Apr 10, 2025 Commissioners Court

[Rabbi Eitan Krul of Congregation Shaar Hashalom in Clear Lake introduced by the Commissioner of Precinct 2]

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>> ALL RIGHT , WE WILL GET STARTED EVERYONE. GOOD MORNING .

I WILL CALL THE MEETING TO ORDER. COMMISSIONER, TO INTRODUCE A PRAYER , IS THAT RIGHT? SO, LET ME GO AHEAD AND DO THAT. SO, IS RABBI EITAN KRUL OF CONGREGATION SHAAR HASHALOM HERE? OH, WELCOME RABBI. THANK YOU FOR JOINING US THIS MORNING . I LOOK FORWARD TO HEARING FROM YOU .

>> THANK YOU. DEAR JUDGE AND COMMISSIONERS AND THE OFFICERS AND CONSTABLES OF THE SECOND PRECINCT AND YOUR DISTINGUISHED GUESTS , I AM -- AS THEY SAID , I AM RABBI EITAN KRUL FROM THE CONGREGATION SHAAR HASHALOM IN CLEARLAKE AND I AM VERY HONORED AND EXCITED TO STAND BEFORE YOU HERE TODAY TO OPEN THIS DAY WITH A PRAYER TO FILL OUR HEARTS AND THOUGHTS WITH GOOD -- GOODNESS AND LOVE . I WROTE SOMETHING, A SHORT THING BECAUSE I'M VERY EXCITED . IN THIS FESTIVE SEASON OF CELEBRATIONS AND HOLIDAYS , THE SEASON OF SPRING WHEN COLORS OF BLOOMING PUSH AWAY THE GRAY .

IT IS UPON THE LEADERS OF CIVIL SERVICE AND RELIGIONS FROM ALL DOMAINS TO LEAD OUR PEOPLE TO LOVE EACH OTHER FOR OUR CHILDREN'S' SAKE. FOR MUTUAL RESPECT AND DIVERSE UNITY WITH ALL THAT DICTATES TO DENOUNCE INCITEMENT AND HATRED AND TO FOSTER HARMONY, TRUST AND RESPECT UNBOUNDED . THEREFORE, I WANT TO SHARE WITH YOU TODAY A BLESSING THAT AT THE END OF EVERY SERVICE WE SAY. OUR GOD AND GOD OF OUR ANCESTORS , WITH MERCY , EXCEPT OUR PRAYER ON BEHALF OF OUR COUNTRY AND ITS GOVERNMENT . POUR OUT YOUR BLESSINGS UPON THIS LAND . UPON ITS INHABITANTS . UPON ITS LEADERS , ITS JUDGES, ITS OFFICERS AND OFFICIALS WHO HAVE FAITHFULLY DEVOTED THEMSELVES TO THE NEED OF THE PUBLIC . HELP THEM UNDERSTAND THE RULES OF JUSTICE YOU HAVE DECREED SO THAT PEACE AND SECURITY , HAPPINESS, AND FREEDOM WILL NEVER DEPART FROM OUR LAND . ADD AND I, GOD , WHOSE SPIRIT IS IN ALL CREATURES, WE PRAY YOUR SPIRIT WILL BE AWAKENED IN THE INHABITANTS OF OUR LAND. UPROOT IN OUR HEARTS HATRED, MALICE C, JEALOUSY , AND STRIFE. PLANT LOVE, COMPANIONSHIP , PEACE AND FRIENDSHIP AMONG THE MANY PEOPLES OF FAITH WHICH DWELL IN OUR NATION. GRANT US THE KNOWLEDGE TO JUDGE JUSTLY THOUGH WISDOM TO ACT WITH COMPASSION AND UNDERSTANDING AND THE COURAGE TO ROOT OUT POVERTY FROM OUR LAND . MAY IT BE YOUR WILL THAT OUR LAND BE A BLESSING TO ALL WHO DWELL ON EARTH. AND, MAY YOU CAUSE ALL PEOPLES TO DWELL IN FRIENDSHIP AND FREEDOM . SPEEDILY FULFILL THE VISION OF YOUR PROFITS. NATION SHALL NOT LIFT SWORD AGAINST NATION NEITHER SHALL THEY LEARN WAR ANYMORE FOR ALL OF THEM , FROM THE LEAST OF THEM TO THE GREATEST SHALL KNOW ME . AND LET

US SAY AMEN . >> AMEN .

>> THANK YOU RABBI SO MUCH FOR YOUR PRAYER IN THE WORDS.

>> THANK YOU . >> OKAY, LET'S RECITE THE

PLEDGE. >> I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE

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INDIVISIBLE. >> SO, SOME HOUSEKEEPING NOTES

[Departments (Part 1 of 4)]

COMMISSIONER RAMSEY HAVE REQUESTED ITEMS 211 AND 213 BE TAKEN TOGETHER. THE DA'S OFFICE REQUESTED WE TAKE ITEM 122 FOLLOWING THE CONSTABLE'S ITEM. I THINK THE DA IS GOING TO BE HERE. THEN, JUST A REMINDER THAT I HAVE THAT COMMITMENT FROM 3:00-4:00 THAT WAS THERE BEFORE WE MOVED COURT TO THURSDAY'S AND COMMISSIONER ELLIS IS READY TO PRESIDE DURING THAT TIME. AND , WE HAVE SEVEN RESOLUTIONS TO TAKE OUT OF ORDER THIS MORNING.

AS A POINT OF PRIVILEGE , I WOULD LIKE TO CONGRATULATE AND CELEBRATE, AND I KNOW WE ARE ALL EXCITED TO DO THIS. IT IS EXCITING AND BITTERSWEET THEY UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS MEN'S BASKETBALL TEAM. SO, I'M GOING TO READ THE RESOLUTION.

>>

FOR THIS -- AND OUTFIT CHANGE . >> SO, YEAH , THIS IS SO EXCITING THE UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON MEN'S BASKETBALL TEAM HAS DELIVERED ANOTHER ELECTRIFYING AND HISTORIC SEASON. ONE OF THE BEST IN THE LAST GOSH, I DON'T KNOW HOW MANY DECADES. IT HAS CAPTURED THE HEARTS OF FANS ACROSS THE NATION AND PROVED TIME AND AGAIN THING THEN YOU MAY WANT TO CLOSE YOUR EARS FOR THIS THAT THE COUGARS ARE THE BEST TEAM IN

TEXAS. >>

>> UNDER THE EXCEPTIONAL COACHING OF KELVIN SAMPSON, WELCOME COMMISSIONER. THE COUGARS HAVE ONCE AGAIN DEMONSTRATED -- COURT NOT ONLY IN LEARNING EARNING AN INVITE TO THE DANCE BUT THEY SECURED THE BIG 12 TOURNAMENT. WITH CONFERENCE TITLES AND LATER ADVANCING TO THEIR THIRD CHAMPIONSHIP IN SCHOOL HISTORY WITH A STYLE THAT REFLECTED GRIT AND DETERMINATION. POWER BY STARTERS THE COUGARS PUT THE SPOTLIGHT ON HARRIS COUNTY BY PLAYING THEIR HEARTS OUT THROUGHOUT MARCH MADNESS. AND THE HOUSTON MEN'S BASKETBALL SEASON WAS AMAZING IN 2024 AND 2025 INSPIRING GENERATIONS OF ATHLETES AND UPLIFTING THE SPIRIT OF OUR COMMUNITY MAKING US ALL PROUD TO SAY GO COUGS. DESIGNATING APRIL 10TH, 2025 AS THE UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON DAY . YES, COMMISSIONER GARCIA .

>> ALL I WANT TO SAY IS WHO'S HOUSE?

>> COUGS HOUSE . >> THANK YOU FOR A WONDERFUL

SEASON. >> THANK YOU JUDGE FOR BRINGING THIS AND CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR COUGS . WITH ONE OF THE BEST COMEBACKS I HAVE ALMOST EVER SEEN. AND , I AM CONFIDENT WE WILL TAKE HOME THE FULL VICTORY NEXT YEAR . SO, I LOVE THE HEART WITH WHICH WE PLAYED AND THAT IS THE SPIRIT OF HOUSTON AND HARRIS

COUNTY, GO COUGS . >> FOR THOSE OF US WHO CAN REMEMBER, IT IS NICE TO SEE CLYDE CRISLER AND THE KEMAH AND WHAT WE USED TO CALL THE FIVE SLAM A JAMA IN THE STANDS AND WE ALMOST GOT THE REDEMPTION WE HAVE BEEN LOOKING FOR FOR 40 YEARS, WE JUST HAVE TO WAIT UNTIL NEXT YEAR .

>> YEAH, THAT'S RIGHT. SLAM A JAMA , MY PARENTS HAD NOT EVEN MET AT THAT POINT BUT I DO KNOW ABOUT THEM. WELL, ONE LAST ROUND OF APPLAUSE WITH MORE CELEBRATIONS AS THEY ARE ALL MAKING THEIR WAY BACK AND SETTLING IN BUT WE WANTED TO

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APPLAUSE ]. >> AND , THEN , WE ARE NOW -- GOING TO TALK ABOUT A RESOLUTION DATING APRIL 20TH, 2025 IS AUTISM EXCEPT VINCE MONTH. LET ME READ THE RESOLUTION HERE . SO WHEREAS APRIL IS AUTISM EXCEPT HIS MONTH RECOGNIZING THE TALENTS AND CONTRIBUTIONS WITHIN THE AUTISM COMMUNITY. AUTISM SPECTRUM DISORDER IS LIFELONG THAT TYPICAL REAPPEARS IN EARLY CHILDHOOD AND CAN IMPACT COMMUNICATION SKILLS AND SELF-REGULATION AND IT OFTEN APPEARS AS A SPECTRUM DISORDER THAT IMPACTS PEOPLE DIFFERENTLY. ABOUT ONE AND 36 CHILDREN ARE DIAGNOSED EACH YEAR AND AUTISM IS MORE LIKELY IN BOYS -- FOUR TIMES MORE LIKELY IN BOYS AS GIRLS . EARLY DIAGNOSIS AND UP APPROPRIATE INTERVENTION ARE VITAL TO AUTISM. LACK OF HEALTHCARE AND SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC BARRIERS MAKE IT SOME DIFFICULT . AUTISM AWARENESS MONTH BEGINS ON RECOGNITION WITH A PROCLAMATION SIGNED BY PRESIDENT REAGAN AT THE TIME UNTIL 2021 WHEN ABACUS PUSH FROM A SWITCH TO ACCEPTANCE TO AWARENESS WITH NOT JUST AWARENESS BUT INCLUSION. AUTISM INDIVIDUALS CAN TREAT MUCH TO OUR COMMUNITY. ACCEPTANCE STARTS WITH AWARENESS AND FLOURISHES WITH ACTION. SO, BE IT RESOLVED THAT HARRIS COUNTY HEREBY DESIGNATES APRIL 20TH, 2025 IS AUTISM EXCEPT HIS MONTH IN HARRIS COUNTY , TAXES .

>> I BELIEVE WE HAVE SPEAKERS ON THAT ITEM . PERHAPS TIFFANY .

>> BRIAN TO HARROW . >> GOOD MORNING COMMISSIONERS.

MY NAME IS RYAN AND I AM FROM THE HARRIS CENTER OF MENTAL HEALTH PROGRAMS. AT THE HARRIS CENTER WE VALUE THE IMPORTANCE OF EARLY INTERVENTION TO IDENTIFY CHILDREN WITH AUTISM AND TO REACH OUT TO FAMILIES IN THE COMMUNITY WHO HAVE CHILDREN IN THE SPECTRUM. AS A COORDINATOR MYSELF, I KNOW FAMILIES NEED RESOURCES FOR AUTISM AND OUR INTENT IS TO SHARE AS MANY RESOURCES AS WE CAN . THAT IS WHY WE ARE GRATEFUL FOR THE GRANT FUNDED PROGRAMS LIKE INSPIRE AND RICE THAT WE PROVIDE THROUGH THE CENTER. THEY ARE MUCH-NEEDED IN THE COMMUNITY AND MANY FAMILIES HAVE NO OTHER WAY TO AVAIL THEMSELVES OF SERVICES OF CHILDREN WITH AUTISM. WE HOPE THAT RESOURCES LIKE OURS WILL CONTINUE WHEN WE WISH TO SEE MORE GRANT INITIATIVES FOR EXEMPT -- EXISTING SPACES .

>> OUR EXPERIENCE IN COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT TELLS US THAT INTEREST AND EAGERNESS TO ACCESS AUTISM ARE INCREASING AND THIS IS EVIDENCED BY THE INCREASED APPLICATIONS WE RECEIVE ON A WEEKLY BASIS. CURRENTLY WE HAVE 209 APPLICATIONS IN OUR INTEREST LIST FOR THE RICE PROGRAM AND 275 FOUR INSPIRE. ONE EXCITED FAMILY SHARED TO ME THAT THIS IS THE FIRST TIME OF HEARING ABOUT AND AVAILING THEMSELVES OF THE FREE 90 DAY THERAPY THROUGH OUR RICE PROGRAM. MANY FAMILIES CALLED AND THANKED US FOR RECEIVING SPECIALIZED EQUIPMENT THEY NEVER THOUGHT THEY WOULD RECEIVE BUT THEY RECEIVED IT THROUGH THE INSPIRE PROGRAM.

THIS IMPACT ON THE LIVES OF CHILDREN AND THEIR FAMILIES ARE ENORMOUS . THANK YOU VERY MUCH COMMISSIONERS FOR THESE

INITIATIVES . >>

>> >> YOU EACH HAVE ONE MINUTE.

>> HELLO EVERYONE AND THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR GIVING THIS OPPORTUNITY TO US. AS YOU CAN SEE THAT I HAVE A GROUP OF

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WE HAVE ENORMOUS HOPE THAT WE CAN SERVE IN THIS PROGRAM. THANK

YOU. >>

>> HI, MY NAME IS GWEN YOUNG AND I'M A REGISTERED NURSE AND I WORK WITHIN THE COMMUNITY FOR THOSE ADULTS WHO WERE FOREVER NEED HELPERS LIKE US . THE AUTISM ALLIANCE THAT WE MADE FOR ALEX IS SUPPORTING THE MOTHERS THAT RUN THE ORGANIZATION, AUTISM MOMS OF HOUSTON . THE ONLY WAY THEY CAN RUN THEIR ORGANIZATION IF THEY HAVE HELPERS TAKING CARE OF THEIR PEOPLE . THE ALLIANCE WITH THE HOUSTON COMMUNITY COLLEGE OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY ASSISTANTS. THEY'VE DONE A PHENOMENAL JOB AND WE CURRENTLY HAVE FOUR INDIVIDUALS HELPING AND WE HOPE TO EXPAND BEYOND OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY TO NUTRITION, MUSIC AND FOOD AND FINDING EVEN WRAPAROUND SERVICES FOR IN-HOME . WE DO NEED SUPPORT FROM OUR COMMUNITY AND OUR CORPORATE SPONSORSHIPS AND GRANTS. EVEN EXPERT VOLUNTEERS WHO MAY LOVE DOING WHAT I DO BUT NEED A PLACE TO PRACTICE THAT SKILL . WE USE THE COMMUNITY CENTER IN THE MULTIPLEX CENTER ON WEST RAY .

>> GO AHEAD . >> THANK YOU.

>> I'M ONE OF THE MOMS THAT VOLUNTEER FOR THE ORGANIZATION SO YOU KNOW . THE MOMS WHO DEAL WITH THE KIDS EVERY DAY, WE VOLUNTEER AND PROVIDE RESOURCES . WE HAVE MOM MEET UP GROUPS AND PROVIDE WORKSHOPS AND WE DEFINITELY NEED SUPPORT TO DO THIS. EVERYTHING IS FREE FOR THE COMMUNITY AND WE NEED MORE SPONSORS AND DONORS AND MORE AWARENESS. YEAH, THANK YOU FOR

YOUR TIME. >> THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU GUYS SO MUCH. >> JOSEPH LEWIS AND LINNÉ HEADED

GUARD, YOU EACH HAVE ONE MINUTE. >> GOOD MORNING EVERYONE. MY NAME IS LENA HAD A GARDEN I AM HERE WITH JOSEPH LEWIS REPRESENTING BETTY AND BOYS COFFEE SHOP WHICH IS A COFFEE SHOP THAT HIRES PEOPLE WITH INTELLECTUAL AND DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES. IT WAS STARTED BY BEN AND AMY WRIGHT IN NORTH CAROLINA. OUT OF THEIR CHILDREN, ONE DAUGHTER AND SON WAS BORN WITH AUTISM . WE REALIZE THAT 80% OF PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES ARE UNEMPLOYED NATIONWIDE AND THEY DECIDED TO START A COFFEE SHOP WITH A GOAL WHERE PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES ARE VALUED AND THEY ARE GIVEN AN OPPORTUNITY FOR MEANINGFUL WORK. THEY HAVE 11 SHOPS ACROSS THE UNITED STATES AND EMPLOYEE MORE THAN 11 PEOPLE. IT OPENED IN JANUARY 2023 AND EMPLOYEES 28 AMBASSADORS. WE ARE NEW IN THE AREA BUT HAVE CONNECTED WITH SO MANY PEOPLE AND HAVE A BIG GROUP OF REGULARS WHO ARE OUR FRIENDS . THEY COME TO WORK AND TO TALK AND TO BE PART OF OUR COMMUNITY.

AS A MOM , MYSELF, OF A SON WHO IS AUTISTIC , KNOWING THAT SUCH A PLACE EXISTS THAT GIVES VALUE AND MEANINGFUL WORK TO PEOPLE WHO ARE DIFFERENTLY ABLED , GIVES VALUE TO THE WAY PEOPLE SEE DOES NOT OTHER PEOPLE BUT AWARENESS AND ACCEPTANCE OF PEOPLE WITH ALL KINDS OF DISABILITIES.

>> THANK YOU. >> YES, HELLO, I'M JOSEPH LEWIS. I WANT TO START BY SAYING , I LOVE YOU AND HAVE BEEN A FAN FOR A WHILE. YES, ME MYSELF, I HAVE AUTISM. I STARTED AS A

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THAT IS PRETTY COOL . >>

>> I GUESS ME IN GENERAL, MY SITUATION IS A LITTLE UNIQUE BECAUSE I SELF DIAGNOSED AS A CHILD. I WAS EIGHT YEARS OLD AND WE HAD A BOOK IN ELEMENTARY AND I RESONATED WITH A PERSON IN THE BOOK AND IT WAS TEACHING US ABOUT AUTISM . I DIDN'T OFFICIALLY GET DIAGNOSED UNTIL I WAS 32. IT WAS ACTUALLY THROUGH THE EAST TERRACE HEALTH CENTER WITH A PSYCHIATRIST AND THERAPIST. AFTER A YEAR , I REVEALED TO THEM THAT I FELT I WAS AUTISTIC AND I WAS ABLE TO GET A DIAGNOSIS THROUGH THEM. OF COURSE, LIKE EVERYTHING, MY LIFE CHANGED AFTER THAT AND I STARTED

GOING TO EASTER SEALS . >> THANK YOU, YOUR TIME IS UP .

>> GO AHEAD . >> SO, YES, MAYBE IN THAT SENSE IF WE TEACH KIDS YOUNGER, I GUESS THEY WILL BE MORE AWARE OF IT . DIFFERENT THAN ME, MAYBE TELL SOMEONE AND DON'T WAIT 24 YEARS. BUT IT HAS BEEN PRETTY GREAT AND IN MY CURRENT JOB AS

WELL WORKING WITH PEOPLE . >> THANK YOU AND

CONGRATULATIONS. >> KIM DIXON AND JACOB, YOU EACH

HAVE ONE MINUTE. >> I DON'T KNOW IF I HAVE AUTISM OR NOT, BUT I DO KNOW THAT I HAVE BRAIN DAMAGE . THEY SAID, YOU HAVE AUTISM, JACOB AND I SAID, I DON'T KNOW. I WENT TO A BASEBALL GAME WITH THE HOUSTON ASTROS PLAYING. IT WAS AN AUTISM AWARENESS DAY . RIGHT HERE ON MY NAKED -- BASEBALL CAP, IT SAYS AUTISM AWARENESS AND SO I WANTED TO TELL YOU THAT I AM A WORKER CASHIER AT AN IG PARK AND SO I AM GOING TO VISIT THE COFFEE SHOP IN WEST VILLAGE AND SEE WHAT IT IS LIKE TO HAVE THEIR

COFFEE. >>

>> OH, AND ONE LAST THING IN MY PRO-LIFE ADVOCACY I WENT TO AUSTIN AND THERE I MET A TEXAS STATE SENATOR AND HE ASSIGNED A

CARD FOR ME . >> THAT'S WONDERFUL .

>>

ON THIS RESOLUTION ? >> THE LAST SPEAKER WAS KIM DIXON AND I'M NOT SURE SHE IS THERE.

>> YES, IT SEEMS LIKE SHE IS. >> GOOD MORNING JUDGE AND COMMISSIONERS . THANK YOU FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY . I TOO WILL SPEAK TO YOU THIS MORNING FROM A PARENT PERSPECTIVE AS THE MOTHER OF A SON WITH AUTISM. YOU HAVE HEARD AND YOU KNOW WHAT IT IS, BUT NOW, LET ME TELL YOU WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE. AUTISM LOOKS LIKE ME . IT LOOKS LIKE A MOTHER INTERPRETING HER SON TO THE WORLD AND THE WORLD TO HER SON. IT LOOKS LIKE ISOLATION WITHIN A COMMUNITY FROM RESTAURANTS, LIBRARIES, MOVIE THEATERS, SHOPPING MALLS AND YES , EVEN SOME CHURCHES . IT LOOKS LIKE CONSTANT FEAR OF THE OF DORITY'S WHEN EXPLAINING WHILE YOUR HANDS CAN BE SEEN ON THE WHEEL THAT YOUR SONS MAY MAKE A SUDDEN MOVE ACCOMPANIED BY A SUDDEN LOUD NOISE. THIS IS THE FEAR , ESPECIALLY IF YOUR SON IS NONVERBAL.

>> GO AHEAD . >> SO, WHAT DOES AUTISM LOOK LIKE? IT LOOKS LIKE ME AND THE HUNDREDS OF OTHER PARENTS IN THE HOUSTON AND HARRIS COUNTY AREA WHO UNDERSTAND AND WORK FOR WHAT AWARENESS REALLY MEANS . AUTISM IS SO MUCH MORE THAN THE INDIVIDUAL DIAGNOSED WITH IT . IT IS INCLUSIVE OF THE CHALLENGES THAT WE AS FAMILIES FACE TOO BECAUSE COMMUNITIES ARE NOT AWARE . SO, TODAY, JUDGE , AND THIS GREAT COURT , I THINK YOU GOT IT RIGHT, ACCEPTANCE IS WHAT WE NEED IN THE COMMUNITY.

ACCEPTANCE , AND I THANK YOU FOR YOUR RESOLUTION AND FOR THE

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TIME. >>

>> COMMISSIONER BRIONES . >> THANK YOU . FOR ALL THOSE WHO AUTISM IS TOUCHED YOUR LIVES , GOD BLESS YOU, FIRST OF ALL.

SECOND OF ALL , HARRIS COUNTY HAS GOT YOUR BACK. AND , MOMS, PLEASE KNOW THAT JAMES DRIVER INCLUSIVE PARK HAS THE NAME BECAUSE MY TEAM WORKED TIRELESSLY TO MAKE SURE ANY CHILD, ANY PERSON, WITH ANY ABILITY COULD ENJOY THAT PARK .

I'M SO PROUD THERE IS A FAMILY WHO HAS A YOUNG MAN WHO IS AUTISTIC WHO LIVES IN THE WOODLANDS . THEY DRIVE FROM THE WOODLANDS TO THAT PARK OVER IN THE EAST ALDEN AREA BECAUSE IT WAS DESIGNED WITH INCREDIBLE INTENTION SO THAT ANY CHILD WITH ANY TYPE OF ABILITY WOULD KNOW THAT IS THERE PLACE TO HAVE A GREAT TIME. COUPLED WITH THE FACT THAT THE HARRIS CENTER ECI THERAPISTS -- WHEN THE WEATHER PERMITS , THEY SCHEDULE THEIR PATIENTS TO GO TO JAMES DRIVER BECAUSE IT HAS ALL OF THE AMENITIES TO PROVIDE THERAPY FOR THEIR RESPECTIVE CLIENTS. SO, WE HAVE GOT YOUR BACK . AND, TRUST ME THAT IT HAS NOT BEEN LOST ON US. ALSO TO THAT YOUNG MAN WHO WAS JUST LEADING, IT GOES TO SHOW THAT NOTHING , NOTHING CAN HOLD ANYONE BACK. THANK YOU .

APPLAUSE ] . >> COMMISSIONER BRIONES .

>> THANK YOU JUDGE FOR BRINGING THIS AUTISM ACCEPTANCE MONTH RESOLUTION. TO ALL THE FAMILIES HERE IN THE 7 MILLION PEOPLE ON THE AUTISM SPECTRUM, I KNOW THEY APPRECIATE IT . MISTER LEWIS, CONGRATULATIONS, YOU INSPIRE US . I HAVE GONE TO BITTY BEAU AND IT IS AMAZING WHAT YOU DO. I'M A HUGE FAN . AND THANK YOU COMMISSIONER BRIONES TO , YOUR PARK HAS INSPIRED MY TEAM. WE ARE GOING TO TALK ABOUT A LAND WHERE WE ARE WORKING ON AND INCLUSIVE ALL ABILITIES PARK . IN THE MEANTIME, ALL 10 COMMUNITY CENTERS ARE OPEN TO THE AUTISM MOMS GROUP IN ALL GROUPS AND SO WE WELCOME YOU. I WOULD LIKE TO THANK DOCTOR BLAKE ELLIS AND CONSTABLE HEAP WHO WAS OUR FORMER CONSTABLE IN PRECINCT 5 AND PRECINCT 4 HAS A WORKFORCE PROGRAM WHERE WE HAVE HIRED FOLKS WITH INTELLECTUAL AND ADAPTABLE DISABILITIES AND WE HOPE TO GROW AND EXPAND NOT ONLY IN PRECINCT FOUR BUT ALSO THROUGHOUT THE COUNTY. IF YOU KNOW ANYBODY INTERESTED, PLEASE REACH OUT TO MY TEAM. THANK YOU FOR SHARING YOUR STORIES AND WE STAND IN SOLIDARITY.

>> GREAT . AND , ON THAT, I'M JUST WONDERING COMMISSIONER RAMIREZ IF THAT IS SOMETHING YOU ARE LOOKING AT IN TERMS OF JUST COUNTYWIDE WHERE THERE MAY BE ROOM FOR FOLKS WITH DIFFERENT

ABILITIES ? >> WE HAVE NOT BEEN LOOKING AT IT BUT IF THAT IS SOMETHING THAT THE COMMISSIONER'S BOARD WANTS US TO LOOK OUT COMPREHENSIVELY, WE CAN LOOK AT IT .

>> SOMETHING TO KEEP IN MIND AS WE ARE CONSTANTLY LOOKING AT

WORKFORCE. >> YES, MA'AM .

>> WELL, THANK YOU GUYS SO MUCH . LET ME JUST READ HERE MY FINAL RESOLUTION BEFORE PASSING IT ON TO MY COLLEAGUES . SO THIS IS DESIGNATING APRIL 5-11 FOR THE YEARS OF THE CHILD. THE FIRST FIVE YEARS IN A CHILD'S LIFE IS THE TIME FOR THE MOST BRAIN DEVELOPMENT AND THE FOUNDATION FOR LEARNING. DECLARING APRIL 5-11 THE NATIONAL WEEK OF THE YOUNG CHILD , A NATIONAL CELEBRATION PURPOSE TO FOCUS ON THE NEED OF YOUNG CHILDREN AND TO RECOGNIZE THE EARLY CHILDHOOD PROGRAMS THAT MEET THOSE NEEDS.

HARRIS COUNTY WITH MY COLLEAGUES HAS DESIGNATED AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN FUNDS TO HELP CHILDREN HUNDRED 69 THOUSAND CHILDREN HAVE BEEN ASSISTED SINCE EARLY 2022. THE DEPARTMENT OF ECONOMIC

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>> DIRECTOR ESTELLA GONZALEZ , YOU EACH HAVE ONE MINUTE.

>> GOOD MORNING JUDGE AND COMMISSIONERS. MY NAME IS ESTELLA GONZALEZ AND I HAVE THE HONOR OF LEADING HARRIS COUNTY'S DEPARTMENT OF ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY. AS WE CELEBRATE PHIL WEEK OF THE YOUNG CHILD , IT IS NOT ONLY ALIGNED WITH THIS MISSION BUT ACTIVELY IS HERE IN HARRIS COUNTY . WITH OVER 672,000 AGES ZERO TO NINE, MORE THAN THE POPULATIONS OF SOME STATES , OUR INVESTMENTS HERE MATTER . THROUGH COLLABORATIONS WITH PARTNERS LIKE THE GULF COAST WORKFORCE BOARD AND LOCAL NONPROFITS AND COMMUNITY LEADERS, PROGRAMS LIKE SHINE, EARLY CONNECTIONS AND RISE EARLY REACH TO NAME A FEW ARE BUILDING CONNECTIONS FOR OUR YOUNGEST RESIDENTS. WITH THE ARPA FUNDING TO DO THIS WORK WE HAVE REACH 109 CHILDREN , FAMILIES AND CAREGIVERS. GIVING SUPPORT AND ACCESS AND DRIVING LONG-TERM IMPACT . THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING US TO SERVE HARRIS COUNTY IN

THIS WAY . >> YOUR TIME IS UP .

>> TOGETHER WE ARE BUILDING A BRIGHTER AND MORE RESILIENT

FUTURE. >> THANK YOU .

>> GOOD MORNING JUDGE AND COUNTY. COMMISSIONER S, I REPRESENT THE FOUNDATION AS CEO . I AM HERE TO SPEAK FOR THIS RESOLUTION . WE THROUGH THE FOUNDATION ARE COMMITTED TO WORKING ON EARLY CHILDHOOD DEVELOPMENT . WE HAVE REACHED OUT TO OVER 25,000 PEOPLE IN THE LAST NINE YEARS OF OUR PRESENCE IN THE UNITED STATES . WE BELIEVE THAT A KID, A YOUNG KID UP TO THE AGE OF THREE , THE BRAIN DEVELOPS UP TO 90% OF AN ADULT BY THE AG OR SEAT SHE IS THREE . INVESTING ON THAT AGES THE MOST CRUCIAL TIME AND THAT IS WHERE THEY ARE ACTUALLY GETTING FORWARD . WITH THE GENEROUS SUPPORT OF ARPA FUNDING WE HAVE REACHED OUT TO A NUMBER OF WOMEN AND CHILDREN BECAUSE WE BELIEVE IN A HOLISTIC PHASED FAMILY LEARNING MODEL.

>> GO AHEAD . >> WE ACTUALLY BELIEVE THIS IS AN AREA WHERE WE ALL HAVE TO MEET TO FOCUS MORE AND USE OUR RESOURCES SO WE HAVE A BETTER FUTURE GENERATION. THANK YOU .

>> THANK YOU. >> YOU EACH HAVE ONE MINUTE.

>> GOOD MORNING. MY NAME IS CASSANDRA AND I'M AN ELIGIBILITY SPECIALIST WITH THE EARLY REACH PROGRAM. I WORK MERRILY WITH FAMILIES IN THE COMMUNITY HELPING THEM ACCESS THE SUPPORT THEY NEED TO THRIVE. EARLY REACH HAS MADE AN IMPACT ON MANY FAMILIES INCLUDING THOSE I HAVE HAD THE PRIVILEGE OF PERSONALLY SERVE. PARENTS CAN GET HIGH QUALITY HEALTHCARE TO SUPPORT THEIR CHILDREN'S GROWTH IN THEIR OWN DEVELOPMENT. THIS ALLOWS THEM TO PURSUE HIGHER EDUCATION, IMPROVE FINANCIAL STABILITY AND BUILD BRIGHTER FUTURES FOR THEIR CHILDREN. I BELIEVE IT IS ESSENTIAL WE CONTINUE SUPPORTING EARLY REACH.

IT STRENGTHENS FAMILIES AND EMPOWERS THEM TO BREAK THE CYCLE. I STRONGLY URGE CONTINUED SUPPORT FOR THIS INVALUABLE PROGRAM WHICH ALIGNS DIRECTLY WITH THE WELL-BEING OF OUR COMMUNITY AND THE FUTURE SUCCESS OF OUR CHILDREN. THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU. >> GOOD MORNING . MY NAME IS

[00:35:05]

FAMILY CAN FIND STABILITY . >> YOUR TIME IS UP .

>> THANK YOU. >> AND YOU EACH HAVE ONE MINUTE

. >> TIFFANY, IF YOU WOULD NOT MIND REPEATING, WE DID NOT QUITE CATCH THAT?

>> MAGGIE TRAN AND DR. MELANIE JOHNSON, YOU EACH HAVE ONE

MINUTE. >> AS A EARLY REACH CHILDHOOD COACH WITH EARLY CHILDHOOD PROGRAMS IN PRECINCT 1, 2, AND 4 , WE ARE MAKING AN IMPACT ACROSS HARRIS COUNTY. MANY FAMILIES WE SUPPORT OUR SINGLE PARENT WITH FOOD INSECURITY OR UNSTABLE HOUSING. EARLY REACH CHANGES THEIR TRAJECTORY AND CONNECTS FAMILIES TO HIGH-QUALITY EARLY LEARNING . OUR TEAM PROVIDES ACCESS TO TEACHERS HELPING THEM TO GROW THEIR PRACTICE AND CREATE LEARNING ENVIRONMENTS THAT ARE RESPONSIVE TO COMMUNITY NEEDS AND TRULY SUPPORT EVERY CHILD. FAMILIES TELL US THEY FEEL SEEN, SUPPORTED, AND VALUED BECAUSE WE MEET THEM WHERE THEY ARE . WITH AFFORDABLE CARE AND STAFF AND ACCESS. IT ALLOWS ECONOMIC STABILITY WHILE CHILDREN ARE THRIVING . PLEASE CONTINUE TO SUPPORT EARLY REACH , THANK YOU.

>> GOOD MORNING JUDGE AND THE COMMISSIONERS COURT. I AM MELANIE JOHNSON, THE CEO OF COLLABORATIVE COURT AND I WOULD LIKE TO THANK THE COMMISSIONER S COURT FOR RECOGNIZING THE WEEK OF THE YOUNG CHILD. THIS HIGHLIGHTS THE QUALITY OF CHILD EDUCATION SERVICES AND THE QUALITY OF THE EDUCATION PROVIDED IN THOSE SERVICES. IT IS A STATEMENT BY THIS COURT THAT IT IS AS CRITICAL TO YOU HAS IT IS TO THE REST OF US WHO ARE PRACTITIONERS IN THIS COURT. I WOULD LIKE TO HIGHLIGHT TWO IMPACTED AREAS INCLUDING QUALITY AND WORKFORCE. QUALITY IS WHAT WE DO THROUGH THE INITIATIVES MAKING SURE THIS IS NO LONGER BABYSITTING . WE KNOW SO MUCH ABOUT BRAIN DEVELOPMENT AND THE NEURAL SYNAPSES ARE DEVELOPED BETWEEN BIRTH AND FIVE YEARS OF AGE AND IT HELPS A CHILD ENROLLED IN QUALITY EARNING LEARNING ENVIRONMENT BUT IT ALSO HELPS THE PARENT .

>> CONTINUE . >> IT HELPS THE PARENT TO ENSURE THEIR CHILDREN ARE IN HIGH QUALITY LEARNING ENVIRONMENT .

SO, I WANT TO THANK YOU . I WANTED TO BE SURE TO SHOW MY GRATITUDE FOR THIS RESOLUTION FOR THE WEEK OF THE YOUNG CHILD IN THE COUNTY'S STEADFAST INVESTMENT .

>> THANK YOU. >> DARCY AND DORIS, YOU EACH

HAVE ONE MINUTE. >> GOOD MORNING COMMISSIONERS. I AM HERE REPRESENTING MY CHILDCARE CENTER IN THE EAST ALL DEAN AREA . I AM HERE REPRESENTING MY FAMILIES , MY COMMUNITY IN THE EARLY LEARNING QUALITY NETWORK . THROUGH THE EARLY LEARNING QUALITY NETWORK , MY FAMILIES HAVE BEEN PROVIDED INFORMATION ABOUT THE THINGS OUT THERE FOR THEM . A LOT OF THEM DO NOT SPEAK ENGLISH AND OFTEN FEEL INTIMIDATED BY ASKING FOR HELP . THEY HAVE GAINED SO MUCH KNOWLEDGE AND SO HAVE I PEERED IN TIMES LIKE THESE, OUR CENTERS ARE STRUGGLING . IT'S HARD FOR US TO STAY AFLOAT AND FOR US TO STAY OPEN, BUT WE ARE SEEING THE LIGHT . WE ARE SEEING POSITIVITY. I AM HERE

[00:40:08]

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR GIVING US THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE HERE TODAY. MY COMMUNITY DEFINITELY NEEDS THE HELP AND I AM HERE ADVOCATING FOR MY PEOPLE. THEY SAY THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR LETTING US KNOW WHAT IS GOING ON OUT THERE IN THE DID NOT FEEL COMFORTABLE. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR EVERYTHING .

>> COULD YOU STATE YOUR NAME FOR THE RECORD, MA'AM?

>> IF YOU WOULD NOT REMIND -- MIND REPEATING, TIFFANY.

>> GO AHEAD . >> COULD YOU STATE YOUR NAME FOR

THE RECORD, MA'AM? >> DORIS

THAT RIGHT? >> YES .

>> THE LAST SPEAKER IS DARCY

THERE . >> DARCY , I DON'T THINK SHE MADE IT. ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU GUYS SO MUCH FOR YOUR COMMENTS .

I JUST WANT TO THANK MY COLLEAGUES AS WELL AND REMIND THE COMMUNITY THAT WE PASSED PROPOSITION TWO WHICH WAS A PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN THE STATE GOVERNMENT AND OF COURSE THE COUNTY AND THE VOTERS. SO, THAT IS SAVING QUALIFIED CHAIR -- CHILDCARE PROVIDERS AN AVERAGE OF $2800 PER YEAR . FOR YOUNG CHILDREN WITH DISABILITIES, WE HAVE THE INSPIRED RICE PROGRAMS. AND LASTLY I WANT TO THANK THOSE WHO ARE HERE WHO ARE SUPPORTING THE DEPARTMENT OF ECONOMIC SUPPORT . UNITED WAY AND EVERYBODY WHO SPOKE. THANK YOU GUYS SO MUCH FOR BEING A PARTNER IN THIS . THEN, AGAIN, TO MY COLLEAGUES AS I KNOW SEVERAL OF US HAVE CHAMPIONS DIFFERENT PROJECTS. I WOULD LIKE TO THANK OUR TWO OUTSTANDING COUNTY JUDGE POLICY FELLOWS WHO HAVE BEEN WITH US THROUGH THE SPRING AND ARE ENDING THEIR TIME WITH MY OFFICE. IF YOU GUYS ARE HERE, IF YOU WOULDN'T MIND STANDING TO BE ACKNOWLEDGED.

FOR YOUR WORK. AND , I CAN'T WAIT TO SEE WHAT YOU ACCOMPLISH IN YOUR CAREERS OF PUBLIC SERVICE, THANK YOU. COMMISSIONER ELLIS DOES NOT HAVE ANY RESOLUTIONS AND WILL BE TAKEN OUT OF ORDER. LET ME GO ON TO COMMISSIONER GARCIA .

>> THANK YOU, THIS IS A JOINT RESOLUTION THAT I DON'T THINK WE HAVE DONE BEFORE AND I'M EXCITED ABOUT THIS. THIS IS A SPECIAL DAY AS I HAVE THE PLEASURE TO WORK WITH COMMISSIONER BRIONES TO PRESENT THIS JOINT RESOLUTION COMMEMORATING EARTH DAY WAS APRIL 22ND , 2025 . TOMMY, ARE YOU HERE? THERE YOU ARE . WHY DON'T YOU MAKE YOUR WAY TO THE PODIUM. TOMMY , FOR EVERYBODY'S INFORMATION IS AN INCREDIBLE URBAN FARMER WITH AN INCREDIBLE STORY AND WE WILL GET TO THAT IN A MINUTE. HOWEVER, EARTH DAY IS IMPORTANT AND BEING THE SITE OF A COUNTY THAT HAS ALL OF INDUSTRY AND I HAVE THE HIGHEST HEALTH DISPARITIES AND THE LOWEST MEDIAN INCOME . I HAVE THE HIGHEST NUMBER OF FOOD DESERTS. EARTH DAY IS INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT TO ME . SO, AS I DO MY WORK , THOSE DATA POINTS ARE ALWAYS IN THE BACK OF MY MIND AND SO THAT IS WHY I AM SO PROUD MY COLLEAGUES AND I WERE ABLE TO GET SOME RESOURCES OVER TO DO SOME INCREDIBLE THINGS. IF YOU HAVE NOT YET VISITED AND ARE LOOKING MEANINGFUL TO VOLUNTEER FOR , THIS IS THE GUY YOU NEED TO VISIT. IT CREATES A HEALTHY ENVIRONMENT FOR OUR RESIDENTS .

IT HAS BEEN FOCUSED ON CREATING ACCESS TO HEALTH , SMART PODS AND BRINGING KIOSKS TO MY TELEMEDICINE CENTERS AND TO THE SENIORS. WE HAVE THE HONOR OF TOMMY GARCIA PRATT . I LOVE HIM

BECAUSE HE IS A FARMER . >> THE URBAN FARM IN PRECINCT 2

[00:45:01]

THANK YOU FOR YOUR PARTNERSHIP . SHE WILL HAVE REMARKS, BUT TOMMY, WOULD YOU LIKE TO GIVE THOUGHTS ON THE SIGNIFICANCE OF HER DAY AND HOW IT IMPACTS YOU AND HOW YOU ARE IMPACTING THE

COMMUNITY . >> THANK YOU COMMISSIONER GARCIA

AND COMMISSIONER BRIONES . >> EARTH DAY IS EVERY DAY WE DO THAT THROUGH SUSTAINABLE FARMING AND WE DON'T JUST BRING FRESH FOOD . OUR PLANET AND OUR LAND GIVE US SO MUCH AND SO WE AIM TO PAY IT BACK AND PAY IT FORWARD TO THE WORK WE DO . WE USE ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY METHODS AND WE HAVE THE SOIL THAT WE CULTIVATE WHICH PRODUCES ENVIRONMENTALLY HEALTHY FOOD. WE PROVIDE THE FRUITS AND VEGETABLES TO PEOPLE IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD WHO DON'T NORMALLY HAVE ACCESS TO FRESH FOODS. I AM GRATEFUL TO HARRIS COUNTY WHO IS BEEN AN INCREDIBLE PARTNER FOR MAKING FRESH FOOD POSSIBLE. IT'S NOT HYPERBOLE TO SAY IT WOULD NOT HAVE HAPPENED WITHOUT YOUR SUPPORT COMMISSIONER GARCIA AND WITHOUT FUNDING FROM ARPA . I INVITE COMMISSIONERS OUT TO

THE FARM. THANK YOU . >> THANK YOU.

>> COMMISSIONER BRIONES . >> THANK YOU. THANK YOU COMMISSIONER GARCIA AND YOUR TEAM FOR BEING EXAMPLE OF WHAT WE ALL NEED TO BE DOING . AND I AGREE, TOMMY, EARTH DAY SHOULD BE EARTH DAY EVERY DAY AND TO ME IT GOES TO BE A MOM TO PRESERVE THE ENVIRONMENT FOR OUR KIDS, GRANDKIDS, GREAT GRANDKIDS BECAUSE THIS IS THE ONE SHOT THAT WE HAVE, RIGHT ? TO PROTECT OUR ENVIRONMENT AND I KNOW WE WILL BE TALKING TO COMMISSIONER RAMSEY ABOUT A CANCER CLUSTER IN YOUR DISTRICT. THIS HOLDS UP THE MIRROR AND STRIVES THAT WE AS A COUNTY , WITH OUR OWN IN MISSIONS WE WILL REDUCE THEM BY 40% BY 2030 . LATER TODAY THE COURT WILL BE TALKING ABOUT A CLIMATE ACTION JUSTICE PLAN THAT WAS COMMUNITY LED AND COMMUNITY DRIVEN SO AS A COUNTY WE CONTINUE TO DOUBLE DOWN ON OUR MORAL OBLIGATION TO PROTECT AND PRESERVE OUR ENVIRONMENT . IF YOU ARE LOOKING FOR SOMETHING TO DO ON APRIL 19TH, MY TEAM AND I INVITE YOU TO OUR EARTH DAY FESTIVAL AT JOHN PAUL LANDING . IT'S AN INCREDIBLY BEAUTIFUL PARK IN HARRIS COUNTY. PLEASE LOOK IT UP. APRIL 19TH FROM 9:00 TO 1:00 . I SEE SO MANY OF MY TEAM HERE WHO HAVE LITERALLY PLANTED THOUSANDS OF TREES SINCE MY TEAM TOOK OFFICE. JUST PLANTING TREES AND EVERYTHING WE CAN DO IN A HOLISTIC WAY .

EVERYONE DESERVES A RIGHT TO CLEAN AIR AND CLEAN WATER AND IT'S AN OBLIGATION WE ALL HAVE . SO, NONE OF US SHOULD BE AFRAID TO LIVE IN OUR OWN NEIGHBORHOOD . I HOPE AS A COMMUNITY WE CAN ALL JOIN FORCES AND PROTECT AND PRESERVE OUR ENVIRONMENT. HAPPY EARTH DAY TODAY THINKING WELL, ON APRIL 22ND AND THE OTHER 364 DAYS PER YEAR .

>>

ON THIS ITEM? >> YES , MA'AM . YOU EACH HAVE

ONE MINUTE. >> OKAY, THEY ARE MAKING THEIR

[00:50:07]

WAY. >> HI , GOOD MORNING .

>>

>> I FEEL VERY PROUD OF BEING PART OF THIS COLLABORATIVE GROUP

. >>

LANGUAGE ]. >> TRANSLATOR: AND ALSO TO SHARE

WITH YOU BUT I'M I'M A SELF . >> MOBILE LANGUAGE MAC.

>> TRANSLATOR: WE SHOULD KEEP WORKING, WE SHOULD KEEP GETTING INVOLVED, WE SHOULD EDUCATE OURSELVES SO WE CAN KEEP BEING

INVOLVED FOR OUR COMMUNITY. >>

LANGUAGE ] . >> TRANSLATOR: AND ALSO TO HAVE

A HEALTHY LIFE. >>

LANGUAGE ]. >> TRANSLATOR: ALSO LET'S NOT FORGET TO TRY FOR A BETTER WORLD AND NEW IDEAS.

>>

>> THANK YOU.

FOR ENVIRONMENTAL EQUITY AND RESILIENCE IN HOUSTON. I AM EXCITED AND THINK EVERY DAY SHOULD BE EARTH DAY. I AM EXCITED THAT YOU GUYS ARE VOTING ON THE CLIMATE JUSTICE. I THINK IT WILL BRING HOPE TO OUR FUTURE GENERATION AND I WANT EVERYONE TO VOTE YES, THANK YOU.

>> BETTY GREGORY THINKING YOU EACH HAVE ONE MINUTE.

>>

>> JUST A MOMENT, LET ME MAKE SURE THE INTERPRETER IS HERE FOR YOU. IS THE INTERPRETER STILL HERE .

>> I CAN SAY IT IN ENGLISH. >> SHE IS RIGHT HERE.

>> OH, I'M SORRY. >>

LANGUAGE ]. >> TRANSLATOR: GOOD MORNING COMMISSIONERS AND JUDGE. I AM A MOTHER AND GAM GRANDMOTHER LIVING IN CASHMERE GARDENS. IT IS IMPORTANT SINCE I HAVE A SON WITH ADHD TO HAVE A SAFE AND HEALTHY ENVIRONMENT. I AM EXCITED FOR THE CLIMATE JUSTICE AND I AM HERE TO SAY YES. PLUS .

>> THANK YOU. >> GOOD MORNING. THANK YOU FOR HAVING THIS MEETING TODAY . AND, ESPECIALLY THANK YOU FOR INVITING US . MS. COMMISSIONER GARCIA WILL DO . I HAVE WORKED IN HIS CAMPAIGN WHEN HE AND BARACK OBAMA WAS BOTH RUNNING .

THE INTERESTING THING ABOUT THAT AND I WILL SAY IT REAL QUICK IS WE WERE AT -- ASKED IF WE WOULD WORK IN A DISTRICT THAT WAS MOSTLY REPUBLICAN? AND, OUR GROUP SAID NO, NOT ME.

>> GO AHEAD. >> BUT I DID AND BARACK OBAMA

[00:55:07]

>> THANK YOU. >> THE LAST SPEAKER FOR THIS ITEM IS RITA

>> IS SHE HERE ? YES, SHE IS MAKING HER WAY. AND COMMISSIONER ELLIS IS MAKING HIS WAY. HE IS DEALING WITH ALLERGIES THIS MORNING BUT IS MAKING HIS WAY AS WELL.

>> GOOD MORNING, MY NAME IS RITA DENVER HARBOR WHICH IS IN NORTHEAST HOUSTON AND I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING US TO COME TODAY AND ALSO FOR CELEBRATING HER DAY . I WANT YOU TO PLEASE THINK ABOUT THE CLIMATE JUSTICE PLAN. PEOPLE LIKE IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD WHICH IS MOSTLY BLUE-COLLAR WORKERS , THEY PURCHASE A HOME OR RENT A HOME AND THEY NEED WEATHERIZATION FOR THEIR HOME.

THE HOMES WERE BUILT LIKE ENOUGH '40S OR WHATEVER. THEY DON'T HAVE INSULATION OR A DATED WINDOWS AND SO WHENEVER WE HAVE HARD WEATHER LIKE FREEZES OR HEAT WAVES AND HURRICANES, THEY SUFFER A LOT. THEY DO WITHOUT POWER FOR MORE THAN TWO OR THREE DAYS AND MAYBE EVEN TWO OR THREE MONTHS, ESPECIALLY AFTER BURRELL

. THANK YOU VERY MUCH . >> THANK YOU.

>> OKAY , IT SOUNDS LIKE THOSE ARE ALL THE SPEAKERS ON THIS ITEM . THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE. NOW , WE WILL PASS

IT ON TO COMMISSIONER RAMSEY . >> THIS IS GREAT . I ALWAYS LIKE TO TELL MY ANNUAL EARTH DAY STORY BECAUSE SOMETIMES WE FORGET WHERE WE CAME FROM . IT'S HARD TO KNOW WHERE YOU ARE GOING UNLESS YOU KNOW WHERE YOU CAME FROM. I WAS A SOPHOMORE AT A& M IN ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEERING IN 1972 WHEN THE DOCTOR WHO HEADED UP THE DEPARTMENT WAS GIVEN THE TASK OF EVALUATING THE CONDITION OF THE WATER IN THE HOUSTON SHIP TOWN.

HE TOOK STUDENTS DOWN THERE TO DO THE SAMPLING AND IN 1972, THE SAMPLING PROTOCOL FOR THE HOUSTON SHIP CHANNEL , ESSENTIALLY MR. GARCIA KNOWS THE SPOT, THAT IS THE TURNING BASIN AND 600 AND AND THAT'S WHERE WE WENT TO SAMPLE . THE SAMPLING PROTOCOL WAS DON'T LIGHT A CIGARETTE WITH 100 YARDS OF THE SHIP CHANNEL , THEY WERE AFRAID OF SPONTANEOUS COMBUSTION . SO, IT REALLY WASN'T A DIFFICULT ANALYSIS . ESSENTIALLY, THE HOUSTON SHIP CHANNEL IN 1972 WAS A DEAD BODY OF WATER . THE CITY OF HOUSTON WAS DUMPING RAW SEWAGE FROM THEIR PLANTS . YOU ALL DON'T KNOW ANY OF THIS IF I DIDN'T TELL YOU . THAT HAS ALL BEEN CLEANED UP SINCE THEN. AND WHAT I WILL SAY ABOUT OUR GENERATION , WE HAVE TRIED , AND I THINK WE HAVE DONE A PRETTY EFFECTIVE JOB OF DEALING WITH IT . THERE IS MUCH WORK TO DO AND I WILL GET TO THAT IN A MINUTE. BUT, ESSENTIALLY WE CAN GO TO THAT SAME SPOT TODAY AND GO FISHING. IT HAS THE OXYGEN LEVELS THAT ARE GREAT . I WOULD RECOMMEND YOU NOT EAT THE FISH .

>> IN A MINUTE. BUT, I THINK HER DAY IS IMPORTANT TO REMIND US OF WHERE WE CAME FROM . I THINK COMMISSIONER GARCIA WILL ATTEST THAT IN 1972 , YOU COULD SEE THE AIR IN PASADENA, IT WAS THICK .

IT WAS A CLOUD . YOU DON'T SEE THAT TODAY . IS THERE WORK TO BE DONE ? YOU ARE NOT HEARING ME THAT IT'S NOT WORK TO BE DONE, BUT I THINK IT IS IMPORTANT THAT YEAH, THERE HAS BEEN -- AS STEWARD OF 74 PARKS IN HARRIS COUNTY, WE TAKE THIS VERY SERIOUSLY . THE ONLY BOTANICAL GARDEN IN THE COUNTY IS IN PRECINCT 3 AND WE TAKE THAT VERY SERIOUSLY . WE ARE ACTUALLY DOING A STUDY AT THAT PARK, VERY QUIETLY ON AGENT SEEDS . WE HAVE FOUR PEOPLE WORKING FULL TIME . WHAT DOES THAT HAVE TO DO ? THE SEEDS, OVER 200 YEARS AGO OR 100 YEARS AGO ARE HEALTHIER THAN

[01:00:07]

>> THERE YOU GO.

WORK TO BE DONE . MY RESOLUTION DEALS WITH -- IF I COULD ASK JUST -- JACKIE METCALF, WOULD YOU COME UP? IT DEALS WITH THE TOPIC THAT BOTHERS ME THE MOST IN MY PRECINCT. IT BOTHERS ME THE MOST IN TERMS OF WHAT EXISTS TODAY AND SHOULD NOT EXIST. THE RESOLUTION ESSENTIALLY SAYS EVERYBODY DESERVES CLEAN RIVERS, CREEKS AND AIR TO BREATHE. IT'S HERE TO ENSURE THE SAFETY OF OUR COMMUNITIES FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS . THIS STARTS WITH THE STATE ACCURATELY REPORTING THE HOW HEARTBREAKING REALITY OF WHAT PEOPLE ARE EXPERIENCING IN EAST HARRIS COUNTY WITH CANCER CLUSTERS AND PEOPLE IMPACTED BY THE SAN JACINTO RIVER WASTE PITS. THEY HAVE BEEN THERE DECADES AND WE KNOW THE PROBLEM IN THE ENVIRONMENT BUT WE ARE WAITING FOR ACTION .

CONSEQUENTLY, THEY HAVE BEEN PLAGUED BY ABNORMALLY HIGH RATES OF LEUKEMIA, LYMPHOMA, LONG AND BRONCHITIS . ADDITIONAL RARE FORMS OF CANCER. THE STATE OF TEXAS HAS ADVISED EATING -- AGAINST EATING FISH AND SHELLFISH . WHEN YOU'RE A KID IN 10 YEARS OLD AND WANT GO SWIMMING IN THE SAN JACINTO RIVER, YOU DON'T READ THE SIGN AND YOU GO SWIMMING IN THE SAN JACINTO RIVER. THERE IS A CATASTROPHIC LEAKING FROM THE SITE AND IT'S THE WORST PLACE YOU COULD PUT A SUPERFUND. IT'S A SUPERFUND WASTE PIT AT THE SAN JACINTO RIVER AND I-10 .

WHENEVER THE FLOODS HAPPEN, AND COMMISSIONER GARCIA, I COULD WRITE A BOOK ON THAT . WHEN THE FLOODS HAPPEN, THE HIT WILL END UP IN GALVESTON BAY AND IS JUST A MATTER OF TIME UNTIL THAT HAPPENS. SO IT IS TIME TO GET THESE PITS CLEANED UP. WE KNOW WHO DID IT AND I WILL NOT MENTION NAMES , WASTE MANAGEMENT , INTERNATIONAL PAPER . THEY ARE THE RESPONSIBLE PARTIES AND I REFER TO THEM AS THE RESPONSIBLE PARTIES. THEY HAVE MONEY TO DO IT, I KNOW THEY DO BECAUSE THEY SPONSOR GOLF TOURNAMENTS AND DO ALL KINDS OF THINGS . ALL I NEED YOU TO DO, THIS ISN'T HARD, COME GET YOUR WASTE OUT OF THE RIVER AND HAUL IT OFF. IT'S NOT COMPLICATED.

STANDS WITH THE TEXAS HEALTH AND ENVIRONMENTAL ALLIANCE TO KEEP THOSE IMPACTED BY THESE FOLKS AT THE FOREFRONT OF THE FIGHT .

AND, ALL WE NEED IS THE EPA TO STAND UP AND SAY, DO IT. GO CLEAN THEM UP . DON'T CAP THEM , DON'T DO ANY KIND OF TEMPORARY FIX, GO CLEAN THEM UP . WITH THAT SAID, THAT IS THE RESOLUTION TO GET THE SAN JACINTO RIVER WASTE PIT CLEANED UP AND I THINK EARTH DAY WOULD BE A GREAT DAY TO CONSIDER .

>> THANK YOU. >>

>> I DON'T KNOW MANY WARRIORS IN MY LIFE, BUT YOU ARE LOOKING AT ONE HERE. THAT IS JACKIE METCALF WHO QUIETLY , EFFECTIVELY , GATHERS DATA . SHE DOESN'T DO ANYTHING THAT IS NOT DATA-DRIVEN . SHE, HERSELF, I DON'T KNOW IF SHE WILL TELL THE STORY , BUT SHE GREW UP IN EAST HARRIS COUNTY. SHE , HERSELF, HAS DEALT WITH HEALTH ISSUES ASSOCIATED WITH THE RIVER AND ASSOCIATED WITH THE PIT , JACKIE, WHY DON'T YOU SPEAK TO

US . >> THANK YOU, I AM JACKIE METCALF AND I AM THE DIRECTOR OF THE TEXAS HEALTH ALLIANCE FOUNDED OUT OF NECESSITY AND OUT OF MY FAMILY'S EXPERIENCE GROWING UP IN EAST HIGHLANDS IN HARRIS COUNTY. HAVING OUR FAMILY ROBBED OF THE AMERICAN DREAM AND TRYING TO PREVENT ANOTHER FAMILY

[01:05:02]

THE AREA FLOODS -- >> GO AHEAD .

>> WHEN THE AREA FLOODS AND THERE IS A STORM SURGE, CONTAMINANTS ARE DISPERSED THROUGHOUT OUR COMMUNITIES. THIS TIME AROUND IN THE 2025 STUDY, THE STATE LIKE IT AT THE 250 SQUARE MILE AREA AS A COUNSELOR CLUSTER FOR THE TYPES OF CANCERS THE COMMISSIONER MENTIONS . SO, WHAT DO WE DO WITH THAT ? HOW DO WE HELP OUR COMMUNITIES? FIRST OF ALL WE NEED THE WASTE OUT OF THE RIVER AS A KNOWN THREAT TO OUR STATE AND COMMUNITIES. AND WE NEED LOCAL LICENSES TRACK DATA AS THEY DID IN 2015 .

BECAUSE HOW DO WE ASSIST OUR COMMUNITIES AND KNOW WHICH COMMUNITIES AND THAT 250 SQUARE MILE AREA ARE DISPROPORTIONATELY IMPACTED AND WHICH ONES ARE NOT . THANK YOU COMMISSIONER RAMSEY FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP AND I APPRECIATE ALL OF YOU FOR YOUR

SUPPORT AS WELL . >> THANK YOU.

>>

ON THIS ITEM? >> NO, MA'AM .

>> THANK YOU COMMISSIONER, WE HAVE SEEN CANCER CLUSTERS IGNORED FOR TOO LONG AND TOO MANY PEOPLE SUFFER BECAUSE OF IT. THANK YOU FOR BRINGING THE INFORMATION AND I SUPPORT YOU WHOLEHEARTEDLY AND I ECHO YOUR REQUEST . AND MS. METCALF'S REQUESTS FOR THIS SITUATION. SO, THANK YOU, THANK YOU SO MUCH .

>> AND NOW WE MOVED TO COMMISSIONER BRIONES'

RESOLUTIONS . >> THE THANK YOU. THE FIRST ONE IS RECOGNIZING APRIL'S CHILD ABUSE PREVENTION MONTH. THERE ARE SOME STAGGERING AND COMPLETELY UNACCEPTABLE STATISTICS AND I WILL READ A FEW . SO MORE THAN HALF MILLION CHILDREN, THAT WE KNOW OF , AND WE KNOW THERE IS SEVERE UNDERREPORTING . BUT THERE IS HALF MILLION CHILDREN IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA WHO EXPERIENCED CHILD ABUSE EACH YEAR. IT IS ESTIMATED THAT ONE IN FOUR GIRLS AND ONE IN 20 BOYS IN THE UNITED STATES WILL EXPERIENCE CHILD SEXUAL ABUSE DURING THEIR CHILDHOOD. HERE , AT HOME IN HARRIS COUNTY , THERE ARE APPROXIMATELY 40,000 REPORTS OF CHILD ABUSE EACH YEAR. AGAIN , THESE ARE THE 40,000 THAT ARE REPORTED . WHAT IS THE TOTALITY OF THE NUMBER WE WILL UNFORTUNATELY LIKELY NEVER KNOW? WE KNOW THAT CHILDREN WHO ARE ABUSED HAVE A GREATER RISK OF DEPRESSION, ALCOHOL , DRUG ABUSE AND PERPETRATING OR CONTINUING TO BE VICTIMS OF VIOLENCE. WE KNOW THERE ARE SO MANY GREAT COMMUNITY LEADERS WORKING IN THIS SPACE TO PREVENT CHILD ABUSE . AND, AS WE HAVE STATED IN MULTIPLE TOPICS THAT WE HAVE DISCUSSED THIS MORNING, HARRIS COUNTY HAS YOUR BACK AND WE STAND IN SOLIDARITY . I WANT TO GIVE A FEW EXAMPLES OF RESOURCES HERE . FIRST OF ALL, THIS GOES BACK TO 1966 WHERE THERE IS THE HARRIS COUNTY RESOURCES FOR CHILDREN AND ADULTS TO PROVIDE SUPPORT IN THE TEXAS FAMILY AND DEPARTMENT OF PROTECTIVE SERVICES. IT PROVIDES PREVENTION AND INTERVENTION FOR ABUSED CHILDREN INCLUDING COUNSELING UNDER EMERGENCY SHELTER . THE CHILDREN'S ASSESSMENT CENTER WAS FOUNDED IN 1991 AND WE WILL HEAR FROM THE PHENOMENAL CEO MOMENTARILY . THE CHILDREN'S ASSESSMENT CENTER IS FUNDED IN LARGE PART BY THE COUNTY BUT IT IS PART OF A PARTNERSHIP IN A HOLISTIC APPROACH TO CHILDREN SERVICES. IT IS A COORDINATED APPROACH TO THE TREATMENT OF SEXUALLY OF ABUSED CHILDREN AND PROVIDES MEDICAL SERVICES, THERAPY AND COURT SERVICES FREE OF CHARGE AND IT CONDUCTS TRAINING TO HELP EDUCATE COMMUNITY MEMBERS TO HELP PROTECT CHILDREN FROM ABUSE. IN 2024 , AS PART OF THE OVER 20

[01:10:01]

SO, WITH THAT , I THINK OUR GUESTS TODAY FOR THEIR LEADERSHIP AND FOR BEING ON THE FRONT LINES OF THIS VERY IMPORTANT FIGHT. THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING YOU DO TO PREVENT CHILD ABUSE AND TO ADDRESS IT . THANK YOU SO MUCH. TIFFANY, COULD YOU PLEASE CALL UP OUR GUESTS?

>> THANK YOU, JUDGE. >> I'VE BEEN DOING THAT ALL

MORNING, FORGIVE ME . >> I WILL CALL YOU UP. THANK YOU TO THE OTHER TIFFANY. I WILL CALL UP TIFFANY REEDY WHO IS MANAGING THE COUNCIL WITH DISABILITY AND ELDER LAW

PREVENTIONS. >> THANK YOU AND PLEASE FORGIVE ME, TIFFANY. GOOD MORNING EVERYONE. TO THE COMMISSIONERS, GOOD MORNING AND THANK YOU FOR ASSISTING US AND ACKNOWLEDGING APRIL'S CHILD ABUSE PREVENTION MONTH. MY NAME IS TIFFANY AND I AM THE MANAGING COUNCIL OF THE CVS ALONG WITH PARTNERS WHO ARE FOUR PEOPLE I WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO MANAGE ALMOST 110 PEOPLE . TO MY LEFT IS KATRINA MAJORS WHO IS OUR ADMINISTRATIVE DIRECTOR FOR OUR TEAM . WE ARE THE ONLY TEAM THAT HAS ONE. FRENCH ALLAH IS OUR ATTORNEY . AND AMY IS A DIVISION MANAGER FOR ALL THE WORK WE DO TO PROTECT CHILDREN. IN THIS WORK AND EVERY STATISTIC IS A CHILD. A LIFE THAT DESERVES SAFETY, JUSTICE AND HOPE .

>> CONTINUE . >> 1.2 MILLION CHILDREN RELY ON US AND LAST YEAR 8000 25 CHILDREN WERE CONFIRMED WITH ABUSE OR NEGLECT. THE HARRIS COUNTY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE IS THE ANSWER TO THE CALL EVERY DAY. OUR ROLE IS CRITICAL WE DON'T JUST BITE CASES WE ADVOCATE FOR CHILDREN IN THE COURTROOM IN THE COMMUNITY. LAST YEAR WE HAD 605 EMERGENCY HEARINGS AND THERE WERE 20 WRITS OF ATTACHMENT TO REMOVE CHILDREN FROM IMMEDIATE DANGER. WE STOOD BESIDE OUR CLIENT WITH 7500 COURT HEARINGS ACROSS 15 COURTS AND MADE SURE EVERY DECISION AND SURE THE CHILD'S FACES . WE EXPEDITED 46 CASES BECAUSE EVERY DAY MATTERS IN A CHILD'S LIFE . WE DON'T WORK ALONE. WE STAND WITH THE OF PS INVESTIGATIONS AND FPS AS WHO AND INVESTIGATIONS COMPLETED 20,000 CASES IN GREATER HOUSTON. WE PARTNER WITH THE CHILDREN'S ASSESSMENT CENTER WHICH SERVES 7805 FAMILIES AND THE HARRIS COUNTY RESOURCES FOR CHILDREN AND ADULTS PROVIDING SERVICES TO 20,908 CHILDREN AND YOUTH. THE COUNTY DELIVERED ESSENTIALS LIKE CLOTHING, DIAPERS AND CAR SEATS TO CHILDREN BECAUSE STABILITY STARTS WITH MEETING BASIC NEEDS. THE FIGHT TAKES ALL OF US , LAWYERS, SOCIAL WORKERS, ADVOCATES AND YOU , EVERYBODY IN THE AUDIENCE. WHETHER IT IS MENTORING A CHILD, SUPPORTING PREVENTION PROGRAMS ARE SPEAKING UP OF SOMETHING IS WRONG. THE COUNTY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE WILL KEEP LEADING IN COURT AND WILL KEEP YOU LEADING IN THE COMMUNITY . TOGETHER WE CAN TURN THESE TWO NARRATIVES OF HOPE . HOPE WE CAN BE THE VOTES FOR THOSE ARE NOT HEARD IN PROTECTION FOR THOSE AND THE

[01:15:01]

TIME IS NOW FOR THE FIGHT. >> THANK YOU MANAGING COUNCIL AND TO YOU AND YOUR TEAM, TIFFANY. AND WE HAVE KERRY MCCRACKEN FROM THE CHILDREN'S ASSESSMENT CENTER . THANK YOU TO

YOUR AND YOUR TEAM . >> THANK YOU FOR YOUR LOVELY WORDS AND YOU DID US JUSTICE SUMMARIZING ALL WE DO TOGETHER .

THANK YOU TO THE COMMISSIONERS COURT FOR THIS VERY IMPORTANT MONTH . I WOULD LIKE TO REMIND EVERYBODY THAT WE SHOULD BE DOING THIS YEAR-ROUND . BUT, THIS IS A GREAT FORUM TO SHARE OUR MESSAGE. AT THE CHILDREN'S ASSESSMENT CENTER , OF COURSE WE SEE FIRSTHAND THE TRAUMA ABUSE BRINGS TO A FAMILY AND WE ARE HERE TO HELP HEAL THOSE FAMILIES . I WANT TO BRING JOY AND HOPE TO MY MESSAGE THIS MORNING . WHAT WE REALLY WANT TO DO AT THE CHILDREN'S ASSESSMENT CENTER IS TO PUT OURSELVES OUT OF BUSINESS . RESEARCH SHOWS THAT 95% OF CHILD SEXUAL ABUSE IS PREVENTABLE WITH TRAINING . THAT IS HUGE, RIGHT ? I WANT TO INTRODUCE YOU TO KAREN KENNARD WHO IS THE DIRECTOR OF TRADING EDUCATION. HER TEAM -- HONESTLY ONE OF MY PROUDEST THINGS WAS I WAS ABLE TO DOUBLE HER TEAM WITH THE ARPA FUNDS YOU GUYS GAVE US AND WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO SUSTAIN THAT. BECAUSE OF THAT, BETWEEN THE FOUR PRECINCTS SINCE 2022, YOU HAVE BACK TO US AND HELP US BRING TRAINING TO 70,000 SCHOOL AGED CHILDREN. 70,000 .

APPLAUSE ]. >> AGAIN, THIS IS NOT SOMETHING WE WILL DO JUST THIS MONTH. WE WILL KEEP DOING IT AND COULD NOT DO IT WITHOUT YOUR SUPPORT. SO, THANK YOU SO MUCH. COMMISSIONER GARCIA, I COPIED YOUR WORDS AND YOU REPEATED THEM. I THINK WE CAN SAY TO THE HARRIS COUNTY ABUSED CHILDREN, HARRIS COUNTY

HAS YOUR BACK. >> DIRECTOR MCCRACKEN, IF YOU WOULD NOT MIND JUST SHARING A LITTLE BIT ABOUT WHAT YOU -- WHAT YOU GUYS SHARE WITH CHILDREN AND FAMILIES IN TERMS OF EDUCATION. OBVIOUSLY, THIS IS NOT A TRAINING SESSION. I THINK IT IS A GREAT OPPORTUNITY FOR THE FOLKS WHO ARE HERE .

>> IF YOU DON'T MIND . >> WE CURRENTLY USE AN EVIDENCED -BASED PROGRAM FOR CHILD SAFETY MATTERS AND CHILD TEAM, SAFETY MATTERS AND WE ARE PROUD TO USE THAT PROGRAM . WE USE HAPPY BEAR WITH THE YOUNGER ONES . WE ARE HAPPY TO DO THAT IN BOTH ENGLISH AND SPANISH . WE ARE WORKING IN SPRING AS WELL IS ALL DEAN. WE HAVE A SCHOOL IN HST AND ILS AND I KNOW I'M FORGETTING SOME.

BECAUSE IT IS AGE OF APPROPRIATE , WE GO TO EVERY GRADE AND IT IS NOT A DIFFERENT AGE GROUP AND ITS AGE BY AGE WHICH IS IMPORTANT. IT IS INTERACTIVE ACTIVITIES INVOLVED TO KEEP THEIR ATTENTION. JUST TO NOTE , OUR STAFF, YOUR STAFF , AFTER THOSE PRESENTATIONS HAVE GOTTEN SEVERAL DISCLOSURES . YOU CANNOT DO THAT ON A VIDEO. YOU CANNOT DO THAT IN AN ONLINE PREVENTION PROGRAM AND SO IT HAS BEEN UP PLEASURE .

>> GENERALLY THE MESSAGES ABOUT TEACHING THESE KIDS BASTE ALL FORMS. EVEN BULLYING BUT ALL FORMS OF CHILD ABUSE. I AM SURE THE STATE IS HAPPY TO HEAR THAT. IT'S NOT JUST SEXUALLY OF VIEWS . CHILDREN WHO ARE SEXUALLY ABUSED OFTEN EXPERIENCE OTHER FORMS OF ABUSE. ALSO, WHAT THE SCHOOL IS DEALING WITH WITH INTERNET CRIMES AND ONLINE SAFETY . IT IS TWO LESSONS AND WE DO ONE LESSON IN THE FALL AND ONE IN THE SPRING. WE DO PRETEST AND POSTTEST TO MEASURE THAT AND SHARE WITH THE SCHOOL ADMINISTRATION. WE ARE NOT JUST OUT THERE DOING SOMETHING WITHOUT MEASURING IT AS WELL AS SHARING IT WITH STAKEHOLDERS .

>> I KNOW THIS IS -- THERE ARE OTHER SPEAKERS BUT I WANT TO PUT A FINE POINT ON THIS. WHAT IS THE BEST PLACE FOR FOLKS HERE WHO HAVE CHILDREN IN THEIR LIVES TO GO SO THEY CAN LEARN TO TALK TO THEIR CHILDREN ABOUT THIS TO HELP .

>> THEY CAN CONTACT THE CHILDREN'S ASSESSMENT CENTER .

WE HAVE PEOPLE IN THE SCHOOLS AND INFORMATION ON OUR WEBSITE SO THEY CAN CONTACT THE CHILDREN'S ASSESSMENT CENTER.

EITHER ONLINE OR CALL US AT OUR OFFICE.

>> YOU KNOW, NOT EVERY SCHOOL HAS BEEN RECEPTIVE TO US COMING AND BRINGING OUR MESSAGE. WE GET FEEDBACK LIKE HERE NOT TALKING

[01:20:03]

TO HIT IT FROM EVERY ANGLE . >> HOW MANY SCHOOLS AND SCHOOL

DISTRICTS ARE YOU IN ? >> WE ARE ABOUT IN SIX RIGHT

NOW. >> THINK HOW MANY THERE ARE IN HOUSTON , WE ARE BARELY SCRATCHING THE SURFACE .

>> I KNOW A LOT OF FOLKS HERE ARE COMMUNITY LEADERS AND I WOULD ENCOURAGE EVERYBODY TO VISIT THE CHILDREN'S ASSESSMENT CENTER AND EDUCATE YOURSELVES . IT HELPS WITH THE HEALING TO THAT I AM A CHILD SEXUAL ABUSE SURVIVOR AND I WISH MY PARENTS AND I HAD BEEN EDUCATED. I AM 100% SURE IT WOULD'VE PREVENTED WHAT HAPPENED. SO, I UNDERSTAND WHEN YOU SAY THAT ALL OF THIS COULD BE PREVENTED IF PARENTS JUST KNEW WHAT TO TEACH THEIR KIDS AND OF ADULTS KNEW THE SIGNS TO LOOK OUT FOR AND IF CHILDREN KNEW WHAT THEY NEED TO DO AND LOOK OUT FOR . SO, IT IS REALLY, REALLY IMPORTANT AND I HOPE FOLKS TAKE ME UP ON THAT .

>> IS NOT SOMETHING FOLKS WANT TO TALK ABOUT AND THAT'S WHY CHILD ABUSE PREVENTION MONTH GETS THE CONVERSATION STARTED AND YOU BRINGING IT GETS THE CONVERSATION GOING. I WOULD ASK ANYBODY LISTENING TO GO HOME TONIGHT AND TELL YOUR NEIGHBOR UNTIL YOUR FRIEND . LIKE I SAID, IT'S NOT EASY TO TALK ABOUT BUT THAT DOESN'T MEAN IT'S NOT OUT THERE AND FRANKLY, THE BAD GUYS

ARE COUNTING ON OUR SILENCE . >> THANK YOU .

>> GO AHEAD, TIFFANY, IF YOU WOULD MIND CALLING THE REST OF

THE SPEAKERS ON THIS ITEM . >> THE LAST SPEAKER IS KRISTIN

JOHNSON . >> GOOD MORNING, I'M KRISTIN JOHNSON THE REGIONAL DIRECTOR FOR FAMILY SERVICES PROTECTIVE INVESTIGATIONS. I HAVE SOME OF MY LEADERS HERE AND MANY OF MY PROGRAM DIRECTORS IN THE BACK OF THE ROOM. TODAY, WE ARE HERE TO BE THE VOICE TO IGNITE THE FIGHT AGAINST CHILD ABUSE AND HARRIS COUNTY . TO MOBILIZE OUR COMMUNITY AND PARTNERS IN EVERY INDIVIDUAL TO STAND UP, SPEAK OUT AND TAKE ACTION . CHILD ABUSE IS A SILENT PANDEMIC OF SORTS . ONE THAT YOU CAN IMAGINE BUT HAS IMPACTED OUR COMMUNITY FOR GENERATIONS. WE HAVE LIVED THROUGH TWO PANDEMICS, COVID-19 AND CHILD ABUSE. ONE MADE THE HEADLINES WHILE THE OTHER SILENTLY HIDES. CHILD ABUSE IS A COMMUNITY ISSUE AND WE ALL SHARE THE RESPONSIBILITY TO PROTECT OUR CHILDREN. IN 2024, THERE WERE 33,238 IN TEX ALLEGING CHILD ABUSE AND NEGLECT. 2000 351 INVESTIGATIONS COMPLETED .

>> GO-AHEAD. 696 CHILDREN WERE REMOVED FROM THEIR HOMES AND PLACED IN FOSTER CARE OR KINSHIP AND 18 CHILDREN WERE CONFIRMED TO HAVE DIED AND HARRIS COUNTY FROM ABUSE AND NEGLECT. OUR CHILDREN ARE OUR FUTURE AND CAN GROW TO THE NEXT CEO OF THE HOUSTON ASTROS OR A NASA ASTRONAUT. THE GOVERNOR OR EVEN PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES . TOGETHER WE CAN STOP THIS PANDEMIC AND WITH YOUR CONTINUED SUPPORT, WE CAN CREATE A FUTURE WHERE NO CHILD SUFFERS ABUSE . THANK YOU TO THE HARRIS COUNTY COMMISSIONERS COURT ALONG WITH STAFF AND PARTNERS FOR SHINING A LIGHT ON THE REALITY THAT CHILD ABUSE EXISTS IN OUR COMMUNITY AND PROTECTING THE VOICELESS. IN CLOSING, I WANT TO REMIND YOU THAT IF YOU SEE SOMETHING, SAY SOMETHING AND REPORT ABUSE.

THANK YOU . >> THANK YOU MS. JOHNSON.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH COMMISSIONER BRIONES FOR

BRINGING THIS TODAY . >> AND, THANK YOU FOR SHARING YOUR STORY, JUDGE. IT TAKES SO MUCH COURAGE. YOU ARE RIGHT , THE ABUSERS ARE EXPECTING US TO BE SILENT AND THE MORE WE SPEAK UP AND THE MORE WE SHARE THE MORE WE EDUCATE, WE CAN MAKE PROGRESS TOGETHER . WE CAN PROTECT ALL OF THE VICTIMS BUT ESPECIALLY THE CHILDREN VICTIMS. THANK YOU, THANK YOU TO THE LEADERS ON THE FRONT LINES. MY SECOND AND FINAL RESOLUTION FOR TODAY IS TO RECOGNIZE APRIL'S ARAB AMERICAN HERITAGE MONTH.

[01:25:05]

UNFORTUNATELY THE LEVEL OF DISCRIMINATION AND INCIDENTS THAT ARE RISING WITH ANTI-SOMATIC INCIDENTS AND ISLAMOPHOBIA INCIDENTS AND BEYOND. HERE IN HARRIS COUNTY, I KNOW AT THIS COURT WE HAVE ZERO TOLERANCE FOR DISCRIMINATION AND ZERO TOLERANCE FOR HATE . AS OUR RABBIS SAID , WE NEED HIM BOUNDED MUTUAL RESPECT , TRUST, AND TOLERANCE . I BELIEVE UNITY AND LOVE ARE THE ANSWERS. I HOPE THAT TOGETHER WE CAN KEEP BUILDING THESE PARTNERSHIPS ACROSS ALL OF OUR BEAUTIFULLY RICH COMMUNITIES . ONE BASED IN UNDERSTANDING, LISTENING, TOLERANCE , AND RESPECT BECAUSE THERE IS NO PLACE FOR HATE HERE IN HARRIS COUNTY. WE WANT TO CELEBRATE EVERYTHING YOU DO TO CONTRIBUTE AND ENRICH OUR COMMUNITY. WE HAVE TWO AMAZING DOCTORS AND I WAS CALLING THEM THE DOCTORS THIS MORNING. IT IS GREAT TO HAVE YOU HERE. WE HAVE TWO SIGNED UP TO SPEAK AND THANK

YOU BOTH FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP . >> GOOD MORNING, JUDGE AND COMMISSIONERS. I AM PRESIDENT OF THE BOARD OF THE YEARBOOK OF AMERICAN CULTURE AND COMMUNITY CENTER . THIS IS THE VICE PRESIDENT OF THE ARAB AMERICAN CULTURAL COMMUNITY CENTER .

LANGUAGE ]. PEACE BE UPON YOU AND THE SINCEREST GREETINGS FROM THE COMMUNITY IN HOUSTON. IT IS ON THEIR BEHALF THAT WE WOULD LIKE TO THANK THE JUDGE, THE COMMISSIONERS, AND ESPECIALLY COMMISSIONER BRIONES FOR PUTTING FORWARD THIS RESOLUTION TO RECOGNIZE ARAB AMERICAN NATIONAL HERITAGE BY DECLARING APRIL AS ARAB AMERICAN NATIONAL HERITAGE MONTH . YOU HONOR US WITH YOUR GENEROSITY . THE ARAB AMERICAN CULTURE AND COMMUNITY CENTER.

THE FIRST AND FOREMOST MISSION IS TO SERVE ARABS AND NON- ARABS IN OUR COMMUNITY. WE HAVE A DISTINGUISHED HERITAGE THAT INCLUDE TWO OF THE WORLD'S MOST ANCIENT CIVILIZATIONS, EGYPT AND IRAQ . THREE OF THE WORLD'S MAIN RELIGIONS, JUDAISM , CHRISTIANITY AND ISLAM. AND LANGUAGE THAT IS BEEN CONTRIBUTING TO THE WORLD'S PHILOSOPHIES SCIENTIFICALLY AND MORALLY FOR THE LAST 1500 YEARS AND THAT IS ELSE THINKING OF YOUR DAILY BY OVER 1 BILLION PEOPLE IN THEIR DAILY PRAYERS.

WE BELIEVE IN EQUALITY , PEACE, AND DIGNITY FOR ALL HUMAN BEINGS. WE BELIEVE WE ARE VISITORS ON THIS EARTH AND WE SHOULD LEAVE IT BETTER THAN WHAT WE FOUND. THANK YOU .

IN A GLOBAL LANGUAGE ]. >> THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH . THANK YOU COMMISSIONER, WE WILL TAKE PICTURES IN THE ORDER RESOLUTIONS WERE TAKEN UP . FOR ALL RESOLUTION SPEAKERS , IF YOU COULD REMAIN SEATED UNTIL YOU ARE CALLED. PLEASE REMEMBER WE HAVE TO SIGN THE RESOLUTIONS HERE AT THE DAIS . WE WILL NOT BE ABLE TO SEND YOU HOME WITH THE RESOLUTIONS BECAUSE THE COUNTY CLERK NEEDS TO SIGN THEM AND THEY NEED TO STAMP THEM

>>> OKAY, IT IS 12:16. WE ARE GOING TO CONTINUE WITH THIS

[Appearances before court]

[01:30:02]

>> CHRISTOPHER JENKINS SPEAKING ON ITEM 5. YOU EACH HAVE ONE MINUTE.

>> HELLO, GOOD AFTERNOON JUDGE AND ALL THE COMMISSIONERS HERE.

I AM HERE THAT THANK YOU FOR THE AWARD , IMPROVING CHILDCARE, HAVE A HOME-BASED CHILDCARE AND THEY GIVE ME AWARDS SO I CAN IMPROVE FOR THE CHILD SERVED IN MY AREA AND THE AREA IN BAYTOWN AND IT'S GOING TO BE NICE FOR THE KIDS , THEY HAVE A BIG YARD AND THEY DIDN'T HAVE SHADE. AND THEY HAVE CABLES HANGING SO, THEY WILL HELP KIDS WITH SAFETY AND REALLY APPRECIATE ALL THE COMMISSION FOR ALL OF THOSE FANS THAT WE GET BEING CHILDCARE PROVIDING AND HELPING THE COMMUNITY AND LOW INCOME KIDS.

YOU KNOW THE LITTLE ONES , FOR THE FUTURE TRYING TO HELP THEM AND THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING.

>> THANK YOU. >> I AM LEAH BARTON INTERIM EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF HARRIS COUNTY PUBLIC HEALTH EXCITED TO RECOGNIZE NATIONAL PUBLIC HEALTH WEEK AND CELEBRATE TRANSMITTAL OF THE ANNUAL REPORT. I'M JOINED BY THE PUBLIC HEALTH TEAM MEMBERS. WHO ARE COMMITTED TO OUR MISSION TO PROTECT HEALTH, PREVENT DISEASE AND INJURY AND PROMOTE HEALTH AND WELL-BEING FOR EVERYONE IN HARRIS COUNTY. IT IS NOT EASY TO DRIVE A MOSQUITO SPRAY TRUCK OR MOBILE UNIT, TO TEST WASTEWATER SAMPLES, INSPECT THE RESTAURANT, RUN A CLINIC, PROMOTE VACCINATION, CONNECT PARENTS, CHILDREN ARE MOST VULNERABLE RESIDENTS TO RESOURCES, EDUCATE PET OWNERS, AND CATCH STRAY DOGS , ESTABLISH STRONG COMPLIANCE PROCEDURES, CREATING COMMUNICATIONS OR RUN A CLINIC, DELIVER A WIDE RANGE OF SERVICES YOU ARE WORKING FOR COUNTY RESIDENTS EVERY DAY, THANK YOU FOR THE TEAM TO YOUR SUPPORT AND HAPPY NATIONAL PUBLIC HEALTH WEEK.

COMMISSIONER GARCIA. >> THANK YOU. FIRST LET ME SAY TO ALL THE PUBLIC HEALTH, THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU FOR ALL YOU DO. AS COMMISSIONER RAMSEY WAS SPEAKING TO THE WAIST PIT AND ALL THE OTHER CHALLENGES WE HAVE IN THE COMMUNITY.

MEASLES, COVID, THANK YOU. REALLY REALLY THANK YOU AND YOU KNOW ROUTINE OPERATIONS AS YOU GO ABOUT HELPING SO MANY FAMILIES JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU. LEO, TO YOU, YOU HAVE STEPPED IN AND YOU HAVE BEEN DOING A PHENOMENAL ROLE, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP. AND I HAVE FELT AND HEARD THE MOREL OF THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT , SO THANK YOU SO MUCH.

>> DITTO TO EVERYTHING HE JUST SAID, THANK YOU FOR YOUR EXCELLENT WORK DIRECTOR BARTON YOU ARE PHENOMENAL AS IS YOUR

TEAM. >> FOR THE DIRECTOR BARTON, YOU HAD A HEALTH EVENT AT TRINITY MENDENHALL ON SATURDAY AND HER SON LEFT WITH A NEW FRIEND? IS THAT CORRECT?

>> I HAVE TO GO FIND ANOTHER ONE.

>> YOU HAD NINE? >> ITS NAME WAS TRUMAN WHICH HELPED IT TO GET ADOPTED. RUDY FROM VETERINARY PUBLIC HEALTH

KEEP HIS EYES OPEN. >> THANK YOU AND EACH DIVISION YOU REPRESENT. WONDERFUL TO SEE THE DIFFERENT DIVISIONS AND PUBLIC HEALTH IS ALWAYS VERY VERY CLOSE TO MY HEART BECAUSE OF HOW CLOSELY WE WORK DURING COVID SO I APPRECIATE YOU GUYS.

THANK YOU, DIRECTOR. GO AHEAD, TIFFANY.

>> CHRISTOPHER JENKINS SPEAKING ON ITEM 5.

>> I AM CHRISTOPHER JENKINS A NATIVE HOUSTONIAN. SPEAKING ON THE AGENDA ITEM NUMBER FIVE SPECIAL ELECTION FOR

[01:35:01]

LOOK AT THE RESPONSIBILITY PROGRAM.

>> ARE YOU ALMOST WRAPPED UP? >> THE ATTORNEY GENERAL , AS GOVERNOR HE WEBINARS SYSTEMS TO OPPRESS THE PEOPLE, OUR LAST CONVERSATION WAS TO ELIMINATE FOOD DESERTS AND HELP FAMILIES WITHIN THEIR CANCER CLUSTER. FOR TWO PREVIOUS DISASTERS. A GOOD GOVERNOR WOULD HAVE SUPPORTED THAT.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH. >> GUYS, I THINK IT'S GOOD TO CLUB WHEN WE ARE RECOGNIZING SOMEONE BUT THE POLICY STUFF, IF YOU WOULDN'T MIND FOR DECORUM REASONS BECAUSE OTHERWISE WE START HOOTING AND HOLLERING DEPENDING ON WHAT WE AGREE WITH SO LET'S KEEP QUIET, THANK YOU. GO AHEAD TIFFANY.

>> ESCOBAR AND I'M 15 YOU EACH HAVE ONE MINUTE.

>> MY NAME IS COLLABORATIVE FROM THE COLLABORATIVE WE HELD TWO EVENTS LAST YEAR WITH MORE THAN 350 PARTICIPANTS. THREE WEEKS AGO WE HAD A HEALTH AND CLIMATE JUSTICE FESTIVAL IN A LARGE APARTMENT COMPLEX WHERE WE TAUGHT CHILDREN ABOUT CLEAN ENERGY AND IN THE FOREFRONT OF THE INDUSTRY AND CHILDREN TOOK A TEST, THEY PASSED THE TEST ON CLEAN ENERGY AND WE SHOW HOW IMPORTANT FOR THE CLIMATE JUSTICE. IMPORTANT WITH THE CLIMATE ACTION PLAN OF HARRIS COUNTY. ALSO I AM A MEMBER OF THE MASTER PLAN AND WE WANT TO THANK THE LEADERSHIP OF COMMISSIONER BRIONES HAVING THIS PARK THAT IS GOING TO HELP THE HEALTH AND CLIMATE JUSTICE,

THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU.

>> GOOD AFTERNOON. MY NAME IS ZOE MIDDLETON I WAS PART OF THE ADVISORY GROUP FOR THE PLAN. HAPPY EARLY BIRTHDAY, FAIR HOUSING MONTH AND CLIMATE JUSTICE PLAN DAY. YOU WILL KNOW PLANS ARE ONLY WORTH IT IF THEY TURN TO REALITY, THE GOOD THING IS WHETHER EQUITY AND FLOOD INFRASTRUCTURE, FOOD ACCESS WORK, GREEN BOX, GREEN SPACE OR LITIGATION APPROVED BY KENNY ATTORNEY THERE SO MUCH BEING DONE FOR CLIMATE JUSTICE AT THE COUNTY SO I HOPE THIS PLAN BRINGS TOGETHER EVERYTHING YOU'RE DOING AND HELPS YOU CHART A PATH FORWARD. I KNOW YOU'RE DOWN THE GOVERNING PARTNER OF THE FEDERAL LOVER BUT THAT DOES NOT MAKE IT IMPOSSIBLE, THAT MAKES IT ALL THE MORE URGENT AND IMPORTANT. ESPECIALLY IMPORTANT WE SPEND PRIVATE AND LOCAL DOLLARS AND COMMISSIONER GARCIA I WATCHED YOUR TESTIMONY, THANK YOU. I THINK I SPEAK FOR ALL MEMBERS WHEN I SAY WE'RE HERE TO BACK YOU GUYS UP.

>> THANK YOU. >> HEY, YOU ALL, SO EXCITED TO BE HERE. SUCH A PRIVILEGE TO BE WORKING IN COLLABORATION WITH OFFICE OF SUSTAINABILITY FOR THE PAST TWO YEARS. HERE TO GET THE GROUNDWORK AND THE FRAME AND THE PLANS AND IDEAS FOR CLIMATE JUSTICE. I REALLY WANT TO EMPHASIZE, I THINK THE MOST

[01:40:02]

>>

GO AHEAD PLEASE. >> HI MY NAME IS THE STUDENT CONSERVATION ASSOCIATION. I WOULD AT THAN THE JUDGE AND COMMISSIONERS FOR CONSIDERING THIS CLIMATE JUSTICE PLAN. I HAD THE PRIVILEGE OF CONTRIBUTING TO THE PLAN AND I BELIEVE IT'S CRITICAL ESPECIALLY NOW AS WE TRY TO MOVE FORWARD WITH LESS FEDERAL FUNDING. TEMPERATURES ARE RISING FLOODING IS INTENSIFYING AND THE HEALTH OF THE COMMUNITY IS AT RISK. THE PLAN OFFERS REAL SOLUTIONS THEIR POLICIES PRACTICES AND PROGRAMS THAT WILL MAKE HARRIS COUNTY A SAFER, HEALTHIER AND MORE RESILIENT PLACE. ACTIONS OUTLINED IN THIS PLAN TACKLE MULTIPLE ISSUES AT ONE TIME STRETCHING COUNTY DOLLARS AND IMPROVING QUALITY OF LIFE. A GREAT EXAMPLE OF THIS IS THE MASTER PLAN ENACTED IN PRECINCT 4. ENVISIONS AND WILL ACTIVATE CLIMATE READY LANDSCAPE THAT IS REALLY BEAUTIFUL AND MORE USEFUL SO A LOT OF THE SOLUTIONS ARE REALLY JUST SAFETY AND QUALITY OF LIFE ISSUES. SMART PLANNING FOR A BETTER FUTURE AND I URGE YOU TO ADOPT THE PLAN AND THANK YOU FOR

INCLUDING US IN YOUR PLANNING. >> THANK YOU SO MUCH.

>>

HAVE ONE MINUTE. >> SHE IS MAKING HER WAY.

>> HELLO GOOD AFTERNOON. MY NAME IS ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATOR AND PROUD MEMBER OF THE HARRIS COUNTY CLIMATE JUSTICE COLLABORATIVE HERE TO REPRESENT THE VOICE OF HOUSTON'S YOUTH. THROUGH THE COLLABORATIVE IS TO IMAGINE THE FUTURE AS I WILL ASK YOU TO DO. AT FIRST MY MIND WAS FILLED WITH IMAGES OF WHAT WE HAVE COME TO EXPECT FLOODING, RISING TEMPERATURES, WORSENING DISASTER. ALONG I IMAGINE MORE I SEE SOMETHING ELSE ENVISIONING A BETTER FUTURE ONE WHERE YOU'RE BETTER PREPARED FOR DISASTERS AND WHERE WE COEXIST WITH THE ENVIRONMENT. CLIMATE ACTION JUSTICE SHOWS IT'S A BLUEPRINT FOR STRONG RELATIONSHIP WITH THE ENVIRONMENT AND COMMUNITIES, CENTER EQUITY PROVIDES A FRAMEWORK FOR DATA-DRIVEN COMMUNITY ADDRESSING IMMEDIATE RISK AND LONG-TERM RESILIENCE.

PLANNING LIKE THIS HELPS PREVENT HARM BEFORE IT HAPPENS ENABLING COORDINATION THAT SAVES LIVES, PROPERTY AND PUBLIC DOLLARS. I ASK YOU TO ENVISION A FUTURE IN WHICH THIS PLAN AND OTHERS HAVE BEEN ADOPTED WITH PEOPLE OF HARRIS COUNTY AND IN DOING THAT YOU HAVE PLANTED THE SEEDS OF HOPE.

>> THANK YOU GUYS SO MUCH FOR THE WORK YOU HAVE PUT INTO THIS.

EVERYONE WHO IS SPEAKING. >> GOOD DAY. THANK YOU JUDGE AND COMMISSIONERS FOR THE OPPORTUNITY. I LIVE IN MONTROSE AND HAVE A FOURTH GRADE DAUGHTER. MY NAME IS BECKY SMITH AND DURING THE DAY ON THE TEXAS DIRECTOR FOR CLEAN WATER ACTION AND WE ARE MEMBERS OF THE COALITION FOR ENVIRONMENT EQUITY AND RESILIENCE. CLEAN WATER IS A 50 PLUS-YEAR-OLD GRASSROOTS ORGANIZATION ADVOCATING FOR CLEAN AIR, WATER, HEALTHY COMMUNITIES AND QUALITY COMMUNITY WAY OF LIFE. IT TAKES GREAT COURAGE ON THE PART OF THIS COURT TO STEP FORWARD AS THE FIRST OF ITS MAGNITUDE AND INFLUENCE TO PASS A CLIMATE JUSTICE PLAN FOCUSED ON JUSTICE AND EQUITY. IT TAKES SPECIAL COURAGE FOR THIS BODY TO DO SO IN THE CONTEXT OF CURRENT POLITICS OF CRUELTY AT NATIONAL AND STATE GOVERNING BODIES. IT TOOK BOTH COURAGE AND ON SELF-EXAMINATION AND FORESIGHT TO BEGIN LONG SENSITIVE PROCESS TO PRIORITIZE COMMUNITY LEADERSHIP THAT YOU HAVE DONE DEVELOPING THIS PLAN. THAT BEGAN YEARS BEFORE TODAY. BUT I BELIEVE A COPY OF A OP-ED THAT RAN IN THE HOUSTON CHRONICLE FROM 2019 IN WHICH MEMBERS OF THIS BODY THEN AND SINCE HAVE CALLED ON FLOOD AND PERCEPTUAL PROJECTS SPECIFICALLY TO CONSIDER JUSTICE AND CUMULATIVE EFFECT OF INFRASTRUCTURE DECISIONS ON CLIMATE JUSTICE AND TODAY WE SEE CLEAN WATER ACTION MEMBERS APPLAUDING EFFORTS OF THE COURT TO ADOPT AND ENACT THE HARRIS COUNTY CLIMATE JUSTICE

[01:45:01]

PLAN. >> THANK YOU SO MUCH.

>>

EACH HAVE ONE MINUTE. >> GOOD AFTERNOON JUDGE AND COMMISSIONERS. NAME IS DAVID ESPINOZA, RESIDENT OF NORTHEAST HOUSTON. PRECINCT 2. I WANT TO TALK ABOUT A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE LIST REQUESTED BY LONE STAR LEGAL AID FOR HARRIS COUNTY FLOOD CONTROL ABOUT SOME PROJECTS THAT WERE GOING TO BE DONE. IN NORTHEAST HOUSTON. WE WERE OR THEY SAID THEY WOULD RESET SOMETIME IN MAY. WE WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT WHEN WE WERE GIVING INFORMATION TO THE COMMUNITY AND THE COLLECTIVE PEOPLE HAVE SOME DOUBTS ABOUT VOTING ASKING FOR MONEY FOR PROJECTS THAT THEY HAVE NOT SEEN DONE, PEOPLE FROM FLOOD CONTROL CAME TO TALK, GAVE US FAITH AND PEOPLE STARTED VOTING AND SUPPORTING. WE WANT TO MAKE SURE WITH THE FLOOD MONEY PROPOSED TO HAVE PROJECTS DONE WE WANT TO MAKE SURE SCORING IS EQUITABLE.

WE WANT TO MAKE SURE PEOPLE CAN SEE PROJECTS BEING DONE, WE WANT TO SEE UPDATES ACCESSIBLE UPDATES. JUST SO WE KNOW , SO YOU KNOW KEEPING AN EYE ON THIS WE HAVE FAITH IN YOU THAT WE YOU CAN TRUST IN US WE WILL VOTE FOR FUTURE PROJECTS , HAVE MONEY FOR

PROJECTS. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU.

>> GOOD AFTERNOON, JUDGE AND COMMISSIONERS. MY NAME IS EVELYN CASTRO, 16-YEAR-OLD STUDENT FROM CARNEGIE HIGH SCHOOL AND TODAY I STAND BEFORE YOU AS A STUDENT AND WITNESS TO COUNTY IN SLOW COLLAPSE. HARRIS COUNTY THE PLACE WE CALL HOME IS FALLING , THE HEAT IS NO LONGER DISCOMFORT IT IS A BARRIER. STREETS ONCE FULL OF LIFE ARE NOW EMPTY, PEOPLE NO LONGER WALK BECAUSE THERE'S NO SHADE, CLEAN SIDEWALKS, NO SAFE PUBLIC SPACE TOGETHER. WE ARE WATCHING HARRIS COUNTY FALL ASLEEP, THE KIND OF SLEEP CITIES DON'T WAKE UP FROM WITHOUT ACTION. THE CLIMATE CRISIS IS HERE SINCE 2019 SCIENTIST ESTIMATE BY 2030 HOUSTON'S YEAR-ROUND TEMPERATURES WILL INCREASE BY 1.11 DEGREES CELSIUS. WE NEED TREES AND CLEAN STREETS, WALKABLE COMMUNITIES AND POLICIES . IF WE STAY SILENT WE RISK LOSING THE SOUL OF THE COUNTY. WE MUST DO MORE. BECAUSE HARRIS COUNTY DESERVES TO RISE NOT WITHOUT OR NOT WITH HEAT BUT WITH HOPE.

>>

ONE IN IT. >> GOOD MORNING JUDGE AND COUNTY COMMISSIONERS. MY NAME IS FRED WOODS PRESIDENT OF NORTHWOOD MANOR CIVIC CLUB. TODAY I STAND WITH OTHER COMMUNITY LEADERS, MEMBERS AND ORGANIZATIONS LIKE NORTHEAST ACTION COLLECTIVE AND SUPER NEIGHBORHOODS UNITED TO CALL FOUL ON THE LACK OF TRANSPARENCY, COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT AND PROGRESS RELATED TO ADDRESSING FLOOD MITIGATION AND RESILIENCY NEEDS IN NORTHEAST HOUSTON. NORTHEAST HOUSTON FLOODS WORSE THAN ANY OTHER AREA, PASSING BOND ALLOCATIONS WERE NOT EQUITABLY DISPERSED IN THE AREA WITHOUT FUNDS TO ADDRESS FLOOD MITIGATION OR PROJECTS. TRIBUTARIES HAVE A LONG-STANDING HISTORY OF DISREPAIR DUE TO A LACK OF MAINTENANCE. I ASKED THE COURT WHEN I APPEARED IN DECEMBER TO ADOPT A POLICY THAT INSURES COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT IS PUT FIRST AND CONTINUES THROUGHOUT THE PROCESS AND TO RESILIENCY NEEDS ARE MET. IT MAY BE UNCLEAR IS THIS RESPONSIBILITY IS NOT OWNED SOLELY BY THE FLOOD CONTROL DISTRICT, WE DEMAND ALL FUTURE PRECINCT 1 TOWN HALLS AND REGIONAL MEETINGS INCLUDE A LIST RESILIENCY PROJECTS FOR THE MOST VULNERABLE COMMUNITIES THROUGHOUT NORTHEAST HOUSTON. INCLUDING STATUS, TIMELINE AND PROVIDE SUBJECT MATTER EXPERT FROM FLOOD CONTROL TO ANSWER QUESTIONS AND FOLLOW UP. OUR COMMUNITY DID NOT VOTE FOR TINA PETERSON. AS SUCH SHE AND HER STAFF DO NOT REPRESENT US AND IF THEY'RE NOT LIVING UP TO EXPECTATION, THE BUCK STOPS WITH COMMISSIONER ELLIS. OUR NUMBER ONE PRIORITY ISSUE HAS REMAINED ADDRESSING A LACK OF RESILIENCY. A BIKE LANE CANNOT HELP WITH THAT, THAT WAS NOT MONEY WELL SPENT WITH PRIORITIES IN MIND. A GUARANTEED INCOME PROGRAM CANNOT FIX THAT.

>> WE ALMOST ON CAN YOU WRAP IT UP?

>> AS I STATED IN DECEMBER THE ROLE OF GOVERNMENT SHOULD BE TO

[01:50:03]

YOUR INTEREST. >> THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU.

>> BARBARA DENSON. I THOUGHT EVERYONE HAD FIGURED OUT THAT THE BEST WAY TO DESTROY OUR SOCIETY WAS TO HIRE PEOPLE BASED ON HOW THEY LOOK INSTEAD OF THE QUALITY OF THEIR WORK. ARE WE REALLY STILL DOING THAT HERE IN HARRIS COUNTY? IT IS PRETTY CLEAR THE COUNTY DOES NOT HAVE ENOUGH MONEY TO DO THE THINGS THAT NEED TO BE DONE FOR THE SAFETY AND WELFARE OF YOUR CONSTITUENTS. HOW CAN YOU JUSTIFY WITH A STRAIGHT FACE DOING SOMETHING SO RACIST AS TO SPEND MONEY FOR CONSULTING COMPANY BASED IN FLORIDA TO DO THIS WHEN THAT SAME MONEY COULD SAVE LIVES, IF INSTEAD WE USE IT TO SAY HIRE A FEW MORE POLICEMAN. IF PEOPLE DO GOOD WORK THEY SHOULD BE PAID WELL.

IF THEY PERFORM POORLY THEY SHOULD BE FIRED PERIOD. NEITHER SOMEONE'S SEX NOR THE COLOR OF THEIR SKIN SHOULD BE A MARKER OF SUPERIOR RIGHTEOUSNESS. THANK YOU.

>> JOHN MARTINEZ AND PATRICK CASTILLE ON ITEM 155. YOU EACH

HAVE ONE MINUTE. >> GOOD AFTERNOON MY NAME IS JOHN MARTINEZ WITH ORIGINAL HISPANIC CONTRACTORS OFFICES ON HARRISBURG. THE REASON WHY WE NEED THAT IS BECAUSE IN PRIVATE WORK DON'T HIRE US. BELIEVE ME CONTRACTORS WANT PRIVATE WORK IT'S EASIER THAN GOVERNMENT WORK. I'M HERE TO SAY YOU NEED THREE THINGS, MAKE SURE DATA IS GOOD, MAKE SURE YOU KNOW WHAT YOU ARE BUYING, MAKE SURE THEY PARTNER WITH YOU ALL THE WAY THROUGH AND YOU DON'T GET A SURPRISE . SO PLEASE, CONSIDER

BEFORE YOU VOTE , THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU.

>> CHAIRMAN OF THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF MINORITY CONTRACTORS. NINE MONTHS AGO WE CREATED INITIATIVE THAT WOULD GROW MORE CAPACITY FOR THE CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY. EVER SINCE THEN WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO WORK WITH OTHER ORGANIZATIONS THAT HAVE COME TO SOME ACTUAL COMMON GROUND TO DO SO. WHEN THE MDT REPORT CAME OUT, IT KIND OF THREW A WRENCH IN THERE. WE SAW AND FOUND OUT THE INFORMATION WAS FLAWED. SO I HAVE TWO ASKS.

AT THE COUNTY DOES ANY WORK WITH MTT, IT GETS ABETTED THOROUGHLY TO MAKE SURE THE INFORMATION IS CORRECT AND NUMBER TWO, THERE SHOULD BE ADVISORY COMMITTEES AND ON THE COMMITTEE THERE SHOULD BE TWO SEATS, ONE FOR THE HOUSTON CHAPTER AND ONE FOR RHCA BECAUSE THEY DID NOT CONSULT ONE HISPANIC ORGANIZATION ABOUT

THEIR STUDY. >> THANK YOU.

>> CLAUDIA ALANNA HARRIS AND JOSHUA HOAG ON ITEM 155. YOU

EACH HAVE ONE MINUTE. >> HELLO. MY NAME IS CLAUDIA HARRIS I SERVE ON THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS FOR THE HOUSTON HISPANIC ARCHITECT AND ENGINEER AND DIRECTOR OF DEVELOPMENT AT A LOCAL HISPANIC OWNED FIRM RECENTLY GRADUATED FROM THE PROGRAM. MDT RECENTLY COMPLETED THE DISPARITY STUDY FOR THE CITY OF HOUSTON WITH ITS FINDINGS HAS COME MUCH BACKLASH ON ACCOUNT OF ALLEGATIONS WITH ISSUES WITH METHODOLOGY AND IMPLEMENTATION OF THE STUDY. AS WELL AS A LACK OF OUTREACH WITHIN THE INDUSTRY.

ON BEHALF OF OTHER MINORITY OWNED FIRMS THAT ARE MEMBERS I AM HERE VOICING CONCERNS SO HARRIS COUNTY WILL DO EVERYTHING THAT IT CAN TO ENSURE THE DISPARITY STUDY IS COMPLETED WITH ACCURATE AND INCLUSIVE DATA AND REAL EQUITABLE POLICY

OUTCOMES RESULT FROM THIS STUDY. >> JUDGE AND COMMISSIONERS. JOSH HOAG WITH SSP ENGINEERING. RECENTLY CERTIFIED BY THE CITY OF HOUSTON. I'M HERE TO ENCOURAGE THE COURT NOT TO AWARD THE DISPARITY STUDY, THEY ARE DOING AN EFFECTIVE JOB .

>> CAN YOU SPEAK OF A LITTLE BIT?

>> WE ANALYZED WHAT WAS AVAILABLE PUBLICLY AND SAW FLAWS, LARGE AMOUNTS OF DATA EXCLUDED, BROAD CONCLUSIONS, SWEEPING RECOMMENDATIONS NOT SUPPORTED BY THE DATA AND WE ENCOURAGE EVERYONE TO LOOK AT SECTION 5.4, OVERALL UTILIZATION

[01:55:03]

>> YES COMMISSIONER GARCIA JUST A MOMENT IF YOU WOULDN'T MIND.

>> IT'S NOT FOR YOU, ANYMORE SPEAKERS ON THIS ITEM?

>> YES SIR WE HAVE ONE MORE. BREAKER TERRACE, ITEM 155. YOU

HAVE ONE MINUTE. >> HELLO COUNTY COMMISSIONERS AND JUDGE. SEEMS LIKE I HAVE BEEN HERE SINCE 2008. I AM COMING HERE BEFORE YOU ALL ON THIS EVENT , THEY CALL THIS SMALL BUSINESS OPPORTUNITY. I'M GOING TO GIVE YOU ALL THE PRESENTATION THAT WAS GIVEN SO THERE ARE THREE ASKS. ONE, WHAT THEY DID, THEY HAD 30,000 HITS, WEATHER EMAILS, TEXTS, THEY RECEIVED ONLY 800 RESPONSES , LESS THAN 2.5% OF THE TOTAL , THE SAME ORGANIZATION LOOKING AT SUPPORTING. THE KEY IS, THE PAPER , THE PRESENTATION LOOKS WONDERFUL. I WISH THEY DO NOT TAKE AND MIRRORED THIS IMAGE. PAGES EIGHT AND 19 ARE CRITICAL.

THEY SHOW YOU WHAT THEY HAVE DONE. THEY SHOW YOU THE LACK OF

EXPERTISE THEY HAVE PROVIDED. >> GO AHEAD AND WRAP UP.

>> AT THE END OF THE DAY, HOUSTONIANS NEED TO UNDERSTAND THIS IS GOING TO IMPACT A LOT OF PEOPLE. I WAS JUST IN D.C. AND I'M ON THE BOARD OF THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION NOT LOCAL, BUT TALK ABOUT IMMIGRATION REFORM IN REFERENCE TO CONSTRUCTION SERVICES, CRITICAL PATH, CRITICAL OPPORTUNITY. WITH THIS IS GOING TO THROW BACK ANOTHER 20 OR 30 YEARS. THANK

YOU. >> JUDGE IF I CAN.

>> THERE IS TWO DIFFERENT GOVERNMENTS IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON AND HARRIS COUNTY BUT I HAVE HEARD A LOT ABOUT WHAT IS HAPPENING AT CITY COUNCIL. I THINK IT IS INVOLVING THE SAME FIRM. WITH THEIR RESPECTIVE FINDINGS. THE, THERE ARE SOME ISSUES THAT PEOPLE ARE CLAIMING, REGARDING THE WORK THAT WAS DONE AT THE CITY OF HOUSTON. WHERE ARE YOU, IN TERMS OF, DOES THAT WORK PRODUCT BEAR ANY CONSIDERATION REGARDING US CONSIDERING THIS ITEM? WHERE ARE WE IN TERMS OF YOUR RECOMMENDATION ON MOVING FORWARD WITH THIS ITEM OR NOT?

>> I HAVE HEARD THE CONCERNS. WANT TO STICK CLEARLY TO THE PROCESS HARRIS COUNTY HAS DONE TO MAKE SURE WE UNDERSTOOD THIS WENT TO THE FULL RFP PROCESS AND WAS SCORED ON CRITERIA AND PRICING SO THIS VENDOR DID HAVE THE HIGHEST SCORING PROPOSAL. I HAVE HEARD ISSUES WITH THE CITY, BUT I HAVE BEEN TELLING FOLKS THAT IT IS TWO DIFFERENT PROGRAMS AND DIFFERENT DATA THAT WILL BE ANALYZED. WHAT I CAN ASSURE YOU IS WE WILL HAVE OUR OWN PROJECT PLAN FOR THIS. INCLUDING BRINGING STAKEHOLDERS ALONG THROUGHOUT THE PROCESS . TALKING TO MY TEAM ABOUT INTERNAL AND EXTERNAL COMMUNICATIONS THAT WOULD BE HAPPY TO SHARE ONCE THIS IS AWARDED. AND SURE THAT WITH THE PUBLIC IN WITH YOU ALL SEE YOU CAN FEEL COMFORTABLE HOW WE ARE

GOING TO MANAGE THE PROJECT. >> SO YOU ARE VERY CONFIDENT THAT YOU'RE GOING TO STAND BY THE WORK PRODUCT THAT COMES

BEFORE US? >> I'M GOING TO STAND BEHIND THE PROCUREMENT PROCESS SELECTED. I WAS NOT ON THE

SCORING . >> AT THE END OF THE DAY YOUR RECOMMENDATION IS GOING TO BE TO MOVE FORWARD ON THIS ITEM BECAUSE OF THE PROCUREMENT PROCESS. MY CONCERN IS THE

[02:00:04]

OF THIS WORK. >> YES THE DEPARTMENT WILL BE RESPONSIBLE TO MAKE SURE THAT PRODUCT IS SOUND.

>> THANK YOU. CAN WE KEEP HEARING FROM THE SPEAKERS

PLEASE? TIFFANY. >> NEXT IS MARIA HERNANDEZ ON ITEM 228. YOU EACH HAVE ONE MINUTE.

>> READINGS, ANTITRUST AND UNFAIR COMPENSATION TAX PONZI SCHEME AND SCAM, DEPUTIES, CONSTABLES AT THE COMMANDERS ARE HOLDING ILLEGAL FORCIBLE DETAINER SALES SKIPPING THE JP COURT DURING ILLEGAL WITHOUT CASES, WITH NO CASES JUDGMENT, AP COURT PRECINCT 4 AND FIVE, EVIDENCE IS A OPEN RECORD TO OUR THIRD 2024 , BUT I COUNTY PRIVATE DOCUMENT IN MY PHONE WHICH IS ONLY FOR THE COMMISSIONERS AND ALSO BETWEEN MR. MASSEY FILED A WHISTLEBLOWER COMPLAINT , PUT IT IN MY PHONE.

TO HELP ME IDENTIFY BETWEEN THE TWO. MASSEY IS BEING RETALIATED FOR THE FAILURE OF THE LEGAL FORCE OF DETAINERS, INFORMATION WAS PUT IN MY PHONES, PRIVATE TO THE COMMISSIONERS, PHONES AND COMPUTERS. COMPUTERS HAVE BEEN DESTROYED, THREE PHONES HAVE BEEN DESTROYED. HE HACKED INTO THE FORT BEND LIBRARY , HARRIS COUNTY LIBRARY, CYBER STALKING IN THE SCHOOLS AND MY STUDENTS CALLING MENTAL INSTABILITY, UNABLE TO TEACH. ISO WINTER U.S.

REPRESENTATIVE ROSENTHAL. AND MANY OTHERS. ALL OF THESE THINGS WERE BLOCKED AND I COME TO THE COUNTY NOW BECAUSE THESE ARE YOUR EMPLOYEES YOU ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR. THIS HAPPENS TO BE A FORCIBLE DETAINER WHERE THEY DID NOT HAVE RIGHT TO BE ON MY PROPERTY. THE ONLY PERSON THAT HAS RESPONDED IS COMMISSIONER BRIONES. I AM WAITING ON YOU, I DID GET YOURS

MR. GARCIA. >> WE WILL VISIT WITH YOU. I HAVE TO CUT YOU OFF TO BE FAIR WITH EVERYBODY ELSE.

>> THANK YOU JUDGE I WANT TO BE RESPECTFUL.

>> THANK YOU AND WELCOME COMMISSIONER ELLIS. GO AHEAD

TIFFANY. >> NEXT IS MARIA HERNANDEZ ON ITEM 228 AND

>> HELLO COMMISSIONERS AND JUDGE MY NAME IS MARIA HERNANDEZ WITH CHILDREN. OUR JOURNEY BEGAN WITH A SIMPLE YET PROFOUND GOAL TO BEAUTIFY AND ON THE GREEN SPACE ENGULFED IN CREATING A SAFE WELCOMING AND HEALTHY ENVIRONMENT FOR FAMILIES. AFTER BEING IGNORED AND FORGOTTEN BECAUSE IT STOOD AT THE HEART OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD OFTEN OVERLOOKED, YET AS WE WORK TO BRING ATTENTION TO THIS PHASE WE DISCOVERED VIDEO THAT I BURST COMMUNITY CALLED HOME. HOWEVER, THE UNDERLYING ISSUE WE FACE WAS CLEAR, THIS HAS LEFT THE PARK IN THE COMMUNITY SERVING MARGINALIZED AND DISCONNECTED FROM BROUGHT SOCIETY. WHAT WAS MISSING WAS LOVE, THE KIND OF LOVE THAT COMES FROM CARE, ATTENTION AND COMMITMENT TO THE WELL-BEING OF ALL. WE ARE INCREDIBLY GRATEFUL TO COMMISSIONER --

>> GO AHEAD MA'AM IF YOU CAN WRAP UP.

>> AND THEIR TEAM, WHO WORK TIRELESSLY AND EXCUSE ME, TO BURNETT , WHO SOLD TO BURNETT PARK THROUGH A DIFFERENT LENS.

THANK YOU TO THE UNWAVERING DEDICATION AND CARE AND PERSISTENCE FOR THE MASTER PLAN, FOR BURNETT PARK IT IS NOW A

REALITY. >> THANK YOU SO MUCH.

>> THANK YOU ALL FOR THIS GREAT WORK YOU HAVE BEEN DOING FOR OUR

COMMUNITY. WE APPRECIATE IT. >> THANK YOU.

>>

YOU EACH HAVE ONE MINUTE. >> GOOD AFTERNOON COMMISSIONERS

[02:05:01]

COMMUNITY PARK. >> THANK YOU.

>> I WOULD LIKE TO ASK COLTON RESIDENTS AND GOLDEN SUPPORTERS TO PLEASE STAND WHILE I MAKE MY REMARKS. MY NAME IS SANDRA RODRIGUEZ AND I STAND BEFORE YOU AS A DAUGHTER OF OFTEN. A CHILD WHO ONCE WALKED BAREFOOT THROUGH CRACKED SIDEWALKS WONDERING WHY PARKS NEVER LOOKED LIKE THE ONES IN OTHER NEIGHBORHOODS. MY FAMILY SACRIFICED EVERYTHING TO BE HERE BUT SOMEWHERE ALONG THE WAY WE STOPPED BELIEVING OUR COMMUNITY WAS MEANT FOR BEAUTIFUL THINGS. TODAY IS DIFFERENT, THE TRANSFORMATION OF BURNETT BAYLAND PARK IS NOT A BAND-AID OR JESTER. IT IS A DECLARATION THAT GOLDEN MATTERS. THAT WE DESERVE BEAUTY, SAFETY AND PRIDE IN WHERE WE LIVE, PLAY AND GROW. IN THIS VIBRANT MULTICULTURAL NEIGHBORHOOD, HOME TO SO MANY NEWCOMERS CHASING POSSIBILITY, THE PARK IS A SYMBOL OF WHAT HAPPENS WHEN A COMMUNITY IS TRULY SEEN. COMMISSIONER BRIONES AND THE ENTIRE PRECINCT 4 TEAM HAS SHOWN WHAT IS POSSIBLE WHEN YOU LISTEN, DEEPLY AND BUILD WITH, NOT JUST FOR THE COMMUNITY. THIS IS THE VISION WE DREAMED OF AND IT FINALLY FEELS WITHIN REACH,

THANK YOU. >> WONDERFUL, THANK YOU SO MUCH AND TO PRECINCT 4 AND STAFF AS WELL.

>> LARISSA JACOBS ON ITEM 230 AND NON-AGENDA SPEAKER

YOU EACH HAVE ONE MINUTE. >> HI MY NAME IS LARISSA JACOBS THE FOUNDER OF FIT HOUSTON, A LITTLE BIT IN LINE WITH THE FORMER PREVIOUS SPEAKERS, SUPER EXCITED ABOUT ALL THE IMPROVEMENTS AT THE PARK IT IS PART OF HARRIS COUNTY PRECINCT 4. PARTNERS ARE SPRING BRANCH COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTER, FAMILY DEVELOPMENT CENTER, HARRIS COUNTY PRECINCT 4 AND TREASURED PARTNER , WE WALK EVERY WEDNESDAY IN THE PARK FOR ABOUT 30 MINUTES. WE CALL OURSELVES HASHTAG , PLEASE COME WITH US ON WEDNESDAY. WE ARE DECIDED ABOUT POTENTIAL MERRILL GOING UP IN THE PARK WHICH IS ON THE AGENDA TODAY AND SAID HOUSTON GOT A CENTERPOINT GRANT SUITE EXCITED TO PUT IN A BENCH WITH FUNDRAISING FOR A TABLE. THE PARK IS TREASURED, OUR HASHTAG WALKERS WANT THESE IMPROVEMENTS, RECENTLY WHEN WALKING IN THE PARK WITH SOME CHILDREN WE HEARD GUNSHOTS GOING OFF AT 8:00 IN THE MORNING. I BRING IT UP TO SAY WE'RE MAKING PROGRESS. I KNOW WE HAVE BARRIERS BUT WE REALLY APPRECIATE YOU LEANING IN AND HELPING US. SO, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

>> THANK YOU.

>> GOOD MORNING JUDGE AND COMMISSIONERS. MY NAME IS ] AND I RESIDE IN PAULDING VILLAGE ONE AND TWO. I LIVE AT 747 CORBETT COURT. I THINK, ABOUT A YEAR AND A HALF AGO. I, AND COMMISSIONER GARCIA BROKE GROUND INTO A PROJECT OF A DRAIN

[02:10:01]

LEFT US RESIDENTS . >> YOUR TIME IS UP.

>> GO AHEAD IF YOU WANT TO WRAP UP.

>> IN THE VILLAGE ONE AND TWO, HORRIBLE, UNSAFE, HAVE MADE CONTACT WITH SEVERAL SENIOR CONSTRUCTION INSPECTORS , THEY CAME OUT TO ASSIST ME AND TRIED TO HELP MAKE IT SAFE FOR THE RESIDENTS AND THEY HAVE DESTROYED MY PROPERTY, AS YOU SEE. HAVE THEY DESTROYED MY PROPERTY AS THE MUDHOLE THAT THEY LEFT DIRECTLY IN FRONT OF MY RESIDENCE.

>> THANK YOU, WE WILL VISIT WITH YOU AND PUT YOU IN TOUCH WITH

THE RIGHT PEOPLE. >> THANK YOU.

>> NON-AGENDA SPEAKERS CAROLYN RIVERA AND RENÉE KENNEDY, YOU EACH HAVE ONE MINUTE.

>> GOOD AFTERNOON , JUDGE HIDALGO AND COMMISSIONERS. I AM CAROLYN RIVERA. 45 YEARS I HAVE LIVED NEAR THE HALLS BY YOUR. I AM A VOLUNTEER WITH NORTHEAST ACTION COLLECTIVE. MY HOME FLOODED FOR THE FIRST TIME DURING HARVEY. NOW , DURING THE STORM, WATER FLOATS IN MANY OF OUR YARDS. THE SUMMER OF 2024, FLOODWATERS FLOODED HOMES IN THE AREA. PEOPLE SUPPORTED THE FLOOD BOND BASED ON THE PROMISE OF FAIRNESS AND EQUITY AND FLOOD PREVENTION. THIS COMMITMENT IS NOT BEING UPHELD. IN HOUSTON, I SEE COMMUNITIES THAT ARE WEALTHIER THAN MINE WHERE MONEY IS SPENT TO PREVENT FLOOD PREVENTION PROJECTS. NOT OURS BASED ON REPORTS FROM FLOOD CONTROL , THE BOND.

>> YOU ARE ABOUT TO WRAP UP? >> YES.

>> THE BONDS PARTNER FLOOD CREATED $388 MILLION, PLUS ADDITIONAL FORMS TO BE INVESTED IN THE HALLS BY YOU. DESPITE THIS, WE HAVE NOT SEEN COMPLETED FLOOD PROJECTS. WILL EACH OF YOU, ON THIS COURT, MAKE SURE THAT FLOOD CONTROL ADDRESSES THIS PROBLEM IMMEDIATELY AND CREATE TRANSPARENCY THAT REASSURES US, THAT THE JOB IS COMPLETED. THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU FOR COMING. >> THANK YOU.

>> I BEGIN ? RESCUES AND I WAS REPORTING CRUEL TREATMENT AT THE HARRIS COUNTY ANIMAL SHELTER AND BARK, THE SHELTERS USED TO PUBLISH EUTHANASIA LIST AT THE BEGINNING OF THE YEAR THEY STOPPED. NOTICE, IF ANY IS GIVEN ABOUT WHICH DOESN'T CATCH WILL BE EUTHANIZED IS LATE AFTERNOON OR EVENING WITH ANIMALS EUTHANIZED BUSINESS HOURS LATER AT 1:00 P.M. THAT IS TOO LATE, MORE NOTICE IS NEEDED. THERE HAS BEEN A SURGE IN A DOCTORAL NONAGGRESSIVE LOVING ANIMALS EVEN PEDIGREED ONES BEING EUTHANIZED AS A RESULT OF THIS CHANGE. PLEASE STATE THE EUTHANASIA LIST IMMEDIATELY EVEN DOGS AND CATS WITH PENDING APPLICATIONS OR HOLD FROM RESCUES ARE STILL BEING KILLED.

IT COSTS THE COUNTY NOTHING TO SELECT THE DOGS AND CATS TO BE EUTHANIZED SEVEN DAYS IN ADVANCE AND TO PROVIDE NOTICE. THIS IS NOT A BIG ASK, YOU CAN EUTHANIZE RESPONSIBLY AND COMPLETE YOUR GOALS WITHOUT UNNECESSARY AND RECKLESS DESTRUCTION OF ANIMALS FOR THE VICTIMS OF UNCONTROLLED AND UNREGULATED BACKGROUND.

FUNDING SHOULD BE ALLOCATED TO SPAY AND NEUTERING INITIATIVES AND EDUCATION. I EMAILED EACH OF YOUR PROPOSED LANGUAGE FOR ORDINANCE WHICH YOU CAN USE TO HELP REDUCE THIS ANNUAL , THIS

[02:15:04]

>> THANK YOU I'M AFRAID I HAVE TO CUT YOU OFF TO BE FAIR TO

EVERYBODY ELSE, BUT THANK YOU. >> VALERIE JAMES AND NON-AGENDA SPEAKERS YOU EACH HAVE ONE MINUTE.

>> HELLO. MY NAME IS VALERIE JAMES I'M HERE TO PROVIDE SOLUTION FOR ALMOST EVERY PROBLEM I HAVE HEARD, WE WORK WITH VETERANS AND NONVETERANS WHOSE BEHAVIOR HEALTH KEEP THEM ON A PATH OF HOMELESSNESS AND UNEMPLOYMENT AND SUBSTANCE USE.

NOW MY THOUGHTS, IT WILL ALSO HELP WITH DOMESTIC VIOLENCE IN CHILDREN, I BELIEVE THERE ARE MILLIONS ON THE PLANET WHOSE MATURITY HAS NEVER GONE PAST 10 YEARS OLD. WE HAVE PROVED THAT BECAUSE WE HAVE BEEN WORKING FOR OVER 10 YEARS TEACHING SIX-MONTH COURSES ON EMOTIONAL INTELLIGENCE AND THE RESULTS COME I WOULD LOVE TO GET WITH YOU ALL LATER TO DISCUSS. RIGHT NOW WE ARE DEALING WITH, KIND OF TAKING CONTROL OF A 500 BED IS A HOMELESS, PREVIOUSLY DISABLED APARTMENT COMPLEX IN MIDTOWN.

>> GO AHEAD MA'AM. >> WE HAVE TURNED IT FROM A SURVIVING PLACE OF VIOLENCE INTO A THRIVING PLACE WHERE PEOPLE ARE GETTING JOBS AND DOING GOOD FOR THEIR COMMUNITY. I WOULD LOVE TO INVITE YOU TO TOUR IT, IT IS IN MIDTOWN, PLEASE LET ME KNOW. I THINK IT WOULD BE A LOT OF SOLUTIONS TO A LOT OF PROBLEMS WE ARE HAVING TO GET TRAININGS FOR EMOTIONAL

INTELLIGENCE. >> THANK YOU.

>> HELLO EVERYONE. MY NAME IS PREPAREDNESS AND RESIDENT OF PRECINCT 4. HERE TODAY ON BEHALF OF COMMUNITIES EXPERIENCING FREQUENT FLOODING WITH GROWING CONCERNS ABOUT HOW FLOOD CONTROL PROJECTS ARE PLANNED AND PRIORITIZED. THERE'S A LACK OF TRANSPARENCY AROUND WHICH PROJECTS ARE HAPPENING IN COMMUNITIES AND HOW THEY ARE SELECTED AND SCORED. WE ARE ASKING FOR BETTER COMMUNICATION, TRANSPARENCY AND EQUITY IN THIS PROCESS. SPECIFICALLY WE NEED CLEAR TIMELINES FOR WHEN PROJECTS BEGIN AND END WITH ACCESS TO SCORES AND CRITERIA USED. AND THE SYSTEM THAT ACCOUNTS FOR HISTORICAL MAINTENANCE, LOCAL CONDITIONS AND FLOOD SEVERITY. WE WANT TO SEE MORE REGULAR COMMUNICATION BETWEEN THE FLOOD CONTROL DISTRICT, COMMISSIONERS AND IMPACTED COMMUNITIES BECAUSE REMEMBER COMMUNITY MEMBERS AND FLOOD SURVIVORS ARE THE REAL EXPERTS. WE WANT TO WORK TOGETHER TO ENSURE THAT THE VULNERABLE AREAS ARE

PRIORITIZED, THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU.

>> THAT IS ALL JUDGE. >> THANK YOU TIFFANY, THANK YOU

[Departments (Part 2 of 4)]

RECOMMENDATION IS AND WHY. >> JUDGE, WOULD YOU PREFER THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY WALK THROUGH THE REQUEST? WE CAN GO THROUGH THE FINANCIALS, THE IMPACT THIS YEAR, NEXT YEAR AND

RECOMMENDATION. >> LET'S DO THAT IF YOU DON'T MIND.

>> THANK YOU, I KNOW THE DAS OFFICE HAS BEEN WORKING HARD AND CLOSELY WITH OUR TEAMS SO WE REALLY APPRECIATE THAT AND WITH

[02:20:01]

>> GOOD AFTERNOON. JUDGE, I KNOW YOU THINK DOES FOR THE WORK WE'VE BEEN DOING WITH YOUR TEAM BUT I WANT TO THANK EACH OF YOU FOR THE TIME YOU HAVE TAKEN TO WORK WITH US AND THE TIME YOU HAVE DEDICATED FROM STAFF TO WORK WITH US. I WANT TO THANK OCA AND OMB HAVE TAKEN A LOT OF TIME WORKING THROUGH THIS REQUEST WITH US AS WELL. WE DO NOT WANT TO MAKE A HABIT OF COMING TO Y'ALL FOR SUPPLEMENT A REQUEST BUT AS YOU KNOW WE ARE TRANSITIONING INTO THIS NEW PHASE IN THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S OFFICE. ONE OF THE THINGS WE WERE REALLY REALLY FOCUSED ON AT THE BEGINNING OF GETTING SEAN OFF THE GROUND AS THE ELECTED DISTRICT ATTORNEY WAS BRINGING EXPERIENCED RESCUERS BACK TO THE OFFICE. THERE'S NOTHING MORE FUNDAMENTAL TO WHAT WE DO THAT HAVING PROSECUTORS WHO HAVE THE ABILITY TO LOOK AT A CASE AND MAKE A DECISION QUICKLY AFTER THOROUGH AND THOUGHTFUL LIBERATION. THAT'S ONE OF THE THINGS WE DID WE BROUGHT 200 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE IN PROSECUTION AND CRIMINAL DEFENSE BACK TO THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S OFFICE INCLUDING CHIEF OF STAFF WHO WAS A DISTRICT ATTORNEY NOT JUST HERE IN HARRIS COUNTY BUT FORT IN COUNTY WITH DEFENSE WORK AS WELL BEFORE COMING BACK AS CHIEF OF STAFF. THAT TYPE OF LEADERSHIP BROUGHT BACK HAS ALLOWED US TO DO SOME OF THE THINGS WE HAVE DONE OVER THE LAST 90 DAYS. NOT SINGULARLY FOCUSED BUT VERY FOCUSED ON FIXING THE INTAKE BUREAU AND MAKING SURE OFFICERS ARE GETTING NOT JUST QUICK ANSWERS FROM US AND THE PARTNERS, BUT THE RIGHT ANSWER ON THE PHONE WHEN THE CALL LAW ENFORCEMENT, FOCUSING ON INCREASING EFFICIENCY OF THE ENTIRE INTAKE BUREAU IN ORDER TO MAKE SURE WE DON'T HAVE OFFICERS SITTING EARNING OVERTIME WAITING FOR A WARRANT FOR A DOMESTIC VIOLENCE CASE OR MURDER OR AGGRAVATED ROBBERY. WE ARE TRYING TO MAKE SURE THE MEN AND WOMEN IN LAW ENFORCEMENT ARE ABLE TO BE BACK OUT ON THE STREET DOING THE JOB THEY SIGNED UP TO DO. THE ONLY WAY TO DO THAT IS WITH EXPERIENCE AND INTAKE AS WELL. THE OTHER THING WE HAVE BEEN FOCUSED ON IS MAKING SURE WE CAN DECREASE THE AMOUNT OF TIME FROM FILING THE CASE AT INTAKE TO THE DISPOSITION. WE HAVE BEEN INCREDIBLY SUCCESSFUL IN DOING THAT, THE WAY WE HAVE DONE THAT IS THROUGH THAT EXPERIENCE. UNDER SEAN'S LEADERSHIP ONE OF THE THINGS HE SAID TO THE ENTIRE STAFF AT THE VERY BEGINNING OF HIS TERM ON JANUARY 4 WHEN HE STOOD UP AT THE LAW CENTER. HE SAID I WANT YOU TO BE ABLE TO HAVE DISCRETION AND TO KNOW THAT IF YOU CAN BACK YOUR DECISION I'M GOING TO BACK YOU. HAVING THAT SUPPORT FROM THE TOP OF THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S OFFICE HAS ALLOWED PROSECUTORS TO FEEL FREE TO DO WHAT THEY BELIEVE IS THE RIGHT THING. SOMETIMES THE RIGHT THING IS TO TAKE IT TO TRIAL AND ASK A JURY FOR MAXIMUM, SOMETIMES THE RIGHT THING AFTER YOU EVALUATE THE EVIDENCE AND ALL THE FACTS IS DISMISSAL AND KNOWING PROSECUTORS CAN DO THE RIGHT THING HAS ALLOWED US TO FOCUS ON DECREASING THAT AMOUNT OF TIME FILING TO DISPOSITION.

WE HAVE SEEN 30% INCREASE OVER THE LAST 90 DAYS COMPARED TO THE FIRST 90 DAYS OF 2024 IN CASES GOING TO TRIAL. WE ARE PROSECUTORS WHO CAN EVALUATE CASES, GET PREPARED FOR TRIAL AND TAKE THEM TO TRIAL GIVING NOT JUST VICTIMS THEIR DAY IN COURT, BUT DEFENDANTS THEIR DAY IN COURT AS WELL. THE ONE THEY ARE CONSTITUTIONALLY ENTITLED TO AND WE'VE AND MAKING SURE WE ARE GETTING CASES TO TRIAL. THAT ALSO ALLOWS US TO FOCUS ON THE JAIL POPULATION. NOT JUST LOOKING AT CASES WE KNOW WE CAN'T PROVE BEYOND REASONABLE DOUBT AND MAKING THE DIFFICULT DECISION TO FILE DISMISSAL, BUT ALSO SAYING WHAT ARE THE CASES WE NEED TO RESOLVE PRETRIAL TO MAKE SURE WE GET THOSE INDIVIDUALS OUT OF THE JAIL AS WELL IF IT IS TIME SERVED OR OFF TO THE STATES TIME THEY'RE GOING TO PRISON OR STATE JAIL.

ALSO WE ARE GETTING CASES TRIED, THAT'S THE BIG WAY WE ARE ABLE TO SOLVE AND HELP OUR FRIENDS AT THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE WITH ONE OF THE BIG PROBLEMS THEY'RE HAVING AT THE JAIL BY WAY OF POPULATION. IF WE CAN CONTINUE THE TREND WE HAVE SEEN WITH A DECREASE IN JAIL POPULATION, GETTING INDIVIDUALS OUT OF THE HARRIS COUNTY JAIL AND OFF TO PRISON OR OUT OF THE HARRIS COUNTY JAIL BECAUSE THEY DID NOT BELONG THERE IN THE FIRST PLACE AND WE SEE THE TREND OF 6% DECREASE IN JAIL POPULATION LIKE WE HAVE SEEN FEBRUARY 2 TO MARCH 6, THERE WAS A 6% DECREASE IN THE POPULATION OF THE HARRIS COUNTY JAIL. IF THE TREND CONTINUES WE CAN MAKE SURE THAT THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE AND THE FINE MEN AND WOMEN GOING IN EVERY SINGLE DAY TO HELP KEEP THE JAIL SAFE AND MOVE OPERATIONS FORWARD HAVE A MUCH BETTER WORKING ENVIRONMENT AND THE JAIL IS A MUCH SAFER PLACE FOR THOSE INDIVIDUALS WHO WERE THERE. THE NUMBERS WE HAVE PRESENTED TO THE COURT ABOUT $7.6 MILLION. THERE WERE A

[02:25:02]

>> THANK YOU STATE YOUR NAME FOR THE RECORD PLEASE.

>>

>> DIRECTOR AND THEN COMMISSIONER GARCIA AND

COMMISSIONER ELLIS. >> WE RECOMMENDED THE 4.1 MILLION IN IMMEDIATE NEEDS , UNDERSTANDING I'M NOT IN A POSITION TO SUPPORT A LOT OF THIS, MY OVERWHELMING PREFERENCE IS THINGS GO TO THE BUDGET PROCESS. BUT UNDERSTANDING THE COLLABORATION OUR OFFICES HAVE , IT IS NIGHT AND DAY WORKING ACCESS TO DATA AND THE CLEAR WORKPLAN IN COLLABORATION WITH THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE TO REDUCE JAIL POPULATION WHICH AS YOU HAVE SAID WITH ALSO THE THOUGHTFULNESS AROUND THE , SOME ISSUES AROUND INDIGENT DEFENSE WITH PLANS THEY HAVE THAT I KNOW THEY ARE ROLLING OUT, THAT I FEEL STRONGLY WILL SAVE THE COUNTY MONEY. THAT'S WHERE WE ARE AT, OUR PREFERENCE IS THINGS GO TO THE BUDGET PROCESS AND ALSO UNDERSTAND THIS DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S OFFICE HAS DONE WORK TO GET US IN A POSITION WHERE IN

[02:30:08]

JUSTICE BACKLOG. >> COMMISSIONER GARCIA, COMMISSIONER ELLIS AND COMMISSIONER RAMSEY.

>> THANK YOU FOR YOUR PRESENTATION. I AM ABSOLUTELY IN FULL SUPPORT OF YOUR ITEM AS PRESENTED. I WILL BE MAKING THAT MOTION TO SUPPORT AS PRESENTED. BUT I WANT TO TELL YOU WHY AND I APPRECIATE YOU MAKING THE POINT THAT WE WANT TO MAKE. WE WANT TO RESPECT THE BUDGET PROCESS, BUT THIS IS A UNIQUE SITUATION. IN THAT YOU ARE A OFFICE IN TRANSITION. EVEN AS A OFFICE IN TRANSITION. YOU HAVE ALREADY DEMONSTRATED A 6% IMPACT ON THAT VERY VERY STUBBORN JAIL POPULATION THAT IS COSTING US MILLIONS AND MILLIONS AND MILLIONS OF DOLLARS. SO, ONE, I FULLY SUPPORT THE ITEM. IT IS A SMART INVESTMENT, A SMART INVESTMENT IN PUBLIC SAFETY. A SMART INVESTMENT IN DOMESTIC VIOLENCE. DOMESTIC VIOLENCE IS THE MOST STUBBORN INDEX IN VIOLENT CRIME ABOVE ALL OTHER VIOLENT CRIME AND THAT IS ABSOLUTELY RIDICULOUS. SO, THANK YOU FOR NOT FORGETTING THE VICTIMS IN GENERAL, BUT THE VICTIMS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE IN PARTICULAR. ALSO JUST WANT TO SAY THAT THE REFORMS THAT YOU HAVE LAID OUT AND THE WORK YOU HAVE BEEN DOING IS GOING TO BENEFIT EVERYBODY AND THANK YOU FOR MENTIONING THE SHERIFF'S DETENTION STAFF. I HAVE REPEATEDLY MADE THE POINT THAT THE JAIL IS NO LONGER THE LOW-LEVEL OFFENDER YOU KNOW, FACILITY THAT IT WAS DURING MY TIME AS SHERIFF. THE MEN AND WOMEN OF THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE WHO WORK IN CORRECTIONS ARE DEALING WITH SOME VERY VERY VIOLENT AND DANGEROUS INDIVIDUALS AND WE'VE GOT TO GET THEM OUT AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE AND GIVE THEM TO THE STATE. I WANT TO DO EVERYTHING WE CAN TO PUT PRESSURE ON THE STATE TO PICK UP THOSE PAPER READY IN THE VISUALS. ANYTHING YOU CAN DO TO GET THEM TO THE TRIAL AND THE FEAR OF TRIAL IS GOING TO CAUSE SOME DEEP DECISIONS BY DEFENSE STAFF AND THOSE INDIVIDUALS AND IT WILL PROVIDE RELIEF TO THOSE MEN AND WOMEN IN CORRECTIONS AT THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE. SO MR. DISTRICT ATTORNEY THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE, THANK YOU FOR YOUR WORK, THANK YOU FOR HITTING THE GROUND RUNNING AND I HAVE BEEN MEETING WITH THE DOMESTIC VIOLENCE ADVOCATES AND THEY ARE ABSOLUTELY SINGING YOUR PRAISES.

AND SO PROUD OF THE WORK YOU ARE DOING ABOVE AND BEYOND THE CONVERSATIONS THAT YOU HAD WITH THEM EARLY ON. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THAT AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR TWO RIGHT HANDS FOR THEIR WORK, THREE RIGHT HANDS. KEEPING AN EYE ON THE BUDGET IS CRITICAL AND MAKING SURE THAT ALIGNS WITH THE VALUES OF THE COUNTY. THANK YOU. IN SPITE OF THIS BEING OUTSIDE THE BUDGET PROCESS, WE HAVE TO SUPPORT THESE OFFICES THAT ARE IN TRANSITION.

ESPECIALLY WITH THE DIFFERENCE YOU HAVE ALREADY BEEN MAKING IN A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME. AND LASTLY BEFORE I FORGET. I MADE A LOT OF INVESTMENTS. I PUSHED AND ADVOCATED AND SUPPORTED A GREAT DEAL OF ATTENTION TOWARD INTAKE. AND WE DID NOT GET THE OUTPUT I WAS HOPING FOR. YOU HAVE NOT FORGOTTEN INTAKE, YOU HAVE TURNED THAT INTO 24/7 OPERATION WITH EXPERIENCED STAFF. SO THANK YOU FOR MAKING SURE THAT WAS A PRIORITY BECAUSE I KNOW THAT'S GOING TO MAKE A HUGE DIFFERENCE FOR THE MEN AND WOMEN ON PATROL SO THEY CAN MAKE A DECISION ABOUT THE PERSON THEY'VE GOT AND MAKE A DECISION BY THE SCENE THEY ARE AT AND GET OUT TO TAKE CARE OF THE REST OF US. SO THANK YOU MR. DISTRICT ATTORNEY, THANK YOU TO THE TEAM AND I'M GOING TO MOVE ON THE ITEM AS

PRESENTED. >> THANK YOU COMMISSIONER.

>> COMMISSIONER ELLIS THEN COMMISSIONER BRIONES AND RAMSEY.

>> THANK YOU FOR THE WORK YOU ARE DOING. YOU HAVE, IN MY JUDGMENT, DONE ALL THE THINGS YOU SAID YOU WOULD DO WHEN TRYING TO SECURE THIS OFFICE. YOU INHERITED A MESS AND I CANNOT THINK OF A MORE POLITE WAY OF DESCRIBING IT. THIS DOES GO OUTSIDE OF THE BUDGET PROCESS, BUT WE HAVE GENERALLY TRIED TO GRANT TO A NEW OFFICEHOLDER, SOME COURTESY. WE

[02:35:06]

THEY TRY TO WORK WITH ALL FOLKS WHO COME IN HERE, BUT WHEN I RUN TO WHAT YOU HAVE DONE. JAIL POPULATION 9053 PEOPLE AS OF APRIL 3, THIS REDUCTION OF 852 IS 8.6% FROM A FISCAL YEAR HIGH ON FEBRUARY 2. INTAKE ACCOUNT DECREASED 7% JANUARY TO FEBRUARY , THAT'S ON YOUR WATCH. YOU MENTIONED SOME STATS, 30% OF CASES GOING TO TRIAL , COMMISSIONER GARCIA MENTIONED THE JAIL POPULATION DECREASE BY 6%, A LITTLE HIGHER THAN THAT.

YOU KNOW YOU FOCUS ON CASE EFFICIENCY RESULTING IN CLEARANCE RATES EXCEEDING 100% EACH MONTH , THAT HAS NOT BEEN EASY FOR WHAT YOU WALKED INTO. I DO WANT TO STRESS THAT ALTHOUGH I SUPPORT THIS, THE AMOUNT YOU ARE ASKING, 7.6 WHICH IS OUTSIDE THE BUDGET PROCESS, SO WOULD THE LOWER AMOUNT BE OUTSIDE THE BUDGET PROCESS AS WELL. THERE ARE THINGS HAPPENING AS WE SPEAK IN AUSTIN AND I DISCUSSED SOME OF THIS WITH YOU HAVING BEEN THERE 27 YEARS, YOU NEVER KNOW HOW MUCH OF IT WILL BECOME LAW.

THAT COULD BE MORE RESTRAINTS ON WHAT HAPPENS IN TERMS OF WHAT WE GET FROM PROPERTY TAXES WHEN ENGAGED IN A BATTLE WITH OUR FORMAL PARTNERS. MAYBE SOME PEOPLE LOOK AT THEM AS PARTNERS.

WHERE I SERVED FROM 84 UNTIL 89 , BUT THAT'S GOING TO CREATE ISSUES. AND SO I AM FOR THE MONEY THIS GO AROUND, WE HAVE NO IDEA WHAT WE WILL FACE WHEN IT COMES BACK. I THOUGHT WE WERE DOING THESE TO PROTECT WHAT WOULD HAPPEN WITH THE ASSET FORFEITURE MONEY. I WAS TOLD LAST NIGHT PRETTY LATE THAT DID NOT WORK OUT THE WAY WE EXPECTED. SO SOME OF THIS MIGHT BE OFFSET. I THINK THE FUND WAS DEPLETED, BUT YOU WILL NEVER KNOW WHAT ASSETS YOU WILL END UP HAVING AND YOU KNOW I DON'T WANT TO BE THE PROPHET OF DOOM AND GLOOM BUT THERE IS POTENTIAL DEPENDING ON WHAT HAPPENS AND WE ALL HAVE CHALLENGES IN THE UPCOMING BUDGET CYCLES. SO PUT YOUR SEATBELT ON AND BE PREPARED. CHANDLER, I KNOW YOU WORK WITH MY STAFF AND THE DA, YOU HAVE BEEN VERY FORTHRIGHT SO THANK YOU FOR COMING TO THE COUNCIL MEETING. IN THAT SPIRIT OF COLLABORATION I HOPE IT CONTINUES, ALL THESE THINGS ARE GREAT. I TOLD YOU GET A PICTURE THAT FIRST DAY. FIRST TIME I MET CHANDLER HOW HAPPY HE WAS I SAID TAKE A PICTURE. YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN? SO LOOK BACK AND REMEMBER THOSE DAYS. CONGRATULATIONS ON A JOB WELL DONE. I WILL BE HAPPY

TO SECOND THE MOTION. >> OKAY WE HAVE A MOTION BY COMMISSIONER GARCIA, SECOND BY COMMISSIONER ELLIS CONTINUING DISCUSSION, COMMISSIONER BRIONES AND THEN COMMISSIONER RAMSEY.

>> YES THANK YOU. IS ONE TO SAY I WOULD PROBABLY SECOND. I'M HIGHLY IN FAVOR OF THIS. FIRST OF ALL, PHENOMENAL WORK. THANK YOU FOR HITTING THE GROUND SPRINTING. THE FACT THAT RETRIAL ALONE IS UP 30% AND REMOVING CASES FOR THE FACT THERE ARE 129% CLEARANCE RATE I AM SO ENERGIZED. 6% DECREASE IN JAIL POPULATION, DIRECTOR MILLS SAID THE LATEST NUMBER WAS CLOSER TO 9%. PUBLIC SAFETY IS ALWAYS GOING TO BE MY TOP PRIORITY AS SOMEBODY WHO HAS BEEN THE VICTIM OF A CRIME, AS A MOM OF THREE AND LAWYER AND FORMER JUDGE. WHEN YOU HAVE DONE IN THESE MONTHS I AM ENERGIZED BY THE PROCESS. THE FACT THAT WE SPEND NEARLY $50 MILLION ANNUALLY, OUTSOURCING PEOPLE TO PRIVATE PRISONS APPALLS ME. I KNOW IT IS NECESSARY GIVEN THE CURRENT REALITY, BUT THE KEY TO CHANGING THE CURRENT REALITY IS LAID OUT HERE, SO THANK YOU. SOMEBODY, DOMESTIC VIOLENCE ONE OF THE

[02:40:03]

>> COMMISSIONER RAMSEY . >> I WILL GIVE YOU KUDOS , DA, YOU HAVE NOT SPENT A LOT OF TIME TALKING ABOUT HOW THE MESS WAS CREATED THAT YOU INHERITED BECAUSE THERE WERE A LOT OF CONTRIBUTORS TO THE MESS, NOT ANY ONE PERSON. I THINK YOU WILL BE WELL SERVED GOING FORWARD IF YOU FOCUS ON WHAT YOU CAN DO RATHER THAN SOME PERCEPTIONS OF THE OFFICE. I, TOO, LOOK AT NUMBERS AND THE NUMBERS SPEAK FOR THEMSELVES. I KNOW BASED ON YOU PARTICIPATING WITH ME IN A SAFETY FORUM, TUESDAY NIGHT? TUESDAY NIGHT. SO, BEING OUT IN THE COMMUNITY, HAVING CONVERSATIONS WITH PEOPLE WE NEED TO TALK TO BECAUSE PEOPLE STILL DO NOT FEEL SAFE. WE DO NOT HAVE CRIME LICKED IN HARRIS COUNTY. IT IS STILL WAY TOO HIGH. ANYBODY THAT SAYS IT'S GOING DOWN AND WE'RE IN GOOD SHAPE, THEY DON'T KNOW WHAT YOU KNOW. SO THE FACT THAT THERE HAS BEEN A DECREASE IN JAIL POPULATION. I HOPE THAT HAS MORE TO DO WITH PEOPLE THAT YOU PROSECUTED, RATHER THAN PEOPLE THAT MAY HAVE BEEN LET OUT OF JAIL WHEN THEY SHOULDN'T HAVE BEEN ALLOWED OUT OF JAIL. SO YOU HAVE GOT YOUR EYE ON THAT, BOTH SIDES OF THAT. I KNOW THERE ARE SEVERAL HUNDRED PEOPLE THAT HAVE BEEN ACCUSED OF CAPITAL MURDER .

THAT ARE EITHER OUT ON A WARRANT OR OUT ON BOND. I THINK YOU'RE CLOSE REVIEW OF THOSE ISSUES ARE IMPORTANT IN TERMS OF SAFETY IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD. SO YOU ARE GOING TO GET THE VOTE HERE BASED ON WHAT I HAVE SEEN, BASED ON WHAT YOU'RE DOING, I AM OPTIMISTIC THAT YOU WILL CONTINUE TO DO THAT AND NOT TAKE IT IN A POLITICAL WAY. JUST STAY FOCUSED ON THE CRIME, STAY FOCUSED ON THE VICTIMS, STAY FOCUSED ON IMPROVING SAFETY IN

THE NEIGHBORHOOD. >> THANK YOU GUYS SO MUCH. I ECHO EVERYTHING MY COLLEAGUES SAID. MY QUESTION FOR THE DIRECTOR IS , WHY NOT THE 7 MILLION? WHAT DOES THE 4 MILLION COVER? WHERE DID THAT COME FROM AND WHAT WOULD BE THE IMPACT OF EACH OF THOSE IN TERMS OF THE ANNUAL BUDGET?

>> THE 4.14 MILLION IS MADE UP OF A FEW BIG BUCKETS. RESTORING SOME STAFFING AS THE STAFFING MODEL SHIFTED AND ALSO, THE AVERAGE YEARS OF EXPERIENCE WENT UP SIGNIFICANTLY. WHICH IS IN LARGE PART THE REASON WHY WE ARE SEEING CASES GO TO TRIAL, WHY WE SEE A REDUCTION IN THE JAIL AND SOME OF THE SALARIES ARE HIGHER AND IS GETTING THE FULL STAFFING COMPONENT, TO REFLECT THE DA'S CURRENT STAFFING MODEL. ALONG WITH PRIOR ADMINISTRATION DID NOT BUDGET FOR THE CURRENT OR THE NEW MODEL , THE NEW, OLD MODEL OF INTAKE. SO AGAIN WE THOUGHT THIS WAS , GETTING AS CLOSE AS WE CAN TO SPLITTING THE BABY IN TERMS OF GETTING, KEEPING THE PROGRESS GOING AT THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S OFFICE, BUT ALSO BE FISCALLY RESPONSIBLE BECAUSE WE ARE HAVING CHALLENGES THIS YEAR. WE WILL BE PRESENTING THE SECOND QUARTER PROJECTIONS SO WE CAN JUST BE TRANSPARENT AND UNDERSTAND A PATH FORWARD FOR THE REST OF THE FISCAL YEAR. ALSO I WANT TO MAKE A SHAMELESS PLUG OF WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU HIRE A FORMER BUDGET ANALYST FROM OMB, THE WORK PRODUCT COMES OUT HIGHER AND YOU SAW THAT IN

THIS PROPOSAL. >> SO WHY CAN WE AFFORD THE 4.1 MILLION AND NOT, WHY CAN WE AFFORD THE 4.1 MILLION PERIOD?

[02:45:05]

>> RIGHT NOW WE ARE COMING OUT OF , WE WILL BE COMING OUT OF RESERVES AND WE WILL BE DOING THE SECOND QUARTER PROJECTIONS AND WE WILL HAVE IN-DEPTH DISCUSSION OF RECOMMENDATIONS TO GET THE COUNTY BACK ON TRACK FOR THE REST OF THE FISCAL YEAR.

>> I REMEMBER WHEN WE WERE DISCUSSING THE FUNDING REQUEST FOR DIRECTOR RAMIREZ . THE IDEA WAS 1 MILLION , THOUGH CERTAINLY GET THROUGH THE BUDGET CYCLE , THE REST WERE NOT SURE WITH RECURRING COST SO IS THAT THE THINKING HERE OR HOW DID YOU

LAND AT THAT NUMBER OF THE 4.1? >> AGAIN THE THOUGHT PROCESS WAS HAVING AN INEFFECTIVE DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S OFFICE COSTS THE COUNTY MONEY. WE SEE IT EVERYWHERE SO WE WANTED TO MAKE SURE WE WERE ABLE TO MAINTAIN BECAUSE WE ARE ABLE TO BUDGET SAVINGS FROM THE OUTSOURCING AND YOU WILL SEE THAT IN THE SECOND QUARTER PROJECTIONS. AGAIN WE'RE GOING TO SHOW A DEFICIT IN THE SECOND QUARTER AND WILL COME WITH OPTIONS FROM COMMISSIONERS COURT TO CONSIDER TO GET US BACK ON TRACK.

>> MY QUESTION. BECAUSE I'M TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHERE I STAND ON THIS. IF THE COST BASICALLY OFFSET THEMSELVES WHY NOT GO FOR THE 7 MILLION IN YOUR MIND?

>> BECAUSE THERE'S GOING TO BE SOME TIME TO CATCH UP ON THE NUMBER OF FOLKS BEING OUTSOURCED. IT GOES HAND-IN-HAND WITH STAFFING LEVELS AT THE SHERIFF WHICH WE HAVE SEEN GET SIGNIFICANTLY BETTER. SO WE WANT TO KEEP THE MOMENTUM GOING. COST FOR THIS INITIATIVE ARE GOING TO BE HIGHER THAN WHAT WE WOULD SAVE ON A ANNUALIZED OR FOR THE REST OF THE YEAR IN TERMS OF OUTSOURCING. OVER THE LONG-TERM WE THINK IT WILL NET OUT.

>> MY CONCERN IS, THIS IS THE FOURTH OR FIFTH REQUEST COMING OUTSIDE A BUDGET PROCESS. WE HAVE GRANTED ALL OF THEM AND HAVE NOT, HAVE NOT SORT OF TRY TO SPLIT THE BABY OR FOLLOW THE RECOMMENDATION OF THE BUDGET DIRECTOR IN ANY OF THOSE CASES.

I MEAN I THINK OUT OF RESPECT FOR THE EXPERTISE OF THE BUDGET OFFICE, AND FOR OUR ROLE AS , AS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE FINANCIAL VIABILITY OF THE COUNTY , WE OUGHT TO RESPECT THOSE RECOMMENDATIONS. WE ALWAYS HAVE A REASON WHY WE SHOULDN'T, BUT I THINK THAT CONSISTENT IGNORING OF THE BUDGET , THE BUDGET TEAM RECOMMENDATIONS DOES NOT BODE WELL AND IT WOULD BE PERHAPS OKAY IF WE HAD A COMMITMENT TO ALSO INCREASE THE REVENUE WHEN THE OPPORTUNITY COMES. WHICH OF COURSE THE MAJORITY OF FOLKS ON THIS COURT HAVE NOT DONE. SO I WOULD MAKE A SUBSTITUTE MOTION TO APPROVE $4.1 MILLION THAT THE BUDGET DIRECTOR IS RECOMMENDING AND REQUEST DISTRICT ATTORNEY SUBMIT THE REMAINING 3.4 MILLION AS REQUEST TO THE REGULAR BUDGET PROCESS. I AM ASSUMING THAT I WON'T HAVE A SECOND ON THAT, BUT I'M TRYING TO BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE BUDGET AND RESPECTFUL OF OUR DIRECTORS. IS THERE A SECOND? EXCUSE ME? I DON'T THINK YOUR MICROPHONE IS ON. BUT THANK YOU GUYS SO MUCH. WE WILL VOTE ON THE INITIAL MOTION. ENCOURAGING COLLEAGUES AND VOTERS , I THINK AS TIME GOES BY, I DON'T WANT US TO BE SHIFTING OUR OWN CHAIRS ON THE TITANIC. I APPRECIATE YOU GUYS, I AM THINKING 4.1 IS OKAY BECAUSE IT WILL HELP BUT AT THE SAME TIMES WE ARE KEEPING TABS ON FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY. I ECHO THE SUPPORT ON YOUR WORK , YOUR EFFECTIVENESS, HOW REFRESHING YOUR APPROACH TO EVERYTHING IS AND SO YES WE HAVE A MOTION BY COMMISSIONER GARCIA, SECOND BY COMMISSIONER ELLIS. ALL IN FAVOR? ANY OPPOSED? OKAY. THE MOTION CARRIES. THANK YOU GUYS SO MUCH.

>> I WANT TO TAKE ONE SECOND. I KNOW YOU ALL ARE HUNGRY. YOUR STAFFS, TO A PERSON WERE SO DILIGENT. THE QUESTIONS THEY ASK, THE COLLABORATION WE HAVE , THAT'S THE WAKE COUNTY GOVERNMENT SHOULD WORK. OMB, OCA, IT HAS BEEN INCREDIBLE. I CANNOT TELL YOU HOW GRATEFUL I AM FOR ALL OF YOUR LEADERSHIP.

THANK YOU SO MUCH. >> THANK YOU GUYS. LET'S TAKE A

BREAK. >> JUDGE SO I CAN ACCURATELY

REFLECT YOUR VOTE? >> OKAY. LET ME , I THINK I NEED

[02:50:05]

>> YOU FEEL COMFORTABLE JOINING CONSENT AGENDA SO THIS DOES MAKE

THOSE DEPARTMENT FOLKS CAN? >> ALL RIGHT.

>>> COMMISSIONERS COURT IS BACK IN SESSION WHILE COMMISSIONER GARCIA RETURNS WE CAN DISCUSS ITEMS THAT WERE FLAGGED BY PRECINCTS THAT ARE NOT PRECINCT THAT ARE NOT PRECINCT 2. IS THAT OKAY? I DON'T KNOW IF HE LINES. SOMETIMES WE DON'T , THERE IS NOT A CONCERN ABOUT VOTING FOR THESE MINOR ITEMS.

>> IF THERE IS ONE THAT'S CONTROVERSIAL WE WILL BRING IT

BACK UP. >> FOR EXAMPLE TAKING FROM THE TOP IN TERMS OF THE REGULAR AGENDA. ONE OF THE ITEMS FLAGGED, NOT BY COMMISSIONER GARCIA IS ITEM 16. ON THE OFFICE OF ADMINISTRATION AND PUTTING ASSETS TO WORK INITIATIVE. DO YOU GUYS THINK WE CAN GO ON THAT ONE OR TRY FOR ANOTHER? EXCUSE ME? YEAH, I THOUGHT YOU MIGHT WANT TO VOTE FOR THE CONSENT AGENDA. WE CAN START GOING THROUGH CORRECTIONS.

>> WE CAN ADD HIM TO THE CONSENT AGENDA.

>> LET'S DO THAT THEN. >> WE DON'T HAVE TO GO BACK AND

VOTE ON IT. >> YOU WOULD LIKELY NEED TO DO A

MOTION TO RECONSIDER. >> OKAY ITEM 10, THERE IS CORRECTION TO REMOVE THE, NO AND START THE PROCESS ARE PROGRAMS INTO THE FLEX FUND AFTER OUTCOMES. ITEM 12, HOUSING FINANCE CORPORATION HCD REQUESTS NO ACTION. I DON'T 21 MONTHLY REIMBURSEMENT UPDATES ON FEDERAL GRANTS, OMB REQUEST NO ACTION.

ITEM 92 NO ACTION ON THIS BROAD LEGISLATIVE DISCUSSION ITEM.

>> I MIGHT DO A BRIEF COMMENT ON THE BROAD LEGISLATIVE.

>> WILL KEEP THAT ONE IN DISCUSSION. LET ME MAKE SURE I HAVE THAT. OKAY. THAT'S 92. THEN WE HAVE 98, TAX EXEMPTION FOR THE NHP FOUNDATION, HCD REQUESTS NO ACTION. 139 THE AUDITOR REQUESTS NO ACTION ON PAYMENT CLAIM . 201 THERE IS NO ACTION BY PURCHASING ON THE RENEWAL WITH KEY HTX . AND THAT IS ABOUT IT FOR THE CORRECTIONS. DID I MISS ANYTHING? OKAY. GOING THROUGH THE DISCUSSION ITEMS . LET ME START WITH EXECUTIVE SESSION , EXECUTIVE SESSION ITEMS PLACED ON THE CONSENT AGENDA WILL BE MOTIONED TO BE APPROVED AS PRESENTED. ITEM TO 60 EXECUTIVE SESSION ON THE HARRIS COUNTY ASIAN-AMERICAN PACIFIC ISLANDER COMMISSION. OKAY. 261. OKAY. 262. 263. 264.

265. 266. ALL RIGHT, WE DO NEED TO GO BACK ON 267 IT LOOKS LIKE UPDATE BY UNIVERSAL SERVICES. AND THEN THERE IS 269 . DO WE NEED TO GO BACK ON THAT ONE? ADMINISTRATOR? NO OKAY THAT'S THE APPOINTMENT. RIGHT, I SEE, OKAY. THAT LEAVES JUST TO 67 FOR

EXECUTIVE SESSION. >> WE MIGHT ASK LEGAL WHEN WE GET TO THE DISPARITY STUDY BECAUSE THAT'S LITIGATION ON THE PROGRAM I WOULD LIKE FOR US TO TAKE THAT TO EXECUTIVE

[02:55:04]

SESSION. >> WHICH ITEM IS THAT?

>> 155. >> LET ME PUT 155 IN THE EXECUTIVE SESSION LIST, AS WELL. OKAY. THEN WE HAVE THE DISCUSSION LIST. I KNOW WE WANT TO DISCUSS ITEM 10 ON THE FLEX FUND . 12 WAS FLAGGED BY PRECINCT 3, BUT IT HAS BEEN REQUESTED FOR NO ACTION. COULD WE PUT IT BACK ON CONSENT OR

WOULD YOU LIKE TO DISCUSS IT? >> IT CAN GO BACK ON CONSENT.

>> GOES BACK ON CONSENT. >> NO ACTION?

>> NO ACTION ON NUMBER 12. >> THANK YOU, THAT'S WHAT I MEANT. NO ACTION, RIGHT, ITEM 12 IS NO ACTION. ITEM 15 WE WANT TO DISCUSS THE CLIMATE JUSTICE PLAN. ITEM 16 PUTTING ASSETS TO WORK LOOKS LIKE YOU GUYS DO WANT TO DISCUSS THAT ONE. ITEM 19 IS DOMESTIC VIOLENCE COORDINATING COUNCIL. WE WILL PUT ITEM 19 BACK ON CONSENT. THEN WE HAVE ITEM 20 SENIOR OPERATING PROCEDURE FOR BUDGET PROPOSAL. THAT IS FLAGGED BY PRECINCT 3.

OKAY 21 IS NO ACTION THREE AND FOUR REQUESTED DISCUSSION CAN WE FLAG FOR NO ACTION? NO ACTION. ITEM 23. COMMERCIAL PAPER FUNDING FOR PUBLIC HEALTH COMMISSIONER RAMSEY FLAGGED THAT ONE. OKAY 24, THAT IS FOR THE DISTRICT. 61 FLAGGED BY PRECINCT 4 ON HIKE AND BIKE TRAIL. 62 BY PRECINCT 4 SIDEWALKS. ALL RIGHT.

WE WILL DISCUSS THE LEGISLATIVE AGENDA WHICH IS ITEM 92. AND THEN WE HAVE , MARK THIS, ITEM 1 OF THREE, THAT IS DISASTER RECOVERY ACTION PLAN FLAGGED BY COMMERCIAL GARCIA SO WE BELIEVE IT ON. 122 CRITICAL OPERATION NEEDS FISCAL YEAR 25 THAT IS THE DA OFFICE ITEM WHICH WE ALREADY PASSED. SO I AM PUTTING THAT ONE AND IT IS DONE. 123 , THE CARP PROGRAM FLAGGED BY PRECINCT 3.

ITEM 155 EVERYBODY WANTS TO DISCUSS. THAT IS ON THE OKAY SO THIS IS EXECUTIVE SESSION. AND THEN , AND THEN THERE IS 213.

BOTH RELATED TO RINK OF DETECTIVES SO WE WANT TO DISCUSS, TO 13 GOES WITH 100. 214 WELCOME COMMISSIONER GARCIA WE ARE GOING THROUGH THE CONSENT AGENDA. ITEM 214 FLAGGED BY

COMMISSIONER ELLIS. >> THAT SHOULD BE TALKED ABOUT

IN EXECUTIVE SESSION. >> OKAY I AM MOVING 214 TO THE EXECUTIVE SESSION. GIVE ME JUST A MOMENT PLEASE. ALL RIGHT. AND THEN WE HAVE 228, BURNETT BAYLAND MASTER PLAN. 268 COMMISSIONER RAMSEY AUSTIN ENERGY AGREEMENT SOLAR FOR ALL.

>> YOU CAN RETURN. >> TO 68 GOES BACK TO CONSENT.

276, PRECINCT 3. TELEWORK POLICY. 285 PRECINCT 3 ON JAIL FEASIBILITY STUDY. 286 ON KNOWN CULTURAL FEASIBILITY STUDY PRECINCT 3. 297 PRECINCT 3 ON MINIMUM WAGE REQUIREMENTS. 298

PRECINCT 3 ON TUNNELS PILOT. >> COMMISSIONER RAMSEY SHOULD TAKE 297 INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION? IN CASE THERE ARE SOME LEGAL

ISSUES RELATED TO IT? >> EITHER WAY I'M FINE. IF THAT'S ALLOWED TO GO INTO EXECUTIVE. SO YES IF YOU HAVE

LEGAL QUESTIONS. >> SO IT WILL TAKE IT TO

[03:00:03]

300, COMMISSIONER RAMSEY WE ARE TAKING ALONG WITH 213 WHICH IS MY ITEM AND THEN THERE'S ITEM 302 FLAGGED BY COMMISSIONER RAMSEY ON OMB ASSESSMENT OF ALL PROGRAMS STARTED WITH ARPA

FUNDING. YES. >> MAY I ASK ITEMS 93 AND 234 RELATED TO TAX ABATEMENT? I WOULD ASK THERE WOULD BE NO ACTION BECAUSE I THINK ADDITIONAL ANALYSIS NEEDS TO BE DONE BY THE COUNTY ATTORNEY AND THE STAKEHOLDER ENGAGEMENT OR WE CAN DISCUSS BUT MY STRONG PREFERENCE AS WE MOVE TO THE

NEXT COURT. >> 93 AND 234, TAX ABATEMENT.

>> 93 AND 234. I WOULD ASK WE MOVE IT TO THE NEXT COURT. MAY 8. UNLESS ANY OF YOU WANT TO DISCUSS TODAY BUT I THINK WE

NEED ANOTHER MONTH OF WORK. >> IS THAT OKAY YOU GUYS?

>> THAT IS A DEL ITEM. >> WE HAVE TALKED TO DIRECTOR GONZALEZ. ITEMS 93 AND 234, NO ACTION.

>> NO ACTION ON ITEMS 93 AND 234.

>> I WANT TO FLAG 95 AND TAKE IT OFF CONSENT.

>> 95 IS ON PUBLIC NUISANCE ABATEMENT SO I WILL PUT THAT AS A DISCUSSION ITEM. ALL RIGHT. AND THEN WE HAVE GOT , THAT IS

[Public Hearings]

PARTIAL NUMBER ONE, ANYONE WHO WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK FOR OR AGAINST THIS ITEM? SINCE THERE ARE NO SPEAKERS, I KNOW CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING. IS THERE A MOTION ON THE ITEM? MOTION BY COMMISSIONER ELLIS, SECOND BY COMMISSIONER GARCIA. ALL IN FAVOR. MOTION PASSES UNANIMOUSLY. NEXT WILL MOVE ON

TO A PUBLIC HEARING ITEM 234. >> JUDGE THAT WAS ASKED TO HAVE NO ACTION. THAT I WAS ASKED TO HAVE NO ACTION.

>> GREAT, 234 NO ACTION WHICH IS GREAT SO THAT IS DEALT WITH.

THANK YOU. AND THEN LET ME GO THROUGH OUR DISCUSSION LIST. SO

WE HAVE. >> JUDGE CAN WE ADD, REALLY WE

NEED TO VOTE ON FIVE. >> OKAY MOTION BY COMMISSIONER GARCIA ON ITEM 5. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER ELLIS, ITEM 5 ON RESOLUTION. ALL IN FAVOR? ANY OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES 4-1. ON SPECIAL ELECTION RESOLUTION. LET'S SEE ABOUT EXECUTIVE SESSION ITEMS, WE HAVE 155 ON THE MDT . EXCUSE ME, DISPARITY STUDY. AGREEMENT. AND THEN WE HAVE 214. THAT IS DISPARITY STUDY FOR THE ISD'S. AND THEN WE HAVE 267, IT IS AN UPDATE ON CYBER SECURITY. AND THEN 297, LEGALITY OF MINIMUM WAGE REQUIREMENTS. THAT'S ALL WE HAVE ARE EXECUTIVE SESSION. 155, 214, 267 AND 297. OKAY AND THEN FOR THE DISCUSSION LIST WE HAVE ITEM 10, FLEX FUND, 15 CLAIMANT JUSTICE PLAN, 16 PUTTING ASSETS

[03:05:01]

DISCUSSION ITEMS JUST LISTED? >> SO MOVED.

>> SECOND. >> MOTION BY COMMISSIONER BRIONES, SECOND BY COMMISSIONER RAMSEY. ALL IN FAVOR? ANY OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.

>> JUDGE ITEM 294 APPROVED AS PRESENTED PER A NOTE I RECEIVED.

THAT WAS FOR NAMING MEYER GROVE DETENTION BASIN.

>> YES, APPROVED AS PRESENTED. THAT IS GREAT, COMMISSIONER ELLIS. SO NOW , WE WILL START WITH ITEM 155. OH, THAT'S EXECUTIVE SESSION, EXCUSE ME. STARTING WITH ITEM 10 ON THE FLEX FUND. SO GO AHEAD COUNTY ADMINISTRATION.

>> THINK YOU JUDGE AND COMMISSIONERS. ON THIS ITEM WHAT WE ARE ASKING IS MAINLY TO DO STAGING WORK RELATED TO ARPA AND THE IDEA IS WE ARE ASKING FOR RAISING OF THE CEILING FOR WHAT COULD GO INTO THE FLEX FUND FROM ARPA BUT NOT TAKING FURTHER ACTION IN THAT. IN THE BACKGROUND WE WILL WORK WITH THE COUNTY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE TO DO RISK ASSESSMENT OF THE ARPA PROGRAMS THAT WE HAVE ONGOING AND TO LOOK AT , YOU KNOW WHICH ONES WE WOULD BE READY FOR, TO STAGE IN CASE ANYTHING CHANGES AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL. WE ARE NOT THERE YET BUT WE WANT TO BE PREPARED AND NIMBLE IF THERE ARE ANY CHANGES THAT COME DOWN QUICKLY SO IT'S ALL ABOUT STAGING.

>> ALL RIGHT COMMISSIONER GARCIA AND THEN COMMISSIONER RAMSEY.

>> THANK YOU. I WANT TO BE CLEAR, NO DECISIONS ARE GOING TO BE MADE WITH OF THE STEERING COMMITTEE.

>> WITHOUT STEERING COMMITTEE AND COMMISSIONERS COURT SO WE WILL COME BACK BEFORE ANYTHING ELSE BESIDES STAGING IS DONE.

>> DEFINED STAGING. >> MAINLY LIFTING THE CEILING ON THE FLEX FUND OF WHAT COULD GO INTO THE FLEX FUND AND THEN US DOING BACKGROUND WORK ON LOOKING AT THE RISK FACTORS FOR DIFFERENT ARPA PROGRAMS, WHAT COULD BE ELIGIBLE, WHAT IS NOT ELIGIBLE SO THEN IF COMMISSIONERS COURT NEEDS TO MAKE A DECISION IN THE NEAR FUTURE WE CAN COME BACK WITH INFORMATION FOR YOU AND IT IS NOT A REACTION. YOU ALREADY KNOW WHAT'S THE HIGHEST RISK AND WHAT YOU WOULD WANT TO DO.

>> AND NO THOUGHT ON WHY NOT DO THEM TOGETHER?

>> NOT DOING THEM TOGETHER BECAUSE IT'S A LOT OF WORK TO MOVE PROGRAMS OVER AND WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE NOT ADDING A BUNCH MORE WORK TO THE DEPARTMENT IF IT'S NOT ABSOLUTELY NECESSARY. SO WE ARE LOOKING AT RISK FACTORS, ALWAYS A RISK MOVING THINGS, ALWAYS A RISK KEEPING WHERE THINGS ARE.

>> I MEAN YOU STILL HAVE WORK TO DO. MY QUESTION IS WHY SHOULD WE DECIDE NOW IF YOU STILL HAVE WORK TO DO?

>> JUST BECAUSE IT ALLOWS US TO KNOW HOW MUCH FLEXIBILITY WE HAVE MOVING FORWARD. THE IDEA IS JUST TO GET YOU READY FOR IF WE HAVE TO HAVE A QUICK ACTION SO WE CAN JUST GET GOING.

>> THANK YOU. >> COMMISSIONER RAMSEY.

>> AS I UNDERSTAND THE STEERING COMMITTEE APPROVED WHAT YOU ARE PROPOSING BY VOTE 3-2. WE ARE ALREADY AT A LITTLE BIT OF CONCERN. CLEARLY YOU HAVE ALLUDED TO MULTIPLE STEPS

[03:10:04]

ALTHOUGH THIS IS FEDERAL MONEY AND WE KNOW WE ARE UNDER APPROPRIATE AND CLOSE REVIEW BY THEM. I DON'T KNOW THIS HELPS US. IT MIGHT END UP HURTING US, IF WE CREATE AND FIND IT GIVES US MORE FLEXIBILITY, BUT IT MAY LACK IN TERMS OF BEING ABLE TO CLEARLY DEFINE HOW THE DECISIONS WERE MADE , WHERE THE MONEY WAS SPENT. I KNOW IT IS A FLEX FUND. I WILL REFER TO IT AS A SLASH FUND , BUT THIS WAS SOLD TO THE COURT BASED ON IT BEING EASIER TO WORK WITH. SOMETIMES WHEN WE'RE HANDLING GOVERNMENT MONEY, PARTICULARLY FEDERAL MONEY, THOSE RESTRAINTS ARE THERE FOR A REASON. REQUIREMENTS ON THE WE COULD DO OR NOT DO WHETHER IT'S ARPA MONEY OR OTHER MONEY. SO AGAIN I WOULD HAVE CONCERNS , I REALIZE IT MAKES YOUR JOB EASIER BUT I DON'T KNOW THAT SHOULD BE THE PRIMARY OBJECTIVE.

>> I DON'T KNOW IF IT MAKES THE JOB EASIER, I THINK IT GIVES US TIME AND MORE CLARITY TO MAKE SURE WE CAN GIVE YOU THE INFORMATION YOU NEED TO MAKE A DECISION IF A TOUGH DECISION IS CALLED FOR IN THE NEAR FUTURE. ONE OF THE PROBLEMS HAS BEEN IS NOT THAT IS MAKING IT EASIER AND THERE'S GOING TO BE FEWER REQUIREMENTS, WE STILL HAVE ALL THE REQUIREMENTS, WE STILL SPEND MONEY ONLY AS COMMISSIONERS COURT AUTHORIZES US TO SPEND MONEY AND THE ISSUE IS THAT WE WOULD BE ABLE TO MAKE SURE WE CAN KEEP WORKING ON PROGRAMS. THIS WAS ESTABLISHED YEARS AGO AND I THINK MAYBE CALLING IT A FLEX FUND MAY BE A MISNOMER AND ADDS TO THE CONFUSION BUT IT'S NOT WHERE IT GIVES ULTIMATE FLEXIBILITY. WE STILL HAVING TO IMPLEMENT THE PROJECT AS IT WAS

APPROVED I COMMISSIONERS COURT. >> IT DOES ALLOW YOU TO MOVE

MONEY BETWEEN PROGRAMS. >> IT ALLOWS A PROGRAM TO BE FUNDED OUT OF WHAT BECOMES GENERAL FUND DOLLARS. IN

ESSENCE. >> BASED ON DECEMBER 2024.

>> CORRECT, YES. >> I WOULD HAVE CONCERNS.

>> COMMISSIONER ELLIS AND THEN COMMISSIONER BRIONES.

>> I WOULD SAY KNOWING THERE HAS BEEN A CHANGE IN LEADERSHIP ON THE FEDERAL LEVEL AND ISSUES WE HAVE READ ABOUT IN THE PAPER, I THINK ALL OF US WOULD BE WISE TO BE CAREFUL WITH WHAT WE SAY IN PUBLIC. IF ANY OF THE MONEY WAS LOST WE WOULD END UP IN LITIGATION AND MAYBE THINGS WE CAN TALK ABOUT IN EXECUTIVE SESSION, BUT I WOULD SAY FOR US TO TREAD LIGHTLY BECAUSE WE WILL BE MAKING SOME SEVERE CUTS IF SOMETHING OTHER THAN UNDERSTANDING WE WERE GIVEN IN OTHER JURISDICTIONS WERE GIVEN ON HOW THIS COULD BE DONE. I REMEMBER DISCUSSIONS ABOUT US NOT DOING ANYTHING DIFFERENT WITH OTHER ENTITIES INCLUDING THE STATE OF TEXAS REGARDLESS OF WHATEVER YOU CALL IT BUT I ENCOURAGE MY COLLEAGUES TO THE EXTENT LEGALLY WE CAN GO TO EXECUTIVE SESSION BECAUSE IT WILL BE LITIGATION YOU WILL FEEL SOME CUTS YOU NEVER DREAMED OF. INCLUDING IN THESE PRECINCT BUDGETS. SO I WOULD SUGGEST THAT AS A WORD OF CAUTION.

>> COMMISSIONER BRIONES. >> THANK YOU COUNTY ADMINISTER.

AND I HAVE BEEN WORKING WITH THE COUNTY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE AND THE ANALYSIS HAS BEEN CONDUCTED. ANYTHING YOU WOULD LIKE TO SHARE FROM THE COUNTY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE?

>> IN PUBLIC OR EXECUTIVE SESSION.

>> NOT AT THIS TIME WE ARE FINE WITH THE MOTION IS PRESENTED.

>> JUST TO STEP IN ON THIS. TO EXPLAIN WHY THIS ADVICE WAS GIVEN. WHAT WE ARE DOING IS GETTING READY TO MOVE, IF THERE IS DECLARATION ON EXECUTIVE ORDER OR ANYTHING THAT TELLS US WE CANNOT RUN THE EXISTING ARPA PROGRAM. IF THAT HAPPENS AND IT HAS BEEN HAPPENING IN ANOTHER CONTEXT VERY QUICKLY, TO BE ABLE TO PIVOT WILL TAKE PROBABLY ABOUT A MONTH OF PREPARATION WHICH INVOLVES DRAFTING NEW GRANT AGREEMENTS AND THINGS LIKE THAT SO THAT'S WITH THE PREPARATION DOES. IN FACT IT KEEPS THE PROGRAMS GOING AND ALLOWS US TO CONTINUE TO USE

[03:15:01]

NOT ABLE TO CONTINUE THOSE. >> THANK YOU. I MOVED TO APPROVE

AS PRESENTED. >> MOTION BY COMMISSIONER ELLIS SECOND BY COMMISSIONER GARCIA. ALL IN FAVOR? ANY OPPOSED? I'M IN FAVOR THE MOTION CARRIES 4-1 . I HAVE TWO JET SOON DO YOU MIND IF WE TAKE CONSTABLE ITEMS BEFORE I HAVE TO LEAVE FOR 45 MINUTES? THOSE ARE ITEMS 213 AND 300. I KNOW WE HAVE HAD QUITE A BIT OF DISCUSSION ON THIS I HAVE BEEN , LET'S SEE ITEM 213. I HAVE BEEN CONCERNED BECAUSE OF BUDGETARY REASONS. ABOUT THE REQUEST, WE HAVE MET WITH CONSTABLES, MY STAFF AND OF COURSE THE STAFF AT THE CONSTABLE OFFICE AND ELECTED LEADERS THEMSELVES HAVE BEEN WONDERFUL AND COMMUNICATIVE. I KNOW THAT THE CURRENT SHARE -- SHERIFF MADE A REQUEST IN THE FISCAL BUDGET TO BRING DETECTIVE RINK BACK SINCE IT HAD BEEN REMOVED SOME YEARS AGO. THE CIVIL SERVICE TO QUALIFY WHO IS DETECTIVE AND WHO WAS PROMOTED RECENTLY, WE PROPOSED OR WE APPROVED DURING THE BUDGET PROCESS LAST YEAR FUNDING IN THE AMOUNT OF $5 MILLION ANNUALIZED. SEPARATELY, THE CONSTABLES HAVE BEEN WORKING ON THE VIOLENT OFFENDER BY PROGRAM ALONG WITH DOING INVESTIGATIVE LEVEL WORK AND PAY PARITY. I CHARGE MY STAFF WITH WORKING WITH APPROPRIATE DEPARTMENTS IN FIGHTING TEMPORARY PAY PARITY SOLUTION BETWEEN NOW AND THE BUDGET CYCLE. FOR THE SAKE OF YOU KNOW FAIRNESS AND ALSO BEING ABLE TO CONTINUE WITH THIS. IN ORDER TO TRY TO SORT OF IN ORDER TO ADDRESS MY CONCERNS I HAVE A MOTION THAT WAS SHARED WITH YOU GUYS AND THAT WOULD BE MY PROPOSAL AND WITH THAT I WOULD BE ABLE OR WOULD BE WILLING TO SUPPORT THE ITEM. AND THAT ONE IS , LET ME MAKE SURE. TO DIRECT HRT CAR, OCA TO WORK WITH CONSTABLES TO DEVELOP POLICY FOR DETERMINING ELIGIBILITY FOR A TEMPORARY STIPEND FOR ELIGIBLE CERTIFIED PERSONNEL ENGAGED IN THE VIOLENT OFFENDER TASK FORCE AND SELECT OTHER PERSONNEL CONDUCTING INVESTIGATIVE LEVEL WORK FOCUSED ON HUMAN TRAFFICKING, SEXUAL ASSAULT AND/OR DOMESTIC VIOLENCE WITHIN THE CONSTABLE OFFICE FOR DISCUSSION AT THE MAY 8 COMMISSIONERS COURT. UNDERSTANDING THAT IS NOT CLEAR HOW MANY FOLKS THERE ARE IN EACH OFFICE THAT DOES INVESTIGATIVE LEVEL WORK BUT THERE ARE A SIGNIFICANT NUMBER OF INDIVIDUALS THAT DO INVESTIGATIVE LEVEL WORK OVER AND ABOVE FOLKS WHO WORK . SO I WILL PASS IT ON TO DIRECTOR RAMOS WHO STEPPED OUT BRIEFLY AND WE WILL HAVE COMMISSIONER

RAMSEY AND COMMISSIONER BRIONES. >> THANK YOU. THIS ITEM HAS COME BACK SEVERAL TIMES AS I REITERATED AS THE PROPOSAL STANDS IT WOULD NOT BE A BUDGET ISSUE IN THE CURRENT YEAR. IT'S ONLY A BUDGET ISSUE THAT THERE WERE ALL TO BE FULLY STAFFED. IF THE GOAL IS TO GET PAY PARITY BETWEEN THOSE FOLKS WORKING ON VIPER AND OTHER INVESTIGATIVE IDEAS AND MAY BE MORE LINEAR TO IMPROVE THE CLASSIFICATION AS OPPOSED TO CRATING AN ADMINISTRATIVE PROCESS FOR THE STIPEND AND SUBSEQUENTLY SUBMITTING THE RANK AS PART OF THE PROCESS. THE GOAL IS TO GET THEM ON THE SAME PAY SCALE. I BELIEVE COMMISSIONER BRIONES SENT AROUND TWO MOTIONS WHICH WOULD MAKE IT EASIER FROM THE ADMINISTRATIVE DEPARTMENT TO IMPLEMENT.

>> OKAY COMMISSIONER RAMSEY AND COMMISSIONER BRIONES.

>> I WILL YIELD TO COMMISSIONER BRIONES AND LET YOU PUT IT OUT

THERE. >> THANK YOU COMMISSIONER AND JUDGE. THIS IS SOMETHING WE HAVE BEEN TALKING ABOUT FOR MONTHS SO FOR THE THIRD TIME I WILL BE VOTING IN FAVOR BECAUSE I STAND IN SOLIDARITY WITH ALL LAW ENFORCEMENT AND IT WORK CLOSELY WITH MY THREE CONSTABLE PARTNERS, CONSTABLE HERMAN, NAME ] AND CONSTABLE ROSEN AND I BELIEVE IN PAY PARITY. SOMETHING WE TALK ABOUT OFTEN SO I AM VERY MUCH IN FAVOR OF THE PAY RANGE

[03:20:06]

OUR CONSTABLE HERMAN , THEY HELP TOMBALL ISD. ONE EVENING A PARENT TESTED ME WITH THIS SCREENSHOT A BASICALLY A STUDENT FROM TOMBALL SAYING HE WAS GOING TO SHOOT UP THE SCHOOL. WITHIN MINUTES CALLING CONSTABLE HERMAN AND HIS TEAM THEY ACTIVATED THERE WAS A VIABLE THREAT, THE STUDENT WAS TAKEN INTO CUSTODY AND THERE WAS NOT A MASS SHOOTING THE NEXT DAY WHICH WAS THE STUDENTS PLAN. I RAISE THIS AND I KNOW NOT EVERY SINGLE ONE IS IN VIPER BUT FOR THE VAST MAJORITY THIS IS HOW THE CONVERSATION AROSE TO BEGIN WITH AND I FEEL PASSIONATE ABOUT VIPER MAKING SURE WE DOUBLE DOWN WHEN THERE IS OPEN WARRANT FOR VIOLENT OFFENSE. SO I THANK CONSTABLES FOR THEIR SERVICE, I THANK THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE AND DEPUTIES FOR THEIR SERVICE AND FOR THE THIRD TIME I WILL BE VOTING IN FAVOR, BUT SPECIFICALLY MY MOTION LANGUAGE. APPROVE THE CONSTABLE DETECTIVE RINK AND PAY RANGE, REQUESTING THE CONSTABLES WORK WITH HARRIS COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE AND CONTINUE WORKING TO ENSURE PROCESS PARITY RELATED TO JOB DESCRIPTIONS, PROMOTIONAL ELIGIBILITY AND TESTING CRITERIA MOVING FORWARD. TO THE EXTENT

POSSIBLE. >> COMMISSIONER RAMSEY DO YOU

STILL HAVE A COMMENT? >> YES I WILL SECOND THAT MOTION. AND FOR THE THIRD TIME I WILL BE VOTING IN FAVOR. I THINK IT IS CONSISTENT WITH WHAT THOSE AGENCIES ARE DOING. I KNOW THE SHERIFF'S INVESTIGATORS ARE WORKING THROUGH THEIR INITIAL DETAILS AND SPECIFIC IN TERMS OF TESTS AND OTHER THINGS THEY NEED TO DO. THE CONSTABLES ARE ESSENTIALLY DOING THE SAME JOB THAT YOU FIND THERE. I THINK THEY DO HAVE THE DOLLARS AND FUNDS TO DEAL WITH IT THIS YEAR. AND THE REST OF IT CAN BE WORKED OUT IN THE BUDGET. I WOULD SECOND THAT MOTION. SINCE, AND SINCE THIS PARTICULAR ITEM HAD RESULTED IN SOME IN SOME PEOPLE ABSTAINING I DID ASK THE COUNTY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE TO GIVE ME A PRESCRIPTION EXACTLY WHAT IT MEANS TO ABSTAIN. I WILL NOT READ THE THREE PAGES I'VE GOT FROM THE COUNTY ATTORNEY, BUT TO MAKE IT SIMPLE BUT WHEN YOU ABSTAIN YOU VOTE NO. SO ABSTAINING MEANS YOU VOTED NO. SO, THANK YOU FOR THE CLARIFICATION. I THINK THAT WILL HELP US GOING FORWARD AND AGAIN I SECOND THE MOTION. COMMISSIONER BRIONES MOTION.

>> SO, COMMISSIONER ELLIS. >> YOU WANT TO MAKE SOME COMMENT? I DID WANT TO ASK , THIS WILL NOT COST ANY MONEY?

THIS BUDGET CYCLE? >> THAT'S CORRECT.

>> DOES IT OBLIGATE? >> LET ME CORRECT, IT WILL COST MONEY, ALL CONSTABLES HAVE THE BUDGET TO COVER.

>> IT WON'T COST ANY ADDITIONAL MONEY. WILL IT COST ANY MONEY IN

THE FUTURE BUDGET CYCLES? >> IT COULD OF THE CONSTABLES WERE EVER FULLY STAFFED AND LAST TIME I CHECKED AND THIS IS ALL LAW ENFORCEMENT ABOUT 300 VACANCIES.

>> IF THEY WERE FULLY STAFFED IT WOULD COST MONEY. OKAY. ARE THERE ANY OTHER PAY INEQUITIES WE HAVE IN COUNTY GOVERNMENT?

>> YES. >> WE HAD A DISCUSSION EARLIER ABOUT, WHAT WAS THE ITEM? WHAT DID YOU CALL THE FUND HE WAS

REFERRING TO? >> THE FLEX FUND?

>> THE FLEX FUND. I'M GOING TO SUPPORT THIS ITEM AND ON THE NEXT COURT VERY SOON I WILL HAVE ITEM TO ADDRESS THE OTHER INEQUITIES , NOT MONEY THIS YEAR BUT IN FUTURE YEARS SHOWING HOW

[03:25:06]

THAT'S WHAT ABSTENTION IS BUT I VOTE FOR THIS ITEM.

>> GREAT. >> IN THE NAME OF FLEXIBILITY.

>> COMMISSIONER GARCIA. >> THANK YOU. ONE IS THAT I WANT TO TAKE THESE MOTIONS SEPARATE. BUT, ON THE SECOND MOTION, COMMISSIONER BRIONES WOULD YOU BE WILLING TO INCLUDE THE TESTING CRITERIA MOVING FORWARD ? AND THE LIMITATION OF CIVIL

SERVICE? >> YOU KNOW FAR MORE ABOUT CIVIL SERVICE THAN I DO. MY UNDERSTANDING IT WOULD HAVE TO

BE A LEGISLATIVE CHANGE. >> BUT THIS IS A PROCESS WORK TO UNDERSTAND IT ALL . THE ONLY REASON I HAVE NOT VOTED FOR THIS AND HAVE NOT VOTED AGAINST IT IS BECAUSE THE TESTING CRITERIA WITH THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE HAS WEIGHT . IF A CONSTABLE CHOOSES TO IMPLEMENT TESTING CRITERIA IN THEIR AGENCY , OR NOT . THEY CAN STILL GIVE THE RANK REGARDLESS. SO, THE THING THAT MAKES THIS DIFFERENT ARE THERE IS NO PARITY IS THE ISSUE OF CIVIL SERVICE.

SO IF YOU WOULD INCLUDE, AFTER TESTING CRITERIA MOVING FORWARD, INCLUDING THE LIMITATION OF CIVIL SERVICE FOR THE CONSTABLE OFFICES I WOULD SUPPORT THE ITEM.

>> COMMISSIONER I HEAR YOU BUT I DON'T THINK I CAN OBLIGATE THE LEGISLATURE OR INDEPENDENTLY ELECTED. MY THREE CONSTABLES.

>> YOU ARE NOT OBLIGATED , YOU'RE COMING UP WITH A PROCESS WITH RELATED JOB DESCRIPTIONS, TESTING CRITERIA, JUST THE POSSIBILITY OF IMPLEMENTATION CIVIL SERVICE. THAT'S A

FRIENDLY AMENDMENT . >> OKAY SO QUESTION FOR THE BUDGET. LAST TIME, BUDGET EXPRESSED VERY SERIOUS CONCERNS WITH THIS ITEM. SO I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE, THROUGHOUT PROCESSES AND CONVERSATIONS WITH THE CONSTABLES IN PARTICULAR AND MEMBERS OF THE BUDGET OFFICE , I HAVE LEARNED SO MUCH AND I THINK IT WILL BE HELPFUL AND COLLABORATIVE PROCESS. AGAIN I STRESS MY GRATITUDE ON THAT. I JUST WANT TO UNDERSTAND. WHERE I LEFT OFF AND THE REASON I HAD THAT MOTION IS WE WANTED TO MAKE THOSE DECISIONS AS PART OF THE BUDGET CYCLE. SO DIRECTOR RAMOS WHEN I VISITED WITH HIM WAS SAYING WE NEED, IT WOULD BE BETTER TO HAVE A SHORT-TERM SOLUTION AND THEN VISIT THE PERMANENT SOLUTION AS PART OF THE BUDGET CYCLE, NOW I HEARD HIM SAY SOMETHING DIFFERENT. SO MY POSITION ON THIS HAS BEEN TO FOLLOW RECOMMENDATION OF THE BUDGET ON ALL ITEMS THAT'S THE RECOMMENDATION OF THE BUDGET OFFICE. I HEAR WHAT YOU'RE SAYING SO IN THAT SENSE I AM LIKE ARE YOU OPENING THE FLOODGATES NOW? BECAUSE IF WE ARE LACKING PAY PARITY NOW YOU'RE OKAY WITH FIXING ANY PAY PARITY PERMANENTLY? I AM THROWN.

>> I THINK IT IS A COMP LOCATED ISSUE. ONE OF THE THINGS WE HAVE HEARD COURT SAY AGAIN AND AGAIN AS WE ARE SEEKING PAY PARITY SO I THINK DANIEL'S POSITION IS , THIS HAS BEEN COMING UP AGAIN AND AGAIN AND AGAIN AND I THINK THE COURT HAS EXPRESSED WISHES FOR IT TO GET PAY PARITY. SO GOING TO DO THIS ADMINISTERED OF WORK OF CREATING A TEMPORARY STIPEND IS A BAND-AID SOLUTION ON SOMETHING YOU HAVE BEEN ASKING FOR WHICH IS THE

DETECTIVE RANKING. >> THE PAST COUPLE TIMES IT HAS NOT PASSED. MAJORITY OF THE COURT HAS NOT BEEN OKAY WITH MAKING THIS BIG CHANGE. WHICH IS WHY WE WORKED ON AN ALTERNATIVE SOLUTION. IF YOU GUYS ARE HAPPY WITH THAT ONE AND THE WORK WAS HELPFUL REGARDLESS IN THOSE COMMUNICATIONS WITH MY COLLEAGUES , MY CONSTABLE COLLEAGUES, BUT I WANT YOU GUYS TO BE VERY CLEAR ABOUT WHAT YOU ARE SAYING RIGHT NOW. YOU ARE SAYING WHATEVER WE WANT PAY PARITY WILL SAY THAT'S FISCALLY

[03:30:03]

IS LOGICAL. >> THE POSITION IS WHEN WE HAD TO DEAL WITH THESE DECISIONS AS THEY COME UP ULTIMATELY WE TALK ABOUT PAY PARITY, THESE ARE COURT POLICY DECISIONS YOU GUYS

HAVE TO MAKE. >> YOUR THE BUDGET OFFICE. YOU NEED TO RECOMMEND YES OR NO. DOES THAT MEAN YOU'RE RECOMMENDING YES ? ON THIS? IS THAT WHAT YOU ARE SAYING, BUT YOUR HEARING IS GOING TO BE MORE PAY PARITY ITEMS COMING. ARE YOU RECOMMENDING NO ON THOSE BECAUSE SOMETHING COMING OVER AND OVER AGAIN DOES NOT MEET PEOPLE SUPPORT IT, IT MEANS PEOPLE DON'T SUPPORT IT SO I DON'T GET THAT LOGIC EITHER.

>> I THINK IN TERMS OF FUTURE DECISIONS , ESPECIALLY WHENEVER THOSE DECISIONS COME UP THEY WILL HAVE TO EVALUATE THEM BASED ON WHERE WE STAND FROM A PHYSICAL PERSPECTIVE AND WHAT'S BEING ASKED. IN TERMS OF WHAT'S BEING DISCUSSED HERE TODAY I THINK DIRECTOR RAMOS POSITION IS THIS , INSTEAD OF GOING DOWN THE ADMINISTRATIVE ROUTE WE ARE OKAY GOING WITH GOING TO CORRECTIVE

AND CLASSIFICATION RANKS. >> I STILL DON'T REALLY

UNDERSTAND THE LOGIC. >> THERE IS NO BUDGET IMPACT

THIS YEAR. >> RIGHT BUT YOU ARE COMMITTING FOR FUTURE YEARS. RIGHT EXACTLY. AM I MISSING SOMETHING? OUR POSITION IS THE ITEM DOES NOT HAVE FISCAL IMPACT. IT HAS BEEN ON THE FLOOR, NOT RATED WITH FISCAL IMPACT FOR EITHER. SO THE POSITION HAS BEEN AT THE COURT DECISION WHETHER TO CREATE THE RANKING OR NOT. THEY HAVE THE BUDGET , FUNDS IN THE BUDGET AND THEY DECIDE IT DOES NOT HAVE FISCAL IMPACT.

>> WE WOULD HAVE TO GO BACK TO THE OTHER COURT BECAUSE WE HAD A WHOLE DISCUSSION IN A CONVERSATION WITH DIRECTOR RAMOS DIRECTLY. OTHER OTHER PAY PARITY ISSUES THAT DO NOT HAVE FISCAL IMPACT THAT ARE GOING TO BE BROUGHT UP NEXT COURT WHICH YOU

WILL SUPPORT? >> I DON'T KNOW WHICH PAY PARITY ISSUES MIGHT BE BROUGHT UP. WE HAVE A STUDY UNDERWAY AND I AM NOT PRIVY TO THE CONVERSATION BETWEEN YOU AND DIRECTOR RAMOS SO I DON'T KNOW WHAT HE SAID AT THAT POINT.

>> EXCUSE ME JUST A SECOND, THE WHOLE REASON WE EMBARKED ON THIS WAS BECAUSE OF DISCUSSION I PERSONALLY HAD WITH DIRECTOR RAMOS ON HOW WE COULD ADDRESS THIS IN A WAY THAT WAS RESPONSIBLE FISCALLY. I DID NOT SEND MY STAFF FOR MYSELF TO GET THESE CONVERSATIONS BECAUSE I'VE BEEN BUSY. MY CONCERN REALLY IS WITH COMMISSIONER ELLIS IF I VOTE YES ON THESE I WILL GET SOME OF THE OTHER PAY PARITY'S BUT I THOUGHT YOU GUYS WERE

GUARDING THE COUNTY BUDGET. >> HERE'S WHAT I'M TRYING TO DO. THIS ITEM HAS, BEFORE. A LOT OF THINGS YOU CAN SAY ABOUT ME NOT CLEAR ON WHAT I'M THINKING THAT'S NOT ON THE LIST. USUALLY YOU KNOW I TRY TO DO IT IN A WAY THAT'S HUMBLE AND SHOWS HUMILITY AND SOME HUMOR. BUT SINCE THE ITEM WAS PUT BACK ON THE AGENDA. I'M ASSUMING ITEMS WILL PASS. NOW IF, SINCE WE'RE HERE IN A PUBLIC SETTING IF YOU TELL ME ON THE SWING VOTE ON IT PASSING THEN I WILL TIE IT TO DEALING WITH THE OTHER PAY EQUITY ISSUES THAT DO NOT COST US MONEY THIS YEAR. BUT YOU ARE RIGHT IT'S GOING TO COST MONEY DOWN THE ROAD. AND THE REASON MY CREATIVITY TELLS ME TO DO THAT IS WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT STUFF THAT'S PARITY FOR THE PEOPLE WHO CATCH THE EARLY BUS AS THE GOOD REVEREND USED TO SAY EVERYBODY GETS REALLY QUITE. SO I WANT TO MAKE SURE IF WE DO IT PLEASE TELL ME I'M THE SWING VOTE. I'M GOING TO VOTE FOR IT BUT I WILL AMEND IT WITH A COMMITMENT THAT WE WILL BRING BACK A PAY PERIOD ITEM AND IN THE FUTURE BUDGET CYCLE IF IT TAKES ONE YEAR OR TWO YEARS WE WILL ADDRESS THE OTHERS BECAUSE WE ARE SPENDING HOW MUCH MONEY TO DO THE BIG PAY EQUITY ITEM THAT I BROUGHT ON THE AGENDA BEFORE THIS OTHER EQUITY CAME UP? $1 MILLION I CAN REMEMBER OFF THE TOP OF MY HEAD. WE WILL SPEND 1 MILLION, TWO AND MR. RAMOS HAS A MEDICAL APPOINTMENT. I THINK YOUR GAS WAS YOU DID NOT KNOW. THE COST WAS 200 OR 300 MILLION

>> WE DON'T KNOW FOR SURE. >> PHASE THAT OUT SO WHY WOULD

[03:35:02]

SINCE I WAS LATE TODAY, BUT I WANT TO MAKE SURE IF WE ARE GOING TO HAVE EQUITY, FOR THOSE AT THE TOP OR FOR THOSE WHO DO HARD WORK, PUT THEIR LIVES AT RISK. WE ALSO DID THE SAME EQUITY, WE ARE A SENSITIVE FOR THOSE PEOPLE ON THE BOTTOM WHO HAVE ALWAYS HAD TO WAIT. PLEASE TELL ME I AM THE SWING VOTE.

>> I'M WITH YOU COMMISSIONER AND IF THAT'S THE PRECEDENT YOU GUYS ARE SETTING, VENTURE. I DON'T UNDERSTAND THE LOGIC, BUT IF WE CAN WORK ON PARITY FOR EVERYBODY AND WE CAN AFFORD THAT AND NOT WAIT TO THE BUDGET CYCLE AND WAITING IS NOT A BIG DEAL ANYMORE, THEN COOL. SO WE CAN COME AND I THINK YOU WILL BRING IT ANYWAY WHETHER THEY DO IT OR NOT SO LET'S VOTE ON THIS ITEM.

>> IT HAS BEEN UP HERE BEFORE AND HAS NOT PASSED. I'M TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHAT WILL MAKE IT PASS. ON THIS ONE I WANT TO MAKE SURE. IF I AM THE SWING VOTE ON THIS ONE I WANT TO AMEND THIS ONE TO SAY THAT FOR FUTURE BUDGET CYCLES WE ARE GOING TO ADDRESS THE PAY PARITY. THIS IS SAUSAGE MAKING ON-THE-FLY.

ISN'T GOING TO TAKE TWO YEARS? WE DO PAY EQUITY FOR THE OTHER FOLKS THAT ALL OF US SAY WE ARE AND WE DON'T HAVE THE MONEY.

>> THAT'S WHAT I DON'T UNDERSTAND. THE REASON, BEFORE HE LEFT RAMOS OR WAS IT YOU? I CAN REMEMBER . SUMMARY SAID THE REASON YOU HAVE ACCEPTED THIS IS IT HAS COME BACK SEVERAL TIMES.

THAT DOES NOT MEAN IT SUPPORTED. IT HAS FAILED SEVERAL TIMES SO THAT HAS COME BACK SEVERAL TIMES. THE REASON YOU'RE GIVING

ME ARCHAEOLOGICAL. >> IF I WAS A MIND READER WHEN IT CAME UP AGAIN THEY WERE ASSUMING .

>> WE DID NOT HAVE THE VOTES. I WAS THE ONE WHO HAD BEEN WORKING TO BE THE THIRD VOTE. I DON'T GET IT AND PLUS, WE HAVE THE VOTES FOR THE VARIOUS BUDGET REQUESTS THAT HAVE COME THROUGH AND YOU STILL SAID NO WHEN IT WAS NOT FISCALLY RESPONSIBLE. I AM HEARING YOU BELIEVE THAT PASSING THIS TODAY OUTSIDE OF THE BUDGET CYCLE IS FISCALLY RESPONSIBLE AND IF THAT'S THE CASE I AGREE I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY THIS REQUEST WOULD STAND APART? THIS REQUEST COMES SEVERAL TIMES DOES NOT MAGICALLY MAKE SOMETHING FISCALLY RESPONSIBLE.

>> TO BE CLEAR IS NOT THAT IT WAS BROUGHT UP TO COURT WAS THE RATIONALE FOR REASON FOR SUPPORT, WHEN THE ITEM CAME UP, THE CURRENT ITEM AS PRESENTED IT DOES NOT HAVE FISCAL IMPACT.

THIS YEAR. FISCAL YEAR 25. >> THERE IS NO GUARANTEE IT HAS

A FISCAL IMPACT IN 26? >> CORRECT.

>> GOING THROUGH A BUDGET CYCLE. THIS IS A DECISION WE MAKE TODAY OR NOT. NEXT BUDGET CYCLE WILL HAVE TO MAKE THAT DECISION. NO

BUDGET IMPACT. >> SO, FINE. LET'S FIND A COMMISSIONER AND OTHER ONES LIKE THIS AND GET ON WITH THAT.

>> WHY DON'T WE DELAY THIS ITEM UNTIL MR. ALMOST COMES BACK AND YOU CAN COME UP WITH A CREATIVE WAY IN THE FUTURE BUDGET CYCLES WE ADDRESS THAT PAIN EQUITY ISSUE HANGING OVER OUR HEADS BEFORE WE DID EXECUTIVE PAY AND BEFORE THIS ITEM CAME UP.

>> THE ONLY REASON THIS KEEPS COMING UP IS THE TIMING OF WHEN THE SHERIFF APPROVALS AND THEIR INVESTIGATORS, WHEN THAT WAS APPROVED AND IT WAS A MATTER OF MAKING IT CONSISTENT AMONGST LAW ENFORCEMENT, PRETTY LOGICAL. EVERYTHING GETS COMP LOCATED. IF IT INVOLVES THE CONSTABLES. WHEN IT INVOLVES THE CONSTABLES WE CAN THINK OF 100 REASONS NOT TO DO SOMETHING, BUT IF IT'S ANYTHING ELSE OTHER THAN THE CONSTABLES WE CAN FIGURE IT OUT.

>> I DON'T THINK THAT'S ACCURATE.

>> IT IS ACCURATE. >> HAVE A VOTED FOR ANY OF THE BUDGET INCREASES THAT YOU GUYS HAVE PROPOSED WITHOUT INCREASING REVENUE? NO BUT I'M TRYING TO MAKE THIS WORK . CELESTE TALK ABOUT THE FACTS. I THINK IT'S FUNNY, THE REASON I CONTINUED KNOWING DIRECTOR RAMOS HAD TO LEAVE IS BECAUSE I THOUGHT HE AND I HAD A CONVERSATION SO WHEN HE SAID THE COMPLETE OPPOSITE I WAS THROWN. BUT I SUPPORT MY MOTION AND IF YOU GUYS THINK

[03:40:02]

BACK AND DIRECTOR IS BACK. >> IF YOU DO

>>> 3:46 AND COMMISSIONERS COURT IS BACK IN SESSION. THE NEXT ITEM IS ITEM 15 THE CLIMATE JUSTICE PLAN AND I WOULD LIKE TO GET BRIEF COMMENT AND WE WILL TURN IT OVER, ALL OF MY COLLEAGUES DID PULL THIS AS WELL. I WANT TO THANK MY STAFF , THE WORK THEY DID ON THIS, WE HAD A INTERN WHO STARTED WORKING ON THIS, WHO IS IN THE PROGRAM AND I THINK SHE WENT TO VANDERBILT TO GET HER MASTERS DEGREE , BUT I AM PROUD TO HAVE CHAMPIONED THE OFFICE OF SUSTAINABILITY IN 2021, EQUALLY PROUD TO SEE THIS WORK CULMINATE INTO THE CLIMATE JUSTICE PLAN.

IT WILL BE THE FIRST ONE IN TEXAS SO WE ARE A LEADER IN THAT SPACE AND I WANT TO CONGRATULATE YOU, DIRECTOR, AND YOUR TEAM AND ALL THE GROUPS THAT WORKED WITH YOU ON THIS PROJECT FOR THE FINE WORK YOU HAVE DONE. WITH THAT I WILL TURN IT OVER IF YOU WOULD

LIKE TO PRESENT BRIEFLY. >> THANK YOU, GOOD AFTERNOON COMMISSIONERS. DIRECTOR OF SUSTAINABILITY AND OCA, I HAVE

OUR COMMUNITY PARTNER HERE. >> GOOD AFTERNOON I AM DIRECTOR OF THE COALITION FOR ENVIRONMENT, EQUITY AND

RESILIENCE. >> WE A VERY SHORT DECK TO WALK THROUGH REALLY QUICKLY TO KINDA PROVIDE A QUICK OVERVIEW OF THE PROCESS WE HAVE ENGAGED IN OVER THE LAST TWO YEARS. SO YOU CAN GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE. WE REALLY WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT THE PARTNERSHIP. ONE OF THE MOST UNIQUE THINGS ABOUT THIS PLANNING PROCESS WAS HAVING OUR PARTNERS WITH US FROM THE VERY BEGINNING FROM EVEN THE PREPLANNING. SO TALK ABOUT THE ORGANIZATION AND WHERE THEY KIND OF REALLY HELPED TO GET THIS

PROGRAM. >> SO OUR ORGANIZATION IS A COALITION OF 28 MEMBER ORGANIZATIONS WITH A MISSION TO RAISE AWARENESS OF THE CONNECTIONS BETWEEN POLLUTION, PLACE AND PUBLIC HEALTH AND WE WERE FOUNDED IN THE WAKE OF HURRICANE HARVEY. I THINK THAT IS AN IMPORTANT PIECE OF OUR WORK AND CONNECTION TO THE PLAN BECAUSE WHAT OUR ORGANIZATION, THE COALITION STANDS FOR RESILIENCE FOR HARRIS COUNTY AND FOR THE GREATER HOUSTON REGION. SO THINKING ABOUT SOME OF OUR WORK OVER THE YEARS. WE HAVE BEEN INVOLVED IN PROJECTS LIKE ADVOCACY AROUND HARRIS THRIVES RESOLUTION. HAVE BEEN INVOLVED IN ADVOCACY. WE WERE ON CAPITOL HILL, TODAY WE HAVE STAFF MEMBERS IN THREE DIFFERENT BODIES OF GOVERNMENT. WE HAVE STAFF HERE, WE HAVE ANDY ESCOBAR IN THE BACK AND A WHOLE CREW OF FOLKS THIS MORNING WHO YOU HEARD FROM. WE HAVE PEOPLE AT THE STATE LEGISLATURE AND OUR WATER JUSTICE ORGANIZER IN D.C. FOR WATER WEEK ADVOCATING FOR AUTHORIZATION OF FUNDS AND FEMA AND CLEAN WATER FOR EVERYONE. THESE ARE ALL ISSUES THAT ARE REALLY IMPORTANT TO US AND TO MEMBER ORGANIZATIONS INTO THE COMMUNITY MEMBERS WE WORK WITH. I THINK SOMEONE EARLIER TODAY ONE OF THE SPEAKERS MENTIONED QUALITY OF LIFE. ONE OF THE THINGS I AM EXCITED ABOUT WITH THIS PLAN IS THAT IT PROVIDES A PATHWAY FOR APPROVED QUALITY OF LIFE FOR PEOPLE IN HARRIS COUNTY AND WE ARE EXCITED TO HAVE BEEN PART OF THE PROCESS BECAUSE WE REALLY SUPPORTED COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT IN A DEEP WAY. WE HAVE HAD NUMEROUS COMMUNITY MEETINGS, WE HAVE LISTENED TO PEOPLE, OUR ROLE WAS TO HELP ORGANIZE AND MOBILIZE PEOPLE TO MEETINGS TO REALLY SHARE THEIR FEEDBACK AND VISION FOR HARRIS COUNTY. WHAT CLIMATE RESILIENCE LOOKS LIKE FOR THEM.

>> WE CAN GO TO THE NEXT LIGHT. TALKING A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE PROCESS IT HAS BEEN TWO YEARS SINCE PREPLANNING. OVER THE LAST

[03:45:05]

FEEDBACK FROM DR. NANCE. >> AT THE TRANSMITTAL THAT WAS PROVIDED IN THE DECEMBER 10 COMMISSIONERS COURT MEETING, COMMISSIONER RAMSEY RECOMMENDED A REVIEW BY ENGINEER AND WE REACHED OUT TO ALSO THE FORMER EPA OF REGION SIX ADMINISTRATOR. SO SHE PROVIDED FAVORABLE COMMENTS ABOUT THE PLAN AND ITS SCOPE, COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT. SHE ALSO PROVIDED COMMENTS ABOUT FEDERAL ACTION. SO WE ARE IN A TIME PERIOD WHERE FEDERAL ACTIONS MAY BE MORE LIMITED IN TERMS OF THE SUPPORT WE HAVE FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, BUT OVERALL SHE MADE A GREAT DEAL OF POSITIVE FEEDBACK ABOUT THE PLAN. I WILL SAY THERE WERE SOME AREAS WHERE SHE SUGGESTED INCREASED EDUCATION ON HOW TO WORK WITH COMMUNITY MEMBERS I THINK DR. NANCE HAS REALLY MADE A CAREER OF PARTNERING WITH COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS AND BRINGING ENGINEERING RESOURCES TO GROUPS, IN TERMS OF THEIR NEEDS AROUND POLLUTION. I THINK FOR GROUPS LIKE THEIR WORK IN THE CANCER CLUSTER AND THINGS LIKE THAT, THOSE KINDS OF PARTNERSHIPS BETWEEN TECHNICAL EXPERTS LIKE ENGINEERS AND COMMUNITY GROUPS

CAN BE INFINITELY POWERFUL. >> NEXT SLIDE WE WILL HIGHLIGHT WORK THE ADVISORY COLLABORATIVE DID. I WOULD LIKE TO THANK MY STAFF REALLY SUPPORTED THESE NUMBERS BEYOND BEING COMMITTEE MEMBERS AND THINKING THROUGH THE PLAN ACTIVITIES AND ACTIVATING THEM, ENCOURAGING THEM TO DO ON THE GROUND PROJECTS. THESE ARE THOSE PROJECTS. FINALLY, AS YOU LOOK TO THE PLAN ON THE NEXT SLIDE THERE IS DIFFERENT THEMES THAT COME THROUGH AND THOSE ARE ON THE RIGHT-HAND SIDE. REALLY WE WANTED THIS TO BE A VISIONARY PLAN, VALUES-BASED AND COMMITTEE PLAN AND I WILL PASS IT TO TALK

ABOUT THOSE THINGS. >> A LITTLE BACK TO THE COLLABORATIVE REALLY BRIEFLY. THEIR ROLE WAS INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT, THE 15 MEMBER BODY HELPED TO SHAPE THE FRAMEWORK OF THE PLAN AND IT ENCOMPASSED PEOPLE WHO HAD BEEN APPOINTED BY COMMISSIONERS. PEOPLE WHO ARE PARTNERS WITH FIVE YOUTH MEMBERS. TWO , WE HAVE HERE. I ALSO THINK THE PIECE YOU SHOWED ON THE PREVIOUS LIGHT IS REALLY IMPORTANT. THEY WERE NOT ONLY SUPPORTING THE BUILDING OF THE FRAMEWORK OF THE PLAN AND THEY WERE SUPPORTING AWARENESS OF HARRIS COUNTY AND THE COMMUNITY.

AND SERVING AS AMBASSADORS. MENTIONED HOW HE ENGAGED OVER 350 PEOPLE THROUGH HIS OWN ACTIVITY. SO THIS WAS A PROCESS OF BRINGING COMMUNITY MEMBERS IN , IN WAYS THAT WERE OUTSIDE OF THE OUTSIDE OF THE OFFICIAL PLATFORM OR THE MEETINGS HELD BY HARRIS COUNTY. SO I WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THEIR CONTRIBUTION SUPPORT . IN TERMS OF THE CLIMATE PLAN , SO I THINK SOMETHING THAT IS EXCITING TO ME ABOUT THE PLAN IS THAT IT IS VISIONARY, IT GOES BEYOND 5 TO 10 YEARS AND THINKS FAR AHEAD AND IT IS BASED IN VALUE SO THE COMMUNITY MEETINGS IDENTIFIED THE VALUES BY WHICH COMMUNITY MEMBERS WANT TO THE PLAN TO BE ROOTED IN. THAT REALLY FOUNDED , CREATED THE FOUNDATION FOR THE PLAN. SOMETHING WE ALL RECOGNIZE AND ACKNOWLEDGE. EARLIER MENTIONED THERE WAS AN INTERNAL CLIMATE PLAN HARRIS COUNTY PASSED LAST YEAR. TWO YEARS AGO, THANK YOU. TIME HAS BEEN GOING BY SO FAST. SO, TWO YEARS AGO AND WHILE THAT PLAN IS ENTIRELY UNDER THE CONTROL OF HARRIS COUNTY, THIS PLAN GOES BEYOND

[03:50:02]

>> AS MENTIONED WITH THE COLLABORATIVE THEY HELPED US SHAPE THOSE FIVE THINGS SO WE CAME INTO THE PLAN WITH A BLANK SLATE, SO THROUGH THEIR IDEAS AND LIVED EXPERIENCES WE REVOLVED AROUND THESE FIVE THINGS GOING BEYOND THE MISSION PLAN AND ABOUT CULTURE CHANGE AND BEHAVIOR CHANGE. THE NEXT SLIDE IS ABOUT NEXT STEPS WITH FERMENTATION. WE REALLY WANT TO FOCUS ON NOW THAT WE HAVE RICH QUALITATIVE DATA DO WE ADD THE QUANTITATIVE PLAYER WITH COST BENEFITS, EMISSIONS REDUCTIONS ANALYSIS AND OTHER COMMUNITY BENEFITS ANALYSES AND ALSO CONTINUING TO MAKE SURE THERE IS ALIGNMENT WITH THE STRATEGIC PLAN OF ACTION WORK, THERE IS ALSO REGIONAL PLANNING EFFORTS.

AND THEN OTHER COMMUNITY ISSUES. WE WANTED TO END ON COMMUNITY PARTNERS THAT HAVE BEEN SO INSTRUMENTAL. THE LAST SLIDE

SHOWS OUR COMMUNITY PARTNERS. >> YOU WILL SEE A WIDE RANGE OF PARTNERS, PUBLIC CITIZEN, TURTLE ISLAND, PEER JUSTICE AIRLINES, TEXAS HOUSING LIVING A WHEELCHAIR ASSOCIATION, ACTION MCQUISTON, AND THERE WE GO. I DON'T HAVE CLASSES ON AND MY VISION IS A LITTLE WONKY SO I MIGHT BE GETTING THE LAST ONE WRONG. THERE IS A NUMBER OF COMMUNITY PARTNERS.

>> TX FPS , THANK YOU. I WANT TO HIGHLIGHT THERE IS A NUMBER OF PARTNERS WHO SUPPORT THE PLAN AND REFINED THE MORE WE ARE TALKING TO ADDITIONAL ORGANIZATIONS , WE ARE RECEIVING

MORE AND MORE SUPPORT. >> THANK YOU. BEFORE I TURN IT OVER TO COMMISSIONER GARCIA. THREE MORE SHUTOUTS, MY STAFF, NAME ] WORKING ON THIS AND INTERNS , YOU HAVE DONE A GREAT JOB, THANK YOU FOR THE PRESENTATION. ALWAYS IMPRESSED.

I SEE HER BICYCLE IN THE BACKGROUND. WISH I COULD GET A FEW MORE LANES TO HELP YOU. HOPE YOU CAN STILL RIDE TO WORK.

>> TAKE YOU, FIRST I WANT TO COMMEND YOU BOTH AND EVERYONE ELSE THAT YOU HAVE TOUCHED TO WORK ON THIS. THIS IS A SMART POLICY. EXCITED THAT IT LOOKS INCREDIBLY FORWARD FOR 100 YEARS OR SO. AND IT TAKES INTO ACCOUNT ALL THINGS IMPORTANT TO ME AND MY COMMITTEE AND I APPRECIATE THIS BECAUSE YOU DID WORK HARD TO ENGAGE MEMBERS OF THE PRECINCT 2 COMMUNITY AND I GREATLY APPRECIATE THAT. IT LOOKS FORWARD WITH ALL THE ELEMENTS OF HOUSING , ALL THE OTHER THINGS THAT TOUCH QUALITY-OF-LIFE WHICH ALIGNS WITH MY POLICY AND EFFORTS SO I AM GRATEFUL TO YOU BOTH FOR ALL YOU HAVE DONE. I WAS TALKING TO SOMEONE EARLIER WHEN I WAS IN D.C. AND THEY WERE REALLY EXCITED THAT WE ARE ONE OF THE MAJOR COUNTIES AND ONE OF THE FEW THAT HAVE PASSED A CLIMATE ACTION PLAN. SO CONGRATULATIONS,

THANK YOU AND INCREDIBLE WORK. >> WE HAVE SOME BRAGGING RIGHTS THIS SUMMER OVER PHILADELPHIA. COMMISSIONER BRIONES.

>> THANK YOU, DIRECTOR, THANK YOU AND ALL OF YOUR TEAM.

AMAZING. ALL OF THE PARTNERS, THANK YOU. TO THE HUNDREDS OF COMMUNITY MEMBERS WHO PUT THIS TOGETHER, I LOVE THE DAYS WHERE WE CAN SAY HARRIS COUNTY IS WAITING FOR THE RIGHT REASONS AND WE WERE IN THE FIRST IN THE COUNTRY TO HAVE THIS COMMUNITY LED AND DRIVEN JUSTICE PLAN . GIVES ME TREMENDOUS HOPE AND PRIDE AND I LOVE THAT IT IS SO COMPONENTRY WITH INTERFACING CLIMATE ACTION JUSTICE PLANS WHICH WE ARE MAKING PROGRESS ON AND I HOPE WE MEET AND EXCEED BY 2030. I HOPE WE SUCCEED IN MORE THAN SURPASSING THE GOAL . I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU AND I LOOK FORWARD, I KNOW YOU HAD NEXT STEPS. I LOVE THAT IT IS BOLD

[03:55:01]

POSTED ON NEXT STEPS. >> IN ADDITION TO MOVING THE ITEM I WOULD LIKE TO DIRECT THE OFFICE OF COUNTY ADMINISTRATION OFFICE OF SUSTAINABILITY TO IDENTIFY COST-EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATE ACTIONS FROM HARRIS COUNTY CLIMATE ACTION PLAN FOR INCLUSION AND CONSIDERATION DURING FISCAL YEAR 2026 BUDGET

PROCESS. >> SECOND.

>> ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? ALL THOSE OPPOSED? THE ITEM PASSES.

>> I SHOW APPROVED AS PRESENTED WITH THE ADDITION.

>> COMMISSIONER I HAD A COUPLE QUESTIONS. BEFORE WE VOTE ON THE ITEM. THANK YOU FOR REACHING OUT TO THE EPA THAT WAS GOOD. DID YOU TALK WITH AMERICAN SOCIETY OF CIVIL ENGINEERS?

>> THEY HAVE A VERY ROBUST SUSTAINABILITY GROUP, IT IS QUITE THE PROCESS, I THINK IT WILL BE HELPFUL. ONLY WAY TOO MANY ENGINEERS TO GET INVOLVED IN THE PROCESS, I RECOGNIZE

THAT. >> NEVER HAVE ENOUGH OF YOU ALL.

>> I DO THINK , NOT ALL PRIORITIES ARE CREATED EQUAL. I TOUCHED ON ONE OF THEM THIS MORNING, THE CLEANUP, I THINK CLEAN DRINKING WATER IS THE NUMBER ONE ISSUE IN THE WORLD THAT WE DON'T TALK ABOUT. WE TALK ABOUT A LOT OF OTHER THINGS. IT'S MORE IMPORTANT THAN CARBON, CLEAN DRINKING WATER KILLS MORE PEOPLE IN THE WORLD THAN ANY OTHER ISSUE WE HAVE AND IT IS A BIG ISSUE IN TEXAS, THE STATE LEGISLATURE IS FIGURING OUT THEY NEED TO PUT A FEW BILLION IN THAT PART OF IT.

SO THERE ARE SOME ADS WE NEED TO DO HERE PARTICULARLY.

>> IN THERE FOR SIX OR THERE IS A SECTION ON CLEAN DRINKING WATER. WE DID HEAR THAT SO WE APPRECIATE YOUR COMMENTS.

>> THERE ARE PROGRAMS SET UP PRETTY STRUCTURED NATIONWIDE AND WORLDWIDE RELATED TO THAT. IT WOULD BE NICE TO SEE THE FULL BREADTH OF WHAT WE COULD DO. OUR INITIATIVES LOCALLY , ARE PRETTY PRAGMATIC. I KNOW THAT COMMISSIONER ELLIS PUT ON TO LOOK IN THE NEXT BUDGET CYCLE AT OPPORTUNITIES. A LOT OF THAT COULD BE INFRASTRUCTURE. ONE EXAMPLE OF THAT IS LAST YEAR ON A PILOT PROGRAM WE PUT A PUMP IN A DETENTION BASIN TO PUMP AS A WET BOTTOM WE PUMP OUT OF THE LAKE BEFORE A STORM AND THAT'S GOING TO KEEP SOME HOUSES FROM FLOODING. IT DOES NOT COST HARDLY ANYTHING. SO THERE'S PROBABLY SOME SUSTAINABILITY THINGS WE CAN DO. WE'VE GOT AT LEAST 5000 DETENTION BASES IN HARRIS COUNTY. LOOKING AT WHAT WE HAVE EXISTING WITHIN THE COMMUNITY , TO SEE HOW WE CAN TRULY MAKE THINGS MORE SUSTAINABLE WITH ALL DUE RESPECT NOT JUST A NICE REPORT THAT GOES ON A SHELF, BUT REAL THINGS THAT'S GOING TO KEEP WATER OUT OF PEOPLE'S HOMES AND KEEP CLEAN DRINKING WATER IN THE PIPES. I THINK THE WORK IS NEVER DONE I GET IT. BUT I DO THINK THERE IS SOME LOGICAL THINGS. I LOOKED AT THE LOGOS OF ALL THE AGENCIES YOU HAVE PARTNERED WITH. THERE IS PROBABLY AT LEAST THAT MANY MORE THAT I KNOW OF THAT HAVE OTHER THINGS THEY CAN DO. I WOULD LIKE FOR US TO SEE WHAT WE CAN DO TO INTERACT MORE WITH THEM GOING FORWARD. I'M NOT SURE THIS IS READY. I WOULD

[04:00:06]

IMPLEMENTATION AT THIS POINT. >> I DO NOT SEE HER NAME DID YOU

VOTE? >> I VOTE FOR THE MOTION TO LOOK

AT THIS. >> I MOVED TO BRING THE ITEM BACK. ANY OBJECTION? SO, I WILL FIRST MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE ITEM. AND MADE BY ELLIS, SECOND COMMISSIONER BRIONES. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR VOTE AYE. ALL THOSE OPPOSED?

>> I WILL VOTE NO SIMPLY BECAUSE I THINK THERE'S MORE WORK TO

DO. I THINK IT'S CLOSE. >> ITEM PASSES 3-1. I WOULD MAKE

A MOTION. WHAT DID I SAY? >> I HAVE IT. DIRECT THE OFFICE OF COUNTY ADMINISTRATION OFFICE OF SUSTAINABILITY WITH IDENTIFYING COST-EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATE ACTIONS FOR THE HARRIS COUNTY CLIMATE JUSTICE PLAN FOR POTENTIAL INCLUSION AND CONSIDERATION DURING FISCAL YEAR 2026 BUDGET.

>> I WILL SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR? >> I WILL SUPPORT THAT.

>> IT PASSES 4 70, THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THE NEXT ITEM IS OUR PAUSE PROGRAM PUTTING ASSETS TO WORK. ITEM 16. I APPRECIATE WHAT YOU ARE DOING. I DID NOTICE FIVE OF THE NINE PARCELS OF LAND IDENTIFIED ARE IN PRECINCT 1 SINCE WE DO HAVE DOWNTOWN WE HAVE QUITE A FEW. ONE OF THE LARGE ONES IS OUT AT THE FEDERAL PLAZA DRIVE , COMMISSIONER RAMSEY IT HAS A INTERESTING

HISTORY , I WILL TELL YOU LATER. >> I HAVE HEARD ALL KINDS.

>> FOR I GOT HERE. I THINK YOU HAVE DONE A GREAT JOB AND WE OUGHT TO KEEP LOOKING. IN MY PRECINCT WE HAD EXCESS SPACE , WE PUT THE AGENDA ON THE ITEM TO LET THE HOUSTON AREA WOMEN'S CENTER USE OFFICE SPACE AND I THINK THAT 19 OR 20 PEOPLE WHO HAVE MOVED IN AND WE DO LET THEM USE IT SOME OF OUR EXCESS FURNITURE SO IT HELPS THEM AND US AND A LOT OF THOSE WOMEN THAT ARE IN A SITUATION WHERE THEY NEED HELP. NOT THE TENANTS, FOR INITIATIVE PURPOSES WE GIVE THEM SPACE. COMMISSIONER BRIONES I THINK YOU PULLED THE ITEM AS WELL. SORRY, COMMISSIONER

GARCIA. >> FIRST OF ALL THANK YOU FOR WORKING ON THIS. I REMEMBER WHEN YOU WERE COMING INTO YOUR ROLE AND I ASKED YOU WHAT ARE THE TOP PRIORITIES AND YOU MENTIONED PAWS AND MY STAFF AND I WERE ALREADY LOOKING AT THIS AND GETTING TO WORK. THANK YOU FOR CONTINUING ON THIS. I DO HAVE SOME CONCERNS. UNDER THE MOTION THE STRATEGIC COMMITTEE HAS OVERSIGHT ON MAKING THE DECISION OF WHERE THE FUNDS GO AFTER IDENTIFY PARCELS HAVE BEEN LIQUIDATED. IN MY OPINION THIS VIOLATES THE STANDING TRADITION THAT COMMISSIONERS HAVE OVERSIGHT AS TO WHAT HAPPENS IN THEIR PRECINCT. SO I WOULD WANT TO SEE THIS MOTION CHANGED TO WHERE THE PRECINCTS ARE CONSULTED FIRST, OVER THE USE OF REVENUE FROM THE MONETIZATION PROCESS AND IF THE COMMISSIONER WANTS TO DEFER. TO THE STRATEGIC

PLANNING COMMITTEE. >> I WILL SECOND.

>> THAT'S MY MOTION. TO AMEND TO PERMIT COMMISSIONERS THE FIRST OPPORTUNITY TO ACCEPT FUNDS FROM MONETIZATION OF

PARCEL LIQUIDATION. >> I THINK IS GOING TO PASS BUT I WANT TO LET COMMISSIONER BRIONES SPEAK. I KNOW YOU AND I

PULLED IT. >> I HAD A SIMILAR CONCERN. I APPRECIATE THE HARD WORK THAT HAS GONE INTO THIS AND I LOOK FORWARD TO THE NEXT PHASE AND I DO WANT A DEEPER UNDERSTANDING OF THE METHODOLOGY FOR HOW THE PARCELS HAVE BEEN SELECTED AND HOW THEY WILL BE FURTHER PRIORITIZED. THE ORDER OF OPERATIONS FOR THE SALE. I WAS GOING TO SAY I DID NOT LIKE IT WAS UNILATERALLY IN THE REINVESTMENT FUND WITHOUT MORE DIRECT OVERSIGHT FROM THE COURT. SO I WILL SUPPORT COMMISSIONER

GARCIA'S MOTION. >> I WAS TELLING MY STAFF WE DID NOT CATCH THAT ONE. WE HAVE ALL BEEN AROUND. YOU HAVE BEEN AROUND THE COUNTY LONGER. I WILL TELL YOU THE STORY LATER. MOTION MADE BY COMMISSIONER GARCIA TO PROVE WITH THE AMENDMENT.

>> I HAVE THE HUMAN, THE MOTION. >> JUST TO MAKE SURE, THERE'S A

[04:05:07]

>> MOTION TO AMEND TO PERMIT COMMISSIONERS FIRST OPPORTUNITY TO ACCEPT FUNDS FROM MONETIZATION OF PARTIAL

LIQUIDATION. >> APPROVE THE ITEM AS WELL.

>> MAY I JUST SUGGEST A TINY TWEAK BECAUSE IT'S NOT NECESSARILY LIQUIDATION OF A PARCEL. THE IDEA IS IN A LOT OF INSTANCES THEY WILL GET GREATER BENEFIT IF WE KEEP OWNERSHIP AND WE ARE GROUND LEASING IN SOME WAY SO THAT'S A STREAM OF REVENUE RATHER THAN A ONE TIME MONEY.

>> PARCEL STREAM OF MONEY? >> COMMISSIONER THE PURPOSE OF

THE FUND . >> GIVE ME THE TWEAK.

>> LET ME GET THE LANGUAGE. >> GO TO THE NEXT ITEM. IS THAT ALL RIGHT? NEXT ITEM IS ITEM 20. COMMISSIONER RAMSEY PULLED THIS, DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION ON STUTTERED OPERATING PROCEDURE

FOR BUDGET PUZZLE. >> AND DIRECTOR RAMOS IS IN HERE, BUT I REMEMBER LAST YEAR , WE HAD A PROCESS, YOU DO A BUDGET OFFSET EXERCISE. MANDATORY. ARE GOING TO DO THAT

THIS YEAR? >> YES INSTALL PART OF THE SOP.

>> COMMISSIONERS COURT WILL DIRECT OMB TO AUTOMATICALLY REDUCE THE BUDGET BY THAT AMOUNT?

>> SO COMMISSIONERS COURT WOULD DIRECT US TO MAKE THE CUTS IF THEY DON'T ANTICIPATE THAT WE WOULD MAKE SURE WE ARE COMPLIANT WITH FEDERAL OR STATE MANDATES.

FOR CONTEXT, THE REQUIREMENT IS DEPARTMENTS ARE SUPPOSED TO OFFER UP WHATEVER PERCENTAGE OF CUTS AND THAT WILL BE PRESENTED WHEN YOU USE QUARTERLY PROJECTIONS ON MAY 8. SO THAT

IS. >> THAT WILL BE MANDATORY.

>> DEPARTMENTS OR SUBMIT AND OFFER UP THOSE. IT IS AT COMMISSIONER COURT DECISION TO PICK WHICH ONES WE WOULD IMPLEMENT. THIS IS TO GIVE YOU A MAP OF WHAT WE CAN PRODUCE WITH CONSULTATION AND COMMISSIONERS COURT HAS THE OPPORTUNITY TO GO

WHERE THE CUTS CAN BE MADE. >> WHAT PERCENTAGE ARE WE DOING

THIS COMING? >> WE HAVE NOT MADE DECISION. WE ARE WAITING TO LOOK FOR THE FINAL SEALLESS NUMBER. YES.

>> ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? >> I WILL MOVE IN SECOND.

>> ALL THOSE IN FAVOR VOTE AYE. ALL THOSE OPPOSED?

>> APPROVE AS PRESENTED. REDDY ON THE OTHER MOTION? DO YOU WANT

TO READ IT OUT? >> YES, TAKING OUT THE LAST WORD MOVED TO AMEND TO PERMIT COMMISSIONERS FIRST OPPORTUNITY TO ACCEPT FUNDS FROM MONETIZATION OF PARCELS.

>> THAT ITEM 16 MOTION MADE COMMISSIONER GARCIA. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER BRIONES. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR VOTE AYE. ALL THOSE OPPOSED VOTE NO. THE ITEM PASSES. WOULD YOU GIVE ME FIRST DIBS ? THE NEXT ONE IS ITEM 23 COMMISSIONER RAMSEY YOU PULLED THAT ONE. PUBLIC HEALTH SERVICES ANNEXATION INCREASING IF I'M

NOT MISTAKEN. >> MY CONCERN IS RELATED TO , THAT IS $100 MILLION CAPS INCLUDING ACTION FOR COURT .

>>

>> PUBLIC HEALTH >> FIRE STATION?

>> IT IS A HISTORIC BUILDING THAT WE ARE EXCITED TO RENOVATE TO HELP US TO EXPAND VACCINE STORAGE . THE STATE DESIGNATED AS A RESPONSIBLE ENTITY SUPPORTING 600 VACCINATION

[04:10:01]

THIS IS A BUILDING THAT IS NOT CURRENTLY IN USE. WE WORKED THROUGH SPACE PLANNING AND PARTNERSHIP WITH ENGINEERING TO SEE WHERE CAN WE FIND SPACE FOR THIS VACCINE STORAGE WITH APPROPRIATE GENERATOR BACKUP AND WHERE CAN WE CREATE A LITTLE BIT OF SPACE TO MEET OUR PARTICIPANTS. IT IS HARD FOR PARTICIPANTS TO COME UP TO THE 16TH FLOOR. THIS WILL HAVE A BIT OF COMMUNITY FACING SERVICES AS WELL AS THAT PHARMACY.

>> IF THE COURT DOES NOT WANT TO I WILL KEEP IT.

>> I AM VERY SUPPORTIVE . >> THE ORIGINAL MEMO WAS

APPROVED. >> THIS IS 23. DOES THIS HAVE TO

DO WITH ACCESS? >> THERE WILL BE A SMALL SPACE IN WHICH CASE MANAGERS CAN MEET WITH PARTICIPANTS. WE WANT TO CREATE MORE ACCESSIBLE SPACE. THE PRINCIPAL USES VACCINE

STORAGE. >> IT IS MORE VACCINE STORAGE?

>> A BIG PART OF THE COST IS GENERATOR ELECTRICAL

RENOVATIONS. >> SECOND.

>> MOTION MADE BY ELLISON SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR?

>> ITEM PASSES. >> DID YOU WANT ITEM 21?

>> THE NEXT ONE IS 24. COMMISSIONER RAMSEY?

>> THEY SPECIFICALLY ASKED IF WE COULD WAIT TILL HE COMES BACK TO

TALK ABOUT THAT FOR 24. >> IF WE CAN WAIT FOR DIRECTOR

RAMOS TO GET BACK. >> NEXT IS ITEM 61.

>> IF I CAN TAKE 61 AND 62 TOGETHER. THESE HAVE BEEN PART OF THE CALL FOR PARTNERSHIP PROJECTS. THE PLACES FOR PEOPLE INVITING CITIES, SCHOOL DISTRICTS AND MANAGEMENT DISTRICTS AND MORE. TO SUBMIT PROJECTS FOR INFRASTRUCTURE THAT WE CAN GO 50-50 AND 6040. THEY ARE SCORED ON SAFETY, RESILIENCY AND CONNECTIVITY. I WANT TO THANK MY TEAM. THIS IS A GREAT LABOR OF LOVE AND PASSION. THANK YOU FOR THE INFRASTRUCTURE TEAM MEMBERS. THESE TWO PROJECTS IN PARTICULAR WILL BE WONDERFUL, ESPECIALLY FOR THE PUBLIC SAFETY COMPONENT. THE FIRST IS WITH HARRIS COUNTY MUD, 102. WE ARE GOING TO BUILD 4.5 MILES OF NEW SIDEWALKS. THIS IS CONNECTED TO AREAS IN -- ISD. WE KNOW ABOUT FUNDING AND BUSING CHALLENGES AND CUT. WE HAVE GOTTEN SO MANY CALLS ABOUT SAFETY CONCERNS OF KIDS WALKING TO SCHOOL. WE HAVE COMPLETED 50 MILES OF SIDEWALK IN ONE YEAR AND THIS PARTICULAR PROJECT WILL BE FOUR POINT FIVE MILES OF ADDITIONAL SIDEWALKS WITH CONNECTIONS TO JEWETT MIDDLE SCHOOL, HORN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL AND SPECIFICALLY IN ONE PARTICULAR AREA , IN NOVEMBER THERE WAS A COUPLE WHO WERE TRAGICALLY HIT BY A CAR WHEN THEY WERE WALKING ON THIS ROAD. THE MAN DIED AND THE WOMEN SUFFERED CRITICAL INJURIES. FORTUNATELY SHE SURVIVED. AS WE BUILD THIS 4.5 MILES OF SIDEWALK WE WILL LOOK TO HONOR THAT MEMORY AND MAKE SURE OF THAT GENTLEMAN WHO PASSED. THE SECOND PROJECTS THAT WE ARE HIGHLIGHTING IS A PARTNERSHIP WITH NOTTINGHAM COUNTRY MUD. THIS IS TO CONNECT EXISTING SIDEWALKS THAT HAD GAPS. REALLY TO CREATE THAT CONNECTIVITY AND SAFETY FLOW. AS WELL AS INCREASE ACCESS TO THE LIBRARY , SCHOOLS AND COMMERCIAL RETAIL CENTERS AND THE GREENBELT PARK . I'M EXCITED FOR THAT ACTIVITY. WE WILL SOON BE OPENING THE 2025 CALL FOR PROJECTS. IF YOU ARE LISTENING, PLEASE BE SURE TO TALK WITH THE POTENTIAL PARTNER ALLIES WHO CAN SUBMIT FOR

[04:15:05]

THAT ENERGIZES ME. WE LOOK FORWARD TO CONTINUING THE PARTNERSHIP AND CONTINUING TO DELIVER SAFETY AND CONNECTIVITY.

I MOVE 61 AND 62 AS PRESENTED. >> AS YOU KNOW, THEY'VE GOT SPREAD OUT FROM HERE TO THERE. WE HAVE PROBABLY INVESTED OVER $70 MILLION JUSTIN ROSE AND INTERSECTION IMPROVEMENTS IN SIDEWALKS AND FLASHING LIGHTS. WE ARE THE PUBLIC WORKS. IT IS IMPORTANT THAT WE DO THAT. THIS IS A GREAT INITIATIVE.

>> THANK YOU COMMISSIONER RAMSEY FOR YOUR PARTNERSHIP. I KNOW WE SHARE THAT AREA. I KNOW WE ARE GOING TO TALK ABOUT IT LATER BUT I WANT TO HIGHLIGHT WHEN THERE IS A BILL RELATED TO OUR MOBILITY DOLLARS FOR THE PRECINCTS, THESE ARE THE TYPE OF PROJECTS. THE ROAD IMPROVEMENT IN SAFETY IMPROVEMENT IN SIDEWALKS. THE FOUR OF US ARE ON DECK TO TAKE CARE OF OVER 6000 MILES OF ROAD IN UNINCORPORATED HARRIS COUNTY AND WE WANT TO CONTINUE DELIVERING THE SAFETY AND PROGRESS THAT RESIDENTS DESERVE . THANK YOU VERY MUCH YOU MOVE 61 AND 62. THANK YOU

FOR THE SECOND. >> IF I MIGHT I'M GOING TO MAKE IT BRIEF, THEN WE DON'T HAVE TO PULL OUT 92. ALMANAC OF A COMMENT ABOUT THE BILL THAT IS PENDING. OBVIOUSLY WE ARE HEARTBROKEN THAT UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON DIDN'T WIN PRECINCT 1 SPENT $15 MILLION OF TOLLROAD MONEY AND WE TOOK TWO LANES OFF OF COLLIN BOULEVARD. WE PUT IN 14 FOOT SIDEWALKS TO MAKE THAT STREET IN SO MANY WAYS, THE FRONT DOOR TO THE UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON. RIGHT BY THE FOOTBALL ARENA. IT IS AMAZING HOW MANY STUDENTS HAVE COME OUT OF HOW ACCIDENTS HAVE BEEN REDUCED. WE DID IT. I NEVER WOULD HAVE KNOWN IT COSTS $15 MILLION . OVER DECADES OF DRAINAGE AND INFRASTRUCTURE AND NEGLECT BY MANY ADMINISTRATIONS. WE DID IT. WE ALSO AGREED TO SPEND $15 MILLION AT TEXAS SOUTHERN. WE TOOK TWO LANES OUT AND PUT SIDEWALKS IN. IT IS A UNIVERSITY NOT A SPEED ZONE. THEN THE PRESIDENT ARE ACTING PRESIDENT TOOK ME TO THE BACKSIDE AND PLEADED WITH ME AFTER SPENDING $15 MILLION ON WHAT I TOLD HIM WAS MORE THAN A MIRACLE MILE. $15 MILLION. I THOUGHT IT WOULD DO ALL OF THE STREETS AROUND TEXAS SOUTHERN. WE PUT IN ANOTHER $8 MILLION. I WANT TO STRESS IN ADDITION TO THAT, I LOOKED AT THIS REPORT , ESTIMATED TOTAL FUNDS BENEFITING THE CITY OF HOUSTON. THE CITY GOT AN ALLOCATION OF MONEY AND THE COUNTY GOT AN ALLOCATION. THERE WERE DISCUSSIONS ABOUT NOT LETTING PEOPLE IN THE CITY PARTICIPATE IN OUR PROGRAMS. I FOUGHT FOR THAT AND COMMISSIONER GARCIA . I THINK EVENTUALLY WE ALL AGREED , IT WAS THE RIGHT THING TO DO. WHEN YOU GO AND LOOK AT WHAT HARRIS COUNTY SPENDS IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON, IF THAT BILL PASSES, HARRIS COUNTY WILL HAVE THE SAME DESPERATE FINANCIAL SITUATION THAT HOUSTON HAS. GENERAL FUND DOLLARS ALREADY BENEFIT THE CITY OF HOUSTON. AN ESTIMATED 7 BILLION OR 48% OF HARRIS COUNTY DOLLARS HAVE BENEFITED THE CITY OF HOUSTON BETWEEN FISCAL YEAR 21 AND 24. OVER THE LAST THREE YEARS HARRIS COUNTY SPEND AN ESTIMATED $205 MILLION ON IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS WITHIN THE CITY. LEADERSHIP RECENTLY DEMOLISHED FUNDING FOR IMPROVEMENTS WITHIN THE CITY. I

[04:20:01]

EVEN IF I REPRESENT , AND I THINK I DO, COMMISSIONER GARCIA, A BIT MORE OF THE CITY OF HOUSTON THAN ANYBODY ELSE. IT'S ONLY FAIR. I THINK ABOUT WHEN PEOPLE COME UP AND WANT BLOCK GRANT MONEY. ANY MONEY THAT PRECINCT 1 WOULD GET HAS TO BE FOR PEOPLE UNINCORPORATED. THEY GET A MUCH LARGER ALLOCATION OF THAT MONEY. PROBABLY BECAUSE THEY HAVE MORE POVERTY IN THE CITY LIMITS. NOW IS THE COST OF HOUSING GOES UP, MORE OF THOSE PEOPLE MOVE INTO UNINCORPORATED HARRIS COUNTY. AND HAS TO BE PENNY WISE AND DOLLAR FOOLISH TO START THAT KIND OF WORK.

>> AS YOU KNOW -- IS TO DO STRIP INTO THE UNINCORPORATED AREA.

THEY DO THAT SO THEY CAN GET SALES TAX. THE ANALYSIS THAT I HAVE BEEN ABLE TO LOOK AT IT AMOUNTS TO 200 MILLION -- $200 MILLION PER YEAR. AND JUST SALES TAX. PEOPLE THAT LIVE IN THE

UNINCORPORATED AREA ARE PAYING. >> IF THE COURT WANTS TO DISCUSS THE BILL YOU WOULD TAKE IT UP UNDER ITEM 92.

>> WE JUMPED TO 92. THANK YOU. MAY WE FINISH VOTING ON MY

EXCITING 61 AND 62? >> I WAS TRYING TO SAVE US SOME

TIME. >>

>> NOW BACK TO 92 SO WE CAN FINISH THIS REFERENCE.

>> $200 MILLION IN SALES TAX . COULD YOU REPEAT THAT?

>> IS OUT TO 90. OUT I-10 AND IN ALL DIRECTIONS INTO THE UNINCORPORATED AREA OF HARRIS COUNTY. IF YOU LOOK AT WHAT THE SALES TAX IS THAT THOSE ENTITIES ARE PAYING, THEY ARE NOT HELPING ANY HOUSES. THERE IS NO RESIDENTIAL SOUP COURT. THOSE ARE $200 MILLION IN SALES TAX BEING PAID INTO THE CITY AND THAT IS WITH NO BENEFIT OR SERVICES OFFERED.

>> I WANT TO STRESS REFERENCE TO A SPECIFIC BILL . THAT IS HOW I PIVOTED. I ALSO WANT TO STATE , WE ARE ALSO PROUD THAT THE DECISION WAS MADE FOR THE WORLD CUP TO COME HERE. IF THE COUNTY LEADERS AHEAD OF US HADN'T DECIDED TO BUILD THAT IT WOULD NOT COME. TALK ABOUT WHATEVER YOU WANT TO SAY. AT SOME POINT I KNOW I HAVE ASKED TO DO AN ANALYSIS. THE COUNTY GETS VERY LITTLE MONEY FROM THE HOT TAX IN THE CITY GETS MORE THAN WE GET.

OUR FRIENDS OUGHT TO BE CAREFUL AND FRIENDS DON'T GO TO ANOTHER PARTNER IN GOVERNMENT AND HYGIENIC FUNDS. IF YOU DO, AT LEAST FOR THIS FRIEND, THERE OUGHT TO BE A PRICE TO PAY FOR IT. I WOULD SAY THAT REGARDLESS OF WHO IS IN THE MAYOR'S SEAT ,

[04:25:02]

THINK IT WON'T COME BACK ON US. >> THERE HAS BEEN A LOT OF CONVERSATIONS. WHAT HAS BEEN AFFIRMED, WE BOTH HEARD IT.

THERE IS NO BETTER RUN TOLLROAD FACILITY ON THE PLANET THAN HARRIS COUNTY AUTHORITY. BECAUSE THEY DO SUCH A GREAT JOB OF MANAGING OUR DOLLARS, THERE IS MONEY LEFT OVER TO GO OUT AND DO

THINGS. >> I THOUGHT ABOUT BEING A PREACHER. SOMEBODY SAID WHAT YOU THINK ABOUT ANOTHER PROFESSION? COMMISSIONER RAMSEY, YOU SAID EARLIER , I WANT TO DEFEND OUR CONSTABLES. I HEARD THAT PEOPLE WERE SUMMONED TO THE CAPITOL AND SAY IT IS THE CITY THAT PATROLS THESE ROADS.

>> HOW MANY CONSTABLES HAVE BEEN KILLED ON THE TOLLROAD. I KNOW

OF AT LEAST TWO. >> ONE OF THEM WAS GUNNED DOWN.

>> YES AND THEN I WILL LEAVE IT ALONE.

>> TO CONTINUE ON THIS BILL , WE FEEL STRONGLY THAT THE 30% IS NOT GIVEN TO THE OTHER JURISDICTION. SEVERAL MYTHS TO TRIANGULATE WHAT MY COLLEAGUE SAID. A MYTH THAT IS BEING TOLD AND OFTEN ERRONEOUSLY , WHO IS IN CHARGE OF SAFETY AND SECURITY ? OUR CONSTABLES ARE IN CHARGE OF SAFETY AND SECURITY. HECTOR ON AVERAGE SPENDS $44 MILLION. WE HAVE AN INCIDENT RESPONSE TEAM AS WELL AS APPROXIMATELY $25 MILLION IN CONTRACTS. THEY ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR SAFETY AND SECURITY. LESS THAN 2% OF CALLS HAVE BEEN RESPONDED TO BY HPD OR THE FIRE DEPARTMENT. THE SECOND MYTH , LET US CLARIFY, WE ARE NOT SPENDING MOBILITY DOLLARS AND MOBILITY PROJECTS. THAT IS FALSE. WE SPEND DOLLARS ON MOBILITY PROJECTS PERIOD, FULL STOP. IT GOES TO THE COUNTY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE AND WE ARE SUBJECT TO AN ANNUAL HONET -- AUDIT THAT WE RELIGIOUSLY FOLLOW. THE BOTTOM LINE, THOSE FUNDS AND -- IS THE BEST RUN TOLLROAD IN THE COUNTRY. THAT IS FURTHER EVIDENCED BY THE FACT THAT TXDOT HAS SO MUCH FAITH AND CONFIDENCE THAT WE ARE HELPING MANAGE THE BACK OFFICE. IT IS GOING REALLY WELL. THE OTHER MISNOMER THAT THERE IS SURPLUS OR A POT OF GOLD. THE SURPLUS THAT I THINK IS A MISNOMER AND SHOULD NOT BE USED IN THE FUTURE. THE FUNDS THAT ARE NOT SPENT ON OPERATIONS, MAINTENANCE, SAFETY AND SECURITY AND CAPITOL PROJECTS, THOSE REVENUE DOLLARS ARE THEN DIVIDED BY THE PRECINCTS. WE WILL WORK ON HERE AT HOME. THOSE ARE NOT JUST EXTRA DOLLARS. THOSE ARE THE DOLLARS THAT WE SPENT TENDING TO THE ROAD. THAT IS THE MONEY THAT WE USE FOR OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE OF OUR ROADS. 10 AS WELL AS OUR CAPITOL IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS TURNING TWO LANE ROADS INTO FOUR LANE ROADS AND BUILDING SIDEWALKS. THERE IS A VERY CLEAR USAGE AND A TIGHT OVERSIGHT OF THE FUNDS. WE HAVE BEEN MORE THAN A GOOD ENOUGH PARTNER IN MY ESTIMATION. WE NEED TO MAKE SURE AND I INVITE OTHER RESIDENTS WHO BENEFIT FROM THE SAFETY AND CONNECTIVITY THAT THESE DOLLARS OFFER, I INVITE THEM TO COME WITH US. AT THE END OF THE DAY, WE VALUE INFRASTRUCTURE. IT IS ONE OF OUR TOP PRIORITIES AND TOP DUTIES WITH OVER 2 MILLION PEOPLE. THAT

[04:30:04]

>> WE FEEL VERY STRONGLY ABOUT THAT BILL.

>> I HAVE A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS FOR PUBLIC HEALTH. I WANT TO KNOW WHY THERE ARE SO FEW OF THESE ABATEMENTS IN PRECINCT 1.

WE HAVE ESSENTIALLY THE SAME AMOUNT OF LAND AS AT LEAST ONE OTHER PRECINCT OF WHAT CONTRIBUTES TO THE DIFFERENCES.

WHAT CAN YOU DO TO IMPROVE THE OUTREACH.

>> THERE ARE A NUMBER OF FACTORS DRIVING DIFFERENCES. WE SEE THE LARGEST OPPORTUNITIES FOR ABATEMENTS IN A SMALL AREA. OUR NUISANCE ABATEMENT JURISDICTION LIES WITHIN THE UNINCORPORATED AREA. THERE IS RELATIVELY LITTLE UNINCORPORATED AREA THAT IS HEAVILY POPULATED WITH SINGLE-FAMILY HOMES. YOUR AREA INCLUDES LARGE AMOUNTS OF COUNTY LAND AND FLOOD CONTROL LAND, WAREHOUSE AND INDUSTRIAL SPACE. THERE ARE OTHER FACTORS THAT DRIVE DIFFERENCES. PRECINCT 4 HAS SEEN FEWER LARGER ABATEMENTS AND HAS A HIGH RATE OF SELF RESOLUTION WHEN SOMEBODY HAS ISSUED THAT CITATION, THEY TEND TO SELF RESOLVE THAT THE HOMEOWNER LEVEL AND WE DON'T HAVE TO GET INVOLVED. WE SEE MORE SMALLER ABATEMENTS WITH A LOWER SELF RESOLUTION. EACH PRECINCT IS UNIQUE. THERE ARE MEANINGFUL FACTORS.

>> I WANT TO RUN A TAB AND WHAT YOU ARE ALL DOING.

>> OUR TEAM WAS AT THE CHURCH OF CHRIST IN PARTNERSHIP WITH PRECINCTS LAST WEEK. WE DO HAVE ACTIVE OUTREACH. WE TAKE CALLS FROM THE COMMUNITY AS WELL AS REFERRALS FROM CONSTABLES AND

SHERIFF'S OFFICE. >> I AM CONCERNED ABOUT THAT. B ITEM PASSES. COMMISSIONER GARCIA, 103. DISASTER RECOVERY.

>> WHEN DISASTER HITS, HARRIS COUNTY AND IN PARTICULAR PRECINCT. AS I TOLD CONGRESS WHEN I VISITED AND THAT WAS BEFORE THE HOUSE TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE ON EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT. COUNTIES AREN'T JUST -- , WE ARE ACTUAL WORKING PARTNERS. IN 2024 , THEY DELIVERED CATASTROPHIC CLOSE TO COMMUNITIES. MORE THAN 2.7 MILLION HOUSEHOLDS LOST POWER AND AT LEAST SIX RESIDENTS DIED. SENIORS ARE TRAPPED WITHOUT AC AND FAMILIES LIVED IN MOLD AND HOMES ALREADY HIT BY HARVEY LOST RUTH AGAIN.

>> HARRIS COUNTY HAS ALLOCATED 67.3 MILLION IN RESPONSE TO THESE DISASTERS. THESE DOLLARS MUST MOVE QUICKLY . IN COMMUNITIES LIKE -- CLOVERLEAF AND PASADENA, DELAYS AREN'T BUREAUCRATIC. THEY ARE DEEPLY PERSONAL. EARLIER THIS WEEK I MET WITH THE HUD SECRETARY, SCOTT TURNER MADE IT CLEAR THAT CONSTITUENTS CAN'T AFFORD TO WAIT. WE HAVE SELLER THE EQUITY

[04:35:03]

SPLIT EVENLY BETWEEN SINGLE-FAMILY REPAIRS AND RECONSTRUCTION MULTIFAMILY AFFORDABLE HOUSING. 20% GOES TO INFRASTRUCTURE AND MITIGATION INCLUDING DRAINAGE IMPROVEMENTS , FLOOD CONTROL AND BOAT REPAIRS. THIS FULLY MEETS THE MITIGATION REQUIREMENTS AND TARGETS THE MOST FLOOD PRONE COMMUNITIES. 3% WILL SUPPORT TEMPORARY RELOCATION PROVIDING UP TO 12 MONTHS OF HOUSING FOR FAMILIES DISPLACED. THE REMAINING FUNDS ARE DEDICATED TO PLANNING. 5% ACTUALLY 1,000,000.2 AND -- 1.2 MILLION AND 3.3 MILLION OUR HELP KEEPING US COMPLIANT AND ACCOUNTABLE.'S THIS IS A SMART PLAN THAT WE ARE EXECUTING. IT REFLECTS THE INPUT OF HUNDREDS OF RESIDENTS THAT HAVE ALREADY TOLD US WHAT THEY NEED THE MOST. HOME REPAIRS, DEBRIS REMOVAL, DRAINAGE UP TRADES AND HELP NAVIGATING THE RECOVERY SYSTEMS. FEMA RECOVERY IS SLOW. 28% OF COUNTIES WAIT SIX YEARS PER REIMBURSEMENT. WE MUST ENSURE THE PROCESS DOESN'T FOLLOW THAT PATH. HURRICANE SEASON IS COMING. EVERY DAY WE DELAY IS ANOTHER DAY A FAMILY GOES WITHOUT SAFETY, SHELTER OR COOLING. THIS ISN'T JUST AN OPPORTUNITY, IT IS AN OBLIGATION. WE HAVE THE PLAN AND WE HAVE THE NEED AND NOW WE HAVE TO ACT. WITH THAT I WANT TO MOVE ON THE SIDE OF --

>> MOTION MADE BY GARCIA. >> ITEM PASSES.

>> NEXT IS ITEM 123, PRECINCT 3. >> I THINK THIS IS TIED SOMEWHAT

IN TERMS OF SUPPORT. >> ITEM PASSES.

>> NEXT ITEM , 228. MI SKIPPING ONE?

>> THAT IS WAITING FOR THE JUDGE I THINK.

>> I THINK YOU WERE RIGHT. SOME OF THE OTHERS ARE ALREADY TAKEN

CARE OF. >> THIS IS SOMETHING ELSE I FEEL PASSIONATELY ABOUT. THIS RELATES TO BURNETT BAYLIN . I WANT TO THANK MY TEAM THAT WORKED FOR YEARS SO HARD. I WANT TO THANK THE COMMUNITY. WE WORKED WITH WELL OVER 30 GROUPS AND MET WITH OVER 1000 COMMUNITY MEMBERS. WE HAD OVER 21,000 TOUCH POINTS. WE DID THIS OUTREACH IN SEVEN LANGUAGES IN SMALL GROUPS IN BIG GROUPS IN TOWN HALLS WE DID AN ONLINE SURVEY AND IN PERSON SURVEY AND SO MANY TOUCH POINTS. WE WANTED TO TRULY LISTEN WITH THE INTENT THE COMMUNITY DESERVES AND BUILDING ON THE WORK THAT HAD BEEN DONE. THE REASON I AM SO EXCITED AS I THINK THIS IS THE WAY ENGAGEMENT SHOULD BE DONE. IT IS OUR MODERN DAY ELLIS ISLAND. OVER 60% OF THE INDIVIDUALS ARE FOREIGN-BORN. THEY COME TO THIS COUNTRY BECAUSE THEY BELIEVE SO DEEPLY IN THE PROMISE AND IT ISN'T AREA THAT IS THE MOST DENSE AREA. AND GULFTON IS APPROXIMATELY 17 DEGREES HOTTER THAN RIVER OAKS WHICH I ALSO PROUDLY REPRESENT INCREASING FOUR. FROM A HEALTH PERSPECTIVE AND ENVIRONMENTAL PERSPECTIVE, THIS HAS SERIOUS IMPLICATIONS. IT IS PACKED WITH APARTMENT COMPLEXES. THIS PARK IS THE BACKYARD. IT WILL FILL YOUR HEART SEEN THIS MULTI-GENERATION COMMUTE FAMILIES IN THIS PARK.

THIS IS THEIR GREEN SPACE THAT WE ARE WORKING HARD TO COMPLETELY RENOVATE AND REVITALIZE. AS WE ARE DOING IT, WE DON'T JUST WANT TO IMPROVE AND DOUBLE THE SIZE, HOW CAN WE THINK THROUGH MORE CREATIVELY AND THINK THROUGH THE ECONOMIC JUSTICE FACTORS. WE ARE THINKING OF THE ECONOMIC IMPACT IN TERMS OF INCUBATOR SPACE AND PLACES FOR VENDORS AND ENTREPRENEURS.

[04:40:01]

I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU. AND TO SO MANY OTHERS THAT HAVE WORKED TIRELESSLY ON THIS PROJECT. EVERYBODY, THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU . INTO ANNE'S SON AND ALL OF OUR TEAM, WE HAVE A BOLD VISION . WE WANT TO DELIVER IN THAT FIRST IN CLASS STYLE. I AM SO MOVED, WE ACTUALLY BREAK GROUND LATER THIS MONTH. THAT IS ANOTHER PART THAT FILLS MY HEART. THE COMMUNITY HAD BEEN PROMISED A LOT OF THINGS IN THERE HADN'T BEEN FOLLOW-THROUGH. I THINK MY TEAM FOR PUTTING THIS INTO ACTION. I CANNOT WAIT TO BREAK GROUND . TO ME WHAT REPRESENTS THE PROMISE OF THIS GREAT COUNTRY. WITH THAT, THANK YOU. I APPRECIATE YOU MORE THAN I CAN EVER EXPRESS. FOR THE PEOPLE OF GULFTON AND BEYOND, I PROBABLY MOVE ITEM 228 AS PRESENTED.

>>

[Emergency/Supplemental items (1 of 2)]

>> ITEM 276, COMMISSIONER RAMSEY, YOU PULLED THAT ONE.

TELEWORK POLICY. >> JUST A BIT OF AN UPDATE. I'M NOT SURE WE STILL HAVE THE TECHNOLOGY TO MONITOR WHO IS WORKING FROM HOME AND WHO ISN'T. DO WE HAVE ANY MORE UPDATE ON THE NUMBER? I KNOW THE REPORT I GOT RECENTLY WAS ROUGHLY 5500

EMPLOYEES. >> AND THIRTYSOMETHING PERCENT WORK TODAY OR MAYBE FOUR DAYS. THERE IS MORE TO COME.

>> THAT IS THE FIRST ITERATION. IN ADDITION TO UPDATING THE POLICY CREATING BETTER CLARITY AROUND REMOTE LOCATIONS AND ENSURING THAT WE -- DUAL WORK DURING TELEWORK HOURS WILL BE COMING BACK WITH A BROADER FRAMEWORK AROUND RISK ASSESSMENT THAT HAS BEEN DEVELOPED AND SHARED THEM ALSO DATA FROM THOSE ASSESSMENT. AND ANNUAL MONITORING AS WELL. ALSO ONE OF THE ADDITIONAL CHANGES WE MADE IN THE POLICY IS TELEWORK ELIGIBILITY WON'T BE CONSIDERED FOR 30 DAYS AT A DEPARTMENT

LEVEL. >> THERE HAVE BEEN SOME ASKS FROM NOT ONLY YOUR OFFICE BUT OTHERS TO THINK ABOUT COMPENSATION AS IT RELATES TO A REMOTE WORK. WE ARE NOT QUITE THERE YET BUT IT IS IN OUR QUEUE. WE WILL BE PROVIDING INCREMENTAL UPDATES AS THIS PROGRESSES AND EVOLVES.

>> THERE IS A MOTION ON 276. ALL IN FAVOR?

>> UNANIMOUSLY. THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH. THANK YOU COMMISSIONER

ELLIS. >> MOTION BY COMMISSIONER BROWNED -- BROWN AND SECOND BY COMMISSIONER ELLIS?

>> YES. B THAT WAS APPROVED UNANIMOUSLY?

>> YES. >> NOW WE WILL MOVE TO 285 AND

286. COMMISSIONER RAMSEY ? >> ANY UPDATES ON THE

FEASIBILITY STUDY? >> IS THAT GOING OUT TO THE

MARKET. >> WE HAVE A SELECTION

COMMITTEE? >> IT IS THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE

[04:45:03]

>> I AM TAKING SUGGESTIONS. >> THE REQUEST IS OR ISN'T A

CONSTRUCTION PROJECT. >> AND ITS NEEDS, ARE THERE BEST PRACTICES AND COMMUNITY INVESTMENTS WE CAN MAKE TO

OFFSET NEED. >> WE HAVE SEVERAL STUDIES.

>> WE MAY NOT BE READY. DO YOU HAVE ANY IDEA WHEN THERE MIGHT

BE SOMETHING DONE? >> WE EXPECT TO BRING RECOMMENDATIONS . WE RAN PRETTY FAST AT GETTING THESE OUT. WE EXPECT TO BRING RECOMMENDATIONS BEFORE THE END OF THE YEAR.

>> THE END OF THE YEAR WOULD BE SOMETHING TO GIVE RELIEF IN THE JAIL? IN TERMS OF NUMBERS. AND IT WOULD BE THE CONDITIONS ARE UNACCEPTABLE. I KNOW WE HAVE DONE SOME IMPROVEMENTS WITHIN THE JAIL. I WOULD HOPE THIS WOULD BE THE LAST STUDY BEFORE

WE FINALLY DID SOMETHING. >> I MOVE THEM BOTH.

>> MOTION BY COMMISSIONER ELLIS FOR BOTH ITEMS.

>>

UNANIMOUSLY. >> ITEM 298, COMMISSIONER

RAMSEY. >> THERE WAS ONE THAT WE MISSED.

>> 24. IS THE HARRIS COUNTY HOSPITAL DISTRICT BONDS. LET'S START WITH THAT ONE. GO AHEAD COMMISSIONER RAMSEY.

>> WHAT I UNDERSTAND ON THE BONDS IN THE HOSPITAL DISTRICT DID , THEY DESCRIBED THE SITUATION AND AT THIS POINT, THE PROJECT IS $400 MILLION OVER BUDGET. WHEN I ASKED , I MIGHT TO BE CONCERNED BECAUSE WE ARE ABOUT TO SELL $850 MILLION IN BONDS, THEY SEEMED TO THINK IT WAS FINE. THEY HOPED IT WOULDN'T IMPACT I USE THE WORD HOPE . THEY HOPED IT WOULDN'T IMPACT THE THREE CLINICS THAT THEY WERE GOING TO CONSTRUCT. I AM KIND OF A REALIST. THIS FIRST SET OF BONDS WE ARE SELLING AND THE UPDATE IS $400 MILLION BEHIND WHAT WE THOUGHT THE BUDGET WAS. I WOULD EXPRESS CONCERN. I UNDERSTAND SELLING THE BONDS IS SELLING THE BONDS. IT IS $400 MILLION OVER BUDGET

AND I WOULD BE CONCERNED. >> WELCOME.

>> GOOD AFTERNOON. THANK YOU. I'M GOING TO ALLOW THE CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER TO COMMENT. I WANTED TO SAY BEFORE HE SHARES HIS COMMENTS THAT COMMISSIONER RAMSEY, WE SHOW YOUR CONCERNS AS WELL. UNFORTUNATELY, WE ARE DEALING WITH A SITUATION THAT I DON'T THINK ANYONE COULD HAVE ANTICIPATED A YEAR AND A HALF AGO. EVEN A YEAR AGO. THE REALITY IS THE REALITY. I AM COMMITTED AND FOLLOWING THROUGH. FIRST AND FOREMOST IS THE CONSTRUCTION COMPLETION OF THE LEVEL I TRAUMA CAPABLE HOSPITAL.

I HAVE MADE IT CLEAR THAT MY EXPERT TATIAN IS THAT THIS BUILDING AND FUTURE HOSPITAL WILL BE ONE OF THE MOST RESILIENT BUILDINGS IN HARRIS COUNTY. NOT JUST THE HOSPITAL.

WITH THAT I WILL LET LOUIS MAKE SOME COMMENTS AS WELL.

>> THANK YOU FOR GIVING AN OPPORTUNITY TO RESPOND MORE

[04:50:01]

WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO MANAGE ORDER AHEAD AND DO A LOT OF DIFFERENT ACTIONS TO TRY TO CREATE MORE CERTAINTY AS WE GO THROUGH THE PROJECT WHICH AS YOU KNOW HAS ANOTHER 45 MONTHS TO GO. I WILL STOP THERE AND BE GLAD TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS. I DO HAVE PATRICK CASEY HERE WITH ME, I WAS SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT OVER CONSTRUCTION IF THERE ARE FURTHER QUESTIONS.

>> COMMISSIONER ELLIS. >> I AM CURIOUS, YOU MADE REFERENCE TO THE BANK OF TARIFF ISSUES. IN TERMS OF ISSUANCE COST, WHAT IS HAPPENING IN THE STOCK MARKET ON THE EQUITY SIDE.

ON THE BOND SIDE, ANY CONCERN ABOUT ISSUANCE COST?

>> I WOULD LOOK TO OUR CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER TO HANDLE THAT

QUESTION. >> I CAN JUMP IN HERE. THERE IS A LOT OF MARKET VOLATILITY. I ACTUALLY VISITED WITH OUR UNDERWRITERS EARLIER THIS WEEK. AS ALWAYS, OUR DEBT IS GRADE A.

WE MAIBACH FOR THE FEDERAL BENCHMARKS. WE ARE MONITORING CLOSELY. AT THIS POINT , THERE IS NO MAJOR CONCERN. ON THE SIDE OF COST ESCALATION ISSUES. I DON'T KNOW WHAT IT IS. YOU ARE LOOKING AT OPTIONS. IS LIKE YOU SAID, THE MOST URGENT IS THE COMPLETION OF THE LBJ PROJECT. WE MAY BE FACING, FORGET 2029

[04:55:13]

GAIN SUPPORT. >> I AM NOT SURE WHAT ELSE TO

SAY. >> I WOULDN'T GO ANY FURTHER

THAN THAT. >> IF THERE IS A NO MONEY COMPLEX AT SOME POINT, WE HAVE TO FIGURE OUT SOMETHING AND BE

HONEST ABOUT THAT. >> THANK YOU SO MUCH. IS THERE A MOTION FOR THIS ITEM? MOTION BY COMMISSIONER ELLIS AND SECOND BY

COMMISSIONER GARCIA . >>

[Departments (Part 4 of 4)]

>> MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY . BEFORE WE HEAD TO THE NEXT ITEM I WANT TO TAKE US BACK TO THE CLIMATE JUSTICE PLAN ITEM 15. I JUST WANTED TO GIVE BIG PROPS TO EVERYBODY THAT WORKED ON IT. IT IS A WONDERFUL DOCUMENT. I HOPE EVERYONE HAD A CHANCE TO LOOK THROUGH IT. I LIKED THE SUMMARY OF WHAT PEOPLE ARE LOOKING FOR.

I WILL JUST READ THIS ONE SENTENCE. PEOPLE DREAM OF THE FUTURE WHERE THEY ARE SWIMMING IN THE BIOS AND GROWING AND SHARING FOOD AND WHERE THEY FEEL SAFE IN HOMES AND COMMUNITIES AND WHERE NATURE WITH THE POWER TO CREATE AND DESTROY IS NURTURED, RESPECTED AND INTEGRATED INTO THEIR LIVES. I AM REALLY EXCITED ABOUT THIS. I THINK IT IS SPECIFIC AND A LOT OF IT IS IN THE WORKS. OF COURSE MY COLLEAGUES FOR SUPPORTING THIS OVER THE 2+ YEARS IT HAS BEEN GOING ON.

>> WHY DON'T WE GO BACK TO THE CONSTABLE ITEM.

>> I APOLOGIZE. I WAS AT A DOCTORS APPOINTMENT I COULDN'T MISS. ESSENTIALLY , WHAT I WAS TRYING TO CONVEY IS THE SAME ISSUES WE HAVE TALKED ABOUT . PARTICULARLY A LAW ENFORCEMENT DEPARTMENT. ANY ADJUSTMENTS IMPACTS THE ABILITY TO FULLY STAFF ALL OF THE BUDGETED POSITIONS. WHAT I AM TRYING TO SAY, THERE IS NOT NECESSARILY A DIFFERENCE BETWEEN DOING OR IF THE COMMITMENT IS TO GET EQUAL PAY FOR FOLKS DOING INVESTIGATIVE DUTIES . THERE IS NOT NECESSARILY A FINANCIAL DISTANT -- DIFFERENCE. THAT IS WHAT I WAS TRYING TO CONVEY. I

AM SORRY IF THAT GOT CONFUSED. >> THANK YOU DIRECTOR. MY QUESTION, NO NEED TO APOLOGIZE. I KNOW YOU HAD A DOCTORS APPOINTMENT. NOBODY CONTROLS HEALTH ISSUES. NONE OF US GET TO. I UNDERSTAND. YOUR TEAM MEMBER GOT A BIT OF AN INTERROGATION FROM ME. MY QUESTION, WHILE YOU'RE AT THE DOCTORS , COMMISSIONER ELLIS MADE A COMMENT. DON'T LET ME PUT WORDS IN YOUR MOUTH. HE SAID IF WE ARE GOING TO APPROVE -- ITEM AND IT SOUNDS LIKE FROM A PHYSICAL STANDPOINT, YOU FEEL THAT IT IS APPROPRIATE BECAUSE THERE IS NO FISCAL IMPACT UNTIL THE NEXT FISCAL YEAR, IF WE WILL APPROVE THE ITEM THAT HAS NO FISCAL IMPACT, COULD WE THEN BRING OTHER ITEMS. I WANT TO

[05:00:01]

>> FOR THE WEATHER THERE IS A FISCAL IMPACT. THEY ARE GOING TO SPEND MORE MONEY THAN THEY WOULD PREVIOUSLY. THE SURPLUS , MOST OF THE CONSTABLES HAVE A SIZABLE SURPLUS. LARGELY DUE TO VACANCIES IN THE DEPARTMENT. I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE NUMBERS ARE EXACTLY. THEY WILL HAVE LESS AT THE END OF THE YEAR. ALL OF THEM

COULD ABSORB THE COST. >> THAT IS BECAUSE OF THE VACANCIES. I KNOW IT IS AN UNSATISFACTORY ANSWER BUT THAT IS THE REALITY. WE WOULD SPEND MORE CASH THAN WE WOULD OTHERWISE. I'M SORRY, THE DETECTIVE WORK.

>> YOU HAVE BEEN VERY CLEAR. I DON'T SUPPORT THIS BUT I DO SUPPORT BUT UP TO A CERTAIN AMOUNT. WHAT I AM HEARING, ALL OF THIS FROM A BUDGETARY STANDPOINT. YOU DO SUPPORT THIS

ITEM AS ORIGINALLY PRESENTED. >> I THINK THERE ARE CHALLENGES.

THERE ARE DIFFERENT DUTIES AND THERE IS A DIFFERENCE IN THE CIVIL SERVICE. I AM HERE TO CALL BALLS AND STRIKES. THEY HAVE NOT REQUIRED A SUPPLEMENT TO IMPLEMENT THE RACK. I TRIED TO UNDERSTAND WHAT I AM MISSING. IF ANOTHER DEPARTMENT WERE SIMILAR, THEY WOULD NOT BE INTERVENING TO STOP. BECAUSE OF THOSE DIFFERENCES, THAT IS THE REASON WE WORKED ON THE MORE GRANULE PROPOSAL. WHAT I HEARD YOUR TEAM MEMBERS SAY, MY PROPOSAL

>> YEAH, WILL BE AND GET IT PROGRAMMED AND PEOPLESOFT SO THERE WOULD BE AN ADMINISTRATIVE BURDEN TO CREATING A NEW STIPEND WHERE THE DETECTIVE RANK HAS ALREADY BEEN CREATED AND WHERE WE WOULD BE GIVING IT -- GIVING ACCESS TO IT.

>> OKAY. IT SOUNDS LIKE WE JUST -- I DON'T KNOW WHAT CONVERSATION WE HAD AT THAT SENT US ON THIS LET'S TRY TO FIGURE OUT A TEMPORARY SOLUTION UNTIL THE BUDGET BUT I KNOW OSTENSIBLY THAT'S WHAT WE HAD BEEN WORKING WITH YOUR TEAM AND THE CONSTABLES ON SO AS I SAID EARLIER, I THINK THAT THE COLLABORATION HAS VALUE IN AND OF ITSELF. SOMEWHERE, THERE WAS A MISCOMMUNICATION BUT IF FROM A BUDGETARY STANDPOINT YOU ARE SUPPORTIVE OF THIS AND THE POLICY ISSUES , THE SOLUTION THAT WE, IN THEORY WORKED WITH YOUR OFFICE ON FOR THE POLICY ISSUES ARE TOO BURDENSOME FOR YOU GUYS THAN THE LOGICAL THING SEEMS, TO ME, TO BE TO SUPPORT THE ITEM REPRESENTED. BUT, YOU KNOW I WILL LET MY CLIENT SPEAK AND LET ME KNOW IF THERE'S ANYTHING I'M MISSING HERE. COMMISSIONER?

>> I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT I'M CLEAR. AND, COMMISSIONER RAMSEY, YOU MADE THE REFERENCE EARLIER -- PEOPLE ARE AGAINST -- I AM NOT ANTI-CONSTABLE BUT THERE ARE ONLY TWO GROUPS OF

[05:05:06]

SO I WILL SIMPLY SAY BECAUSE THIS ITEM KEEPS COMING BACK IT'S LIKE A WAR OF ATTRITION. IT KEEPS POPPING BACK UP SO ALL I'M SAYING IS I'M GOING TO POP MY STUFF ON THE AGENDA AS WELL.

THAT ALL OF US HERE -- WHICH IS WHY COMMISSIONER RAMSEY, YOU HELPED ME ONE TIME AND I ASSUMED PART OF IT WAS BECAUSE I KEPT MOUTHING OFF ABOUT WHAT WE ARE DOING FOR PEOPLE IN THE -- NOT THE ONES THAT CLEAN THE STREETS. SO I'M JUST SAYING, I WAS TRYING TO FIND A WAY TO MARRY IT AND NO ONE HAS COME UP WITH THE LANGUAGE SO I GUESS THE WAY YOU DO IT BY WAR OF ATTRITION IS JUST KEEP POPPING IT ON AGENDA, I'M GOING TO KEEP POPPING ON THE AGENDA TOO. THOSE FOLKS DON'T HAVE THE LUXURY OF COMING IN HERE AND SITTING HERE FOR TWO OR THREE HOURS. TO MAKE THE CASE ON WHY THEY OUGHT TO GET WHEN WE MEET ONCE OR TWICE A MEET -- MONTH. SO I WANT TO MAKE SURE IT'S CLEAR, I'M JUST TRYING TO FIGURE OUT HOW WE GET TO THAT. IT'S NOT ANTI-THIS, I VOTE FOR IT, YOU GET ME? BUT I'M JUST TELLING YOU, WHEN WE GET TO THOSE FOLKS AT THE BOTTOM, THERE WILL ALWAYS BE SOME EXCUSE. SO I DON'T KNOW HOW ELSE WE GET THERE AND I THINK COMMISSIONER GARCIA'S MOTION, I THINK HE WAS OFFERING IN A FRIENDLY SPIRIT ABOUT THE CIVIL SERVICE ISSUE MADE SENSE AS WELL BUT I'M JUST TRYING TO MAKE SURE THAT I KEEP THAT ISSUE OF PAY EQUITY ON THE FRONT BURNER BECAUSE WHEN SOMEBODY SAYS THAT 300 MILLION -- THAT THERE'S WON'T BE LOCKED IN. IF WE START GOING BROKE, IF WE END UP WHERE THE CITY GOES WITH OUR FRIENDS GRABBING MONEY, ANYWAY THEY CAN, THEY MIGHT EVEN GRAB THE FLOOD CONTROL AS WELL AND LEAVE US. I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THOSE FOLKS AT THE BOTTOM ARE NOT LEFT OUT OF THE EQUATION SO I WON'T THINK ON HOW TO'S -- TO PUT STUFF ON THE AGENDA UNLESS I MARRY THIS. THAT'S WHAT I DO. I PUT MY STUFF IN.

>> QUICK RESPONSE TO THAT, DIRECTOR BECAUSE I DON'T GET

IT. MY BRAIN IS JUST LIKE -- >> SO, I THINK TO RESPOND DIRECTLY TO THE PAY EQUITY ISSUE, WE PUT A 50 BILLION THIS YEAR, OH IN B IS GOING TO ASK TO PUT A PLACEHOLDER IN THE FORECAST, I DON'T KNOW WHAT THAT NUMBER IS GOING TO BE, WE ARE GOING TO COORDINATE -- WE CAN PUT IN THE 300 AND WORK BACKWARDS FROM THERE BUT -- I'M HAPPY TO DO SO .

>> AT LEAST TO 50 AGAIN, I WANT TO GET AS HIGH AS I CAN BECAUSE I JUST KNOW WE WILL NEVER GET THERE. WE'VE BEEN HAVING THIS CONVERSATION WHEN I'M IN THE STRAITJACKET.

>> I THINK WE ARE GOING TO REQUEST MORE THAN 50 SO, THE

[05:10:05]

>> COMMISSIONER GARCIA? >> THANK YOU. AGAIN, MY ISSUE IS THAT WE KEEP USING THE TERM PARITY BUT WE CAN'T HAVE PARITY IN SOME PLACES IN PARITY AND NOT IN PARITY IN OTHERS. SO I WANTED -- I WILL ASK AGAIN, COMMISSIONER, I'LL SUPPORT YOUR MOTION IF YOU WOULD INCLUDE THE LANGUAGE OF SUPPORTING THE CIVIL SERVICE AS A PART OF YOUR SECOND MOTION.

>> THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER GARCIA. I DO THINK CLOSE TO PARITY, APPLES TO APPLES WE CAN GET THE BETTER AND MY UNDERSTANDING IS I DON'T UNDERSTAND HOW WE CAN IMPOSE CIVIL SERVICE WITHOUT A LEGISLATIVE CHANGE. SO YOU JUST MEAN -- SUBJECT TO CIVIL SERVICE AND TESTING REQUIREMENTS LIKE SIMPLE SERVICE EQUIVALENT REQUIREMENTS YOU MEAN? THERE'S NOT GOING TO BE CIVIL SERVANTS BUT IN THE HOPES THAT THIS BODY WILL SUPPORT CIVIL SERVICE, THE PASSAGE OF CIVIL SERVICE FOR -- WE CAN'T FORCE IT, IT'S ALLEGED BUT WE CAN SUPPORT IT.

>> SO THE BODY. OKAY. I KNOW ONE OF OUR CONSTABLES HAS BEEN HERE.

I SEE HIS CAMERA ON. CONSTABLE, PRECINCT 5.

>> CAN EVERYBODY HEAR ME? >> YES, CONSTABLE, THANK YOU.

>> YEAH, IF THERE'S ANYTHING I CAN ANSWER FOR Y'ALL TO LET ME

KNOW. >> COULD YOU PLEASE RESPOND TO THAT LAST EXCHANGE COME A CONSTABLE IN TERMS OF JOINING THE CIVIL SERVICE, WHAT THAT WOULD ENTAIL? YOUR THOUGHTS FOR

YOUR OFFICE? >> COMMISSIONER I BELIEVE IT'S GOING TO COME FROM THE STATE BUT OF COURSE I'M JUST SPEAKING FROM MYSELF , I CAN'T SPEAK FREELY OF THE CONSTABLES BUT I DON'T MIND AT ALL FOLLOWING THE PROCESS THAT CIVIL SERVICE USES.

IN FACT, THE POSITIONS THAT WE CHOSE THE NUMBER FOR TO GET, WE USE THE DEFINITION THAT WAS GIVEN TO US BY THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT AND APPROVED BY CIVIL SERVICE TO PICK WHICH UNITS FIT INTO THAT POSITION SO IF THERE IS ANYTHING THAT CIVIL SERVICE COMES UP WITH, A TEST, THAT WOULD ACTUALLY SAVE US FROM HAVING TO CREATE OUR OWN. I WOULD GO BY THAT ALSO FOR THIS BECAUSE IN THE END , THESE PEOPLE NEED TO HAVE THE SAME QUALIFICATIONS AND THE SAME EXPERTISE AND THAT'S WHAT WE ARE FIGHTING FOR HERE IF THEY ARE DOING THE SAME JOB, THE SAME

SKILLS, THEY GET THE SAME PAY. >> THANK YOU, CONSTABLE. SO, THE FRIENDLY AMENDMENT LANGUAGE SUBJECT TO CIVIL SERVICE AND TESTING REQUIREMENTS, EQUIVALENT REQUIREMENTS?

>> YES, MOVING FORWARD -- >> YEAH, PERHAPS A CIVIL SERVICE STYLE PROCESS. I CAN'T IMPLEMENT CIVIL SERVICE LIKE YOU

ARE SAYING FROM THE STATE. >> NEITHER CAN WE IMPOSE IT ON YOU. AS YOU SAID, THE STATE HAS TO APPROVE IT. I'M JUST SAYING THAT YOU KNOW, AS YOU KNOW, I LIVED UNDER CIVIL SERVICE FOR 30 YEARS AND UNDER THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE, THE CONSTABLES OFFICES DO NOT HAVE CIVIL SERVICE AND SO WHENEVER IT COMES TO GIVING RANKS OR DISCIPLINE, WE HAVE TO ABIDE BY THE CIVIL SERVICE PROCESS AND SO, ASSUMING THAT ONE DAY THERE WILL BE CIVIL SERVICE FOR THE CONSTABLES, IT IS, TO ME, THAT IS TRUE PARITY THAT YOU ARE ALL UNDER THE SAME RULES AND REGULATIONS AND LAWS.

>> YES, SIR, AND I WOULD LOVE TO ENTER INTO A CONVERSATION WITH SOMEONE BY CIVIL SERVICE BUT NO ONE HAS PROPOSED A BILL AND REACHED OUT TO THEM SELF OR THAT I'M AWARE OF ANY OTHER CONSTABLES TO HELP DRAFT A CIVIL SERVICE BILL .

[05:15:07]

>> SO, COMMISSIONER, I AGREE WITH YOU IN TERMS OF THE NORTHSTAR. IT WOULD BE WONDERFUL TO WORK WITH OUR EIGHT CONSTABLES IN THE LEGISLATURE. FOR PURPOSES OF TODAY'S DISCUSSION TO KIND OF MARRY THE DIFFERENT PARTS OF THE CONVERSATION WOULD THIS WORK? I WILL REREAD MY LANGUAGE WITH WHAT I THINK WE ARE TRYING TO ACHIEVE TOGETHER. MOTION REQUESTING THE CONSTABLES WORK WITH THE HARRIS COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE TO ENSURE PROCESS PARITY RELATED TO JOB DESCRIPTIONS PROMOTIONAL ELIGIBILITY, TESTING CRITERIA AND OTHER CIVIL SERVICE EQUIVALENT REQUIREMENTS.

>> I WILL ACCEPT THAT AND APPRECIATE THAT AND THEN I HAVE A SEPARATE MOTION THAT I HOPE I WILL HAVE YOUR SUPPORT FOR AS WELL. SO, YES, I WILL CHECK ON YOUR MOTION AS --

>> OKAY. AND THEN I WILL READ THE ORIGINAL ONE. MOTION TO APPROVE THE DETECTIVE CONSTABLE RANK AND PAY RANGE. THAT WAS THE FIRST ONE AND I WILL REREAD THE SECOND ONE FOR CLARITY, MOTION REQUESTING THE CONSTABLES WORK WITH THE HARRIS COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE TO ENSURE PROCESS PARITY RELATED TO JOB DESCRIPTIONS, PROMOTIONAL ELIGIBILITY AND TESTING CRITERIA MOVING FORWARD SUBJECT TO CIVIL SERVICE AND TESTING REQUIREMENTS. I'M SORRY. SUBJECT TO CIVIL SERVICE AND TESTING EQUIVALENT REQUIREMENTS TO THE FULLEST EXTENT POSSIBLE.

AND CONSTABLE, JUST TO CONFIRM THAT IS WORKABLE?

>> YES, THANK YOU. AND LIKE I WAS SAYING EARLIER, THAT'S HOW WE CAME UP WITH THE CORRECT FOR HOW MANY PEOPLE WE SET OUR AGENCIES WE MEET THIS WAS THAT WE WERE GIVEN FROM THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT ABOUT HOW THEY COME UP WITH THEIR CRITERIA SO SAME PEOPLE DOING THE SAME JOB SHOULD HAVE THE SAME

QUALIFICATIONS. >> AGREED AND WE APPRECIATE YOU AND YOUR TEAM AT ALL THE PARTNERSHIP AS WELL AS CONSTABLE

HERMAN AND CONSTABLE ROSEMAN. >> THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT ON

THIS. >> THANK YOU.

>> COMMISSIONER? >> JUDGE, SORT OF TO GO WITH THIS CONVERSATION, THERE IS LEGISLATION PENDING RIGHT NOW.

THERE IS HOUSE REAL 3319 THAT IS BEING PROPOSED BY STATE REPRESENTATIVE SHAW THAT WOULD WORK TO CREATE THE CIVIL SERVICE COMMISSION FOR CONSTABLES AND SO I WOULD SIMPLY MAKE A MOTION THAT HARRIS COUNTY COMMISSIONERS SUPPORT THE PASSAGE OF HOUSE

BILL 3319. >> I THINK WE ALREADY VOTED ON

THE FIRST ONE. >> NO, WE HAVEN'T VOTED SO LET'S FINISH, COMMISSIONER RAMSEY, DID YOU HAVE SOMETHING TO ADD? WE HAVE THREE MOTIONS, TWO WITH THE SECOND, THE OTHER DOESN'T HAVE A SECOND, SO THE MOTION TO APPROVE THE DETECTIVE RANK AND PAY RANGE MOTION BY -- SECOND BY COMMISSIONER GARCIA, ALL IN FAVOR? ANY OPPOSED? THE MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY. THE MOTION REQUESTING CONSTABLES WORK WITH CASH TO SECURE PROCESS PARITY RELATED TO JOB DESCRIPTIONS, PROMOTIONAL ELIGIBILITY SUBJECT TO TESTING EQUIVALENT REQUIREMENTS MOVING FORWARD TO THE FULLEST EXTENT POSSIBLE, MOTION BY COMMISSIONER GARCIA? ALL IN FAVOR? ANY OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY. MOTION THAT HARRIS COUNTY COMMISSIONERS COURT SUPPORT THE PASSAGE OF HB 3319, COMMISSIONER, 3319. SECOND MOTION, ALL IN FAVOR? ANY OPPOSED? I'M IN FAVOR OF COMMISSIONER RAMSEY, JUST TO CLARIFY.

>> I'M GOING TO DO SOMETHING I NEVER DO. I'M GOING TO ABSTAIN.

I HAVE BEEN WANTING TO ABSTAIN. COUNTY ATTORNEY, I WANT AN OPINION. NOW I KNOW WHAT IT MEANS, I'M GOING TO DO IT.

>> YOU ABSTAIN, AVOID THE PAIN. >> ALL RIGHT, SO THAT -- JUDGE?

>> YES, JOHN. >> AND I HAD ONE THING I WANT TO MAKE SURE EVERYONE UNDERSTANDS AND I THINK PEOPLE DO, THAT THE CREATION OF A CIVIL SERVICE LIKE RANK AND JOB CLASSIFICATION IS NOT GOING TO BE CIVIL SERVICE, IT'S IMPORTANT FOR CONSTABLES AND THEIR DEPUTIES TO UNDERSTAND THAT BECAUSE WHAT WE DON'T WANT TO DO IS CREATE THE IMPRESSION THAT THEY HAVE CIVIL SERVICE PROTECTIONS THAT THEY CAN GO TO CIVIL SERVICE CONNECTION FOR THAT SO IT'S IMPORTANT TO PUT THAT ON THE RECORD.

>> I AGREE AND THAT'S WHY THE WORD CIVIL SERVICE EQUIVALENT REQUIREMENTS BUT I APPRECIATE THAT FLAG AND THAT IS VERY FITTING FOR ALL OF OUR CONSTABLE DEPUTIES TO UNDERSTAND. THANK

YOU. >> SO THE FINAL MOTION PASSES FOUR YES, FOUR YES AND ONE ABSTENTION.

>> I VOTED FOR IT AND WHEN I PUT MY ITEM ON THE AGENDA IF IT

[05:20:02]

>> YEAH AND I THINK THAT'S GREAT. ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU GUYS SO MUCH, THANK YOU CONSTABLE AND A YOUR COLLEAGUES HAVE BEEN INCREDIBLY FLEXIBLE AND GREAT TO WORK WITH.

>> THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT ON THIS.

>> OF COURSE. ALL RIGHT. LET'S MOVE ON TO ITEM WE'VE DONE 24.

[Emergency/Supplemental items (2 of 2)]

>> WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY AS PRESENTED ITSELF TO MAY BE SECURE SOME FUNDING FROM THE STATE RELATED TO TUNNELS AND THIS MOTION DEALS WITH A RESOLUTION FROM THIS COURT THAT WE WOULD CONSIDER LOOKING AT THE TUNNELS. UNDERSTAND WE'VE ALREADY DONE A LOT OF PRELIMINARY WORK RELATED TO THE TUNNELS. SO WE HAVE A PRETTY GOOD DEPTH OF UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT IT TAKES BUT THIS ONE WOULD BE MORE ALONG THE LINES OF A PILOT. THIS WOULD BE SOMETHING WE COULD GET THE STATE TO HELP US OUT WITH. THERE SEEMS TO BE SOME WILLINGNESS FROM THE STATE TO HELP US ON THIS. WE HAVE COMMISSIONER -- AND US BOTH HAVE MET WITH CONGRESSMAN WESLEY HUNT AND HE FROM A FEDERAL LEVEL WOULD BE LOOKING AT THIS TOO BUT AGAIN, THIS WOULDN'T BE THE TUNNELS THAT WOULD BE 40 FOOT DIAMETER ARE BIG BUT THIS WOULD BE ALLOW THE COUNTY TO LOOK AT CERTAIN AREAS TO DO THIS STUDIES AND I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TOO AND COMMISSIONER GARCIA IS NOT HERE BUT YOU KNOW, COMMISSIONER ELLIS, WE'VE HEARD A LOT TODAY FROM FOLKS IN THE NORTHEAST AND I KNOW FROM DOING FLOOD STUDIES IN THE COUNTY FOR A FEW DECADES, PROBABLY THE MOST IMPACTED UNDERSERVED, NEIGHBORHOODS ARE ALONG HUNTING HALLS AND GRANT AND ANYTHING THAT WE WOULD DO RELATIVE TO THESE TUNNELS, THEY WOULD BE IN THAT CONVERSATION, ONE BECAUSE THE OUTFALL FOR THE TUNNELS WOULD BE IN THE SHIP CHANNELS, PROBABLY AROUND THE BASIN. AND IT WOULD SEEM LOGICAL, IT WOULD BE COST EFFECTIVE AND APPROPRIATE THAT WE WOULD DEAL WITH HUNTING HALLS AND GREENS IF WE ARE GOING TO TALK ABOUT TUNNELS BUT ALSO MAY BECOME WEST ON THE BUFFALO SO WE CAN KEEP THE FEDS INVOLVED. THAT IS A ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEER ISSUE SO THE MOTION THAT FRANKLY, COMMISSIONER -- COMMISSIONER BRIONES AND I WORKED ON IS THIS MOTION FOR DISTRICT TO PROVIDE THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION TO THE COURT ON MAY 22ND, 2025. A PRELIMINARY COPY OF ALIGNMENTS FOR BOTH THE HUNTING HALLS, GREEN TUNNEL STUDY AS WELL AS THE BUFFALO BAYOU STUDY AT APPROPRIATE AND APPROXIMATE LEVEL OF SERVICE INQUIRIES FOR A RANGE OF TUNNEL DIAMETERS IN BOTH WATERSHEDS IN THE ORDER OF MAGNITUDE ESTIMATE ON THE COST PER MILE OF THE TUNNEL FOR DIFFERENT TUNNEL DIAMETERS. INCLUDING A SEGMENTAL COST OF SMALL-DIAMETER TUNNELS BETWEEN LOCATIONS AND IN ADDITION AN ORDER OF MAGNITUDE COST OF STRUCTURE FROM THE TUNNELS ALONG THESE ALIGNMENTS AND RECOMMENDATION OF HOW THE FINANCE UP TO 500 MILLION FOR THE PROJECT AND RECOMMENDATION ON WHAT COULD HE CONSTRUCTED FOR 1 BILLION. I THINK THERE ARE DOLLARS AT THE STATE TO HELP US AND I DON'T THINK THOSE DOLLARS WILL BE THERE FOREVER BUT AT LEAST A RESOLUTION ON THE PART OF THE COURT THAT WE WOULD BE INTERESTED IN LOOKING AT THAT, KNOWING THAT A SIGNIFICANT PORTION OF THIS WOULD BE FOCUSED ON THE UNDERSERVED AREAS MANY OF WHICH WE HEARD FROM TODAY IN THIS COURT. SO THAT WOULD BE A MOTION. THIS RESOLUTION WOULD THEN GO TO FOLKS IN AUSTIN TO TELL THEM THIS COURT'S INTEREST IN ASSIST AND FUNDING ASSISTANCE FROM THE STATE SHOULD SOMEBODY

BE ABLE TO FIND UP THERE. >> COMMISSIONER?

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH, COMMISSIONER RAMSEY AND I WOULD LOVE DR. PETERSON, I KNOW SHE IS HERE AND I HAVE BEEN RAIN STORMING WITH HER. THE WAY I SEE IT ESPECIALLY WITH THE EXTRA WEIGHT OF REPRESENTING WEST HARRIS COUNTY WHICH HAS HAD TREMENDOUS FLOODING AFTER HARVEY, WE HAVE BEEN PUSHING THE BUFFALO BAYOU RESILIENCY TRIBUTE STUDY WHICH WAS INITIATED IN

[05:25:06]

>> GOOD AFTERNOON, JUDGE AND COMMISSIONERS. CERTAINLY A PILOT COULD BE HELPFUL. WE KNOW THAT THERE ARE OTHER STUDIES THAT ARE UNDERWAY AND THOSE ARE PARTNERSHIPS WITH OUR FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AND TUNNELS ARE ONE OF THE ALTERNATIVES THAT WE ARE EVALUATING. WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE LOOKING COMPREHENSIVELY AT ALL POSSIBLE SOLUTIONS TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE COMPLETING THESE STUDIES IN A WAY THAT ALLOWS US TO COMPETE FOR FEDERAL FUNDING. BUT, YES, IN THE MEANTIME, WE COULD PROGRESS A PILOT STUDY, A PILOT PROJECT, A PILOT PROGRAM TO ADVANCE BOTH EFFORTS AT THE SAME TIME. CERTAINLY, YOU KNOW, DIFFERENT WATERSHEDS CAN'T BE EVALUATED. I WOULD ECHO WHAT COMMISSIONER RAMSEY SAID, I KNOW HALLS HUNTING GREEN WATERSHED AND PARTICULARLY THAT SEGMENT WAS IDENTIFIED IN OUR TUNNELS PHASE TWO FEASIBILITY STUDY AS ONE OF THE WATERSHEDS THAT HAS THE MOST BENEFIT WHEN WE CONSIDER A TUNNEL. SO I THINK THERE ARE OPPORTUNITIES HERE. TO LOOK AT.

>> YES, COMMISSIONER ELLIS? >> I'M VERY CONCERNED. ABOUT THIS MOTION. AND I'M EVEN CONCERNED ABOUT THE WHITE PAPER.

I COULD NOT SUPPORT ANYTHING THAT TAKES US OFF OF THE PRIORITIZATION FRAMEWORK THAT THIS COURT VOTED ON AND THE FACT THAT WHEN THE HARVEY BOND PACKAGE WAS PUT ON THE BALLOT, I OFFERED A MOTION AND IT PASSED UNANIMOUSLY. TO DO TWO THINGS , TO DO A DISPARITY STUDY WHICH CREATED THE PROGRAM THAT WE NOW HAVE IN PLACE, TOOK YEARS TO DO IT. AND THAT THIS COURT WOULD COME UP WITH AN EQUITY FRAMEWORK. I DIDN'T TRY TO DEFINE IT . I'VE SAID THIS MANY TIMES BUT I WANT TO REPEAT IT.

AND WE DID THAT. WE ALL KNOW WE DON'T HAVE ENOUGH MONEY TO DO THE PROJECTS THAT WE HAVE BEEN DISCUSSING. WE KNOW THAT. AND AT SOME POINT WE ARE GOING TO HAVE TO FIGURE OUT WHAT IS THE SCALE BACK. COMMISSIONER RAMSEY, THANK YOU FOR MAKING REFERENCE TO THE PEOPLE IN NORTHEAST BECAUSE ALL OF OUR SPEECHES AND YOUR EFFORTS IN PARTICULAR SPEAKING OUT ABOUT WHAT HAPPENED UNDER PREVIOUS LEADERSHIP AT THE GENERAL LAND OFFICE CERTAINLY HELPS BUT MAKE NO MISTAKE ABOUT IT, THOSE LOW INCOME COMMUNITIES THAT HAVE BEEN DISENFRANCHISED ALONG GREENS AND HALLS FOREVER HAD THE

[05:30:08]

YEAH. YOU WENT SO I PUT MY HARD HAT ON. I WAS WITH YOU AND WENT AND LOOKED AT THOSE TUNNELS. IT'S AN EXTREMELY CREATIVE AND COSTLY PROBLEM -- PROPOSITION. EXTREMELY COSTLY. THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT STILL DOES ITS COST-BENEFIT RATIO CRITERIA ON PROJECTS. I'M GLAD YOU THREW IN HALLS AND HUNTING AND GREENS BUT YOU PUT BUFFALO FIRST OBVIOUSLY BECAUSE WHEN THE FEDS, IF THEY PUT SOME MONEY UP, THEY GOING TO FOLLOW COST-BENEFIT.

>> COMMISSIONER LET'S DO A MOTION TO EXTEND DISCUSSION.

MOTION BY COMMISSIONER. ALL IN FAVOR? AND HE OPPOSED? MOTION

CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY. GO AHEAD. >> I JUST WANT TO MAKE IT CLEAR.

SOMEBODY ON THE FEDERAL SIDE WANTS TO GO PASS THE BILL, HALLELUJAH, THANK YOU. AND AT THE STATE THEY HAVE $24 BILLION SURPLUS, THEY MAY LIMIT OUR ABILITY EVEN MORE IN TERMS OF HOW WE CAN -- THAT WAS IN THE STATE OF THE UNION, STATE OF THE STATE, THEY MAY PUT MORE RESTRICTIONS ON US BEING ABLE TO CAPTURE PROPERTY TAXES, PROPERTY TAX INCREASE, I DON'T KNOW WHAT IT WOULD BE BUT SOMETHING MAY BE COMING AT LEAST THAT WAS WHAT WAS SAID IN THE STATE OF THE STATE ADDRESS SO I JUST -- I WOULD NOT BE A PARTY TO ANYTHING THAT IN ANY WAY WOULD LOCAL MONEY, PULLS US OFF THE TRACK WE HAVE DONE AND I WANT TO JUST SAY IT SO I'M CLEAR, YOU BACK OFF THAT PRIORITIZATION FRAMEWORK AND GO BACK TO THESE VOTERS. I'M GOING TO DO MY -- TO MAKE SURE THEY KNOW THAT WE MADE THE COMMITMENT AND WE BROKE IT. AND THAT CAN BE 1 MILLION EXCUSES ON WHY WE DID IT BUT I'M GOING TO MAKE SURE THAT'S CLEAR AND IF YOU THINK YOU CAN GO PASS IT, YOU BETTER HOPE THIS OLD MAN IS DEAD BECAUSE I'M GOING TO USE EVERYTHING I CAN TO MAKE SURE THEY KNOW, THEY WERE SCREWED OVER AGAIN. SO, YOU WANT TO CHANGE THIS AND SAY THEY PAY FOR IT? I'M FOR IT BUT I JUST KNOW, AM I RIGHT? THOSE TUNNELS WERE EXTREMELY COST-BENEFIT RATIO IS NOT AS BIG A PROBLEM BECAUSE IT'S ONUS -- IT'S NOT AS BIG AS A CITY COUNCIL DISTRICT IN HOUSTON. SO IT'S ALTOGETHER. YOU DON'T GET THE COST-BENEFIT RATIO, IT'S ALL, YOU DON'T WRITE DOWN TOGETHER. BUT LOOK, I REMEMBER AND IT WAS WONDERFUL, YOU COULD GO OVER TO THE NETHERLANDS AND THEY DO IT BUT THEY PAY FOR IT. USUALLY THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT PAYS FOR IT. THE EUROPEAN UNION OR SOMEBODY, THEY CERTAINLY NOT PAYING FOR IT FROM THE TAX DOLLARS IN THE LOCAL COMMUNITIES. SO I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT'S CLEAR.

HOW WOULD YOU PAY TO GO DO THIS PILOT? YOU CAN GET PAPER FOR FREE BUT HOW ARE YOU GOING TO PAY TO DO THE PILOT? YOU GOING

TO TAKE SOME HARVEY MONEY? >> SO, COMMISSIONER I CERTAINLY ACKNOWLEDGE AND I AM IN FACT NOT PROPOSING TO DO ANYTHING OTHER THAN WHAT COURT DIRECTS SO LET ME BE CLEAR. HOW WE PAY FOR IT

IS NOT DEFINED AT THIS POINT. >> WELL, YOU OBVIOUSLY YOU DO WHATEVER THREE DECIDE TO DO BUT THOSE THREE BETTER MAKE SURE -- I HOPE THEY DON'T HAVE TO COME THROUGH ME WHEN THEY GO BACK TO THOSE. YOU BETTER HOPE I'M DEAD. IF WE VIOLATE THIS TRUST WITH THESE PEOPLE THAT WE MADE, I'M GOING TO USE EVERY BIT OF ENERGY I HAVE TO KILL IT WHEN YOU GO BACK AND ASK US FOR MORE MONEY. YOU COULDN'T PAY FOR THE TUNNELS WITH THE MONEY WE HAVE LEFT. EVEN IF YOU JUST DROPPED ALL OF THEM. THESE PROJECTS. BUT YOU ARE GOING TO HAVE TO PAY IF YOU DO IT BUT Y'ALL SMARTER

THAN ME, GO AND DO IT. >> COMMISSIONER GARCIA THEN

RAMSEY? >> YES, DR. PETERSON, IS THIS THE SAME, WE'VE ALREADY STARTED SOME TUNNELS, RIGHT, THAT COMMISSIONER AND WAS IT RAMSEY? WE STARTED -- IS THIS THE SAME

THING? >> THERE ARE TWO TUNNEL STUDIES THAT WE ACTUALLY HAVE GOING ON AND I SHOULDN'T CALL THEM TUNNEL STUDIES BECAUSE ACTUALLY THEY ARE BOTH STUDIES TO INVESTIGATE FLOOD RISK REDUCTION FOR SPECIFIC WATERSHEDS. TUNNELS

[05:35:02]

INCLUDE TUNNELS. >> SO HOW DOES WHAT WE HAVE ALREADY APPROVED AS A COURT DIFFER FROM THIS?

>> WHAT I WOULD SAY IS BOTH OF THE EFFORTS THAT WE HAVE UNDERWAY RIGHT NOW, THOSE ARE REALLY LOOKING TOWARDS MAKING THE ARGUMENT THAT THERE IS A FEDERAL INVESTMENT THAT SHOULD BE MADE. THIS RIGHT NOW, AS I UNDERSTAND IT IS ASKING US TO GO BACK TO EXISTING STUDIES THAT WE HAVE ALREADY COMPLETED AND REALLY SUMMARIZE THAT INFORMATION. IS GENERALLY WHAT I UNDERSTAND. I THINK THERE WOULD BE A LITTLE BIT OF ANALYSIS BEYOND THAT, IT DEPENDS WHERE THE MONEY COMES FROM. IT MIGHT BE A FEDERAL EFFORT WHICH REQUIRES CERTAIN REQUIREMENTS.

IT MIGHT BE A STATE EFFORT. SO REALLY IT'S HARD TO SAY. HOW DIFFERENT THEY ARE. OUTSIDE OF THAT.

>> SO IGA CONTACTED ME WHEN I WAS IN D.C. BECAUSE CONGRESSMAN HUNT WAS TRYING TO GET A HOLD OF ME TO TALK ABOUT SOMETHING. IS

THIS THE WHAT HE WAS ABOUT? >> I COULD NOT SPECULATE BUT I

DO KNOW -- >> SHE DID SAY TUNNELS.

>> THEN IT LIKELY WAS. IT LIKELY WAS BUT I CAN'T SPEAK FOR HIM.

>> TAMMY OR RATHER DIRECTOR, IF THIS IS THE ITEM THAT CONGRESSMAN HUNT WAS TRYING TO HUNT ME DOWN FOR --

>> CORRECT. >> WHAT DO WE KNOW ABOUT THAT VISION VERSUS WHAT WE ARE ALREADY DOING AS A COMMUNITY?

>> COMMISSIONER, IF I COULD ADD A COUPLE THINGS. WHEN WE THINK ABOUT THE BUFFALO BAYOU TRIBUTARIES AND RESILIENCY STUDY, I'M NOT SURE WHETHER IT WAS COMMISSIONER BRIONES OR COMMISSIONER RAMSEY NOTED BUT IT HAS BEEN A PROJECT THAT HAS BEEN VERY PROLONGED. WE HAD ACTUALLY AT THE END OF LAST YEAR OUR FEDERAL DELEGATION GOT INVOLVED AND DIRECTED THE COURT TO COMPLETE THEIR WORK ON THE BUFFALO BAYOU TRIBUTARIES. THE TWO CONGRESSIONAL MEMBERS WHO GOT INVOLVED WERE WESLEY HUNT AND CONGRESSWOMAN FLETCHER BECAUSE THE RESERVOIR IS REALLY PRIMARILY TOUCH THEIR CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICTS. SO I BELIEVE THIS IS WHERE CONGRESSMAN HUNT IS -- HIS INTEREST IS EMANATING FROM. HE HAS BEEN VERY COMMITTED TO SEEING THAT STUDY DONE AND SEEN THAT PROJECT GET COMPLETED.

>> GOT YOU. I APOLOGIZE BUT I'M A LITTLE CONFUSED BECAUSE WE HAVE SOME TUNNEL STUDY GOING NOW, WE WANT TO DO ANOTHER TUNNEL STUDY AND ALL FOR THE SAME THING? AND THE ONE THING THAT I'VE BEEN ASKING FOR ARE THE FIRST TUNNEL STUDY BECAUSE OF THE OUTFALLS DIRECTED TOWARD PRECINCT 2 IS MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE IMPACT TO MY PRECINCT. I SPECIFICALLY ASKED FOR SOMETHING TO BE FORWARD THINKING ABOUT WHAT TO DO WITH WATER.

BECAUSE WATER IS GOING TO BE THE NEW OIL AND SO I THOUGHT WE -- I HAVEN'T SEEN THAT IN WRITING BUT I THOUGHT WE WERE ALREADY WORKING IN THAT REGARD SO I THINK WE ALREADY HAVE WHAT WE

NEED IN MOTION. >> IF I COULD ADDRESS, COMMISSIONER, YOUR TWO POINTS FOR THIS WORK ON THE SAFER PROJECT, WE DID INCLUDE SOME SCOPE TO LOOK AT. WE UNDERSTAND COMMISSIONER RAMSEY, I THINK YOU RAISED IT AND THE POINT HAS BEEN MADE TO ME BY MULTIPLE MEMBERS OF OUR STATE DELEGATION AND BEYOND, THE IMPORTANCE OF MAKING SURE THAT WE UTILIZE EVERY DROP OF WATER WE HAVE SO WE DID INCLUDE IN THE SAFER WORK A STUDY TO JUST LOOK AND MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE FULLY INVESTIGATED EXACTLY WHAT YOU LAID OUT, THE SAFER STUDY ALSO INCLUDES REALLY A FULL EXAMINATION OF THE OUTLET OF THE TUNNELS BECAUSE THAT IS GOING TO BE KEY. THERE IS NO WAY WE CAN FAST TRACK THAT, WE KNOW WE ARE GOING TO HAVE A LOT OF COORDINATION WITH OUR PORT AND

[05:40:05]

>> LOOK, I'M ALWAYS OPEN TO ANY WILD IDEAS BUT I THINK WE ALREADY HAVE THIS WORK GOING SO I'M NOT SURE WHAT MORE WE HAVE TO DO. SO I DON'T -- I DON'T THINK WE NEED A MOTION JUST OTHER THAN TO SAY YOU ARE DOING THE STUDY, GIVE THAT TO THE MEMBERS OF CONGRESS AND SEE WHAT THEY CAN DO WITH IT.

>> COMMISSIONER RAMSEY AND COMMISSIONER ELLIS.

>> THE WAY I SEE, THIS IS COMING FROM LAWYER BRAIN. PLEASE, DR.

PETERSON FROM YOUR BRILLIANT ENGINEERING BRAIN YOU THE WAY I SEE BBT RS AND THIS STARTED LONG BEFORE I GOT TO COURT, AFTER HARVEY THIS IS THE FEDERAL PORTION, RIGHT? THAT IS WITH REGARDING THE ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS, ATTICS AND BARKER FOCUSED ON THE BUFFALO BAYOU RESILIENCY STUDY AND SAFER IS THE LOCAL TUNNEL STUDY SO BOTH THERE AND THERE IS INHERENT SYNERGIES. MY UNDERSTANDING AND CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG THAT JUST FOCUSING ON THE SAFER PORTION -- BBTRS PORTION THIS COULD BE APPROXIMATELY $30 BILLION AND THAT'S WHERE WE'VE BEEN WORKING ACTIVELY WITH CONGRESSWOMAN FLETCHER AND HUNT.

>> SECOND. >> MOTION BY COMMISSIONER BRIONES . SECOND. MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUS.

>> MEANTIME THE LOCAL STUDY OBVIOUSLY I THINK OF IT AS A SUBWAY STUDY BECAUSE THEY WILL BE INHERENT INTERCONNECTIONS BETWEEN THE TWO BUT ONE HAS THE FEDERAL PORTION BECAUSE IT'S OWNED BY THE ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS AND WHERE I SEE THIS WHITE PAPER, THIS IS SUMMARIZING WHAT WE KNOW TO DATE IN THE LAST EIGHT YEARS, NUMBER ONE. AND IDENTIFYING FEASIBILITY OF PILOT PROJECTS AND SEGMENTS, PARTS OF WHAT WE HAVE LEARNED SO THAT WE DON'T HAVE TO WAIT MANY YEARS, DECADES EVEN AND WE DON'T HAVE TO WAIT FOR TENS OF BILLIONS OF DOLLARS. WHAT MIGHT THERE BE AND BECAUSE OF THE STATE INTERESTS THAT COMMISSIONER RAMSEY CAN SPEAK MORE TO THE POTENTIAL STATE INTERESTS I SHOULD STAY -- SAY, IT DOESN'T HAVE TO COMMIT US TO DESIGNING OR BUILDING ANYTHING BUT IT IS JUST BASED ON EVERYTHING YOU'VE LEARNED TO DATE, CAN YOU EXTRAPOLATE POTENTIAL PILOT PROJECTS AND TO YOUR POINT, OMISSION OR, THIS IS NOT IN LIEU OF OR INSTEAD OF, THIS IS IN ADDITION TO BECAUSE THERE MIGHT BE ADDITIONAL INTEREST. IN JUST SEGMENTS SO THAT WE CAN DELIVER PROGRESS SOONER THAN BEFORE WE ARE ALL DEAD, FRANKLY, AT THIS POINT AND KNOCK ON WOOD BUT MANY DECADES, RIGHT? IT'S LIKE WHAT CAN WE TAKE OF POTENTIALLY VIABLE ENGINEERING SOLUTIONS TO MAKE SURE WE ARE PUTTING OURSELVES IN SAFER FROM A FLOOD MITIGATION PERSPECTIVE. THAT'S WHAT I'M HEARING, THE WHITE PAPER WOULD EXTRAPOLATE BASED ON WHAT WE'VE LEARNED HOW WE COULD DO CREATIVE MINI PILOT PROJECT AND THESE TWO KEY CORE DOORS. I GUESS IT'S HALLS HUNTING GREEN, THAT'S THREE AND BUFFALO SO FOUR. SO, MI, IT'S NOT COMMITTING US TO DESIGN OR BUILD ANYTHING IT'S JUST WHAT HAVE WE LEARNED, WHAT CAN WE DO? BECAUSE GOVERNMENT TAKES TOO LONG AND SHOULD BE INNOVATIVE IN MY OPINION.

>> THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK TO VERY REAL CONCERNS YOU HAVE, COMMISSIONER ELLIS AND COMMISSIONER GARCIA. BEING SOMEONE THAT HAS PROBABLY HAD MORE PROJECTS CANCELED THAN ANYBODY TO DATE IN TERMS OF NEIGHBORHOOD DRAINAGE, I SHARE YOUR CONCERNS BECAUSE COMMITMENTS WERE MADE IN THOSE NEIGHBORHOODS AS WELL. I THINK THAT WHAT THIS IS IF THE STATE LOOKS AT HARRIS COUNTY KNOWING THAT FLOODING IS ONE OF OUR TOP PROBLEMS AND THEY MAY HAVE A DOLLAR OR TWO LEFT OVER THIS TIME THAT THEY CAN HELP US WITH SOME, NOT THE 30 -- NOT THE $32 BILLION BUT YOU CAN BUILD 12 FOOT DIAMETER TUNNELS. THEY MIGHT NOT BE 50 FEET DEEP BUT WE -- WHAT WE DO KNOW ABOUT HARRIS COUNTY, YOU CANNOT DIG ENOUGH HOLES IN HARRIS COUNTY TO MITIGATE THE FLOODING. WE KNOW WE ARE GOING TO HAVE TO DO SOMETHING IN A MORE PERMANENT WAY. THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY TO GET THE STATE INVOLVED AND HAVE THEM HELP. HOW MUCH MONEY DID THEY SHIFT OVER TO THE COASTAL BARRIER? 500 MILLION OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT. I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S IN THIS SESSION, WAS IT 500 MILLION? TO THE COASTAL BARRIER?

>> I THINK IN PRIOR SESSIONS. >> MAYBE NOT IN THIS ONE. THIS IS MORE OF A PLACEHOLDER. WE CAN EITHER ACCEPT IT OR NOT ACCEPT IT. THERE IS NO GUARANTEE ONE WAY OR THE OTHER BUT WITH A

[05:45:01]

>> LET ME JUST JUMP IN HERE. I HAVEN'T HAD A CHANCE TO SPEAK AND I HEAR WHAT COMMISSIONER ELLIS IS SAYING. I THINK WE ARE STILL WAITING FOR THE REPORT BACK ON WHAT EXACTLY HAS FOLLOWED THE FRAMEWORK AND WHAT HASN'T AND WHAT WE ARE GOING TO DO ABOUT IT SO I'M EXTREMELY SENSITIVE TO THE FACT THAT WE HAVE NOT DELIVERED AS MUCH ON THAT AS WE VERY INTENTIONALLY SET OUT TO DO AND SO I WONDER IF IT'S POSSIBLE TO ADD A SOMETHING TO THE MOTION THAT SAYS YOU KNOW, WHATEVER COMES BACK NEEDS TO COME BACK WITHIN THE CONTEXT OF THE PRIORITIZATION FRAMEWORK IN OTHER WORDS, IT MAY BE OTHER PARTS OF TOWN, I DON'T KNOW, COMMISSIONER, IF THERE IS SOMETHING LIKE THAT YOU CAN THINK OF BECAUSE IN THAT CASE --

>> REPORT ON PRIORITIZATION COMES IN JUNE AND THIS IS COMING

SOONER. >> THE TIME HAS TO DO WITH THE LEGISLATURES IN SUCH. THAT'S THE TIME I WOULD RATHER WAIT UNTIL WE GET THIS REPORT AND GO THROUGH IT BUT THE TIMING

RELATED TO THE LEGISLATURE. >> IS THAT --

>> YES, COMMISSIONER, LET ME, FROM MY STANDPOINT, COMMISSIONER ELLIS, I'M WITH YOU ON THIS ONE, IF THERE'S SOMETHING THAT WOULD MAKE YOU COMFORTABLE THAT WE COULD ADD IN WITH YOUR EXPERIENCE WITH THE LEGISLATURE YOU HAVE A BETTER SENSE THAN I DO AS TO WHAT KIND OF LITTLE CLAWS WE COULD ADD THERE, THE ONLY THING I CAN THINK OF IS TO SAY WE WILL SAY WE AGREE AND TO PUT A COMMITMENT THAT HARRIS COUNTY WILL IMPLEMENT IT ONCE IT ARRIVES HERE IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE PRIORITIZATION FRAMEWORK BUT ANYWAY SO I DEFER TO YOU ON THIS ONE, COMMISSIONER ELLIS.

>> SO, MY HESITANCY, COLLEAGUES, REALLY IS WELL-PLACED BECAUSE MR. POPPY STOOD THERE WHERE YOU ARE UNDER THE PREVIOUS COURT AND SAID THAT WE WERE GOING TO DEFER, WE ARE SPENDING MONEY AT THE HARVEY PACKAGE ON HALLS AND GREENS BECAUSE THEY MET THE COST-BENEFIT RATIO STANDARD AND THEY HAD AN AGREEMENT FROM HUD THAT THOSE PROJECTS WERE PERFECT AND THAT BILLION DOLLARS WE WERE GOING TO GET AND THAT'S WHERE IT WAS GOING TO GO. AM I PRETTY MUCH GETTING IT RIGHT? AND THEN FINALLY ONE DAY WHEN THE MONEY DIDN'T COME, FINALLY I THINK IT WAS ME, MIGHT'VE BEEN YOU, SOMEBODY SAID WELL, WHERE IS -- AND THEN IT'S LIKE, YOU KNOW, EVERYTHING GOT QUIET. SO THEY HAD A HANDSHAKE AND THAT'S THE WHOLE -- THAT'S WHAT LED TO THIS WHOLE THING ABOUT THIS WHAT YOU CALL IT? THESE OTHER PROJECTS? IT'S BECAUSE THERE WAS A BILLION-DOLLAR HOLD BECAUSE THOSE PROJECTS THAT CLEARLY WERE TALKED ABOUT MORE THAN ANYTHING ELSE AT THE DAIS ON GETTING THE SUPPORT FOR HARDY, YOU ALL AND EVERYBODY WAS SAYING, RAMSEY I MEAN CAGLE, RADEK, EMMETT, HOW AWFUL COST-BENEFIT RATIO WAS AND THEN THE PEOPLE DIDN'T HAVE IT IN WRITING. AND THEN NOBODY COULD REMEMBER WHO THEY TALKED TO AND THIS WAS UNDER THE PREVIOUS -- THIS WAS UNDER TRUMP ONE. I'VE HEARD ALL OF THE STORIES ABOUT ELON MUSK HAVING A TUNNELING COMPANY AND MAY BE. I'VE GOT PRETTY GOOD EARS. I'VE GOT GOOD REPUBLICAN FRIENDS TOO NOW. I'VE HEARD ALL THE STORIES, MAY BE PRIVATE MONEY WILL COME IN. AS LONG AS WE NOT TALKING ABOUT SPENDING ANY MONEY I THINK WAS IT 100 MILLION? 100,000? HOW MUCH DID COMMISSIONER CAGLE AND COMMISSIONER RAMSEY PUT UP OUT OF THEIR BUDGET? 10 MILLION? THEY PUT UP MONEY TO GO TO THE TUNNELS. HOW MUCH? 10 MILLION? BUT IT WAS SOME BIG MONEY SO BETWEEN THE TWO OF YOU IT MIGHT'VE HIT 10 AND I WRITE? 5 MILLION A PIECE? IT WAS A LOT OF MONEY AND I VOTED FOR THAT. IT WAS YOUR MONEY AND I SAID THEN, I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT DOESN'T PULL US OFF OF WHERE WE ARE BUT WHATEVER THEY WANT TO DO WITH THAT MONEY, DO IT. SO IF YOU TELL ME TO GO DO THIS STUDY I WILL GET YOU $10,000 OUT OF MY BUDGET. IF IT'S GOING TO COST YOU 40, TAKE IT. TAKE FIVE FROM EACH OF US. YOU KNOW? BUT I JUST DON'T WANT TO AND I REALLY MEAN THAT, I WANT PEOPLE OUT IN THOSE NEIGHBORHOODS BUT I'M GOING TO DO MY TIKTOK'S AND MAKE SURE

[05:50:02]

>> SO IN THE INTEREST OF TIME WHY DON'T WE VOTE ON THE MOTION BECAUSE I THINK WE ARE GOING IN CIRCLES.

>> TAMMY HAD HER HAND UP AS WELL.

>> YEAH BUT WE ARE JUST TALKING ABOUT THE SAME THING THOUGH.

>> DR. PETERSON, IS THERE SOME -- I'M TRYING TO REMEMBER. THE ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS, WHERE THEY ATTACHED TO OUR TUNNEL

STUDY? AND DID THEY DROP IT? >> THEY ARE ATTACHED TO THE TWO STUDIES THAT ARE ONGOING RIGHT NOW. THEIR -- THE BUFFALO BAYOU STUDY HAS BEEN VERY PROLONGED BUT WE ARE STILL WORKING VERY CLOSELY ACTUALLY RIGHT NOW WITH THE CORE. THEY ARE ENGAGED ON

BOTH EFFORTS RIGHT NOW. >> THEY DIDN'T DROP ANY PARTICIPATION IN ANY TUNNEL STUDY?

>> NO. >> OKAY. MY ONLY ISSUE IS THAT DR., YOU'VE KIND OF MENTIONED THAT THERE IS SOMETHING LOOMING ON TUNNELS. TAMMY TRIED TO GET A HOLD OF ME TO TALK ABOUT THAT CONGRESSMAN HUNT WAS TRYING TO REACH ME. I SAW CONGRESSWOMAN

FLETCHER AND >> MOTION BY COMMISSIONER RAMSEY, SECOND BY COMMISSIONER BRIONES. ALL IN FAVOR? ANY OPPOSED TO EXTENDING THE TIME? MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.

>> I SAW CONGRESSWOMAN FLETCHER, SHE DIDN'T BRING THIS UP AT ALL. SO I AM JUST REALLY HESITANT. I AM OPEN -- I WILL KEEP AN OPEN MIND BUT I'M NOT SURE WHAT I'M DOING HERE BECAUSE I'M GETTING BRIEFED AT THIS TABLE WHICH I HATE TO DO. THANK

YOU. >> IT WOULD BE A PROBLEM AT THE NEXT COURT SO MY GUT SAYS IF THIS IS PURSUANT TO OUR PRIORITIZATION FRAMEWORK IT'S OKAY BUT I JUST WANT TO KNOW, IS THERE A PROBLEM WITH PUTTING THAT ON THE BUSINESS COURT, BUT IF IT'S PURSUANT TO OUR CURRENT PRIORITIZATION FRAMEWORK, I JUST DON'T WANT THE STATE TO THINK SOMEHOW -- I DON'T WANT TO BE ON THE HOOK COMMITTING TO SOMETHING WHERE WE ARE GOING TO

PAY FOR IT. >> WE CAN'T MAKE THE MOTION WITH THAT TODAY. PURSUANT TO THE PRIORITIZATION FRAMEWORK.

>> ON MY RIGHT? BECAUSE IT IS KIND OF POPPED ON ME AT THE LAST

SECOND. >> I'LL PUT IT ON THE BUSINESS

COURT IF NOBODY OBJECTS TO IT. >> YEAH,

>> NEXT, WEEK? >> BUT I WOULD LIKE DR. PETERSON TO GIVE US THE FULL UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT THIS IS

GOING TO ENTAIL. >> SURE. IF I MAY --

>> NOT NOW. >> COMMISSIONER ELLIS, TO BE CLEAR, YOU ARE NOT COMFORTABLE WITH THE MOTION TODAY BEING APPROVED THIS PURSUANT TO THE COUNTY'S PRIVATIZATION

FRAMEWORK? >> I DON'T KNOW. I WAS GOING TO SAY, PUT IT ON THE BUSINESS COURT AND LET ME GO RUN SOME TRAPS BECAUSE I JUST DON'T KNOW.

>> NO ACTION ON THAT ONE RIGHT NOW.

>> I DON'T KNOW IF Y'ALL RECEIVED THE MOTION EARLIER BUT IF YOU DID, I WAS GETTING MY NOSE DRAINED.

>> I'M HAPPY TO READ THE LANGUAGE SO Y'ALL CAN BE REFLECTING ON IT BEFORE BUSINESS COURT BUT I ALSO KNOW DIRECTOR HAD HER HAND UP SO I WANTED TO HEAR WHAT SHE HAD TO SHARE PLEASE SO THAT WE CAN ALL REFLECT UPON IT.

>> THANK YOU. THANK YOU COMMISSIONER.

>> YES, DIRECTOR, WELCOME, THANK YOU AND PLEASE. I REALLY FEEL WE ARE GOING IN CIRCLES ON THIS SO PLEASE BE MINDFUL.

>> OKAY. THANK YOU. ALL I WANTED TO CLARIFY, I CAN'T SPEAK FOR CONGRESSMAN HUNT BUT COMMISSIONER GARCIA, I BELIEVE HE WAS CALLING TO LET YOU KNOW HE HAS ASKED SOME MEMBERS OF OUR DELEGATION FOR AN APPROPRIATIONS WRITER FOR 60 MILLION FOR THIS PILOT PROGRAM AND DR. PETERSON CAN SPEAK TO THAT. I DEFER TO HER ON THAT AND SO FROM MY PERSPECTIVE AND I GUESS PART OF THIS MOTION WOULD BE IF COURT VOTES ON THIS IT IS WHETHER IGA SUPPORTS THAT APPROPRIATIONS ASK AND, YES THE BUDGET IS BEING VOTED ON TODAY ON THE HOUSE SO THIS WOULD PROBABLY NEED TO BE AN AMENDMENT DURING CONFERENCE COMMITTEE SO I GUESS WE COULD BRING IT TO THE NEXT COURT BUT I JUST WANTED TO FLAG THAT FOR

YOUR CONSIDERATION. >> I'M FOR $60 MILLION.

>> THAT'S WHY I WANTED TO LET HER SPEAK. DIRECTOR, COULD YOU PLEASE SO WE ARE ALL ON THE SAME PAGE, WHEN IS THE NEXT WINDOW OF OPPORTUNITY? ANY DEADLINES WE SHOULD KEEP UNDER CONSIDERATION?

>> AS SOON AS POSSIBLE BECAUSE WE DO NEED TO IF COURT APPROVES

[05:55:01]

PETERSON BECAUSE I KNOW IT IMPACTS WHAT SHE WOULD NEED TO DO AS WELL. AND, SORRY, ONE LAST THING, DR. PETERSON, PLEASE CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG, IF WE ADVOCATE FOR THIS AND THE STATE DOES APPROVE THE APPROPRIATIONS ASK THAT JUST MEANS THAT IT GOES TO THE TEXAS WATER DEVELOPMENT BOARD BASED ON OUR PASS APPROPRIATION ASKS AND WE STILL HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO NOT ACCEPT THE GRANT I'M ASSUMING BASED ON YOUR PREVIOUS EXPERIENCE WITH OTHER PROVIDERS BUT AGAIN, DEFER TO DR. PETERSON

ON THAT. >> OKAY. FUNDAMENTALLY WE ARE DECIDING WHETHER WE ARE PASSING THIS TODAY OR WAITING FOR EXEMPT SESSION. SO SHOULD WE VOTE ON THE MOTION?

>> THIS IS THE MOTION. THE WAY I SEE IT IS THIS WHITE PAPER IS LIKE A GRANT PERSPECTIVES THAT IF WE GIVE CLEAR DIRECTION FOR THE WHITE PAPER I.E. GRANT PROSPECTUS TO PURSUE THIS POTENTIAL WRITER, WE ARE NOT COMMITTING TO DOING ANYTHING ABOUT THIS POTENTIAL PILOT BUT WE ARE KEEPING A WINDOW OF OPPORTUNITY OF POTENTIALLY 60 MILLION FROM THE STATE IS THAT WHAT I AM HEARING? COULD YOU PLEASE RESPOND WITH WORDS?

>> YES, COMMISSIONER. THAT'S WHAT I WAS SAYING. AND SO AGAIN, THIS IS IN ADDITION TO, NOT IN LIEU OF ALL OF OUR OTHER FLOOD BOND PROJECTS. THAT'S MY UNDERSTANDING, CORRECT? DR.

PETERSON, IS THAT -- THAT'S HOW I'M PERCEIVING IT.

>> I THINK THAT IS, I THINK TODAY WHAT WE ARE TALKING ABOUT IS THE WHITE PAPER AND THAT WILL HAVE NO IMPACT FINANCIALLY WE HAVE ALREADY DONE THE WORK AND IT IS PULLING INFORMATION WE

ALREADY HAVE. >> SYNTHESIZING THE EIGHT YEARS OF STUDY TO DATE BASICALLY. CORRECT?

>> YES, THAT IS ALL THAT TODAY IS.

>> JUST TO READ AND AGAIN THIS IS NOT COMMITTING US TO THE PROJECT OR COMMITTING US TO MONEY IT'S JUST KEEPING THIS WINDOW OF POTENTIAL OPPORTUNITY FOR POTENTIAL 60 MILLION OPEN, MOTION FOR THE HARRIS COUNTY FLOOD CONTROL DISTRICT TO RETURN TO COURT ON MAY 22ND, 2025 WITH THE WHITE PAPER THAT IDENTIFIES POTENTIAL PILOT PROJECTS UTILIZING TUNNEL CONVEYANCE ALONG BUFFALO BAYOU AND PAUL'S HUNTING GREENS BIOS -- THIS SHOULD INCLUDE A SCOPE OF WORK WHICH OUTLINES TIMELINE DELIVERY METHODS, FUNDING METHODS, ORDER OF MAGNITUDE COSTS AND ASSOCIATED BENEFITS AND A MOTION FOR IGA TO PURSUE POTENTIAL FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES FROM THE STATE IN THE FORM OF LEGISLATIVE

ACTION. >> YES, COMMISSIONER ELLIS?

>> THIS PROJECT WILL BE PURSUANT TO OUR CURRENT PRIORITIZATION.

>> ALL RIGHT. SO WITH THAT DID YOU CATCH THAT?

>> THE FRIENDLY AMENDMENT ADDED TO THE FIRST MOTION?

>> MOTION BY COMMISSIONER BRIONES, SECOND BY COMMISSIONER ELLIS. ALL IN FAVOR? ANY OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY. THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU COMMISSIONER. MOVING ON TO ITEM 299, COMMISSIONER RAMSEY. THAT IS THE 2-1-TO VOTE IF THE COUNTY ATTORNEY WANTS TO START EXPLAINING. WE ALREADY DID THAT ONE? GOT IT. AND THEN WHAT ABOUT 302. DID YOU GUYS ALREADY

GET TO THAT ONE? >> 299 WAS A NO ACTION?

>> NO. NO ACTION. >> OKAY. SO WHAT WAS THE ANSWER?

>> JUST TO FIND WHAT VOTED, ABSTAIN.

>> OH, THE DOCUMENTS. >> ONCE HE UNDERSTOOD -- I NEED TO GET THAT DOCUMENT. OKAY. ALL RIGHT. 302 IF WE HAVEN'T DONE THAT ONE, COMMISSIONER RAMSEY, THAT ONE IS YOURS.

>> ASSESSMENT OF ALL PROGRAM STARTING --

>> I APPRECIATE THE SUMMARY Y'ALL JUST SENT. I'M ASSUMING THAT'S A PER LIMITARY SUMMARY, THERE IS MORE INFORMATION TO

FOLLOW. >> I BELIEVE THAT --

>> HE IS THE ONE ON THE WEEDS ON THIS.

>> HI. JUDGE, COMMISSIONER TOM, DIRECTOR OF GRANTS AND PARTNERSHIPS AND THE OFFICE OF COUNTY ADMINISTRATION, YES WE'VE BEEN COMMUNICATING WITH YOUR STAFF AND PROVIDED LIMITARY INFORMATION. WE ARE WAITING FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ONCE THE

[06:00:01]

OFFICE. >> YEAH, IT'S GOOD INFORMATION.

NOT COMPLETE YET BUT IT IS GOOD INFORMATION SO THERE WERE SEVERAL OTHER ITEMS AND I'M NOT GOING INTO ALL THOSE DETAILS BUT I GUESS THE POINT IS THERE IS MORE TO COME.

>> YEP. >> OKAY, THANK YOU.

>> DO YOU HAVE A MOTION ON THAT ONE, COMMISSIONER? NO ACTION? NO ACTION. ALL RIGHT, SO THIS SEEMS TO ME WE ARE DONE WITH THE

[Executive Session]

SESSION. >> JUDGE, COULD YOU

* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.