* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning. GOOD MORNING EVERYONE. GOOD MORNING. IT'S 1011 AND I'D LIKE TO CALL THE FEBRUARY 6TH, 2025 MEETING OF THE HARRIS COUNTY COMMISSIONERS COURT TO [00:00:10] ORDER. WE WILL NOW HEAR FROM COMMISSIONER RAMSEY TO INTRODUCE OUR PRAYER. [Pastor Courtnay White of Fountain of Love Church in Tomball introduced by the Commissioner of Precinct 3. ] THANK YOU. JUDGE. WE'RE FORTUNATE TO HAVE PASTOR RICHARD JENNINGS HERE TODAY. IF YOU'VE EVER BEEN OUT ON THE GRAND PARKWAY AND SEEN A BIG CROSS. YOU'RE NEAR HIS CHURCH. THAT'S RIVER OF PRAISE. AND. AND THE THING I'LL SAY ABOUT HIS CONGREGATION, LIKE SO MANY CONGREGATIONS IN OUR COUNTY, IS THEY PROVIDE SUCH ONE GREAT COMMUNITY SUPPORT IN TIMES OF DISASTER. AND TWO. THEY'RE OUR EYES AND OUR EARS IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD IN TERMS OF BEING SURE WE UNDERSTAND ALL THE ISSUES THAT THAT WE COULD AND SHOULD DEAL WITH. SO, PASTOR JENNINGS, IF YOU COULD COME UP RIVER PRAISE CHURCH, BEEN THERE SINCE 85. AND GET US STARTED OFF ON THE RIGHT FOOT. THANK YOU SIR. THANK YOU SIR. LORD, WE THANK YOU FOR YOUR PRESENCE HERE TODAY. AND WE THANK YOU FOR YOUR WORD AND PROVERBS. CHAPTER TWO VERSE SIX SAYS THAT YOU, LORD, YOU GIVE WISDOM, AND FROM YOUR MOUTH COME KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING. LORD, YOU STORE UP SOUND WISDOM FOR THE UPRIGHT, AND YOU ARE SHIELDED. THOSE WHO WALK IN INTEGRITY, GUARDING THE PATHS OF JUSTICE, AND PRESERVES THE WAY OF YOUR GODLY ONES. AND YOUR WORD SAYS THAT YOU WILL GIVE AND SHOW US HOW TO DISCERN RIGHTEOUSNESS AND JUSTICE AND EQUITY, AND FOLLOW EVERY GOOD COURSE. FOR WISDOM WILL ENTER OUR HEARTS AND KNOWLEDGE WILL BE PLEASANT TO OUR SOULS. WHEN WE FOLLOW YOU. DISCRETION WILL GUARD US, AND UNDERSTANDING WILL WATCH OVER US. LORD, WE THANK YOU FOR GUIDING, LEADING, AND GIVING WISDOM TO OUR HARRIS COUNTY COMMISSIONERS COURT TODAY AS THEY PRESIDE OVER THIS MEETING. WE THANK YOU FOR THE HONOR AND THE PRIVILEGE TO SEEK YOU FIRST, FOR YOU ARE THE SOURCE OF WISDOM. JESUS, WE THANK YOU FOR YOUR WORDS. IN MATTHEW SEVEN SEVEN, YOU TELL US, ASK AND IT WILL BE GIVEN TO US. SEEK AND WE WILL FIND. KNOCK AND IT WILL BE OPEN FOR EVERYONE WHO ASKS, RECEIVES, HE WHO SEEKS FINDS, AND TO HIM WHO KNOCKS IT WILL BE OPEN. SO LORD, PLEASE BLESS OUR COMMISSIONERS AND LEADERS AS THEY MAKE THESE IMPORTANT DECISIONS. FOR WE KNOW THAT THEIR DECISIONS AFFECT OUR BEAUTIFUL HARRIS COUNTY, AND WE JUST THANK YOU AND GIVE YOU PRAISE FOR THIS DAY. IN JESUS NAME. AMEN. AMEN. THANK YOU. PASTOR. THANK YOU SO MUCH PASTOR. THANK YOU PASTOR. GREAT PRAYER. OKAY, 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 THE TEXAS ONE STATE UNDER GOD, ONE AND INDIVISIBLE. [Departments (Part 1 of 3)] OKAY. SOME HOUSEKEEPING NOTES. WE WILL TAKE THE ITEM SEVEN, THE BLACK HISTORY MONTH RESOLUTION AT THE END AS THE LAST OUT OF ORDER RESOLUTION AS PER PRECINCT ONE REQUEST. PRECINCT TWO. COMMISSIONER. GARCIA WILL BE LEAVING THE COURT BETWEEN 1250 AND 3 P.M., SO WE'LL BE MINDFUL OF THAT. AND PRECINCT FOUR HAS REQUESTED THAT ITEM 13 BE TAKEN AT 2:15 P.M. TO ACCOMMODATE THE HONOREES TO ADDRESS COURT. AND SO I'VE MADE A NOTE. I'VE TOLD MY STAFF, BUT IF I FORGET, IT'S NOT ON PURPOSE. AND THEN I ALSO WANT YOU GUYS TO KNOW THAT THERE'S A BLOOD DRIVE TODAY ON THE FOURTH FLOOR OF OUR BUILDING. AND I THINK YOU GUYS DO KNOW BECAUSE ALL OUR SPOTS ARE FILLED AND WE OPEN SOME ADDITIONAL SPOTS AND THE ADDITIONAL SPOTS WERE FILLED. SO WE REALLY APPRECIATE THAT. SO IT'S GOING ON ALL DAY AT 4:15 P.M.. WE'RE DOING I'M DONATING BLOOD AND WE'RE DOING A WHOLE PRESS EVENT AROUND IT. SO AT THAT TIME, I'LL HAND IT OVER TO COMMISSIONER ELLIS TO PRESIDE. THOSE ARE THE HOUSEKEEPING NOTES. WE HAVE NINE RESOLUTIONS TO TAKE OUT OF ORDER THIS MORNING. SO LET ME START WITH MINE. THE FIRST ONE IS CONGRATULATIONS TO SOMEONE WHO'S HELPED ENORMOUSLY WITH COMMISSIONERS COURT OVER THE YEAR, [00:05:02] OVER THE YEARS. AND THAT'S JUDITH MARSHALL. WHEREAS JUDITH MARSHALL, SENIOR MANAGER OF AGENDA MANAGEMENT WITH THE OFFICE OF COUNTY ADMINISTRATION, STARTED HER CAREER WITH HARRIS COUNTY ON AUGUST 18TH, 1997 AND WILL RETIRE ON JANUARY 24TH, 2025. SHE RETIRED ALREADY AFTER OVER 27 YEARS OF DEVOTED SERVICE TO HARRIS COUNTY. SHE STARTED HER CAREER IN THE BUDGET OFFICE WITHIN THE MANAGEMENT STUDIES SECTION BEFORE TRANSITIONING TO BUDGET SERVICES, WHERE SHE SUPPORTED COUNTY DEPARTMENTS BY TRAINING THEM, ENABLING MORE AUTOMATED BUDGET SUBMISSIONS, PREPARING THE COURT TRANSFER LIST, AND PERFORMING NUMEROUS SPECIAL PROJECTS. SHE MOVED TO THE AGENDA MANAGEMENT TEAM AT THE END OF 2015, WHERE SHE DEDICATED NUMEROUS DAYS AND NIGHTS MANAGING THE AGENDA PROCESS. SHE ATTENDED HUNDREDS OF COURT MEETINGS, BOTH IN PERSON AND ONLINE. SHE SUPPORTED DEPARTMENTS WITH THEIR AGENDA ITEMS, EARNING THE NICKNAME EAGLE EYE FOR HER METICULOUS PROOFING AND ASSISTING THE PUBLIC WITH SPEAKING AND OTHER VARIOUS REQUESTS. ODDS ARE YOU GUYS HAVE CHECKED IN, CHECKED IN WITH MISS MARSHALL IN THE PAST. IF YOU'VE BEEN TO COMMISSIONERS COURT BEFORE. MISS MARSHALL HAS BEEN AN INVALUABLE RESOURCE FOR BUDGET AND AGENDA MATTERS TO EMPLOYEES ALL ACROSS ALL COUNTY DEPARTMENTS, AND SHE'S EARNED THEIR RESPECT AND ADMIRATION BY CONSISTENTLY TREATING OTHERS WITH FAIRNESS, COMPASSION, AND DEDICATION. AS FAR AS PLANS, SHE PLANS TO SPEND MORE TIME WITH HER HUSBAND, RON, AS THEY ENJOY THEIR GRANDCHILDREN AND WILL CONTINUE TO STAY ACTIVE WITH THE ENRICHMENT AND BROTHERHOOD ORGANIZATION OF NORTHWEST U.S. YOUTH EBONY AND BIBLE STUDY FELLOWSHIP. MISS MARSHALL HAS ENJOYED WORKING FOR HARRIS COUNTY AND WILL MISS HER MANY COLLEAGUES AND FRIENDS, AND WE WILL MISS HER AS WELL. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED THAT HARRIS COUNTY COMMISSIONERS COURT HEREBY COMMENDS AND CONGRATULATES JUDITH MARSHALL FOR MORE THAN 27 YEARS OF SERVICE TO HARRIS COUNTY AND FURTHER OFFERS BEST WISHES FOR AN ENJOYABLE RETIREMENT. THANK YOU SO MUCH. GOOD MORNING. MY NAME IS JUDITH MARSHALL, AND TO COMMISSIONERS COURT AND YOUR STAFF, COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR DEANNA RAMIREZ AND OTHER HARRIS COUNTY STAFF, MY DIRECTOR LUCINDA SILVA AND THE AGENDA TEAM, TIFFANY WILLIAMS, LAUREN STUCKERT, LORI ROMAN, MARY CAESAR AND OUR GUEST. LITTLE DID I KNOW THAT HAVING MY CAR TOWED DURING MY INITIAL INTERVIEW, DUE TO DUE TO INCORRECT PARKING INSTRUCTIONS, WOULD LEAD TO SUCH A REWARDING CAREER. ALTHOUGH I FEEL I WAS QUALIFIED, I THINK THAT HELPED ME GET HIRED. I'VE HAD SOME EXCITING EXPERIENCES WORKING AT THE COUNTY, SUCH AS WHEN THE ASTROS WORLD SERIES CHAMPIONSHIP TROPHY WAS BROUGHT TO COURT, AND HAVING THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE IN THE SAME ROOM WITH STATE REPRESENTATIVES, SENATORS, MAYORS AND OTHER COMMUNITY ACHIEVERS. GO AHEAD. I'VE HAD THE PLEASURE OF INTERACTING WITH EVERY DEPARTMENT IN THE COUNTY AND HAVE WORKED WITH SOME TALENTED EMPLOYEES AND MADE LASTING FRIENDS. I WANT TO RECOGNIZE MY HUSBAND OF 41 YEARS, RON, WHO WOULD PICK ME UP FROM WORK AT 9 OR 10:00 PM AT NIGHT DOING AGENDA PREPARATION SO I WOULDN'T HAVE TO DRIVE HOME SO LATE BY MYSELF. AND WHEN WE STARTED WORKING REMOTELY, HE WOULD BE RESPONSIBLE OR COOK DINNER DURING MY LATE NIGHTS. I LOOK FORWARD TO A HAPPY RETIREMENT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. COMMISSIONER. AND THANK YOU. I'VE GOT THE I'VE GOT THIS TO WHERE I CAN REACH IT NOW, SO I'M GOING TO PRACTICE WITH IT. COMMISSIONER BRIONES THANK YOU, JUDGE HIDALGO. COMMISSIONER. MISS MARSHALL, WE WANTED TO SAY THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU. EAGLE EYE IS SUCH A PERFECT WAY TO DESCRIBE YOU. ON BEHALF OF MY TEAM, WE JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU FOR YOUR EXCELLENCE, YOUR PATIENCE, YOUR KINDNESS, YOUR METICULOUSNESS. YOU HAVE BEEN A GIFT TO HARRIS COUNTY, AND I HOPE YOU AND RON HAVE AN AMAZING TIME TOGETHER DURING THIS MUCH DESERVED RETIREMENT. SO CONGRATULATIONS AND THANK YOU. THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER GARCIA. I, TOO, WANT TO CONGRATULATE YOU ON YOUR YEARS OF SERVICE, AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR DEDICATION TO THE COUNTY, AND YOU KNOW THE NEW CHAPTER IN YOUR LIFE CAN BE JUST AS EXCITING AS THE LAST. SO ENJOY IT. CELEBRATE IT. YOU'VE EARNED IT. AND TO RON, IF THINGS GET A LITTLE TOO TOUGH AT HOME, WE'LL EITHER TAKE HER BACK OR WE'LL OFFER YOU A JOB. [00:10:04] OKAY? CONGRATULATIONS. THANK YOU. COMMISSIONER RAMSEY. YEAH. A FEW PEOPLE REALIZE JUST HOW MANY AGENDA ITEMS HAPPEN, AND THAT'S NOT BY ACCIDENT. THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP ON THAT. AND I CAN TELL YOU, PLAYING WITH GRANDKIDS IS GOING TO BE A LOT MORE FUN THAN AGENDA ITEMS. I AGREE. THANK YOU. THANK YOU SO MUCH. AND I KNOW YOU'VE BEEN THROUGH A LOT OF CHANGES AS WELL. AND, YOU KNOW, THE AGENDA FORMAT CHANGES AND THE WORK FROM HOME AND AND STAYING TILL REALLY, REALLY LATE AND THOSE LONG COURTS. FINALLY WE LEARNED COMMISSIONER RAMSAY'S SAYING THAT NOTHING GOOD HAPPENS AFTER MIDNIGHT. AND I THINK HOPEFULLY WE'VE REALLY INTERNALIZED THAT. BUT THANK YOU SO MUCH. AND TO YOUR HUSBAND, SIR, I DIDN'T I FIGURED YOU MAY BE HERE, BUT SO THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR FOR SUPPORTING HER AND FOR LETTING US LETTING US WORK WITH SUCH AN INCREDIBLE PERSON OVER ALL THESE YEARS. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR LENDING YOUR TIME TO US. WE REALLY APPRECIATE YOU. YEAH. CONGRATULATIONS. JUDGE. COMMISSIONERS, I'D ALSO LIKE TO SAY TO THANK MISS MARSHALL FOR HER TIME HERE. I ONLY GOT TO SPEND THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS OF HER CAREER WORKING WITH HER, BUT EAGLE EYES IS TRUE. I'M USUALLY THE ONE WITH THE RED PEN IN THE OFFICE. SHE'S THE ONE WHO'S CAUGHT ME ON SEVERAL THINGS, AND SHE'S THE ONLY ONE SO FAR WHO HAS CAUGHT MY MISTAKE. SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR MAKING MY WORK BETTER. AND I ALSO WANT TO THANK HER FOR BEING GENEROUS WITH HER EXPERTISE AND EXPERIENCE AND SHARING IT WITH THE STAFF WHO ARE REMAINING IN THE JOB, BECAUSE IT'S A REALLY BIG JOB TO PULL THIS OFF FOR EVERY COURT MEETING AS WELL AS THEY DO, AND THEY WORK REALLY HARD. AND WITHOUT HAVING HER SHARE THAT KNOWLEDGE AND HER EXPERIENCE TO TO BRING UP THE OTHERS AND HAVE THE SUCCESSION PLAN IN PLACE, YOU KNOW, WE WOULDN'T HAVE BE HAVING SUCH A SMOOTH COURT TODAY. SO WE REALLY APPRECIATE HER AND THE WHOLE AGENDA TEAM TO THEIR GREAT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. OH GO AHEAD. I'M LUCINDA SILVA. I SAID I WASN'T GOING TO DO THIS, BUT THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING THAT YOU'VE DONE AND FOR YOUR MANY, MANY, MANY ENDLESS NIGHTS AND MANY HOURS THAT YOU'VE PUT THROUGH PUTTING THIS AGENDA TOGETHER. I APPRECIATE YOU. AND THE AGENDA TEAM APPRECIATES EVERYTHING THAT YOU'VE DONE. IT'S BEEN 27 YEARS. IT'S BEEN A GREAT RIDE. YES THANK YOU. LOOK, IT'S VERY CLEAR YOU ARE WELL LOVED AND WILL BE MISSED. MISS. MISS MARSHALL, LET ME GO OVER ITEM FOUR. SO THIS IS A RESOLUTION CELEBRATING THE 50TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE GULF COAST REGIONAL BLOOD CENTER. AND THAT'S THE REASON FOR THE BLOOD DRIVE, OF COURSE. AND AND AS ANYBODY WHO'S HAD BEEN SICK OR HAD SICK RELATIVES KNOWS, A LOT OF THE TIMES THAT BLOOD IS IS SO LIFE SAVING. AND SO ANYTIME FOLKS HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO GIVE BLOOD THAT'S JUST IT'S A BIG DEAL. SO LET ME, LET ME GIVE HERE SOME SOME INFORMATION AS TO GIVING BLOOD. IF YOU GUYS WOULD LIKE TO. SO AS I SAID, TODAY, WE FILLED UP ALL OUR SLOTS. BUT TO TO MEET OUR COMMUNITY'S NEEDS, THE GULF COAST REGIONAL BLOOD CENTER NEEDS ABOUT 1000 DONATIONS A DAY. THEY USE BLOOD DONATIONS IN SURGERIES, CANCER TREATMENTS AND VARIOUS MEDICAL PROCEDURES. EVERYBODY WHO'S ALREADY GIVEN BLOOD OR ALREADY REGISTERED. THANK YOU. BUT TO LEARN MORE AND TO FIND OUT WHERE TO DONATE. IF YOU DIDN'T SNATCH A SLOT TODAY, GO TO GIVE BLOOD. AND I HOPE YOU GUYS WILL DO THAT. EVERYBODY HAS A SMARTPHONE AND JUST, YOU KNOW, GO ON THERE. IF YOU CAN GIVE BLOOD OR KNOW SOMEBODY WHO CAN. IT'S A GREAT PUBLIC SERVICE THAT, THAT WE CAN DO FOR, FOR OTHERS. AS FAR AS THE RESOLUTION ITSELF, WHEREAS THE GULF COAST REGIONAL BLOOD CENTER CELEBRATED ITS 50TH ANNIVERSARY ON JANUARY 1ST, 2025, MAKING HALF A CENTURY OF DEDICATED SERVICE TO THE RESIDENTS OF HARRIS COUNTY AND THE SURROUNDING AREAS. IT COLLECTED 46,602 UNITS OF BLOOD FOR 40 HOSPITALS IN ITS INAUGURAL YEAR. NOW, IN 2025, IT COLLECTS MORE THAN 350,000 UNITS OF BLOOD PER YEAR, SERVES 170 HOSPITALS IN THE REGION. THE GULF COAST REGIONAL BLOOD CENTER HAS RESPONDED TO SOME OF THE REGION'S MOST DEVASTATING EMERGENCIES. IN 1978, IT PROVIDED 116 UNITS OF BLOOD WITHIN 30 MINUTES OF THE TEXAS CITY REFINERY EXPLOSION. IN 1983, IT ESTABLISHED A HOTLINE TO SHARE INFORMATION ON THE AIDS EPIDEMIC. [00:15:01] IT HAS ALSO ENSURED ACCESS TO BLOOD WHEN OUR REGION WAS STRUCK BY HURRICANE ALISON, RITA IKE HARVEY BERYL, THE GULF COAST REGIONAL BLOOD CENTER IS COMMITTED TO ADVANCING SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH BY PROVIDING HIGH QUALITY BLOOD PRODUCTS TAILORED TO MEET THE DIVERSE NEEDS OF THE RESEARCH COMMUNITY. IT LAUNCHED ITS DIVERSITY. DONORS IN SPANISH INITIATIVE CAMPAIGNS TO SPECIFICALLY RECRUIT BLACK AND SPANISH SPEAKING DONORS IN ORDER TO MAXIMIZE THE NUMBER OF POSSIBLE MATCHES FOR ITS RECIPIENTS. DONORS ARE MORE LIKELY TO MATCH TO BE A MATCH FOR PATIENTS FROM THE SAME ETHNIC BACKGROUND, AND ITS RECRUITMENT EFFORTS HAVE PROVIDED LIFE SAVING BLOOD PRODUCTS FOR ITS RECIPIENTS. IT HAS HARNESSED HARRIS COUNTY RESIDENTS GENEROUS SPIRIT TO SAVE MILLIONS OF LIFE LIVES. AS WE CELEBRATE THIS MILESTONE. WE HOPE IT WILL REMAIN COMMITTED TO EXPANDING ITS RESEARCH GOALS AND CONTINUE TO PROVIDE ITS LIFE SAVING SERVICES TO THE REGION. AND I KNOW THEY WILL, AND ALL OF US HERE WILL SUPPORT IN THAT. SO. HARRIS COUNTY COMMISSIONERS COURT HEREBY CELEBRATES THE GULF COAST REGIONAL BLOOD CENTER'S 50TH ANNIVERSARY IN HARRIS COUNTY, TEXAS, AND ENCOURAGES ITS RESIDENTS TO COMMIT FOR LIFE BY GIVING BLOOD. CONGRATULATIONS. AND THANK YOU. TIFFANY, CAN YOU PLEASE INTRODUCE OUR SPEAKERS? TERESA PENA. THANK YOU TO THE HARRIS COUNTY COMMISSIONERS COURT FOR RECOGNIZING GULF COAST REGIONAL BLOOD CENTER'S CONTRIBUTION TO THE COMMUNITY AND FOR OUR 50TH ANNIVERSARY. WE ALSO EXTEND OUR GRATITUDE TO JUDGE LINA HIDALGO OFFICE FOR HOSTING TODAY'S BLOOD DRIVE, SHOWCASING A COMMITMENT TO BUILDING A HEALTHIER COMMUNITY AND HELPING SAVE LIVES. THIS YEAR, WE PROUDLY CELEBRATE OUR 50TH ANNIVERSARY, MARKING FIVE DECADES OF DEDICATION TO SAVING AND SUSTAINING LIVES. OUR MISSION IS ONLY MADE POSSIBLE BY THE GENEROSITY OF BLOOD DONORS, BUSINESSES, ORGANIZATIONS, AND COMMUNITY LEADERS. THIS ENABLES US TO SUPPORT MILLIONS OF PATIENTS THROUGH 170 HOSPITALS, INCLUDING THOSE IN THE TEXAS MEDICAL CENTER. TOGETHER WITH CONTINUED SUPPORT OF BLOOD DONORS, COMMUNITY LEADERS AND PARTNERS, WE CAN STRENGTHEN OUR EFFORTS TO BETTER BUILD A HEALTHIER AND MORE RESILIENT COMMUNITY FOR GENERATIONS TO COME. AND WE CHALLENGE OUR COMMUNITY TO MAKE A BLOOD DONATION A REGULAR PART OF THEIR LIVES. AND THERE ARE THREE IMPACTFUL WAYS TO GET TO GET INVOLVED BY DONATING BLOOD. HOSTING A BLOOD DRIVE AND VOLUNTEERING YOUR TIME. THANK YOU FOR BEING AN INTEGRAL PART OF OUR JOURNEY AND FOR YOUR UNWAVERING SUPPORT AS WE CHART THE PATH FOR THE NEXT 50 YEARS. THANK YOU. THANK YOU GUYS SO MUCH. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THAT'S ALL FOR THIS ITEM. AND AS FAR AS VOLUNTEERING AND HOSTING A BLOOD DRIVE, CAN FOLKS ALSO FIND THAT AT GIVE BLOOD ORG? YES. OKAY. SO WE GIVE BLOOD. ORG. ANY OTHER SPEAKERS ON THIS RESOLUTION? TIFFANY. NO, MA'AM. OKAY, SO LET ME MOVE ON TO A POINT OF PERSONAL PRIVILEGE. TO COMMEMORATE THE LIFE OF JOSE TREVINO AND JUST AN AMAZING, AMAZING MAN WHO WAS HAS BEEN PIVOTAL TO SO MANY PEOPLE, SPANISH SPEAKING PEOPLE, HISPANIC PEOPLE IN OUR REGION. FROM THE STANDPOINT OF OF NEWS AND INFORMATION. WHEREAS JOSE TREVINO, BORN ON MARCH 19TH, 1932, IN BROWNSVILLE, TEXAS, WAS A VISIONARY LEADER, ENTREPRENEUR AND PHILANTHROPIST WHO MADE SIGNIFICANT CONTRIBUTIONS TO HARRIS COUNTY AND ACROSS THE NATION. HE EARNED HIS PHARMACY DEGREE FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT AUSTIN IN 1955, AND SUBSEQUENTLY ESTABLISHED AMICK'S PHARMACY IN HOUSTON'S EAST END, SERVING THE COMMUNITY FOR OVER 35 YEARS, AND EXTENDED HIS IMPACT TO MANAGE MULTIPLE PHARMACIES ACROSS THE CITY. HE SERVED AS PRESIDENT OF BOTH THE TEXAS PHARMACEUTICAL ASSOCIATION AND THE HARRIS COUNTY PHARMACEUTICAL ASSOCIATION, DEMONSTRATING HIS COMMITMENT TO SERVICE AND LEADERSHIP IN THE PHARMACEUTICAL PROFESSION. BUT BUT GET THIS, THAT WASN'T THE ONLY THE ONLY SECTOR HE WORKED ON AS CO-FOUNDER OF PUEBLO BROADCASTING IN KSLN-TV, HOUSTON'S FIRST SPANISH LANGUAGE TELEVISION STATION. MR. TREVINO EARNED THE TITLE OF FATHER OF SPANISH LANGUAGE TELEVISION IN HOUSTON, REVOLUTIONIZING MEDIA ACCESS FOR THE HISPANIC COMMUNITY AND SERVING AS PRESIDENT AND CEO OF UNIVISION CHANNEL 45. MR. TREVINO'S LEADERSHIP EXTENDED TO NUMEROUS ORGANIZATIONS. HE SERVED ON THE BOARD OF THE HOUSTON COMMUNITY COLLEGE FOUNDATION, WHERE HE ADVOCATED TIRELESSLY FOR AFFORDABLE AND ACCESSIBLE EDUCATION. HE PLAYED A PIVOTAL ROLE IN DEVELOPING FUTURE LEADERS BY MENTORING YOUNG PEOPLE THROUGH THE HISPANIC CHAMBER OF COMMERCE AND SUPPORTING EVENTS LIKE THE HOUSTON INTERNATIONAL FESTIVAL. HE WAS A DEVOTED FAMILY MAN, MARRIED TO VIRGINIA LAMAR GONZALEZ FOR 58 YEARS. A PROUD FATHER TO CYNTHIA AND GLORIANA. A GRANDFATHER AND A GREAT GRANDFATHER WHOSE LEGACY OF SERVICE CONTINUES TO INSPIRE OTHERS. [00:20:04] NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED THAT HARRIS COUNTY HEREBY DESIGNATES FEBRUARY 6TH, 2025, AS JOSE TREVINO DAY IN HARRIS COUNTY, TEXAS, TO HONOR HIS LIFE AND MEMORY. EXPRESSING OUR DEEPEST SYMPATHIES TO HIS FAMILY AND FRIENDS, AND EXTENDING OUR GRATITUDE FOR THE INDELIBLE MARK HE LEFT ON OUR COMMUNITY. SO I KNOW I KNOW HIS FAMILY IS HERE. IF YOU GUYS WOULD LIKE TO MAKE YOUR WAY UP AND. AND LET'S. IN THE MEANTIME, GIVE THEM A ROUND OF APPLAUSE FOR SHARING WITH US. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. I MISS DAUGHTER GLORY. AND JUST THANK YOU FOR RECOGNIZING DAD. I KNEW I WAS GOING TO GET UPSET, BUT ANYWAY. IT'S OKAY. HE WOULD BE VERY HONORED THAT Y'ALL DID THIS FOR HIM. PLEASE. I DIDN'T THINK I WAS GOING TO CRY. THANK YOU. GARY. COUNTY JUDGE LINA HIDALGO, COMMISSIONERS AND THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATION AND STAFF. THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU FROM THE BOTTOM OF OUR HEART ON BEHALF OF THE FAMILY AND ON BEHALF OF THE UNIVISION FAMILY THAT I REPRESENT, WE WANT TO THANK YOU FOR RECOGNIZING THE SEEING THE LEGACY. THE LIFE OF MR. JOSE TREVINO. I WANT YOU TO REMEMBER HIM AS A MAN THAT FIRST LOVED HIS FAMILY DEARLY AND EXTENDED FAMILY LIKE MYSELF. AND ALSO THE UNIVISION FAMILY AND THE COMMUNITY. EVERYTHING HE DID WAS FOR THE LOVE OF THE COMMUNITY. AS YOU MENTIONED, HE WAS A PHARMACIST AS TREY, BUT HE KNEW HE COULD DO MORE. HE, HE HE SAW THAT THERE WAS A MISSING VOICE IN FOR THE HISPANIC COMMUNITY. AND THAT'S HOW HE GOT A GROUP OF INVESTORS TO START PUEBLO BROADCASTING CORPORATION FIRST AS A LOW POWER STATION. IT TOOK HIM 11 YEARS TO START THE STATION AS A FULL POWER STATION IN 1987, AND LATER ON UNIVISION PURCHASED THE COMPANY. AND LIKE I SAID, THE REST IS HISTORY. HE IS THE FATHER OF SPANISH TELEVISION IN HARRIS COUNTY, AND HE WAS ALSO ONE OF THE FOUNDERS OF THE HISPANIC CHAMBER OF COMMERCE, AND HE BECAME ALSO THE PRESIDENT OF THE US HISPANIC CHAMBER OF COMMERCE. HE WAS A FIGHTER ON BEHALF OF THE HISPANIC COMMUNITY. HE WAS A WARRIOR. HE WAS DETERMINED HE HAD ALSO HE WAS A KIND MAN. AND AND A LOVING PERSON. THANK YOU SO MUCH AGAIN, ON BEHALF OF HIS FAMILY, THE TREVINO FAMILY AND THE UNIVISION FAMILY. THANK YOU. OH, I FORGOT TO SAY HE WAS MY FIRST BOSS. 32 YEARS AGO. 32 YEARS AGO. BUT HE WAS NOT ONLY MY BOSS. HE WAS MY MENTOR IN THE COMMUNITY RELATIONS FIELD AND MY FRIEND UNTIL THE DAY HE DIED. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. I LOVE YOU, COMMISSIONER GARCIA AND THEN COMMISSIONER BRIONES. GLORIANA AND AND GRACE INTO THE FAMILY. I HAD THE INCREDIBLE HONOR OF KNOWING YOUR DAD AND YOUR BOSS. AS YOU KNOW, GRACE, FOR A LOT OF YEARS. I THINK HOWEVER LONG AGO UNIVISION WAS AT THE KIRBY LOCATION WAS HOW FAR BACK WE GO? YEAH. AND IT WAS INCREDIBLE TO THINK, YOU KNOW, YOU USE THE WORD KIND MAN SEVERAL TIMES, GRACE. AND I JUST WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT HAVING BEEN THE OWNER OF A TV STATION EMPLOYING ALL THOSE PEOPLE AND BEING RESPONSIBLE FOR THE ADVERTISEMENTS THAT WOULD COME THROUGH THE STATION BEING COMMITTED TO DELIVERING A QUALITY PRODUCT TO THE COMMUNITY. AND, YOU KNOW, OBVIOUSLY THE RISK OF THE INVESTMENT MADE TO GET THERE. SHAREHOLDERS THAT HE WAS ALSO RESPONSIBLE FOR INCREDIBLE RESPONSIBILITIES. INCREDIBLE. AND YOUR DAD AND I WERE ALSO MEMBERS. I DON'T KNOW IF YOU'RE FAMILIAR WITH HIS PARENT CLUB MEMBERSHIP. SO HE AND I WERE MEMBERS OF THE SAME CLUB. THAT'S A DIFFERENT STORY. BUT FROM ALL THOSE TIMES, AND HAVING TALKED TO HIM DURING TROPICAL STORM ALICIA AND OTHER EVENTS, I DON'T EVER REMEMBER YOUR DAD HAVING A BAD DISPOSITION, WHATEVER THE CIRCUMSTANCE WAS. NEVER, NEVER. AND SO I JUST WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT I LOOK TO HIM AS A MENTOR AS WELL, BECAUSE HE AND I TALKED ABOUT A LOT [00:25:06] OF THINGS. WE TALKED ABOUT POLITICS. WE TALKED ABOUT BUSINESS. WE TALKED ABOUT THE POLICE DEPARTMENT. WE TALKED ABOUT THE CITY. AND HE WAS JUST ALWAYS READY WITH INCREDIBLE PEARLS OF WISDOM. AND AND HE IS GOING TO BE MISSED. BUT HE IS NEVER, NEVER GOING TO BE FORGOTTEN. SO THANK YOU FOR SHARING HIM. AND GRACE, THANK YOU FOR YOU KNOW, I THINK THAT ALL HE WANTED WAS TO CREATE OPPORTUNITY AND TO MAKE SURE THAT INDIVIDUALS LIKE YOURSELF HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPREAD THEIR WINGS. THERE'S NO DOUBT, GRACE, THAT YOU ARE AMONGST HIS MOST PROUDEST PROTEGES. AND SO THANK YOU FOR REPRESENTING HIM FIRST. AND THE STATION SO INCREDIBLY WELL. BUT JUST TO SAY THAT YOUR DAD WAS AN INCREDIBLE, INCREDIBLE ROLE MODEL TO ME, AND I REALLY DON'T THINK MY LIFE WOULD HAVE TURNED OUT, I THINK MY LIFE RATHER WOULD HAVE TURNED OUT A LITTLE DIFFERENTLY HAD I NOT MET HIM. SO I JUST WANT YOU TO KNOW JUST HOW IMPACTFUL HE WAS. SO GOD BLESS YOU. I KNOW IT'S TOUGH, BUT THE ONE THING YOU KNOW, I GET CHOKED UP ON EVENTS LIKE THIS BECAUSE I THINK ABOUT MY DAD AS WELL. MY WAY TO COPE WITH THE MISSING AND THE PAIN OF IT ALL IS JUST TO TELL STORIES ABOUT HIM. MAKE SURE THAT WHEN YOU SEE SOMETHING THAT REMINDS YOU OF HIM, LET PEOPLE KNOW THAT THAT WAS HIM OR THAT'S A PART OF HIM, OR HE SAID THIS, HE DID THAT. AND EVEN THE STUFF THAT MAYBE SHOULD BE KEPT PRIVATE. THOSE ARE THE FUN ONES. SO GOD BLESS YOU AND THANK YOU AGAIN. THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU. GRACE. COMMISSIONER BRIONES WOULD ALSO LIKE TO ADD SOMETHING. GLORIANA AND GRACE, THANK THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. THANK YOU FOR YOU FOR SHARING YOUR DAD AND YOUR MENTOR WITH NOT ONLY HARRIS COUNTY, BUT THE COUNTRY AND THE WORLD. AND MY DEEPEST SYMPATHIES. I CAN SEE THE LOVE AND THE MISSING, BUT I KNOW WE WILL ALL CONTINUE TO CELEBRATE HIM BECAUSE HIS IMPRINT ON HARRIS COUNTY IS IS FOREVER. AND I KNOW HIS LEGACY CONTINUES. SO AS A PROUD LATINA, I AM SO GRATEFUL AND THANKFUL THAT YOUR DAD EXISTED AND LED THIS COMMUNITY AND HE INSPIRED US ALL. AND GRACE, THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING YOU'RE DOING AND YOUR LEADERSHIP TO EDUCATE, EMPOWER, UPLIFT OUR LATINO COMMUNITY AND BEYOND. SO THANK YOU AND MAY HE REST IN PEACE AND IN POWER. THANK YOU. THANK YOU GUYS. THANK YOU FOR LETTING US KNOW HIM AND HIS INCREDIBLE GIFTS. THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU. OKAY, I WILL PASS IT ON NOW TO COMMISSIONER GARCIA. THANK YOU. MY FIRST RESOLUTION IS TO RECOGNIZE ALPHA KAPPA ALPHA SORORITY, INCORPORATED. PSI ALPHA OMEGA CHAPTER. AND, LADIES, IF YOU WILL STAND AND ALWAYS BE PRESENT. AND MAKE YOUR WAY DOWN TO THE TO THE PODIUM HERE. BUT AND IF YOU WANT TO STEP, YOU CAN GO AND DO THAT AS WELL. AND SO IN CELEBRATION OF BLACK HISTORY MONTH, EACH CELL EACH FEBRUARY, I AM HONORED TO PRESENT THE EXEMPLARY COLLEGE EDUCATED LADIES OF ALPHA KAPPA ALPHA SORORITY, INCORPORATED. TO THIS COMMISSIONERS COURT ON THIS DAY, AND MORE SPECIFICALLY, HOUSTON'S OWN PSI ALPHA OMEGA CHAPTER. I HAVE THE PLEASURE OF WORKING WITH ONE OF YOUR OWN MEMBERS EVERY SINGLE DAY, AND I WILL TELL YOU SHE REPRESENTS YOU INCREDIBLY WELL. AND THAT IS THE ONE AND ONLY DOCTOR SHARA BOWIE. YAY! YAY! SO THROUGH. SO THROUGH HER WORK, I GET TO SEE FIRSTHAND THE ETHICAL STANDARDS, ABSOLUTE COMMUNITY COMMITMENT PERSEVERANCE AND UNDYING TENACITY THAT YOU ALL POSSESS. NOT TO MENTION, YOU WERE THE FIRST BLACK FEMALE GREEK ORGANIZATION. AND FROM DAY ONE, CHAMPIONED MANY NATIONAL WIDE ADVOCACY INITIATIVES THAT HAVE STRENGTHENED OUR COMMUNITIES HERE AND ABROAD. SO FIRST, I WANT TO RECOGNIZE ANY OF THE CHAPTER MEMBERS. ALL OF YOU LADIES ARE ABSOLUTELY THE INCREDIBLE REPRESENTATIVES OF, AS WELL AS FORMER PRESIDENTS OF THE ALPHA [00:30:08] OMEGA CHAPTER THAT ARE HERE TODAY, WHO'S A WHO'S A FORMER PRESIDENT. OH, OKAY. ALL RIGHT, ALL RIGHT. SO NEXT, I WANT TO RECOGNIZE HOUSTON NATIVE DOCTOR SEAN SIMMONS, THE NEWLY ELECTED REGIONAL DIRECTOR THAT OVERSEES FOUR STATES AND 87 CHAPTERS. GOD BLESS YOU. YES, GOD BLESS YOU. YOU KNOW, BECAUSE IT'S HARD TO CORRAL ALPHA KAPPAS. I THINK YOU'RE RIGHT. OR I THINK IT'S HARD. BUT LASTLY, I WANT TO ALSO RECOGNIZE THE PERSON THAT I TEND TO SHARE WITH THE COMMUNITY AND WITH THE ORGANIZATION AND SOMEONE WHO HAS JUST BEEN A IMMENSE PLEASURE TO WORK WITH AND TO SEE HER IMPACTFUL WORK. I THINK BEING TRANSCENDED INTO THE COMMUNITY BECAUSE OF HER OF HER MEMBERSHIP TO THIS INCREDIBLE ORGANIZATION. AND THAT IS DOCTOR BOWIE WITH THE WHICH IS THE PRESIDENT, AMY T FRANCIS. AND AND I'M TOLD THAT YOU ARE A GOD FEARING, SPIRITUALLY LED WOMAN AND A STICKLER FOR FOLLOWING PROTOCOL. YEAH. I DON'T THINK YOU WOULD. I THINK YOU'D HAVE A LOT OF FRUSTRATION WITH THIS COMMISSIONERS COURT ON THAT. BUT I WANT TO THANK YOU BOTH FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP AND YOUR COMMITMENT TO OUR COMMUNITY. AND THANK YOU TO PSI ALPHA OMEGA FOR YOUR 2024 IMPACT OF INVESTING. GET A HOLD OF THIS $290,000 IN BLACK AND WOMEN OWNED BUSINESSES, ADOPTING ELEMENTARY SCHOOL AND SUPPLYING FOOD AND COAT AND YOUR SOCIAL JUSTICE ADVOCACY EFFORTS OF OVER 10,000 VOTER ENGAGEMENTS. CONGRATULATIONS. AND SO THIS RESOLUTION WILL READ. ALPHA KAPPA ALPHA SORORITY, INCORPORATED, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS AKA AND INTERNATIONAL SERVICE ORGANIZATION, WAS FOUNDED ON THE CAMPUS OF HOWARD UNIVERSITY IN WASHINGTON, DC, ON IN 1908. IT IS THE OLDEST GREEK LETTER ORGANIZATION ESTABLISHED BY AFRICAN-AMERICAN COLLEGE EDUCATED WOMEN. AND ALPHA KAPPA ALPHA SORORITY, INCORPORATED, IS COMPRISED OF MORE THAN 360,000 INITIATED MEMBERS IN GRADUATE AND UNDERGRADUATE CHAPTERS LOCATED IN 12 NATIONS. WOW, 12 NATIONS AND TERRITORIES INCLUDING OBVIOUSLY THE UNITED STATES, BAHAMAS, BERMUDA, CANADA, THE UNITED ARAB EMIRATES, GERMANY. JAPAN, LIBERIA, NIGERIA, SOUTH KOREA, SOUTH AFRICA AND THE US VIRGIN ISLANDS. WOW. AND ON SUNDAY, DECEMBER THE 6TH, 1981, PSI ALPHA OMEGA CHAPTER OF HOUSTON WAS CHARTERED AND 27 SORROWS BECAME CHARTER MEMBERS. THE CHAPTER VOWED TO CARRY OUT THE FOUNDING MISSION OF AKA TO CULTIVATE AND ENCOURAGE HIGH SCHOLASTIC, SCHOLASTIC AND ETHICAL STANDARDS, PROMOTE UNITY AND FRIENDSHIP AMONG COLLEGE WOMEN, AND STUDY AND HELP ALLEVIATE PROBLEMS CONCERNING GIRLS AND WOMEN IN ORDER TO IMPROVE THEIR SOCIAL STATURE, MAINTAIN A PROGRESSIVE INTEREST IN COLLEGE LIFE, AND TO BE OF SERVICE TO ALL MANKIND. AND PSI ALPHA OMEGA HAS SERVED THE HOUSTON COMMUNITY FOR OVER 43 YEARS, HOSTING THEIR 22ND MATH AND SCIENCE STEM ACADEMY. 30TH ANNUAL. SCHOOLS. SCHOOL. DRIVE. WINNING NUMEROUS AWARDS AND EXCELLING ON KEY PROGRAMS AND INITIATIVES OF EMPOWERING FAMILIES, BUILDING ECONOMIC GROWTH, ENHANCING THE ENVIRONMENT, AND ADVOCATING FOR SOCIAL JUSTICE. CONGRATULATIONS AND WELCOME. AND THE FLOOR IS ABSOLUTELY YOURS. OKAY. THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER ADRIAN GARCIA, JUDGE HIDALGO, COMMISSIONER RODNEY ELLIS IN HIS ABSENCE, COMMISSIONER LESLIE BRUNO AND COMMISSIONER TOM RAMOS FOR THIS INCREDIBLE RECOGNITION. I AM HUMBLED TO STAND BEFORE YOU TODAY AS AMY T FRANCIS, THE 20TH PRESIDENT OF ALPHA KAPPA ALPHA SORORITY, INCORPORATED THE ALPHA OMEGA CHAPTER. OUR CHAPTER PROUDLY HOLDS THE DISTINCTION OF BEING THE SECOND LARGEST HOUSTON LARGEST CHAPTER IN HOUSTON, TEXAS, WITH OVER 500 MEMBERS WHO EMBODY THE TRUE ESSENCE OF LEADERSHIP, DEDICATION, AND SERVICE. OUR MEMBERSHIP INCLUDES EDUCATORS, LAWYERS, JUDGES, STATE REPRESENTATIVES, [00:35:09] DOCTORS, MINISTERS, BUSINESS WOMEN, AUTHORS, ADVOCATES, AND EXECUTIVES AND EACH CONTRIBUTING THEIR UNIQUE SKILLS AND TALENTS TO BETTER OUR COMMUNITY. AS A CHAPTER, WE STAND. WE STAND ON THE SHOULDERS OF OUR VISIONARY FOUNDERS WHO, 117 YEARS AGO, BOLDLY ESTABLISHED THIS SORORITY WITH THE MISSION OF UPLIFTING THE AFRICAN AMERICAN COMMUNITY AND BREAKING BARRIERS FOR BLACK WOMEN. THEIR COURAGE AND FORESIGHT HAVE LAID THE FOUNDATION FOR GENERATIONS OF WOMEN COMMITTED TO SERVICE, LEADERSHIP, AND THE ADVANCEMENT OF OUR COMMUNITIES. AS THE CHAPTER PRESIDENT, I AM BOTH HONORED AND HUMBLED TO LEAD THE PHENOMENAL WOMEN OF XII ALPHA OMEGA UNDER THIS YEAR'S THEME EMPOWER. THIS THEME GUIDES US AS WE ENGAGE, EMPOWER AND EXCEL IN SERVICE AND SISTERHOOD. WE HAVE A PROUD HISTORY OF HOSTING IMPACTFUL EVENTS THAT ADDRESS THE CRITICAL NEEDS WITHIN OUR COMMUNITY, WHETHER IN THE REALMS OF SOCIAL, ECONOMIC, EDUCATIONAL, OR MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES. OUR CHAPTER IS THE SECOND LARGEST AND OLDEST IN HOUSTON, TEXAS. AS A RICH TRADITION OF SERVICE TO ALL MANKIND, DRIVEN BY THE FUNDAMENTAL VALUES OF ALPHA KAPPA ALPHA SORORITY INCORPORATED, WE ARE PRIVILEGED TO LIVE OUT OUR MISSION THROUGH OUR INTERNATIONAL PROGRAMS INITIATIVES EMBODIED IN THE THEME SOARING TO GREATER HEIGHTS OF SERVICE AND SISTERHOOD. THE WORK WE DO IS NOT JUST ABOUT TODAY. IT'S ABOUT BUILDING THE LEGACY OF EMPOWERMENT THAT WILL ECHO THROUGH GENERATIONS. WE CONSIDER IT A PRIVILEGE AND A RESPONSIBILITY TO SERVE, UPLIFT AND MAKE A MEANINGFUL IMPACT IN THE LIVES OF THOSE AROUND US. THANK YOU. ALRIGHT. THANK YOU. ON BEHALF OF ALPHA KAPPA ALPHA SORORITY, INCORPORATED, SOUTH CENTRAL REGION, I'M DEEPLY HONORED TO STAND BEFORE YOU TODAY. AND THANK YOU ALL AGAIN FOR THIS RECOGNITION. I'M DOCTOR SHAWN EMERSON SIMMONS, THE NEWLY ELECTED REGIONAL DIRECTOR FOR ALPHA KAPPA ALPHA AND A MEMBER OF THIS GREAT CHAPTER THAT YOU ARE RECOGNIZING TODAY. I REPRESENT 145 CHAPTERS ACROSS TEXAS, ARKANSAS, NEW MEXICO, AND LOUISIANA. 17,000 THE MEMBERS. BUT MY HOME IS HOUSTON, TEXAS, AND MY HEART WILL FOREVER BE BELONG TO THE COMMUNITIES OF HARRIS COUNTY. I'M A PRODUCT OF HISD. A GRADUATE OF BOOKER T WASHINGTON'S ENGINEERING PROFESSIONS, WHERE I WAS TAUGHT THE VALUE OF A STEM EDUCATION AND THE RESPONSIBILITY TO SERVE OTHERS. MY ADMINISTRATION'S THEME IS KEEPING IT REAL, WHICH STANDS FOR RESPONSIVE, EMPOWERING, AUTHENTIC AND LIFTING. AT THE HEART OF THIS, WE STAND ON THE SHOULDERS OF OUR TRAILBLAZING FOUNDERS. THANK YOU. THESE ACTS OF LEADERSHIP LAY A FOUNDATION FOR OUR SORORITY. WE'VE RAISED OVER $2.6 MILLION IN ONE DAY FOR HBCUS. WE'VE LAUNCHED OUR OWN FEDERAL CREDIT UNION. WE SPENT OVER $30 MILLION WITH BLACK OWNED BUSINESSES IN A SINGLE MONTH. WE'VE SET GUINNESS BOOK OF WORLD RECORDS FOR OUR COMMUNITY SERVICE. WE ARE PROUD TO BE LEADERS IN THE FIGHT OF SOCIAL JUSTICE, CIVIL RIGHTS, ECONOMIC EMPOWERMENT, AND EDUCATION VALUES THAT HAVE SHAPED NOT ONLY OUR SORORITY, BUT THE NATION HERE IN HOUSTON, MY HOMETOWN. WE WILL CONTINUE TO KEEP IT REAL. RIGHT NOW MORE THAN EVER, USING OUR TALENTS AND SKILLS TO BE RESPONSIVE, EMPOWERING, REMAIN AUTHENTIC AND TO LIFT OUR COMMUNITIES. WE, THE WORK WE DO TODAY, IS A LEGACY THAT WE WILL LEAVE FOR GENERATIONS TO COME. THANK YOU AGAIN FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. COMMISSIONER BERNICE. I WANTED TO SAY THANK YOU AND CONGRATULATIONS FOR YOUR OVER 100 YEARS OF SERVICE BEING ON THE FRONT LINES OF THE FIGHT FOR SOCIAL JUSTICE, CIVIL RIGHTS. THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP. IT'S POWERFUL. WHEN WOMEN GET TOGETHER, WE'RE UNSTOPPABLE. AND KNOWING THAT Y'ALL ARE AT THE HELM IS JUST ENERGIZES US. AND SO THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING YOU DO TO EMPOWER OUR COMMUNITY. AND THANK YOU FOR BEING ON THE FRONT LINES OF THE FIGHT FOR VOTING RIGHTS, MATERNAL HEALTH, PUBLIC SCHOOL EDUCATION FUNDING AND BEYOND. IT'S JUST IT ENERGIZES ME AND GIVES ME HOPE. AND I'M JUST REALLY THANKFUL FOR YOUR SISTERHOOD AND YOUR PARTNERSHIP AND JUST STAYING ON THE FRONT LINES. SO ONWARD FOR THE NEXT 117 YEARS, AND I AND I ALSO WANT TO SHARE THAT [00:40:04] I WAS TEXTING MY DAUGHTER BECAUSE I KNOW THAT SHE'S A MEMBER OF A SORORITY. SO HER SORORITY IS SIGMA DELTA LOMBARDA, A LATINA ORGANIZATION. AND SO SHE SENDS HER RESPECTS AND HER SHOUT OUT TO YOU GUYS. CONGRATULATIONS. THANK YOU. I WANT TO JUST REMEMBER THE LATE CONGRESSWOMAN SHEILA JACKSON LEE, WHO I KNOW IS A VERY, VERY PROUD AKA MY GOOD FRIEND LAUREN UNDERWOOD AS WELL. SO THEY WOULD SEND ME PICTURES TOGETHER AND, AND THEN I OF COURSE. YES. OKAY. SO, SO, ERICA. OF COURSE, DEIDRE FONTAINE, WHO'S OUR CHIEF OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS, AND THEN TAMMY FRAZIER. I DON'T KNOW IF KNOW IF SHE'S HERE, BUT SHE'S OUR COMMUNICATIONS DIRECTOR. SO YOU GUYS HAVE. OH, THERE'S TAMMY FRAZIER. OKAY, SO SHE REALLY, REALLY BRILLIANT, ACCOMPLISHED WOMEN. AND I ALWAYS TELL DEIDRE, MAN, I WISH I'D HAD A CHANCE TO JOIN YOU GUYS. YOU'RE AWESOME. BUT, YOU KNOW, I DIDN'T KNOW YOU ALL WERE COMING. I STILL WEAR PINK, SO I THINK THAT SAYS SOMETHING ABOUT MY AFFINITY. SO I APPRECIATE YOU GUYS. CONGRATULATIONS ON ALL THE WORK YOU DO. AND THANK YOU FOR THE WORK YOU DO FOR OUR COMMUNITY. THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT. MY NEXT RESOLUTION. I JUST FOR THE RECORD, I HAVE TO DO THIS CHAIR DARREN MCGEE, CHAIR OF THE JACKSON COUNTY LEGISLATURE THAT'S BASED IN KANSAS CITY. YOU GUYS WON. AND WE MADE A FRIENDLY WAGER THAT I WOULD WEAR A KANSAS CITY JERSEY AT THE FIRST OFFICIAL COURT MEETING. WE HAD A BUSINESS COURT MEETING, BUT THIS IS THE OFFICIAL COUNTY COMMISSIONERS COURT MEETING, AND I AM WEARING. THIS PARTICULAR JERSEY FOR THE REASON THAT IT IS WORN BY A TEXAN. AND YOUR BARBECUE SHOULD BE SHOWING UP TOMORROW. AND SO I JUST WANT TO LET YOU KNOW THAT I HAVE FULLY COMPLIED WITH THE CONDITIONS OF THE BET THAT YOU GUYS THAT WON. AND SO CONGRATULATIONS TO THE CHIEFS. AND I'M NOT SURE WHO I'M GOING TO ROOT FOR, BUT JUST TO SAY, IT'S ALWAYS FUN TO WATCH YOUR SUPER BOWL GAME. CONGRATULATIONS. SO THE RESOLUTION THAT I HAVE FOR THIS OCCASION, BECAUSE THAT'S ANOTHER PART OF THE BET THAT WE HAD TO MAKE IS TO OFFER A RESOLUTION ON BEHALF OF THE CHEAT, THE GAME THAT WAS HELD. SO THIS RESOLUTION READS THE HOUSTON TEXANS AND THE KANSAS CITY CHIEFS PLAYED AGAINST EACH OTHER IN AN NFL DIVISION ROUND OFF PLAYOFF GAME ON JANUARY THE 18TH, AND PRECINCT TWO COMMISSIONER ADRIAN GARCIA PLACED A FRIENDLY WAGER ON THE OUTCOME OF THE GAME ON BEHALF OF HARRIS COUNTY WITH JACKSON COUNTY, MISSOURI LEGISLATURE CHAIR RON MCGEE, WITH TERMS OF THE BET INCLUDING THE LOSER PRESENTING A RESOLUTION TO THE WINNER, AND SEVERAL QUESTIONABLE CALLS BY THE REFEREES IN THE GAME HELPED TILT THE EDGE IN FAVOR OF THE CHIEFS AND AGAINST THE TEXANS, WITH THE FINAL SCORE BEING 23 TO 14, AND THE CHIEFS NEEDED KEY CONTRIBUTIONS FROM SEVERAL PLAYERS FROM THE FROM THE STATE OF TEXAS TO BE ABLE TO EMERGE VICTORIOUS, INCLUDING THOSE FROM THE FORMER TEXAS TECH RAIDER RED RAIDER PATRICK MAHOMES, THEIR STAR QUARTERBACK WHO IS FROM TYLER, TEXAS AND IS CONSIDERED TO BE KANSAS CITY'S BEST PLAYER. SO LET IT BE RESOLVED THAT HARRIS COUNTY COMMISSIONERS COURT HEREBY BEGRUDGINGLY CONGRATULATES KANSAS CITY, THE JACKSON COUNTY, MISSOURI LEGISLATURE, AND THE CHIEFS KINGDOM FOR THEIR VICTORY AND WISHES THEM GOOD LUCK IN THE SUPER BOWL. CONGRATULATIONS. NOW, I WILL EXCUSE MYSELF SO I CAN MOVE SO I CAN REMOVE THIS GARMENT FROM MY BODY. COMMISSIONER BRIONES SO, COMMISSIONER GARCIA, BEFORE YOU LEAVE, PLEASE. COMMISSIONER GARCIA, YOU'RE A DEAR, DEAR FRIEND. DEAR, DEAR PARTNER. YOU'RE MAKING IT SO HARD FOR ALL OF US. I LOVE THAT YOU'RE A MAN OF YOUR WORD AND HONORED. THE BET, THE WAGER. FRIENDLY WAGER. I LIKE YOU. I'M LIKE PATRICK MOVED BACK TO TEXAS. CHIEFS. WE'RE COMING FOR YOU NEXT YEAR. AND I WANT TO THANK JACOB CLEMENTINE. SHE BROUGHT US A NICE SURPRISE. SO I KNOW ALL OF US ARE STILL ROOTING FOR THE TEXANS. AND WE DIDN'T. WE WEREN'T A PART OF THE BET. BUT I APPRECIATE THAT. YOU'RE A MAN OF THE WORD. AND THIS. THIS IS A REALLY HARD ITEM TO SWALLOW. YEAH, I WOULD, I WOULD. ALL RIGHT. GO TEXANS. [00:45:02] LET ME ADD TO MR.. WE'RE WE'LL HAVE TO VOTE ON THIS LATER. YEAH. ON WHETHER OR NOT IT PASSES. AND JUST FOR THE RECORD, ON SUNDAY, BOTH QUARTERBACKS THAT ARE STARTING ARE FROM TEXAS. AND THE STARTING QUARTERBACK FOR THE EAGLES IS FROM OUR PRECINCT'S CHANNEL VIEW. SO I KNOW WHO I'M ROOTING FOR. YEAH SO DO I, DO I, COMMISSIONER. YEAH. THERE YOU GO. OKAY. I THINK WE MOVE ON NOW TO COMMISSIONER RAMSEY'S RESOLUTIONS. LAST WEEK. LAST WEEK, WE HAD THE PLEASURE OF WORKING WITH AN INCREDIBLE ORGANIZATION CALLED CRIME STOPPERS. AND WE WERE ABLE TO DEDICATE A BENCH AND JUST ONE OF THE MOST BEAUTIFUL PARTS OF OUR PARKS. WE HAVE 72 PARKS IN PRECINCT THREE. AND ONE OF THOSE IS BURROWS PARK. AND IN THAT PARK, WE DEDICATED A BENCH TO LIZ NELLIE BARRAZA. HER DAD'S HERE, AND HE'LL SPEAK IN A MOMENT. BUT HER MOM AND DAD WERE THERE AS WE DEDICATED THE BENCH. SHE IS SUCH AN INSPIRING YOUNG LADY WHOSE LIFE WAS CUT SHORT WAY TOO SOON. AND UNFORTUNATELY, THEY'VE NOT FOUND THE PERSON THAT DID IT. BUT OUR SHERIFF'S OFFICE IS ON TOP OF IT, AND I THINK WE WILL FIND JUSTICE. SO TODAY WE'RE GOING TO REMEMBER THE LATE LIZ NELLIE BARRAZA, WHO WAS TRAGICALLY TAKEN FROM HER LOVED ONES DUE TO DESPICABLE ACTIONS OF A VIOLENT CRIMINAL ON JANUARY THE 25TH, 2019, IN FRONT OF HER HOME. WHEREAS LIZ WAS BORN ON JUNE 28TH, 1989, IN ELK GROVE, ILLINOIS, AND RESIDED IN KLEIN, TEXAS, WHERE SHE GRADUATED FROM KLEIN COLLEGE HIGH SCHOOL IN 2008. SHE CONTINUED HER EDUCATION, GRADUATING FROM SAM HOUSTON STATE UNIVERSITY IN 2012 WITH HER DEGREE IN PSYCHOLOGY. AND WHEREAS, LIZ LIVED A LIFE DEVOTED TO HER FAMILY AND HER FRIENDS, AND HER PASSION INCLUDED LITERATURE AND FILM. AFTER GRADUATING FROM COLLEGE, SHE GOT MARRIED AND THE COUPLE BEGAN THEIR LIVES TOGETHER IN TOMBALL, AND WHEREAS BEFORE HER PASSING, SHE WAS PASSING. SHE WAS EXCITED ABOUT UPCOMING ANNIVERSARY TRIP TO FLORIDA AND WAS COORDINATING A GARAGE SALE TO HELP FUND IT. AND WHEREAS DUE TO THE INCOMPREHENSIBLE EVIL, EVIL ACT OF OTHERS, LIZ'S LIFE WAS SADLY TAKEN FROM HER FAMILY ON JANUARY AND 2019. CRIME STOPPERS OF HOUSTON STANDS ON BEHALF OF LIZ, WORKING DILIGENTLY TO FIND ADDITIONAL EVIDENCE OF IT. AND THERE'S ACTUALLY A QR CODE ON THE SIGN BY THE BENCH. SHOULD ANYBODY HAVE ANY INFORMATION RELATED TO THIS, THEY CAN TAKE A PICTURE OF THAT. AND WE'RE HOPEFUL THAT IT'LL BE MORE THAN JUST A PLACE WHERE HER MOM AND DAD AND OTHERS CAN COME AND SIT UNDER THAT REDBUD TREE AND REMEMBER LIZ. BUT A AN EFFECTIVE WAY OF TRYING TO TRACK DOWN THIS PERSON. SO THE LIFE AND LEGACY OF LIZ NELLIE BARRAZA IS IMPORTANT AND WORTHY OF WORTHY OF MEMORIAL PRECINCT THREE HAS HAS PLACED THE BENCH AND TREE IN REMEMBRANCE. THERE WILL BE OTHER BENCHES AND OTHER TREES IN OTHER PARKS, BUT WE THINK THIS IS A PLACE WHERE PEOPLE CAN COME AND HAVE A QUIET MOMENT. AND IN FACT, THIS IS WHERE LIZ CAME WITH HER, HER DAD, ON MORE THAN ONE OCCASION. AND JUST TO ESCAPE THE BUSYNESS OF THE OF THE COUNTY AND THE BUSYNESS OF THE WORLD AND REFLECT THERE. SO NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED THAT HARRIS COUNTY COMMISSIONERS COURT HONORS THE LIFE OF ELIZABETH LIZ NELLIE BARRAZA AND IS HEREBY ORDERED THE RESOLUTION BE SPREAD IN THE MINUTES OF THE HARRIS COUNTY COMMISSIONERS COURT ON THE SIXTH DAY OF FEBRUARY, 2025. BOB, WOULD YOU CARE TO COME UP? THANK YOU SO MUCH. GOOD MORNING TO YOU ALL. WE ARE JUST SO GRATEFUL TO ALL HERE TODAY FOR THIS RECOGNITION. THE LANDSCAPE IS CHANGING HERE IN HARRIS COUNTY. THANKS TO COMMISSIONER TOM RAMSEY, CRIME STOPPERS OF HOUSTON, THERE WILL BE MEMORIALS DEDICATED TO CRIME VICTIMS IN ALL THE BEAUTIFUL PARKS IN PRECINCT THREE. MY DAUGHTER, LIZ BARRAZA, HAD HER MEMORIAL DEDICATED ON JANUARY 30TH IN BURROWS PARK. [00:50:05] THE WE REMEMBER MEMORIAL PROJECT HAS VERY AMBITIOUS GOALS A TREE, A BENCH AND A SIGN COMMEMORATING MURDERED LOVED ONES. THE MEMORIALS ARE PLACES OF PEACE AND HEALING FOR THE FAMILY AND FRIENDS. JUST AS IMPORTANTLY, THERE ARE LINKS TO LINKS TO AN EVOLVING NETWORK OF CRIME VICTIM RESOURCES. 2025 IS SEEING A SURGE IN AWARENESS AND SUPPORT FOR CRIME VICTIMS AND THEIR FAMILIES, ALONG WITH THE WE REMEMBER MEMORIAL PROJECT. THERE ARE TWO NEW, POWERFUL GRASSROOTS HARRIS COUNTY CRIME VICTIM ADVOCACY GROUPS FORMING AS WE SPEAK, AND THEY'RE READYING FOR LAUNCH. THE STATE LEGISLATIVE SESSION IS ALREADY LOOKING AT SEVERAL SIGNIFICANT BILLS EXTENDING CRIME VICTIMS RIGHTS AND PROTECTIONS. I WOULD URGE ALL THE COMMISSIONERS HERE TO CONSIDER IMPLEMENTING A PROGRAM LIKE THE ONE THAT COMMISSIONER TOM RAMSEY. WE REMEMBER MEMORIAL PROJECT. THIS SIMPLE OUTREACH UNITES YOUR COMMUNITY AND OFFERS THE CHANCE TO RALLY SUPPORT AROUND THOSE AMONG US WHO HAVE BEEN ISOLATED BY THE VERY NATURE OF HOMICIDE. WE ARE FOREVER GRATEFUL TO CRIME STOPPERS OF HOUSTON. COMMISSIONER TOM RAMSEY AND HIS AMAZING STAFF FOR GIVING OUR COMMUNITY THIS CHANCE TO REMEMBER AND HEAL. GOD BLESS YOU ALL ALWAYS. THANK YOU BOB. THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER GARCIA. GOD BLESS YOU. I JUST WANT TO LET YOU KNOW THAT I DON'T THINK ANY ONE OF US CAN IMAGINE WHAT YOU AND YOUR FAMILY ARE GOING THROUGH. BUT JUST TO LET YOU KNOW THAT I'M PROUD OF MY COLLEAGUE TO BE ABLE TO OFFER SOME PROCESS THAT WILL ALLOW FOR REMEMBRANCE AND RESPECT OF YOUR LOVED ONE. SO GOD BLESS YOU. THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU SO MUCH. WE'RE SO SORRY ABOUT YOUR YOUR LOSS. BURROWS PARK IS MY FAVORITE PARK IN THE COUNTY, AND SO I LOOK FORWARD TO TO TO VISITING THAT BENCH. GLAD YOU FOUND SOME SOLACE. AND THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER RAMSEY. IT'S A BEAUTIFUL IDEA. BUT I REALLY AM SO SORRY. I'M NEWLY MARRIED. AND SO I CAN. I CAN IMAGINE WE'RE PROBABLY SIMILAR AGES. SO IT REALLY I KNOW SHE HAD SO MUCH MORE LEFT TO DO, BUT WE APPRECIATE YOU BEING STILL HERE AND FIGHTING FOR OTHERS. SO JUST SENDING YOU A LOT OF LOVE AND SUPPORT AND APPRECIATION FOR YOUR CONTINUED COMMITMENT. THANK YOU SO MUCH. GOD BLESS YOU. BOB GAVE YOUR SWEET WIFE, ROSEMARY, A BIG HUG. I WILL SIR. THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU AND GOD BLESS YOU ALL. BOB, OUR DEEPEST CONDOLENCES. BOB, AS A I HAVE THREE LITTLE GIRLS AND IT'S MY BIGGEST FEAR. AND SO MY HEART IS WITH YOU AND COMMISSIONER RAMSEY. THANK YOU FOR OFFERING THE SPACE FOR HEALING. GODSPEED. THANK YOU. GOD US. I HAVE ONE OTHER RESOLUTION, AND THIS IS GOING TO RECOGNIZE ONE OF OUR K-9 DOGS WHO'S RETIRING. WHO KNEW? THEY RETIRED. AND I THINK IT'S GOOD TO RECOGNIZE THE FAITHFUL SERVICE OF OF THESE OFFICERS. OH. HE'S HERE. SO K-9 EDGE HAS FAITHFULLY SERVED THE HARRIS COUNTY PRECINCT ONE CONSTABLE'S OFFICE FOR NEARLY TEN YEARS. FROM 2015 TO 2025. THAT'S LIKE 70 YEARS IN PEOPLE TIME, MAKING HIM THE LONGEST SERVING PATROL CANINE IN THE DEPARTMENT'S HISTORY. AND WHEREAS K9 EDGE HAS BEEN AN EFFECTIVE MEMBER OF THE HARRIS COUNTY LAW ENFORCEMENT COMMUNITY, PLAYING A CRUCIAL ROLE IN THE APPREHENSION OF DANGEROUS CRIMINALS, INCLUDING MURDER SUSPECTS, AND CONTRIBUTING TO THE SIGNIFICANT NARCOTICS SEIZURES, INCLUDING ONE OF THE LARGEST METAPHORIC METH HAULS IN HARRIS COUNTY HISTORY. CANINE EDGE HAS DEMONSTRATED REMARKABLE COURAGE THROUGHOUT HIS SERVICE, EVEN SUSTAINING INJURIES IN THE LINE OF DUTY, INCLUDING BROKEN BONES, RETURNING TO ACTIVE DUTY AFTER RECOVERY. CANINE EDGE HAS WORKED ALONGSIDE LOCAL, STATE AND FEDERAL AGENCIES, INCLUDING THE HARRIS HOUSTON POLICE DEPARTMENT, HARRIS COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE, U.S. MARSHALS, U.S. DRUG ENFORCEMENT, AND MANY OTHERS CONTRIBUTING. SO NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, HARRIS COUNTY COMMISSIONERS COURT HONORS AND RECOGNIZES THE EXCEPTIONAL SERVICE OF CANINE EDGE. [00:55:14] AND WE WE HAVE WE HAVE HIS BEST FRIEND HERE WITH HIM TODAY. OFFICER ERIC BRUCE, WOULD YOU HAVE SOME COMMENTS? I JUST WANTED TO THANK CANINES FOR COPS. OFFICER, WOULD YOU MIND SPEAKING TO THE MICROPHONE SO FOLKS CAN CAN HEAR IT AS WELL? THANK YOU. I JUST WANTED TO THANK CANINES FOR COPS. THEY AN ORGANIZATION THAT GIFTED HIM. TEN YEARS AGO. HARD DAY. YEAH. SO WHERE WOULD HE BE LIVING? MY HOUSE. JUST WANT TO BE CLEAR WITH THAT. SO. THAT'S GREAT. THANK YOU. IT IS. HE OWNS THE POOL HE OWNS THE POOL AND AND PROBABLY NETFLIX AND NETFLIX AND EVERYTHING ELSE. SARGE. DO YOU WANT TO LET EDGE HAVE THE PODIUM IF HE WANTS TO SHARE A COUPLE OF WORDS? I'M NOT SURE IT'S FOR HUMANS. YEAH. CONGRATULATIONS. AND THANK YOU. EDGE THIS RESOLUTION IS NOT ROUGH TO APPROVE. YEAH. THANK YOU. AND THANK YOU, SIR, FOR YOUR SERVICE AS WELL. THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT. WE ARE NOW MOVING ON TO COMMISSIONER BRIONES RESOLUTION. THANK YOU. SO MINE IS ITEM 15, AND IT IS RECOGNIZING INTERNATIONAL HOLOCAUST REMEMBRANCE DAY. I'D LIKE TO INVITE UP THE RESOLUTION. GUESTS, BOTH THOSE WHO HAVE REGISTERED TO SPEAK AND THOSE WHO HAVEN'T. SO IF WE COULD PLEASE HAVE ELISE SPECTOR FROM THE HOLOCAUST MUSEUM OF HOUSTON. SHE'S THE CHAIR PERSON OF THE BOARD AND A THIRD GENERATION SURVIVOR. WE HAVE BENJAMIN MAYER, WHO'S A CHILD OF A SURVIVOR, AND HE'S REPRESENTING HANS MAYER FROM THE ADVISORY BOARD OF THE HOLOCAUST MUSEUM HOUSTON. AND HE ALSO HAPPENS TO BE THE BETTER HALF OF ELIZA GERTZ, WHO IS A LEADER ON THE PRECINCT FOUR TEAM. THANK YOU, ALICIA, FOR ALL YOU DO. AND WE ALSO HAVE LINDA BERGER, WHO'S THE INTERIM CEO OF THE HOUSTON HOLOCAUST MUSEUM, AND TOBY COOPER, THE LEADER OF THE HOUSTON HOLOCAUST SURVIVORS AND DESCENDANTS GROUP, AND TAMARA SAVAGE, THE COO OF THE HOLOCAUST MUSEUM. SO THIS RESOLUTION RECOGNIZES INTERNATIONAL HOLOCAUST REMEMBRANCE DAY ON JANUARY 27TH OF 2025. IT MARKED THE 80TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE LIBERATION OF AUSCHWITZ-BIRKENAU, WHICH WAS THE LARGEST NAZI CONCENTRATION AND EXTERMINATION CAMP. 80 YEARS. 80 YEARS. AND I KNOW WE HAVE MANY STUDENTS IN THE AUDIENCE. 80 YEARS AGO, THE HOLOCAUST TOOK OVER 6 MILLION JEWS FROM THIS WORLD, INCLUDING 1.5 MILLION CHILDREN, AND COUNTLESS OTHERS WERE BRUTALLY TAKEN AND AFFECTED BECAUSE OF THEIR BELIEFS, BECAUSE OF THEIR IDENTITY, BECAUSE OF THEIR BACKGROUND, BECAUSE OF THEIR RELIGION. THIS WAS ONE OF THE WORST ATROCITIES EVER IN HISTORY. ONE OF THE MOST ATROCIOUS GENOCIDES WHERE DEHUMANIZATION, BIGOTRY, HATE. TOOK MILLIONS FROM US. AND 80 YEARS LATER, HERE IN HARRIS COUNTY, WE ARE GOING TO REMEMBER, BECAUSE IT IS OUR RESPONSIBILITY TO RESPONSIBILITY TO REMEMBER AND TO LEARN FROM THE HORRORS OF THE PAST SO THAT WE DON'T REPEAT THEM. HERE IN HARRIS COUNTY, WE STAND AGAINST ANTI-SEMITISM. WE STAND AGAINST HATE OF ALL KINDS BECAUSE WE CHOOSE TO LEAD WITH LOVE. WE CHOOSE TO LEAD WITH TOLERANCE. WE CHOOSE TO LEAD WITH RESPECT FOR ALL PEOPLE. AND OUR HOLOCAUST MUSEUM IS A TREASURE HERE IN HARRIS COUNTY. SO WE'VE HAD IT SINCE 1996. IF YOU HAVEN'T BEEN, YOU SHOULD VISIT. AND I WANT TO THANK ALL OF THE LEADERS, TEAM MEMBERS, VOLUNTEERS WHO MAKE THE HOLOCAUST MUSEUM POSSIBLE HERE, INCLUDING LINDA BERGER, TAMARA SAVAGE, ELISE SPECTOR, SANDY LESSIG, AND TOBY COOPER, AMONGST MANY, MANY OTHERS. EVERYTHING YOU DO TO EDUCATE OUR COMMUNITY SO THAT WE CAN LEARN AND WE CAN ALL BE BETTER AND FIGHT AGAINST DISCRIMINATION OF ALL [01:00:01] KINDS. AND PRECINCT FOUR, I'M VERY PROUD THAT WE HAVE SOME OF THE SOME OF THE LARGEST SYNAGOGUES IN IN ALL OF TEXAS AND IN THE COUNTRY, AND WE HAVE MANY HOLOCAUST SURVIVORS AND DESCENDANTS OF HOLOCAUST SURVIVORS. THERE ARE MANY. AND TODAY WE ARE RECOGNIZING SEVERAL OF THESE AMAZING PEOPLE, INCLUDING EDITH MINTZBERG, HANS MEYER, BEN MEYER, GARY MARKOWITZ. AND AGAIN, JUST TAKING A STEP BACK ON THIS 80TH ANNIVERSARY. IT'S NOT JUST TODAY THAT WE REMEMBER, BUT WE ALL HAVE TO REMEMBER. AND I ALWAYS GO BACK TO BEING A MOM BECAUSE IT'S MY WHY. IT'S AS WE RAISE OUR KIDS, AS WE SIT WITH OUR FAMILIES. JUST LOVE AND TOLERANCE AND RESPECT IS NON-NEGOTIABLE. AND SO ON BEHALF OF THE MILLIONS WE LOST. I HOPE WE CAN HONOR THEIR LEGACY IN THE WAY WE CHOOSE TO LIVE AND THE WAY WE CHOOSE TO LEAD. AND SO WITH THAT, THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE TODAY. THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER BRIONES. AND THANK YOU LINA HIDALGO. MY NAME IS ELISE SPECTOR. AS YOU MENTIONED, I'M THE CHAIR OF HOLOCAUST MUSEUM HOUSTON. I AM THE FIRST GRANDCHILD OF HOLOCAUST SURVIVORS TO CHAIR THE MUSEUM, AND I FEEL AN EXTRA SENSE OF RESPONSIBILITY AND GRAVITY IN THE WORK THAT WE DO, ESPECIALLY IN TODAY'S UNPRECEDENTED RISE IN HATE ACROSS THE COMMUNITY. MY GRANDMOTHER SPENT TWO YEARS AT AUSCHWITZ. SHE WAS ULTIMATELY LIBERATED BY THE BRITISH AT BERGEN-BELSEN IN MAY OF 1945. SHE CAME TO THIS COUNTRY. SHE SETTLED IN HOUSTON BECAUSE SHE HAD AN UNCLE WHO WAS ALREADY HERE. AND WE HAD OVER A THOUSAND HOLOCAUST SURVIVORS WHO CAME TO OUR COMMUNITY HERE AFTER SURVIVING THE ATROCITIES. AND AS YOU MENTIONED, WE'RE NEXT YEAR, WE WILL BE CELEBRATING THE 30TH ANNIVERSARY OF OUR HOLOCAUST MUSEUM. AND WHILE WE HAVE MUSEUM IN OUR NAME. GO AHEAD. WE ARE REALLY AN EDUCATION CENTER. STUDENTS THROUGH COLLEGE AGE ARE ALWAYS FREE TO COME TO OUR MUSEUM. WE ARE EXCITED THAT YOU'LL BE COMING TO VISIT US IN APRIL. I WELCOME EVERYONE FROM COMMISSIONERS COURT. I KNOW YOU VISITED QUITE A FEW TIMES. BUT I WOULD WELCOME ANYONE TO COME AND LEARN. SO THAT WE CAN ALL BE UPSTANDERS. AND I NOW WOULD LIKE TO YIELD TO MY FRIEND BEN MAYOR. THANK YOU. THANK YOU ALL. GOOD MORNING. MY NAME IS BEN MAYER, SPEAKING ON BEHALF OF MY FATHER, HANS MAYER, WHO IS TRAVELING TODAY. FORTUNATELY, HE'S TRAVELING TO SEE ONE OF HIS GRANDCHILDREN COMPETE IN SKATING. I'M HONORED AND PRIVILEGED TO SPEAK HIS SENTIMENTS TODAY. MY FATHER IS A HOLOCAUST SURVIVOR, HAVING EMIGRATED FROM GERMANY IN AUGUST 1939 AT THE AGE OF THREE. IN ADDITION, MY FATHER IS A CO-FOUNDER, A FOUNDING MEMBER OF THE ADVISORY BOARD OF THE HOUSTON MUSEUM OF HOLOCAUST. IN BOTH OF THESE CAPACITIES, HE IS HONORED TODAY TO EXPRESS HIS APPRECIATION TO COMMISSIONER BRIONES AND THE COMMISSIONER'S COURT COMMEMORATING HOLOCAUST REMEMBRANCE DAY WITH YOUR RESOLUTION. AS YOU KNOW, ANTI-SEMITISM CONTINUES TO CHALLENGE OUR FREEDOM AND OUR DEMOCRACY. AS YOU MENTIONED IN THAT REGARD, YOUR RESOLUTION MAKES A STRONG, POSITIVE PUBLIC STATEMENT AND HAS REALLY SPECIAL MEANING TO MY FATHER. IF YOU HAVE NOT HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO VISIT, HE IS PLEASED TO INVITE YOU AS THE MUSEUM IS TO VISIT THE MUSEUM FOR A DOCENT LED TOURS. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR. THANK YOU, MISS COLEMAN. COMMISSIONER RAMSEY AND COMMISSIONER GARCIA. YEAH. QUICKLY. I'VE HAD THE PRIVILEGE OF TRAVELING TO ISRAEL NINE TIMES. PROBABLY THE MOST COMPELLING THING THAT I EVER EXPERIENCED WAS THE CHILDREN'S HOLOCAUST MUSEUM. AND IN JERUSALEM. AND IT HAS SUCH. MEANING? SO. SO MANY STORIES. AND IF THOSE ARE THINGS THAT WE NEED TO SHARE WITH, WITH MY CHILDREN, MY SEVEN GRANDCHILDREN AND OTHERS, AS I STOOD ON MASADA WITH A COLONEL IN THE ISRAELI DEFENSE FORCE, AND WE TALKED ABOUT VISITING THE HOLOCAUST MUSEUM, AND HE HAD THAT. HE HAD THAT LOOK THAT I'LL NEVER FORGET. AND HE SIMPLY SAID, NEVER AGAIN. NEVER AGAIN. AND UNLESS WE REMEMBER, UNLESS WE TALK ABOUT IT, I KNOW EVEN IN PRECINCT THREE, WE LAST WEEK I WENT TO THE HOLOCAUST GARDEN OF HOPE. IT'S A IT'S A LITTLE TRAIL. JUST. YOU WOULDN'T EVEN ANTICIPATE FINDING IT THERE. BUT THERE, BUT IT HAS A WONDERFUL INTERACTIVE DISPLAY THERE. IT'S NOT FINISHED QUITE YET, BUT IT HAS 2 OR 3 STATIONS THERE, SO WE SHALL NOT FORGET. [01:05:07] AND WE WILL ALWAYS REMEMBER SO THAT THINGS LIKE THAT DON'T EVER HAPPEN AGAIN. AND THAT PARTICULARLY WITH OUR JEWISH FRIENDS AND NEIGHBORS, THEY MUST WE MUST BE VIGILANT IN EVERY ASPECT OF THAT. SO THANK YOU FOR ALL Y'ALL DO TO HELP US REMEMBER. THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER GARCIA. THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER. THANK YOU FOR BRINGING THIS RESOLUTION FORWARD. AND I, TOO, WANT TO OFFER MY COMMITMENT TO REMEMBERING AND HONORING THOSE LIVES. I, TOO, HAVE HAD THE HONOR AND PLEASURE OF VISITING ISRAEL. AND, YOU KNOW, COMMISSIONER RAMSEY TOOK THE WORDS OUT OF MY MOUTH. I VISITED THE THE CHILDREN'S MUSEUM AND MEMORIAL, AND IT IS POWERFUL. I DON'T I MEAN, OF EVERYTHING THAT I HAD THE HONOR AND PLEASURE OF VISITING AND EXPERIENCING IN ISRAEL ON MY FIVE VISITS, I THINK IT WAS THE CHILDREN'S MUSEUM AND MEMORIAL HAS STAYED WITH ME THE MOST. WE TALK ABOUT THE WHOLE EVENT, BUT TO THINK ABOUT HOW CHILDREN RECEIVE NO QUARTER, RECEIVE NO QUARTER. IT IS JUST UNCONSCIONABLE TO THINK THAT THAT HAPPENED. AND TO SEE THEIR MANY THEIR PILES OF THEIR SHOES IS JUST I MEAN, IF THAT DOESN'T TOUCH ANYONE'S HEART, I DON'T KNOW WHAT WILL. SO I JUST WANT TO TELL YOU THAT YOU CONTINUE TO HAVE MY COMMITMENT. AND IN FACT, WHEN I WAS SHERIFF, I LOOKED TO THE HOLOCAUST MUSEUM TO HELP US WITH OUR TRAINING. BECAUSE WE'RE KIND OF LIVING IN THAT DAY TO DAY WHERE FOLKS WITH AUTHORITY WILL BE DIRECTED TO DO CERTAIN THINGS. AND AND I WANT THEM TO KNOW THAT THERE IS THAT YOU CAN NEVER, IN SPITE OF YOUR AUTHORITY AND RESPONSIBILITY, THAT YOU CANNOT GIVE UP ON HUMANITY. AND AND SO I THANK YOU FOR THAT BECAUSE I THINK YOU HELPED ME MAKE THE DEPARTMENT A LOT BETTER WHEN I RECEIVED IT BECAUSE OF THAT PARTICULAR TRAINING. AND SO AND I'VE HAD, YOU KNOW, THE, THE, THE GRACE OF HAVING MET MANY A SURVIVOR. AND SO IT'S JUST IT'S JUST POWERFUL. IT JUST, I MEAN, YOU YOU YOU REALLY ARE IN THE PRESENCE OF SOMEONE SPECIAL WHEN YOU MEET SOMEONE AND SOMEONE WHO'S ATTACHED TO THOSE INDIVIDUALS. AND SO AGAIN, JUST KNOW THAT HERE IN HARRIS COUNTY THE SURVIVORS AND THE VICTIMS AND THE DESCENDANTS WILL NEVER BE FORGOTTEN. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. I JUST WANT TO MAKE A QUICK MENTION THAT WE ARE THE ONLY FULLY ENGLISH, SPANISH BILINGUAL HOLOCAUST MUSEUM IN THE COUNTRY. SO, AGAIN, GIVEN THE DEMOGRAPHICS AND THE COMMUNITY WE LIVE IN, WE THINK THAT'S REALLY IMPORTANT. THANK YOU. AND I REALLY APPRECIATE. THANK YOU. AND THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER, FOR BRINGING THIS. I REALLY APPRECIATE THE FOCUS THAT YOU GUYS EXPLAINED TO ME OUT OF DARKNESS, LIGHT. AND SO FOR FOLKS WHO HAVEN'T BEEN TO A HOLOCAUST MUSEUM, WHEN YOU VISIT YOU, YOU WALK OUT FEELING INSPIRED ABOUT WHAT YOU CAN DO. SO SOMETIMES WE DON'T WANT TO GO BECAUSE WE DON'T WANT TO FEEL TERRIBLE. AND OF COURSE, IT'S A TERRIBLE ATROCITY, BUT WE NEED PEOPLE TO WANT TO LEARN ABOUT IT AND SEE, OKAY, THIS IS HORRIBLE. WE NEED TO REMEMBER, WE NEED TO TEACH OUR KIDS ABOUT IT. AND ALSO WE CAN PREVENT THINGS FROM HAPPENING LIKE THIS IN THE FUTURE. AND WE CAN, JUST IN OUR DAILY LIVES, PROMOTE THAT POSITIVITY, THAT HUMANITY, AS COMMISSIONER GARCIA SAID. SO AT SOME POINT WHEN I WAS THERE, I ASKED I WAS, I THINK ONE OF THE DOCENTS, I SAID, YOU KNOW, WHAT'S THE MOST EFFECTIVE MESSAGE THAT YOU HAVE FOR FOR KIDS, MAYBE FOR COMMUNITIES? WHAT'S THE THE MOST EFFECTIVE THING WE CAN SAY THESE DAYS, WHEN IT SEEMS SO EASY TO DEHUMANIZE OTHERS AND AND ALIENATE OTHERS? AND OBVIOUSLY, THAT WAS THE BEGINNING OF OF WHAT LED TO THE HOLOCAUST AND WHAT LEADS TO SO MANY OTHER TRAGEDIES. DO YOU GUYS HAVE SOMETHING SORT OF THE BEST WAY FOR YOU TO EXPLAIN WHY IT'S NOT OKAY FOR US TO DEHUMANIZE AND AND, AND ATTACK AND FORGET THE PEOPLE OR PEOPLE WE REALLY TRY TO TAKE THE LESSONS OF THE HOLOCAUST. DEMOCRACY IS FRAGILE. EVERYONE HAS CHOICES TO MAKE. THE THE HOLOCAUST WAS NOT INEVITABLE. AND YOU AS AN INDIVIDUAL, IT WASN'T JUST THAT. IT WAS 6 MILLION WHO DIED. IT WAS ONE PERSON, ONE NEIGHBOR, ONE FRIEND, 6 MILLION TIMES. SO WE REALLY TRY TO TO EMPOWER STUDENTS TO BE AN UPSTANDER AND NOT A BYSTANDER. [01:10:01] I LIKE THAT THAT'S WHAT IT WAS. IT WAS AN UPSTANDER, NOT A BYSTANDER. AND THE AND THE THE FACT THAT EACH OF US HAS A CHOICE TO MAKE. SO THANK YOU. THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU FOR WHAT YOU DO. YOU DO. AND WE SUPPORT YOU GUYS. THANK YOU. COMMISSIONER BRIONES, I THINK THOSE WERE YOUR THAT WAS YOUR OUT OF ORDER RESOLUTION. THE OTHER ONES AT 215? YES. AND THEN COMMISSIONER ELLIS. JUST WELL, MAYBE WE'LL WAIT AND THEN DISCUSS IT LATER AFTER THE FACT. WE NEED TO TAKE THE PICTURES. IS WHAT I JUST REALIZED. LET'S SEE WHAT ELSE WE CAN DO. HOW ABOUT I'LL START READING THE RESOLUTION? BECAUSE HE DID SAY IF HE DIDN'T, IF HE DIDN'T MAKE IT, TO JUST READ IT WITHOUT HIM. AND THIS IS A JOINT RESOLUTION WE HAVE WITH COMMISSIONER ELLIS. AND I KNOW SOME OF THE SPEAKERS ARE WAITING TO TAKE PICTURES, SO WE'LL READ THIS ONE, THEN WE'LL TAKE PICTURES WITH EVERYBODY. YES. IF I COULD JUST A REAL QUICK SHOUT OUT. THERE'S A GROUP OF STUDENTS HERE TODAY THAT ARE VISITING HARRIS COUNTY COMMISSIONERS COURT. AND I JUST WANT TO GIVE OUT GIVE A SHOUT OUT TO THE HARMONY SCIENCE ACADEMY. THEY'RE PARTICIPATING IN THE SERVICE LEADERSHIP PROGRAM. SO YOU GUYS, PLEASE STAND UP. LET'S GIVE LET'S LET US GIVE YOU A ROUND OF APPLAUSE. WOW. THANK YOU ALL FOR VISITING. ALL THE BEST. AND I AND I VISITED Y'ALL'S CAMPUS SEVERAL TIMES AND SEE THE INCREDIBLE WORK YOU GUYS ARE DOING. AND I'LL NEVER FORGET WHERE WHEN I HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO RIDE ON A HOVER BOARD POWERED BY A LEAF BLOWER. SO SO KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK, GUYS. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. HOW'S THE MAN? GOOD. SO THIS RESOLUTION. AND THANK YOU GUYS FOR BEING HERE. LOOK FORWARD TO MEETING YOU. THANK YOU. COMMISSIONER. SO THIS RESOLUTION IS ON BLACK HISTORY MONTH SINCE 1926, BLACK HISTORY MONTH HAS SERVED AS A TIME TO HONOR THE EXTRAORDINARY CONTRIBUTIONS, RESILIENCE AND ACHIEVEMENTS OF AFRICAN AMERICANS, RECOGNIZING THEIR ENDURING IMPACT ON THE CULTURAL, POLITICAL, AND ECONOMIC PROGRESS OF OUR NATION. THE LEGACY OF BLACK LABOR ACTIVISM IN HOUSTON INCLUDES THE EFFORTS OF BLACK OIL AND STEEL WORKERS WHO OVER DECADES UTILIZED UNIONS AND LABOR LAWS TO SECURE ECONOMIC GAINS AND EQUALITY IN THE WORKPLACE, CHALLENGING BOTH EMPLOYER DISCRIMINATION AND RESISTANCE FROM PEERS. WHEREAS THIS YEAR'S THEME, AFRICAN AMERICANS AND LABOR IS NOTABLE BECAUSE HARRIS COUNTY HAS BEEN HOME TO INFLUENTIAL LEADERS WHOSE EFFORTS HAVE PLAYED A PIVOTAL ROLE IN ADVOCATING FOR FAIR WAGES, SAFE WORKING CONDITIONS, AND EQUITABLE TREATMENT, SIGNIFICANTLY IMPROVING THE QUALITY OF LIFE FOR COUNTLESS WORKERS OF ALL RACES AND THEIR FAMILIES. WHEREAS LEADERS LIKE JUSTICE THURGOOD MARSHALL, WHO SHARPENED HIS LEGAL ACUMEN IN HOUSTON, WORKING ON PIVOTAL CIVIL RIGHTS CASES. LEADERS LIKE CONGRESSWOMAN SHEILA JACKSON LEE, WHO WAS A STEADFAST ADVOCATE FOR LABOR RIGHTS. LEADERS LIKE CLAUDE CUMMINGS JUNIOR, WHO CURRENTLY SERVES AS THE PRESIDENT OF THE COMMUNICATIONS WORKERS OF AMERICA. THEIR WORK HAS INFLUENCED POLICIES AND INSPIRED LEADERSHIP FAR BEYOND TEXAS. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED THAT HARRIS COUNTY HEREBY RECOGNIZES FEBRUARY 2025 AS BLACK HISTORY MONTH IN HARRIS COUNTY, TEXAS, HONORING THE REMARKABLE LEGACY AND CONTRIBUTIONS OF AFRICAN AMERICAN LEADERS, LABOR LEADERS, AND WORKERS WHOSE DEDICATION, COURAGE, AND TALENT HAVE PROFOUNDLY SHAPED OUR NATION AND REAFFIRM OUR COMMITMENT TO SHAPING EQUITABLE LABOR PRACTICES, SUPPORTING INITIATIVES THAT PROMOTE JUSTICE AND EQUALITY IN THE WORKPLACE. AND WE WILL INVITE OUR SPEAKER HERE IN A MOMENT. I BELIEVE WE HAVE WE HAVE ONE SPEAKER. AND I KNOW WE'LL BE LOOKING FORWARD TO TAKING THAT PICTURE. I WAS JUST AT THE RODEO'S BLACK HERITAGE COMMITTEE GALA THIS PAST WEEKEND, AND THEY WERE CELEBRATING THE THE HERITAGE OF BLACK COWBOYS IN THE REGION. SO YOU GUYS KNOW THE RODEO HAS VARIOUS COMMITTEES AND THIS IS ONE OF THE LARGEST. THEY RAISED SO MUCH MONEY FOR SCHOLARSHIPS. AND THE GALA HAD OVER 3000 PEOPLE LEADERS WHO HELPED SUPPORT THE RODEO AND CELEBRATE THAT HISTORY. OUR RODEO, WHICH IS SO IMPORTANT TO OUR REGION, TO OUR ECONOMIC SUCCESS. IT WOULD NOT LOOK THE SAME IF NOT FOR THE HISTORICAL CONTRIBUTIONS OF BLACK AMERICANS IN THE BLACK COMMUNITY IN THE REGION OVER TIME. SO I'M VERY PROUD THAT OUR HISTORY MAKES US WHO WE ARE, AND THAT WE CONTINUE TO CELEBRATE THAT DIVERSITY AND THAT WE CONTINUE TO PROMOTE THAT EQUITY. I WAS I WAS TALKING TO MY HUSBAND LAST NIGHT. [01:15:06] I SAID, YOU KNOW, WELL, I GOT INTO STANFORD. DOES THAT MEAN I HAD EQUITY? HE SAID, WELL, I WENT TO A PREP SCHOOL WHERE THEY TAUGHT ME TO TAKE THE PSAT. SO THAT WAS HIS ADVANTAGE. SO I THINK, YOU KNOW, ALL OF US DESERVE A CHANCE. AND THE HISTORICAL THE HISTORY OF OUR COMMUNITIES WHERE WE COME FROM, THE CHALLENGES WE'VE BEEN THROUGH OR THE ADVANTAGES WE HAD GROWING UP. IF YOU'RE A WHITE MAN FROM DALLAS, AS MY HUSBAND IS THEY, THEY DEFINE WHERE WE GET TO LATER IN LIFE. I THINK ESPECIALLY TODAY, AS DIVERSITY AND EQUITY AND INCLUSION IS UNDER ATTACK, IT'S MORE IMPORTANT THAN EVER TO REMEMBER THE HISTORY, TO CELEBRATE THE HISTORY, BUT TO REMEMBER THAT EQUITY AND THE NEED FOR IT EXISTS FOR A REASON, BECAUSE MANY FOLKS ALREADY HAVE THAT ADVANTAGE. AND WE DON'T CALL IT EQUITY IN THAT SITUATION. SO LET ME INVITE MITCH, AN ORGANIZER AT THE IBEW, THE INTERNATIONAL BROTHERHOOD OF ELECTRICAL WORKERS. GOOD MORNING. GOOD MORNING. I WANT TO TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT HOW UNIONS HAVE PLAYED A PRETTY CRITICAL ROLE IN BUILDING HARRIS COUNTY, ESPECIALLY WITH THE AMOUNT OF MINORITIES THAT ARE PART OF THE UNIONS. IT'S DEFINITELY HAVE BEEN MY PLEASURE TO SERVE OUR UNIONS, ESPECIALLY AS THE ORGANIZER, TO WHERE I'M ABLE TO GO BACK INTO OUR COMMUNITIES AND KIND OF BRING SOME OF THOSE GUYS AND GALS ALONG FOR THE RIDE THAT I'VE BEEN ON IN THE LAST 18 YEARS. BUT AS YOU KNOW, UNIONS, WE BUILD A LOT OF THE CRITICAL BUILDINGS THAT ARE IN HARRIS COUNTY YOUR SCHOOLS, YOUR HOSPITALS, THE SHOPPING MALLS THAT WE ALL LIKE TO GO SPEND MONEY AT. SO IT'S DEFINITELY HAS PLAYED A BIG ROLE IN MY LIFE, ESPECIALLY COMING FROM THE NEIGHBORHOOD, GRADUATING FROM MADISON HIGH SCHOOL AND NOT REALLY KNOWING WHAT WAS OUT THERE. SO I'VE KIND OF MADE IT MY LIFE'S WORK AS AN ORGANIZER TO GO BACK TO THESE SCHOOLS WHERE THEY YANKED A LOT OF THE FUNDING FOR TRADE SCHOOLS. THAT, THAT SUPPLY THESE YOUNGSTERS THAT ARE NOT GOING TO COLLEGE WITH, WITH MEANINGFUL WAYS OF MAKING MONEY. AND JUST KIND OF SOME OF THE NAMES YOU MENTIONED MENTIONED LIKE MR. RODNEY ELLIS AND CLARKE CUMMINGS. MY APRIL BROTHERS HAVE HELPED MENTOR ME OVER THE YEARS TO COME INTO THIS ROLE THAT I AM NOW. SO I'M VERY THANKFUL AND AND GLAD TO BE HERE, TO ABLE TO SPEAK ON THAT AND ENLIGHTEN ON WHAT WE DO AS A UNION. THANK YOU. THANK YOU SO MUCH. AND IN HIS ABSENCE, I DO WANT TO CELEBRATE THE CONTRIBUTIONS THAT COMMISSIONER ELLIS CONTINUES TO MAKE TO LIFT UP OTHERS, ESPECIALLY THE TULIP PROGRAM. I KNOW THERE ARE SO MANY LEADERS IN THE COMMUNITY, ELECTED LEADERS WHO'VE BEEN THROUGH THAT INTERNSHIP PROGRAM THAT HE CREATED MANY YEARS AGO. I THINK THEY HAVE MAYBE HUNDREDS EVERY YEAR THAT THEY PLACE ALL ACROSS ACROSS GOVERNMENT. IT'S PAID INTERNSHIPS, AND IT'S THAT IDEA. OTHERS MAY BE ABLE TO GET THAT, THOSE KINDS OF OPPORTUNITIES WITHOUT SOMEBODY REACHING OUT TO THEM BECAUSE OF THEIR BACKGROUND, BECAUSE OF THE LACK OF BIASES AGAINST THEM. BUT IN THIS CASE HE'S HELPING LIFT UP COMMUNITIES AND BRING IN BRILLIANT PEOPLE WHO GET THEMSELVES ELECTED. WHO THRIVE IN THEIR JOBS ON THEIR OWN MERIT, BUT HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO REALLY FOSTER THAT TALENT THROUGH EDUCATION, THROUGH THROUGH A LACK OF OF BIAS AGAINST THEM, LIKE THE WORK THAT YOU DO, SIR. SO THANK YOU. LET'S GIVE A ROUND OF APPLAUSE TO YOU, TO COMMISSIONER ELLIS AND ALL OUR LEADERS. SO, YES. CAN I GET SOMEBODY SAID SOMETHING? YES. TIFFANY? NO. CAN I GET YOUR NAME FOR THE RECORD, PLEASE? THANK YOU. MITCH M A Y N LAST NAME. YOU GOT IT. YEAH. OKAY. ALL RIGHT, SO I THINK THAT THOSE ARE ALL THE RESOLUTIONS FOR NOW. 215 WILL TAKE THE RESOLUTION THAT COMMISSIONER BRIONES HAS. SO LET'S GO AHEAD AND TAKE PICTURES, AND WE'LL TAKE THEM IN THE ORDER IN WHICH THE JUDGE READ. YES, JUDGE. I'M SORRY. THERE WERE A FEW MORE SPEAKERS FOR ITEM SEVEN. DID YOU WANT TO TAKE THEM NOW? YES. LET'S TAKE THEM. OKAY. SO CORRETTA. MALLETT. FONTENEAU. YOU HAVE ONE MINUTE. THANK YOU. GOOD MORNING. I AM DOCTOR CORETTA FONTENEAU, RETIRED EDUCATOR TURNED UNION ORGANIZER, SPEAKING ON BEHALF OF THE HOUSTON FEDERATION OF TEACHERS PRESIDENT, JACKIE ANDERSON. I AM SPEAKING ON AGENDA ITEM SEVEN, APPROVAL OF A RESOLUTION DESIGNATING THE MONTH OF FEBRUARY AS BLACK HISTORY MONTH IN HARRIS COUNTY, [01:20:05] TEXAS. AFRICAN AMERICANS HAVE A STORIED HISTORY IN HARRIS COUNTY, INCLUDING JOHN HENRY, JACK YATES, CONGRESSWOMAN BARBARA JORDAN, THE LATE CONGRESSWOMAN SHEILA JACKSON LEE AND HER LOVELY DAUGHTER ERICA LEE CARTER. AND THE HISTORY THAT THEY HAVE RECENTLY MADE, AND OUR VERY OWN HATTIE MAE WHITE, WHOM THE HISD ADMINISTRATION BUILDING IS NAMED AFTER. JUST TO NAME A FEW. AFRICAN AMERICANS HAVE ALWAYS BEEN AT THE FOREFRONT OF MAKING HISTORY. LIVING HISTORY AND PRESERVING OUR HISTORY. WE ARE OUR ANCESTORS WILDEST DREAMS. PRESIDENT JACKIE ANDERSON IS AN EXAMPLE OF LIVING BLACK HISTORY. GO AHEAD. SHE IS JUST. SHE IS THE FIRST AFRICAN AMERICAN PRESIDENT OF THE HOUSTON FEDERATION OF TEACHERS UNION AND THE GULF COAST AFL-CIO. AND I JUST SAW MY BROTHER FROM THE IBEW SPEAKING. WE HAVE CHAMPIONED THOSE INTERNSHIP PROGRAMS, AS WELL AS THE OTHER LABOR LAWS THAT HAVE GONE AT THE LOCAL AND FEDERAL LEVELS, SOME OF WHICH HAVE COME THROUGH THIS VERY COURT. WE THANK YOU ALL FOR THAT. SHE CONTINUES TO LEAD OUR COMMUNITY THROUGH THESE CHALLENGING TIMES IN HOUSTON ISD WITH GRACE AND DIGNITY. SO ON BEHALF OF THE HOUSTON FEDERATION OF FEDERATION OF TEACHERS UNION. WE THANK YOU FOR THIS DESIGNATION. THANK YOU. MR. THOMAS, YOU HAVE ONE MINUTE. ANY OTHER SPEAKERS? TIFFANY. RICHARD. THOMAS. PATRICIA. THOMAS. FRANCIS. THANK YOU SO MUCH. GOOD MORNING EVERYONE. MY NAME IS RICHARD THOMAS, AND I AM HONORED TO SERVE AS THE EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT FOR SEIU TEXAS. THANK YOU ALL FOR HAVING ME AND FOR THIS RECOGNITION OF BLACK HISTORY MONTH. I WANT TO TAKE A MOMENT TO RECOGNIZE THE PROUD LEGACY OF BLACK ACTIVISTS WHO HAVE STOOD AT THE FOREFRONT OF AMERICAN LABOR MOVEMENT, CREATING POWERFUL AND CHANGING CIVIL RIGHTS AND LABOR RIGHTS. WE STAND ON THEIR SHOULDERS, AND WE ARE A PART OF THE STRENGTH THAT THEIR LEGACY BRINGS. IN MY OWN UNION, THE SERVICE EMPLOYEES INTERNATIONAL UNION, WE BEGAN IN CHICAGO, WHERE MORE THAN 100 YEARS AGO, WHEN BLACK AND IMMIGRANT JANITORS WERE FED UP WITH LOW PAY AND TERRIBLE WORKING CONDITIONS, AND THEY BANDED TOGETHER ACROSS RACE, AND THEY TOOK ON THE CHICAGO BUILDING OWNERS AND WON. WE UNDERSTAND THAT THERE IS A CLEAR CONNECTION BETWEEN LABOR AND CIVIL RIGHTS. THANK YOU. WE UNDERSTAND THAT ECONOMIC JUSTICE IS RACIAL JUSTICE. YOU CANNOT HAVE ONE WITHOUT THE OTHER. AND THAT ISN'T ALWAYS HOW IT'S BEEN. SO THAT'S WHY EVEN IN THIS DAY, WE HAVE BLACK WORKERS AND BLACK TRADE UNIONISTS WHO ARE COMING TOGETHER AND BUILDING A MOVEMENT. YEARS AGO, THEY WEREN'T EVEN INCLUDED. THEY WERE ACTUALLY EXCLUDED FROM THE LABOR MOVEMENT. TODAY, THEY'RE LEADING IN THAT MOVEMENT. HERE IN HOUSTON, I SEE BLACK WOMEN TAKING LEADERSHIP ROLES IN LABOR AND CONTINUING TO PUSH FOR BETTER WAGES AND BETTER WORKING CONDITIONS, EVEN AS WE'LL HAVE LATER DISCUSSIONS HERE IN THIS COURT ABOUT THE NEED TO CONTINUE THOSE STANDARDS. YOU KNOW, BLACK WOMEN ARE AT THE FOREFRONT OF THE CARE AND SERVICE MOVEMENT. AND WHEN YOU ALL THINK ABOUT THE CONTRACTS AND THINGS OF THAT NATURE, YOU NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU'RE CONSIDERING THOSE THINGS AS WELL. BLACK WORKERS ARE POWERFUL. THEY'RE A POWERFUL FORCE FOR FREEDOM. AND WE NEED EVERY VOICE RAISED RIGHT NOW TO BE BIG, BOLD, AND TO BE BRIGHT AND LOUD. SO IT'S AN HONOR FOR US TO NOT ONLY RECOGNIZE THIS MONTH, BUT ALSO RECOGNIZE THE THOUSANDS OF WORKERS AND BLACK UNIONISTS WHO ARE FIGHTING TO MAKE HARRIS COUNTY A BETTER AND BRIGHTER COUNTY. THANK YOU ALL. THANK YOU. DEMETRIUS JONES AND RETHA THOMAS, YOU EACH HAVE ONE MINUTE. THANK YOU. LET'S BEGIN. THANK YOU. GOOD AFTERNOON. THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING US TO SPEAK THIS AFTERNOON. I HAVE OUR PRESIDENT, WHICH IS RETHA THOMAS TO MY LEFT, AND OUR DIRECTOR FOR HPSP TO MY RIGHT, AUDREY HAGOOD. AND MY NAME IS DEMETRIUS JONES, WHICH IS THE VICE PRESIDENT OF HZGP. [01:25:02] HZGP IS THE HOUSTON EDUCATIONAL SUPPORT PERSONNEL FOR HISD. BUT HPSP IS MORE THAN JUST SUPPORT PERSONNEL. WE ARE THE BUS DRIVERS THAT TAKE YOUR KIDS TO AND FROM SCHOOL SAFELY EVERY DAY. WE'RE THE FOOD SERVICE AND THE CAFETERIA WORKERS WHO PROVIDE NUTRITIONAL MEALS EACH AND EVERY DAY. WE'RE THE CUSTODIANS WHO CLEAN THE SCHOOLS SO THE PLACE CAN BE SANITIZED, BUT WE'RE ALSO MORE THAN THAT. WE ARE ESSENTIAL WORKERS, LIKE OUR FARMING UNION, WHO PUTS WATER ON FIRE. WE'RE THE POLICE BROTHERS. WHO IS THE PEACE IN THE MIDDLE OF CHAOS? WE ARE THE PLUMBERS WHO KEEPS THE DRAIN FLOWING. GOOD. WE ARE THE METRO WORKERS WHO KEEPS HOUSTON MOVING. THE LINEMAN WHO KEEPS THE LIGHTS ON, THE SEAFARERS WHO KEEPS THE GOODS COMING IN AND OUT OF PORTS. BUT WE ARE MUCH MORE THAN THAT. WE ARE THE OPERATIONS BEHIND THE OPERATION, THE BOLTS THAT HOLDS EVERYTHING TOGETHER. OFTEN WE'RE INVISIBLE IN PLAIN SIGHT. BUT WE'RE FELT WHEN WE'RE ABSENT. WE ARE A CARAVAN OF UNION WORKERS WHO RISE DAY IN AND DAY NIGHT AND EVERY NIGHT, LIKE THE PHOENIX, STANDING STRONG IN SOLIDARITY, MAKING HISTORY EVERY DAY, CHANGING, IMPACTING AND HOLDING COMMUNITIES, CITIES, AND EVEN THIS UNITED STATES OF AMERICA TOGETHER THROUGH PRAYER, BLOOD, SWEAT AND TEARS. WE ARE THE ONES WHO ARE THE ADVOCATES FOR THE SAFE WORKING ENVIRONMENTS, LIVABLE WAGES, STRONG COMMUNITIES, AND THE VOICE FOR THE VOICELESS. WE ARE THE PEOPLE. FOR THE PEOPLE. HAPPY BLACK HISTORY MONTH. THANK YOU. THAT'S OUR JUDGE. TOGETHERNESS. ANY OTHER SPEAKERS? TIFFANY. ON THIS ONE. THAT'S ALL. COMMISSIONER, YOU ARRIVED AT THE PERFECT TIME. THIS IS OUR JOINT RESOLUTION ON BLACK HISTORY MONTH. THANK YOU. JUDGE. AND I WAS PROUD TO DO THIS RESOLUTION WITH YOU MAKES THE CASE THAT WE HAVE DIVERSITY IN BLACK HISTORY, AND WE OUGHT TO CELEBRATE IT EVERY DAY FOR THE ENTIRE YEAR. SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH AND THANK ALL OF OUR GUESTS FOR BEING HERE. THANK YOU. AND I APPRECIATE THAT. I THINK PART OF OUR COMMUNITY IS NOT DIVIDING ONE ANOTHER. SO WE KNOW WHAT IT MEANS WHEN A HISPANIC JOINS UP WITH AN AFRICAN AMERICAN, OR WHETHER IT BE A CAUCASIAN, WHATEVER. I THINK COMMISSIONER ELLIS AND I ARE BOTH PROUD OF BEING ABLE TO WORK ACROSS THAT AND CELEBRATE ALL OF OUR COMMUNITIES. SO THANK YOU FOR INCLUDING ME, COMMISSIONER. AND JUST PARTICULARLY WITH ALL OF THE PUSHBACK ON THE NATIONAL LEVEL, I THINK IT IS SO IMPORTANT THAT WE RECOGNIZE THAT DIVERSITY IS A STRENGTH IN THIS COUNTRY AND ONE THAT WE SHOULD ALL APPRECIATE AND EMBRACE. THAT'S RIGHT. ALL RIGHT. SO WE ARE GOING TO TAKE PICTURES NOW IN THE ORDER IN WHICH THE RESOLUTIONS WERE BROUGHT UP. CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL THE HONOREES. [01:31:51] NO. I WAS TRYING TO FIGURE OUT EXACTLY WHAT THEY WERE. I KNOW THEY'RE ALL THE WAY OVER THERE. I DON'T HAVE TO UNMUTE THE WEBEX. OH, NO. YEAH. IT. [02:02:26] HELLO, FRIENDS. I TOLD HIM TO TURN IT ON. PLEASE. [02:02:33] OH, OKAY. HELLO. HI, EVERYONE. IT'S 12:13 P.M. [02:02:36] AND WE'RE BREAKING UNTIL 130. WE'LL BE BREAKING UNTIL 130. [02:02:41] IT IS NOW. IS THAT RIGHT? I HAVE 110. IT'S AT 1 P.M.. [02:02:47] OH 210. AND COMMISSIONERS COURT IS BACK IN SESSION. [Appearances before court] [02:02:50] I THINK WE'LL GO TO THE PUBLIC SPEAKERS NOW, IS THAT CORRECT? AND WOULD YOU CALL THEM UP FIRST? IS ELSA FLORES SPEAKING ON ITEM 243 AND JACOB CLEMENTS SPEAKING ON ITEM TEN. 00000000. OH. ALL RIGHT. OKAY. GREETINGS. HOW ABOUT AN ITEM TEN? I WISH MR. GARCIA WAS HERE, BUT AT ANY RATE, IT'S CLOSE TO VALENTINE'S DAY. AND SO WILL YOU BE MY VALENTINE. MISS LESLIE. YEAH, I KNOW I PUT YOU ON THE SPOT, BUT WHAT I WANT TO SAY IS I PUT A PIECE OF CANDY RIGHT ON YOUR DESK, AND YOU SEE, IT SAYS WALL. WELL, WALNUT AND. WELL, I'M A NUT. I'M CRAZY. AND THIS IS A DATE. I WANT TO GO. I WANT. WELL, YOU HAVE A DATE WITH ME. I WOULDN'T LIKE. I KNOW, THANK YOU, BUT. YEAH, I'M JUST TRYING TO JOKE. BUT THEN I ALSO GAVE ONE TO MISS LINA. MISS LINA HIDALGO. AND THEN I WANTED TO SAY THIS ABOUT THE HOUSTON CITY FULL OF CULTURE AND DIVERSITY. WELL THANK YOU. YOUR TIME IS UP. THANK YOU. JACOB. NEXT IS CARLOS DUARTE SPEAKING ON ITEM 274 AND RICKY CASTILLO SPEAKING ON ITEM 302. [02:05:13] YEAH. GOOD AFTERNOON. ON BEHALF OF ALMA, ITS BOARD OF DIRECTORS ARE MORE THAN 1000 SUPPORTERS. I HUMBLY AND DEEPLY THANK HARRIS COUNTY COMMISSIONER COURT FOR ITS TIMELY AND FOUNDATIONAL SUPPORT. PARTICULARLY COMMISSIONER GARCIA, WHOSE BELIEF IN OUR VISION HAS BEEN INSTRUMENTAL. THE COMMITMENT OF THIS COURT IN SUPPORTING ALMA MAKES YOU ALL PART OF THIS. ALMA WILL BE THE MOST IMPORTANT LATINO ARTS AND CULTURE MUSEUM COMPLEX IN THE US. A LANDMARK INSTITUTION ANCHORED IN HOUSTON EASTERN WITH SATELLITE ACTIVITY ACROSS THE COUNTY. IT WILL CONSERVATIVELY ATTRACT 266,000 VISITORS PER YEAR, GENERATE $18 MILLION IN ECONOMIC ACTIVITY AND CREATE 250 NEW JOBS, BOOSTING HOUSTON'S CULTURAL AND ECONOMIC LANDSCAPE. ALMA IS BEING CREATED IN ONE OF THE MOST DIVERSE REGIONS OF THE WORLD TO HELP UNDERSTAND WHO LATINOS ARE. WE WILL BUILD A HOME TO SHOWCASE OUR SOUL THROUGH ARTS AND CULTURE, EXPAND FIFTY-SECONDS, AND INSPIRE NEW GENERATIONS IN A COUNTY WHERE HALF OR NEARLY HALF THE POPULATION IS LATINO. ALMA BELONGS HERE. THIS LANDMARK DESIGNATION WILL HONOR OUR HERITAGE, SHAPE OUR FUTURE, AND PROVIDE A SPACE TO CELEBRATE LIFE WITH PEOPLE FROM ALL BACKGROUNDS BY BUILDING COMMUNITY THROUGH ARTS AND CULTURE. YOUR CONTINUED SUPPORT IS ESSENTIAL TO MAKING HOUSTON THE HUB OF LATINO ARTS AND CULTURE. TOGETHER, WE ARE SHAPING HISTORY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU CARLOS. THANK YOU. COMMISSIONER GARCIA COULDN'T BE HERE, BUT HE'S BEEN HE'S BEEN TALKING ABOUT THIS FOR A LONG TIME, SO HE'S VERY PROUD AND WE'RE ALL VERY PROUD AND HAPPY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP. YES, PLEASE. GOOD AFTERNOON. MY NAME IS TRIXIE CASTILLO, AND I AM THE VICE CHAIR OF HARRIS COUNTY ESSENTIAL WORKERS BOARD. FIRST, I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR NOT ONLY YOUR TIME, BUT YOUR RECOGNITION OF THE COMMUNITY AND WHAT THIS BOARD REPRESENTS. WHILE A REPORT DISCUSSES MANY OUTREACH ACTIVITIES, THERE ARE TWO THAT WE WOULD LIKE TO LIFT UP TO YOU OF THE COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT THAT WE HAVE BEEN WORKING ON. FIRST, I WOULD LIKE TO SHARE ABOUT THE LEADERSHIP FORUM, WHICH IS A COMMUNITY LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT PLATFORM THAT ALLOWS ESSENTIAL, ESSENTIAL WORKERS TO ENGAGE WITH COMMUNITY LEADERS AND SHARE HOW WE CAN ADVOCATE FOR ESSENTIAL WORKERS ACROSS THE COUNTY. SECONDLY, THE BOARD HAS ALSO PARTICIPATED IN THE PRECINCT ONE IN DOWNTOWN HOUSTON HOUSTON'S PUBLIC ART PROJECT, HIGHLIGHTING THE INTERACTIVE MURAL AT SEA DUTY. THE MURAL OF A JANITOR, WHICH WE SEE ON THE SAM HOUSTON HOTEL BUILDING. THIS SHOWCASES HOW ESSENTIAL WORKERS REMAIN THE BACKBONE OF OUR COMMUNITY. THIS ART IS A VISUAL. THANK YOU. YOUR TIME IS UP. THANK YOU. THIS ART IS A VISUAL REPRESENTATION TO ALL DOWNTOWN VISITORS THAT ESSENTIAL WORKERS THAT ARE CRUCIAL PART OF THE COMMUNITY AND ECONOMY. ALL TOO OFTEN OUR WORK GOES OVERLOOKED, BUT THROUGH THIS PROJECT WE HOPE TO MAKE IT WHAT IT IS INVISIBLE, VISIBLE. THERE ARE VARIOUS OPPORTUNITIES THAT THE ESSENTIAL WORKERS BOARD, WHICH SHOWS THE RESILIENCE OF OUR COMMUNITY AND ALLOW US TO PROVIDE EXPERIENCES. ESSENTIAL WORKERS MIGHT NOT TRADITIONALLY HAVE. AND WITH THAT, I WOULD LIKE NOW TO PASS THE MIC TO OUR CHAIR, CAROL LEVY. HELLO. MY NAME IS KARA LEVI. I AM THE CHAIR OF THE HARRIS COUNTY ESSENTIAL WORKERS BOARD. FIRST, I WANT TO ECHO RIXEY IN THANKING YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP AND ALLOWING US AS ESSENTIAL WORKERS TO HAVE A VOICE IN THIS SPACE. WITH YOUR SUPPORT, WE WERE ABLE TO HOST PROGRAMS THAT PROMOTE A HEALTHY WORKPLACE FOR ESSENTIAL WORKERS LIKE MYSELF AND OTHERS ACROSS ALL INDUSTRIES IN THE COUNTY. I AM PROUD TO SHARE THAT WE, AS A BOARD, ARE PROUD TO SAY THAT WE HAVE ENGAGED OVER 400 PEOPLE THROUGH OUR OUTREACH EFFORTS FOR ESSENTIAL WORKERS. OUR EFFORTS INCLUDE ADVOCATING FOR THE NEEDS OF ESSENTIAL WORKERS ACROSS THE COUNTY, WHICH IS BECOMING A PRESSING MATTER GIVEN THE CURRENT CLIMATE. SECONDLY, LIVING HERE, WE KNOW THAT REGIONAL DISASTERS HAPPEN, INCLUDING THE WINTER FREEZE THAT TOOK PLACE JUST A FEW WEEKS AGO. WE ALSO KNOW IN THOSE MOMENTS THE IMPORTANT HOW IMPORTANT ESSENTIAL WORKERS ARE CALLED UPON TO SERVE OUR COMMUNITY. IN 2024, HURRICANE BERYL WAS NO DIFFERENT. IN FACT, MANY OF US IN THIS ROOM ANSWERED THAT CALL. ESSENTIAL WORKERS ARE OUR RESIDENTS OF THIS COUNTY AS WELL. THAT'S WHY WHEN DISASTER STRIKES. THANK YOU. YOUR TIME IS UP. IS IT JUST A QUICK WRAP UP? YEAH. WE'RE HERE TO STAND FOR OUR COMMUNITY. [02:10:01] WITH THE SUPPORT OF THIS BOARD, ESSENTIAL WORKERS WERE ABLE TO ORGANIZE DONATION DRIVES AS WELL AS SHARE VITAL INFORMATION TO OUR MEMBERS ON HOW THEY WOULD LITERALLY WEATHER THAT STORM. PLEASE LOOK TO US AS ADVISORS AND SUBJECT MATTER EXPERTS AT WHAT WE'RE GOOD AT, WHICH IS ENSURING OUR COUNTY CONTINUES TO THRIVE EVEN IN TIMES OF HARDSHIP. I WOULD NOW LIKE TO PASS THE MIC TO DANIELLE AGBAYANI. GOOD AFTERNOON. MY NAME IS DANIELLE AGBAYANI. I SERVE AS PROGRAM MANAGER, COORDINATING AND SUPPORTING THE ESSENTIAL WORKERS BOARD. TO DATE, THE BOARD HAS ENGAGED WITH OVER 400 VOICES WITH SUPPORT FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF ECONOMIC EQUITY AND OPPORTUNITY. I'M INSPIRED BY THE STRENGTH OF THE LEADERSHIP OF THE ESSENTIAL WORKERS BOARD. THANK YOU, KARA AND RIXEY FOR SHARING HIGHLIGHTS FROM 2020 FOR THE BOARD'S ANNUAL REPORT DISCUSSES 2024 ACCOMPLISHMENTS AND RECOMMENDATIONS THEY HAVE FOR 2025 PROGRAMING. YET THERE IS STILL WORK TO BE DONE TO CONTINUE TO COLLECTIVELY SERVE, IMPACT AND UPLIFT THE WORK OF THE ESSENTIAL WORKERS BOARD. TO NOTE, THERE ARE CURRENTLY THREE VACANCIES ON THE BOARD. MEMBERS ARE WORKING TO FILL TWO VACANCIES, WHILE ONE IS TO BE APPOINTED BY PRECINCT THREE. FINALLY, WE CORDIALLY INVITE YOU TO THE NEXT OPPORTUNITY TO ENGAGE WITH ESSENTIAL WORKERS AT THE BOARD'S NEXT EVENT, THE COMMUNITY RESOURCE FAIR, SCHEDULED THIS SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 8TH FROM 11 A.M. UNTIL 2 P.M. AT BAYLIN COMMUNITY CENTER IN SHARPSTOWN. THANK YOU TO THOSE OF YOU THAT HAVE ALREADY SHARED TIME FOR YOU TO CONTINUE TO SHARE. MORE INFORMATION CAN BE FOUND ON THE ESSENTIAL WORKERS BOARD WEBSITE. THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU GUYS SO MUCH FOR YOUR WORK, AND I'M GLAD TO HEAR THAT THIS IS PAYING DIVIDENDS. THAT'S WONDERFUL. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. IS THERE ANYONE ELSE ON THE ESSENTIAL WORKERS BOARD? ONE MORE. ONE MORE. OKAY. AND THEN AFTER THAT. COMMISSIONER BRIONES, I KNOW THAT YOU HAVE SOME FOLKS HERE THAT FOR 215. AND THEN WE'LL GO BACK TO THE REST OF THE SPEAKERS. OKAY, LET'S TAKE THE OTHER SPEAKER ON THE ESSENTIAL WORKERS BOARD. OH, SHE'S HERE TO SUPPORT. OH, OKAY. WELL, GREAT. THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT, COMMISSIONER BRIONES. [Departments (Part 2 of 3)] THANK YOU, JUDGE HIDALGO. GOOD AFTERNOON, EVERYONE. I'M VERY EXCITED TO TURN TO ITEM 13, WHICH IS RECOGNIZING FEBRUARY 5TH AS NATIONAL GIRLS AND WOMEN IN SPORTS DAY HERE IN HARRIS COUNTY. SO I'M SO THRILLED WE HAVE VARIOUS GUESTS THAT WE WILL HEAR FROM. AND AS A FORMER HIGH SCHOOL TEACHER, IT ESPECIALLY MAKES ME PROUD TO SEE ALL OF OUR ALIEF ISD STUDENTS WHO HAVE JOINED US. BUT SO IT'S BEEN 50 YEARS SINCE TITLE NINE WAS PASSED, AND IN MANY WAYS, WE'VE MADE IT A TON OF PROGRESS THAT WE NEED TO CELEBRATE. AND WE KNOW THAT THERE'S STILL SO MUCH WORK TO BE DONE. HERE'S A FEW VERY POSITIVE FACTS IN THE 2024 SUMMER OLYMPICS. IT WAS THE FIRST TIME TO ACHIEVE GENDER PARITY IN THE OLYMPICS. THERE WAS AN EQUAL NUMBER OF MEN AND WOMEN PARTICIPATING IN THE OLYMPICS, AND AT THESE GAMES, BLACK WOMEN EARNED MORE THAN FOUR OUT OF EVERY TEN MEDALS FOR TEAM USA. AND OF COURSE, OUR VERY OWN HOUSTON. HARRIS COUNTY'S SIMONE BILES BECAME THE MOST DECORATED US GYMNAST IN HISTORY. ALSO, ANOTHER FUN FACT IF YOU WATCHED THE WATCHED SOUTH CAROLINA BEAT IOWA IN THE NCAA WOMEN'S BASKETBALL CHAMPIONSHIP, NEARLY 19 MILLION PEOPLE WATCHED, WHICH WAS THE MOST WATCHED BASKETBALL GAME AT THAT LEVEL SINCE 2019. THAT BEING SAID, THERE'S STILL AREAS WHERE WE VERY MUCH NEED TO PRESS FORWARD AND MAKE SURE WE'RE PUSHING FOR GENDER EQUITY AND EQUALITY. SO, FOR EXAMPLE, NCAA DIVISION ONE ATHLETIC DEPARTMENTS ARE SPENDING TWICE AS MUCH ON THEIR MEN'S PROGRAMS AND ON THEIR WOMEN'S PROGRAMS. AND YOU CAN FIND MANY SIMILAR STATISTICS ABOUT THE HUGE GAP IN FUNDING. IN SALARIES BEING PAID TO ATHLETES. AND WE NEED TO MAKE SURE WE'RE. CLOSING THAT GAP TOGETHER. AND I AM VERY HAPPY AND SMILING AT MY NEW FRIEND ANGELA, WHO WE WERE TOGETHER LAST NIGHT WITH SOME STUDENTS IN THE EAST SPRING BRANCH AREA. AND I LOOK FORWARD TO YOUR REMARKS TODAY. BUT YOU TRIGGERED A MEMORY WHEN YOU SAID THAT YOU HAD TO PLAY ON A BOYS TEAM, AND I THINK WE'RE PROBABLY AROUND THE SAME AGE. AND IT REMINDED ME I WAS THE ONLY GIRL ON THE BOYS BASKETBALL TEAM BECAUSE THERE WASN'T A GIRLS TEAM WHERE I GREW UP IN SOUTH TEXAS AT THE TIME, RIGHT IN THE EARLY 80S. AND SO I'M HAPPY ABOUT THE PROGRESS WE'VE MADE, AND WE NEED TO CONTINUE UNITING TO MAKE THAT PROGRESS. AND SPEAKING OF UNITY, I JUST AM SO GRATEFUL TO THE DASH BECAUSE THEY HAVE BEEN ALL IN AND HELPING US GIRLS IN PRECINCT FOUR WITH FREE SOCCER CLINICS. YOU ALL HAVE DONATED TO MINI SOCCER PITCHES, WHICH HAVE JUST BEEN AMAZING. AND SO I'M SO THANKFUL THAT YOU'RE HELPING TO OPEN THE DOORS OF ACCESS SO THAT GIRLS CAN PLAY THESE SPORTS. AND AS A MOM OF THREE LITTLE GIRLS, THIS IS EXTRA, EXTRA IMPORTANT BECAUSE WHEN WE TELL OUR GIRLS THEY CAN DO ANYTHING, [02:15:01] WE MEAN THEY CAN DO ANYTHING. AND JUST THE WAY WE TELL OUR BOYS, THEY CAN DO ANYTHING, THEY CAN DO ANYTHING. SO WE NEED TO MAKE SURE WE'RE CONTINUING TO EXPAND JUSTICE AND OPPORTUNITY FOR ALL PEOPLE. SO WITH THAT, WE HAVE SOME GUESTS WHO HAVE SIGNED UP TO SPEAK, AND THEN THERE'S OTHERS WHO AREN'T SPEAKING. BUT IF YOU WOULD, YOU'RE MORE THAN WELCOME TO JOIN US. SO IF YOU COULD PLEASE HELP ME. WELCOME AND WELCOME AGAIN TO HARRIS COUNTY. ANGELA, THE PRESIDENT OF WOMEN'S SOCCER FOR THE HOUSTON DASH. WE HAVE ANGELA MANGANO, WHO'S GOING TO SPEAK. SHE'S PHENOMENAL. SHE MOVED ME SO MUCH YESTERDAY. WE HAVE JANE CAMPBELL, WHO'S A GOALKEEPER. IF YOU COULD PLEASE COME. KATIE LIND, A DEFENDER. WE HAVE EDGAR VELEZ, WHO'S THE PR MANAGER, SARAH LUDTKE, WHO'S THE CHIEF MARKETING OFFICER. AND WE HAVE SOME ALIEF ISD STUDENTS. THIS FILLS MY HEART. THANK YOU FOR COMING. AND TEACHERS, THANK YOU FOR SHARING. YOUR STUDENTS FROM MARTIN ELEMENTARY, LONDON BARNETT FROM HASTINGS HIGH SCHOOL, GALA FROM TAYLOR HIGH SCHOOL, FATIMA ESTRADA FROM ALIEF EARLY COLLEGE HIGH SCHOOL, CAMILA MARTINEZ FROM KERR HIGH SCHOOL, JASMINE LOPEZ. AND THEN WE HAVE A BUNCH OF OTHER STUDENTS WHO ARE WELCOME TO COME UP AS WELL. WE HAVE ALIEF ISD TEACHERS. THANK YOU FOR BEING THE FOUNDATION OF OUR COMMUNITY, TEACHING OUR YOUTH. KAREN MINA, THANK YOU. SHE'S A KERR HIGH SCHOOL TEACHER. THANK YOU FOR WHAT YOU DO. WE ALSO HAVE MISS BRAVO, WHO TEACHES THIRD GRADE AT MARTIN ELEMENTARY. AND THE FOOTBALL ERA BRAND. STEPHANIE FLORES IS HERE. WE HAVE GRANDMAS. WE HAVE PARENTS. ONLY A FEW ARE SPEAKING. BUT YOU'RE ALL WELCOME. AND HERE IN HARRIS COUNTY, WE CELEBRATE YOU. AND I LOOK FORWARD TO GOING TO YOUR GAMES AND WATCHING YOUR CONTINUED SUCCESS. SO I THINK SPORTS BRINGS PEOPLE TOGETHER AND WE NEED MORE UNITY, ESPECIALLY NOW. AND SO THRILLED ABOUT THE WORLD CUP, WHICH WE WILL HOST IN LESS THAN 500 DAYS. SO WITH THAT, THANK YOU. TIFFANY, COULD YOU CALL THE ONES WHO HAVE SIGNED UP, PLEASE? KAREN OR TAMINA? HELLO. THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME HERE. IT IS AN HONOR TO BE IN FRONT OF YOU GUYS THROUGH TOUGH SOCCER GAMES AND PLAYING GOLF WITH A BUNCH OF LITTLE BOYS. AND TOM PARK APARTMENT COMPLEX IN SOUTHWEST HOUSTON IS WHERE I DEVELOPED A DESIRE TO COMPETE FOR MY TEAM AT ALL COST. THIS FIRE RUNS DEEP IN MY BLOOD TO THIS DAY. MY YOUTH SOCCER COACH, COACH GEORGE, WHO REST IN PEACE, TAUGHT ME HOW TO BE TO BE RESILIENT. WITH THIS TRAINING, I LEARNED TO LOVE CONDITIONING. IT'S NOT FOR THE EXCRUCIATING PAIN AND THE DAYS THAT FOLLOWED, BUT FOR THE PAIN ENDURED AND THE GAINS MADE IN HIGH SCHOOL. THE GREAT ELCIC CROSS COUNTRY COACH, COACH KEMP SCREAMS STILL RING IN MY EAR AND MY HEAD. WHENEVER I FACE CHALLENGES. SHE WOULD SCREAM, LEAVE YOUR COMFORT ZONE! I AM INCREDIBLY GRATEFUL FOR THESE SPORTS AND THESE GREAT COACHES, AS THEY HAVE PROVIDED ME MANY OPPORTUNITIES TO DEVELOP THE GROWTH MINDSET THAT I PRACTICE AND THAT I PREACH. MOST IMPORTANTLY, THROUGH SOCCER, I MET MY HUSBAND, OMAR, AND MY BEST FRIENDS WHO ARE NOW FAMILY. WITH THESE LEADERSHIP SKILLS AND THE SUPPORT FROM MY MOM MARIA HERE AND THE SUPPORT FROM MANY LONG LASTING RELATIONSHIPS MADE THROUGH SPORTS, I HAVE SUCCESSFULLY CREATED YOUTH PROGRAMS IN ALIEF WHERE EVERY CHILD DESERVES TO PLAY. SPORTS IS A LUXURY TO PLAY ORGANIZED SPORTS AND SO EVERYBODY DESERVES TO PLAY SPORTS. GIRLS, EVERYBODY AGREED FOR YOUR TIME. THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR YOUR PASSION AND YOUR LEADERSHIP. THANK YOU. TIFFANY. ANGELA MANGANO. OH. GO AHEAD. WE CAN LET YOU GO AHEAD AND SAY YOUR NAME AND YOU CAN GO. MY NAME IS LINDA BARNETT. GOOD EVENING EVERYONE. MY NAME IS SANDRA BARNETT. I AM AN EIGHT YEAR OLD MEXICAN AMERICAN. I ATTEND MARTIN ELEMENTARY AND I AM PROUDLY REPRESENTING ALIEF. I STARTED PLAYING SOCCER AT THE AGE OF FOUR. I CURRENTLY PLAY FOR SOCCER. SHAPED ME INTO THE PERSON I AM TODAY. IF SOCCER MOTIVATES ME TO BE THE BEST VERSION OF MYSELF, IF I CAN SHARE ONE PIECE OF ADVICE TO YOU, IT WILL BE DON'T LET THE LACK OF RESOURCES STOP YOU FROM ACHIEVING YOUR DREAMS. ANYTHING IS POSSIBLE. WOMEN ARE BREAKING HISTORY EVERY DAY AND I CAN'T BE PART OF IT ONE DAY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU SO. I'M SO PROUD OF YOU. LONDON. THANK YOU FOR THE ADVICE. LONDON. GOOD AFTERNOON. MY NAME IS ANGELA MANGANO. I'M THE PRESIDENT OF SOCCER FOR THE HOUSTON DASH. AS THE COMMISSIONER MENTIONED JUST A MOMENT AGO, I HAD MANY OPPORTUNITIES THROUGH SPORT AND THE RECOGNITION OF TODAY AND YESTERDAY. AND THE ACCESS THAT SPORTS PROVIDES, THE LESSONS THAT SPORT PROVIDES IS AN ESSENTIAL PIECE OF LIFE. I WANT TO THANK THE COMMISSIONER AS WELL FOR TODAY, FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO ALSO COLLABORATE AT FREED PARK FOR ONE OF OUR MANY PITCHES TO [02:20:07] PROVIDE THIS ACCESS AND SAFE SPACES, BECAUSE THESE GIRLS AND YOUNG WOMEN DESERVE THAT. I AM PRIVILEGED TO STAND IN FRONT OF THESE INCREDIBLE YOUNG WOMEN AND PROFESSIONAL SOCCER PLAYERS, WHERE THESE YOUNG GIRLS CAN ACTUALLY GO TO SEE AND HAVE ACCESS TO SEE ELITE PERFORMANCES IN THE HOUSTON COMMUNITY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. ANGELA. WE'RE SO LUCKY TO HAVE GOTTEN YOUR TALENT IN HER. KATIE LYNDE. HELLO. MY NAME IS KATIE LYNDE. I AM A MEMBER OF THE HOUSTON DASH, THE PROFESSIONAL SOCCER TEAM HERE IN HOUSTON, TEXAS. I WOULD NOT BE STANDING HERE TODAY IF IT WAS NOT FOR THE PREDECESSORS THAT STOOD BEFORE ME AND REALLY BROKE BARRIERS AND RAISED THE CEILING AND MADE SURE THAT THERE WERE OPPORTUNITIES FOR ME AS A YOUNG GIRL LIKE LONDON, HERE, TO REALLY PUSH FORWARD AND PURSUE DREAMS THAT HAVE NOW TURNED INTO REALITY. I'M ALSO A NEW MOTHER, SO TO BE ABLE TO COME BACK INTO THE FOLD AND FEEL LIKE I HAVEN'T MISSED A BEAT IS REALLY A TESTAMENT TO HOW TIMES ARE CHANGING. AND YOU CAN ACTUALLY DO BOTH. YOU CAN BE A MOTHER, AND YOU CAN BE A PROFESSIONAL ATHLETE AND COMPETE AT THE HIGHEST LEVEL. SO I'M VERY FORTUNATE THAT I AM IN THIS POSITION, AND I JUST CAN'T WAIT TO SEE WHAT THE FUTURE GENERATIONS CAN BRING TO THE TABLE AND APPRECIATE EVERYTHING THAT THE THAT THE HOUSTON COMMUNITY HAS DONE FOR US. SO THANK YOU. THANK YOU KATIE. CONGRATULATIONS ON YOUR BABY. JANE KIMBLE. HELLO. I'M JANE CAMPBELL. I WAS VERY HONORED BACK IN 2017 TO BE DRAFTED HERE IN HOUSTON. I'VE SPENT MY WHOLE CAREER HERE. THIS IS YEAR NINE. I'VE BEEN HONORED TO BE TEAMMATES WITH KATIE SINCE I WAS, I THINK, 15 YEARS OLD THROUGH THE YOUTH SYSTEMS. AND LIKE KATIE SAID, IT'S SUCH AN HONOR JUST TO BE HERE TO REPRESENT THIS CITY. I THINK OUR DREAM IS ACHIEVING THE HIGHEST LEVEL WE CAN IN SOCCER, BUT REALLY, THE DREAM IS PAVING THE WAY FOR ALL THESE GIRLS BEHIND US. AND HOPEFULLY ONE DAY THEY'RE GOING TO TAKE OUR SPOT ON THE FIELD. AND EVEN IF IT'S NOT THAT AND IT'S NOT AT THE PROFESSIONAL LEVEL, WE WANT THEM TO BE ABLE TO SAY, I CAN DO THAT ONE DAY AND I SEE THEM. AND WHEN WE WERE HERE MY ROOKIE YEAR, HOUSTON AND THE HOUSTON DASH WASN'T NECESSARILY A NAME. YOU HEARD ALL THAT OFTEN. AND THE NATIONAL WOMEN'S SOCCER LEAGUE IS GAINING SO MUCH MOMENTUM. AND NOW WE'RE ADDING LOVE BE IN HOUSTON AND OUR FIRST PROFESSIONAL WOMEN'S VOLLEYBALL TEAM. AND YOU KNOW, HOPEFULLY A WNBA TEAM CAN COME BACK. BUT I THINK THE MORE RESOURCES WE CAN RESOURCES WE CAN POUR IN THE BETTER. AND IT'S ALWAYS AN HONOR TO REPRESENT THE CITY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. CAMILA MARTINEZ. HELLO. MY NAME IS CAMILA MARTINEZ. AND IT IS AN HONOR TO STAND BEFORE YOU TODAY ON BEHALF OF ALIEF EARLY COLLEGE HIGH SCHOOL. AS A PROUD MEMBER OF BOTH THE CROSS COUNTRY TEAM AND SOCCER TEAM, I'M EXCITED TO SHARE MY EXPERIENCES WITH YOU. SPORTS HAVE NOT BEEN MORE. SPORTS HAVE BEEN MORE THAN JUST AN EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITY FOR ME. THEY HAVE BEEN A JOURNEY OF PERSEVERANCE, RESILIENCE, AND GROWTH. SPORTS HAS NOT JUST BEEN A TEST OF ENDURANCE. IT HAS BEEN A MENTAL BATTLE, A JOURNEY OF SELF-DISCOVERY. THROUGH THESE SPORTS, I HAVE LEARNED THAT MY GREATEST LIMITATIONS EXIST WITHIN MY OWN MIND, AND OVERCOMING THEM IS ENTIRELY WITHIN MY POWER. SPORTS HAS SHAPED ME, STRENGTHENED ME, AND PROVEN THAT WITH THAT WITH DEDICATION, I CAN CONQUER ANY OBSTACLE AND ACHIEVE MY GOALS. IT HAS TAUGHT ME THE IMPORTANCE OF TEAMWORK. IT HAS SHOWN ME THE HIGHS OF VICTORY AND THE LESSONS THAT COME WITH DEFEAT. WE PLAY AS ONE, PUSHING EACH OTHER TO IMPROVE NOT JUST AS INDIVIDUALS BUT AS A TEAM. IT DEMANDS PASSION AND COMMITMENT. IT IS A SPORT THAT CHALLENGES YOU. BUT WHEN DETERMINATION TAKES THE LEAD OVER MOTIVATION. TRUE GROWTH HAPPENS. WE LIFT EACH OTHER UP DURING THE TOUGHEST MOMENTS, FORMING BONDS, BONDS THAT GO BEYOND THE FIELD. ULTIMATELY, SPORTS HAVE BUILT MY MENTAL FORTITUDE AND GIVEN ME FRIENDSHIPS THAT ARE TRULY UNBREAKABLE. AND I AM EXTREMELY THANKFUL AND GRATEFUL FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE A PART OF THIS JOURNEY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. CAMILA. GALA. ABDELKADER. SPORTS ARE MORE THAN JUST A GAME. THEY ARE WHAT I WAKE UP THINKING ABOUT AND WHAT I GO TO SLEEP DREAMING ABOUT. EVERY GAME AND EVERY PRACTICE MEANS THE WORLD TO ME. PLAYING SPORTS IS A PRIVILEGE THAT I TAKE VERY SERIOUSLY IN CERTAIN REGIONS OF THE OF THE WORLD. WOMEN ONCE COULDN'T PLAY SPORTS. ALTHOUGH THINGS HAVE CHANGED, RESPECT FOR WOMEN'S PARTICIPATION IN SPORTS ARE STILL LACKING. TO ME, PLAYING SPORTS IS A PRIVILEGE. IT'S MORE THAN JUST SOMETHING FUN TO DO OR A WAY TO PASS THE TIME. EVERY PRACTICE AND EVERY GAME SERVES AS A DAILY REMINDER OF WHAT WOMEN BEFORE ME DID NOT HAVE, AND I FEEL A RESPONSIBILITY TO APPRECIATE EVERY MOMENT I SPEND ON THE FIELD. RECENTLY, I EXPERIENCED AN INJURY THAT MADE ME REALIZE JUST HOW MUCH BEING PART OF THIS PROGRAM MEANS TO ME. WITHOUT SPORTS, I SOMETIMES FEEL LIKE I HAVE NO VALUE. NOT JUST IN GENERAL, BUT I FEEL LIKE I'VE FAILED AS A WOMAN TO CELEBRATE HOW FAR WOMEN LIKE ME HAVE COME AND HOW MUCH I'VE GROWN. BEING A PART OF THIS PROGRAM HAS NOT ONLY HELPED ME GROW AS A WOMAN, BUT ALSO EXPANDED MY MINDSET AND SHOWN ME WHAT I TRULY WANT TO DO IN MY LIFE. [02:25:08] THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU. FATIMA ESTRADA. BUENAS TARDES. MY NAME IS FATIMA ESTRADA. VENGO A REPRESENTAR A LA ESCUELA DE ALIEF TAYLOR. GO AHEAD. INTERPRETER. HI. MY NAME IS. GOOD AFTERNOON. MY NAME IS FATIMA ESTRADA. I COME TO REPRESENT THE SCHOOL OF ED TAYLOR. IN DIFERENTES ASPECTOS ME AYUDADO COMO PERSONA ME ENSENADO. NO IMPORTA CUANTAS VECES ES CUANTAS VECES SE LEVANTA CON LA FUERZA HAGAS. OKAY, LET'S GIVE THE INTERPRETER A CHANCE TO REPEAT AS WELL. SOCCER HAD AN IMPACT IN MY LIFE IN MANY WAYS. IT HELPED ME GROW AS A PERSON, SHOWED ME THAT I CAN ACHIEVE WHAT I SET MY MIND TO, AND TAUGHT ME THAT IT'S NOT ABOUT HOW MANY TIMES YOU FALL, BUT HOW MANY TIMES YOU GET BACK UP AND WITH HOW MUCH STRENGTH YOU DO IT WITH. MAS ASI COMO EL FUTBOL DE TODO LO PASA FUERA DEL CAMPO. IT ALSO TAUGHT ME TO APPRECIATE THE EFFORT OF OTHERS AS WELL AS MY OWN. SOCCER HAS HELPED ME HEAL, AS PLAYING ALLOWS ME TO FORGET EVERYTHING THAT'S HAPPENING OUTSIDE THE FIELD. PERO TAMBIÉN ES UN AMOR DE MI CORAZON. TODO ESTA EN TU MENTE. LOS PIES SON UN INSTRUMENTO UTILIZAMOS PARA PRACTICAR EL DEPORTE MAS HERMOSO DE ESTE MUNDO ES EL FUTBOL. HOWEVER, I AM ALSO AWARE THAT SOCCER IS A SPORT THAT'S PLAYED WITH LOVE, DEDICATION AND HEART. YOUR FEET ARE JUST AN INSTRUMENT THAT WE USE TO PLAY THE MOST BEAUTIFUL SPORT IN THE WORLD, WHICH IS SOCCER. MUCHAS GRACIAS. THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU. JAZMIN LOPEZ. ANY OTHER SPEAKERS? TIFFANY. JAZMIN. LOPEZ. YEAH. SO. HI. GOOD AFTERNOON. MY NAME IS JASMINE LOPEZ. I'M A JUNIOR AT KERR, AND I PLAY BASICALLY GOALIE FOR OUR SOCCER TEAM. SPORTS HAS HAD A MAJOR IMPACT IN MY LIFE, ESPECIALLY NOW IN ADOLESCENCE. BUT THEY'VE NOT ONLY KEPT ME ACTIVE, BUT ALSO TAUGHT ME IMPORTANT SKILLS SUCH AS DISCIPLINE, TIME MANAGEMENT AND TEAMWORK. BEING A PART OF THE TEAM HAS STRENGTHENED MY COMMUNICATION SKILLS AND BASICALLY TEAMWORK. BEING PART OF A TEAM HAS TAUGHT ME COLLABORATION AND COMMUNICATION, WHICH ARE ESSENTIAL SKILLS TO ACHIEVING COMMON GOALS. AND SPORTS HAS SHOWN ME HOW TO HANDLE BOTH SUCCESS AND FAILURE WITH RESILIENCE AND CONFIDENCE. THEY'VE ALSO GIVEN ME VALUABLE OUTLET FOR STRESS TO BE ABLE TO FOCUS ON MY ACADEMICS. AND THAT BEING SAID, FOCUSING ON ACADEMIC SPORTS WHILE ALSO BUILDING FRIENDSHIPS AND MEETING NEW PEOPLE, WHICH IS A IS A WONDERFUL EXPERIENCE OVERALL. SPORTS HAS SHAPED ME TO THE PERSON THAT I AM. THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU. STEPHANIE AND DINA FLORES. SHE'S NOT HERE. OKAY. YOU'RE NEXT. YEAH. SHE'S NEXT. SORRY. STATE YOUR NAME. HI. MY NAME IS JOCELYN ESPARZA. I AM 17 YEARS OLD AND A SENIOR AT OZARK HIGH SCHOOL. SOCCER HAS ALWAYS BEEN MORE THAN JUST A SPORT TO ME. IT'S A PASSION AND A SIGNIFICANT PART OF WHO I AM. STARTING MY FRESHMAN YEAR, I WAS CAPTAIN WAS A DREAM COME TRUE. BUT SHORTLY AFTER I TORE MY ACL. IT WAS ONE OF THE MOST CHALLENGING TIMES IN MY LIFE. THE PAIN WAS. THE PAIN WAS UNCERTAINLY OVERWHELMING. THE ROAD TO RECOVERY WAS LONG AND DIFFICULT. THERE WERE MOMENTS WHERE I DOUBTED IF I WOULD EVEN EVER PLAY AGAIN. HOWEVER, WITH THE UNWAVERING SUPPORT OF MY FAMILY, MY FRIENDS AND MY COACHES, ESPECIALLY COACH ORTEGA, I FOUND STRENGTH TO KEEP ON GOING. THEIR BELIEF IN ME KEPT ME MOTIVATING DURING THE TOUGHEST TIMES. OVERCOMING THIS INJURY TAUGHT ME RESILIENCE AND THE IMPORTANCE OF NEVER GIVING UP. RETURNING TO THE FIELD WASN'T JUST ABOUT PLAYING SOCCER AGAIN, IT WAS ABOUT RECLAIMING A PIECE OF MYSELF. SOCCER IS DEEPLY IMPORTANT TO ME. GO AHEAD AND FINISH. MADE ME APPRECIATE IT EVEN MORE. THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU. ANY OTHER? THAT'S ALL. THAT'S ALL. COMMISSIONER RAMSEY. THANK YOU ALL FOR COMING DOWN. YOU REMIND US WHAT'S IMPORTANT AND WHAT WE DO IN THE COUNTY. I KNOW IN PRECINCT THREE, WE'VE GOT OVER 70 PARKS, AND I CAN GO OUT THERE ON ANY GIVEN WEEKEND. [02:30:02] MOST WEEKENDS. KIDS PLAYING SOCCER. KIDS PLAYING BASEBALL. THAT'S MAKING A DIFFERENCE. I KNOW IN THE COMMUNITY. YOU NOTICE I WORE MY DASH SWAG TODAY AND IT'S ENCOURAGING TO SEE Y'ALL. I KNOW THERE'S BEEN SOME RECENT EVENTS JUST JUST IN THE, IN THE LAST FEW DAYS, AFFIRMING THE IMPORTANCE OF FOCUSING ON OUR WOMEN AND FOCUSING ON THAT SPORTS. I COME FROM A VERY SMALL SCHOOL IN EAST TEXAS. THIS WAS 1968. OUR GIRLS BASKETBALL TEAM WAS MUCH BETTER THAN OUR BOYS BASKETBALL TEAM AND BEAT THEM ON A REGULAR BASIS. SO THANK YOU FOR WHAT YOU'RE DOING. THANK YOU. WHAT YOU WILL DO GOING FORWARD. COMMISSIONER BRIONES, I JUST WANTED TO SAY THANK YOU AGAIN FOR COMING. AND HERE IN HARRIS COUNTY, WE ARE CELEBRATING WOMEN AND GIRLS IN SPORTS DAY TODAY AND ALWAYS, AND WE WILL KEEP TOGETHER BREAKING DOWN BARRIERS FOR ACCESS, BECAUSE IT REALLY STRENGTHENS OUR COMMUNITY AND STRENGTHENS OUR YOUTH. AND IT JUST MADE ME SO HAPPY TO HEAR Y'ALL'S TESTIMONIES. YOU REALLY MOVED ME. AND THANK YOU TO OUR COACHES, BECAUSE I KNOW COACHES HAVE CHANGED ALL OF OUR LIVES. AND SO THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU. MAY WE PLEASE TAKE A QUICK PHOTO. AND I KNOW THEY HAVE TO GET BACK TO SCHOOL AND PRACTICE. YEAH. LET ME JUST SAY, YOU GUYS AND I KNOW WE'VE MET IN THE PAST, IT'S JUST IT'S SUCH AN HONOR TO HAVE OUR PLAYERS HERE AND OF COURSE, THE COACH AND TO OUR STUDENTS. YOU GUYS ARE SO IMPRESSIVE. EVERYBODY WHO SPOKE VERY ELOQUENT, VERY CONFIDENT. SO, ANYWAY, KEEP THAT UP. IT'S IT'S IMPRESSIVE. IT'S SOMETHING THAT I THINK ALL OF OUR GIRLS CAN ACHIEVE. AND I THINK YOU GUYS ARE WONDERFUL EXAMPLES FOR YOUR PEERS. AND, MAN, I WISH I'D KEPT PLAYING SOCCER. I USED TO PLAY, AND NOW I CAN BARELY KICK THE BALL. SO MAYBE ONE OF YOU GUYS CAN TEACH ME A LITTLE BIT AGAIN SOMETIME. BUT THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. WE REALLY APPRECIATE EVERYTHING. EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU DOES FOR THE COMMUNITY. AND GO DASH. ALL RIGHT, LET'S TAKE A PICTURE [02:36:57] OH THANK YOU GUYS. WE'LL CONTINUE WITH THE PUBLIC SPEAKERS. YEAH. ALL RIGHT. AWESOME. TIFFANY? YES, MA'AM. FIRST IS. THANK YOU. CARLA WYATT, THE COUNTY TREASURER, SPEAKING ON ITEM 347 AND MATT FUQUA SPEAKING ON ITEM 332. ARE YOU READY, JUDGE. GO AHEAD. TREASURER. GOOD AFTERNOON, COMMISSIONERS COURT. THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING ME TO BE HERE AGAIN. THIS IS MY SECOND TIME COMING TO SPEAK ON THIS PARTICULAR ITEM. WE BROUGHT IT TO COURT, I GUESS, A MONTH OR SO AGO, REGARDING SOME POSITIONS THAT WE NEED IN OUR OFFICE TO BECOME COMPLIANT WITH STATE, FEDERAL. AND LOCAL REGULATIONS. AND SO WE SUBMITTED OUR SUPPLEMENTAL TO THE BUDGET OFFICE. AND THANK YOU SO MUCH TO MR. RAMOS, WHO WORKED ON THIS PARTICULAR ITEM FOR US. POOR MR. RAMOS. HE GOT, WHAT, FOUR FROM ME? ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. AND SO I APOLOGIZE TO HIM IN PUBLIC BECAUSE I'M SO PASSIONATE ABOUT MY OFFICE. THE PEOPLE IN MY OFFICE ARE MY RESPONSIBILITY, AND I'M TRYING TO CREATE AN ATMOSPHERE OF SUCCESS. AND SO I DON'T KNOW HOW THIS WORKS. I DON'T KNOW IF MR. RAMOS NEEDS TO SAY SOMETHING OR I PAUSE OR WHAT? MR. RAMOS, HOW DO YOU WANT TO PROCEED? GO AHEAD. DIRECTOR. SO WE WE, IN COORDINATION WITH THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR'S OFFICE, SUBMITTED A RECOMMENDATION FOR ITEM. THIS IS ITEM 347 TO FUND ONE POSITION OUT OF THE ACHIEVEMENT FUND. I'M NOT SURE IF I SAID THAT WORD CORRECTLY, BUT IT IS A FUND, AND THIS IS AN ELIGIBLE EXPENSE. SO WE SEND AROUND A MOTION. IF COURT WERE TO TAKE UP OUR RECOMMENDATION, WHICH WOULD BE TO UTILIZE THAT FUND FOR THE CREATION OF ONE POSITION IN THE TREASURER'S OFFICE. OKAY. SO IT'S A MOTION TO DIRECT OMB TO WORK WITH THE TREASURER'S OFFICE TO UTILIZE THE. MADAM TREASURER. HOW DO WE PRONOUNCE THIS? I THINK IT'S ACHIEVEMENT. ACHIEVEMENT. THE ACHIEVEMENT FUND TO CREATE ONE POSITION IN THE TREASURER'S OFFICE. IS THERE A MOTION? WAIT. YES? I HAVE SOMETHING ELSE TO SAY. I DISAGREE WITH MR. RAMOS. WE ASKED FOR FIVE POSITIONS AND HE'S MAKING THE RECOMMENDATION FOR ONE. I COMPLETELY DISAGREE WITH HIM. I THINK THAT HE IS WRONG IN HIS INTERPRETATION OF WHAT WE NEED IN THE TREASURER'S OFFICE. WE ARE STILL DEALING WITH TETRA TECH AND COVID FUNDING. WE HAVE UNCLAIMED FUNDS. WE HAVE THINGS THAT WE'RE ABOUT TO TAKE ON FROM THE AUDITOR'S OFFICE THAT WOULD GET US IN COMPLIANCE WITH STATE LAW. THERE ARE OTHER THINGS THAT WE ARE ABOUT TO HOPEFULLY TAKE ON FROM THE AUDITOR'S OFFICE. WE'VE BEEN WE'VE BEEN WORKING WITH MIKE POST WITH REGARDS TO NOT ONLY PRINTING THE CHECKS, WE DON'T HAVE STAFF TO DO THAT. AND SO I BELIEVE THAT THIS NEEDS TO BE LOOKED AT A LITTLE CLOSER, [02:40:02] BECAUSE I TOTALLY DISAGREE WITH MR. RAMOS'S RECOMMENDATION. YES, COMMISSIONER RAMSEY. I'M GOING TO ASK THE BUDGET OFFICER. WE'RE DEALING WITH A BUDGET ISSUE IN FEBRUARY. WHY WASN'T THIS BROUGHT UP IN LAST YEAR'S BUDGET? THESE POSITIONS WERE NOT REQUESTED DURING DURING THE BUDGET PROCESS. SO WE REVIEWED IT THE SAME WAY WE REVIEW ALL THESE REQUESTS AND MAKE A RECOMMENDATION. IN THIS PARTICULAR PARTICULAR CASE, WHICH IS NOT OFTEN THE CASE, THERE IS A SPECIAL FUND THAT WE CANNOT UTILIZE FOR MOST GENERAL FUND PURPOSES. SO WE FELT IT WAS AN APPROPRIATE IF THAT FUND WAS NOT AVAILABLE, OUR RECOMMENDATION WOULD HAVE BEEN ZERO BECAUSE OF THE FISCAL SITUATION, BECAUSE OF OUR RULES, BECAUSE OF THE BUDGET PROCESS THAT WE'VE THUS FAR BEEN VERY DISCIPLINED ABOUT ADHERING TO. AND I THINK THAT WE SHOULD BE DISCIPLINED IN FOLLOWING THE RULES AND IN BEING DISCIPLINED IN FOLLOWING THE RULES. WE NEED TO BE UP TO STATE CODE AND FOLLOWING THE RULES OF THE STATE CODE TO GET US IN COMPLIANCE, WHICH WE ARE OUT OF AT THIS MOMENT. I THINK, MADAM TREASURER, THAT WE ARE IN A REALLY TOUGH FISCAL POSITION. SO PERHAPS WHAT WOULD MAKE SENSE, COLLEAGUES, IS TO APPROVE THE ONE POSITION WHICH DOES BREAK WITH WITH WHAT WE NORMALLY DO. AND I'D LIKE TO UNDERSTAND WHY IT'S OKAY FOR US TO DO THAT OUTSIDE THE BUDGET CYCLE BECAUSE I, YOU KNOW, PRIDE MYSELF IN BEING REALLY CONSISTENT IN THAT. AND THEN MAYBE YOU CAN REQUEST THE ADDITIONAL POSITIONS DURING OUR BUDGET SEASON. BUT BUT YEAH. CAN YOU CLARIFY WHY YOU'RE OKAY APPROVING EVEN THE ONE? SURE. IT'S BECAUSE THAT THERE IS A SPECIAL FUND THAT CAN SUPPORT IT THAT WOULD NOT BE ELIGIBLE FOR OTHER EXPENSES. NUMBER ONE. AND NUMBER TWO, WE TAKE UP THE SUPPLEMENTALS WHEN WE DO QUARTERLY PROJECTIONS WHICH WHICH IS NOW. SO WE'VE BECAUSE OF THE TIMING ISSUE, WE ENDED UP COMMISSIONERS COURT APPROVED A FEW OF THEM ON THE LAST COURT. THIS ONE JUST FELL A LITTLE BIT BEHIND THAT. AND WHAT IS THE SPECIAL FUND? IT'S CALLED THE ACHIEVEMENT FUND. IT'S FOR A SMALL MOST. OH, SO THAT'S THE I SEE. OKAY. AND SO IT'S FOR SMALL REQUESTS. IT'S FOR IT'S. FOR MOST UNCLAIMED PROPERTY GOES TO THE STATE ABOVE OR EVERYTHING ABOVE A CERTAIN DOLLAR AMOUNT. ANYTHING BELOW THAT DOLLAR AMOUNT ACTUALLY STAYS HERE AND IS UNDER THE MANAGEMENT OF THE COUNTY TREASURER'S OFFICE. AND SO A BALANCE HAS BUILT UP OVER MANY YEARS. THAT WE CAN UTILIZE FOR A POSITION. OKAY. OKAY. SO THIS IS VERY, VERY PARTICULAR TO THE COUNTY TREASURER'S OFFICE. OKAY. BECAUSE I WAS LIKE, WELL, WHAT ABOUT NEXT WEEK? SOMEBODY ELSE WANTS THIS TREATMENT FUND? NO. THE FUND IS MANAGED BY THE TREASURER'S OFFICE, WHICH IS WHY WE FEEL IS AN ELIGIBLE EXPENSE. AND WHAT THE TREASURER IS SAYING ABOUT ADDED RESPONSIBILITIES. HOW DO YOU RECOMMEND SHE. WHAT'S WHAT'S THE DEAL THERE? SO OUR UNDERSTANDING IS THAT SENSE THAT THE REQUEST CAME IN. THE COUNTY AUDITOR HAS WITHDRAWN THEIR REQUEST FOR TRANSFERRING OF CHECK PRINTING. IF THAT WERE TO COME BACK, WE WOULD HAVE TO CONSIDER THAT, AND WE WOULD HOPE THAT THE AUDITOR WOULD WORK WITH US ON TRANSFERRING IF THEY'RE TRANSFERRING DUTIES, WHICH, JUST TO HAVE IT SAID, WOULD REQUIRE, I BELIEVE WOULD REQUIRE COMMISSIONERS COURT'S APPROVAL TO TRANSFER THAT FUNCTION. WE WOULD HAVE A DISCUSSION ABOUT RESOURCES BETWEEN THOSE DEPARTMENTS. BUT AS I UNDERSTAND IT, THE ONLY THING THAT IS BEING TRANSFERRED IS A STATE REPORT, WHICH IS CURRENTLY MANAGED. IT TAKES UP ABOUT HALF OF A PERSON'S TIME BASED ON WHAT THE AUDITOR HAS SHARED WITH US. THE AUDITOR EXPLAINED TO ME THAT HE HAS TWO PEOPLE DOING THAT JOB. WE CAN ASK JUDGE. YES. COMMISSIONER SUGGEST? YES. I MIGHT MAKE A MOTION, BUT IF I DO, IT'LL BE WHEN WE GET TO IT. I KNOW THERE ARE A LOT OF OTHER SPEAKERS HERE. IT'S BEEN A LONG DAY. WE'VE HAD RESOLUTIONS. I WANT TO AT LEAST LET THOSE PEOPLE SPEAK AND NOT GET IN A DEBATE BACK AND FORTH. YEAH, YOU'RE RIGHT, I FORGOT. I LOST TRACK OF THE FACT THAT WE'RE IN SPEAKERS. AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR PATIENCE. AND MAYBE WHAT WE CAN DO IS AUDITOR POST IF YOU IF YOU'D BE ALL RIGHT, JUST MAKING YOURSELF AVAILABLE, THEN AND WE CAN DISCUSS IT, BUT THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU, MADAM TREASURER. WE'LL CONTINUE WITH THE SPEAKERS FOR NOW. THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER MATT FUQUA ON ITEM 335 AND CESAR ESPINOSA ON ITEM THREE. 60. THANK YOU JUDGE. THANK YOU COMMISSIONERS. MY NAME IS MATT FUQUA. I'M HERE REPRESENTING THE ITEM. 335 JUST HERE TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS REGARDING A RESOLUTION OF SUPPORT. THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK 1.5, 1.4, 1.5 MILLION, 1.3 MILLION 600,000 PEOPLE 1.5 MILLION PEOPLE IN HARRIS [02:45:05] COUNTY ARE FOREIGN BORN. 1.3 MILLION PEOPLE LIVE IN MIXED STATUS FAMILIES, AND WE HAVE 600,000 UNDOCUMENTED PEOPLE LIVING AMONG US. TO IGNORE THE ELEPHANT IN THE ROOM, WE'RE TO TRY TO DO ANYTHING TO ATTACK THIS COMMUNITY IS AN ATTACK ON THE VERY FOUNDATION OF HARRIS COUNTY. WITH FEBRUARY 14TH APPROACHING AS VALENTINE'S DAY, REMEMBER WHO'S GOING TO PICK THOSE THOSE STRAWBERRIES THAT YOU'RE GOING TO ENJOY. AND WITH THAT, WE MUST DO EVERYTHING TO NOT DO AWAY WITH PROGRAMS THAT HELP OUR VITAL COMMUNITY, BUT RATHER TO CREATE MORE OPPORTUNITIES FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE HERE AND WHO ARE PROVIDING FOR HARRIS COUNTY. EARLIER, THE WORDS NEVER AGAIN WERE UTTERED. AND IF WE HAVE IT THE ADMINISTRATION'S WAY, THERE WILL BE CONCENTRATION CAMPS IN THE UNITED STATES. AND IF WE STAND BY NEVER AGAIN, WE SHOULD REALLY MEAN IT. NEVER AGAIN SHOULD WE DO THIS TO OUR COMMUNITY. NEVER AGAIN SHOULD WE IGNORE IMMIGRANTS AND THE CONTRIBUTIONS THAT WE MAKE EVERY SINGLE DAY, NOT JUST ON THE FIELDS, BUT ALSO IN OUR MEDICAL CENTER, ON OUR ROADS, AND IN THIS VERY BUILDING THAT WE ARE ALL ENJOYING TODAY. THANK YOU SO MUCH. I APPRECIATE IT, COMMISSIONER GARCIA. YES. THANK YOU CESAR. NUMBER ONE, WOULD YOU STATE YOUR NAME FOR THE RECORD? YES. CESAR ESPINOZA AND I'M WITH PHIL AND CESAR. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR COMING DOWN AND LENDING YOUR VOICE. THIS IS A VERY, VERY IMPORTANT ISSUE, AND I HOPE WE FIND SOME COMMON SENSE RESOLUTION THAT WILL HELP US MOVE FORWARD. AND SO I REALLY THANK YOU FOR COMING DOWN TODAY. THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER. AND COMMON SENSE, I THINK IS THE WHAT SOMETIMES WE LACK, ESPECIALLY WHEN THINGS GET TOO WILD AND THINGS GET TAKEN OUT OF CONTEXT. AGREED. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MR. SPINOZA. THANK YOU. AND ONCE AGAIN, I DID. I HAVEN'T MENTIONED BEFORE, BUT, COMMISSIONER BRIONES, THANK YOU FOR SIDEWALKS AND PRECINCT FOUR. EVERY TIME I SEE KIDS WALKING, WHEN MY SON GOT TO WALK IN THE PARK FROM OUR PLACE TO THE PARK, WE REALLY THANK YOU FOR THAT. OUR PLEASURE. THAT'S WHY WE'RE HERE. THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP, MR. ESPINOZA. VALERIA ALVARADO AND MAUREEN O'CONNELL BOTH SPEAKING ON ITEM THREE. 60. THANK YOU. HI. GOOD AFTERNOON. MY NAME IS VALERIA ALVARADO. I'M HERE ON BEHALF OF THE AMERICAN CIVIL LIBERTIES UNION OF TEXAS OR THE ACLU OF TEXAS. FIRST OF ALL, I JUST WANT TO THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO COMMENT TODAY. SO THE ACLU, AS AN ORGANIZATION, URGES THE COUNTY TO CONTINUE SUPPORTING ITS IMMIGRANT COMMUNITY, AS HARRIS COUNTY IS ONE OF THE MOST DIVERSE COUNTIES IN THE COUNTRY. AND THIS DIVERSITY IS WHAT MAKES US STRONG AND UNIQUE. EVEN THOUGH THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION IS NOW TAKING ITS CUE FROM TEXAS IN ITS CRUEL STANCE TOWARDS IMMIGRATION, THIS COUNTY STILL HAS THE OPPORTUNITY TO TREAT IMMIGRANTS WITH DIGNITY AND RESPECT. WE WANT TO REMIND THE COUNTY THAT THE THE CONSTITUTION PROTECTS ALL PEOPLE, AND WE URGE THE COUNTY TO RESPECT THOSE RIGHTS AND NOT CAVE IN TO THE FEAR BEING GENERATED BY OUR STATE AND FEDERAL GOVERNMENT. SHOULD HOUSTON OR THE COUNTY WORK MORE CLOSELY WITH THE WITH FEDERAL IMMIGRATION ENFORCEMENT BEYOND WHAT IS LEGALLY REQUIRED? THIS COULD RESULT IN THE INFRINGEMENT OF CIVIL RIGHTS, WHICH AS AN ORGANIZATION, WE VOW TO PROTECT. PLEASE DO NOT OVER COLLABORATE WITH THE FEDERAL IMMIGRATION WITH FEDERAL IMMIGRATION ENFORCEMENT MORE THAN THE LAW REQUIRES. AND PLEASE CONTINUE SUPPORTING PROGRAMS THAT SUPPORT IMMIGRANTS AND PROTECT IMMIGRANTS THAT WE HAVE HERE IN HARRIS COUNTY. AS THE CONSTITUTION, AS THE CONSTITUTION DOES PROTECT THE CIVIL RIGHTS OF EVERYBODY, NOT JUST PEOPLE WITH LEGAL STATUS. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. OKAY. GOOD AFTERNOON. I'M SISTER MAUREEN O'CONNELL. I'M WITH THE ARCHDIOCESE OF GALVESTON-HOUSTON, AND I'M HERE THIS THIS AFTERNOON JUST TO ONCE AGAIN RAISE UP THE ISSUES THAT WE ARE ALL DEALING WITH HERE IN OUR COMMUNITY. I WAS STRUCK THIS MORNING AS WE HIGHLIGHTED THE DIGNITY OF THE HUMAN PERSON IN OUR CONVERSATIONS. YOU KNOW, WE RECOGNIZE THE CONTRIBUTION OF OUR COMMUNITY TO THE HOLOCAUST MUSEUM. WE RECOGNIZE THE VALUE OF OF UNIONS. WE RECOGNIZE THE RECOGNIZED THE COLLABORATION THAT HAPPENS BETWEEN OUR COUNTY COMMISSIONERS AND COUNTY LEADERS. AND I JUST THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE ALSO RECOGNIZE THAT CATHOLIC HEALTH CARE, CATHOLIC CHARITIES AGENCIES AND THE CHURCH'S OTHER SOCIAL SERVICE MINISTRIES WHO WORK DAILY TO FEED, HOUSE, HEAL, EDUCATE AND MEET PEOPLE'S NEEDS IN COMMUNITIES ACROSS OUR NATIONS. THROUGH THESE MINISTRIES, WE UPHOLD THE BELIEF THAT ALL PEOPLE, ALL PEOPLE ARE CONCEIVED, [02:50:02] CONCEIVED WITH INHERENT DIGNITY, REFLECTING THE IMAGE OF GOD. THROUGH OUR PARISHES, OUR SHELTERS, GOOD HOSPITALS, SCHOOLS AND OTHER CHURCH INSTITUTIONS, WE RECOGNIZE THAT THIS DIGNITY IS NOT DEPENDENT ON A PERSON'S CITIZENSHIP OR IMMIGRATION STATUS. FOR THE CHURCH, CHARITY IS NOT LEFT TO OTHERS, BUT IS PART OF OUR NATURE. IT'S AN INDISPENSABLE EXPRESSION OF WHO WE ARE AS A CHURCH. WE CERTAINLY RECOGNIZE THE NEED FOR JUST IMMIGRANT IMMIGRATION ENFORCEMENT AND AFFIRM THE GOVERNMENT'S OBLIGATION TO CARRY IT OUT IN A TARGETED, PROPORTIONAL AND HUMANE WAY. HOWEVER, NON-EMERGENCY IMMIGRATION ENFORCEMENT IN SCHOOLS, PLACES OF WORSHIP, SOCIAL SERVICE AGENCIES, HEALTH CARE FACILITIES AND OTHER SENSITIVE SETTINGS WHERE PEOPLE RECEIVE ESSENTIAL SERVICES WOULD BE CONTRARY TO THE COMMON GOOD. WE ARE ALREADY WITNESSING IN OUR COMMUNITY A HESITANCE AMONG IMMIGRANTS TO ENGAGE IN DAILY LIFE, INCLUDING SENDING CHILDREN TO SCHOOL, ATTENDING RELIGIOUS SERVICES, ACCESSING HEALTH CARE SERVICES. ALL PEOPLE HAVE A RIGHT TO FULFILL THEIR DUTY TO GOD WITHOUT FEAR. TURNING PLACES OF CARE, HEALING AND SOLACE INTO PLACES OF FEAR AND UNCERTAINTY FOR THOSE IN NEED WHILE ENDANGERING THE TRUST AMONG PASTORS, PROVIDERS, EDUCATORS, AND PEOPLE THEY SERVE WILL NOT MAKE OUR COMMUNITY SAFER. WE STAND READY, CERTAINLY, TO WORK ON A BETTER PATH FORWARD THAT PROTECTS THE DIGNITY OF ALL THOSE WE SERVE, AND UPHOLDS THE SACRED DUTY OF OUR PROVIDERS, AND ENSURES OUR BORDERS AND IMMIGRATION SYSTEM ARE GOVERNED WITH MERCY AND JUSTICE. THANK YOU. THANK YOU SO MUCH THAT I COULDN'T HAVE SAID IT BETTER MYSELF. THANK YOU SO MUCH. AND MAY I ASK YOU A QUESTION ABOUT THIS? THE WHEN WHEN YOU MENTIONED THAT YOU'RE ALREADY SEEING THAT THAT TRUST FRAYING. COULD YOU EXPAND UPON THAT A LITTLE BIT? WELL, SOME OF OUR PARISHES HAVE SEEN A DROP IN IN ATTENDANCE FROM THE IMMIGRATION COMMUNITY. MEMBERS OF THE IMMIGRATION COMMUNITY. I KNOW THAT SOME OF OUR SCHOOLS. OUR HEALTH CARE PROVIDER HERE IN MIDTOWN HAS SEEN A DROP FROM PATIENTS WHO ARE CALLING NOW AND ASKING YOU IF THEY COULD HAVE TELEMEDICINE. I MEAN, I FEEL, I FEAR THAT WE ARE ON A ROAD THAT'S GOING TO TAKE US JUST TO DISASTER AND THAT IT'S INCUMBENT UPON US, THOSE OF US WHO, YOU KNOW, COMMISSIONER RYAN, IS, WHEN YOU SAID ABOUT WHO'S WHO'S ENTITLED AND WHO ISN'T, YOU KNOW, I CERTAINLY AM ENTITLED. I WAS FORTUNATE TO GROW UP IN A VERY ENTITLED COMMUNITY. BUT THERE ARE PEOPLE AMONG US WHO RELY ON US TO MAKE DECISIONS FOR THE COMMON GOOD, AND IT'S UP TO US TO CONTINUE TO MAKE THOSE DECISIONS. THANK YOU. THANK YOU SO MUCH. APPRECIATE IT SISTER. THANK YOU. I JUST WANT TO THANK YOU FOR COMING DOWN. THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING THE DIOCESE DOES AND CATHOLIC CHARITIES IN PARTICULAR. YOU GUYS ARE ALWAYS THERE IN DIFFICULT TIMES, WHETHER THEY'RE DISASTER RELATED OR IN STRESSFUL TIMES, LIKE WHAT WE'RE CURRENTLY IN, IN UNDER CONVERSATIONS LIKE THIS. I JUST WANT TO THANK YOU AND THE DIOCESE FOR THAT. AND YOU JUST REMIND ME THAT IT WAS ALWAYS IMPORTANT TO HAVE THE VOICE OF OUR FAITH LEADERS IN THESE TYPES OF CONVERSATIONS. AND I'M HOPEFUL THAT YOU WILL BE THE ONES THAT WILL HELP TOUCH THE HEARTS AND MINDS OF THOSE THAT ARE CRAFTING THESE POLICIES AND HOPEFULLY HELP THEM IDENTIFY THE HUMANITY AND THE HUMANNESS THAT WE NEED TO FIND SOME LIGHT FOR AND, AND WORK THROUGH. AND SO I JUST ALWAYS APPRECIATE BEING ABLE TO SEE REVEREND LAWSON AND BISHOP FIORENZA AND RABBI KARP. JUST BUT YOU ARE FILLING THOSE SHOES RIGHT NOW, SO I THANK YOU. OH, THOSE ARE WAY TOO BIG. TOO, TOO BIG FOR ME. NO, BUT WHAT I CAN PROMISE YOU IS THAT WE ALL HAVE THE SAME MISSION, WHICH IS THE COMMON GOOD. AND HOW DO WE LIVE THAT OUT? YEAH, YEAH. THANK YOU SISTER. THANK YOU, THANK YOU SISTER. THANK YOU, THANK YOU. AND ANYWAY, I JUST. I'VE THOUGHT ABOUT THIS A LOT AND HOW IMPORTANT IT IS THAT POPE FRANCIS TOOK A STANCE ON ON IMMIGRATION. OF COURSE, I CAN'T TELL HIM THAT. SO I'M TELLING YOU THAT. YEAH. ANYWAY, SO. SO, ANYWAY, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR REPRESENTING THE ARCHDIOCESE. THANK YOU. ELSA FLORES, EMILIANO VALENCIA, AND GRACIELA SAENZ. THANK YOU. GOOD AFTERNOON EVERYBODY. THANK YOU. I'M SORRY I WASN'T HERE WHEN YOU FIRST CALLED ME. I APOLOGIZE FOR THAT. I DIDN'T THINK I WAS GOING TO GET CALLED RIGHT AWAY. BUT THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING ME TO SPEAK TODAY. [02:55:02] MY NAME IS ELSA FLORES, AND I AM THE PRESIDENT OF SEIU TEXAS. WE REPRESENT OVER 2700 JANITORS IN THE HOUSTON AREA. SINCE WE SINCE WE WERE FOUNDED IN 2006. AND I AM HERE TODAY TO DISCUSS THE PROCUREMENT PROCESS FOR THE HARRIS COUNTY JANITORIAL CONTRACTS. WE WOULD LIKE TO LIKE TO ENCOURAGE HARRIS COUNTY TO ESTABLISH A PROCESS THAT ENSURES THE COUNTY HIRES RESPONSIBLE CONTRACTORS. THIS PROCESS SHOULD INCLUDE AND REVIEW OF THE CONTRACTORS HIRING AND EMPLOYMENT PRACTICES, AS WELL AS ANY AVAILABLE PUBLIC RECORDS THAT MAY BE SHED LIGHT ON THE EMPLOYMENT PRACTICES OF THE CONTRACTORS. LAST YEAR, I STOOD HERE WITH YOU GUYS WHEN YOU DISCUSS RAISING THE MINIMUM WAGE AND TO SAY THAT I'M SADDENED, SADDENED, DISAPPOINTMENT, DISAPPOINTED, UPSET TO THE FACT THAT, YOU KNOW, WE NOW HAVE JANITORIAL CONTRACTS THAT DO NOT INCLUDE RAISING WAGES FOR THESE WORKERS. IT'S AN UNDERSTATEMENT. IT IS NOT THAT HARD. IT IS NOT THAT DIFFICULT. WE'VE HAD A LOT OF TIME. RESPONSIBLE CONTRACTORS PAY THEIR WORKERS FAIRLY, PRIORITIZE HEALTH AND SAFETY, AND ABIDE BY ALL THE ALL THE LABOR LAWS AND LISTEN TO THEIR EMPLOYEES. THIS LETS THEM BUILD MORE STABLE AND PROFESSIONAL WORKFORCE WITH LOWER TURNOVER AND GREATER PRODUCTIVITY. THAT'S WHY I'M CALLING ON HARRIS COUNTY TO CAREFULLY REVIEW ANY COMPANY IT IS CONSIDERING CONTRACTING TO CLEAN ITS BUILDINGS AND AND TO HOLD THE DEPARTMENT DIRECTORS ACCOUNTABLE FOR THE STANDARDS. SO HARRIS COUNTY RESIDENTS CAN KNOW THEIR PUBLIC BUILDINGS ARE IN THE HANDS OF THE BEST CARETAKERS IN THE BUSINESS. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. AND JUST A QUESTION, MISS FLORES. WHAT WOULD YOU HAVE US DO RIGHT NOW ON ON THAT ITEM? OBVIOUSLY, YOU HAVE TO FOLLOW WHAT YOUR GUIDANCE GUIDELINES ARE. MY MY PREFERENCE WOULD BE THAT THE CONTRACTS GET REBOOTED COMPLETELY AND THAT WE PUT THE NEW STANDARDS INTO THESE CONTRACTS THAT INCLUDE WAGES, BENEFITS, AND TO REVIEW THE HISTORY OF ALL OF THESE CONTRACTORS THAT ARE APPLYING FOR LABOR STANDARDS AND AND WHAT THEY DO AROUND THAT. THAT WILL BE MY VOTE. MISS FLORES, THANK YOU. AND WE CAN TAKE IT. SO WE DO. I DO HAVE A NOTE HERE TO TAKE IT ALONG WITH ITEM 351, WHICH IS IT'S 243 AND 351, WHICH WE'RE NOT TAKING IT RIGHT NOW, BUT I'M JUST I JUST WANT TO LOOK AT IT. SO THAT'S ANOTHER THAT'S ANOTHER THAT'S ANOTHER CONTRACT THERE. I WILL SAY, YOU KNOW, BECAUSE I MAY NOT BE HERE WHEN YOU GUYS GET TO THIS, I MAY BE ON THE GIVING BLOOD EVENT IS I'VE HEARD FROM THE STAFF, THE CUSTODIAL STAFF AT NRG PARK AND IN A TRANSTAR TWO, I WANT TO SAY THAT'S ARAMARK, BUT WHATEVER IT IS I MEAN, THE THE PAY IS THESE FOLKS ARE WORKING TWO AND THREE JOBS AND THEY'RE DOING DIFFICULT WORK. AND SO ANYWAY, THEY'RE DOING WORK. THEY NEED TO BE PAID A LIVING WAGE FOR. SO, SO SO I'LL JUST MENTION THAT TO THE THE STAFF IN CASE I'M NOT HERE FOR THAT. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. NOW, COMMISSIONER ELLIS AND COMMISSIONER GARCIA. YEAH. SO I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR COMING. I KNOW IT'S BEEN A LONG DAY, BUT THANK YOU FOR STAYING. SO ON JUNE THE 4TH I PUT THAT ITEM ON THE AGENDA, AND I THINK IT WAS A UNANIMOUS VOTE. IT WAS DIRECTING THAT OFFICE OF COUNTY ADMINISTRATION TO DEVELOP AN UPDATE POLICY TO APPLY OUR WAGE STANDARDS TO ALL EMPLOYERS, REGARDLESS OF HOW POSITIONS ARE FUNDED. NUMBER TWO, ENSURE WE PROVIDE A LIVING WAGE. THREE INCLUDE WAGE STANDARDS FOR WORKERS ON CONTRACTS BEYOND VERTICAL CONSTRUCTION. AND FOUR INCREASED TRANSPARENCY IN WORKER WAGES AND CLASSIFICATIONS. SO IT'S BEEN EIGHT MONTHS. I WILL NOTE THAT WE CAME BACK AND HAD ITEM DEALING WITH EXECUTIVE PAY FOR FOLKS AT THE TOP RIGHT. AND IT'S AMAZING HOW QUICKLY THAT MOVED. BUT IT DID MOVE FOR PEOPLE STRUGGLING WHO CLEANED THIS BUILDING THAT WE EXECUTIVES WORK IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON, PAYS THIS MUNICIPAL AND AVIATION EMPLOYEES AT A MINIMUM WAGE OF $15 AN HOUR, INCLUDING CONTRACTED, INCLUDING CONTRACTED WORKERS. CITY OF AUSTIN PAYS ITS EMPLOYEES REGULAR TEMPORARY CONTRACTORS AT LEAST 20. THAT'S RIGHT, DOLLARS AND $0.80 PER HOUR. CITY OF DALLAS 1824. AN HOUR IN DALLAS INCREASES THE MINIMUM WAGE ANNUALLY BASED ON THE ON MIT'S LIVING WAGE CALENDAR. TRAVIS COUNTY PAYS ITS EMPLOYEES A LIVING WAGE AT $20.20 AND $0.80. SO I'VE ASKED MY STAFF TO JUST GO CUT AND PASTE. AUSTIN, DALLAS OR ONE OF THEM AND PUT IT ON THE NEXT AGENDA. THANK YOU. WHATEVER WE'RE DOING IS TAKING TOO LONG. AND NOW I'M TOLD THERE ARE THREE OPTIONS TODAY. [03:00:02] I DON'T KNOW WHICH ONE WORKS, JUDGE, BUT I HOPE WE'LL HAVE THE VOTES TO DO IT. I SENSE THAT THERE WILL BE SUPPORT. WE COULD ADOPT ITEMS AND PLAN TO REBID IF THAT WORKS. AWARD CONTRACT FOR ONE YEAR, BUT NOT RENEW AWARD CONTRACT AND TERMINATE WITH 30 DAYS NOTICE. SHORT TERM CONTRACTS EXTEND REGIONAL CONTRACTS, SO I DON'T WANT SOME BUILDING AS AN EXAMPLE TO NOT BE CLEAN. ALL WE CAN JUST DELAY IT. SO WE'LL ASK BUT BECAUSE WE'RE GOING SO LATE. BUT THAT WOULD BE MY OPTION. I'M NOT GOING TO VOTE FOR HIM TODAY UNLESS WE CAN BE ASSURED THAT THOSE STANDARDS SO BE ADDED NOW. SO I HOPE THAT THEY HOPE THERE ARE THREE PEOPLE WHO WON'T WHO WON'T PASS IT TODAY. SO I'LL HAVE TO ASK THE PURCHASING PEOPLE WHICH OPTION WORKS. MAYBE ONE OF MY COLLEAGUES I KNOW, I SEE COMMISSIONER GARCIA NEXT ON THE LIST, BUT ONE OF THOSE OPTIONS. BUT I'M JUST GOING TO CUT AND PASTE AND PUT IT ON THE AGENDA. I DON'T WANT TO WAIT ON A STUDY. I DON'T WANT TO WAIT. YOU KNOW, IT'S JUST AMAZING TO ME HOW QUICKLY WE GOT TO EXECUTIVE PAY, BUT WE DIDN'T GET TO THIS. SO I KNOW THIS MIGHT BE A32. SO IF YOU WOULDN'T MIND SAYING JUST THE MOTION IN A BIT, BUT YEAH. COMMISSIONER GARCIA AND THEN COMMISSIONER BRIONES, ALSO, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR COMING. I ALWAYS CAN COUNT ON YOU TO HELP FIGHT FOR THOSE WHO NEED FIGHTING FOR. SO THANK YOU AGAIN. I GOT A QUESTION ON TERM IN TERMS OF THE THE REQUIREMENTS THAT WE HAVE INSTITUTED. COMMISSIONER ELLIS JUST MENTIONED THAT WE HAVE REQUIRED IN OUR CONTRACTING AND IN OUR IN-HOUSE OR FULL TIME EMPLOYEES, WE WE REQUIRED A MINIMUM LIVABLE WAGE OF $15 AN HOUR. IS THERE ANY OTHER. IS THIS SUFFICIENT? DO YOU THINK OR. OR WHAT? AT THIS POINT I MEAN, IF I CAN SPEAK FREELY YOU KNOW, $15 HAS BEEN SOMETHING WE'VE BEEN FIGHTING FOR FOR YEARS. WE SHOULD HAVE BEEN AT $15 A YEAR AGO. THE CITY OF HOUSTON ACTUALLY MOVED TO A $15 MINIMUM WAGE QUITE A FEW YEARS AGO AS WELL. AND THEY'RE NOW LOOKING AT MOVING THEIR CITY EMPLOYEES EVEN TO A HIGHER LEVEL. SO WE'RE ALREADY MOVING THERE BEYOND THE $15 AN HOUR. ASK FOR THOSE WORKERS. HARRIS COUNTY IS STILL A LITTLE BEHIND. I WOULD SAY THAT THE BEST PRACTICE THAT I'VE SEEN, SO THAT WE DON'T HAVE TO KEEP COMING AROUND THIS, IS TO TIE IT TO THE MIT, WHICH IS SOMETHING THAT DALLAS IS DOING NOW, WHICH WHEN THAT WHEN THE MIT STUDY COMES UP, THEY AUTOMATICALLY GO UP. AND THIS IS NOT IT DOESN'T HAVE TO BE COMING TO THE COUNTY TO YOU GUYS TO APPROVE IT, BUT IT TAKES INTO ACCOUNT FOR THAT UNIVERSITY. THEY DO AN ANNUAL STUDY. I THOUGHT IT STOOD FOR SOMETHING. OKAY, OKAY. GOT IT. YEAH. COMMISSIONER. AND I JUST WANT TO ADD THE OTHER THING. IN TERMS OF EXTENDING IT FOR A YEAR, WORKERS SHOULD NOT HAVE TO GO ANOTHER YEAR WITHOUT HAVING THOSE THOSE WAGES GOING UP. BUT ALSO LOOKING AT THE STANDARDS AND WHICH CONTRACTOR HAS THE BEST PRACTICE FOR THAT FOR THAT. THANK YOU FOR COMING DOWN. COMMISSIONER BRUINS THANK YOU, PRESIDENT FLORES, FOR BEING HERE. I WAS SHOCKED WHEN I SAW THIS ON THE AGENDA BECAUSE WE BECAUSE WE WERE ALL CRYSTAL CLEAR IN JUNE OF WHAT WE STOOD FOR, WHAT WE WERE ASKING FOR, AND THE COMPLETE LACK OF PROGRESS IS UNACCEPTABLE. SO I WILL NOT BE IN FAVOR OF ADVANCING THESE CONTRACTS, BECAUSE THE REQUIREMENTS THAT WE CLEARLY ARTICULATED AS A PRIORITY WERE NOT INCLUDED IN THE BID REQUIREMENTS. AND SO I MET WITH THE COUNTY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE OVER LUNCH TO SEE WHAT'S POSSIBLE. I DON'T KNOW, I GUESS WE'RE ALREADY ADDRESSING JUDGE THESE ITEMS, SO I'D LOVE TO HEAR THE GUIDANCE. BUT I MEAN, WE WE ARE HERE TO LIVE OUT OUR VALUES AND EXECUTE OUR VALUES WITHOUT FURTHER DELAY BY MY BOOK. AND WE VALUE THE WORK AND WE VALUE ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY. AND WE NEED TO BE LEADING BY OUR OWN EXAMPLE AND OUR OWN CONTRACTS. SO I WAS EXTREMELY DISAPPOINTED AND DISHEARTENED. SO I HEAR YOU. I WOULD LOVE TO TIE IT TO THE MIT STUDY. THAT'S SOMETHING WE HAVE BEEN EXPLORING. I THINK THAT'S A GREAT IDEA, SO THAT WE'RE NOT HAVING GROUNDHOG DAY AS FREQUENTLY. SO THAT WOULD BE MY PREFERENCE. SO THANK YOU. THANK YOU. COMMISSIONER ELLIS AND THEN GARCIA. AND AS I SAID IF YOU HAVE THE MOTION OR COUNTY ATTORNEY. SO I DO WHAT I WANT TO ASK IS MAYBE ASK THE PURCHASING OFFICE, YOU KNOW, IS THERE A PROBLEM WITH DELAYING? WHAT'S THE DAMAGE? MAYBE THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR KNOWS. JUST DELAYING THIS ITEM. OF WHAT? WHAT WE CAN DO. I THINK I HEAR SOME SUPPORT FOR FOLLOWING DALLAS, BY THE WAY. THAT'S THE ONE THAT DOES THE MIT SURVEY TO MAKE A DECISION. AND I'M GETTING THE SENSE I SEE A HEAD SHAKING, AND I'M JUST GOING TO CUT IT AND PASTE IT AND PUT IT ON THE AGENDA. SO I'M HOPING NO, I'M HAPPY WITH THAT. YOU KNOW, PUT IT THIS WAY, I'M NOT I'M NOT AS SMART AS ALL OF THE BUREAUCRACY WE HAVE. BUT I DO REMEMBER HOW TO CUT AND PASTE. AND I CAME OUT OF SEGREGATED SCHOOLS. SO. SO, COMMISSIONER ELLIS, I WANT TO ASK PURCHASING IF YOU CAN. THANK YOU JUDGE AND COMMISSIONERS, FOR HAVING MAYBE THE FIRST ONE BECAUSE I KNOW IS ABSOLUTELY. [03:05:04] CAN WE RENEW CONTRACTS WITH EXISTING VENDORS TO CONTINUE JANITORIAL SERVICES IN THESE BUILDINGS? NUMBER TWO, DO WE HAVE TO AWARD THE CONTRACTS UNDER THESE ITEMS IN ORDER TO HAVE CLEANING SERVICES IN OUR BUILDINGS? DO WE HAVE TO DO IT TODAY OR WILL THEY CONTINUE? AND THEN THIS POLICY WILL BE ON THE AGENDA. OBVIOUSLY, YOU'D HAVE TO REBID THEM. CORRECT. SO IN SHORT, CAN WE ADD IT AFTER SOMETHING IS IN SHORT, THE WAY WE PROCURED THE PROJECT UNDER ITEM 351, IT IS NOT INCLUDED IN OUR BID REQUIREMENTS. SO THE ITEM PRESENTED IS PRESENTED AS THE BID WAS PROCURED. WITH ALL THOSE VENDORS MEETING OUR REQUIREMENTS LISTED AT THE TIME OF PUBLICATION, WITH IT BEING A BID WE CANNOT NEGOTIATE OR LOOK TO ADD, WE WOULD NEED TO REBID TO PUT IT OUT, TO GIVE EVERYONE IN THE PUBLIC A FAIR AND EQUAL OPPORTUNITY TO RESPOND WITH ALL OF OUR UPDATED REQUIREMENTS. WE CAN EASILY WORK ON THAT. I'VE TALKED WITH COUNTY ATTORNEY AND WE CAN LOOK AT SETTING A CERTAIN REQUIREMENT ON A ONE OFF BASIS UNTIL THE POLICY IS ADOPTED AND PRESENTED OR PRESENTED TO COURT TO BE ADOPTED IN THE NEAR FUTURE. MY ONLY QUESTION OR CONCERN FOR THAT IS THE COMPLIANCE PIECE THAT WOULD FOLLOW. HOW ARE WE GOING TO HOLD THESE CONTRACTORS AND COMPLIANCE THAT THEY ARE PAYING THESE WAGES TO THESE VENDORS OR THEIR SUBCONTRACTORS? I'M ASSUMING I DON'T KNOW, BUT SOMETIMES THE GOOD THING ABOUT NOT BEING FIRST IS THAT FILLS ME. I'D CALL DALLAS TRAVIS DOWN. YOU COULD WALK. WE COULD WALK DOWN THE STREET AND ASK THEM, HOW ARE THEY DOING IT, YOU KNOW. YES, SIR. AND SO I'VE ACTUALLY ALREADY PARTNERED WITH OCA. WE'VE HAD A FEW MEETINGS. THEY HAVE SENT US SOME INFORMATION ON THOSE CITIES AND HOW THEY ARE CONDUCTING THIS. I HAD SOME QUESTIONS BACK TO SEE IF THERE WERE ANY OTHER COUNTY ENTITIES FOLLOWING THIS, BECAUSE WE DO HAVE CERTAIN CODES THAT DIFFER. SO JUST TRYING TO AGAIN DIG INTO THE RESEARCH, BUT WE CAN LOOK AT REBIDDING. SO. SO MAYBE OVER THE NEXT HOUR OR SO BEFORE WE GET TO THE ITEM, I THINK I GET THE SENSE OF THE COURT JUST FROM MY COLLEAGUE SHAKING THEIR HEADS. LOOKS LIKE ALL FIVE OF US. SO HOW DO WE GET THE BUILDINGS CLEANED? LIKE WHOEVER HAS A CONTRACT NOW, YOU KNOW OR NOT. I'M GONNA ASK THIS ONCE. WHO GOT THE EXECUTIVE PAY? CAN THEY CLEAN THEM? BECAUSE ITEM WAS ON THE AGENDA A LONG TIME AGO. BUT SO HOW? THAT'S DONE. SO DO WE DELAY THEM? AND YOU ALL GIVE US SOME FEED, SOME FEEDBACK ON WHAT TO DO. ALL OF YOU, BETWEEN THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR AND EVERYBODY. BUT THIS. WE WAITED LONG ENOUGH ON THIS. THIS OUGHT TO BE DONE. SO I'M JUST SAYING CUT IT AND PASTE IT. WE DON'T NEED TO DO A STUDY. WE DON'T NEED TO BRING RAIN IN OR HARVARD, YOU KNOW, JUST CUT AND PASTE AND GO AHEAD AND DO IT. WE WILL. AND CURRENTLY REGIONS ONE THROUGH FOUR, WE HAVE SEPARATE CONTRACTS FOR REGIONS ONE, TWO, THREE AND FOUR INDIVIDUALLY. THOSE ARE CURRENTLY ON AN EXTENSION. SO BUILDINGS ARE BEING CLEANED. WE WOULD NEED TO ADD FUNDS TO FUNDS TO THOSE AGREEMENTS TO INCREASE IT FOR THE COVERAGE SO THEY CAN CONTINUE. SO YOU CAN WORK TO CONTINUE AND CAN IF IT'S POSSIBLE. COULD YOU ALSO JUST ON THIS, COMMISSIONER GARCIA, PULL IF IT'S POSSIBLE, PULL THE CONTRACTS COVERING TRANSTAR AND NRG PARK. OKAY. AND HOW LONG IS LEFT FOR THAT, COMMISSIONER GARCIA? I'M NOT SURE IF THIS IS FOR YOU, PAIGE. OR EVEN ELSA, BUT J DOES THIS. CAN WE DO THIS UNDER THE INDEPENDENT CONTRACT MODEL THAT WE USE? I'M NOT SURE I UNDERSTAND YOUR QUESTION. YEAH. IN OTHER WORDS, SO WE GET INTO AN ENGAGEMENT WITH THESE FOLKS, AND SO AND WE AND WE TELL THEM, YOU KNOW, WE WANT TO HAVE THE MINIMUM WAGE, AND THEY CAN DECIDE, YOU KNOW, NOT TO OR DO WE, YOU KNOW, THEY CAN DECIDE THAT THE THAT IT IS, IT'S JUST, YOU KNOW, WE I GUESS WHAT I'M GETTING TO IS THAT WE CAN WRITE THE CONTRACT FOR IT A LITTLE BIT TO WHAT PAIGE SAID, THE ENFORCEMENT OF IT. HOW DOES THAT IS THAT SOMETHING THAT WE HAVE ENOUGH AUTHORITY OVER? SURE. THERE'S SORT OF TWO, TWO WAYS TO DO THIS. ONE IS TO FOR THE COUNTY. AND I THINK IT'S BEEN SUGGESTED THAT THE COUNTY ADOPT A POLICY THAT ESTABLISHING SIMILAR TO WHAT WAS DONE ON VERTICAL CONSTRUCTION. THAT CAN CERTAINLY BE DONE. AND I THINK THAT'S CERTAINLY WHAT THE COURT HAD WANTED TO DO PREVIOUSLY. ABSENT THAT ON ON EACH. AND SO IN OUR CONTRACTING PROCESS, PART OF IT IS COMPLIANCE WITH WITH WITH COUNTY POLICIES AND REGULATIONS ON A ONE OFF BASIS TO WHICH WHAT, WHAT WHAT WHAT PAIGE HAD MENTIONED WAS THAT IN THIS PARTICULAR ONCE YOU REBID IT, ABSENT A POLICY, WE CAN CERTAINLY PUT IN THE RFP AND THE SPECS FOR THIS PARTICULAR ITEM. FOR EXAMPLE, A A $15 MINIMUM WAGE WOULD BE REQUIRED. YOU KNOW, THAT COULD BE STATED IN THERE EXPLICITLY, AND THEN WE WOULD DO THAT. [03:10:01] ABSENT THAT EXPLICIT STATEMENT IN THERE OR A COUNT OR A COURT POLICY, WE CANNOT DO WHAT YOU'RE YOU'RE SUGGESTING. YOU'RE ASKING THAT. IF I'M UNDERSTANDING YOUR QUESTION CORRECTLY. SO IT'S A TWO STEP PROCESS. ONE I WOULD I DON'T I THINK PAGE CAN WE CAN CERTAINLY PUT SOME LANGUAGE IN A NEW RFP REQUIRING THE $15 FOR THIS PARTICULAR ONE, BECAUSE I THINK IT'S CLEAR THAT'S THE WILL OF THE COURT. BUT I THINK YOU DO NEED TO HAVE A POLICY. COMMISSIONER ELLIS HAS INDICATED HE WANTS TO PUT ON THE DALLAS POLICY, OR SOME VARIATION THEREOF AT THE NEXT COURT TO WHICH YOU CAN PASS. AND THEN ONCE WE DO THAT, THAT WOULD ESSENTIALLY BAKE IN EVERYTHING WE'RE DOING. IT DOESN'T ADDRESS THE COMPLIANCE PIECE, BUT IT DOES SOLVE THAT PROBLEM. SO THAT'S REALLY THE METHOD WE, WE WE WILL WE, WE GO BY THE DAVIS-BACON PREVAILING WAGE LIST. CAN WE ADD ALL OTHER TYPES OF CONTRACTS LIKE THIS TO THAT SCHEDULE SO THAT OUR VENDORS ABSOLUTELY KNOW UP FRONT WHAT WE'RE EXPECTING AS THEY COME UP? YEAH. YEAH. WELL, IN TERMS OF ADDING ADDING SPECIFIC WAGES, WE CAN DO THAT. AGAIN, AS I SAID IN POLICY, IT'S SOMETHING YOU WOULD HAVE TO ADD IN. WE CAN'T JUST WE CAN'T REQUIRE IT AFTER IT'S ALREADY BEEN AFTER THE RFP HAS ALREADY BEEN OUT OR THE POLICY DOESN'T EXIST. SO SO IF I'M HEARING YOU RIGHT, WE YOU KNOW, SEVERAL YEARS AGO, WE SAID WE WANT TO PAY OUR EMPLOYEES AND CONTRACT EMPLOYEES $15 AN HOUR. SO WE PASSED THAT, BUT WE DIDN'T CREATE THE POLICY. NO, NO, WE DID FOR CERTAIN KINDS OF PAYMENTS. RIGHT. SO I THINK WE DID IT FOR VERTICAL CONSTRUCTION IN PARTICULAR, IS WHAT WE DID. IS MY RECOLLECTION. AND WE DIDN'T INCLUDE. YES. WE WE DID NOT I THINK THE WAY THE THE JUNE MOTION THAT I THINK COMMISSIONER ELLIS REFERENCED, I THINK IT WAS DIRECTED AT US COLLECTIVELY TO TO COME BACK WITH A POLICY. I KNOW OCA HAS BEEN WORKING ON THAT POLICY, ALONG WITH MYRIAD OTHER THINGS THAT HAVE BEEN WORKING ON TO TRY TO GET THIS DONE. BUT WE CAN CERTAINLY TRY TO EXPEDITE IT. GOOD DEAL. THANK YOU. SO I JUST WANT TO BE CLEAR. SO HERE'S THE QUESTION. IF THERE'S NO VOTE TODAY, WHEN WOULD THE CURRENT JANITORIAL SERVICES END? SORRY, COMMISSIONER. RIGHT NOW, THOSE CONTRACTS FOR REGIONS ONE THROUGH FOUR ARE EXTENDED UNTIL A NEW CONTRACT IS IN PLACE. SO THERE'S NO DAMAGE. SO WE GOT TO ADD FUNDS. OKAY. SO I WOULD JUST LIKE TO PULL THESE ITEMS IN AND THAT MAY SETTLE IT. MAY I ADD SOMETHING? SURE. I'M SORRY I YOU GUYS MENTIONED ENFORCEMENT, AND THIS IS WHERE HAVING GOOD LANGUAGE ABOUT LABOR PEACE IN YOUR ROPES COME IN HANDY BECAUSE WE, THE LABOR CAN BE THE ENFORCEMENT. THAT'S HOW WE DO IT AT THE AIRPORTS. THAT'S HOW WE DO IT IN OTHER PLACES WHERE WE HAVE CITY SUBCONTRACT WORK. RIGHT AT THE END OF THE DAY, THE MECHANISM CAN BE BUILT IN LABOR CONTRACTS. THAT MAKES SURE THAT TAKES INTO ACCOUNT WHAT THE COUNTY OR THE CITY IS DETERMINING THE WAGES FOR THOSE WORKERS, AND MAKE SURE THAT THE CONTRACTORS DO THE RIGHT THING. ALSO, I'M ASSUMING WE MAY NOT HAVE THE MOST RIGOROUS ENFORCEMENT ON SPEEDING, BUT MOST PEOPLE IN THEIR RIGHT MIND, IF, YOU KNOW, YOU MIGHT GET A TICKET, THAT'S WHAT MAKES YOU TRY TO COMPLY WITH IT, YOU KNOW? SO I'M SAYING I WOULDN'T TO MY MY DEPARTMENT IS I WOULDN'T SPEND A LOT OF TIME. IF IT IS THE POLICY, ALL YOU GOT TO DO IS CATCH ONE. THAT'S WHAT THEY DO. YOU CATCH ONE AND THE OTHERS GET THE SIGNAL. I WOULDN'T GO CREATE A WHOLE. I WOULDN'T SPEND MORE MONEY TRYING TO ENFORCE A MINIMUM WAGE AT A AT A HIGHER WAGE. YOU COULD YOU COULD PAY THEM A MINIMUM WAGE. WORKERS MORE. I JUST THINK IF WE IF WE IF WE PASS IT. MOST CONTRACTORS IN THEIR RIGHT MIND. BECAUSE IF YOU JUST CATCH ONE AND MAKE AN EXAMPLE OUT OF THEM, THE OTHERS WILL FOLLOW SUIT. SO BUT I'M JUST GOING TO PUT THE ITEM ON THE AGENDA. HOPEFULLY WITH THE ADMINISTRATION HELP US OUT. JUST KIND OF CUT AND PASTE SOMEBODY ELSE'S. BECAUSE IF THERE'S A PROBLEM WITH ENFORCEMENT OR YOU'RE TRYING TO FIGURE HOW TO ENFORCE IT, HOW ARE THEY DOING IT? WE DON'T NEED TO DO A STUDY TO GO DO IT. OKAY. BUT I JUST LIKE TO PULL THOSE ITEMS. OKAY. CAN I SEE ELLIS AND RAMSEY? IS THAT STILL CURRENT? YEAH. OKAY. SO I COULD NOT AGREE MORE. PULL, PULL THESE ITEMS. SO THE CURRENT CONTRACTS REMAIN IN PLACE. HOW QUICKLY CAN WE PUT OUT THE NEW BID REQUIREMENTS? MISS MCGINNIS? SORRY, COMMISSIONER BRIONES, WE CAN GO AHEAD AND WE'LL WORK THAT AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE IN HOPES WE CAN ACTUALLY ADVERTISE AS EARLY AS NEXT FRIDAY. WE'LL WORK WITH ENGINEERING AND ALL THE DEPARTMENTS INCLUDED ON THIS LIST FOR THE BUILDINGS, AND WE'LL WE'LL MAKE SURE WE COMMUNICATE UPDATES ON A WEEKLY BASIS. OKAY. SO IT CAN BE OPENED AS SOON AS NEXT FRIDAY. YES, MA'AM. AND THEN I WOULD LOVE TO WORK ON THIS POLICY, BECAUSE I WANT US TO BE LEADING FOR ALL THE RIGHT REASONS. [03:15:03] AND I'M DONE WITH DELAYS. WE NEED TO BE DOING THE RIGHT THING FOR THE RIGHT REASONS ALL THE TIME, WITHOUT ANY MORE DELAYS. SO I APPRECIATE I KNOW YOU WEREN'T CHARGED WITH COMING UP WITH THE POLICY, AND I LOOK FORWARD TO HEARING MORE ABOUT THAT. BUT IN THE MEANTIME, WE JUST NEED TO TAKE ACTION. AND SO THANK YOU. AND I REALLY WANT TO TIE IT TO THE MIT SO THAT WE, AGAIN, CAN REALLY BE AT THE FOREFRONT NOT TRAILING. SO THANK YOU. AND THANK YOU, PRESIDENT FLORES. COMMISSIONER RAMSEY. YES, JUDGE. JUST AT THE APPROPRIATE TIME. AND IT DOESN'T HAVE TO BE. NOW, IF WHEN MEMBERS OF THE COURT WOULD LIKE US TO PROCEED IN THIS, A MOTION TO REQUEST PURCHASING TO REBID THE CONTRACT AT A WAGE RATE OF 15, ETC., WHATEVER THE DOLLAR AMOUNT YOU GUYS HAVE DESIGNATED JUST TO GIVE THE MERCH TO GIVE US ALL CLEAR DIRECTION. WE HAVE A MOTION IN A SECOND, BUT LET ME HAVE COMMISSIONER RAMSEY SPEAK FIRST. JUST JUST A QUICK QUESTION. THANK YOU FOR COMING DOWN. NO PROBLEM. SOMETIMES WE NEED PEOPLE TO POINT STUFF OUT. I THINK WE WERE ON SOME OF THIS, BUT THANK YOU FOR COMING DOWN. WHERE DO $15 COME FROM? GO AHEAD, COMMISSIONER RAMSEY. I BELIEVE THAT IS THE SET FEE FOR THE COUNTY'S EMPLOYEES AT THIS TIME. AND THE VERTICAL CONSTRUCTION MINIMUMS FOR PEOPLE THAT CLEAN FACILITIES AND PRECINCT THREE. WE STARTED 18. AND I TELL YOU THAT NOT BECAUSE WE'RE TRYING TO OUTBID OTHER PEOPLE, BUT IF YOU'RE GOING TO PAY ONE A LIVING WAGE AND TWO, GET SOMEBODY IN THERE THAT WILL ACTUALLY COME BACK WEEK AFTER WEEK AFTER WEEK, YOU BETTER GET THE PAY OUT. SO I DON'T KNOW. I'LL TAKE THAT AS A FRIENDLY AMENDMENT TO 18 RATHER THAN, THAN HOW ABOUT 21? AND CAN YOU CAN YOU REPEAT DALLAS? DALLAS IS AT 21. BUT WHAT WHAT CAN WE JUST HAVE THE HAVE THEM COME BACK WITH SOMETHING? JAY, I DON'T SEE CAN WE JUST NO ACTION IT TODAY AND THEN YOU GUYS CAN COOK IT AND BRING THE NUMBER WE CAN. JUST IN THE INTEREST OF TIME, WHAT I WAS GOING TO SUGGEST IS JUST A MOTION TO REBID, BUT WE JUST DON'T WANT TO PUT A NUMBER RIGHT NOW BECAUSE I HAVE THE SAME QUESTION, BUT I'D LIKE TO RUN IT BY BUDGET, YOU KNOW, LIKE, NO, NO, I UNDERSTOOD JUDGE. THE REASON I'M SAYING IT IS THAT THAT MEANS THAT MEANS PAGE CAN'T READ, DO REDO THE RFP WITHOUT THE SPECIFIC DOLLAR AMOUNT THAT YOU WANT IN THE LANGUAGE. AND IF WE DON'T HAVE THAT FROM YOU, WE WON'T BE ABLE TO GO BACK OUT BECAUSE CURRENTLY THERE'S NO POLICY. SO I JUST NEED YOU TO PICK A NUMBER SO THAT SHE KNOWS BECAUSE I SENT UNANIMITY. WHEN ITEM COMES UP, WE'LL FIGURE IT OUT. SO JUST LEAVE IT RIGHT. I DON'T WRITE YOU GIVE YOU A TIME TO FIGURE IT OUT SO WE CAN GET SUCH A GOOD IDEA. OKAY, SO WE'LL TAKE THE REST OF SPEAKERS. I THINK WE HAVE FIVE. AND THEN COLLEAGUES, I'M HOPING WE CAN GO TO EXECUTIVE SESSION ON A COUPLE OF ITEMS THAT ATTORNEYS NEED US TO LOOK AT. THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU BOTH. GO AHEAD. TIFFANY. SO, JUDGE, IF I CAN. ITEM 243 AND 351 WILL SHOW NO ACTION. NOT FOR NOW. THEY'RE GOING TO. WE'RE GOING TO GO BACK THROUGH IT LATER. YES, MA'AM. NON-AGENDA SPEAKERS WALTER PROTHERO AND ERIC ROGERS. YOU EACH HAVE ONE MINUTE. THANK YOU SIR. YES. MY NAME IS WALTER PROTHERO. COUNTY COMMISSIONERS, I WOULD LIKE TO CONTINUE IN THE LINE OF THE ISSUES WITH HARRIS HEALTH, AS OTHER COUNTY AGENCIES HAVE AVOIDED THEIR RESPONSIBILITIES. I WOULD LIKE TO TALK ABOUT THE TIME AND THE INABILITY TO CORRECT MEDICAL RECORDS AT BEN TAUB GENERAL HOSPITAL. THIS IS IMPERATIVE TO THE HEALTH AND SAFETY OF PATIENTS, ESPECIALLY WHEN THERE IS GROSS MISCONDUCT BY THE STAFF OR PHYSICIANS. AS EXAMPLES. I HAD AN ENCOUNTER WITH RESIDENT DOCTOR TREVOR WITH BAYLOR COLLEGE OF MEDICINE, WHO HAD COME INTO THE EXAM ROOM AND ASKED FOR QUESTIONS AND LEFT. LATER, A STAFF NURSE CAME IN AND SAID THAT I WAS FREE TO GO. I ASKED ABOUT THE ENCOUNTER. SHE, THE NURSE, STATED THAT I WAS GIVEN A FULL EXAM AND NOTED THAT THEY HAD DISCUSSED MY CONDITION AT THE TIME. NONE OF THIS OCCURRED AND I DID REPORT IT, BUT AS ALWAYS, IGNORED BY BOTH BAYLOR COLLEGE OF MEDICINE AND HARRIS HEALTH. I DID MAKE SEVERAL ATTEMPTS TO HAVE MY RECORD CORRECTED AT THAT TIME. ARE YOU ALMOST FINISHED? NO. THE REST HAS BEEN ENTERED INTO THE RECORD. THANK YOU SIR. THANK YOU. SIR. I DROVE IN FROM SAN ANTONIO TODAY TO REQUEST TO HAVE A FORMAL PRESENTATION ON THE PROGRAM THAT WAS UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED BY ALL 313 COUNTY COMMISSIONERS OF MIAMI-DADE COUNTY. THEY DID THAT BECAUSE THEY'RE GOING TO SAVE THE COUNTY OVER $48 MILLION ANNUALLY. WE'VE HAD CONTACT AND SEVERAL CALLS WITH YOUR TREASURER, DOCTOR CARLA WHITE, AS WELL AS HER ASSISTANT, MARK QUINN. BASED ON THEIR NUMBERS, THIS PROGRAM COULD SAVE NOT ONLY $24 MILLION FOR THIS YEAR FOR HARRIS COUNTY, BUT OVER FIVE YEARS, OVER $120 MILLION. WE'VE HAD CALLS WITH HR, AS WELL AS THE DALLAS COUNTY TREASURER, PAULINE MEDRANO, AND WE'RE GOING TO BE ON THEIR FINANCIAL REVIEW BOARD COMMITTEE MEETING LATER THIS MONTH TO FORMALLY PRESENT IT TO THEM TO THEN TAKE IT TO THEIR COMMISSIONERS. [03:20:11] HOUSTON COUNTY HAS SUBMITTED PAYROLL. WE'RE MOVING FORWARD WITH WITH THEM, THE TEXAS ASSOCIATION OF COUNTIES, AS WELL AS THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF COUNTIES, AWARE OF OUR PROGRAM, LOOKING AT MAKING FORWARD TO THEIR OTHER COUNTY MEMBERS AS WELL. THIS PROGRAM IS A WIN WIN FOR THE COUNTY. YOUR EMPLOYEES. UNFORTUNATELY, ONE MINUTE DOES NOT ALLOW ME TIME TO EXPLAIN IT TODAY. HOW CAN WE FORMALLY MAKE A THANK YOU YOUR TIME? CAN YOU JUST 1 OR 2 SENTENCES? SURE. SO THE PROGRAM SAVES THE COUNTY ON MATCHING. FICO IS GOING TO GIVE THE EMPLOYEES A RAISE THAT'S NOT FUNDED BY THE COUNTY. IT'S ALSO GOING TO GIVE THEM SOME FINANCIAL INCENTIVES. IT GOES ALONG WITH YOUR CURRENT HEALTH PLAN. THAT EMPLOYEE WILL BE ABLE TO HAVE UNLIMITED DOCTOR VISITS, AS WELL AS A HOST OF OTHER BENEFITS FOR NOT ONLY THAT EMPLOYEE, BUT THEIR FAMILY AS WELL. CAN YOU SAY YOUR NAME FOR THE RECORD, SIR? WHAT'S YOUR NAME FOR THE RECORD? ERIC RODGERS. SO, MR. RODGERS, HOW WOULD YOU SUGGEST YOU VISIT WITH THE HR DEPARTMENT? WELL, I TRY TO GO THROUGH YOUR DEPARTMENT AND THEY SUBMITTED TO HR. DIDN'T RESPOND. A LOT OF TIMES HR THINK THIS IS A BIG THING THEY'LL GET AROUND TO. WE JUST DON'T NEGOTIATE THE CONTRACTS HERE AT THIS TABLE. I KNOW THAT I JUST WANTED TO HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO ACTUALLY GET IT. AND PAULINE MEDRANO IS A DEAR FRIEND. SHE TEXTED ME, BUT THANK YOU. YEAH. ALL RIGHT. SOMEBODY WILL FOLLOW UP WITH YOU. OKAY. WE JUST GOT A LONG DAY. I WON'T BE RUDE, BUT I'D LIKE TO BE HERE FOR GO BACK TO SAN ANTONIO, SO IT'S GOING TO BE A LONG. THANK YOU. WE'LL VISIT WITH YOU. THANK YOU. NON-AGENDA SPEAKERS? PROBABLY. WILL YOU BE? YOU'LL BE THROUGH ANOTHER BEFORE WE GET THROUGH. I'LL THINK ABOUT IT. GO AHEAD. TIFFANY. NON-AGENDA SPEAKERS. CLINTON. JONES, NANCY. SABERA, NORA, TOMMY AND ANDREA WHITLEY. YOU EACH HAVE ONE MINUTE. HELLO. MY NAME IS NANCY TOMMY. AND I'M A VOLUNTEER AT 90.1 FM KPFT AND ALSO A VOLUNTEER FOR HEALTH CARE FOR ALL TEXAS, WHICH IS MISSION IS TO TELL THE WORLD THERE IS A EXPANSION MEDICARE FROM BIRTH IN THE FEDERAL HOUSE. THERE'S 113 SPONSORS. WE NEED 106 MORE. OKAY. WHAT I'M HERE FOR IS THAT YOU'RE ADDRESSING INCARCERATION PROBLEM HERE, BUT WITH A PLAN TO EXPAND THE SIZE OF THE NEW JAIL AND AT A COST OF $7 BILLION. AND I WOULD LIKE TO SAY, PLEASE FOCUS ON THE ROOT CAUSES OF INCARCERATION, SAFETY, YOU KNOW, STOP THE DEATHS, STOP THE DANGERS, BE TRANSPARENT WITH VIDEOS, POST THEM. MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES SINCE MOST OF THE JAIL. THANK YOU. YOUR TIME IS UP. GO AHEAD. YOU CAN WRAP UP. OKAY, I'LL TRY TO HURRY UP. HOUSING. FOOD SECURITY EMPLOYMENT. AND IF YOU DO THIS AND BE A TEMPLATE FOR THE NATION, IN DOING SO, YOU'LL BE, MAKING CREATIVE COMPASSION AND THAT WILL BE MORE COST EFFICIENT. THEN YOU'LL HAVE MONEY FOR A LOT OF OTHER THINGS THAT WERE SPOKEN TODAY. THANK YOU. THAT'S RIGHT. THANK YOU SO MUCH, JUDGE. THAT'S ALL THE SPEAKERS. OKAY. THANK YOU SO MUCH. SO LET ME JUST GO THROUGH. THERE'S A COUPLE OF ITEMS THAT THAT I KNOW WE NEED TO DISCUSS IN EXECUTIVE SESSION OR SEVERAL. AND SO, JUDGE, I'D LIKE TO, WHILE WE'RE ALL HERE, DO 271. YEAH. RIGHT. SO THAT'S IS THAT ONE YOU WANT TO DISCUSS IN OPEN COURT, COMMISSIONER? OKAY. GO AHEAD. SO IF I, IF I COULD. DOCTOR? RAYMOND, ARE YOU THERE? THIS IS ITEM WHILE HE'S COMING ON. AND I PUT ON THE AGENDA, AND WE PASSED ON TWO SEPARATE OCCASIONS. LANGUAGE ON HOW WE WOULD PRIORITIZE. PRIORITIZE DURING OUR FLOOD PROJECTS. AND THESE ARE THE DRAINAGE PROJECTS. IN ALL OF THE PRECINCTS. AND DOCTOR HARMON, HOW SHORT ARE YOU ON FUNDING FOR THAT? COMMISSIONER, MEMBERS OF THE CODE. GOOD AFTERNOON, MR. HARMON. COUNTY ENGINEER. COMMISSIONER, WE ARE $113 MILLION SHORT, AND I KNOW THE BULK OF THAT HAPPENS TO BE IN IN PRECINCT ONE. BUT, AS YOU KNOW, WE DID PASS A FRAMEWORK ON HOW WE WOULD DO IT. [03:25:01] AND I KNOW YOU'VE HAD CHALLENGES FOLLOWING THAT FRAMEWORK. SO WHAT I'D LIKE TO GET IS SOME SENSE OF WHAT YOUR IDEA IS ON HOW WE CAN RESOLVE THAT CHALLENGE. COMMISSIONER. SO YOU KNOW, IF YOU ALLOW ME TO WALK THROUGH SOME OF THE, THE PROGRAM AND THE HISTORY OF THE PROGRAM, THAT WILL PROBABLY WE CAN EXPLAIN IT BETTER. SO. IN 2018 WHEN THIS PROGRAM WAS SET UP AS PART OF THE FLOOD CONTROL DISTRICT BOND PROGRAM, WE HAD 91 PROJECT, AND IT WAS ESTIMATED $451 MILLION. THE ESTIMATE AT THE TIME WAS BASED ON EXPERT GUESSTIMATE BECAUSE NO ENGINEERING STUDIES HAVE BEEN DONE. NO PRELIMINARY ENGINEERING STUDIES WAS DONE. SO IT WAS THE EXPERT. THEY SAT TOGETHER AND SAID, YOU KNOW WHAT? THIS IS WHAT IT'S GOING TO COST. SINCE THEN THE DEPARTMENT STARTED DOING DESKTOP STUDIES, WHICH IS AT A VERY HIGH LEVEL. WITH LIMITED SURVEY. ALMOST NO MODELING. AND MANY OF THESE PROJECTS ARE JUST MOVING FORWARD. AND THE TIMELINE I PRESENTED HERE IN 2021. YOU KNOW, THE DEPARTMENT'S REALIZED, YOU KNOW WHAT? IT'S NOT 251. THESE PROJECTS ARE GOING TO COST 590 MILLION. AS THE STUDIES WERE COMING OUT ON THE HIGH LEVEL OF STUDIES. THAT'S THE COST. AND THAT'S BACK BEFORE YOU KNOW ME AS THE COUNTY ENGINEER. THE BUDGET OFFICE HAD A MEMO ON THAT. SO SINCE THAT POINT, COMMISSIONER, WE ARE STARTING TO DO PRELIMINARY ENGINEERING, FINAL DESIGN OF SOME OF THE PROJECTS, STARTED BUILDING A FEW PROJECTS CONSTRUCTION. AND WE LEARNED THAT THE COST IS COMING OUT AT A HIGHER RATE BECAUSE OF THE FINAL DESIGN ESTIMATES WAS HIGHER. AND THEN AT THE SAME TIME COVID HIT, THERE WAS A SIGNIFICANT INFLATION IN THE CONSTRUCTION BUSINESS, ABOUT 30 TO 35%. ALSO AT THE SAME TIME, COMMISSIONER, IN BETWEEN, WE HAD TO CHANGE THE STANDARD BECAUSE THE PROJECTS WHEN IT WAS ESTIMATED EARLIER WAS BASED ON AN OLD YOU KNOW, PRIOR ATLAS 14 RAINFALL STANDARD. SO WHEN THE DESIGN CHANGES TO ATLAS 14 STANDARD WE REALIZED AS WE STARTED BUILDING MORE AND MORE PROJECTS OUT THAT THERE IS NO WAY THE FUNDING IS AVAILABLE OR THE FUNDING IS ENOUGH. SO IN FEBRUARY 2023 WE CAME BACK TO THE CODE AND WE SAID THAT, YOU KNOW WE NEED TO MAKE SOME DECISION AND SOME TYPE OF DECISION. AND AT THAT TIME, BASED ON THE RECOMMENDATION FROM THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR AT THE TIME AND BUDGET OFFICE AND, OF COURSE, OUR OFFICE WE SAID THERE'S 57 PROJECTS THAT'S GOING TO MOVE FORWARD, AND THAT IS THE REMAINDER OF REMAINDER OF THE PROJECTS. WE PUT IT 23 PROJECT IN THE TABLE. THREE THAT THE PRECINCT CAN CHOOSE TO FUND USING THEIR OWN FUNDING OR WE PURSUE DIFFERENT GRANT OPPORTUNITY, PARTNERSHIP OPPORTUNITY TO GET IT DONE. AND THEN THERE WAS 13 PROJECT THAT WE PUT IT ON HOLD AT THE RECOMMENDED ONE BECAUSE OF NON COOPERATING PARTNERS. THE PARTNERS WENT AWAY AND TWO IS VERY LIMITED BENEFIT. SO SO I KNOW YOU HAD A PRIORITIZATION FRAMEWORK. DID YOU FOLLOW THAT. YES COMMISSIONER. SO THAT IS WE HAD TWO PRIORITIZATION FRAMEWORK. ONE LET ME JUST EXPLAIN, COMMISSIONER, THE PRIOR FLOOD CONTROL PRIORITIZATION FRAMEWORK INCLUDED ALL THE PROJECTS IN FOUR DIFFERENT QUANTILE QUANTILE ONE QUANTILE TWO QUARTILE THREE QUARTER FOUR. SO THE 57 PROJECTS, ALL OF THEM, IF WE BREAK DOWN AS QUARTILE, WILL BE IN ALL QUARTILE ONE BECAUSE THE BREAK BREAK POINT SCORE WAS 6.4. THE THE PROJECT HAD THE LOWEST SCORE OF THE 57 PROJECT COMMISSIONER. THERE WAS 7.4. AND THEN THE WAY IT WORKS. SO DOCTOR, WHEN I LOOK AT THE LIST THERE WERE PROJECTS THAT WERE DONE THAT RANKED HIGHER, THAT RANKED LOWER THAN PROJECTS YOU DID. IS THAT CORRECT OR NOT? THAT IS CORRECT. QUESTION. OKAY. SO I MEAN, I GET IT. YOU INHERITED THE PROGRAM AND THEY HADN'T DONE A PROPER ENGINEERING STUDIES. BUT AS A PERSON WHO PUT EQUITY LANGUAGE IN THE BOND ISSUE AFTER HARVEY, BEFORE IT WAS ON THE BALLOT, AND THEN THE COURT ESTABLISHED THE DEFINITION OF IT, AND THEN AT SOME POINT, I THINK, JUDGE HIDALGO, IT WAS YOUR MOTION THAT CHANGED IT A BIT. SO WE HAD A PRIORITIZATION FRAMEWORK, AND YOU SAID YOU DIDN'T HAVE ENOUGH MONEY, [03:30:02] BUT YOU DIDN'T FOLLOW THE PRIORITIZATION FRAMEWORK THAT WAS PUT IN PLACE. IS THAT CORRECT? COMMISSIONER. I DISAGREE A LITTLE BIT ON THIS. WE DID SO ALL THIS PROJECT AWAY, IF YOU ALLOW ME TO EXPLAIN THE WAY ALL OF THESE 57 PROJECTS, THE WAY IT'S PUT TOGETHER AS PRIORITY ONE BECAUSE DIFFERENT PROJECTS TAKES DIFFERENT TIMELINES. COMMISSIONER. SO ALL THE PROJECTS ARE LET GO AT ONE TIME. SOME PROJECTS TAKES A LONG TIME TO COMPLETE THE DESIGN, COMPLETE THE BID, COMPLETE THE UTILITY RELOCATION, GETTING ALL THE FEDERAL PERMITS OR ANY PERMITS REQUIREMENT AND RIGHT OF WAY ACQUISITION. SOME PROJECTS TAKE SHORT TIME. SO SINCE ALL THE PROJECTS HAVE HIGH BENEFIT, THE PROJECT THAT GOT READY FAST, WE BIDDED THAT OUT. FOR EXAMPLE, IF I HAVE A PROJECT THAT IS $5 MILLION AND WE'RE JUST DOING SOME CULVERT REPLACEMENT, SOME BEACH IMPROVEMENT, THOSE PROJECTS WERE READY. SO WE BIDDED THAT OUT. AND THAT'S THE BEST PRACTICE, COMMISSIONER, BECAUSE IF WE HAD TO WAIT FOR THE HIGHEST RANKED PROJECT TO GO FAST, AND THAT PROJECT TAKES 4 OR 5 YEARS TO GET THE PERMITS OR GET READY. THEN ALL THE OTHER PROJECTS WOULD BE SITTING IN THERE. SO THE CONCEPT WE APPROACHED IS SINCE ALL THESE PROJECTS HAVE SIGNIFICANT, I WANT TO I WANT TO MAKE THIS POINT THIS COMMISSIONERS FIRST OLD COMMISSIONERS COURT AGREED TO EQUITY LANGUAGE. IT WAS ME AND FOUR COLLEAGUES AFTER HARVEY AGREED NO DEFINITION BUT AGREED TO EQUITY LANGUAGE. THEN THIS COURT CAME UP WITH LANGUAGE. CHANGED IT A BIT. BUT DID IT? VOTED ON IT TWICE. AND I'M JUST TELLING YOU, I DON'T THINK WE HAVE ENOUGH MONEY TO DO ALL OF THESE PROJECTS WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT ANYWAY. YOU WILL NEVER PASS ANOTHER BOND ISSUE IF PEOPLE THINK THE OLD COURT LIED AND THIS COURT LIED. SO IT'S ALWAYS A CHALLENGE. I KNOW WE GOT ISSUES WITH THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT ON COST BENEFIT RATIO. WE'VE TALKED ABOUT THAT AD NAUSEAM. I DOUBT THAT THAT'LL CHANGE NOW. IT DIDN'T CHANGE UNDER THE LAST ADMINISTRATION. ALL OF THEM SAY IT MAKES SENSE. SO I'M JUST TELLING YOU, IF I HAVE TO GO BACK TO MY CONSTITUENTS, WHICH I'M GOING TO START DOING AND LET THEM KNOW IT'S $100 MILLION IN THOSE POORER NEIGHBORHOODS WHO WERE ALWAYS PASSED OVER IN THE PAST. AND THEN WHEN THE NEW EQUITY LEADERS GET IN PLACE, THEY STILL PASSED OVER. YOU NEVER PASS ANOTHER BOND ISSUE. I MEAN, I KNOW IT'S GOING TO BE A CHALLENGE. IN FACT, I WOULDN'T VOTE FOR ONE. I'D BE OUT THERE CAMPAIGNING AGAINST IF I HAD KNOWN THIS BEFORE WE DECIDED TO PUT THAT LANGUAGE ON THE BALLOT FOR FLOOD CONTROL. FOR MAINTENANCE PROJECTS, I'D HAVE VOTED AGAINST IT AND I WOULD HAVE CAMPAIGNED AGAINST IT. SO I'M JUST TELLING YOU, IT'S A BIG PROBLEM. ALL THOSE PEOPLE WITH THAT NORTHEAST ACTION COALITION YOU KNOW, THIS IS A PROBLEM THAT OUGHT TO BE RESOLVED. I'M TELLING YOU, IT WOULD BE VERY CHALLENGING TO GO TO VOTERS IN PRECINCT ONE TO EVER TRUST THIS COUNTY WITH MONEY AGAIN, EVEN TO TRUST ME. AND I'D BE REMISS IF I DIDN'T SAY IT. THIS IS AN ABOMINATION. WHEN DID YOU FIRST DISCOVER IT? COMMISSIONER, WE HAVE ADVERTISED TEN PROJECTS IN THE LAST YEAR. SO ONE OF THE PROJECTS, AN IDEA WE HAD IS TO. ONCE WE GO FORWARD WITH THE PROGRAM, WE SEE THE BID AND WE TRY TO SEE WHAT IS GOING TO BE THE PROJECTION FOR THE NEXT PROJECT. BECAUSE A LOT OF THE TIME, COMMISSIONER, THE BIDS ARE DEPENDENT ON THE MARKET. SO WE ARE TWO THIRDS DOWN OF THE PROGRAM. THAT'S WHY, YOU KNOW, IF EVERY PROJECT WITH MANY PROJECTS, COMMISSIONER, WE REBID. WE FIND OUT, WE COME OUT WITH A HIGHER BID. WE RE-ENGINEER REBID AGAIN. AND WE'RE DOING ONE OF THE PROJECTS WITH COMMISSIONER RAMSEY. AND EVEN IN THE LAST MONTH OR SO, TO SEE IF WE CAN GET A BETTER. LAST MONTH, WHEN YOU DISCOVERED YOU WERE COMMISSIONER, $150 MILLION SHORT. COMMISSIONER, WE WERE GOING HIGHER IN ABOUT LAST FOUR MONTHS. WE REALIZED THE COST IS GOING TO GO HIGHER THAN WHAT WE NEED. AND WE ACTUALLY KNEW THIS GOING IN 2020 3RD FEBRUARY. AND IF YOU SEE THE RCL LANGUAGE, WE CLEARLY MENTIONED THE CASE. WE HAVE WE BELIEVE THAT WE HAVE TO REVISIT THIS BASED ON THE MARKET AND HOW THE MARKET TRENDS. SO YOU WOULD HAVE $150 MILLION HOLE BEFORE YOU DISCOVERED THERE WAS A PROBLEM. SO I'M JUST CURIOUS WHAT ALL OF THE BUREAUCRACY WE PUT IN PLACE. I'M A PERSON WHO VOTED TO GO HAVE A COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR, OUR DEPUTY COUNTY TRADERS PAYING THE BEST [03:35:07] MONEY IN THE, IF NOT IN THE STATE IN THE COUNTRY. FOR THESE FOLKS, I'M CURIOUS TO KNOW WHEN DID THE COUNTY MANAGER KNOW ABOUT IT? WHEN DID THE DEPUTY COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR KNOW ABOUT IT, AND WHEN DID THE BUDGET OFFICE KNOW ABOUT IT? WHEN DID YOU ALL DISCOVER IT? IS IT TRACKED BY ANYBODY? SO WE GOT A MEMO FROM DOCTOR RAMON. WHEN WAS IT? A MONTH AGO. MONTH AGO. IT WAS ABOUT A MONTH AGO THAT WE GOT AN EMAIL ABOUT IT. AND SO SINCE THEN, WE'VE HAD SEVERAL MEETINGS. DIRECTOR RAMOS. DOCTOR RAMON, TO TRY TO GET UNDERNEATH AND FIGURE OUT WHAT THE ISSUES WERE AND WHAT WE COULD DO ABOUT IT, AND REALLY GO THROUGH THE PROCESS OF IDENTIFYING ALL THE PROJECTS AND TRYING TO FIGURE OUT HOW WE CAN AVOID THIS IN THE FUTURE. SO I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT BECAUSE WITH ALL OF THIS BUREAUCRACY IN PLACE, WHICH COSTS A LOT OF MONEY. HOW WOULD WE. THERE'S ANOTHER ITEM ON THE AGENDA TO GIVE THE ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT DOUBLE THE AMOUNT OF MONEY THAT THEY HAVE FOR. WHAT'S THE TERM? FALLS? HOW DO WE JUST SAY AGAIN? OUTFALLS. OUTFALLS. SO HOW WOULD WE GO GIVE THAT 10 MILLION, WHICH OBVIOUSLY WON'T SOLVE ALL OF THEM? DO WE JUST GIVE IT? AND DO WE DO IT IN EVERY DEPARTMENT? I MEAN, THIS THIS HAS REALLY SHATTERED MY CONFIDENCE IN WHAT WE'RE DOING HERE. I JUST DON'T KNOW HOW WE COULD. YOU KNOW, IT'S SORT OF LIKE IF WE JUST LEFT IT TO EACH COMMISSIONER TO GO OUT HERE AND JUST. YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN? IT'S JUST A BATTLE OF THE BEAST. I CAN TURN INTO ONE TO COMMISSIONER ELLIS. CAN YOU DO YOU HAVE A MOTION THAT WE CAN SUPPORT ON THIS, COMMISSIONER GARCIA? YEAH. SO I'VE GARCIA AND THEN RAMSEY. THANK YOU, DOCTOR RAHMAN, THANK YOU FOR THE WORK THAT YOU'RE DOING. AND AND I THINK IN THE RESPECT OF OUR EFFORTS TO KEEP HARRIS COUNTY FROM BEING IN THE NATIONAL FLOOD LIMELIGHT IT IS, YOU KNOW, I WAS JUST WITH COMMISSIONER BUCKINGHAM A LITTLE WHILE AGO, AND I'M. I CAN'T SING HER PRAISES ENOUGH BECAUSE MONEY THAT SHOULD HAVE COME TO HARRIS COUNTY A LONG TIME AGO JUST STARTED ROLLING IN. AND I REMEMBER SOME OF THE CONVERSATIONS RELATED TO HARVEY BOND AND AND THE GLO MONEY. WE WERE GIVEN A LOT OF CONFIDENCE FROM PEOPLE THAT PREDATED YOU AND DOCTOR PETERSON, THAT EVERYTHING WAS GOING TO BE ALL RIGHT. WE'RE GOING TO GET THE MONEY. AND SO WE NEEDED TO MAKE SURE WE ACCELERATED PROJECTS AND DO STAFF AUGMENTATION AND, YOU KNOW, NOT HESITATE ON SPENDING MONEY BECAUSE THE MONEY WAS COMING AND IT DIDN'T. SO THERE'S A LOT OF THINGS THAT PUT US IN A HOLE, BUT I WANT TO WORK WITH MY COLLEAGUES TO GET THESE PROJECTS DONE. SO MY MOTION IS TO TO DIRECT THE OFFICE OF MANAGEMENT AND BUDGET TO WORK WITH FLOOD CONTROL, COUNTY ENGINEERING AND ANY RELEVANT DEPARTMENTS TO RETURN TO COURT WITH PROPOSED OPTIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS USING ANY AND ALL COUNTY RESOURCES FOR CLOSING THE SHORTFALL ON THE HARRIS COUNTY ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT'S SUBDIVISION DRAINAGE PROGRAM AND ENSURING THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE FLOOD BOND FRAMEWORK ADOPTED BY COMMISSIONER'S COURT. THAT WOULD BE THE MOTION I PROPOSE. COMMISSIONER RAMSEY AND THEN COMMISSIONER BRIONES. I THINK BEFORE WE START HAVING CONVERSATIONS ON A MOTION, WE NEED TO FULLY VET WHAT YOU'VE REFERRED FAR TOO MR., ALICE. WE HAVE A PROBLEM. AND THE PROBLEM ISN'T GOING TO BE SOLVED BY THE PEOPLE GOING BACK TO THE OFFICE AND DOING THE SAME THING THEY'VE BEEN DOING FOR THE LAST TWO AND A HALF YEARS. WE ARE 115 MILLION SHORT JUST IN PRECINCT ONE. WE DISCOVERED THAT RECENTLY. WHAT WE FORGET IS IN FEBRUARY OF 2023, WE WERE 115 MILLION SHORT IN PRECINCT THREE. APPARENTLY THAT WASN'T A PROBLEM BECAUSE WE JUST CANCELED THOSE PROJECTS. SO COMING TO COURT AND TELLING US, OH, MAN, DOG ATE MY LUNCH, WE GOT PROBLEMS. WE CANCELED PROJECTS TWO YEARS AGO. LOOKS LIKE WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO CANCEL PROJECTS THIS YEAR. WHAT ARE WE DOING? [03:40:03] I WAS I WAS TOLD WHEN WE HIRED A COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR THAT WE WERE GOING TO GET OUT OF OUR SILOS. YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE FLOOD CONTROL WORKING WITH THE COUNTY ENGINEER, WORKING UNDER THE DIRECTION OF A 400 AND SOMETHING THOUSAND DOLLARS COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR. BUT, FOLKS, WE HAVE A PROBLEM. BELIEVE ME, I'VE WORKED FOR 50 CITIES AND 20 COUNTIES. IF I CAME TO A CITY OR COUNTY THAT I WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR DOING WORK FOR AND TOLD THEM, YOU KNOW WHAT? I JUST DESIGNED $115 MILLION WORTH OF PROJECTS. THE ONLY PROBLEM IS WE DON'T HAVE ANY MONEY. SO I'M NOT I'M NOT CONVINCED, COMMISSIONER, THAT SIMPLY HAVING THE SAME GROUP OF GROUP OF PEOPLE GOING BACK IN A ROOM. I THINK THAT GROUP OF PEOPLE NEED TO MEET, AND THEY NEED TO TALK MORE ABOUT WHAT THEY'RE GOING TO DO. I WANT TO TALK ABOUT FUNDING WHAT YOU CANCELED IN FEBRUARY OF 2023. THAT WAS $257 MILLION WORTH OF NEIGHBORHOOD PROJECTS THAT YOU CANCELED, THAT WE HAD CONVERSATIONS WITH, WITH PEOPLE IN THE 2018 BOND ISSUE. SO NOW IT'S ANOTHER IT'S UP TO 140 MILLION. BEST I CAN TELL. IF YOU LOOK AT THE NUMBERS, WE SPENT ROUGHLY 1.5 BILLION OF THE 2.5 BILLION IN THE BOND. SO I THINK WE SHOULD GO BACK AND LOOK AT THAT. THOSE DOLLARS. STREAMING. IS THIS STREAMING? OKAY. SORRY. I THINK WE'RE BACK. I DON'T KNOW THAT WE SHOULDN'T GO BACK AND LOOK AT LOOK AT THOSE FUNDS BECAUSE WE'VE ALREADY DESIGNED THESE. THERE'S SOME PROJECTS IN THE QUEUE THAT WON'T BE BUILT, WON'T BE DESIGNED FOR ANOTHER COUPLE OF THREE YEARS. SO YOU NEED TO DO MORE THAN JUST GO BACK AND LOOK IN THE SAME POTS OF MONEY AND TRY TO FIND SOME FUNDING. WE HAVE A PROBLEM. WE HAVE A FUNDING COMMITTED AND SPENT TO DATE 480 MILLION ANTICIPATED. THERE'S GOING TO BE ANOTHER ROUGHLY 200 MILLION. WE DON'T KNOW WHERE 100 AND 140 MILLION IS COMING FROM. SO I AGREE, COMMISSIONER GARCIA, THAT WE NEED TO GO BACK AND TAKE A LOOK AT IT, BUT THERE NEEDS TO BE AN ADULT IN THE ROOM TO BE SURE THAT WE GET HONEST ANSWERS BACK. I AGREE WITH YOU, COMMISSIONER ELLIS, TO GO BACK TO OUR CONSTITUENTS. NOW, I'VE GONE TO THOSE NEIGHBORHOODS. I'VE GONE TO THE 114 MILLION THAT WERE CANCELED IN 2023. AND I SAID, I'M SORRY WE MADE A MISTAKE. WE DON'T HAVE THAT MONEY. AND NOW THAT COMMISSIONER ELLIS HAS TO GO BACK AND TELL HIS CONSTITUENTS, IT'S REAL UNCOMFORTABLE, I CAN TELL YOU IT'S REAL HARD TO GO BACK AND TELL THEM. AND WHEN YOU LOOK WHERE THE MONEY HAS BEEN SPENT. SO WE. THIS ISN'T. THIS IS A MAJOR CRISIS. I SENSE NO URGENCY FROM FLOOD CONTROL. I SENSE NO URGENCY FROM THE COUNTY ENGINEER'S OFFICE. AND I DON'T SENSE ANY URGENCY FROM THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR. EVERYBODY'S TRYING TO FIND EXCUSE FOR THE PROBLEM. WE NEED TO FIX THE PROBLEM AND FUND THE PROJECTS WITH THIS MONEY. SO I WOULD SUPPORT THE MOTION, BUT THE FINANCIAL ANALYSIS, MY FRIENDLY AMENDMENT COMMISSIONER, WOULD BE THE FINANCIAL ANALYSIS SHOULD INCLUDE, AT A AT A MINIMUM, THE ENTIRE PROGRAM SHOWING ALL PROJECTS COMPLETED. PROJECTS UNDER CONSTRUCTION WITH ANY POTENTIAL CHANGES IN CONTRACT. ACTIVE PROJECTS AWAITING FUNDING. REMAINING AVAILABLE FUNDS. UPDATED PRIORITIZATION SCORES FOR ALL PROJECTS NOW THAT PROJECTS BUDGETS HAVE BEEN INCREASED. THAT'S FULL TRANSPARENCY TO ME. AND JUST OFF OF WHAT YOU'RE SAYING, COMMISSIONER RAMSEY. AND I DON'T KNOW IF I'M ON A DIFFERENT. WAVELENGTH RIGHT NOW THAN YOU ARE. YOU TELL ME. BUT MY QUESTION IS, WELL, THEN HOW DO WE PAY FOR THEM? SO I THINK I WOULD ADD THAT TO THE TO THE TO THE MOTION. NOW, I'VE BEEN SAYING FOR A LONG TIME THAT WE NEED A SECOND FLOOD BOND DESIGNED WITH ACTUAL NEEDS AS TO HOW WE MANAGE FLOODING. AND I DON'T KNOW, YOU KNOW, I THINK THAT I UNDERSTAND COMMISSIONER ELLIS IS SAYING AND I AND I ALSO THINK NOT JUST FOR THIS, BUT FOR SO MANY PROJECTS THAT REMAIN TO BE DONE. WE NEED A SECOND FLOOD BOND. BUT I THINK IF THAT'S SOMETHING WE WANT TO WORK ON I NEED SOME OF THE COLLEAGUES TO TALK ABOUT THAT. MR. ELLIS SAID IT. THE ABYSMAL FAILURE TO DELIVER ON THE BOND ISSUE. [03:45:05] WE'VE ALREADY PROMISED. RIGHT. BUT HOW WILL THEY PAY FOR THIS IS THE QUESTION. THERE'S STILL $1 BILLION, JUDGE. THE MONEY'S NOT SPENT. SO ANYWAY, SO THAT'S WHAT I'M ASKING IS TO PUT PUT ON THERE. HOW ARE YOU GOING TO PAY FOR IT? BECAUSE, COMMISSIONER, THERE'S MONEY NOT SPENT, BUT THERE'S STILL PROJECTS THAT HAVEN'T, HAVEN'T BEEN COMPLETED AND THERE'S STILL INFLATION AND YOU KNOW SO SO THAT'S ALL I WANT TO ADD TO YOUR MOTION IS CAN THEY IF THAT'S OKAY IS TO AND ADD A A PLAN ON HOW TO HOW TO HOW TO PAY FOR IT. IS THAT OKAY. THAT'S THAT'S WHAT MY MOTION IS. THAT'S MY MOTION. OH. OH, I DIDN'T SEE THAT. OKAY. COMMISSIONER BRIONES. WAS THIS CLOSE? THIS IS THE SHORTFALL. I SHARE MY COLLEAGUE'S COMPLETE AND UTTER DISMAY, FRUSTRATION, SHOCK. THIS IS NOT OKAY, AND WE MUST HOLD OURSELVES AND THE HARRIS COUNTY TEAM ACCOUNTABLE. THIS IS A SUBSTANTIAL SHORTFALL. AND WE NEED A SENSE OF URGENCY BECAUSE WE TOLD OUR COMMUNITY WE WOULD DELIVER THE SUBDIVISION DRAINAGE PROJECTS. THERE HAS BEEN A LONG HISTORY, BUT WE STAND HERE TODAY IN 2025 AND WE NEED TO MOVE FORWARD AND WE NEED TO GET IT DONE, AND WE NEED TO GET IT DONE WITH A SENSE OF URGENCY. AND IF WE'RE NOT BEING CLEAR, UNLIKE AND I DON'T WANT TO GO BACK TO THE POLICY ABOUT WAGES, BUT LIKE WHEN WE SAY SOMETHING WE MEAN IT. AND SO WE NEED YOU TO DELIVER. OTHERWISE WE NEED FUNDAMENTAL CHANGES, AND WE NEED THE RIGHT PEOPLE IN THE ROOM TO BE ABLE TO DELIVER IT. AND I WANT TO BE CLEAR THAT THE WAY I SEE THIS BASED ON MY STUDYING OF THE HISTORY, AND I THANK MY TEAM AND DOCTOR ROMAN. THANK YOU FOR THE TIME WE SPENT TOGETHER. DOCTOR PETERSON, DIRECTOR RAMOS, THE FLOOD BOND IS NOW SEPARATE. THIS IS NOW BEING RUN BY THE ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT. AND SO WE NEED TO FIND A SOLUTION AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. MEANWHILE, ON PARALLEL TRACKS DELIVERING ON THE 2018 FLOOD BOND PROJECTS. IT IS A BOTH AND AND WE NEED TO SUCCEED ON BOTH FRONTS. AND SO PLEASE LET US BE CLEAR THAT WE NEED TO MOVE FORWARD AND DELIVER. AND SO I LIKE THE PROPOSED CHANGES BECAUSE I THINK WE NEED TO BE AS TRANSPARENT AS POSSIBLE. AND WE NEED TO MOVE FORWARD. AND SO DO YOU HAVE THE MOTION, YOU GUYS? JAMES WITH COMMISSIONER RAMSEY'S EDITS. NO, MA'AM. DID YOU WRITE IT OUT, COMMISSIONER? DID YOU WRITE IT OUT? YEAH. DID DID YOU GET MY ORIGINAL MOTION? I'VE GOT A LOT OF EMAILS ABOUT MOTIONS ON THIS. OKAY, LET ME LET ME GIVE IT TO YOU ONE MORE TIME. MOTION TO DIRECT THE OFFICE OF MANAGEMENT AND BUDGET TO WORK WITH FLOOD CONTROL, COUNTY ENGINEERING, AND ANY RELEVANT DEPARTMENTS TO RETURN TO COURT WITH PROPOSED OPTIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS USING ANY AND ALL COUNTY RESOURCES FOR CLOSING THE SHORTFALL ON THE HARRIS COUNTY ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT SUBDIVISION DRAINAGE PROGRAM AND ENSURING THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE FLOOD BOND FRAMEWORK ADOPTED BY COMMISSIONERS COURT. AND THEN COMMISSIONER RAMSEY. THE FINANCIAL ANALYSIS SHOULD INCLUDE, AT A MINIMUM, THE ENTIRE PROGRAM SHOWING ALL PROJECTS COMPLETED. PROJECTS UNDER CONSTRUCTION WITH ANY POTENTIAL CHANGES IN CONTRACT. ACTIVE PROJECTS AWAITING FUNDING. REMAINING AVAILABLE FUNDS FOR ALL PROJECTS NOW THAT THE PROJECT BUDGETS HAVE BEEN INCREASED. ALL RIGHT. WE HAVE A MOTION. IS THERE A SECOND? SECOND. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER ELLIS. ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. AYE. ANY OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY. THANK YOU ALL. CAN WE PLEASE GO TO EXECUTIVE SESSION ON THESE ITEMS THAT NEED TO BE IN EXECUTIVE SESSION? [Executive Session (Part 1 of 3)] THERE IS THE TECHNOLOGY MANAGEMENT ITEMS 112 AND 332. THE ITEM 321 ABOUT SOME NEGOTIATIONS. ITEMS 343 AND 355 ON THE FEDERAL FUNDING FREEZE AND 134 AND 358 ON THE PRESIDENT'S EXECUTIVE ORDERS. I, I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO DISCUSS ITEM 112, THE HARRIS COUNTY LEGISLATIVE AGENDA. I HAVE A POINT TO BRING UP, AND IF IT NEEDS TO BE AN OPEN COURT, WE CAN JUST COME BACK AND TALK ABOUT IT OUT HERE. SO IT'S 357 AND WE'RE BREAKING FOR EXECUTIVE SESSION. SO IT IS NOW 501 COMMISSIONERS COURT IS BACK IN ORDER. [Departments (Part 3 of 3)] I KNOW COMMISSIONER BRIONES IS NOT HERE, BUT YOU COULD DO THE CORRECTIONS AND NO ACTION REVIEWS. COMMISSIONER, WOULD YOU LIKE ME TO TO DO THAT? YES, SIR. [03:50:03] SURE. UNDER CORRECTIONS ITEM SEVEN AD. AND THE COMMISSIONER OF PRECINCT ONE AFTER THE WORD JUDGE. ITEM 11 CHANGE MARIE TO LIZ. NOELLA SPELLED N U E L L E. ITEM 39 CHANGE PRECINCT FOUR TO PRECINCT ONE. ITEM 85 CHANGE ADDICTS. THAT IS INCORRECTLY SPELLED ADDICTS TO ADDICTS A D D I C K S. ITEM 301 CHANGE. UNCHANGED. MAY 29TH, 2024 TO JANUARY 2ND, 2025. PAGE 42. ITEM THREE. 25 CORRECTIONS. THEIR SPELLING. CORRECTIONS. THE NAME SHOULD BE SPELLED MICHAEL ALREADY. MICHAEL. LAST NAME IS SPELLED E R E T I ERICA PERKINS. E R R I K A PERKINS. LET'S SEE. ON THE ITEMS FOR NO ACTION, OCA IS ASKING ITEM 27. NO ACTION. I'M SORRY 25. I'M SORRY 25. ITEM 25. NO ACTION. NO ACTION ON ITEM 112. OCA IS ALSO ASKING FOR NO ACTION ON ITEM 150. HCD IS ASKING FOR NO ACTION ON ITEM 178. OCA IS ALSO ASKING NO ACTION ON ITEM THREE. 24 PRECINCT ONE IS ASKING FOR NO ACTION ON 357. OKAY. AND WE HAVE REMAINING ITEMS ON THE EXECUTIVE SESSION. COMMISSIONER. IF YOU WANT TO GO THROUGH THAT LIST. YEAH. WHAT DO YOU HAVE? OKAY. WELL, ACTUALLY, ACTUALLY, THERE WERE THERE THERE WERE. LET'S SEE. WE WENT INTO EXECUTIVE SESSIONS ON ITEMS 321, 343, 358 AND 134. I KNOW THOSE ARE THEIR INDIVIDUAL MOTIONS ATTACHED TO THAT, AND WE CAN ADDRESS IT, BUT THERE ARE SEVERAL ITEMS ON EXECUTIVE SESSION THAT I BELIEVE COULD BE MOVED TO THE CONSENT AGENDA. WHICH ONES ARE THOSE? OKAY. SURE. WE'VE GOT LET'S SEE. JAY, I CAN HELP YOU WITH THE APPOINTMENTS. 313. PERFECT. THANK YOU. AND 325 UNDER THE SUPPLEMENTAL ITEM. SO WHICH ONE IS IT? WAS 313 TO 320. 313 THROUGH 320. AND ITEM 325. THOSE ARE ALL THE APPOINTMENTS. MEMBERS. ARE YOU OKAY WITH ALL THOSE? OKAY. WE JUST PUT THEM ON CONSENT. AND WHAT ELSE? THAT'S IT. OKAY, SO LET'S GO BACK TO THE CONSENT AGENDA. WE ADDED ALL THOSE ITEMS FROM EXECUTIVE SESSION THAT THAT WAS AGREEMENT ON. NOW, I'M NOT GOING TO GO THROUGH THE CONSENT AGENDA. YOU ALL HAVE IT. THEY SENT IT OUT EARLIER. ARE THERE ANY CHANGES TO THE CONSENT AGENDA? ANYBODY WANT TO PULL ANYTHING OFF? WE VOTED ON AN ITEM COMING OUT OF THE OF THE EXECUTIVE SESSION. WHEN IT COMES TO WE HAVE NOT VOTED ON ON ANY OF THOSE ITEMS YET. I KNOW YOU MIGHT WANT TO VOTE ON ONE, SO I THOUGHT I'D PUT THOSE AT THE END. YOU KNOW, THE ONE HE PROBABLY WANTS TO VOTE NO ON. OKAY. OKAY. BUT ON THE OTHERS HAVE 34 ITEMS THAT WERE PULLED EARLIER. DO YOU WANT TO PULL ANYTHING ELSE? OKAY. IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA? SO MOVED. MOTION MADE BY COMMISSIONER GARCIA, SECOND BY COMMISSIONER BRIONES. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, VOTE AYE. AYE. ALL THOSE OPPOSED, VOTE NO. CONSENT AGENDA PASSES FOUR ZERO. ON EXECUTIVE SESSION, THERE'S ONE ITEM. I GOT A QUESTION ON A COUPLE BEFORE WE MOVE FORWARD. ITEM 23, WAS THAT APPROVED? AS PRESENTED? LOCATED HERE. I THINK IT IS. YES. ACCORDING TO COMMISSIONER GARCIA, MY BROTHER TELLS ME IT'S APPROVED. AS PRESENTED. YES, SIR. ITEM 30. DISCUSSION. POSSIBLE ACTION ON FISCAL YEAR 26 BUDGET COUNT. YES. YES, THAT'S APPROVED IS PRESENTED. ITEM 31. YES. YES. ITEM 38. THAT'S UNDER THE COUNTY ENGINEER. NO. I WANTED TO DISCUSS THAT ONE BECAUSE I WANT TO GET SOME SENSE OUT OF THAT MONEY. OKAY, SO LET'S PULL THAT. WE'LL PUT 38 ON DISCUSSION. [03:55:01] ANY OTHERS? NOT AT THE MOMENT, SIR. AND I'LL SHOW THE CONSENT VOTE BEING MADE BY COMMISSIONER GARCIA, SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER BRIONES. YES, SIR. AND PASSED 440 FOR NO ONE AGAINST AND J. THERE'S ONE ITEM FROM THE EXECUTIVE SESSION, ITEMS THAT I THINK COMMISSIONER RAMOS IS GOING TO WANT TO VOTE NO ON. WHICH ONE IS THAT? JUST SO I GET THE CORRECT ONE. THIS IS THE ONE ON ON EXECUTIVE ORDERS. I BELIEVE 134. YES. ITEM 134 AND I THINK JONATHAN SENT OUT SENT OUT THE SPECIFIC MOTION. I CAN READ IT TO YOU. YEAH. MOTION AUTHORIZING THE COUNTY ATTORNEY TO INITIATE ANY LEGAL ACTION, INTERVENE IN EXISTING LITIGATION, FILED AMICUS BRIEFING, AND FILED PUBLIC COMMENTS AS RELEVANT IN CONNECTION WITH ANY EXECUTIVE ORDER OR REGULATION ISSUED BY THE EXECUTIVE BRANCH OF THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT THAT COULD IMPACT HARRIS COUNTY AND ITS RESIDENTS FOR A PERIOD OF SIX MONTHS. SO MOVED. SECOND. MOTION MADE BY COMMISSIONER BRYAN. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER GARCIA. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR VOTE AYE. AYE AYE. ALL THOSE OPPOSED? NO. THREE EYES AND ONE. NO. COMMISSIONER RAMSEY VOTES. NO. ANY OTHERS? JUST CALL OUT THOSE OTHER ITEMS FROM EXECUTIVE SESSION. COMMISSIONER ELLIS. ONE I BELIEVE COMMISSIONER GARCIA SENT AROUND THE THE MOTIONS. OH, YEAH. CHECKING OUT THE ASSET MANAGEMENT. 113. I'VE GOT SOME MOTIONS HERE, AND THE FIRST MOTION IS TO DIRECT UNIVERSAL SERVICES TO COMMISSIONER. I'M SORRY, JAMES, FOR THE RECORD, IS 115. ITEM ONE 1515. YEAH. SO MOTION FIRST MOTION IS TO DIRECT UNIVERSAL SERVICES TO CONTINUE BUILDING THE ENTERPRISE TECHNOLOGY ASSET MANAGEMENT PROGRAM AND TO ENHANCE EXISTING IT POLICIES AND PROCESSES WITH THE ITEM SPECIFIC IMPROVEMENTS AND NECESSARY RESOURCES BY FEBRUARY OF 2026. I'LL SECOND IT. SECOND MOTION IS TO AND SECOND MOTION IS TO DIRECT UNIVERSAL SERVICES AND THE PURCHASING DEPARTMENT TO DEVELOP AND ENFORCE ITI AM PROCESS IMPLEMENTATION FOR ALL TECHNOLOGY ASSET PURCHASES BY AUGUST 26TH OF THIS YEAR, 2025. SECOND, ALL OF THEM YOU MOTION TO THE THIRD MOTION. MOTION TO DIRECT THE OFFICE OF MANAGEMENT AND BUDGET TO DEVELOP POLICIES AND PROCESSES THAT SUPPORT UNIVERSAL SERVICES IN THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE ETAM PROGRAM, INCLUDING BUDGET ENFORCEMENT MEASURES THAT ENABLE CENTRALIZED TECHNOLOGY ASSET MANAGEMENT FOR HARDWARE AND SOFTWARE BY AUGUST 26TH OF 2025. I'LL SECOND ALL THOSE MOTIONS. ITEM 115. JAMES, I MAY NOT BE IN THE TECHNOLOGY. THAT OLD SCHOOL PRINTING COMES IN HANDY, DOESN'T IT? YES, SIR. IT DOES. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, VOTE AYE. AYE. ALL THOSE OPPOSED, VOTE NO. FOUR EYES AND NO NAYS. THE ITEM PASSES. JAMES, ANYTHING ELSE FROM EXECUTIVE SESSION? NO, COMMISSIONER. OKAY. AND NOW YOU JUST HELP ME. TELL ME WHICH ITEM WILL GO TO FIRST. ITEM 18. FLAG BY PRECINCT TWO. YES. YES, 18 IS DOSS PARK. AND I JUST WANT TO THANK THE HUD BECAUSE WE ARE. THIS IS DOSS PARK WHICH IS ON A PATH TO AN EXCITING TRANSFORMATION AS PART OF MY REVIVE TO THRIVE INITIATIVE. THANKS TO VITAL CDBG, CV GRANT FUNDING AND OUR COMMITMENT TO CREATING SAFE, INNOVATIVE OUTDOOR SPACES, WE'RE BRINGING FRESH, MODERN PLAY AREAS TO THE COMMUNITY. THE DOSS PARK PROJECT FEATURES REFRESHED PLAYGROUNDS WITH MODERN SAFETY STANDARDS FOR CHILDREN'S FOR CHILDREN AGES 2 TO 12, AND NEW PURPOSE TENNIS, PICKLE AND PICKLEBALL COURTS FOR ALL AGES. THIS REVITALIZATION IS NOT JUST ABOUT UPGRADING EQUIPMENT, BUT IT'S ABOUT INVESTING IN THE HEALTH AND WELL-BEING AND JOY OF OUR RESIDENTS, SO WE CAN'T WAIT TO SEE THE FAMILIES AND CHILDREN AND NEIGHBORS COME TOGETHER TO ENJOY THIS NEW AND IMPROVED PARK. SO THE FUTURE OF OUTDOOR RECREATION IN PRECINCT TWO IS ABSOLUTELY BRIGHT. THANKS TO THIS FUNDING, WHICH IS APPROXIMATELY 565,000. SO AGAIN, THANK YOU TO HUD FOR THAT CDBG CV FUNDING. I MOVE ON THE ITEM AS PRESENTED. SECOND. MOTION MADE BY COMMISSIONER GARCIA. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER. CONGRATULATIONS. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, VOTE AYE. AYE. OPPOSED. NO. NAYS. ITEM PASSES. ITEM 19 PASSED BY PRECINCT THREE. I'VE GOT A CONCERN ON FLEX FUNDS. WE JUST NEED TO VOTE. SO MOVE. SECOND. MOTION MADE BY COMMISSIONER GARCIA. [04:00:02] SECOND BY COMMISSIONER BRIONES. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, VOTE AYE. AYE. ALL THOSE OPPOSED, VOTE NO. NO. THREE EYES. NO NAYS. COMMISSIONER RAMSEY VOTES NO. ITEM 20. COMMISSIONER RAMSEY AGAIN. HARPA FUND. AFTER THE DATE AFTER DECEMBER. WE JUST NEED TO VOTE. SO MOVED. MOVE. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER GARCIA. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER BRIONES. ALL IN FAVOR, VOTE AYE. AYE. ALL OPPOSED. VOTE NO. YOU WANT TO VOTE NO? AYE. YOU WANT TO VOTE NO, RIGHT? COMMISSIONER. THREE EYES AND NO NAYS. COMMISSIONER RAMSEY VOTES NO. ITEM 21, COMMISSIONER RAMSEY. I WANT TO SUPPORT THE MOTION. I'M CONCERNED THAT WE'RE PAYING FOR THIS OUT OF ARPA. EVENTUALLY, WE'RE GOING TO NEED TO GET THIS MOVED OVER TO THE. THESE ARE FUNDED IN THE GENERAL FUND. THIS IS JUST CLOSING OUT. THIS IS AN ACCOUNTING EXERCISE. I MAKE A MOTION. WE PASS. SECOND, ALL THOSE IN FAVOR VOTE AYE. AYE AYE. MOTION MADE UP BY COMMISSIONER RAMSEY. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER GARCIA. PASSES FOUR TO NOTHING. SORRY, COMMISSIONER. I DON'T WANT TO MAKE MYSELF A LIAR. THE TELLER DEPUTY PROGRAM WAS FUNDED IN THE GENERAL FUND. THE RETENTION BONUSES WILL NEED TO COME BACK IN THIS BUDGET CYCLE TO CONTINUE. YOU WANT TO SWITCH IT? THAT'S GOOD. OKAY. 20. TO ME, THAT'S A PROCURE TO PAY ITEM, AND IT'S THE MONTHLY UPDATE. I CAN I CAN WALK YOU THROUGH A COUPLE OF THE HIGH POINTS. THERE'S NO ACTION REQUIRED. IT'S IT COULD HAVE BEEN UNDER TRANSMITTAL, BUT I WANT TO LEAVE IT OPEN TO THE COURT IF THEY HAD ANY QUESTIONS. SO IT'S YOUR PLEASURE. SO I'VE JUST GOT A COUPLE OF COMMENTS ON THIS. I DON'T THINK WE NEED TO GO THROUGH THE WHOLE SLIDE DECK. BUT JUST AT THE END OF THE DAY, I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR CONTINUING TO WORK ON THIS. BUT THERE ARE STILL SOME ISSUES I THINK HAVE TO BE WORKED OUT. AND SO I'D LIKE TO SEE WHAT WE CAN DO TO RESOLVE THE QUESTION OF ULTIMATELY, WHO IS GOING TO BE RESPONSIBLE FOR PROCESSING. OR RATHER, FOR REQUIRING DEPARTMENTS TO PROCESS AND REVIEW INVOICES ON A DAILY BASIS. AND THE AND THEN THERE'S THE CONCERN THAT DEPARTMENTS NEED TO GIVE INFO TO THE VENDORS HOURS BEFORE THE VENDORS CAN ACTUALLY INVOICE. FOR EXAMPLE, WE HAVE TO GO OUT AND DO SOME INSPECTIONS AND THINGS OF THAT NATURE. SO I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE TRACKING THAT AS A PART OF THE, THE, THE WORK IN MOTION. AND AND THEN JUST AS A, AS A POINT, PRECINCT TWO HAS A INTERNAL POLICY OF PAYING WITHIN SEVEN DAYS. WE'RE RATHER WITHIN SEVEN DAYS. WE EITHER ACCEPT OR REJECT AN INVOICE. AND AND IF THERE'S A DELAY, WE WE WE WORK TO ADDRESS IT. VERY, VERY QUICKLY. BUT WE'RE VERY EXCITED ABOUT HOW THAT POLICY IS WORKING FOR US. AND WE'D LIKE TO BE A RESOURCE TO HELPING MOVE THIS ALONG. SO THANK YOU. YES, SIR. NO MOTION. JUST I APPRECIATE IT. YES, SIR. AND WE ARE MEETING WITH SOME OF YOUR STAFF, I BELIEVE NEXT WEEK MAYBE, OR THE FOLLOWING TO TO WORK ON THAT. GOOD DEAL. THANK YOU. ANY QUESTIONS? YES, SIR. THE ONLY WERE YOU UP? OH, I WAS, BUT GO AHEAD. I DIDN'T LOOK, I'M SORRY. COMMISSIONER. COMMISSIONER. EITHER WAY. YES, SIR. THE ONLY QUESTION I HAD. WE STILL HAVE AN ABNORMALLY HIGH REJECTION RATE. WE GET INVOICES TURNED OVER TO US. THEY SAY THEY'RE READY TO PAY. THEY'RE NOT READY TO PAY. SO THAT IS STILL EXTREMELY WHAT I CONSIDER 30, 33% HIGH. SO WE NEED TO AS WE MANAGE THIS WE NEED TO GET THAT THAT NUMBER WAY DOWN. I THINK I READ THAT WE'RE GOING TO START CHARGING INTEREST IN JUNE. I DON'T THINK WE'RE READY FOR THAT. I MEAN, WHEN Y'ALL WHEN YOU START SENDING AN INTEREST PAYMENT TO EXXON OR SOME OF OUR OTHER VENDORS I THINK IT COULD GET VERY CONFUSING. I DON'T THINK WE'RE READY TO DO THAT. YES, SIR. AND I THINK WE'RE LOOKING AT AT THE SEPTEMBER TIME FRAME FOR, FOR THAT, BECAUSE IT IS GOING TO NEED A LOT OF SOCIALIZING WITH ALL THE DEPARTMENTS TO MAKE SURE HOW HOW WE DO THAT. AND THEN COMING BACK TO COURT TO FIGURE OUT WITH SOME RECOMMENDATIONS ON WHERE THAT INTEREST PAYMENT WILL COME FROM. SO I THINK THAT THERE ARE GOING TO BE ISSUES THERE THAT WE HAVE TO ADDRESS UP FRONT. SO THOSE ARE SOME OF THE THINGS THAT WE'RE WORKING ON AS FAR AS AS THE VENDOR TRAINING. WE'RE WORKING WITH THE PURCHASING AGENT. THE PURCHASING OFFICE IS DOING A LOT OF GREAT TRAINING RIGHT NOW. AND THEN MY STAFF HAS STARTED WORKING ON TRYING TO GET SOME KIND OF OF A TRAINING HUB. SO ONE PLACE WHERE ALL THE TRAINING IS FOR INTERNAL. WE'RE ALSO LOOKING FOR EXTERNAL FOR THE VENDORS. AND SO WE'RE ALL WORKING TOGETHER ON THAT TO TO TRY TO GET THIS DONE AS SOON AS POSSIBLE SO THAT EVERYBODY KNOWS WHAT THEY'RE SUPPOSED TO DO, [04:05:01] THEIR TRAINING MANUALS, THEIR VIDEOS, THOSE KINDS OF THINGS. AND I JUST CAN'T SAY ENOUGH ABOUT PURCHASING AGENT MCGINNIS. IS SHE'S REALLY DONE GREAT ON THE TRAINING. SHE'S GETTING 500 PEOPLE AT THE LAST TRAINING. I MEAN, EVERYBODY AT THE COUNTY IS EXCITED ABOUT IT. I LIKE THE FACT THAT YOU'VE DEDICATED A TEAM TO EACH PERSON. NOW, THEY AGREED THEY CAN GET UNDERSTANDING. YES, SIR. SO I JUST HAVE TWO QUICK QUESTIONS AND I AGREE WITH THAT SENTIMENT. THANK YOU. PURCHASING AGENT MCGUINNESS. I'VE SEEN SUBSTANTIAL PROGRESS SINCE YOU HAVE TAKEN OVER, SO THANK YOU. PLEASE KEEP IT GOING. KEEP THAT FIRE, KEEP THAT PROGRESS. BUT I DID HAVE TWO QUICK QUESTIONS. ONE IS ON THE CONTRACT LIFECYCLE MANAGEMENT SYSTEM. WHEN DO WE ANTICIPATE THAT CONTRACT AWARD? WELL I WAS HOPING TO GET IT AT THE NEXT MEETING, I THINK IS WHAT OUR PLAN IS RIGHT NOW. OKAY. OKAY. YEAH. I'M SORRY. I JUST GOT TO THINK OUR CLOSED CAPTIONING IS NOT WORKING CORRECTLY, WHICH WE ARE WORKING ON FIXING. RIGHT. BUT WE ARE STREAMING. YEAH. SO. SO I UNDERSTAND THAT IT SHOULD BE GETTING AT AT THE, AT THE EITHER THE BUSINESS COURT OR THE FIRST MEETING IN MARCH. OKAY. THANK YOU. AND THEN MY SECOND ONE IS SINCE THE APE IMPLEMENTATION, WE'VE SEEN THAT THE DEPARTMENT INVOICE REVIEW TIMES HAVE INCREASED. WHY IS THAT AND WHAT ARE WE DOING TO ADDRESS IT? AND I DON'T THINK THAT'S ON ON PURCHASING AGENT. THAT'S ON ON OUR P2P TEAM THAT WE'RE WORKING ON. AND A LOT OF, A LOT OF THE ISSUES THAT WE LEARNED FROM THE FIRST PHASE OF THE APE PROCESS IS WE RUSHED THE SOCIALIZATION WITH THE DEPARTMENTS AND THE TRAINING. AND THAT'S WHY ON APE PHASE TWO AND PROMPT PAY, WE'RE TAKING A LITTLE BIT MORE TIME AND BUILDING IN MORE SOCIALIZATION AND MORE TRAINING EFFORTS AND MORE CONSISTENT MESSAGING TO ALL THE DEPARTMENTS TO MAKE SURE THAT WE DON'T RUN THROUGH THAT AGAIN. WE'RE FULLY EXPECTING THOSE NUMBERS TO DROP DOWN AGAIN ONCE EVERYBODY GETS USED TO THE NEW SYSTEM. BUT, YOU KNOW, LESSON LEARNED. AND WE'RE WORKING TO MAKE SURE THAT WE DON'T HAVE THAT KIND OF BACKSLIDING FOR THE NEW, NEW PORTIONS OF P2P. GREAT. THANK YOU. SO NO ACTION ON THAT ITEM. ITEM 24 FLAG BY PRECINCT THREE AND PRECINCT TWO REQUESTS. WE BRING UP ITEMS. YES. 24, 273 AND 328. YES. AND I WOULD JUST SAY TO HELP US MOVE ALONG. I KNOW THAT COMMISSIONER BRIONES HAS SOME MOTIONS. I TOTALLY SUPPORT THEM. SO I'LL SECOND THOSE MOTIONS AS SHE PRESENTS THEM. YES. 24. 273 AND 328, COMMISSIONER BRIONES. SURE. THANK YOU. JUST ONE QUICK SECOND. ALL RIGHT. OKAY. SO 273. SO, ARE WE TAKING THESE UP TOGETHER? YEAH. ALL TOGETHER. OKAY. SORRY. SAME SUBJECT. OKAY. SO WITH REGARD TO 24 MOTION TO DIRECT THE OFFICE OF MANAGEMENT AND BUDGET AND HUMAN RESOURCES AND TALENT DEPARTMENTS TO AUTHORIZE AND IMPLEMENT A ONE TIME COMPENSATORY TIME CASH OUT FUNDED BY THE PIC FUND FOR EMPLOYEES WHO EARNED COMP TIME SPECIFICALLY FOR WORK RELATED TO WINTER STORM ENZO BETWEEN JANUARY 19TH, 2025 AND THE PAY PERIOD ENDING JANUARY 25TH, 2025. JAMES, YOU HAVE IT. COMMISSIONER. WOULD IT BE POSSIBLE TO DO FROM JANUARY 17TH, 2025? THAT'S A COUPLE OF DAYS BEFORE THE ACTUAL STORM HIT. BUT BECAUSE OF THE PREP OF THE PRECINCT OFFICES WERE DOING. AGREED. THANK YOU. THAT'S A GREAT CHANGE. WOULD YOU PLEASE REFLECT IT AS JANUARY 17TH THROUGH THE PAY PERIOD ENDING JANUARY 25TH? DO WE WANT TO VOTE ON EACH ONE, OR DO YOU WANT ME TO READ EACH ONE SEPARATELY? NO, JUST IF I COULD GET A GET A COMMENT AFTER. SURE. AFTER THE. THE MOTIONS ARE READ. OKAY. OKAY. SO I'M GOING TO READ THE OTHER ONE REAL QUICKLY. COMMISSIONER, IF I COULD ASK A FOR A FRIENDLY AMENDMENT BEING AND TO DIRECT THE OMB TO DEVELOP A POLICY TO ADDRESS NON STATE OR FEDERALLY DECLARED DISASTERS IN TERMS OF THIS TYPE OF CASH OUT PAYMENT. HAPPY TO DO SO. THANK YOU. THIS MIGHT BE AN APPROPRIATE TIME FOR ME TO MAKE MY COMMENT. I, I DO THINK THAT, YOU KNOW, WE NEED TO GET AWAY FROM THE IDEA THAT FEMA OR STATE OR WHATEVER REIMBURSEMENT IS THE STANDARD WE HAVE IN THE REGION THAT WE'RE IN THE SIZE OF OUR OF THE COUNTY. THERE'S GOING TO BE EMERGENCIES THAT WE HAVE TO RESPOND TO BECAUSE OF LIFE SAFETY. AND I I'VE SAID THIS BEFORE AND I'LL SAY IT AGAIN, I NEVER WANT OUR COUNTY TO BE SLOWING DOWN BECAUSE THEY'RE WORRIED ABOUT MONEY WHEN THERE'S LIVES OUT ON THE LINE. SO I WANT TO PREFACE THAT STATEMENT. WHAT I WILL SAY AND AND WE'LL BRING THIS UP IN THE BUDGET PROCESS. AND I'M REALLY GRATEFUL THAT WHEN COURT ADOPTED THE 2025 BUDGET, WE INCLUDED A PAYMENT INTO THE PICK FUND. [04:10:04] BUT I DO THINK THAT IF WE'RE GOING TO CONTINUE TO EXPAND THAT USE, WHICH I THINK IS A VERY APPROPRIATE USE OF FUNDING IN THE PICK, WE SHOULD ALSO BUDGET MORE CONTRIBUTIONS IN. SO THAT'S THE ONLY THING I WILL SAY. I'M HAPPY AND SUPPORTIVE THAT WE'RE WE'RE ABLE YOU ALL AND OUR COUNTY DEPARTMENTS ARE ABLE TO RESPOND. WE'RE ABLE TO COMPENSATE OUR EMPLOYEES FAIRLY FOR SOME OF THESE SMALLER, SMALLER OR MORE LOCALIZED EMERGENCIES. I JUST WANT TO, YOU KNOW, PUT A STAKE IN THE GROUND THAT WE'RE GOING TO BE RECOMMENDING AS PART OF OUR BASE BUDGET, CONTINUING PAYMENTS INTO THE PICK FUND SO THAT WE CAN RESPOND TO THOSE VERY LARGE EMERGENCIES WHEN WE NEED TO. SO SO, JAY, CAN WE DO ALL OF THESE MOTIONS AND VOTE THEM AT THE SAME TIME? WE DON'T HAVE TO ADD IT TO EACH TO ANY PARTICULAR ITEM, DO WE? NO. THEY'VE ALL BEEN READ OUT. SO YEAH, YOU CAN JUST MAKE A MOTION. YEAH, WE CAN HAVE WE CAN HAVE A SINGULAR APPROVAL. CAN I READ 273? AND BEFORE I DO, JUST FOR ALL OF THE OF THE HARRIS COUNTY TEAM MEMBERS, ALL OF OUR PRECINCTS, OEM, ALL OF THE DEPARTMENTS. THANK YOU. I KNOW PEOPLE WERE LITERALLY WORKING AROUND THE CLOCK TO KEEP OUR COMMUNITY SAFE, AND IT JUST THAT'S WHAT MOVES ME IS WHEN GOVERNMENT SHOWS UP AND WORKS AND PROTECTS PEOPLE. SO I JUST HAVE PROFOUND GRATITUDE FOR OUR TEAM AND IN PARTICULAR, PRECINCT FOUR. THE NEXT ONE. 273 MOTION TO DIRECT THE OFFICE OF MANAGEMENT AND BUDGET TO RECEIVE SUBMISSIONS FROM COURT OFFICES AND REIMBURSE ELIGIBLE EXPENSES INCURRED FOR PREPARING AND RESPONDING TO WINTER STORM ENZO USING THE PICK FUND. SECOND. OKAY. IS THAT THE LAST ONE? COMMISSIONER BROWN? YES. OKAY. SO. YES. MOTION MADE BY COMMISSIONER BRIONES. BOTH. MOTION SECOND BY COMMISSIONER GARCIA. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, VOTE AYE. AYE. ALL THOSE OPPOSED, VOTE NO. FOUR EYES, NO NAYS. ITEM PASSES. AND THAT'S GOING TO SHOW ONE. ONE QUESTION. WE'RE STILL WAITING IN SOME CASES ON MONEY FROM THE FEMA ON DISASTERS LAST YEAR, RIGHT? BUT WILL THAT MONEY NECESSARILY GO INTO OUR PICK FUND THAT THOSE THOSE HAVE GONE WILL GO BACK TO THE PICK FUND? AND IF YOU REMEMBER, THE STATE WAS ABLE TO FREE UP DOLLARS FOR, FOR A PORTION OF OUR OF WHAT WOULD HAVE BEEN OUR MATCH. AND I BELIEVE WE'VE ALREADY RECEIVED BECAUSE WE HAVE A PICK FUND, BECAUSE WE'VE GOT THAT SET ASIDE, WE'LL BE ABLE TO IMMEDIATELY RESPOND AND THEN WE'LL REPLENISH THAT FUND WITH FEMA MONEY COMING IN. WE DON'T WANT TO BE LIKE NORTH CAROLINA WHERE THEY'RE WAITING FOR FEMA TO DO ANYTHING. FEMA HADN'T EVEN SHOWED UP. YEAH. NO, THAT'S CORRECT. AND THAT'S WHY KEEPING A HEALTHY BALANCE IN THERE IS SO IMPORTANT. AND, DANIEL, FOR PURPOSES OF TRANSPARENCY, FOR ALL WHO ARE LISTENING, CAN YOU PLEASE REITERATE HOW MUCH WE CURRENTLY HAVE IN OUR PICK FUND AND HOW MUCH WE ANTICIPATE IN REIMBURSEMENTS THAT WE'RE WAITING FOR? WE HAVE 198 MILLION IN CASH. THAT NUMBER WILL WILL GO DOWN AFTER THE TODAY'S MEETING. BUT WE ALSO HAVE ABOUT $100 MILLION IN IN RECEIVABLES. AND I WANT TO THANK THE RISK MANAGEMENT TEAM FOR ALL OF THEIR WORK. AND I DO HAVE AN UPDATE. WE WILL WE'VE SENT THE THE PRECINCT REIMBURSEMENTS TO THE AUDITOR THIS WEEK. WE WILL BE PROCESSING THEM ON THE BUSINESS COURT. SO YOU ALL FOR THE EXPENSES THAT WE'VE RECEIVED, THAT WE'VE RECEIVED AND HAVE AUDITED. THOSE WILL GO THROUGH AT THE NEXT BUSINESS COURT. GREAT NEWS. WE REALLY APPRECIATE IT. THANK YOU. ITEM 25 BY FLAG BY PRECINCTS TWO AND THREE. THIS IS THE EQUITY INITIATIVE. WE ASKED FOR THAT TO BE PULLED. WE NEED TO GET SOME MORE ANSWERS FIRST BEFORE WE'RE READY TO PRESENT. OKAY. ITEM 26, FLAG BY PRECINCT THREE. SORRY, COMMISSIONER. WHAT ABOUT ITEM THREE? 28? THOSE TWO MOTIONS WERE MADE FOR. WERE MADE ON ALL THREE, OR WAS THAT ONE GOING TO BE A SEPARATE COMMISSION IF WE JUST PUT IT ON ONE OF THEM, DOES IT HAVE IT ON IT YET? AND WHICH ONE DO YOU WANT IT ON? 328. CAN WAS. ADOPTED AS PROPOSED. 328. THAT THAT WAS THAT WAS JUST A NOT PERFUNCTORY, BUT A CONSENT PROTOCOL. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF ITEM 328. IT'S GOING TO BE APPROVED AS PRESENTED. IS THERE A MOTION PRESENTED? MOTION MADE BY COMMISSIONER GARCIA. IT WAS PART OF THE CONSENT AGENDA. THERE'S NO PART OF CONSENT, RIGHT? THERE WAS NO VOTE NECESSARY. IT WAS ADOPTED AS PART OF THE CONSENT. OKAY. JAMES. JAMES. IS THAT WHAT YOU HAVE RECORDED? THAT'S NOT WHAT I HAVE. JUST MOVE. APPROVAL. YEAH. COMMISSIONER. MOVE IN SECOND AND VOTE. OKAY. I'M IN FAVOR. DID WE JUST VOTED ON IT? I'M IN UNANIMOUS. UNANIMOUS? THANK YOU. NOW, YOU PUT THE AMENDMENTS ON WHICH 124, 273. YOU GOOD? WHICH ONE DO YOU WANT IT ON? YEAH. THE FIRST ONE WAS ON 24. SECOND WAS ON 273. FIRST ONE WAS ON 24, 273. DO YOU VOTE ON IT AGAIN? NO, SIR. ITEM 328 WAS MADE BY COMMISSIONER GARCIA, SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER BRIONES. YES. APPROVED UNANIMOUSLY. THANK YOU. YOU DOING? THANK YOU. YES, SIR. YOU KEEPING US ON POINT? [04:15:03] BECAUSE I'M GOING TO GET US OUT OF HERE. I'M GOING TO MOVE THIS TRAIN. ITEM 20. SIX. THAT'S THE ONE WE PULLED, RIGHT? NO, THAT'S PAUL PUTTING ASSETS. ITEM 26. ITEM, SIR. IS THAT IT? YEAH. DO YOU HAVE A QUESTION? IT LOOKS LIKE THERE'S STILL SOME AMBIGUITY ON THE SPECIFICS OF THE PROGRAM. WHAT WE'RE LOOKING AT. WHAT THE WHAT THE DETAILS. WHAT GROUP IS, IS EVALUATING, I GUESS, ASSETS WITHIN THE COUNTY AND WHAT WE'RE GOING TO DO WITH THEM, WITH AN EYE TO MAXIMIZING THE DOLLARS COMING OUT OF THOSE. SO IT'S GOING TO BE THIS TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE GROUP THAT'S THAT, AND I DIDN'T EVEN PRINT THAT ONE OUT. IT'S PART OF THE JESSE, ACTUALLY, YOU CAN TALK TO IT BECAUSE YOU'VE BEEN BEEN WORKING ON THAT. DO YOU HAVE THE THE GROUP UP BECAUSE IT'S OFFICE OF ENGINEERING? BECAUSE OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT SIDE? IT'S H H HCD IT'S FLOOD CONTROL BUDGET, BUDGET AND THEN OCA AS WELL. AND SO ALL OF THOSE ARE DEPARTMENTS HAVE MEMBERS ON ON THIS TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE GROUP. AND THEY ARE PART, PART OF THE PROCESS IS THAT THEY WILL BE WORKING WITH EACH PRECINCT OFFICE TO MAKE SURE THAT WHATEVER PARCELS THIS GROUP MIGHT BE GOING THROUGH THE PROCESS TO IDENTIFY THAT THEY'RE THEY'RE HAVING THOSE CONVERSATIONS WITH EACH PRECINCT, MAKE SURE THAT THE PRECINCT OFFICE AGREES THAT IT'S SOMETHING THAT PRECINCT OFFICE IS INTERESTED IN, THAT THEY DON'T ALREADY HAVE OTHER PLANS FOR. SO WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT IT'S VERY TRANSPARENT AND SURPRISED? NO SURPRISES. WE'RE NOT GOING TO BRING ANYTHING TO COURT UNLESS THE THE PRECINCT OFFICE HAS ALREADY LOOKED AT IT AND SAID THEY AGREE. AND IT'S A GOOD IDEA FROM THEIR PERSPECTIVE. AND THE REASON TO HAVE A POOR POLICY TO BEGIN WITH IS WE ARE GOING TO LOOK AT OUR ASSETS AND SEE WHAT TO DO WITH THEM. IF WE CAN MONETIZE THEM OR BRING OUT SOME COMMUNITY BENEFITS, DEPENDING ON THE TYPE OF ASSET. YES. IF THEY'RE BASICALLY UNDERUTILIZED ASSETS, THIS IS SOMETHING THAT'S BEING DONE ACROSS THE COUNTRY. IT'S KIND OF BRAND BRAND NEW PROGRAMING ACROSS THE COUNTRY. IS THERE SOMEBODY RESPONSIBLE FOR IT? IT WILL BE. IT'S COMING FROM OUR OFFICE RIGHT NOW. SO SO WE'RE RESPONSIBLE. SO IF ANYTHING HAPPENS, YOU LOOK TO ME, COMMISSIONER. THIS IS. IT'S A PILOT. AND THE POLICY PAPER THAT'S ON THERE NOW LAYS OUT A PRETTY DETAILED PROCESS TO GO DOWN FROM LOOKING AT ALL THE PARCELS KIND OF PROCESS OF ELIMINATION, TAKING OUT THE ONES WE KNOW ARE GOING TO BE USED OR ARE IMPORTANT. WE'LL END UP WITH LIKE 50 OR SO THAT'LL BE IN QUESTION. AND THEN THAT'LL COME BACK TO THERE SHOULD BE SOME LOW HANGING FRUIT OUT THERE. WE ABSOLUTELY THERE IS. THAT'S WHAT WE WANT TO DO. REALLY. LOOK AT THE LOW HANGING FRUIT AND SEE WHAT WHAT SEEMS TO MAKE THE MOST SENSE. AND LET'S DO GET US A VERY SMALL PORTFOLIO, 3 TO 5 PROJECTS, YOU KNOW, PARCELS, THEY WON'T ALL START AT THE SAME TIME. IT WILL DEPEND. AND WE'LL BE WORKING ON THEM ONCE THE PRECINCT OFFICE AGREES AND THE COMMISSIONERS COURT AGREES AS WELL, ONCE WE BRING IT BACK. OKAY. THANK YOU. I A QUICK QUESTION. THE TEACHER IN ME, WHEN ARE YOU BRINGING THE RECOMMENDATIONS BACK? DEADLINE MORE OR LESS. DO WE HAVE I THINK THE FIRST THE FIRST CUT WE HOPE TO HAVE IN MARCH. MARCH? YEAH. THE FIRST CUT. SO. SO THE FIRST CUT IS GOING TO BE THIS. JUST TO CLARIFY. YES, SIR. IN MARCH OF THIS YEAR TO COME BACK WITH THE FIRST I THINK WE WANTED. THAT'S EXCITING. YEAH. SO LIKE THE 50 MORE OR LESS. AND THEN TO GET DOWN TO THE 3 TO 5. WHEN ARE WE ANTICIPATING? MORE OR LESS. I THINK THE 3 TO 5. LOOKS LIKE WE, I THINK WE'RE, WE'RE ONLY REALLY LOOKING AT THE FIRST MARCH TO FOR, FOR THAT FIRST GROUP. I THINK THEN THEN IT DEPENDS. IT DEPENDS WHAT THE NATURE OF THE. OKAY. IT DEPENDS ON THE NATURE OF IT DEPENDS WHERE WHAT WE CHOOSE. YEAH. OKAY. WELL I'M EXCITED TO SEE WHAT THE PARCELS SLASH OPPORTUNITIES MAY BE AND WHAT WE'LL DO IN IN MARCH WHEN WE BRING THOSE FIRST 50. BY THEN WE'LL AT LEAST WE'LL WORK TO GET SOME KIND OF TIMELINE, AT LEAST. ROUGH ESTIMATE, ORDER OF ESTIMATE OF IT WILL BE THIRD QUARTER OF 25 OR FIRST QUARTER OF 26, WHATEVER. WE'LL COME UP WITH SOMETHING THAT SEEMS, YOU KNOW, IT'S IN THE REALM OF OF POSSIBILITY AND FEASIBLE. SOUNDS GOOD. I'LL MOVE 26 AS PRESENTED. SECOND. MOTION MADE BY COMMISSIONER BRIONES. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER RAMSEY. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, VOTE AYE. AYE. ALL OPPOSED? VOTE NO. FOUR EYES AND NO NAYS. ITEM 32 FLAGGED BY PRECINCT THREE. THAT'S THE BUDGET DISCUSSION. FIRST QUARTER PROTECTION COMMISSIONER DISCUSSION. I CAN DO THE FULL PRESENTATION, BUT IN THE INTEREST OF TIME, I CAN JUST HIT THE HIGHLIGHTS AND THEN ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS. [04:20:01] OKAY. YEAH. JUST HOPEFULLY THERE'S HIGHLIGHTS, NOT LOWLIGHTS. IT'S A LITTLE BIT OF A MIXED BAG, COMMISSIONER. UNFORTUNATELY JUST TO CLOSE OUT LAST YEAR ON THE GENERAL FUND SIDE, WE WE ENDED IN A IN A SMALL DEFICIT. WHILE WE NEVER WANT TO MAKE THAT A PATTERN. I'M IMMENSELY PROUD OF HOW THE COUNTY RESPONDED GIVEN SOME OF THE ITEMS THAT WE HAD TO DEAL WITH. IT WAS 30 PLUS MILLION DOLLARS IN UNBUDGETED INDIGENT DEFENSE. WE PURCHASED A $13 MILLION BUILDING USING GENERAL FUNDS. WE HAD $10 MILLION MORE IN ADDITIONAL JAIL OUTSOURCING. 8 MILLION MORE IN THE RECONCILING WITH HARRIS HEALTH ON THE JAIL MEDICAL. AND THEN WE ALSO FUNDED THE ONE TIME SAFE PROGRAM. AND SO WHILE THAT'S NEVER A DEFICIT IS NEVER A GOOD THING, I DO WANT TO RECOGNIZE WE WE HAD A LOT THROWN AT US LAST YEAR AND WE WERE AND MANY OF THOSE, IF WE HADN'T DONE SOME OF THOSE ONE TIME THINGS WHICH ARE GREAT INVESTMENTS FOR THE COUNTY, WE WOULD HAVE BEEN IN A SURPLUS FOR THIS YEAR. THE FIRST QUARTER PROJECTION, WE'RE PROJECTING A VERY SMALL DEFICIT. IF YOU GUYS LOOKED AT THE THE BACKUP MATERIALS FROM FROM LAST, LAST TIME WE WERE PROJECTING A SMALL SURPLUS THAT THAT DIFFERENCE IS COMPLETELY DRIVEN BY GETTING $6.9 MILLION LESS IN FEDERAL GRANT THAT REIMBURSES US FOR HOUSING UNDOCUMENTED IMMIGRANTS IN OUR JAIL. WHAT WE'VE LEARNED IS THAT THE FEDERAL POOL WENT FROM 210 MILLION DOWN TO 144 MILLION. THERE WAS ALSO ALSO A DOJ, THE POOL, THE POOL NATIONALLY. SO WE WENT FROM FROM PROJECTING 7.4 MILLION IN REVENUE. WE ENDED UP GETTING A LITTLE OVER 500,000. I WANT TO JUST REITERATE THAT THIS IS NOT WE DO NOT BELIEVE THIS IS RELATED TO ANY OF THE FEDERAL GRANT FREEZES OR THIS WAS JUST THE APPROPRIATION WENT DOWN AND CAUGHT US UNAWARES. THE SECOND PART WAS, IS THAT THERE WAS A DOJ AUDIT NATIONALLY FOR THIS GRANT. WHAT? THEY THEY MADE A PROCEDURAL CHANGE WHICH REQUIRED US TO USE ONE SYSTEM OF RECORD TO DETERMINE WHETHER SOMEONE WAS UNDOCUMENTED OR NOT. WHERE IN THE PAST THEY, THE SHERIFF, HAD BEEN ABLE TO PULL FROM A COUPLE DIFFERENT DATABASES TO TO TRY AND TRIANGULATE SOMEBODY'S STATUS. AND SO THE NUMBER THAT WE SUBMITTED WAS SIGNIFICANTLY LOWER THAN PRIOR BECAUSE OF THAT PROCEDURAL CHANGE BY THE DOJ. ONE OTHER THING THAT THAT IS GOOD NEWS, COMMISSIONER RAMSEY, IS WE DID BUILD IN OVER $3 MILLION IN SAVINGS FROM OUTSOURCING. YOU KNOW, AND WORKING WITH THE SHERIFF WITH TANYA MILLS IN THE, IN OCA AND OUR NEW DA. THEY FEEL THAT THAT IS A VERY CONSERVATIVE GOAL FOR THEM TO HIT SO THAT IT'S THE EQUIVALENT OF 200 LESS PEOPLE BEING OUTSOURCED IN THE NEXT 90 DAYS. WE WILL HAVE MORE INFORMATION ON THIS AS THINGS. SO IT'S THAT IMMEDIATE WHEN YOU WHEN YOU ARE ABLE TO REDUCE BY 200, IT'S NOT LIKE WE HAVE SOME LONG TERM COMMITMENT WITH THESE. NO, THESE ARE WE PAY PER BED. WE GOT OUT OF THE ONLY CONTRACT THAT WE HAD. WE WERE PAYING FOR A MINIMUM NUMBER OF BEDS. AGAIN, BASED ON ALL THE DATA THAT WE'VE SEEN FROM THE SHERIFF, THE DA AND AND FROM OCA. WE BELIEVE THAT NUMBER IS INCREDIBLY ACHIEVABLE AND IS LIKELY JUST CONSERVATIVE. SO SO THAT'S THE GOOD NEWS. ON THE FLIP SIDE, WE ARE SEEING, YOU KNOW, CONTINUED EXPLOSION OF COSTS IN INDIGENT DEFENSE EVEN THOUGH WE RAISED THE BUDGET. WE'RE STILL OVER $30 MILLION. THERE ARE A COUPLE OF THINGS THAT WE CAN POINT TO WHERE IT'S JUSTIFIABLE. FOR EXAMPLE, WE HAVE SEEN YOU KNOW, A STRING OF THE VERY LONG TERM CAPITAL MURDER CASES BE DISPOSED OF. AND SO THOSE BILLS ALL CAME DUE. THOSE ARE AT THE HIGHEST RATES. THEY'RE ALSO THE LONGEST TENURED CASES. SO THOSE WERE BIG KIND OF ONE TIME AS WE KIND OF CLEAR, CLEAR THE DECKS. WHAT WE DIDN'T REALIZE BECAUSE THE NUMBER WAS SO HIGH LAST YEAR WAS THE THE VOUCHERS THAT WE WERE PAYING WERE OFTENTIMES MIXED RATE. SO SOME OF THE VOUCHERS WERE BEING PAID AT THE PREVIOUS RATE, AND THEN SOME OF THEM AND AND PARTIALLY PAID WITH THE NEW RATES. BECAUSE WHAT WE'VE SEEN IS THAT THE ATTORNEYS DON'T TYPICALLY BILL US ON KIND OF A MONTHLY SCHEDULE. THEY'RE BILLING US SIX MONTHS AT A TIME OR WHEN A CASE HAS ENDED. AND WHAT WE'RE SEEING THIS YEAR IS THAT WE DON'T HAVE ANY OF THOSE OLD RATES ANYMORE. WE'RE PAYING FULL FREIGHT FOR THE NEW, FOR THE NEW RATE STRUCTURE THAT'S IN PLACE. AND WE ALSO THINK, AND THIS WILL EVEN OUT OVER TIME, WE HOPE, THAT THE THREE NEW COURTS THAT HAVE STARTED WHERE PEOPLE ARE BEING SEEN FASTER, [04:25:01] WHICH MEANS THEY'RE GETTING ATTORNEYS FASTER, WHICH MEANS THE CLOCK STARTS GOING. YOU KNOW, IN AN IDEAL WORLD, WE'LL SEE THAT ON. WE'LL SEE THE SAVINGS ON THE BACK END AS THE THOSE THE BACKLOG IS CLEARED. BUT IT ALL THOSE THINGS COMBINED. I THINK I'VE TOLD EACH OF YOU PRIVATELY, YOU KNOW, I HAVE A GREAT DEAL OF OPTIMISM OF WHERE WE'RE GOING ON OUTSOURCING AND THE COURT BACKLOG. THIS I THINK, IS BECOMING, YOU KNOW, A BIG, YOU KNOW, THE BIGGEST FINANCIAL RISK IN THE COUNTY. AND I KNOW THIS IS A PRIORITY FOR ALL OF YOU, BUT IN EVERY WAY WE CAN, I DO THINK THAT THIS IS SOMETHING WE NEED TO CONTINUE TO LOOK AT. SO I WONDER TO WHAT EXTENT OUR HANDS ARE TIED. I THINK TELL ME IF I'M WRONG. THE BIGGEST EXPENSE ON INDIGENT DEFENSE HAS BEEN BECAUSE THE JUDGES WHO UNILATERALLY MAKE THAT DECISION RAISE THE RATE FOR THE COURT APPOINTED LAWYERS. SO IT WASN'T JUST RAISING THE RATE, COMMISSIONER. IT WAS ACTUALLY CHANGING THE WHOLE STRUCTURE. SO IN THE I'M SURE I'M GOING TO BUTCHER THIS, BUT THE HIGH LEVEL, AS MY UNDERSTANDING IS IN THE OLD WORLD, YOU PEOPLE WERE WERE ASSIGNED TO AN ATTORNEY. THEY RECEIVED SOME AMOUNT BASED ON THE CASE TYPE. AND THEN THEY WERE THEY GOT A PER DIEM ESSENTIALLY FOR EVERY DAY IN COURT. AND WHAT THAT WHAT THAT CREATED WAS THE ATTORNEYS WERE PICKING WINNERS AND LOSERS IN THEIR IN THEIR DOCKETS. SO WHERE I'M HEADED IS THEY GET TO DO THAT UNILATERALLY. CORRECT. THEY HAVE NOT INCREASED THE NUMBER OF CASES GOING TO THE PUBLIC DEFENDER'S OFFICE APPRECIABLY. WE HAVE INCREASED THE NUMBER. THE PERCENTAGE HAS STAYED PRETTY STUBBORN FROM THE LAST TIME I CHECKED THE NUMBER, BUT NOT THE PERCENTAGE. SO AT SOME POINT, IF WE'RE TRYING TO FIGURE OUT HOW WE'RE GOING TO MAKE SURE PEOPLE ARE GETTING QUALITY LEGAL REPRESENTATION AND NOT JUST THE LAWYERS GETTING PAID, YOU KNOW, MAYBE THAT'S SOMETHING THE LEGISLATURE OUGHT TO LOOK AT. COMMISSIONER RAMSEY. WHOEVER HERE HAS SOME INFLUENCE ON. I USED TO, BUT I JUST WANT TO MAKE THAT POINT. THEY GET TO PICK THAT RATE. AND WHAT WE DON'T KNOW IS, ARE THERE METRICS TO SHOW THAT THE FOLKS THAT ARE GETTING APPOINTED ARE SEEING THE LAWYERS MORE, ARE DOING A BETTER JOB FOR THEM, BECAUSE THEN WE ARE STUCK BETWEEN A ROCK AND A HARD PLACE. I MEAN, WE COMPARED OUR RATES TO DALLAS AND WE'RE LIKE 3 OR 4 TIMES AMONG CERTAIN CASES. AND I DON'T HAVE THE DATA RIGHT HERE, BUT IT WAS PART OF OUR FIVE YEAR PLAN. I WON'T BRING IT UP THIS LATE BECAUSE WE HAD A BUSY DAY ON RESOLUTIONS, BUT THAT'S IT MERITS SOME DISCUSSION THOUGH, BECAUSE ON ONE HAND, WE'RE TRYING TO INCREASE THE NUMBER OF CASES THAT GO TO PD. WE WANT THEM TO HAVE THEIR DAY IN COURT. THEY'LL GET FAIR LEGAL REPRESENTATION. BUT I WONDER I DON'T KNOW, UNLESS SOMEBODY LOOKS AT IT. THAT'S BEEN ON YOUR RADAR FOR A COUPLE OF YEARS. YEAH. AND WE ALWAYS ESTIMATE THIS. IT ALWAYS COMES IN HIGHER. SO THAT'S PROBABLY ONE TO SPECIFICALLY TARGET AND SEE WHAT WE CAN DO TO GET THAT DONE. UNDERSTOOD. YEAH. COMMISSIONER. SURE. SO I KNOW THIS IS AN ISSUE MANY OF US FEEL VERY PASSIONATELY ABOUT FOR A VARIETY OF REASONS, BUT TO ME, IF WE'RE INVESTING, WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THERE'S THE QUALITY OF JUSTICE. PLUS THAT WE'RE MOVING EVERY LEVER, WHETHER WE'VE DONE THE ADDITIONAL COURTS, ASSOCIATE JUDGES, AND WE'VE ASKED THE PUBLIC DEFENDER FOR YEARS TO GET UP TO 50%. PERCENT, AND I WOULD LOVE TO HEAR AN UPDATE ON THE HIRING PROCESS FOR A NEW PUBLIC DEFENDER. I KNOW WE HAVE AN INDIGENT DEFENSE COMMITTEE THAT IS WORKING WITH THE JUDGES ON STRUCTURAL CHANGES TO ENSURE ACCOUNTABILITY, TRANSPARENCY, AND THE QUALITY OF JUSTICE, WHICH IS A WIN WIN FOR EVERYBODY, FOR VICTIMS, FOR DEFENDANTS, FOR EFFICIENCY, FOR TAXPAYERS. I WOULD LOVE AND I WANT TO THANK BRANDON DUDLEY AND DOCTOR SAMMY ARANA, WHO HAVE REALLY BEEN AT THE HELM OF THAT. I WOULD LOVE AN UPDATE BECAUSE IT IS SUCH A MULTIFACETED ISSUE AND FOR JUSTICE REASONS, BUT ALSO FOR FUNDAMENTAL FINANCIAL REASONS. THE PROGRESS NEEDS TO BE FAR SWIFTER, AND SO I'D LOVE TO HEAR FROM THE PUBLIC DEFENDER'S BOARD AND UPDATE WHERE WE ARE, PLUS THESE OTHER LEVERS. SO IF WE CAN WORK TOGETHER ON THE NEXT COURT. SO WE'LL WE'LL ALL GET TO HEAR IT HERE AND HAVE THEM PRESENT. DOES THAT MAKE SENSE, COMMISSIONER? IT DEFINITELY MAKES SENSE. AND SO THANK YOU. DO YOU NEED A MOTION ON THIS? WE CAN WORK ON THAT. I DO WANT TO JUST I MEAN, ON A BUDGET ITEM HIGHLIGHT ONE THING. AND YOU YOU MENTIONED BEFORE THAT THEY CAN UNILATERALLY RAISE THE RATE. THEY ALSO UNILATERALLY APPROVE THE VOUCHERS, UNLIKE ON THE COUNTY COURT SIDE WHERE THERE'S A REVIEW PROCESS. AND THAT'S BY STATE LAW. THAT'S BY STATE LAW. YEAH. YES, SIR. JUST REAL QUICKLY, AS YOU ALL WORK ON THIS ISSUE, I WOULD ASK THAT YOU INCLUDE A CONVERSATION WITH THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY. YES. BECAUSE I WOULD ASSUME. LOOK, I'M I'M GLAD WE'RE PROVIDING THESE RESOURCES TO THOSE THAT ARE ACCUSED, BECAUSE WE ABSOLUTELY KNOW THAT NOT EVERYONE IN CUSTODY IS GUILTY OR RESPONSIBLE FOR WHAT THEY'VE BEEN ARRESTED FOR. [04:30:05] BUT TO THAT END, IT'S A LOT OF MONEY. AND SO IF ANYONE IN THE SYSTEM WOULD KNOW THAT THE MONEY IS BEING WELL SPENT, I THINK IT'S GOING TO BE THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY. SO I WOULD ASK JUST TO MAKE SURE Y'ALL ARE. Y'ALL ARE TAKING HIS TEMPERATURE ON WHETHER THE ATTORNEYS ARE WORKING AS THEY SHOULD, BECAUSE I JUST WORRY THAT WE'RE THEY KNOW WE'RE A GOOD COURT AND WE WANT TO PROVIDE JUSTICE AND REPRESENTATION. I JUST DON'T WANT TO BE TAKEN TO THE FARM ON THIS. I AGREE, AND D.R. HERE HAS BEEN AN EXCELLENT PARTNER. AND I KNOW WHEN A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO, WE ASKED THE AUDITOR TO DO A SUMMARY OF THE ATTORNEYS THAT WERE AND THESE ARE PRIVATE ATTORNEYS THAT ARE BEING APPOINTED WITH VERY LITTLE ACCOUNTABILITY AND TRANSPARENCY. AND WE CREATED THE DASHBOARDS, THE DASHBOARDS. SO WE'VE BUT TO ME, IT'S LIKE I WOULD LOVE AN UPDATE ON THE DATA BECAUSE THERE WERE SOME THAT WERE MAKING WELL OVER A MILLION IN THESE PRIVATE APPOINTMENTS, AND THEY'RE NOT SUBJECT TO THE SAME CASELOAD CAPS AS OUR PUBLIC DEFENDERS, WHICH, AGAIN, IS THIS MULTIFACETED SOLUTION. RIGHT. AND SO I WOULD LOVE A COMPREHENSIVE UPDATE AT OUR NEXT COURT. THANK YOU. I CAN COORDINATE WITH OCA AND THE RELEVANT DEPARTMENTS, AND THE DA IS FINE. I MEAN, BECAUSE, LOOK, I MEAN, IN SOME WAYS I'M REALLY ASKING THAT THE LAW BE CHANGED, THAT I PASS IS THE BEST THAT I COULD PASS, WHERE EVEN TO CREATE A PEDES OFFICE, TWO THIRDS OF THE JUDGES HAVE TO AGREE AND THEY VOTE IN SECRET. BUT THAT'S ALL I COULD GET 25 YEARS AGO. YOU DON'T NEED A MOTION ON YOUR BUDGET ITEM, THOUGH, DO YOU? NO. THE THE SUPPLEMENTALS WERE APPROVED AT THE LAST. OKAY. ALL RIGHT. THE NEXT ITEM IS ITEM 37, FLAGGED BY ONE, TWO AND THREE. I'LL JUST MAKE MY COMMENTS. I KNOW A NUMBER OF TIMES I'VE STATED MY CONCERNS ABOUT EMPLOYEE COMPENSATION COMING FROM THIS BODY. AND FOLKS AT THE BOTTOM NOT GETTING THEIR FAIR SHARE. AND WHAT WE'VE DONE FOR FOLKS AT THE TOP NOW, I THINK WE'VE MOVED FAR TOO FAST ON INCREASING SALARIES FOR THE HIGHEST PAID EXECUTIVES AT THE COUNTY. I'M WILLING TO BET WE HAVE INCREASED MORE THAN ANY COUNTY IN THE HISTORY OF THE STATE. IT'D BE INTERESTING TO KNOW IF IT'S MORE THAN ANYONE IN THE COUNTRY, BUT CLEARLY IN THE STATE. SO AT LEAST FOR ME, I DON'T FEEL COMFORTABLE GOING FORWARD WITH THIS AND WON'T BE ABLE TO VOTE FOR IT. SO IF IT HAS A VOTE, IT WILL COME FROM OTHERS. BUT AT SOME POINT THIS WE GOT TO STOP THIS. I JUST DON'T KNOW HOW THIS LOOKS OR WHAT IT SAYS TO THOSE FOLKS AT THE BOTTOM. AND FOR WHAT IT'S WORTH, I DIDN'T GO PULL IT, BUT I WAS JUST THINKING EARLIER, IF SOMEBODY'S GOT A 30%, 40%, 50% RAISE, IT'S ALMOST LIKE YOU OUGHT TO APPLY FOR THE JOB AGAIN. I MEAN, THEY THEY'RE REALLY GREAT PEOPLE DOING A GREAT JOB. BUT, YOU KNOW, I WONDER WHAT OTHER GREAT FOLKS WOULD COME IN IF YOU GO IN AND INCREASE THE SALARY BY THAT MUCH MONEY, WHO ELSE WOULD APPLY FOR IT? I KNOW IF WE DID IT, IF WE GAVE THE INCREASES TO FOLKS THAT SIT UP AT THIS DESK, WOULD THAT BE SOME FOLKS APPLYING FOR OUR JOB? YOU KNOW, WHETHER WE WANTED THEM TO APPLY OR NOT, THEY'D PUT THEIR NAME ON THE BALLOT. BUT I DON'T KNOW WHAT OTHER MEMBERS MAY HAVE TO SAY, BUT AT LEAST FOR ME, I'M NOT GOING TO VOTE FOR IT. OH, WHO ELSE PULLED IT UP? IT WAS TWO AND THREE. THAT'S ITEM 37. YEAH. ONE IS THAT THERE ARE SOME MOTIONS HERE FOR THIS PARTICULAR ITEM THAT I'M WILLING TO SUPPORT. BUT I DO WANT TO ADD A THIRD MOTION, AND THAT IS OR MY WISH WOULD BE TO MOVE TO DIRECT. OH. I'M SORRY, THIS IS THIS IS THE FOURTH MOTION MADE BEING MADE BY COMMISSIONER BRIONES I ABSOLUTELY SUPPORT. SO JUST READY TO MOVE ON WHEN YOU'RE READY. I AM HAVING BEEN INVOLVED WITH MANAGING TALENT FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS AND A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT COMPANIES. I'M NOT COMFORTABLE AT ALL ON WHAT KORN FERRY IS DOING. I LOOK AT THE TOP 25 SALARIES. AND I'VE RECEIVED A SUMMARY. I GUESS IT'S THE TOP 200 SALARIES IN, IN THE TEXAS DIFFERENT COUNTIES. AND I THINK IT'S ALL OVER THE MAP. I DO NOT THINK CLEARLY TAKING THE DISTRICT COURT PERSON FROM 216,000 TO $411,000. THAT'S A 90% INCREASE. [04:35:05] NOW, I WE WE'VE IN MY YEARS OF TRYING TO ADDRESS AN ISSUE. WE'VE ADDRESSED IT, BUT IT'S USUALLY AT A 5 OR 10 OR 9%, NEVER AT A 90%. THE COUNTY COURTS IS 95% INCREASE. JUVENILE PROBATION OFFICE WOULD BE 58%. I'M JUST NOT COMFORTABLE AT ALL WITH PICKING AT THE TOP. AND WHEN WE I DON'T THINK WE'VE DONE ALL OUR WORK ON THE LOWER END, FRANKLY. SO I WILL NOT BE SUPPORTING THIS I DON'T THINK KORN FERRY HAS GOT A GOOD SENSE OF WHAT THESE POSITIONS REQUIRE OR COST. DON'T TRUST IT. AND I'LL NOT BE SUPPORTING IT. COMMISSIONER, I THINK YOU HAVE A COMMENT. YES, I HAD A FEW QUICK QUESTIONS. AND MAYBE MISS DOUGLAS OR KORN FERRY. MY UNDERSTANDING WAS THAT BECAUSE LAST TIME THE ADJUSTMENTS WE MADE FOR THE DEPARTMENT HEADS TOOK THEM TO THE 50TH PERCENTILE. CORRECT. CORRECT. ARE THESE PROPOSED INCREASES ALSO TAKING THESE INDIVIDUALS TO THE 50TH PERCENTILE BASED ON THE SAME EXACT METHODOLOGY AS LAST TIME? THAT'S MY UNDERSTANDING. MR.. MANY FROM KORN FERRY I BELIEVE IS ON LINE AND HE CAN ANSWER THAT QUESTION FOR KORN FERRY. BUT THAT'S MY UNDERSTANDING. THAT WAS THE DIRECTION THAT THEY USED THE SAME METHODOLOGY. YEAH. YES. YES. THIS IS MANY FROM KORN FERRY. YEAH. WE USE THE SAME METHODOLOGY WHERE WE LOOKED AT PROBLEM SOLVING, ACCOUNTABILITY AND KNOWLEDGE, WHICH IS KNOW HOW IS ANOTHER WAY WE CAN DESCRIBE IT. AND YEAH, IT'S IT'S THE SAME METHODOLOGY. AND WE ALSO LOOK AT IT INTERNALLY. INTERNAL EQUITY AS WELL TO MAKE SURE THAT ALL DEPARTMENT HEADS HAD SIMILAR COMPETITION. OKAY. THANK YOU. AND A QUICK QUESTION FOR MISS DOUGLAS. THE STATUS OF THE LARGER PAY EQUITY STUDY FOR ALL HARRIS COUNTY TEAM MEMBERS. IS IT ON TRACK? AND WHEN WILL WE GET THE RESULTS? AND MISS DOUGLAS, UNFORTUNATELY, IS IS UNAVAILABLE RIGHT THIS MOMENT, BUT AMANDA PORTER FROM HRT IS ON, AND SHE CAN ANSWER THE QUESTION. GIVE AN UPDATE ON THE PAY EQUITY STUDY. AMANDA. I WAS TOLD SHE WAS ON. THERE SHE IS. OKAY. YES. CAN YOU ALL HEAR ME? YES. IS YOUR CAMERA ON? MY CAMERA IS ON, BUT I THINK I'M THERE'S A LAG BECAUSE I. WHAT? I SEE KORN FERRY ON THE SCREEN. WE CAN'T SEE YOU, MISS PORTER. YOU MIGHT HAVE TO GO OFF AND COME BACK ON, BECAUSE I THINK YOU HAVE TO. HAVE TO. WE HAVE. SO I'M. I'M EAGER TO MAKE SURE WE'RE ADDRESSING EQUITY FOR EVERY SINGLE EMPLOYEE HERE AT HARRIS COUNTY. LOOKING AT THESE NUMBERS AND AGAIN, YOU'VE HEARD ME OVER AND OVER ABOUT TALENT. I USED TO BE A CHIEF TALENT OFFICER. I BELIEVE FUNDAMENTALLY, WE NEED THE WE NEED TO RECRUIT AND RETAIN THE BEST TALENT SO THAT WE CAN DELIVER FOR THE PEOPLE OF HARRIS COUNTY IN A FAR MORE EXCELLENT FASHION AND JUST CONTINUOUSLY IMPROVE. SORRY, MISS PORTER, WE CAN'T SEE YOU. SO THIS IS SOMETHING I FEEL VERY PASSIONATELY ABOUT. AND WE HAVE TO HOLD PEOPLE ACCOUNTABLE. RIGHT. SO THE PERFORMANCE REVIEW PROCESS IS ALSO SUPER IMPORTANT TO ME. AND I HOPE AS A COUNTY WE WILL PUSH FORWARD. THAT BEING SAID, LOOKING AT THESE NUMBERS, I'M CHALLENGED WITH MANY OF THEM. THE ONE, HOWEVER, THAT I WOULD LIKE TO MOVE FORWARD TODAY, GIVEN WHERE I'M SEEING THE NUMBERS PLAY OUT, IS GOING BACK TO THE PUBLIC DEFENDER AND THE CONVERSATION WE JUST HAD ABOUT INDIGENT DEFENSE. WE ARE SEARCHING FOR A PUBLIC DEFENDER, AND THAT SALARY HADN'T BEEN INCREASED FOR YEARS. AND SO MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT SEARCH HAS BEEN DELAYED BECAUSE WE WERE WAITING FOR THIS KORN FERRY STUDY. IS THAT CORRECT? COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR. THE THE POSITION IS POSTED, BUT IT'S POSTED WITHOUT A SALARY BECAUSE WE'RE EXPECTING THE RESULTS OF THIS. IF THE COURT DECIDES THAT THEY'RE GOING TO KEEP THE SALARY THE SAME, THEN WE'LL REPOST IT. AND THE THE THE PUBLIC DEFENDER'S BOARD HAS DECIDED THAT THEY WERE GOING TO WAIT UNTIL THE COURT MADE A DECISION ON THE SALARY, AND THEY WOULDN'T CLOSE THE POSITION UNTIL 30 DAYS AFTER THE DECISION WAS MADE. SO ANYONE WHO WAS INTERESTED IN THE POSTING COULD ACTUALLY KNOW WHAT THE SALARY RANGE WAS. OKAY. SO BASED ON THAT, BECAUSE I DO THINK IT WILL DETERMINE WHAT CANDIDATES WE GET, WE NEED TO POST A SALARY. SO RATHER THAN MOVING TO APPROVE ALL OF THESE, I WOULD JUST MOVE FOR TODAY'S PURPOSES. MOVE TO APPROVE THE KORN FERRY SALARY RECOMMENDATIONS FOR THE PUBLIC DEFENDER STUDIED AT THE RACIAL SALARY AT THE 50TH PERCENTILE OF. [04:40:05] HOW MUCH IS THAT? WHAT'S THE DOLLAR AMOUNT? ANNUAL AMOUNT. THREE 5353. AND WHAT'S THE SALARY COMMISSION? CURRENTLY? TWO. 221. YEAH. SO IT'S CURRENTLY HOW MUCH? 221. NINE SEVEN. EIGHT. AND THIS WOULD. IT'S A 60% INCREASE. SO. SO HERE'S WHAT WE GET TO 50TH PERCENTILE MARK. SO HERE'S WHAT I SUGGEST. WELL LET ME ASK FOR 50 PERCENTILE OF WHAT. LIKE WHAT'S THE HIGHEST PAID PUBLIC DEFENDER IN TEXAS. SO WE DID NOT LOOK AT WHO THE HIGHEST PAID PUBLIC DEFENDER IN TEXAS WAS IN ORDER TO MAKE THIS ASSERTION, WE LOOKED AT THE SKILLS AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE JOB. SO NICE. I JUST. I'M SORRY. I'M SORRY. YOUR TURN. SORRY. I DON'T WANT. I'M JUST TRYING TO FIGURE OUT. ALTHOUGH I KNOW THIS, I WAS TOLD THAT KORN FERRY'S METHODOLOGY IS. WHAT'S THE WORD? PROPRIETARY. WHAT THE HELL DID YOU LOOK TO? SEE WHAT THE PUBLIC DEFENDER MAKES IN LONDON OR. NO, NO. SO WE DON'T BASE OUR METHODOLOGY IS NOT BASED ON WHAT SOMEONE MAKES. IT IS BASED OFF OF THE ROLE AND RESPONSIBILITY OF THE JOB. SO WE DETERMINE WHAT THE ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES ARE. SO FOR EXAMPLE, WE COULD LOOK AT THE HIGHEST PAID PUBLIC DEFENDER IN TEXAS AND THAT PERSON COULD MAKE, LET'S SAY, $100,000. BUT THE PUBLIC DEFENDER AT YOUR ORGANIZATION DOES HAS 20 TO 25 ADDITIONAL RESPONSIBILITIES. WE DON'T BELIEVE AND OUR METHODOLOGY DOESN'T BELIEVE THAT THOSE TWO PEOPLE SHOULD BE PAID THE SAME. LET ME LET ME JUST ASK YOU THIS. I SHOULD POINT OUT, I GOT I GOT A LITTLE EXPERIENCE ON PUBLIC DEFENDERS. OKAY. IS THERE A PUBLIC DEFENDER IN AMERICA THAT MAKES $350,000 A YEAR? NOT A NOT A COURT APPOINTED LAWYER. DOES THE PUBLIC DEFENDER IN NEW YORK. WHAT DO THEY. I YES, I MEAN I, I, I CAN'T DEFINITIVELY SAY YES, BUT YES, I'D IMAGINE SO. YES. BECAUSE YOU HARRIS COUNTY IS NOT THE THE LARGEST COUNTY IN THE, IN THE UNITED STATES. IT'S IT'S A TOP THREE, BUT IT'S NOT THE LARGEST. BUT IF YOU LOOK AT IF WE WERE TO BENCHMARK OTHER LARGE COUNTIES. PUBLIC DEFENDER IN COOK COUNTY OR LA COUNTY, I WOULD SAY THERE'S A THERE'S A BUT YOU DON'T I WOULD THINK I WOULD SAY THERE'S A THERE'S A HIGH CHANCE. BUT BUT AGAIN COMPENSATION I'M NOT GOING TO VOTE FOR IT TODAY. YEAH. WHAT WHAT DO WE PAY KORN FERRY BY THE WAY? IT WAS. LET ME FIND THAT EMAIL. IT WAS FOR THE FIRST ONE FOR THE DEPARTMENT HEADS, THE REPORT TO OCA, AND THE FIRE MARSHAL IS 48. A LITTLE OVER $48,000 FOR THIS SECOND STUDY IS $20,000. AND THE REASON THAT KORN FERRY WAS SELECTED TO, TO BEGIN WITH WAS WE WERE GIVEN AS WE'VE TALKED ABOUT ALL DAY LONG ABOUT DEADLINES AND NOT MEETING DEADLINES, WE WERE GIVEN A VERY SHORT DEADLINE AND WE COULDN'T GO TO AN RFP. SO WHAT WE DID IS WE LOOKED AND SAW WHAT HR HAD AS ALREADY ON CONTRACT, AND THAT'S WHAT WE WENT WITH. SO HERE'S WHAT I SUGGEST AS A COMPROMISE. I DON'T THINK WE KNOW ENOUGH. BUT I WOULD SAY POST THE POSITION AND JUST MAKE THE SALARY NEGOTIABLE AND YOU CAN PUT SOME RANGE IN THERE. BUT I WOULD WANT THAT PD BOARD. OR WAITING OR GUESSING. I MEAN, LIKE, I GUESS NOT THAT THEY KNOW, BUT WHAT IS THE, LET'S SAY, WHAT IS THE FIRST ASSISTANT TO THE DA MAKE? I DON'T KNOW, I OBVIOUSLY THE DA IS ELECTED. SO THAT CHALLENGES US. THE, THE LAST PERSON THAT WAS IN THE $280,000 RANGE. OKAY. BECAUSE I JUST KNOW THE ARGUMENT WOULD COME. IT ALWAYS DOES. WHEN I WAS PUSHING MR. REYCRAFT AND URGING THE COURT TO DO THIS, THE ARGUMENT BACK THEN WAS PAY THE PDS BACK THEN THEY WOULDN'T PAY THE PDS ENOUGH, SO PUT THEM ON PAR WITH THE DA'S, BECAUSE IT'S NOT LIKE THEY'RE GOING TO GO HIRE. WELL YOU KNOW, SO CAN I, CAN I, CAN I INTERVENE JUST ONE SECOND? I JUST WANT TO MY STAFF JUST PULLED UP THAT THE SECOND LARGEST COUNTY IN AMERICA, COOK COUNTY, IS PAYING THEIR PUBLIC DEFENDER 153,000. LET ME ADD TO THAT. COMMISSIONER LA PUBLIC DEFENDER IS BEING PAID 193,000. NEW YORK PUBLIC DEFENDER IS BEING PAID 200,000. [04:45:01] WE JUST DID A A I DON'T KNOW, YOU WOULDN'T CALL THAT A KORN FERRY SURVEY, BUT WE GOT SOME PRETTY RELEVANT INFORMATION IN A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME. WE SHOULD WE SHOULD HIRE YOU TWO. DOES Y'ALL GOOGLE THAT OR DID Y'ALL LET. WHAT'S ANOTHER SEARCH ENGINE? MRS GOOGLE ONE. THIS IS GOOGLE. AND FOR I FOR THE RECORD, I WITHDRAW MY MOTION. AND WHILE I KNOW KORN FERRY IS ONE OF THE MOST REPUTABLE COMPANIES WHO DOES THIS IN THIS SPACE, I AM SHOCKED THAT THE PAYMENT TO OTHER PUBLIC DEFENDERS IN URBAN COUNTIES IN TEXAS AND IN THE COUNTRY WAS NOT ACCOUNTED FOR. SO THAT IS JUST COMPLETELY NOT OKAY. WITH ALL DUE RESPECT. SO WITH THAT, I, I WOULD LIKE I KNOW IT'S POSTED, THERE'S JUST NO SALARY AND SO, SO I WE SHOULD PUT A RANGE SOMETHING LIKE COMPARABLE OR JUST SAY WE WE MAY WANT TO BE THE BEST IN CLASS, BUT MORE THAN ALLY. YEAH MORE THAN LA OR COOK. SO CAN I. CAN I INTERVENE QUICKLY? SO AGAIN, OUR MYTHOLOGY IS NOT AND WHAT YOU GUYS, THE EXERCISE YOU GUYS JUST WENT THROUGH WAS A TITLE FOR TITLE MATCH. WE DON'T KNOW. AND NOBODY IN THIS ROOM KNOWS WHAT THE PUBLIC DEFENDER IN TERMS OF JOB RESPONSIBILITIES, DOES AT ANY OF THESE OTHER COUNTIES. IF WE WERE TO BENCHMARK, I BEG TO DIFFER WITH YOU A LITTLE BIT. I RESPECTFULLY DISAGREE. JUST, JUST I WANT TO PULL RANK, BUT I CHAIR THE BOARD OF THE INNOCENCE PROJECT OUT OF NEW YORK FOR 14 YEARS. I THINK I GOT A PRETTY GOOD SENSE OF WHAT I'M NOT. I'M NOT AT LEAST IN NEW YORK. YES. I'M NOT I'M NOT JUST I'M NOT SAYING YOU DON'T KNOW. I'M SAYING THERE ARE INTRICACIES OF EACH JOB THAT COULD BE DIFFERENT. AND WE DID NOT THE SAME METHODOLOGY ON THESE ITEMS THAT WE ADOPTED. DID YOU USE PRETTY MUCH THE SAME METHODOLOGY FOR THE PAY RAISE? WE USE THE SAME METHOD. WE USE WE USE THE SAME METHODOLOGY. AND PART OF THAT METHODOLOGY IS NOT JUST JOB DESCRIPTIONS BUT ALSO WE INTERVIEW INDIVIDUALS. AND SO THERE ARE THINGS TO PUT THEM BACK ON THE AGENDA. YEAH. WELL, THERE THERE ARE THINGS WITHIN A JOB DESCRIPTION THAT INDIVIDUALS CAN COMMUNICATE TO US THAT ARE NOT ON THE JOB DESCRIPTION AND VICE VERSA. SO THAT'S WHY WE DO A VERY THOROUGH STUDY. IT'S NOT SOMETHING THAT WE I WANT TO THANK YOU, BUT WE NEED TO CUT THIS. WE. YES. SO IN SUM, I WITHDRAW ALL MOTIONS. AND THEY NEED TO REALLY MOVE ON THAT SEARCH AND WE WILL NEGOTIATE IT. SO WE TABLE THIS ITEM. OKAY. NEXT ITEM IS NO ACTION AND DON'T BRING. PLEASE DON'T BRING IT BACK ANYTIME SOON. SO WHERE ARE WE NOW? KIND OF. YOU WERE GOING TO TALK ABOUT 30. SOMEBODY WAS GOING TO TALK ABOUT 38. 38. I DON'T KNOW. ITEM 38. OH, YEAH. OH, NO. WHAT IS IT? OKAY. I GOT SO WOUND UP ON THE KORN FERRY STUDY ITEM 38. OH, YEAH. ON THAT ITEM. SO MILTON WILL THIS COME FROM YOU, MILTON, OR WILL IT COME FROM FLOOD CONTROL COMMISSION? I'M HAPPY TO. I CAN JUMP IN, IF THAT'S OKAY. HERE'S HERE'S WHAT I'M WONDERING WITH WHAT WE WENT THROUGH EARLIER. NOT ON OUTFALL. OUTFALL, BUT IT WAS $5 MILLION. 10 MILLION. I DON'T WANT TO RUN THROUGH THE SAME ISSUE. SO I'M JUST TRYING TO FIGURE OUT HOW IS THE MONEY GOING TO BE SPENT. ARE WE JUST BETTER OFF SPLITTING IT BETWEEN THE FOUR PRECINCTS? WELL, COMMISSIONER. SO WHAT THIS ITEM IS, IT'S A PROPOSED JOINT FUNDING STRUCTURE BETWEEN THE FLOOD CONTROL DISTRICT AND HARRIS COUNTY ENGINEERING. AND THE INTENT IS TO SUPPORT OUR EXPANDED MAINTENANCE PROGRAM AND REALLY GIVE US THE ABILITY TO MOVE QUICKLY, MAKE AN IMPACT BY LEVERAGING AN EXISTING PROGRAM THAT IS IN THE HARRIS COUNTY ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT. SO THE WAY THIS WORKS IS OUTFALLS EXIST ALL OVER OUR CHANNELS IN, IN HARRIS COUNTY, AND THEY DISCHARGE INTO FLOOD CONTROL DISTRICT INFRASTRUCTURE. A LOT OF THOSE OUTFALLS, IF THEY ARE DAMAGED, IF THEY ARE FAILING, THEY CAN HAVE A NEGATIVE IMPACT ON OUR INFRASTRUCTURE, CAUSE EROSION, CAUSE FAILURES, CAUSE VOIDS IN OUR CHANNELS AND BEHIND OUR OUR CONCRETE PANELS CAUSE VOIDS UNDERNEATH THESE OUTFALLS. SO IT IS SOMETHING THAT WE HEARD VERY MUCH THAT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED. SO BASED ON MY CONVERSATIONS WITH ENGINEERING, THE WAY THAT THIS PROGRAM WORKS RIGHT NOW IS THAT IT? IT REALLY IS AN EMERGENCY REPAIR PROGRAM, RIGHT? THERE ARE OUTFALLS THAT ARE IDENTIFIED AS FAILING. IT IS AN IMMINENT DANGER AND IT GETS ADDRESSED. AND, YOU KNOW, SO THERE ISN'T NECESSARILY AN EXPLICIT PRIORITIZATION PROCESS, BUT THERE IS A TECHNICAL ASSESSMENT IN TERMS OF AN ENGINEERING ASSESSMENT TO DETERMINE IF [04:50:09] THIS REPAIR NEEDS TO BE MADE. SO SO HERE'S WHAT I'M TRYING TO FIGURE OUT. MY GUESS IS IF THE PROPOSAL IS TO INCREASE THE BUDGET FOR THIS FROM 5 MILLION TO 10 MILLION, YOU DIDN'T HAVE ENOUGH. WELL, I WOULD SAY THAT, COMMISSIONER, I'M I WHAT WE ARE PROPOSING IS JUST AN INVESTMENT OF 5 MILLION. I AM NOT AWARE. YOU KNOW THE BEFORE. WHAT WAS THE AMOUNT BEFORE? WHAT ARE WE SPENDING ON IT? PREVIOUSLY? MEMBERS OF THE CODE COUNT ENGINEER. ENGINEERING. JUST A LITTLE LOUDER, MILTON, A LITTLE CLOSER. YEAH, A LITTLE CLOSER. A LITTLE CLOSER, LOUDER. ALRIGHT, COMMISSIONERS, CAN YOU HEAR ME NOW? YEAH, YEAH, YEAH. I'M SORRY. I DIDN'T WANT YOU TO HAVE TO DO THAT, BUT JUST TALK A LITTLE LOUDER. YES. SO THE CURRENT PROGRAM IS ABOUT $5 MILLION. AVERAGE PLUS MINUS. COMMISSIONER. THIS FUNDING STAYS IN OMB, AND ANYTIME WE HAVE AN EMERGENCY REPAIR FROM ANY PRECINCT, WE REQUEST THE FUNDING. AND THE OMB HAS A CAP. AND THE CURRENT INVESTMENT COMMISSIONER, I'LL TELL YOU, WE HAVE A $5.9 MILLION PROJECTS IN THE QUEUE. THIS IS AN EMERGENCY PROJECT, 1.17IN PRECINCT, 1.98IN PRECINCT TWO, 1.4 MILLION INCHES PRECINCT THREE AND 2.5 MILLION INCHES PRECINCT FOUR. SO THE INVESTMENT AGAIN, COMMISSIONER IS MOSTLY LIKE DOCTOR PETERSON MENTIONED. IT'S TREATED AS AN EMERGENCY REPAIR PROGRAM. SO IF YOU HAVE AN OUTFALL THAT'S GOING TO CREATE AN IMMINENT DANGER TO OUR RESIDENTS OR RESIDENTS OF FLOODING AND PIPE COLLAPSE AND DAMAGE OF INFRASTRUCTURE. WE ADDRESSED THAT IN COORDINATION WITH THE PRECINCT. CAN YOU DO A DASHBOARD OR SOMETHING? I JUST I'M JUST I'M SORRY TO BE THIS WAY, BUT I WAS JUST SO SHOCKED AT THE COMMISSIONER. YOU KNOW, THAT IS A GREAT SUGGESTION. AND ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE INCLUDED IN OUR AGREEMENT WITH ENGINEERING WAS THE DEVELOPMENT OF A DASHBOARD SO WE COULD ALL HAVE VISIBILITY INTO THE WORK THAT'S BEING DONE. SO I, I HAVE NO PROBLEM WITH THAT REQUEST AT ALL. WE WERE ALREADY THINKING TO HAVE A DASHBOARD. SO WE CAN ABSOLUTELY DO THAT. COMMISSIONER RAMSEY I'LL JUST BRING IT UP BECAUSE I DON'T WANT US TO BE. IT'S NOT NEARLY THAT LARGE OF A POT OF MONEY, BUT I WAS JUST SO SHOCKED BY THE PREVIOUS ITEM. I'M JUST I'M JUST VERY SUSPICIOUS. THE FACT IS THAT IT IS A MAINTENANCE ACTIVITY. IT SHOULD BE PAID FOR OUT OF THOSE NEW MAINTENANCE DOLLARS. IT'S IN FLOOD CONTROL. THERE IS AN ENGINEERING ELEMENT. WE'VE JUST HAD THE GRAND CANYON OPEN UP AND KICKERILLO PARK. IT'S ABOUT TO WASH OUT A WHOLE PARK. AND SO WE GOT TO GET SOME PEOPLE IN THERE QUICKLY AND GET THAT THAT PIPE REPLACED. THE UNDERPINNINGS OF THAT, THAT WHOLE TRAIL IS. SO THESE ARE USUALLY NINE ONE ONES. WE GOT TO GET SOMEBODY OUT THERE PRETTY QUICK AND REPLACE IT. AND IT'S USUALLY ON A FLOOD CONTROL OUTFALL TO A CREEK. YEAH. COMMISSIONER ROB BRIONES AND COMMISSIONER GARCIA, THANK YOU. FIRST OF ALL, DOCTOR PETERSON, THANK YOU. I'M VERY ENERGIZED BY THE MAINTENANCE PLAN THAT YOU AND YOUR TEAM HAVE. AND I'M VERY ENERGIZED BY THE PROGRESS YOU'RE MAKING ON THE FLOOD BOND PROJECT. SO THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU. I KNOW YOU WORK TIRELESSLY WITH REGARD TO THIS OUTFALL. COULD YOU PLEASE JUST RECAP WHY THIS SIZE OF INVESTMENT AND WHAT YOU THINK IS THE HIGHEST AND BEST USE IN TERMS OF ALLOCATION METHODOLOGY? AND THEN LASTLY, JUST AGAIN, SO EVERYONE'S CLEAR WHY THESE MAINTENANCE DOLLARS ARE BEING. THIS WILL BE RUN BY ENGINEERING. I KNOW WE'VE TALKED ABOUT IT, BUT I JUST WANT EVERYONE ON THE SAME PAGE WHO MIGHT BE LISTENING TO TODAY'S MEETING. CERTAINLY. SO, YOU KNOW, FIRST LET'S TALK ABOUT THE THESE OUTFALLS. RIGHT. OUTFALLS DISCHARGE INTO OUR CHANNELS. THEY WE HAVE TALKED ABOUT THE THE POTENTIAL FOR FAILURES FOR IMPACT TO OUR CHANNELS AND THAT HAVE THE POTENTIAL TO INCREASE FLOOD RISK. SO CERTAINLY THIS IS, AS COMMISSIONER RAMSEY NOTED, A VERY, VERY IMPORTANT PLACE TO FOCUS OUR EFFORTS WHEN IT COMES TO OUR MAINTENANCE PROGRAM IN TERMS OF THE, YOU KNOW, WHY THIS AMOUNT OF MONEY? WE KNOW THAT THIS WILL LIKELY SUPPORT, YOU KNOW, SOMEWHERE ON THE ORDER OF, YOU KNOW, IT COULD IT BE 25 TO 50 OUTFALL REPAIRS COULD BE MORE. BUT THIS WAS, YOU KNOW, DEVELOPED IN COORDINATION WITH DOCTOR RAHMAN IN TERMS OF THE BACKLOG. HE HAD THE TYPE OF PROBLEMS THAT HE THAT HE WAS SEEING THAT COULD BE ADDRESSED BY THIS PROGRAM SPECIFICALLY FOR THE DISTRICT. AND I DID JUST WANT TO POINT OUT AGAIN, IN OUR JOINT FUNDING LETTER AT THE TOP OF THE SECOND PAGE, WE DO ADDRESS THE FACT THAT WE WILL INCLUDE TOOLS TO PROVIDE REPORTING ON THE LOCATION, THE ASSET CONDITION, THE STATUS OF THE OUTFALL PROJECT AND FINANCIAL EXPENDITURES FOR TRANSPARENCY. SO WE WE DEFINITELY HAD IN MIND THE NEED TO COMMUNICATE ABOUT THIS PROGRAM BECAUSE IT IS NEW. [04:55:03] AND THEN IN TERMS OF JUST THE OVERALL WORK, RIGHT, WE ARE ADVANCING MULTIPLE LINES OF EFFORT WHEN IT COMES TO THE MAINTENANCE PROGRAM. WE ARE SCALING OUR CONTRACTS, OUR PEOPLE, OUR FACILITIES, OUR EQUIPMENT TO BE ABLE TO DELIVER BECAUSE WE ARE MOVING QUICKLY SO THAT WE CAN SEE AN IMPACT. THAT IS OUR FOCUS. AND I FEEL A GREAT SENSE OF URGENCY, AND I'VE SEEN IT IN THE PLANS THAT YOU'VE BEEN SHARING WITH ALL FIVE OF OUR OFFICES. AND OFFICES AND I THANK YOU VERY MUCH. SO I'M HAPPY TO SUPPORT THIS. THANK YOU, DOCTOR PETERSON. THANK YOU, DOCTOR AMON. COMMISSIONER GARCIA, THANK THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER. AND DOCTOR RAMON AND DOCTOR PETERSON, THANK YOU FOR YOUR COLLECTIVE WORK. TO THE CONVERSATION EARLIER I WOULD ASK THAT YOU DEVELOP A PROCESS TO COMMUNICATE WITH EACH OF THE PRECINCTS. AND PRIOR, HELP US PRIORITIZE BY VIRTUE OF FLOOD RISK ALL THE THINGS THAT YOU BOTH HAVE MENTIONED IN TERMS OF WHAT MAKES THE PROJECT MORE VALUABLE, IT MAY NOT HAVE PRIORITIZATION OR EQUITY IN, IN THE OTHER WAY, BUT IT WILL AT LEAST LET US KNOW THIS ONE IS GOING TO HELP MORE HOMES. OR POSES A RISK TO ROADWAYS AND THEN LET US THINK THROUGH WHAT IS A PRIORITY OR NOT? UNDERSTOOD. AND THEN AND THEN TO WHAT WAS MENTIONED, I THINK THE OUTFALL. PROGRAM IS ACTUALLY WORTH 5.9, I THINK YOU SAID. AND WE'RE ONLY GIVING YOU. 5 MILLION. DOCTOR RAYMOND. SO IS THERE ANY REASON WHY WE DON'T ADD THE. 0.9. COMMISSIONER, WE HAD SOME FUNDING LEFT OVER FROM LAST YEAR, SO WE. OKAY. GOOD DEAL. ALL RIGHT, SO THAT MAKES THE PROGRAM WHOLE. THAT WAY WE'RE NOT. INTO THE SAME SITUATION WHERE WE WE HAVE MORE PROJECTS THAN MONEY. BUT IF YOU WILL WORK THROUGH THAT PROCESS THAT WAY WE CAN MAKE SURE TO AVOID ANY ANY SURPRISES FOR ANY ONE OF US. UNDERSTOOD. GOOD DEAL. THANK YOU. THANK YOU BOTH. THANK YOU. BACK ON THE LIST. DOCTOR RAHMAN, I JUST WANT TO ASK YOU DO YOU SEE ANY PROBLEMS IF WE CHANGE THE CRITERIA SO THAT OUTFALLS DON'T HAVE TO GO TO FLOOD CONTROL DISTRICT INFRASTRUCTURE ONLY? I MEAN, THEY OBVIOUSLY OTHER DITCHES THAT WE HAVE IN THE PRECINCTS THAT HAVE OF THESE ISSUES AS WELL. WELL, COMMISSIONER, IF I COULD JUST JUMP IN FIRST, I WOULD, I WOULD THESE DOLLARS. I JUST WANT TO MAKE CLEAR THAT IT'S VERY IMPORTANT THAT THEY'RE SPENT ON FLOOD CONTROL INFRASTRUCTURE. BUT I WILL LET DOCTOR RAHMAN SPEAK MORE BROADLY ABOUT THE OTHER OUTFALLS THAT. COMMISSIONER, I WAS GOING TO SAY THAT THIS PROBABLY WOULD BE A COUNTY ATTORNEY QUESTION ABOUT ELIGIBLE FUNDS, BUT CERTAINLY FROM THE ENGINEERING SIDE WE BELIEVE THIS OPENING UP THE PROGRAM WITH WEATHER DATA, PART OF THE HALF AND HALF OF THE THE 5 MILLION WE GET TODAY AND THE ADDITIONAL 5 MILLION WE'RE GOING TO GET IT'S A GOOD IDEA TO DO THAT BECAUSE THAT WILL BECAUSE WE HAVE A LOT OF OPEN DITCHES IN EVERY PRECINCT THAT ALSO HAVE OUTFALL. SO THAT GIVES THAT WILL GIVE THE COUNTY MORE FLEXIBILITY. BUT SUDDENLY THE ELIGIBLE FUND HAS TO BE DETERMINED BY THE COUNTY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE. IS IT ELIGIBLE? WE WOULD NEED TO LOOK AT IT. OKAY. I'D JUST LIKE YOU TO LOOK AT IT BECAUSE I'M JUST SAYING WHEN WHEN PEOPLE WENT OUT THERE AND VOTED FOR THAT INCREASE, I DON'T THINK THEY HAD SIGNS ON IF THEY HAD OUTFALL, I DON'T THINK THEY WERE RUNNING AROUND WITH A SIGN ON WHERE IT WAS COMING FROM. WE CAN LOOK AT IT. WE WE MAY HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO GO TO THEM AGAIN ONE DAY. WE MIGHT NOT. DEPENDS ON HOW THIS MONEY IS BEING SPENT. NO. WE CAN LOOK AT WHAT THE THE CRITERIA WAS THAT ALLOWED FOR IT, FOR THAT FUNDING SOURCE. AND WE COULD COME BACK IN A MINUTE LATER. CORRECT. MAKE THAT DECISION LATER AND AND RAISE POTENTIALLY RAISE THE DOLLAR AMOUNT. OKAY. IS THERE A MOTION. SO MOVED. IS THERE A SECOND. MOTION MADE BY COMMISSIONER GARCIA. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER RAMSEY. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, VOTE AYE. ALL OPPOSED. VOTE NO FOR AS NO. NAYS. ITEM PASSES AS PRESENTED. AS PRESENTED. YES, SIR. NEXT ONE IS ITEM 64. I BELIEVE THAT IS. THAT IS MINE. AND SO I AM. THIS IS GOOD NEWS. THIS IS ONE OF THOSE EXCITING PROJECTS THAT HELPS IMPROVE SAFETY, CONNECTIVITY, ACCESS, QUALITY OF LIFE. AND I'M REALLY THANKFUL TO MY TEAM FOR THEIR HELP MAKING THIS HAPPEN. SO THIS IS IN THE KATY AREA MEMORIAL PARKWAY NEIGHBORHOOD. THIS IS ONE OF OUR PLACES FOR PEOPLE PARTNERSHIP PROJECTS. SO WE PARTNERED WITH MEMORIAL MUD. THIS IS ABOUT A $1.5 MILLION SHARED INVESTMENT. AND THIS WILL CREATE A TRAIL THAT WILL HELP CONNECT A SCHOOL. [05:00:03] SO IT WILL CREATE A SAFER PATH TO A SCHOOL AS WELL AS A BUSINESS ECONOMIC AREA IN THAT KATY MEMORIAL PARK NEIGHBORHOOD. SO I'M REALLY EXCITED TO GET THIS STARTED. THANK YOU TO MY TEAM WHO HELPS LEAD THIS PLACES FOR PEOPLE IF YOU'RE LISTENING. EACH SPRING WE WILL KEEP OPENING IT OPENING IT UP TO INVITE OUR CITIES, SCHOOL DISTRICTS, MUD'S, MANAGEMENT DISTRICTS AND BEYOND TO SUBMIT IDEAS FOR PARTNERSHIP PROJECTS, INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS. AND SO. AND JUST IN JANUARY ALONE, ONE OF OUR PROJECTS, BRAYS BAYOU, $6.6 MILLION IN TRAILS ALONG BRAYS BAYOU WITH THE HOUSTON PARKS BOARD. NINE UNDERCROSSINGS. SO FROM A SAFETY PERSPECTIVE, IT WILL BE HUGE AS WELL AS THE CONNECTIVITY QUALITY OF LIFE. AND ALSO THERE'S A PLAZA, SO THERE'S A HISTORICAL EDUCATIONAL ELEMENT. AND THEN SPEAKING OF FLOODING, I WANT TO THANK DOCTOR PETERSON AND HER TEAM AND TOURS. 12 WE JUST REACHED AN AGREEMENT ON AN $11 MILLION PROJECT FOR SIEMENS DRIVE IN THE TIMBER GROVE AREA TO REDUCE FLOODING. SO THERE'S SO MANY DIFFERENT PROJECTS THAT WE HAVE SELECTED IN 2023, 2024, TOTALING A $220 MILLION INVESTMENT IN PARTNERSHIP INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS. SO I THINK WE GET MORE DONE. I KNOW WE GET MORE DONE WHEN WE DO IT TOGETHER, SO I LOOK FORWARD TO CONTINUING PLACES FOR PEOPLE AS LONG AS THE PEOPLE GIVE ME THE OPPORTUNITY TO SERVE. SO THANK YOU TO MY INFRASTRUCTURE, PLANNING, COMMUNICATIONS, COMPLIANCE, FINANCE TEAMS FOR MAKING THIS HAPPEN. AND I'M PROUD TO MOVE. ITEM 64 AS PRESENTED. MOTION MADE BY COMMISSIONER BRIONES, SECOND BY COMMISSIONER GARCIA. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE. THOSE OPPOSED, VOTE NO. FOUR EYES AND NO NAYS. ITEM PASSES. NICK SAYS THANK YOU. CONGRATULATIONS. NEXT IS ITEM 115, FLAGGED BY PRECINCT THREE AND UNIVERSAL SERVICES. ASK THAT WE TAKE 115 AND 322 THAT I THINK YOU'VE ALREADY TAKEN A VOTE ON THAT. YES. NEXT IS ITEM 130, PRECINCT THREE. YEAH. I'M. I'M GOING TO SUPPORT THE MOTION ON 130. I JUST WANT TO UNDERSTAND THAT WE WILL BE COMING BACK WITH THE DETECTIVE RANK AND THE CONSTABLE'S SIDE OF IT. SO NOW THAT WE'RE DEALING WITH THE SHERIFF'S SIDE, THE DETECTIVE RANK, THERE WERE CERTAIN INFORMATION. SO WHATEVER INFORMATION THE SHERIFF'S PROVIDED, THE CONSOLES WOULD PROVIDE. BUT WE'LL BE COMING BACK WITH THAT. AND I MOVE ON THE ON THE ITEM. I'LL SECOND IT. MOTION MADE BY COMMISSIONER RAMSEY. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER GARCIA. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, VOTE AYE. AYE. AYE. OPPOSED? VOTE NO. FOUR EYES AND NO. NAYS. ITEM PASSES. NEXT IS ITEM 134. RIGHT. WE DID IT AT THAT. I GOT 204 BY THREE. IS THAT RIGHT? FOR AUTO. AUTO CLAIM. YOU WANT TO VOTE AGAINST SOMETHING IN THEIR COMMISSION? THERE'S A MOTION TO APPROVE ALL DISBURSEMENTS EXCEPT FOR BOSTON CONSULTING GROUP. MOTION MADE BY COMMISSIONER RAMSEY. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER GARCIA. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, VOTE AYE. AYE. ALL THOSE OPPOSED, VOTE NO. FOUR HAS NO NAYS. ITEM PASSES. NOW, COMMISSIONER GARCIA. YOU MOVE OR YOU WANT ME TO MOVE IT? I'LL MOVE ON. SECOND. MOTION MADE BY COMMISSIONER GARCIA. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER BRIONES. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE. AYE. THOSE OPPOSED VOTE NO. NO. THREE EYES AND ONE NAY. COMMISSIONER RAMSEY VOTES NO. ITEM PASSES. NEXT ITEM IS. DO WE DO THAT? 243. NO. COMMISSIONER, I KNOW YOU WANTED. OH, THIS IS YOU WANTED TO HOLD THE ITEM. I THINK THERE'S JUST. WE NEED SOME SORT OF DIRECTION. SHE DID ASK SO MEMBERS. SO HERE'S WHAT WE HAVE. SHE WANTS, SHE SUGGESTS, IN ORDER TO TO PUT IT OUT FOR RFP AGAIN, THAT WE SET A MINIMUM WAGE. WE COULD DO $18 THAT ALIGNS WITH DALLAS, $20 THAT ALIGNS WITH THE HARRIS LIVING WAGE. WE PAY US $15, ALIGNS WITH HOUSTON AND HARRIS COUNTY EMPLOYEES. I'M GOING TO SUGGEST TO 20. BUT JUST WHAT'S YOUR PREFERENCE? OKAY, I'LL MAKE A MOTION FOR THE 22ND. I'LL SECOND. MOTION MADE BY ELLIS AND SECOND BY RAMSEY. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, VOTE AYE. AYE. FOUR EYES. NO. NEXT ITEM PASSES. AND RELATEDLY, I'M VERY EXCITED. THANK YOU. PURCHASING AGENT MCGUINNESS THAT YOU CAN GET THIS OUT WITH THE NEW BID REQUIREMENTS BY NEXT FRIDAY. THANK YOU. AND WE NEED THAT POLICY SO THAT THIS COULD BE OUR HARRIS COUNTY WIDE POLICY. HOW QUICKLY CAN OCA BRING THAT BACK? MARCH 27TH. MARCH 27TH. ALL RIGHT. I LOOK FORWARD TO IT. THANK YOU. PROGRESS. I APPRECIATE YOU ALL. COMMISSIONER, COULD THE FULL MOTION BE READ FOR ITEM 243? JUST FOR CLARITY THAT I CAN READ IT? YEAH. YEAH. MOTION TO REBID, CUSTODIAL CLEANING SERVICES AND RELATED ITEMS AT VARIOUS LOCATIONS IN REGIONS ONE THROUGH FOUR FOR THE OFFICE OF COUNTY ENGINEER. UTILIZING A MINIMUM WAGE RATE OF $20 PER HOUR. AND I'LL SEND IT. JAMES. THIS IS FOR 351, RIGHT? [05:05:03] YES. 350. I'M SORRY. THIS IS FOR 243. OH, I'M SORRY 243. YEAH, ACTUALLY, IT'S FOR 351 IS WHAT I JUST READ, I APOLOGIZE. OKAY. YOU HAVE THE TWO 4243. WELL, JUST NO ACTION. SORRY. NO ACTION ON 243. THE MOTION IS FOR 351. MY APOLOGIES. OKAY. OKAY. THANK YOU. AND THAT. THAT'S ALREADY PASSED. AND WE HOLD IN. CORRECT. 351 AND WE'RE HOLDING 243. AND THE MOTION WAS ON. 351. DID WE VOTE? I SHOW A40. OKAY. YOU GOT IT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THE NEXT ONE THAT I HAVE IS 263. IS THAT CORRECT? YEAH. I JUST HAD A I HAD A QUESTION. THIS IS REQUEST FOR APPROVAL OF PERSONAL SERVICE. EXEMPTION FROM COMPETITIVE BID REQUIREMENTS FOR RENEWAL OF APEX AIR STRATEGIES. AND THIS IS CLEARLY TO SERVE OUR INTERIM CHIEF PEOPLE OFFICER. CORRECT. IS APEX. THAT'S A CONSULTING FIRM WE CONTRACT WITH. THAT'S THAT'S OUR CURRENT INTERIM CHIEF PEOPLE OFFICER DOUGLAS. THAT'S THAT'S HER CONTRACT FOR DOING THE WORK. THAT'S HER. IT'S HER. RIGHT. IT'S A PERSONAL SERVICE. PEOPLE WORK AT THAT FIRM. IT'S JUST HER. AND IT'S JUST FOR HER. OURS. NO ONE ELSE'S. I DON'T MEAN TO BE TACKY. NO. YES, SIR. I FEEL LIKE WITH SOME OTHER THINGS THAT HAVE HAPPENED, THAT FIRM APEX DOES NOT WORK FOR ANYBODY ELSE. NO OTHER, NO OTHER COUNTIES. THERE'S NO OTHER ASSIGNMENTS. THIS IS THE ONLY PLACE APEX IS WORKING. CORRECT. AND AND WE. WHAT WHAT WE DO IS SHE SUBMITS HER HER HOURS AND WE CHECK HER HOURS, AND THEN WE PAY FOR HER HOURS THAT SHE'S ON THE CLOCK. AND AS SOON AS WE HIRE THE HR PROFESSIONAL, THEN WE WILL WE WILL MAKE SURE THAT WE WIND THIS ONE DOWN. THIS CONTRACT DOWN LESS THAN A YEAR, SO WE'RE HOPING IT'S NOT GOING TO BE A FULL YEAR. SO TO BE. I'M SORRY. JUST SO JUST TO BE CLEAR, IT SAYS IN THE AMOUNT OF 312,000. BUT THEN YOU SAID YOU PAY HER FOR THE HOURS WORKED. SO IT'S UP TO 312,000, UP TO 312,000 FOR THE LAST ONE. IT WASN'T THE FULL AMOUNT. OKAY. OKAY. COMMISSIONER. COMMISSIONER GARCIA MADE A MOTION. I'LL SECOND IT. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, VOTE AYE. AYE. ALL OPPOSED? VOTE NO. NO. THREE EYES AND ONE. NO. COMMISSIONER RAMSEY VOTES NO. NOW, THE LAST ONE. THE NEXT ONE I HAVE IS 270. OKAY. COMMISSIONER GARCIA. THANK YOU. ON THIS PARTICULAR ITEM I JUST WANT TO RECOGNIZE THAT HARRIS COUNTY HAS MADE SOME INCREDIBLE AND HISTORIC PROGRESS IN TACKLING OUR HOUSING CHALLENGES. AND I'M PROUD TO SAY THAT WE'VE ALREADY IMPLEMENTED A KEY POLICY THAT ENSURES PUBLIC BENEFIT AND ACCOUNTABILITY IN TAX EXEMPTIONS, WHICH IS THE HARRIS COUNTY TAX EXEMPTION POLICY. THIS POLICY WAS THE RESULT OF A STRONG COLLABORATION BETWEEN MY OFFICE, HARRIS COUNTY HOUSING AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT, AND AVENUE CDC, A TRUSTED NONPROFIT DEDICATED TO PRESERVING AFFORDABLE HOUSING. NOW IT'S TIME TO APPLY THE SAME HIGH STANDARDS TO OUR PUBLIC FACILITY CORPORATION POLICY, ENSURING THAT EVERY PFC PROJECT DELIVERS REAL HOUSING SOLUTIONS FOR OUR RESIDENTS AT THE STATE LEVEL. WE SHOULD ENGAGE WITH ORGANIZATIONS LIKE THE TEXAS ASSOCIATION OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING PROVIDERS AND THE TEXAS ASSOCIATION OF COUNTIES TO ENSURE THAT WE'RE STAYING AHEAD OF THE CURVE AND LEARNING FROM OUR PEERS. THAT MEANS ENSURING AT LEAST 51% OF PFC FUNDED UNITS ARE AFFORDABLE TO FAMILIES EARNING AT OR BELOW THE 60% OF THE AREA MEDIAN INCOME, MIRRORING GUIDELINES. JUST AS WE DID WITH THE CHOTTO POLICY, OUR PFC RPC FRAMEWORK MUST REQUIRE ANNUAL COMPLIANCE REVIEWS. TENANT AFFORDABILITY PROTECTIONS AND STRICT FINANCIAL OVERSIGHT. THAT MEANS PUBLIC TRANSPARENCY, REQUIRING COMMUNITY NOTIFICATION AND HEARINGS BEFORE PFC PROJECTS ARE APPROVED. IT ALSO MEANS ENSURING DEVELOPERS MEET AFFORDABILITY AFFORDABILITY STANDARDS OR FACE PENALTIES, INCLUDING REVOCATION OF TAX BENEFITS. WE NEED FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY. SO I PROPOSE A HOUSING EXEMPTION CAP, A MAXIMUM VALUATION OF PROPERTY TAX EXEMPTIONS PER YEAR. SO WE BALANCE HOUSING NEEDS WITH REVENUE CONCERNS. BY TAKING ACTION TODAY, WE CAN EXPAND AFFORDABLE HOUSING, STRENGTHEN OUR COMMUNITIES AND ENSURE THAT TAX BENEFITS SERVE THE PUBLIC GOOD, NOT JUST THE DEVELOPERS. THIS IS OUR MOMENT TO ENSURE THAT HARRIS COUNTY SETS THE GOLD STANDARD FOR RESPONSIBLE, TRANSPARENT AND EFFECTIVE AFFORDABLE HOUSING POLICY. [05:10:03] AS SUCH, I WOULD LIKE TO PROPOSE A FRIENDLY AMENDMENT TO THIS ITEM. SO I MOVE TO ADD A FRIENDLY AMENDMENT TO DIRECT HOUSING, HARRIS COUNTY HOUSING AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT TO ENGAGE DIRECTLY WITH NACCHO THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF COUNTIES, THE THP, WHICH IS THE WHICH IS THE TEXAS ASSOCIATION OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING PROVIDERS, AND THE TEXAS ASSOCIATION OF COUNTIES TO INCORPORATE NATIONAL AND STATEWIDE PRACTICES INTO OUR PFC POLICY. SECONDLY, DRAFT A HARRIS COUNTY PFC POLICY THAT MIRRORS THE EXISTING HARRIS COUNTY TAX EXEMPTION FRAMEWORK WITH CLEAR AFFORDABILITY COMMITMENTS, COMPLIANCE REQUIREMENTS, AND STRONG PUBLIC OVERSIGHT. SO I'M EXCITED ABOUT THE WORK THAT WE'RE DOING. AFFORDABLE HOUSING IS STRUGGLING TO STAY AFFORDABLE. BUT WITH THE POLICY THAT WE PASSED PREVIOUSLY, I'M SO PROUD AND I KEEP TALKING TO ALL OF OUR OTHER TAXING JURISDICTIONS AND URGING THEM TO ADOPT THE SAME POLICY AS WELL. SO ONE QUICK QUESTION. OKAY. YEAH. YEAH. I JUST WANT TO ASK DIRECTED TO THE DIRECTOR. ARE YOU COMFORTABLE WITH THIS TOWEL? COST US. COMMISSIONER GORDON. THANK YOU. TOWEL COSTS, HOUSING AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT. YOU GOT TO USE THAT OUTSIDE VOICE. I'M SORRY. YEAH. THANK YOU. AND AND I HAVE JOINING ME ALSO TORY GONZALEZ, OUR CHIEF PROGRAM OFFICER, WHO IS OUR HOUSING EXPERT. AND COMMISSIONER GARCIA, THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP AND SUPPORT, AS ALWAYS, ON AFFORDABLE HOUSING. AND WE SHARE YOUR PRIORITY AND YOUR REALLY COMMITMENT TO USING THE TOOLS THAT WE HAVE IN THE MOST APPROPRIATE, BEST PRACTICE AND STRONG WITH STRONG PUBLIC OVERSIGHT. WE WOULD RESPECTFULLY REQUEST AT THIS POINT, SINCE IT IS EARLY IN OUR EXPLORATION AND REALLY JUST WANTING TO HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO WORK WITH YOU, YOUR STAFF AND COURT STAFF AS WELL AS THESE OTHER ENTITIES TO REALLY DELVE INTO THIS TOOL MORE CLEARLY SO THAT WE ARE NOT CONFLATING OR APPROACHING IT TO TOO FIRMLY, TOO TIGHTLY, AND OR TOO BROADLY. SO AT THIS POINT, I WOULD JUST ASK IF WE CAN JUST HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO KEEP IT AS IS, MAINLY JUST SO THAT WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO DIG IN A LITTLE BIT MORE AND COME BACK TO YOU. THE REASON YOU KNOW, THIS IS THE ONE I PUT ON THE AGENDA. I SAW THE PRESS ACCOUNTS AND I GOT SOME CALLS FROM PEOPLE, SO I WANTED THEM TO BE THOUGHTFUL, BUT TO TIGHTEN IT UP AND NOT BEING AN EXPERT ON IT, I DON'T KNOW HOW MUCH IT OUGHT TO BE TIGHTENED, BUT I PUT ON THERE THE ITEM I HAVE IS JUST TO COME BACK TO US WITH SOME RECOMMENDATIONS. AND YOURS MAY BE PERFECTLY FINE. I JUST DON'T KNOW. YOU GOT ME. I JUST LOOKED AT IT TODAY. SO I'D ASK YOU TO LET THEM COME BACK WITH IT AT THE NEXT COURT. IF YOU CAN WORK IT OUT, PUT IT ON THE BUSINESS COURT IF IT'S NON-CONTROVERSIAL. WONDERFUL. SO, TAO COULD YOU WOULD YOU BE READY FOR THE NEXT COURT ON THIS? OUR BUSINESS OR IN MARCH? MAY? PROBABLY NOT. I THINK RIGHT NOW THE NEXT BUSINESS COURT WOULD BE ON THE 13TH. ON THE 13TH OF. THAT'S THE. THAT'S NEXT WEEK. I THINK WE WOULD NEED MORE TIME. OKAY. SO AND NOW NEXT WE HAVE A NEXT COURT, A BUSINESS COURT ON THE 27TH, AND THEN WE'RE IN MARCH. WOW. WE HAVE. SO HERE'S WHAT I SUGGEST. IF WE'VE BEEN OUT OF WHACK ALL THIS TIME, HOW MUCH TIME DO YOU NEED? DON'T LET IT COME BACK IN SIX MONTHS. WE DON'T WE DON'T HAVE ANOTHER COMMISSIONERS COURT MEETING UNTIL LATER MARCH. MARCH THE 27TH. IS THAT ENOUGH TIME? OH, I THINK THAT'S TOO MUCH TIME. I MEAN, I'M I'M. I'D LIKE TO SEE GET SOME THOUGHTS ON THIS QUICKLY. SO, TAO, CAN YOU JUST WORK ON THIS, AND I WILL SHOOT FOR ONE OF THESE BUSINESS COURTS? OKAY. MAKE IT IF WE'LL, YOU KNOW, WE'LL FLOAT IT AROUND TO ALL THE OFFICES, MAKE SURE THAT THERE'S CONSENSUS. BECAUSE IF WE LOOK AT IT, IF YOU CAN, IF YOU HAVE IT FOR A BUSINESS COURT, OBVIOUSLY ANYBODY CAN KNOCK IT OFF OF A BUSINESS MEETING, BUT I WANT TO MAKE SURE IT'S DONE RIGHT, WHICH IS WHY I PUT I WANT IT DONE. I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE IT'S DONE RIGHT. WELL, COMMISSIONER RAMSEY. ALL RIGHT. WE WILL WORK QUICKLY. 220 MUDS IN PRECINCT THREE. THE NUMBER ONE ISSUE WITH THEM IS PFCS. AND SOME OF THE THINGS THAT PFCS HAVE DONE IN TERMS OF COMING IN AND BUYING, [05:15:09] FOR EXAMPLE, A $25 MILLION COMPLEX SAYING IT WAS AFFORDABLE HOUSING TAKES IT OFF THE TAX AND THEY DON'T DO ANY AFFORDABLE HOUSING. AND ALL THESE MUDS ARE LEFT WITH IS A LOT OF DEBT. SO IT'S A HUGE ISSUE WITH THE MUDS AND THE UNINCORPORATED AREA IN PARTICULAR. SO DO YOU KNOW IF SOMEBODY'S DONE IT? I MEAN, JUST SAYING, YOU KNOW, SOMEBODY HAS COME UP WITH SOME GUIDELINES, SOME OTHER COUNTY OR CITY. I KNOW WHAT NOT TO DO, BUT I DON'T KNOW. RIGHT. SO HOW WOULD YOU ALL COME UP WITH IT? I MEAN, HOW DO YOU COME UP WITH SOME TORY? DO YOU HAVE ANY SOME PERSPECTIVE HERE? AND BEFORE YOU ANSWER, I REALLY LOVED THE IDEA OF WORKING CLOSELY WITH NACO AND THE TEXAS ASSOCIATION OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING PROVIDERS. I THINK LEARNING BEST PRACTICES FROM OTHER JURISDICTIONS AND SEEING WHAT'S WORKING, WHAT'S NOT, BUT I COULDN'T AGREE MORE. AFFORDABLE HOUSING SHOULD HELP THOSE WHO NEED AFFORDABLE HOUSING. IT SHOULD NOT BE HELPING DEVELOPERS AND SHOULD NOT PUT BURDENS ON GOVERNMENTAL JURISDICTIONS. SO WE LOOK FORWARD TO THE RECOMMENDATIONS. JEREMY AUSTIN, IF YOU LOOK TO WHAT THE CITY OF AUSTIN HAS DONE, THAT MIGHT BE THE STRONGEST ONE IN THE STATE. SO IT'S JUST A THOUGHT. SO LOOK AND SEE WHAT THEY'VE DONE IN AUSTIN. OKAY. WE'LL EXPLORE. I HAD MISSED ON ON 204. THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT ADRIAN TWO FOR NO ACTION. NO ACTION. YEAH. YEAH. NO ACTION ON TWO ON. WELL, SO MINE, BY THE WAY. ON 270. NO, NO, COMMISSIONER GARCIA. I SAID COME BACK BY MAY 8TH IF SHE CAN JUST LEAVE IT AT. SO ACTUALLY WE COME BACK BY MAY 8TH OR SOONER IF YOU HAVE IT. IS THAT ALRIGHT? MAN, I'D LIKE TO KNOW, AS WE SAY, NO ACTION. SO I'M SAYING SO. AT LEAST YOU KNOW BY MAY 8TH. YOU BETTER HAVE IT. OH, RIGHT. YEAH. SO I'M SAYING IF YOU GOT IT. OH, WELL, NO. I MENTIONED EARLIER TO TARGET ONE OF THE BUSINESS COURTS FLOATED WITH THE WITH THE OFFICES. IF THERE'S CONSENSUS, THEN LET'S GET IT ON ONE OF THE. WHY DON'T WE JUST NOT TAKE ACTION AND ON THE NEXT COURT, LET'S HAVE A DISCUSSION. AND SO AND WE MAY WE MAY KNOW SO OUR STAFFS MAY KNOW SOMETHING ABOUT WHAT AUSTIN DID BY THEN. OKAY. DOES THAT MAKE SENSE FOR THE MARCH 27TH COURT? YEAH. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. COMMISSIONER, I HAD MISSED A PAYMENT. I NEEDED TO VOTE. 204. YOU WANT TO BRING IT BACK UP OR DID WE VOTE ON IT? WE WE VOTED I. OKAY. DO I NEED TO BRING IT BACK UP OR JUST LET HIM VOTE? NO. NO. WE CAN. WE NEED TO BRING IT BACK UP. SO JUST TO RECONSIDER A MOTION TO BRING BACK. BRING UP ITEM 204 AGAIN. IS THERE A SECOND? THANK YOU. SECOND. MOTION HAS BEEN MADE BY ELLIS. SECOND BY GARCIA. IS THERE AN THERE AN OBJECTION? HEARING NONE. WE'LL BRING IT BACK UP. OKAY. NOW, COMMISSIONER I VOTE TO APPROVE EVERYTHING, BUT DEEM A PAYMENT. OKAY. MOTION HAS BEEN MADE TO APPROVE EVERYTHING OTHER THAN THE PAYMENT AND THE OTHER ONE THAT YOU LEFT OUT. AND WE HAVE TO GO BACK AND REDO THAT ONE. YEAH, RIGHT. YOU HAD DEMON SOMEBODY ELSE, RIGHT? BOSTON. OTHER THAN DEMON. BOSTON CONSULTING. BOSTON CONSULTING. OKAY. MOTION HAS BEEN MADE BY COMMISSIONER. RAMSEY. RAMSEY. SECOND BY ELLIS. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, VOTE AYE. AYE. AYE. ITEM PASSES. FOUR. OH, AND NOW PLEASE ASK DIRECTOR BARTON VERY QUICKLY, JUST TO CONFIRM, I KNOW THE CONTRACT IS NOW TERMINATED WITH FEMA, AND I WANT TO CONFIRM THIS IS THE FINAL PAYMENT FOR THIS IS THE FINAL THAT YOU HAVE VERIFIED. PARDON ME? THIS IS THE LAST INVOICE. THANK YOU. IT'S THE FINAL ONE YOU SAID. OKAY, I'LL MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE DIMA AND BOSTON CONSULTING GROUP. IS THERE A SECOND? SECOND. MOTION MADE BY ELLA. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER BROWN. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, VOTE AYE. AYE. ALL THOSE OPPOSED, VOTE NO. NO. THREE A'S AND ONE. NO. COMMISSIONER RAMSEY VOTES NO. THANK YOU SIR. THANK YOU. ITEM PASSES. TELL ME WHAT'S NEXT BEFORE WE GET OUT OF HERE. IS THERE ANYTHING ELSE? 271, 271. 271 HAS BEEN DONE. 270. IS THERE ANYTHING ELSE? 222 81. COMMISSIONER IS AN 81 FLAG BY THREE. I'LL MAKE THIS QUICK. I AM TELEWORK. TELEWORK. I'VE ASKED FOR INFORMATION. WE'VE STRUGGLED GETTING INFORMATION ON WHO'S WORKING FROM HOME, WHO ISN'T WORKING FROM HOME. I HAD A QUICK CONVERSATION THE LAST COUPLE OF DAYS WITH UNIVERSAL SERVICES. THEY THINK THEY CAN GET A PRETTY GOOD ANSWER ON WHO IS AND WHO ISN'T. SO WITH THAT INFORMATION, WE CAN BEGIN TO AT LEAST UNDERSTAND WHO IS AND WHO ISN'T. I'LL MAKE A MOTION LIKELY WON'T GET A SECOND, BUT MAKE A MOTION TO DIRECT THE OFFICE OF COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR IN HUMAN RESOURCES AND [05:20:03] TALENT DEPARTMENT TO RETURN ON MARCH THE 27TH, 2025, WITH PROPOSED REVISIONS TO THE TELEWORK POLICY THAT REQUIRES OCA REPORTING DEPARTMENTS TO ANNUALLY REVIEW AND SUBMIT THEIR TELEWORK POLICIES AND PARTICIPATION DATA TO HR AND T, AND ALIGNS THE POLICY WITH LARGE URBAN COUNTY BEST PRACTICES THAT ENHANCE ACCOUNTABILITY AND WORKFORCE FLEXIBILITY. COMMISSIONER, I JUST WANT TO BE. THANK YOU. THAT'S PRECINCT FOUR MOTION. OKAY. I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU WERE. YES, I, I WILL SECOND THAT. AND JUST TO BE CLEAR, WE HAD ALREADY ASKED FOR THIS. YES. CORRECT. WE'RE COMING BACK AND FOR SURE WE WILL GET IT THIS TIME BY MARCH 27TH. OKAY. SO YES, WE'RE GOING TO KNOW ON MARCH 27TH WHO IS WORKING FROM HOME AND WHO ISN'T WORKING FROM HOME. WE'LL MAKE SURE THAT WE GET THAT INFORMATION FROM EVERY DEPARTMENT THAT REPORTS TO OCA. RIGHT. BUT OCA TWO THAT'S UNIVERSAL SERVICES CAME UP IN THE LAST DAY OR TWO, WHICH WAS ACTUALLY SHE'S BEEN VERY HELPFUL BECAUSE SHE WOULD KNOW WHO IS AND WHO ISN'T. THERE'S A LOT OF EMPTY BUILDINGS IN HARRIS COUNTY WITH PEOPLE NOT WORKING. SO WE PROBABLY NEED TO AT LEAST UNDERSTAND HOW MANY OF THOSE ARE AND WORK THROUGH IT. AND IF YES, PLEASE GO AHEAD. AND THEN I HAVE ONE QUICK COMMENT. NO. GO AHEAD PLEASE. NO, PLEASE. MINE IS IS MORE OF A POLICY PHILOSOPHY POINT. AND JUST JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THAT, YOU KNOW, YOU'RE ALL OKAY, THAT WE'RE LOOKING AT DEFINING TELEWORK DIFFERENT FROM REMOTE WORK. AND TELEWORK IS WHERE IS WHERE YOU CAN WORK AT OTHER OFFICES, AT HOME, YOU KNOW, FOR A FEW DAYS A WEEK, THAT KIND OF THING. REMOTE WORK IS IN SOME INSTANCES WHERE PEOPLE ARE JUST WORKING IN ANOTHER CITY, RIGHT, OR SOMEWHERE ELSE, AND DON'T COME INTO THE OFFICE AT ALL. IT'S TOTALLY REMOTE. YOU KNOW, IT'S LIKE WE'VE SEEN THAT IN PLACES. SO WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE VERY CLEAR ABOUT WHAT TELEWORK IS AND REMOTE WORK IS, AND THAT THE COMMISSIONERS COURT CAN TELL US WHAT'S ALLOWED, WHAT'S NOT. AND WE HAVE THOSE RECOMMENDATIONS. YEAH. THE INITIAL WORK, COMMISSIONER, THAT THE TEAM'S DONE, DONE ON THIS HAS LOOKED AT OTHER JURISDICTIONS. AND THAT'S KIND OF THE THE WAY THE DEFINITIONS HAVE STARTED TO FALL. RIGHT. THAT REMOTE WORK IS PEOPLE WHO ARE FULLY REMOTE NOT COMING TO AN OFFICE. BUT THERE'S THIS OTHER TELEWORK CATEGORY WHICH IS MORE HYBRID, WHERE THERE ARE PEOPLE WORKING FROM OFFICES MULTIPLE DAYS A WEEK. SOME LIKE ARE MANDATED ONE, 2 OR 3. SOME ARE NOT. SO THERE IS THIS KIND OF BROAD AS WE LOOK AT OTHER AT OTHER JURISDICTIONS, THIS KIND OF MIDDLE AREA BETWEEN EVERYBODY HOME AND EVERYBODY, THE MOTION I WANTED TO MAKE WAS HAVE EVERYBODY COME BACK TO WORK NEXT WEEK? YES, SIR. BUT I AGREE WITH THAT ONE. I, I AGREE WITH COMMISSIONER BRIONES IN TERMS OF, OF THIS ONE, BUT WE OUGHT TO AT LEAST UNDERSTAND HOW MANY ARE AND HOW MANY AREN'T. SO WHEN YOU DID MAKE YOU HAD A SECOND. YES. DID YOU GET A COPY OF IT? DID YOU HEAR? YES, I GOT IT. SO I DID WANT TO SAY THAT I KNOW THAT ONE OF MY STAFFERS SAW THE FORMER DA TAKING A PICTURE OF MY OFFICE, AND I JUST WANT TO POINT OUT TO HER, IF SHE. IF SHE'S LISTENING, IF NOBODY WAS IN THAT OFFICE, IT MIGHT HAVE BEEN IN ONE OF THE OTHER OFFICES. BUT I DID GO BY AND TAKE A PICTURE OF HER. SHE WASN'T AT HER DESK. SO MAKE SURE YOU PUT THAT ON THE LIST. YOU KNOW, NEXT TIME SHE COMES, COME TAKE A PICTURE OF ME. AND MOTION HAS BEEN MADE BY COMMISSIONER RAMSEY, SECOND BY COMMISSIONER GARCIA. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, VOTE AYE. AYE. ALL THOSE OPPOSED, VOTE NO. FOUR FLIES, NO NAYS, ITEM PASSES. AND JUST IF I CAN MAKE A VERY QUICK COMMENT, I VERY MUCH LOOK FORWARD TO THIS DATA AND TO THE POLICIES SO THAT ALL OF OUR TEAM MEMBERS CAN HAVE CLARITY. AND FUNDAMENTALLY, AS SOMEONE WHO IS A CHIEF TALENT OFFICER, I BELIEVE HARRIS COUNTY NEEDS TO BE FORWARD THINKING AND ADAPTIVE SO THAT WE RECRUIT AND RETAIN THE BEST TALENT. AT LEAST IN PRECINCT FOUR, OUR POLICY IS NO ONE HAS THE RIGHT TO WORK REMOTELY UNLESS AND UNTIL THEY GET PRIOR WRITTEN APPROVAL FROM THEIR SUPERVISOR. AND SO WE WE KEEP CLOSE TABS ON THAT. AND WE ALSO HAVE POLICY ABOUT ANY OTHER OUTSIDE EMPLOYMENT. AND, AND WE, WE HAVE A VERY ROBUST POLICY. AND AS A WORKING MOM, I RECOGNIZE THAT YOU HAVE TO BE FLEXIBLE WITH PEOPLE. SO I PERSONALLY COULD NEVER GET IN FAVOR OF A ABSOLUTELY. THERE'S NEVER I MEAN, TO ME, IT'S LIKE WE LIVE IN THE YEAR 2025. WE NEED TO REFLECT UNDERSTANDING AND ADAPTABILITY. AND WE ALWAYS NEED TO HAVE CONTROLS, CLARITY AND ACCOUNTABILITY. SO AGAIN AS ALWAYS IT'S A BOTH AND. AND I THINK THE DATA AND THE POLICY IS THE WAY WE'RE GOING TO MOVE FORWARD IN A VERY PRODUCTIVE WAY. SO AND I WOULD SAY I AGREE WITH THAT BECAUSE IF THESE MEETINGS KEEP DRAGGING ON THIS LONG, I'M GOING TO WORK FOR MY HOUSE. BUT I CAN ASSURE YOU I'LL BE WORKING. IT MIGHT PAY MORE ATTENTION THERE THAN I'M PAYING WHEN I'M IN HERE ALL HOURS OF THE NIGHT. RIGHT. OH, I WON'T HATE TO MISS THEM. ITEM 282. COMMISSIONER RAMSEY. [05:25:06] OH, THAT HAS TO DO WITH THE EARLY REACH PROGRAM. AND BECCA RIPLEY WENT THROUGH A PROCESS. THEY PICKED WINNERS AND LOSERS. WE HAD A COUPLE OF LOSERS IN PRECINCT THREE. A COUPLE OF WINNERS IN PRECINCT THREE. ALL I WOULD SAY IS THIS IS A GLIMPSE INTO THE END OF ARPA MONEY. AND IT IS VERY SAD INDEED EIGHT. WHEN YOU HAVE PEOPLE USED TO AN EARLY REACH PROGRAM AND YOU HAVE TO SAY, YOU KNOW WHAT, WE CAN'T DO THAT ANYMORE. SO JUST BUCKLE UP. IT'S GOING TO GET WORSE. IT JUST IS JUST A AN INDICATOR. IT WAS IT WAS IT WAS VERY SAD AND IMPACTING TO SEE THESE FOLKS HAVING TO BE TOLD YOU CAN'T BRING YOUR CHILD HERE ANYMORE. SO WHEN WE GET INTO SOMETHING, WE START DOING SOMETHING. WE SHOULD WANT TO FINISH IT. AND THIS IS AN EXAMPLE OF ONE WE'RE JUST NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO FINISH. SO, COMMISSIONER, I WOULD LIKE TO SAY THAT ALTHOUGH I THINK ALL OF US. I'M SORRY, ADRIAN, I DIDN'T SEE YOU. OH I'LL JUST SAY THIS. I TO COMMISSIONER RAMSEY. AND I'M DISAPPOINTED THAT THESE FOLKS ARE FACING A FINANCIAL CLIFF. HOWEVER, I KNOW THAT WHENEVER WE WORKED WITH THEM THAT WE WORKED HARD TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY UNDERSTOOD THAT THIS WAS TEMPORARY FUNDING AND THAT THEY NEEDED TO GO OUT AND PURSUE THEIR OWN FUNDING. TO THAT END, YOU KNOW, WHEN HARRIS COUNTY, NOT HARRIS COUNTY, BUT A GROUP OF FOLKS PROPOSED A TAX FOR EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION WHEN I WAS SHERIFF, I IMMEDIATELY SUPPORTED IT. I GOT A CALL FROM THE COUNTY JUDGE JUST, YOU KNOW, EXCITED. NOT IN A GOOD WAY THAT I WILL SUPPORT IT. AND I SAID, LOOK, I'M THE SHERIFF OF THE COUNTY OF THE COUNTY JAIL. I'M RESPONSIBLE FOR THE COUNTY JAIL. AND I JUST SEE TOO MANY FOLKS IN HERE THAT DROPPED OUT OF SCHOOL. AND THE RESEARCH SAYS THAT BY TEACHING BASIC LITERACY, MATH, SOCIAL SKILLS EARLY ON, THESE PROGRAMS GIVE CHILDREN A HEAD START. THIS PREPARATION HELPS TO CREATE A MORE CAPABLE WORKFORCE, AND IT ABSOLUTELY DOES BOOST THE ECONOMY. SECONDLY, BY ADDRESSING LEARNING GAPS, EARLY CAN MEAN FEWER CHALLENGES LATER IN LIFE. BY REDUCING THE NEED FOR EXTRA GOVERNMENT HELP AND SPENDING. SO YOU TALK ABOUT A GETTING PEOPLE OFF OF GOVERNMENT SUBSIDIES. THIS IS A PROGRAM THAT CAN ABSOLUTELY, ABSOLUTELY DO THAT. AND THEN THIRDLY, A STRONG EARLY EDUCATION LAYS THE FOUNDATION FOR PERSONAL SUCCESS, HELPING TO IMPROVE SOCIAL MOBILITY AND REDUCE ECONOMIC INEQUALITY THROUGH HARD WORK AND INDIVIDUAL TALENT. I THINK THAT'S COMMENSURATE WITH PULLING YOUR BOOTSTRAPS UP. AND SO AND AS I'VE TALKED TO PEOPLE ABOUT THIS, I HAVE MY POSITION IS I THINK EVERY LEVEL OF GOVERNMENT OUGHT TO BE FUNDING EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION. I THINK IT IS THE SILVER BULLET TO A LOT OF CHALLENGES THAT WE'RE FACING. I THINK THERE'S EVERY BABY IS BORN WITH IMMENSE PROMISE, AND EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION CAN ABSOLUTELY ENSURE THAT THEY LIVE UP TO THAT PROMISE THAT THEY'RE BORN WITH. AND SO, ALTHOUGH I DO, I KEPT TALKING ABOUT HOW THERE WILL BE A FISCAL CLIFF TO THIS. AND IT WAS IMPORTANT TO MAKE SURE PEOPLE KNEW THAT I AM GETTING THOSE EMAILS. I DON'T LIKE GETTING THOSE EMAILS. BUT NONETHELESS, THAT WILL BE THE REALITY. AND SO I LIKE YOU. I DON'T LIKE SEEING THOSE THOSE FOLKS SCRAMBLING AND EXPECTING US TO PICK IT UP. NOW, THEY KNEW IT WAS TEMPORARY FUNDING AND IT WAS UPON THEM TO SEEK SEEK THAT FUNDING OUT. HOWEVER, I AM HOPEFUL. I'M HOPEFUL THAT THIS NEXT ADMINISTRATION WILL LOOK TO THE SUCCESS OF THIS PROGRAM THUS FAR. AND IF YOU WANT A STRONG ECONOMY, IF YOU WANT A SAFER COMMUNITY, IF YOU WANT A COMMUNITY THAT DOESN'T RELY ON GOVERNMENT, [05:30:06] THEN I HOPE THIS ADMINISTRATION WILL SEE ITS WAY TO BRINGING RESOURCES TO LOCAL COMMUNITIES TO FUND EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION. AND THAT'S WHY I ABSOLUTELY SUPPORT THIS 1,000%. SO I MOVE ON TO THE ITEM. THANK YOU. AND I'LL SECOND IT. I JUST WANT TO REMIND US THAT NEARLY A THOUSAND CHILDREN ACROSS 25 RESEARCH CENTERS BENEFITED FROM THE COUNTY'S $57 MILLION INVESTMENT, AND THE STATE HAS A $24 BILLION SURPLUS. IT'D BE NICE IF THE STATE HELPED WITH IT, BUT YOU KNOW, WHAT WE DID WAS THE EQUITY ASSESSMENT TO TRY AND DECIDE HOW TO SPEND THAT MONEY. IN SOME A FEW LIMITED AREAS, WE DID GO FILL EXISTING GAPS. THAT MONEY IS GOING TO GO AWAY AS WELL. BUT SO WE HAVE NOT FILLED THOSE GAPS BECAUSE THE MONEY'S GOING TO GO AWAY. OF COURSE WE WOULDN'T. AND YOU KNOW, THE PEOPLE THAT I'M HEARING FROM, THE FEW THAT I'VE TALKED TO PERSONALLY AND I ASK THEM, WOULD YOU HAVE PREFERRED THAT WE NOT DO IT AT ALL IF WE ONLY HAD THE MONEY TO DO IT FOR A LIMITED AMOUNT OF TIME? WOULD YOU PREFER WE JUST NOT DO IT AT ALL? AND NOT A SINGLE ONE OF THEM HAVE SAID TO ME, WE PREFER THAT YOU NEVER HAVE GIVEN US A HAND UP. SO IT'S A GOOD THING THAT WE DID. AND IF WE HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO DO IT AGAIN FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, I HOPE WE'LL EXERCISE THAT OPPORTUNITY. OR IF THE STATE DECIDED TO DO IT, OR I THINK IT WAS THE HARRIS COUNTY EDUCATION DEPARTMENT THAT WANTED TO GO AND DO THAT ON A LOCAL LEVEL. AND IT WAS A BIG MISTAKE. AND I THINK COMMITMENTS WERE MADE. THEY'D FIND ANOTHER WAY TO DO IT. BUT IT NEVER CAME UNTIL THIS. THIS MONEY FROM THE PREVIOUS FEDERAL ADMINISTRATION LANDED HERE AND WE DECIDED TO DO IT WITH IT. SO I'M PROUD TO SECOND THE MOTION. COMMISSIONER BROWN. YES. COMMISSIONER GARCIA AND COMMISSIONER ELLIS, I COMPLETELY ECHO YOUR SENTIMENTS, AND I'M HAPPY WE DID THIS. I'M HAPPY WE PILOTED IT. I'M HAPPY WE INVESTED. I'M HAPPY WE WERE ABLE TO HELP THE MANY FAMILY, THE OVER 1300 CHILDREN. AND I REALLY HOPE THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AND THE STATE GOVERNMENT PARTNER, BECAUSE FROM AN EDUCATION STANDPOINT, FROM A PUBLIC SAFETY STANDPOINT, FROM AN ECONOMY, FROM A WORKFORCE, FROM HEALTHCARE, THE MORE WE INVEST IN OUR KIDS EARLY, THE DATA IS IRREFUTABLE, AND WE KNOW THAT THERE'S NOT THE COUNTY DOLLARS TO SUSTAIN. AND THE COUPLE OF CENTERS THAT ARE NOT GOING TO PARTICIPATE FOR THE REMAINING PERIOD. I WAS HAPPY BECAUSE I WAS, YOU KNOW, WE'RE ALL GETTING THESE CALLS AND EMAILS AND AS A MOM, IT, YOU KNOW, BREAKS MY HEART. BUT THE GOOD NEWS IS THAT OVER 85% OF THE AFFECTED PARTICIPANTS HAVE OPTED TO TRANSFER TO ONE OF THE CENTERS THAT'S STILL IN OPERATION. SO THAT, YOU KNOW, WE'RE HELPING TO BRIDGE THIS ADDITIONAL TIME PERIOD. AND SO I APPRECIATE THAT. AND I RECOGNIZE THAT, YOU KNOW, THE CLOCK IS TICKING. AND WE WERE VERY CLEAR, RIGHT, IN MANAGING EXPECTATIONS. BUT THAT BEING SAID, IT'S THIS IS A PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN ALL LEVELS OF GOVERNMENT. AND I KNOW THE PRIVATE SECTOR TO THIS IS I MEAN THIS IS OUR WORKFORCE. SO IT'S A IT'S A WIN WIN WIN. AND YEAH, I JUST I LOOK FORWARD TO OPTIMISTIC. I KNOW WE'VE BEEN TALKING A LOT TO JULIETTE AND THE TEXAS WORKFORCE COMMISSION AND HOW WE'VE USED THIS CONTRACTED SLOT FRAMEWORK. SO I THINK THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF LEARNINGS THAT CAN BE SCALED THROUGH OTHER FEDERAL DOLLARS THAT PASS THROUGH THE STATE. SO I REMAIN OPTIMISTIC. AND IT'S BEEN VERY CHALLENGING. SO SO WE DIDN'T THERE'S NO ACTION THAT'S NEEDED ON THIS ITEM. OKAY. NEXT ONE IS 290 PRECINCT THREE. LEGAL FEES, SERVICES NEED A VOTE. JUST NEED TO VOTE. SO MOVED. I'LL SECOND IT. COMMISSIONER GARCIA MADE THE MOTION. I SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR, VOTE AYE. ALL THOSE OPPOSED, VOTE NO. WONDERFUL. NO, COMMISSIONER. NO. OKAY. THREE EYES AND ONE. NO! COMMISSIONER RAMSEY VOTES NO. ITEM 291. SO 291. I'D LIKE TO INVITE DIRECTOR LYNN LINEUP. AND JUST I'D LIKE TO MAKE A FEW BRIEF COMMENTS. SO I MEAN, WE LIVE IT, RIGHT EACH YEAR. NATURAL DISASTERS ARE INCREASING IN TERMS OF THE SEVERITY, INTENSITY, THE UNPREDICTABILITY OF IT ALL. THE FIRES IN LA WILL BE ONE OF THE MOST EXPENSIVE NATURAL DISASTERS IN US HISTORY. OUR HURRICANE BERYL COST US BILLIONS OF DOLLARS. I MEAN, THIS SEEMS INCESSANT. AND AS A MOM, I FEEL LIKE WE HAVE A MORAL OBLIGATION TO PROTECT AND PRESERVE OUR ENVIRONMENT AND DO WHAT WE CAN. SO I WAS SO PROUD WHEN OF MY FIRST VOTES WAS FOR OUR HARRIS COUNTY CLIMATE ACTION PLAN, WHICH IS THE FIRST CLIMATE ACTION PLAN IN THE STATE OF TEXAS. TO THE BEST OF MY KNOWLEDGE, AND TO LEVEL SET 40% REDUCTION IN GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS FOR HARRIS COUNTY OPERATIONS BY 2030. AND I WAS REALLY HAPPY TO SEE THE PROGRESS WE'VE MADE. [05:35:02] AND I KNOW THERE'S BEEN SO MUCH DISCUSSION, ESPECIALLY RECENTLY, BUT I SEE IT AS A BOTH AND RIGHT. WE'RE SO PROUD THAT WE'RE THE ENERGY CAPITAL OF THE WORLD, AND WE ALMOST ALWAYS NEED ALWAYS NEED TO BE FORWARD THINKING. NOT ALMOST ALWAYS. WE ALWAYS NEED TO BE FORWARD THINKING. SO WE WILL ALWAYS BE THE ENERGY CAPITAL OF THE WORLD. BUT IT'S A BOTH. AND WE NEED TO ALSO BE LEADING THE WORLD IN THE ENERGY TRANSITION, RIGHT? WE KNOW THIS TRANSITION WILL BE A LONG ONE. AND FROM AN ECONOMIC IMPERATIVE STANDPOINT, WE SEE PRIVATE INDUSTRY LEANING IN. SO WE JUST REALLY NEED, I THINK, TO COALESCE FROM AN ENVIRONMENTAL PERSPECTIVE, FROM AN ECONOMY PERSPECTIVE, TO KEEP HARRIS COUNTY AS STRONG AS POSSIBLE. SO WITH THAT, THANK YOU. BECAUSE I KNOW FROM WE'RE ALWAYS TALKING ABOUT MONEY. WE'VE ACTUALLY SAVED TAXPAYERS $1.4 MILLION. SO I'M EXCITED TO HEAR ABOUT THAT BY LOWERING OUR ENERGY CONSUMPTION. AND WE'VE MORE THAN DOUBLED OUR ELECTRIC VEHICLES IN THE COUNTY FLEET. AND SO THERE'S PROGRESS BEING MADE. AND I HOPE THAT HERE IN HARRIS COUNTY, WE CAN BE A BOTH AND DOMINATE THE TRADITIONAL ENERGY AND BE A GLOBAL LEADER IN THE TRANSITION. SO, DIRECTOR LIN, YOU'RE AT THE FOREFRONT OF HELPING US EXECUTE ON THIS CLIMATE ACTION PLAN. SO I'D LOVE TO HEAR BRIEFLY THE SUCCESSES WE'VE HAD AND THEN WHAT YOUR ONGOING PLAN IS TO MAKE SURE WE CONTINUE THESE GAINS SO THAT WE MEET OUR GOALS. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. COMMISSIONER. MY NAME IS LISA LYNN, DIRECTOR OF SUSTAINABILITY IN THE OFFICE OF COUNTY ADMINISTRATION. AND AS YOU MENTIONED, WE HAVE STARTED TO SEE OUR EMISSIONS PROFILE DECLINE, WHICH IS VERY EXCITING. A LOT OF THE EARLY WORK HAS BEEN AROUND GETTING THE CORRECT DATA, MAKING SURE IT'S IT'S WE'VE DONE THE QA, QC, RIGHT. JUST MAKING SURE IT'S THAT WE'VE SCRUBBED THE DATA AND IT'S CORRECT. AND SO WE HAVE BEEN WORKING VERY COLLABORATIVELY. OUR TEAM, GLENN AND YAZ AND CARLOS AND SAMIR HAVE WORKED REALLY CLOSELY WITH OTHER PARTNERS. YOUR OFFICES, FOLKS IN UNIVERSAL SERVICES, CHRIS VERA AND RAYMOND BURNS. AND THE PUBLIC LIBRARY SYSTEM. JUST TO REALLY MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE DOING THIS WHOLE OF GOVERNMENT APPROACH IN IMPLEMENTING THESE ACTIONS. WE'RE REALLY EXCITED TO SEE IT ALSO IN THE STRATEGIC PLAN AS WELL. SO THAT ALIGNMENT REALLY HELPS ACCELERATE THIS WORK. WE'RE EXCITED TO LAUNCH A COMPOSTING PILOT THIS YEAR WITH SOME GRANT FUNDS. WE'RE EXCITED TO HOPEFULLY SEE OUR 100TH EV THIS YEAR TOO. SO A LOT OF GREAT MILESTONES AND WE HOPE TO SEE EVEN MORE COST SAVINGS AS WELL. COMMISSIONER GARCIA. YES. LISA, CONGRATULATIONS. THANK YOU FOR YOUR WORK. AND I JUST REALLY WANT TO COMMEND YOU BECAUSE IT IS IT'S ALWAYS EASY TO COME INTO GOVERNMENT AND START, YOU KNOW, WORKING. YOU GENERALLY WALK IN THE DOOR THAT ALREADY HAS A SIGN ON IT AND PREDEFINED RESPONSIBILITIES AND GOALS AND THINGS OF THAT NATURE. BUT YOU WALKED INTO A DOOR WITH NO SIGN ON IT AND WERE TOLD, BASICALLY, LET'S FIGURE IT OUT. AND AND YOU HAVE DONE A PHENOMENAL JOB. AND SO THANK YOU FOR YOUR WORK. THANK YOU FOR MISTER DICKERMAN AS WELL FOR YOUR WORK AS WELL. AND I'M VERY, VERY EXCITED. AS COMMISSIONER BRIONES LAID OUT, WE'VE ALREADY SAVED MONEY. WE'RE CUTTING COST, BUT WE'RE ALSO CUTTING EMISSIONS. AND SO YOUR WORK IS PROVING THAT SMART, SUSTAINABLE POLICIES BENEFIT BOTH THE TAXPAYERS AND THE ENVIRONMENT. SO I ALSO WANT TO GIVE A BIG SHOUT OUT TO FORMER PRECINCT TWO EMPLOYEE WHO IS NOW WITH UNIVERSAL SERVICES, RAY BURNS FOR LAYING THE GROUNDWORK FOR SOLID DATA COLLECTION ON OUR FLEET. AND WE COULDN'T HAVE MEASURED OUR SUCCESS OR INSPIRED OTHERS TO THINK STRATEGICALLY ABOUT THEIR OWN FLEET TRANSITIONS WITHOUT HIS HARD WORK. AND SO I'M VERY GRATEFUL. AND I ALSO WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE HONORABLE JOSE JIMENEZ WITH MY OFFICE FOR ESTABLISHING THE ANTI-IDLING POLICY. AND BACK WHEN I WAS ON CITY COUNCIL COMMISSIONER. I WISH WE COULD HAVE GOTTEN, I THINK, WHO'S THE MILK COMPANY THAT'S OVER HERE ON ON. LELAND. IT'S NOT THERE. I CAN'T THINK OF IT. WELL, THERE'S A MY BIKE ALL THE TIME. WE WOULD ALWAYS GET CALLS AND COMPLAINTS FROM THE NEIGHBORS BECAUSE THOSE MILK TRUCKS WERE IDLING ALL NIGHT LONG. AND SO I JUST WANT TO THANK THEM FOR FOR DOING THAT. SO THE PRECINCT TWO, WE LAUNCHED OUR SUCCESSFUL ANTI-IDLING PILOT PROGRAM USING TELEMATICS TO MONITOR FLEET VEHICLE USAGE AND REDUCE UNNECESSARY IDLING. THIS INITIATIVE CUT THE IDLE TIMES BY 50%, SAVING OVER 15 $150 PER WEEK ON FUEL COSTS. A PROJECTED 80,000 ANNUAL SAVINGS WITH WHILE EXTENDING VEHICLE LIFESPAN AND LOWERING EMISSIONS. AND THEN PRECINCT TWO CONTRIBUTED TO THE COUNTY'S CLEAN FLEET EXPANSION. BY BECAUSE THE COUNTY HAS DEPLOYED 72 ELECTRIC VEHICLES AND 50 CHARGING STATIONS AND 69 PORTS BY THE END OF LAST YEAR. [05:40:09] SO THESE INVESTMENTS ALIGN WITH THE BROADER COUNTY GOALS TO ESTABLISH OR TO TRANSITION TO A LOW EMISSION FLEET AND IMPROVE OPERATIONAL SUSTAINABILITY. AND SO CONGRATULATIONS AGAIN. THANK YOU FOR YOUR GOOD WORK. I HOPE WE WILL HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO CONTINUE TO WORK ON THESE THINGS. BUT AGAIN, THANK YOU FOR ALL YOU'VE DONE, JESSE AS WELL. YOU WERE YOU WERE LEADING THE CHARGE INITIALLY. AND AND LET'S JUST KEEP KEEP MOVING FORWARD. SO CONGRATULATIONS. THANK YOU. DIRECTOR. I'M JUST I'M GLAD THAT TO HAVE CHAMPIONED CREATION OF YOUR OFFICE. YOU'VE DONE EVERYTHING THAT WE EXPECTED. AND WITH THE HELP OF OTHER FOLKS. AND I WAS GOING TO TELL COMMISSIONER GARCIA, YOU DON'T WALK INTO THAT OFFICE, YOU RIDE YOUR BIKE IN THERE BECAUSE I'M WITH YOU. I SEE THE BIKE. BUT THANK YOU. GOOD JOB. THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU. DIRECTOR. IT'S A TRANSMITTAL. YES, COMMISSIONER. ANYTHING. COMMISSIONER, IF I COULD ADD ONE PIECE OF CONTEXT, WE'VE ADDED HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF SQUARE FEET IN THIS COUNTY OVER THE LAST TWO YEARS. OUR ENERGY BILL IS LOWER. SO JUST TO GIVE SOME CONTEXT ABOUT HOW HOW MUCH THIS OFFICE HAS, HAS LED THE CHARGE ON THAT REDUCTION. AWESOME. THAT'S AMAZING. THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR YOUR THANKS TO OUR ENERGY MANAGEMENT TEAM AND THEIR PARTNERSHIP WITH THE BOSS TEAM AND ENGINEERING TOO. SO GOOD JOB. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU FOR YOUR PARTNERSHIP. THE NEXT ONE THAT I HAVE IS 302. AM I RIGHT, JAY? WHERE YOU. WOULD YOU CHIP OUT ON ME? OKAY. 302302. SO THE HARRIS COUNTY ESSENTIAL WORKERS BOARD, WE HEARD FROM A COUPLE OF THEM EARLIER TODAY. I DON'T KNOW IF ANYONE STILL HERE, BUT I JUST WANTED TO SAY THANK YOU TO MY COLLEAGUES FOR CREATING THIS BOARD BEFORE I ARRIVED. AND IT'S BEEN AMAZING TO SEE OUR FRONTLINE WORKERS COMING TOGETHER TO PROVIDE ACTIONABLE RECOMMENDATIONS, HOW HARRIS COUNTY CAN IMPROVE IN TERMS OF WORKING CONDITIONS, WAGES, BENEFITS AND I HOPE THAT WE CONTINUE THIS PROGRESS. I PARTICULARLY WANT TO THANK CAROL LEVY, WHO'S OUR CHAIR, AND RISHI CASTILLO, WHO'S OUR PRECINCT FOUR APPOINTEE, THE VICE CHAIR. AND THEY'RE HOSTING A RESOURCE FAIR THIS SATURDAY AT BELEN COMMUNITY CENTER IN PRECINCT FOUR. FROM 11 TO 2 ARE ESSENTIAL. WORKERS ARE THE BACKBONE OF OUR ECONOMY, AND THEY KEEP OUR COMMUNITY MOVING. AND WHETHER IN TIMES OF DISASTER, EVERY DAY, ALL DAY, LITERALLY AROUND THE CLOCK. AND SO WE NOT ONLY NEED TO HONOR THE WORKERS, BUT WE NEED TO LISTEN TO THEM AS TO WHAT WE CAN DO BETTER. SO THESE FIRST HAND EXPERIENCES ARE AND PERSPECTIVES ARE INVALUABLE. AND I LOOK FORWARD TO CONTINUING TO WORK CLOSELY WITH THEM. AND I APPRECIATE THEIR SERVICE AS WE PUSH FORWARD WITH REGARD TO OPPORTUNITY AND JUSTICE, SO THAT WE KEEP HARRIS COUNTY AS STRONG AS POSSIBLE. SO I JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU. I KNOW THEY'VE THEY'VE HAD TO GO BACK TO WORK AS WE SIT HERE WORKING. BUT I JUST APPRECIATE IT. AND I JUST ALL OF THESE COMMISSIONERS AND I KNOW WE SHARE THIS IMPATIENCE, WHICH I CALL THE URGENCY OF NOW. BUT IT'S WE WANT THE RECOMMENDATIONS. WE CAN DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT. AND THIS BOARD, TO ME, THEY'RE ON THE FRONT LINES AND THEY KEEP OUR ECONOMY GOING. SO I HAVE GREAT THANKS AND LOOK FORWARD TO MORE ACTION. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THIS IS A TRANSMITTAL. WE NEED TO TAKE A FIVE MINUTE BREAK. IS THAT ALL RIGHT I KNOW I NEED TAKE ONE. YEAH. ALL RIGHT. READY FOR A BREAK 5 MINUTES TO 10 MINUTES. FIVE IS GOOD FOR ME. FIVE MINUTE BREAK. IT IS NOW 806 55. AND THE COURT WILL TAKE A BREAK FOR FIVE MINUTES. AND WE'LL COME BACK WITH TAKE 303 AND 359 TOGETHER. OKAY. IT'S MEMBERS IS 701 AND THE COURT IS BACK IN SESSION. I KNOW WE HAVE SIX ITEMS LEFT. JAB. WE'LL LET YOU CALL THEM UP. I'LL DO ONE THEN YOU TAKE IT FROM THERE. IT'S 303 AND 350. 359, 359 TOGETHER. AND I THINK CAN THEY JUST GIVE US A QUICK UPDATE ON 303? THIS IS OUR ANNUAL UTILIZATION REPORT. JUST THE HIGHLIGHTS THERE, DIRECTOR. THANK YOU FOR. ABSOLUTELY. THANK YOU SO MUCH. GOOD EVENING, COMMISSIONERS COURT. ESTELLA GONZALEZ, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF DEO. AND I HAVE WITH ME DIRECTOR, MANAGING DIRECTOR OF INCLUSIVE PROCUREMENT MAYA POPE. AND SHE'S GOING TO BE GIVING THE OVERVIEW REALLY QUICK. HIGHLIGHTS. HIGHLIGHTS. THANKS, ESTELLA. SO WHEN WE LOOK TO THIS PAST FISCAL YEAR, WE NOTE THAT THE COUNTY DISTRIBUTED $2 BILLION. YOU HAVE TO COME ON CAMERA. I'M SORRY. SHE'S ON CAMERA HERE. ON CAMERA. OH, I HAVE MY I HAVE MY CAMERA ON. I GUESS IT'S NOT WORKING. I GUESS IT'S NOT WORKING. YES, MAYBE YOU'RE DOING IT. CAN YOU DO IT, ESTELLA, JUST TO HIGHLIGHT YOU. SORRY. YEAH, ABSOLUTELY. SO WE'RE JUST A HIGHLIGHTS. AND, MAYA, IF YOU COULD GO ON MUTE. MUTE SWITCH. OKAY. CAN Y'ALL HEAR ME NOW? CAN Y'ALL SEE ME NOW? [05:45:01] YES. OKAY. PERFECT. SORRY, GUYS. OKAY, GREAT. NO WORRIES. SO OVER THE PAST FISCAL YEAR, THE COUNTY DISTRIBUTED $2 MILLION IN PROGRAM ELIGIBLE CONTRACTS. OF THAT, 378 MILLION WERE PAID DIRECTLY TO MWBE FIRMS REPRESENTING 18.6 OF ELIGIBLE SPENDING. ADDITIONALLY, WE AWARDED 640 MILLION IN CONTRACTS TO MWBE FIRMS, WHICH ACCOUNTS FOR 28.5% IN TOTAL AWARDS. AND THIS JUST KIND OF BRINGS US CLOSER TO OUR 30% ASPIRATIONAL GOAL THAT THE COUNTY HAS IDENTIFIED AND OUTLINED. WHEN WE LOOK TO OUR SPEND OR EXAMINE OUR SPEND BY ETHNIC BREAKDOWN, HISPANIC AND LATINO OWNED BUSINESSES LEAD THE WAY, REPRESENTING 36.1% OF OUR SPENDING CLOSE BEHIND OUR ASIAN OWNED BUSINESSES, WHICH ACCOUNT FOR 32.6%. AND SO WE KNOW THAT THESE FIGURES ARE ENCOURAGING. WE REALIZE THAT SERVICE DISABLED VETERANS, NATIVE AMERICANS, AFRICAN AMERICANS AND WOMEN OF BUSINESSES HAVE A SMALLER SPEND. BUT WE KNOW THAT THROUGH TARGETED OUTREACH AND STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIPS, WE AIM TO INCREASE THIS GROWTH AND SPEND ACROSS ALL GROUPS. AND THEN LASTLY, WE'D LIKE TO OUTLINE THE UPWARD TRAJECTORY OF OUR AWARDS. IT'S BEEN STEADILY GROWING SINCE 2022, WHERE WE WERE AT 19.5% AND WE ARE NOW AT 28.5%. SO, STELLA. THANKS, MAYA. JUST TAKE YOUR QUESTIONS, COMMENTS OR FEEDBACK. FEEDBACK. THANK YOU. STELLA, WAS THERE ANYTHING ELSE WE'LL BE GETTING A LITTLE BACKGROUND. THE SHORT OF IT IS YOU'RE DOING A GREAT JOB. MEMBERS. ANY QUESTIONS? ANY QUESTIONS? YES. I'M SORRY, I DIDN'T SEE IT THERE, COMMISSIONER BRIONES. I HAVE TWO QUESTIONS. FIRST OF ALL, THANK YOU FOR THE FOR THE PROGRESS. WE'RE MOVING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION. I HOPE IT CONTINUES. THANK YOU. I LOOK FORWARD TO THERE BEING THE AWARDED PROGRESS. BUT IN TERMS OF THE DOLLARS ACTUALLY SPENT, I LOOK FORWARD TO THE SECOND PILLAR MOVING FORWARD. BUT MY TWO QUESTIONS ARE THE FOLLOWING. AND I WAS DISAPPOINTED TO SEE THE BLACK OWNED BUSINESS NUMBER AS WELL AS THE WOMEN OWNED BUSINESS NUMBER. SO WHAT EXACTLY ARE YOU DOING TO ADDRESS THIS UNDERREPRESENTATION? AND THEN I HAVE A SECOND QUICK QUESTION. YES, COMMISSIONER BRIONES. SO, YOU KNOW, YEAR AFTER YEAR, WE HAVE SEEN SOME FLUCTUATION, AND THAT IS REALLY EXPECTED IN OUR NUMBERS. I THINK WE DO HAVE TO REMEMBER WHERE WE STARTED FROM. AND OUR DISPARITY STUDY WAS COMPLETED IN 2020. THE BLACK OWNED BUSINESS NUMBERS WAS LESS THAN 1%. SO ALTHOUGH YES, IT IS STILL UNDER AVAILABILITY, I DO THINK THAT WE HAVE MADE GREAT STRIDES THERE. AND ALSO WANTING TO LOOK AT MORE OF AN OF AN ANALYSIS. YOU KNOW, WE SPEND A LOT OF TIME PUTTING THIS REPORT TOGETHER. OBVIOUSLY, YOU ALL KNOW OUR CHALLENGES WITH THE DATA REPORTING AND USING THE DIFFERENT SYSTEMS. AND SO THAT REALLY LIMITS OUR ABILITY TO DO AN ANALYSIS ABOUT WHAT'S CAUSING SOME OF THE FLUCTUATIONS. SO REALLY RIGHT NOW WHAT WE'RE DOING IS JUST GETTING THE DATA AND GETTING READY TO PRESENT. SO I WILL SAY THAT MIKE AND I ARE BOTH COMMITTED TO, YOU KNOW, GROWING THE TEAM THERE AND ASKING FOR RESOURCES SO THAT WE CAN RESEARCH MORE. BUT THE REASONS BEHIND SOME OF THOSE NUMBERS AND THE DATA POINT THAT YOU MENTIONED, COMMISSIONER BRIONES, AND I AGREE, WE CAN ALWAYS TAKE DEEPER DIVES INTO DATA. BUT BASED ON WHAT, YOU KNOW, WHAT ACTIONS ARE WE TAKING TO ADDRESS THE UNDERREPRESENTATION? THAT TIES DIRECTLY TO OUR CAPACITY BUILDING PROGRAMS. THAT'S SOMETHING THAT I INTEND TO ASK AGAIN. DURING BUDGET SEASON, WE WE ONLY HAD STAFF THAT WERE REALLY TIED TO THE PROGRAM, MEANING, YOU KNOW, GOAL SETTING, REVIEWING COMPLIANCE SITE VISITS, THOSE KINDS OF THINGS. SO OUR CAPACITY BUILDING PROGRAMS ARE REALLY IMPORTANT TO IMPORTANT TO BE ABLE TO TEACH AND GROW BUSINESSES AND GET OUT INTO THE COMMUNITY. I'LL REMIND YOU ALL THAT WE HAD ONLY ONE FTE FOR THE ENTIRE COUNTY THAT SPREAD ACROSS THE ENTIRE COUNTY TO SERVE, AND SO THAT WAS REALLY, REALLY CHALLENGING FOR US. AND SO WE WILL CONTINUE TO ASK FOR MORE RESOURCES. RESOURCES, EXCUSE ME, SO THAT WE CAN GET OUT INTO THE COMMUNITY. YOU CAN JUST TAKE A LOOK AT OUR PARTNER OBOE AND THE STAFF THAT THEY HAVE AND THE CLASSES THAT THEY'RE ABLE TO PUT ON AND THE PRESENCE THAT THEY'RE ABLE TO HAVE. AND THEN WE JUST HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO MATCH THAT WHEN WE ONLY HAD ONE FTE TIED TO OUTREACH. THANK YOU, DIRECTOR GONZALEZ. MY SECOND QUESTION IS WITH REGARD TO THE 2025 DISPARITY STUDY. WHEN WILL IT BE COMPLETED AND WHAT EXACTLY WILL IT ENTAIL? YES, RIGHT NOW THEY ARE THE EVALUATION COMMITTEE HAS BEEN EVALUATING SINCE LAST YEAR. SO RIGHT NOW THEY'RE FINISHING UP WITH THE BAFFLES. I EXPECT WITH CONTRACT NEGOTIATIONS THAT THAT AWARD WILL COME IN APRIL. AFTER THAT, THE THE THE THE DISPARITY STUDY IS GOING TO FOLLOW BEST PRACTICE WHEN WE PUT OUT THE RFP. WE FOLLOW BEST PRACTICE AND WHAT WE WANT TO SEE. WE WANT TO SEE FROM THE VENDORS. WE ALSO ADDED A SECTION WHAT WE'RE CALLING PROGRAM ENHANCEMENTS. AND THAT'S A DEEP DIVE ANALYSIS OF HOW THE COUNTY'S MWD PROGRAM IS WORKING INCLUDING CONVERSATIONS WITH THE BIG THREE, [05:50:04] WHICH ARE, YOU KNOW, OUR PARTNERS ENGINEERING, FLOOD CONTROL AND HECTOR TALKING WITH PURCHASING, TALKING TO DEPARTMENTS, TALKING TO YOU ALL TO SEE, YOU KNOW, HOW THE MD PROGRAM IS OPERATING. AND ALSO LET US KNOW IF THERE'S ANY WAYS THAT WE CAN IMPROVE. SO THAT'S GOING TO BE PART OF THE DISPARITY STUDY AS WELL. OKAY. THANK YOU. AND I APPRECIATE THE PROGRESS ESPECIALLY. I LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING MORE OF THE IMPACT OF THE PATHWAYS TO PRIME. I THINK THAT'S A VERY PROMISING PROGRAM. BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY, JUST MAKING SURE THAT WE'RE ADVANCING OPPORTUNITY ACROSS HARRIS COUNTY. AND I APPRECIATE YOU BEING AT THE HELM. SO THANK YOU. SO ON ITEM 359 I GOT A SIMPLE MOTION. I WANT TO CHANGE IT A BIT FROM THE ONE THAT I SENT OUT. [Emergency/Supplemental items (Part 1 of 3)] I MOVED TO AMEND SECTION TEN OF THE HARRIS COUNTY MWB PROGRAM POLICY TO EXTEND THE PROGRAM UNTIL JUNE OF 2026. OKAY. MOTION MADE BY ELLIS, SECOND BY GARCIA. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, VOTE AYE. AYE. ALL THOSE OPPOSED, VOTE NO. ITEM PASSES FOUR TO NOTHING. OKAY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. SORRY, COMMISSIONER. 326 AND 347. I'M HAPPY TO COME COME BACK WITH THAT. BUT ONE IS THE IMPLEMENTING THE 2500 FOR GRANT FUNDED POSITIONS. IT'S AN $800,000 OUTLAY THIS YEAR. ANNUALIZED, IT'S 1.3 MILLION. I JUST NEED DIRECTION FROM COURT ON THAT. MEMBERS. WHAT? ITEM THREE. ITEM 326. 326. 326. AND 347. 327. SEPARATE. WE HAVE A MOTION FOR THAT. PRECINCT TWO AND THREE. DID I MAKE THAT MOTION? I'M HAPPY TO SECOND IT. THE GRANT FUNDED ONES? YES. DO YOU NEED ME TO READ IT OUT, JAMES? SURE. YEAH. IT'S A MOTION TO ALLOW HRT AND OMB TO USE GENERAL FUND DOLLARS AS NECESSARY TO IMPLEMENT THE PREVIOUSLY APPROVED $2,500 RAISE FOR GRANT FUNDED POSITION. SECOND. MOTION MADE BY GARCIA, SECOND BY COMMISSIONER BRIONES. ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. AYE. ALL OPPOSED. VOTE NO. FOUR HAS NO NAYS. ITEM PASSES. ITEM 347. THE MOTION TO DIRECT OMB TO WORK WITH THE TREASURER'S OFFICE TO UTILIZE THE SHEEPMAN FUND TO CREATE ONE POSITION IN THE TREASURER'S OFFICE. SO MOTION MADE BY GARCIA, SECOND BY ELLIS. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? THERE'S NO GENERAL FUND IMPACT. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, VOTE AYE. AYE. ALL OPPOSED? VOTE NO. FOUR EYES AND NO. NAYS. ITEM PASSES. J WHAT'S MY NEXT? 360? I BELIEVE I I'M SORRY. ITEM 350. YEAH. 357. I JUST DID THAT ONE, DIDN'T I? WHAT ABOUT 336? 336 WOULD BE THE NEXT. OKAY. 336. WE DID THAT ALREADY. OKAY. 347 THAT WAS ON CONSENT, WASN'T IT? IT GOT TAKEN AS FAR AS RESOLUTIONS. WE NEED A MOTION. OKAY. WE DON'T. WE DON'T NEED ONE. RIGHT? NO, NO, I DON'T BELIEVE SO. I NEED ONE BECAUSE IT WAS ON THE DISCUSSION LIST. SO. OKAY. SO MOVED. MOTION MADE BY GARCIA. SECOND BY RAMSAY. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, SAY AYE. ALL OPPOSED. VOTE NO. THERE'S NO NAYS. ITEM PASSES J. 347. I HAVE 357357. I'M SORRY. YES. THAT'S THE. YEAH. GO AHEAD COMMISSIONER. THAT WAS NO, I THOUGHT THAT WAS NO ACTION. OKAY. YEAH. THAT'S RIGHT, NO ACTION. BUT THAT WAS COMMISSIONER ELSE'S. AND THEN. SO THE LAST ITEM IS THREE 60. PRECINCT THREE. 3.36. HOLD ON. LET ME SEE WHAT IT IS HERE. IMMIGRATION. IMMIGRATION. IMMIGRATION ISSUES. COMMISSIONER RAMSEY THREE 60 JUST WANT TO REPORT WE DID TOUCH BASE WITH THE WITH THE SHERIFF. I'M. I'M HERE TO REPORT. I THINK GOOD NEWS. IT WAS CONFIRMED BY THE HARRIS COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE THAT APPROXIMATELY 1200 JAIL INMATES IN CUSTODY ARE UNDOCUMENTED, WITH PENDING STATE CRIMINAL CHARGES. ICE CONTAINERS. DETAINERS ARE PLACED ON THE INMATES UNTIL THE STATE CHARGES ARE RESOLVED. THEN THEY ARE TRANSFERRED TO FEDERAL DETENTION ONCE THE CASES ARE CONCLUDED. SO THE POINT IS, THE SHERIFF IS WORKING, AS HE SHOULD. WITH ICE AND JAIL ISSUES. ALSO OF NOTE, I'M SPEAKING WITH CHIEF DIAZ LAST NIGHT. HE EMPHASIZED THAT HARRIS COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE WORKS WITH THE ICE AGENTS IN THE JAIL DURING THE BOOKING PROCESS. THAT ICE HAS ACCESS TO ALL PRISONERS. SO THE POINT IS, THE SHERIFF IS WORKING CLOSELY AS HE SHOULD, PARTICULARLY RELATED TO THE JAIL ISSUES, PARTICULARLY RELATED TO ANY ISSUES RELATED TO ICE. SO I JUST THOUGHT I'D REPORT THAT AND APPRECIATE THE SHERIFF'S COOPERATION. SO NO ACTION. AND ON ITEM, THE METRO ITEM. THE CHAIR WAS KIND ENOUGH TO CALL ME. [05:55:01] SHE'LL GIVE ME THE INFORMATION I NEED, SO I'LL. NO, NO ACTION ON ANYTHING ELSE. JAMES. I HAVE A FEW ITEMS, JUST TO BE CLEAR. [Executive Session (Part 2 of 3)] ITEM 321. LET'S SEE WHAT THAT IS. WE'LL GIVE YOU ANOTHER MOTION. IF YOU'RE WONDERING, THAT WAS 20 THAT WENT TO EXECUTIVE SESSION EARLIER. BUT I JUST WANT TO BE CLEAR THAT IT'S NO ACTION. NO ACTION. YEAH. NO ACTION. HOW ABOUT ITEM 322? NO ACTION. YEAH. NO ACTION. ALRIGHTY. THE ACTION WAS ON 343. [Emergency/Supplemental items (Part 2 of 3)] RELATED TO THE FREEZE. SO, JUST A PRESENTATION. I'M SORRY. 343. 343. YEAH. YEAH. THERE WAS. YEAH. NO ACTION BECAUSE THERE WAS THERE WAS A SEPARATE MOTION. 355. NO ACTION. 358. THERE WAS THERE WERE MOTIONS MADE, I THINK, RELATED TO TO COMING OUT OF EXECUTIVE SESSION. [Executive Session (Part 3 of 3)] JAMES. OKAY. FOR OUT OF EXECUTIVE SESSION, THOUGH. THAT WAS ITEM 134 AND 115. SO DO YOU HAVE THOSE ITEMS? THE ONE RELATING TO AUTHORIZING THE COUNTY ATTORNEY? YES. OKAY. YEAH. THAT WAS. YEAH. OKAY. I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE IT WAS ON THERE. SO ONE 358. [Emergency/Supplemental items (Part 3 of 3)] NO ACTION. AND LAST BUT NOT LEAST, 322. THERE WAS A LITTLE CONFUSION ON WHAT WAS GOING TO BE TAKEN BACK. I BELIEVE THEY WERE LOOKING FOR A MOTION AS PRESENTED. NO, THE ACTION WAS ON 115. OKAY. NO ACTION ON THAT. 332 I'M SORRY. 332. THAT WAS CONSENT APPROVED AS PRESENTED. OUT OF AN ABUNDANCE OF CAUTION. CAN WE TAKE A VOTE ON THAT MOTION IN A SECOND? IS THERE A SECOND? SECOND MOTION MADE BY ELLIS, SECOND BY GARCIA. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE. AYE. ALL OPPOSED. VOTE NO. FOUR. THERE'S NO NAYS. ITEM PASSES. THANK YOU. ANYTHING ELSE? THAT'S ALL I HAVE. THANK YOU. BYE BYE. THANK YOU. IT IS TEN. WHAT IS THAT? SEVEN. SEVEN. 15. FELICIA AND COMMISSIONERS COURT IS ADJOURNED. GOOD NIGHT. * This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.