Jul 10, 2025 Commissioners Court

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GOOD MORNING EVERYONE. IT IS 8:43 A.M. THIS JULY 10TH , 2025

[Rev. Dr. Alexander E.M. Johnson of Wheeler Avenue Baptist Church in Houston introduced by the Commissioner of Precinct 1.]

>> WE HAVE THE RUBBED HER -- REVEREND ALEXANDER JOHNSON. HE SERVES AS EXECUTIVE PASTOR AT THE WILL AVENUE BAPTIST CHURCH UNDER THE LEADERSHIP OF DR. MARCUS COSBY. WE ALL KNOW THAT CHURCHWELL BECAUSE THE FOUNDING PASTOR WAS REVEREND LAWSON. DR.

JOHNSON ALSO SERVES AS A VISITING SCHOLAR AND ADJUNCT PROFESSOR OF AFRICAN STUDIES . HE HAS A BACHELORS DEGREE IN THE COMPARATIVE STUDY OF RELIGION WITH A SECONDARY DEGREE IN AFRICAN AMERICAN STUDIES FROM HARVARD, INVESTORS FROM PRINCETON AND THE DOCTOR OF MINISTRY AND TRANSFORMATION OF LEADERSHIP FROM BOSTON UNIVERSITY . AND HE IS A GREAT LEADER , WELL-TRAVELED. NOT ONLY DO I APPRECIATE HIM. I APPRECIATE HIM LETTING HIS WIFE TAKE AS MUCH TIME AS SHE TAKES TO RAISE THEIR KIDS OF COURSE AND OF COURSE SHE WORKS WITH US AT PRECINCT ONE AND WERE VERY HONORED TO HAVE HIM HERE TODAY.

THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER FOR

THIS ON. LET'S PRAY PRAY. >> GREAT AND MIGHTY, HOLY AND LOVING GOD COME WITH GREAT THANKSGIVING, WE COME BEFORE YOU THIS MORNING GRATEFUL FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO CALL UPON YOUR NAME WITH CONFIDENCE AND YET WITH HUMILITY . WITH TRUST. AMID ALL THAT IS TAKING PLACE WITHIN THIS WORLD AND ESPECIALLY THIS COUNTY , THAT YOUR YET IN CONTROL. WE THANK YOU THAT YOU WILL CONTINUE TO WORK ALL THINGS TOGETHER FOR THE GOOD OF THEM WHO LOVE YOU. WE PRAY THIS MORNING FOR OUR NEIGHBORS WHO HAVE BEEN TRAGICALLY AFFECTED BY FLOODWATERS AND ASKED THAT YOU COMFORT THAT COMMUNITY AND CAUSE US ALL TO THINK MORE CRITICALLY AS TO HOW WE MIGHT CARE FOR ONE ANOTHER. WE PRAY ESPECIALLY FOR THIS GOVERNING BODY BODY. MAY YOU USE THEM TO LEAD WITH COMPASSION AND COURAGE TO ENSURE THAT THE VOICELESS ARE GIVEN A VOICE AND THE MARGINALIZED ARE MADE WHOLE PICK THE PEOPLE OF THIS COUNTY ARE THE DEBTOR BECAUSE OF THE LIBERATIONS AND DECISIONS MADE WITHIN THESE WALLS. MAY YOU ENDOW THEM WITH WISDOM AND CLARITY OF MIND AND DO THAT WHICH IS RIGHT AND JUST.

AND WILL YOU BLOSSOM AS THEY SEEK TO SERVE THOSE WHO THEY REPRESENT. KEEP THEM IMPERFECT PEACE AS THEY NAVIGATE THE TO MULCH WAS TIMES. MAY YOU CONVICT THEM TO LEAD WITH LOVE. WE ARE MINDFUL THAT THEY DO NOT ACCOMPLISH THEIR WORK ALONE. SO WOULD YOU BLESS THEIR STAFF AND THOSE WITH WHOM THEY WORK MOST CLOSELY TO ENSURE THAT THIS COUNTY IS WELL SERVED. MAY THEY NEVER GROW WEARY IN WELL DOING AND ENDOW THEM WITH STRENGTH AND FORTITUDE TO FIGHT FOR THE WELL-BEING AND SAFETY , PRODUCTIVITY AND PROGRESS OF THE RESIDENTS OF THIS COUNTY, SUCH THAT WE WILL CONTINUE TO BE AN EXAMPLE TO THE NATION OF WHAT GOOD GOVERNANCE CAN ACCOMPLISH. AND IN ACCORDANCE WITH YOUR WORD , MAY YOU COMPEL US ALL TO DO JUSTLY , LOVE MERCY AND WALK HUMBLY WITH OUR GOD FOR YOUR GLORY. IT IS IN THE STRONG NAME THAT WE PRAY WITH GREAT EXPECTATION AND GREAT

THANKSGIVING, AND THEN. >> THANK YOU .

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH. AND I KNOW YOU MENTIONED, PASTOR, THE FLOOD VICTIMS AND SO MANY OF THEM LIVED IN OUR COUNTY. I WANT TO HOLD A MOMENT OF SILENCE FOR THOSE WHO DIED AND THOSE WHO ARE STILL MISSING AFTER THE CENTRAL TOUCH -- CENTRAL TEXAS FLOODS OVER THE WEEKEND. THANK YOU. THAT IS 119 LIVES THAT HAVE BEEN LOST SO FAR. MANY WITH TIES TO OUR COMMUNITY . IT WAS VERY MUCH A DEVASTATING TRAGEDY AND I WANT FOLKS TO KNOW THAT WE ARE SENDING RESOURCES ON BEHALF OF THE COMMUNITY. WE HAVE SENT THREE FIRE ENGINES FROM DIFFERENT JURISDICTIONS WITHIN HARRIS COUNTY ALONG WITH 16-FOOT -- 16 FIREFIGHTERS AND THEY ARE HELPING TO RESPOND TO 911 CALLS SO LOCALS CAN FOCUS ON RESPONSE AND RECOVERY. AND WE SENT A LOGISTICS SPECIALIST TO HELP MANAGE AID COMING IN FROM OTHER STATES AND OUR METEOROLOGIST IS THERE HELPING TO MEASURE HIGH WATERMARKS , MARK THE HIGH WATER LEVELS BECAUSE THERE MAY NEED TO BE A REDRAWING OF FLOODPLAINS ARE AT MINIMUM, THERE HAS TO BE A HISTORICAL RECORD . TODAY, IN HONOR OF THE VICTIMS, MY TEAM IS PASSING OUT YELLOW RIBBONS. THAT IS WHAT THOSE ARE ABOUT. IT IS NICE TO SEE SO MANY OF YOU

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THERE IS A LOT OF WORK TO DO AND SADLY, IN THE RECOVERY OF BODIES AND CLEANING OUT A LOT OF THE SEDIMENT AND ALL THE DEBRIS. SO THAT WILL TAKE WELL INTO AUGUST. SO WE REMEMBER ALL THOSE VICTIMS AND WE ARE PRAYING FOR THOSE MISSING. COMMISSIONER RAMSEY.

>> THANK YOU, JUDGE. I AM WEARING GREEN AND WHITE. THAT IS WHAT A LOT OF FOLKS, A LOT OF FAMILIES FROM MYSTIC CAMP , WHO WERE SO SIGNIFICANTLY IMPACTED -- THE CHILDREN IN PARTICULAR, IN THAT CAMP . I KNOW THAT CONVERSATIONS WE HAVE HAD OVER THE LAST WEEK , WE HAVE REFERENCED SOME 3418. AND THAT READS, "THE LORD IS NEAR TO THE BROKENHEARTED AND SAVES THE CRUSHED IN SPIRIT . AND SO WE PRAY FOR THE PEACE. THERE IS ONLY ONE KIND OF PEACE IN THIS WORLD AND THAT IS THE PEACE WE FIND YOUR OUR LORD AND SAVIOR JESUS CHRIST AND I KNOW A LOT OF THOSE CHILDREN WERE THERE AND THAT CHRISTIAN CAMP WITH A TRADITION OF OVER 100 YEARS. A LOT OF THE CABINS THAT WERE TRAGICALLY WASHED DOWN THE CREEK, HAD BEEN THERE FOR OVER 100 YEARS. IT WAS A HISTORIC RAINFALL . A LOT OF OUR FRIENDS THROUGH THE TEXAS STATION OF COUNTIES ARE JUST SO SEVERELY IMPACTED . AS THE JUDGE REFERENCED, THE CONVERSATIONS WE HAVE HERE FROM OUR HARRIS COUNTY RESOURCES AND FOLKS . THE STATE AND THE FEDERAL FOLKS, THEY ALL HAVE HAD -- THEY HAVE MOBILIZED AND DENIGRATE JOB. RIGHT NOW, WE PRAY FOR THE FAMILIES AS THEY DEAL WITH THEIR GRIEF GOING FORWARD AND SOMETHING CERTAINLY , IT HAS JUST BEGUN IN TERMS OF WHAT THE WHOLE REGION WILL HAVE TO DEAL WITH. KEEPING THEM AND OUR FRÈRES IS MOST IMPORTANT THING WE CAN DO AND TALK ABOUT TODAY WITH THAT.

>> THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER. YES, COMMISSIONER ELLIS.

>> I WOULD LIKE TO ADD THAT OBVIOUSLY IT MAY END OF BEING ONE OF THE WORST DISASTERS IN THE HISTORY OF THE COUNTRY.

CLEARLY IN TEXAS. A LOT OF PEOPLE IN HOUSTON CAN RELATE TO CAMP MYSTIC. OBVIOUSLY OUR HEARTS GO OUT TO THEM. I HOPE THAT WE WOULD DO AS MUCH AS WE CAN TO HELP THEM FROM THE PHILANTHROPIC SIDE OF THE COMMUNITY. MANY OF THE CHURCHES AND SYNAGOGUES AND MOSQUES. IT IS IMPORTANT. I JUST REFLECT ON HOW MANY PEOPLE REACHED OUT TO US. AND WE HEARD FROM A FEW AROUND THE COUNTRY. OBVIOUSLY THEY KNOW THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN KERR COUNTY AND HARRIS COUNTY. I HAVE SENT THEM TO THAT CHARITABLE FOUNDATION I WAS TOLD WHEN I MADE A CALL TO A FRIEND OVER THERE AND DO BRAUNFELS WHICH IS NOT QUITE THE MIDDLE OF IT BUT I DID KNOW ONE PERSON THAT I CALLED TO JUST ASK . BUT IT IS IMPORTANT TO HELP THEM IN ANY WAY THAT WE CAN FINANCIALLY

AS WELL AS SPIRITUALLY. >> THANK YOU. THANK YOU ALL.

LET'S NOW STAND AND RECITE THE PLEDGE.

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

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

>> SOME HOUSEKEEPING NOTES. COMMISSIONER TRANSITING WILL NOT BE ATTENDING. COMMISSIONER TRANSIT -- GARCIA IS TUNING IN REMOTELY. DO WE STILL HAVE THEM ON, YOU GUYS? HE WILL COME BACK

ON AND A BIT. >> I'M HERE BUT HAVING

[Departments (Part 1 of 3)]

>> OKAY. SO WE HAVE SOME OUT OF ORDER REQUESTS. THE COUNTY ATTORNEY REQUEST TO GO INTO EXEC POSSESSIONS FOR ITEMS 242 ON HCA

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SCHEDULES. >> JUDGE?

>> YES. >> OMB REQUESTED NO ACTION ON THAT AND WE CAN INDICATED THAT WITH DISTRICT COURT JUDGES.

>> THAT IS 99 AND 100 SO WE WILL TAKE NO ACTION ON 99 AND ON 100. THANK YOU . PRECINCT THREE REQUESTS THAT WE TAKE ITEM 277 BOND PROJECTS FOLLOWING THE DISTRICT AFTER THE CONSENT

AGENDA. >> JUDGE?

>> YES. >> AT 12:45 SHARP, I WILL HAVE

TO LEAVE. >> BUT AT LEAST WITH ITEMS ON

THE AGENDA . >> SO THE QUORUM, CAN REMIND US

OF THE RULES, PLEASE ? >> WE ARE A HYBRID MEETING. BUT THERE HAS TO BE THREE PEOPLE PRESENT IN THIS ROOM. SO AT 12:45, WITH ONLY TWO MEMBERS OF THE COURT HERE, THE QUORUM WOULD

BE LOST . >> SO WE DOES THAT MEANS WE HAVE

TO END THE SESSION? >> WE DO. EFFECTIVELY .

>> EVEN IF RESOLUTIONS WERE AT THAT TIME?

>> WHAT I WOULD SUGGEST TO DO ON THAT IS ESSENTIALLY, IF YOU WANT TO TAKE A VOTE ON RESOLUTIONS, YOU CAN VOTE ON THE RESOLUTIONS BEFORE COMMISSIONER ELLIS HAS TO DEPART. AFTER THAT TIME, ESSENTIALLY, IT WOULD BECOME CEREMONIAL AT THAT STAGE AND SO THEN YOU COULD HAVE INDIVIDUALS WELCOME TO SPEAK AND YOU CAN

TAKE PHOTOGRAPHS, ET CETERA. >> THAT'S WHY WE MOVED THE

MEETING UP TO 8:30. >> OKAY. LET ME LOOK HERE AT SOME CHANGES AND CORRECTIONS BEFORE WE HEAD TO EXECUTIVE SESSION. I HAVE A CORRECTION ON ITEM 19, REPLACE 22-0 NOT 119-12 WITH 22- 0119-15. JOB NUMBER . AND THEN WE HAVE 99-100. NO ACTION. THANK YOU. ITEM 115, REPLACE AND PUBLIX HEALTH SERVICES WITH THE OFFICE OF COUNTY ADMINISTRATION. THIS SHOULD SAVE BEHAVIORAL HEALTH AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN ACT FUNDING FOR THE OFFICE OF COUNTY ADMINISTRATION. ITEM 149 IS A RENEWAL REQUESTING NO ACTION FOR JANICE SOFTWARE. 186.

REQUESTING NO ACTION ON THE PIPELINE SAFETY ITEM. AND THEN 213, OCA REQUEST NO ACTION ON THE MINIMUM-WAGE POLICY. PUBLIC HEALTH, WELLNESS , GIFT CARDS, PUBLIC HEALTH REQUEST NO ACTION.

THAT IS 253. 273, PRECINCT ONE AGREEMENT WITH TERS NUMBER THREE. WERE PLACING THE AGENDA CAPTION AFTER APPROVAL OF. SO IT SHOULD READ REQUEST BY THE COMMISSIONER PRECINCT ONE FOR APPROVAL OF INTERLOCAL AGREEMENTS BETWEEN THE COUNTY AND THE CITY OF HOUSTON , TEXAS REINVESTMENT ZONE TERS NUMBER

[Executive Session]

>> IF YOU CAN GIVE ME A SECOND. I'M TRYING TO CALL IN A WE CAN

HEAR YOU, COMMISSIONER . >> IT IS WORKING.

>> JUDGE, TO REPEAT ON THE RECORD , UNFORTUNATELY, WHEN COMMISSIONER ELLIS LEAVES, WE WILL LOSE QUORUM. EVEN ON RESOLUTIONS, WE CAN'T HAVE PEOPLE SPEAKING ON THE RECORD SO WE HAVE TO HAVE EVERYTHING DONE IN ADVANCE.

>> SO MAYBE MUTE IT WHEN YOU ARE NOT SPEAKING BECAUSE THEY ARE GETTING A LITTLE BACKGROUND .

>> LET'S VOTE ON THESE ITEMS THAT WE WENT INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION FOR. ONE IS -- ONE ITEM IS 247. THAT IS AN APPOINTMENT TO THE HARRIS COUNTY FINANCE CORPORATION . I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION TO REAPPOINT DWIGHT JEFFERSON TO THE HARRIS COUNTY FINANCE CORPORATION WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND. ALL

IN FAVOR. >> AYE.

>> ANY OPPOSED? >> MOTION CARRIES 4-0. AND THEN

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>> 244 IS WHICH ONE, JUDGE? >> THE FIRE MARSHAL'S OFFICE .

243. IS VERYMOTION, COMMISSIONER GARCIA?

>> YES. 243. I MOVED TO RENOMINATE SUMA BERGEY AND.

>> MOTION AND A SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR? ANY OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES. NEXT WE HAVE ITEM 242. THIS IS ON THE HARRIS COUNTY -- HARRIS CENTRALAPPRAISAL DISTRICT . IS THERE A MOTION ? ARE THERE

MOTIONS ON THIS ONE ? >> WHICH ONE IS THIS?

>> 242. THIS IS THE ONE FOR THE APPRAISAL DISTRICT DISTRICT.

>> I WOULD NOMINATE TRACY JONES. >> COMMISSIONER ELLIS. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER GARCIA. ALL IN FAVOR.

>> AYE. >> ANY OPPOSED?

>> ABOUT THE AFFILIATION WITH LINEBARGER. THAT MEANS IT IS 2-2

. THAT MEANS -- >> ITEM FAILS. WERE YOU GOING TO MAKE A NOMINATION, COMMISSIONER?

>> I MAKE A MOTION WE NOMINATE MARTINA LAMONT DIXON.

>> SHE HAS BEEN THERE. I HAVE HEARD SHE HAS DONE A GOOD JOB. I ACTUALLY SECOND THAT ONE. IT IS NEITHER HERE NOR THERE THAT SHE RAN AGAINST ME. MOTION AND A SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR.

>> AYE. >> ANY OPPOSED?

>> MOTION CARRIES IT SOUNDS LIKE UNANIMOUSLY, COMMISSIONER

GARCIA ? >> YES .

>> OKAY. THANK YOU . THANK YOU, COLLEAGUES. ANYTHING ELSE FROM

EXECUTIVE SESSION? >> LET ME MOVE ON --

>> WHAT ABOUT ITEM 244. THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER. THAT WAS NO ACTION. JUST AN UPDATE. BUT THEY WILL BRING ITEM AT THE NEXT

COURT FOREBODING . >> FOR THE RECORD , MISSES DIXON DID REACH OUT SEVERAL TIMES. WILL MOVE ON TO GO CONSENT

[Appearances before court (Part 1 of 2)]

COMMENT PLEASE . >> HOW MANY DO WE HAVE, JUDGE?

>> EXCUSE ME ? >> HOW MANY SPEAKERS DO WE HAVE

TOTAL ? >> I BELIEVE 25 .

>> OKAY. >> AND I THINK TODAY, YOU GUYS, WE ARE JUST GOING TO HAVE TO CUT PEOPLE OFF AT THE MINUTE.

BECAUSE WE HAVE A LOT OF BUSINESS TO GET THROUGH.

SOAPOLOGIES. JUST TRIED TO FIND YOUR COMMENTS TO REALLY FIT IN

THAT MINUTE . GO AHEAD . >> FIRST IS ALL OFF SHERIFF SPEAKING ON 11. ITEM JONES SPEAKING ON 197. YOU EACH HAVE

ONE MINUTE. >> AFTER THAT, IF YOU WOULDN'T MIND, TIFFANY, CAN WE CALL COUNCILMEMBER FLICKINGER HERE

FROM THE CITY OF HOUSTON. >> YES, MA'AM.

>> GOOD MORNING. I'M AMANDA JONES WITH THE HARRIS CENTER FOR MENTAL HEALTH AND IDD. I COME BEFORE YOU TODAY WITH SOME GOOD NEWS. THE HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES COMMISSION REACHED OUT TO US ABOUT A FUNDING OPPORTUNITY FOR A NEW FACILITY TO SERVE CHILDREN WITH OUTPLACEMENT AND THE CHILD PROTECTIVE SERVICES SYSTEM . AFTER MONTHS OF NEGOTIATIONS, THE HARRIS CENTER WILL BE RECEIVING $80 MILLION TO CONSTRUCT A FACILITY. AT THE CHILDREN'S CAMPUS AND PRECINCT FOUR. HARRIS COUNTY SPECIFICALLY, PRECINCT FOUR, WILL BE PROVIDING THE IN-KIND MATCH FOR THAT FACILITY. THIS IS A TREMENDOUS PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN THE HARRIS CENTER AND HARRIS COUNTY , PRECINCT FOUR KAMALA HARRIS COUNTY JUVENILE PROBATION KAMALA HARRIS COUNTY RESOURCES FOR CHILDREN AND ADULTS , THE HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES COMMISSION AND THE DEPARTMENT OF FAMILY AND PROTECTIVE SERVICES .

>> JUST A MOMENT. CAN WE CONTINUE EVEN THOUGH HE STEPPED

OUT ? >> WE CANNOT. I'M SORRY. WE

HAVE TO HOLD ON FOR A SECOND . >> SHOULD BE TAKE A BREAK?

>> CAN YOU CHECK AND SEE WHICH ITEMS ON THE CONSENT AGENDA WE CAN VOTE ON WHERE THERE ARE NO SPEAKERS?

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>> I WILL DO THAT NOW . >> IT IS 9:44 A.M. AND WE ARE

TAKING A BRIEF BREAK. >> OKAY. IT IS 9:44 A.M. STILL

AND WE ARE BACK . >> JUST TO WRAP UP, THE NEW FACILITY, AS A RESULT OF THE PARTNERSHIP WILL BE A GREAT OPPORTUNITY AND AN IMPROVEMENT IN THE SYSTEM THAT SERVES THE MOST VULNERABLE USE IN HARRIS COUNTY AND I WANT TO THANK THE

COUNTY FOR ITS PARTNERSHIP . >> THANK YOU FOR THE UPDATE .

TIFFANY, WHO IS NEXT? >> I'M ON ITEM 11. I DON'T KNOW SHE IS THERE. AND THEN COUNCILMEMBER LED -- FRED

FLICKINGER ON ITEM 277 . >> THANK YOU SO MUCH. I DON'T THINK THE FIRST PERSON YOU MENTIONED IS HERE BUT THE COUNCILMEMBER IS MAKING HIS WAY .

>> OKAY. >> THINK YOU, JUDGE. THANK YOU COMMISSIONERS AND JUDGE FOR YOUR TIME EARLY THIS MORNING. I APPRECIATED. I CAME HERE SPECIFICALLY TO TALK ABOUT THE LAKE HOUSTON DAM AND THE $20 MILLION OF FUNDING FOR THE DAM .

I THINK A LOT OF PEOPLE DON'T REALIZE THAT THE LAKE HOUSTON WATER SERVES 3 MILLION PEOPLE AND THE VAST MAJORITY OF THOSE ARE NOT IN THE CITY. THEY ARE ACTUALLY IN THE COUNTY . SO WHEN THE COUNTY AGREED TO FUND THE $20 MILLION ALONG WITH THE CITY FUNDING $20 MILLION, WE ALSO HAVE MONEY FROM THE STATE.

FEDERAL GOVERNMENT PICK THE MONEY IS DESPERATELY NEEDED. WE NEED THE ADDITIONAL GATES ONLY HOUSTON IN ORDER TO BE ABLE TO INCREASE THE DISCHARGE RATES . WE HAVE TO HAVE A CONTROLLED FLOW COMING OUT OF THE DAM . IF WE HAVE SIGNIFICANT EVENTS.

I'M SURE EVERYBODY IS AWARE LAST YEAR, WHEN WE HAD THE RAIN EVENT, THE DAM AT LAKE LIVINGSTON WAS IN JEOPARDY. IF

WE HAVE THOSE KINDS OF ISSUES -- >> CONTINUE.

>> WE ABSOLUTELY HAVE TO HAVE THAT FUNDING . ALSO,THE FLOODING IN THE LAKE HOUSTON AREA DURING HARVEY WAS THE WORST OF ALL THE CITY. IF YOU GO AND LOOK AT THE FLOOD GAUGES ON ALL THE CREEKS IN THE RIVERS, THAT WAS THE MOST ABOVE FLOOD STAGE.

WE LOST KINGWOOD HIGH SCHOOL FOR A YEAR. THEY WERE COMPLETELY FLOODED THE FIRST FLOOR. THEY HAD FLOODING ON THE SECOND FLOOR AS WELL. THAT IS A 6A HIGH SCHOOL. THEY ALL AHEAD TO GO TO SUMMER CREEK WHERE THEY STARTED EARLIER AND FINISHED LATER .

THEYSPLIT HALF THE DAY FOR ONE SCHOOL AND HALF THE DAY FOR THE OTHER SCHOOL. WE HAD AN ENTIRE COMMUNITY OF TOWNHOMES THERE AT RIVERVIEW THAT WERE WIPED OUT , NEVER TO BE REBUILT. NOW PART OF THE TRAILS IN THE PARKS ALONG THE RIVER. WE SUSTAINED A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF DAMAGE. 44% OF THE BUSINESSES IN THE LAKE HOUSTON CHAMBER WERE DAMAGED. WE HAVE GOT TO DO SOMETHING IN ORDER TO BE ABLE TO REGULATE THE FLOW OF THE WATER OUT OF THE DAM. AS IT IS TODAY , THE DAM ON LAKE CONROE IS ABLE TO JUST ABSOLUTELY OVERWHELM US. WE ARE ONLY ABLE TO DISCHARGE 10,000 CUBIC FEET PER SECOND THROUGH THE GATES AT NORMAL POLL. CONROE I BELIEVE CAN DO UP TO 90,000 . WHEN THE WATER COMES DOWN. WE ARE JUST GETTING WIPED OUT. AND WE HAVE GOT PROBLEMS, NOT JUST ON THE LAKE BUT PROBLEMS FROM MONTGOMERY COUNTY. THE GROWTH IN MONTGOMERY COUNTY AROUND THE INTERSTATE AND THE GRAND PARKWAY HAS JUST EXPLODED . THEY ARE NOT DOING ANYTHING TO RETAIN THE WATER UP THERE . SOALL THE IMPERVIOUS SURFACES BEING BUILT, THE ROADS, THE ROOFS , ALL THE WATER IS COMING THROUGH INTO LAKE HOUSTON THROUGH KINGWOOD . WE WORKED WITH A REPRESENTATIVE CUNNINGHAM . THIS SESSION, I HAVE BEEN UP TO AUSTIN SEVERAL TIMES. CHARLES CUNNINGHAM WAS ABLE TO GET A GRUDGING BILL PASSED ARE PROBABLY THE MOST WICKED PIECE OF LEGISLATION FOR OUR AREA IN THE LAST 20, 30 YEARS. WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO HAVE CONSTANT DREDGING NOW RATHER THAN HAVING TO DREDGE AFTER A DISASTER . SO I CAN'T IMPLORE YOU ENOUGH THAT WE NEED THIS $20 MILLION IN FUNDING IN ORDER TO BE ABLE TO BUILD THOSE GATES. IT WILL BE A DIFFICULT TASK AS IT IS. THE 20 MILLION-DOLLAR HOLLYWOOD BE TOO BIG.

>> COMMISSIONER , YOU ARE ON MUTE.

>> COUNCILMEMBER, CAN HEAR ME? >> YES.

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>> THANK YOU FOR COMING DOWN AND SPEAKING ON THIS ITEM. WE ARE GOING TO WORK TO MAKE SURE THAT EVERYTHING IS UNDERSTOOD AND CLARIFIED AND WE WILL WORK HARD TO GET ALL THESE PROJECTS DONE. ESPECIALLY THOSE IN PRECINCT TWO THAT IMPACT AREAS LIKE THE KINGWOOD AREA. I THINK WE WILL BE IN GOOD SHAPE. THANK YOU FOR COMING DOWN AND SPEAKING ON THE ITEM .

>> I HAVE MAPS SHOWING EXACTLY WHERE THE WATER FROM LAKE HOUSTON IS BEING UTILIZED. LIKE I SAID, THE VAST MAJORITY OF IT IS OUTSIDE THE CITY. IT IS IN THE COUNTY.

>> THANK YOU COUNSEL FOR COMING DOWN. I KNOW THAT THE LINCHPIN OF FLOODING IN HARRIS COUNTY GOES THROUGH LAKE HOUSTON . IT IS ALSO THE WATER SUPPLY FOR OVER 2 MILLION PEOPLE IN HARRIS COUNTY. SO THE CENTER OF WATER ISSUES IN HARRIS COUNTY IS LAKE HOUSTON, TO PROVIDE SOME LEVEL OF CONTROL OVER THE WATER, WHETHER IT IS WATER SUPPLY OR FLOODING . THESE GATES ARE IMPORTANT. THE OTHER THING IS, THIS IS A 20 MILLION-DOLLAR COMMITMENT THAT THE COUNTY WOULD MAKE . THIS IS $150 MILLION OF OTHER PEOPLE'S MONEY. SO I THINK IT IS GOOD WHEN WE CAN HELP FACILITATE THOSE KINDS OF INITIATIVES. SO IT IS, OF ALL THE FLOODING ISSUES IN HARRIS COUNTY, THE ONE WE OUGHT TO FOCUS ON. BECAUSE WATER MOVES FROM THE WEST TO THE EAST THROUGH THE NORTH REGION AND ENDS UP IN LAKE HOUSTON. AND CERTAINLY, WHETHER IT IS LETTING IN KINGWOOD OR FLOODING AS COMMISSIONER GARCIA REFERRED TO TO OTHER PARTS OF THE COUNTY, I

THINK THAT THIS IS A GREAT -- >> I WILL SPEAK MORE LATER ON THIS PARTICULAR ISSUE ISSUE. BUT THANK YOU COUNCILMEMBER FOR

COMING DOWN AND HIGHLIGHTING . >> TO YOUR POINT, THE BIGGEST THING IS THE INTEGRITY OF THE DAM. HAVING THAT CONTROLLED RELEASE IT ENSURES THAT INTEGRITY. IF WE WERE TO HAVE A CATASTROPHIC FAILURE OF THE DAM , IT WOULD JUST BE AN UNIMAGINABLE IMPACT. NOT JUST ON PEOPLE DOWNSTREAM BUT PEOPLE

WITH WATER AS WELL. >> THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND I LOOK FORWARD TO SPEAKING TO THE COMMISSIONER RAMSEY. I THINK WE ALL UNDERSTAND THE IMPORTANCE OF THIS. THANK YOU, SIR.

>> NEXT IS SPEAKER NUMBER THREE, JOEL LEVINE FROM THE HARRIS COUNTY RESOURCES FOR CHILDREN AND ADULTS SPEAKING VIRTUALLY ON ITEM 197 . YOU HAVE ONE MINUTE.

>> I DON'T SEE DIRECTOR LEVINE HERE. LET'S MOVE ON TO THE NEXT

SPEAKER. >> HE SHOULD BE COMING ON

VIRTUALLY . >> I SEE. LET'S GIVE HIM A

MOMENT THEN. . >> WHILE HE COMES UP, LET'S GO TO THE NEXT ONE. SPEAKER NUMBER FOUR, CHRISTOPHER DICKINSON.

SPEAKING VIRTUALLY ON ITEM 197. YOU HAVE ONE MINUTE.

>> GOOD MORNING, ALL. THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING ME TO THE TIME TO SPEAK WITH YOU TODAY. I'M HERE TO SPEAK ABOUT ITEM 197 BEFORE THE COMMISSIONERS COURT. ITIS IN THE GESTATION FORM. IT WILL BE AN ATTACHMENT TO A GRANT AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES COMMISSION AND THE HARRIS CENTER. HARRIS COUNTY IS NOT A PARTY TO THE GRANT AGREEMENT BUT IT IS CONSIDERED A COLLABORATIVE MEMBER OF THE HARRIS CENTER BECAUSE THE PROPERTY IS TARGETED FOR THE CONSTRUCTION PROJECT IS OWNED BY THE COUNTY. THE FORM ESSENTIALLY ACKNOWLEDGES ITS CONTINUED INTEREST IN THE PROPERTY OR THE FACILITY THAT HAS BEEN CONSTRUCTED ON THE PROPERTY AND AS TRUSTEE WORKING DIRECTLY WITH HS TO WORK WITH THE CONSTRUCTION PROJECT. THE RELATIONSHIP CONTEMPLATED WITHIN THIS FORM DOES NOT LIMIT THE HARRIS COUNTY OWNERSHIP FOR APPROVAL AUTHORITY OR ANY OTHER RIGHTS SPECIFIED IN ITS EXISTING AGREEMENT WITH THE HARRIS CENTER OR ANY OTHER INERRANT -- ANY LOCAL AGREEMENT ENTERED INTO. THE INTENDED USE IS GOING TO BE THE CONSTRUCTION --

>> THANK YOU. YOUR TIME IS UP. >> THANK YOU, SIR .

>> NEXT IS THE NON- AGENDA SPEAKER , GRACE H EE. YOU HAVE

ONE MINUTE. >> MY NAME IS GRACE HEE FROM PRECINCT FOUR. I HAVE BEEN SEXUALLY ASSAULTED AT WEST INAUDIBLE ] HOSPITAL ON 6400 HORN WOULD DRIVE. THEY DID NOTHING. HOW COME THE MICRO -- MICROPHONE IS WORKING?

>> IT IS WORKING. >> THEY DID NOTHING. THEY GET

[00:30:02]

>> WE WILL BE SURE TO VISIT WITH YOU.

>> NON- AGENDA SPEAKER, SAVANNAH KAPLAN. PRECINCT TWO. YOU HAVE

ONE MINUTE . >> JUDGE, BEFORE THE SPEAKER COMES UP, THE COMMISSIONER ASKS , THE ONLY ITEMS -- ALL THE ITEMS THAT CAN BE VOTED ON WITH THE EXCEPTION OF 14 197, 292, 293, 294 . THE 290'S RESOLUTIONS ARE THE FOUR RESOLUTIONS BUT 14, AND 197 ARE ITEMS THAT ARE CURRENTLY LISTED ON THE CONSENT AGENDA BUT HAVE SPEAKERS.

>> GOT IT. IT SEEMS WE ARE MOVING THROUGH THE SPEAKERS EFFICIENTLY. THANK YOU. GO AHEAD.

>> AM ASKING FOR COMMISSIONER ADRIAN GARCIA TO TAKE A FULL INVESTIGATION INTO THE CONTRACTS THEY HIRED THE DAMAGE TO MY VEHICLE. AND I'M GOING OVER AND OVER THE INAUDIBLE ] OF GETTING MY VEHICLE REPAIRED. I WENT THERE ALL THE PROTOCOLS. I'M ASKING YOU, COMMISSIONER GARCIA, TO TAKE A FULL INVESTIGATION OF WHAT IS GOING ON. THANK YOU .

>> YOU MIGHT BE MUTED, COMMISSIONER GARCIA. WE ARE NOT

HEARING YOU. >> THANK YOU. WE WILL FOLLOW-UP

WITH YOU . >> THANK YOU.

>> NEXT IS NON- AGENDA SPEAKER NUMBER FIVE, JIMMY DUNN OF PRECINCT FOUR. YOU HAVE ONE MINUTE.

>> GOOD MORNING. COMMISSIONER HIDALGO. TOM RAMSEY, GARCIA AND MY FRIEND FOR FOUR YEARS, RODNEY ELLIS. GOOD TO SEE YOU, RODNEY.

I'M HERE TODAY TO REPRESENT THE FOREIGN-POLICY ALLIANCE. IT IS AN OFFSHOOT OF THE HOUSTON PEACE AND JUSTICE CENTER. YOU WILL KNOW WE HAVE HORRIBLE WARS GOING ON AROUND THE WORLD. UKRAINE, GAZA AND THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE BEING KILLED EVERY DAY. WE GIVE WE CAN TAKE SOME POSITIVE STEPS TO REDUCE THOSE WARS, THAT WOULD BE ONE OF THE BEST THINGS WE CAN DO. WE ARE PROPOSING THAT WE HAVE PLACED AN ITEM ON THE BALLOT THIS NOVEMBER WHERE PEOPLE CAN VOTE YES OR NO TO THIS QUESTION. SHOULD THE UNITED STATES PRIORITIZE THE USE OF DIPLOMACY TO RESOLVE INTERNATIONAL DIFFERENCES AND INITIATE PEACE TALKS WITH ADVERSARIES INCLUDING RUSSIA, CHINA AND IRAN ? YESOR NO? WE WANT TO PUT THAT ON THE BALLOT FOR NOVEMBER.

>> THANK YOU. YOUR TIME IS UP. >> THANK YOU SO MUCH .

>> WHILE I'M HERE. >> I URGE YOU -- I URGE YOU TO

VISIT -- >> WE WILL HAVE THE STAFF VISIT

WITH YOU. THANK YOU. >> WE WILL TRY JOEL LEVINE AGAIN FOR ITEM 197 VIRTUALLY. YOU HAVE ONE MINUTE.

>> HELLO. JOEL LEVINE. RESOURCES FOR CHILDREN. I'M FOLLOWING UP TO AMANDA JONES FOR THE CHILDREN WITH OUTPLACEMENT FACILITY AND PRECINCT FOUR . LASTNIGHT, IN HARRIS COUNTY, WE HAD 12 YOUTH WITH OUTPLACEMENT . AND THE CASEWORKERS HAVING TO SUPERVISE PHONE -- LIKES TREATMENT CENTERS. WE NEED TO SPECIALIZED SERVICES TO BE ABLE TO PROVIDE THE OVERSIGHT STAFFING OF THIS FACILITY RESOURCES FOR CHILDREN AND ADULTS WILL PARTNER AS WE DO WITH THE YOUTH DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM WITH RESOURCES WITH THE SERVICES WHO ARE STEPPED DOWN TO THE YOUTH CENTER AS WELL AS FOOD SERVICES FROM THE SHELTER KITCHEN. THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH, DIRECTOR . IT SOUNDS LIKE YOU ARE RAISING AN ISSUE THAT YOU NEED TO CONTINUE TO HAVE FUNDING FOR ?

ARE WE HEARING THAT CORRECTLY? >> YES. IT IS WITHOUT PLACEMENT. WORKING ON WITH THE FAMILY PROTECTIVE SERVICES FOR WELL OVER THREE YEARS NOW. WE HAVE 12 RIGHT NOW. IT GOES TO

[00:35:01]

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH . >> THANK YOU.

>> NEXT IS NON- AGENDA SPEAKER NUMBER EIGHT. JAMESTYSON DIK .

YOU HAVE ONE MINUTE. >> I DON'T THINK HE IS HERE .

>> HE IS MAKING HIS WAY. . >> THANK YOU, JUDGE. MY NAME IS DIC K TYSON. I'M HERE TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMPASSION AND I APOLOGIZE FOR MISJUDGING IT . AND I HAVE LISTENED AND I HEARD YOU LAST WEEK AND IN THE LAST FEW WEEKS. YOUR CONCERN FOR OTHERS COMES THROUGH LOUD AND CLEAR. AND I WANT TO THANK YOU AND APOLOGIZE FOR POSSIBLY NOT BEING AS RESPECTFUL AS I SHOULD HAVE BEEN . YOU HAVE MY SUPPORT BECAUSE PEOPLE ARE VERY IMPORTANT . I LIVE IN BRAZORIA COUNTY. RIGHT NOW,THEY ARE TRYING TO WE WALKED -- REROUTE THE WATER FROM THIS COUNTY INTO A DEEP HOLE FOR ELECTRICITY . AND WE NOW CANNOT LIVE ON BATTERY WATER, OR ACID WATER . AND I REALLY THINK THE COMMISSIONERS FOR ADJUSTING THE NEIGHBORHOOD.

>> THANK YOU. YOUR TIME IS UP. >> THE FLOOD -- IF I CAN FINISH ONE MOMENT. THE FLOOD WE JUST HAD.

>> THANK YOU. YOUR TIME IS UP. >> I HAVE SEEN IT BEFORE, TWICE

. >> WE ARE LOOKING INTO THAT PIER

WE WILL VISIT WITH YOU . >> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR COMING

. >> NEXT IS NON- AGENDA SPEAKER NUMBER NINE OF PRECINCT FOUR. YOU HAVE ONE MINUTE.

>> ITALIA M -- TELL YOU -- TALIA .

>> GOOD MORNING EVERYONE. I AM THE FOUNDER OF THE HEALING VILLAGE HERE IN HOUSTON. I COME TO YOU TODAY WITH A HEAVY HEART AND A SENSE OF URGENCY. OUR CLINIC HAS BECOME A LIFELINE FOR HARRIS COUNTY VETERANS, FAMILIES AND THOSE IN NEED AND IS ON THE VERGE OF BEING LOCKED OUT OF OUR FACILITY. THIS FACT THAT NEARLY ALL THOSE WE SERVE ARE VETERANS, WE ARE FACING A SURMOUNTABLE FINANCIAL AREA THREATENING TO CLOSE STORES WITHIN DAYS . IF WE LOSE THIS SPACE, HUNDREDS OF VETERANS, FAMILIES AND COMMUNITIES IN NEED WHO ARE STRUGGLING WITH PAIN MANAGEMENT, MENTAL HEALTH CHALLENGES, HAVE NOWHERE ELSE TO TURN WE WOULD BE LEFT WITHOUT -- IT WILL BE LEFT WITHOUT THE CARE AND SUPPORT THAT IS DESPERATELY NEEDED. I'M PLEADING WITH YOUR IMMEDIATE INTERVENTION , WHETHER THROUGH EMERGENCY FUNDING, ACCESS TO ACCOUNTING FACILITY OR PARTNERSHIP TO HELP US PREVENT THIS CRISIS . THE NEED IS URGENT . PLEASEALLOW US --

>> WE HAVE SOMEONE TO MEET WITH YOU .

>> WE WILL HAVE SOMEONE FROM THE COMMISSION STAFF MEET WITH YOU.

>> THANK YOU. >> AGENDA SPEAKER NUMBER 10, LEE PEARY OF PRECINCT TWO. YOU HAVE ONE MINUTE.

>> LEE PEARY. >> I DON'T THINK THAT LEE PEARY

IS HERE . >> JUST A MOMENT. MAYBE . HE IS

MAKING HIS WAY. . >> MY NAME IS LEE PEARY. IF A PERSON WAS STANDING IN FRONT OF THIS COURTROOM ROBBING EVERYBODY COMING IN HERE, YOU WOULD NOT HAVE TO ASK THE POLICE OFFICERS WHAT TO DO. THEY KNOW THAT THERE IS A CRIME BEING COMMITTED AND

[00:40:02]

$21,000, FOR MY PROPERTY. IF YOU GOOGLE ANY LAW BOOK OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, NOT JUST TEARS COUNTY , IT IS A CRIME TO PURCHASE REAL PROPERTY USING A COUNTERFEIT CHECK. THE CHECK THEY GAVE ME WAS WORTH ZERO. AT FIRST, THEY TELL YOU TO GO TO THE POLICE DEPARTMENT. I GO TO THE POLICE DEPARTMENT AND THEY ASKED ME, WHAT DO YOU WANT ME TO DO QUICK WHAT DO YOU SUPPOSE? IT IS A CRIME . IF EVERY LAW BOOK IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA SAYS IT IS A CRIME, INVESTIGATED.

>> THANK YOU. YOUR TIME IS UP. >> WE WILL VISIT WITH YOU RIGHT

NOW. THANK YOU. >> THAT WAS LAST YEAR, SEPTEMBER

. >> THANK YOU.

>> NON- AGENDA SPEAKER NUMBER 11, MELISSA CARDENAS. YOU HAVE

ONE MINUTE. >> ON SUNDAY, GENERALLY SIX, MY COUSIN ALEXIS WAS ARRESTED AND SENTENCED. HE APPROACHED A POLICE OFFICER FEARING FOR HIS LIFE. THE POLICE OFFICER OPERATIVE TAKE HIM HOME AND HE WAS ARRESTED AND BOOKED UNDER A MINOR TRAFFIC INCIDENT THAT HE COMMITTED FIVE YEARS AGO. OUR FAMILY IS LOVED IN THE DARK. WE FOUND OUT THROUGH SOCIAL MEDIA THAT HE WAS DAYS FROM BEING RELEASED. BUT YET HIS DEATH IS NOT BEING COUNTED AS AN IN CUSTODY DEATH. WHY IS IT THAT BUSINESSES ARE BEING HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR ANY ACCIDENTS THAT HAPPEN BUT YET HARRIS COUNTY IS IMMUNE? NO ONE HAS GIVEN US THESE ANSWERS. HE IS A FATHER. HE IS THE BROTHER. HE HAS FOUR CHILDREN THAT HE IS LEAVING BEHIND AND WE HAVE NO ANSWERS. NOTHING ABOUT WHAT HAPPENED MAKES ANY SENSE. HE WAS 32 YEARS OLD. HE IS A HEALTHY MAN. HIS SON 'S BIRTHDAY IS SATURDAY. WE DON'T KNOW WHAT TO TELL HIM THAT HIS DAD WON'T

BE THERE. >> THANK YOU. YOUR TIME IS UP.

>> THANK YOU MA'AM. >> WE WILL FOLLOW-UP WITH YOU ON

THAT. >> WE'RE SO SORRY . WE WILL VISIT WITH YOU AND WE ARE LOOKING INTO ALL OF THIS .

>> BACK TO AGENDA SPEAKER FOR ITEM 11, A MAF SHERIDAN AND TURNCOAT --

>> GOOD MOORING. AND WITH THE WIND FOR GENERAL PROJECT. I'M HERE TO SPEAK ON THE OUTSOURCING CONTRACT. DESPITE A DECLINE IN THE JAIL POPULATION, WE HAVE NOT SEEN THAT REFLECTED IN THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE BEING SENT OUT TO MISSISSIPPI AND LOUISIANA .

YOU CAN REVIEW THE CONTRACT AND SEE THAT SINCE THE OUT-OF-STATE BEDS ARE PAID FOR, HCO HAS NO INCENTIVE TO STOP SHIPPING PEOPLE OUT-OF-STATE SINCE THOSE BEDS ARE PAID FOR. THE ONLY WAY WE CAN TRULY STOP THIS IS IF WE TWEAK OR CANCEL THOSE CONTRACTS.

THE COURT ALSO TALKED ABOUT THE RISE IN MISDEMEANOR ARRESTS. ONE OF THE MISDEMEANOR ARREST LED TO A SENSELESS DEATH TUESDAY MORNING OF 32-YEAR-OLD ALEX CARDENAS. THERE WAS NO NEED FOR HIM TO BE BOOKED FOR THE TRAFFIC VIOLATION . WE URGED THE COURT TO LOOK INTO WHY THE JAIL IS BOOKING PEOPLE ON CLASS C MISDEMEANORS WHEN IT IS NONCOMPLIANT AS OF JUNE 30TH.

THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU, MA'AM .

>> I'M JACOB COMMENT ON HOW COMMISSIONER RAMSEY HAS DONE A GOOD JOB RECOMMENDING AND COMMISSIONER GARCIA IS DOING A GOOD JOB ABOUT RECOGNIZING NATIONAL PARK MONTH AND CONGRATULATIONS TO YOU ALL. ALL I CAN SAY NOW IS, I HAVE FIVE SECONDS LEFT. --

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH. >> .

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH. >> JUDGE, THOSE ARE ALL THE

SPEAKERS . >> ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU SO MUCH.

[00:45:02]

[Departments (Part 2 of 3)]

>> COMMISSIONER, IF YOU DON'T MIND, I WANT TO.

>> WE ALREADY WENT OVER THE CHANGES. HERE THE EXECUTIVE SESSION ITEMS FOLKS WANTED TO DISCUSS . THE FIRST ONE IS 238, EAST ALDI MANAGEMENT DISTRICT. DO WE NEED TO DISCUSS THAT ONE?

>> NO . >> NEXT, 239 HARRIS COUNTY

FINANCE CORPORATION. >> NO.

>> ALL RIGHT. NEXT, 240 INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT BOARD

CORPORATION . >> NO.

>> OKAY. AND THEN -- THEN WE HAVE 241 WHICH IS EAST AL DEAN MANAGEMENT DISTRICT. NEXT IS 242. WEALREADY WENT OVER . THAT WAS FOR EXECUTIVE SESSION . SAME WITH 243 AS WELL AS 244. 244 IS NO ACTION FOR THE COUNTY CLERK AND 246 KAMALA HARRIS COUNTY

ESSENTIAL WORKERS BOARD . >> NO.

>> 247, WE HAVE WORKED ON ALREADY AND THEN THERE IS 248 .

>> NO . >> NEXT, LET'S LOOK AT --

>> JUDGE . >> YES.

>> ITEMS 230, 241, 246, 248 APPOINTMENTS APPROVED AS

PRESENTED? >> CORRECT.

>> HERE IS A REGULAR DISCUSSION WAS. TO FOLKS NEED TO DISCUSS ITEM 69 ON THE LEGISLATIVE AGENDA?

>> YES. WHAT ABOUT 101, URBAN LAND INSTITUTE ?

>> 116 . PRIORITY CONSULTING. 133, MOONSHOT INDUSTRIES .

>> YES. >> 137 , HORN LLP, SOLAR FOR

ALL? >> YES.

>> ONE FOR CREATE, PAY SCALE? >> YES .

>> 168, I'M REQUESTING NO ACTION ON 168 . WE WILL BRING IT BACK NEXT TIME. 187 . PRECINCT THREE.

>> YES. >> 212 .

>> YES. >> 214 IS A TRANSMITTAL OF THE FY26 HER LEVEL OF SERVICE OPERATIONS. I WOULD LIKE TO DISCUSS THAT VERY BRIEFLY IF THAT'S OKAY. AND THEN WE HAVE .

>> I WOULD LIKE TO DISCUSS 245 . >> OKAY . LET ME SEE. 245. THAT

WOULD BE -- >> HE ALREADY HELD THAT.

>> SHORT DISCUSSION. >> 245 . WE HAVE 250. BERKELEY RESEARCH GROUP FOR CDG BE BOND. 275 REIMBURSEMENT MODEL FOR

EMERGENCY SERVICES. >> YES.

>> 276, REIMBURSEMENT . 277 IS OUT OF ORDER AND THEN WE HAVE SOME OUT OF ORDER RESOLUTIONS . WOULDLIKE TO VOTE ON 290 IF THAT'S OKAY OR PUT IN THE CONSENT AGENDA. ANOTHER COUNSEL GENERAL BE HERE LATER. THEN THERE IS 292 , SUPPORT FOR NASA AND 293, BAHAMIAN INDEPENDENCE DAY.

>> JUDGE ? >> YES.

>> THE RESOLUTION, IF THERE IS A SPEAKER ASSOCIATED WITH THAT

[00:50:02]

>> THEY ARE NOT GOING TO BE HERE.

>> I DON'T KNOW THAT THEY WILL BE HERE ARE NOT. YOUR RIGHT. BUT WHEN THEY COME, IF THEY COME OUT TO THE BACK.

>> IT USED TO BE, DO YOU WANT THE ITEM OR DO YOU WANT TO

SPEAK? >> I THINK WE CAN VOTE FOR IT BECAUSE WE WON'T KNOW LATER. LET'S PUT THOSE THREE ON THE CONSENT AGENDA AND IF THEY COME LATER, THEN THEY JUST WON'T BE

ABLE TO SPEAK. >> UNDERSTOOD.

>> THANK YOU FOR THE CLARIFICATION .

>> LET ME GO BACK OVER THE ITEMS . NO MORE EXECUTIVE SESSION ITEMS REMAINING TO DISCUSS . HERE ARE THE OTHER REGULAR AGENDA ITEMS . 69 , 101 , 116 , 133 , 137 , 148 , 187 , 212.

214. 245 , 250 , 275 , 276 , AND 277 . ARE WE MISSING ANYTHING?

>> I BELIEVE ITEM 271 WILL BE NO ACTION.

>> ITEM 271 IS NO ACTION. >> 271 IS NO ACTION. THANK YOU

[Appearances before court (Part 2 of 2)]

FOR THAT. ANYTHING ELSE ? >> THERE IS A SPEAKER FOR ITEM 293 . HE IS HERE. MR. LONDON ROSE. IF HE HAS AN OPPORTUNITY

TO SPEAK. >> GO AHEAD, SIR .

>> HE IS MAKING A GRAND ENTRANCE . START CLAPPING?

>> I KIND OF WANT TO BUT I DON'T WANT TO EMBARRASS HIM.

YOU DO LOOK VERY ELEGANT COMING IN WITH A GRAND ENTRANCE .

>> GOOD MORNING . >> I'M SPEAKING .

>> COMMISSIONER, JUDGE , COLLEAGUES, FRIENDS, EVERYONE ELSE. THIS IS A GREAT DAY IN THE BAHAMAS . TODAY, THE BAHAMAS CELEBRATES ITS 52ND ANNIVERSARY OF INDEPENDENCE AND I'M HONORED TO BE HERE TO BE RECOGNIZED. COMMISSIONER RAMSEY ALWAYS SAID , HE HAS BEEN MARRIED LONGER THAN THE BAHAMAS HAS BEEN A NATION. I REALLY APPRECIATE THE. I REALLY APPRECIATE THE RECOGNITION TO OUR GREAT NATION . THE BAHAMAS NATIONAL ANTHEM STARTS WITH THIS. LIFT UPYOUR HEAD TO THE RISING SUN BEHIND THE LAND. MARCHON TO GLORY. AND THE ROAD LEADS TO YOUR GOD. I SAY THIS WITH PRIDE THAT WE ARE NATION UNDER GOD. THANK YOU.

>> SIR, CAN YOU PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME FOR THE RECORD?

>> LINDEN ROSE. >> THANK YOU FOR COMING DOWN. WE APPRECIATE IT AND WE CERTAINLY VALUE THE PARTNERSHIP WE HAVE WITH THE BAHAMAS BOTH IN COMMUNITY AND GOVERNMENT AS

WELL. THANK YOU FOR WHAT YOU DO. >> THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER

ELLIS. >> HE IS WAITING FOR US TO CLAP AS HE CAME IN. I WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT I KNOW INDEPENDENCE DAY IS FOLLOWING UP WITH ONWARD TOGETHER. I WANT YOU TO GET HERE. AT 12:45, WE WILL BE MISSING ME. I'M NOT GOING TO BE HERE. BUT I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO GOING BACK TO THE BAHAMAS .

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH. >> MISNER -- MR. GARCIA.

>> COMMISSIONER GARCIA . >> GOOD TO SEE YOU , AMBASSADOR.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE . >> THANK YOU .

>> IT WOULDN'T BE RIGHT FOR YOU STANDING THERE AND WE DON'T SAY SOMETHING ABOUT

>> I WILL LET THE AGGIES IN THE ROOM DO THAT. HAVING BEEN ON THAT TEAM, THE RECENT ESPN 3030 WAS A GREAT CELEBRATION OF THAT TEAM . THANK YOU FOR WHAT YOU DO. NOT ONLY FOR THE BAHAMAS BUT

FOR THE UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON. >> WE WERE THINKING ABOUT THE RECENT CLOSE CALL. YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN. HEARTBREAKING. WE WILL

DO IT AGAIN SOMETIME . >> THANK YOU. I'M HONORED.

>> I HAVE ENOUGH PICTURES WITH YOU .

[Departments (Part 3 of 3)]

[00:55:05]

>> THANK YOU. I APPRECIATE IT . >> ALL RIGHT. SO DO WE HAVE A MOTION FOR ALL ITEMS ONE THROUGH 294 WITH THE EXCEPTION OF ITEMS ALREADY VOTED ON IN THOSE JUST LISTED BY COMMISSIONER ELLIS AND SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER GARCIA. ALL IN FAVOR? AND HE OPPOSED? UNANIMOUS. LET'S GO TO THE TOP OF THE AGENDA. DISCUSSION ITEMS. FIRST 169. LEGISLATE OF AGENDA. COMMISSIONER ELLIS .

>> I JUST WANTED US TO AUTHORIZE HAVING THE OFFICE OF ENTER GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS TO A LETTER ASKING ABOUT MEDICAID EXPANSION FOR THE SPECIAL SESSION . WE ARE LOSING A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF MONEY. IT WAS ALWAYS A BIPARTISAN EFFORT. COMMISSIONER RAMSEY IN THE PAST, ONLY HAD ONE OF MONEY. AND KNOWING HOW MANY PEOPLE WILL BE KICKED OFF OF THE INSURANCE. HOW MANY RURAL HOSPITALS WILL END OF BEING IN TROUBLE. EVEN URBAN HOSPITALS. IT IS IMPORTANT FOR THIS ITEM.

SO I MOVE THAT WE AUTHORIZE TAMMY TO DO A LETTER FROM THE

COMMISSIONER'S COURT . >> SECOND.

>> THANK YOU. >> MOTION BY COMMISSIONER ELLIS.

SECOND BY COMMISSIONER GARCIA. >> WOULD WE BE ABLE TO REPEAT

THE MOTION? >> TO DRAFT A LETTER TO THE GOVERNOR ASKING THAT MEDICAID EXPANSION FOR TEXAS BE ADDED TO THE CALL FOR THE SPECIAL SESSION .

>> THERE IS A MOTION AND A SECOND. ANY ADDITIONAL

DISCUSSION? >> ALL IN FAVOR?

>> AYE . >> AND HE OPPOSED?

>> I HAVE TO VOTE NO. I DON'T VOTE ON LETTERS I HAVE NOT READ.

>> YOU WANT TO BRING IT BACK ? >> YOU CAN BRING THE LETTER BACK

AND LET ME LOOK AT IT. >> IT WILL BE A WHILE BEFORE WE MEET. IF YOU DECIDE YOU SUPPORTED , SIGN .

>> DOES THAT MAKE SENSE? >> I WOULD JUST LIKE TO READ THE

LETTER. >> MOTION CARRIES 3-1 . LET'S MOVE ON TO 101. TRAVEL AND TREATY REQUEST. COMMISSIONER

RAMSEY. >> I MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE ALL ITEMS EXCEPT ITEM NUMBER TWO. ITEM NUMBER TWO DEALS WITH TRAVEL TO THE URBAN LAND INSTITUTE MEETING IN SAN FRANCISCO. I THOUGHT THE COST ASSOCIATED WITH THAT WAS

EXTRAORDINARY . >> I SECOND.

>> MOTION BY COMMISSIONER RAMSEY. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER

ELLIS. ALL IN FAVOR. >> AYE.

>> AND HE OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES .

>> SECOND BY COMMISSIONER GARCIA. ALL IN FAVOR?

>> AYE. >> ANY OPPOSED?

>> MOTION CARRIES 3-1. COMMISSIONER, I REMEMBER NOW THAT YOU ASKED TO TAKE THE FLOOD CONTROL ITEM OUT OF ORDER. WOULD

YOU STILL LIKE TO DO THAT? >> YES.

>> LET'S TAKE 277 OUT OF ORDER .

>> LET ME QUICKLY RECAP . I DISTRIBUTED A SUMMARY , A POWERPOINT, IF YOU WILL, RELATED TO THE FLOOD CONTROL BONDS . WE MADE A DECISION IN THE LAST MEETING TO FUND ALL OF THE QUARTILE ONE PROJECT. IN THE MOTION, IT ALSO INCLUDED CURRENT QUARTILE ONE PROJECT THAT FUTURE QUARTILE ONE PROJECTS. AND I THOUGHT THAT WAS POSSIBLY CONFUSING SO I WANT TO POINT OUT A FEW DETAILS . ONLY TO KNOW THAT MY STAFF HAS BEEN SEVERAL WEEKS IF NOT MONTHS SORTING THROUGH DATA COMING OUT OF FLOOD CONTROL . I KNOW AT THE LAST COMMISSIONERS COURT MEETING, THERE WERE LIKE FIVE SCENARIOS DEVELOPED. WE DIDN'T SPEND ONE MINUTE TALKING ABOUT ANY OF THE FIVE AND WE WENT IMMEDIATELY TO A VOTE. SO I THINK IT IS IMPORTANT THAT WE GET DATA OUT THERE. I WILL SAY FROM THE OUTSET, I APPRECIATE THE HOUSTON CHRONICLE. I KNOW THAT IS SURPRISING COMING FROM ME BUT THEY HAVE BEEN VERY DILIGENT IN TERMS OF WANTING TO KNOW THE DATA . THE MOST DIFFICULT THING I HAVE DONE IN MY ENGINEERING CAREER , WHICH SPANS 45 YEARS, IS TO TRY TO MAKE SENSE OUT OF

[01:00:05]

I'M GOING TO WALK THROUGH QUICKLY THE DETAILS ASSOCIATED WITH THE BOND. THIS IS MY UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT THE DATA -- I DID GET THE DATA FROM FLOOD CONTROL . I DID NOT WORK FOR THEM IN ANY WAY TRY TO TAKE THE DATA AND MAKE SOME SENSE OUT OF IT. I'M GOING TO KEEP THIS SIMPLE AND QUICK. WE VOTED IN 2018 FOR $2.5 BILLION BOND ISSUE ISSUE. WE GOT BUSY AND WENT OUT AND FOUND -- AND THAT IS ANOTHER HOUR-LONG CONVERSATION. 2.7 BILLION AND OTHER PEOPLE'S MONEY. THAT IS A TOTAL OF 5.2 BILLION DOLLAR PROGRAM THAT IS IN PLAY. WHAT IS THE STATUS OF

THE PROGRAM? >> COMMISSIONER, BRIEFLY. YOUR POWERPOINT IS NOT MOVING. IS SOMEBODY IN CHARGE OF THAT?

>> YOU CAN GO TO NUMBER TWO . THAT WAS THE FIRST ONE. THANK

YOU . >> THAT IS THE FIRST SLIDE. THE NEXT SLIDE -- WHAT IS STATUS OF THAT ? LET ME SAY THAT , IN TERMS OF CURRENT BOND FUNDING -- AND I LISTED THERE. YOU CAN SEE 424, AND CHANGE. PRECINCT ONE. 296 AND PRECINCT THREE. 296 MILLION, AND THREE. 263 MILLION IN FOUR. 319 COUNTYWIDE FOR A TOTAL OF 1.57 MILLION. THAT IS IMPORTANT. PEOPLE WANT TO KNOW, WHAT IS IN THE GROUND. THAT IS WHAT IS IN THE GROUND. 1.5 MILLION. WHAT DID WE VOTE ON ANYWAY ? I TOOK THE TIME TO GO THROUGH AND SUMMARIZE THAT ON THE NEXT SLIDE PLEASE.

>> IF YOU LOOK THERE, YOU CAN SEE , WHAT DID THE VOTERS VOTE ON ON THE 2.5 LAND DOLLAR BOND ISSUE? THEY VOTED ON $526 MILLION OF PROJECTS AND PRECINCT ONE. 481 MILLION AND PRECINCT TWO. 634 MILLION AND PRECINCT THREE . 425 MILLION AND PRECINCT FOUR AND 432 MILLION AND PRECINCT -- AND COUNTYWIDE. YOU SAY, THOSE ARE NOT EXACTLY EQUAL EITHER. THIS ISAFTER REDISTRICTING . IN TERMS OF THE PROJECTS WITH THE PRECINCT OR STAYING IN A CERTAIN AREA , THAT IS WHAT THOSE NUMBERS ARE. I THINK IS IMPORTANT TO KNOW WHERE WE STARTED IN TERMS OF PROJECTS.

CURRENTLY, LOCAL FUNDS ENCUMBER HOW MUCH OF THE BOND WE HAVE SPENT WE SPENT 273 MILLION AND PRECINCT ONE. 155 MILLION AND CHANGE AND PRECINCT TWO. 270 MILLION AND PRECINCT THREE. 209 MILLION AND PRECINCT FOUR AND 112 MILLION IN COUNTYWIDE.

THATIS A TOTAL OF A LITTLE OVER $1 BILLION . THE TAKE AWAY TODAY IS WE HAVE COMMITTED OVER A BILLION DOLLARS OF THE 2.5 BILLION DOLLARS OWNED SPECIFICALLY ON SPECIFIC PROJECTS. WHAT DID QUARTILE ONE COST? QUARTILE ONE COST, AND I DO APPRECIATE . I HAD CONVERSATIONS WITH OTHERS YESTERDAY. AND I THINK WE GOT AN UNDERSTANDING OF THE QUARTILE ONE COST. IT IS $400 MILLION IN PROJECTS. THE REMAINING BOND FUNDS, REMAINING BOND FUNDS AFTER YOU DO QUARTILE ONE, THAT IS WHAT WE VOTED ON TWO WEEKS AGO . WE HAD A LOT OF CONVERSATION ON HOW WE GOT QUARTILE ONE . TWO, THREE A FOUR. BASED ON A FORMULA. I WILL NOT REPEAT THAT. I'M JUST GIVING YOU THE RESULTS AND THE NUMBERS ASSOCIATED WITH WHAT WE VOTED ON. WHEN WE LOOK AT HOW MUCH MONEY IS LEFT OUT OF THE BOND, 1.1 BILLION WOULD BE THAT NUMBER AFTER FORETELL ONE FUNDING . MY KEY POINT TODAY IS THAT WE HAVE PARTNERSHIPS AND

[01:05:05]

C DBG PROJECTS. I THINK IS IMPORTANT TO SEND THAT MESSAGE.

I THINK YOU HAVE THE MONEY. YOU CAN SEE THE MATH AND EVEN IF WE DID THE $20 MILLION REALLY HOUSTON THAT WAS MENTIONED BY COUNCILMEMBER FLICKINGER, THAT IS 20 MILLION. THERE IS ANOTHER 20 MILLION WITH THE CITY OF HOUSTON TO DO A DETENTION BASIN AND IN THE MEMORIAL CITY AREA NEAR THE FROST WHAT WERE THEY FLOODED WITH TAX DAY, MEMORIAL DAY AND EVERY MAJOR FLOOD. THAT IS 40 MILLION OF IMPORTANT PARTNERSHIPS THAT WE NEED TO CONSIDER. PLEASE GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE.

>> GO TO THE FINAL SPENDING SUMMARY. GO ONE MORE.

>> COMMISSIONER, THAT IS THE LAST SLIDE.

>> OKAY. THERE IS ONE MORE ON THE DECK. I DISTRIBUTE IT THAT NUMBER. THE FLOOD CONTROL RECOMMENDED CONTINGENCY IS $160 MILLION . AFTER WEDO THOSE , FUND CDBG. FUND $40 MILLION WORTH OF PARTNERSHIPS FOR THE CITY OF HOUSTON, WHICH IS WELL OVER 200 MILLION IN FUNDS OF OTHER PEOPLE'S MONEY. WE ARE DOING 40 MILLION. THEY ARE KICKING IN 200 MILLION. KEEPING A CONTINGENCY OF 160 MILLION , YOU STILL HAVE $706 MILLION TO DO PROJECTS AND IN THE REMAINING QUARTILE . IS THAT ENOUGH? CERTAINLY NOT. WHAT IS THE ESTIMATE? THE NON- QUARTILE REMAINING PROJECTS COST IS ROUGHLY 1.7. THE BEST I CAN DO IN TERMS OF THE MATH AND ALL THE NUMBERS COMING OUT BASED ON WHAT PEOPLE VOTED ON IN 2018 AND WHERE WE ARE TODAY, WE ARE $1 BILLION SHORT OF DOING PROJECTS . AND I WILL PLEAD AGAIN THAT THOSE PROJECTS THAT WE DECIDE NOT TO DO, THERE SHOULD BE MORE FAIRNESS IN TERMS OF HOW THOSE ARE DISTRIBUTING. SO THE MOTION I WILL MAKE AND THEN I WILL TURN IT OVER TO EVERYONE ELSE FOR DISCUSSION I HAVE THREE MOTIONS. LET ME READ THOSE MOTIONS.

ASYOU WILL COMMENT ON THESE NUMBERS , THE THREE MOTIONS THAT I HAVE ARE MOTION ONE , TO FUND ALL CURRENT NEEDS OF QUARTILE ONE. THAT CLEARS A A BIT ABOUT THE MOTION THAT WAS APPROVED AT THE LAST MEETING . QUARTILE ONE CURRENT AND FUTURE . IF YOU FUND FUTURE QUARTILE ONE PROJECTS . IF YOU SET ASIDE MONEY FOR FUTURE QUARTILE ONE, THEN YOU ARE ESSENTIALLY PUTTING AT RISK POSSIBLY THE CDBG OR OTHER QUARTILE TWO, THREE OR FOUR. YOU WON'T GET TO TWO, THREE OR FOUR. THAT IS ONE MOTION. TO FUND ALL CURRENT NEEDS OF QUARTILE ONE. MOTION TWO WOULD BE MOTION TO FUND ALL CURRENT NEEDS OF PROJECTS WITH CDBG COMMITMENTS. THIS IS PRIMARILY THE GLO . THATNUMBER THAT I SHOWED YOU , $194 MILLION OF BOND MONEY NEEDED TO MATCH THE CDBG LIVING UP TO THE COMMITMENTS WE MADE TO THE G LO RELATED TO THOSE CDBG PROJECTS. THE THIRD IS TO FUND THE GATES

[01:10:05]

THAT IS A BIT OF -- THERE ARE TWO PURPOSES FOR THESE NUMBERS.

LET'S START TALKING ABOUT WHAT THE NUMBERS ARE RATHER THAN GENERICALLY, VERY CONFUSINGLY GO THROUGH A BUNCH OF CHARTS THAT YOU HAVE TO READ EIGHT DIFFERENT PAGES TO GET TO A NUMBER . I PRETTY WELL HAVE SUMMARIZED I THINK WHAT WE ARE SPENDING AND WHERE IT IS GOING . AND WE CAN MAKE DECISIONS ON A PROJECT AND ON A PROJECT BASIS. I THINK THE TURN 95 PROJECTS ARE SO IMPORTANT THAT WE GET FUNDED AND THAT IS WHY I MADE THE MOTION AND THAT IS WHY I PUT IT ON THE TABLE.

>> COMMISSIONER ELLIS AND COMMISSIONER GARCIA.

>> I KNOW WE HAD AN EXTENSIVE CONVERSATION ABOUT THIS AT THE LAST COMMISSIONER COURT MEETING WE PUT IN PLACE A TIMETABLE SO THAT , AT THE SEPTEMBER MEETING, THEY WOULD COME BACK TO US WITH THE PLAN ON FIGURING OUT WHAT WE WOULD DO NEXT. IT WAS MY UNDERSTANDING , WHEN I SUPPORTED THE COMMISSIONER GARCIA'S MISSION AT THE LAST COURT THAT ALL EXISTING WIND HOOD AND OTHER SECURED PARTNERSHIPS AND GRANTS TIED TO THE HARRIS COUNTY FLOOD BOND PROJECT WOULD BE MADE. I AM PREPARED TO MAKE THAT MOTION.

THE LANGUAGE YOU LAID OUT WOULD CUT GREENS. THE FIRST MOTION YOU HAD. AND I DON'T WANT TO COME IN AT THE LAST MOMENT BECAUSE YOU CAME UP WITH THE PRESENTATION WITH NUMBERS AND IT. I APPRECIATE YOU DOING IT BUT THEY ARE YOUR NUMBERS. I WOULD PREFER WE GET THAT FROM THE DEPARTMENT. WHAT I DON'T WANT TO DO IS PUT US IN A POSITION WHERE WE ARE CONFUSING THE DEPARTMENT . THAT IS WHAT WE DISCOVERED HAPPENED AT THE LAST COURT. WERE A MOTION WAS MADE AND ANOTHER ONE WAS MADE AND THEN -- WE PUPPET ON THE AGENDA -- I KNOW IT'S NOT YOUR INTENT.

BUT WHEN YOU POP IT IN AT THE LAST MINUTE, THAT IS WHAT YOU END OF DOING. TO SIMPLIFY IT, I WOULD PREFER TO JUST MAKE A SUBSTITUTE MOTION OR COMPETING MOTION. AND I WOULD SEND IT AROUND. MOVE TO FUND ALL EXISTING CDBG AND OTHER SECURED PARTNERSHIPS AND GRANTS TO ADD TO THE HARRIS COUNTY 2018 FUND .

>> I WOULD ACCEPT THAT. >> SECOND.

>> WE HAVE A MOTION BY COMMISSIONER ELLIS. SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER GARCIA. COMMISSIONER GARCIA, DID YOU WANT TO MAKE ADDITIONAL COMMENTS?

>> I WANT TO CONFIRM EXACTLY WHAT COMMISSIONER ELLIS TALKED ABOUT THAT THAT WAS MY INTENTION ON THE LAST MOTION I MADE IN THE JUNE COURT . AND TO SAY CLEARLY, WHEN COMMISSIONER BUCKINGHAM AND I MET AND WE WORKED TO GET THE CDBG MONEY TO HARRIS COUNTY, IT WAS A COMMITMENTS THAT WE WOULD WORK WITH THE TIMELINE THAT SHE WAS CONSTRAINED BY AND THAT IS WHY DR. PETERSON WAS CHARGED WITH FINDING PROJECTS THAT COULD BE COMPLETED BY 2027, 2028 BECAUSE OTHERWISE, WE WOULD HAVE TO RETURN THE MONEY BACK TO HUD WHICH NEITHER DOCTOR BUCKINGHAM WANTED TO DO NOR US. IT WAS A UNANIMOUS VOTE AND NOTHING IN MY MOTION WAS INTENDED TO IMPACT CDBG MONEY SPECIFICALLY OR ANY OTHER PARTNERSHIP MONEY THAT EITHER MEMBERS OF CONGRESS OR MEMBERS OF THE STATE LEGISLATURE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO SECURE OR HERE

IS COUNTY. >> I THINK I MADE A MOTION. AND

HE SECONDED . >> I HAVE A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS.

JUST ON THE CURRENT VERSUS FUTURE NEED PEACE. AND OF DR.

PETERSON IS ON THE LINE . >> I THOUGHT I SAW HIM IN HERE

LITTLE WHILE AGO . >> DR. PETERSON IS HERE. HELLO.

WANT TO MAKE SURE WE UNDERSTAND THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THOSE AND

WHERE THIS MOTION LANDS US. >> GOOD MORNING COMMISSIONER S

[01:15:01]

AND COULD BE THINGS WE HAD IDENTIFIED AS A POSSIBILITY THAT WE COULD SEEK ADDITIONAL FUNDING FROM A FUNDING AGENCY THAT WOULD HELP US PAY FOR THE PROJECT. THESE ARE THINGS THAT WERE NOT NECESSARILY ENVISIONED AS PART OF THE CURRENT SCOPE OF THE BOND BUT THEY ARE THE NEXT PHASE OF WORK THAT NEEDS TO BE DONE .

WILLIE SNEAD THE 2018 FLOOD CONTROL BOND PROGRAM WOULD NOT BE ENOUGH . SO THERE ARE ALWAYS GOING TO BE ADDITIONAL PIECES OF WORK THAT WE HAVE TO COMPLETE. THAT IS REALLY WHAT THOSE

REPRESENT . >> IN THE PAST, PART OF THE REASON THE MONEY IS NOT ENOUGH IS BECAUSE IT WASN'T GOING TO BE ENOUGH AND THEN INFLATION AND WE REALIZE THE PROJECTS ARE MORE HERE NOR THERE. SO HOW DO WE KNOW WE ARE NOT GOING TO RUN INTO THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THESE MOTIONS ? ARE YOU SAYING THAT IF YOU ARE BUILDING A DETENTION BASIN , AND THAT IS THE QUARTILE ONE PROJECT. AND IT IS A DETENTION BASIN AND THAT IS WHAT WAS PROMISED AND WE AGREE TO FUND CURRENT NEEDS , THAT WOULD COVER, MY UNDERSTANDING, AND CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG BUT THAT WOULD COVER THE DETENTION BASIN. MY QUESTIONS ARE, WHAT WOULD BE IN THAT CONTEXT? WOULD BE AN EXAMPLE OF THE FUTURE NEED? THAT IS QUESTION NUMBER ONE. QUESTION NUMBER TWO IS , IF THERE IS INFLATION , WOULD WE JUST NOT BE ABLE TO FINISH ?

>> IN TERMS OF CURRENT VERSUS FUTURE , PERHAPS WE HAVE -- LET ME USE YOUR EXAMPLE, JUDGE WITH THE DETENTION BASIN. WE MAY HAVE A PIECE OF PROPERTY WHERE WE CAN BUILD A DETENTION BASIN. THE DETENTION BASIN WILL SUPPORT A CHANNEL CONVEYANCE PROJECT.

ITWILL ALLOW US TO WIDEN AND DEEPEN THE CHANNEL AS A RESULT OF THE BASIN. WE MAY KNOW THAT WE NEED TO DO MILES AND MILES AND MILES OF CHANNEL IMPROVEMENTS. BUT WE HAVE THIS PIECE OF PROPERTY RIGHT NOW THAT WILL SUPPORT THIS PORTION OF THE CONVEYANCE IMPROVEMENT. THAT MIGHT BE A PHASE OF WORK AND THEN WE WOULD NEED TO GO AND IDENTIFY AN ADDITIONAL PIECE OF PROPERTY TO DO THE NEXT PHASE . IN TERMS OF YOUR NEXT QUESTION, THE INFLATION QUESTION IS A VERY IMPORTANT ONE AND I HAVE TO SAY, THANK YOU COMMISSIONER RAMSEY, FOR ACKNOWLEDGING THE IMPORTANCE OF CONTINGENCY THAT IS REALLY KEY TO US BEING ABLE TO TELL YOU THAT, WITH THIS WORK, WE HAVE ENOUGH MONEY SET ASIDE TO ADDRESS ANY POTENTIAL VARIABILITY IN COST . THE OTHER TWO THINGS I WOULD SAY THAT WE HAVE AND THAT WE ARE WORKING ON , ONE BEFORE THE SEPTEMBER 18TH DEADLINE , WE HAVE PUT ON PAPER ESTIMATED COST AND WE KNOW THERE COULD BE A RISK OF A PROJECT NEEDING ADDITIONAL MONEY . WE PUT THOSE TOGETHER QUICKLY. WE PUT THOSE TOGETHER AT THE REQUEST OF THE COURT TO GIVE YOU CLARITY AS TO WHAT MIGHT BE NEXT. WHAT WE ARE DOING IS A DEEP DIVE INTO THOSE EFFORTS . THIS PARTICULAR SCOPES AND MAKING SURE THAT WE UNDERSTAND EXACTLY WHAT IS BEING PROPOSED THERE AND WHAT TYPE OF COST INCREASE THIS IS . AND THE THIRD THING WE HAVE IS THAT WE HAVE IMPLEMENTED SOME COST ESTIMATED GUIDELINES SO THAT AS WE MOVE THROUGH THE PROJECT LIFECYCLE , WE ARE REQUIRING CERTAIN AMOUNT OF CONTINGENCY TO BE BUILT INTO THE PROJECT COST. SOME OF THE COSTS WE HAVE ON THE TABLE, WE MIGHT BE ALREADY INCLUDING CONTINGENCY. WE NEED TO PULL THAT OUT AND MAKE SURE WE ARE NOT DOUBLE COUNTING. THERE IS A LITTLE BIT MORE WORK TO BE DONE TO MAKE SURE WE HAVE ALL OF THIS BUTTONED UP. BUT WE PUT A LOT OF THOUGHT INTO THIS, JUDGE

[01:20:03]

>> THAT WAS GOING TO BE MY OTHER QUESTION. THAT IS GREAT. SO THE OTHER QUESTION. FINAL QUESTION. THERE IS THIS MOTION THAT SOUNDS LIKE IT WILL PASS ABOUT FUNDING ALL EXISTING TERS AND PARTNERSHIPS AND GROUNDS -- GRANTS TIED TO THE HARRIS COUNTY FLOOD BOND. DO WE NEED TO MAKE A MOTION TO SAY WE FUND ALL CURRENT NEEDS AND QUARTILE ONE ACCORDING TO THE FRAMEWORK ? IN OTHER WORDS, RESTATE LAST COURT'S MOTION TO CLARIFY THAT WE HAVE CURRENT NEEDS ? HERE'S THE THING. I APPRECIATE COMMISSIONER THAT WE ARE REALLY TRYING TO LAND THE PLANE ON EXEC WE WHAT THERE IS MONEY FOR AND THERE ISN'T. IT'S OKAY IF WE CAN'T AGREE TO DO THAT NOW BUT I WANT TO MAKE A PITCHFORK, LET'S REALLY CLARIFY SO THE DIRECTOR DOES NOT HAVE TO COME BACK AGAIN WITH, I STILL DON'T HAVE ENOUGH MONEY FOR ALL THE THINGS YOU GUYS ARE ASKING ME TO DO .

>> MY REACTION WOULD BE, NOT TO DO IT NOW. I THINK PART OF HOW WE ENDED UP WHERE WE WERE WAS WHEN THE FIVE OF US COME HERE EVERY FEW WEEKS AND WE DO DICTATES FROM THE TABLE , IT GETS CONFUSING . THAT IS WHY I CHATTED WITH COMMISSIONER RAMSEY EARLIER. HE TALKED TO ME ABOUT THIS. WE ARE STRAINED BECAUSE WE CAN ONLY TALK TO ONE. THAT IS WHY WAS TELLING YOU COMMISSIONER, THE IDEA OF FIVE CHIEFS OF STAFF IN A ROOM -- I WON'T EVEN SAY DR. PETERSON , THE DEPARTMENT HEAD, SAY SOMETHING TO EACH ONE OF US. I THINK EACH OF THE FIVE OF US MAY HEAR SOMETHING DIFFERENT. BUT IT JUST GETS CONFUSING. OR ME, A BIG ADVOCATE OF OPEN MEETINGS, --

>> I THINK SEPTEMBER, THERE WILL BE A FULL REPORT ON CURRENT AND FUTURE NEEDS . I AGREE . YOU MAKE THAT DECISION AND SEPTEMBER. BUT WITH THIS MOTION WE ARE MAKING TODAY, WE ARE --

>> I'M THINKING . AND I HOPE, DR. PETERSON, BETWEEN NOW AND THEN, THE FIVE OFFICES HAVE SOMEBODY KEY SO WE DON'T COME IN AT THE LAST MINUTE. I PASSED A FEW BILLS KIND OF ON THE FLOOR AND A COUPLE TIMES CAME BACK AND TRY TO REPEAL THEM MYSELF. THE UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES. WHAT DISTRESS THAT WE WOULD IDENTIFY FUTURE NEEDS BY FLOOD CONTROL'S DEFINITION. WE DID NOT COME UP WITH. THE NUMBER WE CAME UP WITH IS ACCURATE. TELL ME IF YOU NOTICE. CURRENT NEED WOULD BE 75 MILLION. FUTURE NEED IS 164 MILLION. THAT WOULD INCLUDE 96.5 COMFORT GREENS. 43.5, FOR BREEZE AND PEOPLE WANT VOTED ON. I DIDN'T WANT TO TIE US UP FOR TODAY TO HAVE A LONGER CONVERSATION ON IT WHEN WE COME BACK IN AUGUST.

>> IN SEPTEMBER, THAT IS A BIG ONE .

>> WE WILL HAVE THAT IN-DEPTH. LET ME JUST SAY , I THINK THE NUMBERS ARE PRETTY CLOSE, JUDGE. IT IS $700 MILLION. THAT IS WHAT IS LEFT . IT'S NOT FUTURE QUARTILE. AND WILL TALK ABOUT THAT IN SEPTEMBER . WHAT WE HAVE GOT LEFT, WHEN WE FUND THIS MOTION TODAY , OTHER PARTNERSHIPS, IS ROUGHLY $700 MILLION. THE CONVERSATION WE WILL HAVE IN SEPTEMBER IS YOU HAVE $700 MILLION TO DO QUARTILE TWO, THREE, FOUR AND ANY FUTURE QUARTILE ONE. THAT IS WHEN IT IS GOING TO GET TIGHT. THAT IS WHEN YOU WILL LOOK AT THE CHINA COMMISSIONER GARCIA AND I ARE MOST IMPACTED BY QUARTILE TWO IN THE PROJECTS THAT ARE THERE. IT WILL BE A CLEAR, TRANSPARENT CONVERSATION ABOUT -- WE HAVE $700 MILLION LEFT . AND WHAT CAN WE DO WITH 700 MILLION IN TWO, THREE AND FOUR AND ALSO DEAL WITH ANY QUARTILE ONE FUTURE .

THAT IS A SEPTEMBER CONVERSATION .

>> TWO QUICK POINTS. >> I KNOW COMMISSIONER GARCIA

HAS HIS HAND UP. >> WOULD YOU HAVE ANY PROBLEMS

WITH THE MOTION I SUGGESTED? >> I DO NOT .

>> NUMBER TWO, I WANT TO STRESS THAT , I THINK IT OUGHT TO BE GIVEN THAT WE DON'T HAVE ENOUGH MONEY. I THINK THE FIGURE WE TALKED ABOUT AT THE LAST MEETING WAS KIND OF OFF-THE-CUFF. I WILL

[01:25:06]

COMMISSIONER RADEK SECONDED IT AND PASSED UNANIMOUSLY. WE WANT TO MAKE SURE PEOPLE HAVE CONFIDENCE. AND WE WOULD DISCOURAGE OUR ALLIES FROM JUMPING ON IT. BECAUSE IT WILL NOT PUT ENOUGH MONEY AND COME OUR FRIENDS OUT OF STATE. AND IF YOU HAD TO GO BACK TO THESE VOTERS, YOU WANT TO SAY IT WITH A STRAIGHT FACE, HERE'S WHAT WE THOUGHT. HERE'S WHAT WE THOUGHT WE COULD DO. HERE'S WHAT WE COULDN'T BUT WE TRIED .

>> AND WHAT DID WE VOTE ON WITH 2018? THOSENUMBERS ARE ACCURATE.

TALKING IN SEPTEMBER ABOUT WHAT PART OF QUARTILE TWO, THREE A FOUR OR QUARTILE ONE, WE WILL DO, AT LEAST WE CAN SAY, WHAT DID WE COMMIT TO THE VOTERS IN 2018 ? I THINK WE AT LEAST HAVE THOSE NUMBERS TO LOOK AT AND MAKE DECISIONS.

>> COMMISSIONER GARCIA . >> I JUST WANT TO SAY DR.

PETERSON, THANK YOU AND YOUR TEAM FOR THE WORK YOU ARE DOING.

I CALLED TO QUESTION BECAUSE I THINK WE ARE VERY CLEAR ON WHAT WE ARE TRYING TO ACCOMPLISH . NUMBER ONE, THAT IS TO PROTECT THE PARTNERSHIP DOLLARS WE HAVE BEEN GIVEN AND CONTINUE WITH THOSE AS WE HAVE . A CALL TO QUESTION MOTION MADE AND THEN

SECOND . >> DO NEED THE MOTION READ

AGAIN? >> NO. I'M GOING BASED ON THE

MOTION THAT COMMISSIONER SAID . >> AND FOR ALL EXISTING WIND DRIVEN OTHER SECURED PARTNERSHIP AND GRANTS TIED TO THE HARRIS

COUNTY 2018 FLOOD BOND. >> WAS THE MOTION BY COMMISSIONER ELLIS. SECOND BYCOMMISSIONER GARCIA. I THINK THE COUNCILMEMBER MIGHT HAVE LEFT. I THINK THAT IS A VERY IMPORTANT MOTION AND I'M GLAD WE HAD THIS DISCUSSION. ALL IN

FAVOR . >> AYE.

>> AND HE OPPOSED? >> MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.

DIRECTOR , ONE LAST THING. COMMISSIONER ELLIS AND I WERE IN D.C. IN 2022 MOVE YOUR 2021 OR 2023. WE MET WITH, AT THAT POINT, ADMINISTRATOR FUDGE WITH HUD , THE SECRETARY. THE CITY HAD BEEN PROMISED A BILLION AND THE COUNTY HAVE BEEN PROMISED A BILLION . SHE WORKED IT OUT TO WHERE THE COUNTY COULD GET THE BILLION AND THE CITY WOULD HAVE TO RUN THROUGH ADDITIONAL TRAPS.

TO BE JUST NEVER RECEIVED THAT BILLION? WOULD HAPPEN WITHOUT

BILLION? >> THIS -- THESE ARE THE DOLLARS THE COUNTY WAS SUPPOSED TO RECEIVE . THEY WERE BASICALLY REALLOCATED. WHEN COMMISSIONER BUCKINGHAM CAME TO THE GLO , THAT IS WHEN SHE HELPED TO MAKE SURE THOSE DOLLARS CAME TO THE FLOOD CONTROL DISTRICT AND HARRIS COUNTY.

>> THAT IS THE SAME BILLION? >> YES. I THINK IT IS 865 OR

SOMETHING . >> BECAUSE THAT WAS THE IDEA.

SHE WAS GOING TO SKIP THE GLO AND SEND IT DIRECTLY. BUT THAT I GUESS BUCKINGHAM SAID , WE WILL JUST DO IT SO YOU DON'T HAVE TO BUS. VIRTUALLY HARTL THAT IT WAS AT THE HUD LEVEL.

>> ADVOCACY HELP BECAUSE THEY FILED THE TITLE VII COMPLAINT

AND BIPARTISAN OUTREACH . >> OKAY. THANK YOU. THAT IS

277. >> JUDGE, I UNDERSTAND COMMISSIONER GARCIA MAY NEED A BREAK TO FIX AUDIO ISSUES. IF THAT IS THE CASE, CAN WE TAKE FIVE?

>> LET'S TAKE 10 SO WE CAN GET A BIT OF A BREAK WE ARE GETTING

GOOD TIMING. >> THANK YOU.

>> IT IS 10:53 A.M. WE

[01:30:02]

>> SO IT'S 11:07, AND COMMISSIONERS COURT IS BACK IN SESSION, SO WE'RE GOING TO MOVE ONTO ITEM 116.

COMMISSIONER RAMSEY. THAT IS HAGGERTY

CONSULTING. >> THIS IS AN ITEM RELATED TO -- WE'RE ON 115, RIGHT?

>> 116.

>> 116?

>> CORRECT. >> SORRY.

HAGERTY CONSULTING, AND APPARENTLY THEY'RE GOING TO HELP US DO OUR -- I'M NOT SURE WE NEED THIS PARTICULAR CONSULTANT, AS WE WRAP THIS UP.

AND, AGAIN, THIS IS DISCRETIONARY SPENDING. I THINK WE ARE IN THE LATTER STAGES OF IT. I'M -- I'M JUST -- AT THIS POINT I'M NOT GOING TO SUPPORT MORE THIRD- PARTY COMPLIANCE HELP.

I THINK WE'VE GOT PLENTY HELP.

>> I'LL MOVE IT.

>> MOTION BY COMMISSIONER ELLIS. IS GARCIA ON? HE'S NOT ON, OKAY, SO WE'LL HAVE TO COME BACK TO THAT ONE. IN THE MEANTIME, WHY DO WE NEED THIS ONE, YOU GUYS?

>> YEAH, I'LL START OFF -- I'LL HAND IT TO TOM.

WE USE THIRD- PARTY CONSULTANTS FOR COMPLIANCE, AND A LOT OF GRANTS -- THIS IS A PARTICULARLY BIG GRANT. IT'S COMPLICATED.

WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE CONTINUE TO COMPLY AS WE SPEND MONEY WITH ARPA. WE HAVE GOOD IN- HOUSE CAPABILITY. I'LL LET TOM SPEAK TO SPECIFICS ON THIS VENDOR.

>> YEAH, I THINK THIS IS EXTREMELY IMPORTANT, AND WE HAVE REDUCED OUR RELIANCE ON THIRD-PARTY CONSULTANTS. AND I JUST WANT TO GIVE A SHOUT OUT TO THE ARPA PMO TEAM AND RMB, THIS PORTFOLIO WHILE IT'S OVER 200 PROJECTS, IT'S HIGHLY COMPLEX. AND THIS EXTERNAL SUPPORT.

>> DO WE STILL HAVE BCG UNDER

CONTRACT? >> IT'S HAGERTY CONSULTING.

>> DO WE STILL HAVE BCG.

>> NO.

>> YOU'RE TELLING ME WE'RE NOT DOING ANYTHING WITH -- CONSULTING GROUP?

>> WE RE- PROCURED THIS THIS YEAR.

THIS IS THE RENEWAL.

>> I THINK YOU GOT A LOT OF THIRD- PARTY HELP, MORE THAN JUST THIS.

>> NOT TO MY KNOWLEDGE.

>> OKAY. THAT'S WHAT YOU'RE AFFIRMING

HERE? >> YES.

>> OKAY.

>> THANK YOU. THAT'S VERY

HELPFUL. >> JUDGE, CAN YOU LET COMMISSIONER GARCIA KNOW WE'RE BACK ON JUST IN CASE.

>> GOOD THOUGHT. SO WE'RE GOING TO COME BACK TO THAT ONE.

LET'S GO TO 133. COMMISSIONER RAMSEY, THIS IS MOONSHOT LLC.

>> IS THIS A GRANT?

>> YES, THIS WE PROCURED YEARS

AGO. >> AND IT WOULD BE ANOTHER DOLLAR SPENT ON TOP OF THIS?

>> NO, SIR.

>> HAVE WE EVER WORKED WITH -- ON THESE

ISSUES? >> I'M NOT SURE.

THIS IN PARTICULAR WE'RE NOT LOOKING FOR A SCIENTIFIC ISSUE AROUND COMPOSTS. WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO IS REDUCE OR OWN WASTE STREAM, AND SO THAT --

>> BUT THERE'S -- YOU'RE AFFIRMING THERE'S NO FISCAL IMPACT?

>> CORRECT. >> NO COST, NO GENERAL

BUDGET. >>

CORRECT. >> I MOVE

IT. >> ALL RIGHT, MOTION BY COMMISSIONER ELLIS. I'LL SECOND IT.

ALL IN FAVOR?

>> AYE.

>> ANY OPPOSED?

>> ARE WE GOING TO WAIT FOR COMMISSIONER GARCIA?

>> YEAH, HE CAN COME BACK ON THE OTHER ONES. ANY OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY. 137, SOLAR FOR ALL. COMMISSIONER

RAMSEY. >> JUST A GENERAL QUESTION ON THIS CONTRACT, AND I SEE PAIGE THERE. I UNDERSTAND THERE'S BEEN SOME ISSUES WITH HORN LLP AND OTHER SERVICES. DID YOU DO A BIT OF INVESTIGATION RELATED TO

THEM? >> YES, SIR.

AND WHAT WAS FOUND AND IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE PROCUREMENT PACKAGE AND THE REQUIREMENTS

[01:35:02]

>> DID WE ASK THEM SPECIFICALLY RELATED TO THE ISSUES THAT MAY HAVE BEEN MORE THAN FIVE YEARS

AGO? >> WE DID NOT ASK THEM ABOUT THE ISSUES MORE THAN THE FIVE- YEAR MARK.

>> BUT THEY'RE AFFIRMING THEY HADN'T HAD ANY SINCE

THEN. >> CORRECT.

NOT RELATED -- THERE ARE CERTAIN ITEMS THAT WE DO SEE FREQUENTLY REGARDING PAYMENTS OR CERTAIN SETTLEMENTS FOR BALANCING INVOICES AND THINGS OF THAT NATURE ON PROJECTS, BUT CURRENTLY, COMMISSIONER, WE DID NOT ASK FOR ANYTHING PRIOR TO THAT FIVE- YEAR STANDARD WE HAVE IN PLACE.

>> AND THESE ARE ONE- YEAR RENEWAL

OPTIONS? >> YES,

SIR. >> AND THE FINANCIAL, IS THIS EPA? IT'S ALL --

>> YES, SIR. THIS IS SIMILAR IN SOME WAYS TO THE HAGERTY CONTRACT. THIS IS MAKING SURE WE'RE FOLLOWING EPA'S EDICTS AND DOING REPORTING, WHICH IS ALSO QUITE DIFFERENT.

THIS IS A BIG COMPANY, AND IT'S NOT -- SOME OF THE THINGS THAT WE SAW WERE FLAGGED WERE GOING OUT INTO THE COMMUNITY, SIGNING PEOPLE UP FOR DISASTER RELIEF.

WE'RE NOT DOING ANYTHING LIKE THAT WITH THEM.

WE'RE REALLY A TRADITIONAL BUSINESS CONSULTANT ROLE WITH THEM, HELPING US DO MONITORING AND COMPLIANCE.

>> OKAY.

>> CAN I MAKE A MOTION? I MOVE

IT. >> MOTION BY COMMISSIONER ELLIS.

I'LL MAKE THE SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR?

>> AYE.

>> ANY OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY.

LET'S MOVE ONTO ITEM 148 FLAGGED BY COMMISSIONER RAMSEY. THAT IS PAY

SCALE. >> AS I UNDERSTAND, THIS SOFTWARE -- AND I SEE THE DIRECTOR HERE.

THIS SOFTWARE WILL HELP TO MANAGE THE JOB DESCRIPTIONS?

>> THAT IS CORRECT, COMMISSIONER.

WE ACTUALLY -- THIS IS A RENEWAL.

WE'VE BEEN USING THIS SOFTWARE, THIS PRODUCT SINCE 2021, AND IT HELPS TO DEVELOP AND HOUSE THE JOB DESCRIPTIONS AS WELL AS TO FACILITATE SALARY EVALUATIONS WHEN

NEEDED. >> AND THE -- IT'S A DATABASE SOFTWARE SYSTEM, AND WHATEVER WE'RE GOING TO GET OUT OF THE EQUITY STUDY --

>> WE'LL GO INTO --

>> PLUG INTO THIS OF SORTS?

>> YES, SIR.

>> OKAY, THANK YOU.

>> I'LL MOVE IT.

>> MOTION BY COMMISSIONER ELLIS ON ITEM

148. >> I'M NOT GOING TO BE

SUPPORTIVE. >> OKAY, I'LL

WAIT. >> OKAY, SO WE'LL COME BACK TO THAT ONE. ALL RIGHT, SO LET'S MOVE ONTO ITEM 187.

SO THAT IS OH, COMMISSIONER GARCIA IS

BACK. >> I THINK IT WAS ITEM 116,

CORRECT? >> 116 AND

148. >> I MOVE THOSE TWO ITEMS. CAN YOU TURN YOUR MIC ON, COMMISSIONER

GARCIA? >> WHAT WERE THE TWO

ITEMS? >> 116 WAS TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE FOR COMPLIANCE SUPPORT WITH THE VENDOR FOR ARPA.

AND 148 WAS A COMPENSATION STUDY RENEWAL WITH PAY SCALE INCORPORATED FOR COMPENSATION STUDY FOR HARRIS

COUNTY. >> SECOND ON BOTH.

>> OKAY, MOTION BY COMMISSIONER ELLIS FOR ITEMS 116 AND 148, SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER GARCIA. ALL IN

FAVOR? >>

AYE. >> ANY

OPPOSED? >>

NO. >> MOTION CARRIES 3-1.

OKAY, SO 187 IS ON THE TRAVEL AND BUSINESS MEETING SCHEDULE.

SO MY REQUEST HERE ESPECIALLY FOLLOWING THE TRADE MISSION IS TO PROVIDE BETTER GUIDANCE AND ADD EXTRAORDINARY CIRCUMSTANCES -- A DEAF FINITION TO THE TERM "EXTRAORDINARY CIRCUMSTANCES" TO OUR TRAVEL POLICY.

RIGHT NOW THAT IS NOT DEFINED. SO THE DEFINITION WOULD BE PROACTIVE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT INITIATIVES IN AN EFFORT TO ATTRACT FOREIGN INVESTMENT, PROMOTE HARRIS COUNTY BUSINESSES, ESTABLISH STRATEGIC TRADE PARTNERSHIPS,

[01:40:01]

AGAIN, WE HAVE THE LARGEST EMPLOYER FEDERATION IN FRANCE COMING WITH SEVERAL EMPLOYERS TO SARA WEEK. WE'VE GOT AN ENERGY CONSORTIUM COMING, AND ALL OF THAT IS A DIRECT RESULT OF OUR TRADE MISSION NOT TO MENTION CONTINUED CONVERSATIONS.

THE SECOND DEFINITION WOULD BE INTERGOVERNMENTAL AND PUBLIC SAFETY ENGAGEMENTS, PARTICIPATION OF OFFICIAL GOVERNMENT TO GOVERNMENT SUMMITS OR INTERNATIONAL COLLABORATIONS THAT DIRECTLY IMPACT HARRIS COUNTY'S INTERESTS AND STRATEGIC GOALS SUCH AS SISTER CITY AGREEMENTS, CLIMATE CHANGE INITIATIVES, DISASTER PREPAREDNESS, OR GLOBAL PUBLIC EFFORTS.

I BELIEVE THERE'S BEEN SOME TRAVEL LIKE THIS, FOR EXAMPLE, VIA -- OR BY THE TOLL ROAD DIRECTOR.

THE FINAL POINT IS ESSENTIAL TRAINING OR PREEFL DEVELOPMENT.

HIGHLY SPECIALIZED INTERNATIONAL TRAINING OR PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT NOT AVAILABLE DOMESTICALLY AND REQUIRED FOR SPECIFIC COUNTY FUNCTION OR REQUIRING EXPERTISE. ONE OF THINGS I THINK ABOUT HERE WE MET WITH THE GENTLEMAN THAT WAS LEADING THE OLYMPICS, IN PARTICULAR THE SAFETY AND SECURITY AROUND THAT IN PARIS, CONTINUED CONVERSATIONS, FOR EXAMPLE, ON THAT AND BEING ABLE TO PARTICIPATE IN THAT WOULD BE IMPORTANT FOR THE RELEVANT FOLKS.

OBVIOUSLY, YOU KNOW, NOT MYSELF BUT WHOEVER IS IN THOSE TECHNICAL DETAILS. SO TRADE MISSIONS ARE A COMMON PRACTICE FOR LOCAL GOVERNMENTS ALL ACROSS THE NATION. UP UNTIL RECENTLY THEY WERE A NORMAL THING, ROUTINE THING FOR THE CITY OF HOUSTON.

MAYOR TURNER LED TLAES FIVE TRADE MISSIONS WHILE HE WAS IN OFFICE AND OTHER CITIES DO THE SAME. THE CURRENT MAYOR HAS SAID HE'S NOT INTERESTED IN CONTINUING THOSE INVESTMENTS, SO IT'S UP TO US AT THE COUNTY TO TAKE THAT RESPONSIBILITY. I DON'T WANT AN OUTDATED TRAVEL POLICY TO GET IN THE WAY OF OUR MISSIONS AND ARE JUST A MODERN WAY OF DOING BUSINESS. OUR PARIS TRADE MISSION WAS SO SUCCESSFUL AS A DIRECT RESULT OF OUR TRIP ALMOST 50 FRENCH COMPANIES WILL TRAVEL TO THE HOUSTON, HARRIS COUNTY AREA OVER THE NEXT YEAR.

THE PARIS TRADE MISSION COST $23,000.

I WOULD WANT TO SEE WHAT WE SPEND $23,000 ON, BUT MY GUESS IS SOMETHING LIKE FOOD FOR A LARGE STAFF RETREAT IN SOME OF OUR DEPARTMENTS.

IT IS SOMETHING THAT IS -- THAT IS RELATIVELY MINIMAL, AND THOSE WERE FUNDS THAT WERE ALREADY ALLOCATED TO MY OFFICE.

PART OF THE PROBLEM, OF COURSE, WAS I PAID FOR IT OUT OF MY CAMPAIGN FUNDS, WHICH IS NOT APPROPRIATE. AND DESPITE MY PAYING OUT OF THE CAMPAIGN FUNDS OR MY WILLINGNESS TO PAY OUT OF MY CAMPAIGN FUNDS FOR A SECURITY DETAIL, THE FIRE MARSHAL DID NOT ALLOW THE SECURITY DETAIL TO TRAVEL AND REFERENCED THE TRAVEL POLICY AS THE REASON WHY SHE WOULD NOT ALLOW THEM TO TRAVEL.

AND BECAUSE OF THE WAY THAT THIS WAS SHARED WITH THE PUBLIC, IT WAS A RECOMMENDATION -- A SAFETY RECOMMENDATION THAT THEY DO COME. I KNOW THAT THERE'S A DEFICIT RIGHT NOW, AND INVESTING IN TRADE MISSIONS IS WORTH IT. IT IS REALLY A DROP IN THE BUCKET COMPARED TO THE POTENTIAL INVESTMENT THAT THESE MISSIONS ARE ABLE TO BRING TO OUR REGION.

SO I'M ASKING FOR THOSE SMALL INVESTMENTS THAT HAVE HUGE PAYOFFS IN THE FUTURE, AND MY MOTION IS TO ADOPT CHANGES TO THE HARRIS COUNTY TRAVEL TRAINING AND BUSINESS POLICY. COUNCIL GENERAL IS HERE, AND SHE WAS A HUGE, HUGE PART OF THIS. I KNOW CONSUL GENERAL, I DON'T KNOW WHERE WE'RE GOING NEXT, BUT SHE'S GOING TO BE AMBASSADOR SOMEWHERE. THESE ARE VERY SERIOUS COUNTY -- COUNTY ACTIVITIES. WE HAD A CHANCE TO MEET WITH -- WITH PRESIDENT MACRON BRIEFLY. WE MET WITH OUR MY COUNTERPART, THE REGIONAL PRESIDENT OVER THERE, DEPUTY MINISTER, ET CETERA. I THINK THERE'S REALLY NO REASON WHY WE SHOULD NOT BE DOING THESE TRADE MISSIONS OR WHY WE SHOULD BE NERVOUS TO -- TO FUND THEM. IT'S SOMETHING ROUTINE IN OTHER JURISDICTIONS. SO I'D LIKE TO CALL A QUESTION ON THAT, THE MOTION TO ADOPT CHANGES THE HARRIS COUNTY TRAVEL TRAINING AND BUSINESS POLICY TO ADD THOSE DEFINITIONS THAT ARE ROUTINE IN OTHER JURISDICTIONS AND HAVE BEEN DEMONSTRATED TO YIELD POSITIVE RESULTS. AND WITHOUT WHICH I WAS NOT ALLOWED TO BRING NECESSARY SECURITY EVEN THOUGH I WAS WILLING TO PAY FOR IT OUT OF MY CAMPAIGN DOLLARS.

>> SO JUST A QUICK COMMENT. I'M GOING TO SECOND

A MOTION. >>

YEAH. >> I'LL MAKE A COUPLE COMMENTS.

[01:45:03]

I'VE SPOKEN AT THE CITY CONFERENCE SEVERAL TIMES WHEN I WAS IN THE STATE SENATE.

I THINK I WENT TO IT IN CANADA. AS A COUNTY COMMISSIONER, I THINK I WENT TO IT IN BRAZIL.

I THINK I SPOKE AT IT IN SOMEWHERE IN EASTERN EUROPE.

I CHOSE TO PAY FOR IT OFF MY CAMPAIGN.

OBVIOUSLY HE DIDN'T HAVE CAMPAIGN SO I ASKED HIM TO GO, SO HE GETS SOME HEAT FOR THAT, MY BAD BECAUSE I DID ASK HIM TO GO. I'VE TRAVELED A GOOD BIT INTERNATIONALLY OVER THE YEARS. I MET WITH MAYOR LEE BROWN OVER TO CHINA WHEN HE DID A HISTORIC TRIP.

I WISH I COULD CLAIM CREDIT FOR CONVINCING -- TO COME, BUT IT DIDN'T HURT ANY, BY THE WAY. THE ROCKETS YOU KNOW GOT THE FIRST-ROUND PICK AND HIS NAME WAS NOT LISTED BUT OLD RODNEY WAS LISTED, SO HE WOKE ME UP AT 3:00 A.M. IN THE MORNING. I'M NOT SAYING WE GET THE CREDIT FOR IT, BUT IT HELPED A BIT.

I CAN'T REMEMBER IF THE CITY PARTNERSHIP PAID FOR ME TO GO OR I PAID OFF MY CAMPAIGN.

I ALSO TOOK A NUMBER OF TRIPS TO QATAR OVER THE YEARS.

IN FACT, WENT OVER I THINK OVER THANKSGIVING TO THE DOHA FORUM. I WISH I COULD TAKE CREDIT THE MONEY THEY DONATED AFTER HARVEY. FOR SOME REASON THE INVITES STOPPED WHEN I BECAME A COUNTY COMMISSIONER UP UNTIL LAST YEAR, BUT I'LL SECOND A MOTION.

AND NOTE THAT WE HAVE SIX MORE ITEMS ON THE AGENDA.

I'D LIKE FOR YOU TO BE ABLE TO VOTE ON, BUT THAT'S ENTIRELY UP TO YOU ALL.

>> THANK YOU. I WOULD IMAGINE MAYOR BROWN'S TRADE MISSION JUST LIKE MAYOR TURNER, AND MAYOR WHITMEIRS, I WAS THERE LEADING THE TRADE MISSION IN MY OFFICIAL CAPACITY. IT WAS A TRADE MISSION THAT INCLUDED FOLKS FROMFROM COUNTY AND BUSINESS LEADERS, BUT I DON'T THINK IT'S APPROPRIATE TO SAY SORT OF A CANDIDATE FOR OFFICE IS THE ONE THAT IS LEADING A TRADE MISSION ON BEHALF OF THE --

>> THE PERSON OBVIOUSLY DECIDES -- ON MAYOR TURNER'S TRIP, HE DID INVITE ME TO GO. IT WAS A PARTNERSHIP TRIP, BUT THEY WANT ME TO PAY THE FEE AND PAY MY EXPENSES, SO I DECLINED. HE HAD HIS ILLNESS AND I HAPPENED TO BE ON VACATION, AND THEN DETOURED.

I DIDN'T KNOW WHY BUT HE ASKED ME TO SHOW UP, AND I DID.

BUT SINCE I WAS ALREADY OVER THERE, I JUST ATE IT.

THAT CAME OUT OF MY POCKET. BUT WHEN I SEE HIM ON THE OTHER SIDE, I'M GOING TO ASK HIM FOR MY

MONEY. >> YEAH, RIGHT.

SO THAT'S A MOTION AND A SECOND.

ALL IN FAVOR?

>> AYE.

>> ANY OPPOSED?

>> NO.

>> AND WHY IS THAT COMMISSIONER GARCIA?

>> I'M VOTING NO.

>> YEAH, I'D JUST LIKE TO KNOW THE REASON BECAUSE I'M GOING TO KEEP BRINGING THIS BACK, AND I HAVE SPOKEN TO THE PUBLIC ABOUT THE RESULTS OF OUR TRADE

MISSION. >> YOU KEEP BRINGING IT BACK, I'LL KEEP VOTING NO, THANK YOU.

>> SORRY, SO WHAT WAS THE

REASON? >> HE SAID THAT HE JUST CHOSE TO VOTE NO, BUT I DO WANT TO STRESS MAYBE IF WE VOTE ON THESE OTHER SIX ITEMS, AND JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE NOBODY MISSES ANYTHING.

>> YEAH, FOR THE RECORD AND AS I CONTINUE TO TALK TO THE PUBLIC ABOUT THE OUTCOME OF THE TRADE MISSION AS WELL AS OUR INTERNATIONAL PARTNERS.

AND YOU DO REALIZE, COMMISSIONER GARCIA, I WAS NOT ABLE TO BRING MY SECURITY DETAIL BECAUSE THE FIRE MARSHAL SAID SHE WILL NOT ALLOW THEM TO COME GIVEN YOU WILL NOT SUPPORT THIS, EVEN THOUGH THERE WERE THREATS OVER THAT WEEKEND TO LAWMAKERS AND THEIR PARTNERS WERE SHOT AND A LAWMAKER AND HER PARTNER WERE KILLED. AND BASED ON THE LEAKS THAT WERE HERE AND THE THREATS FROM DETRACTORS, THE RECOMMENDATION WAS THAT I BRING SECURITY DETAIL. DO YOU RECOGNIZE THAT THAT'S THE CASE? I'M TELLING YOU THAT RIGHT NOW, IF YOU DIDN'T KNOW IT.

AND I DO WONDER -- I DON'T KNOW IF THE FIRE MARSHAL'S STILL HERE AS TO WHY I WAS NOT ALLOWED TO BRING THE SECURITY DETAIL THAT I WAS RECOMMENDED BECAUSE --

>> I CALL THE QUESTION ON THIS

ITEM. >> ARE THEY STILL HERE, YOU

GUYS? >> I CALL THE QUESTION ON THE ITEM. IS THERE A

SECOND? >> SECOND.

>> ALL RIGHT, SO THERE'S A MOTION --

>> I THINK WE VOTED?

>> NO, WE HAVEN'T TAKEN --

>> YES, JUDGE, Y'ALL DID VOTE, AND IT WAS A

2-2. >> OKAY, SO IT'S A 2-2, AND II STILL A QUESTION ON THIS ITEM FOR THE FIRE MARSHAL.

[01:50:03]

CHRISTIANSEN. >> YES, MA'AM.

>> WE TALKED ABOUT MY NEEDING SECURITY DETAIL FOR THE TRADE MISSION IN FRANCE, WHICH YIELDED AROUND 50 COMPANIES THAT WILL BE COMING TO HARRIS COUNTY TO LOOK AT BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES OVER THE NEXT FEW MONTHS -- SIX MONTHS OR SO.

VERY SUCCESSFUL TRADE MISSION. I MET WITH PRESIDENT MACRON BRIEFLY, MET WITH MY COUNTERPART, REGIONAL PRESIDENT, AND WE MET WITH DEPUTY MINISTER AND OTHER BUSINESS LEADERS.

A VERY IMPORTANT BUSINESS LEADER INCLUDING THE HEAD OF AN INVESTMENT BANK THAT INVESTS TENS OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS EVERY YEAR. THE DETAILS OF MY TRAVEL WERE WIDELY LEAKED, AND THE RECOMMENDATION FROM THE -- THE FOLKS IN CHARGE OF MY SECURITY WAS THAT I HAVE SECURITY DETAIL.

THAT WAS THE WEEKEND THAT TWO LAWMAKERS AND THEIR PARTNERS WERE SHOT INCLUDING -- RESULTING IN THE DEATHS OF A LAWMAKER AND HER HUSBAND. I MENTIONED THAT I WOULD PAY FOR SECURITY DETAIL WITH MY CAMPAIGN DOLLARS, WHICH IS NOT -- FRANKLY NOT APPROPRIATE, CERTAINLY NOT THE WAY THE CITY DOES IT OR OTHER CITIES. YOU MENTIONED THAT DESPITE THAT FACT YOU COULD NOT ALLOW THE DETAIL TO TRAVEL ME EVEN THOUGH NO DOLLARS WERE COMING FROM THE COUNTY.

AND MY UNDERSTANDING WAS THAT THE REASON FOR THAT IS THAT THE -- THERE WAS NOT A CLEAR DEFINITION BY THE COMMISSIONERS COURT OF WHAT CONSTITUTES EXTRAORDINARY CIRCUMSTANCE IN TERMS OF INTERNATIONAL TRAVEL. IS THAT THE CASE? IS THAT THE CASE, CHIEF CHRISTIANSEN?

>> GOOD MORNING. LAURIE CHRISTIANSEN, HARRIS COUNTY FIRE MARSHAL.

BASED ON THE COMMISSIONERS COURT DECISION, BASED ON COUNTY TRAVEL POLICY, AND BASED ON AUDITORS POLICY AS AN APPOINTED OFFICIAL, I HAVE TO FOLLOW THE WILL OF THE COURT AND THE DECISIONS MADE BY THE POLICIES THAT ARE IN PLACE.

WE DID OFFER UP A RECOMMENDATION OF COMPANIES THAT WERE THERE THAT WOULD BE ABLE TO ASSIST YOU. AND I DO BELIEVE THAT THOSE WERE OFFERED TO YOUR STAFF, AND THEY WERE ABLE TO COORDINATE WITH

THEM. >> YEAH, UNFORTUNATELY, THAT WAS NOT POSSIBLE. BUT I JUST WANT TO REQUEST -- AND I'LL MAKE PERHAPS A DIFFERENT MOTION HERE IS THAT WE DEFINE AS EXTRAORDINARY CIRCUMSTANCES SIMPLY THE PROACTIVE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT INITIATIVES. SO INTERNATIONAL TRAVEL TO ATTRACT FOREIGN DIRECT INVESTMENT, PROMOTE HARRIS COUNTY BUSINESSES, ESTABLISH STRATEGIC TRADE PARTNERSHIPS, OR PARTICIPATE IN GLOBAL INDUSTRY SPECIFIC CONFERENCES WITH DEMONSTRABLE ECONOMIC BENEFIT TO THE COUNTY INCLUDING RELATED SECURITY EXPENSES.

SO IN LIGHT OF THE RECENT ATTACKS AGAINST ELECTED OFFICIALS, SO THAT WILL BE MY MOTION. COMMISSIONER ELLIS, WOULD YOU BE WILLING TO SECOND THAT, AND I PROMISE I'LL MOVE

ON. >> OKAY.

>> SO MOTION AND SECOND BY COMMISSIONER ELLIS. ALL IN FAVOR? ANY

OPPOSED? >>

NO. >> AND WHAT'S THE REASON FOR THAT, COMMISSIONER GARCIA?

>> I DON'T NEED TO GIVE YOU A REASON. I'M JUST VOTING NO.

LET'S MOVE ON.

>> OKAY, SO WE'RE GOING TO -- WE'RE GOING TO FIND -- YOU KNOW, CONTINUE LOOKING AT THIS AND JUST RECOGNIZE THAT IT'S A VERY -- VERY APPROPRIATE FUNCTION OF COUNTY GOVERNMENT, CERTAINLY I THINK IT'S A LITTLE BIT BACKWARDS OF US TO NOT SUPPORT THESE INTERNATIONAL TRADE MISSIONS ESPECIALLY GIVEN OUR ROLE AS A GROWING REGION AND ESPECIALLY GIVEN THE COMPETITION WITH OTHER REGIONS FOR INTERNATIONAL INVESTMENT. BUT I'LL CONTINUE DISCUSSING THIS. I THINK IT'S VERY IMPORTANT.

I'M VERY PROUD OF THE RESULT AND CERTAINLY DON'T LIKE THE SECURITY OF ANYBODY BECOMING A POLITICAL ISSUE.

I THINK THAT'S INAPPROPRIATE IN ANY CONTEXT, IN PARTICULAR DURING TODAY'S DIFFICULT AND, FRANKLY, SCARY, DANGEROUS SITUATION BECAUSE OF THE -- THE DIVISIVENESS THAT IS TAKING PLACE IN THE PUBLIC SPHERE.

SO -- OKAY, SO THAT'S 2-2. SO LET'S CONTINUE.

AND THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER ELLIS, FOR THAT.

SO LET'S CONTINUE HERE. RIGHT, I'M JUST SAYING THE VOTE WAS 2-2.

SO LET'S MOVE TO 212. ITEM 212, COMMISSIONER

[01:55:06]

RAMSEY. >> THAT IS PROCURE TO PAY INITIATIVE.

>> YEAH, JUST A QUICK UPDATE ON PROCURE TO PAY. THIS TRANSMITTAL KIND OF GOES THROUGH THE DETAILS OF THAT. THE POTENTIAL IS THAT WE'RE GOING TO IMPLEMENT THIS IN JANUARY.

IN MY OPINION, TALKING TO THE FOLKS INVOLVED, WE'RE NOT GOING TO BE READY IN JANUARY.

I'M REALLY TIRED OF DOING THINGS WHEN WE'RE NOT READY.

I DON'T THINK WE'RE READY. WE'RE STRUGGLING RIGHT NOW HAVING COMMISSIONERS COURT MEETINGS IN TERMS OF BEING ABLE TO -- AND THIS HAS TO DO WITH PAYING INTEREST.

SO COME JANUARY WE'LL START PAYING INTEREST ON BILLS THAT WE'RE NOT PAYING.

AND WHEN WE ARE NOT MEETING, SOME OF THE BILLS ARE NOT GOING TO GET PAID BECAUSE WE HAVEN'T MET. THAT'S JUST KIND OF THE NATURE OF THE BUSINESS. BUT I DO THINK WE'RE NOT READY TO IMPLEMENT THIS. THOSE ARE MY COMMENTS.

I THINK YOU'VE GOT MORE PROBLEMS THAN AN ALGEBRA BOOK ON -- ON THIS PROCURE TO PAY.

AND I WOULD ASK THAT YOU NOT IMPLEMENT SOMETHING WHEN WE'RE NOT READY. SO I NEED SOME MORE ASSURANCES.

IF YOU'RE GOING TO IMPLEMENT THIS IN JANUARY, THAT WE BE READY, AND WE'RE NOT READY RIGHT NOW.

>> COMMISSIONER, APPRECIATE THAT.

I MEAN, I THINK THAT THE HOPE IS WE ARE READY IN JANUARY. WE'RE CERTAINLY NOT READY TODAY IN JULY. AND I THINK WE'VE GOT -- IN THIS TIME LINE THAT I THINK WE SHARED ON THE TRANSMITTAL, WE'VE GOT A LOT OF WORK THAT WE'RE CONTINUING TO DO. I THINK YOU'RE RIGHT THAT IF WE'RE NOT READY, WE CERTAINLY SHOULDN'T IMPLEMENT THIS CHANGE. AT THE SAME TIME, WE -- WE'VE BEEN ADVISED THAT WE SHOULD IMPLEMENT THIS AUTOMATIC PAYMENT --

>> THE LAW HAS BEEN THERE SINCE 1980, SO THE SENSE OF URGENCY IS STUNNING THAT HERE WE SAID IN 2025, WE'RE GOING TO ADDRESS SOMETHING THAT WAS PASSED IN 1980. I'M JUST SAYING WE SHOULDN'T DO IT UNLESS WE'RE READY, AND I DON'T THINK -- I HAVEN'T SEEN GREAT PROGRESS ON THIS. YOU SHOULD SEE -- I'LL USE THE WORD STUNNING PROGRESS BEING MADE ON THIS.

IT HASN'T BEEN MADE, AND I WOULD HOPE -- THIS IS JUST KIND OF A HEADS UP.

>> UNDERSTOOD. >> THANK

YOU. >> SO WHAT GIVES YOU GUYS -- OH, YES, COMMISSIONER GARCIA, GO

AHEAD. >> COMMISSIONER RAMSEY, I CONCUR WITH YOUR FRUSTRATION. I'M THE ONE THAT MADE THE MOTION THAT HARRIS COUNTY WORK WITH THE PROMPT PAY ACT, RECOGNIZING IT'S BEEN ON THE BOOKS FOR QUITE SOME TIME, AND QUITE FRANKLY WE WERE RARELY COMPLIANT WITH IT. NONETHELESS, I THINK IT IS SOMETHING THAT WE SHOULD CONTINUE TO STRIVE FOR, AND I DO APPRECIATE THE WORK ON THIS, AND I WILL CONTINUE TO PRESS UPON THIS BECAUSE IT'S A LAW.

WE OUGHT TO BE COMPLYING WITH THE LAW, AND SO I WANT TO JUST SEE US FINALLY GET THERE.

I THINK WE'VE MADE SOME GREAT PROGRESS, BUT OBVIOUSLY MORE STILL NEEDS TO BE MADE, AND I THINK THIS WILL HELP US CONTINUE THAT PROGRESS. SO I MOVE ON THE ITEM AS PRESENTED.

>> IT'S A TRANSMITTAL.

>> SO JUST A QUESTION ON -- ON THE DELAY.

CAN YOU UPDATE US ON THAT REAL QUICK?

>> WELL, I THINK WITH THE FINANCIAL YEAR CLOSE COMING UP AND THE BUDGET, WE WANTED TO I THINK TO COMMISSIONER RAMSEY'S POINT, NOT DO TOO MUCH AT ONE TIME AND LOWER THE RISK OF MAKING MISTAKES.

THIS IS IMPORTANT. I THINK AS COMMISSIONER GARCIA SAID, WE'VE WORKED HARD, WE'VE MADE A LOT OF PROGRESS, BUT WE WANT TO LOWER THE RISK AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE. AS YOU CAN SEE IN THE TRANSMITTAL, WE'RE WORKING CLOSELY WITH THE AUDITOR, WITH PURCHASING WITH UNIVERSAL SERVICES, THAT THE TEAM IS WORKING TOGETHER, BUT WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE DO APPROPRIATE TRAINING, THAT WE COMPLETE THE WORK THAT NEEDS TO BE COMPLETED, AND THAT WE GET THROUGH THE FINANCIAL YEAR CLOSE BEFORE WE IMPLEMENT NEW THINGS FOR DEPARTMENTS TO FOLLOW.

>> DOES THE FACT THAT TWO -- TWO DEPARTMENTS DO THEIR PROCUREMENT OUTSIDE OF THE PURCHASING AGENT CAUSE ANY KIND OF OBSTACLES IN IMPLEMENTING THIS PROCESS AT ALL? OR IS

IT NOT REALLY RELEVANT? >> I DON'T BELIEVE THAT'S A SPECIFIC ISSUE THAT IS GETTING IN THE WAY OF THIS

PROCESS. >> ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU SO MUCH.

OKAY, SO WE'LL ACCEPT THAT TRANSMITTAL. 216, THAT IS ON THE FY-

[02:00:01]

PROJECTIONS -- >> JUDGE, I THINK IT'S

214. >> 214, THANK YOU.

YEAH, IT'S 214. SO MY COMMENT THERE IS, YOU KNOW, WE'VE ALL BEEN HEARING THE NEWS ABOUT WHAT'S BEING CANCELED FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT. I THINK I WAS VERY SURPRISED TO SEE EVEN AFTER THE FLOODING IN THE HILL COUNTRY, THE -- SECRETARY WAS STILL TALKING ABOUT THE WHITTLING DOWN OF FEMA. AN ITEM FOR THE NEXT COURT IS A CUP OF US DID NOT VOTE FOR COMMITTING TO THE PAY RAISES FOR THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE JUST BECAUSE IT'S IN THE TENS OF IF NOT HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS, AND WE DIDN'T KNOW WHAT WOULD BE CUT IF WE MADE THAT COMMITMENT. OF COURSE, I'M COMMITTED TO THOSE RAISES, WHICH IS WHY I'VE PROPOSED WAYS TO PAY FOR THAT IN THE PAST.

BUT WHAT I'M THINKING ABOUT NOW IS NOT ONLY DO WE NOT KNOW WHAT WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO CUT TO AFFORD THAT, BUT WE ALSO DON'T KNOW WHAT THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT IS GOING TO CUT. AND AS I'VE BEEN VISITING WITH DIFFERENT DEPARTMENTS, IT -- IT IS -- I FIND IT PROFOUNDLY IRRESPONSIBLE TO DO THAT.

SO I JUST WANT TO BRING THIS UP AGAIN. AND I KNOW IT'S A TRANSMITTAL, BUT JUST PUT IT OUT THERE FOR THE PUBLIC AND FOR THE BUDGET OFFICE. AND AS I SAID, WE'LL WORK UP ON ITEM TO JUST THINK ABOUT WHAT THE POSSIBLE IMPACTS OF THE FEDERAL FUNDING CUTS WOULD HAVE ON OUR BUDGET.

BECAUSE FOR ONE HARRIS HEALTH, THE DOCTOR HAD SAID A THIRD OF THEIR FUNDING WAS FEDERAL. I WAS JUST VISITING WITH THE RYAN WHITE FOLKS THAT SUPPORT FOLKS LIVING WITH HIV/AIDS.

ALL OF THEIR PROGRAMMING IS FEDERAL, OUR JUVENILE SYSTEM.

EVERYTHING BUT INCARCERATION IS FEDERAL. AND ON TOP OF THAT WE'RE HAVING TO CUT ABOUT $300 MILLION BECAUSE OF THIS COMMITMENT THAT WE MADE BLINDLY, SO I WOULD JUST LIKE TO SEE WHAT WE CAN DO TO -- TO BE JUST A LITTLE BIT MORE RESPONSIBLE, AND JUST PUT DOWN A -- PUT DOWN A MARKER THAT I ALREADY THAT IT WAS A BAD IDEA TO COMMIT TENS OF HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS BLINDLY, AND I THINK IT'S A PARTICULARLY BAD IDEA TO DO SO WHEN THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT IS ENACTING DRACONIAN CUTS, AND WE DON'T EVEN KNOW WHAT THEY'RE GOING TO BE, AND WE ARE EXTREMELY RELIANT IN FUNDING PARTICULARLY FOR DISASTER RECOVERY. COMMISSIONER ELLIS AND COMMISSIONER

RAMSEY. >> QUICK, I LOOK FORWARD TO HAVING THAT CONVERSATION PARTICULARLY ON THE $500 MILLION WORTH OF DISCRETIONARY SPENDING WE CURRENTLY DO IN THE COUNTY.

SO WE LOOK FORWARD TO A ROBUST CONVERSATION ON WHERE WE'RE SPENDING AS WE LOOK THROUGH ALL OUR PARTNER FUNDING AND OTHER FUNDING. SO THAT IS GOING TO BE A GOOD EXERCISE FOR THE COUNTY TO GO

THROUGH. >> YES?

>> I WOULD JUST ADD, TOO, MR. RAMOS, WHEN WE HAVE OUR BUDGET DISCUSSIONS, I DON'T WANT IT ALL WRAPPED UP IN A BUDGET PACKAGE WHERE IT'S EITHER THIS OR NOTHING.

YOU MAKE CHOICES WHEN YOU GO THROUGH THE BUDGET, AND I BELIEVE IN THE WILL OF THE MAJORITY. SO THREE MEMBERS OF COURT MADE A DECISION, BUT WE NEED TO -- I'M GOING TO MAKE SURE I'M ABLE TO VOTE JUST LIKE COMMISSIONER RAMSY PULLS UP, I WANT TO MAKE SURE WE CAN VOTE. AT LEAST AS IT RELATES TO THE BUNCH OF CRITICAL SERVICES I WANT TO BE ON THE RECORD THE CHOICES MADE, AND IT WAS NOT MY CHOICE THE LAUF LAYOFF OF EMPLOYEES AND CUT OTHER ESSENTIAL PROGRAMS. AND I'M ALL FOR GIVING PAY RAISES TO LAW ENFORCEMENT, BUT THERE'S A COST FOR THAT. OBVIOUSLY I KNEW I WAS TAKING HEAT WHEN I MADE THE MOTION TO HAVE THE TAX RATE HIKES. IT WAS LOWER THAN IT WAS THAN THE PREVIOUS LEADERSHIP OF THE COURT.

TRUST ME, IF IT'S NOT, I'VE BEEN AROUND LONG ENOUGH TO KNOW I CAN PLAY WITH IT A LITTLE BIT TO KNOW THAT WE CAN. THAT MAKES IT A LITTLE EASIER. I DON'T LIKE LONG MEETINGS, AS YOU KNOW.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH. THAT IS I ACCEPT THE TRANSMITTAL. NOW WE'RE MOVING TO 245 --

>> JUDGE, CAN I MAKE HAVE ANOTHER FEW MINUTE BREAK? I KNOW COMMISSIONER GARCIA, CONTINUING TO HAVE TECHNICAL DIFFICULTIES THERE.

>> YES, IT'S 11:43. LET'S BREAK TO 10 TO NOON.

[02:05:06]

COMMISSIONERS COURT IS BACK IN SESSION. AND WHILE COMMISSIONER GARCIA FIXES HIS MIC, WE ARE GOING TO WORK ON A RESOLUTION THAT I'M PARTICULARLY EXCITED ABOUT. SO LET ME JUST GET TO THIS.

OKAY, SO IT'S ITEM 290. WE'D ALREADY VOTED ON IT, BUT I'D LIKE TO RECONSIDER IT. IT'S AN OUT OF ORDER RESOLUTION, AND IT IS HONORING CONSUL GENERAL WHO WE'RE HAPPY TO HAVE HERE. AS THE CONSUL GENERAL HAS SERVED OVERSEEING CONSULAR AFFAIRS FOR HARRIS COUNTY AND BEYOND SINCE 2021. SHE'S LED WITH A VISION THAT PRIORITIZES PROSPERITY BETWEEN FRANCE AND THE GREATER HOUSTON REGION. THE CONSUL GENERAL BROUGHT EXCEPTIONAL EXPERIENCE TO HER POST. HAVING SERVED AS A PHILOSOPHY INSTRUCTOR AT UC BERKELEY, A NEGOTIATOR AT NATO, A SENIOR CULTURAL DIPLOMAT IN CHINA AND AN ADVISOR ON SAFETY, A PUBLISHED AUTHOR, AND A RECIPIENT OF THE FRENCH NATIONAL ORDER OF MERIT. SHE USED HER DISTINGUISHED BACKGROUND TO PROMOTE WOMEN'S LEADERSHIP AND DIMPLOMACY AND FOSTER CROSS CULTURAL UNDERSTANDING IN HARRIS COUNTY. THE CONSUL GENERAL WAS APPOINTED IN FRANCE IN SEPTEMBER 2021, BECOMING THE FIRST WOMAN TO HOLD THIS POST AND REPRESENTING TEXAS, OKLAHOMA, AND ARKANSAS. SHE'S CHAMPIONED CULTURAL EXCHANGE AND DIPLOMATIC ENGAGEMENT BY CELEBRATING A WIDE RANGE OF PROGRAMS IS CELEBRATIONS IN TEXAS SUCH AS BASTILLE DAY, AS WELL AS THE HISTORICAL EXPRESSIONS OF NATIONAL UNITY IN THE MIDST OF POLITICAL CONFLICT.

SHE'S FORGED STRONG AND PRODUCTIVE PARTNERSHIPS, FOSTERING ECONOMIC TRADE TIES, PLAYING A VITAL ROLE IN HARRIS COUNTY'S FIRST TRADE MISSION TO FRANCE AND AEROSPACE, DIGITAL AND TECHNICAL COMPANIES STRENGTHEN HOUSTON'S MISSION AS A INNOVATION HUB.

KNOW THEY WILL LEAVE BEHIND COLLABORATION, RESPECT, AND SHARED PROGRESS. I WILL PERSONALLY MISS YOU GUYS VERY MUCH. THEREFORE BE IT REVISED HARRIS COUNTY CELEBRATES THE CONSUL GENERAL AND EXTENDS BEST WISHES FOR FUTURE ENDEAVORS.

BEFORE I GIVE YOU THE FLOOR, LET ME JUST MAKE SURE THAT THAT THIS MOTION PASSES TO RECONSIDER THE ITEM 290. SO I'M MAKING A MOTION TO RECONSIDER ITEM 290, SECOND BY COMMISSIONER ELLIS. ALL IN FAVOR? 290, YES, THAT'S JUST THE RESOLUTION. OKAY, ALL IN FAVOR? ANY OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY. THANK YOU.

GO AHEAD, CONSUL GENERAL.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH. JUDGE HIDALGO, COMMISSIONERS, IT'S A GREAT HONOR TO RECEIVE THIS TODAY, AND I WANT TO EXPRESS MY DEEP GRATITUDE FOR THIS MEANINGFUL RECOGNITION. THE CONSULATE IS PROUD TO SERVE THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN FRANCE AND HARRIS COUNTY, STRENGTHENING THE TIES BETWEEN OUR GOVERNMENTS, OUR COMMUNITIES, AND OUR PEOPLE. TOGETHER WE BUILD BRIDGES IN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, TRADE AND BUSINESS, MUTUAL UNDERSTANDING, CULTURAL AND EDUCATIONAL EXCHANGE, AND INNOVATION.

THESE CONNECTIONS PAVE THE WAY FOR AN EVEN STRONGER FRIENDSHIP. FRANCE IS THE OLDEST ALLY OF THE UNITED STATES, AND IT WAS THE FIRST FOREIGN COUNTRY TO RECOGNIZE THE REPUBLIC OF TEXAS, THE FORMER TEXAS EMBASSY IN PARIS AND THE FRENCH DELEGATION IN AUSTIN ARE LASTING SYMBOLS OF OUR SHARED HISTORY AND ENDURING FRIENDSHIP. TODAY THOSE HISTORIC BONDS --

>> GO AHEAD, MA'AM.

>> LIVE ON IN OUR COOPERATION, GROUNDED IN SHARED VALUES, LIBERTY, ENTREPRENEURSHIP AND A QUALMEN VISION FOR A MORE CONNECTED, SUSTAINABLE, AND PROSPEROUS FUTURE. THANK YOU AGAIN FOR THIS HONOR.

I LOOK FORWARD TO CONTINUING THIS PARTNERSHIP ROOTED IN HISTORY AND REASONABLY TURN TO THE FUTURE. JUDGE HIDALGO, COMMISSIONERS, BEFORE THE END OF MY TENURE IN HOUSTON, IT'S MY IMMENSE PRIVILEGE AND PLEASURE TO INVITE YOU TO CELEBRATE FRENCH- AMERICAN FRIENDSHIP ON THE OCCASION OF

[02:10:03]

HOUSTON AND HARRIS COUNTY, I LOVE YOU, AND I THANK YOU FOR YOUR FRIENDSHIP.

>> THANK YOU.

COMMISSIONER RAMSEY.

>> CONSUL GENERAL, THANK YOU FOR COMING BY.

WE'RE CELEBRATING OUR 250TH YEAR AS A COUNTRY, THERE'S MANY WOULD SAY, AND I WOULD AGREE WE WOULDN'T BE A COUNTRY TODAY WERE IT NOT FOR FRANCE.

WE CERTAINLY -- IN TEXAS AS WELL WE WOULDN'T HAVE BEEN IT A REPUBLIC WERE IT NOT FOR FRANCE, SO THANK YOU FOR THAT HISTORY, AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO DOING MORE WITH FRANCE. THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU. YES, COMMISSIONER

ELLIS? >> THANK YOU FOR COMING.

IT'S ALWAYS GOOD TO SEE YOU, CONSUL GENERAL, AND I HOPE THAT YOUR STAY HAS BEEN PRESENT, AND WHEREVER YOU END UP BEING ASSIGNED NEXT I'M SURE YOU WILL BE A TREMENDOUS SUCCESS THERE AS YOU HAVE BEEN HERE. THANK YOU VERY

MUCH. >> WE'LL TAKE SOME PICTURES NOW IF THAT'S OKAY.

>> YES, I'LL MAKE ANOTHER MOTION TO APPROVE THE

ITEM. >> THANK YOU.

MOTION BY COMMISSIONER ELLIS TO APPROVE THE ITEM.

I'LL SECOND IT. ALL IN FAVOR? ANY OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY.

THANK YOU SO MUCH. OKAY, LET'S TAKE A PICTURE, AND WE'LL GET STARTED AGAIN WHEN COMMISSIONER GARCIA RETURNS.

[02:18:13]

>> ALL RIGHT, IT'S 11:56, AND COMMISSIONERS COURT IS BACK IN SESSION. SO WE'VE GOT, COMMISSIONER, ABOUT AN HOUR, OR AM I GETTING THAT WRONG? OG, GOT OKAY, GOT IT.

WE'RE ON TRACK. OKAY, SO LET'S MOVE ONTO ITEM 245. SO COMMISSIONER GARCIA, ARE YOU THERE? WE DON'T SEE YOU ON THE VIDEO, BUT WE UNDERSTAND THAT YOU ARE ON

VIDEO. >> WE CAN MOVE ON THAT ONE.

CAN WE VOTE WITHOUT --

>> YEAH, SO MOTION BY COMMISSIONER ELLIS.

SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER RAMSEY. ALL IN

FAVOR? >>

AYE. >> ANY OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY. COMMISSIONER RAMSEY, YOU ALSO FLAGGED ITEM 250. THAT'S AN AMENDMENT TO A SUBAWARD AGREEMENT WITH BERKELEY RESEARCH GROUP.

>> AGAIN, THIS IS A GROUP THAT THEIR CONTRACT IS TO ASSIST US IN REVIEWING THE CITY MAINTENANCE PROGRAMS, DEPLOY ANALYTICS AND DASHBOARD FOR GRANT PROJECT MANAGEMENT AND SPENDING. IT'S REALLY CONFUSION.

I DON'T KNOW WHAT ROLE BERKELEY PLAYS IN ALL THAT IN TERMS OF -- OF TAKING THE DATA, COMMUNICATING WITH THE PUBLIC, WHAT WE'RE DOING AND WHAT WE'RE NOT DOING.

I JUST HAD CONCERNS WITH -- WITH THIS EXTENSION.

[02:20:02]

I GUESS THEY PARTICIPATE IN HELPING US PUT DATA TOGETHER.

IF THE DIRECTOR CAN GIVE ME A QUICK --

>> GOOD MORNING. SO COMMISSIONER RAMSEY, SO REALLY THIS CONTRACT IS FOCUSED ON INTERNAL PROCESSES. SO HELPING US -- SO, FOR EXAMPLE, THE FLOOD CONTROL DISTRICT, AS WE KNOW HAS A SIGNIFICANT NUMBER OF GRANTS THAT WE MANAGE.

THERE ARE NOT MANY COUNTY SYSTEMS THAT ALLOW US TO DO THIS EFFECTIVELY, SO WE HAVE A LOT OF SOFTWARE WE HAVE TO COORDINATE WITH.

AND ONE OF THE TASKS THEY'RE HELPING US DEVELOP INFORMATION RELATED TO OUR GRANT MANAGEMENT. OTHER OUTCOMES THEY ARE SUPPORTING ARE THINGS LIKE HELPING US WITH PROCESS IMPROVEMENTS, ENHANCING ANALYTICS, AND THESE ARE THINGS THAT ARE RELATED TO PROJECT BUDGETING, HUMAN CAPITAL, AND PROJECT FINANCES. SO IT'S REALLY HELPING US ON THE DEEPLY INTERNAL SYSTEMS AND PROCESSES SO WE CAN CONTINUE TO STREAMLINE AND MOVE FORWARD.

>> IN THE BOND PROGRAM?

>> AS PART OF THE OVERALL MANAGEMENT,

YES. >> AND THEY'VE BEEN UNDER CONTRACT FOR HOW MANY YEARS?

>> IT IS PART OF THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATION SLATE, SO I CAN'T SPEAK TO HOW LONG THEY'VE BEEN WITH THE COUNTY, BUT I THINK THEY'VE WORKED WITH US FOR ABOUT A YEAR, YEAR AND A HALF.

SO WE'RE MAKING GOOD PROGRESS. AND IN TERMS OF MOVING FORWARD, AND REALLY ONE OF THE OTHER AREAS THEY'VE BEEN HELPING US WITH AND SUPPORTING IS RELATED TO JUST OUR HUMAN CAPITAL, MAKING SURE WE'VE GOT STREAMLINED PROCESSES TO BRING IN TALENT AND MAKE SURE THAT WE RETAIN THE TALENT IN SOME OF OUR SOFTWARE.

>> AGAIN, THE BERKELEY RESEARCH GROUP OUT OF

CALIFORNIA? >> THEY HAVE A LOCAL OFFICE, BUT I ACTUALLY DON'T KNOW WHERE THEY'RE HEADQUARTERED. PRESUME BERKELEY.

>> OKAY, THAT'S JUST A COUPLE

QUESTIONS. >> YOU'RE ALL RIGHT, OR YOU WANT TO HOLD IT?

>> I'M NOT VOTING.

>> OKAY, SO THAT WAS 250. SO WHAT ABOUT 275, A REIMBURSEMENT MODEL FOR EMERGENCY SERVICES?

>> EXCUSE ME, JUDGE. I'M SORRY.

I DO THINK MY UNDERSTANDING IS COMMISSIONER GARCIA DOES WANT TO BE PART OF THE DISCUSSION ON 275 AND 276. I KNOW HE'S TRYING TO GET HIS STUFF BACK, SO I THINK THAT'S ALL THAT WE HAVE

LEFT. >> 276 IS COMMISSIONER RAMSEY'S REQUEST FOR --

>> WE'RE DOING THOSE TOGETHER,

JUDGE. >> OH, THERE HE

IS. >> CAN YOU

HEAR ME? >> YES, WE CAN HEAR YOU, COMMISSIONER. SO LET'S GO BACK TO THE TOP ON THIS, GUYS, IF THAT'S OKAY. SO THERE'S 250 I THINK

IS -- >> I'LL MOVE IT.

I'LL MOVE 250, COMMISSIONER GARCIA. THAT'S THE BERKELEY RESEARCH GROUP

1.5. >> YEAH,

SECOND. >> MOTION BY COMMISSIONER ELLIS, SECOND BY COMMISSIONER GARCIA.

ALL IN FAVOR?

>> AYE. >>

ANY OPPOSED? >>

NO. >> MOTION CARRIES 3-1.

AND THEN WE HAVE 275 AND 276, WHICH GO TOGETHER.

COMMISSIONER RAMSEY, I SEE YOU'VE MARKED YOUR NAME ON

HERE. >> I SUPPORT COMMISSIONER GARCIA'S MOTION ON THAT JUST FROM THE STANDPOINT ON THE ISSUE I BROUGHT UP IN 276.

SO JUST AFFIRMING THAT, COMMISSIONER, BEFORE WE GET INTO THE DISCUSSION.

>> GOOD DEAL. THANK YOU.

ON 275, FIRST, I WANT TO THANK EVERY FIRST RESPONDER FROM WHATEVER AGENCY YOU'RE COMING FROM, THANK YOU FOR THE WORK THAT YOU DO WHEN YOU'RE RESPONDING TO ANY EVENTS ON OUR TOLL ROADS, AND ABSOLUTELY EVERYTHING YOU DO IS CRITICAL TO THE SAFETY OF OUR ROADS, SAFETY TO OUR TOLL USERS AND TO OUR EMPLOYEES AS WELL. WHEN A DRIVER NEEDS HELP, THEY DON'T CARE WHAT JURISDICTION.

THEY JUST WANT SOMEONE TO RESPOND.

SO SOME OF THE PROPOSED LEGISLATION IN THIS YEAR'S STATE LEGISLATIVE SESSION HIGHLIGHTED THE COSTS THAT MANY JURISDICTIONS TAKE ON WHILE RESPONDING TO EMERGENCIES ON COUNTY TOLL ROADS. SO I'D LIKE TO OFFER THAT WE TAKE THE PROACTIVE STEP AND BE GOOD PARTNERS WITH OUR JURISDICTIONS BY PROVIDING THEM AN OPPORTUNITY TO REQUEST -- TO REQUEST REIMBURSEMENT FOR EXPENSIVE EMERGENCY SERVICES THAT THEY MAY BE PROVIDING ON OUR TOLL ROADS. SO VERY SIMPLY MY MOTION IS TO DIRECT THE HARRIS COUNTY TOLL ROAD AUTHORITY TO DEVELOP A REIMBURSEMENT MODEL FOR JURISDICTIONS THAT CONDUCT

[02:25:01]

THE HARRIS COUNTY TOLL ROAD AUTHORITY SHOULD RETURN TO COMMISSIONERS COURT ON AUGUST 7TH TO PROVIDE AN UPDATE ON THE DEVELOPMENT OF SUCH POLICY.

SO I JUST WANT TO REITERATE THIS IS FOR REIMBURSEMENT ON THE HARRIS COUNTY ROADS AND HARRIS COUNTY RIGHT-OF-WAY. NOT THE STATE'S, NOT ANYONE ELSE'S, BUT THE TOLL ROADS AND

RIGHT-OF-WAY. >> OKAY.

>> YOU'RE GOING TO SECOND IT, COMMISSIONER?

>> AGAIN, I'M GOING TO SECOND THAT. AND THE POINT I'LL MAKE VERY QUICKLY, COMMISSIONER, IS THE LEGISLATURE FELT LIKE THAT IT WOULD BE IMPORTANT THAT WE AT LEAST RECOGNIZE THESE ISSUES THAT CLEARLY COMMISSIONER GARCIA LAID OUT. I THINK IT SENDS A CLEAR MESSAGE TO THE LEGISLATURE THAT WE CAN HANDLE THINGS LOCALLY WITHOUT THEIR NECESSARY HELP. SO IN THE SPIRIT OF THAT TRYING TO PUT SOMETHING IN PLACE THAT'S FAIR -- AND AGAIN, WE'RE GOING TO COME BACK AND HAVE A LOOK AT THAT -- AT THE DETAILS OF WHAT'S THAT GOING TO INVOLVE, HOW MANY AGENCIES THAT MAY INVOLVE.

BUT I THINK THAT SENDS A GOOD, POSITIVE SIGNAL TO THE LEGISLATURE THAT WE ARE LISTENING, WE ARE PAYING ATTENTION, AND WE CAN HANDLE THESE THINGS LOCALLY.

>> YEAH, JUDGE, I WANTED TO LET YOU SECOND IT, COMMISSIONER, BECAUSE I THINK IT SHOWS THAT BIPARTISAN SUPPORT.

I THINK FOR BOTH OF YOU THE MODEL IS BASED ON THE THEMA MODEL, I'M TOLD.

>> THAT'S RIGHT.

>> AND THE OTHER THING I WANT TO STRESS IS IF WE WERE ASKED, WE WOULD HAVE DONE IT ANYWAY.

IF THE ISSUE HAD COME UP FROM THE CITY OR OTHER PARTNERS, WE WOULD HAVE DONE IT ANYWAY.

THANK YOU. >> WE HAVE A MOTION BY COMMISSIONER GARCIA, SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER RAMSEY.

ALL IN FAVOR? ANY OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY. THAT WAS FOR 275 AND 276. IS THERE ADDITIONAL DISCUSSION ON 276, COMMISSIONER RAMSEY?

>> NO.

>> OKAY, ARE WE MISSING ANYTHING

ELSE? >> JUST TO CLARIFY SO THE MOTION IS FOR 275 AND 276?

>> YES.

>> THANK YOU.

>> ACCORDING TO MY MOATS WE'VE GOTTEN THROUGH THE AGENDA AT RECORD SPEED.

>> JUST, I JUST WANTED TO --

>> JUDGE, I DO HAVE -- I DO HAVE A RESOLUTION THAT I -- I THINK WE'RE GOING TO GET INTO THAT IN A MINUTE, BUT I THINK THERE'S A RESOLUTION THAT IS VERY IMPORTANT FOR HARRIS COUNTY, TO MAKE SURE WE ALL GET A VOTE ON IT --

>> WHAT'S THE NUMBER? WHAT'S THAT

NUMBER? >> THAT'S 292, THE NASA FUNDING.

>> I'LL SECOND IT. YOU WANT

TO READ IT? >> FIRST, WE HAVE TO MAKE A MOTION TO RECONSIDER.

>> OKAY.

>> SO MOTION BY COMMISSIONER GARCIA TO RECONSIDER 292.

>> WELL, HE WAS NOT HERE. I'LL MAKE A MOTION.

IT DOESN'T MATTER? GO

AHEAD. >> IS THERE A SECOND? OKAY, MOTION BY GARCIA, SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER GARCIA. MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY.

SO NOW WE ARE RECONSIDERING 292.

>> SO TODAY I HAVE A RESOLUTION URGING FULL FEDERAL FUNDING FOR NASA.

IT'S IMPORTANT TO RECOGNIZE WHAT'S ABSOLUTELY AT STAKE, NOT JUST SPACE EXPLORATION BUT FOR JOBS, EDUCATION, AND THE ECONOMY HERE IN HARRIS COUNTY.

I'D LIKE TO ASK BRIAN FREEDMAN, IF HE'S IN THE AUDIENCE, HE'S THE PRESIDENT OF THE BAY AREA HOUSTON ECONOMIC PARTNERSHIP AND LONG TIME CHAMPION OF SPACE INNOVATION. WITH DECADES OF EXPERIENCE, BRIAN HAS BEEN AT THE FOREFRONT OF ADVANCING U.S. SPACE POLICY AND FORGING STRONG PUBLIC, PRIVATE PARTNERSHIPS. SO TODAY HE'LL SHARE WHY THE FUNDING FOR NASA ISN'T JUST ABOUT ROCKETS.

IT'S ABOUT JOBS, JOBS, TECHNOLOGY, AND GLOBAL LEADERSHIP. SO, BRIAN, IF YOU ARE -- I'M HAVING A HARD TIME LOOKING AT THE SCREEN --

>> I'M NOT SURE HE'S HERE, COMMISSIONER.

I DON'T THINK HE'S HERE.

>> OKAY. IF HE CAN'T BE THERE, THE RESOLUTION SPEAKS FOR ITSELF, BUT ABSOLUTELY WE NEED TO ENCOURAGE THE FEDERAL ADMINISTRATION TO THINK ABOUT NASA. THEY HAVE BEEN GIVEN A BIT OF A REPRIEVE WITH SOME FUNDING IN THE -- IN THE LEGISLATION THAT'S JUST BEEN PASSED.

HOWEVER, IT IS VERY, VERY SHORT- TERM

[02:30:03]

MOTION. >> A MOTION BY COMMISSIONER GARCIA, SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER ELLIS.

ALL IN FAVOR?

>> AYE.

>> ANY OPPOSED? MOTION

CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY. >> JUDGE, IF

I MIGHT -- >> YES, COMMISSIONER

ELLIS? >> I'D JUST LIKE TO COMMEND YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP AND COMMISSIONER RAMSEY AND GARCIA.

IN 3 1/2 HOURS, YOU'VE DONE WONDERFUL THINGS.

I HOPE IT'S A MODEL FOR THE FUTURE, AND

GOOD-BYE. >> ALL RIGHT, ALL GOOD COUNTY ATTORNEY CLERK'S OFFICE. SO IT'S 12:09, AND COMMISSIONERS COURT IS NOW ADJOURNED.

* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.