* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning. [00:00:02] >> THANK YOU, BUT I CAN SEESEE YOU. THANK YOU. >> OKAY, ALL RIGHT. GOOD MORNING, IT IS 9:02 A.M. , AND I'D LIKE TO CALL THIS APRIL 21, 2025 SPECIAL MEETING OF THE HARRIS [Departments (Parts 1 of 2)] COUNTY COMMISSIONERS COURT TO ORDER. AND WE HAVE AN ITEM THAT NEEDS MINOR CHANGES DUE TO ERRORS, SO WE'RE GOING TO CHANGE ON ITEM 1 SB1315 TO SB 1513. AND YOU KNOW WHAT, BEFORE WE MOVE ON, I MEANT TO ASK FOR A MOMENT OF SILENCE IN HONOR OF POPE FRANCIS. SEVERAL OF US ARE REALLY CRUSHED BY HIS PASSING, SO LET'S JUST DO THAT FOR A MOMENT, IF YOU DON'T MIND. ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU GUYS SO MUCH. SO WE'VE GOT SIX ITEMS ON TODAY'S AGENDA. WE'LL FIRST HEAR FROM SPEAKERS BEFORE MOVING ONTO DISCUSSION ITEMS. DO WE HAVE ANY SPEAKERS, TIFFANY? >> NO, MA'AM. >> OKAY, THANK YOU. SO WE HAVE SIX ITEMS TOTAL FOR DISCUSSION ITEMS, SO IN TERMS OF DISCUSSION ITEMS I HAVE ITEM 2 ON HCTRA, ITEM 4 ON THE TRAVEL AND BUSINESS REQUEST, ITEM 5 ON THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR, AND ITEM 6 ON HCTRA BUSINESS PROPYLS. SO ANY OTHER ITEMS YOU'D LIKE TO DISCUSS BESIDES THOSE? ALL RIGHT, SO WE WILL HAVE DISCUSSION ITEMS, 2, 4, 5, AND 6. HEARING NO ADDITIONAL ITEMS PULLED FOR DISCUSSION, IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE ITEM -- MOTION BY COMMISSIONER [Executive Session] RAMSEY, SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER GARCIA. ALL IN FAVOR? ANY OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY. NOW LET'S TAKE UP ITEM 5 WHICH IS THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR AND ITEM 6 WHICH IS THE TOLL ROAD. LET'S TAKE THE EXECUTIVE SESSION. COLLEAGUES, AS YOU KNOW I HAVE WORK TRAVEL AND THE FLIGHT IS DELAYED A LITTLE BIT, SO I SHOULD BE ABLE TO STAY A BIT LONGER, BUT I CAN ONLY STAY UNTIL ABOUT 9:45 OR 10:00. SO WE WILL HEAD OVER TO EXECUTIVE SESSION TO CONSULT WITH OUR ATTORNEYS ABOUT BOTH OF THOSE ITEMS. JAY, DO YOU NEED ME TO SAY ANYTHING ELSE? >> NO, JUDGE. >> JAY, CAN I START? >> IS THE JUDGE GETTING BACK ON? >> SHE SAID 10:00. >> OKAY, SO CALL THE MEETING TO ORDER. AND DO WE HAVE ANY PUBLIC SPEAKERS? >> COMMISSIONER, IF YOU CAN SAY THE TIME YOU'RE COMING BACK FROM EXECUTIVE SESSION IN. >> THANK YOU. WE ARE BACK FROM EXECUTIVE SESSION. THE TIME IS NOW 10:03. SO CALL THE MEETING TO ORDER. [Departments (Parts 2 of 2)] ARE THERE ANY PUBLIC SPEAKERS ON ANY OF THE ITEMS IN. >> NO, SIR. >> ALL RIGHT. SO THE FOLLOWING EXECUTIVE SESSION ITEMS HAVE BEEN PULLED FOR DISCUSSION, SO WE HAVE THE FIRST ITEM, AND THAT IS REQUEST BY THE OFFICE OF COUNTY ADMINISTRATION FOR AN EXECUTIVE SESSION PURSUANT TO THE CODE 551074 OF THE GOVERNMENT CODE BOTH RESPECT TO THE STATUS OF THE OFFICE INCLUDING THE APPOINTMENT OF AN INTERIM COUNTY BUDGET OFFICER AND ESTABLISHING THE OFFICE FOR A PERMANENT APPOINTMENT. >> COMMISSIONER, I HAVE A MOTION IF I MAY PLEASE READ IT. MOTION TO APPOINT JESSE DICKERMAN TO THE ROLE OF BUDGET ADMINISTRATOR EFFECTIVE MAY 1, 2025. THE INTERIM COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR MAY NOT BE CONSIDERED FOR THE PERMANENT ROLE BUT SHALL CARRY OUT ALL DUTIES FOR THE PERMANENT OFFICE UNTIL A COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR IS SELECTED AND APPOINTED. AND I HAVE TWO OTHER -- >> SECOND. >> MOTION MADE BY COMMISSIONER BRIONES TO APPOINT JESSE DICKERMAN AS INTERIM COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR AND HE WILL NOT ASSUME PERMANENT ROLE. [00:05:03] AND I SECONDED THE MOTION. ALL IN FAVOR. ALL OPPOSED? ONE OPPOSED, AND THAT IS COMMISSIONER ELLIS IS ON THE CALL AS WELL. COMMISSIONER ELLIS, IF YOU WANT TO CONTINUE. >> I SAID I'LL CATCH YOU GUYS ON THE OTHER SIDE. I SAID I'LL READ THE MOTION AND WE'LL GO OVER IT. THE FLIGHT IS DELAYED BECAUSE THERE'S A STORM. >> JUDGE, I CAN MAKE A MOTION TO BRING THE ITEM BACK UP SO YOU CAN VOTE ON IT, IF THAT WORKS. >> I MEAN -- YEAH, I THINK THAT WOULD BE APPROPRIATE. CHECK WITH YOUR STAFF TO CONFIRM THAT YOU'RE THERE OR NOT THERE. >> I'LL MAKE A MOTION TO BRING THE ITEMS BACK UP TO VOTE ON. COMMISSIONER, WE HAD TWO WE VOTED ON. >> THAT'S CORRECT. THE FIRST MOTION ON THE INTERMENT APPOINTMENT AND SECOND MOTION ON JOB DESCRIPTION. >> SO I HAVE ON THE INTERIM APPOINTMENT -- LET ME JUST SEE HERE JUST TO MAKE SURE WE HAVE WHAT WE TALKED ABOUT. >> IT WAS A MOTION BY COMMISSIONER BRIONES. >> IT WAS A MOTION FOR INTERIM OFFICER FOR 2025. >> WHAT'S THE COMPLETE MOTION? >> WOULD YOU LIKE ME TO READ IT, JUDGE? >> YES. >> SO MISSION TO APPOINT JESSE DICKERMAN TO THE ROLE OF COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR AND BUDGET OFFICER EFFECTIVE -- DID WE LOSE YOU, JUDGE? >> SHE'S GONE OFF CAMERA. >> JUDGE? JUDGE, CAN YOU HEAR US? JUDGE, CAN YOU TURN YOUR CAMERA ON? >> YEAH, I'M WORKING ON IT. ALL RIGHT, CAN YOU GUYS SEE ME? >> WE CAN SEE YOU. >> OKAY, I'M JUST TRYING TO LOOK BECAUSE, COMMISSIONER BRIONES, I WAS TAKING A NOTE. WHAT I HAVE HERE IS MOTION TO APPOINT JESSE DICKERMAN TO THE ROLE OF COUNTY BUDGET OFFICER AND ADMINISTRATOR AND SHALL NOT BE CONSIDERED FOR PERMANENT ROLE BUT SHALL CARRY OUT ALL DUTIES FOR THE CURRENT OFFICE. MOTION TO DIRECT COUNTY ADMINISTRATION OF CA AND RETURN ON MAY 8TH FOR THE JOB DESCRIPTION SPECIFIC TO THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR. MOTION TO DIRECT COUNTY ADMINISTRATION OCA TO WORK WITH HUMAN RESOURCES, HRT, AND COURT OFFICES ON THE PROCESS FOR NATIONAL SEARCH FOR PERMANENT EMPLOYMENT AND RETURN TO COURT ON MAY 8TH WITH RECOMMENDATIONS RELATED TO THAT PROCESS. IS THAT THE MOTION? >> THOSE ARE THE THREE MOTIONS, BUT ONE CORRECTION. THEY HAD ASKED US TO PUT MAY 1, 2025, SINCE COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR'S LAST DAY IS APRIL 30TH. >> OKAY, SO ALL OF THAT WAS MAY 1, 2025. SO WHO IS MAKING THE MOTION? >> JUDGE, PART OF THAT, THERE'S A MOTION ON THE FLOOR FROM COMMISSIONER ELLIS TO RECONSIDER THAT ITEM. THE MOTION WAS MADE BY COMMISSIONER ELLIS. WE JUST NEED TO DO IT SO WE CAN REDO THIS. >> YEAH, NEED A SECOND. [00:10:02] >> SO MOTION RECONSIDERING BY COMMISSIONER ELLIS. IS THERE A SECOND? >> SECOND. >> OKAY, AND THEN ALL IN FAVOR? ANY OPPOSED? ALL RIGHT, MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY. AND THEN LET ME GO OVER THE OTHER ITEM WE WENT TO EXECUTIVE SESSION FOR WHICH IS ITEM 6. >> THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER. JUDGE, TO YOUR MOTION YOU JUST MADE OR THAT YOU JUST READ IS ON THE FLOOR, SO -- >> SO NOW SHOULD I READ IT AGAIN OR DO YOU GUYS HAVE IT, COUNTY CLERK. >> IF YOU WILL, I DO HAVE A MOTION. I DON'T THINK I'LL HAVE THE VOTES FOR IT, BUT I DO WANT TO MAKE A MOTION, AND THEN WE CAN GO TO COMMISSIONER BRIONES' ITEMS. MY MOTION WILL BE TO POINT JESSE DICKERMAN AS THE INTERIM COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR WITH THE DIRECTIVE THEY DEVELOP AND EXECUTE A PLAN TO STAUFBL DISSOLVE OR MODIFY THE OFFICE OF COUNTY ADMINISTRATION. WHETHER THEY BE PLACED IN OTHER DEPARTMENTS INCLUDING JOINT WITH KPESING FUNKS IN OTHER DEPARTMENTS TO REDUCE DUPLICATION OR WHETHER THEY SHOULD EXIST IN ONE OR MORE APPOINTMENTS. >> JUDGE, SUGGESTION? MAYBE WE OUGHT TO VOTE TO APPOINT AN INTERIM AND THEN MAKE A MOTION, IF THAT MAKES SENSE. >> OKAY, I'LL GO WITH THAT. >> OKAY, SO LET ME GO BACK HERE TO THE MOTION TO APPOINT JESSE DICKERSON. SHALL NOT BE CONSIDERED FOR A PERMANENT ROLE BUT CARRY OUT -- TO WORK WITH COURT OFFICES AND RETURN ON MAY 8 TH FOR APPOINTMENT OR RETURN TO COURT ON MAY 8TH RELATED TO THAT PROCESS. WHO'S MAKING THE MOTION? MOTION BY COMMISSIONER BRIONES, SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER GARCIA. ALL IN FAVOR. >> THIS IS TO APPOINT DICKERMAN? >> CORRECT. >> DID HE GET THAT CORRECTION ON THE DATE? >> YES, MAY 1ST. ALL IN FAVOR? ANY OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY -- >> NO. >> NO, OKAY MOTION CARRIES 4- 1 WITH COMMISSIONER RAMSEY OPPOSED. >> NOW MY MOTION, IF YOU WILL, IS TO MOVE TO DIRECT THE INTERIM COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR THAT THEY DEVELOP AND EXECUTE A PLAN TO DISSOLVE THE OFFICE OF COUNTY ADMINISTRATION BY SEPTEMBER 30TH. THE PLAN SHOULD INCLUDE AN ASSESSMENT OF FUNCTIONS EXISTING WITHIN OCA AND RECOMMENDATION OF WHERE THOSE FUNCTIONS SHOULD BE MOVED, WHETHER THEY BE HOOPLACED IN OTHER DEPARTMENTS INCLUDING JOINED WITH EXISTING FUNCTIONS IN OTHER DEPARTMENTS TO REDUCE DUPLICATION OR WHETHER THEY SHOULD EXIST IN ONE OR MORE DEPARTMENTS. THE REPORT SHOULD BE TRANSMITTED TO COMMISSIONERS COURT OFFICES BY JUNE 6TH. >> SECOND. >> MOTION BY COMMISSIONER GARCIA. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER RAMSEY. ALL IN FAVOR? ANY OPPOSED? >> UNOPPOSED MOTION FAILS 2-3. OKAY, SO WE ALSO WENT TO EXECUTIVE SESSION ON ITEM 6, AND SO THAT ONE I'M LOOKING FOR A MOTION THAT READS AFTER -- >> JUDGE, I THINK THAT ITEM -- I THINK WE SUGGEST NO ACTION ON ITEM 6. I THINK ITEM 2 IS THE ONE THAT REALLY SPEAKS TO THIS TOPIC. >> OKAY, ON ITEM 2. AFTER CONSULTATION WITH OUR ATTORNEYS IN EXECUTIVE SESSION REGARDING THE TOPIC COVERED BY THE RELEVANT BILLS CURRENTLY IN THE STATE LEGISLATURE FOR FISCAL YEAR 26 WE MOVE TO ALLOCATE MOBILITY FUNDS TO PRECINCTS BASED ON A FORMULA THAT WEIGHS THREE FACTORS EQUALLY. NUMBER ONE, THE PERCENT OF FUNDS PRECINCTS RECEIVED OVER THE LAST 20 YEARS, THE PERCENT OF MOBILITY FUNDS PRECINCTS RECEIVED OVER THE LAST 20 YEARS, THE CONDITION OF THE ROADS IN EACH PRECINCT, AND THE COUNTY ROAD MILES IN EACH PRECINCT. >> I'M GOING TO MAKE THAT MOTION. >> SECOND. >> AND LET ME JUST SAY THIS [00:15:02] IS A -- A DETAILED FORMULA THATTHAT TAKEN A LOT OF TIME TO GO INTO, AS THE JUDGE DESCRIBED. THE FORMULA, IT'S A WEIGHTED FORMULA. IT'S BASED ON REAL DATA, NOT ASSUMPTIONS, NOT THE POLITICS BUT WHAT IS THE MONEY OVER HISTORIC, WHAT'S THE MONEY BASED ON CONDITION OF THE ROADS IN THE PRECINCT, AND JUST AS IMPORTANT WHAT IS THE NUMBER OF COUNTY ROADS THAT WE HAVE THERE. SO I THINK IT'S A FAIR, BALANCED FORMULA BASED ON -- BASED ON REAL DATA. THE OTHER THING IS THIS FORMULA, THE FORMULA THAT THE COUNTY WAS USING WAS SOMETHING WE INHERITED FROM PREVIOUS COURTS. SO THE 25, 25, 25, 25 FORMULA CLEARLY THERE NEEDED TO BE SOME BETTER ACKNOWLEDGEMENT IN TERMS OF ROAD RESPONSIBILITY. I FEEL LIKE THIS ENCOMPASSES THAT. SO I KNOW THE STATE LEGISLATURE HAS FOUND IT -- FILING A COUPLE OF BILLS TO GET INVOLVED WITH THIS. I THINK WITH THIS ACTION WE'RE TAKING TODAY, I THINK THAT WOULD RENDER THOSE BILLS NOT NECESSARY BECAUSE THE MAJOR ISSUE HAS BEEN DEALT WITH. SO I PROUDLY MAKE THE MOTION FOR THIS. I'LL BE GOING TO AUSTIN ON THURSDAY TO TESTIFY TO THE GOOD WORK WE'VE DONE HERE LOCALLY BASED ON WHAT THE REAL DETAILS ARE. SO I'M PROUD TO MAKE A MOTION, AND LOOK FORWARD TO IMPLEMENTING THIS. AND I THINK IN FISCAL YEAR 2026. >> ALL RIGHT, SO WE HAVE A MOTION BY COMMISSIONER RAMSEY, SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER GARCIA. ALL IN FAVOR? ANY OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY. THANK YOU SO MUCH, COMMISSIONER RAMSEY. YES? >> THANK YOU. I WANTED TO ADD COMMENT -- >> THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER, I WAS JUST STATING THE 25 WAS AN INELEGANT SOLUTION BECAUSE WE COULDN'T FIGURE OUT HOW MUCH TO WEIGH EACH FACTOR. SO, ANYWAY, THANK YOU AND TO MY COLLEAGUES, I'M GLAD THERE'S AN AGREEMENT. GO AHEAD, COMMISSIONER GARCIA. >> THANK YOU. COMMISSIONER RAMSEY, THANK YOU FOR YOUR COOPERATION AND YOUR PARTNERSHIP AND FAIRNESS ON THIS. THIS IS AN ISSUE WE KNEW WE COULD WORK OUT HERE AT THIS TABLE AND WORK OUT IN A WAY THAT IS TRANSPARENT, FAIR, AND BASED ON REAL DATA, AS YOU'VE SAID. SO I JUST WANT TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR WORK AND YOUR PARTNERSHIP AND YOUR COMMITMENT ON THIS. AND I WANT TO THANK COMMISSIONER BRIONES FOR HER LEADERSHIP. SHE HAS BEEN WORKING TIRELESSLY AT THE STATE LEG, RUNNING FREQUENTLY UP THERE. I WANT TO THANK YOU AS WELL. >> COMMISSIONER, IF I COULD SAY A QUICK -- THANK YOU FOR YOUR PARTNERSHIP AND BEING SO FAIR AND USING YOUR DECADES OF ENGINEERING EXPERTISE TO COME UP WITH THIS FORMULA THAT I THINK WILL DO GREAT FOR THE PEOPLE OF HARRIS COUNTY IN A VERY FAIR, OPEN, TRANSPARENT WAY. I'M SO HAPPY WE SOLVED THIS AT HOME, AND I'M SO HAPPY WE MADE THOSE BILLS MOOT. AND I LOOK FORWARD TO MOVING FORWARD AND MAKING SURE LOCAL ISSUES STAY LOCAL. AND, AGAIN, THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP ON THIS, AND I LOOK FORWARD TO MOVING FORWARD. SO THANK YOU. >> GREAT. THANK YOU, COLLEAGUES. SO LET'S MOVE BACK -- SO THAT WAS ITEM 2. THE NEXT ITEM WE HAVE THAT WE'VE NOT VOTED ON IS ITEM 4. THAT IS A REQUEST FOR APPROVAL FOR MODIFICATION TO THE HARRIS COUNTY TRAVEL AND BUSINESS MEETING REQUEST. AND THAT ONE IS TO FORMALIZE -- TO FORMALIZE THE POLICY FOR INTERNATIONAL TRAVEL FOR COUNTY BUSINESS -- FOR COUNTY ELECTED OFFICIALS AND ESSENTIAL STAFF. RIGHT NOW IT SAYS THAT THE COMMISSIONER'S COURT CAN TRAVEL INTERNATIONALLY DURING EXTRAORDINARY CIRCUMSTANCES WHICH INVOLVE COUNTY BUSINESS. SO THE GOAL IS TO EXPLAIN EXAMPLES OF THESE EXTRAORDINARY CIRCUMSTANCES. THERE WOULD BE OFFICIAL [00:20:04] INTERGOVERNMENTAL SUMMITS OR CONFERENCES RELEVANT TO COUNTY BUSINESS, ECONOMIC RESPONSE COORDINATION EFFORTS, INFRASTRUCTURE, TRANSPORTATION, OR HEALTH RELATED PARTNERSHIPS. AND THERE'S AN EXCEPTION ABOUT COMMISSIONERS COURT MEMBERS. I KNOW THAT IN THE PAST SOME OF THIS HAS BEEN DONE WITH COUNTY FUNDS. SOME OF THIS HAS BEEN DONE WITH CAMPAIGN FUNDS, AND SO THE IDEA IS JUST TO ADD FORMALITY AND REALLY TRANSPARENCY TO THE TRAVEL THAT IS DONE FOR THE COUNTY. >> SO IN THE SPIRIT OF TRANSPARENCY, THE REASON I WANTED TO FLAG THIS FOR DISCUSSION IS I THINK EVERYONE'S TRAVEL SHOULD COME TO COMMISSIONERS COURT, SO IN THE SPIRIT OF TRANSPARENCY THERE SHOULDN'T BE AN EXCEPTION FOR ANY COURT MEMBERS. WE SHOULD ALL COME TO COURT FOR ANY TRAVEL. SO IF I GO TO LOUISIANA OR IF I GO TO LIBERIA, THAT SHOULD COME TO COURT, SO THAT WAS ONE OF THE REASONS WHY I FLAGGED IT. AND ALSO MY UNDERSTANDING IS THIS POLICY GENERALLY HASN'T BEEN UPDATED SINCE 2017, AND I KNOW THE AUDITORS OFFICE HAD MADE SOME COMMENTS THAT, FOR EXAMPLE, WE SHOULD REVISIT THE PER DIEM THAT HASN'T BEEN ADJUSTED OR THE POLICY ON FLIGHT CHANGES. SO THERE'S OTHER IMPROVEMENTS TO THE POLICY THAT I THINK WOULD BE HELPFUL FOR ALL COUNTY EMPLOYEES. SO THAT'S -- I JUST DON'T THINK IT'S READY TO MOVE FORWARD. >> IF I MAY, I DON'T KNOW HOW IT WORKS NOW, BUT I THINK IT SHOULD ALL OBVIOUSLY BE VOTED ON AT THIS POINT. IT HAS TO BE APPROVED. WHEN WE TRAVEL NOW I GO TO WASHINGTON, D.C. , I DON'T THINK I HAVE TO GET PERMISSION BEFORE GOING. I DON'T MIND IT BEING DISCOVERABLE IF SOMEBODY'S OUT IN THE COUNTRY ON OFFICIAL BUSINESS. IT'LL BE THERE, SO THE ISSUE HERE SO ONE CAN CHARGE IT AND BE REIMBURSED AND THEN IT'S DISCLOSED? OR WAS THE ISSUE IS THAT IT WOULD HAVE TO BE APPROVED BEFORE YOU COULD GO? BEFORE ANY OF US COULD TAKE A TRIP OUT OF THE COUNTRY? >> SO COMMISSIONER AND JUDGE, THE CURRENT POLICY IS THAT FOR DOMESTIC TRAVEL IT'S BUNDLED AS PART OF YOUR BUDGET, YOUR ANNUAL ALLOCATION THAT YOU'RE GIVEN FOR TRAVEL. THE EXCEPTION IS INTERNATIONAL TRAVEL. IT'S CURRENTLY NOT LISTED THAT WAY. THERE'S A CARVE OUT FOR INTERNATIONAL THAT REQUIRES IT COME BACK. >> COME BACK BEFORE YOU CAN TAKE THE TRIP, OR IT COMES BACK AFTERWARDS? >> BEFORE GENERALLY. >> OKAY, AT LEAST FOR ME FROM MY STANDPOINT OBVIOUSLY IT OUGHT TO BE DISCOVERABLE. BUT IF YOU HAD TO GO GET PERMISSION BEFORE GOING ON A TRAINING MISSION, THEN YOU DON'T KNOW. I DIDN'T EVEN THINK ABOUT PUTTING IT ON THE COUNTY, BUT MAYOR TURNER HAD A TRADE MISSION TO PARIS, AND HE COULD NOT GO BECAUSE HE HAD A HEALTH ISSUE COME UP WHEN HE WENT TO THE DENTIST. SO HE CALLED ME WHEN I WAS ALREADY IN THE AREA, SO I PAID FOR IT OFF MY CAMPAIGN. BUT TO BE HONEST WITH YOU I WOULD PREFER TO GO AND HAVE IT DISCLOSED, BUT I WOULD WANT TO GET PERMISSION. COMMISSIONER BRIONES, ARE YOU SAYING IT OUGHT TO BE DISCLOSED OR GET INFORMATION ON IT BEFORE ONE CAN GO? >> I JUST THINK IT SHOULD BE ALIGN WOULD THE DOMESTIC POLICIES. SO THE DISCLOSURE PROCESS I THINK FOR PURPOSE OF TRANSPARENCY IS REALLY IMPORTANT, AND THEN IT'S WITHIN THE ALREADY APPROVED BUDGET, RIGHT? SO I THINK THERE'S A COUPLE OF THRESHOLDS THERE. AND GENERALLY APART FROM INTERNATIONAL OR DOMESTIC, IT SEEMS THERE ARE OTHER UPDATES THAT ARE NEEDED. SO RATHER THAN DOING THINGS IN A PIECEMEAL FASHION, I THINK IT WOULD BE INCUMBENT UPON US TO UPDATE IN PARTNERSHIP WITH OTHERS, ALL OF THE DEPARTMENTS. >> I DON'T HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THAT. WE CAN BRING IT BACK. I THINK IT IF THE PER DIEM IS LOWER ON A STATE LEVEL I THINK THE COMPTROLLER OR SOMEBODY, THE A.G. OR SOMEBODY AUTOMATICALLY DOES THAT LIKE EVERY YEAR. I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE PERDEEM DIEM IS NOW. IF THEY CAN LOOK AT IT AND DO IT ALL IN ONE SWOOP, I'M FOR IT. DOES THAT MAKE SENSE? >> IS THAT SOMETHING YOU GUYS COULD DO? I'VE DRAFTED A MOTION HERE FOR THE AUDITORS OFFICE TO WORK WITH RELEVANT DEPARTMENTS TO UPDATE THE HARRIS COUNTY TRAVEL AND BUSINESS MEETING POLICY INCLUDING THE INTERNATIONAL AND DOMESTIC TRAVEL POLICIES IN RETURN TO THE MAY 8, [00:25:01] 2025 COMMISSIONERS COURT. IS THAT SOMETHING, AUDITOR, THAT YOU CAN DO? >> WELL, TRADITIONALLY, THESE POLICIES HAVE COME TO COMMISSIONERS COURT FROM THE BUDGET OFFICE, BUT THE AUDITOR HAS ALWAYS WORK WOULD THE BUDGET OFFICE, AND THIS WAS LAST UPDATED IN 2017. AND BILL JACKSON IS THE BUDGET OFFICER, SO HE TOOK IT TO COURT. AUDITOR DID HAVE INPUT, THOUGH. SO I WOULD THINK MAYBE OCA SHOULD LEAD. AUDITOR WILL BE RIGHT THERE BECAUSE WE'RE NOT NORMALLY IN THE AUDITOR'S OFFICE A POLICY SETTING GROUP. BUT ONCE A COURT ESTABLISHES THE POLICY, THEN THE AUDITOR WILL, YOU KNOW, MAKE SURE WE ADHERE TO IT. BUT WE WILL WORK ON IT. >> I MAKE AMENDMENT AND I MAKE A MOTION. THE AMENDMENT THAT COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR BRING IT BACK. >> OKAY, SO THE MOTION IS FOR COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR TO WORK WITH RELEVANT DEPARTMENTS TO UPDATE THE HARRIS COUNTY TRAVEL AND BUSINESS MEETING POLICY INCLUDING DOMESTIC AND INTERNATIONAL TRAVEL POLICY AND RETURN TO THE MAY 8TH, 2025, COMMISSIONERS COURT. AND I WOULD SAY WITH RELEVANT DEPARTMENTS AND COURT OFFICES. >> WE WOULD BE ALLOWED TO PROVIDE INPUT ON WHAT THAT POLICY IS BEFOREHAND. I MEAN, FOR EXAMPLE, I AM NOT FOR -- AS WAS DISCUSSED EARLIER, I THINK IF WE'RE GOING TO TRAVEL INTERNATIONALLY, THAT'S GOT TO COME TO COMMISSIONERS COURT, PERIOD. AND IF IT INCLUDES ESSENTIAL PERSONNEL TRAVELING WITH US INTERNATIONALLY, THAT'S GOT TO COME TO COURT, TOO. SO THEN FULL TRANSPARENCY ON WHATEVER WE'RE DOING. PARTICULARLY IT'S A HIGHER LEVEL OF RESPONSIBILITY WHEN YOU'RE GOING INTERNATIONAL JUST BASED ON COST AND LOGISTICS AND OTHER ISSUES. SO WE'LL BE PROVIDING THAT INPUT. THAT SHOULD NOT BE A PART OF IT GOING FORWARD. >> SEE, AND MY PERSPECTIVE IS THAT IT'S LESS TRANSPARENT IF SOME OF US TAKE THOSE TRIPS WITH PERSONAL CAMPAIGN FUNDS BUT WE'RE STILL OPERATING IN OUR COUNTY CAPACITY, AND THE PUBLIC DOESN'T KNOW. THE REPORTERS DON'T KNOW THAT THAT'S WHAT WE'RE DOING, THAT WE'RE TAKING A TRIP IN OUR OFFICIAL CAPACITY. AND SO I -- YOU KNOW, THAT'S HAPPENED IN THE PAST. SO THESE -- THESE COUNTY TRAVEL -- OFFICIAL TRAVEL IS HAPPENING, BUT NOBODY KNOWS ANYTHING ABOUT IT BECAUSE THERE'S NOT A WAY FOR ITIT EFFICIENTLY COME THROUGH COMMISSIONERS COURT. I MEAN REQUESTING IT BEFOREHAND I THINK INVITES POLITICAL DISCUSSIONS ABOUT COURT MEMBERS. THERE'S ALWAYS GOING TO BE A REPORT AFTERWARDS. BUT IF WE'RE GOING TO DO THAT FOR INTERNATIONAL, THEN WE OUGHT IT DO IT FOR DOMESTIC AS WELL. I DON'T WANT TO POLITICIZE THIS. CERTAINLY I WOULDN'T BE INCENTIVIZED TO BRING THAT, AND I THINK THE WAY THINGS ARE RIGHT NOW SHOWS THAT NOBODY IS INCENTIVIZED TO BRING THAT TO COURT. THEY JUST DO IT ON THEIR OWN AND NOBODY FIND OUT. >> JUDGE, I MAKE THAT MOTION AS YOU READ IT, AND I JUST ADD THIS POINT. THE CURRENT COUNTRY PER DIEM IS LOWER THAN THE COMP TROLLER'S APPROVED PER DIEM. I'D INCLUDE THE COUNTY LEVEL AS WELL. IF SOMEBODY'S GOING TO AUSTIN, THEY OUGHT TO BE ABLE TO USE THE COMPTROLLER'S NUMBER. >> THE THING I HAVE IN MIND JUST SO YOU KNOW IS TO GO WORK WITH SOME OF THE COUNTRIES THAT HAVE DEVELOPED PROCESSES AND SYSTEMS ON FULL CONTROL ISSUES TO DO ECONOMIC TRADE MISSIONS, TO DO EXCHANGES WHETHER TO BE ON POLICY OR ON INFRASTRUCTURE QUESTIONS, AND THEN, OF COURSE, CONFERENCES. I KNOW THAT SEVERAL -- SEVERAL FOLKS -- I HAVE NOT -- I HAVE NOT, TO BE CLEAR, TAKEN ONE OF THESE TRIPS. BUT I KNOW THAT THERE ARE MANY, MANY OPPORTUNITIES OUT THERE TO EXCHANGE IDEAS AT THE INTERNATIONAL LEVEL WHETHER IT IS US PRESENTING OR US LEARNING, AND SO THOSE ARE THE KINDS OF THINGS I HAVE IN MIND. >> JUDGE, I DO WANT TO STRESS, IF SOMEONE TAKES A TRIP OFF THEIR CAMPAIGN IT IS REPORTED. IF ONE OF YOU ALL PAID FOR ME TO TAKE A TRIP, I REPORT THAT. IF I PAY IT OUT OF MY MONEY THAT'S MY BUSINESS. IF YOU TAKE ONE WITH CAMPAIGN MONEY, IT IS REPORTED. BUT I'LL MAKE THAT MOTION. >> IT'S REPORTED SOMEBODY HAS GONE, BUT IT'S NOT EASY FOR PEOPLE TO SAY IT'S A COUNT A -- [00:30:01] IT'S A COUNTY TRAVEL. I'M NOT TRYING TO INSINUATE THAT INTERNATIONAL THAT'S ABSOLUTELY NOT WHAT I'M TRYING TO SAY. WHAT I'M TRYING TO SAY IS THERE'S NO EASY WAY FOR COUNTY STAFF OR LEADERSHIP TO TAKE IMPORTANT INTERNATIONAL DELEGATIONS OR TRIPS THAT OUR COUNTERPARTS IN OTHER COUNTIES DO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF AND THAT I KNOW WE'RE INVITED TO. AND ALSO BECAUSE THERE ISN'T AN EASY WAY TO DO THAT, THEN THE CURRENT SITUATION IS ONE WHERE THERE ISN'T AN EASY WAY FOR THE PUBLIC TO KNOW THAT THESE -- THAT THESE VISITS HAVE BEEN TAKEN. SO THAT'S ALL I'M SAYING, COMMISSIONER. AND THAT'S REALLY THE MOTIVATION BEHIND THIS. >> CAN YOU PLEASE READ REPEAT THE MOTION. >> THE MOTION WOULD BE FOR OCA TO WORK WITH RELEVANT DEPARTMENTS AND COURT OFFICES TO UPDATE THE HARRIS COUNTY TRAVEL AND BUSINESS MEETING POLICY INCLUDING THE INTERNATIONAL AND DOMESTIC TRAVEL POLICIES AND RETURN TO THE MAY 8, 2025, COMMISSIONERS COURT. >> I'LL MOVE IT. >> ALL RIGHT, MOTION BY COMMISSIONER ELLIS. >> SECOND. >> SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER BRIONES. ALL IN FAVOR? ANY OPPOSED? ALL RIGHT, MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY. SO THAT HAS BEEN -- THAT WAS THAT ONE. NOW LET'S MOVE ONTO THE NEXT DISCUSSION ITEM, WHICH IS ITEM 5 WE ALREADY COVERED. AND ITEM 6 IS NO ACTION BECAUSE WE ALREADY DID ITEM 2. IS THERE ANYTHING ELSE WE NEED TO VOTE ON? ALL RIGHT, ANYTHING FROM COUNTY ATTORNEY OR THE CLERK? >> NO, JUDGE. >> NO, JUDGE. >> ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU GUYS * This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.