* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.
          [00:00:05]
          . >> THANK YOU. 
          GOOD MORNING, EVERYONE. GOOD MORNING, COLLEAGUES. I KNOW WE HAVE A LOT OF FOLKS STILL WAITING TO GET IN. 
          BUT I'D LIKE TO GET US STARTED. IT IS 10:00 A.M. 
          I'D LIKE TO CALL THIS AUGUST 7, 2025 MEETING. 
          >> JUDGE, IT'S 10:16. 
          >> THANK YOU. THIS AUGUST 7, 2025 MEETING OF 
          [Pastor Keenan Smith of Crosby Church in Crosby introduced by the Commissioner of Precinct 3.]
THE HARRIS COUNTY COMMISSIONERS COURT TO ORDER. 
          >> WE ARE VERY FORTUNATE TO HAVE PASTOR SMITH, NOT ONLY A PASTOR IN THE PRECINCT, BUT A FRIEND. 
          A FRIEND TO THE COMMUNITY OUT THERE. 
          HIS ENTERED THE MINISTRY IN 1982 FROM THE NORTH OF US IN ILLINOIS. 
          WORKED CONSTRUCTION. HAD A CONSTRUCTION COMPANY. 
          HE IS MARRIED WITH THREE CHILDREN. 
          MOVED TO HOUSTON IN '91. JUST HAS A REALLY THRIVING MINISTRY THERE IN EAST HARRIS COUNTY. 
          PASTOR, WOULD YOU GET US STARTED OFF RIGHT THIS MORNING? 
          >> THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER, JUDGE. 
          IT'S AN HONOR AND PRIVILEGE TO BE HERE. 
          WE JUST THANK THE LORD FOR ALL THAT HE HAS BLESSED US WITH. 
          THANK YOU FOR A LOTTING THIS MOMENT IN TIME TO HIM. WOULD YOU PRAY WITH ME? LORD OF HEAVEN AND EARTH, WE COME BEFORE YOU WITH OUR HEARTS HUMBLED. WE RECOGNIZE THE PRIVILEGE ALONG WITH THE RESPONSIBILITY THAT YOU HAVE GIVEN US. 
          THANK YOU FOR EVERY OFFICIAL THAT'S SEATED HERE TODAY. WE PRAY FOR EVERY CITIZEN THEY REPRESENT, EVERY FAMILY, EVERY WORKER, EVERY BUSINESS, EVERY STUDENT, EVERY MOTHER, EVERY FATHER, EACH ONE HAVING HOPES AND DREAMS, NEEDS AND CHALLENGES. 
          LORD, WE ASK YOU GIVE US NOT OURS BUT YOUR WISDOM. 
          YOUR WISDOM THAT WOULD BE IN THIS ROOM AND IN OUR SPIRITS TODAY. LET US MAKE DECISIONS THAT ARE NOT SHAPED JUST BY POLICY OR IDEOLOGY BUT COMPASSION AND COMMON SENSE. NOT JUST BY WHAT SEEMS LIKE A GOOD IDEA BUT WHAT IS RIGHT AND JUST. LORD, WE KNOW YOU HAVE SEEN EVERY HOSPITAL, EVERY CLASSROOM, EVERY BUSINESS, EVERY HOME, WHERE SOMEONE'S PRAYING, LOOKING FOR HELP FOR VISION AND HEALING. LET US DO THE WORK THAT'S NECESSARY THAT REFLECTS THE LIVES OF THESE INDIVIDUALS THAT WE REPRESENT AS YOU SAID IN YOUR WORD, LET US SEEK JUSTICE, DEFEND THE CAUSE OF THE FATHERLESS, PLEAD THE CASE OF THE WIDOW. 
          HELP US TO LEAD IN THAT SPIRIT, DEFENDING THE RIGHTS AND THE RESPONSIBILITY AND INTEGRITY AND VISION YOU HAVE PLACED. BLESS EACH ONE OF US WITH YOUR PATIENCE AND YOUR PERSPECTIVE. 
          MARKED BY UNITY OF PURPOSE AND CLARITY OF THOUGHT, IN THE DECISIONS THAT ARE MADE HERE TODAY THAT TOUCH REAL LIVES, REAL HOMES AND REAL PEOPLE. 
          LORD, WE ASK FOR YOUR PRESENCE, FOR YOUR GUIDANCE AND FOR YOUR WISDOM UPON EACH ONE AS WE LEAD TODAY. AS ONLY YOU CAN GIVE BY YOUR SPIRIT. LORD, WE THANK YOU AND WE HONOR YOU TODAY. IN THE NAME OF OUR LORD THAT WE PRAY THESE THINGS. EVERYONE THAT WOULD SAY AMEN. 
          >> AMEN. 
          >> THANK YOU, PASTOR FOR THE BEAUTIFUL FAIR. THANK YOU. WE WILL 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 DIVISIBLE WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL. HONOR THE TEXAS FLAG, I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THEE, TEXAS, ONE STATE, UNDER GOD, ONE AND INDIVISIBLE. 
          ALL RIGHT. WELCOME, EVERYBODY. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US THIS MORNING. ESPECIALLY OUR KIDS. JUST A COUPLE OF NOTES HERE. 
          [Departments (Part 1 of 3)]
WE WOULD LIKE TO -- I WOULD LIKE ITEM 362 PLEASE BE TAKEN UP FIRST. OF COURSE, WE HAVE A LOT OF KIDS HERE. ALSO IN ORDER TO PUT THIS ITEM ON THE BALLOT, WE HAVE TO DO IT BEFORE NOON. I'M GOING TO CALL UP THE SPEAKERS RELATED TO THIS ITEM. 
          THEN WE WILL DISCUSS THE ITEM. THEN WE WILL GO BACK TO THE REST OF THE SPEAKERS. I ALSO HAVE A NOTE HERE, PRECINCT 3 REQUESTS TO TAKE ITEM 1, THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATION JOB DESCRIPTION, AND ITEM 
          [00:05:01]
519, OFFICE OF COUNTY ADMINISTRATION COMMITTEES TOGETHER AS THEY BOTH RELATE TO THE OCA DEPARTMENT. ALSO PRECINCT 4 REQUESTS ITEM TWO AND HILL COUNTY FLOODING AS THEY RELATE TO THE DISASTER RELIEF. 
          WELCOME TO ALL THE KIDS AND THE PARENTS WHO ARE HERE. THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE TODAY. 
          KIDS, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING SO, SO PATIENT. 
          I REALLY APPRECIATE YOU GUYS. LET ME JUST ASK YOU GUYS AGAIN, HOW MANY OF YOU DO YOUR PARENTS WORK? RAISE YOUR HAND. 
          ANYBODY ELSE WHOSE PARENTS WORK? OKAY. 
          YOU ARE PART OF OUR PROGRAM. WE'RE GOING TO TAKE UP THE SPEAKERS. HOPEFULLY TODAY, KIDS, YOU WILL LEARN ABOUT HOW YOUR GOVERNMENT WORKS. YOU WERE ON TV TODAY ON ALL THE NEWS STATIONS. 
          WERE YOU EXCITED TO BE ON TV? YEAH. OKAY. THANK YOU, AGAIN, AND TO OUR FAMILIES WHO ARE HERE. PLEASE INTRODUCE THE SPEAKERS ON THE EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION ITEM 362. 
          >> YES, MA'AM. FIRST IS SPEAKER NUMBER 15, JOY DAVIS, SPEAKING ON ITEMS 3 AND 362 OF PRECINCT 2. YOU HAVE ONE MINUTE. 
          >> GOOD MORNING, COMMISSIONERS AND COUNTY JUDGE. 
          MY NAME IS JOY DAVIS. I'M THE ORGANIZER FOR THE PURE JUSTICE ACTION FUND. I'M HERE FOR MY NEIGHBORS, MY ELDERS AND EVERYONE WHO DEPENDS ON THESE PROGRAMS. THE CHILDREN WHO NEED AFTER- SCHOOL PROGRAMS, SENIORS WHO DEPEND ON CLINICS FOR BASIC CARE, JUSTICE INVOLVED INDIVIDUALS WHO DEPEND ON PROGRAMS TO KEEP THEM FROM CYCLING INTO A SYSTEM THAT FAILED THEM ONCE. YOU CAN'T BUILD A STRONG COUNTY BY CUTTING PROGRAMS KEEPING PEOPLE AFLOAT LIKE THESE. WHEN HAS CUTTING INVESTMENT SOLVED ROOT CAUSES OF PROBLEMS? I HEAR YOU SAY THERE'S NO MONEY WHEN IT COMES TO PUBLIC HEALTH, EDUCATION AND CHILDCARE, BUT THERE'S MONEY FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT. LET'S INVEST IN OUR KIDS. 
          THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU. 
          >> SHIRLEY RONKIRA AND OLGA RIVERA. 
          >> SOME OF THE SPEAKERS ARE STILL GOING THROUGH SECURITY. IF SOME DO NOT COME UP, I KNOW YOU CIRCLE BACK WITH THEM. 
          JUST TO LET YOU KNOW. 
          >> YES, MA'AM. GOOD MORNING. 
          AS A COMMITTEE ORGANIZER AND HEALTH WORKER, I STAND BY HARRIS COUNTY PUBLIC HEALTH PROGRAMMING TO MEET THE NEEDS OF OUR UNINSURED RESIDENTS. 
          I'M AWARE FUNDS RUN OUT IN '26. I'M CONCERNED FAMILIES WILL BE LEFT WITH NO SUPPORT IN MATERNAL CARE, HEART OR PREVENTATIVE PROGRAMS. I APPRECIATE YOUR SUPPORT FOR A TAX FOR EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION. COULDN'T WE CREATE A PROPOSAL THAT SECURES FUNDING FOR PROGRAMS? TO ALL COMMISSIONERCOMMISSIONERS , PASS A BUDGET THAT SUPPORTS THE MOST VULNERABLE RESIDENTS. 
          FIND A MEANS TO GIVE THE SHERIFF AND CONSTABLE OFFICE TOOLS. IT COULD BE LEVERAGED TO REDUCE PAY GAPS. MAKE DECISIONS THAT DON'T CREATE A BIGGER DEFICIT IN THE FUTURE. 
          DON'T SPEND THE MONEY THE COUNTY DOES NOT HAVE. FIND OTHER SOURCES OF REVENUE OR PARTNERS TO FILL GAPS. IF YOU MUST, LET THE VOTERS DECIDE IF THEY SUPPORT A TAX 
          INCREASE. >> THANK YOU. YOUR TIME IS UP. 
          >> THANK YOU. 
          >> THANK YOU. INTERPRETER, ARE YOU READY? . GO AHEAD. 
          [00:10:06]
          >> TRANSLATOR: GOOD MORNING, MYMY IS AL ORGA. 
          I'M HERE TO REPRESENT SENIOR CITIZENS. 
          HAVE YOU CONSIDERED WHAT ANY TAX INCREASE YOU ARE IMPOSING ON US? WITH THE CRISIS WE ARE ALL LIVING THROUGH, WE ARE NOW FACING SERIOUS SHORTAGE. 
          FOOD IS EXTREMELY EXPENSIVE, AS IS GAS, WATER AND ELECTRICITY SERVICES. 
          ALL THROUGH THE ROOF. IT DOESN'T SEEM FAIR TO ME THAT DUE TO THE MISTAKES MADE BY YOU, BY NOT ALIGNING WITH THE BUDGET, IT'S WE WHO ARE HAVING TO SUFFER THE CONSEQUENCES. 
          ALL THAT I AM ASKING IS THAT YOU WORK AS A TEAM AND FIND A SOLUTION THAT DOES NOT NEGATIVELY IMPACT THE SENIOR CITIZENS. 
          THANK YOU VERY MUCH. 
          >> THANK YOU. 
          >> I WAS SAYING, I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT, DO YOU KNOW TODAY WE'RE VOTING JUST ON WHETHER TO ASK THE VOTERS FOR THIS. YOU SAID YES. 
          THEN I SAID, BECAUSE THEN YOU CAN VOTE IN NOVEMBER TO SAY WHETHER YOU WILL OR WILL NOT WANT TO PAY A PENNY. 
          IT WOULD BE A DOLLAR FOR EVERY $100 VALUATION OR A PENNY FOR EVERY $100, BUT $24 FOR A $240,000 HOME. SHE SAID YES. 
          >> WHY ARE WE AT A DEFICIT? MAYBE WE SPEND ON THINGS NOT IN THE BUDGET. 
          >> I WAS CLARIFYING, LAST YEAR THERE WAS A PROPOSAL TO INCREASE SALARY FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT, WHICH I SUPPORT. ABOUT $150 MILLION. I THINK IT'S MORE. THE PROPOSAL WAS MADE. 
          WE CAN'T AFFORD IT, THE BUDGET DIRECTED IT'S VERY CLEAR WE COULD NOT AFFORD IT. WE SAID, WHY DON'T WE FIGURE OUT IF THE VOTERS WOULD LIKE TO PAY FOR THIS BEFORE WE COMMIT TO PAYING FOR THIS. WE DON'T HAVE ENOUGH MONEY. 
          THE COURT MADE THE DECISION, LET'S COMMIT TO PAYING FOR THIS EVEN THOUGH WE DON'T HAVE MONEY FOR IT. 
          SHE SAID, WELL IT MAY BE OTHER THINGS AS WELL, NOT JUST SALARY INCREASE. THAT'S RIGHT. BASICALLY, THE COMMISSIONERS COURT HAS BEEN ADDING NEW COURTS, GIVING MONEY TO VARIOUS OFFICES, EVEN THOUGH THE BUDGET DIRECTOR HAS SAID WE CANNOT AFFORD IT. 
          [00:15:02]
I WAS CLARIFYING THAT TO BE BE I RESPECT HER POSITION AND, OF COURSE, HER VOTE. IF THIS GETS ON THE BALLOT, SHE WILL VOTE NO. THAT'S DEMOCRACY. 
          ULTIMATELY, I WANT HER TO KNOW THIS IS NOT SOMETHING THAT CAN BE PAID WITH THE GENERAL BUDGET. 
          THIS IS SOMETHING SEPARATE FROM THE BEGINNING FOUR YEARS AGO, THIS WAS DESIGNED TO BE PAID FOR SEPARATELY OUTSIDE OF THE BUDGET. 
          FOR YEARS, I HAVE BEEN OPPOSED TO FUNDING OR AT LEAST THE LAST YEAR THAT THIS HAS BEEN HAPPENING, I HAVE BEEN OPPOSED TO COMMITTING TO EXPENSES THAT WE DO NOT HAVE FUNDING FOR. 
          I SAID THANK YOU. 
          >> TRANSLATOR: AS SENIOR CITIZENS HAVE BENEFITTED WITH THE PROGRAMS THAT YOU HAVE PRESENTED AND BROUGHT TO US. WE ARE VERY GRATEFUL AND WE ARE STILL WORKING ON DOING BETTER, WORKING HARDER. 
          >> THANK YOU. THANK YOU SO MUCH. 
          >> NEXT IS BARBARA DENSON, JUDY BLAKE AND URSULA BONITA. 
          YOU EACH HAVE ONE MINUTE. 
          >> WHEN THE COUNTY LAUNCHED LONG- TERM INITIATIVES WITH SHORT- TERM FUNDING, YOU SET YOURSELVES UP FOR A RECKONING. 
          THAT MOMENT HAS ARRIVED. YOU HAD TO KNOW THAT SUSTAINING THESE SERVICES WOULD EVENTUALLY REQUIRE RAISING TAXES OR MAKING RESPONSIBLE DECISIONS ON CUTTING THE SERVICES. 
          YOU NEED TO REFOCUS ON YOUR CORE STATUTORY RESPONSIBILITIES. 
          THE THINGS HARRIS COUNTY IS LEGALLY AND ETHICALLY OBLIGATED TO PROVIDE. 
          THAT MEANS TAKING A HARD LOOK AT PROGRAMS THAT MAY BE POLITICALLIED POLITICALLY ED ADVANTAGEOUS BUT ASKING, CAN WE AFFORD THEM? THIS IS ABOUT POLITICS. 
          FUNDING DECISIONS MUST WE FLEKT STRATEGIC PRIORITIES. 
          TO BE RESPONSIBLE, YOU MUST MAKE TOUGH DECISIONS. 
          WHAT THE COUNTY CAN REALISTICALLY DELIVER AND WHAT MUST BE SET ASIDE. THANK YOU. 
          >> THANK YOU. YOU ARE CORRECT, WE KNEW THIS WAS GOING TO HAVE TO GO TO THE VOTERS. 
          >> GOOD MORNING. GOOD MORNING COMMISSIONERS. 
          HI, JUDGE. THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK TODAY. I AM THE SINGLE PARENT OF AN ADULT SON WITH AUTISM AND AND CO- OCCURRING DISABILITIES. MY SON, WHEN HE WAS A YEAR OLD, PARTICIPATED IN THE EARLY CHILDHOOD INTERVENTION PROGRAM THROUGH THE HARRIS CENTER FOR MENTAL HEALTH AND IDD. THE COGNITIVE SKILLS THERAPIST, THE SPEECH THERAPIST, THE OCCUPATIONAL THERAPIST WERE INSTRUMENTAL IN HIS GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT. TODAY, MY SON IS WORKING, WHICH IS A HUGE ACCOMPLISHMENT FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES, BECAUSE THEY ARE SO OFTEN UNDEREMPLOYED OR NOT EMPLOYED AT ALL. 
          HE WILL BE CELEBRATING THE THIRD ANNIVERSARY OF HIS JOB IN SEPTEMBER. I'M HERE TO SUPPORT THE RISE PROGRAM AND INSPIRE PROGRAM OF THE HARRIS CENTER. 
          I'M A LEADER -- 
          >> THANK YOU, YOUR TIME IS UP. 
          >> YOU CAN FINISH. 
          >> I'M SORRY. THAT GOES QUICK. THE INSPIRE PROGRAM AND THE RISE PROGRAM AT THE HARRIS CENTER ARE SO IMPORTANT TO THE COMMUNITY. PLEASE FUND THEM. CHILDREN LIKE MINE 
          [00:20:04]
BENEFITTED FROM THEM. 
          THE FIRST FIVE YEARS ARE CRITICAL. 
          ALL CHILDREN DESERVE A CHANCE. PLEASE SUPPORT THE RISE AND INSPIRE PROGRAM AND THE PENNY TAX. 
          >> THANK YOU. THANK YOU SO MUCH. 
          >> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. 
          >> WHO IS THE NEXT SPEAKER? 
          >> URSULA . 
          >> SHE'S MAKING HER WAY. I GET IT. 
          I UNDERSTAND. 
          >> GOOD MORNING. I'M FROM PRECINCT 1. 
          I'M NOT AGAINST THE PROGRAM FOR CHILDHOOD. 
          BUT YOU GUYS THINK TO PUNISH WITH THE SCHOOL DISTRICT? THEY OFFER THOSE PROGRAMS, TOO. HOW THEY CAN -- EVERYBODY CAN BENEFIT AT THE SAME TIME. BUDGET IS GETTING SHORT. MONEY IS GETTING LOWER. 
          EVERY RECORD MONEY THAT COME FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT IS COMING LESS. THERE'S NO PRIORITY. 
          WE NEED TO TRY TO WORKING WITH OTHER AGENCY TO HAVE THOSE AGENCIES. THEY WORKING AND PROVE THAT THEY CAN BENEFIT FROM THE PROGRAMS. 
          >> THANK YOU. THAT'S A GREAT POINT. 
          YES, THE INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICTS OFFER KINDERGARTEN, THE HARRIS COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION OFFERS FUNDING. THE STATE COMMITTED $100 MILLION FOR THE ENTIRE STATE. FOR US, THE PROGRAMS ARE ABOUT $20 MILLION A YEAR JUST HARRIS COUNTY. IT'S NOT ENOUGH. 
          BUT THIS HAS BEEN A PROJECT THAT HAS BEEN DESIGNED OVER FOUR YEARS IN PARTNERSHIP WITH ALL OF THE STAKEHOLDERS. 
          EVEN IF THE VOTERS SUPPORT THIS PROGRAM, IT WOULD NOT MEET ALL THE NEED. 
          IT WAS CAREFULLY SELECTED IN ORDER TO SERVE THE KIDS THAT ARE NOT SERVED BY THE OTHER PROGRAMS. JUST KNOW THAT THOSE ARE CONVERSATIONS BEING 
          HAD. >> MY GRANDSON, HE BENEFIT FROM EARLY CHILDHOOD, BUT IT WAS FROM THE SCHOOL DISTRICT. 
          HE START WHEN HE WAS 3 YEARS 
          OLD. >> YES, YES. 
          >> HE WILL GRADUATE FROM COLLEGE. 
          IT'S WORKING. WE NEED TO FIND OTHER WAYS TO HELP THE COMMUNITY WITH ALL TOGETHER. 
          NO ONE PERSON. 
          >> YEAH. I AGREE. 
          WE ARE ABSOLUTELY -- WE HAVE HAD THOSE CONVERSATIONS. 
          THIS IS NOT A SURPRISE TO THE SCHOOL DISTRICT OR THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION OR THE STATE ACTORS, BECAUSE I KNOW -- EVERYBODY KNOWS IT'S IMPORTANT. 
          LIKE IT WAS IMPORTANT FOR YOUR SON. EVERYBODY IS DOING THEIR PART. 
          >> GRANDSON. >> THANK YOU. 
          >> JUDGE. 
          >> MA'AM, JUST A MOMENT. 
          >> I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR COMING DOWN. 
          YOU ARE RIGHT. THERE'S A LOT OF THINGS THAT NEED TO BE EXPLORED TO TRY TO ACCOMPLISH THIS WITHOUT CHARGING YOU ANY MORE MONEY. 
          I'VE DONE IT IN MY PRECINCT. THERE ARE IDEAS WE NEED TO THINK ABOUT LIKE COLLABORATING WITH OTHERS. 
          THANK YOU FOR COMING DOWN. 
          >> YOU ARE WELCOME. >> THANK YOU. 
          >> NEXT IS CAESAR ESPINOZA OF PRECINCT 1. 
          NICOLE HARRIS OF PRECINCT 4. YOU HAVE ONE MINUTE. 
          >> GOOD MORNING. I'M THE EXECUTIVE DIRECT OF FIEL. WE WORK WITH UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES AND MIGRANTS IN THE CITY. 
          TODAY I'M HERE TO SAY HI BUT TO TALK TO YOU FROM A DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVE, AS A DAD. TODAY WHEN I TOLD MY SON ECHS GOING TO STAY AT HOME, HE SAID, I WANT TO GO TO THE OFFICE WITH YOU. 
          WE HANG OUT. WE DO THAT. I HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO BRING HIM WITH ME BECAUSE MY JOB ALLOWS ME TO. 
          I OFTEN THINK ABOUT ALL THE PARENTS WHO DO NOT HAVE THAT OPPORTUNITY, TO HAVE TO MISS WORK, TO HAVE TO PAY FOR DAY CARE, TO HAVE TO PAY FOR ANY OF THAT. 
          ALL WE ARE ASKING, ALL WE ALWAYS ASK NOW AS A DAD I'M ASKING IS TO LEVEL THE PLAYING FIELD, GIVE EVERYBODY THE OPPORTUNITY THAT I HAVE TO SPEND TIME WITH MY BEAUTIFUL SON, TO HAVE THAT OPPORTUNITY TO BE HERE AND 
          [00:25:03]
TO GIVE HIM THE OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE A BETTER LIFE. 
          >> THANK YOU. 
          YOUR TIME IS UP. >> THANK YOU. 
          >> YOU WANT TO SAY HI? 
          >> WOULD YOU LIKE TO SAY SOMETHING? 
          >> NO. 
          >> TELL THEM WHAT YOUR NAME IS. HE SAYS, NO THANK YOU. 
          >> NEXT TIME. THANK YOU FOR COMING. 
          >> THANK YOU. 
          >> HELLO. GOOD MORNING. 
          AGAIN, MY NAME IS NICOLE HARRIS. I'M THE DIRECTOR OF TODAY'S YOUTH. 
          HAVE I HAVE THE PRIVILEGE OF SPEAKING TO YOU ON THE IMPORTANCE OF EARLY CHILDHOOD DEVELOPMENT. MYSELF AND MY COLLEAGUES HERE CAN GIVE YOU COUNTLESS STORIES AND TESTIMONIALS FROM PARENTS, SCHOOL STAFF ON THE POSITIVE IMPACT OF EARLY CHILDHOOD DEVELOPMENT ON THE LIVES OF THEIR STUDENTS. FUNDING FOR THE CONTINUATION AND EXPANSION OF THE PROGRAMS CANNOT BE AN AFTER THOUGHT BUT THEY HAVE TO BE A FOCAL POINT THAT HIGHLIGHTS THE NECESSITY OF THE PROGRAMS IN PREPARING STUDENTS TO ENTER SCHOOL READY TO LEARN, TWO, TRANSITIONING TO THE NEXT GRADE WITH THE CONFIDENCE AND SUPPORT TO ACHIEVE THEIR GOALS. THESE PROGRAMS PROVIDE SUMMER LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES THAT REINFORCE SKILLS LEARNED THROUGHOUT THE SCHOOL YEAR. THEY ALSO PROVIDE A SAFE SPACE AFTER SCHOOL. 
          >> THANK YOU. YOUR TIME IS UP. 
          >> FINISH YOUR SENTENCE. 
          >> THEY CAN PROVIDE A SAFE SPACE AFTER SCHOOL. 
          I ENCOURAGE YOU TO PUT IT ON THE BALLOT AND LET THE RESIDENTS DECIDE ABOUT THE PENNY TAX. 
          THANK YOU. 
          >> THANK YOU. 
          >> GOOD MORNING. I AM A CONCERNED MEMBER OF HARRIS COUNTY. MY PLEA IS TO URGE OUR LEADERS, AGENCIES, NEIGHBORS NOT TO SLASH THE VERY PROGRAMS THAT FORM THE BACKBONE OF OUR SOCIETY. 
          INSTEAD, TO RALLY, COLLABORATE AND PURSUE INNOVATIVE FUNDING TO PRESERVE THEM. 
          I KNOW THERE'S A SHORTFALL. THIS WAS NOT MISMANAGED OR WASTED SPENDING BUT FROM DELIBERATE REDUCTIONS IN HEALTH CARE, HOUSING, JOB AND PUBLIC SAFETY FUNDED BY STATE AND FEDERAL AUTHORITIES. THE REPERCUSSIONS ARE BEING FELT, BY RESIDENTS WHO ARE -- HAVE BEEN THERE EVEN BEFORE THIS, HAVING HARDSHIP. 
          PRESERVING FUNDING FOR THE SENIORS, EDUCATION, HEALTH AND CULTURAL PROGRAMS IS NOT MERELY A BUDGETARY QUESTION. 
          IT'S A STATEMENT OF WHO WE ARE AND THE FUTURE WHO ENVISIONS FOR HARRIS COUNTY BY JOINING FORCES, REACHING OUT FOR ALTERNATIVE FUNDING AND 
          PRESENTING -- >> THANK YOU, YOUR TIME IS UP. 
          >> WHAT WE PROTECT ESSENTIAL 
          SERVICES THAT DEFINE US. >> THANK YOU. 
          >> NEXT IS WAKISHA DIXON. 
          >> GOOD MORNING. IN EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION, AS AN ASSISTANT PROFESSOR AT UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON, I HAVE SEVERAL DRAFTS THIS MORNING. NONE OF THAT MAY GET THROUGH TRAFFIC THIS MORNING. 
          MY DRAFT SPEAKING TODAY IS REALLY FRESH OFF THE FREEWAY. 
          I REALLY WANTED TO BE HERE TO REMIND US OF HOW OUR CHILDHOOD HAS IMPACTED US FOR NOW, FOR EVERYONE SITTING HERE AS ADULT LIFE. 
          EARLY CHILDHOOD HIGH QUALITY CARE CAN PREVENT ALL TRAUMATIZED EXPERIENCE AND HELP US TO EXPERIENCE THOSE AND BETTER EXPERIENCE AS ADULT LIFE. 
          WE CAN DO THAT AS EARLY STAGE OF CHILDREN'S LIFE FROM THEIR 0 FIRST DAY OF THEIR BORN. WE CANNOT DO THAT WITHOUT ACCESS, WITHOUT QUALITY STAFF, WITHOUT QUALITY SUPPORT, WITHOUT HELPING PATIENCES BEING ABLE TO SEND CHILDREN TO SCHOOL. I'M HERE TO ASK YOU TO PUT ON THIS PROPOSAL ON THE BALLOT IN NOVEMBER. 
          >> THANK YOU. YOUR TIME IS UP. >> THANK YOU. 
          >> GOOD MORNING. YOUR HONOR, COMMISSIONERS. 
          I'M AN EDUCATOR, AUTHOR AND YOUTH MENTOR WHO OVERCAME POVERTY AND HOMELESSNESS RIGHT HERE IN TEXAS. AS SOMEONE WHO HAS WORKED IN SCHOOLS ACROSS HARRIS COUNTY 
          [00:30:01]
AND WHO HAS SAT IN THE SEATS OUR CHILDREN DO, I CAN TELL YOU THAT EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION TRULY CHANGES LIVES. WHEN WE INVEST IN EARLY EDUCATION, WE BREAK CYCLES OF POVERTY, OF ACADEMIC STRUGGLE, OF RELIANCE ON PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEMS. QUALITY EARLY EDUCATION PROGRAMS BUILD NOT ONLY SMARTER STUDENTS BUT STRONGER FAMILIES AND SAFER COMMUNITIES. 
          I HAVE SEEN STUDENTS IN ANY PROGRAMS GROW INTO CONFIDENT LEADERS BUT SO MANY MORE NEVER GET THAT CHANCE BECAUSE THE RESOURCES ARE JUST NOT THERE. THIS INVESTMENT WILL CREATE MORE CHILDCARE SLOTS, BETTER TRAINED TEACHERS AND MUCH NEEDED SUMMER PROGRAMS GIVING EVERY CHILD, REGARDLESS OF ZIP CODE A SHOT. PUT THIS ON THE BALLOT SO OUR KIDS CAN BE FUNDED FOR THEIR 
          FUTURE. >> THANK YOU. 
          >> SIR, THERE'S A QUESTION. 
          >> NOT FOR HIM. FOR THE LEGAL DEPARTMENT. 
          I WANTED TO GET CLARIFICATION. IF WE HAVE TO VOTE ON THIS BY NOON TODAY. 
          >> I THINK THE SCHEDULE IS FOR THE CHRONICLE PUBLICING DEADLINE. THAT WAS PUT OUT, NOON DEADLINE WAS FOR IF THE HEARING WERE TO BE HELD ON THE 14TH, SINCE IT'S BEING HELD ON THE 18TH PER THE JUDGE'S MOTION, WE SHOULD BE OKAY TO JUST HAVE IT AT SOME POINT IN 
          THIS MEETING. >> TODAY? 
          >> YES. 
          >> I JUST WANTED TO CLEAR THAT UP. 
          >> THERE'S NOT A NOON ISSUE. 
          >> THERE'S NOT A NOON ISSUE. 
          >> IT'S THE 18TH, NOT THE 14TH. 
          >> IT'S THE 15TH. CAN YOU VISIT WITH MY TEAM QUICK ABOUT IT? 
          >> THE 15TH IS THE HEARING? 
          >> CAN YOU CHAT BEFORE -- WE HAVE BEEN LIVING AND BREATHING THIS. I'M SURPRISED TO HEAR THAT. 
          WE HAVE ALL THESE KIDKIDS. THANK YOU. 
          HE IS CHECKING. WE HAVE ALL THE KIDS HERE, TOO. 
          WHO IS THE NEXT SPEAKER? 
          >> WAKISHA DIXON AND CRYSTAL HILL HERNANDEZ. YOU HAVE ONE MINUTE. 
          >> GOOD MORNING. I SERVE AS THE DEPUTY DIRECTOR AT BAY AREA TURNING POINT, AN ORGANIZATION SERVING SURVIVORS OF SEXUAL ASSAULT AND DOMESTIC VIOLENCE. 
          I'M HERE TO ADVOCATE FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY BECAUSE IT'S AN IMPACT THAT WILL AFFECT THE ENTIRE COMMUNITY. 
          WE SPECIFICALLY RECEIVE FUNDING THAT ASSISTS SURVIVORS, NAMELY CHILDREN, WHO ARE IN NEED OF COUNSELING SERVICES. I'M ADVOCATING THAT THE COUNTY LOOK AT HOW THIS CAN BE A BENEFIT AND INVESTMENT TO THE CHILDREN WHO WILL GROW UP AND HELP SUPPORT BACK INTO THE COMMUNITY OF HARRIS COUNTY. 
          HAVING FUNDING SUCH AS THIS ALLOWS FOR FAMILIES TO CONTINUE WORKING, FOR MOTHERS AND FATHERS AND FAMILIES TO SUPPORT THEIR FAMILIES SO THAT THE POURING BACK CAN HAPPEN. 
          THIS FUNDING DOES NOT GO UNUSED OR UNNOTICED BY PEOPLE WHO ARE IN NEED OF IT. CUTTING IT OR NOT ALLOWING IT TO CONTINUE TO BE AN INVESTMENT WILL BE A DISSERVICE TO THOSE WHO WE ARE HERE TO SERVE. 
          I'M ADVOCATING THAT WE DO THIS AND WE -- 
          >> THANK YOU. YOUR TIME IS UP. 
          >> THANK YOU SO MUCH. CAN I ASK YOU A QUESTION? CAN YOU GO OVER WHY THIS IS IMPORTANT IN THE DOMESTIC 
          VIOLENCE SPHERE IN PARTICULAR? >> YES. 
          CHILDREN ARE THE MOST VULNERABLE POPULATION WHEN IT COMES TO DOMESTIC VIOLENCE. THIS PARTICULAR FUNDING HAS ALLOWED US TO INCREASE OUR COUNSELING SERVICES FOR THOSE WHO ARE IMPACTED. HAVING THEM BEING ABLE TO HAVE ONE ON ONE COUNSELING OPPORTUNITIES, WE DO FAMILY COUNSELING FOR THE CHILDREN IN SPECIFIC. THERE IS FUNDING OUT THERE FOR FAMILIES. BUT THIS FUNDING DIRECTED FOR CHILDREN HAS BEEN BENEFICIAL. WE HAVE SEEN FAMILIES INCREASE. 
          WE HAVE SEEN CHILDREN GROW OUT OF THEIR SHELL AND BE ABLE TO TEACH THEM HEALTHY AND POSITIVE RELATIONSHIPS. IT'S AN INVESTMENT BACK INTO THE COMMUNITY BECAUSE HEALTHY RELATIONSHIPS HELP US ALL THRIVE. 
          >> IF THE KIDS LOSE THEIR EARLY CHILDHOOD, WOULD THAT IMPACT THE MOTHER OR POSSIBLY VICTIM OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE OR 
          SURVIVOR? >> YES, IT WOULD. 
          FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE IS ONE OF THE BENEFITS THAT KEEPS SURVIVORS SAFE. IF THEY DO NOT HAVE FUNDING TO SUPPORT THEIR FAMILIES, OFTEN THEY ARE RETURNING BACK TO ABUSIVE SITUATIONS. HAVING THIS FUNDING TO BE ABLE TO SUPPORT CHILDCARE AND ALL OF THOSE THINGS HELPS TO LOWER THE RISK OF WOMEN, MEN EVEN GOING BACK INTO DOMESTIC VIOLENCE RELATIONSHIPS BECAUSE THEY CAN'T SUPPORT THEIR CHILDREN OR HAVE DAY CARE ASSISTANCE TO CONTINUE 
          TO WORK. >> THANK YOU. 
          COLLEAGUES, THESE PROGRAMS, AS YOUR STAFF KNOWS, FOR YEARS HAVE HAD A PARTICULAR FOCUS ON VICTIMS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, SURVIVORS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, KIDS IN FOSTER CARE AND KIDS EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS. THAT'S WHY THIS IS MENTIONED. 
          I DON'T THINK WE HAVE MET 
          BEFORE. >> I DON'T THINK. 
          [00:35:02]
          >> WE DIDN'T REHEARSE THIS. 
          >> I APPRECIATE THAT CLARITY. THANK YOU. 
          >> JUDGE? 
          >> YEAH. 
          >> I THINK THE CONFUSION WAS IS YOUR OFFICE CIRCULATED A MOTION THAT SAID THE 18TH, WHICH IS WHY THE NOON DEADLINE WOULD NOT HAVE APPLIED. IT'S RECIRCULATED AS THE 15TH . 
          SO WE DO HAVE TO TAKE A VOTE BEFORE NOON. 
          IT'S NOT A LEGAL ISSUE. IT'S A CHRONICLE PUBLISHING ISSUE. IF WE'RE GOING TO DO IT ON THE 15TH, IT HAS TO BE BY NOON. 
          >> THANK YOU. LET'S CONTINUE WITH THE SPEAKERS SO WE HAVE TIME FOR DISCUSSION. 
          >> CRYSTAL HILL HERNANDEZ. 
          >> I THINK THEY ARE MAKING THEIR WAY. 
          >> GOOD MORNING. I LIVE IN PRECINCT 1. 
          I'M THE CEO OF FAMILY TIME CRISIS AND COUNSELING CENTER, LOCATED IN PRECINCT 4. I SERVE INDIVIDUALS FROM ALL PRECINCTS IN HARRIS COUNTY. WE ARE IN THE DOMESTIC VIOLENCE SPACE MUCH LIKE BAY AREA TURNING POINT WHO JUST SPOKE. WE KNOW FIRSTHAND THE IMPACTS OF BEING ABLE TO INTERVENE AND PROVIDE NECESSARY RESOURCES AND REINFORCEMENTS FOR CHILDREN WHEN THEY ARE YOUNG. 
          THE RESEARCH IS THERE. WE HAVE SEEN THE REAL LIFE STORIES. WE HAVE THE ANECDOTAL EVIDENCE. 
          EVEN ON A PERSONAL LEVEL, ON MOST DAYS, I RECALL AND UTILIZE MORE THAN I LEARNED AS A 3-YEAR- OLD IN TINY TOT EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION THAN I LEARNED WHEN I WAS IN LAW SCHOOL AT THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS. FROM A PRACTICAL PERSPECTIVE, I COME BEFORE YOU ALL TODAY TO ASK YOU NOT TO ASK ANYONE FOR A PENNY FOR THEIR THOUGHTS BUT PLEASE ASK -- 
          >> YOUR TIME IS UP. 
          >> YOU CAN FINISH YOUR SENTENCE. 
          >> PLEASE ASK THE VOTERS TO DECIDE IF THEY BELIEVE OUR CHILDREN ARE WORTH A PENNY. THANK YOU. 
          >> THANK YOU. I LIKE THAT. 
          LET'S DECIDE WHETHER OUR CHILDREN ARE WORTH A PENNY. 
          THANK YOU SO MUCH. 
          >> THANK YOU. 
          >> HELLO. I AM HERE TO SPEAK ON THE CURRENT BUDGET OR THE BUDGET FOR 2026. FROM MY UNDERSTANDING, WE ARE IN A $250 MILLION BUDGET DEFICIT. 
          OF COURSE, I UNDERSTAND THAT THE MAJORITY OF THE COMMISSIONERS HERE WOULD LIKE TO PROVIDE RAISES TO OUR SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT AND OUR LAW ENFORCEMENT. 
          HOWEVER, I DO THINK THAT IT IS SUPER IMPORTANT TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU ARE OFFSETTING THAT ADDITIONAL MONEY THAT WE HAVE OR WE HAVE ALLOCATED FOR ESSENTIAL SERVICES HERE FOR TAXPAYERS IN HARRIS COUNTY. 
          I AM URGING YOU TO LET THE VOTERS DECIDE IF WE WANT AA PROPERTY TAX INCREASE. I KNOW THAT'S A SCARY WORD. 
          BOOGIE MAN. I THINK IT'S SUPER IMPORTANT TO LET THE VOTERS DECIDE. 
          >> THANK YOU, YOUR TIME IS UP. 
          >> THANK YOU SO MUCH. >> THANK YOU. 
          >> EUGENE ESKEE, ROBIN KEVITK AND SHEILA CHAPMAN. 
          >> GOOD MORNING. I'M EUGENE. 
          I'M THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR FOR EARLY LEARNING INITIATIVES AT HARMONY PUBLIC SCHOOLS. 
          I WOULD LIKE TO SHARE SOME FACTS WITH YOU. BRAIN DEVELOPMENT OCCURS BY AGE 5. 75% OF KINDERGARTEN TEACHERS REPORT THAT CHILDREN ARE NOT PREPARED FOR TO LEARN. 
          25% OF CHILDREN WITHOUT EARLY LEARNING EDUCATION ARE MORE LIKELY TO DROP OUT SCHOOL. ONLY 50% OF 3 TO 4-YEAR- OLDS ATTEND PRESCHOOL. 60% OF CHILDREN WITHOUT EARLY LEARNING SUPPORT ARE MORE LIKELY TO NEVER ATTEND COLLEGE. 75% OF KINDERGARTEN 
          [00:40:04]
TEACHERS REPORT THAT CHILDREN ARE NOT PREPARED TO LEARN. 
          >> THANK YOU. 
          YOUR TIME IS UP. >> THANK YOU SO MUCH. 
          >> GOOD MORNING, JUDGE AND COMMISSIONERS. I'M ROBIN. 
          IEMENT I'M WITH THE HOUSTON HILL FOUNDATION. A MOM OF FOUR GIRLS WITH TWO UNDER THE AGE OF 5. 
          I'M HERE TODAY AS BOTH A PARENT AND PUBLIC HEALTH LEADER WHO SEES EVERY DAY HOW CRITICAL EARLY CHILDHOOD PROGRAMS ARE FOR OUR FAMILIES AND OUR CULTURE. THANKS TO FEDERAL FUNDING, HARRIS COUNTY HAS REACHED OVER 60,000 CHILDREN WITH HIGH QUALITY, HIGH LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES. BUT THAT FUNDING, AS YOU KNOW, WILL SOON END. WITHOUT SUSTAINABLE SUPPORT, THESE PROGRAMS AND THE PROGRESS THAT WE HAVE ALL MADE WILL DISAPPEAR. 
          ONE PENNY TAX JUST $24 A YEAR FOR THE AVERAGE HOMEOWNER, WOULD ALLOW US TO EXPAND SAFE, AFFORDABLE CARE, SUPPORT CHILDCARE PROVIDERS AND STRENGTHEN OUR WORKFORCE. THIS ISN'T ABOUT ANYTHING OTHER THAN OUR CHILDREN. THIS IS ABOUT GETTING EVERY CHILD A STRONG START NO MATTER THEIR ZIP CODE IN OUR COUNTY. 
          >> THANK YOU. YOUR TIME IS UP. 
          >> THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU. 
          >> GOOD MORNING, JUDGE AND COMMISSIONERS. MY NAME IS SHEILA CHAPMAN. 
          I'M THE OWNER OF RIGHT FIT KIDS ACADEMY. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR EVEN ALLOWING US TO PROVIDE HIGH QUALITY CHILDCARE AND EDUCATION FOR THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS. 
          I HAVE SEEN SUCH A CHANGE FOR OUR FAMILIES, FOR OUR TEACHERS AND FOR OUR BUSINESSES. I THINK ABOUT THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS, THEY GET LOCAL FUNDING, STATE FUNDING, FEDERAL FUNDING. SO THESE CHILDREN ARE THE FOUNDATION, THEY ARE OUR FUTURE. I'M ASKING THAT IN NOVEMBER, THAT YOU ALL WOULD PUSH THIS THING -- TO PUT IT ON THE BALLOT SO VOTERS CAN DECIDE. 
          I BELIEVE THAT THE MAJORITY OF OUR VOTERS KNOW HOW IMPORTANT EARLY CHILDHOOD IS. LIKE I SAID, WHO KNOWS? ONE OF THESE CHILDREN MAY BE A DOCTOR ONE DAY. 
          LET'S INVEST IN THEM. A PENNY IS NOT TOO MUCH. 
          ONE CENT, THAT'S ALL SHE'S 
          ASKING. >> THANK YOU. 
          KIDS, QUICK QUESTION. RAISE YOUR HAND AND TELL ME WHAT YOU WANT TO BE WHEN YOU GROW UP. GO AHEAD. 
          >> POLICE OFFICER. 
          >> POLICE OFFICER, OKAY. WHAT ELSE? 
          >> ARTIST. 
          >> ARTIST. 
          WHAT ELSE? >> A TEACHER. 
          >> TEACHER. WRESTLER. 
          OKAY. ALL RIGHT. 
          THESE KIDS -- THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU. 
          TO THE TEACHERS THAT ARE SUPPORTING THEM. 
          >>÷÷ NEXT IS CRYSTAL HERNANDEZ. 
          >> HELLO. I AM A PARENT OF AN EARLY REACH CHILDHOOD RECIPIENT. I DO BELIEVE THAT FUNDING IS CONTINUED NEEDED FOR PROGRAMS LIKE THIS. 
          NOT JUST FOR THE CHILDREN IN THE DAY CARES BUT FOR THE PARENTS. PARENTS LIKE ME WHO JUST SOMETIMES NEED A LITTLE HELP. 
          IT'S NOT ALWAYS EASY TO TRY TO FUND CHILDCARE OUT OF YOUR POCKET WITH THE PRICE THAT IT HAS -- THE PRICE TAG IT COMES WITH. WITH THAT HELP, I HAVE BEEN ABLE TO PROVIDE A HOME FOR MY CHILDREN, BUY A HOME FOR MY CHILDREN. I HAVE BEEN ABLE TO GO BACK TO GRAD SCHOOL WITH THAT FOCUS THAT I HAVE BECAUSE MY CHILD IS IN PROPER CHILDCARE. 
          IF YOU CONTINUE TO INVEST INTO CHILDREN, YOU ARE ALSO CONTINUE TO INVEST INTO THE PARENTS WHO CAN INVEST INTO THEIR COMMUNITIES. WITH THAT COMMUNITY INVESTMENT, THAT YOU WILL SEESEE BENEFIT OF IT LONG AFTER THESE CHILDREN ARE OUT OF CHILDCARE. YOU WILL SEE THE ENEFIT INTO THEIR TEENAGE YEARS AND ADULT YEARS AS WELL AS THEIR PARENTS. 
          >> YOU CAN FINISH YOUR SENTENCE. 
          >> I DO BELIEVE THAT IF WE CONTINUE THIS TYPE OF INVESTMENT, YOU WILL SEE A DEFINITE BENEFIT IN YEARS TO COME. YOU JUST HAVE TO PUT THE MONEY WHERE OUR MOUTH IS, BECAUSE IF WE CONTINUE TO DO THAT, I THINK WE WILL HAVE A BETTER HARRIS 
          COUNTY, ALL IN ALL. >> THANK YOU. 
          >> WHO ARE THE NEXT SPEAKERS? 
          >> RAIN EASTMAN AND ASHLEY WILLIAMS. 
          [00:45:41]
          >> WOULD YOU LIKE A MINUTE AND WE CALL ANOTHER SPEAKER FIRST? 
          >> I JUST PULLED IT UP. MY IES. 
          GOOD AFTERNOON. GOOD MORNING, EVERYONE. 
          I AM THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE ACRES HOME COMMUNITY ADVOCACY GROUP. I LIVE IN PRECINCT 2 BUT OUR WORK TAKES PLACE IN 1. RESIDENTS ARE MET WITH AN IMPOSSIBLE DECISION AS WE FACE A $275 MILLION SHORTFALL. UNFORTUNATELY, YOU DON'T GET TO DECIDE WHAT THE PEOPLE NEED DUE TO BUDGETING -- BAD BUDGETING PRACTICES. 
          YOU CAN'T HELP COMMUNITIES WITH BLOATED LAW ENFORCEMENT BUDGETS. SINCE THAT DECISION WAS MADE WITHOUT THE VOICE OF THE PEOPLE, AT LEAST GIVE US THE DECISION TO VOTE ON FAIR REVENUE MEASURES THIS NOVEMBER. 
          GIVE THE PEOPLE THE RIGHT TO ADVOCATE FOR THEMSELVES AND THE PROGRAMS THAT GIVE THEM A HIGHER QUALITY OF LIFE AND HAVE A DECISION ON WHETHER OR NOT WE CAN KEEP AND SUSTAIN THE PROGRAMS VERSUS ALLOWING THEM TO BE FED INTO PROGRAMS THAT DO MORE TO POLICE COMMUNITIES RATHER THAN UPLIFT THE COMMUNITIES. 
          AT THE END OF THE DAY, THE PEOPLE DESERVE TO HAVE THIS CONVERSATION. WE HAVE BEEN LEFT OUT OF IT ENOUGH. WE DO APPRECIATE THOSE WHO PROTECT OUR COMMUNITIES. THE 
          UNILATERAL DECISIONS -- >> THANK YOU, YOUR TIME IS UP. 
          >> WITHOUT GIVING US THE CONVERSATION ABOUT WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE. 
          >> YOUR TIME IS UP. 
          >> FINISH YOUR SENTENCE. THANK YOU SO MUCH. 
          >> ASHLEY WILLIAMS OF PRECINCT 1. 
          >> GOOD MORNING. I AM STANDING AS AN ADVOCATE FOR ALL THE CHILDREN, MYSELF I'M A PARENT. AS WELL AS AN EDUCATOR. I AM ASKING YOU PUT THIS ON THE BALLOT SO THAT WE CAN -- OUR KIDS CAN HAVE A SAFE PLACE. 
          THAT BRINGS THEM FROM POVERTY AND GIVES THEM AN OPPORTUNITY FOR BETTER EDUCATION, FOR US PARENTS TO HAVE A JOB TO FEED OUR KIDS AND OUR KIDS CAN HAVE SOMEWHERE SAFE TO BE AND A HAND UP AND A FUTURE TO BE THE THINGS THEY WANT TO BECOME. AN OFFICER, A DOCTOR, A TEACHER, GIVE OUR KIDS THE OPPORTUNITY, THE FUNDINGS HELP US AND THEM. I'M JUST ASKING YOU PUT IT ON THE BALLOT FOR NOVEMBER. 
          >> THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR KEEPING IT SHORT. 
          WE ARE TIGHT ON TIME. 30 SECONDS THAT WOULD BE BETTER. THANK YOU SO MUCH. 
          >> GOOD MORNING. I AM A PARENT OF A KID THAT GOES TO DAY CARE. I STARTED WORKING WITH MY SON. 
          IT WAS VERY HARD FOR ME. WITH THE PROGRAM NOW NOT ONLY AM I WORKING TWO JOBS, I'M ALSO IN SCHOOL AND I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU AND CAN WE PLEASE CONTINUE THESE FUNDS. 
          >> THANK YOU. 
          >> ALEXIS LOVING. LYRIC ROBERTSON. 
          >> GOOD MORNING. I LIVE IN PRECINCT 3 AND WORK IN 1 WHERE I LEAD SEARCH HOMELESS SERVICES. 
          I'M A MOM OF THREE YOUNG CHILDREN. 
          WE RUN AN EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION CENTER FOR CHILDREN WHO EXPERIENCED HOMELESSNESS AND TRAUMA. I HAVE SEEN WHAT HAPPENS WHEN A CHILD WALKS INTO A CLASSROOM WHERE THEY FEEL SAFE, LOVED AND ENGAGED, WHEN THEIR PARENT HAS THE STABILITY TO WORK, FIND HOUSING AND BREATHE AGAIN. 
          THESE AREN'T UNIQUE TO US. THEY ARE POSSIBLE BECAUSE OF HARRIS COUNTY'S SMART INVESTMENTS AND EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION. 
          THEY MEET REAL COMPLEX NEEDS IN OUR COMMUNITY. 
          WE KNOW THE STAKES. 90% OF BRAIN DEVELOPMENT HAPPENS BEFORE AGE 5. KIDS WHO ATTEND HIGH QUALITY EARLY EDUCATION CENTERS ARE MORE LIKELY TO GRAZ ATE, STAY EMPLOYED AND AVOID THE JUSTICE SYSTEM. 
          THESE PROGRAMS CHANGE LIVES AND THEY STRENGTHEN FAMILIES. LET'S NOT STOP THE MOMENTUM. 
          LET VOTERS DECIDE. LET OUR COMMUNITY CHOOSE TO KEEP 
          [00:50:05]
BUILDING BRIGHTER FUTURES STARTING WITH OUR YOUNGEST 
          CHING. >> THANK YOU. 
          ANY OTHER SPEAKERS ON THIS ITEM? 
          >> YES, MA'AM. LYRIC ROBERTSON. 
          >> GOOD MORNING. I SPEAK TODAY AS DIRECTOR OF EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION, SOMEONE WHO WITNESSED THE STRUGGLE OF FAMILIES ACROSS HOUSTON. 
          SINGLE PARENTS WORKING MULTIPLE JOBS. 
          FAMILIES BARELY MAKING RENT WITH LIMITED INCOME. 
          NOT BECAUSE THEY DON'T BELIEVE, THEY CAN'T PROVIDE IT. 
          WE WORK TO CLOSE THIS GAP. WE CAN'T DO IT ALONE. 
          AS OF TODAY, WE HAVE SERVED 4,000 PARENTS AND CHILDREN 0 TO 4 IN LAST TWO YEARS. 
          EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION SUPPORTS BRAIN DEVELOPMENT, FUTURE SUCCESS. 
          IT BENEFITS THE COMMUNITY. RESEARCH HAS SHOWN IT HAS FAMILIES THRIVE AND REDUCE SOCIAL COST FOR THE COMMUNITY. WE SUPPORT THIS PROPOSED 10% HOMEOWNER CONTRIBUTION. 
          AS AN INVESTMENT IN OUR SHARED FUTURE. EVERY CHILD DESERVES A STRONG 
          START. >> THANK YOU SO MUCH. 
          >> ANY OTHER SPEAKERS? 
          >> YES, MA'AM. FRANCISCO CLARK. 
          TIARA HAND. 
          >> KIDS, CAN YOU SHOW ME YOUR POSTERS? I WANT TO SEE WHAT THEY SAY. RAISE THEM UP REALLY HIGH. ALL RIGHT. 
          OKAY. DO YOU REMEMBER WHAT THEY SAY? HELP KIDS LEARN. 
          YEAH. OKAY. ONE, TWO, THREE. 
          HELP KIDS LEARN! ALL RIGHT. 
          THERE WE GO. GO AHEAD. 
          >> GOOD MORNING. MY DAUGHTER IS A PART OF THE EARLY REACH PROGRAM. 
          THIS PROGRAM IS NOT ONLY GOOD FOR THE KIDS BUT FOR ADULTS TOO. FOR ME, AS A SINGLE MOTHER AND I WAS DOING IT ON MY OWN, THROUGHOUT THIS PROGRAM I HAVE BEEN ABLE TO START WORKING AND PROVIDE FOR MY CHILD THE WAY I WOULD LIKE TO. THANK YOU. 
          >> THANK YOU. 
          >> HELLO. I'M ACTUALLY A CITY OF HOUSTON EMPLOYEE. I WANT TO STATE IT'S VITAL TO HAVE THIS PROGRAM. THE MINUTE YOU TAKE CHILDCARE ASSISTANT AWAY, YOU TELL FAMILIES YOU DON'T CARE IF THEY ARE ABLE TO PAY RENT, IF THEY'RE ABLE TO PROVIDE FOOD FOR THEIR CHILDREN, IF THEY'RE ABLE TO HAVE UTILITIES. 
          THAT'S BASICALLY A SLAP IN THE FACE FOR THESE COMMUNITIES, THESE PEOPLE. YOU HAVE TO REMEMBER THAT THESE CHILDREN ARE THE LEADERS OF TOMORROW. 
          THE DECISIONS YOU MAKE TODAY WILL AFFECT THEM LATER ON IN LIFE. 
          IT WILL AFFECT ALL OF US. ALSO, IT'S A MAJOR SAFEHAVEN FOR THESE CHILDREN. 
          THE MINUTE YOU TAKE THAT AWAY, YOU HAVE TO LOOK FOR OTHER CHILDCARE ASSISTANCE PLACES THAT AREN'T REPUTABLE. 
          WHY PUT CHILDREN INTO THAT TYPE OF ENVIRONMENT? WHY PUT PARENTS INTO THAT TYPE OF -- THAT TYPE OF PREDICAMENT? IT'S VITAL TO HAVE THIS PROGRAM. 
          >> THANK YOU. 
          >> THANK YOU. 
          >> GOOD MORNING. I'M A PARENT. 
          THE EARLY REACH PROGRAM HAS HELPED ME A LOT, BECAUSE NOW I'M ABLE TO WORK AND GO TO SCHOOL TO PROVIDE FOR MYSELF AND MY TWO KIDS. 
          I WOULD LIKE TO THANK YOU ALL FOR THE PROGRAM AND ASK YOU CONTINUE THE FUNDING FOR THE PROGRAM SO IT CAN GIVE ME MORE HELP AS WELL. THANK YOU. 
          >> THANK YOU SO MUCH. 
          >> HELLO. MY NAME IS JENNIFER MARTIN. 
          [00:55:04]
MY GRANDDAUGHTER GOES TO RIGHT FIT. 
          IT HELP ME WITH HER. IT WOULD BE HARD BECAUSE I'M THE ONLY ONE TAKING CARE OF HER. I'M RETIRED. I WORK A PART-TIME JOB. 
          IT'S THE BEST PLACE FOR ME TO HAVE HER. THEY DO A GOOD JOB WITH HER. 
          THANK YOU. 
          >> THANK YOU. 
          >> MANDY KIMBALL. 
          JOHN LEON. ONE MINUTE. 
          >> WE JUST HAVE A HANDFUL OF SPEAKERS LEFT. 
          GO AHEAD. 
          >> GOOD MORNING. I'M VICE PRESIDENT AT CHILDREN AT RISK. THANK YOU, COMMISSIONERS AND JUDGE FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP AND INVESTMENT IN EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION PROGRAMS. PARTICULARLY THROUGH PROPOSITION 2. 
          IT HELPING TO IMPROVE QUALITY FOR FAMILIES ACROSS HARRIS COUNTY. 
          WITH THE $16. 4 MILLION IN FUNDING, THE COUNTY LAUNCHED THE EARLY LEARNING QUALITY NETWORK. THIS INITIATIVE IS MAKING A DIFFERENCE IN COMMUNITIES BY MAKING THEM SAFER, PROVIDING BILINGUAL CURRICULUM, EMERGENCY ACCESS AND PROVIDING EDUCATION TO TRAINERS. 
          ALL SHAPED BY COMMUNITY NEEDS. THIS FUNDING IS TEMPORARY. 
          TO KEEP THIS MOMENTUM GOING, WE NEED LONG-TERM LOCAL SOLUTIONS. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. 
          >> THANK YOU. 
          >> GOOD MORNING, EVERYONE. 
          I'M JOHN LEON. I HAVE A KID THAT GOES TO RIGHT FIT KIDS ACADEMY. IT'S A GREAT MOVE FOR US AND IT HELPS US BECAUSE AT ONE TIME I WAS PAYING AND I DON'T HAVE TO PAY ANYMORE. 
          IT'S BEEN A GREAT MOVE. THE PROGRAM IS REALLY HELPFUL. 
          THAT'S IT. 
          >> THANK YOU. 
          >> GOOD MORNING. I'M A CEO AND DIRECTOR OF OUR NEW BEGINNING LEARNING ACADEMY. FUNDING FROM THE EARLY CHILDHOOD INVESTMENT HAS BROUGHT TRAINING FOR CHILDCARE. 
          RAISING THE QUALITY OF CARE FOR OUR CHILDREN. 
          IT HELPED PARENTS THAT HAVE BEEN ON THE WORKFORCE CHILDCARE WAITING LIST AND PROVIDED EMERGENCY SUPPORT WITH FAMILIES FACING JOB LOSS, ILLNESS AND DEATH OF A LOVED ONE. WITH SO MANY PEOPLE IN OUR REGION, WE HAVE LEARNED THAT THERE ARE NO ONE SIZE FITS ALL SOLUTIONS. HARRIS COUNTY INVESTMENT IN HIGH QUALITY EARLY CHILDHOOD PROGRAMS DEMONSTRATES WHAT IS POSSIBLE WHEN FORCES WORK TOGETHER TO ADDRESS THE NEEDS OF A COMPLEX COMMUNITY. WE ASKED TO LET THE VOTERS DECIDE ON CONTINUING THIS INVESTMENT. 
          OUR CHILDREN AND OUR COMMUNITY DEPENDS ON IT. 
          >> THANK YOU. ANY OTHER SPEAKERS? 
          >> AMY KORIN. 
          >> GOOD MORNING. I'M THE PRESIDENT AND CEO OF WESLEY COMMUNITY CENTER AND THE NEAR NORTH SIDE. I'M HERE FOR THE FAMILIES AND NEIGHBORS WHO RELY ON QUALITY EARLY CHILDCARE PROGRAMS SERVING 150 CHILDREN AND YOUTH EACH YEAR. OUR PROGRAM OPENS AT 7:30 AND DOESN'T CLOSE UNTIL 5:30. WORKING PARENTS CAN RELY ON ITIT CONTINUE TO WORK OR LOOK FOR A JOB. 
          THEIR REVENUE THEY EARN SUPPORTS THE COUNTY'S ECONOMY. IT'S ACTUALLY A BETTER DEAL TO CONTINUE PAYING FOR THIS THAN TO STOP. THERE ARE MANY PROGRAMS THAT HAVE BENEFITTED FROM THE EARLY CHILDHOOD SUPPORT THE PAST FEW YEARS. 
          THOSE PROGRAMS SUPPORT FAMILIESFAMILIES WORK GOES BACK TO SUPPORT THE COUNTY. 
          I URGE YOU ALL TO PUT THIS MEASURE ON THE BALLOT AND LET US DECIDE OURSELVES WHETHER TO CONTINUE SUPPORTING THE EARLY 
          CHILDHOOD INITIATIVE. >> THANK YOU. 
          >> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR HAVING ME HERE TODAY. 
          I'M THE EARLY RELATIONSHIP COORDINATOR. I'M SURE YOU ALL KNOW EARLY RELATIONSHIP HOPE. IT'S THE RELATIONSHIP CHILDREN FORM WITH THEIR CAREGIVERS. 
          THEY ARE ESSENTIAL. IN THOSE YEARS, CHILDREN ARE FORMING MILLIONS OF CONNECTIONS EACH SECOND IN THEIR BRAIN. WE ARE BUILDING A HEALTHY FOUNDATION THAT WILL ALLOW THEM TO LEARN AND ENGAGE IN MORE POSITIVE EDUCATION. THE PROGRAMS THAT OUR COMMUNITIES HAVE ACCESS TO CAN REDUCE BURDENS AND STRESSORS SO THAT THEY HAVE THE TIME 
          [01:00:03]
AND SPACE TO BUILD THESE RELATIONSHIPS WITH BABIES. INVESTING IN EARLY CHIDEHOOD HAS POSITIVE IMPACT, PROVING THE WELL-BEING OF NOT JUST OUR CHILDREN BUT THEIR FAMILIES. 
          INVESTMENTS MADE IN THE WELL-BEING OF OUR YOUNG EXLEAD TO ECONOMIC MOBILITY AND SELF-SUFFICIENTY. IT'S THROUGH EARLY CHILDHOOD INITIATIVES WE CAN REIMAGINE OUR SYSTEMS TO REFLECT WHAT CHILDREN, FAMILIES WANT AND NEED BY INVESTING IN PROGRAMS THAT SUPPORT THE YOUNGEST CHILDREN AND THE PROFESSIONALS WHO CARE FOR THEM, WE CAN -- 
          >> THANK YOU. YOUR TIME IS UP. 
          >> AMERICA GREEN. >> GOOD MORNING. 
          I WOULD LIKE TO TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO REMIND THE COUNCIL OF TWO INITIATIVES THAT HAVE BEEN IMPACTFUL IN HOUSTON. THE FIRST BEING I WAS ON THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF CHILDREN'S DEFENSE FUND IN WASHINGTON, D.C. WE DECIDED TO DO AN INITIATIVE IN HOUSTON REGARDING SIGNING UP CHILDREN FOR THE CHILDREN'S HEALTH INSURANCE PROGRAM. 
          IT WORKED. WE TOOK THE PROGRAM STATEWIDE. 
          WE SIGNED UP 565,000 CHILDREN FOR CHIP IN AN 18- MONTH PERIOD. THAT TOOK TEXAS FROM WORST TO FIRST IN THE RATE OF UNINSURED CHILDREN WAS RECOGNIZED BY THE WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION AS THE BEST PROGRAM IF NORTH AMERICA. 
          THAT WAS A HOUSTON INITIATIVE. SECOND RELATES TO THE MARCH OF DIMES BIRTH DEFECTS FOUNDATION. 
          I WAS ON THE BOARD OF TRFTES THERE FOR TEN YEARS. WE DECIDED TO HAVE A HEALTHY MOTHER, HEALTHY BABY COALITION PROGRAM IN HOUSTON. 
          THAT PROGRAM WAS TO REDUCE INFANT MORTALITY. 
          >> THANK YOU. >> I WILL LET YOU FINISH. 
          >> THANK YOU. TO REDUCE INFANT MORTALITY. 
          WE REDUCED IT IN HOUSTON BY HALF. 
          IN LESS THAN 18 MONTHS WE TOOK THAT PROGRAM TO THE STATE WHERE I WAS INVITED TO BE THE VICE CHAIRMAN OF THE GOVERNOR'S SELECT COMMITTEE. 
          FROM THAT EVOLVED THE MATERNAL INFANT HEALTH IMPROVEMENT ACT. THAT ACT WENT FORWARD AND REDUCED THE STATE'S INFANT MORTALITY RATE IN HALF, IMPROVING TEXAS FROM 25TH TO 9TH LOWEST RATE IN THE NATION. WHAT I WANT PEOPLE TO UNDERSTAND IS THAT WHAT YOU ARE CONSIDERING HERE DWARVES THOSE TWO PROGRAMS IN THEIR BUILT TO AFFECT THE CHILDREN. 
          >> THANK YOU. 
          >> PLEASE SUPPORT. PLEASE ALLOW THE CHILDREN TO HAVE -- ON THE BALLOT. THANK YOU. 
          >> GOOD MORNING, JUDGE, COMMISSIONERS. 
          I WILL BE BRIEF. I WOULD LIKE TO SAY -- I WILL START OFF, ACCESS TO QUALITY AHHED FORABLE CHILDCARE IS ESSENTIAL FOR LOW INCOME FAMILIES AND THE FUTURE OF OUR NATION. 
          A GOVERNMENT FUNDED PROGRAM LIKE THIS ONE THAT SUPPORTS DAY CARE AND ASSISTING THE FAMILIES IS NOT MERELY A SOCIAL PROGRAM, IT'S A STRATEGIC INVESTMENT WITH FAR REACHING BENEFITS. FIRST, EMPOWERS PARENTS, PARTICULARLY MOTHERS, TO PARTICIPATE FULLY IN THE WORKFORCE AND PURSUE EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES THAT CAN LEAD TO BETTER JOBS AND FINANCIAL STABILITY. 
          SECONDLY, HIGH QUALITY EARLY LEARNING AND CHILDCARE PROGRAMS HAVE A PROFOUND AND LASTING POSITIVE IMPACT ON CHILD DEVELOPMENT. 
          THEY BRIDGE ACHIEVEMENT GAPS AND LAY FOUNDATION FOR SUCCESS IN SCHOOL AND IN LIFE. 
          IT ALSO IMPROVES LANGUAGE SKILLS, PROBLEM SOLVING ABILITIES AND EMOTIONAL INTELLIGENCE REDUCING LIKELIHOOD OF BEHAVIOR PROBLEMS AND POOR HEALTH OUTCOMES IN ADULT CHILDHOOD. 
          WITH THE CONTINUED INVESTMENT -- 
          >> THANK YOU. YOUR TIME IS 
          UP. >> YOU CAN FINISH. 
          >> WITH THE CONTINUED INVESTMENT IN PROGRAMS LIKE THESE, EARLY EDUCATION, IT EMPOWERS FAMILIES, STRENGTHENED COMMUNITIES AND THE ECONOMY FOR YEARS TO COME. 
          >> THANK YOU. 
          >> CAN YOU STATE YOUR NAME FOR THE RECORD? 
          >> AMERICA GREEN. I'M WITH RIGHT FIT DAY CARE. 
          >> THOSE ARE ALL THE SPEAKERS FOR THIS ITEM. 
          >> THANK YOU. I WILL BE QUICK. 
          COLLEAGUES, THERE'S A LETTER OF SUPPORT AS WELL SIGNED BY ANDREA WHITE, MIKE WYNN, CEO OF HOUSTON AREA WOMEN'S CENTER, RICK CAMPO, DR. ANN CHOW, NADINE SCEEN, LISA KWP JANUKOS, ALEXIS LOVING, STEVE 
          [01:05:10]
SANDWEIS, HARVEY CLEMENS AND FRANCIS DICE, TIARA ALEX, DR. 
          EUGENE ESKEE, I'M ALMOST DONE, CHRISTINA ALLEN, CEO OF FAMILY TIME COUNSELING CENTER, NICOLE HARRIS, SHEILA CHAPMAN, DR. DEBORAH JENSON, JUSTINE DURAN, DIRECTOR NORTH WOOD EARLY LEARNING CENTER PRESCHOOL, TARA STAFFORD, DONNA COLE, BISHOP DICKSON. A LETTER OF SUPPORT FROM THE CEO OF COLLABORATIVE FOR CHILDREN AND THE CEO OF WESLEY COMMUNITY CENTER. TO ADDRESS HERE A FEW CONCERNS THAT I HAVE HEARD COME UP. SOME PEOPLE ARE CONCERNED ABOUT WHETHER THIS IS A LAST- MINUTE PROPOSAL. IT IS NOT. WE HAVE BEEN WORKING TOGETHER ON THESE PROGRAMS FOR YEARS. THAT'S WHY I DIDN'T COME TO COMMISSIONERS COURT WITH THE PROPOSAL BEFORE I ANNOUNCED IT PUBLICLY. I STOOD BESIDE ALMOST EVERY SINGLE ONE OF MY COLLEAGUES COMBINING THESE PROGRAMS SINCE 2020. 
          I RAN ON THESE ISSUES IN 2018, SPOKE ABOUT IT ANDAND THE OF A BALLOT ITEM AT MY STATE OF THE COUNTY IN 2019 WHICH SEVERAL OF YOU ATTENDED. 
          COMMISSIONER ELLIS, I REMEMBER HOSTING TOWN HALLS WITH YOU AS FAR BACK AS 2020 TO HEAR FROM PARENTS AND PROVIDERS ABOUT WHAT EARLY CHILDHOOD PROGRAMS THEY WANTED TO SEE. COMMISSIONER GARCIA, WE ANNOUNCED NEARLY $8 MILLION EARLY CHILDHOOD IMPACT FUND TOGETHER. WE CALLED FOR THE OTHER COMMISSIONERS TO SUPPORT THE EARLY REACH PROGRAM TOGETHER IN JUNE OF 2022. 
          WE ADVOCATED FOR THIS TOGETHER. WE VISITED THE YMCA CHILD ACADEMY TOGETHER TO ANNOUNCE THE APPLICATIONS WERE OPENING FOR THE PROGRAM. 
          A MILESTONE FOR OUR PORTFOLIO. COMMISSIONER RAMSEY, WE NEVER APPEARED TOGETHER FOR AN EARLY CHILDHOOD PROGRAM. 
          I KNOW YOU WORKED WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION AS FAR BACK AS 2021 TO SUPPORT OUR SUMMER LEARNING PROGRAMS. AGAIN, AN EXAMPLE OF A PARTNERSHIP. 
          THESE PROGRAMS I'M TRYING TO PRESERVE ARE THE RESULT OF NEARLY FOUR YEARS OF COLLABORATION AND INPUT FROM OUR OFFICES. 
          THIS IS NOT A HALF- BAKED IDEA. WE HAVE BUILT UP THE INFRASTRUCTURE OVER FOUR YEARS. 
          I'M GOING TO BE THREE MORE MINUTES HERE. 
          THERE'S ALSO A QUESTION ABOUT THE COST. 
          IT HAS BEEN ADDRESSED. A PENNY TAX WHICH WOULD BE $24 A YEAR. THE QUESTION IS, DO VOTERS SUPPORT THIS? I WILL ASK MY STAFF HERE TO HELP ME WITH ONE OF THESE POSTERS. 
          IF YOU SEE HERE -- THIS IS A POLL BY A RESPECT THE POLLSTER. THEY HAVE DONE POLLING FOR VARIOUS BUDGET INITIATIVES THROUGHOUT HARRIS COUNTY AND HOUSTON. 
          ALL KINDS OF BALLOT INITIATIVES. LET ME HAVE THIS HERE. 
          HERE IS ONE OF THE QUESTIONS. TWO- THIRDS OF HARRIS COUNTY VOTERS SEE A NEED FOR ADDITIONAL FUNDING FOR EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION AND CHILDCARE. 
          43% OF VOTERS SAY THERE'S A GREAT NEED. 
          ONE-QUARTER SAY THERE'S LITTLE NEED OR NO NEED. 
          LET'S SAY THIS IS A POLITICAL QUESTION. 
          WE ARE NERVOUS TO RAISE TAXES. TO CLARIFY, WE ARE NOT RAISING TAXES. WE ARE ASKING VOTERS WHETHER THEY WOULD LIKE TO SEE THIS CONTINUE. LET'S SAY WE ARE NERVOUS ABOUT EVEN PUTTING THIS ON THE BALLOT. 
          HERE IS ANOTHER NOTE FROM THE POLLSTER. THEY HAVE DONE POLLING FOR THE METRO BOND, I BELIEVE THE FLOOD BOND, ALL KINDS OF BALLOT MEASURES. HERE IS THIS FINDING. 
          IT SAYS VOTERS ARE MORE LIKELY TO VIEW THEIR COUNTY COMMISSIONER FAVORABLY IF THEY SUPPORT THIS MEASURE. 42% OF VOTERS -- WE PUT ON THE BALLOT THE LANGUAGE PROPOSAL TODAY. 
          THEY WOULD VIEW THE COMMISSIONER FAVORABLE IF THEY BACKED IT. 
          34% SAY IT WOULD MAKE NO DIFFERENCE TO THEM. 
          ONE IN FIVE SAY THEY WOULD VIEW THEM LESS FAVORABLY. ACTUALLY, THIS IS GOOD FOR COUNTY COMMISSIONERS IN POLITICALLY. 
          I KNOW A COUPLE OF COMMISSIONERS ARE ON THE BALLOT. 42% OF YOUR VOTERS WILL SEE YOU MORE FAVORABLY IF YOU ALLOW THEM TO DECIDE ON THIS. THE OTHER 38%, THEY WILL SEE YOU THE SAME. SOME WILL SEE YOU NEGATIVELY IF YOU DON'T ALLOW THEM TO DECIDE. 
          [01:10:02]
THE THIRD QUESTION HERE IS, IS EARLY LDHOOD EDUCATION A WORTH WHILE INVESTMENT? IS IT WORTHWHILE FOR KIDS TO GO TO SCHOOL? OBVIOUSLY. FOR THEM TO GO TO SCHOOL BEFORE PRE-K, OBVIOUSLY. 
          HEY, LET'S LOOK AT THE DATA. WE HAVE AN 80- PAGE EVALUATION THAT WAS DONE OF THE FIRST TWO YEARS OF THE PROGRAM. THIS VENDOR, IT'S A NON- PROFIT ORGANIZATION BASED IN BOSTON'S CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL, CHILD DEVELOPMENT AND FAMILY SUPPORT. 
          THEY WERE SELECTED THROUGH A REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL PROCESS VIA THE AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN COMMITTEE WHICH ELECTED TO GIVE EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION THE MOST MONEY OF ANY FEDERAL -- ANY PROGRAM WITH THE FEDERAL FUNDING. 
          THEY FOUND THROUGH AN EVALUATION, PRIOR TO PARTICIPATING IN EARLY REACH, 30% OF FAMILIES REPORTED SPENDING 41% OR MORE OF THEIR INCOME OF CHILDCARE, COMPARED TO 3% OF FAMILIES SPEND GS 41% OF THEIR INCOME UNDER THE PROGRAM. 
          PROGRAMS ARE HELPING IMPROVE ECONOMIC OUTCOMES FOR FAMILIES. 
          NOW AND FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS. OUR PROGRAMS ARE POPULAR WITH FAMILIES AND KIDS. 83% OF FAMILIES INDICATED BEING VERY SATISFIED WITH THE CURRICULUM AND LEARNING ENVIRONMENT. 
          OVERWHELMING DEMAND, OUR EDUCATION LOTS ARE FILLED AT 99% RATE. AS I SAID, OBVIOUSLY, KIDS PRAP PARTICIPATING IN SCHOOL, AND TEXAS LAGS BEHIND IN SO MANY MEASURES WHEN IT COMES TO OUR KIDS, TEXAS IS AMONG THE LOWEST FOR EARLY CHILDHOOD MEETING FOUR OUT OF TEN BENCHMARKS. 
          2019 CHILDREN AT RISK PUBLICATION, DOCUMENTED IN HOUSTON OVER 40% OF CHILDREN WERE NOT READY TO LEARN WHEN ENTERING KINDERGARTEN. WE CAN'T PAY FOR THIS. 
          LAST THING I WILL SAY, OF COURSE, HERE IS DOES THIS COMPETE WITH OTHER COUNTY SERVICES? HOW ARE WE GOING TO PAY FOR THIS? I WILL REMIND YOU AGAIN, WE DESIGNED THIS IN 2021. OUR OFFICES TOGETHER. EARLIER THIS YEAR, APPROVED RACES FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT WE DIDN'T HAVE THE MONEY TO FUND. 
          WE PROPOSE TO PREVENT THOSE VOTES. 
          WE DID NOT RECEIVE A MAJORITY. I HAD CHATTED WITH LAW ENFORCEMENT LEADERS ABOUT WANTING TO DO THAT. 
          SEEMED SUPPORTIVE. NOW WE ARE $250 MILLION IN THE RED. THAT'S MORE THAN 9% OF OUR BUDGET. OBVIOUSLY, THIS IS NOT STANDARD PRACTICE. ALL OF THIS TAKEN TOGETHER, WE WILL HAVE TO CUT 10% OF BASIC SERVICES. WE CANNOT FUND THE EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION PROGRAMS WITHIN THE OVERALL COUNTY BUDGET BECAUSE IT'S TOO LIMITED. WE CANNOT FUND BASIC SERVICES WITH THE PROPOSAL FOR VOTERS BECAUSE WE VOTED THAT DOWN. I HEARD AS WELL IN THE PRESS, MAYBE THE PRECINCTS COULD PAY. 
          THE BUDGET OF EACH IS AROUND $100 MILLION. 
          $60 MILLION OF THAT -- 60% IS SPENT ON TRANSPORTATION. 
          EACH OF MY COLLEAGUES ONLY HAS $40 MILLION TO SPEND ON THE OTHER PROGRAMS. ALL OTHER PROGRAMS. WE SPENT THE FOLLOWING AMOUNT JUST FOR EARLY REACH. THAT'S JUST ONE OF THE THREE PROGRAMS. THE PROGRAMS ARE MORE SLOTS, MORE TRAINED TEACHERS, AND SUMMER PROGRAMMING. A SELECTED BY THE STAFF OF EACH PRECINCT AND MY OFFICE. 
          1 THAT MEANS FOR PRECINCT 2, IT WOULD COST MORE THAN 20% OF THEIR FLEXIBLE BUDGET, $8. 
          4 MILLION TO CONTINUE THESE PROGRAMS. THE PROPOSAL IS TO CONTINUE AND EXPAND THEM BECAUSE EVEN WITH WHAT WE HAVE NOW, WE WOULD ONLY MEET 40% WITH THE PROPOSAL ON THE BALLOT THAT WOULD COVER 40% OF THE KIDS THAT NEED THESE SERVICES. 
          OBVIOUSLY, I HAVE TO ASSUME THAT NONE OF MY COLLEAGUES ARE PREPARED TO SPEND MORE THAN 20% OF THEIR AVAILABLE PRECINCT BUDGET EVERY YEAR ON EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION TO KEEP THIS GOING WHICH WOULD BE HALF OF THE PROPOSAL WE ARE PUTTING FORTH TODAY. 
          TO CONCLUDE HERE, EVEN IF YOU DON'T AGREE WITH ME THAT EARLY CHILDHOOD PROGRAMS ARE WORTH SAVING, THAT'S FINE. I INVITE MY COLLEAGUES TO PUT IT ON THE BALLOT AND SAY THEY DISAGREE IF YOU ARE NERVOUS ABOUT BEING SOMETHING POLITICAL. 
          IF WE PASS THIS ITEM TODAY, YOU COME OUT AGAINST IT PUBLICLY, FINE. THAT'S OKAY. 
          I JUST ASK THAT YOU GIVE VOTERS A CHANCE TO DECIDE FOR THEMSELVES IF THEY WANT THESE PROGRAMS TO CONTINUE OR NOT. 
          [01:15:07]
          >> I'LL CALL OUR DIRECTOR OF THE DEPARTMENT OF ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY AS WELL AS THE DIRECTOR OF EARLY CHILDHOOD PROGRAMS. AND THEN, OF COURSE, AVAILABILITY FOR MY COLLEAGUES TO ALSO ASK QUESTIONS. 
          AND JUST THE BASIC QUESTIONS I WANT TO ASK YOU GUYS ON THIS. 
          HOW U HAS THIS BEEN GOING AND ALSO, WHAT WOULD BE THE ISSUES IF WE DO NOT GO TO THE BALLOT AND IF WE'RE NOT ABLE TO CONTINUE FUNDING THESE PROGRAMS? WHY IS IT IMPORTANT TO GO TO THE 
          BALLOT THIS YEAR? >> GOOD MORNING. THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR FOR DEO. WE'VE BEEN IMPLEMENTING THESE PROGRAMS SINCE THEY CAME OVER IN 2024. WE ARE STILL RUNNING THE PROGRAM, SO THERE ARE, WE HAVE SHARED WITH THE COURT OFFICES DATA ON THE PROGRAMS. THE EVALUATIONS THAT HAVE COME TO DATE, INCLUDING SOME MEMOS AND THEN, OF COURSE, WE ARE ASKING TODAY ON THE AGENDA TO PUT THE RFP OUT FOR THE ENTIRE PORTFOLIO. THOSE ARE THINGS WE HAVE UNDERTAKEN. JUST LIKE THE OTHER PROGRAMS, I THINK THEY'RE GOING WELL. OBVIOUSLY THE DECISION TODAY IS YOURS TO MAKE. JUST WANTED TO BE HERE ALONG WITH MY COLLEAGUE TO 
          ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS. >> OKAY. SO IF YOU WOULDN'T MIND JUST BRIEFLY COVERING HOW THESE PROGRAMS HAVE BEEN GOING AND WHY IT'S IMPORTANT TO FUND THEM. TO PUT IT ON THE BALLOT THIS YEAR AND NOT ANY OTHER FUTURE YEAR. 
          >> I THINK THE TIMING FOR US, JUST AS THE PROGRAM STAFF ARE IMPLEMENTING, THEY DO GO THROUGH 2026. SOME OF THEM DO END A LITTLE EARLY. I THINK MAYBE SEPTEMBER. ONE OF THEM ENDS IN SEPTEMBER. THE REST GO THROUGH THE END OF 2026. 
          >> AND DIRECTOR, COULD YOU EXPLAIN WHY THAT'S IMPORTANT. 
          WHY THAT'S RELEVANT. >> SO, AS EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR GONZALEZ HAS ALREADY STATED, SOME OF THE PROGRAMS ARE ENDING EARLIER IN 2026 AND SO WHAT THAT COULD MEAN IS SOME FAMILIES WOULD HAVE A GAP IN SERVICES. THEY ARE CURRENTLY RECEIVING AT 
          THIS POINT IN TIME. >> AND SO, THEY WOULD END IN THE MIDDLE OF THE SCHOOL YEAR, RIGHT? THE END OF 2026. 
          >> IF IT ENDS IN THE MIDDLE, YES. SEPTEMBER, THAT IS RIGHT AT THE BEGINNING OF A NEW SCHOOL YEAR, WHICH PUTS FAMILIES INTO A DISPLACED SITUATION. IF THEY'RE RECEIVING THOSE SERVICES THROUGHOUT THE SUMMERTIME AND THEN STARTED OFF THE SCHOOL YEAR, SEPTEMBER IS WHEN MOST SCHOOLS ARE ALREADY BACK IN SESSION. SO IT WOULD BE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE SCHOOL YEAR. 
          >> FOR THE PROGRAMS THAT END IN DECEMBER, WHAT WOULD HAPPEN TO 
          THE FAMILIES? >> THOSE FAMILIES WOULD UNDERGO THE SAME THING. THEY WOULD NO LONGER HAVE THE SERVICES THAT ARE CURRENTLY BEING PROVIDED. AND THEN SHOULD THE COURTS DECIDE TO DO SOMETHING IN THE FUTURE, WE WOULD START OVER. 
          >> AND PLEASE CLARIFY WHAT YOU MEAN BY START OVER. 
          >> ALL OF THE PROGRAMMING THAT IS CURRENTLY FUNDED THROUGH ARPA WENT THROUGH THE REQUEST RFP PROCESS, REQUEST FOR APPROVAL PROCESS AND SOME OF THEM DID HAVE INNER LOCAL AGREEMENTS AS 
          WELL. >> WE WOULD HAVE TO BASICALLY DO ALL OF THAT OVER FOR ALL OF THESE PROGRAMS? 
          >> THAT'S CORRECT. >> HOW LONG DID IT TAKE TO GET 
          ALL OF THAT DONE THE FIRST TIME? >> FIRST OF ALL, YOU HAVE TO CREATE THE PROPOSAL. SO THAT TAKES A WHILE TO GARNER THE DATA AND INFORMATION NEEDED THERE. AFTER WE CREATE THE PROPOSAL, WE HAVE TO GO THROUGH THE SPACE OF CREATING THE COMMITTEE, PRESENTING THIS TO THE PUBLIC. HAVING IT BE OPEN FOR 30 TO 60 DAYS, COMING BACK. THE COMMITTEE THEN REVIEWING, TAKING THE VOTE AND THEN WE GO INTO CONTRACTING, WHICH CAN TAKE A LITTLE WHILE AS 
          WELL. >> SO THAT'S WHY IT HAS BEEN TO BE ON THE BALLOT THIS YEAR. OTHERWISE WE WOULD START THIS OVER AND THE PARENTS THAT DEPEND ON THIS WOULD LOSE THE SUPPORT AND THE EDUCATION CENTERS THAT DEPEND ON THIS ALSO WOULD BE AT A DISADVANTAGE. THEY WOULD LOSE THAT FUNDING. SO, THE MOTION IS TO SET A PUBLIC HEARING ON AUGUST 15, 2025 AT 10:00 A.M. TO CONSIDER FOR THE HARRIS COUNTY GENERAL FUND THE PROPOSED 2025 TAX RATES PER $100 OF TAXABLE VALUE OF .3460 FOR MAINTENANCE AND OPERATIONS AND DEBT SERVICE. FOR A TOTAL TAX RATE OF POINT 936 AND TO DIRECT THE OFFICE OF MANAGEMENT AND BUDGET TO EXECUTE AND PUBLISH ALL RELATED NOTICES AS REQUIRED BY APPLICABLE LAW. 
          I'M HAPPY TO READ EXACTLY WHAT WOULD GO ON THE BALLOT. 
          OBVIOUSLY THIS IS JUST FOR THE PUBLIC HEARING. I URGE COLLEAGUES TO LET THE VOTERS DECIDE. AS WE SAID, WORTHY KIDS 
          [01:20:01]
ARE WORTH A PENNY. YOU DON'T HAVE TO AGREE. LET THE VOTERS CHOOSE. IT IS IMPOSSIBLE FOR YOU TO FUND THE PROGRAMS WITHIN YOUR PRECINCT. HI. WELCOME BACK. SO KIDS, WE'RE TRYING TO SEE. CAN YOU GUYS COUNT TO THREE? ONE, TWO, THREE. SO I'M ONE. SO WE NEED TWO AND THREE. WE NEED THREE VOTES SO THAT WE CAN PUT THIS ON THE BALLOT. OKAY? SO YOU GUYS HELP ME COUNT. RIGHT NOW WE HAVE ONE. ONE. ONE, TWO, THREE. ONE! OKAY. SO LET'S SEE WHO IS GOING TO BE NUMBER TWO. I'M GOING TO LET MY COLLEAGUES ASK QUESTIONS. WE'VE GOT 24 MINUTES. NONE OF THIS IS NEW. 
          WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT IT FOR FOUR YEARS. YES. YES, 
          COMMISSIONER RAMSEY. >> WHEN WE STARTED THE PROGRAM THREE PLUS YEARS AGO, WE KNEW THIS DAY WAS COMING. WE KNEW THAT THE ARPA FUNDS WERE NOT FOR ANYTHING PAST 2026. AND I WARNED BACK THEN WHEN WE STARTED PROGRAMS THAT WE WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO CONTINUE THEM AFTER THE DATE THAT THE ARPA MONEY RAN OUT. SO THIS IS SOMETHING WE KNEW WAS COMING. 
          >> CORRECT. >> I FIND. LET ME SPEAK. I'M GOING TO CONTINUE. I'VE LISTENED TO YOU FOR OVER AN 
          HOUR. >> GO AHEAD. 
          >> THE SUMMARY OF WHAT A PENNY TAX IS, IF YOU DO THE MATH. 
          THAT'S $66 MILLION. THE PROGRAM IS SOME NUMBER LESS THAN $30 MILLION. SO WE'RE ASKING THE VOTERS TO VOTE ON $66 MILLION FOR A LESS THAN $30 MILLION PROGRAM. THAT'S ONE ISSUE. THE OTHER ISSUE IS I'VE GOT 15 SCHOOL DISTRICTS IN THREE SING THREE. ENJOY WORKING WITH THE HARRIS COUNTY EDUCATIONAL DEPARTMENT. YOU ALL DO A WONDERFUL JOB. I ENJOY WORKING WITH OUR NONPROFITS. MANY OF THEM EXISTED PRIOR TO ARPA EVER SHOWING UP. AND THEY DO A WONDERFUL JOB DAY IN AND DAY OUT. ARPA HERE OR ARPA NOT HERE. I CAN TELL YOU THAT A TYPICAL TAX RATE IN A SCHOOL DISTRICT IS TWO AND A HALFTIMES MORE THAN WHAT THE COUNTY TAX IS. SO WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT IT, REALLY, SCHOOL DISTRICTS, THIS IS MORE IN THEIR LANE. THIS IS MORE IN A SCOPE OF A SCHOOL DISTRICT INITIATIVE, RATHER THAN A COUNTY INITIATIVE. HISCE THEY GOT MORE ARPA MONEY THAN THE COUNTY. THEY GOT OVER $1.2 BILLION IN ARPA MONEY. SO I WOULD THINK THEY HAD THE SAME PRIORITIES IN DOING SOMETHING, THEY WOULD HAVE GOTTEN MORE INVOLVED. I'LL NOT BE SUPPORTING THE MOTION. 
          PRIMARILY BECAUSE WE HAD THIS CONVERSATION WHEN THE PROGRAMS BEGAN. THERE WOULD BE AN END DATE. THIS IS THE END DATE AT THE END OF '26 WHEN THE MONEY RUNS OUT. I THINK, FOR THOSE REASONS, AND WE'RE NOT COMPLETELY THROUGH WITH THE BUDGET PROCESS HERE IN TERMS OF WHAT ELSE MAY BE THERE. WE DO KNOW THAT THERE ARE DISCRETIONARY MONEYS WE SPEND MONEY. THE TOTAL BUDGET FOR THE GENERAL FUND IN HARRIS COUNTY IS $2.7, $2.28 MILLION. WHAT I CONSIDER IS OVER 500 MILLION. WE HAVEN'T BEGUN TO VET THE 500 MILLION AND WHETHER OR NOT WE COULD FIND DOLLARS THERE TO SUPPORT PROGRAMS LIKE THIS OR OTHER PROGRAMS. SO I DON'T EVEN THINK WE HAVE ENOUGH DATA TO THINK WE NEED TO GO TO THE VOTERS. BECAUSE WE HADN'T FULLY VETTED ALL THE SPENDING WE'RE CURRENTLY DOING AND WHAT THE CUTS T■HAT COULD BE MADE, SHOUL BE MADE IN SOME OF THOSE AREAS. 
          I'LL NOT BE SUPPORTING THE MOTION. THANK YOU. 
          >> THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER. AND TO CLARIFY, THIS EXPANDS THE PROGRAM. THAT'S WHY IT'S $60 MILLION. WE HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO HAVE ANY OF THE SCHOOL DISTRICTS, ET CETERA, PICK THIS UP AND COUNTIES, IN DEED, WORK ON THIS. EVEN REPUBLICAN LED COUNTIES THAT WENT FOR PRESIDENT TRUMP, WE HAVE, FOR EXAMPLE, 
          [01:25:04]
ESCAMBIA COUNTY, PLATT COUNTY, MISSOURI, TRAVIS COUNTY, TEXAS. 
          WE ALREADY KNOW THIS IS POPULAR. COMMISSIONER ELLIS. WHAT I'M GOING TO DO IS TO BRING THE KIDS HERE AND ASK EACH MEMBER YES OR 
          NO. >> POINT OF ORDER. WE ARE PROCEEDING WITH THE DEBATE IMPROPERLY. BECAUSE THERE'S BEEN A MOTION MADE. NO SECOND. AND WE'RE IN DISCUSSION. 
          >> I DIDN'T MAKE A MOTION. >> YOU SAID. 
          >> NO, I DIDN'T. >> YES, YOU DID. 
          >> WELL, I TAKE IT BACK. THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER. 
          >> WHY EDUCATION IS IMPORTANT. >> COMMISSIONER RAMSEY, DID YOU HAVE SOMETHING ELSE TO ADD? COMMISSIONER BRIONES. 
          >> SO, YES. THANK YOU. ESPECIALLY TO ALL THE KIDS WHO TOOK THE TIME TO COME AND ALL THE EDUCATORS. 
          >> KIDS, COME ON DOWN. LET'S SEE IF SHE SAYS YES OR NO. COME ON. COME ON. THIS IS NOT ABOUT POLITICS. THIS IS ABOUT KIDS. 
          COME ON DOWN. >> JUDGE. 
          >> EXCUSE ME. >> PART OF EDUCATION IS RESPECT. 
          >> JUDGE. >> EXCUSE ME, POINT OF ORDER 
          WITH REGARD TO DECORUM. >> THIS IS IN BREECH OF THE DECORUM RULES AND I HAVE THE FLOOR TO SPEAK AND I DESERVE TO BE ABLE TO SPEAK WITHOUT BEING INTERRUPTED, AS WE'VE BEEN PATIENTLY LISTENING TO EVERYBODY AS WELL. 
          >> JUDGE, WE'VE BEEN PRETTY LAX ON THIS. WE'RE NOT SUPPOSED TO HAVE PUBLIC DEMONSTRATION AND EXCESS NOISE. I WANT TO REMIND, 
          EVERYONE. >> THANK YOU. AS A MOM OF THREE LITTLE KIDS, A FORMER TEACH AND ARE THE DAUGHTER OF RETIRED TEACHERS OF 50 YEARS, EDUCATION IS OF PARAMOUNT IMPORTANCE, PERIOD. AND THIS PROPOSAL CAME TWO WEEKS AGO. THE ARPA INVESTMENT WAS ALWAYS A ONE TIME PILOT FOR THE CONTRACT SLOT PROPOSAL. SO THIS PROPOSAL IS TWO WEEKS OLD. WHEN WE LOOK DOWN IN TRAVIS COUNTY, THEY SPENT TWO YEARS WORKING WITH SUBJECT 
          MATTER EXPERTS. >> WE SPENT FOUR YEARS. 
          EDUCATION IS TRUTH TELLING. DON'T GIVE THIS EXAMPLE OF 
          MAKING THINGS UP. >> POINT OF ORDER. 
          >> OUR CHILDREN ARE HERE. YOU SHOULD TRY TO BE RESPECTFUL AND FOCUS ON THE WORK. THIS HALF BAKED PROPOSAL. 
          >> FOUR YEARS. >> DID NOT HAVE ROBUST STAKE HOLDER ENCAGEMENT. IT DOESN'T HAVE A DETAILED PROGRAM. IT DOES 
          NOT HAVE A DETAILED BUDGET. >> FOUR YEARS. 
          >> THE PROJECTS WE'RE DOING, WHICH, AGAIN, WAS A ONE TIME ARPA INVESTMENT THROUGH 2026 AND EVERYTHING HAS BEEN CRYSTAL CLEAR ON THAT. THE EVALUATION DONE BY A THIRD PARTY WILL BE AVAILABLE NEXT YEAR. IN 2026. IS THAT CORRECT? 
          >> 80 PAY EVALUATION. >> IS THAT CORRECT? 
          >> POINT OF ORDER. >> IT'S THE FIRST TWO YEARS. 
          >> JUDGE. POINT OF ORDER. >> COMMISSIONER GARCIA, STATE 
          YOUR POINT OF ORDER. >> POINT OF ORDER. COMMISSIONER 
          BRIONES HAS THE FLOOR. >> BE A GOOD EXAMPLE FOR THE 
          CHILDREN. >> IS THIS HOW WE'RE GOING TO CONDUCT COURT FROM NOW ON? IF THIS IS HOW WE'RE GOING TO DO IT, WE'LL DO THIS AGAIN AND REFERENCE THIS CASE. IF THIS IS 
          HOW WE'RE GOING TO DO COURT. >> OKAY. 
          >> THIS IS TOTALLY AGAINST WHAT WE SHOULD BE DOING, ACCORDING TO DECORUM. I CAN'T BELIEVE YOU'RE SITTING THERE. 
          >> IF I MAY CONTINUE, PLEASE, WITHOUT ANY INTERRUPTIONS. 
          AGAIN, THIS IS ABOUT THE PROCESS, NOT THE POLICY. EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION AND EDUCATION AT ALL LEVELS IS OF IMPORTANCE. THIS PROPOSAL CAME TWO WEEKS AGO. WE HAVE BEEN WORKING WITH THE GULF COAST WORK FORCE BOARD. WE GET THIS REGION GETS $328 MILLION AND MOST OF IT IS INVESTED IN HARRIS COUNTY. 
          THE GULF COAST WORK FORCE BOARD IS ON FIRST FOR EARLY CHILDHOOD 
          EDUCATION. >> WE'RE WORKING WITH THEM. 
          >> EXCUSE ME. WE NEED TO MAXIMIZE. SO THESE ARE FEDERAL DOLLARS SENT TO THE STATE, SENT TO THE WORK FORCE BOARD. THEY NEED TO BE OPTIMIZED AND SCALED AND THEY ARE ON FIRST TO SET UP 
          [01:30:04]
A NEW PROGRAM WITHOUT A DETAILED. 
          >> WE WORK WITH THEM TO DESIGN THIS. 
          >> EXCUSE ME. >> FALSEHOODS ARE NOT APPROPRIATE IN FRONT OF CHILDREN. 
          >> YOU SHOULD TELL YOURSELF THAT. EDUCATION IS NONNEGOTIATABLE AND THERE ARE FEDERAL STATE RESOURCES THAT AS A REGION NEED TO BE MAXIMIZED. THE TWO YEAR TRAVIS COUNTY 
          EFFORTS. >> WE'VE BEEN RUNNING THE 
          PROGRAM FOR FOUR YEARS. >> JUDGE. JUDGE, PLEASE. 
          COMMISSIONER, I APOLOGIZE. OUR RULES DON'T GENERALLY APPLY TO THE FIVE OF YOU RIGHT NOW. BUT I DO THINK IT'S VERY HARD BOTH FROM THE PUBLIC'S PERSPECTIVE AND ON THE MINUTES. WE NEED TO HAVE ONE PERSON SPEAKING AT TIME. 
          >> THERE ARE SO MANY FALSEHOODS. TRAVIS COUNTY DID NOT HAVE THEIR 
          PROGRAM RUN. >> COMMISSIONER. JUDGE, ONE PERSON AT A TIME. COMMISSIONER BRIONES HAS THE FLOOR. 
          >> IN SUM, THE PEOPLE DESERVE, IF THEY'RE GOING TO VOTE ON SOMETHING, IT NEEDS TO BE CLEAR, DETAILED, TRANSPORT. WHAT WAS A PILOT PROJECT IS NOT THE SAME AS INSTITUTING A PERMANENT PROGRAM. 
          IF WE'RE GOING TO DO SOMETHING, WE MUST DO IT RIGHT WITH DEEP EXPERT AND DEEP STAKE HOLDER ENGAGEMENT TWO YEARS OR PLUS, NOT TWO WEEKS. FOR THOSE REASONS, I WILL NOT BE SUPPORTING THIS INITIATIVE. AND I WANT TO LEAN FURTHER ON THE FEDERAL AND STATE GOVERNMENT AND THE WORK FORCE BOARD THAT THEY ARE WELL POSITIONED TO BE SCALING AND MAXIMIZING THESE CRITICAL SERVICES. AND AS A COUNTY, WE NEED TO DOUBLE DOWN AND MAXIMIZE WHAT WE ARE LEGALLY REQUIRED TO DELIVER TO YOU. 
          WHICH IS PUBLIC SAFETY, PUBLIC INFRASTRUCTURE AND PUBLIC HEALTH. SO THIS COULD BE A BOTH AND, BUT WE DON'T EVEN HAVE THE INDEPENDENT EVALUATION ON THE PILOT. THAT WILL COME NEXT YEAR. 
          SO AS SOMEONE WHO IS COMMITTED TO DATA DRIVEN POLICYMAKING, I WOULD BE HAPPY TO RETHINK THIS AFTER DATA DRIVEN ROBUST. 
          >> THIS IS THE 80 PAGE EVALUATION. COMMISSIONER ELLIS, I KNOW YOU MENTIONED THIS MORNING. I WANTED TO SEE IF YOU 
          WANTED TO BRING IT UP. >> A QUESTION HAS BEEN CALLED. 
          >> THERE IS NO QUESTION. I DIDN'T MAKE A MOTION. I DO WANT 
          TO SAY COMMISSIONER ELLIS. >> I SECOND THE CALL FOR 
          QUESTION. >> JUDGE, THERE'S A MOTION ON THE FLOOR. THE QUESTION HAS BEEN CALLED. SO A MOTION AND YOU HAVE TO SEE IF THERE'S A SECOND AND THEN HAVE TO TAKE A VOTE. 
          >> OKAY. SO KIDS, LET ME ASK COMMISSIONER BRIONES IF SHE'S A YES OR NO. ARE YOU YES OR NO, COMMISSIONER BRIONES? HERE'S THE 80 PAGE EVALUATION OUR PROGRAM HAS BEEN RUNNING FOR FOUR YEARS. TRAVIS COUNTY DIDN'T RUN A PROGRAM. 
          >> I'M SORRY TO INTERRUPT YOU. A QUESTION HAS BEEN CALLED. YOU MADE A MOTION. WE HAVE TO CALL FOR A SECOND FOR THAT MOTION. 
          >> I SAID I TOOK IT BACK. >> AND THEN A VOTE HAS TO BE 
          TAKEN. >> I'M JUST GOING TO SAY I'M SO DISAPPOINTED. ON BEHALF OF THE THOUSANDS OF FAMILIES WHOSE BABIES 0 TO 4 WILL STOP RECEIVING CRUCIAL EDUCATION AND TO THINK THEIR FAMILY IES WILL LOSE ACCESS TO EDUCATION, THERE'S ABSOLUTELY NO REASON WHY WE CAN'T SIMPLY ASK THE VOTERS WHAT THEY WOULD LIKE TO SEE. THE PROGRAM HAS BEEN EVALUATED. THE OFFICES HAVE BEEN WORKING ON THIS FOR FOUR YEARS. 
          I'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT A BOND ELECTION SINCE 2019. UNLIKE TRAVIS COUNTY, WE ACTUALLY RAN THE PROGRAM BEFORE PUTTING IT TO THE VOTERS. WE'VE BEEN WORKING WITH THE TEXAS. 
          >> WHEN A MOTION HAS BEEN MADE AND SECONDED AND WE HAVE SOMEONE 
          NOT RECOGNIZING THE RULES. >> LET'S JUST MOVE ON TO THE NEXT ITEM. THAT'S ALL I HAVE TO SAY. IF YOU WANT TO VOTE NO IN 
          FRONT OF THE KIDS. >> A MOTION HAS BEEN MADE. YOU HAVE TO CALL FOR A SECOND. A QUESTION HAS BEEN CALLED ON 
          THIS. IF THERE'S NO QUESTION. >> I DIDN'T MAKE A MOTION. 
          >> OKAY. >> WHAT'S THE MOTION? 
          >> I HEARD YOU MAKE THE MOTION. >> I SAID I DIDN'T MAKE A 
          MOTION. >> ARE YOU PULLING THE MOTION 
          BACK? >> I DID NOT MAKE THE MOTION. 
          I'M ASKING IF MY COLLEAGUES ARE YES OR NO FOR ASKING THE VOTERS. 
          COMMISSIONER, I'M YES. COMMISSIONER BRIONES IS NO. 
          COMMISSIONER RAMSEY 
          [01:35:04]
          >> OKAY, COLLEAGUES, IT IS NOW 12:03 AND COMMISSIONER'S COURT IS NOW BACK IN ORDER. HELLO, HELLO. IT IS 12:03, 
          [Appearances Before Court]
COMMISSIONER'S COURT IS BACK IN ORDER. WE WOULD LIKE TO TAKE UP THE REMAINING PUBLIC SPEAKERS. TIFFANY, COULD YOU CALL UP THE 
          REST OF THE SPEAKERS. >> YES, SIR. SPEAKER NUMBER FOUR. 
          YOU EACH HAVE ONE MINUTE. 
          >> GOOD AFTERNOON. WHEN PEOPLE REACH OUT FOR HELP, THE COUNTY'S RESPONSE MUST BE MORE ROBUST THAN ARREST AND JAIL. 
          ALEXIS WOULD LIKELY STILL BE ALIVE IF THE FIRST RESPONDERS HAD DIRECTED HIM TO HEART. A NEW JAIL WOULD NOT PREVENT HIS DEATH. FREEZE THE LAW ENFORCEMENT BUDGET SO WE CAN BETTER FUND CARE FOR PEOPLE. AFTER SCHOOL AND SUMMER PROGRAMS, CHILD CARE. SECOND CHANCES. MEET THE NEEDS OF THE COMMUNITY FOR FOOD, HEALTH CARE, HOUSING, EDUCATION, VIOLENCE PREVENTION, CREDIBLE MESSENGER AND COMMUNAL SPACES TO PROMOTE COMMUNITY AND PREVENT THE NEED FOR A BIGGER JAIL. IF WE VOTE TO SUPPORT CHILD CARE, MAKE SURE YOU SPEND IT ON CHILD CARE AND DO NOT DIRECT IT TO LAW ENFORCEMENT. 
          >> THANK YOU. SAY YOUR NAME FOR THE RECORD. 
          >> LAURA GALIHER. >> THANK YOU. 
          >> GOOD AFTERNOON. SYNTHIA COLE. I HAVEN'T SEEN THE IDENTICAL TOWER, BUT I HAVE SEEN A CIRCUS. I DON'T NECESSARILY KNOW THAT I LIKE THE CIRCUS. I WOULD LIKE TO SAY TO YOU ALL I'M SPEAKING ON BEHALF OF JUST THE BUDGET. WE RESPECTFULLY URGES THAT THESE COMMISSIONERS' DECISION MAKERS, THE BUDGET TEAM PRIORITIZE WELL WILLING EFFORTS. WHETHER THAT'S CHILD CARE, LAW ENFORCEMENT AND COMMUNITY ACTIVITY. YOU ALL ARE THE CONSCIOUS. AND WE HAVE ELECTED YOU TO SELECT BASED ON WHAT WORKS FOR THE PEOPLE. WHAT THE PEOPLE SAY. WE ASK THAT YOU GUARD YOUR HEARTS AND YOUR MINDS AND YOU MAKE CLEAR DECISIONS THAT WILL HELP EVERYONE. PLEASE. 
          THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU. 
          >> GOOD AFTERNOON. MY NAME IS ANN FURR IS AND I WROTE THIS BEFORE YOU, BEFORE ALL THIS JUST HAPPENED. SO THIS MAY BE OUT OF DATE. COMMISSIONERS, THE COUNTY'S HUGE BUDGET SHORT FALL IS NOW REQUIRING YOU TO CONSIDER DEVASTATING BUDGET CUTES TO VITAL COUNTY SERVICES. PLEASE ALLOW RESIDENTES TO VOTE ON A FAIR REVENUE RATE. THIS VOTE WOULD GIVE US A CHANCE TO GENERATE FUNDS. TO HELP SAVE ESSENTIAL RESOURCES, INCLUDING COUNTY LIBRARIES, WHICH MAY NOT GENERATE HEADLINES BUT WHICH GREATLY STRENGTHEN OUR CITY. A THIRD OF HOUSTONS ARE FUNCTIONALLY ILL LITERAL. A GREATER HOUSTON PARTNERSHIP FOUND THE LOW EDUCATION LEVEL OF OUR RESIDENTS IS A BARRIER TO ATTRACTING NEW BUSINESS TO OUR CITY. HISD HAS RECENTLY CLOSED MORE THAN 180 LIBRARIES, ALMOST ALL OF THE EFFECTED STUDENTS LIVE OR NEAR POVERTY. SO COUNTY LIBRARIES THAT PROVIDE MILLIONS OF MATERIALS AND THOUSANDS OF CLASSES ARE MORE IMPORTANT THAN EVER. LET'S WORK TO FIND ALTERNATIVES TO CUTTING VITAL SERVICES. PLEASE ALLOW US TO VOTE ON A FAIR REVENUE. 
          >> THANK YOU, YOUR TIME IS UP. >> COMMISSIONER ELLIS, IF I COULD. A POINT OF PERSONAL PRIVILEGE. I JUST WANT TO SAY TO THOSE OF YOU IN THE AUDIENCE AND ANYONE WATCHING VIRTUALLY. I WANT TO APOLOGIZE ON BEHALF OF HARRIS COUNTY. THIS IS NOT US. 
          THIS IS NOT THE WAY WE CONDUCT BUSINESS. WE TRY TO BE RESPECTFUL HERE IN SPITE OF POLITICAL DIFFERENCES. I WANT TO JUST APOLOGIZE. BECAUSE THIS IS NOT THE WAY U.S. GOVERNMENT IS SUPPOSED TO WORK. THIS IS NOT GOVERNANCE. IT IS A FAILURE TO RECOGNIZE THESE POSITIONS OF TRUST THAT WE HOLD. AND SO I WANT TO JUST SAY ON BEHALF OF MY COLLEAGUES AND I, WE APOLOGIZE THAT THIS HAS TO BE AN EXAMPLE OF HARRIS COUNTY GOVERNMENT. 
          [01:40:02]
          THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER. AND TO OUR AUDIENCE, WE WANT TO LET EVERYBODY SPEAK. SO I WANT TO ASK YOU, IF YOU WOULD BE RESPECTFUL. OBVIOUSLY WE DON'T CLAP. YOU BY LAW CAN HOLD UP A SIGN AS LONG AS YOU'RE NOT OBSTRUCTING. LET'S NOT DO THE FINGER SNAPPING. WE WANT EVERYBODY TO HEAR YOU OUT, WHETHER WE AGREE OR DISAGREE. 
          OUR NEXT SPEAKER. >> DEMARUS GONZALEZ ON ITEM THREE OF PRECINCT FOUR. KENNETH BROWN OF ITEM THREE AND CECILIA. 
          >> THANK YOU. I'M A COMMUNITY ORGANIZER WITH THE TEXAS ORGANIZING PROJECT. I'M HERE TODAY TO SPEAK ON THE CONCERNS OUR MEMBERS HAVE RAISED AROUND THE HARRIS COUNTY BUDGET. THE COST OF LIVING GIVES RISE FOR EVERYONE, IT'S ONLY LAW ENFORCEMENT WHO CONTINUOUSLY RECEIVES RAISE AFTER RAISE EVERY YEAR. WE BELIEVE THAT COMMUNITY SAFETY COMES FROM INVESTING IN THE PEOPLE. THAT MEANS MORE FUNDING FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING, HEALTHCARE AND EDUCATION. AND PROGRAMS LIKE THE HEART PROGRAM WHO OFFER REAL ALTERNATIVE SOLUTIONS TO INCARCERATION. THAT ALSO MEANS THAT SAFETY DOES NOT MEAN MORE POLICE OFFICERS ON OUR STREETS. NOT TERRORIZING OR CRIMINALIZING LABORS. WE ALSO BELIEVE THAT WE NEED TO INVEST IN OUR CHILDREN BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, YOU ALL ARE SITTING HERE BECAUSE THE PEOPLE TRUSTED YOU 
          TO LEAD WITH FAIR AND TRUSTNESS. >> REMEMBER, NO NOISE. LET PEOPLE SPEAK AND BE RESPECTFUL. WHETHER YOU AGREE OR NOT. 
          >> GOOD MORNING, COMMISSIONER'S COURT. LIKE ALWAYS. TO THE JUDGE AND TO THIS PANEL. I'M HERE PART OF PER JUSTICE. WE'RE HERE TO TALK ABOUT CONSIDERING OUR CAUSE. TAKES ME TO LUKE 14:20 TO 33 WHERE IT BEGINS TO TALK ABOUT BUILDING A TOWER. AND A SOLDIER KING THAT WANTED TO GO TO WAR BUT DIDN'T HAVE ENOUGH MEANS. 
          SO THE EMPHASIS WAS RODNEY ELLIS, IS TO CONSIDER CAREFULLY THE COST TO PLAN ANYTHING WITH OR WITHOUT THE RESOURCE TO FINISH THE COMMITMENT THAT WE HAVE. SO TODAY, WE'RE ASKING YOU TO CONSIDER ALL OF THESE CHILDREN THAT IS BEHIND US. 
          CONSIDER THE HEALTHCARE. CONSIDER THE MENTAL HEALTH. 
          CONSIDER THE HOMELESS. CONSIDER EVERYTHING THAT NEEDS TO BE CONSIDERED. AND IF YOU WOULD BE LIKE THE KING THAT DOESN'T HAVE ENOUGH MEN, IF WE CAN GET THE $250 MILLION WE CAN WIN THE WAR. 
          >> THANK YOU. 
          >> GOOD AFTERNOON, EVERYONE. MY NAME IS CECILA AND I AM A MEMBER OF PURE JUSTICE ACTION FUND AND A CONSTITUENT OF COMMISSIONER ELLIS'S. I AM HERE TODAY BECAUSE OF THE PROPOSED BUDGET SHORT FALL. DEADLY FEDERAL CUTS FOR MEDICAID, MEDICARE AND SNAP WILL HURT ALL OF US. ESPECIALLY FAMILIES AND SENIORS. WE CAN'T RELY ON STATE. THE COMMISSIONERS COURT ALSO VOTED TO APPROVE FUNDING FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT AND NOW, WE ARE FACING A HUGE BUDGET SHORT FALL. FUNDING SHOULD GO TO PROGRAMS THAT HELP WITH STABILITY. SUCH AS FOOD SECURITY, PUBLIC HEALTH PROGRAMS, EVICTION PREVENTION AND HOUSING. NOT MORE LAW ENFORCEMENT. THEY HAVE RECEIVED TOO MUCH MONEY ALREADY. 
          >> YOUR TIME IS UP. >> ASSISTANCE AND HOUSING ASSISTANCE FOR RENTERS AND HOMEOWNERS. 
          >> THANK YOU, YOUR TIME IS UP. >> THANK YOU FOR ALL OF YOUR 
          TIME. >> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. 
          >> SPEAKER 11, NICO MATTHEWS ON ITEM THREE OF PRECINCT ONE. ASAN ON ITEM THREE OR PRECINCT ONE AND DORCAS HAND ON ITEM THREE OF PRECINCT ONE. YOU EACH HAVE ONE MINUTE. 
          >> GOOD AFTERNOON. I AM REVEREND DOCTOR NICO MATTHEWS. I PASTOR IN THE FIFTH WARD COMMUNITY. I'M HERE TO ADVOCATE THAT WE ALLOW OUR VOTERS TO DETERMINE OUR BUDGET FOR OUR COUNTY AND MAKING SURE WE ARE FAIR ACROSS THE BOARD IN OUR ASSESSMENT OF 
          [01:45:02]
FINANCIAL RESOURCES FOR EDUCATION FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT. 
          FOR PUBLIC SAFETY AND FOR OTHER VARIOUS PROGRAMS IN THE COUNTY. 
          SO I BELIEVE THAT AS A CONSTITUENT, WE SHOULD LEAVE THIS UP TO OUR VOTERS WHO ARE THE TAXPAYERS AND WHO HELP TO SUPPORT THIS COUNTY THAT WE CALL HARRIS. THANK YOU. 
          >> THANK YOU FOR COMING, PASTOR. 
          >> GOOD AFTERNOON, COMMISSIONERS. MY NAME IS ESON BAJA AND A CONSTITUENT OF PRECINCT ONE. THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT HAS TURNED ITS BACK ON US. BUT WE, THE PEOPLE, REMAIN. WE HAVE ALWAYS MADE A WAY OUT OF NO WAY. NOW IT SEEMS LIKE HARRIS COUNTY HAS TO DO THE SAME. DUE TO THE HARM FROM THE LEGISLATURE. BILLS THAT CAP TAX REVENUE, FUNDING AND MAKE IT SO WE CAN'T DECREASE THE AMOUNT COUNTY GOVERNMENTS GIVE TO LAW ENFORCEMENT ARE PUTTING US IN A BUDGET DEFICIT. FREEDOM IS NOT JUST AN IDEA. IT'S ACCESS. ACCESS TO SHELTER, FOOD, MENTAL HEALTH PROGRAMS, HEALTHCARE AND WE NEED TO CONTINUE FUNDING THESE PROGRAMS. THIS ISN'T ABOUT MAKING THE COUNTY GOVERNMENT BIGGER. IT'S ABOUT MAKING SOCIETY BETTER. NO MORE FUNDING FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT. HOW U THE COUNTY SPENDS OUR TAX DOLLARS CAN REFLECT OUR VALUES BECAUSE WE ALL PAY TAXES. 
          WHETHER CITY, STATE, FEDERAL, PAYROLL, PROPERTY OR ESPECIALLY SALES TAXES. IF YOU'RE CONSIDERING RAISING TAXES DUE TO THE BUDGET DEFICIT, PUT IT ON A BALLOT AND LET THE VOTERS 
          DECIDE. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. >> THANK YOU. 
          >> GOOD MORNING, COMMISSIONERS. THANK YOU FOR HEARING US ALL. 
          I'M IN SUPPORT OF A FAIR REVENUE RATE IN ORDER TO CONTINUE PAYING FOR COUNTY SERVICES LIKE LIBRARIES. I'M A RETIRED SCHOOL LIBRARIAN AND I RECOGNIZE HOW IMPORTANT THE PUBLIC LIBRARY IS TO ALL OF OUR RESIDENTS ACROSS THE COUNTY. 
          HSID HAS LOST MOST OF THE LIBRARIES AS MENTIONED EARLIER. 
          ALL OF THOSE STUDENTS, ALMOST ALL OF THE STUDENTS ARE IN ECONOMICALLY CHALLENGED NEIGHBORHOODS AND ARE STUDENTS OF COLOR. THOSE ARE NOW BOOK INFORMATION, BOOKEND INFORMATION DESERTS AND THE ROLE OF HARRIS COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY IS ESSENTIAL IN RAISING LITERACY RATES, JOB LOCATION. ALL OF THE THINGS PUBLIC LIBRARIES DO. YOU DON'T WANT TO HEAR THE WHOLE LIST TODAY. EVERY CHILD IS WORTH THE MONEY THAT WE NEED TO SPEND BY RAIS ING THAT, THE FAIR REVENUE RATE. 
          >> DID YOU SAY YOUR NAME? >> DORCAS HAND. 
          >> THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR COMING. 
          >> SPEAKER 16, SALINA BRAY ON ITEM THREE OF PRECINCT ONE. 
          VICTOR MENDOZA AND ALFREDO DOMIGEZ. 
          >> I'M SALINA BRAY AND THE POLICY ORGANIZER FOR PURE ACCESS FUND. WE HAVEN'T HAD A CHOICE IN THE DECISION TO FURTHER INVEST IN LAW ENFORCEMENT, EVEN THOUGH WE'VE BEEN FOOTING OUR END FOR YEARS. WE COULD HAVE A CHOICE. PROVIDING A CHOICE ABOUT REVENUE AND OPTIONS TO VOTERS IS A DUAL OPPORTUNITY. IT'S AN OPPORTUNITY FOR RESIDENTS TO HAVE A SAY IN FUNDING THE PROGRAMS THAT BOTH MAKE HARRIS COUNTY THE BEST PLACE TO LIVE AND KEEP PEOPLE ALIVE. JAIL REENTRY PROGRAMS, WORK FORCE DEVELOPMENT ARE INITIATIVES WE CAN'T AFFORD TO LOSE. IT'S ALSO AN OPPORTUNITY FOR YOU ALL. ELECTED SERVANTS TO MAKE HARRIS COUNTY THE BLUEPRINT FOR HEALTHIER, SAFER COMMUNITIES NATIONWIDE. MEASURED, INFORMED TACTICS TO SPUR REVENUE COULD BE THE STRIVE FORWARD TO MAKE THINGS BETTER AND SUSTAIN PROGRESS OVER THE LONG TERM. NO CRITICAL SERVICE CUTS AND LET VOTERS DECIDE ABOUT THE FUTURES WE'RE CREATING FOR THE FAMILIES, ELDERS AND YOUTH IN THIS ROOM AND ACROSS HARRIS 
          COUNTY. THANK YOU ALL. >> THANK YOU. 
          >> GOOD AFTERNOON, COMMISSIONERS. MY NAME IS VICTOR AND I'M A RESIDENT OF PRECINCT TWO AND A MEMBER OF THE PURE JUSTICE ACTION FUND. I STAND HERE AS A VOICE FOR OUR YOUTH AND HARRIS COUNTY WE'RE FACING A CRISIS. NOT JUST ABOUT OUR BUDGET BUT ABOUT OUR VALUES. THE PROPOSED CUTS TO YOUTH PROGRAMS ARE MORE THAN NUMBERS ON A SPREAD SHEET. THEY'RE BROKEN PROMISES TO OUR CHILDREN. THEY'RE NOT JUST EXTRAS. THEY ARE LIFELINES. THEY ARE AFTER SCHOOL SPACES THAT KEEP KIDS OFF THE STREETS. OUR LIBRARIES ARE SAFE SPACES. THE JOB TRAINING PROGRAMS OPEN DOORS. THE YOUTH ENRICHMENT SAFETY PROGRAMS ARE OFTEN THE ONLY PLACES YOUNG PEOPLE FEEL SAFE, SEEN AND 
          [01:50:02]
SUPPORTED. CUTTING YOUTH PROGRAMS TODAY MEANS PAYING FOR JAILS, POVERTY AND BROKEN FUTURES TOMORROW. PREVENTION IS CHEAPER THAN PUNISHMENT. OUR YOUTH ARE NOT THE PROBLEM. THEY ARE THE SOLUTIONS FOR TOMORROW. THANK YOU. 
          >> THANK YOU. 
          >> HEY, COMMISSIONERS, MY NAME IS ALFREDO AND AN EMPLOYEE OF PEOPLE'S COUNSEL AND HERE ON BEHALF OF THE SAFETY BUDGET. 
          TODAY HAS BEEN A LOT TO TAKE IN. AS USUAL, OUR PROMISE IS MUCH MORE EXCITING THAN OUR USUAL MEETINGS. ONE THING THAT STICKS OUT TO ME IS WHEN WE THINK ABOUT THE TURNING DOWN OF A POSSIBILITY OF $60 MILLION TO GOING TO CHILD CARE IS THE FACT THAT TWO OF THE DEMOCRATS QUICKLY VOTED WITHOUT ANY PUBLIC INPUT TO GIVE OVER A HUNDRED MILLION DOLLARS TO THE COUNTY SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT WITHOUT THE SAME SCRUTINY THAT WE HOLD EVERY OTHER SINGLE COUNTY. WE DON'T HOLD THEM TO THE SAME LEVEL FOR EVALUATION STUDIES THAT WE DO FOR ANY OTHER DEPARTMENT THAT WE'RE HERE FOR. WE HAVE TO ASK AT A CERTAIN POINT WHAT ARE THE PRIORITIES? WHAT ARE THE PRIORITIES OF THE NEW REVENUE? THAT TO ME IS THE REAL QUESTION BEING POSED. HOW ARE WE IN THIS POSITION EVERY SINGLE YEAR? IT'S BECAUSE OF LAW ENFORCEMENT. THANK YOU. 
          >> SPEAKER 21. JASMINE TELAS ON 178. KAREN NAP ON 178 OF PRECINCT TWO AND GRACE ISRAEL ON ITEM 178 OF PRECINCT FOUR. 
          >> HELLO. FIRST I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR SUPPORTING HEART AND THE RISE PROGRAM BUT OUR WORK, WE STILL HAVE A LOT OF WORK TO DO LEFT. OUR COUNTY BUDGET REFLECTS OUR COMMUNITY'S VALUES AND OUR NEEDS. THIS DECISION ON HOW TO SPEND THE COMMUNITY RESOURCES SHOULD PRIOR ADVERTISE HEALTH, SAFETY AND WELL BEING OF EVERYBODY. NOT JUST A FEW. THAT'S WHY I'M ASKING YOU TO CONTINUE TO FUND AND SUPPORT THE EXPANSION OF OUR HARRIS HEART AND RISE PROGRAMS. THESE PROGRAMS HAVE PROVEN TO REDUCE CRIME, AND OVERALL HELP BUILD OUR COMMUNITY AND TRUST. THIS IS WHAT I ASSUME YOU WERE TRYING TO DO BY RAISING LAW ENFORCEMENT BUDGET. THESE ARE PROGRAMS THAT ACTUALLY HAVE MADE A DIFFERENCE. 
          AND I WANT TO REMIND YOU THAT STUDIES SHOW INCREASED FUNDING TO LAW ENFORCEMENT DOES NOT MEAN FULLY REDUCING CRIME. SAFETY IS NOT ABOUT POLICING. IT'S ABOUT PROVIDING PEOPLE WITH OUR RESOURCES THAT THEY NEED TO MEET THEIR NEEDS WITHOUT RESORTING TO CRIMINAL ALTY. I ASK YOU CONTINUE TO FUND AND EXPAND OUR 
          HEART AND RISE PROGRAMS. >> THANK YOU. OUR TIME IS UP. 
          >> SHE HAS A QUESTION. JASMINE. AND I HOPE TO WORK WITH THE MAJORITY OF YOU TO HELP RAISE AWARENESS OF HEART AND OF RISE. 
          >> JASMINE, I JUST WANTED TO THANK YOU, FIRST OF ALL FOR COMING DOWN TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM. THIS IS AN IMPORTANT ITEM. 
          I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO SUPPORTING IT. BUT I ALSO WANT TO COMMEND OUR DIRECTOR, LEAH BARTON FOR HER LEADERSHIP OVER THESE PROGRAMS. I HAVE BEEN VISITING WITH SOME OF OUR TRUSTED MESSENGERS AND JUST REALLY APPRECIATE THEIR WILLINGNESS TO DO A VERY DIFFICULT AND COMPLICATED JOB AND THEIR COORDINATION AND COLLABORATION TO THE APPROPRIATE POINT WITH LAWSUIT. YOU'RE RIGHT. IT DOES MAKE AN IMPACT. 
          I'VE SEEN IT OVER THE YEARS HOW IT'S WORKED. SO I JUST, AGAIN, WANT TO THANK YOU FOR COMING DOWN. I LOOK FORWARD TO MY OFFICE WORKING WITH YOU TO GET THE WORD OUT ABOUT HEART. 
          THERE'S SOME URGENT ISSUES I'D LIKE TO DISCUSS WITH YOU AT A 
          LATER POINT. >> ABSOLUTELY. THANK YOU. I DID WANT TO ADD THAT THESE PROGRAMS BENEFIT ALL OF US. NOT JUST A FEW. AGAIN, I ASK, PLEASE, CONTINUE TO FUND PROGRAMS THAT ACTUALLY BENEFIT US AND THAT REFLECT OUR VALUES AS A 
          COMMUNITY. >> THANK YOU. AND SAY YOUR FULL NAME FOR THE RECORD. YOU DID. BEFORE YOU SPEAK, SAY YOUR FULL 
          NAME SO IT'LL BE IN THE RECORD. >> GOOD AFTERNOON. THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK TODAY. MY NAME IS KAREN NAP AND I'M A LOCAL VOLUNTEER WITH MOMS DEMAND ACTION FOR GUN SENSE IN AMERICA. 
          A MOVEMENT DEDICATED TO KEEPING OUR COMMUNITY SAFE FROM GUN VIOLENCE. I'M SPEAKING IN SUPPORT OF EXPANDING THE HEART PROGRAM. ALTERNATIVE DISPATCH PROGRAMS LIKE HEART HAVE BEEN EFFECTIVE IN MANY CITIES ACROSS THE COUNTRY FROM OREGON TO DENVER. CALLERS REQUESTING 911 SERVICES IN AUSTIN HAVE AN 
          [01:55:02]
OPTION THAT CONNECTS THEM TO A MENTAL HEALTH CLINIC CAN. 
          ALLOWING LAW ENFORCEMENT TO FOCUS ON FIGHTING CRIME. HEART HAS DIVERTED OVER 4500 NONVIOLENT CALLS AND FREED OVER 2100 DEPUTY HOURS FOR RESPONSE TO OTHER CALLS. PREVENTION IS VIRTUALLY ALWAYS MORE COST EFFECTIVE THAN DAMAGE CONTROL AND IS DEFINITELY LESS TRAUMATIZING FOR OUR COMMUNITIES. I URGE COMMISSIONERS TO VOTE IN FAVOR 
          OF EXPANDING HEART. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU. 
          >> GOOD MORNING. MY NAME IS GRACE AND I AM A RESIDENT OF PRECINCT FOUR HERE ON BEHALF OF TEXAS RISE AND COMMUNITY SAFETY BUDGET. I'M HERE TO URGE YOU TO APPROVE ITEM 178 TO PROTECT THE PROGRAMS HEART AND RISE. I BELIEVE MOST CRIME IS SIMPLY THE NATURAL RESULT OF SYSTEMIC AND SOCIAL ABANDONMENT. WHEN WE NEGLECT PEOPLE WE CREATE THE CONDITIONS FOR HARM. WE CANNOT KEEP CLAIMING PUBLIC SAFETY IS A PRIORITY WHILE CUTTING THE VERY SERVICES THAT KEEP OUR COMMUNITY SAFE, LIKE HOUSING SUPPORT MENTAL HEALTHCARE, FOOD SECURITY AND VIOLENCE REDUCTION. HEART PROVIDES A MUCH STRONGER RETURN PER DOLLAR SPENT THAN THE MONEY BEING POURED INTO LAW ENFORCEMENT. HEART IS WHAT SAFETY LOOKS LIKE, NOT MORE PUNISHMENT BUT MORE PREVENTION AND INTERVENTION. WITH AROUND A 250 MILLION-DOLLAR DEFICIT AND OVER $100 MILLION GOING TO LAW ENFORCEMENT PAY RAISES, THERE'S A RISK OF SAFETY PROGRAMS GETTING BUDGET CUTS. THANK YOU. 
          >> THANK YOU FOR COMING. >> SPEAKER 25, NATASHA MALIK ON ITEM 178 OF PRECINCT THREE. CAMERON ADAMS ON ITEM 178 OF 
          PRECINCT ONE AND MARITZA WONG. >> MY NAME IS NATASHA AND I'M THE STAFF ATTORNEY FOR THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE PROJECT AT APPLE SEED. I'M HERE TO TESTIFY IN COUNTY WIDE SUPPORT OF HEART. 
          WHEN A PERSON IS IN CRISIS, THE ANSWER IS A CLINICAN NOT A POLICE OFFICER. IT SAVES 31 MINUTES OF PATROL TIME. THAT'S THOUSANDS OF OFFICERS HOURS REDIRECTED TOWARDS CRIME. JUST AS IMPORTANT, THROUGH THIS MODEL, THOUSANDS OF INDIVIDUALS AVOID JAIL TIME AND ARE CONNECTED TO TREATMENT SERVICES INSTEAD. TEXAS APPLE SEEDS FORTHCOMING MULTISTATE IMPORTANT EXAMING POLICE CALLS FOR SERVICE HIGHLIGHTS HEART AS A LEADING PROGRAM IN THE NATION. THAT ILLUSTRATES WHAT CAN BE ACHIEVED WHEN A MENTAL HEALTH PROFESSIONAL LED FIRST RESPONSE IS TAKEN. JURISDICTIONS THAT PUT CLINICANS ON THE FRONT LINES SEE FEWER ARRESTS AND REAL SAVINGS IN JAIL COSTS. EXPANDING HEART COUNTY WIDE IS NOT ONLY ASSURING HUMANITARIAN. 
          >> YOU GOT TO QUICK WRAP UP. >> BUT ALSO ENSURES A TAX PER DOLLARS ARE ALLOCATED DIRECTLY. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. 
          >> THANK YOU. >> MY NAME IS CAMERON ADAMS. I'M AN ADVOCATE, EMT, HUSBAND AND SOMEONE WHO HAS ASSISTED ON AND EXPERIENCED MENTAL HEALTH CRISISES. IN FACT, THE HARRIS CENTER STAFF IS ONE OF THE REASONS I'M THE ADULT I AM TODAY. I WATCHED PARTICIPANT LAST YEAR COMPLETELY CHANGE THEIR LIVES WITH THE HELP OF THE THERAPISTS THERE AND PERSONALLY EXPERIENCED THE BENEFIT OF THE SERVICES INSIDE AND OUT. WE'RE MORE CONCERNED ABOUT THEIR FAMILY'S MENTAL HEALTH AND WELL BEING, HOW MUCH FOOD IS ON THE TABLE AND HOW RENT IS GOING TO GET PAID. PROGRAMS ARE ASKING FOR MORE FUNDING IN MAKING ROOM FOR GROWTH TO PROTECT INDIVIDUALS EXPERIENCING MENTAL HEALTH CRISISES. WE SEND POLICE OFFICERS TO MENTAL HEALTH SITUATIONS THEY ARE NOT MEANT OR TRAINED TO RESOLVE AND PUTS THE OFFICER AND THOSE INVOLVED IN MORE DANGER. I'M ALL FOR MONEY GOING TO COMMUNITY SAFETY, BUT WHY DOES IT LOOK LIKE RAISES AND PULLING TEETH TO ASK FOR MONEY THAT FOCUSES ON SOLUTIONS FOR OUR COMMUNITY. PLEASE CONSIDER THE ACTUAL ISSUES OUR NEIGHBORS 
          ARE FACING ON A DAILY BASIS. >> THANK YOU, CAMERON. 
          >> THANK YOU. 
          >> GOOD AFTERNOON. MY NAME IS MARITZS AND THE TEXAS CHAPTER LEAD FOR MOMS -- TO END THE GUN VIOLENCE EPIDEMIC THAT STEALS 125 LIVES IN AMERICA EVERY DAY. INJURES TWICE AS MANY AND FOREVER CHANGES COUNTLESS MORE. THE ROOTS OF GUN VIOLENCE BEGAN IN THE CRACKS WITHIN OUR COMMUNITIES. SAFETY IS IMPACTED 
          [02:00:02]
BY ACCESS TO BASIC RESOURCES SUCH AS HEALTHCARE, HEALTHY FOOD, FAMILY SUPPORT SERVICES AND SAFE HOUSING. THEY FILL THE CRACKS BY CONNECTING PEOPLE IN CRISIS TO NEEDED SERVICES. A NATIONWIDE ANALYSIS FOUND THAT FEWER THAN 3% OF 911 CALLS ARE RELATED TO VIOLENT CRIME. EVEN IN CITIES WITH HIGH HOMICIDE RATES. LAW ENFORCEMENT INVOLVEMENT IS NOT APPROPRIATE FOR EVERY NEED. SINCE THE LAUNCH, HEART TEAMS RESPONDED TO MORE THAN 20,000 CALLS HELPING TO DIVERT INDIVIDUALS FROM JAILS OR ROOMS. THE HEART AND RISE TEAMS ARE ESTABLISHING NEW NORMALS FOR PUBLIC SAFETIES FOCUSED ON UPSTREAM CHANGE. 
          PLEASE VOTE YES ON EXPANDING THESE PROGRAMS. THANK YOU. 
          >> SPEAKER 29. TERRY CHEN. NIA HERNANDEZ ON 178 OF PRECINCT FOUR AND SPEAKER 32, BRENDAN ON ITEMS 180 AND 181. 
          >> GOOD AFTERNOON COMMISSIONERS. I'M TERRY CHEN AND AN ORGANIZER AND A PRECINCT ONE RESIDENT. I'M HERE TODAY IN SUPPORT OF EXPANDING THE HEART PROGRAM. YOU NEED TO BE PUTTING MORE MONEY INTO SERVICES THAT ACTUALLY KEEP US SAFE. LIKE HEART, WHO RESPONDS TO PEOPLE UNDERGOING A MENTAL HEALTH CRISIS. OUR COMMUNITY MEMBERS DON'T WANT YOU WASTING OUR TAXES ON LAW ENFORCEMENT SALARY INCREASES OR THE HARRIS COUNTY JAIL WHERE THE VAST MAJORITY OF THE POPULATION HAVE MENTAL HEALTH MARKERS. WE CAN IMMOVE THE MENTAL HEALTH BY FUNDING HOUSING, FOOD, HEALTHCARE AND CHILD CARE. IF WE FUND SOCIAL SERVICES, FEWER PEOPLE WOULD BE LOCKED UP AND KILLED IN JAIL. THERE HAVE BEEN 13 HARRIS COUNTY DEATHS THIS YEAR, WHICH IS MORE THAN 2024. 
          THERE'S STILL A THIRD OF THE YEAR LEFT. AT LEAST TEN OF THE DEATHS WERE PRETRIAL. INCARCERATION IS KILLING OUR COMMUNITIES. PROGRAMS LIKE HEART, WHICH HAS DIVERTED OVER 8000 CALLS FROM LAW ENFORCEMENT IS LITERALLY SAVING LIVES. THANK 
          YOU. >> THANK YOU. 
          >> GOOD MORNING, COMMISSIONERS. MY NAME IS NEAH HERNANDEZ. I'M A CONSTITUENT OF ALL THE COMMUNITIES BUT UNDER COMMISSIONER BRIONES. I'M HERE TO VOICE MY STRONG SUPPORT FOR THE COUNTY WIDE EXPANSION OF THE HEART PROGRAM. I KNOW FIRSTHAND JUST HOW CRITICAL THE PROGRAM IS. IN JUNE OF '23, MY SON EXPERIENCED A MENTAL HEALTH CRISIS AT OUR HOME. HEART OR A SIMILAR PROGRAM RESPONDED. OFFICERS CALMLY WAITED WHILE THE UNARMED MENTAL HEALTH PROFESSIONAL ENGAGED MY SON. HE ASSESSED HIM AND HE RECOMMENDED THAT CHRISTOPHER BE TAKEN TO HCPC, NOT TO JAIL. TWO MONTHS LATER MY SON EXPERIENCED THE SAME AND UNFORTUNATELY AT THAT TIME, HPD WAS SENT OUT INSTEAD OF THE CRISIS TEAM BECAUSE THERE WAS NO CRISIS TEAM AVAILABLE. HE WAS PLACED IN GEN POP. HE WAS ARRESTED AND ULTIMATELY GIVEN A FELONY CHARGE BY THE OFFICER, EVEN THOUGH THE OFFICER KNEW HE WAS EXPERIENCING A MENTAL HEALTH CRISIS. 
          >> WE'LL HAVE SOMEONE TO FOLLOW UP WITH YOU TO KNOW WHAT YOU WANTED TO SAY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR COMING. 
          >> GOOD AFTERNOON. MY NAME IS BRENDAN AND I'M HERE ON BEHALF OF FAIR STEAD, A NATIONAL REAL ESTATE FIRM DEDICATED TO BUILDING AND PRESERVING AFFORDABLE HOUSING. WE'RE PLANNING A MAJOR TRANSFORMATION OF HARRIS STOCK HILLS, A 700 UNIT SECTION COMMUNITY. OUR PLANS INCLUDE OVER $80 MILLION IN HARD CONSTRUCTION COSTS INCLUDING NEW H-VAC SYSTEM. 
          PLUMBING AND ROOFING REPLACEMENTS AND ENHANCED SITE AMENITIES. FAIR STUD DOESN'T CURRENTLY OWN AND MANAGE THE PROPERTY BUT SCHEDULED TO CLOSE THIS YEAR. THROUGH EARLY ENGAGEMENT WITH RESIDENTS IT IS CLEAR THE COMMUNITY IS READY FOR A NEW CHAPTER. ONE THAT BRINGS MEANINGFUL INVESTMENT AND LONG TERM STABILITY. OUR GOAL IS TO HELP RESTORE. NOT JUST BUILDINGS BUT THE FOUNDATION OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING BUILT ON TRUST, SHAPED BY COMMUNITY AND ROOTED IN STABILITY. WE APPRECIATE YOUR SUPPORT FOR THE RESOLUTIONS OF NO OBJECTION. THANK YOU. 
          >> THANK YOU FOR COMING. I SUPPORT YOUR RESOLUTION BUT I WANT YOU TO KNOW I'LL BE WATCHING. 
          >> YEAH. THANK YOU. APPRECIATE IT. 
          >> SPEAKER NUMBER 62, RANDY ON ITEM 362 OF PRECINCT TWO. AUDREY ON 62 OF PRECINCT TWO AND CAROLINA ON 362 OF PRECINCT TWO. 
          [02:05:02]
          >> GOOD AFTERNOON, COMMISSIONERS. I'LL BE VERY QUICK SINCE WE ONLY GET A MINUTE. SO AS I MENTIONED, I'M THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE COLAB PROJECT. A FAIRLY NEW COMMUNITY ORGANIZATION BASED OUT OF SOUTHEAST HOUSTON NEAR THE HOBBY AREA AIRPORT. I'M IN COMMISSIONER GARCIA'S DISTRICT. 
          WELL, FIRST I WANTED TO COME IN TO SAY THAT OF COURSE EARLY EDUCATION IS VERY IMPORTANT AND AT THE SAME TIME I WANTED TO JUST HIGHLIGHT A LOT OF THE CHALLENGES THAT PEOPLE HAVE POINTED TO TODAY. THE FACT THAT THERE IS A LOT OF LACK OF TRANSPARENCY WHEN IT COMES TO BUDGETING AND A LACK OF MEANINGFUL ENGAGEMENT WITH COMMUNITY. AND HONESTLY, MEANINGFUL ENGAGEMENT WAS A TERM THAT WAS BROUGHT OUT OF NOWHERE DURING THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION. I THINK IT SHOULD STICK AROUND. 
          IT MEANS MORE THAN LIGHT CONVERSATION. IT MEANS GOING INTO DEPTH AND SIMPLIFYING WHAT IT IS THAT PEOPLE ARE BEING AFFECTED BY AND ALLOWING US TO HAVE A SAY. 
          >> THANK YOU. YOUR TIME IS UP. >> THANK YOU FOR COMING DOWN. I 
          APPRECIATE YOUR ADVOCACY. >> THANK YOU SO MUCH. 
          >> HELLO, MY NAME IS AUBREY AND I'M PART OF THE COLLABORATIVE. 
          I WANT TO MAKE SURE THE COUNTRY POLICE ARE NOT USED AGAINST PEOPLE. WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THE POLICE OFFICERS CANNOT TAKE CONTRACTS WITH ICE. THESE ARE OUR TAXPAYER DOLLARS. WE SHOULD GET A SAY. IMMIGRANTS ARE GETTING TAKEN TO JAIL AND PEOPLE WHO ARE ACTUALLY DOING CRIMES AREN'T GOING TO JAIL. WE WOULD LIKE TO SEE THE COMMITMENT ON WRITING AND ON PAPER. 
          >> MY NAME IS KAROLINA AND I'M WITH THE RACIST COLLABORATIVE. I WANTED YOU ALL TO KNOW THAT MY CHILD, LAST SPEAKER, SHE'S ACTUALLY A PRODUCT OF THE CHILD HAD EARLY PROGRAM. SO, YOU KNOW, IT'S VERY IMPORTANT FOR YOU ALL TO KEEP IN MIND THAT OUR CHILDREN ARE OUR FUTURE AND WE ARE COUNTING ON YOU ALL. WE TRUSTED YOU ALL TO TAKE THESE POSITIONS AND WE WOULD REALLY LIKE YOU ALL TO THINK ABOUT OUR COMMUNITY, OUR SOCIETY AND THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIME. 
          >> SPEAKER NUMBER 77, JACOB ON ITEM 407 OF PRECINCT ONE. 
          >> LESLEY, -- BEST WISHES TO YOU AND GOD BLESS TEXAS. SINCERELY, BRIAN BIRDWELL. I ALSO WANTED TO MENTION THAT TOMORROW. 
          >> THANK YOU. YOUR TIME IS UP. >> I'LL COME OVER AND WE'LL TAKE A PICTURE LATER. THANK YOU. YOU DID A GOOD JOB. 
          >> SPEAKER NUMBER ONE, WALTER OF PRECINCT FOUR. NONAGENDA SPEAKER PATTY OF PRECINCT THREE AND NONAGENDA SPEAKER SHANE PRICE OF PRECINCT FOUR. YOU EACH HAVE ONE MINUTE. 
          >> COUNTY COMMISSIONERS, I WOULD LIKE TO CONTINUE IN THE LINE OF THE ISSUES WITH HARRIS HEALTH AND OTHER COUNTY AGENCIES HAVE AVOIDED THEIR RESPONSIBILITIES. I WOULD LIKE TO DISCUSS THIS TIME ABOUT THE RECENTLY BEING TURNED AWAY FROM HARRIS HEALTH BECAUSE I DID NOT HAVE THEIR SPECIFIC INSURANCE. THIS IS AS I TRIED TO MAKE AN APPOINTMENT WITH HARRIS HEALTH TO SEE ABOUT THE TREATMENT FOR THE DAMAGE THEY HAD PREVIOUSLY CAUSED. I WAS TOLD BY THE SCHEDULING DESK THAT I NEED TO CHANGE MY 
          [02:10:02]
INSURANCE TO ONE THAT THEY ACCEPT. OTHERWISE I COULD NOT MAKE AN APPOINTMENT TO BE SEEN. AS I WAS TOLD BY A PHYSICIAN WHO RECENTLY EXAMINED ME, MY INSURANCE WON'T COVER THE PROCEDURES REQUIRED TO TREAT MY CONDITION. THEY DID THE WRONG MEDICAL PROCEDURE IN THE FIRST PLACE. I WAS TOLD THAT THE INSURANCE COMPANY THAT HARRIS HEALTH REQUIRES ME TO HAVE. 
          >> THANK YOU. YOUR TIME IS UP. >> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. 
          WE'LL HAVE THEM REACH OUT TO YOU. 
          >> THANK YOU FOR LETTING ME SPEAK. MY NAME IS PATTY AND I WOULD LIKE THE COMMISSIONERS COURT TO RECONSIDER THE INCREASE TO FEES RELATIVE TO FALSE ALARM FINES. THE NEW FEE STRUCTURE DOES SAY BETWEEN FALSE BURGLAR ALARMS AND FALSE PANIC ALARMS. THE LEGISLATION DETAILS STATES THAT THE NEW FEES ARE LOWER THAN THOSE CHARGED BY THE CITY OF HOUSTON, WHICH ISN'T TRUE. NOT IF YOU COMPARE IT TO THE FEE STRUCTURE FOR THE FALSE ALARM. 
          IT IS IF YOU COMPARE IT TO THE PANIC ALARM CHARGES. I THINK THE GOAL IS VALID AND JUST TO DECREASE FALSE ALARMS. AND UNPERMITTED ALARMS, BUT I THINK IT HAS THE POTENTIAL IMPACT TO ADVERSELY AFFECT THE AVERAGE TAXPAYER WHO BELIEVES THEY'RE ENTITLED TO A CERTAIN LEVEL OF SERVICE AND PROTECTION FROM THE HARRIS COUNTY SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT. THANK YOU FOR LETTING ME SPEAK. 
          >> THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING ME TO SPEAK TODAY. MY NAME IS SHANE PRICE. I'VE BEEN HOMELESS SINCE NOVEMBER. I CAME BEFORE THIS COURT ON JUNE 12TH TO SHARE MY ORDEAL WITH HARRIS HEALTH RETRACTING THEIR OFFER TO TREAT MY EYE CANCER. I BELIEVE MY VOICE WOULD BE HEARD AND THIS INJUSTICE WOULD BE RESOLVED, BUT INSTEAD I WAS SIMPLY REFERRED BACK TO THE VERY HARRIS HEALTH LEADERSHIP THAT BETRAYED ME. I WAS DIAGNOSED WITH CANCER IN DECEMBER OF 2024. I WAS REFERRED TO DR. AMY SCHEFFLER BY HARRIS HEALTH ON MARCH 26TH AND TOLD THAT I HAD A HOMELESS GRANT THAT WOULD PAY FOR MY PROCEDURE. I JUST HAVE TO CANCEL MY INSURANCE. I DID SO ON APRIL 1ST AND A FEW WEEKS LATER HARRIS HEALTH COMMUNICATED TO ME THEY NO LONGER ENTER INTO SINGLE CASE AGREEMENTS AS OF JANUARY OF 2024. THIS IS NOT A MISCOMMUNICATION. THIS IS A FRAUD AND I'M ASKING THIS COURT TO DEMAND ACCOUNTABILITY FROM HARRIS COUNTY HEALTH. 
          >> THANK YOU. YOUR TIME IS UP. >> NONAGENDA SPEAKER NUMBER NINE. JANE GRIEVES. NONAGENDA SPEAKER CHARLES HERBERT OF PRECINCT ONE AND NONAGENDA RHEM TYREEK. 
          >> WE'LL HAVE HARRIS HEALTH REACH OUT TO YOU. 
          >> YES, MA'AM. JUST SAY YOUR NAME FOR THE RECORD. 
          >> GOOD AFTERNOON. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. I'M WITH THE WESTWOOD CIVIC CLUB. OUR REQUEST FOR THE UPCOMING BUDGET IS FLOOD CONTROL. SPECIFICALLY DITCH 136. THE DITCH IS HALF OF WESTWOOD'S MITIGATION SYSTEM. THE CITY MAINTAINS THE SOUTHERN PORTION AND THE COUNTY MAINTAINS IT FROM THERE ON. THE CITY'S PORTION OF THE DITCH DOESN'T FUNCTION AS DESIGN SINCE IT FUNCTIONS. THE CITY IS CURRENTLY WORKING ON THE BOUNDARY SURVEY TO TRANSFER THE ASSET. THEY'RE ENGINEERING AND MAINTENANCE ISSUES THAT NEED TO BE RESOLVED. WE'RE ASK THAT THE COUNTY WORK WITH THE CITY TO BRING IT UP TO SPEC AND ACCEPT THE ASSET FROM THE CITY OF 
          HOUSTON. >> WE'LL HAVE A FOLLOWUP WITH 
          YOU. >> OKAY. THANK YOU, SIR. HAVE A 
          NICE AFTERNOON. >> GOOD MORNING. MY NAME IS CHARLES AND I'M AN ATTORNEY IN HOUSTON, TEXAS AND HERE ON BEHALF OF A BUSINESS THAT'S READY TO HOPE AND GENERATE REAL VALUE FOR PRECINCT FOUR. FINANCIALLY, OPERATIONALLY AND STRUCTURALLY. IT'S APPLYING FOR AN SOB LICENSE AND FOR A PROJECT DESIGNED FROM DAY ONE TO BE CLEAN, PROFESSIONAL AND OPERATE 100% WITHIN THE LAW. 2.10A OF HARRIS COUNTY'S SOB CODE REQUIRES THAT CERTAIN BUSINESSES BE LOCATED NO LESS THAN 1500 
          [02:15:04]
FEET FROM PROTECTED SITES, SCHOOLS AND CHURCHES. A BUSINESS LOCATED ONLY 1300 FEET FROM A PROTECTED SITE. HOWEVER, THAT 1300 FEET CONTAINS HIGHWAY 290. A 13 LANE FREEWAY. SO TO HAVE VERSE THE 1300 FEET, YOU NEED TO WALK 2.1 MILES, DRIVE 1.5-MILES 
          AND BIKE 1.8 MILES. >> WE'LL HAVE SOMEONE FOLLOW UP 
          WITH YOU. >> THE SEPARATION IS REAL AND THERE'S NO EXPOSURE BETWEEN THE BUSINESSES. 
          >> THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK. MY NAME IS RHEM AND I WORK AS AN ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE OUTREACH COORDINATOR WITH HOUSTON. I WANT TO BEGIN BY THANKING COMMISSIONER GARCIA. THANK YOU FOR THE RECENT PARTNERSHIP TO BUILD A CANCER CENTER AND A MEDICAL HUB. AS SOMEONE WHO HAS LOST BOTH PARENTS TO CANCER, LIKELY TIED TO ENVIRONMENTAL EXPOSURE IT MEANS QUITE A BIT TO ME. IT STARTS WITH PREVENTION. 
          INCLUDING A KNOWN CARCINOGEN. THEY'RE OVERWHELMED BY POLLUTION AND RESIDENTS ARE SUFFERING. WE'RE URGING THEM TO DENY OR GREATLY STRENGTHEN THE PERMIT. COMMISSIONER GARCIA, WE ASK YOU STAND WITH THE COMMUNITY AND INVITE COMMISSIONER ELLIS AND RAMSEY BECAUSE IT'S CLOSE TO YOUR PRECINCTS TO COME AND SUPPORT A PUBLIC HEARING ON AUGUST 19TH. 
          >> THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR COMING DOWN AND SHARING THE DETAILS. I'M GOING TO HAVE SOMEONE FROM MY STAFF VISIT WITH YOU AND GET MORE DETAILS. BUT OBVIOUSLY I THINK YOU KNOW THE DIFFICULTY WITH TCQ. WE'LL CONTINUE TO DO OUR VERY BEST TO MAKE SURE OUR VOICES ARE HEARD AND ALSO JUST TO BE SURE THAT WHATEVER IT IS HAPPENING IS BEING COMPLIED WITH. ALL THE RULES AND REGULATIONS TO KEEP PEOPLE SAFE. THANK YOU FOR BEING 
          HERE. >> THANK YOU. APPRECIATE IT. 
          >> I'LL WORK WITH YOU. >> NEXT SPEAKER. 
          >> AGENDA SPEAKER NUMBER 28, TRACY JONES ON ITEM 178 OF PRECINCT FOUR. YOU HAVE ONE MINUTE. 
          >> GOOD MORNING. I AM TRACY JONES. I HAVE LIVED IN UNINCORPORATED HARRIS COUNTY FOR 30 YEARS. IN 2021. I'M HERE TO SPEAK ABOUT ITEM 178. WE'RE CIRCLING BACK TO THE HEART EXPANSION. IN 2021, I FOUND MYSELF IN A LOCKED BUILDING IN A BACK ROOM COWERING DOWN ON THE PHONE WITH 911 BECAUSE TWO ARMED MEN WERE ATTEMPTING TO BREAK INTO THE BUILDING WITH THE EXPRESS INTENT OF HURTING ME. I STAYED ON THE PHONE WITH 911 UNTIL THEY DISCONNECTED THE CALL. IT TOOK 55 MINUTES FOR DEPUTIES TO SHOW UP. I AM HERE BECAUSE THE RESPONSE TIMES TO REAL CRIMES CAN BE REDUCED GREATLY IF WE EXPAND HEART. 
          RIGHT NOW IT ONLY OPERATES IN TWO OF THE SHERIFF'S DISTRICTS. 
          THE 18 POSITIONS THAT YOU'RE BEING ASKED TO APPROVE WOULD ALLOW IT TO EXPAND TO COVER ALL OF THE DISTRICTS. IT MAKES A REAL DIFFERENCE. THERE'S NOT MUCH THAT SCARES ME BUT THOSE 55 
          MINUTES WERE TERRIFYING. >> THANK YOU. YOUR TIME IS UP. 
          >> THANK YOU. WE'RE GLAD YOU'RE OKAY. 
          [Departments (Part 2 of 3)]
          >> THOSE ARE ALL THE SPEAKERS. >> LET'S GO BACK TO THE AGENDA. 
          MAYBE WE CAN GET TO CONSENT. YOU WANT TO GO THROUGH THE 
          CORRECTIONS? >> SURE. COMMISSIONER, I'LL DO THAT. SO, THE FOLLOWING ITEMS NEED MINOR CHANGES DUE TO ERRORS OR NO ACTION. PAGE FIVE, ITEM 30, COUNTY ENGINEER REQUESTED NO ACTION ON THIS ITEM. PAGE 7, ITEM 49, CORRECTION ONE REPLACE UPIN19101MF14G02 WITH UPIN 19101MF14G01-2. AND TWO, REPLACE COUNTY WIDE WITH PRECINCT ONE. PAGE 11, ITEM 78. COUNTY ENGINEER HAS REQUESTED NO ACTION ON THIS ITEM. PAGE 14, ITEM 126, COUNTY ENGINEER HAS REQUESTED NO ACTION ON THIS ITEM. PAGE 19, 171, NO ACTION IS NEEDED ON THIS BROAD LEGISLATIVE DISCUSSION ITEM. PAGE 20, ITEM 182. HCDC REEQUIPSED NO ACTION ON THIS ITEM. PAGE 20, 186, HCD REQUESTED NO ACTION ON THIS 
          [02:20:02]
ITEM. PAGE 21, ITEM 193. OMB REQUESTED NO ACTION ON THIS ITEM. PAGE 21, 197, OMB HAS REQUESTED NO ACTION ON THIS ITEM. PAGE 21, ITEM 198, OMB REQUESTED NO ACTION ON THIS ITEM. PAGE 21, ITEM 200, OMB HAS REQUESTED NO ACTION ON THIS ITEM. PAGE 21, ITEM 203, OMB HAS REQUESTED NO ACTION ON THIS ITEM. PAGE 22, ITEM 205, OMB HAS REQUESTED NO ACTION ON THIS ITEM. PAGE 22, 207, OMB REQUESTED NO ACTION ON THIS ITEM. PAGE 22, ITEM 209, OMB HAS REQUESTED NO ACTION ON THIS ITEM. LOTS OF NO ACTIONS THERE. PAGE 29, ITEM 242, CORRECTION REPLACE 18 WITH 17. PAGE 55, ITEM 480, HDC REQUESTED NO ACTION ON THIS ITEM. PAGE 62, ITEM 531, PRECINCT REQUESTED NO ACTION ON THIS ITEM. PAGE 62, ITEM 541, CORRECTION REPLACE THE AGENDA CAPTION SO IT NOW READS REQUEST BY COMMISSIONERS OF PRECINCTS ONE, TWO, THREE AND FOUR. AND THE COUNTY JUDGE'S OFFICE FOR APPROVAL OF A JOINT RESOLUTION HONORING VICTIMS AND FAMILIES OF THE HILL COUNTRY FLOOD. 
          >> CAN YOU ADD 237 TO THE NO ACTION LIST? 
          >> YEAH, WE CAN ADD THAT. IS THAT PAGE 29? WHAT PAGE IS THAT? LOOK ME LOOK. PAGE 25 ITEM 237, OMB HAS REQUESTED NO ACTION ON 
          THIS ITEM. >> AND YOU DID PULL 531? I JUST 
          DIDN'T HEAR IT. >> YES. NO ACTION ON 531. 
          >> MEMBERS, ANY OTHER CHANGES? >> HOW ABOUT 374 AND 375? DID 
          THAT CHANGE? >> 374 AND 375? 
          >> YEAH, NO CHANGES ON THAT THAT I HAVE. OKAY. SO ITEMS 374 AND 
          375 ARE FOR NO ACTION AS WELL. >> MARKED AS NO ACTION. 
          >> CORRECT. 374 AND 375. NO ACTION. 
          >> OKAY. MEMBERS, YOU HAVE THE CONSENT AGENDA? 
          >> BEFORE THAT, YOU WANT TO GO THROUGH EXECUTIVE SESSION AND 
          JUST REVIEW THOSE ITEMS? >> YES. EXECUTIVE SESSION ITEMS. YOU WANT TO RUN THROUGH THOSE QUICK? WHAT PAGE ARE THEY ON? 
          >> 54. >> I WOULD LIKE TO PUT 196 ON NO 
          ACTION. >> NO ACTION ON 196 PER 
          COMMISSIONER GARCIA. >> AND PULL 19 FROM CONSENT. 
          >> 196 AND HE'S PUTTING 196 NO ACTION. 
          >> CORRECT. >> 196 NO ACTION AND ITEM 19 FOR 
          DISCUSSION. >> ITEM 19 AND MEMBERS, I WAS ABOUT TO GO TO CONSENT AGENDA. HE WANTS TO PULL 19 FOR 
          DISCUSSION. ARE THERE ANY OTHER? >> COMMISSIONER, I WANT TO ADD 
          193. >> WE JUST DID A CONSENT AGENDA, QUICK SO WE KNOW WHAT WE'RE PULLING. 
          >> WHY DON'T WE GO THROUGH EXECUTIVE SESSION. 
          >> WHAT PAGE ARE THEY ON? >> PAGE 54. 
          >> MEMBERS, IF YOU TURN TO 54, WE'LL RUN THROUGH THE EXECUTIVE 
          SESSION ITEMS QUICKLY. >> PAGE 54. ANYBODY NEED TO GO BACK ON THAT ONE? REAPPOINTMENT? OKAY. 471? 
          >> NOPE. >> 473? CHAD BURKE? 
          >> NO. >> 474? PATRICIA ALVAREZ? 
          >> NOPE. >> 475? ADAM EATON? 
          >> NOPE. >> 476? I'M TRYING TO SEE THE 
          NAME. >> IT'S A RESOLUTION. 
          >> OKAY. NO OTHER EXECUTIVE SESSION ITEMS? YOU GOT 477. 
          >> 477. >> YOU WANT TO GO BACK ON THAT? 
          >> YEP. >> OKAY. TAKE THAT BACK. AND 
          478? >> NOTHING ON 478. EXCEPT I DO WANT TO APPLAUD FIRE MARSHALL CHRISTENSEN. SHE LED US IN PASSING AN OPERATIONAL PERMIT IN 2021. WHICH IN ALL LIKELIHOOD SAVED LIVES WHEN WE HAD A FIRE BREAK OUT IN PRECINCT TWO. A FOUR ALARM FIRE. I WANT TO COMMEND HER LEADERSHIP ON THAT AND KEEPING US CURRENT WITH THE BEST AND MOST APPROPRIATE IMPORTANT RULES AND REGULATIONS THAT WE NEED THE COMMUNITY TO 
          COMPLY WITH. >> AND WE CAN GO BACK TO 
          EXECUTIVE SESSION? >> I HAVE A FEW QUICK QUESTIONS. 
          [02:25:03]
478. CONFIRM 476 WILL GO BACK TO EXECUTIVE SESSION? 
          >> CORRECT. COLLEAGUES WOULD YOU GO BACK? 
          >> 476 IS A RESOLUTION. >> I BELIEVE THAT'S THE ONE 
          THAT NEEDS TO BE A VOTE MADE. >> WE HAVE THE SELECTED NOMINEE FOR INCLUSION ON THE FINAL BALLOT FOR TAXING UNITS. 
          >> OKAY. >> SO WE'LL TAKE THAT BACK. 
          TAKE THAT BACK. >> SO WE'LL GO BACK ON THOSE 
          TWO. 476 AND 478. >> AND 477? 
          >> AND 477. >> 476, 477 AND 478 WILL GO BACK 
          TO EXECUTIVE SESSION. >> YES, MA'AM. MEMBERS WE CAN 
          GO TO THE CONSENT AGENDA? >> IF YOU CAN PLEASE MARK GO THROUGH THE DISCUSSION LIST BEFORE WE GO THROUGH. 
          >> I BELIEVE I GOT A NOTE THAT 480 NEEDS TO PLEASE BE ADDED 
          BACK ON? >> ACTION ON 480. 
          >> OKAY. SO I CALL IT A CONSENT AGENDA. THE DISCUSSION LIST. 
          MEMBERS, YOU WANT TO MAKE SOME CHANGES? 
          >> I'D LIKE TO ADD 193. >> 193. 
          >> AND BACK TO CONSENT 295. AND 330. 
          >> BACK TO CONSENT 295 AND 330. >> YES. YOU GOING TO RUN A NEW ONE WHEN WE COME BACK BECAUSE I MOVE THIS TRAIN. 
          >> THANK YOU. >> WHAT ELSE? THAT'S THE ONE YOU WANTED TO PULL? YOU WANT TO GO BACK ON CONSENT? YOU SAID SOMETHING EARLIER. I THOUGHT YOU MENTIONED ONE. COMMISSIONER BRIONES YOU ALL RIGHT? 415 YOU WANT IT TO BE DISDOESED? 415 WILL COME OFF OF THE CONSENT AGENDA. THAT'S WHAT I CALL IT. 
          YOU CALL IT THE DISCUSSION ITEMS. WE WILL DISCUSS IT. OKAY, WE GOT THAT? COMMISSIONER BRIONES YOU WANT TO CHANGE 
          ANYTHING? >> I'M FINE. THANK YOU. 
          >> COMMISSIONER, ONE LAST THING. COMMISSIONER RAMSEY YOU MOVED 
          193 AS DISCUSSION. >> A COUPLE OF COMMENTS, BE BRIEF. I KNOW WE'RE NOT GOING TO TAKE ANY ACTION. I HAD A 
          COUPLE OF COMMENTS. >> EXCELLENT. 
          >> FAR BE IT FOR ME TO SPEED IT UP. 
          >> I WILL TALK SLOW FOR A CHANGE. 
          >> YOU GO THROUGH THE LIST OF THE ITEMS AND WE CAN MARK THEM 
          AS DISCUSSION? >> COMMISSIONER, WOULD YOU LIKE ME TO READ THROUGH THE DISCUSSION LIST? 
          >> IS IT REQUIRED BY LAW? >> WE DON'T NEED TO BUT THE 
          CLERK LIKES THAT. >> WE KEEP IT FOR THE RECORD AND THERE ARE CERTAIN ONES I NEED TO ASK QUESTIONS ON. 
          >> THE ITEMS WE HAVE LISTED ARE 1, 2, 3, 6, 13, 14, 19, 20, 175, 176, 178, 193, 213, 218, 237, 238, 239, 266. 
          >> CAN YOU SLOW DOWN? WE WRITE IT DOWN. 
          >> JUST TRYING TO KEEP THE TRAIN MOVING. 299, 304, 334, 345, 352, 361, 362, 364, 372, 386, 388, 410, 411, 447, 479, 507, 510, 
          518, 519, 520 AND 521. >> YOU SKIPPED 415. 
          >> AND 415. >> AND WHAT ABOUT ITEM NUMBER 4? IT'S MARKED AS POSSIBLE DISCUSSION AND ACTION? 
          >> NO ACTION. >> YOU GOT THEM ALL? 
          >> I MOVE ON TO THE CONSENT AGENDA. 
          >> COMMISSIONERS, JUST A POINT OF CLARIFICATION. ON ALL ITEMS MINUS THE RESOLUTIONS, THEY'LL NOT BE IN THE CONSENT AGENDA. 
          >> CORRECT. >> JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE. 
          >> MOTION MADE BY COMMISSIONER GARCIA, SECOND BY COMMISSIONER RAMSEY. ANY DISCUSSION? ALL IN FAVOR VOTE AYE. ITEM PASSES. 
          OKAY. IT IS NOW 12:58. >> LET'S GO TO LUNCH. COME BACK 
          >>> IT'S 2:05. COMMISSIONERS COURT IS BACK IN SESSION. I HAVE UPDATED A LIST OF 
          [02:30:01]
ITEMS WE WILL GO OVER. 
          I ASSUME THE REST OF THE MEMBERS HAVE IT AS WELL. 
          FIRST ONE WE HAVE HERE IS PRECINCT 2 PULLED NUMBER 1. 
          WHICH NUMBER? I'M SORRY, COMMISSIONER RAMSEY, YOU PULLED THIS FIRST ITEM. 
          >> I DID. I'M COMBINING THIS ONE WITH MY ITEM 519. THE SUBJECT MATTER IS PUTTING TOGETHER A DESCRIPTION FOR THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR OFFICE. THE WHOLE PROCESS TO GET THERE. 
          THE COUPLE CONCERNS I HAVE ABOUT THE JOB DESCRIPTION AS PRESENTED IS I DO NOT THINK THE BUDGET OFFICER SHOULD REPORT TO THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR. I LIKE THE INDEPENDENCE OF A COUNTY BUDGET OFFICER, NOT UNDER THE DIRECTION OF ANYONE. 
          SO THAT'S ONE, I THINK, IMPROVEMENT TO THE JOB DESCRIPTION. 
          AGAIN, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT A JOB DESCRIPTION. 
          I DON'T THINK WE NEED TO ADD COST. 
          IT SOUNDS LIKE WE'RE ADDING DEPUTY COUNTY ADMINISTRATORS AT NO COST, BUT I WOULD THINK THAT WE COULD OPERATE WITHOUT CREATING MORE POSITIONS THAT COST MONEY. 
          I THINK THE POSITION IS MORE OF A MANAGER THAN A NOTE TAKER OR ADMINISTRATOR. MY COMMENTS ON 519, WHICH WOULD COMPLIMENT THIS DISCUSSION, RELATES TO THE DEVELOPMENT OF THIS JOB DESCRIPTION. AND I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO SIT HERE A MINUTE, CALMLY, AND THINK ABOUT, WHAT DID IT TAKE TO PUT THIS PIECE OF PAPER ON THE AGENDA? IT TOOK 15 TOTAL MEETINGS, STARTING IN APRIL. WE HAVE FIVE COURT MEMBERS IN THOSE MEETINGS. WE HAD THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR PLUS TWO. 
          WE HAVE HRT IS THERE. WE HAVE A CONSULTANT. 
          IT'S 12 PEOPLE OR MORE MEETING ON A FRIDAY AFTERNOON SOMETIMES. SO I DON'T THINK YOU NEEDNEED MEETINGS TO GENERATE A JOB DESCRIPTION. 
          I THINK THAT COULD BE A LOT QUICKER. 
          I THINK HAVING COURT MEMBERS WEIGH IN ON THE DETAILS OF IT, I DON'T HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THAT AT ALL. I JUST DON'T THINK WE NEED 15 MEETINGS. 
          WHEN YOU LOOK AT DEPARTMENT PROGRESS MEETINGS, THERE'S 20 OF THOSE SEPARATE QUARTERLY MEETINGS. THERE'S GOAL AREA MEETINGS. 
          THERE'S SEVEN SEPARATE COMMITTEES. BIWEEKLY. 
          WHEN YOU START ADDING UP ALL THE COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH THESE COMMITTEES, IT'S NOT EXACTLY HOW I WOULD THINK BEST PRACTICES WOULD FUNCTION. 
          I KNOW A LITTLE BIT ABOUT BEST PRACTICES. 
          I OPERATE A VERY PROFITABLE ENGINEERING COMPANY FOR 40 YEARS. 
          YOU ONLY DID THOSE THINGS THAT YOU COULD FOCUS AND YOU COULD AFFORD AND YOU COULD DO IT. IT'S SO TEMPTING IN A GOVERNMENTAL BODY TO, WELL, LET'S JUST HAVE SOME MORE COMMITTEE MEETINGS. 
          IT LOOKS LIKE THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR'S OFFICE IS REALLY RUNNING AS A GROUP OF COMMITTEES. WE DON'T HAVE THAT MUCH TIME. 
          YOU START DOING THE HOUR INVESTED IN ALL THE COMMITTEE MEETINGS, AND YOU ARE NOT HEARING WE SHOULDN'T GIVE INPUT. 
          I AM TOTALLY IN SUPPORT OF INPUT. 
          BUT 15 MEETINGS? TO GENERATE A JOB DESCRIPTION? IT'S A SYMPTOM OF A PROBLEM. I THINK WE NEED TO TAKE THAT INTO ACCOUNT WHEN WE ARE ADOPTING -- OR LOOKING AT A JOB DESCRIPTION THAT WE'VE GOT DESCRIBED. 
          THOSE ARE MY CONCERNS ABOUT THE JOB DESCRIPTION. 
          >> DO YOU HAVE ANY COMMENT? DID YOU HAVE YOUR HAND UP? 
          >> SURE. I CAN GO AFTER JESSE. YOU WANT TO RESPOND? 
          >> YEAH. APPRECIATE THAT. 
          APPRECIATE THE CONCERNS. I WOULD SAY THAT IF IT TOOK -- 
          [02:35:03]
IF ALL WE WERE WORKING ON IS THE JOB DESCRIPTION, 15 MEETINGS, I WOULD AGREE THAT THAT'S EXCESSIVE. WE STARTED OFF TRYING TO TAKE A LOOK OVER THE LAST FEW YEARS, THIS POSITION HAS BEEN CONTROVERSIAL. THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF DISCUSSION BACK AND FORTH. WE STARTED A REVIEW PROCESS, TO YOUR POINT. WE WANT TO HAVE SOMETHING VALUE ADDED. WE DON'T WANT TO JUST HAVE MEETINGS. IN TERMS OF THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR SEARCH, THE COURT OFFICES HAVE WANTED TO HAVE DEEP INVOLVEMENT. THERE HAS BEEN SOME DISAGREEMENT. AS WE TRY TO FILL AND FIND A NEW PERMANENT COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR, WE THOUGHT IT WAS IMPORTANT TO TRY TO FIND SOME CONSENSUS, TRY TO FIND A PLACE WHERE THERE WASN'T GOING TO BE A LOT OF -- AS LITTLE DISSENT AT THE COURT. WE HAVE A LOT OF ISSUES. 
          WE STARTED BY ADDRESSING, WHAT WERE THE POINTS? WHAT WERE WE TRYING TO DO? WHAT WERE THE PROBLEMS WE WERE TRYING TO SOLVE? WE DIDN'T SPEND A LOT OF TIME, WE HAVE TAKEN A LOT OF TIME TO DO THAT AND WE NEED TO WRAP THAT INTO THIS JOB DESCRIPTION. WE NEED TO GET THIS THING OUT THE DOOR. WE NEED TO START RECRUITING, SEEING WHAT'S OUT THERE TO REALLY FILL THE ROLE. 
          ON THE JOB DESCRIPTION, AGREE THAT 15 MINUTES ON A JOB DESCRIPTION IS A LOT. I THINK WE SPENT TIME DOING OTHER THINGS. ON THE OTHER MEETINGS, I WOULD SAY, COMMISSIONER, THAT I APPRECIATE THE DEMANDS ON YOUR STAFF AND ON OUR STAFF. IT IS A LOT. 
          WE GENERALLY -- THESE ARE COURT CREATED COMMITTEES. 
          I THINK COURT WANTS TO BE ENGAGED DEEPLY IN A LOT OF THESE BIG ISSUES. 
          SO WE HAVE CREATED THESE COMMITTEES TO HAVE OPPORTUNITIES FOR FEEDBACK. 
          IF IT GETS A LITTLE BIT MUCH, I THINK IT'S BECAUSE WE HAVE A LARGE COUNTY AND THERE ARE SO MANY ISSUES TO ADDRESS AND SO MANY SMART AND TALENTED PEOPLE ON YOUR STAFF THAT ARE TRYING TO CONTRIBUTE. 
          IT'S A LOT. 
          >> THANK YOU FOR -- AGAIN, I THINK COURT MEMBERS NEED TO HAVE INPUT. YOU ARE NOT HEARING THAT. HAVING PROVIDED LEADERSHIP WITHIN A CORPORATE SETTING, THERE IS A POINT THAT YOU HAVE TOO MANY MEETINGS. 
          I'M SAYING, JUST FROM 80,000 FOOT, I'M GIVING YOU SOME FEEDBACK. I THINK THERE'S -- WE COULD DO WITH A FEW LESS MEETINGS. I THINK WE WOULD BE HELPFUL FOR EVERYONE. 
          THANK YOU. 
          >> THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER. I DON'T THINK YOU HAVE ANY DISAGREEMENT FROM ME OR ANYONE IN OUR OFFICE. 
          >> COMMISSIONER GARCIA. I COULDN'T SEE. 
          I DIDN'T MEAN TO SKIP YOU. EITHER ONE OF YOU. 
          >> THANK YOU. QUICK QUESTION, COMMISSIONER, BEFORE I SHARE SOME COMMENTS AND ASK JESSE QUESTIONS. 
          IF THE BUDGET OFFICER WAS PULLED OUT AND REPORTED DIRECTLY TO COURT, WOULD THAT HELP GET YOU TO A YES? 
          >> THAT'S A GOOD QUESTION. LET ME THINK ABOUT IT WHILE WE 
          TALK. >> I DO THINK -- THIS IS WITH MY FORMER CHIEF TALENT OFFICER. YOU KNOW ME, I HAVE VERY LITTLE PATIENCE. I LIKE TO BE THOUGHTFUL AND DELIBERATE. WHERE WE CAN REDUCE MEETINGS, I WOULD BE ALL FOR THAT. I WANT TO MAKE SURE WE HAVE ROBUST OPPORTUNITIES FOR FEEDBACK. I KNOW IT'S A BALANCE. 
          WE'RE CONTINUING TO ITERATE THAT. 
          SO THANK YOU FOR YOUR CANDOR AND LEADERSHIP. YOU HAVE DONE A FABULOUS JOB AS THE INTERN COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR AS FAR AS I'M CONCERNED. I, TOO, WANT TO MOVE THIS FORWARD. I WANT TO PUT THIS AND START RECRUITING AND OPEN IT UP TO INTERNAL CANDIDATES AND EXTERNAL CANDIDATES NATIONWIDE. I THINK IT SENDS A SIGNAL IF WE HAVE ALIGNMENT WITH FOUR, FIVE MEMBERS OF COURT, THEN I THINK WE WILL RECRUIT BETTER TALENT. 
          BECAUSE THEY WILL SEE THAT ALIGNMENT AND KNOW THERE'S A NORTH STAR. THEY WILL BE SUPPORTED. I HAVE HAD A LOT FEEDBACK THAT I HAVE SHARED WITH YOU. SO I APPRECIATE THE ITERATIONS. 
          AT A HIGH LEVEL, I LIKE THE IDEA AS WE HAVE DISCUSSED THAT IGA REPORT DIRECTLY TO COURT. FOR ME, THE THREE LARGE INFRASTRUCTURE FLOOD CONTROL, TOLL ROAD AND ENGINEERING REPORT TO COURT. 
          IF IT WOULD CREATE ALIGNMENT BETWEEN COURT OFFICES, I WOULD BE OPEN TO THAT IF THAT WOULD CREATE ALIGNMENT. ALL TO SAY, I WANT TO MOVE THIS FORWARD. AS THE THIRD LARGEST COUNTY IN THE COUNT, I SEE THE FIVE OF US AS FIVE CEOS. 
          WE PASS SO MANY THINGS IN THIS COURT. 
          WE HAVE 20,000 EMPLOYEES. WE NEED SOMEBODY WHO IS 
          [02:40:03]
REALLY GOING TO HELP US QUARTERBACK AND MAKE SURE WE ARE IMPLEMENTING THE POLICY DECISIONS OF THIS BODY. I'M READY TO MOVE FORWARD. 
          I APPRECIATE EVERYTHING YOU ARE DOING AS IM AND THE TIME YOU HAVE DEVOTED. THANK YOU. 
          >> LOOKS LIKE COMMISSIONER GARCIA IS NEXT. THANK YOU. 
          >> THANK YOU. LIKEWISE, THANK YOU FOR YOUR WORK ON THIS. 
          I APPRECIATE THAT YOU SEEM TO HAVE CAPTURED A BIT OF THE PERSPECTIVE THAT ALL OF US HAVE OFFERED YOU COUPLED WITH PROBABLY SOME PERSPECTIVE THAT YOU HAVE ACQUIRED BEING IN YOUR ROLE. 
          AT THE END OF THE DAY, IT'S ABOUT GETTING THINGS DONE. 
          THE CITIZENS CAN'T WAIT, WE CAN'T WAIT. 
          IT'S ABOUT MAKING SURE THAT WE'RE DOING THE BEST WITH THE RESOURCES THAT WE HAVE AND AS TIMELY AS POSSIBLE. 
          I APPRECIATE EVERYTHING YOU HAVE DONE TO GET US TO THIS POINT. 
          LOOKING FORWARD TO THE OUTCOME OF THIS. 
          THANK YOU. 
          >> I JUST BRIEFLY SAY THAT, IF YOU CAN REDUCE THE MEETING -- NUMBER OF MEETINGS, THAT'S GOOD. 
          I TAKE THAT INTO IF IT'S NOT A PRODUCTIVE MEETING, I JUST DON'T GO. 
          I HOPE MY STAFF IS GOING. THAT'S WHY I SEND THEM. 
          I WOULDN'T WANT TO CHANGE ANYTHING FROM WHAT WEWE WHEN MR. BERRY WAS HERE AND WHEN MISS RAMIREZ WAS HERE. ARE YOU MAKING ANY CHANGES IN TERMS OF THE DUTIES FOR THAT? 
          >> I THINK FROM A RECRUITMENT STANDPOINT, AGAIN, WE HAVE HAD A LOT OF DISCUSSIONS WITH YOUR OFFICES. 
          I THINK THERE ARE STILL A LOT OF QUESTIONS ABOUT LONG-TERM. 
          SOME OFFICES TALKS ABOUT THE INFRASTRUCTURE DEPARTMENTS, ABOUT SOME OTHER DEPARTMENTS REPORTING TO COURT. 
          I THINK THAT'S UP TO COURT. FROM OUR PERSPECTIVE, THERE ARE TOO MANY REPORTING DIRECTLY TO THE ADMINISTRATOR AS IT IS. 
          THAT'S REALLY -- IT MAKES THINGS DIFFICULT. IT MAKES THAT PLUS MEETINGS, IT'S HARD TO HAVE ENOUGH TIME. 
          WE WROTE THIS JOB DESCRIPTION TO SAY, LET'S CONTINUE TO TALK ABOUT THAT AND LET'S MOVE -- OPEN THE PROCESS AND MOVE IT FORWARD. 
          I THINK AS YOUR OFFICE HAS POINTED OUT, IF WE GET A TALENTED PERSON, THAT PERSON MIGHT HAVE OPINIONS ABOUT HOW TO STRUCTURE THINGS AND MAKE THINGS WORK BETTER. 
          WE WANT TO LEAVE ROOM AND OPENNESS FOR THAT. 
          THIS JOB DESCRIPTION CURRENTLY DOES NOT HAVE THE FLOOD CONTROL ADMINISTRATOR, WHICH IS THE TITLE THAT THE INTERIM HOLDS, BECAUSE IT'S NOT IN THE JOB DESCRIPTION, DOESN'T MEAN IT WOULDN'T NECESSARILY BE THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE PERSON. 
          I THINK WE TOOK THAT OUT WITH RESPECT TO THE LEVEL OF DISCUSSIONS THAT WE WERE HAVING. 
          AND TO TRY TO FIND SOME CONSENSUS AROUND THE TABLE THAT WOULD REALLY HELP US -- IT WOULD HELP US MORE IN RECRUITMENT TO HAVE CONSENSUS THAN TO HAVE ONE MORE JOB DESCRIPTION -- OR ONE MORE BULLET POINT IN THE JOB DESCRIPTION. THAT WAS MY 
          VIEW. >> LAST POINT IS THAT UNDER THE OLD SYSTEM, BEFORE WE HAD A COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR, ARGUABLY ALL THESE DEPARTMENTS WERE REPORTING TO THE COUNTY. 
          >> YES. 
          >> I WAS HERE FOR TWO YEARS UNDER THAT. 
          THEY WERE REPORTING TO ALL OF US. 
          THEY WEREN'T REPORTING TO ME. AS QUICK AS THE MEETINGS WERE, I DON'T KNOW WHO THEY WERE REPORTING TO. PART OF THAT -- I MOVE WE CONTINUE DISCUSSION. 
          >> SECOND. 
          >> ALL IN FAVOR. >> AYE. 
          MOTION CARRIES. 
          >> I FOR ONE FAVORED THE SYSTEM. SO WE HAD SOME ALIGNMENT THERE. 
          SO PEOPLE ARE TALKING. WE ARE, BY NATURE, A SYSTEM OF FIEFDOMS. YOU GOT FIVE. 
          WHEN WE HAD IT THE WAY IT WAS STRUCTURED BEFORE, HAD YOU 20. 
          THERE'S NO WAY -- WHEN I WAS HERE -- FOR HOW LONG LONG IT OPERATED THAT WAY, AS QUICK AS THE MEETINGS WERE, THERE'S NO WAY THEY WERE REPORTING TO THIS COURT. UNLESS THEY WERE VIOLATING OPEN MEETINGS. THERE'S JUST NO WAY. I SAT HERE TWO YEARS. 
          THEY WERE QUICK MEETINGS. I KNOW THEY GET LENGTHY NOW. THERE HAS TO BE A HAPPY MEDIUM. 
          NOT GO BACK TO 45-MINUTE MEETINGS. 
          >> I THINK DEPARTMENT HEADS DO NEED TO HAVE SOME MORE ACCOUNTABILITY. THE FACT THAT HAVING THEM ALL REPORT TO FIVE OFFICES IS COMPLICATED. 
          YOU GUYS HAVE A LOT -- ON YOUR PLATE. 
          THE PRECINCTS ARE A LOT. HAVING THAT PLUS 15 VERY COMPLICATED DEPARTMENTS -- 15 DOESN'T WORK FOR PURELY THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR EITHER. 
          TO ME, THAT IS THE BIG SORT OF SHIFT THAT WE HAVE THOUGHT 
          [02:45:01]
ABOUT IS HOW DOES THAT ACCOUNTABILITY FLOW, HOW DOES EVALUATION FLOW? HOW DO WE MAKE SURE THAT PEOPLE ARE -- I THINK WE HAVE GREAT DEPARTMENT DIRECTORS. EVERYONE DOES BETTER IF THEY HAVE A BOSS IS ACTUALLY -- IT'S A GOOD THING. 
          >> I'M NOT CRITICIZING ANY DEPARTMENT HEAD. 
          THIS IS NOT A NEW CONCEPT. YOU COULD LOOK TO L.A. COUNTY. 
          CALL THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR. LOOK AT OTHERS THAT HAVE IT. THE SYSTEM AS IT WORKED BEFORE, I JUST WOULD HATE FOR US TO GO BACK TO THAT. EACH COMMISSIONER WOULD MEET WITH THEM AND THE JUDGE SEPARATELY. WE TEND TO HEAR WHAT WE WANT TO HEAR. SOMETIMES I THINK INADVERTENTLY DEPARTMENT HEADS TELL US WHAT WE WANT TO HEAR. WE CAN'T VIOLATE OPEN MEETINGS, IT JUST HELPS WHEN THERE'S SOMEBODY -- WHEN THEY HEAR EACH OTHER. 
          BUT THEY COULDN'T DO THAT WITH ALL OF US. 
          THAT'S MY SENSE. WE WILL SEE HOW IT GOES. 
          >> I WILL JUST ADD MY TWO CENTS ON THIS. 
          I DO REMEMBER COMMISSIONER -- IN 2021 WHEN WE ADDED THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR COMMISSION WITH COMMISSIONER GARCIA AS WELL, AND IT WAS AN IMPORTANT CHANGE TO HOW HARRIS COUNTY DID BUSINESS WHICH WAS VERY MUCH -- I DON'T THINK IT MET THE PROFESSIONAL STANDARDS OF GOVERNMENTS OF THE SIZE OF OURS AND ORGANIZATIONS OF OUR SIZE. I THINK IT CONTINUES TO BE A COMMON AND ACCEPTED PRACTICE FOR PROFESSIONAL GOVERNMENTS. I LIKE THE JOB DESCRIPTION THAT WAS PROPOSED. 
          WANT TO THANK JESSE. I KNOW IT'S A REALLY TOUGH JOB. 
          OBVIOUSLY, ACKNOWLEDGE DAVE AND DEANNA WHO DID A GREAT JOB. 
          WE WILL DO EVERYTHING WE CAN TO SUPPORT THE TRANSITION TO THE NEW COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR AND MOVE WITH HASTE SO WE CAN FIND SOMEBODY ELSE. YOU HAVE BEEN GREAT STEPPING UP FOR THIS. THANK YOU. 
          THANK YOU FOR WORKING ON THE JOB DESCRIPTION. 
          >> JUST A FEW QUESTIONS JUST TO RE- LEVEL SET. THE LATEST VERSION OF THE JOB DESCRIPTION YESTERDAY REFLECTS THE CONSENSUS BETWEEN THE FIVE OFFICES, CORRECT, AFTER THE MEETINGS? 
          >> YES, MA'AM. 
          >> THANK YOU. FOR TODAY'S PURPOSES, WE DON'T NEED TO FLESH OUT THE FULL REPORTING, WORK CHART, BUT RATHER APPROVE A JOB DESCRIPTION SO WE CAN MOVE FORWARD TO POST, 
          CORRECT? >> THAT'S MY RECOMMENDATION. 
          >> HOW SOON WOULD THIS BE POSTED? WHAT IS THE TIMELINE? 
          >> WE SHARED A IMELINE INTERNALLY. 
          YOUR STAFF HAVE IT. IF IT'S APPROVED TODAY, WE WOULD LAUNCH THE INTERNAL SEARCH TOMORROW. 
          WE WOULD GIVE A FEW WEEKS OPENING FOR INTERNAL CANDIDATES TO EXPRESS THEIR INTEREST. 
          THAT WOULDN'T REQUIRE -- WOULDN'T NECESSARILY BE THE END. IF AN INTERNAL CANDIDATE DOESN'T EXPRESS INTEREST IN THE NEXT COUPLE WEEKS, THEY COULD APPLY LIKE EVERYONE ELSE IN THE COUNTRY. WE WANTED TO CREATE AN INTERNAL PROCESS TO GIVE US A VIEW OF WHAT OTHER OPENINGS THERE MAY BE THROUGH THIS PROCESS. 
          THE JOB WOULD BE -- THE NATIONAL SEARCH WOULD LAUNCH, I THINK HR HAS IT IN TEN DAYS ON THE 18TH. 
          THEN WE WOULD START ACTIVELY RECRUITING CANDIDATES. WE BELIEVE STRONGLY WE DON'T WANT TO JUST LEAVE IT UP. WE HAVE A CONSULTANT. 
          WE HAVE ASKED FOLKS IN YOUR OFFICES AND OUR OFFICE TO HELP ACTIVELY IDENTIFY AND RECRUIT CANDIDATES. THIS IS A DIFFERENT JOB THAN A LOT OF PLACES, A LOT OF EXPERIENCED FOLKS ARE IN. 
          WE NEED TO HAVE A LOT OF INPUT ON BRINGING CANDIDATES IN. 
          WE WOULD LAUNCH IT VERY QUICKLY, COMMISSIONER. 
          >> THANK YOU. I'M READY TO MOVE FORWARD. 
          WE NEED TO CONTINUE PROGRESS HERE. 
          THANK YOU. 
          >> COMMISSIONER RAMSEY, DID YOU 
          HAVE ANYTHING? >> QUICK COMMENT. 
          YES, I WOULD APPROVE IF YOU TOOK OUT THE BUDGET OFFICER. 
          AGAIN, IF WE'RE GOING TO HAVE THIS STRUCTURE, IT SHOULD BE ONE THAT ALLOWS FOR US TO EFFECTIVELY SUPPORT -- LOOKED AS A LATER SHIFT JOB IS MY JOB IS SUPPORT. PEOPLE REPORTING TO ME. THEIR JOB SHOULD BE MADE EASIER. 
          I CAN TELL YOU, MY AUDIT OF PEOPLE OVER THE LAST FOUR YEARS, I WOULDN'T -- THEY WOULD NOT SAY THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR HAS MADE THEIR JOB EASIER. 
          MAYBE THAT'S THE NATURE OFOF AND SOMETIMES PEOPLE DON'T LIKE TO BE THAT ACCOUNTABLE. ON THE OTHER HAND, PEOPLE ARE JUST LOOKING FOR HELP. THEY ARE LOOKING FOR A WAY TO GET THEIR JOBS DONE EASIER AND BETTER. IT SHOULD BE ALMOST UNSTATED THE PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITY OF THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR IS TO MAKE EVERYBODY ELSE'S JOB EASIER. 
          THAT'S IN ANSWER TO YOUR QUESTION. 
          [02:50:06]
          >> YES, COMMISSIONER ELLIS. 
          >> THE MOTION DOES HAVE THE BUDGET ADMINISTRATOR REPORTING. 
          >> IT DOES. 
          >> THAT'S HOW WE DID IT IN THE PAST? 
          >> YES, SIR. 
          >> ARE YOU MAKING A MOTION? 
          >> GARCIA MADE THE MOTION. 
          >> WILL THIS BE APPROVED AT 
          PRESENTED? >> YES. 
          >> FOR ONE AND 519? 
          >> 519 IS NO ACTION, RIGHT? 
          >> MAY I? 
          >> NO ACTION FOR 519. IT'S APPROVED AS PRESENTED. 
          ALL IN FAVOR. 
          >> AYE. 
          >> ANY OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES 4-1. 
          THAT WAS ONE. LET ME MAKE SURE THAT I'VE GOT THIS CORRECTLY HERE. WE HAVE TWO, WHICH IS ON OVERTIME. THAT WAS ED REQUESTED. 
          >> TWO AND 541. 
          >> YES. 
          >> FIRST, IF WE COULD TAKE A MOMENT OF SILENCE FOR ALL OF THOSE THAT WE LOST IN THE JULY 4TH FLOOD. 
          THANK YOU. ITEM 2 IS A REQUEST FOR APPROVAL FOR EMPLOYEES TO RECEIVE OVERTIME PAY IN LIEU OF COMPENSATORY TIME EARNED FORK WORK DUTIES RELATED TO THE RESPONSE AND RECOVERY OF THE CENTRAL TEXAS FLOODING EVENT FOR EACH WEEK ENDING JULY 4TH THROUGH AUGUST 1, 2025, PURSUANT TO THE DISASTER PAY POLICY. I JUST WANTED TO TAKE THE OPPORTUNITY -- I KNOW AS TEXANS, WE LIVED THIS TRAVESTY AND KNOW MANY WHO HAVE BEEN AFFECTED. OUR HEARTS ARE WITH THEM. 
          I HOPE THAT WE CAN REMEMBER WHAT HAPPENED AND TOGETHER AS TEXANS UNITE TO BE ABLE TO INVEST IN TECHNOLOGY, INFRASTRUCTURE, WARNING SYSTEMS SO THAT THIS NEVER HAS TO HAPPEN AGAIN. 
          I HOPE THAT'S SOMETHING WE CAN WORK ON TOGETHER AS TEXANS. 
          FOR THIS PARTICULAR ITEM, I WANTED TO ESPECIALLY THANK COLLEAGUES FROM FIVE DEPARTMENTS IN HARRIS COUNTY. 
          AS PROUD TEXANS, THE INSTITUTE OF FORENSIC SCIENTISTS, THE FLOOD DISTRICT AND SHERIFF'S OFFICE WENT ABOVE AND BEYOND TO ASSIST. 
          I WANTED TO SAY THANK YOU AND MAKE SURE WE PASS THIS PURSUANT TO OUR DISASTER PAY. AGAIN, MAY ALL THE FAMILIES WHO WERE JUST SUFFERING THROUGH THIS INCREDIBLE LOSS, MAY OUR HEARTS AND PRAYERS BE WITH THEM. 
          MAY THAT TURN INTO ACTION SO WE BECOME SAFER AS TEXANS. 
          WITH THAT, I WOULD MOVE ITEM 2 AS PRESENTED. 
          >> MOTION AND SECRETARIED. 
          >> THANK YOU FOR PUTTING THIS ON. 
          WE DID HAVE SOME CONVERSATION AT THE LAST MEETING. 
          BUT THIS WASWAS A SIGNIFICANT IMPACT ON PEOPLE IN TEXAS. I DON'T KNOW ANYBODY THAT DIDN'T KNOW SOMEBODY THAT WAS JUST SEVERELY IMPACTED BY THESE FLOODS. I AM GOING TO TELL A QUICK STORY. A LITTLE BIT OF A PERSONAL PRIVILEGE. GRACE WAS IN THE CHATTERBOX CABIN THAT NIGHT. SHE WAS UP REAL LATE. 
          JULY 4TH IS GRACIE'S BIRTHDAY. THE CHATTERBOX, IF YOU KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT THE EVENT, IS WITHIN EYE DISTANCE OF THE CLOSEST TO THE RIVER. OUR COUNSELOR WAS GROWING UP BALLOONS FOR GRACE'S BIRTHDAY. SHE WAS UP 1:00 IN THE MORNING. ABOUT 1:30, THE COUNSELOR NOTED WATER STARTING TO COME INTO THE CABIN. THE PROTOCOL FOR THE CABIN FOR CHATTERBOX WAS A TRUCK WOULD COME RESCUE, PICK UP, REMOVE THE GIRLS. THAT WAS -- THAT WOULD SEEM LOGICAL, BECAUSE YOU DON'T WANT LITTLE GIRLS -- THESE ARE 10-YEAR-OLDS IN A CABIN. BUT THE WATER CAME UP. 
          WHEN IT WAS UP, EVEN WITH THE WINDOWS, THEY SWAM OUT THE WINDOWS. ALL THE CHILDREN. 
          THEY ARE IN THE RIVER. ALL THE GIRLS WERE ABLE TO GET TO A DRY PIECE OF LAND AS THEY WORKED THEIR WAY UP THE HILL. GRACE AND A FRIEND, HOWEVER, THEY WERE WASHING DOWN THE RIVER. THEY WERE ABLE TO CATCH A TREE. 
          [02:55:01]
BY THE GRACE OF GOD, GRACE WAS ABLE TO PULL HERSELF -- UNDERSTAND, THIS IS A 10-YEAR- OLD LITTLE GIRL WHO SHOWED INCREDIBLE STAMINA AND BRAVERY. THE OTHER THING I WOULD TELL YOU AT THIS POINT, GRACE IS JENNIFER'S LITTLE GIRL. 
          JENNIFER IS MY ROAD AND BRIDGE SUPERINTENDENT. 
          IT'S NOT LIKE GRACE HAD BEEN THROUGH A FEW STORMS BEFEL IN THE AIR SHE'S WATCHED HER MAMA. 
          SHE WAS ABLE TO GET OUT OF THE RIVER IN THE DARK BY HERSELF AND WORK HER WAY UP TO THE TOP OF THE HILL. 
          THERE WAS A COAST GUARD PETTY OFFICER. THIS WAS HIS FIRST MISSION. 
          THEY DROPPED HIM ON THAT HILL. HE WAS ABLE TO TAKE CARE OF, SHEPHERD OVER 200 CHILDREN AND COUNSELORS THAT HORRIFIC NIGHT. WAS ABLE TO GET THEM UP TO THE COAST GUARD HELICOPTER. THEY HAD A COAST GUARD HELICOPTER AND A BLACK HAWK. 
          GRACIE SAYS, I DON'T WANT TO BE ON A HELICOPTER. 
          I WANT TO BE ON THE BLACK HAWK OVER THERE. SO SHE WAS ABLE TO GET THERE AND WAS RESCUED. SHE WAS SAVED. 
          IF YOU GO ON THE WEBSITE, THEY ARE POSTING MATERIALS OR ARTICLES OF CLOTHING AND OTHER THINGS ON THE WEBSITE. 
          GRACIE LOST A SHOE, A CROC. WE KNOW WHAT THAT IS. SHE LOST A CORC. JENNIFER SAW THAT ON THE WEBSITE. SHE CONTACTED THE INDIVIDUAL WHO HAD THE CROC. THE PEOPLE THAT HAD THE CROC WERE THE ROAD AND BRIDGE FOR KERR COUNTY. 
          IS THAT PROVIDENCE? THE MAIN POINTS THAT THE PRECIOUS CHILDREN WANT YOU TO KNOW AND THEIR PARENTS, THE POWER OF FAITH. THE SURVIVAL INSTINCT. 
          GRIT FOUND IN TINY GIRLS AND THE INCREDIBLE BRAVERY OF HER COUNSELORS WHO REALLY, THEY ARE 17 AND 18-YEAR- OLD FOLKS. 
          THE STAFF DID EVERYTHING THEY COULD TO SAVE LIVES. 
          THERE WERE FOUND IN TREES AND RAFTERS AND A CABIN TRYING TO KEEP GIRLS FLOATING ON MATTRESSES. SEVERAL DIDN'T MAKE IT. 
          THE COMMUNITY IS DESPERATE TO HELP AND HEAL IN ANY WAY POSSIBLE. 
          AS EVIDENCED BY THE TEARS SHED OVER REUNIFICATION OF A SIMPLE PLASTIC CROC SHOE. 
          I THINK THOSE STORIES NEED TO BE TOLD. THOSE CHILDREN HAVE BEEN THROUGH PROBABLY THE WORST EVENT THEY WILL EVER BE THROUGH IN THEIR LIFE. THEY NEED OUR PRAYERS AND OUR SUPPORT GOING FORWARD. 
          I THOUGHT I WOULD SHARE. 
          >> THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER. THAT'S VERY POWERFUL, ESPECIALLY THE WAY YOU TOLD IT. 
          I THINK YOU ABSOLUTELY GAVE IT JUSTICE. 
          THANK YOU SO MUCH. MY PRAYERS AS WELL WITH THAT FAMILY AND THE OTHER VICTIMS AND FAMILIES OF THE VICTIMS. COMMISSIONER ELLIS AND COMMISSIONER GARCIA. 
          >> THANK YOU. I THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER RAMSEY, FOR TELLING THAT STORY. I'M GLAD THAT THAT FAMILY WAS SPARED. THERE'S SO MANY STORIES OF THE HEARTBREAK THAT COME OUT OF THAT TRAGEDY. 
          I'M PLEASED TO SEE HOW IN AUSTIN SO FAR THEY ARE HAVING TOUGH DISCUSSIONS ABOUT MISTAKES THAT WERE MADE. I HOPE THEY DO THAT ON THE FEDERAL LEVEL AS WELL. I HAVE BEEN TO THAT PART OF THE STATE MANY TIMES. PROBABLY MOST MEMORABLE WAS WITH, OF ALL THINGS, A BIKE RIDE ACROSS TEXAS BACK WHEN BILL WHITE WAS MAYOR. I THANK GOVERNOR PERRY. 
          LANCE ARMSTRONG WAS AT THE HEIGHT OF HIS GAME AT THAT TIME. 
          IT WAS AMAZING. I HAD NEVER REALLY PAID THAT MUCH ATTENTION IN A CAR. RIDING ALONG THE RIVER IN MARCH, THE RAINY SEASON, IT'S JUST AMAZING. I WOULD HAVE THOUGHT I WAS IN EUROPE. 
          CALIFORNIA. IT'S AMAZING. NONE OF OUR GIRLS WENT TO CAMP MYSTIC. OUR SON DID GO THREE MILES 
          [03:00:02]
AWAY, CAMP LONGHORN. I JUST REMEMBER WHAT IT'S LIKE DROPPING HIM OFF, HIM A LITTLE TICKED OFF WITH US LEAVING HIM THERE. ALL THE PARENTS ARE LINED UP. 
          YOU DROP THEM OFF. YOU COME BACK AND GET THEM. 
          HE CHOSE NOT TO GO AGAIN. IT WAS HARD GETTING IN CAMP LONGHORN. I WANTED HIM TO DO IT BECAUSE I THOUGHT THAT WAS A TICKET TO GET INTO UT. 
          HE ENDED UP GOING ANYWAY. WE SHOULD NEVER FORGET THAT IT WAS COMMISSIONERS COURT THAT NEGLECTED SOME THINGS THAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN DONE, A COURT LIKE THE ONE WE SIT ON NOW. THERE WERE OPPORTUNITIES WITH THE STATE AND WITH THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT. IT GIVES US ALL A SENSE OF HOW WHEN WE ARE PUT IN POSITIONS OF POWER TO MAKE DECISIONS FOR THE PUBLIC, IT'S ALWAYS EASY TO SAY, WE WON'T PUT MORE MONEY IN BECAUSE THE PUBLIC GETS MAD WHEN WE ASK FOR IT. BUT THERE WERE MANY THINGS THAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN DONE AND COULD HAVE BEEN DONE. 
          BUT PEOPLE IN POSITIONS OF POWER OPTED NOT TO DO THEM. 
          I HOPE THAT WE ALSO LEND OUR VOICES TO RAISING THOSE ISSUES AS WELL. 
          THANK YOU BOTH FOR SHARING THE RESOLUTION AND THE STORIES. 
          >> THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER. COMMISSIONER GARCIA. 
          >> THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR PUTTING THIS ITEM ON THE AGENDA. I WANTED TO THANK MY COLLEAGUES FOR EVERYBODY JOINING IN ON THIS TO SEND THE TYPE OF MESSAGE THAT I BELIEVE THEY HAVE BEEN RECEIVING FROM AROUND THE COUNTRY. COMMISSIONER RAMSEY, THANK YOU FOR SHARING THAT, BECAUSE YOU BRING IT HOME. 
          I HAVE BEEN IN TOUCH WITH MY COUNTERPOINT IN PRECINCT 2 IN KERR. I WAS SPEAKING TO HIM DURING THE EVENT. I WANT TO SAY TO THEM THAT I WAS IMMENSELY DISAPPOINTED THAT PEOPLE TOOK AN OPPORTUNITY TO USE THIS FOR POLITICS. VERSUS EXPRESSING SORROW, SUPPORT, PRAYERS, THOUGHTS . I SHARED THAT WITH HIM. 
          BUT I WANT TO JUST THANK THEM ALL FOR KEEPING THEIR CHIN UP. THEY STILL HAVE A LONG ROAD TO RECOVER. UNLESS ANYBODY DEVELOPS AMNESIA, PEOPLE WILL REMEMBER THIS FOR A VERY LONG TIME FOR OBVIOUS REASONS. 
          THANK YOU FOR SHARING THIS. WE WILL KEEP KERR COUNTY IN OUR THOUGHTS AND PRAYERS. 
          >> THANK YOU. DO WE HAVE A MOTION ON ITEM 2? 
          >> MOVE AS PRESENTED. 
          >> SECOND. 
          >> ALL IN FAVOR? 
          >> AYE. 
          >> ANY OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY. THE OTHER ONE IS 541. 
          THE CORRECTIONS HAVE BEEN MADE. DO WE HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE THIS RESOLUTION? 
          >> MOVE AS PRESENTED. 
          >> SECOND. 
          >> MOTION, SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR? 
          >> AYE. 
          >> ANY OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY. 
          THANK YOU, COLLEAGUES, AND OUR DEPARTMENTS WHO WORKED ON THIS. 
          NEXT IS ITEM 3 ON THE THIRD QUARTER BUDGET PROJECTIONS, REQUESTED BY PRECINCTS 1 AND 3. 
          >> JUDGE, I CAN GIVE -- GO THROUGH THE FULL PRESENTATION OR THE HIGHLIGHTS. 
          FULL PRESENTATION? >> YES, THANK YOU. 
          >> IF YOU DON'T MIND PUTTING IT UP. 
          GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE. NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE. 
          IN THIS JOB I'M IN A POSITION OF GIVING GOOD NEWS. BUT WE DID GET SOME IN THE THIRD QUARTER. ON THE GENERAL FUND SIDE, WE WENT FROM A $36 MILLION DEFICIT IN THE SECOND QUARTER DOWN TO BEING ROUGHLY FLAT. 
          I WILL GO INTO THE DETAILS IN A SECOND. 
          ON THE FLOOD CONTROL, WE ARE PROJECTING A $15 MILLION SURPLUS. 
          THAT'S WITHIN RANGE OF WHERE THEY HAVE BEEN THE LAST FEW YEARS. 
          THIS INCLUDES A CONTRIBUTION APPROVED BY COMMISSIONERS COURT INTO THE MAINTENANCE FUND TO ALLEVIATE SOME OF THE PRESSURE ON THE FLOOD CONTROL BOND. HARRIS HEALTH IS PROJEBLTHING $137 MILLION SURPLUS, LARGELY DRIVEN BY HIGHER THAN EXPECTED 
          [03:05:02]
REVENUES AND SLIGHTLY LOWER THAN EXPECTED EXPENDITURES. NEXT SLIDE. 
          ON THE GENERAL FUND SIDE, REALLY WHERE WE ARE SEEING THE BIGGEST OUTAGE IN TERMS OF BUDGET PROJECTIONS, $58 MILLION HIGHER THAN EXPECTED. 
          WE TAKE THE THREE -- WE LOOK AT THE PUBLIC DEFENDER PLUS THE DISTRICT AND COUNTY COURT APPOINTED FEES. 
          WHAT WE ARE SEEING HERE IS DUE TO THE LEADERSHIP OF THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY, A HUGE INFLUX -- INCREASE IN THE NUMBER OF TRIALS. BECAUSE OF THAT, AS THE TRIALS ARE GETTING COMPLETED, WE ARE STARTING TO SEE THE ATTORNEYS SUBMIT THEIR VOUCHERS. 
          IN MANY TIMES WE ARE SEEING BILLS FROM TWO, THREE YEARS AGO WHEN THE TRIAL BEGAN. WE THINK -- WE WORK CLOSELY WITH THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY, THE PUBLIC DEFENDER AND COURTS TO DO THESE PROJECTIONS. 
          WE REALLY DO FEEL LIKE THERE'S LIGHT AT THE END OF THE TUNNEL. 
          WE ARE PROJECTING AN ADDITIONAL $57 MILLION IN NEXT YEAR'S BUDGET FOR IT. WE BELIEVE THAT THAT WILL START TO TRICK LE DOWN AND BECOME -- GO BACK DOWN TO A NORMAL RATE. 
          SOME OF THE SUPPLEMENTALS THAT GOT APPROVED DURING THE YEAR IS THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY PLUS THE ARPA POSITIONS. WE DID LOSE ALMOST $7 MILLION FROM A FEDERAL GRANT DUE TO A CHANGE IN THE FEDERAL FORMULA OF COUNTING UNDOCUMENTED IMMIGRANTS IN OUR JAIL. THE TAX OFFICE SUPPLEMENTAL, THE SAFE PROGRAM, IN TERMS OF THE GOOD NEWS, CUMULATIVELY, COUNTY DEPARTMENTS HAD A -- CLOSE TO $59 MILLION SURPLUS. THESE ARE NOT HUGE SURPLUSES IN ONE DEPARTMENT. THESE ARE SMALL SURPLUSES THAT ADD UP OVER THE 88 DEPARTMENTS THAT HARRIS COUNTY HAS. WE ALSO GOT REALLY GOOD NEWS ON -- IN TERMS OF OUR PROPERTY TAXES. WE ASSUME THAT OF THE ENTIRE ASSESSABLE BASE WE RECEIVE IN JULY FROM THE HCAD THAT WE WILL LOSE 4. 8% OF THE VALUE LOST. THESE ARE WHEN COMMERCIAL OR RESIDENTIAL OWNERS COME AND APPEAL THEIR ASSESSMENT AND ARE SUCCESSFUL. 
          WE ARE SEEING CLOSER TO 4%. I PERSONALLY THINK THAT'S DUE TO THE FACT THAT OUR RESIDENTIAL APPRAISALS RECEIPT -- RELATIVELY FLAT. PEOPLE GOT USED TO COMING IN AND FILING AN APPEAL. THERE'S A LESS OF A DESIRE TO GO GET AN ATTORNEY OR GO AND SHOW UP TO A HEARING. 
          THIS LOOKS TO BE THE NEW NORMAL FOR NEXT YEAR. 
          I WOULD ASSUME IT WOULD CONTINUE -- THIS TREND WOULD STAY ON PAR UNTIL INTEREST RATES ARE SIGNIFICANTLY LOWER IN THE FUTURE AND WE START TO SEE REAL ESTATE TRANSACTIONS COME BACK UP TO THOSE HISTORIC LEVELS THEY WERE IN '22 AND '23. EVERYTHING ELSE IS SMALLER. 
          AGAIN, NOT IN A POSITION TO REGULARLY COME AND GIVE GOOD NEWS. THIS IS A BIT OF GOOD NEWS IN THE CURRENT FISCAL YEAR. NEXT SLIDE. 
          NEXT SLIDE. NEXT SLIDE. 
          GO TO THE ONE THAT HAS -- HERE WE GO. 
          IN DEFENSE, THIS IS NOT -- I KNOW THIS HAS TAKEN UP A LOT OF TIME IN VARIOUS COMMISSIONERS COURT. WHAT WE ARE SEEING IS AS THE NUMBER OF TRIALS COMES THROUGH, ALSO THE ADDITIONAL SIX CRIMINAL DISTRICT COURTS, WE ARE SEEING THE INFLUX. WE BELIEVE IN THE NEXT TWO YEARS WE WILL GET TO A NEW NORMAL, SIGNIFICANTLY LOWER THAN WHAT WE ARE EXPERIENCING TODAY. 
          I WANT TO POINT OUT THAT THERE ARE A HANDFUL OF VERY, VERY EXPENSIVE CASES THAT HAS REALLY DRIVEN THAT NUMBER UP. 
          IT LOOKS LIKE MOST OF THOSE CASES WILL BE DONE BETWEEN THIS YEAR AND NEXT YEAR. 
          THAT'S ALL I HAD. 
          >> COMMISSIONER RAMSEY, THEN ELLIS. 
          >> BUDGET OFFICER, I APPRECIATE THE WORK YOU DO. 
          ONE, YOU ALWAYS ANSWER THE PHONE NO MATTER WHAT TIME OF THE DAY. 
          PARTICULARLY WHEN THE DODGERS ARE PLAYING, I TRY TO CALL YOU. 
          YOU DO A GOOD JOB. 
          >> THANK YOU. 
          >> IT'S IMPORTANT IN THAT POSITION THAT WE HAVE SOMEONE WHO YOU TRUST THE NUMBERS. 
          THIS IS A MUCH BETTER REPORT THAN WHAT WE HAD AT THE END OF Q2. I KNOW THERE WERE -- THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF SPECULATION AND CONVERSATION SINCE WE ARE ALMOST BREAKING EVEN AT THIS 
          [03:10:01]
POINT. THAT'S A MUCH BETTER REPORT THAN WHAT WE WERE GETTING AT THE END OF Q2. 
          YOU DESCRIBE THE DETAIL. THANK YOU FOR YOUR SHORT POWERPOINT. I WOULD JUST ASK YOU -- WE HAVEN'T GOT TO INSURANCE. WE WON'T DIVE INTO INSURANCE IN THIS COURT TODAY. I DON'T WANT TO BALANCE THE BUDGET ON THE BACKS OF OUR EMPLOYEES. 
          IN SOME CASES, IT'S A 50% INCREASE IN COST OF BENEFITS. 
          WE CAN TALK MORE ON THAT. I KNOW THAT WE'RE ALL LOOKING FOR WAYS TO SAVE MONEY. I DON'T WANT TO BALANCE THIS ONE ON THEIR BACKS. THAT'S JUST A GENERAL -- GOING INTO THE BUDGET SEASON, THERE'S WORK TO BE DONE, A LOT OF OPPORTUNITY TO ADDRESS SOME NON-ESSENTIAL SPENDING ISSUES. 
          >> COMMISSIONER, ON THAT POINT, WE WILL BE PRESENTING THE BUDGET NEXT THURSDAY THE 14TH IN ITS ENTIRETY. 
          YOUR SERVICES SHOULD RECEIVE IT LATER TODAY OR FIRST THING TOMORROW. IT WILL BE RELEASED TO THE PUBLIC SHORTLY BEFORE COMMISSIONERS COURT. 
          IN TERMS OF THE INSURANCE, I DON'T THINK YOU ARE ALONE ON COMMISSIONERS IN COURT IN THAT SENTIMENT. 
          WE ARE PLANNING AROUND OTHER OPTIONS. 
          BECAUSE THIS IS SUCH A BIG DECISION FOR ISSIONERS COURT, WE INCLUDED A SEPARATE ITEM FOR COMMISSIONERS IN COURT TO VOTE IT UP OR DOWN. 
          IF YOU SAY NO TO THE RECOMMENDATION, WE WILL MOVE ON AND WE WILL PROVIDE YOU THE OPTIONS FOR HOW TO GET THERE. ONE THING THAT I MISSED IN TERMS OF THE PRESENTATION IS, THIS DOES ASSUME THAT WE WILL BE MAKING A $20 MILLION CONTRIBUTION INTO THE PIC. WE HAVEN'T MADE IT. 
          WE WANT LIKELY LET THE BOOKS CLOSE BEFORE MAKING THAT CONTRIBUTION. I WANTED TO POINT THAT OUT, THAT WE -- THERE'S $20 MILLION IN THERE, SPECIFICALLY TO REIMBURSE PIC FOR EXPENSES OVER THE LAST YEAR. 
          >> THAT'S GOOD. I KNOW THAT THE END OF Q2, YOU WERE PROJECTING NEXT YEAR'S BUDGET. AS YOU LOOK TO NEXT YEAR'S BUDGET, WE KNOW THAT YOU HAVE A GOOD NUMBER. 
          WE WILL TALK MORE ABOUT THAT IN THE NEXT MEETING. YOU GOT A GOOD NUMBER ON WHAT LAW ENFORCEMENT, THAT'S GOING TO COST. IT'S CLOSER TO $100 MILLION THAN 
          TO $140 MILLION. >> SURE. 
          NOT TO LET THE CAT TOO MUCH OUT OF THE BAG, BUT WE STARTED OUR INITIAL PROJECTION WAS $130 MILLION. OF THAT $50 MILLION WAS COMPENSATION. AFTER THE COURT'S DECISION THAT NUMBER GREW TO I BELIEVE $272 MILLION. 
          SINCE THAT POINT, AS WE HAVE REFINED THE LAW ENFORCEMENT PAY SCALE, THAT'S CLOSER TO $100 MILLION WITH A $39 MILLION, I BELIEVE, SAVINGS. 
          ALSO REVENUE GOT BETTER BY $32 MILLION. 
          REALLY, WHAT WE WERE AT WAS A $200 MILLION DEFICIT, OF THAT $150 MILLION OF THAT IS COMPENSATION FOR COUNTY EMPLOYEES. 
          >> YOU ARE PROJECTING NOW $200 
          MILLION? >> THAT'S CORRECT. 
          >> THAT WE HAVE TO DEAL WITH? 
          >> CORRECT. 
          >> WE CAN HAVE THAT CONVERSATION. 
          THE LAST POINT I WILL MAKE AND I WILL BE DONE. 
          I NOTICE THAT HARRIS HEALTH, BLESS THEIR HEARTS, THEY ARE RUNNING $137 MILLION SURPLUS. 
          I FOR ONE WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION WE LOOK AT SOME HEALTH PROGRAMS THAT THE COUNTY IS PAYING FOR, MAYBE IT'S MORE APPROPRIATE -- THEY CAN AFFORD IT -- THAT THEY WOULD TAKE THOSE WHERE WE HAVE A MUCH MORE SIGNIFICANT BUDGET ISSUE THAN APPARENTLY HARRIS HEALTH. 
          >> I WILL SECOND THAT MOTION. 
          STATE THAT WITHIN THE CONFINES OF THE LAW. 
          WHAT WE CAN HAVE THEM DO. THE MOTION WAS TO 
          LOOK AT IT. >> JUST LOOK AT T. 
          LOOK AT THEIR BUDGET, THEIR HEALTH ISSUES. 
          MAYBE THERE'S FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES LEGITIMATELY. 
          >> WE CAN WORK -- WHILE I'M ON THE RECORD, I WOULD LIKE TO THANK DR. PORCA. IT'S NICE AND DAY FROM PRIOR BUDGET DIRECTORS AND FORMER HHS CEOS. 
          WE CHANGED THE CALENDAR SO COMMISSIONER COURT RECEIVES EVERY TAXING ENTITY'S BUDGET AT THE SAME TIME. ONE THING I WANT TO SHOW IS THAT HEALTH CARE IS SLIGHTLY DIFFERENT AS PART OF THEIR SOUND FINANCIAL. THEY PLAN AROUND A 2% MARGIN. 
          THAT MARGIN ENDS UP BEING NEXT YEAR'S CAPITAL PROGRAM. 
          WE WILL WORK WITH THEM AND TRY TO IDENTIFY IF THERE ARE ELIGIBLE COSTS WE COULD MOVE OVER. THIS IS THE FIRST YEAR OF THE JAIL MEDICAL EXPENSES MOVING OVER. 
          THAT $78 MILLION. I CANNOT TELL YOU HOW BAD THIS YEAR WOULD BE ON THE GENERAL FUND SIDE IF WE HAD NOT 
          [03:15:02]
MADE THAT DECISION LAST YEAR. I WANT TO THANK HARRIS HEALTH ON THEIR PARTNERSHIP AND THE SMOOTH TRANSITION OVER. 
          >> THANK YOU. 
          >> THANK YOU. COMMISSIONER ELLIS. 
          >> I THINK THAT WAS A MOTION. 
          >> SECOND. 
          >> CAN YOU -- WOULD YOU RESTATE YOUR MOTION? DID YOU GET IT? 
          >> MOTION TO DIRECT THE OFFICE OF MANAGEMENT AND BUDGET AND PUBLIC HEALTH AND OFFICE COUNTY OFFICER TO DEVELOP A LONG TERM PLAN TO ASSUME A GREATER SHARE OF FUNDING RESPONSIBILITY TO HARRIS HEALTH FOR PUBLIC HEALTH SERVICES CURRENTLY SUPPORTED BY THE COUNTY'S GENERAL FUND. 
          >> SECOND. 
          >> MOTION BY COMMISSIONER RAMSEY. 
          SECOND BY COMMISSIONER ELLIS. THE ONLY THING I WILL ADD, WE ARE AWARE, THEY ARE LOSING A TON OF FUNDING FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT. THAT MAKES A BIG PERCENTAGE OF THEIR BUDGET. THAT COMES WITHIN YOUR MOTION. 
          I GUESS I'M NOT FEELING SUPER OPTIMISTIC. BUT IT'S A GREAT IDEA. 
          ANY OTHER DISCUSSION BEFORE WE VOTE? 
          >> I WOULD LIKE TO DISCUSSION ANOTHER FACET. BUT I'M READY TO VOTE ON THIS. 
          >> A MOTION, A SECOND, ALL IN 
          FAVOR. >> AYE. 
          >> MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY. 
          >> THANK YOU. I THINK YOU ARE NEXT. 
          >> IT DOESN'T MATTER. A COUPLE OF COMMENTS. 
          IT'S OUR DUTY TO MAKE SURE EVERY COMMUNITY IS SAFE AND THEY HAVE THE ABILITY TO MOVE FORWARD. I THINK I HEARD YOU -- YOU DIDN'T SAY THIS, BUT OUR GROWTH, ABOUT 400,000 PEOPLE, IS THAT RIGHT? SINCE 2018, WE HAVE GROWN BY -- 
          >> THAT'S CORRECT. WE PUBLISHED THE POPULATIONS EVERY YEAR. I BELIEVE WE ARE THE FASTEST GROWING COUNTY IN THE COUNTRY. 
          >> AT LEAST WE HAVE GROWN BY 400,000 PEOPLE SINCE 2018. 
          WE KNOW OUR NEEDS ARE MASSIVE. SOMETIMES WE FORGET ABOUT ONE IN SIX RESIDENTS IN HARRIS COUNTY LIVE IN POVERTY. OUR BUDGET DEFICIT IS $200 MILLION? 
          >> AFTER ALL -- WHEN WE GOT FINAL NUMBERS BACK, IT WAS ABOUT $200 MILLION. 
          >> $200 MILLION. I WANT YOU TO WALK THROUGH HOW WE GOT TO THIS $200 MILLION. THE BIG DRIVERS AGAIN. 
          >> ONE OF THE BIGGEST DRIVERS IS DEFAULTING TO THE NNR IN 2019. 
          THAT'S $147 MILLION RECURRING. I WOULD SAY -- 
          >> ON THAT ONE, I MIGHT WANT TO -- I MADE A MOTION TO ASK THE VOTERS WOULD THEY LEAVE US AT 7%. 
          I MAKE A MOTION WE KEEP GOING ON THIS UNTIL WE 
          FINISH. >> MOTION BY COMMISSIONER ELLIS. 
          SECOND BY COMMISSIONER GARCIA. ALL IN FAVOR. 
          >> AYE. 
          >> MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY. 
          >> WE WENT FROM -- WE GO BACK TO 3. 5 INSTEAD OF 7%. 
          WE HAD TWO DISASTERS. 
          THANK GOD WE DIDN'T HAVE THEM AGAIN. 
          THE OTHER ONE? 
          >> I WOULD SAY AFTER THAT OUTSOURCING IS THE NEXT LARGEST DRIVER OF THE COSTS. 
          >> INMATES? 
          >> THAT'S CORRECT. WE ARE NORTH OF $50 MILLION THIS YEAR. IT DOES LOOK LIKE WE MAY HOPEFULLIES BE ABLE TO REDUCE THAT NUMBER THROUGHOUT THE BUDGET PROCESS. 
          THAT'S $50 MILLION FOR THE LAST THREE YEARS. 
          COMMISSIONER, I'M SURE YOU REMEMBER WHEN WE FIRST STARTED DOING THIS, THIS WAS BILLED TO ME AS A SHORT-TERM. 
          WE WILL GET THESE FOLKS BACK WITHIN A YEAR. 
          THAT WAS, I THINK, INCREDIBLY OPTIMISTIC. 
          >> BY OUTSOURCING. THE PAY RAISE TO LAW ENFORCEMENT. 
          >> THAT WAS ABOUT 100 MILLION. 
          >> TO PAY EQUITY ITEM, WHICH I'VE BEEN ING FOR, THAT'S $50 MILLION? 
          >> LAST YEAR. AN ADDITIONAL 50 MILLION EARMARKED THIS YEAR. 
          >> INDIGENT DEFENSE. 
          >> THAT'S ESSENTIALLY DOUBLED SINCE I'VE BEEN HERE. 
          THIS YEAR ALONE, WE ARE $57 MILLION HIGHER 
          THAN WE WERE -- >> WE HAVE LITTLE CONTROL OVER. 
          WHAT ABOUT ONE-TIME SOURCES THAT WE HAVE USED? HOW MUCH WOULD THAT COME TO? VARIOUS -- I WON'T CALL THEM -- WE CALLED THEM SMOKE AND MIRRORS. 
          ONE- TIME FIXES THAT WOULD HELP US GET THROUGH A BAD SITUATION, HOW MUCH? 
          >> IN THE COMING FISCAL YEAR, WE HAVE ABOUT $30 MILLION WORTH OF WHAT I WOULD CONSIDER ONE- TIME WHERE WE WILL SELL THE BUILDING OR GOING WITH A LOWER CONTRIBUTION TO A SPECIFIC FUND IN THIS YEAR BUT REVERTING BACK IN THE SUBSEQUENT YEARS. 
          I WOULD SAY ROUGHLY 30. 
          >> I WANT US TO REMEMBER FOR A SECOND, COLLEAGUES, PAUSE, OUTSOURCING, WHICH THE D.A. WILL HAVE -- HAS DONE A GOOD JOB ON HELPING US WITH. BUT OUTSOURCING. 
          THE PAY RAISE FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT. I GET IT. NOTHING MORE IMPORTANT 
          [03:20:03]
THAN PUBLIC SAFETY. INDIGENT DEFENSE, WE HAVE LITTLE CONTROL OVER. PAY EQUITY. 
          ONE-TIME SOURCES. BECAUSE WE COULD GO UP TO 7%, LAST CYCLE, BECAUSE -- 
          >> 8%. 
          >> 8%. IT GOES BACK TO 3.5%. 
          I JUST WANT TO STRESS, OUR PARTNERS ON THE STATE LEVEL PUT IN A CAP ON WHAT WE CAN DO AND WE HAVE TO GET OUR MONEY FROM PROPERTY TAXES BECAUSE THEY CAN'T CAP WHAT THEY CAN DO. 
          THEY GET THAT MONEY FROM SALES TAXES. 
          ONE SOLUTION MAY BE PUT A CAP ON WHAT THEY TAKE, TAKE THAT AND GIVE IT TO THE COUNTIES AND CITIES SINCE WE HAVE TO RELY ON PROPERTY TAXES. 
          YOU TAKE WHAT THE STATE HAS DONE, WITH THE GOVERNOR LEADING IT. A BILL PASSED THE SENATE YESTERDAY TO CAP IT AT 2.5. AM I RIGHT? 
          >> YES. 
          THAT WOULD BE DEVASTATING FOR THIS COUNTY. 
          >> I WANT TO STRESS THAT. I WANT TO GIVE YOU A QUOTE. 
          HOPE I DON'T MAKE ANYBODY MAD. WHEN THAT FIRST VERSION OF A CAP PASSED IN 2019, JUDGE EMET CALLED IT SNAKE OIL. 
          HE WROTE THE STATE HAS SHACKLED LOCAL GOVERNMENTS TO A CAP REVENUE SOURCE THAT'S FUNDAMENTALLY UNFAIR. THEN HE WARNED WHEN COUNTY SERVICES OR INFRASTRUCTURE LAG BEHIND, DON'T BLAME COUNTY GOVERNMENT. BLAME STATE OFFICIALS WHO SUPPORTED SENATE BILL 2. 
          I WISH THAT WE HAD DONE THIS QUICKER. 
          I MENTIONED THIS TO YOU, MR. RAMOS. THANK YOU FOR THE WORK YOU DO. 
          IT WOULD BE BETTER IF WE HAD A BUDGET LAID OUT, EVEN IF IT MEANS WE HAVE TO STOP WHAT WE'RE DOING AND MEET SOONER, HAVE A BUDGET LAID OUT, BECAUSE WHEN WE COME BACK, AT THE NEXT MEETING, YOU GOTTA BUDGET, YOU KNOW, THE MOST IMPORTANT THING WE HAVE TO DO IS SET THE RATE. 
          THE MONEY HAS TO COME FROM SOMEWHERE. 
          MY OLD BOSS USED TO SAY, STATE GOVERNMENT WAS ABOUT 90% FINANCE AND THE REST WAS POETRY. 
          THAT'S WHAT IT AMOUNTS TO. OUR BUDGET IS A STATEMENT ABOUT OUR VALUES. WHEN WE SET THE RATE, THAT'S REALLY THE FIRST STEP. 
          THE WAY WE ARE DOING IT THIS YEAR IS, WE'RE GOING TO SET THE RATE AND THEN WE COME BACK AND HAVE A BUDGET. 
          THEN WE GOTTA KEEP MOVING THE CHAIRS AROUND. WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO DO IS ASK US TO LET THE VOTERS DECIDE. DO THEY WANT US TO MAKE THE INVESTMENT IN PAY RAISES FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT? DO THEY WANT US TO FOLLOW OUR LEGAL RESPONSIBILITY OF HAVING TO PROVIDE INDIGENT DEFENSE? DO THEY WANT US TO PROVIDE PAY EQUITY THAT WE SAY WE ARE FOR, EVEN EARMARKED MONEY, BUT WE HAVE TO PAY FOR IT. STOP THE ONE- TIME SMOKE AND MIRRORS THAT WON'T BE AROUND FOREVER? DO THEY WANT US TO CUT SERVICES, SOME OF WHICH ARE ESSENTIAL IN A COUNTY WHERE ONE IN SIX PEOPLE LIVE IN POVERTY? IT'S NEVER EASY. 
          IT WASN'T EASY WHEN I DID IT THE LAST CYCLE. I KNEW TWO OF US HAD OUR NAMES COMING UP THAT CYCLE. PART OF THE REASON WHY I DID IT WAS I DIDN'T KNOW WE WOULD HAVE TO MAKE A DECISION BECAUSE OF FACTORS BEYOND OUR CONTROL. I GET THAT. 
          ON PAY EQUITY IF YOU CALL IT THAT FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT. 
          BUT I JUST FIGURED, IT'S GOING TO BE TOUGHER TO DO IT. 
          IT WILL GET TOUGHER EVERY TIME. I SENT AROUND A MOTION. 
          I WANT TO TELL YOU, WE CAN'T PUT OURSELVES IN A POSITION WHERE WE LET OUR FRIENDS -- WE LET THE GOVERNOR JUST DROWN LOCAL GOVERNMENT ALL WHILE WE LET THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION DO IT. 
          WE HAVE NO IDEA HOW MANY MORE FEDERAL GRANTS WE'RE GOING TO LOSE. 
          I'M GLAD YOU ARE GOING TO PUT THE MONEY BACK INTO THE PIC. 
          BASED ON WHAT WE HAVE SEEN IN CERTAIN PARTS OF THE COUNTRY, IF YOU GET CERTAIN PEOPLE ON THE FEDERAL LEVEL ANGRY RIGHT NOW, NO MATTER WHAT HAPPENS, YOU GET ANOTHER HARVEY AND GOOD LUCK. 
          IT'S NEVER EASY. IT IS OUR RESPONSIBILITY. 
          THE MOTION I WILL MAKE IS MOVE TO SET A PUBLIC HEARING AUGUST 18TH. AT 10:00 A.M. TO CONSIDER FOR HARRIS COUNTY GENERAL FUND THE PROPOSED TAX RATE OF 0. 40837% PER $100 EVALUATION FOR THE CURRENT YEAR. 
          A RATE OF 0. 02801 HIGHER PER $100 VALUATION THAN THE VOTER APPROVAL RATE FOR HARRIS COUNTY FOR THE PURPOSE OF MAINTAINING CRITICAL COUNTY SERVICES AND TOTO THE OFFICE OF MANAGEMENT AND BUDGET. THE TAX ASSESSOR AND OTHER 
          [03:25:03]
RELEVANT DEPARTMENTS TO EXECUTE AND PUBLIC ALL RELATED NOTICES REQUIRED BY APPLICABLE LAW. 
          I WANT TO STRESS THIS AS I MAKE A MOTION. I APPRECIATE THE MEMBERS OF THE COURT WHO DECIDED WE TAKE THAT ONE- TIME ARPA MONEY THANKS TO THE PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATION, THE BIDEN/HARRIS ADMINISTRATION. WE DIDN'T GO DO WHAT MANY OF OUR OTHER PARTNERS AROUND THE COUNTRY AND REGION DID. WE DIDN'T JUST GO FILL GAPS IN OUR BUDGET. WE DID IT IN SOME AREAS. 
          THE BULK OF THAT $900 MILLION WE DID INNOVATIVE THINGS. 
          A LOT ARE COMING TO AN END. I GET THAT. 
          AT THE LEAST, WE OUGHT TO BE WILLING TO SAY, IF WE ARE COMMITTED TO RAISES FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT, PAY EQUITY FOR OUR EMPLOYEES AT THE BOTTOM, IF WE ARE COMMITTED TO FULFILLING OUR RESPONSIBILITY ON INDIGENT DEFENSE, WHICH WE HAVE NO CONTROL OVER, IF WE ARE COMMITTED TO STOPPING THE SMOKE AND MIRRORS WITH THE ONE- TIME THINGS, IT PATCHES UP, GET US THROUGH A CYCLE AND THEN WE WE SIT BACK AND SAY, WELL, IF WE HAVE TWO FEDERAL DISASTERS, WE CAN GET BY ONE MORE TIME. THREE, FEDERALLY DISASTERS, WE CAN GET BY IT AGAIN. I DON'T WANT TO CUT THESE SERVICES. THIS COUNTY HISTORICALLY UNDERINVESTED FOR DECADES. I WANT TO CLOSE WITH THIS. 
          THE RATE WILL STILL BE LOWER THAN IT WAS WHEN I GOT HERE IN 2017. 
          PART OF WHY WE ARE WHERE WE ARE IS BECAUSE OF ONE WORKOUT IN PARTICULAR. IT PUT US IN A TIZZY, IN A HOLE WE'RE TRYING TO GET OUT OF. THAT'S MY MOTION. 
          >> I MAKE THE SECOND. 
          >> COULD I PLEASE ASK DIRECTOR MILLS -- I WAS GOING TO ASK QUESTIONS ABOUT THE JAIL OUTSOURCING AS WELL AS THE INDIGENT DEFENSE. 
          COULD YOU PLEASE PROVIDE AN UPDATE ON WHEN WE CAN LIKELY END JAIL OUTSOURCING AND WHAT THE PROGRESS HAS BEEN MADE IN TERMS OF MOVING TRIALS ALONG? ON THE OTHER HAND, THE INDIGENT DEFENSE. 
          I KNOW OUR COMMISSION HAS BEEN TALKING ABOUT QUARTERLY BILLING AND THE AUDITS OF THE VOUCHERS. COULD YOU PLEASE UPDATE US ON THOSE TWO FACTORS SINCE THEY 
          WILL TWO OF THE KEY DRIVERS. >> SURE. 
          THANK YOU. WE ARE LIKELY TO BE ABLE TO END ONE OF THE CONTRACTS, I BELIEVE, EARLY IN THE FISCAL YEAR. THAT'S THE MISSISSIPPI CONTRACT ABOUT 300 INMATES. WE ARE WORKING WITH THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE ON A PLAN TO DRAW BACK THE OTHER CONTRACTS. 
          IF THINGS CONTINUE LIKE THEY ARE THIS MORNING, WE BROKE 8,600. OUR POPULATION WAS 8,598. 
          THAT'S OVER A 1,300 PERSON DEKREEZ FROM OUR HIGH THIS YEAR. IT HAS BEEN A GRIND. IT WASN'T A YO- YO AND COME BACK UP. IT HAS BEEN A STEADY GRIND FOR SIX MONTHS WHERE ALL OF THE STAKEHOLDERS IN THE JUSTICE SYSTEM, D.A. , COURTS, WE HAVE HAD MORE TRIALS. 
          ONE OF THE INDICATORS WE LOOK AT ON TRIALS IS -- TO INDICATE THAT WE ARE HEALTHFULLY MOVING THE POPULATION DOWN IS THE LIST FOR TDC AND STATE JAIL HAS BEEN AT TIMES 900, WHICH IS SHOCKING. IT MEANS THAT THERE'S A LOT OF TRIALS AND FOLKS ARE COMING TO THE END OF THEIR CASE AND BEING ADJUDICATED AND PUBLIC SAFETY. 
          WE HOPE TO CLOSE THE FIRST CONTRACT IN NOVEMBER. 
          THEN WE WILL WORK TO BRING PEOPLE BACK OR CONTINUE WITH REDUCTIONS IN THE JAIL POPULATION TO REDUCE THE OTHERS. 
          WE HOPE TO MOSTLY ELIMINATE OUTSOURCING IN THE NEXT YEAR. 
          >> CAN YOU SPEAK TO THE INDIGENT DEFENSE PROGRESS THAT HAS BEEN AND WILL BE MADE? 
          >> WE CONTINUE TO MEET. IN JUNE WHEN I UPDATED, I EXPECT EXPENSES TO BE SIMILAR IN '26 AND MAYBE INTO '27 THAT WE SAW IN '25 BECAUSE OF THE NUMBER AND TRIALS AND CASES WE ARE MOVING. THOSE CASES ARE COMING TO AN END. BUT WE HAVE -- WE ARE LOOKING AT WAYS TO AUTOMATE VOUCHER SUBMISSION. WE ARE LOOKING AT WAYS TO DO QUARTERLY BILLING ONCE THAT AUTOMATION OCCURS. 
          WE SHOULD BE AGE TO DO QUARTERLY BILLING, WHICH WILL HELP US. IT'S NOT GOING TO HELP THE OVERALL COST, BUT IT WILL HELP US BUDGET BETTER. 
          WE ARE LOOKING AT WAYS TO UNDERSTAND WHAT OUR COST IS ON CASES BY TYPE. 
          [03:30:01]
WHAT IS THE AVERAGE COST FOR A FIRST DEGREE FELONY OR A FIRST DEGREE AG ASSAULT? WHEN WE UNDERSTAND THOSE COSTS IN THIS JURISDICTION, WE CAN COMPARE TO OTHER JURISDICTIONS AND SEE WHAT'S REASONABLE AND UNDERSTAND WHERE WE MIGHT FLAG CASES FOR ADDITIONAL REVIEW AND AUDIT. 
          >> THANK YOU, DIRECTOR. MY QUESTION -- ONE LAST THING. 
          THE QUESTION IS FOR THE COUNTY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE. 
          TWO QUICK THINGS. COULD YOU PLEASE SHARE WITH US WHAT RATE EXACTLY WOULD TRIGGER A TAX RATE ELECTION? IS IT NECESSARY FOR THE COURT TO VOTE ON A PROPOSED RATE TODAY? 
          >> IT WOULD BE . 38036 WITH A RATE OF . 3360 WHICH WOULD GENERATE $2. 77 BILLION. BECAUSE OF THE TIMELINE AND COMMISSIONER ELLIS, TO YOUR POINT, WE HAVE LEARNED A LOT FROM THIS YEAR ON THE TERMS OF THE CALENDAR. MOVING FORWARD, YOU HAVE MY COMMITMENT, WE WILL BRING AN ITEM IN THE LATER OF WHATEVER COURT IN JULY TO ASK COMMISSIONERS COURT IF THERE ARE SPECIFIC THINGS WE WANT TO GO TO THE VOTERS FOR. 
          THE ISSUE IS WE DON'T GET THE TAX ROLLS UNTIL JULY 25TH. 
          THEN WE ARE UNFORTUNATELY FORCED TO CALL ONE NOTICE FORFOR THE VOTER APPROVED RATE AND ALSO CALL FOR AN ELECTION PRIOR TO AUGUST 18. IT DOESN'T GIVE US A LOT OF TIME. THIS IS PURPOSEFUL IN TERMS OF HOW THE LAW WAS LATE OUT TO MAKE IT VERY DIFFICULT FOR LOCAL 
          JURISDICTIONS. >> WE SHOULD PLAN ON EMERGENCY MEETINGS AFTER JULY 25TH. 
          >> I THINK WHAT WE CAN DO AND WHAT WE HAVE DONE IN THE PAST AND WHAT WE COULD DO IS IF WE HAVE A REVENUE NUMBER THAT WE ARE TRYING TO GET TO, WE CAN HAVE ACTION FOR THAT IN JULY. BY THE TIME -- WHEN THE TAX ASSESSOR COLLECTOR SIGNS OFF ON THE RATES, WE CAN NOTICE THEM AND HAVE THEM READY FOR WHATEVER THE EARLY AUGUST MEETING IS. WE WILL CHANGE OUR PROCESS SO THAT WE WILL HAVE -- COURT WILL HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO OPINE ON WHETHER THEY WANT TO GO TO THE VOTERS OR NOT. WE HEARD YOU LOUD AND CLEAR. WE WILL CHANGE OUR PROCESS. 
          THE ISSUE BECOMES IF -- THERE DOESN'T NEED TO BE A FORMAL VOTE. 
          IF THERE'S DIRECTION. FIVE OR THREE NODS OF THE HEAD TO POST A RATE, THEN IF WE DON'T HAVE ONE TODAY, THEN THE NEXT -- AT THE NEXT POINT THAT WE CAN NOTICE AND HAVE A SPECIAL MEETING, WE WOULD RUN OUT OF TIME. 
          I THINK I SAID THAT UNCLEARLY. IF WE DON'T AGREE ON A RATE TODAY, THEN WE RUN OUT OF TIME TO CALL THE SPECIAL ELECTION, BECAUSE OF ALL OF THE NOTICE REQUIREMENTS REQUIRED BY STATE LAW. 
          BOTH FOR SETTING RATE AND ALSO CALLING FOR AN ELECTION. 
          THE WAY THAT MECHANICS WOULD WORK IS, COURT WOULD GIVE DIRECTION EITHER THROUGH A VOTE OR THROUGH DIRECTION TO NOTICE A RATE. THEN WE WOULD NEED TO CALL A SPECIAL MEETING ON THE 18TH IN ORDER÷÷ORDER  HAVE THE PUBLIC HEARINGS RELATED TO THE ADOPTION OF THE RATE ABOVE THE VOTER APPROVED RATE. CALLING FOR THE ELECTION. 
          >> THANK YOU. COMMISSIONER GARCIA, HE WILL ELLIS AND RAMSEY. 
          >> THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR YOUR WORK ON THIS. 
          THE ONE THING I WILL ASK TO COMMISSIONER RAMSEY'S POINT EARLIER ABOUT SEPARATING THE DUTIES -- OR SEPARATING OUT THE BUDGET OFFICE FROM THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR'S OFFICE, I WOULD BE INCLINED TO SUPPORT THAT. 
          HOWEVER, I DO WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT IF THERE'S GOING TO BE SOME SORT OF ADMINISTRATION OFFICE THAT THERE'S -- THAT THERE'S CONVERSATIONS WITH OUR DIRECTORS AS THE BUDGET IS BEING DEVELOPED. I HEARD SOME DIRECTORS TELL ME, GLAD WITH THE RECOMMENDATION FROM THE BUDGET OFFICE. NOT THE ONE I WAS THINKING I WAS GOING TO MAKE. I HEARD FROM OTHERS SAYING, I GAVE MY 10%. NOW THERE'S SOMETHING -- A DIFFERENT NUMBER THAT BUDGET OFFICE IS PROPOSING. 
          THAT KIND OF CONVERSATION NEEDS TO BE DIFFERENT. I JUST ASK THAT AS WE CONTINUE TO MOVE FORWARD THAT YOU WORK ON THOSE CONVERSATIONS. 
          >> YES, SIR. I PERSONALLY LEARNED A LOT IN THIS CYCLE. THE NUMBER WAS SO BIG COMPARED TO PRIOR CYCLES. I AGREE WITH YOU, THAT WAS A LESSON LEARNED. WE WILL TRY TO BE MORE UP FRONT WITH DEPARTMENT HEADS, ESPECIALLY THE ISSUE SOMETIMES HAPPENS WHERE THE 10% THEY PUT FORWARD, INCLUDES THINGS NEAR AND DEAR TO COMMISSIONERS COURT HEART. 
          WE HAVE TO WORK WITH THEM TO SAY, THAT'S NOT NECESSARILY A 
          [03:35:01]
GOOD FAITH EFFORT. HERE ARE SOME OTHER WAYS YOU CAN SAVE MONEY. IT'S A GIVE OR TAKE. 
          I DID LEARN A LOT AND I APPRECIATE THE FEEDBACK. WE WILL HAVE MORE DISCUSSIONS WITH THE DEPARTMENT HEADS AND ELECTED OFFICIALS MOVING FORWARD. 
          >> GOOD DEAL. I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO HAVING THAT CONVERSATION REGARDING SMOOTHING OUT THE MOBILITY FUND. 
          >> COMMISSIONER ELLIS AND COMMISSIONER RAMSEY. 
          >> COLLEAGUES, A BIG PART OF ONE OF THE HOLES THAT WE'RE TRYING TO FILL WILL BANK ON THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S OFFICE. 
          I SPOKE TO HIM EARLIER. I KNOW HE THOUGHT HE WAS GOING TO COME. BUT HE CAN'T COME. 
          CHANDLER RAIN IS HERE. I WOULD LIKE THEM TO GIVE US SOME SENSE OF THE IMPACT OF THE BUDGET CUTS ON HIS OFFICE AND IF IT WILL HAVE ANY IMPACT ON OUR ABILITY TO STOP OUTSOURCING. 
          >> WELCOME. 
          GO AHEAD. >> THANK YOU, JUDGE. 
          I'M THE FIRST SSISTANT DISTRICT ATTORNEY, A ROLE THAT I HAVE PLAYED SINCE JANUARY. I HAVE BEEN AT THE D.A. 'S OFFICE MY ENTIRE CAREER. COMMISSIONER ELLIS, I'M READY TO FIELD QUESTIONS YOU MAY HAVE ABOUT -- 
          >> WHAT HAVE YOU BEEN TOLD YOU WILL HAVE TO DO -- WE KNOW THE BUDGET WILL COME UP NEXT WEEK. 
          ASSUMING WE LEAVE THE RATE WHERE IT IS AND WE DON'T HAVE THE MONEY, WHAT HAVE YOU BEEN TOLD YOU WILL HAVE TO CUT? 
          >> THERE ARE BEEN A NUMBER OF THINGS THAT HAVE BEEN TOLD TO US. 
          IT'S SEVERAL MILLION DOLLARS. WHEN WE LOOK AT THE IMPACT THAT MAY HAVE ON OUR OPERATIONS AT THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S OFFICE, ONE THING THAT WE KEEP THINKING ABOUT IS LABOR, LABOR, LABOR. 
          AS THE COURT IS WELL AWARE, WE SPEND ALMOST ALL OF OUR MONEY ON LABOR. IT'S PEOPLE. 
          IT'S PROSECUTORS. IT'S INVESTIGATORS. 
          WE HAVE 100 SWORN PEACE OFFICERS WHO WORK AT THE D.A. 'S OFFICE, PARALEGALS AND ADMINISTRATIVE SUPPORT STAFF. 
          WHEN THIS COURT GAVE US A SUPPLEMENTAL BUDGET THIS PAST APRIL, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE BEGAN DOING WAS RECRUITING AND LOOKING AT INDIVIDUALS THAT WE COULD BRING INTO SPECIFIC PLACES IN THE OFFICE. OUR MENTAL HEALTH AND DIVERSIONS BUREAU. OUR DOMESTIC VIOLENCE BUREAU. THEN SHIFTING THE MODEL OF OUR INTAKE BUREAU AT THE D.A. 'S OFFICE. THE PROPOSED CUTS WOULD IMPACT OUR ABILITY TO DO AND MAINTAIN SOME OF THE SERVICES THAT I THINK WE PROVIDED TO THE COMMUNITY OVER THE LAST EIGHT MONTHS. 
          I WILL START WITH OUR MENTAL HEALTH AND DIVERSION BUREAU. THIS COURT AFFORDED US THE OPPORTUNITY TO GO OUT AND RECRUIT SOME INDIVIDUALS. 
          WE DID. WE RECRUITED INDIVIDUALS FROM AROUND THE STATE AND BROUGHT THEM INTO THE MENTAL HEALTH BUREAU. 
          WE STILL GOT SPOTS THAT ARE OPEN THAT WE WANT TO STAFF ONCE WE GET A NEW CLASS OF INDIVIDUALS, OF YOUNG PROSECUTORS WHO ARE COMING INTO THE OFFICE IN THE MIDDLE OF THIS MONTH. 
          WITH THE PROPOSED CUTS, WE WOULD NOT STAFF THOSE POSITIONS. 
          THERE ARE THINGS WE WANT TO DO SPECIFICALLY WITH REGARD TO MENTAL HEALTH DIVERSION THAT I DON'T THINK WE WILL BE ABLE TO DO. 
          OUR TEAM HAS BEEN WORKING WITH THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE TO BUILD A NEW 24/7 MENTAL HEALTH DIVERSION DESK AT THE JAIL. 
          WE WOULD BE STAFFING THAT WITH PROSECUTORS. 
          INDIVIDUALS WHO WOULD BE PAID THE SAME WAY THAT WE PAY OUR PROSECUTORS WHO WORK AT INTAKE. 
          THE SAME MODEL. IT'S OVERTIME. 
          WE WOULDN'T BE ABLE TO STAFF THAT WITH THESE CUTS. 
          WE WOULDN'T BE ABLE TO FILL OUT THAT BUREAU. 
          I THINK THERE ARE CRITICAL SERVICES THAT WE PROVIDE TO MEMBERS OF OUR COMMUNITY WHO ARE GOING THROUGH MENTAL HEALTH CRISES IN AN ATTEMPT TO KEEP THEM OUT OF THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM WHEN THEY GET INTRODUCED TO IT. 
          I THINK A LOT OF THE SERVICES WOULD BE SLOWED DOWN IF NOT STOPPED. 
          THAT'S HOW WE HAVE GONE FROM 9,900 INDIVIDUALS IN THE JAIL IN FEBRUARY IN THE PEAK WE SAW BEGINNING IN '24 -- IN DECEMBER OF '24 TO, AS DIRECTOR MILLS WAS SAYING, WE ARE BELOW 8,600. IT'S SOMETHING WE HAVE BEEN WORKING TIRELESSLY TOWARDS OVER THE LAST EIGHT MONTHS IS HELPING OUT NOT JUST THE MEN AND WOMEN AT THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE WHO STAFF THE JAIL, BUT HELPING MEMBERS OF OUR COMMUNITY WHO HAVE BEEN GOING TO THE JAIL AND STAYING THERE. 
          GETTING BELOW 8,600 TODAY, 8,598, IS SOMETHING WE ARE PROUD OF. IT'S NOT ENOUGH. 
          WE WANT TO KEEP WORKING TOWARDS GETTING THAT NUMBER LOWER AND LOWER AND LOWER. 
          OF COURSE, OUR MAIN PRIORITY IS PUBLIC SAFETY. 
          >> THAT'S WHAT KEEPS US FROM OUTSOURCING? 
          >> THAT'S EXACTLY RIGHT. MAKING SURE THAT WE CAN GET THAT NUMBER LOWER AND LOWER SO THAT THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE CAN SAFELY AND ADEQUATELY STAFF THE JAIL. 
          WE HAVE BEEN WORKING TOWARDS THAT TIRELESSLY. 
          DIRECTOR MILLS I ARE IN CONSTANT COMMUNICATION. 
          IT'S THE FOLK U.S. S IN COURTS AND IN THE JAIL MAKING SURE WE CAN DIVERT AND DEFLECT INDIVIDUALS. THAT'S HOW WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO BE SUCCESSFUL. I WORRY THAT CUTS MAY IMPACT OUR ABILITY TO DO THAT. 
          [03:40:03]
          >> THANK YOU FOR WHAT YOU ARE 
          DOING. >> OF COURSE. 
          THANK YOU. 
          >> IF THE COUNTY ENGINEERS OFFICE IS ON THE LINE, I WANT SOME IMPACT. THANK YOU. 
          >> THANK YOU. 
          >> I WANT SOME IMPACT ON WHAT THE CUTS -- I'M SORRY I HAVE DO IT THIS WAY MANY IT'S ABOUT THE MONEY. 
          I WANT TO GET SOME SENSE -- WHAT IMPACT WILL THE CUTS THAT YOU ARE LOOKING AT HAVE TO MAKE ON YOUR ABILITY TO DELIVER? 
          >> GOOD AFTERNOON. COMMISSIONER, THE MAJORITY OF OUR IMPACT WOULD BE ON OUR RENOVATION PROJECT THAT WE HAD A LOT OF RENOVATION PROJECT SCHEDULED FOR PROJECTS LIKE BATHROOM RENOVATION. 
          WE HAD A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF CUT ALIGNED WITH THAT. 
          I HAVE HAD CONVERSATION WITH DIRECTOR RAMOS SINCE MY CONVERSATION WITH SOME OF YOU THAT WE ARE TRYING TO FIND A WAY TO FUND THOSE. CAN I SPEAK MORE IN TERMS OF CAPITAL FUNDING? AT THE SAME TIME, COMMISSIONER, DR. RAMOS AND I SPOKE YESTERDAY. 
          SOME OF THE IMPACT THAT WE THOUGHT WE WOULD HAVE SIGNIFICANTLY IS BEING REDUCED. 
          IN TERMS OF THE PROPOSED CUT, 10%, WE HAVE IMPACT RELATED TO THE JANITORIAL SERVICE WE PROVIDE. 
          RIGHT NOW WE PROVIDE JANITORIAL SERVICE EVERY OTHER DAY ON THE COUNTY FACILITIES. 
          WITH THE PROPOSED CUT, WE WILL PROVIDE EVERY OTHER DAY, NOT EVERY DAY. 
          >> THANK YOU. I'M GOING TO CLOSE WITH THIS. 
          THE LAST GO AROUND WE TRIED TO MAKE A DECISION WHETHER WE WOULD HAVE A HIGHER RATE AND GO TO THE VOTERS FOR FLOOD CONTROL. COMMISSIONER RAMSEY, YOU USED LANGUAGE I GAVE YOU. I THOUGHT IT WAS PRETTY GOOD. SHE HEARD ME SAY, IT'S NOT US. 
          WE ARE LETTING THE VOTERS DECIDE. 
          IF YOU WANT TO REPAIR, IF YOU WANT TO MAINTAIN. 
          I THOUGHT IT WAS PRETTY GOOD. ONLY BECAUSE I THOUGHT I NEVER WOULD HAVE HEARD IT. YOU SAID, I'M GOING TO HAVE TO AGREE. I JUST WANT TO TELL YOU, AT THE END OF THE DAY, IT IS NEVER PLEASANT. 
          WHO WOULD HAVE THOUGHT THE STATE OF TEXAS WOULD HAVE TIED THE HANDS OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT LIKE THAT? BUT THEY HAVE. 
          OBVIOUSLY, I COULD HAVE BROUGHT IN A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO WILL TALK ABOUT THE IMPACT ON THEM. DEPARTMENT HEADS WALK A THIN -- THEY WALK A TIGHTROPE. 
          I GET IT. THEY DON'T WANT TO ANGER ANYBODY. THERE WILL BE A PRICE TO PAY IN TERMS OF QUALITY OF SERVICES TO THE PEOPLE THAT DEPEND ON US. 
          IF WE DON'T GIVE THEM A SHOT AT DECIDING. 
          I WOULD FEEL BETTER ABOUT IT IF IT WENT TO THEM. 
          EVEN IF THE FIVE OF US DIDN'T WANT TO SAY A WORD ABOUT IT. IT'S MORE LIKELY TO PASS IF WE SAY WHAT WE THINK IT WILL DO. IT'S KIND OF UNORTHODOX DO IT THIS WAY. THE LAW WAS DESIGNED TO PUT US IN AN AWKWARD POSITION. I DON'T THINK I NEED TO SAY WE'RE GETTING THERE. WE ARE THERE. 
          I WILL REST MY CASE WITH THAT AND LET THE CHIPS FALL WHERE THEY MAY. 
          THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU. 
          COMMISSIONER RAMSEY, GARCIA. 
          >> A COUPLE OF POINTS. I DIDN'T SEE ON THE AGENDA WE WERE SETTING A TAX RATE TODAY. WE COULD DO THAT? 
          >> THE TRANSMITTAL OF THE TAX RATE ITEM ALLOWS FOR THIS DISCUSSION. AGAIN, WE DON'T NEED A FORMAL VOTE TO DO THIS. 
          >> WE DON'T NEED A FORMAL VOTE TO POST. 
          YOU WOULD ADOPT THEM LATER. THE ADOPTION WOULD BE ON A LATER COURT. BECAUSE OF THE TIMING -- 
          >> IF YOU WANT THE OPTION. 
          >> IF YOU WANT THE OPTION, WE WOULD NEED TO POST THE RATES -- 
          >> AND SCHEDULE A SPECIAL MEETING ON THE 18TH. 
          >> IT IS BASED ON THE AMOUNT OF MONEY WE TOOK LAST YEAR, WHEN WE INCREASED THE TAX RATE AND THE TOTAL REVENUE WAS INCREASED OF ROUGHLY 15%, NOT 8%. 
          THE NUMBERS OF TAX REVENUE -- WE TALK ABOUT RATE A LOT. 
          PEOPLE NEED TO PAY ATTENTION TO REVENUE. 
          THE ACTUAL WHAT WE COLLECT. THAT'S ONE POINT. 
          THIS WOULD MAKE THE ASSUMPTION THAT ALL OUR SPENDING AT THIS POINT IS NECESSARY AND STATUTORY. WE ALL KNOW IT ISN'T. 
          MY ASSESSMENT OF $2. 7 BILLION BUDGET IS ROUGHLY $500 MILLION IS DISCRETIONARY, WHICH MEANS WE CAN CONTINUE IT OR NOT. IT'S A CHOICE. IT'S NOT STATUTORY. WHEN I LOOK AT THE REVENUE THAT 
          [03:45:08]
WE WERE GENERATING IN 2018, WHICH I THINK WAS ROUGHLY IN THE GENERAL FUND $1. 9 BILLION, AND LOOK AT THE 2025 REVENUE PROJECTION IS $2. 7 BILLION, THAT'S A 40% INCREASE SINCE 2019 OF THE REVENUE. I UNDERSTAND EVERYBODY LIKES TO TALK ABOUT RATE. 
          YOU NEED TO LOOK AT THE REVENUE IN TERMS OF ARE WE INCREASING TAX REVENUE? THAT'S WHAT THE PEOPLE THAT WRITE THE CHECKS AT HOME PAY ATTENTION TO. 
          I DID SUPPORT THE TAX INCREASE FOR FLOOD CONTROL BECAUSE IT WAS VERY CLEAR, VERY PRESCRIBED, VERY SPECIFIC. 
          WE KNEW WHAT THAT WAS GOING TO BE SPENT ON. 
          I THINK THE VOTERS UNDERSTOOD THAT AND AGREED WITH IT. 
          I REALLY DIDN'T COME TO COURT TODAY TO DO A $248 MILLION ADDITIONAL REVENUE INCREASE. 
          I THINK THERE'S STILL MUCH WORK TO DO ON THE BUDGET. 
          IT SOUNDS LIKE WE HAVE WORKED OURSELVES INTO A GOTTA DO IT TODAY OR WE'RE GOING TO BE IN TROUBLE. 
          >> AGAIN, COMMISSIONER, I THINK ALL WE HAVE TO DO TODAY IS TO KEEP THE OPTION OPEN FOR EITHER SET A HEARING. YOU WOULD SET A HEARING AND POSTING RATES. 
          >> IT'S A HEARING. IT'S A PUBLIC HEARING BECAUSE WE'RE GOING HIGHER THAN THE VOTER APPROVED 
          RATE. >> TO ADOPT A TAX RATE, WE HAVE TO NOTICE SEVEN DAYS BEFORE. 
          ALSO POST IN CHRONICLE. IF WE WERE TO -- OUR PLAN UNDER THE CURRENT CALENDAR WOULD BE TO AGREE TO RATES ON THE 8 TH AND THEN ADOPT ON THE 
          18TH. >> OF SEPTEMBER? 
          >> OF SEPTEMBER. 
          >> IT'S NOT BECAUSE IT'S GREATER THAN THE VOTER APPROVE RATE? 
          >> THE TIME CRUNCH IS DUE TO GOING ABOVE THE VOTER APPROVE RATE BECAUSE YOU -- 
          >> YOU HAVE TO GO TO ELECTION? 
          >> YOU HAVE TO SET AN ELECTION WHICH HAS TO HAPPEN BY THE 
          18TH. >> BECAUSE WE TOOK WHAT WE DID LAST YEAR, 15%, AND THAT WAS A SIGNIFICANT SLUG OF MONEY WE TOOK LAST YEAR, THE INTERESTING THING IS, THE NO NEW REVENUE RATE THIS YEAR IS HIGHER THAN THE VOTER APPROVED RATE. 
          >> THAT'S CORRECT. THAT'S DUE TO -- WHEN YOU SET -- WHEN YOU DEFAULT TO THE NO NEW REVENUE RATE, THE TOTAL DOLLAR AMOUNT IS CALCULATED TOGETHER. 
          I'M GOING TO MAKE UP NUMBERS HERE. LET'S SAY IF A COUNTY SETS A TAX RATE FOR $1 BILLION IN REVENUE, 800 IN OPERATING, 200 IN DEBT SERVICE, AND THE NEXT YEAR DEBT SERVICE GOES DOWN TO 150, WE CAN GO UP BY THAT 50 MILLION ON THE OPERATING. THE REVERSE IS TRUE. 
          THAT'S WHY THE NNR SCENARIO HAS BEEN HORRIFIC IN PRIOR YEARS, BECAUSE DEBT SERVICE WAS GOING UP, WHICH MEANT IT NOT ONLY COULD YOU NOT GET MORE REVENUE, YOUR DEBT SERVICE WAS EATING INTO YOUR O & M DOLLARS. 
          >> THANK YOU. 
          >> OKAY. COMMISSIONER BRIONIS. 
          >> DANIEL, THE PRE- BUDGET BOOK, YOU SAID THAT WOULD BE AVAILABLE BEGINNING TOMORROW, CORRECT? 
          >> THE PROPOSED BUDGET BOOK. 
          >> HOW MANY PUBLIC TOWN HALLS WITH REGARD TO THE BUDGET? I KNOW WE'RE EACH DOING ONE. 
          HOW MANY TOTAL? >> THERE ARE FIVE. 
          TWO IN PRECINCT 4, TWO IN 2, ONE IN PRECINCT 3. 
          I BELIEVE THAT -- TWO IN PRECINCT . 
          THERE'S NOTHING THAT HAS NOT BEEN SHARED OVER THE LAST TWO MONTHS. 
          >> WE'RE IN THE THICK OF WORKING ON IT. 
          I FEEL BASED ON THE MEETINGS MY TEAM AND I HAVE HAD WITH YOU AND YOUR TEAM IS WE'RE MAKING SUBSTANTIAL PROGRESS ON IDENTIFYING EFFICIENCIES AND ECONOMIES OF SCALE PLUS -- I'M WAITING FOR THE BUDGET BOOK AND THE PUBLIC HEARINGS OF EACH OF THE DEPARTMENTS. TO ME, THIS IS A BIT PREMATURE FOR MY TASTE. I ACTUALLY FEEL LIKE WE'RE MAKING SUBSTANTIAL PROGRESS. 
          I'M NOT READY TO MOVE FORWARD ON THIS TODAY. 
          I WANT TO DELVE FURTHER INTO THE BUDGET BOOK AND HAVE THOSE HEARINGS. I WANT -- I HAVE GOTTEN THE FEED BACK FROM MY PUBLIC TOWN HALLS IN MY PRECINCT. 
          I WOULD LIKE TO SEE THE DATA FROM OTHERS AS WELL. 
          I WANTED TO SEE WHERE WE STOOD ON THAT. 
          [03:50:03]
TO LEVEL SET, I HAVE THE DATES. THE BUDGET HEARINGS FOR ALL THE DEPARTMENTS BEGIN AND END -- 
          >> IT'S THE FIRST WEEK OF SEPTEMBER, TUESDAY THROUGH FRIDAY. THEN BUDGET AMENDMENT DAY IS SEPTEMBER 8TH. 
          BUDGET ADOPTION IS SEPTEMBER 18TH. 
          REALLY QUICKLY, I THINK THE QUESTION MIGHT BE, WHY ARE YOU NOT RECOMMEND GS WE HAVE A DEFICIT, WHY AREN'T YOU GOING TO THE VOTERS? I FELT THE FLOOD CONTROL DISTRICT WAS A DIFFERENT SITUATION. WE ARE BUILDING $5 BILLION WORTH OF INFRASTRUCTURE. WE'RE GOING TO WATCH IT DETERIORATE FROM DAY ONE. I WON'T BE GOOD IF MY ONLY OPTION WAS TO GO TO THE VOTERS AND ASK YOU TO PUT YOUR REPUTATIONS ON LINE. 
          WE WORK WITHIN THE BOUNDARIES OF WHAT WE HAVE. 
          WE WILL PRODUCE AND PRESENT A BALANCED BUDGET. 
          WE HAVE IDENTIFIED A LOT OF EFFICIENCIES. 
          ALSO, THERE'S A DECENT AMOUNT OF PAIN IN THE BUDGET. THERE WAS NO WAY TO GET TO THAT LEVEL OF SAVINGS OPTIONS WITHOUT IMPACTING SERVICES. I DON'T WANT TO MAKE IT SOUND LIKE -- 
          >> THERE WILL BE TOUGH DECISIONS. 
          I LIKE TO LEVEL SET. SO EVERYONE IS ON THE SAME PAGE. 
          THE 90% CLS, NONE OF THE OFFSETS ARE FINAL AT THIS POINT IN TIME. THE PROPOSED CUTS ARE AN INITIAL LIST THAT YOU HAVE SUBMITTED TO OUR OFFICES. THIS IS STILL AN ITERATION AS FAR AS -- 
          >> THAT'S CORRECT. BUDGET DOES NOT GET ADOPTED UNTIL SEPTEMBER 18TH. 
          >> THANK YOU. 
          >> COMMISSIONER ELLIS. 
          >> DANIEL, I KNOW I HAVE TOLD YOU -- I'VE BEEN CONSISTENT ABOUT THIS. 
          I WILL NOT VOTE FOR ANY BUDGET THAT MAKES ANY REDUCTIONS TO HEALTH CARE BENEFITS. THAT'S WHY A LOT OF PEOPLE COME TO THE COUNTY. YOU ARE SAYING THAT WON'T BE IN YOUR PROPOSAL? 
          >> WE HAVE OPTIONS TO BACKFILL IT IF AND WHEN COMMISSIONERS IN COURT REJECTS IT. 
          >> PUT MY COLLEAGUES ON NOTICE. I THINK I HEARD TWO SAY THEY WON'T DO IT. THAT'S WHY A LOT OF PEOPLE WORK AT THE COUNTY. IF ALL OPTIONS IS ON THE TABLE, YOU ARE -- WE NEED TO GO BACK AND RE- VISIT A LOT OF DECISIONS THAT WE MADE. WE SPENT A LOT OF MONEY OVER THIS LAST YEAR THAT WE KNEW WE WOULD NOT HAVE. 
          IT'S GOING TO GET VERY PAINFUL. ALSO I WANT MY COLLEAGUES TO KNOW, THIS IS THE SECOND TIME I PUT MYSELF OUT ON THE POINT. 
          YOU ARE GOING TO GET TO THE POINT WHERE YOU WILL WATCH RODNEY FLIP THE OTHER WAY. THAT'S THE MOTION ON THE TABLE. 
          >> THANK YOU. THERE'S A MOTION ON THE TABLE. THERE'S BEEN A SECOND. 
          THIS IS THE OPPORTUNITY TO FUND THE PROGRAMS THAT ARE GOING TO BE CUT BECAUSE OF THE DECISION BY THE COURT TO COMMIT TO UNFUNDED RAISES FOR POLICE OFFICERS. 
          THIS IS THE SECOND TIME WE HAVE THIS OPPORTUNITY THE. THE FIRST TIME WAS LAST YEAR. 
          SECOND TIME IS THIS YEAR. THERE'S GOING TO BE CUTS, BECAUSE THERE ARE $200 MILLION THAT WE NEED TO FIND SOMEWHERE. DIRECTOR RAMOS, DO YOU SEE US FINDING $200 MILLION WITHOUT 
          CUTTING DEPARTMENT SERVICES? >> NO. 
          THERE WILL BE CUTS. 
          >> THERE'S GOING TO BE CUTS. OF COURSE, WE RAN ON THIS. 
          WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR. 
          ANY OPPOSED? >> NO. 
          >> NO. >> OKAY. 
          >> NO. 
          >> COMMISSIONER GARCIA SAID AYE AND THEN NO. 
          I HAVE TO GO TO MY DOCTOR'S APPOINTMENT. 
          COMMISSIONER ELLIS, THANK YOU. CAN I ADD SOMETHING? I'VE PUT THIS -- I DON'T WANT YOU TO BE SURPRISED. 
          I WANT TO REMIND YOU THAT WE FOUR DEMOCRATS ON COMMISSIONERS IN COURT WERE ELECTED ON A PLATFORM TO SUPPORT SMARTER AND MORE COMPASSIONATE AND MENTAL HEALTH INSTEAD OF INCARCERATION, PAID FAMILY LEAVE AND SUPPORTING VETERANS AND DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AND MORE. SOME OF US HAVE DONE EVERYTHING TO APPEAL TO GOP VOTERS AT THE EXPENSE OF THE MOVEMENTS THAT ELECTED US. VOTING FOR UNFUNDED PAY RAISES FOR POLICE OFFICERS. 
          SOME HAVE BANKRUPTED THE COUNTY FORCING CUTS ON BASIC PROGRAMS ON WHICH WE WERE ELECTED. 
          WE DO NOT NEED TO FORCE CUTS TO BASIC SERVICES IN ORDER TO GIVE LAW ENFORCEMENT RAISES. WE HAVE TIME TODAY TO MAKE THOSE MOTIONS. 
          RIGHT NOW, YOU STILL HAVE TIME TO STAND UP FOR THE PEOPLE WHO ELECTED YOU. 
          EVERYBODY HAS RIDICULOUSLY MASSIVE WAR CHEST. 
          WE HAVE WENT OUT ON A LIMB. WHAT ARE WE WAITING FOR? WHY RUN AS DEMOCRATS IF THE SUM TOTAL SINCE 2023 IS A CUT OF PROGRESS -- 
          >> PORT OF ORDER. IS THIS APPROPRIATE CONVERSATION FOR ANY ITEM THAT WE ARE DISCUSSIONING? 
          [03:55:03]
          >> THAT'S MY STATEMENT. THOSE THAT WORK FOR THEM -- 
          >> IS THIS APPROPRIATE? 
          >> IT'S WORSE NOW THAN WHEN WE GET HERE. 
          >> IT SOUNDS LIKE A POLITICAL STATEMENT. 
          >> WHICH SIDE ARE WE ON? THAT'S ALL. 
          I'M GOING TO GO TO THE -- COMMISSIONER ELLIS, IF SOMEBODY CHANGES THEIR MIND, I WILL BE BACK. 
          MAYBE THEY NEED TO PLAY FOR THE OTHER SIDE. 
          THANK YOU. 
          >> THE NEXT ITEM I THINK IS ON PAGE 2, ITEM 6. 
          COMMISSIONER RAMSEY, YOU PULL THAT ONE. 
          >> JUST A QUICK COMMENT REQUEST FOR APPROVAL OF COMMERCIAL PAPER FUNDING PUBLIC HEALTH SERVICES MOBILE HEALTH DENTAL SERVICES, $600,000. 
          I NOTICE THAT HARRIS HEALTH ALSO DOES DENTAL SERVICES. IS THAT SOMETHING THEY COULD DO? 
          >> I KNOW DIRECTOR BARTON IS HERE. 
          SHE WILL ANSWER THAT ONE. 
          >> COMMISSIONER, HARRIS HEALTH DOES HAVE DENTAL CENTERS. 
          HOWEVER, WE HAVE SEEN TREMENDOUS DEMAND FOR OUR MOBILE DENTAL SERVICES. 
          WE HAVE SERVED 2,400 PEOPLE THIS FISCAL YEAR. 
          WE CAN DO THIS WITH OUR EXISTING TEAM. 
          THIS SAY ONE- TIME COST. I'M HAPPY TO LOOK AT COLLABORATION WITH HARRIS HEALTH AS PART OF THE ITEM PREVIOUSLY APPROVED. 
          WE WOULD LOVE TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THIS UNIT. 
          >> THANK YOU. IF YOU COULD LOOK IN CONTEXT OF WHAT WE DISCUSSED. THANK YOU. 
          >> IS THAT A MOTION? 
          >> SO MOVED. 
          >> I SECOND. MOTION BEEN MADE BY COMMISSIONER BRIONIS. SECONDED. 
          >> ITEM PASSES. NEXT, COMMISSIONER RAMSEY, ITEM 13. THAT'S ONE YOU PULLED. 
          FLOOD CONTROL DISTRICT METHODOLOGY. 
          >> AGAIN, JUST WANT TO BE SURE -- DIRECTOR RAMOS AND I HAD THIS CONVERSATION. WANT TO PUBLICLY BE SURE THAT FLOOD CONTROL HAS $100 MILLION MORE THIS YEAR FOR MAINTENANCE. THEY WEREN'T IN A POSITION LAST YEAR BECAUSE THEY DIDN'T HAVE $100 MILLION. JUST BE SURE THAT THOSE CHARGES MAKE SENSE. IT'S NOT AN OPPORTUNITY TO MOVE MONEY FROM ONE POT TO ANOTHER POT. 
          THAT IT IS TRULY 
          PROJECTIONS, DETAILS. >> UNDERSTOOD. 
          FOR THE OVERHEAD RATE, WE UTILIZE A THIRD- PARTY FIRM THAT SETS THE RATE. WE GO TO THE FEDERAL OVERHEAD RATE. 
          THE SAME METHODOLOGY THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT USES TO CALCULATE ELIGIBLE OVERHEAD RATE. 
          I CAN SHARE THAT REPORT WITH ALL OF THE COURT OFFICES. 
          THEY BREAK IT DOWN BY EACH INDIVIDUAL DEPARTMENT AND THE SUPPORTS THAT THEY RECEIVE FROM GENERAL FUND AD MIN DEPARTMENTS. 
          >> AS LONG AS IT'S NOT CORN 
          FERRY, I'M GOOD. >> IT'S NOT. 
          >> NO MOTION. 
          >> IF WE COULD MOVE IT. 
          >> SO MOVED. 
          >> AS PRESENTED. I WILL SECOND IT. 
          ALL THOSE IN FAVOR. 
          >> ITEM PASSES. COMMISSIONER RAMSEY, THE NEXT ONE IS YOURS. UPDATED PARKING FEES TO COUNTY LOTS, UPDATE UTILIZATION PLANS. THAT'S ITEM 14. 
          >> VERY QUICKLY, THIS WAS I THINK IN GENERAL IDENTIFIED BY BOSTON CONSULTING GROUP. I'M NOT BRINGING IT UP BECAUSE OF WHO BROUGHT IT UP. I THINK COUNTY ENGINEERS OFFICE -- I SEE THEM HERE. 
          I THINK THEY DID THE HEAVY LIFTING ON THE DETAILS. 
          I THINK THERE'S WAS GENERIC. IN TERMS OF GOING BACK THROUGH THE DETAILS. IT WAS A MODIFIED APPROACH. 
          JUST WANT TO BE SURE BEFORE WE VOTE, THIS IS NOT CHARGING COUNTY EMPLOYEES MORE MONEY. 
          >> SORRY, COMMISSIONER, THAT WAS ONE I GOT WRONG WHEN I BRIEFED YOU. 
          AFTER FURTHER CONVERSATIONS WITH THE COUNTY ENGINEER, THERE ARE CERTAIN LOTS WHERE WE HAVE EMPLOYEES PARKING. 
          THEY ARE TYPICALLY HYBRID. SOME USED BY PRIVATE. 
          SOME ARE USED BY PUBLIC. I CAN TURN IT OVER TO THE COUNTY ENGINEER TO TALK THROUGH THE METHODOLOGY THEY WENT THROUGH WITH THEIR PARKING VENDOR. 
          >> AGAIN, NOT ALL COUNTY EMPLOYEES WORK DOWNTOWN. 
          I THINK IT'S AN UNFAIR BURDEN ON THEM SPECIFICALLY. 
          BEFORE I TURN OVER MY TIME, COUNTY ENGINEER, I HAVE MET WITH MANY PEOPLE ON PERMIT FEES. 
          THAT'S NOT ON THIS AGENDA. THAT'S COMING. 
          THIS IS KIND OF FIRST COUSIN TO WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT HERE. INCREASING THE FEES. 
          I WOULD SAY THAT WHEN WE GET TO THAT, AT SOME FUTURE COURT 
          [04:00:04]
MEETING, THERE'S A REAL PROBLEM WITH THE CURRENT LEVEL OF SERVICE RELATED TO PERMITS. 
          I WOULD THINK UNTIL WE GET OUR PERMITTING UP TO A CURRENT -- A LEGITIMATE LEVEL OF SERVICE, WE SHOULDN'T BE CHARGING PEOPLE MORE MONEY. WHEN WE GET OUR SERVICE UP -- I DON'T THINK IT'S A -- JUST GIVE US MORE MONEY AND WE WILL DO A BETTER JOB. 
          I THINK WE NEED TO DO A BETTER JOB AND THEN START CHARGING. THAT'S A HEADS UP, FUTURE COMMENT RELATED TO PERMITTING GOING FORWARD. I'M NOT GOING TO SUPPORT SOMETHING THAT IMPACTS OUR COUNTY EMPLOYEES. 
          >> COMMISSIONER, COUNTY ENGINEER. 
          LOOKING AT THE EIGHT LOTS WE HAVE, WE DO NOT HAVE ANY OF THESE DEDICATED LOT OR CONTRACT WITH ANY COUNTY DEPARTMENTS THAT THEY WILL BE CHARGED MORE. 
          LIKE ANY DOWNTOWN LOT, WE HAVE COUNTY EMPLOYEES WHEN THEY VISIT DOWNTOWN, THEY PARK IN THIS LOT. 
          THAT IS NO -- IT'S LIKE IN THE PARKING METER, WHEN SOMEBODY GOES AROUND AND A COUNTY EMPLOYEE PARK THERE AND PAY. IN GENERAL, IT WILL NOT BE IMPACTING ANY DEPARTMENT DIRECTLY BECAUSE WE HAVE SO MANY OTHER GARAGE, 848 WE HAVE DEDICATED PARKING. 
          THAT DOESN'T IMPACT. 
          >> THANK YOU. 
          >> ALSO, COMMISSIONER, IF I CAN ADD, I APPRECIATE THE WORK THAT YOU DID. I JUST WANT TO POINT OUT THAT IN MOST CASES, 40% TO 50% WE ARE BELOW THE MARKET. 
          THERE ARE A SIGNIFICANT NUMBER OF PRIVATE PARKERS THAT ARE GETTING A FREE RIDE WHERE WE MIGHT BE ABLE TO LOWER THE PARKING COST FOR OUR EMPLOYEES IN THE FUTURE BY CHARGING MORE OF THE PRIVATE USER AS GETTING HIGHER UTILIZATION FOR THE LOTS. 
          I UNDERSTAND YOUR PERSPECTIVE. I ALSO THINK THAT WE SHOULD BE CHARGING FOLKS TAKING ADVANTAGE OF THE COUNTY'S INFRASTRUCTURE AND EFFORT. 
          >> DON'T DISAGREE WITH THAT. 
          >> I HAD A SIMILAR -- TO RECONFIRM, OUR EMPLOYEES WILL NOT BE NEGATIVELY IMPACTED, CORRECT? TO RECAP. 
          >> FROM THE DEPARTMENT LEVEL, ON THE BUDGET, NO. 
          IF AN EMPLOYEE GOING THERE AND PARKING IN ANY OF THE LOTS, WHEN WE HAVE, THEY WILL BE PAYING $2 MORE, LIKE, FOR EXAMPLE, TALKING ABOUT THE TRIANGLE LOT THAT HAS MOST OF THE REVENUE. 
          IF YOUR STAFF GOES IN THERE, THEY WILL BE CHARGED $2 MORE. 
          >> THERE WILL BE AN IMPACT? 
          >> YES. 
          >> COMMISSIONER, WE DON'T KNOW, PER SE, HOW MANY OF OUR EMPLOYEES ARE PARKING IN WHAT'S A PUBLIC LOT THAT WE OWN. THAT'S LONG BEEN AN ISSUE IN UNDERSTANDING THE EMPLOYEE IMPACT HERE. 
          >> I ASK YOU WORK CLOSELY TOGETHER. 
          NOT TO GO BACK TO THE LAST ITEM, BUT I SIMILARLY AS DANIEL HAS HEARD REPEATEDLY, NOT ON OUR EMPLOYEES' BACKS WHEN IT COMES TO HEALTH INSURANCE, PARKING. WE NEED MORE PARKING FOR EMPLOYEES. MY OTHER THING, I WAS DISAPPOINTED TO SEE THAT SOME OF THE BCG RECOMMENDATIONS, THE FIVE- YEAR FINANCIAL PLAN IN TERMS OF PARKING REVENUE, HOW MANY OF THEM WERE DEEMED INFEASIBLE BY OUR ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT AND THE PARKING VENDOR. 
          WE CANNOT GO BACK IN TIME. HOWEVER, I WAS VERY DISAPPOINTED AND I HOPE WE CAN USE THIS AS A CASE STUDY HOW WE NEED TO BE EXTRA COLLABORATIVE AND COMMUNICATING SO WHATEVER RECOMMENDATIONS WILL BE FEASIBLE AS WE MOVE FORWARD IN FUTURE PLANS, PLEASE. WORK TOGETHER. 
          >> MOTION MADE AND SECONDED. 
          >> NO. 
          >> THREE AYE AND ONE NEY. ITEM 19, COMMISSIONER GARCIA, APPROVAL CLASSIFICATION ON CERTAIN POSITIONS. 
          >> THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER. I THINK THESE QUESTIONS ARE EITHER FOR YOU, JESSE, OR MAYBE FOR MISS SAKITA. 
          IN THIS ITEM THERE ARE SEVERAL POSITIONS THAT ARE INVOLVED IN IT. 
          MY FIRST ACTION, COMMISSIONER, IS TO TAKE NO ACTION ON LINE ONE, WHICH IS THE RECLASSIFICATION OF A CIVILIAN POSITION TO A CERTIFIED POSITION. THAT WOULD BE -- I WOULD PUT THAT DOWN AS NO ACTION. FOR LINE -- THAT'S LINE NUMBER ONE. FOR LINE NUMBER TWO, JESSE, WOULD IT BE MORE 
          [04:05:01]
APPROPRIATE TO WAIT FOR THE NEW PURCHASING AGENT THAT'S COMING IN BEFORE WE FORWARD -- MOVE FORWARD WITH THESE RECLASSIFICATION REQUESTS FOR THE PURCHASING OFFICE? 
          >> I KNOW PAIGE IS HERE. THE NEW PURCHASING AGENT WILL BE CONFIRMED TODAY. DOESN'T START FOR, I BELIEVE, UNTIL THE 25TH. I WOULD ASK AIGE -- HOW IMPORTANT THE RECLASSES ARE. 
          >> HI, COMMISSIONER. I'M PAIGE FROM PURCHASING DEPARTMENT. THESE RECLASSES ARE CRITICAL FOR CONTINUED OPERATIONS BASED ON WORKING WITH OUR BUDGET LIAISON AS WE ARE PREPARING FOR FY26. 
          THE MOVEMENT TO CONTINUE FUNDS IN OPERATIONS, THEY ARE CRITICAL FOR EVERYDAY PUNCH- OUT BUYER NEEDS. WE COULD GO BACK TO THE DRAWING BOARD, BUT WE DID WORK ON THESE PRIOR TO THE NEW CHANGES UP AND COMING. SO HAPPY TO WORK THROUGH THAT IF WE NEED TO. 
          >> I WOULD APPRECIATE IT. WE ARE ABOUT TO HAVE A CHANGE IN ADMINISTRATION. THANK YOU FOR ALL THAT YOU HAVE DONE. 
          >> THANK YOU. 
          >> I THINK IT WOULD BE APPROPRIATE. 
          >> ABSOLUTELY. WE WILL GO BACK TO THE DRAWING BOARD. 
          >> THANK YOU. 
          >> COMMISSIONER GARCIA, IF I MIGHT ADD, MY OFFICE DOES AN ONBOARDING PROCESS WITH NEW DEPARTMENT HEADS. 
          WE GO TYPICALLY, IF REQUESTED AND ALLOWED, WE SENT AN ANALYST OVER THERE TO HELP DIRECTLY SUPPORT THE NEW ORGANIZATIONAL CHART THAT THE NEW DEPARTMENT HEADS -- IN THAT PROCESS RIGHT NOW WITH THE PUBLIC DEFENDER, WE HAVE DONE THAT WITH THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY IS A GREAT EXAMPLE. WE DETAILED SOMEBODY TO THEIR TRANSITION TEAM TO BE ABLE TO REDO THEIR CHARGE HOW THEY SEE FIT WHEN THEY START DAY ONE. WE HELP FACILITATE THAT PROCESS. 
          THERE IS A STRUCTURED ONBOARDING AS IT RELATES TO THE BUDGET AND HR. 
          >> GOOD. THANK YOU. I APPRECIATE THAT. 
          NO ACTION AS WELL. ON LINE THREE, IS MISS DOUGLAS HERE? THERE YOU ARE. 
          I WANT TO CHECK ON THIS, ON LINE NUMBER THREE, WHICH IS -- HAS ABOUT 100,000 ATTACHED TO IT. 
          IS THIS AS A RESULT OF THE NEW PURCHASING AGENT? 
          >> THAT'S CORRECT. THAT 
          IS EXACTLY CORRECT. >> I WILL JUST MOVE FOR NO ACTION ON LINE ONE AND TWO. 
          >> I WILL SECOND. 
          >> ALL THOSE IN FAVOR. ITEM PASSES. 
          AS AMENDED. 
          >> MOVE ON THE ITEM. 
          >> NEXT COMMISSIONER GARCIA -- 
          >> DO WE HAVE TO TAKE A VOTE. 
          >> WE TOOK A VOTE. DID I DO A VOTE? 
          >> WE'RE GOOD? 
          >> WE TOOK A VOTE. 
          >> NEXT ONE IS ITEM 20, COMMISSIONERS ARCIA AND BRIONIS. 
          >> THANK YOU. JUST WANT TO COMMEND YOU ON ALL THE WORK YOUR STAFF HAS DONE WITH OUR TEAMS. I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE CONTINUE ON A PATH TO DO ALL THAT WE CAN TO MAKE OUR ROADWAYS SAFER AND TO ENSURE THAT WE ARE TRACKING ALL THE DATA. 
          I'M GLAD YOU HAVE MADE ADJUSTMENTS TO GET TO MORE NEAR REAL TIME DATA. I REMEMBER WHEN I WAS THE CHAIR OF THE REGIONAL SAFETY COUNCIL AS A SHERIFF, WE WERE LOOKING AT 10-YEAR-OLD INFORMATION. 
          I THINK YOU HAVE BEEN ABLE TO ADVANCE THAT VERY SIGNIFICANTLY. 
          I JUST WANT TO THANK YOU ON THE WORK INVOLVED IN THIS. JUST LOOK FORWARD TO CONTINUING TO WORK WITH YOU AND YOUR TEAM. 
          >> THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER. 
          >> I TOO WANTED TO THANK YOU AND YOUR TEAM FOR CHAMPIONING VISION 0. I LOVE THE BOLDNESS OF THIS ASPIRATIONAL GOAL. I HOPE WE CAN MAKE MARKED, PROVEN PROGRESS AGAINST IT. 
          THANK YOU FOR BRINGING THIS BACK. 
          MY QUESTION TO YOU, GIVEN HOW PUBLIC SAFETY IS OUR TOP PRIORITY AND THIS DATA THAT IS DRIVING VISION 0 IS OUTDATED AS WE DISCUSSED A COUPLE OF COURTS AGO, MY QUESTION TO YOU IS, CAN WE UPDATE THIS DATA BY THE END OF 2025? 
          >> COMMISSIONER, YES, I THINK WE DEFINITELY CAN UPDATE THIS DATA BY 2025. 
          >> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. 
          [04:10:03]
          >> COMMISSIONER, IF YOU ALLOW ME, I REALLY WANT TO THANK YOU AND YOUR STAFF. WE HAVE CREATED THIS VISION 0 STEERING COMMITTEE AND YOUR STAFF IS PART OF THE COMMITTEE ON HOW WE ARE GOING TO MOVE FORWARD ON ALL THE VISIONS. 
          THE FEEDBACK HAS BEEN INSTRUMENTAL IN FORMING THIS PLAN. 
          >> THANK YOU. 
          >> COMMISSIONER RAMSEY. 
          >> THANK YOU FOR YOUR EFFORTS ON IT. 
          THIS IS IMPORTANT. IT'S INTERESTING TO NOTE, IF YOU MEET WITH THE CORONER, YOU GET ALL KIND OF DATA. WE KNOW LAST YEAR, 575 PEOPLE DIED IN WRECKS IN HARRIS COUNTY. 
          THAT'S A BIG NUMBER. 
          >> IT IS. 
          >> THERE ARE A LOT OF FACTORS. I THINK COMMISSIONER GARCIA CAN ATTEST TO SPEED BEING A BIG DISTRACTED DRIVING -- YOU CAN GO DOWN THE LIST. THE CORONER HAS A LOT OF DATA. I'M ASSUMING YOU KNOW THAT. THEIR DATABASE IS VERY EXTENSIVE IN TERMS OF THESE KINDS OF DETAILS. ALSO KNOW, HAVING DONE A LITTLE DESIGN WORK THROUGH THE YEARS, THAT WORKING CLOSELY WITH TTI, TEXAS TRANSITION INSTITUTE, THEY HAVE A WEALTH OF INFORMATION. 
          SUCH THINGS AS IF YOU WOULD SIMPLY PUT A SIGN TELLING PEOPLE A CURVE IS AHEAD, YOU ARE GOING TO REDUCE ACCIDENTS ON THAT CURVE BY 40%. 
          THAT'S NOT A VERY EXTENSIVE THING TO DO. 
          BUT IT'S SOMETHING WE CAN DO. I'M THINKING OF PRAGMATIC WHEN YOU LOOK AT WHAT ARE WE GOING TO DO GOING FORWARD? I THINK RATHER THAN 80,000 FOOT COMPREHENSIVE GO SPEND A BA BAZILLION DOLLARS, WORK WITH THE PRECINCT. 
          I THINK ONE THING I WOULD ADD IS, IT'S ALWAYS GOOD TO SEE WHERE WE HAVE -- WHAT WE HAVE ACCOMPLISHED SINCE STARTING. IF YOU COULD LOOK AT, SINCE STARTING, ADOPTING VISION 0, SPECIFICALLY WHAT ARE SOME OF THE THINGS WE HAVE DONE? NOT FROM A PAPERWORK STANDPOINT. WHAT CAN WE POINT TO AND SAY, BECAUSE WE DID THIS, WE THINK X NUMBER OF PEOPLE WERE NOT KILLED ON OUR ROADWAYS. 
          I THINK THERE IS ENGINEERING DATA. 
          I KNOW TTI HAS IT. I KNOW THE CORONER HAS ALL THE TRAGIC INFORMATION RELATED TO DEATHS. 
          AS YOU LOOK AT THIS, I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT, AS YOU LOOK AT YOUR MASTER TRANSPORTATION PLAN, YOU ARE MAKING AN ACTION PLAN. WHAT IS A REASONABLE TIME FRAME THAT'S CONSISTENT WITH WHAT YOU JUST ASKED IN TERMS OF, WHEN DO YOU THINK WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A GO FORWARD IN TERMS OF WHERE WE GO FROM HERE? LOOKING BACK A LITTLE BIT, WHAT HAVE WE ACCOMPLISHED? THEN WHAT DO WE WANT TO DO BUILDING ON THE THINGS WE HAVE DONE? WHAT'S THE TIMEFRAME FOR THAT, DO YOU THINK? 
          >> COMMISSIONER, THE COUNTY MASTER TRANSPORTATION PLAN WILL HAVE A COMPREHENSIVE RECOMMENDATION IS SUPPOSED TO BE COMPLETED ON A TENTATIVE DATE OF SEPTEMBER OF 2026. 
          HOWEVER, SOME OF THE IDEAS THAT YOU MENTION, WE ARE DISCUSSING THAT IN TERMS OF OUR DESIGN MANUAL UPDATES. THAT'S THE LOW HANGING FRUIT AND HOW WE CAN WORK WITH INDUSTRIES LIKE TTI. WE HAVE TO BRING IDEAS AS SOON AS WE ARE READY. RATHER THAN BRINGING IT AT END OF 2026, ANYTHING THAT IS IMPLEMENTABLE, THAT WORKS AND THAT REDUCE DEATH WOULD BRING TO THE COMMISSIONERS COURT FOR APPROVAL AS WE MOVE 
          FORWARD. >> CONSISTENT WITH WHAT WE SAID EARLIER IN TERMS OF COMMITTEES. 
          BE SURE YOU ARE ACCOMPLISHING SOMETHING WITH THE MEETINGS. LOOK FORWARD TO WHAT SOME PROGRESS IN TERMS OF VISION 0. 
          THANK YOU. 
          >> THANK YOU. 
          >> QUICK QUESTION. I WANT TO COMMEND THE WORK THEY DID ON THIS. I PUT THIS ON THE AGENDA IN 2022. 
          HOW MUCH MONEY DID WE SET ASIDE FOR IT? 
          >> COMMISSIONER, IN THE 2022 BOND, THAT IS $50 MILLION, THAT'S DEDICATED FOR VISION 0. 
          IN ADDITION TO THAT, THERE IS NO SET-ASIDE FUNDING. HOWEVER ALL THE 
          [04:15:03]
COMMISSIONER OFFICE SPEND SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF MONEY IN INVESTING. 
          >> YOU KEEP A RECORD. YOU SHOULD SEND US THE REPORT ON WHAT WE HAVE SPENT SO WE ARE 
          AWARE OF IT. >> YES, SIR. 
          >> THANK YOU. 
          >> CAN I JUST ASK A CLARIFYING QUESTION? WHAT WILL WE GET BY THE END OF THIS YEAR, 2025? WHAT WILL -- YOU HEARD YOU SAY 2026. 
          JUST SO WE'RE ON THE SAME PAGE. 
          >> BY END OF THIS YEAR, COMMISSIONER, WE ARE UPDATING THE CRASH DATA. WE WILL HAVE A -- WE IDENTIFIED 23 CORRIDORS. BASED ON DATA FROM 2019. 
          WE ARE UPDATING FROM 2020 TO 2024. 
          BASED ON THAT, WE WILL SEE WHAT ARE OUR CORRIDORS. 
          HOW SOME OF THE -- IF WE SEE THAT SOME CORRIDOR WE HAD HIGH ENGINEERING IS NO LONGER THERE, THAT WILL GIVE US METRICS THAT WE DID THIS WORK. 
          IT'S WORKING. THERE COULD BE MANY FACTORS. 
          IT COULD BE A DEVELOPMENT PATTERN. IT COULD BE A TYPE OF DEVELOPMENT. A NEW HOME DEPOT AND MORE WRECKS BECAUSE THE ROAD IS NOT DESIGNED WELL. THINGS LIKE THAT. 
          IT WILL -- THAT'S WHAT WE WILL GET AT THE END OF 2026. 
          WE WILL ALSO UPDATE OUR GEOMETRIC DESIGN MANUAL. 
          WE WILL HAVE A BETTER UNDERSTANDING TALKING ABOUT HOW TO DESIGN THE STREET. 
          DO WE DO MORE ROUNDABOUT. BIKE SAFETY INSTRUMENTS AND THINGS OF THAT NATURE. WE WILL BRING SOME OF THOSE ITEMS IN THE COURT AS WELL. 
          AS WE FIND THOSE VIABLE AND 
          IMPLEMENTING. >> THANK YOU SO MUCH. 
          DO YOU NEED ACTION? 
          >> MOTION TO APPROVE IS 
          PRESENTED. >> 
          SECOND. >> MOTION AND SECOND. 
          >> THANK YOU. 
          >> ITEM PASSES. 
          >> COMMISSIONER, A REMINDER, IT'S 3:52. 
          COURT WILL HAVE TO MOVE TO RESOLUTIONS AT 4:00. I WANTED TO LET YOU KNOW FOR PLANNING PURPOSES. 
          >> LET'S TRY TO KNOCK OUT ONE OR TWO MORE. 
          NUMBER IS ITEM 20. NO, 175. 
          COMMISSIONER RAMSEY. YOU PULLED THAT ONE. 
          I DIDN'T SKILL ONE DID I? 
          >> GIFT CARDS. WE JUST NEED 
          TO VOTE. >> SO MOVED. 
          >> SECOND. ITEM PASSES. 
          NUMBER IS 176. COMMISSIONER RAMSEY PULLED THAT. 
          UPDATE ON FUNDING SOURCE 12 POSITIONS. 
          >> JUST NEED TO VOTE. 
          >> SO MOVED. >> SECOND. 
          IT PASSES. NEXT IS 178. 
          APPROVAL 18 POSITIONS. IS THERE A MOTION? 
          >> SO MOVED. 
          >> CAN WE HAVE A LITTLE BIT OF DISCUSSION? I KNOW WE ALL PULLED IT. I FEEL EXTREMELY PASSIONATELY ABOUT HEART. I FIRST -- DIRECTOR BARTON, THANK YOU. I AM HAPPY WE WERE ABLE TO BRING IT IN-HOUSE. 
          THE REFERRALS IN TERMS OF SERVICE LINKAGES HAVE INCREASED BY 228% SINCE WE BROUGHT IT IN-HOUSE. THE 911 DISPATCH CALL RESPONSES NOW ARE UP 40% IN TERMS OF THE LINKAGE TO HEART. I KNOW WE TALKED ABOUT THIS THIS MORNING WITH COMMUNITY LEADERS. THE BOTTOM LINE IS, THIS IS SMART PUBLIC SAFETY. WE CONNECT INDIVIDUALS IN TIMES OF CRISES WHO NEED MENTAL HEALTH ASSISTANCE, ADDICTION ASSISTANCE TO THE SERVICES THEY MAY NEED. 
          THAT FREES UP LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS SO THEY CAN DOUBLE DOWN, RESPOND MORE PROMPTLY TO URGENT CALLS WITH REGARD TO VIOLENT CRIME. IT SEPARATES CRISIS FROM CRIME. 
          I THINK THIS IS AN EXAMPLE OF GOOD GOVERNMENT. 
          IT'S A WIN/WIN ON BOTH SIDES FROM A PUBLIC HEALTH PERSPECTIVE AND ENHANCING PUBLIC SAFETY. 
          SO WE ALL WIN. I LIKE IT'S COMPLEMENTARY TO WHAT WE'RE DO ING. ALL OF THE OTHER PROGRAMS. I APPRECIATE MY COLLEAGUES' HOLISTIC APPROACH TO MAKING SMART DATA- DRIVEN INVESTMENTS. 
          BRINGING THIS IN-HOUSE. I LIKE IT'S BUDGET NEUTRAL. 
          CORRECT? DOING MORE WITH LESS, BEING 
          [04:20:02]
MORE STRATEGIC. I WANT TO THANK THE DIRECTOR FOR HER LEADERSHIP. I AM ENERGIZED BY THE PROGRESS WE'RE MAKING AND WHAT THIS WOULD DO WOULD BE ADD A TEAM. THIS COULD BE COUNTYWIDE, WHICH THIS TODAY WOULD BE A GOOD DAY, I'M HOPING MY COLLEAGUES WILL SUPPORT IT. I WANTED TO SAY I FEEL VERY STRONGLY ABOUT THIS AND I'M THANKFUL FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP AND WHAT YOU ARE DOING ON THE FRONTLINES TO HELP PEOPLE AND TO MAKE US SAFER. 
          >> THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER, FOR YOUR WORK ON THIS. 
          I WANT TO THANK MY STAFF. THIS WAS AN ITEM THAT CAME OUT OF MY OFFICE AND WE PUT IT ON THE AGENDA. WE VOTED TO DO A LONG PROCESS, LOOK AT BEST PRACTICES AROUND THE COUNTRY. 
          I THINK WE CAME UP WITH IT. IT'S GREAT. 
          I THINK IT WILL BE THE LARGEST IN TERMS OF LAND MASS. 
          >> IN THE COUNTRY. 
          >> BECAUSE WE HAVE SUCH A LARGE UNINCORPORATED AREA, I HOPE OUR PARTNERS ON THE CITY SIDE ARE ABLE TO DO AS MUCH. 
          WE STARTED WITH TWO PILOTS. ONE IN THE CITY, ONE OUTSIDE THE CITY. 
          THIS IS A BIG STEP. 
          >> JUST TO COMMEND PUBLIC HEALTH FOR THEIR LEADERSHIP ON THIS ITEM. I DO APPRECIATE THE WILLINGNESS TO THINK A LITTLE BROADER IN TERMS OF WORKING WITH LAW ENFORCEMENT, WITH THE -- ON THE RISE SIDE. 
          I APPRECIATE THE LEADERSHIP THERE. 
          I WILL TELL YOU THAT WHEN SHERIFF GONZALEZ SAYS TO ME WHEN WE TALK ABOUT DIFFERENT CRIME PREVENTION EFFORTS OR PUBLIC SAFETY INITIATIVES, HE HAS ALWAYS GOT A HEART IN MIND. IT'S GREAT TO THINK THAT HE WANTS TO MAKE SURE THAT HIS TEAM IS FOCUSED ON THOSE VERY, VERY URGENT AND DANGEROUS CIRCUMSTANCES. 
          MAYBE HEART CAN BE A GREATER ASSET ON ANOTHER FRONT. 
          I APPRECIATE THE WAY HE THINKS ABOUT IT. 
          THAT'S BECAUSE HEART HAS GAINED HIS CONFIDENCE AND HIS SUPPORT AS WELL AS OF HIS OFFICE. 
          THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP. 
          >> COMMISSIONER RAMSEY. 
          >> QUICKLY, AGAIN, I'M LOOKING AT THE DATA. 
          SINCE IT'S INCEPTION, 17,583 CALLS. 
          OF THAT NUMBER, 842 HAVE BEEN MENTAL HEALTH RELATED. 
          THE MAJORITY OF THESE CALLS ARE RELATED TO WELFARE CHECKS, MEET THE CITIZENS TYPE ACTIVITY. I DON'T KNOW THE DATA SUPPORTS THIS LEVEL OF INVESTMENT. AS MENTIONED, CORE HAS DONE -- IS DOING -- IT'S AWARD WINNING. CERT IS AWART D WINNING. 
          THOSE ARE TWO GREAT PROGRAMS THAT INVOLVE CLINICIANS GOING TO A JOB SITE, GOING TO AN INCIDENT SITE. 
          I THINK Y'ALL SAW IN THE NEWS IN JUNE AN ARMED WOMAN WAS HAVING A MENTAL HEALTH CRISIS ON I45. 
          THEY HAD TO SHUT DOWN THE ENTIRE FREEWAY, BOTH DIRECTIONS, FORAN EXTENDED PERIOD OF TIME. TO SHERIFF GONZALEZ, CONSTABLES, ALL POLICE OFFICERS INVOLVED THERE, THEY WERE ABLE TO BRING THAT TO A POSITIVE CONCLUSION. 
          THEY WERE ABLE TO GET THE LADY SOME HELP. 
          AGAIN, THAT WAS A CORE-RELATED -- OR CERT- RELATED ACTIVITY. I THINK WE HAVE SOME COMPLIMENTARY. I THINK IT'S WELL INTENDED IN TERMS OF WHAT IS BEING ASKED FOR. 
          BUT I THINK PARTICULARLY IN THIS TIME OF BUDGET ISSUES, I BELIEVE CORE AND CERT ARE TAKING CARE OF 
          US. >> IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE? 
          >> I WILL MOVE AS PRESENTED. I ALSO WANT TO GIVE ONE MORE THANK YOU TO REVOR WHO HAS CHAMPIONED HEART AND IS WATCHING THAT DATA. 
          I LOOK FORWARD TO BUILDING ON THE PROGRESS WE'RE MAKING NOW THAT IT'S IN-HOUSE. THANK YOU, TREVOR AND TEAM. 
          MOVE AS PRESENTED. 
          >> ALL THOSE IN FAVOR VOTE AYE. 
          >> ITEM PASSES. 32 MORE ITEMS. WE WILL GO TO RESOLUTIONS NOW. 
          I HAVE TO MAKE SOME PHONE CALLS. 
          COMMISSIONER, GARCIA, YOU GOT IT. 
          >> WE WILL -- WE HAVE NINE RESOLUTIONS TO GO THROUGH. 
          WE WILL BEGIN -- LET'S SEE. FIRST ITEM IS 523. 
          [04:25:08]
LET'S SEE. THIS ISIS THE HEARSE FELLOWS. 
          IS THERE ANY SPEAKER OR ANY 
          MOTION? >> THERE'S SPEAKERS, COMMISSIONER. 
          >> FOR THIS PARTICULAR ITEM? 
          >> YES, SIR. 
          >> LET'S GET THEM ON. >> DANIELLE RIVERA AND JESSICA O'CONNOR. 
          >> HI, COMMISSIONERS. THANK YOU FOR THIS RECOGNITION. 
          I JUST WANTED TO GIVE A QUICK THANK YOU, ONCE AGAIN, TO ALL OF THE COMMISSIONERS FOR THE RECOGNITION AND FOR HIGHLIGHTING THE HARRIS WILLIS PROGRAM. 
          MY NAME IS DANIELLE RIVERA. MORE RECENTLY, I'M IN A HOBBY SCHOOL PUBLIC AFFAIRS ALUM, UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON. I RECEIVED MY BACHELOR'S OF SCIENCE. LASTLY, I'M AN INCOMING MASTERS OF PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION CANDIDATE. 
          I'M EXCITED FOR THAT. MY HOST OFFICE FOR THE HARRIS WILLIS PROGRAM WAS THE HARRIS COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S OFFICE WHERE I INTERNED IN THEIR INTERGOVERNMENTAL AFFAIRS AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT DIVISION. I HAVE BEEN PLACED HERE SINCE JANUARY 2025 THROUGH THE CHIP PROGRAM, WHICH IT ALLOWED ME TO -- 
          >> CONTINUE. 
          >> THANK YOU. IT ALLOWED ME TO GET A FEEL FOR THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM AND SEE THE DISPARITIES WITHIN THE SYSTEM. 
          I WANTED TO SPEAK ON ITEM 523 MAINLY JUST TO THANK THE HOBBY SCHOOL FOR PROVIDING US THIS OPPORTUNITY AND ALSO TO GIVE A SPECIAL THANKS TO MISS JESSICA, PROFESSOR CROSS, OUR AMAZING DEAN AND ALSO JUST EVERYONE AT THE SCHOOL FOR CREATING A COMMUNITY FOR THEIR STUDENTS AND ENSURING THAT WE GET THE PROPER RESOURCES TO THRIVE. 
          I ALSO WANTED TO THANK THE D.A.'S OFFICE. 
          I KNOW THERE'S A GOOD AMOUNT OF PEOPLE THAT HAVE BEEN HERE FOR THE D.A. 'S OFFICE. I WANT TO THANK THE D.A. , HIS CHIEF OF STAFF AND FIRST ASSISTANT. 
          I ALSO WANT TO THANK MY AMAZING SUPERVISORS WHO HAVEHAVE JANUARY JUST PROVIDED ME THE SPACE TO GROW, BOTH PROFESSIONAL AND PERSONAL. I ALSO JUST WANTED TO SAY THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING ME TO CONTRIBUTE TO SUCH A MEANINGFUL AND IMPACTFUL ISSUE. 
          TO CLOSE, I JUST WANTED TO SAY, IT'S NOT THE END. 
          JUST THE BEGINNING OF A NEW CHAPTER. 
          I DON'T SEE IT AS AN END, JUST AS A SEE YOU SOON. 
          THANK YOU, COMMISSIONERS, THANK YOU FOR THIS RECOGNITION. 
          >> DON'T LEAVE. GIVE HER A NICE ROUND OF APPLAUSE. 
          I THINK YOU ARE A PHENOMENAL REPRESENTATIVE OF THE PROGRAM. 
          I WISH YOU ALL THE BEST. 
          >> I WANTED TO SAY, WE'RE SO PROUD OF YOU. 
          WE HAVE BEEN SO FORTUNATE TO HAVE YOU AS PART OF THE HARRIS COUNTY TEAM. I WANT TO THANK JESSICA WHO IS THE UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON PUBLIC AFFAIRS PROGRAM MANAGER. WHO MAKES THIS ALL HAPPEN. 
          MY TEAM AND I HAVE BEEN SO BLESSED TO HOST FELLOWS THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS. I KNOW YOU WERE WITH COMMISSIONER ELLIS THIS YEAR. YOU ED OUR TEAM THIS YEAR. 
          YOU HAVE BEEN PHENOMENAL. I CAN'T WAIT TO HEAR THE GREAT NEWS WHEN YOU GRADUATE IN MAY. 
          OUR LAST FELLOW, ARIANA, SHE CAME TO WORK WITH US. 
          THEN FAST FORWARD, SHE'S NOW IN LAW SCHOOL AT AMERICAN UNIVERSITY. AS A FORMER TEACHER, I JUST -- I LOVE, LOVE HAVING YOUR TALENTED STUDENTS AS NOT ONLY PART OF MY TEAM BUT PART OF OUR COUNTY TEAM. 
          YOU GIVE ME HOPE IN OUR FUTURE. THANK YOU. PLEASE BE SURE TO KEEP PAYING IT FORWARD. TO ALL OF THE HARRIS FELLOWS, IF YOU ARE HERE, CAN YOU STAND UP SO WE CAN THANK YOU AND CELEBRATE YOU. 
          PROFESSOR, FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP. 
          >> WONDERFUL. 
          [04:30:03]
          >> WOULD YOU LIKE TO SAY SOMETHING NICE ABOUT THE UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON? 
          >> PHI SLAMA JAMA. 
          >> CONGRATULATIONS. WISH YOU NOTHING BUT ALL THE SUCCESS IN THE FUTURE. 
          AS WELL AS YOU ALL. 
          ANY MORE SPEAKERS? 
          >> JUST JESSICA O'CONNOR. 
          >> GOOD AFTERNOON, COMMISSIONERS. MY NAME IS JESSICA O'CONNOR. 
          I'M THE DRELTHER OF INTERNSHIP PROGRAMS AT THE HOBBY SCHOOL OF PUBLIC AFFAIRS. 
          IT'S AN HONOR TO BE HERE TODAY TO RECOGNIZE THE FIFTH ANNIVERSARY OF THE HARRIS FELLOWS PROGRAM AND TO THANK THIS COURT FOR ITS CONTINUED SUPPORT. THE HARRISFUL LOWS PROGRAM BEGAN WITH A BOLD VISION WHICH WAS TO GIVE COLLEGE STUDENTS HANDS- ON EXPERIENCE IN COUNTY GOVERNMENT, NOT AS OBSERVERS BUT REAL CONTRIBUTORS. FOR TEN WEEKS EACH SUMMER OUR FELLOWS ARE EMBEDDED IN YOUR OFFICES, LEARNING HOW LOCAL GOVERNMENT WORKS, ENGAGING WITH THE COMMUNITY AND GAINING THE EXPERIENCE THAT TEXTBOOKS SIMPLY CAN'T PROVIDE. IN FIVE YEARS, WE HAVE SEEN STUDENTS WHO HAVE BEEN A PART OF THIS PROGRAM GROW FROM CURIOUS LEARNERS INTO CONFIDENT LEADERS, MANY OF WHOM NOW WORK IN PUBLIC SERVICE THEMSELVES. THESE AREN'T JUST INTERNSHIPS. THEY ARE LAUNCH PADS. 
          THAT IMPACT IS ONLY POSSIBLE BECAUSE OF THE ACCESS AND MENTORSHIP YOU HAVE OFFERED THEM. 
          >> CONTINUE. 
          >> THANK YOU. WE ARE PROUD OF THE IMPACT THAT OUR HARRIS FELLOWS HAVE MADE THIS SUMMER. 
          COMMISSIONERS AND COUNTY STAFF, THANK YOU FOR OPENING THE DOORS TO OUR STUDENTS AND FOR INVESTING IN THE NEXT GENERATION OF PUBLIC SERVICE LEADERS. THANK YOU. 
          >> THANK YOU. 
          >> NEXT SPEAKER. PLEASE. 
          >> THANK YOU, JESSICA AND THANK YOU COMMISSIONER FOR RECOGNIZING OUR PROGRAM AND OUR CONTRIBUTIONS OVER THE SUMMER. 
          I HAVE HAD THE HONOR OF SERVING ON THE POLICY TEAM FOR COMMISSIONER BIONIS. THIS SUMMER, I HAVE GOT AN OPPORTUNITY TO CONTRIBUTE TO IMPORTANT POLICY RELATED TO SAFETY, INFRASTRUCTURE, AS WELL AS PUBLIC HEALTH. I HAVE SUPPORTED THE EXPANSION OF HEART, A PROGRESSIVE PUBLIC HEALTH PROGRAM THAT COMMISSIONER BRIONI AND ELLIS HAVE SPEARHEADED. THAT'S TO SAY, WHERE MANY PEOPLE HAVE GIVEN UP ON PROCESS POLICY, YOU HAVE PUSHED FOR PROGRAMS LIKE HEART TO CONTINUALLY ADVOCATE FOR EQUITY WHEN NO ONE ELSE WILL AND SUPPORT L GBTQ TEXANS. 
          WITH THE ODDS AGAINST THEM, THE PEOPLE BEHIND THE COUNTY ARE SOME OF THE MOST DEDICATE AND PASSIONATE PEOPLE I HAVE HAD THE HONOR OF WORKING WITH. 
          I THANK EVERYONE WHO I WORKED WITH THROUGHOUT THE LAST THREE YEARS FOR YOUR CARE, SUPPORT AND RECOGNITION. THANK YOU. 
          >> THANK YOU. 
          >> CONGRATULATIONS. NEXT SPEAKER. 
          >> GOOD AFTERNOON, COMMISSIONERS IN. 
          I'M WITH THE COUNTY JUDGES' OFFICE. 
          I WILL KEEP IT BRIEF. I JUST WANTED TO AGAIN THANK YOU ALL. I WAS SUPPOSED TO BE A BASKETBALL PLAYER. I DID NOT EXPECT TO BE HERE. I STARTED OFF IN COMMUNITY COLLEGE, THROUGH INTERNSHIP PROGRAMS, PHONE BANKING FOR THE CITY CONTROLLER, DOOR TO DOOR CON VASE CANVASSING, DOING ACTIVITIES SO ENGAGING WITH THE PEOPLE THAT I LIVE NEXT TO OR THAT ARE ACROSS THE ENTIRE CITY OF HOUSTON. ACROSS THE COUNTY. 
          THIS IS REALLY A PLACE OF UNITY, WHETHER IT SHOWS OR NOT. 
          I REALLY THINK THAT'S THE PART I WANT TO GO AFTER IS SHOWING HOW ALL OF US CAN BE UNIFIED BY POLICIES, BY GOALS, NOT BY LABELS. THAT'S WHAT I WANT TO CONTINUE CHASING. I COULDN'T HAVE DONE IT WITHOUT THE HARRIS FELLOWS PROGRAM. 
          >> WONDERFUL. CONGRATULATIONS. WE WELCOME THAT PERSPECTIVE INTO THIS POLITICAL ARENA. WE REALLY DO NEED IT. 
          THANK YOU. 
          >> APPRECIATE IT. 
          >> THANK YOU, VINCENT. 
          >> NEXT SPEAKER. 
          >> THAT'S ALL FOR THIS ITEM. 
          >> IS THERE A MOTION ON 523? 
          >> SO MOVED. 
          >> SECOND. 
          >> MOTION MADE, SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR? 
          >> AYE. 
          >> OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES. 
          NEXT ITEM IS 524. THIS IS A RESOLUTION CELEBRATING THE COMPLETION OF 5 MILLION MINUTES OF READING. FOR THE HARRIS COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY SUMMER READING PROGRAM. 
          DO WE HAVE ANY SPEAKERS FOR THIS ITEM? 
          >> NO SPEAKERS. 
          [04:35:01]
          >> IS THERE A MOTION ON 524? 
          >> SO MOVED. 
          >> SECOND. 
          >> MOTION HAS BEEN MADE. SECOND. 
          ALL IN FAVOR. 
          >> AYE. 
          >> ALL OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES. 
          LET'S SEE. WE HAVE ITEM 523. 
          THIS IS A RESOLUTION DESIGNATING AUGUST 2025 AS NATIONAL IMMUNIZATION AWARENESS MONTH. 
          >> COMMISSIONER, YOU VOTED ON 523. 
          IS IT FOR 525? 
          >> THAT WAS 524. I'M SORRY. 
          THE LAST ONE WAS 524. 
          >> NEXT SHOULD BE 525. 
          >> YES. I'M SORRY. 525. 
          THIS IS NATIONAL IMMUNIZATION AWARENESS MONTH. 
          ANY SPEAKERS ON THIS? 
          >> NO, SIR. 
          >> A MOTION? 
          >> SO MOVED. 
          >> SECOND? 
          >> SECOND. 
          >> ALL IN FAVOR. 
          ALL OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES. WE WILL -- I'M SORRY. 
          WE DID HAVE DR. BROWN HERE TO SPEAK ON IMMUNIZATIONS. 
          PLEASE, DR. BROWN. 
          >> THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER. I APPRECIATE THE TIME. THIS IS AN IMPORTANT MONTH. 
          NATIONAL IMMUNIZATION AWARENESS MONTH IS OBSERVED EVERY AUGUST TO HIGHLIGHT THE IMPORTANCE OF VACCINATION FOR PEOPLE OF ALL AGES. 
          HARRIS COUNTY PUBLIC HEALTH JOINS PUBLIC HEALTH AGENTS IN ENCOURAGING COMMUNITY MEMBERS TO STAY CURRENT ON RECOMMENDED VACCINES. 
          VACCINES ARE A SIMPLE, SAFE AND POWERFUL WAY TO PROTECT YOURSELF, YOUR FAMILY AND YOUR COMMUNITY. 
          STAYING UP TO DATE ON IMMUNIZATIONS IS ONE OF THE BEST WAYS TO STAY HEALTHY. 
          IT'S TIME TO RAISE AWARENESS ABOUT HOW VACCINES PROTECT INDIVIDUALS, FAMILIES AND COMMUNITIES FROM SERIOUS ILLNESS AND PREVENTABLE DISEASE. HARRIS COUNTY PUBLIC HEALTH PROVIDES EDUCATIONAL PRESENTATIONS, OUTREACH EVENTS AND COMMUNICATION CAMPAIGNS TO PROMOTE IMMUNIZATIONS AND AWARENESS DURING AUGUST AND BEYOND. 
          I WOULD ADVOCATE FOR EVERYONE, ESPECIALLY DURING BACK TO SCHOOL TIME, TO TAKE A LOOK AT THEIR IMMUNIZATION RECORDS AND REACH OUT AS THERE ARE MANY, MANY HEALTH FAIRS GOING ON AROUND THE COMMUNITY AND HARRIS COUNTY PUBLIC HEALTH DOES PROVIDE FREE IMMUNIZATIONS FOR THOSE WHO QUALIFY. YOU CAN FIND INFORMATION ON OUR WEBSITE ABOUT WHERE WE WILL BE OR CALL OUR NUMBER AT 832-927-7350. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. 
          >> THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP. 
          >> THANK YOU, DR. BROWN. 
          >> JUST AS A POINT OF REFERENCE TO YOUR COMMENTS, WHEN I JOINED HOUSTON CITY COUNCIL, I FOUND THAT MY COUNCIL DISTRICT HAD AMONGST THE LOWEST COMPLETED IMMUNIZATIONS FOR CHILDREN -- FOR SCHOOL- AGE CHILDREN. 
          I KNOW WE HAVE A RESOLUTION RECOGNIZING STEVEN WILLIAMS FOR HIS WORK. 
          HE WAS BRAND- NEW TO THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT. 
          I GRABBED HIM. WE CREATED THE NEAR NORTH SIDE HEALTHY COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIP. WE GOT ON A MAJOR BEND TO DO ALL WE COULD TO INCREASE. WE ACTUALLY GOT TO MOVE THE NEEDLE. I WAS VERY PROUD OF THAT. IT'S A HUGE POINT OF CRITICAL INFORMATION THAT PARENTS NEED TO HAVE AND KNOW WHERE TO GO. THANK YOU. 
          THANK YOU FOR THE WORK OF THOSE ON YOUR TEAM. 
          >> THANK YOU. 
          >> ALL RIGHT. NEXT ITEM IS ITEM 530. 
          THIS IS A RESOLUTION BY COMMISSIONER ELLIS RECOGNIZING -- CONGRATULATING DANIELLE LANDERS FOR HER ELECTION AS PRESIDENT OF THE HOUSTON BAR ASSOCIATION. 
          >> GOOD AFTERNOON. 
          >> GOOD AFTERNOON. 
          >> I WANT TO THANK COMMISSIONER ELLIS AND THE COURT FOR THIS RECOGNITION, FOR MY HISTORIC PRESIDENCY AS THE FIRST AFRICAN AMERICAN WOMAN AND SEVENTH PRESIDENT. 
          >> WANT TO THANK COMMISSIONER ELLIS FOR HIS INSIGHTFUL WORDS AT MY INSTALLATION ON MAY 15TH. 
          REMINDING THE ATTENDEES OF NOT ONLY THE IMPORTANCE OF THE RULE OF LAW BUT THE IMPORTANCE OF DEI REGARDLESS OF THE POLITICAL CLIMATE THAT WE HAVE. THE HBA IS PROUD TO HAVE PARTNERED WITH THE COURT AND THE COUNTY ON A NUMBER OF VERY IMPORTANT INITIATIVES. 
          MANY OF THOSE INITIATIVES I PLAN TO CONTINUE. 
          WE WILL TALK A LITTLE LATER ABOUT THE LAW PODS THAT WE HAVE INSTALLED OR HELPED TO INSTALL IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THIS COURT AT A NUMBER OF FACILITIES THROUGHOUT THE COUNTY. WE HAVE ALSO PARTNERED WITH THE COURT IN RENAMING THE COUNTY LAW LIBRARY IN HONOR OF THE CIVIL RIGHTS LEADER ROBERT HAINESWORTH. 
          ONE OF THE BIG INITIATIVES WILL BE TWO HISTORIC DAYS OF SERVICE. 
          [04:40:03]
WE WILL ASSIST THROUGH THE COUNTY, INCLUDING A -- ASSISTING WITH THE MARKING AND BEAUTIFUL INDICATION OF THE DAWSON LENNON CEMETERY, THE OLDEST HISTORIC AFRICAN AMERICAN CEMETERY IN THE CITY. IF THERE'S ANYTHING THAT THE HOUSTON BAR CAN DO TO FURTHER PARTNER WITH THE COURT AND WITH THE COUNTY, PLEASE LET ME KNOW. 
          WE ARE HERE TO SERVE YOU. >> WONDERFUL. 
          >> CONGRATULATIONS. IT GIVES ME PRIDE AS A FELLOW LAWYER, WOMAN, WOMAN OF COLOR, TO SEE YOU AS THE HELM. THANK YOU FOR MAKING HISTORY AND BREAKING DOWN CEILINGS. THAT'S WHAT WE NEED TO DO. CONSTANTLY STILL IN 2025. 
          BUT WE WILL KEEP BREAKING THEM DOWN. 
          I KNOW CONGRATULATIONS ON YOUR SON'S RECENT GRADUATION FROM CORNELL LAW. I CAN ONLY IMAGINE HOW PROUD YOU ARE. I CAN SEE WHY. 
          HE HAS AN AMAZING ROCK STAR MOM. IT WAS REALLY MOVING TO ME TO BE WITH YOU AT THE FIFTH RIBBON CUTTING OF ONE OF OUR PODS. I HOPE WE CAN CONTINUE TO BUILD ON THE WORK THAT WE'RE DOING TOGETHER, NOT JUST FOR WORKING MOMS BUT FOR ALL PEOPLE. 
          TO CONTINUE ADVANCING JUSTICE AND OPPORTUNITY AND RESPECTING THE RULE OF LAW HERE. ANYTHING I CAN DO, PLEASE COUNT ME AND MY TEAM IN. CONGRATULATIONS 
          AGAIN. >> THANK YOU SO MUCH. 
          WE WILL CONTINUE TO WORK WITH THE COURT. 
          I'M HAPPY TO SERVE NOT ONLY THE BAR BUT HAPPY TO SERVE THE COMMUNITY. 
          THANK YOU. 
          >> HANG ON. 
          >> CONGRATULATIONS ON YOUR HISTORIC ACHIEVEMENT THERE. 
          I WANT TO PERSONALLY INVITE YOU OUT TO ONE OF THE MOST HISTORIC BLACK COMMUNITIES IN THE COUNTY. 
          THAT'S OUT AT BARRETT STATION. IT WOULD BE WONDERFUL TO HAVE A RECEPTION OUT THERE. THEY'RE A GREAT COMMUNITY. 
          SOMETIMES THEY ARE SO FAR OUT IN THE COUNTRY, THEY DON'T GET WORD OR GOOD NEWS LIKE THIS OUT THERE. MAYBE WE CAN SET UP A TIME, MAYBE EVEN DO A RECEPTION OUT THERE. 
          CONGRATULATIONS. >> THANK YOU. 
          I WOULD BE HAPPY TO DO THAT IN ADDITION TO FINDING SOMETHING THAT WE CAN DO AS A BAR TO SERVE YOUR COMMUNITY. EVEN IF IT'S A LEGAL 
          CLINIC. >> WONDERFUL. 
          CONGRATULATIONS ONCE AGAIN. A QUESTION. 
          DOES THE HOUSTON BAR AFFORD YOU LIKE AN AIR FORCE 1 PLANE? 
          >> IT'S A VOLUNTEER JOB. IT IS DEFINITELY ONE THAT IS NEAR AND DEAR TO MY HEART. 
          >> WE KNOW YOU WILL DO GREAT THINGS. 
          CONGRATULATIONS. ALL THE BEST. 
          >> THANK YOU. 
          >> NEXT ITEM IS FROM MY OFFICE. I'M VERY HONORED TO PRESENT ITEM 533. 
          I THINK WE HAVE BEEN JOINED BY MEMBERS OF THE FAMILY LOOKING FOR DONNA KESTOR, DAVID PROK TORE PROCTOR. THIS RESOLUTION IS TO RECOGNIZE THE LIFE OF THE ONE AND ONLY JOY AN FONTINO. 
          THE BRIGHT AND PARTNER TO THE LATE COMMISSIONER JIM FONTINO. BEFORE I READ MORE FROM THE RESOLUTION, I WOULD LIKE TO OFFER Y'ALL AN OPPORTUNITY TO SHARE THOUGHTS THAT YOU MAY HAVE. 
          >> THANK YOU. COMMISSIONER GARCIA, COMMISSIONER RAMSEY, COMMISSIONER BRIONIS, ON BEHALF OF OUR FAMILY, WE WANT TO THANK YOU FOR BESTOWING THIS HONOR UPON OUR MOTHER FOR HER SELFLESS CONTRIBUTION OF SERVICE AND INVOLVEMENT IN THE COMMUNITIES OF HARRIS COUNTY. 
          WE ARE GRATEFUL FOR YOUR RECOGNITION OF HER UNDENIABLE INFLUENCE AND DEDICATION TO SO MANY THROUGHOUT HER LIFE. WE THANK YOU SO MUCH. 
          WE HEARD ESPECIALLY AT HER FUNERAL, MANY PEOPLE REFERRED TO HER AS THE FIRST LADY OF PRECINCT 2. SHE WAS VERY INVOLVED ALONGSIDE JIM WITH SO MANY THINGS. 
          WE ARE SO HONORED THAT YOU WOULD RECOGNIZE HER AND TAKE TIME TO REFLECT ON ALL THAT SHE DID FOR THE COUNTY. 
          >> THANK YOU. ANYTHING YOU WOULD LIKE TO SHARE? 
          >> NO. SHE DID A GREAT JOB. 
          >> SHE DID. 
          >> OUR BROTHER, HE HAD SOME BACK ISSUES THIS MORNING. 
          HE WAS NOT ABLE TO COME. 
          >> NO WORRIES. I WANTED TO LET YOUR FAMILY KNOW THAT WE JUST DID THE STATE OF THE PRECINCT NOT TOO LONG AGO. PRIOR TO IT, WE WERE TALKING ABOUT WHAT WAS GOING TO BE THE CONVERSATION FOR THAT. I HAVE BEEN IN TOUCH 
          [04:45:02]
WITH SEVERAL PEOPLE THAT REFLECT BACK ON COMMISSIONER FONTINO. EVERYBODY WHO TALKS ABOUT HIS WORK, JOANNE WOULD ALWAYS COME UP. 
          I'M IMPRESSED THAT IF WE GOT THE HISTORY RIGHT, COMMISSIONER FONTINO WAS REDITED WITH STARTING THE FIRST SENIORS PROGRAM IN HARRIS COUNTY. 
          EVERY PRECINCT IS FOLLOWING IN THAT MODEL. 
          FROM WHAT I HEARD, SHE HAD A PIECE IN URGING -- I THINK THERE WAS A LITTLE BIT OF WONDERING HOW THIS IS GOING TO HAPPEN, HOW IT'S NOT GOING TO HAPPEN. 
          SHE APPARENTLY WAS LIKE, JUST GET IT DONE, JIM. 
          I WANT TO -- WE WERE GOING TO ROLL THIS OUT A LITTLE LATER. 
          WE WERE HOPING THAT -- WE ARE AS AN OFFICE WORKING ON ESTABLISHING -- IT WAS WORKING ON THE THEME OF, THE JIM FONTINO AWARD. IT NOW BECOMES THE JIM AND JOANNE AWARD. THERE'S BEEN OTHER COMMISSIONERS. BUT THIS FAMILY JUST CONSUMES THE CONVERSATION FOR THEIR TRAILBLAZING, THEIR CONTRIBUTIONS, THEIR THOUGHTFULNESS, THEIR COLLABORATION WITH THE COMMUNITY. 
          I'M HONORED AS A COMMISSIONER THAT WE SHOULD ALSO BE REFLECTING AND RECOGNIZING THE GOOD WORK AND PIONEERING OF A PREVIOUS COMMISSIONER. I'M VERY HONORED. I WANTED TO SHARE THAT WITH YOU. 
          THIS RESOLUTION DOES READ THAT, MISS FONTINO HAS HAD A CELEBRATION ON JULY 9TH, LEAVING BEHIND A LEGACY OF UNWAVERING SERVICE, DEEP FAITH. I HEARD THAT A LOT. 
          DEEP FAITH AND DEVOTION TO HER FAMILY AND COMMUNITY. SHE INSPIRED EVERYONE WITH HER ABILITY TO LOOK BEYOND HERSELF AND MAKE A DIFFERENCE. 
          FOR 28 YEARS, SHE SERVED FAITHFULLY ALONGSIDE HER HUSBAND, MANAGING CAMPAIGNS. I HEARD SHE CRACKED THE WHIP. 
          ENGAGING DIRECTLY WITH THE PEOPLE OF PRECINCT 2, ESPECIALLY ADVOCATING FOR THE COMPARE AND INCLUSION OF SENIOR CITIZENS OF SHE DEMONSTRATED A HEART FOR SERVICE THROUGH LEADERSHIP ROLES WITH THE HOLY TRINITY METHODIST CHURCH, WESLEY COMMUNITY SERVICE, NORTH CHANNEL ASSISTANCE MINISTRIES, AND THE HARRIS COUNTY APPRAISAL REVIEW BOARD AS WELL AS THROUGH YEARS OF HANDS- ON VOLUNTEERISM IN NURSING HOMES AND COMMUNITY PROGRAMS. A DEDICATED MEMBER OF FOUNDRY METHODIST CHURCH, SHE LED THE MOVING ON WIDOWS GROUP, NG IN THE CHOIR AND SERVED AS A CHOIR LIBRARIAN AND INSPIRED OTHERS THROUGH HER COMPASSION, WARMTH AND SPIRITUAL STRENGTH. 
          HONORED IN 2015 WITH THE SERVICE TO OUR COMMUNITY AWARD AT THE HARRIS COUNTY PRECINCT 2 BLACK AND WHITE BALL, SHE WILL BE REMEMBERED FOR HER ENDURING GIFTS OF GENEROSITY, ENCOURAGEMENT AND KINDNESS, A LEGACY MARKED BY GATHERS, THOUGHTFUL GESTURES AND A SPIRIT THAT BROUGHT UNITY, ENRICHMENT AND JOY TO ALL. 
          WE PROCLAIM THIS 7TH DAY IN AUGUST AS THE JOANNE FONTINO DAY. THANK YOU FOR COMING BACK. 
          >> CONGRATULATIONS. THANK YOU FOR COMING. 
          >> THERE HAS BEEN FEW PEOPLE THAT YOU HEAR MORE STORIES ON THAN THE FONTINOS AND WHAT THEY HAVE DONE IN EAST HARRIS COUNTY. 
          IT IS ALWAYS GOOD TO REMEMBER THE SHOULDERS WE STAND ON ON ALL OUR PROGRAMS IN HARRIS COUNTY, THAT SENIORS PROGRAM IS JUSTJUST BEST THING WE DO, I THINK, IN THE COUNTY. 
          I THINK THEY HAD MUCH IF NOT ALL TO DO WITH THAT. 
          THANK YOU FOR WHAT YOU AND YOUR FAMILY HAVE DONE. 
          >> COMMISSIONER IN. 
          >> THANK YOU FOR BRINGING THIS. THANK YOU FOR SHARING YOUR MOM AND DAD WITH HARRIS COUNTY AND TEXAS AND BEYOND. 
          I WISH I HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO 
          [04:50:04]
MEET COMMISSIONER AND MRS. FONTINO, THEY ARE LEGENDS AND GIANTS ON WHOSE SHOULDERS WE STAND. 
          WE SENIORS ENJOYING THE SENIOR CENTER IN PRECINCT 4, WHICH I'M HONORED TO REPRESENT. 
          EVERY DAY AS FOLKS WALK THROUGH, THE SPIRIT CONTINUES. 
          SO THANK YOU FOR THE LEADERSHIP AND SERVICE AND THEIR EXAMPLES. THANK YOU. 
          I KNOW IT'S A FAMILY AFFAIR ALL THE TIME. 
          MAY SHE REST IN PEACE. MAY WE ALL CARRY A PIECE OF HER WITH US AS WE SERVE AND IMPROVE OUR COMMUNITY TOGETHER. OUR CONDOLENCES AND THANK YOU. 
          >> ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. 
          THIS NEXT ITEM IS ONE THAT'S SPECIAL TO ME. 
          PERSONALLY BECAUSE I GOT TO KNOW AND WORK ALONGSIDE THIS LADY. ANOTHER SPECIAL SOUL THAT WAS WITH US, BUT SHE, TOO, IS CELEBRATING HER LIFE FROM ABOVE. WE HAVE A COUPLE SPEAKERS ON THIS. ONE THAT KNEW HER INCREDIBLY WELL. THE OTHER WHO BENEFITTED FROM HER EXTREMELY WELL. 
          SO WE HAVE SPEAKERS CARMEN -- THERE YOU ARE. 
          COME ON DOWN. CARMEN AND THEN WE WILL HAVE ANOTHER SPEAKER VIRTUALLY. 
          WE WILL GET THEM BACK IN A MINUTE. 
          DO WE NEED TO PAUSE OR ANYTHING? WE DO NEED TO PAUSE? 
          >> WE CAN HOLD OFF. YOU CAN ANNOUNCE A BREAK POTENTIALLY OR WE CAN JUST WAIT UNTIL ANOTHER COMMISSIONER 
          APPEARS. >> VERY GOOD. 
          CAR CARMEN, ONE SECOND. 
          THERE'S ONLY THREE OF US. WHEN ONE WALKS AWAY, A QUORUM HAS CEASED. WE HAVE TO PAUSE UNTIL COMMISSIONER RAMSEY COMES BACK IN. 
          GIVE ME A SECOND. 
          BY THE WAY, FOR FOLKS TO KNOW, THIS YOUNG LADY RIGHT HERE IS -- SHOULD BE KNOWN AS MISS EDUCATION. 
          SHE'S ALWAYS SUPPORTING AND FIGHTING FOR ALL SCHOOL- AGE CHILDREN AND THE HOUSTON SCHOOL DISTRICT. 
          GOOD TO SEE YOU. THANK YOU FOR ALL YOU DO IN THE COMMUNITY. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TENACIOUS SPIRIT. YOU ARE A FIRECRACKER. 
          THANK YOU. GOOD TO SEE YOU. 
          WE CAN PROCEED. CARMEN, YOUR COMMENTS ON MISS EMILY COLE. 
          >> I WANT TO THANK COMMISSIONER GARCIA FOR DOING THIS. EMILY COLE WAS A PRINCIPAL AT JEFFERSON DAVIS HIGH SCHOOL FOR MANY YEARS. 
          I WORKED WITH HER. I SAW THE CARE THAT SHE HAD FOR THE KIDS. IN MY 51 YEARS I'VE BEEN VOLUNTEERING, I HAVE WORKED WITH MANY PRINCIPALS. MISS COLE WENT OVER AND BEYOND TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR KIDS HAD WHAT THEY NEEDED. SHE CARED ABOUT THEM SO MUCH THAT ANY PRINCIPAL THAT I WORKED WITH, I WOULD TELL THEM, WHEN I SEE THAT YOUR TOP PRIORITY ARE OUR KIDS, I WILL GIVE YOU 100%. 
          WE HAVE TO KNOW THAT OUR KIDS, WHEN THEY SEE THAT PEOPLE 
          [04:55:01]
CARE ABOUT THEM, THEY DO BETTER. 
          I KNOW THAT AS A FACT. 
          MISS COLE CARED SO MUCH ABOUT THEM. 
          WE HAVE TO -- WE DON'T JUST HAVE TO TOLERATE OUR KIDS, WE HAVE TO LOVE THEM. 
          SHOW THEM. THANK YOU SO MUCH. 
          >> CAN YOU HEAR ME? >> WHO WAS A GRADUATE OF JEFF DAVIS HIGH SCHOOL AND ALSO INTERACTED WITH THE PRINCIPAL ON A REGULAR BASIS, MAYBE BECAUSE YOU WEREN'T BEHAVING, FREDA. 
          >> NAME IS FREDA VILLALOBOS. I'M SORRY I COULDN'T BE THERE IN PERSON, THAT THAT I DIDN'T WANT TO MISS THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK ABOUT MY TRAILBLAZING HIGH SCHOOL PRINCIPAL. I IMMIGRATED FROM EL SALVADOR IN THE EARLY 90S, THEN MY MOM BROUGHT MY BROTHER AND I TO THE U.S. HOPING FOR A BETTER LIFE. I HAD THE PRIVILEGE TO MEET. ALWAYS HAD A PRESENCE BIGGER THAN MINE. 
          STUDENTS WERE INTIMIDATED BY HER. I ALSO SAW HER AS A STRONG WOMAN ALWAYS DRESSED IN A SUIT. AIMS TO TELL MYSELF, ONE DAY I WILL WEAR A LIKE THAT. YOU LIVE NO LIKE ME, A BROWN GIRL 
          SPEAKING BROKEN ENGLISH. >> YOUR TIME IS UP. 
          >> ALWAYS SAW BEYOND WHAT WAS EXPECTED OF STUDENTS LIKE ME. HE SAW US LIKE NO ONE ELSE WANTED TO SEE US. HE BELIEVED WE COULD IF WE WERE GIVEN A CHANCE TO FOUGHT TO ENSURE WE HAD IT. 
          FORGETTABLE MEMORIES FROM MY SENIOR YEAR. I REMEMBER SHE SAID, IF YOU EVER FIND YOURSELF STRUGGLING WITH COLLEGE, DON'T DROP OUT, REACH OUT. I WAS STRUGGLING AND I DID REACH OUT. 
          LONG STORY SHORT, SHE HELPED ME PAY FOR MY LAST SEMESTER. SHE'S THE REASON I WAS ABLE TO FINISH MY BACHELOR AND GRADUATE. I WILL NEVER FORGET THIS, BECAUSE IT MEANS THAT SHE MEANT WHAT SHE SAID. SHE BELIEVED IN MY POTENTIAL. HER LEGACY WILL FOREVER LIVE FOR ALL THE STUDENTS SHE FOUGHT FOR. 
          PRECINCT 2 IS BETTER AND STRONGER BECAUSE OF HER. MY DEEPEST GRATITUDE TO HER FAMILY FOR SUPPORTING HER WORK AND BELOVED STUDENTS AND MY CONDOLENCES. THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER GARCIA, FOR RECOGNIZING HER AND HER LEGACY. 
          >> THANK YOU FOR CALLING IN. THANK YOU. SHE DID NOT WANT TO MISS THIS OPPORTUNITY. LOOK, MISS COLE WAS BATTLING CANCER. 
          SHE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO WITHDRAW, BUT INSTEAD SHE TOLD HER FAMILY, I WANT PEOPLE TO COME IN AND TELL ME IF THEY LIKE ME OR NOT OR IF I MAKE THEM HAPPY OR NOT. TELL THEM TO COME IN. I GOT TO VISIT WITH HER. SHE WAS SOMETHING SPECIAL. WE WERE HOPING TO HAVE A PRODUCTIVE CONVERSATION ON EDUCATION, BUT FREDA AND SO MANY OTHERS, IN FACT MY NEPHEWS AND NIECES BENEFITED FROM MRS. COLE'S TENACITY TO NOT GIVE UP ON KIDS. 
          SHE WAS GIVEN THE WORST-PERFORMING HIGH SCHOOL AT THE TIME. THE FRESHMAN CLASS HAD APPROXIMATELY 1500 IN THE GRADUATING CLASS AND WOULD HAVE LESS THAN 100. THAT IS WHAT SHE WAS UP AGAINST. SHE PARTNERED WITH AN OIL EXECUTIVE WHO CAME TO HER AND SAID, DO YOU HAVE A PLAN FOR THE SCHOOL? SHE SAYS, NO, BUT I WILL PUT ONE TOGETHER. I WANT TO SEE THE PLAN. SHE PUTS 
          [05:00:01]
A PLAN TOGETHER, GIVES IT BACK TO HIM AND SAYS, HOW MUCH MONEY DO YOU NEED? YOU CONSEQUENTLY WORKED WITH HER AND PROMPTED MILLIONS OF DOLLARS INTO JEFF DAVIS. FREDA WAS ONE OF THOSE BENEFACTORS. MY NEPHEWS AND NIECES WERE BENEFACTORS. WHEN I FIRST GOT ELECTED MY SHERIFF, CALLED ME AND SAID, CAN I COME WORK FOR YOU? I CAN'T DO THAT. I SAID, WHAT DO YOU WANT TO DO? HE WAS WORKING FOR A DEALERSHIP, AUTO DEALERSHIP. I SAID, OUT OF CURIOSITY, IF YOU WEREN'T ABLE TO COME WORK IN THE COUNTY, WHAT 
          YOUR SALARY YOU'RE LOOKING FOR? >> WELL, AND MAKING 275 , BUT I THINK I CAN DO IT FOR 250. I'M LIKE, ARE YOU OUT OF YOUR MIND? I DON'T THINK ANYBODY WAS BEING PAID AT THAT NUMBER BACK THEN. 
          THAT IS THE EMPOWERMENT THAT SHE GAVE SO MANY KIDS IN THAT COMMUNITY. AS A CONSEQUENCE, SHE IS KNOWN AS A TURNAROUND PRINCIPAL OF JEFF DAVIS. THIS RESOLUTION READS THAT ON AUGUST 3, HARRIS COUNTY LOST A TREASURED EDUCATOR AND ADMINISTRATOR, EMILY COLE, WHOSE HARD WORK DREW ATTENTION AND APPRECIATION FOR MANY IN THE COMMUNITY. ORIGINALLY FROM LOCKHART, TEXAS, SHE LIVED AND LATER IN HOUSTON HEIGHTS SINCE 2007. FROM THE TIME SHE WAS A CHILD, SHE DREAMED OF BEING A TEACHER AND ACCOMPLISHED HER GOAL BY COMPLETING HER BACHELOR AND MASTERS OF EDUCATION FROM TEXAS STATE UNIVERSITY AND RECEIVED AN HONORARY PHD FROM THE HOUSTON COMMUNITY COLLEGE. 
          SHE WAS A SUCCESSFUL TEACHER AND ADMINISTRATOR FROM 1963 TO 2001. 
          DURING HER CAREER, EMILY WORKED AT MULTIPLE SCHOOL DISTRICTS, INCLUDING VACCA, SAN ANTONIO, AUSTIN AND HOUSTON. SHE BECAME AN ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL AND ELEMENTARY SCHOOL AND PORT HOUSTON AND FEW ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS. JEFF DAVIS HIGH SCHOOL NOW KNOWN AS NORTHSIDE HIGH SCHOOL, SHE SERVED AS AN ADMINISTERED 1974 TO 2001 CREATING POSITIVE CHANGE FOR STUDENTS ACROSS THE BOARD. MISS COLE MADE A MONUMENTAL IMPROVEMENTS IN GRADUATION AND COLLEGE-BOUND PERCENTAGES CREATING POSITIVE IMPACT. SHE WAS A COFOUNDER AND HELPS STUDENTS GRADUATE AND GET AWARDED SCHOLARSHIPS. EMILY IS KNOWN AS A GREAT MENTOR TO FAMILY FRIENDS AND FORMER STUDENTS AND SOMEONE WHO GAVE BACK TO HER COMMUNITY THROUGH VOLUNTEERING AND WORKING WITH THE INTERNATIONAL AND HUMAN HEIGHTS ASSOCIATION. SHE HAD A PASSION FOR READING, WHICH REFLECTED HER LIFELONG DEDICATION IN LEARNING AND EXPLORATION QUALITIES THAT SHE SHARED WITH HER STUDENTS FAMILY AND COMMUNITY. I WANT TO POINT OUT AND THANK ONE OF THE BOARD OF MANAGERS OF H ISD, RICK. WHEN I LEARNED OF MISS COLES HEALTH BATTLE AND KNOWING THE HISTORY OF JEFF DAVIS AND HER IMPACT, I REACHED OUT AND SAID, NORTHSIDE HIGH SCHOOL HAS NEVER ROLLED OFF MY TONGUE VERY EASILY. IN SPITE OF THE DEBATE OF JEFF DAVIS, KENNY ROGERS CAME FROM JEFF DAVIS AND A LOT OF OTHER INCREDIBLE FOLK, BUT FOR SOMEONE WHO HAD SUCH AN IMPACT THERE, THAT SCHOOL WOULD BE APPROPRIATELY NAMED EMILY COLE. 
          THIS RESOLUTION WILL ALSO REFLECT THAT HARRIS COUNTY COMMISSIONERS COURT HEREBY HONORS THE MEMORY OF EMILY COLE, HER LEGACY AS AN EDUCATOR, CELEBRATED IN ALL OF PRECINCT TWO, HARRIS COUNTY AND BEYOND AND LET IT BE FURTHER RESOLVED THAT NORTHSIDE HIGH SCHOOL SHOULD BE RENAMED TO REFLECT THE COMMUNITY SUPPORT OF THE SIGNIFICANT IMPACT AND ACHIEVEMENTS THAT WERE ACCOMPLISHED BY NAME AFTER EMILY COLE. THIS RESOLUTION WILL BE GOING TO THE BOARD OF MANAGERS AND TELLS ME THAT IT SEEMS TO BE ON FAST TRACK. WE WILL BE 
          LOOKING FORWARD TO THAT. >> THAT'S AMAZING. 
          >> THEN, WE HAVE THE NEXT ITEM. THERE'S ITEM FOUR OR FIVE, 
          [05:05:09]
WHICH WE WILL DO NO ACTION ON, THEN 536 IS CLEAR THE SHELTERS RESOLUTION. WE HAVE HERE A FEW FOLKS WALKING IN. COREY, ARE YOU HERE? IS COMING. I THINK HE HAD TO WALK SOMEBODY. 
          >> DOES ANYONE WANT TO GO HOME WITH THE DOG TODAY? 
          >> TONYA? >> MY NAME IS COREY STILL, OPERATES THE RESOURCE CENTER. VIPER IS OUR ONE-YEAR-OLD PITBULL AND HE'S VERY EXCITED. THEN, WE ALSO HAVE THIS LITTLE GUY IS PROBABLY ABOUT SIX YEARS OLD AND HE HAS ONE EYE AND IT LOOKS LIKE YOU HAD A ROUGH LIFE, BUT HE'S SUPERSWEET AND THEY HAVE BEEN GETTING ALONG ALL DAY. THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR RECOGNIZING US FOR CLEAR THE SHELTERS. IT'S A SUPER IMPORTANT NATIONWIDE EVENT THAT GETS PETS RECOGNIZING ADOPTED ACROSS SHELTERS AND ACROSS THE COUNTRY. WE WERE PARTICIPATING AND ADOPTED OVER 500 ANIMALS THAT MONTH AND HOPING WE CAN SHOOT FOR MORE THIS MONTH. WE HAVE A MEGA ADOPTION EVENT COMING UP THIS WEEKEND, SO IT WILL REALLY HELP US OUT AND GET THESE WONDERFUL PETS OUT THAT WE HAVE. 
          >> WONDERFUL. THANK YOU, COREY AND LEAH, FOR YOUR TEAM. HE SAID 
          THE PET IS NAMED VIPER? >> I SEE THE SERGEANT BACK THERE WITH THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE. I THINK THE VIPER TASK FORCE COULD BENEFIT FROM A MASCOT, SO JUST THROWING THAT OUT THERE. I'LL PUT PET FOOD IN THE BUDGET. COREY, THANK YOU FOR WHAT YOU DO AND THANK YOU FOR CLEAR THE SHELTERS FOR THEIR INCREDIBLE WORK. I HAVE GOTTEN SOME EMAILS FROM FOLKS THAT AREN'T HAPPY WITH DIFFICULT DECISIONS AND SOMETIMES THEY HAVE TO BE MADE, BECAUSE OF OVERCROWDING IN OUR SHELTERS. IF YOU DON'T WANT TO SEE THAT REALITY HAPPEN, THEN THE BEST THING WE CAN DO IS TO HAVE GOOD RESPONSIBLE PEOPLE STEP UP AND ADOPT THESE BABIES. 
          THE DOORS OPEN FOR ADOPTION. PLEASE CONSIDER ADDING ANOTHER MEMBER OF THE FAMILY TO THE EQUATION. THANK YOU GUYS. 
          >> THANK YOU ALL. >> IF I MAY VERY BRIEFLY, THANK YOU FOR BRINGING THIS FORWARD. DIRECTOR, YOU AND YOUR TEAM ARE AMAZING. I KNOW IT'S SO HARD, ESPECIALLY WITH LIMITED RESOURCES AND SO MANY ANIMALS THAT WE HAVE AND THE PROGRESS I HAVE SEEN THROUGHOUT MY TIME HERE AND YOUR COMMITMENT TO NEW IDEAS AND IMPROVEMENT. I REALLY RESPECT THAT. ANYTIME WE INVITE YOU TO ONE OF OUR COMMUNITY FAIRS OR TOWN HALLS, YOU ARE ALL THERE AND I AM ALWAYS FALLING IN LOVE WITH ALL OF THE ANIMALS. I HAVE AN ADOPTED DOG AND CAT WHOM I LOVE. I FEEL LIKE WE ALL WANT TO BE THE PERSON YOUR DOG THINKS YOU ARE, SO WE NEED MORE PETS IN THIS WORLD. REALLY, IF YOU WANT TO GO HOME WITH THE DOG, WE HAVE TWO. GO TO OUR WEBSITE. DIRECTOR, COULD YOU SAY AND HELP US SPREAD THE WORD? WE WANT THESE ANIMALS TO HAVE A GOOD 
          LOVING HOME. YOU CAN HELP. >> IT'S AT COUNTY PETS.COM AND YOU CAN FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL MEDIA AND WE ARE CONSTANTLY OUR PICK OF THE WEEK. JUST DISPLAYING HER ANIMALS. WE HAVE A TON OF GOOD ONES AND WE CAN USE THE HELP. COME OUT AND 
          ADOPT. >> THANK YOU. 
          >> WE ARE LOOKING AT MAYBE SOME PERMANENT MOBILE ADOPTION IN OUR PRECINCT. WE ARE TRYING TO WORK THROUGH THAT ALONG WITH SOME NONPROFIT'S, BUT YOU DO A GREAT JOB AND I APPRECIATE THE 
          PROJECT. >> THANK YOU. 
          [Emergency/Supplemental Items (Part 1 of 2)]
          >> WONDERFUL. THANK YOU. ANY OTHER SPEAKERS ON THE ITEM? COMMISSIONER RAMSEY, YOU HAVE A COUPLE OF ITEMS. 
          >> WE HAVE SERGEANT SCHMIDT AND I THINK WE HAVE A COUPLE, BEN AND JOHN. YOU ARE ALL YOUR AND OUR SPEAKERS. COME ON DOWN WHILE I TOLD HIM ABOUT SERGEANT SCHMIDT WHO BEGAN HIS DISTINGUISHED LAW ENFORCEMENT CAREER AT HARRIS COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE ON MARCH 10, 1980. SHERIFF GARCIA WAS IN JUNIOR HIGH AT THAT POINT AND SERVED HONORABLY FOR MORE THAN 
          [05:10:06]
FOUR DECADES. CAN YOU IMAGINE? MORE THAN FOUR DECADES. HIS EARLY ASSIGNMENTS INCLUDED SERVICE AS A DEPUTY IN THE PATROL DISTRICTS ONE AND TWO'S KEY. HE LATER TRANSITIONED INTO INVESTIGATIVE WORK AND REALLY DEMONSTRATED EXCEPTIONAL SKILL AND TENACITY. YOU'VE GOT TO HAVE TENACITY TO GO AND DO A LOT OF THESE INVESTIGATIONS. SERGEANT SCHMIDT ALSO DEVOTED 14 YEARS IN INTELLIGENCE. I COULD GO ON AND ON. I CONSIDER YOU A YOUNG MAN RELATIVELY SPEAKING. YOUR EFFORTS AND YOUR CONTINUED SERVICE IN THIS AREA IS WONDERFUL. FOR OVER 44 YEARS OF EXEMPLARY SERVICE AND DEDICATION TO THE SAFETY AND WELL-BEING OF 
          HARRIS COUNTY. >> HI. THANK YOU ALL. I'M HONORED AND DIDN'T EXPECT TO BE STANDING HERE, BUT IT'S BEEN AN HONOR, IT'S BEEN A PLEASURE AND LOVED -- I WOULDN'T SAY EVERY MINUTE OF IT, BUT IT'S BEEN A GREAT CAREER. IT TRULY HAS. WE ARE NOT QUITE DONE. I'M JUST TRANSITIONING OVER TO THE RESERVE, SO I CAN SLOW DOWN JUST A LITTLE BIT. HOPING TO ANYWAY. 
          THAT'S IF THEY CAN PUT UP WITH ME. THE 14 YEARS, YEAH. THAT WOULD BE PRETTY COOL. THE LAST TWO YEARS, DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AND SEXUAL ASSAULT. WE HAVE HAD GREAT SUPERVISORS OVER THE YEARS. THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH AND I'M HONORED. 
          >> THANK YOU. CONGRATULATIONS. >> HANG ON. COMMISSIONER 
          BRIONES? >> COMMISSIONER RAMSEY, THANK YOU FOR BRINGING DESPERATELY HONOR YOU. THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE AND SACRIFICE FOR THE LAST 45 YEARS AND KEEPING OUR COMMUNITIES SAFE. WE APPRECIATE YOU SO VERY MUCH AND YOUR COLLEAGUES WHO COME HERE TODAY AND ALL OF OUR LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS HERE IN HARRIS COUNTY, THANK YOU. I HOPE YOU HAVE SO 
          MUCH FUN. >> NOW, THIS CAN BE A ROAST AND A TOAST. THE ROAST IS USUALLY MORE FUN. 
          >> WE WELCOME . >> ON SUCH SHORT NOTICE, I AM A MAJOR WITH THE HARRIS COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE OVERSEEING THE INVESTIGATIONS BUREAU. I HAVE BEEN IN LAW ENFORCEMENT FOR A WHILE AND I'VE SEEN A LOT, BUT I HAVE NEVER BEEN ANYONE WALK INTO OUR OFFICE AND IN TERMS OF RETIREMENT. DOUBLED BACK, WALKED INTO MY OFFICE, PUT HIS HANDS UP AND SAID, I WILL TURN MY PAPERWORK. I SENT ME TO THE HOMICIDE COURT CASE BROUGHT. I COULDN'T HELP BUT LAUGH. THE MEN HAS RETIRED ON HIS OWN TERMS. IN ALL SERIOUSNESS, THAT REAFFIRMED TO BE EVERYTHING I KNEW ABOUT THE KIND PERSON AND PUBLIC SERVANT HE IS. AFTER 45 YEARS, HE STILL WANTS TO KEEP WORKING, WANTS TO SERVE AND BRING CLOSURE TO FAMILIES AND VICTIMS. WE ARE ONLY TREATING A FULL-TIME LEGEND FOR A PART-TIME ONE. 
          >> THAT'S RIGHT. THAT'S RIGHT. 
          >> LIEUTENANT, DO YOU WANT TO? >> GOOD AFTERNOON, COMMISSIONERS. I AM THE LIEUTENANT WITH HARRIS COUNTY'S SHERIFF'S OFFICE. THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS, I'VE WORKED VERY CLOSELY WITH MARK AND HE HAS BEEN A TREMENDOUS FRIEND AND MENTOR AND VERY KNOWLEDGEABLE. WHEN HE LEAVES, THERE IS NO ONE 
          [05:15:03]
LEFT WHO WILL FILL THOSE SHOES. WITH EVERYTHING HE HAS FORGOTTEN ABOUT LAW ENFORCEMENT, I JUST WANT TO THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER RAMSEY, COMMISSIONER BRIONES , FOR TAKING TIME TO RECOGNIZE HIM AND HIS 45 YEARS OF SERVICE. I WANT TO THANK HIS FAMILY AND MARK FOR STAYING THIS LONG AND FIGHTING FOR THE VICTIMS OF 
          HARRIS COUNTY. >> THANK YOU. COMMISSIONER RAMSEY, I WANT TO THANK YOU. HAS BEEN A PHENOMENAL GEM TO SHERIFF'S OFFICE AND TOOK OVER THE GANG UNIT. ADJUSTED INCREDIBLE WORK BRINGING OTHER AGENCIES TOGETHER AND WORKING WITH THEM AND SHARING INTELLIGENCE AND PUTTING AS MANY HANDCUFFS AS WE COULD ON PEOPLE THAT DESERVE IT. SERGEANT, THANK YOU FOR YOUR DEDICATION AND THIS GUY IS IMMENSELY HUMBLE AND KEEPS A DEMEANOR . PART IN THE FRENCH, FOLKS, IF YOU ALLOW ME, HE IS AN INVESTIGATOR. HE BROUGHT JUSTICE TO MANY VICTIMS OF CRIME AND IN THOSE 40 YEARS, I KNOW YOU WITNESSED QUITE A BIT. I KNOW THAT LIVES WERE TOUCHED AND CHANGED BECAUSE OF 
          YOUR WORK. CONGRATULATIONS. >> NEXT ITEM, OMISSION OR 
          [Departments (Part 3 of 3)]
          RAMSEY? >> I HAVE MENTIONED THIS EARLIER, BUT I THINK WE HAVE ONE SPEAKER, JENNIFER HUDSON, IF YOU CAN COME ON DOWN? I DON'T HAVE TO DESCRIBE THIS EVENT. I REFERENCED IT EARLIER. THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE CRISIS INTERVENTION RESPONSE TEAM OTHERWISE KNOWN AS AWARD-WINNING AS IT IS. AGAIN, IT IS MEANT PROFESSIONALS AND CLINICIANS WITH LONG WORSENING AND MAKING A DIFFERENCE. YOU ALL SAW THE NEWS WHERE I-45 WAS SHUT DOWN FOR HOURS BOTH WAYS AND A LADY THAT WAS GOING THROUGH A MENTAL HEALTH CRISIS WAS THERE WITH A GUN AND EVERYBODY PREDICTED EARLY ON THAT IT WOULDN'T END WELL, BUT IT DID. THANK YOU FOR WHAT YOU DO THERE AND EVERY DAY IN MAKING THOSE KINDS OF SUCCESSFUL COMPLETIONS. THE CRISIS INTERVENTION RESPONSE TEAM, THIS RESOLUTION RESPONSE WITH EXCEPTIONAL WORK IN MAKING HARRIS COUNTY A SAFER PLACE. 
          THANK YOU FOR WHAT YOU DO. >> COMMISSIONERS COURT MEMBERS, I MAJOR JENNIFER AND I'M HONORED TO BE HERE ON BEHALF OF SHERIFF GONZALES AND THANK YOU FOR RECOGNIZING THE BRAVE WORK ARE CRISIS INTERVENTION RESPONSE TEAM AND MANY OF THEM THAT THEY DO EVERY DAY AND MANY OF THEM ARE WITH ME TODAY AND I WOULD LIKE TO RISE AND BE RECOGNIZED. WE ARE GRATEFUL TO COMMISSIONER RAMSEY FOR BRINGING THIS RESOLUTION FORWARD AND TO ALL OF YOU FOR SUPPORTING IT. WHILE THE JUNE INCIDENT IN WHICH OUR TWO TEAM USED THEIR TRAINING AND GOD-GIVEN SENSE OF EMPATHY TO PEACEFULLY RESOLVE A VERY PUBLIC CRISIS WAS THE REASON BEHIND THIS MUCH DESERVED RECOGNITION, THE WORK THEY DO ON A DAILY BASIS IS CRITICAL TO ENSURING SAFETY OF ALL OF HARRIS COUNTY RESIDENTS SO FAR THIS YEAR ALONE, OUR UNITS HAVE RESPONDED TO OVER 2500 CALLS FOR SERVICE USING TRAUMA INFORMED DE-ESCALATION TACTICS TO SLIGHTLY RESOLVE SITUATIONS. 
          THIS APPROACH IS A HIGH PRIORITY SHERIFF GONZALES AND THIS IS HOW WE ARE NOW EXPANDING 12 UNIT. WE WANT TO THANK OUR PARTNERS FOR MENTAL HEALTH AND IDD FOR THEIR CONTINUED SUPPORT AND FOR THE VITAL EXPERTISE THAT THEY BRING TO OUR TEAMS. ADDITIONALLY, WE THANK THE COMMISSIONERS COURT FOR RECOGNIZING DEDICATION OF OUR PERSONNEL AND SUPPORTING THE EXPANSION OF THIS LIFE-SAVING 
          PROGRAM. THANK YOU ALL. >> WONDERFUL. COMMISSIONER 
          [05:20:04]
          BRIONES ? >> THANK YOU TO THE TEAM AND SHERIFF GONZALES FOR YOUR COMMITMENT AND THE COMPASSION THAT YOU DO NOT ONLY, BUT ALL OF YOU I HAVE PROFOUND RESPECT FOR WHAT YOU DO AND I LOVE THIS MODEL OF PAIRING LAW ENFORCEMENT WITH BEHAVIORAL HEALTH PROFESSIONALS TO DE-ESCALATE AND RESPOND WITH CARE, COMPASSION AND CLINICAL EXPERTISE. I SEE ALL OF THESE DIFFERENT TOOLS OR LEVERS THAT WE ARE INVESTING IN, SO WE ARE BEING THOUGHTFUL AND STRATEGIC. ALL OF THE THINGS TOGETHER WITH EARLIER THIS MORNING, I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR BEING THOUGHTFUL AS TO HOW YOU ADVANCE PUBLIC SAFETY IN OUR COMMUNITY AND WE HAVE DEEP RESPECT FOR YOUR CONTRIBUTIONS AND SERVICE. THANK YOU. 
          >> THANK YOU. MAJOR, REAL QUICKLY, THOSE CLEVER LEAVES LOOK GREAT. I ALSO WANT TO CONGRATULATE FROM INCEPTION. YOU GUYS HAVE BEEN A PHENOMENAL IMPACT. YOU WERE PIONEERS, BECAUSE WE WERE TALKING AS MUCH OF THEN AS WE ARE TODAY BY MENTAL HEALTH, ACCESS TO MENTAL HEALTH, DE-ESCALATION. ALL OF THE DISCIPLINES THAT ARE MORE COMMON LANGUAGE TODAY. I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR WILLINGNESS TO WORK. VERY DIFFICULT SPACE, BECAUSE REALLY IT IS COMPASSION THAT YOU HAVE TO LEAD WITH. I JUST WANT TO THANK YOU FOR THE IMPACT YOU ARE MAKING. THERE IS NO DOUBT THAT YOU ARE SAVING LIVES, THEN YOU ARE HELPING US MAKE SURE TO TAKE LAW ENFORCEMENT INTO A NEW CONTEMPORARY DIMENSION. BACK IN THE EARLY DAYS WHEN MARK SCHMIDT AND I WERE WORKING PATROL, THE WAY YOU DEAL WITH CRISIS IS EMERGENCY DETENTION ORDER. YOU HAD TO PUT PEOPLE IN JAIL. 
          AGAINST THEIR WILL, OBVIOUSLY. IT WAS PAINFUL TO HAVE TO WRITE OUT REPORTS DEPICTING WHY SOMEONE WAS NOT IN THE RIGHT SET OF MIND. THANK YOU FOR BEING PIONEERS, LEADERS AND PROFESSIONALS THAT YOU ARE AND WE NEED MORE. CONGRATULATIONS. 
          >> THANK YOU ALL. >> ALL RIGHT, COMMISSIONER 
          BRIONES, ITEM 538. >> YES, 538 RECOGNIZES NATIONAL BREAST-FEEDING MONTH IN AUGUST 2025. I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU TO DR. BROWN AND THE HARRIS COUNTY PUBLIC HEALTH TEAM, INTERIM DIRECTOR AND EVERYTHING THAT YOU DO FOR MOMS AND ALL PEOPLE ACROSS HARRIS COUNTY AND THEY ALSO WANT TO AGAIN THANK PRESIDENT LANDERS OF OUR HOUSTON BAR ASSOCIATION. I'M THE MOM OF THREE LITTLE GIRLS AND ONE OF THE HARDEST PARTS OF BEING A MOM WAS BREAST-FEEDING, BECAUSE BACK THEN THERE WASN'T THE SAME AND STILL A WORK IN PROGRESS FOR THE RECORD, BUT BACK THEN THERE WASN'T AS MUCH RESPECT OR TOLERANCE AND I REMEMBER THE DIRTY BATHROOMS YOU'RE TRYING TO FEED OR PUMP AND IT'S JUST NOT THE WAY IT SHOULD BE WHEN YOU'RE TRYING TO GIVE HER NEWBORN BABY THE NUTRITION YOU WANT TO GIVE THEM AS A MOM. I WAS REALLY PLEASED WHEN I WAS LOOKING AT THE DATA THAT 90% OF MOTHERS IN HARRIS COUNTY BREAST-FEED, BUT MANY FALL OFF, BECAUSE THERE IS STILL BARRIERS AND COMPLICATIONS IN THE WORKPLACE PUBLIC PLACES AND BEYOND. WE NEED TO ADD MANY MORE LACTATION PODS, BUT WE ARE MAKING PROGRESS. THINGS ARE CHANGING FOR THE BETTER AND I HOPE THAT TOGETHER WE CAN STAY UNITED AND CONTINUED TO MAKE HARRIS COUNTY AND BEYOND EASIER FOR WORKING MOMS AND PARENTS ACROSS THE BOARD AND NOT JUST BREAST-FEEDING, BUT BEYOND I JUST WANTED TO SAY THANK YOU AND I WANTED TO THANK MEMORIAL, BECAUSE WE NOW HAVE A MOBILE MATERNAL UNIT THAT COMES TO THE COMMUNITY CENTER EVERY MONDAY, SO JUST TRYING TO TAKE RESOURCES INTO THE COMMUNITY. AUGUST 2025 AS NATIONAL BREAST-FEEDING MONTH IN HARRIS COUNTY AND PROUD TO RECOGNIZE IT. THANK YOU, THREE PHENOMENAL WOMEN, FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP IN THE SPACE. I TURN IT OVER TO YOU. 
          >> MY NAME IS JANETTA WEBB AND I AM THE BREAST-FEEDING COORDINATOR FOR HERS COUNTY PUBLIC HEALTH WITH THE PROGRAM. 
          YOU FOR GIVING ME THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK ABOUT ONE OF MY PASSIONS, WHICH IS BREAST-FEEDING AND SUPPORTING FAMILIES IN HARRIS COUNTY. BREAST-FEEDING IS A POWERFUL TOOL TO IMPROVE LONG LIFE HELP HER BABIES. THROUGH SUPPORT AND EDUCATION IN OUR MATERNAL CHILD PROGRAM, HARRIS COUNTY PUBLIC 
          [05:25:04]
HEALTH IS WORKING TO CREATE A AND BREAST-FEEDING SUPPORT AT EVERY LEVEL. WE REAFFIRM OUR COMMITMENT TO BUILD ENVIRONMENTS THAT EMPOWER FAMILIES TO BREAST-FEED WITH CONFIDENCE, BECAUSE EVERY CHILD DESERVES THE HEALTHIEST POSSIBLE WAY OF LIVING. THERE ARE MANY FITS BENEFITS FOR BREAST-FEEDING. 
          HELPS LOWER RISK OF ASTHMA, OBESITY, TYPE TWO DIABETES, EAR INFECTIONS. MOTHER'S BREAST-FEEDING EXPERIENCE REDUCES RISK OF BREAST AND OVARIAN CANCER, HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE AND TYPE TWO DIABETES. OUR WIC AGENCY PROVIDES SERVICE TO OUR CLIENTS WITH BREAST-FEEDING'S PEER COUNSELOR SUPPORT AND LACTATION CONSULTANTS ON STAFF. ALL OF OUR SERVICES ARE FREE TO OUR PARTICIPANTS. IN CLOSING, BREAST-FEEDING OFFERS PROVEN HEALTH BENEFITS FOR BOTH AND PROVIDES CRUCIAL OPPORTUNITY FOR STRENGTHENING AND EMOTIONAL BOND BETWEEN THEM THAT CONTINUES THROUGHOUT CHILDHOOD. IT IS IMPORTANT TO CONTRIBUTE TO LIFELONG WELL-BEING WHILE HELPING REDUCE HEALTHCARE COSTS FOR FAMILIES. HARRIS COUNTY PUBLIC HEALTH IS DEDICATED TO PROMOTING BREAST-FEEDING THROUGH EDUCATION, SUPPORT SERVICE AND THE STRONG WORK OF CLINICS, MATERNAL CHILD AND HEALTHY STARS PROGRAMS AND COMMUNITY 
          PARTNERSHIPS. >> THANK YOU FOR WHAT YOU DO. 
          >> AFTERNOON AGAIN. I AM PRESIDENT OF THE HOUSTON BAR ASSOCIATION. THANK YOU FOR THIS IMPORTANT RESOLUTION AND THANK YOU TO THE ENTIRE COURT FOR PARTNERING WITH THE HOUSTON BAR ASSOCIATION AND PROVIDING THE INSULATION OF SIX, WHAT WE ARE CALLING LEGAL ACCESS WORKSPACE LACTATION PODS THROUGHOUT HARRIS COUNTY. THE PODS ARE AN IMPORTANT PART OF ACCESS TO JUSTICE AND I KNOW YOU DON'T THINK OF IT AS THAT, BUT IT PROVIDES ACCESS AND BASICALLY LEVELS THE PLAYING FIELD FOR MOTHERS AND STAFF AND THE LEGAL COMMUNITY, AS WELL AS JURORS BY PROVIDING A PRIVATE PLACE FOR THEM TO FEED THEIR BABIES. THIS PROJECT WAS THE CULMINATION WITH YEARS OF DEDICATION, ESPECIALLY THE MISHNAH BRIONES AND COMMISSIONER ELLIS FOR YOUR ASSISTANCE . I WANT TO THANK THE HOUSTON BAR ASSOCIATION'S LIBRARY COMMITTEE, AS WELL AS THE HARRIS COUNTY LIBRARY AND THE HARRIS COUNTY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE . THANKS AGAIN. 
          >> THANK YOU, PRESIDENT. >> COMMISSIONER BRIONES, I WANT TO TAKE A POINT OF PERSONAL PRIVILEGE  TO ACKNOWLEDGE YOU. 
          YOU ARE THE CHAMPION OF THIS AND YOU WORKED ON IT TENACIOUSLY BACK DOWN, BACKUP AND GOT IT DONE, SO ON BEHALF OF ALL MOMS AND I KNOW THEY APPRECIATE YOUR RESPECT. 
          >> THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER GARCIA. THANK YOU TO ALL OF OUR PARTNERS BUT I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU TO OUR JUDGES AND I KNOW THEY HAVE BEEN WORKING ON IT AND WE JUST GOT TO HELP YOU SHOULD ALONG IN THE ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT AND DID IT IN RECORD TIME, SO TEAM EFFORT AND I LOOK FORWARD TO BUILDING ON IT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. MY SECOND AND FINAL ITEM IS A RESOLUTION THAT RECOGNIZES JULY 3 THROUGH AUGUST 15 2025 AS NATIONAL AIR-CONDITIONING APPRECIATION DAY. WE HAVE A VERY SPECIAL GUEST. LOOK AT THIS. THIS IS OUR VERY SPECIAL GUEST. LET ME GIVE YOU SOME CONTEXT. I KNOW EVERYONE IN THIS ROOM, IF THERE'S ONE THING WE CAN AGREE ON IS THE IMPORTANCE OF AIR CONDITIONING ESPECIALLY IN HARRIS COUNTY AND THE SUMMER. 
          THE REASON I'M BRINGING THIS IS I AM DEEPLY GRATEFUL FOR THIS PUBLIC PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP THAT WE HAVE WITH THE ASTROS FOUNDATION. THEY LAUNCHED THE COOLING COMMUNITIES INITIATIVE IN OUR COMMUNITY. MY TEAM AND I ARE DEEPLY GRATEFUL THAT YOU 
          [05:30:01]
PICKED PRECINCT 4, SPECIFICALLY BALIN COMMUNITY CENTER. THANKS TO YOU, YOUR FIRST RECIPIENT AND NOW WE HAVE A NEW SYSTEM. IT REALLY WAS THE FOCAL POINT AND IT HAS BEEN FOR DECADES, BUT I'M REMINISCING BY LAST SUMMER. AFTER HURRICANE BERYL. FEDERALLY DECLARED DISASTERS AND HOW OPPRESSIVE THE HEAT IS AND WHAT A RISK IT IS TO OUR HEALTH, ESPECIALLY FOR SENIORS AND THOSE WITH VULNERABLE HEALTH CONDITIONS. I AM HAPPY THAT KNOCK ON WOOD NEXT AND WE ACTIVATE IT, NOW WE KNOW FOR SURE THAT WE WOULD BE ABLE TO OFFER THAT RELIEF AND SAFETY TO OUR RESIDENTS. I ALSO WANT TO THANK OUR NEW FRIEND, THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. NOT EVERYONE IS FAMILIAR AND I KNOW WE ARE ALL VERY PROUD ASTROS FANS . AS PRECINCT 4 COMMISSIONER, I AM THANKFUL. YOU ARE ONE OF THE LARGEST EMPLOYERS IN HARRIS COUNTY AND SPECIFICALLY LOCATED IN PRECINCT 4. CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG, THERE ARE APPROXIMATELY 10,000 EMPLOYEES IN THAT FACILITY, WHICH BY THE WAY IS 4.2 MILLION SQUARE FEET, WHICH IS ONE OF THE LARGEST FACTORIES AND I BELIEVE THE THIRD-LARGEST FACTORY IN UNITED STATES OF AMERICA THAT HAPPENS TO BE IN PRECINCT 4. NOT ONLY THAT, BUT ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY AND WHAT I WAS PARTICULARLY BLOWN AWAY BY IS THE FOCUS ON ENERGY EFFICIENCY NUMBER RESILIENCY AND SUSTAINABILITY. 
          THE AMOUNT INVESTED WITH CUTTING-EDGE COOLING SYSTEM. I WAS SO BLOWN AWAY AND HAVE BEEN THANKFUL, WHETHER IT'S ADOPT A ROAD OR THE COOLING COMMUNITIES. I'M ALSO THANKFUL GAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO OUR ESTEEMED SUMMER CAMP CHILDREN OF PRECINCT 4 TO GO TO THE GAMES, AS WELL AS THOSE INVOLVED IN SPORTS PROGRAMMING AND HARD-WORKING TEAM MEMBERS. ON SO MANY LEVELS, THANK YOU. I REALLY HOPE AND MY TEAM BE LEANING TO THE PUBLIC PRIVATE PARTNERSHIPS AND SO MUCH TOGETHER AND OUR GENEROSITY. YOU ALL ARE THE HEROES, ONE OF THE GREAT HEROES OF HARRIS COUNTY. 
          AGAIN, YOUR ASTROS UNITE US. NOT ONLY DO UNITE US AS A COMMUNITY, BUT YOU GIVE BACK IN AN AUTHENTIC WAY. I KNOW WE HAVE AMAZING SPECIAL GUESTS . OUR EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE ASTROS FOUNDATION HAS SIGNED UP TO SPEAK AND WE HAVE SOME OF OUR LEADERS AFTER HER. MISS DOUGLAS? 
          >> ABSOLUTELY. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY TO BE HERE AND THE RECOGNITION TO BE HERE IN FRONT OF THIS ESTEEMED COURT TODAY. WE JOIN YOUR ENTHUSIASM OF HAVING AS OUR PARTNER AT THE ASTROS ORGANIZATION ON THE COOLING COMMUNITIES PROGRAM. WE BOTH SHARE THE SAME VALUES AND COMMITMENT TO EXCELLENCE, INNOVATION AND DESIRE TO GIVE BACK TO THE LOCAL COMMUNITY. 
          THROUGH THE COOLING COMMUNITIES INITIATIVE, WE ARE PROUD TO SUPPORT COMMUNITY CENTER AND IMPORTANT SPACE FOR OUR COMMUNITY IN PRECINCT 4. YOUR PRECINCT, COMMISSIONER. WE LEARNED THE HAVOC SYSTEM NEEDED MAJOR UPGRADES, BOTH THE ASTROS FOUNDATION SAW THE OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE REAL IMPACT BY IMPROVING VITAL COMMUNITY SPACES THROUGH THIS PROGRAM, WE ARE HELPING TO ENSURE THAT EVERY HOUSTONIAN HAS ACCESS TO WELCOMING SPACES. IT WAS GREAT, AS YOU MENTIONED, HOSTING CHILDREN RECENTLY WHO CAME TO ONE OF OUR HOME GAMES AND I THINK THERE WERE PART OF YOUR ESTEEMED CAMPS AND BOYS AND GIRLS PROGRAMS. WE ARE HAPPY TO ENCOURAGE THEM TO BE IN THOSE INITIATIVES AND WE ARE PROUD TO HOST THEM IN THE WHENEVER YOU WANT THEM TO COME. WE ARE HAPPY TO HAVE YOUNG PEOPLE, AND VISIT US, SO WE WERE CELEBRATING THAN AS WE ARE NOW, AIR-CONDITIONING APPRECIATION DAYS. NOT EVERYONE KNEW WE HAD THOSE. THROUGH COMMUNITY PROGRAMMING AND STRATEGIC INVESTMENT, DAIKIN AND THE ASTROS FOUNDATION WILL CONTINUE TO PROVIDE SUPPORT TO PLACES THAT MATTER MOST IN OUR 
          [05:35:01]
          COMMUNITY. CALL ON US ANYTIME. >> THANK YOU, DOUGLAS, FOR YOU, YOUR ASTROS FOUNDATION TEAM. THANK YOU FOR BEING A TREMENDOUS PARTNER. WE ARE GRATEFUL FOR YOUR GENEROSITY. THANK YOU. 
          >> I'M CHRISTIE PITTMAN, SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT FOR RESOURCES. WE KNOW YOU, AS WELL, COMMISSIONER RAMSEY. IT'S GREAT TO BE HEARD TODAY. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THIS RECOGNITION AND OPPORTUNITY TO BE HERE AND HOW MUCH WE HIGHLY VALUE THE PARTNERSHIP WE HAVE WITH PRECINCT 4. WE ARE SO EXCITED TO BE HERE AS PART OF AIR-CONDITIONING APPRECIATION DAY AND WE UNDERSTAND THAT INNOVATION DRIVES US, BUT COMMUNITY REALLY DEFINES WHO DAIKIN IS. WE ARE HONORED TO GIVE BACK RIGHT HERE IN HARRIS COUNTY, WHICH IS ALSO MY HOMETOWN. TODAY, I'M EXCITED TO SHARE DETAILS OF OUR COOLING COMMUNITIES INITIATIVE AND PARTNERSHIP WITH THE HOUSTON ASTROS, WHICH ALLOWS US TO SUPPORT THE COMMUNITY CENTER, A CHURCH TUB IN PRECINCT 4, WHICH SERVES SENIORS, CHILDREN, YOUTH AND COMMUNITY IN GENERAL. NEEDED A NEW UPGRADED SYSTEM AND WE WORK IS DONE OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE A MEANINGFUL IMPACT WITH THE SUPPORT OF LOCAL LEADERS AND HOMETOWN TEAM, WITH THE COMMITMENT OF $55,000, WE SUCCESSFULLY INSTALLED NEW HVAC EQUIPMENT, THAT ENSURES THE CENTER STAYS COOL AND COMFORTABLE YEAR-ROUND. THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT AND BELIEVING IN THE POWER OF COMMUNITY AND TOGETHER WE WILL CONTINUE TO CREATE SPACES THAT INSPIRE AND NURTURE EVERYONE, SO THANK YOU FOR THAT. 
          >> THANK YOU SO MUCH. WE ARE VERY GRATEFUL. WE HAVE ANOTHER ONE OF OUR LEADERS, SENIOR DIRECTOR OF COMMUNICATIONS. 
          SPINNING THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER BRIONES . FOR YOUR ENERGY IN TERMS OF RECOGNIZING NOT ONLY DAIKIN, BUT WHAT THEY DO . I USED TO BE INVOLVED IN SOME WAYS, BUT BOTH ARE AT DAIKIN. 
          THERE'S NOT A DAY THAT GOES BY THAT I DON'T BRAG ON DAIKIN. 
          WHEN WE MET FROM YOUR CEO FROM TOKYO WITH A WONDERFUL CONVERSATION, I STILL QUOTE HIM, AMERICAN COMPANIES COULD TAKE A LESSON. I SAID, TELL ME ABOUT YOUR FIVE YEAR PLAN. HE LOOKED AT ME WITH SOME CONFUSION AND SAID, WE HAVE A 50 YEAR PLAN. WE DON'T HAVE A FIVE-YEAR PLAN. YOUR VISION IN WHAT YOU CAN DO AND BRING IN THAT VISION TO HARRIS COUNTY, PLUS THE OTHER THING IS THAT I GET TO TELL MY GRANDCHILDREN THAT WE ARE GOING TO DAIKIN AND THEY GET EXCITED. THEY DON'T KNOW THAT I'M TAKING THEM OUT TO THE FACTORY. THEY DON'T UNDERSTAND THAT. 
          THEY THINK WE ARE GOING -- THAT COMMUNITY WAS WONDERFUL AND I CAN'T THINK OF A BETTER NAME FOR THE GREAT ASTRAL BALLPARK. 
          THANK YOU FOR THE PARTNERSHIP. IT IS ENCOURAGING TO US ALL. 
          >> THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU FOR BRINGING THIS FORWARD AND THE IMPACT THAT YOU MAKE EVERY DAY, WHETHER IT IS A GAME GOING ON OR NOT. YOU ARE IN THE RIGHT TOWN FOR THE INDUSTRY YOU ARE IN. I ALWAYS TOLD MY FOLKS WHEN I SEE BLACK AND WHITE PHOTOS, I CAN'T IMAGINE HOW PEOPLE EXISTED IN THIS TOWN BEFORE AC WAS A THING. THIS GUY, I KEEP HEARING HIM TURN ON AND 
          OFF. >> ENERGY-EFFICIENT. 
          >> WE DON'T WANT HIS HEAD TO COLLAPSE I THINK IS WHAT IT IS. 
          THANK YOU FOR WHAT YOU DO. THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP. 
          >> THANK YOU. WE ARE SO GRATEFUL AND LOOK FORWARD TO YEARS OF PARTNERSHIP AND CONTINUE TO MAKE OUR COMMUNITY A BETTER PLACE. 
          THE MORE YOU DO WITH ISD, TRULY I WISH MORE CORPORATE CITIZENS AND MORE TEAMS AND FOUNDATIONS TOOK AN AUTHENTICALLY DEEP ROLE IN CONNECTING. WE ARE REALLY GRATEFUL. 
          >> DO WE HAVE ANY ITEMS ON THE AGENDA THAT DID NOT GET RESOLVED 
          PRIOR TO RESOLUTIONS? >> WE HAVE ABOUT 31 ITEMS. 
          >> DO WE NEED TO VOTE? >> LET'S TAKE A RECESS, 10 MINUTE RECESS FOR PHOTOS, SO FOLKS CAN GO ABOUT THEIR BUSINESS, THEN GET BACK WITH THE AGENDA. 
          >> CAN YOU VOTE ON THE ITEMS ON THE RESOLUTIONS THAT HAVE NOT 
          BEEN VOTED ON ALREADY? >> MOTION FOR ALL RESOLUTIONS. 
          [05:40:04]
          >> MOTION HAS BEEN MADE, SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR? ALL OPPOSED? WE WILL TAKE A 10 MINUTE RECESS TO TAKE PHOTOS. 
          >> CAN YOU SAY 
          >>> COLLEAGUES, IT IS 5:41, COMMISSIONERS COURT IS BACK IN SESSION. THE FIRST ITEM I WANT TO BRING UP IS 239, DAS OFFICE IS HERE , THEY HAVE TO LEAVE SO I WANT TO SEE IF THERE ARE ANY QUESTIONS. COMMISSIONER RAMSEY, I THINK YOU PULLED THAT ONE. IT IS TRAVEL AND TRAINING REQUEST BARRIERS OUT OF TEXAS? 
          >> THERE WERE VARIOUS ITEMS HERE, COMMISSIONER. 114, RELATED TO THE LIBRARY AND THE OTHER IS 27 RELATED TO THE VA. BOTH OF THOSE ARE BLANKET REQUESTS, AND IF YOU ARE DOING OUT-OF-TOWN TRAVEL ON BLANKET REQUESTS, I THINK, CONSISTENT WITH WHAT WE HAVE BEEN TALKING ABOUT FOR SEVERAL MEETINGS, I AM NOT COMFORTABLE WITH THAT. SO, I NEED A VOTE ON THOSE TWO ITEMS. 
          A >> OKAY, MAYBE I WILL MOVE THOSE TWO ITEMS, JUST THOSE. COMMISSIONER GARCIA MOVES THOSE TWO ITEMS AND I WILL SECOND. ALL OPPOSED? 3-1. 
          >> JUST FOR CONFIRMATION OF LINE ITEM 114 AND 127? 
          >> 27. >> IS THAT CORRECT? 
          >> IT IS 14 AND 27. >> OKAY. I MOVE THE REMAINING ITEMS. COMMISSIONER GARCIA SECONDS. ALL IN FAVOR? ALL THOSE OPPOSED? 4-0, ITEM PASSES. NEXT, I THINK IT IS -- WHICH ONE IS IT? THAT SOUNDS GOOD. 266? NO, WE WILL GO BACK HERE . IS THIS 
          193? IS THAT THE NEXT ONE? >> YES. 
          >> COMMISSIONER RAMSEY. PAYRAISE? 
          >> YEAH. >> I WANTED TO CLARIFY PUBLICLY A COUPLE OF THINGS. THESE ITEMS HAVE BEEN POLLED, BUT JUST TO UNDERSTAND THE PROCESS GOING FORWARD, IT WILL BE NEXT WEEK WHEN YOU BRING BACK ALL THE RECOMMENDATIONS FROM THE DIFFERENT GRADES FROM THE SHERIFF AND CONSTABLES, AND THAT WILL BE SOMETHING THAT WE WILL CONSIDER. 
          >> THAT IS CORRECT, THERE IS A SET PROCESS FOR OFFICIAL SALARIES WHICH WILL REQUIRE US TO POST NOTICE AND ALLOW FOR AN APPEALS PROCESS, FOR THE DEADLINE TO NOTICE THE INCREASES IS THE BUDGET ADOPTION WHICH WILL BE SEPTEMBER 18TH, SO WE HAVE TIME TO BE ABLE TO DO ALL OF THE 14TH AND IF THE COURT WANTS TO MOVE FORWARD THE ADMINISTRATION WILL WORK FOR THE 
          PUBLIC NOTICES. >> SO, THE DECISION TO MOVE FORWARD WILL BE ONE WEEK FROM TODAY, AND WE WILL THEN CONSIDER APPROVING ALL THE OTHER POSITIONS A WEEK FROM TODAY? 
          >> THAT IS CORRECT. WE ARE TRANSMITTING THE LAW AND PAY 
          SCALES ON THE 14TH. >> THAT'S WHAT I NEEDED TO 
          KNOW. >> I JUST WANT TO ASK, OF THE TWO RELATED, WHAT WE DO FOR PEOPLE BELOW THEM AND THIS ITEM? 
          >> COMMISSIONER, THE CONSTABLE , IN THESE ITEMS THE CONSTABLE HAS PUT ON THE AGENDA, THEY CONNECTED THE PAY RAISES AS 
          RATIONALE . >>, THEY CONNECTED IT? IT'S NOT 
          REQUIRED BY LAW? >> JUST THINKING ABOUT IT SO THE PUBLIC WILL KNOW, CURRENT SALARY FOR THE CONSTABLE IS 170 K . 
          THIS REQUEST IS FOR 100 $14,000, TO 61% INCREASE WHICH WOULD TAKE THE SALARY TO $292,000 AND SHERIFF SALARY, IF I'M CORRECT IS $213,000? SO, THAT MEANS THAT THE SALARIES FOR EACH OF THESE CONSTABLES WILL BE $75,000 HIGHER. 
          >> THAT IS WHY WE NEED TO TALK ABOUT IT. 
          >> OKAY. >> EVERYONE COMING BACK ON THE 14TH, THE BUDGET IS COMING BACK ON THE 14TH, SO OUR RECOMMENDATION TO THE CONSTABLES WAS TO TAKE THAT OFF, NOT DEAL WITH IT AT THIS AGENDA, THEN WE CAN HAVE A FULL DISCUSSION OF 
          ALL OF IT. >> THE CONSTABLES THOUGHT THAT THEY WANTED, IT WAS REQUIRED THAT THEY PUT THIS ON TODAY, THAT WAS NOT SOMETHING THAT INITIATED. 
          >> CORRECT. >> THAT WAS A COMBINATION WITH THE BUDGET OFFICE, MAYBE IT WAS CONFUSION, BUT THAT IS OKAY. I 
          [05:45:01]
WAS JUST TRYING TO GET AN UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT WE ARE 
          DOING GOING FORWARD. >> THAT IS CORRECT. 
          >> IT JUST MAKES ME FEEL UNCOMFORTABLE, WHEN WE ARE HAVING TO MAKE BUDGET CUTS ON A COUPLE HUNDRED MILLION DOLLARS DEFICIT , WHOEVER PUT THAT ON. I WAS MAKING THE CASE THAT YOU NEED TO HAVE MORE MONEY TO GO DO SOMETHING AND THEN YOU CAN TALK ABOUT THIS, THIS IS EASILY $50 MILLION OF PAY FOR FOLKS AT THE BOTTOM? AT SOME POINT WE JUST HAVE TO SAY, GIVE ME A BREAK. 
          >> MY NEED TO GO BACK AND REVISIT COMMENTARY AS WELL. 
          >> WE UNDERSTAND, COMMISSIONER, THAT'S WHY WE HAD NEXT WEEK, 
          ALSO. >> THANK YOU. 
          >> OKAY, THEN. THE NEXT ITEM, SO THAT ITEM HAS BEEN POLLED. WE DID DO TO 13 . COMMISSIONER RAMSEY? THAT IS JAIL FACILITY EMPLOYEE CHAIR PROJECT TO THE AMOUNT OF $500,000, COMMERCIAL 
          FUNDING? >> YEAH. IS EVERYBODY COMFORTABLE WITH A $1000 CHAIR? WE ARE GETTING 500. IF THERE ARE ANY CHAIRS GOING INTO THE MEDICAL FACILITIES, MAYBE THE HOSPITAL DISTRICT TO PAY FOR THEM. $1000 PER CHAIR MIGHT BE 
          NORMAL. >> THAT'S NOT TOO FAR OFF , IT IS ACTUALLY LESS THAN THE CHAIRS THAT THE COMMISSIONERS COURT IS 
          SITTING ON RIGHT NOW. >> TO CLARIFY, THERE ARE SPECIFIC CLARIFICATIONS THESE ARCHERS USED 24/7 WITH THE SAFETY COMPONENT ENSURING THAT THEY CANNOT BE TURNED INTO 
          PROJECTILES . >> I WILL MOVE ON THE ITEM. 
          >> MOTION MADE BY COMMISSIONER RAMSEY, SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER GARCIA. 4-0, ITEM PASSES. NEXT, ITEM 218, COMMISSIONER SIAKAM ENHANCED TECHNOLOGIES FOR COMMISSIONER PRESTON? 
          >> YES, THANK YOU. ON THIS, I WANT TO MENTION , I WANT TO THANK MARSHALL CHRISTENSEN FOR HER LEADERSHIP, LEADING THE HARRIS COUNTY FIRE MARSHAL'S OFFICE BUT SHE IS STAYING ON TOP OF THE FIRE CODES, MAKING SURE WE ARE COMPLIANT AND CONTEMPORARY WITH ALL THAT NEEDS TO BE DONE, BUT, JUST TO REITERATE THAT FIRST, I WANT TO THANK HER FOR HER WORK IN PREPARING THIS SECURITY PACKAGE TO DEAL WITH 1001 PRESTON BUILDING, WE HAVE EXPERIENCED SOME SECURITY ISSUES IN THE PAST, AND HER TEAM HAS BEEN IMMENSELY PROACTIVE, TO PREVENT SIMILAR INCIDENTS , GOING FORWARD. BUT, AT THE SAME TIME, AS I MENTIONED, WE HAD A FOUR ALARM FIRE, AND IS NOT FOR THE OPERATIONAL PERMIT , THAT SHE CAME TO US IN 2021, TO ASK FOR OUR APPROVAL, THAT FIRE COULD HAVE BEEN MUCH DIFFERENT. IT WAS A FOUR ALARM, SINCE YOU SIMPLY BECAUSE OF THE LACK OF FIRE HYDRANTS, AND THE STRUCTURE, BUT THERE WERE 100 FIREFIGHTERS THAT RESPONDED AND THEY CONSUMED ABOUT 200,000 GALLONS OF WATER FIGHTING THAT FLAME, BUT THERE WERE NO INJURIES ON THE CIVILIAN SIDE, AND ON THE FIREFIGHTING SIDE, AND I REALLY DO BELIEVE, FROM WHAT I HAVE HEARD, IT IS BECAUSE SHE MADE SURE THAT WE WERE APPROVING THE RIGHT CODES AT THE RIGHT TIME, AND AGAIN, MY APPRECIATION TO CHIEF CHRISTENSEN. I MOVE ON THE ITEM 
          AS PRESENTED. >> I SECOND AND I ALSO SECOND THE APPRECIATION, THANK YOU, CHIEF CHRISTENSEN, AND TEAM. 
          >> MOTION MADE BY COMMISSIONER GARCIA, ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? ALL AS OPPOSED. 4-0, ITEM PASSES. NEXT, COMMISSIONER RAMSEY, 
          DISTRICT COURTS , 237. >> THAT ONE, MENTIONED THAT REFERENCE IS SEPTEMBER 1ST DATE, OUR FISCAL YEAR IS OCTOBER 1ST, SO I WOULD MAKE A CHANGE TO THAT FROM SEPTEMBER THE FIRST TO 
          OCTOBER THE FIRST. >> SIMILAR TO THE CONSTABLES ITEM, WE MOVE THIS TO THE 14TH, TO CONSIDER OFFICIAL ELECTED SALARIES ALONG WITH THE BUDGET. THAT THE FIRST DAY THEY ARE ELIGIBLE UNDER THE STATE LAW. WITH THESE DIFFERENT 
          STATE-MANDATED ITEMS. >> NO ACTION ON THE ITEM. 
          >> THE NEXT ITEM IS 238, ACTION ON THAT ONE. 
          >> ISAAC ELATED A MOTION BASED ON THE FEEDBACK WE HEARD FROM COURT. THERE ARE TWO POSITIONS PENDING COUNTY ATTORNEY 
          [05:50:01]
APPROVAL, ATTORNEYS ARE REQUIRED TO RAISE THEIR SALARIES 
          ACCORDING TO STATE LAW. >> THIS IS ONE OF THOSE UNFUNDED 
          STATE MANDATES, CORRECT? >> 66,000. 
          >> COMMISSIONER, ANY COMMENTS? >> IT SHOULD START OCTOBER 1ST, 
          RIGHT? >> THIS WOULD BE REQUIRED TO 
          ATTEND THE FIRST. >> I SENT OUT A MOTION -- 
          >> MOTION TO APPROVE THE STATUTORY REQUIRED SALARY INCREASES FOR ELIGIBLE POSITIONS IN THE DISTRICT COURTS , AND TO DEFER CONSIDERATION OF THE REMAINING JUDICIAL SALARY REQUESTS TO THE FY 2026 BUDGET PROCESS. IS THAT CORRECT? 
          >> MOTION IS MADE, SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER GARCIA. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? ALL OPPOSED? 4-0, ITEM PASSES. NEXT IS ITEM 266, CAN 
          YOU PULL THAT ONE? >> YES. ON THIS PARTICULAR ITEM, THE ITEM ITSELF , LET ME GET TO THE RIGHT PAGE. THE ITEM ITSELF IS RELATED TO A REQUEST FROM THE HOUSING COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT, AND WITH THE HARRIS COUNTY HOUSING FINANCE CORPORATION, I WANT TO TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO TALK ABOUT THE FUTURE OF ARPA . THIS IS ABOUT ONE THING, PROTECTING THE ECONOMIC SAFETY OF OUR RESIDENTS, NOW AND INTO THE FUTURE. PEOPLE RELY ON US TO SAFEGUARD ESSENTIAL SERVICES AND HELP THEM STAY HOUSED, HEALTHY, AND WORKING . THAT MEANS MAKING TOUGH, RESPONSIBLE CHOICES TODAY . HARRIS COUNTY USED ARPA FUNDING TO INVEST IN HOUSING , HEALTH, JOBS, AND OTHER THINGS LIKE NUISANCE ABATEMENT. I AM PROUD OF THAT WORK. BUT, THOSE DOLLARS WERE NEVER INTENDED TO BE PERMANENT . THROUGHOUT THE TIME , I WAS IMMENSELY VOCAL AS COMMISSIONER RAMSEY WAS SAYING EARLIER, THIS WAS ONE TIME MONEY. DOING THINGS LIKE CHILDCARE, IT WAS ESSENTIALLY PILOT PROJECTS INTENDED TO SHOW A PROOF OF CONCEPT, IN THE HOPES THAT OTHERS WOULD LOOK AT IT, AND SAY IT IS WORTH FUNDING AND PROVIDING FUNDING TO. IT WAS NEVER INTENDED TO CREATE A PERMANENT PROGRAM , UNLESS IT HAD SOME SUSTAINABLE COMPONENTS TO IT. BUT, I AM SAFELY SAYING THAT WE NEED TO BE SURE WE ARE LOOKING AT THIS, AND WITH A GAP, AS WE ARE LOOKING AT IT, WE MUST SHIFT FROM BOLD INVESTMENTS TO FISCAL DISCIPLINE AND THE OFFICE OF MANAGEMENT AND BUDGET HAS REQUESTED 20 MILLION IN CUTS AS A START, BUT THAT CANNOT BE THE LIMIT BUT WE NEED TO GO FURTHER, TO AVOID DEEPER CUTS THAT COULD DESTABILIZE ESSENTIAL SERVICES. EVERY DEPARTMENT MUST ASK, IS THIS PROGRAM PERFORMING? IS IT REACHING THOSE IN NEED? CAN IT SURVIVE WITHOUT ARPA FUNDING. IF THE ANSWER IS NO, IT IS TIME TO REASSESS, NO MATTER HOW WELL INTENDED THE EFFORT. WE HAVE INVESTED NEARLY $1 BILLION IN ARPA INITIATIVES. NOW, WE MUST PROTECT WHAT WORKS AND STOP WHAT DOESN'T. EVERY DOLLAR WE REDIRECT NOW, HELPS US AVOID FUTURE CUTS TO SERVICES THAT PEOPLE COUNT ON, AND SERVICES THAT HARRIS COUNTY IS ABSOLUTELY RESPONSIBLE FOR. SO, LET'S PRESERVE THE STRONGEST PARTS OF A RPR ARPA, FOR THE HOUSING AND NUISANCE ABATEMENT AND LET'S TAKE A CLOSER LOOK AT WHAT WE DO NOT KNOW IF IT IS WORKING OR NOT. THIS IS HOW WE WILL BUILD A LONG-TERM ECONOMIC SAFETY FOR OUR RESIDENTS. I JUST WANTED TO POINT OUT THAT THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR THOSE AT THE CODE TO HELP MAKE THESE IMPORTANT DECISIONS. I MOVE ON THE ITEM AS AMENDED. 
          >> OUR SECOND. IT'S IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT THE INVESTMENT FROM ARPA WAS A ONCE-IN-A-LIFETIME OPPORTUNITY THAT WE DID NOT SQUANDER, HERE. WE DID A CONFERENCE OF EQUITY ANALYSIS ON HOW TO SPEND MONEY, AND IT WAS PROBABLY THE MOST SIGNIFICANT THING THIS COUNTY HAS EVER DONE, TO TRY TO ELIMINATE SOME OF THE GENERATIONAL POVERTY. BUT, UNTIL THAT IS CHANGED ON THE STATE LEVEL , OR A CHANGE ON THE FEDERAL LEVEL, MOST OF THAT WILL BE GONE , AND I GET IT. I WILL SECOND THE MOTION. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? AS OPPOSED? 4-0, THE ITEM PASSES. NEXT IS ITEM 299, COMMISSIONER RAMSEY. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? ALL THOSE OPPOSED, 
          [05:55:04]
3-1, THE ITEM PASSES. COMMISSIONER RAMSEY , YOU PULL 
          THAT ONE AS WELL? >> IF I COULD, GOING BACK TO -- TO THE ARPA ITEM, QUICKLY, TO YOUR POINT OF MAKING SOME INCREDIBLE INVESTMENTS IN KEY AREAS , ABSOLUTELY INCREDIBLE NEWS ACROSS THE COUNTRY, WE ARE THE STRONGEST, WE HAVE INVESTED THE MOST IN THE SOUTH OF THE UNITED STATES , EVEN ACROSS THE COUNTRY, VERY PROUD OF US HAVING MADE THAT DISTENTION. 
          >> IS A BIG ONE. I FORGOT TO PUT IN. 
          >> IN TOTAL, WITH ALL THE DIFFERENT TRANCHES, IT IS 
          APPROXIMATELY 17 MILLION. >> THAT'S ONE OF MY TOP ONES AS 
          WELL. >> IS HUGE. 
          >> THANK YOU. WE VOTED ON THAT OTHER ONE? 304. 
          >> MOVED. >> SECOND. 
          >> ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? 3-1, THE ITEM PASSES. NEXT IS 334, COMMISSIONER RAMSEY, YOU PULL THAT ONE, LONE STAR. 
          >> WE JUST NEED TO VOTE. >> ALL IN FAVOR? NEXT, 305, COMMISSIONER RAMSEY? MOTION MADE BY COMMISSIONER GARCIA, SECOND BY ELLIS, 3-1, ITEM PASSES. 352, COMMISSIONER RAMSEY? MOTION MADE BY COMMISSIONER GARCIA. SECOND BY ELLIS. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? 3-1. MISHNAH RAMSEY VOTES NOW. THE ITEM PASSES. NEXT IS ITEM 
          361. >> WE JUST NEEDED. 
          >> COMMISSIONER GARCIA MAKES EMOTION AND I WILL SECOND. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? 3-1, COMMISSIONER RAMSEY VOTES NO, THE ITEM PASSES. NEXT IS ITEM 362. COMMISSIONER RAMSEY? 
          >> KEEP ON GOING RODNEY, WHAT ABOUT THIS NEXT ONE? 364 , I JUST WANT TO MAKE A MOTION, I EMAILED IT AROUND TO AMEND THE BYLAWS SO THE OTHER FOR MACINTOSH CULTURAL HERITAGE COMMISSION TO EXTEND MEMBERSHIP BY FOUR AT-LARGE MEMBERS FOR A TOTAL OF NINE, THE FOUR AT-LARGE LAW TO BE NOMINATED AND APPOINTED BY COMMISSION, THIS IS WHAT WE HAVE DONE FOR MOST OF THE ENTITIES WE HAVE CREATED. COMMISSIONER VESIA MAKES EMOTION, I WILL SECOND. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? OPPOSED? 4-0, FOR ITEM PASSES. NEXT IS COMMISSIONER GARCIA'S ITEM 372. 
          >> YES, SIR. ON 372, I WANT TO TAKE A MOMENT OF PERSONAL PRIVILEGE TO RECOGNIZE MY INCREDIBLE TEAM, FOR EARNING SEVEN 20/25 ACHIEVEMENT AWARDS INCLUDING THE PRESTIGIOUS BEST IN CATEGORY. THESE AWARDS HONOR INNOVATIVE, EFFECTIVE PROGRAMS THAT MAKE A REAL DIFFERENCE IN PEOPLE'S LIVES AND I AM PROUD TO SAY THAT PRECINCT TO DATA DELIVERED ACROSS THE BOARD. BEST IN CATEGORY POINTS TO PROTECTING THE PRAIRIE. BAYOU CONSERVATION PROJECT, COLLABORATIVE EFFORT TO PRESERVE AND EXPAND THE LARGEST URBAN WILDERNESS PRESERVE IN TEXAS. EVEN BEATING THAT A FOREIGN COUNTRY CALLED DALLAS . A SPECIAL SHOUT OUT GOES TO SOMEONE I HOPE WE WILL EVENTUALLY RENAME ARMEN BAYOU IN FAVOR OF, THAT IS KRISTIN LEIGH, STAND AND TAKE A BOW, GIRL, YOU HAVE EARNED IT. ANOTHER STANDOUT WAS ACCESS TO CONTRACTS WHICH PROMOTES TRANSPARENCY AND EQUITY IN THE COUNTY'S PROCUREMENT PROCESS BY HELPING SMALL AND DIVERSE BUSINESSES ACCESS CONTRACTING OPPORTUNITIES, AND I WANT TO SEND A SPECIAL SHOUT OUT TO MR. GIMENEZ , MR. HOUSEMAN, AND THE REST OF MY ENGINEERING AND PUBLIC WORKS TEAM , FOR THEIR WORK ON THIS. IT IS AN INCREDIBLE PROGRAM, I AM VERY PROUD OF IT BECAUSE I WANT TO THANK HARRIS COUNTY PURCHASING, MS. PAGE, YOU ARE STILL HERE, SO THANK YOU. EVEN GOING BACK TO DWIGHT AND CONTINUING UNDER MR. MCGINNIS'S LEADERSHIP , AS WELL AS OUR INCREDIBLE TEAM AT THE PRECINCT 2 PUBLIC WORKS FOR THEIR WORK ON THIS PARTICULAR PROGRAM. ADDITIONAL WORKS RECOGNIZED PROGRAMS THAT CONNECT PEOPLE WITH HEALTH CARE, IMPROVE NEIGHBORHOODS, AND EXPAND ACCESS TO PUBLIC SERVICES, TO EVERY TEAM MEMBER IN PRECINCT 2. I WANT TO SAY, THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU. YOUR WORK IS A REMINDER THAT GOOD GOVERNMENT IS NOT ONLY POSSIBLE, BUT IT IS HAPPENING RIGHT HERE IN PRECINCT 2. CONGRATULATIONS, AND WE ARE SETTING THE STANDARD FOR EXCELLENCE IN HARRIS COUNTY. 
          [06:00:03]
CONGRATULATIONS , I MOVE ON THE ITEM IS PRESENTED. 
          >> SECOND, CONGRATULATIONS, COMMISSIONER AND TEAM, THAT'S 
          AWESOME. >> THANK YOU. I SECOND. 
          >> GREAT JOB, I WILL GIVE YOU A RESOLUTION FOR MY OFFICE, I 
          EXPECT IT WILL BE HUNG UP. >> THERE YOU GO. 
          >> HEARD THE MOTION AND SECOND, ALL IN FAVOR? ALL OPPOSED? 4-0, ITEM PASSES. COMMISSIONER BRIONES, THE NEXT ONE IS YOURS. 
          386? >> YES. 386 RELATES TO PARK SECURITY SERVICES, IN HARRIS COUNTY. THE EXECUTIVE SUMMARY, I PLEASE ASK MY COLLEAGUES TO HELP US REACH FUNDING FAIRNESS WITH REGARD TO PARK SECURITY. THE CURRENT STATE OF PLAY IS THAT PRECINCT 1 AND 2 HAVE THE HARRIS COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE PATROLLING THE PARKS, THE VALUE WE WERE GIVEN IS ABOUT 5.5 MILLION, IT IS BAKED INTO THE SHERIFF'S BUDGET, IT DOES NOT COME OUT OF P 1 OR P 2. BUT P 4, CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG, P 3 COMES OUT OF OUR PRECINCT BUDGET. I WOULD PLEASE BE ASKING FAIRNESS , IN ALIGNMENT, SO IF YOU ALL GET 5.5 MILLION IN VALUE, IF WE COULD PLEASE GET 2.75 MILLION EACH, TO P3 AND P4, SO WE GET AN EQUAL AMOUNT OF VALUE. I PROPOSE THAT WE EACH STILL GET TO CHOOSE WHO -- WHICH ENTITY WE WANT TO CONTRACT WITH FOR PARK SECURITY, AND THIS WAY, IT WOULD BE AN EASIER WAY, OR WE CAN ALL PAY FOR IT OUT OF OUR BUDGET, BUT IT WOULD BE HELPFUL IF WE COULD PLEASE JUST HAVE A CONSISTENT, FAIR ALLOCATION. GOD BLESS YOU. WE HAVE HAD VARIOUS ASSAULTS, SHOOTINGS, SOMEONE WENT MISSING, WE HAVE HAD NUMEROUS SAFETY ISSUES. OUT OF OUR PRECINCT FOR BUDGET, WE CURRENTLY SPEND ABOUT 4 MILLION ON PARK SECURITY. SO OF COURSE, I AM NOT ASKING FOR THE FULL AMOUNT BUT SOMETHING THAT WOULD BE CONSISTENT WITH OTHER 
          PRECINCTS. >> WE ARE SPENDING ROUGHLY FIVE OR SOMETHING, SO WHATEVER WOULD BE A NUMBER, IT IS ALL THE SAME . OBVIOUSLY WE HAVE MORE PARKS THAN ANYBODY ELSE, AND WE WILL BE SPENDING MORE, BUT IF WE COULD JUST HAVE A SET AMOUNT OF SUPPORT FOR EACH PRE-SPRING PRECINCT. 
          >> IS THAT EMOTION? >> I HAVE A MULTIPRONGED MOTION. 
          THANK YOU, TEAM, BY THE WAY. I LOVE YOU ALL. YOU ARE AWESOME. 
          THANK YOU TO THE BUDGET OFFICE AND THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE AND ALL OF THE PARTNERS IN MY PRECINCT, CONSTABLE PARTNERS, HERMAN AND ALBRIGHT FOR THE WORK THAT THEY DO, BUT HERE ARE THE EMOTIONS. MOTION 2, THE FIRST PRONG IS ALLOCATE BUDGETS FOR PARK SECURITY SERVICES AND PRECINCT 3 AND FOUR, SIMILAR TO THE AMOUNT CURRENTLY ALLOCATED FOR PRECINCT 1 AND 2. MAINTAIN THE EXISTING SERVICE STRUCTURE AND CURRENT BUDGET OF 5.5 MILLION FOR PRECINCTS ONE AND TWO, PARK SECURITY SERVICES WITH NO CHANGES. AGAIN, I DON'T WANT TO TOUCH OR MESS UP WHAT IS GOING , THE GREAT STUFF GOING ON THERE. MOTION TO ALLOCATE 5.5 MILLION IN NEW FUNDING, ACHIEVING PARITY WITH PRECINCT 1 AND 2 BUDGET TO BE EVENLY DISTORTED AS SCHOLARS, 2.75 MILLION FOR PRECINCT 3, PARK SECURITY SERVICES AND 2.75 MILLION FOR PRECINCT 4 PARK SECURITY SERVICES . AUTHORIZE THE TRANSFER OF THE ABOVE NOTED FUNDING AT THE BEGINNING OF EACH FISCAL YEAR FROM GENERAL RESERVES TO THE RESPECTIVE LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES FOR PARK SECURITY, SERVICES, INCREASING PRECINCT 3 AND FOUR REQUIRE PRECINCT COVER COST EXCEEDING THEIR ALLOCATED BUDGET FOR PARK SECURITY SERVICES, DIRECT THE OFFICE OF MANAGEMENT AND BUDGET TO TRACK CHANGES TO COSTS AND BUDGETS , IN PRECINCT PARK SERVICES OVER TIME, AND ENSURE PRECINCT ALLOCATIONS REMAIN FAIR AND AFFORDABLE. SO MOVED. 
          >> SECOND. >> A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS. WHERE 
          WOULD THE MONEY COME FROM? >> WE HAVE TO MAKE ADDITIONAL CUTS, OR PRECINCT 1 AND TWO WOULD NEED TO TRANSFER THAT EXPENSE INTO THE PRECINCT BUDGETS. 
          >> WELL, PRECINCT 1 IS NOT GOING TO TRANSFER , UNLESS SOMEBODY WANTS TO MOVE TO TAKE IT. AND IF SO WE BETTER HAVE A DISCUSSION ABOUT ANYTHING ELSE THAT DOES NOT GO EVENLY TO ALL THE OTHER 
          PRECINCTS. >> JUST TO GET SOME HISTORY ON 
          THIS, AS I UNDERSTAND IT -- >> FROM MY STANDPOINT, WHATEVER HAPPENS IN PRECINCT 1 WAS HAPPENING BEFORE I GOT HERE. 
          I'VE BEEN HERE NINE YEARS AND IT HASN'T CHANGED. GO AHEAD. 
          >> MY UNDERSTANDING WAS, IN 2019 OR 2018, THERE WAS THE OPTION FOR ALL COMMISSIONERS TO GO WITH THE SHERIFF AND THERE BE A CENTRALIZED BUDGET FOR PARK SECURITY . I THINK TWO COMMISSIONERS OPTED OUT AND DECIDED TO KEEP THEIR CONTRACT WITH THEIR LOCAL CONSTABLES . SO, THAT IS WHERE THE INEQUITY 
          STARTED . >> WOULD IT BE CHEAPER IF IT ALL 
          [06:05:05]
WENT TO THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE? OR IF IT ALL WENT TO THE CONSTABLES? I KNOW WE TALK A LOT ABOUT EFFICIENCIES HERE. 
          >> THEY ARE ABOUT THE SAME. THE COST OF THE SAME. 
          >> I HAVE TALKED WITH MY CONSTABLES WHO ARE DOING AN EXCELLENT JOB, WE HAVE 100% CONTRACT WITH THEM, THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE DOES NOT HAVE THE CAPACITY TO DO IT. SO TO ME, SECURITY IS MY TOP PRIORITY. WE HAVE BEEN PAIN, BUT AGAIN, WITH THIS BUDGET SITUATION THAT WE ARE IN, AND DIGGING IN WITH MY TEAM, I JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE IT IS FAIR AND CONSISTENT IN THE 
          PRECINCTS . >> COMMISSIONER RAMSEY? 
          >> I SECOND, IT'S A GOOD IDEA. 
          >> ALL RIGHT. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? ALL OPPOSED? I WILL JUST STAY NEUTRAL ON THIS ONE. I'M NOT SURE I UNDERSTAND IT. 3-0 
          AND ONE ABSTENTION. >> TO BE CLEAR, THIS WILL NOT BE IN THE PROPOSED BUDGET, THE BOOK IS COMING OUT TO YOUR OFFICES TOMORROW, WE WILL WORK TOWARDS THE AMENDMENT, AND YOU WILL SEE IT IN THE UPDATE THAT WE DO ON AUGUST 26TH . 
          >> THIS WILL BE THE NEW BUDGET. 
          >> YES, WE DO UPDATES, SO WE HAVE A PREVIEW FOR NEXT WEEK, WE HAVE A PRESENTATION, AND DISCUSSION , WE ALSO HAVE BIG-TICKET ITEMS, WE WANT THE COURT TO WEIGH IN ON SOONER THAN LATER, BECAUSE WE HAVE A LEAD TIME IN PARTICULAR WITH THE ARPA ITEMS, WE HAVE TWO HEALTHCARE ITEMS, AND THEN CONTRACT PATROL WE HAVE ON THERE, SO WE WANT ALL THE DEPARTMENT GENTLY TIME NECESSARY. COMMISSIONERS CAN AGREE TO THOSE RECOGNITIONS, OR, REJECT THEM . AT THAT POINT, WE WILL COME BACK WITH RECOMMENDATIONS TO FILL THE BUDGET HOLE . 
          >> I WANT TO MAKE SURE I UNDERSTAND THIS. ASSOCIATE ALLOCATING 5.5 MILLION IN NEW FUNDING FOR BUDGETS TO EVENLY DISTRIBUTE. IF YOU GET A 2.752 PRECINCT 3 AND 2.75 TO PRECINCT 4, DO I GET TWO POINTS I $5 MILLION? 
          >> THEY HAVE $5.2 MILLION BUDGETED. 
          >> 5.5. >> SORRY. $5.5 MILLION BUDGETED. 
          >> I WANT TO ANSWER THIS. I WOULD JUST PREFER TO GET MY 2.75 AND I DECIDE WHERE IT GOES. IS THAT FAIR? THAT MEANS WE ARE CUTTING THE SHERIFF, BUT I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT IF WE TALK ABOUT EQUITY, YOU KNOW, LET'S DO IT EVERYWHERE. 
          >> WE CAN COORDINATE WITH THE SHERIFF. 
          >> A FRIENDLY AMENDMENT, SO EACH OF THE PRECINCT WILL GET 2.75 ? IF WE WANT TO GIVE IT TO THE SHERIFF, WE CAN, IF WE WANT TO GIVE IT TO CONSTABLES WE CAN. SOMEBODY ELSE, WE CAN. 
          >> OKAY. >> WE HAVE NO OPINION ABOUT WHO 
          DOES SECURITY IN THE PARKS. >> IF IT'S 2.75 I MIGHT GO OUT TO SECURE IT. I WILL GO OUT AND PATROL THEM IF I CAN GET ONE OF 
          THOSE NICE SHARES. >> THE FRIENDLY AMENDMENT IS 2.75 MILLION FOR PRECINCT 1, 2, 3, AND 4, BEGINNING FY 2026? 
          >> SECOND. >> OKAY. BRING THE ITEM BACK UP. 
          >> BASICALLY 2.754 PRECINCTS ONE THROUGH FOUR. OKAY. 
          >> THE LOGISTICS, TO BE CLEAR, THE LOGISTICS WOULD BE, WE ARE MOVING 5.5 MILLION OUT OF THE SHERIFF, TO ALLOCATE TO REASONS ONE AND TWO , AND THEN WE WILL BE ADDING 2.75 TWO PRECINCT 3 
          AND FOUR. >> WOULD YOU PLEASE REPEAT THE 
          MOTION? >> I THINK WE NEED MORE DISCUSSION. I DIDN'T WANT TO BOTHER THE SHERIFF'S BUDGET OR HAVE ANYTHING TO DO WITH WHAT ONE AND TWO ARE DOING. WHAT HAS BEEN REPORTED AS OTHER IS $5.5 MILLION IN THE SHERIFF'S BUDGET FOR PRECINCT 1 AND TWO PARK SECURITY. I DO NOT WANT TO BOTHER P1 AND P2, I JUST WANT FUNDING FAIRNESS FOR P4 AND OF COURSE, THE THREE. BUT IF YOU TAKE IT OUT OF -- THEN OBVIOUSLY 
          THERE IS -- >> JUST ONE THING. I AM NOT SURE WE ARE MOVING INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION ON THIS, SB 23. BUT, MY UNDERSTANDING IS THE COMMISSION IS LOOKING FOR NEW FUNDING, AND THAT IS HOW I UNDERSTAND THIS MOTION , THAT WILL BE A CONVERSATION FOR BUDGET OFFICE, BUT IT IS NEW FUNDING TO GO TO 
          ALL FOUR OFFICES. >> YEAH. I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT EACH PRECINCT GETS THE SAME AMOUNT. 
          >> COMMISSIONER -- >> WE HAVE TO TAKE IT AWAY FROM 
          [06:10:06]
WHERE WE'RE TAKING IT FROM. THAT WAS MY CONCERN. I JUST TO MAKE SURE THAT MY PRESENT AND COMMISSIONER GARCIA'S PRECINCT, OBVIOUSLY, NOT BE LOSING. I DID NOT KNOW THAT WAS INEQUITY, 
          HONESTLY. >> BEASLEY I DON'T WANT TO TAKE FROM THE SHERIFF BUT THAT IS BAKED INTO HIS BUDGET, WHAT Y'ALL GET. SO I DON'T WANT TO -- THIS IS A UNIQUE YEAR. 
          >> THE HISTORY OF THE SHERIFF'S CONTRACT , THE HISTORY WAS THAT 
          COMMISSIONER FRANCO LEE. >> MOTION TO EXTEND? 
          >> COMMISSIONER GARCIA 'S CONTRACT WITH THE SHERIFF, AND SO, TECHNICALLY, WHAT HAS BEEN BAKED INTO THE SHERIFF'S BUDGET HAS COME FROM PRISONS WANTED TO. BECAUSE THEY WERE INITIATED 
          THROUGH CONTRACT. >> WAS ABOUT SAY, I THOUGHT THERE WAS ANOTHER NURSE YEAR. DON'T LET HIM KNOW THAT I FORGOT. THE FIRST GARCIA. OKAY. THE MOTION IS THAT EACH OF THE PRECINCT WILL GET 2.75, AND YOU ALL FIGURE OUT WHAT TO DO WITH 
          IT? >> WE CAN COME BACK WITH HOW IT 
          WILL LOOK. >> OKAY. 
          >> FOR THE RECORD, WE ARE GOING BASED ON THE MOTION COMMISSIONER 
          BRIONES RED. >> WE RECONSIDERED ALL OF THAT. 
          >> SO THEN WE ARE NOT VOTING ON THAT MOTION? OKAY. 
          >> JUST TO MAKE SURE WE ARE CLEAR ON IT, YOUR OTHER PARTS ARE FINE, EACH PRECINCT WILL GET TO 2.75. 
          >> BECAUSE THERE SEEMS TO BE CONSENSUS, I DON'T KNOW , COMMISSIONER BRIONES, IF YOU WANT TO LET US COME BACK NEXT WEEK WITH SOMETHING CRAFTED A BIT BETTER. WRITING MOTIONS AT THE TABLE HAS GOTTEN US INTO TROUBLE BEFORE. 
          >> YES, FROM A LEGAL PERSPECTIVE, YES. 
          >> LOOKING BACK ON THE SHERIFF'S BUDGET, I THINK IT MAKES MORE SENSE TO DO THAT, IF THAT IS OKAY. 
          >> I AM HEARING A UNANIMOUS COMMITMENT TO FUNDING FAIRNESS. 
          >> I WANT TO BE CLEAR, THIS IS NOT TAKING FROM THE SHERIFF'S BUDGET. I WON'T SUPPORT ANY ITEM THAT WILL IMPACT THE 
          SHERIFF. >> WE CAN'T. IT ISN'T LEGAL. 
          >> THIS MONEY WAS BAKED AND AS A CONSEQUENCE OF CONTRACTS GOING 
          BACK SEVERAL YEARS. >> IF WE ARE GIVING 2.75 22 OF OUR COLLEAGUES, WE WANT TO MAKE SURE, IF I STAY THERE, HE AND I 
          GET WHATEVER THE DIFFERENCE IS. >> COMMISSIONERS, WE CAN CRAFT IT AND SEND RECOGNITIONS TO OFFICES, I WOULD ONLY ASK IF WE COULD HAVE AN ITEM ON AUGUST 26TH, SO THAT GIVES US TIME TO 
          AMEND THE BUDGET BOOK. >> I THINK WE ALL AGREE. IS THAT 
          OKAY? >> SURE. I WAS THINKING IT WOULD TAKE EFFECT OCTOBER 1ST, THE NEW FISCAL YEAR. I WANT TO BE COGNIZANT OF WHEN IT WAS POSTED , BUT I ALSO THINK IN TERMS OF SECURITY FOR OUR FIVE OFFICES AS WELL, THERE SHOULD BE SOME FUND THAT IS EQUAL IN WHATEVER WE CHOOSE ABOVE THAT, THE DELTA IS PAID BY OUR OWN PRECINCT OR JUDGE BUDGET AND THAT IS SOMETHING I BROUGHT UP, JUST SO WE HAVE TRANSPARENCY AMONG THE 
          FIVE OFFICES. >> THAT IS A GOOD POINT. I DID NOT REALIZE HOW MUCH WAS BEING USED THERE. 
          >> OKAY. AT LEAST WE KNOW SHE IS WATCHING LIKE A HAWK. 
          >> SO, NO ACTION FOR TODAY. I RESPECTFULLY REQUEST TO BRING THE OTHER SECURITY ITEM BUT THANK YOU. 
          >> ITEM 388, COMMISSIONER BRIONES, YOU PULLED THAT ONE, BUT AS THE CITY OF HOUSTON MAINTENANCE AND PARKS. 
          >> THIS ITEM, I WANT TO THANK MY TEAM FOR MAKING THIS HAPPEN, THIS IS AN EXAMPLE OF PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN THE CITY OF HOUSTON AND HARRIS COUNTY PRECINCT , SEVEN PARKS WITHIN THE PRECINCT, ALSO WITHIN THE CITY OF HOUSTON, AND MY TEAM AND I WILL BE TAKING OVER THE TRASH PICKUP, MOWING AND OPERATIONS OF THE PARK. WE DID THIS UNDER MAYOR TURNER, MAY HE REST IN PEACE AND POWER, AND THESE ARE NOW SEVEN PARKS I WANT TO THINK, WITH MAYOR TURNER AND MAYOR WHITMIRE, FOR ALLOWING MY TEAM AND I TO LEAN IN, BECAUSE I WANT TO CONTINUE TO ELEVATE THE LEVEL OF SERVICE OF THESE PARKS, AND I LOOK FORWARD TO MAKING THEM REACH THEIR FULL POTENTIAL, AND I APPRECIATE THAT CITY OF HOUSTON AND I LOOK FORWARD TO OTHER OPPORTUNITIES WHERE WE CAN WORK TOGETHER TO BETTER SERVE OUR SHARED CONSTITUENTS . WITH 
          [06:15:04]
THAT, I MOVED 388 AS PRESENTED. THANK YOU AGAIN, TEAM, FOR 
          MAKING THIS HAPPEN. >> THE MOTION IS MADE, ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? 4-0, ITEM PASSES. NEXT, FOR 10 IS THE TRANSIT 
          TRANSMITTAL. >> I WANT TO TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO THANK SEVERAL PEOPLE, AS MANY KNOW, I HAD BEEN AFTER PROMPT PAYMENT, AND WE HAVE BEEN WORKING ON THIS FOR QUITE SOME TIME, WE ARE NOT THERE YET, BUT, PROGRESS IS BEING MADE AND I WANT TO RECOGNIZE THAT PROGRESS, SO I WANT TO BEGIN BY EXTENDING MY SINCERE THANKS TO RACHEL O'CONNELL , THE SENIOR PROJECT MANAGER FOR THE OFFICE OF COUNTY ADMINISTRATION FOR HER LEADERSHIP, AND DRIVING IMPROVEMENTS TO THE COUNTYWIDE INVOICE PAYMENT PROCESS , BETTER KNOWN AS PROCURE TO PAY. I ALSO WANT TO RECOGNIZE THE OUTSTANDING EFFORTS OF THE COUNTY AUDITOR'S OFFICE, PARTICULARLY THE ACCOUNTS PAYABLE TEAM LED BY REGGIE YANCEY, FOR THEIR CRITICAL ROLE IN STREAMLINING AND FORCING PAYMENT WORKFLOWS. COLLABORATING WORK ALONGSIDE PURCHASING AND UNIVERSAL SERVICES HAS ALREADY LED TO MEANINGFUL CHANGES, INCLUDING A MASSIVE THESE ARE HELPING TO PAY VENDORS FESTERS TO ENSURE A SMOOTHER, MORE EFFICIENT AND OF YOUR CLOSEOUT PROCESS FOR ALL DEPARTMENTS BUT I JUST WANT TO SAY, I APPRECIATE THE DEDICATION, THE CROSS DEPARTMENTAL COORDINATION, WHICH IS GOING INTO THIS EFFORT, AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO CONTINUING PROGRESS AS WE LOOK AT SHORT-TERM FIXES AND LONG-TERM INVOICE PROCESSING, FOR HARRIS COUNTY, AND I ALSO WANT TO GIVE 
          THANKS TO MY PROCURE DIRECTOR . >> ONE MORE COMMENT WHILE WE ARE 
          TALKING ABOUT THIS. >> WE ARE STILL WORKING OUT A LOT OF BUGS, WE HAVE MORE TO DO. THIS END OF YOUR PROCESS, AS WE SHUT DOWN FOR A MONTH, THERE IS DIRECT CONFLICT BETWEEN PROCURE TO PLAY, AND SHUTTING DOWN PAYMENT FOR A MONTH. SO, WE HAVE GOT A LOT OF ISSUES TO WORK OUT RELATED TO THAT, HOPEFULLY THAT 
          IS IN THE QUEUE SOMEWHERE. >> THANK YOU. COMMISSIONER GARCIA, THE NEXT THREE ARE TRANSMITTALS 411, 415 AND 437. 
          >> YES, ON 411, THE REVOLVING ENERGY EFFICIENCY FUND , THIS COURT HAS A RESPONSIBILITY TO BE STEWARDS OF TAXPAYERS AND THE REVOLVING ENERGY EFFICIENCY FUND , THIS IS A PERFECT EXAMPLE OF HOW WE DO THAT IN CREATING THIS REVOLVING FUND, WE ARE CAPTURING REAL SAVINGS FROM BUILDING UPGRADES AND REINVESTING THOSE FUNDS INTO MORE IMPROVEMENTS, THAT REDUCE WASTE AND CUT COSTS, AND MAKES COUNTY OPERATIONS MORE EFFICIENT. WE DO NOT HAVE THE LUXURY, AS SOME SAY OF AIR CONDITIONING IN THE NEIGHBORHOODS. EVERY DEPARTMENT HAS A ROLE TO PLAY, THE EXPECTATION OF THIS COURT IS THAT WE ALL TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE NEW TECHNOLOGIES AND PROGRAMS AVAILABLE THROUGH OUR UTILITY TO REDUCE ENERGY USE. THE ENERGY EFFICIENCY IS NOT JUST ABOUT COST SAVINGS, IT IS ALSO ABOUT DOING OUR PART TO STABILIZE THE GRID. THAT IS THE RESPONSIBILITY THIS COURT TAKES SERIOUSLY, ESPECIALLY AS EXTREME HEAT AND SEVERE WEATHER EVENTS BECOME MORE COMMON. SO, I WANT TO COMMEND OUR OFFICE OF COUNTY ADMINISTERED, OUR ENGINEERING TEAM FOR WORKING HARD TO IDENTIFY AND CAPTURE NEARLY 2 MILLION IN SAVINGS. SAVINGS THAT WILL NOW BE REINVESTED INTO COUNTY OPERATIONS. THAT IS INCREDIBLE PROGRESS. I DO WANT TO SAY TO DIRECTOR MILTON RAMAN, DR. ROMAN, AND TO LISA LYNN, AND JESSE, PLEASE STAY ON TOP OF THIS. I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THESE EFFICIENCY ENHANCEMENTS ARE ALL WORKING WELL AND QUICKLY. I DON'T WANT TO SEE ANY OBSTRUCTION OF IT, WE HAVE TOO MUCH WE ARE GAINING TO SLOW DOWN AND I WANT TO MAKE SURE WE ARE WORKING AS ONE TEAM , TO ENHANCE ALL THE EFFICIENCIES WE HAVE AVAILABLE TO US, SO I WANT TO MAKE SURE EVERYBODY IS WORKING TOGETHER, AND I WOULD LIKE TO HAVE A COLLECTIVE REPORT ON THIS, MAYBE IN MY OFFICE AT A LATER TIME. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. IS THIS A TRANSMITTAL? OKAY 
          [06:20:03]
THANK YOU. THE NEXT ONE IS ALSO A TRANSMITTAL, ITEM 415. THIS IS THE SAME CONCERN THAT I RAISED UNDER ITEM 19. I SEE THERE ARE 15 POSITION RE-CLASSIFICATION CHANGES FOR THE PURCHASING OFFICE. GIVEN THAT WE ARE IN THE PROCESS OF ON BOARDING A NEW AGENT, I WOULD RATHER LET THE NEW AGENT REVIEW THESE, AND DECIDE. MS. MCGINNIS HAS ALREADY AGREED TO THAT, SO I APPRECIATE THAT. I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE WE ARE GIVING THE NEW LEADERSHIP AN OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE A PERSPECTIVE ON THIS SO THANK 
          YOU. >> THANK YOU. I THINK YOU HAVE 
          ONE MORE. >>, THERE IT IS. HERE WE GO. 
          447, MISSES TO THE POINT. I AM PROUD TO ANNOUNCE WE HAVE COMPLETED OUR SEARCH FOR A NEW PURCHASING AGENT, FOR THE COUNTY, KIMBERLY JONES WILLIAMS WILL BE STEPPING INTO THE ROLE AT THE END OF THE MONTH, WE SET OUT TO FIND SOMEONE WITH BRIGHT EXPERIENCE, STRONG JUDGMENT, AND A COMMITMENT TO RESPONSIBLE PUBLIC SPENDING. AND I BELIEVE THAT WE HAVE FOUND EXACTLY THAT PERSON. SHE BRINGS A CLEAR COMMITMENT TO PUBLIC SERVICE, AND I LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH HER AS WE CONTINUE MOVING THE COUNTY FORWARD WITH TRANSPARENCY AND ACCOUNTABILITY. 
          I WILL JUST TELL YOU THAT, I AM MAKING THE ITEM BECAUSE I WANT TO WELCOME THIS NEW PRESENTED TO THE COUNTY. I WANT TO THANK JUDGE GOMEZ FOR LEADING THE PURCHASING BOARD CONVERSATION , THE SEARCH, THE INTERVIEWS, EVERY PERSON PER DISSIPATING IN IT, INCLUDING COMMISSIONER ELLIS, AND SO, IT WAS SOME REALLY GOOD CANDIDATES IN THERE, INCLUDING MS. MCGINNIS , VERY STRONG CANDIDATES. IT WAS A HARD DECISION, NOTHING TAKEN LIGHTLY, BUT I JUST WANT TO TAKE THE OPPORTUNITY TO WELCOME MS. WILLIAMS TO THIS HARRIS COUNTY FAMILY. 
          >> THANK YOU. I WANT TO WELCOME HER AS WELL, AND MS. MCGINNIS, I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR HOLDING THE SHIP STEADY FOR US, TO GET 
          [Emergency/Supplemental Items (Part 2 of 2)]
US TO THIS POINT. WE APPRECIATE IT VERY MUCH, AND FOR YOUR YEARS OF SERVICE. ALL RIGHT. THE NEXT ITEM? 
          >> THE NEXT ITEM IS, IS IT MINE? 479? 
          >> YES, 479 IS NEXT. >> THAT ITEM AS WELL, COMMISSIONER, COLLEAGUES, WE ARE CONSIDERING A POLICY THAT INSURES FAIR AND TRANSPARENT REIMBURSEMENT FOR EMERGENCY RESPONDERS WHO ASSIST ON OUR TOLL ROADS. THIS NEW APPROACH ALLOWS LOCAL FIRE, EMS, AND EMERGENCY SERVICE AGENCIES TO BE REIMBURSED FOR THEIR WORK, USING FEMA STANDARDS AND VERIFIED LABOR RATES . IT ENSURES ALL QUALIFIED AGENCIES ACROSS HARRIS COUNTY HAVE EQUAL ACCESS TO REIMBURSEMENT FOR SERVICES THEY PROVIDE. THE PROCESS IS DESIGNED WITH TRANSPARENCY IN MIND, REQUIRING CLEAR DOCUMENTATION , LIKE DISPATCH RECORDS, RESPONSE TIMES, AND LOCATION PHOTOS TO VALIDATE EACH CLAIM . NO PAYMENT WILL BE MADE IN ADVANCE, WHICH KEEPS US IN COMPLIANCE WITH STATE LAW AND PROMOTES ACCOUNT ABILITY. HECTOR WILL ENTER INTO AGREEMENTS WITH EACH AGENCY, AND THOSE WILL COME BACK TO COURT FOR APPROVAL, MAINTAINING FULL VISIBILITY AT EVERY STEP. IF ADOPTED, THIS POLICY WILL TAKE EFFECT ON THE FIRST , SEPTEMBER 1ST, IT IS A FAIR , RESPONSIBLE WAY TO SUPPORT THE FIRST RESPONDERS WHO HELPED KEEP OUR TOLL ROADS SAFE. ARE ALSO LIKE TO THANK DIRECTOR GAVINO AND HIS TEAM, FOR THEIR WORK IN DEVELOPING THIS POLICY. I ALSO WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT COMMISSIONER BRIONES, DURING THE SESSION, YOU REALLY WORKED TO HAMMER IN THE PROCESS OF REIMBURSEMENT, HOWARD SHOULD BE DONE, THE DOCUMENTATION THAT SHOULD BE INVOLVED , SO I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR HELPING TO PROVIDE AN IMPACT ON THE 
          STRUCTURE OF THIS POLICY. >> THANK YOU. 
          >> I MOVE ON THIS ITEM AS PRESENTED. 
          >> SECOND. THANK YOU, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR. 
          >> ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? 4-0, ITEM PASSES. NEXT IS ITEM 507. 
          COMMISSIONER RAMSEY? >> MOVED AS PRESENTED. 
          >> A COUPLE OF COMMENTS OUT TO MAKE SURE I BRING MR. TRIVINO ON. ARE YOU AROUND? REAL QUICKLY, LOOK, I THINK YOU HAVE DONE A GREAT JOB AND I SPENT A LOT OF TIME WITH YOU ON THIS. AS 
          [06:25:03]
I STATED TO YOU A NUMBER OF TIMES, THIS IS ONE OF THOSE RARE OCCASIONS , COMMISSIONER RAMSEY, WHERE YOUR PREDECESSOR AND I ENDED UP AGREEING. IT WAS THE LAST COURT , A MOTION WAS MADE TO BRING IN HOUSE AND I SECONDED. MY SUCCESSOR ENDED UP WITH MY ESSO PLATES AND I DISPUTED THE BILL AND THOSE PENALTIES, TOTALLY OUT OF LINE, AND I KNEW DIRECTIONS BUT SHE FELT SORRY FOR YOU PUT SAYS NO, HE ENJOYED IT. MY SUCCESSOR ENJOYED IT. BUT, YOU HAVE TOLD ME, MR. TRIVINO, THAT THIS WILL NOT BE THE PREDATORY PRACTICE THAT IT WAS BACK THEN, WHERE THE COURT UNANIMOUSLY AGREED TO BRING IT IN-HOUSE. I KNOW WE MOVING AROUND THE COUNTRY, WITH ISSUES KEEP GOING, AND WE DON'T KNOW THE DETAILS UNTIL IT COMES BACK, BUT I JUST WANT TO GIVE YOU AN ASSURANCE IN PUBLIC, WHEN THIS COURT GETS READY TO VOTE ON IT I WILL DO MY BEST TO KILL IT IF IT IS A PREDATORY PRACTICE THAT THE STATE HAS PUT IN PLACE AND LET HAPPEN FOR FAR TOO LONG. 
          >> YES, SIR. SO, THE NEW TOLL COLLECTION POLICY FINDS THESE ASSOCIATED WITH THE PURSUIT ARE MORE IN LINE WITH THE COST THAT THE AGENCY EXPENSE TO COLLECT. SO, IT IS NOT A PROFIT CENTER AND IT IS NOT PREDATORY AS IT WAS BEFORE, IT IS DIRECTLY ALLOCATED TO THE COST TO SEND ADDITIONAL INVOICES, THE COST TO REVIEW AND THE COST TO PUT POSTAGE AND PRINT COSTS. SO, WE WANT TO CORRELATE THE FINES AND FEES, WHICH IS REALLY A BAD NAME FOR IT, IT REALLY IS A REIMBURSEMENT OF COST TO COLLECT, AND WE WANT THOSE TO REMAIN IN LINE, JUST FROM WHAT EXAMPLE I HAVE SHARED, A 98% REDUCTION IN THE PAST PRACTICES, AND I WANT TO ASSURE YOU, COMMISSIONER, BECAUSE IT HAS BEEN A CONCERN OF YOURS IS THAT THE COMMISSIONERS COURT DICTATES THE FINES AND FEES, AND IF YOU ARE COMFORTABLE WITH ANYTHING WE ARE DOING IN THE FUTURE, WE CAN COME BACK TO ADJUST THOSE FINES AND FEES WITHIN THE COURT CONTROL. 
          >> STATE LAW PERMITS US TO DO THAT? 
          >> CORRECT. THE AGREEMENT WE HAVE WITH THE STATE, THEY FOLLOW OUR PRACTICES, BECAUSE THE VISION FOR THIS -- DFC WILL BE FOLLOWING HECTORS BUSINESS RULES, THE POINT WAS TO AVOID CUSTOMER CONFUSION FOR THE CUSTOMER IS ON A TOLL ROAD, THEY DON'T KNOW IF IT IS A D.O.T. TOLLROAD AND WE WANTED TO UNIFY BUSINESS RULES, THIS WAS THE GOAL, AND THE PRACTICES AND FEES , AND CENTRALIZE THE COMMUNICATION , WHERE THEY CAN CALL OUR CUSTOMER SERVICE, AND WE CAN ADDRESS ALL THE QUESTIONS 
          OF THE REGION. >> I WILL BE WATCHING LIKE A HAWK AND I HOPE WE ALL WILL. THERE WEREN'T THAT MANY ISSUES WHEN YOU HAD UP, MY COLLEAGUE AND I AGREE ON AN ISSUE, BUT WE AGREED ON THIS ONE. I DON'T WANT ANYBODY TO THINK THEY CAN GET THEIR NOSE UNDER THE TENT AND GO BACK AFTER PROPERTY TAX COLLECTION, WHICH IS EVEN MORE PREDATORY , BUT WE HAVE COME A LONG WAY SINCE WHAT WAS GOING ON BEFORE. 
          >> COMPONENTS TO THE COURT FOR NOTICING IT HAS BEEN A SUCCESS, IT IS JUST, THE VOLUME HAS GROWN . 
          >> WE TOOK THOSE TOLLS DOWN, BUT HAPPENS EVERYWHERE. 
          >> ABSOLUTELY SPOT COMMISSIONER BRIONES AND GARCIA? 
          >> THANK YOU, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, I NEVER HAVE TALKED A LOT ABOUT HECTORING, AND I APPRECIATE YOUR LEADERSHIP AND YOUR TEAM'S LEADERSHIP. SO, I WANTED TO BE CLEAR, I AGREE, COMMISSIONER ELLIS , VERY MUCH, I KNOW PROPERTY TAX IS A DIFFERENT REGIME, HIGHLY PREDATORY, I'M HAPPY WE BROUGHT THAT IN-HOUSE, COUNTY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE HAS BEEN DOING A SPECTACULAR JOB, THANK YOU. I USED TO HAVE A LOT OF THOSE PROPERTY TAX CASES IN MY COURT, COLLECTION. JUST SO EVERYONE IS LEVEL SET, THIS IS A TOTALLY DIFFERENT PARADIGM SUBJECT TO THE UPDATED POLICY THAT COMMISSIONERS COURT PASSED IN 2023, CORRECT? IT IS NOT PREDATORY, IT IS CAPPED, FAIR, REASONABLE, TRANSPARENT, COMPLETELY DIFFERENT PARADIGM , COMPLETELY DIFFERENT REGIME, CORRECT? I WANT TO BE CLEAR, AS COMMITTED AS I AM TO MAKING SURE WE CONTINUE THIS FAIR AND REASONABLE CAPPED COMPASSIONATE POLICY , FROM A BUSINESS PERSPECTIVE , WE MUST MOVE FORWARD WITH THIS, AND WE NEED THE CAPACITY, BECAUSE WE KNOW THAT AS MUCH AS OUR COUNTY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE IS DOING A GREAT JOB, WE STILL ARE NOT COLLECTING WITHIN AND OUTSIDE OF THE COUNTY AS WELL AS D.O.T. 
          COLLECTIONS, THIS IS NOT ADDING CAPACITY, IT IS A BOTH AND POSITION IN PARTNERSHIP WITH OUR WONDERFUL COUNTY ATTORNEY PARTNERS BUT I AM HIGHLY SUPPORTIVE OF 507, AND APPRECIATE YOUR LEADERSHIP, AND LOOK FORWARD TO CONTINUING TO RUN THE SAFEST -- ONE OF THE SAFEST AND MOST WELL-RUN 
          [06:30:04]
NETWORKS IN THE COUNTRY. I SHOULD YOU VERY MUCH, AND MOVE 
          507 AS PRESENTED. >> THANK YOU. 
          >> COMMISSIONER RAMSEY? >> HAD. 
          >> THANK YOU, DIRECTOR, WE HAVE HAD MANY CONVERSATIONS ON THIS TOPIC MORE ON THE REVENUE SIDE THAN THE COLLECTION SIDE, MISSIONARY ELLIS AND I DO AGREE ON THIS, BUT WHATEVER WE DO, WE NEED TO DO IT IN THE CATEGORY OF COLLECTING ALL THOSE DOLLARS ASSOCIATED WITH COLLECTION AND BEING SURE WE ARE PAYING ATTENTION. WE ARE CLEARLY STILL INTERESTED IN COLLECTING THESE TOLLS FROM FOLKS, AND MONTGOMERY COUNTY AND FT. WAYNE COUNTY AND OTHER COUNTIES AS THEY COME IN AND USE OUR GOOD SYSTEM. SO, AGAIN, THERE IS A BUSINESS ELEMENT TO THIS TO PAY ATTENTION TO. WE ARE RECOGNIZING OUR HARRIS COUNTY TOLLROAD SYSTEM AS A WELL-RUN SYSTEM, AND ENSURING ACCOUNTS RECEIVABLE GROWING TO THE POINT THAT IT BEGINS TO ENDANGER OUR ABILITY TO FUNCTION IN THE COUNTY. THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION. 
          >> COMMISSIONER GARCIA, WHO ESCAPED. 
          >> NO WORRIES. I WANT TO BEGIN BY THANKING YOU FOR THE WORK THAT YOU AND YOUR TEAM ARE DOING. IT IS NOT THE SAME PLACE, THAT YOU STEPPED INTO, AND WE, IN THE COMMUNITY, FEEL THE POSITIVE IMPACT OF YOUR WORK. I JUST WANT TO THANK YOU FOR THAT, AND ALSO, I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR ABILITY AND WILLINGNESS TO BE INNOVATIVE, IN THINKING HOW TO TAKE THE SYSTEM TO A DIFFERENT AND BETTER LEVEL. YOU ARE GETTING THERE. YOU KNOW, NOBODY IS LOOKING FOR ANYTHING PREDATORY, BUT, MY CONCERN IS THAT THERE COULD BE RAMIFICATIONS TO OUR RATE, AND SO, I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE NOT PUTTING THE SYSTEM IN JEOPARDY , BUT YOU'VE DONE TOO MUCH TO MOVE IT FORWARD. BUT, LEAVING THAT MONEY WITHOUT AN EFFORT TO COLLECT, NO PREDATORY PRACTICE INVOLVED, BUT JUST THE EFFORT TO COLLECT THOSE PUT US AT RISK. SO, I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP ON THIS 
          ITEM, I SECOND IT AS PRESENTED. >> MS. TRIVINO, YOU HAVE DONE A GOOD JOB AND I WANT TO ENCOURAGE YOU AS WELL. WHEN IT COMES BACK, I KNOW ON THIS ITEM, THIS DRAFT, WE DON'T KNOW WHAT THE PROPOSED FINES AND FEES ARE SO WE WILL NOT KNOW UNTIL YOU COME BACK 
          WITH IT. >> IT WILL BE WHAT HAS EXISTED IN OUR TOTAL POLICY. AFTER 30 DAYS IT WILL BE $10, IT WILL NOT BE THE $1000 COMPARISON OF THE PAST. 
          >> OKAY, GOOD. AND I WANT TO ENCOURAGE YOU, I HEARD COMMISSIONER GARCIA WORK, I USED TO BE IN THAT BUSINESS, SO I WOULD GIVE MR. RAMOS A VISIT ON OTHER ISSUES BECAUSE WHATEVER IMPACT THE BOND RATE IS JUST TAKING MONEY OUT AND THEN YOU DON'T HAVE ENOUGH MONEY COMING IN, NOT JUST FROM TOLL COLLECTIONS. SO, JUST MAKE SURE YOU ARE ALL IN ALIGNMENT. 
          >>'S, SO. >> WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR STAFF IS ALL HEARING THE SAME THING. THANK YOU, THE MISSION 
          HAS BEEN MADE AND SECOND. >> MOTION MADE BY ME? 
          >> BRIONES, SECOND BY GARCIA. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? ITEM PASSES, I KNOW HOW YOU GUYS ARE GOING TO VOTE. I WAS WATCHING. OKAY. NEXT ITEM IS ITEM 510 , RIGHT? YEAH. 510. COMMISSIONER RAMSEY? 
          >> PETERSON BACK THERE, THIS IS 50 VEHICLES , I THINK. I AM ASSUMING THAT THIS HAS SOMETHING TO DO WITH OUR PLAN, RELATED TO MAINTENANCE, AND THAT PROGRAM KICKING INCOME IS THAT RIGHT? 
          >> GOOD AFTERNOON, COMMISSIONERS. YES. COMMISSIONER RAMSEY, THIS IS ABOUT THE MAINTENANCE PROGRAM, THESE VEHICLES ARE CRITICAL INVESTMENTS, IN OUR EFFORT TO SCALE. SO THAT WE CAN DELIVER ON THE EXPANDED MAINTENANCE PROGRAM. JUST TO PROVIDE A LITTLE BIT MORE DETAIL ABOUT THIS CONTRACT, IT IS UP TO $5 MILLION , TOTAL AMOUNT, IT IS A FIVE-YEAR LEASE, AND IT ACTUALLY ADDRESSES UP TO 180 VEHICLES AT VARIOUS PLACES IN THE TERMS THAT WE HAVE WITH ENTERPRISE. SO, IT IS ACTUALLY FOR MORE THAN JUST THE 50 VEHICLES, UP TO 180. 
          >> I WILL MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE, AND I'M COMBINING MY CONVERSATION ON 521, RELATED TO FLOOD CONTROL MAINTENANCE, WE HAD A LOT OF CONVERSATION ON OUR 2018 BOND AND GOOD PROJECTS, 
          [06:35:08]
BUT, THE MAINTENANCE PROGRAM, $100 MILLION MAINTENANCE PROGRAM IS GOING TO BE FOUNDATIONAL TO MITIGATING FLOODING IN THIS COUNTY, FROM NOW ON, THESE VEHICLES ARE ASSOCIATED WITH THAT. IT IS GOOD TO SEE MOVEMENT HERE, IN TERMS OF THE DETAIL, I KNOW THAT YOU ARE GOING TO BE PROVIDING THE COURT A DETAILED SUMMARY IN THE NEAR FUTURE, BUT I JUST WANT TO MAKE A PUBLIC STATEMENT , THAT WE ARE WORKING ON A VERY DETAILED PLAN RELATED TO FLOOD MITIGATION PROJECTS RELATED TO MAINTENANCE, IT COULD BE CREWS OR WORK CAMPS, IT COULD BE ALL OF THE ABOVE, AND GOOD JOB, IN TERMS OF WHERE WE ARE HEADED AND I'M LOOKING FORWARD 
          TO GETTING THERE. >> THANK YOU. 
          >> DR. PETERSON, LIKEWISE. THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU, FOR THE WORK YOU ARE DOING. A LOT HAS COME YOUR WAY , WHETHER IT IS THE LEGISLATURE , WHETHER IT IS YOUTH PROGRAM MAINTENANCE, OR THE EXISTING WORK OF THE DISTRICT ITSELF, WHETHER BOND DOLLARS, WHATEVER THE CASE MAY BE. I JUST WANT TO TELL YOU THAT I APPRECIATE THE WORK YOU ARE DOING. THE COMMUNITY IS SEEING THE BENEFIT OF THIS, AND AGAIN, I TELL EVERYBODY, THAT WHEN YOU HAVE GONE FROM TWO COMPARABLE WEATHER EVENTS, BEING MEMORIAL DAY FLOOD OR THE TAX DAY FLOOD, AND THEN HURRICANE BERYL, ONE HAVING FLOODED 300,000 STRUCTURES ON THE OTHER HAVING LESS THAN 12, I THINK? IT IS NOT ACCIDENTAL . THERE IS WORK THAT HAS HAPPENED, NEW INFRASTRUCTURE THAT HAS GONE IN, THAT IS WORKING, WITH MAINTENANCE DOLLARS, IT WILL BE EVEN BETTER, BUT, OBVIOUSLY YOU ARE GIVEN A NEW PROGRAM, FOR WHICH YOU HAD ZERO INFO STRUCTURE FOR, NO PUN INTENDED, BUT, YOU HAVE GOT TO BUILD IT UP, THANK YOU FOR THINKING ABOUT THESE RESOURCES. 
          >> THANK YOU. >> DR. PETERSON, BRIEFLY, THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE, THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING YOU AND YOUR TEAM ARE DOING. I KNOW THAT WE HAVE SOME EXCITING UPDATES COMING UP, AND JUST SO THAT WE ARE ALL STAYING TUNED, OUR FLOOD MAINTENANCE UPDATE IS ON AUGUST 26TH? 
          >> CORRECT. >> SEPTEMBER 18TH FOR OUR BOND, 
          CORRECT? >> YES. 
          >> THANK YOU FOR ALL OF THE TIME THAT YOU HAVE SPENT WITH ALL OF US AND EVERYTHING YOU AND YOUR TEAM ARE DOING. THE MAINTENANCE AND BOND PROJECTS, IT IS A LOT AND WE ARE LUCKY TO HAVE YOUR 
          LEADERSHIP THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU. 
          >> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. MOTION MADE BY COMMISSIONER GARCIA? SECOND BY COMMISSIONER RAMSEY. ALL IN FAVOR? I'LL PASTE ALL OPPOSED? WHAT AM I SKIPPING? WHAT IS THE NEXT ONE? 
          >> YOUR TIMING IS IMPECCABLE. ITEM 518. THAT IS THE RULES AND 
          DECORUM BY COMMISSIONER RAMSEY. >> THAT IS THE ONE I DIDN'T HAVE ON MY LIST . COMMISSIONER RAMSEY, 518. 
          >> I THINK I DISTRIBUTED A MOTION. 
          >> DO YOU HAVE IT? >> I GOT IT. DO YOU WANT ME TO READ THE MOTION? MOTION , EFFECTIVE TODAY, TO DEFEND THE RULES OF PROCEDURE, CONDUCT OF THE COUNTY COMMISSION HARRIS COURT, DETERMINE THE LANGUAGE, ANY COUNTY ELECTED OFFICIAL OR EMPLOYEE SHALL CONDUCT THEMSELVES WITH PROPER RESPECT AND DECORUM , IN ADDRESSING THE COURT, PER DISSIPATING IN PUBLIC DISCUSSIONS BEFORE THE COURT, IN AN ALL ACCESS IN THE PRESENCE OF THE COURT OR WHILE IN COMMISSIONERS COURT COURT ROOM. 
          PROFANE, ASSAULTING OR THREATENING LANGUAGE AND RACIAL OR GENDER SLURS OR EPITAPHS WILL NOT BE TOLERATED. A MEMBER OF THE COURT MAY BE CENSORED FOR FAILURE TO CONDUCT THEMSELVES WITH PROPER RESPECT AND DECORUM IN COMMISSIONERS COURT COURTROOM BY A MAJORITY OF THE COURT. A CENSURE SELBY A FORMAL DECLARATION OF CONDEMNATION OF THE COURT MEMBERS BEHAVIOR TO BE PLACED IN THE MINUTES OF HARRIS COUNTY COURT. 
          >> SECOND. I WISH WE HAVE TAKEN THIS ITEM 1ST, EARLIER TODAY. 
          BUT, I HAVE A TINY FRIENDLY AMENDMENT, IF YOU WILL, 
          [06:40:02]
COMMISSIONER RAMSEY, ON THAT THIRD TO THE BOTTOM LINE, STARTING WITH A MEMBER OF COURT, MAY BE CENSURED FOR FAILURE TO ACKNOWLEDGE POINTS OF ORDER , FAILURE TO CONDUCT THEMSELVES WITH PROPER RESPECT, AND THEN AS IT GOES ON. BUT I WANTED TO INSERT THE FAILURE TO ACKNOWLEDGE POINTS OF ORDER. 
          >> I WILL ACCEPT IT. >> I HAVE A QUESTION. ALWAYS STUFFING IN AREAS WHERE WE COULD PRESENT PROBLEMS FOR THE COURT IN TERMS OF WHAT WE CAN AND CANNOT DO? 
          >> THESE RULES , AS WRITTEN RIGHT NOW, I DON'T THINK THERE IS ANY ISSUE HERE . IF WE WERE TO GO MORE THAN THIS , THAT WOULD BE SOMETHING WE WOULD HAVE TO LOOK AT , YOU KNOW, THE COURT CAN CREATE RULES TO GOVERN ITSELF IN THIS WAY. 
          >> OKAY, ANY DISCUSSION? EMOTION HAS BEEN MADE BY COMMISSIONER RAMSEY, SECOND BY COMMISSIONER GARCIA. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? ALL 
          OPPOSED? 4-0, ITEM PASSES. >> IT IS EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY, AND I WOULD LIKE TO MOVE TO CENSOR COUNTY JUDGE LENA HIDALGO TO CONDUCT HERSELF WITH PROPER RESPECT AND DECORUM IN AUGUST 7TH 25, THE FOUR CHILDREN, IN THE USE OF A 7-YEAR-OLD ON JUNE 26, 2025, WHO WAS VISITING COMMISSIONERS COURT, AND WAS SEATED BEHIND ME ON THE DAIS. INCLUDED IN THIS MOTION A REQUEST THAT THE COPY OF HIS FORMAL DECLARATION OF CONDEMNATION OF THE COUNTY JUDGE LENA HIDALGO BE PLACED IN THE 
          MINUTES OF TODAY'S MEETING. >> DISCUSSION? THE MOTION IS 
          MADE. IS THERE A SECOND? >> SECOND. 
          >> THE MOTION HAS BEEN MADE BY COMMISSIONER RAMSEY, SECOND BY COMMISSIONER GARCIA. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? I WILL VOTE NO. EVER 
          SKIPPED ANYTHING ELSE? >> I BELIEVE WE ARE ON 520, 
          COMMISSIONER. >> 520? 
          >> EXECUTIVE SESSION. >> QUICKLY, 2018 BONDS, ITEM 520. AGAIN, AS A POINT THAT WE ARE HEADED TOWARDS AS ALREADY MENTIONED BY DIRECTOR PETERSON , FOR OUR MEETING IN AUGUST AND SEPTEMBER, WE WILL KNOW A LOT MORE, RELATED TO THE UNKNOWN COST OF Q1 PROJECTS, DOES THAT INCLUDE THE FUTURE ? WE WILL KNOW THE COST OF OUR PARTNERSHIP PROJECTS, WE ARE GOING TO GET INTO WHAT WE WILL BE DOING AND NOT DOING IN A VERY DETAILED MANNER. THIS IS MEANT FOR THE PUBLIC, TODAY, SIMPLY TO SAY, WE ARE COMING, WE WILL HAVE THE DETAIL, WE ARE GOING TO COMMUNICATE THE DETAIL, WE ARE GOING TO TELL YOU WHAT WE ARE GOING TO DO, AND MORE IMPORTANTLY, WE WILL TELL YOU WHAT WE ARE NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO DO, BUT MAYBE IN A PHASE PHASED MANNER. THE OTHER THING THAT I AM ADVOCATING , AND WORKING WITH , PARTICULARLY FLOOD CONTROL , IS GETTING AN UPDATE ON WHEN WE ARE HITTING PROJECTS, I NOTICE ON TODAY'S AGENDA, THERE IS NOT ONE CONSTRUCTION OR CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROJECT FOR FLOOD CONTROL ON THIS AGENDA. WE HAVE SOME REAL SEVERE DEADLINES THAT WE HAVE GOT TO MAKE, SO, THIS IS JUST MEANT FOR INFORMATION, TRANSPARENCY, INDICATION, THAT ALL OF US, I KNOW, ARE FOCUSED ON TRYING TO GET THESE PROJECTS BID , PROJECT BUILD, WE WILL WORK ON THE DETAILS, THAT IS ALL THIS IS MEANT FOR, IS A COMMUNICATION OF WHAT IS COMING 
          DOWN THE PIKE. NO ACTION. >> FOR. AM I SKIPPING ANYTHING 
          ELSE? >> ITEM 521. 
          >> I COVERED THAT. WE ARE GOOD. >> ALL RIGHT. -- 
          >> NO ACTION FOR 520 AND 521? >> YES. NO ACTION ON 520 AND 521. CORRECT, COMMISSIONER RAMSEY? ALL RIGHT. I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE I AM NOT SKIPPING ANYTHING ELSE. 
          >> EXECUTIVE SESSION. >> YES, JUST THROUGH THE 
          SESSIONS, ITEM 470, 476. >> ARE YOU GOOD? I KNOW WE WERE 
          [Executive Session]
MOVING FAST. ARE THE MOTIONS AND THINGS OKAY WITH YOU ALL? OKAY. 
          [06:45:01]
SO, IT IS TIME FOR COMMISSIONERS COURT TO GO INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION ON ITEMS 476, 477, AND 478. 
          >>> IS IT BACK ON? IT IS 7:19 AND WE ARE BACK IN SESSION. WE HAVE ONE ITEM, ITEM 476. WILL YOU READ THE PROPOSED MOTION ? 
          >> SURE. MOVE TO CAST A 48 VOTES ON BEHALF OF THE HARRIS COUNTY FLOOD CONTROL DISTRICT 4 MARTINA LEMOND DIXON , TO BE NAMED AS A CANDIDATE ON THE FINAL BALLOT, WHERE ELIGIBLE TAXING UNITS WILL VOTE TO APPOINT TWO DIRECTORS TO THE HARRIS CENTRAL APPRAISAL DISTRICT BOARD OF DIRECTORS , LATER THIS YEAR. 
          >> SO MOVED. >> SECOND. 
          >> MOTION MADE BY COMMISSIONER GARCIA, SECOND BY COMMISSIONER RAMSEY. 4-0, ITEM PASSES. IT IS NOW 7:20. 
          >> COMMISSIONER, WHAT WILL IT PUT FOR 477 AND 478. 
          >> NOTHING. NO ACTION.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.