[00:00:03]
COMMISSIONER BRIONES, WOULD YOU PLEASE INTRODUCE OUR GUEST, RABBI DAVID LIPPER?
[Rabbi David Lipper of Temple Sinai in Houston introduced by the Commissioner of Precinct 4.]
YES. THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER ELLIS.GOOD MORNING, EVERYONE. IT IS MY HONOR TODAY TO INTRODUCE RABBI DAVID LIPPER.
RABBI, THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.
HE IS THE RABBI FOR TEMPLE SINAI IN WEST HOUSTON.
RABBI LIPPER IS A FIFTH GENERATION HOUSTONIAN, AND HE HAS SERVED PULPITS ACROSS THE COUNTRY.
AND IN 2022, HE CAME BACK HOME TO HOUSTON TO LEAD THE CONGREGATION OF TEMPLE SINAI.
HE GRADUATED WITH HONORS FROM UT AUSTIN.
SO ANY LONGHORNS HERE? 1983 WITH A DEGREE IN POLITICAL SCIENCE.
RABBI LIPPER AND HIS WIFE, DORA, HAVE FOUR AMAZING CHILDREN AND A BEAUTIFUL GRANDDAUGHTER.
WELL, THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER BRIONES.
IT'S AN HONOR AND A PRIVILEGE FOR ME TO BE HERE TODAY DURING THIS SEASON OF LIGHT AND BLESSING.
AS I DRIVE AROUND THE NEIGHBORHOODS AND I SEE THE CREATIVITY AND JOY THAT IS EXPRESSED THROUGH LIGHT, MY SOUL GETS JUST A LITTLE LIGHTER AND MY HOPE IN HUMANITY GROWS A LITTLE BRIGHTER.
I LOVE THE IMAGE OF LIGHT, AND I FEEL LIKE A STORY I KNOW CAN PUT US ON THE RIGHT TRACK HERE TODAY.
ALEXANDER PAPADATOS WAS A DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY, A TEACHER, A POLITICIAN AND A RESIDENT OF ATHENS, GREECE. HE HAD BECOME A KIND OF LIVING LEGEND IN GREECE, A MAN OF STRENGTH AND INTENSITY, ENERGY, PHYSICAL POWER, COURAGE, INTELLIGENCE AND PASSION.
MANY SAID THAT TO SPEAK TO HIM, OR EVEN JUST SHAKE HIS HAND, WAS TO EXPERIENCE EXTRAORDINARY ELECTRIC HUMANITY. AT THE LAST SESSION, ON THE LAST MORNING OF A TWO WEEK SEMINAR ON GREEK CULTURE, PAPADATOS ROSE FROM HIS CHAIR AND HE ASKED, ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS? THE ROOM WAS SILENT.
THESE TWO WEEKS GENERATED ENOUGH QUESTIONS FOR A LIFETIME, BUT FOR NOW THERE WAS ONLY SILENCE.
FINALLY, ONE BRAVE MAN RAISED HIS HAND TIMIDLY.
WE'VE LISTENED TO YOU FOR WEEKS.
YOU HAVEN'T ANSWERED THE MOST IMPORTANT QUESTION.
WHAT IS THE MEANING OF LIFE? YOU CAN IMAGINE THE LAUGHTER THAT FOLLOWED IN THE ROOM, BUT PAPADATOS HELD UP HIS HAND AND QUIETED THE ROOM.
HE LOOKED AT THE YOUNG MAN WITH A SERIOUS EYE, AND HE SAID, I WILL TRY TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTION.
HE EXPLAINED THAT WHEN HE WAS A SMALL CHILD DURING THE SECOND WORLD WAR, HE WAS VERY POOR, AND ONE DAY, WHILE WALKING ON THE ROAD IN HIS REMOTE LITTLE VILLAGE NEAR ATHENS, HE FOUND THE BROKEN PIECES OF A MIRROR FROM A GERMAN MOTORCYCLE THAT HAD WRECKED.
HE SAID I TRIED TO FIND ALL THE PIECES AND PUT THEM TOGETHER, BUT IT WASN'T POSSIBLE.
HE SAT DOWN ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND SCRATCHING IT ON THE ROAD, HE TURNED THE JAGGED CORNERS ROUND. IT BECAME HIS FAVORITE TOY.
HE BECAME FASCINATED BY THE FACT THAT HE COULD REDIRECT LIGHT INTO DARK PLACES WHERE THE SUN WOULD NEVER SHINE IN DEEP HOLES, IN CREVICES, AND IN CLOSETS AND CAVES.
IT BECAME A GAME TO REFLECT LIGHT INTO THE MOST INACCESSIBLE PLACES.
[00:05:09]
AND CONTINUE THE CHALLENGE OF THE GAME.AND WHEN I BECAME A MAN, SAID PAPADAKIS, I GREW TO UNDERSTAND THIS WAS NOT A CHILD'S GAME.
THIS WAS NOTHING MORE THAN THE METAPHOR FOR A MEANINGFUL LIFE.
I CAME TO UNDERSTAND THAT I'M NOT THE LIGHT OR THE SOURCE OF THE LIGHT, BUT LIGHT AND TRUTH, UNDERSTANDING, KNOWLEDGE AND LOVE.
IT'S THERE, AND IT'S ONLY GOING TO SHINE IN THE DARK PLACES IF I REFLECT IT.
SUCH IS OUR TASK HERE TODAY TO CAST LIGHT INTO THE DARKNESS THAT FLOWS IN OUR WORLD.
TO BRING LIGHT INTO PEOPLE'S LIVES THROUGH THE GOOD WORKS THAT YOU DO.
IS ACTUALLY WHAT PAPA DAROS ENVISIONED.
ITS GUESTS AND ITS VISITORS CAN BENEFIT FROM THE LIGHT THAT YOU CHOOSE TO.
REFLECT. WE'RE NOT THE LIGHT, BUT WE ARE ITS AGENTS.
JEWISH TRADITION TEACHES THAT THE SAVING OF ONE LIFE IS EQUAL TO SAVING THE ENTIRE WORLD.
WE CALL YOU BY MANY NAMES, BUT WHATEVER WE CALL YOU, WE ALL COME FROM THE BRANCHES OF A SINGLE TREE AND WE FLOURISH WHEN WE NURTURE AND NOURISH EACH OTHER.
PLEASE GUIDE US IN THIS SEASON TO EMBRACE THE LIGHT THAT WE SEE IN THE WORLD.
TURN US ALL INTO BEACONS OF LOVE.
AND LET US COMMIT EACH DAY TO LIGHT THE PATH OF A JUST AND EQUITABLE FUTURE FOR ALL IN HARRIS COUNTY AND BEYOND. PLEASE BLESS ALL WHO SERVE THIS COUNTY WITH STRENGTH AND GUIDE THEM TOWARDS RIGHTEOUSNESS, WHOLENESS, AND PEACE.
MAY THE MAKER OF PEACE BRING PEACE DOWN TO US.
UNFORTUNATELY, THE THE STREAM HAS GONE DOWN AGAIN, SO WE CANNOT PROCEED AFTER.
WE'VE GOT TO. GOT TO TAKE A BRIEF RECESS, I GUESS.
SO LET EVERYONE KNOW YOU KNOW HOW LONG IT'LL BE.
THANK YOU RABBI. THANK YOU RABBI.
THAT WAS BEAUTIFUL. 30 MINUTES.
IT'S GOING TO TAKE ABOUT 30 MINUTES, SO I GUESS WE'LL JUST TAKE A 30 MINUTE BREAK.
THIS DOESN'T HAVE TO BE ON THE RECORD.
JUST SO YOU KNOW, COLLEAGUES, ETCETERA.
WE'LL KEEP GOING THROUGH THIS. WE DO THE AGENDA AT ONE.
SO I. THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER.
AND THAT'S TO LET THE SPEAKERS KNOW AS WELL.
OKAY. COMMISSIONER, YOU WANT TO.
TAKE A BREAK. 1021 WE'LL TAKE A BREAK.
IT'S NOW 1021, SO WE'LL TAKE A BREAK AND COME BACK AT TEN.
1051. IT IS NOW 1047. COMMISSIONERS COURT IS BACK IN SESSION.
WOULD YOU ALL PLEASE STAND FOR THE US PLEDGE AND THE PLEDGE OF TEXAS FLAG? TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.
WE'LL GET THROUGH IT. THANK YOU ALL.
[00:10:03]
AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR PATIENCE.ITEMS 473 AND 474 REGARDING THE ALMOND BAYOU.
[Departments (Part 1 of 4)]
COMMISSIONER GARCIA MAKES A MOTION TO BE APPROVED.IS THERE A SECOND? COMMISSIONER BRYANT SECONDS.
AYE. ALL THOSE OPPOSED, VOTE NO.
ITEMS 473 AND 474 ARE NOW PASSED.
COMMISSIONER RAMSEY, AS I STATED EARLIER HAS TO LEAVE.
AND SO WE WILL GO UNTIL THE LUNCH BREAK.
A VOTE WILL BE TAKEN UP ON THE FOLLOWING RESOLUTIONS.
WE DO THOSE LATER ON THE CONSENT AGENDA WHEN HE GETS HERE.
COMMISSIONER GARCIA, YOU WANT YOUR RESOLUTION OUT OF ORDER TWO, SPECIAL REQUEST.
REQUEST BY COMMISSIONER GARCIA ALSO FOR HIS RESOLUTION, WHICH YOU FIRST ANYWAY.
YEAH. SO WE'LL GO TO PAGE TWO.
AND THAT IS A RESOLUTION RECOGNIZING DIANE SHERIDAN.
THAT'S RIGHT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH, COMMISSIONER.
THANK YOU AGAIN FOR YOUR PATIENCE.
AND I AM HONORED TO RECOGNIZE THIS YOUNG LADY.
DIANE SHERIDAN IS CELEBRATING OVER 35 YEARS AS A PROFESSIONAL FACILITATOR FOR CHEMICAL INDUSTRY PLANTS AND THE COMMUNITIES CLOSEST TO THEM IN THE BAY AREA IN SOUTHEAST HARRIS COUNTY.
AS A FACILITATOR, SHE REMAINED NEUTRAL ON ISSUES, LEADING MEETINGS, HELPING THOSE WITH DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVES TO UNDERSTAND EACH OTHER'S VIEWS, FIND COMMON GROUND AND AGREEABLE SOLUTIONS.
DIANA DIANE WORKED IN MEETINGS WITH THE PCAP P PCAC SINCE JANUARY 1991 AND FOR DECADES WITH OTHER GROUPS IN LA PORTE, CHANNELVIEW, DEER PARK, GALENA PARK, JACINTO CITY, BAYPORT AND IN INDUSTRIAL DISTRICT AND IN WICHITA, KANSAS.
AND LET ME JUST SAY THAT I HAVE BEEN A WITNESS TO HER WORK, AND SO PROUD TO SEE HOW SHE'S ABLE TO NAVIGATE THOSE INCREDIBLE CONVERSATIONS.
AND SHE HAS ALSO CO-CHAIRED THE TEXAS RISK COMMUNICATION PROJECT IN THE MID MID 80S WHICH WITH RATHER 200 DIVERSE STAKEHOLDERS, WHERE 200 200 DIVERSE STAKEHOLDERS REACH AGREEMENT ON HOW INDUSTRY SHOULD COMMUNICATE THE RISK FROM CHEMICALS, INCLUDING ONGOING COMMUNICATION BETWEEN CHEMICAL PLANTS AND THE COMMUNITIES NEAR THEM.
AND SHE SERVED AS A CHARTER MEMBER OF THE CHEMICAL MANUFACTURERS ASSOCIATION RESPONSIBLE CARE PUBLIC ADVISORY PANEL FROM 1988 TO 1997, AND SHE IS A RESIDENT OF PRECINCT TWO AND TAYLOR LAKE VILLAGE, WHICH I'M VERY PROUD OF.
SHE'S BEEN LIVING THERE SINCE 1978 AND SHE IS A NATIVE DELAWAREAN FORMER JUNIOR HIGH ENGLISH TEACHER, COMMISSIONER AND A 1967 GRADUATE OF THE UNIVERSITY OF DELAWARE.
SHE'S BEEN MARRIED TO MARK SINCE 1968 AND IS THE PROUD MOTHER, GRANDMOTHER, AND GREAT GRANDMOTHER.
SO PLEASE HELP ME IN RECOGNIZING DIANE SHERIDAN AND FOR ALL OF YOUR DEDICATION AND YOUR JOINED HERE BY YOUR DAUGHTER. AND I WANT HER TO TELL SOME GOOD DIANE STORIES.
BUT IN ALL SERIOUSNESS, DIANE, THANK YOU FOR YOUR WORK.
I HAVE WITNESSED YOU AND YOUR VERY GENTLE APPROACH TO CREATING CONSENSUS AND BRINGING SOMETIMES ADVERSARIAL FOLKS TOGETHER AND COMING OUT WITH COMMON GROUND, WHICH IS VERY UNIQUE TO SEE DONE.
AND I DON'T KNOW WHETHER WE'RE GOING TO FIND ANOTHER DIANE, BUT WE'RE GOING TO TRY HARD.
SO THANK YOU FOR YOUR WORK AND CONGRATULATIONS.
AND TO MY MY FRIENDS AND FAMILY WHO CAME HERE TODAY SUPPORTING IT.
[00:15:04]
I REALLY AM HUMBLED BY THE RECOGNITION.BUT I ALSO WANT TO SAY THAT I'M GRATEFUL TO THE COUNTY PERSONNEL WHO ROUTINELY ATTEND MEETINGS OF THESE COMMUNITY ADVISORY PANELS ESPECIALLY THE HARRIS COUNTY INDUSTRIAL LIAISONS, THE HARRIS COUNTY POLLUTION CONTROL REPRESENTATIVES, PRECINCT THREE GALENA PARK REPRESENTATIVE ATTENDS THAT GROUP. AND IN PRECINCT TWO, WHERE MOST OF THE INDUSTRY IS AND MOST OF THE ADVISORY PANELS ARE.
THE COMMISSIONER HAS MULTIPLE COMMUNITY LIAISONS WHO COME TO MEETINGS AND HELP TAKE INFORMATION, SHARE INFORMATION, AND IN ADDITION, THEY'RE REALLY GOOD AT AT HELPING WHEN WE HAVE PROBLEMS AND TRYING TO RESOLVE THEM.
THANK YOU. AND LOOK DIANE'S DONE SOME INCREDIBLE WORK.
I KNOW SHE'S GOT SEVERAL FRIENDS AND FAMILY.
MARK YOU HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO ROAST AND TOAST DIANE, IF YOU CARE.
ANYBODY ELSE? IF ANYBODY ELSE WOULD LIKE TO SAY A WORD ON HER ON HER ACHIEVEMENT, PLEASE.
YOU HAVE THE FLOOR. COME RIGHT UP, IF YOU LIKE.
I'M BARBARA MURRAY, AND I'VE KNOWN DIANE SHERIDAN FOR OVER 40 YEARS, AS WE'RE BOTH LONGTIME MEMBERS OF THE LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS OF THE BAY AREA. DIANE HAS SERVED AS PRESIDENT OF THE LOCAL LEAGUE, THE STATE LEAGUE, AND ON THE NATIONAL BOARD OF DIRECTORS.
HER EXPERIENCE WITH THE LEAGUE'S NONPARTISANSHIP PROVED VALUABLE FOR A CAREER THAT DELIBERATELY BRINGS PEOPLE TOGETHER WHO DO NOT AGREE WITH EACH OTHER, AND MUST DEVELOP GROUND RULES TO WORK TOGETHER CONSTRUCTIVELY.
I WHOLEHEARTEDLY ENDORSE THIS RESOLUTION HONORING MY FRIEND AND COLLEAGUE DIANE SHERIDAN, RECOGNIZING THE TRUST AND RESPECT SHE HAS EARNED FOR HER MANY YEARS OF SERVICE TO THE COMMUNITY.
I KNOW YOU'VE WORKED CLOSELY WITH HER, SO, COMMISSIONER.
THANK YOU. I'M DENNIS WINKLER.
I'VE LEARNED SO MUCH FROM DIANE BY LISTENING, WATCHING, AND MODELING HER BEHAVIOR, WATCHING HER TAKE TIME TO TRULY UNDERSTAND AND VALUE EVERYONE'S CONCERNS.
DIANE'S FOCUS ON RELATIONSHIPS AND HER LEADERSHIP HAS BEEN A STEADY INFLUENCE, CONNECTING INDUSTRY AND COMMUNITY TO CANDIDLY AND RESPECTFULLY EXCHANGE INFORMATION AND PROVIDE SOLUTIONS.
DIANE, THANK YOU FOR THE ULTIMATE DEMONSTRATION OF RESPECT AND CARE.
YOUR TIME, LEADERSHIP AND YOUR KINDNESS.
THANK YOU FOR RECOGNIZING DIANE.
SHE HAS DONE MORE FOR OUR INDUSTRY AND PRECINCT TWO THAN WHAT ALL OF OUR WORDS CAN SAY.
THANK YOU. DENNIS. APPRECIATE YOU.
SMART MAN. AND CONGRATULATIONS.
THEY'RE CELEBRATING 56, 56 YEARS AS A COUPLE.
LET'S GIVE LET'S GIVE THAT A NICE APPLAUSE.
COMMISSIONER. THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER GARCIA.
I WILL READ THE RESOLUTION FOR COMMISSIONER RAMSEY.
OKAY. GO AHEAD. YES, SIR. I'M SORRY.
I WANT TO ASK ELEAZAR GALVAN, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS ELI AND CAMILLE.
AND. AND THEN WE HAVE THE DAD TO.
SARAH, WHERE ARE YOU? POP? AND TIFFANY.
IS IS IS SARAH'S FATHER NOT HERE? OKAY, NO. NO WORRIES.
I WANT TO LET FOLKS KNOW THAT THIS YOUNG MAN AND THE SON OF THIS YOUNG LADY AND SARAH, WHO COULD NOT JOIN US, ARE MEMBERS OF THE LIFEGUARD TEAM.
THAT PRECINCT TWO HAS AT SYLVAN BEACH.
[00:20:03]
AND WHEN I FIRST BECAME THE COUNTY COMMISSIONER FOR PRECINCT TWO, WE HAD THE HARDEST TIME FINDING LIFEGUARDS TO WORK AT SYLVAN BEACH TO HELP KEEP CHILDREN AND FAMILIES SAFE.BUT THANKFULLY, I WANT TO RECOGNIZE RECOGNIZED TIFFANY AND CHRIS SADLER, WHO RUN MY PARKS OPERATIONS AND WHO HAVE REALLY GIVEN THIS AN INCREDIBLE AMOUNT OF DETAIL AND ATTENTION AND WERE ABLE TO RECRUIT THESE FINE YOUNG PEOPLE TO HELP US KEEP OUR BEACHFRONT SAFE.
SO WE HAVE THESE ARE STUDENT LIFEGUARDS.
THEY THEY THANKFULLY FOR THEIR PRESENCE AND THEIR TRAINING AND THEIR WORK AND DEDICATION, THEY WERE ABLE TO RESCUE A MAN WHO FELL OFF HIS JET SKI. AND AND THEY JUST DEMONSTRATED PUTTING ALL THEIR TRAINING TO GOOD USE.
THEIR SUPERVISOR, SARAH HAD THE PRESENCE OF MIND TO FOLLOW THE STEPS OF CALLING EMERGENCY RESPONDERS AND ACTIVATING THE OTHER LIFEGUARDS TO CLEAR THE BEACH AND PROVIDE BACKUP HELP.
AND SO ELIAZAR IS A SANJAK COLLEGE STUDENT, LIVES IN PASADENA AND FIRST RESPONDING LIFEGUARD AT SYLVAN BEACH AND HAS BEEN WORKING.
THIS IS YOUR FIRST FOURTH SUMMER? YES, FOURTH SUMMER ON THE WATCH.
AND HE IS A HE HAS COMPLETED OPEN WATER LIFEGUARD TRAINING IN SPRING OF 2023 AND LIFEGUARD ORIENTATION IN JUNE OF 2024. AND THEN SETH GREEN, WHO IS A HOWARD UNIVERSITY STUDENT.
THAT'S WHY HE COULDN'T BE HERE.
HE'S NOT MISSING CLASSES, LIVES IN BAYTOWN AND IS THE SECOND RESPONDING LIFEGUARD AT THE SYLVAN BEACH EVENT HIS FIRST SUMMER ON WATCH. WE NEED MORE OF HIM, PLEASE.
AND AND THEN HE HAS COMPLETED OPEN WATER LIFEGUARD TRAINING.
AND THAT'S ONE THING TO PAY ATTENTION TO, FOLKS.
THESE FOLKS HAVE TO BE TRAINED IN OPEN WATER TRAINING TO BE ABLE TO PROVIDE THE PROPER RESPONSE IN A OPEN WATER EVENT LIKE SYLVAN BEACH.
SO THIS IS AND THIS IS ONE OF THE PARTICULAR ISSUES THAT WAS OF CHALLENGE FOR US.
SO I'M VERY, VERY PROUD OF THEIR WILLINGNESS TO DO THIS.
AND THEN SETH ALSO COMPLETED THE LIFEGUARD ORIENTATION IN JUNE OF 2024.
CLAUSELL. SHE GRADUATED FROM STEPHEN F AUSTIN UNIVERSITY.
SHE TEACHES AT SOUTH BELT ELEMENTARY SCHOOL IN PASADENA, TEXAS.
SHE IS A SUPERVISOR OF THE SYLVAN BEACH LIFEGUARD PROGRAM.
THIS IS HER SEVENTH SUMMER ON WATCH.
AND SO THESE FOLKS HAVE RESCUED LIVES THEY HAVE DEMONSTRATED OUR COMMITMENT TO KEEPING FAMILIES SAFE AND MAKING SURE THAT WHEN YOU VISIT SYLVAN BEACH THAT IT IS AN ENJOYABLE, PLEASANT MEMORABLE THING TO DO.
AFTER EXPERIENCING AN EARLY TRAGEDY IN 2019, I THINK IT WAS WE WORKED HARD.
WE WANT TO SINCERELY THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER GARCIA AND ALL OF OUR COMMISSIONERS, FOR YOUR COMMITMENT TO PUBLIC SAFETY, FOR YOUR INVESTMENT IN LIFEGUARDING AT SYLVAN BEACH BACK IN 2019.
THIS INVESTMENT HELPS OUR LIFEGUARDS.
IT HELPS THEM WHEN THEY GO OUT ON THE BEACH TO KNOW THAT SOMEONE HAS THEIR BACK, AND THAT THEY ARE DOING WHAT THEY CAN TO MAKE OUR BEACHES IN A SAFE PLACE, BUT ALSO AN ENJOYABLE PLACE.
WE ARE TRULY HONORED TO SERVE.
WE'RE HONORED TO SERVE THE RESIDENTS OF PRECINCT TWO, AND ALL OF THE RESIDENTS THAT COME TO ENJOY SYLVAN BEACH THROUGHOUT THE SUMMER, WHEN IT'S A BEAUTIFUL DAY OUT THERE, AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO CONTINUING TO SAFEGUARD SYLVAN BEACH AND MAKING IT A WONDERFUL PLACE IN PRECINCT TWO.
WONDERFUL. THANK YOU. TIFFANY.
[00:25:01]
OH, THANK YOU FOR AWARDING ME WITH THIS.ALTHOUGH NOT NECESSARY, I'M GRATEFUL.
THE TRAINING WE RECEIVED FROM LA PORTE BEACH WAS WHAT MADE THIS POSSIBLE.
THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER, FOR THIS EXPERIENCE.
WE'RE PROUD OF YOU AND MISS GOMEZ ON BEHALF OF SETH.
YES. SO ALTHOUGH I AM A COUNTY EMPLOYEE, I'M HERE TODAY AS A PROUD MOM.
YES. SO THIS IS TRULY A FULL CIRCLE MOMENT FOR ME.
AND I SPOKE TO YOU A LITTLE BIT EARLIER, COMMISSIONER ELLIS.
VERY GRATEFUL FOR WATER SAFETY PROGRAMS. I WISH THAT MORE WERE AROUND.
SETH STARTED SWIMMING AT THE AGE OF NINE, AND THAT WAS REALLY OUT OF THE MOM IN ME HAVING FEAR WHEN I READ THAT THERE WAS A STATISTIC THAT IF YOU WERE AFRICAN AMERICAN, WHICH WE ARE MALES, WHICH HE IS, AND LOW INCOME, WHICH WE WERE AT THE TIME, THEY WERE SEVEN TIMES MORE LIKELY TO DROWN AND THE HIGHEST STATISTIC BLACK MALES.
SO THAT'S WHY I PUT HIM IN SWIM LESSONS.
AND I'M VERY GRATEFUL THAT THAT'S HOW IT STARTED.
SORRY. THAT'S HOW IT STARTED, BUT THEN ULTIMATELY KEPT GOING AND HE JUST KIND OF TOOK TO IT, TOOK TO THE WATER, IMMEDIATELY SWAM IN IN HIGH SCHOOL. AND ULTIMATELY, I THINK HE'S PROBABLY SWAM IN EVERY SINGLE ONE OF YOUR COMMISSIONER PRECINCTS, I WILL SAY, IN ONE COMPETITION OR ANOTHER.
AND BY THE TIME HE WAS A SENIOR, HE WAS SWIMMING IN ONE OF THE MORE ELITE PROGRAMS IN KINGWOOD, TEXAS, AND WAS RECRUITED TO SWIM FOR HOWARD UNIVERSITY, WHERE HE IS RIGHT NOW.
AND SO VERY, VERY PROUD OF THAT.
AND THEN ON TOP OF THAT, HE IS A LIFEGUARD AT HOWARD AS WELL WHEN HE'S NOT PRACTICING.
SO TO KNOW THAT WE STARTED SO THAT HE COULD JUST LEARN AND NOT BE A STATISTIC AND NOT DROWN.
AND TO KNOW THAT HE ACTUALLY SAVED SOMEONE'S LIFE MAKES ME VERY HAPPY AS A MOM.
WELL, CONGRATULATIONS AND AND THANK YOU.
THANK YOU FOR BEING A GOOD MOM AND ENCOURAGING THAT AND ELIAZAR.
AND BUT LISTEN, CONGRATULATIONS.
PLEASE KNOW THIS IS A BIG DEAL.
AND I CAN'T THANK YOU ENOUGH FOR IT.
THANK YOU. COMMISSIONER. THANK YOU.
YOU'VE DONE A GREAT JOB AT SYLVAN BEACH.
COMMISSIONER RAMSEY HAD TO LEAVE, BUT I AGREE TO DO HIS RESOLUTION FOR HIM.
WHEREAS WILLIE MAE IS NO LONGER WITH US IN PERSON, HER SPIRITUAL PRESENCE WILL FOREVER BE FELT THROUGHOUT BARRETT STATION DUE TO HER TIRELESS WORK IN PRESERVING HER COMMUNITY AND PAVING THE WAY FOR FUTURE LEADERS.
SHE GRADUATED FROM CHARLES R DREW HIGH SCHOOL IN 1957, AND STUDIED AND DID A GREAT JOB AT SAN JACINTO COLLEGE AND WADDELL'S BEAUTY COLLEGE.
DURING HER TIME THERE, THERE WERE VERY FEW WOMEN WHO PURSUED HIGHER EDUCATION.
ON NOVEMBER THE 3RD, 2024, MISS WILLIAM BEGAN HER ETERNAL LIFE IN HEAVEN.
HER WORDS AND ACTIONS HAVE MADE THIS WORLD A BETTER PLACE.
AND COMMISSIONER RAMSEY IS SO SORRY HE COULDN'T BE HERE.
AND HE WANTED THIS TO COME OUT OF ORDER SO HE COULD BE HERE FOR IT.
BUT THEN THE TECHNOLOGY DIDN'T WORK.
BUT THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE AND JUST STATE YOUR NAME FOR THE RECORD.
[00:30:05]
JUST HOLD ON. OKAY.THANK YOU. I'D LIKE TO SAY GOOD MORNING, EVERYONE.
ALL THE COMMISSIONERS AND THE HONORARY LINA HIDALGO.
COMMISSIONER ELLIS, FOR READING THE RESOLUTION.
I AM THE DAUGHTER OF WILLIE BARRETT GOODLOE.
SO I'M A FIFTH GENERATION DESCENDANT DESCENDED FROM IT WAS MY MOTHER, OF COURSE, GOING UP THE CHAIN.
IT WOULD BE HER DAD, ROBERT BARRETT, AND THEN HIS DAD, FRANK BARRETT.
AND HARRISON BARRETT WAS THE BROTHER TO MY GREAT GRANDFATHER.
AND SO. AND THEN THEIR DAD WAS SIMON BARRETT.
SO FROM THE FOUNDERS BARRETT STATION, FROM WHENCE I COME.
AND I REALLY DO APPRECIATE YOU GUYS FOR GIVING ME THIS TIME.
I WOULD LIKE TO ADD THAT MY MOM WAS A TRAILBLAZER.
AND YOU MENTIONED HUMBLE OIL REFINERY COMPANY.
AND EVENTUALLY IT CHANGED ITS NAME TO EXXONMOBIL.
SO IN BEING A TRAILBLAZER, SHE.
OKAY. IN 1999, SHE WAS RECOGNIZED AS THE FIRST FEMALE AFRICAN AMERICAN EMPLOYEE SINCE WORLD WAR TWO TO HOLD A DESK JOB AND BE ASSIGNED CLERK DUTIES IN THE EXXONMOBIL REFINERY, AND THEN IN 99, SHE ALSO RETIRED AS THE FIRST AFRICAN-AMERICAN WOMAN FROM THE EXXONMOBIL REFINERY.
SO SHE WAS TRAILBLAZING AND REPRESENTING, YOU KNOW, HER COMMUNITY.
AND SHE YES, SHE WAS A DEVOTED, LOVING MOTHER AND WIFE.
YOU JUST NAMED SOME OF THE ORGANIZATIONS THAT SHE WAS A PART OF.
SHE ALSO WAS THE UNTIL THE DAY SHE PASSED, STILL THE PRESIDENT EMERITUS OF THE CHRISTIAN CIVIC LEAGUE, WHICH SHE HAD WORKED IN WITH HER FATHER SINCE SHE WAS A CHILD BACK IN 1949.
THEY ACTUALLY, YOU KNOW, THERE'S A LOT OF HISTORY THAT GOES WITH HOW CIVIC LEAGUES AND HISTORICALLY AFRICAN-AMERICAN COMMUNITIES WERE CREATED, YOU KNOW, KIND OF STARTING AS LIKE IN THE SCHOOL DISTRICT AND THEN KIND OF EVOLVING INTO CIVIC LEAGUES WITHIN THE COMMUNITIES.
BUT YES, SHE WAS A PART OF THE HEALTH ADVISERS ALSO VERY, VERY BUSY, BUSY WORKER IN THE CHURCH.
THE STATION, EVERGREEN CEMETERY.
AND JUST ABOUT, YOU KNOW, ALL THE BUSINESSES SHE WAS A PART OF.
AND ORGANIZATIONS IN THE COMMUNITY ALSO LIKE TO ADD THAT HER HISTORY, THE THINGS THAT SHE HAS DONE OR ALSO SHE IS IN THE ARCHIVES AT THE ROBERT E LEE COLLEGE IN BAYTOWN, TEXAS.
AND SO I JUST WOULD LIKE TO THANK COMMISSIONER RAMSEY FOR THE RESOLUTION AND THANK YOU GUYS SO MUCH FOR THE ACKNOWLEDGMENT OF MY MOM AS A REALLY BUSY COMMUNITY LEADER ALL DURING HER LIFETIME. THANK THANK YOU FOR COMING.
MA'AM, CAN YOU STATE YOUR NAME FOR THE RECORD, PLEASE? YES, IT'S MELANIE FONTENOT.
THANK YOU. ANYONE ELSE I KNOW? REPRESENTATIVE DUTTON'S OFFICE IS HERE.
DID YOU WANT TO SAY ANYTHING? OKAY. THANK YOU, MISS FONTENOT, FOR GIVING US THAT HISTORY OF YOUR FAMILY.
COMMISSIONER BRIONES, YOU HAVE TWO RESOLUTIONS AS WELL.
I DO, THANK YOU. I HAVE TWO RESOLUTIONS.
THE FIRST ONE IS TO HONOR THE TREMENDOUS LEGACY AND SERVICE OF RUBEN PEREZ.
MR. PEREZ, IF YOU COULD PLEASE JOIN US.
AS WELL AS HIS AMAZING WIFE OF 47 YEARS, MISS MARICELA PEREZ, WHO'S A RETIRED NURSE, A PUBLIC SERVANT IN HER OWN RIGHT, AND THEIR WONDERFUL DAUGHTER ADRIANA IS HERE.
COULD YOU JOIN US TO ADRIANA, PLEASE? AND I KNOW MATTHEW AS WELL IS CHEERING YOU ON FROM FROM COURT.
SO. AND ANYONE ELSE WHO MAY BE HERE, PLEASE JOIN US.
WELL THANK YOU. SO IT GIVES ME SO MUCH JOY, MR. PEREZ, TO CELEBRATE YOU AND YOUR FAMILY.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR 44 YEARS OF ADVANCING JUSTICE.
AND I'M GOING TO GO THROUGH SOME OF THE HIGHLIGHTS OF THIS EPIC CAREER.
SO MR. PEREZ WAS RAISED IN SEGUIN, TEXAS.
[00:35:02]
HE WENT TO TEXAS STATE UNIVERSITY AND THURGOOD MARSHALL SCHOOL OF LAW.HE HAS SERVED THE CITY OF HOUSTON.
HE ALSO WORKED AT THE UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE.
WHILE AT THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S OFFICE, HE LED THE PROSECUTION OF THE LARGEST HUMAN TRAFFICKING CASE EVER, EVER PROSECUTED IN THE CONTINENTAL UNITED STATES.
AND AT THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE, HE DID MANY THINGS, BUT A FEW OF THEM INCLUDE INVESTIGATING AND PROSECUTING FEDERAL CIVIL RIGHTS VIOLATIONS, INCLUDING HATE CRIMES, HUMAN TRAFFICKING, AND LAW ENFORCEMENT MISCONDUCT.
HE AFTER GOING TO THE DOJ, HE CAME BACK TO OUR DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S OFFICE IN 2017 AS CHIEF OF THE SPECIAL CRIMES BUREAU, WHERE HE HAS LED HIGH PROFILE CASES AND HE'S MENTORED THE NEXT GENERATION OF LEGAL PROFESSIONALS.
SO I KNOW HOW DEEPLY YOU TAKE YOUR JOY IN BEING A MENTOR AND TEACHING THE NEXT GENERATION.
AS I MENTIONED, HIS WONDERFUL WIFE, MARICELA.
THEY'VE BEEN MARRIED 47 YEARS AND SHE IS A RETIRED NURSE.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE. AND THEY HAVE TWO CHILDREN WHO ARE HERE, MATTHEW AND ADRIANA.
AND I KNOW YOUR DAD LIGHTS UP EVERY TIME HE TALKS ABOUT YOU ALL.
AND ANOTHER AMAZING FACT ABOUT MR. PEREZ, HE PLAYS THE SAXOPHONE AND IN FACT, HE PLAYS SO WELL.
I WISH YOU HAD BROUGHT IT, MR. PEREZ. BUT HE IS IN THE TEJANO MUSIC HALL OF FAME.
SO WE'RE IN. WE'RE HONORING A LEGEND ON MULTIPLE LEVELS.
I LOOK FORWARD TO THE NEXT 44 YEARS, WHAT YOU WILL DO WITH THEM, MR. PEREZ, BECAUSE WE THE WORLD NEEDS YOU.
AND I DON'T THINK YOU'RE REALLY GOING TO FULLY RETIRE.
THANK YOU, JUDGE HIDALGO, IN ABSENTIA.
AND THANK ALL OF YOU COMMISSIONERS FOR HONORING ME THIS MORNING.
I THOUGHT ABOUT WHEN I WAS A THIRD GRADE KID IN SEGUIN, TEXAS, PICKING PECANS ALONG THE EDGE OF THE GUADALUPE RIVER, SELLING SNOW CONES OUTSIDE MY DAD'S BARBERSHOP, AND USING THAT MONEY TO BUY MY SCHOOL CLOTHES.
YOU KNOW, HERE I AM IN FRONT OF THIS HONORABLE COURT.
HE'S NOT HERE, BUT WE DID A LOT OF.
I'M A LAWYER. I KNEW I WAS GOING TO TAKE MORE TIME.
WHEN I WAS A FEDERAL PROSECUTOR AND YOU WERE THE COUNTY SHERIFF FOR HARRIS COUNTY.
I ALSO THOUGHT ABOUT HOW HE AND I ARE FEATURED IN THE A&E CHICANO SQUAD DOCU SERIES FOR OUR WORK THAT WE DID BACK IN THE EARLY 80S, WHEN LAW ENFORCEMENT WASN'T EXACTLY A BASTION OF EQUAL OPPORTUNITY.
THEN I THOUGHT ABOUT COMMISSIONER RODNEY ELLIS WHEN WE WERE CLASSMATES, WHEN WE ATTENDED THE LONDON SCHOOL OF ECONOMICS IN LONDON, ENGLAND, IN 1978. AND HE HAD A LARGE AFRO.
I HOPE YOU DON'T MIND ME TELLING THAT STORY.
WHEN I SAY HUGE, I'M SAYING HUGE.
OKAY. I THOUGHT ABOUT HOW MY MOM AND DAD WOULD BE SO PROUD.
[00:40:05]
I THOUGHT ABOUT THE WORDS OF MY DAD, WHO WENT TO THE FIFTH GRADE WORLD WAR TWO ERA VETERAN WHO WORKED FOR 70 YEARS AS A BARBER, RETIRED AT THE AGE OF 93, WORKED SO HARD TO PROVIDE FOR FOR ME AND MY FAMILY AND MY EXTENDED FAMILY.SOMETIMES WHEN I FIRST STARTED ON THIS JOURNEY, HE TOLD ME, MIJO, I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE HELL.
EXCUSE ME, I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE HECK YOU DO.
HE SAID, SOME PEOPLE SAY YOU HAVE A LOT OF POWER IN YOUR POSITION.
AND THAT'S BEEN MY GUIDING LIGHT FOR THE LAST 44 YEARS.
I THOUGHT ABOUT HOW HARD I HAD FOUGHT FOR THE VOICELESS, THE DEFENSELESS, THE VULNERABLE.
SO MANY THOUGHTS AND SO MANY MEMORIES.
I WOULD LIKE TO CONCLUDE BY THANKING MY BEAUTIFUL WIFE, MARICELA, MY KIDS MATTHEW AND ADRIANA, MY FRIENDS AND MY EXTENDED FAMILY FOR THEIR TIRELESS SUPPORT IN THIS INCREDIBLE JOURNEY SPANNING MORE THAN 44 YEARS TO SEE THAT JUSTICE IS DONE.
THANK YOU. GOD BLESS YOU AND GOD BLESS AMERICA.
COMMISSIONER. COMMISSIONER RUBIN, PLEASE DON'T STEP AWAY.
COMMISSIONER. THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH FOR BRINGING THIS FORWARD.
RUBIN, WE COULDN'T BE MORE PROUD OF YOU.
AND I JUST WANT TO TAKE A POINT OF PRIVILEGE TO REFLECT ON A COMMENT THAT RUBIN MADE.
THERE WAS THAT DOCUMENTARY SERIES THAT WAS JUST RELEASED A AND E REFLECTING ON SOME YOUNG HOUSTON POLICE OFFICERS AND THE WORK THEY DID AND THE CHALLENGES THEY HAD.
BUT I DON'T WANT IT TO GO UNSAID THAT RUBIN IN THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S OFFICE AT THAT TIME WAS THE RECIPIENT OF JUST AS MUCH NEGATIVE PRESSURE AND EFFORTS TO MAKE SURE YOU DIDN'T SUCCEED AS MUCH AS THOSE OFFICERS WERE.
THERE SHOULD HAVE BEEN MORE CONVERSATION ABOUT YOUR WORK IN THAT DOCUMENTARY SERIES, RUBIN.
BUT I JUST WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE PUBLICLY.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR PERSEVERANCE.
THANK YOU FOR NOT ALLOWING ANYTHING TO SLOW YOU DOWN, KEEP YOU DOWN, OR TO MAKE YOU GIVE UP.
GOD BLESS YOU. CONGRATULATIONS.
THANK YOU SIR. THANK ALL OF YOU.
COMMISSIONER BRIONES, I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR BRINGING IT FORWARD AS WELL.
ADRIANA AND MATTHEW TO KNOW THAT YOUR FATHER DIDN'T GO OVER TO THE LONDON SCHOOL OF ECONOMICS.
HE DIDN'T GO TO LONDON IN 1978 WITH HIS GIRLFRIEND.
I REMEMBER IN THAT SECTION FROM THIS.
OF COURSE. YEAH, MY ONLY WIFE.
ONLY WIFE. AND LET ME TELL YOU, HE WAS A DELIGHT.
THERE WERE THREE OF US FROM TEXAS, AS I RECALL.
AND I JUST WANT YOU AND MARICELA TO KNOW OVER THE YEARS, IT WAS ALWAYS AN HONOR.
YOU KNOW, I'D HAVE AN EVENT WHEN I WAS ON CITY COUNCIL.
THERE YOU WERE. WHEN I WAS AT THE STATE SENATE FROM TIME TO TIME, YOU TESTIFIED.
BUT JUST WHAT? TRAFFICKING ISSUES. THAT'S RIGHT.
MANY TIMES. BUT WHAT A GREAT COUPLE.
I CAN'T REMEMBER WHEN WE WERE YOUNG.
I HAD THE AFRO, BUT I SUSPECT THAT MARICELA HAD GONE TO A PLAY, BUT YOU AND I HAD NEVER BEEN TO ONE.
NOTHING LIKE THE ONES WE WENT TO.
THERE WEREN'T ANY PLAYS IN SEGUIN, TEXAS.
THEY MAY HAVE HAD THEM IN HOUSTON, BUT I DIDN'T GO.
BUT IT WAS JUST SUCH A DELIGHT.
AND I MUST SAY, IT WAS JUST SO IMPRESSIVE THAT SHE'D SHOW UP OVER THERE AND HELP US.
[00:45:02]
YOU KNOW, WE DIDN'T WE DIDN'T HAVE WASHERS AND DRYERS, BUT SHE'D GIVE US ADVICE.SHE DIDN'T WASH ANYTHING, BUT SHE TOLD US WHERE HE COULD GO TO GET THEM WASHED.
YOU COULDN'T GET OUT. SO WE WERE TRYING TO GET BACK.
I WAS TRYING TO GET BACK TO GO TO.
BUT IT WAS AN AMAZING EXPERIENCE, AND I'M JUST SO PROUD OF WHAT YOU'VE DONE IN YOUR CAREER, AND I HOPE YOU WILL CONTINUE TO MENTOR YOUNG PEOPLE WITH WHATEVER YOU DECIDE TO DO IN YOUR SEMI-RETIREMENT.
BUT THANK YOU AND THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER.
ALL RIGHT. WE'RE GLAD TO HAVE YOU.
CONGRATULATIONS. CONGRATULATIONS AGAIN.
THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH. THANK YOU. AND CONGRATULATIONS.
YEAH. IS THAT OKAY? OF COURSE. WE'LL LET YOU DO THAT.
THANK YOU. CONGRATULATIONS AGAIN, CHIEF PEREZ.
TO ME, YOU REPRESENT THE BEST OF THE AMERICAN DREAM.
AND YOU'RE AN INSPIRATION TO ME AND TO SO, SO MANY OF US.
AND SO AS I BEGIN, I'D FIRST LIKE TO INVITE OUR RESOLUTION GUESTS UP, PLEASE.
DOCTOR RIMADYL, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED NATIONS ASSOCIATION MOHAMED NASRALLAH, BOARD MEMBER OF AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL HOUSTON LOCAL 1017. WE HAVE JULIE KRING, AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL LOCAL 23.
WE HAVE RUTH NASRALLAH, WHO IS THE BETTER HALF OF MOHAMED NASRALLAH AND A COMMUNITY LEADER AND ACTIVIST WITH AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL AS WELL. WE HAVE WALLACE CALLAWAY FROM AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL, ONE OF OUR BOARD MEMBERS OF LOCAL 1017, VANESA PEREZ FROM THE GALVESTON HOUSTON IMMIGRATION REPRESENTATION PROJECT.
THEY HAVE BEEN REGISTERED TO SPEAK, AND WE HAVE ADDITIONAL GUESTS.
SAHIR ZAHIR AL PAULSON FROM THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF UNOPS HOUSTON FROM UNOPS HOUSTON AS WELL, AND KATHARINA DESCARTES FROM THE TORY JUSTICE CENTER, WHO'S THE POLICY AND ADVOCACY MANAGER.
SO EVERYONE AND ANYONE ELSE WHO WANTS TO STAND WITH THEM.
SO TODAY, AS I MENTIONED, DECEMBER 10TH IS THE 74TH HUMAN RIGHTS DAY.
AND IN THIS THEME OF ADVANCING JUSTICE, WHICH WE HAVE BEEN TALKING ABOUT, YOU KNOW, I THOUGHT OF ONE OF MY FAVORITE MLK QUOTES, WHICH INJUSTICE ANYWHERE IS A THREAT TO JUSTICE EVERYWHERE.
AND I WANT US TO THINK ABOUT THAT AND HOLD THAT AS WE TALK ABOUT TODAY'S RESOLUTION.
SO 74 YEARS AGO, THE IT WAS THE SIGNING OF THE UNIVERSAL DECLARATION OF HUMAN RIGHTS.
WE THINK BACK TO THAT TIME, THE HOLOCAUST AND BEYOND.
THE INDISCRIMINATE KILLING OF INNOCENT PEOPLE WITH BOMBS AND NUCLEAR WEAPONS, AND OTHER WAR CRIMES PERPETRATED AGAINST CIVILIANS AND SOLDIERS ALIKE.
THE DECLARATION WAS THE FIRST UNIVERSAL STATEMENT OF FUNDAMENTAL RIGHTS THAT ALL PEOPLE, ALL PEOPLE, ARE ENTITLED TO AS HUMAN BEINGS, REGARDLESS OF RACE, COLOR, RELIGION, SEX, LANGUAGE, POLITICAL OR OTHER OPINION, NATIONAL OR SOCIAL ORIGIN, PROPERTY, BIRTH OR OTHER STATUS.
AND THE DECLARATION IS NOT ONLY A HISTORICAL DOCUMENT, BUT IT IS A GUIDE, AN ACTIVE LIVING DOCUMENT TO SHAPING A BETTER AND MORE INCLUSIVE FUTURE FOR EVERYONE.
AND I HOPE THAT ALL OF US, NOT ONLY HERE IN HARRIS COUNTY IN THE UNITED STATES, BUT IN EVERY PART OF THE WORLD THAT WE'RE LEARNING FROM HISTORY, CERTAINLY NOT REPEATING HISTORY, AND THAT WE'RE ALWAYS MOVING FORWARD AND PROGRESSING IN OUR RIGHTS.
AND UNFORTUNATELY, THAT IS NOT THE CASE.
ALWAYS AND NOT THE CASE OFTEN.
I'M GOING TO GIVE YOU A FEW EXAMPLES.
[00:50:06]
COMMISSION WERE CREATED TO ADVANCE THE RIGHTS OF HISTORICALLY MARGINALIZED RESIDENTS THROUGH ACTIONABLE POLICY RECOMMENDATIONS THAT ARE GATHERED DIRECTLY FROM THE COMMUNITIES THAT WE ARE SERVING.WHEREAS ARTICLE 14 OF THE UNIVERSAL DECLARATION OF HUMAN RIGHTS STATES THAT EVERYONE HAS THE RIGHT TO SEEK ASYLUM IN OTHER COUNTRIES, AND HARRIS COUNTY IS PROUDLY HOME TO OVER 1 MILLION IMMIGRANTS AND PROUDLY HAS INVESTED OVER $2 MILLION TO EXPAND NATURALIZATION SERVICES TO ASSIST THE HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF LAWFUL PERMANENT RESIDENTS LIVING IN HARRIS COUNTY WHO ARE ELIGIBLE TO BE NATURALIZED.
HARRIS COUNTY IS COMMITTED TO CONTINUING SUPPORT OF THE IMMIGRATION LEGAL SERVICES FUND, WHICH FUNDS NONPROFITS THAT PROVIDE LEGAL AND WRAPAROUND SERVICES TO IMMIGRANTS, INCLUDING ASYLUM SEEKERS.
AND WHEREAS I'M NOT GOING TO DO ALL THE ARTICLES, THIS IS MY FINAL EXAMPLE, ALTHOUGH THERE'S SO MANY, BECAUSE HARRIS COUNTY, UNDER OUR LEADERSHIP, IS DEEPLY COMMITTED TO ADVANCING THE RIGHTS OF ALL.
ARTICLE 23 OF THE UNIVERSAL DECLARATION OF HUMAN RIGHTS STATES THAT EVERYONE IS GUARANTEED THE RIGHT TO WORK AND TO FORM TRADE UNIONS, AND AN EXAMPLE OF HOW HARRIS COUNTY IS LIVING INTO THIS IS THAT WE SUPPORT THIS RIGHT THROUGH OUR ADVANTAGE APPRENTICESHIP ADVANTAGE PROGRAM, WHICH WAS THE LARGEST INVESTMENT IN APPRENTICESHIPS WHERE FOLKS CAN LEARN SKILLS WHILE EARNING A LIVING.
BECAUSE WE BELIEVE DEEPLY IN ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY AND MOBILITY.
AND OUR APPRENTICESHIP ADVANTAGE PROGRAM CONNECTS HUNDREDS OF RESIDENTS WITH PAID APPRENTICESHIPS TO START NEW HIGH PAYING, UNION PROTECTED CAREERS IN THE TRADES. SO HARRIS COUNTY IS COMMITTED TO ADVANCING AND PROTECTING THE RIGHTS OF ALL OF ITS RESIDENTS.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR PARTNERSHIP AND BEING ON THE FRONT LINES TO MAKE SURE THAT HARRIS COUNTY IS NOT ONLY THE MOST DIVERSE, BUT ALSO THE MOST INCLUSIVE AND A PLACE WHERE JUSTICE, FREEDOM AND LIBERTY PREVAIL.
SO LET US TOGETHER CELEBRATE HUMAN RIGHTS DAY, AND IT IS OUR HONOR TO HAVE YOU HERE TODAY.
THANK YOU. AND I KNOW SEVERAL OF YOU SIGNED UP TO SPEAK.
IF YOU COULD PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME.
THANK YOU. HEY, GOOD MORNING EVERYONE.
AGAIN, GOOD MORNING, COMMISSIONERS MEMBERS OF THE TEAM AND OUR ESTEEMED GUESTS.
I AM, ALONG WITH MY BOARD COLLEAGUES.
I AM INCREDIBLY, INCREDIBLY HONORED TO BE HERE REPRESENTING UNITED NATIONS ASSOCIATION, HOUSTON, IN SUPPORT OF COMMISSIONER BREONNA'S RESOLUTION TO RECOGNIZE DECEMBER 10TH AS HUMAN RIGHTS DAY IN THE HARRIS COUNTY.
AS WE ALREADY HEARD, YOU BEAUTIFULLY ARTICULATED WHAT IT IS STANDS FOR.
IT DOES AFFIRMS THE THE DIGNITY, EQUALITY AND FREEDOM FOR EVERY INDIVIDUAL IN A COUNTY AS DIVERSE AND VIBRANT AS OURS.
TODAY, AS A LEADER OF THE UNITED NATIONS ASSOCIATION, I ASK THAT WE LEADERS, THE CHANGE MAKERS AND THE PEOPLE OF INFLUENCE TAKE A MOMENT TO REFLECT WHAT HUMAN RIGHTS RIGHT MEANS TO US AND WHAT IT MEANS FOR OUR FAMILY.
AND WOULD WE STAND FOR THE SAME RIGHTS WHEN IT COMES TO THE OTHER HUMAN BEINGS? LET'S CONTINUE TO BE A LEADER IN ADVANCING THESE PRINCIPLES.
AGAIN, THANK YOU ALL, COMMISSIONER.
COMMISSIONER BRIONES, FOR THIS RESOLUTION THAT HELP US ADVANCE THE ADVOCACY OF HUMAN RIGHTS.
ARE HONORABLE LINA HIDALGO IN ABSENTIA.
HONORABLE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS.
MY NAME IS MOHAMMAD NASRALLAH.
I AM THE CO-FOUNDER AND THE CURRENT PRESIDENT OF AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL, THE BAY AREA CHAPTER.
[00:55:06]
AND I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR GIVING ME THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK TO YOU THIS MORNING.ON BEHALF OF OUR CHAPTER AND ALL OUR MEMBERSHIP, I WANT TO THANK.
FIRST, I WANT TO THANK COMMISSIONER BRIONES TO ON INTRODUCING THIS RESOLUTION ON HUMAN RIGHTS DAY.
THE THEME OF THIS YEAR'S HUMAN RIGHTS DAY IS OUR RIGHTS, OUR FUTURE.
RIGHT NOW, AND RIGHT HERE AND RIGHT NOW IS THE BEST PLACE AND THE BEST TIME TO COMMIT TO PROTECTING THE RIGHTS AND FREEDOMS OF ALL PEOPLE.
HUMAN RIGHTS ARE UNIVERSAL AND INALIENABLE, BELONGING TO EVERYONE, EVERYWHERE, REGARDLESS OF RACE, GENDER, NATIONALITY OR RELIGION. THE TWO AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL CHAPTERS THAT ARE HERE IN HOUSTON, HERE IN HARRIS COUNTY, DO A LOT OF WORK IN PROTECTING HUMAN RIGHTS AND PREVENTING HUMAN RIGHTS ABUSES LOCALLY AS WELL AS OVERSEAS.
WE PRIDE OURSELVES IN TAKING ACTION AND EDUCATING OTHERS.
I WANT TO THANK THE COMMISSIONERS FOR HIGHLIGHTING THIS RESOLUTION.
IT REMAINS AN IDEAL THAT IS YET TO BE ACHIEVED.
WHILE WE ARE NEAR TO THEIR TO THESE IDEALS THAN WE WERE IN 1948, THEY ARE MORE ASPIRATIONAL THAN ACTUAL AT THIS POINT, THE COMMISSIONERS COURT HAS A HAS A PART TO PLAY IN HELPING TO TRANSFORM THESE ASPIRATIONS INTO IDEALS. AND AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL AND ITS MEMBERS ARE HERE TO ENCOURAGE AND TO SUPPORT YOU IN THESE EFFORTS. THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU.
HI. MY NAME IS JULIE KRING WITH AMNESTY HOUSTON LOCAL 23.
YOU CAN FIND US ONLINE AND ON FACEBOOK.
I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING US TO BE HERE TODAY TO SPEAK IN SUPPORT OF THE RESOLUTION.
OVER THE YEARS, I'VE COME TO APPRECIATE AI AS A VALUABLE RESOURCE FOR INDIVIDUAL CITIZENS, OFFERING THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE INVOLVED WITH ISSUES AND CAUSES THAT MATTER TO THEM, BOTH LOCALLY AND GLOBALLY.
NOW MORE THAN EVER, WE NEED TO NOT ONLY KEEP HUMAN RIGHTS IN THE FOREFRONT OF PUBLIC AWARENESS, BUT TO FIGHT FOR HUMAN RIGHTS FOR EVERYONE, EVERYWHERE. AND THIS RESOLUTION IS A WONDERFUL WAY OF HIGHLIGHTING THAT.
AGAIN, THANK YOU AND PLEASE HAVE A SAFE HOLIDAY SEASON.
THANK YOU. HI, MY NAME IS RUTH NASRALLAH AND I AM A MEMBER OF AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL'S HOUSTON CHAPTER.
I JUST LIKE TO HIGHLIGHT A COUPLE OF GROUPS OF PEOPLE WHO ARE CONNECTED TO HARRIS COUNTY.
ALTHOUGH THEY LIVE OVERSEAS, FIRST, THE UYGHUR COMMUNITY, WHICH AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL HAS DETERMINED IS LIVING THROUGH A GENOCIDE COMMITTED BY THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT.
THEY ARE REPRESENTED HERE IN HARRIS COUNTY BY THE TEXAS UYGHUR SOCIETY.
SECOND OF ALL, HOUSTON IS ACTUALLY HAS THE THIRD LARGEST POPULATION OF PALESTINIANS IN THE COUNTRY.
SO I WOULD BE REMISS IF I BE REMISS IF I DIDN'T MENTION THAT THEY ALSO ARE UNDERGOING BY THE AS DOCUMENTED BY AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL, A GENOCIDE IN GAZA.
[01:00:02]
SO AGAIN, I THANK YOU FOR THINKING OF THE PEOPLE BOTH HERE IN HARRIS COUNTY AND ABROAD AND STANDING FOR HUMAN RIGHTS FOR ALL PEOPLE EVERYWHERE.COMMISSIONER GARCIA. WELL, ONE MORE, ONE SPEAKER.
THANK YOU. A COUPLE MORE. SORRY.
AND THANK YOU TO COMMISSIONER BRIONES FOR INVITING US TO SPEAK TODAY.
TAHIRIH WORKS WITH IMMIGRANT SURVIVORS OF GENDER BASED VIOLENCE, FIRST AND FOREMOST THROUGH LEGAL SERVICES, BUT ALSO THROUGH SOCIAL SERVICES CASE MANAGEMENT TO HELP OUR CLIENTS MEET THEIR BASIC NEEDS.
POLICY ADVOCACY TO BREAK DOWN BARRIERS TO SAFETY AND JUSTICE, AND LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT FOR IMMIGRANT SURVIVORS HERE IN HOUSTON, SO THAT THOSE WHO ARE DIRECTLY IMPACTED BY GENDER AND IMMIGRATION INJUSTICE CAN BE LEADERS IN THE WORK TO MAKE OUR COMMUNITIES THE SAFE AND EMPOWERING PLACES THEY SHOULD BE FOR TAWHIRI.
THAT IS HOW WE AFFIRM AND FIGHT FOR HUMAN RIGHTS BY STANDING ALONGSIDE WOMEN, CHILDREN AND ALL SURVIVORS OF GENDER BASED VIOLENCE TO CREATE A WORLD WHERE ALL OF US, NO MATTER WHERE WE COME FROM, CAN LIVE IN SAFETY AND WITH DIGNITY.
NONE OF OUR HUMAN RIGHTS ARE PROTECTED UNLESS ALL OF OUR HUMAN RIGHTS ARE PROTECTED.
AND TOGETHER WITH THE COMMISSIONERS AND OUR PARTNERS HERE, WE COLLABORATE IN OUR SERVICE TO THE COMMUNITY, AND WE HELP EACH OTHER TO DREAM BIGGER THAN TODAY'S CONSTRAINTS, SO THAT EVERYONE IN HARRIS COUNTY CAN ENJOY THE FULL PROTECTION OF HUMAN RIGHTS.
GOOD MORNING, COMMISSIONERS AND EVERYONE.
WE ARE A NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION THAT PROVIDES IMMIGRATION LEGAL SERVICES IN HOUSTON AND GALVESTON.
THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK TODAY.
THIS RESOLUTION HIGHLIGHTS UNIVERSAL RIGHTS THAT WE HOLD DEAR, SUCH AS THE RIGHT TO SEEK SAFETY THROUGH ASYLUM, THE RIGHT TO MIGRATE, AND RIGHT TO FAMILY UNITY. WE HAVE SEEN FIRSTHAND HOW ASYLUM SEEKERS AND IMMIGRANTS OFTEN FACE SIGNIFICANT CHALLENGES AND DANGERS THROUGHOUT THEIR LIVES.
THIS RESOLUTION SERVES AS AN IMPORTANT REMINDER ABOUT THE CRITICAL ROLE LEGAL SERVICES PROVIDERS, SUCH AS KIRBY AND TAHARI JUSTICE CENTER PLAY IN UPHOLDING HUMAN RIGHTS. THE HARRIS COUNTY LEGAL SERVICES PROGRAMS ENABLE US TO PROVIDE ESSENTIAL LEGAL ASSISTANCE, PROTECTION, AND PATHWAYS FOR IMMIGRANTS AND REFUGEES TO THRIVE AND BECOME PART OF OUR COMMUNITY.
THANK YOU. I THINK THAT'S EVERYONE.
THANK YOU ALL FOR BEING HERE TODAY.
THANK YOU FOR BEING ON THE FRONT LINES OF ADVANCING JUSTICE I AM.
AND SO I TOOK HER TO MY LAW SCHOOL AND I TOOK INTERNATIONAL HUMAN RIGHTS WAS ONE OF MY CLASSES.
THIS WAS 20 YEARS AGO WHEN I FINISHED LAW SCHOOL.
AND SO I WAS REFLECTING AS I WAS PREPARING FOR COURT, THINKING I THOUGHT WE WOULD HAVE, AS A WORLD, MADE MUCH GREATER PROGRESS IN THE 20 YEARS SINCE I WAS SITTING IN THAT CLASSROOM, I WORRY DEEPLY, AND I JUST KEPT THINKING ABOUT THAT QUOTE FROM MLK, AND I'M GOING TO READ THE LAST PART AS EVERYONE SITS DOWN.
BUT ALL OF OUR FREEDOM, ALL OF OUR LIBERTY IS INEXTRICABLY LINKED.
AND MY DAUGHTER AND I HAD THIS, YOU KNOW, WONDERFUL CONVERSATION.
SHE'S A NINTH GRADER AND IT WAS SO HARD EXPLAINING SOME OF THESE THINGS.
BUT IN ANY EVENT, I'M AN OPTIMIST, AND I BELIEVE AND I'M A PROUD AMERICAN, AND I BELIEVE THAT THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA SHOULD ALWAYS REMAIN THE BEACON OF WHAT LIBERTY, JUSTICE, AND DEMOCRACY IS FOR THE WORLD.
AND I HOPE WE KEEP LIVING INTO THAT TRUTH IN THE MAXIMUM WAY POSSIBLE.
AND UNTIL THEN, KNOW THAT WE WILL KEEP DOUBLING DOWN IN HARRIS COUNTY.
AND WE'RE VERY THANKFUL FOR THESE INVESTMENTS WE WERE ABLE TO MAKE.
BUT BUT FOR THE BIDEN-HARRIS ADMINISTRATION, WE WOULDN'T HAVE HAD THE FEDERAL ARPA DOLLARS TO MAKE THE INVESTMENTS THAT I MENTIONED, THE APPRENTICESHIPS, NATURALIZATION, ETC. SO I'M JUST VERY GRATEFUL AND AT TIMES HEARTBROKEN.
AND I REMAIN DEEPLY OPTIMISTIC BECAUSE WE MUST LIVE IN TO THE VALUES THAT WE ALL SHOULD HOLD DEAR BECAUSE OF OUR OWN DESIRE FOR LIBERTY AND FREEDOM. SO I'LL JUST READ THE LAST OF THE QUOTE, AND THEN WE CAN ALL SIT DOWN.
BUT INJUSTICE ANYWHERE IS A THREAT TO JUSTICE EVERYWHERE.
WE ARE CAUGHT IN AN INESCAPABLE NETWORK OF MUTUALITY, TIED IN A SINGLE GARMENT OF DESTINY.
WHATEVER AFFECTS ONE DIRECTLY, AFFECTS ALL INDIRECTLY.
[01:05:02]
SO TO OUR BROTHERS AND SISTERS ACROSS THE WORLD AND ACROSS THE COUNTRY, HAPPY HUMAN RIGHTS DAY TODAY AND ALWAYS.THANK YOU. BEFORE Y'ALL, Y'ALL STEP AWAY.
COMMISSIONER BRIONES, THANK YOU FOR BRINGING THIS.
AND IF THERE'S ANY RESOLUTION THAT IS IMMENSELY OPPORTUNE, THIS IS ONE OF THOSE.
SO THANK YOU. AND I JUST WANT TO THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR RESPECTIVE WORK.
I'VE HAD A GREAT EXPERIENCE WITH HER OVER MY YEARS.
IN ADDRESSING, AS RUBEN MENTIONED, HUMAN TRAFFICKING ISSUES.
SO THANK YOU FOR ALL THAT YOU DO.
AND RUTH AND MUHAMMAD, THANK YOU FOR, YOU KNOW, JUST BEING WELL GROUNDED COMMUNITY PEOPLE THAT HELP US MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE FOCUSING ON THINGS THAT REALLY DO MATTER. SOMETIMES WE THINK GAZA IS FAR AWAY.
OR OTHER INCIDENTS THAT ARE HAPPENING IN OTHER PARTS OF THE WORLD HAVE NOTHING TO DO WITH US.
AND WE MAY BE SYMPATHETIC FROM OUR LIVING ROOMS, BUT WE HAVE TO RECOGNIZE HOW MANY NEIGHBORS WE HAVE HERE THAT ARE MORE ATTACHED PERSONALLY TO THOSE RESPECTIVE THINGS THAT ARE TAKING PLACE.
MY DAUGHTER JUST SO PROUD OF HER STUDIED THE RECONSTRUCTION OF THE GENOCIDE IN RWANDA.
SHE SPENT TIME IN RWANDA AND VISITED UGANDA FOR A BIT, AND CAME BACK IMMENSELY ENLIGHTENED.
I NEED EVERYBODY'S HELP TO CONVINCE HER TO GO TO LAW SCHOOL.
BUT THE STORIES THAT SHE WOULD SHARE JUST MAKE US REALIZE WHAT IT COULD BE TO GO THROUGH AN EXPERIENCE LIKE THAT, AND YOUR WORK TODAY WITHOUT BEING MELODRAMATIC IS PROBABLY MORE IMPORTANT THAN EVER BEFORE.
NOT FOR OTHER PARTS OF THE WORLD, BUT MAYBE FOR THIS PART OF THE WORLD.
SO I JUST WANT TO THANK YOU ALL FOR ALL YOU DO, FOR YOUR COMMITMENT TO DEMOCRACY AND HUMAN RIGHTS, AND FOR THOSE WHO HAVE, MAYBE WHO THINK THEY MAY NOT HAVE A VOICE, BUT THEIR VOICE IS SPOKEN THROUGH YOURS.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU ALL FOR COMING.
WE WE WOULD NORMALLY TAKE A BREAK NOW, BUT WE'VE TAKEN THE PHOTOS.
WE WILL BE EFFICIENT. I KNOW SOME OF YOU ALL MAY CHOOSE TO LEAVE.
DOCTOR NANCE WAS EPA'S REGIONAL CENTRAL SECTION REGION SIX ADMINISTRATIVE EPA, A PHD FROM STANFORD, FORMER PROFESSOR AT TEXAS SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY, AND DID A GREAT JOB ON SO MANY ISSUES FOR US.
I SAW EARLIER SHE MIGHT HAVE TIPPED OUT, YOU HERE? YEAH. DOCTOR. NANCE, JUST TAKE A ROUND OF APPLAUSE.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE WORK YOU HAVE DONE.
OKAY, NOW I WANT TO TURN TO ITEM 494 SEPARATELY.
[Public Hearings (Part 1 of 2)]
IT REQUIRES A I'LL TAKE THAT ITEM.IT REQUIRES A SEPARATE PUBLIC HEARING TO BE TAKEN UP.
AND IT IS A PUBLIC HEARING PURSUANT TO CHAPTER 311.003 OF THE TEXAS TAX CODE FOR THE PURPOSE OF ESTABLISHING REINVESTMENT ZONE NUMBER TWO FOR HARRIS COUNTY, TEXAS.
I WILL NOW OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING TO CONSIDER APPROVAL FOR, PURSUANT TO CHAPTER THREE, 11 003 OF THE TEXAS CODE FOR THE PURPOSE OF ESTABLISHING REINVESTMENT ZONE NUMBER TWO.
TIFFANY, IS THERE ANYONE WHO'D LIKE TO SPEAK FOR OR AGAINST THIS ITEM? SEAN CLOONAN COME ON UP, SEAN, AND JUST STATE YOUR NAME FOR THE RECORD.
I'M THE LIFE SCIENCE LEAD AND GENERAL COUNSEL FOR MCCAW DEVELOPMENT, A STEWARDSHIP MINDED DEVELOPER OF 4300 ACRES COMMERCIAL MIXED USE DEVELOPMENT IN THE NORTHEAST QUADRANT OF HARRIS COUNTY.
I'M HERE TO SUPPORT THE CREATION OF CHURCH NUMBER TWO.
HARRIS COUNTY CHURCH NUMBER TWO WOULD BE A VALUABLE ECONOMIC TOOL TO INVEST IN CRITICAL MOBILITY INFRASTRUCTURE, ENHANCE AND CONNECT EXISTING PARKS AND RECREATIONAL AMENITIES, AND CREATE FUNDING FOR NEEDED AFFORDABLE WORKFORCE HOUSING IN THE NORTHEAST QUADRANT.
HAVING SPENT A LARGE AMOUNT OF MY CAREER IN HARRIS COUNTY WORKING TO BUILD THE LIFE SCIENCE ECOSYSTEM, I CAN TELL YOU THAT RIGHT NOW AS A UNIQUE OPPORTUNITY, THE NORTHEAST QUADRANT IS PARTICULARLY WELL SUITED GIVEN ITS STRATEGIC LOCATION IN THE PORT IN IA, AND THE TOURS CAN
[01:10:04]
CATALYZE THAT GROWTH FOR THE SECTOR AND HELP BRING VERY VALUABLE JOBS TO OUR ECOSYSTEM HERE.AND I THINK THE TOURS WILL BE A VALUABLE ASSET IN THAT RESPECT.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP, COMMISSIONER.
ANY QUESTIONS? COMMISSIONER GARCIA.
SEAN, JUST THANK YOU FOR COMING DOWN AND ADVOCATING ON THIS.
I BELIEVE IN THE WORK THAT TEACHERS CAN DO, AND SO I APPRECIATE YOU COMING DOWN.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP.
MR. CHAIRMAN, I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR COMING AS WELL.
I DID CHAT WITH ONE OF MY COLLEAGUES SINCE I COULD ONLY TALK TO ONE ABOUT IT.
I TALKED TO COMMISSIONER RAMSEY LAST NIGHT ABOUT IT.
BUT SOMETIME DOWN THE ROAD, MAYBE THERE'LL BE AN ANNOUNCEMENT.
IT'LL BE A MAJOR ONE FOR OUR REGION.
AND THIS TERRORIST IS A BIG PART OF THAT.
IF THERE ARE NO OTHER QUESTIONS, I MOVE TO CLOSE.
WHAT I WANT TO DO IS I WANT TO MAKE SURE.
THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER GARCIA. I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT IF COMMISSIONER RAMSEY WANTS TO VOTE ON IT, CAN I CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING IF THEY KNOW THE SPEAKERS, BUT THEN JUST LEAVE THE VOTE IN CASE HE WANTS TO VOTE ON IT? CORRECT. YEAH. WE JUST CLOSE THE HEARING AND THEN WE CAN THE THE THE RESOLUTION AND ORDER IS ITEM 469.
NINE. SO IF WE CAN HOLD ITEM 469 ON THE VOTE FOR HIM TO COME BACK, WE CAN DO THAT.
THANK YOU. ANY OTHER SPEAKERS? THANK YOU. SEAN. ANY OTHER SPEAKERS? THANK YOU. OKAY.
COMMISSIONER GARCIA MAKES A MOTION.
IS THERE A SECOND? COMMISSIONER BRIONES MAKES A MOTION TO SECOND THE PUBLIC HEARING.
THE PUBLIC HEARING IS NOW CLOSED, SO WE'LL LEAVE THAT ITEM PENDING SO HE CAN VOTE ON IT.
I WANT TO JUST TAKE A QUICK BREAK, LIKE FIVE MINUTES.
THEN WE'LL COME BACK AND GO TO THE PUBLIC SPEAKERS.
AND THEN I'M ASSUMING THAT WE'RE GOING TO STOP FOR LUNCH AT 1:00 UNLESS WE FINISH THE SPEAKERS.
IS THAT OKAY? YES. WERE YOU SAYING SOMETHING, JESSE? ANY CONCERNS ABOUT THAT? I THINK COMMISSIONER RAMSEY TOLD ME EARLIER WE COULD DO THE SPEAKERS, BUT THEN WHEN WE GET TO THE AGENDA, HE WANTS TO VOTE.
I BELIEVE THAT'S CORRECT, SIR.
SO YOU MIGHT TELL HIM IT MIGHT BE ONE 3145.
LET'S TAKE A FIVE MINUTE BREAK AND COME BACK.
COMMISSIONERS COURT WILL TAKE A BREAK FOR FIVE MINUTES.
[Appearances before court]
FIRST. YES, SIR.AND JUST STATE YOUR NAME FOR THE RECORD, REPRESENTATIVE.
THANK YOU SO MUCH. MY NAME IS GENE WU.
AND I'M HERE TO SPEAK ON BEHALF OF MY COMMUNITY AND TO THANK THE COMMISSIONERS COURT AND THE COMMISSIONERS AND THE JUDGE FOR CREATING THE AAPI COMMITTEE TO LOOK AT WHAT THE COMMUNITY NEEDS.
WE HAVE AN INCREDIBLE DIVERSITY OF NOT ONLY NATIONAL ORIGIN, ETHNIC, CULTURAL, LANGUAGE, DIFFERENCES BETWEEN EVEN COMMUNITIES WITHIN ONE COUNTRY OF OF ORIGIN. AND WE HAVE TO SORT ALL THESE THINGS OUT.
WE ALSO HAVE ADDITIONAL PROBLEMS WHERE OUR COMMUNITY REALLY, REALLY DOES NOT LIKE TO TALK ABOUT THINGS LIKE MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES, DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AND ALL THESE THINGS THAT YOU CAN CONTINUE THAT MUST BE ADDRESSED IN ORDER FOR THE COMMUNITY TO BE HAPPY AND HEALTHY AND PROSPEROUS.
AND WITH THIS COMMISSION, I HOPE WHAT WE HOPE TO DO IS FIND THE MISSING PARTS OF PLANS THAT WE'RE MAKING TO SERVE THE COMMUNITY AND MAKE SURE THAT THE ASIAN AMERICAN COMMUNITY IS SERVED ALONGSIDE OF EVERYONE ELSE IN THE WAY THAT THEY WILL ACCEPT AND CAN UNDERSTAND.
AND SO I'M VERY GRATEFUL FOR, AGAIN, ATTENTION TO OUR COMMUNITY AND RECOGNIZING THAT OUR NEEDS ARE DIFFERENT THAN THE NEEDS OF EVERYONE ELSE AS THEY SHOULD BE.
AND I'M VERY GRATEFUL THAT THE COMMISSIONERS COURT HAS MADE THE EFFORT TO REACH OUT TO THE ASIAN AMERICAN COMMUNITY SPECIFICALLY TO SEE WHAT DO YOU NEED? SO THANK YOU SO MUCH, REPRESENTATIVE.
THANK YOU FOR COMING. AND WE'RE PROUD OF YOU AND YOUR LEADERSHIP.
[01:15:04]
AND I KNOW THEY'VE CONFERRED WITH ON THE STAFF LEVEL WITH SOME OF THE OFFICES AS WELL.BUT THANK YOU. I'M VERY APPRECIATIVE OF YOUR STAFF AS WELL.
THANK YOU. COMMISSIONER GARCIA.
THANK YOU. REPRESENTATIVE, THANK YOU FOR COMING DOWN AND ADVOCATING FOR YOUR COMMUNITY.
AND, COMMISSIONER ELLIS, THANK YOU FOR THINKING ABOUT CREATING THIS, THIS COMMISSION.
BUT ALSO LIKEWISE, JEAN, THANK YOU FOR ALL YOUR SERVICE.
THANK YOU SO MUCH. I APPRECIATE IT.
COMMISSIONER BRIONES. COMMISSIONER ELLIS, THANK YOU AND YOUR TEAM FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP ON THIS.
WE LOOK FORWARD TO COLLABORATING DEEPLY.
THIS IS SO IMPORTANT, I KNOW, TO YOU AND TO ME AND TO COMMISSIONER GARCIA AND TO ALL OF US.
REPRESENTATIVE WU, THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE AND ALL IN STYLE OF TRULY SERVING OUR COMMUNITY.
WE HAVE THE HONOR OF OR I HAVE THE HONOR OF GETTING TO SHARE JURISDICTION WITH YOU.
AND I JUST APPRECIATE YOU MORE THAN I CAN EXPRESS.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU SO MUCH.
THANK YOU ALL FOR MAKING SURE THAT ALL COMMUNITIES ARE INCLUDED AND CONSIDERED.
THANK YOU SO MUCH. IT SAYS A LOT ABOUT YOU TO COME HERE.
I KNOW THAT'S A LOT OF DRAMA GOING ON.
I'VE BEEN WATCHING IT EVEN FROM A DISTANCE.
YEAH, IT'S A NICE REPRIEVE, BUT HEY, GOOD LUCK ON HOW IT WORKS OUT.
THANK YOU. GENE. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. YES.
THANK YOU. TREASURER WYATT WAS HERE EARLIER.
COME ON UP AND JUST STATE YOUR NAME FOR THE RECORD.
AND THEN WE'LL GO WITH THE SPEAKERS IN ORDER AFTER THAT.
TIFFANY. GOOD MORNING, COMMISSIONERS COURT.
I AM YOUR HARRIS COUNTY TREASURER.
I TRULY APPRECIATE EVERYTHING THAT YOU ALL HAVE DONE FOR MYSELF AND MY OFFICE TO ENSURE THAT WE ARE PROPERLY MOVING FORWARD TOWARDS PROGRESS FOR THE CONSTITUENTS OF HARRIS COUNTY.
HOWEVER, I DO HAVE A COUPLE OF CONCERNS I KNOW THAT I HAVE.
NUMBER ONE, WE HAVE A STAFF OF TEN PEOPLE.
CAN YOU PLEASE STAND? THESE ARE THE TEN PEOPLE THAT TAKE CARE OF EVERYTHING IN THE TREASURER'S OFFICE.
THANK YOU. THESE ARE THE PEOPLE WHO.
AND SO WE'RE LOOKING FORWARD TO HAVING SOME GUIDANCE AND DIRECTION FROM COMMISSIONERS ON HOW TO REACH A RESOLVE REGARDING THE CHALLENGES THAT WE SEE IN FRONT OF US. AGAIN, I'M DOCTOR CARLA L WYATT, YOUR HARRIS COUNTY TREASURER, THE TREASURER FOR ALL.
IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, I'M HAPPY TO ANSWER THEM.
IF YOU HAVE STAFF THAT IS GOING TO BE ASSIGNED TO US, WE'RE HAPPY TO WORK WITH THEM AS WELL.
THANK YOU. CHRISTOPHER JENKINS AND DEBORAH SMITH SPEAKING ON ITEM 20.
GOOD AFTERNOON, COMMISSIONERS COURT.
SO I'D LIKE TO FIRST OFF, START WITH THE NATIONAL HUMAN RIGHTS DAY.
THANK YOU FOR THAT. THAT RESOLUTION.
I'M SPEAKING ON ITEM AGENDA NUMBER 20, WHICH IS THE HARRIS COUNTY JAIL.
DISCUSSION, POPULATION, STAFFING AND CONDITIONS.
YOU KNOW TECHNICALLY SPEAKING, IF I BUILD A DATABASE, I WOULD BE ABLE TO BUILD A RUN A QUERY OR A TABLE OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT TO IDENTIFY WHO YOU KNOW HOW TO ADDRESS THOSE NEEDS.
AS A MATTER OF FACT, I DID AN EVENT WITH MINDFUL JUSTICE.
IT WAS A CONVENTION WHERE WE WORKED WITH COUNTY ADMINISTRATION, OTHER COALITIONS AND ORGANIZATIONS WHERE WE HIGHLIGHTED SOME OF THESE ISSUES AND WHERE THEY HAVE A SYSTEM BACKLOG OR HOW TO GET A BACKLOG WITH THE WITH THE MEDICAL FACILITY WITH INSIDE THE HARRIS COUNTY JAIL.
SO I JUST WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT THAT THAT IN 2024, YOUR TIME IS UP.
HAVE BETTER ACCESS TO HEALTH CARE.
THANK YOU. AND TECHNOLOGY IN THE HARRIS COUNTY JAIL.
I AM CHRISTIAN SMITH, MOM WHO LOST HER LIFE IN MAY OF 2022, IN HARRIS COUNTY JAIL.
MY DAUGHTER WAS A DIABETIC AND MY UNDERSTANDING HER GLUCOSE WAS AT 20.
[01:20:10]
SHE WAS REALLY GONE WHEN THEY EVEN LEFT THE FACILITY.I'M NOT HAPPY ABOUT THAT, BUT I HAVE BEEN TRYING TO BE AN INSTRUMENT OF CHANGE.
I'M NOT GOING TO STOP UNTIL I SEE CHANGE, UNTIL I SEE CHANGE IN HARRIS COUNTY JAIL.
AND I'M SURE I'M NOT THE ONLY ONE.
YOU ALL YOUR HEARTS ARE PROBABLY HEAVY.
I HAVE CONTINUED TO IMPLEMENT ABOUT GETTING GLUCOSE METERS AT THE BEDS.
THEY HAVE TO HAVE A NUTRITIOUS MEAL.
IT'S THINGS THAT THEY HAVE TO HAVE.
AND I'M NOT HAPPY WITH COUNTY HEALTH.
NONE OF THIS SHOULD HAVE HAPPENED.
NONE OF THIS SHOULD HAVE HAPPENED.
MISS SMITH. AUDREY NATH AND DEMETRIUS SMITH SPEAKING ON ITEM 20.
HI. MY NAME IS AUDREY NATH AND I'M AN EPILEPTOLOGIST IN HOUSTON.
I HAD HEARD ON THE NEWS ABOUT THE DEATH OF ANTHONY SIMMONS FROM A SEIZURE IN THE HARRIS COUNTY JAIL.
AND THAT WAS ALARMING TO ME BECAUSE SEIZURES ARE TREATABLE.
NO ONE SHOULD BE DYING OF AN EPILEPTIC SEIZURE IN JAIL.
I'M ASKING THE COMMISSION TO CREATE TRANSPARENCY FOR BOTH THE NUMBER OF SEIZURE DEATHS PER YEAR IN HARRIS COUNTY JAILS, AS WELL AS EXISTING PROTOCOLS. WE NEED TO WORK TOGETHER TO CREATE MINIMUM STANDARDS FOR THE TREATMENT OF SEIZURES IN JAIL.
I AM DEMETRIUS SMITH. GLAD TO SEE YOU ALL AGAIN HERE NOW.
HAVE YOU ALL CONSIDERED THE FACTOR OF UNCONSTITUTIONAL JUDGES SITTING ON THESE BENCHES THAT CONTRIBUTE TO YOUR OVERCROWDING OF THE JAIL? BECAUSE THEY ARE. WE HAVE JUDGES IN HARRIS COUNTY.
WE HAVE JUDGES IN TEXAS WHO DO NOT HAVE AN OATH OF OFFICE.
WE HAVE JUDGES ALSO CONTRIBUTE TO CONTEMPT OF COURT.
ALSO. HAVE YOU ALL HAVE CONSIDERED THOSE FACTORS OF CONTEMPT OF COURT CHARGES FOR PEOPLE MERELY ASSERTING THEIR CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS, TRYING TO PRESENT EVIDENCE? THESE ARE THINGS THAT I HAVE FIRSTHAND KNOWLEDGE OF.
SO IN CONSIDERATION OF YOU SEEKING FUNDING FROM THE AMERICAN PEOPLE, BECAUSE WE ARE THE CREDITORS AND THE BENEFICIARY, AND YOU ARE THE TRUSTEES IN THE OFFICE OF THE PUBLIC TRUST, WE ARE ASKING YOU IN RETURN FOR YOU TO INVESTIGATE THESE JUDGES, STARTING WITH EL DORADO V RODRIGUEZ.
HE'S BEEN DISQUALIFIED THREE TIMES ALREADY, AND HE IS STILL SITTING HIS OWN CASE TRYING TO HEAR HIS OWN RISK OF DISQUALIFICATION, OWN RISK OF QUARANTINE. YOUR TIME IS UP.
SO THEREFORE, YOU GAVE EVERYBODY ELSE TIME FOR YOUR TIME.
THANK YOU. Y'ALL HAVE A GREAT RESPECT, EVERYBODY.
SO I WANT TO I WANT TO ASK THE PEOPLE IN THE AUDIENCE.
AND WE WANT TO TRY AND LET EVERYBODY WHO IS SIGNED UP SPEAK.
SO I WANT TO ASK YOU POLITELY IF YOU WOULD JUST REFRAIN.
YES, SIR. AND JUST STATE YOUR NAME FOR THE RECORD.
ALL RIGHT. THIS IS MY FIRST TIME DOING A PUBLIC SPEAKING, BUT I'M AN AMERICAN MAN.
GO BY THE NAME OF DEREK THOMAS.
YOU GOT JUDGES THAT DON'T HAVE OATH OF OFFICE, RIGHT? THAT SITTING IN IN COURT GIVING OUT ORDERS THAT INCARCERATE OTHER PEOPLE AND THEY'RE NOT RIGHT.
SO WHAT I'M SAYING IS IF THEY IN CONSIDERATION FOR WHAT YOU ALL WANT.
SO IF THEY DON'T HAVE AN OATH OF OFFICE, THEY SHOULDN'T BE SITTING IN THAT SEAT.
NOW, WHAT HAPPENS IN THE COURTROOM IS THAT THE PEOPLE GET CONVERTED INTO PERSONS.
[01:25:01]
THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER, SARAH FREEMAN, SPEAKING ON ITEM 26 AND BARBARA DENSON SPEAKING ON ITEM 30.I WORK AT THE UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON AS A WOMEN'S STUDIES PROFESSOR WITH ELIZABETH GREGORY AT THE WOMEN'S STUDIES PROGRAM, AND I'M HERE IN CELEBRATION OF THE COUNTY COMMITTING AND INVESTING INTO FUNDING FOR THE DVF.
AND I'M GRATEFUL TO THE WORK OF THESE WOMEN FOR PROTECTING REAL LOVE AND WOMANHOOD.
I'D ALSO LIKE TO TOUCH THAT HEART TRANSITION INTO A FULL HOUSE, INTO A FULL IN HOUSE MODEL.
ALSO INTERSECTS WITH THE VITALITY OF COMMUNITY HEALTH AND THE CONTINUITY OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE.
SO IT'S INTERSECTED, AND THAT'S REALLY VALUABLE.
BARBARA DENSON AS HARRIS COUNTY LOOKS AT THEIR EMPLOYEES, WHAT ARE THE CRITERIA TO EVALUATE AND MOTIVATE THEM? ARE WE PAYING THEM AS WELL AS THEIR COUNTERPARTS IN BUSINESS? SHOULD WE FIND BETTER WAYS TO SEE WHOSE WORK IS BENEFITING THE COUNTY THE MOST? WHO'S WORKING THE HARDEST? WHO HAS THE BEST IDEAS FOR MAKING US MORE EFFICIENT? WHO'S BEEN CREATIVE IN FINDING WAYS TO CUT COSTS? BUT NO.
INSTEAD, YOU FUND A STUDY TO SEE IF EVERYONE IS BEING PAID EQUALLY TO IMPROVE ANYTHING.
IF THERE'S A LESS EFFECTIVE WAY TO RUN A BUSINESS OR GOVERNMENT, I CAN'T THINK OF IT.
ARE YOU TRYING TO MAKE IT DYSFUNCTIONAL? IT ISN'T EVEN GOOD FOR THE EMPLOYEES.
WHY SHOULD THEY WORK HARDER AND TRY TO DO ANY OF THE THINGS PREVIOUSLY MENTIONED, IF THAT ISN'T HOW THEY'RE BEING MEASURED? I WOULD ARGUE IT ISN'T EVEN HELPFUL TO THE PEOPLE YOU'RE PURPORTEDLY HELPING.
THANK YOU. KELLY FARADAY AND ROBERT S LEE.
SPEAKING ON ITEMS 141 AND 144, YOU EACH HAVE ONE MINUTE.
TO STATE YOUR NAME FOR THE RECORD, PLEASE.
I AM HERE AS AN INDIVIDUAL CITIZEN, AS WELL AS THE PRESIDENT OF FRIENDS OF WOODLAND PARK ON BAYOU PRESERVE PRESERVATION ASSOCIATION, AS AN ADVISOR AND A MEMBER OF THE WHITE OAK BAYOU ASSOCIATION.
I'M HERE OPPOSING THE SALE OF THE PLOT 810 ON AGENDA ITEM 144, OR AT LEAST ASKING FOR DEFERMENT OF THAT, BECAUSE I FEEL THAT THAT PLOT ABUTS A NUMBER OF SENSITIVE NATURAL AREAS.
THE CITY OF HOUSTON HAS 26 NATURE PRESERVES.
ONLY FOUR OF THEM ARE LOCATED INSIDE 610.
THREE OF THEM TOUCH THIS LAND, WHICH IS FOR SALE.
SO IMAGINE AN OVERPASS FLYING OVER THREE OF THE ONLY FOUR NATURE PRESERVES IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON, HOME TO OVER 180 SPECIES OF BIRDS, SOME OTTERS, STRIPED BASS.
THE PROPOSAL, AS IT PUT FORWARD, DOESN'T CONSIDER ANY OF THE IMPACTS.
IT ONLY SHOWS PLOTS AND MY REQUEST IS TO DEFER IT AND ACTUALLY CONSIDER THE IMPACTS.
THANK YOU, THANK YOU. HI, MY NAME IS BOB LEE.
I'M WITH THE WHITE OAK BAYOU ASSOCIATION.
THANKS FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK.
LIKE MISS FARADAY, I WANT TO URGE THE DEFERRAL, AT LEAST, OF THE SALE OF THIS PROPERTY.
THESE PROPERTIES, MINUTE AS THEY ARE, ARE PART OF THE MUCH LARGER TXDOT PLANS FOR EXPANSION OF I-45 UNDER THE NORTH NORTH NORTH HOUSTON HIGHWAY IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM, AS WELL AS THE PLANS TO IDENTIFY TO ELEVATE I-10.
THESE ARE GOING TO HAVE SERIOUS IMPACTS ON THE WHITE OAK BAYOU GREENWAY.
I BROUGHT WITH ME A LETTER THAT I HAD PREVIOUSLY SENT TO TXDOT, FOLLOWING RECEIPT OF THEIR RESPONSES TO COMMENTS ON THEIR PROPOSAL FOR I-10.
I COPIED JUDGE HIDALGO AND COMMISSIONERS GARCIA AND ELLIS ON THIS LETTER, AND I JUST WANT TO POINT OUT THAT IN THE RESPONSE MATRIX OF TXDOT, THERE WERE 466 RESPONSES.
THERE WERE NINE IN FAVOR OF THAT PROGRAM.
[01:30:02]
THANK YOU. YOUR TIME IS UP. THANK, THANK YOU ALL FOR COMING DOWN.MARK CASSARA SPEAKING ON ITEM 144 AND CHRISTOPHER RIVERA ON ITEM 227.
I'M HERE TODAY TO TELL YOU A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THAT GROUP, AND TO ADVOCATE THAT YOU DEFER THE SALE OF THESE TWO PARCELS THAT YOU JUST HEARD ABOUT IN THE LAST FROM THE LAST SPEAKERS.
THE ORGANIZATION IS TRYING TO ADD SOME PROTECTIONS THROUGH PARK DESIGNATIONS.
BUT THIS KIND OF CAME UP OUT OF THE BLUE, SO WE'RE HOPING THAT YOU'LL DO THAT.
THERE IS A VERY VALUABLE PIECE OF LAND JUST TO THE WEST OF THIS THAT TXDOT OWNS.
IT'S CALLED SAWYER WOODS, AND THE COMMUNITY KIND OF GAVE AN UPROAR WHEN THANK YOU, YOUR TIME IS UP.
SO THANK YOU. WE WOULD PREFER A TRADE.
MY NAME IS CHRISTOPHER RIVERA AND I WORK WITH THE TEXTILE RIGHTS PROJECT.
I BELIEVE THIS WILL BE BENEFICIAL TO END ANY DISCREPANCIES WITH THIRD PARTY VENDORS.
IF WE MAKE THIS ALL IN-HOUSE, WE CAN EXPAND AND MAKE HEART A BETTER PROGRAM.
SO I BELIEVE THIS IS A GREAT PROGRAM TO KEEP IN-HOUSE.
THAT WAY, WE DON'T HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT THIRD PARTY VENDORS AND WHATEVER DISCREPANCIES THEY MIGHT HAVE, AND TO CONTINUE FUNDING THIS TYPE OF PROGRAM, BECAUSE THIS IS WHAT WE NEED FOR FOR THE PUBLIC.
IT'S A IT'S A GOOD ALTERNATIVE RESPONSE PROGRAM, AND IT'S BEEN BENEFICIAL.
AND WE'RE EXCITED TO SEE IT EXPAND TO ANOTHER DISTRICT BESIDES THE OTHER TWO THAT ARE COVERING NOW.
THANK YOU FOR COMING. JASMINE TELLEZ ON ITEM 227 AND WALTER MALLET ON ITEM 468.
GOOD AFTERNOON, COMMISSIONERS.
I'M HERE REPRESENTING TEXAS RISING STUDENTS ON UAH AND TSU CAMPUS.
SHE DID END UP HURTING A NURSE.
I'M HAPPY TO REPORT THAT SHE GOT THE CARE THAT SHE NEEDED, AND SHE'S ON A PATH TO RECOVERY.
BUT THAT IS TO SAY, THIS HAPPENED ONLY AFTER SHE DID HAVE TO ENDURE JAIL TIME.
WAS ENTANGLED IN THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM AND INCURRED SIGNIFICANT LEGAL FEES, NOT TO MENTION THE EMOTIONAL TOLL AND DISTRESS THAT WAS CAUSED ON HER AND HER FAMILY HAD TO EXPERIENCE.
SO MOVING HEART TO AN IN-HOUSE MODEL, I THINK WILL BE A CRITICAL FIRST STEP THAT WE CAN TAKE.
WE STILL HAVE A LOT OF WORK TO DO.
THANK YOU. YOUR TIME TO PROTECT OUR MOST VULNERABLE COMMUNITIES.
I'M WALTER MALLET. I'M HERE WITH THE GREATER FIFTH WARD.
IN RESPECT TO THE SUPER NEIGHBORHOOD, PRESIDENT JOE STEVENSON ALSO IS HERE.
AND SANDRA EDWARDS IS ALSO HERE TO REPRESENT.
WE ARE CONCERNED ABOUT WHAT WILL HAPPEN TO THE JULIUS HESSLER HOUSE.
IT WAS DESIGNED FOR THE COMMUNITY, FOR KIDS, FOR OUTREACH, FOR ELDERS, FOR THINGS TO DO WHERE THERE ARE SO MANY OTHER NEGATIVE THINGS THAT ARE HAPPENING IN THE FIFTH WARD.
WE ARE CONCERNED ABOUT WHAT WILL HAPPEN WITH THIS BUILDING.
WE JUST RECENTLY GOT INFORMATION ABOUT SOME THINGS THAT ARE NOT KOSHER WHERE WE'RE CONCERNED BECAUSE WE WEREN'T INVOLVED IN THE PROCESSES AND WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN WITH THE HESTER HOUSE.
[01:35:05]
WE UNDERSTAND THERE'S A NONPROFIT AT 3.4 MILLION.THANK YOU. AND JOETTA, MY OFFICE WILL BE MORE THAN HAPPY TO MEET WITH YOU.
I KNOW WE MET WITH MISS STEPHENS EARLIER, BUT WE'D BE MORE THAN HAPPY TO BRIEF YOU ON IT.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH, SIR. SURE.
JOETTA STEVENSON ON ITEM 468 AND KARIMA MALONEY ON ITEM 492.
MY NAME IS JOETTA STEVENSON, AND I'M THE PRESIDENT OF THE GREATER FIFTH WARD SUPER NEIGHBORHOOD.
FIRST OF ALL, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR ALLOWING ME TO COME BEFORE YOU.
I DO WANT I HAVE AN ASK TO BEGINNING AT THIS BEGINNING.
NOT ON THIS DAY VOTE TO APPROVE PRECINCT ONE TO TAKE OVER THE HISTORIC JULIUS HESTER HOUSE.
AND I SAY THAT BECAUSE AT THIS POINT, THERE'S NOT ENOUGH INFORMATION THAT HAS BEEN PROVIDED OR GIVEN TO MY COMMUNITY SO THAT WE CAN UNDERSTAND THE WHY.
I HAVE I HAVE GOTTEN MORE INFORMATION OVER THE PAST, LESS THAN THE PAST 24 HOURS THAN I'VE HAD EARLIER.
FIFTH WARD. SO PLEASE DO NOT APPROVE IT TODAY.
GIVE US TIME. THANK YOU FOR COMING.
I'M ASKING THAT THE COMMUNITY BE INFORMED YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED.
BUT THANK YOU FOR COMING AND WE'D BE MORE THAN HAPPY TO.
SPEAKERS. KARIMA MALONEY, OSVALDO LOPEZ AND ANDY ESCOBAR. RIGHT OVER HERE. IF THAT'S MR. ESCOBAR.
IT'S THE FIRST ONE. JUST STATE YOUR NAME.
OKAY? JUST. JUST STATE YOUR NAME FOR THE RECORD.
GOOD AFTERNOON. MY NAME IS ELAINE MORALES, A RESIDENT OF PRECINCT TWO, SENIOR DIRECTOR AT PRECINCT ONE, APPOINTEE TO THE HOUSTON LAND BANK BOARD, AND JUDGE HIDALGO'S APPOINTEE TO THE CLIMATE JUSTICE ADVISORY COLLABORATIVE.
I'M SPEAKING TODAY ON BEHALF OF THIS VERY DIVERSE ADVISORY, COLLABORATIVE IN SUPPORT OF THE OFFICE OF THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATION SUSTAINABILITY DIVISION AND THEIR COLLABORATION WITH SEER, U OF H, CDC, TANI, WARD, AND SO MANY OTHERS IN THE COMMUNITY TO DELIVER A TRUE CLIMATE JUSTICE PLAN.
THE PANEL BEFORE YOU OUTLINES THE EXTENSIVE COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT EFFORTS TO DATE AND PRESENTS ACTIONABLE GOALS FOR ADVANCING ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE, BUILDING RESILIENT INFRASTRUCTURE, CREATING ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITIES, AND FOSTERING A COORDINATED, RESPONSIVE GOVERNMENT THAT EFFECTIVELY MEETS THE NEEDS OF THE COMMUNITY IT SERVES.
HEY, Y'ALL. THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH FOR HAVING US.
AND I THINK IN RECOGNITION OF HUMAN RIGHTS DAY, RIGHT.
WE KNOW THAT HOUSTON AND HARRIS COUNTY ARE THE EPICENTER OF THE CLIMATE CHANGE MOVEMENT.
AND IF WE CAN SET THE STANDARD FOR THE REST OF THE WORLD, WE'RE DOING JUST FINE.
AND SO I'M REALLY EXCITED TO CONTINUE WORKING INTO NEXT YEAR AND TO SEE THIS THROUGH UNTIL THE END.
SO IT'S SOMETHING WE CAN BE PROUD OF.
BUENOS DIAS. MY NAME IS OSWALDO LOPEZ.
I AM THE HEALTH OFFICER OF GULFTON COMMUNITY.
I ALSO THE HOST OF A RADIO SHOW.
AND I AM A MEMBER OF THE COLLABORATIVE WITH FUNDS FROM THE COLLABORATIVE.
ONE OF THE EVENTS WAS A RECYCLING FASHION CONTEST.
[01:40:08]
FAMILY. WE ARE NOW IN CONVERSATION WITH A HARRIS COUNTY OFFICE OF ADMINISTRATION ABOUT THE POSSIBILITY OF IMPLEMENTING A RECYCLING PROJECT IN GULFTON SHARPSTOWN.THAT WOULD BE SUSTAINABLE AND ALSO WILL BRING JOBS TO THE COMMUNITY.
QUÉ VENGO AQUI A HABLAR Y A REPRESENTAR.
ME SIENTO ORGULLOSA DE SER PARTE DEL GRUPO COLABORATIVO DE ESTA INICIATIVA SELECCIONADA.
POR CIERTO CADENA UNA LIMPIEZA DEL PARQUE YO MISMA PARA MI PROPIO BARRIO.
DEBEMOS SEGUIR TRABAJANDO PARA CAMBIAR NUESTRA CULTURA Y TODAS LAS PERSONAS.
VEAN LO Q ANDAMOS HACIENDO PARA NUESTRO MEDIOAMBIENTE.
ESPERO SEGUIR TRABAJANDO EN EL ANO Q VIENE PARA AVANZAR ESTE TRABAJO Y APOYAR A A MI COMUNIDAD.
CUANDO YO HABLO DE MI COMUNIDAD.
YO ESTOY HABLANDO TAMBIÉN DE MI BARRIO.
MUCHAS GRACIAS A TODOS USTEDES.
I'M THE ONLY HISPANIC THAT IS PARTICIPATING TODAY, SO I AM HAPPY.
MY NAME IS MURTALA, AND I FEEL PROUD TO BE PART OF THE COLLABORATIVE GROUP OF THIS INITIATIVE SELECTED BY CIHR AND TO SHARE THAT I MYSELF COORDINATED THE CLEANING OF THE PARK IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD.
I HOPE TO CONTINUE WORKING NEXT YEAR TO ADVANCE IN THIS WORK AND SUPPORT MY COMMUNITY.
WHEN I SPEAK ABOUT COMMUNITY, I'M TALKING ABOUT MY OWN NEIGHBORHOOD.
I'M WELL KNOWN YOU ALL KNOW ME.
I FIGHT FOR JUSTICE AND I WILL CONTINUE TO.
I AM A FIFTH WARD RESIDENT LIVING IN THE PLUME IN THE CANCER CLUSTER.
ONE STORM AFTER ANOTHER AND STILL HAVEN'T RECEIVED HELP.
SO THIS IS WHY I'M HERE FOR CLIMATE JUSTICE.
THIS IS MORE IMPORTANT THAN EVER BEFORE.
BECAUSE IF WE DON'T STAND UP AND DO SOMETHING NOW, WE'RE GOING TO STILL BE AGAINST ALL THESE DIVERSITIES THAT WE ARE GOING AGAINST NOW IN FIFTH FIRST WARD AS THE CANCER CLUSTER, THE POISON, AND A LOT OF MORE THINGS.
I CAN'T THINK OF THEM ALL RIGHT NOW, BUT WE ARE AT A DIVERSE AREA IN OUR LIFE AND WE NEED HELP.
WE NEED TO KEEP CLIMATE JUSTICE ALIVE AND STRONG BECAUSE WE ARE FIGHTING.
STILL HAVEN'T GOTTEN NO HELP YET.
STILL GOT PROPERTY TAXES ON MY BACK THAT I CAN'T CATCH UP WITH.
JUST ONE THING. YOUR TIME IS UP.
THANK YOU. ONE MINUTE IS JUST NOT ENOUGH TO TELL YOU MY LIFE STORY.
LET ME FIRST SAY I HAVE A VOICE DISORDER.
I'M GRATEFUL TO BE HERE TODAY AND MY THOUGHTS ARE THANK YOU.
WE APPRECIATE THE EFFORTS THAT HAVE BEEN MADE ON OUR BEHALF.
YOU'LL PROBABLY NOT HEAR A LOT OF THANK YOU'S THIS MORNING, BUT I APPRECIATE WHAT YOU'VE DONE SO FAR.
AND WHAT ME COUNTING ON GOD BELIEVE.
THANK YOU. YOUR TIME IS UP. YOU CAN CONTINUE THAT.
I WORK WITH RODNEY ELLIS 30 YEARS AGO, WHEN MY DAUGHTER WAS MURDERED, AND I KNOW HE CARES ABOUT WHAT HAD BEEN SAID THIS MORNING IN THOSE EFFORTS.
I WORKED ON ADRIAN CARSON'S CAMPAIGN IN 2012.
WHEN I RETIRED, HE WAS RUNNING AT THE SAME TIME OBAMA WAS RUNNING FOR OFFICE AGAIN.
[01:45:05]
OUR ENVIRONMENT NEEDS TO HAVE CONTINUED A LOT OF EFFORT.THANK YOU GUYS FOR THE WORK YOU'RE DOING.
GREAT TO SEE YOU. THANK YOU ALL.
THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR ADVOCACY AND TRUST ME.
OH, BUT TRUST ME, YOUR WORDS DO NOT FALL ON DEAF EARS.
YOU'RE GOOD. DON'T MAKE A SHOW BECAUSE I DON'T WANT TO GET SMOOSHED.
YES. I'D LIKE TO THANK Y'ALL FOR HAVING US TO BE ABLE TO REACH OUT TO OUR COMMUNITIES.
WITH WEST STREET AND NAC, WE'VE REACHED OUT AND HAD NUMEROUS EVENTS.
WELL, THE COUPLE OF EVENTS THAT WE'VE HAD AT COCOA, WE'VE PACKED OUT THE ROOM, AND THERE'S SO MANY PEOPLE THAT ARE LIVING WITH MENTAL ISSUES THAT THEY PACKED OUT THE ROOM NOT ONCE, NOT TWICE, BUT THREE TIMES THAT WE'VE HAD THESE EVENTS AND WE WERE JUST EXPECTING A FEW PEOPLE.
THEY CAME OUT OF THE WOODWORK.
AND I GUARANTEE YOU THAT IT'S NOT JUST IN PRECINCT ONE.
WE NEED TO HAVE THESE EVENTS IN FOUR, THREE, TWO AND ALL OF THE DISTRICTS BECAUSE THERE ARE PEOPLE STRUGGLING EVERY DAY WITH JUST TRYING TO PUT FOOD ON THE TABLE, GAS IN THE CARS, CLOTHES ON THEIR BACKS.
WE NEED TO REALIZE THAT AND HELP THESE PEOPLE MENTALLY, BECAUSE WE'VE BEEN RAISED IN AN ERA OF.
AND SAY YOUR NAME FOR THE RECORD TOO.
YES, WE'VE BEEN RAISED IN AN ERA WHERE THEY'VE HIDDEN ADHD.
THEY'VE HIDDEN ALL THOSE OBJECTS AND SUBJECTS THAT MADE IT DIFFICULT.
WHEN I WAS YOUNGER, I HAD A VISUAL IMPAIRMENT STARTED WHEN I WAS YOUNG.
THEY SAID, OH, HE'S JUST BEING LAZY.
I WAS STARTING TO LOSE MY EYESIGHT.
SO THANK YOU ALL FOR TRYING TO MAKE THIS A REALISTIC THING, FOR THE COMMUNITY TO COME OUT OF THEIR SHELLS AND MAKE IT KNOWN. AND SO.
SO YOUR NAME FOR THE RECORD, BENJAMIN BROADWAY, SIR.
OKAY. THANK YOU, MR. BROADWAY.
NON-AGENDA SPEAKERS DREW ANTHONY AND SARAH BEL EDWARDS.
I DON'T KNOW IF THEY'RE STILL HERE OR NOT.
COME ON UP. OH, MR. ANTOINE AND MISS EDWARDS.
I'M SARAH CHANTELLE BEL EDWARDS, AND I'M HERE TO SPEAK ON CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHT.
THAT'S A PROTOCOL OUT OF THIS WORLD.
I'M NOT TRYING TO PUT A DAMPER ON ANYTHING, BUT I'M GOING THROUGH THIS.
MY LIFE WAS THREATENED COMING HERE TODAY.
I'M BEING ABUSED, AND IT'S SIMPLY RIDICULOUS.
I JUST MOVED UPGRADED A LITTLE BIT, BUT THE ZONE I WAS IN ON JENSEN IS UNBEARABLE.
AT SEVEN 320 JENSEN DRIVE AND IT'S GOING OVER TO THE NEW ADDRESS.
NOBODY SHOULD ENTER INTO MY HOME.
ONE OF OUR INITIATIVES IS TO ASSIST ANIMALS IN DISTRESS.
I PRESENTED TO EACH COMMISSIONER'S STAFF A COPY OF OUR ORCA, WHICH IS ANIMAL RESCUE AND CARE'S RESOLUTION, WHICH OUTLINES IMPLEMENTING A NO KILL BAN FOR ALL HARRIS COUNTY SHELTERS.
ONCE AGAIN, I AM ASKING JUDGE HIDALGO AND EACH COMMISSIONER TO IMPLEMENT AN EXECUTIVE ORDER WHICH WILL SUSPEND EUTHANIZATION OF HEALTHY AND ADOPTABLE PETS AS WE WORK ON A LONG TERM SOLUTION, WHICH INCLUDES PROPOSING A BOND TO FUND OPENING ADDITIONAL SHELTERS IN HARRIS COUNTY.
[01:50:06]
IF THE ONLY REASON SHELTERS ARE EUTHANIZING ANIMALS ARE DUE TO OVERCROWDING, THANK YOU.THANK YOU. LEE PERRY AND KEVIN DARRAH, NON-AGENDA SPEAKERS.
MOSLEY. PEOPLE FROM OUT OF ACRES HOME.
BUT ANYWAY, I'M HERE TO TALK ABOUT SCAMS AGAINST SENIOR CITIZENS.
WHEN YOU SEE ONE OF THESE, IT CHECK RIGHT THERE.
AND SOME OF THEM BE FOR $100,000.
HE GOT YOU A SIGNATURE, AND NOW YOU GOT A REAL DOGFIGHT COMING TO TRY TO GET IT BACK.
YOU TAKE THIS CHECK TO THE BANK.
THANK YOU FOR COMING. AND GET US A COPY OF THAT.
WE'LL MAKE SURE OUR STAFF MEMBERS GET A COPY.
I WILL. OKAY. YOU GOT A LOT OF THEM AROUND RIGHT NOW, AND THERE'S BEEN AN UPTICK ON THAT.
HELLO. GOD BLESS ALL OF YOU ALL FOR BEING HERE TODAY.
BUT WE DO A LOT OF DIFFERENT TYPES OF PROJECTS IN THE HOUSTON AREA.
SPECIFICALLY FOCUS ON THE THE WATER.
BUT BUT IN TERMS OF THE WE'VE DONE WE'VE DONE SOME STUFF IN THE OTHER COUNTIES AROUND AROUND HOUSTON, INCLUDING STARTED TO DO WITH WALLER AND, AND LIBERTY AND A COUPLE AREAS.
BUT I WANTED TO ASK A LITTLE MORE TO TAKE SOME TIME LATER ON.
I'M NOT SURE HOW IT WORKS, BUT JUST ASK ABOUT THE NEEDS OF.
WE'LL HAVE SOMEONE FOLLOW UP WITH YOU.
DIDN'T SAY WHICH PRECINCT YOU LIVE IN, BUT WE'LL GET SOMEBODY TO FOLLOW UP WITH YOU.
PERFECT. THANK YOU SO MUCH. GOD BLESS YOU.
GOD BLESS YOU. MARTHA CRUZ AND ALEXIA SWIRSKY, NON-AGENDA SPEAKERS.
SEGUIMOS CERRANDO POR EL GOBIERNO.
LA PETITE PEDIMOS A LAS ESCUELAS PARA LOS NINOS PUEDEN LUGAR Y LOS LUGARES PUBLICOS.
ES UN PRIVILEGIO ESTAR CON USTEDES.
IT IS A PLEASURE TO BE HERE WITH YOU AGAIN.
IT'S A PLEASURE TO BE HERE AGAIN.
I'M CONCERNED ABOUT ITEM 227 ON THE AGENDA, WHICH SEEKS TO MOVE THE HEART PROGRAM IN-HOUSE.
I'D LIKE TO KNOW MORE ABOUT THE QUALIFICATIONS REQUIRED OF THE RESPONDERS IN THE PROGRAM.
ARE THEY GOING TO BE PROFESSIONALS WITH EXPERIENCE IN ANSWERING CALLS FROM OR ABOUT MENTALLY ILL INDIVIDUALS, AND WHAT EDUCATIONAL BACKGROUND WILL THEY HAVE? MENTALLY ILL PEOPLE HAVING A CRISIS NEED TO BE HELPED BY TRAINED, EXPERIENCED PROFESSIONALS.
PUBLIC SAFETY IS ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT DUTIES OF THE COUNTY GOVERNMENT.
PLEASE MAKE YOUR DECISIONS ACCORDINGLY.
[01:55:01]
THANK YOU. THANK YOU.ARE THERE ANY OTHER SPEAKERS? OKAY, COLLEAGUES, IT IS NOW 1253.
IS 1253, AND WE ARE GOING TO TAKE A BREAK UNTIL 130.
I WAS GOING TO SAY, COMMISSIONER, IS THIS IS THIS A LUNCH BREAK YOU'RE TAKING? IT IS A LUNCH BREAK. OKAY. SO I WANT TO MAKE SURE EVERYONE KNOWS I DON'T WANT YOU ALL TO GET INDIGESTION.
COMMISSIONERS COURT IS BACK IN SESSION.
WE WILL BEGIN WITH THE ONE ITEM THAT WE HAD.
[Public Hearings (Part 2 of 2)]
IT WAS THE TAX CODE CHANGE TO CREATE A REINVESTMENT ZONE.NUMBER TWO OUT IN PRECINCT ONE, THAT WAS A MOTION BY COMMISSIONER GARCIA.
IT WAS SECOND BY COMMISSIONER BRIONES.
AND NOW I'LL MAKE A MOTION TO PASS TO ITEM J.
YES. ACTUALLY, WHAT WE'RE GOING TO BE DOING ON THAT IS IT'S ITEM 469.
SO LET ME IF I, IF YOU WOULD NOT MIND IF YOU LET ME READ IT.
SO TAKE UP ITEM 469, WHICH IS THE RESOLUTION AND ORDER CREATING TRES TWO.
AND SO THAT THAT WOULD BE THE ACTUAL MOTION.
I'LL MAKE THAT MOTION. SECOND.
COMMISSIONER GARCIA SECONDS IT.
ELLIS MADE A MOTION. COMMISSIONER GARCIA SECONDED.
ALL IN FAVOR VOTE AYE. AYE, AYE.
ITEM PASSES. AND THAT'S ITEM 469.
OKAY. THEY'VE CLOSED THE PUBLIC HEARING.
469 IS THE RESOLUTION AND ORDER FOR THE PUBLIC FOR THE ITEM ON THE PUBLIC HEARING.
SO THEN 484, I'LL MARK IT AS A NO ACTION.
YEAH. THERE'S NO ACTION CONTEMPLATED.
IT'S JUST IT'S JUST A PUBLIC HEARING.
YEAH. SO THE ONLY ACTION WAS WE HAD THE PUBLIC HEARING CLOSED IT, AND THEN WE PASSED THE ITEM.
AND, JAY, I WANT TO HAVE YOU GO THROUGH THE CHANGES IN THE AGENDA AND THE CORRECTIONS.
[Departments (Part 2 of 4)]
SURE, COMMISSIONER. OKAY.THE FOLLOWING ITEMS NEED MINOR CHANGES DUE TO ERRORS OR NO ACTION.
THE OFFICE OF COUNTY ADMINISTRATION IS REQUESTING NO ACTION.
THIS IS FOR THE REQUEST FOR APPROVAL FOR A FINAL INVESTMENT MEMO.
ADD THE CAPTION PHRASE AFTER H2.
REQUEST FOR APPROVAL OF AN ORDER AUTHORIZING RENEWAL OF THE CREDIT AGREEMENT AND AMENDMENT TO THE FEE LETTER BETWEEN HARRIS COUNTY FLOOD CONTROL DISTRICT AND PNC BANK RELATING TO HARRIS COUNTY FLOOD CONTROL DISTRICT LIMITED TAX COMMERCIAL PAPER NOTES SERIES H TWO APPROVING THE ENGAGEMENT OF PROFESSIONALS IN CONNECTION THERETO AND MAKING OTHER PROVISIONS REGARDING SUCH NOTES AND MATTERS INCIDENT THERETO, AND CONTAINING OTHER MATTERS RELATING THERETO.
WE WANT TO REMOVE THE ADDITIONAL ZERO IN THE PIN NUMBER.
IT SHOULD BE SHOULD READ UPIN 14101 MF 0791.
NO ACTION IS REQUESTED BY THE OFFICE OF OF COUNTY ENGINEER.
PAGE 2167 CHANGE PRECINCT TWO TO PRECINCT THREE.
OKAY. IT SHOULD. I'LL READ FROM SO BARRETT SETTLEMENT IN SAINT CHARLES PLACE SUBDIVISION DRAINAGE IMPROVEMENTS 2018 UPIN 1910 TO MF 14Q01 PRECINCT THREE, PAGE 50.
NO ACTION IS IS REQUESTED BY PURCHASING PAGE 60.
ITEM 488 REMOVE THE WORD LINEAR AFTER QUATTRO.
A LEAF SO IT WILL READ RENAMING THE A LEAF.
LOCATED IN UNINCORPORATED HARRIS COUNTY TO THE BARBER QUATTRO FOREST.
AND THOSE ARE THE ONLY ITEMS. J FOR CORRECTIONS 165.
WHAT IS SUPPOSED TO BE 165? CHANGE TO AVILES.
I DIDN'T HAVE THAT ONE EITHER.
DO WE NEED TO CHANGE IT OR DO YOU KNOW.
I IT WAS JUST FOR WHEN IT WAS ON MONDAY.
MENTIONED ON MONDAY. I DIDN'T KNOW IF IT HAD CHANGED.
WE CAN WE CAN CHANGE. WE CAN CHECK THAT OUT REAL FAST.
YOU CHECK IT OUT AND LET US KNOW.
OH. I'M SORRY. THAT WAS ONLY IN THE BACKUP ON 165, SO WE SHOULD BE FINE.
THANK YOU. JACINDA. OH, THAT'S.
THAT'S THE ONLY CHANGES AND CORRECTIONS WE HAVE.
[02:00:03]
I WANT TO MAKE COMMISSIONER.I WANT TO MAKE SURE TO PULL ITEM 242 FOR DISCUSSION.
AND AND IS I'M NOT SURE IF 20 AND 21 ARE PULLED AS WELL.
THEY ARE. YEAH. 20 AND 21 HAVE BEEN PULLED.
RIGHT. AND LET ME SAY YOU'RE RIGHT.
ANY OTHER ADDITIONS, COLLEAGUES? NO. IS SIX ON THE LIST? NO, SIR. YOU WANT TO ADD? OKAY. SO MOVE AND I'LL SECOND IT.
ALL THOSE IN. COMMISSIONER GARCIA MAKES THE MOTION FOR ITEM SIX.
AYE. ALL THOSE OPPOSED, VOTE NO.
NO. COMMISSIONER RAMSEY VOTES NO.
OTHER THAN THAT, ANY OTHER CHANGES OTHER THAN PULLING? ADDING 242 TO THE LIST.
BEFORE YOU GO, DOES ANYONE NEED TO DISCUSS ANY ONE OF THE EXECUTIVE SESSION ITEMS? WHAT WHERE DO WE START ON EXECUTIVE SESSION? LET'S SEE. SO. YEAH.
ITEM 533 IS SHOULD BE THE START OF THE DISCUSSION ITEMS. OKAY. I DO WANT TO DISCUSS.
THIS 533. YOU WANT TO PULL? NO, NO, NO, I DON'T I'M JUST SAYING THAT'S THAT'S THE BEGINNING OF THE EXECUTIVE SESSION.
I'M GOOD WITH FIVE, 345355365375385395 40. 541 542.
COMMISSIONER, WERE YOU DONE WITH YOU? I'M STILL LOOKING.
JUST TO MAKE SURE I WAS LOOKING FOR LOOKING AT THE LIST.
THE ONE THAT I WOULD PLEASE LIKE A BRIEF UPDATE ON FROM THE COUNTY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE IS 548, PLEASE.
YOU MENTIONED ONE EARLIER DURING THE PUBLIC SESSION.
YES, I REMEMBER WHICH ONE IT WAS.
IS IT ABOUT THAT LAND? YEAH. NO, THAT'S WHAT AT 540.
NO, NO. COMMISSIONERS ARE THE ONLY ITEM FOR ALL.
ALL OF ITEMS CAN GO TO CONSENT AGENDA EXCEPT 548.
IS THAT CORRECT? HE'S STILL LOOKING.
OH. I'M SORRY. NOT ANOTHER ONE.
257 DO YOU WANT TO PULL THAT ONE TO GO TO EXECUTIVE SESSION? OKAY. SO 548 AND 257 WILL GO TO EXECUTIVE SESSION.
AND THE APPOINTMENTS 242 HAS BEEN ADDED TO THE LIST OF ITEMS WE WILL DISCUSS.
ITS APPOINTMENTS WILL BE APPROVED AS PRESENTED.
AND MAY I ADD TWO MORE TO EXECUTIVE SESSION PLEASE? BECAUSE I LOVE THE COUNTY ATTORNEY'S INSIGHT ON 141 AND 144 141 AND 144.
OKAY. SO WE'LL GO TO EXECUTIVE SESSION ON 548 237, 141 AND 144.
AND ITEM 242 HAS BEEN PULLED FROM THE CONSENT AGENDA.
AND WAS IT 257 EXECUTIVE SESSION OR WAS IT 548 257 141 AND 144 AND 548 THANK YOU.
AND THAT'S WHY WE'RE GOING TO GO BACK ON THAT ONE OKAY.
COLLEAGUES. ANY OTHERS? IS THERE A MOTION TO ADOPT THE CONSENT AGENDA? COMMISSIONER GARCIA MAKES A MOTION.
[02:05:04]
OKAY, GREAT.AND I JUST WANT TO CONFIRM 141 144 257 AND 548.
OKAY. THANK YOU. JUST JUST TO CLARIFY THAT.
OKAY. SO THE FOLLOWING ITEMS WILL BE WILL BE PULLED FOR DISCUSSION.
OH WE JUST TOOK A VOTE ON ITEM SIX.
SO THAT'S NO LONGER ON THE CONSENT DISCUSSION.
CAN YOU PLEASE SLOW DOWN? YES. I'M SORRY.
YEAH. THESE ARE YOUR ITEMS FOR DISCUSSION BECAUSE WE NEED TO WRITE THEM DOWN IF YOU CAN SLOW DOWN.
I THOUGHT YOU HAD THIS LIST, SO.
OKAY. WE DO NOT HAVE THAT LIST.
NO, THAT'S WHY I KNOW WHEN I'M CHAIRING, WE'RE GOING TO GIVE YOU THE LIST.
MAKE SURE YOU GET THE LIST. I APPRECIATE IT.
THANK YOU. OKAY, SO NOW YOU HAVE THE LIST.
ALL RIGHT. SO LET ME GO THROUGH IT ONE MORE TIME.
ITEM 15, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 28, 30, 48, 51, 52, 53, 112, 113, 114, 123, 209, 211, 219 227, 242, 251, 275, 302, 355, 372, 470, 485, 488, 489, 491, 492, 493, 497, 550, 551, 573, 574, 575, 578 TO BECOME AN AUCTIONEER.
ARE WE GOOD, EVERYBODY? YES. I HAVE SOME QUESTIONS.
IT IS GOING TO BE DISCUSSED OKAY.
AM I RIGHT? 27 IS NOT ON THE CONSENT AGENDA, RIGHT? THAT'S CORRECT. 31.
IS NOT. DID ANYBODY PULL IT? NOPE. WHAT? NOBODY. IT'S ON THE CONSENT AGENDA.
31 WILL BE ON THE CONSENT AGENDA.
SO 31 IS A DISCUSSION AND FEEDBACK.
SO WOULD THAT BE CONSIDERED A NO ACTION? THAT'S NO ACTION.
IS A DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION.
THE INTERGOVERNMENTAL AND GLOBAL AFFAIRS ITEM.
DON'T WE NEED ACTION? YES, THAT'S WHAT WE'RE CHECKING.
WE THINK, YOU KNOW, IF IT CAN BE APPROVED AS PRESENTED, THAT WOULD BE GOOD.
YEAH. LET ME LET ME TAKE A QUICK LOOK HERE.
YEAH. ALL THREE ITEMS. IT'S AN AND. YEAH, THAT CAN BE PRESENTED.
THAT'S APPROVED AS PRESENTED FOR WHICH ITEM J FOR ITEM 32.
OKAY, SO 31 NO ACTION 32 AS PRESENTED.
HOW ABOUT 208? LEGISLATIVE AGENDA.
ANY DISCUSSION? COLLEAGUES? NO THANK YOU.
GARCIA, IS THAT ALL RIGHT? NO ACTION.
ANY OTHERS? I AM, I AM GOOD NOW.
OKAY, COMMISSIONER, JUST TO VERIFY 109 ONE.
[02:10:04]
OH, IT'S MARKED AS DISCUSSION.IS THERE ACTION OR WOULD IT BE PASSED AS PRESENTED? WAS ANY DISCUSSION AS PRESENTED? YEAH. AS PRESENTED.
COMPLIANCE WITH INCLUSIVE PROCUREMENT DIVISION.
YOU GOT THAT 210 FOR DISCUSSION.
WOULD IT BE OKAY IF I REPEAT THE ITEMS I HAVE MARKED AS DISCUSSION TO MAKE SURE WE ARE ALL ON THE SAME PAGE? SURE. THANK YOU.
IT'S SEVEN, EIGHT, 15, 19, 26, 27.
THAT'S WHAT I MISSED. 19, 24 AND 25.
THAT'S WHAT I WANTED TO VERIFY.
OKAY, SO THEN AFTER 25, I HAVE 27, 28, 30, 48, 51, 52, 53, 112, 113, 114, 23 209 210, 211, 219 227 242 251, 275, 302, 355, 372, FOUR, 74, 85, 488, 489, 491, 493, 497, FIVE, 55, 51, FIVE, 73, FIVE, SEVEN, FOUR, FIVE, 75, FIVE, 78 AND EXECUTIVE SESSION ITEMS 548, 257, 141 AND 144.
I HAVE 492 ON MY LIST AS WELL AS DISCUSSION.
I SEE IT ON MY LIST FOR DISCUSSION.
YOUR STAFF WAS ASKING ME ABOUT 27.
IT'S NOT ON THE LIST. COMMISSIONER.
ANY OTHERS FOR 2021? YES, COMMISSIONER.
I KNOW THEY'RE GOING TO PRINT IT FOR ME.
I'M NOT GOING TO RELY ON MY MEMORY.
THEY'RE GOING TO PRINT ME A LIST.
OKAY. OR YOU WILL. AND I'M GOING TO PASS IT OUT TO EVERYONE.
OKAY. SO WE KNOW WHICH ORDER WE'RE GOING IN.
COMMISSIONER. THANK YOU. SO, COMMISSIONER RAMSEY, WERE YOU ABOUT TO SAY SOMETHING? THAT'S GOOD. OKAY. COMMISSIONER GARCIA MADE THE MOTION TO APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA.
SECOND. SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR? VOTE AYE. AYE AYE.
YOU WANT TO JUST PRINT US ONE RIGHT QUICK, OR YOU GO BACK TO WHICHEVER ONE IS FIRST.
AT LEAST WE KNOW WE CAN START WITH ITEM SEVEN, RIGHT? YES. CAN WE START AT 48? WHAT ABOUT IT? YES.
MAY WE PUT 88 FIRST? YES. OKAY. LET'S TAKE ITEM FOR 88.
SO ITEM FOR 88 GIVES ME TREMENDOUS JOY AND PRIDE AS WE CELEBRATE.
ONE OF OUR LOCAL HEROES FOR 88 IS THE REQUEST OF MY TEAM AND I TO AUTHORIZE AN AMAZING PROJECT SO THAT IT IS NAMED THE BARBARA QUATRO VALLEY FOREST.
AND I WANT TO RECOGNIZE BARBARA QUATRO.
SHE'S BEEN HERE AT HARRIS COUNTY COMMISSIONERS COURT BEFORE.
SHE JUST TURNED 81 ON DECEMBER 5TH.
SO HAPPY. HAPPY BELATED BIRTHDAY.
PLEASE COME UP. SHE'S HERE WITH HER FAMILY.
SO FOR THE LAST 40 PLUS YEARS, BARBARA QUATRO HAS BEEN A CHAMPION OF OUR COMMUNITY.
SHE HAS PLANTED TENS OF THOUSANDS OF TREES.
[02:15:01]
COMMUNITY ADVOCATES AND PUBLIC SERVANTS JUST LIKE HER.AND SO SHE'S JOINED BY HER FAMILY.
IF YOU'D LIKE TO COME UP AND JOIN HER.
I'LL NEVER FORGET THE FIRST TIME I MET YOU AND I JUST WAS BLOWN AWAY.
AND YOUR WORK IS ALWAYS NOT ABOUT THE TODAY, BUT IT'S ABOUT TOMORROW.
WHAT MORE CAN WE DO? AND I LOVE HOW YOU BRING BROAD COALITIONS TOGETHER, WHETHER IT'S OVER SAVING TAX DOLLARS INSTEAD OF MOWING, LET'S PLANT TREES.
AND SO THIS ALI FOREST IS PART OF ONE OF OUR ARPA INVESTMENTS, AND IT WILL RESULT IN OVER 1200 TREES BEING PLANTED. AND I'M SO PLEASED THAT THIS FOREST WILL BE NAMED AFTER YOU.
TRULY A THE EMBODIMENT OF A PUBLIC SERVANT AND THE EMBODIMENT OF A COMMUNITY ADVOCATE AND LEADER.
SO THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU.
AND WE JUST I HAVE NOTHING BUT PROFOUND RESPECT AND LOVE FOR YOU.
WE STARTED PLANTING TREES IN ALIEF OVER 20 YEARS AGO BECAUSE IT WAS UGLY.
NOT BECAUSE I WAS WORRIED ABOUT THE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT OR I MEAN, IT WAS JUST PLAIN UGLY.
WE'D GO FROM WESTCHASE TO ALIEF, AND SO WE STARTED PLANTING TREES.
ONE, ALIEF IS TEN DEGREES HOTTER THAN THE REST OF THE CITY.
GULFTON IS 17 DEGREES HOTTER THAN THE REST OF THE CITY.
IT'S A HEAT ISLAND. WE NEED TO BRING IT DOWN.
THE SECOND THING IS, AS THE COMMISSIONER MENTIONED, HOUSTON HAS THOUSANDS OF MILES OF OF ROADWAYS.
WHY ARE WE STILL MOWING THEM? IT COSTS MILLIONS OF DOLLARS TO DO THAT.
SO IF WE PLANT LINEAR FORESTS, WE DON'T HAVE TO MOW.
SO IT NOT ONLY REDUCES THE TEMPERATURE AND JUST THINK HOW MANY TREES IT WOULD HAVE TO.
WE WOULD HAVE TO PLANT JUST TO OFFSET THE THE HEAT OF THE KATY FREEWAY, FOR EXAMPLE.
SO WE NEED TO PLANT EVERY PLACE THAT WE CAN TO REDUCE THE HEAT AND TO, TO SAVE THE TAXPAYERS MONEY.
SO THAT'S THAT'S OUR OBJECTIVE.
THESE THESE ARE, ARE VOLUNTEERS FROM THE HIGH SCHOOLS, AND THESE KIDS ARE GOOD.
AND I'M HOPING THAT THEY WILL TAKE I'M 81 YEARS OLD.
I CAN'T KEEP DOING THIS, I GUESS, AND LET THESE KIDS TAKE OVER.
WE PLANTED A 146 TREES A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO, AND THESE THESE KIDS ARE SO GOOD AT THIS POINT THAT WE HAD ONE ESPLANADE PLANTED IN 45 MINUTES. SO, SO, SO THEY KNOW WHAT THEY'RE DOING.
SO WE'RE PASSING THIS ON, AND I, I REALLY THANK YOU FOR, FOR ACKNOWLEDGING THIS FOR THE FIRST TIME, THE ALIEF SUPER NEIGHBORHOOD HAS MONEY BECAUSE THE ARBOR DAY FOUNDATION NOTICED OUR WORK.
SO WE HAVE A TOTAL OF $400,000 TO PLANT TREES.
WE'RE GOING TO TO USE EVERY PENNY OF THAT IN THE NEXT.
WE HAVE THREE YEARS TO USE IT UP, AND WE'RE GOING TO PLANT SOME MORE TREES IN ALIEF.
SO WE FULLY EXPECT TO BE FOR ALIEF TO BE THE EXAMPLE FOR THE REST OF THE CITY, BECAUSE WE NEED THIS AS, AS A, AS A COMMUNITY AND WE NEED THIS ECOLOGICALLY.
WE HAVE TO BRING THE HEAT DOWN.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR ACKNOWLEDGING ME.
THANK YOU. I THANK YOU FOR MAKING OUR COMMUNITY SAFER, HEALTHIER, MORE BEAUTIFUL.
AND I COULDN'T AGREE MORE WITH YOU.
IT'S IT'S AN ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE ISSUE THAT OUR NEIGHBORHOODS ARE MUCH HOTTER IN ALIEF AND GULFTON AND MANY OTHER AREAS, AND WE NEED THE GREEN SPACE AND WE NEED TO BE PROTECTING AND PRESERVING OUR ENVIRONMENT.
SO THANK YOU FOR CHAMPIONING IT.
I ALSO WANT TO THANK MY HARRIS COUNTY PRECINCT FOUR TEAM MEMBERS.
THERE ARE SO MANY OF YOU WHO ARE HERE.
SO THANK YOU. AND I'VE SEEN BARBARA WITH STUDENTS, WHICH FILLED MY HEART AS A FORMER TEACHER.
AND I TOOK MY THREE LITTLE GIRLS.
THEY STILL TALK ABOUT IT WHEN MISS BARBARA TAUGHT US HOW TO PLANT.
AND YOU'RE DOING IT THE WRONG WAY.
SISTER. MISS BARBARA, YOU KNOW, YOU'RE YOU'RE A LEGEND IN OUR HOME.
[02:20:05]
SO THANK YOU. THANK YOU. I MEAN, THESE THESE HIGH SCHOOL KIDS ARE GOOD.SO I SAY, COME ON, ONE OF YOU KIDS DO IT AND THEY GOT IT DOWN TO A SCIENCE.
SO THANK YOU. WE ALL HAVE A HERO IN YOU.
SO HAPPY BIRTHDAY. CONGRATULATIONS.
AND I WOULD LIKE TO MOVE FOR 88 AS PRESENTED.
GARCIA. COMMISSIONER BRUNO MAKES A MOTION AND COMMISSIONER GARCIA.
VOTE NO. FOUR EYES AND NO NAYS.
ITEM PASSES. THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER BRIONES.
THANK YOU. AND THANK YOU, BARBARA.
OKAY, COLLEAGUES, LET'S GO TO ITEM SEVEN ON PAGE TWO.
HAD A QUICK QUESTION OR TWO ON THAT.
AND BY THE WAY, WE'VE WE PLANTED A LOT OF TREES THROUGH THE YEARS.
THIS IS WHAT WE'VE LEARNED ABOUT A TREE.
THE FIRST TWO YEARS SO MANY TREES THAT WE SPENT TIME ON PLANTING AND THEY'RE NOT TAKING CARE OF.
AND AFTER TWO YEARS. SO JUST PUT A BAG OF WATER ON IT.
DO WHAT YOU KNOW TO DO ALREADY.
AND THANK YOU FOR BEING OUR PARTNER.
THIS QUESTION ON IT'S THE ARPA.
WAY IT HAS TO DO WITH THE FLEX FUND.
AND I'M SORRY, SOMETIMES I REFER TO THAT AS A SLUSH FUND.
DECEMBER OF THIS YEAR IS WHEN THE ARPA MONEY HAS TO BE DEFINED AND DECLARED IN TERMS OF WHERE WE WILL SPEND IT AND WHERE WE WILL NOT SPEND IT. AND I THINK THE FLEX FUND IS A BIT OF A WORKAROUND THAT WILL BUY US SOME TIME.
AS I UNDERSTAND, THERE'S NOT A 2026 DEADLINE ON THE FLEX FUND.
IS THAT CORRECT? THAT'S CORRECT.
SO IT IT APPEARS TO ME AS WE THIS PARTICULAR ITEM, WE ARE ADDING A DIRECTOR OF ARPA, PMO, A MANAGER OF ARPA PMO, ANOTHER MANAGER OF ARPA PMO AND MANAGER OF ARPA, PMO HEALTH, A MANAGER OF PMO HOUSING MANAGER OF PMO JOBS AND EDUCATION MANAGER OF RPA, PMO, JUSTICE AND SAFETY MANAGER OF RPA, PMO, HEALTH MANAGER OF RPA, PMO, HOUSING AND AN ANALYST.
THAT'S A WHOLE LOT OF PEOPLE TO PUT IT IN TERMS MAYBE WE CAN UNDERSTAND.
WE COULD PLANT A WHOLE LOT OF TREES WITH WHAT WE'RE SPENDING THERE.
I KNOW WE'RE WRAPPING UP RPA, BUT IT LOOKS LIKE WE'RE RAMPING UP AND AT SOME POINT WE KNOW AT THE ARPA, DOLLARS HAD TO BE SPENT IN 2026.
AND I KNOW WE'RE WORKING TOWARD THAT.
BUT IN ADDITION TO THESE POSITIONS, WHAT WE KNOW IS WE'VE HIRED THIRD PARTIES BCG, WHITTON O'BRIEN PIERRE LAW FIRM, JACKSON WALKER.
SO WE GOT A LOT OF PEOPLE WORKING ON THAT AND I AM FOR BEING SURE WE CROSS OUR T'S AND DOT OUR I'S.
BUT ARE YOU SURE? BECAUSE I KNOW IN DOING FEDERAL GRANT WORK FOR 40 YEARS, THE BIGGEST QUESTION YOU HAVE TO ADD ON DOING GRANT WORK IS ARE YOU SUPPLANTING? ARE YOU TAKING FEDERAL DOLLARS AND SUPPLANTING DOLLARS YOU HAD PLANNED TO SPEND ANYWAY? THIS LOOKS LIKE A CLASSIC CASE PLANNING TO ME.
COMMISSIONER, I DON'T THINK THAT'S THE CASE AT ALL.
AND I KNOW THAT OUR DIRECTOR OF GRANTS AND PARTNERSHIPS, TOM HARGIS, IS ON IS ONLINE.
TOM IS THERE CAN YOU KIND OF EXPLAIN THE JUST THE FUND SWITCH FOR THIS? YEAH. THANKS.
TOM HARGIS, DIRECTOR OF GRANTS AND PARTNERSHIPS AND THE OFFICE OF COUNTY ADMINISTRATION.
GOOD AFTERNOON. COMMISSIONERS.
THESE POSITIONS ARE CURRENTLY FUNDED THROUGH ARPA, MEANING THEY WOULD HAVE TO END IN 2026.
HOWEVER, WE EXPECT THE CLOSEOUT OF THE 90 PLUS PROGRAMS IN THE ARPA PORTFOLIO FOLIO TO EXTEND INTO 2027. SO APPROVAL OF THESE TWO ITEMS WOULD CHANGE THE FUNDING SOURCE FOR THESE EXISTING POSITIONS TO THE FLEX FUND.
SO YOU'RE NOT CONCERNED ABOUT SUPPLANTING? NO. YOU YOU ABSOLUTELY GUARANTEE.
ASSURE OUR COUNTY ATTORNEY, WE DON'T HAVE A SUPPLANTING PROBLEM.
I JUST WANT THAT FOR THE RECORD.
THAT'S. I JUST HAD THOSE QUESTIONS.
[02:25:01]
I UNDERSTAND IT'S A COMMON METHOD OF FINANCE BEING USED IN THE STATE AND AROUND THE COUNTRY.IS THAT YOUR SENSE? YES. OKAY.
ALL RIGHT. I'LL MOVE THAT ITEM.
SECOND BY COMMISSIONER BRYANT.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, VOTE AYE. AYE.
NO. COMMISSIONER RAMSEY VOTES NO.
COMMISSIONER RAMSEY, YOU PULL THAT ONE.
SAME ISSUE. ONLY THIS TIME THERE'S ONLY ONE.
I'LL MOVE IT. IS THERE A SECOND? YEAH. REAL QUICK.
I JUST THIS IS A CONVERSATION I RAISED WHEN WE WERE GETTING ARPA.
I JUST WANT TO REITERATE COMMISSIONER RAMSEY'S POINT THAT WE'RE NOT CREATING POSITIONS FOR TEMPORARY MONEY, THAT WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO USE GENERAL FUND MONEY AFTER ARPA EXPIRES.
DO I? I'D LIKE TO HAVE YOUR AFFIRMATION ON THE RECORD.
THOSE THOSE POSITIONS AND THEY'RE THEY'RE GRANT FUNDED POSITIONS AND THAT'S HOW THEY'RE CONSIDERED.
AND I'LL SECOND. BUT BEFORE WE VOTE, MR. ROSS, I'D JUST SAY MAKE SURE YOU CHECK WITH OUR ALLIES WITH NACO, NATIONAL LEAGUE OF CITIES CONFERENCE OF MAYORS.
BUT BURIED WITHIN THAT QUESTION IS NOT JUST THE SUPPLANTING QUESTION, WHICH I WOULD BEG TO DIFFER, BUT I THINK THERE'S ALSO THE CONCERN OF DO WE NEED THAT MANY POSITIONS BECAUSE THAT ARPA MONEY AND AS, AS THE FLEX FUND, THIS IS GOING IN THE FLEX FUND, YOU HAVE INCREDIBLE FLEXIBILITY TO LITERALLY IF YOU WANT TO GO PLANT SOME TREES, GO PLANT SOME TREES.
AND ANY, ANY OF THESE POSITIONS THAT CAN BE DOWNLOADED SOONER RATHER THAN LATER IN ORDER TO FREE UP DOLLARS TO DO SOME THINGS MAYBE A BIT MORE CONSTRUCTIVE, I WOULD RECOMMEND.
YES, SIR. AND FROM OUR PERSPECTIVE, WE ALSO LOOK AT RISK MITIGATION.
SO WE ALWAYS WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE DOING ALL OUR DUE DILIGENCE TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE SPENDING THE MONEY THE WAY THE FEDS WANT US TO SPEND THE MONEY, AND THEY HAVE DIFFERENT REQUIREMENTS AND REGULATIONS AND STATE AND LOCAL REQUIREMENTS AND REGULATIONS.
SO THIS IS DEFINITELY A LOT OF IT IS RISK MITIGATION AND MAKING SURE THAT WE DON'T COME BACK.
TOM'S TEAM AND THE TEAMS THAT ARE ON CONTRACT AND IN OTHER DEPARTMENTS ALSO ARE DOING ALL THAT WORK OF DOCUMENTATION AND MAINTAINING THE FILES FOR THE CORRECT PERIOD OF TIME WORKING WITH THE AUDITOR'S OFFICE.
SO THERE'S THERE'S JUST A LOT OF DUE DILIGENCE BECAUSE THERE'S THE HIGHER DOLLAR, THE MORE RISK.
YEAH. BECAUSE I THINK THERE IS A CLAWBACK ON THE IN ANOTHER PART OF THE AGENDA.
OKAY. THERE'S A MOTION MADE BY COMMISSIONER GARCIA, AND I SECONDED ALL THOSE IN FAVOR.
ITEM PASSES. NEXT IS ITEM 15, COMMISSIONER BRIONES.
YES. THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER ELLIS.
ITEM 15 I HOPE THIS IS ONE THAT WILL PASS UNANIMOUSLY BY THIS COURT.
IT IS AN INVESTMENT IN A CRITICAL, CRITICAL CHALLENGE FACING HARRIS COUNTY.
WE HAD AN EVENT PRESS CONFERENCE EARLIER THAT WE POSTED.
SO COMMISSIONER ELLIS, COMMISSIONER GARCIA AND I WERE THERE.
SPECIFICALLY, THIS INVESTMENT WOULD BE FOCUSED ON SERVICE PROVIDER INTEGRATION AND COORDINATION DATA SYSTEM UPGRADES, AND WOULD IS PROJECTED TO REDUCE THE TURNAWAY RATE BY APPROXIMATELY 10% AND BUILD CAPACITY, AND ALSO HAVE
[02:30:09]
AN EVALUATION COMPONENT SO THAT WE'RE CONSTANTLY LEARNING, ITERATING, AND IMPROVING.KNOW SOMEBODY WHO HAS EXPERIENCED AND HOPEFULLY SURVIVED DOMESTIC VIOLENCE.
HARRIS COUNTY LEADS AND I USE THE VERB LEADS IN, AND IT BOTHERS ME BECAUSE WE ARE THE WORST IN THE STATE OF TEXAS IN TERMS OF INTIMATE PARTNER VIOLENCE, HOMICIDES. WE LEAD THE STATE.
WE ALSO HAVE A 75% TURNAWAY RATE.
SO IF SOMEBODY IS LEAVING A SITUATION OF ABUSE, WHICH WE KNOW IS THE MOST DANGEROUS POINT IN TIME FOR THAT INDIVIDUAL, THEN THERE'S A 75% TURNAWAY RATE BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE ENOUGH BEDS TO PUT IT INTO CONTEXT, NEW YORK CITY HAS TWICE OUR POPULATION, BUT IT HAS TEN TIMES AS MANY BEDS.
AND SO WE ARE IN A DIRE SITUATION THAT IT IS GOING TO TAKE ALL OF US TO IMPROVE ON.
SO THIS INVESTMENT, AN INITIAL 1 MILLION WITH THREE YEAR, ONE YEAR RENEWAL OPTIONS, IS 4 MILLION COMPLEMENTS AND WILL TAKE HARRIS COUNTY SINCE 2022 TO APPROXIMATELY 20 MILLION.
SO WE WANT TO STOP THAT CYCLE OF VIOLENCE.
SO THERE'S VARIOUS INVESTMENTS.
SO I AM THANKFUL FOR THE PROGRESS WE'RE MAKING, AND WE HAVE A SERIOUS, SERIOUS PROBLEM THAT IN ADDITION TO MONEY, WE NEED ALL OF US IN TERMS OF EDUCATION, PREVENTION, SUPPORT OF FRIENDS AND NEIGHBORS.
AND THIS IS REALLY GOING TO TAKE ALL OF US WORKING IN CONCERT TOGETHER.
SO WITH THAT, I WOULD LIKE TO PLEASE MOVE ITEM 15 AS PRESENTED.
YEAH, I CERTAINLY SUPPORT THIS.
COMMISSIONER BROWN. THIS IS AN INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT INITIATIVE.
I DON'T THINK THERE'S ANY OTHER INSTITUTION UNDER MORE ATTACK RIGHT NOW THAN FAMILIES.
AND TO SEE WHAT OUR CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM.
COMMISSIONER GARCIA MENTIONED THIS IN THE PRESS CONFERENCE RELATED TO THE LACK OF OF CONCERN.
I'VE TALKED TO A MOTHER WHOSE DAUGHTER WAS MURDERED BY HER BOYFRIEND, WHO WAS LET OUT OF JAIL BY A JUDGE THAT SHOULD NOT HAVE LET THAT PERSON OUT OF JAIL.
SO THERE IS STORY AFTER STORY AFTER STORY.
THAT'S UNACCEPTABLE. IT'S UNACCEPTABLE IN THE CONTEXT OF WHAT'S HAPPENING IN OUR JUDICIAL SYSTEM, WHICH HOPEFULLY WE'RE GOING TO SEE AN IMPROVEMENT AND IMPROVEMENT THERE.
TRULY, OUR FAMILIES ARE UNDER ATTACK.
OUR CHURCHES, OUR NONPROFITS REALIZE THIS TOO.
I LIKE THE PARTNERSHIP THAT WE HAVE THERE.
THIS ALLOWS ALL OF THEM, I THINK, TO DO MORE.
I APPRECIATE THE FEDERAL DOLLARS, BUT PLEASE UNDERSTAND THERE'S ALSO STATE DOLLARS HERE.
AND HOPEFULLY WE CAN GET MORE DOLLARS INVESTED THERE IN THE FUTURE.
SO I CERTAINLY SUPPORT THIS PARTICULAR ITEM.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT, COMMISSIONER RENZI.
YOU REMINDED ME OF SOMETHING THAT NOW THAT WE CAN TALK ALL OF US ON THIS TOPIC, SPEAKING OF THE STATE SUPPORT, THE STATE HAD BEEN WORKING CLOSELY WITH THE CITY OF HOUSTON, AND MAYOR WHITMIRE AND COUNCIL MEMBER TWYLA CARTER WERE REALLY LEADING ON THIS.
ARE YOU OKAY? AND IT'S BASICALLY THE QR CODE WITH RESOURCES.
AND IT'S IN ENGLISH AND SPANISH.
GRANTED, WE NEED MORE LANGUAGES, BUT FOR NOW THAT'S A GREAT STARTING POINT.
SO I RAISED THIS BECAUSE I'M SURE COUNCIL MEMBER CARTER AND TEAM WOULD LOVE TO BE ABLE TO PUT THOSE UP IN Y'ALL'S AREAS BECAUSE THIS IS THE CITY, THE COUNTY, THE STATE, THE FEDERAL AND OUR CHURCHES AND SCHOOLS AND AND BEYOND.
RIGHT. IT'S IT'S US BEING GOOD NEIGHBORS AND HELPING EACH OTHER SURVIVE AND THRIVE.
SO, YEAH, THANK YOU FOR MY THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER.
THANK YOU FOR BRINGING THIS ITEM UP FOR US TO SLOW DOWN AND LOOK AT IT FOR A SECOND.
[02:35:05]
IT IS FEDERAL MONEY.AND THE SIGNS ARE A GOOD A GOOD FIRST STEP.
BUT WE NEED SOME MONEY IN ADDITION TO THE SIGNS.
SO WE DON'T WANT TO HAVE A PLACE TO FIND OUT WHERE THEY CAN CALL.
SO WE GOT TO MAKE THE CASE THAT WE GOT TO PAY FOR IT ON OUR OWN.
IT'S A FEDERAL GOVERNMENT DOES NOT GIVE US RESOURCES TO DO IT AGAIN.
AND I'D LOVE TO WORK TOGETHER IN A BIPARTISAN WAY IF WE CAN GO TO THE STATE.
IN TERMS OF THE BED COUNT, I MEAN, IT'S UNCONSCIONABLE.
AND THAT'S NOT ALL FEDERAL MONEY IN NEW YORK, OBVIOUSLY.
BUT IN ANY EVENT, THIS IS AT LEAST A STEP IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.
SO IT'S A WOMEN'S CENTER OPEN NEXT TO YOU THERE.
COMMISSIONER, I KNOW THEY HAD A NEW FACILITY THERE.
OH, YEAH. NO, I HAVE A CENTER AND WE'RE WORKING OUT AN AGREEMENT SO THEY CAN USE IT.
OKAY. YEAH, AT THAT NEW LOCATION.
IT'S A REALLY NICE TOUR, BUT IT WAS BEFORE IT WAS COMPLETED.
SO THAT MEANS THEY'LL BE SECURITY CONCERNS.
MOTION WAS MADE BY COMMISSIONER BROWN, HIS SECOND BY COMMISSIONER GARCIA.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR VOTE AYE. AYE.
ALL OPPOSED. VOTE NO. FOUR EYES.
NEXT IS ITEM COMMISSIONER GARCIA.
I AM JUST EXCITED TO SEE THAT THE ARPA CIVIC ART INITIATIVE IS MOVING FORWARD.
ART, AS WE KNOW, IS A KEY PART OF MY REVIVE TO THRIVE INITIATIVE, AND THIS ITEM ENVISIONS TRANSFORMING COMMUNITIES OF CLOVERLEAF, EAST ALDINE, NORTH SHORE, AND SOUTH HOUSTON WITH A STRATEGIC INVESTMENT OF OVER A MILLION INTO CIVIC ART PROJECTS.
THE CIVIC ART INITIATIVE WAS CREATED BY THE CRIME PREVENTION THROUGH ENVIRONMENTAL DESIGN FOCUS AREA TEAM TO MAKE PUBLIC SPACES MORE APPEALING, SAFER, ACCESSIBLE THROUGH THE INCORPORATION OF ART WORKS.
DEVELOP ART PROJECTS BASED ON THE COMMUNITY'S VISIONS.
POTENTIAL PROJECTS SUCH AS COULD INCLUDE MURALS, PARK INSTALLATION, SCULPTURES, ARTISTIC CROSSWALKS, SIGNAGE, AND ENVIRONMENTAL DESIGN. SO I WANT TO CONGRATULATE THE ARTISTS THAT ARE SELECTED IN THIS PARTICULAR ITEM AND THE ART ORGANIZATIONS, AND I LOOK FORWARD TO CONTINUING TO SUPPORT ART AND LOCAL ARTISTS IN OUR COMMUNITIES.
SO I MOVE ON THIS ITEM AS PRESENTED.
AND AGAIN, I'M JUST VERY, VERY THRILLED TO SEE THIS COMING FORWARD.
SECOND MOTION MADE BY COMMISSIONER GARCIA.
SECOND BY COMMISSIONER BRIONES.
AYE. ALL THOSE OPPOSED, VOTE NO.
NEXT, COMMISSIONER GARCIA AND COMMISSIONER RAMSEY PULLED UP ITEM 20.
MY, I WANT TO TO TALK ON THIS ITEM BECAUSE I WANT TO THANK TANYA MILLS FOR HER DEDICATION AND IMPROVING THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM AND GETTING THIS COUNTY TO MOVE IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION AS IT RELATES TO, ESPECIALLY TO OUR JAIL POPULATION.
AND RIGHT NOW WE'RE FOCUSING ON THE RIGHT TOPICS.
WE NEED TO REDUCE THE NEED FOR OUTSOURCING, IMPROVE MENTAL HEALTH CARE IN OUR JAIL, REDUCE THE TIME TO DISPOSITION, OUR FELONY CASES. AND IT WAS MENTIONED THAT THERE ARE 232 PEOPLE IN CUSTODY WITH STAYS OVER A THOUSAND DAYS IN JAIL.
SO WE NEED TO CONTINUE TO MAKE PROGRESS ON THOSE ISSUES.
AND THIS IS A LONG TERM PLANNING PROJECT.
SO IT'S NECESSARY TO ASK IS THE COMMITTEE CONSIDERING ADDITIONAL REENTRY HOUSING FOR PEOPLE LIVING LEAVING THE JAIL? BECAUSE WE KNOW THAT MANY FOLKS WHO DO LEAVE THE JAIL IMMEDIATELY BECOME HOMELESS AND ARE MORE LIKELY TO RECIDIVATE.
SO I WANT TO JUST MAKE SURE THAT THAT IS A POINT OF CONVERSATION.
BUT ALSO YOU KNOW, I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE APPROACHING THIS PROJECT IN THE RIGHT WAY.
[02:40:09]
SURE THAT WE'RE HAVING A AND AND AS THE AND THE BUDGET OFFICE AS WELL TO UNDERSTAND REALLY ONCE WE KNOW WHAT OUR APPETITE FOR CONSTRUCTING A NEW JAIL, WHETHER WE EVEN HAVE THE VOTES FOR THAT AND TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE APPROACHING THIS RIGHT THE RIGHT WAY RIGHT NOW, I THINK WE'RE THERE'S A, THERE'S A HORSE OR RATHER A BUGGY IN FRONT OF THE HORSE.SO I WANT TO REALLY PUMP THE BRAKES ON THIS AND JUST MAKE SURE.
BUT I'M GOING TO HAVE A MOTION ON THIS.
BUT THOSE ARE MY CONCERNS AND QUESTIONS ON ON THIS ITEM.
THANK YOU. COMMISSIONER, CAN WE GO AHEAD AND MAKE SURE WE'RE TAKING 20 AND 21 TOGETHER? BECAUSE I THINK YOUR COMMENTS. WE'LL TAKE 20 AND 21 REFERENCE BOTH.
BUT WE'LL GO AHEAD AND HAVE TONYA GO OVER HIGH POINTS.
REMEMBER WE NOW HAVE TEN MINUTES FOR THE PRESENTATION.
SO NO MORE THAN TEN MINUTES ON YOUR HIGH YOUR ON YOUR HIGH POINTS.
AND THEN I'LL GO THROUGH MY VERY QUICK TALKING POINTS ON ON THE JACK.
THANK YOU. GOOD AFTERNOON COMMISSIONERS.
HAPPY TO BE HERE. I AM GOING TO SPEED THROUGH THESE.
AND COMMISSIONER GARCIA ACTUALLY HANDLED THE FIRST NEXT SLIDE FOR ME, PLEASE.
COMMISSIONER GARCIA ACTUALLY COVERED SOME OF THIS FOR ME ALREADY.
WE DO HAVE 232 PEOPLE IN CUSTODY WITH STAYS OVER 1000 DAYS.
HERE WE'RE LOOKING AT THE JAIL POPULATION.
AND I LIKE TO EMPHASIZE THE 232 PEOPLE IN CUSTODY OVER A THOUSAND DAYS.
TIME TO DISPOSITION IS GOING TO BE CRITICAL IN BRINGING THOSE DOWN.
THE OTHER THING I'LL NOTE IS THAT THE THAT THIS IS AN INCREASE OF 325 FROM THE NOVEMBER 2023 ADP.
SO THE ADP IS TICKING UP JUST A LITTLE BIT.
SORRY. CAN WE ASK QUICK QUESTIONS AS WE GO ALONG.
SURE. ABSOLUTELY. WHAT DO YOU THINK.
WE HAVE SOME SLIDES THAT WE'LL GET INTO A LITTLE BIT OF THAT IN JUST A SECOND.
IF I CAN SKIP STRAIGHT TO THAT IF YOU'D LIKE ME TO.
HERE, GRAPHICALLY, WE'RE JUST SEEING THE MONTHLY ADP 2021 THROUGH 2024.
YOU CAN SEE THAT 5% INCREASE HAPPENING IN 2024.
WE'VE HAD ABOUT A 3% INCREASE SINCE JUNE.
AND BEGINNING IN OCTOBER 2024, THE ADP OR THE MONTHLY ADP SURPASSED 2023 LEVELS.
SO LET'S LOOK AT A FEW OF THE FACTORS THAT ARE INFLUENCING THE ADP.
HERE WE'RE LOOKING AT THE TOP.
THE CHART ON THE TOP RIGHT SHOWS QUARTERLY BOOKING TOTALS.
WE ACTUALLY STARTED THE YEAR DOWN IN BOOKINGS.
IT WAS Q1, WE WERE TRENDING DOWN ALMOST THE ENTIRE QUARTER.
WE WERE AT Q1 WAS DOWN 566, AND THEN WE SHOT UP IN Q2.
BOOKINGS DID AS COMPARED TO 2023 THEY GAINED IN THAT QUARTER.
IT WAS AN INCREASE OF 883 OVER THE PRIOR YEAR.
THE CHARGE GROUP WITH THE HIGHEST INCREASE AND IT STARTED IN Q2 WAS THE DRUG OFFENSE CATEGORY.
THIS GROUP WENT FROM BEING DOWN 182 IN Q1 TO UP.
BOOKINGS ARE STARTING TO STABILIZE SOME NOW, WHICH IS GOOD.
THE CHART ON THE BOTTOM SHOWS RELEASES YEAR OVER YEAR LOOKING AT 2023 COMPARED TO 2024.
YEAR TO DATE THROUGH Q3 RELEASES ARE DOWN 2635, SO BOOKINGS ARE UP A LITTLE BIT.
RELEASES ARE DOWN A LITTLE BIT.
THAT'S THE INVERSE OF WHAT WE WANT TO SEE HAPPENING TO STABILIZE THE ADP.
WE WANT TO SEE RELEASES UP BOOKINGS DOWN.
HERE WE'RE LOOKING AT BOOKINGS AND RELEASES AGAIN.
THE CHART ON THE TOP LEFT SHOWS YOU THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE BOOKED BY THEIR HIGHEST CHARGE CATEGORY.
[02:45:02]
WHEN COMPARED TO THE SAME TIME FRAME LAST YEAR, BOOKINGS IN THE DRUG CATEGORY WERE UP 2510.ALL OTHER CHARGE GROUPS HAD DECREASES.
AND THE DRUG INCREASES CERTAINLY HAVE DRIVEN THE 559 BOOKING INCREASE.
THE CHART ON THE BOTTOM RIGHT IS COMPARING BOOKINGS AND RELEASES WITHIN THE YEAR BY CHARGE CATEGORY.
BOOKINGS HAVE OUTPACED ALL OR BOOKINGS HAVE OUTPACED RELEASES AND ALL CHARGE CATEGORIES DURING 2024, WITH A TOTAL OF 2972 MORE BOOKINGS THAN RELEASES.
THE VIOLENT CHARGE CATEGORY HAS SEEN 1632 MORE BOOKINGS THAN RELEASES.
THESE TEND TO HAVE HIGHER LENGTHS OF STAY TOO, SO SOMETIMES THAT'S A DOUBLE WHAMMY.
DRUG CATEGORY SAW INCREASE OF 2510.
IT THOUGH THROUGH THROUGH THE YEAR OR DURING THE YEAR THE BOOKINGS COMPARED TO RELEASES.
IT'S ONLY A 435 NET DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE TWO.
THE LAST FEW SLIDES, WE'VE LOOKED AT INPUTS AND OUTPUTS OR BOOKINGS AND RELEASES.
HERE HERE WE'RE LOOKING AT AND THIS MIGHT LOOK FAMILIAR.
WE HAD A TABLE LIKE THIS WHEN WE DID THE REPORT IN JUNE.
LOOKING AT THE KEY DRIVERS OF THE JAIL POPULATION.
AND THAT HAS A NEGATIVE IMPACT ON THE ADP.
SO IN THIS TABLE WE'RE COMPARING THAT SAME PERIOD WE LOOKED AT IN JUNE WAS THE MAY 2024 SNAPSHOT COMPARED TO THE NOVEMBER 2024 SNAPSHOT.
THESE DECREASES HAVE INDICATES THAT SOME OF THE THINGS WE WERE HOPING TO SEE HAPPEN WITH TIME TO DISPOSITION IN THESE HIGHER STATE HAS, HAS OCCURRED AND HAS CONTRIBUTED TO AN OVERALL DECREASE OF EIGHT DAYS IN THE AVERAGE LENGTH OF STAY.
THE THING TO WATCH IS THAT ALMOST ALL OTHER CATEGORIES IN CUSTODY HAVE SEEN INCREASES IN BOTH PEOPLE AND JOBS CONSUMED, INCLUDING 104 PERSON INCREASE IN CLASS A MISDEMEANORS AND 115 PERSON INCREASE IN STATE JAIL FELONIES.
42% OF THE CLASS A MISDEMEANOR INCREASES ARE VIOLENT CHARGE CATEGORIES AND 51% OF THE STATE JAIL FELONIES ARE IN PROPERTY, MISDEMEANORS AND STATE JAIL FELONIES BOTH TEND TO HAVE LOWER LENGTHS OF STAY.
HOWEVER, THE INCREASES IN THESE GROUPS.
THE PEOPLE ARE HAVING MORE OF AN IMPACT.
AND IT'S THE VOLUME OF PEOPLE THAT THEY'RE SEEING IN THE COURT.
SO WE'RE GOING TO WANT TO KEEP AN EYE ON THAT.
WORKING WITH COUNTY COURTS TO LOOK AND ENSURE WE CAN ADDRESS WHAT'S HAPPENING THERE.
SO WITH A WITH A MODEST INCREASE OF $559 IN BOOKINGS THROUGH Q3 2024, COMPARED TO THE SAME TIME FRAME, THERE WAS A 2635 PERSON DECREASE IN RELEASES BETWEEN THE TWO YEARS.
THIS IS DEFINITELY CONTRIBUTING TO THE INCREASE IN THE AVERAGE DAILY POPULATION.
BOOKINGS HAVE OUTPACED RELEASES, WITH ALMOST 3000 MORE BOOKINGS THAN RELEASES.
THIS IS CONTRIBUTING TO THE INCREASE IN THE ADP.
WHILE THERE HAVE BEEN DECREASES IN OF INDIVIDUALS IN THE HIGHER STATE CATEGORIES SINCE JUNE, CONTINUED FOCUS ON THE FELONY TIME TO DISPOSITION AND LENGTHS OF STAY SHOULD BE MONITORED.
RIGHT. WE'VE AN EIGHT DAY DECREASE IN THE AVERAGE LENGTH OF STAY OF THE IN-CUSTODY POPULATION IS GREAT, BUT WE NEED TO KEEP OUR FOOT ON THE GAS THERE SO THAT WE CAN SEE THAT SUSTAINED REDUCTION THAT WE'RE LOOKING FOR, HIGHEST VALUE CHANGES WOULD BE INCREASE IN RELEASES AND DECREASE THE AVERAGE LENGTH OF STAY ACROSS ALL CHARGE LEVELS, BOTH FELONY AND MISDEMEANORS.
NOW THAT WE'RE SEEING THE VOLUME OF MISDEMEANORS UPTICK IN THE POPULATION AND THEN DECREASING THE TIME TO DISPOSITION REGARDLESS OF DISPOSITION TYPE, WHETHER IT'S BOND SENTENCES, WHATEVER, WE NEED TO SEE THAT NUMBER START GOING DOWN.
I WILL PAUSE THERE FOR QUESTIONS.
YEAH. DID YOU WANT TO ADD SOMETHING? YES, SIR. YES, SIR.
[02:50:07]
AS YOU KNOW, YOU ALL CREATED THE THE JACK IN MARCH OF THIS YEAR WITH TWO CHARGES, BASICALLY IMPROVING JAIL FACILITIES FOR THE SAFETY AND SECURITY OF THE PEOPLE INCARCERATED IN THE JAIL AND THE STAFF WORKING THERE AS WELL.AND THEN WE WERE ALSO TO WORK CLOSELY WITH THE CJC TO ENSURE THAT IMPROVEMENTS TO THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM AS A WHOLE, THE PROGRAMING WILL ALSO BE ADDRESSED. AND OF THE THREE DELIVERABLES THAT WE WERE ASSIGNED AT THAT TIME, WE'VE ACCOMPLISHED TWO.
WE IDENTIFIED PRIORITY JAIL FACILITY NEEDS BY JUNE 4TH OF THIS YEAR, AND THAT RESULTED IN AN INVESTMENT BY COMMISSIONER'S COURT OF $122 MILLION FOR CRITICAL MAINTENANCE WORK AT OUR EXISTING JAIL FACILITIES.
IT'S UNDERWAY. WE'RE EXCITED ABOUT THAT.
THE SECOND THING WE ACCOMPLISHED WAS THAT WE PREPARED THE JAIL POPULATION PROFILE.
WE'RE NOT READY WITH THOSE RECOMMENDATIONS FOR SEVERAL REASONS THAT WE BELIEVE WILL LEAD US TO BETTER RECOMMENDATIONS AND OUTCOMES BY THE SECOND QUARTER OF 2025. SO MAKE A MOTION.
WHO'S A FIRST MOTION BY I MAKE A MOTION.
SHE SECONDED. I HEARD THREE SECONDS.
I SHOULD GET 20 MINUTES BECAUSE IT'S TWO ITEMS. FIRST, WE'RE WORKING WITH THE MACARTHUR FOUNDATION AND AND THEIR SAFETY JUSTICE CHALLENGE TO RECEIVE TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE TO DEVELOP A MORE REFINED JAIL POPULATION FORECAST BASED ON DISAGGREGATED JAIL DATA RELATED TO CHARGE TYPES AND SECURITY CLASSIFICATIONS.
THE FORECAST WILL ALSO CONSIDER THE IMPACTS OF THE PROJECTED JAIL POPULATION OF EVIDENCE BASED PROGRAMS THAT DIVERT AND DEFLECT INDIVIDUALS FROM INCARCERATION, THAT PREVENT THAT PROVIDE REENTRY SERVICES, AND SUPPORTIVE HOUSING THAT REDUCE RECIDIVISM, AS WELL AS OTHER NON CARCERAL AND COMMUNITY INVESTMENTS.
SECOND, WE'LL BE BRINGING AND THIS IS ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I THINK, COMMISSIONER GARCIA, YOU WERE, YOU WERE REFERRING TO WANT TO BRING A PROCUREMENT RECOMMENDATION IN JANUARY FOR A PARTNER WITH NATIONAL EXPERTISE TO PRESENT OPTIONS FOR JAIL FACILITIES THAT MEET THE COMMUNITY'S CURRENT NEEDS, BUT ARE AGILE AND FLEXIBLE ENOUGH TO MEET OUR NEEDS IN THE FUTURE.
BASED ON THE CHANGES IN THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM AS WE MOVE FORWARD, AND POPULATION AND DEMOGRAPHICS AND ALL THOSE THINGS WE, WE BELIEVE IT'S IMPORTANT TO THINK SLOW. SO YOU DO THE RESEARCH, YOU PLAN APPROPRIATELY, AND YOU DO THE DUE DILIGENCE REQUIRED FOR A SYSTEM THAT IMPACTS PEOPLE'S LIVES SO DEEPLY.
YOU THINK SLOW AND THEN WE CAN ACT FAST.
AND WE DON'T HAVE A BUNCH OF STOPS AND STARTS BECAUSE WE GOT SOMETHING WRONG.
AND, YOU KNOW, WE REALLY CAN'T AFFORD ANY MISSTEPS IN SPEAKING WITH OTHER JURISDICTIONS AND PROFESSIONALS WORKING IN THIS FIELD OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE AND DETENTION SPACES, IT BECAME CLEAR THAT WE NEEDED MORE TIME ON THE FRONT END TO DO THIS DUE DILIGENCE.
AND SO THE DGAC IS PROPOSING WE WORK DILIGENTLY OVER THE NEXT FIVE MONTHS WITH MANY OF THE STAKEHOLDERS IN THE JUSTICE SYSTEM AND SPECIFICALLY WITH WITH THE SHERIFF AND THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE.
AND SINCE HE CHAIRS THE JACKETS, YOU KNOW, HIS INPUT AND SUPPORT IS CRITICAL.
SO THIS IS THE WAY WE'RE GOING TO CONTINUE TO DO IT.
OKAY. I KNOW COMMISSIONER BRIONES HAD SOME QUESTIONS THEN, COMMISSIONER GARCIA.
I THINK WE ALL HAVE ALL HAVE QUESTIONS.
THANK YOU, DIRECTOR, FOR THE WORK.
CAN. ADMINISTRATOR. THANK YOU FOR WHAT YOU ALL ARE DOING.
BUT IT IS A BIT FRUSTRATING BECAUSE PEOPLE ARE STILL DYING IN THE JAIL.
OUR JAIL POPULATION, WE'RE TRACKING THE DATA.
WE KNOW A LOT MORE ABOUT THE DATA, BUT I THINK THE THE CONCERN IS WE ARE GOING TO
[02:55:10]
PLAN OURSELVES INTO OBLIVION.AND IT'S TIME THAT WE STARTED DOING SOMETHING.
GRANTED. BEFORE WE GO BUILD A NEW JAIL.
THERE'S A LOT OF CONVERSATIONS NEEDS TO HAPPEN.
I CAN TELL YOU, THOUGH, WE HAVE A WE HAVE A VERY STRONG APPETITE.
AT LEAST IT APPEARS TO ME FROM COMMISSIONERS COURT TO GET SOMETHING ADDRESSED.
AND I THINK THERE'S OBVIOUSLY GOING TO BE AN INTERIM.
I THINK THE INTERIM STEP THAT WE TOOK WITH THE I WOULD CALL THE IMPROVEMENTS THAT WE'VE MADE ALMOST EMERGENCY IMPROVEMENTS, BUT THERE'S PROBABLY A WHOLE NOTHER SET OF IMPROVEMENTS THAT WE COULD BE MAKE, COULD, COULD MAKE TO, I THINK, BUY OURSELVES MORE TIME.
I DON'T KNOW WHY WE KEEP THINKING THAT IN A COUNTY, THE THIRD LARGEST COUNTY IN AMERICA THAT IS GROWING, THAT SOMEHOW THE JAIL POPULATION IS GOING TO SOMEHOW BE GOING DOWN ANYTIME IN THE NEAR FUTURE.
THERE'S A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT ARE RUNNING AROUND ON THE STREETS NOW.
CAPITAL MURDER FOLKS THAT PROBABLY SHOULD BE LOCKED UP.
SO THERE IS A LOT OF FOLKS THAT ARE NOT IN JAIL THAT PROBABLY NEED TO BE IN JAIL.
BUT WE WE AGAIN NEED TO NEED TO PAY ATTENTION.
SO I THINK AT LEAST I AM LOOKING FOR SOME RECOMMENDATIONS.
I KNOW THAT'S WHERE WE'RE HEADED.
I KNOW THAT WE'VE MADE SOME INTERIM, BUT WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO DO SOMETHING QUICKLY TO ADDRESS THE DETENTION OFFICERS, THE LACK OF DETENTION OFFICERS, THAT WHOLE ISSUE RELATED TO PEOPLE.
WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO DEAL WITH THAT.
BUT WE NEED TO GET SERIOUS ABOUT DETENTION OFFICERS.
SO, ON ONE HAND, I APPLAUD WHAT YOU'RE DOING.
AND WHAT IS OUR NEXT SET OF RECOMMENDATIONS SO WE CAN TAKE ACTION? YES, SIR. I APPRECIATE THAT, AND I THINK WE'VE HAD SOME VERY ROBUST DISCUSSIONS IN THE JACK ABOUT THOSE ISSUES.
AND, YOU KNOW, I THINK WHAT WE'VE WOUND UP SEEING IS THAT, YOU KNOW, THE THE INFRASTRUCTURE VERSUS THE PROGRAMING, THEY'RE THEY'RE CONNECTED, BUT THEY'RE NOT SO INTERTWINED THAT WE NEED TO SLOW DOWN THE INFRASTRUCTURE CHANGES AND IMPROVEMENTS TO WAIT FOR ALL THE PROGRAMING TO BE PROVED UP RIGHT. SO WE'RE LIKE, THEY HAVE TO IN OUR OPINION, THEY HAVE TO RUN IN PARALLEL TO EACH OTHER.
BUT IF INFRASTRUCTURE GOES AHEAD, THAT'S OKAY.
SO LONG AS IT'S WE'RE STILL GETTING INFORMED ON THE SPACES AND THE SPACE NEEDS YOU KNOW, TO DO THE PROGRAMING WITHIN THE JAIL, BUT WE SHOULDN'T HOLD EVERYTHING UP UNTIL WE GET A PERFECT PROGRAM OR A REALLY GOOD PROGRAM, BECAUSE THAT TAKES TIME.
AND THAT TAKES A LOT OF CHECKING THE EVIDENCE, MAKING SURE THAT IT'S WORKED SOMEWHERE ELSE.
WILL IT WORK HERE? THERE'S A LOT OF WORK THAT NEEDS TO BE DONE ON THAT.
SO WE WANT TO DO BOTH, AND WE THINK IT'S REALLY CRITICAL.
AND THE THING ON THE PROGRAM IS THAT INVOLVES FOLKS THAT AREN'T ON THE JACK.
AND, YOU KNOW, TANYA AND HER TEAM ARE THE STAFF FOR THE JCC AS WELL.
SO THERE'S A LOT OF BLEED OVER FROM THEM.
THEY'RE THE ONES THAT HAVE TO KEEP BOTH SIDES INFORMED, SO THAT WE MAKE SURE LEFT AND RIGHT HANDS KNOW WHAT THEY'RE EACH DOING TO TO PROGRESS BOTH SIDES OF THE EQUATION. OKAY.
THANK YOU. COMMISSIONER BRIONES AND COMMISSIONER GARCIA.
AND BY THE WAY, THANK YOU FOR THIS BUTTON.
NEW BUTTON. I APPRECIATE ALL THE TEAM MEMBERS.
SO THREE DIFFERENT TOPICS I'LL START WITH THE THE MOST STRAIGHTFORWARD FIRST.
AND DIRECTOR MILLS, I WANT TO ECHO THE SENTIMENTS.
[03:00:02]
APPRECIATE YOU AND YOUR TEAM.SO MY FIRST QUESTION IS ON STAFFING.
SO I KNOW WE'VE HAD SUBSTANTIAL CHALLENGES IN RECRUITING AND RETAINING DETENTION OFFICERS.
I KNOW WE PASSED A 12% PAY INCREASE LAST YEAR, MY FIRST YEAR IN OFFICE, TO ADDRESS THAT.
I KNOW WE HAD RETENTION BONUSES THAT WE INJECTED.
YES OR NO, I THINK I BELIEVE HR HAS YES, THEY'VE ALREADY BEEN WORKING OFFICERS.
OKAY. SO I FEEL LIKE WE'VE, YOU KNOW, PAY INCREASE RETENTION, BONUS SURVEY, EXIT INTERVIEWS.
AND I WAS HAPPY TO SEE THAT SEPARATIONS CONTINUE TRENDING DOWN STEADILY.
AND THIS YEAR WE'LL CLOSE WITH AN ESTIMATED 43% DECREASE FROM THE NUMBERS IN 2022.
SO AGAIN WE'RE MAKING PROGRESS.
AND MY QUESTION IS HOW MANY STILL OPEN FUNDED DETENTION OFFICER VACANCIES DO WE HAVE? WHAT ARE WE DOING TO CLOSE THAT? CHIEF BUSKAS, ARE YOU ON? I BELIEVE IT'S LESS THAN 100.
I THINK WE WERE AROUND 90 WHEN WE WERE IN IN AUSTIN.
CHIEF, IS THAT RIGHT? I DON'T YEAH.
EXCUSE ME. CAN Y'ALL HEAR ME? YES, CHIEF. BUSKAS.
THANK YOU. SO THE QUESTION IS, WHAT IS THE NUMBER OF FUNDED VACANCIES OF DETENTION OFFICERS FUNDED? ABOUT 55.
SO, OKAY, THAT SAID THIS MORNING, BUT I WOULD JUST THE CONTEXT TO THAT, PLEASE.
THAT'S NOT THAT'S NOT WHAT IS NEEDED ON THE STAFFING PLAN.
WE'RE HUNDREDS AWAY FROM WHAT WHAT WE NEED ON THE STAFFING PLAN.
SO THE SECOND IS THE OBJECTION.
COULD YOU PLEASE BRIEFLY DELINEATE WHAT YOU NEED.
BRIONES MADE A MOTION TO RAMSEY.
AND AS THE STAFFING PLAN THAT'S BEEN ON FILE WITH THE COURT AND THE JAIL COMMISSION FOR, FOR A COUPLE OF YEARS NOW, AND I BELIEVE IT MATCHES UP WITH WHAT WHEN THE COMMISSIONERS PAID FOR DETAINEES TO DO A STAFFING SURVEY, WE SHOULD BE CLOSE TO ABOUT 2000 UNIFORMED UNIFORMED OFFICERS.
WHEN WE GO AND REPORT IN AUSTIN AGAIN, IS THE FUNDED OPEN POSITIONS.
AND THAT'S WHAT WE'RE WE'RE DISCUSSING NOW.
AND THE STRONG CORRELATION WITH THAT IS THAT WE NEED A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF OFFICERS TO DO THAT WORK TO MAKE THE JAIL FACILITY OPERATIONAL AND NOT JUST MEET THE MINIMUM JAIL STANDARDS, BUT TO TRULY OPERATE IN A SAFE MANNER FOR OFFICERS, INMATES, EVERYBODY, VENDORS, PROGRAM SPECIALISTS, EVERYBODY THAT COMES AND LIVES WITHIN THE COUNTY JAIL.
AND SO I HOPE THAT'S THE CLARITY.
BUT WE WE INTEND TO SHOW BECAUSE WE REALIZE IT'S IT'S MILLIONS OF DOLLARS IN OUTSOURCING.
WE REDUCED OUTSOURCING BY 64 STARTING OCTOBER 1ST.
AND HOW WE HOW WE BRING INMATES BACK TO OUR CURRENT FACILITIES AND SHOW THE COST SAVINGS.
SO THAT'S WHAT WE WOULD THAT'S THAT'S WHAT WE NEED.
IF YOU'RE ASKING ME POINT BLANK THAT THAT'S WHAT WE NEED.
THANK YOU. THAT'S A STAFFING LEVEL TO TO OPERATE ON.
AND WITH THAT STAFFING LEVEL OF COURT WE CAN DO ALL THE PROGRAM.
AND SO THAT'S ABOVE THAT 1 TO 48 RATIO THAT, THAT COURTS AND AND EVERYBODY ACROSS THE STATE USES.
SO, CHIEF VASQUEZ, I VERY MUCH LOOK FORWARD TO HEARING THE FULL PLAN AND HOW TO PHASE OUT THE OUTSOURCING, BECAUSE JUST SPEAKING FOR MYSELF, I INFINITELY RATHER SPEND THE FUNDING HERE WITHIN HARRIS COUNTY MAKING OUR JAILS SAFER, MORE REHABILITATIVE THAN THEN SENDING FOLKS TO PRIVATE PRISONS.
I PERSONALLY FIND THAT DEEPLY, DEEPLY TROUBLING.
[03:05:05]
REALLY QUICKLY.THERE'S TWO OTHER MAIN TOPICS ON REPAIRS.
I KNOW. COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR RAMIREZ, YOU WERE SAYING THAT THE ENGINEERING TEAM IS ALREADY ACTIVELY WORKING ON ALL OF THE IMMEDIATE SAFETY MAINTENANCE REPAIRS AT OUR JAIL.
CORRECT. AND THEY'RE WORKING WITH THE WITH THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE AND CHIEF VASQUEZ.
YOU WOULD KNOW WHERE WHERE THE.
I GUESS THE THE WORK IS RIGHT NOW.
IN BROAD STROKES, COMMISSIONER AND COURT.
OUR MAIN FOCUS WAS THE DOMESTIC WATER TANKS, AND ENGINEERING IS FAR ALONG IN THAT PROCESS.
I THINK WE'RE IN THE FINAL TO IDENTIFY THAT THE WORK THAT'S GOING TO COME IN, THAT WAS ONE OF THE CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURE PACKAGES THAT THE COURT SUPPORTED BY AUTHORIZING THAT $122 MILLION.
WE'VE STARTED ON SEVERAL OTHER PROJECTS, SOME FIRE, FIRE SYSTEM UPGRADES.
AND I WOULD SAY THOSE ARE THE MOST CRITICAL THAT THAT WE'VE BEEN WORKING ON.
WE DID A FULL REPLACEMENT OF A FIRE PANEL IN ONE OF OUR JAIL BUILDINGS, AND THEN MOST OF THE OTHER PROJECTS ARE ARE WITHIN DIFFERENT, DIFFERENT PHASES OF EITHER FINDING THE PROPER VENDOR SCOPE OF WORKS OR GOING OUT RFPS.
AND SO THAT'S ANOTHER BIG CRITICAL PACKAGE.
WELL, I'M HAPPY WE'RE MAKING PROGRESS.
I WOULD PLEASE LOVE IN JANUARY FOR THERE TO BE A VERY SPECIFIC UPDATE ON ALL OF THE $122 MILLION IN SAFETY MAINTENANCE IMPROVEMENTS. KIND OF WHERE WE STAND ON THE DIFFERENT PROJECTS AND WHAT PROGRESS WE'RE MAKING, WHAT THE TIMELINE IS, BECAUSE WHAT THE FUTURE MAY HOLD IN TERMS OF A DIFFERENT FACILITY IS ONE THING.
BUT I JUST EVERY DAY WITH, YOU KNOW, OUR WONDERFUL OFFICERS IN OUR JAIL AND THEN AS WELL AS THE DETAINEES, I WANT TO MAKE SURE WE'RE DOING EVERYTHING AS PURPOSEFULLY AND AGGRESSIVELY AND AS THOROUGHLY AS POSSIBLE NOW AND NOT HAVING ANY DELAYS.
AND THEN MY LAST TOPIC AND DOCTOR PORSA, I DON'T KNOW IF YOU'RE ON DOCTOR PORSA OR SOMEONE FROM HARRIS HEALTH, BUT I JUST WANTED A QUICK UPDATE ON ON PROGRESS WE'RE MAKING IN THE JAIL MEDICAL PIECE OF IT.
AND WHAT MORE, WHAT ARE THE IMMEDIATE KIND OF PRIORITIES FOR 2025? I DON'T KNOW IF DOCTOR PAWSON.
NO, I DON'T KNOW IF THEY'RE ON.
MAYBE. COULD YOU PLEASE, DIRECTOR MILLS, ASK HIM TO COME OR VIRTUALLY COME IN JANUARY? YES, ABSOLUTELY. OKAY.
WE CAN. WE CAN EMAIL YOU OR THE ENTIRE COURT.
AN UPDATE ON THE TEN PROJECTS WILL ABSOLUTELY COME BACK IN JANUARY AND TALK WITH YOU ABOUT THEM.
WE WORK HAVE A REALLY GOOD WORKING RELATIONSHIP WITH DOCTOR RAMON.
SO WE HAVE WE HAVE ALL TEN OF THE INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS AND WHERE THEY ARE.
SO WE CAN EMAIL THAT TO ALL THE COURTS THIS WEEK.
BUT WE'LL ABSOLUTELY COME BACK IN JANUARY FOR THE MEDICAL.
I'LL GIVE I CAN PROVIDE YOU A LITTLE BIT OF WHAT I KNOW, COMMISSIONER.
SURE IS. THAT'S ONGOING WITH THE COUNTY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE.
THEY'RE WORKING ON THE IG OR THE NEW CONTRACT AMENDMENTS TO GET THAT PROCESS THROUGH.
AND AGAIN, THOSE ARE THE MEETINGS I'M SITTING ON.
IF THERE'S MORE SPECIFIC MEDICAL INFORMATION, THEN I WOULD LEAVE THAT TO DOCTOR PORSCHE OR HIS TEAM.
BUT I KNOW THAT THERE'S A WEEKLY MEETING.
IN FACT, ONE HAPPENED TODAY AS THEY CONTINUE TO WORK ON THAT CONTRACT, THAT MEDICAL CONTRACT BETWEEN HARRIS COUNTY AND HARRIS HEALTH SYSTEMS. THANK YOU, CHIEF BOSQUEZ.
ABSOLUTELY. COMMISSIONER GARCIA.
THANK YOU AND YOUR STAFF FOR YOUR WORK.
AND I REMEMBER I USED TO WORK HARD TO TRY TO MAKE THE GENERAL PUBLIC APPRECIATE AND RESPECT THE WORK THAT DETENTION STAFF DOES ON A DAY TO DAY BASIS, THE RISKS THAT THEY TAKE, THE CHALLENGES THAT THEY HAVE.
AND SO I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THAT YOU HAVE OUR RESPECT AND OUR SUPPORT AND ALL THE WORK THAT YOU AND YOUR MEN AND WOMEN DO ON A DAILY BASIS IN THAT VERY, VERY DIFFICULT ENVIRONMENT.
AND THEN THIS THIS IS ALL JUST KIND OF BEING BRINGING BACK A LOT OF MEMORIES WHEN I WORKED TO HAVE THE JOINT PROCESSING CENTER BUILT.
THE PROCESS THAT WE TOOK WAS TO NUMBER ONE.
WE KNEW WE HAD FINITE DOLLARS.
THE CITY HAD BOND MONEY THAT THEY HAD PASSED ON BOND ON A ON A BOND ELECTION.
[03:10:01]
WHEN I WAS ON CITY COUNCIL THE COUNTY LOST ITS BOND ELECTION AT THE SAME TIME.IN MY SECOND YEAR, AND WE PASSED IT SO WE KNEW HOW MUCH MONEY WE HAD TO SPEND.
SO I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE KNOW EXACTLY WHAT WE'RE GOING TO BE SPENDING ON THIS.
AND SO MY MOTION ON ITEM 21 WOULD BE TO DIRECT THE HARRIS COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF ENGINEERING AND THE OFFICE OF MANAGEMENT AND BUDGET TO BRING BACK BY THE SECOND MEETING IN JANUARY, RECOMMENDATIONS ON WHAT THE COUNTY CAN AFFORD.
BEFORE WE COMMIT TO THE PROGRAMING.
I WANT TO SEE I DON'T KNOW IF WE CAN PROVIDE A PRELIMINARY ENGINEERING REPORT BY THAT TIME, OR AT LEAST THE FRAMEWORK TO GET US MOVING ON A PRELIMINARY ENGINEERING REPORT.
AND THAT THE PROGRAMING BE A PART OF THE ARCHITECT OF RECORD? BECAUSE WE'RE TALKING ABOUT A LOT OF CONCEPTS, BUT WE JUST DON'T KNOW WHERE ALL THAT'S GOING TO FIT IN.
AND ULTIMATELY WE HAVE A JAIL TO RUN AND WE GOT AN INFIRMARY TO RUN.
AND SO ALL OF THE CONCEPTUAL THINGS OF OF PROGRAMING, I KNOW THE SHERIFF WANTS TO EXPAND THE WOMEN'S EMPOWERMENT CENTER, WHICH IS INCREDIBLE. WE NEED MORE MENTAL HEALTH BEDS.
WE NEED MORE BEDS FOR FEMALES.
SO I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE WE'RE UNDERSTANDING WHAT OUR FOOTPRINT IS GOING TO BE, WHAT OUR FINANCIAL CAPACITY IS GOING TO BE, AND THEN MAKE SURE TO FIT ALL OF THE ASPECTS OF PROGRAMING FROM THAT POINT GOING FORWARD, BECAUSE ULTIMATELY, WE'RE GOING TO CONCEPTUALIZE A BIG THING AND THEN TRY TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO PUT ALL THE PIECES TOGETHER.
SO MY MOTION WOULD BE TO DIRECT HARRIS COUNTY.
HARRIS COUNTY, DEPARTMENT OF ENGINEERING, OFFICE OF MANAGEMENT AND BUDGET TO BRING BACK BY THE SECOND MEETING IN JANUARY RECOMMENDATIONS ON WHAT THE COUNTY CAN AFFORD BEFORE WE COMMIT TO THE PROGRAMING, A PRELIMINARY ENGINEERING REPORT AND OR THE FRAMEWORK OF A PRELIMINARY ENGINEERING REPORT, AND THAT PROGRAMING BE A PART OF THE ARCHITECT OF RECORD.
COMMISSIONER, I WANT TO I WANT TO SECOND THAT, BUT I WANT TO UNDERSTAND ARE WE TALKING ABOUT WHAT WE NEED TO DO IMMEDIATELY TO IMPROVE THE CURRENT JAIL? NO, THIS THIS WILL BE JUST LOOKING LOOKING FORWARD, LOOKING FORWARD, THE WHOLE THING.
THE WHOLE THE WHOLE THE WHOLE ISSUE.
OKAY, I'LL JUST MAKE A MOTION.
ANY OPPOSED? MOTION MADE BY ELLIS.
SECOND BY COMMISSIONER GARCIA.
PASSES. JUST A QUICK QUESTION.
SO, FROM THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATORS, I THINK IT'S A GOOD MOTION.
ANY ANY QUALMS? ANYBODY ELSE OUGHT TO BE INCLUDED IN THAT PROCESS FROM THE BUDGET OFFICE.
AND IS THAT ENOUGH TIME? WELL, YOU KNOW, BY THE END. OR DO YOU NEED COMMISSIONER GARCIA? YOU NEED 30 DAYS.
I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE YOU CAN DO IT.
RIGHT. WELL YOU KNOW, THE THE JACK WAS WAS ASSIGNED TO DO THIS.
SO NOW WE'RE MOVING AWAY FROM FROM THAT ASSIGNMENT.
THEN WE MOVE AWAY FROM THAT ASSIGNMENT.
I THINK 30 DAYS IS IS PRETTY SHORT TIME.
BUT I THINK THAT I'D RATHER NOT, YOU KNOW, IF IT WAS, IF I HAD THE THE RECOMMENDATION TO MAKE IT WOULD BE THAT WE CONTINUE ON THE PATH THAT, THAT WE'RE WORKING ON BECAUSE WE'RE DOING ALL THE DUE DILIGENCE.
AND I DON'T WANT US TO GET, AS YOU WERE SAYING, THE CART BEFORE THE HORSE.
THE. AND IF IT'S EASY TO PULL IT.
YEAH, GO DO IT. BUT IF IT'S NOT THAT EASY TO PULL IT, I THINK WE COULD.
WE JUST GET THESE STOPS AND STARTS.
YEAH. AND THIS IS NOT A STOP OR BUT THIS IS A START TO MAKE SURE BECAUSE WE'RE GOING TO BE PLANNING AND PLANNING AND PLANNING AND PLANNING AND ULTIMATELY WE HAVE TO MAKE A DECISION.
WE'RE PUTTING $120 MILLION INTO AN OLD FACILITY.
AND AND WE'RE TRYING TO HIRE PERSONNEL FOR TO WORK IN OLD FACILITY THAT HAS VERY ARCHAIC DESIGNS.
AND SO MY ISSUE IS TO MAKE SURE THAT WE CONCURRENTLY START THE PROCESS TO LOOK FORWARD AND BUT DO IT IN A WAY THAT MAKES SENSE TO ME. I THINK WE HAVE TO DECIDE WHAT WE'RE GOING TO SPEND, HOW MUCH WE'RE WILLING TO SPEND, AND THEN UNDERSTAND THE PROGRAMING THAT WILL GO INTO THAT.
SO THIS IS NOT TO DEFER FROM WHAT YOU'RE DOING, BUT THIS IS TO START A CONCURRENT PROCESS ON PLANNING WHETHER THERE'S GOING TO BE A NEW FACILITY AND WHAT IT'S GOING TO LOOK LIKE, AND FOR THE FOR THE FUNDING AND WHAT WE CAN WHAT WE CAN AFFORD.
[03:15:01]
IS THE COURT INTERESTED IN, IN HAVING OMB PRESENT FUNDING ALL AT ONE TIME OR OVER PHASES OF HOW WE WORK? IS IT LOCAL AT THE CURRENT POSITION, THE CURRENT OMB TO I'LL LEAVE THAT TO OMB TO TO TO DECIDE AND GIVE US A RECOMMENDATION ON THAT.SO I SHARE YOUR SENSE OF URGENCY, COMMISSIONER GARCIA.
AND OBVIOUSLY, YOU HAVE THE MOST EXPERTISE WITH REGARD TO JAILS THAN ALL OF US COMBINED TIMES THREE, RIGHT? OR MORE.
SO I FEEL YOUR SENSE OF URGENCY.
AND I KNOW WE'VE GIVEN CLEAR DIRECTION TO THE JEGUK COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR RAMIREZ.
SO I WANT TO MAKE SURE WE CONTINUE THAT ON PARALLEL TRACKS.
AND I HEAR YOU, I FEEL LIKE WE'RE TALKING PAST EACH OTHER A LITTLE BIT.
IT'S LIKE WE NEED TO WE WANT TO HAVE.
MEANWHILE, WE HAVE PEOPLE IN THIS OLD FACILITY THAT'S ARCHAIC.
MEANWHILE, WE'RE SPENDING 122 MILLION TO FIX THE OLD ARCHAIC ONE.
MEANWHILE, WE'RE SENDING PEOPLE TO PRIVATE PRISONS.
BUT MY QUESTION, I HEAR YOU RIGHT, IF WE'RE GOING TO DESIGN THE BLUE SKY AND WE'RE NOT GOING TO HAVE MONEY TO PAY FOR THE BLUE SKY, HOW ARE WE GOING TO GET TO THE BLUE SKY VERSUS THE I'M CALLING BLUE SKY LIKE THE BEST? AND TO BE HONEST, I THINK I'LL SPARE YOU MY INNER MENTAL COMMENTARY VERSUS A MEDIOCRE MID YOU KNOW, B STUDENT JAIL VERSUS LIKE WE CAN ONLY AFFORD THE C JAIL, RIGHT? RIGHT. SO I THINK THAT'S WHAT YOU'RE SAYING.
LIKE IF WE'RE GOING TO BE PLANNING FOR THE A+ JAIL AND WE'RE NEVER GOING TO HAVE THE FUNDING, THEN ARE WE JUST RUNNING IN CIRCLES, WASTING VALUABLE TIME? SO I HEAR YOU.
WE SHOULD BE COMING UP WITH THE WHAT IS THE WORKING BUDGET? AND IS THIS WITH DEBT? IS THIS GOING TO THE VOTERS FOR A BOND? IS IT BOTH? IS IT? YOU KNOW, HERE'S THE BUDGET FOR THE FIRST 3 TO 5 YEARS.
THE TEN YEAR BUDGET. THE 15 YEAR BUDGET.
AND I THINK THEY'RE BOTH IMPERATIVE.
RIGHT. AND YOU KNOW ME, I ALWAYS WANT TO BE, LIKE, BEST IN CLASS.
HOW DO WE AFFORD THE BEST IN CLASS IN TERMS OF TRULY MAKING IT REHABILITATIVE AND HOLISTIC AND SAFE AND HUMANE AND ALL THE THINGS? AND SO I HOPE THAT WE'VE BEEN PLANNING FROM A BUDGETARY PERSPECTIVE AS WE'RE HAVING THESE COMMUNITY MEETINGS, AS WE'RE TOURING JAILS ACROSS THE COUNTRY.
LIKE I ASSUME IT'S HAPPENING AS A WORK STREAM.
A CAN YOU UPDATE ON WHAT IS AND IS NOT HAPPENING? AND B WHAT IS THE MOST REALISTIC WAY TO ACHIEVE, WHICH I THINK IS VERY IMPORTANT, RIGHT.
WHAT COMMISSIONER GARCIA IS SAYING WITH WHAT OUR CURRENT WORK IS.
SO BASICALLY, HOW CAN WE DO IT ALL AND DO IT WITH A GREATER SENSE OF URGENCY AND PURPOSE, BUT GET ALL THE INFORMATION WE NEED SO THAT WE'RE NOT WASTING GOING IN CIRCLES? SO THE QUESTION IS, WHAT WOULD YOU RECOMMEND AND HOW CAN WE TRIANGULATE THESE COMPETING INTERESTS? WELL, I THINK IF WHAT COMMISSIONER GARCIA IS PROPOSING IS, IS KIND OF, AS YOU LIKE TO SAY, BOTH AND RIGHT.
RIGHT. SO PROGRAMING JAIL FUNDING WHAT YOU'RE DOING, YOU'RE DOING SOME GREAT STUFF.
RIGHT. SO YEAH, AS WE THINK OF AS I'M THINKING ABOUT IT, AS WE'RE WORKING THROUGH THIS, I THINK THAT THAT BECOMES ANOTHER PARALLEL EFFORT ON ESPECIALLY ON THE, ON THE FUNDING SIDE AND, AND THEN ON, YOU KNOW, THE ENGINEERING KIND OF SOME PRELIMINARY NUMBERS.
AND I SEE THAT CHIEF BOSQUEZ HAS HIS HAND UP TOO.
CHIEF RAMSEY, YOU WANT TO SAY SOMETHING, YOU WANT TO GO TO HEAR WHAT CHIEF VASQUEZ HAS TO SAY? LET'S HEAR THE CHIEF. CHIEF. GO AHEAD.
COMMISSIONER GARCIA, I KNOW WE WORK TOGETHER.
WHEN I WAS AT THE STATE AND YOU WERE HERE AT THE SHERIFF'S LEVEL, WHAT I'M HEARING.
AND IT MAY BE SIMPLE FROM A COUNTRY BOY.
ARE WE SAYING WE NEED TEN ACRES TO BUILD A FUTURE FACILITY.
YEP. WE EITHER OWN IT OR WE DON'T.
YEP. AND THIS IS WHAT THE COST OF THIS IS.
EXACTLY. AND TO BUILD A 3000 BED FACILITY.
IF IT'S MEDICAL, MENTAL HEALTH, IF WE'RE JUST SIMPLY SAYING CONCRETE STEEL, THAT'S $475 MILLION.
AND THAT'S WHAT YOU WANT TO SEE NEXT MONTH.
AND THERE'S PROBABLY 1 OR 2 OTHER FACTORS TO BE ABLE TO SAY.
THAT'S CORRECT. PROPERTY BUILDING THIS THAT AND THE OTHER.
WE CAN FIGURE OUT WHAT WE'RE GOING TO FROST THE CAKE WITH LATER.
EXACTLY. BUT WE NEED THESE BASICS.
THAT'S CORRECT. ORDERS OF MAGNITUDE.
HORIZONTAL VERSUS VERTICAL, THAT KIND OF THING.
[03:20:09]
FIRST. BEFORE YOU GET TO THAT PLACE.SO IF IT'S A $450 MILLION SOMETHING ON TEN ACRES, LET'S TALK ABOUT IT.
HE USED TERMS LIKE PR, CONCEPTUAL ENGINEERING, REPORT, ALL THESE OTHER WAYS YOU MARKET.
BUT IN JANUARY, IF YOU CAN JUST KIND OF TELL US WHERE YOU ARE AND WHAT LOOKS LIKE IT'S COMING INTO FOCUS IN TERMS OF A NEXT BEST STEP THAT ALLOWS US TO PARTICIPATE IN THE PROCESS AND PROVIDE INPUT.
SO I THINK THE TIMING IS GOOD.
I THINK IT DOES ALLOW US TO PROVIDE YOU, I THINK, MUCH NEEDED INPUT WITHOUT HAVING WE DON'T I KNOW YOU'RE NOT COMING IN JANUARY WITH ALL THE ANSWERS, BUT AT LEAST YOU HAVE SOME THINGS IDENTIFIED.
CLEARLY THERE'S BEEN SOME TRIPS MADE.
CLEARLY THERE'S BEEN SOME UNDERSTAND SOME IDEAS ON WHAT WE CAN DO AND HOW WE DO IT.
AND THAT DOESN'T NECESSARILY MEAN THE NEW 10,000 BED FACILITY.
I KNOW WE'VE GOT A 2023 REPORT FROM AECOM.
I'M ASSUMING WE'RE USING ALL THIS GOOD REPORTS AND PROGRAMS AND OTHER THINGS.
THERE'S A LOT OF STUFF OUT THERE IN TERMS OF HOW MUCH MONEY WE'VE SPENT IN DOING A STUDY.
SO I WOULD DIANA, I THINK I HEAR YOU SAYING YOU DON'T HAVE A PROBLEM WITH IT.
I WOULD SAY IN ADDITION TO JUST BUILDING THE BUILDING, THE SHERIFF IS AT LEAST TOLD ME IF YOU WERE DOING A JAIL OVER AGAIN, YOU PROBABLY WOULDN'T GO INTO A WAREHOUSE WITH NO WINDOWS. EXACTLY.
WE SO ARTISTICALLY THEY HAVE ART IN IT.
SO IT'S WINDOWS TO US ON THE OUTSIDE, BUT NO WINDOWS IN IT.
BUT AS LONG AS YOU TAKE ALL THAT INTO ACCOUNT, DEPENDS ON WHERE YOU PUT IT, YOU GOT TO WORK IN ADDITIONAL COSTS FOR SECURITY, GETTING THEM THERE AND BACK, WORKING THE COST OF HAVING TO GET THEM TO A COURT, I MEAN, A HOST OF THOSE THINGS.
BUT I WANT TO MAKE SURE I HEAR YOU SAYING THAT.
YOU DON'T THINK THAT THIS TAKES YOU OFF THE TRACK FROM THE PROCESS WE'VE PUT IN PLACE, RIGHT.
WHICH IS CONSIDERABLY SHORTER SIX MONTHS.
OTHER PLACES AROUND THE COUNTRY, WHEN THEY'VE DONE IT, GOING TO WHATEVER THE STATE OF THE ART SYSTEM IS, TAKES, TAKES A HECK OF A LOT LONGER THAN SIX MONTHS, RIGHT? IT'S A HEAVY LIFT. BUT I THINK I THINK WITH, WITH THE, WITH THE MORE DESCRIPTION AND UNDERSTANDING ON ON WHAT, YOU KNOW, COMMISSIONER GARCIA, COMMISSIONER RAMEY ARE THINKING ABOUT BECAUSE THIS IS TAKING TOO LONG TO JUST KEEP DOING THAT.
AND THEN OUR, OUR POPULATION GOES DOWN BECAUSE OF ALL THE GREAT WORK WE'RE DOING IN THE FUTURE, FIVE YEARS DOWN THE ROAD PROGRAMING ALL THIS DEFLECTION AND DIVERSION AND, YOU KNOW, DROPPING THE RECIDIVISM.
AND WE ACTUALLY HAVE HOUSING FOR PEOPLE ON THE WAY OUT.
HE SAID, CAN YOU IMAGINE THAT? ALL WE HAVE TO DO IS MOVE THE FENCE.
AND THIS SECURE FACILITY NOW IS OUTSIDE THE FENCE AND IS A COMMUNITY FACILITY.
HE'S LIKE, WOULDN'T THAT BE GREAT? AND I WAS LIKE, YOU KNOW, YES, THAT WOULD BE AWESOME.
AND SO BEING ABLE TO TO START THINKING IN THOSE TERMS OF HOW CAN WE BE AS AGILE AS POSSIBLE JUST TO TAKE INTO CONSIDERATION THINGS WE AREN'T EVEN THINKING OF THAT MIGHT HAPPEN IN THE FUTURE.
SO I THINK THIS HELPS US IN STARTING TO SET THOSE BIG BUILDING BLOCKS SO WE CAN MOVE FORWARD.
TWO MORE QUICK QUESTIONS, THEN I'LL STOP.
OBVIOUSLY, WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT FINANCING, THE COURT WENT TO THE VOTERS BEFORE.
YOU DON'T HAVE TO IF IT'S THE JAIL FACILITY.
RIGHT. THAT'S MY UNDERSTANDING.
THAT'S THE COUNTY ATTORNEY'S TAKE INTERPRETATION.
YEAH, WELL, WE'RE LOOKING INTO THAT, BUT THAT'S THAT'S THAT'S OUR INITIAL SORT OF VIEW.
IT DOESN'T MEAN IT'S FREE BECAUSE IT DOES NOT MEAN IT'S IT'S NEVER FREE.
AND IN THE PROCESS OF SERVICING THE DEBT, MAKE SURE YOU WORK IN WHAT IMPACT IT'S GOING TO HAVE, BECAUSE WE'LL HAVE TO CUT SOME OTHER STUFF OR HAVE MORE MONEY BECAUSE YOU'LL HAVE TO SERVICE THE DEBT FOR THE FACILITY.
EXACTLY. NOW FOR MISS MILLS, ONE QUICK QUESTION.
ARE YOU GETTING ALL OF THE DATA THAT YOU NEED SO WE CAN FINALLY COME UP WITH A RACIAL DISPARITY STUDY THAT I'VE BEEN ASKING FOR FOR EIGHT YEARS? WE CAN. SO EVERYBODY'S YOU HAVE ACCESS TO ALL THE DATA THAT YOU WANT.
SO WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO GET DATA TO RANT.
[03:25:06]
AND THEY HAVE DATA TO WORK ON THE WORK THAT YOU'VE ASKED THEM TO DO.AND THEN, YES, WE HAVE ACCESS TO, TO THE DATA THAT WE NEED.
YES. OKAY. THAT'S A MOTION ON THE TABLE.
YOU WANT A COPY OF IT OR DID YOU HEAR IT? AS LONG AS WE'RE GOING TO GO WITH THE MOTION.
COMMISSIONER GARCIA READ IT WAS MADE BY A QUESTION, PLEASE.
FOR PURPOSES OF MAKING SURE THIS IS ALL RUNNING IN PARALLEL AND WITH GREAT SYNERGY AND COMMUNICATION SO THAT WE'RE NOT INADVERTENTLY CREATING MORE DELAYS, CAN YOU A FRIENDLY AMENDMENT, IT SAYS ENGINEERING AND OMB.
CAN WE PUT OCA JUST SO THAT THERE IS TRANSPARENCY? MOST DEFINITELY. WILL YOU ACCEPT A FRIENDLY AMENDMENT ON ANY OTHER RELEVANT ACTORS IN THE PROCESS? DIANE, IS THAT ALL RIGHT? ACCEPT IT.
ANYBODY ELSE YOU THINK OUGHT TO BE THE COUNTY ATTORNEY? ANYBODY ELSE? COMMISSIONER? NO. GOOD. ANYTHING? WAS THAT SOMETHING ELSE? YES.
COUGHING FITS. BUT BASICALLY, JUST SO THAT WE HAVE THE NECESSARY PLAYERS TO BE FINANCIAL.
OKAY. MOTION HAS BEEN MADE BY COMMISSIONER GARCIA.
SECOND, I THINK BY COMMISSIONER RAMSEY.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, VOTE AYE. AYE.
FOUR EYES AND NO. THIS ITEM PASSES.
THIS IS. DID YOU HAVE ANOTHER ONE? WAS THAT IT? OKAY, LOOK, THE WAY THIS WORKS, BY THE WAY.
ONCE YOU'VE SPOKEN, HIT THE BUTTON AGAIN SO I KNOW YOU'RE NOT THE NEXT ONE IN LINE.
I HOPE YOU ALL CAN FIX THIS UP AND DO SO TO TELL US WHO'S SPEAKING OR WHICH ITEM WE OWN.
IF YOU CAN ADD THAT IN THERE SOMEWHERE.
[Emergency/Supplemental items (Part 1 of 2)]
COMMISSIONER, LET ME ADD QUICKLY.THERE IS AN ITEM 574 WHICH RELATES TO THE JAIL.
I'M SORRY. FIRST, WHAT IS THERE? IS THERE A MOTION FOR ITEM 20? NO, THAT WAS JUST A PRESENTATION.
NO ACTION. RIGHT, DEANNA? CORRECT. THAT WAS JUST A PRESENTATION.
AND NEXT YOU'LL TAKE 574 AND MY.
I HAD A QUESTION THERE RELATED TO 287 G.
I WILL I HATE NUMBERS WHEN THEY PUT THEM LIKE THAT.
NO ONE KNOWS WHAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT.
BUT THAT'S THE ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION REFORM AND IMMIGRANT RESPONSIBILITY ACT OF 1996.
AND IT ADDED A SECTION 287 G TO THE IMMIGRATION AND NATIONALITY ACT AUTHORIZING U.S.
IMMIGRATION CUSTOMS ENFORCEMENT ICE TO DELEGATE TO STATE AND LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS THE AUTHORITY TO PERFORM SPECIFIC IMMIGRATION OFFICER FUNCTIONS UNDER THE AGENCY'S OVERSIGHT.
BUT I WILL TELL YOU THAT YOUR HARRIS COUNTY JAIL AND THE SHERIFF AND I DO WANT TO COMMEND HIM.
AND 2023, 3600 INMATES WERE COORDINATED WITH ICE AND THEY WERE ACTUALLY PICKED UP AT THE JAIL. AND SO THERE'S A VERY HEALTHY WORKING RELATIONSHIP GOING ON BETWEEN SHERIFF GONZALEZ AND ICE.
THUS FAR IN 2024, 3300 INMATES TRANSFERRED TO ICE IN CUSTODY.
SO THERE IS YOUR 287 G UPDATE ON THAT PARTICULAR QUESTION.
IS THAT MOTION ON THAT MOTION.
AND NOW WE WILL GO BACK TO ITEM 22.
[Departments (Part 3 of 4)]
RIGHT. YES.THANK YOU. THANK YOU COMMISSIONER.
THAT'S ON THE BOARDS AND POLICIES, THE BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS POLICY.
THIS HAS COME BACK AND FORTH WITH THE COMMISSIONERS COURT SEVERAL TIMES.
COMMISSIONER GARCIA AND COMMISSIONER RAMOS, EITHER ONE OF YOU ALL.
AND WE'RE TALKING ABOUT ITEM 22.
YES, SIR. YES, SIR. I KNOW THAT COMMISSIONER JONES HAS A MOTION.
I'D JUST LIKE TO SECOND THE MOTION.
COMMISSIONER RAMSEY. YEAH, WELL, I GUESS I'LL LISTEN TO THE MOTION.
I I'M I'M OPTION ONE, BUT, YEAH, IT'S IT'S OPTION ONE AND OPTION TWO.
AT LEAST FOR ME. I CAN'T VOTE FOR IT.
[03:30:01]
I WANT TO SPEND MORE TIME LOOKING AT IT, TO BE HONEST WITH YOU.BUT THERE'S A MOTION ON THE TABLE IN A SECOND.
ANY OTHER DISCUSSION? LET ME UNDERSTAND.
OPTION ONE. OPTION ONE IS TO CURRENTLY MAINTAIN IT THE WAY WE'RE DOING IT RIGHT.
OR LEAVE IT THE WAY IT IS, RIGHT.
OH, GOOD. I'M SORRY. SO LEAVE IT ALONE.
I THOUGHT THAT SEEMS LIKE A REASONABLE THING TO DO.
MOTION IS MADE BY COMMISSIONER BROWN, SECOND BY COMMISSIONER GARCIA.
FOUR IN FAVOR. NEXT IS ITEM 23.
YES, SIR. AND THAT'S THE PROCURE TO PAY PROJECT UPDATES.
WE HAVE A REALLY LONG SLIDE DECK, BUT I'M ONLY GOING TO GO OVER FOUR SLIDES, SO.
YES, SIR. I'LL TALK FAST SO YOU CAN GO TO TO SLIDE EIGHT.
SO TODAY WE'RE GOING TO BE TALKING ABOUT THE PRE-REVIEW PROCESS.
AND SO LAST MONTH, MOTION ON THIS WAS INTENDED TO IMPROVE THE TIMELINESS OF INVOICE PROCESSING.
SO IF YOU HAVE QUALIFIED INVOICES AND THOSE ARE REGULAR INVOICES, BUT THEY'RE INCORRECTLY BEING SENT DIRECTLY TO A DEPARTMENT BY A VENDOR, AND THEN THE DEPARTMENT SENDS IT ALONG TO THE AUDITOR.
THEN THE OTHER TYPE OF, OF SUBMISSION IS A OF CONSTRUCTION RELATED DOCUMENTATION.
AND THAT'S SOMETHING THAT REQUIRES A PRE-REVIEW PROCESS BEFORE BECOMING A QUALIFIED INVOICE.
AND THE ISSUE WITH THIS CONSTRUCTION RELATED DOCUMENTATION IS THAT IT'S THINGS THAT WHERE YOU NEED TO HAVE AN ENGINEER GO OUT AND DO THE SITE VISIT THE PROJECT MANAGER GOES OUT AND DOES A SITE VISIT TO VERIFY THAT THE WORK HAS BEEN DONE.
THEY NEED TO GO AND VERIFY THAT IT'S ACTUALLY AT 30% COMPLETION BASED ON THE CONSTRUCTION DOCUMENTS.
AND THEN IT'S ALSO INCLUDES ALL OF THE COMPLIANCE WORK THAT DEO AND HOUSING COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DO WHEN FEDERAL FUNDS ARE INVOLVED WITH DBA THE DAVIS-BACON AND RELATED ACTS WITH THE FUNDING THAT'S COMING TO US, THE CDBG FUNDING THAT'S COMING THROUGH THE GLO.
SO, YOU KNOW, THOSE THOSE THAT PRE-REVIEW DOCUMENTATION LOCATION HAS A LOT OF INFORMATION.
THERE ARE HUGE PACKETS OF INFORMATION.
CAN I GET THE NEXT SLIDE PLEASE? AND SO TO ADDRESS THE FIRST ISSUE LAST MEETING, YOU ASKED US TO AMEND CONTRACTS TO REQUIRE VENDORS TO SEND QUALIFIED INVOICES TO BOTH THE AUDITOR AND THE RELEVANT DEPARTMENT. SO THE P2P PROJECT TEAM HAS ANALYZED THIS APPROACH.
THEY MIGHT BE ADMIN FOLKS THAT DO A SLEW OF DIFFERENT TYPES OF WORK.
AND SO YOU MIGHT WIND UP WHERE, YOU KNOW, THE VENDOR SENDS IT TO THE DEPARTMENT AND THE AUDITOR.
AND SO THEN YOU HAVE TO, YOU KNOW, YOU HAVE DUPLICATE INVOICES.
FOR CONSTRUCTION RELATED DOCUMENTATION THAT REQUIRES A PRE REVIEW.
OTHERWISE WE MAY END UP WITH PEOPLE SPENDING A LOT OF TIME REVIEWING AND CHECKING DOCUMENTS.
AND THEN LETTING VENDORS SUBMIT INVOICES ONLY WHEN THEY'RE READY ALSO PROTECTS THE COUNTY BY MAKING SURE WE'RE ONLY PAYING FOR ELIGIBLE COSTS WHILE AVOIDING FINANCIAL AND COMPLIANCE RISKS.
AND I'D ALSO LIKE TO NOTE THAT DOCUMENTATION THAT REQUIRES PRE REVIEW ONLY ACCOUNTS FOR ABOUT 10% OF ALL INVOICES THAT ARE GETTING SENT DIRECTLY TO THE AUDITOR'S OFFICE BASED ON THEIR ESTIMATES.
SO IT'S NOT A HUGE NUMBER OF INVOICES.
THEY JUST HAPPEN TO BE VERY CUMBERSOME AND DATA INTENSIVE.
[03:35:01]
SO WITH THAT IN MIND WHAT WHAT WE WERE PROPOSING IS, IS FOUR MOTIONS TO REFINE LAST MONTH'S MOTION AND BE VERY SPECIFIC TO TRY TO GET US TO BE ABLE TO GET THE INFORMATION WE NEED TO IMPROVE THAT PRE-REVIEW PROCESS THAT RIGHT NOW ISN'T BEING TRACKED BY ANYONE OUTSIDE OF THE RECEIVING DEPARTMENTS.SO THE MOTIONS ARE DESIGNED TO ACHIEVE THE FOLLOWING.
THE THIRD MOTION ENSURES THAT WE CAN START TO HAVE VISIBILITY INTO HOW MUCH TIME EACH STEP IN THE REVIEW PROCESS IS TAKING, WHETHER IT'S AT THE DEPARTMENT, WHETHER IT'S AT DEO, WHETHER IT'S AT HCD, HOW MUCH TIME IS IT TAKING? WE NEED TO TO KNOW WHEN THEY RECEIVE IT AND HOW LONG IT SITS THERE AS THEY'RE DOING THEIR REVIEWS.
AND IN THAT WAY WE CAN START TO IMPLEMENT IMPROVEMENTS TO CUT DOWN ON THAT TIME.
WE'RE ASKING FOR SOMETHING THAT OTHERS HAVE BEEN ABLE TO PROVE THAT CAN BE DONE.
AND SO THE THESE MOTIONS WILL RESULT IN GREATER VISIBILITY.
WE'RE WE'RE RECOMMENDING THAT AND THE AUDITOR HAS AGREED THAT THEY CAN PUT TOGETHER, IF THEY HAVE THE DATA, A DASHBOARD THAT WILL BE INTERNAL FACING SO THAT THE DEPARTMENTS INVOLVED IN THE INVOICES, THE AUDITOR'S OFFICE, OCA AND THE COMMISSIONERS COURT OFFICES CAN SEE AT ANY POINT IN TIME.
WHERE IS THIS PARTICULAR INVOICE THAT'S IN PRE-REVIEW? WHERE IS IT? WHO'S GOT IT? WHERE ARE THEY IN THE PROCESS? AND ONCE WE HAVE THAT DATA, THEN WE CAN REALLY START HONING IN ON WHERE THE BOTTLENECKS ARE, WHERE THE PROBLEMS ARE.
MAYBE IT'S AT A DEPARTMENT DOESN'T HAVE, YOU KNOW, ENOUGH STAFF DOING THAT TYPE OF WORK.
YOU KNOW, IT COULD BE SOMETHING PRETTY STRAIGHTFORWARD.
BUT THAT'S THAT'S THE BEST WAY THAT WE CAN THINK OF TO TO REALLY HOLD ALL OF OURSELVES ACCOUNTABLE TO, TO THE VENDORS TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE GETTING THE DATA UPFRONT TO UNDERSTAND HOW WE CAN, HOW WE CAN FIX THINGS AND IMPROVE THE TIMELINESS.
I THINK ONE OF THE OTHER ISSUES THAT THAT, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE TO CONSIDER IS THAT IT'LL ALSO HELP IDENTIFY IF THERE ARE CERTAIN VENDORS THAT JUST AREN'T GETTING THE RIGHT ENOUGH TRAINING ON WHAT IS EXPECTED FROM THEM.
SO I THINK THAT WE MIGHT COME BACK AFTER, AFTER LOOKING AT THIS WITH MAYBE SOME LANGUAGE, SOME ADDITIONAL LANGUAGE FOR, FOR BASIC CONTRACTS THAT HELPS GIVE BETTER DETAIL OF THE EXPECTATIONS OF THE VENDORS INVOICES AND THEIR PRE-REVIEW DOCUMENTATION.
SO I THINK THIS WILL HELP US REALLY TEASE OUT WHAT THE WHAT THE PROBLEMS COULD BE.
AND THIS SLIDE I WON'T GO THROUGH IN DETAIL, BUT WE INCLUDED IT.
AND IT'S YOU THE AUDITOR'S OFFICE RECEIVES AN INVOICE FROM THE VENDOR.
THEY SEND IT TO THE DEPARTMENT FOR REVIEW.
THAT'S AT 30 DAY PROMPT PAY WINDOW.
THAT'S WHAT WE'VE BEEN FOCUSING ON THE LAST COUPLE YEARS.
SO NOW THIS NEW AUDITOR'S DASHBOARD, A NEW REVIEW PROCESS THAT WE'RE WE'RE GOING TO BE LOOKING AT ON FOCUSING ON PRE-REVIEW IS STARTING BEFORE THAT 30 DAY CLOCK STARTS.
AND SO THAT'S THAT'S WHAT THAT GETS YOU THROUGH.
IT LOOKS LIKE A PRETTY STRAIGHTFORWARD PROCESS FLOW.
AND, YOU KNOW, RACHEL O'CONNELL, MY STAFF, THE UNIVERSAL SERVICES STAFF, AUDITOR, STAFF DID A TON OF WORK ON THIS TO REALLY DIG IN WITH ALL THE DEPARTMENTS TO UNDERSTAND, YOU KNOW, BETTER THIS PRE-REVIEW PROCESS.
AND THAT'S WHERE WE HAVE THIS, THIS WEIRD ACCORDION OF.
WE'RE NOT SURE HOW LONG IT TAKES EVERYBODY.
AND SO YOU KNOW, THAT'S THAT'S A PRESENTATION FOR TODAY.
WE HOPE THAT YOU'LL BE COMFORTABLE ENOUGH TO MAKE THOSE MOTIONS.
IF NOT, WE'RE HAPPY TO, YOU KNOW, DISCUSS WITH YOU ALL AGAIN AND GET BACK IN JANUARY.
AND WE'LL BE BACK ANYWAY IN THE SECOND MEETING IN JANUARY FOR THE NEXT UPDATE.
[03:40:04]
SO ON THE LIST I HAVE COMMISSIONER RAMSEY GARCIA AND BRIONES.COMMISSIONER RAMSEY, WAS THAT AN OLD BUTTON PUSH? NO. THAT'S GOOD. OKAY.
SO YOU WANT TO SPEAK NOW ON THIS? OKAY, QUICKLY.
I MEAN, THE MOTION TO DIRECT ALL FUTURE CONTRACTS FOR HARRIS COUNTY DEPARTMENTS TO CLEARLY STATE THE VENDOR INVOICES MUST BE SUBMITTED BY THE VENDOR TO THE COUNTY AUDITOR'S OFFICE. GET ALL THAT? BUT WE I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT THE DEPARTMENTS COMMUNICATE WITH YOU THEIR PLAN.
SECOND. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF WHAT I WAS OPPOSED? VOTE NO. AYES HAVE IT.
SO I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO KNOW WHEN YOU'RE GETTING FEEDBACK.
JUST JUST THE FEEDBACK IN IN PRECINCT THREE.
OUR REJECTION RATE IS ONE OUT OF EVERY THREE INVOICES IS REJECTED.
82% OF PRECINCT THREE'S REJECTIONS ARE DUE TO DUPLICATE AND OR ALREADY PAID INVOICES, SO WE SHOULD BE ABLE TO FIGURE THAT PART OUT PRETTY EASILY.
THAT SEEMS LIKE LOW HANGING FRUIT THAT YOU CAN DEAL WITH.
PLUS, IF VENDORS CAN'T GET IT RIGHT, THIS IS LIKE BASEBALL.
YOU GET STRIKE ONE, YOU GET STRIKE TWO.
EXACTLY. THIS IS AN UNACCEPTABLE.
EXACTLY. YOU GO FIGURE IT OUT, RIGHT? YES, SIR. AND THAT SYSTEM OF GETTING IT OUT OF OUR SHOP AND BACK INTO THEIR SHOP TO GET IT CORRECTED, I THINK IS IMPORTANT, BUT I AGREE WITH WITH WHAT IS BEING PROPOSED.
AND ONE OF THE REASONS WE WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT THE MOTIONS DIDN'T HAVE LIKE DATES OR DEADLINES FOR THIS IS BECAUSE WE WANTED TO MAKE SURE WE HAD MORE TIME TO SPEND WITH THE DEPARTMENTS, BECAUSE FOR SOME OF THEM, IT'S IT'S GOING TO BE SOME, SOME MAYBE SOME LABOR INTENSITY THAT, YOU KNOW, WE HAVEN'T CONSIDERED.
AND SO WE WANT TO MAKE SURE WE WE BOUGHT OURSELVES SOME TIME TO SIT DOWN WITH THE DEPARTMENT AND FIGURE OUT HOW LONG IS THIS GOING TO TAKE, HOW MUCH WORK IS IT GOING TO TAKE? ARE YOU GOING TO NEED RESOURCES? IS THIS SOMETHING WHERE IT'S BASICALLY YOU'RE REJECTING HIM QUICKLY, YOU DON'T HAVE A PROBLEM.
SO WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE BUY OURSELVES SOME TIME WITH THAT.
A QUALITY INVOICE CAN BE PROCESSED QUICKLY.
ADMINISTRATOR, THANK YOU FOR YOUR WORK.
I HAD NO IDEA THAT GETTING OUR VENDORS PAID PROMPTLY WOULD BE SUCH A PAIN IN THE.
YOU KNOW WHAT? AND SO I'M SORRY.
I APPRECIATE THE PROGRESS THAT WE'RE MAKING.
AND IT SEEMS LIKE WE'RE, WE'RE MOVING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.
SO THANK YOU AND YOUR TEAM FOR ALL OF YOUR, ALL OF YOUR WORK.
THE THE THINGS THAT I WANT TO ASK IS TO MAKE SURE THAT AND I AND I'M AND I GET THE PROCESS OF THE CONCERN WITH WITH THE PRE-REVIEW PROCESS TO MAKE SURE WE'RE WE'RE CATCHING THINGS ACCORDINGLY AND GIVING INSPECTIONS AND ALL OF THAT ENGINEERING WORK.
HAVE YOU TALKED TO FLOOD CONTROL ENGINEERING? TOLL ROAD? I'M NOT SURE WHO ELSE MIGHT FALL INTO THE BIGGEST CATEGORY OF THINGS, BUT HAVE YOU VISITED WITH THEM ABOUT HOW TO GET THIS PROCESS WORKED THROUGH? AND SO THE P2P TEAM, THE STAFF TEAM HAVE TALKED TO THE AT THE STAFF LEVEL.
THEY'RE THE ONES THAT ARE WORKING KIND OF DAY IN AND DAY OUT ON, ON, ON THESE ISSUES.
SO THEY'VE BEEN WORKING AT THAT LEVEL, AT THE LEADERSHIP LEVEL, I HAVEN'T HAD THE TIME TO, TO TALK TO TO ALL THE, THE DEPARTMENT HEADS YET, AND THAT'S WHY WE WANTED TO GET STARTED WITH IT AND GET THE KIND OF THE IMPRIMATUR OF THE COURT SAYING, YEAH, WE NEED YOU TO WORK TOGETHER ON THIS, BUT DIDN'T WANT TO SET A HARD DATE IN CONCRETE, BECAUSE I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT I'M NOT SETTING THEM UP FOR FAILURE.
GOTCHA. SO I WOULD ASK IF YOU COULD JUST PLEASE ACCELERATE MEETING AT THE LEADERSHIP LEVEL TO MAKE SURE YOU'RE NOT LEARNING SOMETHING FROM FROM THEM THAT THE THAT THE FRONT LINE IS NOT GIVING YOU.
AND THEN THE QUESTION I HAVE IS GOING TO BE FOR THE CREATING THE PAY APPLICATION AND SENDING SENDING IT TO THE VENDOR TO SUBMIT TO THE AUDITOR'S OFFICE.
HOW WILL WE KNOW THAT THE INVOICES ARE BEING SUBMITTED WHEN THEY NEED TO BE SUBMITTED? BY FROM THE VENDORS, FROM FROM THE VENDORS AND THE DEPARTMENTS, BECAUSE WE'RE ULTIMATELY CREATING A CONNECT POINT, AND THE
[03:45:09]
DEPARTMENT WILL HAVE THE ABILITY TO HOLD BACK AN INVOICE THAT A VENDOR SENDS IN BY SOME OF THE PROCESS THAT YOU'RE LAYING OUT.BUT SO HOW DO HOW DO WE KNOW THAT WE JUST WE'RE NOT STOPPING SOMETHING JUST FOR THE SAKE OF, YOU KNOW, THAT WE DON'T WANT TO WORK ON IT TODAY. RIGHT.
NOT BECAUSE IT'S NOT A GOOD DOCUMENT, BUT NOT NECESSARILY BECAUSE IT'S NOT GOOD.
THAT'S A THAT'S A REALLY GOOD QUESTION, COMMISSIONER.
AND I YOU KNOW, I DON'T HAVE AN ANSWER RIGHT NOW, BUT I THINK THAT, YOU KNOW, I HAVE SEEN WHILE I'VE BEEN HERE THAT WE DO HAVE A LOT OF SINGLE POINTS OF FAILURE IN A LOT OF DEPARTMENTS WHERE THERE'S NO BENCH OF STAFFING, WHERE SOMEONE IS OUT FOR A DAY OR A WEEK, AND THE WORK JUST SITS AND THERE'S NO ONE ELSE TO TAKE IT UP.
AND IT DOESN'T MEAN THAT THE WORK STOPS, IT JUST GETS REASSIGNED TEMPORARILY SO THAT IT KEEPS GOING.
AND THEN LET ME ASK IT FROM A DIFFERENT POINT.
YES, SIR. IF A VENDOR SENDS IN THEIR INVOICE BUT THE THE DEPARTMENT DOESN'T HOW DO WE RESOLVE THAT? SO. WELL, IF WE HAVE THE VENDORS.
SO THIS WOULD IF, IF THE MOTIONS ARE APPROVED AS, AS WRITTEN TODAY, ALL THE, ALL THE QUALIFIED INVOICES WOULD BE SUBMITTED STRAIGHT TO THE AUDITOR'S OFFICE, SO THEY WOULD IMMEDIATELY, YOU KNOW, GET THEM DOCUMENTED AND IN THE SYSTEM.
AND THEN FROM THERE, ONCE IT'S IN THE SYSTEM, THEN THE SYSTEM WILL TRACK WHEN IT GETS SENT TO THE DEPARTMENT, AND THE DEPARTMENT APPROVES IT AND SENDS IT BACK SO THAT WE'RE TRACKING ALREADY. OKAY.
IT'LL BE THIS, THESE PRE-REVIEW WORK THAT ISN'T SUBJECT TO PROMPT PAY, THAT ISN'T SUBJECT TO THE 30 DAY, BUT WE STILL WANT TO GET IT DONE QUICKLY BECAUSE AND WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THE VENDORS ARE TRAINED ENOUGH THAT THEY UNDERSTAND WHAT'S EXPECTED OF THEM.
SO AGAIN THANK YOU FOR ALL THE WORK THAT YOU'RE DOING.
BUT ALSO HAVE WE RESOLVED THE QUESTION OF WHETHER DEPARTMENTS HAVE THE LEGAL AUTHORITY TO ISSUE INVOICES ON BEHALF OF VENDORS.
IS THAT IS THAT SOMETHING THAT WE ARE WE HAVE LOOKED AT.
I MEAN, THEY'RE NOT THEY'RE NOT IN ISSUING INVOICES.
NO, THAT'S NOT SUPPOSED TO BE.
I MEAN, MY UNDERSTANDING IS THE WAY I THINK, THE WAY THE SYSTEM IS, THE WAY IT'S CURRENTLY CONSTRUCTED, THE THE CONSTRUCTION, THE CONSTRUCTION RELATED DOCUMENTS ARE, I THINK, SORT OF PRE INVOICING FOR LACK OF A BETTER TERM AND THAT THAT DOCUMENT THEN SORT OF EVOLVES INTO AN INVOICE.
RIGHT. THREE DEPARTMENTS LARGELY.
SO THAT'S ONE OF MY I THINK WHAT WE HAVE TO WE ESSENTIALLY CREATED A LITTLE BIT OF A CIRCULAR WORKFLOW WHICH I THINK DOES STRUCTURALLY SLOW IT DOWN. BUT PART OF THAT IS BECAUSE OF THIS, THIS THIS PRE INVOICING PROCESS THAT, THAT WE'RE DEALING WITH THE VAST MAJORITY OF THE CONTRACTS THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT ARE COME OUT, COME OUT, COME OUT OF ENGINEERING FLOOD CONTROL AND HECTOR, THE REST OF THE COUNTY FOR THE MOST PART IS PRETTY STRAIGHTFORWARD.
BECAUSE THERE'S NO REAL NEED FOR IT TO GO THERE.
SO THAT'S PART OF THE REASON. BUT WE'RE WE'RE A ONE OFF.
RIGHT. AND THAT'S GENERALLY THE CASE WITH MOST OF THE SORT OF INDIVIDUAL DEPARTMENTS.
SIMILAR CASE FOR, FOR MANY OF YOUR, YOUR DEPARTMENTS.
AS COMMISSIONER RAMSEY SAID, YOU KNOW, HE'S REJECTING ONE OUT OF THREE FOR FAULTY INVOICES.
SO SO I THINK WHAT THEY'RE REALLY CONCENTRATING ON IS THAT PRE-CONSTRUCTION PERIOD.
[03:50:03]
THAT'S THE BIG ISSUE FOR THEM RIGHT NOW.WE'RE NOT HAVING THE DEPARTMENT ISSUE THE INVOICE.
WE'RE EFFECTIVELY TELLING THEM THIS IS OKAY TO PAY AND THEN AN INVOICE GETS GENERATED.
THANK YOU. SO YOU KNOW AGAIN THANK YOU FOR YOUR WORK.
AND AGAIN, IF YOU COULD JUST PLEASE ACCELERATE THAT CONVERSATION AT THE LEADERSHIP LEVEL BECAUSE I THINK YOU'RE GOING TO THEY MAY THEY MAY LEARN SOME THINGS FROM THE FRONT LINE THAT THEY MAY NOT KNOW.
AND SO I WANT TO MAKE SURE EVERYBODY'S ON THE, ON THE RIGHT PAGE.
AND THEN TO MAKE SURE ON THIS POINT THAT THE COUNTY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE IS MAKING SURE THAT WHATEVER PROCESS WE CREATE ULTIMATELY THAT THEY REVIEW IT TO ENSURE THAT WE'RE NOT PUTTING SOMEBODY IN HARM'S WAY UNINTENTIONALLY.
AND I'D BE HAPPY TO SECOND THE MOTION OR MAKE THE MOTIONS.
WELL, FIRST, MAY I PLEASE MAKE A MOTION TO EXTEND THE TIME? SECOND. YES. IS THE OBJECTION.
THAT'S A QUICK WAY OF DOING. IF THERE'S AN OBJECTION.
DID I DO A VOTE? IS THERE OBJECTION HERE? NO OBJECTION. OKAY. OKAY.
SO VERY QUICKLY I HAVE THREE QUICK POINTS.
ONE IS WITH REGARD TO THE COUNTY ATTORNEY'S PERSPECTIVE ON THIS, FOCUSING ON THE PRE-REVIEW OF ALL THE CONSTRUCTION RELATED DOCUMENTATION, DEPENDING ON HOW MUCH BACK AND FORTH THERE MAY BE, ARE WE FULLY CONFIDENT THAT NONE OF THAT WILL IMPLICATE TRULY THE STARTING OF THE CLOCK FOR THE PROMPT PAY ACT? YEAH FOR SURE.
SO THE PROMPT PAY ACT DOES NOT DOES NOT START UNTIL WE RECEIVE AN OFFICIAL INVOICE.
AND THAT THAT THIS WHOLE PRE PROCESS IS OUTSIDE OF THAT.
SO THAT RELATES TO MY NEXT QUESTION.
SO IF FOR EXAMPLE WELL THE NEXT QUESTION IS REGARDS TO TRAINING.
WHAT CURRENT TRAINING IS BEING OFFERED TO VENDORS ESPECIALLY THESE THAT WORK ON THE CONSTRUCTION AND WHAT IS THE TRAINING BEING OFFERED TO THE DEPARTMENTS CURRENTLY, AND HOW DO WE PLAN ON IMPROVING TRAINING FOR VENDORS AND DEPARTMENTS? AND SO I DON'T KNOW THE EXTENT OF TRAINING THAT THERE IS, BUT WHAT WE'RE DOING IS WITH THE P2P PROGRAM.
THAT'S BEEN A BIG POINT OF DISCUSSION FOR EVERYONE.
SO WE'RE LOOKING RIGHT NOW TO TO FIGURE OUT WHERE WOULD THE WHERE SHOULD THE TRAINING RESIDE.
YOU KNOW, WHO SHOULD DO THE TRAINING.
IS IT THE AUDITOR? IS IT IS IT, YOU KNOW, THE DEPARTMENTS, IS IT UNIVERSAL SERVICES, IS IT OCA? IS IT YOU KNOW, WHO DOES THE WHO DOES THE TRAINING TO WHAT LEVEL? AND YOU KNOW, IS IT TO THE DEPARTMENTS INTERNALLY OR IS IT TO THE, YOU KNOW, TO THE VENDORS AND AND SO WE'RE WORKING ON THAT RIGHT NOW.
BUT WE DON'T HAVE AN ANSWER YET.
I VERY MUCH RESPECT YOUR CANDOR AND THE FACT THAT WE'VE BEEN DOING THIS PROJECT FOR TWO YEARS.
SORRY, PARDON ME, BUT IT RELATES BACK TO MY QUESTION TO JAY, BECAUSE IF I'M A VENDOR WHO HASN'T HAD ADEQUATE TRAINING OR MAYBE ANY TRAINING POTENTIALLY, AND I AM ON THIS PRE-ASSESSMENT PHASE, THE PRE-REVIEW AND I INADVERTENTLY OR BECAUSE OF LACK OF KNOWLEDGE, LET'S JUST SAY ENGINEERING.
SO I THINK THE TRAINING AND LIKE TRULY SEEING OKAY, THIS IS THIS WORLD OF THE PRE-REVIEW VERSUS ALL THE OTHER INVOICES THAT JUST DIRECTLY GO TO THE AUDITOR, WHICH I LOVE, BECAUSE THEN WE START THE CLOCK AND WE HAVE TRANSPARENCY, RIGHT? BUT I WORRY THAT WITHOUT ADEQUATE TRAINING AND CLARITY, THIS BECOMES VERY CONFUSING FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE OUT IN THE FIELD, YOU KNOW, RUNNING A BUSINESS.
BECAUSE IN IN MY IDEAL WORLD, I SEE THE BIFURCATION AND I SEE HOW IT WOULD NOT TRIGGER, HOWEVER, WHAT SAFEGUARDS ARE WE GOING TO PUT INTO PLACE PROCEDURALLY SO THAT THERE TRULY IS THIS BIFURCATED WORLD? AND THEN I HAVE ONE LAST QUESTION.
YEAH. I MEAN, I THINK THERE'S SORT OF TWO SEPARATE THINGS.
I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT FOR US TO SEPARATE THE CONSTRUCTION CONTRACTS FROM EVERYTHING ELSE.
AND THE AUDITOR SENDS TO THE DEPARTMENT FOR VERIFICATION.
AND THEN IT GETS BACK TO THE AUDITOR FOR PAYMENT.
I THINK WHAT THE SUGGESTION IN THE PAST HAS BEEN, IF WE HAD AN ELECTRONIC PURE ELECTRONIC INVOICING SYSTEM, YOU COULD YOU COULD EFFECTIVELY DO IT, SEND IT TO ONE SPOT, AND THEN BOTH DEPARTMENTS COULD SIMULTANEOUSLY LOOK AT IT.
AND SO THAT PREVENTS THAT DUPLICATION, THAT CIRCULAR WORKFLOW PATTERN WE TALKED ABOUT.
BUT WHAT WE'RE REALLY TALKING ABOUT HERE ARE THE LEAD UP TO THE ISSUANCE OF AN INVOICE.
[03:55:03]
THE PROBLEM WE'VE HAD MORE OFTEN THAN NOT IS NOT THE SCENARIO BY WHICH YOU INADVERTENTLY TRIP THE THE PROMPT PAYMENT.IT'S THAT A A BECAUSE OUR CONTRACTS ARE VERY CLEAR.
SUBMIT YOUR PAYMENTS TO THE AUDITOR.
OR I NEED TO SEE IF THE WORK HAS BEEN DONE.
THEY DON'T WANT YOU TO SUBMIT SOMETHING THAT ELONGATES THE PROCESS UNNECESSARILY.
AND SO THEY THINK, OKAY, I'LL SUBMIT IT TO THEM IN THEIR MIND.
THEY'VE SUBMITTED AN INVOICE A VALID INVOICE.
THE VENDOR IN THE MIND OF ENGINEERING THERE OR WHATEVER DEPARTMENT THEY'RE REVIEWING IT.
AND IF THEY'RE REJECTING, YOU KNOW, 10%, 20%, 30%, WHATEVER THE NUMBER ENDS UP BEING, THEN IT BECOMES A PROBLEM AND THEN IT GETS SET BACK AND THE CLOCK SORT OF RESTARTS, THOUGH UNDER OUR CURRENT RULES.
IT DOES NOT PROMPT PAYMENT DOES NOT START UNTIL IT MAKES IT TO THE AUDITOR.
THAT'S ACTUALLY ONE OF THE REASONS THE ARGUMENT HAS BEEN SENT EVERYTHING TO THE AUDITOR.
IT STARTS IT IMMEDIATELY, AND IT PLACES THE PRESSURE CANDIDLY ON THE DEPARTMENT.
ONE OF THE OTHER QUESTIONS, AND THIS IS A POLICY QUESTION THAT YOU ALL ARE GOING TO HAVE TO DECIDE, IS THAT I CAN TELL YOU RIGHT NOW THERE'S GOING TO BE BECAUSE OF OUR TRACK RECORD, WE'RE NOT GOING TO BE PAYING PEOPLE WITHIN THIS TIME PERIOD.
AND IT'S A COMBINATION OF THINGS.
AND THERE WILL BE PENALTIES THAT WILL BE ACCRUED.
AND THE QUESTION IS WHO PAYS THOSE PENALTIES? WILL THERE BE A CHARGE BACK TO THE DEPARTMENT AND TO CREATE AN ECONOMIC INCENTIVE, FOR LACK OF A BETTER WORD, TO GET THEM TO, TO BE PROMPT, OR WILL WE SET IT UP AS SOME SORT OF COUNTY RISK FUND TO WHICH YOU, YOU, YOU PAY OUT OF BECAUSE THE VENDOR IS THE ONE IS GOING TO GET GOING TO GET PAID.
WE HAVE NOT PAID PROMPT PAYMENT IN THE PAST.
WE HAVE CANDIDLY, I'LL SAY ASK WHICH IS NOT THE WAY IT'S SUPPOSED TO HAVE BEEN.
SO THERE'S THERE'S STILL A LOT OF MOVING PIECES TO THIS.
THE FOLKS HAVE WORKED REALLY HARD ON TRYING TO PROCESS IT OUT.
IT'S REALLY AN INDIVIDUAL, SORT OF TINY, BUT VERY SIGNIFICANT BUNCH.
BUT YEAH, SO IT'S NOT I'M NOT CONCERNED ABOUT THE ACCIDENTAL TRIPPING.
I'M MUCH MORE CONCERNED ABOUT THE COMMUNICATION ISSUES.
AND AS FAR AS TRAINING MOST OF THE VENDORS, I MEAN, THEY CURRENTLY HAVE TRAINING THROUGH PURCHASING DWIGHT AND THEN NOW PAIGE DO A VERY GOOD JOB OF LETTING THE VENDORS KNOW, LIKE, WHAT THE PROCESS IS.
THERE'S A COUNTY AUDITOR PROCESS AS FAR AS THEY DO TRAINING AS WELL.
I THINK MIKE SAW HE TALKED A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THAT.
THEY DO EXPLAIN, LIKE MANDATORY FOR ALL VENDORS.
YEAH. YEAH. FOR VENDORS THAT, THAT, THAT ARE IN THE, IN THE SYSTEM WITH US.
RIGHT. SO AND THEY ALL WANT TO SORT OF RUN IT THE WAY THEY WANT TO RUN IT.
AND SO AND THAT'S THE BIGGEST, BIGGEST ISSUE.
SO WHEN WE TRY TO STREAMLINE AND SYSTEMIZE IT IS WHERE WE GET INTO, WE GET INTO SOME ISSUES.
AND I COULDN'T AGREE MORE WITH EVERYTHING YOU SAID.
THANK YOU JAY. REALLY QUICKLY BEFORE THE LAST QUESTION.
THIS SYSTEM, THIS ELECTRONIC INVOICE SYSTEM IS PART OF THE P2P.
YEAH, THAT'S THAT'S MY UNDERSTANDING.
AND WHEN WILL THAT BE STARTED? COMPLETED? YEAH.
IS MISS MENON, DIRECTOR MENON, SHE'S GETTING ON.
I LOST MY LAST QUESTION BECAUSE IT PROBABLY COULD BE ANSWERED QUICKLY.
GIVEN THAT DOCTOR PETERSEN, DOCTOR RAHMAN AND MR. TREVINO HAVE NOT BEEN DIRECTLY CONSULTED AND GIVEN THE THIS WHOLE PRE-REVIEW OF ALL THE CONSTRUCTION FALLS MAINLY WITHIN THEIR THREE DEPARTMENTS. I VERY MUCH SHE'S ON AND DOCTOR RAYMOND JUST TEXTED AND SAID THAT HE COULD.
HE HAS HE USES E BUILDER THE ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT DOES.
NOW HE SAID THEY CAN OPEN THAT UP TO THE AUDITOR AND ALLOW ALLOW THE AUDITOR TO VIEW IT.
SO YOU HAVE THAT FASTER, FASTER SYSTEM.
AND THAT'S WHAT BASICALLY WHAT THE ASK IS THAT THEY OPEN UP THEIR SYSTEM.
RIGHT. AND ALSO JUST STAFF WERE MESSAGING ME ABOUT THE TRAINING.
AND THE COUNTY ENGINEER'S OFFICE DOES HAVE PROJECT MANAGEMENT TRAINING AS WELL.
THAT PROVIDES THE GENERAL REQUIREMENTS THAT OUTLINE THE PROCESS.
SO THEY ALSO HAVE AN ADDITIONAL TRAINING PROCESS FOR VENDORS.
SO DIRECTOR MENON, WHEN WILL THIS INVOICE? I'LL CALL IT PORTAL SYSTEM.
COMMISSIONER, THERE ARE TWO ASPECTS TO THAT QUESTION.
ONE OF THEM IS THE PROJECT AUTO INVOICING PROJECT THAT WE ARE CURRENTLY WORKING ON.
[04:00:03]
THE PHASE ONE OF IT WAS TO CONNECT TWO DISCONNECTED SYSTEMS PEOPLESOFT AND OPENTEXT.OPENTEXT IS OUR SYSTEM OF RECORD FOR INVOICES, AND PEOPLESOFT IS A FINANCIAL SYSTEM OF RECORD.
THE STEP ONE FOR US WAS TO CONNECT THOSE TWO SYSTEMS. IT IS COMPLETE AS OF NOVEMBER 22ND.
THE PHASE TWO OF IT IS TO MAKE THE DATA AVAILABLE TO THE AUDITOR'S OFFICE SO THAT THESE REPORTS COULD BE GENERATED AND THAT WOULD LAND UP TO THE STEP THREE, WHICH WOULD BE THE VENDOR PORTAL THAT HAS BEEN IN DISCUSSIONS FOR SOME TIME.
CAN EA BUILDER BE? IS THERE AN API THAT CAN CONNECT IT TO THIS CENTRAL INVOICE SYSTEM? OR JUST SO WE DON'T HAVE THIS MEGA FRAGMENTATION IN TERMS, AND WE CAN ALL HAVE SITUATIONAL AWARENESS OF WHERE INVOICES STAND.
IS THAT POSSIBLE THAT FROM A TECHNICAL PERSPECTIVE, YES, THAT'S POSSIBLE.
I WILL HAVE TO LOOK INTO MORE DETAILS WITH DOCTOR RAYMOND'S TEAM IN ORDER TO COME BACK AND GIVE A DEFINITIVE ANSWER AND THE TIMELINE NEEDED TO COMPLETE ACCOMPLISH THAT TASK. AND FLOOD CONTROL ALSO HAS A DIFFERENT SYSTEM.
SO THAT'S THAT'S PART OF THE ISSUE.
AND THAT'S WHY THE AUDITORS DASHBOARD IS AND GETTING THAT, YOU KNOW, ACCESS TO THOSE SYSTEMS BY THE AUDITOR IS KIND OF OUR QUICK PATCH TO GET THAT DATA TO START SEEING HOW BIG IS THE PROBLEM? WHERE IS THE PROBLEM? IS THERE A PROBLEM? SOME DEPARTMENTS MAY NOT HAVE A PROBLEM AND IT'S FINE AND OTHERS MAY HAVE ISSUES.
RIGHT. SO RIGHT NOW WE DON'T HAVE ANY INSIGHT INTO IT.
AND THAT'S WHY WE'RE ASKING FOR THIS.
DOCTOR PETERSON AND MR. TREVINO, AND B DOCTOR RAYMOND.
DOCTOR PETERSON, MR. TREVINO. FROM MY PERSPECTIVE, ANYWAY, IT'S.
I UNDERSTAND THE UNIQUENESS OF EACH OF THE DEPARTMENTS, AND THERE NEEDS TO BE SITUATIONAL AWARENESS AND THE TRANSPARENCY AND THE SYNERGIES AND EFFICIENCIES THAT WOULD COME FROM THIS SYSTEM.
AND SO I PLEASE ASK FOR YOUR ONGOING COLLABORATION AND PARTNERSHIP, BECAUSE IT'S IMPERATIVE THAT IF WE'RE EVER GOING TO REALLY DELIVER ON P2P, THAT WE HAVE THESE, THE THREE MEGA DEPARTMENTS AS KEY STAKEHOLDERS AND PARTNERS IN DRIVING THE PROGRESS.
BUT JUST MAKE SURE THERE'S A MEETING OF THE MINDS AND THEN AGGRESSIVELY WORK TOGETHER TO DELIVER.
COMMISSIONER GARCIA, THANK YOU.
I ONE THING A COUPLE OF THINGS JUST OCCURRED TO ME.
I DO NOT HAVE THEM IN FRONT OF ME, BUT IN YOUR MOTIONS AND IN YOUR PROCESS.
WILL YOU BE ALSO INCLUDING DEO? YES, ABSOLUTELY.
OKAY, GOOD. THE SECOND THING AND MAYBE I NEED TO BRING ANOTHER ITEM TO THE TABLE.
J YOU TELL ME IF IF IT'S IF IT'S GERMANE ENOUGH.
SO WE MAY NEED A LEGISLATIVE FIX FOR A COUNTY OUR SIZE.
I THINK THIS IS I THINK THERE'S A NEED FOR A LEGISLATIVE FIX HERE.
I THINK THE INTENT OF THE LAW WAS GOOD.
BUT THINKING THROUGH THE VARIOUS PROCESSES MAY NOT HAVE BEEN THOUGHT OF.
SO I'D LIKE TO THINK ABOUT HOW WE GO TO OUR LEGISLATURE.
I THINK I'M I'M ALMOST SURE THEY WOULD BE WILLING TO HELP US FIX THIS, TO MAKE SURE IT'S IT IS PRACTICAL FOR A COUNTY OUR SIZE. COMMISSIONER.
YEAH. THIS YOU COULD YOU COULD DO THAT.
COULD YOU CLARIFY SORT OF WHAT? THE SCOPE OF THE FIX.
WHAT WERE YOU THINKING? LET ME THINK THROUGH IT. OR MAYBE YOU CAN HELP ME WITH IT.
YEAH, IT'S THE MOTION WOULD BE TO DIRECT OCA TO WORK WITH IGA ON CONSTRUCTING A LEGISLATIVE FIX OR RECOMMENDATION IN THE UPCOMING LEGISLATIVE SESSION TO ADDRESS ISSUES RELATED TO COUNTIES BRACKETED AT ABOVE ONE HALF OR 100,000 OR HALF A MILLION.
[04:05:01]
I HAVE A I HAVE A THOUGHT OR TWO.HAVING WORKED FOR 20 COUNTIES IN TEXAS, I HAVE A THOUGHT OR TWO ON IT SO I CAN HELP.
AND IT'S RELATED TO THE PROMPT PAY, RIGHT? THE PAYMENT? YES. CORRECT.
THERE YOU GO. I DO HAVE A QUICK QUESTION.
IF YOU WANTED TO CHARGE THE DEPARTMENT, CAN YOU DO THAT? IN TERMS OF LAW ENFORCEMENT OR DO YOU CREATE ANOTHER CHALLENGE THERE? I'M SORRY. SAY THAT AGAIN, COMMISSIONER.
WELL, IF YOU DO THAT, DOES THAT CONFLICT WITH THE LAW AS IT RELATES TO LAW ENFORCEMENT ENTITIES? I DON'T KNOW, IT DOESN'T.
IT SOUNDS LIKE IT WOULD BE SOMEWHAT SOMETHING WE WOULD HAVE TO LOOK AT AND BE PROBLEMATIC.
FOR WHAT IT'S WORTH, IT'S AN IDEA.
IT'S JUST NOT IT HAS NOT HAS NOT BEEN A PARTICULAR ISSUE FOR US WITH LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES.
OKAY. DID YOU CATCH THE MOTION, COMMISSIONER GARCIA? I'LL TRY TO. YEAH.
WORDED A LITTLE BIT. YOU GET TO.
UNLESS MOTION HAS BEEN MADE WITH THE FRIENDLY.
WANTS TO ADD TO IT BY COMMISSIONER GARCIA.
OKAY. TO APPROVE ALL FOUR MOTION.
AND SECOND BY COMMISSIONER RAMSEY.
AYE. ALL THOSE OPPOSED, VOTE NO.
FOUR EYES AND NO NO'S ITEM PASSES.
BEFORE WE TAKE A QUICK BREAK, I WANT TO GO BACK TO THAT ITEM 22 ON BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS.
I WANT TO MAKE SURE WE DIDN'T BIFURCATE IT WITH WITH YOUR AMENDMENT, COMMISSIONER BRIONES, SO WE DON'T LEAVE THINGS THE WAY THEY ARE WITH AT LARGE APPOINTMENTS, BUT CHANGE THEM FOR THE ONES COMING FROM PRECINCTS, BECAUSE IN THE IN THE BACKUP MATERIAL, THERE WAS SOME LANGUAGE THAT THAT MIGHT MAKE THAT FUZZY.
DO YOU WANT TO ASK HIM? I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE BECAUSE I WANT TO LEAVE IT THE WAY IT IS, PERIOD.
I THINK THAT WAS THE INTENT OF THE MOTION.
I JUST I JUST WANT TO KNOW, BECAUSE FOR SOME APPOINTMENTS, YOU KNOW, SOMEBODY MAY BE A HIGH PROFILE ENOUGH PERSON WHERE THEY DON'T WANT SOMEBODY TO BE ABLE TO GO DO A AND THAT'S JUST AT LARGE APPOINTMENTS, THOSE, THOSE TIMELINE CHANGES AND, AND CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG, THE TIMELINE CHANGES ARE ONLY WITH REGARD TO AT LARGE.
SO I JUST WANT TO GET SOME SENSE LIKE FOR THE ONES THAT WE DO, ANY CHANGES ON THOSE THAT COME OUT OF LIKE OUR PRECINCT SEAT? YEAH. MY UNDERSTANDING IS.
NO, BUT, MR. SANTAMARIA, YOU'RE THE EXPERT.
COULD YOU PLEASE RESPOND TO THAT QUESTION? WE CAN'T HEAR YOU, DANIEL.
WILL YOU MUTE IT? THERE WE GO. Y'ALL HEAR ME? OKAY.
YES. SO THE REVISION, ACCORDING TO COMMISSIONER ELLIS, WERE TO REPLACE OUTDATED INFORMATION.
IT STAYS THE WAY IT IS WITH OUR.
SO THERE IS A LOT OF REVISIONS THAT WERE MADE.
ONE OF THEM WAS TO APPROVE IMPROVE THE APPOINTMENT OUTCOME.
AND ONE OF THOSE, ONE OF THE REVISIONS THAT WE MADE WAS TO ENSURE THAT COMMISSIONERS HAD THE ABILITY TO HAVE EQUITABLE REPRESENTATION ON THE BOARD. SO WHAT ARE THE LANGUAGE THAT WAS INCLUDED WAS ON BOARDS THAT HAVE NINE APPOINTMENTS THAT ARE MADE BY COMMISSIONERS COURT, THAT NO MORE THAN TWO APPOINTMENTS COME FROM A SINGLE COMMISSIONER, AND THE IDEA THERE IS TO ENSURE THAT THERE'S EQUITY, AND THAT ALL COMMISSIONERS HAVE THE ABILITY TO APPOINT TO A BOARD OF NINE OR LESS.
THAT IS CORRECT. THE TEN AND THE FIVE DAY ARE SPECIFIC TO THE AT LARGE SEATS.
LET'S TAKE A TEN MINUTE BREAK.
THE COMMISSIONERS COURT WILL COME BACK IN SESSION AT 40403.
THE NEXT ITEM THAT WE HAVE WILL BE 24.
JUST A QUICK COMMENT ON ON HAQ AS HOUSTON ADVANCED RESEARCH CENTER.
BUT THE PERSON WHO STARTED THAT IS GEORGE MITCHELL.
HE'S A LEGEND AND AN EXTRAORDINARY THINGS RESEARCH RELATED TO CERTAIN ACTIVITIES.
[04:10:06]
AND I PROMISE YOU, I THINK GEORGE MITCHELL WOULD TURN OVER IN HIS GRAVE IF HE THOUGHT WE WERE PLANNING SOLAR PANELS FOR PONDS.NOW, I DON'T MIND PUTTING THEM ON GARAGES.
I DON'T MIND PUTTING THEM IN PARKING LOTS.
I DON'T KNOW WHY WE WOULD WASTE $250,000 STUDYING HOW TO PUT SOLAR PANELS ON PONDS.
BUT TO WASTE TIME AND EFFORT CONSIDERING SOMETHING THAT IS SO CLEARLY RIDICULOUS THAT WE SHOULD NOT.
SO I WOULD LIMIT THE SCOPE TO NOT INCLUDE FLOATING SOLAR PANELS.
WELL, COMMISSIONER, I KNEW MR. MITCHELL AS WELL. MAYBE NOT AS WELL AS YOU DID.
I PROBABLY KNEW HIS BROTHER A LOT BETTER SINCE HE HAD THAT GAMBLING PLACE DOWN THERE IN GALVESTON.
SOME OF THE MONEY FROM HIS ESTATE IS USED TO DO A LOT OF VERY CREATIVE, CLEAN ENERGY ISSUES.
DOESN'T MEAN YOU DO IT, BUT SHE CERTAINLY HAS SHOWN A WILLINGNESS.
SO THERE WILL BE PLAYERS IN THE FUTURE.
SO I, FOR ONE, HAVE NO PROBLEM WITH IT, BUT THAT'S JUST ME.
I'LL MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE IT THE WAY IT IS.
COMMISSIONER BROWN. THANK YOU.
AND THANK YOU FOR COMING UP WITH THIS AS AN IDEA.
OH, NO. THANK YOU. THIS MAKES ME HAPPY.
AND DIRECTOR MENON AND TEAM AND LUCINDA AND TEAM, THANK YOU FOR VERY QUICK QUESTION.
JESSE, COULD YOU PLEASE GIVE US A VERY BRIEF KIND OF EXPLANATION OF OF THE RATIONALE AND YOUR THOUGHTS? YES, MA'AM. COMMISSIONER RAMSEY TALKED ABOUT THIS, AND I'LL REITERATE THAT WE ARE NOT TRYING TO LOOK AT, LOOK, PUTTING SOLAR ON RECREATIONAL PLACES, THAT THERE ARE CERTAIN TYPE OF ASSET THAT FLOOD CONTROL THAT ARE CALLED WET, YOU KNOW, WET BOTTOM DETENTION BASINS.
BUT THEY ARE REALLY NOT PONDS.
AND SO THE FLOATING ASPECT IS IN A CONCRETE BOWL THAT'S AT A VERY SEVERE ANGLE THAT IT MAY NEED TO FLOAT, OR IT MAY LOOK BEST BE BEST TO FLOAT AT TIMES WHEN, WHEN IT, WHEN IT FILLS.
BUT BUT WE ARE THE INTENT OF THIS, COMMISSIONER BRIONES, IS TO LOOK AT VARIOUS TYPES OF FLOOD CONTROL ASSETS AND TO SEE IF THEY COULD BE APPROPRIATE TO HOST CERTAIN KINDS OF SOLAR OR STORAGE FACILITIES.
FLOOD CONTROL HAS BEEN VERY INVOLVED.
WE'VE GOT A RESEARCHER FROM FROM HARC WHO'S NOT A COMMERCIAL PERSON, WHO'S 100% RESEARCHER, BUT THE IDEA IS TO LOOK AT BEST PRACTICES, OTHER OTHER FACTORS SUCH AS ENVIRONMENTAL, SUCH AS RECREATIONAL AND THEN COME BACK WITH A RECOMMENDATION ON, ON, ON A CERTAIN ON WHAT SITES WE REALLY CAN LOOK AT.
AND THEN WE WOULD SIT DOWN WITH FLOOD CONTROL IN THE COURT BEFORE WE DID ANYTHING ELSE.
BUT SO THIS IS IT'S FUNDED WITH FEDERAL DOLLARS THAT THAT WE BROUGHT IN A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO.
SO WE'RE NOT USING COUNTY COUNTY MONEY AND AND YEAH, WE REALLY DON'T WANT TO WE'RE NOT TRYING TO PUT THINGS IN COMPETITION EITHER WITH FLOOD CONTROL ACTIVITY OR RECREATIONAL ACTIVITY.
I THINK ANY ANY ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT I'VE BEEN INVOLVED WITH, I IT'S NOT GOING TO MAKE IT SO.
BUT THAT'S FINE. IF WE WANT TO SPEND MONEY DOING THAT, THAT'S FINE TOO.
YOU'RE GOING TO SEND ME A LIST OF THOSE SITES IN PRECINCT THREE? WE ARE. WE ARE CLEANING IT UP RIGHT NOW, SIR.
COMMISSIONER GARCIA. SECOND. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, VOTE AYE.
FOUR I SAID NO. NEXT ITEM PASSES.
NEXT ONE IS COMMISSIONER RAMSEY.
THAT ONE IS YOU. THAT'S ITEM 25.
TWO POSITIONS FUNDED AS PART OF 25 YEAR BUDGET.
I THINK THE COST OF THE TWO POSITIONS SEEMS HIGH.
IT'S ROUGHLY THE TWO ADDED TOGETHER IS ON AN ANNUAL BASIS.
[04:15:03]
$380,000. I KNOW THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR'S BUDGET IS ROUGHLY 25 MILLION.I JUST THINK WE GOT TO PAY ATTENTION.
WE CERTAINLY KNOW WE'RE TRYING TO SAVE EVERY NICKEL AND PENNY THAT WE CAN.
I JUST THINK THIS WOULD BE AN AREA WE COULD LOOK SO AT AT SAVINGS.
SO THOSE ARE MY CONCERNS RELATED TO THIS ISSUE.
ADMINISTRATOR. DO YOU HAVE ANY COMMENTS? NOT ABOUT THE POSITIONS, ONLY THAT THE $25 MILLION BUDGET INCLUDES A BUNCH OF MONEY THAT WE DON'T GET TO KEEP OR SPEND.
IT ACTUALLY GOES FOR FOR THE SECURITY, PERSONAL SECURITY.
THE THAT BUDGET ALSO INCLUDED THE THE DOMESTIC VIOLENCE ASSISTANCE FUND THAT WAS PUT IN OUR BUDGET.
THAT'S GOING TO PUBLIC HEALTH.
THANK YOU. COMMISSIONER BRIONES, IS THAT A QUESTION OR IS THAT AN OLD ASK TO TALK TO YOUR SYSTEM? I'M WATCHING. GOOD.
IS THERE A MOTION? SECOND. SECOND.
COMMISSIONER GARCIA MAKES A MOTION.
NEXT ITEM, COMMISSIONER RAMSEY, THAT ONE IS YOU.
JUST NOTE THAT WE'RE PROPOSING A STRATEGIC PLAN.
WE HAVE NO UNDERSTANDING OF COST THE SPEED ENFORCEMENT ASPECT OF THAT.
I THINK THE KEY TO SLOWING PEOPLE DOWN IS WRITING TICKETS.
I CAN SHOW YOU MANY PLACES WHERE WE DO THAT.
THERE'S 533 PEOPLE HAVE DIED ON OUR ROADS IN HARRIS COUNTY IN 2023.
SO IF WE'RE SERIOUS ABOUT VISION ZERO, WE OUGHT TO BE DOING SOME THINGS THAT ARE SERIOUS.
SO A STRATEGIC PLAN SHOULD BE EQUALLY SERIOUS WHEN WE'RE TALKING ABOUT IT.
IT DOESN'T THE PLAN DOESN'T ADDRESS TRANSITION FROM ARPA.
IT JUST KIND OF LEAVES THAT OUT THERE.
I THINK IT PROBABLY PROBABLY SHOULD.
WE'RE WAY UNDERFUNDED ON INFRASTRUCTURE.
WE KNOW THAT DEFERRED MAINTENANCE THROUGHOUT THE COUNTY IS A SERIOUS PROBLEM.
I DON'T THINK THAT'S PROPERLY ADDRESSED.
SO I HAVE SOME LARGE GAPS OF OF STRATEGERY AND THE STRATEGIC PLAN THAT THAT ARE NOT THERE.
THEY DO THIS THEY DO THIS SUNSET REVIEW PROCESS, AND IT'S PRETTY FORMALIZED.
CHANCELLOR AT A&M SORT OF REALLY TOOK OVER AT JOHN SHARP AND A LOT OF WAYS.
AND THEY HAD HIM GO UP TO WASHINGTON AND HELP IT A BIT.
AND THE ONLY, ONLY WAY YOU KEEP THEM IS IF THEY'RE REAUTHORIZED.
AND I HAD THIS BRIGHT IDEA YESTERDAY, KIND OF LATE, WHEN MY STAFF WAS BRIEFING ME.
COULD HAVE BEEN JET LAG, BY THE WAY.
AND SO I SAID, LOOK AROUND QUICKLY AND SEE IF THERE'S SOME LOCAL MUNICIPALITY THAT DOES IT.
THEIR RESEARCH SAYS THAT MIAMI DADE HAS EXAMPLES OF DOING A SUNSET REVIEW OF COUNTY CREATED BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS, WHICH PROBABLY IS A GOOD THING TO DO AS WELL BECAUSE IT MAKES THEM JUSTIFY THEIR EXISTENCE.
BUT I WANT THEM TO JUST LOOK, I WAS JUST I'M JUST RAISING IT AS A CONCERN.
AND I REALLY DID THINK ABOUT IT YESTERDAY.
NOW, I DON'T WANT TO SOUND LIKE YOU.
YOU COMPLAINED A LOT ABOUT SOME OF THE DEPARTMENTS WE'VE CREATED.
SOME OF THEM HAVE BEEN BRIGHT IDEAS OF MINE AND OTHER PEOPLE HERE AT THIS TABLE.
BUT I THINK WE OUGHT TO JUST LOOK AND SEE.
I JUST KNOW THAT SUNSET REVIEW PROCESS IS VERY HELPFUL ON THE STATE LEVEL.
I'M JUST RAISING IT AS AN ISSUE.
I'M NOT TRYING TO MEND ANYTHING.
COMMISSIONER GARCIA, THANK YOU.
THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER, AND A LITTLE BIT ALONG THE LINES.
[04:20:05]
THE STRATEGIC PLAN.AND AND SO MY CONCERN IS THAT THE CURRENT PROCESS THE CURRENT DECISION ANALYSIS MATRIX PRESENTED AS BACKUP, PROPOSES COURT ITEMS FROM DEPARTMENTS THAT ARE POLICY CHANGES, OR NEW PROGRAMS THAT WILL GO THROUGH EITHER THE STRATEGIC PLANNING COMMITTEE OR THE GOAL AREA COMMITTEE TO REVIEW BEFORE IT GOES TO COURT.
NOW, THE GOAL AREA COMMITTEES HAVE NOT CONSISTENTLY MET IN SEVERAL MONTHS.
SO THIS PLAN ADDS ANOTHER LAYER OF BUREAUCRACY TO THE PROCESS FOR POLICY ITEMS TO COME TO COURT.
AND WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT THE PROCESS IS AS SEAMLESS AS WE CAN.
SO I DON'T BELIEVE THAT WE ARE PREPARED FOR THE GOAL AREA COMMITTEES TO TAKE THAT ON.
AND I THINK IT'S THE RESPONSIBILITY.
IT'S A RESPONSIBILITY THAT NEEDS TO BE WITH THE STRATEGIC PLANNING COMMITTEE AND THAT AND, YOU KNOW, MY RECOMMENDATION, MY MOTION WOULD BE TO STRIKE ANY REFERENCE TO GOLD AREA COMMITTEES OR DEPARTMENT PROGRESS MEETINGS IN AS, AS DEFINED IN THE BACKUP ITEM, AND TO DIRECT THE OFFICE OF COUNTY ADMINISTRATION TO REASSESS THIS THIS CHANGE IN SIX MONTHS.
BUT I JUST WANT TO TAKE AS MUCH ADDITIONAL WORK OFF MY STAFF AS POSSIBLE, BUT ALSO GET MAKING SURE I'M GETTING THE MEAT AND POTATOES THAT I NEED TO BE HEARING.
AND LOOK, I WANT YOU TO PASS THE POTATOES TOO.
YEAH. ANY QUESTIONS? I'LL SECOND IT, BUT LET'S ASK THEM.
THANK YOU. IS IT ALSO A MOTION TO APPROVE THE ITEM AS WELL? YES. YEAH.
WELL, ANYBODY ELSE WANT TO SAY YES WITH THE AMENDMENT? WITH THE WITH THE MOTION? THAT'S RIGHT. I DON'T SEE ANY OTHER HANDS UP ON HERE.
I'M ASSUMING THIS IS A LIVING DOCUMENT, COUNT CAN'T MR..
YEAH. PASS THE MEAT AND POTATOES AND DON'T BURN THEM UP.
THAT'S IT. OKAY, SO I'LL SECOND IT.
ALL THOSE OPPOSED? FOUR HAS NO NAYS.
IT'S JUST IT WAS A DID IT MAKE IT ON THE CONSENT AGENDA OR IS THIS ON HERE.
DO WE. I BELIEVE IT WAS A LITTLE.
OKAY. YEAH. YEAH, I THINK IT WAS PULLED FOR DISCUSSION.
IT'S LISTED ON HERE. SO WE JUST NEED IF IT'S JUST A MOTION TO APPROVE 27 ITEM QUESTIONS.
ANY QUESTIONS? SECOND TO APPROVE AS MR. GARCIA SECONDS IT. APPROVED AS SUBMITTED.
COMMISSIONER GARCIA SECONDED FOR ZERO.
YES. NO, WE HAVEN'T VOTED YET.
NO. NOW IT PASSED UNANIMOUSLY.
OKAY. ITEM 20 OR WE SKIP 2730.
NOW, CAN I ASK FOR A CLARIFICATION? I'M GETTING STAFF MESSAGING ME ABOUT THE ABOUT THE STRATEGIC PLAN INITIATIVE.
THE THE REFERENCE TO THE GOAL AREA COMMITTEES.
IS IT ONLY IN RESPONSE TO THE NO, IT'S ACROSS THE IT'S ACROSS THE BOARD FOR EVERYTHING.
YEAH. OKAY. ANY PROBLEMS WITH THAT? AND ASSESS IT IN SIX MONTHS.
OKAY. IF IF WE FIND ANY PROBLEMS. SOUNDS GOOD. AND IF YOU FIND A PROBLEM PRIOR TO THAT, I'LL LET YOU KNOW.
FEEL FREE TO. WE CAN TALK. YEAH.
OKAY. IT SEEMED LIKE IT SHOULDN'T BE A PROBLEM TO ME.
BUT YOU HAVE ANY PROBLEMS WITH IT? I KNOW WE VOTED ON IT. NO, NO, NO, IT'S NOT A PROBLEM.
I JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE.
COMMISSIONER, WERE YOU TRYING TO SAY SOMETHING? I JUST WANTED TO BE ABLE TO SEE THE.
THE NEXT ITEM WILL BE ITEM 30.
COMMISSIONER, CAN WE TAKE ITEMS 30 AND 51 TOGETHER? SINCE THEY'RE. I THINK THEY'RE 30.
COMMISSIONER RAMSEY, YOU PULLED 30 AND YOU PULLED 51.
SO AGAIN, WE'RE DOING A PAY EQUITY STUDY.
WE'RE TRYING TO DEFINE EXACTLY FROM A COMPENSATION STANDPOINT.
I'M ASSUMING BENEFITS ARE NOW INCLUDED IN THAT PAY EQUITY STUDY.
THE BENEFITS WILL BE A PART OF IT WILL BE A PART OF THE TOTAL OUTCOME.
[04:25:07]
THE FINAL RESULT. YEAH.THAT IS CORRECT. JUST INTERNALLY AND EXTERNALLY AND EXTERNALLY.
THAT IS CORRECT. YES. WE'RE DOING WE'RE LOOKING AT THAT BOTH AS A PART OF THE BROADER STUDY.
SO I THINK THAT'S AN IMPORTANT I THINK THAT'S AN IMPORTANT PART OF IT.
AND THE OTHER THE OTHER ISSUE, AS WE LOOK AT THIS, DO WE KNOW HOW MANY OF OUR 18,000 COUNTY EMPLOYEES ARE WORKING FROM HOME? WE DO NOT.
TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTION AT THIS MOMENT, NOT EXACTLY THE NUMBER.
GO AHEAD. I'M SORRY. AND AGAIN, I, I MORE OR LESS ASSUME WE DIDN'T.
AND I THINK WE PROBABLY NEED TO, BECAUSE HAVING OWNED AND OPERATED A BUSINESS THERE IS A VALUE ASSOCIATED WITH WORKING AT HOME AND NOT HAVING TO DRIVE MY CAR TO WORK, NOT HAVING TO DEAL WITH AN OFFICE, NOT HAVING TO DEAL WITH A LOT OF MAYBE EVEN DAYCARE AND SOME OTHER THINGS.
SO I THINK IT'S AN IMPORTANT COMPENSATION RELATED ISSUE.
SO WHEN WE'RE TALKING ABOUT PAY EQUITY, IF YOU'RE COMPARING ONE EMPLOYEE THAT DOES NOT COME, COME DOES NOT WORK IN A COUNTY FACILITY TO WORK FROM HOME, COMPARED TO ANOTHER COUNTY EMPLOYEE WHO COMES TO WORK, DRIVES HIS CAR, GETS DAYCARE, DO ALL THOSE SORTS OF THINGS.
AND SO I THINK THIS IS A GREAT SEGUE TO BEGIN TO BUILD THAT DATA POINT, RIGHT? YEAH. AGAIN, WHEN WHEN PEOPLE ARE ANSWERING THAT QUESTION, LET'S MAKE SURE THEY'RE I CURRENTLY WORK IN HARRIS COUNTY PRECINCT THREE.
OKAY. WELL, WE KNOW WHAT DEPARTMENT YOU'RE IN, BUT WHERE IS YOUR OFFICE AND WHERE DO YOU COME TO EVERY DAY? I THINK IS IS IMPORTANT.
THANK YOU. I JUST WANT, IF I MIGHT.
COMMISSIONER BRIONES, I WANT TO PIGGYBACK OFF OF THAT.
I DO THINK THAT THAT CERTAINLY IS A TREND TOWARDS WORKING REMOTELY.
WHEN YOU KIND OF BLEND TOGETHER, ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU'RE NEW.
BUT I KNOW IT'S A CHALLENGE TO HOLD ON TO GOOD PEOPLE.
BUT YOU DO I THINK YOU DO MISS A LOT.
YOU KNOW, I'D EVEN SAY, ALTHOUGH BECAUSE OUR MEETINGS DO GO LONGER THAN THEY DID WHEN I WAS HERE, EVEN WITH THE DEPARTMENT HEADS, BY THE WAY, THERE'S JUST A CERTAIN, YOU KNOW, I'D LIKE TO GET THE WAY.
I'D LIKE TO JUST ZOOM IN HERE ON YOU ALL TO, BY THE WAY, PARTICULARLY WHEN IT DRAGS ON A LITTLE BIT.
AND I MIGHT GET THERE ON THESE RESOLUTIONS, BY THE WAY, AT SOME POINT.
IT MAKES A DIFFERENCE WHEN YOU LOOK IN SOMEBODY'S FACE AND AND YOU CONNECT WITH THEM.
I KNOW IT'S MORE CHALLENGING, BUT IT'S JUST NOT QUITE THE SAME WHEN YOU EVEN WHEN WE WERE DURING THE PANDEMIC, REMOTE BECAUSE WE HAD TO BE ON ZOOM. IT WAS JUST QUITE, YOU KNOW, WE WERE A LOT NICER TO EACH OTHER AND THE MEETINGS TENDED TO BE A LOT SHORTER.
BUT YOU DIDN'T HAVE THAT HUMAN INTERACTION THAT'S SO IMPORTANT.
I WOULD LIKE A MOTION AFTER EVERYBODY ELSE HAS SPOKE.
YEAH. JUST ONE THING I WANTED TO ADD ON THE, ON THE REMOTE ISSUE IS THAT, YOU KNOW, THERE IS A REMOTE POLICY THAT WE PUT IN PLACE DURING COVID, AND I'VE BEEN WORKING WITH MISS DOUGLAS, AND I THINK THAT HER OFFICE IS WORKING ON UPDATING THAT POLICY.
RIGHT. YOU CAN'T JUST BE REMOTE.
[04:30:03]
IF YOU'RE HAVING PERFORMANCE ISSUES, GUESS WHAT? YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE TO COME INTO THE OFFICE MORE OR EVERY DAY.SO WE DO HAVE CERTAIN STIPULATIONS INTERNALLY THAT THAT WE'RE USING FOR FOR REMOTE WORK TO MAKE SURE THAT EVERYBODY FEELS TIED IN AND CONNECTED TO ALL THE WORK AND DO IT IN SUCH A WAY WHERE IT'S NOT LIKE, YOU KNOW, BECAUSE YOU GET A MARK AGAINST YOU.
WE'RE GOING TO PENALIZE YOU BY MAKING YOU COME TO WORK.
WE WANT THEM TO FEEL AS THOUGH COMING IN THE OFFICE RIGHT TO SOMETHING.
BUT YEAH. SO I THINK YOU'LL BE SEEING MORE ON THE REMOTE ISSUE, TOO, ON JUST ON THE POLICY.
ABSOLUTELY. AND WE RECOGNIZE THAT THERE ARE HYBRID MODELS.
THERE ARE A SMALL POPULATION OF FULLY REMOTE MODELS.
AND I ALSO THINK THAT AS A PART OF A BROADER PART OF THIS WORK REALLY, IS HOW DO WE EQUIP DEPARTMENTS AND DEPARTMENT LEADERS TO HOW DO WE ENGAGE, ESPECIALLY IF YOUR STAFF ARE NOT IN THE OFFICE EVERY DAY, BECAUSE RECRUITMENT AND RETENTION STARTS WITH ENGAGEMENT.
AND SO AGAIN, BIGGER CONVERSATION, MORE TO COME AS WE BEGIN TO IDENTIFY NOT ONLY HOW OUR EMPLOYEES ARE WORKING, BUT BUT WHERE THEY'RE WORKING AS WELL. AND WE'LL BE BACK WITH SOME DATA.
I THINK REALISTICALLY IN FEBRUARY.
OKAY. COMMISSIONER GARCIA, THEN, COMMISSIONER BRIONES.
YES. THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR YOUR WORK ON THIS.
AND I AM JUST I JUST WANT TO SEE OUR EMPLOYEES GET TAKEN CARE OF.
I'M NOT SURE WHAT'S BEING RECOMMENDED ON ITEM 51 IS THERE.
IS THERE A RECOMMENDATION ON ITEM 51? DO YOU WANT TO TAKE THAT WEE WEE? COMMISSIONER. PRECINCT FOUR.
I'M SORRY. A RECOMMENDATION ON ON ITEM 51.
AND THAT'S WHY WE'RE TAKING IT TOGETHER WITH 30.
IT'S BASICALLY TO TO IMPLEMENT THE THE KORN FERRY STUDY FOR THE TEN POSITIONS.
DEPARTMENT HEADS TO REPORT TO OCA.
THE BUDGET SIZE AND THEN THE NUMBER OF POSITIONS THAT THAT REPORT TO THEM.
SO WILL IT CHANGE ANYBODY ON THE ON THE LIST? SO FOR THAT, EVERYBODY TEN, TEN FOLKS ARE THE ONES THAT AREN'T AT THE 50TH PERCENTILE.
THE REST OF THE FOLKS ARE ALREADY THERE.
AND SO THOSE FOLKS WOULD WOULD GET THE THE SALARY INCREASES.
AND HOW ABOUT OUR OUR APPOINTED DIRECTORS.
AND SO THOSE KORN FERRY STILL HAS WE'RE STILL IN THE PROCESS THAT'S UNDERWAY.
SO I'M EXCITED TO MAKE A SECOND TO THE MOTION OF COMMISSIONER BRIONES.
BUT I ALSO JUST WANT TO URGE KORN FERRY TO TAKE CARE OF OUR APPOINTED DIRECTORS.
THEY'VE BEEN HEARING THIS CONVERSATION.
THEY HADN'T BEEN IN IT TIL I RAISE THE ISSUE.
SO I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY'RE BEING THOUGHT OF.
BUT I MOVE TO I MOVE ON OPTION A FOR ITEM 30.
OKAY, I HAD A QUESTION ON THAT, BUT I THINK YOU GOT IT.
YES. COMMISSIONER BRIONES NEXT.
DIRECTOR DOUGLAS, THANK YOU FOR ALL OF THE PROGRESS THAT YOU'RE DRIVING.
OPTION A WOULD BE A FLAT $2,000 INCREASE.
EXCUSE ME? FOR ALL HARRIS COUNTY EMPLOYEES AND ALL EARNING UNDER 200,000 PER YEAR.
FOR THOSE EARNING 50,000 A YEAR.
IT WOULD BE A 4% PAY INCREASE AND 100,002%.
BUT I HAVE TWO QUICK QUESTIONS.
SO IF SO, THIS $2,000 FLAT INCREASE I.E.
OPTION A, IS THERE ANY OBJECTION TO CONTINUING DISCUSSION.
SO MOVE OKAY. WE DON'T NEED NO OBJECTION.
SO I'LL JUST VOTE IF THERE'S AN OBJECTION OKAY.
SO I LOVE THAT OUR PAY EQUITY STUDY IS AT LONG LAST IN PLAY.
AND WE TALKED AT LENGTH LAST TIME.
AND WE WILL HAVE THE DATA IN APPROXIMATELY A YEAR.
[04:35:09]
INTO OUR VALUES OF FAIRNESS.SO MY QUESTION IS, HOW DOES THIS FLAT $2,000 INCREASE ALIGN WITH THE PRELIMINARY FINDINGS OR EXPECTED RECOMMENDATIONS FROM THE PAY EQUITY STUDY? THAT'S QUESTION ONE.
AND QUESTION TWO IS IF WE APPROVE OPTION A TODAY, HOW WOULD WE AVOID EMPLOYEE SALARIES.
THE COMPRESSION ISSUE BASICALLY.
SURE. DO YOU WANT TO TAKE THE COMPRESSION QUESTION? SURE. YEAH.
I MEAN, SO THERE'S THE REASON WE'RE DOING THE $200,000 AND THE FLAT 2000 IS BASICALLY TO AVOID THE COMPRESSION ISSUE, BECAUSE WE ACTUALLY HAVE AN EXAMPLE OF THIS IN OUR RECENT HISTORY, ABOUT TWO YEARS AGO WITH THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S OFFICE, WHERE WE GAVE ALL THE ENTRY LEVEL EMPLOYEE ATTORNEYS AND A PAY INCREASE TO MAKE THEM COMPETITIVE.
AND WHAT ENDED UP HAPPENING AS A RESULT OF THAT IS WE ENDED UP HAVING TO COME BACK, I THINK, 1 OR 2 MORE TIMES TO GIVE THE MID-LEVEL ATTORNEYS AND THEN THE SENIOR LEVEL ATTORNEYS INCREASES.
AND SO WE'VE HAD TO DEAL WITH THIS COMPRESSION ISSUE BEFORE.
AND BY DOING THIS FLAT $2,000 AND ENCOMPASSING A LARGE PART OF THE COUNTY POPULATION, BY USING THAT CAP OF 200,000, WE'RE BYPASSING OR KIND OF AVOIDING THE MAJORITY OF THAT ISSUE. SO YOU'RE VERY CONFIDENT ON THE AVOIDANCE OF THE COMPRESSION BASED ON THE 200,000 AND LESSONS LEARNED? CORRECT. OKAY.
AND THEN HOW DOES THIS FLAT 2000 ADJUSTMENT COMPLEMENT WHAT YOU EXPECT TO FIND FROM THE RESULTS OF THE PAY EQUITY STUDY? DIRECTOR. SO WHAT AT THIS JUNCTURE, WHAT WE ANTICIPATE IS THAT THE $2,000 INCREASE WILL FOR CERTAIN POPULATIONS, PARTICULARLY OUR LOWER PAID EMPLOYEES, WILL SUPPORT WHAT WE WHAT WE EXPECT TO BE OUTCOMES AND IDENTIFY AND ADDRESS OPPORTUNITIES TO.
OPPORTUNITIES TO ADDRESS PAY INEQUITY.
AGAIN, FOR OUR LOWER PAID EMPLOYEES.
WE KNOW THAT WE'RE MORE CONFIDENT IN THAT.
OBVIOUSLY THOSE ABOVE 200,000 ARE NOT INCLUDED.
THAT'S A VERY SMALL NUMBER OF PEOPLE IN OUR EMPLOYEE POPULATION.
AND SO WE FELT THAT TAKING THIS ROUTE AND GOING THE FLAT RATE ROUTE VERSUS A PERCENTAGE MITIGATES OUR OUR COMPRESSION ISSUES AND ALSO HELPS TO GET OUR, AGAIN, ESPECIALLY OUR LOWER PAID EMPLOYEES ADDRESSING PAY PAY INEQUITY A LITTLE BIT EARLIER UNTIL WE HAVE ALL OF THE DATA FROM THE STUDY.
OKAY. THANK YOU. AND I'M STRONGLY IN FAVOR OF THIS BECAUSE I WANT TO MAKE SURE, YOU KNOW, I WISH IT COULD BE EVEN MORE, BUT OBVIOUSLY WE HAVE FISCAL CONSTRAINTS, BUT WE JUST WE HAVE WONDERFUL MEN AND WOMEN COMING TO WORK EVERY DAY SERVING THIS COUNTY.
AND WHETHER IT'S PEOPLE, LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS RESPONDING TO CRIME, WHETHER IT'S PARK WORKERS, YOU KNOW, THOSE FIXING OUR ROADS, THOSE HELPING WITH HR AND FINANCE AND PUBLIC POLICY.
I MEAN, IT'S REALLY I'VE BEEN MOVED AT THE DEDICATION OF, OF OUR TEAM MEMBERS.
SO I'M VERY MUCH IN SUPPORT WHILE I HAVE THE MIC BEFORE MY COLLEAGUES SPEAK.
I AM HIGHLY SUPPORTIVE AND JUST FOR TRANSPARENCY, WHAT THIS WOULD DO FOR ANY WHO ARE LISTENING IS THIS WOULD MOVE THESE DEPARTMENT HEADS TO THE 50TH PERCENTILE OF MARKET BASED PAY.
AND EVEN ADJUSTMENTS THAT HAVE BEEN MADE IN THE PAST.
I USED TO BE A CHIEF TALENT OFFICER, SO THIS IS MY FAVORITE THING.
AND I JUST. FOR ALL HARRIS COUNTY EMPLOYEES WHO MAY BE LISTENING, I HAVE PROFOUND RESPECT AND GRATITUDE FOR EVERYTHING YOU DO ALL DAY, EVERY DAY TO SERVE THE PEOPLE OF HARRIS COUNTY AND TO ADVANCE OPPORTUNITY AND JUSTICE.
AND YOU'RE AT THE HELM OF THAT. SO I APPRECIATE THAT, DIRECTOR DOUGLAS.
YES. SO, DIRECTOR, THE $2,000 TO EVERYBODY MAKING LESS THAN $200,000, HOW MUCH IS THAT GOING TO BE? I KNOW WE'VE GOT 50 MILLION IN THE IN THE BUDGET.
AND THEN PRORATED, ASSUMING WE USE A JANUARY IMPLEMENTATION IS ABOUT 26 MILLION.
SO MY ONLY MY ONLY HESITATION IS I THINK I REMEMBER BEING TOLD THE ESTIMATE FOR COMING OUT OF THE PAY EQUITY IS GOING TO BE 100 MILLION AT LEAST.
AND SO WE'RE USING IT ALL THIS YEAR.
WE DON'T KNOW TO WHAT EXTENT IT'S PUT A DENT IN THE PAY EQUITY ISSUE.
THE PAY EQUITY PROBLEM THAT'S COMING OUT OF IT.
IT'S A LITTLE BIT OF A A A A HOPE THAT IT HELPS MITIGATE.
[04:40:04]
I HOPE IT DOESN'T EXACERBATE ANY INEQUITIES THAT, THAT ALREADY EXIST.THOSE MAKING LESS THAN 51,000 A YEAR WOULD BE MORE OF A TARGET.
I REALIZE THAT EVERYBODY AND THE PERCENTAGE OF A PERSON MAKING 200 IS 2%.
PERCENTAGE OF MAKING SOMEONE LESS THAN 51, I GET IT.
BUT I DON'T KNOW THAT IT HAS TO BE 200, I GUESS IS MY POINT.
IF WE IF WE NEED A TARGETED, WE WANT TO DO A TARGETED PARTICULARLY RELATED TO THOSE FOLKS MAKING LESS THAN 51,000, LIKE THE DETENTION OFFICER.
I RAN INTO WALMART OVER THE HOLIDAYS AND HAD A HEALTHY CONVERSATION WITH THAT, WITH THAT GUY, WITH THAT GUY DOING THE LORD'S WORK EVERY MORNING. AND I KNOW WHAT THE MAN MAKES.
I WOULD LIKE FOR THE INCREASE TO BE MORE FOCUSED ON THAT CLEAR NEED.
I THINK THE 200 IS TOO HIGH AND MAYBE IT NEEDS TO BE MORE, BUT I THINK THE 200,000 IS IS A HIGH. AND I THINK IT SOUNDS LIKE, WELL, WE'RE TRYING TO SPEND $50 MILLION TO DO SOMETHING.
I DON'T KNOW THAT WE'RE WORKING KIND OF BACKWARDS.
HOW CAN WE SPEND 50 MILLION COMPRESSION? I GET ALL OF THAT.
BUT IF THE FOCUS IF THE CONCERN, WHICH I THINK DIRECTOR YOU CLEARLY HAVE IDENTIFIED AND WE AGREE WITH YOU, IT IS ON THE LOWER END OF THE PAY SCALE, I THINK 200 IS TOO HIGH.
SO, COMMISSIONER RAMSEY, AS MUCH AS I HATE TO SAY I AGREE WITH YOU, I DON'T MAYBE THE JET LAG, BUT I HATE TO SAY WE THINK A LOT OF LIKE, OH, JUST ON THIS ONE SUBJECT, I UNDERSTAND.
BUT, YOU KNOW, IT'S A HELL OF A DILEMMA FOR ME, TO BE HONEST WITH YOU, BECAUSE WE DECIDED TO MAKE EXECUTIVE PAY INCREASES GO INTO EFFECT AT THE SAME TIME AS SALARY ADJUSTMENTS FOR EMPLOYEES AT THE LOWEST END OF THE PAY SCALE.
FIRST PRIORITY GROUP AND OUR LONG AWAITED EQUITY STUDY, I ASKED FOR THE EQUITY STUDY LONG BEFORE WE GOT TO THIS.
AND THEN I'M JUST STRUCK THAT WE CONTEMPLATING A $2,000 SALARY INCREASE FOR MOST EMPLOYEES, AND THEN JUMPS OF MORE THAN $100,000 FOR SOME DEPARTMENT HEADS.
I JUST, YOU KNOW, THAT JUST GIVES ME I'M ALL FOR IT.
BUT WHEN I WAS PUSHING FOR THIS.
MY CONCERN WAS FOR THE PEOPLE THAT SAY, YOU SO JESSE JACKSON SAY CATCH THE EARLY BUS.
TOOK ME A WHILE TO CATCH. WHAT WAS HE TALKING ABOUT? THE EARLY BUS.
AND I GET THE PIECE ON COMPRESSION.
BUT THAT'S A HELL OF A DEAL WHEN YOU'RE TRYING TO HIT THE FOLKS ON THE EARLY BUS.
YOU GOT TO WORRY ABOUT COMPRESSION.
WE AIN'T HERE TO TALK ABOUT COMPRESSION.
WHEN WE DID, FOLKS ON ON THE FRONT OF THE PLANE.
SO FOR ME, IT'S JUST A HECK OF A DILEMMA.
I JUST THINK THE $200,000 IS TOO HIGH.
IF WE DID IT BEFORE, IT WAS A SPECIAL GROUP OF EMPLOYEES THAT CAME IN.
SOME OF THE PROSECUTORS, AND THEN WE RAN INTO SOME PROBLEMS. SO THEN IT'S MORE WORK, BUT WE HAD TO MAKE ADJUSTMENTS.
WHAT'S THE NUMBER? WHAT WHAT WOULD IT BE IF WE PUT IT DOWN TO A HUNDRED? YEAH. SO A 150.
WE DO THE FIRST TRANCHE AT 100.
GO FROM THERE TO SEE IF WHAT THE WHAT THE DELTA.
AND WE'LL COME BACK AND MAKE AN ADJUSTMENT ON THE COMPRESSION TO SPEND IT ALL IN THIS FIRST TRANCHE.
YOU KNOW, BECAUSE I ASKED FOR THIS.
IF YOU GO BACK AND ASK FOR THE DATE.
THAT WAS SO LONG AGO, I CAN'T EVEN REMEMBER YOU ALL.
WHEN DID I ASK FOR THE PAY EQUITY THING? SO OFFICIALLY 2023.
BUT YOU'VE MENTIONED IT. SO I TALK ABOUT IT HERE, BUT OFFICIALLY MEANS MAKING A MOTION.
BUT WHEN I WOULD SAY IT, I JUST REMEMBER DAVE BARRY WAS AROUND.
HOW LONG HAS HE BEEN GONE? KEEP IT GOING. WHO WANTS TO OBJECT? WHO DON'T WANT THIS PAY RAISE GOING ON WITH THIS? SO I DON'T KNOW WHEN I MADE THE REQUEST.
[04:45:01]
MAYBE I MADE THE MOTION IN 2023, BUT I KNOW I TALKED ABOUT IT AT THIS TABLE 2 OR 3 TIMES.YOU WANT TO TAKE IT IN TERMS OF THE DOLLAR AMOUNT.
SO, YOU KNOW, I DID RUN SOME NUMBERS AROUND THAT FOR I JUST WANT TO CLARIFY.
YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT STILL THE $2,000 FOR EVERYONE.
MAYBE YOU COULD MAKE IT HIGHER.
IT'S ALL RIGHT WITH ME. I'M JUST TRYING.
REALLY. I'M. MY INTENT IS I WANT TO HELP EVERYBODY.
ONE WAS LOOKING AT NUMBERS BELOW $200,000 OR TAKING A TRANCHE APPROACH.
SO CERTAIN DOLLAR AMOUNTS FOR PEOPLE MAKING 0 TO 50,000, 50 TO 100 YOU GET A DIFFERENT AMOUNT.
BUT I THINK WHAT ENDS UP HAPPENING WHEN WE GO DOWN THAT PATH IS, IS THE FACT THAT YOU HAVE SITUATIONS WHERE, YOU KNOW, YOU HAVE SAY YOU HAVE 100,000 AND YOU HAVE SOMEONE WHO IS MAKING 99,000 AND SOMEONE IS MAKING 100.
SO THAT NUMBER, THAT LINE IN THE SAND IS HARD.
WE'RE NOT GOING TO HAVE 100 MILLION.
WE KNOW WE WON'T HAVE THE 100.
WE KNOW THAT EVEN WHEN THE STUDY COMES BACK, WE WON'T HAVE THAT AMOUNT OF MONEY.
IT'S NOT GOING TO COME OUT OF THIN AIR.
BUT SO THEN THE QUESTION IS, WHERE WAS THE CONCERN ABOUT COMPRESSION WHEN WE DID DEPARTMENT HEADS.
IT'S JUST COMPRESSION WHEN YOU'RE DEALING WITH THE LOW INCOME PEOPLE, YOU KNOW? YEAH, I'M SORRY, BUT I'M JUST REVERTING BACK TO BEING A SON OF A YARD MAN.
I'VE BEEN PRETTY MAD AT MY DADDY.
I'M SORRY. I WAS JUST GOING TO SAY, YOU KNOW, GIVE US A NO HARM, NO FOUL RECOMMENDATION.
DO WE START AT 100 JUST TO GET THE BALL ROLLING AND THEN COME BACK IN JANUARY? WHAT IS YOUR EXPERT RECOMMENDATION? BECAUSE I'VE BEEN DIGGING INTO, LIKE, HOW MANY EMPLOYEES FALL INTO EACH BRACKET AND AND AND THE MOTION CAN BE, YOU KNOW, 100,000 WITH A.
WITHIN WITHIN A 3% MARGIN, I GUESS IF, IF, IF WE'RE TALKING ABOUT SOMEONE WHO'S MAKING 101,000.
I'D LIKE TO TAKE A SHOT AT IT.
AND SO IF WE'RE GOING TO PRIORITIZE THOSE WHO ARE AT THE LOWEST END OF OUR SALARY RANGES, AND THEN OBVIOUSLY WE'RE MAKING ADJUSTMENTS AT THE TOP IN THE MIDDLE THERE, WE'RE GOING WE WILL INEVITABLY END UP WITH A COMPRESSION ISSUE.
SO I WHAT I'M HEARING IS YOU UNDER YOU YOU'RE OKAY WITH THAT? COME BACK TO YOU WITH A THOUGHTFUL AND DELIBERATE RECOMMENDATION THAT PRIORITIZES THOSE WHO ARE.
YEAH. WE'RE NEVER WE'RE NEVER GOING TO ESCAPE COMPRESSION NO MATTER WHERE WE START.
AND YOU'VE DONE A GREAT JOB ALL YOU HAVE ON THIS.
BUT I'M JUST TRYING TO FIGURE OUT HOW DO I SAY, HOW DO THE FOUR OF US WHO ARE HERE SAY TO OUR LOWER LEVEL EMPLOYEES, WE CAN'T PAY YOU ANY MORE MONEY BECAUSE OF COMPRESSION. HOW DO JUST HOW DO I WRAP MY HEAD AROUND HAVING THAT CONVERSATION WITH THEM? HOW DO I EXPLAIN THAT WE UNDERSTAND THAT? AND I THINK FOR US, IT'S ALWAYS BEEN A PRIORITY FOR OUR LOWER LEVEL EMPLOYEES.
SO THIS WAS NOT IGNORING THEM.
THEY WOULD HAVE BEEN A PART OF THIS, THIS THIS INCREASE, CERTAINLY.
BUT WE'VE HEARD YOUR CONCERNS.
YEAH, YOU AGREE WE'RE NEVER GOING TO GET PERFECTION, RIGHT? IT'S REALLY HARD TO GET THINGS RIGHT IN COMPENSATION.
IN THE MEANWHILE, YOU KNOW, I'D HATE TO DELAY ACTION FOR OUR LOWEST PAID EMPLOYEES.
HERE WE ARE DECEMBER END OF THE YEAR.
WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT THIS IN CIRCLES FOR A WHILE NOW.
AND I DON'T MEAN JUST TODAY, I MEAN MONTHS AND YEARS TO COMMISSIONER ELLIS.
YOU KNOW, POINTS, YOU KNOW, WE CAN'T COME UP WITH ANYTHING.
THIS IS, LIKE, REALLY MAKING THE SAUSAGE HERE AND ON CAMERA.
BUT, YOU KNOW, LET'S LET'S JUST TAKE SOME NUMBERS.
$2,500. IF YOU MAKE UNDER $100,000, $1,500 IF YOU MAKE 100 TO 200,000, AND THAT'S IT.
WE LIVE WITH THE CONSEQUENCES.
WE HEAR COMPLAINTS FROM FOLKS THAT NOW HAVE SOMEONE THAT WORKS, THAT GETS PAID A LITTLE MORE.
[04:50:04]
WE DEAL WITH IT, BUT WE KNOW THAT WE'VE DONE SOMETHING FOR THE FOLKS THAT DO THE VAST MAJORITY OF THE WORK FOR HARRIS COUNTY RESIDENTS.SO HERE'S A SUGGESTION, AT LEAST FROM MY EXPERIENCE OF MAKING SAUSAGE, WE GOT A LONG ITEM.
NOW, I HAVEN'T TALKED ON THAT.
MANY OF THEM, I WOULD SAY, WORK UP SOME OPTIONS AND LET US COME BACK AND SEE THE NUMBERS.
AND I WOULD SAY EVEN IF YOU LOOKED AT, GIVEN WHETHER IT'S A 2500 OR 3000 OR SOME SOMETHING TO THE OTHERS, COME UP WITH SOME OPTIONS SO YOU GET A LITTLE CHANCE TO THE SAUSAGE TASTES A LITTLE BETTER, YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN? YOU MIGHT DECIDE YOU WANT CHICKEN SAUSAGES INSTEAD OF PORK.
YOU WANT BEEF? PLAY WITH IT A LITTLE BIT AND COME BACK IN ABOUT 45 MINUTES.
YES. AND IF THEY CAN STICK TO THE $38 MILLION NUMBER TOTAL AND WORK WITHIN THAT, MAYBE THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE CAN AT LEAST THEY CAN HAVE SOME PARAMETERS TO WORK AROUND THE THE $38 MILLION ANNUAL COST.
YEAH. I DON'T I'M NOT I DON'T KNOW THAT THE I WOULD I WOULD LIKE TO SEE A STUDY I THE URGENCY OF OF SPENDING THE 38 MILLION WHEN WE'RE GOING TO NEED OVER 100 MILLION TO DEAL WITH THE PAY EQUITY IN GENERAL.
I DON'T KNOW THAT THAT THAT'S AN ARBITRARY NUMBER.
WE'RE JUST TRYING TO SPEND THE MONEY THIS YEAR.
I'D RATHER IT BE MORE, MORE TARGETED.
BUT YOU KNOW, TODAY, IF WE IF WE STARTED WITH 2000 FOR EVERYONE UNDER 51,000, WE WALK OUT OF HERE SAYING, WELL, GOSH, I THINK EVERYBODY AGREES WITH THAT.
THE OTHER THE OTHER DETAILS OF WHAT IS IT, 100, 150, 200.
THAT GETS A BIT MORE COMPLICATED.
BUT, YOU KNOW, 2000 FOR PEOPLE MAKING LESS THAN 51,000 WOULD ADDRESS, I THINK THAT THAT LOW END THAT WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT, I WANT US TO DO I WELL, I WANT TO LET YOU TALK, BUT I HOPE WE DO SOMETHING TODAY.
SO I HEAR YOUR CONCERNS AND RESPECT THEM, AND I APPRECIATE.
SO IF I WERE Y'ALL, I'D BE LIKE, WHAT? THESE PEOPLE LITERALLY ASKED ME NOVEMBER 11TH TO GO GIVE GIVE US EXPERT RECOMMENDATIONS.
YOU HAD A MONTH. YOU CAME BACK AND YOU GAVE THEM TO US.
I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU. AND I FUNDAMENTALLY, THERE'S NOT AN URGENCY TO SPEND THE MONEY.
THERE'S AN URGENCY TO BE FAIR.
AND WHEN YOU LOOK, IT WAS I BELIEVE IT WAS MARCH 2023 WHEN WE PASSED TO DO THE PAY EQUITY STUDY.
WE'RE A YEAR AND A HALF DOWN THE ROAD.
WE THOUGHT THE DATA WAS GOING TO COME IN, YOU KNOW, Q1 2025.
SO THIS WE'VE BEEN TELLING AND TALKING AND TALKING AND TALKING.
SO MY URGENCY IS TO DELIVER FAIRNESS AND EQUITY A PORTION OF IT.
RIGHT? 38 IS NOT THE 50 THAT WE'VE SET ASIDE.
AND WE KNOW IT'S MORE LIKE 100.
SO I WOULD LIKE TO TAKE ACTION TODAY.
I'M MORE THAN HAPPY IF YOU ALL NEED ANOTHER HOUR OR TWO TO FINESSE MAYBE THE AMOUNTS, AND IT COULD EVEN BE MORE PHASED RIGHT FOR THE 51 AND UNDER ITS MORE THAN OBVIOUSLY TWO.
CASE 6.4% TO SOMEONE 31 AND YOU KNOW 4% TO SOMEONE OF 50,000.
BUT MAYBE IT IS 3000 FOR THOSE 51 AND UNDER, AND THEN IT'S TWO FOR LOWER OR ONE FIVE.
OR MAYBE THERE'S SOME ADJUSTMENTS.
I WISH WE HAD THE FULL STUDY, TO BE FRANK.
SO WE'RE HERE AND I PERSONALLY WOULD LIKE TO MAKE AN ADJUSTMENT.
AND WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE NUMBERS THOSE IT THE LAST THING WE WANT TO DO IS EXACERBATE THE ISSUE RATHER THAN DELIVER MORE FAIRNESS AND EQUITY. AND SO I KNOW THIS IS NOT PERFECT.
I KNOW IT'S NOT THE FULL REPORT, I GET IT.
BUT IN THE SAKE OF FAIRNESS, I AT LEAST MY VOTE WOULD WANT TO DELIVER SOMETHING TODAY.
AND IT'S NOT THAT I'M, YOU KNOW, HAVE MONEY IN MY POCKET.
I'M TRYING TO BURN A HOLE IN MY POCKET.
ON THE CONTRARY, THIS HAS ALREADY TAKEN FAR TOO LONG AND WILL CONTINUE TO TAKE LONGER.
BUT I WANT TO DELIVER SOME FAIRNESS TODAY.
SO CAN WE GET BACK TO THIS, PLEASE? SO, WHAT I'M HOPING IS JUST A SUGGESTION THAT IF YOU GET IN AUSTIN, YOU.
WE CAN'T GO GET A LITTLE WORKING GROUP.
BUT IF YOU IF IT'S LEGAL, GET SOME SENIOR PERSON FROM EACH OF OUR STAFFS.
WOULD YOU RUN THROUGH AND AND WORK UP WITH SOME OPTIONS AND LET US LOOK AT THEM.
AND WE'VE GOT TO STAY HERE FOR A WHILE.
[04:55:07]
FOR PEOPLE MAKING UNDER WHATEVER, 51 175, WHATEVER IT IS, AND THEN COME BACK WITH THE REST AT THE JANUARY MEETING.HOWEVER, IF WE TAKE CARE OF THE DIRECTORS FIRST OR IN AND CONCURRENT WITH WHATEVER DECISION WE MAKE TODAY, YOU SET THE COMPRESSION CEILING BECAUSE YOU'VE MOVED UP THE DIRECTORS.
NOW YOU KNOW JUST HOW MUCH MORE TO WORK WITH FOR EVERY TRANCHE OF OUR LOWER, LOWER PAID EMPLOYEES.
AND THAT GIVES YOU THAT GIVES YOU YOUR COMPRESSION DATA.
AND YOU'RE GOING TO KNOW JUST EXACTLY WHERE TO WHERE TO HIT.
I HAVE ONE MORE. SORRY, COMMISSIONER.
I PUSHED THE BUTTON PURPOSELY.
OH, THAT'S WHY YOUR NAME WAS UP THERE, COMMISSIONER.
AND I AND I WANT TO ASK THIS QUESTION.
WHAT IS THE WHAT IS THE STANDARD LIMIT TO TO NON COMPRESSION? IS IT 5%.
IS IT 10%? WHAT IS IT? IT ISN'T THAT NEAT IF I COULD.
THAT'S PROBABLY THE BEST WAY I COULD DESCRIBE IT.
AS WAVES IN A POOL OR WAVES IN THE OCEAN.
SOME ARE BIGGER, SOME ARE. SOME ARE BIGGER, SOME ARE SMALLER.
SO WE ALWAYS KNOW WHAT WHEN WE'RE GOING TO START TO HIT THAT COMPRESSION FORMULA.
BECAUSE RIGHT NOW WE'RE TRYING TO FIGURE IT OUT.
YEAH. AND SO I WOULD JUST ASK, MAYBE AT A LATER TIME YOU COME BACK WITH WHAT IS THE THE NON COMPRESSION NUMBER THAT WE SHOULD WORK WITH GOING FORWARD.
AND SO BUT TODAY I'LL CONFER WITH OUR OMB AND STAFF AND DIANA AND WE WILL COME BACK WITH A RECOMMENDATION FOR YOU TO CONSIDER TODAY.
THANK YOU. AND WE ALSO WANT SOMETHING TO HAPPEN TODAY AS WELL.
JUST SO YOU KNOW. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
SO AND MY OTHER COMMENT WAS JUST TO GO BACK TO 51.
WE SEE TREMENDOUSLY, AND I DON'T WANT TO START GOING THROUGH SPECIFIC EXAMPLES, BUT WHEN YOU HAVE A LEADER WHO IS SUPERB AND WHO CAN IMPROVE MORALE AND CREATE CLEAR KPIS AND PUSH AND MOTIVATE AND DRIVE HIS OR HER TEAM, IT IS GAME CHANGING.
AND WHEN YOU DON'T HAVE GOOD LEADERS, IT'S A TREMENDOUS CHALLENGE TO PUT IT NICELY, RIGHT? AND SO AND THIS IS NOT REVOLUTIONARY.
IT'S TAKING THE LEADERS TO THE 50TH PERCENTILE.
LIKE LET US BE CLEAR, 50TH PERCENTILE.
AND SO I THINK WE NEED BOLD, VISIONARY LEADERS WHO KNOW HOW TO DELIVER.
AND WE NEED TO HOLD THEM ACCOUNTABLE.
SO MY NEXT BIG PROJECT, WHICH I KNOW WE'RE ALREADY WORKING ON TOGETHER IS A PERFORMANCE MANAGEMENT.
RIGHT. AND AND WHAT ARE HOW ARE WE REVIEWING EMPLOYEES.
HOW ARE WE HOLDING THEM ACCOUNTABLE? HOW ARE WE SETTING CLEAR GOALS AND GROWING THEM AND ETC..
AND SO I PERSONALLY WOULD LIKE TO MOVE ON 51.
AND FROM A BUDGETARY STANDPOINT, IT IS SOMETHING VERY REASONABLE BECAUSE I WANT US TO HAVE THE BEST LEADERS IN THIS COUNTY, BECAUSE THAT'S THE ONLY WAY WE'RE EVER GOING TO REALLY LIVE INTO THE PROMISE.
SO I CAN'T WAIT FOR TWO HOURS FROM NOW OR WHENEVER YOU ALL COME BACK.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR YOUR WORK ON THIS.
PRIMARY, PRIMARY, PRIMARY FOCUS BEING AROUND THOSE IN THE LOWER END OF THE WAGE.
SO MYSELF AND THEN ARE YOU GOING TO DESIGNATE IS IT LEGAL J.
I'M JUST SAYING IT MIGHT HELP YOU.
SO WE'RE NOT HERE HASHING THIS OUT AT THE TABLE, YOU KNOW.
NO. YEAH. THEY CAN WORK WITH THEY CAN WORK WITH YOUR STAFF AND WORK WITH YOUR STAFF.
DOES THAT MAKE SENSE TO YOU ALL? THAT'S GOOD. WE CAN DO TO MOVE IT FORWARD.
I WANT TO DO 31 AND 51 TOGETHER.
ONE HAS SOMETHING TO DO WITH THE OTHER.
OKAY. THAT'S OKAY. AND ANY CONCERNS YOU WANT TO RAISE ON 51 WHILE BEFORE THEY GO.
[05:00:01]
NO, JUST ONE HAS SOMETHING TO DO WITH IT.OKAY. ALL RIGHT. JUST TO BE CLEAR, THOUGH, ITEM 51 IS ONLY A DISCUSSION AND AND PRESENTATION.
YEAH. NO. THAT'S RIGHT. IT'LL BOTH BE ON FROM THE ACTION WILL BE ON 30 FOR BOTH.
SO 51 WOULD BE CONSIDERED A NO ACTION.
RIGHT. BUT IT'S I THINK WE NEED SOME CLEAR DIRECTION.
ARE WE GOING TO KEEP PUNTING? ARE WE GOING TO DO SOMETHING? I KNOW TECHNICALLY THERE'S AN ITEM 30 IS BROAD ENOUGH THAT ANY ACTIONS THAT WOULD NORMALLY COME UNDER 51 COULD COULD BE APPLIED TO 30.
SO IT'S NOT. IS THAT ALL RIGHT.
SO YOU TAKE SOME ACTION COLLEAGUES OF ALL STAFFS.
I WANT TO BE RESPECTFUL. OKAY.
WE'RE ASKING EVERYBODY TO GO UP TO THE FIFTH FLOOR AND GET.
WE'LL GET LET IN. JESSE WILL BE THERE.
YEAH. SO THAT THEY CAN THEY CAN WORK THROUGH THE, THE ISSUES.
AND WE HAVE TVS THAT THEY CAN PUT THE STUFF ON.
YOU WANT TO TAKE A QUICK BREAK? YES. LET'S TAKE A FIVE MINUTE BREAK SO WE CAN GET YOU.
TAKE A TEN MINUTE BREAK. ALL RIGHT.
YEAH. COMMISSIONER, YOU WANT TO SAY THE TIME? 457. COME BACK AT 605.
605. COME BACK AT 605, PLEASE.
510. COME BACK! IT IS NOW 457.
COMMISSIONERS COURT IS BACK IN SESSION.
AND, COLLEAGUES, I THINK WE ARE NOW ON ITEM BILINGUAL PAY ITEM 48.
COMMISSIONER RAMSEY, YOU PULLED THAT ONE.
I'M HOPING THAT WE CAN TAKE THIS ONE.
AND THEN THE OTHER AIR ITEM THAT WAS.
WE CAN TAKE IT WHEN THEY GET BACK AND SKIP IT AND COME BACK TO THAT.
I DON'T HAVE THE DETAILS ON IT.
OKAY. JUST REMIND ME IF I FORGET, I'M GONNA MARK THOSE THREE TO KIND OF HELP ME THERE.
OKAY. COMMISSIONER RAMSEY, THE NEXT ITEM IS ITEM 52.
CAN WE DO THAT ONE? HUMAN RESOURCES AND TALENT.
OR SHOULD WE HOLD THAT ONE? THAT'S ALSO. YES, WE CAN WAIT.
WE HOLD THAT ONE AND THE NEXT ONE IS ANOTHER ONE.
WELL, DO I HAVE 53 ON HERE? TWICE? NO, 52 AND 53.
YES. SO I AM EXTREMELY EXCITED ABOUT THESE.
IF I MAY, PLEASE TALK ABOUT 112, 113 114 123.
SO THESE ARE FOUR MORE OF THE PLACES FOR PEOPLE.
THOSE PROACTIVE CALL FOR PARTNERSHIP PROJECTS.
THESE ARE FOUR PROJECTS FROM OUR 2023 CALL.
AND THEY REPRESENT A $32 MILLION INVESTMENT IN COMMUNITIES ACROSS HOUSTON, THE ENERGY CORRIDOR, BEAR CREEK, SHARPSTOWN, BUFFALO BAYOU, MEMORIAL PARK. AND ONE OF THESE PROJECTS IS THE PROJECT THAT WILL CONNECT MEMORIAL PARK AND BUFFALO BAYOU PARK.
THEY HAD STALLED ON THEIR FUNDRAISING, AND SO THEY SUBMITTED.
THE HOUSTON PARKS BOARD SUBMITTED THAT PROJECT LAST YEAR.
AND SO THIS WILL CONNECT THE TWO MOST UTILIZED GREEN SPACES IN HARRIS COUNTY WITH A 1.1 MILE TRAIL.
SO THAT'S ONE OF THE PROJECTS WILL ALSO.
ANOTHER ONE WILL COMPLEMENT CLOSING 3.5 MILES OF GAPS IN SIDEWALKS BY MAKING CONNECTIONS TO THE TERRY HERSHEY TRAIL, ADDICKS DAM TRAIL, SPRING BRANCH TRAIL AND THE METRO ADDICKS PARK AND RIDE IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE ENERGY CORRIDOR CORRIDOR DISTRICTS.
AND THEN WE ALSO ONE OF THE PROJECTS IS A PARTNERSHIP WITH METRO.
WE ARE PARTNERING WITH THEM FOR 200 BUS SHELTERS AT METRO STOPS AND PRECINCT FOUR, AND WE'RE PARTICULARLY FOCUSED ON GULFTON SHARPSTOWN AREA. GULFTON IS 17 DEGREES HOTTER THAN RIVER OAKS, FOR INSTANCE, WHICH I'M ALSO PROUD TO REPRESENT, AND IT'S ONE OF THE MOST DENSELY POPULATED AREAS, AND IT'S ONE OF THE MOST HEAVILY DEPENDENT ON TRANSIT.
[05:05:03]
AND SO THE STOPS WILL BE FOCUSED ON A PUBLIC SAFETY COMPONENT AS WELL AS A COOLING COMPONENT AND PLACEMAKING.SO THESE WILL BE UNIQUE BUS STOPS THAT WILL HELP DELIVER SAFETY TO THE RESIDENTS.
LAST YEAR, WE PICKED 32 PROJECTS TOTALING $170 MILLION INVESTMENT, WHICH ENERGIZES ME TO MY CORE BECAUSE WE'RE LEVERAGING THESE PUBLIC PRIVATE PARTNERSHIPS, PARTNERSHIPS WITH OTHER GOVERNMENTAL ENTITIES.
AND THEN YESTERDAY, WE JUST ANNOUNCED THE 2024 WINNERS.
SO I AM ENERGIZED BY WHAT WE CAN DO WHEN WE COLLABORATE AND DO IT TOGETHER.
AND I'M SMILING AT JAY BECAUSE HE'S JUST BEEN KEY IN GETTING THESE ACROSS THE FINISH LINE.
SO THANK YOU. AND I CAN'T WAIT FOR THESE TO BECOME AN ACTUAL REALITY.
SO IN SUM I WOULD LOVE TO MOVE ITEM 112 113 114 123 AS PRESENTED.
THANK YOU COMMISSIONER, I JUST WANT TO THANK YOU.
I WILL RIDE EACH ONE OF THEM AND WOULD CHALLENGE ALL OF YOU TO MAKE ONE OF US TO JOIN ME.
AND I WILL NOT BE ON THE ELECTRIC BIKE.
I MIGHT WALK MOTION HAVING MAINTAINED MOST OF THOSE AT SOME POINT IN MY LIFE.
IT'S THOSE ARE GREAT, GREAT CONNECTIONS.
THANK YOU. COLLEAGUES. COMMISSIONER BRIONES MAKES THE MOTION AND COMMISSIONER GARCIA SECONDS.
THAT'S FOR 112 113, 114 AND IN 123.
AYE AYE. ANY OPPOSED? NONE OPPOSED. ITEM.
THIS IS ECONOMIC EQUITY AND OPPORTUNITY.
REVISE THE AMOUNT OF 25 K FOR USE IN THE DEPARTMENT'S PROCUREMENT CARD.
HOW MANY P CARDS IS THAT? DO WE KNOW? COMMISSIONER RAMSEY, THIS IS SARAH GONZALEZ, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF DOE.
SO I DO KNOW THAT WE HAVE A COUPLE OF USERS USING THE P CARD, BUT THIS IS FOR THE S.I.
DIVISION THAT HOSTS EVENTS YEAR ROUND.
ALL RIGHT. SO WE DON'T KNOW IF IT'S ONE OR 2 OR 20.
BUT WE ARE WE ARE USING THE DEPARTMENT P CARD.
SO IT'S NOT ASKING FOR EXTRA P CARDS.
SO YOU'RE JUST USING THE SAME NUMBER OF P CARDS.
YES, SIR. IS THIS FUNDED THROUGH THE FLEX FUND? I'M NOT SURE, BUT I CAN GET THAT ANSWER.
THAT'S JUST CURIOUS, OBVIOUSLY.
I'M LOOKING AT THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR.
YES, SIR. THE ONLY QUESTION AND CONCERN WOULD BE PICARD'S IN AND OF THEMSELVES ARE HAVE A HIGH POTENTIAL FOR CONTROL ISSUES.
FLEX FUNDS HAS A LOT OF FLEXIBILITY.
SO YOU GOT CONTROL ISSUES WITH LACK OF MAYBE EXTENSIVE REGULATIONS.
ANYWAY, THIS IS JUST A WORD OF CAUTION.
YES, SIR. AS WE USE THOSE P CARDS AND AND I KNOW YOU.
BUT HAVING ELIMINATED ALL CARS IN PRECINCT THREE EXCEPT FOR ONE.
I SPEAK FROM EXPERIENCE ON CARS, COMMISSIONER.
I CAN. I'M LOOKING AT THE RCA.
AND JUST FOR THE RECORD, ON THE FLEX FUND YOU KNOW, WE CAN'T SPEND ANY DOLLARS FROM THE FLEX FUND.
AND UNTIL IT COMES FROM COMMISSIONERS COURT TO GET APPROVAL FOR THAT.
BUT OTHERWISE IT'S, IT'S IT HAS ITS OWN FENCE AROUND IT AND IT'S SECURED.
BUT WE'RE GOING FROM 5000 TO 25,000.
I THINK THAT'S THE INCREASE AMOUNT.
AND I JUST WANTED TO MY STAFF LET ME KNOW THAT WE DO HAVE THREE PEAK CARDS, AND WE DO HAVE INTERNAL PROCESSES THAT WERE ACTUALLY AUDITED BY THE AUDITOR'S OFFICE FOR HOW WE USE THOSE PEAK CARD AND LIKE A CHECK IN AND CHECK OUT PROCESS.
OKAY. THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER GARCIA.
STELLA, THANK YOU FOR YOUR WORK.
I JUST WANTED TO PUT A BUG IN YOUR EAR.
MY OFFICE IS WORKING TO ENSURE THAT WE ARE UTILIZING OUR P CARDS FOR MWB PURCHASES.
SO I WOULD ASK YOU TO THINK ABOUT SOME APPROACH TO THAT AS WE WORK THROUGH OURS.
[05:10:02]
AND MAYBE WE CAN COMBINE NOTES AND SEE IF WE CAN'T COME WITH A COUNTY WIDE POLICY.THANK YOU. I LOVE THAT, COMMISSIONER GARCIA.
THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU.
GOOD JOB. THANK YOU. IS THERE A MOTION ON THIS? SO MOVE. COMMISSIONER GARCIA MOVES IT.
AND I'LL SECOND ALL THOSE IN FAVOR.
FOUR EYES. NO ON THIS ITEM PASSES.
COMMISSIONER RAMSEY, DID YOU PULL THIS? IT JUST DOESN'T SHOW. THIS IS ITEM 210.
I'M NOT SURE IT'S ON CONSENT I THINK.
OKAY. I JUST DIDN'T HEAR YOUR NAME.
I'M SORRY. ITEM 210 ECONOMIC EQUITY AND OPPORTUNITY.
THREE POSITIONS, EFFECTIVE DECEMBER 14TH.
WELL, HOLD ON A SECOND. IS THIS 210? YES. ON ON THIS ONE.
STELLA, I WANT TO ASK OF THE COMMITMENT TO DEDICATING THESE THREE POSITIONS THAT THEIR WORK BE EXCLUSIVELY, EXCLUSIVELY TO THESE DEPARTMENTS BECAUSE IN OTHER AREAS, SOME DEPARTMENTS ARE PAYING FOR STAFF AND OTHER DEPARTMENTS, IN THEORY, TO GIVE THEM PRIORITY. AND IT'S NOT WORKING OUT THAT WAY.
SO WHAT CAN YOU SAY TO ENSURING THAT WHEN THESE DEPARTMENTS PAY FOR THESE POSITIONS, THAT THESE POSITIONS WILL ABSOLUTELY BE DOING ONLY THEIR WORK. YES.
COMMISSIONER GARCIA, THANK YOU FOR THAT QUESTION.
WE'LL TALK TO MY DIRECTORS TO SEE IF THERE'S A WAY THAT WE CAN TRACK THE PROJECTS.
I DO KNOW THAT WE ALREADY TRACK BY MONITORS AND THE PROJECTS THAT THEY'RE ON.
SO IT SHOULD BE SIMPLY JUST MAKING SURE THAT WE HAVE THAT TAG.
AND MR. TREVINO DID TELL ME AT THAT TIME, DIRECTOR TREVINO, THAT TO MAKE SURE THAT THAT STAFF WAS GOING TO BE DEDICATED, TO MAKE SURE THEY'RE TIED TO THOSE PROJECTS.
AND SO I HEARD HIM LOUD AND CLEAR, AND WE'LL MAKE SURE TO TO MAKE THAT COMMITMENT AND FOLLOW UP.
THANK YOU. I JUST APPRECIATE THAT.
THANK YOU. YEAH. I THINK TO REINFORCE WHAT COMMISSIONER GARCIA DIRECTOR, IT IT'S SO IMPORTANT THAT WE DO TRACK IT HERE BECAUSE WE'VE GOT CERTAIN COVENANTS THAT REQUIRE THAT WE CAN ONLY SPEND TOLL ROAD MONEY ON TRANSPORTATION RELATED ACTIVITY.
GARCIA MOVES ITEM. I'LL SECOND IT.
AYE. ALL THOSE OPPOSED, VOTE NO.
FOUR EYES. THE NEXT ITEM PASSES.
THE NEXT ONE IS YOU, COMMISSIONER RAMSEY.
UNIVERSAL SERVICES, BOSTON CONSULTING GROUP.
WE JUST NEED A VOTE. SO MOVED.
COMMISSIONER GARCIA MOVES IT. I'LL SECOND IT.
YEAH. LET'S A SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR VOTE.
AYE. AYE. ALL OPPOSED? VOTE NO. NO.
NO. COMMISSIONER RAMSEY VOTES.
PUBLIC HEALTH, INSTITUTE FOR SPIRITUALITY AND HEALTH IN THE AMOUNT OF 100 K.
I JUST NEED TO VOTE. I'LL MOVE IT.
COMMISSIONER GARCIA SECONDS IT.
COMMISSIONER RAMSEY VOTES. NATE.
GARCIA RAMSEY AND BRONSON THAT ANY ANY ORDER.
YOU HIT IT FIRST. COMMISSIONER GARCIA, RAMSEY AND BRIONES.
COMMISSIONER. I'D LIKE TO THANK INTERIM DIRECTOR BARTON FOR TAKING THE INITIATIVE TO RUN A PARALLEL ASSESSMENT TO EXPLORE HOW INCREDIBLY PIVOTAL THE PROGRAM COULD BE WHEN IT'S BROUGHT IN HOUSE.
HART SERVES AN ESSENTIAL PURPOSE IN HARRIS COUNTY AND OUR COMMUNITIES, AND I'M GLAD TO SEE A PROPOSAL THAT BRINGS THIS PROGRAM IN-HOUSE TO ENSURE ITS LONGEVITY AND STABILITY.
WITH THAT BEING SAID, I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE IT CLEAR THAT IT IS CRITICAL THAT WE DO NOT SEE GAP IN SERVICES AND THAT HART CONTINUES TO DO ITS EXCELLENT WORK. I'D LIKE TO REITERATE MY STANCE THAT IT IS EQUALLY IMPORTANT THAT WE EXPEDITE THIS PROCESS SO THAT NO ADDITIONAL RELATIONSHIPS WITH THE THE EXISTING VENDOR IS NEEDED, AND I LOOK FORWARD TO THE FUTURE SUCCESS OF THIS PROGRAM AND SEEING IT COME TO PRECINCT TWO.
TO. SO I MOVE ON THIS ITEM AS PRESENTED.
OUR OUR CURRENT VENDOR IS ON BOARD TO WORK.
DIRECTOR. BARTON. WE CAN'T HEAR YOU VERY WELL.
YOU WANT TO GO TO COMMISSIONER BRIONES AND COME BACK?
[05:15:01]
SURE. TOM. IS THAT RIGHT? OKAY. COMMISSIONER BRIONES.I JUST HAVE A FEW QUICK POINTS TO MAKE.
FIRST, INTERIM EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR.
BARTON, THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP.
AND THANK YOU FOR WHAT YOU HAVE DONE TO EXPEDITE.
IT HAS THIS HAS BEEN EXPEDITED.
I'M SO THANKFUL THAT WE WILL BE SAVING AND STRENGTHENING HEART, BRINGING IT IN HOUSE.
MY DREAM IS TO HAVE IT ACROSS THE COUNTY.
24 OVER SEVEN AND I URGE YOU TO JUST TO CONTINUE WORKING AT THE EXCELLENT PACE YOU HAVE BEEN, SO THAT WE HAVE AN EXPEDITED IN-HOUSE TRANSITION PLAN, BECAUSE WHAT THIS OFFERS IN TERMS OF CONNECTION TO MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES, THE PROMISE OF THIS MODEL AND WHAT IT CAN DO IS POWERFUL TO LINK FOLKS TO SERVICE, BUT ALSO KEEP FOLKS WHO DON'T NEED TO BE IN THE JUSTICE SYSTEM OUT OF THE JUSTICE SYSTEM.
SO I JUST APPRECIATE THE PROGRESS I HAVE SEEN IN THESE MONTHS.
THANK YOU, DIRECTOR BARNES COMING ON.
I'M PROUD TO SUPPORT COMMISSIONER GARCIA.
I JUST WANTED TO CONFIRM THAT THE CONTRACT DOES END JANUARY NEXT YEAR, AND WE SHOULD.
OH, OKAY. AND IS THAT ALL RIGHT? I JUST WANT TO CONFIRM THAT I BELIEVE SO, BUT I KNOW DIRECTOR BARTON.
SHE WAS ATTENDING HER HER SON'S CHRISTMAS PLAY OR SOMETHING.
WE UNDERSTAND THAT. BUT, MISS COLLINS, YOU'RE ONLINE TOO.
CAN YOU ANSWER THE QUESTION ABOUT ABOUT THE CURRENT VENDOR AND WHEN THEIR CONTRACT ENDS? AND WE NEED YOU ON CAMERA? OH, DID SHE GET OFF? AND I CAN ANSWER THE QUESTION FOR THEM BECAUSE THIS IS SOMETHING I LOVE.
HEART. AND I WANT TO THANK TREVOR.
AND YOU'VE DONE EXCELLENT WORK.
TREVOR AND NICOLE AND SO MANY OF OUR TEAM MEMBERS.
THE ANSWER TO YOUR QUESTION IS JANUARY 25TH, 2025 IS THE TERMINATION DATE.
THANK YOU. I'M PROUD TO SECOND IT.
AND I'M PLEASED THAT THE WORK OF TEAM EFFORT COMMISSIONER BRIAN, YOU AND YOUR TEAM, MY MY STAFF IS ONE I'M PROUD THAT WE LISTED AS A PRIORITY ITEM OUT OF MY OFFICE.
COMMISSIONER GARCIA AND COMMISSIONER RAMSEY.
EVERYBODY WORKING TOGETHER ON IT.
SO COMMISSIONER GARCIA MADE A MOTION, I SECOND IT.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR VOTE AYE. AYE.
ONE NAY. COMMISSIONER RAMSEY VOTES.
AND, COMMISSIONER GARCIA, THAT'S YOU.
THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE IS STILL WORKING THROUGH ITS PROCESSES AND CRITERIA TO IMPLEMENT THIS.
THAT'S WHY THEY HAVE NOT YET EXECUTED IT.
SO I JUST WANT TO PUT THIS ITEM UP FOR A VOTE.
OKAY. SO YOU WANT TO JUST IF SOMEONE WILL MAKE A MOTION.
IS THERE A SECOND? I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE SOME COMMENTS.
CONSTABLE HERRMANN IS ONE OF MY CONSTABLES.
AND THAT WE SHARE JURISDICTION.
I HAVE DEEP RESPECT FOR HIM AND HIS TEAM.
AND PHILOSOPHICALLY, I BELIEVE DEEPLY IN PARITY.
HOWEVER, I AGREE WITH COMMISSIONER GARCIA THAT RIGHT NOW, THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE HASN'T BEEN ABLE TO GET THE DETECTIVE RANK EVEN OFF THE GROUND BECAUSE OF APPEALS TO THE CIVIL SERVICE COMMISSION, AND THEY'RE STILL REALLY ARTICULATING WHAT THE QUALIFICATIONS AND REQUIREMENTS ARE AND THEN FOR WHAT SORTS OF CASES, ETC..
SO THEY'RE STILL SHAPING UP THEIR WORK.
THAT AND I SAID PHILOSOPHICALLY, I AGREE.
BECAUSE IF WE'RE GOING TO HAVE PARITY, IT NEEDS TO BE APPLES TO APPLES.
AND BECAUSE THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE IS STILL WORKING, I COULD BECOME A YES IN THE FUTURE.
BUT FOR TODAY'S PURPOSES, IT'S NOT EVEN HAPPENING AT THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE.
AND I VERY MUCH RESPECT ALL THE WORK OF BOTH OUR CONSTABLES AND OUR SHERIFF'S OFFICE TEAM MEMBERS.
[05:20:06]
NO. SO APPARENTLY THERE'S CURRENT LITIGATION GOING ON WITH CIVIL SERVICE.CORRECT. IT IT CANNOT MOVE FORWARD UNTIL IT GETS RESOLVED AT CIVIL SERVICE.
BUT ON 251, WE'RE ABOUT TO APPROVE AN OUT.
OF BUDGET PROCESS IN THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE.
I THINK WE JUST HAVE TO BE VERY CAREFUL THAT WE.
AND WE DON'T TREAT THE CONSTABLES ONE WAY AND THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE ANOTHER WAY.
WE DON'T HAVE THAT PROBLEM IN THE CONSTABLE'S OFFICE, SO I WOULD STILL MAKE THE MOTION.
MOTION HAS BEEN MADE, AND THIS ITEM UNFORTUNATELY DIES FOR LACK OF A SECOND.
SO IT WILL NOT PASS AT THIS TIME.
NEXT ONE. COMMISSIONER RAMSEY, IT'S YOU.
IT'S THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT.
APPROVAL OF TWO POSITIONS, EFFECTIVE DECEMBER 14TH, 2024 OUTSIDE THE BUDGET OFFICE.
I'M NOT SURE ABOUT THE BACKGROUND ON IT, WHETHER THEY ALREADY HAD FUNDING FOR THIS.
IT WAS PART OF THE BUDGET PROCESS OR NOT.
ANYBODY FROM THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE MAYBE COULD ANSWER.
IF WE CAN'T FIND HIM, WE'LL COME BACK TO IT.
OKAY. OKAY. DOES THAT MAKE SENSE? YOU ALL WOULD JUST COME RIGHT? COME BACK TO IT.
PUBLIC HEALTH SERVICES APPROVAL.
FOR REQUIRED MATCH FOR WOMEN'S HEALTH PROGRAM.
MOTION HAS BEEN MADE FOR APPROVAL BY COMMISSIONER GARCIA.
SECOND BY COMMISSIONER BRIONES.
AYE. ALL THOSE OPPOSED, VOTE NO.
NEXT CLARIFICATION THAT IS ITEM 275.
COMMISSIONER RAMSEY AUDITED CLAIMS. THIS IS AUDITED CLAIMS. MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE ALL DISBURSEMENTS EXCEPT FOR EDEMA.
I'LL SECOND IT. COMMISSIONER RAMSEY MADE A MOTION, I SECOND IT.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, VOTE AYE. AYE.
I'LL MAKE A MOTION FOR THE DEMO DEMOS.
CAN I ASK A QUESTION OF DIRECTOR BARTON? IF SHE NOW HAS SOUND, SHE'S PROBABLY STILL HER KIDS.
MISS COLLINS IS STILL ON I SEE.
I JUST I WOULD LIKE TO HEAR FROM MISS COLLINS, PLEASE.
AND THE AUDITOR, GIVEN THE COMPLICATIONS WE'VE HAD WITH EDEMA AND JANUARY 25TH CANNOT COME SOON ENOUGH FOR MY BOOK, MY QUESTION IS THE 314,000 FOR HEART.
COULD YOU PLEASE RESPOND? COMMISSIONERS. COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR, GENEVA COUNTY, COULD YOU PLEASE TURN UP YOUR VOLUME, MISS COLLINS? THANK YOU. SORRY, SORRY.
CAN YOU HEAR ME NOW? IS THAT BETTER? IT'S BETTER. THANK YOU.
IT HAS BEEN APPROVED AND VERIFIED THROUGH OUR DEPARTMENT AND SUBMITTED TO THE AUDITOR FOR APPROVAL.
OKAY. CAN YOU HEAR ME? YES, SIR. YES, AUDITOR.
OKAY. IT WAS APPROVED BY THE DEPARTMENT.
THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT? IT WAS AUDITED BY MY OFFICE.
IT IS IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE CONTRACT.
IT IS FOR SERVICES FOR THE MONTH OF NOVEMBER.
OKAY. AND FROM THE COUNTY ATTORNEY'S PERSPECTIVE.
YEAH, I THINK IF IT'S BEEN APPROVED BY THE AUDITOR, IT'S BEEN APPROVED BY THE DEPARTMENT.
I THINK WE'RE WE'RE CLEAR TO PROCEED.
COMMISSIONER BRIAN MAKES A SECOND.
I MADE THE MOTION. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, VOTE AYE.
AYE. I SORRY, I'M VOTING IN FAVOR.
BECAUSE IF THE PEOPLE HAVE DONE THE WORK, THEY DESERVE TO GET PAID, DESPITE ALL THOSE OPPOSED.
IF WE DON'T PASS IT, ARE WE LIABLE? I MEAN, IT'S A IT'S A VALIDLY ISSUED INVOICE AND AND IT'S CONSISTENT WITH THE CONTRACT.
[05:25:05]
OTHER THAN THAT, IT'S REALLY ALL I CAN SAY AT THIS POINT.AGAIN, THE ONLY REASON I'M I UNDERSTAND THE LEGAL SIDE OF IT, BUT CLEARLY THERE ARE ISSUES RELATED TO THIS, THIS PARTICULAR FARM.
AND I THINK IT'S IT SPILLS OVER TO EVERYTHING THEY'VE DONE.
ALL THOSE OPPOSED? PLEASE VOTE NO.
TWO TWO TO ITEM 242 AGAINST COMMISSIONER RAMSEY AND COMMISSIONER GARCIA AGAINST IT.
AND COMMISSIONER BRIONES AND I VOTED FOR IT.
AND NEXT IS LET'S GO BACK TO ITEM 251.
THAT'S CORRECT. BUDGET COMMISSIONER RAMSEY.
OKAY, HE MIGHT BE ON THE LINE IF YOU WANT TO.
IS THAT OKAY? I MAKE A MOTION.
OKAY. COMMISSIONER RAMSEY MAKES A MOTION FOR ITEM 251.
COMMISSIONER GARCIA SECONDS THAT ALL THOSE IN FAVOR VOTE EYE FOR EYES AND NO NAYS.
NEXT ONE. DID I DO THAT? YEAH, I DID 302.
PURCHASING COMMISSIONER GARCIA, THIS IS ITEM 355.
SIR. CONSTRUCTION PARTNERS, DRAINAGE IMPROVEMENTS, PINE TRAIL SUBDIVISION.
THANK YOU. AND I'M INCREDIBLY, INCREDIBLY PROUD TO ANNOUNCE THE AWARD OF THE PINE TRAILS SUBDIVISION DRAINAGE PROJECT TO ESSER CONSTRUCTION PARTNERS. FOR RESIDENTS OF PRECINCT TWO.
TOGETHER, WE SUCCESSFULLY SECURED THREE 37.5 MILLION IN CDBG FUNDING TO BRING ESSENTIAL DRAINAGE INFRASTRUCTURE UPDATES TO THE PINE TRAILS COMMUNITY, ENHANCING BOTH SAFETY AND QUALITY OF LIFE FOR ALL RESIDENTS.
THIS WILL BE THE SECOND PHASE OF A TWO PHASE CONSTRUCTION PROJECT ONCE COMPLETED.
1200 HOMES WILL BENEFIT FROM REDUCED FLOOD RISK.
THIS INITIATIVE IS A KEY PART OF MY REVIVE TO THRIVE INITIATIVE, AND WE ARE COMMITTED TO BUILDING MORE RESILIENT COMMUNITIES, ENSURING THAT RESIDENTS CAN ENJOY A BETTER QUALITY OF LIFE NOW AND IN THE FUTURE.
EFFECTIVELY, THIS WILL TAKE OUT 264 HOMES OUT OF THE FLOODWAY, PROVIDE TWO STORM DETENTION BASINS, CONCRETE STREET RECONSTRUCTION, CONCRETE SIDEWALK CONSTRUCTION, UTILITY ADJUSTMENTS AND CONSTRUCTION BEGINS IN THE FIRST QUARTER OF NEXT YEAR AND IS SCHEDULED TO END BY THE FIRST QUARTER OF 2027.
SO I JUST WANT TO THANK EVERYONE INVOLVED FOR THEIR WORK.
MY TEAM IN PARTICULAR FAUSTINO AND BYRON, WHO ALWAYS ARE AT THE TIP OF THE SPEAR IN THESE PROJECTS FOR WORKING TO BRING THESE IMPORTANT QUALITY OF LIFE PROJECTS TO THE NEIGHBORHOODS AND PRECINCT TWO.
SO I'M EXCITED TO MOVE ON THIS ITEM AS PRESENTED.
EXCELLENT. SECOND, COMMISSIONER GARCIA MAKES THE MOTION FOR APPROVAL.
COMMISSIONER YOU KNOW, SECONDS IT.
AYE. ALL THOSE OPPOSED, VOTE NO.
FOUR EYES, NO NAYS. ITEM PASSES, COMMISSIONER GARCIA.
ALL RIGHTY. THIS IS A EXCITING PROJECT BECAUSE PRECINCT TWO NOW HAS 18 ELECTRIC VEHICLES AND EIGHT HYBRID VEHICLES.
AND WE ARE ADDING THE FIRST EV BOX TRUCK.
IT'S A CLASS 5 TO 7 VEHICLE ON BATTERY BATTERY ELECTRIC DRIVE PLATFORM.
THE TRUCK WILL COVER 200 PLUS MILES OF RANGE.
I MOVE ON TO THE ITEM AS PRESENTED.
SECOND, AND I WANT TO THANK MY TEAM, JOSE JIMENEZ, FOR THEIR RESPECTIVE WORK ON THIS ITEM.
COMMISSIONER GARCIA MAKES A MOTION TO APPROVE IT AND COMMISSIONER BRIONES SECONDS THE MOTION.
THE NEXT ITEM IS MAYA OF THE HARRIS COUNTY, ASIAN AMERICAN AND PACIFIC ISLANDER COMMISSION.
I THINK YOU ALL HAVE LOOKED AT IT.
I KNOW, COMMISSIONER, I WON'T I WON'T WALK THROUGH IT.
COMMISSIONER, WE JUST HAD SOME QUESTIONS I WILL.
COMMISSIONER RAMSEY, YOU PULL THAT ONE.
YEAH. JUST WE'VE GOT A COUPLE OF THREE COMMISSIONS SET UP.
[05:30:06]
IS THERE ANY IS THERE ANY ORDER TO SETTING THESE UP? I MEAN, IS THIS IS THIS ONE OF MANY? SO I GUESS. YEAH, COMMISSIONER.AND JUDGE HIDALGO'S OFFICE CREATED IT.
AND I THINK COMMISSIONER GARCIA CREATED A HISPANIC ONE LATINO AMERICAN ADVISORY COMMITTEE, AND HIS STAFF HANDLES IT. THEN I THINK I CREATED THE WOMEN'S ADVISORY COMMITTEE AND MY STAFF OF STAFF AND THEN COMMISSIONER BRIONES CREATED ONE FOR OUR GLBT COMMUNITY.
AND SO I PUT THIS ONE ON TO CREATE ONE FOR ASIAN AMERICANS.
I REALLY THOUGHT ABOUT IT AFTER COURT.
AND COMMISSIONER RAMSEY SECONDED.
COMMISSIONER, CAN I HAVE SOME? SORRY, I DIDN'T SEE IT. I'M SORRY.
FIRST OF ALL, THANK YOU AND YOUR TEAM FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP AND CREATING THIS.
SO WE'RE ALL IN TO HELP IN ANY WAY WE CAN.
AND I KNOW THE COMMUNITY, WE'VE BEEN GETTING VERY POSITIVE FEEDBACK.
SO I JUST WANTED TO SAY THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU.
AND I KNOW MY STAFF REACHED OUT TO YOUR OFFICE AND I APPRECIATE IT.
I CONSIDER IT SOMETHING WE'RE DOING TOGETHER AND LET'S STAFF IT TOGETHER.
BUT I THINK THEY'RE ALL A GOOD IDEA, TO BE HONEST WITH YOU.
I'VE TOLD MY TEAM I THINK WE OUGHT TO DO ONE FOR THE INDIGENOUS COMMUNITY.
OBVIOUSLY, IT'S A FAIRLY SMALL COMMUNITY, BUT I DO THINK THEY HAVE SOME ISSUES.
SO THE NEXT ONE, COMMISSIONER, I'D LOVE TO WORK WITH YOU ON THAT.
JUST HAVING VISITED THE CHIPPEWA CREE RESERVATION IN MONTANA AND AND THEN JUST THE OTHER DAY SONIA CORRALES WITH HOUSTON AREA WOMEN'S CENTER HAS RECOGNIZED THAT WE HAVE AN IMMENSE PROBLEM WITH NATIVE AMERICAN FEMALES DISAPPEARING OUT OF OUR RESPECTIVE COMMUNITIES.
WELL, WE'LL. OUR STAFFS WILL WORK TOGETHER TO DO THAT ON ON THE NEXT ONE.
SO AS WE STAND UP THE COMMISSION AND I'M VERY INTERESTED IN THIS PARTICULAR ONE.
I WAS WE'VE GOT A LARGE ACTIVE GROUP THROUGHOUT THE COUNTY.
YEAH. SO AS WE SET THIS UP AND STAND IT UP, THERE'LL BE EACH OF OUR OFFICES WILL BE CONTACTED.
YES. IT'S THE SAME FORMAT WE'VE HAD ON THE OTHERS.
I THINK MOST OF THEM HAVE 7 OR 9.
I'M GOING TO ASK OUR OFFICE TO COME BACK AND MAKE IT A NINE WHEN YOU GOT FIVE.
SOMETIMES IT'S TOUGH GETTING THAT QUORUM WHEN YOU GOT TO GET THREE PEOPLE THERE.
MOTION MADE BY ELLIS, SECOND BY COMMISSIONER RAMSEY.
VOTE NO. FOUR EYES AND NO NAYS.
IS THAT AS PRESENTED? AS PRESENTED? YES, MA'AM.
AND THE NEXT ONE, COMMISSIONER BRIONES.
DONATION. ORANGE BARREL MEDIA KIOSK.
IS IT FOR 85? IT IS FOR 85. YES.
YES. SO THIS IS A SMALL THING.
THAT'S A BIG THING. AND SO I WANTED TO SAY THANK YOU FOR THIS DONATION.
SO WE'RE DOING A HEALTHY PARKS PLAN, AND WE'VE BEEN GETTING A TON OF COMMUNITY FEEDBACK AND SMALL MEETINGS, LARGE MEETINGS, COMMUNITY CENTERS, PARKS, WORKING WITH PLACES OF WORSHIP, SCHOOLS. ET CETERA, ET CETERA, ET CETERA.
BUT THESE ARE INTERACTIVE KIOSKS.
AND SO WE'RE REALLY THANKFUL TO ORANGE BARREL MEDIA FOR HELPING TO MAKE THIS POSSIBLE.
AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO ONGOING COMMUNITY FEEDBACK BECAUSE THE SURVEY IS OPEN TO DECEMBER 31ST.
SO I JUST WANTED TO SAY THANK YOU AND THANK MY TEAM.
MOST IMPORTANTLY, BECAUSE THEIR PLANNING EFFORTS HAVE BEEN KEY SO THAT WE'RE AS STRATEGIC AND DISCIPLINED WITH THE INVESTMENT OF TAXPAYER RESOURCES TO MAXIMIZE THE SOCIAL IMPACT AND ROI FOR OUR COMMUNITY.
SO I WOULD LIKE TO MOVE FOR 85 AS PRESENTED.
SECOND MOTION MADE BY COMMISSIONER BRIONES.
SECOND BY COMMISSIONER GARCIA.
AYE. ALL THOSE OPPOSED, VOTE NO.
FOUR EYES, NO NAYS. THE ITEM DOES PASS.
[05:35:02]
COMMISSIONER RAMSEY COAT ROLLS.APPROVAL RESOLUTION. ISSUANCE OF MULTIFAMILY HOUSING REVENUE BONDS.
WE'VE JUST HAD A SIGNIFICANT PROBLEM WITH FOLKS IN PRECINCT THREE, BUT I SUSPECT ALL OVER THE COUNTY AT 200 PLUS MUDS IN AND PRECINCT THREE, A SIGNIFICANT NUMBERS OF THOSE LARGE AMOUNTS OF OF TAX REVENUE HAS BEEN REMOVED FROM THESE MUDS THROUGH FCS.
I'M SITTING HERE TELLING YOU THAT THAT I DO NOT THINK THIS IS GOING TO HELP.
AND THE UNDERSERVED OR DEAL WITH PUBLIC HOUSING IN ANY FORM OR FASHION.
BUT WHAT IT WILL DO IS ALLOW SOME PEOPLE TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF TAX WRITE OFFS.
I KNOW OF ONE CASE, NOT NECESSARILY THIS ONE, BUT ONE CASE IN PRECINCT THREE.
A COMPANY BOUGHT AN EXISTING APARTMENT COMPLEX FOR $45 MILLION.
AND WITHIN A FEW WEEKS, THEY TOOK $45 MILLION OFF THE BOOKS.
NOW, WE CAN SOMETIMES ABSORB THAT IN THE COUNTY, BUT WHEN YOU HAVE MUDS THAT DEPEND ON THAT TAX REVENUE TO PAY UTILITY PORTIONS OF THAT, IT'S DEVASTATING.
SO WITH ALL DUE RESPECT, I WOULD ASK THAT WE NOT APPROVE THIS.
IS THAT WHO PUT IT ON THE AGENDA? HOUSING DEPARTMENT PUT THIS ON THE AGENDA.
WHERE DID IT COME FROM? YEAH, THAT GETS ADDED ON BY THE BY THE BY THE PRIVATE ENTITY.
YEAH. YEAH. SO NO DOUBT THIS IS NOT A COUNTY PROJECT.
COUNTY PROJECT. IT'S THAT THE STATUTE REQUIRES THAT THE, THAT THE PFC HAS TO DO IT.
THE COUNTY SEAT. AND WE'VE GOT WE GET MANY OF THESE.
IT'S ABOUT IT IS IT IS THE CHOICE OF THE COURT.
THANK YOU. IF THEY WERE DOING IT FOR LOW INCOME, I'D HAVE A DIFFERENT ATTITUDE.
YEAH. NEXT ONE IS ITEM 491, COMMISSIONER RAMSEY.
WE JUST NEED TO VOTE. SO MOVED.
MOTION MADE BY COMMISSIONER GARCIA.
I'LL SECOND IT. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE.
PASS THREE FOR ONE AGAINST COMMISSIONER RAMSAY'S AGAINST THEM.
NEXT. IS IT THREE ONE? 490. NO, NO.
I'M SORRY. IT WAS. IT WAS THREE THREE.
THREE ONE. NEXT IS A TRANSMITTAL COMMISSIONER BRIONES CLIMATE ACTION PLAN.
I'M SORRY. YOU WERE. YEAH, SHE PULLED IT.
BUT YOU PUT YOUR NAME. ACTUALLY, SHE CAN GO FIRST.
ACTUALLY, COMMISSIONER, IF I CAN FIRST.
SURE. THE COMMITTEE HAS COME BACK WITH A RECOMMENDATION ON SALARIES.
AND SO, BEFORE IT GETS ANY LATER, I'D LOVE FOR SOME FOLKS TO HEAR SOME NEWS.
SO INSTEAD, LET'S GO BACK TO WHAT WAS THAT NUMBER ON THAT ITEM, ADRIAN? I DON'T REMEMBER. 30.
RIGHT. ACTUALLY, I THINK I THINK YOU WANT TO TAKE ALL THE AIR ITEMS. SO 30, 51 AND THEN THE REMAINING AIR ITEMS. OKAY. SORRY. SO.
COMMISSIONERS, WE HAVE MET AND COME UP WITH A RECOMMENDATION.
I'LL LET BEAUMONT WALK YOU THROUGH IT.
AND WE'RE HAPPY TO ADDRESS ANY QUESTIONS OR CONCERNS YOU MAY HAVE.
THANK YOU. SO THE PROPOSAL THAT THERE WAS SOME CONSENSUS AROUND IS DOING A $2,500 INCREASE FOR THOSE MAKING LESS THAN $75,000. AND THE ROUGH ESTIMATES FOR THE NUMBERS COME OUT TO BE ON AN ANNUALIZED BASIS.
AND WE'RE AIMING FOR A KIND OF AN END OF JANUARY IMPLEMENTATION.
AND THIS WOULD SERVE 60% OF THE WORKFORCE, I BELIEVE.
CORRECT. YEAH. SO IT'S ABOUT A LITTLE OVER 10,000 EMPLOYEES.
SO APPROXIMATELY 60% OF THE WORKFORCE GETS THIS.
COMMISSIONER BRIONES, THAT MAY HAVE BEEN OLD BUTTON PUSH.
WAS IT. WHAT WAS IT ON THIS ITEM? SO I MOVED THE RECOMMENDATION.
I'LL SECOND IT. SO THANK YOU FOR WORKING TOGETHER AS A TEAM TO COME BACK WITH THIS.
SO JUST TO BE CLEAR, 2500 FLAT FOR THOSE 75 AND UNDER.
CORRECT, CORRECT. AND FOR THE REST THAT WOULD COME AT A LATER PERIOD.
[05:40:07]
MY QUICK QUESTION TO GO BACK TO COMPRESSION, WHICH IS SOMETHING THAT STILL CONCERNS ME.WHAT IS OUR PLAN TO ADDRESS ANY POTENTIAL IMPLICATIONS WITH REGARD TO COMPRESSION? I. SO A COUPLE OF THOUGHTS.
COMPRESSION IS THE INEVITABLE OUTCOME.
WHAT WE WILL DO AS A BYPRODUCT OF THE COMP AND PAY EQUITY STUDY IS OBVIOUSLY WE'LL HAVE GOOD DATA IN A LITTLE LESS THAN A YEAR AS WE THINK ABOUT IMPLEMENTATION, WHICH OF COURSE, WE WILL COME BACK TO YOU FOR GUIDANCE AROUND PRIORITIZATION IN TERMS OF IMPLEMENTATION.
AND JUST TO BE CLEAR, THIS 2500, WHEN WOULD IT EXACTLY HIT THE JANUARY 31ST? JANUARY 31ST. CHECKS PAPER.
CORRECT. WELL, I CARE MOST OF ALL ABOUT THE LOWEST PAID WORKERS.
THANK YOU. COMMISSIONER GARCIA.
AGAIN, THANK YOU FOR YOUR WORK AS WELL AS OMB.
AND I WANT TO JUST THANK OUR STAFFS FOR HELPING TO COME TO THIS CONCLUSION.
YES. SO I JUST ASK OUR STAFF, OUR RESPECTIVE EMPLOYEES, THANK YOU FOR YOUR WORK AND PLEASE WORK WITH US AS WE DEAL WITH THE ISSUE OF COMPRESSION.
WE'RE NOT LEAVING THIS OFF THE FRONT BURNER.
WE'LL CONTINUE TO WORK ON THIS, BUT I HOPE THAT THIS IS A COMMUNICATION OF WHAT HOW MUCH WE RESPECT EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU FOR THE WORK YOU DO FOR THE CITIZENS OF HARRIS COUNTY. SO THANK YOU FOR YOUR WORK ON THIS.
THANK YOU FOR OUR RESPECTIVE CHIEFS, FOR THEIR WORK WITH YOU TO COME TO THIS RECOMMENDATION.
AND AND THEN MY LAST QUESTION OR MY, MY QUESTION IS, WHEN WILL WE BE COMING BACK WITH THE APPOINTED AND OUR DEPARTMENT DIRECTORS THAT'S CURRENTLY IN PROGRESS? I COULD GIVE YOU A VERY SPECIFIC TIMELINE TOMORROW MORNING.
YEAH. SO I MOVE ON THE ITEM JUST ON THE RECOMMENDATION, WOULD YOU PLEASE REPEAT THE MOTION JUST TO BE ON THE RECORD FOR CLARITY? LET ME JUST GET MY OLD MOTION UP AND PULL UP THERE.
YEAH. WE APPROVED 75 EMPLOYEES AT 75,000 AND BELOW FOR 25 FOR 2500.
CORRECT. TO TAKE EFFECT BY JANUARY 31ST.
I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE I HAD SOMETHING DRAFTED.
I WANT TO MAKE SURE I JUST READ EVERYTHING.
SO IT WAS MOVED TO ADOPT OMB AND HR JOINT RECOMMENDATION OF $2,500.
ANNUAL SALARY INCREASE FOR ALL EMPLOYEES MAKING UNDER $75,000.
CAN YOU ADD THE EFFECTIVE DATE, PLEASE? EFFECTIVE WITH JANUARY 31ST IMPLEMENTATION.
SO WHEN YOU SAY ANNUAL, DO YOU MEAN EVERY YEAR? YEAH, WELL BUILT IN.
I DON'T WANT TO MISLEAD THEM BECAUSE THAT MEANS THAT THEY WOULD GET THAT EVERY YEAR.
IT WOULD BE A BASE SALARY INCREASE IN THEIR BASE SALARY.
ALL RIGHT, LOOK, I JUST WANT TO ADD WE GOT THE MOTION.
SO THE MOTION AS IT WAS READ WITH GIVING THE EFFECTIVE DATE.
LOOK, BEFORE WE VOTE, I JUST A QUICK COMMENT.
LOOK, I DO WANT TO STRESS THAT Y'ALL DID A GOOD JOB.
AND IT WAS CERTAINLY NOTHING PERSONAL ON ANY OF OUR PARTS.
FROM MY OLD JOB WHEN MR. AYER USED TO WORK UP THERE.
WHILE A LOT OF TIMES IT'D BE ON ONE OF MY BILLS AND THEY WOULD CALL ME IN THE ROOM, WE HAVE A BIG DISCUSSION, AND THEN THE LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR WOULD SAY, Y'ALL GO BACK IN HERE AND THE RAMSEY ROOM AND WORK IT OUT.
AND WHEN WE WOULD GO IN AND WORK IT OUT IN THE OLD DAYS, THERE'D BE A LOT OF DRINKING.
USUALLY I GET MY WAY BECAUSE I DIDN'T DRINK.
I DON'T KNOW WHY PEOPLE THINK I DRINK.
COME ABOUT MY PERSONALITY, BUT CAN'T HANDLE IT.
I COULD TELL YOU WON'T TOUCH IT.
WON'T TOUCH IT. SO MUCH INFORMATION.
EVERYTHING WAS SAID. MY POINT IS, IT IS A PROCESS WE OUGHT TO LOOK AT.
THEY MAY THINK THEY DO, OR I HATE TO ADMIT IT, SOMETIMES WE CHANGE OUR MINDS.
YOU KNOW, OCCASIONALLY THAT HAPPENS AT THIS TABLE.
NOT THAT OFTEN, BUT I THINK THIS WAS A INSTANCE WHERE IT DID HAPPEN.
[05:45:05]
SO YOU MIGHT LOOK AT THAT AS A MODEL, EVEN COMING BACK WITH WHATEVER IT IS ON A COMPRESSION ISSUE.YEAH. AND WE'RE SENSITIVE TO IT.
BUT I DON'T THINK ANY GOVERNMENTAL ENTITY EVER SOLVES THAT.
AND JUST THE IDEA OF THINKING THAT BECAUSE THEY DON'T HAVE ENOUGH MONEY, WHEN YOU GET TO THAT POINT, IF YOU'RE TRYING TO ADDRESS THE EQUITY ISSUE AND YOU JUST CAN'T PUT YOURSELF IN A POSITION WHERE YOU TELL THE FOLKS AT THE BACK OF THE BUS.
WELL, WE'RE GOING TO TAKE CARE OF YOU ONCE WE FIGURE OUT HOW TO MAKE IT RIGHT FOR EVERYBODY.
SO THANK YOU. MOTION'S BEEN MADE.
AYE. ALL THOSE OPPOSED, VOTE NO.
NAYS. THE ITEM. AND COMMISSIONER ELLIS, I JUST WANT TO ADD.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR ADVOCACY AND LEADERSHIP ON THIS ITEM.
AND JUST FOR CLARIFICATION, THIS IS JUST FOR ITEM 30.
ITEM 51, IT'S JUST GOING TO BE CONSIDERED A NO ACTION CONSIDERING.
OKAY. WELL, WE'RE GOING TO GO.
IS THAT THE RECOMMENDATION THOUGH TO TAKE NO ACTION? I THOUGHT I THINK YOU'RE I THINK I WANT AN ADDITIONAL MOTION RELATED TO IT WILL BE APPLIED TO TO TO ITEM 30 AS WELL BECAUSE 51 DOESN'T CARRY IT. BUT YEAH, IF YOU WANT TO GO AHEAD AND MAKE THAT MOTION COMMISSIONER.
MOVING ON TO AND AGAIN I JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU.
AND SO I KNOW THERE'S BEEN ALREADY LIKE CHATTER FROM COUNTY EMPLOYEES OUTSIDE.
SO JUST TO BE CRYSTAL, CRYSTAL CLEAR, LET ME JUST SUMMARIZE.
EVERY HARRIS COUNTY EMPLOYEE WHO MAKES 75,000 AND BELOW WILL GET AN ANNUAL SALARY INCREASE OF $2,500 EFFECTIVE JANUARY 31ST, 2025.
SO IT IS A TOKEN OF OUR PROFOUND GRATITUDE FOR EVERYTHING YOU DO FOR THE PEOPLE OF HARRIS COUNTY.
SO THANK YOU. AND NOW, MOVING TO 51, IF I MAY, I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE THE MOTION TO DIRECT COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR RAMIREZ TO IMPLEMENT THE DEPARTMENT HEAD SALARY RECOMMENDATIONS FOR OCA REPORTING DEPARTMENTS AND THE FIRE MARSHAL, TEN POSITIONS TOTAL USING THE KORN FERRY 50TH PERCENTILE OF MARKET COMPARE RATIO RECOMMENDATIONS AS AVAILABLE WHERE AVAILABLE. PARDON ME.
OKAY. THAT WAS THE LANGUAGE CORRECT.
AND COMMISSIONER JUST JUST TO BECAUSE ITEM 51 DOESN'T HAVE AN ACTION ASSOCIATED WITH IT.
IT'S BROAD ENOUGH TO APPLY TO 30.
SO THIS IS A SECOND MOTION THAT YOU'RE MAKING ON ON ITEM 30 FOR THE CLERK.
FOR THE RECORD. A SECOND MOTION.
AND WITH 51 COULD BE CONSIDERED A NO ACTION FOR THE RECORD.
THANK YOU. YES, THAT'LL BE A SECOND MOTION FOR 30.
OKAY. AND JUST TO BE CLEAR, THAT IS THE EXPERT RECOMMENDATION.
OKAY. I SEE COMMISSIONER GARCIA ON THE LIST.
DID YOU HAVE SOME QUESTIONS? NO.
I'M OKAY. LOOK, I DO WANT TO ASK THIS QUESTION.
HOW MUCH IS IT GOING TO COST? IT'S ABOUT $1.1 MILLION IN TOTAL ON AN ANNUAL BASIS.
AND I WANT TO GET SOME SENSE OF.
I KNOW WE DID THIS KORN FERRY COMPARISON.
WE LOOKED AT THE PUBLIC SECTOR AND THE PRIVATE SECTOR.
CORRECT. AND I WANT TO KNOW WHERE THIS PUTS US IN COMPARISON TO OTHER GOVERNMENTAL ENTITIES.
JUST THEN MAYBE KORN FERRY CAN TELL ME, OR MAYBE YOU CAN.
JUST SO WE KNOW, LIKE, PARTICULARLY THE CITY, OTHER PLACES IN TEXAS.
YEAH. OKAY. AND GIVE ME SOME SENSE.
LIKE ON WHAT? THIS WHAT WHAT'S THIS INCREASE GOING TO AMOUNT TO IN SALARIES HERE.
WELL, WE'LL GIVE IT TO YOU BY POSITION IF THAT'S OKAY.
IF YOU IF YOU HAVE IT NOW I HAVE IT ON.
YOU HAVE IT. WHAT IS IT? OH, WELL. OH, I DON'T HAVE IT AT THIS MOMENT.
IT'S FROM A LOW OF $9,400 TO A HIGH OF $135,000, DEPENDING ON THE POSITION.
SO SOME OF THEM WERE CLOSER TO TO THIS NEW PAY RANGE OF 50% THEN OTHERS.
THE REST OF THE OF OF THE DEPARTMENT HEADS ARE ALREADY AT THAT 50TH PERCENTILE.
OKAY. AND LOOK, I WANT TO STRESS AGAIN.
THAT IS WHY IT WAS SO IMPORTANT.
WE DO SOMETHING FOR THOSE FOLKS AT THE BOTTOM END OF THE SCALE.
ABSOLUTELY. BECAUSE WHEN THEY LOOK AT THIS AND SEE HOW WE WERE PERFECTLY WILLING TO GIVE SOMEBODY AN INCREASE DID ALL DESERVE, BUT GIVE THEM AN INCREASE OF 135,000 AND THE LOWEST ONE BEING WHATEVER IT WAS, 50,000.
AND I THINK THE SOONER THIS STUDY COMES BACK BEFORE ALL THE MONEY IS GONE.
[05:50:02]
WE STILL NEED TO MAKE SURE WE ADDRESS THOSE OTHER PEOPLE WHO ARE ON THE LOWER END OF THE SCALE.YES, SIR. AND ONCE WE GET THAT STUDY BACK WE SHOULD HAVE IT IN IN MID NOVEMBER.
BUT WE'RE MEETING WITH THE KORN FERRY FOLKS.
NEXT WEEK. MISS DOUGLAS. YEAH.
AND I THINK IT WILL BE IN SOME INSTANCES WHERE THAT BOARD IS GOING TO HAVE TO MAKE THE DECISION ON WHETHER THEY THEY WANT TO INCREASE THE SALARY OR NOT TO, TO, YOU KNOW, TO THIS NEW MARKET. AND THEN WE'LL, WE'LL HANDLE THE YEAH, YOU KNOW, THE BUDGET SIDE WHEN WE GO THROUGH THE NEXT BUDGET CYCLE.
I ALSO WANT TO BE SENSITIVE TO I'M SOMEONE WHO NORMALLY ARGUES FOR A COLA OR A COLA FOR SOMEBODY WHO'LL BE MAKING $536,000 IS A HELL OF A LOT MORE THAN SOMEBODY WHO'S MAKING.
BUT YOU DON'T GO BACK AND LOOK AT THE NUMBERS WHEN WE NEVER REALLY MADE UP FOR THE INEQUITIES.
AND, YOU KNOW, WE COME INTO THIS GAME LATE.
THIS IS FROM A COUNTY THAT HAS HAD A HISTORY OF LEAVING THOSE FOLKS AT THE BOTTOM FOR SO LONG.
ALL RIGHT. I COULDN'T AGREE MORE.
CAN I ADD ONE POINT OF CLARIFICATION FOR PURPOSES OF CONSISTENCY AND CLARITY? CAN WE HAVE THOSE ADJUSTMENTS? PLEASE BE EFFECTIVE JANUARY 31ST, 2025 SO THAT THERE'S ALIGNMENT.
THANK YOU. AND I COULDN'T AGREE MORE WITH EVERYTHING YOU JUST SAID.
SO OKAY. I APPRECIATE THE PROGRESS AND I LOOK FORWARD TO CONTINUING TO ADVANCE EQUITY.
SO THANK YOU. COMMISSIONER BRIONES.
THE DATE. DO YOU WANT ME TO ADD THAT TO THE SECOND MOTION AT THE END? YES. EFFECTIVE JANUARY? YES. THANK YOU.
OKAY. MOTION HAS BEEN MADE BY COMMISSIONER GARCIA.
COMMISSIONER BRIONES MADE IT TO BE HONEST.
AYE. ALL THOSE OPPOSED, VOTE NO.
ITEM PASSES. LET'S GO BACK TO THAT BILINGUAL ITEM, RIGHT? WE SKIPPED THAT ITEM. 48 REQUEST FOR APPROVAL OF BILINGUAL PAY SUPPLEMENTAL TRANSFERS.
RIGHT. AND THE QUESTION I'M SORRY, THE THE QUESTION THAT COMMISSIONER RAMSEY HAD WAS HOW MANY HOW MUCH WAS IT GOING TO COST? I THINK IT'S 228,000.
YEAH. THE FULL VALUE OF HOW MUCH WE'VE ALLOCATED IS 2.8 MILLION.
AND THE AMOUNT THAT'S BEING ALLOCATED IN THIS BUDGET TRANSFER IS ABOUT 287,000.
CORRECT? CORRECT. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? IS THERE A MOTION MOVED.
SO MOVED. COMMISSIONER GARCIA MAKES A MOTION.
VOTE NO. FOUR EYES AND NO NAYS.
WHAT IS THIS OTHER ONE I HAVE, I THINK DO I HAVE 5252 COMMISSIONER RAMSEY, TEMPORARILY SUSPEND THE ITEM IS TO TEMPORARILY SUSPEND THE APPROVAL POLICY FOR CHANGES INVOLVING POSITION RECLASSIFICATIONS APPLICATIONS FROM NEWLY ELECTED OFFICIALS.
WHAT THIS IS, IS AN INDICATION WE'RE STRUGGLING WITH THESE PROCEDURES NOW.
IT'S TAKING A LONG TIME TO GET THESE.
I WOULD MAKE THE MOTION UNTIL WE GET OUR SYSTEMS WORK OUT THAT WE FOR HUMAN RESOURCES AND TALENT TO REEVALUATE THE RECLASSIFICATION PROCESS.
OKAY, WE WE HAVE A SMALL TEAM TRYING TO MANAGE THIS WORKLOAD.
WE ALSO WANT TO SUPPORT THE NEWLY ELECTED AND BEING ABLE TO HIRE IN A TIMELY FASHION.
SO THIS WAS THIS WAS NOT SO MUCH TO ADDRESS THE THE POLICY HOLISTICALLY, BUT MORE UNDERSTANDING THAT WE'RE IN THE PROCESS OF TRANSITIONING ELECTEDS AND WANTED TO ENSURE THAT THEY WERE ABLE TO HIRE THEIR STAFF AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.
SO YOUR HOPE WAS TO LET THEM GET IN, AND THEN WE COULD FIGURE OUT HOW TO CLEAN THIS UP LATER.
BUT YOU'RE JUST TRYING TO LET THEM KNOW I UNDERSTAND.
YEAH. YOU DON'T HAVE ENOUGH PEOPLE.
YEAH. SO I DON'T THINK WE IGNORE ONE PROBLEM AND TRY TO SOLVE ANOTHER ONE.
I WOULD SAY WE AT LEAST TEMPORARILY SUSPEND THE REQUIREMENTS UNTIL WE HAVE A SYSTEM WORKED OUT.
WELL, WHAT'S THE I JUST IF I MAY WHAT'S THE FISCAL IMPACT?
[05:55:02]
I JUST WANT TO KNOW, FIRST OF ALL, I WANT TO MAKE SURE IF ANY OF US WERE COMING IN, WE WANT TO DO AS MUCH AS WE CAN TO HELP THEM GET INTO THE SYSTEM AND NOT WAIT TILL IT'S PERFECT. SO FIRST WE WANT TO MAKE SURE WE LET THEM GET IN.BUT WHAT'S THE IMPACT OF THE MOTION? IF YOU KNOW OUR BUDGET OFFICE I'VE.
THERE IS AN ESTABLISHED PRACTICE THAT WAS IN PLACE BEFORE THIS CRITERIA WAS ESTABLISHED.
COMMISSIONER RAMSEY, YOU GET NO PUSHBACK FROM FROM MYSELF AND MEMBERS OF OUR TEAM.
WE CAN DEFINITELY COME BACK TO YOU WITH RECOMMENDATIONS ON HOW TO MAKE THIS MORE EFFICIENT.
AND I THINK THAT NEEDS TO BE DONE.
SO WE ASK THEM TO DO SOMETHING WE'RE REALLY NOT PREPARED TO NO FAULT OF ANYBODY.
AND WHAT I'M SAYING IS THIS, THIS ISSUE OF TEMPORARILY SUSPENDING FOR NEWLY ELECTEDS, I THINK WE NEED TO TEMPORARILY SUSPEND IT FOR EVERYBODY UNTIL WE CAN GET OUR SYSTEM WORKED OUT.
SO I WOULD LIKE TO SUPPORT 52 AS PRESENTED.
COMMISSIONER RAMSEY. YOU KNOW, I HAVE ZERO PATIENCE, AND I HATE INEFFICIENCY.
AND I WANT US TO CONTINUOUSLY IMPROVE OUR PROCESSES.
AND WE NEED TO GIVE YOU, TO BE FAIR, THE SUPPORT YOU NEED TO BE ABLE TO HONE THE PROCESS.
SO I'M HIGHLY SUPPORTIVE OF THIS.
I LIKE THAT THERE'S A MARCH THEY HAVE THESE FIRST FEW MONTHS TO DO IT, AND I LIKE THE POLICY OVERALL FOR THE CHECKS AND BALANCES AND TRANSPARENCY AND THE FISCAL ACCOUNTABILITY. AND FROM A PAY EQUITY PERSPECTIVE, I THINK IT ADDS SOME CHECKS AND BALANCES AND TRANSPARENCY TO COMMISSIONERS COURT.
BUT I THINK IT WANTED TO SAY SOMETHING.
THE ELECTED OFFICIALS ARE DOING OBVIOUSLY, MASS LEVELS OF CHANGES, AND THAT'S WHY WE'RE TALKING ABOUT SUSPENDING IT FOR A TEMPORARY PERIOD OF TIME, BECAUSE THEY'RE DOING ALMOST A COMPLETE REORG OF THE POLICY.
SO I DON'T WANT THAT TRANSPARENCY FOR COURT TO GO AWAY.
I THINK THAT'S SOMETHING THAT OMB DIRECTOR RAMOS HAS PUSHED FOR THROUGHOUT HIS TIME HERE.
AND SO I THINK THAT'S THAT'S THE REAL KEY ASPECT OF IT IS THE TRANSPARENCY.
I GUESS I'M CONCERNED THAT WE'RE WILLING TO IGNORE A CLEAR PROBLEM AND NOT WILLING TO FIX IT.
I THINK SHE SAID THAT SHE CANNOT ACCOMPLISH WHAT WE WANT AT THIS POINT, TO TEMPORARILY SUSPEND UNTIL SHE CAN GET A PLAN TOGETHER, TO ME, MAKES A WHOLE LOT OF SENSE.
AND AND GOING FORWARD, IT'S I MEAN, EVEN IF IT WAS FOR COURT MEMBERS HERE, THAT WOULD BE A START, BECAUSE I CAN TELL YOU, WE DON'T HAVE A LARGE AIR STAFF.
AND THIS IS OVERWHELMING IN TERMS OF THE IMPACT ON OUR OFFICES AND IN THE DIRECTORS ALREADY SAID THAT SHE DOESN'T HAVE A CLEAR THERE'S NOT A UNTIL THERE'S MORE RESOURCES AVAILABLE.
AND I'M NOT SURE WHEN THAT WILL BE.
IT IS A SIGNIFICANT IMPACT ON COURT.
SO IT MAKES IT HARD TO BROADEN IT TO INCLUDE MAKE EITHER PERMANENT OR INCLUDE EVERYONE ELSE.
WHAT I WAS GOING TO SUGGEST IS IF THERE'S THAT, THAT WHAT WE COULD DO IS IF YOU WANTED TO BRING BACK AN ITEM SIMILAR TO THIS, THAT WAS A PERMANENT APPLY TO EVERYONE, YOU COULD CERTAINLY PUT IT ON THE WE HAVE A BUSINESS COURT ON THE 19TH THAT THAT COULD YOU COULD CERTAINLY VOTE ON IT IF EVERYONE WANTED TO VOTE ON THAT AT THAT POINT.
BUT AS FAR AS THIS, THIS ONE, I THINK WE HAVE TO LEAVE IT ON.
UNFORTUNATELY, WE HAVE TO LIMIT IT TO WHAT? WHAT THE THE LANGUAGE OF THE TEXT IS UNDERSTOOD.
I THINK WHEN MR. RAMOS CAME UP WITH IT, IT WAS FOR GOOD CAUSE.
BUT I'VE HAD SOME FRUSTRATION AS WELL, BUT PUT THAT ON THE NEXT ONE.
[06:00:02]
IS THAT ALRIGHT? SO I'LL SECOND YOU SECOND.OKAY. COMMISSIONER BRIONES MADE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE ITEM AS PRESENTED.
AYE. ALL THOSE OPPOSED, VOTE NO.
J WHAT'S THE NEXT ONE? DID I GET THEM ALL? DID I HIT ALL FOUR? IS THERE ANOTHER ONE? LET ME SEE.
53. NO, NO. WE HAVE WE HAVE 53.
53. AND, COMMISSIONER RAMSEY, YOU PULLED THIS ONE.
THIS IS A STAR AIR I S SYSTEM.
I THINK WE COVERED THIS EARLIER.
THIS HAS TO DO WITH EVERYBODY DOCUMENTING.
HOW IS THAT? I GUESS THIS IS GOING.
THE DEADLINE IS DECEMBER 27TH, SO I'M ASSUMING THIS IS WELL UNDERWAY.
DIRECTOR. WELL, WE WE ARE HAVING CONVERSATIONS.
WE'VE ALREADY REACHED OUT TO ALL OF THE DEPARTMENTS REQUESTING THAT THIS BE UPDATED.
EITHER THEY WERE MISSING COMPLETELY OR THEY WERE INCOMPLETE.
SO WE'VE ALREADY, IN THE LAST TWO MONTHS STARTED REACHING OUT TO DEPARTMENTS TO GET THIS UPDATED.
BUT THERE ARE SO MANY BROADER IMPLICATIONS BEYOND COMP AND PAY EQUITY AROUND THE NEED FOR THIS DATA, INCLUDING UNDERSTANDING WHERE OUR EMPLOYEES WORK FROM A DISASTER PLANNING PERSPECTIVE AND EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT.
SO WE JUST WANTED TO FORMALIZE IT SO THAT DEPARTMENTS WILL CONTINUE TO TO TO NOT ONLY UPDATE IT NOW, BUT CONTINUE TO MAINTAIN THIS, THIS IMPORTANT DATA THAT WE WE NEED ACROSS THE COUNTY.
I DEFINITELY MADE BY COMMISSIONER RAMSEY, SECOND BY COMMISSIONER GARCIA.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR VOTE AYE. AYE.
ALL OPPOSED. VOTE NO EYES, NO NAYS.
PLEASE INVITE DIRECTOR LYNN TO GIVE US A BRIEF UPDATE.
AND I JUST WANTED TO SHARE A FEW REMARKS.
FIRST OF ALL, THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP.
SECOND OF ALL, I'M ENERGIZED BY THE PROGRESS.
I KNOW WE TALK A LOT ABOUT PROBLEMS AND THINGS WE NEED TO WORK ON, BUT TO ME, WHEN WE PASSED HARRIS COUNTY'S FIRST EVER CLIMATE ACTION PLAN LAST YEAR, WHERE WE MADE A COMMITMENT THAT WE WOULD REDUCE OUR OWN EMISSIONS BY 40% BY 2030, THAT'S LEADERSHIP.
AND I'M HAPPY THAT WE ARE MAKING PROGRESS.
AND I WAS REALLY ENERGIZED TO SEE THAT OVER 300 COUNTY RESIDENTS, OR 80 ZIP CODES ARE PARTICIPATING IN THE IDEAS AND TRY TO REALLY MAKE THIS AS ACTIONABLE OF A PLAN AS POSSIBLE. AND SO I JUST WANTED TO SAY THANK YOU, AND I LOOK FORWARD TO CONTINUED PROGRESS.
AND, DIRECTOR LYNN, IF YOU COULD PLEASE UPDATE US BRIEFLY.
THANK YOU. GOOD EVENING, COMMISSIONERS.
LISA LINDE, DIRECTOR OF SUSTAINABILITY.
AND OFFICE OF COUNTY ADMINISTRATION.
I HAVE OUR COMMUNITY PARTNER WHO'S BEEN ON THIS JOURNEY WITH US FOR THE LAST TWO YEARS HERE.
SO STEPHANIA. GOOD EVENING, COMMISSIONERS.
AND IT'S A GREAT HONOR TO BE HERE TODAY WITH YOU.
WE CAN MOVE TO THE TO THE FIRST SLIDE.
THIS YEAR HAS BEEN THE KICKOFF OF OUR ACTUAL PLANNING MEETINGS.
WE CAN MOVE TO THE NEXT SLIDE.
THE THE GREATEST THING THAT WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO DO IS PUT TOGETHER THIS ADVISORY.
COLLABORATIVE. MANY OF WHOM SPOKE THIS MORNING AT PUBLIC SESSION.
AND THESE MEMBERS WERE NOMINATED BY YOUR OFFICES, ALSO BY THE SIERRA TEAM AS WELL.
AND WE ALSO HAD FIVE YOUTH MEMBERS, SO THREE OF THEM ARE HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS.
SO THROUGHOUT THIS YEAR, WE ALSO HOSTED SIX MEETINGS.
AND AS AS COMMISSIONER MENTIONED OVER 300 RESIDENTS.
WE ALSO GOT OVER 880 COMMENTS.
WE KEPT ON ASKING, WHAT DOES CLIMATE JUSTICE MEAN? IT REALLY REVOLVES AROUND THESE FIVE KEY THEMES AROUND ECOLOGY, INFRASTRUCTURE, ECONOMY, COMMUNITY AND CULTURE.
AND IT REALLY KIND OF SPEAKS TO KIND OF MEETING BASIC NEEDS, MAKING SURE THAT PEOPLE FEEL SAFE.
THESE ARE JUST SOME OF THE PHOTOS FROM THE COMMUNITY MEETINGS THAT WE HAD ACROSS THE COUNTY.
[06:05:02]
NEXT SLIDE HAS SOME A FEW PHOTOS.AND THEN WE ALSO HAD A VIRTUAL MEETING.
SO AGAIN, WE REALLY TRIED TO KIND OF REACH A BROAD BASE OF, OF INDIVIDUALS.
THE LAST SLIDE REALLY SPEAKS TO KIND OF WHAT WE CAN ANTICIPATE MOVING FORWARD.
SO OUR LAST SLIDE IS AROUND THE TIMELINE.
SO TODAY'S OBVIOUSLY WHAT WE'RE BRINGING TO COURT.
AS YOU SEE IN THE TRANSMITTAL THERE'S OVER 20 THERE'S 25 GOALS AND OVER 90 ACTIONS.
THERE'S STILL A SERIES OF MEETINGS TO HELP CONTINUE TO DISTILL THOSE ACTIONS AND REFINE THAT.
SO THERE'S SOMETHING THAT'S REALLY GREAT THAT WE'LL BE DELIVERING TO COURT IN APRIL.
SO WE'LL BE MEETING WITH STAKEHOLDERS, COMMUNITY STAKEHOLDERS.
AND JUST TO KIND OF CONTINUE THE PLANNING PROCESS.
THANK YOU. YES. YEAH. COMMISSIONER GARCIA? YES. I'M SORRY.
MAY I SAY JUST A COUPLE? I'M SORRY. I'M SORRY.
SORRY. WELL, I JUST WANT TO LET YOU ALL KNOW A LITTLE BIT ABOUT OUR ORGANIZATION.
SIERRA WAS FOUNDED IN 2017, IN THE WAKE OF HURRICANE HARVEY.
AND OUR MISSION IS TO RAISE AWARENESS OF POLLUTION, PLACE, AND PUBLIC HEALTH.
ALL OF THESE ISSUES REALLY IMPACT HARRIS COUNTY RESIDENTS.
AND I WANT TO THANK ALL OF THE COMMISSIONERS FOR YOUR SUPPORT OF THIS PLANNING PROCESS.
AND I JUST WANT TO REALLY CONGRATULATE YOU ALL FOR EVERYTHING THAT YOU'RE DOING.
I THINK HARVEY WAS REALLY A WATERSHED MOMENT FOR A LOT OF US.
AND SINCE THAT TIME, WE'VE HIT DISASTER AFTER DISASTER AFTER DISASTER.
SO THESE WEATHER EVENTS KEEP KEEP COMING UP, AND THERE'S SO MANY THINGS THAT WE CAN DO TO DIRECTLY PREPARE FOR DISASTERS, BUT TO ALSO BROADEN OUR RESILIENCE IN HARRIS COUNTY MORE, MORE GENERALLY.
AND I THINK THIS PLAN IS GOING TO HELP CAPTURE A LOT OF THOSE MEASURES.
SO I WANT TO THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH FOR THAT.
AND IT'S IMPORTANT FOR PEOPLE TO UNDERSTAND.
BUT I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT FOLKS UNDERSTAND THAT WE'VE HEARD THEM, THEY'VE SPOKEN UP.
THEY BELIEVE IN THE NEED TO TAKE SIGNIFICANT STEPS IN MAKING SURE THAT WE ARE THAT WE UNDERSTAND THE NEED FOR OUR CLIMATE ACTION PLAN AND THAT WE'RE COMMITTED TO IT AND THAT WE ARE.
IT'S AS I SAID EARLIER, THIS IS NOT A, YOU KNOW, A PLAN ON A SHELF, BUT RATHER IT IS ALIVE AND IT'S BEING ACTED ON AS WE DID THIS MORNING WHEN WE AFFECTED THE PURCHASE OF THE PROPERTY FOR ARMAND BAYOU.
IT IS GOING TO HELP US BE MORE RESILIENT.
AND IT JUST PROVIDES SO MANY GREAT AMENITIES.
BUT AGAIN, I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR ALL OF THE WORK THAT YOU'RE DOING, ALL THE PARTNERS, THE FUNDERS, THE COMMUNITY MEMBERS, THE PARTICIPANTS WHO HAVE DEDICATED THEIR TIME, THEIR RESOURCES AND THEIR EXPERTISE TO THIS PROCESS AND JUST REALLY APPRECIATE YOU.
AND TO YOUR POINT ABOUT THE YOUTH, I JUST WANT TO SHOUT OUT OUR STAFF MEMBER, PILAR AND DAVID, WHO'VE REALLY KIND OF BEEN, YOU KNOW, GONE OVER THE KIND OF BEYOND TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY FEEL LIKE THEY WERE SUPPORTED THROUGHOUT THE PROCESS.
SO, YEAH, AND BECAUSE THIS IS A TRANSMITTAL, I WILL MAKE AN HONORARY MOTION.
THANK YOU SO MUCH. LOOK, I JUST WANT TO THANK YOU AS AS WELL.
A TOTAL OF $708,750 FROM FOUNDATIONS AND GRANTS WAS INVESTED IN AN EFFORT.
AND IN ADDITION TO LISA AND HER GREAT TEAM AND GREAT TEAM AT SUR, I WANT TO GIVE A QUICK SHOUT OUT TO ZOE MIDDLETON ON MY WHO WAS ON MY STAFF, AND WE PUT THIS ITEM ON THE AGENDA IN 2021.
AND SO IT HAS BEEN A LONG TIME COMING.
AND YOU ALL WERE RIGHT, FOLKS.
LISA, YOU IN PARTICULAR, IS THAT PERSON TO COME IN AND DO IT? AND WE'RE GLAD YOU'RE HERE. I DON'T HAVE ZOO AROUND PASSING ME A LITTLE NOTE, BUT I THINK, AM I RIGHT? WE'RE THE FIRST COUNTY IN TEXAS.
NOT THE FIRST CITY, BUT THE FIRST COUNTY.
AND HAS TRAVIS COME IN BEHIND US YET? THEY'RE NOT QUITE TO A CLIMATE JUSTICE PLAN YET, AND I WOULD SAY THAT MIGHT BE THE FIRST IN THE COUNTRY, BECAUSE MULTNOMAH COUNTY IS THE OTHER COUNTY THAT'S DOING CLIMATE JUSTICE
[06:10:04]
PLAN. THEY HAVEN'T PASSED THEIRS YET.SO WE'RE KIND OF NECK AND NECK WITH ANOTHER COUNTY THERE.
SO AND ZOE WAS ON OUR ADVISORY COLLABORATIVE TOO.
SO SHE'S BEEN A GREAT CONTRIBUTOR IN THE PROCESS.
WELL, THANK YOU FOR YOUR WORK.
YEAH. JUST BEING A DIRT KICKING CIVIL ENGINEER WHO GRADUATED IN ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEERING IN 1974.
I KNOW I SPOKE RECENTLY AT THE AMERICAN SOCIETY OF CIVIL ENGINEERS.
I KNOW THAT I COULD HAVE BEEN MOST OF THEIR GRANDFATHER IN TERMS OF THE AGE GROUP, BUT THAT JUST TELLS YOU HOW ENCOURAGED HOUSTON IS THE CENTER OF ENGINEERING IN AMERICA.
AND SO DON'T DON'T FORGET ABOUT ALL THE SOCIETIES.
ALL THE TECHNICAL SOCIETIES GOT GREAT IDEAS.
WE'VE CLEANED UP THE SHIP CHANNEL.
SOME DAYS THERE'S NOTHING NEW UNDER THE SUN, BUT THERE CERTAINLY IS A BETTER FOCUS.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR ENERGY IN TERMS OF TAKING ANOTHER LOOK AND TRYING TO MAKE SOME IMPROVEMENTS.
APPRECIATE IT. THANK YOU SO MUCH, COMMISSIONER.
I JUST WANT YOU TO KNOW YOU WOULD HAVE BEEN THE.
SINCE YOU WERE A YEAR OLDER THAN ME, I WOULD.
IT'S A TRANSMITTAL, SO NO HONORARY MOTION, BUT THANK YOU.
GREAT WORK. OH. DID YOU NOTICE ANYTHING? NANCE WAS HERE EARLIER.
YES. SO I HOPE WHEN SHE'S IN THE PRIVATE SECTOR, SHE CAN'T DO IT NOW.
BUT SHE'LL LET HER REVIEW OUR PLAN AND GIVE SOME COMMENTS ON IT.
WE WERE TALKING ABOUT THAT THIS MORNING.
YEAH. YEAH. ONCE ONCE SHE'S OUT.
[Emergency/Supplemental items (Part 2 of 2)]
THANK YOU. NEXT ITEM, COMMISSIONER RAMSEY, PUBLIC HEALTH IS THE EMERGENCY SUPPLEMENTAL ITEM.HUMAN SERVICES COMMISSION GRANTS FOR 16.3 MILLION.
DID I SKIP ANYTHING? DID I SKIP ONE? J 550 IS THE D00? GO GO GO TO FIVE 51ST.
I'M SORRY, COMMISSIONER RAMSEY.
550 TOLL ROAD AUTHORITY MOU WITH HARRIS COUNTY TOLL ROAD AUTHORITY AGAIN.
THAT'S SAME QUESTION AS WE HAD HAD PREVIOUSLY.
$415,000. THAT'S WHAT WE, WE REALLY TALKED ABOUT PREVIOUSLY.
GOT TO BE SURE THAT WE TRACK THOSE COSTS.
MAKE THEM TRANSPORTATION SPECIFIC AND RELATED.
WELL, COMMISSIONER GARCIA SECONDS IT.
COMMISSIONER RAMSEY, MAKE THE MOTION.
ALL OPPOSED. VOTE NO. FOUR EYES AND NO NAYS.
WE JUST NEED A VOTE. SO MOVED.
I'LL SECOND. COMMISSIONER BRENNAN MAKES A MOTION.
SECOND. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR VOTE AYE.
AYE. ALL THOSE OPPOSED, VOTE NO.
AND COMMISSIONER RAMSEY IS ACCESS PROGRAM.
I JUST WOULD ENCOURAGE YOU ALL TO STAY CLOSE TO THAT PART OF IT.
THERE'S BEEN A WHOLE LOT OF MONEY SPENT ON THE PROGRAM WITH VERY LITTLE BENEFIT IN MY OPINION.
COMMISSIONER GARCIA SECONDS IT.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, VOTE AYE. IS IT GOING TO BE APPROVED? AS PRESENTED? YES.
PRESENTED. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? ALL THOSE OPPOSED, VOTE. NO.
AND, COMMISSIONER, I JUST WANT TO SAY THAT WHILE I HAVE MAJOR CONCERNS WITH DIMA, I DO APPRECIATE AND RESPECT THE WORK THAT INTERIM DIRECTOR BARTON IS DOING ON ADDRESSING THIS.
SO I HAVE ISSUES WITH IBM, BUT I DO APPRECIATE THE WORK SHE'S DONE TO RIGHTSIZE THIS AND MOVE IT IN A BETTER DIRECTION. I JUST CAN'T VOTE FOR HER.
I DO AGREE WITH THE FACT THAT THAT DIRECTOR BARTON IS INVOLVED, THAT'S GOING TO THAT'S GOING TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE. BUT SHE'S INHERITED QUITE A MESS.
[06:15:02]
THOSE OPPOSED VOTE NO.DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY.
OH, WE DID. WE DID THAT ONE ALREADY.
COMMISSIONER RAMSEY, YOU PULL 575.
YEAH. THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF RECENT PRESS ON THE ALLIANCE.
YOU KNOW, THE CHRONICLE HAS CARRIED SEVERAL STORIES ON IT.
I THINK THAT AND AND CERTAINLY PUT THAT ON THE RADAR SCREEN FOR DIRECTOR BARTON TO CONTINUE TO LOOK.
I WOULD ALERT OUR COUNTY ATTORNEY TO ALSO PAY ATTENTION.
COMMISSIONER RAMSEY. WE HAVE WE'VE PULLED THOSE CONTRACTS ALREADY TO TAKE A LOOK, TO MAKE SURE OBVIOUSLY, WE HAVE PROVISIONS IN OUR CONTRACTS THAT THEY HAVE TO BE IN GOOD STANDING IN TEXAS TO BE ABLE TO CONDUCT BUSINESS.
WE'RE ALSO LOOKING AT ANY FEDERAL LAW COMPLIANCE AS WELL.
THANK YOU JEFF. THANK YOU JAY.
COMMISSIONER GARCIA SECONDS THAT.
AYE. ALL OPPOSED? VOTE NO. NO.
ITEM PASSES. ANY OTHER BEFORE WE GO TO EXECUTIVE SESSION.
[Executive Session]
ANY OTHER BUSINESS? IF I SKIPPED ANYTHING.YOU SURE? JAY, I BANK ON YOU TO LET ME KNOW.
YEAH, THERE'S THERE'S NO MORE. IN TERMS OF EXECUTIVE SESSION, WE HAVE FOUR ITEMS. WE'RE GOING ON GOING EXECUTIVE SESSION FOR ITEMS 140 111 44 250 PURSUANT TO 551072 AND THEN 257 AND 548.
I THINK PURSUANT TO 551071 SO THAT'S THE MOTION.
THAT'S THE MOTION. THE TIME IS NOW.
OH, SORRY. WHAT IS THAT? 29 IS NOW 629.
COMMISSIONERS COURT WILL PROCEED TO EXECUTIVE SESSION ON ITEMS 144, ONE, 141, 144, 257 AND 548.
WHICH 1 A.M. I GOING BACK? THE BOTTOM ONE. THE BOTTOM 712.
COMMISSIONERS COURT IS BACK FROM EXECUTIVE SESSION.
COMMISSIONER GARCIA MAKES A MOTION.
I'LL SECOND IT. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, VOTE AYE.
COMMISSIONER GARCIA MADE A MOTION.
I SECOND IT. FOUR FOR NONE AGAINST 257.
ITEM FIVE 4848 IS IT'S THE OPIOID SETTLEMENT COMMISSIONER.
548 I MOVE TO ACCEPT IT AS PRESENTED.
HOWEVER, I WANT TO DIRECT THE OCA OFFICE TO LOOK AT HOW WE CAN USE THAT FUNDING IN A MUCH MORE CREATIVE WAY TO ADDRESS SOME OF OUR LOCAL OPIOID CHALLENGES.
SECOND. ANY DISCUSSION? AND THAT'S PART OF THE MOTION, COMMISSIONER.
LET THERE BE LIGHT. PAY OUR BILLS.
MOTION MADE BY COMMISSIONER GARCIA.
AYE. ALL THOSE OPPOSED, VOTE NO.
ANY OTHER BUSINESS? IT IS NOW 713.
COMMISSIONERS. COURT IS ADJOURNED.
VERY GOOD. THANK YOU.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.