Mar 27, 2025 Commissioners Court

[Rupinder Singh of The Sikh Center of the Gulf Coast Area in Houston introduced by the Commissioner of Precinct 4.]

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ALL RIGHT. GOOD MORNING. GOOD MORNING. IT IS 10:11 A.M., AND I'D LIKE TO CALL THIS MARCH 27TH, 2025 MEETING OF THE HARRIS COUNTY COMMISSIONERS COURT TO ORDER.

WE WILL START WITH A PRAYER. COMMISSIONER BRIONES.

YES. GOOD MORNING, EVERYONE. THANK YOU, JUDGE HIDALGO. TODAY, IT IS MY HONOR TO WELCOME DOCTOR SINGH, WHO WILL BE DOING OUR INVOCATION. DOCTOR SINGH IS A MEMBER OF THE CONGREGATION OF THE SIKH CENTER OF THE GULF COAST, WHICH IS THE OLDEST SIKH CONGREGATION IN THE SOUTH.

DOCTOR SINGH IS THE SON OF IMMIGRANT PARENTS FROM THE PUNJAB REGION OF NORTHWEST INDIA AND A NATIVE OF NORTHEAST OHIO.

IN 2007, DOCTOR SINGH MOVED TO CYPRUS, WHERE HE WORKS AS A HOSPITAL BASED INTERNAL MEDICINE PHYSICIAN AT HOSPITALS IN THE AREA AND THROUGHOUT TEXAS.

FOR THE LAST 15 YEARS, HE HAS SPENT HIS SUMMERS TEACHING SICK YOUTH ABOUT THEIR LANGUAGE, HERITAGE AND FAITH.

AND I'M PARTICULARLY EXCITED THAT YOU'RE HERE WITH US THIS WEEK, BECAUSE PRECINCT FOR MY TEAM AND I ARE PARTNERING WITH JUDGE MANPREET SINGH, TEXAS'S FIRST SIKH JUDGE, TO CELEBRATE HOLI AND VAISAKHI, ON SATURDAY AT BAYLAND PARK.

FROM 2 TO 6. ALL ARE WELCOME. IT'LL BE A FAMILY FRIENDLY EVENT.

AND IT SHOULD BE AMAZING. WE INVITE YOU ALL. HOLI IS THE FESTIVAL OF COLORS AND VAISAKHI IS THE FESTIVAL OF THE HARVEST.

TOGETHER, THE OUTDOOR EVENT WILL HIGHLIGHT SICK CULTURE THROUGH SINGING, DANCING AND A CELEBRATION OF COLORS.

YOU ARE ALL INVITED TO JOIN US. THANK YOU, DOCTOR SINGH.

GREAT COMMISSIONER BRIAN, THANK YOU FOR THAT VERY WARM INTRODUCTION.

JUDGE HIDALGO, COMMISSIONERS RAMSEY, GARCIA, ELLIS AND BRIONES MEMBERS OF THE COMMISSIONERS COURT AND FELLOW CITIZENS OF HARRIS COUNTY. I REPRESENT THE SICK COMMUNITY.

A RELATIVELY YOUNG RELIGION FOUNDED ABOUT 500 YEARS AGO, SIKHISM BELIEVES IN THE ONENESS OF ALL CREATION, THAT WE ARE ALL PART OF THAT DIVINE CREATION.

AS A RESULT, SIX BELIEVES IN THE EQUALITY OF ALL REGARDLESS OF GENDER, RACE, CASTE OR ANY OTHER HUMAN CREATED DISTINCTION.

AS A RESULT, SIX ARE URGED TO LIVE THEIR LIVES BY THREE CARDINAL PRINCIPLES REMEMBERING GOD AND ALL WE DO, WORKING HONESTLY AND SHARING WHAT YOU HAVE WITH THOSE WHO ARE LESS FORTUNATE.

IN ADDITION, SIKHS ARE ADVISED TO STAND UP FOR THE OPPRESSED AND TO SPEAK OUT AGAINST INJUSTICE, ESPECIALLY FOR THOSE WHO ARE UNABLE TO SPEAK UP FOR THEMSELVES. SIX OF THEM RESPECTS ALL OTHER RELIGIONS AND ALL FAITH TRADITIONS.

SIKH. EACH RELIGION, WHEN PRACTICED TRUTHFULLY AS BEING ITS OWN LEGITIMATE PATH TO SALVATION.

THE FESTIVALS OF HOLI AND VAISAKHI ORIGINATED IN THE INDIAN SUBCONTINENT, BUT ARE NOW CELEBRATED BY THE SOUTH ASIAN DIASPORA WORLDWIDE, AND THEY MARKED THE ARRIVAL OF SPRING. AND THEY SYMBOLIZE THE RENEWAL OF OUR COMMITMENT TO THOSE VALUES THAT ARE IMPORTANT TO US.

HOLI IS THE HINDU FESTIVAL OF COLORS THAT MARKS THE TRIUMPH OF GOOD OVER EVIL, AND IS CELEBRATE IN FESTIVE GATHERINGS BY SHOWERING LOVED ONES, FRIENDS AND NEIGHBORS WITH VIBRANT COLORED POWDERS, BRINGING PEOPLE TOGETHER IN A SHOW OF UNITY AND RENEWING RELATIONSHIPS.

AT THE START OF SPRING. VAISAKHI MARKS THE SIXTH NEW YEAR AND CELEBRATES THE WINTER HARVEST.

BUT FOR SIX, IT ALSO HAS PROFOUND RELIGIOUS SIGNIFICANCE AS IT MARKS THE CREATION OF THE ORDER OF THE KHALSA, THOSE SIX WHO HAVE COMMITTED THEIR LIVES TO DEVOTION, DISCIPLINE AND EQUALITY FOR ALL SIX.

VAISAKHI MARKS A TIME OF SPIRITUAL RENEWAL, COMMUNITY SERVICE AND THE REAFFIRMATION OF THEIR SICK VALUES.

I'D NOW LIKE TO OPEN THIS MEETING UP WITH THE PRAYER.

LET US PRAY. DEAR GOD, OUR GURU, GREW THE ONE UNIVERSAL CREATOR, THE PROTECTOR OF THE WEAK, THE ETERNAL TRUTH, THE GIVER OF WISDOM. WE HUMBLY SEEK YOUR GUIDANCE AS WE GATHER HERE TODAY IN THE SPIRIT OF SELFLESS SERVICE FOR THE WELL-BEING OF ALL. BLESS THIS ASSEMBLY WITH WISDOM, HUMILITY, AND JUSTICE, SO THAT EVERY DECISION MADE HERE IS IN SERVICE TO THE PEOPLE WITH FAIRNESS AND COMPASSION. MAY WE UPHOLD THE VALUES OF HONESTY, INTEGRITY AND EQUALITY.

GRANT US THE STRENGTH TO ACT WITH COURAGE, WITH PATIENCE, TO LISTEN WITH OPEN HEARTS, AND THE WISDOM TO SEEK SOLUTIONS THAT BRING HARMONY AND PROGRESS TO OUR COMMUNITY AND CONTINUE TO MAKE HARRIS COUNTY A SAFE AND WELCOMING PLACE.

A PLACE WHERE ALL CAN SUCCEED WITH THEIR HONEST WORK AND EFFORTS TO BUILD A LIFE THAT IS UPLIFTS US ALL AND UPLIFTS YOUR CREATION.

MAY OUR WORDS AND ACTIONS REFLECT THE DIVINE LIGHT WITHIN EACH OF US WITH GRATITUDE FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY TO SERVE.

WE BEGIN THIS MEETING IN YOUR NAME. MAY ALL GLORY BE TO GOD.

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AND IN NEXT MONTH, THE NATIONAL SIKH CENTER WILL BE HAVING THEIR GRAND OPENING, AND I REGRET I WON'T BE ABLE TO ATTEND, BUT I JUST WANT TO THANK YOU.

HERE. ANYTIME I AM IN THE PRESENCE OF AN INCREDIBLE MEMBER OF THE SIKH COMMUNITY, IT ALWAYS TAKES ME BACK TO MY DEAR FRIEND AND BROTHER SANDEEP DHALIWAL. AND AND, YOU KNOW, YOU BEING FROM THE PUNJAB REGION, I HAD THE PLEASURE OF VISITING AND GOT TO SEE THE INTERESTING CLOSING OF THE BORDER BETWEEN PAKISTAN AND INDIA. IT'S QUITE A SPECTACLE.

IT IS, IT IS. SO IT'S ALMOST LIKE A A-AND-M UT GAME.

YEAH. BUT I JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU FOR COMING DOWN AND JOINING US.

AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR YOUR VERY, VERY SOLID PRAYER.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME. THANK YOU, DOCTOR SINGH.

THANK YOU. THAT WAS BEAUTIFUL. AND YEAH, WE ALWAYS REMEMBER DEPUTY DHALIWAL.

COMMISSIONER, I'M GLAD YOU BROUGHT HIM UP. THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT WE WILL NOW RECITE THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE.

TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS.

ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL.

HONOR THE FLAG TO BE TEXAS. ONE STATE UNDER GOD, ONE INDIVISIBLE.

OKAY. SOME HOUSEKEEPING NOTES. OH, I FORGOT ABOUT THIS.

TODAY'S OPENING DAY OF THE ASTROS FOR THE ASTROS, 3 P.M..

YES. IMPORTANT INFORMATION. OKAY. SO, OUT OF ORDER, RESOLUTIONS, PRECINCTS ONE

[Departments (Part 1 of 2)]

THEY'RE ALL RELATED TO HARRIS COUNTY WAGE POLICY.

SO WE'RE GOING TO TAKE THOSE FOLLOWING ALL REMAINING SPEAKERS.

PRECINCT ONE. REQUEST 300 302 344 AND 604 TOGETHER. THEY'RE ALL RELATED TO SUPPLEMENTAL BUDGET REQUESTS.

SO WE WILL TAKE THAT AFTER THE WAGE POLICIES.

THESE SPORTS AUTHORITY FIVE ONE FOR. THAT'S THE WORLD CUP UPDATE, CORRECT? THAT WILL BE AT 3 P.M. TO ACCOMMODATE SEVERAL SPEAKERS TO ADDRESS THE COURT.

ITEM 28 WILL BE FOLLOWING ITEM 514, WHICH IS THE SUBDIVISION DRAINAGE PROGRAM.

AND WE WOULD LIKE TO TAKE TWO 5252 257 258 262, 263 AND 266 TOGETHER, ALL RELATED TO THE NEW DETECTIVE RANKS FOR CONSTABLES AFTER 4:15 P.M. ALSO TO ACCOMMODATE SPEAKERS, ACCOMMODATE SPEAKERS.

OKAY. AND SO I WILL BE STEPPING OUT BETWEEN 3 AND 4 P.M..

IT'S A STANDING COMMITMENT THAT I HAD BEFORE COURT WAS MOVED TO THURSDAYS.

AT THAT TIME. I'LL HAND IT TO COMMISSIONER ELLIS TO PRESIDE.

AND IT SHOULD BE THE THE WORLD CUP PRESENTATION, WHICH I CAN I CAN GET SEPARATELY.

OKAY. SO LET'S START WITH RESOLUTIONS. I'M GOING TO START A LITTLE DIFFERENTLY TODAY WITH COMMISSIONER ELLISON'S RESOLUTION.

IT'S A JOINT RESOLUTION. AND SO IT'S ITEM TWO, AND IT GOES WITH ITEM 463.

AND IT IS TO HONOR AND REMEMBER OUR FRIEND AND COLLEAGUE SYLVESTER TURNER.

SO, COMMISSIONER SHALL I READ THE RESOLUTION? AND YOU CAN GO OVER THE ITEM. OKAY. ALL RIGHT.

SO I'M VERY PROUD TO PRESENT THIS RESOLUTION.

HE IS SOMEBODY THAT I'LL. THAT I'LL VERY, VERY MUCH.

I STILL VERY MUCH MISS. I WAS SEEING THE THE MATERIALS FROM HIS FUNERAL THE OTHER DAY.

I'VE GOT THEM ON, ON MY TABLE. I STILL DOESN'T QUITE MAKE IT REAL.

SO. SO THIS IS JUST A REMEMBRANCE OF HIS WORK, HIS COMMITMENT TO THE COMMUNITY AND AND THE MENTORSHIP AND SUPPORT THAT HE PROVIDED ME.

WHEREAS THE HONORABLE SYLVESTER TURNER, KNOWN AS CONGRESSMAN, MAYOR, YOUR REPRESENTATIVE AND SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE WAS A BELOVED FATHER, BROTHER, GRANDFATHER AND UNCLE, A DEVOTED PUBLIC SERVANT, A VISIONARY LEADER, A BRIDGE BUILDER, BUILDER, AND UNWAVERING ADVOCATE FOR EQUITY, JUSTICE AND OPPORTUNITY.

A SON OF ACRES HOMES AND A CHAMPION FOR HOUSTON AND THE COMMUNITIES HE FAITHFULLY REPRESENTED THROUGHOUT HIS EXTRAORDINARY CAREER.

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HE THEN ATTENDED KLEIN HIGH SCHOOL, WHERE HE WAS BUSED TO THE ALL WHITE SCHOOL WITH OTHER BLACK STUDENTS DURING AN ERA OF DESEGREGATION.

AT KLEIN, HE WENT ON TO BECOME A DEBATE CHAMPION, STUDENT BODY PRESIDENT, AND VALEDICTORIAN OF HIS GRADUATING CLASS.

THE CONGRESSMAN GRADUATED FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON, WHICH WITH A BACHELOR OF ARTS IN POLITICAL SCIENCE AND I SHOULD SAY AS DEBATE CHAMPION, I BELIEVE HE DEBATED WITH YOU, COMMISSIONER ELLIS.

SO MANAGED TO AVOID THAT. OKAY. HE HE GRADUATED WITH A BACHELOR OF ARTS IN POLITICAL SCIENCE IN 1977 AND EARNED A J.D. FROM HARVARD LAW SCHOOL IN 1980.

HE COULD HAVE CONTINUED HIS CAREER IN PRIVATE LAW, BIG LAW YOU KNOW, MADE MADE MANY MILLIONS.

SO HE BEGAN HIS CAREER AS A TRIAL LAWYER WITH FULBRIGHT.

AND JAWORSKI LATER CO-FOUNDED THE LAW. LAW FIRM BARNES AND TURNER, SPECIALIZING IN CORPORATE AND COMMERCIAL LAW.

HOWEVER, IN 1988, HE WAS ELECTED TO THE TEXAS HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, WHERE HE REPRESENTED DISTRICT 139 FOR 27 YEARS.

HE SERVED AS A MEMBER OF THE HOUSE APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE FOR 21 YEARS, SIX YEARS AS SPEAKER PRO TEM, AND AT THE TIME HE WAS THE ONLY DEMOCRAT TO CHAIR AN APPROPRIATIONS SUBCOMMITTEE.

READY. CHIEF AMONG HIS LEGISLATIVE ACHIEVEMENTS IS HOUSE BILL 109, WHICH EXPANDED ACCESS TO THE CHILDREN'S HEALTH INSURANCE PROGRAM AND PASSED WITH OVERWHELMING BIPARTISAN APPROVAL IN 2007. IN 2015, HE WAS ELECTED AS THE 62ND MAYOR OF HOUSTON AND SERVED TWO TERMS. I HAD THE PLEASURE OF MEETING HIM AS HE WAS ENDING HIS FIRST TERM CELEBRATING AND JOINING IN HIS REELECTION, AS HE LATER DID IN MINE. HE LED THE CITY THROUGH SIGNIFICANT CHALLENGES DURING HIS TENURE.

SEVERAL SEVEN FEDERALLY DECLARED NATURAL DISASTERS, INCLUDING HURRICANE HARVEY, WINTER STORM URI, THE COVID 19 PANDEMIC, AND I COULD NAME SO MANY OTHERS.

ITC FIRES IS NOT ON HERE. MANY, MANY FIRES, EXPLOSIONS, YOU NAME IT.

SO WE REALLY WENT THROUGH A LOT TOGETHER. THESE CHALLENGES, HE SHEPHERDED THE FIRST RESPONDERS LOSS AND RECOVERY WITH FORTITUDE AND GRACE.

AND I WILL ADD AN INCREDIBLE COLLABORATION BETWEEN THE CITY AND THE COUNTY.

AS MAYOR, HE CHAMPIONED INITIATIVES RELATED TO AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY LAUNCHED PROGRAMS TO REVITALIZE LONG NEGLECTED NEIGHBORHOODS.

INFRASTRUCTURE AND LED OUR REGION'S COMMITMENT TO VISION ZERO TO END TRAFFIC DEATHS AND IMPROVE STREET SAFETY AND ACCESSIBILITY FOR PEOPLE OF ALL AGES AND DISABILITIES.

HE WAS ELECTED IN 2024 TO REPRESENT THE TEXAS 18TH CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT AFTER THE PASSING OF HIS LONGTIME FRIEND AND ALLY, CONGRESSWOMAN SHEILA JACKSON LEE. THE CONGRESS.

THE CONGRESSMAN'S MOST CHERISHED ROLES WERE THOSE OF GRANDFATHER TO JAMESON AND ANAYA AND FATHER TO HIS BELOVED DAUGHTER, ASHLEY TURNER, CAPTAIN AND SON IN LAW, JIMMY CAPTAIN.

THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED THAT HARRIS COUNTY COMMISSIONERS COURT HEREBY HONORS CONGRESSMAN SYLVESTER TURNER'S REMARKABLE LIFE, LEGACY, AND LOVE FOR HOUSTON AND EXTENDS DEEPEST SYMPATHIES TO HIS FAMILY, FRIENDS, AND ALL WHO MOURN HIS PASSING WHILE COMMITTING TO CARRY ON HIS WORK TO ADVANCE THE VALUES OF EQUITY, OPPORTUNITY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL.

SO SO THAT IS THE RESOLUTION, AND I'LL PASS IT ON TO TO COMMISSIONER ELLIS.

OKAY. SO LET'S LET'S THERE'S THE MOTION FOR THE RESOLUTION SECOND BY COMMISSIONER GARCIA.

ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. ANY OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY UNANIMOUS.

I'M SORRY. WHO WAS THE ONE THAT MADE THE MOTION? I MADE THE MOTION, JUDGE.

I WAS JUST I WAS READING IT. AND NOW, COMMISSIONER ELLIS, ITEM 463.

SO, JUDGE, I DID. I DID NOT ASK ANY SPEAKERS TO COME ON THIS ITEM, AND I'M SURE NONE HAVE SIGNED UP.

IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING. IS THAT CORRECT? CORRECT. AND I OBVIOUSLY COULD HAVE FILLED UP THE ROOM, BUT I DID NOT WANT TO DO THAT. BUT I THINK IT'S A FITTING TRIBUTE THAT WE WOULD NAME THAT 1010 LAMAR BUILDING, WHICH IS A BUILDING THAT COUNTY CONTROLS. I GUESS IT WOULD BE LIKE OUR SECOND OR THIRD COUNTY ADMINISTRATION BUILDING IN HONOR OF MAYOR TURNER.

AND I THOUGHT ABOUT IT WHEN I WENT UP WITH HIS DAUGHTER, ASHLEY, TO MAKE ARRANGEMENTS TO GET HIM BACK TO HOUSTON.

AND I WAS JOKING ABOUT THAT FIRST AD HE RAN WHEN HE RAN FOR MAYOR THE FIRST TIME, AND HE JUST GOT TO THE LEGISLATURE AND RAN, BUT IT WAS REALLY A CLASSIC AD. I DON'T KNOW IF DAN MCCLUNG DID IT.

I'M NOT SURE WHO, BUT IT WAS JUST REALLY THOUGHTFUL ABOUT GETTING THAT 44 BUCKS.

AND AT HIS FUNERAL, I HAD TO EXPLAIN TO THE GUEST IN FROM OUT OF TOWN WHAT THIS FO-FO BUSINESS IS ABOUT, BECAUSE THEY WOULD WONDER, WHY WOULD YOU CALL ACRES HOME FOR FOUR? LIKE, THERE ARE 44 ACRES, BUT THE HOUSE IS A ONE ACRE.

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AND EVERYBODY IN ACRES HOME WOULD CALL IT THE FO-FO INSTEAD OF THE 44.

AND IF YOU'RE FROM THE OTHER SIDE OF TOWN WHERE I WAS, YOU WOULD WONDER, WHAT WERE THEY TALKING ABOUT? BECAUSE WE DIDN'T CATCH A 44 BUS FROM SUNNYSIDE, BUT I DIDN'T HAVE TO DEBATE HIM.

AND IT WAS A IT WAS A BADGE OF HONOR THAT I DUCKED HIM.

AND I MET HIM IN THE NINTH. HE WAS IN THE NINTH GRADE. I WAS IN THE 10TH. HE HAD NOT GONE TO INTEGRATE A SCHOOL.

THEN HE WAS AT A SEGREGATED JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL.

SHE REFERRED TO HIM BACK THEN, NOW THAT MIDDLE SCHOOLS.

BUT HE DID HAVE THAT REPUTATION OF BEING A CLOSE.

AND HE HAD THAT MINISTERIAL WAY OF CLOSING IT OUT, TOM.

AND REALLY, HE WAS A HE WAS A GOOD DEBATER, NO DOUBT ABOUT IT.

BUT I KIND OF THOUGHT WHEN I WOULD WATCH HIM ON COMPETING TEAMS, NEVER WITH HIM, BUT WITH OTHER TEAMS, NEVER AGAINST HIM. SOMETIMES THEY'RE A LITTLE WEAK ON THE FACTS, BUT THEN SLY WOULD GET UP AND JUST WEAVE ALL THIS DISJOINTED STUFF TOGETHER. YOU KNOW, IT'S ALMOST LIKE LIKE A MELODY.

IT'S LIKE HE WAS SINGING. THIS WAS BEFORE RAPPING.

AND I NEVER SEEN ANYTHING LIKE IT IN MY LIFE.

THE ONE TIME I DID GET MATCHED WITH HIM IN HIGH SCHOOL, I WAS IN THE 12TH GRADE.

I'LL ADMIT I USED THE RULES. I SAID, I THINK IT WOULD BE UNFAIR TO AN 11TH GRADER.

THEY HAVE TO DEBATE ABOUT 12TH GRADE WHEN THE TRUTH OF THE MATTER IS, I NEEDED THAT SCHOLARSHIP, AND I THOUGHT THAT IF I WON THAT TOURNAMENT, IT WOULD HELP ME.

STILL DIDN'T WIN, BUT I DID GET A SCHOLARSHIP. BUT I MENTIONED TO ASHLEY WHEN WE WERE IN DC IF I HAD THE OPPORTUNITY, I'D LIKE TO TRY AND FIND ONE OF THOSE TALL BUILDINGS THAT MAYBE SYLVESTER LOOKED AT WHEN HE WAS ON THAT 44 BUS.

SO I MOVE. ADOPTION. MOTION BY COMMISSIONER ELLIS TO NAME 1010 LAMAR STREET IN MEMORY OF THE HONORABLE SYLVESTER TURNER. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER GARCIA. ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. ANY OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY.

THANK YOU. YES, COMMISSIONER BRIONES. OH, AND THEN COMMISSIONER RAMSEY.

JUDGE AND COMMISSIONER ELLIS, THANK YOU FOR BRINGING THIS RESOLUTION.

AND I KNOW YOUR SENSE OF LOSS IS DEEP, COMMISSIONER.

SO MY HEART HEART'S WITH YOU. AND I'M SO HAPPY WE'RE NAMING THIS BUILDING.

IT'S A TINY TOKEN OF OUR PROFOUND GRATITUDE AND APPRECIATION.

AND TO ME, HE REPRESENTS THE BEST OF THE MAYOR TURNER.

CONGRESSMAN TURNER REPRESENTS THE BEST OF THE AMERICAN DREAM.

HIS STORY IS IS PROFOUND AND COMPELLING. AND HE INSPIRED ME AND WAS SUCH A GREAT MENTOR.

AND HE MY GIRLS LOVED HIM. AND I ALWAYS APPRECIATE HOW KIND HE WAS, IN FACT, SO MUCH THAT MY MIDDLE DAUGHTER, WHEN SHE WAS ABOUT SIX ONE DAY AT DINNER, WAS LIKE, MOM, DAD, IF YOU DIE, CAN MAYOR TURNER BE MY NEW DAD? AND WHEN I, I KID YOU NOT. AND I WAS LIKE, OH, I'LL TELL HIM.

AND SO WHEN I TOLD HIM, HE WAS JUST SO MOVED AND HE JUST, HE WOULD ALWAYS LET HER JUST FOLLOW HIM AROUND, HE JUST HAD A LIGHT ABOUT HIM, A MAGNETISM ABOUT HIM.

AND HE FOUGHT FOR JUSTICE IN AN UNPARALLELED WAY.

SO MAY HE REST IN PEACE, IN POWER. AND MY DEEPEST CONDOLENCES, COMMISSIONER RAMSEY.

YEAH, MY MY MEMORIES. I'M NOT GOING TO TALK ABOUT BEING MAYOR OR BEING STATE ROUTE, BUT I WAS IMPRESSED BY HOW HE AND WHAT HE DID IN THE CHURCH. AND I SAW THERE WERE THREE GREAT PREACHERS.

I'LL NOT NAME THE OTHER THREE, BUT I KNOW WHO CAME IN FIRST THAT NIGHT IN THE IN DELIVERING A MESSAGE.

HE COULD DELIVER THE MESSAGE, MUCH LIKE YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT, COMMISSIONER, WITHIN THE DEBATE CALLS.

BUT TO BE ABLE TO STAND UP IN A CHURCH, IN A COMMUNITY, IN ANCHOR'S HOME AND GIVE A RELEVANT INSPIRED, KINGDOM INSPIRED MESSAGE. HE THERE WERE SECOND TO NONE TO HIM.

SO I TOLD HIM AFTER THAT IF HE EVER GOT TIRED OF BEING A STATE REP, HE OUGHT TO BE A PREACHER.

I DON'T THINK HE I DON'T THINK HE QUIT PREACHING.

SO I DO ADMIRE PEOPLE THAT GET INTO IT FOR THE RIGHT REASONS AND AND I THINK HE DID MOST DAYS.

THANK YOU COMMISSIONER. AND YOU KNOW, IMAGINE BEING THE PERSON WHO HAD TO GO BEFORE OR AFTER HIM AT COUNTLESS EVENTS.

SO SO I KNEW THE, THE FO-FO AND I KNEW THE THE KID FROM ACRES HOME AND I KNEW THE THE THE MOTHER WHO WAS A MAID AT THE RICE HOTEL.

MY THING IS, I USED TO MEMORIZE MY SPEECHES. SOME OF YOU GUYS KNOW THIS, I GOT I STOPPED, BUT. SO I THOUGHT, OKAY, WELL, THAT'S WHAT I GOT.

I CAN I CAN SAY IT WITHOUT A WITHOUT NOTES. BUT HERE'S WHAT HE WOULD DO.

HE'D START WITH HIS NOTES, AND THEN HE PUT THE NOTES DOWN.

AND THAT'S WHEN I KNEW THERE WAS NO WAY. THERE WAS NO WAY MY SPEECH WAS GOOD.

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AND THEN. AND THEN BUT BUT YEAH, WE WE HAD A LOT OF FUN TOGETHER.

COMMISSIONER GARCIA, THANK YOU. JUDGE AND COMMISSIONER ELLIS, THANK YOU FOR BRINGING THIS ITEM FORWARD.

AND I'LL TELL YOU, I, I GO BACK NOT AS FAR AS YOU, BUT WHEN I STARTED MY CAREER IN THE HOUSTON POLICE DEPARTMENT, ACRES HOMES WAS THE FIRST PLACE I ENDED UP PATROLLING.

THAT'S WHERE I MET MISS SHEPPARD. I THINK PROBABLY ABOUT A MONTH INTO MY TRAINING CAREER, JUST FRESH OUT OF THE ACADEMY.

AND THEN AS I CONTINUE TO WORK THERE, I CAN'T REMEMBER WHAT THE ISSUE WAS, BUT SOMETHING WENT SIDEWAYS WITH THE POLICE DEPARTMENT, AND AND I REMEMBER BEING AT AN EVENT WHERE MISS SHEPPARD WAS AT, AND SHE SAID, YOU THINK DEALING WITH ME IS GOING TO BE HARD? I'M GOING TO HAVE A YOUNG MAN CALL YOU. AND SO WHEN HE CALLS, YOU BETTER TAKE HIS CALL.

HIS NAME IS SYLVESTER TURNER. AND I WILL TELL YOU THAT MEETING HIM EARLY AND THIS WAS I THINK BEFORE HE GOT INTO OFFICE AND AND I WILL I'LL JUST SAY THAT FROM THE YEARS IN THE HAVING DONE SOME WORK WITH THE POLICE UNION, WITH THE ORGANIZATION SPANISH SPEAKING OFFICERS IN THE IN THE CAPITOL SYLVESTER WAS ALWAYS SOMEONE WE COULD COUNT ON. AND AND SO I JUST THINK IT'S APROPOS THAT NOT ONLY DO WE THANK HIM, BUT WE ENSURE THAT ALTHOUGH GONE NEVER TO BE FORGOTTEN.

SO THANK YOU FOR BRINGING THIS ITEM FORWARD. THANK YOU.

THANK YOU. COMMISSIONER. WE WILL NOW MOVE ON.

YOU KNOW WHAT? LET'S LET'S TAKE A QUICK MOMENT OF SILENCE.

JUST IN REMEMBRANCE OF MAYOR CONGRESSMAN TURNER.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH. AND THANK YOU, COLLEAGUES.

LET'S MOVE ON TO MY RESOLUTION. AND IT IS IN SUPPORT OF THE AMERICAN DREAM AND PROMISE ACT OF 2025, DEFERRED ACTION FOR CHILDHOOD ARRIVALS. DACA IS A FEDERAL IMMIGRATION PROGRAM ESTABLISHED IN 2012 THAT HAS SIGNIFICANTLY ENHANCED THE LIVES OF YOUNG UNDOCUMENTED IMMIGRANTS WHO ARRIVED IN THE UNITED STATES AS CHILDREN.

ON AVERAGE, DACA RECIPIENTS, OFTEN REFERRED TO AS DREAMERS, ARRIVED IN THE UNITED STATES AT THE AGE OF SEVEN AND HAVE NOW LIVED IN THE UNITED STATES FOR 20 YEARS, MAKING THEM A CRITICAL PART OF THE COUNTRY'S FABRIC.

MORE THAN 1.3 MILLION PEOPLE IN THE UNITED STATES LIVE WITH A DACA RECIPIENT, INCLUDING 250,000 US CITIZEN CHILDREN.

TO DATE, MORE THAN 834,000 4000 INDIVIDUALS HAVE BENEFITED FROM DACA IN THE UNITED STATES, INCLUDING 31,000 WHO CALL HARRIS COUNTY HOME AND CONTRIBUTE MORE THAN $250 MILLION IN STATE AND FEDERAL TAXES AND BOOST THE LOCAL ECONOMY.

WITH MORE THAN $840 MILLION IN SPENDING POWER EVERY YEAR.

THE BIPARTISAN AMERICAN DREAM AND PROMISE ACT OF 2025 WAS INTRODUCED TO CONGRESS BY REPRESENTATIVE SYLVIA GARCIA VERY RECENTLY.

IT WOULD GRANT ELIGIBLE DREAMERS CONSTITUTE A CONDITIONAL PERMANENT RESIDENCE FOR TEN YEARS, CANCEL REMOVAL PROCEEDINGS, AND PROVIDE A PATHWAY TO FULL LAWFUL PERMANENT RESIDENT STATUS.

AND IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING THIS IS A BIPARTISAN A BIPARTISAN INITIATIVE.

DACA HAS POSITIVELY IMPACTED RECIPIENTS MENTAL HEALTH AND WELL-BEING, PROVIDING A RENEWED SENSE OF PURPOSE AND OPTIMISM FOR THE FUTURE.

EMPOWERING DREAMERS TO PURSUE CAREERS THAT DRIVE ESSENTIAL HARRIS COUNTY SECTOR, SUCH AS HEALTHCARE, ENERGY, EDUCATION AND MANY SERVING AS DEDICATED PUBLIC SERVANTS.

WHEREAS THE MAJORITY OF AMERICANS SUPPORT LEGISLATION LIKE THE AMERICAN DREAM AND PROMISE ACT OF 2025 THAT WOULD OFFER LEGAL PATHWAYS FOR DREAMERS.

THIS IS EVEN ACROSS PARTY LINES. DEMONSTRATING THE URGENT NEED FOR CONGRESS TO PASS THIS ESSENTIAL LEGISLATION.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, THAT HARRIS COUNTY COMMISSIONERS COURT SUPPORTS THE AMERICAN DREAM PROMISE ACT OF 2025 AND URGES CONGRESS TO CONTINUE WORKING TO ADVANCE THIS LEGISLATION. AND IT WAS JUST INTRODUCED. IT DOESN'T HAVE A BILL NUMBER YET, BUT IT WAS A BIPARTISAN.

IS THAT RIGHT, ANGELICA? YES. IT WAS A BIPARTISAN BILL THAT THAT WE HOPE IS GOING TO MOVE ITS WAY THROUGH THE CONGRESS AND HOPEFULLY BECOME LAW. SO I BELIEVE WE HAVE SOME SPEAKERS ON HERE.

[00:25:02]

AND JUST LIKE THE 80% OF AMERICANS FAVORING OUR DREAMERS.

THIS BILL WILL GET US WILL GET US THERE. SO LET'S TAKE SOME SPEAKERS.

CESAR ESPINOSA, YOU HAVE ONE MINUTE.

GOOD MORNING. MY NAME IS CESAR ESPINOSA, AND I'M EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF FIELD.

SO DACA OR THE PRECURSOR TO THE DREAM AND PROMISE ACT, HAS PROVEN TIME AND TIME AGAIN TO BE AN AMAZING OPPORTUNITY FOR MANY YOUNG PEOPLE. I MYSELF WAS A DOCKER RECIPIENT FOR 12 YEARS.

AND IT OPENED UP THE DOORS TO MANY OPPORTUNITIES.

MANY OPPORTUNITIES FOR PEOPLE TO GO BEYOND HARRIS COUNTY, GO WORK IN OTHER PLACES AND MAKE THEIR LIVES BETTER AND THE LIVES OF US BETTER.

THE OTHER THING THAT DACA HAS HAS DONE IS PROVEN WHAT WE'VE BEEN SAYING FOR A VERY LONG TIME, THAT IMMIGRANTS ARE MORE THAN FARM WORKERS AND, AND AND PEOPLE THAT CLEAN HOTELS AND THINGS LIKE THAT.

IMMIGRANTS ARE PEOPLE THAT ARE WORKING IN GOVERNMENT IN POLICY, PARAMEDICS, DOCTORS, YOU NAME IT.

SO WHEN GIVEN THE OPPORTUNITY, IMMIGRANTS TAKE IT AND WE GO ABOVE AND BEYOND TO MAKE SURE.

AND OUR PROUD IMMIGRANT, THE COUNTY JUDGE FROM YOU KNOW, OH, GO AHEAD, GO AHEAD.

I INTERRUPTED YOU, BUT I GOT EXCITED. I WAS LIKE, YEAH, ABSOLUTELY.

WE CAN BE COUNTY JUDGES. AND IT'S IMPORTANT THAT, YOU KNOW, WE WE OFFER OPPORTUNITIES NOT ONLY TO YOUNG FOLKS, BUT TO THE MAJORITY OF IMMIGRANTS WHO ARE HERE TO MAKE, BUILD AND PROVIDE A FUTURE FOR HARRIS COUNTY.

THANK YOU, THANK YOU. THANK YOU. RITA ADAMI. YES, SIR.

JUST JUST A MOMENT, TIFFANY. COMMISSIONER GARCIA HAD SOMETHING TO ADD.

AND, COMMISSIONER BRIONES, DID YOU HAVE SOMETHING TO. OKAY, OKAY.

OKAY, I'LL GO THEN. SO JUST JUST REAL SIMPLY, THANK YOU FOR COMING DOWN HERE AND ADVOCATING FOR DACA.

IT HAS BEEN PROBABLY AN INCREDIBLE INSTRUMENT TO SHOW THE TALENT THAT IS AMONGST US, IN SPITE OF HOW WE GET HERE. HOW SO MANY WANT TO WORK HARD, PLAY BY THE RULES AND JUST BE GIVEN AN OPPORTUNITY TO SUCCEED.

YOU'RE A JUST A A PRIME EXAMPLE OF THAT. AND SO I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR ADVOCACY ON THIS.

WE WANT TO SUPPORT MEMBERS LIKE LIKE CONGRESSWOMAN GARCIA IN HER ADVOCACY TO PROTECT IT.

BUT WE ALSO NEED YOUR HELP AT THE STATE CAPITOL.

BECAUSE THE THE THE DREAM ACT THAT THEN HOUSE MEMBER RICK NORIEGA PASSED IS UNDER ATTACK AS WELL. AND SO THANK YOU FOR ALL YOU DO.

AND AND PLEASE LET US KNOW HOW WE CAN BE SUPPORTIVE OF YOUR EFFORTS, BUT TRUST ME, WHEN I GET THE OPPORTUNITIES.

I WAS JUST IN D.C. THIS EARLIER THIS WEEK. THESE ARE CONVERSATIONS THAT I'M HAVING WITH FOLKS AS I JUST GET THE OPPORTUNITY TO MEET WITH THEM.

SO THANK YOU. NO. THANK YOU. COMMISSIONER BRIONES.

THANK YOU, JUDGE HIDALGO, FOR BRINGING THIS. AND THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE TODAY AND FOR EVERYTHING YOU DO TO BE ON THE FRONT LINES FIGHTING FOR JUSTICE.

AND TO CONGRESSWOMAN GARCIA, I'M THRILLED THAT SHE IS CHAMPIONING THIS BILL AND WHAT IT'S CALLED THE AMERICAN DREAM AND PROMISE ACT TO ME, IS IS POWERFUL, RIGHT? I, I GREW UP IN SOUTH TEXAS ON THE US MEXICO BORDER, LITERALLY THE GATEWAY TO THE AMERICAN DREAM.

AND I THINK OF MY STUDENTS, MANY OF THEM WERE DREAMERS, RIGHT? AND THEY THEY COME TO THIS COUNTRY BECAUSE THEY BELIEVE IN THE PROMISE OF THIS COUNTRY. AND WE KNOW THAT IMMIGRANTS ARE THE ECONOMIC FOUNDATION AND THE HISTORY AND THE FUTURE OF THIS COUNTRY. AND SO I APPRECIATE EVERYTHING YOU DO, AND I LOOK FORWARD TO THIS HOPEFULLY PASSING BECAUSE IT'S UP TO US.

AND HERE IN HARRIS COUNTY TODAY WITH THIS VOTE, WE'RE VERY MUCH FIRMLY ATTESTING THAT WE'RE HERE FIGHTING TO MAKE THE AMERICAN DREAM AN AMERICAN REALITY. SO THANK YOU. AND I LOOK FORWARD TO VOTING IN FAVOR.

THANK YOU. JUDGE. THERE WAS SOMETHING YOU MENTIONED JUST BECAUSE WE JUST HAD THE RESOLUTION ON SYLVESTER TURNER ABOUT THE THE MEETING THAT HE TOOK WITH YOU GUYS.

HE TOOK COUNTLESS OF MEETINGS WITH US. AND ONE OF THE THINGS THAT AS A POINT OF PERSONAL PRIVILEGE, I'LL SAY HE WAS THE VERY FIRST MIRROR THAT I CAN REMEMBER THAT WOULD END A LOT OF HIS HIS MEMORABLE SPEECHES WITH WHETHER

[00:30:06]

AND THAT WAS THAT WAS REALLY POWERFUL IN THE LAST CONVERSATION.

AND I WANT TO I WANT TO GIVE CREDIT WHERE CREDIT IS DUE.

PART OF THE REASON WHY I'M STILL HERE IS BECAUSE OF WORDS THAT I HEAR, LIKE, FROM PEOPLE LIKE HIM.

HE TOLD ME I'M HAVING ISSUES, AS ALWAYS, WITH SOME ELECTED OFFICIALS SOMEWHERE, BECAUSE THEY'RE NOT DOING WHAT WE NEED THEM TO DO FOR THE COMMUNITY.

AND HE SAID, JUST DO WHAT YOU DO BEST. JUST CONTINUE TO SPEAK UP AND GIVE PEOPLE HELL.

AND SO THAT WAS THE LAST CONVERSATION, A REAL TRUE CONVERSATION THAT I HAD WITH CONGRESSMAN TURNER.

SO WE WE I THANK YOU FOR ALSO PRESENTING THAT.

HE'S A GREAT FRIEND OF OUR COMMUNITY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU SO MUCH.

THANK YOU. RITA. ADAM, YOU HAVE ONE MINUTE.

TO. GOOD MORNING COMMISSIONERS. MY NAME IS FRED ADAM.

I'M A DACA RECIPIENT AND I'M A MEMBER OF UNITED WE DREAM.

THERE ARE OVER 530 ACTIVE DACA RECIPIENTS LIKE ME ACROSS THE COUNTRY, INCLUDING 31,000 RIGHT HERE IN HARRIS COUNTY.

DACA HAS GIVEN US THE OPPORTUNITY TO BUILD A LIFE, A CAREER AND A FUTURE IN THIS BEAUTIFUL COUNTRY THAT WE CALL HOME.

WE ARE YOUR COWORKERS, NEIGHBORS AND FRIENDS WHO ENRICH THIS NATION WITH CULTURE, DIVERSITY AND ECONOMIC CONTRIBUTIONS.

WITHOUT US, CRITICAL GAPS WOULD EMERGE IN SCHOOLS, HOSPITALS, RESTAURANTS, AND MANY OTHER INDUSTRIES.

DACA HAS CHANGED OUR LIVES, BUT WE'VE ALWAYS KNOWN THAT IT WAS NEVER ENOUGH, ESPECIALLY AS WE CONTINUE TO FACE CONSTANT ATTACKS ON OUR RIGHT TO BE HERE. WITH THE FIFTH CIRCUIT'S MANDATE PUTTING OUR ABILITY TO WORK AT RISK, PASSING THE AMERICAN DREAM AND PROMISE ACT IS MORE URGENT NOW THAN EVER.

LOSING OUR ABILITY TO WORK WOULD NOT ONLY HARM OUR LIVELIHOODS, BUT ALSO DAMAGE THE COMMUNITIES AND INDUSTRIES THAT DEPEND ON US.

WE NEED PERMANENT SOLUTIONS. WE DESERVE THE STABILITY.

THANK YOU. YOUR TIME IS UP. GO AHEAD. YOU CAN FINISH.

AND SECURITY THAT A PATHWAY TO CITIZENSHIP WOULD PROVIDE.

WE TRULY APPRECIATE YOU FOR FIGHTING WITH US, AND WE ASK YOU TO CONTINUE ADVOCATING FOR US AS YOUR CONSTITUENTS.

THANK YOU FOR STANDING WITH DREAMERS AND PUSHING CONGRESS TO PASS THE AMERICAN DREAM AND PROMISE ACT.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU. PAM LOWE, YOU HAVE ONE MINUTE.

GOOD MORNING, JUDGE HIDALGO AND COMMISSIONERS, I AM TAM LOWE, THE ADVOCACY AND PROGRAMS LEAD WITH OCA GREATER HOUSTON.

THERE ARE AN ESTIMATED 50,000 PEOPLE ADOPTED AS INFANTS AND CHILDREN FROM ALL OVER THE WORLD SINCE THE 1950S.

WHO ARE UNDOCUMENTED BECAUSE THEIR ADOPTIVE PARENTS DID NOT FILE THEIR CITIZENSHIP PAPERWORK.

AN ESTIMATED 20,000 OF THOSE 50,000 UNDOCUMENTED ADOPTEES ARE OF KOREAN HERITAGE.

THERE ARE ADOPTEES WHO HAVE PAID THEIR TAXES FOR DECADES, WHO CAN'T COLLECT SOCIAL SECURITY IN THEIR RETIREMENT BECAUSE THEY DON'T HAVE THEIR CITIZENSHIP. THERE ARE ADOPTEES WHO HAVE TRAGICALLY COMMITTED SUICIDE AFTER BEING DEPORTED BACK TO THE COUNTRIES WHERE THEY DID NOT SPEAK THE LANGUAGE AND KNEW NOBODY.

THE AMERICAN DREAM AND PROMISE ACT OF 2025 WOULD AT LEAST PROVIDE A PATHWAY TO CITIZENSHIP FOR THESE ADOPTEES, WHILE THEY WAIT FOR THE POLITICAL WILL TO OTHERWISE FIX THE CHILD ADOPTION LOOPHOLES.

THESE ADOPTEES AND THE THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE WHO WERE BROUGHT HERE AS CHILDREN THROUGH NO FAULT OF THEIR OWN, NEED A PATHWAY TO CITIZENSHIP. WE URGE THIS COURT TO SUPPORT THIS RESOLUTION.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU SO MUCH. AND FOR MAKING US AWARE OF THAT ISSUE.

ANY OTHER SPEAKERS ON THIS RESOLUTION? NO, MA'AM.

OKAY. IS THERE A MOTION FOR THE RESOLUTION? MOTION BY COMMISSIONER GARCIA, SECOND BY COMMISSIONER BRIONES.

ALL IN FAVOR? ANY OPPOSED? NO. MOTION CARRIES 4 TO 1.

I'M IN FAVOR. THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH. WE WILL MOVE ON TO COMMISSIONER GARCIA'S RESOLUTION.

THANK YOU. I HAVE TWO RESOLUTIONS. I AM GOING TO TAKE ITEM FOUR FIRST.

WHICH IS A RESOLUTION THAT I AM VERY EXCITED TO PRESENT, AND IT'S TO RECOGNIZE MAYOR CHARLES JOHNSON.

JUST RECENTLY ELECTED AS MAYOR OF THE CITY OF BAYTOWN.

MAYOR, IF YOU CAN MAKE YOUR WAY WHILE I TRY MY BEST TO EMBARRASS YOU.

YEAH. AND JOINING MAYOR JOHNSON IS HIS BEAUTIFUL WIFE.

LATOYA. AND SOME MEMBERS OF THE JOHNSON FAMILY THAT ARE HERE AS WELL.

AND THEN WE ALSO HAVE JASON REYNOLDS THE BAY TOWN CITY MANAGER.

[00:35:01]

THIS RESOLUTION WAS ACTUALLY INTENDED TO HELP CELEBRATE AND HONOR YOU DURING BLACK HISTORY AND HERITAGE MONTH.

HOWEVER, YOU WERE BUSY HITTING THE GROUND RUNNING, AND WE COULDN'T GET IT DONE.

BUT WE COULDN'T GET IT DONE SOON ENOUGH. AND SO MAYOR JOHNSON, I'M EXCITED TO PRESENT THIS RESOLUTION.

IT SPEAKS TO YOUR WALK OF LIFE OF AS GOING FROM A COMMUNITY A VERY ACTIVE COMMUNITY MEMBER, WHETHER IT'S IN THE CHAMBER AT GOOSE CREEK AT THE PROMISE CENTER.

YOU HAVE BEEN A JUST A A COMMITTED RESIDENT OF THE BAYTOWN COMMUNITY.

AND I HAVE A QUOTE HERE SAYING THAT YOU HAVE LOVED BAYTOWN ALL YOUR LIFE.

AND SINCE YOU WERE EIGHT YEARS OLD YOU KNEW YOU WANTED TO DO SOMETHING TO HELP YOUR NEIGHBORS AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS.

AND MAYOR JOHNSON TODAY STARTED HIS PUBLIC SERVICE CAREER AS THE FIRST AFRICAN AMERICAN COUNCIL MEMBER OF BAYTOWN.

AND TODAY, HE STANDS BEFORE US AS THE FIRST AFRICAN AMERICAN MAYOR OF BAYTOWN.

AND HE HAS A LOT OF FOLKS THAT HAVE MOTIVATED HIM TO SUCCEED.

HE'S A TRUE PRODUCT OF THE BAYTOWN COMMUNITY GOING TO GOOSE CREEK SCHOOLS GOING TO LEE COLLEGE AND THEN STUDYING AT THE COLLEGE OF BIBLICAL, BIBLICAL STUDIES. HIS HE SERVED SIX YEARS ON COUNCIL BECOMING MAYOR PRO TEM AND JOINING THE CITY'S FINANCE COMMITTEE. AND NOW AS THE MAYOR, THAT'S A VERY, VERY IMPORTANT COMMITTEE TO HAVE SERVED ON.

AND BUT HE IS BEEN ACTIVE IN SO MANY DIFFERENT ORGANIZATIONS, AS I MENTIONED.

THE FRED AGUILAR PROMISE CENTER, THE YMCA BOARD, COMMUNITIES AND SCHOOLS.

HE'S BEEN INVOLVED IN THE BAYTOWN CHAMBER GOOSE CREEK ISD EDUCATION FOUNDATION, THE HIGHLAND SPORTS ASSOCIATION BUT ACTUALLY GREW UP IN THE MCNAIR COMMUNITY AND AND AND HAS CONTINUED TO ADVOCATE FOR THEM.

I DO WANT TO RECOGNIZE THAT I THINK SOME OF THE MEMBERS THAT ARE FROM YOUR FAMILY THAT ARE HERE ARE YOU'RE PARENTS OF FIVE. WOW. YES, SIR. AND WHO'S THE LITTLE ONE OF THE FAMILY? THAT WOULD BE MY DAUGHTER, CHARLENE. CHARLENE, WHERE ARE YOU? CHARLENE. OKAY, CHARLENE, I JUST WANT TO LET YOU KNOW I'M THE BABY OF MY FAMILY, SO I GOT YOUR BACK, ALL RIGHT? I KNOW HOW THE BIG. I KNOW HOW THE BIG BROTHERS CAN BE.

I GOT YOUR BACK, GIRL. ALL RIGHT? NO, Y'ALL DON'T MESS WITH HER.

GOOD TO SEE YOU, CHARLENE. AND SO SO THE PROUD PARENTS OF FIVE THAT INCLUDE CHRISTOPHER KEESHA, CHARLES, CHARLES DUNN, AND CHARLENE. AND AND HE HAS HE AND LATOYA HAVE BEEN PROUD THAT THOSE THAT HAVE THAT HAVE BECOME A VOTING AGE, THAT YOU GUYS HAVE TAKEN THEM TO THE POLLS AND SHOWN THEM HOW TO CAST THEIR VOTE, RECOGNIZING THAT LOCAL, LOCAL POLITICS IS ABSOLUTELY IMPORTANT AND CRITICAL TO THE SUCCESS OF ANY COMMUNITY.

SO, MAYOR JOHNSON, I AM JUST SO HONORED TO PRESENT THIS RESOLUTION.

I WANT TO CONGRATULATE YOU AGAIN FOR ALL OF WHAT YOU'VE DONE FOR THE COMMUNITY.

AND OBVIOUSLY, THEY HAVE RECOGNIZED YOUR COMMITMENT AND HAVE REWARDED IT AS SUCH.

SO CONGRATULATIONS. AND THE FLOOR IS YOURS. HONORABLE MAYOR AND I KNOW COMMISSIONER RAMSEY AND COMMISSIONER ELLIS HAVE COMMENTS AFTER YOU FINISH MAYOR.

WELL, THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME HERE TODAY. THIS IS A THIS IS AN HONOR TO HAVE A RESOLUTION PRESENTED ON MY BEHALF.

I THANK EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU FOR THE SERVICE THAT YOU'VE GIVEN.

I KNOW FROM EXPERIENCE HOW INTENSE PUBLIC SERVICE CAN BE, AND I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU TO MISS BRIONES MR. RAMSEY FOR THE PROJECTS THAT YOU'VE PARTNERED WITH IN BAYTOWN.

MISS HIDALGO. I'VE MET YOU A FEW TIMES COMING TO THE PROMISE CENTER EVENTS.

MR. GARCIA, YOU AND I GO WAY BACK. BALLROOM DANCING, IF YOU REMEMBER.

THAT'S RIGHT. ACTUALLY. AND TRANSPORTATION POLICY COUNCIL.

SO IS HE. YEAH. HE AND MR. ELLIS FOR THE WORK THAT YOU ALL PARTNERED WITH ME ON WHEN YOU BROUGHT IT TO OUR ATTENTION ABOUT A LAKE THAT WAS NAMED SOMETHING THAT WAS NOT PLEASANT IN BAYTOWN.

[00:40:01]

SO AGAIN, IT'S AN HONOR TO BE HERE. I WANT TO SAY THIS.

YOU ALL ARE ALWAYS IN MY PRAYERS AND I MEAN THAT.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE. AND THANK YOU FOR THE TIME THAT YOU'VE ALLOWED ME TO SPEAK AND FOR HONORING ME.

I APPRECIATE BEING APPRECIATED. ALL RIGHT. SO, MAYOR MISS THE FIRST LADY WITH THE FIRST LADY LIKE TO ROAST OR TOAST.

PLEASE. I DID SIGN UP TO SPEAK BECAUSE I THOUGHT IT WOULD BE FITTING.

BUT I'M NOT A SPEAKER AS HIM. I THOUGHT I WOULD BE SPEAKING DIRECTLY TO HIM, BUT I GUESS I WOULD SPEAK, I GUESS, AS TELLING YOU ALL. A LOT OF PEOPLE, AS COMMISSIONER SAID KNOW HIM AS THE FIRST AFRICAN AMERICAN COUNCILMAN, NOW THE FIRST AFRICAN AMERICAN MAYOR. BUT I GET THE PLEASURE OF KNOWING HIM AS MY EVERLASTING LOVE.

I GET THE PLEASURE OF KNOWING HIM. I DON'T WANT TO GET EMOTIONAL.

IT'S JUST SO MUCH BEHIND THE SCENES. HE'S A PILLAR OF THE COMMUNITY, A PILLAR OF OUR FAMILY, THE ROCK OF OUR FAMILY. AND HE IS VERY COMPASSIONATE ABOUT HIS JOB.

HE DOESN'T CONSIDER IT AS A JOB. HE CONSIDERS IT, I SAY, AS A HOBBY BECAUSE HE THRIVES OFF OF THIS TYPE OF WORK.

AND I JUST APPRECIATE AND THANK GOD THAT I AM OR WAS ABLE TO BE IN HIS LIFE BECAUSE HE IS A HIDDEN GEM AND A LOT OF PEOPLE.

I GUESS YOU ALL GET TO SEE WHAT WE EXPERIENCE, MY FAMILY AND I.

BUT I JUST LIKE I SAID, I THOUGHT I WOULD BE TALKING TO HIM, BUT I WOULD JUST TELL HIM THAT I LOVE HIM AND I THANK HIM.

AND WELCOME TO MY WORLD. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU.

CONGRATULATIONS TO YOU AS WELL. CHARLENE OR ANY OF THE KIDS, Y'ALL.

ANYONE ON. ANYBODY WANT TO TAKE A SHOT AT POP? OH. GOOD MORNING, EVERYONE. FOR 21 YEARS, MY DAD HAS SUPPORTED MY DREAMS. EVEN IF IT WAS AS SMALL AS ME DYEING MY HAIR BLOND OR DECIDING WHAT COLLEGE I WANT TO GO TO.

IT'S JUST A PLEASURE TO STAND HERE BEFORE YOU ALL TODAY AND SUPPORT HIM IN ONE OF HIS DREAMS THAT HE'S ACCOMPLISHED.

A BIBLE VERSE THAT COMES TO MY MIND WHENEVER I THINK OF MY FATHER IS GALATIANS CHAPTER SIX, VERSE NINE, WHICH STATES, LET US NOT GET WEARY IN WELL DOING, FOR IN THE RIGHT, IN THE RIGHT TIME WE WILL REAP OUR HARVEST IF WE DON'T GIVE UP.

MY DAD IS A SPITTING IMAGE OF THAT VERSE, AND HE'S A MODEL TO ME.

HE'S A MODEL, BROTHER, FATHER, HUSBAND AND LEADER.

SO I JUST WANT TO THANK YOU ALL FOR TAKING THE TIME OUT OF Y'ALL'S DAY TO SUPPORT AND RECOGNIZE MY FATHER.

SO WONDERFUL. WILL YOU STATE YOUR NAME FOR THE RECORD? CAN YOU STATE YOUR NAME? OH MY NAME. CHARLES JOHNSON, JUNIOR.

ALL RIGHT. ANYONE ELSE? ANY. OH, OKAY.

REMEMBER ROLLESTON IS A IS ALWAYS ALLOWED HERE.

GOOD MORNING. I AM ONE OF THE MANY BROTHERS OF CHARLES JOHNSON.

MY NAME IS CARMICHAEL. I WASN'T EXPECTING TO SPEAK TODAY, BUT I'LL DEFINITELY TAKE THIS PRIVILEGE TO TALK ABOUT MY BROTHER.

HE IS THE OLDEST BROTHER OF OUR FAMILY, AND HE HAS ALWAYS LED US AS SUCH.

HE'S ALWAYS BEEN THAT PILLAR, THAT GUIDE, THAT PERSON.

I CAN CALL IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT WHEN I HAVE STRUGGLES OR I HAVE STRUGGLES OR JUST CONCERNS.

TO SEE HIM ON THIS JOURNEY AS HE'S AS HIS WIFE MENTIONED BEFORE, HE BECAME MORE OF A PUBLIC FIGURE TO WHAT HE IS NOW.

I'M JUST GLAD TO BE A PART OF THAT. I'M PRIVILEGED TO BE A PART OF THAT.

BROTHER, I LOVE YOU. I ALWAYS APPRECIATE YOU, I ALWAYS WILL.

THANK YOU FOR BEING A GREAT BIG BROTHER THAT WE LOOK FOR AND THAT WE NEED.

AND THANK YOU FOR BEING THE PILLAR IN THE COMMUNITY. AND I THANK EVERYBODY FOR ALLOWING ME THIS TIME TODAY. WONDERFUL. THANK YOU.

COMMISSIONER RAMSEY AND THEN COMMISSIONER ELLIS.

I JUST REAL QUICKLY. CHARLENE, I'M JUST GOING TO GIVE YOU ONE LAST TIME.

WELL, NO. NO, NO. HEY THAT'S PROBABLY A GOOD THING.

MAYOR. THANK YOU. I HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO MEET WITH MAYOR JOHNSON.

GOSH, YOU WERE WEEKS INTO THE JOB. SO WE HAD A.

IT WAS MORE THAN AN HOUR. WE GOT MORE DONE IN THAT ONE HOUR.

[00:45:02]

HE IS A MAN OF VISION. HE CLEARLY AND SO MANY WAYS, WE'LL JUST SAY YOU'RE A BLESSED MAN TO HEAR YOUR WIFE AND YOUR CHILDREN AND YOUR BROTHER.

STAND UP. NOW, BEING AN OLD NUMBER TWO BROTHER FOR OLD.

NUMBER TWO. I'M LOOKING AT YOU THAT TO GET UP AND TALK ABOUT THAT OLDER BROTHER.

BUT I HAVE AN OLDER BROTHER, TOO. I WOULDN'T TAKE ANYTHING FOR HIM.

SO THANK YOU FOR THIS. THIS IS A FAMILY AFFAIR, RIGHT? WHEN YOU DO THIS, THIS IS A FAMILY DEAL. BUT TO.

BUT NOT JUST BRING PART OF IT, BUT BRING ALL OF IT IN TERMS OF YOUR GOOD IDEAS AND WHAT WE'RE ABOUT TO DO THERE IN BAYTOWN AND THAT PORTION OF BAYTOWN, UNFORTUNATELY COMMISSIONER GARCIA HAS MORE BAYTOWN THAN ME, BUT WE'RE GOING TO DO A LOT IN WHAT LITTLE WE GOT.

AND IT'S IT'S GOING TO BE IT'S GOING TO BE ENCOURAGING.

AND ANY INFORMATION YOU HAVE ON COMMISSIONER GARCIA AND BALLROOM DANCING, WE WOULD APPRECIATE.

YEAH. VIDEOS WOULD BE MUCH APPRECIATED. COMMISSIONER ELLISON, THEN COMMISSIONER.

BRUINS. THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER GARCIA, FOR BRINGING THIS FORWARD.

AND I'M SO PROUD OF YOU. I REMEMBER WHEN I MET YOU, I GUESS I PASSED A BILL BACK IN THE LEGISLATURE, I DON'T KNOW, SOMETIME IN THE 90S TO GET RID OF THE NAME OF A NUMBER OF THINGS THAT HAD RACIALLY OFFENSIVE NAMES.

I THINK THAT WAS IN HEAD LAKE AND IT WASN'T NEGRO.

AND I REMEMBER WHEN I FOUND OUT YOU WERE IN OFFICE, I DIDN'T KNOW YOU WERE ON COUNCIL, BUT MAYBE SOMEBODY ON THE SCHOOL BOARD OR CONSTABLE.

SOMEBODY TOLD ME, WELL, YOU OUGHT TO REACH OUT. AND SO I CALLED YOU AND I SAID, LOOK, YOU KNOW, THIS IS GOING ON AND I'M GOING TO STIR THIS UP.

AND YOU WERE SO KIND AND SO PROFESSIONAL, AND YOU TOLD ME, WELL, WHAT CAN I DO TO HELP? AND I SAID, WELL, I THINK YOU BETTER LET ME HANDLE THIS ONE, BROTHER.

YOU MIGHT DECIDE YOU WANT TO BE MAYOR ONE DAY, BUT I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE YOU CAN GET ME OUT OF TOWN.

BECAUSE IF THEY DON'T CHANGE THEIR NAME, I'M GOING TO COME OVER. I WANT TO MAKE SURE YOU CAN GET ME OUT OF THERE AFTER I HOLD A PRESS CONFERENCE. BUT YOU YOU WERE JUST SO KIND AND PROFESSIONAL THEN. AND I APPRECIATE YOUR LEADERSHIP. AND, COMMISSIONER GARCIA, I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO COMING OUT THERE VISITING THE HENRY DOYLE LAKE, FIRST AFRICAN AMERICAN TO GRADUATE FROM TEXAS SOUTHERN.

AND HE USED TO TELL A STORY ABOUT HOW HE WAS NUMBER ONE IN HIS CLASS, AND HE WAS AT THE BOTTOM OF HIS CLASS BECAUSE WHEN THAT LAW SCHOOL WAS CREATED, HE WAS THE ONLY PERSON IN THAT CLASS. AND, OF COURSE, MAYOR BOB LANIER WAS ONE OF HIS INSTRUCTORS WHO WAS WILLING TO GO TEACH A BLACK STUDENT.

THEN WHEN THAT LAW SCHOOL WAS IN HOUSTON. BUT IT WOULD BE A GREAT TRIBUTE TO DO SOMETHING OUT THERE HONORING HENRY DAHL.

THANK YOU. COMMISSIONER BRIONES, MAYOR JOHNSON AND FIRST LADY JOHNSON, CONGRATULATIONS.

THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. THANK YOU FOR YOUR PARTNERSHIP.

AND CONGRATULATIONS ON HAVING SUCH A BEAUTIFUL FAMILY.

AND I LOOK FORWARD TO YOUR CHILDREN, MAYBE THE FUTURE MAYORS OF BAYTOWN CONTINUING THIS LEGACY OF SERVICE.

AND SO THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. WE REALLY APPRECIATE IT.

CONGRATULATIONS. THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH. AND YOUR FAMILY'S INCREDIBLE. THANK YOU GUYS SO MUCH FOR COMING.

VERY, VERY NICE MEETING YOU. AND IT'S GREAT TO BE ABLE TO WORK WITH YOU.

AND WE'LL BE TAKING SOME PHOTOS, MAYOR. SO IF YOU'LL BEAR WITH US.

OKAY. THANK YOU. MY NEXT ITEM IS ONE RELATED TO THE WORK THAT OUR UNIVERSAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT IS DOING AND VERY, VERY EXCITED AND PROUD.

MISS THERE YOU ARE. MISS MILLMAN, IF YOU'LL COME TO THE PODIUM AND AND THEN WE ALSO HAVE RYAN SALMON BROADBAND PLANNING ANALYST, OFFICE OF BROADBAND FOR UNIVERSAL SERVICES.

THANK YOU. RYAN, NOW, THIS AWARD TO THE COUNTY WAS BROUGHT TO MY ATTENTION.

AND I'M VERY, VERY EXCITED AND PROUD TO HELP PRESENT IT SO THAT WE CAN ALL CELEBRATE IN IT.

AND SO I UNDERSTAND THAT THIS IS THAT THIS IS THE SECOND CONSECUTIVE YEAR THAT THE COUNTY HAS BEEN DISTINGUISHED AS A LEADER IN DIGITAL INCLUSION, SERVING AS A NATIONAL EXAMPLE FOR ITS COMMITMENT TO BRIDGING THE DIGITAL DIVIDE AND ENSURING ALL RESIDENTS HAVE ACCESS TO AFFORDABLE, RELIABLE INTERNET SERVICE SOMETHING THAT HAS BEEN IMMENSELY A PRIORITY FOR ME.

VISIONARY, VISIONARY TRAILBLAZER IS THE HIGHEST HONOR AWARDED BY THE NATIONAL DIGITAL INCLUSION ALLIANCE, CREATED FOR COMMUNITIES THAT HAVE ACHIEVED 18 POINTS OR HIGHER OF A POSSIBLE 23.

[00:50:07]

SO BROADBAND SERVICES, OBVIOUSLY, WE HAVE IT RECOGNIZED AS BEING AN ESSENTIAL INFRASTRUCTURE DURING THE PANDEMIC.

MOST IMPORTANTLY BUT IT'S ALSO CRITICAL IN THE 21ST CENTURY.

AND IT PLAYS AN IMPORTANT ROLE IN PROVIDING ACCESS TO KNOWLEDGE AND OPPORTUNITIES FROM AROUND THE WORLD.

SO PEOPLE LIKE CHARLENE AND OTHERS CAN LEARN FROM OTHER PLACES THAT ARE DOING INCREDIBLE THINGS.

OVER 155,000 HOUSEHOLDS LACK ACCESS TO RELIABLE AND AFFORDABLE BROADBAND ACCESS DUE TO INFRASTRUCTURE GAPS, INVESTMENT DISPARITIES, AND SOCIOECONOMIC BARRIERS SUCH AS INCOME, EDUCATIONAL LEVEL, LITERACY, AND DISABILITIES. THIS MULTIFACETED PROBLEM REQUIRES A COMPREHENSIVE APPROACH TO BRIDGE THE DIGITAL DIVIDE, AND THE COUNTY HAS BEEN ABSOLUTELY COMMITTED TO PROMOTING DIGITAL INCLUSION.

BY IMPROVING BROADBAND RELIABILITY, I'M NOT GOING TO READ THE REST OF THIS, ONLY JUST TO LET YOU SHARE TO US BECAUSE YOU AND RYAN HAVE BEEN THE FORCE OF NATURE BEHIND THIS.

AND I'M JUST SO EXCITED FOR THE WORK THAT'S BEING DONE.

BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY FOR THE WORK THAT'S BEING RECOGNIZED BY YOUR PEERS AND COLLEAGUES AROUND THE COUNTRY.

CONGRATULATIONS. AND, DIRECTOR, MEMO ON THE FLOOR IS YOURS.

THANK YOU. COMMISSIONER. GOOD MORNING JUDGE. GOOD MORNING.

COMMISSIONERS. I WOULD LIKE TO THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER GARCIA, FOR PUTTING THIS AS A RESOLUTION.

IT IS A VERY IMPORTANT TOPIC, AS YOU MENTIONED, IN THE CONNECTIVITY, YOU KNOW, AND THE LACK OF CONNECTIVITY ON HOW DO WE ADDRESS THAT? FOR THE SECOND, AS YOU MENTIONED, FOR THE SECOND CONSECUTIVE YEAR, HARRIS COUNTY HAS BEEN HONORED BY THE NATIONAL DIGITAL INCLUSION ALLIANCE AS A VISIONARY TRAILBLAZER. WE ARE ONE OF THE ONLY 34 LOCAL GOVERNMENTS ACROSS AMERICA, AND THE ONLY COUNTY IN TEXAS TO ACHIEVE THIS AWARD.

I'M JOINED BY MR. RYAN SELMON AND MISS ALMA VASQUEZ, BOTH OF WHOM LEAD THE PROJECTS RELATED TO THE DIGITAL INCLUSION INITIATIVES IN THIS INCREASINGLY CONNECTED SOCIETY.

DIGITAL INCLUSION IS ESSENTIAL NOT ONLY TO PARTICIPATE IN TODAY'S CONNECTED WORLD, BUT ALSO TO ACCESS GREATER OPPORTUNITIES USING DIGITAL TOOLS TO NAVIGATE INTERNET CONFIDENTLY AND SECURELY. THIS AWARD RECOGNIZES THE COUNTY WIDE EFFORTS TO CLOSE THE DIGITAL DIVIDE.

WE HAVE COLLABORATED WITH MULTIPLE DEPARTMENTS WITHIN THE COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY.

FOR EXAMPLE, HARRIS COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY HAS DISTRIBUTED 70,000 DEVICES WITH THEIR CONNECTED PROGRAM, THE UNIVERSAL SERVICES DIGITAL NAVIGATORS HAVE BEEN HOLDING WORKSHOPS IN COMMUNITY CENTER AND PUBLIC LIBRARIES TO ASSIST THE.

RESIDENTS WITH ENROLLING IN AFFORDABLE INTERNET CONNECTIONS AND TEACHING DIGITAL SKILLS.

DIGITAL INCLUSION IS FOR EVERYONE. ONE OF OUR PARTICIPANTS WAS A HUNDRED YEAR OLD.

RESIDENT TO ENHANCE THE DIGITAL ACCESSIBILITY.

COUNTY PROVIDES FREE PUBLIC WIFI TO. RESIDENTS AT LIBRARY AND COMMUNITY CENTERS THROUGHOUT THE COUNTY, ALLOWING RESIDENTS TO. ACCESS EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES, HEALTHCARE AND STAYING CONNECTED WITH FAMILY, FRIENDS AND THEIR COMMUNITY. THROUGH THE HARD WORK AND DEDICATION OF OUR.

OFFICE OF BROADBAND TEAM AND DIGITAL NAVIGATORS, HARRIS COUNTY TODAY SERVES AS A NATIONAL MODEL FOR LOCAL GOVERNMENTS TO WORKING TOWARDS DIGITAL INCLUSION. WE WANT TO THANK COMMISSIONER SCOTT AND OUR PARTNERS AROUND THE COUNTY.

THE PUBLIC LIBRARY AND THE BROADBAND TEAM FOR THEIR CONTINUED SUPPORT AND WORK IN CLOSING THIS VERY CRITICAL DIGITAL DIVIDE.

THANK YOU. CONGRATULATIONS. CONGRATULATIONS. THANK YOU.

GOOD MORNING. RYAN STILLMAN BROADBAND ANALYST.

I JUST WANT TO THANK YOU FOR MAKING DIGITAL INCLUSION AND BROADBAND A PRIORITY IN HARRIS COUNTY, AND WE'RE JUST SO EXCITED TO KEEP WORKING TOWARDS EXPANDING DIGITAL ACCESS FOR ALL THE RESIDENTS OF THE COUNTY.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU. AND RYAN AND DIRECTOR RAYMOND, JUST I REALLY APPRECIATE YOUR WORK ON THIS BECAUSE AS YOU RECALL, WHEN WE FIRST SPOKE, IT WAS ALL ABOUT DOING EVERYTHING WE CAN TO MAKE SURE THAT HARRIS COUNTY CAN TOUT ITSELF AS ONE OF THE SMARTEST COUNTIES IN THE COUNTRY. AND YOU'RE ABSOLUTELY GETTING US THERE.

SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH. AND CONGRATULATIONS TO YOU AS WELL.

THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT. COMMISSIONER, THOSE ARE YOUR TWO RESOLUTIONS, CORRECT.

[00:55:06]

THE CLERK? NO, ON THE NEXT ONE. OKAY. SO IS CLERK HUDSPETH HERE? YES. OKAY. GO AHEAD, COMMISSIONER ELLIS. JUST REAL QUICKLY, JUST FOR QUICK POINTS.

THIS IS RESOLUTION NUMBER 612. RIGHT? YES. 612.

612. WE'VE HAD COUNTYWIDE VOTING. VOTING SINCE 2019.

I WAS PRIVILEGED TO WORK ON A BILL IN THE LEGISLATURE THAT STARTED AS A PILOT PROGRAM IN TEXAS.

IT OBVIOUSLY HAS EXPANDED IN TEXAS NOW. WE'VE SUCCESSFULLY IMPLEMENTED COUNTY WIDE VOTING IN 99 TEXAS COUNTIES, AND IT REPRESENTS 85% OF OUR STATE'S REGISTERED VOTERS IN NOVEMBER OF 2024.

COUNTYWIDE VOTING ACCOUNTED FOR 84% OF THE TOTAL VOTES CAST IN TEXAS.

AND IF IT IS ELIMINATED AS A AS AN EFFORT TO DO BY SOME OF OUR PARTNERS ON THE STATE LEVEL, IT WILL SIGNIFICANTLY IMPACT REGISTERED VOTERS AND POLITICAL JURISDICTIONS IN BOTH MAJOR PARTIES.

SO THIS IS A RESOLUTION FROM US, AND I HOPE IT WILL PASS UNANIMOUSLY TO SUPPORT THE CONTINUED USE OF COUNTYWIDE VOTING.

AND CLARK HUDSPITH IS HERE, AND I'D BE MORE THAN HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS AS WELL.

GOOD MORNING, JUDGE AND COMMISSIONERS. IT HAS WORKED BECAUSE OF YOU.

YES, SIR. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. GOOD MORNING, JUDGE AND COMMISSIONERS.

AND THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER ELLIS, FOR BRINGING THIS VERY IMPORTANT RESOLUTION TO HARRIS COUNTY COMMISSIONERS COURT AND FOR AUTHORING THE THE COUNTYWIDE BILL.

DURING YOUR TIME IN THE STATE LEGISLATURE, I JOINED MANY OF MY COLLEAGUES IN THE STATE OF TEXAS IN SUPPORT OF KEEPING THE STATE APPROVED COUNTYWIDE POLLING PLACE PROGRAM. COUNTYWIDE ALLOWS VOTERS IN THE LARGEST COUNTY IN THE STATE OF TEXAS, AND THE THIRD LARGEST IN THE THIRD LARGEST COUNTY IN THE NATION, WITH ALMOST 3 MILLION REGISTERED VOTERS.

THE OPPORTUNITY TO VOTE IN A SAFE, EFFECTIVE AND CONVENIENT METHOD ON ELECTION DAY COUNTYWIDE IS NOT ONLY CONVENIENT, BUT REDUCES WAIT TIMES, PROVIDES MANY AVAILABLE OPTIONS, CONFORMS TO EARLY VOTING, PREVENTS VOTER CONFUSION, AND POSITIVELY IMPACTS STAFFING AND RESOURCES FOR ELECTION OFFICIALS.

WITH YOUR CONTINUED SUPPORT OF THIS RESOLUTION, MY HOPE IS THAT THE TEXAS LEGISLATURE WILL NOT ELIMINATE THE COUNTYWIDE POLLING PLACE PROGRAM AND PRIORITIZE VOTER ACCESSIBILITY FOR ALL VOTERS.

THANK YOU TO THIS COURT FOR YOUR CONTINUED SUPPORT IN RUNNING SUCCESSFUL ELECTIONS HERE IN HARRIS COUNTY.

THANK YOU, MADAM CLERK. COMMISSIONER BRIONES.

CLERK. HUDSPETH, THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE TODAY.

AND THANK YOU FOR THE EXCELLENCE THAT YOU BRING TO YOUR OFFICE. YOU AND YOUR TEAM ARE TREMENDOUS, AND WE'RE VERY BLESSED TO HAVE YOU AT THE HELM.

THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER ELLIS, FOR BRINGING THIS. I COULD NOT AGREE MORE.

WE MUST KEEP COUNTYWIDE VOTING. OUR VOTING IS OUR CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHT, AND GOOD GOVERNMENT IS THAT WE MAKE VOTING EASY AND ACCESSIBLE FOR ALL PEOPLE.

SO I HOPE THAT EVERYONE ON BOTH SIDES OF THE AISLE CAN UNITE IN MAKING SURE THAT WE MAKE IT EASY AND ACCESSIBLE TO VOTE.

SO THANK YOU FOR BEING ON THE FRONT LINES, AND I'M HAPPY THAT 99 COUNTIES ACROSS TEXAS ENJOY THIS.

IT'S A BENEFIT TO ALL AND IT'S A BENEFIT TO OUR DEMOCRACY.

SO THANK YOU. THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER RAMSEY CLARK.

IT'S GOOD TO SEE YOU. GOOD TO SEE YOU, SIR. WHAT MAKES COUNTYWIDE VOTING WORK IN HARRIS COUNTY IS YOU.

AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP. THANK YOU FOR YOUR DIRECTION.

MANY PROBLEMS CAN DEVELOP WHEN PEOPLE DON'T WATCH WHAT THEY'RE DOING.

YOU'VE DONE AN EXTRAORDINARY JOB OF MAKING SURE THAT THIS IS AS EFFICIENT AND CLEARLY EFFECTIVE AND BEYOND REPROACH IN TERMS OF AS MUCH AS WE CAN CONTROL. SO THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP.

THE REASON COUNTY WIDE VOTING WORKS IN HARRIS COUNTY.

I DON'T KNOW ABOUT THE OTHER COUNTIES. I JUST KNOW HERE AND IT WORKS BECAUSE OF YOU.

AND THANK YOU. THANK YOU SIR. THAT'S RIGHT. YEAH.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU SO MUCH. ARE THERE ANY OTHER SPEAKERS? IF NOT, I BETTER. I WANT TO MOVE IT WHILE I'M FEELING THERE'S MORE SPEAKERS.

ONE MORE SPEAKER. THERE ARE MORE SPEAKERS. OKAY.

YES. NICOLE PETERS. THANK YOU. NICOLE PETERSON, NANCY SIMS, AND LAUREN DAUGHERTY.

YOU EACH HAVE ONE MINUTE. THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING ME THE MOMENT TO SPEAK IN FAVOR OF THIS RESOLUTION. MY NAME IS NICOLE PETERSON.

I AM CURRENTLY THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE HARRIS COUNTY DEMOCRATIC PARTY.

BUT UNTIL NOVEMBER, I WAS THE VOTER PROTECTION DIRECTOR.

IN THAT ROLE, I RAN OUR POLL WATCHER PROGRAM, IN WHICH POLL WATCHERS ARE PLACED INSIDE POLLING LOCATIONS TO OBSERVE THE ELECTION.

NEARLY EVERY POLL WATCHER. IN 2018, BEFORE COUNTY WIDE POLLING WAS IN PLACE, REPORTED PEOPLE BEING TURNED AWAY BECAUSE THEY WERE AT THE WRONG

[01:00:06]

ANOTHER TOLD ME THAT WHEN A VOTER CAME IN WHO WAS ACTUALLY IN THE RIGHT PLACE, THAT THE ELECTION STAFF WOULD APPLAUD BECAUSE IT WAS SUCH A RARE OCCURRENCE.

COUNTY WIDE POLLING HAS FIXED THIS PROBLEM. IT IS EXTREMELY, EXTREMELY POPULAR FOR BOTH FROM BOTH PARTIES.

IT IS SOMETHING THAT ALLOWS WORKING PEOPLE TO BE ABLE TO VOTE EFFICIENTLY AND EASILY.

IT IS A VITALLY IMPORTANT PIECE IN MAKING SURE THAT EVERYONE HERE LEGALLY IS ABLE TO DO SO.

THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU. IS THAT THE NANCY SIMS SOMETIMES I HEAR ON THE RADIO? GOOD MORNING COMMISSIONERS, I'M NANCY SIMS AND I BELIEVE IN DEMOCRACY.

AND I BELIEVE IN VOTING. AND I'VE DEDICATED MY LIFE TO GETTING PEOPLE TO VOTE.

AND COUNTYWIDE VOTING IN A COUNTY THAT HAS 600 PLUS SQUARE MILES IS ESSENTIAL FOR THE MOM THAT LIVES IN TOMBALL WITH THREE KIDS IN ELEMENTARY, MIDDLE, AND HIGH SCHOOL WHO CAN'T MAKE IT IN THE MORNING BECAUSE SHE CAN'T GET THE KIDS OUT IN TIME, HEADS DOWNTOWN TO WORK, AND CAN'T MAKE IT BACK BY 7:00 DUE TO THE KIDS GAMES FOR THE FOR THE SENIOR THAT'S IN THE HOSPITAL AND DIDN'T GET THEIR MAIL BALLOT REQUEST IN FOR. AND THEN THEY ARE LEFT WITH ELECTION DAY AS THEIR ONLY OPTION, AND THEY'RE IN REHAB AND SOMEONE CAN TAKE THEM TO A NEARBY LOCATION.

THESE ARE WHO COUNTYWIDE VOTING IS FOR. EVERYBODY.

AND THE PRECINCT ISSUES ARE JUST SO COMPLICATED.

SO WE HAVE TO KEEP THIS ABILITY TO ALLOW PEOPLE TO VOTE WHEN AND WHERE WE NEED TO MAKE IT EASIER, NOT HARDER. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. GOOD TO SEE YOU.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU SO MUCH.

HELLO, COMMISSIONERS AND JUDGE HIDALGO. MY NAME IS LAUREN DOUGHERTY, AND I'M SPEAKING ON BEHALF OF THE LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS OF HOUSTON.

WE WORK YEAR ROUND TO EDUCATE VOTERS AND PROMOTE CIVIC ENGAGEMENT.

AND WE STRONGLY URGE YOU TO ADOPT THE RESOLUTION AFFIRMING COUNTY WIDE VOTING PROGRAM IN HARRIS COUNTY.

WE NOW HAVE AN ENTIRE GENERATION OF ELIGIBLE VOTERS WHO HAVE NEVER KNOWN AN ELECTION DAY WITHOUT IT.

SO MANY PEOPLE ARE UNFAMILIAR WITH THE CONCEPT OF BEING ASSIGNED TO A SINGLE POLLING LOCATION, AND COULD NOT TELL YOU WHAT A VOTING PRECINCT EVEN IS.

THROUGH MY EXPERIENCE WITH THE LEAGUE AND AS AN ELECTION WORKER, AS A LEADER, I'VE LEARNED THAT SO MANY VOTING BARRIERS ARE OFTEN EDUCATIONAL AND NOT LOGISTICAL. MANY PEOPLE CHOOSE NOT TO PARTICIPATE IN ELECTIONS SIMPLY BECAUSE THEY DO NOT FEEL INFORMED ENOUGH TO DO SO.

WHETHER IT'S UNCERTAINTY ABOUT WHAT ELECTED OFFICIALS ACTUALLY DO IN THEIR ROLES OR NOT KNOWING WHERE TO VOTE, THESE KNOWLEDGE GAPS ARE REAL, AND THEY PREVENT ELIGIBLE VOTERS FROM ALL DEMOGRAPHICS AND ALL POLITICAL VIEWS FROM CASTING THEIR VOTES.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THAT'S ALL FOR THIS ITEM.

MOTION BY COMMISSIONER ELLIS. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER GARCIA.

ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. ANY OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY.

A TESTAMENT TO CLERK AND YOUR OFFICE. THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH FOR WHAT YOU DO.

AND TO THE SPEAKERS. OKAY. WE WILL GO TO COMMISSIONER RAMSAY'S RESOLUTIONS.

THIS IS NATIONAL CRIME VICTIMS WEEK, AND I THINK IT'S WORTHY OF HAVING A CONVERSATION, TAKING A FEW MINUTES TO REFLECT ON THOSE INDIVIDUALS THAT HAVE SUFFERED. I KNOW SINCE I'VE BEEN COUNTY COMMISSIONER, I'VE HAD THE UNFORTUNATE OPPORTUNITY TO MEET WITH PROBABLY OVER 150 SUCH VICTIMS. THEY'VE BEEN MOMS, THEY'VE BEEN SISTERS.

THEY'VE BEEN BROTHERS. AND TO SEE THE IMPACT TO THE FAMILIES, SEE THE IMPACT TO THE COMMUNITIES, IT'S JUST JUST DEVASTATING. AND THAT'S WHY I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE DO PAUSE AND REFLECT.

I HAD THE OPPORTUNITY YESTERDAY TO MEET A FAMILY OUT IN OUR HUFFMAN AREA AT THE IT MAY COMMUNITY CENTER. WE DEDICATED A PARK BENCH. WE ALSO HAD A TREE THERE.

AND THERE'S A QR CODE BY THAT BENCH THAT IF YOU WANT TO HEAR THE STORY OF PHARAOH BARKER, YOU COULD. AND EVEN THOUGH SHE DIED IN 1994, TRAGICALLY MURDERED.

AND SHE WAS LEFT WITH THREE CHILDREN. OR THREE CHILDREN WERE WERE THERE LEFT AND THEY THE IMPRESSIVE STORY OF OF OF ONE OF THOSE CHILDREN WHO'S NOW A PILOT AND DOING WONDERFUL THINGS.

[01:05:04]

WE'VE GOT A LOT MORE VICTIMS, UNFORTUNATELY. BUT WE'RE GOING TO DO OUR PART TO TRY TO GET AS MANY OF THOSE REMEMBERED SO THEIR STORY CAN BE TOLD.

BUT IN RECOGNITION OF NATIONAL CRIME VICTIMS RIGHTS WEEK SERVES AS A REMINDER THAT VIOLENT CRIMES AFFECT INDIVIDUALS, FAMILIES, COMMUNITIES, AND JUST A PROFOUND WAY.

AND WHEREAS EACH YEAR WE LOSE TOO MANY PEOPLE TO VIOLENT CRIME, AND THOSE WHO SURVIVE CARRY THE EMOTIONAL AND PHYSICAL SCARS FOR THE REST OF THEIR LIVES.

WHEREAS THAT'S. THIS IS WHY IT'S CRUCIAL THAT WE ADVOCATE ON BEHALF OF VICTIMS LIKE FARRAH BARKER, WHOSE LIFE WAS SELFISHLY TAKEN. YET WE ARE COMMITTED TO CARRYING HER VOICE IN A STANDING FOR UP FOR EVERYONE WHO HAS BEEN HARMED BY HEARTLESS CRIMINALS.

AND WHEREAS FARRAH WAS A DEVOTED MOTHER TO BRADLEY, DANIEL AND AMBER, AND A DAUGHTER AND SISTER AND FRIEND, SHE WAS MURDERED IN HER HOME ON NOVEMBER THE 9TH, 1994, BUT HER LIFE WILL ALWAYS BE CELEBRATED ON HER BIRTHDAY OF AUGUST THE 5TH, 1961. AND NOW HER CHILDREN HAVE A PLACE TO GO AND SIT AND REFLECT ON WHAT A GREAT MOM SHE WAS.

SO IT'S THIS RESOLUTION THAT WE PUT OUT THERE.

I'D LIKE TO INVITE ANDY AND AND SPEAKERS UP NOW, AND Y'ALL TALK A BIT MORE ABOUT THE REREMEMBER PROGRAM THAT CRIME STOPPERS HAS INITIATED AND CRIME VICTIMS RIGHTS WEEK IN HARRIS COUNTY, AS WE REAFFIRM OUR DEDICATION TO PROTECT OUR CONSTITUENTS FROM VIOLENT CRIMES AND STAND WITH VICTIMS AND THEIR FAMILIES TO PURSUE JUSTICE.

GOOD MORNING. HANG ON. I GOT TO GET MY PHONE TO WAKE UP.

SORRY. I SHOULD HAVE BEEN BETTER PREPARED. THANK YOU, JUDGE HIDALGO AND COMMISSIONERS, ESPECIALLY COMMISSIONER RAMSEY, FOR ALLOWING ME THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK ON THIS RESOLUTION.

I'M NICOLE CHRISTOFF, THE PROUD CEO OR NOT CEO.

I'M SORRY. NO COO RUNNING MENKERIOS IS OUR PROUD CEO.

AND I'M PROUD TO STAND NEXT TO HER. EXACTLY, EXACTLY.

EXCUSE ME. SORRY, I DON'T HAVE MY GLASSES ON MY FACE.

WHICH PROBABLY IS. WHAT IS MAKING THAT SO HARD? HOUSTON'S LEADING NONPROFIT THAT KEEPS THIS GREAT CITY AND COUNTY SAFE EVERY DAY.

YESTERDAY MARKED THE SECOND INSTALLATION OF A MEMORIAL BENCH AND TREE IN IN A PRECINCT THREE PARK AS PART OF THE WE REMEMBER PROJECT.

A POWERFUL REMINDER TO ALL WHO ENJOY THESE SPACES TO HONOR THE LIVES OF PRECINCT THREE RESIDENTS THAT LOST THEIR LIVES TO HOMICIDE.

WE ARE HONORED TO BE PART OF THIS VICTIM CENTERED PROJECT.

TREES AND BENCHES WILL BE INSTALLED QUARTERLY IN PRECINCT THREE PARKS.

THE NEXT TWO WILL HONOR CALEB RICKENBACKER, KILLED BY A SUSPECT.

THAT WAS YOUR TIME. POLICE AT A HIGH RATE OF SPEED.

AND JOCELYN NUNGARAY, WHO WE ALL REMEMBER TRAGICALLY LOST HER LIFE LAST YEAR.

THIS LATEST TRIBUTE HONORS FARRAH BAKER, WHO TRAGICALLY WAS MURDERED IN 1994.

IT'S A MESSAGE TO HER FRIENDS AND FAMILY THAT REGARDLESS OF HOW MUCH TIME HAS PASSED SINCE THEY LOST HER.

WE WILL REMEMBER AS LONG AS THESE BENCHES AND TREES STAND, THE WHOLE COMMUNITY WILL REMEMBER.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. MORNING. MY NAME IS ANDY KAHN.

I'M THE DIRECTOR OF VICTIM SERVICES FOR CRIME STOPPERS OF HOUSTON.

CRIME VICTIMS ARE THE ONLY UNWILLING PARTICIPANTS IN THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM.

EVERYONE ELSE CHOSE THEIR ROLE. LAW ENFORCEMENT, JUDGES, PROSECUTORS, DEFENSE ATTORNEYS, VICTIM ADVOCATES.

BUT NO ONE EVER SAID PICK ME. PICK ME. I WANT TO BE A VICTIM OF A CRIME.

AND IT'S THE LEAST WE CAN DO, PARTICULARLY IN GOVERNMENT, IS TO BE LOOKING OUT FOR THEIR RIGHTS, THEIR DUE PROCESS, AND THEIR WELL-BEING. AND THAT'S WHY I'D LIKE TO THANK COMMISSIONER RAMSEY FOR ACTUALLY LOOKING OUT FOR CRIME VICTIMS AND REMEMBERING THEM.

SINCE 1981, NATIONAL CRIME VICTIMS RIGHTS WEEK IS CELEBRATED EVERY YEAR, AND THE WEEK IS DEDICATED TO LEARN ABOUT VICTIMIZATION, THE EFFECT VICTIMIZATION HAS ON INDIVIDUALS, FAMILIES, FRIENDS, AND THE COMMUNITY.

PROMOTE LAWS, POLICIES, AND PROGRAMS TO HELP VICTIMS OF CRIME.

EACH YEAR, THOUSANDS OF COMMUNITIES ACROSS THE NATION.

HONOR THE DEDICATION OF THOSE THAT HAVE ESTABLISHED VICTIMS RIGHTS, AND RENEW COMMITMENT TO GUARANTEE THAT ALL VICTIMS HAVE RIGHTS AND SERVICES THAT THEY NEED TO RECOVER FROM CRIME. VICTIM SUPPORT SERVICES.

TREE PLANTING CEREMONIES AND THE NEW INITIATIVE BY COMMISSIONER RAMSEY GIVES HOPE TO CRIME VICTIMS. ONE OF THE THINGS AS A VICTIM ADVOCATE THAT I TRY TO ADVOCATE IS WE TRY TO TAKE NEGATIVES AND TURN THEM INTO POSITIVE ACTION FOR SOCIAL CHANGE.

[01:10:05]

AND I JUST WANT TO, ON THE RECORD, STAND WITH HER.

AND I ALSO PROUDLY WEAR MY STAR OF DAVID TO SHOW MY COMMITMENT TO MY FAITH AS WELL.

SO THANK YOU FOR THIS HONOR. THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER RAMSEY, FOR ALWAYS REMEMBERING VICTIMS. THANK YOU, THANK YOU ANDY. THANK YOU NICOLE. THANK YOU ALL FOR COMING BY.

THANK YOU GUYS. OKAY. AND I'M GLAD YOU BROUGHT THAT UP.

MR. KHAN, THANK YOU. SO IS THAT. DO YOU HAVE ANY OTHER SPEAKERS ON THIS ITEM? NO, MA'AM. OKAY. WAS THAT WAS YOUR RESOLUTION CORRECT, COMMISSIONER? ALL RIGHT. SO WE'LL MOVE ON TO COMMISSIONER BUSINESS. THANK YOU.

AND THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER RAMSEY, FOR BRINGING THAT RESOLUTION AND FOR HONORING OUR VICTIMS. I KNOW I'VE BEEN THE VICTIM OF CRIME SEVERAL TIMES, AND I HAVE THREE LITTLE GIRLS, AND THAT'S MY BIGGEST FEAR. AND I KNOW MANY IN THIS ROOM HAVE BEEN VICTIMS OR KNOW SOMEONE WHO HAVE.

AND SO THAT'S A BEAUTIFUL WAY TO HONOR. AND WE WOULD BE OPEN TO DOING THE SAME IN OUR PARKS.

SO I HAVE TWO RESOLUTIONS TODAY. THIS IS ITEM SIX ON THE AGENDA RECOGNIZING MARCH 2025 AS WOMEN'S HISTORY MONTH.

FIRST, IF WE COULD PLEASE JUST TAKE A MOMENT TO, IN OUR MINDS, HONOR OUR MOTHERS, GRANDMOTHERS, GREAT GRANDMOTHERS, ALL OF THE GIANTS ON WHOSE SHOULDERS WE STAND.

CONGRESSWOMAN JORDAN, CONGRESSWOMAN SHEILA JACKSON LEE, AND THOSE WHO ARE STILL WITH US, LIKE CONGRESSWOMAN GARCIA AND BEYOND, IF WE COULD JUST TAKE A MOMENT TO THANK THEM.

AS FOR THE PRESENT, WE'VE MADE SO MUCH PROGRESS, AND WE SHOULD BE CELEBRATING THE PROGRESS WE'RE MAKING, SUCH AS INVESTMENTS IN MATERNAL HEALTH, SUCH AS THE INSTALLMENT OF LACTATION PODS HERE, AND ANYONE WHO HAS NURSED OR TRIED TO PUMP WHILE BEING A WORKING MOM IS. YOU KNOW HOW CHALLENGING IT IS.

WE'RE MAKING PROGRESS, BUT THE REALITY OF THE SITUATION IS MY THREE LITTLE GIRLS ARE GROWING UP WITH FEWER RIGHTS THAN THEIR GRANDMAS.

THE REALITY IS THE INEQUITIES WITH REGARD TO PAY DISPARITIES ARE STILL PERVASIVE.

HERE IN HARRIS COUNTY, BASED ON A 2021 U OF H STUDY IN HARRIS COUNTY, WOMEN MAKE $0.80 TO EVERY DOLLAR THAT A WHITE MAN MAKES. AND THIS IS EVEN WORSE FOR BLACK WOMEN AND LATINAS.

FOR BLACK WOMEN, IT'S $0.45 TO THE DOLLAR. AND FOR LATINAS, IT'S $0.38 TO THE DOLLAR.

AND SO WHEN I TELL MY LITTLE GIRLS, AND WE ALL TELL OUR DAUGHTERS AND SONS THAT ANYTHING IS POSSIBLE AND WE ARE ALL EQUAL, THESE DISPARITIES SHOULD NOT PERSIST. WE ALL NEED TO BE WORKING TOGETHER SO THAT WE ARE ADVANCING OPPORTUNITY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL PEOPLE.

AND SO I LOOK FORWARD TO CONTINUING THE PROGRESS HERE IN HARRIS COUNTY.

WE CANNOT BE TURNING BACK THE CLOCK ANY LONGER.

WE MUST CREATE A SOCIETY WHERE ALL WOMEN AND ALL GIRLS CAN THRIVE.

WITH THAT, WE HAVE THE HONORABLE DOCTOR JACKIE BAILLIE, WHO CHAIRS OUR HARRIS COUNTY WOMEN'S COMMISSION.

AND THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH FOR BEING HERE TODAY.

THANK YOU SO MUCH, COMMISSIONER BRIONES. COMMISSIONER RAMSEY, JUDGE HIDALGO, COMMISSIONER GARCIA, AND COMMISSIONER ELLIS, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR HAVING ME AS CHAIRPERSON OF THE HARRIS COUNTY WOMEN'S COMMISSION.

I LEAD THE CHARGE. LAST YEAR ALONE, WE VISITED OVER 400 WOMEN, 400 WOMEN AND RESIDENTS WITHIN EACH PRECINCT THROUGH OUR VISION TOURS.

I CANNOT THANK YOUR KEY STAFF, PERSONNEL AND PROFESSIONALS WHO HELPED US GET THESE VISION TOURS TOGETHER.

AS A RESULT, KEY POLICY ISSUES OF ECONOMIC EMPOWERMENT, PAY EQUITY, ACCESS TO INSURANCE WERE AMONG THE KEY ISSUES THAT WE HEARD FROM ALL OF THE WOMEN IN EACH PRECINCT. I KNOW YOU WON'T FIND THIS SURPRISING, BUT EACH PRECINCT IS AS UNIQUE AS YOUR RESIDENTS, AND WE THANK THE AGAIN THE PERSONNEL FOR HELPING US TAILOR THE TOWN HALL MEETINGS AND THE VISION MEETINGS.

I'M GLAD COMMISSIONER ELLIS CAME BACK IN THE ROOM BECAUSE HIS BASE, HIS HOME, HE HAS BEEN OUR HOME.

CONTINUE. PLEASE CONTINUE. HE HAS BEEN OUR HOME BASE FOR THE LAST TWO YEARS.

COMMISSIONER ELLIS HAS HOSTED OUR MEETINGS. HIS STAFF HAS BEEN THE ONES BEHIND OUR MINUTES.

AND WE THANK YOU SO MUCH. COMMISSIONER ELLIS.

[01:15:01]

IF IT WERE NOT FOR THE HELP OF YOU AND YOUR TEAM AND ALL OF THE KEY PERSONNEL IN HARRIS COUNTY.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU, DOCTOR BAILEY, AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO CONTINUING THE PROGRESS TOGETHER.

SO MY SECOND AND FINAL RESOLUTION IS ITEM SEVEN.

AND THIS IS TO RECOGNIZE INTERNATIONAL DAY TO COMBAT ISLAMOPHOBIA.

SO THERE'S VARIOUS GUESTS. PLEASE FEEL FREE TO JOIN ME.

SO WE ARE NEARING THE END OF THE MONTH OF RAMADAN, WHICH IS A TIME OF REFLECTION, SERVICE AND REFLECTION AND RECOMMITTING TO CHARITY, CHARITY AND CONNECTION TO THE PEACE AND UNITY OF THIS WORLD.

PRECINCT FOUR WAS PROUD TO HOST ITS THIRD ANNUAL IFTAR, AND THANK YOU TO MANY OF YOU WHO WERE THERE.

THERE ARE OVER 1 BILLION MUSLIMS WHO CELEBRATE RAMADAN WORLDWIDE, AND THERE'S APPROXIMATELY 200,000 MUSLIMS IN THE GREATER HARRIS COUNTY REGION. CELEBRATING RAMADAN AND I AM A PROUD CHRISTIAN WOMAN.

I'M A CATHOLIC, AND THERE'S SO MANY SIMILARITIES BETWEEN LENT AND RAMADAN AND ACROSS OUR FAITHS, THIS PERIOD OF REFLECTION AND RECOMMITMENT. THE UN ADOPTED A RESOLUTION THAT DECLARED MARCH 15TH AS THE INTERNATIONAL DAY TO COMBAT ISLAMOPHOBIA AS A WAY TO STRENGTHEN GLOBAL EFFORTS TO PROMOTE UNDERSTANDING AND ACCEPTANCE TOWARDS A MORE PEACEFUL AND JUST WORLD. SO THIS RESOLUTION RECOGNIZES IT FROM THE HARRIS COUNTY COMMISSIONERS COURT, AND IT RECOMMITS THAT HERE IN HARRIS COUNTY, WE STAND AGAINST ALL FORMS OF HATE, THAT HERE IN HARRIS COUNTY, WE BELIEVE IN RESPECT.

HERE IN HARRIS COUNTY, WE BELIEVE IN TOLERANCE, INCLUSION IN PEACE OVER VIOLENCE AND DISCORD.

WE BELIEVE DEEPLY THAT ALL OF OUR HUMANITY IS INTERCONNECTED.

OUR EQUALITY IS INTERCONNECTED. SO ALL FORMS OF HATE ARE REJECTED HERE IN HARRIS COUNTY.

AND SO TOGETHER IN UNITY, AS WE PASS THIS RESOLUTION TODAY, I HOPE THAT WE WILL RECOMMIT OURSELVES TO OPEN MINDEDNESS AND TOLERANCE AND LOVE AND PEACE AND RESPECT.

SO WITH THAT, IT IS MY HONOR TO HEAR FROM OUR GUESTS TODAY.

WE HAVE SEVERAL. WOULD YOU PLEASE BEGIN? GOOD MORNING COMMISSIONERS.

COULD YOU. OH. GOOD MORNING. THANK YOU FOR COMING.

IF YOU COULD, WE COULD MOVE IT DOWN. SO RAMADAN MUBARAK, TO ALL WHO CELEBRATE.

AND WE ARE HONORED TO HAVE YOU HERE TODAY. THANK YOU.

THANK YOU. COULD YOU PLEASE SAY YOUR NAME FIRST? MY NAME IS ZAHRA. MY NAME IS ISRA. MY NAME IS HANNAH.

WELCOME. GOOD MORNING COMMISSIONERS. ON BEHALF OF OUR MUSLIM GIRL SCOUT TROOP, WE WANT TO EXPRESS OUR HEARTFELT CONGRATULATIONS TO YOU, COMMISSIONER.

COMMISSIONER, FOR YOUR DEDICATION TO JUSTICE, INCLUSION AND EQUALITY.

YOUR LEADERSHIP IS FIGHTING ISLAMOPHOBIA AND IT IS INSPIRING.

WE HAVE CHOSEN TO GIVE OUR COOKIES FOR HEROES SHARES TO TWO OUR LOCAL HERO.

COMMISSIONER, THANK YOU FOR BEING A ROLE MODEL FOR ALL OF US.

WE WOULD LOVE TO PRESENT THE COOKIES TO YOU NOW OR DURING THE BREAK.

THANK YOU. WHAT A SWEET SURPRISE. THANK YOU. YOU INSPIRE ME.

WHAT A SWEET SURPRISE. RAMADAN MUBARAK, THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.

AND WE'RE ALL SO PROUD OF YOU GIRLS. THAT WAS A GREAT JOB, YOU GUYS.

YOU GUYS CAN GO BACK AND SIT DOWN. THERE IS NOTHING MORE CHALLENGING THAN LOOKING AT CARAMEL.

A BOX OF CARAMEL DELIGHTS WHILE YOU'RE FASTING. CONGRATULATIONS, COMMISSIONER. SALAAM ALAIKUM.

MY NAME IS WILLIAM WHITE. I'M THE DIRECTOR OF THE COUNCIL ON AMERICAN-ISLAMIC RELATIONS. HOUSTON CHAPTER OR HOUSTON FOR SHORT CARE IS THE NATION'S LARGEST MUSLIM CIVIL RIGHTS AND ADVOCACY ORGANIZATION. AND WE HAVE BEEN HERE IN THE HOUSTON AREA SINCE 1998.

CARE REPRESENTS THE MUSLIM COMMUNITY AND SO MANY DIFFERENT ISSUES.

BUT MOST OF ALL, WE HAVE REPRESENTED MUSLIM CLIENTS IN THE THOUSANDS FACING ISLAMOPHOBIA IN SO MANY DIFFERENT AREAS.

[01:20:01]

IT IMPACTS CHILDREN AND SCHOOL STUDENTS AT UNIVERSITY, EMPLOYEES AT WORK, PEOPLE JUST GOING ABOUT THEIR DAY, GROCERY SHOPPING, GOING INTO WHATEVER ERRANDS THEY MAY HAVE.

AND IT UNFORTUNATELY HAS A VERY UGLY HEAD ON MARCH 15TH, 2019, THAT HAPPENED IN CHRISTCHURCH, NEW ZEALAND, WHEN A MAN WALKED INTO A MOSQUE AND TOOK 54 LIVES.

THANK YOU. YOUR TIME IS UP. PLEASE CONTINUE. THANK YOU. IN HONOR OF THOSE LIVES THAT WERE TAKEN, THE UNITED NATIONS PASSED A RESOLUTION RECOGNIZING MARCH 15TH AS DAY TO COMBAT ISLAMOPHOBIA.

AND I THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER BRIONES, FOR BRINGING THIS TO THE COUNTY.

HERE LOCALLY, THOUGH, IT'S IMPACTED, AS I MENTIONED, HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE ACROSS OUR REGION AND ESPECIALLY HERE IN HARRIS COUNTY.

AND IT IS NOT SOMETHING THAT THE STATE OF TEXAS IS IMMUNE TO.

JUST YESTERDAY MORNING, OUR GOVERNOR REPEATING ISLAMOPHOBIC TROPES AIMED AT A COMMUNITY IN DALLAS.

COMMISSIONERS. ISLAMOPHOBIA CAN BE WORDS. IT CAN BE EXCLUSION.

BUT IT HAS AN UNFORTUNATE AND UGLY HEAD. AND THAT IS VIOLENCE.

THAT VIOLENCE WAS MADE CLEAR IN NOVEMBER OF 2023 WHEN AL-FAYYUMI, PICTURED HERE, WAS KILLED, STABBED IN HIS OWN HOME. IT ALSO TOOK PLACE LAST MAY IN EULESS, TEXAS, WHEN TWO CHILDREN WERE ATTEMPTED TO BE DROWNED BY A WOMAN WHILE THEIR MOTHER SCREAMED AND PLEADED FOR HELP. ISLAMOPHOBIA IS A THREAT TO EVERYONE.

AT HOUSTON, WE'RE COMMITTED TO FIGHTING ISLAMOPHOBIA AND ANTI-MUSLIM HATRED, AND HOWEVER IT MAY TAKE SHAPE AND FORM.

I HAVE OUR 2024 CIVIL RIGHTS REPORT, WHICH DETAILS THE HATE THAT WE ENCOUNTER HERE IN THIS REGION AND ACROSS OUR STATE AND ACROSS OUR COUNTRY. I'LL HAND THIS TO THE BAILIFF FOR YOU TO HAND OUT.

I URGE THAT YOU PLEASE PASS THIS. BUT NOT ONLY THAT, YOU PASS THIS TODAY, BUT THAT YOU ENGAGE WITH YOUR MUSLIM COMMUNITY.

THERE ARE OVER 200 MOSQUES ACROSS OUR REGION, AND AN ESTIMATED 500,000 MUSLIMS FROM HUNTSVILLE DOWN TO GALVESTON AND FROM PORT ARTHUR OUT TO SEALY. SO PLEASE ENGAGE WITH YOUR COMMUNITY.

PLEASE BE PRESENT FOR YOUR COMMUNITY. THEY ARE ETHNICALLY DIVERSE WITH TEN GENERATIONS IN THE UNITED STATES OR THREE WEEKS IN THE UNITED STATES.

SO PLEASE ENGAGE AND PLEASE URGE PASSIONS. THANK YOU.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP, MR. WHITE, AND THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING KERR DOES TO ADVANCE CIVIL RIGHTS FOR MUSLIM COMMUNITY.

THANK YOU. GOOD MORNING, COMMISSIONERS. TODAY I STAND BEFORE YOU TO SUPPORT THIS RESOLUTION, RECOGNIZING THAT WE ARE ON THE SACRED MONTH OF RAMADAN WHILE REAFFIRMING OUR COMMITMENT TO COMBATING ISLAMOPHOBIA.

RAMADAN IS A TIME OF REFLECTION, CHARITY AND UNITY FOR MILLIONS OF MUSLIMS AROUND THE WORLD, INCLUDING OUR NEIGHBORS, COWORKERS, AND FRIENDS HERE IN OUR OWN COMMUNITY. BY SUPPORTING THIS RESOLUTION, WE ARE NOT JUST ACKNOWLEDGING THE FAITH AND CONTRIBUTIONS OF OUR MUSLIM RESIDENTS, WE ARE AFFIRMING THE VALUES THAT BIND US ALL COMPASSION, RESPECT, AND INCLUSION. AT A TIME WHEN ISLAMOPHOBIA CONTINUES TO THREATEN THE SAFETY AND DIGNITY OF MANY, THIS RESOLUTION SENDS A CLEAR MESSAGE OUR CITY STANDS AGAINST HATE IN ALL ITS FORMS. LET THIS BE MORE THAN JUST WORDS ON PAPER. LET IT BE A COMMITMENT TO FOSTERING UNDERSTANDING, CELEBRATING DIVERSITY AND ENSURING THAT EVERY RESIDENT, REGARDLESS OF FAITH, FEELS VALUED AND SAFE IN OUR COMMUNITY.

THANK YOU. COMMISSIONER BRIONES, FOR YOUR SUPPORT OF OUR COMMUNITY AND THIS RESOLUTION, NOT JUST AS A SYMBOLIC GESTURE, BUT AS A STEP TOWARD A MORE INCLUSIVE AND UNITED CITY.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU. CAN YOU STATE YOUR NAME FOR THE RECORD, PLEASE? MY NAME WAS SANA ALI. THANK YOU. GOOD MORNING, JUDGE AND COMMISSIONERS.

MY NAME IS LUBABA ABDULLAH. I AM AN ATTORNEY RESIDING HERE IN HARRIS COUNTY.

I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU TO COMMISSIONER BRIONES FOR INTRODUCING THE RESOLUTIONS OBSERVING THE MONTH OF RAMADAN, AS WELL AS RECOGNIZING MARCH 15TH, 2025 AS THE INTERNATIONAL DAY TO COMBAT ISLAMOPHOBIA.

YOU KNOW, I COULD TALK ABOUT SO MANY ISSUES, LIKE THE FACT THAT I WAS NEVER ABLE TO FLY WITHOUT, YOU KNOW, SECONDARY AND TERTIARY SCREENINGS, BECAUSE MY MIDDLE NAME IS MUHAMMAD AND MY LAST NAME IS ABDULLAH.

I COULD TALK ABOUT THE MANY TIMES I'VE BEEN PULLED OVER BECAUSE I AM A BLACK WOMAN, A MUSLIM WOMAN WHO WEARS A HIJAB.

OR WHEN I WAS GROCERY SHOPPING LAST YEAR AND A MAN FELT COMFORTABLE COMING IN CALLING ME HAMAS.

RIGHT? BUT THE ONE TIME THAT I DO WANT TO TALK TO YOU GUYS ABOUT IS THE FIRST TIME I WENT TO COURT, AND THIS WAS NOT HERE IN TEXAS. BUT I WAS YELLED AT BY THE JUDGE FOR HAVING A CASE FILE, WHICH, AS AN ATTORNEY, I'M ALLOWED TO HAVE. BUT HE DIDN'T BELIEVE THAT I WAS A JUDGE, THAT I WAS AN ATTORNEY BECAUSE OF A PIECE OF CLOTH THAT I WEAR ON MY HEAD, MY HIJAB. AND IF I, AS AN ATTORNEY WHO'S STANDING HERE IS UNABLE, YOU KNOW, WITH MY TEENAGE DAUGHTER WHO'S HERE,

[01:25:06]

WHAT ABOUT IMMIGRANTS? WHAT ABOUT PEOPLE WHO. ENGLISH IS NOT THEIR FIRST LANGUAGE. MUSLIMS ACROSS HARRIS COUNTY FACE THESE TYPES OF INCIDENTS INDIVIDUALLY, IN SCHOOLS, AT WORK, GOING GROCERY SHOPPING, AT THEIR PLACES OF WORK, WORK AT THEIR PLACES OF WORSHIP, AND UNFORTUNATELY, EVEN AT A SYSTEMIC LEGISLATIVE LEVEL.

AND THESE ARE SCARY TIMES. SO WE APPRECIATE YOU BRINGING AWARENESS TO THESE RESOLUTIONS.

WE ARE MORE THAN OUR SUFFERING, AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO CONTINUING EFFORTS TO DOING EVEN MORE WITH THE COMMUNITY ACROSS HARRIS COUNTY.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU. GOOD MORNING. THANK YOU.

JUDGE HIDALGO AND MEMBERS OF THE HARRIS COUNTY COMMISSIONERS COURT FOR TAKING UP THE URGENT AND IMPORTANT ISSUE OF COMBATING ISLAMOPHOBIA.

I ESPECIALLY WANT TO EXPRESS MY GRATITUDE TO COMMISSIONER BRIONES FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP AND COMMITMENT TO EQUITY AND INCLUSION.

MY NAME IS MURTAZA DARUWALA. I AM A MEMBER OF THE DAWOODI BOHRA MUSLIM COMMUNITY HERE IN HOUSTON.

I KNOW FIRSTHAND THE IMPACT OF ISLAMOPHOBIA ON INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES.

I ALSO KNOW THE LOVE THAT MY COMMUNITY AND MY LOVED ONES HAVE FELT IN OUR BEAUTIFUL COUNTY OVER AND OVER AGAIN.

WE ARE PROUD HOUSTONIANS AND AMERICANS. OUR GLOBAL LEADER, HIS HOLINESS DOCTOR SYEDNA MUFADDAL SAIFUDDIN, OFTEN REMINDS US IN SERMONS THAT TRUE FAITH IS SHOWN NOT ONLY IN WORSHIP, BUT IN HOW WE TREAT OUR NEIGHBORS WITH COMPASSION, DIGNITY AND RESPECT. THAT IS THE SPIRIT WE WE STRIVE TO LIVE BY.

IN MY PROFESSIONAL CAPACITY, I'M AN ATTORNEY AT THE LAW FIRM OF EDWARD SURJEWALA SOMANI AND PRESIDENT OF THE MUSLIM BAR ASSOCIATION OF HOUSTON.

I'M PROUD THAT FELLOW COLLEAGUES IN THE BAR ARE WITH ME.

THANK YOU. YOUR TIME IS UP. GO AHEAD. BY ADDRESSING ISLAMOPHOBIA OPENLY, THIS COURT SENDS A POWERFUL MESSAGE THAT EVERY COMMUNITY IN HARRIS COUNTY BELONGS.

THANK YOU FOR STANDING WITH US IN THIS WORK OF BUILDING, UNDERSTANDING, SAFETY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL.

AND I LEAVE WITH THE WORDS OF DOCTOR MARTIN LUTHER KING JR.

WHO SAID THAT HATE CANNOT DRIVE OUT HATE, ONLY LOVE CAN DO THAT.

SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH. AND I URGE ADOPTION OF THE RESOLUTION. THANK YOU.

THANK YOU. GOOD MORNING. MY NAME IS IMAN ALI AND I'M HERE TO SPEAK IN SUPPORT OF THE RESOLUTION PUT FORTH BY COMMISSIONER BRIONES.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR DOING THAT. AND TO ALL OF THE COMMISSIONERS AND JUDGE HIDALGO FOR GIVING US THE CHANCE TO SPEAK WITH YOU.

TODAY, AS MANY OF YOU MAY BE AWARE, IT'S CURRENTLY THE MONTH OF RAMADAN, WHICH IS A HOLY MONTH OF PEACE AND TRANQUILITY IN WHICH MUSLIMS FAST FOCUS ON PRAYER, MEDITATION, AND INTROSPECTION IN ORDER TO STRENGTHEN OUR RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD.

IN FACT, LAST NIGHT WAS THE 27TH NIGHT OF RAMADAN, WHICH IS CONSIDERED BY MANY ISLAMIC TRADITIONS TO BE ONE OF THE MOST SACRED DAYS OF THE YEAR, IN WHICH GOD COMES CLOSE TO HUMANITY AND ACCEPTS PRAYERS.

ONE OF MY PRAYERS LAST NIGHT WAS FOR GOD TO STRENGTHEN OUR COUNTRY AND TO STRENGTHEN THE SANCTITY OF OUR VALUES SUCH AS LIFE, LIBERTY, EQUALITY AND THE FREEDOM OF RELIGION.

I PRAY FOR OUR COUNTRY TO BE A SAFE SPACE FOR ALL COMMUNITIES, REGARDLESS OF RELIGION, RACE OR ETHNIC ORIGIN.

THANK YOU. YOUR TIME IS UP. GO AHEAD. PLEASE FINISH. OKAY. THANK YOU. AS THE CARE CARE REPRESENTATIVE THAT WAS HERE SAID CIVIL RIGHTS REPORTS HAVE REVEALED THAT ISLAMOPHOBIA IS AT AN ALL TIME HIGH NATIONWIDE.

AND AS A COMMISSIONER, RAMSEY MENTIONED, WITH REGARD TO NATIONAL CRIME VICTIMS RIGHTS WEEK WE HAVE TO REALLY SUPPORT VICTIMS OF OF CRIMES, INCLUDING CRIMES OF ISLAMOPHOBIA. WE'VE ALREADY MENTIONED THE LITTLE BOY, WADIH EL FAYOUM, WHO WAS A SIX YEAR OLD ARAB MUSLIM BOY WHO WAS STABBED TO DEATH BY HIS LANDLORD FOR BEING MUSLIM.

I MYSELF HAVE A NINE YEAR OLD BOY. A 15 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER AND AN 11 YEAR OLD GIRL, AND I WORRY ABOUT THEM AND THEIR SAFETY.

AND I JUST STRONGLY URGE THAT YOU ALL CONSIDER THIS AND THANK YOU FOR PROTECTING OUR COMMUNITIES.

I ALSO WANTED TO COMMEND THE MAN WHO SPOKE EARLIER AND MENTIONED THE STAR OF DAVID.

IT'S ALL OF OUR COMMUNITIES ARE CONNECTED IN THIS.

WE ALL HAVE TO BE ABLE TO YOU KNOW, SHOW OUR FAITH OPENLY AND FEEL SAFE IN OUR COMMUNITIES.

AND THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR CONSIDERING THIS AGAIN.

THANK YOU, MISS SALLY. HI. GOOD MORNING. JUDGE.

COMMISSIONERS. THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER BRIONES, FOR YOUR CONTINUED SUPPORT FOR ALL COMMUNITIES IN HARRIS COUNTY.

I WASN'T EXPECTING TO SPEAK, SO I DON'T HAVE ANYTHING PREPARED, SO I'M JUST GOING TO SWING IT. I'M THE DIRECTOR OF ADVOCACY AT ANISA HOPE CENTER.

WE ARE ADVOCATES FOR VICTIMS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE.

THE ISSUES THAT AFFECT ALL OF US, DOMESTIC VIOLENCE CLIMATE, ALL OF THE GLOBAL ISSUES, THEY AFFECT ALL COMMUNITIES EQUALLY UNLESS IT COMES TO HATE.

THAT'S WHEN CERTAIN COMMUNITIES ARE TARGETED MORE.

[01:30:03]

AND I ASK HARRIS COUNTY TO STAND WITH US IN THIS TIME WHEN ISLAMOPHOBIA IS AT THE HIGHEST THAT IT HAS BEEN IN THE UNITED STATES.

I THINK WE ARE GREAT WHEN WE ARE WORKING TOGETHER WITH OUR DIVERSE ETHNICITIES, RELIGIOUS BACKGROUNDS.

YOU KNOW, EVERYTHING THAT WE BRING TO THE TABLE. PLEASE, YOU KNOW, SUPPORT THIS RESOLUTION.

AND STAND WITH US AT THIS TIME. THANK YOU. THANK YOU.

CAN YOU PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME FOR THE RECORD? I'M SORRY. RAZIA. NAITHANI. THANK YOU.

GOOD MORNING. COMMISSIONERS. MY NAME IS SARA SAEED.

I CURRENTLY SERVE AS THE POLICY MANAGER FOR JUNTOS, AN ADVOCACY GROUP SERVING MULTILINGUAL COMMUNITIES.

I AM HERE TO SPEAK IN SUPPORT OF THE EFFORT TO COMBAT ISLAMOPHOBIA TODAY AND ALWAYS IN HARRIS COUNTY.

ISLAMOPHOBIA IS NOT JUST ABOUT INDIVIDUAL PREJUDICE.

IT'S FUELED BY POLICIES AND RHETORIC THAT NORMALIZE DISCRIMINATION.

IN RECENT MONTHS, WE'VE SEEN REALLY TROUBLING ACTIONS AT THE STATE LEVEL, INCLUDING ATTEMPTS TO SILENCE VOICES ON COLLEGE CAMPUSES AND INVESTIGATIONS THAT DISPROPORTIONATELY TARGET MUSLIM LED INITIATIVES.

THESE ACTIONS CREATE A CULTURE WHERE HARASSMENT, THREATS AND VIOLENCE BECOME MORE COMMON.

IT'S CRITICAL THAT HARRIS COUNTY STANDS FIRMLY AGAINST THIS CLIMATE OF FEAR, AND THAT MEANS NOT ONLY PUTTING FORTH THIS RESOLUTION, BUT ALSO TAKING MEANINGFUL STEPS, ENSURING PUBLIC SAFETY MEASURES.

PROTECT ALL COMMUNITIES. INVESTING IN EDUCATION AGAINST HATE.

UPHOLDING AND PROTECTING FREEDOM OF SPEECH AND DUE PROCESS FOR EVERYONE.

AS LEADERS, YOU SET THE STANDARD FOR. THANK YOU.

YOUR TIME IS UP. GOOD. AS LEADERS, YOU SET THE STANDARD FOR HOW PEOPLE ARE TREATED, REGARDLESS OF FAITH, AND I URGE YOU TO MAKE IT CLEAR THAT HARRIS COUNTY IS GOING TO CONTINUE TO BE A PLACE WHERE ALL PEOPLE FEEL SAFE, VALUED AND PROTECTED. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MISS SAEED.

GOOD MORNING. MY NAME IS LEYLA KHALILI. I WAS ALSO NOT PLANNING TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM TODAY, BUT I WANT TO THANK YOU ALL FOR CONSIDERING THIS AND TO COMMISSIONER BRIONES FOR BRINGING THIS FORWARD.

I WANT TO ECHO EVERYTHING THAT EVERYONE BEFORE ME HAS SAID.

I THINK THIS IS REALLY IMPORTANT. AND NOW, OF ALL TIMES IS INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT TO PASS THIS RESOLUTION AND SEND A VERY CLEAR MESSAGE THAT HARRIS COUNTY AND OUR LEADERS IN HARRIS COUNTY WILL NOT STAND FOR ISLAMOPHOBIA OR PREJUDICE OR HATRED IN ANY FORM.

THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU. HELLO, COMMISSIONERS.

MY NAME IS MAIMUNA NIZAMI. I WAS ALSO AGAIN NOT PLANNING TO SPEAK ON, BUT AS SOON AS WE GOT TO KNOW ABOUT THIS, I HAD TO COME IN AND THANK YOU ALL. THANK YOU, LESLIE, FOR BRINGING THIS UP.

I AM A PHYSICIAN, A MOTHER OF THREE. I'M A HOMESCHOOLER, AND I JUST WANTED TO REITERATE OUT THERE AND SAY THAT SOMETIMES HATE IS FUELED BY THE FACT THAT YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT THE OTHER PERSON IS LIKE, AND SO IT'S TARGETED WHEN YOU'RE UNAWARE OF.

SO I JUST WANTED TO LET EVERYONE KNOW THAT WERE OUT THERE WHERE YOU'RE IN YOUR HEALTHCARE PROFESSIONS, WE ARE YOUR FIREFIGHTERS.

WE ARE YOUR ARCHITECTS, ENGINEERS, YOUR CAB DRIVERS, YOUR RESTAURANT OWNERS WERE AN INTEGRAL PART OF THE COMMUNITY.

AND AND WE REALLY THANK YOU FOR BRINGING THIS UP IN THE MONTH OF RAMADAN WHICH IS ALL ABOUT PEACE AND GIVING.

THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU DOCTOR. GOOD MORNING COMMISSIONERS.

MY NAME IS ELENA GILANI. I'M 17 YEARS OLD AND I'M A BOARD MEMBER OF THE COALITION FOR PEACE, RELIEF AND EQUITY. EVERY YOUNG MUSLIM I KNOW HAS AN ISLAMOPHOBIA STORY, FROM BEING HELD UP AT AIRPORTS OR BEING CALLED TERRORISTS BY OUR CLASSMATES.

I, IN FACT HAVE SOME STORIES MYSELF. HOWEVER, A FEW OF US REPORT THESE INCIDENTS LARGELY OUT OF FEAR.

WE'RE WORRIED THAT OUR SCHOOLS DO NOT CARE, AND THAT REPORTING THESE INCIDENTS WILL DO MORE HARM THAN GOOD BY ADDRESSING ISLAMOPHOBIA OPENLY.

THIS COURT GIVES CREDIBILITY TO EVERY MUSLIM CHILD IN THIS COUNTY, INCLUDING MYSELF, WHO IS A VICTIM OF HATRED AND BIGOTRY.

RECOGNIZING ISLAMOPHOBIA AS A FIRST STEP TO COMBATING IT.

WE CANNOT FIGHT SOMETHING THAT WE IGNORE. I'M REALLY GRATEFUL THAT YOU GUYS BROUGHT THIS UP DURING THE MONTH OF RAMADAN, WHEN WE'RE FOCUSED ON GRATITUDE AND GIVING. SO PLEASE ACKNOWLEDGE THE VOICES OF MUSLIM STUDENTS IN THIS COUNTY AND GIVE US SPACE TO MAKE OUR VOICES HEARD AND OUR COMPLAINTS KNOWN. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER GARCIA AND COMMISSIONER BRIONES.

THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER BRIONES, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BRINGING THIS ITEM FORWARD.

I LIKE HOW YOU PHRASED IT. ALSO A CATHOLIC, BUT YOU KNOW, WHEN I WAS GROWING UP, MY DAD ENCOURAGED ME TO LOOK AT PEOPLE FOR THE PEOPLE THEY ARE AND NOT TO LOOK FOR ANYTHING THAT SEPARATES US, BUT TO LOOK FOR WHAT BRINGS US TOGETHER.

[01:35:04]

AND TO ALL THAT ARE HERE CELEBRATING THIS HOLY MONTH.

I ALSO WANT TO EXTEND MY RAMADAN MUBARAK WISHES TO EVERYONE.

THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER GARCIA. THANK YOU TO EVERYONE WHO SPOKE.

AND I'M DEEPLY MOVED. THIS WEEK WE HAD AN IFTAR, A MULTI-FAITH, INTERFAITH IFTAR, AND OUR JEWISH BROTHERS AND SISTERS, OUR CHRISTIAN BROTHERS AND SISTERS, OUR MUSLIM BROTHERS AND SISTERS AND BEYOND CAME TOGETHER.

AND THAT'S THE BEAUTY OF HARRIS COUNTY. LET US CONTINUE TO COME TOGETHER AND COMMIT AND SEEING AND LISTENING AND RESPECTING.

AND I BELIEVE THAT, YOU KNOW, THE WAY WE'RE ALL TRYING TO RAISE OUR KIDS, WE NEED TO MAKE SURE WE'RE HOLDING OURSELVES TO THE SAME ACCOUNT IN TERMS OF CHOOSING LOVE AND CHOOSING RESPECT. AND SO THANK YOU. RAMADAN MUBARAK, I HOPE YOU HAVE A BLESSED EID.

AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO GROWING AND CONTINUING TO BUILD THIS MORE PERFECT UNION HERE IN HARRIS COUNTY AND BEYOND.

THANK YOU. I THINK THAT'S IT FOR THE RESOLUTIONS COLLEAGUES.

SO WE WILL TAKE SOME PICTURES AND THEN WE'LL TAKE THE REST OF THE SPEAKERS. THANK YOU GUYS.

LADY. LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, WE'RE GOING TO CALL YOU IN ORDER OF RESOLUTION, AND YOU'RE GOING TO COME OVER HERE TO THE MOST RIGHT HAND SIDE ORDER OF RESOLUTION AND MOST RIGHT HAND SIDE. SO RIGHT NOW WE NEED THE DACA GROUP.

THE DACA GROUP PLEASE COME OVER HERE. EVERYBODY'S GOING TO GET.

DACA HERE. DACA. ARE YOU DACA. OKAY. THERESA.

SHE'S RIGHT. OKAY. YOU WANT TO COME THROUGH. IT SAYS THAT HERE.

DID HE LEAVE. HE LEFT. OKAY. MY MOM CAN TAKE A PHOTO BECAUSE SHE MUST BE HERE.

YES. I'M GOING TO GET HIM IN. ALL RIGHT. LET ME SAY TO YOU GUYS OVER THERE.

OKAY. I'M GONNA LET YOU. DO THE.

[01:46:17]

[01:46:24]

IS THAT OKAY? ALL RIGHT. THANKS. OKAY. IT IS 1223, AND COMMISSIONERS COURT IS BACK IN SESSION, SO WE'LL TAKE THE REST OF THE SPEAKERS, PLEASE. FIRST IS JACOB CLEMENS SPEAKING ON ITEM SEVEN.

[Appearances Before Court]

I LIVE IN HERE. HEY, GUYS. IT'S OVER. AND THAT IS THE RODEO.

SO HAPPY TRAILS TO YOU. WELL, AT ANY RATE, GUESS WHAT TIME IT IS.

IT'S ASTRO TIME. THANK YOU. THE HAT SAYS IT ALL.

I HAVE JOE'S FATHER'S SIGNATURE ON HERE, SO THIS HAT IS PRETTY SPECIAL TO ME.

AND THEN. RIGHT. WELL I'M TAKING WITH ME THIS MUSLIM LADY.

AND YOU WERE TALKING ABOUT ISLAMOPHOBIA. WELL, I DON'T HAVE ISLAMOPHOBIA BECAUSE SHE'S A NOT A DEVOUT MUSLIM, BUT SHE'S AN ACTIVE MUSLIM WOMAN. HER NAME IS SHIREEN, AND SHE'S ALSO GOING ON A DATE WITH ME TO ALSO SALALA THAT RESTAURANT OWNED BY JIM CRANE. AND SO WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A GOOD TIME.

SHE AND HER OLDER BROTHER, WHO'S GOING TO BE OUR CHAPERON AND HE'S MUSLIM ALSO.

SO. WELL THANK YOU. YOUR TIME IS UP. AREN'T YOU GOING TO ASK ME THE AGGIE JOKE? I HOPE YOU ENJOY THE ASTROS GAME, MR. CLEMENTS.

OKAY, JACOB, THANK YOU SO MUCH. SARAH RIEMANN AND LAURA GALLIER SPEAKING ON ITEM 29.

YOU EACH HAVE ONE MINUTE.

REMAINING. SO. WE'RE GOING TO GET IT.

CAN WE GO TO THE NEXT ONE? YEAH, LET'S GO TO THE NEXT ONE.

HOW SHAHWANI AND REVEREND JOCELYN GRIFFIN ON ITEM 29.

YOU EACH HAVE ONE MINUTE. HI. I'LL TRY TO BE AS BRIEF AS POSSIBLE, BUT THIS IS VERY UNCOMFORTABLE FOR ME TO TALK ABOUT. I AM A VICTIM OF A DRUGGING, KIDNAPING, AND SEX TRAFFICKING EVENT IN 2018. NEVER BEFORE, DURING OR AFTER THAT INCIDENT, THAT LIFE EVENT DID.

I THINK WE NEED MORE JAILS. WE NEED MORE POLICE.

WE NEED MORE GUNS IN THE STREET. I HAVE NEVER FELT THAT WAY.

WHAT I HAVE ALWAYS FELT IS THAT SEXUAL CRIMES ESCALATE WHEN YOU HAVE A DEPRAVED, IMMORAL GOVERNMENT THAT IS BEING ELECTED TIME AND TIME AGAIN. THAT IS WHY I WAS A VICTIM OF AN EGREGIOUS CRIME IN 2018.

I AM BEGGING YOU, DO NOT BUILD THIS JAIL TO ME.

OPTICS WISE, IT LOOKS LIKE YOU'RE BUILDING A JAIL FOR POLITICAL DISSIDENTS AND POLITICAL PRISONERS.

I DON'T SEE ANY FUNCTION OR USE FOR IT IN THE SOCIETY THAT WE'RE LIVING IN TODAY.

[01:50:04]

THANK YOU. YOUR TIME IS UP. CAN YOU PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME FOR THE RECORD? MY NAME IS PALWASHA SHERWANI. THANK YOU.

GREETINGS. I AM REVEREND JOSLYN GRIFFIN. TO EACH OF YOU, I JUST ASK THAT YOU CONSIDER THE LIVES THAT HAVE BEEN LOST.

UNFORTUNATELY, THE IN-CUSTODY DEATHS HERE IN HARRIS COUNTY HAS BEEN STRUCKEN BY SO MANY FAMILIES.

AND TO GET A NEW BUILDING, I FEEL, IS NOT THE ANSWER.

THE ANSWER IS MANAGEMENT. PROPER TRAINING TO THOSE THAT ARE WORKING THERE.

WE CAN HAVE MANY BUILDINGS, BUT IF THEY'RE NOT OPERABLE BY THE PERSONNEL THERE, THE PROBLEM IS IN EXISTENCE.

A BUILDING IS JUST A BUILDING. WITHOUT THE PEOPLE, IT'S NOT GOING TO BE FUNCTIONAL.

BUT I FEEL IF YOU HAVE THE PROPER TRAINING TO THOSE FOR THE HUMAN BEINGS THAT'S COMING IN, THAT WILL BE VERY HELPFUL FOR US. THAT WILL MAKE A DIFFERENCE TO THIS COMMUNITY.

NOT TO SPEND A LOT OF MILLIONS ON NEW BUILDINGS.

I DO UNDERSTAND THAT THE 2025 YEAR YOUR TIME IS UP.

THANK YOU. DID YOU. WERE YOU ALMOST FINISHED? YES. THANK YOU. JUDGE. JUST THE THE YEAR OF 2025.

WE DO HAVE A LOT OF NEW, DIFFERENT WAYS OF FROM THE VIDEOS TO SO MUCH OF TECHNOLOGY.

I DO UNDERSTAND THAT, BUT I FEEL LIKE THAT TECHNOLOGY CAN BE USED IN THE BUILDINGS THAT WE DO HAVE.

THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU.

YO. WHAT'S UP? APOLOGIES FOR MISSIN. NO NEW JAILS.

MY NAME IS RODNEY ELLIS. ADRIAN GARCIA. TOM RAMSEY, LESLIE BRIONES, AND LINA HIDALGO.

I'M THE UPHOLDERS OF CARCERAL WHITE SUPREMACY IN HARRIS COUNTY.

AND IF YOU LOOK AT YOUR HANDS, COMMISSIONERS, YOU WILL SEE BLOOD ON YOUR HANDS FROM ALL THE PRIOR JAIL DEATHS OF ONGOING BLACK AND BROWN NEIGHBORS AS WHITE SUPREMACY IN ACTION. BUILDING A NEW JAIL IS WHITE SUPREMACY IN ACTION MEANS MORE BLOOD ON YOUR HANDS.

BILLIONS OF DOLLARS TO THE FAN. THE FLAMES OF MASS INCARCERATION.

ALL CAGES ARE INHUMANE. WE DON'T NEED MORE. NO NEW JAILS, NO NEW JAILS, NO NEW JAILS.

THANK YOU. NEW JAILS. LAURA GALLIER SHELANDRA ROBINSON ON ITEMS 29.

YOU EACH HAVE ONE MINUTE.

I AM A RESIDENT OF PRECINCT ONE, AND I'M SPEAKING TODAY AGAINST THE EXPANSION OF THE JAIL AND BUILDING A NEW JAIL.

AS A SOCIAL WORKER, I UNDERSTAND THAT ALL HUMANS NEED SAFETY AND CARE.

I ALSO UNDERSTAND THE CONSEQUENCES OF UNDERFUNDING SOCIAL PROGRAMS AND COMMUNITY INVESTMENTS.

THESE ARE UNDERDEVELOPMENT OF MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES, INCREASED HOMELESSNESS, AND GREATER HOUSING AND FOOD INSECURITY, JUST TO NAME A FEW. INSTEAD, COUNTY FUNDS SHOULD BE USED TO CREATE PROGRAMS AND SERVICES OUTSIDE OF THE CARCERAL SYSTEM.

THIS IS THE OPTIMAL WAY TO DECREASE CRIME BECAUSE IT FOCUSES ON THE ROOT CAUSES OF CRIME.

EXPANDING THE JAIL OR BUILDING A NEW JAIL WILL NOT DO THAT.

I NEED YOU TO UNDERSTAND THAT IT IS THE UNDERINVESTMENT OF OUR PEOPLE AND THE PERSON CENTERED PROGRAMS THAT PUT RESIDENTS IN DANGER.

IF WE ARE GOING TO PLAN FOR A PLUS JAIL, WE WILL NEVER HAVE FUNDING FOR THE COMMUNITIES OF HARRIS COUNTY, AND A+ JAIL IS DESIGNED TO FAIL. THANK YOU. THANK YOU.

JASMINE TELLEZ AND SARAH KNIGHT ON ITEM 29. YOU EACH HAVE ONE MINUTE.

ARE THOSE FOLKS HERE? YES.

THANK YOU. GOOD AFTERNOON, JUDGE AND COMMISSIONERS.

I AM HERE BEFORE YOU ALL ONCE AGAIN. MY NAME IS SARAH KNIGHT.

I AM FROM PRECINCT NUMBER FOUR. I AM STRONGLY AGAINST THE BUILDING OF THIS NEW JAIL FOR HARRIS COUNTY.

AS YOU ALL KNOW, MY SON WAS INCARCERATED AND TRANSFERRED TO LASALLE CORRECTIONAL FACILITY WHERE HE LOST HIS LIFE ON APRIL THE 3RD OF 2024.

[01:55:09]

WE ALL KNOW THAT A NEW JAIL WILL NOT SOLVE THE PROBLEMS GOING ON IN THE INSIDE THE JAIL, BECAUSE IT'S NOT AN ISSUE OF OVERCROWDING, BUT IT'S AN ISSUE. OR OVER CRIMINALIZING. MY SON, LIKE SO MANY OTHERS IN HARRIS COUNTY JAIL WAS THERE ON PRETRIAL.

YOUR TIME IS UP. GO AHEAD. IF HE WAS THERE ON PRETRIAL DETENTION AND LOST HIS LIFE DUE TO THE MEDICAL NEGLIGENCE, AS I WATCH YOU ALL COMMEMORATE AND TALK ABOUT.

NOT BEING RACIST. AND YOUR CHILDREN, YOUR CHILDREN ARE ALIVE AND WELL.

MY SON DIDN'T HAVE A DEATH SENTENCE. HE WAS SUPPOSED TO GO TO THE COUNTY, DO HIS TIME AND COME BACK HOME TO ME.

BUT THIS BUILDING OF THE NEW JAIL WILL NOT STOP THE MOTHERS LIKE ME THAT ARE STILL GRIEVING OVER THEIR CHILDREN.

THIS SYSTEM IS SO CORRUPT AND IT IS DESIGNED TO FAIL US.

I HOPE THAT THIS NEVER HITS YOUR FRONT DOOR AS A MOTHER.

THANK YOU SO MUCH. GOD BLESS YOU. TANYA, HAVE YOU VISITED WITH THE MOTHERS? HAVE YOU VISITED WITH THE MOTHERS? I HAVE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO VISIT WITH. YOU HAVE? OKAY. NO. WELL, ANYWAY, WE'LL JUST WE'LL CIRCLE.

WE'LL CIRCLE BACK ON THAT. GO AHEAD. GOOD AFTERNOON, JUDGE AND COMMISSIONERS.

MY NAME IS JASMINE, AND I'M HERE REPRESENTING TEXAS RISING STUDENTS AND ORGANIZING ORGANIZERS FROM PRECINCT ONE ON AND TSU CAMPUS.

AND WE ARE IN OPPOSITION OF A NEW JAIL. AS YOU CAN AS YOU HAVE HEARD, PEOPLE ARE DYING IN THIS HORRIFIC JAIL.

WE DON'T NEED A NEW JAIL. WE DON'T WANT A NEW JAIL.

OUR COMMUNITY MEMBERS NEED ANYTHING BUT A NEW JAIL.

OVER HALF OF OUR BUDGET ALREADY GOES TO THE CRIMINAL LEGAL JUSTICE SYSTEM, INCLUDING POLICING AND INCARCERATION.

AND A NEW JAIL WILL CONTINUE TO CONSUME BILLIONS OF OUR TAX DOLLARS, STARVING THE PROGRAMS WE REALLY NEED, LIKE PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION FUNDING OUR LIBRARIES.

OUR PUBLIC HEALTH COMMISSIONER, RAMSEY, I ATTENDED A TOWN HALL WHERE I SAW THAT YOUR CONSTITUENTS WANTED MORE PARKS AND FUNDING FOR THE PARKS.

WE ALSO WANT TO CONTINUE TO INVEST IN OUR COUNTY'S CLIMATE RESILIENCY.

AND COMMISSIONER BROWN IS IMAGINE IF WE INVESTED THIS MONEY IN ACTUAL LACTATION PODS, INSTEAD OF THINKING OF THE IDEA AND WANTING THAT FOR OUR COMMUNITY.

SO A NEW JAIL IS NOT THE SOLUTION. IT'S EXPENSIVE, A BAD USE OF OUR TAX DOLLARS.

TIME IS UP. ARE YOU FINISHED? YES. OKAY. THANK YOU.

CHRISTOPHER RIVERA AND AUDREY NATH ON ITEM 29.

YOU EACH HAVE ONE MINUTE. THANKS. GOOD AFTERNOON. MY NAME IS CHRISTOPHER RIVERA. I WORK WITH THE TEXTILE RIGHTS PROJECT. I LIVE IN PRECINCT TWO. AND I'M AGAINST ANY JAIL EXPANSION.

ANY NEW JAILS IN HARRIS COUNTY? THIS JAIL CRISIS IS A MANUFACTURED CRISIS.

THE COUNTY HAS RECEIVED SOLUTIONS TO IMPLEMENT.

INSTEAD, THEY DECIDED TO DOUBLE DOWN AND OVER CRIMINALIZE PEOPLE, WHICH HAS LED TO MANY DEATHS AND FAMILY LOSSES.

IN 2022, THE COUNTY RECEIVED THE JIMMY REPORT, WHICH GAVE SOLUTIONS ON REDUCING THE JAIL POPULATION, AND WHICH WOULD HAVE MADE THE COUNTY JAIL IN COMPLIANCE WITH JAIL STANDARDS.

INSTEAD, THEY DIDN'T IMPLEMENT THOSE THE FOLLOWING YEAR OR IN 2022.

WE HAD KIM OGG FILE FAULTY CASES THAT LED TO A JAIL INCREASE.

THERE WAS OVER 4200 CASES DROPPED FOR LACK OF PROBABLE CAUSE.

WHAT WE NEED TO DO IS REALLY INVEST IN SOLUTIONS THAT HELP COMMUNITY MEMBERS.

ONE IS HELPING PEOPLE HAVE JOB PROGRAMS. THERE'S A PROGRAM CALLED HIRE HOUSTON YOUTH, WHICH PROVIDED 20,000 JOBS.

THERE'S LOTS OF STUDIES THAT SHOW PEOPLE WHO HAVE JOB OPPORTUNITIES ARE LESS LIKELY TO BE CRIMINALIZED.

YOU CAN WRAP UP IF YOU'VE GOT A COUPLE A COUPLE SECONDS.

SURE. AND THEN JUST INVESTING IN STUDIES. STUDIES HAVE SHOWN INVESTMENT IN CHILDHOOD EDUCATION.

AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAMS ALSO HAVE A SHARP DECREASE IN YOUTH ENTANGLEMENT IN THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM.

SO LIKE OUR MY COLLEAGUES HAVE SAID, THERE'S NO SUCH THING AS A HUMANE JAIL BECAUSE AN A+ JAIL IS DESIGNED TO FAIL.

THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU. HI, MY NAME IS AUDREY NATH AND I'M A NEUROLOGIST HERE IN HARRIS COUNTY.

[02:00:03]

MY CONCERNS ARE THAT WITH THE EXISTING JAIL AND THE EXISTING 10,000 PEOPLE THERE, THAT WE'RE UNDERSTAFFED FOR THE EXISTING NUMBER OF PEOPLE THAT ARE ALREADY THERE.

AND SO ADDING THOUSANDS OF MORE JAIL SPACES ISN'T GOING TO HELP THE UNDERSTAFFING PROBLEM.

SPECIFICALLY, WE'RE HAVING PREVENTABLE DEATHS, DEATHS FROM SEIZURES LIKE WE HEARD FROM JAYLENE ANDERSON'S MOM AND ANTHONY SIMMONS.

WE HAD ANOTHER PREVENTABLE DEATH, ERIC CARLSON, RELATED TO A PERITONSILLAR ABSCESS THAT WASN'T TREATED.

THAT'S PREVENTABLE. AND CHRISTOPHER MCGREGOR, WE STILL DON'T EVEN KNOW WHY HE DIED.

AND THAT WAS BACK IN JANUARY. SO WE CAN'T BE ADDING MORE BEDS WHEN WE'RE NOT EVEN STAFFED ENOUGH TO BE TREATING PEOPLE AS INFECTIONS SO THEY DON'T DIE.

THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU. NICOLE COVARRUBIAS AND FELIPE WOODS ON ITEM 29.

YOU EACH HAVE ONE MINUTE. IT LOOKS LIKE THEY'RE MAKING THEIR WAY.

HI, I'M NICOLE COVARRUBIAS FROM PRECINCT THREE, AND I'M HERE TO DISCUSS AGENDA ITEM NUMBER 29, SPECIFICALLY IN OPPOSITION OF A NEW JAIL BEING BUILT.

SO I'M INVESTED IN COMMUNITY BASED SOLUTIONS.

AND I BELIEVE THAT OUR TAX DOLLARS SHOULD BE GOING TO OUR COMMUNITIES.

IT SHOULDN'T BE FUNDING A NEW JAIL. I BELIEVE THAT IF WE USE THIS MONEY, WE CAN PUT IT BACK INTO OUR COMMUNITIES AND PROVIDING PROGRAMS THAT FEED OUR COMMUNITIES MENTAL HEALTH RESOURCES, ESPECIALLY SINCE THESE JAILS AFFECT THE MOST IMPOVERISHED COMMUNITIES.

THERE'S PEOPLE IN JAIL. MOST OF THE PEOPLE, I THINK IT'S OVER 60% ARE IN JAIL BECAUSE THEY CAN'T AFFORD THEIR BAIL, INCLUDING MY GODFATHER, WHO WAS THERE FOR A MONTH BECAUSE HE COULDN'T AFFORD HIS BAIL.

THERE'S NO JUSTICE IN JAIL WHERE MONEY AND PROFIT IS AN INCENTIVE FOR ITS EXISTENCE.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU. SALUTATIONS. MY NAME IS FELIPE WOODS AND I LIVE IN PRECINCT THREE. I SPEAK TO YOU TODAY IN OPPOSITION TO THE BUILDING OF A NEW JAIL HERE IN HARRIS COUNTY.

OUR INCARCERATED POPULATION ALREADY FACE POOR TREATMENT WHILE UNDER YOUR CUSTODY.

BUILDING A NEW JAIL WILL NOT CHANGE THAT OUTCOME AT ALL.

I SPEAK OF AN EXPERIENCE THAT SOMEONE I KNOW WHO FACED POOR TREATMENT AS A MUSLIM WHILE UNDER YOUR CUSTODY.

AT THE TIME, THEY WERE OBSERVING RAMADAN. WHEN THE TIME CAME TO BREAK THE FAST, THEY WERE SERVED FOOD THAT HAS NOTHING IF NOT INSULTING, SPECIFICALLY A BOLOGNA SANDWICH WHICH THEY COULD NOT EAT.

AND WHEN ASKED TO SERVE THEM SOMETHING HALAL, THE JAIL DID NOT COMPLY PROPERLY.

AND TO MRS. BRYAN'S, WITH ALL DUE RESPECT, YOU SPONSORED A RESOLUTION SEVEN TO OBSERVE THE MONTH OF RAMADAN AND TO COMBAT ISLAMOPHOBIA IN GENERAL, WHICH I DO SUPPORT, BY THE WAY. I SAY TO YOU AS A FELLOW CATHOLIC, PLEASE, PLEASE PUT YOUR MONEY WHERE YOUR MOUTH IS AND START BY COMBATING IT IN OUR CURRENT JAIL INSTEAD OF BUILDING NEW ONES. THANK YOU.

THANK YOU. LAYLA KHALILI AND TERRY CHEN ON ITEM 29.

YOU EACH HAVE ONE MINUTE, SIR. WE'LL CHECK WITH THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE ON THE FOOD SITUATION.

THANKS. HELLO. MY NAME IS LAYLA KHALILI AND I LIVE IN PRECINCT THREE.

I URGE EACH OF YOU TO REJECT ANY PLAN THAT INCREASES INCARCERATION.

OVER HALF OF THE HARRIS COUNTY BUDGET ALREADY GOES TO THE CRIMINAL LEGAL SYSTEM, AND IT DOES NOT MAKE US SAFER.

THIS JAIL PROJECT IS ESTIMATED TO COST US AT LEAST $7 BILLION AND WILL COST HUMAN LIVES.

BUILDING A NEW JAIL IS ANTITHETICAL TO EVERYTHING YOU'VE DISCUSSED HERE TODAY.

ALL THIS MONEY SHOULD BE INVESTED IN EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION, WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT, AFFORDABLE HOUSING, MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES AND OTHER PROGRAMS THAT ACTUALLY IMPROVE SAFETY AND PEOPLE'S LIVES.

WITH THE MASSIVE FEDERAL FUNDING CUTS WE'RE SEEING, OUR COMMUNITIES CANNOT AFFORD THIS DISASTROUS PLAN.

YOU ALL HAVE A SERIOUS RESPONSIBILITY HERE. YOU CAN MAKE A REAL DIFFERENCE IN HOW WE CARE FOR EACH OTHER AND FOR OUR COMMUNITIES.

I REALLY BELIEVE IN EACH OF YOU AND YOUR ABILITY TO DO SOMETHING DIFFERENT.

WE HAVE TO STOP LOCKING PEOPLE UP. JAILS DESTROY LIVES, FAMILIES.

AND THANK YOU. YOUR TIME IS UP. THANK YOU. THANK YOU.

GOOD AFTERNOON. MY NAME IS TERRY CHEN. I'M A PRECINCT ONE RESIDENT AND I'M A COMMUNITY ORGANIZER IN SPRING BRANCH FOR JUNTOS.

THE COMMUNITY MEMBERS THAT WE SPEAK TO EVERY DAY DO NOT SUPPORT BUILDING A NEW JAIL.

[02:05:01]

IF YOU'RE GOING TO SPEND BILLIONS TO CAGE THEM, IF WE HAVE BILLIONS OF OUR TAX DOLLARS TO SPARE, THEN WE SHOULD BE FUNDING PROGRAMS THAT ACTUALLY KEEP US SAFE.

EXPANDING HEART YOUTH EMPLOYMENT PROGRAMS. PROVIDING MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES IN A NON CARCERAL SETTING.

AFFORDABLE CHILD CARE, ELDER CARE, AND EASY ACCESS TO HEALTH CARE IN AFFORDABLE HOUSING.

LASTLY, WE KNOW THAT FEDERAL AGENCIES USE LOCAL JAILS AS A KEY PART OF THEIR DEPORTATION SCHEME.

DO YOU WANT TO BE THE PEOPLE IN POWER SUPPORTING FAMILY SEPARATION? YOU DON'T NEED TO BE A PART OF THIS VIOLENT LEGACY.

WE URGE YOU TO STAND WITH THE PEOPLE OF HARRIS COUNTY AND REJECT ANY PROPOSAL FOR A NEW JAIL.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU. ARACELI GARCIA AND JENNIFER PELAEZ ON ITEM 29.

YOU EACH HAVE ONE MINUTE.

GOOD AFTERNOON, COMMISSIONERS. MY NAME IS JENNIFER CANALES PELAEZ, AND I'M A POLICY ATTORNEY AND STRATEGIST WITH THE IMMIGRANT LEGAL RESOURCE CENTER AND A NATIVE HOUSTONIAN. AND I STRONGLY OPPOSE THE BUILDING OF A NEW JAIL.

IN 2003, THE STATE CUT 101 MILLION FROM COMMUNITY MENTAL HEALTH PROGRAMS AND LIMITED THEIR ELIGIBILITY.

THE IMPACTS OF THOSE CUTS ARE STILL FELT IN OUR COUNTY TODAY.

OVER HALF OF OUR COUNTIES BUDGETS ARE STILL GOING TO THE CRIMINAL LEGAL SYSTEM.

BUILDING A NEW JAIL WOULD TAKE EVEN MORE OF THOSE RESOURCES FROM ALREADY STARVING PROGRAMS. AND YOU MAY THINK THAT BUILDING AN A+ OR A HYBRID JAIL WITH MENTAL HEALTH CARE IS A GREAT SOLUTION, BUT I'M HERE TO TELL YOU THAT IT IS NOT. A JAIL IS A.

A JAIL IS A JAIL IN A CAGE. IT'S STILL A CAGE.

AND WE HAVE THE POWER TO FIX THIS. AND IN FACT, WE SHOULD FIX THIS BECAUSE THE STATE HAS DEMONSTRATED TIME AND TIME AGAIN THAT IT IS INVESTED IN WASTING OUR MONEY. AND IN JUST FOUR YEARS, THE STATE HAS WASTED $11 BILLION ON OPERATION.

CAN YOU WRAP UP, PLEASE? YES. OF COURSE. WHICH IS AN ILLEGAL PROGRAM THAT HAS TARGETED OUR RESOURCES.

$11 BILLION. SO WE SHOULD TAKE ACTION AND START THE TREND TO INVEST IN OUR COMMUNITIES HERE LOCALLY.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU. HI. COMMISSIONER RAMSEY, I'M FROM PRECINCT THREE.

I'M HERE TO OPPOSE THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE NEW HARRIS COUNTY JAIL.

BUILDING A NEW JAIL TO ADDRESS OVERCROWDING AND UNDERSTAFFING IS AKIN TO ADDING AN 11TH LANE TO THE KATY FREEWAY TO REDUCE TRAFFIC.

WE HAVE TO START LOOKING AT THE ROOT OF THESE ISSUES WHEN IT COMES TO TRAFFIC.

WE HAVE TO IMPROVE PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION WHEN IT COMES TO JAIL OVERCROWDING, WE HAVE TO INVEST IN COMMUNITY ORIENTED SOLUTIONS LIKE HOUSING, LIVING WAGES, HEALTH CARE, ESPECIALLY MENTAL HEALTH CARE.

80% OF THOSE IN CUSTODY IN HARRIS COUNTY JAIL SUFFER FROM MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES.

INCREASING BED SPACE TO INCARCERATE PEOPLE WILL BE MAKING TRUMP'S FASCIST ADMINISTRATION PLANS AGAINST YOUR OWN CONSTITUENTS THAT MUCH EASIER.

WHO WILL BE HELD AT THIS NEW JAIL? WILL IT BE PEOPLE TRYING TO ACCESS ABORTION WITHIN OR EVEN OUTSIDE THE STATE? WILL IT BE UNDOCUMENTED PEOPLE? WILL IT BE LEGAL, PERMANENT RESIDENTS THAT DARE TO EXPRESS THEIR FREEDOM OF SPEECH? EITHER WAY, A NEW JAIL MEANS MORE PEOPLE BEING MISTREATED OR DYING.

MORE RECIDIVISM AND MORE PEOPLE AWAITING TRIAL FOR 18 YEARS OR MORE.

LIKE IN THE CASE OF ERIC WILSON. THANK YOU, THANK YOU.

DALE S STORY IN SENERCHIA MCQUEEN ON ITEM 29.

YOU EACH HAVE ONE MINUTE.

THANK YOU. GOOD AFTERNOON. MY NAME IS DALE STORY.

I'M A POLITICAL SCIENCE PROFESSOR LIVING IN PRECINCT ONE.

I'M SPEAKING AGAINST BUILDING A NEW JAIL. I'M HERE TO ENCOURAGE YOU TO INVEST IN THE NEEDS OF PEOPLE AND NOT IN PUTTING MORE PEOPLE BEHIND BARS.

PROBLEMS IN THE CURRENT JAIL ARE WELL DOCUMENTED, AND PUTTING PEOPLE IN JAIL FOR LONGER TERMS IS A COUNTERPRODUCTIVE APPROACH.

THE US HAS ALREADY HAS THE HIGHEST LEVEL OF INCARCERATION IN THE WORLD, AND IT'S NUMBER FIVE IN THE WORLD IN PER CAPITA INCARCERATIONS.

WE ALSO LEAD THE DEVELOPED WORLD WITH THE HIGHEST CRIME RATES, LEVELS OF RECIDIVISM, AND MEASURES OF INCOME AND EDUCATIONAL INEQUALITIES, AND THESE STATISTICS TRANSLATE TO LOWER LEVELS OF GOVERNMENT AS WELL.

A NEW JAIL IS PROJECTED TO COST $7 BILLION, AND THE ANNUAL COST WILL FURTHER STRAIN THE COUNTY'S BUDGET.

THE ALTERNATIVES TO INVEST THAT MONEY IN SOCIAL PROGRAMS. THE WORLD POPULATION POPULATION REVIEW CONCLUDES THAT INCARCERATION DEHUMANIZES POOR PEOPLE.

THANK YOU. YOUR TIME IS UP. GO AHEAD SIR. AND MINORITIES DAMAGE HAS ALREADY BEEN MARGINALIZED COMMUNITIES AND OFTEN FAILS PEOPLE FOR SMALL,

[02:10:04]

AND SOME. PLEASE INVEST IN PEOPLE AND NOT PRISON SALES.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU. GOOD AFTERNOON.

LINA HIDALGO AND COMMISSIONERS, THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME HERE TODAY.

MY NAME IS SENECA MCQUEEN AND I'M A LONG TIME RESIDENT OF HARRIS COUNTY PRECINCT ONE.

I'M ALSO A MEMBER OF TEXAS ORGANIZING PROJECT, AND I'M A MEMBER OF SHAPE COMMUNITY CENTER.

I AM HERE, ALONGSIDE OUR LEAD COALITION PARTNERS, TO SHARE OUR DEEP CONCERN WITH ANY CONSIDERATION OF BUILDING A NEW JAIL.

I WANT TO SHOW AN EXAMPLE. 1979 I WAS IN THE COUNTY JAIL.

IT WAS HORRIBLE. 2023 41 YEARS LATER, I WENT TO THE COUNTY JAIL.

IT WAS WORSE THAN IT WAS IN 1979. BELIEVE IT.

SEVEN NEW JAILS WAS BUILT. NOTHING HAS CHANGED.

IT ONLY GET WORSE. A NEW JAIL IS NOT THE ANSWER.

WE WOULD LIKE TO INVEST IN PROGRAMS LIKE HEART OR OTHER NON JAIL PROGRAMS TO ASSIST PEOPLE.

SOME PEOPLE GO IN, THEY'RE NOT CRIMINALS. WHAT WE ARE DOING ARE CREATING CRIMINALS AND MONSTERS AND SENDING THEM BACK ON THE STREET WITH NO TREATMENT.

YOU SEND A PERSON TO JAIL FOR FIVE YEARS AND YOU THINK THEY COME BACK NORMAL? NO, THEY NEED TREATMENT, BUT YOU'RE PUTTING THEM RIGHT BACK ON THE STREET.

SO YOU HAVE PROBLEMS WHEN THEY COMMIT ANOTHER CRIME.

IT'S BECAUSE OF WHAT WE ARE DOING. THOSE THAT ARE IN POWER ARE NOT HANDLING THE ISSUES OVER AND OVER AGAIN.

WHAT ARE WE GOING TO DO WHEN OUR GREAT GRANDKIDS BE HERE, 2050? ARE WE GOING TO BE ADDRESSING THE SAME PROBLEM? I HOPE NOT. AGAIN, THE COUNTY SHOULD BE CONSIDERING INVESTING IN MORE DIVERSION PROGRAMS THAT HELP OUR COMMUNITIES, NOT LOOKING AT JUST BUILDING A BIGGER, NEW JAIL.

WE ALL DESERVE TO FEEL SAFE IN OUR NEIGHBORHOODS, NO MATTER OUR AGE, RACE, INCOME LEVEL, OR ZIP CODE.

LET'S INVEST IN PROGRAMS THAT HAVE GOTTEN RESULTS INSTEAD OF BUILDING ANOTHER JAIL.

THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU. GRACIE ISRAEL AND MO CORTEZ.

ON ITEM 29, YOU EACH HAVE ONE MINUTE. THIS WAY.

MA'AM. PLEASE.

HELLO, MY NAME IS GRACE HEE. I LIVE IN PRECINCT FIVE AND I'D LIKE TO TALK ABOUT LINA HIDALGO.

SHE TALKS ABOUT KEEPING HARRIS COUNTY SAFE. WE NEED TO KEEP THE GUNS OUT OF ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS AND PEOPLE THAT ARE TRYING TO COMMIT CRIMES.

I LIVE IN HARRIS COUNTY, SHARPSTOWN HIGH SCHOOL AREA NEAR BISSONNET AND BEECHNUT.

I HEAR GUNSHOTS EVERY SINGLE NIGHT IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD.

IT CREEPS ME OUT. IT'S VERY UNSETTLING TO HEAR GUNSHOTS.

THIS NEEDS TO END. THANK YOU. THANK YOU SO MUCH.

GOOD AFTERNOON, COMMISSIONERS AND JUDGE HIDALGO.

MY NAME IS GRACIE ISRAEL, AND I'M A RESIDENT OF PRECINCT FOUR, AND I'M A COMMUNITY ORGANIZER FOR TEXAS RISING.

I'M HERE TO URGE YOU TO REJECT ANY PROPOSAL TO EXPAND HARRIS COUNTY JAIL.

THIS PROJECT WILL DRAIN TAXPAYER DOLLARS DOLLARS FROM THE PROGRAMS WE ACTUALLY NEED LIKE HOUSING, FLOOD CONTROL, HEART AND MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES.

OVER HALF OF OUR COUNTY'S BUDGET ALREADY GOES TO POLICING AND INCARCERATION.

A NEW JAIL WILL ONLY SHACKLE US TO DEBT, WHILE IGNORING THE REAL ISSUES THAT PUT PEOPLE BEHIND BARS IN THE FIRST PLACE.

THE HARM IS UNDENIABLE. SINCE 2021, 78 PEOPLE HAVE DIED IN HARRIS COUNTY CUSTODY, MANY WITH UNTREATED MENTAL HEALTH CONDITIONS.

MORE JAIL BEDS WON'T SOLVE THIS CRISIS. IT WILL ONLY CREATE MORE SUFFERING.

WE'VE SEEN THIS BEFORE. LEADERS PROMISE A NICER JAIL.

BUT WHAT WE GET IS THE SAME VIOLENCE, THE SAME DEATHS AND MORE LIVES DESTROYED.

INSTEAD OF EXPANDING. YOUR TIME IS UP. INSTEAD OF EXPANDING INCARCERATION, LET'S INVEST IN SOLUTIONS THAT ACTUALLY KEEP OUR COMMUNITIES SAFE, SUCH AS DIVERSION PROGRAMS, PUBLIC HEALTH, AND MENTAL HEALTH CARE.

HARRIS COUNTY DOES NOT HAVE AN OVERPOPULATION PROBLEM.

IT HAS AN OVERINCARCERATION PROBLEM. PLEASE INVEST IN COMMUNITIES, NOT CAGES.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU. GOOD AFTERNOON, COMMISSIONERS AND JUDGE.

I'M MO CORTEZ. I'M A POLICY AND RESEARCH ORGANIZER FROM GRASS ROOTS LEADERSHIP.

TEXAS ADVOCATES FOR JUSTICE. I'M INTERSEX AND TRANS ADVOCATE.

AND I WANTED TO REMIND YOU ALL TO I WANTED TO THANK YOU ALL FOR JUST JUST A MOMENT.

[02:15:01]

WE WON'T. WE WON'T TOUCH YOU. MA'AM? DOES SHE? I'M SORRY. OKAY. SO ARE WE JUST TRYING TO MAKE SURE SHE TAKES A SEAT? OKAY, I'LL GIVE YOU A MOMENT. OKAY. GO AHEAD.

OKAY. YES, I AM MO CORTEZ. I'M AN INTERSEX AND TRANS ADVOCATE, AND I WANTED TO THANK YOU FOR FOR YOUR EFFORTS FOR TRYING TO END JAIL OUTSOURCING OF THE INCARCERATED PEOPLE FROM HARRIS COUNTY JAIL. I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR DOING THAT AND FOR EFFORTS FOR DOING THAT. AND I ALSO WANTED TO UPLIFT THE MESSAGE OF NO NEW JAIL.

AND I WANT TO BE OPEN AND VULNERABLE FOR FOR A BRIEF MOMENT AS AN INTERSEX AND TRANS MAN HERE HERE IN HOUSTON, TEXAS, HARRIS COUNTY, I'VE ADVISED THE PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATION'S HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES ABOUT INTERSEX ISSUES AND THINGS LIKE THAT.

AND I'VE ASKED THEM, YOU KNOW, TO GIVE THEM TRAINING, ICE AND DHS, ALL OF THAT, TO GIVE THEM TRAINING, AND THEY NEVER GIVE TRAINING. SO I GUESS WHAT I'M SAYING IS THAT I HAVE A FEAR THAT DPS OR ICE WILL PICK ME OR OTHER INTERSEX PEOPLE OR TRANS PEOPLE UP BECAUSE WE LOOK DIFFERENT.

WE SOUND DIFFERENT, RIGHT? AND WE ACT DIFFERENT.

AND WHAT I'M SAYING IS THAT WE NEED TO HAVE A COMMUNITY WHERE WE HAVE ALL OF YOUR PRECINCTS GIVE TOWN HALLS ABOUT PUBLIC SAFETY AND AND HAVE IT BE OPEN THERE AND HAVE NO POLICE THERE BECAUSE PEOPLE ARE SCARED OF YOUR TIME IS UP.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. ALFREDO DOMINGUEZ, CHRIS GUNDU AND AMAL SHERIF ON ITEM 29.

YOU EACH HAVE ONE MINUTE. THANK YOU.

HEY, MY NAME IS ALFREDO DOMINGUEZ. I'M A PRECINCT FOUR RESIDENT BUT A LIFELONG HARRIS COUNTY RESIDENT, AND I GREW UP IN PRECINCT TWO. I'M ACTUALLY HAPPY THAT SOMEBODY HAS A BABY IN THE AUDIENCE TODAY.

ONE. BABIES ARE CUTE. TWO I THINK IT REALLY HITS HOME THE IMPORTANCE OF THIS ISSUE.

WHEN YOU'RE SIGNING UP TO BUILD A NEW JAIL, YOU'RE NOT JUST TALKING ABOUT THE PEOPLE SITTING IN THIS ROOM.

YOU'RE NOT JUST TALKING ABOUT THE LIFELINE AND LIFESPAN OF ALL THE PEOPLE THAT ARE SITTING ON THE COMMISSIONERS COURT.

YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT EVERY PERSON IN HARRIS COUNTY THAT WILL BE BORN IN THE FUTURE, AND YOU'RE CONSIGNING THEM TO A REALITY OF INCARCERATION IN THE FUTURE.

YOU HAVE TO UNDERSTAND THERE IS NO EMPTY JAIL.

THERE IS NO THIS IDEA THAT WE'RE GOING TO TRANSITION OVER TO PEOPLE IN THE INCARCERATION POPULATION IS GOING TO STAY THE SAME. AND THAT'S NOT GOING TO BECOME A HUGE ISSUE. IT'S A COMPLETE FALLACY. WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN IS THE NEW JAIL IS GOING TO BE BUILT, AND THEN THAT JAIL IS NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO HOUSE EVERYONE THAT HARRIS COUNTY CONTINUES TO INCARCERATE. AND THEN THEY'RE GOING TO PUT PEOPLE IN THE OLD JAIL. AND THEN SOON THE INCARCERATION POPULATION OF HARRIS COUNTY WILL DOUBLE.

YOU HAVE OTHER OPTIONS AND UNDERSTAND THAT THIS VOTE AND THIS DECISION WILL BE THE LEGACY OF THIS COMMISSIONERS COURT.

THANK YOU. I DON'T KNOW, IS THERE ANYTHING ON A NEW JAIL IN THIS AGENDA, FOLKS? NO, I DO I DO AGREE WITH WHAT YOU'RE SAYING. SO THERE ISN'T.

WE HAVE AN UPDATE ON THE JAIL ISSUES AND THE PROGRESS.

AND I UNDERSTAND WHERE YOU GUYS ARE ALL COMING FROM.

AND I AM WITH YOU ON, YOU KNOW, SURE, THERE NEEDS TO BE SOME UPDATES TO THE JAIL, BUT THE PROBLEM IS IF WE BUILD IF WE KEEP THIS AS A JAIL, WE BUILD A NEW JAIL, THEN WE HAVE, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE TWO JAILS, I MEAN, ON TOP OF THE WOMEN'S JAIL AND THE JPC, ETC.. SO, SO SO JUST, YOU KNOW, I THINK WE'RE GOING TO NEED YOU GUYS IN THAT PROCESS BECAUSE THERE ARE SOME UPDATES THAT NEED TO BE DONE.

BUT BUT HOW DO WE MAKE SURE THAT THE CURRENT FACILITY DOES NOT REMAIN A JAIL.

BUT TODAY'S UPDATE IS ABOUT THE PROGRESS THAT WE'RE TRYING TO MAKE ON REDUCING THE JAIL POPULATION, MAKING THINGS SAFER, ETC.. SO I WELCOME YOU GUYS TO STAY FOR THAT.

I'M NOT SURE WHICH ITEM IT IS, BUT IF NOT, YOU CAN CHECK ONLINE.

SO, YOU KNOW, SO YOU GUYS CAN KEEP TRACK OF, YOU KNOW, WE'RE TRYING TO WE'RE TRYING TO WORK ON IMPROVING THE CONDITIONS AS QUICKLY AS WE CAN. SURE. THANK YOU. THANK YOU.

THANK YOU. GOOD AFTERNOON. COMMISSIONERS. JUDGE, MY NAME IS CHRIS KUNDU, CO-FOUNDER DIRECTOR OF TEXAS JAIL PROJECT.

I WANT TO THANK THE COURT FOR ALL THE DATA ANALYSIS THAT HAS BEEN PRESENTED ON THE JAIL POPULATION IN THE LAST YEAR AND A HALF, AND I WANTED TO SHARE SOME DATA THAT HAS COME OUT FROM THE STATE AUDITOR'S REPORT FOR US ON THE INEFFICIENCIES ON THE FORENSIC WAITLIST.

AND I MET WITH SOME OF YOUR OFFICERS AND SHARED THIS DATA, BUT I JUST WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT SOMETHING. THIS WAS AN OUTCOME OF SENATE BILL 1677 THAT WE WORKED ON WITH SENATOR PERRY'S OFFICE LAST SESSION. ONE OF THE MOST TROUBLING DATA POINTS IS THAT PEOPLE WHO TIME OUT ON THE FORENSIC WAITLIST ARE SIMPLY RELEASED TO THE STREET WITHOUT ANY CONNECTION TO SERVICES. SO THAT'S WHY YOU HAVE SO MANY HIGH LEVEL FELONIES NOW IN OUR JAIL.

SO 15, 28 PEOPLE, WHICH IS 10% OF THE WAITLIST POPULATION IN A FIVE YEAR PERIOD, CAME BACK WITH NEW OFFENSES, WHICH MEANS THEY ARE NOT CONNECTED TO THE SERVICES AND THE APPROPRIATE LEVEL OF CARE. SO THEY COME BACK WITH HIGHER CHARGES.

MY POINT IS THAT WE'RE PAYING FOR OUR PUBLIC HEALTH CRISIS IN THE WRONG SYSTEM. WE'RE PAYING FOR IT TWICE IN THE CRIMINAL PUNISHMENT SYSTEM. WE NEED TO DRILL DOWN ON THE DATA AT THE COUNTY LEVEL SO YOU CAN IDENTIFY THE HIGHEST UTILIZERS AND PUSH THE PUBLIC HEALTH CRISIS BACK ONTO THE STATE.

[02:20:01]

JOSEPH PANZARELLA ON ITEM 30 AND CYNTHIA COLE ON ITEM 30 AND FOUR.

62. YOU EACH HAVE ONE MINUTE.

GOOD AFTERNOON, COMMISSIONERS, AND THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK HERE TODAY. MY NAME IS JOSEPH PANZARELLA.

I LIVE IN PRECINCT ONE AND I WORK IN THE RENEWABLE ENERGY INDUSTRY.

I WORK TOWARD BUILDING A CLEAN ENERGY FUTURE, ONE THAT CAN CREATE QUALITY JOBS, SUPPORT LOCAL ECONOMIES, AND REDUCE LONG TERM ENVIRONMENTAL RISKS. I'M HERE TODAY TO URGE YOU TO ADOPT A LIVING WAGE FOR ALL HARRIS COUNTY EMPLOYEES, INCLUDING CONTRACTED WORKERS. TRUE SUSTAINABILITY GOES BEYOND SOLAR, WIND AND CLEAN ENERGY.

IT MEANS INVESTING IN PEOPLE JUST AS MUCH AS INFRASTRUCTURE, BECAUSE A SYSTEM ISN'T TRULY SUSTAINABLE IF THE WORKERS HOLDING IT TOGETHER ARE STRUGGLING TO SURVIVE. MANY OF THESE ESSENTIAL WORKERS, MAINTENANCE STAFF, FOOD SERVICE WORKERS AND OTHERS ARE BLACK, BROWN AND IMMIGRANT HOUSTONIANS. THEY DESERVE TO BE FAIRLY COMPENSATED AND FULLY VALUED FOR THE CRITICAL WORK THEY DO.

THEY DESERVE TO BE INCLUDED IN THE FUTURE WE ARE ALL WORKING TOWARD A LIVING WAGE IS A MATTER OF JUSTICE, EQUITY AND INCLUSION. I'M PROUD TO LIVE IN A PRECINCT WHERE THESE VALUES ARE MORE THAN JUST WORDS.

THEY ARE GUIDING ACTION. I APPRECIATE THE LEADERSHIP WE'VE SEEN FROM PRECINCT ONE ON THIS ISSUE, AND I'M ASKING THE. THANK YOU. YOUR TIME IS UP.

TO FOLLOW THROUGH AND MAKE A LIVING WAGE A REALITY FOR EVERY COUNTY WORKER.

THANK YOU. GOOD AFTERNOON. I'M CYNTHIA COLE, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE AMERICAN FEDERATION OF STATE COUNTY. EXCUSE ME.

STATE. COUNTY. MUNICIPAL EMPLOYEES, LOCAL 1550.

I'VE BEEN BEFORE YOU BEFORE? HELLO, JUDGE. AND HELLO, COMMISSIONERS.

I AM IN FULL SUPPORT AND TAKE THE STANCE THAT OUR UNION IS IN FULL SUPPORT OF A LIVING WAGE.

WHY? THE AVERAGE FAMILY SPENDS OVER $300 A WEEK.

THE AVERAGE FAMILY ON GROCERIES, THAT'S TO GET ONE LOAF OF BREAD.

THAT'S THE HOPE THAT THERE'S MORE THAN JUST ONE PERSON IN THAT FAMILY THAT ACTUALLY IS THE ONE MAKING THE LIVING WAGE.

SO I CANNOT IMPLORE ENOUGH AND OR ASK ENOUGH OF YOU ALL TO CONSIDER IT.

WE DO NOT KNOW WHAT TOMORROW MAY BRING, BUT THE ONE THING THAT IS FOR SURE THAT'S GOING TO BE CONSTANT, THAT PEOPLE ARE GOING TO NEED SOMEWHERE TO LIVE, THEY'RE GOING TO NEED TO BE ABLE TO EAT. THEY'RE GOING TO NEED TO BE ABLE TO HAVE MEDICAL CARE. WE BETTER FIGURE IT OUT. AND IT'S BETTER IF YOU FIGURE IT OUT NOW THAN LATER.

SOMETHING THAT IS SUSTAINABLE. WE STAND BEHIND IT, WE SUPPORT IT, AND WE'LL BE BACK IF WE HAVE TO FIGHT FOR IT.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU. KEVIN JOHNSON ON ITEM 409.

ELSA FLORES ON ITEM 462. YOU EACH HAVE ONE MINUTE.

GOOD AFTERNOON. I'M KEVIN JOHNSON WITH VICTORY SUPPLY.

I'M HERE TO REQUEST YOU TABLE THIS AWARD. INTENT TO BID.

20 4/0379. GIVING US TIME TO PLEAD OUR CASE. THE REASONS FOR THIS REQUEST IS IN THE BID REQUIREMENTS.

THERE WAS A SEVEN DAY TIME ALLOTTED FOR ALL PRODUCTS TO BE DELIVERED.

OUR COMPETITOR TOOK EXCEPTION TO THIS EXCEPTION, A 45 DAY DELIVERY TIME.

IF WE WERE ALLOWED THIS SAME CONSIDERATION, WE WOULD HAVE BEEN ABLE TO REDUCE OUR PRICE AND BE A LITTLE BIT A LOT MORE ACCORDING TO THE OUR COMPETITORS PRICE, EVEN THOUGH IT WAS ONLY $2,000 LESS OF THEIR PRICE ALREADY.

WE'D LIKE FOR YOU TO CONSIDER TABLING THIS, JUST GIVING US MORE TIME TO WORK WITH PURCHASING TO GET THROUGH THIS.

IT WAS JUST ANNOUNCED FRIDAY, AND JUST. WE HAVEN'T HAD THE TIME TO WORK WITH PURCHASING.

SO IF YOU WOULD CONSIDER THIS. THANK YOU SO MUCH.

THANK YOU.

SORRY, I THINK I'M NEXT. GOOD AFTERNOON EVERYBODY.

I KNOW IT'S CLOSE TO LUNCHTIME, SO I'M GOING TO TRY TO KEEP THIS QUICK.

MY NAME IS ELSA FLORES. I'M THE PRESIDENT OF SEIU TEXAS, AND I'M HERE, HOPEFULLY, TO URGE A YES VOTE ON A LIVING WAGE POLICY.

I AM, I'VE BEEN HERE BEFORE, AS YOU MAY KNOW OR REMEMBER FROM LAST TIME, BECAUSE WE TALKED ABOUT A LIVABLE WAGE FOR WORKERS IN THE COUNTY, AND I'M VERY EXCITED AND HAPPY TO SEE THAT VERY QUICKLY.

YOU GUYS HAVE MOVED TO DO THAT. WE'RE TALKING ABOUT WORKERS WHO KEEP BUILDINGS CLEAN, WHO KEEP OUR YOU KNOW,

[02:25:02]

AND SO THIS POLICY WILL GO A LONG WAY TO ALLOWING OUR HARRIS COUNTY RESIDENTS WHO WORK HERE AND TAKE CARE OF OUR BUILDINGS AND OUR PEOPLE TO BE ABLE TO TAKE CARE OF THEIR FAMILIES AS WELL, WITH THE DIGNITY AND THE RESPECT THAT THEY DESERVE.

YOUR TIME IS UP. 21. SORRY. LET ME FINISH. ARE YOU ALMOST DONE? YEAH, $21.64 ALLOWS THEM TO INVEST BACK IN THIS COMMUNITY AS WELL.

IT DOES NOT MAKE THEM RICH, BUT IT MAKES THEM ABLE TO TAKE CARE OF THEIR FAMILIES, HOPEFULLY ONLY HAVING TO DO ONE JOB.

SO I URGE A VOTE YES. AND HOPE WE CAN COUNT WITH ALL OF THE COMMISSIONERS VOTING YES ON THIS THING.

THANK YOU. YES. JUST BRIEFLY, LINDA, I WANT TO THANK YOU ELISSA, FOR THE WORK THAT YOU PUT IN ON THIS.

LINDA AS WELL. I KNOW WE SKIPPED 51 AND 52. WE'LL GET BACK TO YOU ALL BACK THERE AS WELL.

BUT LOOK, THANK YOU FOR THE WORK YOU PUT IN ON THIS.

WE SHOULD HAVE DONE THIS IN 2019. AND THAT WAS AN ATTEMPT.

AND I BELIEVE THAT THAT WOULD HAVE VOTES THERE TO DO IT IN 2019.

BUT IT WAS STUCK IN LEGAL. SO I WANT TO JUST COMMEND THE LEGAL DEPARTMENT AGAIN, NEAL SARKAR, THE ENTIRE TEAM OVER THERE, THE COUNTY ATTORNEY FOR THE WORK THAT THEY DID, AND WE PUT THIS BACK ON THE AGENDA NINE MONTHS AGO.

BUT I JUST WANT TO STRESS IT SHOULD HAVE AND I BELIEVE WOULD HAVE BEEN DONE IN 2019.

AND THE POLICY THAT I HOPE WE'RE GOING TO BRING UP AFTER THE SPEAKERS REALLY PUTS US IN LINE WITH DALLAS.

AND WE DON'T FIGHT OVER THIS. WE USE THAT MIT LIVING WAGE, WHICH IS WHAT DALLAS DOES.

AND IF THEY CAN DO IT IN DALLAS, I DON'T LIKE THE FOLKS IN DALLAS BEATING US.

I JUST WANT TO STRESS TO MY COLLEAGUES, SEE, THAT'S WHY I BROUGHT IT UP TO YOU IN 2019.

BUT IT WAS NOT. BUT THANK YOU. YEAH. I JUST REALLY WANT TO SAY HOW PROUD I AM TODAY.

IT IS A DAY WHERE I FEEL EXTREMELY PROUD TO SAY I'M IN HARRIS COUNTY BECAUSE THIS IS A WAY THAT WE ARE LEADING.

WE'RE ACTUALLY GOING TO BE LEADING US OUT OF EVERYONE IN THE STATE WITH THIS TYPE OF POLICY.

SO THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. RUTH RANDALL, WILL YOUNG AND KEVIN ENGLISH ON ITEM 462. YOU EACH HAVE ONE MINUTE.

WE DID SKIP THOSE OTHER TWO EARLY. I THINK THAT WAS THAT 51 AND 52.

I THINK. TIFFANY AFTER THESE OF COURSE.

GOOD AFTERNOON. I WOULD SAY MY NAME IS RUTH RANDALL AND I AM FROM THE FORTH, FOR I AM A MEMBER OF TEXAS ORGANIZING PROJECT. SO IF YOU WANT TO SEE THE PHOTO, HERE I AM.

I GOT A STORY. MY NAME. I AM 71 YEARS OLD, AND I HAVE TAKEN IN TWO CHILDREN FROM TEXAS, FROM THE CHILD WELFARE. THEY ARE MY GREAT NIECES AND NEPHEWS.

I WENT TO THE EMPLOYMENT OFFICE TO GET A JOB THIS WEEK.

AND LAST WEEK, THEY WANTED TO TELL ME I WAS TOO OLD.

OKAY TO GET A JOB, BUT THEY DIDN'T KNOW HOW TO TELL ME THAT I WAS TOO OLD TO GET A JOB.

SO WE PLAYED AROUND WITH THE ISSUE. WE PLAYED AROUND WITH THE ISSUE. NOW, MY THING IS THIS HERE, IF I'D HAVE MADE MINIMUM WAGES BACK WHEN I WAS WORKING, I WOULDN'T HAVE TO LOOK FOR A SECOND JOB TO TAKE CARE OF A ONE YEAR OLD AND A TWO YEAR OLD. BUT I DIDN'T MAKE MINIMUM WAGES. I MADE WHAT I COULD.

YOUR TIME IS UP. GO AHEAD. SO IF YOU IF YOU DON'T GIVE THESE PEOPLE A RAISE IN MINIMUM WAGES, THEY'RE GOING TO BE JUST LIKE ME TRYING TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO TAKE CARE OF THEIR FAMILIES WHEN THEY GET TO MY AGE.

THAT'S ON SOCIAL SECURITY AND NOT MAKING ENOUGH MONEY TO EVEN TAKE IN ANYBODY AND TAKE CARE OF THEIR OWN FAMILY, THEIR GRANDCHILDREN, OR THEIR GREAT GRANDCHILDREN.

SO THAT'S MY ISSUE. WE NEED TO GIVE THEM MINIMUM WAGES, EVERYBODY, SO THAT THEY CAN BE MY AGE OF 71 AND BE ABLE, AS TIME RISES, TO TAKE CARE OF THEMSELVES AND THEIR FAMILIES.

I AM 71, WILL BE 72 NEXT MONTH AND GOT TO LOOK FOR A JOB.

AND NOBODY WANTS TO HIRE ME. SO LET'S JUST GET DOWN TO THE POINT.

PAY THE PEOPLE SOME MONEY SO THEY CAN TAKE CARE OF THEMSELVES AND THEIR FAMILY.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR COMING. GOOD AFTERNOON.

MY NAME IS WILFRED YOUNG. I LIVE IN PRECINCT ONE.

I'M A MEMBER OF TEXAS ORGANIZING PROJECT. NO ONE SHOULD BE WORKING FULL TIME AND YET STRUGGLING TO KEEP A ROOF OVER THEIR HEADS.

[02:30:06]

THERE ARE BARELY ENOUGH. THERE'S BARELY ENOUGH FOR PEOPLE TO GET BY ON.

WORKING ON COUNTY PROJECTS SHOULDN'T MEAN LIVING IN POVERTY.

AND THIRD, FAMILIES IN HARRIS COUNTY ARE JUST LIKE MINE, WORKING HARD YET ABLE TO AFFORD THE BASICS.

THIS IS ABOUT JANITORS, LANDSCAPERS, AND LABORERS.

EVERY WORKER THAT KEEPS HARRIS COUNTY OPERATING, THEY ARE THE BACKBONES OF THE COMMUNITY.

THEY SHOULD BE TREATED AS SUCH. PAYING A LIVING WAGE ISN'T JUST THE RIGHT THING TO DO, BUT IT'S A SMART THING WHEN WORKERS ARE PAID FAIRLY, THEY CAN FOCUS ON DOING THEIR JOBS BETTER INSTEAD OF WORRYING ABOUT HOW THEY'RE GOING TO MAKE IT FINANCIALLY THROUGH THE MONTH.

BETTER WAGES ATTRACT BETTER WORKERS, WHICH LEADS BETTER SERVICE TO EVERYONE.

PLEASE VOTE YES ON THE MINIMUM WAGE. THANK YOU, THANK YOU.

GOOD MORNING. MY NAME IS TEVIN ENGLISH. I'M A MEMBER OF THE POLICY TEAM WITH WORKERS DEFENSE.

WE ADVOCATE FOR FOR IMMIGRANT WORKERS ACROSS THE STATE.

AND I'M BASED HERE IN HOUSTON. TODAY, I, YOU KNOW, PLEASANTLY SURPRISED TO TO BE ABLE TO SUPPORT THE LIVING WAGE INITIATIVE THAT THE COUNTY HAS PUT FORWARD. JUST WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT, YOU KNOW, THE COMMISSIONERS ELLIS AND COMMISSIONER BRIONES TEAM OFFICE HAVE HAVE WORKED WITH COMMUNITY OUR ORGANIZATION AS WELL AS OUR LABOR PARTNERS TO TO BRING THIS FORWARD TODAY AND TO GET INPUT AND TO SEE WHAT'S, WHAT'S WHAT'S NEEDED. AND SO I JUST WANT TO THANK THE LEADERSHIP FOR THAT AND THANK THE COUNTY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE FOR FOR GIVING US OUR OUR LEGAL BLESSING.

WELL, I THINK THERE'S A LOT OF WORK TO BE DONE IN THE COUNTY.

OBVIOUSLY THERE'S OTHER ISSUES A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE SPEAKING ON. I THINK THIS IS A STEP IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.

AND I JUST WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THE COUNTY IS WORKING TOWARDS THOSE THINGS.

THE CONTRACTOR SAFETY POLICY IS A STEP. THIS IS A STEP.

THANK YOU. YOUR TIME IS UP. I URGE THE COUNTY TO TO VOTE FOR TO TO APPROVE THIS.

AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO CONTINUING TO WORK WITH WITH EACH OF Y'ALL'S OFFICE.

TO MAKE SURE THAT THESE POLICIES ARE ACTUALLY BEING IMPLEMENTED AND ENFORCED ON THE GROUND. SO I JUST WANT TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP AND URGE THE COUNTY TO, TO APPROVE THIS THIS MINIMUM WAGE. THANK YOU.

THANK YOU. LINDA MORALES AND CARA LEVY ON ITEM 30 AND 462.

YOU EACH HAVE ONE MINUTE. LINDA, THANKS FOR COMING.

YOU CAN TELL I'M GETTING SLEEP. I WAS TELLING COMMISSIONER GARCIA I NEED THAT PROTEIN SHAKE. I'M CALLING, I'M CALLING. THANKS TO THE GIRL SCOUTS THAT HAD THE COOKIES.

I DON'T WANT I'M SCARED TO TOUCH THOSE. LINDA MORALES WITH THE GULF COAST AREA LABOR FEDERATION JUDGE.

COMMISSIONERS. THANK YOU ALL. THANK YOU. COMMISSIONER BRIONES AND ELLIS FOR LEADING THE WAY ON THIS ISSUE.

LABOR SUPPORTS A 20 AND THE 2165, RESPECTIVELY.

WE KNOW WHAT MORE MONEY DOES TO PEOPLE. IT HELPS THEM.

RIGHT? HELPS THEM WITH THEIR FAMILIES, WITH THE CHILD CARE.

THEY HAVE TO RELY LESS ON GOVERNMENT ASSISTANCE.

DO THE RIGHT THING. WE URGE YOU. THANK YOU SO MUCH.

WE APPRECIATE ALL OF YOU. THANK YOU. GOOD TO SEE YOU, MIKE.

LINDA, I JUST WANT TO STRESS THAT, YOU KNOW, I HOPE THAT IT PASSES, I DON'T KNOW.

I DO WANT TO STRESS THAT IN 2019, WHEN I COULD TALK.

THIS IS ONE OF THE ISSUES THAT THE JUDGE, COMMISSIONER GARCIA AND I ALL COMMITTED TO BEFORE THEY TOOK THE OATH.

WHEN WE COULD TALK AND IT GOT STUCK IN LEGAL IN 2019.

AND SO I HOPE IT'S HERE TODAY. AND I LOOK, I'M FOR THIS WITH ALL OF MY COLLEAGUES.

THE LAW WOULD ONLY LET ME WORK WITH ONE. I UNDERSTAND, TOM, I THOUGHT ABOUT GOING TO YOU, BUT THEN I FIGURED MAYBE I'LL JUST GO TO TO BRIANNA'S.

AND I WAS JUST GUESSING FROM WHERE WE WERE IN 2019.

BUT I HAVE NOWHERE NO IDEA WHERE WE'D BE TODAY, BUT I HOPE IT PASSES.

WELL, THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONTINUED WORK. WE ASK COMMISSIONER GARCIA AND COMMISSIONER RAMSEY TO BE WITH US ON THIS ISSUE.

THE PEOPLE NEED IT. THANK YOU SO MUCH. APPRECIATE YOU.

COMMISSIONER OR OR COUNTY ATTORNEY. SO WE DID RAISE THE MINIMUM WAGE TO TO 15 IN 2019.

SO YOU'RE SAYING, COMMISSIONER, I DON'T REMEMBER. SO WE COULDN'T GO HIGHER BECAUSE OF THE PREVIOUS COUNTY ATTORNEY? IS THAT WHAT IT WAS? YEAH, THE COUNTY ATTORNEY WAS STUCK IN LEGAL.

I WANT TO TIE IT TO. YEAH, BECAUSE I REMEMBER 15 WE KNEW WAS NOT ENOUGH CPI, WHATEVER IT'S CALLED WHEN YOU DON'T SAY WHAT'S THE TERM I WANT TO DO IT TO MITT OR THE OTHER STANDARD. AND THEY WOULDN'T, THEY WOULDN'T LET US DO IT. OKAY.

YES. HI. HI, I'M KARA LEVI, CHAIR OF THE HARRIS COUNTY ESSENTIAL WORKERS BOARD.

OUR ESSENTIAL WORKERS, HOME HEALTH CARE AIDES, GROCERY CLERKS, CHILDCARE PROVIDERS, RESTAURANT STAFF AND MORE KEEP THIS COUNTY RUNNING.

YET MANY OF THEM CAN'T AFFORD TO LIVE HERE. THE MINIMUM WAGE IN TEXAS IS STILL 7.25 AN HOUR,

[02:35:03]

CHILDCARE OVER $1,000 PER CHILD, ADJUSTED FOR INFLATION.

TODAY'S MINIMUM WAGE HAS LESS BUYING POWER THAN IT DID IN 1968.

A FULL TIME WORKER WOULD NEED TO WORK NEARLY 90 HOURS A WEEK JUST TO AFFORD A MODEST HOME.

THIS ISN'T JUST A WORKER ISSUE, IT'S AN ECONOMIC CRISIS.

LOW WAGES MEAN WORKERS SPEND LESS, HURTING LOCAL BUSINESSES.

MORE FAMILIES RELY ON PUBLIC ASSISTANCE, STRAINING TAXPAYER RESOURCES.

AND THERE'S A HIGH TURNOVER. IT HURTS BUSINESSES, INCREASING HIRING COSTS.

A LIVING WAGE ISN'T JUST THE RIGHT THING TO DO, IT'S SMART ECONOMICS.

HIGHER WAGES MEAN STRONGER COMMUNITIES. THANK YOU.

YOUR TIME IS UP. WE ALMOST FINISHED. YES. AND A HEALTHIER LOCAL ECONOMY.

HARRIS COUNTY CAN LEAD BY EXAMPLE. BY ESTABLISHING A LIVING WAGE FOR ITS WORKERS AND CONTRACTORS.

IF THE COUNTY SETS THE STANDARD, BUSINESSES WILL FOLLOW.

I URGE OUR LEADERS TO RAISE WAGES, HOLD EMPLOYERS ACCOUNTABLE, AND CREATE AN ECONOMY WHERE NO FULL TIME WORKER HAS TO STRUGGLE.

THE TIME FOR ACTION IS NOW. HARRIS COUNTY WORKERS DESERVE BETTER.

LET'S MAKE IT HAPPEN. THANK YOU. I THINK, KERRY, YOU ARE THE CHAIR OF THE ESSENTIAL WORKERS BOARD.

YES, SIR. SO I KNOW YOU WERE NERVOUS EARLY AT THE PRESS CONFERENCE WITH ALL THAT, ALL THOSE LIGHTS ON YOU.

AND I WAS UP THERE SWEATING, SO I WANTED TO MAKE SURE YOU COULD FINISH. BUT YOU DID VERY WELL THEN.

AND YOU DID VERY WELL NOW. THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU.

NON-AGENDA SPEAKERS JOE BARRINGTON AND WALTER PROTHERO.

YOU EACH HAVE ONE MINUTE. NEW HERE.

OH. GOOD AFTERNOON. MY NAME IS JOE BARRINGTON. I RECENTLY BACK IN DECEMBER RETIRED FROM THE COUNTY AS AN ARSON INVESTIGATOR.

SO NOW I FEEL I CAN COME AND I CAN SAY WHAT I HAVE ALWAYS THOUGHT, AT LEAST FOR A LONG TIME, WITHOUT FEAR OF RETALIATION OR BEING TERMINATED.

I FEEL THAT AT THIS POINT, THIS COUNTY IS NOT GOOD STEWARDS OF OUR TAX MONEY, AND YOU JUST GO AND GRAB MORE.

YOU'RE ELECTED TO RUN THIS COUNTY AND THAT'S WHAT YOU'RE EXPECTED TO DO.

YET WE SPEND OVER HALF $1 MILLION A YEAR ON A COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR.

WHY? THAT'S WHAT YOU ALL ARE ELECTED TO DO, NOT JUST GO OUT AND SHAKE HANDS, BUT TO RUN THIS COUNTY.

ALSO, I DON'T KNOW WHERE IT'S AT, BUT GIVING $20 MILLION AWAY TO PEOPLE OVER A YEAR AND A HALF, THAT'S RIDICULOUS. THAT'S. YOU WON'T TELL ME IT'S FEDERAL MONEY.

THAT'S OUR TAX MONEY. AND THANK YOU. YOUR TIME IS UP.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. THANK YOU. SIR. THANK YOU.

SIR. MY NAME IS WALTER PROTHERO. COUNTY COMMISSIONERS, I WOULD LIKE TO CONTINUE IN THE LINE OF THE ISSUES WITH HARRIS. HEALTH AND OTHER COUNTY AGENCIES HAVE AVOIDED THEIR RESPONSIBILITIES.

I WOULD LIKE TO TAKE THIS TIME TO TALK ABOUT THE LACK OF CONCISE NOTES THAT HAVE CAUSED CONFUSION IN REPORTING THE RESULTS OF THE COLONOSCOPY I HAD AT HARRIS HEALTH. THIS HAS NEVER BEEN RESOLVED, AND AS TO WHY, I WAS GIVEN THREE DIFFERENT RESULTS FROM FOLLOWING PHYSICIANS.

DOCTOR SUTTON, A BAYLOR COLLEGE OF MEDICINE AND VICE PRESIDENT OF HARRIS HEALTH, THE ATTENDING PHYSICIAN IN THE RECOVERY ROOM, DOCTOR CARMEN ROBINSON, AND LATER DOCTOR SEALOCK.

IT SEEMS THE POSSIBILITY OF POOR RECORD KEEPING BY DOCTOR MELANIA GOLD OF BAYLOR COLLEGE OF MEDICINE OR HER STAFF.

HARRIS HEALTH IS NOT WILLING TO PROFESSIONALLY ADDRESS THESE CONCERNS.

HARRIS HEALTH STATED THEY CONSIDER THIS A HAS BEEN RESOLVED.

HOWEVER, THEY DO NOT WANT TO DISCUSS THE CONCERN I HAVE WITH THREE DIFFERING RESULTS AND WHY IT OCCURRED IN THE FIRST PLACE.

YOUR TIME IS UP. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. NON-AGENDA SPEAKER JOYCE LEE AND JOSHUA BULLARD.

YOU EACH HAVE ONE MINUTE.

THANK YOU. PLEASE. OKAY. GOOD AFTERNOON. MY NAME IS JOYCE LEE AND I'M A LOCAL AUTHOR OF CHILDREN'S BOOKS. I AM HERE TODAY BECAUSE I SEE A PROBLEM.

THERE'S A SERIOUS UNDERREPRESENTATION AND A LACK OF QUALITY FOR STEAM EDUCATION, ESPECIALLY IN THE CHILD CARE CENTERS IN HARRIS COUNTY. I WANT TO READ YOU A QUOTE FROM RICE UNIVERSITY, KINDER INSTITUTE FOR URBAN RESEARCH.

[02:40:02]

THE STATISTICS THAT THEY PRESENT ARE CHILD CARE DESERTS AT 37.9% AND A QUALITY RATED PROVIDER DESERTS AT 94.5%. AND WHAT I'M ASKING YOU TO DO IS PLEASE EXPOSE THESE LITTLE YOUNG KIDS TO EDUCATIONAL MATERIALS AND BOOKS THAT ARE NEEDED TO HELP THEM CULTIVATE AND GROW.

THANK YOU. YOUR TIME IS UP. THANK YOU. THANK YOU.

THANK YOU.

COMMISSIONERS. MY NAME IS JOSHUA BULLARD. MY COUNTY COMMISSIONER IS RODNEY ELLIS.

I WAS, I BELIEVE I WAS ILLEGALLY DETAINED AT THE LAW LIBRARY ON THE 20TH.

THE INDIVIDUAL THAT DETAINED ME, HE DIDN'T WANT TO LOOK AT THE VIDEO INITIALLY.

AND THEN THE TWO ARRESTING OFFICERS THAT SHOWED UP FROM ALAN ROSEN'S OFFICE WANTED TO LOOK AT THE VIDEO.

THE VIDEO COMPLETELY EXONERATED ME AND MY ABSOLUTE INNOCENCE OF ONLY BEING IN LIBRARY.

30S. SO WHAT I'M TRYING TO DO IS CAN SOME CAN CAN THIS BODY COMMUNICATE WITH ATTORNEY MENIFEE THAT YOU REVIEW THE VIDEO PRIOR TO YOU LAUNCHING SOME FULL SCALE INVESTIGATION WHEN SOMEONE IS HAVING A MENTAL CRISIS IS WHAT THEY DETERMINED IT WAS.

AND SO I DON'T WANT THIS TO HAPPEN TO SOMEBODY ELSE AT THE LAW LIBRARY.

THANK YOU SO MUCH. NON-AGENDA SPEAKERS SHELTON MODELLIST AND ANNIE VAUGHN, YOU EACH HAVE ONE MINUTE.

GOOD DAY, COMMISSIONERS COURT. MY NAME IS SHELTON MODELS, AND I'M HERE TODAY TO MAKE MENTION OF A CLAIM FINANCIAL MONEY CLAIM AGAINST HARRIS COUNTY THAT'S GROWING IN THE SUM OF OF $6 MILLION.

2002 I WAS ATTACKED BY THE LOCAL JUDICIARY HERE IN HARRIS COUNTY, TEXAS.

COURTS AND THE CIVIL. CONSTABLE COURT UNDER THE CIVIL COURT JURISDICTION.

SO I'M HERE TODAY TO MAKE IT KNOWN ACCORDING TO CIVIL PROCEDURE, THAT WHEN YOU HAVE A CLAIM AGAINST HARRIS COUNTY, YOU HAVE TO LET THE COMMISSIONERS COURT KNOW OF THE CLAIM SO THAT WHEN IT'S TIME TO PAY THE CLAIM, IT WON'T BE NO SURPRISE. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.

THANK YOU. I JUST WANT TO SAY THAT THE RECORDS THAT THAT THAT SOMEBODY MESSED UP DOWN THERE.

IT'S STILL MESSED UP. AND 270 NORTH CAROLINA AND AND 4745. BRINKLEY HAS ONLY HAD ONE OWNER AND THAT'S V O U G H N S IN 100 YEARS. AND I AM SO SICK I NEVER WANT. NOBODY'S RUDE BUT WHITEY.

AND. AND THIS MAN HERE GAVE. HOW MANY, HOW MANY, HOW MANY AMENDMENTS DID HE GIVE THAT YOU CAN'T RULE IF YOU DONE BROKE 13 OF THEM. THANK YOU SO MUCH, MISS DEBORAH ROSILLO URIBE USING THE INTERPRETER. AND AND THESE PEOPLE AIN'T NEVER STOLE THE FOOD.

AND KEVIN DARRELL ALSO USING JUST. WE EACH HAVE ONE MINUTE.

HELLO, I'M MARCELLA CABRERA, THE SPANISH INTERPRETER FOR DEBORAH ROCIO URIBE.

ESTOY PRESENTANDO UN UNA SITUACION DE EMERGENCIA PARA MI CASA.

MY NAME IS DEBORAH ROCIO URIBE, AND I AM HERE TO TALK ABOUT AN EMERGENCY SITUATION THAT I HAVE, BECAUSE I'M GOING TO BE EVICTED FROM MY HOUSE TOMORROW.

[02:45:01]

I FEEL LIKE I'VE BEEN VIOLATED AND ABUSED BECAUSE I AM A SENIOR CITIZEN.

I DON'T HAVE ANY PLACE TO GO BECAUSE I LIVE ALONE, AND.

I WOULD LIKE TO ASK FOR HELP BECAUSE I NEED AN EXTENSION BECAUSE I'M BEING EVICTED.

TRATANDO DE MI ABOGADO. IN LONE STAR LEGAL AID.

BECAUSE I'M TRYING. I'M IN PROCESS WITH THE LONE STAR.

ATTORNEY. ES MUY IMPORTANTE PORQUE YO SOY UNA PERSONA CON CON PROBLEMAS.

DE SALUD. IT'S VERY IMPORTANT FOR ME BECAUSE I'M A PERSON WITH MEDICAL PROBLEMS. I'VE LIVED IN MY HOUSE FOR 22 YEARS WITH WITHOUT ANY PROBLEMS. AND AHORA ESTA JUSTICIA PARA MIM EXTENSION. SO I WANT JUSTICE TO BE DONE WITH AN EXTENSION.

OF. YO SOY UN PROGRAMA. YA KNOW, AUTORIZADO USTEDES EL ALCALDE EN LA TELEVISION.

I WAS THERE IS A PROGRAM THAT I MADE NOTICE OF ON TV.

YO QUIERO EVITAR PERDER MI CASA. NO TENGO FOR THE PEOPLE THAT ARE ON THE STREETS.

I WANT TO AVOID HAVING TO BE ON THE STREETS. I DON'T WANT TO LEAVE MY HOUSE.

THANK YOU. YOUR TIME IS UP. CONTINUE. SI ES. DECIR PUEDEN HACER UN ESQUELETO.

MUCHOS VECINOS DICIENDO YO NO YO TENGO DOS ANOS.

AHI YO NO SOY SOY UNA BUENA VECINA. I HAVE PEOPLE, I HAVE PEOPLE NEIGHBORS THAT CAN VOUCH FOR ME.

THAT I'M A GOOD NEIGHBOR. ME PUEDEN AYUDAR AN EN QUEDARME EN MI CASA.

AND I'M ASKING FOR JUSTICE AND YOUR HELP SO THAT I CAN STAY IN MY HOME.

DE MI VIDA. YO NO QUIERO ESTAR EN LA CALLE. IN THE LAST PHASE OF MY UNIDAD.

IN THE LAST PHASE OF MY LIFE, I WANT TO BE ABLE TO STAY IN MY HOUSE.

ES PORQUE YO VIVO SOLA. I'M ASKING FOR JUSTICE BECAUSE I LIVE ALONE.

I HAVE NO ONE TO HELP ME. AND I HAVE NOWHERE TO GO.

ALL I HAVE IS MY HOME. GRACIAS. THANK YOU SO MUCH.

YES, YES. THANK YOU.

HELLO. MY NAME IS KEVIN DOROUGH, AND I WORK WITH A COMPANY CALLED TEXAS BLUE TECH.

AND WE WORK WITH BLUE GROUP AND A FEW OTHER COMPANIES.

AND WE AND WE WERE JUST REALLY INTERESTED IN WORKING WITH THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION TO SEE IF WE COULD WORK ON STREET LIGHTING, GATE ACCESS, PARK ENHANCEMENTS ARE WE DO THE BETTER PROJECTS, AND WE PROMISE TO DO THE TO DO MORE COST EFFICIENT PROJECTS THAN THE COMPETITORS AND WORK WITH THE BEST BEST PRODUCTS IN AND SO I WOULD LOVE TO WORK WITH THE EDC OR BE CONNECTED VERY RESPECTFULLY AND ACKNOWLEDGING WITH WITH SOMEBODY ON THE TEAM IF TO SEE IF THAT'S A POSSIBILITY THAT YOU GUYS ARE MAY BE INTERESTED IN. THANK YOU SO MUCH. AGENDA.

SPEAKER KIM WASHINGTON SPEAKING ON ITEM 613. YOU HAVE ONE MINUTE.

GOOD DAY, JUDGE AND COMMISSIONERS. MY NAME IS KEN WASHINGTON, A RESIDENT OF LAKE HOUSTON.

MYSELF AND THE RESIDENTS OUT ON LAKE HOUSTON WATCHED THE ELECTIONS AND HOW THE COUNTY MANAGES OUR RESOURCES AND FUNDING, AS WELL AS REPRESENTATION CLOSELY. THE TEXAS 18TH CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT SEAT HAS BEEN VACANT SINCE THE UNTIMELY DEATH OF U.S.

REPRESENTATIVE TURNER ON MARCH 5TH. HARRIS COUNTY ATTORNEY CHRISTIAN MENEFEE HAS ANNOUNCED HE IS RUNNING FOR THE SEAT, WHICH IN TURN VACATED THE COUNTY ATTORNEY POSITION AND LAST FALL ELECTIONS THE RESIDENTS SPOKE IN MR..

MENEFEE WON A CLOSELY CONTESTED ELECTION OVER JACQUELINE SMITH.

[02:50:02]

THANK YOU. THANK YOU. JUDGE. THOSE ARE ALL THE SPEAKERS.

GREAT. OKAY. THANK YOU SO MUCH TO EVERYBODY WHO SPOKE.

WE'LL TAKE A BREAK FOR LUNCH. SO SHOULD WE RETURN TO 30 FOLKS SO WE CAN GET AN HOUR? OKAY, SO IT'S 127, AND WE'RE ADJOURNING UNTIL 230.

OKAY. THANK YOU GUYS. IT'S 244, AND COMMISSIONERS COURT IS BACK IN SESSION.

AND FOLKS, SINCE I HAVE TO BREAK FROM THREE ISH TO FOUR ISH, I COULD STAY TILL LIKE 315 ISH, 330. I THOUGHT WE COULD JUST START WITH THE ITEMS THAT WE THAT WE KNOW WE WANT TO COVER.

AND THEN. AND. YEAH. IS THAT OKAY? YEAH. I WAS GOING TO SAY WITH THE SPORTS AUTHORITY PEOPLE, I WOULD IF THEY REALLY GOT TO GO TO GET THERE FOR THE GAME.

I DON'T I WAS JUST GOING TO SUGGEST MAYBE WE OUGHT TO DO THEM IF THEY GOT A GET.

I AGREE PLEASE. OH, OKAY. SURE. SO. SO WAIT. SORRY.

YEAH. SO MAYBE WE OUGHT TO LET THEM IF IT'S ABOUT TEN MINUTES, BECAUSE I THINK THEY GOT TO GO GET READY FOR THE GAME, AM I RIGHT? YOU GOT TO GO GET READY FOR A GAME. SEE YOU. YEAH. JUAN'S PLAYING SECOND BASE.

GOOD LUCK. SO MAYBE WE SHOULD DO THAT ONE FIRST.

WELL, I DON'T WANT TO BE ABSENT FOR THESE IMPORTANT ITEMS, THAT'S ALL.

SO I FIGURED WE CAN LISTEN TO A PRESENTATION.

ARE YOU GUYS OKAY TO WAIT ABOUT 30 MINUTES? YEAH.

OKAY. ALL RIGHT, SO SHOULD WE START? I THOUGHT, YOU KNOW, THE THE KIND OF BIG ITEMS THAT THAT I KNOW WE ALL, WE ALL REALLY WANT TO DISCUSS IS RELATED TO THE, THE THE THE WAGES THE TAX OFFICE, THE THE CONSTABLE'S THE COUNTY ATTORNEY AND THEN AND OF COURSE, THE THE THE SUBDIVISION DRAINAGE.

I KNOW WE HAVE, YOU KNOW, THE JAIL ITEM, ETC., BUT THOSE ARE SORT OF THE ONES I THOUGHT THAT THAT THAT THAT WILL BE LENGTHIER AND JUDGE YOU LEAVE IT FROM 3 TO 4. YEAH. I COULD LEAVE AT LIKE 315 IF WE'RE IN THE MIDDLE OF A DISCUSSION.

SO WOULD YOU GUYS BE OKAY STARTING WITH I DON'T KNOW, I GUESS THE COUNTY ATTORNEY ONE.

[Emergency/Supplemental Items (Part 1 of 2)]

OKAY. OKAY, SO THAT IS AN ITEM BY COMMISSIONER RAMSEY.

AND AND I FOR ONE WOULD LIKE SORT OF VERY CLEAR INFORMATION AS TO WHAT THE SITUATION IS AND WHAT WE CAN AND CANNOT DO LEGALLY.

YEAH. I HAD I HAD PUT THIS ON THE AGENDA MAINLY FOR WHAT YOU JUST REFERENCED, JUDGE.

THERE ARE A LOT OF QUESTIONS RELATED TO IT. THERE WASN'T ANY ANY ITEM RELATED TO IT.

SO I FELT LIKE I PUT IT ON THE ON THE AGENDA.

WE CAN TALK ABOUT IT. AND I THINK THE AT LEAST I'VE HEARD MANY DIFFERENT MYTHS AND MANY DIFFERENT VARIATIONS OF WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN OR NOT HAPPEN.

SO JUST PUT IT ON THE PUT IT ON THE AGENDA. A COUPLE OF THREE THINGS.

I WOULD REFERENCE IT WAS IT WAS NOTED EARLIER WHAT HAPPENED IN 2019 WHEN JUDGE BILL MCLEOD VACATED HIS OFFICE BY MAKING A STATEMENT. HE PLANNED TO RUN FOR THE SUPREME COURT.

THIS COMMISSIONERS COURT. WHEN HE CAME TO COURT, HE SAID, WELL, THAT WAS KIND OF A MISTAKE, BUT BUT AT LEAST IT'S AN EXAMPLE OF WHAT THIS COURT DID.

THE COURT SAID, NO, YOU DID RESIGN ONE AND TWO.

WE NEED TO FILL THE POSITION. NOW, THE GOOD NEWS IS WE FILLED IT WITH A VERY GREAT JUDGE TO MY RIGHT.

AND SHE FILLED THAT JOB AND DID A WONDERFUL JOB IN THAT NEW POSITION.

SO THAT'S A LITTLE BIT OF A BACKGROUND, MOST RECENT IN TERMS OF ANYTHING RELATED TO IT.

I'VE GOT THREE MOTIONS I WOULD MAKE IN TERMS OF, OF THIS PARTICULAR ISSUE.

THESE CAN BE VOTED ON SEPARATELY. THESE CAN BE IGNORED, AS IN, I WON'T GET A SECOND.

AND BELIEVE ME, I'M USED TO IT. IT HAPPENS OFTEN.

[02:55:04]

BECAUSE IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING HE RESIGNED WHEN HE FILED.

SO THAT WOULD BE FORMALLY THIS COMMISSIONER'S COURT ACCEPTING THAT RESIGNATION.

THE SECOND MOTION IS TO FILL THE POSITION OF THE HARRIS COUNTY ATTORNEY IN 60 DAYS, TO AT LEAST GIVE US A TIME FRAME THAT WE CAN COMMUNICATE TO THE PUBLIC.

ELIMINATE SPECULATION ONE WAY OR THE OTHER. IT ALLOWS FOR A TIME PERIOD FOR PEOPLE TO BRING FOLKS THAT THEY THEY THINK WOULD DO A JOB IN THE INTERIM UNTIL THAT POSITION CAN BE REPLACED WITH ELECTION.

AND THEN MY THIRD MOTION WOULD BE TO APPOINT JACQUELINE LUCY SMITH, WHO GOT 49.2% OF THE VOTE. SO THERE WAS A SIGNIFICANT NUMBER OF PEOPLE IN HARRIS COUNTY THAT THOUGHT, I THINK SHE'LL PROBABLY DO A PRETTY GOOD JOB.

SO THOSE ARE MY THREE MOTIONS, AND WE'LL SEE IF I GET A SECOND.

BUT AT LEAST IT PROVIDES SOME LEVEL OF UNDERSTANDING ON WHERE WE ARE.

IF I UNDERSTAND IT, IF COURT TAKES NO ACTION MR. MENEFEE WILL REMAIN IN THE POSITION. AND I GUESS THAT THAT WOULD BE FINE, TOO.

BUT AT LEAST THIS WOULD GIVE ALTERNATIVES TO IGNORING IT AND AND AND DEALING WITH IT.

SO THAT'S THOSE ARE MY MOTIONS. AND WE CAN HAVE A DISCUSSION IF WE WISH.

YES, COMMISSIONER. I KNOW IT'S A FULL DAY. AND COMMISSIONER RAMSEY, THANK YOU FOR AND THEN COMMISSIONER, FOR BRINGING THIS FORWARD? NO, I WON'T BE SECONDING IT.

BUT I THINK IT YOU KNOW, WE HAVE THE FOLKS THAT GIVE US THE LAW AT THE APPROPRIATE TIME.

BUT JUST TO GIVE A LITTLE HISTORY LESSON IN THE 70S, TOM BASS.

COMMISSIONER TOM BASS AND THEN JUSTICE OF THE PEACE AL GREEN BOTH ANNOUNCED FOR CONGRESS AND MAYOR, RESPECTIVELY. AND THEIR POSITIONS WERE NOT FILLED.

AND THEN AT SOME POINT, PRESUMABLY AFTER THAT ELECTIONS, BY THE WAY, AND THEY DIDN'T WIN THOSE POSITIONS.

THEY HAPPENED TO HAVE BOTH GOTTEN REAPPOINTED.

JUST GIVEN THAT LITTLE HISTORY LESSON COMES IN HANDY.

YOU KNOW, WE'RE ABOUT THE SAME AGE THERE, BUT JUST A LITTLE HISTORY DEAL THERE.

I THINK I UNDERSTAND THE LAW AND I LET THE LEGAL DEPARTMENT COMMENT ON IT, BUT IT'S UP TO THIS COURT AS TO WHAT WE DO.

AND I WOULD SAY I WOULDN'T RUSH TO DO ANYTHING.

FIRST OF ALL, LET THE GOVERNOR CALL AN ELECTION.

IF THIS WAS BROAD ENOUGH, I'D LIKE TO AMEND YOUR ITEM TO SAY WE OUGHT TO PASS A RESOLUTION TELLING THE GOVERNOR TO GO CALL THE ELECTION, BY THE WAY. I KNOW AS AN EXAMPLE ON THOSE CONGRESSIONAL PROJECTS, I SENT SOME TO FORMER CONGRESSMAN TURNER'S OFFICE. AND THEN I WAS TOLD THAT BECAUSE THAT SEAT'S NOT FILLED, THEY CANNOT.

IF CONGRESS DOES ANY MORE THOSE COMMUNITY PROJECTS, THEY DON'T LET THAT OFFICE SEND THEM IN, ALTHOUGH THE OTHER OFFICES CAN. BUT SO FIRST, THEY OUGHT TO BE AN ELECTION.

THEN I JUST WANT TO COMMENT ON THERE ARE ALL OF US, BY THE WAY, RUN FOR OFFICE AND WE STAY HERE.

THE CURRENT CHAIR AND RAILROAD COMMISSION IS RUNNING FOR ANOTHER OFFICE.

NOT THAT OFFICE. ANOTHER OFFICE. AND AND STILL THAT IT HAPPENS ALL THE TIME.

BUT WE MAKE THAT DECISION. I WILL SAY THAT THIS COUNTY ATTORNEY HAS TAKEN ON SOME PRETTY SIGNIFICANT TASKS THAT WE GAVE HIM.

BRINGING THE DELINQUENT TAX COLLECTION IN-HOUSE IS A MAJOR TASK ITEM I HAVE COMING UP TODAY.

HIS STAFF DID THE WORK ON IT BECAUSE WE CAN ONLY TALK TO ONE.

AND SOMETIMES IT'S A ROLL OF THE DICE ON WHICH ONE YOU CAN TALK TO.

WHAT WE DO WITH OUR SPORTS COMPLEX. HE AND HIS TEAM ARE TAKING THAT ON NOW.

LOOK, I'M. I'M HAPPY FOR HIM WITH WHATEVER COMES HIS WAY, BUT I'M IN NO RUSH FOR HIM TO GET OUT OF HERE, TO BE HONEST WITH YOU. AND WHEN THE GOVERNOR CALLS THE ELECTION, I'D FEEL COMFORTABLE CROSSING THAT BRIDGE THERE.

BUT I WOULD LIKE TO ASK THE LEGAL PEOPLE. IS MY LEGAL ANALYSIS RIGHT? YOU KNOW, I JUST WENT TO A LITTLE SCHOOL UP TO UP THE ROAD, AND I'M NOT AS SMART AS MR. BAUM, BUT I DID GET OUT AND AND YEAH, I DID GET OUT.

I DID GET OUT. LESS THAN THREE YEARS. MAYBE IT'S BECAUSE I KNEW WHAT THE GPA WAS GOING TO BE, AND I FIGURED, LET'S GET THIS OVER WITH. WHAT'S THE LAW? YOU GOT IT JUST RIGHT, COMMISSIONER. THERE'S NO ACTUAL RULE THAT YOU HAVE TO FILL THE VACANCY NOW OR AT ANY POINT.

[03:00:05]

WHAT WOULD YOU ASK THEM IF THEY LET ME ON LAW REVIEW? YOU KNOW, AFTER THE FACT, SINCE I GOT IT RIGHT.

COMMISSIONER BRIONES. SO, COMMISSIONER RAMSEY, I UNDERSTAND AND RESPECT WHERE YOU'RE COMING FROM.

I, TOO, WILL NOT BE SECONDING. AND I WOULD ASK THAT GOVERNOR ABBOTT CALL THE ELECTION.

SO WE ALL HAVE CLARITY AS TO WHAT TO EXPECT, BECAUSE THE PEOPLE WHO LIVE IN CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT 18 DESERVE THE REPRESENTATION IN DC.

THIS ARTICLE 16 OF THE TEXAS CONSTITUTION IS ONE I AM INTIMATELY FAMILIAR WITH.

BOTH GIVEN HOW I WAS APPOINTED TO THE BENCH AND THEN WHEN I AGAIN, FOLLOWING THE TEXAS CONSTITUTION, RESIGNED TO RUN FOR COMMISSIONER. SO I FULLY AGREE WITH THE LEGAL ANALYSIS, AND HE MAY STAY AS A HOLDOVER.

AND I THINK FOR THE PURPOSES OF CONSISTENCY FOR THE PEOPLE OF HARRIS COUNTY, YOU ALL HAVE JUST BEEN DOING AN EXCELLENT JOB.

AND SO COUNTY ATTORNEY MENEFEE J. JOHN, Y'ALL ARE A ROCK STAR TEAM, AND I APPRECIATE HOW PROACTIVE YOU HAVE MADE THIS OFFICE IN TERMS OF DEFENDING HARRIS COUNTY, BUT ALSO PROACTIVELY SEEKING AND ADVANCING JUSTICE.

SO ONCE WE HAVE CLARITY FROM THE GOVERNOR, THEN TO ME THAT WOULD BE AN APPROPRIATE TIME TO REVISIT THIS.

BUT UNTIL THEN, I LOOK FORWARD TO YOU ALL CONTINUING TO SERVE THE PEOPLE OF HARRIS.

AND I SAY, Y'ALL, BECAUSE I'M LOOKING AT JAY AND JOHN FOR THOSE WHO CANNOT SEE ON THE CAMERA.

BUT COUNTY ATTORNEY MENEFEE, I APPRECIATE EVERYTHING YOU AND YOUR TEAM DO FOR TO ADVANCE JUSTICE IN HARRIS COUNTY.

COMMISSIONER, MY ONLY POINT WAS JUST TO GET HAVE A CONVERSATION.

SO SO I HAVE A QUESTION ON THAT JUST REAL QUICK.

SO, SO HE HE WOULD BE UP. IF, IF WE WERE TO, IF WE WERE TO KEEP HIM, IF WE WERE TO NOT APPOINT SOMEBODY ELSE, THEN THEN WHAT HAPPENS IF HE IF HE WINS A SPECIAL ELECTION, THEN HE'S OFF TO CONGRESS. AND IF HE LOSES A SPECIAL ELECTION, THEN HE'S COUNTY ATTORNEY UNTIL HIS TERM IS UP, WHICH WOULD BE 2020. SO THE LAW ACTUALLY CALLS FOR AN EXTRA ELECTION.

SO HE JUST GOT REELECTED IN 24. NORMALLY THE NEXT ELECTION WOULD BE IN 28, BUT THERE WILL NOW BE AN ELECTION FOR COUNTY ATTORNEY IN 26 AND IN 28.

OKAY. AND WHY IS THAT? THAT'S JUST THE WAY THE LAW SETS IT UP TO MAKE SURE THAT THE VACANCY ISN'T THERE FOR TOO LONG.

OH, OKAY. SO THERE WAS ALREADY GOING TO BE AN ELECTION IN 28.

38. CORRECT. SO NOW THERE WOULD BE THERE ADDING 1 IN 26.

THAT'S RIGHT. BECAUSE IF HE BECAUSE IF HE RIGHT NOW HE'S HE HE'S THERE UNTIL EITHER HE WINS OR WE DECIDE TO HE WINS HIS CONGRESSIONAL BID OR WE DECIDE TO REPLACE HIM.

THAT'S RIGHT. AND SO THEN THE COUNTY ATTORNEY.

THEN IF HE WINS, THEN HE CAN'T BE COUNTY ATTORNEY.

SO? SO THEN SAY ALL OF 25 AND ALL OF 26, WE WOULD BE WITH AN APPOINTED COUNTY ATTORNEY.

RIGHT? THAT'S RIGHT. YES. YOU'D HAVE AN APPOINTED COUNTY ATTORNEY UNTIL THE NOVEMBER 2026 ELECTION.

A WORD IN 25. OKAY, SO JUST THE 26 ELECTION, I FORGET.

WHAT DOES IT 26. SO THE YEAR OF 26. YEAH. SO IF YOU HAD AN ELECTION IN 2025 FOR CONGRESS AND THE COUNTY ATTORNEY WERE TO WIN, HE COULD NOT HOLD BOTH SEATS, RIGHT? THE VACANCY WOULD STILL BE THERE AT THAT POINT.

PRESUMABLY YOU'D APPOINT SOMEONE ELSE AND THAT PERSON WOULD STAY IN THE COUNTY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE UNTIL NOVEMBER 2026.

YEAH, OKAY. OKAY, I GET IT. AND THEN AS FAR AS THE PRECEDENT, YOU KNOW, I THINK YOU CAN YOU CAN CALL IT BOTH WAYS.

I'D FORGOTTEN ABOUT THIS, BUT I FOUND AN OP ED JUST GOOGLING, SORT OF PASSIONATELY MY OFFICE PASSIONATELY DEFENDING COMMISSIONER BREONNA'S RIGHT TO STAY IN HER SEAT WHEN SHE DECIDED TO RUN FOR COMMISSIONER.

I'D FORGOTTEN THAT I'D ALSO SUPPORTED HER IN THAT WAY.

AND ONE OF THE THINGS THAT THE THAT THE ARTICLE WAS GETTING AT, I THINK IT WAS AN EDITORIAL COMMISSIONER AND EDITOR BOARD.

ARTICLE THEY WERE SAYING, WELL, HOW COME THE JUDGE WANTED TO REPLACE BILL MCLEOD, BUT NOW DOESN'T WANT TO REPLACE A JUDGE. AT THE TIME. AND SO SO I THINK THERE'S, YOU KNOW, THERE'S PRECEDENT BOTH WAYS.

WE HAD OUR REASONS AT THE TIME. I THINK FOR RIGHT NOW, OBVIOUSLY, I, I APPRECIATE THE, THE,

[03:05:01]

I THINK, YOU KNOW, FOR RIGHT NOW IT MAKES SENSE TO KEEP COUNTY ATTORNEY MENIFEE.

BUT CERTAINLY IF FOR WHATEVER REASON, THERE IS A PERSON WHO WHO WHO MAKES SENSE TO PUT THERE, YOU KNOW, AS I SAID, I THINK THE PRECEDENT, EVEN MY OWN PRECEDENT GOES BOTH WAYS, AND I'D FORGOTTEN THAT.

BUT BUT THAT'S VERY HELPFUL, YOU GUYS. COMMISSIONER GARCIA.

THANK YOU. I LOOK I THINK WE OUGHT TO BE AS THOUGHTFUL AS WE WERE WITH THE BENCH THAT COMMISSIONER BEHRENS WAS HOLDING DOWN CASES BEING HEARD, WAITING TO BE HEARD, DECISIONS THAT NEED TO BE MADE.

YOU KNOW, COMMISSIONER ELLIS HAS JUST REMINDED US JUST HOW MUCH WE HAVE IN FRONT OF THE COUNTY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE AND HOW INTEGRAL HE'S INVOLVED IN HE'S NOT JUST ADMINISTRATIVE IN OFFICE. HE'S ACTUALLY INTIMATELY INVOLVED IN SEVERAL THINGS, ESPECIALLY WITH NRG PARK. AND SO RIGHT NOW, WE JUST NEED, DO NOT NEED ANY ANY DISRUPTION THAT CAN BE AVOIDED IF THE LAW, IF THE LAW, IF THE LAW WERE TO SPEAK DIFFERENTLY, I WOULD HAVE I MIGHT HAVE A DIFFERENT THOUGHT.

BUT RIGHT NOW I THINK WE ARE IN GOOD HANDS AND WE ALLOW THAT CURRENT LEADERSHIP TO CONTINUE TO MOVE FORWARD AS WE AS WE WAIT FOR THE GOVERNOR TO DECIDE WHEN HE'S GOING TO HOLD THE ELECTION FOR THE PEOPLE OF THE 18TH DISTRICT.

I THINK IT'S VERY SIMPLE. NO INDIVIDUAL IDEAS OR INDIVIDUAL PASSIONS FOR WHATEVER SHOULDN'T BE GETTING IN THE MIDDLE OF ALL THIS.

SO THAT WOULD BE MY POSITION. COMMISSIONER ELLIS, COMMON LAW, IS IT THE CONSTITUTION THAT REQUIRES YOU TO HOLD OVER UNTIL YOUR SUCCESSOR IS DULY QUALIFIED? IT'S THE CONSTITUTION. CONSTITUTION? WELL, FOR WHAT IT'S WORTH, I REMEMBER WHEN I WANTED TO RUN FOR THE STATE SENATE, AND I WAS ON CITY COUNCIL, COMMISSIONER GARCIA. THE COUNCIL HAD TO APPOINT SOMEBODY.

HAD TO GET. I HAD TO RESIGN. REFUSE TO TAKE THE OATH, GET MY SUCCESSOR DULY QUALIFIED.

I REMEMBER MAYOR WHITMIRE, THE FIRST MAYOR WHITMIRE.

SHE SAID, RODNEY, I WANT TO GET YOU OUT OF HERE SO BAD.

I'LL APPOINT WHOEVER YOU. I'LL HELP YOU APPOINT WHOEVER YOU WANT TO GET YOU OUT OF HERE.

BUT THAT'S NOT THE CASE WITH THE COUNTY ATTORNEY.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU. AND THIS IS A SORT OF A UNIQUE CLAUSE FOR THE COUNTY ATTORNEY AND THE JUDGE AND THE JUDGES.

RIGHT. IT'S MANY DIFFERENT COUNTY OFFICIALS HAVE THAT BOTH THAT RESIGNED TO RUN AND THAT HOLDOVER PROVISION APPLIED TO THEM.

I'M GUESSING THAT LIKE THE CLERK WHICH THIS HAPPENED IN 2019 WHEN CLARK TROUTMAN STEPPED DOWN, AS YOU KNOW, THE COURT APPOINTED CHRIS HOLLINS.

THEN YOU HAD A SPECIAL ELECTION IN 2020 AND THEN ANOTHER 1 IN 2022.

SO IT'S ALWAYS IT WORKS THAT WAY FOR MOST COUNTY OFFICIALS.

SO SO WHO DOES IT NOT WORK THAT WAY FOR OR WHO DOES IT WORK THAT WAY FOR WHATEVER SHORTAGE? SO SOME OF THE THE WELL, THESE AREN'T COUNTY OFFICIALS, BUT SOME OF THE DISTRICT JUDGES ARE APPOINTED BY DIFFERENT FOLKS.

STATE LEGISLATORS DON'T. THAT PROVISION DOES NOT APPLY TO THEM.

SO THEY'RE THEY'RE DIFFERENT ELECTED OFFICIALS ACROSS THE STATE WHO WHO DON'T HAVE TO DEAL WITH THIS.

SO WE'LL TALK AGAIN WHEN THE GOVERNOR SETS SETS TIME ON THE ON THE RISE.

THEN WE'LL KNOW THAT'S MY POSITION. AND, JUDGE, IF YOU WANT TO LOOK AT THE LIST, IT'S TEXAS CONSTITUTION. ARTICLE 16, SECTION 65 ENUMERATES ALL THE OFFICES TO WHICH IT APPLIES.

AND THEN WITH REGARD TO THE HOLDOVER PROVISION, IT'S TEXAS CONSTITUTION, ARTICLE 16, SECTION 17.

AND THAT IS A SHALL CONTINUE TO SERVE. SO IT IS SO SO I MEAN, I'M JUST I THOUGHT THAT IF ANY OF US EXPRESS INTEREST IN RUNNING, WE WERE DONE. SO THAT'S WHY I'M JUST CURIOUS WHICH WHICH WHICH ONES ARE.

CAN YOU JUST TELL ME, CAN YOU JUST ANSWER MY QUESTION BECAUSE YOU'RE SAYING THERE ARE MANY OTHERS YOU WOULD STILL HOLD OVER EVERYBODY? I MEAN, I'M NOT ASKING ABOUT ME, BUT I'M JUST. I THOUGHT THIS WAS WHEN I TALKED TO CHRISTIAN. I THOUGHT IT WAS JUST THE JUDGES, WHICH IS WHY, YOU KNOW, IT WAS RELEVANT WITH BREONNA'S CASE AND MCLEOD'S CASE AND THE COUNTY ATTORNEY.

SO I'M JUST RATHER THAN GO LOOK IT UP MYSELF, I'D LIKE TO JUST HEAR FROM YOU.

WHO? WHO? IF IT'S IF IT'S EVERYBODY BUT THREE DIFFERENT PEOPLE, OR IF IT'S THREE DIFFERENT PEOPLE, WHATEVER SHORTEST WHICH POSITIONS CONTINUE AND WHICH POSITIONS IMMEDIATELY JUST, YOU KNOW, YOU'RE YOU'RE DONE. SO THE PROVISION APPLYING TO AUTOMATIC APPLYING AUTOMATIC RESIGNATION IS FOR DISTRICT CLERKS, COUNTY CLERKS, COUNTY JUDGES. SO THAT'S YOU JUDGES OF THE COUNTY COURTS AT LAW, COUNTY CRIMINAL COURTS, COUNTY PROBATE COURTS AND COUNTY DOMESTIC RELATIONS COURTS, COUNTY TREASURERS, CRIMINAL DISTRICT ATTORNEYS,

[03:10:06]

I'M NOT SURE WHAT THAT IS. AND CONSTABLES. SO YOU SAID THOSE ARE THE.

SO ALL THESE FOLKS WOULD WOULD RESIGN TO RUN IN THE SAME WAY.

SO IF YOU ANNOUNCE YOU HAVE AUTOMATICALLY RESIGNED, YOU DON'T NEED TO TENDER A RESIGNATION.

IT'S SORT OF A LEGAL FICTION THAT YOU'VE RESIGNED, BUT YOU GET HELD OVER, BUT THEN YOU GET HELD OVER. AND IT'S TO ENSURE THAT THERE'S CONTINUITY IN THE OFFICE RIGHT UNTIL THE POSITION CAN BE APPOINTED.

SO WHO? THE PEOPLE THAT DON'T GET HELD OVER ARE LIKE CERTAIN CLASSIFICATIONS OF JUDGES.

SO THERE ARE JUDGES WHO ARE. WELL, ALL JUDGES WILL HOLD OVER UNTIL THE APPOINTMENT PROCESS IS RUN DIFFERENTLY.

FOR DISTRICT JUDGES. THE GOVERNOR APPOINTS THEM.

AND THEN STATE LEGISLATORS JUST DON'T FALL INTO THIS AT ALL.

BUT ALL THE OFFICES I READ FOLLOW THAT RESIGNED TO RUN PROVISION.

AND THEN THE HOLDOVER PROVISION ALSO APPLIES TO THEM.

OKAY OKAY OKAY. WELL THAT'S GOOD TO KNOW. AND I HAD HEARD SOMETHING DIFFERENTLY FROM FROM THE COUNTY ATTORNEY.

BUT WE HAD A QUICK CONVERSATION. IT WAS THE DAY OF THE FUNERAL.

AND NO, THE HOLDOVER PROVISION APPLIES TO ALL OFFICERS OF THE STATE.

OKAY. WHEN I WAS ON COUNCIL, THE HOLDOVER APPLIED TO ME BECAUSE I WANTED TO BE ELIGIBLE TO SIT FOR THE LEGISLATURE.

SO I HAD TO GET MY I HAD TO REFUSE TO TAKE THE OATH OF OFFICE, GET A SUCCESSOR DULY QUALIFIED, RIGHT, AND THEN HAD TO PUT A LANGUAGE IN THERE IN CASE THEY DIDN'T APPOINT SOMEBODY THAT THEN I COULDN'T SIT FOR THE LEGISLATURE, I'D COME BACK, I WOULD I WAS TRYING TO RESCIND MY RESIGNATION.

BUT THAT'S A SEPARATE ISSUE. OKAY, OKAY, SO NO ACTION ON ITEM 613.

SHOULD WE TALK? YEAH, WHATEVER. I, I CAN JUMP IN.

WE CAN DO THAT, AND YOU GUYS CAN STAY AND DO THE WORLD CUP STUFF. OKAY.

ALL RIGHT, SO I'LL PASS IT OVER TO COMMISSIONER ELLIS.

OKAY. SO I CAN DO LIVING WAGE NOW. OH, YOU WANT ME TO DO THAT NOW? I THOUGHT YOU WANTED TO DO THE COMMISSIONER. HOW ABOUT WE. DO YOU WANT TO JUST QUICKLY GO THROUGH THE CONSENT AGENDA? YEAH, LET'S DO THE CONSENT. LET'S DO THE. DO YOU WANT TO MAKE SURE YOU DON'T MISS THEM? YEAH. YOU HAVE TO LEAVE NOW, JUDGE. YOU WANT TO DO THE CONSENT AGENDA JUST SO YOU'LL BE ABLE TO VOTE ON THAT IF YOU WANT TO. DON'T WE HAVE TO GO THROUGH DISCUSSION FIRST BEFORE WE CAN DO THE CONSENT.

I'M NOT SAYING WE DON'T NEED TO. WE CAN. NORMALLY WHEN WHEN I'M PRESENTING AND SOMEBODY STEPS OUT, I PRIORITIZE THE THINGS THAT I DON'T NEED THEM FOR.

SO I CAN I WAS JUST ASKING AS A COURTESY THAT YOU GUYS WOULD DO THAT.

OKAY. ALL RIGHT. I'LL BE I'LL BE RIGHT BACK. AND AS I SAID, I HAVE THIS COMMITMENT SINCE BEFORE WE MOVED COURT TO THURSDAYS, AND I JUST MISS IT. OKAY. AGENDA. OKAY. SO WE WANT TO GO TO WORK UP FIRST.

[Departments & Executive Session]

YEAH. COME ON UP. COME ON UP. Y'ALL GOT A GAME, AND THEY GET ME, Y'ALL.

WELCOME, WELCOME, WELCOME. WE'RE SO PROUD TO BE HOSTING THE WORLD CUP AND CAN'T WAIT TO HEAR THE UPDATES ON JOSE ALTUVE.

I KNOW CHAIR GARCIA SECOND RIGHT. YES. YES.

MR. CHAIR JUST JUST SAY YOUR NAME FOR THE RECORD.

JUAN GARCIA. AND I'LL GET STARTED. I KNOW THEY'RE SETTING UP, BUT FIRST OF ALL, I WANT TO THANK THE COMMISSIONERS FOR THE THE APPOINTMENT LATE LAST YEAR AND THE CONFIDENCE IN HAVING ME AS THE CHAIR OF THE HARRIS COUNTY HOUSTON SPORTS AUTHORITY.

I ALSO WANTED TO THANK FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO COME AND SPEAK TO YOU ABOUT WHAT THE AUTHORITY HAS DONE POST THE TRANSITION.

AND THAT IS I WILL TELL YOU, WE HAD A STRICT FOCUS ON THE MISSION OF THE SPORTS AUTHORITY, WHICH INCLUDES THE FINANCING OF OUR SPORTS FACILITIES, ENTERTAINMENT VENUES WHERE WE HOLD SO MUCH OF OUR EVENTS HERE IN HOUSTON.

AND WE'VE ALSO HAD A RENEWED FOCUS ON ATTRACTING SPORTING EVENTS SINCE THEN TO THESE FACILITIES THAT BOTH HELP FINANCE THESE FACILITIES AND AGAIN, BRING RECOGNITION TO THE COUNTY AND TO OUR CITY AS PART OF THE MISSION THAT YOU'LL HEAR FROM OUR SENIOR LEADERSHIP HERE.

WE'VE HAD A FOCUS ON GREATER ACCOUNTABILITY, ENSURING TRANSPARENCY AND BEING COLLABORATIVE WITH OTHER ENTITIES HERE IN IN OUR COUNTY, WHICH INCLUDE HOUSTON FIRST, THE CORP GREATER HOUSTON PARTNERSHIP.

AND SO TODAY YOU WILL HEAR FROM OUR SENIOR LEADERSHIP ON THIS FOCUS ON OUR MISSION STATEMENT AND THESE OTHER THINGS THAT WE'RE FOCUSED ON.

BUT YOU'LL ALSO HEAR VERY EXCITING NEWS ON ON THE BIGGEST SPORTING EVENT THAT HARRIS COUNTY, HOUSTON HAS EVER HOSTED, WHICH WILL BE FIFA 2026.

AND SO WITH THAT, I WANT TO INTRODUCE I SAID YESTERDAY, OUR QUARTERBACK, BUT HE'S MORE LIKE OUR HEAD COACH OUR CEO, RYAN WALSH. I DON'T KNOW, BUT THAT'S A LOT OF PRESSURE.

[03:15:05]

THANK YOU ALL FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO FOR US TO UPDATE YOU ON THE STATE OF THE HARRIS COUNTY HOUSTON SPORTS AUTHORITY WHEN I WAS ASKED TO LEAD THE ORGANIZATION FOUR MONTHS AGO, THE CHARGE WAS VERY CLEAR TO BRING FRESH PERSPECTIVE, DRIVE MEANINGFUL CHANGE, AND TO REALIGN THE CORE VALUES AND MISSION.

IT WAS EVIDENT THAT WE NEEDED SOME STRONG LEADERSHIP AND STRATEGIC DIRECTION TO FULFILL THAT MISSION OF OVERSEEING WORLD CLASS SPORTS VENUES AND POSITIONING HARRIS COUNTY AS A PREMIER DESTINATION FOR THE EVENTS THAT DRIVE ECONOMIC GROWTH AND ENHANCE RESIDENTS QUALITY OF LIFE.

TO BE THE MOST INNOVATIVE, EFFICIENT AND TRUSTED SPORTS AUTHORITY, WE MUST LEAD WITH ACCOUNTABILITY, TRANSPARENCY AND COLLABORATION. OUR SPORTS VENUES ARE MORE THAN STADIUMS. THEY ARE ECONOMIC ENGINES, AS YOU ALL KNOW, AND THE FOUNDATION OF OUR REPUTATION AS A GLOBAL SPORTS DESTINATION.

AND TO KEEP OUR REGION AT THE TOP, THE SPORTS AUTHORITY MUST OPERATE AT THE HIGHEST LEVELS.

THAT'S WHY WE'VE LAUNCHED A TOP TO BOTTOM REVIEW TO STREAMLINE OPERATIONS, ELIMINATE INEFFICIENCIES, REDUCE REDUNDANCIES, AND ENSURE EVERY DOLLAR IS WISELY INVESTED.

WE'RE STRENGTHENING OVERSIGHT AND IMPLEMENTING THE BEST PRACTICES AND ENHANCING OUR TEAM, WHICH A KEY MILESTONE I'M PARTICULARLY PROUD OF, IS FOR THE FIRST TIME, THE SPORTS AUTHORITY HAS HIRED AN IN-HOUSE GENERAL COUNSEL AND CHIEF LEGAL OFFICER, WHICH IN MY OPINION, IS A MAJOR STEP TOWARDS STRONGER GOVERNANCE, INTEGRITY AND ACCOUNTABILITY.

WE HAVE REENGAGED WITH THE TEAMS WHO MANAGE THE FACILITIES BECAUSE THEIR VOICES MATTER.

OUR COMMITMENT IS CLEAR. HOUSTON AND HARRIS COUNTY SPORTS VENUES WILL REMAIN WORLD CLASS DESTINATIONS FOR YEARS TO COME.

SINCE 1997, THE SPORTS AUTHORITY HAS PAID OVER $1.5 BILLION IN DEBT SERVICE THROUGH HOTEL OCCUPANCY AND MOTOR VEHICLE RENTAL TAXES.

OUR FINANCIAL OUTLOOK REMAINS STRONG AND ALLOWS US TO CONTINUE TO SUPPORT OUR VENUES AS THEY PLAN FOR THE FUTURE.

AND AS WE FINALIZE OUR STRATEGIC PLANNING, WE WILL CONTINUE TO PROVIDE REGULAR UPDATES TO THE COMMISSIONERS COURT.

AND I AM HERE TODAY TO ENSURE THAT OUR SPORTS VENUES WILL REMAIN WORLD CLASS, AND THE SPORTS AUTHORITY WILL BE A TRUSTED STEWARD OF THEIR FUTURE AND A TRULY COLLABORATIVE PARTNER FOR ALL. AND AT THIS TIME, I'D LIKE TO CALL UP OUR NEWLY APPOINTED CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER, HOLLY KESTERSON, TO FILL YOU ALL IN ON HOW THE AUTHORITY IS GOING TO SUPPORT THAT CORE FUNCTION AND MISSION THROUGH OUR SPORTS MARKETING EFFORTS.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME. AS RYAN AND JUAN BOTH SHARED, OUR PRIORITY IS AROUND COLLABORATION AND PARTNERSHIP AS WE REALLY DIVE INTO OUR STRATEGIC PLAN AROUND MARKETING AND SPECIFICALLY BIDDING AND ATTRACTING MAJOR SPORTING EVENTS TO OUR REGION.

AS RYAN AND JUAN BOTH MENTIONED, THAT'S NOT JUST US.

THAT'S NOT JUST THE SPORTS AUTHORITY, THAT'S OUR COUNTY PARTNERS, OUR CITY PARTNERS, HOUSTON FIRST, THE CORP, SO MANY OTHERS. BUT IT'S ALSO FURTHER THAN THAT.

IT'S OUR TEAMS, IT'S OUR VENUES, IT'S OUR UNIVERSITIES, SCHOOL DISTRICTS AND SO MANY OTHER ALL OF THOSE INDIVIDUALS, ALL OF THOSE ENTITIES TOGETHER ARE WHAT MAKES HOUSTON SPORTS, HARRIS COUNTY SPORTS, WHAT IT IS AND WHAT IT'S KNOWN FOR.

AND SO EACH OF THOSE PLAY A MAJOR ROLE IN THAT.

AND WE'RE CONTINUING THE EFFORTS TO OPEN THOSE LINES OF COMMUNICATION, BUILD THOSE LINES OF COMMUNICATION SO WE CAN BE SUCCESSFUL AS WE MOVE FORWARD.

FOR US, WE HAVE FOUR MAIN GOALS AND PRIORITIES AS WE START TO MOVE THIS PROCESS FORWARD.

THE FIRST ONE BEING BEING A STAKEHOLDER RESOURCE.

THAT'S WHO WE ARE. THAT'S WHO WE NEED TO BE AS AN ENTITY.

AND SO CONTINUING TO BUILD THOSE RELATIONSHIPS WITH LOCAL STAKEHOLDERS TO PROVIDE CLARITY IN THE RESOURCES THAT WE PROVIDE TO THEM.

THOSE ARE MAIN, MAJOR EFFORTS AS WE CONTINUE TO BUILD THAT.

THE NEXT ONE IS RELATIONSHIP MANAGEMENT. THAT'S BOTH INTERNAL IN OUR COMMUNITY HERE, BUT IT'S ALSO TO OUR CLIENTS EXTERNALLY.

SO THAT'S THOSE INDIVIDUALS THAT WE PARTNER WITH AND WORK WITH, THOSE ORGANIZATIONS THAT ARE COMING INTO OUR REGION TO BRING EVENTS AND PARTNERSHIP OPPORTUNITIES FOR GROWTH AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.

IN ADDITION, WE'RE REALLY FOCUSED ON HOW DO WE PRIORITIZE HOW WE ATTRACT THOSE MAJOR SPORTING EVENTS.

AND A BIG PART OF THAT IS BY LEVERAGING SMALL, MEDIUM AND LARGE EVENTS TO GET THOSE CITY WIDE EVENTS.

EACH OF THOSE LEVELS OF PROGRAMING AND OPPORTUNITY DRIVES ECONOMIC IMPACT, DRIVES THE ABILITY TO BUILD OUR SKILL SET, OUR RESOURCE AND OUR REPUTATION HERE IN THIS COMMUNITY FOR THE BIGGEST EVENTS.

IT'S NOT JUST THE BIG ONES. THEY ALL ADD UP, THEY ALL PROVIDE VALUE, AND THEY'RE ALL IMPORTANT TO CONTINUE TO BE ON THAT WORLD STAGE AT THE BIGGEST LEVEL. IN ADDITION TO THAT, WE ARE COMMITTED TO BEING A DYNAMIC MARKETING ENGINE.

AND WHEN I TALK ABOUT SPORTS MARKETING, IT'S NOT ALWAYS WHAT EVERYBODY THINKS ABOUT MARKETING AS FAR AS HAVING BILLBOARDS OR ADVERTISEMENTS.

YES, WE DO SOME OF THOSE THINGS WHEN IT COMES TO THE BIG EVENTS SELLING TICKETS, PROMOTING, MAKING SURE OUR COMMUNITY MEMBERS KNOW ABOUT THEM.

BUT THE OTHER PORTION OF THAT IS ACTUALLY DIRECTLY MARKETING TO THOSE INDIVIDUALS WHO BRING THE EVENTS HERE.

SO MAKING SURE THAT HOUSTON AND HARRIS COUNTY ARE ALWAYS KNOWN FOR WHAT WE WANT TO REPRESENT DIVERSITY, COLLABORATION, PARTNERSHIP, WE NEED TO BE IN FRONT OF THOSE ENTITIES AS WELL, WHICH IS NOT ALWAYS THAT TRADITIONAL MARKETING PIECE.

AND SO THAT'S A MAIN FOCUS FOR US, IS REALLY REFINING THAT MARKETING MESSAGE.

[03:20:03]

WE KNOW WE NEED TO FOCUS ON THE EVENTS THAT ARE ALREADY ON OUR SCHEDULE, AND THAT'S NOT JUST WORLD CUP.

I KNOW WE'RE ALL VERY EXCITED ABOUT WORLD CUP, BUT WE'VE GOT THINGS LIKE THE AAU JUNIOR OLYMPIC GAMES COMING UP THIS SUMMER, WHICH IS 15,000 KIDS AND THEIR FAMILIES COMING INTO OUR MARKET.

IT HAS AN ESTIMATED ECONOMIC IMPACT OF $78 MILLION FOR THAT PROJECT ALONE.

WE'VE GOT WORLD BASEBALL CLASSIC, WHICH WE'RE PARTNERING WITH THE ASTROS AS WELL AS HOUSTON FIRST ON, WHICH WILL TAKE PLACE NEXT SPRING. AND THAT HAS NEARLY $60 MILLION IN ECONOMIC IMPACT THAT WILL TAKE PLACE NOT FAR FROM HERE AT DEACON PARK.

THEN WE'VE GOT CONCACAF GOLD CUP, WE'VE GOT THE MEN'S NCAA REGIONALS, LOTS OF EVENTS SCHEDULED TO COME THAT WE REALLY HAVE TO PRIORITIZE, THAT THOSE PARTNERSHIPS ARE STRONG, THAT THAT COLLABORATION IS STRONG. AND WE CONTINUE TO PUT HARRIS COUNTY AND HOUSTON IN THE LIMELIGHT WHERE WE NEED.

BUT THEN WHEN WE START TO LOOK AT LONG TERM STRATEGY, WE ALSO HAVE THE PRIORITY OF UNDERSTANDING OUR STAKEHOLDERS.

WHAT ARE THE NEEDS, WHAT EVENTS AND OPPORTUNITIES ARE IMPORTANT TO THEM, AND HOW DO WE PARTNER WITH THEM TO CONTINUE THOSE EFFORTS, NOT JUST WHAT LOOKS SHINY TO US TODAY. IT IS A COLLABORATIVE, STRATEGIC APPROACH TO DRIVE ECONOMIC GROWTH AND BUILD OUR PARTNERSHIPS HERE IN THE MARKET AND USE SPORTS TO MAKE OUR COMMUNITY BETTER. WE ALSO HAVE THE PRIORITY OF MAKING SURE WE'RE ALWAYS ON THAT MAJOR EVENT, THAT CITYWIDE EVENT CYCLE. THOSE BIG EVENTS COME IN HUGE CYCLES, AND SO WE NEED TO BE FRONT AND CENTER ON THOSE, AS WELL AS OUR INTERNATIONAL EVENTS, WHICH REPRESENT OUR DIVERSE COMMUNITY.

WE NEED TO PRIORITIZE HOW WE TAKE CARE OF ALL OF OUR COMMUNITY MEMBERS, NOT JUST A SPECIFIC SPORT OR A SPECIFIC DEMOGRAPHIC, AS WELL AS CREATING OPPORTUNITIES FOR THOSE DIVERSE COMMUNITIES.

AND THEN WE HAVE OUR INTERNATIONAL, NATIONAL AND COLLEGIATE LEVEL EVENTS.

THOSE FIVE BUCKETS ARE REALLY THE TOP DRIVER WHEN IT COMES TO ECONOMIC GROWTH AND OPPORTUNITY THAT WE'RE GOING TO FOCUS ON AGAIN, SMALL, MEDIUM AND LARGE SIZE AND SCALE. BUT THAT WAY WE CAN MAKE SURE WE PROVIDE EQUAL OPPORTUNITY ACROSS THE BOARD THAT EVERYBODY HAS ACCESS TO THOSE THINGS.

AND WE'RE CONTINUING TO IDENTIFY THE PRIORITIES OF OUR COMMUNITY.

SO WE HAVE A LOT TO DO. THERE'S A LOT ON THE DOCKET.

BUT RIGHT NOW, THE PRIORITY IS CONTINUING TO REFINE THE STRATEGY, REALLOCATING RESOURCES TO MAKE SURE WE'RE REALLY HIGHLIGHTING AND AMPLIFYING THE IMPACT WE'RE MAKING AND CONTINUE TO IDENTIFY NEW FINANCIAL MEANS TO INCREASE THAT IMPACT OVERALL.

SO THAT IS OUR STRATEGY. THAT IS OUR PRIORITY, AND THAT'S WHAT WE WILL CONTINUE TO BE CHASING AFTER.

WITH THAT, I'D LIKE TO TURN IT OVER TO KENNEDY TO TALK ABOUT WORLD CUP FUNDS.

GOOD AFTERNOON EVERYBODY. MY NAME IS CHRIS KENNEDY. I'M THE PRESIDENT OF THE HOUSTON 2026 WORLD CUP HOST COMMITTEE. IT'S GOOD TO BE HERE AGAIN IN FRONT OF THIS BODY TO PROVIDE AN UPDATE ON THE 2026 FIFA WORLD CUP. AS A REMINDER, THIS IS THE LARGEST SPORTING EVENT IN THE HISTORY OF THE WORLD, AND WE ARE FORTUNATE TO BE ONE OF 16 CITIES IN NORTH AMERICA TO BE HOSTING.

IT'S THE FIRST TIME EVER THAT A FIFA WORLD CUP HAS BEEN HOSTED IN THREE COUNTRIES BETWEEN THE US, MEXICO AND CANADA, WITH THREE CITIES IN MEXICO HOSTING TWO IN CANADA AND 11 11IN THE US.

AND HOUSTON WAS SELECTED AS A HOST CITY BACK IN JUNE OF 2022.

AND SINCE THEN, WE'VE BEEN AT HARD WORK PLANNING THE DELIVERY OF THIS EVENT, WHICH IS NOW 15 MONTHS AWAY.

BUT IN REALITY, WE'RE MORE LIKE A YEAR AWAY BECAUSE WHEN THE RODEO ENDS IN 2026 AND EVERYTHING CLEARS OUT, IT'S WHEN WE START MOVING IN TO NRG, NRG PARK AND GETTING READY FOR THE FIRST GAME THAT WILL TAKE PLACE HERE IN HOUSTON.

ON JUNE 14TH. WE WILL HOST SEVEN MATCHES AT NRG PARK BETWEEN THE DATES OF JUNE 14TH AND JULY 4TH.

THAT IS THE EQUIVALENT, IF NOT GREATER, THAN HOSTING SEVEN SUPER BOWLS IN 20 DAYS HERE IN HOUSTON.

THIS EVENT WILL HAVE AN ECONOMIC IMPACT TO OUR REGION THAT IS GREATER THAN $1.5 BILLION.

THE SUPER BOWL IN 2020 2017 HAD A $347 MILLION ECONOMIC IMPACT, WHICH WAS ONE GAME OVER THE COURSE OF ONE WEEK'S WORTH OF EVENTS.

WE WILL HAVE SEVEN GAMES WITH EVENTS TAKING PLACE OVER 39 DAYS.

ASIDE FROM THE SEVEN MATCHES THAT WILL TAKE PLACE AT NRG STADIUM.

WE WILL HAVE THE. THE MAJOR ANCILLARY EVENT IS THE FIFA FAN FESTIVAL, WHICH WILL TAKE PLACE IN EAST DOWNTOWN.

CONTINUE OVER THE COURSE OF, AS I SAID, 39 DAYS.

SO THE MATCHES WILL WILL BE SOLD OUT AT NRG STADIUM AND THE FAN FESTIVAL IS ESTIMATED TO ATTRACT OVER 300,000 PEOPLE OVER ITS 39 DAY PERIOD.

AND OTHER ESTIMATES SHOW THAT APPROXIMATELY 500,000 PEOPLE WILL VISIT HOUSTON, HARRIS COUNTY, FOR THE DURATION OF THIS EVENT IN 2026. SO THINGS ARE GOING GREAT.

THE PLANNING IS WELL UNDERWAY. WE'VE GOT WE'RE FULLY STAFFED.

WE'VE GOT SUBCOMMITTEES AND STAKEHOLDERS ON THE HIGHEST LEVELS INVOLVED IN ALL OF THE THINGS THAT ARE REQUIRED FOR THIS EVENT, FROM SAFETY AND SECURITY TO TRANSPORTATION TO SOCIAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL RESPONSIBILITY TO COMMUNITY INITIATIVES YOU NAME IT.

AND RIGHT NOW, WE'RE WE'RE IN VERY GOOD SHAPE.

WE'RE PROGRESSING ON SCHEDULE, WITH A SOLID PLAN TO BE ABLE TO SUCCESSFULLY DELIVER THIS EVENT TO HELP MAKE HOUSTON AND HARRIS COUNTY A BETTER PLACE.

[03:25:06]

I KNOW WE'RE SHORT ON TIME HERE BUT WE'RE MOVING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION TOWARDS WHAT WILL BE AN AMAZING, ICONIC EVENT FOR OUR CITY AND FOR OUR COUNTY IN ABOUT A YEAR'S TIME.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU ALL. APPRECIATE YOUR TRUST AND CONFIDENCE IN US AND CERTAINLY LOOKING FORWARD TO WE HAVE A LOT OF WORK TO DO.

THERE'S NO DOUBT, BUT WE'RE CERTAINLY UP TO THE CHALLENGE AND CERTAINLY APPRECIATE YOUR SUPPORT AND ANYTHING WE CAN DO FOR YOU ALL TO TO GROW THE GAME, GROW THE SPORT AND CONTINUE BEING THE BEST. COMMISSIONER GARCIA.

THEN, COMMISSIONER BRIONES. COMMISSIONER RAMSEY, I'LL COME AFTER YOU. I'LL PULL MY NAME OFF. I'LL COME AFTER YOU. THANK YOU. COMMISSIONER.

CHRIS. RYAN. JOSE. MADAM. THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR PRESENTATION.

AND I JUST WANT TO SAY COMMISSIONER BRIONES AND I WERE RECENTLY AT THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF COUNTIES, WHERE SHE WAS HELPING TO FACILITATE A DISCUSSION TO ALL OF OUR OTHER COLLEAGUES ACROSS THE COUNTRY WHO ARE PART OF FIFA.

AND I JUST WANT TO TELL YOU WHAT I TOOK AWAY FROM THAT CONVERSATION IS THAT HOUSTON, HARRIS COUNTY IS SO FAR AHEAD OF EVERYBODY ELSE. IT WAS A LITTLE DISHEARTENING TO HEAR COLLEAGUES FROM OTHER COUNTIES SAY, I MEAN, EVEN JUST TO THAT FOREIGN COUNTRY, DALLAS THAT YOU KNOW, COMMISSIONERS HADN'T HAD CONVERSATIONS WITH ANYONE REGARDING YOU KNOW, COMMISSIONERS WHO HAD THE PRECINCT. I MEAN, THE STADIUMS IN THEIR PRECINCT HADN'T BEEN COMMUNICATED WITH ANYBODY WHO WAS YOUR COUNTERPARTS IN THOSE AREAS. SO IT JUST TOLD ME THAT WE ARE IN A REAL, REAL GOOD PLACE.

AND THAT'S TO Y'ALL'S RESPECTIVE LEADERSHIP. AND, RYAN, THANK YOU FOR HITTING THE GROUND RUNNING, MAKING IT LOOK EASY. JOSE, FOR YOUR. YOUR LEADERSHIP AND AND MAKING SURE THAT THAT THE AUTHORITY GOT PUT IN A. REAL GOOD PLACE SO THAT WE CAN GIVE EVERYBODY COMFORT THAT OUT OF ANYBODY ELSE IN THIS COUNTRY.

WE'RE GOING TO BE ROCK STARS. I'M VERY, VERY CONFIDENT OF IT.

AND, CHRIS, YOU BEING MR. SOCCER IN HOUSTON FOR THE LONGEST WITH YOUR YOUR BACKGROUND AND IN THE DYNAMO.

I THINK WE OWE YOU A MAJOR DEBT OF APPRECIATION BECAUSE YOU'VE BEEN HOLDING THE REINS IN VERY DIFFICULT CIRCUMSTANCE.

NOW I CAN. I SEE YOU SMILING TODAY? YOU KNOW, I DON'T THINK I SAW YOU SMILING PREVIOUSLY, BUT I JUST WANT TO THANK YOU BECAUSE YOU WERE GIVEN AN INCREDIBLE JOB WITH BOTH HANDS TIED BEHIND YOUR BACK.

AND I THINK YOU HAVE GIVEN BEEN GIVEN THE THE LANE TO RUN IN AND FLOURISH IN.

AND THE PRESENTATION SPEAKS FOR ITSELF. SO THANK YOU ALL FOR FOR YOUR RESPECTIVE WORK.

LET ME JUST ON ON THAT, COMMISSIONER, PUT A SHOUT OUT TO TAMMY AND FRANCIS WITH THE INTERGOVERNMENTAL INTERGOVERNMENTAL AFFAIRS.

THEY HAVE BEEN ABSOLUTELY INSTRUMENTAL AND HAVE WORKED TIRELESSLY TO HELP US ADVOCATE FOR PUBLIC SAFETY FUNDING AND OTHER THINGS BOTH ON THE STATEWIDE AND THE NATIONAL LEVEL.

SO BIG SHOUT OUT TO TAMMY AND FRANCIS. WE CERTAINLY APPRECIATE Y'ALL'S AND ALL OF THE COUNTY'S EFFORTS ON THAT.

AND I GOT TO GET OUT OF MY HEAD. JUAN I KEEP CALLING YOU ALTUVE.

BUT YOU'RE JUAN ALTUVE. COMMISSIONER BRIONES, THANK YOU ALL FOR BEING HERE.

THANK YOU FOR THIS ENERGIZING UPDATE. I CONCUR.

WHEN WE WERE IN DC AT THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF COUNTIES, WE WERE DEFINITELY LEADING ALL THE OTHER US HOST JURISDICTIONS.

SO THANK YOU. IT'S TESTAMENT TO YOUR LEADERSHIP AND WE'VE SEEN GOD BLESS YOU.

MASSIVE PROGRESS SINCE THE LEADERSHIP CHANGES.

SO THANK YOU, CHAIR GARCIA. THANK YOU, CEO WALSH.

WELCOME BACK TO THE TEAM. HOLLY AND CHRIS, YOU AND JOHN ARE DOING AN EXCELLENT JOB CHAIRING.

SO SEVERAL THINGS. ONE, I'M HAPPY YOU ALL ARE DOUBLING DOWN ON THE ORIGINAL MISSION OF A OF A FINANCING VEHICLE AND DOUBLING DOWN ON BEING THE PRIMARY ENTITY RUNNING POINT ON SPORTS MARKETING FOR HOUSTON AND HARRIS COUNTY.

SO THANK YOU. AND I'M ENERGIZED TO CONTINUE LANDING AND HOSTING THE BEST EVENTS IN THE COUNTRY AND IN THE WORLD.

I HAVE SEVERAL QUICK QUESTIONS. I KNOW WE'VE TALKED NUMEROUS TIMES BECAUSE I'M SO FIRED UP ABOUT THIS, BUT I REALLY THINK IT'S IMPORTANT. IF YOU COULD SHARE WITH THE PUBLIC AND THE TEAM HERE.

TWO QUICK THINGS. ONE, THE OVER $1.5 BILLION, 1.5 BILLION IN ECONOMIC IMPACT.

THAT ALONE IS ENERGIZING. IT IS MY DEEPEST DESIRE THAT THE IMPACT STAYS HERE.

LOCAL LOCAL BUSINESSES, WOMEN OWNED BUSINESSES, MINORITY OWNED BUSINESSES I KNOW WE HAVE.

BY HOUSTON, BY HOUSTON. I'D LOVE AN UPDATE ON THAT.

AND THEN THE MOM FORMER TEACHER IN ME GROW THE GAME WITH OUR UNDERSERVED YOUTH IS ANOTHER THING I'M REALLY ENERGIZED BY.

[03:30:05]

ABSOLUTELY, CERTAINLY. AND FOR THE FOR THE ECONOMIC IMPACT, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT'S MOST IMPORTANT, NOT JUST US, BUT TO FIFA AS WELL, IS MAKING SURE THAT LOCAL BUSINESSES, AND CERTAINLY MWB AND HUB BUSINESSES HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO PARTICIPATE.

WITH THAT WAS CREATED THE BUY HOUSTON, BUY HOUSTON PROGRAM, WHICH CREATES ESSENTIALLY A VENDOR LIST, MAKING SURE THAT THOSE THAT ARE CLASSIFIED AS THE HUB, MWB OR LOCAL BUSINESSES ARE ACCOUNTED FOR WHEN WHEN THINGS LIKE THAT COME UP FROM EITHER FIFA OR SOME OF THE ANCILLARY, LIKE THE FAN FEST AND SOME OF THE OTHER ASPECTS OF THAT.

BUT FOR US, I SEE IT AS A LEGACY PROJECT FOR THE THE COUNTY AND THE CITY.

AND CERTAINLY THE SPORTS AUTHORITY IS TAKING THAT FROM THE WORLD CUP EFFORTS, CREATING A PERMANENT SPOT FOR THE BUY HOUSTON, BUY HOUSTON PROGRAM WITHIN THE AUTHORITY SO THAT WE CAN CONTINUE THAT ENDEAVOR OF ENGAGING THE LOCAL BUSINESSES, THE HUB, THE MWB AND THE SMALL BUSINESSES TO MAKE SURE THAT FOR ALL OF THE EVENTS THAT HOLLY AND HER TEAM ARE GOING TO BE WORKING TO BRING TO HARRIS COUNTY AND HOUSTON ARE ENCOURAGED AND HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO PARTICIPATE IN THOSE ACTIVITIES.

SO WHEN THE WORLD CUP IS HERE IN THE SEVEN MATCHES ARE PLAYED DOWN AT NRG PARK, IT'S GOING TO CREATE MEMORABLE EXPERIENCES AND EXCITING MOMENTS AS WE WATCH WORLD CLASS ATHLETES PERFORM AT THE HIGHEST STAGE. BUT REALLY, WHAT'S MOST IMPORTANT IS THAT AFTER THE FINAL WHISTLE BLOWS AND EVERYBODY'S GONE HOME, HOW HAVE WE UTILIZED THE POWER OF THIS EVENT AND LEVERAGED IT TO HELP MAKE HOUSTON HARRIS COUNTY A BETTER PLACE? SO WE'RE VERY FOCUSED ON OUR LEGACY COMPONENTS AND MAKING SURE THAT WE'RE LEAVING HOUSTON AND HARRIS COUNTY IN A MUCH BETTER PLACE THAN WHEN IT STARTED, TO THE BEST OF OUR ABILITY AND PART OF THAT FOCUS IS ON WHAT WE CALL GROWING THE GAME OF SOCCER.

AND WE THINK ABOUT THAT. WE'RE COMMITTED TO PROVIDING MORE ACCESS TO THE GAME, TO INNER CITY YOUTH WHO WANT TO PLAY, BUT JUST DON'T HAVE THE INFRASTRUCTURE AND DON'T HAVE THE.

IN SOME CASES, FINANCIAL ABILITY TO PLAY CLUB SOCCER, LIKE A LOT OF YOUTH DO IN THE SUBURBS.

SO WE WANT TO PROVIDE THIS VALUABLE OPPORTUNITY THAT ARE GOING TO HELP THE YOUTH STAY HEALTHY AND GROW AND DEVELOP, AND WE'RE WORKING VERY HARD ON THAT WITH MANY, MANY STAKEHOLDERS, INCLUDING ALL OF YOU AND YOUR STAFFS, TO PULL THIS OFF, WHICH WOULD BE A HUGE LEGACY THAT WE LEAVE BEHIND AND QUITE FRANKLY, A VISION THAT'S BIGGER THAN ANY OF THE OTHER HOST CITIES.

SO WHEN WE PULL THIS OFF, AT THE END OF THE DAY, I THINK WE'LL ALL BE ABLE TO STAND PROUD AND SAY THAT WE'VE DONE SOMETHING HERE VIA THE WORLD CUP TAKING PLACE, THAT THAT WON'T TAKE PLACE IN OTHER CITIES.

SO IT'S EXCITING TO THINK ABOUT. AND THEN VERY BRIEFLY ON SAFETY.

YEAH, WE HAVE A VERY LARGE ORG. ORG CHART OF THE OF VERY IMPORTANT EXPERTS WHO ARE WORKING ON THE SAFETY AND SECURITY COMPONENT OF THIS.

IT'S IT'S THE BIGGEST LINE ITEM IN TERMS OF COST AND EXPENSE THAT WE WILL HAVE.

AND WE HAVE TO ENSURE THAT THIS IS A SAFE EVENT, NOT JUST AT THE STADIUM, BUT EVERYWHERE IN BETWEEN, FROM THE AIRPORTS TO THE HOTELS TO THE FAN FESTIVAL AND ANYWHERE WHERE PEOPLE ARE GOING TO GATHER.

SO VERY LARGE GROUP OF PEOPLE FOCUSED ON DELIVERING THIS LOCAL, FEDERAL, EVERYTHING IN BETWEEN.

AND SO FAR WE'RE RUNNING WELL IN THAT AS WELL.

IT'S GOING TO WE FILED FOR FEDERAL FUNDING, ALL THE HOST CITIES.

AND WE'RE VERY HOPEFUL THAT THAT FEDERAL FUNDING COMES THROUGH, WHICH WILL PUT US IN AN EVEN BETTER POSITION.

AND WE HOPE TO LEARN THE FATE OF THAT FUNDING IN THE COMING MONTHS.

GOOD. WELL, WE WERE ROAMING THE HALLS IN DC TRYING TO ADVOCATE, SO THANK YOU.

I'M I'M VERY CONFIDENT THAT WITH Y'ALL'S LEADERSHIP, WE WILL CONTINUE EXECUTING WITH EXCELLENCE AND MAKE THIS A ONCE IN A GENERATION IMPACT WITH THE LASTING LEGACY. SO THANK YOU AND WE APPRECIATE THE PARTNERSHIP.

ALL THE PARTNERS THAT HOLLY MENTIONED, BUT ESPECIALLY THE CITY OF HOUSTON, I KNOW FOLKS ALWAYS GET CONFUSED BETWEEN THE CORP AND THE AUTHORITY. SO THIS IS A TEACHER IN ME COMING OUT. THIS SPORTS AUTHORITY IS 50% COUNTY, 50% CITY.

SO IT'S A 5,050% PARTNERSHIP. AND THEN THE CHAIR IS JOINTLY APPOINTED.

SO WE APPRECIATE MAYOR WHITMIRE AND HIS TEAM AND ALL OF THE LOCAL PARTNERS, HOUSTON FIRST UNIVERSITY SCHOOLS, ETC.. SO THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU. AND COUNT US IN 1,000% TO HELP EXECUTE WITH EXCELLENCE.

THANK YOU, JUAN RYAN. HOLLY, CHRIS, THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP.

IT SHOWS ONE, WE NEVER WOULD HAVE EVEN BEEN ABLE TO SECURE THIS OPPORTUNITY.

HAD A LOT OF WORK NOT BEEN PUT IN. AND NOW WE CAN SEE WHAT YOU'RE DOING.

YOU'RE DOING FIRSTHAND A COUPLE OF COMMENTS. JUST TO COMPLEMENT WHAT MY COLLEAGUES HAVE ALREADY POINTED OUT.

THERE'S MORE. PEOPLE LIVE IN THE UNINCORPORATED AREA OF HARRIS COUNTY THAN LIVE IN HOUSTON.

THERE'S MANY, MANY, MANY UNDERSERVED NEIGHBORHOODS IN THE UNINCORPORATED AREA.

SO I JUST REACTED A BIT TO INNER CITY. THAT INNER CITY IS A BIG AREA.

THIS IS THE THIRD LARGEST COUNTY, BOTH IN POPULATION AND PRETTY MUCH GEOGRAPHY AS WELL.

[03:35:03]

YOU SEE THOUSANDS OF KIDS OUT THERE HOPING ONE DAY TO PLAY FOR CHRIS AND AND DO SOMETHING ON THAT LEVEL.

SO THANK YOU FOR WHAT YOU'RE DOING. JUST CONSIDER US YOUR EASY SHOP.

IF IF THERE'S A PROBLEM YOU'VE GOT, YOU GOT FIVE PEOPLE HERE THAT ARE WILLING TO ENGAGE IMMEDIATELY TO TRY TO HELP YOU.

GOT A LOT OF MOVING PARTS. YOU'VE GOT SOME ISSUES.

THERE'S SOME OPPORTUNITIES IN TERMS OF IMPROVEMENTS TO GEORGE OR BROWN.

THERE'S IMPROVEMENTS BEING MADE TO US. 5969. THIS IS THE ENGINEER IN ME COMING OUT.

THERE'S A LOT OF THERE'S A LOT OF THINGS THAT ARE HAPPENING ABOUT THE SAME TIME.

SO ANYTHING THAT THAT MAY OR MAY NOT BE IMPACTING YOU ALL AND YOUR PLANNING.

WE CERTAINLY WANT TO BE. JUST CONSIDER US READY TO MOW THE GRASS, CLEAN THE WINDOWS, WHATEVER.

BUT JUST HERE AT YOUR SERVICE TO TRY TO TAKE TAKE BE THAT THAT HELPFUL TO Y'ALL TO PULL THIS THING OFF.

THANK YOU AGAIN. THANK YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

I, TOO, WANT TO THANK YOU ALL FOR COMING. AND I ECHO THE COMMENTS OF ALL MY COLLEAGUES.

I KNOW PART OF THE COMMITMENT FROM THE FOLKS FROM FIFA IS TO TRY TO EXPAND THE GAME AND IN OTHER PLACES AROUND THE WORLD THAT THEY HAVE GONE.

SOMETIMES THEY'VE BEEN ABLE TO EXPAND THE GAME, BUT SOMETIMES WHEN IT'S OVER WITH, WE DIDN'T BUILD NEW FACILITIES, BUT THEY ONCE IT'S OVER WITH, SOME PEOPLE HAVE BUYER'S REMORSE, LIKE SOUTH AFRICA AS AN EXAMPLE.

THEY BUILT ALL THOSE WONDERFUL STADIUMS. I THINK THE LARGEST CROWD THEY HAD IN ONE AFTER THE WORLD CUP LEFT WAS PROBABLY FOR NELSON MANDELA'S FUNERAL. THEY JUST DON'T USE THOSE BEAUTIFUL FACILITIES.

CAPE TOWN, DURBAN, BUT THEY DON'T HAVE THE CONCERTS.

AND IN BRAZIL I THINK THEY HAD SOME CHALLENGES AS WELL.

I DIDN'T I WENT THEY WERE BUILDING, I WENT BEFORE THE WORLD CUP, WENT TO BRAZIL AND OF COURSE IN QATAR, THEY JUST HAD SO MUCH MONEY. THERE WAS A WHOLE DIFFERENT CIRCUMSTANCE.

BUT I'M HOPING THAT YOU HAVE SOME WAY OF MEASURING WHERE THE MONEY GOES IN IN OUR REGION.

SO ON THE MS COMPONENT, YOU GOT TO DRILL DOWN.

YOU KNOW, THIS COUNTY USED TO SAY, RYAN, YOU WILL HEAR OUR NUMBERS WERE BETTER THAN THE CITIES, BUT WE DIDN'T COLLECT THE DATA. AND I KNOW I TOLD YOU WHEN YOU WENT OVER THERE, SOME OF IT'S CUT AND PASTE.

EVEN IN THIS ENVIRONMENT WHERE PEOPLE MAY DISAGREE WITH ME ABOUT DEI ISSUES, BUT IN, IN, IN LA AS AN EXAMPLE, CALL AND SEE WHAT THEY'RE DOING. I KNOW IN ATLANTA, YOU KNOW, THERE WERE A LOT OF BUSINESSES.

THIS IS I GOT THIS FROM ANDREW YOUNG AFTER HE WAS NO LONGER MAYOR, BUT THEY HAD A PLAN IN PLACE TO MAKE SURE THAT THOSE BUSINESSES THAT WERE NORMALLY LEFT ON THE SIDELINES WEREN'T THERE.

SO IF YOU CAN'T COME ON, COMMENT ON IT TODAY IF YOU WANT TO DO IT IN PRIVATE.

BUT I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE I DON'T WANT TO COME AND GO.

AND THEN WE ALL SMILING AND KUMBAYA. BUT AT SOME POINT, YOU GOT TO MEASURE WHERE THE MONEY WENT.

AND I WANT TO STRESS, I HEARD MY COLLEAGUES TALK ABOUT GROWING THE GAME IN OUR COUNTY.

I WANT TO STRESS THAT. AND EVEN AS A ROLE WE CAN PLAY, THE GOVERNMENT OF QATAR PUT UP QUITE A BIT OF MONEY TO TO HELP US AFTER HARVEY.

AND BECAUSE THE WORLD CUP WAS HEADED OVER THERE, THEY PUT THEY PUT SOMETHING IN PRECINCT ONE.

AND THEN WHAT WAS I THINK FOUR. I'M NOT SURE IT WAS CAGLE'S AREA.

NOW I HAVE THEM BOTH. AND I PASSED BY A FIELD OTHER DAY.

I WON'T CALL THE NAME OF IT. ONE OF THEM. I HAVE THEM BOTH.

AND I TOLD MY STAFF I'M GOING TO CANCEL THEIR CONTRACT IF THEY DON'T LET THESE LOW INCOME KIDS WHO DON'T HAVE A SOCCER CLUB HAVE ACCESS IN THE COUNTY. AND THE CLUB THAT HAS EVEN PUT THEIR SIGN UP WAS REAL NICE.

BUT THEY OUTSIDE THE COUNTY, YOU KNOW. AND WE PUT MONEY IN QATAR.

PUT MONEY IN. BUT IT'S GROWING THE GAME FOR THESE KIDS IN THIS COUNTY AND ON A SPLIT WITH THE MONEY.

I KNOW, RYAN, IF YOU'RE NOT PREPARED, I MEANT TO CALL YOU THIS MORNING, BUT IT GOT KIND OF BUSY AND I DIDN'T.

WE'RE LUCKY THAT OUR PREDECESSORS INVESTED IN THAT NRG COMPLEX.

I DON'T KNOW IF WE'D BE ABLE TO DO IT TODAY, BUT IT WAS A DIFFERENT ERA THAT THEY DID THAT, OR WE'D HAVE NO WORLD CUP. YOU KNOW, I JUST HAPPENED TO HAVE THE LUCK OF THE TWO EVENTS.

YOU MAKE TWO MAJOR EVENTS, BOTH IN IN THIS PRECINCT HAPPEN TO BE IN PRECINCT ONE DOWNTOWN.

[03:40:04]

BUT WE WANT TO MAKE SURE WHEN IT'S OVER WITH, THE COUNTY DOES NOT END UP BEHIND THE EIGHT BALL ON MONDAY, NOT JUST IN TERMS OF LOSING MONEY. I KNOW YOU TOLD ME 20 MILLION FOR RENT, BUT I KNOW THAT OUR FRIENDS AT THE CITY, I'M A CITY GUY, YOU KNOW, MOST OF MY PRECINCT IS IN, IN, IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON, BUT I'M ALSO A COUNTY OFFICIAL IN ABOUT 30% OF IT IS UNINCORPORATED. SO ON THE MONEY, WE DON'T GET AS MUCH ON THE STATE LAW.

UNDER THE SALES TAX, WE DON'T GET AS MUCH UNDER THE HOT TAX.

BUT WHEN IT'S OVER WITH, I WAS TOLD AND THIS IS WHAT I ASK YOU, WHEN I WAS IN MY OFFICE EARLY THE OTHER DAY, REMEMBER THAT BIKE RIDING ABOUT 7 A.M. WHEN I CALLED YOU IN THE BIKING OFFICE? BUT I WAS TOLD THE COUNTY JUDGE AT THE TIME SAID WE LOST MONEY OVER SOMETHING NOT NEARLY AS LARGE, BUT THE SUPER BOWL. AND NOW SOME PEOPLE WOULD QUESTION THAT.

BUT HE SAID IT. HOW WOULD I KNOW? HE'D SAY IT. HE HIT THE DAIS.

BUT I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE WE GET SOME SENSE OF WHAT DOES HARRIS COUNTY GET OUT OF THIS, BECAUSE OUR PREDECESSORS MADE THAT INVESTMENT AND HAVING A COMPLEX.

AND IF THEY DIDN'T DO IT, THERE'D BE NO WAR. IT'D BE VERY DIFFICULT.

THEY'VE GOTTEN THAT NOT TO COME AND DO A WORLD CUP HERE.

YOU COULD YOU COULD MENTION RICE, BUT IT'S GOING TO BE A LITTLE HOT.

AND LET'S PRAY IT DOESN'T RAIN OR FLOOD, YOU KNOW, BUT WE WON'T GO THERE.

BUT HAVING THAT COVERED STADIUM REALLY WAS PART OF THE ATTRACTION TO COME HERE DURING THE SUMMER IN PARTICULAR. SO ANY COMMENTS YOU WANT TO MAKE ON THAT? NO. AND YOUR STAFF SENT ME SOME, SOME QUESTIONS THIS MORNING THAT I'M ENDEAVORING TO GET AN ANSWER TO. I DON'T HAVE THEM RIGHT NOW, BUT I WILL GET THOSE TO YOU. YEAH. I DO THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO TO POINT OUT THAT OF ALL THE EVENTS THAT THAT COME TO HARRIS COUNTY, HOUSTON, THESE MAJOR EVENTS, FINAL FOUR, SUPER BOWL, CFP, WORLD CUP, IT COMES TO HARRIS COUNTY FACILITY COMES TO NRG STADIUM.

THAT'S THE ONLY WAY THAT WE CAN DO THOSE. SO WE'RE CERTAINLY GRATEFUL FOR THAT INVESTMENT. FROM FROM PREDECESSORS AND CERTAINLY THE PEOPLE THAT BUILT THAT COMPLEX.

AND I JUST THINK THAT'S AN IMPORTANT THING TO NOTE.

BUT I WOULD ALSO SAY THAT THAT, YOU KNOW, AS PART OF THE, THE, THE OPERATIONS, WE DON'T HAVE FINAL NUMBERS YET, BUT THAT THAT THE CORPORATION AND NRG PARK ARE CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG, BUT ONE OF THE ONLY DIRECT RECIPIENTS OF REVENUE, THE OTHER BEING TANGENTIALLY THROUGH OBVIOUSLY SALES OR OTHER TAXES.

BUT BUT NRG PARK IS GENERATING A DIRECT REVENUE FROM THE RENTAL AND THE UTILIZATION OF THE FACILITIES.

AND OBVIOUSLY IT'S 39 DAYS, IF NOT MORE, OBVIOUSLY, WITH MOVE IN AND MOVE OUT.

ON MATCH DAY AND ON MATCH DAY. SO IT WILL BE A SIGNIFICANT CONTRIBUTION, SIGNIFICANT SIGNIFICANT NUMBER THAT THAT WILL BE BROUGHT TO THE COUNTY DIRECTLY.

AND RYAN, I MENTIONED THAT BECAUSE WHEN OUR PREDECESSORS MADE THAT DECISION, THEY DIDN'T HAVE A REVENUE CAP.

THEY DIDN'T HAVE A LAW THAT SAYS YOU CAN'T REDUCE SPENDING IN CERTAIN AREAS.

SO IF THEIR HANDS WERE TIED TO, SAY, OUR HANDS ARE TIED TODAY, THERE'S NO WAY THAT A BUILDING THAT HAD GOTTEN RUN OUT OF THE STATE, NOT JUST OUT OF THE COUNTY. SO I JUST WANT TO STRESS THAT THAT'S WHY IT'S SO IMPORTANT TO FIGURE OUT HOW THIS IS FISCALLY FAIR.

YOU KNOW, IT'S IMPORTANT. BUT SO IT'S ONE THING WHEN WE SAY THAT, YOU KNOW, IT MATTERS TO THE REGION, BUT IT'S ANOTHER THING WHEN YOU HAVE ONE ENTITY IN THE REGION THAT SUPPLIES THE FACILITIES AND THEN TRYING TO FIGURE OUT HOW WE'RE IN A POSITION.

SO IT'S NOT THE FIRST AND THE LAST EVENT OF THIS TYPE THAT WE CAN HAVE IN OUR AREA.

BUT THANK YOU. AND I'LL GET AN ANSWER TO THOSE QUESTIONS FOR YOU, COMMISSIONER. I'D LOVE TO HAVE A LARGER CONVERSATION ABOUT THAT WITH YOU AS WELL, COMMISSIONER GARCIA. THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER ELLIS.

AND AGAIN, THANK YOU ALL. AND IT JUST HAD ME THINKING BACK THAT YOU KNOW, WHEN YOUR PREDECESSOR AND I WENT TO MEXICO CITY TO GO VISIT WITH CLUB AMERICA TO TRY TO BRING A FRANCHISE TO HOUSTON, AND THEN THE US EXHIBITION GAME OF MEXICO, US WAS PLAYED AT NRG. MAN, I. I WAS SO AFRAID THE STADIUM WAS GOING TO COLLAPSE.

THERE'S SO MUCH DAMN ENERGY IN THAT PLACE. BUT BUT IT'S THE COMMENT THAT OLIVER AND I HAD AT THAT TIME WAS, IF THERE'S ANY EVER ANY DOUBT THAT HOUSTON WAS A SOCCER TOWN, THAT GAME SHOULD HAVE ELIMINATED ALL DOUBT. AND THE FACT THAT WE'RE HERE IN MY LIFETIME IS VERY, VERY EXCITING.

SO, AGAIN, I WANT TO CONGRATULATE Y'ALL, BUT I DO HAVE A MOTION THAT WAS CIRCULATED EARLIER TODAY, AND IT'S ATTACHED TO A RESOLUTION THAT I THINK WILL HELP US CONTINUE THE PROGRESS THAT HAS BEEN MADE IN TERMS OF HOW TO CONTINUE TO BE SUCCESSFUL

[03:45:08]

AND THE HARRIS COUNTY HOUSTON SPORTS AUTHORITY IS GOVERNED BY A BOARD JOINTLY APPOINTED BY HARRIS COUNTY COMMISSIONERS COURT AND HOUSTON CITY COUNCIL, AND THE HARRIS COUNTY. HOUSTON SPORTS AUTHORITY HAS DEVELOPED A COMPREHENSIVE STRATEGIC PLAN TO ENGAGE IN THE BIDDING FOR AND MARKETING OF SPORTS EVENTS, AND HIRED KEY STAFF TO LEAD THESE EFFORTS. THE LEADERSHIP OF THE SPORTS AUTHORITY IS PREPARING FOR THE 2026 WORLD CUP, AND HAS DEMONSTRATED ITS EFFECTIVENESS IN SHOWCASING HOUSTON AS A PREMIER DESTINATION FOR GLOBAL COMPETITIONS.

SO BE IT. RESOLVED THAT IT IS THE SENSE OF HARRIS COUNTY COMMISSIONERS COURT THAT HARRIS COUNTY, HOUSTON SPORTS AUTHORITY SHOULD BE THE PRIMARY AGENCY RESPONSIBLE FOR THE BIDDING AND MARKETING OF SPORTS EVENTS FOR THIS REGION.

SO THAT WOULD BE WHAT THE RESOLUTION READS. SO MY MOTION WOULD WOULD READ AS SUCH THAT I WELL, SIMPLY THAT I MOVED TO PASS THE RESOLUTION. SECOND.

MOTION MADE BY COMMISSIONER GARCIA. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER BRIONES. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, VOTE AYE. AYE. ALL THOSE OPPOSED, VOTE NO. FOUR EYES IN ON THIS ITEM PASSES.

THANK YOU ALL. THANK YOU. THANK YOU ALL. APPRECIATE YOU. WE APPRECIATE Y'ALL.

HERE'S WHAT I'M GOING TO SUGGEST. UNLESS THE JUDGE'S STAFF DISAGREES, I THINK WE PROBABLY OUGHT TO GO TO THE CONSENT AGENDA.

SO THAT'S KNOCKED OUT. OKAY. SO, JAY, CAN YOU READ THE CORRECTIONS FOR US? SURE. NO ACTION. COMMISSIONER, I JUST WANT TO REMIND WE HAVE TWO HEARINGS THAT WE ALSO NEED TO DO.

OKAY. BUT I'LL GO AHEAD AND READ THE CORRECTIONS FIRST, AND THEN.

AND THEN I WOULD SUGGEST WE PROBABLY GO BACK TO THE HEARINGS, BECAUSE I DON'T BELIEVE THERE ARE ANY SPEAKERS ON THERE.

BUT THEN WE CAN GET YOU CAN GET RESOLVED THAT.

ALL RIGHT. SO ON THE CORRECTIONS WITH ITEM TWO CHANGE THE WHOLE AGENDA CAPTION.

SO IT NOW READS REQUEST BY THE COMMISSIONER OF PRECINCT ONE AND THE COUNTY JUDGE FOR APPROVAL OF A JOINT RESOLUTION HONORING THE LIFE AND LEGACY OF THE HONORABLE SYLVESTER TURNER. ITEM 352 AD HARRIS COUNTY TOLL ROAD AUTHORITY PROJECTED ANNUALIZED USAGE FOR RENEWAL TERM IS $200,000 AFTER GOAL. IT SHOULD READ 21.2%. ITEM 378 AD TWO. AFTER APRIL 1ST, 2025 AND CHANGE 531,671 TO READ AS FOLLOWS 195,598 AND ITEM 467. I MOVE FOR APPROVAL AFTER REQUEST AND CHANGE CENTER TO CAMPUS. OKAY. MEMBERS. ANY OTHER CORRECTIONS? NO CORRECTIONS, BUT I DO. WELL, AS WE GO INTO NO ACTION ITEMS. OH, YEAH. NO ACTION ITEMS. ANY OTHER. NO ACTION.

OH, YEAH. GO AHEAD. JAY. OKAY. WE CAN DO THAT.

SO ON. NO ACTION. HCD REQUEST. NO ACTION ON ITEM 20.

PRECINCT FOUR REQUESTS. NO ACTION ON ITEM 26.

PRECINCT FOUR REQUESTS. NO ACTION ON ITEM 27.

OCA REQUESTS. NO ACTION ON ITEM 31. OMB REQUESTS NO ACTION ON ITEM 46.

ENGINEERING REQUESTS. NO ACTION ON ITEM 83 AND OMB REQUESTS.

NO ACTION ON ITEM 280. AND THEN I HAVE ITEM 399 THAT I WOULD REQUEST.

NO ACTION. ITEM. I'M SORRY. WHAT WAS THAT? 399 399.

AND THERE'S ALSO A FEW MORE ITEMS THAT I HAVE MARKED AS NO ACTION.

MARCELLA, COULD YOU READ THIS? YES, I HAVE FOR ITEM 304, WHICH IS TRAVEL AND TRAINING.

ITEM NUMBER 42. NO ACTION. ITEM 505. NO ACTION.

ITEM 513. NO. ACTION ITEM 536. NO. ACTION ITEM 538.

NO ACTION AND ITEM 590. NO. ACTION. ANY OTHERS? COLLEAGUES. OKAY, FORGET ALL THAT DOWN. WE DON'T NEED A MOTION ON THAT.

RIGHT? WE DON'T NEED A MOTION TO DO IT. I HAVE A FEW THAT I DO NEED TO ASK FOR.

I KNOW YOU ALL DO HAVE THEM DOWN. A FEW. THAT MIGHT BE FOR DISCUSSION, BUT I JUST DON'T WANT TO VERIFY.

OKAY. I DO HAVE. ITEM 208, THE USUAL INTERGOVERNMENTAL AND GLOBAL AFFAIRS

[03:50:03]

ITEM 211. I DON'T THINK I HAVE IT MARKED AS A DISCUSSION ITEM.

WHAT IS IT? IT IS A SPECIAL. OKAY, I'M PULLING IT HERE.

211 DISCUSSION. POSSIBLE ACTION ON TECHNOLOGY.

FISCAL SECURITY POLICY. WHICH ONE? 211. THAT'S TECHNOLOGY.

FISCAL SECURITY POLICY. DON'T NEED IT. YOU'RE RIGHT.

GARCIA. OKAY, SO, NO, I PUT IT ON CONSENT. NO ACTION.

YEAH, THAT'S ON UNIVERSAL SERVICES. IS THERE ANYTHING? UNIVERSAL SERVICES? YEAH. NO ACTION ON 211. NO, NOT.

NO ACTION. I'M SORRY. AS. AS PRESENTED. YEAH.

PASS. AS PRESENTED. YES. CINDY, I SAW YOU GETTING UP OVER THERE.

I WAS LOOKING FOR YOU. WHERE ARE YOU? IT'S GETTING LATE NOW.

OKAY. WHAT'S THE OTHER ONE? SO I KNOW THERE IS ITEM.

SORRY. LET ME GO BACK UP. ITEM 49 IS A DISCUSSION AND PRESENTATION.

LET ME SEE WHAT THAT IS. Y'ALL DO HAVE IT MARKED PUBLIC DEFENDER.

PUBLIC DEFENDER. THAT'S ONE FOR DISCUSSION. COMMISSIONER, PLEASE.

I WOULD LIKE AN UPDATE. YEAH, THAT'LL BE DISCUSSION ON THAT ONE ON 49.

ITEM 36. LET ME SEE. HOLD YOUR THOUGHT THERE, ADRIAN.

NO ACTION. NO ACTION ON 36. THAT'S ACCOUNT RECEIVABLES FOR FEDERAL GRANTS TO ENSURE COMPLIANCE WITH RECOMMENDATIONS.

CAP OF CONDEMNATION. NO ACTION. OKAY. NO ACTION.

WE'LL BE BACK AT THE NEXT COURT WITH SOME ACTION ITEMS. YOU HAVE ONE MORE. I KNOW COMMISSIONER GARCIA IS GOING TO HAVE ONE. WE'LL LET YOU FINISH FIRST. YES. J WOULD YOU WANT TO READ THE DISCUSSION ITEMS FIRST BEFORE I ASK ABOUT THESE? BECAUSE I KNOW I THINK THEY'RE MARKED AS DISCUSSION. DO YOU WANT TO ADD ONE? YEAH, IF IT'S NOT ALREADY ON THE LIST. ITEM 29 FOR DISCUSSION ITEM.

ITEM 29 FOR DISCUSSION. I BELIEVE IT IS. YEAH.

HARRIS COUNTY JAIL FOR DISCUSSION. YEAH. YEAH, IT'S ON THERE. COMMISSIONER, WOULD YOU LIKE ME TO READ THE DISCUSSION LIST, PLEASE? OH, YEAH. OKAY. YEAH. BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, I'LL GAVEL IT ON OUT OF HERE.

WELL, I THINK BECAUSE I KNOW THERE'S BEEN SOME THAT WERE ADDED AFTER AFTER I'VE GOT THE LIST.

SO I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE. SO I'M JUST GOING TO GO THROUGH WHAT THE LAST ITERATION THAT WAS SENT OUT BY TIFFANY.

SO I HAVE ITEM NINE. ITEM TEN. ITEM 11. ITEM 12.

CAN YOU PLEASE SLOW DOWN, J. BECAUSE WE DO WRITE THEM DOWN JUST TO MAKE SURE.

DO YOU HAVE OKAY. I APOLOGIZE, LET ME START AGAIN.

ITEM NINE. BY COMMISSIONER RAMSEY. ITEM TEN BY COMMISSIONER RAMSEY.

ITEM 11 BY COMMISSIONER RAMSEY. ITEM 12 BY COMMISSIONER RAMSEY.

ITEM 13 BY COMMISSIONER RAMSEY. ITEM 14 BY COMMISSIONER RAMSEY.

ITEM 15. BY COMMISSIONER RAMSEY. ITEM 16. BY COMMISSIONER RAMSEY.

ITEM 17. COMMISSIONER. RAMSEY. ITEM 18. COMMISSIONER.

RAMSEY. 19. COMMISSIONER. RAMSEY. 20. COMMISSIONER.

RAMSEY. 20 IS A NO ACTION. OKAY, SO THAT'S NO LONGER ON THERE.

24 BY COMMISSIONER RAMSEY. 28 BY ELLIS, RAMSEY AND BRIONES.

29 BY ALL FOUR MEMBERS OF THE COURT. PRESENT.

ITEM 30. AGAIN, ALL FOUR MEMBERS OF THE COURT PRESENT 30.

30 IS NO ACTION. I'M SORRY. IS 30. NO ACTION.

30, DEFINITELY. OKAY. OKAY, GREAT. THANK YOU.

35. ALL RIGHT. 35. 30. 30 WILL BE WITH ITEM 44.

62 AND SIX. 14. ALL RIGHT. FOR 62 AND SIX FOR TWO.

OKAY, GREAT. ALL RIGHT. 35. 49. 50.

51. 52. EXCUSE ME. I HAD IS THERE A NO ACTION ON 50? NO, BUT WE CAN WE CAN PUT. NO, THAT WAS JUST A PRESENTATION THAT WAS HAD BEEN REQUESTED.

OKAY. YOU WANT IT, RIGHT? YOU WANT THAT PRESENTATION? YEAH, I KNOW I HAD A NOTE THAT IT WAS A NO ACTION ITEM.

OKAY. SO IS IT AN ACTION ITEM? NO. NO ACTION.

IT'S JUST A PRESENTATION. JUST. OKAY. IT'S NOT.

IT'S JUST A PRESENTATION. GOT IT. ITEM. SHE SAYS I'M SORRY.

ITEM 50 SAYS DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION FOR 5049.

YES, IT'S JUST A PRESENTATION. SO THAT'LL BE CONSIDERED A NO ACTION, JUST A PRESENTATION.

GOTCHA. THAT'S CORRECT. SO 49 IS A PRESENTATION.

[03:55:05]

SO NO ACTION ON BOTH 49 AND 50. IS THAT WHAT YOU'RE SAYING? PLEASE LEAVE IT ON. RIGHT. OKAY. YEAH, WE'LL JUST LEAVE IT ON.

OKAY. 49 AND 50 ARE BOTH ON 5152.

212 218. 224. 226.

240. AND I HAVE. TWO 5252. 257, 258, 262, 265. AND 266 BY COMMISSIONER 63. I'M SORRY 263 BY COMMISSIONER ALLISON.

THAT WILL BE TAKEN TOGETHER. YES. 268 300.

313. 336. 344. 366 DO YOU MEAN 36 OR. 366? I HAVE 366. BUT IF THAT'S NOT NEEDED BY 13663 86.

HE'S 366. I APOLOGIZE, I CAN'T READ MY OWN HAND.

386. YES. THREE 386. WELL, OKAY. 386 429 450.

FOUR SIX. I'M GOING TO PUT 409. 409. YOU'RE PULLING IT FOR DISCUSSION, RIGHT? YES. OKAY. FOUR NINE. FOUR NINE. 462. 478. 479.

79. FIVE. 13. FIVE. 14. I'M SORRY. YEAH. THAT'S RIGHT.

WHAT DID YOU SAY ABOUT IT? 514 HAS BEEN BEEN DONE ALREADY.

THE SPORTS AUTHORITY. YEAH. 515. YOU HAVE 513.

I DO HAVE 513. YES, SIR. THAT. THAT WAS NO ACTION, ISN'T IT? J WE STILL NEED TO TALK. YES IT IS. NO ACTION.

BUT I DON'T KNOW IF HE WANTED TO DISCUSS. YOU WANTED ON DISCUSSION, RIGHT? YEAH. 515.

525. 61. 614. AND THAT'S ALL I HAVE.

IS THERE A MOTION FOR THE CONSENT AGENDA? MY GO.

I'M SORRY. REAL QUICK, JUST TO THE APPOINTMENTS THAT OUR EXECUTIVE SESSION ITEMS 578 THROUGH 589, ARE THOSE GOING TO BE APPROVED BACK ON APPOINTMENTS? TOM YOU'RE RIGHT. NO I'M GOOD. YEAH. SO THOSE WILL BE APPROVED AS PRESENTED.

AND THEN HOW ABOUT EXECUTIVE SESSION ITEM 590? WILL THAT ONE ALSO BE APPROVED AS PRESENTED? I MEAN, WHAT IS THAT ONE? COULD YOU PLEASE REPEAT THE NUMBER? 590.

WHAT IS THAT? YOU PROBABLY ON THE CYBERSECURITY I BELIEVE.

I BELIEVE, DIRECTOR I BELIEVE THAT ITEM WAS PULLED RIGHT. DIRECTOR MENON PULLED. THAT IS MY UNDERSTANDING.

SHE DIDN'T NEED IT. YEAH, IT WAS GOING TO BE A LONG DAY.

OKAY. NO ACTION. SO NO ACTION. YES, MA'AM. NO ACTION.

AND ALL OTHER ITEMS ON EXECUTIVE SESSION CAN BE PUT ONTO THE CONSENT AGENDA.

COMMISSIONER? YES. YEP. YEAH. AND JUST TO REMEMBER, 399 IS NO ACTION.

THAT'S RIGHT. 399 IS NO ACTION. YEAH. ARE WE GOOD, EVERYBODY? I THINK SO. WE'RE ABOUT TO ROLL. WE GO. OKAY.

MOTION MADE FOR THE CONSENT AGENDA. ARE YOU OKAY? OVER THERE BY COMMISSIONER GARCIA AND SECOND.

BY SECOND COMMISSIONER RAMSEY. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, VOTE AYE.

AYE AYE. ALL THOSE OPPOSED, VOTE NAY. FOUR EYES, NO NAYS.

IT PASSED. HOW MANY ITEMS WAS THAT? A BUNCH. OKAY, LET'S TAKE A FIVE MINUTE.

THAT'S POOR. OKAY. LET'S TAKE FIVE, FIVE, TEN MINUTES. YOU'RE ALL RIGHT. YEAH. OKAY.

TEN MINUTES, TEN MINUTES. IT IS NOW. 352. AND COMMISSIONERS COURT WILL TAKE A TEN MINUTE BREAK.

COME BACK AT 402. OLD HABITS DIE HARD. 408 AND COMMISSIONERS COURT WILL COME BACK IN THE ORDER.

SO WHAT I'LL DO IS, I KNOW WE'RE WAITING ON COMMISSIONER GARCIA, BUT A COUPLE OF LITTLE CLEANUP ITEMS WE NEED TO DO.

ONE ITEM WE I PUT ITEMS 302 AND 602 ON THE CONSENT A LITTLE TOO QUICKLY.

SO I WANT TO MOVE TO RECONSIDER THOSE ITEMS. IS THERE ANY OBJECTION TO MY MOTION TO RECONSIDER ITEMS 302 AND 602? HEARING NONE. WE'LL RECONSIDER THEM. AND NOW AND MAY I ASK, PLEASE, THAT WE TAKE NO ACTION ON 302 AND 602? THAT'S A MOTION. I'LL SECOND IT. MORE WORK NEEDS TO BE DONE.

YEAH. MOTION MADE BY BRIONES. I'LL SECOND IT.

ANY OBJECTION? HEARING NONE. 302 AND 602. WELL, THERE'LL BE NO ACTION.

[04:00:01]

ELLIS FOR A MOTION TO RECONSIDER. AND THEN NO ACTION.

YES. OKAY. THANK YOU. AND THEN LET'S DO THE HEARINGS WHILE WAITING ON COMMISSIONER GARCIA TO COME BACK.

THERE'S A REQUEST FOR A PUBLIC HEARING BY THE OFFICE OF COUNTY ENGINEER FOR A PUBLIC HEARING FOR APPROVAL OF REVISION OF SUBDIVISION PLAT

[Public Hearings]

PUBLIC HEARING ON PAGE 65. I WILL NOW OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING TO CONSIDER APPROVAL FOR REVISION OF THE SUBDIVISION PLAT ENTITLED ARCADIAN GARDENS, SECTION THREE, PARTIAL REPLAT NUMBER ONE. TIFFANY, IS THERE ANYONE WHO'D LIKE TO SPEAK FOR OR AGAINST THIS ITEM? NO SPEAKERS. NO SPEAKERS. IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION? IF THERE'S NO DISCUSSION, THANK YOU. SPEAKERS. THANK YOU FOR NO DISCUSSION. I NOW CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING. IS THERE A MOTION ON THIS ITEM? MAKE A MOTION.

I'LL SECOND IT. COMMISSIONER RAMSEY MADE A MOTION. I'LL SECOND. AND HAVING BEEN MOVED AND SECONDED. ALL IN FAVOR OF APPROVING, I GUESS. GOT TO READ THIS. THE REVISION OF SUBDIVISION PLAT ENTITLED ARCADIAN GARDENS, SECTION THREE, PARTIAL REPLAT NUMBER ONE ON LOCAL GOVERNMENT CODE 232-09C1 PRECINCT THREE CI, I.

ALL THOSE WHO OPPOSED SAY NAY. THREE I'S ON. THIS ITEM IS APPROVED.

J AM I FOLLOWING THE LAW? DOING A GREAT JOB, COMMISSIONER.

MOTION PASSES 517. AND NOW OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING TO CONSIDER APPROVAL FOR REVISION OF SUBDIVISION PLAT ENTITLED EL CIELO SILO. WHICH ONE IS IT? CIELO ADDITION. PARCEL. HOW DO YOU SAY IT? CIELO.

CIELO. ADDITION. PARTIAL REPLAT NUMBER ONE. TIFFANY, IS THERE ANYONE WHO'D LIKE TO SPEAK FOR OR AGAINST THIS ITEM? NO, SIR. OH, YEAH. PLEASE COME ON UP. PLEASE SAY YOU SAY YOUR NAME FOR THE RECORD.

YOU WANT TO CALL HIM UP AS A SPEAKER? OH, NO.

SPEAKER. OKAY. SINCE THERE ARE NO SPEAKERS, IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION? HEARING NO DISCUSSION. THANK YOU. SPEAKERS. THANK YOU FOR NO DISCUSSION. I NOW CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING. IS THERE A MOTION ON THIS ITEM? MAKE A MOTION HAVE BEEN MOVED.

AND SECOND BY ELLIS. MOVED BY RAMZY. SECOND BY ELLIS.

ALL IN FAVOR OF APPROVING THE REVISION OF SUBDIVISION PLAT ENTITLED EL CIELO.

ADDITIONS. ADDITIONS. PARTIAL REPLAT NUMBER ONE UNDER LOCAL GOVERNMENT CODE 2320091.

PRECINCT THREE SAY AYE. AYE. ALL OPPOSED. SAY NAY.

THE MOTION PASSES FOR FIVE. OH. THANK YOU. AND NOW, JUDGE, WE'LL TURN IT BACK TO BACK TO YOU. THANK YOU SO MUCH, COLLEAGUES. I'M SORRY, JUST TO RECONFIRM.

SO THE LAST ITEM, 517, IS FIVE ZERO. YES. YES.

AND CAN I ADD MYSELF TO THE CONSENT AGENDA? I I MOVED TO RECONSIDER THE CONSENT AGENDA.

YEAH. IS THAT ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, VOTE? AYE. OKAY.

ANY OPPOSED? NAY. NOBODY'S OPPOSED. JUDGE WOULD LIKE TO BE ADDED TO THE CONSENT AGENDA.

VOTING AYE. IS THERE ANY OBJECTION? HEARING NONE IS DONE.

THANK YOU. THAT'S HOW WE DO IT IN AUSTIN. SO, CAN I SAY IT WAS A MOTION BY YOU, COMMISSIONER ELLIS, SECONDED BY BRIONES. BRIONES. OKAY. ALL RIGHT.

THANK YOU SO MUCH AGAIN, FOLKS. SO I HEARD THAT WE WENT OVER THE SPORTS AUTHORITY ITEM AND THEN THIS ONE.

[Departments (Part 2 of 2)]

IS THAT RIGHT? YES. OKAY. SO AS I'M SO READY FOR THE LIVING WAGE, I'M THRILLED ABOUT IT.

AND I KNOW THERE'S A COUPLE OF JUDGES HERE THAT HAD ASKED, DID YOU ALL THREE JUDGES HERE THAT HAD ASKED.

SO IS THERE ITEM 300? CORRECT. SO I'M I'M MORE THAN HAPPY TO DEFER.

IF IT'S QUICK, I NEED MY ITEM. AND I THINK THE JUDGE IS GOING TO HAVE TO LEAVE PRETTY SOON.

I'LL BE OKAY. OKAY. SO LET'S LET'S DO ITEM 300.

OKAY. WAS THE TAX ASSESSOR HERE? SHE WAS.

SHE LEFT. SO SHE'LL. WILL SHE COME BACK? I THINK SO.

I JUST DON'T WANT TO KEEP HER WAITING. SO MAYBE WE'LL WE'LL WE'LL DO THIS.

WHAT IF WE. WHAT IF WE SET A TEXAS ESSER? AFTER THIS, WE'LL TAKE HER SO THAT SHE GETS SOME LEAD TIME.

AND THEN WE DO THE WAGE ITEM. OKAY. ALL RIGHT.

GOOD AFTERNOON. MY NAME IS ERIKA RAMIREZ. I SERVE AS JUDGE OF HARRIS COUNTY CRIMINAL COURT AT LAW NUMBER EIGHT.

AND I'M THE PRESIDING JUDGE FOR THE 16 COUNTY CRIMINAL COURTS AT LAW.

WE'RE HERE TODAY WITH SEVERAL OF MY COLLEAGUES TO RESPECTFULLY REQUEST THE SUPPORT FOR THE CREATION OF FOUR NEW COUNTY CRIMINAL COURTS AT LAW.

[04:05:03]

IN THE MISDEMEANOR CASELOAD CONTINUES TO RISE.

OUR JUDGES HAVE BEEN WORKING AT A BREAKNECK PACE TO KEEP UP WITH THE INCREASE IN NEW CASES, WHILE ALSO DRASTICALLY CUTTING THE BACKLOG. BUT THAT PACE IS NOT SUSTAINABLE INDEFINITELY.

WE FEAR THAT FURTHER, WE GO WITHOUT. WITH THE GROWING CASELOAD AND WITH NO NEW COURTS, THERE WILL BE CONSEQUENCES TO THE PUBLIC SAFETY OF OUR COMMUNITY, WHICH IS A CONCERN THAT SHOULD BE AT THE FOREFRONT OF OUR LEADERS NATIONAL STANDARDS.

SAY WE SHOULD HAVE TEN COURTS. WE'RE ONLY ASKING FOR FOUR.

ADDING FOUR COURTS WILL BETTER SERVE OUR COMMUNITIES GROWING POPULATION AND INCREASING CASELOAD AND HELP ENSURE ACCESS TO JUSTICE, EFFICIENT AND TIMELY COURT PROCEEDINGS, AND VERY IMPORTANTLY, OUR COMMUNITY SAFETY.

WITH THAT, I'LL TURN IT OVER TO MY COLLEAGUES TO TALK ABOUT HOW THIS REQUEST WILL IMPACT THE PUBLIC THAT WE SERVE.

THANK YOU, JUDGE HIDALGO. COMMISSIONERS. GOOD AFTERNOON.

MY NAME IS ED WELLS. I'M COURT MANAGER FOR THE COUNTY COURTS AT LAW.

WE BELIEVE IN MAKING DATA DRIVEN DECISIONS. SO I WANT TO SHARE SOME KEY DATA POINTS WITH YOU.

ACCORDING TO THE 2023 ANNUAL STATISTICAL REPORT FOR THE TEXAS JUDICIARY FROM THE TEXAS OFFICE OF COURT ADMINISTRATION.

MISDEMEANOR CASES INCREASED BY 8% STATEWIDE. MISDEMEANOR FAMILY VIOLENCE CASES INCREASED BY 4%.

MISDEMEANOR ASSAULT CASES BY 12%. MISDEMEANOR THEFT CASES INCREASED BY 23%.

ALSO IN 2023, THE NATIONAL CENTER FOR STATE COURTS, A NATIONAL LEADER IN ASSESSING JUDICIAL WORKLOADS, RELEASED A JUDICIAL WORKLOAD STUDY THAT, BASED ON CASE FILINGS, CALLS FOR HARRIS COUNTY TO HAVE 27.5 COUNTY CRIMINAL COURTS AT LAW.

WE HAVE 16. THAT'S A HUGE DIFFERENCE. THE STUDY SPECIFICALLY NOTED THAT THE EXPANDING USE OF POLICE CAMERA FOOTAGE AND FORENSIC LAB WORK IN DWI AND DOMESTIC VIOLENCE CASES ARE LEADING TO INCREASED EVIDENTIARY HEARING TIME AND GROWING CASE RESOLUTION.

THOSE TWO TYPES OF CASES MAKE UP A SIGNIFICANT PORTION OF OUR MISDEMEANOR CASELOAD.

WE ARE COGNIZANT OF BUDGET LIMITATIONS. WE KNOW EVERYONE HAS NEEDS, AND THERE'S ONLY SO MUCH MONEY TO GO AROUND.

WE'RE NOT ASKING FOR THE TEN COURTS RECOMMENDED, BUT WE DO BELIEVE FOUR ADDITIONAL COURTS WILL SIGNIFICANTLY IMPROVE ACCESS TO JUSTICE AND MOVE CASES MORE RAPIDLY THROUGH THE SYSTEM. GOOD AFTERNOON.

JUDGE. COMMISSIONERS. ALEX SALGADO, JUDGE, COUNTY CRIMINAL COURT AT LAW NUMBER ONE, WE CONTINUE TO PLACE A STRONG FOCUS ON BEST PRACTICES, INCREASED EFFICIENCY, GOOD LEADERSHIP AND DATA DRIVEN DECISION MAKING.

AND THAT WORK IS PAYING DIVIDENDS. SINCE JANUARY OF 2022, WE'VE CUT THE BACKLOG BY 72%, GOING FROM OVER 24,000 CASES TO UNDER 7000 BACKLOGGED CASES ACROSS OUR MISDEMEANOR COURTS. DURING THAT SAME TIME FRAME, WE'VE CLEARED OVER 184,000 CASES OVERALL, AN AVERAGE OF 11,501 CASES PER COURT. OUR AVERAGE CLEARANCE RATES ARE WELL OVER 100%.

WE'RE CLEARING MORE CASES THAN ARE FILED EACH MONTH. WE'RE PROUD OF THE WORK WE'VE DONE TO CUT THE BACKLOG.

IT GOES A LONG WAY TOWARD ENSURING THAT DOCKETS ARE MORE EFFICIENT AND JUSTICE IS MORE ACCESSIBLE. BUT THAT PACE IS NOT SUSTAINABLE IN THE LONG TERM.

AS THE COUNTY CONTINUES TO GROW, MORE MISDEMEANOR CASES ARE FILED.

WE SEE MORE COMPLEX CASES THAT TAKE MORE TIME.

WE MUST ADD NEW COURTS TO ENSURE WE DON'T FALL FURTHER BEHIND.

THANK YOU. I BELIEVE THIS IS MY FIRST TIME WEARING GLASSES BEFORE MY APPEARANCE WITH COMMISSIONERS COURT.

I GUESS I'M AGING IN THIS POSITION, BUT GREETINGS TO ALL OF THE COMMISSIONERS.

JUDGE HIDALGO, I AM TORIA FINCH. I'M THE PRESIDING JUDGE OF HARRIS COUNTY CRIMINAL COURT AT LAW NUMBER NINE.

WE NEED OUR COURTS TO BE MORE TRAUMA INFORMED.

WHEN SOMEONE IS IN COURT, THEY EXPECT THE PROCEEDINGS TO BE FAIR, THE JUDGES TO BE IMPARTIAL, AND THE CASES TO BE RESOLVED IN A JUST AND TIMELY MANNER.

WHETHER YOU'RE THE VICTIM OR THE DEFENDANT, YOU WANT A JUST RESOLUTION.

COURTS NEED THE RESOURCES AND TIME TO DO JUST THAT.

AS CASELOADS INCREASE AND DOCKETS GROW, THERE IS LESS TIME TO SPEND ON EACH CASE AND MORE TIME PASSES AS HEARINGS ARE RESET.

COURTS MUST BE MUST HAVE THE ABILITY TO NOT ONLY ADDRESS THE ALLEGED CRIME, BUT ALSO THE WHOLE PERSON ACCUSED OF THE CRIME.

THIS IS IMPORTANT FOR ADDRESSING THE ROOT CAUSES OF CRIME.

OUR COMMUNITY DEPENDS ON OUR ABILITY TO PROVIDE A SAFE ENVIRONMENT FOR ALL.

ADDITIONALLY, ADDING COUNTY CRIMINAL COURTS IS ESSENTIAL TO ALLEVIATING THE ENORMOUS PRESSURE ON OUR COURT SYSTEM.

WE ANTICIPATE THAT THERE ARE LEGISLATIVE CHANGES THAT WILL HAVE A DIRECT IMPACT ON OUR FUNCTIONALITY, PRESUMING EVEN GREATER DEMANDS, MAKING RESOURCE EXPANSION EVEN MORE VITAL.

LET US BE PROACTIVE IN ADDRESSING THOSE CONCERNS.

RECENTLY, THIS COURT DID APPROVE FUNDING FOR ADDITIONAL NON-CRIMINAL COURTS, WHICH IS WHICH IS A GREAT STEP FORWARD.

BUT ARGUABLY THERE IS NO GREATER PRIORITY THAT EXISTS THAN COMMUNITY SAFETY.

[04:10:04]

WE THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION AND WE WELCOME YOUR QUESTIONS AT THIS TIME.

COMMISSIONER RAMSEY. THANK YOU ALL. Y'ALL ALSO BRIEFED ME IN MY OFFICE.

THAT WAS MUCH APPRECIATED. THE LEVEL OF DETAIL IS GREAT, BUT I WILL IT IS.

THIS IS THE OBJECTIVE TO GET THESE COURTS IN THIS LEGISLATIVE SESSION.

I'M HAPPY TO SAY THE OBJECTIVE IS TO GET AS MANY COURTS AS WE CAN OF THE FOUR IN THIS LEGISLATIVE SESSION, RECOGNIZING THAT TODAY WE DON'T HAVE FACILITIES TO START A COURT OPERATING IMMEDIATELY AND RECOGNIZING THAT TAKES TIME.

BUT IF WE WAIT UNTIL THE NEXT LEGISLATIVE SESSION, THAT PROBABLY MEANS A COURT WILL NOT BE OPERATING ANY SOONER THAN THREE YEARS FROM NOW, MAYBE THREE AND A HALF. AND THE DEFICIT, ALL THE WORK WE'VE DONE TO REDUCE THE BACKLOG, THAT BACKLOG IS GOING TO START TO INCREASE BECAUSE OF LEGISLATIVE CHANGES, CHANGES TO OUR CASELOAD THAT WE PREDICT WILL BE COMING.

AND SO WE NEED TO ADDRESS THIS NOW. ANYTHING THAT WE CAN DO TO INCREASE THE CAPACITY FOR THESE THESE COURTS IS GOING TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE.

IF THIS WAS URGENT, WHY DID WE HAVE THIS CONVERSATION IN DECEMBER? WE'VE HAD THIS CONVERSATION GOING ON FOR OVER A YEAR.

THIS IS THE FIRST TIME IT'S COME TO COURT. IT'S THE FIRST TIME IT'S COME TO COURT.

YES, SIR. BUT IT'S COME TO YOUR OFFICES. YEAH, I GET IT.

BUT WE REACT TO YOUR. IT'S ON THE COURT AGENDA TODAY.

WHY WASN'T IT ON THE COURT AGENDA IN DECEMBER? I PERSONALLY DID NOT BELIEVE, AND I THINK WE HAD HAD CONVERSATIONS WITH MEMBERS OF YOUR STAFF AND OTHER DEPARTMENTS IN THE COUNTY SUGGESTING OVER A YEAR AGO WE WERE ASKING FOR FOUR ADDITIONAL COURTS FOR THE COUNTY CRIMINAL COURTS.

SO IF THAT WAS COMMUNICATED WELL, THAT'S ON ME, AND I APOLOGIZE FOR THAT.

WHY WASN'T IT ON THE COURT AGENDA IN DECEMBER? THAT WAY IT GIVES YOU THREE EXTRA MONTHS TO SELL THE LEGISLATURE.

THE LEGISLATURE IS NOT THE ISSUE. I SPOKE TO A STATE REP YESTERDAY.

I SPOKE TO THE DIRECTOR OF THE TEXAS OFFICE OF COURT ADMINISTRATION YESTERDAY.

WE'RE IN LINE TO GET THESE COURTS, WHATEVER IS APPROVED FROM COMMISSIONERS COURT WITH THAT RESOLUTION WILL BE ADDED TO THE COURT'S OMNIBUS BILL, AND THEY WILL MOVE FORWARD WITH ALL OTHER COURTS BEING CREATED IN TEXAS DURING THIS LEGISLATIVE SESSION.

WOULD IT HAVE HELPED IF IT WAS IN DECEMBER WHEN IT CAME TO COMMISSIONERS COURT? I CAN'T SAY THAT IT WOULD HAVE HELPED, BECAUSE I DON'T BELIEVE THE TIMING OF IT FROM NOW TO THEN MAKES A DIFFERENCE TO THE LEDGE.

THEY HAVE SEEN THIS REQUEST BEFORE. I'VE BEEN TALKING TO MEMBERS OF THE LEGISLATURE FOR SOME TIME.

SO HOW LONG DO WE HAVE WITH THEM IN TERMS OF OF COURT ACTION HERE? COURT ACTION HERE. WE NEED TO GET A RESOLUTION TO THEM BY EARLY APRIL SO THAT IF IT GOES BEYOND THAT, THEN WE'RE LOOKING AT OUR CIRCLE. CONVERSATION IS WE ARE IN LATE MARCH.

THIS MUST BE THERE IN APRIL IF WE'D HAD THIS CONVERSATION IN DECEMBER, AND IF THERE WERE MORE QUESTIONS AND WE NEEDED TO WORK THROUGH ISSUES, WE'RE DOWN INTO THE FOURTH QUARTER. TIME'S RUNNING OUT.

THERE'S ACTION THAT NEEDS TO BE TAKEN BY THIS COURT.

YES, SIR. APPROVING THE RESOLUTION. AND, YOU KNOW, ALL OF THE CONVERSATIONS TO DATE THAT I'VE HAD WITH MEMBERS OF YOUR STAFFS, WITH OTHER DEPARTMENTS, CRIMINAL COURTS WERE THE PRIORITY.

WE MADE IT VERY CLEAR WE WERE MAKING THESE REQUESTS.

THE TIMING OF THE LEGISLATURE. THE TIMING FOR GETTING IT TO COMMISSIONERS COURT AND MAKING A DECISION.

ALL OF THAT STILL WORKS IN THAT TIMELINE. AND SO IF THE PREFERENCE FOR THE FUTURE IS IT COME MUCH EARLIER TO THE COURT? HAPPY TO DO THAT. OBVIOUSLY WE CAN'T DO THAT THIS TIME.

BUT I KNOW THIS SAME COURT, NOT THIS MAKEUP OF THE COURT, HAS APPROVED COURTS MUCH LATER IN THE PROCESS, AND THEY'VE STILL MOVED FORWARD. SO I YOU KNOW, BASED ON THAT PRECEDENT, I DON'T SEE ANY ISSUES WITH THIS MOVING FORWARD.

I GET THE BUDGET SIDE OF IT. I UNDERSTAND THE CONSTRUCTION ISSUES WITH BUILDING SPACE FOR COURTS 100%.

YOU CAN'T DO THAT OVERNIGHT. YOU KNOW, WE'VE HAD THE CONVERSATIONS IN THE PAST ABOUT THE NEED FOR A MASTER PLAN FOR JUSTICE.

FACILITIES. HARRIS COUNTY IS GROWING TOO FAST.

ALL OF OUR WE'RE OUT OF SPACE TODAY, RIGHT? BUT THESE COURTS, WITHOUT THEIR CREATION, IT'S GOING TO HAVE BAD IMPACTS TO WHAT'S HAPPENING IN OUR COURTROOMS. OUR JUDGES CAN'T CONTINUE AT THE PACE THEY ARE WORKING AT RIGHT NOW.

[04:15:02]

WHEN THEY HAVE 100 CASES ON THEIR DOCKETS EVERY SINGLE DAY AND PEOPLE LOOK AT IT AND SEE, OKAY, JUDGES, WHAT ARE THEY DOING WHEN THEY'RE NOT IN THEIR COURTROOM? THEY'RE FINISHING THE WORK THAT WAS DONE IN THEIR COURTROOM BECAUSE THINGS THAT THEY PRONOUNCE IN THE COURTROOM, THEN THEY HAVE TO GO BACK AND FOLLOW UP AND REVIEW THE DOCUMENTS AND SIGN THE ACTUAL DOCUMENTS ELECTRONICALLY AFTER THE FACT.

THAT DOESN'T HAPPEN ALL THE TIME IN THE COURTROOM.

SO COURTS ARE EXTREMELY BUSY, AND WE'VE BEEN WORKING EXTREMELY HARD TO DO EVERYTHING WE POSSIBLY CAN TO KEEP UP WITH A CASELOAD THAT IS SIMPLY TOO MUCH. I MEAN, THE NATIONAL CENTER FOR STATE COURTS DID A STUDY HERE COMMISSIONED BY HARRIS COUNTY THAT SUGGESTED INSTEAD OF 16, WE NEED 27.5 COURTS. WHEN THEY DID THAT SAME STUDY STATEWIDE AND LOOKED AT COUNTY COURTS, AT LAW ACROSS THE STATE OF TEXAS AND USE THOSE WEIGHTED CASELOADS, IT SUGGESTED WE NEEDED AN ADDITIONAL 20.

THE DIFFERENCE BEING HOW EFFICIENT OUR COURTS ARE OPERATING TODAY.

AGAIN, WE CANNOT SUSTAIN THAT. COMMISSIONER BRIONES, ELLIS AND GARCIA.

SO THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. JUDGES AND, MR. WELLS, I HAVE DEEP RESPECT FOR WHAT YOU DO EVERY DAY TO ADVANCE JUSTICE AND ADVANCE PUBLIC SAFETY. SO THANK YOU. AND I HEAR YOU LOUD AND CLEAR WITH REGARD TO WHAT THE DATA DICTATES IN TERMS OF ADDITIONAL COURTS.

AND I KNOW YOU'RE ASKING FOR A FRACTION OF THE TOTAL THAT THE DATA WARRANTS.

SO THANK YOU. NO PUN INTENDED WITH THE WARRANTS.

BUT SO I HAVE THREE AREAS THAT I WANTED PLEASE MORE INFORMATION ON.

AND I KNOW WE HAVE SPOKEN RECENTLY, BUT THE CATEGORIES FALL INTO SIMILAR TO COMMISSIONER RAMSEY, THE LEGISLATIVE TIMELINE. AND I'D LIKE TO HEAR FROM OUR DIRECTOR OF IGA, TAMMY NARVAEZ, AND THEN FROM DOCTOR RAHMAN ON THE ENGINEERING PIECE, AND THEN HOW THAT BLEEDS INTO THE BUDGET AND KIND OF PERHAPS STAIRCASING, PHASING, ETC..

SO ON THE LEGISLATIVE TIMELINE, DIRECTOR NARVAEZ, I BELIEVE YOU'RE ON VIRTUALLY.

IS THAT CORRECT? I AM COMMISSIONER. I'M TALKING TO YOU.

CAN YOU SEE ME? YES. THANK YOU. TAMMY. COULD YOU PLEASE COMMENT ON WHAT YOU THINK OF THE FEASIBILITY OF THIS TIMELINE, GIVEN THE DYNAMICS AT PLAY AND IN RESPONSE TO WHAT MR. WELLS SHARED, PLEASE. SO, ACCORDING TO THE CHAIR OF TO CHAIRMAN LEACH, I THINK WE HAVE UNTIL APRIL 4TH, IF I'M NOT MISTAKEN, TO REQUEST TO BE INCLUDED IN THE OMNIBUS.

AND IT NEEDS TO GO WITH A RESOLUTION FROM COMMISSIONERS COURT AND ALSO AN ANALYSIS, A WORKLOAD ANALYSIS.

SO I GUESS THAT'S ABOUT A WEEK LESS THAN A WEEK.

TO BE INCLUDED IN THE IN AN OMNIBUS. OKAY. THANK YOU.

DIRECTOR, IF YOU COULD STICK AROUND BECAUSE I'M SURE MY COLLEAGUES MIGHT HAVE OTHER QUESTIONS WITH REGARD TO THE ENGINEERING SPACING, FACILITIES PIECE. DOCTOR RAHMAN, WOULD YOU PLEASE COMMENT? GOOD AFTERNOON. MEMBERS OF THE COURT. YEAH. YES.

YOU KNOW, WE TALKED ABOUT THE ESTIMATED COST.

IT'S APPROXIMATELY 3.5 MILLION PER CODE. OUR OFFICE IS STAND READY TO ASSIST THE COURT OF LAW.

IF THIS GETS APPROVED. WE WILL HAVE TO LOOK FOR A SPACE.

IT'S NOT THAT WE HAVE THE SPACE. BUT THE COURT MAKES THE MOTION OR GETS APPROVED OR LEGISLATIVELY, WILL WILL BE ABLE TO LOOK AT THE SPACE AND SEE WHAT WE HAVE AVAILABLE IN DOWNTOWN.

AND BASED BASED ON YOUR CURRENT ASSESSMENT OF SPACE, WE HAVE.

SO AS BEST THINKING ON. YEAH. SO IN TERMS OF ASSESSMENT, WE HAVE AVAILABLE COMMERCIAL SPACE.

AND WE HAVE SOME CEILING ISSUES. IN THE LAST QUOTE WE TALKED ABOUT SOME OF THE CODE STANDARDS IS WE NEED 14FT HEIGHT OF CEILINGS.

THAT'S NOT A IT'S THE GUIDELINES. FEDERAL GUIDELINES.

IT'S NOT A HARD AND FAST REQUIREMENTS. BUT I THINK WE'LL BE ABLE TO FIND A SPACE.

THANK YOU. AND DO YOU AGREE WITH THE 3.5 MILLION PER COURT IS SIMPLY THE INFRASTRUCTURE? THAT'S CORRECT. OKAY. AND THEN GOING TO THE BUDGET, MR. WELLS OR JUDGE RAMIREZ OR JUDGE FINCH OR JUDGE SALGADO? THE BUDGET, THE LABOR COSTS. CAN YOU TALK ABOUT THE FIRST, THE ONE TIME INVESTMENT, ANY KIND OF TECHNOLOGY, ETC., AND THEN ONGOING LABOR AND NON-LABOR COSTS? SURE. THE ONE TIME INVESTMENT IS RELATIVELY SMALL PIECE OTHER THAN THE FACILITIES.

RIGHT. THE BUDGET IS LARGELY LABOR. THAT'S NO SURPRISE, BECAUSE IT'S NOT JUST THE COURT STAFF.

IT INCLUDES STAFF FOR THE SHERIFF, THE CLERK, THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY, PRETRIAL SERVICES AND COMMUNITY SUPERVISION AND CORRECTIONS.

[04:20:01]

THAT INCLUDES ALL THEIR MATERIALS AND SUPPLIES, THE EQUIPMENT, FEES AND SERVICES THAT WOULD BE ASSOCIATED WITH EXPENSES IN THOSE COURTS, AND TRANSPORTATION AND TRAVEL EDUCATION FOR THOSE INDIVIDUALS.

AND THAT'S FOR ALL OF THAT, FOR ALL THE DIFFERENT DEPARTMENTS, NOT JUST THE COURTS.

IT'S ABOUT 2.6, 2.7 PER COURT. IF YOU LOOK AT IT AT A COURT UNIT.

OKAY. THANK YOU. I MIGHT HAVE MORE QUESTIONS, BUT I KNOW MY COLLEAGUES DO.

THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER ELLIS AND THEN COMMISSIONER GARCIA.

MR. RAMOS. EITHER. DIANA, WHAT ARE YOUR NUMBERS PER COURT? I JUST WANT TO SEE IF YOU AGREE WITH THIS. WE HAVE AGREEMENT ON THE NUMBERS. THE TOTAL COST FOR THE FOUR IS 10.8 MILLION PLUS.

THE FACILITY COSTS TOTAL COST 10.8 MILLION PLUS FACILITY COSTS.

DID YOU SAY 3 MILLION? THREE. IT'S 3.5. BUT THAT THAT IS JUST BUILT.

IF I UNDERSTAND YOU RIGHT, DOCTOR RAMON, THAT'S THE ACTUAL FACILITY WITH ALL OF THE AV EQUIPMENT, THE SECURITY, YOU KNOW, STANCHIONS, ETC. IS 3.5 MILLION.

THAT'S NOT NECESSARILY ALSO FINDING A NEW FACILITY THAT WE WOULD EITHER RENT OR BUY.

SO I'M JUST TRYING TO GET A SENSE OF THE NUMBER. SO I'M AT 14.3. YEAH THAT'S THE CORRECT ANALYSIS. THERE'S SOME EXTRA TO THE 14.3 MILLION.

YES. YES, SIR. DOCTOR RAMON, WAS IT 3.5 MILLION PER COURT? 3.5 MILLION PER PER PER COURTROOM. PER COURT.

SO THAT'S 14 MILLION FOR FOUR COURTS PLUS A BUILDING IF WE NEED TO RENT OR BUY, PLUS THE 10.8 MILLION IN TOTAL ANNUAL COSTS. I DON'T HAVE MY SLIDE RULE, BUT WHAT DOES THAT COME TO? IT'S LIKE 2425. AND THEN FOR THE CIVIL COURTS, IF THOSE ARE CREATED, WHAT'S THAT TAB THAT CAME UP? OH, MAN, YOU'RE MAKING ME GO DEEP, DEEP, DEEP INTO MY KNOWLEDGE. CAN YOU GIVE ME ONE SECOND? I DON'T REMEMBER OFF THE TOP OF MY HEAD. IT'S KIND OF GOOD TO KNOW. IT'S JUST.

IT'S JUST HELPFUL. THEY'RE MORE EXPENSIVE. I BELIEVE IT'LL BE MORE THAN.

OH, SORRY. THEY'RE THEY'RE THEY'RE CHEAPER BECAUSE THEY DON'T REQUIRE AS MANY SUPPORT STAFF.

BUT JUST GIVE YOU GIVE ME ONE SECOND, I'LL GET IT.

AND THEN I WOULD JUST SAY TO TO THE JUDGES AND YOU MR..

WELL, WHAT I SENSE IS GOING ON IS WE KIND OF TALKING OVER ONE ANOTHER.

LIKE YOU SAID, YOU TALK TO LEGISLATORS, I WOULD SUGGEST YOU TALK TO THEM AND ASK WHEN THEY READ THE NATIONAL STUDY AND ALL OF THAT, THAT THEY THINK ABOUT THAT WHEN THEY PUT A REVENUE CAP ON OUR ABILITY TO RAISE REVENUE, IT JUST DIDN'T COME OUT OF THE SKY.

NONE OF THEM WOULD BE OUT SAYING, OH YEAH, HARRIS COUNTY OR THE URBAN COUNTIES OUGHT TO HAVE MORE MONEY.

WE SHOULDN'T PUT A CAP ON AND THEN TO GO IN AND RESTRICT OUR ABILITY TO REDUCE THE BUDGET.

SO WHEN YOU SAY YOU'RE NOT ASKING FOR ALL OF THEM NOW, DOES THAT IMPLY YOU THINK SOMETHING'S GOING TO HAPPEN? WELL, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE MORE MONEY NEXT YEAR. I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE I KNOW ABOUT IT AS WE, AS WE'RE SPENDING AROUND HERE. I MEAN, DO YOU THINK THAT SOMETHING'S SOMETHING'S GOING TO HAPPEN? I MEAN, WE WON'T BE GETTING ANY FEDERAL MONEY UNLESS, YOU KNOW, SOMETHING DOESN'T IMPROVE AT ALL.

IT JUST RECOGNIZES THE REALITIES OF THE BUDGET SITUATION IN HARRIS COUNTY, AND THAT IF WE COULD POSSIBLY FUND ONE COURT OR TWO COURT IN THIS SESSION AND THEN DEFER THE OTHERS TO THE NEXT, BUT HAVE CONSTRUCTION PLANS FOR FACILITIES FOR THOSE COURTS IN THE FUTURE? BUT TODAY YOU GOT TO HAVE THE MONEY, IS WHAT I'M SAYING.

AND WHEN WE WHEN THERE'S A RESTRICTION ON WHAT WE CAN BEFORE WE HAVE TO GO TO VOTERS.

SO EVERYBODY COMES IN AS THOUGH THIS IS JUST MONOPOLY, YOU KNOW, JUST COME IN AND SAY, ALL YOU GOT TO DO IS ASK AND THOU SHALT RECEIVE.

I MEAN, MAYBE IT USED TO BE THAT WAY. NO, KNOW, MAYBE IT USED TO BE THAT WAY, BUT WE REALLY DON'T HAVE THAT POWER NOW.

SO I WOULD JUST SAY YOU SAID YOU TALK TO PLENTY OF LEGISLATORS, CALL THEM BACK.

MAYBE YOU'RE TALKING TO THE ONES THAT DIDN'T VOTE FOR THE REVENUE CAP. I DON'T KNOW, BUT I'M JUST SAYING WE REALLY ARE RESTRAINED.

BUT IT'S SORT OF LIKE I GO IN THESE MEETINGS AND IT'S LIKE IT'S AN ALTERNATE UNIVERSE.

BUT I MEAN, REALLY, I'M SINCERE ABOUT IT. IT'S SORT OF LIKE EVERYBODY'S JUST TALKING OVER ONE ANOTHER.

WHERE DOES THE MONEY COME FROM WHEN THESE REQUESTS COME IN? AT SOME POINT WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO MAKE REALLY SEVERE CUTS.

WE'RE NOT WHERE THE CITY IS NOW, BUT IT'S A REAL PROBLEM.

SO IF YOU TAKE THIS, YOU GOT THE NUMBER. YET ON THE CIVIL COURTS I VOTED AGAINST THOSE. BY THE WAY, THE LAST NUMBER I SEE IS 3.2 MILLION IN TOTAL PER COURT ANNUALLY.

OR CAN YOU WHAT ARE START UP COSTS AND WHAT'S THE COMMISSION? I THINK WE'RE ASKING THE SAME THING. YEAH. BECAUSE WAS IT FIVE COURTS? I'M JUST I'M GOING OFF MEMORY. I'M JUST GUESSING IT'S 3.2 FOR THE STAFFING.

AND THEY WOULD HAVE A SIMILAR START UP COST. SO COSTS.

THE TOTAL AMOUNT FOR THE CIVIL COURTS THAT WE VOTED ON WOULD HAVE BEEN 12.8.

SO THAT'S 12.8. PLUS THERE WAS 4.4. SO THAT'S 36.

[04:25:07]

SO THERE'S OPERATING AND THERE'S ONE TIME CAPITAL COSTS RIGHT.

SO THE OPERATING IS THE YEAH IT'S 3.2 FOR DISTRICT COURT 3.2 TIMES FOUR IS 12.8 12.8 PLUS THE 10.8 FOR THESE FOUR. CORRECT. CORRECT. SO THAT'S 37.

THIS IS THE ONE TIME INFRASTRUCTURE. NO. THESE ARE THE ONGOING OPERATIONAL 22 AND ONGOING OPERATING.

THEN THERE'S ALL THE THE PHYSICAL COSTS FOR THE CAPITAL FOR THE NEW SPACES.

SO WE WOULD NEED EIGHT NEW COURTROOMS FOR AND FOR SO IT WOULD PROBABLY TAKE ANOTHER BUILDING.

AND AND PLEASE DON'T DON'T MISUNDERSTAND US WHEN WE'RE SAYING NO ON ON IN RECOMMENDING NO ON ON THE BUDGET.

YOU KNOW, WE UNDERSTAND SOMETIMES YOU KNOW AN OUNCE OF PREVENTION IS WORTH A POUND OF CURE.

AND, YOU KNOW, WE ARE CONCERNED ABOUT WHAT THIS CAN MEAN FOR THE AVERAGE DAILY POPULATION IN THE JAIL IF THEY DO START GETTING BEHIND.

IT'S A TOUGH CALL. OUR REASON IS WE FEEL THAT WE HAVE TO BE THE ONES TO BE THE BAD GUYS AND SAY NO TO THE TO MIDDLE OF THE YEAR, MIDYEAR SUPPLEMENTAL FUNDING REQUESTS, BECAUSE THEN THAT'S TYING YOUR HANDS DURING THE BUDGET PROCESS.

WHEN YOU'RE LOOKING AT COUNTY WIDE, ALL OF THE THINGS THAT ARE COMING AT US.

AND SO WE WANT TO TRY TO LEAVE AS MUCH LEEWAY FOR YOU ALL TO BE ABLE TO MAKE A A FULL AND COMPREHENSIVE DECISION ON THE FY 26 BUDGET, BECAUSE IF YOU'RE WHATEVER YOU'RE FUNDING MIDYEAR, THAT GOES INTO THE CL'S CURRENT LEVEL OF SERVICE, THAT'S ALREADY TAKING THAT MONEY OFF THE TOP FOR NEXT YEAR.

SO THAT'S THAT'S WHY WE'RE BEING SO SO TOUGH AND SAYING NO BASICALLY TO EVERYTHING AT THIS POINT, BECAUSE WE KNOW WHAT'S COMING FOR FY 26. THE CIVIL COURTS.

THE ISSUE I RAISED THE ISSUE OF DO WE HAVE TO FOLLOW THE TRADITIONAL MODEL? AND YOU SAID IN TRAVIS COUNTY, WHEN YOU LOOKED AT IT, IT JUST DOESN'T WORK. LOOK, I REMEMBER WHEN THEY WERE REDOING THE CAPITAL, IT CERTAINLY WAS NOT AS MUCH FUN, BUT WE HAD TO GO WORK IN THE SAM HOUSTON BUILDING.

GEE. YEA. WEREN'T YOU AROUND THAT IN MAYBE MY SECOND SET? MAYBE IT'S THE FIRST SESSION. I CAN'T REMEMBER WHAT GOVERNOR RICHARDSON'S GOVERNOR. IT DIDN'T SEEM QUITE AS DIGNIFIED, BUT A NIGHT COURTS ARE DOING SOMETHING. I'M JUST SAYING WE WE CAN'T JUST KEEP OPERATING AS THOUGH WE DON'T HAVE REVENUE CAPS AND WE DON'T HAVE RESTRICTIONS ON, YOU KNOW, THAT'S SOME ITEM, I THINK, ON MISDEMEANOR BAIL WITH THAT CONSENT DECREE IS GOING TO EXPIRE, BY THE WAY. WE'RE GOING TO DO THAT. BUT SO I'M JUST SAYING I JUST HOPE WE'RE DOING A LITTLE LOOKING FORECASTING IN A BIT ON KIND OF WHERE WE ARE, AND WE JUST HAVE TO DO SOMETHING DIFFERENT FROM.

SO IT'S NICE WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE NATIONAL STUDIES, BUT THE NATIONAL STUDIES DON'T TAKE INTO ACCOUNT EACH JURISDICTION'S.

I GUESS THAT'S UNIQUE TO TEXAS, BUT YOU GOT THIS CAP ON THE URBAN AREAS ON ON WHAT YOU DO.

BUT THAT'S JUST ONE PERSON'S CONCERN. BUT I THINK IT'S A LEGITIMATE ONE.

COMMISSIONER GARCIA, THANK YOU. IT. WHO IN MY OFFICE THAT YOU VISIT WITH SENT ALL OF THIS INFORMATION, MOST RECENTLY TO MIKE LUCAS. MIKE LIKES. I'M SORRY.

BUT. BUT WHO DID YOU SPEAK WITH? I CANNOT REMEMBER BECAUSE IT WAS SOME TIME AGO I SENT HIM.

I'LL GIVE. I'LL GIVE YOU. I'LL GIVE YOU SOME FOR.

EXCUSE ME. I'LL GIVE YOU SOME TIME TO LOOK AT YOUR NOTES, TO TELL ME WHO IN MY OFFICE YOU SPOKE WITH.

GO AHEAD, TAKE TIME. OKAY? AND LOOK. NO, NO, I'M.

PLEASE, LOOK, THAT'S WHAT I'M DOING IN THE MEANTIME RIGHT NOW, CAN I SENT THE EMAIL MOST RECENTLY TO MIKE AND ASKED, SEND A MEETING, AS I DID WITH HEY ED, YOU'RE YOU'RE NOT DOING YOURSELF ANY FAVOR.

YOU'RE NOT HELPING THESE JUDGES. AND BY YOUR APPROACH, MY SIMPLE QUESTION WAS WHO IN MY OFFICE YOU SPOKE TO? YOU SEEM TO KNOW WHO ALLEGED YOU SPOKE WITH WHO IN MY OFFICE DID YOU SPEAK WITH? HE DOESN'T REMEMBER. LET'S GIVE YOU A MOMENT WHILE I ASK ANOTHER QUESTION. AND LET'S JUST COOL IT DOWN A LITTLE BIT, OKAY, GUYS. SO YOU WERE THROWING OUT A LOT OF NUMBERS, AND I WOULD JUST LIKE TO KNOW WHAT'S THE STARTUP COSTS FOR THIS THAT WE, THAT SOME FOLKS VOTED FOR FOR THE CIVIL COURTS? AND WHAT IS THE ANNUAL COST OF THE TOTAL CIVIL COURTS THAT WERE VOTED ON? AND THEN WHAT ARE EACH OF THOSE NUMBERS FOR THESE CRIMINAL COURTS? CAN YOU JUST SO SO I NEED FOUR NUMBERS, TWO FOR CIVIL, TWO FOR CRIMINAL IN THAT ORDER.

I UNDERSTOOD THE THERE'S IT'S 3.5 MILLION FOR EVERY COURT THAT WE START UP.

BUT SEE, THAT'S YOU ALREADY. SO I JUST LIKE THE FACILITY.

LIKE THE FACILITY. THERE ARE NOT A LOT OF START UP COSTS.

WHAT ARE THE START? WHAT ARE THE START? BECAUSE YOU ALREADY SAID IT THAT WAY. BUT THEN I DON'T KNOW WHICH ONES HAVE HOW MANY. SO FOR JUST THE CIVIL COURTS THAT WERE APPROVED

[04:30:05]

SO IT'D BE SIX AROUND 1616 POINT OR SORRY, 17.5 MILLION 17.5 OKAY.

SO THAT'S THE START UP. AND WHAT'S THE ANNUAL FOR JUST THE CIVIL COURTS.

LET ME GET BACK TO YOU. I'M GETTING SOME MIXED NUMBERS FROM MY STAFF.

OKAY. BUT FOR THE FOR THE MISDEMEANOR COUNTY COURTS, EACH ONE OF THEM TO HAVE THEM STAFFED IS 2.7 MILLION.

SO IS THAT THE START UP COST? NO, THAT'S THE OPERATING.

OKAY. SO THE ON. SO THE ONGOING COST IS HOW MUCH TOTAL.

IT'S 10.8 MILLION. 10.8 MILLION. AND THEN WHAT'S THE START UP COST FOR THE FOR THE MISDEMEANORS.

IT'S ROUGHLY THE SAME. IT'S 3.5 MILLION WHICH WOULD BE $14 MILLION TOTAL FOR FOUR.

OKAY. OKAY. SO WE'RE JUST MISSING. SO THE START UP COSTS FOR MISDEMEANOR IS 14 MILLION.

AND THE THE RECURRING COST IS 10.8 MILLION. THE START UP COSTS FOR THE CIVIL COURTS THAT WERE ALREADY APPROVED IS 17.5 MILLION.

AND THE RECURRING. WE ARE WAITING FOR AN UPDATE.

THAT'S CORRECT. AND I'LL CHIME IN WHENEVER I GET THAT FINAL NUMBER.

YEAH. AND AND I AND I THINK I MEAN. I THINK WE CAN ALREADY GUESS IT'S SORT OF ROUGHLY, PERHAPS EVEN A LITTLE BIT MORE THAN THE MISDEMEANOR COURTS.

OR AT LEAST THE SAME. AND SO, I DON'T KNOW, COMMISSIONER ELLIS, I'M EXTRAPOLATING FROM YOUR WORDS, BUT BUT MY POSITION, I'M THINKING IS KIND OF WHERE YOU'RE AT.

WHICH HAS BEEN THE CASE BEFORE AND LAST TIME, WHICH IS WE CAN'T PICK AND CHOOSE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE YEAR AND, AND GIVE FUNDS THAT WE DON'T HAVE. AND SO I'VE BEEN CONSISTENT WITH THAT.

I DID NOT SUPPORT THE LAST THE CIVIL COURTS BECAUSE WE JUST DON'T AS MUCH AS I WANT TO.

AND THEY'RE MY FRIENDS. AND SOME OF MY SUPPORTERS WERE HERE, BUT I JUST I KNEW THAT IT'S MONEY THAT WE DON'T HAVE.

IF I HAD TO CHOOSE, I, I THINK IF I WERE TO SUPPORT ONE, IT PROBABLY WOULD HAVE BEEN THE, THE MISDEMEANOR AND CRIMINAL, BECAUSE IT HAS TO DO WITH THE JAIL, WHICH HAS TO DO WITH, YOU KNOW VERY, VERY IMPACTFUL, MORE IMPACTFUL ISSUES, NOT ONLY FINANCIALLY BUT ALSO, YOU KNOW, KNOWING THE SITUATION IN OUR JAIL AND OUR JUSTICE SYSTEM.

HOWEVER I, YOU KNOW, REMAIN CONSISTENT IN TERMS OF WE JUST CANNOT AFFORD THIS RIGHT NOW.

I WOULD SUPPORT IT IF YOU GUYS CAN GET A COMMITMENT.

THIS IS WHAT I TOLD THE FOLKS ON THE CIVIL SIDE, TOO.

IF YOU GUYS CAN GET A COMMITMENT FROM THE LEGISLATURE FOR FUNDING, IN THAT CASE, I'D BE HAPPY TO SUPPORT IT.

AND THEN AND OF COURSE, I, I GUESS TO OTHER FOLKS THAT WOULD LIKE SOMETHING FROM AT LEAST SOME OF MY COLLEAGUES, I WOULD SAY COME OVER QUICKLY BECAUSE THE FIRST ONE WHO GETS HERE GETS THE, YOU KNOW, GETS THE VOTES.

AND JUDGE, I REALLY APOLOGIZE. I NORMALLY HAVE THESE NUMBERS OFF THE TOP OF MY HEAD, BUT THERE'S 642 K EACH BECAUSE THEY THEY'RE SIGNIFICANTLY CHEAPER BECAUSE THEY DON'T REQUIRE A PUBLIC DEFENDER. SO HOW MUCH IS THAT TOTAL? 3.2 MILLION FOR THE FIVE, 3.2 MILLION. AND THEN OF COURSE, MR. WELLS WAS SAYING WE DON'T HAVE TO DO ALL FOUR.

WE COULD DO TWO, WE COULD DO ONE. BUT, YOU KNOW, I REMAIN CONSISTENT ON MY POSITION.

I THINK THERE WAS A DISCUSSION ABOUT WHO MR. WELSH SPOKE TO.

I DON'T KNOW IF YOU HAD A CHANCE TO LOOK AT THAT. I DID.

AND AS I WAS THINKING THROUGH, I DID NOT SPEAK TO SOMEONE IN YOUR OFFICE BECAUSE WHEN I SENT THE NOTICE, I DIDN'T GET A RESPONSE, AND I FOLLOWED UP AND DIDN'T GET A RESPONSE.

BUT SO I DID NOT SPEAK TO. SO THAT'S WHY I DIDN'T REMEMBER IT, FRANKLY.

BUT I SENT THE SAME NOTICE TO YOUR OFFICE THAT I DID TO ALL FIVE OFFICES.

THANK YOU. I WOULD JUST SAY TO YOU, THANK YOU FOR SENDING IT, BUT I MAY GET LIKE, 500 OF THEM A DAY.

SO YOU'D BE YOU'D BE WISE TO CALL. YEAH, NO, I TRIED.

YEAH. SO IS THERE A MOTION ON THIS ITEM? CAN I ASK ONE MORE QUESTION? JUDGE, PLEASE? I KNOW WE'RE GOING TO HEAR FROM DOCTOR MILLS LATER.

THE ONE THING THAT DOES CONCERN ME IS WE'RE MAKING PROGRESS IN THE JAIL.

POPULATION MANAGEMENT. WE'RE SEEING THE LIGHT.

AND THEN I'M WORRIED ABOUT HOW THIS COULD EXACERBATE THE PROGRESS WE'RE MAKING AND THEN EXACERBATE OUTSOURCING COSTS, ETC.. SO THERE MIGHT BE SOME ROI POTENTIAL OPPORTUNITIES HERE.

COULD YOU DO YOU MIND? SORRY. REALLY QUICKLY SPEAKING TO THAT AS.

[04:35:05]

SO THE ANALYSIS I HAVE RIGHT NOW AND IT'S NOT TANYA MILLS FOR THE RECORD.

AFTERNOON, JUDGE. COMMISSIONERS. I HAVEN'T DONE ANY WORK ON ROI, BUT I CAN TELL YOU THAT SINCE 2021, MISDEMEANOR BOOKINGS HAVE INCREASED BY 12%. AS A SHARE OF THE OVERALL BOOKINGS, THEY'VE INCREASED AT 2%.

NOW, OUR 48% SHARE OF THE OVERALL BOOKINGS FOR THE FIRST TIME IN THE LAST FEW YEARS, MISDEMEANORS HAVE EXCEEDED THAT OF FELONY BOOKINGS. THE, THE PROPERTY AND OFFENSES AGAINST PERSONS ARE TWO OF THE LARGEST GROWING PIECES OR SEGMENTS OF THAT POPULATION. AND AS AN IN-CUSTODY PORTION OF OUR POPULATION, IT'S GROWN SINCE WE'VE BEEN HERE.

HISTORICALLY, I'VE SHARED THAT MISDEMEANORS AREN'T A HUGE ISSUE IN OUR JAIL, AND THAT'S MOSTLY BECAUSE OF THE WAY THAT THE CASES ARE PROCESSED AND HOW QUICKLY THEY CAN MOVE THROUGH OUR SYSTEM. THEY'VE BEEN A LION'S SHARE BETWEEN 40 AND 48% OF THE BOOKINGS.

BUT AS OF THREE OVER SEVEN, THERE WERE 670 PEOPLE IN CUSTODY WHOSE HIGHEST CHARGE WAS A MISDEMEANOR, WHICH IS UP. IF WE GO BACK TO LENGTHS OF STAY LIKE WHAT WE SAW IN 2020, WHICH MISDEMEANORS WERE AT ABOUT 60 DAYS.

IT COULD ADD ANOTHER 200 PEOPLE TO THE ADP THERE.

OKAY. THANK YOU. SO FOR THAT REASON I WOULD MAKE AND I RECOGNIZE THERE MAY NOT BE SUPPORT, BUT I WOULD MAKE A MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION SUPPORTING THE CREATION OF TWO COUNTY CRIMINAL COURTS AT LAW.

AND THEN WE CAN PHASE IT AND DISCUSS IT AGAIN AT THE NEXT LEGISLATIVE CYCLE.

SO THAT WOULD BE MY MOTION. SUBSTITUTING FOUR FOR TWO.

I WOULD I WOULD BE WILLING TO SECOND IT, BUT I'LL TELL YOU, YOU'D BE A LOT BETTER OFF COMING IN DECEMBER RATHER THAN ONE WEEK BEFORE THIS. THINGS DO. NOTHING EVER GOOD HAPPENS OPERATING AT THIS LATE.

A LIGHT OF DAY. AND THE SECOND POINT I WOULD MAKE FOR FUTURE ITEMS THAT WE CONSIDER. THIS TRULY IS A STATUTORY RESPONSIBILITY OF THE COURT.

WE THAT MOVES UP A DEGREE OR TWO. WE HAVE A STATUTORY RESPONSIBILITY TO DO A LOT OF THINGS IN THE COUNTY, AND WE FUND A LOT OF THINGS THAT WE DON'T HAVE A STATUTORY RESPONSIBILITY TO.

WE DO IT BECAUSE WE WE CHOOSE. IT'S NOT NECESSARILY A BAD THING, BUT COURTS ARE SOMETHING WE HAVE A STATUTORY RESPONSIBILITY TO DO.

LIKE LIKE ROADS ARE AND OTHER THINGS. AND FOR, FOR THOSE REASONS, FOR THE STATUTORY RESPONSIBILITY, I WILL SECOND THAT MOTION. OKAY. SO WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND.

MR. ELLIS? YEAH. I'M NOT GOING TO SUPPORT IT, BUT I MIGHT I WANT TO SAY THAT I APPRECIATE YOU MEET WITH MY STAFF.

I THINK YOU MET WITH SOPHIE, WHO'S BEHIND ME AND BRANDON DUDLEY ON MY STAFF.

AND I REALIZED THE WORK THAT THE JUDGES DO. BUT I WOULD ENCOURAGE YOU TO TALK TO OUR PARTNERS AT THE LEGISLATURE ABOUT WHAT THEY'VE DONE TO TIE OUR HANDS.

MONEY JUST DOES NOT COME OUT OF THE SKY. BUT SO FOR THAT REASON, I WON'T BE ABLE TO SUPPORT IT.

COMMISSIONER GARCIA. YEAH. JUST I DOUBLE CHECKED MY EMAIL.

THE LAST EMAIL I GOT FROM YOU WAS IN 2023. SO I READ MY EMAILS.

SO IT WOULD HELP YOU, IF YOU WOULD, TO THE MEMBERS OF THE COURT.

I SENT IT TO YOUR STAFF. IT WOULD HELP YOU IF YOU DON'T GET A RESPONSE FROM MY OFFICE.

INCLUDE ME IN IT. AND SO, BEFORE THE FINAL VOTE, I ECHO THE SENTIMENTS OF MY COLLEAGUES.

WE NEED TO BE INFINITELY MORE PROACTIVE, INFINITELY MORE COMMUNICATIVE, INFINITELY MORE JUST GAME PLANNING, ESPECIALLY GIVEN ALL OF THE, YOU KNOW, OPPORTUNITY COSTS AND JUST THE INTRICACIES AND THE IMPLICATIONS OF OF FUNDING THIS AND THEN THE IMPLICATIONS ON THE JAIL VERSUS CIVIL VERSUS CRIMINAL. SO WE NEED ENHANCED.

AND I KNOW WE TALK OFTEN GENERALLY ON LANGUAGE ACCESS AND MANY OTHER ITEMS. AND I APPRECIATE THAT. AND AGAIN, I APPRECIATE THAT YOUR CLEARANCE RATES ARE OVER 100%.

AND WHAT YOU DO FOR PUBLIC SAFETY AND FOR ADVANCING JUSTICE.

WE WANT TO BE PARTNERS AND WE JUST NEED MORE RUNWAY SO WE CAN GAME PLAN TOGETHER.

AND I LOOK FORWARD TO THE FACILITIES PLANNING AND ALL OF THESE SIMULTANEOUS STREAMS OF WORK THAT ARE JUST HIGHLY COMPLEMENTARY.

BUT IN SOME THE MOTION FOR TWO AND THERE'S A SECOND.

SO OKAY, SO THERE'S A MOTION BY COMMISSIONER BRIONES, SECOND BY COMMISSIONER GARCIA.

ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? EXCUSE ME, BY COMMISSIONER RAMSEY I, I KNOW, THANK YOU.

I MAKE MISTAKES SOMETIMES. WHOA, WHOA. WE'RE HUMAN.

OKAY. SECOND, BY COMMISSIONER RAMSEY. ALL IN FAVOR?

[04:40:02]

JUST TO GET A BIT OF GOODWILL. BUT THE SHIP IS SINKING.

AND IF IT'S SINKING, DOESN'T MATTER WHAT CHAIR YOU'VE GOT ON THE SHIP.

SO, FOLKS KEEP TRYING, KEEP TRYING THEM. I THINK THEY'RE CONSTANTLY VOTING YES FOR FOR THINGS WE DON'T HAVE MONEY FOR, SO THAT MIGHT BE YOUR PATH. I CANNOT SUPPORT IT, BUT I APPRECIATE YOU AND YOUR WORK.

THANK YOU. JUDGES. THANK YOU, MR. WELLS. OKAY.

IT WAS IT. IT FAILED. IT WAS TWO IN FAVOR, ONE ABSTENTION AND TWO OPPOSED.

I'VE GOT A QUESTION RELATED TO THAT. YES. SO IT WAS 22222121222241 AGAINST THE JUST I GOT ONE QUESTION. IT WAS 221. BECAUSE I HAVE YOU, COMMISSIONER GARCIA, ABSTAINING.

COMMISSIONER ELLIS AND THE JUDGE SAYING NO. AND THEN COMMISSIONER BRIONES AND COMMISSIONER RAMSEY VOTING FOR IT.

DID YOU GET YOUR QUESTION ANSWERED, COMMISSIONER? I JUST HAD ONE QUESTION FOR THE ATTORNEY.

SO THE VOTE THIS VOTE WAS 2 TO 1 IN FAVOR? 2 TO 1.

202 VOTED YES, TWO VOTED NO AND ONE ABSTAINED.

THIS WAS THE TIME. OKAY. YEAH. GOT IT. OKAY. SO NEXT, WE'RE MOVING TO THE TAX.

I'M JUST CURIOUS, COMMISSIONER RAMSEY, WERE YOU THINKING IF IT WAS 2 TO 1, IT WOULD PASS? THAT'S GOING TO COME UP IN A MINUTE. OKAY. OKAY.

SO IT WAS 2 TO 1. WE'D HAD A CONVERSATION. OKAY.

OKAY. LOOKING FORWARD TO THAT. IT'S LIKE MAGIC NUMBER THREE.

LISTEN UP AND LISTEN TO ME, OKAY? ALL RIGHT. I KNOW THE COUNTY TAX ASSESSOR'S BEEN HERE FOR A WHILE, SO GO AHEAD, MADAM TAX ASSESSOR. AND WE'LL MOVE ON TO THAT ITEM.

GOOD AFTERNOON JUDGE. COMMISSIONERS, THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH.

AND I'M HAPPY TO WAIT. I UNDERSTAND THAT YOU ALL HAVE A LONG AGENDA, SO IT'S NOT A PROBLEM.

WE'RE GOING TO BE HERE ALL NIGHT. TAKE YOUR TIME. I GIVE UP.

I DON'T WANT TO ADD TO THAT TIME. SO I'M GOING TO TRY AND BE EFFICIENT FOR YOU.

BUT THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR PULLING THIS ITEM FOR DISCUSSION.

AND I'D ALSO LIKE TO THANK THE JUDGE AND COMMISSIONERS FOR ALL THE TIME THAT YOU ALL HAVE SPENT CORRESPONDING WITH MY STAFF.

AND THE LEADERSHIP IN MY OFFICE. ON THIS ITEM, I AM AVAILABLE TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS THAT YOU ALL MIGHT HAVE, BECAUSE I KNOW WE'VE HAD QUITE A FEW MEETINGS AND GONE INTO DETAIL WITH MOST OF THIS REQUEST.

ALL RIGHT. I WANT TO THANK YOU. I KNOW YOU GUYS.

YOUR PRESENTATION WAS VERY DETAILED. MADE A STRONG CASE.

I DIDN'T HAVE ANY LEFTOVER QUESTIONS, AND MY STAFF ASKED A LOT OF THEM, SO I JUST.

SO I JUST WANTED TO THANK YOU FOR THAT. I WANT TO GIVE MY COLLEAGUES AN OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK BEFORE I DO.

COMMISSIONER BRIONES AND THEN GARCIA. TAX ASSESSOR.

COLLECTOR. RAMIREZ. THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.

THANK YOU FOR ALL THE TIME YOU SPENT EDUCATING THE FIVE OF US ON THE NEEDS AND OPPORTUNITIES OF THIS OFFICE.

SO WE TWO SPENT A PLENTY OF TIME AND MANY QUESTIONS, BUT SO THAT IT'S ON THE PUBLIC RECORD, COULD YOU JUST BRIEFLY SUMMARIZE THE NEEDS AND THEN CAN YOU BRIEFLY SUMMARIZE JUST THE ROLE OF YOUR OFFICE AS A REVENUE GENERATOR? AND WHAT OPPORTUNITIES DO YOU SEE TO BE ABLE TO GET ADDITIONAL REVENUE? THAT WOULD ALSO HELP MAKE HARRIS COUNTY AN EVEN BETTER PLACE? THANK YOU. THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER, FOR THAT OPPORTUNITY.

SO, SO IN THE LAST TWO AND A HALF MONTHS THAT I HAVE BEEN THERE I'VE HAD OUR LEADERSHIP STAFF DIG IN TO HOW THAT OFFICE IS RUNNING.

AND ALTHOUGH WE HAVE A FABULOUS TEAM OF PUBLIC SERVANTS THAT RUNS THAT OFFICE, THEY ARE PUSHED TO THEIR MAX.

AND WE ARE SEVERELY UNDERSTAFFED, AND WE HAVE AN UNUSUALLY HIGH RELIANCE ON TEMPORARY STAFF, WHICH ALSO GIVES US AN EXTREMELY HIGH TURNOVER.

WE ACTUALLY LOSE 3 TO 5 EMPLOYEES A WEEK. AND SO WHEN THAT HAPPENS, WE HAVE VERY INEFFICIENT OPERATIONS IN OUR OFFICE, WHICH THEN LEADS TO UNFORTUNATELY EXTREMELY LONG WAIT TIMES FOR OUR RESIDENTS.

SO IN MARCH, WHICH IS NOT OUR BUSY TIME, IT'S ACTUALLY JANUARY.

BUT IN MARCH WE MANUALLY MEASURED THE WAITING TIME FOR OUR RESIDENTS.

[04:45:05]

AND OUR LONGEST WAIT WAS THREE HOURS AND 15 MINUTES.

THAT IS NOT WHAT I WOULD LIKE THE EXPERIENCE OF OUR TAXPAYERS TO BE.

OUR OFFICE PROBABLY SINGLE HANDEDLY DEALS WITH MORE RESIDENTS AND MORE PROPERTY OWNERS THAN ANY OTHER OFFICE IN THE COUNTY.

AND IF THIS IS THE ONLY EXPERIENCE THAT A TAXPAYER OR RESIDENT OR PROPERTY OWNER HAS IN OUR COUNTY, I WANT IT TO BE BETTER THAN WHAT IT IS RIGHT NOW.

WE CANNOT CREATE MORE EFFICIENCIES. WE CANNOT GENERATE MORE REVENUE IF WE'RE NOT SEEING MORE AND HANDLING MORE TRANSACTIONS.

AND IN ORDER TO DO THAT, WE NEED TO BE MORE EFFICIENT.

ONE OF THE ITEMS WE ALSO DISCOVERED IS THAT WE WERE NOT THE TAX OFFICE, ALTHOUGH IT IS THE MAIN OFFICE THAT GENERATES REVENUE IN THIS COUNTY.

WE COLLECT FOR THE COUNTY $2 BILLION IN PROPERTY TAXES, $45 MILLION IN THE HOUSTON SPORTS AUTHORITY TAX, HOT TAXES, ANOTHER 90 MILLION FOR HOT TAXES, AND A TOTAL OF 10 BILLION.

WHEN YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT ALL THE OTHER TAXING ENTITIES THAT WE COLLECT FOR WE WERE NOT INCLUDED IN THE FIVE YEAR FINANCIAL PLAN.

AND SO SINCE WE ARE THE OFFICE THAT GENERATES THE REVENUE, I DON'T UNDERSTAND HOW WE WEREN'T INCLUDED.

AND SO IN REVIEWING THAT PLAN AND THE DIFFERENT AREAS WHERE THE COUNTY IDENTIFIED WHERE WE COULD GENERATE ADDITIONAL REVENUE, A CURSORY REVIEW OF THAT PLAN ALREADY IDENTIFIED AT LEAST SIX DIFFERENT AREAS OR SIX DIFFERENT ITEMS WHERE WE COULD GENERATE ADDITIONAL REVENUE.

AND SO WE'RE ALREADY STOOD UP TO GENERATE THAT REVENUE.

AND WE'RE WORKING WITH THE OMB ALREADY WITH SOME OF THOSE IDEAS, AND ALSO TO BRING US IN WITH BCG SO THAT WE CAN START WORKING ON GENERATING THAT REVENUE.

AND CAN YOU JUST QUICKLY HIT THE SIX? I WAS VERY ENERGIZED WHEN YOU WERE SHARING YOUR IDEAS.

ABSOLUTELY. SO SO ONE OF THE ITEMS IS MAKING SURE THAT WE ARE BEING COMPENSATED FOR THE WORK THAT WE ARE ALREADY DOING.

AND SO THERE ARE SEVERAL AGREEMENTS THAT WE HAVE EITHER WITH TITLE SERVICE COMPANIES THAT WE LICENSE AN AGREEMENT THAT HAS NOT BEEN UPDATED SINCE 1999.

WE COLLECT AND WE GET COMPENSATED FOR COLLECTING TAXING TAXES FOR OTHER TAXING JURISDICTIONS IN AGREEMENT.

THAT HASN'T BEEN UPDATED SINCE 2007. IT IS DEFINITELY COSTING US MORE MONEY TO BRING THAT IN.

IT JUST COSTS MORE MONEY TO DO BUSINESS. AND SO THOSE AGREEMENTS NEED TO BE REVIEWED AND BE ADJUSTED ACCORDINGLY.

WE ALSO LOOKED AT WE DO WE DO WORK FOR QUASI GOVERNMENTAL DEPARTMENTS OR ENTITIES THAT WE DO NOT GET COMPENSATED FOR.

WE DO WORK FOR THE TRS, AND WE ALSO DO WORK FOR THE HOUSTON SPORTS AUTHORITY AND COLLECTING THEIR HOT TAXES.

AND THAT AGREEMENT HAS NOT BEEN UPDATED IN MANY, MANY YEARS.

AND THE LAST ITEM THAT WE WE FOUND WAS THAT THERE'S OTHER GOVERNMENTAL ENTITIES, THE HARRIS COUNTY DISTRICT CLERK OR THE OR HECTOR, THAT WE COULD ACTUALLY COLLECT SOME OF THEIR OVERDUE FINES.

SO WHEN SOMEONE COMES IN TO REGISTER THEIR VEHICLE, IF THEY HAVE OVERDUE TOLLS, THEY'RE NOT ALLOWED TO REGISTER THEIR VEHICLE.

BUT RIGHT NOW, WE JUST TURN THEM AWAY, RATHER THAN ALLOWING THEM AN OPPORTUNITY TO WALK OVER TO A KIOSK OR BE HANDED AN IPAD TO PAY THAT FEE.

SO THAT THEN HECTOR TOLLS ARE ARE COLLECTED AND THE REGISTRATION FEE IS ALSO COLLECTED.

SAME WITH DISTRICT CLERK. WHEN THERE'S FEES ASSOCIATED WITH A PROPERTY TAX ACCOUNTS, THOSE SHOULD ALSO BE COLLECTED WHEN A TAXPAYER COMES IN TO PAY THEIR PROPERTY TAXES.

SO THOSE ARE JUST A FEW THAT WE FOUND. AND THAT WAS VERY QUICKLY DONE.

JUST IN ABOUT A MONTH THAT WE'VE BEEN HERE TRYING TO, YOU KNOW, IDENTIFY WHERE WE COULD HELP AND JUSTIFY OUR OUR REQUEST.

THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU, MR. GARCIA. RAMSEY AND THEN ELLIS.

THANK YOU. MADAM TAX ASSESSOR. I JUST WANT TO APPRECIATE YOUR WORK ON THIS ITEM.

IF I'M NOT MISTAKEN, I WAS TOLD THAT YOU HAVE REALIZED SAVINGS AND COST EFFICIENCIES IN YOUR OFFICE TO COVER A SIGNIFICANT PART OF WHAT YOU HAVE BEFORE US. IS THAT. IS THAT CORRECT? YES. COMMISSIONER GARCIA, THANK YOU.

ONE OF THE ITEMS OF REVENUE THAT IF YOU'RE SPEAKING TO THE EXCESS FUNDS.

YES. SO THERE ARE EXCESS FUNDS SITTING IN THE REGISTRY OF THE COURT THAT TECHNICALLY BELONG TO THE TAXING ENTITIES THAT WERE GENERATED FROM PROPERTY TAX SALES THAT HAD BEEN SITTING IN THE REGISTRY OF THE COURT FOR OVER TWO YEARS.

THAT AMOUNT IS A LITTLE UNDER $10 MILLION. AND WE NEED TO WORK TO, TO GET THAT RELEASED.

AND I KNOW WE'RE ALREADY WORKING WITH THE COUNTY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE TO TAKE CARE OF THAT. WE DO JUST WANT TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR WORK AND APPRECIATE YOU GIVING THAT OFFICE A BREATH OF FRESH AIR. AND IF YOU'LL CONTINUE LOOKING AT THAT ITEM THAT I SENT YOU, I GREATLY APPRECIATE IT.

ABSOLUTELY. THANK YOU SO MUCH. COMMISSIONER RAMSEY AND THEN COMMISSIONER ELLIS.

[04:50:01]

I GAVE YOU SOME ANECDOTES IN TERMS OF RECENT EXPERIENCE I HAD TRYING TO GET A CAR REGISTERED.

SO I KNOW THAT YOU ARE GOING THROUGH WHAT I WOULD CALL THE ASSESSMENT PHASE OF A OF A GROUP, AN ORGANIZATION OF BUREAUCRACY. IT'S BEEN THROUGH SOME INTERESTING TIMES.

IT WAS DOING ELECTIONS DURING ONE PART, THEN IT WASN'T DOING ELECTIONS.

AND NOW IT'S NOW IT'S BACK. SO CERTAINLY I APPRECIATE THE INITIATIVES.

BUT FRANKLY, THERE'S PROBABLY TEN OTHER ENTITIES WITHIN THE COUNTY RIGHT NOW THAT HAVE EQUALLY COMPELLING STORIES TO TELL IN TERMS OF, OF ISSUES EQUALLY IMPORTANT.

I WOULD THINK THAT THIS $10 MILLION THAT YOU REFERENCED, I KNOW THAT THAT'S BEING PURSUED IF IT COULD BE TIED TO WHEN THOSE FUNDS ARE FREED UP FROM A FUNDING STANDPOINT, AT LEAST I KNOW WHAT I BELIEVE.

I KNOW WHAT MR. RAMOS TELLS ME ALL THE TIME THAT IT'S NOT IN THE BUDGET.

I WON'T TALK TO YOU. BUT IF THOSE 10 MILLION COULD BE FREED UP, IT MAY BE 2.5 MILLION THAT WOULD BE EARMARKED FOR THE TAX ASSESSOR THAT IF THOSE FUNDS WERE CLEARED UP TO ALLOW THESE NECESSARY IMPROVEMENTS.

I'M NOT SAYING WHAT YOU'RE SAYING IS NOT NECESSARY, BUT IT'S A TIMING THING IN TERMS OF IF IF YOU GO THROUGH YOUR PROCESS TO BUDGET IS THIS YEAR'S BUDGET PROCESS IS ABOUT TO BEGIN. WE WANT TO GET THE NUMBER RIGHT GOING INTO NEXT YEAR.

SO IF THE MONEY WAS MADE AVAILABLE AND IT'S NOT AVAILABLE RIGHT NOW THEN THE TIMING OF THAT, YOU CAN COME BACK TO COURT AND WE COULD HAVE A CONVERSATION. SO I DO WANT TO CLARIFY FOR THE $10 MILLION NUMBER AND MADAM TAX ASSESSOR-COLLECTOR, PLEASE CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG. THE 10 MILLION IS ALL JURISDICTIONS, CORRECT? CORRECT. ABOUT 2.25 MILLION OF THAT BELONGS OR A LITTLE BIT MORE BELONGS TO THE COUNTY THAN US.

MORE THAN THAT. BUT I JUST WANT TO CLARIFY THAT.

RIGHT. BUT IT'S NOT IT'S NOT IN A BANK. IT'S IN A HARRIS COUNTY BANK ACCOUNT.

WE'RE WORKING WITH THE COUNTY ATTORNEY, AND WE'RE VERY INTERESTED. I WANT TO THANK THE TAX ASSESSOR COLLECTOR. THIS IS A NIGHT AND DAY EXPERIENCE FROM THE LAST ADMINISTRATION.

YOU REFERENCED NOT BEING IN THE FIVE YEAR PLAN. THAT WAS NOT A OMB DECISION NOT TO INCLUDE THE TAX ASSESSOR COLLECTOR AND IN THE OMB PLAN.

AND WE HAVE DONE SOME OF THE THOSE REVIEWS, AND OUR STAFFS ARE WORKING TOGETHER TO GET A FINAL NOTE OF KIND OF THE ORDER OF MAGNITUDE THAT WE THINK WE CAN GET FROM THESE, FROM THESE REVENUES, BUT WE ARE WORKING WITH THE COUNTY ATTORNEY TO TRY.

WE BELIEVE WE'RE FULLY IN THE RIGHT ON THIS ONE, THAT THIS IS AND I BELIEVE THAT YOU IN YOUR PRIOR LIFE EVEN MADE ACCESS TO IT ON BEHALF OF ALDINE ISD. SO WE BELIEVE THAT WE'RE IN THE IN THE RIGHT HERE, AND THAT MONEY WILL BECOME AVAILABLE THIS YEAR OR EARLY NEXT YEAR.

COMMISSIONER ELLIS, THANK YOU FOR YOUR WORK. I'LL SUPPORT IT.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR MEETING WITH MY STAFF. I THINK AS A COURTESY TO A NEW PERSON IN OFFICE, YOU INHERITED AN OFFICE THAT OBVIOUSLY HAD HAD SOME CHALLENGES THERE.

AND I THINK AS A SIMPLE COURTESY, I'M PLEASED TO SUPPORT IT.

I WANT TO BE HONEST WITH YOU. WE HAD A JCC MEETING THE OTHER DAY.

THAT'S ONE BILL. THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY IS MAKING REFERENCE TO SIDEBAR CONVERSATION THAT COULD COST 70 MILLION.

YOU KNOW, WE COULD BE IN A POSITION WHERE A WHOLE LOT OF DEPARTMENTS, THOSE WHERE WE CAN GO BACK TO.

THERE MAY BE THINGS YOU HAVE NOW THAT YOU JUST MAY NOT HAVE NEXT YEAR. SO USE IT WISELY.

BUT I KNOW THE TRANSITION OBVIOUSLY IS ALWAYS A CHALLENGE, BUT SO FOR THAT REASON I'LL SUPPORT IT.

I APPRECIATE YOUR SUPPORT, COMMISSIONER ALLISON. SO SO QUICK QUESTION ON THE THE 10 MILLION.

SO WHAT WAS THIS THAT YOU SAID ABOUT TWO AND A HALF WITHIN THE TEN? I SO THERE'S A TOTAL OF 10 MILLION. WHAT WHAT WE CALL EXCESS FUNDS THAT WERE DEPOSITED THERE AFTER PIECES OF PROPERTY WERE FORECLOSED ON FOR DELINQUENT TAXES. AND NORMALLY THAT AMOUNT IS IS BASED ON EACH INDIVIDUAL JUDGMENT THAT WAS TAKEN.

AND SO THE MONIES DISTRIBUTED BASED ON THE PORTION THAT EACH TAXING ENTITY WAS DUE IN THE JUDGMENT.

SO A PORTION OF THAT SOMEWHERE BETWEEN 20 TO 30% WILL BELONG TO HARRIS COUNTY.

A SMALL PORTION WOULD BELONG TO THE CITY OF HOUSTON.

AND THEN ANY OTHER TAXING ENTITIES THAT MAY HAVE BEEN IN THE JUDGMENT, WHETHER THAT BE SCHOOL DISTRICTS OR MUD DISTRICTS.

BUT IT TAKES REVIEWING EACH INDIVIDUAL JUDGMENT TO DETERMINE THE THE PRO RATA PORTION FOR EACH TAXING ENTITY.

RIGHT? AND AND DIRECTOR RAMOS, WHAT'S YOUR POSITION ON THIS ONE?

[04:55:01]

AND WE DO WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE A LEVEL, A LEVEL OF CONSISTENCY.

BUT WE ARE WORKING WITH HER OFFICE ON ALL OF ON GETTING ALL OF THIS REVENUE.

WE DO BELIEVE THAT A, A PORTION OR A SIGNIFICANT PORTION COULD BE OFFSET WITH NEW REVENUES.

IT'S JUST A LITTLE EARLY TO BECAUSE A LOT OF THAT REQUIRES US GOING AND SIGNING NEW AGREEMENTS, WHICH IS JUST GOING TO TAKE TIME. I THINK FOR ME, THE, THE, THE, THE 10 MILLION OF WHICH, YOU KNOW, A PORTION IS OURS, I THINK WOULD COVER PRETTY MUCH WHAT YOU'RE REQUESTING.

THAT'S A ONE TIME. RIGHT. SO THE QUESTION IS, WOULD WE HAVE THAT IN A FUTURE BUDGET TO CONTINUE SUPPORTING THESE UPDATES? AND AND THAT'S WHERE, YOU KNOW, IF WE IF WE WANT TO GIVE TO THE CIVIL COURTS AND WE WANT TO GIVE TO THIS AND THAT, AT SOME POINT WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO CUT OFF FROM EVERYBODY.

AND SO I, I WOULD PREFER IT IF YOU GUYS COULD GO THROUGH THE FULL PROCESS.

THE PROPOSAL IS FABULOUS. I THINK THAT WOULD GET YOU A POSITIVE RECOMMENDATION, MORE LIKELY THAN NOT IN THE BUDGET PROCESS, BUT AT LEAST WE CAN DO A FAIR WEIGHING.

OF COURSE, IT BECOMES UNFAIR WHEN SOME GET INCREASES OUTSIDE OF THE BUDGET PROCESS.

BUT BUT I TRY TO BE CONSISTENT. I WONDER IF THERE IS.

I KNOW YOU'RE IN A REALLY BAD SITUATION, AND I REMEMBER THERE WAS SOME MONEY SET ASIDE FOR THE NEW DA BECAUSE HE WAS IN A SIMILARLY PROBLEMATIC.

MAYBE. MAYBE NOT AS BAD. BUT BUT PROBABLY AROUND THE SAME ALONG THE SAME LINES.

WHAT WAS THAT DIRECTOR? SO WE RESTORED 4.5 MILLION THAT HAD BEEN TAKEN AS PART OF THE BUDGET PROCESS, BECAUSE THE PRIOR DA DID NOT PARTICIPATE IN THE BUDGET PROCESS.

THERE WAS ALSO ROUGHLY $1 MILLION OF STAFFING THAT WE CONTINUED, WHICH WERE ARPA POSITIONS, WHICH WE KNEW DURING THE BUDGET PROCESS WOULD EXPIRE MIDYEAR OR AFTER THE FIRST QUARTER.

OKAY. AND SO BUT BUT THERE WAS NO, YOU KNOW, LET'S TAKE THESE TEMP POSITIONS AND FIGURE THAT WE'RE GOING TO TURN THEM INTO. NO, THIS WAS THIS WAS A KNOWN ONE THAT WE HAD GONE IN.

WE SO WE DIDN'T KNOW ABOUT THIS SITUATION IS BASICALLY WHAT YOU'RE SAYING.

WE'VE KNOWN THAT THERE'S BEEN A I DON'T EVEN KNOW WHAT THE RIGHT ADJECTIVE IS TO SAY FOR HOW BAD THE STAFFING MODEL WAS UNDER THE PRIOR REGIME.

SO THIS THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE. WE DID NOT HAVE THE, THE THE DATA THAT HAS BEEN PROVIDED THUS FAR TO REALLY SAY, HEY, THIS IS THE STAFFING THAT IS REQUIRED TO GET THE WAIT TIMES FROM X TO Y.

RIGHT. BUT IT SOUNDS LIKE BECAUSE BECAUSE WE KNEW THE ISSUES WITH THE DA, WE COULD PUT A NUMBER ON IT AND WE DIDN'T KNOW A NUMBER TO PUT IT INTO THESE.

IS IT TRUE THAT THEY'RE AT A DEFICIT RIGHT NOW? THE. WE'RE WORKING. SORRY. THE TAX OFFICE, THE TAX ASSESSOR COLLECTOR.

IF YOU ANNUALIZE THE CURRENT SPEND, IT'S ABOUT $1 MILLION DEFICIT.

SO AND THAT IS NOT SO THAT MEANS WE I MEAN, WE WE HAVE TO COVER THAT.

THAT THAT TO ME. SO, SO TO ME TAX ASSESSOR AGAIN, FOR THE SAKE OF CONSISTENCY, I'D SAY LET'S REVIEW THIS WITH THE BUDGET, WITH EVERYTHING AND TRY. I WOULD PLEAD WITH MY COLLEAGUES AGAIN TO TRY NOT TO PICK SOME FAVORITES IN THE MIDDLE OF THE YEAR.

BUT THEN I'M CONCERNED ABOUT THIS MILLION. AND YOU INHERITED THAT DEFICIT.

YOU DID. THAT WAS A POOR BUDGETING THAT WAS DONE, OR LACK OF BUDGETING THAT WAS DONE BEFORE YOU ARRIVED.

AND I DON'T THINK $1 MILLION DOLLARS IS GOING TO BREAK THE BANK.

SO SO THAT WOULD BE MAYBE DIRECTOR RAMOS, MY ALTERNATIVE PROPOSAL, BUT I DON'T.

WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT THAT? WE WOULD BE SUPPORTIVE OF THAT.

AND WHERE WOULD YOU GUYS PAY FOR THAT FROM OUT OF THIS? OUT OF THIS? SORRY. I DON'T WANT TO SAY A STATEMENT BECAUSE THAT SAYS PROCEEDS FUND.

EXCESS PROCEEDS FUND. SO I GUESS WHAT I'M HEARING IS YOU CAN PRETTY MUCH SAY THAT, YOU KNOW, UNLESS THE SKY FALLS THIS NEXT FINANCIAL, THIS NEXT FISCAL YEAR, WE WILL AT MINIMUM, COVER THIS DEFICIT.

SO THAT'S WHY WE KNOW OKAY, WELL, WE HAVE THIS RECURRING MILLION DOLLARS THAT WE CAN AFFORD.

WHAT WE DON'T KNOW IS WE CAN IF WE CAN AFFORD THIS 2.5 MILLION, WHICH ANNUALIZED IS CLOSER TO IT'S CLOSER TO 5 MILLION, RIGHT? RIGHT. SO THEN SO. OH I SEE. RIGHT. SO INSTEAD OF SIGNING US, SIGNING OURSELVES UP RIGHT NOW FOR 5 MILLION,

[05:00:02]

HAVE YOU MADE A MOTION ANYWAY, MY MOTION WOULD BE THAT WE APPROVE $1 MILLION FOR THE FOR THE TAX ASSESSOR.

THAT WOULD BE MY PROPOSAL. AND I WOULD NOT SUPPORT THE MOTION AS PRESENTED.

SO, JUDGE, I HAVE MY NAME FLAGGED WHEN YOU'RE DONE.

OKAY. YES. THANK YOU. WE SHOULD BE. I KNOW YOU'RE BEING EXTREMELY GRACIOUS AND WITH ALL DUE RESPECT TO THE SITUATION AND THE PERSON WHO WAS RUNNING THE OFFICE, THEY CHOSE NOT TO PARTICIPATE IN A FIVE YEAR BUDGET PLAN.

THEY DID NOT SUBMIT A BUDGET THAT WAS ANYWHERE REFLECTIVE OF WHAT A TAX OFFICE IN THE THIRD LARGEST COUNTY SHOULD BE.

WE HAVE PEOPLE WAITING IN LINE FOR 2 TO 3 HOURS.

WE HAVE A LEADER WHO WANTS TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT.

WE HAVE TURNOVER OF TEMPORARY STAFF OF 58%. AND I REMEMBER DISTINCTLY IN JULY OF 2023 AND THEN AGAIN IN APRIL OF 2024, HAVING TO DO A SUPPLEMENTAL INFUSION FOR CONTRACT LABOR, GIVEN THE ESCALATED COST VERSUS INVESTING IN POSITIONS THAT ARE PERMANENT TRAINING AND STOP HAVING THIS REVOLVING DOOR AND SUBOPTIMAL EXPERIENCE FOR OUR TAXPAYERS.

MOREOVER, THIS IS THE ONE DEPARTMENT THAT GENERATES REVENUE.

AND IN ADDITION TO THE SIX IDEAS YOU SHARED, THERE WAS THE OTHER ONE THAT YOU DIDN'T SHARE, BUT THAT WE TALKED ABOUT. THAT WAS THE WILLING COUNTY.

WE HAVE TAXPAYERS BECAUSE OF THEIR SUBOPTIMAL, TO PUT IT NICELY EXPERIENCE ARE GOING TO SURROUNDING COUNTIES AND SURROUNDING COUNTIES ARE GETTING THE FEES. WE COULD BE A WILLING COUNTY, SO IF WE COULD DELIVER FOR THE HARRIS COUNTY RESIDENTS, AS WELL AS THE APPROXIMATE 800,000 PEOPLE WHO COME IN TO THE CITY OF HOUSTON EVERY DAY AND THEY WANT TO GO TO OUR TAX OFFICE, WE HAVE TO INVEST BECAUSE A THAT'S WHAT THE PEOPLE DESERVE.

B THERE'S ACTUALLY TREMENDOUS ROI THAT COULD BE OBTAINED.

NOW THAT WE HAVE A LEADER WHO'S WILLING TO PUT IN THE TIME AND EFFORT, BUT C THE EXCESS PROCEEDS FUND.

AND AGAIN, ALL OF THESE MISSED OPPORTUNITIES, AND I DON'T WANT TO COME BACK AND HAVE TO PAY A LABOR CONTRACT.

SO IN SUM, I WILL MAKE THE MOTION TO APPROVE ITEM 344 AS PRESENTED.

AND I KNOW YOU'VE ALSO BEEN WORKING ON THIS FOR OVER FIVE MONTHS SINCE YOU GOT ELECTED, SIMILAR TO WITH THE DA.

YOU KNOW, WE WANT TO MAKE SURE YOU'RE POISED FOR SUCCESS AND THAT THE TAXPAYERS RECEIVE WHAT THEY DESERVE.

SO I WILL DO. 344 AS PRESENTED. THANK YOU. MOTION.

MOTION BY COMMISSIONER BRIONES. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER GARCIA.

ANY ADDITIONAL DISCUSSION? OKAY. WE HAVE A MOTION, A SECOND.

ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. ANY OPPOSED? I'M OPPOSED, AS I SAID.

SO IS THERE A SECOND? MOTION CARRIES 4 TO 1. AND I HAD MADE MY MOTION FOR A MILLION, AND THAT DIES FOR LACK OF A SECOND.

THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU. AND THANK YOU, COURT.

AND JUST TO RECOGNIZE THAT MY LEADERSHIP TEAM AND MY STAFF WORKED VERY, VERY HARD ON THIS PROPOSAL.

AND SO I DO WANT TO RECOGNIZE THEIR HARD WORK.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU. AND TO THE TEAM. I ALSO WANTED TO MAKE ONE CLARIFICATION, EVEN THOUGH THAT THAT EXCESS PROCEEDS FUND OR THE ACHIEVEMENT FUND IS UNDER THE DISTRICT CLERK. SHE HAS BEEN FULLY SUPPORTIVE IN US ATTEMPTING TO ACCESS THIS FUNDING.

WE ARE JUST WORKING THROUGH ALL THE LEGAL PROCESSES.

CAN YOU KEEP US POSTED ON THAT? I'M JUST CURIOUS ON HOW LONG THAT TAKES.

YEAH, WE WILL DEFINITELY ASK YOU TO MAKE SOME CALLS ON THIS ONE BECAUSE WE, AND I DON'T KNOW, JAY OR JOHN. ARE WE STILL ON THAT ONE TOO? OR I GUESS WE DON'T NEED TO EXPLAIN THE LEGAL ISSUE.

OKAY. COUNT ME IN TO HELP A JUDGE. YES. JUST FOR IT TO BE ON THE RECORD, THIS IS FOR ITEM 344.

YES. 344. TAX ASSESSOR, PAGE 44. ALL RIGHT, SO LET'S GO OVER THE THE CONSTABLE'S ITEM ITEMS. SO THOSE ARE BASICALLY THE SEPARATE OFFICES. IT'S A REQUEST THAT HAS COME BACK IN THE PAST.

I HAVE A SERIES OF QUESTIONS, BUT I WILL LET MY COLLEAGUES GO FIRST IF YOU GUYS HAVE QUESTIONS.

SO, JUDGE YEAH. COMMISSIONER. ONE CONCERN THAT I HAD EVEN BEFORE WANTING TO CONSIDER THIS ITEM WAS I MADE A REQUEST SOME TIME BACK FOR ALL OF THE DATA FROM CONSTABLE'S OFFICES ON RACIAL PROFILING TRANSMITTALS SOME SUPPLIED TO INFORMATION, SOME DID NOT.

AND I WANTED TO HEAR FROM THE ADMINISTRATION, I GUESS, DEANNA, OR SOMEONE ON YOUR TEAM TO JUST WALK ME THROUGH THAT ISSUE.

[05:05:04]

JUDGE COMMISSIONERS. TANYA MILLS AGAIN. COMMISSIONER, WE STUMBLED GETTING OUT OF THE GATE AND GETTING THAT REQUEST OUT AS WE ARE I'M GOING TO BE MAKING CALLS TO EACH OF THE CONSTABLES OVER THE NEXT WEEK, BUT WE DIDN'T GET THE REQUEST OUT IN A TIMELY MANNER.

MY APOLOGIES. SO I WOULDN'T WANT TO CONSIDER AN ITEM UNTIL IT'S DONE.

AND THEN I WANT TO HEAR FROM THE BUDGET OFFICE WHAT'S YOU ALL'S RECOMMENDATION? CAN I COMMENT A MINUTE? OH, SURE. ON THAT ONE ITEM BEFORE WE MOVE TO THE OTHER.

SURE. IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING, AND I KNOW THIS BECAUSE AS MAYOR OF A SMALL CITY, I HAD TO SUBMIT ON AN ANNUAL BASIS A RACIAL PROFILING REPORT UNDER STATE LAW. UNDER STATE LAW.

I PASSED IT, AND AND WE DID. AND THE CONSTABLES HAVE ISSUED A SUMMARY REPORT.

THERE WERE SOME THINGS BEING ASKED FOR, I THINK, IN THAT REQUEST THAT WENT ABOVE AND BEYOND WHAT THE TYPICAL STANDARD SUBMITTAL WAS TO THE STATE. BUT I CAN TELL YOU, THESE CONSTABLES HAVE ALREADY SUBMITTED WHAT'S WHAT'S REQUIRED TO THE STATE OF TEXAS.

LET'S HEAR WHAT YOU ASKED FOR. WHATEVER IT IS, IF THEY HAVE IT AND THERE'S NO REASON WHY IT HAS TO BE CONFIDENTIAL, I WANT IT. I WON'T SUPPORT IT UNTIL I GET IT.

THAT'S JUST ME. WELL, THEY GOT IT. WE WE'RE WE'RE REQUESTING THE UNDERLYING DATA FOR THE THE REPORT THAT'S SUBMITTED NOW.

THERE WERE ADDITIONAL ITEMS THAT WERE ASKED THAT WERE NICE TO HAVES.

AGAIN, THE REQUEST WE DID NOT DID NOT GO OUT IN THE MANNER IN WHICH WE WOULD HAVE LIKED IT TO HAVE GONE OUT.

WHAT WE WOULD LIKE TO GET IS THE UNDERLYING DATA.

SO WE CAN DO SOME ANALYSIS ON THE REPORT THAT'S ALREADY PUT OUT.

IT MAKES IT DIFFICULT TO DO ANY TYPE OF LINEAR ANALYSIS FROM PDF REPORTS.

AND SO WE'RE ASKING FOR THE DATA THAT COMPILES THOSE REPORTS SO WE CAN LOOK AT IT.

AND THAT WAS JUST RECENTLY ASKED FOR. CORRECT.

YES. YES. AND IT'S A IT IS QUITE THE EFFORT TO PULL ALL THAT TOGETHER.

JUST PUTTING THAT IN THE CONTEXT. YES. WELL, YOU KNOW, IF THEY SAY THAT AND THERE'S SOME UNREASONABLE EXPENSE TO IT, THAT'S ONE THING. BUT LOOK, THE STATE LAW THAT WAS SENATOR WEST AND ME, WE WORKED ON THAT FOR MANY YEARS.

AND IT WAS THE ART OF COMPROMISE. WE TOOK WHAT WE COULD GET.

BUT THERE'S A REASON WHY IT'S NOT THAT USABLE BY ANYBODY.

AND THEY DO THESE TRANS METALS, BUT THERE'S REALLY NO SUBSTANCE TO IT.

SO AT LEAST SITTING ON THIS GOVERNING BOARD, IF I'M VOTING ON THAT MONEY, I WANT TO KNOW AND SO I WANT TO ASK WHAT.

BUT ON THE SECOND POINT, I WANT TO ASK ANYTHING ELSE ON THAT? NO, MA'AM. OKAY, SO FROM THE BUDGET OFFICE, WHAT'S YOU ALL'S RECOMMENDATION ON THIS? SO THIS ONE DIDN'T GO THROUGH THE FORMAL FISCAL REVIEW BECAUSE NONE OF THEM HAVE REQUESTED ADDITIONAL FUNDING.

I BELIEVE THE PLAN FOR THEM IS TO FUND IT THROUGH VACANCY SAVINGS.

YOU KNOW, I DO WANT TO GIVE JUST A LITTLE BIT OF HISTORY.

THE ORIGINAL REQUEST FROM THE SHERIFF CAME THROUGH THE FISCAL YEAR 24 BUDGET PROCESS.

THAT WAS SOMETHING THAT THAT THIS COURT ENDED UP VOTING ON UNANIMOUSLY.

AND THEN IT TOOK THEM ABOUT A YEAR TO GO THROUGH ALL OF THE THE DRAFTING OF THE SCOPE, THE QUALIFICATIONS, THE DUTIES, WORK WITH THE CIVIL SERVICE, WORK WITH OUR, OUR DEPUTIES UNION TO BE ABLE TO TO CREATE THIS POSITION.

AND FINALLY, WE'RE WE'RE INTO FISCAL YEAR 25 WHEN THEY ARE KICKING OFF ACTUALLY PROMOTING THESE FOLKS.

SO OKAY. SO AND THEN I'LL JUST SAY THIS FOR THE RECORD, I HAVE THREE OTHER CONCERNS.

ONE, THE DUPLICATION OF INVESTIGATIVE RESPONSIBILITIES.

IT'S NOT EFFECTIVE FOR PUBLIC SAFETY, IN MY JUDGMENT.

IF YOU GOT THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE DOING IT AND YOU HAVE THE CONSTABLE'S OFFICE DOING IT.

YOU GOT DUPLICATIVE DUPLICATION THERE. WHICH ONE DO WE RELY ON? I THINK OUGHT TO BE MORE STRATEGIC ABOUT WHAT WE DO.

AND THE CONSTABLES TALK ABOUT PARITY WITH THE SHERIFF, BUT DO THEY HAVE THE SAME CHECKS AND BALANCES IN PLACE? THE CONSTABLES DO NOT HAVE A CIVIL SERVICE COMMISSION THAT WOULD SET QUALIFICATIONS AND REVIEW ELIGIBILITY.

WHO DECIDES WHEN SOMEONE IS PROMOTED TO A DETECTIVE? AND WHAT IS THE OVERSIGHT FOR THAT DECISION? IF IT'S HARD TO ENSURE ACTUAL PARITY BETWEEN THESE CONSTABLES AND THE SHERIFF, WHILE ONLY ONE IS MADE TO UPHOLD A HIGHER STANDARD.

THAT'S THE SECOND CONCERN FOR ME. NUMBER THREE, WE NEED ANY LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCY TO BE TRANSPARENT AND ACCOUNTABLE.

I WANT ALL OF THIS INFORMATION THAT I MADE REFERENCE TO US FOR DIRECTOR MEALS, AND I'D LIKE TO HAVE IT, I ASSUME. DO WE GET IT FROM THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT? WE HAVE NOT ASKED FOR IT FROM THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE.

PLEASE DO BE SUCCESSFUL AND WE'LL HAVE THAT FOR YOU.

OKAY. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. COMMISSIONER. COMMISSIONER RAMSEY.

WELL THAT'S INTERESTING. WE DIDN'T ASK FOR IT FROM THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE, AND WE APPROVED IT WITHOUT IT.

[05:10:06]

SO WHEN PEOPLE ARE OUT THERE. AND, AND RESPONDING TO ISSUES WITHIN THE COUNTY AND THEY'RE COMPLEMENTING EACH OTHER AND THEY'RE DOING ABOUT THE SAME THING, AND ONE'S GETTING PAID ONE THING AND THE OTHER'S GETTING PAID SOMETHING ELSE.

BUT I'M GOING TO ASK THE AT THE 227 VOTE. JAY.

IT WAS TWO FAR, WHICH WAS COMMISSIONER BRIONES AND MYSELF, ONE AGAINST COMMISSIONER ELLIS AND TWO ABSTAIN.

THE VOTE WAS 2 TO 1. AND IT WAS IT WAS SAID TO HAVE FAILED EVEN THOUGH IT PASSED BASED ON THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE THAT WERE THERE IN PRESENT DAY. NOW, THIS IS THIS.

DO WHAT? NO. I'M SORRY. GO AHEAD. SO YOU'RE YOU'RE THE OPINION GIVEN BY THE COUNTY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE WAS IT FAILED? THIS IS FROM FEBRUARY 27TH. YES. OKAY. I'M SORRY.

I THOUGHT YOU WERE REFERRING WHEN YOU SAID 227. I LITERALLY THOUGHT FEBRUARY THE 27TH.

THANK YOU. WE ALL VOTED. SURE. IT WAS 2 TO 1.

TWO PEOPLE ABSTAINED. TWO FOR AND ONE AGAINST.

AND THE OPINION OF THE COURT? THE COUNTY ATTORNEY WAS.

IT FAILED? YEAH. SO? SO GENERALLY SPEAKING, THE WAY WE HAVE UNDER THE UNDER ROSENBERG'S RULES, THE WAY WE OPERATE IS THAT IF YOU'RE PHYSICALLY PRESENT IN THE COURT, WE COUNT YOU FOR PURPOSES OF QUORUM AND THAT AN ABSTENTION IS EFFECTIVELY PRESENT IS IS IS TREATED AS A NO VOTE. BECAUSE BECAUSE THAT'S THAT'S ESSENTIALLY HOW WE HAVE IT SET UP RIGHT NOW.

NOW IF WE WANT TO NOT DO IT THAT WAY, WE CERTAINLY CAN IN RULES.

BUT THAT IS THE WAY WE HAVE WE HAVE HAD IT. MY UNDERSTANDING THAT FLIES IN THE FACE OF STATE LAW.

ARTICLE FOUR. ARTICLE FIVE OF THE RULES OF CONDUCT PASSED TEN 2924 STATED TO THE EXTENT I ADDRESS, THE COURT WILL FOLLOW THE ROSENBERGS LAWS. ROSENBERG'S RULE OF ORDER IN ALL MEETINGS, WITH THE FOLLOWING EXCEPTIONS ALL MOTIONS, AMENDMENTS OR CHANGES PRESENTED. THE COURT WILL ONLY REQUIRE MAJORITY OF MEMBERS TO BE PRESENT TO VOTE IN FAVOR FOR THE ITEM TO BE ADOPTED. YEAH, I WOULD HAVE TO LOOK AT THAT. I'M NOT, I'M NOT I'M NOT SPECIFIC TO WHAT YOU'RE REFERRING TO.

AND THEN TAX STATES THAT ITEM SEVEN E THAT MOTIONS PASSED BY MAJORITY VOTES CAST.

WHEN A QUORUM IS PRESENT, THE MAJORITY OF PEOPLE PRESENT IS FOR IN EXCEPTIONAL INSTANCES TO LIMIT THE TIME PUBLIC SPEAKERS AND SUCH AS THAT.

SO I THINK THERE'S A QUESTION THAT THIS ALREADY HAS PASSED 2 TO 1.

I'M IF YOU'RE IF YOU WANT TO SEND THAT TO US, I'M HAPPY TO TAKE A LOOK AT IT.

BUT I WOULD LIKE I'D LIKE AN OPINION AND LITTLE RESEARCH ON THAT ONE, BECAUSE THAT WAS THAT WAS DONE IN FEBRUARY THE 27TH.

YEAH. SO, COMMISSIONER ELLIS, IF THE COURT HAS OPERATED UNDER ROSENBERG'S RULES, AND THE ASSUMPTION ALL THIS TIME WE'VE BEEN VOTING WAS THAT IT WOULD TAKE THREE VOTES TO PASS SOMETHING.

I WOULD MAKE A MOTION TO BRING BACK UP THAT ITEM, PUT IT BACK ON THE TABLE.

SO IF YOU CHANGE THE RULES, THAT'S ONE THING. BUT AT LEAST BE TRANSPARENT ABOUT IT IF YOU'RE GOING TO DO IT. BUT IF NOT, I'M GOING TO ASK FOR AN OPINION AND SOME RESEARCH ON ANY OTHER TIME THAT HAS HAPPENED AND SEE WHAT THE HELL ELSE.

YEAH THAT'S RIGHT. WOULD HAVE PASSED. THERE WAS A BUNCH OF YOU MIGHT BE SHOCKED, SO AT LEAST YOU WANT TO BE CLEAR ABOUT IT.

YOU GOT ME. SO? SO WITH ME, I GENERALLY DON'T I DON'T WALK VOTES.

I DON'T ABSTAIN VOTES. I'LL SAY, WHAT THE HELL I THINK AND AND LIVE WITH IT.

BUT I CAN UNDERSTAND. IN FACT, I'M GOING TO START ABSTAINING.

IF IT DOESN'T KNOW, JUST BE CLEAR ON IT. SO I WANT TO MAKE A MOTION TO BRING THOSE ITEMS BACK UP FROM 227, PUT THEM BACK ON THE TABLE. BECAUSE IF YOU COME BACK AND RULE THE OTHER WAY, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A REAL PROBLEM. THAT'S THE SAME ONES.

YEAH. YEAH. OKAY. QUESTIONS. SO SO THEY'LL RUN THAT DOWN.

WE ARE BRINGING THEM UP, WHICH I AGREE IS THE FAIR THING TO DO.

SO. OH, COMMISSIONER BRIONES SO, YES, I VERY MUCH WANT TO MAKE SURE WE FULLY UNDERSTAND THE RULES AND THE IMPLICATIONS, BOTH IN THE PAST AND NOW J. SO LET US KNOW WHEN YOU THINK YOU CAN RUN THAT DOWN.

MY UNDERSTANDING WITH ALL THESE NUMEROUS ITEMS. TWO 5252. 257. 258. 262. 263. 266 CONSTABLE PRECINCT ONE.

AND THEN PRECINCTS THREE THROUGH EIGHT. SO IT'S THEY PUT THE SAME THING BACK THAT YOU AND I HAD VOTED IN FAVOR FOR,

[05:15:02]

BUT IN ANY EVENT, I LOOK FORWARD TO THE LEGAL ANSWER AND MAKING SURE WE'RE ALL CLEAR ON THE RULES.

BUT FOR PURPOSES OF CONSISTENCY AND MY THREE CONSTABLE'S THAT I WORK WITH ALL THE TIME.

CONSTABLE. ROSEN. CONSTABLE. HERMAN. CONSTABLE.

ALL BRITAIN. YES. CIVIL SERVICE. THERE'S A FUNDAMENTAL DISTINCTION, AND THAT'S A STATUTORY ISSUE THAT WE CAN'T SOLVE FOR HERE IN THIS COURT.

AND I LOOK FORWARD TO ALL THE DATA TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE BEING AS TRANSPARENT AND ACCOUNTABLE IN ALL LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES, ALWAYS. AND FOR TODAY'S PURPOSES, THIS ISSUE, AS I VOTED IN FAVOR FOR LAST TIME, I WILL VOTE IN FAVOR FOR THIS TIME, ESPECIALLY BECAUSE THIS DETECTIVE RANK AND I'M VERY PASSIONATE ABOUT VIPER AND MAKING SURE WE'RE LEVERAGING.

AND SO THEY'RE HELPING IN THOSE EFFORTS. AND THEN AT LEAST MY THREE CONSTABLE PARTNERS HAVE SAID AS CLOSE TO POSSIBLE IN TERMS OF JOB DESCRIPTION, EXAM, ETC., THEY'RE HAPPY BECAUSE I SAID PARITY MEANS PARITY, RIGHT? SO IF WE'RE GOING TO HAVE PARITY, WE NEED TO BE AS CLOSE TO APPLES TO APPLES.

AND RECOGNIZING THERE'S DIFFERENT STATUTORY WHETHER IT'S CIVIL COMMISSION, WHAT EVIDENCE CAN BE ACCEPTED.

WHO HAS A HOMICIDE DIVISION AND NOT SO. WE NEED TO BE JUST CLEAR ON WHAT WE'RE SOLVING FOR AND VOTING ON TODAY.

SO IN SUM AGAIN, I LOOK FORWARD TO YOUR ANSWER, JAY, BUT I WOULD VOTE IN FAVOR.

MOVE AND VOTE IN ALL OF THOSE. TWO 5252 257 258, 262, 263 AND 266.

I SECOND. OKAY, WE HAVE A MOTION A SECOND. I HAVE ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS.

SO SO SO OKAY. SO MY UNDERSTANDING AND I KNOW CONSTABLE PHILLIPS, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE.

AND WELCOME. ANYTHING YOU'D LIKE TO ADD AT ANY POINT.

SO JUST, YOU KNOW, FEEL FREE TO COME UP OR, YOU KNOW, WHATEVER, WHATEVER IS COMFORTABLE FOR YOU AND APPRECIATE THE OTHER COUNCILS WHO'VE MADE THEMSELVES AVAILABLE EVEN CONSTABLE ALBRITTON, THE ONLY REASON WE DIDN'T CONNECT TODAY IS HE'S THAT CELEBRATING HIS BROTHER'S RETIREMENT FROM FROM THE THE MILITARY. SO SO EVERYBODY'S JUST BEEN VERY, VERY COMMUNICATIVE, AND I APPRECIATE THAT.

SO, SO AT SOME POINT, THE RANK OF DETECTIVE WAS REMOVED FROM THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE LONG AGO.

THAT'S CORRECT. I DON'T KNOW WHAT YEAR, AND WE DON'T KNOW WHAT YEAR.

WHY? YOU KNOW, PRESUMABLY IT WAS SOMETHING POLITICAL, BUT WHATEVER, IT WAS GONE.

THEN, HOWEVER MANY YEARS AGO, THE CURRENT SHERIFF DECIDED THAT WE SHOULD BRING IT BACK.

YOU MADE A REQUEST IN THE FISCAL YEAR 24 BUDGET PROCESS.

OKAY. I SPOKE WITH HIM EARLIER. AFTER WE SPOKE, CONSTABLE.

AND I SAID, HOW DID YOU DETERMINE WHICH FOLKS QUALIFIED AS DETECTIVES? AND SO HE SAID THAT HE HE THE CIVIL SERVICE EVALUATED ALL OF THAT.

AND THEY FROM THE PEOPLE THAT HAD BEEN DOING THE QUOTE UNQUOTE, DETECTIVE WORK, THEY SELECTED, YOU KNOW, 200 AND SOME ODD. MOD. SO, SO IN THAT CASE, THE CIVIL SERVICE HAD A ROLE.

SO THEN WE AS A COMMISSIONERS COURT, DURING THE BUDGET PROCESS, WE APPROVED FUNDING SO THAT THOSE FOLKS COULD BE PAID AT A HIGHER RATE.

IS THAT WHAT WE DID? YES. OKAY. AND AND HOW HOW MUCH WAS THAT TOTAL WAS ABOUT $5 MILLION ANNUALIZED.

OKAY. SO? SO SEPARATELY, THE CONSTABLE'S HAVE BEEN WORKING WITH THE SHERIFF ON THE VIPER PROGRAM, AND THEY'RE DOING DETECTIVE WORK, AND THEY WOULD LIKE PAY PARITY.

IS THAT. AM I GETTING THAT ABOUT RIGHT, CONSTABLE? YES, MA'AM. THAT IS CORRECT. OKAY. AND SO WHAT THEY'RE SAYING IS, CAN WE CREATE A DETECTIVE RANK? DID WE CREATE ONE FOR THE SHERIFF? NO. HE. YES.

SO WE'RE CREATING AND PAYING FOR IT OR. YES. SO? SO THEY NEED US BOTH TO CREATE IT AND TO FUND IT.

YOU OKAY? FOR ALL INTENSIVE PURPOSES. OKAY. SO.

SO CAN WE. CAN WE CREATE A DETECTIVE RANK SO THAT YOU GUYS CAN PUT SO THE CONSTABLES CAN PUT THEIR DETECTIVES AND PRACTICE INTO THE DETECTIVE RANK AND AND PAY THEM ACCORDINGLY. YES, MA'AM.

JUST A LITTLE HISTORICAL INFORMATION. YEARS AGO IT WAS AS A SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT MEMBER.

THEY HAD TESTING FOR DETECTIVES. WELL, THAT CAUSED A BIG CHAOS, AND IT WAS KICKED OUT THE DOOR.

AND I THINK SHERIFF GARCIA WAS AROUND DURING THAT TIME.

COMMISSIONER GARCIA THEN HE WENT TO WHAT THEY CALL INVESTIGATORS.

DEPUTY INVESTIGATORS? AND THOSE GUYS WERE SELECTED BY WHATEVER MEANS THEY WERE, AND THEY WERE INSIDE THERE.

AND WHEN ALL THIS CAME ABOUT, THOSE 200 PLUS 200 PLUS 30 DEPUTIES WERE GRANDFATHERED IN UNDER THE NEW DETECTIVE ROLE THAT THEY'RE DOING

[05:20:05]

WE ONLY HAVE TWO DETECTIVE TWO DETECTIVES, LADIES THAT WORK IN OUR ROLE IN FAMILY VIOLENCE.

WE'RE ASKING FOR TWO, BUT I THINK I'M TOLD IT'S A TOTAL OF 78.

THROUGHOUT THE ALL THE CONSTABLES OFFICES THAT DO THE SAME SIMILAR ROLE AS THE DEPUTY SHERIFFS.

SO. SO MY QUESTION IS, SO THEY WERE GRANDFATHERED IN IN A WAY, BUT ALSO, YOU KNOW, THEY HAD TO GO THROUGH THE PEOPLE THAT WANTED TO BE DETECTIVES, HAD TO GO THROUGH SOME SORT OF CIVIL SERVICE SCREENING, WHICH WOULD NOT BE REQUIRED IN THE CONSOLE.

THAT'S NOT THE FULL PROCESS, BUT THERE IS A PROCESS.

SO THE QUESTION I HAVE IS GOING BACK TO SB 23, BECAUSE THAT'S REALLY MY CONCERN IS BUDGETARY AGAIN.

SO IF IF WE WERE TO APPROVE THE 78. THE THE THE NEW CATEGORY AND AND A RAISE FOR THE 78 CONSTABLE. VIPER OFFICERS. THEY'RE SAYING THEY DON'T NEED FUNDING BECAUSE THEY CAN PAY FOR IT WITH THEIR THEIR OPEN POSITIONS. BUT NEXT YEAR WE'D HAVE TO GIVE THEM THE FUNDING BECAUSE AT THAT POINT THE FOLKS ARE IN THERE.

SO I DON'T ARTICULATE THIS CORRECTLY. SO THERE'S THE THERE'S TWO PROVISIONS.

SB 23. ONE IS A DOLLAR AMOUNT. SO IF YOUR BUDGET'S $1 MILLION IN THE CURRENT FISCAL YEAR, IT HAS TO BE $1 MILLION PLUS ONE IN THE NEXT FISCAL YEAR.

SEPARATE AND APART FROM THAT THERE IS A A HEADCOUNT PROVISION TO SB 23 WHICH SAYS IF YOU HAVE 100 DEPUTIES YOU HAVE TO HAVE 100 DEPUTIES IN THE NEXT FISCAL YEAR, IN THE NEXT FISCAL, IN THE ADOPTED BUDGET.

ONE POTENTIAL SB 23 CONCERN IS RIGHT. RIGHT NOW, IF YOU WERE TO RECLASS THOSE POSITIONS USING VACANCY SAVINGS, IF THEY WERE TO EVER GET FULLY STAFFED, THEY COULD SAY, HEY, I USED TO BE ABLE TO AFFORD 100 POSITIONS.

NOW I CAN ONLY AFFORD 98. YOU KNOW, COMMISSIONERS COURT, WE NEED TO HAVE WE NEED TO BE MADE WHOLE TO THE 100.

NOW, I DON'T TYPICALLY THOSE ALL OF THEM HAD HAVE A RELATIVELY STABLE VACANCY RATE.

BUT THERE IS THAT POTENTIAL FOR SB 23 ISSUE IF THEY WERE TO EVER GET FULLY STAFFED.

BUT SINCE THERE'S ONLY 78 FOLKS LIKE WHAT? WHAT WOULD BE THE WHAT WOULD BE THE COST OF INCREASING THE PAY FOR THE 78 CONSTABLE OFFICERS THAT ARE PART OF THE VIPER PROGRAM? I. I HAVE THAT, IF YOU WOULDN'T MIND GIVING ME A SECOND.

SURE. SO MY QUESTION REALLY IS IF IF THAT. IS THAT THE UPPER LIMIT OF THE FUNDING THAT WE CAN SPEND BECAUSE OF SB 23, OR DOES OUR CREATING A DETECTIVE RANK FOR WHICH THEY DON'T HAVE TO GO THROUGH THE CIVIL SERVICE MEANS THAT THEY COULD THAT THEY COULD PROMOTE MANY OTHER FOLKS TO DETECTIVE AND THEREBY KIND OF LOCK IN FUNDING THAT WE DON'T HAVE.

YOU SEE WHAT I'M SAYING? I'M JUST HERE'S WHAT I'M ASKING.

WHAT ARE THE IMPLICATIONS OF SB 23? SO ON THIS SITUATION SORT OF WITH IN NUMBERS.

AND I'M NOT SAYING THAT THIS WOULD HAPPEN, BUT IN THEORY, IF YOU IF YOU RECLASS A BUNCH OF IF YOU REMEMBER, WE HAVE TO MAINTAIN THE SAME HEADCOUNT FROM A YEAR TO YEAR BASIS.

AND SO IF YOU WERE TO USE VACANCY SAVINGS TO GIVE SALARY INCREASES, ULTIMATELY THAT MEANS YOU WILL NOT BE ABLE TO AFFORD THE SAME NUMBER OF PEOPLE THAT ARE PAYING YOUR EXISTING PEOPLE MORE.

AND SO THE ONLY TIME THAT THAT WOULD COME INTO PLAY IS IF THEY ARE FULLY STAFFED.

RIGHT. BUT BUT SO IF CONSTABLE. IF CONSTABLE PHILLIPS HAS 100 PEOPLE IN HIS OFFICE.

THAT'S THE HEAD. I'M MAKING THIS UP. THAT'S THE HEAD COUNT.

AND TWO OF THEM ARE PART OF THE VIPER PROGRAM.

AND SO HE HE HAS. HE HAS HOW MANY? YOU KNOW, FIVE VACANCIES.

SO HE'S USING THE MONEY FOR THOSE VACANCIES TO HE'S 100 SLOTS, FIVE VACANCIES, TWO VIPER OFFICERS.

HE'S USING THE FIVE VACANCY MONEY TO PAY THESE TWO FOLKS THAT HE NOW WILL BE CALLING.

DETECTIVE. YOU'RE SAYING IS. WHAT YOU'RE SAYING IS ONCE HE FILLS THOSE EMPTY FIVE SLOTS, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO PUT IN THE MONEY FOR THAT. THEY WOULD BE OVER BUDGET AT THAT POINT.

AND SO MY MY THINKING THOUGH IS BECAUSE THERE'S ONLY 78 OF THEM.

THAT DOESN'T SEEM LIKE IT WOULD BE THAT MUCH.

BUT WHAT AM I MISSING? NO, IT'S ABOUT TEN K PER PER DEPUTY TO MOVE FROM.

[05:25:06]

OKAY. ALL EIGHT CONSTABLES. SO BASICALLY WE WOULD BE COMMITTING WE WOULD BE ESSENTIALLY COMMITTING TO AN ADDITIONAL MILLION DOLLARS ASSIGNED TO THE CONSTABLES WITHOUT GOING THROUGH THE BUDGET PROCESS OR, WELL, 750 POTENTIALLY, IF THEY WERE TO EVER GET. I DO WANT TO GIVE THAT CAVEAT.

IF THEY WERE TO EVER BE FULLY STAFFED, IS THERE IS THAT THE ONLY FINANCIAL CONCERN WITH SB 23? IS THERE IF THEY. BECAUSE IF THE SHERIFF WANTS TO TURN A, YOU KNOW, SOMEBODY PROMOTES SOMEBODY INTO THE DEPUTY POSITION THAT HAS TO GO THROUGH A CIVIL SERVICE. THE CONSTABLES DON'T HAVE THAT BARRIER.

DOES THE FACT THAT THEY CAN MORE EASILY PROMOTE PEOPLE CAUSE A FISCAL IMPACT TO US? IT COULD. IN WHAT WAY? IF THEY WERE TO PROMOTE, YOU KNOW, MORE THAN JUST THE 78.

SO IT'S TEN K PER. SO IF IT WERE 110 OR 200 PEOPLE BEING CONVERTED TO DETECTIVE.

YEAH. THAT THE FISCAL IMPACT WOULD INCREASE. BUT HOW COULD THEY PROMOTE MORE THAN THE 78? YEAH. IF THEY DON'T, IF THEY DON'T HAVE THE MONEY FOR THAT, SINCE THEY'RE ONLY PAYING FOR VACANCY VACANCIES.

DO THEY HAVE A WHOLE LOT OF VACANCIES? LIKE HOW MANY VACANCIES ARE THERE TOTAL ACROSS THE CONSTABLE'S OFFICES? I HAVEN'T LOOKED AT IT LATELY, BUT I KNOW THAT WE HAD 300 PLUS VACANCIES ACROSS ALL LAW ENFORCEMENT.

SPENT. OKAY. LAST TIME I LOOKED. IS THERE A WAY SOMEONE COULD CHECK THAT DIRECTOR FROM YOUR OFFICE FOR CONSOLES? BECAUSE, SEE, THAT WOULD BE THE. THIS IS WHAT I WAS TRYING TO TALK TO YOU ABOUT EARLIER.

THAT WOULD BE. THE PROBLEM IS IF THE OFFICES GO BEYOND THIS AMOUNT.

SO THEN IF WE SAY, OKAY, HOW DO WE ACHIEVE, YOU KNOW, Y'ALL COME BACK DURING THE BUDGET PROCESS, I WOULD I WOULD PROPOSE THAT WE DRAFT SOME SORT OF LETTER OR RESOLUTION AT COMMISSIONERS COURT, AND I'D BE HAPPY TO PROPOSE ONE EITHER NOW OR AT THE NEXT MEETING IN SUPPORT OF A CIVIL SERVICE COMMISSION, WHICH WOULD WHICH WOULD REMOVE THAT PROBLEM. THE BENEFIT IS THE LEGISLATURE.

LEGISLATURE IS IN SESSION NOW. AND MY UNDERSTANDING IS THE REASON THAT OUR CONSTABLES DON'T HAVE CIVIL SERVICE IS BECAUSE IN THE PAST THIS COMMISSIONERS COURT WAS OPPOSED TO IT. BUT IT SEEMS TO ME THAT THAT IT WOULD BE IN FAVOR.

SO OKAY, SO THE QUESTION IS HOW DO WE ACHIEVE PAY PARITY BETWEEN NOW AND POTENTIALLY THE BUDGET CYCLE? AND IS THERE LIKE SOME SORT OF LIKE TEMPORARY PAY PARITY SOLUTION THAT WE COULD FIND WITHOUT NECESSARILY CREATING THE NEW RANK JUST TO HOLD FOLKS OVER UNTIL THE BUDGET SEASON? AND WE CAN WORK WITH THE CONSTABLES TO SEE IF THERE'S SOME SORT OF STIPEND, OR WORK WITH THE SHERIFF ON SOME SORT OF ACTING PAY OR STIPEND FOR THE TIME THAT THEY'RE ASSIGNED WITH, YOU KNOW, CO CO WORKING WITH THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT.

LOOK, I, I FROM LAST TIME, YOU GUYS HAVE TWO VOTES.

I'D BE HAPPY TO SUPPORT SOMETHING LIKE THAT IN THE INTERIM AND THEN TO REVIEW THINGS IN THE DURING THE BUDGET CYCLE AND, AND I WOULD BE AND I WOULD BE INCLINED TO SUPPORT SOMETHING LIKE THIS DURING THE BUDGET CYCLE, PARTICULARLY IF WE CAN GET THIS CIVIL SERVICE COMMISSION. SO I WOULD ALSO COME BACK WITH, YOU KNOW, I DON'T KNOW, COMMISSIONER RAMSEY OR OBVIOUSLY IT'S IT'S IT'S FOLKS FROM YOUR SIDE OF THE AISLE.

THAT WOULD BE THAT WE WOULD BE RELYING ON, ON TRYING TO HAVE THIS PASSED.

BUT MY UNDERSTANDING IS THEY HAVE PASSED IT IN THE PAST.

IT'S JUST THAT HARRIS COUNTY SORT OF OPTED OUT NOW THAT YOU WOULD NOT GET CIVIL SERVICE.

THAT'S NOT ANYTHING THE COUNCIL IS ASKING FOR.

THAT'S NOT WHAT THEY ARE PURSUING. THAT'S IT'S BEEN TALKED ABOUT FOR DECADES, BUT THAT IS NOT ON THE TABLE.

THAT'S NOT SOMETHING THAT IS GOING TO BE SUPPORTED.

SO THEY'RE NOT ASKING FOR THAT. THEY'RE NOT THEY'RE NOT PURSUING THAT FOR A LOT OF MANY REASONS.

THEY'RE NOT PURSUING IT. SO IF, IF, IF CIVIL SERVICE IS A PART OF A SIMPLE DETECTIVE RANK AND AGAIN, I THINK THEY DO HAVE WHEN THEY TELL YOU THAT THEY'RE GOING TO FUND IT.

THIS THIS YEAR'S BUDGET OUT OF OF UNFILLED POSITIONS.

TAKE IT TO THE BANK. THAT'S WHAT THEY'RE GOING TO DO.

THAT'S NOT THEY KNOW THAT IF THEY WERE TO COME IN HERE AND SPEND MORE MONEY IN THAT BUDGET THEY KNOW WHAT THE ANSWER WOULD BE.

[05:30:02]

YOU'LL HAVE NEXT YEAR'S BUDGET. WE WEREN'T CONCERNED ABOUT THE SENATE BILL WHEN WE APPROVED THESE ADDITIONAL PAYMENTS ON THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE.

AND WE SHOULDN'T BE CONCERNED ABOUT IT ON THE CONSTABLE SIDE.

AND MY MY, MY MY DIFFERENCE THAT I SEE, COMMISSIONER, IS I AGREE THAT, YOU KNOW, IF THE CONSTABLES SAY THEY CAN PAY FOR IT WITH THEIR VACANCIES. I TRUST THAT THE QUESTION IS, CAN CAN WE AFFORD TO PAY TO COVER THAT GOING FORWARD? AND THE REASON CIVIL SERVICE IS RELEVANT IS BECAUSE THE SHERIFF CAN'T TURN 200 DEPUTIES INTO DETECTIVES WITHOUT GOING THROUGH THE BUDGET PROCESS, BECAUSE THERE'S THE CIVIL SERVICE AS A AS A OBSTACLE, SO TO SPEAK.

THE CONSTABLE'S WOULD BE ABLE TO DO THAT. NOW, YOU SAY, WELL, THEY WOULD NOT GO PAST THEIR BUDGET BECAUSE OTHERWISE WE WOULDN'T FUND THAT. THE FIRST MEETING I WAS HERE WITH UNDER THE NEW MAKEUP WAS THE MEETING THAT SOME THAT THE COURT, SOME MEMBERS DECIDED TO APPROVE MONEY FOR THE FORMER DA WHEN SHE HAD GONE OVER HER BUDGET AGAINST THE BUDGET DEPARTMENT'S RECOMMENDATIONS, AND THE MAJORITY OF THIS COURT DECIDED THAT IT WAS WISE TO ALLOW HER TO DO THAT AND JUST REIMBURSE HER.

SO, SO SO THIS COURT ITSELF HAS SAID THAT PRECEDENT AND IS SETTING IT TODAY.

YOU KNOW, IF YOU IF YOU MAKE A PASSIONATE CASE OR IF YOU GO OVER BUDGET, WE SEE THE COURT, NOT ME IS GOING TO BAIL YOU OUT. SO I MEAN IT MAY MAYBE THAT'S THE STRATEGY.

I, I WANT TO WORK WITH THIS WITH YOU ON THIS.

YES, MA'AM. I, I WOULD WANT I WOULD ASK THAT YOU GUYS WORK WITH THE DIRECTOR, FIND A PAY PARITY SOLUTION BETWEEN NOW AND THE BUDGET CYCLE. AND FOR THE SAKE OF THE OFFICERS WELL-BEING.

AND FOR THE SAKE OF CONSISTENCY AND PROFESSIONALISM.

BUT MOST IMPORTANTLY, FOR BUDGETARY REASONS, I WOULD I WOULD PROPOSE AND I'LL BRING SOMETHING FORTH TO SEE IF COLLEAGUES WILL SUPPORT A REQUEST OF THE LEGISLATURE TO CREATE A CIVIL SERVICE.

BUT OF COURSE, IF THE CONSOLE IS NOT ON BOARD WITH THAT, IT'S NOT GOING TO HAPPEN. IT JUST MY SUPPORT.

MY SUPPORT IS CONTINGENT ON THAT FOR LATER ON BECAUSE OF THE ISSUES.

THERE'S NO PHYSICAL ISSUE THIS YEAR, RIGHT? SO THAT'S WHY I ALSO DIDN'T WANT TO I DON'T WANT TO APPROVE THE FOLKS THAT HAVE ONE TIME FUNDING, BECAUSE NEXT YEAR YOU'RE ALREADY SINKING THAT MONEY FOR NEXT YEAR.

AND WE DON'T HAVE MONEY FOR NEXT YEAR. COMMISSIONER.

AND I TAKE VERY SERIOUSLY THAT THAT ROLE OF MAKING SURE THAT OUR COUNTY IS STILL IN THE BLACK.

YES. GO AHEAD JUDGE. I JUST WANTED TO BRING UP A COUPLE ITEMS FOR CLARIFICATION.

I KEEP HEARING THE WORD CIVIL SERVICE TOSSED AROUND, BUT WE DO UNDERSTAND THAT THERE WAS NO CIVIL SERVICE PROCESS DONE TO FUND THESE DETECTIVE RANKS. THAT'S THAT'S THAT'S INCORRECT. WE WE FUNDED THE WE FUNDED THE RANK.

AND THE SHERIFF WORKED WITH THEIR CIVIL SERVICE TO TO IMPLEMENT TO IMPLEMENT THE RANK.

THERE WAS NO FORMAL TESTING PERIOD. YOU WOULD NEED TO ASK THE THE SHERIFF THAT I.

YEAH. WHAT'S THAT? GOT A SHERIFF UP HERE. RIGHT.

WELL, I DON'T KNOW AND I DON'T KNOW. YES. YEAH.

JUST JUST REAL QUICKLY. NO, NO TEST HAS BEEN GIVEN YET, RIGHT? YES, SIR. BECAUSE IT HAD TO GO THROUGH CIVIL SERVICE TO GET THE RANK ESTABLISHED, TO GET THE TESTING PROCESS ESTABLISHED.

NOW, WHOEVER STEPS INTO DETECTIVE RANK WILL HAVE TO TEST INTO IT.

SO, COMMISSIONER, YOU'RE CORRECT. BUT AT THIS POINT, THOSE RANKS HAVE ALREADY BEEN PROMOTED.

CORRECT. BUT SO HERE'S HERE'S THE THING I WOULD SAY, LIKE IF YOU WERE TO PUT THE 78 AND GO THROUGH THE CIVIL SERVICE PROCESS OF JUST SCREENING AND OUT OF 78, 76, MAKE IT THROUGH. YES, MA'AM.

THAT WORKS. IF THAT'S THE SYSTEM, THAT'S THE SYSTEM.

YES, MA'AM. THE POINT IS TO HAVE A CHECK THERE SO THAT IF SOMEBODY IF ONE OF THE CONSTABLES JUST SAYS THE DA DID IN THE PAST DECIDES TO PROMOTE 100 MORE, THAT IT'S GOING TO GO THROUGH THAT.

AT THAT POINT, IT'LL GO THROUGH TESTING. YES, MA'AM. JUDGE, I WANT TO MAKE SURE I'M CLEAR THAT THERE'S BEEN NO FORMALIZED TESTING FOR THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE FOR THESE DETECTIVE RANKS, YET THEY HAVE ALREADY BEEN GRANTED.

THEY'VE ALREADY BEEN PROMOTED. THERE WAS NO FORMALIZED TESTING. OKAY.

I'M MY UNDERSTANDING IS THEY WENT THROUGH A PROCESS AND THEY CAME THROUGH THE BUDGET CYCLE.

NO, MA'AM. THERE WAS NO PROCESS. THEY DID NOT HAVE ANYTHING.

THEY DID NOT. AND COMMISSIONER GARCIA JUST I MEAN, CAN WE IS THERE SOMEBODY FROM THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE THAT COULD JUST REMIND US THE PROCESS?

[05:35:04]

AND I WOULD LIKE TO TOUCH ON A COUPLE MORE THINGS.

IT WAS THE DUPLICATION OF INVESTIGATIVE EFFORTS DOESN'T OCCUR.

YEAH, WE ALL CLOSE OUT OUR OWN CASES AS FAR AS THE DETECTIVES.

I MEAN, THE DEPUTY INVESTIGATORS THAT WE HAVE, ALL THOSE CASES ARE BEING CLOSED OUT BY OUR OWN INDEPENDENT OFFICES.

IT'S NOT BEING REFERRED FOR INVESTIGATION TO THE HARRIS COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE, NOR TO THE HOUSTON POLICE DEPARTMENT. WE CLOSE OUR OWN CASES OUT.

OUR DEPUTY INVESTIGATORS GET 25 TO 30 CASES. WE ONLY HAVE TWO THAT DEALS WITH DOMESTIC VIOLENCE.

AND THEY CLOSE THOSE CASES OUT 100%. SO THAT MEANS THAT THEY'RE CARRYING THEIR CASELOAD.

AND AS FAR AS THE PARITY GOES, WE JUST ASK THEM FOR THE SAME THINGS THAT THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT GOT AT THE SAME TIME.

RIGHT NOW, THERE WAS NO FORMALIZED TESTING. AND WE DON'T HAVE A FORMALIZED TESTING RIGHT NOW FOR THE DETECTIVE RANK AS WELL.

BUT YET AND STILL THEY WERE GRANTED. THEY WERE GRANTED AND GRANDFATHERED IN TO DETECTIVE RANK. WE ASKED THEM FOR THE SAME THING UNDER THE SAME CONDITIONS.

YEAH. LET I'M NOT SEEING ANYBODY FROM THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE PULL UP.

IF DO I SEE CHIEF VASQUEZ ON THE PHONE? MAYBE NOT.

CHIEF, IF YOU'RE THERE, IF YOU WOULDN'T MIND TURNING ON YOUR CAMERA.

I THINK THAT MIGHT BE AN UNFAIR TO CHIEF VASQUEZ.

HE'S OVER THE JAIL SIDE. OH, OKAY. ALL RIGHT.

OKAY. WELL, WELL, LOOK, EVEN EVEN IF THEY DID NOT GO THROUGH A CIVIL SERVICE FILTER, WHICH IS COUNTER TO WHAT I WAS TOLD, BUT, YOU KNOW, YOU GUYS WILL HAVE TIME TO FLUSH THAT OUT.

THEY WENT THROUGH THE BUDGETARY PROCESS. YES, MA'AM.

AND SO THAT'S WHAT I'VE I'VE PUSHED ALL THE OTHER DEPARTMENTS TO DO.

AND, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE THAT I'VE KNOWN FOR THE SAKE OF OUR COUNTY'S FINANCIAL STABILITY.

BUT AS I SAID, I WOULD MAKE AN EXCEPTION FOR TO CARRY YOU GUYS OVER TILL THEN BECAUSE IT'S JUST NOT A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF FUNDING, AND I UNDERSTAND THE IMPORTANCE OF THAT PAY PARITY.

YES, MA'AM. AND THEN AND THE REASON WHY. WELL, WE CAN GO GO BACK OVER THE REASON WHY I THINK FOR FINANCIAL REASONS, THE THE CIVIL SERVICE IS IMPORTANT GOING FORWARD, WHICH THE SHERIFF NOW ALSO HAS, WHETHER OR NOT IT USED IT BEFORE.

AND THE REASON FOR THAT IS THE PRECEDENT THIS COURT SET ON JANUARY 2023, WHEN THEY VOTED TO GIVE THEN DA KIM OGG MONEY THAT SHE SPENT PAST THE BUDGET THAT SHE WAS GRANTED.

AND WHEN WE WERE VERY CLEARLY TOLD WHAT HAD HAPPENED.

SO I WOULD NOT FAULT YOU IF YOU IF YOU PROMOTED MORE PEOPLE THAN YOU HAVE FUNDING FOR AND THEN YOU CAME EXPECTING FOR THAT TO BE FUNDED.

AND I FRANKLY THINK YOU'D PROBABLY GET IT. WE'RE NOT TRYING TO DO THAT.

THE ONLY THING WE DO IS RECLASSIFYING THE TWO DEPUTIES WE HAVE.

RIGHT? AND THEN NEXT YEAR, IT'LL BE A BUDGET ITEM FOR US IF WE WANT IT MORE.

RIGHT. SO. SO LET'S WORK. LET ME LET'S WORK ON THAT, IF YOU DON'T MIND, FOR THE NEXT COURT ON THOSE TWO, ON THE YOUR TWO DEPUTIES AND THE OTHER ONES, THE 78.

SO YOU GUYS CAN GET THE PAY PARITY FROM NOW UNTIL THE BUDGET CYCLE WITHOUT US CREATING A WHOLE NEW CATEGORY BECAUSE WE WANT TO. I WOULD FEEL COMFORTABLE DISCUSSING THAT AT THE BUDGET CYCLE, JUST LIKE WE DID WITH THE SHERIFF, BECAUSE ONCE WE CREATE THE CATEGORY, THE FLOODGATES ARE OPEN.

SO SO THAT'S THAT'S WHERE THAT'S WHAT I CAN OFFER RIGHT NOW.

CONSTABLE. AND WHAT REQUEST? IF. DIRECTOR, YOU SAID THAT YOU WOULD DO THAT.

YES. I CAN CONVENE WITH THEM. SO I, I WOULD EXPECT FOR THAT TO BE THERE.

I'LL PUT AN ITEM AND AND WE'LL WE'LL HAVE SOMETHING TO HOLD YOU GUYS OVER UNTIL THEN, AT MINIMUM.

AND THEN WE'LL RUN DOWN THIS, THIS ISSUE WITH THE SHERIFF.

YES, MA'AM. OKAY. THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU GUYS.

HAVE WE VOTED ON THIS? NOT YET. I WAS ABOUT TO CALL VOTE.

OKAY, SO WE HAVE A MOTION BY COMMISSIONER BRIONES AND SECOND BY COMMISSIONER RAMSEY.

IS IT ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. ANY OPPOSED? NO. AND I'M ABSTAINING AGAIN.

I'M WORKING ON IT. YEAH. ALL RIGHT, SO MOTION CARRIES.

MOTION FAILS. 2 TO 2 IN FAVOR? I DIDN'T HEAR YOUR VOTE, COMMISSIONER.

AND TO ABSTAIN. ONE AGAINST. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU FOLKS.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. OKAY. THANK YOU.

SO NEXT IS THE WAGE INCREASES ITEMS. LIVING WAGE.

LIVING WAGE? YES. SO ALL RIGHT, SO IT'S SO FIVE MINUTE BREAK.

SO IT'S 549. LET'S DO TEN MINUTES BREAK UNTIL SIX.

[05:40:04]

I'LL GET ON CAMERA. OKAY. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU.

IT'S 549. WE'RE BREAKING TILL SIX. IT IS NOW 610 AND COMMISSIONERS COURT IS BACK IN ORDER.

SO, COLLEAGUES, WE WILL GO TO THE LIVABLE WAGE ITEM AND THEN WE'LL GO BACK TO THE AGENDA AS IT'S PRINTED.

I KNOW THAT OUR STAFFS HAVE LOOKED AT THE MOTIONS.

YOU'VE SEEN ALL OF THE INFORMATION. I JUST WANT TO MAKE FOUR POINTS.

ONE IS MAKING A LIVING WAGE. MEANS MAKING A LIVING MEANS MAKING A LIVING WAGE.

NUMBER TWO, EVERYONE DESERVES A LIFE OF DIGNITY.

NOT JUST THOSE THAT ARE IN THE TOP 1%. AND THIS GIVES US AN OPPORTUNITY TO HELP CLOSE THAT RACIAL WEALTH GAP.

AND FOURTH POINT IS STRONG WAGES. BUILD A STRONG COMMUNITY.

WE ARE FOLLOWING THE DALLAS MODEL. MY PROPOSAL IS TO TIE IT TO THE MIT SCALE.

I WAS JUST CHATTING WITH SOMEONE FROM COUNTY COUNTY OFFICIAL FROM DALLAS COUNTY WHO CALLED ME ABOUT ANOTHER MATTER, AND I MENTIONED TO HIM HOW HARD WAS IT TO PASS IT THERE? AND HE TOLD ME IT WAS REALLY PRETTY EASY. THIS WOULD APPLY TO BOTH OUR EMPLOYEES AND IT WOULD APPLY TO PEOPLE THAT WE CONTRACT WITH.

SO MY MOTION WILL BE AND I KNOW, COMMISSIONER BROWN, I'M JUST TRYING TO GET US OUT OF HERE.

I WANT TO THANK YOUR STAFF, MY STAFF, EVERYBODY'S STAFF.

I CHOSE TO WORK WITH YOU BECAUSE I HAD TALKED WITH THREE OF MY COLLEAGUES BACK ABOUT IT EVEN BEFORE WE TOOK OFFICE, WHEN IT WAS WHEN IT WAS LEGAL. BUT THE MOTION THAT I WILL MAKE WILL BE TO TABLE ITEM 30 AND TO MOVE ITEM 62 AS PRESENTED.

I KNOW YOU HAVE SOME COMMENTS AND MAYBE A FRIENDLY AMENDMENT FOR 62.

COMMISSIONER, AM I GETTING IT RIGHT FOR 62? FOR SIX TWO? YEAH, AND I WILL I WILL SECOND THAT. AND I DO HAVE A FEW BRIEF COMMENTS.

OR ARE YOU GOING TO SAY ANYTHING ELSE, COMMISSIONER? NO, NO I JUST WELL, FIRST OF ALL, THANK YOU FOR YOUR PARTNERSHIP, COLLEAGUES. I REALLY PRAY THIS WILL PASS UNANIMOUSLY. I WANT TO THANK THE COUNTY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE, WHO'S BEEN AMAZING.

THE A OCA, THE TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE TEAM AND P1 STAFF, P4 STAFF, ALL OF OUR LABOR PARTNERS I SEE ELSA. PRESIDENT ELSA FLORES IS STILL HERE. LINDA MORALES.

ALL OF OUR LABOR LEADERS. THE BOTTOM LINE IS, IS WE KNOW THIS NATION IS IN AN AFFORDABILITY CRISIS.

NO ONE SHOULD GO HOME AFTER A LONG DAY OF WORK AND WORRYING ABOUT HOW THEY'RE GOING TO PAY THE RENT, HOW THEY'RE GOING TO PUT GROCERIES ON THE TABLE FOR THEIR FAMILIES.

AND SO I AM VERY THANKFUL AND PROUD TO BE A PART OF THIS COURT TODAY AND ALWAYS, BUT ESPECIALLY TODAY, THAT WE'RE ABLE TO PASS SOMETHING THAT REALLY MAKES HARRIS COUNTY, BOTH FOR OUR EMPLOYEES AND FOR OUR CONTRACTORS, THE FOLKS WHO ARE CLEANING OUR BUILDINGS, WORKING OVERNIGHT, THOSE WHO ARE REPAVING THE ROADS, CLEANING THE DITCHES, MOWING THE GRASS IN OUR PARKS TO BE ABLE TO HONOR THEIR WORK WITH A WAGE THAT REFLECTS THE DIGNITY OF THEIR WORK JUST MEANS SO VERY MUCH TO ME ON SO MANY LEVELS. SO WITH THAT, I AM VERY THRILLED.

AND I LOOK FORWARD TO TYING IT TO MIT, BECAUSE THAT IS THE BEST PRACTICE, AND THIS IS SOMETHING WE MUST PRIORITIZE.

AND SO THANK YOU AGAIN FOR THE COLLABORATION, COMMISSIONER ELLIS, TO YOU AND YOUR TEAM AND TO OUR LABOR LEADERS.

THIS IS THIS IS A GOOD DAY IN HARRIS COUNTY, AND I HOPE WE CAN JUST KEEP BUILDING ON THE PROGRESS BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT THE PEOPLE DESERVE. AND SO THIS IS A EXCITING DAY AND HENCE MY PROUD SECOND AND COLLEAGUE, YOU HAVE A FRIENDLY AMENDMENT.

I THINK I JUST WANT TO LAY THAT ON THE TAPE AND MAY I PLEASE I.

SO MY TEAM JUST RECIRCULATED COMMISSIONER ELLIS.

YES. CAN I READ THE UPDATED VERSION WHICH I KNOW OUR OUR TEAMS WORKSHOPPED? YES. THE AMENDMENT BELOW IT WOULD BE A MOTION FOR 462.

MOTION TO ADOPT THE CIRCULATED, AMENDED HARRIS COUNTY EMPLOYEE MINIMUM WAGE POLICY PROPOSAL, WITH THE CORRECTION TO UPDATE THE EMPLOYEE MINIMUM WAGE EFFECTIVE MAY 3RD, 2025 TO $20 PER HOUR.

SECOND. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER GARCIA.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER.

AND I JUST WANT TO SAY, ELSA, AND TO ALL OF OUR LABOR LEADERS, THANK YOU FOR YOUR YOUR STAUNCH WORK AND ADVOCACY ON THIS.

MY STAFF HAD PULLED UP AN ITEM THAT WE MADE AS COMMISSIONER ELLIS REFERRED TO IN 2019. THE MOTION TO START PAYING $15 AND GET UP TO 20.

[05:45:05]

AND I TOLD HER WE'RE WE'RE PASSING YOUR PAY INCREASE, AND SHE WAS VERY, VERY EXCITED.

SO ALL I ASK IS TO MAKE SURE IT GETS TO EVERYONE WHO DESERVES IT, AND AND I AND I JUST CAN'T BE MORE EXCITED BECAUSE THIS IS, YOU KNOW, ONE OF THOSE LEGACY ITEMS THAT PEOPLE WON'T THEY'LL TAKE FOR GRANTED BECAUSE THEY'LL GET A PAYCHECK AND YOU KNOW, NO BIG DEAL. BUT THIS IS A BIG EFFING DEAL. SO THANK YOU.

I'M. SECOND THE MOTION. COMMISSIONER. COMMISSIONER.

COMMISSIONER. RAMSEY. YES. I I FIND IT INTERESTING THAT AND FOR THE RECORD, I THINK YOU REMEMBER COMMISSIONER ELLIS US WHEN THE MOTION WAS MADE TO GIVE ALL EMPLOYEES THAT MADE LESS THAN.

75,000 A YEAR, A 7% INCREASE. I SAID, YOU KNOW WHAT? WE'RE GOING TO START THERE. THAT'S A GOOD PLACE TO START.

EVEN THOUGH WE SUFFERED THROUGH THE KORN FERRY DAYS AND THE STUDIES INVOLVED IN THAT.

SO I DO BELIEVE THAT WAS THE RIGHT THING TO DO.

THAT'S WHERE WE STARTED. AND WE DID. THE AMOUNT OF MONEY THAT IT TOOK TO DEAL WITH THAT WAS $21 MILLION. SO IF YOU SAY WE'RE NOT COMMITTED, WE'RE COMMITTED.

THIS COURT IS COMMITTED. THIS IS THE FIFTH COURT THAT WE'VE MET ON TO INCREASE SOME COMPENSATION. IT SEEMS RATHER CHAOTIC. I WAS NEVER BRIEFED ON THIS PARTICULAR ITEM.

YOU KNOW, IT'D BE REAL NICE TO GO THROUGH SUCH AN IMPORTANT, COMPREHENSIVE PROGRAM AND AT LEAST BE BRIEFED.

I WASN'T, SO IT SEEMS RUSHED. WE'RE IN THE MIDDLE OF A PAY EQUITY STUDY.

THEY REFER TO AN MIT STUDY, AND I DON'T WAKE UP EVERY DAY THINKING MIT IS THE CENTER OF ANYBODY'S UNIVERSE.

IF YOU SAID UT, I WOULD PROBABLY GO WITH IT, EVEN THOUGH I'M AN AGGIE, AND AND THAT THAT WOULD BE A STRUGGLE.

BUT THAT ASIDE, I THAT HAS NO MEANING TO ME. I THINK THIS IS CHAOTIC.

I THINK WE NEED A COHERENT. I THINK WE NEED A COMPREHENSIVE APPROACH TO THESE TYPES OF THINGS, WHETHER IT'S WHAT OUR LEAST PAID EMPLOYEES MAKE OR WHAT OUR MOST PAID EMPLOYEES MAKE, I THINK THAT SHOULD BE A MUCH BETTER THOUGHT OUT I AM COMPLETELY FAMILIAR WITH FOR 45 YEARS DEALING WITH DAVIS-BACON.

I KNEW WHAT IT IS FEDERALLY, THE DAVIS-BACON ACT AND THE DEAL WITH THOSE DETAILS.

SO TO ESTABLISH THIS PROGRAM IN THE COUNTY WITH NO PUBLIC MEETINGS, NO CONVERSATIONS WITH CONTRACTORS WHO WORK ON OUR ROADS, NO, NO CONVERSATIONS WITH THE THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE THAT WORK FOR HARRIS COUNTY THAT WORK FOR HARRIS COUNTY OR HARRIS COUNTY EMPLOYEES IN THE SMALL BUSINESSES THAT WORK FOR HARRIS COUNTY.

I CAN ONLY IMAGINE THE CHAOS THIS IS GOING TO CREATE IN PURCHASING.

THERE ARE GOING TO BE ISSUES ASSOCIATED WITH THAT.

I DON'T KNOW THAT WE'VE GONE THROUGH THAT ANALYSIS.

IN TERMS OF WHAT THE IMPACTS THERE ARE. THERE'S GOING TO BE SOME IMPACTS.

THERE'S GOING TO BE COST IMPACTS. THERE'S GOING TO BE COMPLICATIONS.

WE'RE ALREADY STRUGGLING AT THIS POINT. I THINK GETTING A LOT, OF LOT OF THINGS THROUGH THERE.

SO WE'VE NOT HAD ANY PUBLIC MEETINGS, NOT HAD ANY PUBLIC DISCUSSIONS ON THIS PARTICULAR PROGRAM AND HAVING DONE SOME LIMITED RESEARCH IN THE LAST DAY, AS I SAID, I WASN'T BRIEFED ON.

IT APPEARS THAT THE ATTORNEY GENERAL OF TEXAS ISSUED AN OPINION, ONE 1090, ISSUED BY GREG ABBOTT IN 2014 STATES THAT COUNTIES ARE NOT EXPRESSLY NOT EXPRESSLY AUTHORIZED RIZED BY SECTION 62 0515

[05:50:04]

THIS IS WHAT WAS REFERENCED. DALLAS COUNTY PROPOSED POLICIES ARE MODELED AFTER ONLY APPLIES TO RFPS, AND ONLY WHEN THEIR PERFORMANCE ISSUES WITH THE CURRENT CONTRACT.

IT'S NOT A BLANKET POLICY. IN FACT, IN ENGAGING THE PURCHASING AGENT IN DALLAS COUNTY THIS WAS THE RESPONSE. WE DO NOT HAVE A MINIMUM WAGE FOR CONTRACTORS POLICY PER SE, AS THE WAGE FLOOR CAN ONLY BE UTILIZED ON CONTRACTS WHERE THE COUNTY IS SEEKING TO IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF SERVICE OVER PRIOR CONTRACTS, AND IS ONLY UTILIZED DURING THE REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL PROCESS, NOT DURING LOW BID OR COMPETITIVE BID PROCESS. OUR PRACTICE IS NOT. THIS IS DALLAS COUNTY.

OUR PRACTICE IS NOT A BLANKET POLICY. IT IS ONLY UTILIZED WHERE WE.

DALLAS COUNTY HAS SEEN PERFORMANCE ISSUES OR WHERE WE NEED FOR IMPROVEMENT IS NEEDED IN SERVICES BEING RENDERED.

I WOULD RECOMMEND THAT WE PUT THIS ON HOLD UNTIL WE CAN GET A LOT OF THESE QUESTIONS ANSWERED.

AND I THINK THERE'S A BETTER WAY TO ROLL THIS OUT, BUT I DON'T THINK THIS IS READY.

IT'S NOT AVAILABLE FROM THE COUNTY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE.

MR. SAKA. YOU CHECK IN, JAY? YEAH, COMMISSIONER.

I'LL CHECK RIGHT NOW. YEAH. COMMISSIONER GARCIA, DO YOU HAVE A COMMENT? YES. OKAY. AND THEN HE'LL COME ON.

OKAY. COMMISSIONER RAMSEY, I WANT TO THANK YOU, BECAUSE YOU.

I HAD A QUESTION ABOUT THIS YESTERDAY WITH MY STAFF, AND YOU JUST REMINDED ME I STILL SUPPORT THIS ITEM WHOLEHEARTEDLY, BUT I DO WANT TO MAKE SURE DANIEL AND WHOEVER ELSE IS NEEDED, THAT WE DO COME UP WITH A POLICY AND GUIDELINES FOR OUR GRANTS, ESPECIALLY OUR FEDERAL GRANTS.

MY STAFF WAS MAKE ME AWARE THAT THERE ARE THERE'S THERE'S GOING TO BE CHALLENGES BECAUSE WITH OUR FEDERAL GRANTS COMES FEDERAL PAY SCALE GUIDELINES WHICH MAY NOT NECESSARILY APPLY OR WORK WITH THIS.

SO I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT ALL OF OUR DEPARTMENTS, ANYBODY WHO'S GOING TO BE GOING OUT FOR FEDERAL GRANTS, AND GRANTS IN GENERAL, BECAUSE WE MAY BE GOING AFTER A GRANT, BUT BECAUSE OUR PAY SCALE HAS CHANGED, I'LL TAKE THAT AS A FRIENDLY AMENDMENT. YEAH, YEAH. OKAY.

THEY MAKE ANY ADJUSTMENTS? THE MOTION BY COMMISSIONER GARCIA, IF I MIGHT, IS THAT THEY MAKE ANY ADJUSTMENTS TO MAKE SURE WE'RE COMPLYING WITH FEDERAL LAW AS IT RELATES TO ANY GRANTS. AND I'LL SECOND IT.

IS THERE ANY OBJECTION TO THAT FRIENDLY AMENDMENT? HEARING NO OBJECTION BEFORE WE VOTE ON THE ACTUAL ITEM, MR. SARKAR, ARE YOU AVAILABLE? I BELIEVE HE'S LOGGING ON, COMMISSIONER. AND THEN I GUESS HE'S LOGGING.

HE'S LOGGING ON. YES, MA'AM. AND THIS IS FOR FOR 62.

YES, MA'AM. AND, COMMISSIONER, IT'S JUST FROM A PRACTICAL STANDPOINT, I DON'T KNOW IF YOU WANT TO JUMP IN HERE, BUT WE WOULD WE WOULD TAKE THE SAME PROCESS WE DID LAST TIME, WHICH WOULD FEDERAL GRANT EMPLOYEES OR OR SPECIAL FUNDS THAT DON'T HAVE THE AVAILABLE FUNDING? WE WOULD COME BACK TO ASK FOR THE SUPPLEMENTAL ABOUT APPROPRIATION.

IF YOU'RE COMFORTABLE WITH THAT. I AM NOT. THAT'S WHY I'M SAYING YOU NEED TO COME UP WITH SOME GUIDELINES.

BECAUSE IT COULD. IT COULD. WE JUST CAN'T KEEP PLUGGING A GAP.

OKAY. AND SO WE REALLY NEED TO GIVE THAT SOME THOUGHT.

SO. AND IF YOU HAVE TO BRING SOMETHING BACK TO AMEND IT, WE CAN DO THAT.

BUT I WANT TO MOVE TODAY. YES, MA'AM. SO ON THE POLICY FOR THE CONTRACTORS, IT SAYS THAT FOLLOWING TYPES OF CONTRACTS ARE EXEMPT FROM THIS POLICY AND SPECIFICALLY SAYS CONTRACT SUBJECT TO LAW THAT PROHIBITS APPLICATION OF THIS POLICY.

SO IT'S ALREADY COVERED IN THERE THAT IF YOU HAVE SOMETHING ELSE, HANDS OFF.

I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE WE ARE THINKING ABOUT IT.

WE'RE GOOD. SO A MOTION HAS BEEN MADE AND PROPERLY SECOND.

ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? ALICE MADE IT. BRING ON A SECOND.

ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, VOTE AYE. ALL THOSE OPPOSED? ON THE AMENDMENT? NOPE. THIS IS, ON THE WHOLE, AS AMENDED.

IT WAS A FRIENDLY AMENDMENT, I ACCEPTED IT. SO THIS IS ON THE ITEM AS AMENDED.

WOULD YOU BE ABLE TO PLEASE REPEAT THE MOTION SINCE THE MOTION IS TO TABLE ITEM 30 TO MOVE ITEM 462 AS

[05:55:05]

COMMISSIONER GARCIA SECONDED. AND ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF THE MOTION? VOTE AYE. THE AMENDMENT VOTE AYE. ALL THOSE OPPOSED? VOTE NO. NO. OKAY, SO THE AMENDMENT IS ADDED 3 TO 1.

COMMISSIONER RAMSEY VOTED NO. THE OTHER THREE OF US VOTED YES.

AND NOW WE'RE ON THE MAIN ITEM J, WHICH IS TO TABLE ITEM 30 AND THE MOVE ITEM 462 AS AMENDED.

MOTION MADE BY ELLIS, SECOND BY BRIONES. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR VOTE AYE.

AYE. ALL THOSE OPPOSED? NO. THREE EYES AND ONE.

NAY. DAY COMMISSIONER RAMSEY VOTES NAY. ARE WE GOOD? CONGRATULATIONS. YES, COMMISSIONER. OKAY, GOOD.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU. I KNOW IT'S LATE. I WANT TO THANK ALL OF YOU ALL.

BUT I WANTED US TO KEEP GOING. IF I CAN ADD ONE THING.

AGAIN, THANK YOU TO ALL OF OUR PARTNERS. AND THANK YOU TO THE COURT, BECAUSE YOU ALL HAVE BEEN LEADING ON THIS SINCE YEARS BEFORE 2019.

THE SECOND YOU ALL GOT ON TO COURT, COMMISSIONER GARCIA, COMMISSIONER ELLIS AND JUDGE HIDALGO HAVE BEEN CHAMPIONING THIS. SO THANK YOU. AND THEN WE TALKED ABOUT IN JUNE 2024, AGAIN IN FEBRUARY 2025.

PAGE, I ALSO WANT TO THANK YOU AND YOUR TEAM.

BUT LASTLY, I WANT TO SAY HARRIS COUNTY IS ONE OF THE LARGEST EMPLOYERS IN HARRIS COUNTY, AND WE NEED TO BE LEADING BY OUR EXAMPLE.

AND I HOPE THAT OTHER EMPLOYERS IN HARRIS COUNTY WILL FOLLOW OUR LEAD, DO THE RIGHT THING, AND HELP WORKING FAMILIES. SO THANK YOU. THANK YOU.

IT WAS 2018, COMMISSIONER GARCIA, BEFORE WE TOOK BEFORE YOU ALL TOOK THE OATH WHEN WE COULD MEET.

AND THIS WAS ONE OF THOSE ITEMS. AND COMMISSIONER RAMSEY, I DO APPRECIATE YOUR WORK ON THAT OTHER ITEM, I REALLY DO. IT MADE A BIG DIFFERENCE, AND I'LL MAKE SURE WE DO A BETTER JOB OF MAKING SURE THAT WE THAT WE BRIEF YOU IN THE FUTURE.

BUT YOU DON'T HAVE TO BE SO CAREFUL, YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN? I'LL GET SOMEBODY TO BRIEF YOU, EVEN IF I CAN'T DO IT.

I HAD TO BRIEF MYSELF. YOU'RE PRETTY GOOD AT IT, THOUGH.

YOU'RE PRETTY GOOD AT IT. HOW MANY AGGIES DOES IT TAKE TO GET A BRIEFING? I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S AT NIGHT. MORE THAN THREE.

OKAY, LET'S GO BACK. COMMISSIONER RAMSEY, THERE ARE A NUMBER OF ITEMS. COMMISSIONER, REAL QUICK, I KNOW Y'ALL HAD THERE'S A NOTATION THAT YOU ALSO WANTED TO TAKE.

614. WELL, NO. JUST WAIT. YEAH. WE'RE GOING TO BE HERE A WHILE.

I HOPE WE'RE GOING TO MOVE. SO THE NEXT ITEM IS ITEM A GROUP OF ITEM ITEMS, COMMISSIONER RAMSEY.

NINE 1011 12:13 A.M. I RIGHT? YOU TELL ME WHERE IT'S NINE THROUGH 19.

OKAY. AND YOU WANT TO MAKE A COMMENT? JUST ONE, ONE BRIEF COMMENT.

ALL OF THESE ITEMS, THEY ARE TO DIFFERENT NONPROFITS DEALING WITH US WITH ARPA MONEY AND AND AND AND CERTAINLY WELL INTENDED. I WOULD THINK THE MONEY WOULD BE BETTER SPENT FUNDING THE CHILDREN'S ASSESSMENT CENTER RATHER THAN THESE LIST OF NONPROFITS. BUT THAT'S MY COMMENTS.

I'M READY TO VOTE. THANK YOU. I'LL MOVE ITEMS 9 TO 19.

COMMISSIONER GARCIA SECONDS. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, VOTE AYE. AYE.

ALL THOSE OPPOSED? NO. THREE EYES, COMMISSIONER RAMSEY VOTES EIGHT.

ITEM PASSES. 3 TO 1. NEXT ITEM IS ITEM FOUR. COMMISSIONER, ITEM 24, COMMISSIONER RAMSEY.

COURT BACKLOG. PRETRIAL APPROVAL 306. QUICKLY.

IT REFERENCES. THIS IS $306,408 OUT OF THE FLEX FUND.

I WOULD I WOULD CALL THIS IN SUPPORT OF O'DONNELL THAT THAT'S THAT'S THAT'S THAT'S WHERE THE IT APPEARS THAT THE DOLLARS ARE GOING TO BE USED IN TERMS OF INITIATIVES THAT CAME OUT OF O'DONNELL.

I THINK, COMMISSIONER, YOU BROUGHT THIS UP MORE THAN ONCE.

YOU WERE LOOKING FOR 97 MILLION. I ASKED JUST HOW MUCH WE'VE SPENT ON O'DONNELL.

THE REPORT I GET BACK IS 11 MILLION. I THINK THAT'S LOW, BUT I THINK THIS IS A PART OF IT.

I JUST WANT TO POINT THAT OUT. THAT THIS DEALS WITH PRETRIAL SERVICES.

THIS DEALS WITH COURT BACKLOG. THIS IS ONE OF THE INITIATIVES IN O'DONNELL, EVEN THOUGH THAT IS NOT NECESSARILY SOMETHING WE THERE'S BEEN NO COURT ACTION.

I KNOW DALLAS THAT O'DONNELL UP IN THE DALLAS AREA, THAT HAS BEEN RENDERED NOT NOT IN PLACE BY THE FIFTH CIRCUIT. AND WE JUST HADN'T WE HADN'T ASKED HERE.

WE PROBABLY WON'T ASK, BUT I'M READY TO VOTE.

THANK YOU. I'LL MOVE IT. IS THERE A SECOND, COMMISSIONER GARCIA? SECONDS. THAT ALL THOSE IN FAVOR VOTE? AYE. AYE. ALL THOSE OPPOSED, VOTE NO. THREE EYES AND NO NAYS, COMMISSIONER RAMSEY VOTES NO. MISS MORRIS, WOULD YOU JUST SEND US ALL A NOTE ON HOW MUCH WE HAVE SAVED BY THE O'DONNELL SETTLEMENT?

[06:00:07]

YEAH, WE'LL TAKE A LOOK AT THAT. IN TERMS OF, YOU KNOW, JAIL COSTS, EXTRA JAIL COSTS. OKAY. NEXT UP IS ITEM 28.

THAT IS THE DRAINAGE PROJECT. I THINK I HAVE A LIST OF COMMISSIONER GARCIA.

I'M GOING TO PULL MY NAME OFF AND LET YOU. YEAH.

SO, LOOK, I THINK WE A LOT OF WORK HAS GONE INTO IT.

I, I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE FOLLOW THE INTENT BEHIND THE ITEM THAT I PUT ON THE AGENDA THE MOTION I MADE.

OR MAYBE IT WAS YOUR MOTION, I THINK I HAD ONE. INSTEAD, WE PASSED YOURS.

SO I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THE LANGUAGE, WHEN I LET IT READ IT LATE AT NIGHT, IT CAME OUT A LITTLE LATE.

IT LOOKED LIKE IT CHANGED A BIT TO ME, BUT I HEAR WHAT THE REST OF THE FOLKS SAY. IF THERE ANY AMENDMENTS, I WANT TO CLEAN IT UP. IF NOT COMMISSIONER, IF YOU DON'T MIND, I WANT TO MAKE SURE MY I READ MY MOTION JUST TO MAKE SURE.

SO MY MOTION IS TO DIRECT THE OFFICE OF COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR AND FLOOD CONTROL DISTRICT TO COME UP WITH A SPENDING PLAN FROM THE 2018 FLOOD BOND FUNDS. THIS PROJECT DELIVERY PLAN SHOULD INCLUDE PROJECTS, THEIR RESPECTIVE SPENDING AND PRIORITIZATION SCORES FOR EACH PRECINCT FROM NOW TO JUNE OF 2026.

THIS ANALYSIS SHOULD BE PRESENTED IN THE MAY 8TH, 2025 COMMISSIONER'S COURT MEETING.

I'LL SECOND. COMMISSIONER. ANYTHING ELSE? US.

COMMISSIONER GARCIA. COMMISSIONER RAMSEY, I SEE YOUR NAME.

WAS THAT OLD BUTTON PUSH? NO, THAT'S THAT'S SO IS THE MOTION DEALING WITH IS ARE WE MOVING TO MAY NOW TO DETERMINE WHAT WE'RE GOING TO FIND? WHAT WE'RE NOT GOING TO FIND? NO. THIS IS I JUST WANT A PROJECT DELIVERY PLAN.

SO WE'RE GOING TO MOVE. I'M GOING TO MAKE A MOTION TO MOVE THIS ITEM LIGHTER.

I'LL DO IT NOW IF YOU WANT. BUT MAY 8TH. THAT'S KIND OF THAT'S KIND OF QUICK.

IS THERE ANY WAY FIRST WE HAD BEEN TALKING ABOUT MAY 22ND WHEN WHEN WE GOT THE LAST MOTION FROM FEBRUARY 27TH.

SO IS IS THERE A PROBLEM DOCTOR PETERSON WITH MAY 8TH? YOU SHOULD ALREADY HAVE A PROJECT DELIVERY PLAN.

SO IS THAT A IS THAT A PROBLEM TO HAVE IT BY MAY 8TH? GOOD DEAL. OKAY. THE COMMENTS I'D HAVE COMMISSIONER AT THE LAST AT THE MEETING TWO MEETINGS AGO, THERE WAS $113 MILLION SHORTFALL, PRIMARILY IN PRECINCT ONE PROJECTS.

AND SO THAT INITIATED A LOOK AT THE NEIGHBORHOOD DRAINAGE PROGRAM.

ORIGINALLY, OUT OF THE 2018 BOND BALLPARK, THE NEIGHBORHOOD DRAINAGE PROGRAM WAS ROUGHLY 455 MILLION.

I THINK IT'S AROUND IT'S IT'S IT'S BLOSSOMED AND BALLOONED UP TO AROUND 800 MILLION NOW.

AND ALL I'M I WANT IS A FAIR REVIEW OF ALL PROJECTS AND MARCH, FEBRUARY OF 2023. IN PRECINCT THREE, THERE WERE OVER 115 MILLION PUT ON HOLD.

WE USE THE TERM HOLD WITH THE WITH THE PROMISE THAT THERE WOULD BE AN ATTEMPT TO FIND DOLLARS TO FUND THOSE. AND THERE HADN'T BEEN A WHOLE LOT OF SUCCESS.

WHEN YOU WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE NEIGHBORHOOD DRAINAGE PROGRAM AS A WHOLE, PRECINCT THREE DID HAVE MORE NEIGHBORHOOD DRAINAGE PROJECTS ASSIGNED TO IT. THE REASON IS THAT THE ASSESSMENT AND THE DEFINITION OF THE DRAINAGE PROJECTS WAS DONE PRIOR TO REDISTRICTING. SO WHEN YOU REDISTRICTED, THEN PRECINCT THREE ENDED UP WITH A LOT MORE DRAINAGE PROJECTS THAN WHAT YOU WOULD NORMALLY EXPECT IF YOU WERE TRYING TO LOOK AT IT WATERSHED BY WATERSHED.

SO JUST LIKE WE ENDED UP WITH 47% OF THE ROADS AND GET 18% OF THE FUNDING, AND NOW WE'VE GOT A LARGE NUMBER OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD DRAINAGE PROJECTS.

SO IT'S NOT IT'S IT'S NOT A MATTER OF, WELL, WE NEED TO MAKE IT, YOU KNOW, PRECINCT ONE, PRECINCT TWO, PRECINCT THREE, PRECINCT FOUR AND EQUAL JUST BECAUSE OF THE NATURE OF THE LAYOUT.

BUT THE FACTS ARE THIS. THUS FAR, THERE'S BEEN ROUGHLY $88 MILLION.

AND FRANKLY, I HAD TO PULL THESE NUMBERS MYSELF.

I DID GET SOME SUPPORT COUNTY ENGINEER, BUT IT'S HARD TO GET THE NUMBERS THAT I'M ABOUT TO ABOUT TO GIVE YOU IN TERMS OF WHERE THE MONEY'S BEEN

[06:05:02]

IF YOU JUST WANT AN UPDATE ON THE PRECINCTS AND THEN PRECINCT FOUR HAS HAD 40.

SO PRECINCT THREE IS 88. PRECINCT FOUR IS 40.

PRECINCTS ONE AND TWO ARE 160. NOW WHEN YOU LOOK AT THAT AND WE DISCOVERED THIS A BIT THIS AFTERNOON.

WHEN OR THE THIS MORNING OR YESTERDAY WHEN TALKING TO THE COUNTY ENGINEER HE SAYS, WELL YOU YOU HAVE MORE DRAINAGE PROJECTS IN YOUR PRECINCT THAN ANY OTHER COMMISSIONER TALKING ABOUT PRECINCT THREE. WELL, THE REASON WE'VE DONE MORE DRAINAGE IS WE PAID FOR 100 MILLION OF THEM.

THAT'S PRECINCT THREE MONEY. THAT WASN'T THAT WASN'T COMING OUT OF THE 2018 BOND.

WE'VE GOT SOME DISPARITY IN IT. THAT'S ALL I'VE EVER SAID.

AND IT NEEDS TO BE LOOKED AT THE PRIORITIZATION AND I'M GOING TO USE A TERM.

IT'S GOING TO BE HARSH, BUT I THINK IT'S A PRIORITIZATION SCHEME BECAUSE THERE WAS REFERENCES WHERE WE NEED TO BE SURE THAT LOOKING AT SOCIAL VULNERABILITY AND SOME OTHER ISSUES, WHEN YOU DO A SOCIAL VULNERABILITY STUDY AND BARRETT STATION IS NOT ONE OF THE UNDERSERVED NEIGHBORHOODS, YOU GOT A PROBLEM WITH YOUR FORMULA.

YOU GOT A PROBLEM WITH YOUR YOUR YOUR EVALUATION.

SO I'M SITTING HERE TODAY, IF PEOPLE ARE SAYING, WE GOT THIS ALL FIGURED OUT, I DON'T THINK WE DO.

I THINK THE NEIGHBORHOOD DRAINAGE PROJECT PROGRAM IS ONE OF THE MOST VISIBLE, EFFECTIVE PROGRAMS THAT WE'VE GOT.

IT LITERALLY GETS IN THE NEIGHBORHOODS AND SOLVES DRAINAGE PROBLEMS. AND IF IT'S BLOWN TO 800 MILLION OR $700 MILLION AT THIS POINT, THEN MAYBE WE NEED TO LOOK AT ALL OUR BOND PROJECTS AND TAKE ANOTHER LOOK AT THOSE TO SEE IF MAYBE WE SHOULD DO SOME NEIGHBORHOOD DRAINAGE PROJECTS AND SOME OF THOSE OTHER BOND PROJECTS THAT THIS COURT WOULD LOOK AT COLLECTIVELY. NOT NOT IN ANY KIND OF A IT BE IN A VERY TRANSPARENT MANNER.

BUT I DON'T THINK WE SIMPLY SAY, SORRY, COMMISSIONER RAMSEY, YOU'RE NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO FUND YOUR PROJECTS.

AND COMMISSIONER BRIONES IS SO FAR BEHIND THE CURVE, I DON'T EVEN KNOW WHERE TO START.

SO IT IT IS A FUNCTION, I THINK, OF POOR DATA TRACKING.

IT'S A FUNCTION OF REDISTRICTING AND HOW THOSE PROJECTS ENDED UP IN AN ODD WAY.

AND JUST KIND OF LIKE WHEN THE CITY ANNEXED KINGWOOD THEY GOT A LOT OF TAX REVENUE.

BUT THERE HADN'T BEEN A WHOLE LOT OF SERVICES PROVIDED IN THE KINGWOOD AREA SINCE THEN.

AND THAT'S THAT'S A SIDE NOTE. SO I HAVE A REAL PROBLEM WITH WHERE THESE NUMBERS ARE TODAY.

AND BEFORE WE SPEND A LOT MORE MONEY ON THESE, I THINK WE BETTER GET THE, THE DETAILS BECAUSE I DON'T THINK WE HAVE THEM AT THIS POINT.

COMMISSIONER GARCIA. THEN I'LL MAKE MY COMMENT. THANK YOU. COMMISSIONER RAMSEY, THANK YOU. AND MY STAFF WAS REMINDING ME, I APPRECIATE THE THE POINT THAT YOU MADE BECAUSE WE ALSO USE PRECINCT DOLLARS ON OUR PROJECTS AS WELL.

AND I WANT TO MAKE A QUICK AMENDMENT TO MY PREVIOUS MOTION.

AND I'LL REREAD IT DIRECT THE OFFICE OF COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR AND FLOOD CONTROL DISTRICT TO COME UP WITH A SPENDING PLAN FROM THE 2018 FLOOD BOND FUNDS.

THIS PROJECT DELIVERY PLAN SHOULD INCLUDE PROJECTS, THEIR RESPECTIVE SPENDING PRIORITIZATION SCORES, AND CONSTRUCTION SCHEDULE FOR EACH PRECINCT FROM NOW TO JUNE OF 2026, AND THAT IT SHOULD BE PRESENTED BY THE MAIZE EIGHTHS COURT.

AND I ALSO WANT TO POINT OUT THAT MY ISSUE IS THAT ON THIS, ON THIS PROPOSAL, IS THAT GOLD MESA FUNDS, WHICH I LEARNED WERE FACTORED INTO THIS.

AND AND I THINK THAT THE CURRENT PROPOSAL HAS NOT CHANGED FROM WHAT WAS PRESENTED TO ME.

WE'VE COME UP WITH ALMOST EXACTLY 113 MILLION WITH THE GOLD MESA FUNDS INCLUDED, WHICH NO ONE SPOKE TO MY OFFICE ABOUT.

AND BECAUSE WE HAVE RELIED HEAVILY ON THIS, AND WE STILL HAVE PROJECTS WE'RE WORKING WITH CONVERSATIONS WITH THE ALMOND BAYOU TO CONTINUE TO LEVERAGE THESE FUNDS.

[06:10:10]

BUT ALSO JUST TO REMIND US. AND MY STAFF PULLED UP A PART OF THE TRANSCRIPT FROM THE OCTOBER 26TH, 2021 MEETING WHERE I SAID TO THE LAST POINT, WE HAVE ABOUT $5.5 BILLION WORTH OF PROGRAMS ON THE BOND BUDGET. WE ONLY HAVE 2.5 BILLION, SO DECISIONS HAVE TO BE MADE.

THIS IS THE BOTTOM LINE TO THIS EFFORT. IT IS TO PUT THE MONEY THAT WE DO HAVE TO PUT IT TO WORK IN ACTUAL HOMES, MEANING TO BENEFIT STRUCTURES. I APOLOGIZE THAT IT CANNOT BE RATIONALIZED THAT WE WILL SPEND AN AMOUNT OF MONEY LARGELY WHERE PEOPLE DON'T LIVE. AND THAT WAS SPEAKING TO THE CEDAR BAYOU ISSUE, WHERE 150 MILLION WAS GOING TO BE SPENT TO BUY RIGHT OF WAY, AND IT WAS GOING TO ADVERSELY BENEFIT A MICROSCOPIC NUMBER OF HOMES THERE THAN WHERE 150 MILLION COULD BE PUT TO YOU KNOW, BENEFIT MORE PEOPLE, WHERE PEOPLE ARE LIVING.

THAT'S A GREAT EXAMPLE. SO SO I JUST WANT TO REMIND US THAT THIS THING WAS PUT TOGETHER POORLY ALL BEFORE DOCTOR PETERSON.

AND I THINK WE STILL HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO RE LOOK AT THIS AND MAKE SURE THAT THE BOND IS IN LINE WITH THE VALUES OF THE MEMBERS OF THIS COURT. SO COMMISSIONER, WHAT MAKES YOU UNDERSTAND IT? SO ARE YOU ALL RIGHT WITH THE OCA RECOMMENDATION OTHER THAN TO GO SUPPORT? OKAY. SO I WANT TO LEAVE THE GOLD MESA PART OFF.

SO I'M GOING TO JUST KIND OF WITH YOU AMENDMENT TO IT.

THAT WOULD MEAN THE 50 MILLION FROM FLOOD BOND DISTRICT 2018 IS FINE TO 30 MILLION FROM DISTRICT 2018 IS FINE.

THE 19 MILLION FROM INTEREST EARNED ON METRO FUND IS FINE.

I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT I'M CLEAR ON THAT.

SO YOUR MOTION IS THAT WE GO WITH UNDER THE OCA PROPOSAL WITH YOUR AMENDMENT, BUT DROP OFF TO 14.2 MILLION FROM GOMEISA.

OKAY. SO I'LL, I GUESS I'LL MAKE THE MOTION. YOU SECOND IT AND HIS AMENDMENT IS ADDED.

IS THAT CLEAR OR SHOULD WE FIRST VOTE ON HIS AMENDMENT? YES. THAT WOULD BE EASIER FOR US. SO COMMISSIONER GARCIA MADE A AMENDMENT TO THE OCA MOTION, AND I'M GOING TO ADD TO YOURS TO REMOVE GOMEISA AND THE LANGUAGE HE HAD.

SO YOUR YOUR FRIENDLY AMENDMENT. SO YOUR FRIENDLY AMENDMENT ADMINISTRATOR IS YOUR MICROPHONE ON, COMMISSIONER. DUDE. I'M SORRY. MY FRIENDLY AMENDMENT WAS SIMPLY TO ADD A THE PROJECT DELIVERY MOTION.

DID YOU GET ALL OF THAT ONE? YES. OKAY. AND NOW.

SO THAT'S MY FIRST MOTION TO REMOVE AND TO REMOVE THE 14.2 MILLION OF GOLD MISSILE FUNDS TO REMOVE.

OKAY. YES, AND I SECOND IT. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, VOTE AYE.

AYE AYE. ALL THOSE OPPOSED, VOTE NO. NO. THREE EYES AND ONE.

NO. THE FRIENDLY AMENDMENT IS ADDED. AND NOW? YES, COMMISSIONER. I WANT TO BE CLEAR, THOUGH, ON THE OTHER PRONGS OF THE MOTION, JUST TO BE SURE, BECAUSE TO THE POINTS VARIOUS OF Y'ALL WERE MAKING, AND I WANT TO BE SURE WHAT I VOTED ON SO THAT WE'RE ALL CLEAR, GOING BACK TO MAKE SURE THAT ALL THE RELEVANT DEPARTMENTS ASSESS TO THE POINT YOU JUST BROUGHT UP ABOUT CEDAR BAYOU, MAKING SURE THAT THESE PROJECTS ARE STILL EFFECTIVE, MERITORIOUS, WARRANTED, AND HAVING THAT ANALYSIS AND SCOPE OF WHAT ARE THE NEEDS? WHAT IS MOST MERITORIOUS? DOCTOR PETERSON, I KNOW WE ALL INHERITED THESE LISTS.

AND TO COMMISSIONER RAMSEY'S POINT, THE SUBDIVISION DRAINAGE PRECINCT FOUR GETS HOSED.

TO PUT IT NICELY, WE HAVE 8.4% OF THE ENTIRE PROGRAM.

SO I'M LESS INTERESTED IN FILLING THIS $113 MILLION GAP IMMEDIATELY, BECAUSE I WORRY A THAT THERE'LL BE CONTINUE COST ESCALATIONS, WHICH WE HAVEN'T PROPERLY ACCOUNTED FOR.

AND THE LAST THING I WANT IS TO BE BACK HERE WITH A NEW NUMBER FOR PROJECTS THAT WE MAY OR MAY NOT AGREE ON.

AND SO I WAS VERY MUCH IN FAVOR OF WHAT YOU WERE SAYING EARLIER, COMMISSIONER, YOUR MOTION HAVE A TRUE ROBUST ANALYSIS OF THESE

[06:15:02]

I JUST FEEL LIKE WE'RE PUTTING BAND AIDS, BUT WE FUNDAMENTALLY MAY NEED A DEEPER TREATMENT.

AND SO I THINK THAT'S WHAT YOU WERE SAYING, COMMISSIONER, IN A WAY.

BUT TO COMPLIMENT, TO COMPLEMENT WHAT YOU'RE SAYING.

AND A QUICK COMMENT. I THINK THE PROBLEM I KEEP REFERRING TO THE PROBLEM, WE SHOULD AT LEAST TALK ABOUT THE PROBLEM RATHER THAN IGNORE THE PROBLEM.

THE ISSUES THAT COMMISSIONER BRIONES HAS, SHE'S GOT ROUGHLY I'VE GOT ROUGHLY 47% OF THE UNINCORPORATED AREA.

COMMISSIONER BRIONES HAS PROBABLY 25, 28%. AND WHAT'S LEFT IS SPLIT BETWEEN PRECINCT ONE AND TWO.

THE PROBLEM WITH THIS FUNDING IS THE SAME PROBLEM THAT WE HAVE WITH OUR ROADS.

THE THE MAJORITY OF THIS DOES NOT HELP THE UNINCORPORATED AREA OF HARRIS COUNTY, WHERE MORE PEOPLE LIVE THAN IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON.

SO THAT'S THAT'S THE PROBLEM WITH THE FORMULAS.

THAT'S THE PROBLEM WITH OUR APPROACH. THAT'S THE PROBLEM WITH THE PRIORITIES.

SO UNTIL WE FIX THAT, WE GOT TO AT LEAST RECOGNIZE, YEAH, THERE'S SOMETHING WRONG HERE.

WHEN YOU HAVE THE DISPARITIES. AND IF WE FIX THAT THROUGH DOCTOR PETERSON'S EFFORTS GOING FORWARD, THAT THAT WOULD BE A GOOD THING. BUT AT LEAST RECOGNIZE THERE'S SOME SMOKE THERE IN TERMS OF NEARLY NO PROJECTS OVER IN PRECINCT FOUR.

AND COMPARED TO PRECINCTS ONE AND TWO. YOU LOOK AT AND THE AND THE PROBLEM, IT WASN'T BECAUSE SOME NEFARIOUS ACTIVITY WAS GOING ON.

IT HAD TO DO WITH THE UNINCORPORATED AREA OF HARRIS COUNTY AND REDISTRICTING.

AND I'M NOT GOING BACK AND RELITIGATING THAT.

I'M JUST SAYING WHEN YOU GO THROUGH THAT AND YOU END UP HAVING PROJECTS SHIFTING HERE OR THERE, I'M I'M MORE INTERESTED IN GETTING PROJECTS DONE, AS MR. GARCIA REFERRED TO. AND THE NEIGHBORHOODS AND ALL OF THESE HAVE GREAT POTENTIAL, THAT IF WE COULD JUST FIGURE OUT HOW TO FUND THE PROJECTS THAT WE KNOW OF RIGHT NOW, THE NEIGHBORHOODS, AND THEY'LL PROBABLY BE THE CEDAR BAYOUS, THAT'S A GREAT EXAMPLE OF AND THERE'S MANY MORE OF THOSE, I THINK, STILL LEFT IN THE HOPPER FOR US TO LOOK AT.

YEAH. AND, COMMISSIONER, IF I MIGHT. COMMISSIONER RAMSEY, THANK YOU, BECAUSE THAT'S THE PURPOSE OF MY MOTION.

I THINK WE NEED TO SEE A PROJECT DELIVERY PLAN SO THAT WE CAN UNDERSTAND REALLY GOING BACK TO MY COMMENTS IN 2021, THAT WE'RE NOT GOING TO HAVE ALL THE MONEY THAT WE INTENDED TO HAVE TO DO THIS WORK.

AND I THINK, AS I SAID BEFORE, THAT THE, THE BOND WAS ONLY BENEFITING 30% OF THE PEOPLE THAT WERE FLOODED. BUT IF WE MAKE SOME ADJUSTMENTS, WE CAN BENEFIT MORE PEOPLE.

AND THE CEDAR BAYOU IS JUST ONE EXAMPLE. BECAUSE AS I SAID TO YOU THE OTHER DAY WHEN WE REDISTRICT, I KNEW YOU WERE GOING TO NEED SOME HELP. AND I'M COMMITTED TO FINDING WAYS TO HELP MAKE SURE THAT YOU GET AS MUCH HELP AS POSSIBLE OUT OF THE RESOURCES WE HAVE AVAILABLE.

SO I WANT TO MAKE SURE WE UNDERSTAND THE MOTION.

WITH THE CHANGE OF DROPPING THE GOMESA MONEY, THE FIGURE WILL BE 99 MILLION.

IS MY MATH RIGHT? YES, SIR. OKAY. SO THE MOTION WILL BE.

WOULD YOU BE ABLE TO REPEAT THE WHOLE MOTION FROM THE BEGINNING TO END, JUST TO MAKE SURE WE HAVE A CLEAR ON RECORD? YEAH, I JUST WANT TO GET THAT MOTION TO DIRECT ALL RELEVANT DEPARTMENTS TO FILL THE PREVIOUSLY IDENTIFIED FUNDING GAP OF APPROXIMATELY 99 MILLION SUBDIVISION DRAINAGE PROGRAM PROJECTS PREVIOUSLY CLASSIFIED IN FEBRUARY 2023 AS PART OF THE GROUP OF 57 PROJECTS WITH A PRIORITIZATION FRAME WORK RATING OF 7.4 OR HIGHER USING THE FOLLOWING SOURCES.

I'M READING IT AS IT IS FROM THERE. 50 MILLION FROM FLOOD CONTROL DISTRICT OF 2018 FLOOD BOND FLOOD PROGRAM.

FLOOD BOND PROGRAM FUNDS ORIGINALLY ALLOCATED AS MATCHING FUNDS FOR THE HOME BUYOUT PROGRAM THAT ARE NO LONGER NEEDED.

30 MILLION FROM THE FLOOD CONTROL DISTRICT. 2018 FLOOD BOND PROGRAM FUNDS ORIGINALLY ALLOCATED FOR MAJOR MAINTENANCE PROJECTS THAT HAVE ALTERNATIVE FUNDING SOURCES IDENTIFIED. 19 MILLION FROM INTEREST EARNED ON METRO FUND CASH BALANCE PERIOD.

AND THEN YOU YOU GOT THE LANGUAGE FROM COMMISSIONER GARCIA.

HIS FRIENDLY AMENDMENT. YES. WELL, CAN YOU GO AHEAD AND REPEAT IT JUST FOR WE CAN HAVE IT AS A FRIENDLY AMENDMENT TO DIRECT THE OFFICE OF COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR AND FLOOD CONTROL

[06:20:06]

THIS PROJECT DELIVERY PLAN SHOULD INCLUDE PROJECTS, THEIR RESPECTIVE SPENDING PRIORITIZATION SCORES, AND CONSTRUCTION SCHEDULES FOR EACH PRECINCT FROM NOW TO JUNE OF 2026.

THIS ANALYSIS SHOULD BE PRESENTED IN THE MAY 8TH, 2025 COMMISSIONERS COURT MEETING.

SO I MADE THE MOTION. HE SECONDED AND 3 TO 1.

ALL THOSE IN FAVOR VOTE AYE. AYE. ALL THOSE OPPOSED VOTE NO.

NO. SO I WANT TO VOTE YES, BUT I WANT I WANT TO MAKE SURE I'M CRYSTAL CLEAR.

AND DOCTOR PETERSON, DOCTOR RAHMAN. COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR RAMIREZ.

SO I'M TRYING TO TRIANGULATE. SO WE'RE TRYING TO FILL THE GAP FOR THESE 57 PROJECTS.

IT WAS 113, ALTHOUGH I'M NOT AN ENGINEER, BUT I'M PRETTY SURE THERE'LL BE MORE COST ESCALATIONS.

WE ACTUALLY NEED A BIGGER NUMBER. WE'RE TAKING OUT GOMEISA. WE'RE AT 99.

WHETHER OR NOT THESE 57 PROJECTS ARE. IF YOU ALL STAND BEHIND THE PRIORITIZATION SCORES, I HAVE SOME QUESTIONS ABOUT THAT.

BUT THEN THERE'S THIS, THIS OTHER PIECE. RIGHT.

WHICH IS THE WAY I, AS AN ENGLISH MAJOR LAWYER, DESCRIBE IT AS LOOK AT THE BIGGER PICTURE TO MAKE SURE WE ARE HELPING THE MOST VULNERABLE AREAS OF THE COUNTY TO DELIVER THE MOST FLOOD PROTECTION AS POSSIBLE WITH OUR LIMITED DOLLARS, KNOWING THAT SOME OF THE INITIAL PROJECTS MAYBE SHOULDN'T HAVE BEEN THERE, OR MAYBE THEY DESERVED TO BE THERE, BUT THERE'S SOME UTILITY ISSUE OR RIGHT OF WAY ISSUE OR SOMETHING, RIGHT? SO I JUST I'M HAVING TROUBLE TRIANGULATING THE MACRO BECAUSE I KNOW SOME OF THE FLOOD BOND PROJECTS THAT ARE UNDERWAY.

EXTREMELY MERITORIOUS. TORIUS SCORED HIGH. AMAZING PROJECTS.

YOU'RE DELIVERING PROGRESS IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE GLOW. THERE'S THE SUBSET, WHICH AGAIN, IS DISTINCT YET INTERRELATED. AND SO I WANT TO BE A TEAM PLAYER.

I WANT TO HELP WHAT IS GOING TO MOVE THE NEEDLE FOR THE COUNTY THE MOST? I DON'T NEED TO HAVE. IT DOESN'T ALWAYS HAVE TO BE 20, 20, YOU KNOW, 25, 25, 25, 25 BECAUSE I RECOGNIZE THAT THERE ARE AREAS OF GREATER NEED.

8% IS NOWHERE NEAR 25, FOR THE RECORD. THAT BEING SAID, HELP ME.

AND I'M LOOKING AT DOCTOR PETERSON FIRST BECAUSE THIS TO ME FITS IN THE BROADER FLOOD BOND PROGRAM, WHICH AGAIN, I KNOW YOU'VE MADE MARKED TREMENDOUS PROGRESS.

AND I THANK COMMISSIONER BUCKINGHAM AS WELL. SO HOW DO YOU SEE THIS BASED ON THESE MARCHING ORDERS WORKING REALISTICALLY? AND PLEASE BE BRUTALLY HONEST WITH US BECAUSE WE ALL I BELIEVE WE ALL HAVE THE BEST OF INTENTIONS.

WE ALL WANT TO SERVE THE COUNTY. WE ALL WANT TO SERVE OUR PRECINCT.

WE ALL WANT TO GET THE BE ACCOUNTABLE, TRANSPARENT, AND EFFECTIVE.

SO AS A NON-ENGINEER, PRAY TELL, HOW YOU WOULD TRIANGULATE THESE INSTRUCTIONS WITH THE REALITY OF THE SITUATION, PLEASE. WELL, GOOD EVENING, COMMISSIONERS. THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO TALK ABOUT THIS, THIS REALLY IMPORTANT QUESTION THAT WE HAVE IN FRONT OF US.

I THINK WHAT COMMISSIONER GARCIA HAS LAID OUT IS, IS REALLY A VERY GOOD, CLEAR FIRST STEP, TRYING TO UNDERSTAND WHAT IS IN OUR NEAR TERM AND WHAT WE ARE DELIVERING.

I THINK, YOU KNOW, THE INFORMATION THAT WAS ASKED FOR COMMISSIONER ELLIS AT OUR LAST COURT MEETING IS ALSO REALLY CRITICAL.

THAT'S WHERE WE'RE GETTING INTO MORE OF THE DETAILS OF, YOU KNOW, AND I HAVE THE MOTION IN FRONT OF ME BECAUSE IT'S THERE IS A LOT OF INFORMATION BEING ASKED. BUT REALLY, AT THE END OF THE DAY, WHAT I THINK ABOUT IS THIS IS A REALLY IMPORTANT DECISION AND WE HAVE TO, AS THE FLOOD CONTROL DISTRICT AND THE COUNTY ENGINEER, HAVE TO LAY OUT INFORMATION FOR YOU AS A COURT TO ALLOW YOU TO MAKE THE BEST DECISIONS POSSIBLE, TO LAY OUT THE DECISIONS IN A WAY THAT THAT, YOU KNOW, SO THAT YOU CAN GIVE US GUIDANCE.

BECAUSE AT THE END OF THE DAY, THE DECISIONS WE ARE TALKING ABOUT ARE POLICY DECISIONS, AND WE ARE HERE TO DELIVER ON THAT DIRECTION FROM COURT.

AND SO OUR JOB IS TO BRING THE DATA, TO BRING THE INFORMATION TO LAY OUT THE IMPACTS TO THE PROGRAMS. RIGHT. THERE WILL BE IMPACTS, THERE WILL BE TRADEOFFS, AND THERE WILL BE OPPORTUNITIES.

AND AND REALLY THAT'S THE INFORMATION THAT YOU ALL NEED TO GIVE US GUIDANCE.

AND SO I THINK THAT IS THE PATH WE ARE ON. COMMISSIONER BRIONES.

I THINK COMMISSIONER GARCIA IS ASKING FOR SOME PRELIMINARY DATA IN EARLY MAY.

WE WILL FOLLOW UP WITH THE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION THAT YOU REQUESTED, COMMISSIONER ELLIS, AT THE FOLLOWING MEETING. AND THIS IS HOW I'M THINKING ABOUT IT RIGHT NOW, AND VERY MUCH WELCOME FEEDBACK AND COLLABORATION AS WE TALK ABOUT THIS.

[06:25:01]

AND SO, YOU KNOW, FROM MY PERSPECTIVE, I THINK THAT THERE IS A LOT OF OPPORTUNITY HERE FOR US, RIGHT. TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE DONE A DEEP DIVE.

WE UNDERSTAND. AND, YOU KNOW, WHEN WE LOOK AT THE ALL THE VARIOUS THINGS THAT ARE IN THE BOND PROGRAM, I WOULD SAY THAT THERE WERE A LOT OF DIFFERENT PRIORITIES THAT DROVE THE DIFFERENT PROJECTS, RIGHT? THAT ENDED UP IN THE BOND PROGRAM. THOSE ARE PROBABLY NOT THE SAME PRIORITIES FOR THIS COURT.

AND SO I THINK IT IS IT IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR US.

SO, YOU KNOW, I THINK WE LOOK AT THIS AS WE'RE HERE TO PROVIDE THE DATA.

SO WE WILL START, COMMISSIONER GARCIA, WITH THE DATA AT THE BEGINNING OF MAY FOLLOW.

AND THEN I THINK THE WAY THAT THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR HAS LAID OUT THIS WILL SET UP A CADENCE FOR US TO COME TO SOME DECISIONS AT THE END OF JUNE IS HOW I'M THINKING ABOUT IT. MR. GARCIA, THE REASON I VOTED NO WERE RESERVATIONS.

I WAS I WAS TOLD MANY THINGS IN 2023 THAT WE JUST WERE NOT EVEN IN THE SCOPE OF REVIEW. IT SOUNDS LIKE WE MIGHT BE. I HOPE SO.

THERE'S A I USE THE WORD HOPE. THERE'S A HOPE, MAYBE THAT THAT WE DO IDENTIFY THOSE PROJECTS LIKE BARRETT STATION AND OTHER PLACES THAT WOULD BE SIGNIFICANT NEIGHBORHOOD DRAINAGE IMPROVEMENTS, BUT HOPEFULLY WE'LL JUST SEE.

WE'LL SEE WHAT HAPPENS IN MAY. GOOD DEAL. THANK YOU.

AND COMMISSIONER ELLIS, THE THE ONLY OTHER THING THAT I THAT I'LL SAY IS THAT BARRETT USED TO BE IN MY PRECINCT, AND YOU'RE ABSOLUTELY RIGHT, COMMISSIONER, THAT HOW IT DIDN'T GET THE SCORE THAT IT THAT IT SHOULD HAVE GOTTEN IS IS JUST NOT RIGHT, BECAUSE I KNOW THE CONDITION OF THAT COMMUNITY.

AND SO I APPRECIATE YOUR ADVOCACY FOR THEM BECAUSE THAT WAS SOMETHING THAT I TOLD THEM, YOU KNOW, IN SPITE OF THE REDISTRICTING, I THOUGHT YOU WOULD BE A GOOD STEWARD OF THEIR QUALITY OF LIFE, AND YOU'RE DOING IT. SO I APPRECIATE THAT. THE THE OTHER THING, TOO, IS THAT I, I WOULD JUST REALLY SAY TO OURSELVES THAT I GO BACK TO THE FACT THAT AND AND COMMISSIONER BRIONES LAID IT OUT.

THERE ARE REAL COST ESCALATIONS. INFLATION IS A REAL THING.

AND I FEEL STRONGLY, BASED ON WHAT I'VE HEARD, THIS BOND WAS NEVER, NEVER PUT TOGETHER IN A SCIENTIFIC MANNER.

AND NO REAL STUDIES. BUT MADAM ADMINISTRATOR, I WILL JUST SAY THAT THE MOTION THAT GOT US TO THIS POINT WAS A MOTION TO BRING OPTIONS.

YOU DIDN'T BRING US ANY OPTIONS. YOU GAVE US ONE THING TO CONSIDER.

AND SO NEXT TIME THIS COURT VOTES TO ASK FOR OPTIONS, I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE SEE OPTIONS.

NOT ONE THING TO VOTE ON. SO IF I MIGHT, BECAUSE I'VE BEEN PATIENT.

I WAS TRYING TO GET US PAST THE VOTE AND WE WERE IN THE MIDDLE OF ONE, BUT I JUST WANT TO WALK THROUGH IT BRIEFLY.

HARVEY BOND, ISSUE 2018 $2.5 BILLION. I DON'T THINK ANYBODY REALLY THOUGHT THE $2.5 BILLION WAS ENOUGH. COMMISSIONER RAMSEY, YOU WEREN'T HERE.

BUT JACK CAGLE WOULD SAY TO ME PRIVATELY, I THINK HE SAID AT THE TABLE 10 BILLION RICE OR SOMEBODY DID A STUDY.

YOU READ IT IN THE PAPER. I THINK THAT FIGURE WAS 20 BILLION.

AND AT ONE POINT, THE NUMBER WAS GOING TO GO DOWN TO 1 BILLION.

MY GUESS IS THEY WERE DOING POLLING DATA, AND THE POLLING DATA PROBABLY INDICATED THAT TWO POINT ANYTHING ABOVE A BILLION WOULD FAIL.

AND THEN I COME TO THE TABLE AND SAY WHAT? THAT COST BENEFIT RATIO.

THERE'S NOTHING YOU'RE GOING TO BE ABLE TO DO TO HIT GREENS AND HAULS.

THAT WAS MORMON AND ELLIS AT THE TIME. SO I GUESS IT WAS PERSUASIVE ENOUGH IN THINKING SOME OF THE VOTES ARE GOING TO COME FROM THOSE TWO PRECINCTS TO PASS IT.

YOU KNOW WHAT THE NORMAL THE NUMBERS ARE ON WHO VOTES FOR IT?

[06:30:02]

AND THEN THE NEW COURT. COMMISSIONER GARCIA, YOU WERE HERE AND THE JUDGE, WE CAME UP WITH THIS PRIORITIZATION FRAMEWORK.

WE ADOPTED IT IN AUGUST, APRIL 26TH, 2022. AND WE WERE TRYING TO MAKE SURE THAT HISTORICALLY NEGLECTED NEIGHBORHOODS THAT HAD NOT RECEIVED THE SAME LEVEL OF INVESTMENT FROM FLOOD PROTECTION WOULD GET IT.

IT'S NOT QUITE LIKE RHODES, WITH ALL DUE RESPECT.

THE ISSUE HERE WAS A FEDERAL MANDATE GOING BACK TO AN EXECUTIVE ORDER FROM 1984.

I BELIEVE THAT'S REPLETE ALL IN THE LAW. COST BENEFIT RATIO MEANS YOU TAKE CARE OF THE WEALTHY PROPERTY FIRST, AND THEN YOU NEVER GET TO THE POOR PROPERTY. BARRETT STATION OR WHATEVER IT IS.

YOU JUST DON'T GET THERE. I THOUGHT WE OUGHT TO USE THIS TERM LMI.

IT WAS THE JUDGE'S OFFICE THAT CAME UP WITH THIS SOCIAL VULNERABILITY INDEX.

TURNS OUT THAT'S WHAT THEY USE FOR THE CENTER FOR DISEASE CONTROL.

SO PROBABLY I JUST DIDN'T LIKE THE WORD SOCIAL VULNERABILITY, TO BE HONEST WITH YOU.

JUST THINKING PEOPLE READ SOMETHING AND THEN FIND OUT IT WAS BUSH ONE THAT CAME UP WITH IT FOR THE CENTER FOR DISEASE CONTROL.

JUST SO YOU KNOW WHAT'S IN IT? I DIDN'T SCORE THEM.

YOU HAD THE BUREAUCRACY DOING IT. PROJECT EFFICIENCY USING PEOPLE BENEFITED 15%.

PROJECT EFFICIENCY USING STRUCTURES BENEFITED 30%, EXISTING CONDITION 20%.

SOCIAL VULNERABILITY 20%. LONG TERM MAINTENANCE COSTS 5%.

ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS 5%. MULTIPLE BENEFITS 5%.

HEY, THEY DID IT! I DIDN'T DO IT. AND I WANT TO STRESS TO YOU, I CAN ASSURE YOU, WHEN THEY CAME UP WITH THE LIST OF ALL THESE THINGS ON A SEPARATE SHEET OF PAPER, I CAN ASSURE YOU THEY WERE NOT LOOKING OUT FOR OLD RODNEY WHEN HE WAS HERE BY HIMSELF.

YOU GOT ME. I CAN ASSURE YOU, RADIC, CAGLE, MORMON AND EMMITT WOULD NOT SAY AN OLD.

LET'S MAKE SURE RODNEY GETS THIS. SO IT'S NOT QUITE LIKE RHODES.

THAT'S A DIFFERENT ISSUE. I KNOW WE DISCUSSED THAT AT A LATER POINT.

IN SHORT, THE ARGUMENT COULD BE MADE ONE REASON WHY SOME PRECINCTS HAVE MORE ROADS THAN OTHERS WAS BECAUSE THEY HAD MORE MONEY TO BUILD THE ROADS.

YOU KNOW, I'M JUST SAYING WE COULD DEBATE IT, BUT THIS, THIS FLOODING MONEY WAS DRIVEN BY A FEDERAL MANDATE ON WHERE YOU DO IT.

AND THEN IT WAS THE LMI ARGUMENT THAT HELPED US GET TO 700 MILLION WE GOT.

IT WAS AT NORTHEAST ACTION COALITION GOING TO COURT AGAINST THE G-L-O.

AND THAT'S WHY THE STATE WITH THAT HEAT ON THEM AT THE TIME, YOU SAW THE ARTICLE IN THE PAPER WHERE NOW THE STATES, THE HUD IS WITHDRAWING EVEN THE REQUEST THAT IT BE LOOKED AT.

SO IN ALL OF THIS, WE OUGHT TO FOLLOW THE PRIORITIZATION FRAMEWORK.

IF WE CHANGE IT, IF WE COME IN AND WE LET THE BUREAUCRACY DECIDE BECAUSE THEY DON'T HAVE ENOUGH MONEY, THAT'S THE REAL ISSUE. ONE OF THE OPTIONS WOULD PROBABLY BE YOU'RE GOING TO SAY YOU GOT TO COME UP WITH MORE MONEY.

IT'S NOT GOING TO COME ON THE SKY. YOU GOT TO GO BACK TO THE VOTERS.

I'VE JUST SAID NUMEROUS TIMES HERE AT THE TABLE, IF WE BACK UP ON THIS COMMITMENT THAT A MUCH MORE CONSERVATIVE COURT MADE TO THE VOTERS, IT'S GOING TO BE HELL TO PAY TO GET ANOTHER ONE PASSED.

SO HOWEVER WE DO IT, WE GOT TO FOLLOW THAT. NOW WE CAN FIGHT OVER THE SMALL AMOUNT THAT'S THERE.

BUT ONE OF THE OPTIONS WILL BE YOU GOT TO GO BACK AND COME UP WITH MORE MONEY.

I THINK ONE OF THE BEST THINGS THAT HAS COME OUT OF THIS HAS BEEN WHEN ALL OF THESE CHIEFS OF STAFF, BECAUSE WE CAN'T, WE CAN ONLY TALK TO ONE. AND THEN YOU GOT TO DECIDE WHICH ONE YOU TALK TO.

AND IF THE ONE YOU NORMALLY TALK TO, YOU KEEP TALKING TO THEM ALL THE TIME. AT SOME POINT THEY'RE GOING TO GET TIRED OF YOU. EACH ONE OF US.

SO YOU KIND OF JUMP AROUND ON WHO YOU TALK TO.

BUT AT LEAST WHEN THE FIVE CHIEFS OF STAFF CAN GET TOGETHER, THEY CAN ASK.

I JUST LOST MY CONFIDENCE IN IT BECAUSE I COULDN'T BELIEVE THAT IS SOMEBODY WHO DIDN'T COME IN HERE AND WORK THE BUREAUCRACY.

YOU'D LOOK UP AND I'M $113 MILLION SHORT. I ALWAYS LIKE TO TEST THE FORMULA AND AND THE CONVERSATION WE HAD WITH THE GLO WHEN THEY RULED THAT NO, NO, NOTHING WAS GOING TO GET FUNDED IN HARRIS COUNTY.

AND THEN SOME OF US GOT, GOT BUSY. AND HERE COMES A 750 PLUS MILLION.

AND AND WE HAVE YOUR COMMENTS UP A LOT. BUT LET ME TELL YOU, TOM, I'M JUST TELLING YOU THAT FEDERAL HAMMER COMING DOWN.

[06:35:02]

THAT WAS EVEN WORSE. THEY GOT MORE WATER THAN WE GOT.

JUST DIDN'T HAVE AS MANY PEOPLE. THEY GOT ZERO.

SO THE ONLY THE ONLY OTHER THING I HAVE DONE, PROBABLY 2 OR 3 MASTER DRAINAGE PLANS IN THE COUNTY.

I UNDERSTAND THE VETTING. AND WHEN A COMMUNITY LIKE BARRETT AND I GOT OTHERS, IF YOU WANT TO TALK ABOUT THEM, THAT JUST. AND YOU COMPARE THAT PROJECT WHERE THERE'S WATER IN HOMES ONE AND TWO, THEY'RE UNDERSERVED AND THEY DON'T EVEN GET ON THE LIST. SOMETHING'S WRONG WITH THE FORMULA. I HAVE NO IDEA WHAT I'M SAYING THIS TO YOU.

WHEN THAT WAS DONE. NOBODY WOULD HAVE LEFT BARRETT OUT IF THEY GOT ENOUGH WATER FROM THAT EVENT COMPARED TO OTHER PEOPLE.

SO, I MEAN, SO INSTEAD OF GRABBING ONE BECAUSE IT'S POOR, I KNOW THE HISTORY OF BARRETT STATION FROM THE MOMENT I ENDED UP WORKING FOR A POLITICIAN.

I'M WELL AWARE OF THE HISTORY OF BARRETT STATION. WELL, YOU GO ANYPLACE ON THE EAST SIDE. DOESN'T HAVE TO BE BARRETT. YEAH, I'M JUST SAYING, JUST.

I WOULDN'T GET US CAUGHT UP IN THE WITH ME. IT WASN'T A MATTER OF JUST TRYING TO PROTECT MY DISTRICT, BECAUSE THERE ARE PLENTY AREAS WHERE WE DIDN'T JUST GO DIVIDE EVENLY.

SO. AND EVEN IN MINE, IT WOULD BE. LOOK FOR A WHILE, COMMISSIONER, BEFORE YOU GOT MOST OF IT, OF IT. I REPRESENT IT REVOKES. YOU COULD GET FUNDING FOR THAT.

YOU GET FUNDING FOR DOWNTOWN UNDER THE COST BENEFIT RATIO.

I HAPPEN TO REPRESENT A GOOD BIT OF THAT AS WELL.

YOU KNOW, THE ONLY TIME I'VE EVER IN MY ENGINEERING WORLD EVER GOT TO THE COST BENEFIT WAS THE CORE.

BUT EVERY OTHER PROJECT I'VE EVER DONE WITH ANY MAJOR CITY, ANY MAJOR COUNTY IN TEXAS, WE DIDN'T USE COST BENEFIT WITH WHAT HUD WAS USING.

IT'S WHAT HUD WAS USING ON THIS MONEY THAT THEY HAD.

OKAY. BUT ANYWAY, WE'RE IN THE MIDDLE OF A VOTE.

COMMISSIONER. ARE YOU? YES. SO WHAT I'M HEARING, HOWEVER, I JUST WANT TO BE CRYSTAL CLEAR.

I BELIEVE FIRMLY THAT WE NEED TO PRIORITIZE PROJECTS.

WE HAVE NO CHOICE. A IT'S THE RIGHT THING TO DO.

BUT B WE HAVE LIMITED FUNDS, AND WE NEED TO MAKE SURE WE'RE SPENDING THEM IN THE HIGHEST AND BEST WAY THAT WILL BEST PROTECT OUR FAMILIES, ESPECIALLY IN THE MOST RISKY AND VULNERABLE AREAS OF OUR COMMUNITY.

PERIOD RIGHT NOW, I KNOW THAT THIS WAS PART OF THE BOND AND SPUN OUT, AND DOCTOR RAMON AND HIS TEAM INHERITED IT.

AND WE'RE ALL WORKING TOGETHER AS ONE HARRIS COUNTY TEAM AS WE SHOULD.

SO ALL I ASK AND I CAN VOTE YES IF AND ONLY IF WITH THIS AMENDMENT, BECAUSE I WANT TO MAKE SURE WE'RE NOT SHUTTING THE DOOR IF THESE ARE NOT THE HIGHEST AND BEST, AND MAYBE THEY ARE, MAYBE THESE ARE THE ABSOLUTE BEST WAYS WE CAN SPEND TAXPAYER RESOURCES TO PROTECT TAXPAYERS. HOWEVER, I WANT TO CREATE A WINDOW INSOFAR AS WE HAVE MORE CEDAR BAYOU EXAMPLES THAT ONE INCLUDING OTHERS.

RIGHT? AND I'M NOT AN ENGINEER. I JUST DON'T WANT TO WED MYSELF.

AND AGAIN, I GOT HERE IN 2023. AND. THERE'S A LOT OF MEMORY LANE.

RIGHT. SO I INHERITED LISTS THAT THEY'RE THE LISTS.

BUT ARE THEY THE BEST LISTS. AND AS SOMEONE WHO GREW UP CHECK TO CHECK, I JUST CRINGE AT THE IDEA THAT WE'RE SAYING, YEP, 99 MILLION. THESE ARE THE HIGHEST AND BEST.

AND MAYBE THEY ARE. AND YOU COME BACK IN ON MAY 8TH AND SAY, YES, THIS HELPS THE THOSE COMMUNITIES MOST AT RISK THAT ARE MOST VULNERABLE, THAT HAVE THE MOST DAMAGE. LIKE THE WHOLE METHODOLOGY, YOU COME AND REPRESENT YOU.

AND I'M SAYING YOU AS AN YOU AND DOCTOR RAMON AND YOU, DOCTOR PETERSON AND I JUST NEED A, A SMALL WINDOW BECAUSE AS YOU ALL ARE GOING TO COME PRESENT AN UPDATE ON THE 2018 FLOOD BOND.

AND AS WE MOVE FORWARD WITH OUR SUBDIVISION. AND I LOVE WHAT YOU PUT COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR RAMIREZ ON THE FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT SYSTEM, A STANDARD REPORTING FRAMEWORK LIKE WE'RE ALL IN, IN MAKING SURE WE DELIVER IN AN OPEN, TRANSPARENT, ACCOUNTABLE WAY, LIKE ALL IN WHATEVER WE HAVE TO DO.

HOWEVER, I WANT TO HAVE A WINDOW SO THAT WE'RE JUST NOT CONTINUING DOWN A PATH WITH BLINDERS ENTIRELY.

SO DISCUSSION I WOULD LIKE TO ADD THIS DISCUSSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS FOR THIS FLOOD BOND PROGRAM, INCLUDING. THE SUBDIVISION DRAINAGE PROGRAM, SHOULD INCLUDE AN UPDATE ON ALL CURRENT PROJECTS.

AND SHOULD INCLUDE EXPERT RECOMMENDATIONS FOR ANY POTENTIAL PROJECTS.

SO IF THAT'S OBVIOUSLY TAKEN INTO ACCOUNT, A PRIORITIZATION FRAMEWORK.

YES. OKAY. UNLESS AND I'M WITH YOU LIKE IF FOLKS IF THERE'S THREE VOTES TO DITCH IT, I, I BELIEVE WE HAVE TO PRIORITIZE.

AND I WOULD LIKE FOR YOU ALL HONESTLY TO SAY THIS IS HOW WE'VE APPLIED IT.

THIS IS WHAT WORKS IN THE FORMULA. THIS IS WHAT DOESN'T WORK AS AN EXPERT.

[06:40:02]

I JUST I PLEASE AND AS SOMEONE WHO'S NOT AN ENGINEER, I.

AND MAYBE WE NEED A SPECIAL MEETING BUT LIKE IF IT TAKES HOURS TO GO PROJECT BY PROJECT.

NO TRULY LIKE, HOW ARE WE GOING TO HAVE THE PUBLIC TRUST AND CONFIDENCE IF WE'RE NOT DELIVERING THE PROTECTION WE SAID WE WOULD? RIGHT. AND AS SOMEONE WHO REPRESENTS WESTERN HARRIS COUNTY, I FEEL THIS MORAL OBLIGATION TO MAKE SURE THAT WHEN THE NEXT HARVEY, GOD FORBID, HAPPENS, WE DON'T HAVE THE SAME SITUATION.

SO IN SOME ESSENTIALLY CREATING A WINDOW THAT AS YOU UPDATE US, ARE THERE ANY OTHER POTENTIAL PROJECTS THAT YOU THINK ARE EQUALLY MERITORIOUS, IF NOT GREATER? RIGHT. AND MAYBE THEY'RE NOT ELIGIBLE.

BUT IF WE DO HAVE MORE CEDAR CREEK BAYOUS, WHICH YOU WILL TELL US WITH BRUTAL HONESTY, THEN WE WILL HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE ABLE TO DO ANALYSIS HOLISTICALLY. SO, YEAH, IF YOU WANT TO FINISH COMMISSIONER OR I CAN.

NO, NO, NO, I JUST, I JUST I FEEL LIKE WE GET THINGS IN CHUNKS.

AND IF WE'RE REALLY GOING TO BE THE BEST STEWARDS.

WE NEED TO BE I NEED I NEED TO SEE IT IN THE TOTALITY, NOT JUST PLUGGING.

113 OH, WE HAVE 113 NOW. AND IT'S JUST LIKE WHAT I JUST NEED TO BETTER.

AND HOW ARE WE PREPARING FOR COST ESCALATIONS? THAT'S WEIGHING ON ME BECAUSE OUR PRECINCT PROJECTS, WE'RE SEEING IT IN EVERY PROJECT AND I JUST WANT TO BE PREPARED.

SO TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTION, COMMISSIONER BRIONES, ABSOLUTELY.

I CAN WORK WITH DOCTOR RAMON. WE CAN CERTAINLY LAY OUT SOME AREAS OF OPPORTUNITY.

YOU KNOW, THIS IS THEY'RE NOT GOING TO BE AS FAR ALONG OR AS ADVANCED NECESSARILY AS THE REST OF OUR UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT'S GOING ON WITH THE PROJECTS IN THE BOND PROGRAM. BUT CERTAINLY, YOU KNOW, WE HAD THE FLOOD CONTROL DISTRICT UNDERSTAND WHERE THERE ARE AREAS WHERE WE HAVE SIGNIFICANT FLOOD RISK, AND WE CAN CERTAINLY FLAG THOSE AREAS AND, YOU KNOW, ALLOW THE COURT AGAIN TO MAKE THE DECISIONS.

RIGHT. SO I THINK DOCTOR RAMON AND I CAN WORK TOGETHER ON THAT.

WITH REGARD TO COST ESCALATION, I DO THINK THAT THIS IS A REALLY IMPORTANT POINT, ONE THAT ALSO WEIGHS HEAVY ON US.

WHEN I JOINED THE FLOOD CONTROL DISTRICT, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE DID WHEN I FIRST CAME ON BOARD WAS ESTABLISH A COST ESTIMATING FRAMEWORK.

WE HAVE GUIDELINES TO DEFINE HOW WE ESTIMATE OUR COSTS, AND WE HAVE SEEN THE COSTS RANGES THAT WE WERE INITIALLY DEALING WITH. THEY HAVE COME IN IN, IN BETTER AND IN RECENT YEARS.

PART OF THAT IS DUE TO, YOU KNOW, WE'VE COME OUT OF COVID.

I HOPE SOME OF THAT IS DUE TO THE, THE THE PROCEDURES THAT WE HAVE PUT IN PLACE.

WE ALSO NEED TO UNDERSTAND THAT WE NEED TO HAVE A WAY TO MANAGE THESE COST ESCALATIONS IN THE BOND PROGRAM.

WE DID SET ASIDE SOME FUNDING IN A RESERVE ACCOUNT.

REALLY THE, THE, THE, THE REMAINDER OF THE FLOOD RESILIENCE TRUST, WHICH WE ANTICIPATED THAT WE WOULD USE THE PRIORITIZATION FRAMEWORK TO DEFINE THE ABILITY TO ACCESS THOSE FUNDS. SO WE WE ABSOLUTELY AGREE.

I THINK WE NEED TO LOOK AT THAT VERY CAREFULLY SO THAT WE HAVE THE ABILITY TO TRULY DELIVER THIS PROGRAM AND WHAT WE COMMIT TO.

SO WE DON'T CONTINUE TO COME BACK AND BACK. I WANT TO MAKE SURE DOCTOR RAMAN, SINCE THIS IS THESE ARE PROJECTS THAT WENT TO HIM.

AND I JUST WANT TO STRESS THAT IF WE HAD A PRIORITIZATION FRAMEWORK AND WE TRY TO DO ANYTHING TO MICKEY MOUSE WITH IT, LIKE IF WE WANT TO SCALE BACK THE PROJECTS, I THINK I THINK SOME DISCUSSION CAME UP ABOUT THAT WHEN THE STAFFERS CAME.

WE GOT TO MAKE THAT DECISION AND NOT YOU ALL.

AND I'M JUST TELLING MY COLLEAGUES, YOU GOT TO BE REAL CAREFUL, BECAUSE I KNOW AT SOME POINT YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE TO GO BACK TO THE VOTERS. AND IF YOU THINK THEY WON'T BE WATCHING THIS LIKE A HAWK AND LOOK, THEY SHOULD BE.

YOU ALL INHERITED YOU. YOU ARE NOT IN THESE POSITIONS.

I GET IT, BUT YOU CAN STILL GO BACK AND LOOK.

THE AMOUNT OF MONEY THAT HE GOT FOR DRAINAGE PROJECTS PROBABLY WAS NOT ENOUGH TO BEGIN WITH.

THIS, YOU KNOW, IT WAS JUST KIND OF SET UP, BUT YOU STILL GOT TO FOLLOW THE PRIORITIZATION FRAMEWORK.

YOU CAN'T DECIDE, YOU KNOW, BECAUSE WHAT HAPPENED HERE WAS YOU CAME UP AND ALL OF A SUDDEN WE DON'T HAVE ENOUGH MONEY, BUT THERE WERE PROJECTS THAT WERE FUNDED THAT RANKED LOWER THAN THESE VERY PROJECTS.

THAT'S WHY, YOU KNOW, I DON'T GET REALLY I DON'T GET GO OFF THAT OFTEN.

BUT THAT WAS JUST SHOCKING TO ME. AND WE CAN COME UP WITH A MILLION REASONS ON WHY YOU DID IT.

OH, WE HADN'T DONE THIS. WE HADN'T DONE THAT.

BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY, TRY EXPLAINING THAT TO TO VOTERS.

AND SO SOME OF MY DOING THIS IS I'M LETTING MY FOLKS KNOW BECAUSE THEY'VE BEEN LIED TO FOR SO LONG, THEY'LL FIGURE THEY WERE LIED TO WHEN THE OTHER GROUP WAS IN CONTROL.

THEN THEY GET THE EQUITY CREW IN AND THEY LIED TO AGAIN.

AND SO I'M JUST TRYING TO MAKE SURE WE'RE AWARE.

[06:45:01]

THEY WEREN'T TALKING TO ME. TOM, I ASSURE YOU, THEY WERE WITH ME.

IT WAS JUST DAMAGE CONTROL ON HIM. ASSUMING I HAD SOME INFLUENCE WITH THOSE VOTERS.

BUT I DON'T THINK IT WAS WELL THOUGHT OUT WHEN THEY DID IT. AND THEY GET MAD BECAUSE I SAID IT.

BUT, DOCTOR RAYMOND, WHAT'S YOUR SENSE ON THIS? THIS, THIS THIS IS MONEY. YOU WERE OVER, BY THE WAY, COMMISSIONER. THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY. AGAIN, MEMBERS OF THE COURT.

FIRST, I WANT TO THANK ALL OF YOU FOR YOUR COMMITMENT TO FLOOD RESILIENCY.

AND AS DOCTOR PETERSON AND I WERE WORKING TOWARDS DELIVERING THE PROMISE THAT YOU HAVE MADE TO THE PEOPLE WE HAVE DELIVERED TO DATE 37 PROJECTS HAS BEEN BUILT OUT OF THE 93 BENEFITING OVER 1000 HOMES.

AND WHEN THESE PROGRAMS WILL BE DONE WITHIN THE NEXT 18 MONTHS OR END OF 2026, ALL BUT FOUR PROJECTS WILL BE DELIVERED BENEFITING 23,000 PEOPLE OF HARRIS COUNTY IF IT'S FUNDED.

BUT YOUR POINT IS VALID. DOCTOR PETERSON AND I, WE CAN GO BACK LOOKING AT THE PROJECT THAT BENEFITS MOST OF THE PEOPLE.

KNOWING THE FUNDING CHALLENGE WE HAVE, WE CAN BRING BACK.

WE HAVE BEEN WORKING HOURS AND HOURS WITH COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR, BUDGET OFFICE, A LOT OF OUR STAFF TOGETHER TO FIND THE BEST PROJECT, IDENTIFY THE FUNDING GAP. AND ALSO WHEN FLOOD CONTROL ON US, WE IN 2023 WHEN WE WENT BACK AND SAID, HEY, WE LOST 11 OF OUR PARTNERS AND SOME OF THE PROJECTS ARE NOT FEASIBLE.

WE ASKED, WE BROUGHT BACK TO THE COURT THAT THIS PROJECT SHOULD BE ON HOLD, AND Y'ALL MADE THE DECISION.

WE CAN DO A SIMILAR EXERCISE WITH FLOOD DISTRICT ON US GOING BACK AGAIN AND SAY, OKAY, WHAT PROJECTS ARE FEASIBLE, WHAT'S NOT, WHAT DOESN'T HAVE ENOUGH BENEFIT SCORING BASED ON THE CURRENT SCORING CRITERIA, AND HAVE THE POLICYMAKERS MAKE THE DECISION WHAT'S THE BEST PROJECT? IN THE SAME TIME, WE'VE BEEN WORKING ON A FLOOD MAP FOR COMMISSIONER BRIONES, IDENTIFYING THE DOTS WHERE PEOPLE GOT FLOODED, WHICH NEIGHBORHOODS WE CAN ALSO LOOK INTO THIS, THAT. HAVE WE OVERLOOKED SOME OF THE AREAS WHERE WE HAD SIGNIFICANT FLOODING AND WE DIDN'T LOOK AT THEM? SO WE CAN DOCTOR PETERSON AND COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR, WE CAN GO BACK AND DO THAT EXERCISE AND BRING IT BACK TO YOU.

SO NOW, UNDER COMMISSIONER GARCIA'S FRIENDLY AMENDMENT ABOUT SHOWING A PRIORITY.

I ASSUME THAT MEANS YOU WILL SHOW US NOT JUST A SCORE, BUT WHO SCORED HIGHER.

BUT THAT IS NOT THE NEXT PROJECT UP. IS THAT YOUR UNDERSTANDING? WHEN HE PHRASED IT, I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE I WANT.

BECAUSE IF I JUST SEE THE SCORE IS SEVEN, FIVE, THREE, WHATEVER IT IS, THAT WON'T TELL ME MUCH UNLESS I KNOW WHO YOU'RE SKIPPING.

THEN I WANT YOU TO SAY WHY YOU SKIPPED THEM. WELL, I'M HOPEFUL.

IS THAT WHAT YOU MEANT? IT'S GOING TO. IT'S GOING TO HAVE ALL THE PROJECTS SO YOU'LL BE ABLE TO SEE.

ALL RIGHT. THE SCHEDULE IN ITS TOTALITY. YEAH.

YES. ONE, ONE THING THAT I WANTED TO MENTION AS YOU PUT THIS THING TOGETHER.

DOCTOR PETERSON, PLEASE GIVE US. PLEASE DON'T GIVE US RATHER A SCALED BACK COST.

I DON'T I DON'T WANT WE CANNOT BE BUILDING TO BUDGET BECAUSE THAT'S NOT THAT'S GOING TO BE WASTED MONEY AND THAT'S NOT GOING TO HELP OUR RESIDENTS.

SO DO NOT GIVE US A SCALED BACK BUDGET. SO LIKE DON'T GO TRY TO DO A LITTLE BIT EVERYWHERE SO YOU CAN SAY YOU DID SOMETHING AND IT DIDN'T DO WHAT PEOPLE EXPECT. YOU'RE BETTER OFF JUST ADMITTING WE DON'T HAVE THE MONEY.

EXACTLY. AND THEN I'M SAYING, YOU BETTER MAKE SURE YOU'RE FAIR BEFORE YOU ASK FOR SOME MORE MONEY AGAIN, OR YOU'RE NOT GOING TO GET IT. THAT'S RIGHT. IF I MAY RESPOND TO YOU, COMMISSIONER GARCIA, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WAS VERY CHALLENGING ABOUT THE BOND PROGRAM IS THAT THE SCOPES OF THE PROJECTS IN, IN, YOU KNOW, THE LIST THAT WE HAVE WAS OFTEN BEEN VERY VAGUE, VERY POORLY DEFINED.

SO I HEAR YOU EXACTLY WHAT YOU'RE SAYING. AND I THINK WE ALSO DIDN'T REALLY HAVE CLARITY ON WHAT WAS THE WORK TO BE DONE. WE HAD A PROJECT AND WE HAD AN AMOUNT OF MONEY.

SO THERE IS SOME ELEMENT OF WORKING WITHIN THE BUDGET WE HAVE BECAUSE THAT'S ALL THE DATA WE HAD.

SO WE DON'T REALLY KNOW WHAT THE ACTUAL SCOPE WAS INTENDED TO BE.

BUT THERE ARE CASES WHERE WE KNOW WE HAVE PROJECTS AS WE'RE GOING THROUGH, LET'S SAY OUR PR, WE IDENTIFY, WELL, IF THIS WAS THE PROBLEM WE ARE TRYING TO SOLVE, WE DO NEED MORE MONEY.

SO WE DO HAVE EXAMPLES OF OF THIS IN OUR WORK WHERE WE HAVE STARTED TO SEE THESE PAIRS COME THROUGH AND WE'VE FLAGGED, OKAY. YEAH, WE WE NEED MORE MONEY. CAN WE DO SOMETHING HERE? NO, WE NEED MORE MONEY TO TO ACHIEVE FLOOD RISK REDUCTION.

SO WE CAN DO THAT. AND I JUST WANT TO GO ON THE RECORD JUST TO SAY, COMMISSIONER, ALL THE SUBDIVISION PROJECTS ARE DESIGNED BASED ON ADLER'S 14 NEW

[06:50:05]

SO WHAT I'M HEARING IS IN MAY, YOU'LL BOTH COME BACK WITH YOUR EXPERT RECOMMENDATIONS.

BRUTAL HONESTY, RADICAL TRANSPARENCY, AND YOU WILL TELL US WHERE WE ARE ON ALL OF THESE AND TRULY WHAT WE CAN AND CANNOT ACHIEVE AND WHY. AND THEN AS POLICYMAKERS, WE NEED TO AGAIN, WE NEED YOUR BRUTAL HONESTY.

SO THEN WE CAN BE AS TRANSPARENT AS POSSIBLE ABOUT WHAT WE CAN DELIVER AND WHAT WE'RE NOT ABLE TO DELIVER AND WHY.

AND SO WE PLEASE THIS IS GOING TO BE A DEEP DIVE AS FAR AS I'M CONCERNED.

AND I'D LOVE OUR FIVE OFFICES CHIEFS OF STAFF.

I KNOW WE'VE BEEN WORKING ARDUOUSLY. WE NEED TO JUST KEEP DELVING IN.

AND SO BUT WHAT I DO ASK AGAIN FOR THIS LEAVING A SMALL WINDOW OF POTENTIAL OPPORTUNITY THAT WE.

THIS WAS THE LANGUAGE THAT I KEPT TALKING AFTER I WAS SAYING IT.

SO I'M LOOKING OVER HERE TO MY FRIENDS WHO TAKE AMAZING NOTES.

THE ADDITION WOULD BE DISCUSSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS FOR THIS FLAWED BOND PROGRAM, INCLUDING.

THE SUBDIVISION DRAINAGE PROGRAM, SHOULD INCLUDE AN UPDATE ON ALL CURRENT PROJECTS, AND SHOULD INCLUDE EXPERT RECOMMENDATIONS FOR ANY POTENTIAL PROJECTS. AND TO TO ADD TO THAT, ANY DESCOPING SHOULD BE TRANSPARENT.

OKAY. THANK YOU. OKAY. COMMISSIONER. ARE YOU READY TO VOTE? COMMISSIONER, JUST FOR PURPOSES OF CLARIFICATION, I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE.

OKAY. WE VOTED YES. YEAH, WE HAVE, WE HAVE JUST SO JUST SO I UNDERSTAND AND I KNOW JUST HELP MARCELLA OUT AS WELL, THAT THERE ARE TWO MOTIONS THAT HAVE BEEN VOTED ON. ONE IS MADE BY YOU.

THAT WAS THROUGH A FRIENDLY AMENDMENT BY COMMISSIONER GARCIA, AND THEN A SECOND ONE THAT COMMISSIONER GARCIA HAD PUT OUT, THAT THAT SET THE DATE TO COME BACK ON IN MAY.

CORRECT. DID COMMISSIONER BRIONES MAKE A MOTION NOW, NOT BE PIGGYBACKING ON GARCIA'S AMENDMENT TO LIKE, IT'S A ONE PLUS TWO PLUS THREE. AT LEAST THE WAY MY BRAIN SEES THE.

JUST FOR PURPOSES OF CLARIFICATION, I THINK IT WOULD BE EASIER IF WE JUST MADE THAT AS A SEPARATE MOTION. COULD YOU JUST MAKE THAT AND THEN SEND IT TO ALL OF US? IT IS EASIER BECAUSE I KNOW YOU ALL MAKE A MOTION AND THEN YOU'LL HAVE ANOTHER DISCUSSION AND MAKE AMENDMENTS.

SO IT KIND OF MAKES A LITTLE BIT. 9:10 A.M. AND I APOLOGIZE TEAM I KNOW.

THANK YOU. THAT'S WHAT WE SHOULD BE DOING. RESOLUTIONS.

SO SO WILL YOU SEND IT, PLEASE? I, LUCINDA IS A GREAT NOTE TAKER AND HAS DISCUSSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS FOR THIS FLOOD BOND PROGRAM, INCLUDING THE SUBDIVISION.

OH, GABY, GABRIELLA JUST SENT IT, BUT I'M HAPPY TO READ IT AGAIN.

SO BASICALLY THE MOTION, WHICH IS THE ONE YOU JUST MADE RIGHT NOW.

SO WHEN YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT OKAY. DISCUSSIONS, I MOVE THAT THE FORTHCOMING DISCUSSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS FOR THE FLOOD BOND PROGRAM, INCLUDING THE SUBDIVISION DRAINAGE PROGRAM, SHOULD INCLUDE AN UPDATE ON ALL CURRENT PROJECTS AND SHOULD INCLUDE EXPERT RECOMMENDATIONS FOR ANY POTENTIAL PROJECTS.

I'LL SECOND IT. AND THAT'S A SEPARATE MOTION.

YES. YEAH, YEAH. I THINK ONE OF THE AND COURT MEMBERS, I THINK JUST GENERALLY IT'S HARD SOMETIMES ESPECIALLY THIS IS A COMPLICATED ISSUE FOR NOT JUST US, BUT I THINK MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC TO FOLLOW ALONG.

AND SO WE'RE TRYING TO MAKE IT EASIER FOR EVERYONE TO, TO UNDERSTAND.

SO I APOLOGIZE IF I'M. THAT'S ALL RIGHT. NO, WE APPRECIATE IT.

JUST GET A PRINTER AND PRINT IT OUT AND PASS IT OUT.

YEAH, WE APPRECIATE THAT. THAT WOULD BE A VERY GOOD IDEA, AND WE OUGHT TO TRY TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO PUT IT UP ON THE SCREEN.

YEAH. SO THE FIRST TWO MOTIONS, THEY WERE BOTH GARCIA SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER ELLIS WITH A 3 TO 1 VOTE, WITH RAMSEY SAYING NO. AND NOW WE'RE ABOUT TO MAKE A VOTE ON THE MOTION.

COMMISSIONER BRIONES AND I SECOND IT. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, VOTE AYE.

AYE, AYE. ALL THOSE OPPOSED, VOTE NO. FOUR EYES AND NO NAYS.

ITEM PASSES. THANK YOU. WE'RE GOOD. NEXT. THANK YOU.

OH, YOU VOTED NO NO NO NO NO. DID YOU VOTE NO ON THIS LAST WHEN YOU VOTED YES.

OH YOU VOTED YES. YES. RIGHT NOW YOU VOTED NO ON THE OTHER ONE.

BUT YOU VOTED YES ON COMMISSIONER MINUSES. YES.

SO IT WAS TWO DIFFERENT MOTIONS TOTAL INSTEAD OF THREE.

THANK YOU. ARE WE GOOD? JAY? YOU OKAY? JUST OKAY.

YOU WANT US TO GO BACK? SO. WELL. SO THE BACKUP HAD FOUR MOTIONS FROM OCA.

YOU VOTED ON THE FIRST MOTION, AND THAT WAS IT.

THAT HAD THE 99 ONLY, NOT THE ONE. 13. THREE.

WHAT OTHER THREE? SO THERE WERE THE ONES. YEAH, IT WAS IT WAS LONG LONGER TERM OPTIONS AND FUNDING AND MANAGEMENT ONE ON STANDARD

[06:55:03]

JUST ON THE LAST TWO. YEAH. I DON'T THINK WE HAD A VOTE ON OTHERS.

OKAY. COMMISSIONER. CHAIR. I APOLOGIZE, COMMISSIONER.

CAN YOU TURN YOUR MIC ON ONE SECOND? I THINK WE'RE HAVING SOME TECHNICAL. CAN YOU SAY.

CAN YOU SAY SOMETHING? IT'S ON. PULL IT A LITTLE CLOSER TO YOU.

ASTROS THREE. ALL RIGHT, THERE WE GO. SEE? WE'RE GOOD.

I'LL HEAR IT. SO, YEAH, I THINK WE GOT EVERYONE.

I THINK THEY HAD SOME PROBLEM PICKING UP COMMISSIONER RAMSEY, BUT THANK YOU.

SO, DEANNA, ON THOSE OTHERS, IF THERE'S A NEED FOR HIM ON MAY 6TH, I.

I DON'T THINK THE VOTES ARE THERE. WE JUST KIND OF SEE LET THAT RIDE TILL MAY 6TH.

YES, MA'AM. SO NOT TO BE TERRIBLY IMPATIENT, BUT A MONTHS OF A MONTH AND A HALF OF WORK IS A MONTH AND A HALF OF WORK.

NUMBER FOUR. CAN I JUST READ IT SO YOU ALL CAN THINK ABOUT IT? BECAUSE THIS I JUST. I WANT US TO BE ON THE SAME PAGE.

SO THIS WOULD BE THE FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT SYSTEM.

THIS ONE WAS A MOTION TO DIRECT OCA AND UNIVERSAL SERVICES TO BEGIN WORKING ON A PLAN TO IMPROVE THE COUNTY'S ELECTRONIC FINANCIAL SYSTEM IN COLLABORATION WITH THE AUDITOR'S OFFICE, OCE, FCD, OMB, AND CIO TO CREATE A SINGLE SYSTEM OF RECORD REGARDING THE COUNTY'S FINANCES. SO IT'S OKAY. I'M ALL RIGHT WITH THAT.

OKAY. RAMSEY, ARE YOU OKAY WITH IT? IT'S A LONG TERM ONE.

NUMBER FOUR. MOTION FOUR ON THE SAME ITEM, SIR.

ON THE. YEAH. AND IT'S ABOUT AN ELECTRONIC FINANCIAL SYSTEM.

LOOKING AT WE KNOW PEOPLESOFT HAS PROBLEMS. SO LOOKING AT STARTING THAT WORK ON THE REPLACEMENT.

AND TO BE I'LL SECOND IT OKAY. MOTION MADE BY COMMISSIONER BRIONES.

SECOND BY ELLIS. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR VOTE AYE AYE AYE.

ALL THOSE OPPOSED VOTE NO. FOUR EYES AND NO NAYS.

ITEM PASSES FOR MOTION. FOR ITEM NUMBER FOUR.

YES. ON 28. YES. WE'RE GOOD. OKAY. NEXT IS THE JAIL ITEM.

I DON'T HAVE ANY QUESTIONS. I DO HAVE A MOTION ON IT.

OKAY. CAN YOU GIVE ME. SOMEBODY GAVE ME MY MOTION.

HOLD ON A SECOND. I SENT OUT A MOTION EARLIER.

THAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN SENT TO EVERYONE. HOLD ON A SECOND.

OKAY. HERE IT IS. MY MY MOTION ON THIS ONE IS TO DIRECT OCA TO WORK WITH UNIVERSAL SERVICES AND ANY RELEVANT DEPARTMENTS TO BUILD A DATA WAREHOUSE WITH THE DATA THAT IS NEEDED TO SHOW THE NUMBER OF DAYS IN JAIL, ALONGSIDE THE COURTS THAT HAVE BACKLOGS, AND BRING IT BACK TO COURT ON MAY THE 8TH. I'LL SECOND IT.

MOTION MADE BY GARCIA. SECOND BY ELLIS. WE'RE GOING TO TALK ABOUT 29 AT ALL.

THIS IS JUST A MOTION ON THE FRONT END. MOTION.

ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF THE MOTION VOTE AYE. AYE.

ALL THOSE OPPOSED, VOTE NO. FOUR EYES AND NO NAYS. ITEM PASSES, COMMISSIONER RAMSEY. YEAH.

DID YOU HAVE A PRESENTATION, TANYA? IF IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS ABOUT IT.

I KNOW WE'RE RUNNING LATE. IF YOU. OKAY. CAN CAN I SAY THAT THE JAIL POPULATION HAS EXPERIENCED A DECLINE BETWEEN.

I WANT TO APPLAUD DISTRICT ATTORNEY TIER ALMOST A THOUSAND PEOPLE SINCE HE CAME INTO OFFICE.

THAT SHOULD BE COMMENDED. YES, SIR. 620. ANOTHER 140 SINCE THE PRESENTATION.

AND SO THAT'S FANTASTIC. AND TO THE THE YOUR QUESTION ABOUT THE COURTS ON PAGE SEVEN OF THE PRESENTATION, WE DO SHOW THE BACKLOG OF THE COURTS. YOU JUST YOU'RE WANTING THE AVERAGE LENGTH OF STAY ALONGSIDE THAT.

YES. WE HAVE THAT DATA. I CAN SEND IT TO YOU ON THIS.

I WANT JUST AS MY MOTION DIRECTED. OKAY. PERFECT.

YEAH, I THINK THAT'S NOTEWORTHY. AND I'LL TAKE 2 TO 2 MINUTES.

AND JOSH HILL, 63 OVER A YEAR AND 15 OVER A THOUSAND DAYS.

HAZEL JONES 58 OVER A YEAR. THESE ARE PEOPLE IN JAIL 16 OVER A THOUSAND DAYS EMILY DITTO 57 OVER A YEAR, 16 OVER A THOUSAND DAYS. MICHELLE OAKTON, 57 OVER A YEAR, 14 OVER A THOUSAND DAYS.

AND LORI CHAMBERS GRAY, 44 OVER A YEAR AND 13 OVER A THOUSAND.

SO THERE. THAT'S HELPFUL, AT LEAST ATTRACT THAT.

YOU WOULD HOPE THAT THAT THOSE NUMBERS WOULD BEGIN TO GO DOWN.

IT'S ALSO GOOD. I KNOW YOU'RE WORKING TOWARD THAT POINT.

I DON'T KNOW WHETHER YOU CAN PROJECT IT PROBABLY CAN AT THIS POINT WHEN WE CAN QUIT OUTSOURCING AND TO MAKE A 700 AND SOMETHING.

[07:00:02]

GET PEOPLE THE HELP THEY NEED THERE. TAKE THE LOAD OFF THE THE JAIL.

SO IT WOULD BE MORE OF A MENTAL HEALTH. SUPPLEMENT.

TAKE THE PRESSURE OFF THE JAIL AND DEAL WITH THE JAIL AS A SEPARATE DEAL.

SO IT'S, I THINK EVERYBODY RUNNING AROUND THINKING WE'RE ABOUT TO BUILD A 10,000 INMATE JAIL.

THAT'S JUST NOT REALISTIC. I THINK THAT'S NOT THE DIRECTION I SENSE THAT YOU'RE HEADED OR THAT THIS THIS COURT IS HEADED.

SO THAT'S JUST A GENERAL COMMENT. JUST TO JUST TO START ANOTHER RUMOR, BUT WE'RE NOT SITTING HERE TONIGHT AT 730 TALKING ABOUT A TEN 000 PERSON JAIL. THAT IS NOT WHAT THIS COURT'S DOING.

WHAT WE ARE TALKING ABOUT IS SOME RELIEF FOR THE CURRENT JAIL SO THAT WE DON'T HAVE TO OUTSOURCE PEOPLE.

OUR OUR NUMBER ONE EXPENSE. MR. RAMOS REMINDS ME OF THIS.

EVERY COURT, OUR NUMBER ONE EXPENSE ITEM UNCONTROLLED IS OUTSOURCING OF INMATES.

AND THAT'S PROBABLY OUR NUMBER ONE FOCUS IN TERMS OF ADDRESSING.

AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR HELP IN DOING THAT. COMMISSIONER BROWN, GO AHEAD.

I JUST WANT TO THANK THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY, TANYA AND I, WE BLOW UP HIS PHONE AND HIS TEAM'S PHONE.

THEY'VE BEEN TREMENDOUS IN TERMS OF SHARING INFORMATION AND BEING ABLE TO MAKE ACTIONABLE DECISIONS THAT HAVE LOWERED OUR POPULATION AND WHERE WE WE'VE ROPED IN THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT SO THAT WE REALLY HAVE A WELL DEVELOPED, WELL THOUGHT, THOUGHTFUL STEP DOWN PLAN FOR THE OUTSOURCING.

BUT FOR THE FIRST TIME IN THE THREE YEARS I'VE BEEN HERE, I SEE LIGHT AT THE END OF THE TUNNEL ON THIS EXPENSE.

I THINK JUST TO WHETHER YOU WANT TO AGREE OR NOT, DANIEL, I THINK I'VE HEARD THE ESTIMATION BEING CLOSE TO BEFORE THE END OF THIS YEAR.

WE MIGHT WE MIGHT BE THERE. THAT THAT'S WHAT OUR HOPE IS.

I'M WELL, I'M CAUTIOUSLY OPTIMISTIC TO GET MARRIED TO BUT I REALLY DO APPRECIATE THE FACT THAT WE DO SEE SOME LIGHT.

SO, DOCTOR MILLS, I JUST WANT TO ECHO THESE COMMENTS. THANK YOU.

YOU WERE ONE OF THE ABSOLUTE MVPS OF HARRIS COUNTY AND THE WAY YOU HAVE BEEN COLLABORATING WITH SO MANY JUSTICE STAKEHOLDERS IN ALL OF OUR OFFICES IS JUST TREMENDOUS. YOUR COMMAND OF THE DATA AND THEN YOUR ACTIONABLE IDEAS TO DRIVE CHANGE.

I MEAN, TO ME, YOU'RE THE MODEL HARRIS COUNTY TEAM MEMBER, SO THANK YOU.

I COULDN'T AGREE MORE. DA TIER HAS JUST BEEN A PHENOMENAL PARTNER AND I THANK HIM AND HIS TEAM.

I WANT TO THANK THE JUDGES. SO THE THE A+ STUDENTS ON THE CASELOAD I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU TO JUDGE NATALIA CORNELIO.

SHE HAS THE ONLY NINE JUDGE I ALSO ONLY NINE AND JUDGE BERNADETTE BURDETTE.

PARDON ME 13. SO THOSE ARE THE THE ALL STARS UP THERE.

SO THANK YOU FOR THEIR WORK AND I'M ENERGIZED.

YOU JUST HAVE SO MANY IDEAS ON HOW WE CAN CONTINUE MAKING PROGRESS.

AND I LOOK FORWARD TO THE AFTERNOON DOCKETS PILOT AND EVERYTHING WE'RE WORKING ON TOGETHER.

AND TO SHERIFF GONZALEZ AND CHIEF BOSQUEZ AND ALL OF YOUR TEAM.

THANK YOU. THE STAFFING. I LOOK FORWARD TO AN UPDATE.

I KNOW YOU'VE HIT THE GROUND RUNNING IN FILLING THOSE POSITIONS THAT WE APPROVED LAST TIME.

SO JUST I JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU. AND I CANNOT WAIT FOR THE DAY WE STOP OUTSOURCING.

AND I CANNOT WAIT FOR THE DAY WE CAN CONTINUE TO AUGMENT THE MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES AND DIVERSION AND ALL OF THE, YOU KNOW, WORK THAT WE KNOW WORKS IN TERMS OF IMPROVING PUBLIC SAFETY OUTCOMES AND STRATEGICALLY MANAGING THE JAIL POPULATION.

SO THANK YOU. THANK YOU TO DOCTOR MILLS, MVP.

SO POINT OF CLARIFICATION. I'M NOT A DOCTOR, ALTHOUGH I DID PLAY ONE ON TV.

MY STAGE NAME. WELL, WE'RE GOING TO KEEP THAT PRIVATE, BUT THANK YOU FOR THE SHAMELESS PLUG FOR THE CDJC.

I DO THINK WE HAVE A COUPLE OF REALLY GOOD, PILOTS COMING OUT THAT ARE WITH THE GOAL OF ELIMINATING THE OUTSOURCING.

SO THANK YOU FOR THAT SHAMELESS PLUG. THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF GREAT WORK WITH THE CJC.

THIS IS FANTASTIC. PLEASE CONTINUE THE PROGRESS.

WE THANK YOU. THANK YOU. YEAH. I JUST WANT TO SAY YOU SUBMITTED A GREAT REPORT, BUT I THINK YOU ALL ARE ALL DOING A GOOD JOB.

BUT WE HAVE WE ON ITEM NUMBER 17, AND WE HAVE SEVEN PAGES OF THIS.

SO WE HAVE 76 ITEMS THAT WE'RE GOING TO GO THROUGH.

SO I JUST WANT FOLKS TO KNOW IF I'M RUSHING IT ALONG.

[07:05:01]

BUT IT'S A GREAT REPORT. THANK YOU. NEXT ITEM IS ITEM 35, COMMISSIONER RAMSEY.

DISCUSSION. POSSIBLE ACTION ON STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURES FOR CURRENT LEVEL SERVICE PROJECTIONS.

MR. RAMOS AND I HAVE HAD MANY CONVERSATIONS ON CURRENT LEVEL OF SERVICE AND IT DOESN'T NECESSARILY CORRELATE TO ACTUAL SERVICES, JUST A GENERAL COMMENT RELATED TO THAT.

IT PROBABLY HAS MORE TO DO WITH LAST YEAR'S BUDGET VERSUS THIS YEAR'S BUDGET.

SO IT WOULD BE GOOD GOING INTO GOING INTO THIS YEAR'S BUDGETING PROCESS IF WE CAN FIND A BETTER TERM BECAUSE THAT DOESN'T, I DON'T THINK, ACCURATELY REFERENCE IT.

THAT MAY BE A NUANCE, BUT IT IT DOES. IT DOES, I THINK, INFER SOMETHING THAT'S NOT NOT NECESSARILY TRUE. WE CAN WORKSHOP IT THAT THAT'S THE INDUSTRY STANDARD TERM, BUT WE CAN WORKSHOP IT TO BE THE WAY I THINK ABOUT IT IS IT'S IT'S ADDING UP ALL OF COMMISSIONERS COURT'S DECISIONS TO DATE, PLUS ANYTHING THAT WE'RE LEGALLY MANDATED TO DO SO.

WE CAN TALK. I'M NOT GOING TO TAKE ANY MORE TIME ON THAT.

OKAY. THIS ITEM WAS FOR DISCUSSION ONLY. THERE'S NO ACTION ON IT.

NO, THE. THIS ONE IS A DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION.

MOVE IT, MOVE IT AS PRESENTED. YES. IS THERE ANYTHING TO MOVE? YEAH. THE POLICY IS THE SOP IS ATTACHED. OKAY.

COMMISSIONER RAMSEY MAKING A MOTION. I MAKE A MOTION.

WE DO IT. I'LL SECOND. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, VOTE AYE. AYE.

ALL THOSE OPPOSED? VOTE NO. APPROVED AS PRESENTED.

APPROVED AS PRESENTED. OKAY. NEXT ITEM IS HUMAN RESOURCES AND TALENT.

CHIEF. PUBLIC DEFENDER. COMMISSIONER GARCIA. AND COMMISSIONER RAMSEY, THEN COMMISSIONER BROWN IS ON THE HIRING PROCESS FOR CHIEF PUBLIC DEFENDER. THAT'S ITEM 49.

49. OKAY. YEAH. COMMISSIONER BROWN, ANYTHING I JUST WANT TO.

I JUST WANTED A QUICK UPDATE, BECAUSE I'M EAGER TO GET OUR NEW PUBLIC DEFENDER AND HIT OUR GOAL OF AT LEAST 50% OF THE CASELOAD.

COULD YOU PLEASE PROVIDE AN UPDATE? ABSOLUTELY.

GOOD EVENING COMMISSIONERS. WE HAVE WE HAVE THE BOTH THE CHAIR OF THE PDO BOARD HERE, ALONG WITH RSI, THE SEARCH FIRM THAT HAS BEEN ENGAGED ON THIS SEARCH.

I WILL TELL YOU, WE ARE VERY BRIEFLY I KNOW WE'RE SHORT ON TIME.

THE SEARCH IS MOVING ALONG. I WILL TURN THIS TIME OVER TO THE PDO BOARD.

HEAD OF THE BOARD TO GIVE AN UPDATE IN THE PROGRESS.

AND RSI IS HERE TO ANSWER ANY OF YOUR PARTICULAR QUESTIONS AS IT RELATES TO THE SEARCH.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU. HI. GOOD EVENING. MY NAME IS SASHA LEGGETT.

I'M THE BOARD CHAIR. IN TERMS OF THE UPDATES, THE LATEST UPDATES ARE THAT WE THE.

THE BOARD MET LAST WEEK. WE FINALIZED INTERVIEW QUESTIONS.

WE TURNED THEM OVER TO THE HR TEAM, AND THEN WE FINALIZED WHEN WE WOULD BE DOING THE THE INTERVIEWS.

AND THOSE INTERVIEWS WILL START APRIL 14TH. WE'LL DO THREE.

NO, WE'LL DO FOUR THAT WEEK, AND THEN WE'LL DO THREE THE FOLLOWING WEEK AFTER THAT.

AND THEN WE'LL COME BACK AND DO A FINAL ROUND INTERVIEW AND THEN PRESENT THE TWO TOP CANDIDATES TO THE COMMISSIONERS COURT IN MAY.

LET'S MOVE IT QUICK. THANK YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THE UPDATE BOARD CHAIR.

AND THEN THIS IS STILL CONSIDERED A NO ACTION.

YES, MA'AM. DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT THE SEARCH ITSELF? OTHERWISE, I CAN LET THEM GO.

I'M JUST CURIOUS HOW MANY HOW MANY PEOPLE APPLIED.

AND. GOOD EVENING. FIRST, I'D JUST LIKE TO SAY THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH.

I'M DELANA ALLEN, CEO OF RECRUITING SOURCE INTERNATIONAL, AND I'M HERE WITH MY COLLEAGUE JOHN NORWOOD, AND JUST WANTED TO THANK YOU ALL. THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER ELLIS.

THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER GARCIA. THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER RAMSEY.

AND YOU, COMMISSIONER BRIONES, JUST FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE ENTRUSTED WITH SUCH A CRITICAL SEARCH.

SO IN TERMS OF THE NUMBER OF CANDIDATES, WE WORKED THROUGH ABOUT 126 CANDIDATES AND WERE ABLE TO SUCCESSFULLY SUBMIT EIGHT CANDIDATES TO THE TO THE BOARD TO INTERVIEW. IS THAT THE NORM? IF YOU'VE DONE ONE OF THESE BEFORE, ARE WE ON PAR WITH MOST PEOPLE? HOW MANY PEOPLE APPLY? AND IT REALLY JUST DEPENDS.

IT REALLY DEPENDS ON THE LEVEL OF THE SEARCH AND THE EXPERTISE.

[07:10:04]

SO MORE TARGETED SOURCING. I BELIEVE IN TERMS OF CANDIDATES THAT ACTUALLY APPLIED OR EITHER SENT IN RESUMES.

THERE WERE MAYBE 14 TO 15, BUT THE MAJORITY OF THE CANDIDATES WERE WERE BROUGHT TO THE TABLE VIA TARGETED SEARCH.

OKAY. AND. YES, SIR. AND JUST OUT OF CURIOSITY, YOU SAID YOU STARTED WITH ABOUT A UNIVERSE OF 114.

WE ENDED WITH 126. 126. YES. AND JUST ON. NOTHING EXACT.

BUT WHAT WAS THE CAUSE OF THE DRAMATIC DROP FROM 100 AND THAT NUMBER TO EIGHT? WELL, IT WAS A MATTER OF DETERMINING WHICH CANDIDATES WERE NUMBER ONE INTERESTED, WHICH CANDIDATES WOULD BE A GREAT FIT FOR THE ROLE.

AND THE REASON WE ACTUALLY SUBMITTED EIGHT CANDIDATES, TYPICALLY INDUSTRY STANDARD IS REQUIRES US TO SUBMIT OR SUGGEST THAT WE SUBMIT THREE TO TOP 3 TO 5 TOP CANDIDATES. HOWEVER, THE BOARD EXPRESSED AN INTEREST IN ONLY HAVING JUST A SMALL NUMBER OF CANDIDATES, SO WE INCREASED THAT TO EIGHT IN ORDER TO TO COVER THAT THAT CONCERN.

THANK YOU. GOOD. THANK YOU COMMISSIONER. ANYTHING ELSE? CAN YOU JUST PLEASE BRIEFLY TALK ABOUT THIS? YOU KNOW, YOUR PROACTIVE APPROACH IN TERMS OF LEGAL SERVICES ORGANIZATIONS, PUBLIC DEFENDER ORGANIZATIONS, KIND OF. WHAT WAS YOUR APPROACH TO IDENTIFYING THE TOP TALENT? SO IN TERMS OF OUR IN TERMS OF OUR APPROACH IN METHODOLOGY, WE WE REALLY CAST A VERY WIDE NET.

REALLY BEGINNING WITH OUR NEIGHBORING STATES.

MOVING TO, YOU KNOW, LA. WE WENT TO CHICAGO, COOK COUNTY, REALLY LOOKING FOR, LIKE, TO, LIKE COUNTIES.

LOOKING FOR OTHER, YOU KNOW, CURRENT CHIEF DEFENDERS, ASSISTANTS AND MAYBE OTHER INDIVIDUALS THAT THAT'S READY TO, TO, TO, TO STEP INTO THAT NEXT ROLE. AND SO WE REALLY JUST DID A REALLY HUGE NATIONWIDE CRAWL, ALSO INCLUDING INDIRECTLY SOME OF THE OTHER ORGANIZATIONS AS WELL.

AND WE WERE ABLE TO TO REALLY CAST A WIDE NET AND IDENTIFY A LOT OF QUALITY AND QUALIFIED CANDIDATES.

WONDERFUL. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU.

ANYTHING ELSE YOU ALL WANT TO ADD? MR. NAGDCA. ANYONE ELSE? THANK YOU ALL AND THANKS FOR BEING SO PATIENT.

THANK YOU. ABSOLUTELY. NEXT ITEM IS JUST. YES.

NO. ACTION, ACTION. YES, MA'AM. IT'S JUST AN UPDATE.

AND THE NEXT ONE WILL BE ITEM 50. COMMISSIONER GARCIA AND COMMISSIONER RAMSEY.

THAT'S DISCUSSION. POSSIBLE ACTION REGARDING HARRIS COUNTY EMPLOYEE SATISFACTION.

SATISFACTION SATISFACTION SATISFACTION SURVEY.

YES. I'M MY QUESTION IS HOW DO THESE THE QUESTIONS THAT WE'VE LAID OUT.

HOW DO THESE COMPARE TO PREVIOUS SURVEYS THAT WE'VE DONE? SO MY SPECIFICALLY AN EMPLOYEE ENGAGEMENT SURVEY.

THERE WAS THERE WAS NOT ONE DONE PRIOR TO 2024.

THERE HAVE BEEN BENEFIT SURVEYS THAT HAVE BEEN DONE.

THERE HAVE BEEN SOME OTHER SURVEYS THAT HAVE BEEN DONE, BUT SPECIFICALLY AROUND EMPLOYEE ENGAGEMENT.

THIS IS THE FIRST ONE AND CERTAINLY IN RECENT HISTORY.

GOTCHA. AND WHAT ARE THE NEXT STEPS TO IMPLEMENT ANY RECOMMENDATIONS? SO SIEGEL CAME UP WITH A SET OF RECOMMENDATIONS.

YOUR OFFICES HAVE ALL BEEN PROVIDED WITH A COPY OF THOSE RESULTS.

WE ALSO KIND OF NARROWED DOWN FROM THEIR RECOMMENDATIONS.

AND WE'LL BE SHARING THOSE WITH YOU AS WELL. WHAT WE WOULD LOOK, WHAT I WOULD ASK FOR FROM THE COURT IS PRIORITIZATION, RIGHT? WE WILL WE WILL COME BACK WITH SOME RECOMMENDATIONS IN TERMS OF PRIORITIES, SOME THINGS THAT WE COULD DO SOONER RATHER THAN LATER, BUT WE'LL DEFER TO YOU IN TERMS OF PRIORITIZATION.

GOOD DEAL. THANK YOU. OF COURSE. THANK YOU. WELL DONE.

THANK YOU. ONE ON. I THINK EXIT SURVEYS WOULD ALSO BE PROVIDE HELPFUL.

SO THAT SHOULD BE ON THE RADAR SCREEN. THIS IS A GREAT FIRST STEP.

BUT PUT EXIT SURVEYS ON THERE TO KIND OF GET SOME INSIGHT AND AND THE REASONS WHY PEOPLE STAY OR LEAVE.

ABSOLUTELY. I ALSO THINK WE SHOULD DO STAY INTERVIEWS.

STAY INTERVIEWS AS WELL. THAT'S A DIFFERENT STRATEGY.

BUT COMBINE THE TWO. GET AN IDEA, CREATE A BOOKEND OF WHY PEOPLE COME.

WHY DO THEY LEAVE? GOOD IDEA. YEAH I AGREE, THANK YOU BOTH.

AND MY FAVORITE. THANK YOU, CHIEF DOUGLAS. OKAY.

THANK YOU. NO ACTION ON THAT ITEM. THE NEXT ONE IS ITEM 51, COMPENSATION PAY EQUITY PROJECT STATUS BY GALLAGHER. COMMISSIONERS, WE HAVE OUR REPRESENTATIVE FROM GALLAGHER HERE TO GIVE THEIR QUARTERLY

[07:15:02]

I HAVE A PRESENTATION. I'M NOT SURE IF THAT'S GOING TO BE SHARED ON SCREEN OR IF YOU JUST PREFER I WALK THROUGH.

EXCELLENT. WHERE WE ARE AT IN THE CONTEXT OF THE STUDY WE.

AND I'LL REFERENCE YOU TO. YES. SORRY ABOUT THAT.

I'LL REFERENCE YOU TO PAGE 11 IF YOU HAVE THE PAPER MATERIALS IN FRONT OF YOU.

OF THE PRESENTATION. WE ARE THROUGH THE PRIMARY FUNCTION OF PHASE TWO, WHICH IS THE CLASSIFICATION AND JOB EVALUATION STUDY.

WE'VE BEEN WORKING ACROSS THE COUNTY COLLECTING INFORMATION ON MORE THAN 16,000 EMPLOYEES TO DATE THROUGH A POSITION DESCRIPTION QUESTIONNAIRE PROCESS.

MY TEAM IS ON SITE THIS WEEK DOING JOB SHADOWING, OCCUPATIONAL PANELS, INTERVIEWS, ETC.

THAT WILL CONTINUE INTO THE MONTH OF APRIL. AND SO THIS CURRENT PHASE IS LOOKING AT THE CLASSIFICATION STRUCTURE.

HOW IS THE COUNTY ORGANIZED? WHAT ARE ROLES ACTUALLY DOING.

AND IT'S A CRITICAL FIRST STEP BECAUSE THE OTHER PARTS OF THE STUDY ARE CONTINGENT UPON THAT BEING DONE WELL AND DONE THOUGHTFULLY AS WE BUILD OUT JOB FAMILIES, EVENTUALLY BUILDING OUT JOB DESCRIPTIONS. THE NEXT PHASE THAT STARTS THE NEXT 45 TO 60 DAYS IS THE COMPENSATION COMPONENT OF THE STUDY, IN WHICH WE'LL BE LAUNCHING CUSTOM SURVEYS, THREE VERSIONS OF THE SURVEYS YOU SEE HERE ON THE SCREEN.

THE GENERAL WORKFORCE. THE DEPARTMENT HEADS SURVEY, WHICH WE'LL BE LOOKING AT THE TEN MOST POPULOUS COUNTIES AND CITIES ACROSS THE COUNTRY THERE, AS WELL AS LAW ENFORCEMENT. IT WILL BE A MIX OF DATA AS WE PULL IN ADDITIONAL PUBLISHED SURVEY DATA TO SUPPLEMENT THAT CUSTOM SURVEY FOR THOSE ROLES WHERE THERE MIGHT BE PRIVATE SECTOR INFORMATION THAT'S APPLICABLE.

I ALWAYS USE THE REFERENCE OF ACCOUNTANTS. THERE ARE ACCOUNTANTS IN EVERY KIND OF ORGANIZATION.

FROM THERE, WE'LL ALSO, AS PART OF THAT SURVEY PROCESS, COLLECT INFORMATION REGARDING INCENTIVES, ALLOWANCES, OTHER COMPONENTS OF THE TOTAL COMPENSATION PACKAGE.

SO WE UNDERSTAND WHAT DOES THAT LOOK LIKE IN THE MARKET.

AND THEN WE MOVE INTO THE WORK OF THE COMPENSATION STUDY ITSELF IN WHICH WE'RE DOING COMPRESSION ANALYSIS.

INTERNAL EQUITY ANALYSIS, WHICH IS SEPARATE AND DISTINCT FROM THE PAY EQUITY PART OF THE STUDY, WHICH WILL FOLLOW THE COMPENSATION STUDY. WE'LL BUILD OUT PAY RANGES AND RECOGNIZING THAT FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT THAT LOOKS A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT THAN IT DOES THE GENERAL WORKFORCE ADMINISTRATION GUIDELINES, SO THE COUNTY CAN CONTINUE TO MANAGE THIS THOUGHTFULLY ON A GOING FORWARD.

AND THEN WE MOVE INTO THE PAY EQUITY STUDY. THE PAY EQUITY STUDY IS THE LAST COMPONENT, BUT BY NO MEANS IS IT THE LEAST IMPORTANT.

IN FACT, THE OTHER TWO PIECES HAVE TO BE DONE REALLY, REALLY WELL IN ORDER TO ENSURE THAT WE'RE ABLE TO DO THE PAY EQUITY STUDY EFFECTIVELY.

AND SO WITH THAT, WE WILL COLLECT INFORMATION AND BUILD ON THAT INFORMATION FROM THE CLASSIFICATION AND COMPENSATION STUDIES AND WORK OUR WAY THROUGH THE SUMMER INTO EARLY FALL TO COMPLETE THE STUDY AND PROVIDE RECOMMENDATIONS AND REPORTS BACK TO THE COMMISSIONERS COURT.

GOOD DEAL. COMMISSIONER. YES. YES, SIR. MIKE.

MIKE, THANK YOU FOR THE WORK BEING DONE ON THIS.

BY THE WAY WHILE WE'RE WAITING TO DO THIS AND THE WORK BEING DONE.

HAS THE LIGHTS GO OUT OR SOMETHING? NO. WHAT WAS IT? OKAY. SO GIVEN THE FACT THAT WE'VE BEEN WORKING THROUGH THIS, AND WHILE THE EMPLOYEES ARE WAITING FOR PAY EQUITY, WHAT ARE WE DOING? TO WHAT CAN WE DO IN THE INTERIM WHILE THIS FULLY TAKES EFFECT AND WE'RE FULLY ROLLING IT OUT? WHAT WHAT ARE WE DOING FOR RETENTION AND HIRING? SO, COMMISSIONER, FROM A, I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE I ANSWER YOUR QUESTION APPROPRIATELY WHILE YOU'RE ASKING WHILE THIS STUDY IS IN PROGRESS, WHAT ARE OUR STRATEGIES AROUND RECRUITMENT AND HIRING AS IT RELATES TO COMPENSATION? IS THAT WHAT IS THAT WHAT YOU'RE ASKING? SO CURRENTLY WE ARE WE ARE STILL WORKING A COUPLE OF THINGS.

ONE, WE'VE ALREADY MADE AN ADJUSTMENT TO EMPLOYEES UNDER 75,000.

SO THAT'S THAT'S ONE OF THE STEPS THAT HAVE ALREADY BEEN TAKEN PLACE AS A PART OF THE STRATEGIC PLAN AND PRIORITIES THAT THE COURT DIRECTED US FOR FISCAL YEAR 25. WE ARE PRIORITIZING TALENT ACQUISITION, SERVICE DELIVERY SO THAT WORK, CREATING GREATER EFFICIENCIES, PRIORITIZING CANDIDATE EXPERIENCE. I WON'T SPEND A LOT OF TIME ON THIS BECAUSE WE'LL COME BACK IN A MONTH OR SO, BUT WE HAVE WE'RE MAKING PROGRESS ON OUR TECHNOLOGY.

PREPARING THE STATEMENT OF WORK HAS BEEN PREPARED AND IS CURRENTLY SITTING WITH COURT, EXCUSE ME, WITH PURCHASING COURTS ON MY MIND. AND SO WE ARE MAKING PROGRESS IN TERMS OF RECRUITMENT AND IMPROVING THAT PROCESS, PRIORITIZING AUTOMATION AND TECHNOLOGY. IT IS THE BEGINNING OF THE ROADMAP SO THAT WORK IS UNDERWAY FROM A RETENTION PERSPECTIVE.

WHAT WE'RE LOOKING AT IS DEVELOPING PROGRAMS, AT LEAST FOR FOR FOR HUMAN RESOURCES AND TALENT, DEVELOPING PROGRAMS THAT DEPARTMENTS CAN THEN TAKE FROM A RETENTION PERSPECTIVE.

SOME OF THAT IS TRAINING. SOME OF THAT IS DASHBOARDS, SOME OF THAT IS INTERNAL COMMS, BUT DEVELOPING TOOLS THAT DEPARTMENTS CAN TAKE AND APPLY

[07:20:02]

THEY HAVE UNIQUE CHALLENGES. ONE SIZE DOESN'T FIT ALL.

AND SO WE'RE NOT TRYING TO CREATE ONE TOOL OR ONE RESOURCE FOR EVERY SINGLE DEPARTMENT.

IT'S ESSENTIALLY CREATING A LIBRARY OF PROGRAMS THAT DEPARTMENTS WOULD BE ABLE TO LEVERAGE.

AND I'LL BE BACK IN A FEW MONTHS WITH A MORE COMPREHENSIVE UPDATE ON THAT.

GOOD DEAL. AND THEN LASTLY, HOW DOES THE HOW DOES WHAT WE JUST PASSED TODAY THE $20 AN HOUR.

HOW DOES THAT FACTOR INTO ANY OF THIS PROCESS? WELL, FROM A I THINK THAT'S PROBABLY A BETTER QUESTION FOR ERIC FROM A PAY EQUITY PERSPECTIVE.

GO AHEAD ERIC. SORRY. AND SO WE'LL TAKE WHAT WAS PASSED THIS EVENING AND THAT WILL ACTUALLY BECOME THE ANCHOR POINT IN THE NEW STRUCTURE THAT WE BUILT.

AND SO THAT WILL BE SORT OF WHERE THE STRUCTURE STARTS AND BUILDS UP FROM.

AND WE'LL INCORPORATE THAT INTO THE COMPENSATION ANALYSIS.

THE COMPRESSION ANALYSIS AND THE PAY EQUITY ANALYSIS WITH THOSE MAY EFFECTIVE DATE.

SO THAT'S INCORPORATED AS PART OF THE OVERALL STUDY AS OF TONIGHT.

GOOD DEAL. THANK YOU. THANK YOU BOTH. THANK YOU.

YES, MA'AM. COMMISSIONER BRIONES. YES. I JUST WANTED TO, GIVEN SOME OF OUR PAST COURT DISCUSSIONS ABOUT WHAT IS THE MARKET IN TERMS OF, FOR EXAMPLE, WHEN WE LOOK AT LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS PAY OR ANY OF OUR POSITIONS? QUITE FRANKLY, I WANTED TO CONFIRM AND I BELIEVE THIS IS THE CASE, BUT IN TERMS OF LOOKING, FOR EXAMPLE, MY STRONG PREFERENCE WOULD BE THE FIVE MOST POPULOUS COUNTIES IN TEXAS, WHICH ARE DALLAS, TARRANT, BEAR, TRAVIS AND COLLIN. AND BECAUSE WE WANT BEST PRACTICES NATIONALLY, THE SEVEN MOST POPULOUS COUNTIES LOS ANGELES, COOK, MARICOPA, SAN DIEGO, ORANGE, MIAMI-DADE, AND KINGS COUNTY.

AND SO I WANTED TO CONFIRM IF YOU WANT TO GO, EVEN BETTER.

AWESOME. BUT I WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE MAKING COMMON SENSE MARKET COMPS.

AND SO COULD YOU PLEASE SPEAK TO THAT? YES, ABSOLUTELY.

AND WHAT YOU SAID IS SPOT ON. WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT IT'S A THOUGHTFUL AND PRECISE SET OF COMPARATORS.

AND SO EVERY TIME WE DO THIS IT'S VERY SORT OF BESPOKE TO TO EACH OF OUR CLIENTS.

AND SO THE GROUP YOU LIST IS ABSOLUTELY WITHIN THAT.

AS WE BREAK OUT ACROSS THOSE THREE DIFFERENT SURVEYS, WE'LL WORK WITH THE COUNTY TEAM TO ENSURE THAT THE COMPARATOR GROUPS ARE SPOT ON TO WHERE IT NEEDS TO BE AT THE DIRECTION OF THE COMMISSIONERS COURT AND THE COUNTY TO ENSURE THAT IT'S AN APPROPRIATE MATCH.

AND SO AS WE LOOK AT THE GENERAL WORKFORCE, THE DEPARTMENT HEADS AND THE POLICE, THAT THOSE ARE APPROPRIATE GROUPS THAT ARE REALLY REPRESENTATIVE OF YOUR TRUE PEERS. AND SO I WANTED TO ADD TO THAT. SO THE FIVE MOST POPULOUS COUNTIES IN THE SEVEN, MOST IN THE IN TEXAS AND THEN THE SEVEN IN THE COUNTRY.

I ALSO, FOR EXAMPLE, FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT, WHICH WE'VE SEEN AND HEARD REPEATEDLY, WE'RE LOSING THEM TO SURROUNDING COUNTIES, RIGHT. SO THEY MAY NOT FIT INTO THOSE TWO BIG BUCKETS, WHICH TO ME ARE KIND OF BASELINE NON-NEGOTIABLE.

I WANT TO SEE THAT DATA. BUT THEN ALSO THE MONTGOMERY AND WALLER AND ALL OF OUR FRIENDS, FORT BEND ALL AROUND US SO THEY CAN TAKE ON LESS RISK, LESS WORK, AND GET PAID MORE. RIGHT. SO I WANT TO MAKE SURE WE'RE TRULY GOING TO GET THE INTERNAL EQUITY ASSESSMENT WITHIN THE COUNTY, YOU KNOW, ASSISTANT TO ASSISTANT BASED ON GENDER, RACE, ETC., BUT ALSO REALLY GETTING ACTIONABLE RECOMMENDATIONS SO THAT WE CAN DO RIGHT BY ALL OF OUR TEAM MEMBERS. AND SO JUST TO BE CLEAR, IS THIS GOING TO BE A CASE BY CASE ANALYSIS BASED ON THE GROUP OF EMPLOYEES THAT YOU WILL BE GETTING APPROVAL FROM EACH TIME FROM CHIEF DOUGLAS AND THE FIVE OFFICES? I JUST WANT TO UNDERSTAND, I DON'T WANT TO GO DOWN TOO FAR DOWN THE RIVER AND BE LIKE, OH MY GOODNESS, YOU KNOW, X, Y, Z. SO CAN YOU JUST TALK TO US A BIT MORE GRANULAR TO HOW YOU'RE GOING TO APPROACH MARKET, SO TO SPEAK, TO TO LAW ENFORCEMENT SPECIFICALLY IN THAT CASE? THAT'S WHY WE HAVE THREE DISTINCT, SEPARATE CUSTOM SURVEYS THAT WE WILL BUILD OUT.

SO IT'S NOT A SINGLE SURVEY THAT'S GOING TO A SINGLE SET OF PEERS.

EACH OF THOSE SURVEYS WILL HAVE ITS OWN DISTINCT PEER GROUP.

THE GENERAL WORKFORCE, THE DEPARTMENT HEADS AND LAW ENFORCEMENT AND LAW ENFORCEMENT HAS ITS OWN ADDITIONAL LEVELS OF COMPLEXITY SO THAT WE ENSURE THAT WE'RE REALLY LOOKING AT THE TALENT AND THE LABOR MARKET THAT WE'RE PULLING IN THAT INFORMATION.

SO IT CAN BE PRECISE, BUT ALSO LOOKING AT, YOU KNOW, THE HISTORICAL GROUP OF THE TEN MOST POPULOUS CITIES AND COUNTIES, THE FIVE MOST POPULOUS COUNTIES WITHIN THE STATE OF TEXAS, THOSE SEVEN COUNTIES MORE BROADLY THAN THAT, MORE BROADLY THAN THAT. SO THAT REALLY TRUE REALLY, TRULY IS A REPRESENTATION OF ROLL TO ROLL AS WE LOOK ACROSS THAT AND IF WE NEED TO MAKE NUANCES OR ADJUSTMENTS TO THAT, WE'RE MORE THAN HAPPY TO DO SO. AND, COMMISSIONER, IF I MAY, ONE OF THE THINGS WE THROW SOMETHING AT ME IF I OVERSTEP.

BUT ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE LOVE ABOUT GALLAGHER'S APPROACH IS THAT YOU WILL YOU AS A, AS A COURT, WILL HAVE ALL THE INFORMATION. SO IT MIGHT BE WE'RE AT 100% OF THE REGION FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT.

AND IT MIGHT BE THAT FOUR ATTORNEYS WERE AT 85% OF MARKET.

THAT INCLUDES PRIVATE. SO. SO COURT WILL GET TO THAT LEVEL OF GRANULARITY AND MAY BE ABLE TO MAKE DECISIONS ON, ON EACH INDIVIDUAL GROUP. THIS IS WHAT OUR TARGET IS.

[07:25:02]

SO THAT'S THE LEVEL OF GRANULARITY THAT YOU WILL GET AND BE ABLE TO DECIDE ON.

AND OBVIOUSLY THERE'LL BE A COST THAT WE'LL HAVE TO DECIDE.

PERFECT. WELL I LOVE I USED TO BE A CHIEF TALENT OFFICER ERIC.

SO I LIKE, LOVE, LOVE, LOVE WHAT WE ARE DOING AND WANT TO MAKE SURE WE'RE ALWAYS DOING RIGHT BY OUR TEAM MEMBERS.

SO THANK YOU AND I APPRECIATE IT AND LOOK FORWARD TO THE NEXT UPDATE.

THANK YOU. I HAVE ONE QUICK QUESTION. I'M JUST CURIOUS FOR THIS PART, THE PAY EQUITY STUDY, HOW MUCH ARE WE SPENDING TO GET THE STUDY DONE? IN TERMS OF THE IMPACT FROM A FROM A BUDGETARY PERSPECTIVE, OR ARE YOU REFERRING TO GALLAGHER SPECIFICALLY? GALLAGHER ALL IN, IT WAS RIGHT AT 2 MILLION. OKAY.

RIGHT. AT 1.1.9, BUT ALMOST $2 MILLION FOR THE PAY EQUITY STUDY FOR THE FOR THE ENTIRE STUDY, BOTH COMPENSATION AND PAY, EQUITY AND TOTALITY.

DO YOU HAVE ANY IDEA? CAN YOU EVEN GUESS WHAT IT'S GOING TO COST TO IMPLEMENT THE PAY EQUITY STUDY? I KNOW IT'S A GUESS, BUT THAT'S WHY I THAT'S WHY I KEEP COMING UP WITH SOME.

WE DID A PAY EQUITY THING TODAY, BY THE WAY. WE PASSED ONE TODAY THAT WILL HELP WITH RETENTION.

BUT ANY IDEA WHAT IT'S GOING TO COST? JUST AS WE'RE SPENDING MONEY, I'D LIKE TO KNOW THESE THINGS.

THE ORIGINAL. AND THEN I DO BELIEVE THAT THE GALLAGHER CONTRACT WAS ARPA FUNDED.

CORRECT. AND I AND I WANT TO CORRECT IT WAS 1.2 POINTS.

1.2, NOT 1.9. YES. SO THE ORIGINAL NUMBER THAT WE'D BEEN WORKING BACKWARDS FROM, GIVEN GALLAGHER'S PRELIMINARY ESTIMATES ON AN ORGANIZATION OUR SIZE IS THAT KIND OF WHERE WE WERE IN TERMS OF NOT HAVING THOSE DEFINED PAY SCALES WAS 123 MILLION, I BELIEVE, MOVING UP THE MINIMUM WAGE TO $20.

IF YOU AND I'M NOT SAYING THIS IS THE NUMBER, I'M JUST SAYING FOR CONTEXT, IF YOU WERE TO MOVE ALL ELIGIBLE EMPLOYEES UP $4, IT'S $176 MILLION, BUT WE'RE NOT GOING TO MOVE ALL ELIGIBLE ONE UPS.

JUST FOR CONTEXT, WE DIDN'T MOVE ALL ELIGIBLE WHEN THE ELIGIBLE ONES UP WHEN WE DID EXECUTIVE PAY.

BY THE WAY, I UNDERSTAND THE COMPRESSION ISSUE, BUT I JUST THOUGHT I'D MENTION WE DIDN'T.

WE WERE BY COMPRESSION WHEN WE DID THAT. JUST SAYING OKAY THANK YOU.

QUICK POINT CLARIFICATION. SO YOU COMPARE IT TO ALL THESE DIFFERENT AREAS.

CLEARLY THERE'S SOME AREAS THAT'S A LOT MORE EXPENSIVE TO LIVE THAN OTHERS.

YOU I'M ASSUMING YOU FACTOR ALL THAT IN. YES, COMMISSIONER.

A HOUSE IN HOUSTON COST A LOT LESS THAN A HOUSE IN SEATTLE.

YES, WE APPLY GEOGRAPHIC DIFFERENTIALS BASED ON COST OF LABOR AND COST OF LIVING TO EVERY COMPARATOR, SO THAT IT REALLY BECOMES A DOLLAR TO DOLLAR COMPARISON.

YEAH. OKAY. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? NO ACTION ON THIS ITEM.

THANK YOU. THE NEXT ONE IS UNIVERSAL SERVICES ITEM 212.

NO TELEWORK POLICY. COMMISSIONER RAMSEY, ITEM 52.

YEAH. QUICKLY. WE GOT A REPORT FROM HUMAN RESOURCES.

THANK YOU. DIRECTOR. THAT WAS. THAT'S A GOOD SUMMARY.

QUICKLY. IT'S 5328 EMPLOYEES. OUT OF THAT NUMBER 36% OF THEM ARE TELEWORK.

NOW, THAT DOESN'T MEAN THAT THEY'RE FULL TIME TELEWORK.

SOMETIMES THAT'S PARTIAL. COULD BE A COUPLE OF THREE DAYS A WEEK.

COULD BE 4 OR 5 DAYS. SO THOSE ARE THE NUMBERS.

THAT'S THE INITIAL NUMBERS. AND I WOULD LIKE TO PROVIDE SOME LEVEL OF ENCOURAGEMENT AND WOULD MAKE THE MOTION THAT HARRIS COUNTY RESCIND THE TELEWORK POLICY EFFECTIVE MAY 1ST, 2025. ALL EMPLOYEES ARE EXPECTED TO RETURN TO THEIR WORK STATION UNLESS THERE IS A FORMALLY APPROVED EXCEPTION OR ACCOMMODATION.

BECAUSE RIGHT NOW, WE DON'T KNOW HOW MANY OF OUR EMPLOYEES ARE WORKING FROM HOME.

AND JUST TO CORRECTION, IT'S ITEM 52. YES. NOT TO.

CORRECT. 52. ANY. ANY. ANY. WAS THAT A QUESTION OR JUST A MOTION? I WAS, I WAS ASKING, WAS THERE WAS THERE A QUESTION, COMMISSIONER? WELL, I THANK YOU FOR THE DATA. YEAH, IT WAS ONLY WE'VE GOT 20,000 EMPLOYEES AND THIS IS ON 5328 OF THEM, AND 36% HAVE SOME LEVEL OF TELEWORK AT HOME. CLEARLY.

AT LEAST BY PROVIDING A DEADLINE FOR PEOPLE TO COMMUNICATE WITH THEIR SUPERVISORS OR SUPERVISORS TO MAKE DECISIONS ON WHO WORKS FROM HOME, REVIEW THOSE, MAKE US MAKE DECISIONS, MAKE US AWARE WE OTHERWISE, I SEE NO DEADLINES THAT HAVE BEEN COMMUNICATED TO ME ON WHAT.

[07:30:01]

I THINK THERE PROBABLY NEEDS TO BE A BROADER POLICY RELATED TO THAT.

I KNOW RECENTLY, CLEARLY, THE CITY OF HOUSTON JUST HAD ISSUED THE SAME THING I JUST SAID.

EVERYBODY COME BACK TO WORK EXCEPT FOR EXCEPTIONS WHERE YOU WHERE THE EMPLOYEE WORKS WITH THEIR SUPERVISOR AND ONE IS APPROVED AND ONE IS NOT.

BUT AT LEAST IT'S A COMMUNICATION TO THE FOLKS.

IT'S TIME TO COME BACK TO WORK. AND IF THERE'S REASONS WHY YOU SHOULD WORK AND IT'S APPROPRIATE, THE JOB'S APPROPRIATE AND YOU CAN APPROVE IT, THEN THAT'S WORKED OUT BETWEEN THE EMPLOYEE AND THEIR SUPERVISOR.

OKAY. COMMISSIONER RAMSEY HAS MADE A MOTION. IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION? IS THERE A SECOND TO THE MOTION HEARING NONE.

NO. SECOND TO THE MOTION. ANY OTHER DISCUSSION OR ACTION ON THIS ITEM? I JUST I WANTED TO PLEASE ASK A QUESTION AND THEN MAKE A QUICK COMMENT.

DIRECTOR DOUGLAS, WOULD YOU SO THAT EVERYONE IS IS CLEAR ON WHAT THE POLICY IS.

COULD YOU PLEASE STATE WHAT OUR CURRENT POLICY IS IN HARRIS COUNTY IN TERMS OF TELEWORK, PLEASE BROADLY TELEWORK.

THE TELEWORK POLICIES ARE CURRENTLY THE EACH DEPARTMENT AND I'M SPECIFICALLY REFERRING TO OCA DEPARTMENTS.

DEPARTMENT. SO I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE EACH DEPARTMENT HAS AN ESTABLISHED MODEL.

IN TERMS OF THEIR TELEWORK HYBRID FRAMEWORK. AND THAT WAS ESTABLISHED, I BELIEVE, IN 2020.

DURING THE PANDEMIC WHEN WE HAD TO PIVOT TO REMOTE WORK.

THAT PRACTICE IS STILL IN PLACE TODAY. WE HAVE RECENTLY UPDATED THE TELEWORK POLICY TO ACCOUNT FOR WHAT WE CALL DUAL EMPLOYMENT OR.

OUTSIDE WORK DURING TELEWORK HOURS. THERE IS AN AGREEMENT THAT AND THAT EACH EMPLOYEE HAS TO SIGN ON AN ANNUAL BASIS.

WE'VE ALSO IN THAT POLICY TIGHTENED UP MANAGEMENT OF THE COMPLIANCE AROUND THAT.

SO WE'LL BE AUDITING ANNUALLY TO ENSURE THAT NOT ONLY ARE THE ALL OF THE ACKNOWLEDGMENTS SIGNED ON AN ANNUAL BASIS, BUT ALSO THAT WITHIN DEPARTMENTS, MANAGERS ARE APPROVING THEM AS APPROPRIATE.

THAT THIS MOST RECENT REQUEST HAS ALSO BEEN TWEAKED JUST SO THAT YOU ALL ARE EACH AWARE.

I BELIEVE YOU MAY. SOME OF YOU MAY BE, BUT IN ADDITION TO UPDATING THE TELEWORK POLICY, WE'VE ALSO HAD A REQUEST COME FROM, I THINK, TWO OF COURT OFFICES ASKING THAT WE WORK WITH THE OFFICE OF MANAGEMENT AND BUDGET AND OCA TO COME BACK WITH COST IMPLICATIONS AROUND WHAT IT WOULD TAKE AND WHAT IT WOULD LOOK LIKE FROM A BUDGETARY PERSPECTIVE TO BRING 100% OF EMPLOYEES, OCA EMPLOYEES BACK INTO THE OFFICE FIVE DAYS A WEEK ON A FULL TIME BASIS.

AND SO THAT WORK IS IN PROGRESS AT THIS TIME.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER RAMSDEN. THANK YOU. NEXT IS ITEM 212, COMMISSIONER GARCIA.

THAT'S UNIVERSAL SERVICES PRESENTATION. WOULD I PUT NO ACTION FOR 52? NO ACTION. YES, MA'AM. YES. COMMISSIONER. THANK YOU.

AND DIRECTOR MEIMAN, YOU HAVE A PRESENTATION THAT YOU'D LIKE TO GET THROUGH QUICKLY.