Jan 09, 2025 Commissioners Court

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>> GOOD MORNING, EVERYONE. IT IS 10:06. WE ARE GETTING THIS JANUARY 9, 2025 MEETING OF COMMISSIONERS COURT TO ORDER.

FIRST OF ALL, HAPPY NEW YEAR, EVERYBODY. HAPPY 2025. I KNOW IT'S BEEN A TOUGH START ALREADY . FIRST OF ALL, I WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT TODAY IS THE NATIONAL DAY OF MOURNING FOR THE DEATH OF PRESIDENT JIMMY CARTER AND THE SERVICES ARE GOING ON AS WE SPEAK. TODAY, WE HAVE PROCLAIMED JIMMY CARTER DAY IN HARRIS COUNTY. WE HAD A BEAUTIFUL CELEBRATION OF HIS LIFE EARLIER THIS WEEK AND THEY ARE LIFE STREAMING THE SERVICE OUTSIDE THE BARBARA BUSH LIBRARY DOWNTOWN IF ANYONE WANTS TO DROP BY AND WATCH IT THERE. IT'S REALLY LOVELY. THE OTHER SAD NEWS IS OF COURSE WHAT'S GOING ON IN L.A. WITH THE FIRES. WE CAN RELATE WELL TO HAVING A TRAGEDY THAT TAKES MANY HOMES , BUT OF COURSE IT'S AN ONGOING DISASTER AND I'M TALKING TO OFFICE OF EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT TO SEE IF THERE'S ANYTHING WE CAN DO. THERE ARE JURISDICTIONS CLOSER TO THEM . WE WANT TO HELP TO THE EXTENT THAT THERE IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO DO SO. FINALLY, I WANT TO CONGRATULATE MY COLLEAGUES , ELLIS AND COMMISSIONER RAMSEY WHO WON RE-ELECTION AND THEY WILL BE JOINING LATER. THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH AND WE WILL GET STARTED WITH THE RESOLUTIONS. LET ME PASS IT TO COMMISSIONER -- YES? RIGHT. DO YOU HAVE THE PRAYER?

GOOD. >> GOOD MORNING, EVERYBODY.

HAPPY NEW YEAR. I HOPE YOU ARE STICKING TO THE RESOLUTIONS SO

[Imam Furqan A. Sayed of Islamic Society of Greater Houston (ISGH) Masjid Abubakr introduced by the Commissioner of Precinct 2.]

LAST THE REST OF THE YEAR. >> GOOD MORNING, EVERYONE. IN THE NAME OF GOD, THE MOST GRACIOUS AND MOST MERCIFUL , HONORABLE JUDGE, HONORABLE COMMISSIONERS, DISTINGUISHED GUESTS AND MEMBERS OF OUR BELOVED COMMUNITY. IT IS A PRIVILEGE AND PROFOUND RESPONSIBILITY TO STAND BEFORE YOU TODAY. AS WE BEGIN A NEW YEAR OF SERVICE , I ASKED THAT WE TAKE A MOMENT TO QUIET OUR HEARTS AND REFLECT ON THE SACRED DUTY THAT LEADERSHIP ENTAILS. LEADERSHIP IS NOT ABOUT POWER . IT IS ABOUT TRUST. IT IS JUST GIVEN BY PEOPLE IN WEAKNESS BY GOD. WE ASK FOR GUIDANCE TO FULFILL THIS TRUST WITH HUMIDITY, WISDOM AND COMPASSION . WE TURN TO YOU, THE ONE WHO CREATED US ALL DIFFERENT IN APPEARANCE, BELIEF AND LANGUAGE. UNITED IN OUR SHARED HUMANITY. GOD SAYS, OH HUMANKIND. WE HAVE CREATED YOU FROM MALE AND FEMALE AND WE MADE YOU INTO NATIONS AND TRIBES , SO THAT YOU MAY KNOW ONE ANOTHER . INDEED, THE MOST NOBLE OF YOU IN THE SIGHT OF GOD IS THE MOST RIGHTEOUS. MAY WE LEARN FROM OUR DIFFERENCES , STRENGTHEN OUR DIVERSITY AND SEEK UNITY OVER DIVISION . MAY WE SEE ONE ANOTHER NOT AS STRANGERS, BUT BROTHERS AND SISTERS ON THE SAME JOURNEY TOWARDS PEACE AND PROSPERITY .

WE PRAY FOR THIS COURT TO BE A PLACE OF JUSTICE WHERE

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MAY YOU BE VOICES FOR THE VOICELESS . PROTECTORS OF THE VULNERABLE AND ADVOCATES FOR THOSE WHO ARE OFTEN UNSEEN .

LET US NEVER FORGET THAT BEHIND EVERY POLICY , EVERY ROLLING AND EVERY BOAT , PARENTS STRUGGLING TO PROVIDE FOR FAMILIES, CHILDREN DREAMING OF BRIGHTER FUTURES , ELDERLY CITIZENS HOPING TO LIVE THEIR FINAL YEARS IN DIGNITY. AS YOU CARRY OUT THE BURDEN OF LEADERSHIP, I PRAY YOU FIND STRENGTH AND SERVICE. THE PROPHET MOHAMMED, PLEASE BE UPON HIMSELF. THE BEST OF PEOPLE WHO BRING BENEFIT TO OTHERS. MAY THIS COURT BE A SOURCE OF BENEFIT FOR ALL. MAY YOU GOVERN WITH HEARTS OF COMPASSION , HANDS OF GENEROSITY AND MINDS GUIDED BY TRUTH. AS WE BEGIN THIS NEW YEAR, I PRAY THAT EACH OF YOU LEAVES A LEGACY OF JUSTICE , KINDNESS AND HOPE. MAY YOUR WORK INSPIRE UNITY IN TIMES OF DIVISION , COURAGE AND MOMENTS OF UNCERTAINTY AND HEALING IN PLACES OF HURT. MAY WE WALK TOGETHER TOWARDS A FUTURE WHERE EVERY RESIDENT OF HARRIS COUNTY FEELS SEEN, HEARD AND VALUED .

MADE THE DECISIONS IN THIS COURT BRING LIGHT TO THE DARKEST CORNERS OF OUR COMMUNITY, PEACE TO THE TROUBLED HEARTS AND PROSPERITY TO ALL , AMEN. THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH. TO OUR PRAYER, I SAY, FOREIGN LANGUAGE ] . ALWAYS AN INCREDIBLE CITIZEN OUT OF THE COMMUNITY AND THROUGHOUT. GOOD TO SEE YOU. THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU FOR THE BEAUTIFUL PRAYER. ABSOLUTELY BEAUTIFUL.

THANK YOU. LET'S RECITE THE PLEDGE.

>> I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS ONE NATION UNDER GOD INDIVISIBLE WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL.

>> HONOR THE TEXAS FLAG. I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THEE, TEXAS, ONE STATE UNDER GOD, ONE AND INDIVISIBLE.

[Departments (Part 1 of 2)]

>> NOW, WE WILL MOVE ON TO THE RESOLUTIONS. THE FIRST ONE IS A HAPPY ONE CELEBRATING AND CONGRATULATING DR. MAX FOR 20 YEARS OF THE HARRIS COUNTY PUBLIC HEALTH DEPARTMENT.

SERVED PUBLIC HEALTH WITH DEDICATION, PROFESSIONALISM AND DISTINCTION FOR OVER 20 YEARS. COME ON UP, FOLKS, SO WE CAN ALL CELEBRATE HIM. DIRECTOR OF THE MOSQUITO AND VECTOR CONTROL DIVISION SINCE APRIL 2023. THE MISSION TO PROMOTE HEALTH AND WELL-BEING FOR ALL RESIDENTS EXEMPLARY LEADERSHIP, DEDICATION AND EXPERT IN MOSQUITO AND VECTOR CONTROL AND FEATURED IN SCIENTIFIC JOURNALS AND MAINSTREAM MEDIA. HE HAS ACHIEVED SIGNIFICANT MILESTONES DURING HIS TIME WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH AND IMPROVING OPERATIONAL EFFICIENCY, DETECTION CAPABILITIES OF THE MOSQUITO AND VECTOR CONTROL LABORATORY BY TRANSITIONING FOR ENZYME LINKED IMMUNOSORBENT TO QUANTITATIVE POLYMERASE CHAIN REACTION TESTING . HE ESTABLISHED VITAL PARTNERSHIPS WITH THE BASE IN COLLEGE OF MEDICINE, TEXAS A&M AND UT HEALTH HOUSTON PUBLIC HEALTH. FOSTERING COLLABORATION . DR.

MAX VIGILANT PROVIDES EXCEPTIONAL LEADERSHIP IN VARIOUS CAPACITIES AT THE PUBLIC HEALTH DEPARTMENT, INCLUDING INTERIM DIRECTOR WHERE HE LED KEY IMPROVEMENTS , REORGANIZED OPERATIONAL STRUCTURES TO IMPROVE EFFICIENCY AND ANIMAL FEED PROGRAMS TO ENHANCE SHELTER CONDITIONS. HE HAS LEFT AN ENDURING LEGACY OF COMPASSION OWES HIM AND SHIPPED THE TRAJECTORY OF HARRIS COUNTY PUBLIC HEALTH AND SET A STRONG FOUNDATION FOR CONTINUED

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HARRIS COUNTY DESIGNATES JANUARY 9, 2025 AS DR. MAX VIGILANT DAY IN HARRIS COUNTY , TEXAS. CONGRATULATIONS.

>> DIRECTOR OF HARRIS COUNTY PUBLIC HEALTH. IT'S AN HONOR TO RECOGNIZE DR. MAX VIGILANT ON HIS RETIREMENT. HE HAS DEDICATED OVER 40 YEARS TO PUBLIC HEALTH AND MORE THAN 20 HAVE BEEN HINDERED HERE AT HARRIS COUNTY AND MOSQUITO AND VECTOR CONTROL. WHEN TALKING TO DR. MAX, HIS PASSION FOR PUBLIC HEALTH, ENERGY AND ENTHUSIASM ARE EVIDENT. MOST RECENTLY, HE HAS MADE HUGE PROGRESS IN ELEVATING OUR MOSQUITO AND VECTOR CONTROL CAPABILITIES. EXPANDING OUR LABORATORY, DEVELOPING PARTNERSHIPS, IMPLEMENTING VEHICLE TECHNOLOGY AND INITIATING AIRPORT BASED TESTING TO MONITOR DISEASE COMING IN AND OUT OF THE REGION. DR. MAX VIGILANT'S PASSION FOR HIS PEOPLE IS MORE EVIDENT. I HAVE NEVER SEEN HIM MORE EXCITED THAN WHEN TALKING ABOUT PEOPLE GROWING INTO NEW ROLES, OFFERING TRAINING OR EVEN DEVELOPING A MOSQUITO CONTROL DRIVER TO BE ABLE TO PRESENT AT A RECENT CONFERENCE.

HE HAS MADE AN IMPACT ON OUR COUNTY, DEPARTMENT AND HIS TEAMS . WE WISH HIM THE BEST IN HIS RETIREMENT AND HE WILL

TRULY BE MISSED. >> GOOD MORNING. I'M THE DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC HEALTH, ALSO KNOWN AS HARRIS COUNTY PETS. I HAVE KNOWN HIM THE MAJORITY OF MY PUBLIC HEALTH CAREER, BUT DIDN'T GET TO KNOW HIM UNTIL 2021 WHEN I WENT OVER MOSQUITO CONTROL. ONE OF THE THINGS I NOTICED WAS THE PASSION AND KNOWLEDGE HE HAD. HE PROBABLY GOT ANNOYED OF ME ASKING QUESTIONS, BUT I DID. WHAT I NOTICED WAS THAT SEASONED STAFF TO HIM, AS WELL. HE ALWAYS ANSWERED QUESTIONS WITH A SMILE. AS I WORKED WITH HIM LONGER, I NOTICED A GOOD SKILL ABOUT HIM, WHICH WAS IDENTIFYING FRONTLINE STAFF, FINDING STRENGTH AND BUILDING IT IN POSITION TO SUCCEED. THAT IS EXACTLY WHAT HE DID WHEN HE WENT OVER VETERINARY PUBLIC HEALTH AND I SAW THE IMPACT . THE STAFF WAS THERE AND CULTURE WAS BETTER. OVERALL, THE EFFICIENCY HE MADE FOR PUBLIC HEALTH OR FOR ANIMAL WELLNESS AND PEOPLE WELLNESS WAS VERY EVIDENT, SO THOSE THINGS ARE LIVING ON.

>> YOUR TIME IS UP. >> GO AHEAD.

>> MY TEACHER AND FRIEND, CONGRATS.

>> GOOD MORNING, JUDGE AND COMMISSIONERS. MY NAME IS DR.

COURTNEY STANLEY AND I'M THE INTERIM FOR MOSQUITO CONTROL AND SUPPORT THE RESOLUTION TO HONOR DECADES OF SERVICE THAT DR. MAX VIGILANT HAS GIVEN TO HARRIS COUNTY. IN MY TIME IN PUBLIC HEALTH, I HAVE APPRECIATED THE EFFORTS THAT DR. MAX VIGILANT HAS DONE TO DIVISIONS THAT HE'S PARTICIPATED IN AND HE DOES HAVE A KNACK FOR UNDERSTANDING PEOPLE AND PUTTING THEM IN THE RIGHT PLACE TO SUPPORT GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT. BECAUSE OF HIM, WE HAVE THE NEXT GENERATION OF LEADERS GROWING IN AND VECTOR CONTROL. HE FOSTERS COLLABORATIONS AND IS THE FORWARD FACING SUBJECT MATTER EXPERT FOR MOSQUITO CONTROL IN THE PAST . IF YOU HAVEN'T SEEN IT, IT'S WORTH THE VIEW. WE WILL MISS HIM AND SINGING THIS IS HOW YOU DO IT AS WE TACKLE NEW TASKS. HE HAS BEEN PARAMOUNT IN THE BEGINNINGS OF MANY PROFESSIONALS IN MOSQUITO CONTROL AND PUBLIC HEALTH. WE WANT TO CONGRATULATE HIM ON HIS RETIREMENT.

>> MORNING, COMMISSIONERS. I WORKED WITH MY FAMILY , WIFE, DAUGHTER AND SON AND ONE IS MISSING. YOU COME FROM 390 SQUARE MILE ISLAND TO A 17,000 SQUARE MILE CITY . WHEN YOU TRAVEL WITH A BAG OF KNOWLEDGE, WHICH I DID IN PUBLIC HEALTH AND I SAID EVERY DAY THAT I DON'T KNOW HOW TO READ AND WRITE, BUT I CAN COUNT 42 YEARS IN PUBLIC HEALTH AND THAT'S

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VERY MUCH. I APPRECIATE IT. >> CONGRATULATIONS. THANK YOU SO MUCH TO THE FAMILY AND THANK YOU FOR SUPPORTING HIM. I THINK FOLKS FORGET. THE FIRST TIME I VISITED THE MOSQUITO CONTROL PROJECTS , IT'S SUCH A BIG DEAL. WE HAVE THE RAIN AND A LOT OF THESE ARE DISEASE CARRYING MOSQUITOES , SO IT'S VERY IMPORTANT, THE WORK THAT YOU'VE DONE. THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR LEAVING THAT. LET'S GIVE HIM ANOTHER ROUND OF APPLAUSE FOR HIS WORK . DR. MAX VIGILANT, WHERE ARE YOU AN IMMIGRANT FROM? YEAH, SO ANYWAY, AS A FELLOW IMMIGRANT, IT MAKES ME SO THRILLED AND I'M NOT SURPRISED THAT YOU HAVE ACCREDITED TO DIRECTOR ROBINSON AND I'M VERY GRATEFUL FOR YOUR SERVICE. YES, COMMISSIONER GARCIA?

>> I JUST WANT TO THANK YOU AND IF THERE IS A PLACE WHERE WE NEED EXPERTISE ON MOSQUITOES, IT'S ABSOLUTELY HERE. WE ARE VERY GRATEFUL FOR YOUR YEARS OF SERVICE TO OUR COMMUNITY. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. A LOT OF PEOPLE DON'T REALIZE, BUT OVER AT THE HOUSTON LIBRARY, THERE ARE MATERIALS WHERE THE ALLEN BROTHERS ARE MARKETING THIS AREA. WITH PRISTINE WATERS AND NEVER MENTIONED THE ROACHES OR MOSQUITOES. THANK YOU FOR ALL YOUR WORK TO KEEP PEOPLE HEALTHY AND SAFE . THANK YOU SO MUCH. CONGRATULATIONS. I'M SEEING LAW ENFORCEMENT COLLEAGUES HERE AND I KNOW THERE'S AN ITEM AND IN RELATION TO THE FIRES , OUR FIRE MARSHALS AND FIREFIGHTERS , I KNOW THEY ARE PUTTING THEIR LIVES IN DANGER EVERY DAY AND AS WE SPEAK. THANK YOU FOR THAT WORK. COMMISSIONER GARCIA?

>> I'M EXCITED TO PRESENT THIS RESOLUTION , I WANT TO THANK MY HR TEAM AND DAVIS FOR HIS LEADERSHIP . THIS RESOLUTION SPEAKS TO THE COMMITMENT THAT I HAVE FOR MY PRECINCT AND ALSO TO MY WORK FAMILY . I'M EXCITED THAT THE HOUSTON CHRONICLE HAS RECOGNIZED PRECINCT 2 AS A TOP WORKPLACE DISTINCTION . THE COLLABORATION AND TRANSFORMATION THE PRECINCT TO DEPARTMENT LEADERS AND MOST SIGNIFICANTLY THE COMMITMENT THAT ALL OF MY EMPLOYEES HAVE FOR THE PEOPLE THEY REPRESENT.

WHEN HE WALKED INTO OFFICE I SAID, IF YOU DON'T CARE ABOUT PEOPLE, THIS ISN'T THE JOB FOR YOU. THOSE WORDS HAVE CHALLENGED HIM AND US AND WE HAVE WORKED VERY GRACIOUSLY .

LAID UP IN THE HOSPITAL, SO WE ARE KEEPING HIM IN OUR THOUGHTS AND PRAYERS. AS WE DO THIS WORK, IT CAN BE UNFORGIVING AND A THANKLESS JOB. IT'S CRITICAL THAT IT ALWAYS COMES FROM THE

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>> CONGRATULATIONS, YOU GUYS. >> GOOD MORNING, JUDGE AND COMMISSIONER SPREAD HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ALL IN ATTENDANCE TODAY. I'M HONORED TO SERVE AS THE MANAGER OF INTERNAL AFFAIRS . IT HAS BEEN GREAT PRIDE AND IMMENSE GRATITUDE THAT I STAND BEFORE YOU TODAY THAT WE NOTE THE MOST NOTEWORTHY ACCOMPLISHMENT BY THE HOUSTON CHRONICLE AS A TOP WORKPLACE.

THIS IS NOT JUST A TITLE OR ACCOLADE, BUT REFLECTION OF THE CULTURE, VALUES AND COMMITMENT THE STAFF HAVE COLLECTIVELY NURTURED. I WOULD LIKE TO RECOGNIZE TEAMS ACROSS ALL DEPARTMENTS FOR THEIR HARD WORK, DEDICATION AND PASSION. I WOULD LIKE TO THANK THE LEADERS FOR THEIR UNWAVERING SUPPORT.

LASTLY, I WOULD LIKE TO THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER GARCIA, FOR YOUR COMMITMENT TO PRIORITIZING INNOVATION AND IMPROVEMENT . WE ARE LOOKING FORWARD TO CONTINUING OUR EFFORTS. THANK

YOU. >> THANK YOU SO MUCH.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH. EVERY ONE OF YOU AND FOR ALL OF MY EMPLOYEES HERE, THANK YOU, THANK YOU FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY HEART. I DO WANT TO EMBARRASS A FEW PEOPLE . THAT IS MY CHIEF OF STAFF. I AM SO PROUD OF THIS GUY. HE JOINED ME FROM THE VERY BEGINNING AND ALWAYS A WEEK WHEN SOMEONE ELSE IS ASLEEP AND IS ALWAYS TAKING CALLS AND EMAILS WHENEVER SOMETHING IS BURNING . AN INCREDIBLE LEADER. I KNOW THIS ACCOMPLISHMENT IS IN LARGE PART TO THE FACT THAT I HAVE AN INCREDIBLE SKIPPER OF THE HOME, AS WELL. I WANT TO THANK MY DEPUTY CHIEF OF STAFF , CHRIS , AND I WANT TO THANK THEM ALL FOR THEIR RESPECTIVE

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APPRECIATE YOU. >> CONGRATULATIONS, COMMISSIONER. WE DO NOT HAVE ANY RESOLUTIONS OUT OF ORDER FOR COMMISSIONER NANCY, SO WE WILL MOVE ON TO BRIONES'S

RESOLUTIONS. >> CONGRATULATIONS, COMMISSIONER OF PRECINCT 2. HAPPY NEW YEAR AND I HOPE EVERYONE'S 2025 IS OFF TO A GREAT START. WE LOOK FORWARD TO BEING IN THE WORK WITH YOU THIS YEAR AND BEYOND AS WE CONTINUE TO ADVANCE JUSTICE AND OPPORTUNITY IN HARRIS COUNTY. I HAVE TWO RESOLUTIONS. ITEM FIVE TODAY, JANUARY 9 IS LAW-ENFORCEMENT APPRECIATION DAY. JOIN ME IN THANKING OUR LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS FOR THEIR SERVICE AND SACRIFICE

>>

>> THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE AND SACRIFICE. WE WILL HEAR FROM SOME OF OUR ESTEEMED COLLEAGUES WHO WILL BE SPEAKING ON THIS RESOLUTION. EVEN IF YOU HAVEN'T REGISTERED TO SPEAK, I KNOW MANY OF YOU ARE HERE AND WE WELCOME YOU TO JOIN US.

TODAY IS NATIONALLY CELEBRATED AS LAW-ENFORCEMENT APPRECIATION DAY . ALL OF US NEED TO COLLECTIVELY HONOR THEM NOT ONLY TODAY, BUT EVERY DAY OF THE YEAR FOR THEIR SERVICES AND SACRIFICE. MY GODFATHER IS RETIRED LAW ENFORCEMENT, SO I ALWAYS HAD A FRONT ROW SEAT NOT ONLY THAT YOU MAKE EVERY DAY, BUT YOUR FAMILIES LEAVING THE HOME NOT KNOWING IF YOU WILL BE BACK. THANK YOU FOR WHAT YOU PUT ON THE LINE TO PROTECT US ALL. IF WE COULD TAKE A MOMENT OF SILENCE, LAST YEAR, HARRIS COUNTY LOST FIVE OFFICERS, SO IF WE COULD TAKE A MOMENT OF SILENCE TO RECOGNIZE CONSTABLE , HUDSON, SHERIFF'S DEPUTY FERNANDO, HARRIS COUNTY SHERIFF'S DEPUTY , HARRIS COUNTY SHERIFF DEPUTY SWEETMAN, HARRIS COUNTY SHERIFF DEPUTY .

WE CONTINUE PRAYING FOR YOUR SAFETY, SO WE CAN REPORT THAT WE HAVE LOST ZERO OF OUR BRAVE MEN AND WOMEN. THE LEVEL OF COLLABORATION AND COOPERATION BETWEEN HARRIS COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE, CONSTABLE OFFICES, FIRE MARSHAL'S OFFICE , ALL OF THE 34 CITIES AND SCHOOL DISTRICTS, IT IS AN EXTRAORDINARY FEAT THAT EVERY DAY YOU ALL ACCOMPLISH, SO OUR DEEPEST AND PROFOUND GRATITUDE . REFLECTING ON OUR COMMITMENT AND IT'S NOT JUST A RESOLUTION, BUT WE SEEK TO HONOR YOU AND A COUPLE OF EXAMPLES OF HOW WE HAVE BEEN TRYING TO LIVE INTO THIS, ONE EXAMPLE IS THAT NEARLY 93 MILLION OF THE PUBLIC SAFETY BOND THAT THE PEOPLE OF HARRIS COUNTY APPROVED, 93 MILLION IS BEING INVESTED TO APPROVE THE TRAINING FACILITIES AND ITEMS THAT YOU WILL ALL BE ABLE TO USE TO CONTINUE LEARNING AND SERVING. THAT IS AN EXAMPLE.

ANOTHER EXAMPLE IS IN 2022 AND 2023 . LAW-ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS WITH SEVEN RACES AND ARE DETENTION OFFICERS IN 2023 GOT 12% AND WE ARE CURRENTLY WORKING ON A PAY EQUITY STUDY AND I KNOW MY DEEPEST DESIRE IS THAT WE ARE NOT ONLY TO HELP PAY EQUITY THROUGHOUT THE COUNTY, BUT WITH REGARD TO LAW

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THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING YOU DO WITH OUR COMMUNITIES, WHETHER IT'S STUDENTS, CITIZENS ACADEMY , NATIONAL NIGHT OUT.

ALL COMMUNITY RELATIONSHIPS THAT YOU ARE BUILDING TO FOSTER THAT TRUST AND COLLABORATION. I GET COMMENTS ABOUT IT ALL THE TIME AND I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU. YOUR BIGGEST FANS AND I HAVE SO MUCH RESPECT FOR EVERYTHING THAT YOU AND YOUR TEAM DO. MY THREE CONSTABLES ARE CONSTABLE HERMAN AND I WANT TO THANK FOR HIS DECADES OF SERVICE AND I WISH HIM THE BEST IN HIS RETIREMENT AND MY PRECINCT CONSTABLE . WHETHER IT'S HELPING WHEN THERE IS A MISSING PERSON IN OUR PARK, WHETHER IT'S HELPING IN THE PRECINCT EMPLOYEES WERE SHOT , SO MANY TIMES LATE-NIGHT, WE GOT A TIP FROM A PARENT WHO REACHED OUT TO ME ABOUT A SCHOOL SHOOTING THAT WAS GOING TO HAPPEN THE NEXT MORNING. TOOK THE CALL, HIM AND HIS TEAM WERE OUT IN MINUTES AND IT WAS A VIABLE ATTACK THAT WAS GOING TO HAPPEN THE NEXT MORNING AND IT WAS PREVENTED. I HAD FRONT LINES WITH A LITTLE GIRL AND NOW I SEE ON A FRONT-LINE BASIS WITH THE DEDICATION IS TRULY INSPIRING AND I'M DEEPLY GRATEFUL. I APPRECIATE EVERYTHING YOU DO. WE CELEBRATE YOU TODAY ON JANUARY 9TH THROUGHOUT THE YEAR. WITH THAT, I KNOW WE HAVE VARIOUS AMAZING LEADERS SIGNED UP TO SPEAK, INCLUDING OUR SHERIFF, GONZALES , CHIEF DEPUTY DONALD STEWART FROM OUR CONSTABLE PRECINCT 4, CHIEF DEPUTY JORDAN GOLF FROM CONSTABLE PRECINCT 5 AND CONSTABLE PRECINCT 1 WITH MANY GUESTS HERE TODAY. PROFOUND RESPECT AND GRATITUDE.

>> COMMISSIONER RAMSEY? >> AGAIN, ACKNOWLEDGING MUCH OF WHAT RECOGNIZED . THERE WAS AN OPPORTUNITY A WEEK AGO TO RIDE WITH THE TASK GROUP AS THEY LOOKED ON 2100 AND IT INCLUDED CONSTABLE OFFICES, SHERIFF'S OFFICE . WHEN YOU SEE FOLKS IN ACTION AND IF YOU THINK PEOPLE DON'T SPEED ON 2100, THEY DO.

SO, TO SEE THE COOPERATION AND I KNOW THE FIRE MARSHAL WORKS DILIGENTLY IN HELPING WITH COMMUNICATIONS BETWEEN ALL OF THEM , BUT I JUST WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT YOUR GUYS THAT ARE OUT THERE REPRESENTING CONSTABLE OR SHERIFF OR MANY DIFFERENT LAW-ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES , THEY SURE DO REPRESENT YOU ALL AND ALL OF US WELL. I LIKE TO REMIND PEOPLE THAT THEY TALK ABOUT HOUSTON BEING THE LARGEST CITY IN TEXAS , THE THIRD-LARGEST, GIVE OR TAKE. THE UNINCORPORATED AREA OF HARRIS COUNTY , WHICH THE PEOPLE I'M LOOKING AT HERE PRIMARILY IS LARGER THAN NOT. THERE ARE MORE PEOPLE LIVING IN THE UNINCORPORATED AREA . I ONLY SAY THAT YOU HAD A HUGE JOB AND YOU DO IT WELL AND I'M GOING TO BRAG ON YOU NOW AND LATER, SURE. YOUR PROGRAM AND I WILL GIVE THE DATA LATER . IT IS EXTRAORDINARY. THAT IS A PROGRAM BETWEEN CONSTABLES AND SHERIFF'S OFFICE AND OTHERS. THE DATA SPEAKS FOR ITSELF.

THANK YOU FOR WHAT YOU WILL DO. AS BRIONES HAS MENTIONED, I HAVE A RESOLUTION AND I WILL READ IT, BUT RETIRING HIS 40 YEARS OF SERVICE AND AGAIN TO RECOGNIZE THAT AND CELEBRATE THAT, IF YOU WILL, MEANS A LOT. THANK YOU DIRECTLY IN TERMS OF WHAT YOU DO IN MAKING A DIFFERENCE EVERY DAY.

>>

>> TO ALL OF THOSE WHO CARRY A BADGE AND GUN, THANK YOU. I HAVE HEARD THE SONG, THE WEIGHT OF THE BADGE ON TOO MANY OCCASIONS AND HOW TRUE IT IS TO PUT THOSE WORDS TO A SONG THAT REALLY SPEAK TO THE LIGHT OF WHAT IT MEANS TO BE A LAW

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FOR ALL YOU DO. >> THANK YOU GUYS.

>> GOOD MORNING. ERIC GONZALES, HARRIS COUNTY SHERIFF. GOOD MORNING, JUDGE HIDALGO AND MISSIONARY ESCORT. THANK YOU FOR BRINGING THIS FORWARD TO MY AGENCY AND PARTNERS HERE WHO REPRESENT MANY AGENCIES AND ALL OF HARRIS COUNTY LAW ENFORCEMENT. THANK YOU FOR YOUR WORDS AND SUPPORT. WE PAUSE AS A COMMUNITY TO GIVE THANKS AND EXPRESS GRATITUDE TO OUR LAW ENFORCEMENT PROFESSIONALS IN OUR COMMUNITY. THERE IS ALWAYS SOMEBODY ON WATCH AND WE ARE ABLE TO FULFILL OUR LIVES TO THE FULLEST, BECAUSE SOMEBODY DONS A UNIFORM, WHERE IS THE BADGE AND GOES OUT AND PATROLS WITHOUT A PROMISE THAT THEY MAY GO HOME TO THEIR FAMILIES. HEARING SOME OF THE LIVES WE LOST, WE REMEMBER THE ULTIMATE SACRIFICE THAT SOME HAVE MADE.

COMMISSIONER GARCIA, THANK YOU, AS WELL. THANK YOU FOR YOUR PAST LAW ENFORCEMENT SERVICE. I WANT TO THANK ALL OF YOU FOR SUPPORTING, BECAUSE IT REMINDS US OF THE IMPORTANT PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN GOVERNMENT AND LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE PROVIDING THE BEST POSSIBLE SERVICE TO OUR CONSTITUENTS AND IT'S ALSO PARTNERSHIPS THAT ARE REFLECTED HERE TODAY. WE MAY WEAR DIFFERENT UNIFORMS OR COME FROM DIFFERENT BACKGROUNDS, BUT WE ARE UNITED AND FOCUSED TO PROTECT THE COMMUNITY AND WE WORK AS ONE COLLABORATIVELY. I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR RECOGNIZING AND BEHALF OF MEN AND WOMEN OF THE HARRIS COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE, WE EXPRESS GRATITUDE FOR THOSE WHO CANNOT BE HERE TODAY, BUT WE ARE FORTUNATE TO WORK IN A COUNTY THAT SUPPORTS ITS LAW ENFORCEMENT AND WE HEAR FROM THE COMMUNITY ALL THE TIME. WE SEE IT A NATIONAL NIGHT OUT WHEN THEY COME OUT WANTING TO ENGAGE WITH LAW ENFORCEMENT. WE ARE FORTUNATE AND WE CONTINUE TO UPLIFT OUR PROFESSION AND MAKE SURE WE CONTINUE TO INSPIRE OUR NEXT GENERATION OF PROFESSIONALS . WE CONTINUE TO MAINTAIN THAT HIGH STANDARD OF OURSELVES AND RESPECTED AGENCIES AND CONTINUE TO PROTECT OUR COMMUNITY AT THE HIGHEST LEVEL. THANK YOU FOR THE RECOGNITION. THANK YOU SO

MUCH. >> THANK YOU ALL.

>> AND JUDGE. COMMISSIONER BRIONES, THANK YOU FOR BRINGING THOSE UP AND THANK YOU ALL FOR THE SUPPORT. I KNOW IS MY CHIEF OF AGENCY AND MY TEAM KNOWS HIS SUPPORT OF THE COURT MEMBERS AND I THINK THE FACT THAT YOU HAVE THAT SUPPORT , THE COMMUNITY TAKES IN THE BENEFIT OF THAT. I DO WANT TO SAY THAT THE SUPPORT YOU HAVE HAD, WHETHER IT'S THE VOTES OR PAY INCREASES, WE APPRECIATE THAT, BUT ESPECIALLY THE RESOLUTION, OUR FAMILIES. THAT IS IMPORTANT. ONE OF THE THINGS WE KNOW AS FIRST RESPONDERS IN ANY ROLES FROM YOU DO LEAVE YOUR FAMILY AND HOPE TO COME HOME AT NIGHT, THANK YOU FOR RECOGNIZING THAT. FORTUNATELY, I AM ABLE TO TRAVEL THROUGHOUT

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FOR YOUR CONTINUED SUPPORT. >> THANK YOU, CHIEF.

>> GOOD MORNING. I DON'T WANT TO SPEAK TOO MUCH, BUT I WANT TO SAY, FIRST OF ALL, I AM WITH PRECINCT 1. MEMBERS OF COMMISSIONERS COURT , WE ARE HONORED BY THIS OPPORTUNITY OF SUPPORT OF FELLOW LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS ACROSS HARRIS COUNTY , STATE OF TEXAS AND UNITED STATES. BRAVE MEN AND WOMEN PUT THEIR LIVES ON THE LINE EACH DAY TO PRESERVE QUALITY OF LIFE, KEEP PEOPLE AND THE PUBLIC SAFE AND ENHANCE OPPORTUNITIES FOR ALL. WITH THE OFFICE OF HARRIS COUNTY PRECINCT 1, APPRECIATE THE INVITATION TO JOIN YOU TODAY .

WE SUPPORT A RESOLUTION RECOGNIZING NATIONAL LAW ENFORCEMENT APPRECIATION DAY . LET US ALWAYS REMEMBER THAT EVERY MINUTE OF EVERY DAY 365 DAYS A YEAR, OFFICERS ON THE STREET ARE SERVING OUR COMMUNITY. WE PRIDE OURSELVES ON EFFICIENCY , COURTESY OF DEDICATION TO THE PEOPLE OF HARRIS COUNTY AND WE ARE ALSO DEDICATED TO WORKING WITH COMMUNITY LEADERS TO REDUCE CRIME AND INCREASE SAFETY.

LET'S SHOW SUPPORT ON THIS DAY AND EVERY DAY FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS EVERYWHERE AND HONORABLE DUTY FOR SERVING AND PROTECTING THE COMMUNITY IN WHICH THEY SERVE . THANK YOU

FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY. >> CONGRATULATIONS. THANK YOU , GUYS. HAVING TROUBLE BACK HERE. GO AHEAD.

>> GOOD MORNING , JUDGE AND COMMISSIONERS. I AM PROUD TO REPRESENT WHO IS TRAVELING BACK TO HOUSTON FROM OUT OF TOWN , AS WELL AS REPRESENTING THE MEN AND WOMEN. IT IS AN HONOR, COMMISSIONERS FOR THIS RESOLUTION. WE APPRECIATE ALL THAT YOU DO FOR US AND WE REALLY ENJOY OUR JOBS AND WHAT WE DO IN PROTECTING THE CITIZENS OF PRECINCT 4 IN HARRIS COUNTY, SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH. I AM APPRECIATIVE OF THE RELATIONSHIP THAT WE HAVE WITH THE SHERIFF AND ALL ACROSS THE COUNTY AND CITY AND KEEPING THE COMMUNITY SAFE. THANK YOU.

>> GOOD MORNING, JUDGE. I AM A CHIEF DEPUTY WITH PRECINCT 5 AND I WORKED WITH THE COUNTY FOR 33 YEARS AND IT'S AN HONOR FOR ME TO DO SO. ON BEHALF OF OUR NEW CONSTABLE, I LIKE TO SPREAD MY SINCERE GRATITUDE TO THE COMMISSION'S COURT FOR THE PASSIVE THIS RESOLUTION. THANK YOU ALL FOR RECOGNIZING ALL FIVE MEMBERS WHO LOST THEIR LIVES AND GAVE THEIR ULTIMATE SACRIFICE. ONE OF THE OFFICERS WAS OURS AND SHE IS TRULY MISSED EVERY DAY. SHE WAS A GREAT PERSON AND WE WANT TO THANK YOU AND ALL DEPARTMENTS WHO ASSISTED IN HER FUNERAL AND SERVICE. WE APPRECIATE IT. SUPPORT FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT AND ALL OF US IS TRULY . I ALSO WANT TO EXTEND THANKS FOR THE STRONG PRODUCTIVE PARTNERSHIP WITH PRECINCT THREE AND FOUR , TOGETHER WE STRENGTHEN THE COMMUNITY AND BUILD A TRUST WITH ALL OF US AND WE FORTIFIED THAT TRUST AND IT'S TO MAKE A SAFER AND MORE UNITED COMMUNITY FOR THE ONES WE SERVE, SO THANK

YOU VERY MUCH. >> THANK YOU SO MUCH AND I DON'T WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE OUR TWO NEW CONSTABLES, ALBERTON AND PHILLIPS. I APPRECIATE THE SERVICE OF CONSTABLE HEAP AND HIS PARTNERSHIP IN ALL OF THIS AND JUST KNOW THAT WE ARE VERY MUCH AWARE OF THE SERVICE THAT YOU MAKE. HOW MANY DECADES WERE

YOU A LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER? >> HOW MANY YEARS?

>> I THINK IT GOES IN THE DECADES.

>> WELL, TECHNICALLY, 40. >> WE DO REMEMBER THAT. WE DO

[00:45:05]

OFFICERS. >> WE DO HAVE A NEW CONSTABLE.

>> I SAW HIM. >> CONGRATULATIONS.

>> CONGRATULATIONS. >>

>> I HAVE SOME ISSUES. >> WELCOME TO THE JOB.

>> NEWLY ELECTED GETS ALL KINDS OF PHONE CALLS.

>> YOU REALLY DID. >> WE ARE LOOKING FOR WONDERFUL THINGS IN HARRIS COUNTY PRECINCT 7 BREAD LIKE YOU MENTIONED EARLIER , WE ASKED YOU FOR THAT MONEY. THANK YOU FOR INVITING US. I THINK COMMISSIONER BRIONES REACHED OUT TO OUR OFFICE AND WE GOT TO COME , SO THANK YOU SO MUCH.

>> THANK YOU AND CONGRATULATIONS.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH. APPRECIATE YOU. STAY SAFE.

THANK YOU AGAIN. >> THANK YOU.

>> I THINK WE HAVE ONE MORE RESOLUTION.

>> ONE MORE RESOLUTION. IT IS ITEM SIX ON THE AGENDA. THIS IS REGARDING HUMAN TRAFFICKING AWARENESS DAY. JANUARY 11TH IS HUMAN TRAFFICKING AWARENESS DAY . I WANT HARRIS COUNTY AND HOUSTON TOLEDO FOR ALL THE RIGHT REASONS, BUT THIS IS A SCENARIO WHERE WE DO NOT. UNFORTUNATELY, THE HOUSTON HARRIS COUNTY AREA IS ONE OF THE WORST PLACES WITH REGARD TO HUMAN TRAFFICKING IN THE COUNTRY AND ONE OF THE WORST GLOBALLY. IN TEXAS, THERE IS AN ESTIMATED OVER 313 -- VENTURE 13,000 VICTIMS THAT WE KNOW OF AND WHO KNOWS THE EXACT NUMBER, BUT THIS IS MODERN DAY SLAVERY AND THERE ARE SO MANY VICTIMS AND GREAT ORGANIZATIONS, NONPROFITS, PLACES OF WORSHIP, PARTNERING WITH GOVERNMENTAL INSTITUTIONS AND LAW ENFORCEMENT, SO WE ARE PROTECTING THOSE BEING VICTIMIZED AND WE WILL HEAR MORE FROM THEM MOMENTARILY. WE ARE FOCUSED ON THIS AND HAVE BEEN FOR MANY YEARS. WE WILL BE EXTRA LASER FOCUSED AS WE PREPARE FOR THE 2026 WORLD CUP , SO I KNOW WE ARE WORKING ACROSS MULTIPLE LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES AND WITH MULTIPLE LOCAL LEADERS AND DOING EVERYTHING POSSIBLE TO PROTECT FOLKS. AS A FORMER TEACHER AND MOTHER OF THREE GIRLS , THIS IS SOMETHING I THINK ABOUT ALL THE TIME, WHETHER IT'S ONLINE SOCIAL MEDIA PREDATORS OR A PARTNERSHIP IN PRECINCT AND WE BUILD GATES ALONG PARTS OF THE CORRIDOR , WHICH IS ONE OF THE WORST AREAS IN THE REGION, WHICH HAPPENS TO BE IN PRECINCT 4. I WILL TALK ABOUT THAT IN ITEM 107, BUT WE HAVE SEEN POSITIVE RESULTS IN TERMS OF THE DECREASE. FOLKS WERE RECRUITING OUR KIDS AFTER SCHOOL TO BE TRAFFICKED AND THAT IS UNACCEPTABLE. WE CONTINUE TO MAKE PROGRESS, SO THAT WE ARE COMBATING HUMAN TRAFFICKING IN OUR REGION. THERE ARE MANY OTHER EXAMPLES AND I LOOK FORWARD TO HEARING THEM FROM YOU, BUT EVEN IN OUR COMMUNITY CENTERS AND PARKS. WE PARTNERED WITH COUNCILMEMBER CARTER AND STATE OF TEXAS TO PUT UP FLYERS, QR CODES. THESE ARE SMALL EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES AVAILABLE, BUT WE KNOW THE MAGNITUDE OF THE ISSUE IS SUBSTANTIAL AND THIS IS A PROJECT WE NEED TO WORK ON IN EDUCATING CHILDREN , NEIGHBORS AND PLACES OF WORSHIP THAT WE ARE ALL HERE TO SUPPORT VICTIMS AND SURVIVORS. WITH THAT, I HOPE THAT ONE DAY WE WILL LEAD FOR THE RIGHT REASONS ON THIS ISSUE, BUT IN THE MEANTIME, AS A COMMUNITY IN UNITY, WE CONTINUE PARTNERING WITH OUR LAW ENFORCEMENT PARTNERS AND LOCAL LEADERS, NONPROFIT COMMUNITY TO KEEP MAKING PROGRESS. I KNOW WE HAVE SEVERAL GUESTS. WE HAVE DEBBIE CAMPBELL WHO IS THE INTERN CEO

[00:50:05]

>> GOOD MORNING. I AM A GABBY CAMPBELL AND WE ARE A NONPROFIT . WE SUPPORT SURVIVORS OF HUMAN TRAFFICKING. HUMAN TRAFFICKING IS HAPPENING IN OUR OWN BACKYARD. HAVING AN AWARENESS DAY IS CRUCIAL AND CREATES A MOMENT TO PAUSE, EDUCATE AND CONFRONT AN UNCOMFORTABLE TRUTH EXISTING AROUND US . IT IS NOT JUST ABOUT STATISTICS, BUT THESE ARE REAL PEOPLE WITH FACES AND REAL FAMILIES. THEY DESERVE A REAL FUTURE . IT'S NOT JUST ABOUT STATISTICS . THIS AWARENESS BRINGS HUMAN TRAFFICKING INTO THE LIGHT AND WITH THAT COMES ACTION, PREVENTION AND HEALING. AT THE LANDING, WE HAVE SEEN HOW AWARENESS TRANSFORMS LIVES AND SENDS A POWERFUL MESSAGE THAT HARRIS COUNTY WILL NOT IGNORE THIS ISSUE . WE WILL STAND UP FOR THE VULNERABLE, VOICELESS AND EXPLOITED. ON BEHALF OF THOSE FIGHTING TO END HUMAN TRAFFICKING, THANK YOU AND TOGETHER WE CAN BRING HOPE TO OUR COMMUNITY.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH. >> JUDGE HIDALGO , COMMISSIONERS , THANK YOU FOR YOUR EVERYDAY SUPPORT TO MAKING THIS COMMUNITY SAFER. I AM HERE IN SUPPORT OF COMMISSIONER BRIONES'S RESOLUTION THAT JANUARY 11 BE HUMAN TRAFFICKING AWARENESS DAY. MY NAME IS ANGELO WELTON AND I AM CHIEF OF SPECIAL VICTIMS. THE NEWLY ELECTED HAS SELECTED ME BECAUSE OF MY PASSION TO HELP THOSE THAT ARE MOST VULNERABLE AMONGST US. THOSE WHO DO NOT HAVE A VOICE . I AM IN SUPPORT OF THIS RESOLUTION AND AM STANDING HERE READY AS PART OF THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S OFFICE TO PARTNER WITH YOU, THE COMMISSIONERS COURT TO HELP IN THIS RESOLUTION AND MANY IN THE FUTURE. HUMAN TRAFFICKING IS NOT JUST A TERM OF ART. THESE ARE PEOPLE, SUCH AS THE ONE I KNEW. I CALL HER WENDY. SHE WAS 15 WHEN SHE LEFT HER ABUSIVE HOME AND SHE LEFT FOR A BULLY .

THIS BOY WAS A 24-YEAR-OLD MAN AND HE TOLD HER THAT HE LOVED HER, PROTECTED HER AND THAT SHE WAS BEAUTIFUL. HE DROVE HER INTO THE HEART OF HOUSTON WHERE SHE KNEW NO ONE AND DIDN'T HAVE ONE SPECK OF CLOTHING THAT DIDN'T BELONG TO HIM OR ONE ARTICLE THAT DIDN'T BELONG TO HIM. WHEN HE SAID YOU NEED TO SELL YOUR BODY, SHE DID IT. WHEN SHE WAS SO LOW ON DIGNITY AND HAD NO FREEDOM AND TRIED TO TELL HIM NO, HE HIT HER FOR THE FIRST TIME. WENDY AND MANY OTHERS LIKE HER DO NOT HAVE THE VOICE NECESSARY. THIS RESOLUTION WILL HELP EMPOWER AND EDUCATE OUR COMMUNITY. OUR COMMUNITY TO BE THE VOICE FOR HER. I DO NOT STAND HERE HOPELESS. I STAND HERE FULL OF HOPE IN THIS NEW YEAR THAT WITH THIS PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S OFFICE AND YOU, THE COMMISSIONERS IN OUR COMMUNITY. WE MAKE EVERY DAY SAFER THAN THE DAY BEFORE.

>> GOOD MORNING. I'M THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF CHILDREN'S ASSESSMENT CENTER. THANK YOU FOR USING THIS POWERFUL FORUM TO BRING AWARENESS TO THIS REALLY HORRIBLE PROBLEM. YOU MAY BE SHOCKED TO KNOW THAT THE AVERAGE AGE OF A CHILD BEING LURED INTO TRAFFICKING IS 12 YEARS OLD. CHILDREN ACCOUNT FOR HALF OF THE TRAFFICKING VICTIMS IN HARRIS COUNTY. SADLY, A RECENT STUDY SHOWED THAT 26% OF TRAFFICKING CASES WERE CONFIRMED TO BE FAMILIAL. CHILD SEX TRAFFICKING IS CHILD ABUSE AND WE AT THE CHILDREN ASSESSMENT CENTER PROVIDE SERVICES DESIGNED TO HELP SURVIVORS RESTORE THEIR LIVES. WE ARE COMMITTED TO THE FIGHT AND WE BELIEVE THAT EDUCATION AND KNOWLEDGE ARE THE MOST IMPORTANT TOOLS IN THE BATTLE. CHILDREN BE TAUGHT TO RECOGNIZE

[00:55:05]

THERE ARE A LOT OF REASONS FOR THAT. WE HAVE MAJOR EVENTS AND I BELIEVE ONE OF THE REASONS IS BECAUSE WE HAVE SUCH AMAZING LAW ENFORCEMENT. WE WOULDN'T KNOW ABOUT THEM IF THEY WENT OUT THERE. I WANT TO THANK LAW ENFORCEMENT PARTNERS . THAT IS THE HARDEST WORK. IT IS DANGEROUS WORK AND THEY ARE OUT THERE DAY IN AND OUT BREAKING UP BROTHELS , INTERCEPTING THE ONLINE PREDATORS AND DOING STINGS , CHAT OPERATIONS EVERY DAY. WE COULDN'T DO THE WORK WITHOUT THEM. I WANT TO THANK YOU AND THE D.A.S OFFICE FOR THE OPEN NOT ONLY ARRESTING THE BAD GUYS. I THANK YOU BRINGING ATTENTION TO THIS TODAY.

>> THANK YOU. >>

>> IT'S A BLESSING TO BE HERE. I'M THE CEO OF UNITED AGAINST HUMAN TRAFFICKING. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE HERE TODAY TO TALK ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF THIS RESOLUTION.

WE VALUE AND STARTED THIS IN THE PRAYER TALKING ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF UNITY AND COMING TOGETHER IN OUR CITY AND COUNTY TO ENSURE THAT HOUSTON TEXAS IS PROTECTED AND MOST IMPORTANTLY AS IT RELATES TO HUMAN TRAFFICKING THAT SURVIVORS ARE PROTECTED. I TRUST AND BELIEVE THAT EVERY MEMBER OF THIS COMMISSIONERS COURT WILL MAKE SURE THAT IT HAPPENS. I TRUST AND BELIEVE THAT. WE COME TOGETHER AND LET OVER 60 ORGANIZATIONS AND COALITION DO THIS GREAT WORK. WE WORK WITH LAW ENFORCEMENT AND COMMUNITY TO ENSURE THAT THIS CONVERSATION . I'M TRULY APPRECIATIVE OF THE WORK EVERYONE HAS DONE. I TALK EVERY DAY ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF UNITY. PLEASE KNOW THAT I LOVE AND APPRECIATE THE WILLINGNESS TO COME TOGETHER AND UNITE THIS ISSUE. IT'S FOR THE LOVE OF OUR SURVIVORS. EVERY HUMAN BEING IS SUSCEPTIBLE TO BECOMING A VICTIM OF HUMAN TRAFFICKING. IT'S OUR RESPONSIBILITY FOR HUMANITY TO COME TOGETHER AND UNITE AND FIGHT AGAINST HUMAN TRAFFICKING. FROM MY HEART TO YOURS, THANK YOU FOR ALL YOU ARE DOING. MY CALL TO YOU AND I'M ASKING FOR US TO REALLY WHERE THE RUBBER MEETS THE ROAD, DO THE WORK TO ELEVATE THIS CONVERSATION FOR ALL SURVIVORS OF HUMAN TRAFFICKING. I LOVE YOU AND APPRECIATE ALL

YOU DO. >> THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH. FOR THE COORDINATION, AS WELL. WE HAVE FOLKS IN THE ROOM WHO ARE CONSTANTLY WORKING ON THIS AND WE HAVE NEW FACES. I THINK IT'S AN INTERESTING OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO SEE HOW WE CAN WORK TOGETHER EVEN BETTER, SO COUNT US IN IF THERE IS SOME AND WE ARE MISSING THAT WE SHOULD BE PAYING ATTENTION TO. PLEASE LET US KNOW. MY TEAM IS HERE AND I WILL MAKE SURE THEY TAKE THE OPPORTUNITY TO CHATTER OR FIGURE OUT THE BEST NEXT STEPS ARE AND I MENTIONED THIS. A LOT OF US DON'T TALK ABOUT THIS . OF COURSE, IT'S MORE PERVASIVE THAN WE THINK. AS A CHILD SEXUAL ASSAULT SURVIVOR, I'M VERY COMMITTED TO THIS WORK AND I THINK -- I WISH I HAD SOME THING. I APPRECIATE YOU GUYS. IT'S NOT JUST A TALKING POINT FOR ME AND I KNOW IT'S VERY . WE WILL SEE. WE WILL SEE WHAT WE CAN DO. THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU. KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK.

>> NOW, WE TAKE PICTURES WITH THE HONOREES.

[01:25:03]

>> I'M GOING TO GO ALL OVER ANY DISCUSSION LISTS AND WE

[01:25:09]

[Appearances before court]

[01:25:20]

[01:25:24]

[01:25:29]

>> FIRST, JACOB SPEAKING ON ITEM FIVE. YOU HAVE ONE MINUTE.

[01:25:34]

>> HAPPY JANUARY, FOLKS. IT IS PRO-LIFE MONTH AND THE CATHOLIC CHURCH WOULD LIKE THAT TO BE KNOWN . RESPECT LIFE MONTH AND PRO-LIFE MONTH. I'M GOING TO TALK ABOUT LAW ENFORCEMENT , THEY ARE NUMBER ONE TO US, BECAUSE WITHOUT LAW ENFORCEMENT, WE WOULDN'T HAVE ANARCHY. WE DON'T WANT TO LIVE IN ANARCHY AT ALL. COME SATURDAY, I WILL BE WORKING AT ENERGY PARK. GO TEXANS! WE ARE GOING TO WIN!

>> THANK YOU. >> ALSO, GO TEXANS, BECAUSE WE ARE GOING TO WIN AND I'M WORKING AT THE PARK . WHAT ELSE I HAVE TO SAY IS, LET ME THINK. ENERGY PARK AND I'M GETTING NERVOUS. I'M HAVING A BRAIN PART. WELL .

>> THANK YOU. YOUR TIME IS UP. >> BARBARA SPEAKING ON ITEMS EIGHT, 13 AND 169. YOU HAVE ONE MINUTE.

>> THANK YOU. THREE ISSUES. FIRST, ITEM EIGHT, THE ARBA FUNDS FOR SHORT-TERM FUNDING FOR RECOVERY. IT IS SNEAKY TO TRY TO HIDE THE MONEY FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AND USE IT DOWN THE ROAD FOR OTHER PURPOSES. YOU MAY GET CAUGHT IN THE FED MAY CALL IT BACK FROM YOU. NOT A SMART MOVE. ITEM 13, SOLAR PANELS DON'T MAKE SENSE IN A COUNTY IN WHICH WIND CAUSES SO MUCH DAMAGE. HAVE YOU NOT SEEN PHOTOS OF THE THOUSANDS OF SOLAR PANELS DESTROYED LAST YEAR BY WIND ? EVEN IF THEY WERE EFFECTIVE , AND THEY ARE NOT, THIS DOESN'T INCLUDE THE COSTS OF MAINTENANCE AND REPAIR, WHICH ARE SIGNIFICANT. SOLAR PANELS WILL DO NOTHING IN TERMS OF RESILIENCE . LIBRARIES ARE NICE, BUT THEY ARE NOT CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURE. 169, THE PROJECT WAS SUPPOSED TO HAVE

BEEN A PILOT PROJECT . >> THANK YOU. YOUR TIME IS UP.

>> THANK YOU. >> BILLY SPEAKING ON ITEM 321.

ALSO, WHEN HER LAN ART . CLAIMANT

>> GOOD MORNING, COMMISSIONERS . THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SHARE THE ACCOMPLISHMENTS OF THE FLOOD RESILIENCE TASK FORCE IN ITS THIRD YEAR . OVER THE PAST YEAR, SEVERAL GENERAL MEETINGS , STRATEGIC AND TO ADDRESS THE CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS . A KEY MILESTONE WAS TO IMPROVE EXPECTATIONS , REFINE THE EXPECTATION FOR FLOOD CONTROL DISTRICT , DEVELOPED THE FLOOD RESILIENCE PLAN ASSURING ALIGNMENT WITH COMMUNITY PRIORITIES. WE ALSO HOSTED WEBINARS ON FLOOD ISSUES TO GUIDE DEVELOPMENTS. THIS FRIDAY, WE WILL HOLD OUR WORKSHOP -- I'M SORRY . THIS FRIDAY, WE WILL HOLD OUR WORKSHOP . THE EQUITY AND

[01:30:06]

YOU. >> CAN YOU STATE YOUR NAME FOR

THE RECORD? >> I'M BILLY. THE CHAIR OF THE HARRIS COUNTY FLOOD RESILIENCY TASK FORCE. I WAS NEWLY APPOINTED BY THE GROUP. I DON'T KNOW WHY. I GUESS THEY HAD FAITH IN ME , SO YEAH. THAT'S MY NAME.

>> DO YOU HAVE ANY FEEDBACK AS TO THE EXTENT TO WHICH THE CF RTF FEELS HEARD BY THE DEPARTMENTS OR ANYTHING YOU THINK NEEDS TO CHANGE IN TERMS OF THE SETUP?

>> PERSONALLY , I AM WONDERING AND I PONDER THIS EVERY DAY.

HOW MUCH OF OUR RECOMMENDATIONS VIA THE ANNUAL REPORT DOES COMMISSIONERS COURT ACTUALLY TAKE INTO CONSIDERATION? I DO UNDERSTAND THAT THERE WERE ISSUES ON EQUITY , ESPECIALLY IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD . I HAVE NOTED IN NORTHEAST HOUSTON IN COMMISSIONER ELLIS'S PRECINCT. THE OTHER ISSUE WILL HAVE TO BE EXACTLY HOW MUCH MONEY WE HAVE SPENT ON EXISTING PROJECTS AND WHICH PROJECTS ARE ACTUALLY EXCAVATOR READY. I LIVE BY THE WATERSHED AND WE HAVE NOT SEEN ANY HEAVY MACHINERY BEING DONE.

IT IS STILL IN THE PLANNING STAGE OF EVALUATION AND THINGS LIKE THAT. I DO KNOW ON THE WEST AND FURTHER WEST ALONG THE AREA , THERE HAVE BEEN MAJOR IMPROVEMENTS. AS A MATTER OF FACT, I DO BELIEVE THAT THEY DID COMPLETE A PROJECT . I WAS TALKING TO AN ENGINEER AND THEY TOLD ME THAT THE CONSTRUCTION WAS DONE AND WOULD LESSEN THE SEVERITY OR MITIGATE THE ISSUES THAT WE HAVE WITH LETTING OVER HERE ON THE EAST SIDE OF THE WATERSHED . STILL, I TALKED TO MY NEIGHBORS ALL THE TIME AND THEY ALWAYS TELL ME THAT THEY WOULD FEEL MORE SECURE IF THEY KNEW THE CONSTRUCTION WAS ACTUALLY GOING ON TO PREVENT OR MITIGATE THE FLOOD ISSUES THAT WE HAVE IN OUR NEIGHBORHOODS.

>> THANK YOU. IN YOUR REPORT, WHAT'S THE BEST TO REFER TO IN TERMS OF YOUR PROPOSALS? WHICH PAGE ON YOUR REPORT AS BEST TO TURN TO TO SEE YOUR RECOMMENDATIONS?

>> I'M NOT SURE. I'M NOT SURE WHICH PAGE THAT WOULD BE IN

REFERENCE TO THAT. >> WE WILL FOLLOW UP. I WILL HAVE MY TEAM FOLLOW-UP TO HAVE THE FLOOD CONTROL DISTRICT UPDATE US ON THE RECOMMENDATIONS AND WHAT HAS BEEN TAKEN AND WHAT ISN'T. I'M NOT PICKING ON TINA OR DR.

PETERSON OR THE DEPARTMENT, BUT IT'S SIMPLY THAT A LOT OF FOLKS HAVE OPINIONS ABOUT HOW WE SHOULD BE HANDLING OUR FLIGHT CONTROL POLICY. THERE IS NOT ENOUGH FUNDS TO SATISFY EVERYBODY, BUT YOU ARE THE VENUE BY WHICH WE ARE REALLY TAKING THAT AND TO BE REPRESENTATIVE OF THE COMMUNITY, SO I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT FOR YOU TO HAVE A SENSE OF, ARE WE TAKING IT OR ARE WE KNOW AND WHY? HOW DOES

THAT SOUND TO YOU? >> THAT'S FEASIBLE. YES.

UNDERSTOOD. >> WOULD THAT BE OKAY TO DO? COMMISSIONER ELLIS HAS JOINED US. GOOD MORNING.

>> GOOD MORNING. I WILL HAVE MINA REACH OUT, AS WELL. I KNOW THEY CHATTED AND BE HAPPY TO VISIT WITH HIM.

>> HI, DR. PETERSON. HAPPY NEW YEAR.

>> HE WOULD CERTAINLY BE HAPPY TO DO THAT.

>> COMING BACK WITH RECOMMENDATIONS AND SAYING WHAT YOU THINK. IF IT'S NOT FEASIBLE, IT'S FINE. I THINK

[01:35:07]

SO MUCH FOR YOUR WORK. >> I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE AND

CALLING IN AND REMOTE IN. >> I APOLOGIZE.

>> MAYBE IT'S BECAUSE I'M SO MUCH BETTER LOOKING.

>> GREETINGS AND SALUTATIONS, JUDGE AND COMMISSIONERS COURT.

I'M HERE ON BEHALF OF MYSELF. I'M HERE TO TALK ABOUT THE CRUEL AND UNUSUAL PUNISHMENT BY THE HARRIS COUNTY JAIL OCTOBER 29, 2024 . I'M STILL DEALING WITH THE EFFECTS OF THAT , AS WELL AS OTHER INMATES, AS WELL. THE PARTICULAR MEDICAL SYSTEM PROVIDED BY THE HARRIS COUNTY AND PROTOCOLS THAT THEY TAKE WITH HELPING INDIVIDUALS . I WILL BRING UP THE CLOTHING AND LINEN AND HOW THEY ARE EXCHANGED . THE GARMENTS AND WHAT THEY GIVE US. CREATING AN UNSANITARY ENVIRONMENT FOR US

TO LIVE IN. >> I DIDN'T HEAR THE

ADJECTIVE. THEY ARE WHAT? >> EXIGENT. THEY ARE DIRTY AND FILTHY. WE CAN'T SUSTAIN A 2000 CALORIE DIET IN THERE.

THANK YOU SO MUCH. I WILL HAVE MY STAFF VISIT WITH YOU BEFORE YOU LEAVE. MONITOR AND EACH HAVE ONE MINUTE.

>> GOOD MORNING, JUDGE. I AM ON THE STORAGE LINE AND I AM A HARRIS COUNTY APPROVED STORAGE AND I'M IN THE BUSINESS FOR 35 YEARS. FOR 29 OF THOSE YEARS. DECEMBER 4TH, WE RECEIVED AN EMAIL FROM THE HARRIS COUNTY DEPARTMENT SAYING TO COME PICK UP OUR TEMPORARY PERMIT AND FEBRUARY 28 . AFTER FEBRUARY 28, WE WILL BE OUT OF BUSINESS. THEY WILL BE OUT OF BUSINESS AND ARE ADVISING US TO GO TO HARRIS COUNTY ENGINEER DEPARTMENT AND GET A PERMIT. WE WENT THERE TO GET A PERMIT AND HARRIS COUNTY SAID THAT THEY DO NOT GIVE PERMITS INSIDE THE CITY OF HOUSTON. THERE IS NO ONE AT HARRIS COUNTY GIVING US ANY KIND OF CLARITY. GIVING US ANY KIND OF CLARITY ON WHAT WE NEED TO DO , BECAUSE WE CAN'T GET APPROVED BY HARRIS COUNTY ENGINEER DEPARTMENT. EVERYTHING THAT WE HAVE DONE AND I HAVE THE CITY OF HOUSTON PERMIT . THERE ARE SERVING THE 70 OF US THAT THEY ARE PLANNING ON PUTTING OUT OF BUSINESS FOR VERY 28TH. GO TO HARRIS COUNTY ENGINEER DEPARTMENT AND GET A PERMIT THAT DOES NOT GIVE PERMITS INSIDE THE CITY.

>> WHERE IS YOUR LOT LOCATED? >> 11 101 --.

>> I WILL HAVE SOMEONE IN MY OFFICE VISIT WITH YOU, SO WE

CAN TRY TO COMPLETE THIS. >> THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH. >> ROSS COLLINS SENIOR AND CHRISTOPHER JENKINS . YOU EACH HAVE ONE MINUTE.

>> GOOD MORNING. JUDGE AND COMMISSIONERS, MY NAME IS ROSS COLLINS SENIOR. FIRST OF ALL, LET ME THANK YOU FOR HAVING THESE FEW WORDS. I CAME HERE AS A PRIVATE CITIZEN TO TALK ABOUT

[01:40:05]

>> THANK YOU. SOMEONE FROM MY STAFF WILL VISIT WITH YOU.

THANK YOU FOR COMING. >> THANK YOU, SIR.

>> THANK YOU. THANK YOU SO MUCH.

>> HELLO, COMMISSIONERS COURT. I'M CHRISTOPHER JENKINS , COMMUNITY ORGANIZER. I'M GOING TO SPEAK ON SOME PAST ISSUES THAT I ENVISIONED THAT WILL BE DIFFERENT MOVING THROUGH 2025.

IN THE LAST COMMISSIONERS COURT, I SUGGESTED THAT THEY SHOULD REQUEST AN AUDIT AND CONSTABLES ON PRECINCT 5. THOSE SERVICES ARE NO LONGER NEEDED, BECAUSE THEY NO LONGER HOLD THOSE POSITIONS. LACK OF ATTENTION AND MAY CAUSE RESIDENTS IN THE COMMUNITY TO SUFFER WITHOUT PROPER RESOURCES. IT'S TIME TO MOVE FORWARD AND COME UP WITH REAL SOLUTIONS WITHOUT. COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT AND SOCIAL SERVICES WITH THE WRAPAROUND PROGRAMS AND PART OF THE PROGRAMS BE LIMITED AND IT WILL LIMIT OUR REACH FOR THOSE AND THE COMMUNITY IN NEED. HOW DO WE COME UP WITH STRATEGIC COMPREHENSIVE PLAN WITHOUT THE DATA INFORMATION OR TRANSPARENCY? IT'S WRITTEN ON RECORD FOR THE LACK OF ACCOUNTABILITY WITHIN THE D.A. .

>> YOUR TIME IS UP. >> GO AHEAD.

>> LAST THING, THE OVERSIGHT . IF I WANT TO CHANGE, AND GO OUT AND WE VOTE. THANK YOU. HAVE A GREAT DAY.

>> THANK YOU. >> NON-AGENDA SPEAKERS MCLEAN AND BROWN. YOU EACH HAVE ONE MINUTE.

>> WE HAVE -- I WANT TO MAKE SURE I UNDERSTAND. I.T. IS SAYING THAT IT IS ON THE WEBEX. ARE THEY ABLE TO SEE IT? YOU HAVE TO MANUALLY DO IT? THAT'S FINE. ALSO, IF YOU CAN HEAR US, BEFORE YOU SAY SOMETHING, TURN ON THE CAMERA, SO WE KNOW. I

THINK THAT'S THE ISSUE HERE. >> IF YOU WANT ME TO LET THEM KNOW TO TURN IT ON ON THIS SIDE.

>> APPARENTLY THAT'S THE ISSUE ON THE WEBEX.

>> THANK YOU. THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER.

>> GOOD MORNING, JUDGE TURNED AND COMMISSIONERS. WE ARE HERE WITH ALL RESPECTS TO RELIGIONS AND WALKS OF LIFE. SADLY, FOR ME TODAY, WE ARE MEETING UNDER THESE CIRCUMSTANCES. FIRST AND FOREMOST, I WOULD LIKE TO THANK ALL OF YOU FOR APPROVING THIS WONDERFUL PROGRAM CALLED EARLY REACH PROGRAM, WHICH MY FAMILY AND I HAVE PARTICIPATED FOR ALMOST A YEAR. SINCE BECOMING A MOTHER, I HAVE ALWAYS WANTED TO PROVIDE MY CHILDREN WITH A LOVING, STABLE AND EDUCATIONAL ENVIRONMENT WHILE ALSO HAVING A SPIRITUAL FOUNDATION. THANKFULLY, I WAS LED TO LITTLE EXPLORERS ACADEMY WHO ACCEPTED THE PROGRAM FOR LOW INCOME FAMILIES LIKE MINE. AFTER LEARNING OF THE SUDDEN TRANSITION, I ASKED MYSELF PLENTY OF QUESTIONS. IS MY LOW INCOME FAMILY NO LONGER DESERVING OF THE QUALITY CHILDCARE THAT THEY ARE CURRENTLY RECEIVING AT LITTLE EXPLORERS ACADEMY? ALL OF THE EARLY REACH CENTERS ARE CURRENTLY FULL WITH LESS THAN 30 DAYS TO FIND CARE. HOW WILL WE FIND A CENTER THAT WILL LOVE, CARE FOR AND TEACH MY SONS THE BEAUTIFUL VALUES AND TRADITIONS OF LIFE THAT ARE FUNDAMENTAL FOR THEIR GROWTH, HEALTH AND DEVELOPMENT. I'VE

[01:45:08]

THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU SO MUCH. MA'AM, THIS IS A NON-AGENDA ITEM, WHICH MEANS THAT I CAN'T HAVE THE SAME CONVERSATION WITH YOU. I WILL HAVE MY STAFF VISIT WITH YOU AND THE REST OF THE SPEAKERS.

>> THANK YOU. >> GO AHEAD.

>> BRIDGES TO EMPOWERMENT. AN ORGANIZATION FOCUSED ON RESTORATIVE JUSTICE, FAST, SAFE AND NONDISCRIMINATORY PRACTICES FOR CONSTITUENTS IN HARRIS COUNTY. WE ARE A MEMBER ORGANIZATION OF HOUSTON IN ACTION AND I AM HERE TO BRING TO YOUR ATTENTION A DISPARITY WITHIN THE CONTRACTUAL PRACTICES OF IMMIGRANT ORGANIZATIONS IN HARRIS COUNTY PARKS AND RECREATION. WHILE I'M SURE THIS IS NOT WITHIN TENSIONS, IT IS IMPERATIVE THAT I APPEALED TO COMMISSIONERS COURT TO INITIATE A MORE INCLUSIVE PRACTICE , WHICH ALLOWS ORGANIZATIONS LIKE FOOTBALL ASSOCIATION WHO YOU ALL WILL HEAR SOON AND OPPORTUNITY -- A MEMBER ORGANIZATION OF THE BRIDGES TO EMPOWERMENT TO SECURE A CONTRACT AND PERMANENT PARK TO NOT ONLY PRACTICE THEIR CULTURE, BUT ALSO TO HAVE A SPACE TO CONGREGATE AND BUILD UP THEIR COMMUNITY WITH A SPECIAL FOCUS ON EDUCATION ON IMMIGRANT, MIGRANT AND REFUGEE RIGHTS. I DO WANT TO HIGHLIGHT PRECINCT FOR , GABBY AND DALLAS ASSISTANT AND OUR IMMEDIATE NEEDS. THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER BRIONES . WE HAVE A PARK THAT HAS BEEN ABANDONED FOR THE PAST EIGHT YEARS THAT IS IN PRECINCT FOR AND WE ARE WILLING TO INVEST IN THAT PARK , MAINTAIN THAT PARK AS LONG AS WE ARE ALLOWED TO USE IT ON A

LONG-TERM BASIS. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU.

>> GO AHEAD. >> BRANDON AND NON-AGENDA SPEAKERS, YOU EACH HAVE ONE MINUTE.

>> GREETINGS, JUDGE AND COMMISSIONERS. I'M THE ORGANIZER , AND ORGANIZATION FOR AFRICANS , IMMIGRANTS IN AMERICA WHERE WE ORGANIZE ACTIVITIES , WHICH IS THE MAIN IDENTITY OF OUR CULTURE. I WANT TO THANK PRECINCT 4 FOR ASSISTANCE THAT YOU HAVE BEEN GIVING FOR SECURING A PARK WITH AFRICANS AND PRACTICE THE MOST IMPORTANT ASPECT OF OUR CULTURE, WHICH REGULAR SEASONS. WHY I'M CONFIDENT THAT HARRIS COUNTY BY REGION SHOWS US HE IS DILIGENTLY WORKING TO SECURE A LOCATION TO HOST THE MOST RECENT UPCOMING TOURNAMENT ON JANUARY 19 , 2026 AND FEBRUARY 9 AND THE 23RD FROM 4:00 TO 9:00 . IT IS IMPERATIVE THAT WE SECURE FOR 2025 SEASON . WE ARE LOOKING FORWARD TO WORKING WITH YOU AND HOPE THAT PRECINCT 4 AND ENTIRE COMMISSION SEES US IN THIS CRUCIAL IMMIGRATION

ISSUE. >> THANK YOU. THANK YOU.

>> RAYMOND ?

[01:50:01]

>> GOOD MORNING, COMMISSIONER. I WANT TO TALK ABOUT THE AFRICAN IMMIGRANTS . WE ARE PLAYING IN ONE PACK , BUT DUE TO THE FACT THAT WE ARE PLAYING IN ONE PACK, BUT AFTER SOME TIME . PLAY FOR ALL FOOTBALL -- SORRY. PLAYING FOOTBALL, BUT THE SEASON JUST STARTED. HAVE A PLACE, SO WE BEGGED THE COMMISSIONER IF HE CAN GIVE US A PACK.

>> THANK YOU. YOUR TIME IS UP.

>> THANK YOU. >> YOUR NAME FOR THE RECORD?

>> MY NAME IS RAYMOND. I'M FROM HOUSTON, TEXAS, BUT RIGHT NOW IN EL PASO, TEXAS. I CAME ALL THE WAY TO SUPPORT HIM FOR HIS DECISION. I'M TRYING TO HELP THEM OUT IF YOU CAN WORK WITH HIM AND GIVE HIM A PARK THAT WE CAN WORK TOGETHER AND OUR COMMUNITIES TO USE THE PARK TO PLAY AND HAVE FUN DURING SUMMER TIMES AND FAMILY TIMES, VACATION TIME. MANY ACTIVITIES BRING PEOPLE TOGETHER. WE ARE TRYING TO GET EVERYONE TO PARTICIPATE AND COME PLAY SOCCER IN SOME PEOPLE'S DREAMS IS PLAYING PROFESSIONAL SOCCER. I WOULD APPRECIATE IT IF YOU GIVE THE OPPORTUNITY AND CHANCE TO HAVE PARK FOR ALL

COMMUNITIES. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU.

>> MOHAMMED AND DEANNA .

>> GOOD MORNING, JUDGE AND COMMISSIONERS. I AM THE OWNER AND DIRECTOR OF LITTLE EXPLORERS ACADEMY LOCATED IN KLEIN, TEXAS IN DISTRICT 3. OUR EARLY REACH SCHOOL HAS PROUDLY PROVIDED HIGH QUALITY CHILDCARE AND STRONG ACADEMIC FOUNDATION.

WE HAVE NURTURED OVER 50 CHILDREN AND FOSTERED A SUPPORTIVE COMMUNITY FOR OVER 100 PARENTS AND GRANDPARENTS.

THE UNEXPECTED NEWS THAT WE ALL RECEIVED ON NEW YEAR'S EVE THROUGH AN EMAIL WAS VERY DISAPPOINTING FOR OUR COMMUNITY. WE LEARNED THAT OUR CONTRACT WAS NOT GOING TO BE RENEWED WITH EARLY REACH. FROM ITS INCEPTION, THE EARLY REACH PROGRAM HAS HAD ITS FLAWS, BUT UPROOTING CHILDREN AND FAMILIES WHO HAVE BEEN STABILIZED IS NOT DOING THE RIGHT THING FOR THESE FAMILIES AND IT IS WRONG. MY PARENTS ARE SAD, DISAPPOINTED , ANGRY AND FEEL VICTIMIZED . THEY WERE ONLY GIVEN TWO CHOICES . IN 30 DAYS, YOU EITHER PAY TO THE FULL TUITION TO STAY AT LITTLE EXPLORERS OR YOU BE PLACED IN A LOWER -- THANK YOU. PLACED IN A LOWER PERFORMING SCHOOL THAT IS SUBPAR TURLEY -- LITTLE EXPLORERS ACADEMY. WHAT KIND OF CHOICE IS THIS FOR PARENTS TRYING TO HELP? THESE FEDERAL FUNDS ARE SUPPOSED TO BE HELPING THESE CHILDREN , FAMILIES AND CHILDCARE CENTERS TO STAY OPEN. ALL EARLY REACH SCHOOLS ARE CURRENTLY FULL AND ONLY FOUR SCHOOLS AND ONE OF WHICH IS MINE AND ONE OTHER EARLY REACH SCHOOL QUALIFIED TO EVEN IN THE EARLY REACH PROGRAM. THAT IS THE Z.I.P.

CODE 77379, WHICH IS A DESERT AREA. THIS DECISION IS NOT IN THE BEST INTEREST OF THESE CHILDREN AND FAMILIES, AS YOU HAVE ALREADY HEARD FROM ONE OF MY PARENTS AND THEY ARE DEVASTATED WITH THE THOUGHT OF LEAVING. PLEASE HAVE THE COUNTY, UNITED WAY AND BEAKER RIPLEY STAFF RECONSIDER THIS BAD DECISION THAT'S GOING TO ULTIMATELY HURT THE CHILDREN

AND THEIR DEVELOPMENT. >> BY NAME IS MOHAMMED YOURSELF . -- YUSUF. WITH A LITTLE BIT OF CHANGES TO THE OFFICERS IN

[01:55:03]

>> THANK YOU. >> HELLO JUDGE AND COMMISSIONERS. MY NAME IS GLADYS STANLEY AND I AM THE DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS AT LITTLE EXPLORERS ACADEMY. I AM HERE TO EXPLORE THE URGENT AND DEEPLY FELT NEEDS OF OUR PARENTS AND COLLABORATION WITH THE EARLY REACH PROGRAM., WHILE THEY CANNOT BE HERE IN PERSON VOICES RESONATE THROUGH SO NUMEROUS EMAILS SENT TO EARLY REACH LEADERSHIP. THESE HEARTFELT MESSAGES PAINT A PICTURE OF THE POSITIVE IMPACT A LITTLE EXPLORERS ACADEMY HAS ON THEIR CHILDREN AND FAMILIES.

THEY CONSISTENTLY HIGHLIGHT THE HIGH QUALITY NURTURING CARE PROVIDED BY OUR STAFF, WITNESSING FIRSTHAND THE SIGNIFICANT DEVELOPMENT AND SOCIAL GROWTH THAT THEIR CHILDREN HAVE EXPERIENCED SINCE JOINING OUR ACADEMY THROUGH THE EARLY REACH PROGRAM. I IMPLORE YOU TO TRULY HEAR THE VOICES OF

THESE PARENTS. >> GO AHEAD .

>> WHO HAVE EXPRESSED CONCERN AND DISTRESS OVER THE DISRUPTION THIS CONTRACT DECISION POSES TO THESE CHILDREN AND THEIR FAMILIES AND THE WELL-BEING AND STABILITY OF THE FAMILIES. THANK YOU FOR HEARING ME.

>> THANK YOU. >> SABRINA -- AND JASMINE SENEGAL . YOU EACH HAVE TWO MINUTES.

>> GOOD MORNING JUDGE AND COMMISSIONERS. I AM HERE IN SUPPORT OF I AM HERE TO TALK TO YOU ABOUT THE ASSOCIATION FOR THE SOCCER PARK

>> HELLO JUDGE AND COMMISSIONERS. I AM JASMINE SENEGAL AND I AM AN EARLY REACH PARENT AND I AM ASKING THAT THE EARLY REACH CONTRACT BE RENEWED FOR LITTLE EXPLORERS ACADEMY.

THEY HAVE MADE SUCH A HUGE IMPACT ON THE GROWTH OF MY SON AND HIS DEVELOPMENT IN A SHORT AMOUNT OF TIME. THE DIRECTORS AND STAFF ARE TRULY AMAZING AND THEY ARE PASSIONATE ABOUT WHAT THEY DO. THEY HAVE PLANNED EVENTS THAT INCLUDE PARENT INVOLVEMENT AND IT IS MORE THAN JUST CHILDCARE TO ME. LITTLE EXPLORERS ACADEMY IS MY SUPPORT AND COMMUNITY. THERE CHRISTIAN APPROACH IS UNIQUE AND SPECIAL AND I AM SURE IT WILL BE HARD TO FIND SOMEONE ELSE. IT IS MY PRAYER THAT EARLY REACH WILL CONTINUE THEIR CONTRACT WITH LITTLE EXPLORERS SO OTHER FAMILIES HAVE HOPE FOR A BRIGHTER FUTURE. THANK YOU TO DIRECTORS GLADYS AND -- IT TRULY MEANS A LOT.

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

>> A LESS CASE MORE SKI -- ALEXI SWIRSKY .

[02:00:16]

>> IMS -- MY NAME IS ALEXIS SWIRSKY AND I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW MORE ABOUT THE QUALIFICATIONS OF THE RESPONDERS IN THE PROGRAM. POLICE OFFICERS TRAINED TO WORK WITH THE MENTALLY ILL ARE MOST EFFECTIVE IN THIS SOUNDS LIKE AN EMPLOYMENT PROGRAM AT THE EXPENSE OF THE MENTALLY ILL.

ARE THESE IN-HOUSE EMPLOYEES GOING TO BE PROFESSIONALS WITH EXPERIENCE IN POLICE WORK ANSWERING CALLS FOR THE MENTALLY ILL? WHAT EDUCATIONAL BACKGROUND DO THEY HAVE? THE CLASSES NEED TO BE ATTENDED BY TRAINED PROFESSIONALS BUT TOO MANY HAVE THE GOAL OF PROVIDING EMPLOYMENT TO PEOPLE THAT ARE NOT DESIGNED TO MEET THE NEEDS OF CITIZENS. PUBLIC SAFETY IS ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT ISSUES AND PROVIDING EMPLOYMENT CANNOT. MENTALLY ILL PEOPLE CANNOT THINK STRAIGHT AND --

>> YOUR TIME IS UP. >> I JUST WANT TO SAY THAT I DON'T CARE HOW MUCH THEY CHANGE , IN THIS BUILDING I GO TO THE CONSTABLES AND THEY EVICTED THE PROPERTY OF WHOEVER GAVE IT TO THEM. I JUST WANT TO TELL YOU THEY ARE GOING TO KILL

ALL OF YOU. >> SPEAKER JASMINE --.

>> GOOD MORNING JUDGE AND COMMISSIONERS. I AM HERE ON BEHALF OF LITTLE EXPLORERS ACADEMY. I WANT TO MENTION A FEW THINGS THAT I DID NOT HEAR MY PEERS AND DIRECT HERS SAY. I GOT IT -- APPROVED AT EARLY REACH IN AUGUST. ON NEW YEAR'S EVE WE DID GET AN EMAIL TO SAY THAT EARLY REACH WAS NOT GOING TO MOVE INTO PHASE TWO AND WITHOUT THAT PROGRAM AND ALL OF THE AVAILABLE PLACES DID NOT HAVE TWO PLACEMENTS SO I WOULD HAVE TO DO TWO LOCATIONS MORE THAN AN HOUR AWAY FROM MY HOME.

LITTLE EXPLORERS ACADEMY IS SUPER AWESOME AND I HAVE NEVER MET A FAMILY DAY CARE ANYWHERE . THEY INVOLVE THE PARENTS AND MY CHILDREN HAVE LEARNED MANY, MANY WORDS SINCE THEY STARTED .

IN THE DEVELOPMENT IS VERY APPARENT AND IT WOULD BE A GOOD IDEA FOR THEM TO RECONSIDER BUT LIKE YOU SAID WE WILL MEET

[Public Hearings]

>> THANK YOU. >> JUDGE, THE LAST SPEAKERS ARE BEFORE PUBLIC HEARING ON ITEM 312.

>> 312. NEXT WE HAVE PUBLIC HEARING FOR ITEM 312 ON PAGE 37. I WILL OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING FOR APPROVAL OF THE REVISION OF THE SUBDIVISION PLAT ENTITLED WHILE WILDWOOD GLENN SECTION 1 PARTIAL RE-PLAT NUMBER TWO

>> GOOD MORNING. MY NAME IS THERE ARE CONCERNS , THE CLIENT HAS BEEN IN COMMUNICATION WITH THE HOA TO WORK THINGS OUT WITH ANYTHING THE CONTRACTOR HAS TO

[02:05:03]

THE OWNER WILL WORK WITH THE HOA AND I AM HERE TO ANSWER

QUESTIONS IF YOU HAVE ANY. >> THANK YOU.

>> GOOD MORNING. I AM HERE TO REPRESENT THE INTEREST OF WILDWOOD GLEN HOA. I DO NOT KNOW WHY THEY HAVE SWITCHED FROM CITY COMMISSIONERS COURT TO HEAR, PERHAPS TO SUBVERT REGULATIONS. -- IS DENIED PER CHAPTER 42. THEY FILED A STATEMENT THAT THE REVISION DOES NOT INTERFERE WITH THE ESTABLISHED RIGHTS -- AND WE HAVE AGREED TO THIS REVISION.

IT HAS BEEN ALTERED AND IS SUBJECT TO RESTRICTIONS. JUST LIKE MANY OF THE LIES THE COMPANY HAVE TOLD. WHAT THIS COMPANY HAS PROVEN IS THAT THEY ARE NOT WILLING TO COOPERATE AS A NEIGHBOR AND WILL BRING TRAFFIC INCLUDING NOISE, NUISANCE, POLLUTION AND MATERIALS TO THE PRIVATE HOMES LESS THAN 200 FEET FROM UNDERGROUND TANKS WITHOUT COMPENSATION FOR USING OUR PRIVATE ROAD WHICH IS OUR RESPONSIBILITY TO MAINTAIN. PLEASE DO NOT ALLOW THIS COMPANY TO DISREGARD DEED RESTRICTIONS BY LIGHTING UP PUBLIC HOMES , LAYING DOWN CONCRETE WITHIN 1 FEET OF LOT LINES. DAMAGING OUR PRIVATE ROADS, LANDSCAPING AND MORE.

THEY HAVE NOT BEEN IN CONTACT WITH US.

>> YOU WILL HAVE TO GUIDE ME ON THIS. I SEE A NOTE FROM THE COUNTY ENGINEER THAT THE APPROVAL TODAY WAS INITIALLY LISTED AS THE REVISION TO SUBDIVISION PLAT WILDWOOD GLEN BUT WHAT THEY WANTED THE ITEM TO READ IS REQUEST FOR A PUBLIC HEARING FOR CONSIDERATION OF THE REVISION SO WE ARE NOT APPROVING OR DENYING THIS. DO WE NEED TO CALL HE PUBLIC

HEARING AGAIN? >> IT OCCLUDES APPROVAL AND DISCUSSIONS SO YOU SHOULD BE FINE.

>> BUT THE POINT IS THAT WE ARE SIMPLY ASKED TO HEAR THE PUBLIC AND THAT WE NOT MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE PLAT TODAY.

>> YOU ARE RIGHT, JUDGE. THIS WILL ALLOW STAFF TO REVIEW FOR COMPLIANCE WITH STATE AND LOCAL --.

>> SO YOU WILL BE HEARING FROM THE COUNTY ENGINEERING OFFICE.

ANY OTHER DISCUSSION ? OKAY. I NOW CLOSE THIS PUBLIC HEARING AND IT IS A NO ACTION ITEM. ANY OTHER SPEAKERS?

[Departments (Part 2 of 2)]

>> THAT IS ALL, JUDGE . >> THANK YOU EVERYONE THAT CAME TO SPEAK. NOW LET ME GO OVER THE CORRECTIONS AND OTHER ITEMS. ITEM NUMBER EIGHT. I KNOW THAT HAS BEEN PULLED AND I WOULD LIKE TO DISCUSS THAT SO WE WILL PUT THAT ON A SPECIAL LIST. ITEM 16. FIRST, LET ME GET TO KNOW ACTION. HERE IS A CORRECTION. 126. CHANGE 19% TO 0% . -- TO DEVELOP HARRIS COUNTY DOWNTOWN FACILITIES , AND THE CONTRACTED GOAL, 0%.

NOW, ANY OTHER CORRECTIONS? THAT IS IT . SO, THE NO ACTION

ITEMS. >> JUDGE, ONE QUESTION. THROUGH THE COUNTY AUDITOR WE WOULD LIKE TO REQUEST THAT ITEM 32

WAS WILL BE NO ACTION. >> I WAS ABOUT TO GO THROUGH

[02:10:04]

ITEM 130, THE COUNTY ENGINEER REQUESTS NO ACTION. 159, NO ACTION. 172 , FLOOD CONTROL DISTRICT REQUESTS NO ACTION.

OR, HCD. 179 , REQUEST NO ACTION FROM THE COUNTY CLERK. AGREEMENT -- ITEM 304 , NO ACTION. DID I MISS ANYTHING ELSE IN TERMS OF NO ACTION? OKAY. LET'S GO THROUGH THE DISCUSSION LIST. WE HAVE ITEM NUMBER EIGHT, ITEM 13 FLAGGED BY COMMISSIONER RAMSEY . IT DO WE STILL NEED TO DISCUSS THAT?

>> YES . >> ITEM 14?

>> YES . >> ITEM 15.

>> YES. >> ITEM 107 .

>> YES. >> ITEM 160 , COMMISSIONER

RAMSEY . >> YES. I WOULD ALSO ADD ITEM 34. SO, ITEM 34 IS SUSPENDED APPROVAL OF CERTAIN POSITION RECLASSIFICATIONS -- IS THAT RIGHT?

>> YES. >> I AM ADDING THAT ONE TO THE DISCUSSION LIST. THEN WE HAVE 107. 160, COMMISSIONER RAMSEY.

>> YES . >> 164 .

>> YES. >> 199, COMMISSIONER RAMSEY .

>> YES . >> 235.

>> YES. >> 238. THE RECOMMENDATION IS THAT THE COUNTY ATTORNEY IS BRINGING THIS TO THE COUNTY ATTORNEY THAT ALLOWS THE COMMISSION TO REJECT OR APPROVE A SETTLEMENT. IS THAT SOMETHING THAT YOU CAN DO? I'M NOT SURE

IF THAT CAME FROM YOUR OFFICE. >> JUDGE, I WILL TAKE A QUICK LOOK AT IT. THEN I HAVE TO HUNDRED 99 .

>> YES . >> 305.

>> YES. >> 311 .

>> YES. >> FEES FOR LEGAL SERVICES

INDISCERNABLE ] >> YES.

>> WE ALREADY DID THE PUBLIC HEARING. ARE THERE ANY OTHER ADDITIONAL ITEMS THAT I AM MISSING. SHOULD I GO THROUGH

THE LIST AGAIN? >> I HAVE A QUESTION ABOUT ITEM

NUMBER 16. >> OKAY. NUMBER 16. SO, DISCUSSION OF POSSIBLE ACTION FROM THE PUBLIC CONTINGENCY FUND FOR CONTAINMENT OF CHEMICALS. WHAT IS THE

QUESTION? >> IT IS DISCUSSION, POSSIBLE

ACTION. AS WELL AS ITEM 299. >> ALL RIGHT . 299. POSSIBLE ACTION ON THE SAFETY COMMISSION .

>> WE WILL BE DISCUSSING THAT. >> BUT IT WAS FLAGGED.

>> YES. >> SO WE HAVE ITEM NUMBER

[02:15:04]

>> ONE SECOND. >> IT IS AN AGREEMENT FOR PROFESSIONAL SERVICES BETWEEN HARRIS COUNTY AND -- BEST BEST

AND KRIEGER. >> I DO WANT TO GO BACK ON THAT. SO WE HAVE ITEM 13, 14, 15 , 28, 34 , 107 , 160 , 164, 169, 199, 235, 238, 299 , 305, AND 311.

>> DURING EXECUTIVE SESSION I HAVE QUESTIONS WITH REGARD TO 311 BUT THE QUESTIONS ARE MORE APPROPRIATE FOR EXECUTIVE

SESSION. >> IS THAT OKAY?

>> SURE. AS LONG AS IT IS RELATED TO CONSULTATION WITH AN

ATTORNEY. >> YES.

>> SO LET ME MOVE IT OVER TO EXECUTIVE SESSION. SO 311, 363 AND 362 ARE FOR EXECUTIVE SESSION. ANY OTHER CORRECTIONS?

ANY MOTION ? >> SO MOVED .

>> SECOND. >> ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE .

>> AYE. >> IT WILL SHOW UP. CAN YOU

TURN YOUR CAMERA ON? >> COMMISSIONER, WE CANNOT SEE YOU. CAN YOU TURN YOUR CAMERA ON?

>> I THOUGHT I HAD IT ON. >> WE MISS LOOKING AT THAT

HANDSOME FACE. >>

>> LET ME SEE. I AM TRYING. CAN YOU SEE ME NOW?

>> WE WILL HOLD THE VOTE ON THIS. DO YOU WANT TO START THE

ITEMS OR TAKE A LUNCH BREAK? >> WE WILL TAKE LUNCH.

>>> HELLO, COMMISSIONER , ELLIS , CAN YOU HEAR US?

>> I CAN HEAR AND SEE YOU. >> LET'S TAKE THE VOTE WE LEFT OFF WITH. THAT IS ITEMS ONE THROUGH 382 WITH THE EXCEPTION OF THE ITEMS PULLED FOR DISCUSSION. ALL IN FAVOR SAY

AYE . >> AYE.

>> THE MOTION CARRIES. WE WILL START WITH THE DISCUSSION ITEMS AND THE FIRST IS ITEM NUMBER EIGHT. THE REASON I WANT TO TALK ABOUT THIS IS CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATION REACHED OUT TO ME AND THEY SAID THE CHAIRPERSON OF THE APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE HAS BEEN TALKING TO REPUBLICANS AND DEMOCRATS TO GO BACK TO THEIR DISTRICTS AND MAKE SURE THAT THE LOCAL GOVERNMENTS KNOW THAT THERE IS NO GUARANTEE THAT THE FEDERAL FUNDING THAT THEY WERE AWARDED WILL BE ABLE TO REMAIN WITH THE JURISDICTION. WE JUST RECEIVED ALL OF THIS FEDERAL FLOOD CONTROL FUNDING. WE HAVE RECEIVED FUNDING FOR INFRASTRUCTURE. WITH THE CHANGE IN ADMINISTRATION AND THE EXPENSIVE AND VERY PUBLIC GOAL , THAT IS WHAT THEY THINK IS GOING TO BE THE FIRST PLACE THAT THE NEW ADMINISTRATION COULD GO IS TO FEDERAL FUNDING THAT HAS BEEN AWARDED MORE

[02:20:01]

>> MY QUESTIONS RELATED TO THIS, THEY HAD TO DO WITH THE HANDLING OF FEDERAL FUNDS AND BEING SURE TO CROSS OUR CROSS YOUR T S AND.OUR EYES. IT APPEARED TO BE A LITTLE SQUISHY IN TERMS OF HOW THESE DOLLARS COULD BE USED AND WOULD BE USED. THEY USED THE WORD FLEX FUND. IT COULD BE MOVED FROM ONE THING TO ANOTHER THING. I KNOW THAT IS WHY THE FLEX FUND WAS SET UP BUT, AS HIGH OF A I HAVE EXPRESSED CAUTION FROM DAY ONE, WHEN YOU ARE DEALING WITH FEDERAL FUNDING AND YOU SET UP THINGS LIKE A FLEX FUND BECAUSE YOU ARE TRYING TO LEAVE YOURSELF AS MANY OPTIONS AS POSSIBLE AND HOW THE MONEY WILL BE USED I THINK WE ARE PUTTING SOME THINGS AT RISK. I AGREE WE SHOULD BE CONCERNED NOT JUST BECAUSE OF THE NEW ADMINISTRATION BUT BE CONCERNED THAT WHATEVER REQUIREMENTS ARE THAT WE DO FOLLOW THEM. WHEN YOU ARE PUTTING THINGS, AND RATHER THAN FOLLOW THE STANDARD, AS I UNDERSTAND, A FLEX POT YOU CAN SPEND THAT AFTER 2026?

>> THE FLEX FUND IS UTILIZING A LEGAL AND PROPER MECHANISM TO TAKE SOME OF THE FUNDING AND USE IT FOR A PURPOSE OUTSIDE OF ARPA SPECIFIC SO THERE ARE JURISDICTIONS, SOME CLOSE TO HERE , THAT TOOK THE ENTIRE AMOUNT AND DUMPED IT TO CREATE --. WE HAVE USED SOME ARPA DOLLARS TO ADDRESS ISSUES THAT HAVE COME UP BUT WE HAVE NOT USED IT TO PLUG ANY OTHER UNDERLYING OR EXISTING BUDGET HOLES.

>> WHY THE NAME. I FORGOT WAY , COMMISSIONER RAMSEY DOES BRING UP A GOOD POINT THAT HOW DO WE KNOW THAT THE FUNDING WILL STILL BE USED FOR THE PURPOSE IT WAS CREATED FOR.

>> FOR EACH PROJECT , AS ANY OTHER PROJECT DOOR EXPENDITURE WE BRING IT TO COMMISSIONERS COURT FOR APPROVAL SO WE DON'T GO AND MIX AND MATCH LATER. BASICALLY, THE FLEX FUND IS FUNDED BY GENERAL FUND DOLLARS THAT WERE FREED UP WHEN WE WERE ABLE TO CHARGE OTHER ELIGIBLE EXPENSES TO THE ARPA FUNDS. SO EVERYTHING MEETS FEDERAL REGULATIONS THEN THE FLEX FUND, GENERAL FUND DOLLARS HAVE GOTTEN APPROVAL FOR COMMISSIONERS COURT ON A PROJECT BY PROJECT BASIS.

>> ONE THING THAT WE DID THAT WAS DIFFERENT THAN MOST JURISDICTIONS IS MOST TREATED IT AS GENERAL FUND. WE SEGREGATED THE FUND SO THAT COMMISSIONERS COURT COULD KEEP TRACK OF THE OBJECTIVES THAT COMMISSIONERS COURT DEVELOP

[02:25:01]

WHEN ARPA WAS BEING BUILT OUT. >> COMMISSIONER ELLIS.

>> I HAVE NO PROBLEM WITH WHAT WE HAVE DONE IN THE PAST AND I THINK WE SHOULD CHECK IN WITH SOME OF THE FOLKS IN WASHINGTON THAT ADVISES AND THEN WE CAN COME BACK TO IT AND WE CAN ALSO SEE WHAT OTHER JURISDICTIONS ARE DOING AS OPPOSED TO MOVING TOO RAPIDLY TO TRY TO DO ANYTHING. I WOULD SUGGEST WE PULL THE ITEM FOR NOW AND DO SOME ASSESSMENT AND SEE IF THERE ARE MEANS FOR OTHER ACTION.

>> OKAY. COMMISSIONER GARCIA. >> JUST TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE WORKING THIS VERY DILIGENTLY BECAUSE THERE ARE A LOT OF FOLKS WATCHING THIS AND I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE DON'T LOSE THIS FUNDING AND ALSO TO FOLLOW THE GUIDELINES.

I HAVE BEEN FOLLOWING THE GUIDELINES THAT COME WITH THIS AND I HAVE BEEN TALKING WITH FOLKS THERE AND THERE ARE A LOT OF PEOPLE WATCHING THIS. WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE DOING THIS PROPERLY AND FOR THE PURPOSE OF MAKING SURE THAT IT IS USED PROPERLY, WHY NOT JUST ACCEPTED INTO THE GENERAL FUND.

>> I BELIEVE THAT WAS A DECISION THAT WAS MADE AT THE STIRRING COMMITTEE, TO KEEP IT SEGREGATED.

>> BUT WHY DOES THE FLEX FUND THEN PLAY INTO THIS?

>> BECAUSE, WHAT WE DO IS, A PARTICULAR PROJECT THAT WAS IDENTIFIED BY THE ARPA STEERING COMMITTEE, LOTS OF TIMES WILL TRY TO HAVE IT FUNDED BY THE FLEX FUND INSTEAD BECAUSE IT GIVES US MORE FLEXIBILITY AS FAR AS TO HOW LONG THE PROJECT CAN TAKE. WE WANT TO HAVE THAT FLEXIBILITY TO MAKE SURE WE HAVE A SUCCESSFUL PROJECT. THAT IS ONE OF THE REASONS WE KEEP IT SEGREGATED THEN THERE ARE THINGS THAT WE CAN ONLY FUND UNDER OUR BECAUSE ARPA GIVES US SPECIAL AUTHORITIES LIKE WASTEWATER THAT OTHERWISE CANNOT BE TOUCHED. SOMETIMES IT MAKES MORE SENSE TO MOVE IT TO FLEX FUND WITH THE GENERAL FUND BUT IT IS ALL MADE POSSIBLE BY ARPA FUNDING.

>> AND IT WAS TO MAKE SURE THAT WE COULD KEEP TRACK THAT THOSE PROGRAMS ALIGNED WITH THE ORIGINAL PRIORITY LINE FROM

COURT. >> I JUST WANTED TO, JUST TO CLARIFY. THE ARPA STEERING COMMITTEE DOES NOT ACTUALLY MAKE DECISIONS I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THE DISTINCTION IS THERE SO NOTHING GETS APPROVED OR DENIED OUTSIDE OF --.

>> FOR ALL OF THOSE REASONS THAT YOU EXPLAINED, I JUST WANT TO CAUTION BECAUSE FOLKS ARE LOOKING TO SEE IF WE WILL TRY TO BE CUTE WITH THE PROCESS AND IT COULD PUT A LOT OF THINGS IN

JEOPARDY. >> WE ARE GOING TO STAY THE

COURSE. >> IF YOU CAN TAKE A LOOK AT, LIKE COMMISSIONER ELLIS SAID AND COMMISSIONER GARCIA SAID , THERE MAY BE DIFFERENT IDEAS OF WHAT TO DO AND I DO THINK THAT THE FOLKS UP THERE KNOW WHAT THEY ARE TALKING ABOUT AND OBVIOUSLY, UNDER THIS AGENDA ITEM I DON'T KNOW THAT WE CAN DO ANYTHING OTHER THAN THE FLEX FUND.

>> SAY THAT AGAIN. >> SO THIS IS JUST ABOUT THE

FLEX FUND IT? >> YES.

>> BUT THE REASON I WANT TO HAVE THIS DISCUSSION WITH EVERYBODY IS, AND THE DIFFERENT OFFICES OF THE DEPARTMENT AND THEN WE CAN CALL ANOTHER MEETING IF WE NEED TO.

>> JUST TO ECHO THE COMMENTS OF MY COLLEAGUES I APPRECIATE

[02:30:07]

WORK. >> I WOULD SAY, COMMISSIONER BRIONES, I KNOW PEOPLE ARE CAUGHT UP IN OTHER THINGS SO I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU ALSO RECEIVE A CALL. IN MY HEAD, THE TIMELINE IS WEEKS AND NOT MONTHS BECAUSE OF THE CHANGE IN ADMINISTRATION. I TALKED WITH FISHER ABOUT THIS AND I CANNOT CALL YOU DIRECTLY SO THIS IS PUTTING ALL OF THAT OUT ON THE TABLE AS FAR AS THE TIMELINE I AM TOLD THAT WE HAVE. SO, NO ACTION ON ITEM NUMBER EIGHT. LET'S MOVE ON TO ITEM 13.

>> JUST COUPLE OF QUICK THINGS. THIS ITEM HAS TO DO WITH COMMERCIAL PIPELINE FUNDING FOR AN ADDITIONAL $3.5 MILLION FOR A TOTAL ALLOCATION OF $3.7 MILLION AND IF THIS HAS TO DO WITH INFRASTRUCTURE PILOTS INCLUDING SOLAR PANELS . THE TOTAL PROGRAM IS A LITTLE OVER $10 MILLION. IS ALL OF THAT

COMMERCIAL PIPELINE? >> YES, COMMISSIONER .

>> SO THIS IS ADDITIONAL AUTHORIZATION OF COMMERCIAL

TOTALING $10.1 MILLION? >> THIS IS THE FIRST $3.7 MILLION. THERE COULD BE LATER ALLOCATIONS. WE HAVE SPENT $200,000 SO FAR ON DESIGN AND GETTING READY.

>> THIS IS THE FIRST ROUND? >> YES, SIR.

>> THE QUESTION RELATED TO COMMERCIAL PAPER , I KNOW IT IS A FINANCING TOOL AND I AGREE WITH THE FINANCING TOOL METHOD BUT TYPICALLY I WOULD SEE THIS MORE IN LONG-TERM. I DON'T CONSIDER SOLAR PANELS IN THE 50 YEAR ROW. HOW LONG WILL WE KEEP THIS DEBT? DO WE PAY THIS OFF IN A YEAR OR TWO?

>> WE TYPICALLY PAY IT OFF IN A YEAR AND TO EITHER AS PART OF THE SETTING UP THE TAX RATE OR WE ROLL IT INTO DEBT, DEPENDING ON THE ASSET SO WE DON'T NECESSARILY SELL A BOND. WE SENT THIS AROUND PAYING IT OFF OR ROLLING IT INTO LONG-TERM

DEBT. >> I KNOW WE WILL HAVE A CONVERSATION SHORTLY ON THE COMMERCIAL PAPER POLICY AND CLEAN THAT UP A BIT BUT, DOES THE DEATH, DOES ISSUING COMMERCIAL PAPER, DOES THAT HELP US ON OUR TAX RATE DEBT ALLOCATION? IN OTHER WORDS, YOU CAN PUT IT OVER HERE IN THIS CATEGORY AND IT ALLOWS US TO COLLECT MORE TAXES?

>> IF WE ISSUE THAT WE HAVE TO PAY IT BACK.

>> SO, IT IS A METHOD THAT WE CAN GET FINANCING AND COLLECT

TAXES? >> THAT IS CORRECT. AND WE HAVE TWO TRACKS FOR COMMERCIAL PAPER. WE ARE ISSUING COMMERCIAL PAPER ON A SHORT TERM BASIS BECAUSE IT MAY NOT MAKE SENSE TO TAKE IT OUT AT A HIGHER INTEREST RATE SO WE HAVE THAT TRACK WHERE WE HAVE VOTER AUTHORIZED BONDING THAT WILL BE CONVERTED INTO LONG-TERM DEBT. THERE IS ALSO A PORTFOLIO OF DEBT THAT WE USE COMMERCIAL PAPER FOR SO LIKE THE 880 HERTZ SYSTEM AND RADIO AND WHERE WE USE COMMERCIAL PAPER AND FOR ME

[02:35:04]

ALL OF THE THINGS THAT THEY USE TO PAY FOR THEMSELVES, WE ARE

PURCHASING ON THEIR BEHALF. >> WE CAN CONTINUE THAT ON THE POLICY SIDE. I JUST WANTED TO ASK THOSE QUESTIONS.

>> MOTION BY COMMISSIONER RAMSEY AND SECOND BY COMMISSIONER GARCIA. THE MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY .

>> JUDGE, IS THIS 50? >> YES.

>> ITEM NUMBER 14, COMMISSIONER RAMSEY.

>> WE HAVE A DATA FELLOWS PROGRAM . AND THIS ALLOWS US TO BRING IN PEOPLE THAT MIGHT NOT HAVE EXPERIENCE AND THIS WILL ALLOW THEM TO GAIN EXPERIENCE. THEY HAVE INCREDIBLE POTENTIAL BUT MAYBE NOT A LOT OF EXPERIENCE. IS THAT CORRECT?

>> I THINK IT IS THAT WE ARE TRYING TO RECRUIT DATA ANALYST FOR THE COMMUNITY AND GIVE THEM A PASS TO DOING GOOD WORK FOR DEPARTMENTS. A LOT OF THESE FOLKS HAVE ADVANCED DEGREES IN

DATA SCIENCE. >> WE ARE HIRING A SPECIFIC SKILL SET AND THE IDEA BEHIND IT, WE STARTED A SIMILAR PROGRAM IN BALTIMORE, WHEN WE HIRE DISEASE ANALYST THEY GO TO DEPARTMENTS THAT DON'T KNOW HOW TO USE THEM OR HOW TO WRITE THE JOB DESCRIPTION. THEY DON'T KNOW TO ASK THE RIGHT INTERVIEW QUESTIONS THAN THEY ARE ALONE ESSENTIALLY SO WE WANTED TO MAKE SURE THERE WAS SOME SORT OF COHORT SO THEY CAN LEARN FROM ONE ANOTHER AND FROM THE DEPARTMENTS. I THINK ALL BUT ONE WAS KEPT BY THEIR DEPARTMENT AND WE HIRED THAT

ONE IN THE LAST COHORT. >> I KNOW IT IS A $535,000 INITIATIVE BUT YOU CAN MAKE THE CASE THAT YOU JUST DID ON ENGINEERING, HEALTHCARE, PICK A TOPIC. I AM JUST CURIOUS WHY WE CHOSE THE DATA FELLOWS AND NOT THE ENGINEERING FELLOWS OR THE

HEALTH FELLOWS. >> I THINK IT IS A GREAT MODEL THAT WE CAN ADOPT FOR SIMILAR POSITIONS.

>> OKAY. THAT IS MY QUESTIONS. >> IS THERE A MOTION ON ITEM 14. WE HAVE A MOTION BY COMMISSIONER GARCIA AND A SECOND BY COMMISSIONER BRIONES . ALL IN FAVOR, AYE.

>> THE MOTION CARRIES, 4-1 WITH COMMISSIONER RAMSEY AGAINST .

NOW WE ARE ON ITEM 15. COMMISSIONER RAMSEY.

>> ITEM 15 IS RELATED TO SUPPORT OF O'DONNELL. JUST AS A QUICK REMINDER, IN 1228, THE CIRCUIT COURT HELD THAT FEDERAL COURTS MUST ABSTAIN FROM REVISING STATE BAIL PROCEDURES.

FEDERAL CONSENT DECREE ENTERED INTO BETWEEN O'DONNELL AND HARRIS COUNTY IS MUTE AT THIS POINT AND SHOULD HAVE ALREADY BEEN HALTED. I JUST WANTED TO UNDERSTAND THAT WE ARE NOT DOING THIS BECAUSE A MANDATE . WE ARE DOING THIS BECAUSE THIS IS WHERE WE WANT TO SPEND THE MONEY. I AM NOT SURE THAT IS CLEAR TO ME. DO WE KNOW HOW MUCH WE SPENT ON O'DONNELL

TODAY ? >> I DON'T HAVE IT OFF THE TOP OF MY HEAD BUT I CAN GET THAT.

>> I THINK THAT IS IMPORTANT. I MAY BE THE ONLY ONE THAT HAS THIS QUESTION BUT, HOW MUCH HAVE WE SPENT AND HOW MUCH MORE IS COMMITTED TO BE SPENT? THOSE ARE THE QUESTIONS RELATED TO

O'DONNELL. >> WE WILL GET YOU THAT

INFORMATION. >> COMMISSIONER ELLIS.

[02:40:06]

>> THERE WAS WORK THAT WE DID ON O'DONNELL.

] >> MOTION BY COMMISSIONER ELLIS AND A SECOND BY COMMISSIONER BRIONES ON ITEM 15. ALL IN

FAVOR? >> AYE .

>> THE MOTION CARRIES, 4-1. THANK YOU.

>> POST-ISSUANCE COMPLIANCE POLICY FOR TAX-EXEMPT BONDS AND COMMERCIAL PAPER.

>> AGAIN, CONTINUING THE CONVERSATION . WE ARE ADDING TO THE POLICY , YOU ARE NOT CREATING IT YOU ARE ADDING TO ?

>> I WILL ASK MY DEPUTY AMY PRATT TO ANSWER THAT .

>> WE ARE NOT CREATING ANY POLICY. IT HAS BEEN IN EXISTENCE FOR SEVERAL YEARS, WE BRING IT TO YOU EVERY YEAR FOR YOU TO APPROVE ANNUALLY AND WE JUST MADE SOME MINOR

ADJUSTMENTS. >> IT IS A MAJOR TOOL THAT THE COUNTY USES JUST ON THIS COURT AGENDA . NOT LOOKING BACK AT THE OTHER PREVIOUS ONES, JUST ON THIS COURT AGENDA ON COMMERCIAL PAPER , THERE ARE REQUESTS RELATED TO 24,592,000

-- 24,000,592 $892,000. >> HOW LONG A PARTICULAR ITEM OR PERSON BUYING SOFTWARE OR REINVESTING IN A THAT WILL BE THERE FOR 50 YEARS, ALL OF THAT IS PERTINENT WHEN YOU'RE TRYING TO MAKE DECISIONS ON MANAGING YOUR DEBT, MANAGING YOUR COMMERCIAL PAPER WHICH PART OF IT GOES OVER INTO BONDS AND OTHER ISSUES . I AM ASSUMING WE HAVE A FAIRLY ROBUST PROGRAM FOR VETTING THAT , WHAT GETS PAID OFF AND WHAT

GETS PUT INTO LONG-TERM. >> THAT IS CORRECT, COMMISSIONER. WE HAVE DONE TRAININGS FOR ALL OF THE PRECINCT AND DEPARTMENT STAFF. WE HAVE ALL OF THESE ITEMS GOING THROUGH MY STAFF, TO THE COUNTY ATTORNEY AND MANY OF THE LARGER TICKET ITEMS GO TO BOND COUNSEL FOR THEIR REVIEW IF IT COMES UP . WE WANT TO MAKE SURE WE ARE USING THE RIGHT FINANCIAL TOOL FOR THE RIGHT THING AND IT HAS ALLOWED US TO BE VERY PROACTIVE AND FRANKLY EXPAND OF DEPARTMENT CAPACITY BECAUSE THEY ARE NOT SPENDING MONEY ON THIS INCLUDING THE PRECINCTS THAT ARE NOW FINANCING SOME OF THE HIGHER LEVEL, HEAVIER DUTY EQUIPMENT AND VEHICLES, ET CETERA , THAT USED TO COME OUT OF THE GENERAL FUND .

>> ANY CLARITY YOU CAN PROVIDE WITH BUREAUCRATIC EFFORT I WOULD APPRECIATE WHEN IT COMES TO SHORT-TERM, LONG-TERM , I THINK FROM WHAT I CAN UNDERSTAND, WE HAVE 400 MILLION IN OUTSTANDING COMMERCIAL PAPER. WE HAVE A CAPACITY OF 2.5 BILLION . THOSE ARE SOME BIG NUMBERS .

>> THAT IS JUST GENERAL FUND, RIGHT?

>> 2.5 BILLION IS FLOOD CONTROL TOLLROAD COUNTIES, EVERYBODY.

>> WHICH, AGAIN THAT COMES THROUGH HERE.

>> WE HAVE BEEN WORKING WITH THE FINANCIAL ADVISORS ON A DEBT PORTFOLIO FOR OURSELVES SO WE CAN COME AND BE MORE PROACTIVE ABOUT THIS IS HOW MUCH DEBT WE CAN ABSORB BY MAINTAINING THE TAX RATE LOWERING THE RATE, INCREASING THE RATE BASED ON THE BEST INFORMATION WE HAVE PRAYED WE PRESENT THAT , MAYBE IN MARCH WE CAN COME PRESENT THAT.

>> DOES IT IMPACT THE TAXES? IT DOES IMPACT THE TAXES. THERE IS KIND OF A CAP, NOT A CAP ON THIS DEBT OTHER THAN WHAT I

JUST DESCRIBED. >> I BELIEVE THE CAP IS $.80

AND WE ARE AT FOUR CENTS. >> FOR THE GENERAL FUND FOR COUNTY IT IS $.80, FOR FLOOD CONTROL IT IS 40

>> THAT IS A BIG NUMBER. THE BURDEN OF WE NEED TO BE GOOD STEWARDS OF HOW WE GET OUT OF DEBT BECAUSE ONCE YOU ARE IN IT IT IS HARD TO GET OUT OF IT. THE LAST QUESTION AND I AM DONE. IS THERE AN ISSUE WITH BONDS DATING BACK TO 2015 THAT

[02:45:05]

>> WE DO HAVE ALL VOTED AUTHORITY FROM 2015 THAT HAS NOT BEEN SPENT YET. IF COMMISSIONERS ASKING FOR FUNDS FOR THE ROADS , WE ARE GIVING THEM THE 2015 OLD BONDS FIRST BEFORE THEY ARE ALLOWED TO GO INTO THE 2022 BONDS.

>> THAT IS A PRECINCT DECISION?

>> CORRECT. >> WHICH YOU ARE ALL GOOD WITH

WHAT WE ARE DOING? >> CORRECT. ONE OTHER LAYER, BEFORE WE GO ISSUE THE PROGRAM OR BOND IT IS REVIEWED BY AG.

WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO EXPLAIN THINGS IN THE BEST POSSIBLE WAY BEFORE THEIR RULINGS AND WE HAVE GONE THROUGH THE PROCESS OF GOING AND LIQUIDATING SOME OF THE OLDER DEBT THAT WE HAVE BEEN INFORMED IS NO LONGER VALID. WE DO GO THROUGH THE EXERCISE OF LOOKING AT THE DEBT PORTFOLIO, WHAT IS VALID AND HAD WE GET RID OF IT SO IT IS NOT PART OF OUR BOOKS.

>> THANK YOU, DANIEL. >> MOTION BY COMMISSIONER RAMSEY ON ITEM 28. SECONDED. ALL IN FAVOR ? MOTION CARRIES

5-0. >> JUST A QUICK QUESTION, WHO IS IN CHARGED OF ADMINISTERING THE DOLLARS ?

>> IT IS OCA. >> OKAY. I WAS LIKE IT'S BEEN A WHILE SINCE I HEARD HOW IT WAS GOING. THAT MAKES ME FEEL

BETTER. >> YES, MA'AM. WE CAN PRESENT AN UPDATE, I DON'T REMEMBER WHEN THE LAST ONE WAS. I WILL CHECK WITH STAFF AND SEE WHEN WE CAN GET READY TO PRESENT TO

THE COURT. >> I AM ALSO VERY PROUD OF THE SETTLEMENT AND WHATEVER THE LAST UPDATE WAS, WAS A GOOD ONE. I DO NOT WANT TO CAUSE YOU GUYS, AS HE SAID UNNECESSARY YOUR CREDIT BURDEN , IF IT IS POSSIBLE --

>> WE ARE STILL UNDER SETTLEMENT, IS THAT CORRECT ? WE DO HAVE A SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT .

>> YES, WE DO. >> BINKY PRU THANK YOU.

>> SO THEN ITEM 28 WE PASSED, ITEM 34, COMMISSIONER GARCIA.

APPROVAL PROCESS FOR CERTAIN POSITIONS RECLASSIFICATIONS.

>> THANK YOU. DOES THE SUSPENSION OF THIS POLICY APPLY ONLY TO DEPARTMENTS THAT REPORT TO YOUR OFFICE ?

>> LET ME ASK DANIEL. >> IT IS A COUNTYWIDE. I HAVE WORKED WITH HRT ON THIS. THE REASON WHY WE DECIDED TO ASK FOR THE SUSPENSION IS TWOFOLD. ONE COME OF THE VOLUME OF WORK IS SLOWING DOWN OPERATIONS, WHICH IS NOT GOOD FOR ANYBODY.

TWO , A LOT OF THE POSITIONS ARE BEING RE-CLASS DO NOT HAVE EXISTING JOB DESCRIPTIONS, OR THEY MAY HAVE A JOB DESCRIPTION FOR ONE POSITION OUT OF THE SEVEN THEY HAVE IN THE DEPARTMENT. HRT IS HAVING TO GO FROM SCRATCH LOOKING AND TRYING TO NORMALIZE THAT POSITION AGAINST OTHER POSITIONS ACROSS OTHER COUNTIES ALL OF WHICH HAVE A VERY BROAD AMOUNT. KIND OF BROAD SPECTRUM OF WHAT IS INCLUDED. SOMEBODY MAY CALL A POSITION A CLERK, EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT, ADMIN ASSISTANT AND THEY ARE ALL DOING THE SAME WORK, WHERE DO YOU PICK THE SALARY ? OUR HOPE IS THAT THE END OF THE SALARY STUDY THAT WE ARE ABLE , WITH THERE BEING QUALITY JOB DESCRIPTIONS THAT THE PROCESS WILL BE MORE OF A RUBBER STAMP. ALL THAT BEING SAID, ALL OF THIS WILL BE TRANSMITTED TO COURT AND IT WILL CONTINUE TO BE REVIEWED BY HRT AND OMB TO MAKE SURE WE ARE NOT HAVING ISSUES WITH , OR ANYTHING ELSE WHERE WE ARE PUTTING OURSELVES IN A BAD POSITION.

>> I UNDERSTAND IT WILL MAKE THINGS WORK FASTER IN THE FUTURE, HOW WILL THIS IMPACT THE WORK WE ARE TRYING TO DO

WITH THE PAID DISPARITY? >> THE PAID DISPARITY IS THE REAL WORK. ONCE WE GET THAT DONE THIS PROCESS WILL BE A LOT MORE MEANINGFUL FOR EVERYBODY.

>> EVERYTHING WILL BE -- YOUR OFFICE WILL MONITOR THIS ALONG WITH HRT AND THEN COME TO COURT FOR APPROVAL AND THERE WILL BE PARTICULAR ATTENTION GIVEN TO THINGS IMPACTING SB 23?

>> THAT'S CORRECT. >> HOW LONG DO WE EXPECT THIS

POLICY TO BE SUSPENDED? >> DO YOU WANT TO JUMP AND?

>> THE HUMAN RESOURCES IN TOWN --

>> WE CANNOT HEAR YOU . >> WE CAN HEAR YOU , BUT THE

[02:50:04]

>> YES. HUMAN RESOURCES, ERICA OWENS, HUMAN RESOURCES AND TALENT, WE EXPECT THIS POLICY TO LAST UNTIL THE PAY INEQUITY STUDY IS COMPLETED. ONCE THAT IS COMPLETED I THINK WE WILL BE IN A BETTER POSITION TO HAVE SOME TYPE OF PROCESS TO REVIEW

ALL OF THESE. >> HOW LONG DO WE EXPECT THAT

TO LAST? >> HOPEFULLY THE PAY AND EQUITY STUDY WILL HAVE SOMETHING IN PLACE BY AT LEAST AUGUST THAT

WE CAN START WORKING WITH. >> THANK YOU. MOVE ON THE ITEM.

>> WE HAVE A I MOTION ON ITEM 34 BY COMMISSIONER GARCIA AND SECOND BY COMMISSIONER RAMSEY. ALL IN FAVOR. MOTION CARRIES 5-0. LET'S MOVE ON TO ITEM 107, COMMISSIONER BRIONES.

>> THANK YOU. ITEM 107 IS REGARDING GATES . WE TALKED EARLIER ABOUT HUMAN TRAFFICKING AND HUMAN TRAFFICKING AWARENESS, THIS WAS A PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN HOUSTON POLICE DEPARTMENT PRECINCT 4 AS WELL IS A SOUTHWEST MANAGEMENT DISTRICT. THIS ITEM IN PARTICULAR IS A TRI-PARTY AGREEMENT. THESE GATES HAVE BEEN IN EFFECT SINCE FEBRUARY OF LAST YEAR. IT WAS SIX GATES THAT HAVE BEEN PUT, AS I MENTIONED THERE WERE SOME SCHOOLS AND THEY WERE APPROACHING THEM TO BE TRAFFIC. THIS WAS A DEEP PROBLEM ACROSS THE COUNTY. THIS CORRIDOR WAS A PARTICULAR HOTBED UNFORTUNATELY OF THIS CRIME. WORKING WITH HPD, THEY WERE DOING OVERTIME PROGRAM TO ADD ADDITIONAL PERSONNEL IN THIS AREA , ONLY THROUGH CERTAIN AREAS BECAUSE OF LIMITED BUDGETS THEY WERE NOT ABLE. THEY REACHED OUT TO ALICE LEE , WHO IS MY WONDERFUL CHIEF OF STAFF BECAUSE SHE WORKED AT THE SOUTHWEST MANAGEMENT DISTRICT . THE PRECINCT FOR ROAD AND BRIDGE CREW THEY BUILT THESE GATES IN PARTNERSHIP WITH HPD , IT IS SAVING APPROXIMATELY 720,000 OVERTIME COSTS FOR HPD. THIS IS A WOOD FOR GOOD GOVERNMENT IN TERMS OF LEVERAGING TAXPAYER RESOURCES AND THE POWER OF PARTNERSHIPS. MORE IMPORTANTLY, IT IS A WIN FOR PUBLIC SAFETY. WE HAVE BEEN STUDYING AND MONITORING THE CRIMES IN THIS IMMEDIATE AREA BUT ALSO LOOKING FOR DISPLACEMENT. LOOKING AT THE DATA OVER A YEAR , IN A TWO-MILE RADIUS AROUND THIS PARTICULAR GATES THAT ARE FIXED, THERE HAS BEEN APPROXIMATELY 37% REDUCTION.

THERE MIGHT BE MULTIPLE FACTORS DRIVING THAT, BUT WE ARE SEEING AN INCREASE IN PUBLIC SAFETY, ESPECIALLY AROUND THOSE SCHOOLS. WE LOVE THESE PARTNERSHIPS, WE WELCOME THESE IDEAS AND WE APPRECIATE HPD REACHING OUT TO ALICE. I LOOK FORWARD TO REALLY BUILDING ON THIS MOMENTUM SO WE CAN KEEP PRODUCING THESE -- REDUCING THESE HORRIFIC NUMBERS. I AM PROUD OF THIS TRI-PARTY AGREEMENT, I LOOK FORWARD TO BUILDING A FROM A GOVERNMENT PERSPECTIVE AND PUBLIC SAFETY PERSPECTIVE. I MOVE ITEM 107 AS PRESENTED.

>> MOTION BY COMMISSIONER BRIONES , SECOND BY

COMMISSIONER GARCIA. >> ONE COMMENT I WANT TO MAKE IS, GOOD WORK . THIS USED TO BE PRECINCT 3 . WE ONLY STARTED WITH SOME SIGNS JUST TO LET PEOPLE KNOW IT WAS NOT LEGAL, LET THE JOHN'S NOTE WAS NOT LEGAL FOR THEM TO SLOW DOWN AND DO THEIR AFTER OUR ACTIVITIES. THANK YOU FOR EVEN ADDING THAT ADDITIONAL FOCUS ON IT. JUST KNOW, IN TALKING TO OUR SCHOOL DISTRICTS YOU MENTIONED THE CHILDREN , IT IS HAPPENING AND EVERYONE OF OUR SCHOOL DISTRICTS . THERE ARE PEOPLE THAT ARE IN SCHOOLS , THEY HAVE APPLE PHONES , THEY ARE IN THERE SOLICITING, THEY ARE ENTICING CHILDREN , ANYTHING WE CAN DO , THIS IS THE MOST VISIBLE CASE OF HUMAN TRAFFICKING THAT YOU CAN HAVE. THANK YOU FOR DOING THIS AND I

SUPPORT THE MOTION. >> THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER. IF I COULD ADD ONE MORE THING, I WANT TO THANK THE LOCAL BUSINESSES . THEY HAVE BEEN GREAT PARTNERS. ONCE WE UNITE WE CAN GET MORE DONE. THANK YOU, COLLEAGUES FOR YOUR

SUPPORT. >> MOTION BY COMMISSIONER BRIONES AND SECOND BY MR. GARCIA. ALL IN FAVOR . IN THE

OPPOSED X >> I AM FOR IT NOT AGAINST IT.

>> MOTION CARRIES 5-0. ARE THEY UP YET? WHAT ARE THEY LOOK

LIKE? I WANT TO SEE IT. >> THEY LOOK LIKE GATES, THERE

[02:55:03]

ARE SIX OF THEM . >> IT IS JUST TO MAKE IT HARDER

FOR THEM -- >> MAKES DROPPING OFF IN THE CORRIDOR MORE TIGHT. WE CAN OPEN THEM WHEN NEEDED.

>> THIS IS AMAZING. THANK YOU. THAT WAS ONE OF SEVEN. LET'S MOVE ON TO 160 FLAGGED BY PRECINCT 3.

>> AGAIN , THIS IS THE, I THINK THE DEPARTMENT OF ECONOMIC EQUITY AND OPPORTUNITY THAT WILL HAVE A MASTER PLAN. THE MASTER-PLANNED BUDGET LOOKS LIKE TO BE $450,000 FOR HIRING ERNST AND YOUNG TO DO THIS. THEY DID OUR STRATEGIC FIVE-YEAR PLAN . ARE WE GOING HAVE TO GO BACK AND SPEND MONEY ON EVERY DEPARTMENT? EVEN THOUGH WE HAVE A MASTER PLAN? ONE, CLEARLY, ERNST AND YOUNG HAS A GREAT REPUTATION AND THEY CHARGE ACCORDINGLY. THERE MIGHT BE A MORE COST-EFFECTIVE WAY TO ACCOMPLISH THE SAME THING, KNOWING YOU HAVE A GOOD STRATEGIC PLAN , I AM JUST NOT SURE $450,000 IS NECESSARY.

APPARENTLY YOU ALL DO . >> YES, SIR. I THINK STELLA GONZALES IS ON AND SHE IS EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR FOR THE EEO.

ONE OF THE THINGS THAT THEY HAVE BEEN DOING IS THEY HAVE BEEN TRYING TO START THE STRATEGIC PLAN EARLIER FOR WE STARTED THE COUNTYWIDE ONE, THEY DECIDED TO WAIT AND MAKE SURE WHATEVER THEY DO FITS IN UNDERNEATH COUNTYWIDE STRATEGIC PLAN. I THINK ONE OF THE REASONS ALSO THERE MIGHT BE AN ADDITIONAL COST OR HIGHER COST THAN YOU WOULD EXPECT FOR STRATEGIC PLAN FOR THE DEPARTMENT IS THE NUMBER OF OUTSIDE ENTITIES THAT DEO WORKS WITH, I WILL LET ESTELLA TALK ABOUT WHAT THEY ARE TRYING TO ACCOMPLISH THE IT STELLA.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH. GOOD AFTERNOON JUDGE AND COMMISSIONERS . THIS IS SOMETHING WE HAD STARTED, I DID WANT TO WAY TO MAKE SURE WE WERE NOT DOING ANYTHING THAT CONFLICTED WITH A STRATEGIC PLAN. WE DID USE THE VANDERPOOL PROCESS TO DO THIS AND SCORED ACCORDINGLY THE PROPOSALS OF THE VENDORS. THE DEPARTMENT STARTED IN 2021 , NEVER HAD A STRATEGIC PLAN. WE ASKED FOR ONE BEFORE IN THE MEETINGS, WE TALKED TO ALL YOUR STAFF ABOUT IT, IT WAS A BIG GOAL OF MINE, I WANTED SOMEONE WHO COULD LEAD THIS WORK AND I AM GLAD THE COURT GAVE US THE POSITION OF A CHIEF COURT OFFICER WHO STARTED WITH OUR DEPARTMENT AND LEADING THIS WORK. ALSO HAD THE CAPACITY TO DO DEEP ENGAGEMENT WITH OUR STAFF AND COMMUNITY STAKEHOLDERS. THAT WILL BE A BIG PART OF THIS WORK AND DO THINGS LIKE SET ORGANIZATIONAL CULTURE VALUES, TAKE A LOOK INTO THE HISTORY AND THE GROWTH OF THE DEPARTMENT, THOSE ARE JUST SOME OF THE THINGS THAT WE WANT TO ACCOMPLISH. ALSO, IMPLEMENTATION PLAN. THEY WANT TO MAKE SURE WE ARE IMPLEMENTING THE THINGS THAT ARE IN THE STRATEGIC PLAN THAT ALIGNED WITH THE STRATEGIC PLAN AND ADD VALUE, INCLUDING MAKING SURE WE ARE CHARGING ENOUGH FOR COMPLIANT SERVICES. WE DO HAVE ILA'S AND MO USE , THE TEAM HAS BEEN GROWING SINCE 2021 AND WITH NEW PROJECTS AND HAVE THIS NEW TIME TO FIGURE OUT IF WE ARE CHARGING ENOUGH SO THAT THE COUNTY IS GETTING THE MONEY BACK FOR THE COMPLIANT SERVICE THAT WE ARE DOING LIKE THE PORT OF HOUSTON AND HARRIS HEALTH FOR EXAMPLE.

>> COMMISSIONER ELLIS. >> I JUST WANT TO COMPLEMENT THE DEPARTMENT. WE ARE THE LAST URBAN COUNTY IN THE COUNTRY TO SET UP MANY OF THE PROGRAMS . ALTHOUGH THE COUNTY TALKED ABOUT IT FOR A LOT OF TIME AND BRAGGED ABOUT WHAT OUR RECORDS WERE, WE DID NOT SEEK THE DATA. IT IS A VERY IMPORTANT DEPARTMENT AND IT IS ADMIRABLE THAT THEY WERE GOING TO DO A STRATEGIC PLAN AND IN SOME WAYS THEY WANTED TO DO IT EVEN BEFORE WE WERE OPEN FROM THE COUNTY SITE. I WOULD BE HAPPY

TO MAKE THE MOTION. >> MOTION BY COMMISSIONER ELLIS SECOND BY COMMISSIONER GARCIA. ALL IN FAVOR. ANY OPPOSED?

MOTION CARRIES 4-1 . >> THAT WAS 160. LET'S MOVE ON

[03:00:03]

>> JUST A QUICK COMMENT . WE ARE HAVING A CONFERENCE, I THINK IT IS THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT THAT IS HAVING WANT.

IT IS AT THE MARRIOTT MARQUIS , THAT IS NOT THE MOST ECONOMICAL PLACE IN THE WORLD TO HAVE ONE . $100,000, AT LEAST ON ITEM 164 . THERE ARE OTHER COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH IT. THE ROOMS THERE ARE OVER $300 A NIGHT . WOULD THERE BE A BETTER WAY TO SELECT A MORE COST-EFFECTIVE WAY FOR THE COUNTY AND THE ATTENDEES TO HAVE A CONFERENCE RATHER THAN AT THE MARRIOTT

MARQUIS? >> I BELIEVE INTERIM EXECUTIVE

DIRECTOR BARTON IS ON THE LINE. >> WE CANNOT HEAR YOU, YOU

MIGHT BE ON MUTE, DIRECTOR. >> WE STILL CANNOT HEAR YOU.

>> IS THAT BETTER? >> YES.

>> GOOD AFTERNOON, COMMISSIONER. HOSTING A CONFERENCE FOR 600 PEOPLE OVER TWO DAYS IN A HYBRID IN-PERSON VIRTUAL FORMAT REQUIRE SIGNIFICANT RESOURCES. WE DID HOST A CONFERENCE OVER THE LAST TWO YEARS AT NRG. THE COST THERE WERE $90,000 FOR SPACE ALONE AND UNFORTUNATELY WE DID NOT HAVE THE AV SUPPORT THERE THAT WE REALLY NEEDED TO MAKE SURE VIRTUAL ATTENDEES COULD GET GOOD SCREENING AND WE COULD SAY VIDEO FOR REUSE. WE FEEL LIKE THAT THERE IS GOOD ROI ON THIS. LAST YEAR'S CONFERENCE WAS A GREAT WAY TO INTRODUCE OUR PROGRAMMING TO A NATIONAL AUDIENCE AND THAT HELPED TO SECURE THE $5 MILLION GRANT. THIS YEAR WE HAVE A NATIONAL FOCUS AS WELL WITH DR. MICHAEL WARREN WHO LEADS , WILL BE ONE OF THE KEYNOTE SPEAKERS AND WE JUST THINK THAT THIS IS REALLY

IMPORTANT. >> COMMISSIONER ELLIS.

>> I JUST LIKE TO SAY IT IS A GREAT CENTRAL LOCATION AND SO IS THE ENERGY COMPLEX. HOPEFULLY WE WILL MAKE SOME IMPROVEMENTS TO NRG. I THINK TO THE EXTENT IT GIVES US VISIBILITY AND IT HELPS US TRACK MORE MONEY WHETHER IT IS PHILANTHROPIC OR FEDERAL I THINK IT'S A GOOD THING TO DO.

I WILL MAKE THE MOTION TO MOVE FORWARD AT THE APPROPRIATE TIME. FOR ALL OF THE OFFICES TO BE INVOLVED IT IS AN IMPORTANT

ISSUE. >> COMMISSIONER BRIONES.

>> THANK YOU, JUDGE BARRETT I SHARE THE STATEMENTS THAT WERE MADE NOT ONLY WITH THE 10K BETWEEN THE NRG COST AND THE MARRIOTT BUT GIVEN THE SEVERITY OF THE ISSUE IN THIS REGION AND HOW WE CAN BRING FOLKS FROM ACROSS THE NATION TO SHARE BEST ACTRESSES AND BRING IN GRANT MONEY . I HAVE BEEN ADDED THE LAST TWO YEARS AND I THOUGHT IT WAS EXCELLENTLY DONE AND I KNOW WE WILL TAKE IT TO FURTHER HEIGHTS. THANK YOU FOR YOUR WORK ON THIS CRITICAL TOPIC AND I LOOK FORWARD TO MAKING CONTINUED MEANINGFUL PROGRESS , SO I WAS SECOND IT.

>> MOTION BY COMMISSIONER ELLIS AND SECOND BY COMMISSIONER BRIONES. ALL IN FAVOR . ANY OPPOSED ? MOTION CARRIES 4-1.

THAT WAS ITEM 164. THANK YOU DIRECTOR BART. ACTUALLY THIS APPLIES TO YOU TOO, MOVING ONTO 169. PERHAPS YOU CAN GIVE A LITTLE BIT OF A INTRO DEPUTY DIRECTOR OR INTERIM DIRECTOR BARTON . WE ARE NOT CATCHING A SOUND AGAIN.

>> BETTER? >> YES.

>> WE ARE EXCITED ABOUT THE PROGRESS ON BRINGING THE HART PROGRAM IN-HOUSE AS APPROVED IN DECEMBER BY COMMISSIONER'S COURT. WE HAVE 28 PEOPLE IDENTIFIED WHO ARE WILLING TO COME ON BOARD AND WE ARE READY TO GET THEM STARTED ON JANUARY 27TH. WE MADE GOOD PROGRESS IN IDENTIFYING TRANSITION PLANS FOR TECHNOLOGY , FOR FACILITIES AND FOR VEHICLES . WE ARE READY TO GO AND THIS WAS ON A VERY ACCELERATED TIMEFRAME , BUT THE

[03:05:03]

>> COMMISSIONER BRIONES. >> THANK YOU. I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU. I KNOW WE HAVE BEEN TALKING ABOUT HART FOR MONTHS, IT MEANS A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT TO ME AND VARIOUS COLLEAGUES. WE ASKED MONTHS AGO TO SAVE AND STRENGTHEN HART TO WORK ON THIS PLAN TO BRING IT IN-HOUSE FOR TRANSPARENCY AND HOPEFULLY WE CAN FURTHER EXPAND IT THROUGHOUT THE COUNTY. THE FACT THAT YOU HAVE BEEN ABLE TO DO THIS WITH SUCH EXCELLENCE AND SPEED THAT WE WILL HAVE THE CONTINUITY OF SERVICES TO THE COMMUNITY AND THAT YOU ARE ABLE TO ADDRESS THE PARTNERSHIP AND THE STAFFING AND THE CONTINUITY AND THE FOLKS WHO HAVE THE EXPERIENCE , I AM JUST EXTREMELY PLEASED AND I CANNOT WAIT TO HAVE IT IN-HOUSE SO WE CAN CONTINUE TO STRENGTHEN THE PROGRAM AND MAXIMIZE THE IMPACT . FOR THOSE WHO NEED MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES BUT SO WE CAN FREE UP LAW-ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS TIME SO THEY CAN DOUBLE DOWN ON VIOLENT CRIME. I SEE IT AS A WIN-WIN FROM A PUBLIC HEALTH PERSPECTIVE AND PUBLIC SAFETY PERSPECTIVE AND DEFINITELY SEEING POSITIVE IMPACTS. I WANTED TO SAY THANK YOU AND I LOOK FORWARD TO

VOTING IN FAVOR OF THIS ITEM. >> WONDERFUL. MY QUESTION IS DESMOND DID YOU HAVE A QUESTION?

>> I DID . >> GO AHEAD, COMMISSIONER

RAMSEY. >> OBVIOUSLY I HAVE HAD CONCERNS ABOUT THE HART PROGRAM SINCE INCEPTION. I THINK WE HAVE JUST GONE THROUGH THE DETAILS RELATED TO THE DEMA CONTRACT AND ALL ASSOCIATED. I KEEP TRYING TO POINT OUT THE DATA . I KNOW WE ASPIRE TO BE A DATA-DRIVEN COUNTY AND SOME OF THE DATA THAT WE NEED TO BE AWARE OF GOING INTO THIS IS, SINCE ITS INCEPTION , WE HAVE SPENT 10.4 MILLION . HART HAS RESPONDED TO 16,300 CALLS THAT CAN BE CATEGORIZED INTO THREE BASIC SERVICES , ESSENTIAL, NONESSENTIAL, AND LAW ENFORCEMENT . THE RECORD, SINCE ITS INCEPTION, HART HAS RESPONDED TO WHAT I CALL SIX AND 47 MISSION DRIVEN ESSENTIAL RESPONSES, I.E. MENTAL HEALTH CALLS. 11,000 -- 11,147 NONESSENTIAL RESPONSES AS WELL AS MEET THE CITIZEN AND WELFARE CHECKS. 1801 LAW-ENFORCEMENT RESPONSES THAT DID INVOLVE LAW ENFORCEMENT . AT THE END OF THE DAY, ONLY 4% OF THE RESPONSES TO THE 16,300 WERE ACTUALLY ESSENTIAL . WE JUST KEEP IGNORING BASIC DATA. I THINK THE INTENT IS TO PROVIDE GREAT CLINICIANS OUT TO THERE RESPONDING TO THOSE ISSUES .

THE DATA IS SAYING WHAT WE ARE DOING NOW DOES NOT WORK. TO REPLICATE WHAT WE ARE TRYING TO DO, SIMPLY BECAUSE THIS IS WHAT WE ARE DOING IN CHICAGO , THIS IS WHAT WE ARE DOING IN NEW YORK , OR THIS IS WHAT WE ARE DOING IN L.A. , I DO NOT THINK THOSE ARE GOOD REASONS. THERE ARE THINGS WE ARE DOING THAT WE CHOOSE TO SOMEWHAT IGNORE. WE HAVE A MOBILE CRISIS OUTREACH TEAM THAT PROVIDES MOBILE CRISIS RESPONSE AS PART PART OF THE HARRIS CENTER TO INDIVIDUALS OF ALL AGES WHO ARE EXPENSING A MENTAL HEALTH CRISIS AND ARE UNABLE AND UNWILLING TO ACCESS SERVICES INDEPENDENTLY. ALL CRISIS ARE SENSITIVE FOCUS OF FAMILY CENSORED. WE HAVE THE CORE UNIT AND OFFICER REMOTE EVALUATION AND THEY RESPOND TO THOUSANDS OF RESPONSES AND THEY DO IT QUITE WELL. THE CRISIS INTERVENTION RESPONSE TEAM, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS. IT IS A SPECIALIZED PROGRAM WITH A LICENSE MASTER LEVEL OF BEHAVIOR HEALTH CONDITION WITH A LAW ENFORCEMENT PARTNER. WE HAVE GREAT EXAMPLES OF WHAT IS WORKING. I DON'T KNOW WHY WE DON'T LOOK AT A HYBRID. WE LOOK AT THE DATA AND HOW WE CAN DO BOTH AND RATHER THAN I THINK A PRETTY MINDLESS MYOPIC FOCUS

[03:10:06]

IF YOU'RE GOING TO EXPAND IT, I CAN ONLY ASSUME YOU WILL EXPAND IT TO MORE OF AN AREA . THIS IS A LOT OF MONEY . $10.4 MILLION AND COMPARE THAT IN A MINUTE WHEN WE TALK ABOUT.

WHERE THE DATA IS VERY CLEAR IN TERMS OF ITS BENEFITS AND WHAT HAS HAPPENED THERE. AGAIN, I HAVE GIVEN THESE NUMBERS BEFORE , I AM JUST RAISING THE FLAG. IF WE WANT TO BE DATA DRIVEN, WE SHOULD LOOK AT THE DATA AND LET THAT GUIDE US AND DIRECT US. IF WE TRULY WANT TO PROVIDE HELP , PARTICULARLY MENTAL HEALTH HELP IN THE COMMUNITY , HART IS AN ABYSMAL FAILURE .

>> COMMISSIONER ELLIS. >> I WOULD JUST LIKE TO SAY , IT IS IMPORTANT TO KNOW THAT ALL OF THESE ARE CALLS THAT LAW ENFORCEMENT WOULD HAVE TO RESPOND TO IF WE DID NOT HAVE THIS PROGRAM IN PLACE. IT HAS BEEN EFFECTIVE AROUND THE COUNTRY, WE WERE LATE GETTING STARTED WITH IT. I WANT TO COME INTO YOUR OFFICE, ALL OF OUR OFFICES, EVEN THOSE WHO HAVE NOT BEEN SUPPORTIVE OF IT AS CERTAINLY HAVE GIVEN INPUT PRINT AND COMMISSIONER IN PARTICULAR YOUR STAFF I WANT TO GIVE A SHOUT OUT AND I WANT TO SET OUT MY TEAM AS WELL. THIS IS SOMETHING WE DISCUSSED AFTER WE LEFT THE FLOYD FUNERAL SERVICES AND WE ASKED THE BUREAUCRACY, COUNTY DEPARTMENTS TO COME UP WITH THE PLAN. IT WAS THE BEST THAT THEY COULD , BUT THERE HAVE BEEN TREMENDOUS IMPROVEMENTS. LEAH BARTON, YOUR TEAM HAS DONE A GREAT JOB AND I WOULD BE MORE THAN HAPPY TO MAKE THE MOTION AT THE APPROPRIATE TIME.

>> YES? I THOUGHT YOU'RE GOING TO SAY SOMETHING. DID I MISS SOMEBODY? I DO THINK IT IS INTERESTING WHAT BOTH OF YOU GUYS ARE SAYING STILL LEAVES A QUESTION MARK IN MY MIND BECAUSE WE WENT THROUGH THE EXTRA STEP OF HAVING EVALUATION FUNDING IN OUR UPPER PROJECTS, AT LEAST MOST OF THEM, I BELIEVE . I THINK IT WOULD BE HELPFUL FOR US TO GET A READOUT OF THE SUCCESS METRICS. THEN, I THINK IT IS A GOOD POINT THAT COMMISSIONER ELLIS MAKES, THEY ARE HAVING TO PICK UP PHONE CALLS THAT LAW ENFORCEMENT WOULD HAVE HAD TO PICKED UP

OTHERWISE THAT'S MY >> AND I CLARIFY ONE POINT,

JUDGE? >> SURE .

>> 70% OF THESE WOULD NOT HAVE REQUIRED ANY OFFERS. IT IS NOT 16,300 WOULD HAVE EVOLVED LAW-ENFORCEMENT, 70% WOULD NOT

HAVE REQUIRED LAW ENFORCEMENT. >> MY UNDERSTANDING IS IT WOULD HAVE BEEN DIVERTED. THAT'S WHAT I'M SAYING, CAN WE GET CLARIFICATION? ALSO, IF WE SEE THAT THESE FOLKS ARE RESPONDING TO MORE, PERHAPS NECESSARY BUT NON-MENTAL HEALTH QUESTIONS , DO WE REWRITE THE MISSION OF THE PROGRAM? OR DOES THE PROGRAM NEED TO DO SOME WORK WITH THE HARRIS CENTER TO MAKE SURE THAT THERE IS COVERAGE FOR ALL THE MENTAL HEALTH NEEDS AND THEIR NEEDS TO BE A SEPARATE PROGRAM THAT WE RESPOND TO THESE OTHER CLAW CALLS THAT CLEARLY ARE NECESSARY AS WELL.

I AM JUST GOING OFF THE CONVERSATION I HAD WITH THE HARRIS CENTER DIRECTOR . THIS WAS A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO --

>> MOTION TO EXTEND TIME ? >> SO MOVED.

>> ALL IN FAVOR ? ANY OPPOSED ? COMMISSIONER ELLIS.

>> I AM GOOD. >> MOTION CARRIES, 5-0.

>> WE HAD A CONVERSATION A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO AND WE WERE MAPPING OUT THE NEED FOR MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES AND THE COMMUNITY-BASED SERVICES THAT EXISTED. TO YOUR POINT COMMISSIONER RAMSEY, THE HART AND THIS AND THAT , WHAT I REMEMBER WALKING OUT OF THE MEETING WITH IS THE UNDERSTANDING THAT THERE IS MUCH MORE DEMAND THAN SUPPLY. I FEEL LIKE SOMETHING NEEDS TO SHIFT GIVEN ALL OF THE FACTS THAT WE ARE ALL DISCUSSED. ANYWAY I WOULD JUST ASK THAT YOU THINK ABOUT THAT. WHAT YOU THINK, DIRECTOR BARTON?

[03:15:08]

>> I THINK YOU WOULD BE HAPPY TO HEAR THAT WE HAVE A EVALUATION CONTRACT THAT WILL BE COMING TO COURT SHORTLY. WE DO NEED THAT EVALUATION WORK WE SHOULD SEE THAT IF NOT ON THE NEXT COURT BUT TO FROM NOW. THE NUMBERS THAT ARE IMPORTANT TO ME IS FINALLY CRIME IS DECREASING IN THE NEIGHBORHOODS WHERE WE ARE SERVING . IF WE LOOK AT CYPRESS STATION, WE HAVE SEEN A DRAMATIC DECREASE IN CRIME AND THAT IS DUE TO THE CONJUNCTION OF NOT ONLY HARD WORK, VIOLENCE INTERRUPTERS , ADDITIONAL SHERIFF'S DEPUTIES , ADDITIONAL WORK BY THE ENVIRONMENT THE PUBLIC HEALTH TEAM , WE HAVE TAKEN A REALLY HOLISTIC APPROACH. THIS IS PART OF IT. SOME OF THE CALLS ARE DIVERTED FROM 911 ALLOWING DEPUTIES TO FOCUS ON THE MOST IMPORTANT WORK FOR THEM TO FOCUS ON AND SOME OF THEM ARE FOLKS ENGAGING THE PEOPLE ON THE STREET, ENGAGING WITH PEOPLE THAT THEY COME ACROSS WHOM MAY COME IN ADDRESSING THOSE ISSUES , BEFORE THEY ESCALATE TO LAW ENFORCEMENT. WE WANT TO GET MORE GRANULAR DATA, DURING THE LUNCH BREAK, OUR TEAMS WERE MEETING WITH THE RESOURCE ANALYSIS DIVISION WHO HAS BEEN LOOKING AT 911 DATA, OR CALL DATA TO SEE HOW WE CAN GET MORE DETAIL OUT OF IT . WE REALLY APPRECIATE OUR PARTNERSHIP WITH THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE. WE THINK THESE PROGRAMS ARE COMPLEMENTARY AND WE THINK THERE ARE BETTER WAYS TO ADDRESS THE SPECTRUM OF CONCERNS THAT THE TEAMS ARE ADDRESSING WITHOUT LAW ENFORCEMENT, OR, IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THEM WHEN APPROPRIATE. WE ARE EXCITED TO MOVE FORWARD AND WE ARE ALSO EXCITED TO HAVE ADDITIONAL DATA AND EVALUATIONS

. >> WHAT I WILL BE ASKING IS WHAT WILL BE A METRIC OF SUCCESS. IT CAN BE A REDUCTION OF CRIME , OR RESPONSE TO MENTAL HEALTH CALLS OR RESPONSE TO CALLS PERIOD . I WOULD ARGUE THAT WE NEED TO CLARIFY EXACTLY WHERE THIS FITS IN VIS-À-VIS OTHER PROGRAMS. MAYBE THIS IS NOT A JOB FOR THE HART FOLKS, MAYBE IT IS A JOB FOR COUNTY ADMINISTRATION OR THE HARRIS CENTER, TO JUST FIGURE OUT , IF WE ARE COMING AT IT FROM A MENTAL HEALTH STANDPOINT, WHAT ARE ALL OF THE HOLES THAT NEED TO BE PATCHED UP. I WILL BRING THIS BACK UP WHEN YOU PRESENT THE DATA THAT I JUST WANTED TO GIVE YOU A HEADS UP SO YOU CAN BEGIN THINKING ABOUT IT.

>> HAPPY TO. >> COMMISSIONER BRIONES.

>> THANK YOU DIRECTOR BARTON. I AM SO THANKFUL IN PARTICULAR BECAUSE I KNOW YOU SHARE A COMMITMENT TO DATA. I KNOW IN REVIEW OF THE DATA, WHICH I AGREE , WE NEED TO STRENGTHEN THE PROGRAM DESIGN AND YOU HAVE BEEN USING THE DATA AS WE IMPROVE THE DESIGN FOR THIS NEW CHAPTER, BRINGING IT IN-HOUSE WILL GIVE US GREATER ACCOUNTABILITY AND TRANSPARENCY AND DATA TRACKING. I LOVE THE DUAL PURPOSE SOFTWARE HARRIS CARE THAT YOU HAVE DESIGNED IN PARTNERSHIP WITH UNIVERSAL SERVICES AND OWNERSHIP WITH UT HEALTH , FOR THE MEDICAL DIRECTOR -- THIS IS NEW AND IMPROVED STRENGTH AND WITH MUCH MORE FIDELITY THAN THE NATIONAL MODEL. THIS IS A VERY PROVEN MODEL. I AM THE BIGGEST PROPONENT OF VIPER. THIS IS A A+ B+ C AND THEY ARE HIGHLY COMPLIMENTARY AND , AS WE WORK TO IMPROVE PUBLIC SAFETY AND ADJUST PUBLIC HEALTH. I APPRECIATE HOW COLLABORATIVE YOU HAVE BEEN WITH ALL OF THE KEY STAKEHOLDERS, DIRECTOR BARTON, AS WELL AS YOUR COMMITMENT TO DATA AND USING IT TO INFORM PROGRAM DESIGN AS WE DO THIS IN-HOUSE STRENGTHENED HART MODEL. I SEE THERE IS ANOTHER HANDOUT. I AM READY WHENEVER IT IS TIME TO SUPPORT THIS AND I APPRECIATE EVERYTHING YOU HAVE DONE.

>> COMMISSIONER GARCIA. >> LEAH, THANK YOU FOR YOUR WORK, NOT ONLY ON THIS BUT ALSO THE VIOLENCE INTERRUPTER PROGRAM. I HAD A LOT OF CONCERNS ABOUT HOW THESE PROGRAMS ARE BEING CONSTRUCTED AND IMPLEMENTED AND I AM GLAD TO HEAR YOU TALK ABOUT TAKING A HOLISTIC APPROACH . I HOPE THAT REMAINS THE COMMITMENT BECAUSE THAT IS THE ONLY WAY THESE PROGRAMS ARE GOING TO WORK. COMMISSIONER RAMSEY DOES BRING UP A GOOD POINT , AT THE SAME TIME , IT IS STILL A FAIRLY YOUNG PROGRAM . I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THE ONGOING

[03:20:04]

PROGRAMS. THANK YOU. >> WE HAVE A MOTION I THINK BY COMMISSIONER ALICE. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER BRIONES . ALL IN FAVOR. ANY OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES 4-1. THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER. OR THANK YOU, DIRECTOR AND YOUR TEAM. LET'S MOVE ON TO ITEM 199 FLAGGED BY COMMISSIONER RAMSEY.

>> AS I ALERTED THE SHERIFF THIS MORNING, I WANT TO BRAG ON VIPR. YOU LOOK AT THAT DATA IN TERMS OF THEY HAVE SPENT ROUGHLY 2.4 MILLION ANNUALLY , THUS FAR, SINCE NOVEMBER 2022 4553 WARRANT ARREST. 926 OF THESE WERE ASSAULTS. THAT MEANS THERE ARE SOME PEOPLE THAT WILL NOT BE ASSAULTING BECAUSE OF VIPR. 705 FAMILY VIOLENCE . THAT IS TRAGIC AND IT BREAKS YOUR HEART WHEN YOU HEAR THE VICTIM STORY ABOUT WHO HAS BEEN LET OUT AND THEY GO AND THEY DO THE THINGS THEY DO. 660 CHILD ABUSE, 500 ROBBERIES , 74 MURDERERS . I AM GOING TO MOVE ON THIS ITEM , IT IS A COMPELLING DATA-DRIVEN ARGUMENT IN TERMS OF CONTINUING TO DO VIPR.

>> MOTION BY COMMISSIONER RAMSEY AND SECOND BY COMMISSIONER GARCIA. I AM NOT SEEING YOU COMMISSIONER ALICE.

>> YOU CANNOT SEE ME ? >> NOT ANYMORE.

>> CAN YOU SEE ME NOW? >> YES.

>> VERY BRIEFLY. I VERY MUCH AGREE, I THINK VIPR IS ONE OF THE MOST EFFECTIVE PROGRAMS, TALK ABOUT RETURN ON INVESTMENT SR IS PUBLIC SAFETY LEVERAGING LAW ENFORCEMENT TIME. I WAS HAPPY THAT WE ADVOCATED TO MOVE IT TO THE GENERAL FUND BECAUSE IT PROVED TO BE SO SUCCESSFUL. THIS IS ONE PROGRAM THAT WE APPROACH THE BUDGET YEAR THAT I WOULD LOVE TO EXPAND TO THE EXTENT THAT WE ARE ABLE TO. IT IS FOLKS WITH VIOLENT OFFENSES THAT WERE GETTING OFF THE STREETS, TALK ABOUT LEVERAGING

TIME AND RESOURCES EFFECTIVELY. >> I WANT TO POINT OUT ONE THING. AS I WAS WRITING THIS, J IS GOING TO GET ME TO CLOSE MY MOUTH, I CANNOT TALK ANYMORE. ONE THING THAT THEY MENTIONED AND I THINK MR. GARCIA WILL BE SURPRISED, DID YOU KNOW , ALL NEW LAW ENFORCEMENT VEHICLES BE THEY CONSTABLE OR SHERIFF , ALL NEW ONES THAT WE ARE GETTING DO NOT HAVE RADAR ?

>> WE ARE WORKING ON THAT. IT WAS BROUGHT TO MY ATTENTION AND I NOTIFIED THE SHERIFF AND WE ARE LOOKING FOR SOLUTIONS.

>> IN TERMS OF THE NEW CARS AND WHAT WE CAN DO --

>> FUTURE CARS, THERE WAS A POLICY DECISION MADE.

>> THAT IS PROBABLY CROSSING THE LINE A LITTLE BIT. I AM SURE THEY USED VIPR AND RADAR OF SOME SORT. WE CAN MOVE ON

THAT. >> OKAY. COMMISSIONER BRIONES DID YOU MAKE THE MOTION? RAMSEY? MISHNA RAMSEY MADE THE MOTION SECOND BY COMMISSIONER GARCIA. ALL IN FAVOR. ANY OPPOSED? ALL RIGHT, MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY 5-0. AND THEN , I AGREE , THE SUCCESS OF THE PROGRAM IS EXCITING. FOR RADAR, COMMISSIONER, WE ARE TALKING SPEEDING?

>> YES . >> ONE OF THE THINGS THAT ENCOURAGES SPEEDING IS WIDER HIGHWAYS AND LACK OF PUBLIC

TRANSIT. 235 IS AUDIT CLAIMS. >> THERE IS A ITEM RELATED TO .

I MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE EVERYTHING BUT DEMA .

>> MOTION TO APPROVE EVERYTHING BUT DEMA . SECONDED BY

[03:25:08]

>> CAN YOU HEAR ME? >> YES.

>> THERE IS A DEMA COVERING NOVEMBER AND DECEMBER INVOICES.

THOSE HAVE BEEN REVIEWED AND APPROVED BY PUBLIC HEALTH AND THE AUDITOR'S OFFICE AND THE OVERALL APPROACH IS CONSISTENT WITH WHAT WE HAVE BEEN USING OVER THE PAST MONTHS SINCE IT WAS APPROVED. THEY CONTINUE TO DELIVER SERVICES AND THEY CONTINUE TO RESPOND TO CALLS , THE CONTRACT DOES EXPIRE ON JANUARY 24TH. AND YOU ONLY HAVE ONE MORE DEMA INVOICE COMING TO YOU BUT WE ARE CONFIDENT IN THE FACT THAT SERVICES HAVE BEEN DELIVERED AND BACKUP HAS BEEN REVIEWED .

>> AUDITOR POST , OR SOMEBODY FROM THE AUDITOR'S OFFICE?

>> THIS IS MIKE POST, COUNTY AUDITOR, LIKE LEAH SAID, THESE INVOICES WERE APPROVED BY THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT. THEY WERE ALSO REVIEWED AND APPROVED BY THE AUDITOR'S OFFICE. THEY ARE CONGRUENT WITH THE CONTRACT THAT WE HAVE CURRENTLY WITH DEMA. WE HAVE APPROVED THEM. FOR PAYMENT WE NEED APPROVAL

FROM COMMISSIONERS COURT. >> YES, COMMISSIONER ELLIS .

>> I MAKE A MOTION FOR THE DEMA ITEM EVERY VOTE ON COMMISSIONER

RAMSEY'S MOTION. >> MR. RAMSEY MADE A MOTION TO APPROVE ALL BUT DEMA. ALL IN FAVOR . ANY OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES 5-0. COMMISSIONER ELLIS MOVES THE DEMA ITEM. IS THERE

SECOND ? >> MATT HAVE ASKED A QUESTION ?

>> LEAH, ON THE DEMA ITEM, THE PAYMENTS WERE APPROVED BY THE DEPARTMENT. WHO IN YOUR OFFICE APPROVED THESE ITEMS? IS NOT THE SAME PERSON THAT APPROVED PREVIOUS DEMA INVOICES PRIOR TO US WORKING TO RESOLVE THE CONTRACT?

>> TROUBLE HEARING YOU. WE CAN HEAR YOU BUT IT SOUNDS ECHOEY .

CAN YOU TRY AGAIN? NOW WE DO NOT HEAR YOU AT ALL.

>> HOW ABOUT THAT ? >> THAT WORKS .

>> THESE INVOICES WERE REVIEWED BY THE VIOLENCE PREVENTION TEAM

AND OUR FINANCE TEAM . >> IS THAT THE SAME PROCESS THAT WAS USED PRIOR TO THE MOVE TO CANCEL THE CONTRACT ?

>> I AM CHECKING. I BELIEVE SO. I CAME IN AFTER THE LAST AMENDMENT WAS APPROVED. YES, THEY CONFIRM THAT IS THE SAME

PROCESS. >> COMMISSIONER BRIONES .

>> THANK YOU. DIRECTOR , YOUR DEPARTMENT HAS APPROVED THESE

INVOICES, CORRECT? >> YES .

>> MANY OF THE SAME INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE PERFORMING THE SERVICES ON THE GROUND ARE THE ONES HARRIS COUNTY HAS EXTENDED OFFERS TO, TO COME FROM THE IN-HOUSE PROGRAM SEPARATE FROM DEMA AND THEY ARE INDIVIDUALS WHO PERFORMED THE WORK, CORRECT

? >> YES.

>> TO THE BEST OF OUR KNOWLEDGE, THE INDIVIDUALS HAVE BEEN PAID FOR THEIR TIME . I DO NOT WANT THE WORKERS TO BE OUT BECAUSE IT IS UNFAIR TO THE WORKERS WHO HAVE BEEN WORKING HARD DELIVERING SERVICES , PUTTING ASIDE COMPLICATIONS WITH THE COMPANY. THESE ARE PEOPLE WE ARE BRINGING TO THE HARRIS COUNTY TEAM, THESE INVOICES ARE , IN LARGE PART FROM THE SERVICES FROM THE INDIVIDUALS TO WHOM WE HAVE EXTENDED AN OFFER, IS THAT CORRECT ?

[03:30:04]

>> THAT IS TRUE. THE TEAMS HAVE BEEN PAID TO DATE. FEMA HAS INDICATED IF THE NOVEMBER INVOICE WAS NOT APPROVED, THEY WILL NOT BE ABLE TO CONTINUE SERVICES AND CONTINUE PAYING PEOPLE PASS TOMORROW. WE REALLY DO NOT WANT TO PUT PEOPLE IN THE POSITION OF MISSING OUT EITHER HAVING TO INTERRUPT THE PROGRAM FOR THE NEXT TWO WEEKS OR MISSING A PAYCHECK, WE KNOW THESE ARE FOLKS FOR WHOM THE INDIVIDUAL PAYCHECKS ARE VERY

IMPORTANT . >> CONTINUITY OF SERVICE IS IMPORTANT , TWO, I DO NOT WANT TO PUT ANYONE OUT, ESPECIALLY TEAM MEMBERS, I WANT TO WORK IN GOOD FAITH AND MAKE SURE I GREW UP PAYCHECK TO PAYCHECK SO FOLKS WHO ARE NOT BEING PAID CAN BE CATASTROPHIC. EVEN GIVEN THE COMPLICATIONS WITH THE ACTUAL COMPANY I CANNOT WAIT FOR JANUARY 24TH AND I'M THRILLED ABOUT BRINGING THIS IN-HOUSE FOR THE REASON THAT YOU HAVE CERTIFIED YOUR DEPARTMENT THAT THE SERVICES WERE RENDERED AND THE AUDITOR POST SAID THE AUDITOR IS COMFORTABLE, IS THAT CORRECT AUDITOR POST ? JUST TO CONFIRM

WHAT I HEARD . >> YES , THAT IS CORRECT. THE AUDITOR FIRST LOOKS TO SEE THE DEPARTMENT HAS APPROVED THE INVOICE. WE DO OUR INDEPENDENT REVIEW. IN THIS CASE , WE ARE LOOKING AT THE INVOICES AND COMPARING IT WITH THE TERMS OF THE CONTRACT AND THEN WE HAVE GIVEN OUR APPROVAL AS WELL.

>> FOR THESE REASONS I WILL SECOND.

>> WE HAVE A MOTION BY COMMISSIONER ELLIS AND SECOND BY COMMISSIONER BRIONES. INTERIM DIRECTOR BARTON, DO YOU STAND BY YOUR TEAM'S APPROVAL OF THIS INVOICE ?

>> I DO. >> SO THAT SHE IS THE NEW DIRECTOR , THE OTHER POINT IS MOOT.

>> JUDGE, I HAVE ONE MORE QUESTION TO THE COUNTY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE, DO YOU HAVE ANY CONCERNS?

>> THIS IS PART OF THE REGULAR PROCESS. JOHN, DO YOU WANT TO

SPEAK TO THIS? >> I WAS ABOUT TO SAY THE SAME

THING. >> COMMISSIONER GARCIA.

>> LEAH, AS I MENTIONED EARLIER , THANK YOU FOR YOUR WORK. I PREVIOUSLY VOTED AGAINST DEMA BECAUSE HOW THAT CAME TO LIGHT REGARDING THE PREVIOUS DIRECTOR AND THE CONTRACT. I WAS COMING IN VOTING AGAINST THIS ITEM AS I HAVE PREVIOUSLY DONE, IF THIS WILL HELP US MOVE FORWARD , TODAY YOU WILL RELUCTANTLY GET

MY VOTE. >> GREAT READ WE HAVE A MOTION BY COMMISSIONER ELLIS AND SECOND BY COMMISSIONER BRIONES.

ALL IN FAVOR . ANY OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES 4-1 FOR THE DEMA ITEM. THANK YOU , DIRECTOR AND AUDITOR AND COLLEAGUES.

>> 238, DO YOU GUYS HAVE ANYTHING EXTRA WITH THAT ?

>> YOU WANT ME TO SPEAK TO 238 ?

>> EXCUSE ME? YES. >> THIS IS -- WHAT WE HAVE IS A LITTLE CONFUSION BETWEEN DEPARTMENTS. WHAT HAPPENED HERE IS A SETTLEMENT OF A LAWSUIT , NO NEW MONEY IS BEING APPROPRIATED. WHAT WE INTENDED TO DO WAS TRANSMIT THE SETTLEMENT AND HAVE THE AUDITOR ESSENTIALLY PAY OUT THE REST OF THE CONTRACT . OF COURSE, THE LANGUAGE SEEMS TO SUGGEST THAT WE NEED APPROVAL FOR THE SETTLEMENT FROM THE COURT, WE DO NOT THINK WE NEEDED IT . I THINK IT IS FINE FOR THE COURT TO MOVE TO APPROVE THE SETTLEMENT USING THE LANGUAGE THAT THE AUDITOR PUT IN ITEM 238. IF SOMEONE WOULD MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE SETTLEMENT WITH POLICE CONSTRUCTION AND THEN WE WOULD MOVE FORWARD PAYING THAT CLAIM.

>> MOTION BY COMMISSIONER ELLIS TO APPROVE THE SETTLEMENT WITH PULICE CONSTRUCTION. IS THERE SECOND? ALL IN FAVOR. ANY OPPOSED ? MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY. WE HAVE 289, 305 AND THE EXECUTIVE SESSION ITEMS LEFT. YOU WOULD RATHER DO 299 WHICH WAS FLAGGED BY COMMISSIONER RAMSEY.

>> QUICKLY, I THINK WE DISCUSSED THIS BEFORE IN TERMS OF , FOR SOME REASON THE SAFETY POLICY IS CURRENTLY ADMINISTERED BY THE DEO'S OFFICE. I DON'T THINK THAT IS

[03:35:02]

GOING FORWARD. >> DIRECTOR, I JUST WANT TO ADD AT COMMISSIONERS COURT IT IS NOT JUST DEO, THIS IS WITH PURCHASING AS WELL. THEY DO THE PRE-WORK CHECK AND DEO DOES THE POST WORK CHECK AND WE DO AUDITS AS WELL.

>> COMMISSIONER GARCIA . >> YES, STELLA AND IF WE COULD GET DR. ARMAND ON AS WELL . THANK YOU . TO BOTH OF YOU , THE MOTION THAT COMMISSIONER RAMSEY HAS MADE , YOUR THOUGHTS

ON IT. >> GOOD AFTERNOON. THE POLICY THAT WE HAVE I THINK IS A VERY GOOD POLICY. THE INTENT IS GOOD. WE HAVE BEEN GETTING SOME RECENT COMPLAINTS FROM THE CONTRACTORS ABOUT HOW THEY ARE HAVING SOME CHALLENGES. -- OUR OPINION IS , WE SHOULD DISCUSS WITH THE STAKEHOLDERS, OF COURSE THE LABOR UNION AND CONTRACTOR ASSOCIATIONS TO SEE WHY WE HAVE GAPS IN THE POLICY AND IF THERE IS A GAP WE SHOULD FIX IT. ONCE WE HAVE THE POLICY I THINK WE SHOULD TALK ABOUT

IMPLEMENTATION >> FROM THE DEO PERSPECTIVE, WE WILL IMPLEMENT WHAT YOU WOULD LIKE TO SEE IF IT IS MORE POLICY REVISION , I DO ASK FOR MORE TIME, I THINK IT IS CHALLENGING TO MEET IN JANUARY. IF I COULD GET 69 DAYS, THAT'S WHAT I ASK FOR A MINIMUM ALSO JUST TO MEET THE OTHER

STAKEHOLDER GROUPS. >> I WOULD BE HAPPY TO MODIFY THAT MOTION . WE WANT TO GET IT RIGHT , GIVING DR. ARMAND AND EVERYONE HE WOULD INCORPORATE AND REVIEW THE POLICY TIME. I GUESS THE FIRST MEETING IN MARCH MIGHT BE A LOT BETTER

TIME. >> COMMISSIONER BRIONES.

>> THANK YOU. THANK YOU DIRECTOR GONZALES. FIRST OF ALL , JUST TO LEVEL SET, I AM HAPPY AFTER TWO YEARS WE ARE REVISITING SO WE CAN LEARN FROM LESSONS LEARNED WHAT IS WORKING AT ONE IS NOT. I WHOLEHEARTEDLY BELIEVE IN THIS POLICY AND I'M HAPPY WE HAVE IT, IT IS UNCONSCIONABLE THAT TEXAS IS ONE OF THE MOST DANGEROUS STATES FOR WORKERS. WE ARE SENDING BEHIND MAKING SURE WE STRENGTHEN PROTECTIONS FOR WORKERS AND WE WANTED TO BE WORKABLE FOR THE INDUSTRY. I AM VERY THANKFUL THAT WE WANT TO APPROACH THIS IN A MEANINGFUL, THOUGHTFUL WAY WITH TRUE STAKEHOLDER ENGAGEMENT AND ROBUST FROM LABOR LEADERS TO CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY AND I WANT TO MAKE SURE THE ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT IS GETTING FEEDBACK, ALSO THE KEY USERS WHO LIVE WITH THE POLICY, THE COUNTY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE WHO WAS INSTRUMENTAL IN LEADING IT, HOW CAN WE IMPROVE IT IN A WAY THAT PROTECTS WORKERS AND PROTECTS THE COUNTY AND ALSO ENABLES BUSINESS TO HAPPEN IN AN EFFECTIVE AND EFFICIENT WAY SO WE ARE CONTINUED COMMITTED TO THIS CONTINUED IMPROVEMENT. I WOULD LIKE YOUR THOUGHTS ON IF MARCH WAS ENOUGH TIME, I WAS THINKING 2025, I KNOW DIRECTOR MCGINNIS HAS GREAT IDEAS NOT ONLY STAKEHOLDER VERBAL CONVENING BUT ALSO SURVEYS SO WE CAN GET ROBUST FEEDBACK FROM MULTIPLE ACTORS IN THE SYSTEM SO WE CAN CONTINUE TO STRENGTHEN THIS POLICY AND STRENGTHEN OUR EFFICIENCY AND OPERATION AS A COUNTY. I HAVE PROPOSED MOTION LANGUAGE BUT I THINK IT IS IMPORTANT TO HEAR FROM WORKERS, LABOR, CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY , ALL OF OUR KEY DEPARTMENTS AND OF COURSE DEO, I APPRECIATE MISS MCGINNIS THOUGHT PROCESS AS

[03:40:06]

>> COMMISSIONER ELLIS. >> I JUST WANT TO SAY, I PUT THIS ITEM ON THE AGENDA A COUPLE OF YEARS BACK . THE PREVIOUS COUNTY ATTORNEY I DID NOT GET TOO FAR. THE CURRENT COUNTY ATTORNEY THE TEAM DID A LOT OF THE DETAIL WORK TO COME UP WITH THIS. I THINK IT IS REAL EASY FOR EVERYONE TO SAY THEY WANT THE PROTECTIONS. IT IS ANOTHER THING WHEN IT IS TIME TO IMPLEMENT IT. I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE IT IS TRULY INDEPENDENT. I WOULD LIKE TO ASK THE LEGAL DEPARTMENT BECAUSE THEY DID THE LEG WORK. WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS ?

>> IN TERMS OF THE SUGGESTIONS THAT COMMISSIONER RAMSEY IS MAKING? THERE HE IS. KNEEL FROM OUR OFFICE IS THE ONE WHO TOOK

THE LEAD. >> NEIL, I AM SORRY FOR HAVING A SENIOR MOMENT. I DON'T REMEMBER YOU SAYING THAT HAPPENS. WHEN YOU REACH 70 YOU WILL FIND OUT IT HAPPENS MORE

THAN YOU LIKE. >> THANKS, COMMISSIONER. I THINK COMMISSIONER BRIONES HAS IT RIGHT IN THE SENSE THAT WE HAVE HAD TWO YEARS TO LEARN . WE ARE OPEN TO FEEDBACK. I DO THINK WE DID A LOT OF THE WORK THAT HAS BEEN DESCRIBED SO FAR.

I WILL SAY IN TERMS OF COMPLAINTS, SOME OF THE COMPLAINTS WE HEARD ARE SECONDHAND, THIRDHAND, PART OF THAT IS WE ARE ENFORCING AND IMPLEMENTING THE POLICY AND THAT MEANS SOME FOLKS ARE MISSING OUT ON OPPORTUNITIES THAT THEY MIGHT OTHERWISE GET PAID REGARDLESS, I THINK OVERALL THE COMPLAINTS ARE AT A MINIMUM AND I THINK A LOT OF THAT IS BECAUSE WE HAVE LABOR SUPPORT AT THE START AND ALSO WE HAVE THESE GROUPS, THE HOUSTON CONTRACTORS HAD A LETTER IN SUPPORT OF THIS POLICY AS WELL. WE ARE CERTAINLY OPEN TO TAKING A FRESH LOOK AND OPEN TO ALL THE STAKEHOLDERS , D.O., ENGINEERING, PURCHASING, OUTSIDE GROUPS. IF THERE ARE WAYS TO MAKE THIS BETTER WE ARE OPEN TO THAT. WE STILL STAND BEHIND THE POLICY OF ACCOMPLISHING IMPORTANT GOALS AND WE ARE HERE TO HELP MAKE IT

BETTER. >> MY LAST COMMENT , I THINK ONE OF THE LARGER PROJECTS THAT RAN INTO A ROADBLOCK , SO TO SPEAK, IT WAS A VERSION THAT I WAS DOING. I STILL STAND BY THE DIVISION FROM THE DEPARTMENT. I DON'T WANT TO ACT LIKE WE ARE WATERING IT DOWN AND THEN NOT WATERING IT DOWN. I WILL BE ONE OF THOSE WHO ARE VERY CLEAR AND SAY WE HAD A GOOD POLICY AND THEN WE DECIDED EVERYONE WAS FOR IT AND THEN THEY WERE AGAINST IT. I HAVE SEEN IT HAPPEN FROM TIME TO TIME. I WILL BE VERY LEERY OF US WATERING IT DOWN AND IF WE DO WE OUGHT TO ADMIT WE ARE WATERING IT DOWN.

>> COMMISSIONER BRIONES HAD A MOTION. COMMISSIONER GARCIA.

>> I'M LOOKING AT YOUR MOTION, COMMISSIONER, WHICH I SUPPORT.

HOWEVER, I WOULD LIKE YOU TO CONSIDER A FRIENDLY AMENDMENT TO TACK ON AT THE END OF YOUR MOTION, THAT THE POLICY GOES THROUGH A BIANNUAL REVIEW. I THINK THAT IS GOOD EVERY TWO YEARS, BRINGING ALL STAKEHOLDERS BACK TOGETHER AND SEEING IF ANY TRENDS OR PRACTICES HAVE CHANGED AND

ANYTHING HAS EMERGED . >> I LOVE THAT .

>> THANK YOU. >> EVERY TWO YEARS WE CAN BE LEARNING AND IMPROVING. I WANT TO BE CLEAR, I WANT TO STRENGTHEN THIS POLICY. IT IS ONE OF THE MOST PROUD MOMENTS IN THE LAST TWO YEARS OF BEING ON THIS COURT. I AM ALL ABOUT PROTECTING WORKERS. AND AS YOU HAVE LEARNED I HAVE NO PATIENCE FOR INEFFICIENCY AND BUREAUCRACY. IF THERE ARE WAYS WE CAN ENHANCE EFFICIENCY AND ACCOMPLISH THE PROTECTIONS AND LEARN BEST PRACTICES FROM WHAT WE ARE SEEING, WE ARE ALWAYS GOING TO BE AIMING TO IMPROVE. THE PROPOSED MOTION , FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION IS MOTION TO DIRECT THE DEPARTMENT OF EQUITY AND ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY TO FORM A WORKING GROUP WITH PURCHASING, ENGINEERING, COUNTY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE, FLOOD

[03:45:01]

THROUGH A BIANNUAL REVIEW. >> I WILL SECOND THAT. I DON'T THINK I HEARD YOU CALL OUT THE A COUNTY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE AND I COULD NOT REMEMBER NEIL'S NAME.

>> I DID READ THERE ARE SO MANY DEPARTMENTS BUT IT IS INCLUDED.

>> COMMISSIONER GARCIA AND THEN COMMISSIONER RAMSEY. I CANNOT TELL WHO HAS THEIR HAND UP IT . IT IS DARK ON MY THING.

>> MY COMMENT TO BOTH NEIL AND COMMISSIONER ELLIS IS I FEEL LIKE WE HAVE A WATERED DOWN POLICY NOW . BEING A PERSON THAT FOR 45 YEARS, I WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR SAFETY ON CONSTRUCTION SITES AND IT MAKES NO SENSE TO ME THAT WE HAVE THE DEPARTMENT THAT IS DIRECTING A VERY IMPORTANT POLICY , IT SHOULD NOT BE THE DEPARTMENT OF ECONOMIC EQUITY, IT SHOULD BE THE ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT. I THINK IT IS A VERY TECHNICAL ISSUE , BEING A PERSON THAT HAS BEEN TOO MANY SAFETY CONFERENCES AND REVIEWED SPECIFIC THINGS. TO ME , WE CURRENTLY HAVE A WATERED DOWN AND I'M TRYING TO PUT MORE TEETH AND IT. IT NEEDS TO BE TECHNICAL TEETH AND THE MOTION CALLS FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF ECONOMIC EQUITY -- AGAIN , THIS IS NOT A PROBLEM WITH THE DEPARTMENT, IT IS JUST THE WRONG ONE. IT SHOULD BE COMING AND LED BY THE ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT SO THAT THEY CAN PROVIDE THE TECHNICAL UNDERSTANDING AND DIRECTION TO THE PROCESS WOULD BE MY MOTION TO DIRECT THE DEPARTMENT OF EQUITY ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY TO FORM A WORKING GROUP BUT I THINK IT SHOULD BE THE COUNTY ENGINEER'S OFFICE TO DO WHAT YOU INITIATED. THAT IS MY

MODIFICATION OF THE MOTION. >> COMMISSIONER ELLIS .

>> I WILL NOT BELABOR THE POINT, IT HAS BEEN A PRODUCTIVE

DAY AND IT IS A NEW YEAR. >> WE ONLY HAVE ONE MORE ITEM.

>> BEING A LAWYER AS OPPOSED TO AN ENGINEER, I CAN APPRECIATE THE ENGINEERS WILL SAY WE ARE TO DO IT AND THE LAWYERS SAY WE OUGHT TO DO IT AND COUNSEL SAY WE ARE TO DO IT. LET'S JUST GET IT DONE. WE DID NOT HAVE A POLICY AND THAT'S THE POINT, WE DID NOT HAVE ONE. ALL OF THE STAKEHOLDERS CAME TOGETHER AND THEY SIGNED OFF ON IT. IT IS OKAY ONCE YOU HAVE A POLICY IF YOU WANT TO CHANGE YOUR MIND. I WOULD JUST SUGGEST TO LOOK AROUND AND SEE WHAT OTHER PLACES -- ONE OF THE GOOD THINGS ABOUT BEING THE LAST TO COME UP WITH A POLICY IS, AT LEAST YOU CAN LOOK AND SEE WHAT OTHER JURISDICTIONS HAVE DONE, NOT THAT IT MAKES IT RIGHT OR WRONG, BUT YOU CAN LOOK AROUND.

I WOULD NOT BE SO HUNG UP OVER CONVENES IT BUT I HAPPEN TO BE A LAWYER. WE CALL OURSELVES HIGHLY SKILLED JOURNALISTS. YOU KNOW , I AM COMFORTABLE WITH IT AS IT IS. I HAVE NEVER SEEN DR.

ARMAND BE A WALLFLOWER FOR THAT WHEN. WHOEVER IS THERE HE WILL

GET IT OUT. >> I KNOW ADMINISTRATOR HAS

SOMETHING TO SAY. >> I AM EXCITED BECAUSE THIS FALLS UNDER THE STRATEGIC PLAN THAT WAS ADOPTED INITIATIVE L 2 FURTHER EXPAND CONTRACT WORKER SAFETY POLICY IN HARRIS COUNTY.

I AM EXCITED WE ARE GETTING STARTED WITH THE

IMPLEMENTATION. >> THE MOTION , THERE HAS BEEN A MOTION THAT WAS READ RIGHT MOTION BY COMMISSIONER BRIONES

-- >> CAN WE REREAD THE MOTION FOR

CLARITY? >> SHORT. THE MOTION IS MOTION TO DIRECT THE DEPARTMENT OF EQUITY AND ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY TO FORM A WORKING GROUP WITH PURCHASING, ENGINEERING, COUNTY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE, FLOOD CONTROL, TOLL ROAD AUTHORITY AND ANY OTHER RELEVANT DEPARTMENTS , AND KEY STAKEHOLDERS INCLUDING LABOR AND CONTRACTORS TO DEVELOP A

[03:50:02]

>> THAT IS THE MOTION BY COMMISSIONER BRIONES AND SECOND BY COMMISSIONER ELLIS. ALL IN FAVOR. IN THE OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES 5-0. THE NEXT ITEM, COMMISSIONER BRIONES.

>> THE NEXT ITEM IS ITEM 30538 THIS ITEM IS EXTREMELY IMPORTANT TO ME AS A LEADER AND MANAGER AND AS A PUBLIC SERVANT . AS YOU KNOW I USED TO BE A OFFICER WHICH I BRING UP IN EVERY COURT. TO ME, IN ORDER TO DELIVER TO THE PEOPLE OF HARRIS COUNTY WE HAVE TO HAVE THE BEST TALENT. IN ORDER TO CONTINUE THIS IMPROVEMENT THAT WE ARE DEEPLY COMMITTED TO, WE NEED TO MAKE SURE WE HAVE THE RIGHT TALENT IN THE RIGHT PLACES AND WE KEEP THE BEST OF THE BEST AND WE RECRUIT AND RETAIN THEM.

MY TEAM, I FEEL SO PASSIONATELY ABOUT THIS, WHEN I TOOK OFFICE THERE WAS NO PERFORMANCE EVALUATION SYSTEM IN PRECINCT 4. DR. BLAKE, WHO IS OUR CHIEF TALENT OFFICER AND DANIEL WHO IS DIRECTOR OF TALENT. THEY DEVELOPED A ROBUST PERFORMANCE EVALUATION SYSTEM . WE DO EVALUATION FOR THE 493 EMPLOYEES , CLEAR KPIS, THERE IS A MIDYEAR CHECK IN , SELF EVALUATION, DIRECT SUPERVISOR EVALUATION, IT IS ROBUST AND IT IS VERY THOROUGH AND THIS IS SO IMPORTANT TO ME BECAUSE I LOVE WHAT YOU SAID COMMISSIONER, CONGRATULATIONS ON BEING ONE OF THE BEST WORKPLACES. I LOVE HOW YOU SAID I AM TOUGH ON YOU, YOU WERE TALKING TO YOUR EMPLOYEES, I'M TOUGH ON YOU SO I CAN BE GOOD TO YOU. I AM VERY INTENSE AND I'M SO COMMITTED TO MAKING SURE THAT WE GET BETTER EVERY DAY. THIS PERFORMANCE EVALUATION IS HOW WE ARE DOING THAT. WE TALK A LOT ABOUT HART HUSTLE AND HIGHER STANDARDS, WE HAVE FLUSHED OUT EVERY SINGLE PERSON, FINANCE, HR, EVERY PERSON POLICY, CHIEF OF STAFF ET CETERA. THIS IS A RETENTION INCENTIVE, ONE TIME RETENTION INCENTIVE. THIS IS NOT RETROSPECTIVE, NOT RETROACTIVE, THE LAWYER IN ME WORKED CLOSELY WITH THE COUNTY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE AND GOT THEIR BLESSINGS. THIS IS ONLY FOR THE TOP TWO LEVELS OF TALENT. THE EXCEEDS EXPECTATION AND THE EXCEPTIONAL COMEDY OUTSTANDING , BETTER THAN EXCEEDS. AS AN ELECTED OFFICIAL WITHIN MY BUDGET ALREADY, I COULD HAVE BOUGHT MORE OFFICE PAPER, BUT I WANT TO KEEP THE BEST TALENT BECAUSE I WANT PRECINCT 4 TO DELIVER TO THE PEOPLE OF PRECINCT BORSKI.

I FEEL STRONGLY ABOUT THIS. I AM ASKING FOR MY COLLEGE COLLABORATION AND VOTE FOR ITEM 305 WHICH IS A REQUEST FOR APPROVAL OF A ONE TIME RETENTION INCENTIVE FOR PRECINCT BORSKI FOR EMPLOYEES BUT I HOPE EVERY DAY BOTH ELECTED AND UNELECTED DEPARTMENTS HAVE THEM. UNTIL THAT DAY, THE PEOPLE OF PRECINCT OR TALK HAVE GIVEN ME A CHANCE TO SERVE AND I WANT TO RUN MY PRECINCT THE WAY I THINK BEST DELIVERS TO THE PEOPLE. I AM ASKING FOR MY COLLEGE COLLABORATION TO PASS THIS ONE TIME RETENTION INCENTIVE AND I HAVE MY BRILLIANT LAWYERS BLESSING AND I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU TO JAY , JOHN, AND ALL OF YOUR TEAM. WITH THAT I

MOVED ITEM 305. >> MOTION BY COMMISSIONER

BRIONES . >> I WOULD LIKE A FRIENDLY

AMENDMENT. >> SECOND BY COMMISSIONER

GARCIA. >> FRIENDLY AMENDMENT. I WILL SUPPORT THE MOTION AND THE INITIATIVE WITHIN YOUR AREA AND CERTAINLY AS A OWNER OF A COMPANY. WE SET UP OUR PROFIT INITIATIVE IN JANUARY AND BASED ON PERFORMANCE OF THE COMPANY WE PAID OUT INCENTIVES AT THE END OF THE YEAR. I DO NOT THINK THERE'S ANYBODY THAT HAS DONE INCENTIVE-BASED BONUSES MORE THAN I HAVE. I WILL SUPPORT IT. I WANT TO BE CLEAR THIS IS OPEN TO ANY DEPARTMENT AND SPECIFICALLY INCLUDING LAW ENFORCEMENT GOING FORWARD WHO SETS UP EQUALLY ROBUST SYSTEMS AS COMMISSIONER BRIONES HAS. WE TURNED DOWN WHAT I CONSIDERED A

[03:55:06]

>> COMMISSIONER ELLIS . >> I JUST WANT TO ASK THE LEGAL DEPARTMENT AND MR. RAMOSE AS WELL IF THEY HAVE THE DISTINCTION IF WE VOTE FOR THIS WITH COMMISSIONER BRIONES AND FOR WHATEVER REASON THE COUNTY DOES NOT HAVE THE MONEY IN THE FUTURE , HER BUDGET DOES NOT HAVE THE MONEY IN THE FUTURE, IN ANY WAY, ARE WE RESTRAINED TO HAVE TO CONTINUE DOING IT? JUXTAPOSE WITH WHAT THE STATE REQUIRES IF YOU DO IT FOR CERTAIN DEPARTMENTS , WOULD YOU HAVE THE INABILITY TO NOT FUND THAT AGAIN ? WE HAVE TO DEFUND OTHER COUNTY SERVICES BECAUSE YOU CANNOT CONTINUE MAKING THOSE PAYMENTS.

>> IF I UNDERSTAND THE QUESTION , YOU ARE SAYING IS THAT BUDGET CONTINGENT , THE ANSWER IS YES. THERE IS NO RULE -- THE RULE IS THAT COMMISSIONERS COURT HAS TO APPROVE THE ENTIRE BUDGET. IF THESE PAYMENTS ARE MADE , THEY COME AT THE EXPENSE OF OTHER POTENTIAL PAYMENTS. I UNDERSTANDING IS THESE ARE COMING OUT OF PRECINCT 4 BUDGET.

>> BUT IF COMMISSIONER RAMSEY DO NOT OFFER A FRIENDLY AMENDMENT, I ASSUME IT WILL BE, YOU HAVE TO DO THAT WITH OTHER DEPARTMENTS. THE QUESTION IS IF YOU DO THAT WITH THE CONSTABLE'S OFFICE OR THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE, ARE WE LOCKED IN ALWAYS HAVING TO FUND THAT EVEN IF WE HAVE TO COLLECT

FROM OTHER DEPARTMENTS PRAYED >> ONLY TO THE EXTENT THAT YOU ARE INCREASING THE BUDGET. WE COULD NOT MAKE THIS A FRIENDLY AMENDMENT, THE ONLY ITEM ON THE AGENDA IS FOR PRECINCT 4 INCENTIVES. TO THE EXTENT THAT YOU ALLOW INCENTIVES IN THE LAW ENFORCEMENT DEPARTMENTS COME IF THEY ARE WITHIN THE EXISTING BUDGET, IT WOULD NOT BE A SB 23 ISSUE, IF IT IS AN INCREASE

THEN YOU WOULD HAVE AN ISSUE. >> I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE BECAUSE WHEN THERE IS ONE THAN I WANT TO KNOW.

>> WHAT YOU ARE SAYING IS IT WOULD NOT BE A ONE-TIME INCENTIVE BECAUSE YOU WOULD BE LOCKED IN BY SB 23. THAT IS WHAT I WAS GOING TO ASK, WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THIS AND TO COMMISSIONER RAMSEY'S POINT , I VAGUELY REMEMBER THIS, I DO REMEMBER IT, WHAT WAS THE DIFFERENCE AND WHY WAS THERE A RECOMMENDATION NOT TO SUPPORT THAT? DO YOU REMEMBER ?

>> OUR RECOMMENDATION WAS BECAUSE THERE ARE NINE LAW ENFORCEMENT DEPARTMENTS, 10 IF YOU HAVE THE FIRE MARSHAL .

THAT WOULD CREATE A COMPETITIVE IMBALANCE BECAUSE THEY ARE ON THE SAME PAY SCALE AND SOME DEPARTMENTS WOULD BE ABLE TO AFFORD IT AND SOME OF THEM SUCH AS PRECINCT 7 AND THE SHERIFF WOULD NOT HAVE THE APPROPRIATION TO FUND IT. THAT WAS THE THOUGHT PROCESS BEHIND OUR RECOMMENDATION.

>> JUDGE , I JUST WANT TO REITERATE WHAT JOHN SAID , THIS ITEM ONLY APPLIES TO PRECINCT 4. THE ONLY THING WE CAN DO TODAY IS ESSENTIALLY UP OR DOWN OR CHANGE ANYWAY AS IT AFFECTS PRECINCT 4. AS FOR GETTING INTO LARGER POLICY DISCUSSION ON ONE TIME RETENTION INCENTIVES , I THINK IT IS A GREAT DISCUSSION FOR THE COURT TO HAVE AND IT WOULD BE BETTER DONE ON ANOTHER AGENDA SO THAT THE PUBLIC IS AWARE THAT THE CONVERSATION WILL HAPPEN . TODAY, 305 IS JUST ABOUT PRECINCT 4 .

>> I AM IN TOTAL AGREEMENT BECAUSE I WOULD LIKE TO GET OUT

OF HERE. >> I DO SUPPORT THE INITIATIVE AND I UNDERSTAND WHAT YOU ARE SAYING.

>> JUST TO CONFIRM, EACH NEW PROGRAM WOULD COME BACK TO

[04:00:02]

COURT. >> YES. NO RULE IS BEING SAID ABOUT OTHER DEPARTMENTS OR PROGRAMS ARE CREATING OTHER PROGRAMS OR DEPARTMENTS. IT IS UP TO EACH DEPARTMENT OR EACH ELECTED OFFICIALS DECISION ON IF THEY WANT TO CREATE A INCENTIVE PROGRAM. THERE ARE POLICY DECISIONS WHICH DANIEL WAS ALLUDING TO, BUT LEGALLY SPEAKING THIS HAS NO EFFECT ON

OTHER DEPARTMENTS . >> IF SOMETHING COMES BACK THEY HAVE TO GET THE VOTES IT WOULD NOT HAPPEN UNLESS IT IS

APPROVED HERE. >> OKAY.

>> THANK YOU. >> THERE IS A MOTION ON ITEM --

COMMISSIONER GARCIA. >> I WAS IN THE QUEUE. I AM GOING TO SUPPORT THIS ITEM PRECISELY BECAUSE OF THE INTERPRETATION THAT WE HAVE GOTTEN FROM THE COUNTY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE THAT THIS IS RESTRICTED TO COMMISSIONER BRIONES'S OFFICE , AT SOME POINT , WE HAVE TO HAVE A CONVERSATION , AND MORE TO US , WE PROVIDE THE DIRECTORS THEIR BUDGETS WE PROVIDE OFFICES THEIR BUDGETS AND SOME OF THAT MONEY GOES UNSPENT , IN SPITE OF VACANCIES , IN SPITE OF PURCHASES THAT WERE BUDGETED AND DID NOT HAPPEN . IN THE OLD DAYS, IF YOU DID NOT SPEND IT, YOU LOST IT , SPEND IT ON YOUR BUDGET AS PRESENTED. I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE OTHER DEPARTMENTS THINK ABOUT , OR WE THINK ABOUT WHAT ARE GOING TO BE THE FUTURE CONTROLS FOR THE DEPARTMENTS ON TRACKING THEIR BUDGET SPENT AND WHAT DOES THAT MEAN TO THE BUDGET APPROVAL PROCESS . I JUST WANT TO PUT THAT ON THE TABLE FOR THOSE

OTHER DEPARTMENTS. >> COMMISSIONER BRIONES.

>> THANK YOU, COLLEAGUES. I ACTUALLY WAS GOING TO SAY SOMETHING VERY SIMILAR WITH THE MICRO POLICY ISSUE BUT FROM A BUDGETARY STANDPOINT I WANTED TO OFFER AND THANK YOU TO DR.

BLAKE ELLIS AND NATALIE NJ AND DON WE HAVE A PLAYBOOK THAT HAS WILL BUSK GUIDELINES . MY DESIRE FOR EFFICIENCY IT IS ROBUST AND EFFICIENT. IF ANYONE WOULD LIKE TO SEE IT WE ARE ALL ABOUT LEVERAGING RESOURCES WE ARE HAPPY TO SHARE THOSE MATERIALS AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT

>> MY CONCERN IS A CONSISTENCY PIECE. THE VOTES ARE THERE SO I WILL MAKE THE MOTION IN A MOMENT. I DON'T REALLY SEE THE DIFFERENCE IN TERMS OF WHAT WE SAID TO THE CONSTABLE AND WHAT WE ARE SEEING NOW, THE SAME KIND OF EMPLOYEES THAT WE HAVE THAT ONE OFFICE HAS, I ALSO HAVE A SECRETARY I ALSO HAVE A RESEARCHER PERSON ET CETERA. I JUST DO NOT THINK THERE IS A DIFFERENCE I THINK IT WOULD BE UNFAIR TO SAY YES TO THIS AND NO TO THE CONSTABLE. AND JUMPING OFF OF WHAT COMMISSIONER GARCIA SAID , WE HAVE A POLICY NOT FOR ALL THE DEPARTMENTS, CORRECT ME IF I AM WRONG DIRECTOR RAMOS , IF WE HAVE FUNDS AT THE END OF THE YEAR THEY DO NOT HAVE TO HANG OUT WITH THOSE FUNDS THEY HAVE TO APPLY WITH THEM. MEMBERS OF COURT HAVE ALSO DECIDED NOT TO FOLLOW THAT RULE , WE CAN AFFORD IT BECAUSE WE DON'T FOLLOW THE RULE, I JUST DO NOT LIKE THAT KIND OF INCONSISTENCY. I CANNOT AFFORD THIS ONE-TIME INCENTIVE FOR MY TEAM BECAUSE I FOLLOW THE RULE AND I DON'T KEEP MY BUDGET BECAUSE I THINK IF THERE IS A RULE SHOULD BE ACROSS THE BOARD. MY SECRETARY IS COMPETING . YOU MAY OFFER THIS BECAUSE YOU CAN PAY MORE AND GIVE INCENTIVES AND SUDDENLY A LOT OF THEM LEAVE, WHICH THEY HAVE COME A WHOLE LOT OF MY TEAM MEMBERS LEFT FOR COMMISSIONER BRIONES'S OFFICE. ANYWAY, I THINK IT IS WONDERFUL THAT PEOPLE GET IT, I THINK IT IS A GREAT IDEA BUT I THINK WE NEED TO DISCUSS IT AS A BROADER POLICY BEFORE WE DO IT. I WILL BE VOTING NO. WE HAVE A MOTION BY COMMISSIONER BRIONES AND SECOND BY COMMISSIONER GARCIA . ALL IN FAVOR.

>> ANY OPPOSED ? I AM OPPOSED, RULES FOR ME . I AM OPPOSED.

[Executive Session]

[04:05:07]

>> OKAY. WE WENT INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION ON ITEM 311 . IS THERE

A MOTION TO APPROVE ITEM 311 ? >> CAN YOU SEE ME, JUDGE?

>> YES, COMMISSIONER WE CAN SEE YOU. THEM UP WHAT ITEM ARE WE

ON? >> 311.

>> JUDGE -- CAN YOU CALL DESMOND

>> IT IS 3:42 , WE ARE BACK FROM EXECUTIVE SESSION. I AM ON NUMBER 311 WHICH IS APPROVAL OF LEGAL SERVICES FOR THE HARRIS COUNTY ELECTIONS DEMONSTRATOR. A MOTION BY COMMISSIONER ELLIS

[Emergency/Supplemental items]

>> CORRECT. >> AUTHORIZING A PAYMENT, AMENDMENT TO THE CONTRACT. THAT IS 362. IS THERE A MOTION FOR

ITEM 362? >> WHICH ONE IS THAT, AGAIN?

>> COMMISSIONER BRIONES -- >> 362, HARRIS COUNTY AMENDMENT

. >> YOU ARE FOR IT, COMMISSIONER P IT COMMISSIONER BRIONES MAKES A MOTION, I WILL MAKE THE SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR. ANY OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES 4-1.

>> JUDGE, APPARENTLY 363 DID NOT GET PUT ON THE CONSENT AGENDA, WE DID NOT TAKE A VOTE. THERE IS AN AGREEMENT OR PROFESSIONAL SERVICES AGREEMENT WITH BEST BEST AND KRIEGER , IT

IS A CONTINUATION. >> I WILL MOVE IT AS PRESENTED.

>> ALL IN FAVOR. ANY OPPOSED ? MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.

5-0. ALL RIGHT . CLERK'S OFFICE, COUNTY ATTORNEY, COLLEAGUES, INC. YOU ALL SO MUCH. IT IS 3:44 AND

* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.