALS WHO DO NOT HAVE HEALTH INSURANCE OR ARE UNDERINSURED IN THE GREATER HOUSTON AREA AND NATIONALLY. HARRIS HEALTH HEALTH CENTER WAS THE FIRST CENTER IN THE NATION AND PROVIDES PATIENTS LIVING WITH HIV THE LATEST TREATMENT AND HIGHEST QUALITY CARE. THE MESSAGE OF WORLD A.I.D.S. DAY IS TO SUPPORT THOSE WHO LIVE WITH HIV AND CONTINUE PROGRESS IN BREAKING DOWN BARRIERS THAT KEEP PEOPLE FROM ACCESSING LIFE EXTENDING HIV MEDICAL CARE AND I WANT TO SAY A SPECIAL THANK YOU TO THE RYAN WHITE PROGRAM AND TO THE THOMAS STREET HEALTH CENTER AND FOLKS WHO HAVE BEEN REALLY DEVOTED TO THIS CAUSE FOR MANY YEARS. AND CONTINUE TO FIGHT TO SUPPORT THIS COMMUNITY AND THE ENTIRE COMMUNITY. THE COMMISSIONERS COURT DESIGNATES SUNDAY, DECEMBER 1ST, 2024 AS WORLD A.I.D.S. DAY IN HARRIS COUNTY TEXAS AND URGES ALL CITIZENS TO SEEK INFORMATION IN PROTECTING THEMSELVES AND OTHERS FROM HIV AND SUPPORTING AND ENCOURAGING THOSE WHO LIVE WITH HIV TO SEEK LIFE EXTENDING

MEDICAL CARE. WOULD YOU PLEASE INTRODUCE OUR SPEAKERS? >> FIRST IS JOSH MICAH.

>> WELCOME. >> THANK YOU, JUDGE. AS YOU SAID, MY NAME IS JOSH MICAH.

HOUSTON AND HARRIS COUNTY ARE HOME TO MORE THAN 30,000 INDIVIDUALS LIVING WITH HIV.

15,000 OF THOSE INDIVIDUALS RELY ON THE RYAN WHITE PROGRAM FOR ACCESSIBLE MEDICAL CARE, MEDICATIONS AND SUPPORT SERVICES. FOR MANY, THIS PROGRAM SERVES AS A CRUCIAL LIFELINE WHEN NO OTHER PAYMENT OPTIONS SUCH AS MEDICAID, MEDICARE OR PRIVATE INSURANCE ARE AVAILABLE. THE PROGRAM NOT ONLY SAVES LIVES BUT ALSO PREVENTS NEW TRANSMISSIONS.

WHEN PEOPLE ADHERE TO THE PRESCRIBED MEDICATIONS, THEY CAN ACHIEVE AN UNDETECTABLE VIRAL LOAD. THEY CANNOT BE TRANSMITTED TO OTHERS. THIS HIGHLIGHTS THE IMPORTANCE OF SEEKING CARE AND SUPPORT. I EXTEND MY DEEPEST THANKS TO THE COMMISSIONERS, FOR ALL OF YOUR UNWAVERING SUPPORT FOR THE RYAN WHITE PROGRAM. WE HAVE MADE REMARKABLE PROGRESS BUT THE CHALLENGES OF THE HIV ACADEMIC -- PANDEMIC. THE PROBLEM IS FAR FROM OVER. YOU HAVE PLAYED A CRUCIAL ROLE IN OVERCOMING THE ADMINISTRATIVE BARRIERS ENSURING THAT THE PROGRAM OPERATES SMOOTHLY. THROUGHOUT THE PROGRAM, WE HAVE COLLABORATED WITH THE COMMUNITY TO DESIGN AND FUND SUPPORTIVE SERVICES FOR THOSE WITH MINIMAL RESOURCES. WE ARE VERY PROUD

AND GRATEFUL OF YOUR STEADFAST COMMITMENT. THANKS, JUDGE. >> THANK YOU. AS THE CHAIR OF THE PLANNING COUNCIL, WE APPRECIATE EVERYONE THAT SERVES ON THE COUNCIL AND WE WANT TO HIGHLIGHT THE BIPARTISAN NATURE OF THIS PROGRAM REGARDING TO PRESIDENT BUSH BACK IN 2003 OR

[00:10:01]

>> FERNANDO CARL. >> GOOD MORNING AND THANK YOU, JUDGE AND TO THE COMMISSIONERS FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY TO STAND BEFORE YOU. I AM THE HIV PREVENTION PROGRAM MANAGER WITH HARRIS COUNTY PUBLIC HEALTH. TODAY'S THEME IS COLLECTIVE ACTION, SUSTAINING AND ACCELERATING HIV PROGRESS. AT HARRIS COUNTY PUBLIC HEALTH, WE ARE DEDICATED TO THE FIGHT TO ENDING THE HIV EPIDEMIC. OUR GOAL IS TO PROMOTE A HEALTHY QUALITY OF LIFE AND REDUCE THE SPREAD OF HIV INFECTIONS WITHIN HARRIS COUNTY. WE TAKE PRIDE IN OUR WORK AND WE ARE COMMITTED TO SERVING OUR COMMUNITY WITH COMPASSION , DIGNITY, AND QUALITY. OUR SERVICES INCLUDE FREE HIV TESTING, COUNSELING, EDUCATION, LINKAGE TO HIV MEDICAL SERVICES. OUR GOAL AND AIM AGAIN IS TO PREVENT THE SPREAD OF HIV IN HARRIS COUNTY. THANK YOU TO THE COMMISSIONERS FOR YOUR CONTINUED SUPPORT TO END THE HIV EPIDEMIC. THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR ALL OF YOUR WORK. A BIG ROUND OF APPLAUSE TO EVERYBODY. THANK

YOU. >> THANK YOU. I JUST WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE ALL OF THOSE ON THE FRONT LINE OF THIS AMAZING CHALLENGE. YOU HAVE TAKEN PEOPLE AWAY FROM HAVING NO CHANCE OF SURVIVING. TO BEING ABLE TO LIVE A NORMAL LIFE. I JUST WANT TO THANK ALL OF YOU THAT HAVE CONTRIBUTED TO THE SUCCESS AND IN PARTICULAR, THOSE IN THE RESEARCH ARENA THAT WORKED TIRELESSLY TO COME UP WITH THE MEDICATIONS THAT MANY ARE ABLE TO AFFORD TODAY.

AND HAVE ACCESS TO. AGAIN, THANK YOU, THIS IS ALWAYS A VERY PERSONAL EVENT FOR ME. I

WANT TO THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR HELP. >> THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER. I WILL BE REMEMBERING WORLD A.I.D.S. DAY BECAUSE THAT IS THE DAY OF MY WEDDING. ANYWAY, I APPRECIATE YOU GUYS. MY SECOND RESOLUTION IS THE TAKE C.H.A.R.G.E. BATTERY INITIATIVE. A MONTH AGO WE HAD FOUR SCRAPYARD FIRES. IN THE SPAN OF TWO WEEKS. WE MIGHT HAVE HAD MORE. THIS IS RELATED TO THAT ISSUE. IT IS A DISPOSAL OF ITEMS WITH LITHIUM BATTERIES. THE USE OF LITHIUM ION BATTERIES IN SMART PHONES, LAPTOPS, POWER TOOLS AND VARIOUS ELECTRONICS HAS INCREASED. LEADING TO A RISE IN INCIDENTS INVOLVING OVERHEATING, FIRES, AND EXPLOSIONS. THE ADMINISTRATION HAS DEVELOPED THE TAKE C.H.A.R.G.E. A BATTERY SAFETY FOR THE DISPOSAL OF LITHIUM ION BATTERIES. THEY HAVE ADOPTED AND CUSTOMIZE THE INITIATIVE TO BETTER EDUCATE HARRIS COUNTY RESIDENTS ON POTENTIAL HAZARDS AND PREVENT BATTERY PRACTICES DURING THE HOLIDAY SEASON WHERE WE WILL BE USING BATTERY-POWERED DEVICES. THE RISE OF INSTANCES UNDERSCORES THE NEED FOR EDUCATIONAL CAMPAIGNS. HARRIS COUNTY IS COMMITTED TO ENSURING THE SAFETY OF OUR RESIDENTS BY PROMOTING INITIATIVES THAT REDUCE THE LIKELIHOOD OF FIRE HAZARDS AND ENVIRONMENTAL DAMAGE. WE HERE BY RECOGNIZE THE LAUNCH OF THE TAKE C.H.A.R.G.E. OF BATTERY SAFETY INITIATIVE TO RAISE AWARENESS OF THE RISK ASSOCIATED WITH LITHIUM ION BATTERIES AND TO PROMOTE SAFE HANDLING, DISPOSAL, AND RECYCLING PRACTICES AMONG ITS RESIDENTS.

I HAVE TO ADMIT, I AM ONE OF THE PEOPLE THAT WAS NOT SURE WHAT TO DO WITH THESE. IF IT IS A COMPUTER, IPHONE, WHATEVER IT IS. WE WILL HAVE REPRESENTATION DURING THE BREAK SO THAT WE CAN PROMOTE FOR EVERYBODY. WHAT DO WE DO WITH THESE ITEMS? AND HOW CAN IT BE CONVENIENT? I AM REALLY GRATEFUL THAT THE FIRE MARSHAL'S OFFICE IS DRAWING ATTENTION TO THIS. WE APPRECIATE THE WORK THAT YOU GUYS DO, CHIEF. CHRISTIANSEN AND CHIEF REED ARE HERE. I

[00:15:03]

WOULD LIKE TO HAVE TIFFANY INTRODUCE OUR GUEST. >> DR. GEORGE OR LESS SPEAKING

VIRTUALLY, YOU HAVE ONE MINUTE. >> GOOD MORNING, JUDGE HIDALGO AND COUNTY COMMISSIONERS. I AM THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR ANY UL STANDARDS OF ENGAGEMENT. I'M CALLING TO PROVIDE THE ORGANIZATION SUPPORT OF YOUR RESOLUTION. THE TAKE C.H.A.R.G.E. BATTERY SAFETY PROGRAM DEVELOPED BY THE FIRE SAFETY RESEARCH INSTITUTE, PART OF UL RESEARCH INSTITUTE. THE NONPROFIT TO THE STANDARDS OF ENGAGEMENT. WE ARE A NONPROFIT THAT IS WORKING HARD NATIONALLY TO REDUCE BATTERY FIRES AND MAKE OTHER DEVICES SAFER. WE DO THIS THROUGH DEVELOPING SAFETY STANDARDS WITH VOLUNTEER EXPERTS FROM AROUND THE WORLD THAT WE DO THIS THROUGH THE ADVOCACY AND COMMUNICATION EFFORTS. AS A 120-YEAR-OLD NONPROFIT WITH 17 STANDARDS, WE ARE EXPERTS IN LITHIUM ION BATTERY SAFETY. WE LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH THE HARRIS COUNTY COMMISSIONERS COURT TO KEEP YOUR CITIZENS SAFE FROM THE RISK OF THERMAL RUNAWAY THROUGH AWARENESS AND POLICY CHANGES.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE WORK THAT YOU DO AND THANK YOU FOR CALLING IN. WE WILL

CERTAINLY TAKE YOU UP ON YOUR OFFER OF SUPPORT. >> THANK YOU.

>> I BELIEVE THAT IS IT FOR MY RESOLUTIONS. NO RESOLUTIONS BY COMMISSIONER ELLIS, I WILL PASS

IT ON TO COMMISSIONER GARCIA. >> THANK YOU. I AM VERY EXCITED TO PRESENT THIS PARTICULAR PROCLAMATION. AND YES, THANK YOU ALL WHO MADE PROPOSITION A A REALITY. I WOULD LIKE TO THANK COMMISSIONER RAMSEY FOR ADVOCATING AND BRINGING LIGHT TO THIS VERY UNDERSERVED AREA OF THE FLOOD CONTROL SYSTEM. IT WORKS AS A PART OF A BROADER SYSTEM. THAT IS THE NEIGHBORHOOD DRAINAGE SYSTEM. THE NEIGHBORHOOD BRAIN -- DRAINAGE SYSTEM IS THE FRONT LINE OF DEFENSE FOR MANY NEIGHBORHOODS TO KEEP THEM FROM FLOODING IN THE FIRST PLACE.

DURING HURRICANE HARVEY, MANY NEIGHBORHOODS ENDED UP HAVING DAMAGE, NOT ENTIRELY JUST BECAUSE OF HURRICANE HARVEY, JUST BECAUSE THE WATER IN THE NEIGHBORHOODS HAD NO PLACE TO GO. COMING IN, IN 2019, I KNEW THAT FLOOD MITIGATION WAS AN IMMENSE PRIORITY TO ME. I WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT I WAS DOING EVERYTHING AT EVERY TURN TO MAKE SURE THAT WE WERE KEEPING FAMILIES FROM FLOODING AGAIN. MOST PUBLIC EVENT WAS VISITING HOMES, AND PEOPLE WERE HAPPY TO BE FINISHING THEIR REMODELING AND REPAIRS. FROM HURRICANE HARVEY, JUST TO HAVE A TROPICAL STORM FLOOD THEM YET AGAIN. IN THAT REGARD, I BEGAN TO WORK ON A STRATEGY. I WANT TO THANK THE DOCTOR THAT WAS PREVIOUSLY WITH MY OFFICE WHO WAS THE CHIEF ARCHITECT OF THE STRATEGY, TO MAKE SURE THAT WE WERE PRIORITIZING THE AREAS IN PRECINCT 2. MAKING SURE THAT WE ARE OVERLAYING OUR DATA WITH THE DAMAGE OF HURRICANE HARVEY. AND THEN WORKING COLLECTIVELY WITH A HOST OF PROFESSIONALS AND CONSULTANTS. MOST IMPORTANTLY, WITH MY STAFF. AND SO, IN 2020, IF WE ALL RECALL, LET ME JUST GIVE YOU THIS CONTEXT. WHEN I BECAME COUNTY COMMISSIONER, PRECINCT 2 AVERAGED 230,000 FEET OF DRAINAGE. 2020, IN THE MIDDLE OF THE PANDEMIC, MY TEAM COMPLETED 1 MILLION LINEAR FEET OF DRAINAGE FEET. THEY KEPT PACE WITH THAT EVERY YEAR, AVERAGING 1 MILLION LINEAR FEET AND NEVER GOING BELOW 800 FEET.

TO THAT END, I AM SO PROUD TO PRESENT THIS PROCLAMATION. I WANT TO WELCOME MY PUBLIC WORKS STAFF THAT IS PRESENT TODAY. LED BY JUAN HERNANDEZ AND THE CHIEF ENGINEER. AND ALSO WITH -- AND COULD YOU GUYS PLEASE MAKE YOUR WAY TO THE PODIUM? WHAT THE PUBLIC WORKS TEAM HAS

[00:20:12]

THE COMPLETION OF VARIOUS INITIATIVES HAS OPTIMIZED LOCAL DRAINAGE AS A PART OF THE BROADER INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS. THIS REMARKABLE ACCOMPLISHMENT EXEMPLIFIES THE COMMAND DEDICATION OF THE PRECINCT 2 PUBLIC WORKS TEAM DRIVEN BY THE LEADERSHIP AND THE VISION OF NOT REALLY ME, US. I AM SO PROUD TO RECOGNIZE THIS DAY AS THE PUBLIC WORKS

DEPARTMENT OF PRECINCT 2 DAY. CONGRATULATIONS. >> IF I CAN ASKED MR. BEN-AMI

THIS ? >> THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK ON THIS RESOLUTION TODAY. I'M THE DEPUTY CHIEF OF STAFF. THIS MILESTONE IS A DIRECT RESULT OF THE TIRELESS EFFORT OF OUR TEAM. I WOULD LIKE TO TAKE A MOMENT TO THANK THE COMMISSIONER FOR HIS UNWAVERING SUPPORT. WHEN HE TOOK OFFICE, MUCH OF THE WOMEN WAS OUTDATED AND IN POOR CONDITION. WE APPROACHED HIM WITH A NEED FOR NEW MACHINERY AND TRUCKS.

WITHOUT HESITATION, HE MADE SURE THAT WE HAVE THE RESOURCES TO SUCCEED. COMMISSIONER, YOUR LEADERSHIP AND COMMITMENT TO OUR COMMUNITIES HAS BEEN CRUCIAL IN HELPING US REACH

THIS RESULT. WE THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU, WE ARE SO PROUD OF YOU.

>> THIS IS A BIG DEAL. I KNOW SOME NUMBERS. I CAN TELL THAT THESE FOLKS WOULD RATHER BE OUT IN THE FIELD AND WHERE THEY OVER YOU RIGHT NOW. JUST KNOW, WITHIN PRECINCT 3, YOU REPRESENT 120 PEOPLE THAT GET UP AT 6:00 EVERY MORNING AND THEY GO DO THINGS THAT REALLY MATTER LIKE THIS. IN THE PRECINCT. NOT TO BE DEPRESSING. IT HAS BEEN MY ANALYSIS THAT ROADSIDE DITCHES, IF YOU DON'T CLEAN THEM EVERY SEVEN YEARS, THAT IS A PROBLEM. AT LEAST YOU KNOW YOU HAVE SOMETHING TO DO FOR THE NEXT SEVEN YEARS OR SO, THANK YOU FOR WHAT YOU ALL DO.

>> COMMISSIONER, THANK YOU VERY MUCH, CONGRATULATIONS. FROM THE TEAM, THANK YOU. ON BEHALF OF

[00:25:01]

>> THANK YOU. AND TO THE ENTIRE TEAM, THIS IS INCREDIBLE. I WANT TO MAKE SURE, THAT YOU ALL HAD TO PUT THIS ASIDE TO RESPOND TO THE NEEDS OF CITIZENS AFTER HURRICANE BERYL AND YET, YOU STILL GOT THIS DONE. I WILL JUST TELL YOU AGAIN, THERE ARE MANY THAT HAVE EXPERIENCED THE HORRIBLE EFFECTS OF FLOODING. ALL OF THE MONTH THAT THEY HAD TO DEAL WITH IN THEIR HOMES. PROPOSITION A WAS PASSED BECAUSE OF THE GREAT WORK THAT DR. PETERSON IS DOING. DEMONSTRATING THAT WHEN WE PUT IN NEW INFRASTRUCTURE, IT WORKS. IT DOES NOT DO WHAT IT NEEDS TO DO, IF LOCAL DRAINAGE IS NOT MAINTAINED. THE CITIZENS THAT HAVE TAKEN THIS OFFICE THAT HAVE NOT SEEN THEM IN THE NEIGHBORHOODS FOR 30 YEARS.

THIS IS THE CREW THAT DESERVES ALL THE CREDIT FOR MAKING SURE THAT YOUR HOME IS AS SAFE AS POSSIBLE. WITH THE COLLECTIVE EFFORTS OF DISTRICT 2. MY APPRECIATION AND GRATITUDE IN MY UPMOST RESPECT FOR YOUR INCREDIBLE WORK, CONGRATULATIONS, GUYS.

>> COMMISSIONER, BEFORE YOU MOVE ON TO THE NEXT RESOLUTION, WE FAILED TO CALL UP THE FIRE MARSHAL, CHIEF CHRISTIANSEN AND FIRE CHIEF REED TO SPEAK ABOUT THE LITHIUM ION BATTERY DISPOSAL INITIATIVES. LET ME GIVE THEM THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK.

>> GOOD MORNING, THANK YOU, COMMISSIONERS. YOU ALL ALWAYS GET TO SEE ME. I HAVE AN AMAZING TEAM, I WOULD LIKE TO HAND OVER TO CHIEF REED. I ASKED THE QUESTION AND BEFORE I

KNOW IT, IT OCCURS. HERE YOU GO, CHIEF. >> THANK YOU, JUDGE, COMMISSIONERS, LITHIUM ION BATTERIES HAVE BECOME A VERY INTEGRAL TOOL IN OUR WAY OF LIFE. THE GOAL WAS AFTER CONVERSATIONS, HOW DO WE CREATE EDUCATION FOR OUR RESIDENTS AND THE PUBLIC? IN PARTNERING, AS YOU HEARD, WITH THE U.S. FIRE ADMINISTRATION, WE WERE ABLE TO ENHANCE THE CHARGE CAMPAIGN WHICH HAS SPREAD TO MANY COUNTIES OUTSIDE OF HARRIS.

RAISE AWARENESS ON BATTERY SAFETY, DEVELOP SAFE PRACTICES FOR USE ON DISPOSAL AND EDUCATE THE PUBLIC ON WHAT TO DO IN THE EVENT THAT THERE IS A FIRE. THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR SUPPORT AND THE COUNTLESS COUNTY DEPARTMENTS THAT ARE ALSO HELPING TO SUPPORT THIS

INITIATIVE. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU, CHIEF. CHIEF CHRISTIANSEN IS RIGHT, WE WERE HAVING CONVERSATIONS AROUND THE TIMES OF ALL OF THE FIRES, I WAS ON THE PHONE WITH CHIEF REED. WHAT CAN WE DO ABOUT THIS? OF COURSE, THEY HAD ALREADY THOUGHT ABOUT IT AND HAD THIS IN THE WORKS. THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT, COMMISSIONER

GARCIA, THANK YOU SO MUCH. >> THANK YOU AND LET ME JUST SAY, YOU DON'T NEED TO COME BACK. YOU ARE WEARING THE RIBBON. I JUST WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE YOUR COLLEAGUES AND OUR PRAYERS AND CONDOLENCES ARE WITH ALL OF YOU. I ABSOLUTELY UNDERSTAND THE BROTHER AND SISTERHOOD OF FIRST RESPONDERS AND SO, OUR THOUGHTS ARE COLLECTIVELY WITH YOU AND ALL FIREFIGHTERS. JUST TO MAKE A SEPARATE POINT, WE ARE SO FORTUNATE TO HAVE FULL-TIME PAID FIREFIGHTERS IN THIS REGION. IN HOUSTON AND IN HARRIS COUNTY, FOR THE MOST PART. FOLKS, I WANT YOU ALL TO UNDERSTAND THAT 70% OF THE FIREFIGHTERS IN TEXAS GET PAID ZERO DOLLARS. THEY ARE ALL VOLUNTEER. LET'S GIVE A HAND TO OUR FIREFIGHTERS. MY NEXT RESOLUTION IS ONE THAT I ABSOLUTELY ENJOY PRESENTING AND PARTICIPATING IN. THIS HAS TO

[00:30:01]

PRECINCT 2 IS THE BEST PLACE TO LIVE, WORK, PLAY, AND EAT. COME AND CHECK OUT OUR FOOD,

CONGRATULATIONS TO VIOLA & AGNES. THANK YOU. >> ANY SPEAKERS FOR THIS ITEM?

THANK YOU. COMMISSIONER RAMSEY. >> YESTERDAY WAS VETERANS DAY.

I HAVE A COUPLE FOLKS I WILL CALL UP AS I READ THE RESOLUTION. CAPTAIN WINFIELD AND THEN OF COURSE, OUR OWN DAVE LEWIS. YOU ALL COME UP AND MAKE YOUR WAY AS WE TALK ABOUT THE VETERANS CELEBRATIONS WE HAD, A GREAT DINNER IN THE CIVIC CENTER A WEEK AGO. WE HAD A LUNCHEON AND WE HAD ANOTHER EVENT YESTERDAY MORNING AT THE CLIMB SCHOOL DISTRICT, TO CELEBRATE OUR VETERANS. VETERANS DAY IS TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE VETERANS THAT HAVE BEEN AND ARE IN SERVICE. OF COURSE, MEMORIAL DAY IS SEPARATE FROM THAT. EACH YEAR, ON THE 11TH MINUTE AND THE 11TH HOUR OF THE 11TH DAY OF THE 11TH MONTH, WE HONOR OUR VETERANS ON THE DAY MARKING THE END OF WORLD WAR I, THOSE THAT SERVED MILITARY DUTY IN THE UNITED STATES ARMED FORCES HAVE MADE THE COMMITMENT TO FIGHT FOR DEMOCRACY AND FREEDOM AND THEY SERVE THEIR COUNTRY IN WAYS THAT THE CIVILIAN POPULATION SIMPLY CANNOT IMAGINE. WHEREAS HARRIS COUNTY HAS THE LARGEST VETERAN POPULATION IN THE STATE. WITH OVER 185,000 VETERANS CALLING OUR COUNTY HOME. WHEN THE SOLDIERS RETURN HOME AS VETERANS, THEY CONTINUE TO SERVE THEIR NATION AND COMMUNITY THROUGH PUBLIC SERVICE AND VOLUNTEER WORK DURING HURRICANE BERYL WE NEEDED HELP CLEANING UP THE DEBRIS, WE HOLLER DOWN THE HALL, IS THERE ANYBODY HERE WHO WOULD LIKE TO VOLUNTEER TO HELP? AND WE HAD 30 GOOD FOLKS, VETERANS, WALKOUT OF THE TUNNEL TO TOWERS HOME AND WORK WITH US FOR TWO WEEKS CLEANING UP

[00:35:02]

>> CAPTAIN WINFIELD, I WILL EMBARRASS YOU, MANAGING DIRECTOR OF THE VA AND REFERRAL CENTER. SHE IS OUT THERE SERVING. AND HAS BEEN THERE FOR NINE YEARS. AFTER INVESTIGATING

FOR CPS FOR 12 YEARS. THANK YOU FOR WHAT YOU CONTINUE TO DO. >> GOOD MORNING, I WOULD LIKE TO THANK THE COMMISSIONERS COURT FOR HAVING ME SPEAK BRIEFLY ON VETERANS DAY. AS A PROGRAM MANAGER, WHAT WE DO, WE ASSIST HOMELESS VETERANS WERE AT RISK OF HOMELESS VETERANS WITH TEMPORARY OR PERMANENT HOUSING AND WE PROVIDE RESOURCES, MENTAL HEALTH CARE, HEALTHCARE, CONNECTING TO RESOURCES FOR EMPLOYMENT SERVICES, SECTION BENEFITS, LAUNDRY AND SHOWERS THAT VETERANS CAN PARTICIPATE IN. I WANT TO THANK ALL OF THE PARTITION PAINTS THAT WE HAVE AND A SPECIAL THANKS TO THE HARRIS COUNTY VETERANS SERVICES DEPARTMENT FOR BEING A RELIABLE PARTNER WITH THE CRC AND BATTLING VETERAN CRISIS. SUCH AS, HOMELESSNESS, BATTLING VETERAN CRISIS IS, SUBSTANCE ABUSE ISSUES AND ALL OF THAT.

MOST IMPORTANTLY, SUICIDE PREVENTION. THEY HAVE BEEN A REPRESENTATIVE AT OUR FACILITY, THEY COME TWO OR THREE TIMES PER WEEK. THE WRAPAROUND SERVICES AROUND THE VETERANS.

>> THANK YOU, YOUR TIME IS UP. >> WE WRAPAROUND SERVICES AROUND OUR VETERANS AND THAT HAS BEEN A GREAT PARTNERSHIP AND COLLABORATION. WE LOOK

FORWARD TO THAT COLLABORATION IN HELPING OUR VETERANS. >> THANK YOU, CAPTAIN. I WILL

GO AHEAD AND EMBARRASS YOU TOO. >> GOOD LUCK.

>> THIS IS YOU AS AIR FORCE COLONEL RETIRED DAVE LEWIS. HE DOES A GREAT JOB TAKING CARE OF VETERAN SERVICES IN THE COUNTY. THANK YOU FOR YOUR WORK. DO NOT TELL YOU THAT ENOUGH. YOU ARE OUT THERE DOING THE LORD'S WORK, TAKING CARE OF OUR VETERANS AND BEING SURE THAT

THEIR NEEDS ARE TAKEN CARE OF. >> THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER. I AM DAVE LEWIS, I AM THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF YOUR VETERANS SERVICES DEPARTMENT.

GOOD MORNING, COMMISSIONERS. WE ARE EXCITED TO BE HERE. IF WE HAVE ANY VETERANS IN THE AUDIENCE, CAN YOU PLEASE STAND AND BE RECOGNIZED? PLEASE? THANK YOU, WE NEED TO GET MORE OF THEM HERE. IF YOU HAVE NOT BROKEN THE KODIAK, THEY MAKE AWESOME EMPLOYEES AND MAKE COMMUNITIES BETTER AND WE ARE EXCITED FOR ALL OF THAT. OUR VISION STATEMENT FOR THE VETERANS SERVICES DEPARTMENT THAT EVERY VETERAN SUCCEEDS. WE ARE WORKING. WE WORK THAT PART AND IT IS VERY CHALLENGING. WE CANNOT DO THAT ALONE. WE HAVE PARTNERSHIPS TO THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE. ALL THE WAY DOWN TO THE WORK IN THE HARRIS COUNTY JAILS. WE ARE EXCITED TO BE HERE. THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR SUPPORT AND FOR THE RESOLUTION TODAY, THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU, COLONEL, THANK YOU, CAPTAIN. >> COMMISSIONER, GO AHEAD. I FORGOT. I KNOW THIS HAS BEEN A WORK IN PROGRESS IN HARRIS COUNTY. ONE THING I AM VERY PROUD OF, IS THAT WE DOUBLE THE FUNDING FOR THE VETERANS SERVICES, GENERALLY AND CREATED OUR OWN DEPARTMENT IN HARRIS COUNTY. THAT WAS THE BEGINNING OF THE WORK THAT YOU GUYS ARE DOING. THERE IS MORE NEED. I WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT WORK THAT WE DID AS A BODY. THANK

YOU, COLLEAGUES, COMMISSIONER HARRIS? >> THANK YOU FOR BRINGING THIS IMPORTANT RESOLUTION TO YOU AND YOUR TEAM AND TO ALL OF THE VETERANS HERE, THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE AND SACRIFICE. I AM THE PROUD GRANDDAUGHTER OF TWO VETERANS. MAY MY GRANDPA'S

[00:40:04]

THANK YOU TO OUR VETERAN SERVICES DEPARTMENT BECAUSE YOU ARE HELPING US LIVE OUT THESE WORDS OF APPRECIATION EVERY DAY, ALL DAY, FOR THE VETERANS HERE IN HARRIS COUNTY. THANK YOU FOR WHAT YOU ARE DOING. I ALSO THANK YOU, YOU ARE GOING INTO THE COMMUNITY SO DEEPLY AND THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO PARTNER. FROM 10:00 TO 1:00 WE WILL BE HAVING AN INFORMATION SESSION FOR VETERANS. I APPRECIATE EVERYTHING YOU DO TO MAKE SURE THAT ALL OF THE EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES ARE IN THE COMMUNITY. WE ARE HAPPY THAT THE BUDGET HAS DOUBLED AND WE RECOGNIZE IT IS NOT ENOUGH. JUST KNOW THAT WE ARE EXTREMELY THANKFUL.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH. >> THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER RAMSEY FOR BRINGING THIS FORWARD. ABSOLUTELY, IT WAS GREAT TO SEE YOU YESTERDAY. A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO, I JUMPED OUT OF AN AIRPLANE. WITH THE GOLDEN KNIGHTS. IT WAS A LOT OF FUN, IT WAS EXHILARATING, IT WAS AN EFFORT TO HELP THE ARMY IN PARTICULAR. ALL BRANCHES OF MILITARY. I APPRECIATE THE CONVERSATIONS THAT ARE BEING HAD ABOUT THE NEED TO CONTINUE TO ENCOURAGE MILITARY SERVICE AS A CAREER OPTION. COLONEL LEWIS HOLDS THE TITLE OF COLONEL. TO REMIND PEOPLE THAT YOU DON'T NEED TO STOP AT BEING AN ENLISTED MEMBER. RATHER, MOVING UP THE CHAIN OF COMMAND. I HAD THE HONOR OF VISITING AND ATTENDING THE ARMY WAR COLLEGE. I GOT TO LISTEN TO THE AMBASSADOR OF THE U.N. I HAD THE PLEASURE AND PRIVILEGE OF LISTENING TO PHD'S THAT WORK IN THE PENTAGON AND WHO ARE PROVIDING THE PERSPECTIVE ON THE GLOBAL LANDSCAPE AND CHALLENGES FACING US, IF IT IS WITH RUSSIA AND UKRAINE, OR CHINA AND OTHER PARTS OF THE WORLD. I JUST WANT TO THANK THIS OPPORTUNITY. THE BEST WAY TO HONOR OUR VETERANS IS TO TAKE THE FIRST STEP IN BECOMING ONE. HE WAS ALWAYS MY LIFE'S REGRET THAT I DID NOT JOIN THE MILITARY. AS I HAVE TOLD THE STORY, IT WAS JUST BY SECONDS THAT I ALMOST SIGNED A CONTRACT WITH THE UNITED STATES ARMY. IT WAS MY DADDY THAT TOLD ME, IF WE WEREN'T AT WAR , BECAUSE IF WE WERE, YOU GO, IF WE ARE NOT AT WAR, STAY HOME AND THAT IS HOW I ENDED UP JOINING THE HOUSTON POLICE DEPARTMENT. COLONEL, TO YOU, TO ALL OF YOUR CREW, TO ALL VETERANS, THANK

YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU. WE ABSOLUTELY SALUTE YOU ALL. >> ANY OTHER SPEAKERS ON THIS

ITEM? LET'S MOVE ON TO COMMISSIONER BRIONES. >> I HAVE TWO RESOLUTIONS TODAY. I WILL START WITH NATIONAL FAMILY CAREGIVERS MONTH. IF ALL OF THE RESOLUTION GUESTS THAT ARE REGISTERED TO SPEAK AND THOSE THAT ACCOMPANY THEM, CAN YOU MAKE YOUR WAY TO THE CENTER. WHEN THEY'RE COMING DOWN, I WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE MY PARENTS THAT ARE HERE, MY BEST FRIENDS, MY MOM AND DAD. THANK YOU. I LOVE YOU WITH EVERYTHING. NOVEMBER IS NATIONAL FAMILY CAREGIVERS MONTH. THERE ARE APPROXIMATELY 30 MILLION FAMILY CAREGIVERS IN THE UNITED STATES, PROVIDING UNPAID ELDERCARE AND ABOUT 60% OF THE 30 MILLION PEOPLE ARE WOMEN. I KNOW, AS A LOVING DAUGHTER, I WORRY, BECAUSE MY PARENTS LIVE SIX HOURS AWAY IN SOUTH TEXAS. THEY ARE HEALTHY AND THEY ARE FINE NOW. I WORRY WHAT WILL HAPPEN ONE DAY WHEN THEY ARE NOT, ESPECIALLY BECAUSE MY SIBLINGS LIVE ABROAD. THIS IS SOMETHING I THINK ABOUT OFTEN. I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU TO THE 30 MILLION AMERICANS THAT PROVIDE THIS CARE. THERE ARE A LOT OF CHALLENGES. WE HEAR A LOT ABOUT THE SANDWICH GENERATION. THOSE THAT TAKE CARE OF THEIR AGING PARENTS AND ALSO THEIR CHILDREN. AS WELL AS THE OTHER MEMBERS OF THE FAMILIES THAT HAVE OTHER CHALLENGES. AS A COUNTRY, WE NEED TO CONTINUE TO

[00:45:01]

>> GOOD MORNING AND THANK YOU TO COMMISSIONER BRIONES FOR INVITING US TO SPEAK IN FAVOR OF FAMILY CAREGIVERS. 3.4 FAMILY MEMBER CARE MEMBERS GAVE $34 BILLION OF UNCOMPENSATED LABOR ANNUALLY. ANY STATE THAT HAS NOT EXTENDED MEDICAID, MANY LACK ACCESS TO SERVICES THAT CAN EASE THE BURDEN. THIS HIGHLIGHTS THE NEED FOR HARRIS COUNTY TO SUPPORT CAREGIVERS.

YOU CAN DO THIS BY ENSURING THAT FIRST RESPONDERS ARE EDUCATED ABOUT HOW TO MANAGE PEOPLE WITH DIMENSION THAT MIGHT BE WONDERING WERE PUBLICLY AGITATED. INVESTING IN LANGUAGE ACCESS, PUBLIC HEALTH AND MEASURES TO MEET THE INTERSECTIONAL NEEDS OF OUR FAMILIES. AS A NEUROLOGIST AND CAREGIVER THAT FOUNDED PROGNOSIS, I WORK WITH FAMILIES NAVIGATING DEMENTIA. THE LIFETIME COST OF DEMENTIA CAN EXCEED $300,000 AND THE TOLL ON CAREGIVERS IS INCALCULABLE. CONVENIENT AND CONSISTENT CREDIBLE AND LOW-COST SUPPORT FOR CAREGIVERS IS ESSENTIAL. WITH THE HELP OF OUR COMMUNITY HEALTH WORKER TEAM, WE ACHIEVE THIS. ROSLYN CARTER FAMOUSLY SAID THAT THERE ARE ONLY FOUR KINDS OF PEOPLE IN THE WORLD.

THOSE WHO HAVE BEEN CAREGIVERS, THOSE THAT ARE CURRENTLY CAREGIVERS, THOSE WHO WILL BE CAREGIVERS AND THOSE WILL NEED A CAREGIVER. WE THINK THE COURT FOR YOUR COMMITMENT TO ALL OF US. AS A GIFT TO THE COURT AND THOSE WHO HAVE COME TO JOIN US, I BROUGHT SOME FLOWERS THAT ADOPT THE MIND DIET WHICH IS A BRAIN HOUSE DIET. MEXICAN FOOD, SOUL FOOD, ECUADORIAN AND

KOREAN FOOD. THANK YOU SO MUCH. >> THANK YOU. CAN I GET YOUR

NAME FOR THE RECORD? >> DID YOU WANT TO SPEAK AFTER THE SPEAKERS?

>> CAN YOU PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME FOR THE COURT RECORD? >> DONNA KIM MURPHY.

>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. >> GOOD MORNING, COMMISSIONERS, JUDGE. I AM THE CHAIR FOR THE AREA PLANNING ADVISORY COUNCIL TO THE HARRIS COUNTY AGENCY ON AGING. I STAND BEFORE YOU AS ONE OF 300,000 FAMILY CAREGIVERS IN HARRIS COUNTY. THEY DEDICATE AND SUPPORT THEIR LIVES AS DID I. TAKING CARE OF LOVED ONES. I'M SORRY, I DID NOT THINK IT WAS GOING TO BE DIFFICULT TO SPEAK. FOR CHRONIC DISEASES, DISABILITIES, AND THE ELDERLY. I MYSELF TOOK CARE OF MY GRANDMOTHER AND I HAVE A PICTURE HERE. SHE HAD ALZHEIMER'S AND VASCULAR

[00:50:11]

>> THANK YOU. THANK YOU. >> HELLO. I AM THE DIRECTOR OF THE CAREGIVING PROGRAM AT AMAZING PLACE WHICH IS A DEMENTIA SPECIALTY FACILITY HERE IN HOUSTON. THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME. AT AMAZING PLACE, HOUSTON. WE FEEL THAT FAMILY CAREGIVERS ARE HERO TO PROVIDE COMMUNITY FOR LOVED ONES IN DIFFERENT STAGES OF DEMENTIA. THEY STEP UP TO MANAGE A DISEASE THAT THEY ARE NOT TRAINED TO MANAGE AND END UP TAKING ON MANY JOBS IN THEIR ROLE AS CAREGIVER. WHEN YOUR LOVED ONES COGNITIVE ABILITIES ARE IMPACTED, YOU ASSUME JOBS AS BEHAVIOR MANAGER, NURSE, GUARDIAN, FINANCIAL MANAGER, AND KEY DECISION-MAKER. THE LIST IS A LOT LONGER THAN THIS. NOT ENOUGH HOURS IN A DAY, HEARTBREAKING OVERWHELMING AND ISOLATING , ARE DESCRIPTORS OF THIS ROLE, OVER AND OVER FROM CAREGIVERS. YET, THEY STRIVE TO DO THE BEST THEY CAN. THEY ARE OFTEN ALONE. THANK YOU. BEING PRIVILEGED TO CARE FOR PERSONS WITH DEMENTIA AND CAREGIVERS AT AMAZING PLACE, WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO LEARN OVER THE YEARS THAT CAREGIVERS NEED EDUCATION, SUPPORT, COMMUNITY, AND TO HELP EACH OTHER IN ORDER TO MAKE THIS A SUSTAINABLE JOURNEY WITH THEIR LOVED ONE. THANK YOU FOR CONSIDERING THIS RESOLUTION AND

FOR ALL OF YOUR SERVICE. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU FOR YOUR WORK.

>> GOOD MORNING, THANK YOU, COMMISSIONERS AND JUDGE FOR ALLOWING US TO SPEAK. MY NAME IS SUSAN TERRY AND I'M HERE WITH THE BUREAU CHIEF OF THE AREA AGENCY ON AGING TODAY. WE ARE COMMITTED TO PROVIDE SERVICES FOR CAREGIVERS, TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY ARE ABLE TO STAY IN THEIR HOME AND PREVENT PREMATURE INSTITUTIONALIZATION. THE SERVICES WE PROVIDE OUR RESPITE IN-HOME SERVICES AND ADULT DAY CARE SERVICES ALONG WITH OTHER SUPPORT SERVICES FOR CAREGIVERS AND OLDER ADULTS. WE ALSO PARTNER WITH THE VA AND HAVE A PROGRAM CALLED VETERANS DIRECTED SERVICES WHERE WE WORK WITH VETERANS AND CAREGIVERS TO KEEP THEM IN THEIR HOME. WE ARE COMMITTED TO ENSURING THAT WE SERVE EVERYONE WE CAN. THERE ARE 28 AAA'S IN THE STATE OF

TEXAS, WE ARE THE LARGEST. >> THANK YOU, MA'AM, YOUR TIME IS UP.

>> GO AHEAD, MA'AM. >> WE PARTNER WITH EVERYONE WE CAN. SOME OF THE PARTNERS THAT WE WORK WITH ARE HERE TODAY. WE THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING US TO SHARE OUR SERVICES AND COMMENT

SPEAK. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER RAMSEY AND THEN COMMISSIONER

ELLIS. HANG ON A MINUTE WHILE MY COLLEAGUES ADDRESS YOU. >> THANK YOU FOR THE RESOLUTION, COMMISSIONER. THIS IS AN IMPORTANT ITEM. I VOLUNTEER IN MY CHURCH. I HAD TO TEACH A COUPLE OF CLASSES. I WOULD BE CONSIDERED A TEENAGER AND MOST OF THE CLASSES THAT I TEACH. WHEN YOU INTERACT WITH FOLKS THAT ARE IN THE FOURTH QUARTER, THEY DO PRETTY GOOD MOST DAYS AND THEY JUST NEED A LITTLE HELP. ON SUNDAY AFTERNOONS, WHAT WE LIKE TO DO SOMETIMES IS GO VISIT. THIS PAST SUNDAY, WE VISITED A 99-YEAR-OLD FRIEND. IT WAS HER BIRTHDAY. STILL LIVING AT HOME WITH JUST A LITTLE HELP AND SHE LIVES NOT FAR FROM HER CHURCH.

IN PRECINCT 2. YOU DO A GOOD JOB OF KEEPING OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD, IT IS SAFE.

[00:55:05]

BE PEOPLE RELATED. THANK YOU FOR WHAT YOU DO OUT THERE. >> COMMISSIONER GARCIA.

>> THANK YOU COMMISSIONER BRIONES FOR BRINGING THIS WORD. THANK YOU AND I HAVE SO MUCH RESPECT FOR YOU. MY MOM, GOD WILLING WILL BE CELEBRATING HER 102 BIRTHDAY THIS YEAR. I ALWAYS GIVE MY BEAUTIFUL SISTER ALL THE CREDIT FOR THAT QUALITY OF LIFE AND SHE HAS BEEN LIVING WITH MY SISTER SINCE WE LOST OUR DAD IN 2004. MY SISTER WAS WORKING AT THE TIME AND SO IS MY BROTHER-IN-LAW. WE BEGAN LOOKING FOR SOMEONE TO HELP THEIR FAMILY OVER THE YEARS, THIS BEAUTIFUL LADY, MS. KERRY HAS EMERGED AND HAS BEEN WITH OUR FAMILY FOR 20 YEARS. IF NOT FOR HER, SHE DESERVES AN INCREDIBLE AMOUNT OF CREDIT PROJECT TO CONTINUE WITH HER CAREER. MY BROTHER-IN-LAW CONTINUED. MS. KERRY HAS BEEN AN INCREDIBLE CONTRIBUTOR TO MY MOM'S LONGEVITY. MY WIFE HELPED MY MOM WHO HAD DEMENTIA. WE UNDERSTAND AND APPRECIATE EVERYTHING THAT YOU GUYS DO. WE IN THE BABY BOOMER CATEGORY ARE GETTING THERE PRETTY QUICKLY.

WANT TO SAY, THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU FOR ALL YOU DO. >> THINK ALSO MUCH, WE WILL NOW

TAKE PICTURES. >> I HAVE ONE MORE RESOLUTION.

>> MY SECOND AND FINAL RESOLUTION IS FOR TRANSGENDER AWARENESS WEEK. IF ALL OF THE GUESTS CAN PLEASE JOIN ME? TRANSGENDER AWARENESS WEEK IS FROM NOVEMBER 13 THROUGH NOVEMBER 19TH EACH YEAR. AND MARTIN LUTHER KING JUNIOR SAID, THE MORAL UNIVERSE IS LONG AND IT BENDS TOWARDS JUSTICE. AND I BELIEVE THAT IS THE ABSOLUTE TRUTH. HERE IN HARRIS COUNTY, WE WILL NOT TOLERATE DISCRIMINATION. HERE IN HARRIS COUNTY, WE WILL NOT TOLERATE HATE. WE WILL CONTINUE WORKING SO THAT LOVE PREVAILS. SO THAT RESPECT PREVAILS. WE WILL HEAR THE FIRST INAUGURAL REPORT FROM THE FIRST-EVER HARRIS COUNTY LGBTQ -- WITH RECOMMENDATIONS

[01:00:05]

FUNDAMENTALLY, AS A PROUD CHRISTIAN WOMAN, WE ALL NEED TO LOVE OUR NEIGHBOR AS OURSELVES.

THIS IS WHAT HARRIS COUNTY WILL CONTINUE DOING. WE KNOW THAT THE ARC OF THE MORAL UNIVERSE IS LONG. IT BENDS TOWARDS JUSTICE. WE WILL KEEP BENDING IT WITH EVERYTHING WE HAVE. WE WILL NOT STAND FOR DISCRIMINATION AND HATE. ON THE CONTRARY, WE WILL KEEP ADVANCING JUSTICE IN OUR ABILITY. I WANT TO THANK ALL OF YOU FOR COMING AND FOR BEING AT THE FRONT LINES. I WANT TO THANK MY TEAM IN PARTICULAR. AUSTIN REESE, WHO IS HERE, AS WELL AS TALIA MORRIS AND MANY OF MY TEAM MEMBERS. WITH THAT, THANK YOU, WE STAND IN

SOLIDARITY. >> MY NAME IS MANDY GILES, MY PRONOUNS ARE SHE, HER. I AM THE PARENT OF TWO TRANS-YOUNG ADULTS. 90% OF LGBTQ YOUNG PEOPLE SURVEYED SAID THAT RECENT POLITICS HAD A NEGATIVE IMPACT ON THEIR MENTAL HEALTH. THE PRESIDENT-ELECT AND MANY IN THE TEXAS GOVERNMENT HAVE BEEN VERY CLEAR AND PUBLIC ABOUT THEIR INTENTIONS TO RESTRICT THE RIGHTS OF TRANSGENDER YOUTH. AND EVEN CLOSER TO HOME, MANY HARRIS COUNTY SCHOOL BOARDS HAVE ALREADY PASSED RESTRICTIVE POLICIES THAT DIRECTLY TARGET TRANSGENDER STUDENTS. THE TRANS-AND NON-BINARY CHILDREN, NEIGHBORS, FRIENDS, ARE HURTING NOW. THEY DESERVE TO HAVE THEIR HUMANITY RECOGNIZED AND CELEBRATED. THEY NEED TO KNOW THAT SOMEONE HAS THEIR BACK. WITH THIS RESOLUTION, HARRIS COUNTY WILL MAKE A BOLD STATEMENT TO WELCOME, SUPPORT, AND EMBRACE TRANSGENDER RESIDENTS OF ALL AGES. THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU. >> GOOD MORNING, EVERYONE. GOOD MORNING, JUDGE AND COMMISSIONERS, THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR INVITING ME TO SPEAK ON BEHALF OF THE TRANSGENDER COMMUNITY. I AM THE FOUNDER AND SECRETARY OF -- FOR OVER 30 YEARS IN HOUSTON. IT IS A PRIVILEGE TO BE HERE REPRESENTING THE TRANS COMMUNITY. THE TRANS COMMUNITY IS FACING A STRUGGLE OF SERVICES ACROSS EVERYTHING. THE SOCIAL DETERMINANTS OF HEALTH FALLS BECAUSE IT IS NOT AFFORDABLE CARE. THERE ARE NO HOUSING OPPORTUNITIES. IN-HOME HEALTH SERVICES. ESPECIALLY FOR THE TRANSGENDER COMMUNITY. THAT IS WHY I WANT TO STAND UP AND REPRESENT THE MOST VULNERABLE AND DISCRIMINATED POPULATION. BECAUSE I HAVE EMPATHY AND I LIVE IN A SOCIETY THAT DISCRIMINATES US. I WANT TO SEE IF IT IS POSSIBLE IN THE FUTURE THAT WE HAVE THE INITIATIVE TO HELP THE TRANSGENDER COMMUNITY IN HOUSTON AND HARRIS COUNTY.

THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU. >> I AM THE DIRECTOR OF THE --

[01:05:23]

INITIATIVES SUCH AS THESE RESOLUTIONS CREATE CHANGE AND RAISE AWARENESS ABOUT THE EXISTENCE AND DIGNITY OF TRANS INDIVIDUALS IN HARRIS COUNTY. WE ARE RECOGNIZED AS THE COMMUNITY LEADER, I EXPRESS MY MOST SINCERE GRATITUDE TO YOU. I KNOW THAT WORKING FOR VULNERABLE COMMUNITIES IS NOT EASY. THAT IS WHY I RECOGNIZE YOU TO MAKE VISIBLE THE

EXISTENCE OF TRANS PEOPLE. THANK YOU. >> GOOD MORNING. MY NAME IS JAVON MARTIN. HIM, HE PRONOUNS. I'M THE FOUNDER AND EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE MICHAEL ROBERTS RESOURCE CENTER. IT IS A PRIVILEGE TO STAND HERE AS WE RECOGNIZE TRANS AWARENESS WEEK.

THANK YOU TO THE COMMISSIONER, THANK YOU TO ALL OF THE MEMBERS FOR PASSING THIS RESOLUTION DECLARING NOVEMBER 13 THROUGH THE 19TH AS TRANSGENDER AWARENESS WEEK. AS MANY OF YOU MAY KNOW, MONICA ROBERTS WAS A PROUD BLACK TRANS WOMAN AND UNSTOPPABLE FORCE FOR THE FIGHT FOR TRANS RIGHTS. SHE WOULD BE PROUD TO SEE HOW FAR WE HAVE COME TODAY. SHE FOUGHT WITH EVERY OUNCE AND STRENGTH AND HER DEDICATION. SHE HAS TO ADVOCATE FOR OUR COMMUNITY. NOT ONLY UPLIFTING TRANS VOICES BUT UPLIFTING THEM AND MAKING THEM HEARD AND ACKNOWLEDGED AND CELEBRATED. THIS RESOLUTION IS A POWERFUL STEP TOWARDS A MORE INCLUSIVE FUTURE. BY OFFICIALLY RECOGNIZING TRANSGENDER AWARENESS WEEK, NOT ONLY VALIDATING THE EXPERIENCES OF TRANS INDIVIDUALS BUT WE ARE ALSO SENDING A CLEAR MESSAGE THAT OUR COMMUNITY STAND UNITED IN SUPPORT OF DIGNITY, RESPECT AND EQUALITY FOR ALL. A REMINDER THAT EACH PERSON REGARDLESS OF GENDER IDENTITY DESERVES TO LIVE AUTHENTICALLY AND WITHOUT FEAR. TODAY, MONICA ROBERTS LEGACY LIVES ON AND WE AT THE RESOURCE CENTER ARE COMMITTED IN CARRYING FORWARD HER VISION AND HONORING HER FIERCE SPIRIT, LET US ALL STAND TOGETHER NOW AND EVERY DAY TO ENSURE THAT TRANSGENDER PEOPLE ARE TREATED WITH DIGNITY AND THE RESPECT THAT THEY DESERVE.

IN CLOSING, I WANT TO THANK THE COMMISSIONER AND JUDGE AND THE ENTIRE BOARD FOR YOUR UNWAVERING COMMITMENT TO INCLUSION AND EQUALITY. YOUR LEADERSHIP HELPS TO ENSURE THAT OUR COMMUNITY CONTINUES TO BE A PLACE WHERE ALL INDIVIDUALS ARE RESPECTED AND CELEBRATED. THANK

YOU. >> GOOD MORNING AND THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME. GOOD MORNING, JUDGE. I AM THE FOUNDER OF SAVE OUR SISTERS UNITED AS WELL AS THE DIRECTOR OF PROGRAMS FOR EDUCATION AND THE NETWORK OF TEXAS. SORRY, I JUST LOST SOME OF MY STUFF. FRIENDS AWARENESS WEEK IS MORE THAN JUST A WEEK. IT IS SOMETHING THAT WE SHOULD BE AWARE OF EVERY DAY.

ESPECIALLY WHEN WE SEE THAT BLACK AND BROWN WOMEN MAKE UP THE NUMBERS OF THOSE THAT ARE VIOLENTLY TAKEN AWAY. MEMBERS OF OUR COMMUNITY BEING TAKEN AWAY. TO BE IN AWARENESS IS TO BE PRESENT AND SEEN AS COMMUNITY MEMBERS. UNDERSTANDING THAT WE ARE AN IMPORTANT STAPLE IN THIS SOCIETY AND COMMUNITY. A SHAME THAT MY DOG HAS MORE RIGHTS PROTECTING HER THAN PROTECTING ME HERE IN HOUSTON. IT IS A SHAME THAT WHEN I WALK SOMEWHERE, I HAVE TO BE IDENTIFIED BY A MEDICAL TERM INSTEAD OF THE HUMAN BEING THAT I AM WALKING IN THIS WORLD. IT IS A SHAME THAT I SOMETIMES HAVE TO STAND IN A SPACE THAT IS NOT WORTHY OF ME. WHEN WE SPEAK ABOUT TRANS AWARENESS, WE SHOULD THINK ABOUT EMPOWER MAN UNDERSTAND VISIBILITY AND INCLUSIVENESS. THE ONE THING WE REALLY SHOULD UNDERSTAND IS THAT WE ARE SPEAKING ABOUT HUMAN BEINGS THAT HAPPEN TO BE TRANS. IF YOU CAN SEE IT AND YOU HAVE A PROBLEM WITH IT, REMEMBER THAT I AM A HUMAN BEING FIRST BEFORE I AM TRANS.

THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU. >> HELLO, MY NAME IS AVERY AND I AM THE CEO OF THE MONTREUX CENTER, THE LGBTQ COMMUNITY CENTER SERVING HOUSTON SINCE 1978. TRANS FOLKS SUCH AS MYSELF MAKE UP A SMALL PART OF THE POPULATION. WE MAKE

[01:10:07]

>> THANK YOU. >> GOOD MORNING AND THANK YOU FOR HAVING US AND THANK YOU FOR CREATING A SAFE SPACE FOR US TO EXPRESS OUR GRATITUDE TO THIS RESOLUTION. I AM A 38-YEAR-OLD TRANS MAN REPRESENTING TEXAS AS MR. TRANS 2024. IF YOU GREW UP IN MY TIME, GETTING EDUCATED ON THE LGBTQ COMMUNITY WAS NOT AROUND. THE BEST EDUCATION YOU GOT WAS TALK SHOWS LIKE JERRY SPRINGER THAT DID NOT BRING THE BEST LIGHT IN OUR COMMUNITY. I THINK THIS RESOLUTION IS IMPORTANT BECAUSE IT WILL BRING AWARENESS TO OUR COMMUNITY AND MAKE US HUMAN AND LET PEOPLE KNOW THAT WE ARE JUST LIKE THEM, JUST TRYING TO PAY OUR BILLS AND TRYING TO SURVIVE IN THIS WORLD. THIS MATTERS BECAUSE WE NEED TRANSGENDER PEOPLE HERE TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE. THIS CAN SAVE SOMEBODY'S LIFE AND LET THEM KNOW THAT THEY MATTER. THIS

WILL MAKE PEOPLE SEE US -- I'M SORRY. >> IT'S OKAY. THIS WILL ALLOW PEOPLE TO SEE US -- AND LET THEM KNOW THAT WE HAVE BEEN HERE AND WE WILL STILL BE HERE THROUGHOUT THE CENTURIES TO COME. AGAIN, I WOULD LIKE TO THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK ON THIS AND TO LET SOMEONE THAT IS YOUNG KNOW THAT THEY DO NOT NEED TO ON ALIVE THEMSELVES AND THAT OUR HUMAN FAMILY LOVES AND CARES FOR THEM. THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU. >> GOOD MORNING. MY NAME IS JOCELYN. I AM FOR OUR ORGANIZATION. I AM PROMOTING EDUCATION IN SMALL BUSINESSES IN OUR COMMUNITY. OUR ORGANIZATION, I'M REALLY PROUD TO BE PART OF A, I ASKED SOMEONE TO PROMOTE RESPECT AND PROTECTION. WE HAVE A LOT OF TRANSISTORS THAT ARE BEING PLACED IN GENERAL POPULATION IN COUNTY. I AM JUST PROMOTING MORE RESPECT FOR THEM. SHE, HER, WHATEVER SHE WANTS TO BE

CALLED. I AM PROUD TO BE HERE, THANK YOU SO MUCH. >> THANK YOU.

>> COMMISSIONER GARCIA. >> THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER BRIONES FOR BRINGING THIS FORWARD. IT IS SO GOOD TO SEE YOU ALL. STAY REPRESENTATIVE JONES, GOOD TO SEE YOU. IT HAS BEEN TOO LONG. GOOD TO SEE YOU AND THANK YOU FOR CONTINUING YOUR WORK VERY IMPORTANT WORK.

YOU HAVE A SAFE PLACE IN HARRIS COUNTY AND IN THIS BUILDING. THANK YOU FOR ALL THAT YOU DO AND THANK YOU FOR BRINGING AWARENESS AND CONTINUING TO CREATE EDUCATION. YOU WILL

ALWAYS HAVE A SAFE SPACE HERE. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER

GARCIA. COMMISSIONER ELLIS. >> THANK YOU AND WELCOME. I HAVE WALKED ALONGSIDE OF YOU

FOR MANY YEARS AND I AM SUPPORTIVE OF YOU. WELCOME. >> THANK YOU SO MUCH. I REALLY

[01:15:02]

AS YOU KNOW, SHE IS VERY CLOSE TO MY HEART. YES, I SAW YOUR SHIRT, THANK YOU. SHE IS HERE.

THANK YOU SO MUCH, WE LOVE YOU, WE APPRECIATE YOU AND WE RESPECT YOU. ANY OTHER RESOLUTIONS THAT I MISSED? OKAY, WE WILL TAKE PICTURES IN THE ORDER OF RESOLUTIONS THAT WERE TAKEN UP. SPEAKERS, IF YOU REMAIN SEATED UNTIL YOU ARE CALLED.

[01:48:01]

>> OKAY, WE ARE CONTINUING THE MEETING. WE ARE SO FAR AWAY, WELCOME, WELCOME. AND, WE ARE

[Appearances before court]

[01:48:11]

[01:48:23]

[01:48:26]

[01:48:39]

>> GOOD MORNING, COMMISSIONERS, JUDGE. ON A QUICK NOTE, I WANT TO GIVE A SHOUT OUT TO KATHY

[01:48:52]

[01:50:02]

FOR EVERYONE. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU. ALWAYS GOOD TO SEE YOU.

>> MAY I BE EXCUSED? >> I HAVE NEVER KNOWN YOU TO ASK FOR PERMISSION,

REPRESENTATIVE. >> LET'S CALL THE REST OF THE SPEAKERS, TIFFANY, PLEASE.

>> 12 IS A REQUEST FOR HOUSING AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT FOR A GRANT FUNDED BY FOR F.L.E.X.

FUNDS. IN THE AMOUNT OF -- ONE IS A DIMENSION CENTER TO OFFER REFUGE BY COMMUNITY AND HOMES FROM PEOPLE FOR DIFFERENT MENTAL DEVELOPMENTS, AND CULTURES TO COME TOGETHER IN COMMUNITY. RECOVERY IS POSSIBLE FOR THE COMMUNITY HONORING HOUSE, RESPECT, OPPORTUNITIES, EDUCATION AND FRIENDSHIP. PROVIDING A BRIDGE AND GIVES OUR RESIDENTS THE COURAGE TO

THRIVE. I AM A MEMBER OF THE MAGNIFICENT HOUSES. >> THANK YOU. NICE SHIRT, I

LOVE IT. >> GOOD AFTERNOON, MY NAME IS DONNA STELL THEN. LIKE EVERYONE IN THE COMMUNITY, EVERYONE CALLS ME DR. DONNA BECAUSE LIFE IS DIFFICULT, WE CAN DO THINGS SIMPLE, I AM AN ARMY VETERAN AND I AM A PUBLIC HEALTH PROFESSIONAL FOR OVER TWO DECADES HERE IN HARRIS COUNTY. IT IS A BLESSING THAT GOD INSPIRED YOU TO HELP AND PUT THIS ITEM ON THE AGENDA. IN TEXAS, WE CAN BE UNIFIED BY GOD. I LIKE THAT WE ALL CAN BE UNITED AND WE ARE ALL DIFFERENT AND VERY UNIQUE. THAT IS ONE OF THE MOST AMAZING THINGS THAT HAPPENED. EVEN I LOOK AT MYSELF, THIS IS MY SECOND LANGUAGE, ENGLISH. MY FIRST ONE IS SPANISH. EVEN PEOPLE OF THE SAME COLOR AND SAME LANGUAGE, I CAN BE DIFFERENT FROM THEM.

HEALTH EQUITY. EQUITY STANDS FOR ALL UNITED. IN ONE GOAL. WE ARE ALL DIFFERENT, WE HAVE TO WORK TOWARDS ONE UNIQUE ITEM AND THAT IS BETTER HEALTH OUTCOMES IN THIS WONDERFUL

COUNTY OF TEXAS. >> THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU.

>> GOOD MORNING, EVERYONE. MY NAME IS CECELIA PONTO AND I AM A PROUD MEMBER OF Q JUSTICE.

HARRIS COUNTY IS HOME TO SIGNIFICANT POPULATIONS OF AFRICAN AMERICANS, LATINOS, AND ASIAN AMERICANS. MIDDLE EASTERN COMMUNITIES AND MORE. THE CREATION OF AN EQUITY INITIATIVE FOR ALL OF OUR MARGINALIZED COMMUNITIES SHOULD BE CREATED IN THE BEGINNING

[01:55:03]

IMPORTANT DECISIONS. MAKING PROCESSES -- >> YOUR TIME IS UP.

>> GO AHEAD. >> NO MINORITY GROUP SHOULD FEEL EXCLUDED IN THESE IMPORTANT DECISION-MAKING PROCESSES AND BROUGHT IN AT THE LATTER PART. OUR COMMUNITIES SHOULD BE INCLUDED IN THE VERY BEGINNING. WE FACE OVERLAPPING CHALLENGES. INCLUDING SYSTEMATIC RACISM, ECONOMIC DISPARITIES. HEALTH WHERE INEQUITIES AND THAT SHOULD BE INCLUDED IN THE EQUITY INITIATIVE. ADDRESSING EQUITY AND DISPARITY ISSUES TOGETHER IN SHORES FOSTERING GREATER UNITY AND PROGRESS. WE ARE STRONGER TOGETHER. YOU WILL CREATE A DIVISION IF YOU GO ALONG WITH WHAT YOU ARE TRYING TO DO. AND I THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU JUDGE AND COMMISSIONERS. I ASKED HARRIS COUNTY TO TAKE AN INCLUSIVE AND COMPREHENSIVE APPROACH TO INEQUALITY INITIATIVES OR STUDIES IN INEQUALITY. AND REJECT ANY INITIATIVES THAT MARGINALIZE ONE GROUP OVER ANOTHER. FOR 28 YEARS, I SERVED THE HARRIS COUNTY SHERIFF DEPARTMENT AS A DEPUTY SHERIFF AND I THANK GOD FOR THAT JOB. MY BOSS WAS COMMISSIONER ALICE, JERRY GARCIA AND HUGH, JUDGE, WHO I SERVED UNDER. EVERY TIME I WENT OUT TO A CALL ABOUT A JOB, YOU TOLD ME NOT TO LOOK AT ANYBODY, ANY DIFFERENT, EVERYBODY IS THE SAME. I ASK YOU TODAY, THAT YOU CONSIDER ANYTHING THAT YOU DO, EVERYBODY NEEDS TO BE INCLUDED. EVERYBODY. NOBODY SHOULD BE LEFT OUT FOR NO REASON. I JUST WANT TO SAY REAL QUICKLY, SHERIFF GARCIA --

>> YOUR TIME IS UP. >> GO AHEAD. >> I SERVED FOR YOU AS THE DEPUTY SHERIFF, YOU DO NOT JUST TEACH ME TO BE A DEPUTY. YOU TAUGHT ME TO NEVER LOOK AT ANYBODY ANY DIFFERENT. EVERYBODY IS EQUAL. YOU SHOWED ME, IN YOUR OWN PERSONAL WALK , THAT NOBODY SHOULD BE DIFFERENT. THE WAY THAT YOU SERVE HARRIS COUNTY AND THAT IS WHERE I LEARNED THAT FROM. I ASK YOU, ANY STUDIES THAT YOU DO, ANYTHING, INCLUDE

EVERYBODY. THANK YOU ALL. >> ANOTHER THING, I WISH I COULD TAKE A PICTURE WITH YOU

ALL TOO. >> HI, BARBARA DENSON SPEAKING ON THE EQUITY INITIATIVE.

SURELY, YOU ALL KNOW THESE WORDS. WE HOLD THESE TRUTHS TO BE SELF-EVIDENT THAT ALL MEN ARE CREATED EQUAL. EQUAL BEING THE KEY WORD HERE, NOT EQUITY. EQUAL MEANING THAT EVERYONE GETS EQUAL OPPORTUNITY. EQUITY, OF COURSE, MEANS THAT EVERYONE GETS THE SAME OUTCOME. THAT IS COMMUNISM AND IT HAS NEVER WORKED. YOU MAY REMEMBER THE REST OF THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE. WHEN ANY GOVERNMENT BECOMES DESTRUCTIVE OF THESE ENDS, IT IS THE RIGHT OF THE PEOPLE TO ALTER OR ABOLISH IT AND THE INSTITUTE OF NEW GOVERNMENT. THAT IS WHAT HAPPENED LAST WEEK. THE PEOPLE HAVE SPOKEN AND THEY ARE THROUGH WITH HAVING THE EQUITY AGENDA FORCED ON THEM. DO NOT FIND THE EQUITY INITIATIVE. IT IS RACIST AND IT IS PROBABLY

ILLEGAL. >> THANK YOU, MA'AM. >> THANK YOU. GOOD MORNING, EVERYONE. MY NAME IS LET ME KNOW ROBINSON. THE THREE PILLARS ARE ECONOMIC, RACIAL,

[02:00:06]

THE PROPOSAL NEEDS TO BE RAN TO BE INCLUSIVE OF ALL FROM THE BEGINNING. THANK YOU SO MUCH.

>> THANK YOU. >> JUDITH MCLAUGHLIN SPEAKING ON ITEM 99 AND THEN NON-AGENDA

SPEAKER CHRISTOPHER JENKINS, YOU EACH HAVE ONE MINUTE. >> HI, I'M HERE TO SPEAK ON THE INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT BETWEEN HARRIS COUNTY PRECINCT 4 AND THE COALITION FOR CONSTRUCTION OF SIDEWALKS. I'M THE DIRECTOR OF A NONPROFIT COMMUNITY ORGANIZATION LOCATED IN PRECINCT 4 BETWEEN HOUSTON AND KATIE. WE ARE A COALITION OF 30 NEIGHBORHOODS IN THAT NEIGHBORHOOD AND THE KEY OBJECTIVE OF COURSE, IS TO MAKE OUR COMMUNITY A NICER PLACE TO LIVE. MY PURPOSE TODAY IS SIMPLE, WE WANT TO THANK YOU TO COMMISSIONER BRIONES AND HER TERRIFIC STAFF ARE PARTNERING WITH US TO BUILD THE SIDEWALKS FOR OUR KIDS THAT GO TO THESE SCHOOLS. I CANNOT EMPHASIZE ENOUGH HOW DANGEROUS THE ROADWAYS HAVE BECOME. OVER TIME SINCE THE SCHOOLS WERE BUILT. AND IT IS THE SAME TIME THAT THE KIDS THAT CAN ONLY WALK BECAUSE THEY ARE INELIGIBLE FOR BUS TRANSPORTATION. THEY BUILT SIDEWALKS CONNECTING THOSE SCHOOLS TO SIDEWALKS AND CHURCHES. AND WE ARE GRATEFUL FOR THAT. THANK YOU AND WE HAVE A SAFER COMMUNITY AND A NICER PLACE TO LIVE BECAUSE OF WHAT YOU HAVE DONE. THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU. >> GOOD AFTERNOON. IT IS STILL MORNING, EVERYONE. VETERANS DAY, I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU TO ALL OF THE VETERANS, I HAVE A LOT OF THEM IN MY FAMILY. I'M HERE TODAY BECAUSE I WANT TO TAKE NOTICE OF THE AUDITOR AND I WANT THE AUDITOR TO GO INTO COMMISSIONER GARCIA'S OFFICE TO IDENTIFY RISK FACTORS. WE DON'T HAVE A CONTINGENCY PLAN FOR THE HOMELESS IN THE JAIL. DURING COVID AND NATURAL DISASTERS. IT HAS BEEN PROVEN THAT ISRAEL GARCIA HAS ALLOWED BAD LANDLORDS TO A PANAY IS LAW-ENFORCEMENT AGAINST TENANTS AND INCREASE THE HOMELESS POPULATION AND THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S OFFICE INCREASED THE JAIL WITH OVERCROWDING. WE NEED TO HAVE AN AUDIT ON HER AS WELL. WHOEVER SIGNED OFF ON THE CASES, IT HAD TO BE THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY. ADMINISTRATOR, WE NEED TO BE MORE EFFICIENT WITH INFORMATION PROMPTLY. E-FILE WAS BAD GOING ON THROUGH THE PANDEMIC. PEOPLE CANNOT FILE THEIR CASES. GETTING EVICTED FROM THEIR HOMES. MORE TRANSPARENCY AND OVERSIGHT IS WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT THESE DEPARTMENTS. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIME.

>> NON-AGENDA SPEAKER MARC ANTOINE ADAM AND DEBORAH SMITH. YOU EACH HAVE ONE MINUTE.

>> COMMISSIONER JUDGE , I'M THE NEW CEO OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD FOUNDATION USA OF THE EARLY CHILDHOOD IMPACT FUND. I WANT TO EXTEND YOUR MY GRATITUDE FOR THE ONGOING WORK THAT EMPOWERS THE CITY AND IMPART EVEN MORE CHILDREN AND FAMILIES IN THE COUNTY. OUR PROGRAM HAS A RETENTION RATE OF 85 PERSONS AMONG FAMILY AND CHILDREN THAT DEMONSTRATE A REVERENCE FOR EVERY SINGLE NEED TO CONTINUE TO PROVIDE ACCESS TO EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION IN THE COMMUNITY. WE CONTINUE SUPPORT AND THAT WILL MEAN TRANSFORMATIVE ACCESS TO EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION THAT EMPOWERS FAMILIES AND STRENGTHENS COMMUNITIES. THANK

YOU AND HAVE A GOOD DAY. >> THANK YOU FOR THE WORK THAT YOU DO.

[02:05:19]

>> GOOD MORNING. TO THE COMMISSIONERS COURT. I AM DEBORAH SMITH. ONE OF THE MOTHERS WHO LOST THEIR CHILD TO THE HARRIS COUNTY JAIL. I WOULD LIKE TO READ SOMETHING. IT IS SAID THAT NO ONE TRULY KNOWS A COMMUNITY UNTIL ONE HAS BEEN INSIDE ITS JAILS. IT SHOULD NOT BE JUDGED BY HOW IT TREATS ITS HIGHEST CITIZENS BUT IT'S LOWEST CITIZENS. NELSON MANDELA. I'M VERY CONCERNED ABOUT THE THINGS THAT HAVE HAPPENED IN THE JAIL. I HAVE SEEN SOME IMPROVEMENT AND I HAVE TO GIVE YOU GUYS CREDIT. BUT, I AM UPSET ABOUT SOMETHING I HEARD LAST WEEK IN THE CAPITAL. IN THE COMMISSIONERS MEETING ABOUT THE WATER. WHAT IS GOING ON WITH THE WATER? WHY IS IT THAT WE HAVE ISSUES WITH THE WATER DOWN IN HARRIS COUNTY JAIL? AND THE SOLUTION WAS TO USE BOTTLED WATER TO BAYS? THAT IS UNSANITARY. HOW DO YOU BATHE YOUR SKIN WITH BOTTLED WATER? NOT SURE IF THAT IS EVEN -- WE ALWAYS HAVE A PROBLEM. I HAVE A SOLUTION. I KNOW THAT THERE ARE HOMELESS ORGANIZATIONS THAT HAVE THE SHOWER TRAILERS, WE CAN GET SOMETHING IN THERE. I CANNOT BELIEVE WE SAID THAT WE WOULD USE BOTTLED WATER TO BATHE THEIR SKIN. I AM HOPING THEY ARE NOT COOKING ANYTHING THERE, THAT IS UNSANITARY TO

NOT HAVE RUNNING WATER. WHAT IS GOING ON? >> THANK YOU SO MUCH, MA'AM,

WE WILL FOLLOW UP. >> ALEXIS SWIRSKY AND -- NON-AGENDA SPEAKERS, YOU EACH

HAVE ONE MINUTE. >> THE FLOOD BOND HAS PASSED BRINGING A 14% INCREASE ON PROPERTY TAXES. I WANT YOU TO SPEND THIS MONEY ON WHAT IT IS SUPPOSED TO BE SPENT ON ACCORDING TO THE BOND LANGUAGE. EVERYONE DESERVES RESPECT BUT THE MAIN FUNCTION OF THE GOVERNMENT IS TO BUY FOR THE SAFETY OF ITS CITIZENS AND NOT PROVIDE DAY CARE, NOT TO PROMOTE SOCIAL JUSTICE THEORIES, NOT TO CIRCUMVENT FEDERAL LAW BY SHELTERING EVIL ALIENS IN THE COUNTY JAIL. WE ARE BLESSED TO HAVE A CIVIL ENGINEER SPECIALIZING AS A COUNTY COMMISSIONER, TOM RAMSEY. LISTEN TO HIM AND SPEND THE MONEY ON DECREASING FUTURE FLOODING IN HARRIS COUNTY AND ALL PRECINCTS. FLOODING AND CRIME HAVE HEARD MORE HARRIS COUNTY CITIZENS THAN ANYTHING ELSE AND THEY ARE A THREAT TO EVERYONE. THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU. >> ANY OTHER SPEAKERS? >> THAT IS ALL, JUDGE.

>> YES, WHAT IS YOUR NAME, SIR? >> I HAVE A SITUATION WITH ONE

OF THE HOSPITALS. >> CAN YOU STATE YOUR NAME FIRST, PLEASE?

>> JAMES LEAVITT. >> GO AHEAD. >> THIS IS ONE OF THE HOSPITALS OUT IN THE WOODLANDS. I DON'T KNOW IF IT IS MR. ELLIS OR MR. RAMSEY. MY MOTHER PASSED AWAY THREE YEARS AGO BY THIS HOSPITAL. AND WE HAVE BEEN IN SO MUCH RIGMAROLE WITH THEM AND I NEED TO KNOW WHY NEED TO CONTACT, WHICH JURISDICTION I NEED TO GO AFTER THESE PEOPLE.

I AM TAKING THEM TO COURT. BECAUSE THEY DID SOMETHING WRONG AND THEY ARE COVERING UP FOR. I WANT TO MAKE THESE PEOPLE ACCOUNTABLE FOR WHAT THEY HAVE DONE.

>> WE WILL FOLLOW UP WITH YOU. >> THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU ALL. ANY OTHER SPEAKERS, TIFFANY? >> THAT IS ALL, JUDGE.

[ Departments (Part 2 of 3)]

>> THANK YOU AND THANK YOU TO ALL THE SPEAKERS. LET'S MOVE ON TO MINOR CHANGES AND THEN

[02:10:02]

ACTION. >> JUDGE? ON ITEM 306, THERE IS A CORRECTION, YOU SHOULD READ

SECTION 551.076 ANDY REID'S 074. THERE IS AN ERROR. >> OKAY, GOOD. I WILL SEE TO THAT IN A MINUTE. AND THEN WE HAVE A CORRECTION ON 134. RECORDS MANAGEMENT REPLACE THE WHOLE AGENDA CAPTION SO THAT IT READS REQUEST FOR APPROVAL TO DESIGNATE THE APPROVAL OF RECORDS MANAGEMENT OFFICER TO SERVE AS THE MANAGEMENT PURSUANT TO LOCAL GOVERNMENT CODE ZERO 3.25. DID YOU HAVE SOMETHING TO ADD? I THINK YOU WERE MOVING THE PAPER.

>> ONE PAVER -- 136, REQUEST NO ACTION. THE TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE 551.076. AND THEN I DON'T SEE ANY OTHER CHANGES. JAMES, AM I MISSING ANYTHING? ALL RIGHT, LET'S GO OVER THE CONSENT AGENDA. WE ARE LOOKING AT EXECUTIVE SESSION STARTING THEIR, ITEM 304. HARRIS COUNTY WOMEN'S COMMISSION, DOES ANYBODY NEED TO GO INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION ON THAT ONE.

WHAT ABOUT 305? WHAT ABOUT 306 THE SERVICES FOR DISCUSSION? OKAY. 307, THE HARRIS COUNTY REDEVELOPMENT BOARD OF DIRECTORS. OKAY, NOW WE HAVE THE REGULAR AGENDA ITEMS. PRECINCT 2 REQUESTED ITEM 11. ARPA SLFRF COMMUNITY FACILITIES. YES. OKAY. LET ME GET TO TO ITEM SEVEN. WOULD SOMEBODY LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION? ALL IN FAVOR? ANY OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES 4-1. THAT ONE IS DONE. OFF OF THE DISCUSSION LIST. LET'S MOVE ON TO ITEM 12 THE SLIDE BY PRECINCT 3 WHAT YOU LIKE TO DISCUSS THE AGREEMENTS WITH F.L.E.X. FUNDS? THIS ONE WAS ALSO FLAGGED BY PRECINCT 3. COMMISSIONER RAMSEY ITEM 18, REPRESENTING --

>> YES. >> ITEM 21 PRECINCT BY -- ITEM 22 FLAGGED BY EVERYONE. PROCURE TO PAY UPDATES. I WILL TAKE THAT WITH 280. THEY ARE RELATED TO THE PROCUREMENT PAY PROCESS.

ITEM 23. THAT IS PRECINCT 3 FLAGGED FOR THE UNFUNDED PCN. 32 FLAGGED BY PRECINCT 3 AN

ADDITIONAL $30 MILLION FROM THE CONTINGENCY FUND. ITEM 35 -- >> CAN YOU TAKE THAT WITH ITEM

308, THEY RELATE TO THE EMERGENCY FROM LAST YEAR. >> ITEM 308, GOT IT. ALL RIGHT.

THEN WE ARE GOING FOR ITEM 35, THE HR TRANSFER UPDATE. ITEM 36, WE ARE TAKING ALONGSIDE 38.

AND THAT IS THE COMPENSATION PAY EQUITY PROJECT. ITEM 99, THE REQUEST OF PRECINCT 4 THAT IS IN A LOCAL AGREEMENT. OKAY. ITEM 100, PRECINCT 4, ALL RIGHT. FLAGGED BY PRECINCT 4.

OKAY. 133, FLAGGED BY PRECINCT 2. 178 FLAGGED BY PRECINCT 3. A LAWSUIT. I WILL MAKE THIS BRIEF. 191 FLIGHT BY PRECINCT 3, TRAINING. 247 FLAGGED BY PRECINCT 3. ASPHALT ROADWAY.

[02:15:07]

ITEMS 35 IS PROCURE TO PAY. ITEM 283 WE ALREADY -- >> IT IS THE COMMISSION REPORT.

>> CAN I ASK THAT IT IS TAKEN UP AFTER LUNCH? >> I WILL ASK MY STAFF TO REMIND ME OF THAT. FEEL FREER, COMMISSIONER IF I FORGET. 290, OKAY. AND -- OKAY, LET ME GO THROUGH IT AGAIN. EXECUTIVE SESSION ITEM 306, REGULAR AGENDA ITEMS 311, 12, 13, 18, 21, 22, 23, 32, 35, 36, 38, 99, 100, 101, 143, 178, 191, RO FIVE, 247. 280, 283, 290, 308.

HOW DOES THAT LOOK? ALL RIGHT, THIS IS A MOTION FOR ITEMS ALREADY VOTED FOR MESSAGE AND BY COMMISSIONER ELLIS. ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. THE MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.

>> I HAVE A FEW CLARIFICATIONS. ITEM 17, WAS THAT APPROVED AS PRESENTED?

>> I BELIEVE, LET'S SEE. LIMITED BUDGET FOR >> ELECTED OFFICIALS ELECTED

INTO OFFICE, I GUESS. >> ITEM 129. ITEM 130. >> ALL RIGHT, 129, YES.

APPROVED AS PRESENTED UNLESS MY COLLEAGUES DISAGREE, SAME WITH 130.

>> THANK YOU. >> OKAY, LET'S START WITH -- I WILL LEAVE EXECUTIVE SESSION FOR THE END. DO YOU GUYS WANT TO TAKE IT? OKAY, LET'S START WITH REGULAR AGENDA ITEM 11

FLAGGED BY PRECINCT 2. OH, DID WE VOTE? >> YES. I HAVE A MOTION SECONDED BY GARCIA. IT WAS UNANIMOUS. OKAY. THIS IS THE ARPA SLFRF .

>> YES. IT IS A PRIVILEGE TO SHARE SOME EXCITING NEWS ABOUT THESE GREAT PROJECTS COMING TO OUR COMMUNITY THAT WILL MAKE A BIG DIFFERENCE, A REAL DIFFERENCE IN THE LIVES OF RESIDENTS ACROSS PRECINCT 2 BEAR GOING TOWARDS NUMEROUS ORGANIZATIONS ACROSS THE COUNTY THAT ARE DEDICATED TO PROVIDING AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND ALLEVIATING FOOD INSECURITY AND INCREASING ACCESS TO MENTAL HEALTH CARE FOR RESIDENTS. EACH OF THESE LOCAL ORGANIZATIONS IS UNIQUELY POSITIONED TO SERVE MY PRECINCT. THE YMCA , AVENUE CDC, INTERFAITH MINISTRIES, AND CATHOLIC CHARITIES HAVE BEEN INCREDIBLE PARTNERS AND THIS FUNDING WILL HELP CREATE TRANSFORMATIONAL CHANGE TOWARDS LONG-TERM GROWTH. WITH FUNDING FOR RECONSTRUCTION, THE YMCA WILL GET A NEW LIFE OFFERING HEALTH AUTHORING FITNESS, EDUCATION AND WORKFORCE PROGRAMS FOR OVER 3000 RESIDENTS IN THE NORTHSIDE AREAS. A HUB FOR HEALTHY ACTIVITIES, JOB TRAINING AND YOUTH PROGRAMS. THIS FACILITY WILL NOT ONLY HELP RESIDENTS LIVE HEALTHIER LIVES WOULD ALSO GIVE YOUNG PEOPLE A SAFE SPACE TO LEARN AND GROW. SENIORS ARE ALSO RECEIVING VITAL HELP THROUGH THE MEALS ON WHEELS PROGRAM. THIS FUNDING WILL ENSURE THAT 1605 SENIORS IN PRECINCT 2 HAVE ACCESS TO NUTRITIOUS MEALS, DELIVERED RIGHT TO THEIR HOMES. FOR SENIORS, THIS MEANS THE SECURITY OF KNOWING WHERE THEIR NEXT MEAL IS COMING FROM. AND THE ABILITY TO STAY INDEPENDENT AT HOME. THESE PROJECTS REFLECT OUR COMMUNITY'S COMMITMENT TO SUPPORT, UPLIFT, AND EMPOWER OUR RESIDENTS. THEY TACKLE IMMEDIATE NEEDS LIKE FOOD AND SHELTER WHILE ALSO BUILDING A FOUNDATION FOR LONG-TERM

[02:20:04]

THESE ORGANIZATIONS WILL BENEFIT DRAMATICALLY AND AS A CONSEQUENCE THE COMMUNITY WILL BENEFIT

>>> FOUR IN FAVOR WITH ONE ABSTENTION. ITEM 12.

>> I AM PULLING THIS SIMPLY TO EXPRESS AGAIN, ENCOURAGE OUR VIGILANCE ON MANAGING THE FLEX FUND. THIS IS THE FLEX FUND, SET UP TO PROVIDE CERTAIN FOR LACK OF A BETTER WORD FLEXIBILITY IN HOW WE HANDLE OUR MONEY. I THINK WHEN YOU LOOK AT WHAT THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT IS DOING, COMING BACK TO DO THEIR AUDIT , I KNOW RECENTLY A NONPROFIT HAD 1.3 MILLION BEFORE ALLEGEDLY VIOLATING THE CIVIL MONETARY PENALTY LAW. ANYTIME WE HAVE SOMETHING THAT MIGHT BE EASIER FOR US TO DO, I WANT TO BE SURE WE ARE, IN FACT, MONITORING VERY CLOSELY . WHY ARE WE SPENDING THE MONEY, IS IT IN COMPLIANCE, MAKE SURE YOU'RE CROSSING OUR TEES AND OUTINGS OUR EYES. THAT'S MY WORD OF CAUTION.

>> COMMISSIONER ELLIS MOVES THE ITEM 2ND BY COMMISSIONER GARCIA. COMMISSIONER RAMSEY I DO NOT CATCH THE PROPOSAL IS THERE SOMETHING WE SHOULD DO OR THE ADMINISTRATION SHOULD DO?

>> THE FLEX FUND WAS SET UP SO IT DOES NOT HAVE TO GO THROUGH NEAR THE STRENUOUS EVALUATION OF SOME OF THE OTHERS. IT PROVIDES INCREDIBLE FLEXIBILITY FOR THE COUNTY WHICH UNDER THE RIGHT CIRCUMSTANCES COULD BE A GREAT THING. I AM JUST SAYING , THIS MONEY IS TO BE CAREFULLY MONITORED AS WE WORK TOWARD THE END OF THE YEAR WHEN ALL THE DECISIONS HAVE TO BE MADE ON WHERE THE ARPA MONEY WILL BE SPENT EXCEPT FOR THE FLEX FUND WHERE THAT MONEY HAS A LOT OF

FLEXIBILITY ON HOW IT CAN BE SPENT, JUST SAYING. >> A GREAT. MOTION BY COMMISSIONER ELLIS EXCUSE ME. RAMSEY? MOTION BY ELLIS AND SECOND BY GARCIA. ALL IN FAVOR? ANY OPPOSED ? I WILL ABSTAIN FOR THE SAME REASONS, THREE IN FAVOR, ONE ABSTENTION AND ONE

OPPOSED. OKAY LET'S MOVE ON TO 13. >> I PULLED THAT ONE. AGAIN, THIS IS THE LONE STAR LEGAL AID AND I THINK SOME OF THE INITIATIVES APPEAR TO BE WELL INTENDED. MY CONCERNS HAVE TO DO WITH THE PROGRAM , CANNOT PRESSURE OR GUARANTEE SUCCESSFUL OUTCOMES WITH LARGE AMOUNTS OF MONEY SPENT TO BE DETERMINED IF THERE IS A CASE VIABLE AND THERE ARE MANY ISSUES THAT SUPPORT EXISTING HOMEOWNERS, SELLING THEIR HOME EVEN IF THEY WERE NOT SELLING AT THE TIME THEY ARE ASKING FOR EIGHT. NOT STAYING OR BUYING THEIR FIRST HOME, I THINK IT IS PRETTY ABSTRACT. I THINK THERE'S A LOT OF NEEDS IN HARRIS COUNTY, I'M NOT SURE YOU'RE GETTING $1.855 MILLION OF VALUE OUT OF IT.

>> I MOVE IT. >> MOTION BY COMMISSIONER ELLIS, SECOND BY COMMISSIONER BRIONES. YOU GUYS FEEL YOU CAN FIGURE OUT METRICS BY WHICH TO MEASURE THE SUCCESS OF THE

PROGRAM? >> I THINK WE HAVE A LOT OF FOLKS THAT SPEND TIME MAKING SURE WE ARE COLLECTING THE DATA WE NEED SO WE CAN ASSESS THE IMPACT OF ANY OF THE PROGRAMS,

[02:25:05]

AVAILABLE TO SPEAK TO THIS MORE DIRECTLY. >> I DON'T WANT TO EXTEND TOO MUCH, BUT TO THE POINT COMMISSIONER RAMSEY MADE ON HOPEFULLY THERE IS A WAY TO STANDARDIZE THE EVALUATION , THE POINT SYSTEM, A WAY TO COMPARE HOW ONE PROGRAM SUCCEEDS IN RELATION TO THE OTHER AND I WANTED TO HEAR THE COMMITMENT. THERE WILL BE

EVALUATION ON THIS ONE AS WELL. >> ABSOLUTELY, IT WILL BE IMPORTANT TO KNOW WHAT PROGRAMS

WORKED AND PRODUCE THE OUTCOMES YOU WERE LOOKING FOR. >> ERECTOR DO YOU HAVE ANYTHING

TO ADD? >> YES JUST TO SAY IT IS BUILT INTO THE CONTRACT AND

EXPECTATIONS OF PERFORMANCE WILL BE MEASURED. >> OKAY, ALL RIGHT WONDERFUL.

THAT WAS 13, NOW ITEM 18. >> JUDGE? WE'RE GOING TO TAKE A VOTE?

>> RIGHT, IS THERE A MOTION? >> SECOND BY COMMISSIONER BRIONES. ALL IN FAVOR? ANY OPPOSED?? I AM IN FAVOR THE MOTION CARRIES 4-1. NOW ITEM 18.

>> THE REASON I PULLED THIS ONE RELATED TO THE, I THINK IN CONCEPT TERS HAS A LOT OF VALUE BUT IN A GENERIC SENSE I THINK IT CAN GET OUT OF HAND. I HEARD OF TERS 40 PLUS YEARS AGO. IT WAS ORIGINALLY INTENDED TO GO INTO NEIGHBORHOODS AND I USE ACRES HOME AND CREATED TERS AROUND THERE TO DO SPECIFIC IMPROVEMENTS IN AN AREA THAT IS UNDERSERVED , USE THE INCREMENT AS DEVELOPED, AS DEVELOPMENT OCCURS. I THINK I SEE MORE OF AN EXAMPLE OF THE GALLERIA AND I'M NOT SURE THE VALUE IN THE GALLERIA. AND SO I'M NOT NECESSARILY A GALLERIA TERS KIND OF GUY AND I DON'T KNOW THAT THE PROPOSED GUIDELINES REALLY SPEAK TO WHAT THE TERS IS OR IS NOT. I THINK IT IS CASE BY CASE BY CASE. THERE IS PROBABLY MERIT WHERE YOU WOULD DO A TERS BUT I THINK THIS IS FAR TOO GENERIC AND NEBULOUS FOR ME TO SUPPORT.

>> I WILL MOVE IT. >> GO AHEAD COMMISSIONER BRIONES.

>> I WILL SECOND AND FOR CLARITY, THIS IS THE OUTLINE INITIAL PROCESS DOCUMENT AND OCA WILL BE DEVELOPING THE FULL POLICY IN COLLABORATION WITH ALL RELEVANT DEPARTMENTS.

CORRECT? >> YES COMMISSIONER, WE JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE THE COURT GOT TO SEE WHERE WE WERE ON THIS HIGH LEVEL TO MAKE SURE WE ARE ON THE RIGHT TRACK

BASICALLY. >> YES COMMISSIONER GARCIA. >> I AM GLAD WE ARE DOING THIS, BUT I HAVE A FEW FRIENDLY AMENDMENTS I WOULD LIKE TO PROPOSE. THE FIRST ONE IS UNDER GOVERNANCE AND INFORMATION THAT WE ADD, THE FREQUENCY OF TRANSMITTING A REPORT TO COMMISSIONERS COURT ON THE ZONE ACTIVITY, THE ZONE SHOULD TRANSMIT A REPORT , IS IT WILL? YEAH. THE ZONE WILL TRANSMIT REPORT AT LEAST ANNUALLY. SO THAT WOULD BE MY FIRST FRIENDLY AMENDMENT. THE SECOND IS ON 4 A, ADD IT TO THE END OF THE FIRST SENTENCE WHICH MAY INCLUDE HOUSING FOR PEOPLE EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS. THAT WOULD BE THE SECOND ONE. THE THIRD FRIENDLY AMENDMENT IS TO ADD 4 A YES, CONSIDERATION SHOULD ALSO BE GIVEN TO A SET ASIDE IN ADDITION TO THESE SET ASIDE FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING TO FUND SUPPORTIVE SERVICES FOR

[02:30:06]

THOSE WOULD BE MY THREE FRIENDLY AMENDMENTS. >> THEY ARE FINE WITH ME I WILL SECOND. OBVIOUSLY THE LAST IS NOT MANDATORY. AND I LOVE THIS, YOUR CHANGES, COMMISSIONER GARCIA. I AM REALLY REALLY PROUD OF THE WAY THAT WE ALL WORKED WITH THE MAYOR'S ADMINISTRATION ON REDUCING HOMELESSNESS. 18% I THINK AT SOME POINT WAS MORE DURING THE PANDEMIC AND IT HAS NOT GONE BACK UP DRAMATICALLY BY ANY MEANS. KNOW THERE WAS A LOT WRITTEN ABOUT IT, AT THE TIME, THE CITY PUT MORE FUNDING FROM THEIR ARPA DOLLARS THEN WE DID SO I AM COMFORTABLE SUBSIDIZING, SO TO SPEAK A LITTLE BIT OF THEIR WORK ON HOMELESSNESS. THE ONE THING THAT I WOULD LIKE TO TWEAK IS THE FOCUS, IF YOU'RE GOING TO DECIDE TO INVEST THIS INTO HOMELESSNESS OR A CHUNK OF IT TO HOMELESSNESS, IS TO MAKE SURE IT WOULD BE FOR HOUSING FIRST PROGRAMS. THE PROGRAMS THAT HELP US ACHIEVE SUCCESS AND HELP HOMELESS PEOPLE GET INTO SAFE HOUSING AND RECEIVE SERVICES TO STAY HOUSED LONG-TERM. SO MY FRIENDLY AMENDMENT WOULD BE TO ADD INITIATIVES FUNDED THROUGH THIS SET ASIDE SHOULD ALIGN WITH THE REGION HOUSING FIRST APPROACH TO HOMELESSNESS.

>> I'M FINE WITH THAT. >> THAT WORKS. >> OKAY DO YOU HAVE ALL THE

TWEAKS? >> YES. >> QUICK QUESTION. THE BEGINNING OF THE MOTION IS DIRECTING TO WORK WITH TO FINALIZE THE TERS POLICY. WHAT

IS THE EXPECTED TIMELINE? >> SURE. COMMISSIONER I THINK AND JUDGE, THE IDEA BEHIND THIS ITEM WAS TO ALLOW THE COURT TO REALLY HAVE A MUCH MORE DELIBERATE PROCESS WHERE ALL FIVE OF YOU COULD REALLY GET INTO THE WEEDS AND IT'S GREAT YOU GUYS ARE ABLE TO DO THAT.

THE IDEA WOULD BE, WE WOULD TAKE THESE COMMENTS BEING MADE AND SUGGESTIONS, INCORPORATE INTO THIS POLICY DOCUMENT AND BRING IT BACK AT THE DECEMBER MEETING FOR YOU ALL TO EITHER APPROVE, HOPEFULLY APPROVE IT AND THAT WOULD MAKE IT EASIER. SO THE IDEA WOULD BE TO BRING

IT BACK AT THE NEXT MEETING, INCORPORATING THE CHANGES . >> HOLD ON. YOU DON'T HAVE TO

VOTE. YOU DON'T HAVE TO VOTE ON IT TODAY. >> CAN WE?

>> IT WILL MAKE ALL FEEL BETTER. >> TO SEE WHAT YOU MIGHT WANT ADDED IN SO WE MAKE SURE WE HAVE FULL VETTING WITH COURT MEMBERS WITH ANYTHING THAT

MIGHT BE MISSING. >> THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT I WOULD SAY. AT THE VERY LEAST GIVE US A CHANCE TO SEND YOU ALL THE FINAL VERSION. JUST BECAUSE I KNOW AS I SAID THIS IS A ITERATIVE PROCESS SO YOU THE OPPORTUNITY TO MATURE EVERYONE IS COMFORTABLE WITH IT BECAUSE

THESE ARE SUPPORTED . >> A BRIEF COMMENT ON HOUSING. ALL OF THE MONEY WE SPEND, THE CITY AND THE COUNTY ON HOMELESSNESS SO FAR HAS BEEN FEDERAL MONEY TO THE EXTENT THAT MONEY IS NO LONGER AVAILABLE IF YOU'RE SERIOUS ABOUT IT WE WILL HAVE TO MAKE A DECISION ON WHETHER OR NOT WE AS GENERAL FUND OR SOME OTHER MONEY. I DO KNOW THE CITY IN 1990 AND 91 PUT A ITEM ON THE BALLOT AND LET THE VOTERS DECIDE TO INVEST 15 OR 20 MILLION IN AFFORDABLE HOUSING DID NOT ALWAYS TURN OUT TO BE AS AFFORDABLE AS THE AUTHOR OF THE PROGRAM INTENDED, BUT IT IS A GOOD THING AND EVERY MAYOR CONTINUES TO PUT 20 MILLION ON THE BALLOT AND I THINK MAYOR PARKER REDUCED IT TO 18 MILLION THEN THEY FOUND OUT THEY HAD NOT BEEN ISSUING THE BONDS. YOU HAVE TO SERVICE THE DEBT SO YOU HAVE 20 MILLION WITH SEVERAL MAYORS BUT AT SOME POINT WE MIGHT HAVE TO MAKE A DECISION BECAUSE THE MONEY IS GOING TO HAVE TO COME FROM SOMEWHERE. I JUST WANT TO STRESS THAT TO GET US READY.

>> IN MY EXTENSIVE EXPENSE WITH TERS WANT TO GO TO EXISTENCE AND BEGAN THE PROCESS, THEY GAIN A LIFE OF THEIR OWN AND THEY GO UNREGULATED, UNMITIGATED AND THEY'RE OUT DOING THINGS NO ONE INTENDED, SO I THINK IT IS PANDORA'S BOX. YOU ARE TAKING MONEY FROM THE

[02:35:04]

>> COMMISSIONER WHEN WE WORKED WITH YOUR STAFF THIS FIRST DOCUMENT WAS MET TO BE SOME HIGH-LEVEL PROCEDURES. WE KNOW THERE'S A LOT OF ACTIVITY GOING ON. THIS WAS MEANT TO NOT BE A REAL POLICY DOCUMENT TO GOVERN YOUR ACTIONS WERE LIKE HERE ARE THE DATES WE NEED WITH SOME OF THE INFORMATION THAT SHOULD COME BACK TO GIVE THE COURT MORE CLARITY ON THIS PARTICULAR TERS. IT IS CASE-BY-CASE, DOES IT HAVE ENOUGH DOESN'T HAVE WHAT YOU NEED? THAT'S WHAT THIS DOCUMENT WAS. WE ARE HAPPY TO COME BACK. I THINK IT WILL TAKE TIME A FEW MONTHS TO GET WITH STAFF ON POLICY MATTERS AND GET WITH THE COURT WANTS TO SEE IN A REAL TERS POLICY. WE KIND OF AVOIDED THAT THIS TIME, BUT WE ARE HAPPY TO GO BACK AND WORK

WITH STAFF. >> DO WE NEED A SUNSET POLICY?

>> THAT COULD BE SOMETHING YOU COULD CONSIDER. >> I JUST WANT TO SAY AND STRESS THERE ARE TWO SEPARATE ISSUES. THIS DOCUMENT AS THE JUDGE SAID IS VERY HIGH-LEVEL AND IS INTENDED TO BE SO. I WOULD DISCOURAGE US FROM GETTING TO EXCESSIVELY DETAILED TERS POLICY AND THE REASON IS EACH TERS AND EACH OF YOU HAVE BEEN INVOLVED IN THE PROCESS.

ALL OF YOU ARE INVOLVED IN A ONGOING TERS EACH TIME IT COMES IN WITH A SEPARATE INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT THAT GOVERNS THE COUNTY PARTICIPATION IN THAT TERS AND IT WILL VARY SLIGHTLY BY EACH ONE, THE IDEA BEHIND THIS IS TO CREATE A SET OF INTERNAL PROCESSES AND GOVERNING PRINCIPLES THAT WE WOULD HAVE, BUT THE INDIVIDUAL TERS TO SOME OF THE POINTS COMMISSIONER RAMSEY MAKING ARE UNIQUE. SO THERE IS A UNIQUE RELATIONSHIP WE HAVE WITH EACH ONE WITH DIFFERENT FACTORS, WHAT WORKS TERS ONE OR TWO NOT WORK FOR 24 ET CETERA SO I WANT US TO BE FLEXIBLE AND NOT HAVE HARD AND RIGID RULES THAT WON'T MAKE IT MORE DIFFICULT TO DEAL WITH A DIFFERENT DEVELOPMENT MODELS THAT EACH OF YOU ARE CONTEMPLATING IN ALL OF

YOUR UNIQUE AREAS OF TOWN. >> THANK YOU. COMMISSIONER ELLIS.

>> I DO AGREE WITH COMMISSIONER RAMSEY THAT MANY ARE OUT OF CONTROL AND WE HAVE ALL READ THOSE ACCOUNTS ON IT. WHEN I WAS IN THE LEGISLATURE WE DID NOT REALLY KNOW WHAT WE WERE CREATING WHEN WE GAVE LOCALS THE ABILITY TO CREATE THAT AND I AGREE WITH YOU BUT THERE OUGHT TO BE SOME BASIC COUNTYWIDE PRINCIPLES IF THEY ARE GOING TO DO IT. IF THEY HAVE A TERS THAT WE OUGHT TO MAKE THEM COMPLY WITH OR NOT HAVE THEM BECAUSE WE DON'T WANT TO GO REINFORCE PROBLEMS THAT EXISTED HISTORICALLY. I KNOW IN THIS POLICY SOME ISSUES LIKE WE WANT TO HOLD THEM TO A HIGHER STANDARD SO THE USE TERS INVESTMENTS TO CREATE GOOD JOBS, EXPAND OPPORTUNITIES , BUILD AFFORDABLE HOUSING, WHICH IS NEEDED, PUT MONEY BACK IN HISTORICALLY UNDERSERVED NEIGHBORHOODS. A LOT OF THAT IS IN THERE BUT I CHALLENGE YOU TO LOOK AT IT CLOSELY. I DO LIKE THE IDEA OF SOME OF YOU. OBVIOUSLY IF THEY GO MAKE A LONG-TERM COMMITMENT, THEY HAVE TO FOLLOW THROUGH AND SERVICE WHATEVER DEBT IS CREATED SO YOU HAVE TO FIGURE OUT SOME LOOPHOLES FOR YOU SUNSET. YOU DON'T WANT TO SUNSET AND 70 COMES TO US AND SAYS THE SUN IS UP, THE SUN IS GONE AND YOU PAY FOR IT. YOU HAVE TO SORT

THROUGH THOSE ISSUES AS WELL. >> ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WAS IMPORTANT IN THE POLICY WAS TO BE ABLE, THE TIMING AND THE STRUCTURE OF HOW WE ENTER MATTERS IN TERMS OF WHETHER IT IMPACTS THE GENERAL FUND SO THAT IS IN THE OFFICE WORKING CLOSELY WITH ALL THE RELEVANT DEPARTMENTS TO ENSURE THE GENERAL FUND IS PROTECTED IF WE WERE TO FOLLOW THESE

GUIDELINES. >> COMMISSIONER BRIONES OR SORRY.

>> NO NO NO, PLEASE. >> THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER. TO BE CLEAR WE AGREE WE NEED, THIS IS A PROCESS DOCUMENT FOR TODAY AND I HAVE SOME MOTIONS SO WE ARE ALL CRYSTAL-CLEAR AND THERE WILL BE DETAILED GUIDANCE THAT COMES BACK THAT IS A MORE DETAILED FRAMEWORK CORRECT? SO

WE ARE ON THE SAME PAGE. >> YES WE WORK AND THEN COME BACK.

[02:40:02]

>> ANYWAY, THIS LANGUAGE THEY WERE TALKING ABOUT SOME ADDITIONS BUT TO LAY THE GROUNDWORK FOR PURPOSES OF CLARITY THIS WAS CIRCULATED TO ALL FIVE OFFICES MOTION TO DIRECT OCA TO WORK WITH HCD, OMB AND CAO , SO MANY ABBREVIATIONS AND COURT OFFICES TO FINALIZE A TERS POLICY OUTLINING OR DETAILED GUIDANCE FOR PARTICIPATION INCLUDING THE USE OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING FUNDS. THAT WAS THE BASIS AND THEN THE ADDITIONS WERE MADE.

>> I'M FINE WITH THAT, COMMISSIONER GARCIA. >> TO YOUR POINT , COMMISSIONER ELLIS. THE IDEA THAT THESE TERS WILL GO ON IN PERPETUITY AND THEN WE FIND OUT PROBLEMS LATER AND WE START HAVING QUESTIONS AND THEN TRYING TO REEL THINGS IN, SWITCHING OUT BOARD MEMBERS AND THE LIKE, THIS IS WHY IT IS IMPORTANT TO HAVE A ANNUAL REPORTING, NOT MUCH CAN HAPPEN SHORT OF THAT , BUT IT WILL GIVE OPPORTUNITY TO GET WITH THE BUDGET IS, WHAT THE INCREMENTS ARE, MAKE SURE WE ARE ON TOP OF THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND MAYBE THE HOMELESS INITIATIVES THAT MAY BE COMING OUT OF IT. SO FOR ME THE REPORTING PROCESS BECAUSE THE CITY OF HOUSTON HAD VIRTUALLY ZERO REPORTING TO THE COUNCIL SO I THINK THAT'S ONE THING I WANT TO SEE COME OUT OF THIS. ON THE SUNSET I DON'T HAVE AN OPINION ONLY BECAUSE WE MAY NOT WANT TO DO THAT. OBVIOUSLY WE CAN EXPLORE THAT AS WE GO ON, BUT WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT AT LEAST IN THE GUIDING PRINCIPLES BECAUSE WE MAY NOT BE HERE THE NEXT TIME THIS GROUP COMES BEFORE US, SO I WANT TO MAKE SURE WE HAVE AS MUCH AS WE CAN PUT WHILE NOT

BEING CULTURAL MICROMANAGING. >> THAT YOU GUYS. SOUNDS LIKE WE ARE ON THE SAME PAGE. IT WOULD BE GREAT TO JUST PASS THE VARIOUS AMENDMENTS. JAMES, SO WE HAVE THAT, BUT IT SOUNDS LIKE YOU WILL WORK ON SOMETHING, COME BACK AND FIGURE OUT WHAT LEVEL OF GRANULARITY MAKES SENSE TO MAINTAIN SOME OVERSIGHT AND FEASIBILITY. DID YOU CATCH ALL OF THEM , ALL OF THE AMENDMENTS INCLUDING COMMISSIONER BRIONES ADDITIONS?

>> YES MA'AM. TO BE CLEAR YOU ARE VOTING ON COMMISSIONER BRIONES MOTION THAT SHE SPOKE AND AMENDMENTS THAT COMMISSIONER GARCIA MADE AND THE AMENDMENT YOU MADE.

>> DID YOUR MOTION ALREADY HAVE THE WORK WITH HCD, OMB, CAO? YOU ARE CORRECT. DO WE HAVE A MOTION? MOTION BY COMMISSIONER GARCIA. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER BRIONES. ALL IN FAVOR? ANY OPPOSED? I AM IN FAVOR MOTION CARRIES 4-1. LET'S MOVE ON ITEM 21.

>> WHY DON'T WE TAKE A BREAK FOR LUNCH AND COME BACK AFTERWARDS?

>> ALL RIGHT. SO IT IS 11:53. LET'S BE BACK AT 10 UNTIL 2:00.

>> 12:53. >> YES, THANK YOU. SURE. I AM TRIED TO

>>> OKAY. IT IS 2: 06 AND COMMISSIONERS COURT IS BACK IN SESSION AND WE'RE GOING TO GO

TO ITEM 21 ON THE EQUITY INITIATIVE. >> JUDGE, MY STAFF IS NOT HERE

YET. >> CAN WE DO 200 CAN WE DO 283 THE LGBTQ REPORT? SO YES, 283.

>> OKAY I AM THRILLED AND THANKFUL THAT WE HAVE KEY MEMBERS OF OUR LGBTQ COMMISSION HERE TO PRESENT THE FINDINGS OF OUR FIRST INAUGURAL REPORT. AS YOU MAY REMEMBER, LAST SUMMER, IN 2023 WE CREATED THIS COMMISSION WHICH IS THE THIRD-LARGEST COUNTY IN THE COUNTRY I WANT US TO BE LEADING FOR ALL THE RIGHT REASONS AND AS WE DISCUSSED EARLIER TODAY, HERE IN HARRIS COUNTY WE ARE COMMITTED TO EQUALITY . WE ARE COMMITTED TO JUSTICE AND WE WILL NOT LET DISCRIMINATION STAND IN HARRIS COUNTY. THIS IS MORE THAN WORDS, WE FORMED THIS COMMISSION SO THAT WE COULD HAVE ACTIONABLE RECOMMENDATIONS IN HOW WE CAN CONTINUE TO

[02:45:05]

FORWARD TO HEARING FROM YOU. THANK YOU. >> MY NAME IS READ PRITCHETT, I AM THE CHAIR OF THE LGBTQ COMMISSION IN HARRIS COUNTY. I DO WANT TO TAKE A MINUTE TO THANK COMMISSIONER BRIONES FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP ARE HELPING TO MAKE THIS COMMISSION A REALITY AND TO JUDGE HIDALGO AND OTHER MEMBERS OF THE COURT WHO VOTED IN SUPPORT OF THIS COMMISSION.

ALSO WANT TO ECHO THANKS TO PRECINCT 4 STAFF IN PARTICULAR. KEEPING US, PROVIDING WITH INVALUABLE SUPPORT AND RESOURCES OF THE COURSE OF THE LAST YEAR. YOU HAVE THE REPORT IN FRONT OF YOU. WE HAPPY TO TAKE QUESTIONS, BUT I WOULD GIVE THE VICE CHAIR THE OPPORTUNITY TO TALK ABOUT SOME OF THE FINDINGS AND YEAH, WE WILL BE HERE TO ANSWER

QUESTIONS. >> THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU ONCE AGAIN MY NAME IS BRENDAN, VICE CHAIR THE LGBTQ COMMISSION . ONCE AGAIN I WANT TO THANK COMMISSIONER BRIONES FOR LEADERSHIP IN SUPPORT OF THE COMMISSION AND I LIKE TO THANK ALL COMMISSIONERS AND THE COUNTY JUDGE FOR SUPPORT, SPECIFICALLY MY COMMISSIONER COMMISSIONER ELLIS , THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SERVE. OUR COMMISSION HAS BEEN BUSY WITH OFFERING LISTENING SESSIONS TO HEAR FROM OUR COMMUNITY ABOUT ISSUES OF CONCERN AND IDEAS TO IMPLEMENT BETTER SUPPORT TO ADDRESS THESE CONCERNS. SPECIFICALLY I WANT TO HIGHLIGHT THE NEED FOR INVESTING IN LGBTQ EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES AT OUR COUNTY COMMUNITY CENTERS BECAUSE WHEN WE LEARN ABOUT EACH OTHER, IT MAKES IT THAT MUCH HARDER TO DEVALUE ONE ANOTHER AND WE ARE IN NEED OF THAT SO LOOK FORWARD TO CONTINUING TO FIND WAYS IN WHICH WE CAN CONTINUE THAT INVESTMENT. THIS COMMISSION IS IMPORTANT NOT ONLY FOR REPRESENTATION, BUT ALSO FOR THE COMMITMENT THAT HARRIS COUNTY IS MAKING TO THE LGBTQ COMMUNITY TO ENSURE WE ARE ALWAYS AT THE TABLE AND IN PARTNERSHIP WITH LOCAL GOVERNMENT TO ADDRESS NEEDS AND ISSUES. I LOOK FORWARD TO CONTINUED WORK ESPECIALLY ON A LARGE SCALE LGBTQ TOWNHALL REMINISCENT OF HOUSTON'S TOWNHALL MEETING ONE HELD ON JUNE 25, 1978 TO CONTINUE BUILDING COMMUNITY IN PARTNERSHIP WITH HARRIS COUNTY. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND

COMMITMENT AND MUST CONTINUE OUR GREAT WORK TOGETHER. >> THANK YOU. DR. GONZALEZ.

>> I JUST WANT TO THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER BRIONES THE COMMISSIONERS AND ALL OF YOUR STAFF EVERYONE HERE WHO HAS WORKED VERY HARD. IT IS AMAZING . I CAME HERE IN 1991. NO SUCH CONCEPT WOULD HAVE HAPPENED THEN, BUT TODAY WE HAVE A COMMISSION THAT LOOKS TO MAKE SURE THAT THE LGBTQ COMMUNITY IS PART OF HARRIS COUNTY AND A VALUABLE PART OF HARRIS COUNTY.

THANK YOU. >> THINK YOU. I KNOW WE HAVE GOT TO WORK ON SOME OF THE RECOMMENDATIONS. COMMISSIONER GARCIA AND I MET WITH SHERIFF GONZALES WHO PLEDGED COMMITMENT AND SUPPORT TO WORK ON SOME OF THE RECOMMENDATIONS AND A LOT MORE IS COMING. HE WILL HAVE GOTTEN TO KNOW ME WELL OVER THE YEARS AND A REPORT IS IMPORTANT BUT MOST IMPORTANT IS THE ACTION WE WILL TAKE AND WHAT WE WILL DO TOGETHER IN UNITY BECAUSE HERE IN HARRIS COUNTY, WE WILL BE ADVANCING JUSTICE WITH EVERYTHING WE HAVE BECAUSE NOT ONLY IS IT THE RIGHT THING TO DO, BUT IT IS IMPERATIVE THAT ALL OF US CAN BE OUR AUTHENTIC SELVES AND BE SAFE

[02:50:07]

BENDING THE ARC OF JUSTICE. >> OKAY LET'S CLAP FIRST AND THEN WE CAN TAKE THE OTHER

QUESTION. >> COMMISSIONER GARCIA. >> THANK YOU FOR YOUR WORK.

YOUR WORK OVER THE YEARS. I WAS SHARING YESTERDAY ON A CALL WITH THE COMMISSIONER HOW YOU AND OTHERS HELPED ME TO CONSTRUCT SOME CONTEMPORARY POLICIES. ONCE WE LEARNED ABOUT HOW SOME FOLKS WERE BEING TREATED ON INTAKE, IN SPITE OF A FULL TRANSITION. AND SO I JUST WANT TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR HELP AND WORK ON THAT. I'M EXCITED , COMMISSIONER BRIONES BROUGHT US TOGETHER YESTERDAY SO WE ARE EXCITED ABOUT MAKING SURE THOSE POLICIES AND EFFORTS ARE GOING TO BE , YET AGAIN, FRONT AND CENTER TO SUPPORT THE COMMUNITY. SO THANK YOU WELL.

>> COMMISSIONER ELLIS. >> I WANT TO COMMEND YOU FOR THE WORK YOU ARE DOING, ENCOURAGE YOU TO KEEP DOING IT. THE IDEA OF HAVING MEETINGS ALL AROUND THE COUNTY IS VERY IMPORTANT AND I KNOW ALL OF US WILL MAKE OFFICES AVAILABLE TO HELP BUT I WANT TO ENCOURAGE YOU TO KEEP THE PROCESS GOING. I HOPE IT IS A MODEL FOR THE OTHER COMMISSIONS WE HAVE CREATED, AS WELL. I KNOW THE WOMEN'S COMMISSION HAS DONE THAT AS WELL.

>> THANK YOU WELL. CAN I ASK A FEW QUESTIONS? SO IN TERMS OF THE EDUCATION RESOURCES AT COMMUNITY CENTERS, WHAT KIND OF THING WERE YOU THINKING ABOUT WHAT DID YOU HEAR FROM THE

VARIOUS COMMUNITIES? >> SO WHAT WE HAVE CURVE -- HEARD, ESPECIALLY GIVEN THE FACT FOR EXAMPLE AT THE UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON NO LONGER HAVING THEIR LGBTQ RESOURCE CENTER, THERE IS A NEED FOR THERE TO BE BOOKS, EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES IN TERMS OF HOW TO INTERACT AND BETTER UNDERSTAND THE COMMUNITY. THERE IS A NEED FOR MATERIALS TO BE MADE AVAILABLE SO THAT IS ONE THING WE HOPE TO MAKE MORE ACCESSIBLE THROUGH COMMUNITY CENTERS, TO BE THAT KIND OF ACCESS TO BOOKS, ADDITIONAL RESOURCES, TO BETTER EDUCATE PEOPLE ON FULL

DIVERSITY OF THE LGBTQ IMMUNITY. >> REASONABLY PEOPLE THAT

IDENTIFY AS LGBTQ OR MAYBE YOUNG PEOPLE OR WHATEVER. >> EXACTLY.

>> ONE THOUGHT AND HE PROBABLY THOUGHT ABOUT THIS. LIBRARY IS A BANNED BOOK SANCTUARY. BE THERE IS A SECTION THEY CAN CREATE OR SOMETHING YOU CAN PROMOTE THE VARIOUS LIBRARY BRANCHES. I DON'T KNOW IF YOU ARE ALREADY WORKING WITH THE DIRECTOR, BUT HAPPY TO

ENCOURAGE THAT CONNECTION. >> ONE OF THE THINGS WITH THE LOSS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON AND YOU RESOURCE CENTER WAS IN FACT BEYOND BOOKS AND INFORMATION, BUT GATHERING PLACES. WE ARE HOPING THE COMMUNITY CENTERS CAN ALSO BE GATHERING PLACES. BY ENCOURAGING THAT, MAKING SURE THAT THE HARRIS COUNTY RESOURCES INFORMATION IS AVAILABLE THERE , AS WELL. YOU WILL HAVE SOME WONDERFUL KIOSKS. I HAVE SEEN THOSE IN THE COMMUNITY CENTERS, I HAVE BEEN REALLY IMPRESSED. LOOK UP AND IDENTIFY INFORMATION FAIRLY QUICKLY AND WE WOULD LIKE TO MAKE SURE THAT INCLUDES OUR COMMUNITY. WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THE COMMISSION AND ITS MEETINGS ARE UP ON THE KIOSK. CONCRETE SIMPLE THINGS LIKE THAT, THAT WE WANT TO SEE BUT MOST OF ALL WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT EVERY MEMBER OF THE LGBTQ COMMUNITY IN HARRIS COUNTY FEELS WELCOME IN ALL SPACES OF SERVICE. REALLY, THOSE COMMUNITY CENTERS

ARE SO VALUABLE TO OUR COMMUNITIES BROADLY. >> YEAH, I CAN UNDERSTAND THAT.

I WILL SAY EVERYTHING HERE, FROM THE SUMMARIES OF WHAT THE COMMUNITY SAID TO THE POLICY RECOMMENDATIONS ARE VERY REALISTIC AND CLEARLY THOUGHT ABOUT AND IT MAKES SENSE BASED ON WHO WAS PART OF THE COMMISSION. I REALLY APPRECIATE THAT BECAUSE IT MAKES IT EASIER

[02:55:01]

REPRESENTATION FOR BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS? >> I THINK WE HAVE A PIPELINE OF LEADERS WITHIN THE LGBTQ COMMUNITY NOW WITH VARYING INTERESTS THAT FIT INTO A LOT OF THE BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS THAT YOU HAVE POWER TO APPOINT FOLKS TO. IT'S A MATTER OF BEING ON THE COMMISSIONS AND WORKING TO ENSURE A GOOD LIST OF CANDIDATES IS PROVIDED TO

MEET THE NEEDS OF THE COMMISSIONS AND THE BOARDS. >> I WOULD ENCOURAGE YOU GUYS.

WE PASSED, I WANT TO SAY LAST YEAR OR MAYBE BEFORE, A POLICY OF EIGHT YEAR TERMS ON COMMISSIONS AND BOARDS. BUT THAT HAS NOT BEEN ENFORCED. I ENCOURAGE YOU GUYS, OBVIOUSLY YOU HAVE SUPPORT ON THIS BOARD. YOU WILL BE WITH YOU MORE PEOPLE IN ALL COMMUNITIES TO HAVE A CHANCE TO SERVE TO THE EXTENT THAT FOLKS ARE NOT THERE FOR LORD KNOWS HOW LONG. I WOULD ENCOURAGE YOU GUYS TO LOBBY FOR THAT AND THE LAST QUESTION IS ON, WELL OBVIOUSLY, YOU KNOW, WE ARE THERE. I HAVE MY REPRESENTATIVES ON THE BOARD AND I THINK ALL OF YOU HAVE MY PHONE NUMBER SO YOU CAN ALWAYS REACH ME IF SOMETHING'S NOT GOING AS EFFICIENTLY AS YOU THINK IT SHOULD. MAYBE A QUESTION FOR THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR ON THIS. WHICH DEPARTMENT, WHO WOULD BE LOOKING INTO THESE KINDS OF ISSUES ? FOR EXAMPLE LOOKING AT QUALITY OF LIFE SURVEY, HELPING WITH COMMUNAL, WHEN THE FOLKS FIGURE OUT A PROPOSAL FOR COMMUNITY CENTERS OR THE LIBRARY, WOULD THAT BE A ONE-OFF CONTACT OR IS THERE SOMEWHERE IN COUNTY ADMINISTRATION THAT THEY COULD BE DIRECTED?

>> I THINK WITHIN OUR OFFICE, WOULD BE THE BEST MOST CENTRAL PLACE BECAUSE THEN WE CAN WORK WITH OCA REPORTING DEPARTMENTS AND OTHER DEPARTMENTS AT THE COUNTY HAS NEEDED. CHIEF EQUITY OFFICER AND I HAVE BEEN TALKING ABOUT REALLY THINKING ABOUT HER OFFICE AS CIVIL AND HUMAN RIGHTS OFFICE. WITH A BROAD UMBRELLA MORE THAN JUST EQUITY. AND SO I THINK THIS IS SOMETHING THAT COULD FIT WITHIN THAT ARENA AND WE HAVE ALSO BEEN DOING SOME COUNTYWIDE SURVEYS. AS FAR AS COUNTY EMPLOYEE SURVEYS ON EQUITY ISSUES, WE ARE ALREADY DOING

SOME OF THAT WORK. >> YEAH, I KNOW ONE OF THEM WAS TO BETTER EDUCATE COUNTY EMPLOYEES. THERE IS OBVIOUSLY A LOT OF BIAS. I THINK IT WOULD BE HELPFUL TO HAVE THAT CONNECTION WITH COUNTY ADMINISTRATION. AND HERE IS WHY. THAT WAY IT IS MORE INSTITUTIONALIZED. THAT THE LGBTQ COMMUNITY HAS A VOICE AND A PATHWAY TO MAKE THOSE CONCERNS KNOWN. AGAIN, IT IS NOT STUFF , THE STUDY WOULD PROBABLY TAKE FUNDING. THE OTHER PIECES , I DON'T THINK. DIRECTOR RAMOS MIGHT STEP ON ME HERE BUT I DON'T THINK THESE ARE COSTLY PROPOSALS AT ALL, IF ANYTHING. SO, JUST FOR IT TO BE A MATTER OF COURSE. YOU KNOW FOR YOU GUYS TO BE ABLE TO HAVE A LIAISON WITHIN THE ADMINISTRATION ITSELF. SO ANYWAY, IT IS EXCITING, THANK YOU GUYS SO MUCH. IT'S NOT OFTEN THAT WE GET RECOMMENDATIONS LIKE THIS THAT CAN REALLY BE SO EASILY IMPLEMENTED RELATIVELY

SPEAKING. DEFINITELY HOLD US TO IT. >> ONE LAST THING, YOU SAID SOMETHING THAT'S REALLY PIVOTAL. INSTITUTIONALIZING OUR COMMUNITY IN THE CULTURE OF HARRIS COUNTY. THAT'S ONE OF THE THINGS COMMISSIONER GARCIA STARTED WHEN HE WAS SHERIFF AND

[03:00:01]

YOU. >> THANK YOU GUYS SO MUCH. >> THANK YOU AGAIN BRAD, BRENDAN AND DR. GONZALEZ. WE APPRECIATE YOUR. SPEAKING FOR ME AND MY COLLEAGUES WOULD AGREE OPEN INVITATION TO OUR COMMUNITY CENTERS ARE YOUR SPACES. THEY BELONG TO THE PEOPLE OF HARRIS COUNTY ALL DAY EVERYDAY AND EDUCATIONAL MATERIALS, THE TOOLKITS AS SOON AS THEY ARE READY I WILL PERSONALLY DELIVER THEM TO THE COMMUNITY CENTERS AND HELP IN EVERY WAY THAT WE CAN. I AM SMILING SO MUCH BECAUSE I USED TO BE MIDDLE SCHOOL AND HIGH SCHOOL TEACHER IN SOUTH TEXAS AND SO MANY OF MY KIDS CANNOT BE THERE FULL AUTHENTIC SELVES AND THEY CANNOT DO IT AT SCHOOL, AT HOME, IN THE COMMUNITY AND I FELT LIKE THERE WAS SO LITTLE I COULD DO AS A TEACHER. FOR MY KIDS. FAST-FORWARD YEARS, THERE IS SO MUCH WORK TO BE DONE IN HARRIS COUNTY BUT WE ARE WORKING TOGETHER AND WE WILL CONTINUE TAKING PURPOSEFUL ACTION SO WE ARE ADVANCING EQUALITY AND JUSTICE. HEART IS FULL AND I LOOK FORWARD TO MAINTAINING LASER FOCUS ON THE PROGRESS WE WILL MAKE ALL TOGETHER. THANK

YOU. >> THANK YOU. >> JUDGE AND COMMISSIONERS WE WILL BE REACHING OUT, WE HAVE YOUR CONTACT INFORMATION. AS PART OF THE BOARD AND DIVISION

SO WE WILL BE CALLING YOU REALLY SOON. >> OKAY THANK YOU. THANK YOU COMMISSIONER FOR REMINDING ME. WE ACCEPT THE TRANSMITTAL. ARE WE READY TO TAKE ITEM 21? OKAY

WE WILL TAKE ITEM 21. >> THANK YOU. QUICKLY TO SET SOME WHEELS IN MOTION. MY EFFORT HERE IS TO DO THE FOLLOWING MOTION AND I WOULD MAKE THIS TO THE COUNTY ADMINISTERED. I WOULD MOVE TO DIRECT COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR TO DEVELOP AND RETURN TO THE JANUARY 9 COMMISSIONERS COURT WITH ANSWERS TO THESE TWO QUESTIONS. FIRST, WHAT ARE HARRIS COUNTY DATA COLLECTION AND REPORTING NEEDS RELATED TO EQUITY? SECONDLY, WHAT IS THE SCOPE OF HARRIS COUNTY'S EQUITY GAP WITH ACCESS AND PARTICIPATION TO COUNTY PROGRAMMING? SO ONCE WE KNOW WHAT THE DATA IS, TO PROGRAMMING POTENTIALLY INEQUITIES, WE CAN COME BACK AND WORK TOGETHER TO DEVELOP A COMPETITIVE EQUITY INITIATIVE.

THAT WOULD BE MY MOTION. >> JUDGE I WILL SECOND THAT MOTION AND I WANT TO ADD THIS AS AN AMENDMENT. AS A REQUEST TO THE DEPARTMENT IN ADDITION WHEN YOU COME BACK ON THE NINTH ON THE COMMISSIONERS COURT ON THE NINTH. ALSO WANT COUNTY ADMINISTRATION TO PROVIDE HARRIS COUNTY COMMISSIONERS COURT WITH A RACIAL AND ETHNIC AGENDA BREAKDOWN OF EXECUTIVE DIRECTORS OF COUNTY DEPARTMENTS, THE LIST SHOULD INCLUDE THE RACIAL AND GENDER BREAKDOWN OF EMPLOYEES MADE BY HARRIS COUNTY BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS AS WELL. SO, METRO, HARRIS COUNTY SPORTS AUTHORITY, PORT AUTHORITY, HARRIS COUNTY HOUSING, FINANCE CORPORATION SO I WANT ADDED TO THE MOTION , JUST MAKE THE REQUEST YOU DO THAT AND I WILL SECOND IS

MOTION. >> MOTION AND SECOND, COMMISSIONER RAMSEY.

>> I AM ASSUMING THAT THIS ANALYSIS WE'RE GOING TO DO BEFORE JANUARY 9 , THAT THERE IS NO BUDGET IMPACT TO 2024. SOUNDS LIKE WE'RE GETTING AN EARLY START ON THE 2025 BUDGET.

GETTING AN EARLY START ON THE 2026 BUDGET BECAUSE NINE POSITIONS WERE SEVEN POSITIONS, WHATEVER THE NUMBER THAT MAY COME BACK JANUARY 9 TO DO ANY NUMBER OF THINGS, THAT'S NOT CLEAR TO ME. IS THAT GOING TO BE IN 25 BUDGET ORGAN 26 BUDGET?

>> I THINK IT DEPENDS ON WHAT THE COURT WANTS. SO WHAT WE WILL DO, WE WILL BRING BACK THE DATA WE HAVE, DATA ANALYSIS WITH DATA GAPS AND RECEIVE WHAT PROGRAMS ARE NOT GETTING UPTAKE OR PARTICIPATION THAT WE WERE EXPECTING TO FIGURE OUT WHAT DO WE DO NOW? WHAT ARE THE NEXT STEPS TO IMPROVE PROGRAM DESIGN WITH SOME TWEAKS THERE. AND FROM THERE AFTER JANUARY 9 WHEN WE PRESENT THE REPORT TO YOU ALL, THEN WE CAN FIGURE OUT IF YOU WANT US TO HAVE A BUDGET

[03:05:02]

REQUEST FY 26, YOU WANT TO START SOMETHING FY 25? >> NOTHING BUDGETED FOR 25.

>> BRIGHT AND ANYTHING WE CAN DO WITH EXISTING RESOURCES BECAUSE DR. JOHNSON AND MY STAFF ALREADY HAS A WORKPLAN FOR THE YEAR. TWO STAFF WERE REASSIGNED INTERNALLY. SO SHE IS ALREADY DOING A LOT OF WORK WITH A SURVEY ACROSS THE COUNTY EMPLOYEES. SHE IS DOING WORK ON EQUITIES AND MATURITY MODELS SO THERE'S DIFFERENT THINGS SHE IS WORKING ON THAT WOULD HELP

TO INFORM THE REPORT. >> I GUESS WHAT WE ARE SAYING IS THAT DOOR IS OPEN FOR NEW PROGRAMS AND 2025, FOR FUNDING IN 2025. THIS IS A NEW PROGRAM AND WILL HAVE IDEAS ON WHAT WE CAN BE DOING WITH MONEY SO IF THE DOOR IS OPEN I WILL COME BACK JANUARY 9 WITH SOME MORE IDEAS ON HOW WE CAN SPEND MONEY INVESTING AND DOING GREAT THINGS IN THE COUNTY. IT LOOKS LIKE THIS IS BEYOND THE SCOPE OF THIS YEAR'S BUDGET. IT WAS VERY CLEAR AT THE LAST MEETING WHEN WE WERE TALKING ABOUT DOING CERTAIN THINGS AND IT WAS MADE CLEAR TO ME DO NOT BRING ANYTHING TO COMMISSIONERS COURT UNLESS IT'S FUNDED IN THIS BUDGET.

>> JUST TO SEE THE FISCAL REVIEW FORM FOR THIS FROM OMB SAYS DON'T FUNDED MAKE IT GO TO THE BUDGET PROCESS SO WE ARE HOLDING TO THAT AND SINCE IT WAS OCA WE MADE SURE OMB WAS MAKING THE RECOMMENDATION SO WE ARE TRYING TO STAY FIRM ON THAT MESSAGING AND SO IN JANUARY, WHATEVER WE REPORT WILL BE UP TO THE COURT ON WHAT YOU WANT TO DO AND I AM ASSUMING WE WILL HAVE THE SAME RECOMMENDATION TO HOLD OFF UNTIL THE BUDGET PROCESS MUST THE COURT WANTS TO

TAKE A DIFFERENT ACTION. >> THE ONLY THING I WANT TO ADD AND I HAVE HAD TO SAY THIS , DISAPPOINTING A LOT OF FOLKS, BUT MY REQUEST, WE HAVE BEEN DISCIPLINED ON THIS FOR THE LAST TWO YEARS AND I'M PROUD OF THE COUNTY FOR DOING IT. TO WAIT UNTIL FIRST QUARTER PROJECTIONS AT LEAST. SO AT LEAST YOU ARE MAKING DECISIONS KNOWING HOW IT WILL IMPACT THE COUNTY AS OPPOSED TO SHOOTING IN THE DARK WHICH IS WHAT WE WOULD BE DOING AT THIS POINT.

THERE WILL BE SOME REQUEST FOR EXAMPLE LATER ON THAT THE BUYOUT PROGRAM WHICH WAS MORE EXPENSIVE WHILE THE COURT HAS MADE IT CLEAR WE'RE GOING TO FULLY FUND THE PROGRAM, MY REQUEST TO DIRECTOR WAS LET'S DO IT IN THE FIRST QUARTER PROJECTIONS SO WE CAN BE CONSISTENT ACROSS ALL DEPARTMENTS AND NOT TAKING'S ONE-OFF.

>> THANK YOU, WE APPRECIATE YOUR ATTENTION TO THE ISSUE NOT CREATING A NEW PROGRAM, SIMPLY AN ASSESSMENT OF WHAT IT WOULD TAKE TO DO THE FOLLOWING IF WE WERE TO APPROVE THE FOLLOWING.

NO BUDGET IMPACT. >> COMMISSIONER ELLIS. >> WANT TO REMIND MY COLLEAGUES WHEN WE ARE MAKING DECISIONS ON HOW MUCH MONEY WE CAN SPEND THERE WAS NOT A LOT OF SUPPORT FOR ASKING TAXPAYERS FOR MORE MONEY SO YOU GET WHAT YOU PAY FOR.

>> WE DID ASK TAXPAYERS FOR MORE MONEY. VERY SPECIFIC. >> ONE QUESTION I WOULD LIKE TO ASK. ON SOME DATA COLLECTION REPORTING NEEDS RELATED TO EQUITY, I THINK WE CAN GET IT DONE BY THE FIRST MEETING IN JANUARY. IT'S THE SCOPE OF THE EQUITY GAP AND COUNTY PROGRAM THAT'S A BIGGER ASK WAS WONDERING IS THERE POSSIBILITY WE CAN GET UNTIL THE SECOND

MEETING IN JANUARY? >> I WAS GOING TO HAVE A FRIENDLY AMENDMENT FOR IT ALL TO BE BACK ON THE 23RD. IF YOU GUYS ARE OKAY WITH THAT. I DID WANT TO ASK BEFORE WE VOTE.

>> DO IT ALL ON THE 23RD. >> THAT WAY IT'S ALL TOGETHER. I AGREE WITH COMMISSIONER RAMSEY WE NEED TO KEEP DISCIPLINE BECAUSE YOU BREAK IT ONCE AND IT IS A SLIPPERY SLOPE. AND I APPRECIATE WHAT COMMISSIONER GARCIA IS SAYING, THIS IS JUST AN EVALUATION THAT WILL BE NET TO ZERO. WITHIN THE ANSWER TO THESE QUESTIONS, AS THEY SENT BY US OR DR. JOHNSON WHO'S GOING TO DO THIS ABOUT WHICH COMMUNITIES ARE GOING TO BE THOUGHT OF AS PART OF EQUITY? JUST THIS ITEM MADE ME THINK, ABOUT THE LGBTQ COMMUNITY, THE VETERAN

COMMUNITY WOMEN, SINGLE MOTHERS ET CETERA >> I WISH DR. JOHNSON WAS HERE

[03:10:01]

>> WE LIKE THE DISABILITY COMMUNITY. WE MENTIONED THIS BEFORE. I MEAN I THINK FOR ME ANYWAY, SUSPECT FOR MY COLLEAGUES . HOW DO YOU GO THROUGH THIS WITHOUT PITTING A GROUP AGAINST ANOTHER ONE? WHEN YOU LOOK AT BROAD CATEGORIES OF COURSE YOU AVOID THE RACIAL AND ETHNIC OR WHATEVER ELSE YOU MIGHT DIVIDE BY. I WILL BE CURIOUS AND EXCITED TO SEE DR.

JOHNSON ANALYZE THIS HOWEVER IT IS DONE PROPERLY THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY SO, LIKE WE SAID THERE'S ONLY SO MUCH MONEY BECAUSE WE DID NOT ASK FOR MORE.

>> A LOT OF THE ISSUES WILL BE LOOKING AT ASSESSING OUR OWN PROGRAMS TO ENSURE THEY ARE DOING WHAT WE WANT THEM TO DO AND HELPING THE PEOPLE THAT WE WANT TO HELP THAT NEED THE HELP. SO I THINK , BEING ABLE TO ASSESS THAT AND WORK WITH ALL DEPARTMENTS TO MAKE SURE IF WE NEED TO CHANGE THE PROGRAM DESIGN, THAT WE CAN DO IT AND WE CAN DO IT IN A DATA-DRIVEN

FASHION WILL BE CRITICAL. >> LET ME SAY ONE LAST THING. I WONDER IF PART OF THE THINKING FOR DR. JOHNSON MIGHT BE WHAT CAN WE DO THAT IS THAT IS NOT COST ANYTHING. AND THERE IS JUST CERTAIN THINGS I DON'T KNOW. TRANSLATIONS COME TO MIND. IS NOT GOING TO MAKE A MARKED DIFFERENCE, BUT YOU HAVE TO IMAGINE SOME THINGS CAN BE DONE RATHER EASILY FROM A

PHYSICAL STANDPOINT. COMMISSIONER ELLIS. >> JUDGE I WAS GOING TO ASK WHAT IS WE CAN LOOK TO WHAT OTHER COMMUNITIES HAVE DONE, THEY DO THE RESEARCH AND THEN THE RESEARCH WILL PROBABLY CALL FOR SOME NARROWLY TAILORED REMEDIES IN CERTAIN COMMUNITIES WHEN YOU GET TO IT. THAT'S WHAT KING COUNTY WASHINGTON, FRANKLIN COUNTY, OHIO. FOR THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR THAT'S WHAT THE CITY OF AUSTIN DID IN 2016 AND THEY ENGAGED TO GO TO IT. NEW YORK CITY, BUT I THINK , AS LONG AS WE DO THE DATA IT'S GOING TO COST SOME MONEY. IF YOU DON'T WANT TO SPEND MONEY GO LOOK AT A COMPARABLE COMMUNITY AND THERE ARE CERTAINLY SOME WHICH YOU CAN GO SEE WHAT THEY DID. I DON'T KNOW MUCH OF ANYTHING WE CAN DO

OTHER THAN RESOLUTIONS THAT DON'T COST MONEY TO BE HONEST. >> WE DO HAVE A RESEARCH AND DATA TEAM IN OCA. WE HAVE THE EQUITY TEAM IN OCA. WE HAVE TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE AND PERFORMANCE TEAM IN OCA. SO WE HAVE BANDWIDTH IN ALL OF THOSE GROUPS TO HELP US DO THIS RESEARCH. WE HAVE GOOD RELATIONSHIPS WITH STAFF AND ALL THE FOLKS IN ALL THE DEPARTMENTS THAT RUN PROGRAMS AND RUN THE EVALUATION PROGRAMS INTERNALLY. IT'S GOING TO BE A LOT OF WORK REACHING OUT TO THOSE DEPARTMENTS TO SEE HOW THEY SET THINGS UP AND WHERE WE ARE SEEING MAY BE DEFICIENCIES, UNDERPERFORMANCE ARE UNDER PARTICIPATION. BUT I THINK WE WILL BE ABLE TO GET TO IT. WHAT WILL HAPPEN IS I'M ASSUMING WE WANT TO PRIORITIZE WHICH PROGRAMS COME FIRST AND WHERE WE DEVOTE LIMITED RESOURCES. OTHER AREAS WILL BE INTERNAL REALLOCATION. YOU MOVE MONEY AROUND TO MAKE IT WORK. WE DO IT IN OCA ALL THE TIME. WHO NEEDS A DOLLAR TODAY? IT'S GOING TO BE HERE FOR THIS PROJECT. THEN WE MOVE IT SOMEWHERE ELSE. I THINK THAT IS SOMETHING WE ARE LOOKING AT DEPARTMENTS TO DO AS WELL.

>> LAST POINT, BY MOVING THIS TO JANUARY 23 OTHER PROBLEMS WITH PROVIDING REPORT ON THE

DATA THAT I ASKED FOR? >> THAT SHOULD BE AT THE SAME TIME. WE CAN SEND THAT TO YOU

[03:15:07]

WHILE. >> IF YOU THINK OF ANYTHING ELSE, PUT IT IN WRITING TO ASK

FOR IT SO THAT HELPS WITH THE BROAD DISCUSSION. >> OKAY, THAT GOES FOR ANY MEMBERS OF THE COURT. IF THERE'S ANYTHING ELSE YOU THINK OF LATER, LET ME KNOW.

ALSO WE TALKED TO DR. JOHNSON WHEN SHE'S BACK IN THE OFFICE AND FEELING BETTER. IF THERE ARE OTHER THINGS SHE'S PUTTING ALREADY WE CAN LET YOU KNOW ABOUT SO YOU KNOW WE ARE

COVERING IT. >> SHORTER MEETINGS AND MORE SLEEP.

>> OKAY. WE HAVE A MOTION BY COMMISSIONER GARCIA. SECOND? SECOND BY COMMISSIONER ELLIS.

HIS MOTION PLUS THE FRIENDLY AMENDMENT ALL IN FAVOR? ANY A POST? EVER, MOTION CARRIES 4-1.

NOW ITEM 22 PROCURE TO PAY TAKING IT ALONGSIDE ITEM 280. >> THANK YOU JUDGE AND COMMISSIONERS. HAVE A POWERPOINT AND I WILL DO MY BEST TO LEAVE TIME TO HAVE THEIR COUPLE OF MINUTES ON THEIR SITES. IF WE CAN GET THE SLIDES UP THAT WOULD BE GREAT.

I WILL GO THROUGH THIS QUICKLY AND LET YOU ASK THE QUESTIONS YOU HAVE. IF WE CAN GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE. BASICALLY A QUICK SUMMARY OF PROGRESS UPDATES ON THE SPECIFIC PROJECTS AND NEXT STEP SUMMARY OF WHAT WE SPENT THE NEXT TWO QUARTERS IN THE NEXT UPDATE. ON THIS SLIDE THE TICKLY IS THAT IN ALL OF 2024, ONLY ONE MONTH APRIL ONLY ONE MONTH APRIL 2024 DID DEPARTMENT NOT MEET THE SEVEN-DAY GOAL FOR GETTING INVOICES THROUGH THEIR SYSTEM AND APPROVED TO GO ON.

THE AUDITOR AND COMMISSIONERS COURT APPROVAL HAS BEEN STEADY BELOW THE 15 DAY GOAL AFTER FEBRUARY 2022. WE SHAVED OFF ANOTHER DAY FROM QUARTER 323 TO QUARTER THREE OF 24 WHICH IS GOOD. STILL MOVING DOWN , LOWERING THE NUMBER OF DAYS THAT IT TAKES TO PAY SOMEONE, NEXT SLIDE. SO THE TOP GRAPH IS KIND OF HARD TO UNDERSTAND , BUT FINALLY STAFF GOT ME THERE.

BASICALLY THAT SHOWS THE GREEN ARE THE INVOICES THAT ARE PAID IN TIME WITHIN 30 DAYS. THE MORE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE GREENLINE AND LINES ABOVE AT THE BLUE AND PURPLE AND RED , THAT MEANS THE OTHER INVOICES ARE LATE. THERE 31 DAYS PLUS . 60 DAYS PLUS AND 91 DAYS. AS YOU SEE GOING INTO 2024 THERE'S HARDLY ANY GAP BETWEEN THE GREEN AND THE RED WHICH IS A GOOD SIGN THAT MEANS MORE AND MORE INVOICES ARE GETTING PAID ON TIME AND FEWER AND FEWER INVOICES ARE GETTING PAID LATE. THE OTHER ISSUE IS ALTHOUGH SPIKES OF THE FISCAL YEAR END CHANGEOVER, IT ALWAYS SLOWS US DOWN BECAUSE THE SYSTEM IS DOWN FOR A COUPLE WEEKS. THAT IS AN AREA I AM HOPING AS WE MOVE FORWARD WE CAN FIGURE OUT A QUICK WAY TO GET THE SYSTEM REBOOTED AND BACK UP AGAIN FASTER THAN THE CURRENT NUMBER OF WEEKS. NEXT SLIDE. OKAY NEXT SLIDE PLEASE . THE AUTO INVOICING PROJECT WENT LIVE OCTOBER 7. RIGHT NOW WE ARE DOING A LOT OF WHAT WE CALL HYPER- CARE FOR THE DEPARTMENTS. WHAT HAPPENED IS WE HAD BEEN STRUGGLING TO GET TO A FINAL PLACE TO JUST GO LIVE AND WE KEPT GOING IN CIRCLES, ADDING MORE REQUIREMENTS AND MORE AND MORE SO WE HAD TO MAKE A DECISION AND STOP IT AND SAY THIS IS PHASE 1 AND WE HAVE TO GO. ONE OF THE IMPORTANT REASONS WE WANTED TO GO WITH PHASE 1 IS BECAUSE PHASE 1 WILL GET US THE DATA WE NEED TO START WORKING ON THE PROMPT PAY ACT AND KNOWING WHEN THE INTEREST CALCULATION STARTS. SO WE NEEDED TO GET IT DONE, WE DID NOT WANT TO KEEP WAITING UNTIL HAVING PERFECTION. WE KNOW IN I.T., PROJECTS IT'S REALLY HARD TO GET IT PERFECT, REALLY DIFFICULT. ONE OF THE THINGS WE

[03:20:09]

YOU ARE WORKING ON? >> YES, GOOD AFTERNOON. THIS WAS A UPDATE ON THINGS WE'RE WORKING ON. I WANT TO MENTION WE ARE COMMITTED TO TAKING A LOOK TO SEE WHAT CAN BE DONE ALONG THE SAME LINES. JUST MAKING SURE WE WERE NOT OVERPROMISING ANYTHING. THIS IS WORK THAT STARTED NOT ONLY NEXT MONTH, BUT IT'S ALREADY STARTING SO WE STARTED TO REVIEW PROCESSES. WORKING WITH THE MAN SECTION 32 SURE WE ARE MOVING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.

THE TOP TEAM WE HAVE BEEN WORKING WITH, AS MENTIONED IS ABSOLUTELY IN THE WEEDS. SO WE ARE COLLABORATING, OPENING UP DATABASES, TRACKING MECHANISMS. WHATEVER THEY HAVE RECOMMENDATIONS TO IMPROVE WE ARE WORKING COLLABORATIVELY SO I LOOK FORWARD TO THE

IMPROVEMENTS. >> YOU ALL MEET WEEKLY WITH THE TEAM THAT HANDLES A LOT OF THESE FROM DIFFERENT DEPARTMENTS . HCD AND ENGINEERING AND THOSE FOLKS?

>> YES, SOME WEEKLY AND SOME BIWEEKLY. NEXT SLIDE. SO NOW, CONTRACT LIFECYCLE MANAGEMENT.

[03:25:01]

>> SURE, THANK YOU. SO THE PROCESS CONTRACT LIFECYCLE MANAGEMENT CLOSED ON NOVEMBER 4. WE ARE IN THE PROCESS OF DOING EVALUATIONS. AND WE WILL COME BACK WITH A SELECTION AND AWARD AND CONTRACT FOR THE COURT TO DECIDE ON. THE EXPECTATION IS ONCE WE CAN AWARD, WE SHOULD BE ABLE TO HAVE A VERY QUICK IMPLEMENTATION OF THAT. THE CLM PROCESS IS A SMALL PIECE OF THE PROCURE TO PAY SYSTEM AND DEALS WITH WHERE THE CONTRACTS ARE IN THE PIPELINE. BOTH IN TERMS OF HELPING IN TERMS OF POST AWARD, PRE-SIGNING SO MEMBERS OF THE COURT AND MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC. MEMBERS OF THE COURT AND DEPARTMENTS WILL NO WHERE THINGS ARE IN THE SYSTEM. WHEN THE COURT APPROVES THE CONTRACTS WILL THEN BE AVAILABLE FOR PEOPLE TO SEE AND THEN YOU CAN TRACK THAT. WE EXPECT IT TO BE RELATIVELY

QUICKLY. THE HOPE IS BY THE FIRST QUARTER OF 2025. >> THANK YOU. NEXT SLIDE.

>> GOOD AFTERNOON, THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME. I AM PAGE MCGINNIS FILLING IN AS THE PURCHASING AGENT AND I'M VERY PROUD TO HIGHLIGHT THE IMPROVEMENT AND PROGRESS FORWARD THAT MY TEAM HAS MADE SINCE SEPTEMBER 23. EVEN HIGHLIGHTING THE IMPROVEMENT AND FORWARD PATH SINCE OCTOBER 8 . IN SIX WEEKS WE HAVE MADE TREMENDOUS STRIDES. WE HAVE A LIMITED INTERNAL TARGET OPERATING MODEL INCLUDING RECLASSIFICATIONS FOR PROMOTIONS FOR STAFF. IT ALSO INCLUDED NUMEROUS NEW HIRES AND NEW ROLES FILLED, SINCE THEN WE HAVE REVISED THE ORG CHART AND YOU'LL SEE AN UPDATED VERSION OF THE ON THE NEXT SLIDE WHEN WE GET THERE. SINCE THE SIX WEEKS WITH INTERNAL SHARES TAKING PLACE WE REALIZED THERE IS BETTER EFFICIENCY WITHOUT WE HAVE ALIGNED STRUCTURE, HOW WE HAVE FORMED OUR TEAMS AND WE HAVE A CATEGORY DIRECTOR ON BOARD NOW, LOOKING TO HIRE HIS TEAM IN QUARTER ONE OF 25. WE ALSO HAVE CERTAIN PROGRESS AND CONTRACT TRANSITIONS MADE. RIGHT NOW AVERAGING 60 CONTRACTS A PERSON WHICH WILL BETTER HELP WORKLOAD FOR WHEN WE GET TO THE STRATEGIC SOURCING INITIATIVES FOR BETTER WRITING, BETTER TRAINING AVERAGE, WORKING WITH DEPARTMENTS ON HOW TO AMPLIFY AND GET THAT GOING SOONER IN THE PROCESS OF PROCUREMENT SO WE CAN DECREASE THE ADDENDUM, Q&A, EXTENSION OF PROJECTS TO MAKE SURE THE VENDOR HAS TIME TO RESPOND. 'S WE ARE PUSHING THE NEEDLE FORWARD TO HAVE SUBJECT MATTER EXPERTS INTERNALLY AND IN THE NEWLY DEFINED ROLES. WE HAVE ALSO MADE A FEW WINS WITH BONFIRE THE ONLINE SOLICITATION PORTAL. WE HAVE BEEN WORKING WITH THEM WE HEARD AND RECEIVED FEEDBACK FROM USING DEPARTMENTS REGARDING INTAKE WHEN SUMMONING PROJECT REQUEST TO BONFIRE, SOME OF IT WAS CUMBERSOME, SOME OF IT DID NOT MAKE SENSE THEY HAD TO COMPLETE THE FIELD WAS INFORMATION WITH ADDITIONAL DETAIL NEEDED. WHEN THE FORM WAS ENTERED INTO INTAKE THERE WAS PUSHBACK AND ADDITIONAL TIME NEEDED FOR THE TEAM TO REVIEW, GET WITH THE END USER.

WE HAVE UPDATED THE FORM, WHERE WORKING ON TRAINING MATERIAL TO HAND OUT AND SCHEDULE TRAINING SESSIONS WITH DEPARTMENTS TO GO OVER THAT TO BETTER CLARIFY AND STREAMLINE THAT. HOPEFULLY MOVING FORWARD WHEN SOMETHING IS SUBMITTED WE HAVE CUT DOWN AND WE CAN SAVE TIME AND DAYS TO REVIEW AND THE TEAM CAN START PUSHING FORWARD INTO THE WRITING INSTEAD OF GOING BACK AND FORTH ON CERTAIN SUBJECT FIELDS. SO GET A SMALL WIN, BUT APPRECIATE BONFIRE FOR WORKING WITH US TO MAKE THAT CHANGE. ALSO WE ARE LOOKING WITH FISCAL YEAR ROLLOUT , THAT HAPPENED EARLY OCTOBER SO OUR TEAM WAS TRYING TO WRAP UP CLOSING AND ISSUING PO'S AND WORKING CONTRACT TRANSITION WITH THE BUDGET OPENING. SINCE A FEW WEEKS HAVE PASSED WITH INTERNAL SHIFTS HAVE BEEN ABLE AMPLIFY TIMELINES AND ALSO BETTER REASSIGN POSITIONS TO THE TEAM TO BETTER GET THE USING DEPARTMENTS ISSUED SO WORK CAN START AND INVOICES CAN BE PAID WHEN THOSE ARE ISSUED AS THEY ARE ALSO LOOKING TO CLOSE OUT PROJECTS. SO AGAIN REALLY TRYING TO COLLECT SOME DATA NOW THAT THE TRANSITION HAPPENED SO COME JANUARY, AND FEBRUARY OF I

[03:30:06]

>> JUDGE I FORGOT TO TURN THE CLOCK ON, BUT WE NEED A MOTION TO EXTEND TIME.

>> SO MOVED. >> IT SECOND. >> MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.

>> WE HAVE TWO MORE QUICK SLIDES. THE NEXT SLIDE IS JUST THE ORGANIZATION CHART FOR PURCHASING AND THEN TO THE LAST SLIDE BASICALLY. HOW THE NEXT STEPS SUMMARY, HOW WE ARE GOING AND THIS IS THE WRONG SIDE, SORRY ABOUT THAT. THAT IS NOT THE ONE THAT IS SUPPOSED TO BE HERE. WE WILL GET YOU THE CORRECT SLIDE DECK WHICH SHOWS WHAT WE WILL HAVE TO PRESENT FOR YOU JANUARY AND WHAT WE ARE PRESENTING IN APRIL. MY APOLOGIES FOR THAT. SO, WE HAVE A BUNCH OF THE DEEP DIVE INFORMATION AND WE WILL BE COMING BACK TO HAVE THAT INFORMATION FOR YOU SO YOU KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON THERE. THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH, QUESTIONS BY COMMISSIONER GARCIA AND THEN COMMISSIONER ELLIS.

>> THANK YOU FOR YOUR WORK AND YOUR ATTENTION TO THOSE ISSUES, SHORT ORDER. THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH FOR THAT. STELLA, THANK YOU FOR YOUR WORK AS WELL. ADMINISTRATOR RAMIREZ , THANK YOU FOR GETTING US TO THIS POINT. IT IS IMMENSELY FRUSTRATING I DID NOT REALIZE HOW COMPLICATED THIS WAS GOING TO BE WHAT I AM GLAD WE STARTED WHEN WE STARTED OTHERWISE WE WOULD NOT EVEN BE HERE. I KNOW COMMISSIONER BRIONES HAS A MOTION AND PUT ME DOWN AS A SECOND. THE MOTION I WANT TO MAKE BECAUSE IN SPITE OF THE ANALYSIS PROVIDED ON THE PROCESS, THE REAL ISSUE IS THE PRE-REVIEW STATUS OF THE INVOICES. I WANT TO GET THESE INVOICES OUT OF THE PREREVIEW , SO MY MOTION IS TO DIRECT ALL CURRENT AND FUTURE CONTRACTS FOR HARRIS COUNTY DEPARTMENTS TO BE CLEARLY WRITTEN THAT SUBMISSION OF VENDOR INVOICES MUST BE SUBMITTED BY THE VENDOR TO THE COUNTY AUDITOR OFFICE PREPROCESSING. MY OFFICE HAS SPOKEN , HE HAS NO WORRIES ABOUT THIS. IT IS THE VENDOR RESPONSIBILITY TO FORMALLY SUBMIT INVOICES TO THE COUNTY AUDITOR AND CONFIRM RECEIPT OF THE INVOICE TO ENSURE THE INVOICE IS IN PROCESS FOR PAYMENT. SO BY RIGHT NOW WHAT WE ARE SEEING IS THE INVOICE HAS BEEN PRE-REVIEWED. WE DON'T HOW LONG IT HAS BEEN IN PREREVIEW. THERE IS ESTIMATION SOMEWHERE BETWEEN 6 TO 4 MONTHS. AND THEN IT GOES, IT GETS INTO THE PROCESS. AND THEN WE SAY OH, SUCCESS. THE REALITY IS WE ARE NOT THERE YET. BY GETTING THIS OUT OF THE PRE-REVIEW PROCESS, WE START THE CLOCK TO TRACK WHERE THAT INVOICE IS AT AND HOW LONG IT'S TAKING. THAT WOULD BE MY MOTION TO DIRECT ALL CONTRACTS TO BE CLEARLY WRITTEN AND SUBMISSION MUST BE SUBMITTED BY THE VENDOR TO THE COUNTY AUDITOR FOR PROCESSING. IT IS THE VENDOR RESPONSIBILITY TO FORMALLY SUBMIT TO THE COUNTY AUDITOR AND CONFIRM RECEIPT OF

THE INVOICE TO ENSURE INVOICES ARE IN PROCESS FOR PAYMENT. >> I WILL SECOND.

>> JUDGE. I WANT TO MAKE SURE I'M UNDERSTANDING. RIGHT NOW THE PROCESS IS WHEN SOMEONE SUBMITS INVOICE IT GOES TO THE DEPARTMENT. THE REASON THAT IS IMPORTANT IS THE DEPARTMENT IS THE ENTITY THAT VERIFIES THE WORK HAS BEEN DONE OR PRODUCT HAS BEEN DELIVERED. ARE YOU SUGGESTING TO AMEND THE CONTRACT TO READ BOTH ENTITIES WERE JUST

>> STRAIGHT TO THE AUDITOR. ANALYSIS INDICATES THERE ARE RARELY ANY MAJOR CONCERNS WHEN INVOICE IS SUBMITTED, THE AUDITOR'S OFFICE CAN CATCH THEM AND WORK WITH THE DEPARTMENT AND THAT SHOULD BE INDICATED IN THE TIMELINE OF THE INVOICE.

>> WOULD YOU BE OPEN TO THE IDEA OF REQUIRING THEM TO SEND IT TO THE DEPARTMENT AND THE

[03:35:02]

>> I SUPPORT THAT. >> IS THAT OKAY WITH THE COURT?

>> YES I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT'S OKAY WITH COUNTY ADMINISTRATION AND WITH THE

AUDITOR. I CAN SEE WHAT YOU ARE SAYING. >> THAT'S THE ISSUE WITH MOST

LONG-STANDING ONES. >> I REMEMBER ALL THE CONVERSATIONS ON THE PUBLIC HEALTH PROGRAM SO ON THE ONE HAND OUR SYSTEM IS AWFUL THEN SUDDENLY IT'S GREAT. SO YES

ARE YOU OKAY WITH THIS? >> HAVING THE DOUBLE IS GOOD, MAKING SURE HE GETS TO BOTH THE DEPARTMENT AND AUDITOR IS FINE. AS A DEPARTMENT HEAD , ON THE CONSULTING CONTRACTS I AM NOTORIOUSLY STINGY. WHAT YOU MEAN YOU DO THIS? YOU HAVE NOT DONE THAT, I JUST SAW THE DRAFT. THOSE ARE THE KINDS OF THINGS THE DEPARTMENT WOULD WANT TO BE ABLE TO OPINE ON TO MAKE SURE WE'RE ACTUALLY GETTING THE WORK THAT THEIR BILLING FOR.

>> I AGREE WITH THAT AMENDMENT. COMMISSIONER ELLIS AND THEN COMMISSIONER BRIONES AND THEN

RAMSEY. >> IT IS REASONABLE TO ME BUT TO BE HONEST WITH YOU I DON'T KNOW UNTIL IT BLOWS UP. I'M CURIOUS DOES ANYBODY ELSE DO IT THIS WAY OR HAVE YOU LOOKED AT THIS? I AM ONLY ASKING BECAUSE I JUST SAW IN MY LIFETIME SO MANY UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES. I WANT TO MAKE SURE IF YOU ALL LOOK AT THIS AND THOUGHT ABOUT IT, IF NOT I WOULD SUGGEST. SO

YOU ALL VETTED IT. I WANT TO MAKE SURE FOR THE RECORD. >> I HAVE NOT PERSONALLY VETTED IT. HERE IS THE THING. IF THE INVOICE IS SENT TO THE DEPARTMENT AND TO THE AUDITOR AT THE SAME TIME, THE DEPARTMENT KNOWS THE CLOCK IS TICKING. THE DEPARTMENT NEEDS TO LOOK AT THE INVOICE AND DETERMINE IS IT SUFFICIENT AND COMPLETE AND IF NOT THEY HAVE TO KICK IT BACK. SORRY YOU KNOW IT'S NOT COMPLETE THAT STOPS THE CLOCK. AND YOU ARE DOCUMENTING IT. EVERYBODY KNOWS, IT'S JUST LOST IN SOMEONE'S EMAIL OR DESK OR

WHATEVER. AND WE DON'T KNOW AND IT KEEPS TICKING. >> DO WE KNOW IF SOME OTHER COUNTY OR CITY DOES IT THIS WAY? IT'S PROBABLY A GREAT IDEA. SOMETIMES I TELL PEOPLE AND THEIR WRITING SPEECHES FROM IT, THE LAST THING COMES OUT SOCRATES OR ARISTOTLE OR

SOMEBODY. NOW YOU CAN FIND OUT THEY GOT IT FROM SUMMER. >> I WAS GOING TO SAY ONE THING JUDGE. OUR CONTRACTS STATE THEY GO TO THE AUDITOR BUT ESSENTIALLY PROCESS WISE WITH THE AUDITOR, HE WILL SEND IT BACK TO THE DEPARTMENT TO MAKE SURE IT'S CORRECT. IS THAT

CORRECT? >> YES. THE VAST MAJORITY OF THE INVOICE ARE COMING STRAIGHT TO THE AUDITOR'S OFFICE BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT THE PURCHASE ORDER SAYS. FOR THE VENDOR TO DO. THERE IS A SIZABLE AMOUNT THAT GOES TO THE DEPARTMENT. WHEN THEY COME TO THE AUDITOR'S OFFICE, WE HAVE A 24 HOUR WINDOW THAT WE GET THEM TO THE DEPARTMENT , THEY'RE GOING TO SCAN THEM IN AND THAT'S WHAT AIP AND A.I. ARE WERE ALL ABOUT. THEY GO OUT TO THE DEPARTMENT AND WE KNOW ABOUT THEM. THEY ARE IN THE SYSTEM, WE CAN FOLLOW THEM , WE CAN ASK QUESTIONS, WHEN THEY GET HUNG UP WE KNOW ABOUT THEM. THE DEPARTMENTS , YES IN A WAY THE CLOCK DOES START. REMEMBER THAT THE PROMPT PAY ACT SAYS THAT THE CLOCK STARTS AT THE LATER OF TWO DATES. ONE IS THE DATE THAT THE INVOICE IS RECEIVED , LIKE THE VENDORS WERE INSTRUCTED TO SEND IT TO US AND THE OTHER DATE IS WHEN GOODS AND SERVICES ACTUALLY ARRIVE. SO WITHIN THIS AIP PROGRAM THAT WE DEVELOPED, WE HAVE FIELDS WHERE DEPARTMENTS CAN INDICATE, HEY, I HAVE NOT GOT THE ITEM YET AND IT STOPS:00. NOW THERE ARE THESE

[03:40:04]

>> COMMISSIONER , COMMISSIONER BRIONES AND THEN COMMISSIONER RAMSEY AND THEN HAVE A QUESTION AND THEN COMMISSIONER ELLIS. SPOT ON THIS PARTICULAR I AGREE WITH THE AUDITOR AND THE DEPARTMENT AND A TEST GO TO THE AUDITOR SO WE HAVE TRANSPARENCY, THE IMITATION AND DATA ON THE INITIAL DATE OF RECEIPT SO WE ARE REALLY LOOKING INTO THE PROMPT PAY ACT FULLY. SO I AM VERY SUPPORTIVE OF THAT. IT WILL TAKE US TO THE NEXT LEVEL IN TERMS OF ACCOUNTABILITY AND TRANSPARENCY. MY QUESTIONS, THERE WAS A COUPLE, ONE FOR DIRECTOR MCGINNIS AND ONE FOR THE COUNTY MINISTRY. DIRECTOR . THANK YOU FOR THE PROGRESS, MAKING PROGRESS WE APPRECIATE YOUR HARD WORK AND I'M ENERGIZED BY THE PROGRESS YOU HAVE HELPED TO DRIVE IN YOUR TENURE IN THIS NEW POSITION. FROM YOUR VANTAGE POINT WHAT ARE THE TOP THREE INEFFICIENCIES WITHIN PURCHASING THAT YOU ARE TRYING

TO TAKE TO THE NEXT LEVEL AND MAKE PROGRESS ON? >> THE TOP THREE GOALS FIRST AND FOREMOST FOR THE TEAM IS MORALE WITH WORK LIFE BALANCE WHICH WE HAVE TAKEN STEP ONE TO ACHIEVE. THE SECOND GOAL IS ACTUALLY TO WORK AROUND AND LOOK AT THE BUDGET AND FIX SOME OF THAT. HAVE MADE SOME SUBCATEGORIES AND INTERNAL SHIFTS TO BUDGET MIND AND ANALYTICAL PERSONNEL TO HELP THE SYSTEM TO DRIVE THAT TO SEE HOW WE CAN WORK WITHIN THE CONSTRAINTS OF THE BUDGET TO TAKE ADVANTAGE AND USE ALL THE RESOURCES WE HAVE. I AM REALIZING THERE IS A WAY TO WORK THROUGH SOME OF THAT WITHOUT COMING BACK TO COURT TO ASK FOR MORE THE THIRD INITIATIVE THAT I HAVE IS KIND OF IN ALIGNMENT WITH THE FIVE-YEAR PLAN. OUR TEAM HAS PARTNERED WITH BOSTON CONSULTING GROUP AND RESTARTED RESEARCH. WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO SEE IS MORE COLLABORATION WITH THE TEAM AND EVERY COUNTY DEPARTMENT THAT WE PURCHASED FOR. I WOULD LIKE TO TRY TO GET MEMBERS OF THE TABLE TO COLLABORATE TICKET CONTRACTS WHERE WE CAN WORK THESE IN LARGE NUMBERS. WE CAN BETTER ASSOCIATE AND HAVE THEM COUNTYWIDE WITH ALL THE MAIN STAKEHOLDER INPUT, ALL IDEAS ON SERVICES AND PRODUCTS THAT THEY NEED TO. THIS IS NOT ONE-SIZE-FITS-ALL BY ANY MEANS THAT I THINK THERE ARE CERTAIN CONTRACTS WHERE WE CAN TRY TO LOOK ACROSS THE BOARD TO GETTING STAKEHOLDERS AT THE TABLE TOGETHER, LEADING THE INITIATIVE TO MOVE FORWARD, NEGOTIATE BETTER TERMS, MAKE SURE EVERYONE IS TAKEN CARE OF AND FIND COST SAVINGS. CLEAR THREE LARGE POCKETS OF SPEND WE ARE ANALYZING AND I LOOK FORWARD TO SEE WHAT WE CAN DO

WITH THE PARTNERSHIPS OF THE DEPARTMENTS THAT WE SERVE >> WHEN DO YOU ANTICIPATE THE

RESULTS OF THAT ANALYSIS? >> I BELIEVE, CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG. WE HAVE SOME UPDATES DO IN MID-JANUARY , FROM THERE HONESTLY IT WILL TAKE A BIG PUSH BECAUSE THIS IS NEW. WE UNDERSTAND EVERY PRECINCT AND DEPARTMENT HAS THEIR OWN NEEDS AND THEIR OWN IDEAS, THEIR SERVING THEIR CONSTITUENTS. WE WANT TO SUPPORT THAT, BUT BE INNOVATIVE AND HOW WE DO THAT AND SEE IF THERE'S A WAY TO COMPROMISE OR JUST ADD TO THE CONTRACTS. ADD UP FRONT NOT CONSTANTLY TAKE CHANGE AND CONTRACTS TO COURT OR AMENDMENTS A REVISED SCOPE

[03:45:03]

DEALS. >> THANK YOU, I LOOK FORWARD TO THE PROCESS. COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR FOR THE DEPARTMENTS THAT ARE NOT AS PROMPT AS OTHERS WHAT IS BEING

DONE TO HELP COACH THEM AND HOLD THEM ACCOUNTABLE? >> WE ARE STARTING PHASES AS WE DO GET INTO WHY THEY'RE HAVING THE LATE INVOICES . WE HAVE BEEN LOOKING AT THE BIG PICTURE SO NOW WE ARE GETTING READY TO DELVE INTO THAT. I DON'T HAVE THE DETAILS ON THE TIP OF MY TONGUE FOR WHICH ARE HAVING THE MOST PROBLEMS, BUT ONCE WE GET IN AND WE UNDERSTAND WHAT THE ISSUES ARE. WHETHER IT IS STAFFING, MISUNDERSTANDING, LACK OF TRAINING OR WORK WITH THEM TO FIX THAT AND HOLD THEM ACCOUNTABLE ASK THEM TO GET IT DONE BY A CERTAIN DATE AND MAKE SURE WE'RE TRACKING THE IMPROVEMENTS IN THEIR INVOICING.

>> THANK YOU. >> COMMISSIONER RAMSEY. >> CLEARLY, THANK YOU COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR FOR GETTING IN THE MIDDLE OF THIS. PURCHASING, THANK YOU FOR WHAT YOU'RE DOING. I THINK EVERYBODY IS WELL INTENDED IN TRYING TO FIX THIS MESS, BUT WE HAVE TO SAY IT IS A MESS. SO HAVE A PROBLEM AND UNTIL WE SAVE A PROBLEM IT'S HARD TO FIX IT. I KNOW THE IMPACT ON OUR STAFF AND WE ARE JUST A SMALL PART OF WHAT I CAN ONLY IMAGINE IS A BIG PROBLEM. BUT THE AMOUNT OF TIME JUST FROM OUR PILOT TESTING WITH INCREASING, IT IS INCREDIBLE. WE NEED TO TRIAGE THIS AND TREATED, WE ROLLED IT OUT TOO SOON. CALL IT PHASE I I WOULD NEVER DO PHASE I THIS WAY. IF YOU DO PHASE I, YES SOMETHING A LOT LESS BUT THAT IS WATER UNDER THE BRIDGE. WE NEED TO TREAT EACH ONE OF THESE WITH OKAY WE HAVE A MESS, THE DEPARTMENT IS NOT REVIEWING THESE THINGS ON TIME, THEY NEED TO BE HELD TO ACCOUNT AND THAT IS A CLEAR AND SIMPLE CONVERSATION WITH THEM. INVOLVING OTHERS , IF NEEDED.

OBVIOUSLY, THE DEPARTMENT THAT RECEIVES THE SERVICES NEEDS TO REVIEW THE INVOICE TO BE SURE THEY GOT IT AND IF THEY DID NOT GET WHAT THEY ARE SUPPOSED TO GET, THAT DEPARTMENT IMMEDIATELY TELLS THE VENDOR THIS IS NOT READY. ALL OF THAT SOUNDS PRETTY SIMPLE, BUT IF PEOPLE ARE NOT DOING THAT THEY NEED TO BE TOLD THEY ARE NOT AND WE NEED TO BE MADE AWARE OF THOSE GROUPS THAT ARE NOT DOING THE SIMPLE REVIEW INVOICES . HAVING SUBMITTED MANY INVOICES TO THE COUNTY IN MY PREVIOUS LIFE, A LOT OF PEOPLE CANNOT AFFORD THE FINANCING ACCOUNT X MONTHS THEY ARE LITERALLY FINANCING THE COUNTY FOR SIX. THROUGH NO FAULT OF THEIR OWN.

SO THERE ARE SOME BAD VENDORS. THERE ARE OBVIOUSLY PROBLEMS WITHIN OUR OWN DEPARTMENTS, BUT I HEARD OKAY WE GOT THIS UNDER CONTROL, ALL GOOD. WE HAVE A FEW PROBLEMS HERE, NO, YOU HAVE A LOT OF PROBLEMS. WE HAVE TO TREAT IT LIKE WE HAVE GOT A LOT OF PROBLEMS. DATE AND TIME TOMORROW WILL BE BETTER THAN TODAY AND WE CANNOT WALK OUT OF THE MEETING THINKING WE HAVE A PLAN, I KNOW WHAT WE'RE DOING FROM 80,000 FEET, BUT WHAT WE DO FROM 8000 FEET IS WHAT MATTERS WITH YOU ANY INVOICES, WHICH DEPARTMENTS ARE NOT COMPLIANT, WHAT'S HAPPENING WITH AND PURCHASING? SO I THINK THIS IS SUCH AN URGENT DEAL THAT AT THE NEXT MEETING WE DO HAVE AN UPDATE , NOT A POWERPOINT, I NEED A QUICK , THIS IS WHAT WE HAVE DONE IN THE LAST 10 DAYS TO MAKE IT BETTER. HERE ARE THE PEOPLE THAT ARE NOT COOPERATING ON REVIEWING INVOICE AND IF IT'S WITHIN HARRIS COUNTY WE NEED TO DEAL WITH THOSE SPECIFICALLY.

THANK YOU. >> I HAVE A QUESTION ON THE BCG RESEARCH. WHICH ONE IS THAT AGAIN? THAT IS THE FIVE-YEAR PLAN. OKAY THAT STARTED A WHILE AGO? OKAY I REMEMBER TALKING

[03:50:08]

CONSEQUENCES. SOUNDS LIKE AUDITOR POST IS GOOD WITH IT. >> I THINK ONE OF THE THINGS TO CONSIDER IS WHEN WE PULLED THE TRIGGER ON THIS, THE TIMING BECAUSE IT'S NOT JUST WHAT WE HAVE TO DO INTERNALLY. SO I THINK TALKING ABOUT INVOICES THAT GO DIRECT TO THE DEPARTMENTS AND THEN FROM THEN TO THE AUDITOR THOSE ARE THE ONES IN ENGINEERING AND IN, WHERE IS THE OTHER? ENGINEERING AND FLOOD CONTROL WHETHER YOU EVEN OLDER AND UNIFIER. THOSE FOLKS ARE REALLY USED FOR THE SYSTEMS AND I THINK WE NEED TO DO GOOD TRAINING AND COMMUNICATION WITH THOSE OFFENDERS SO THEY UNDERSTAND, BY THE WAY NOW IT'S NOT JUST HERE, BUT ALSO THE AUDITOR. I WANT TO MAKE SURE WE HAVE TIME TO SOCIALIZE IT WITH THE VENDORS AND TO GET THOSE DEPARTMENTS ESPECIALLY BECAUSE THEY RUN SO MANY PROJECTS AND GET SO MANY INVOICES. I DON'T WANT TO BREAK ANYTHING FOR THEM SO IT WOULD BE GOOD TO BE ABLE

TO HAVE SOME TIME TO MAKE SURE IT IS ALL DONE RIGHT. >> THE OTHER THING I DON'T LIKE IS THAT YOU DO NOT SEEM TO BE AWARE NECESSARILY. PERHAPS TO BE SOLUTION ORIENTED IS, MAYBE THE MOTION COULD SAY TO WORK TOWARD DIRECTING ALL CURRENT AND FUTURE CONTRACTS WITH A UPDATE IN JANUARY OR WHATEVER. ANYWAY WE CAN TAKE A VOTE. COMMISSIONER ELLIS AND THEN

COMMISSIONER RAMSEY AND THEN COMMISSIONER BRIONES. >> THIS IS WHAT I WAS GOING TO

SUGGEST. >> SO THE MOTION SAYS TO DO IT NOW. LET ME AMEND THE MOTION.

FUTURE CONTRACTS , NOT EXISTING , FUTURE CONTRACTS. SOME EMOTION WOULD NOW READ, TO DIRECT ALL CURRENT SCRATCH THAT, TO DIRECT ALL FUTURE CONTRACTS FOR HARRIS COUNTY DEPARTMENTS TO BE CLEARLY WRITTEN THAT IS SUBMISSION OF VENDOR INVOICES MUST BE SUBMITTED BY THE VENDOR TO THE COUNTY AUDITOR OFFICE AND PERSPECTIVE DEPARTMENTS PROCESSING. IT IS THE VENDOR RESPONSIBILITY TO FORMALLY SUBMIT INVOICES TO BOTH THE COUNTY AUDITOR'S OFFICE AND THE RESPECTIVE DEPARTMENTS AND CONFIRM RECEIPT OF THE INVOICE

TO ENSURE INVOICES ARE IN PROCESS FOR PAYMENT. >> I WILL SECOND THAT AND I WILL SAY , IF SOMEBODY HAS A CONTRACT THEY ARE GOING THROUGH NOW AND THEY DID NOT DO THAT YOU COME BACK AND TELL US. WE ARE TRYING TO HELP. THAT'S WHY I WAS ASKING DOES ANYBODY DO IT? THE MOST UNIQUE SOUNDS LIKE IT MAKES GOOD SENSE, TO BE HONEST WITH YOU I DON'T KNOW BUT I WILL SECOND THE MOTION. IF YOU SEE SOMETHING TELL US. WE CANNOT CHANGE BEFORE WE MEET

AGAIN TO COME BACK AND TELL US. >> COMMISSIONER RAMSEY AND THEN COMMISSIONER BRIONES

>> QUICKLY WHEN YOU LOOK AT ALL OF THIS AND I WILL USE OUR GOOD ONE OF OUR GOOD VENDORS. IF THEY SENT AN INVOICE TO BE PAID $10,500 AND IT IS MORE THAN 30 DAYS AND WE CHARGE INTEREST AND WE SEND RATHER THAN 10,500 YOU SEND 11,200 YOU'RE GOING TO MESS UP MORE THINGS THAN YOU CAN IMAGINE IN THEIR SYSTEM, THEY WILL NOT KNOW WHAT TO DO WITH INTEREST PAYMENT THAT YOU MADE SO WHEN YOU THINK THROUGH CHARGING OR PAYING INTEREST FOR DOING SOMETHING WE HAVE TO FIGURE OUT A WAY TO NOT DO SOMETHING THAT'S GOING TO CREATE CHAOS WITHIN ALL OF OUR

VENDOR'S SYSTEMS. >> UNDERSTOOD TECHNICALLY THE LAW REQUIRES 1.5 PER MONTH

[03:55:08]

PAYMENT FOR THE INTEREST OR SEPARATE. I DON'T KNOW. >> I SUGGEST YOU BRAINSTORM

WITH SOME OF THE VENDORS. >> THAT WILL BE SOMETHING WE CAN WORK ON WE ARE BRINGING BACK IN JANUARY. AND TO ADDRESS THE ISSUE OF LIKE YES THE AIP ROLLOUT WAS NOT PERFECT, WE AGREE WITH THAT. THEIR PROBLEMS AND REAR PROBLEMS THAT ARE THE COUNTY ON INVOICE IN A TIMELY MANNER. WE ARE LEARNING FROM OUR MISTAKES SO WITH THE AIP ROLLOUT FOR PHASE 2 WE HAVE CREATED A USER GROUP AND UNIVERSAL SERVICES IS WORKING FROM AMONG THE DEPARTMENTS. SO WE CAN GET THEIR FEEDBACK ALL ALONG THE WAY. THERE WE KEPT INFORMED ON THE SITUATION THEY WILL HAVE THE REQUIREMENTS. WILL MAKE SURE TO BRING THEM ALONG THIS TIME INSTEAD OF AN

AFTERTHOUGHT. >> I GET FEEDBACK EVERY DAY FROM PEOPLE.

>> YEAH, THAT'S WHAT WE WILL DO. WE ARE LEARNING FROM OUR MISTAKES.

>> COMMISSIONER BRIONES >> TAKING A STEP BACK AND I CANNOT AGREE MORE. THIS IS SEVERELY BROKEN AND I APPLAUD THE PROGRESS MADE BUT THE PROCURE TO PAY STARTED IN 2022.

THE FACT THAT WE ARE NOT EVEN TRACKING INTEREST THAT WE OWE, THE FACT THAT SIMULTANEOUSLY INVOICES ARE NOT BEING SENT TO THE AUDITOR AND DEPARTMENT SO WE ARE WATCHING THE CLOCK. THIS IS FUNDAMENTALS I WOULD ARGUE AND IT STARTED IN 2022. MY FORWARD THINKING MOTION TO MAKE SURE YOU'RE WATCHING AND STAYING FOCUSED HIS DIRECT OCA TO PLEASE SUBMIT MONTHLY TRANSMITTAL TO COMMISSIONERS COURT ON THE STATUS OF PROCURE TO PAY PROJECTS INCLUDING KPI TRACKING PERFORMANCE AGAINST BENCHMARKS AND A DEPARTMENT REVIEW TIME TRACKER. THIS WAS THE MOTION THAT MY TEAM DISTRIBUTED THIS MORNING AT 10:15 A.M.

>> ONE LAST QUESTION ON THE MOTION ABOUT SUBMISSION OF VENDOR INVOICES. WHAT IT MAKES SENSE TO SAY MOTION STARTING ON X DATE FUTURE CONTRACTS BE CLEARLY WRITTEN OR ARE YOU OKAY

WITH STARTING NOW? FUTURE CONTRACTS? >> I AM FINE NOW. YES. NOT A PROBLEM. TO BE CLEAR WE DO THAT FOR THE VAST MAJORITY OF CONTRACTS SO THAT'S NOT A CONCERN. BUT THERE ARE SOME ITEMS AND CONTRACTS THAT YOU DRAFTED AND WRITTEN BY

DEPARTMENT SLIGHTLY OUTSIDE SO WE CAN CORRECT THAT. >> GOING FORWARD IT'S OKAY TO

GO DIRECTLY TO AUDITOR. >> ABSOLUTELY, NOT A PROBLEM. >> FUTURE CONTRACTS MEANS

AMENDMENTS OF EXISTING? >> YES. >> OKAY WE HAVE TWO MOTIONS.

MOTION FROM THIS MORNING AND COMMISSIONER GARCIA THAT READS FUTURE CONTRACTS FOR HARRIS

COUNTY DEPARTMENTS DOES THAT SOUND LIKE? >> YES MA'AM CAN BOTH TOGETHER

OR SEPARATELY. >> EMOTION? MOTION AND SECOND BY COMMISSIONER RAMSEY . ALL IN

FAVOR , ANY OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY. >> ITEMS 22 AND 280.

>> CORRECT THANK YOU GUYS THIS IS PROGRESS. OKAY LET'S MOVE ON ITEM 23.

>> A QUICK QUESTION. WILL LAW ENFORCEMENT BUDGET BE AFFECTED BY THIS?

>> THE BUDGETS WILL NOT. THE ONLY DEPARTMENT WE HAD TO MAKE EXEMPTION FOR WAS THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S OFFICE. WE NOTIFIED THEM TODAY THAT THE EXEMPTION WOULD CARRY INTO NEXT YEAR.

>> MAKE A MOTION. >> MOTION BY COMMISSIONER RAMSEY SECOND BY COMMISSIONER ELLIS ALL IN FAVOR? ANY OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY AT 23.

[Departments & Emergency/Supplemental items]

>> I WILL SHOW AS PRESENTED. >> ITEM 32 WHICH WILL TAKE ALONGSIDE 308. BOTH RELATED TO MAY 2020 FOR EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT FLAGGED BY PRECINCT 3.

[04:00:01]

>> WITH REGARD TO 308, THANK YOU TO THE STATE OF TEXAS, JIM HUFFMAN, BUCKINGHAM, GOVERNOR ABBOTT, WE APPRECIATE THEM BRINGING 25% TO HELP COVER OUR PORTION OF IT. THAT IS MUCH APPRECIATED AND NEEDED RELIEF. JUST THE QUESTION RELATED TO THE 30 MILLION. YES DIRECTED TOWARD YOU , THE BUDGET OFFICER. DANIEL, 30 MILLION WE ARE MOVING OUT OF YOUR. FUND

OVER TENSION? >> TO PAY OUT THE REMAINING INVOICES.

>> THIS IS SPECIFIC TO PAYING THE INVOICES? YOU ARE NOT SETTING UP ANOTHER PICK FUND IN

ENGINEERING? >> NO. >> PICK FUND IN ENGINEERING THAN I WOULD ASK FOR A PICK FUND AND SOMETHING ELSE. THIS IS JUST A PAIN VOICES?

>> CORRECT. WHAT YOU MIGHT BE SAYING IS WE DO ALLOCATE A PORTION OF THE FUND TO THE COUNTY ENGINEERS SIMILAR TO HOW MOBILITY FUND WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE MOBILITY FUND IT IS SPLIT BETWEEN FOUR PRECINCTS AND THE COUNTY ENGINEER. SAME CONCEPT WHERE THEY HAVE AUTHORITY TO SPEND IT DOWN SO THERE IS A PORTION WE ALLOCATE ENGINEERING BUT WE COUNT IT ALL, WHENEVER POOR ON THE BALANCE IT IS THERE BUT THIS IS JUST TO PAY THE FINAL INVOICES. AND THEN ITEM 308, RIGHT NOW IT WOULD BE A $14 MILLION GRANT, WE EXPECT THAT TO GO UP TO 20 BY THE TIME

ALL OF YOUR INVOICES FOR THE PRECINCT COST TO BE IN. >> THEN THAT IS GOOD NEWS AND WE'RE ALL GETTING OUR INVOICES TOGETHER. GETTING THEM IN TO YOU AND THEY WILL BE PROCESSED

AS THEY COME IN? >> TO BE CLEAR YOU DON'T NEED TO WAIT FOR ALL OF THEM. IF THERE IS $4 MILLION WORTH AT THE PRECINCT YOU CAN SEND IT OVER TO SHANE AND I AND WE CAN GET THE JOURNAL ENTRIES PROCESSED AND START GETTING IT FILED FOR FEMA REIMBURSEMENT.

>> I WILL MAKE A MOTION. >> ON BOTH? MOTION ON BOTH BY COMMISSIONER RAMSEY SECOND BY COMMISSIONER GARCIA 32 AND 308 ALL IN FAVOR? ANY OPPOSED? THE MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY AND

[ Departments (Part 3 of 3)]

>> GOOD AFTERNOON. >> WE APPRECIATE YOUR TIME. WE HAVE A BRIEF PRESENTATION FOR YOU AS WE CONTINUE TO MAKE PROGRESS ON TRANSFORMATION AND MODERNIZATION EFFORTS FOR HUMAN RESOURCES ACROSS THE COUNTY. NEXT SLIDE PLEASE. SO, THE STATEMENT OF WORK DEVELOPED IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE , MY RETURN AS INTERIM CHIEF PEOPLE OFFICER HAD A FEW KEY DELIVERABLES THROUGH BEGINNING MARCH UP UNTIL TODAY SO WE HAVE MET EACH OF THOSE INCLUDING BEING HERE TODAY TO PROVIDE AN UPDATE WITH A LONG-TERM HR TRANSFORMATION ROADMAP. NEXT SLIDE PLEASE. OUR BUSINESS NEEDS AND CURRENT STATE, WE HAVE SEEN THIS BEFORE BUT I WANT TO EMPHASIZE WE ARE WORKING DILIGENTLY TO AND COLLABORATIVELY WITH PARTNER DEPARTMENTS IN UNIVERSAL SERVICES, OCA, OMB, THIS IS NOT WORK TRANSFERRING AND MODERNIZING YOU'RE DOING BY OURSELVES SO WE ARE EXCITED FOR THE PROGRESS WE ARE MAKING.

NEXT SLIDE PLEASE. OUR GOAL , AT THE END OF THE DAY IS TO EVOLVE AND IMPROVE THE EMPLOYEE LIFECYCLE. A HUGE PIECE OF THAT IS AUTOMATION AND TECHNOLOGY. AGAIN WE ARE WORKING IN PARTNERSHIP WITH UNIVERSAL SERVICES TO APPROACH THE , THIS COMING TO BE DELIBERATE AND INTENTIONAL IN OUR APPROACH TO TECHNOLOGY AND BUILD OUT HR TECHNOLOGY INFRASTRUCTURE ACROSS THE COUNTY. THIS ROADMAP AND IT IS A RECOMMENDATION FROM US IN TERMS OF THE RIGHT ORDER.

IN THE ABSENCE OF DEDICATED BUDGET AROUND THIS, IT IS A RECOMMENDATION, BUT THIS IS THE RIGHT ORDER SO WE ARE, FOR THIS YEAR AS WE SHARED THREE MONTHS AGO IN THE LAST UPDATE OUR PARTY IS THE APPLICANT TRACKING SYSTEM SO WE ARE IN THE PROCESS OF WORKING WITH PURCHASING TO DEVELOP A STATEMENT OF WORK. AND WE'RE LOOKING AT POSSIBILITIES OF AUTOMATION AND

[04:05:03]

AS IT RELATES TO THE RFPS, ESPECIALLY ON THE APPLICANT TRACKING SITE, WORKING WITH PURCHASING AND ALSO AGAIN WITH PARTNERING DEPARTMENTS FOR FEEDBACK. WE ARE CURRENTLY IN THE PROCESS OF DEVELOPING THAT SCOPE AND CERTAINLY THAT SHOULD BE COMPLETED BEFORE WE RETURN IN THE NEXT QUARTER FOR UPDATES. AS WE THINK ABOUT SERVICE DELIVERY ACROSS THE COUNTY, WE ARE REVISITING THE STUDY COMPLETED FROM 2023 I BELIEVE, 2022. IT WAS A LOT OF GOOD DATA THAT HAS COME OUT OF THAT, THAT HAD NOT BEEN LEVERAGED OR IMPLEMENT IT SO WE

DOING THAT AS A NECESSARY STEP. >> DATA FROM WHERE? >> THERE WAS A STUDY DONE. YES.

NEXT SLIDE PLEASE. IN REGARD TO THE CBO SEARCH. THE DRAFT OF THE JOB DESCRIPTION WITH INPUT FROM COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR RAMIREZ HAS BEEN SENT TO EACH OF YOUR OFFICES AND IS CURRENTLY SITTING AND WAITING FOR YOUR FEEDBACK AND INPUT WITH A JOB DESCRIPTION IT HAS BEEN DEVELOPED. SPECIFIC TO COMPENSATION IN THE COMPETITION PRACTICE, THE NEXT UPDATE OR ITEM ON THE AGENDA IS AN UPDATE ON ALL THINGS COMPENSATION AND PAY EQUITY. THIS ENDEAVOR CONTRIBUTIVE GREAT DEAL TO HR INFORMATION FROM FOUNDATIONAL PERSPECTIVES AS YOU THINK ABOUT COMPENSATION AND PAY EQUITY, SOME OF THE OUTCOMES FROM THE STUDY INCLUDE STANDARDIZED JOB DESCRIPTION ACROSS THE COUNTY, SALARY , SO MANY OF THOSE PIECES THAT ARE NECESSARY FOR FUTURE FRAMEWORK INCLUDING PERFORMANCE MANAGEMENT. IT IS A CRITICAL PIECE OF THE WORK. SO AS WE ENDEAVOR UPON THE START OF THE COMP AND PAY EQUITY STUDY IT IS A PRETTY SIGNIFICANT FOUNDATIONAL LAYER FOR HR TO THE STRUCTURE AND FRAMEWORKS WE ARE BUILDING. AND FINALLY WE ARE WORKING IN PARTNERSHIP WITH UNIVERSAL SERVICES TO IDENTIFY CASE MANAGEMENT TO HELP SIMPLIFY AND AUTOMATE OUR FMLA FORMS WHICH WE HAVE TALKED TO MOST DEPARTMENTS UNDERSTAND THAT THE PAIN POINT, FMLA ADMINISTRATION. IT WILL INSIST WITH EMPLOYEE INVESTIGATIONS AS WELL. WE ARE WORKING WITH THEM TO DEVELOP A SCOPE ALSO. NEXT SLIDE. LASTLY BUT NOT LEAST IS THE, AS I SHARED EARLIER, WE HAVE PAUSED ON THE LEARNING MANAGEMENT SYSTEM TO WORK COLLABORATIVELY IN AN EFFORT TO IDENTIFY THE RIGHT END TO END ENTERPRISE SOLUTION FOR THE COUNTY TO DO IT IN A WAY THAT IS COST-EFFECTIVE AND IMPACTFUL AND TRULY SERVES THE NEEDS OF ALL THE DEPARTMENTS AND ALL OF THE EMPLOYEES IN THE COUNTY.

NEXT SLIDE . SO, THIS FINAL SLIDE IS , IT GIVES YOU AN IDEA OF WHAT WE BELIEVE BASED ON THE

[04:10:04]

IN ADDITION TO THAT WE WANT TO EXPAND OUR LEARNING AND DEVELOPMENT FUNCTION TO INCLUDE ESSENTIALLY A LEADERSHIP AND MANAGEMENT DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM ACROSS THE COUNTY THAT ALL DEPARTMENTS WILL LEVERAGE AND BENEFIT FROM. AND AGAIN ONE OF THE OUTCOMES FROM THE COMP AND PAY EQUITY STUDY WHICH WILL HAVE IN THE STUDY IS COMPLETE ARE STANDARDIZED JOB DESCRIPTIONS, JOB FAMILIES AND FISCAL YEAR 27 WE CERTAINLY NEED TO CREATE SOME CAPACITY ON THE VERY TINY EMPLOYEE RELATIONS COMPLIANCE AND THAT TEAM THAT DOES A TON OF WORK TRIAGING CANDIDLY AND SERVING HIGH NEED DEPARTMENTS AND WE ALSO NEED TO LOOK AT SERVICE DELIVERY FOR THEM. MUCH OF THAT IS REACTIVE THE DEPARTMENT IS IN NEED AND WE GO OUT SO WE WANT TO BEGIN TO WORK WITH DEPARTMENTS TO BE ABLE TO MITIGATE ON THE FRONT END AND ADDRESS ROOT CAUSE ISSUES SO IT'S NOT ALWAYS TRIAGE AND WE ARE NOT ALWAYS PUTTING OUT FIRES SO WE SEE THAT AGAIN FROM FISCAL YEAR 27. ALSO AT THIS MOMENT WE DO NOT BECOME RANCID END TO END TALENT FUNCTION AT HARRIS COUNTY, WE HAVE A SMALL TALENT ACQUISITION TEAM AND THE FOCUS FOR THEM IS RECRUITMENT. TALENT END TO END INCLUDES RECRUITMENT, RETENTION, WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT, SUCCESSION PLANNING, INTERNAL MOBILITY AND FOR AN ORGANIZATION OF OUR SIZE WE NEED THOSE IN PLACE SO WE SEE FISCAL 27 AS AN OPPORTUNITY TO EXPAND THE SERVICE AND BREADTH OF TALENT END TO END ACROSS THE COUNTY. AND FINALLY PERFORMANCE MANAGEMENT. THIS IS MY SECOND TIME IN THIS ROLE WITH A PRIORITY IN THE FIRST SEASON BUT THE ABSENCE OF THOSE KEY COMPONENTS IN STANDARD JOB DESCRIPTION SALARY, TRAINING FOR EMPLOYEES AND MANAGERS. PERFORMANCE MANAGEMENT WAS NOT IN PLACE SO WE BELIEVE FISCAL YEAR 28 COULD MOVE IT UP TO 27 DEPENDING ON OTHER PRIORITIES BUT WE BELIEVE DEVELOPING AND IMPLEMENT IN A CONFERENCE OF PERFORMANCE MANAGEMENT ACROSS THE COUNTY THAT ALL DEPARTMENTS CAN TAKE ADVANTAGE OF AND LEVERAGE. SO THAT IS REPRESENTATION. I AM HAPPY AND

WOULD LOVE TO TAKE YOUR QUESTIONS. >> THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER

RAMSEY. >> THANK YOU YOU ARE DOING A GREAT JOB. AS YOU TRY TO SET UP THIS WHOLE ORGANIZATION, I GUESS MY WORD OF ENCOURAGEMENT IS , MANY TIMES WE SET UP SOMETHING THAT'S MORE ADMINISTRATIVE AND I HAVE SEEN THAT IN EDUCATION WHERE YOU HAVE TEACHERS IN THE CLASSROOM AND THE SCHOOL KEEPS HIRING ASSISTANT SUPERINTENDENTS TO THE SUPER INSISTED SUPERINTENDENTS AND THEIR HELPING THE TEACHERS AND NOT.

SO I THINK OUR FOLKS NEED A CHIEF PEOPLE OFFICER. THEY DO NEED SUPPORT, THEY DON'T NEED AN ADMINISTRATOR BUREAUCRACY THAT CREATES ISSUES WITHIN THEIR LIFE.

>> A QUICK MOTION. >> MOTION BY COMMISSIONER RAMSEY, SECOND BY COMMISSIONER

GARCIA TO EXTEND THE TIME. >> WE ARE GOING, WE ARE MOVING TOWARD FILLING THE PERMANENT

CHIEF PEOPLE OFFICER POSITION. >> THAT IS CORRECT. YES. >> I'M ASSUMING YOU WILL PUT

YOUR NAME IN THE HAT? I WOULD ENCOURAGE YOU. >> PUTTING ME ON THE SPOT.

>> I THINK , JUST AS A WORD OF ENCOURAGEMENT . THE LAST THING WE DOING EXIT INTERVIEWS?

>> WE ARE. WE ARE DOING EXIT INTERVIEWS. OF COURSE IT IS NOT UNCOMMON THAT ALL EMPLOYEES DO NOT NECESSARILY RESPOND AND COMPLETE THE SURVEYS BUT THEY ARE GOING OUT.

>> COMMISSIONER BRIONES >> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE ROADMAP. I ENCOURAGE YOU TO APPLY FOR THE PERMANENT POSITION. I WAS TELLING MY TEAM, THEY WILL HAVE FEEDBACK ON THE JOB DESCRIPTION BY THE END OF THE DAY AND I LOOK FORWARD TO THAT LAUNCHING OFFICIALLY AND I AM ENERGIZED BY THE PROGRESS. I QUESTION IS WITH REGARD TO THE EMPLOYEE

ENGAGEMENT SURVEY THAT WENT OUT WHEN WE GET THE RESULTS? >> WE WILL HAVE THE RESULTS

[04:15:08]

STAFF. >> PERFECT. I LOOK FORWARD TO DIGGING IN AND HEARING MORE THOUGHTS ON THE RECRUITMENT PIECE SO WE ARE RECRUITING THE BEST TALENT AND RETAINING. SO I HOPE WE ARE ABLE TO EXPEDITE THE TIMELINE AND I LOOK FORWARD TO THE BUDGET ESTIMATES.

BECAUSE WE NEED TO MAKE SURE, IS A PRIORITY, HOW ARE WE GOING TO FUND IT, SO AS WE MOVE FORWARD YEAR AFTER YEAR WHAT ARE WE INVESTING AND WHY AND HOW MANY THIRD-PARTY RECRUITING FIRMS DO WE USE AND WHAT THE COST DELTA IS. ALWAYS LOOKING FOR THE ROI MULTIPLIER EFFECT, WHAT IS THE TRADE-OFF AND WHAT IS WORKING BEST VERSUS NOT, TIME AND LENGTH OF SEARCH ET CETERA THANK YOU FOR THE PROGRESS AND I APPRECIATE ALL THE COLLABORATION AND DR. BLAKE ELLIS , CHIEF TALENT OFFICER AND DANIEL RODRIGUEZ AND ALL THE TEAM LOVE WORKING WITH YOU.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH. ALL OFFICE AND GREAT STAFF ARE GREAT . WE ARE NOT DOING THIS

BY OURSELVES SO WE APPRECIATE THAT. >> COMMISSIONER GARCIA

>> THANK YOU FOR YOUR WORK ON THIS. I THINK THIS QUESTION FOR YOU ARE THE ADMINISTRATOR. I DID MAKE A MOTION A COUPLE MONTHS BACK ABOUT AN EMPLOYEE SURVEY FOR HEALTH INSURANCE

TRANSITION. WHERE IS THAT AT? >> CANDIDLY , I AM UNCERTAIN AT THIS MOMENT BUT I WILL FOLLOW UP. I DO NOT HAVE THAT IN MY NOTES. I DON'T KNOW THAT IS PRIOR TO MY RETURN OR NOT.

>> IT WAS VERY RECENT. >> I THINK, IS IT SHANE FOR YOUR SITE HEALTH INSURANCE?

>> I HAVE BENEFITS. I WILL GET AN UPDATE FOR YOU. YES I SURE WILL

>> COMMISSIONER ELLIS. >> NOT A THING TO ASK, JUST THINK YOU.

>> I WOULD LIKE TO ADD MY GRATITUDE. MY LETTER ENCOURAGE HER TO APPLY? SEEING AS MY COLLEAGUES DID THAT, THE ONLY THING I WOULD SAY IS I REALLY APPRECIATE HOW YOU HAVE LAID OUT THE DETAILS PRIORITIES FOR THIS FISCAL YEAR. IT WOULD BE REALLY GREAT AND THIS IS PROBABLY WHAT YOU WILL DO, BUT TO HAVE UPDATES WITHIN THOSE ROCKETS . BECAUSE IT IS VERY

WELL DONE >> THANK YOU, JUDGE THAT. OUR INTENTION IS ON A MONTHLY BASIS PROVIDE ONGOING UPDATES. THANK YOU AGAIN FOR THE BUDGET. WE FINALLY HAVE SOME FOLKS ON THE TEAM ADDING A GRAPHIC DESIGNER SO WE WILL HAVE STAFF AND CAPACITY TO COMMUNICATE ON A FREQUENT BASIS EVEN BEYOND QUARTERLY UPDATES IN COURT. AS WE MAKE PROGRESS WE WANT YOU TO

KNOW PROGRESS IS BEING MADE AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. >> YES AND WHERE IT FALLS UNDER. I WOULD ENCOURAGE YOU TO CHAT WITH THE BUDGET OFFICE AND YOU'RE PROBABLY PLANNING TO DO THIS BUT YOU KNOW THE BUDGET IS LIMITED. WE DID NOT GO TO HOLDERS ADDITIONAL FUNDING AND

SOME OF THIS WILL TAKE FUNDING SO >> WE ARE WORKING ON IT

>> AS PART OF THE FIVE-YEAR PLAN THERE WERE NOT NECESSARILY ACTIONABLE ITEMS RELATED TO THE HR WE WERE ABLE TO DIVE INTO BUT IT IS SOMETHING LISTED THAT WE CONTINUE TO WORK ON IN PARTICULAR AROUND EMPLOYEE RELATIONS AND FMLA. GETTING THOSE WRONG IS EXPENSIVE. WE ARE PULLING THE CLAIMS. THOSE ARE AREAS WHERE THERE IS NO STANDARD PRACTICE IN THE COUNTY AND I'M SURE THEY ARE MAKING PAYOUTS RELATED TO NOT FOLLOWING PROCESSES AND SING WITH FMLA. I HEARD A HORROR STORY EARLIER THIS YEAR THAT WE WERE ABLE TO RECTIFY BUT THAT IS MONEY OUT THE DOOR THAT IF WE HAD SOMEBODY MINDING THE SHOP WE WOULD BE ABLE TO

MITIGATE THE COUNTY'S RISK. >> THAT IS GREAT. I REMEMBER YOU MADE A SET-ASIDE FOR THE EQUITY STUDY BUT I DO NOT THINK NECESSARILY FOR WHAT'S UNDER THE PRESENTATION SO THAT'S MY CONCERN BUT I HEAR YOU THAT SOME OF IT WILL BE FUN WE'RE GETTING BACK FOR SAVINGS.

[04:20:01]

SPECIFIC THROUGH MITIGATING THE RISK IS THE INTENTION. >> SOME SYSTEMS WE HAVE SIX ON VOTING SYSTEMS IN THE COUNTY. MINIMUM THAT WE KNOW ABOUT. SO THERE ARE SOME THINGS WE THINK

IF WE WERE TO IMPROVE THE SERVICE WE COULD FIND SAVINGS. >> MAYBE SOME OF THIS COULD BE

CIP. I AM HOPEFUL, THANK YOU SO MUCH. >> THANK YOU.

>> IS THERE EMOTION ON THIS ONE? HR UPDATE WE ACCEPT THE PRESENTATION. OKAY MOVING ON ITEM 36. WE WILL TAKE IT ALONGSIDE ITEM 38. THESE ARE BOTH ON THE COMPENSATION.

>> REAL QUICK ITEM 35 NO ACTION. >> OKAY SURE, THANK YOU.

>> WE HAVE OUR REPRESENTATIVES FROM GALLAGHER THE VENDOR SELECTED TO LEAD THE COMPETITION AND PAY EQUITY STUDY ONLINE. THEY HAD A BRIEF PRESENTATION I WILL SHARE WITH

YOU PROVIDE UPDATES AND ANSWER AND ADDRESS ANY QUESTIONS. >> SURE.

>>> OKAY IT IS FOR DECO THREE, COMMISSIONERS COURT IS BACK IN SESSION. LET'S MOVE ON TO

ITEMS 36 AND 38, GO AHEAD. >> ONE QUICK ITEM A RESPONSE FOR COMMISSIONER GARCIA ON THE BENEFITS SURVEY. WE HAVE ALREADY REACHED OUT TO PURCHASING TO AMEND CONTRACT FOR ADDITIONAL FUNDING FOR THAT SO THE GOAL IS TO HAVE THAT SURVEY RELEASED IN THE FIRST QUARTER OF THE CALENDAR YEAR, FIRST QUARTER OF 2025 WITH MORE DETAILS TO COME. THAT'S IN

PROGRESS. >> GOTCHA, THANK YOU FOR THAT. >> WE HAVE MEMBERS OF THE GALLAGHER TEAM , THE DEDICATED PROJECT TEAM FOR COMPENSATION AND PAY EQUITY STUDY ONLINE.

THE PRESENTATION IS BEING SET UP AND I WILL TURN IT OVER TO ERIC FROM GALLAGHER IF THAT'S

THE RIGHT ORDER. >> YES, THANK YOU. THANK YOU JUDGE AND COMMISSIONERS FOR YOUR TIME THIS AFTERNOON. WE DO APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK WITH YOU AND PROVIDE AN UPDATE ON THE ONGOING WORK WE ARE DOING WITH THE HR TEAM. NEXT SLIDE PLEASE. FROM A BIG PICTURE PERSPECTIVE, THE PROJECT AS WE HAVE ENGAGED WITH THE COUNTY INCLUDES A NUMBER OF FACETS AND PHASES, PROJECT ADMINISTRATION WHICH WE UNDERSTAND WILL HELP YOU TO SHAPE PHILOSOPHY AND STRATEGY AS WE TALK ABOUT COMPENSATION MORE BROADLY. COMPETITION AND CLASSIFICATION STUDY ITSELF, MOVING THROUGH THAT AND THEN FACILITATING PAY EQUITY STUDY TO TRULY UNDERSTAND WHAT DOES THAT LOOK LIKE ACROSS THE COUNTY WORKFORCE AND THEN BRINGING BACK LEADERSHIP INFORMATION AT THE END OF THE STUDY ACROSS ALL OF THOSE COMPONENTS AND ALL THOSE PHASES. WE WILL TALK ABOUT WHERE WE ARE AND THE PROGRESS HERE IN A HANDFUL OF SLIDES. HERE WE HERE OUTLINED ON THE SCREEN IT WALKS THROUGH AT A FAIRLY HIGH LEVEL OF DETAIL WITH EACH OF THE STEPS INVOLVED ACROSS THE STUDY ITSELF. AS WE THINK ABOUT THE BROAD ENGAGEMENT, THERE ARE SIX BUCKETS THAT WE TRY TO MAKE SURE WE ARE ACHIEVING AS WE WORK THROUGH THESE PHASES OVER THE NEXT SEVERAL MONTHS. FIRST, UNDERSTANDING YOUR CURRENT STRUCTURE AND CURRENT JOB CONTENT, THE PAY STRUCTURE AND CLASSIFICATION SO WE UNDERSTAND THE STARTING POINT WHERE WE ARE MOVING FROM. GOING THROUGH THAT I WILL COLLECT ADDITIONAL DATA AND HAVE DATA COLLECTION IN WHICH WE ARE COLLECTING EMPLOYEE INFORMATION, BOTH THROUGH OCCUPATIONAL PANELS, MEETING WITH EMPLOYEES, JOB SHADOWING AND THE POSITION DESCRIPTION PROCESS AS APPROPRIATE TO TRULY UNDERSTAND WHAT THE ROLES ARE, WHAT THE POSITIONS ARE DOING HOW THEY ARE PERFORMING SO WE CANNOT ONLY VIEW THE CLASSIFICATION COMPONENT AND ALSO SUPPORT UPDATED AND REFRESHED JOB DESCRIPTIONS. FROM THERE MOVING TO CLASSIFICATION STRUCTURE WE REDESIGN AND REDEFINE THAT WORKING WITH THE COUNTY WILL PAY EQUITY STUDY AS WE LOOK AHEAD AND IMPORTANTLY THINKING ABOUT THE COMPENSATION PIECE WE COLLECT DATA FROM THE MARKET TO UNDERSTAND HOW DOES THE COUNTY WISH TO POSITION ITSELF, HOW DOES ONE BE COMPARED TO THAT AND TAKING INFORMATION FROM THE

[04:25:04]

[04:30:03]

COMPETITION AND PAY EQUITY WORK. >> THAT IS 10 MINUTES.

>> IS THERE A MOTION TO EXTEND THE DISCUSSION? ALL IN FAVOR? ANY OPPOSED? THE MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY. WE HAVE A 10 MINUTE TIMER SO PRESENTATIONS DO NOT GO TOO LONG. SO I ENCOURAGE YOU TO SEE IF YOU CAN SPEED UP A LITTLE BIT BECAUSE THE INFORMATION IS VERY

HELPFUL, BUT YOU'RE GOING TO LOSE US SOON. >> NO WORRIES I WILL SPEAK FASTER. WE CAN GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE PLEASE. SO AGAIN TO THE JOB EVALUATIONS WE LOOK AT YOUR STRUCTURE AS WELL AS THE MARKET DATA TO ENSURE IT IS A THOROUGH JOB EVALUATION OVERALL AND BALANCING THOSE COMPONENTS. NEXT SLIDE PLEASE. AS WE MOVE INTO THE COMPENSATION COMPONENT OF THIS STUDY, WHICH IS COMING OVER THE NEXT SEVERAL MONTHS WE ARE REALLY LOOKING TO UNDERSTAND YOUR POSITION RELATIVE TO THE MARKET AND UNDERSTAND THE PEER ORGANIZATIONS AND INSTITUTIONS ENSURING WE ARE COLLECTING THE RIGHT DATA AND ANALYZING THE RIGHT DATA AND MATCHING YOUR ROLES IN TERMS OF TITLES AND ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITY TO THE DATA SO WHEN WE PROVIDE THE COMPENSATION INFORMATION IT IS A VERY THOROUGH LOOK AT WHAT THE MARKET TELLS US ABOUT THE ROLES EMPLOYED WITHIN THE COUNTY ACROSS ITS WORKFORCE.

NEXT SLIDE PLEASE. >> THERE IS THE PRIMARY DRIVER THE DEVELOPMENT AND FACILITATED CUSTOMER SURVEY. THAT CENTERED AROUND PEERS WE WORK WITH YOU TO IDENTIFY, WORKING TO THE PROCESS NOW DEVELOPING IN THE SURVEY SO WE CAN GO OUT AND THEN SUPPLEMENT WITH THE PUBLISH SURVEY DATABASE, GALLAGHER HAS ONE OF THE LARGEST PUBLISHED SURVEY LIBRARIES OF ANY CONSULTING FIRM AND WE TAKE THOSE PIECES TOGETHER AS WE WORK THROUGH

[04:35:19]

AS WE MOVE TO THE PAY EQUITY PHASE OF THE WORK, WE WILL DO A STATISTICAL ANALYSIS THAT LOOKS AT YOUR PAY ACROSS DEMOGRAPHICS, ACROSS YOUR WORKFORCE. WE WILL IDENTIFY WHERE WE SEE DISCREPANCIES, OUTLIERS AND ANOMALIES AND WILL WORK TO REMEDY THAT AND LOOK WHAT IT TELLS US TO ENSURE YOUR COMPLAINT WITH VIOLATION AND LAWS AS PART OF THAT SO IT'S NOT JUST A MATTER WHERE THE PATIENTS, BUT WE LOOK AT IT FROM A STATISTICAL PERSPECTIVE AND ENSURE IT IS DESIGNED AROUND REGULATORY PIECES IN ADDITION TO ALIGNING TO THE MARKET. NEXT SLIDE PLEASE . THIS GIVES THE BIG PICTURE. 'S WE ARE IN THE MIDST OF CLASSIFICATION PHASE, BEGINNING TO WORK AROUND THE COMPENSATION FACE AND WE WILL BE MOVING TO THE PAY EQUITY PHASE AS WE GET INTO THE NEW YEAR AND WE HAVE PRELIMINARY RESULTS FROM THE CLASSIFICATION STUDY TO ENSURE WE ARE LOOKING AT THE RIGHT ROLES ACROSS PAY EQUITY AND LOOK AT THAT FROM A COMPENSATION PEACE. AND THEN PULLING IT TOGETHER FOR FINAL PRESENTATIONS, REPORTS AND RECOMMENDATIONS IN 2025. NEXT SLIDE PLEASE. THIS OUTLINE ARE DELIVERABLES , AS WE WORK TO THE ENGAGEMENT , WE WILL HAVE PART OF THAT AND WE ARE WORKING CLOSELY WITH HR TEAM WITH ONGOING EMPLOYEE STAKEHOLDER COMMUNICATIONS . THAT IS A CONSTANT OF THE WORK WE'RE DOING. REFRESHED COMPOSITION PHILOSOPHY, THE JOB ANALYSIS AND EVALUATION AS WELL AS CLASSIFICATION STRUCTURE UPDATED JOB DESCRIPTION ACROSS THE WORKFORCE. PAY EQUITY STUDY, BENCHMARK SUMMARY WHICH IS A TOOL DESIGNED TO HELP UNDERSTAND WHAT DOES THE DATA TELL US FROM A MARKET PERSPECTIVE AND FROM A COMPRESSION AND INTERNAL EQUITY PERSPECTIVE AND HOW DO YOU ALIGNED TO THE MARKET . SALARY STRUCTURE WITH COST IMPLEMENTATION AND FINAL PRESENTATIONS AT WORKFORCE.

NEXT SLIDE. AND THEN WE ARE IN PHASE 1 INTO PHASE 2 SO WE ARE FAIRLY DEEP INTO PHASE 2 , BEGINNING TO WORK AROUND PHASE 3 SHORTLY WITH A GOAL OF WRAPPING UP THE STUDY MIDWAY THROUGH 2025. ALSO UNDERSTANDING THERE MAY BE PRELIMINARY ITEMS WE NEED TO BRING BACK TO THE HR TEAM AND SO ONE. SO WE OUTLINE WHERE WE ARE AND WHAT WE ARE DOING IN TERMS OF WORK DELIVERABLES WITH MEANINGS, DRAFTING JOB ANALYSES, TOOLS AND SO ONE.

NEXT SLIDE PLEASE. THAT CONCLUDES THE SLIDE PRESENTATION.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH, COMMISSIONER ELLIS. >> THANK YOU. YOU ALL DID A GOOD JOB. I JUST REALLY WANT TO MAKE A COUPLE OF POINTS AND THEN HAVE A MOTION. I THINK I STARTED TALKING ABOUT DOING A STUDY TO SEE IF WE ARE FAIR WITH LOWEST PAID EMPLOYEES, MAYBE SIX YEARS AGO. APRIL 4, 2023 I FORMALIZED IT AND MADE A MOTION REQUESTING HR DEVELOP A PLAN IDENTIFYING AND ADDRESSING PAY DISPARITY BASED ON RECOMMENDED FOR GOOD CAUSE, THANK YOU FOR DOING THAT, THAT WE ENGAGE SOMEONE, A VENDOR TO DO THIS STUDY THAT GALLAGHER IS DOING. OBVIOUSLY YOU'VE GOT TO GO THROUGH THE PROCESS WITH ALL OF THAT AND THEN WE GET A PROCESS THAT IS THOUGHTFUL. I THINK YOU OUTLINED A 12 MONTH PROCESS. FULL IMPLEMENTATION

RESULTS COULD TAKE ONE TO TWO YEARS. IS THAT PRETTY FAIR? >> YES THAT IS FAIR.

>> I KNOW WE ARE LOSING EMPLOYEES AND WE OUGHT TO DO SOMETHING SNOW FOR EXAMPLE PRETRIAL SERVICES IS FREEZING HIRING FOR 18 VACANT POSITIONS. SO THEY CAN INCREASE PAY FOR 97 EMPLOYEES MAKING BELOW $51,000 A YEAR. SO I KNOW WE SET ASIDE SOME FUNDING FOR THE NEXT

[04:40:03]

TO MAKE THAT MOTION. >> COMMISSIONER, WE WILL DISCUSS THIS AND WE WILL COME BACK WITH RECOMMENDATION. IT WILL LIKELY BE , GIVEN HOW MUCH MONEY WE HAVE SET ASIDE BETWEEN 1000 AND 2000 PER EMPLOYEE. I WILL PREVIEW FOR YOU, THERE IS NO MAGIC NUMBER TWO CUT IT OFF.

WE HAVE A LOT OF FOLKS. FOR EXAMPLE THE DETENTION OFFICERS START AT 46,000, THEY GO TO 52 AFTER THE FIRST YEAR AND THEN 53 SO YOU CAN SEE THE FOLKS THAT ARE IN YEAR TWO WHAT ESSENTIALLY BE MAKING FOLKS AT YOUR FOUR WHICH I WOULD IMAGINE WOULD CAUSE ISSUES. SOME FOLKS HERE WERE NOT ON THE COURT AT THE TIME BUT WE SAW IN 2022, THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY ENTRY-LEVEL DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S GOT A RAISE AND WE SPENT THE NEXT YOU'RE TRYING TO FIX IT TO THE TUNE OF ALMOST $5 MILLION. SO THERE IS NOT A MAGIC NUMBER WHERE YOU CAN CUT IT OFF AND THERE IS NO COMPRESSION. IF THERE WERE TO BE ONE IT WOULD PROBABLY BE IN THE 175 OR $200,000 RANGE. I DO BELIEVE I WILL NOT RECOMMEND A COLA, I WILL RECOMMEND A FIVE ADJUSTMENT SO IT IS DISPROPORTIONATELY FELT TO BOTTOM OF THE PAY SCALE.

>> WE DO HAVE A NO MONEY PROBLEM GETTING WORSE IN TIME AND BY THE TIME WE GET THE STUDY BACK AND GALLAGHER YOU'RE DOING A GOOD JOB, MAYBE WE SHOULD'VE THOUGHT TO DO IT SOONER. WHEN THE GETTING WAS GOOD BUT THE GETTING MAY BE CHALLENGING YOU TO DO SOMETHING

FOR THE LOWER LEVEL EMPLOYEES. >> I AGREE. WHEN WE SET OUT WE WERE HOPING TO BE ABLE TO IMPLEMENT CHUNKS OF THIS IN THIS FISCAL YEAR SO I AGREE WE NEED TO DO SOMETHING IN THE INTERIM AND HOW MUCH WILL BE DETERMINED BY COMMISSIONERS COURT.

>> THIS IS THE EARLY MOTION. THE EARLY BUS. >> OKAY YES COMMISSIONER RAMSEY

AND THEN COMMISSIONER BRIONES. >> QUICK QUESTION. >> WE HAVE $50 MILLION.

>> MOTION AND SECOND. >> TO CONTINUE. >> MOTION BY COMMISSIONER ELLIS SECOND BY COMMISSIONER RAMSEY. MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY. GO-AHEAD.

>> WHAT COMMISSIONER ELLIS IS REFERRING TO COULD COME OUT OF THE POT. SO WE HAD BETTER NOT BE TAKING ANYTHING ELSE OUT OF THE POT UNTIL WE KNOW WHAT IMPACT THIS IS GOING TO BE ON.

I DON'T DISAGREE THAT WE START AT THAT LEVEL, WE START WITH THE FOLKS WHO ARE , THE MOST VULNERABLE FRANKLY. WITHIN THE COUNTY. I THINK THAT COME I THINK IT APPEARS TO ME, WATCHING THIS LENGTHY PRESENTATION THAT GALLAGHER CERTAINLY HAS ENOUGH DATA THAT THEY COULD QUICKLY PROVIDE SOME GOOD INSIGHT COME INTO THE FOLKS IN THAT RANGE.

>> WE KNOW WHO IS IN THAT RANGE TODAY, I THINK IT IS 28% OF STAFF BELOW 51,000.

>> WHEN WE TALK ABOUT WHAT DOING ACROSS THE BOARD INCREASE FOR THAT GROUP OF FOLKS, ARE WE TAKING INTO ACCOUNT THE BENEFITS? BECAUSE SOMEONE WORKING AT THE COUNTY WITH THE COUNTY BENEFITS IS DIFFERENT FROM SOMEONE WORKING DOWN THE STREET THAT PICK A COMPANY.

[04:45:06]

>> GALLAGHER WILL BE PROVIDING SOME CONTEXT AROUND COMPETITIVE BENEFITS IN THE MARKET AND AMONG PEER ORGANIZATIONS. THE COMPENSATION STUDY ITSELF IS LOOKING AT SALARIES OF OUR EMPLOYEES. SO WE WILL HAVE SOME DATA AROUND WHAT OUR BENEFITS LOOK LIKE. IF THERE WERE CASH VALUE ATTACHED, HOW THAT IS IN COMPARISON TO PEER ORGANIZATIONS. THE STUDY , THE COMPENSATION STUDY IS SALARIES OF THE EMPLOYEES AND THE EVALUATION IS THE ARCADE

EVALUATION OF THE SALARIES. >> I THINK IT IS A BIT FLAWED, BUT FOR US NOT TO TAKE INTO ACCOUNT, WE BRING IT UP EVERY TIME. FOR US NOT TO TAKE INTO ACCOUNT BENEFITS THAT WERE NOT

FULLY UNDERSTAND IT , WHAT WE CAN AND WHAT WE ARE NOT DOING. >> WE CAN HELP MARRY THOSE TWO

THINGS. WE HAVE INFORMATION ON BOTH. >> I HAVE COMMISSIONER RAMSEY

AND THEN COMMISSIONER BRIONES. >> SEVERAL POINTS AND THEN I HAVE A QUESTION. TWO QUESTIONS FOR GALLAGHER. FIRST OF ALL I WILL PROUDLY SECOND THAT BECAUSE I AM PAINED THAT WE TOLD OUR TEAM MEMBERS 51,000 AND UNDER THAT WE WOULD BE IN A POSITION TO MAKE ADJUSTMENTS BY MARCH, NOW THE TIMETABLE YET AGAIN IS EXTENDED. IT HAS BEEN OVER A YEAR AND A HALF, APRIL 4, 2023 WHEN THE COURT PASSED THE ITEM TO DEVELOP THE PAY EQUITY STUDY. A YEAR AND A HALF NOW WE ARE HERE AT THE INITIAL DECK. SOME OF IT IS MULTIPLE RESPONSIBILITIES, I KNOW YOU'RE RELATIVELY NEW IN TERMS OF COMING BACK PROCUREMENT ET CETERA BUT THE SHEER LACK OF URGENCY HERE AT HARRIS COUNTY IS UNACCEPTABLE. WE WANT TO BE DATA DRIVEN AND DO THINGS WITH EXCELLENCE WE CAN DO BOTH, BE DATA-DRIVEN, EXCELLENT AND MOVE WITH A SENSE OF URGENCY. I AM FLABBERGASTED THAT IT IS NOW ANOTHER YEAR AND IT COULD BE LONGER FOR IMPLEMENTATION. TO YOUR POINT, COMMISSIONER, EXPECTATIONS WERE LOOKING AT TOTAL COMP, BASE SALARY PLUS ALL BENEFITS. WE ARE MARRYING THEM. UNDERSTAND THE MOBILITY ISSUE, THE TENURE OF EMPLOYEES AND HOW BENEFITS ARE SEEN AS A SEPARATE PART BUT THE TOTALITY IT IS IMPERATIVE WE LOOK AT THE TOTALITY. TO NOT IS A COMPLETELY FLAWED , WHY WASTE ANOTHER YEAR AND A HALF AND MONEY? MY QUESTION IS WOULD YOU SUGGEST MIRRORING THE COMP AND BENEFITS. IN THE MOST EQUITABLE WAY. I FEAR THAT THE LAST THING IS THAT WE ARE GOING TO GET THIS REPORT AND WE ARE GOING TO HAVE MORE FRAGMENTED THINGS AND I'M USING A NICE VERB OF MARY, BUT WE OWE IT TO OUR TEAM MEMBERS AND IT'S VERY BOTHERSOME. COULD YOU PLEASE DEFINE THE MARKET APPEARS AND HOW YOU PLAN ON MARRYING BASE COMP VERSUS BENEFITS FOR TOTAL COMP.

>> GOOD QUESTION AND FEEL FREE TO CHIME IN, AS WELL. AS WE TALK ABOUT THE PEERS AND AS A PROCESS OF WORKING CLOSELY WITH YOU TO UNDERSTAND AND IDENTIFY THE PEERS FROM A COUNTY PERSPECTIVE, LARGE METROPOLITAN PERSPECTIVE FROM A PUBLIC ORGANIZATION PEACE AND RECOGNIZING THAT NOT ALL OF YOUR ROLES ARE SPECIFIC TO THE PUBLIC SECTOR. THAT IS WHERE WE INCORPORATE PRIVATE DATA, AS WELL FROM A BIG PICTURE PEER IN THE DATA COLLECTION PROCESS. AS WE THINK ABOUT THAT FROM A BENEFITS PEACE, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE CAN CERTAINLY INCORPORATE AND GENERALLY INCORPORATES PART OF THAT CUSTOM SURVEY PIECE. WHAT IS THAT LOOKING AND FEELING LIKE

[04:50:04]

THAT ANSWER YOUR QUESTION? >> YES.

>> IN THE INTEREST OF TIME, THANK YOU.

>> I HAVE A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS FOR YOU. JUMPING OFF OF THE BENEFITS CONVERSATION , WE NEED TO COMPARE APPLES TO APPLES. WE NEED TO INCLUDE OUR BENEFITS WITH THE SALARIES AND WE ALSO HAVE TO RECOGNIZE THAT THE YOUNGER GENERATIONS ARE LOOKING AT AND A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE LOOKING AT IMMEDIATE PURCHASING POWER RATHER THAN BENEFITS. WE ARE NOT ONLY LOOKING AT EQUITY ACROSS THE COUNTY , BUT COMPETITIVENESS WITH OTHER WORKPLACES , SO I WONDER IF BEYOND ADDING BENEFITS TO YOUR ANALYSIS . IS THIS SOMETHING THAT WE COULD PRESENT TO THE PUBLIC? WE HAD THIS CONVERSATION AT THE TABLE. OUR BENEFITS ARE GREAT, BUT I DON'T KNOW -- I DON'T KNOW.

THAT IS IN YOUR SURVEYS. HOW DO WE MAKE SURE THAT WHAT WE ARE OFFERING WILL ACTUALLY BE RECEIVED BY POTENTIAL EMPLOYEES AS HAVING THE SAME VALUE THAT WE BELIEVE IT HAS. DOES THAT

MAKE SENSE? >> IT DOES. THAT IS PART OF THE BENEFIT SURVEY IN THE FIRST QUARTER OF NEXT YEAR. DO PEOPLE PERCEIVE THAT IT'S COMING HERE AND IT MAY BE A LOWER SALARY, BUT IT WILL BE HIGHER BENEFITS. IS THAT THE CASE?

>> I THINK GENERATIONS MAKE A DIFFERENCE. WHAT IS IMPORTANT TO JEN Z IS IMPORTANT TO BOOMERS AND GENERATION X'S. WE HAVE A GOOD UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT GENERATIONS PRIORITIZE THEIR BENEFITS AND WHAT'S IMPORTANT TO THEM. THERE IS A WAY TO FRAME IT IN A DIGESTIBLE WAY TO BE ABLE TO PRESENT IT HOLISTICALLY BY MARRYING IT TO CASH COMPENSATION.

>> DO WE NEED TO MAKE A MOTION FOR MORE TIME? MOTION BY COMMISSIONER AND IS THERE A SECOND? SECOND BY RAMSEY. ALL IN FAVOR? MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY. THAT WOULD BE MY POINT FOR YOU TO THINK ABOUT THAT, BECAUSE ALL OF THIS IS FORWARD-LOOKING AND I THINK MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT IT'S NOT JUST GEN Z, BUT MILLENNIAL'S AND WHATEVER THE NEW -- ALPHA I THINK IS WHAT THEY ARE. I THINK IT WILL BE EXTERNAL FACING AND IT SOUNDS LIKE WE'RE ON THE SAME PAGE. THE OTHER POINT I WANT TO MAKE , I DON'T WANT TO GET YOUR LAST NAME WRONG, SIR.

I DO THINK THAT THIS IS VERY THOROUGH AND IT WILL BE EXTREMELY HELPFUL AND I CAN UNDERSTAND YOUR TIMELINE . THE OTHER QUESTION IS IN TERMS OF -- THE QUESTIONS OF THE BASE

[04:55:03]

THEY WOULD STILL HAVE A SIGNIFICANT NUMBER TO FILL EVEN

AFTER USING THESE. >> MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT WE HAVE $50 MILLION BUDGETED FOR PAY EQUITY, WHICH IS THIS FISCAL YEAR. IN MY MIND, IT IS FINE. IF YOU COME BACK AND SAY THAT WE GET THIS INCREASE, THEN I WOULD ASSUME THAT IT WOULD ALIGN WITH THE ULTIMATE RECOMMENDATIONS THEY WERE GOING TO RECOMMEND, BUT WE DON'T KNOW. THAT IS WHAT I WOULD ASK WHEN IT COMES BACK, BECAUSE THAT WILL BE PART OF MY DECISION. TRYING TO BE THOUGHTFUL AND THIS ALL STARTED WITH THE INCREASE, WHICH IS WHY I HAVE THE ISSUE WITH THE

PUBLIC HEALTH DUTIES. >> I UNDERSTAND THE FOCUS ON THE 51,000 , BUT I'M GOING TO BE PUSHING TO RAISE THE CAP , BECAUSE THERE REALLY IS NOT A MAGIC NUMBER WHERE YOU WILL NOT HAVE COMPRESSION. WE WANT FOLKS TO PROMOTE THROUGH RANKS AND WE WANT FOLKS TO TAKE MORE RESPONSIBILITY AND EARN MONEY AND BY GIVING IT AT THE 51,000 . YOU WILL INCENTIVES RATHER

THAN PROMOTE IN A POSITION . >> THAT IS WHAT I MEAN . IT IS THE TREND OF SINGLING OUT. THAT IS THE THING WITH PUBLIC HEALTH. WHEN YOU ARE LOOKING AT THE UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES.

WHAT I WOULD ASK IS THAT YOU THINK THROUGH THE BROADER CONTEXT. IF THAT MEANS INCREASING IT FOR A BROADER RANGE OR IDEALLY YOU COULD WORK THROUGH THE PROPOSAL WITH GALLAGHER, SO IF SOMEHOW DOVETAILS WITH THE WORK THEY ARE DOING, THEN WE HAVE TO BALANCE THESE TWO THINGS AND THERE IS HOPEFULLY A WAY TO DO THAT, BUT I THINK JUST PICKING A NUMBER AND GOING WILL LEAD TO THE DOMINO EFFECT.

>> I THINK THE MAJORITY OF FOLKS ARE PROBABLY UNDERPAID , SO IF WE WERE TO GIVE AN $8000 INCREASE FOR EVERYONE BELOW 200,000, IT'S ABOUT 17 BILLION.

>> LET ME FINISH THIS CONVERSATION, THEN I WILL PASS IT ON. SINCE WE ARE TAKING THESE TWO TOGETHER , WE ARE LOOKING AT AN INCREASE FOR THE TOP PERSON , WHICH IS OVER 40% AND MAKING HALF $1 MILLION , WHICH IS ONLY SINGLING OUT ONE POSITION WHEN GALLAGHER -- THE OTHER COMPANY HAS ALREADY BROUGHT BACK RECOMMENDATIONS FOR ALL FOLKS THAT REPORT TO COURT. THERE IS THIS INCONSISTENCY. IS IT HALF 1 MILLION FOR THE PEOPLE ON TOP? ARE WE PRIORITIZING THE FOLKS AT THE BOTTOM? IS THIS GOING TO CREATE A COMPRESSION PROBLEM? IS $1000 GOING TO MAKE A SIGNIFICANT DIFFERENCE? I DON'T WANT TO DO SOMETHING FOR THE SAKE OF SAYING THAT WE DID

SOMETHING. >> WE WILL LOOK AT THE OPTIONS

AND GIVE RECOMMENDATIONS. >> THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR THE CONVERSATION ON THIS. OBVIOUSLY, IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE GET IT RIGHT. I ALSO WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THERE IS COORDINATION WITH OUR DEPARTMENT DIRECTORS, BECAUSE SOME DEPARTMENTS HAVE VERY TECHNICAL NEEDS, WHETHER IT BE

[05:00:04]

INCLUDED. >> ABSOLUTELY. WE ARE ALREADY IN THE PROCESS OF PLANNING THAT OUT AND RECOGNIZING HOW HIGHLY NUANCED WE ARE ACROSS ALL ROLES. DEPARTMENT HEADS , HR LIAISONS WILL BE PART OF THE CONVERSATIONS IN ADVANCE OF THE CLASSIFICATIONS OF THIS WORK , SO WE ARE ALREADY WORKING ON

THAT. >> OTHER NUANCES ASIDE FROM THE STATE OR NATIONAL MARKET , WE HAVE A LOCAL COMPETITIVE SITUATION . BEING THE THIRD LARGEST COUNTY AND HAVING THE

LARGEST CITY. >> YOU GET NO ARGUMENTS FROM

US. >> I JUST WANT TO STRESS AGAIN THAT THE DISCUSSION ABOUT PAY INEQUITIES STARTED SHORTLY AFTER YOU AND COMMISSIONER GARCIA GOT HERE AND PROBABLY DIDN'T HAVE THE GOOD JUDGMENT TO FORMALIZE IT AND MAKE IT ANY MOTION, AS A COUNTY MANAGER THAT HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR A LONG TIME, BUT I DID MAKE A MOTION ON APRIL 4TH, 2023 THREE DAYS BEFORE MY BIRTHDAY IN A MOTION. IF WE WAIT, I DIDN'T KNOW THAT HR WAS GOING TO SAY TO DO A STUDY AND I'M GLAD WE ARE DOING IT. IT WILL COST ABOUT $1 MILLION TO LOOK AT EVERYTHING IN THERE. THANK GOD FOR THE BIDEN HARRIS ADMINISTRATION, BECAUSE THAT IS HOW WE PAY IT . I THINK WE WOULD BE REMISS TO IF WE TOOK THOSE PEOPLE AND MADE THEM WAIT ANY LONGER. WE GAVE ELECTED OFFICIALS A PAY RAISE. I JUST WANT TO MAKE THE POINT THAT THIS IS LONG ENOUGH AND I WAS SOMEWHAT NAÏVE. I REALLY THOUGHT IT WOULD HAVE HIT IT AND I WAS JUST MOVING SO FAST THAT I DIDN'T THINK ABOUT THE COMPRESSION ISSUES. 50 MILLION IS NOT ENOUGH AND IT DIDN'T SAY TO GIVE IT TO ALL OF THEM. IT SAYS TO PRIORITIZE PAY INCREASES FOR EMPLOYEES CURRENTLY EARNING BELOW 51 AND I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE DON'T THE ISSUES. WE COULD ALL HAVE A DIFFERENCE OF OPINION ABOUT ANYBODY THAT DESERVES A PAY RAISE, BUT I DON'T THINK YOU OR ANYBODY ELSE HERE THINKS THAT IT'S RIGHT . I DON'T WANT TO SAY THAT THERE AT THE BOTTOM, BECAUSE MY FIRST JOB ARE $25,000 A YEAR.

>> I'M FINE WITH A MOTION, BECAUSE WE COULD HAVE BROUGHT A SET IN MOTION COMING OUT OF EXECUTIVE SESSION BEFORE I EVEN CALLED COURT TO ORDER TO GIVE $1500 TO THE PEOPLE WHO CATCH THE EARLY BUS AS OPPOSED TO DOING THAT FOR THE DIRECTOR .

THAT IS WHAT I'M SAYING. THE WILLINGNESS TO SINGLE SOMEONE OUT AND RANDOMLY GIVE A RAISE , HOWEVER THE MOTION IS PERFECTLY FAIR AND I AGREE THAT THIS IS TAKING TOO LONG , ALTHOUGH I THINK THEY'RE HEADED IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION. THAT WOULD TRY TO BE AS THOUGHTFUL AS WE CAN, SO WE DON'T BREAK THE REST OF THE PROCESS. I'M CONCERNED THAT THE $50 MILLION IS NOT ENOUGH. WE TRIED TO GET TO COURT TO PUT THIS ON THE BALLOT AND WE CAN'T HAVE OUR CAKE AND EAT IT, TOO.

>> I WOULD LIKE TO ASK A CLARIFYING QUESTION. WHEN HE TALKED ABOUT THE TIMING. YOU MENTIONED THAT WHEN YOU WERE SHOWING THE ARE PHASES AND DEEP INTO PHASE TWO AND STARTED ON PHASE THREE , SO IF YOU ARE STARTING ON PHASE THREE, THAT WOULD LEAVE SEVEN MONTHS ACCORDING TO YOUR TIMELINE AND THAT WOULD BE JUNE OF NEXT YEAR, SO WHY ARE WE THINKING THAT IT WILL TAKE ONE TO TWO YEARS TO IMPLEMENT IF WE WILL HAVE YOUR REPORTS IN SEVEN MONTHS.

>> IS THERE A MOTION TO EXTEND? SECOND BY COMMISSIONER ELLIS.

ALL IN FAVOR? MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.

>> THANK YOU. I'M TRYING TO GET CLARITY SINCE IT IS A BIG

[05:05:01]

ISSUE >> WAS THAT A QUESTION?

>> WE CAN CERTAINLY TALK ABOUT THAT. NEXT SUMMER WOULD BE WHAT WE ARE LOOKING AT FOR THE INITIAL PROJECT ENGAGEMENT TO BE COMPLETED AND THE BROADER 12 MONTH WINDOW THAT WE TALKED ABOUT IN THE SLIDES TO RECOGNIZE HOW WE ARE IN THE 12 MONTHS ALREADY. IN COMPLEX ORGANIZATIONS, THE FULL IMPLEMENTATION OF THE VARIOUS COMPONENTS FROM A COMMUNICATIONS PERSPECTIVE AND ALL OF THE VARIOUS PARTS THAT GO INTO THAT , IT CAN BE COMPLIANT AND AS YOU LINK IT BACK TO THE BROAD HR TRANSFORMATION AND WORK IN THAT SPACE , YOU RUN INTO A WINDOW IN WHICH THE IMPLEMENTATION TAKES TIME TO DO. THAT IS A CONSERVATIVE ESTIMATE AND IT CERTAINLY COULD POTENTIALLY BE LESS. IT WOULD BE ACHIEVED THIS UPCOMING SUMMER, THEN THE IMPLEMENTATION PIECE ITSELF WOULD BE WHERE YOU RUN INTO THAT.

>> BASICALLY IMPLEMENTATION BASED ON HOW MUCH FUNDING WE DO HAVE AVAILABLE VERSUS THE PRICE TAGGED .

>> CORRECT. AS WE THINK ABOUT IMPLEMENTATION, IT DEPENDS ON WHAT THE COST OF THE IMPLEMENTATION IS . IT COULD MAKE SENSE THAT IT IS A MULTIYEAR IMPLEMENTATION BASED ON THAT AND THE AVAILABILITY AND SO ON.

>> JUST TO BE CLEAR, I CERTAINLY DID NOT EXPECT THAT WE WOULD BE ABLE TO AFFORD 50 MILLION. WE WANT TO HAVE AVAILABLE FUNDING TO MAKE A BIG DENT. WE MAY NOT BE ABLE TO GO FROM 60% OF THE MARKET TO 95% OF THE MARKET, BUT WE WANT TO MAKE SUBSTANTIAL JUMPS AND THE AREAS WHERE WE ARE NOT AS COMPETITIVE AS WE ARE IN THE OTHER AREAS , SO WE WILL BE PLANNING ON BUDGETING AROUND A LARGE NUMBER FOR THE NEXT FEW YEARS TO GET IT FULLY IMPLEMENTED AND ONCE WE HAVE A BASELINE LEVEL OF CERTAINTY THAT FOLKS ARE IN THE RIGHT JOB CLASSIFICATIONS AND BEING PAID CLOSE TO MARKET RATE , THEN A LOT MORE EFFECTIVE TO BE ABLE TO MAINTAIN BUYING POWER. I HOPE THAT I DIDN'T IMITATE THIS. 50 MILLION WAS AND ALL AND BE ALL, SO I KNOW THAT IT WAS SIGNIFICANTLY DOUBLE OR MORE OVER THE NEXT 2 TO 3 YEARS.

>> COMMISSIONER RAMSEY? >> I AGREE WITH THE MOTION AND I'M READY TO BOAT. I LIKE PRIORITIES AND THAT IS THE APPROPRIATE PLACE TO START. WE DON'T KNOW EXACTLY WHAT THE BUDGET IMPACT IS . WE HAVE SOME MONEY OVER HERE AND WE WILL KNOW MORE ABOUT THAT IN THE DAYS TO COME, SO I THINK WE ARE

READY TO VOTE. >> DO YOU HAVE THE MOTION?

>> FOR CLARITY, CAN IT BE READ? >> DIRECT HUMAN RESOURCES AND OFFICE OF BUDGET MANAGEMENT TO PRESENT OPTIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS TO COMMISSIONERS COURT FOR FLAT RATE INCREASES AND EMPLOYEE CONVERSATION DURING FISCAL YEAR 2025 THAT PRIORITIZES PAY INCREASES OF EMPLOYEES EARNING

BELOW $51,000 PER YEAR. >> MOTION BY COMMISSIONER -- SECOND BY BRIONES. AS YOU SAID, YOU WILL EVALUATE IF IT NEEDS TO GO TO 200 OR WHATEVER. THAT WAS UNDERSTOOD?

>> WE WILL WORK TOGETHER AND COME BACK WITH OUR RECOMMENDATION AND THE COURT CAN TAKE ACTION AT THAT POINT.

>> MOTION AND SECOND GRADE ALL IN FAVOR? MOTION CARRIED

UNANIMOUSLY. THANK YOU. >> I WAS GOING TO TELL YOU THAT YOU SOUND LIKE SANTANA AS LONG AS THIS LASTED.

>> THAT WAS A MOTION FOR ITEM 36?

>> YES. >> TO MANAGE EXPECTATIONS SINCE TIMING IS OF THE EVIDENCE, WHEN WILL YOU COME BACK WITH THOSE

RECOMMENDATIONS? >> WE WILL MOVE ON TO 38. THANK YOU FROM GALLAGHER. LET'S MOVE TO 38. THAT IS WITH KORN FERRY.

WE GOT A LOT OF DIRECTOR POSITIONS THAT WE ARE LOOKING AT. I KNOW THAT IT IS BEING RECRUITED AND WE'VE GOT A COUPLE OF OTHERS RECRUITING. I DON'T SEE A NEED TO SET A SALARY RANGE AT THIS POINT . WE HAVE BEEN FILLING THIS POSITION

[05:10:02]

WE START WITH THAT AND HAVE CONVERSATIONS AND NEGOTIATE WITH WHATEVER OPTIONS WE HAVE THERE. I DON'T THINK WE ARE READY TO DO THIS, BECAUSE IT INVOLVES EVERY OTHER DIRECTOR

POSITION I THINK IN THE COUNTY. >> YES, COMMISSIONER GARCIA AND

ELLIS. >> I AGREE. IT FORCES US BACK INTO THE CONVERSATION WE GOT THROUGH DOING FOR ALMOST AN HOUR. IF WE ARE GOING TO TAKE CARE OF ONE, TAKE CARE OF ALL.

I'M NOT SURE HOW THIS MAKES SENSE FOR US TO DO ONE . WE DON'T EVEN HAVE A . I DON'T THINK THAT IT'S TIME FOR THIS

ITEM. >> MAKE ANY COMMENTS THAT THEY WANT TO MAKE BEFORE MAKING FINALIST ISSUE AND WE WILL BE

LOOKING . >> THE ONLY ISSUE IS IF THE COMMISSIONERS COURT WILL BE DECIDING AT SOME POINT VOTING ON THE KORN FERRY STUDY FOR ALL DEPARTMENT HEADS AND WE ALREADY ISSUED YOUR APPROVALS FOR ALL OTHER DEPARTMENT HEADS TO REPORT DIRECTLY TO THE COMMISSIONERS COURT AND MORE INCLUDED IN THE ORIGINAL ONE. IT IS FOR RECRUITING PURPOSES.

>> WE ARE DOING IT FOR OTHERS? >> THE COURT HAS NOT MADE THAT DECISION AND WE CAN BRING THAT DECISION BACK IF YOU WANT. YOU DIDN'T WANT TO MAKE DECISIONS FOR THE TOP UNTIL YOU MAKE DECISIONS FOR THE BOTTOM AND WE ARE BEING TOLD THAT THIS WILL TAKE LONGER. MEANWHILE, WE HAVE A REPORT OUT THERE THAT SHOWS THAT WE WANT DEPARTMENT HEADS AT THE 50TH PERCENTILE AND THAT THIS IS WHAT IS GOING TO TAKE. HR AND CHIEF PEOPLE OFFICER .

PUBLIC HEALTH AND CHIEF PEOPLE OFFICER. THOSE ARE THREE COMING UP. CAN WE KEEP THEM AT THE CURRENT LEVEL OR DUAL USE THE NEW STUDIES AND AT SOME POINT GET EVERYBODY ALIGNED.

>> AND GOOD FOR USING THE NEW STUDY, BUT WE AND I JUST DON'T

SEE US DOING WHAT --. >> BY CURRENT LEVEL, YOU MEAN

THE 25TH PERCENTILE? >> FOR THE 25TH PERCENTILE EXCEPT FOR A FEW FOLKS THAT WERE AT THE 50TH.

>> MY SENTIMENT AS SOMEONE WHO HAS SERVED AS A CHIEF OFFICER IS THAT REGULAR RECRUITING FOLKS AND WE KNOW THAT WE ARE HEADED TO THE 50TH PERCENTILE, WHICH IS VERY MIDPOINT AND WE WILL MAKE THE OTHER DIRECTORS AND WE ALREADY HAVE THE KORN FERRY ANALYSIS. THIS RECRUITING WORK COULD TAKE THREE MONTHS, SIX MONTHS OR 12 MONTHS. THE FOLKS THAT WE RECRUIT IS THAT WE NEED TO MANAGE EXPECTATIONS OF WHAT THE SALARY RANGE IS AND DEPENDING ON THEIR QUALIFICATIONS, THEN THEY FALL WITHIN A CERTAIN PORTION OF THE RANGE , SO I AM IN FAVOR OF THIS, BECAUSE WE NEED TO MOVE THESE JOB SEARCHES FORWARD AND MANAGE EXPECTATIONS OF THOSE WHO MAY APPLY. YOU HAVE MY VOTE

ON THIS. >> I AGREE, AS WELL. WHEN A PERSON COMES FORWARD , WE DON'T WANT TO HAVE TO DO IT, BUT I AT LEAST WANT TO KNOW WHAT THE MARKET OUT THERE IS, SO I'M FOR IT. IF IT'S GOING TO TAKE ALL EVENING, CAN YOU

BRING IT UP IN TWO WEEKS? >> I WOULD DO THAT, BECAUSE WE STOP AND YOU WANT TO DO THE BOTTOM FIRST AND WE SAID WE ARE NOT GOING TO DO DIRECT TEARS, BECAUSE THEY ARE ALREADY WELL PAID, SO WE WILL DO THE BOTTOM FIRST AND WE NEED TO TAKE CARE OF THIS ONE, BECAUSE WE ARE GOING TO FILL IT. I THINK WE ALREADY SET OUR PRIORITIES , SO UNLESS THERE WILL BE A CHANGE IN DIRECTION, I WANT TO SEE IT FOR ALL DIRECTORS AND I THINK 50% QUARTILE IS WHERE THE MARKET IS AT AND PROVES THAT FOLKS WHO HAVE ALREADY GOTTEN RAISES DESERVE TO BE IN THAT CATEGORY. THAT IS DECIDED FOR ALL.

[05:15:02]

>> YES, COMMISSIONER ELLIS? >> JUST A LITTLE DECISION SUGGESTION. NOT TO BE ARGUMENTATIVE, BUT BECAUSE I SAID IT TO MY JUDGE I HAVE TO SAY TO MY COLLEAGUE AND SEATMATE, AS WELL. I MADE THE REQUEST THAT WE FIND EQUITY BASED ON RACE AND GENDER FOR EMPLOYEES LONG BEFORE I MADE A MOTION APRIL 4, 2023. THAT DISCUSSION CAME UP . EVERY BUDGET CYCLE CAME UP AND I DON'T WANT TO PULL THE MINUTES THAT WE USED, BUT IT'S NOT NEW. I HAVE BEEN HARPING ON THAT LIKE A DEAD HORSE. MAYBE EVEN BEFORE THE COURT CHANGE , SO THE TWO FOR ME ARE NOT RELATED AT ALL . WHEN AN ISSUE CAME UP ON GIVING ANYBODY A PAY RAISE, I DIDN'T LEAD ON ANY OF THEM , BUT ON THIS WHEN I DID READ ON AND I WAS NAÏVE ENOUGH TO THINK THAT I COULD DECLARE VICTORY UNTIL I GOT EDUCATED AND FOUND OUT WHAT I DID WITH THOSE WHO ARE AT THE TOP MORE THAN THE REST. FOR ME, THE TWO WERE NOT CONNECTED. THE SECOND ONE, I WAS NOT TYING IT. MOST OF THESE PEOPLE ARE WOMEN, BY THE WAY IN THAT CATEGORY. WE VOTED ON THE OTHER ONE.

>> WOULD THE COURT WANT ME TO BRING BACK IN DECEMBER ALL OF THE DEPARTMENT HEAD ? ALTOGETHER AND WORKING WITH

QUITE A VERY KORN FERRY. >> AND THE TRIBUNE YOUR PROPOSAL CAME UP, I SAID THAT WE SHOULD DO IT FOR ALL DEPARTMENTS. WE ARE WILLING AND AT THE TIME WE HAD A WOMAN IN THE PUBLIC HEALTH DEPARTMENT AND WE GAVE IT TO A MAN IN THE DEPARTMENT. NOW THAT SHE'S GONE , WHICH I STILL THINK WAS VERY WEIRD , NOW WE WANT TO INCREASE THAT POSITION, BUT WHAT ABOUT EVERYBODY ELSE? WE HAVE ALL BEEN HARPING ON A LOT OF THINGS FOR A LONG TIME , BUT I JUST THINK THAT IT'S HARD TO HAVE THESE STRONG DEFINITIVE POSITIONS AND ACCUSATORY WITH SOME FOLKS DOING THE WORK WHEN SOMETHING HAPPENED THAT THE COMMUNITY WAS UP IN ARMS ABOUT THAT TO THIS DAY I DON'T UNDERSTAND AND CONTINUE TO LOOK INTO, WHICH IS THE SETTING 40% INCREASE IN THE PAY RAISE OF A CERTAIN GENTLEMAN AND WE ARE NOW SEEING HIS JOB CLASSIFICATION FOR KORN FERRY IS OFFICIALLY HIS DUTIES" OF DIFFICULTY OF HIS JOB IS CLASSIFIED BY THE EXPERIENCES BEING THE SAME AS UNIVERSAL SERVICES, ENGINEERING, PUBLIC HEALTH, FLOOD CONTROL . THAT IS SEVERAL PEOPLE AND WOMEN WHO COULD HAVE AND SHOULD HAVE GOTTEN THIS INCREASE LAST YEAR AND I DID PROPOSE THAT AT THE TIME AND WAS COMPLETELY SHUT DOWN BY EVERYBODY. I GUESS WHAT HAS ME WORKED UP IS THE FRUSTRATION WHEN THERE ARE MANY THINGS THAT WE HARP ON AND SOMETHING REALLY PROBLEMATIC HAPPENED ON THIS AND WE ALL KNOW IT. I'M HAPPY TO VOTE

TODAY OR NEXT WEEK. >> I WOULD MAKE A MOTION THAT WE APPROVE ITEM 38 AND I WOULD SAY TO MY COLLEAGUES THAT WHEN IT COMES BACK WE DON'T HAVE TO PAY THAT, BUT AT LEAST WE KNOW WHAT THE MARKET WOULD CALL FOR AND WE COULD GET SOMEBODY .

>> IF I MIGHT JUMP IN , A COMPROMISE MIGHT BE FOR THE DECEMBER 10 COURT. THE 51,000 TEAM MEMBERS AND BELOW THAT YOU ALSO BRING BACK THE CORN VERY ANALYSIS ALIGNED WITH THE 50 PERCENTILE . NOT ONLY FOR THE THREE NEW JOB SEARCHES, PUBLIC DEFENDER AND PEOPLE OFFICER AND THE PUBLIC HEALTH, BUT THE OTHER RUNS FOR THE ANALYSIS DONE. WE HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO CREATE ALIGNMENT IN TERMS OF OPTIONS 51 AND BELOW.

>> WE NEED TO INCREASE DISCUSSION TIME. WHAT IS THE

[05:22:33]

>> TODAY WE ARE BRINGING THREE OF THOSE PROJECTS. FIRST IS THE SIDEWALK PROJECT , WHICH I'M THRILLED ABOUT. IT'S AROUND KATY ISD AND IT WILL PROVIDE SAFE ACCESS TO RELIGIOUS CENTERS AND FIRE STATIONS AND THE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL. AND I WANT TO THANK -- WITH THE PARTNERSHIP PROJECT IT WILL BE FIVE MILES OF SIDEWALKS AND SAFETY THAT WILL BE DELIVERED.

THE SECOND PROJECT WE ARE BRINGING TODAY IS THE GREENBELT DRAINAGE PROJECT AND IT WILL HELP WITH DRAINAGE IN THIS MISSION VENT AREA AS WELL AS CONNECTIVITY AND IT HAS A TERRIBLE DRAINAGE PROJECT AND IT IS IMPASSABLE BY FOOT AND THIS WILL BE PROGRESS THAT WILL BE DELIVERED TO THE COMMUNITY, WHICH I'M EXCITED ABOUT. AND THE THIRD PROJECT IS THE SIDEWALK IMPROVEMENT. IT'S A $5 MILLION PROJECT WITH THE INTERNATIONAL MANAGEMENT DISTRICT AND THAT WILL BUILD SIDEWALKS CONNECTING TO THREE SCHOOLS IN THE FORMER PUBLIC SCHOOL TEACHER AND THE FACT THAT OUR KIDS CAN WALK SAFELY TO SCHOOL THANKS TO THE PARTNERSHIPS AND THE OTHER PARTNERS THAT I NAMED, I BELIEVE WE GET MORE DONE WHEN WE DO IT TOGETHER AND THESE ARE THREE MORE PROJECTS. TO MY TEAM AND OUR COMPLIANCE OFFICER , YOU'VE BEEN HELPING US AND YOU BEEN INSTRUMENTAL IN ALL OF THESE TO ADVANCE THE WORK OF THE PEOPLE. SO THANK YOU TO YOU AND YOUR TEAM FOR ALL OF YOUR

HELP. >> I WANT TO SECOND THAT. AND JUST TO NOTE IN ONE SCHOOL DISTRICT , IN ONE SCHOOL DISTRICT JUST BASED ON RECENT REQUESTS, IT IS $40 MILLION OF SIDEWALKS. JUST GET THE KIDS TO SCHOOL. JUST SAFE SIDEWALKS SO

I APPLAUD THIS . >> I WANT TO COMMEND YOU. . ONE

[05:25:09]

>> THANK YOU TO ALL OF THE PARTNERS.

>> I'M THINKING MAYBE YOU WOULD LIKE TO WAIT UNTIL COMMISSIONER ELLIS COMES BACK OR WOULD YOU LIKE TO VOTE NOW?

>> IN THE INTEREST OF TIME -- >>

>> SECOND . ALL IN FAVOR? ANY OPPOSED? IT CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU SO MUCH. AND THAT IS WHAT THE SPEAKER WAS HEAR ABOUT. 143 BY COMMISSIONER GARCIA.

>> A BIG SHOUT OUT TO THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR. THANK YOU SO MUCH. I KNOW THIS IS BEEN AN INCREDIBLE PROJECT , BUT I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR CONTINUING TO FOCUS ON IT. AND WORKING WITH THE COMMUNITY AND CONTINUING TO PAY ATTENTION TO DETAIL. I AM PROUD OF YOUR WORK. KEEP IT UP , AND I MOVE ON THIS ITEM AS

PRESENTED. >> MOTION BY COMMISSIONER GARCIA. DO WE HAVE AND ACTION ITEM HERE.

>> NO. I SUBMITTED A PRESENTATION YESTERDAY AND I'M WANTING TO GIVE YOU A HEADS UP THAT WE ARE WORKING TO CLOSE OUT THE BUYOUT PROGRAM THIS COMING YEAR. SO WE'VE COMMUNICATED WITH YOUR TEAM MEMBERS AND STAFF TO LET THEM KNOW THAT WE WILL BE MAKING MORE ASSERTIVE ACTION TO COMMUNICATE WITH RESIDENTS AS WE WORK TOWARD INTO FEBRUARY 2025 TO HAVE FOLKS VACATED FROM THE PROPERTIES SO WE CAN BEGIN DEMOLITION AND BEGIN THE CLOSEOUT PROCESS THROUGHOUT THE YEAR. IT WILL NOT INTERFERE WITH THE TIME LINE THAT THE BENEFICIARIES HAVE AVAILABLE TO THEM. I NOTE THAT HAS BEEN A POINT OF CONCERN IN THE PAST. THEY HAVE 12 MONTHS FROM THE TIME THEY VACATE THE PROPERTY TO IDENTIFY THEIR REPLACEMENT HOME OR NEW RENTAL HOME. BUT WHAT WE WILL BE ASKING THEM TO DO IS LEAVE THE CURRENT PROPERTY IF THEY ARE STILL ON THESE PROPERTIES SO THAT WE CAN MOVE FORWARD WITH THE LAND PREPARATION AND ALL OF THAT. WE JUST WANTED TO GIVE YOU A HEADS UP AND DIRECTOR RAMOS TALKED ABOUT THIS EARLIER THAT WE WILL BE COMING BACK TO IT FOR ADDITIONAL SAFE FUNDS BECAUSE WE HAVE MORE HOMEOWNERS THAN WE HAD ORIGINALLY PROJECTED IN JUNE OF 2023, AND WITH THE COST OF ADMINISTERING TO SERVE THE GREATER NUMBER OF PEOPLE , WE WILL BE COMING BACK TO ASK FOR ABOUT 2.5 MILLION. BUT WE WON'T DO THAT UNTIL JANUARY.

>> AND WE WILL BRING THE SUPPLEMENTAL APPROPRIATION WHEN APPROPRIATE. I'M TRYING TO STAY CONSISTENT AND PUSH EVERYBODY. WE DO SUPPLEMENTALS ON QUARTERLY PROJECTIONS , SO THANK YOU FOR BEING PATIENT WITH ME.

>> COMMISSIONER BRIONES. >> THANK YOU FOR THIS PROGRESS.

IT'S WONDERFUL TO SEE WE ARE IN THIS FINAL CHAPTER AND I'M GRATEFUL AND I'M GRATEFUL FOR YOU FOR HOLDING US ALL ACCOUNTABLE SO THANK YOU FOR ENFORCING THE POLICIES , AND I LOOK FORWARD TO REVIEWING THIS WHEN IT'S TIME FOR THE

SUPPLEMENTAL. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU, DIRECTOR. I KNOW THIS HAS BEEN QUITE A JOURNEY AND WE ARE LEARNING A LOT FROM IT, BUT I KNOW IT IS NOT EASY.

>> ALL RIGHT. SO NO ACTION. THANK YOU. AS MUCH AS WE ALL

[05:30:05]

WANTED TO SUPPORT IT. 178. >> WHAT EXACTLY -- I THINK

COMMISSIONER RAMSEY -- >> SO MOVED.

>> SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER GARCIA. ALL IN FAVOR? ANY OPPOSED?? THE MOTION CARRIES 3-1. OKAY. 191 RO FIVE.

>> THIS ONE COMING ON THE HEELS OF A SUCCESSFUL TAX MAINTENANCE INCREASE AND I THINK THE COMMITMENT IS WE WOULD SPEND DOLLARS ON DOING MAINTENANCE ACTIVITIES. THIS IS NOT CONSISTENT WITH THAT AND I WILL NOT BE SUPPORTING THIS.

>> WHICH LINE? >> FIVE.

>> I WOULD MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE ALL ITEMS EXCEPT NUMBER

FIVE. >> CAN I ASK DR. PETERSON A QUESTION. DR. PETERSON, THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. COULD YOU PLEASE EXPLAIN WHERE THESE FUNDS ARE COMING FROM AND WHY

THAT COST? THANK YOU. >> GOOD AFTERNOON CUT COMMISSIONERS AND JUDGE. THIS FUNDING WAS INCLUDED IN OUR ORIGINAL BUDGET COMING FROM THE GENERAL FUND. THIS WAS ALREADY BUDGETED AND IT IS NOT SOMETHING THAT IS NEW. SO WE'VE PUT A FOCUS ON TRAINING ENGAGEMENTS , RECOGNITION OF OUR EMPLOYEES FOR THE PAST SEVERAL YEARS AND THIS IS A

CONTINUATION >> THANK YOU DIRECTOR PETERSON

>> SO WHAT EXACTLY IS IT THAT YOU DO?

>> I WAS GOING TO SAY THAT I MOVE ON THE ITEM AS PRESENTED.

>> SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER BRIONES. AND SO IT IS SOMETHING BUDGETED THAT YOU DO EVERY YEAR AND A DID NOT CATCH WHAT IT

WAS. >> WE HAVE A RECOGNITION PROGRAM AND WE ARE IN THE PROCESS OF PLANNING TO MAKE SURE THAT WE RECOGNIZE THE EMPLOYEES WHO HAVE SERVED HARRIS COUNTY IN THE FLOOD CONTROL DISTRICT FOR MANY YEARS AND MAKING SURE WE ALIGN ON PRIORITIES, UNDERSTANDING CONTINUITY OF OPERATIONS AS WELL AS OTHER INITIATIVES.

>> THANK YOU, DIRECTOR. >> THE MOTION I MADE WAS TO APPROVE ALL ITEMS EXCEPT NUMBER FIVE.

>> I WILL SECOND THAT. >> NEVER MIND. WE WILL TO THE

FIRST MOTION FIRST. >> I HAVE THE REST OF THE --

THE CONSENT AGENDA. >> WE APPROVED THOSE. SO WE ARE JUST VOTING ON NUMBER FIVE. SO COMMISSIONER GARCIA MADE THE MOTION ALL IN FAVOR? ANY OPPOSED?? THE MOTION CARRIES 4-1. THANK YOU. 247. THAT IS FLANKED BY COMMISSIONER RAMSEY.

>> WHAT THIS IS QUICKLY IS A GLIMPSE INTO AN ISSUE WE NEED TO PAY ATTENTION TO. I'M GOING TO MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE THIS PARTICULAR CONTRACT WITH HAYDEN PAVING, INC. THE REASON THE LOW BIDDER WAS NOT AWARDED THE CONTRACT WAS IT WAS REVIEWED THE CONTRACT AND SAID THEY HAD A SAFETY VIOLATION AND BECAUSE OF THAT, AND BY THE WAY, IT'S A SELF REPORTING OF A SAFETY VIOLATION. AND FRANKLY HAVING BEEN IN THE BUSINESS FOR MANY YEARS, YOU COULD PROBABLY FIND AND DO AN AUDIT OF EVERY CONTRACTOR WORKING FOR THE COUNTY AND COME UP WITH SIMILAR FINDINGS , SO I'M NOT SURE DEEO SHOULD BE REVIEWING

[05:35:05]

PROBLEM THAT WE NEED TO FIX. >> YES, SIR. ONE OF THE THINGS I WANT TO MENTION IS THIS IS RELATED TO THE SAFETY POLICY THAT THE COMMISSIONERS COURT APPROVED A FEW MONTHS AGO. AND SO, FROM MY UNDERSTANDING THIS IS IN COMPLIANCE WITH THAT POLICY SO WE WANT TO LOOK AT THAT POLICY AND COME BACK AND DO SOMETHING DIFFERENT , WE ARE HAPPY TO. MY UNDERSTANDING IS IN THIS INSTANCE THIS IS A REVIEW THAT WAS DONE BY THE PURCHASING OFFICE WHEN THE COMPANY APPEALED, AND THEN THE APPEAL GOES TO DEL AND THEY UPHELD THE PURCHASING OFFICE DECISIONS. WHEN IT COMES AFTER THE CONTRACT IS ISSUED, IT'S THE OTHER WAY AROUND. AND DEO WOULD DO THE COMPLIANCE. BUT IF

THE COURT DESIRES -- >> COMMISSIONER.

>> I WAS READING, I ACTUALLY LOOK INTO THIS AND LOOKED AT THE LETTER THAT DEO SENT AND THERE WAS A OSHA -- IF ANYTHING , I WOULD WANT IT TO BE REVISITED AND MADE CLEAR AND MAKE SURE FOLKS ARE BEING TRULY HELD ACCOUNTABLE. I APPRECIATE THE SELF REPORTING AND VERACITY AND HONESTY THAT GOES INTO IT, AND WE NEED TO MAKE SURE WE DO AUDIT CHECKS BECAUSE TO ME WORKER SAFETY AND THE SAFETY OF THESE PROJECTS IS NONNEGOTIABLE , AND I HAVE NO TOLERANCE FOR INEFFICIENCY. IT'S THE RECURRING THEME IN EVERYTHING THAT I SAY. TO ME, THE POLICY IS NONNEGOTIABLE AND MIGHT NEED TO BE CLARIFIED AND STRENGTHENED, AND WE NEED TO FIND A WAY TO OPERATIONALIZE IT WITH GREATER COMMUNICATION OR TRACKING DASHBOARD.

>> I DON'T THINK THAT PEOPLE THAT ARE EXPERTS IN SAFETY WOULD EVEN KNOW WHAT A SAFETY VIOLATION ARE ARE INVOLVED IN THE PROCESS. IF WE ARE GOING TO BE SERIOUS ABOUT POLICY, THEN YOU BETTER GET PEOPLE INVOLVED IN THE PROCESS THAT UNDERSTAND THE SAFETY AND AUDIT EVERYBODY. WE ARE NOT BEING CONSISTENT.

IT'S VERY INCONSISTENT. >> I WANT TO MAKE SURE I HEAR FROM THE ADMINISTRATOR. THE ITEM IS ON THE AGENDA.

>> THEY ARE BEING RECOMMENDED BY THE PURCHASING OFFICE AND THEY FOLLOWED ALL OF THE PROCEDURES. SO WE AGREE WITH THAT. THAT IS NOT THE ISSUE. ANOTHER VENDOR THAT APPLIED AND DID NOT GET IT BECAUSE THEY HAD SAFETY VIOLATIONS AND STAFF

FOLLOW THE POLICY. >> FROM THE LEGAL DEPARTMENTS PERSPECTIVE, ANYTHING ON YOUR PART ABOUT US NOT BEING IN COMPLIANCE WITH STATE LAW AS IT EXISTS TODAY ? THAT IS AN ITEM THAT I PUT ON THE AGENDA. BUT BEFORE WE START TALKING ABOUT CHANGING IT , I WANT TO GET A SENSE IF IT'S SOMETHING ILLEGAL AND THE COURT IS GOING TO STRIKE IT DOWN, STRIKE IT

[05:40:02]

DOWN. >> I'M NOT ADVOCATING WE CHANGED SAFETY POLICY. IT IS FINE. I'M JUST SAYING HOW WE AUDIT AND HOW WE EVALUATE AND REVIEW CONTRACTORS AND WHETHER

THEY ARE SAFE OR NOT. >> THAT'S AN ADMINISTRATIVE

DECISION. >> IT SHOULD BE THE COUNTY

ENGINEER >> I WANT TO MAKE SURE WERE NOT BACKING UP ON THE POLICY AND YOU WOKE ME UP AND I WAS READY

TO GO BUT I GOT A WAKE-UP CALL. >> I LOVE THAT POLICY. AND MAKE

SURE WE HAVE THE -- >> I OWN A FEW TRUCKS MYSELF AND I COMPLETELY SUPPORT AND I'M JUST SAYING IF YOU ARE GOING TO DO SOMETHING, BE SERIOUS AND DO NOT MAKE IT A PAPER GAME THAT SOMEBODY TELLS OUT A PIECE OF PAPER AND THINKS HE DID SOMETHING. WHEN YOU HAVE NOT EVEN BEEN IN A BATCH PLAN AND REVIEWED

>> I MAKE A MOTION. >> ALL IN FAVOR? ANY OPPOSED?? THIS WAS FOR ITEM 247 WHICH CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY. WE HAVE ONE MORE ITEM BEFORE WE GO TO EXECUTIVE SESSION. IS A TRANSMITTAL. THIS WAS FLAGGED BY COMMISSIONER BRIONES.

>> IF I MAY PLEASE INVITE DIRECTOR BARTON , SHE'S GOING TO GIVE US SOME BRIEF HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE PUBLIC HEALTH CHP REPORT. 16% OF HARRIS COUNTY ADULTS CANNOT AFFORD TO SEE A DOCTOR AND APPROXIMATELY ONE IN FIVE HARRIS COUNTY ADULTS BASICALLY WILL HAVE A DIAGNOSIS OF DEPRESSION. SO OBVIOUSLY -- AND THOSE ARE JUST A FEW OF THE STAGGERING AND STILL BORING AND SAD STATISTICS. BUT DIRECTOR BARTON, COULD YOU HIGHLIGHT THE KEY THINGS YOU WANT US TO BE

AWARE OF? >> THANK YOU. AND WE HAVE A LOT OF NEEDS AS IDENTIFIED IN OUR COMMUNITY HEALTH ASSESSMENT.

THE GOOD NEWS IS WE NOW HAVE OUR COMMUNITY HEALTH IMPROVEMENT PLAN THAT CAN TAKE US FORWARD TOGETHER , AND WE'VE HIGHLIGHTED THREE PRIORITIES WITHIN THE PLAN. HEALTH INSURANCE AND CARE ACCESS , PREVENTATIVE CARE , AND MENTAL HEALTH. AND THOSE WERE DEVELOPED TOGETHER WITH OUR STEERING COMMITTEE , WHICH INCLUDED REPRESENTATIVES OF HARRIS HEALTH, THE HARRIS CENTER, HOUSTON HEALTH DEPARTMENT AND LOCAL NONPROFITS LED BY THE OFFICE OF PLANNING AN INVASION. SO THIS IS A STARTING POINT. IT IS VERY ALIGNED WITH THE COUNTYWIDE STRATEGIC PLAN AND WE ARE EXCITED TO SHARE THIS WORK WITH THE COMMUNITY AND TO TAKE IT FORWARD TOGETHER WITH ALL OF YOU AND WITH OUR STEERING

COMMITTEE. >> AND ON THE PREVENTATIVE PIECE IN THE MENTAL HEALTH PIECE, COULD YOU PLEASE GIVE US A FEW EXAMPLES OF RECOMMENDATIONS YOU HAVE FOR US

TO CONSIDER? >> SURE. THE PREVENTATIVE CARE PIECE IS VERY CLOSELY ALIGNED WITH OUR CHRONIC DISEASE REPORT THAT JUST CAME OUT. PART OF WHAT WE SAW HIS WE HAVE A NEED FOR MORE SCREENING TO BE ABLE TO IDENTIFY ISSUES LIKE CANCER AND DIABETES EARLIER AND TO THEN GET PEOPLE TO HELP THAT THEY NEED THROUGH THINGS LIKE THE FOOD AND NUTRITION PROGRAMS ARE DIABETES SUPPORT AND OTHER CHRONIC DISEASE MANAGEMENT PROGRAMS. WE KNOW THAT WE HAVE DISPARITIES IN THOSE DISEASES AND WE NEED TO GET PEOPLE SOONER TO HELP THEM MANAGE THOSE AND LIVE HAPPIER AND LONGER LIVES. AND JUST TO HAVE ONE ITEM ON THE MENTAL HEALTH SIDE , WE BEGAN TO INTRODUCE BEHAVIORAL HEALTH SUPPORT INTO OUR MATERNAL AND CHILD HEALTH PROGRAMS. WE HAVE TOO MANY MOTHERS WHO ARE EXPERIENCING POSTPARTUM DEPRESSION OR WHO HAVE PRE-EXISTING MENTAL HEALTH CONCERNS THAT MAKE IT HARD TO BRING THEIR FULL SELF INTO LIFE WITH HER BABY SO WE ARE EXCITED TO INTRODUCE THAT AND WE ARE INTRODUCING BEHAVIORAL HEALTH SUPPORT INTO THE HARRIS COUNTY PUBLIC HEALTH CLINICS ACROSS PASADENA , AND TUAN AND THAT'S AN IMPORTANT PART OF THE CARE THAT WE PROVIDE. BUT, OF COURSE, THAT WORK IN THIS COMMUNITY TAKES PLACE OUTSIDE .'S HARRIS COUNTY PUBLIC HEALTH AND THAT'S WHERE THE HARRIS CENTER PLAYS A CRITICAL ROLE IN WHY THE PARTNERSHIP IS

SO IMPORTANT. >> THANK YOU CUT DIRECTOR. AS FAR AS NEXT STEPS ON THIS IT SOUNDS LIKE SOME OF IT IS FOR

[05:45:02]

>> EXACTLY. >> THANK YOU. SO WE ACCEPT THE TRANSMITTAL, CORRECT? ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. SO I DON'T

[Executive Session]

>> IT IS 5:48. COMMISSION IS BACK IN SESSION. DO WE HAVE A MOTION TO DIRECT THE UNIVERSAL SERVICES AND OFFICE OF MANAGEMENT AND BUDGET TO DEVELOP A RECOMMENDATION FOR REQUIRED BUDGET TO STRENGTHEN DISASTER RECOVERY ENVIRONMENT FOR HARRIS COUNTY ENTERPRISE TECHNOLOGY AND TESTING EFFORTS TO ADDRESS ANY GAPS TO EFFECTIVELY RESTORE CRITICAL SYSTEMS AND DATA IN THE EVENT OF AN INSTANT AND BRING BACK THE RECOMMENDATION TO COMMISSIONERS COURT BY DECEMBER 12TH 2024? MOTION BY COMMISSIONER RAMSEY . ALL IN FAVOR? ANY OPPOSED?? MOTION CARRIES 4-0. IT'S

* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.