* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.
          [00:00:06]
          >> GOOD MORNING , EVERYONE, 10:12 A.M. AND I WOULD LIKE TO CALL THE AUGUST 26, 2025 MEETING OF THE HARRIS COUNTY 
          [Rabbi Samuel Rheins of Congregation Beth Israel in Houston introduced by the Commissioner of Precinct 4.]
COMMISSIONERS COURT TO ORDER, COMMISSIONER BRIONES? 
          >> I WOULD LIKE TO WELCOME RABBI SAMUEL RHEINS , HE WAS ORDAINED RABBI AT HEBREW UNION COLLEGE JEWISH INSTITUTE OF RELIGION IN CINCINNATI ON JUNE 1ST, 2024 AND SHORTLY AFTERWARDS, THE RABBI MOVED TO EUSTON AT AS AN ASSISTANT RABBI AT CONGREGATION BETH ISRAEL IN THE HEART OF PRECINCT 4 AT HE GREW UP IN DENVER WHERE BOTH OF HIS PARENTS ARE REFORM RABBIS, HE GREW UP IN THE REFORM MOVEMENT, ATTENDED REFORM JEWISH SUMMER CAMP AND GRADUATED FROM UNIVERSITY OF COLORADO-BOULDER WITH A MAJOR IN HISTORY AND MINOR IN JEWISH STUDIES IN 2017 . AFTER COLLEGE, HE SPENT ONE YEAR IN ISRAEL BEFORE ENTERING RABBINICAL SCHOOL AT HEBREW UNION COLLEGE IN JERUSALEM AND CINCINNATI. THE RABBI ENJOYS BEING WITH PEOPLE , PREPARING FOR HIS ROLE AS RABBI, TEACHING TO ALL AGES AND ENGAGING WITH CHILDREN AND SHARING HIS JOY OF JUDAISM . CONGREGATION BETH ISRAEL IS LOCATED IN PRECINCT 4 IN THE IRELAND NEIGHBORHOOD AND MANY RESIDENTS UTILIZE THE TRAILS ALONG THE VALUE AND I AM SO THANKFUL AND MY PRECINCT AND I ARE THANKFUL FOR YOUR PARTNERSHIP, RABBI , AND THE CONGREGATION'S AND THE HOUSTON PARKS BOARD AND I'M EXCITED ABOUT HOW WE ARE IMPROVING SAFETY AND ACCESS ALONG THE BAYOU. WE WELCOME YOU TO HARRIS COUNTY AND COMMISSIONERS COURT AND THANK YOU FOR BEING WITH US 
          TODAY. >> GOOD MORNING AND THANK YOU, JUDGE AND COMMISSIONERS FOR HAVING ME TO OFFER UP A PRAYER THIS MORNING, THANK YOU FOR THE KIND INTRODUCTION. I WANT TO START WITH A SMALL TEACHING, THIS WEEK, THE JEWISH PEOPLE, IN THEIR ANNUAL TORAH READING CYCLE, A RITUAL READING THE FIVE BOOKS OF MOSES, THE PORTION THIS WEEK TRANSLATES TO JUDGES . IN THE OPENING VERSES, WHEN YOU ENTER INTO THE LAND OF ISRAEL, A .4 YEARS OF JUDGES FROM AMONG THE PEOPLE WHO SHOULD BE RIGHTEOUS AND KNOWLEDGEABLE AND PURSUE JUSTICE IN EVERY CAPACITY. YOU WANT TO CONTINUE WITH ONE OF THE MOST FAMOUS LINES IN ALL OF THE TORAH, TRANSLATED TO JUSTICE, JUSTICE, SHALL YOU PURSUE . MY PRAYER THIS MORNING IS THAT ALL OF US , EVERY RESIDENT, EVERY ONE OF THE COMMISSIONERS COURT, HAS THE EYE TO JUSTICE AND LISTENING , THE YEAR TO UNDERSTANDING AND PURSUE JUSTICE, MAY GOD BLESS THIS COURT AND HELPING WITH THIS 
          DECISION. AMEN. >> THANK YOU, RABBI, FOR THE PRAYER. ALL RIGHT, WE WILL RECITE THE PLEDGE. TO I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS ONE NATION UNDER GOD INDIVISIBLE WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL. 
          >> OUT OF THE TEXAS FLAG I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO TEXAS , ONE 
          STATE, UNDER GOD. >> GUS, IS IT POSSIBLE TO PULL OUT THE SCORED A LITTLE BIT -- THIS CORD A LITTLE BIT ? I AM HAVING TROUBLE REACHING. THIS ONE. YEAH. THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT. 
          SO, TODAY, WE HAVE SOME HOUSEKEEPING NOTES THE OFFICE OF 
          [Departments (Part 1 of 3)]
MANAGEMENT AND BUDGET REQUEST WE TAKE ITEM 7 BEFORE THE DISCUSSION LIST AND THE DISTRICT CLERK, MADAME CLERK , REQUESTED TO TAKE ITEM 474 , FOLLOWING ITEM 7 TO ACCOMMODATE THE CLERK'S SCHEDULE AND OFFICE OF MANAGEMENT AND BUDGET REQUEST WE TAKE ITEM 2, 202, 203, PORTED JUDICIAL OFFICER SALARIES, AND 
          [00:05:01]
475, SALARIES FOR JUDGES AND OTHER ELECTED OFFICES TOGETHER AS THEY ARE RELATED TO INCREASING THE SALARIES OF CERTAIN ELECTRIC OFFICIALS. -- ELECTED OFFICIALS . OUT OF ORDER ITEM, UNIVERSAL SERVICES REQUESTED ACCOUNTING FOR 35, CYBERSECURITY UPDATE, AFTER LUNCH TO ACCOMMODATE A PRESENTATION. AS SOME OF YOU MAY HAVE HEARD, WE LOST A GIANT IN OUR COMMUNITY RECENTLY, BARBARA WAS A LEADER IN OUR COMMUNITY FOR MORE THAN FOUR DECADES, SHE MADE THE ALIEF COMMUNITY MORE RESILIENT , PART OF THE SUPER NEIGHBORHOOD AND FITTINGLY A TRAIL NOW BEARS HER NAME . IF YOU WOULD NOT MIND JOINING ME IN A MOMENT OF SILENCE TO HONOR BARBARA QUATTRO. THANK YOU. I AM 
          [Appearances Before Court]
SO HAPPY TO SEE SO MANY PEOPLE HERE, SO LET'S GET STARTED WITH SPEAKERS . IF , TIFFANY, YOU WOULD INTRODUCE OUR SPEAKERS WHO 
          JOINED US THIS MORNING. >> JASMINE ON ITEMS 2 AND 7 OF PRECINCT 1. EVELYN ON ITEM 2 OF PRECINCT 1. MARILYN ON ITEMS 2 AND 7 OF PRECINCT 4, YOU EACH HAVE ONE MINUTE. 
          >> GOOD MORNING. GOOD MORNING , JUDGES AND COMMISSIONERS, I AM WITH THE COLLECTIVE ACTION FOR YOUTH PROGRAM FOR THE YOUTH IN OUR COMMUNITY. GRANT CUTS TO IN VALUE YOUTH DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS , INCLUDING THOSE THAT CAN HELP PREVENT CRIME. THIS AFFECTS YOUNG PEOPLE 'S ACCESS TO CONSTRUCTIVE ACTIVITY AND CRUCIAL SUPPORT WHICH CAN INCREASE NEGATIVE OUTCOMES . WE SUGGEST PUBLIC SAFETY CAN BE IMPROVED BY INVESTING IN SOCIAL SERVICES THAT ADDRESS THE ROOT CAUSES OF CRIME RATHER THAN RELY SOLELY ON POLICING. THE SHIFT IN HARRIS COUNTY FUNDS FROM YOUTH AND HOMELESS NONPROFITS TO POLICE OFFICER SALARIES CAN CAUSE A GREATER STRAIN ON SOCIAL SERVICES AND A POTENTIAL RISE IN CRIME. THE INCREASE IN INSTABILITY FOR VULNERABLE 
          POPULATIONS. THANK YOU. >> GOOD MORNING. MY NAME IS MARILYN, COLLECTIVE ACTION FOR YOUTH AND HERE TO SPEAK ON PROPOSED BUDGET -- THE LARGE DEFICIT WE ARE CURRENTLY FACING NEEDS RESOURCES AND SERVICES FOR OUR COMMUNITY, PUBLIC SAFETY SHOULD NOT COME AS AN ADDED EXPENSE OF EVERYTHING ELSE THAT KEEPS THE COMMUNITY HEALTHY, IF WE KEEP DIGGING THIS HOLE DEEPER, IT IS OUR FAMILIES AND OUR NEIGHBORHOOD AND OUR COMMUNITY WHO PAY THE PRICE. I HOPE THIS -- I HOPE YOU REMEMBER THAT EVERY DOLLAR THAT IS TAKEN FROM OUR COMMUNITY PROGRAMS TO COVER THIS DEFICIT IS A DOLLAR TAKEN FROM OUR FUTURE. REAL SAFETY COME FROM INVESTING IN PEOPLE AND NOT JUST POLICING. WE DESERVE BUDGET THAT TOLD OPPORTUNITY AND NOT BARRIERS. 
          >> THANK YOU. >> HELLO, I AM EVELYN AND HER TO SPEAK ABOUT THE DEFICIT IN THE BUDGETING . A LOT OF THE PROGRAMS THAT ARE AT RISK OUR OPPORTUNITY AND SUPPORT PROGRAMS WE ALREADY KNOW THAT WE ARE BEING TACKLED BY THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT WHEN IT COMES TO PROGRAM AND FEDERAL ACCESS TO AVAILABILITIES AS FAR AS FOOD AND RESOURCES, KNOWING THAT WE ARE ALSO SUFFERING THAT AT A COUNTY LEVEL, KNOWING THAT IT IS NOT SOMETHING THAT HAS TO BE DONE, IS SOMETHING THAT THE COMMUNITY DOES NOT WANT BECAUSE THEY ARE A LOT OF PROGRAM THAT THE YOUTH GAIN A LOT OF OPPORTUNITIES FOR , IF THEY DO NOT GAIN FROM HERE, WHERE DO THEY GAIN THEM? 
          >> JUDGE , I AM GETTING A REQUEST FROM THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATION FOLKS THAT, WHEN SPEAKERS ARE DONE SPEAKING, IF THEY COULD LEAVE THE ROOM, WE HAVE MORE SPEAKERS THAN CAPACITY TO SEE THEM. IF YOU CAN LET EVERYONE KNOW. 
          >> OKAY. ALL RIGHT. I GUESS Y'ALL -- IF YOU WANT TO WATCH, YOU CAN WAIT IN THE OVERFLOW ROOM, I HATE FOR SPEAKERS NOT TO BE ABLE TO STAY HERE BUT THAT IS THE ONLY THOUGHT I HAVE. 
          COLLEAGUES, CAN YOU THINK OF A FAIRER WAY TO DO THIS? ALL RIGHT, SO, FOR ANYBODY THAT -- AS THEY LEAVE, I WAS GOING TO MENTION THIS LATER, THE BUDGET DIRECTOR'S RECOMMENDATIONS OVER 
          [00:10:01]
THE PAST YEAR OR SO, IN TERMS OF EXPENDITURES THAT HAVE BEEN REQUESTED, IN WHITE, THOSE OF US WHO FOLLOWED THE RECOMMENDATION OF THE PROFESSIONAL BUDGET DIRECTOR AND IN RED IS THOSE OF US WHO DID NOT, YOU CAN SEE THIS PRECINCT 2, 3, 4 WHO DID NOT FOLLOW THE RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE BUDGET DIRECTOR LEADING TO A $200 DEFICIT THAT THEY NOW HAVE TO PATCH. I LIKE TO CALL IT SHOPAHOLIC. HERE, YOU WILL SEE -- WE WILL SHOW THIS LATER, THE CUT IN THE $200 MILLION BUDGET, SOME CORRECTIONS TO THE DOUBLESPEAK . THE FACT OF THE MATTER IS I AM NOT VOTING FOR MATT CUTS TO SERVICES . I DID NOT CREATE THIS DEFICIT AND I AM RELYING ON MY COLLEAGUES IN PRECINCT 2, 3, 4 TO BE TRANSPARENT WITH THE PUBLIC ABOUT WHAT IS BEING CUT, IF IT IS NOT YOUR TRAIL IT WILL BE YOUR CLINIC, IF IT WILL NOT BE YOUR SENIOR CENTER, IT WILL BE YOUR ELECTIONS DEPARTMENT. THE MONEY HAS TO COME FROM SOMEHWERE. FACTS ARE FRIENDLY AND HERE ARE THE FACTS AND DETAILS. 
          >> CAN I ASK, WE ASK COUNTY STAFF TO STEP OUT WHAT WE HAVE SPEAKERS SO MORE SPEAKERS CAN FILL THE SEATS HERE? IF FOLKS NEED TO COME BACK LATER -- TO GREAT IDEA. LET'S CONTINUE. 
          >> ALEX CAMPBELL ON ITEMS 2 AND 7 IN PRECINCT 1, MICHAEL GALLOWAY ON 2 AND 7 IN PRECINCT 1 AND JADEN MILLER ON ITEM 2, 
          YOU EACH HAVE ONE MINUTE. >> GOOD MORNING MY NAME IS ALEX CAMPBELL AND WITH COLLECTIVE ACTION FOR YOUTH, A RESIDENT OF PRECINCT 1 AND HERE TO SPEAK ON THE PROPOSED BUDGET FOR FISCAL YEAR 2026 . I COLLECTIVE ACTION FOR YOUTH, WE ARE DEDICATING TO GRADING STATE AND HOLISTIC LIFE FULL OF OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE YOUNG PEOPLE WE SERVE. I HOPE THAT YOU ARE DEDICATED TO THOSE SAME PRINCIPLES. YOU ARE FACED WITH A SELF-IMPOSED CHALLENGE OF CUTTING SERVICES THAT HELP REAL WORKING-CLASS FAMILIES . I URGE YOU TO TRY AND SALVAGE AS MANY PUBLIC SERVICES AND PROGRAMS AS POSSIBLE. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. 
          >> THANK YOU . SOMETHING THAT YOU SAID REMINDED ME OF THE FACT THAT THIS WAS NOT INEVITABLE. WE COULD HAVE HAD LAW ENFORCEMENT RACES AND BASIC SERVICES , THE REQUEST THAT TWO OF US MADE WAS TO GO TO THE VOTERS AND SEE IF THE VOTERS WOULD LIKE TO SEE PAY INCREASES OR MAINTAINS SERVICES, OR BOTH. SO, RIGHT NOW, WE ARE UNILATERALLY CUTTING SERVICES. WELL, NOT TWO OF US. THREE OF 
          US. YEAH. >> GOOD? ME AGAIN. MY NAME IS MICHAEL GALLOWAY WITH COLLECTIVE ACTION FOR YOUTH AND I MANAGED A CREDIBLE MESSENGER PROGRAM FOR THE CITY OF HOUSTON, AT RISK YOUTH MENTORING PROGRAM DESIGNED TO PREVENT CRIME, EMPOWER YOUTH, AND SHUTDOWN THE SCHOOL TO PRISON PIPELINE. I COME BEFORE YOU TO DO TWO THINGS , SPEAK ON BEHALF OF THE FAMILIES AND COMMUNITIES I SERVE AND RAISE UP SOME CONCERNS ABOUT THE PROPOSED 2026 BUDGET . LET THE RECORD SHOW THAT I AM NOT AGAINST GIVING ALL PUBLIC SERVICE RAISES, WHAT I AM AGAINST, TAKING MONEY AWAY FROM OTHER DEPARTMENTS IN ORDER TO DO SO. 
          WE CANNOT ADD AN EXPENSE WE DO NOT HAVE THE MEANS TO PAY. FACT , THERE WAS A 4% INCREASE IN CRIME FROM 2023 TO 2024, IN HARRIS COUNTY, THE CREDIBLE MESSENGER PROGRAM, AMONG MANY OTHER CBI PROGRAMS , STARTED IN 2024. FROM JULY OF 2024 TO JULY OF 2025, THERE IS A 29.8% DECREASE IN CRIME. 
          >> THANK YOU, YOUR TIME IS UP. >> THANK YOU . 
          >> GOOD MORNING, MY NAME IS JADE MILLER AND I AM HERE BECAUSE OF THE PROPOSED 2026 BUDGET NOT JUST NUMBERS ON THE PAGE BUT THE DIGNITY AND FUTURE OF OUR COMMUNITIES AND RIGHT NOW HARRIS COUNTY BASIS PAINFUL CUTS THAT THREATEN AFFORDABLE HOUSING, MATERNAL CARE, LIBRARIES, YOUTH JOB TRAINING AND PROGRAMS TO KEEP OUR NEIGHBORHOODS SAFE AND SINCE 2018 OUR COUNTY HAS GROWN BY OVER 400,000 PEOPLE YET OUR REVENUE HAS NOT KEPT PACE WITH INFLATION OR DEMAND THAT MEANS MORE PEOPLE AND MORE NEAT AND 
          [00:15:03]
LESS ABILITY TO RESPOND . IF WE CONTINUE CUTTING FAMILIES OR LOSE ACCESS TO BASIC SUPPORT THAT ALLOW THEM TO LIVE AND WORK AND RAISE THEIR CHILDREN WITH DIGNITY. I URGE THIS COURT TO PASS A BUDGET THAT PROTECTS THE CENTRAL SERVICES AND REFLECTS THE VALUE OF EVERY RESIDENT , NOT JUST THE WEALTHIEST FEW BECAUSE OF STRONG HARRIS COUNTY THE SAFE STREETS, OPPORTUNITY FOR OUR YOUTH, AND A COMMUNITY WHERE EVERYONE CAN THRIVE. THANK 
          YOU. >> THANK YOU . JULIO MEDINA ON ITEM 2 UNFREEZING 1 AND ETHAN ON ITEMS 2 AND 7 OF PRECINCT 1, EDGAR ON ITEM 2 OF PRECINCT 2. YOU EACH HAVE ONE MINUTE. 
          >> GOOD MORNING . MY NAME IS JULIO MEDINA AND I'M HERE BECAUSE OF PROPOSED BUDGET CUTS WOULD HAVE A REAL IMPACT ON THE EVERYDAY LIVES OF PEOPLE IN OUR COUNTY. WE TALK ABOUT LOSING THE HEALTH CLINICS , AFFORDABLE HOUSING, OR YOUTH JOB PROGRAMS, WE ARE REALLY TAKING -- WE ARE REALLY TALKING ABOUT FAMILY STRUGGLING TO STAY HEALTHY , PARENTS TRYING TO KEEP A ROOF OVER THEIR HEADS , AND YOUNG PEOPLE EATING SAFE PATHWAYS TO OPPORTUNITIES . EVERY FAMILY IN HARRIS COUNTY DESERVE SAFETY AND DIGNITY AND A FAIR CHANCE. THAT MEANS KEEPING CRISIS RESPONSE TEAMS , SUPPORTING LIBRARIES, AND CULTURAL PROGRAMS THAT STRENGTHEN OUR COMMUNITIES AND MAKING SURE WORKING FAMILIES CAN ACCESS CHILD CARE AND HEALTHCARE. I URGE YOU TO PASS A BUDGET THAT REFLECTS THESE VALUES AND INVEST IN PEOPLE. 
          HARRIS COUNTY SHOULD WORK FOR EVERYONE, NOT JUST A PRIVILEGED 
          FEW. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU. 
          >> MY NAME IS ETHAN AND A RECIPIENT OF MEDICAID AND SNAP, NOW IS NOT THE TIME TO CUT SERVICES BUT WE ARE FACING MASSIVE CUTS ON THE FEDERAL LEVEL, BY CUTTING THESE ESSENTIAL SERVICES YOU ARE CREATING A WAVE -- MASS WAVE OF DESPERATE PEOPLE FORCED TO TURN TO CRIME YOU CLAIM TO CARE SO 
          MUCH ABOUT, -- >> THANK YOU. 
          >> HELLO, MY NAME IS EDGAR AND I WORK WITH COLLECTIVE ACTION FOR YOUTH AND I WANT TO SAY THAT I WISH THERE WOULD HAVE BEEN AN OPPORTUNITY FOR THE RESIDENTS OF HARRIS COUNTY TO TAKE A VOTE ON WHAT THEY WANTED, INSTEAD NOW WE HAVE TO COME LIKE BEGGARS BEFORE RULERS TO ASK YOU TO NOT TAKE MONEY AWAY FROM PROGRAMS -- MONEY FOR PROGRAMS LIKE MY TWO HELP YOUTH FIND SUCCESS IN 
          HARRIS COUNTY. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU. 
          >> GOOD MORNING, I AM A CREDIBLE MESSENGER FOR COLLECTIVE ACTION FOR YOUTH . THE COLLECTIVE ACTION FOR YOUTH PILOT PROGRAM HAVE PROVEN RESULTS, OUT OF 150 YOUTH, ONLY TWO HAVE RE-OFFENDED, RECIDIVISM RATE OF JUST OVER 1%, PROGRAMS LIKE THIS ARE PREVENTATIVE, COST-EFFECTIVE, AND BUILD SAFER COMMUNITIES, CUTTING FUNDING FROM INITIATIVES THAT WORK WILL NOT ONLY JEOPARDIZE THE PROGRESS OF THESE YOUNG PEOPLE HAVE MADE , BUT ALSO INCREASE LONG-TERM COSTS TO TAXPAYERS DURING INCARCERATION AND JUSTICE INVOLVEMENT , IF WE ARE SERIOUS ABOUT PUBLIC SAFETY AND YOUTH OPPORTUNITIES, WE NEED TO INVEST AND NOT NEGLECT WHAT IS WORKING. 
          >> THANK YOU. >> MARK, SHARON ON ITEMS 2 AND 4. TIFFANY ON 2 AND 7 OF PRECINCT 1. JENNIFER ON ITEM 7 OF PRECINCT 2. SARAH ON 7 IN PRECINCT 4. 
          >> THE MAN THAT JUST SPOKE TALKED ABOUT THE SIDE OF THE SYSTEM PREVENTING CRIME, ANOTHER PROPOSED CUT IS THE JUVENILE PROBATION DEPARTMENT, WHICH IS AFTER THE YOUTH COMMIT A CRIME, THAT IS THE JUSTICE SYSTEM FOR THEM AND THAT IS ON THE CHOPPING BLOCK. IT IS ON BOTH SIDES OF THAT. AS YOU KNOW, IN OTHER JURISDICTIONS, THERE IS A BIG PROBLEM WITH YOUTH CRIME . HERE, WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO IMPROVE OUTCOMES WITHOUT INCREASING RECIDIVISM AND THIS IS A REAL PROBLEM. YES, GO AHEAD. 
          >> STARTING IN 2011 THAT THE UNFREEZING 2 COMMISSIONER MADE 
          [00:20:07]
THE STATEMENT THERE WAS NO POINT IDENTIFICATION PROJECT BECAUSE IT WAS AN INDUSTRIAL AREA BUT SINCE 2019 THE COMMISSIONER HAS DONE HIS BEST TO STRETCH BUDGET AND FIND FUNDING FOR PROJECTS TO IMPROVE THE LIVES OF PRECINCT 2 AND HARRIS COUNTY RESIDENTS WHO WORK AND VISIT THE AREA. FLOOD MITIGATION, ALL ACCESS PARKS, CHILDREN AND SENIOR PROJECTS, HEALTHCARE PARTS, TONS OF OTHER SMALL DAY-TO-DAY CHANGES THAT IMPROVE THE LIVES IN PRECINCT 2. 
          BUDGET CUTS WOULD DISPROPORTIONATELY AFFECT THE LOWEST INCOME PRECINCT IN THE COUNTY. PRAISING A FRIEND AND FELLOW ACTIVIST, BUDGETS ARE A JOINT EFFORT NOT A SOCIAL MEDIA STUNT OR PERFORMATIVE POLITICS. THANK YOU . 
          >> THANK YOU. >> CAN YOU PLEASE STATE YOUR 
          NAME FOR THE RECORD . >> JENNIFER HALVERSON. 
          >> I AM KEN WITH COLLECTIVE ACTION FOR YOUTH AND HERE TO SPEAK ABOUT THE PROPOSED BUDGET FOR 2026 FISCAL YEAR, ARPA FUNDS ARE RUNNING LOW AND ONCE THEY ARE GONE, NO ASSURANCE THEY WILL RETURN SO LET'S BE RESPONSIBLE WITH HOW WE SPEND THE REMAINING BALANCE. WHEN MONEY SHRINKS, EACH DOLLAR WE SAVE DEFINES US, TELLING US WHAT KIND OF TOMORROW WE BUILD. RESEARCH IS CLEAR ABOUT COLLATERAL CONSEQUENCES, IF WE STRIPPED THE LIFELINES, LIKE MATERNITY CARE AND PREVENTION, ARPA MONEY IS NOT BONUS MONEY , IT WAS MEANT TO STUDY PUBLIC HEALTH AND DELIVER EMERGENCY ASSISTANCE AND EVIDENCE-BASED RELIEF, LESS -- LET'S SPEND IT STRATEGICALLY OR AMEND THE PROPOSAL UNTIL WE CAN ENSURE THESE RACES WILL NOT IMPACT WILL THE FUNDS. -- WILL NOT IMPACT RELIEF FUNDS. MY PRAYER, LET'S LOVE OUR NEIGHBORS AS OURSELVES AND KEEP THE TABLE SET, EVEN WHEN THE POT 
          IS LIGHT, STRETCH A FEW FISH. >> YOUR TIME IS UP. 
          >> MY PRAYER THIS MORNING, LET'S LOVE OUR NEIGHBORS AS OURSELVES, LET'S KEEP THE TABLE SET, EVEN WHEN THE POT IS LIGHT, LET'S STRETCH A FEW FISH AND LOAVES AND FEED THOUSANDS, PROTECT THE COURT OF PUBLIC SAFETY WITHOUT POACHING THE FUNDS THAT MAKE SAFETY POSSIBLE, SAFETY IS BUILT AND NOT JUST ENFORCED. LET OUR 2026 BUDGET ALLIED TO THE TRUTH. THANK YOU. 
          >> THANK YOU. THAT WAS LONGER THAN EXPECTED BY THE PUBLIC AND I WILL ENFORCE , EVEN IF PEOPLE GET CUT OFF, IN THE PAST, IT IS NOT CONSISTENT, FORGIVE ME IN ADVANCE IF YOU GET CUT OFF. 
          >> GOOD MORNING, I WORK AROUND THE COUNTY IN PRECINCT -- WHEN I HEAR THERE IS A RELUCTANCE TO MAINTAIN SERVICES BECAUSE COMMISSIONERS WANT TO WRITE FOR RESEARCH AND EVALUATION TO BE PUBLISHED, I AM NOT SATISFIED BUT AT LEAST THERE IS A PROCESS AND A PLAN. WHEN I HEAR THAT THE SALARY INCREASES ARE BASED SOLELY OFF OF VIBES, NO RESEARCH, I AM EMBARRASSED, I AM FLOORED, HOW NOW IS THE TIME TO INVEST IN VITAL COMMUNITY RESOURCES NOT JUST FLY-BY-NIGHT VIBES THAT, OH, IF WE DON'T INCREASE SALARIES, WE WILL LOSE OFFICERS ? IT IS EMBARRASSING. 
          THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU. I WILL SAY, THAT DAY I HAD A MEETING WITH THE LEADERS OF THESE VARIOUS LAW ENFORCEMENT IN MY OFFICE AND I SAID, I WANT TO GIVE YOU A RAISE, I PROPOSE THIS IN 2022 BUT COULD NOT GET SUPPORT OF MY COLLEAGUES BUT I STILL WANT TO DO THIS, BUT WE DON'T HAVE THE MONEY. THE BEST I CAN DO IS PROMISE TO VOTE TO PUT THIS ON THE BALLOT AND ADVOCATE FOR IT. THEY WERE LIKE, OKAY, SOUNDS GOOD. I CAME DOWN TO COURT AND I THOUGHT THAT WOULD BE THE PROPOSAL, OUT OF THIN AIR, NOBODY HAD HEARD OF THIS. I DO NOT WANT TO SAY HALF-BAKED BUT RAW, THERE COMES A PROPOSAL TO GIVE THE MONEY. I WAS BEWILDERED. IT WAS NOT EVEN SOMETHING WE DISCUSSED , THE CITY HAD DONE IT AND THERE HAD BEEN CHATTER AROUND THE COUNTY ABOUT HOW IRRESPONSIBLE THAT HAD BEEN. I THINK THAT YOUR WORDS ARE VERY APPROPRIATE. IT REALLY WAS VIBES, CAME OUT OF NOWHERE, THE DISCUSSION WAS NOT FAIR, THERE WAS NOT A LONG PROGRAM AND AN EVALUATION OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT . THERE WAS ALREADY SORT OF AN AGREEMENT, I THINK, THEY SEEMED FINE WITH, LET'S HAVE FOLKS VOTE, PEOPLE SUPPORT LAW ENFORCEMENT AND THEY WOULD'VE VOTED FOR IT, I THINK. 
          >> SARAH ON ITEM 7 OF PRECINCT 4. ANA GONZALES, JUAN HERNANDEZ 
          [00:25:05]
OF ITEM 7 EMBRACING 2 AND PARKER SMITH ON ITEM 7 OF PRECINCT 2, 
          YOU EACH HAVE ONE MINUTE. >> GOOD MORNING , JUDGE, THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING ME TO SPEAK THIS MORNING. MY NAME IS ANA GONZALEZ, WE APPLIED FOR A CIP MONEY FROM PRECINCT 2 IN JANUARY OF 2022. THIS MONEY ALLOWED US TO BUILD A NEW WALKWAY AND PLAYGROUND . ALSO, BIKER'S TRAIL FOR THE PART AND PART OF THE MONEY THAT HAS NOT BEEN USED WE ARE AFRAID THEY MAY BE DEFUNDING IS A NEW CONCESSION STAND AND A BATHROOM FOR OUR CHILDREN FOR THEM NOT TO USE PORT-A-POTTIES . WE HAVE BEEN ANXIOUSLY WAITING FOR THESE PROJECTS TO BE COMPLETED AT PRECINCT 2, OUR COMMISSIONER, HAS GRATEFULLY BEEN HELPFUL BUT PART OF THE MONEY WAS BEING FUNDED BY THE CITY AND THEY DRAGGED AND TOOK THEIR TIME DOING OTHER SERVICES PRIOR TO OUR PARK. IT HAS CAUSED 
          A DELAY. >> THANK YOU. 
          >> THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU, SIR. 
          >> GOOD MORNING, JUAN HERNANDEZ, I WANT TO TALK TODAY ABOUT OUR HARBOR PARK , WE STARTED WORKING ON IT , THANK YOU TO COMMISSIONER GARCIA AND ANA HERNANDEZ, WE PUT MONEY IN OUR PARK AND WE DO NOT NEED THE PROJECT STOPPED TO KEEP GOING AND CONTINUE ON. WE FOUGHT HARD FOR THIS MONEY. WE NEED Y'ALL TO APPROVE AND COMMIT TO FINISH THIS PARK. PLEASE. 
          >> THANK YOU. YOU HAVE MY COMMITMENT TO NOT CUT SERVICES. 
          I THINK YOU NEED TO TALK TO THE COMMISSIONER -- COMMISSIONERS THAT BROKE THE BUDGET TO SEE WHAT THEY WILL CUT TO CONTINUE 
          THIS PROGRAM. >> MA'AM, WE WANT TO SEE YOU ON THE SAME PAGE. THEY ARE GOING TO DO IT, THEY ARE NOT GOING TO DO IT, THE HARBOR HAS BEEN NEGLECTED TOO LONG. 
          >> I GET IT, FACTS ARE FRIENDLY AND YOU ARE HEARING FROM SOME PEOPLE, EFFICIENCIES, WHAT WAS THE OTHER ONE, POSITIVE FREEZES , TOTAL DOUBLESPEAK AND YOU SEE FROM THE NUMBERS THAT ADD UP WITH SPECIFIC PROGRAMS AND I HAVE ALWAYS BEEN A STRAIGHT SHOOTER , I HAVE NEVER MADE DECISIONS, EVEN IT WAS NOT CONVENIENT FOR ME, I HAVE BEEN A STRAIGHT SHOOTER. WHAT I AM SEEING, ELECTION TIME PANDERING TO A GROUP THAT IS POLITICALLY POWERFUL. WITHOUT WANTING TO GO TO THE TAXPAYERS AND COME CLEAN. 
          I ALWAYS WILL TAKE THE SIDE OF ACCOUNTABILITY. I STOOD VERY LOUDLY ON REFORM TO THE PROCUREMENT PROCESS. WHEN MY FORMER OPPONENT SAID SHE WAS GOING TO HAVE 200 NEW COPS, I COULD HAVE SAID 300 BUT I DIDN'T . I COULD HAVE VOTED FOR ALL OF THIS. WHO DOESN'T WANT TO VOTE FOR MORE DISTRICT COURTS , FOR MORE MONEY FOR THE DAS OFFICE, RAISES FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT , THAT IS THE EASY PATHWAY BUT WE ARE IN A HOLE. 
          SOMEBODY TELLING YOU THEY WILL FIND $200 MILLION WITHOUT CUTTING ANYTHING, SOMEBODY IS VOTING AND A FISCALLY RESPONSIBLE WAY, SHOWING YOU THE RECEIPTS, AND ASKING FOR A CLEAR 
          PROPOSAL. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU. 
          >> JUAN, THANK YOU FOR COMING TO AND THANK YOU ALL FOR TAKING TIME OUT OF YOUR DAY TO PARTICIPATE IN THE PROCESS. 
          JUAN, YOU ARE A BUSINESS OWNER IN THE SECOND WARD COMMUNITY AND DURING THE PANDEMIC YOU FACED TOUGH DECISIONS. 
          >> YES, SIR. >> YOU HAD TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO KEEP YOUR DOORS OPEN, YOU GOT HELP FROM US BUT I AM SURE YOU MADE ADJUSTMENTS IN YOUR OPERATIONS. RAISING THE PRICE OF YOUR FOOD WAS NOT AN OPTION BECAUSE IT WOULD TURN PEOPLE AWAY AND CAUSE YOU MORE PROBLEMS . BUT YOU GOT YOUR BUDGET DONE, YOU KEPT THE DOORS OPEN AND YOU REMAIN A STRONG, OPEN 
          [00:30:05]
FAMILY-OWNED BUSINESS, THANK YOU FOR YOUR HARD WORK AND KNOWING HOW TO BUDGET. TO THANK YOU, REMEMBER, WE DID NOT GO TO GREAT THE PANDEMIC, WE DID A DISASTER TAX RATE DURING THE PANDEMIC AND ANYBODY WAS DONE A BUDGET, YOU DO NOT SPEND THE MONEY AND THEN MAKE THE BUDGET YOU MAKE THE BUDGET , YOU SEE HOW MUCH MONEY YOU HAVE TO SPEND, AND YOU CUT OTHER THINGS OR YOU SPEND IT, YOU DO NOT GO ON A SHOPPING SPREE AND THEN DECIDE TO FIGURE OUT WHAT TO DO. THAT IS LIKE PAYDAY FOLLOWING TYPE THING. NOT WHAT YOU WANT TO SEE IN YOUR COUNTY GOVERNMENT. THANK YOU. 
          >> HELLO, MY NAME IS PARK SMITH, CEO FOR AMERICAN YOUTHWORKS, PARTNERING WITH HARRIS COUNTY AND PRECINCT 2 AND IN OTHER PARTS OF THE COUNTY FROM FLOOD CONTROL DISTRICTS TO OTHER AREAS OF THE COUNTY AND TO INVITE ALIGNMENT STAFF OF HOURS WHO ARE HERE TO THANK YOU FOR THE COMMISSIONER'S SUPPORT AND COUNTY SUPPORT OF OUR JOBS TRAINING PROGRAM FOR YOUTH AND YOUNG ADULT. THROUGH OUR PARTNERSHIP , THE COUNTY AND YOUNG PEOPLE 17 TO 28 GAIN FAMILY SUSTAINING CAREER SKILLS WHILE SERVING THE COMMUNITY, PERFORMING DISASTER RELIEF , FLOOD MITIGATION WORK, TREE CARE, PARK MAINTENANCE AND HISTORIC SITE IMPROVEMENTS LIKE THE SANTA ANA SITE. THE IMPACT OF THIS PROGRAM IS CLEAR, SINCE 2020 , PARTICIPANTS HAVE PROVIDED OVER 28,000 HOURS OF SERVICE , 85% OF OUR PROGRAM GRADUATES, THERE HAS BEEN 50 GRADUATES SINCE THOSE YEARS . 
          >> YOUR TIME IS UP. >> THANK YOU FOR COMING DOWN AND THANK YOU FOR ALL THE WORK YOU DO. YOU REALLY HELP KIDS FIND 
          THEIR WAY. THANK YOU. >> GAIL ON ITEM 7 APPRAISING 4. 
          SHARMAN ON -- BRIAN FRIEDMAN IN ITEM 7 ON PRECINCT 2. YOU EACH 
          HAVE ONE MINUTE. >> MY NAME IS GAIL, I AM A 38 YEAR RESIDENT OF ROBIN DALE NEIGHBORHOOD , DIRECTLY SOUTH OF BALIN COMMUNITY CENTER, I AM THE PRECINCT CHAIR FOR THAT AREA AND MY PRECINCT IS ASSIGNED TO VOTE IN THE PARK . I AM HERE TO SAY HOW MUCH I APPRECIATE COMMISSIONER BRIONES INVESTING IN COMMUNITY CENTERS AND PARKS , I HAVE BEEN A LONGTIME INSIDE USER OF THE COMMUNITY CENTER BUT I HAVE SEEN THE CENTER MAINLY AS A MEETING SPACE AND NOT REALIZING ALL THE SERVICES , HEALTH SERVICES AND ENRICHMENT PROGRAMS OF THE COUNTY CAN OFFER. THANKS TO THE COMMISSIONER, WE WILL EVENTUALLY HAVE MORE ROOM, MANY MORE ACTIVITIES AND SERVICES, FOR SENIORS AND FAMILIES . I HOPE THAT THE EXPANSION AND IMPROVEMENTS WILL ALSO REJUVENATE THE SURROUNDING AREA. 
          >> THANK YOU, YOUR TIME IS UP. >> I HOPE YOU KEEP IT ON THE 
          BUDGET. >> THANK YOU. 
          >> GOOD MORNING, JUDGE HIDALGO AND COMMISSIONERS, BRIAN FRIEDMAN, PRESIDENT OF THE BAY AREA HOUSTON ECONOMIC PARTNERSHIP REPRESENTING MORE THAN 300 COMPANIES IN SOUTHEAST HARRIS COUNTY I AM HERE TO SHARE A FEW THOUGHTS ABOUT THE PROPOSAL TO REDUCE OR ELIMINATE PRECINCT BUDGET . PRECINCT BUDGETS ARE ABOUT COMMITMENT -- NOT ABOUT COMMISSIONERS BUT ABOUT THE RESIDENT AND CONSTITUENTS THAT THOSE FUNDS GO TOWARDS AND HOW HARRIS COUNTY MAINTAINS THEIR DITCHES AND ROADS, OPERATES PARKS AND COMMUNITY CENTERS AND RUNS PROGRAMS FOR SENIORS, KIDS, WORKING FAMILIES AND OUR FUTURE WORKFORCE. WE WORKED DIRECTLY WITH THE PRECINCT ON ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS WHERE COMPANIES CONSIDER MOVING AND INVESTING HERE IN HARRIS COUNTY. THE PARTS , SAFE ROADS AND DRAINAGE AND COMMUNITY CENTERS ARE NOT EXTRAS SUPPORTED BY THOSE FUNDS BUT PART OF THE PACKAGE THAT CONVINCES EMPLOYEES TO BRING JOBS AND CAPITAL INVESTMENT TO HARRIS COUNTY. 
          EXPANDING OUR TAX BASE AND FUND THE COUNTY OPERATIONS OF . THESE ARE NOT DISCRETIONARY FUNDS BUT SEED CORN THAT WILL OUR ECONOMY AND ATTRACT INVESTMENT AND STRENGTHEN OUR TAX BASE, ON BEHALF OF OUR MEMBERS, REJECT THIS PROPOSAL AND KEEP INVESTING 
          -- >> THANK YOU, YOUR TIME IS UP . 
          >> I AGREE AND I WILL NOT BE THE ONE TO VOTE FOR ANY CUTS TO SERVICES. SIMPLY REQUESTING DETAILED. ON THE CUTS BECAUSE WE HAVE NOT RECEIVED ANY. SIMPLY SAYING, EFFICIENCIES. GO AHEAD 
          DID >> I AM A RESIDENT APPRAISING 4, 
          [00:35:06]
COMMISSIONERS -- PRECINCT 4 , IT IS MORE THAN A PARK, A COMMUNITY ASSET THAT BRINGS TOGETHER ONE OF THE MOST DIVERSE AREAS IN OUR COUNTY, WHERE PROFESSIONALS WORK, SENIORS ENJOY PEACEFUL TRAILS, AND CHILDREN PLAY SAFELY, MAINTAINING FUNDING FOR TERRY HERSHEYPARK PROTECTS NOT JUST THE ENVIRONMENT BUT THE HEALTH AND QUALITY OF LIFE FOR THOUSANDS OF RESIDENTS . THE 11 MILES OF TRAILS WHICH CONNECT TO MANY MORE, REDUCE TRAFFIC CONGESTION, COURAGE ACTIVE COMMUTING AND SAFE ACCESS TO SCHOOLS , LIBRARIES, AND BUSINESSES, THE PARK STRENGTHENS FLOOD RESILIENT, ALONG BUFFALO BIO, -- BAYOU, BY FUNDING TERRY HERSHEY PARK, U.N. BEST -- YOU INVEST IN OUR COMMUNITY, A LEGACY WORTH PROTECTING AND ONE THAT REFLECTS THE VALUES OF 
          HARRIS COUNTY . >> THANK YOU, YOUR TIME IS UP. 
          >> THANK YOU, I ABSOLUTELY AGREE. 
          >> BUDGET TALKS ARE REMINISCENT TO AN AWFUL TIME, MY NAME IS SHERMAN GRAY I REPRESENT PRECINCT 2 AND THE PROPOSED CUTS TO OUR COMMUNITY CENTER AND THE SUMMER PROGRAMS ARE NOT CHARITY CUTS THEY ARE LIFELINE CUTS. THESE PROGRAMS ARE LIFELINE'S AND IT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN HOPE AND HOPELESSNESS, OUR PASTOR IN THE COMMUNITY AND THESE CHILDREN AND SENIORS, I KNOW THEM AND MY CHURCH ASSIST WITH MEALS FOR THE SUMMER PROGRAM. THE STATISTICS ARE CLEAR, WITH PREVENTION PROGRAMS GO, CRIME RISES, GRADUATIONS FALL AND COMMUNITIES BREAK . WE LIKE TO SAY CHILDREN ARE OUR FUTURE THEN WHY CAN'T THE VERY FUTURE THAT WE ARE DEPENDENT UPON? EACH OF YOU AT SOME POINT IN YOUR LIFE AS THAT SOMEONE POURED INTO YOU AND INVESTING YOU AND YOU ARE IN THE POSITION YOU ARE IN TODAY BECAUSE SOMEONE TOOK TIME WITH YOU. YOU HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO DO THAT FOR SOME CHILD THAT YOU WILL NEVER MEET. DO NOT CUT THE LIFELINE . 
          >> THANK YOU, YOUR TIME IS UP. >> THANK YOU, I ABSOLUTELY 
          AGREE, SIR. >> MARION ON ITEM 7 IN PRECINCT 4, RICHARD ON ITEM 7 IN PRECINCT 4, CINDY ON ITEM 7 OF PRECINCT 4 AND ITEM 7 OF PRECINCT 4. YOU EACH HAVE ONE MINUTE. 
          >> MY NAME IS MARIANNE AND I'M A PROUD RESIDENT OF PRECINCT 4 I WANT TO SPEAK TO THE IMPROVEMENTS THAT I -- THAT HAVE BEEN MADE IN BAYLAND PARK, KEEP IT UP. IT IS IN MY AREA. SINCE COMMISSIONER BRIONES HAS BEEN THERE, A LOT OF IMPROVEMENTS HAVE BEEN MADE AND IT IS NEAR AN UNDERSERVED COMMUNITY, VERY MULTICULTURAL AND HAS A LOT OF DIFFERENT LANGUAGES. THEY OFFER FREE WOMEN'S HEALTH AND MATERNAL HEALTHCARE , DENTAL, AND TEEN HEALTHCARE, ALL VERY IMPORTANT. FREE BUSES FOR SENIORS TO DO ACTIVITY. PRECINCT 4 HAS STEPPED UP TO SERVE ON THE COMMUNITY. FOOD WAS GIVEN OUT AND WATER TO PEOPLE IN NEED. 
          WHERE THERE IS A NEED -- >> THANK YOU. 
          >> SO YOU KNOW, TEH PROPOSED CUTS MY TEAM IS WRITING DOWN SO YOU KNOW WHAT THIS IS, WHAT THE PROPOSAL IS, IT INCLUDES A CUT TO A POSITION ON EARLY CHILDHOOD . REMEMBER, THEY DID NOT ALLOW US TO VOTE ON EARLY CHILDHOOD. BECAUSE IT WAS HALF-BAKED. ALSO , THERE ARE CUTS TO MATERNAL AND CHILD CARE, AND LEAD ABATEMENT PREVENTION, ET CETERA . YOU MAY KEEP YOUR PARKS, BUT YOU WILL LOSE THIS AND THAT IS THE DILEMMA WE DO NOT NEED TO BE IN. 
          >> I UNDERSTAND. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU. 
          >> HELLO, I AM CINDY, PRESIDENT OF A LOCAL AARP CHAPTER 50, HERE TO SUPPORT PRECINCT 4 TO SUPPORT SENIOR BENEFITS. SENIOR 
          [00:40:03]
ACTIVITIES, AARP MEET AT ONE OF THE COMMUNITY CENTERS, IT IS AN ESSENTIAL FUNCTION AND THE FOCAL POINT FOR A LOT OF SENIORS, THE ENTIRE COMMUNITY CENTER IS, THEY OFFER EXERCISE AND EVERYTHING ELSE. AARP IS IMPORTANT BECAUSE OF THE VOLUNTEER EFFORT. MANY OF OUR MEMBERS ARE RETIREES. THEY SPEND A LOT OF TIME VOLUNTEERING. WE NEED TO KEEP THEIR MINDS ACTIVE. THAT IS WHAT THE SENIOR PROGRAMS DO. WE OFFER -- WE KEEP THEM ACTIVE WITH DAILY ACTIVITIES , BUT ALSO MONTHLY DAYTRIPS, WE UTILIZED YOUR BUS SERVICE ROUTINELY. THANK YOU. 
          >> THANK YOU, MA'AM. AND I AGREE. 
          >> I AM RICHARD, MOST PEOPLE KNOW ME AS DAN, URGING THE COURT TO SUPPORT VISION 0, SIDEWALKS, TRAILS, AND PARKS HIM AS A BIKE RIDER IN ALIEF, I AM LIMITED IN WHERE I CAN SAFELY WRITE AND AVOID FOUR LANE ROADS BECAUSE I DON'T WANT TO BE RUN OVER AND I HAVE A TWO MILE RIDE TO THE TRAILHEAD AND FROM THERE I CAN REACH THE PARK AND BEYOND. THE GREENWAY TRAIL FROM OTHER EAST-WEST TRAIL IS ABOUT FIVE MILES NORTH OF MY HOUSE AND I HAVE FOUND ONLY TWO SAFE NORTH-SOUTH ROUTES BETWEEN BELTWAY 8 AND HIGHWAY 6, PRECINCT 4 IS PARTNERING WITH HOUSTON PARKS WORKED TO BUILD A NEW ONE, ALIEF CENTERPOINT TRAIL . AS I RIDE THE TRAILS AND WRITE IN THE PARKS, I ENCOUNTER MANY PEOPLE OF ALL WALKS OF LIFE ENJOYING THESE GREEN SPACES -- 
          >> THANK YOU, YOUR TIME IS UP. >> THANK YOU. 
          >> JUDGE HIDALGO , COMMISSIONERS THANK YOU, I AM WITH -- I SUPPORT THE APPROACH TO ADOPTING A BALANCED BUDGET WITHOUT CUTTING CRITICAL SERVICES SUCH AS PUBLIC SAFETY, ELECTIONS, FLOOD CONTROL, AND PARKS, WHEN WE DELAY OR CUT THESE INVESTMENTS, TAXPAYERS PAY MORE LATER IN EMERGENCY REPAIRS AND HIGHER RECOVERY COSTS AND LOST ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITIES . 
          COMMISSIONER BRIONES HAS CONSISTENTLY SHOWN HOW THESE PRIORITIES CAN BE DELIVERED RESPONSIBLE AND PRODUCTS LIKE THE PARK, RECONSTRUCTION, AND HEALTH CLINIC AT BAYLAND COMMUNITY CENTER ARE EXAMPLES OF THESE INVESTMENTS THAT IMPROVE QUALITY OF LIFE WHILE PREVENTING GREATER COSTS DOWN THE LINE AND AFTER -- THE BAYLAND COMMUNITY CENTER AND MY MOSQUE , BECAME A HUB FOR FOOD AND WATER, PROOF THAT STRONG LOCAL INFRASTRUCTURE REDUCES BURDEN ON TAXPAYERS IN TIMES OF CRISIS. A RESPONSIBLE AND CONSERVATIVE BUDGET SHOULD BALANCE THE BOOKS WHILE SAFEGUARDING THESE ESSENTIALS . THANK YOU AND GOD BLESS YOU ALL 
          . >> THANK YOU, I WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT THE PROPOSED BUDGET THAT WILL BALANCE OUT THESE UNILATERAL EXPENSES , WITHOUT FUNDING, WOULD ELIMINATE 33 CIVILIAN POSITIONS IN LAW ENFORCEMENT. THAT ARE RIGHT NOW SEEKING SOMEBODY TO FILL THEM. IT WOULD ALSO REDUCE -- DO A HIRING FREEZE FOR A FULL YEAR, PROBABLY HAVE TO DO IT AGAIN NEXT YEAR, FOR VARIOUS DEPARTMENTS. WHAT THAT MEANS, IF SOMEBODY LEAVES THEIR JOB BECAUSE THEY GET A BETTER JOB, A HIGHER PAYING JOB, WE ARE NOT GIVING PEOPLE RACES BECAUSE WE ARE ONLY GIVING THESE FOLKS RAISES, THIS LEVEL OF RAISES, OR , IF THEY HAVE A KID AND DO NOT HAVE CHILDCARE BECAUSE WE DECIDED WE DID NOT WANT TO TAKE THAT TO THE VOTERS, OR, IF THEY RETIRE, IF THERE NEEDS TO BE SOMEONE ELSE TO CONTINUE DOING THE JOB, THESE DEPARTMENTS WILL NOT BE ABLE TO FILL IT. BUDGET IS A STATEMENT OF VALUES, EVERYTHING WAS GREAT UNTIL THIS DECISION WAS MADE IN ELECTION SEASON TO GIVE $100 MILLION TO LAW ENFORCEMENT WITHOUT KNOWING HOW TO PAY FOR IT. THANK YOU. 
          >> I PRAY EVERYTHING WILL GO WELL. 
          >> TIM ON ITEM 7 IN PRECINCT 2, JUDITH ON ITEM 7 IN PRECINCT 4, SANDRA ON ITEM 7 IN PRECINCT 2, AND MARY LOU ON ITEM 7 , YOU 
          EACH HAVE ONE MINUTE. >> I AM EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR AT 
          [00:45:04]
THE NATURE CENTER, I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR HELPING US LAST DECEMBER TO GRATE THE LARGEST URBAN WILDERNESS PRESERVE IN TEXAS RIGHT HERE IN HARRIS COUNTY WITH 4000 ACRES. OUR MISSION REMAINS TWOFOLD, PROTECT THE GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE THAT PROVIDES UNPARALLELED FLOOD MITIGATION FOR OUR RESIDENTS, A SINGLE ACRE OF THE WETLANDS CAN HOLD 1 MILLION GALLONS OF FLOODWATER PREVENTING FLOODING IN OUR HOMES AND BUSINESSES . 
          THE CENTER PROVIDES 50,000 HARRIS COUNTY CHILDREN AND ADULTS PER YEAR WITH AN OPPORTUNITY TO EXPERIENCE AND LEARN ABOUT THEIR ECOLOGICAL HERITAGE. THIS WORK WOULD NOT BE POSSIBLE WITHOUT THE FIFTY-YEAR PUBLIC-PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN THE NATURE CENTER AND PRECINCT 2, THE PRECINCT PROVIDES OPERATIONAL FUNDING AND CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURE SUPPORT , THE RETURN ON THIS INVESTMENT SPREADS EXPONENTIALLY AMONG THE RESIDENTS OF HARRIS COUNTY AND I HUMBLY ASK YOU TO RETHINK ANY BUDGET PROPOSAL THAT DEFUNDS OUR PARKS. 
          >> ABOUT $60 MILLION IN THIS BUDGET THAT IS ONE-TIME MONEY FROM WE SOLD THE PROPERTY THIS YEAR BUT CAN'T NEXT YEAR, EVEN IF YOUR PRODUCT IS SAVED THIS YEAR, ON THE CHOPPING BLOCK AGAIN NEXT YEAR BECAUSE IT IS ONE-TIME MONEY, A PATCH 
          PRESENTED AS BUDGETING. >> GOOD MORNING, JUDITH, DIRECTOR OF ONE CREEK WEST, RESIDENT OF PRECINCT 4 AND WE ORGANIZED OUR ORGANIZATION ABOUT FIVE YEARS AGO WITH A SPECIFIC REASON, THERE WAS NO INFRASTRUCTURE IN THE KATY EAST AREA, A DIRE NEED FOR SIDE WORKS -- SIDEWALKS. PRECINCT 4 EVENTUALLY IS A SIDEWALKS FOR KIDS WALKING TO SCHOOL. SINCE THEN, PRECINCT 4 HAS INSTALLED TENS OF MILES OF SIDEWALK CONNECTING RESIDENTS TO SCHOOLS, TO NEIGHBORHOODS , TO THE COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS, AND STILL THERE IS MUCH THAT NEEDS TO BE DONE. BUT THE PRECINCT HAS MADE SUCH A POSITIVE IMPACT ON OUR AREAS THAT WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THIS PROGRAM CONTINUES. 
          CONTINUES TO IMPACT OUR NEIGHBORHOODS FAVORABLY AND OUR 
          COMMUNITY AS A WHOLE. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU, MA'AM. 
          >> MY NAME IS MARY LOU WITH THE AARP CHAPTER 50, HERE TO SPEAK ABOUT THE COMMUNITY CENTERS, I FOUND A QUICKLY IT IS NOT JUST ABOUT SOCIALIZING BUT EDUCATION AND ABOUT SOCIALIZATION. 
          PRIMARILY, I THINK IT IS ABOUT EMERGENCY. IF WE HAVE A STORM OR WE HAVE POWER OUTAGES PEOPLE HAVE A PLACE TO GO TO BE COOL OR WARMED, BUT ALWAYS SHELTERED . YOUR STAFF IS WONDERFUL THERE. 
          >> THANK YOU. THIS PROPOSAL INCLUDES NOT CONTRIBUTING TO THE RAINY DAY FUND AND WE SAY WE HAVE 300+ MILLION DOLLARS IN THE RAINY DAY FUND THAT WE DON'T, WE HAVE ABOUT 100 AND SOME BECAUSE THE REST, WE EXPECT FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT WHICH WE KNOW IS NOT REALLY SENDING US MONEY THESE DAYS. THIS PROPOSAL 
          HARMS EMERGENCY RESPONSE. >> THANK YOU FOR COMING DOWN. 
          >> HELLO, MY NAME IS SANDRA CAMPBELL FROM PRECINCT 2, PASADENA, I HAVE BEEN THERE SINCE 1948 AND NEVER HAD SO MUCH HELP FROM THE COMMUNITY CENTERS AND OUR BUSES FOR THE SENIORS. 
          WE HAVE FOUND, SINCE COVID IS SO MANY PEOPLE HAVE GOTTEN SO ISOLATED , THEY WERE BEGGING FOR THE BUSES TO COME BACK. I HAVE ONE FRIEND THAT WAS DESPONDENT, THAT SOMEONE OFFERED A SUGGESTION TO GO TO THE COMMUNITY CENTER , SO SHE STARTED MAKING NEW FRIENDS AND TAKING BUS TRIPS, IT HAS HELPED SO MANY PEOPLE WE LOVE IT. ADRIAN GARCIA HAS BEEN A LIFELINE FOR US AND WE APPRECIATE IT SO MUCH. WE VOTE 
          NO TO CUT PRECINCT 2 BUDGET. >> THANK YOU FOR COMING DOWN. 
          >> ITEMS 7 AND 411 IN PRECINCT 4, JUAN ON 7 IN PRECINCT 2, JOY, AND LUIS MENDOZA ON ITEM 7 OF PRECINCT 2 , YOU EACH HAVE ONE 
          [00:50:01]
          MINUTE. >> GOOD MORNING, I AM WITH PROFESSIONAL SERVICES. COMMISSIONER BRIONES , YOU AND YOUR TEAM HAVE SET A POWERFUL EXAMPLE OF COMMITTED LEADERSHIP . THROUGH YOUR INNOVATIVE PROGRAMS , YOU HAVE OPEN DOORS FOR ENTREPRENEURS AND SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS LIKE ME, GIVEN US THE TOOLS AND OPPORTUNITIES WE NEED TO SUCCEED . THE TECHNICAL TRAINING, ACCESS TO CAPITAL AND NETWORKING OPPORTUNITIES HAVE HELPED TO GROW. I BRING IN THESE RESOURCES DIRECTLY TO CHURCHES, CAMPUSES AND OTHER ACCESSIBLE LOCATIONS, YOU ENSURE THAT EVERYONE, NO MATTER THE BACKGROUND CAN PARTICIPATE AND BENEFIT . YOUR COMMITMENT TO ACCESSIBILITY, DIVERSITY AND EQUITY HAS UNITED OUR COUNTY, INSPIRED HOPE, AND STRETCH THE BOUNDS WITHIN THE COMMUNITY. WE ARE GRATEFUL FOR YOUR DEDICATION, GENEROSITY, AND VISION FOR EMPOWERING EVERYONE OF US. THANK YOU FOR MEETING US WHERE WE ARE AND MAKING A 
          LASTING -- >> THANK YOU, YOUR TIME IS UP. 
          >> THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU FOR COMING DOWN. 
          >> GOOD MORNING, I RESIDE IN PRECINCT 2 ANSWERED THE COMMUNITY FOR THE SENIOR POPULATION. COMMISSIONER GARCIA HAS BEEN A BLESSING TO THE COMMUNITY WITH THE CHANGES HE HAS MADE . I WOULD NOT SEE THIS AS A SHOPPING SPREE BUT AN INVESTMENT, OUR ORGANIZATION IS A STARTUP COMPANY, MONEY HAS TO BE INVESTED INTO THE ORGANIZATION BEFORE IT REPLICATES . I APPRECIATE THE EFFORTS, I KNOW IT IS A TOUGH DECISION BUT I WOULD CHALLENGE EVERYONE TO SEE IT AS AN 
          INVESTMENT. >> THANK YOU , SIR, I AGREE, SIR, THE SHOPPING SPREE WAS AGAINST THE RECOMMENDATION OF THE BUDGET DIRECTOR, NOWHERE IN HERE IS YOUR COMMUNITY CENTER OR ANY OF THOSE VITAL SERVICES. IT IS A RAISE FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT THAT NEEDED TO GO TO THE VOTERS AND I AM THANKFUL FOR THE PAST WORK BUT COME ELECTION SEASON, THEY ARE DESTROYING WHAT THEY HAVE BUILT. THIS IS NOT THE SHOPPING SPREE. 
          >> MAY I REPLY? >> YOU ARE BEING TOLD 
          DOUBLESPEAK . >> IT HAS BEEN AN UNDERSERVED COMMUNITY FOR A LONG TIME. AND INDUSTRIAL COMMUNITY. THERE ARE CHANGES THAT NEED TO BE MADE FOR IT TO BECOME EQUAL TO OTHER COMMUNITIES THIS IS COMING FROM SOMEONE WHO USED TO LIVE IN KATY. I LOVE THE PATH COMMISSIONER GARCIA'S HAS TAKEN 
          US ON . >> I AGREE, THERE WILL HAVE TO BE $200 MILLION WORTH OF CUTS BUT UP UNTIL NOW, I AGREE WITH THE PATH, THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER. 
          >> GOOD MORNING, COUNTY JUDGE AND COMMISSIONS, MY NAME IS TROY DAVIS WITH PURE JUSTICE AND A RECENT -- RESIDENT OF PRECINCT 2, WE FACE A -- NOT REDUCE THE FUNDAMENTAL LAW-ENFORCEMENT WITHOUT TAKING INTO VOTERS, FEDERAL FUNDING CUTS HAVE ALREADY OCCURRED WITH MORE ON THE WAY, THIS PUTS ESSENTIAL SERVICES AT RISK, NOW WE MUST ASK OURSELVES, IS EXPANDING LAW ENFORCEMENT OF FUNDING DURING THE BUDGET DEFICIT, KNOWING WE CAN REDUCE IT IN THE FUTURE, THE MOST EFFECTIVE PATHWAY FORWARD? ADDITIONAL FUNDING DOES NOT GUARANTEE IMPROVED OUTCOMES, OUR COMMUNITIES DO NOT BE PAYING FOR CUTS TO PUBLIC HEALTH, HOUSING, MENTAL HEALTH, FLOOD CONTROL, MY FAMILY HAS LIVED IN NORTH AMERICA -- IT IS RICH IN CULTURE AND I LOVE IT, ESPECIALLY THE JAMES RIDER PARK WE FREQUENT, THE PROGRAMS THAT WILL HELP US EVEN MORE WOULD BE TO ADDRESS HOUSING, FOOD IS GOOD, PROGRAMS, SUBSTANCE ABUSE PREVENTION, FLOOD CONTROL, AND FOOD INSECURITY. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. 
          >> GOOD MORNING. MY NAME IS LUIS MENDOZA WITH PURE JUSTICE AND I LIVE IN PRECINCT 2 WE WERE TAUGHT TO BE SKEPTICAL OF UNCHECKED AUTHORITY AND TODAY THE VERY PEOPLE'S WANT TO PROTECT OUR LIBERTIES HAVE BECOME TOOLS OF BUREAUCRATIC EXPANSIONS. I BELIEVE OUR CONSTITUTION , FREEDOMS AND AT ONE TIME I THOUGHT MY COUNTRY AND MY GOVERNMENT DID AS WELL. 
          HOWEVER , WE LIVE IN A COUNTRY WHERE QUALIFIED IMMUNITY IS PROTECT OFFICERS FROM CONSEQUENCES WHEN THEY VIOLATE YOUR RIGHTS. TELL ME, IF A GOVERNMENT AGENT CAN BREAK INTO YOUR HOME , SHOOT YOUR DOG, AND FACE NO CONSEQUENCES, LEGALLY, WHY SHOULD WE PRIORITIZE THEM OVER THE PEOPLE THAT LIVE IN THE COMMUNITY AND FUND THEM OVER PROGRAMS THAT HELP US? THE SYSTEM ALREADY INCENTIVIZES TO GROW IN SIZE, SCOPE, VOTE FOR NO ADDITIONAL FUNDING FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT, PEOPLE OVER CUFFS. 
          [00:55:10]
          THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU. WE ARE NOT GOING TO CLAP. SNAPPING IS ALL WE WILL DO. 
          >> VICTOR MENDOZA, LAURA, ITEM 7 OF PRECINCT 1, LANITA ROBINSON 
          ON ITEM 7 OF PRECINCT 3. >> MY NAME IS VICTOR MENDOZA, PROUD MEMBER OF PURE YOUTH AND A RESIDENT OF PRECINCT 2, A COMMON MISCONCEPTION THAT SAFETY WILL NOT COME TO THE TRANSFORMATION OF SOCIETY BUT INSTEAD TO THE ESCALATION AND CONTINUOUS EXAGGERATED FUNDING OF LAW ENFORCEMENT. I SAY TO YOU, PEACE IS NOT BORN FROM THE BARREL OF A GUN, PIECES NOT BORN OF POWER, IT IS BORN OF JUSTICE, FOR TOO LONG WE HAVE FOUR STAGGERING AMOUNTS OF MONEY AND RESOURCES INTO LAW ENFORCEMENT . OUR GOVERNMENT FUNDS THE POLICE AND PRISONS BUT STARTS OUR COMMUNITIES AND SCHOOLS . WE ARE MORE OFFICERS YET -- CRIME IS A SYMPTOM, IT IS THE DISEASE OF DESPAIR. THE TRUE RIGHTS ARE NOT IN OUR STREETS IN WHICH THE NATIONAL GUARD COMES, BUT THE UNJUST SYSTEMS THAT SHOW THE LIGHT FROM OUR NEIGHBORHOODS. 
          THE LOCK GENERATIONS OF THE POVERTY AND CRIMINALIZE IT -- CRIMINALIZE THE CONDITION OF BEING POOR LEADING TO DISPARITIES IN OUR JAILS AND PRISONS. THANK YOU. 
          >> THANK YOU . >> GOOD MORNING, JUDGE, COMMISSIONERS, LAURA, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE NONPROFIT CENTERED ON BUILDING COMMUNITIES THROUGH CAPACITY BUILDING, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS, LENDING PRODUCTS, I AM A NATIVE HOUSTONIAN WHO WAS BORN HERE IN FRONT OF THE HOUSTON COMMUNITY AND OF THE WORK THAT WE DO TO IMPROVE AND EMPOWER THIS COMMUNITY AND OUR RESIDENTS . I AM PROUD THAT WE WORK AND WE HAVE BEEN DOING SO CLOSELY WITH COMMISSIONER BRIONES AND PRECINCT 4 THERE WERE COLLIDES WITH OUR GOALS AND WE WORK WITH RESIDENTS AND PARTNERS TO CLOSE GAPS IN HEALTH AND WEALTH AND OPPORTUNITY SO PEOPLE AND PLACES CAN THRIVE . THANK YOU TO COMMISSIONER BRIONES FOR STANDING UP FOR VITAL POLICING SERVICES AND I'M HERE TO SPEAK ON BEHALF OF THIS CRITICAL WORK THAT WE SEE PRECINCT 4 FOCUSING ON AND ACKNOWLEDGE THE RISK THAT BUDGET CUTS TO THAT WORK CAN PUT FAMILIES THAT COME HOUSTON WILL CONTINUE TO WORK WITH PRECINCT 4 AND PLAN COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT WORK SO THIS CAN BE MODELED ACROSS ALL PRECINCT IN HARRIS COUNTY. ENSURING INVESTMENT IN UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES. 
          >> THANK YOU, YOUR TIME IS UP TO -- THANK YOU , YOUR TIME IS UP. 
          >> >> THANK YOU. COMMISSIONER, COMMISSIONER RAMSEY, I RESPECT SO MUCH BECAUSE HE IS A FIGHTER, REGARDLESS, YOU ARE FIGHTERS, REGARDLESS. TO MY COMMISSIONER, RODNEY ELLIS, A FIGHTER , EVERYBODY IS FIGHTING FOR THE WRONG THING, I WANT YOU TO HEAR THE WORDS ON WHAT YOU WILL HEAR IF YOU PASS THIS BUDGET, MY GOD, HERE WE GO AGAIN. FLOODED AGAIN, MOVING AGAIN TO MY CHILD WOULD'VE HAD A CHANCE IF THEY KEPT THE YOUTH PROGRAM GOING ON WE HAVE SO MANY THINGS THAT WE NEED TO DO. WE ARE GOING TO HEAR THIS ALL OVER UNTIL ELECTION TIME. WHEN ELECTION TIME COMES, REMEMBER WHAT YOU VOTED FOR AND REMEMBER WHAT YOU PASSED AND THE HARDSHIP YOU CAUSED ON THE PEOPLE, IT WILL BE OH, MY GOD ONCE AGAIN. 
          >> CAN USED IN YOUR NAME? >> KENNETH BROWN FOR PURE YOUTH, 
          ADVOCATE AND COMMUNITY LEADER. >> THANK YOU. 
          >> HARRIS COUNTY'S MISSION IS TO ENSURE PUBLIC SAFETY WHILE PROMOTING A HEALTHY AND ECONOMICALLY VIBRANT COMMUNITY. 
          BUT THIS BUDGET DOES THE OPPOSITE . LAW ENFORCEMENT AND THE LEGAL SYSTEM ALREADY MAKE UP 59% OF SPENDING AND ARE GETTING AN AVERAGE 20% INCREASE WITH NO DETAIL BEYOND PAY PARITY . 
          MEANWHILE , THE TRUE DRIVERS OF SAFETY, HOUSING, PUBLIC HEALTH, ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY BASED ONLY SMALL INCREASES OR SMALL REDUCTIONS, THAT IS DOING SOMETHING IN NAME ONLY. WITH NO IMPACT . I URGE THIS COURT TO SHIFT JUST 5% OF THE LEGAL SYSTEM TO INCREASE TO HOUSING STABILIZATION, BEHAVIORAL HEALTHCARE, AND WORKFORCE PIPELINES BY PRECINCT NEED, THAT WOULD FULFILL THE COUNTY'S MEETING, LOWER CRIME , SAY TAXPAYER DOLLARS . WHILE COMMISSIONER RAMSEY PROPOSES 
          [01:00:01]
CUTS TO EQUITY PROGRAMS, INDIGENOUS DEFENSE, AND BROADBAND, PROGRAMS THAT LIFT UP VULNERABLE FAMILIES -- 
          >> THANK YOU, YOUR TIME IS UP. TO THANK YOU. 
          >> THANK YOU. I HAVE TO CUT YOU OFF. 
          >> PLEASE, STATE YOUR NAME. >> LANITA ROBINSON WITH PURE 
          JUSTICE. >> STEPHANIE WELCOMES -- STEPHANIE WILKINS, CHARLENE JONES ON ITEM 7 OF PRECINCT 1, RICARDO BARNES ON ITEM 7 OF PRECINCT 4 AND LESLIE KAUFMAN ON 
          ITEM 7 OF PRECINCT 4. >> GOOD MORNING , HARRIS COUNTY JUDGE AND COMMISSIONERS, MY NAME IS REVEREND DR. STEPHANIE WILKINS , THE POWERS THAT BE WANT TO CONVINCE US MORE POLICE IN OUR NEIGHBORHOODS EQUALS MORE SAFETY. POLICE DO NOT PREVENT CRIME, THEY SHOW UP AFTER THE DAMAGES DONE. WHAT PREVENTS CRIME IS ACCESS TO OPPORTUNITIES AND RESOURCES. THE STATE DOES NOT FEAR CRIME, IT FEARS ORGANIZED , EDUCATED, AND FREE COMMUNITIES . THAT IS WHY LAWS ARE CREATED TO DISABLE DECREASES IN LAW ENFORCEMENT BUDGETS AND CAPS OUR REVENUE FUNDING AND ARMS LAW-ENFORCEMENT LIKE SOLDIERS IN THE LEGACY OF SLAVERY AND OVER POLICES OUR NEIGHBORHOODS, UNFORTUNATELY, FOR MOST , MORE POLICING DOES NOT EQUATE TO MORE SAFETY, MORE RESOURCES INTO OUR COMMUNITIES WILL. THIS PROPOSED BUDGET DOES NOT PLACE PRIORITY ON THE PEOPLE WHO TRUSTED YOU TO PUT THEIR INTEREST FIRST. I AM ASKING YOU TO PLEASE VOTE NO. 
          >> THANK YOU. >> GOOD MORNING , MY NAME IS CHARLENE JONES AND I AM A MEMBER OF PURE YOUTH AND RESIDENT OF PRECINCT 1 . WHEN YOU SPEAK OF INCREASING FUNDING FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT, YOU MUST ALSO SPEAK OF THE HISTORY TIED TO THOSE FORCES. LAW ENFORCEMENT IN THIS COUNTRY HAS ALWAYS SERVED AS A TOOL OF SOCIAL CONTROL, PARTICULARLY OF BLACK AND BROWN AND POOR COMMUNITIES. TO INVEST IT IS -- REAL JUSTICE DEMANDS INVESTMENT IN EDUCATION, HEALTHCARE, CHILDCARE, AND HOUSING, THOSE ARE THE THINGS THAT WILL UPLIFT HUMAN LIFE. A SOCIETY THAT ANSWERS EVERY PROBLEM WITH HANDCUFFS AND JAIL CELLS IS A SOCIETY THAT HAS FAILED TO IMAGINE FREEDOM. OUR GOVERNMENT HAS ALWAYS INVESTED IN LAW ENFORCEMENT WITH A ROBUST BUDGET, LET'S DO THE SAME FOR THE PROGRAMS THAT HELP THE 
          PEOPLE. THANK YOU. >> GOOD MORNING, RICARDO BARNES, PRECINCT 4. I AM HERE TO SPEAK ABOUT THE CHALLENGES THE COURT HAS IN PRESENTING TO US THE BALANCED-BUDGET. IT IS NO EASY TASK AND WE HAVE SEEN EVIDENCE OF THAT ALREADY. I WANT TO CHALLENGE THE COURT TO THINK ABOUT THE ENVIRONMENT -- VALUABLE SERVICES REQUIRED FOR ALL OF US IN THE COMMUNITY TO KEEP A SEMBLANCE OF EQUITY AND BALANCE, AND TO MAINTAIN THE QUALITY OF LIFE WE ALL ASPIRE FOR. AS YOU WORK TOWARDS PRESENTING THE COUNTY BUDGET , PLEASE, PRESERVE THE SUPPORT YOU HAVE FOR LIBRARIES, PARKS HEALTH, AND INFRASTRUCTURE . I AM CONFIDENT THE COURT WILL RISE TO THIS CHALLENGE. 
          >> THANK YOU. >> GOOD MORNING, LESLIE KAUFMAN, I GO TO THE BAYLAND COMMUNITY CENTER AND THE PROGRAMS ARE WONDERFUL . IT OPENED UP AFTER COVID AND CREATED A GREAT COMMUNITY OF 85 PEOPLE I EXERCISE WITH EVERY MORNING , SIX DAYS A WEEK, WE HAVE A WONDERFUL LIBRARY , THE PARK IS EXQUISITE WITH GORGEOUS OAK TREES, THE MAINTENANCE CREW, THE STAFF , I AM TELLING YOU , IT IS A WONDERFUL PLACE TO BE WITH SO MANY GREAT PROGRAMS FOR SO MANY PEOPLE OF DIFFERENT WALKS OF LIFE AND AGES. WE REALLY APPRECIATE THE FUNDING . I AGREE WITH THE OTHER PEOPLE, WE DO NOT NEED TO BE SPENDING MORE MONEY 
          [01:05:03]
ON LAW ENFORCEMENT WHEN WE COULD CREATE A HAPPY AND HEALTHY COMMUNITY. I AM AGAINST ANY CUTS, I KNOW IT IS HARD BUT THIS IS A WONDERFUL COMMUNITY AND VERY WELCOMING AND VERY NEEDED. 
          THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU, MA'AM. 
          >> DR. RON ON ITEM 7 AND PRECINCT 1, ADRIANA THOMAS ON ITEM 7 OF PRECINCT 2, NELSON ON ITEM 7 OF PRECINCT 4, AND JANINE 
          ADAM ON ITEM 7 OF PRECINCT 4 >> A REDUCTION IN LIBRARY MATERIALS, AND POSITIONS FOR THE LIBRARIES. MA'AM WAS SPEAKING 
          ABOUT THE LIBRARIES. >> I RUN A PROGRAM FOR FIRST RESPONDERS MENTAL HEALTH. A LOT OF FIRST RESPONDERS WILL NOT ASK FOR HELP. THEY SEE THE THINGS WE RUN AWAY FROM DAY IN AND DAY OUT. IT WEARS ON YOU . COMMISSIONER GARCIA STEPPED UP TO FUND THIS PROGRAM WHEN THE STATE FUNDS RAN OUT. I HATE TO SEE THIS PROGRAM GO. AS I SAID, OUR FIRST RESPONDERS , POLICE , FIRE, EMT, EMERGENCY ROOM WORKERS ARE MORE MORE LIKELY TO COME OFF BUT TO A COUNSELING CENTER NOT PART OF THEIR EMPLOYMENT THAN THEY WOULD IN TERMS ON IN-HOUSE THINGS, WITHOUT COMMISSIONER GARCIA, THIS PROGRAM WOULD HAVE GONE AWAY AND WE HAVE HELPED HUNDREDS OVER THE YEARS, HELPED PEOPLE ACROSS THE STATE BUT WE FOCUS ON HARRIS COUNTY. I DO HOPE WE CAN 
          MAINTAIN THOSE FUNDS. >> THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE, THAT IS A VERY IMPORTANT PROGRAM. 
          >> GIVE ME A MOMENT, PLEASE. I HAD TO MAKE SOME ADJUSTMENTS . 
          GOOD MORNING, JUDGE HIDALGO, COMMISSIONERS, THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK . HOUSTON COMMUNITY COLLEGE TRUSTEE BUT HERE IN MY CAPACITY AS PRESIDENT AND CEO OF THE TAHOE CENTER. AS YOU CALIBRATE THE BUDGET, I ENCOURAGE THE COURT TO FIGURE OUT WHAT UNITES US, A COMMITMENT TO THE PEOPLE OF HARRIS COUNTY, THESE PROGRAMS ARE NOT JUST LINE ITEMS, THEY ARE LIFELINES, AS SOMEONE SAID EARLIER, THEY KEEP FAMILY STABLE HIM A CHILDREN LEARNING, AND COMMUNITIES DRIVING. A GREAT EXAMPLE IS PRECINCT 2, ADRIAN GARCIA, YOUR SUPPORT HAS BEEN TRANSFORMATIVE BUT NOT FOR HIS LEADERSHIP AND FINANCIAL BACKING, PROJECT GRAD, NOW GRAD CAFE WOULD NOT BE IN EXISTENCE, IT SERVES THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE AND FAMILIES WHO COME EVERY DAY TO ACCESS COLLEGE AND CAREER AND LIFE READINESS RESOURCES THAT CHANGE TRAJECTORIES . AS WELL, WE HAVE COME EDUCATION AND PRECINCT 2 . 
          >> THANK YOU, YOUR TIME IS UP. >> DOCTOR, YOU ARE AN ELECTED OFFICIAL AT HCC, WILL CONTINUE WITH YOUR THOUGHTS? 
          >> THANK YOU. IN EDUCATION, EARLY CHILDHOOD ACADEMY AND EDUCATION-PUBLIC OPTION FOR PARENTS AND DRIVER PARK, ACQUISITION, LAND WITH PROPERTY WHERE WE ARE ABLE TO SERVE THE COMMUNITY THAT VERY MUCH NEEDS IT IN PRECINCT 4. WE HAVE DUE TO SECURITY PROGRAMS AND PROJECT GRAD, THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER BRIONES, WE HAVE A FACILITY THAT SERVES YOUTH AGING OUT OF FOSTER CARE, COMMISSIONER ELLIS'S TEAM SUPPORTED IN GIVING US RESOURCES . COMMISSIONER RAMSEY HAS BEEN RESPONSIVE AND WE SERVE YOUR COMMUNITY THROUGH PROJECT GRAD AND HOUSING COUNSELING . WITH ALL OF THAT SAID, JUDGE HIDALGO, THANK YOU FOR YOUR RESPONSIVENESS AND EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT TO KEEP FAMILIES AT THE CENTER OF THE WORK. THANK YOU TO YOU FOR PRIORITIZING OUR COMMUNITY -- WHO THIS IS ALL ABOUT, MAKING SURE THAT WE LOOK AFTER OUR COMMUNITY I ASKED THE COURT TO ADOPT A BUDGET THAT PROTECTS ALL OF THE RESOURCES THAT ARE OUT THERE, HELPING THE MOST VULNERABLE COMMUNITIES . 
          THAT REFLECTS THE BEST OF WHO WE ARE AS A COUNTY. UNITED, RESILIENT , AND COMMITTED TO THE COLLECTIVE IMPACT . THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP, TO EACH OF YOU, AND FOR YOUR SERVICE TO THE 
          PEOPLE OF HARRIS COUNTY . >> THANK YOU FOR YOUR WORK AND LEADERSHIP, OFF THE TOP OF YOUR HEAD, HOW MANY KIDS HAVE GONE 
          [01:10:02]
THROUGH THE EARLY STEM ACADEMY? 
          >> SINCE ITS INCEPTION THREE YEARS AGO, A GOOD 400 AND WE 
          CONTINUE TO GROW AND THRIVE. >> THANK YOU. 
          >> ABOUT 40,000 WOULD HAVE BEEN SERVED WITH A PROPOSAL FOR 
          CHILDHOOD CARE THAT WAS KILLED. >> GOOD MORNING, JUDGE, COMMISSIONERS, MY NAME IS NELSON. I ATTEND BAYLAND PARK , MENDENHALL PARK, I AM ASKING YOU TO CONSIDER NOT MAKING ANY CUTS FOR PARKS, IF YOU CAN INCREASE MONEY FOR THE AFTER SCHOOL, PRE-K , PRESCHOOL KIDS, THAT WILL BE GREAT FOR OUR YOUTH. 
          >> THANK YOU, SIR. >> GOOD MORNING , JUDGE AND COMMISSIONERS MY NAME IS JAN ADAM, MY HUSBAND AND I LIVE IN UNINCORPORATED WEST HARRIS COUNTY IN PRECINCT 4 AND I AM HERE TO SUPPORT COMMISSIONER BRIONES AND HER BUDGET , AND ALL OF THE WONDERFUL THINGS SHE DOES. THERE ARE THREE EXAMPLES OF THE WORK THAT COMMISSIONER BRIONES AND HER TEAM DO THAT WE HAVE PERSONALLY EXPERIENCED . ONE, IT SEEMS MINOR, BUT WHEN AN UNKNOWN DRIVER DAMAGED OUR CURB IN FRONT, IT WAS FIXED IN THREE DAYS. AFTER A STORM LAST FALL, ONE CALL, I HAD TO FILL OUT SOME FORMS, GO OUR FALLEN TREE, AND THE DEBRIS REMOVED. 
          >> THANK YOU, YOUR TIME IS UP. >> THANK YOU, AND THANK YOU TO 
          COMMISSIONER BRIONES. >> ITEM 7 OF PRECINCT 2. SARAH ON ITEM 7. SALLY ON ITEM 7 OF PRECINCT 4 . ADRIANA CRUISE ON ITEM 7 OF PRECINCT 2. CATHERINE MEDRANO ON ITEM 7, PRECINCT 2. 
          >> HOW ARE YOU DOING? MY NAME IS BEN, I AM HERE BECAUSE I KNOW WHAT THE POWER OF VOTING POWER DOES. WE WERE A PART OF THE ORGANIZATION THAT PUT THE PEOPLE WHO WE SEE BEFORE US IN PLACE . 
          WE WERE THE ONES WHO WERE BOOTS ON THE GROUND CANVASSING, WE WORKED TOGETHER, UNITING, HOSTING THINGS FOR BROTHER ELLIS , ONE OF THE THINGS ORGANIZATIONS LIKE US DO IS WE PUT THE BOOTS ON THE GROUND BUT WE DO NOT GET THE SAME PAY. WE DO NOT GET THE SAME KIND OF, CAN WE COME AND REQUEST THE FUNDING WE NEED TO BE THE FIRST RESPONDERS THAT WE ARE , WE HAVE VIDEOS THAT INFORMATION, WE ARE THE DATA COLLECTORS, WE PUT THE VOTE AND GET OUT THE VOTE CAN WE PUT THE INITIATIVES TOGETHER , BUT WE DO NOT GET ALL THE CREDIT. WE DO NOT GET TO ASK, CAN WE GET MORE MONEY , LIKE THE OFFICERS ARE DOING, THE OFFICERS NEED HELP, WE WORK WITH SOME OF THE OFFICES -- 
          >> THANK YOU, YOUR TIME IS UP. >> CAN YOU FIND ORGANIZATIONS LIKE US, THAT NEED HELP, AS WELL AS THE OFFICERS? 
          >> THANK YOU I AGREE. >> HEY, COMMISSIONERS COURT, I AM A TEACHER WHO LIVES IN PRECINCT 4, COMMISSIONER BRIONES, I WANTED TO RESPOND TO VIDEOS AND STATEMENTS YOU SHARE WITH US ON PRECINCT 4, YOU SAY HELP AT THE RIGHT TIME, HOW WAS THE RIGHT TIME FOR YOU TO ALLOW THAT INCARCERATION, AND PROPOSED BUDGET STRATEGIES, U.S. PUBLIC SAFETY AND MENTAL HEALTH FOR COMMUNITY BANKERS, BUT FOCUS ON MENTAL HEALTH ONLY AT INCARCERATION. HOW DOES MENTAL HEALTH OF JAILS HELP WITH JAIL OVERCROWDING AND ALREADY UNDERSTAFFED JAIL? YOU SEEM TO IN THE VIDEOS SAYING THAT YOU WANT A STRONGER, HEALTHIER HARRIS COUNTY BUT ONLY ONE IS TO BE HEALTHY WHEN WE ARE LOCKED UP WHY ARE YOU NOT INVESTING IN PUBLIC HEALTH MENTAL FACILITIES NOT ROOTED IN CULTURAL SYSTEMS SO THAT YOU CAN ADDRESS THIS AND 
          [01:15:11]
HELP OUR COMMUNITY BEFORE WE GET TO INCARCERATION? THIS BUDGET IS A MANUFACTURED VALUE CREATED BY THE STATE WERE ON POOR PEOPLE AND IT IS UPHELD BY THIS COURT'S REFUSAL TO THE BEST FROM PUNISHMENT. I REJECT YOUR LIES, COMMISSIONER BRIONES, THAT SAFETY COMES FROM SURVEILLANCE AND FORCED THEM 
          >> THANK YOU . >> THANK YOU. 
          >> IF WE CAN ADD STEPHANIE VALDES, SHE IS ON THE LIST BUT SHE HAS AN APPOINTMENT TO GET TO. 
          >> TIFFANY, DID YOU HEAR THAT? >> YES. 
          >> CATHERINE MEDRANO, ONE OF MANY SENIOR TRIP ORGANIZERS FOR PRECINCT 2, ENVISION A GROUP OF SENIOR CITIZENS READY TO PAUSE THEIR ORDINARY DAY , THIS LIVELY GROUP ANXIOUSLY AWAITING EXCURSIONS TO TAKE THEM TO NEW PLACES TO EXPLORE OR VISIT PLACES THEY FINALLY GET TO VISIT. ONCE ON BOARD, THE PRECINCT 2 BUS, THEY FIND FREEDOM AND RELAXATION AND A SENSE OF SECURITY BECAUSE THEY KNOW THEY ARE ABOARD A SAFE AND RELIABLE BUS WITH A HIGHLY PROFESSIONAL DRIVER MAINTAINING THE SAFEST STANDARDS . THE FAMILY MEMBERS ALSO HAVE A SENSE OF SECURITY BECAUSE THEY APPRECIATE THE FACT THAT THEIR BUST IS HIGHLY MAINTAINED AT THE HIGHEST LEVEL, I INVITE YOU TO TRAVEL WITH US SO YOU CAN SEE AND WITNESS HOW THE FUNDING IS BEING UTILIZED AND HOPEFULLY CONTINUED AT THE SAME LEVEL. 
          THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU. GREAT USE OF FUND, I AGREE, BUT WHAT WILL WE CUT? I AM NOT HEARING THAT ANSWER FROM 
          ANYBODY. >> THANK YOU FOR COMING DOWN. 
          >> GOOD MORNING, I AM HERE TO GIVE MY TESTIMONY ABOUT -- INDISCERNIBLE ] I FIRST CAME ACROSS OUR SON STARTED SPEECH THERAPY , DURING ONE OF THOSE SESSIONS, COMMUNITY WALKER AND RECOMMENDED THEIR TRAINING PROGRAM TO BECOME A COMMUNITY WALKER, AT THAT TIME, HOW ESSENTIAL THEIR SUPPORT IS FOR FAMILY LIKE OURS . THE PROGRAM GAVE ME THE TRAINING AND CONFIDENCE I NEEDED TO HELP OTHERS TODAY, I WORK AS A COMMUNITY WORKER AND SEE 
          FIRSTHAND -- >> THANK YOU , YOUR TIME IS UP. 
          >> GOOD MORNING. YES, MY NAME IS ALICIA PACHECO AND SPEAKING ON BEHALF OF SARAH -- I MEAN, SALLY. FOR THE PAST TWO YEARS, I WORKED WITH BARBARA QUATRO IN PRECINCT 4 AND THE WORK HAS TRANSFORMED ALIEF . I DIRECT A COMMUNITY ORGANIZATION CALLED TREES FOR KATY, WE ARE WORKING TO REPLICATE THE TRANSFORMATIVE WORK SHE DID , GOD REST HER SOUL, AND CARRIED HER LEGACY FORWARD, FARTHER WEST INTO KATY AND THE UNINCORPORATED AREAS. I WANT TO THANK COMMISSIONER BRIONES FOR HER PART IN THIS IMPORTANT ENDEAVOR AND ASKED THAT THIS WORK CONTINUE . WE DO 
          NOT REQUIRE A LOT OF FUNDING. >> THANK YOU, YOUR TIME IS UP . 
          >> THANK YOU, YES , IT IS VERY IMPORTANT . 
          >> STEPHANIE VALDES ON ITEM 7 OF PRECINCT 2, RYAN ANDERSON ON ITEM 7 OF PRECINCT 1, JULIE HARTMAN ON ITEM 7 OF PRECINCT 4, MORE YOU TELL YOUR ITEM 7 OF PRECINCT 1. -- LAURA GALLIER ON 
          ITEM 7 OF PRECINCT 1. >> WITH THE -- YESTERDAY WAS EIGHT YEARS SINCE HURRICANE HARVEY AM EIGHT YEARS SINCE FAMILY WANTS THEIR HOMES FILL WITH WATER AND SINCE NEIGHBORS HAD TO BE RESCUED AND WE SAID WE WOULD DO EVERYTHING POSSIBLE TO MAKE SURE THAT IT NEVER HAPPENED AGAIN. BUT THE TRUTH IS, HOUSTON 
          [01:20:01]
AND HARRIS COUNTY ARE NOT NO MORE RESILIENT TODAY THAN THEY WERE BACK THEN . EVERY HURRICANE SEASON FAMILIES WENT ANXIOUSLY, PRAYING FOR THEIR HOMES DO NOT FLOOD AGAIN AND HOPING THE POWER STAYS ON. HOPING THE STORM WILL NOT TAKE EVERYTHING NOW, WITH THE UPCOMING STATE AND FEDERAL CUTS, HARRIS COUNTY IS THE LAST LIFELINE PEOPLE HAVE AND THIS BUDGET IS A CHANCE TO PROTECT THEM. NO AMOUNT OF POLICING THAT HOLD BACK FLOODWATERS, NO PATROL CAR WILL KEEP AN ELDER A LIFE WHEN THE POWER GOES OUT, AND THE HEAT RISES , THAT IS NOT WHAT SAFETY LOOKS LIKE DURING A DISASTER . REAL SAFETY COMES FROM RESILIENCE FROM HEALTH, HOUSING, PREPARATION AND HARVEY TAUGHT US THE COST OF BEING UNPREPARED AND WE CANNOT AFFORD TO REPEAT THAT MISTAKE AGAIN. 
          COMMISSIONERS, JUST TO PROTECT HARRIS COUNTY . 
          >> THANK YOU, STEPHANIE, YOUR SISTER ALSO HAS SOME REMARKS. 
          >> HELLO, I AM 15 YEARS OLD , NOT AS AN EXPERT BUT AS A KID WHO HAS EXPERIENCED THE REALITY OF WHAT HARRIS COUNTY PROGRAMS MAKE POSSIBLE. OUR MOM HAS HAD TWO OPEN-HEART SURGERIES THROUGH HARRIS HEALTH AND BEFORE HER SECOND SURGERY, WHEN WE DID NOT KNOW IF SHE WOULD SURVIVE, THE COUNTY CONNECTED HER TO LEGAL SERVICES AND SHE WROTE A WILL TO PUT HER AFFAIRS IN ORDER AND MAKE SURE WE WOULD BE OKAY IF THE WORST HAPPENED IN THAT MOMENT, THE COUNTY GAVE US NOT JUST MEDICAL CARE BUT PEACE OF MIND . HARRIS COUNTY HELPED MY MOM FINALLY GAVE HER CITIZENSHIP AFTER 18 YEARS OF BEING A RESIDENT, WITHOUT THE RESOURCES TO FINISH THE PROJECT AFTER NEARLY 2 DECADES OF WAITING, SHE VOTED FOR THE FIRST TIME, THAT MOMENT MATTERED MORE THAN I CAN DESCRIBE AS SHE FELT TRULY SEEN IN A MOMENT WHERE HER LATINO COMMUNITIES ARE BEING IMPACTED BY HATEFUL POLICIES. IF YOU CUT THIS BUDGET, YOU TAKE THAT CHANCE AWAY FROM FAMILIES LIKE MINE YOU TAKE AWAY HEALTH AND STABILITY -- 
          >> THANK YOU, YOUR TIME IS UP. >> THANK YOU, VERY GOOD. 
          >> THANK YOU SO MUCH . >> MY NAME IS RYAN ANDERSON AS A CONSTITUENT OF PRECINCT 1, I AM HERE BECAUSE THIS BUDGET CLAIMS TO MAKE HOUSTON SAFER BUT I THINK IN THE BEST RESOURCES FROM COMMUNITY PROGRAMS WHICH FOSTER SAFE AND AFFORDABLE NEIGHBORHOODS. THE PROPOSED BUDGET DECREASES FUNDING -- AND DOES NOT PROVIDE ANY PLAN FOR CONTINUING THE WORK FUNDED BY OUR PUMP WHICH IS CURRENTLY GOING TO AFFORDABLE HOUSING THROUGHOUT THE CITY. THESE FUNDS ARE RUNNING OUT AND IT IS UTTERLY DISREGARDING THIS WORK WHICH PROVIDES AFFORDABLE HOUSING TO HOUSTONIANS ON THE BUDGET FOR THE CUTS READY FOR PUBLIC HEALTH SERVICES BY $600,000 AND HARRIS PUBLIC HEALTH SERVICES MAKE SURE THE WATER IS DRINKABLE AND CONTROLLING THE MOSQUITO POPULATIONS. I SEE THIS BUDGET SHOWING COMMITMENT TO SOMETHING, SHOWING COMMITMENT TO A POLICE STATE, $14 MILLION WOULD GO TO BUDGET INCREASES FOR THE SHERIFF TO TAKE THE DEPARTMENT, $41 MILLION TO THE SHERIFF PATROL ADMINISTRATED FROM AND A MASSIVE RACE TO AID CONSTABLES IN THE COUNTY, EIGHT INDIVIDUALS. I ASK, IF YOU SEE HOUSTON AS ONLY 
          SAFER -- >> THANK YOU, YOUR TIME IS UP. 
          >> THAT WAS A 60% RAISE FOR ELECTED CONSTABLES THE SAME THREE VOTED FOR AFTER CREATING THIS DEFICIT. 
          >> MY NAME IS LAURA GALLIER, PRECINCT 1 WITH PURE YOUTH, I OPPOSE THE 40% RAISE TO CONSTABLE AND SUPPORT A FREEZE TO LAW-ENFORCEMENT WITH PRIMUS LOWER AND THE BUDGET DEFICIT, MY FAMILY HAS EXPERIENCED TREATABLE ADDICTION, MENTAL ILLNESS, TRAUMA FROM FAMILY VIOLENCE AND SEXUAL ASSAULT, LAW ENFORCEMENT IS NOT TRAINED TO PROTECT US BUT COMMUNITY SERVICES WOULD. CUTS TO FORENSIC SCIENCE ARE CRUEL TO RAPE SURVIVORS LIKE ME AND CUSTOM MATERNAL HEALTH ENDANGER MY DAUGHTER , CUT TO 9/11 INTAKE PUT ALL OF US AT RISK, FUND THESE PROGRAMS THAT MAKE US 
          SAFE. >> THANK YOU. 
          >> THANK YOU. >> JULIE HARTMAN OF ITEM 7 OF PRECINCT 4, LISA HOLBROOK ON ITEM 7 OF PRECINCT 2, ITEM 7 OF PRECINCT 2. CAROLINA ON ITEM 7 OF PRECINCT 2. JULIA ON ITEM 7 
          OF PRECINCT 2. >> GOOD MORNING, I SERVE AS THE PRESIDENT AND CEO OF THE SOUTH BELT ELLINGTON CHAMBER OF COMMERCE AND I WANT TO TAKE THIS TIME TO THANK COMMISSIONER GARCIA AND HIS TEAM FOR THE REVIVED TO THRIVE PROGRAM WHICH HAS BEEN INSTRUMENTAL IN IMPROVING PRECINCT 2, ESPECIALLY 
          [01:25:01]
IN OUR SOUTH BELT AREA , ALL OF THE INITIATIVES THAT ARE IMPORTANT BUT I WANT TO FOCUS ON THE PARKS AND RECREATION BUDGET LINE ITEM. THE REASON I SAY THAT MANY OF OUR FAMILIES IN THE SOUTH BELT ELLINGTON AREA HAVE LIMITED INCOME AND HAVING ACCESS TO FREE FACILITIES AND OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES IS INSTRUMENTAL IN HELPING THEM WITH , NOT ONLY THE PHYSICAL ACTIVITIES, BUT MENTAL HEALTH , WHICH IS SO IMPORTANT IN TODAY'S WORLD. I ASK YOU CONSIDER THAT WHAT YOU WERE LOOKING AT THE BUDGET, THOSE IN THE OTHER ITEMS THAT IMPACT OUR FAMILIES, WHICH EVENTUALLY FUEL THE ECONOMIC ENGINES OF OUR COMMUNITIES. 
          >> THANK YOU FOR COMING DOWN, LISA, APPRECIATE YOU. 
          >> GOOD MORNING. I AM A LONGTIME RESIDENT OF CLEARLAKE AND PRECINCT 2 , OVER THE LAST FEW YEARS, INCREASING -- PRECINCT 2 HAS DONE AN OUTSTANDING JOB IN IMPROVING THE INFRASTRUCTURE, REPAIRING ROADS AND CREATING SIDEWALKS, AND MANY PROJECTS GOING ON RIGHT NOW AND MANY PLAN FOR THE FUTURE . ONE OF THE FUTURE PROJECTS IS THE REPAIR AND RESURFACING OF BEACON STREET ON WHICH MY HOUSE OF WORSHIP IS LOCATED , MOST OF YOU HAVE VISITED THE CENTER, THE LARGEST ISLAMIC CENTER IN THE CLEARLAKE AREA, NEXT IS A UNITARIAN UNIVERSALIST CHURCH, AND WEEKLY THERE WERE THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE WHO ATTEND THESE PLACES OF WORSHIP AND BEACON STREET IS IN SUCH BAD SHAPE, SCHEDULED TO BE 
          REPAIRED AND RESURFACED -- >> THANK YOU, YOUR TIME IS UP. 
          >> THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU, SIR, YOUR TIME IS 
          UP. >> DID YOUR WIFE JOIN US? 
          >> SHE IS BUSY DOING OTHER WORK. >> GIVE HER OUR REGARDS. 
          >> HI, GOOD AFTERNOON , GOOD MORNING, TO JUDGE HIDALGO AND EVERYONE ELSE ON THE COMMISSIONERS COURT . I AM HERE BECAUSE , I AM SURPRISED MORE PEOPLE ARE NOT ANGRY , A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE STATING FACTS OF THE PAST AND NOT FOCUSING ON WHAT IS TO COME. YOU KNOW, I AM A COMMUNITY MEMBER , NOT ONLY AM I A COMMUNITY MEMBER WHEN I DO COMMUNITY OUTREACH FOR A LOCAL NONPROFIT. I REALLY WANT YOU WANT TO THINK ABOUT THE COMMUNITY. WE ARE WHAT MAKE OUR SOCIETY STRONGER AND WE WANT TO HAVE A SAY ON WHERE OUR HARD EARNED MONEY GOES TO. PLEASE, RESPECT US. WE ARE IMPORTANT, NOT JUST INDUSTRY IS IMPORTANT BUT WE MAKE THE POPULATION OF OUR SOCIETY. 
          >> THANK YOU. >> PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME. 
          >> CAROLINA BUSTOS. >> SHE IS BEAUTIFUL . DOES SHE WANT TO SAY ANYTHING? THANK Y'ALL FOR COMING DOWN. 
          >> THANK YOU. >> OUR BRICK CONTRACTORS ON ITEM 7 OF PRECINCT 2, AMY ON ITEM 7 OF PRECINCT 7, DANIELA SOSA ON ITEM 7 OF PRECINCT 4 USING THE INTERPRETER, ELIZABETH YOUNG ON 
          ITEM 7 OF PRECINCT 4. >> HELLO, I AM HERE TO TALK ABOUT WHY I SHOULD NOT BE ALLOWED IN OUR COUNTY, AN OFFICER SHOULD COMMIT TO NOT TAKING CONTRACTS WITH ICE WHO ARE TAKING INNOCENT PEOPLE AND RIPPING FAMILIES APART FROM EACH OTHER. AS A PART OF THE LATINO COMMUNITY, I AM SCARED FOR HUMANITY, WHICH IS NOT HAPPEN AT MY AGE, I AM STILL YOUNG AND KNOW A LOT ABOUT INJUSTICE. FOR THE RECORD, I AM ONLY 11 YEARS OLD AND I KNOW SOME OF YOU MAY BE THINKING, THIS IS JUST A KID, THIS IS JUST ANOTHER KID BUT SHE DOES NOT MATTER. NO, KIDS MATTER JUST AS MUCH. WE HAVE A VOICE, TOO. GIVE OUR RIGHTS, WE DESERVE THEM TO JUDGE LINA, THIS IS OFF-TOPIC, THANK YOU FOR 
          [01:30:03]
EVERYTHING YOU DO, I LOOK UP TO AND I WANT TO BE JUST AS AMAZING 
          AND AWESOME AS HER. >> THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU 
          AND LET'S NOT CLAP. >> GOOD MORNING, MY NAME IS AMY AND THE PRESIDENT AND CEO OF THE BAY AREA USE AND TRANSPORTATION PARTNERSHIP, A TRANSPORTATION MANAGEMENT ASSOCIATION THAT ADVOCATES FOR IMPROVED DRAINAGE , MOBILITY, AND AIR QUALITY FOR BAY AREA HOUSTON. WE SERVE EIGHT CITIES WITHIN HARRIS COUNTY WITH A COMBINED POPULATION OF ROUGHLY 268,000 INDIVIDUALS. WE ENCOURAGE THE COURT TO PRIORITIZE AND INVEST IN PRECINCT SERVICES THAT DIRECTLY IMPACT QUALITY OF LIFE, PARTICULARLY DRAINAGE , MOBILITY, AND RESILIENT INFRASTRUCTURE ROAD AND DITCH MAINTENANCE ARE NOT OPTIONAL. 
          THEY KEEP OUR TRANSPORTATION NETWORK FUNCTIONING , REDUCE FLOOD RISKS, AND ENSURE THE SAFE MOVEMENT OF PEOPLE AND GOODS THROUGH OUR REGION. WE ALSO URGE YOU TO WEIGH THE ENVIRONMENTAL AND AIR-QUALITY BENEFITS OF THESE INVESTMENTS WILL MAINTAIN ROADWAYS AND PARKS AND GREEN SPACES REDUCE IDLING , IMPROVE TRAFFIC FLOW, AND OFFSET EMISSIONS . IN A COUNTY 
          VULNERABLE TO STORMS -- >> THANK YOU, YOUR TIME IS UP. 
          >> THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU FOR YOUR WORK, THE COMMUNITY IS STRONGER BECAUSE OF YOUR LEADERSHIP FOCUSING ON THE NEEDS OF INFRASTRUCTURE IN YOUR AREA. 
          >> THANK YOU. >> 
          >> THANK YOU , YOUR TIME IS UP. >> LANGUAGE ] I SAID, THANK YOU, I AGREE. 
          >> THANK YOU . AS A MOTHER, I FEEL VERY BLESSED TO BE ABLE TO COUNT ON THE COMMUNITY CENTER WHERE I AM WELCOME WITH HOSPITALITY AND RESPECT. REGARDLESS OF MY RACE , LANGUAGE, RELIGION FREE DENTAL SERVICES, BENEFITS INFORMATION, VACCINES, AND HELP WITH FOOD THANKS TO THE LITTLE STORE. I AM CONCERNED ABOUT POSSIBLE BUDGET CUTS TO OUR CENTERS THAT WOULD AFFECT OUR FAMILIES. AN EXAMPLE OF THIS WAS LAST SUMMER'S CAMP WHERE OUR CHILDREN HAD A MAGICAL SUMMER THEY LEARNED , PLAYED , MADE NEW FRIENDS , SUCH A SUCCESSFULLY PLANT CAMP THAT WE EXPERIENCED NOT ONLY MATH , SCIENCE AND ROBOTICS, BUT THE NATURAL PRESERVES THAT, THANKS TO PRECINCT 4, ARE BEAUTIFULLY MAINTAINED AND I GET EXCITED ABOUT THINKING ABOUT THE SUMMER AND THE NEW ADVENTURES , PLEASE REMEMBER THAT THE MOST VALUABLE THING IS CHILDHOOD AND NOT ALL CHILDREN HAVE THE PRIVILEGE OF HAVING A CENTER LIKE BAYLAND WHERE THE TEACHERS PUT THEIR HEART INTO IT AND THE STAFF WELCOMES US . WITH AFFECTION, 
          RESPECT, AND LOVE. >> THANK YOU. 
          >> A PROPOSAL TO SUPPORT EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION, INCLUDING SOME -- SUMMER PROGRAMMING BUT I DID NOT RECEIVE THE VOTES TO EVEN PUT THAT ON THE BALLOT TO ASK THE VOTERS WHETHER THEY 
          WANTED TO SUPPORT IT. >> LANGUAGE ] 
          [01:35:18]
          >> YES, PLEASE. >> HOW IMPORTANT THE CHILDHOOD 
          IS AN LOCATION. I CAN'T. >> SHE MENTIONED THE IMPORTANCE 
          OF UNITY. >> GOOD MORNING MY NAME IS ELIZABETH YOUNG AND I WANT TO TALK ABOUT THE COMMUNITY CENTERS, ESPECIALLY INCREASING FOR OUR COMMUNITY CENTERS WHO IMPACT THE LIVES OF ALL PEOPLE AND PROVIDE CLASSES AND EVENTS SUCH AS PHYSICAL, CREATIVE, AND SOCIAL ACTIVITIES . OUR COMMUNITY CENTERS HELP OUR COMMUNITY IN MANY WAYS, ENCOURAGEMENT OF CULTURAL EXCHANGES, COMBATING LONELINESS , PROMOTION OF EXERCISE AND PERSONAL HEALTH, IMPROVEMENT OF HEALTH , DISASTER PREVENTION, BOOSTING THE LOCAL ECONOMY, PROVIDING COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT, PLEASE DO NOT REDUCE FUNDING TO PRECINCT 4 OR OTHER COMMUNITY CENTERS, WE NEED OUR COMMUNITY CENTERS BECAUSE THEY PLAY A VITAL ROLE IN THE GROWTH AND WELL-BEING OF OUR COMMUNITIES . THANK YOU. 
          >> THANK YOU, I DO NOT WANT TO DO THAT. I WANT TO KNOW WHAT THE 
          CUTS ARE. >> DEBORAH ON ITEM 7 OF PRECINCT 4, DONNA ON ITEM 7 OF PRECINCT 1, ITEM 7 OF PRECINCT 4, AND 
          TRACY ON ITEM 7 OF PRECINCT 2. >> GOOD MORNING, JUDGE , COMMISSIONERS, I AM DEBORAH, COMMUNITY ACTIVIST . THANK YOU FOR LETTING ME SPEAK TODAY ABOUT THE BUDGET. I LIVE NEAR MY LAND , AS YOU KNOW, WE HAVE HAD MAJOR FLOODING FOR MANY YEARS . MY COMMUNITY HAS FLOODED MANY TIMES, INCLUDING TEMPLE BETH ISRAEL WHERE RABBI SAMUEL RHEINS, WHO GAVE THE BENEDICTION, IS PART OF THE CLERGY . WITH THE COUNTY'S EFFORTS, THINGS HAVE IMPROVED BUT MORE WORK IS NEEDED. I WANT TO THANK COMMISSIONER BRIONES FOR IMPROVING THE BAYOU, COUNTY WITH OTHER ENTITIES HAS UPGRADED IT TO REDUCE FLOODING, THEY HAVE BEEN WORKING TO IMPROVE THE WALKWAYS AND BIKE PATHS WITH SAFER CONNECTIONS UNDER THE ROADS . I WANT MONEY KEPT IN THE BUDGET TO CONTINUE THESE PROJECTS WHICH MAKE OUR COUNTY A BETTER AND MORE LIVABLE PLACE. THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING ME TO 
          SPEAK. >> GOOD TO SEE YOU. 
          >> GOOD TO SEE YOU, TOO, I LIKE YOUR ENTHUSIASM. 
          >> THANK YOU. >> GOOD MORNING, I AM THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF KATY MOSQUE IN PRECINCT 4, FOUR YEARS WE WORKED TIRELESSLY ON THE BASIC NEEDS, SIDEWALKS TO SCHOOLS AND PARKS AND PLACES OF WORSHIP. THOUSANDS OF WORKERS -- WORSHIPERS ATTEND BUT FAMILIES HAD NO SAFEWAY TO WALK , PARENTS WORRIED ABOUT CHILDREN BIKING, MOMS PUSHING THE STROLLER'S ON A NARROW ROAD WITH DEEP DITCHES AND DANGEROUS TRAFFIC, THAT CHANGED WHEN COMMISSIONER BRIONES AND HER TEAM LISTENED AND ACTED, SIDEWALKS WERE BUILT AND NOW CHILDREN RIDE SAFELY, FAMILIES WALK TOGETHER AND THEY REACH THE MOSQUE AND SCHOOLS WITH CONFIDENCE. THAT IS WHAT INFRASTRUCTURE INVESTMENT MEANS, SAFETY, EQUITY, DIGNITY FOR HARRIS COUNTY FAMILIES AND WE ARE DEEPLY WHIFFLE FOR THE LEADERSHIP OF COMMISSIONER 
          BRIONES -- >> THANK YOU YOUR TIME IS UP. 
          >> THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU. 
          >> HI, MY NAME IS TRACY AND I'M A RESIDENT OF PRECINCT 2 . AS A MOTHER, I RELY ON PARKS AND LIBRARIES AND ACCESS TO HEALTHCARE TO MEET MY CHILDREN'S HEALTH AND EDUCATIONAL NEEDS AND MANY OTHER SOCIAL SERVICES TO ENRICH THEIR LIVES . THE COMMISSIONERS ARE CURRENTLY TRYING TO DECIDE WHETHER TO CONTINUE TO PROVIDE THESE MODERN SERVICES OR CUT BACK DECADES OF PROGRESS TO AFFORD REACTIONARY POLICE RAISES . I FEEL AFRAID AND PERPLEXED OUR COUNTY LEADERSHIP IS STRUGGLING TO GRANT THE CITIZENS ACCESS TO THESE SOCIAL SERVICES THAT WE ARE BEGGING AND PAYING FOR. MANY OF WHICH ARE DESIGNED TO HELP THOSE MOST IN NEED. THE RHETORIC THAT BUDGET CUTS WILL NOT HARM SERVICES IS ABSURD. DOGE STYLE BUDGET CUTS CAUSE A 
          [01:40:05]
REDUCTION IN SERVICES, BRIONES SITES DOMESTIC VIOLENCE IS A REASON TO SUPPORT POLICE RAISES, THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY WAS RECENTLY INFORMED THEIR OFFICE BUDGET IS BEING CUT, ESPECIALLY HEART IT WILL BE MENTAL HEALTH AND DIVERSION PROGRAMS , I CANNOT SUPPORT GIVING THE POLICE A RAISE WHILE CHOOSING NOT TO 
          FUND SERVICES -- >> THANK YOU, YOUR TIME IS UP. 
          >> THE EARLY CHILDHOOD PROPOSAL DID NOT GO TO THE VOTERS BECAUSE IT WAS "HALF-BAKED ," INCLUDING SERVICES FOR CHILDREN'S OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AND FIRST RESPONDERS. 
          >> GOOD MORNING , WE SERVE AND LIVE AND WORSHIP AND PLAY IN ALL HARRIS COUNTY THANK YOU , COMMISSIONER BRIONES FOR LEADING , AND COMMISSIONER RAMSEY TO ALLOW US TO GO TO HIS INDISCERNIBLE ] COMMISSIONER ELLIS , ALSO, FOR SUPPORTING THE COMMUNITY HEALTH WORKER -- FOR ALL THE WORK, AND COMMISSIONER GARCIA FROM THE GREAT SUPPORT, THANK YOU FOR THE FUNDING. THANK YOU FOR THIS INITIATIVE . THESE WOMEN CAN AFFORD EMPLOYMENT , SUPPORT THEIR COMMUNITIES, AND FREE DAY CARE, WITH ANY OF SUPPORT OF THE COMMUNITY, BUT ASSISTANCE FOR COMMUNITY PROGRAMS, PUBLIC HEALTH , I CANNOT TALK ENOUGH ABOUT HOW MUCH PREVENTION CAN HELP EVERYBODY. 
          >> DOCTOR, THANK YOU FOR YOUR WORK. I WAS IMMENSELY MOVED YESTERDAY BY YOUR PRESENTATION. I HAVE BEEN LOOKING , I KNEW THERE WAS SOMETHING MISSING FROM THE TYPICAL BUREAUCRACY THAT WE THINK IS SUPPOSED TO WORK AND DELIVER EQUITY ACROSS COMMUNITIES. IT WASN'T. IT HASN'T. YOUR WORK IS SAVING LIVES. TO SEE THE NUMBERS YOU HAVE PRODUCED IN SUCH A SHORT PERIOD IS PHENOMENAL AND I LOOK FORWARD TO KEEPING YOU AS A PART OF MY OPERATIONS BECAUSE I KNOW THAT YOU'RE HELPING THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT BE MUCH MORE EFFECTIVE IN THEIR WORK. THANK 
          YOU. >> THANK YOU, HER DAUGHTER IS IN DAYCARE AND SHE DOES NOT HAVE TO PAY ANYTHING. OTHER WOMEN. 
          WILLING TO PUT UP MY EFFORT, WITH THE SMALL GRANTS , WE CAN DO A LOT. I WOULD BE HAPPY TO SIT WITH ANYONE AND SEE WHAT IS BEST. WHAT IS BEST FOR EVERYBODY IN OUR COUNTY, THIS BEAUTIFUL 
          COUNTY. THANK YOU, EVERYBODY. >> THANK YOU. 
          >> JULIE HARTMAN ON ITEM 7. ITEM 7 OF PRECINCT 3. SARAH DAVID ON 7 IN PRECINCT 4, MARK ON 7 IN PRECINCT 4, PEGGY TURNER ON ITEM 
          7 IN PRECINCT 1. >> HELLO. I AM 23 YEARS OLD AND A PROUD RESIDENT OF HUMBLE, ACROSS THE COUNTRY WE ARE IN A HOUSING CRISIS, SINCE THE PANDEMIC PRICES FOR HOMES AND RENT ARE AT AN ALL-TIME HIGH AND GET HIGHER THE AVERAGE HOMEBUYER IN THE U.S. TO BUY A HOME IS 30 YEARS OLD. HOW CAN WE LOOK AT THIS IN THE UPCOMING GENERATION AND TELL US YOU WOULD RATHER TEXAS BECOME A SURVEILLANCE STATE THAT HAVE KIDS BE ABLE TO AFFORD TO LIVE ? HOW CAN YOU BE SUPPORTIVE OF EVEN THE LGBTQ PLUS COMMUNITY WHEN QUEER A 120% MORE LIKELY TO HAVE HOMELESSNESS AND HOUSING INSTABILITY, RECONSIDER WHAT THE FUTURE GENERATIONS IN MIND WITH ME IN MIND THAT POLICE RAISES ARE THE LAST THING WE NEED, HOUSING HAS BEEN FALLING APART FOR YEARS BUT THE POCKETS OF LAW ENFORCEMENT KEEP GETTING BIGGER I URGE THE COMMISSIONERS TO DELAY THE RAISED AND PUT THIS TO THE 
          VOTERS NEXT YEAR. THANK YOU. >> GOOD MORNING. DR. SARAH DAVID, HOUSTON SITE DIRECTOR FOR MPOWER, DIVIDING FREE TECHNOLOGY 
          [01:45:03]
TRAINING AND CAREER PATHWAYS FOR LOW TO MODERATE INCOME COMMUNITIES, THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT, AS A RESULT OF YOUR SUPPORT, WE HAVE 314 STUDENTS, MANY VETERANS THE WOMEN , AND ADULTS FROM HARRIS COUNTY GAINING ACCESS TO LIFE-CHANGING OPPORTUNITIES . BECAUSE OF THIS INVESTMENT, MPOWER ALUMNI HAVE TRANSITIONED FROM UNEMPLOYMENT OR LOW-WAGE JOBS INTO SUSTAINABLE CAREERS IN TECHNOLOGY . THESE ARE NOT JUST JOBS, THEIR FAMILY SUPPORTING WAGES, THAT STRENGTHEN OUR LOCAL ECONOMY. ONE OF OUR RECENT GRADUATES WENT FROM STAY-AT-HOME MOM TO WORKING WITH HARRIS COUNTY I.T.S DEPARTMENT AS A PHYSICAL ACCESS CONTROL SYSTEMS ANALYST ALLOWING HER TO SECURE HER DREAMS IN I.T.S AND SECURITY . STORIES LIKE YOURS ARE ONLY POSSIBLE BECAUSE OF THE COMMITMENT TO EQUITY AND WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT I URGE YOU TO CONTINUE FUNDING THESE PROGRAMS, THEY ARE NOT EXPENSES, THEY ARE INVESTMENTS. 
          >> THANK YOU, YOUR TIME IS UP. >> THANK YOU. 
          >> GOOD MORNING, MY NAME IS MARK, LIFE LONG RESIDENT OF SHARP'S TOWN. I AM ON THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF THE ASSOCIATION I AM THE VICE PRESIDENT OF THE HARRIS COUNTY SENIOR SOFTBALL LEAGUE AND WE PLAY IN BAYLAND PARK . I HAVE SPENT MOST OF MY LIFE AND NOW MOST OF MY OFF TIME IN BAYLAND PARK, AN AMAZING PLACE. I HAVE LOTS OF GREAT MEMORIES FROM BAYLAND PARK. 
          COMMISSIONER BRIONES, YOU HAVE MADE A HUGE DIFFERENCE AND MOVING THAT PARK FORWARD AND I ASKED THAT WE CONTINUE THE FUNDING FOR THE PARKS AND YOUR GREAT PROJECT YOU HAVE STARTED . 
          COMMISSIONER BRIONES IS A GREAT LEADER, A SERVANT-LEADER. I AM PROUD TO HAVE HER AS MY COMMISSION AND I ASK YOU TO 
          FOLLOW HER LEAD. >> THANK YOU. ANY CUTS TO SERVICES WILL NOT BE COMING FROM ME. I DID NOT CREATE THIS. IF ANYBODY WILL VOTE FOR CUTS, IT IS THE FOLKS THAT PUT US IN THE 
          SITUATION. >> MAY I? 
          >> YOU WERE LOOKING AT ME. I WANT TO MAKE SURE YOU DO KNOW. 
          >> I DO KNOW, WITH RESPECT, WE ALL HAVE PRIORITIES AND THINGS WE LOVE AND THINGS WE WANT, YOU CANNOT FUND EVERYTHING, WE KNOW THAT, BUT THE FIVE OF YOU, THE SMARTEST PEOPLE IN THE ROOM, YOUR STAFFS, WELL PAID STAFFS, WE DEPEND ON YOU. 
          >> RIGHT. >> TO WORK IT OUT. THAT IS WHY I BELIEVE AND COMMISSIONER BRIONES AND HER LEADERSHIP, FOLLOW THIS, GET IN A ROOM AND WORKED IT OUT. 
          >> I AGREE . I THINK IT IS DISAPPOINTING TO SEE THE COMMUNITY MEMBERS PITTED AGAINST EACH OTHER THIS WAY BECAUSE WE DID NOT NEED TO BE HERE. IT WAS A UNILATERAL DECISION TO NOT GO TO THE VOTERS, ON EARLY CHILDHOOD ON THESE RAISES. IT IS HARD TO NEGOTIATE WHEN THERE IS NO PROPOSAL, I HAVE TRIED TO CREATE W THEY WILL PASS THIS, PERFECT TIMING TO CREATE A CHART, A BUDGET, THAT HAS WHAT I UNDERSTAND, FROM THE BUDGET DIRECTOR, EVERY LINE ITEM OF WHAT MY COLLEAGUES ARE PROPOSING CUTTING . IF THERE IS SOMEBODY THAT WAS TO WORK THIS OUT, IT IS ME WE ARE NOT GETTING ANY PROPOSAL, WE ARE GETTING EFFICIENCY. COST-SAVING OFFICE WORK WITH YOUR COLLEAGUES. THERE HAS TO BE AN 
          ANSWER. >> LET'S WORK. LET'S GET THIS TOGETHER. THANK YOU SO MUCH. LET'S GET THIS TOGETHER. 
          >> THANK YOU FOR COMING DOWN. >> PEOPLE ARE HERE TALKING TO YA'LL, AND YA'LL AREN'T EVEN RESPONDING. 
          >> MA'AM? >> SAY SOMETHING BACK TO THE PEOPLE. PEOPLE ARE PLEADING FOR THEIR LIVES HERE. YOU DON'T HAVE THE DECENCY TO AFFIRM WHAT THEY ARE SAYING. 
          >> MA'AM? >> THE LEAST YOU CAN DO IS POND 
          TO PEOPLE WHEN THEY'RE TALKING. >> MA'AM, I NEED TO CUT YOU OFF. I NEED TO CUT YOU OFF. ALL RIGHT. MAN. 
          >> RESPOND TO THE PEOPLE THAT ARE ASKING QUESTIONS THAT ARE 
          PLEADING. >> MA'AM, WE CAN'T HAVE THIS KIND OF BEHAVIOR IN THE COURTROOM. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. 
          AND WE CAN'T HAVE THIS IN THE COURTROOM. THANK YOU FOR LEAVING. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. 
          >> YA'LL NEED TO SAY SOMETHING BACK. 
          >> LET'S -- WE'RE GOING TO CONTINUE HERE WITH THE 
          PROCEEDINGS. MA'AM? >> USE THEM. DON'T TOUCH ME. 
          >> OKAY. LET'S CONTINUE WITH THE PROCEEDINGS. GO AHEAD, AND IF YOU WOULDN'T MIND STATING YOUR NAME FOR THE RECORD. 
          [01:50:05]
          >> HELLO, COMMISSIONERS. MY NAME ISING PEGGY TURNER, AND I WORK ALL OVER THE HOUSTON AND HARRIS COUNTY AREA WITH PEOPLE WITH PHYSICAL DISABILITIES IN COMMUNITY PARKS AND RECREATION. 
          I AM HERE TO TALK ABOUT PRECINCT 2 BUDGET AS IT RELATES TO PARKS AND RECREATION CENTERS. WHILE I BELIEVE ALL OF THE PARKS IN HARRIS COUNTY ARE IMPORTANT TO CITIZENS IN EACH PRECINCT AND IMPORTANT FOR THE HEALTH AND WELL-BEING OF ALL OF OUR CITIZENS IN EACH COMMUNITY, ONE IN PARTICULAR IS CLOSE TO MY HEART. IT'S THE ONE THAT SERVES MANY CITIZENS FROM EACH OF YOUR PRECINCTS, JAMES DRIVER INCLUSIVE PARK. I'VE BEEN TO PARKS AND RECREATION FACILITIES ALL OVER THE UNITED STATES AND MANY AROUND THE WORLD. JAMES DRIVER INCLUSIVE PARK WITHOUT A DOUBT IS ONE OF THE MOST WELL THOUGHT OUT PLANNED AND IMPROVED PARK SPACES ANYWHERE. CUTTING THE PRECINCT'S BUDGET POTENTIALLY HURTS EVERYONE IN THE COMMUNITY. 
          >> THANK YOU. YOUR TIME IS UP. THANK YOU, MA'AM. THANK YOU. 
          I'M PROUD TO SUPPORT IT. THANK YOU. 
          >> THANK YOU. >> DR. PATRICIA SPIKES SPEAKING VIRTUALLY ON ITEM 7 OF PRECINCT 1. YOU HAVE ONE MINUTE. GO 
          AHEAD, PLEASE. >> GOOD MORNING. FIRST OF ALL, I APOLOGIZE FOR NOT BEING THERE IN PERSON. MY NAME IS DR. PATRICIA WHITE SPIKE, I'M PRESIDENT OF THE SUGAR VALLEY AND BRIDGEWOOD CIVIC CLUB. I AM HERE TO APPEAL TO YOU TO PLEASE KEEP MOSQUITO SPRAYING IN THE BUDGET. MOSQUITOES ARE NONDISCRIMINATORY, AND THIS IS SOMETHING THAT AFFECTS EVERYBODY IN HARRIS COUNTY. WE LIVE IN AN AREA IN SOUTHEAST HOUSTON IN PRECINCT 1 WHERE THERE ARE BAYOUS THROUGH HERE. WE HAVE 75% SENIORS AND CHILDREN WALKING BACK AND FORTH TO SCHOOL, AND WE ARE UNDER SIEGE BY MOSQUITOES. PLEASE KEEP MOSQUITO SPRAY IN 
          YOUR BUDGET. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU, MA'AM. 
          >> BRIAN PARIS ON ITEM 7 OF PRECINCT 2. BRIAN BROWN ON ITEM 7 OF PRECINCT 4. MILES AN HOURIUM ON ITEM 7 OF PRECINCT 4. 
          ABEL GARZA ON ITEM 7 OF PRECINCT 3. 
          >> 20 YEARS AGO AN ICONIC AMERICAN CITY LAY UNDER WATER, ON THIS 20-YEAR ANNIVERSARY OF KATRINA, IT'S 4E7FUL TO REMEMBER THE IMPORTANCE OF GOOD GOVERNANCE. IN MOMENTS OF DISASTER, ASSESSMENT, COMMUNICATION AND COORDINATED ACTION ARE CRITICAL AT ALL LEVELS OF GOVERNMENT. PUBLIC OFFICIALS, FIRST RESPONDERS AND CIVIL SERVANTS MUST PUT ASIDE THEIR POLITICAL DIFFERENCES AND WORK TOGETHER TO SAVE LIVES. 
          THAT'S WHAT I LEARNED AFTER WITNESSING THE AFTERMATH OF THE STORM, IT'S WHAT I HEARD FROM SURVIVORS, AND IT'S WHAT MADE THE DIFFERENCE IN LIFE-OR-DEATH SITUATIONS. I WOULD ENCOURAGE YOU ALL TO READ THE LETTER TO CONGRESS FROM 150 FEMA EMPLOYEES, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE KATRINA DECLARATION. WE ALL DESERVE TO BE PAID A LIVING WAGE AND ADJUST FOR INFLATION, BUT PUBLIC SAFETY DOES NOT COME FROM LAW ENFORCEMENT ALONE. THERE IS AN ENTIRE APPARATUS OF GOVERNANCE THAT IS ALSO REQUIRED TO ENSURE THE SAFETY OF OUR RESIDENTS. MANY HAVE SPOKEN TO THOSE ESSENTIAL SERVICES. AS I CLOSE, I'M REMINDED THAT THIS 
          COURT'S -- >> TIME IS UP, SIR. THANK YOU SO 
          MUCH. >> CAN WE WORK TOGETHER? 
          >> NO. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. 
          >> AND I APPRECIATE -- >> GET THIS DONE. 
          >> WE WILL. >> THANK YOU SO MUCH. 
          >> IF YOU CAN'T, PUT IT TO THE VOTERS. 
          >> ABSOLUTELY. >> CAN YOU STATE YOUR NAME FOR 
          THE RECORD? >> SIR, IF YOU DON'T MIND. 
          >> BRIAN PARIS, AND I'M REPRESENTING ANOTHER 
          ] >> THANK YOU. 
          >> THANK YOU. >> HELLO. MY NAME IS -- EXCUSE ME. MY NAME IS MIR YAM NASER, AND ALTHOUGH I DO LIVE IN PRECINCT 4, I ACTUALLY SERVICE AS AN RBT ALL OVER HARRIS COUNTY. EVERYDAY MY NEIGHBORS AND I RELY ON COUNTY SERVICES THAT ACTUALLY KEEP US SAFE, CLINICS, PUBLIC HEALTH, PUBLIC WORKS, INFRASTRUCTURE, HOUSING AND CHILD CARE PROGRAMS THAT MAKE IT POSSIBLE FOR FAMILIES TO LIVE WITH DIGNITY AND TO THRIVE AND ENRICH THEIR LIVES. HOWEVER, THE $100 MILLION INCREASE FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT IS HEAVILY CONCERNING. NOBODY -- AND AS A SURVIVOR OF HURRICANE HARVEY MYSELF, WE SHOULD NOT HAVE TO PLEAD WITH YA'LL TO GIVE US A BASIC NECESSITIES THAT WE NEED TO SURVIVE. THIS IS ENTIRELY CONCERNING, AND WE WILL NOT FIND SAFETY AT THE IRON FIST OF LAW ENFORCEMENT THAT IS HEAVILY 
          [01:55:03]
BRUTALIZING OUR BLACK AND BROWN COMMUNITY, BUT WE WILL FIND IT 
          -- >> THANK YOU. YOUR TIME IS UP. 
          >> THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU. 
          >> HELLO, MY NAME IS ABEL GARZA. I WANTED TO SPEAK TO YOU ON THE BUDGET. ACTUALLY, I LIVE IN PRECINCT 3, BUT I'M HERE TO TALK ABOUT PRECINCT 2. I AM HERE ON FWHAV OF THE MEMBERS OF THE ALDEAN COMMUNITY. I HAVE SPOKEN TO COMMISSIONERS COURT OVER THE YEARS ABOUT THE ALDEAN COMMUNITY AND HOW IT HAS BEEN IGNORED BY COMMISSIONERS COURT. I INVITE MEMBERS OF THE COURT TO VISIT ALDEAN AND TO SEE THE POSITIVE CHANGES THAT HAVE OCCURRED OVER THE PAST FEW YEARS. HOWEVER, WE STILL NEED MORE INFRASTRUCTURE, INCLUDING SIDEWALKS AND STREET REPAIRS, AND UNDER COMMISSIONER GARCIA, WE HAVE SEEN INCREDIBLE CHANGES IN ALDEAN, BUT WE ARE STILL DESPERATE FOR AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAMS FOR OUR YOUTH, AND WE NEED TO KEEP OUR NEW HIKE AND BIKE TRAILS OPEN. WE NEED TO KEEP OUR BEAUTIFUL INCLUSIVE PARK OPEN. I HAVE NOTICED THAT ALMOST EVERYONE HERE HAS SPOKEN THAT IT IS PART OF THE CITY. 
          ALDEAN IS THE ONLY COMMUNITY SO FAR THAT IS ALMOST DEPENDENT 100% ON COUNTY SERVICES. I IMPLORE YOU TO WORK TOGETHER. 
          >> THANK YOU, SIR. >> YOUR TIME IS UP. 
          >> THANK YOU FOR COMING DOWN. APPRECIATE YOUR LONGTIME 
          SERVICE. THANK YOU. >> GOOD MORNING. I'M BRIAN BROWN, A RESIDENT OF PRECINCT 4. I WORK FOR THE ENERGY CORRIDOR DISTRICT. I'M HERE TO HIGHLIGHT SOME OF THE GREAT PARTNERSHIP PROJECTS THAT THE CORRIDOR HAS WITH COMMISSIONER BRINGONES OF PRECINCT 4. TERRY HERSHEY PARK WAS MENTIONED EARLIER, AND I'M HERE TO LEND MY FULL SUPPORT THAT THE COMMISSIONERS' BUDGETS REMAIN FULLY FUNDED SO THEY CAN CONTINUE THESE PARTNERSHIPS THAT ARE SO IMPACTFUL TO OUR COMMUNITY. SO THANK YOU. 
          >> THANK YOU. WHICH ONE IS YOUR FAVORITE PARK IN PRECINCT 4? 
          >> OOH. I DON'T PICK FAVORITES. WE GOT TWO, RAY MILLER, TERRY HERSHEY, THEY BOTH SERVE OUR COMMUNITY WELL. SO THANK YOU. 
          >> GREAT. I HAVE A FAVORITE, BUT MAYBE I WON'T SAY. I'LL FOLLOW 
          YOUR LEAD. THANK YOU. >> MICHAEL SCHAEFER ON ITEM 7 OF PRECINCT 4. JONATHAN HART ON ITEM 7 OF PRECINCT 4. BEJ GENTLEMAN MIN BROADWAY ON ITEM KITCHEN OF PRECINCT 1. ITEM 7 OF 
          PRECINCT 2. >> MY GLASSES. GOOD MORNING, JUDGE HIDALGO AND COMMISSIONERS. MY NAME IS MICHAEL SCHAEFER. MY WIFE AND I ARE PROUD MEMBERS OF PURE JUSTICE, AND AS SUCH, WE HAVE BECOME INVOLVED WITH THE STRUGGLE FOR FAIR PLAY AND EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES IN THE UNDERSERVED AND UNDERPRIVILEGED PARTS OF HOUSTON. WE KNOW THERE'S A RESTRICTED AMOUNT OF FUNDING NOW AVAILABLE TO BE DISTRIBUTED IN OUR BUDGET. I BEG YOU OFFICIALS WHO SIT HERE WITH THESE TIGHT PURSE STRINGS PLEASE TO PUT NEEDED AMOUNTS OF FUNDS BACK IN THESE COMMUNITIES WHERE THEY ARE MUCH DESPERATELY NEEDED. WE DO NEED GOOD POLICE FORCES IN HOUSTON, THAT'S TRUE. BUT THESE COMMUNITIES DESPERATELY NEED MONEY FOR ALL THE MANY DIFFERENT ISSUES THAT THEY'RE DEALING WITH. PLEASE RECOGNIZE THE NEEDS TO ADDRESS THE TROUBLES AT THEIR ROOTS AND NOT JUST APPLY MORE BAND-AIDS TO THE PROBLEMS. THANK 
          YOU. >> THANK YOU. 
          >> MAY IT PLEASE THE COURT. MAY NILE IS JONATHAN HART, AND LIVE IN THE MEMORIAL PARKWAY NEIGHBORHOOD IN KATY IN PRECINCT 4. I'M HERE TO ASK THE COURT TO DECLINE THE CONSTABLE CONTRACT WITH OUR HOA. THIS CONTRACT WAS ENTERED INTO IN DIRECT VIOLATION OF OUR BYLAWS AND TEXAS STATUTE. IT WAS SIGNED INTO APPROVAL WITHOUT QUORUM, WITHOUT NOTICE, WITHOUT AUTHORIZATION AND WITHOUT TRANSPARENCY TO THE HOMEOWNERS, RENDERING THE CONTRACT INVALID. WE RESPECTFULLY ASK THE COURT TO DECLINE APPROVAL OF THIS CONTRACT IN ITS CURRENT FORM AND RETURN IT TO OUR HOA BOARD, REQUIRING THEM TO FOLLOW THE PROCEDURES SET FORTH IN OUR BYLAWS AND PRESENT A VALID CONTRACT FOR YOUR AUTHORIZATION. AS HOMEOWNERS, WE WANT THIS SERVICE, BUT WE WANT IT FAIRLY, OPENLY AND IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE REQUIREMENTS ESTABLISHED BY OUR BYLAWS. THANK YOU. 
          >> THANK YOU. IS THAT ON THE AGENDA TODAY? OKAY. WELL, WE'LL 
          [02:00:03]
CHECK IT, AND WE'LL HAVE SOMEONE VISIT WITH YOU. I'M NOT SURE I UNDERSTAND. THANK YOU. ANY OTHER SPEAKERS, STEPHANIE? 
          >> YES, MA'AM. BENJAMIN BROADWAY ON ITEM 7. KELA TREVINO ON ITEM 7 OF PRECINCT 2. ANGELINA GOZ PRECINCT 2. GALLENA 
          BIBLE ON ITEM 7 OF PRECINCT 2. >> HELLO. YES. DISREGARD THE SHIRT.  COMMISSIONER BRIONES , GARCIA, LISTEN TO YOUR PEOPLE. 
          THESE ARE THE PEOPLE THAT PUT YOU IN OFFICE. RAMSEY, LET'S TALK MONEY. I MEAN, YOU WANT TO TALK MONEY? LET'S TALK MONEY. 
          YA'LL CAN GET THE MONEY FROM THE PORT OF HOUSTON. BETWEEN THE FOUR OF YA'LL, DON'T NOTHING MOVE OUTSIDE THE CITY OF HOUSTON. NOTHING MOVES OUT. SO WHY DON'T YA'LL TAX THE CONTAINERS THAT ARE IN THE PORT OF HOUSTON. DO NOT REMOVE THE SOCIAL WORKERS AND THE THINGS THAT WE HAVE IN PLACE BECAUSE YOUR COMMUNITY NEEDS THEM, AS WELL AS MINE DO. SO LET'S TRY AND FIND THE MONEY, WORK TOGETHER BECAUSE IF WE LOSE THESE SERVICES, THERE'S A LOT OF MENTAL ISSUES IN EVERY ONE OF YOUR DISTRICTS. I'VE GOT AN APPROACH FROM ALL OF YA'LL EXCEPT FOR RAMSEY. BUT I KNOW YOU GOT THEM BECAUSE, LIKE YOU 
          SAID, WHEN HARVEY WAS HERE -- >> THANK YOU. YOUR TIME IS UP. 
          THANK YOU. >> CAN YOU PLEASE STATE YOUR 
          NAME FOR THE RECORD. >> BENJAMIN BROADWAY, MA'AM. 
          >> THANK YOU. MR. BROADWAY, WE'LL WORK ON A BETTER SYSTEM SO YOU CAN COME IN AND OUT. WHO CAN WE GIVE THAT TO, JESSE? OKAY. SO YOU CAN PASS IT ON TO DR. RAMON. THANK YOU AND 
          APOLOGIES. ALL RIGHT. GO AHEAD. >> HELLO. MY NAME IS ANGELINA GONZALEZ, THE FIELD TRAINING DEVELOPMENT SUPERVISOR FOR AMERICAN YOUTH WORKS TEXAS CONSERVATION CORPS. I FIRST JOINED AS A CREW MEMBER LOOKING FOR A DIRECTION AND WAY TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN MY HOMETOWN OF HOUSTON. I FOUND SUPPORT, SKILLS AND CONFIDENCE THAT SHAPED MY CAREER AND INSPIRED ME TO RETURN AS A STAFF MEMBER TO HELP GUIDE NEW MEMBERS, DO PROJECTS LIKE HABITAT RESTORATION, FLOOD MITIGATION AND DISASTER RESPONSE, OUR CREWS IMPROVE PUBLIC SPACES AND PROTECT NEIGHBORS, MAKING HOUSTON STRONGER AND MORE RESILIENT. 
          MEMBERS GAIN CERTIFICATIONS AND HANDS-ON TRAININGS THAT OPENS DOORS TO CAREERS. AMERICAN YOUTH WORKS IS MORE THAN CONSERVATION WORK, IT'S AN INVESTMENT IN PEOPLE. IT'S AN INVESTMENT IN THE COMMUNITY, AND IT'S AN INVESTMENT IN OUR FUTURE. WITH YOUR SUPPORT, WE'RE EMPOWERING THE NEXT GENERATION OF LEADERS. 
          I THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. >> THANK YOU. 
          >> AND PROUD OF YOUR WORK. CONGRATULATIONS. 
          >> HELLO. JUDGE, COMMISSIONERS. MY NAME IS GABRIELA BIBLE. IN 2020, I SERVED AS A CREW LEADER ON THE FIRST HOUSTON ENVIRONMENTAL ACTION TEAM WITH AMERICAN YOUTHWORKS WHERE I GAINED ESSENTIAL LEADERSHIP EXPERIENCE, TRACKING CREWS, METRICS AND COORDINATING WITH PARTNERS. THAT ROLE SPARKED MY PASSION FOR ENVIRONMENTAL WORK AND PUBLIC SERVICE. AFTER MY TERM, I JOINED THE LANDSCAPING DEPARTMENT FOR PRECINCT 2 WHERE I EXPANDED MY SKILLS, LEARNING EVERYTHING FROM WRITING TIME SHEETS AND RECOMMENDATION LETTERS TO OPERATING HEAVY EQUIPMENT LIKE TRACTORS. IN 2023, I WAS PROUD TO RETURN TO AMERICAN YOUTHWORKS AS A STAFF MEMBER. BRINGING MY SKILLS I LEARNED BACK TO WHERE IT ALL BEGAN. IT'S BEEN INCREDIBLY FULFILLING TO MENTOR OTHERS, SHARE MY JOURNEY AND HELP INSPIRE THE NEXT GENERATION OF ENVIRONMENTAL LEADERS. 
          >> THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU VERY MUCH, AND THANK YOU, CONGRATULATIONS, JUST WISH ALL THE BEST FOR YOU. 
          [02:05:04]
          >> GOOD AFTERNOON, JUDGE HIDALGO AND COMMISSIONERS BOARD. SORRY FOR SOUNDING TIRED, I HAD TO RENEW MY MARKING. EPHRAM AND WORK FOR THE TEXAS CONSERVATION CORPS. LAST DECEMBER I DECIDED TO TAKE A LEAP AND PURSUE A DIFFERENT DIRECTION FOR MY CAREER FROM ACCOUNTING TO CONSERVATION. I WAS UNSURE OF WHERE TO BEGIN UNTIL I DISCOVERED TXCC. TO SAY MY TIME WITH THE PROGRAM HAD AN IMPACT ON ME AND THE COMMUNITIES WE HELPED WOULD BE A MAJOR UNDERSTATEMENT. BEING ABLE TO SEE THE EFFORTS OF MANY PEOPLE COME TOGETHER AND TRANSFORM THE AREAS THAT WE WORK AT, WHILE HAVING OTHERS NOTICE AND APPRECIATE YOUR ACTIONS IS TRULY AN IRREPLACEABLE FEELING THAT SOLIDIFIED THE POSITIVE OUTLOOK I IT, NOT ONLY ON THIS PROGRAM, BUT ON CONSERVATION AS A WHOLE. I THANK MY STAFF LEADERS AND COWORKERS FOR TEACHING ME SO MUCH IN SUCH A SHORT TIME FRAME, AND TO FINISH OFF, I JUST WANT TO SAY THAT IN THIS LINE OF WORK THERE IS PASSIONATE WORK, AND THERE IS PASSIONATE WORKERS. 
          THANK YOU. >> WONDERFUL. 
          >> THANK YOU. >> CONGRATULATIONS. AND FROM ACCOUNTING TO CONSERVATION, BIG CHANGE. 
          >> THANK YOU. >> BUT VERY MEANINGFUL. SO I 
          WISH YOU ALL THE BEST. >> THANK YOU. 
          >> AND, SIR, I'M SORRY YOU HAD TROUBLE PARKING. THERE'S ACTUALLY IN THIS PROPOSAL I THINK IS WHAT MY COLLEAGUES HERE ARE PROPOSING, THERE'S AN INCREASE IN THE COST OF PARKING. 
          IF I FALL TODAY, PLEASE -- I'M, LIKE, TUMBLING BACK HERE. HIGH 
          HEELS. ALL RIGHT. >> BARBARA BOWMAN ON ITEM 7 OF PRECINCT 4, ALFREDO DOMINGUEZ ONITE 7 OF PRECINCT 1. GRACIE ISRAEL ON ITEM 7 OF PRECINCT 4. PATRICK CASTILLO ON ITEMS 7 AND 
          410 OF PRECINCT 2. >> GOOD MORNING TO ALL. I'M A VOLUNTEER AT THE BAYLAND COMMUNITY CENTER. WE STRIVE TO MAKE IT BETTER EACH DAY FOR EVERY PERSON THAT COMES IN THAT DOOR. THERE'S APPROXIMATELY 8,000 OR MORE CONSTITUENTS THAT COME THROUGH ON A BASIS, A MONTHLY BASIS. SORRY. WE HAVE A NEW GROUP THAT COMES IN WEEKLY AND IS GETTING STRONGER. WE OFFER, AND THEY CAN PARTICIPATE IN ANY OF OUR PROGRAMS THAT WE HAVE GOING, MAY IT BE QUILTING, MAY IT BE SEWING, MAY IT BE ANY TYPE OF PROGRAMS THAT WE HAVE THERE THAT THEY CAN PARTICIPATE IN. WE ALSO HAVE MONTHLY TRIPS, WE HAVE GAMES THAT THEY CAN PLAY WHICH IS BINGO, MAJA, MEXICAN TRAIN WHICH I LIKE THEM ALL. 
          ALSO WE HAVE THREE LEVELS -- >> THANK YOU. YOUR TIME IS UP. 
          >> -- OF SPANISH CLASSES. SAY THIS ONCE, THE SIGHTED AND THE 
          UNSIGHTED. >> MA'AM, THANK YOU SO MUCH. 
          CAN YOU PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME FOR THE RECORD PLEASE? 
          >> BARBARA BOWMAN. >> THANK YOU. 
          >> HELLO, DOMINGUEZ, PRECINCT 4 RESIDENT, I THINK, AND AN EMPLOYEE OF PEOPLE'S COUNCIL. SO I'M STILL WAITING FOR THAT BIG RUN OF PRO-COP TESTIMONY, I'M REALLY WAITING FOR THAT RUN TO REALLY BEGIN. BUT ONE THING THAT REALLY STICKS OUT TO ME IS ONE OF THE THINGS THAT ADVOCATES ARE CONSISTENTLY TOLD IN MEETINGS WITH ELECTED OFFICIALS THAT PERCEPTION IS REALITY, RIGHT? EVEN THOUGH CRIME RATES ARE CONTINUING TO GO DOWN, PEOPLE PERCEIVE THEM TO BE CONTINUING TO GO UP. AND EVEN THOUGH SINCE COVID, CRIME RATES HAVE FALLEN NOT ONLY IN HARRIS COUNTY BUT ACROSS THE COUNTRY. PEOPLE STILL PERCEIVE CRIME TO BE GOING UP IN THEIR COMMUNITIES BECAUSE THEY SEE, YOU KNOW, YOUNG PEOPLE OF COLOR ENJOYING THEMSELVES, RIGHT? BUT THE PERCEPTION THAT WE'RE NOT BEING TOLD TO ACCEPT HERE IS THAT COPS ARE BEING REWARDED AND POLICE OFFICERS ARE BEING REWARDED FOR BAD BEHAVIOR, THAT PEOPLE FUNCTIONING IS DEPORTING OFFICERS AT THE CITY AND COUNTY LEVEL ARE BEING REWARDED WITH HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS OF RAISES. WE'RE BEING TOLD THAT PERCEPTION IS NOT REALITY, BUT IN THIS SITUATION BOTH IS TRUE. YOU'RE TAKING $100 MILLION THAT COULD BE PUT TO THE COMMUNITY AND PUTTING IN THE POCKETS OF LAW ENFORCEMENT 
          OFFICERS. >> THANK YOU. YOUR TIME IS UP. 
          >> THANK YOU. >> GOOD MORNING, COMMISSIONERS AND JUDGE. I'M GRACIE ISRAEL, I LIVE IN PRECINCT 4, I SPEAK FOR TEXAS RISING. I'VE TESTIFIED HERE FOR THREE YEARS NOW URGING INVESTMENT IN COMMUNITY RESOURCES OVER LAW ENFORCEMENT WITH LITTLE PROGRESS. SO TODAY I JUST WANT TO COMMENT ON SOMETHING FROM A COUPLE WEEKS AGO. SO LAST COMMISSIONERS 
          [02:10:04]
COURT, AN OFFICER SAID HE'S NEVER SEEN ADVOCATES SHOW UP TO A CALL TO HELP. WHAT HE DOESN'T UNDERSTAND IS THAT OUR WORK KEEPS THOSE CALLS FROM HAPPENING IN THE FIRST PLACE. WE INVEST IN MUTUAL AID TO MAKE SURE PEOPLE AREN'T HUNGRY, WE HELP OUR PEOPLE FIND TREATMENTS INSTEAD OF THEMSELVES. WE HELP PEOPLE GET SECOND CHANCES INSTEAD OF SECOND CHARGES. WE DO ALL OF THAT BY INVESTING IN COMMUNITY CARE AND CRISIS INTERVENTION. WE ARE PROACTIVE, NOT REACTIVE WHICH LAW ENFORCEMENT CAN NEVER BE. IF HE'S NEVER SEEN US, IT'S BECAUSE WE'RE DOING THE JOB THIS COUNTY UNDERFUNDS AND UNDERVALUES PREVENTING HARM BEFORE HE'S EVER CALLED. THAT'S PUBLIC SAFETY. 
          >> THANK YOU. YOUR TIME IS UP. >> IS A FAILURE OF -- 
          >> THANK YOU SO MUCH. >> -- POLICIES. 
          >> THANK YOU. >> ANY OTHER SPEAKERS, 
          STEPHANIE? >> SIN THEE I CAN'T COLE ON ITEMS 7. PATRICK CASTILLO ON ITEMS 410. JOHN MARTINEZ ON 
          ITEMS 7 AND 410. >> CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG, FOLKS, BUT IT'S THE ORDER IN WHICH YOU SIGNED UP, SO THAT'S 
          THE ORDER. YES, GO AHEAD. >> GOOD AFTERNOON. SIN THEE I CAN'T COAL, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR 1550, ALSO COMMUNITY ADVOCATE. 
          WHAT I'M GOING TO SAY IS THIS -- I DID NOT PREPARE A SPEECH. 
          PREPARED MY HEART. MY HEART SAYS TO SAY THIS ALL TO YOU. WHEN I WAS GROWING UP, SOMEBODY WAS BROKEN AND SOMEBODY HAD TO FIX IT WHICH WAS ALL OF US. IT'S BEEN BROKEN, SO FIX IT. I AM NOT SUPPORT IN THIS BUDGET. THE BUDGET CANNOT FIX MUCH OF ANYTHING. IT CAN BE OF BALANCE. DO NOT SUPPORT ANYTHING THAT YOU CANNOT FIX. YOU BROKE IT, YOU FIX IT. LET'S GET TOGETHER. 
          LET'S GO BACK INTO THE ROOM. LET'S SHUT THE DOORS. LET'S DO WHAT WE HAVE TO DO TO COME TO A SOLUTION BECAUSE YOU KNOW WHAT? LAST TIME I CHECKED, WHEN THE POLICE SHOWED UP, THEY SHOWED UP AFTER THE FACT, BUT THEY DID NOT FEED ANYBODY. THEY DID NOT HOUSE ANYBODY. THEY DID NOT HELP THAT MENTAL PERSON GET IT STRAIGHT. 
          THEY DID NOT PROVIDE ANY MEDICATION OR ANY HEALTHCARE. 
          WHAT THEY DID WAS TAKE CARE OF THE PROBLEM AND PUT THEM IN THE 
          PRISON. FIX IT. TAKE CARE OF IT. >> THANK YOU. 
          >> GOOD AFTERNOON COMMISSIONERS AND JUDGE. MY NAME IS PATRICK CASTILLO. I OWN A SMALL CONSTRUCTION COMPANY, CAPITAL CONSTRUCTION HERE IN HOUSTON. I'M ALSO A PROUD MEMBER OF THE REGIONAL HISPANIC CONTRACTORS ASSOCIATION. I'M HERE TO SPEAK ON BEHALF OF OUR HOUSTON MEMBERS. PROGRAMS SUPPORTED BY THE DDEO HAVE MADE A REAL DIFFERENCE IN THE MEMBERS IN OUR COMMUNITY. THEY HAVE HELPED SMALL AND MINORITY-OWNED FIRMS TO GAIN THE SKILLS, RESOURCES AND OPPORTUNITIES TO GROW FROM STRUGGLING SELF-CONTRACTORS INTO COMPETITIVE BUSINESSES AND CREATE JOBS AND KEEP WORKERS SAFE. THE RESULTS ARE CLEAR, SAFER JOB SITES, STRONGER BUSINESSES AND MORE EQUITABLE OPPORTUNITY. IF THE FUNDING IS REDUCED, THEY WILL HURT THE SMALL FIRMS AND MERGING CONTRACTORS AND THE WORKING FAMILIES IN OUR COMMUNITY WHO HAVE TO PAY THE PRICE. WHEN YOU FUND DEEO, YOU ARE NOT JUST SUPPORTING SMALL BUSINESSES, YOU ARE PROTECTING WORKERS, STRENGTHENING FAMILIES AND BUILDING STRONGER COMMUNITIES. THANK YOU. 
          >> THANK YOU, SIR. SO MY TEAM IS PASSING OUT WHAT I'VE BEEN REFERRING TO, THEY WERE JUST PRINTING IT, SO BASED ON THE 
          COMMENTS THAT HAVE BEEN MADE -- >> YES. 
          >> -- WE HAVE PUT TOGETHER WHAT I THINK IS THE PROPOSAL ON THE 
          TABLE. >> OKAY. I'M EAGER TO WORK ON SOMETHING BUT YOU CAN'T IF THERE'S NO CLEAR PROPOSAL. SO THIS IS MY BEST UNDERSTANDING WHICH IS WHAT I'VE BEEN REFERRING TO, AND SO YOU'LL SEE LINE BY LINE. AND I BRING IT UP -- AGAIN, FACTS ARE FRIENDLY, VERY DETAILED, ADDS UP TO WHAT IT'S SUPPOSED TO ADD UP, NO DOUBLE SPEAK, AND YOU WILL SEE -- YOU WERE JUST TALKING ABOUT DEEO, SO THE PROPOSAL HERE IS ACTUALLY A 10% REDUCTION IN THEIR FISCAL YEAR '26 CURRENT LEVEL OF SERVICE. AND SO THAT WOULD IMPACT ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, EARLY CHILDHOOD AND WORK FORCE DEVELOPMENT 
          INITIATIVES. >> THANK YOU. WE'LL DEFINITELY 
          TAKE A LOOK AT THAT. >> THANK YOU. 
          >> THANK YOU, JUDGE. >> PATRICK, THANK YOU FOR COMING DOWN. I APPRECIATE YOUR LEADERSHIP WITH THE LOCAL BUSINESSES, AND, YOU KNOW, THERE'S ALWAYS WAYS TO MAKE THINGS HAPPEN. BUSINESS LEADERS ARE JUST AN INCREDIBLE EXAMPLE OF FIGURING THINGS OUT, AND WE LEARN FROM YOU AS WELL. SO THANK 
          YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP. >> THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER. 
          WE'LL DO WHATEVER WE CAN FOR YOU. 
          >> THANK YOU. >> THE OTHER THING YOU'LL SEE HERE A LOT OF RED WHICH IS, YES, ONE-TIME FUNDING, AND THAT'S SORT OF THE PATCHES. SO THEY'LL SAY WE BALANCED THE BUDGET, BUT WE DIDN'T. WE SOLD A PROPERTY THIS YEAR AND PATCHED IT, BUT NEXT YEAR WE DON'T HAVE THE MONEY FOR IT. SO JUST -- TO 
          [02:15:02]
EXPLAIN IT, THAT'S AT THE VERY BOTTOM. I KNOW IT'S LONG, BUT OBVIOUSLY IT NEEDS TO BE DETAILED. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. 
          >> GOOD AFTERNOON. MY NAME IS SABA BLANDING, I'M A RESIDENT OF PRECINCT 1. MY HUSBAND IS A MATH TEACHER, AND HE'S TAUGHT ME HOW INTUITIVE MATH IS. ANYONE WHO'S EVER BEEN AROUND A CHILD AS YOUNG AS A TODDLER KNOWS THAT IF YOU BRING OUT A PIZZA, THEY WILL KNOW HOW TO DIVIDE IT, AND THEY'LL LET YOU KNOW IF THEY DON'T GET A FAIR SLICE. THEY INTUITIVELY UNDERSTAND FRACTIONS AND PERCENTAGES. AND YET HERE WE ARE WITH AN EQUALLY INTUITIVE PROBLEM. WE ALL UNDERSTAND THE MATH, AND WE HAVE BEEN GIVING YOU THE ANSWERS FOR FOUR YEARS. THE COUNTY BUDGET IS ZERO SUM. 
          IF YOU GIVE MORE MONEY TO POLICE, YOU SUBTRACT FROM OUR SAFETY. YOU ARE BUTCHERING THE COUNTY BUDGET TO FEED THE CONSTABLES, AND THE CONSTABLES WILL CANNIBALIZE EVERY LAST COUNTY SERVICE. STOP WASTING OUR TAX DOLLARS. 
          >> RANDY TREVINO ON ITEM 7. >> GO AHEAD. I'M SO SORRY. GO 
          AHEAD, TIFFANY. >> VLADAMIR ON ITEMS 7410 AND ANGELICA VELASQUES ON ITEMS 4, 7 AND 10. 
          >> GOOD AFTERNOON. MY NAME IS TREVINO, THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE PROJECT, A GRASSROOTS ORGANIZATION BORN AS A RESPONSE TO THE OPPRESSIVE CHALLENGES FACED BY OUR STATE'S MOST VULNERABLE COMMUNITIES. THESE COMMUNITIES ARE TYPICAL IN HARRIS COUNTY, PLACES LIKE CHANNELVIEW, SOUTH HOUSTON AND THE SOUTH BELL DAREIUM, A PLACE WHERE LITERACY RATES ARE LOW, PEOPLE ARE GOING HUNGRY, ENTIRE FAMILIES ARE FALLING ILL, AND COMMUNITIES ARE LOSING DECADES ON THEIR LIFE DUE TO POOR HEALTH AND SOCIAL BURDENS. WHEN I DROVE INTO COURT TODAY, I COULD SMELL ROTTEN EGGS OR HYDROGEN SUL FIDE. OUR COMMUNITY PROPERTIES MORE THAN DOUBLED AFTER 2020. WATER COST INCREASES COST US 10% EVERY YEAR, INCLUDING STEEP INCREASE OF EVERYTHING ELSE, ALL WHILE SALARIES STAY THE SAME. WE CAN'T GET BACK INTO A SYSTEM WHERE EVERY TIME BECOMES UNBEARABLE, LESS SERVING AND MORE EXPENSIVE. I URGE YOU TO SEEK -- I ONLY HAVE SIX SECONDS, SO I URGE YOU TO LOOK IN TO TAX ABATEMENTS THAT INDUSTRY IS 
          RECEIVING BECAUSE -- >> THANK YOU. YOUR TIME IS UP. 
          >> THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. >> YOU'LL SEE IT ON PAGE FOUR HERE THE PROPOSAL INVOLVES CUTS TO FIVE POSITIONS IN OUR POLLUTION DEPARTMENT CONTROL ACROSS AIR MONITORING, ENVIRONMENTAL RESPONSE AND FIELD INVESTIGATIONS. 
          >> THANK YOU SO MUCH. >> SHE WAS ON THE LIST, BUT SHE KIND OF FREAKED OUT BEFORE, SHE GOT NERVOUS. 
          >> PLEASE, GO AHEAD. >> YOU CAN DO IT. 
          >> GO AHEAD. THAT'S WONDERFUL. AND DID SHE HAVE PRE-K BY ANY CHANCE? DID SHE DO PRE-K? SHE DID PRE-K, OKAY? I'M I'M GLAD YOU HAD A CHAN. NOW THE PROGRAMS ARE GOING TO END AND IT WOULD HAVE TO GO TO BID. ALL RIGHT. GO AHEAD. 
          >> HELLO, MY NAME IS JULIA BUSTOS. 
          >> LET'S START WITH YOUR NAME. WHAT'S YOUR NAME? SAY IT LOUDLY 
          AND INTO THE MICROPHONE. >> JULIA BUSTOS. 
          >> OKAY. AND HOW OLD ARE YOU? >> 6. 
          >> 6, OKAY. AND WHAT'S YOUR FAVORITE ANIMAL? 
          >> BUNNIES. >> BUNNIES, OKAY. LAST QUESTION, THIS IS IMPORTANT, WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE COLOR? 
          >> WHAT'S YOUR FAVORITE COLOR? >> PURPLE. 
          >> THAT'S MY SECOND FAVORITE. I LIKE PINK. HEY, IT'S NOT EASY TO GET UP AND SPEAK IN FRONT OF PEOPLE. I'M SO PROUD OF YOU. 
          GOOD JOB. >> THANK YOU. 
          >> GOOD MORNING, JUDGE AND COMMISSIONERS. I AM AN EMPOWER GRADUATE. THEY ARE THE ONES THAT TALKED ABOUT ME LAST YEAR. I STARTED THE PROGRAM IN AUGUST, AND BEFORE THAT I WAS AN 18-YEAR-OLD -- 18-YEAR STAY-AT-HOME MOM AND MILITARY SPOUSE. I HAD NO BACKGROUND IN TECH OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT. THIS PROGRAM WAS LIFE CHANGING FOR ME. I STARTED IN AUGUST. I GRADUATED IN DECEMBER, AND IN FEBRUARY I WAS FORTUNATE TO GET HIRED BY HARRIS COUNTY AS A SYSTEM ANALYST. I CANNOT, LIKE, STRESS HOW IMPORTANT THIS PROGRAM IS, AND IT'S -- YOU KNOW, HOW IT'S CHANGING THE COMMUNITY, GIVING SO MANY CHANCES TO DIFFERENT PEOPLE THAT MIGHT THINK THAT IT'S TOO LATE FOR THEM, BUT IT'S NOT. THIS PROGRAM IS AMAZING, AND IT'S IMPLEMENTED BY THE DEO. I SUGGEST YOU GUYS LOOK AT MAKING SURE THAT IT DOESN'T GET BUDGET CUTS BECAUSE IT IS AMAZING. 
          THANK YOU. >> WONDERFUL. THANK YOU AND 
          CONTINUED SUCCESS. >> MA'AM, CAN YOU PLEASE STATE 
          [02:20:01]
          YOUR NAME FOR THE RECORD? >> YES, MA'AM. ANGELICA 
          VELASQUEZ. >> BARBARA DENNISON ON ITEM 7 OF PRECINCT 4. DAVID ESPINOZA ON ITEM 7 OF PRECINCT 2. NEANDRA COMILL BOYD ON ITEM 7 OF PRECINCT 1. PEARLO GARCIA ON ITEM 1, ITEM 7 OF PRECINCT 2, USING THE INTERPRETER. 
          >> BARBARA DENNISON. SO WE'VE HEARD THAT WE CAN HAVE IT ALL JUST BY UNCOVERING SOME HIDDEN WASTE IN THE BUDGET. 
          FASCINATING. BECAUSE IF THAT WASTE HAS BEEN SITTING THERE ALL THIS TIME, I HAVE TO ASK, WHY WASN'T IT FOUND SOONER AND WHO EXACTLY PUT IT IN THERE IN THE FIRST PLACE? YOU'VE BEEN IN OFFICE LONG ENOUGH TO KNOW WHERE THE SKELETONS AND THE SPREADSHEETS ARE BURIED. IF THIS IS WASTE, IF THIS WASTE IS REAL, GREAT. CLEAN IT UP, REALLOCATE IT. BUT LET'S NOT PRETEND IT'S A BRAND NEW DISCOVERY OR A MIRACLE FIX. AND WHILE WE'RE AT IT, LET'S BE CLEAR, THE COUNTY HAS LEGAL AND ETZ CAL OBLIGATIONS, THAT'S THE BAR. IF YOU WANT TO GO BEYOND THAT, DON'T REACH FOR OUR WALLETS. DO THE HARD WORK FIRST, EARN TRUST, SHOW RESULTS, BUT UNTIL THEN, SPARE US THE BUDGET FAIRY TALES AND TAX HIKE PITCHES OR PAYING ATTENTION. 
          >> THANK YOU, MA'AM. I ACTUALLY HAD THE SAME QUESTION, IF THESE EFFICIENCIES ARE FOUND, WHERE WERE THEY BEFORE? BECAUSE EVERYONE HERE HAS BEEN HERE FOR ABOUT 2 1/2 YEARS AT LEAST. 
          >> WELL, I'VE COME FOR A WHILE, AND I'VE HEARD OF A LOT OF MONEY BEING SPENT ON THINGS LIKE PUBLIC ART AND CLIMATE CHANGE TRAINING AND A TRIP TO FRANCE. BUT NOW YOU LEAVE US IN THE POSITION OF CUTTING ALL THESE THINGS THESE PEOPLE REALLY WANT ARE RAISING OUR TAXES. WE SHOULD BE PAYING ATTENTION TO THIS ALL 
          ALONG. >> YEAH. AND I HEAR YOU, AND I WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT WE MAY DISAGREE ON SMALL PROGRAMS, SOME OF WHICH YOU MENTIONED, THAT ONE THAT YOU MENTIONED WAS NOT PAID BY THE COUNTY. BUT THE ONES THAT CAUSED THIS BIG DEFICIT ARE THE REALLY, REALLY BIG ONES. AND SO THAT'S -- THIS TABLE I HAVE WITH THE COLORS WHERE IT'S $100 MILLION, IT'S, YOU KNOW, $11 MILLION, SO YOU'RE LOOKING AT THESE REALLY BIG EXPENSES. 
          >> I ABSOLUTELY GET IT. AS A MOM, THOUGH, I KNOW, YOU GOT TO WATCH ALL THOSE LITTLE EXPENSES TOO. 
          >> YES. >> IN MY PRECINCT, WE HAVE A SIDEWALK THAT WENT IN THAT GOES LITERALLY NO WHERE FOR HALF A 
          MILE. >> YES. 
          >> CONNECTS NOTHING TO NOTHING. WE GOT TO WATCH THOSE THINGS. 
          >> ABSOLUTELY. ABSOLUTELY. THANK YOU. 
          >> HELLO , JUDGE, COMMISSIONERS. I AM DAVID ESPINOZA OUT OF PRECINCT 2. I WANT TO SAY OUR ORGANIZATION, THE NORTHEAST ACTION COLLECTIVE HAVE SPOKEN WITH SOME OF YOU ALL AT YOUR OFFICES. AND I GET IT. YOU FEEL PRESSURE TO MAINTAIN A POLICE FORCE THAT SEEMS TO BE THREATENING TO LEAVE, IF THEY'RE NOT GIVEN THIS $100 MILLION. THAT'S FAIR. MOST OF OUR ORGANIZATION, IT'S NOT ANTI-POLICE. A LOT OF THE NEIGHBORS DO SEE THE POINT OF LAW AND ORDER. BUT WE ALSO KNOW YOU CAN'T HAVE YOUR CAKE AND EAT IT TOO. WE CAN'T HAVE THIS RAISE. I KNOW THEY'RE NOT BEING PAID VERY WELL, AND MOST OF THE PEOPLE IN THIS COUNTY AREN'T, BUT THIS IS NOT THE TIME TO DO IT. IF ANYTHING, I DON'T THINK THEY'VE EARNED IT. WE NEED TO SEE THAT THE POLICE AREN'T MISTREATING FOLKS, THEY AREN'T GETTING AGGRESSIVE WITH PEOPLE, THEY ARE ABLE TO DE-ESCALATE, THAT THEY'RE NOT LETTING PEOPLE DIE IN PRISONS, AND THEN THEY MIGHT EARN A CENT OF THAT $100 MILLION THAT WE ARE OFFERING. SO WHAT I'M ASKING JUST THAT YOU LEAVE THIS TO THE VOTERS NEXT YEAR WHEN YOU HAVE A PLAN TO PAY FOR THIS AND WHEN YOU HAVE A PLAN TO PAY FOR THE YEAR AFTER THAT. 
          >> YOUR TIME IS UP. THANK YOU. >> HI, YA'LL. MY NAME'S ANDY ESCOBAR, GOOD TO SEE YOU ALL. I WANT TO BEGIN BY AFFIRMING ALL MY NEIGHBORS WHO HAVE COME FORWARD TO EXPRESS THE ADMIRATION FOR THE COUNTY SERVICES AND THE CONCERNS FOR THEIR CUTS. I SHARE THESE CONCERNS. HOWEVER, IN GOOD FAITH, I'M HERE TO EXPRESS MY DISAGREEMENT WITH INVESTING IN A BLOATED AMOUNT FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT SALARIES. YOU KNOW, PLEASE ALLOW US AS RESIDENTS TO VOTE ON THIS ISSUE. WHY DOES CHILD CARE NEED AN EVALUATION BUT LAW ENFORCEMENT DOESN'T? I THINK HARRIS COUNTY NEEDS TO FUND MORE HURRICANE RESILIENCE AND POLLUTION CONTROL, ESPECIALLY CONSIDERING THAT WE HAVE ON AVERAGE ONE EMERGENCY, URGENT RESPONSE NEEDED PER DAY. 
          SO WE CAN'T AFFORD TO CUT POLLUTION CONTROL SERVICES. YOU KNOW, EPA AND TCQ ARE MIA, SO WE'LL SUPPORT YOU IN MAKING 
          [02:25:01]
          THIS CHANGE. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU. 
          >> HELLO, GOOD MORNING. MY NAME IS PEDESTRIANLOCK GARCIA WITH WEST STREET AND KNACK, AND I AM IN PRECINCT 2. I EM HERE BECAUSE OUR COMMUNITIES ARE TIRED OF BAD DECISIONS AND HAVE NOT BEEN TAKEN INTO ACCOUNT FOR THE CHANGES IN HARRIS COUNTY WHICH IS YOUR WORST MISTAKE. KEEP IN MIND THAT ANY PROPOSAL CAN BE INCLUDED ON YOUR ELECTION BALLOT SO THAT OUR COMMUNITIES CAN VOTE, AND IT CAN BE SOMETHING DRAMATIC TO RESPECT OUR RIGHTS. 
          I DO NOT AGREE WITH THE TAX INCREASE BECAUSE WE DO NOT HAVE FAIR WAGES IN OUR COMMUNITIES. WE ARE NOT MILLIONAIRES EITHER. 
          THANK YOU. >> IS THAT -- DANIEL, WHAT THEY'RE SAYING ABOUT PUTTING -- THERE'S A FEW SPEAKERS THAT HAVE MENTIONED SOMETHING ABOUT THE BALLOT? 
          >> JUDGE, WE'RE PAST THE POINT WHERE WE CAN ADD SOMETHING ON 
          THE BALLOT FOR THIS NOVEMBER. >> I THINK -- I DIDN'T CATCH IT WITH YOU, BUT I FEEL LIKE THE LAST TWO SPEAKERS MENTIONED NEXT YEAR. IS THAT A THING? IS THAT WHAT YOU MEANT? 
          >> YEAH. IT WOULD FOLLOW -- YEAH, NEXT YEAR. 
          >> NEXT YEAR WE COULD CERTAINLY DO THAT. 
          >> INTERESTING. YEAH. THAT'S AN INTERESTING IDEA. 
          >> HELLO JUDGE AND COMMISSIONERS. I'M COURTNEY NOBLES, I'M A LITTLE BIT DOWN THE LINE, BUT MY PARKING IS EXPIRED. I JUST WANTED TO SAY AS -- I LIVE IN PRECINCT 1, NORTHEAST HOUSTON, AND I'M ASKING YOU GUYS TO HALT ON LIKE PASSING THESE RAISES FOR THIS VOTE, FOR THIS BUDGET VOTE. AS A MEMBER OF THE COMMUNITY, A MEMBER OF NORTHEAST ACTION COLLECTIVE, WHAT'S REALLY IMPORTANT TO US IS THE DEMOCRATIC PROCESS, AND JUDGE HIDALGO STATED EARLIER, HEARSE PROPOSAL FOR EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION WAS NOT PUT UP TO A VOTE BECAUSE IT WAS HALF BAKED OR MAYBE BECAUSE CONSTITUENTS MIGHT ACTUALLY VOTE FOR IT. I WOULD SAY PUT THAT UP ON THE BALLOT THE NEXT TIME POSSIBLE, AS WELL AS THE POLICE RAISES THE NEXT TIME POSSIBLE IF YOU GUYS ARE SO CONFIDENT THAT THE COMMUNITY WANTS THESE RAISES, ALLOW US TO VOTE, AND THAT'S WHY WE VOTED FOR YOU GUYS, TO REPRESENT THE DEMOCRATIC PROCESS. SO ANYTHING THAT CAN -- THAT WE CAN SUPPORT ON THE BALLOT IS WHAT WE WANT TO DO. THANK YOU. 
          >> THANK YOU. >> JULIE HARTMAN, KELA TREVINO, NEANDRA COMILL BOYD, CHRISTOPHER RIVERA, KAY BARBER, ERMA SANCHEZ 
          SANCHEZ. >> THEY'RE MAKING THEIR WAY. 
          >> SORRY, I'M SLOW. >> GO AHEAD, MA'AM. 
          >> HELLO, JUDGE AND COMMISSIONERS. I'M KAY BARBER NEAR OF SOUTH AREA WHERE ROUGHLY 10% OF THE RESIDENTS OF PRECINCT 2, NOT JUST VOTERS, BUT THEIR FAMILIES AND CHILDREN ARE DIRECTLY IMPACTED BY DECISIONS THAT YA'LL MAKE HERE. I AM DEEPLY CONCERNED THAT RECENT PROPOSALS TO REDUCE FUNDING FOR PRECINCT 2 APPEAR TIED MORE TO PERSONAL DISAGREEMENTS THAN TO THE BEST INTERESTS OF THE COMMUNITY. JUDGE, WHEN YOU PROPOSED BUDGET CUTS IN OUR PRECINCT, IT IS NOT COMMISSIONER GARCIA WHO SUFFERS, IT IS MY GRANDCHILDREN AND OTHER PEOPLE, IT IS MY DAUGHTER, A SINGLE MOTHER, IT IS MY MOTHER, A SENIOR WHO ACROSS ALL OF OUR NEIGHBORHOODS RELY ON PROGRAMS TO KEEP THEM SAFE, SUPPORTED AND OUT OF HARM'S WAY. PRECINCT 2 
          [02:30:02]
HAS UNIQUE NEEDS. ADRIAN GARCIA WAS ELECTED TO BRING THOSE CONCERNS TO THIS TABLE. THE DEMOCRATIC PROCESS DEPENDS ON RESPECTFUL DEBATE AND COLLABORATIVE DECISION MAKING. I URGE THE COURT TO SET ASIDE PERSONAL DIFFERENCES AND KEEP THE FOCUS ON WHERE IT BELONGS, ON WHAT STRENGTHENS HARRIS 
          COUNTY AS A WHOLE. >> THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. 
          APPRECIATE YOUR VOICE. >> THANK YOU, MA'AM. I ASSURE YOU WILL NOT VOTE TO ANY CUTS FOR SERVICES, JUST LIKE I DIDN'T VOTE TO PUT US IN THIS HOLE. 
          >> HELLO, EVERYBODY. MY NAME IS CHRISTOPHER, AND I WORK WITH THE TEXAS RIGHTS PROJECT. I AM HERE TO DISCUSS THE BUDGET. YOU KNOW, I'M HERE WITH SEVERAL OF THE COMMUNITY MEMBERS. WE'RE ALL SAYING THE SAME THINGS. WE WANT FUNDING FOR HOUSING, EVICTION PROTECTION, LIBRARIES AND OTHER VITAL PROGRAMS. AND THE COMMUNITIES HAS ASKED FOR YOU TO SAFEGUARD THESE. BUT WE CONTINUOUSLY SEE THAT THE LAW ENFORCEMENT BUDGET HAS ONLY GROWN MASSIVELY OVER A FEW YEARS. SO WE'RE HERE TODAY TO ASK YOU THAT ONCE YOU APPROVE THAT BUDGET FOR THEM, THE RAISES, WE CAN'T UNDO THAT NO MORE. WE NEED TO PROTECT PEOPLE. 
          PEOPLE HERE ARE ASKING FOR SERVICES, FOR FLOOD PROTECTION, AS WELL AS HEALTHCARE SERVICE, MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES. SO PLEASE CONSIDER THIS. I KNOW IT MIGHT BE TOO LATE, BUT WE JUST REALLY NEED THIS TYPE OF FUNDING. WE DON'T NEED ANY MORE LAW ENFORCEMENT. WE DON'T NEED ANY MORE LAW ENFORCEMENT FUNDING. WE ASK YOU FREEZE THIS AND FOCUS ON WHAT THE COMMUNITY'S NEEDS ARE. THANK YOU SO MUCH. 
          >> THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU. 
          >> GOOD AFTERNOON. MY NAME IS ERMA SANCHEZ, PRESIDENT AND CEO OF WEST CHASE DISTRICT WHICH IS LOCATED IN PRECINCT 4. I DON'T WANT TO SAY I GREW UP IN COMMISSIONER GARCIA'S NORTH SIDE DISTRICT. YOU'RE DOING A GREAT JOB. I LIVE IN PRECINCT 3 IN COMMISSIONER RAMSEY'S DISTRICT OUT THERE. YOU'RE DOING A FABULOUS JOB. THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE. TODAY I WANT TO COMMEND COMMISSIONER BRIONES FOR HER CONTINUED INVESTMENT IN OUR COMMUNITY'S INFRASTRUCTURE AND QUALITY OF LIFE. YOUR LEADERSHIP AND DEDICATION HAVE MADE A TANGIBLE DIFFERENCE IN WEST HOUSTON, FROM IMPROVING TRANSPORTATION IN PUBLIC SPACES TO PROJECTS THAT ENHANCE DAILY LIVING FOR ALL RESIDENTS. 
          COMMISSIONER BRIONES , I ALSO WANT TO COMMEND YOU IN MANAGING PUBLIC FUNDS WITH BOTH EFFICIENCY AND FORESIGHT. YOUR ABILITY TO MAXIMIZE IMPACT THROUGH SMART SPENDING, STRATEGY 45S NOT ONLY MAXIMIZED RESOURCES BUT AMPLIFIED THE RESOURCES OF THE COMMUNITY. THANK YOU FOR THAT. BY IDENTIFYING COLLABORATIVE OPPORTUNITYING AND ALIGNING INVESTMENTS -- 
          >> THANK YOU. YOUR TIME IS UP. >> THANK YOU FOR COMING DOWN. 
          >> THANK YOU. >> RAIN EATMAN ON ITEM 7 OF PRECINCT 2. GABRIELA PEREZ ON ITEM 7 OF PRECINCT 1, GAVIN ELLIS ON ITEM -- I'M SORRY, I THINK HE'S GOING TO SPEAK A LITTLE LATER. I'LL HOLD 06 ON HIM. BOBBY CUNNINGHAM ON ITEM 7 AND 411, CHRIS VALID EZ ON ITEM 7 OF PRECINCT 1. 
          >> GOOD AFTERNOON. MY NAME IS RAIN EATMAN WITH PURE COMPANY JUSTICE. THANK YOU ALL FOR TRYING YOUR BEST TO INFORM CONSTITUENTS ON THE BUDGET. ONCE AGAIN, NOT ALL OF THE FACT ARE BEING ADDRESSED. THE FACT THAT THREE COMMISSIONERS ARE SAYING THE BUDGET IS BALANCED ARE THE SAME THREE COMMISSIONERS WHO PUSHED THROUGH A MOTION TO APPROVE A $100 MILLION PAY RAISE WITHOUT GUARANTEED FUNDING OR STUDY REALLY CONFUSES ME. THIS IS NOT TARRANT COUNTY'S BUDGET, THIS IS NOT THE CITY OF HOUSTON'S BUDGET. WORK WITH WHAT YOU HAVE, AND DON'T SPEND WHAT YOU DON'T HAVE. THANK YOU, JUDGE HIDALGO, FOR PUTTING FORTH THE MATERIALS THAT IS NECESSARY FOR HAVING THIS HARD COMMISSIONER. THANK YOU FOR ELLIS FOR HIS TEAM OF WHAT IS ACTUALLY AT STAKE AND WHAT THE CONVERSATION NEEDS TO BE F. THIS IS A CONVERSATION WE NEED TO HAVE, WE NEED TO WORK WITH HARRIS COUNTY'S BUDGET, NOT ANYONE ELSE'S, BECAUSE AT THE END OF THE DAY, YOU ARE SERVING HARRIS COUNTY, NOT TARRANT COUNTY. PARTS OF THE CITY OF HOUSTON, BUT HARRIS COUNTY 
          SPECIFICALLY. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU. 
          >> HI, EVERYONE. MY MAIM IS GABRIEL A PEREZ, I'M A RECENT COLLEGE GRADUATE WITH DEGREES IN PSYCHOLOGY AND HUMAN DEVELOPMENT. I WOULD LIKE TO STAY IN HARRIS COUNTY AND WORK IN THE SOCIAL SERVICES DIRECTOR. MENTAL HEALTH AND YOUTH PROGRAMS ARE GENERALLY SOME OF THE FIRST ONES THAT ARE GUTTED OR GROSSLY UNDERFUNDED. A LOT OF US HERE WANT TO WORK TO HELP PEOPLE, BUT DECISIONS LIKE FUNNELING MILLIONS OF DOLLARS IN TO JUST THE POLICE DEPARTMENT MAKE THAT DIFFICULT. WE ARE ESSENTIALLY PENALIZED FOR WANTING TO REHABILITATE AND SUPPORT PREVENTATIVE SERVICES WHEN CUTS LIKE THESE HAPPEN. TO PINCH AWAY THE MONEY THAT WOULD HELP MILLIONS OF THE GENERAL PUBLIC FOR A SELECT FEW IS NOT ONLY IRRESPONSIBLE AND SHORTSIGHTED IT, ALSO SPEAKS VOLUMES FOR WHO YOU BELIEVE MATTERS IN THIS 
          [02:35:04]
COUNTY. TAXPAYER DOLLARS MUST BE INVESTED BACK INTO THE PUBLIC, ESPECIALLY IN A TIME WHERE SNAP SNAP BENEFITS AND MEDICAID FUNDING HAVE BEEN SLASHED BY MILLIONS OF DOLLARS OVER THE PAST COUPLE OF YEARS. THIS IS A CHANCE TO ACT LIKE YOU CARE FOR THE GREATER COMMUNITY AND SACRIFICE OUR WELL-BEING. DO NOT 
          PASS THE RAISES. >> THANK YOU. 
          >> GOOD AFTERNOON, JUDGE, COMMISSIONERS. CHRIS VALDEZ, A LIFELONG HOUSTONIAN, A HARRIS COUNTY RESIDENT, FATHER AND MEMBER OF THE HARRIS COUNTY FLOOD RESILIENCE TASK FORCE. 
          I'M HERE BECAUSE THESE BUDGET PROPOSALS CUT ESSENTIAL SERVICES THAT KEEP US SOFTWARE. DEUR -- SAFER. DURING LAST HEAR WE HEARD FROM THE DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC HEALTH THAT DECREASES WOULD LIMIT OUR -- AS A PARENT OF A VERY YOUNG CHILD AT THE PEAK OF COVID, MY FAMILY WORRIES ABOUT FALLING VACCINE RATES AND OTHER THREATS TO MY MOST VULNERABLE FAMILY MEMBERS. THE PROSPECT THAT THIS BUDGET COULD CUT OUR ABILITY TO RESPOND TO EMERGENT HEALTH DISASTERS IS DEEPLY CONCERNING. THAT'S WHAT THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT IS DOING. IT SHOULD NOT BE US. LIKE THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, POLLUTION CONTROL IS ALSO ON THE CHOPPING BLOCK, EVEN THOUGH COMMUNITIES LIKE DENVER HARBOR WHERE MY FAMILY IS FROM ALSO FACE DISPROPORTIONATE HEALTH RISKS FROM POLLUTERS. IT'S NOT TOO LATE TO STEP BACK, PROTECT OUR 
          HEALTH AND PUT POLICE RAISES -- >> THANK YOU. YOUR TIME IS UP. 
          THANK YOU. >> TEENO MARTINEZ ON ITEM 7 OF PRECINCT 1. JASMINE MARTIN ON ITEM 7 OF PRECINCT 1, MICHAEL SPATES ON ITEM 7 OF PRECINCT 4, CHRISTOPHER JENKINS ON ITEM 123 
          OF PRECINCT 1. >> I WANT TO START BY STATING THAT POLICE DON'T KEEP PEOPLE SAFE, COMMUNITIES KEEP PEOPLE SAFE. DESPITE CLAIMS FROM HOUSTON'S CONSERVATIVE MAYOR, HPD HAS BEEN COLLABORATING WITH I.C.E. THIS NEGATIVELY IMPACTS THE MAJORITY BLACK AND BROWN FOLKS WHO PARTICIPATE IN THE LOCAL ECONOMY, PROVIDE CRUCIAL LABOR TO OUR COUNTY AND FOLD THEIR BEAUTIFUL CULTURES INTO OUR FAMOUSLY DIVERSE POPULATION. 
          TO SHOW THAT YA'LL TRULY CARE ABOUT THE COMMUNITY, YOU WILL DO WHATEVER IS POSSIBLE TO REFUSE ACCOUNTS WITH ICE AND INSTEAD MAINTAIN AND EXPAND THE PROGRAMS THAT NURTURE AND PROTECT OUR COUNTY. I WANT TO REMIND FOLKS THAT AN OUNCE OF PREVENTION IS WORTH A POUND OF CURE. INVESTING IN CHILD CARE, HALF BAKED OR NOT, LIE BRIRS, HEALTHCARE AND ENVIRONMENTAL INFRASTRUCTURE WILL PAY UNTOLD DIVIDENDS FOR SAFETY OF OUR COUNTY. AN IMPORTANT FACTOR IN THESE PROGRAMS WILL BE KEEPING THEM IN HOUSE, PRIVATE FIRMS DOING WORK FOR HOUSTON HAVE DEFINITIVELY SHOWN THAT THEY COST THE SAME FOR THE SAME AMOUNT OF WORK. DO WHAT'S RIGHT AND MAKE UP FOR YOUR DEPLORABLE CHOICE TO PUT THE POLICE BEFORE YOUR COMMUNITY. A COP IS NOT GOING TO STOP A FLOOD, AND THEY CAN'T DO ANYTHING ABOUT -- 
          >> THANK YOU. >> WE PAY TAXES TO PARTICIPATE 
          IN THE ELECTION -- >> THANK YOU, SIR. 
          >> YOUR TIME IS UP. >> WILL BETTER THE COMMUNITY -- 
          >> SIR, I HAVE TO ASK YOU TO STOP. THANK YOU. THANK YOU SO 
          MUCH. THANK YOU. >> SIR, CAN YOU PLEASE STATE 
          YOUR NAME FOR THE RECORD? >> YEAH. I'M TEENO MARTINEZ, 
          LIFETIME VOTER. >> THANK YOU. 
          >> GOOD AFTERNOON, JUDGE, COMMISSIONERS. MY MAIM IS MICHAEL SPATES, DIRECTOR OF THE YOUNGER POLITICS. LAST YEAR A FAMILY MEMBER OF MINE HAD A BIPOLAR EPISODE. AND DURING THE PROCESS, MY OTHER FAMILY MEMBER CALLED THE POLICE. THEY DIALED 911, AND WHEN THE POLICE RESPONDED, THEY RESPONDED AND WANTED TO INCARCERATE THE OTHER FAMILY MEMBER WHO WAS HAVING A BIPOLAR EPISODE. FORTUNATELY, THE CRISIS INTERVENTION TEAM, RESPONSE TEAM WAS CALLED OUT. THAT FAMILY MEMBER HAS NEVER FACED ANY CRIMINAL TYPE ACTIONS OR BEEN INCARCERATED IN ANY FORM. SHE WAS HAVING A BIPOLAR EPISODE. THAT FAMILY MEMBER WORKS AT MANY FORTUNE 500 COMPANIES DOWNTOWN AS A RESPONSIBLE TAXPAYING CITIZEN EXCEPT FOR WHEN SHE'S HAVING ONE OF HER EPISODES. SO HAD IT NOT BEEN FOR THE CRISIS RESPONSE TEAM, SHE WOULD HAVE HAD A CRIMINAL RECORD, GOD FORBID THAT A WORSE TRAGEDY COULD HAVE HAPPENED AS WE KNOW. SO THESE 
          TYPE OF SERVICES -- >> THANK YOU. YOUR TIME IS UP. 
          >> -- ARE VERY IMPORTANT WHEN IT COMES TO DEALING WITH THOSE TYPE OF PEOPLE IN OUR COMMUNITY. THANK YOU. 
          >> THANK YOU SO MUCH. >> GOOD AFTERNOON, EVERYONE. 
          CHRISTOPHER JENKINS, NATIVE HARRIS COUNTY RESIDENT FROM PRECINCT 1. I WORK ALL OVER, BEEN IN PROGRAMS AND PROJECT -- 
          [02:40:03]
BID IN PROGRAMS AND PROJECTS. I PRODUCE MORE PRODUCTIVE PEOPLE THAN LAW ENFORCEMENT RECRUIT. I'M HERE TODAY TO HAVE A DISCUSSION ABOUT ITEM AGENDA 123 WHICH IS ANTI-GOVERNMENTAL INAUDIBLE ] BECAUSE OF LACK OF TRANSPARENCY. THE NEED TO HAVE MORE INFORMATION -- NEED TO BE MORE ACCESSIBLE TO THE COMMUNITY. IN THE PAST, THERE'S BEEN CONVERSATION ABOUT THE BUDGET. HOW CAN YOU BALANCE THE BUDGET WITHOUT PROPER INFORMATION NEEDED TO ASSIST TO ADDRESS THEM PROPERLY IN THESE DEPARTMENTS? HARRIS HILL, FLOOD COUNTY. THE THE NUMBERS ARE ALL OVER THE PLACE OR THEY'RE NOT THERE AT ALL. ONE MAJOR ISSUE IS WHEN YOU PLACE LAW ENFORCEMENT INTO ROLES WHICH THEY ARE NOT QUALIFIED FOR OR WENT TO TRAINING FOR, THEY DON'T HAVE 
          THE RIGHT KNOWLEDGE OR -- >> THANK YOU. YOUR TIME IS UP. 
          >> -- TO DO A JOB. THIS CAUSES SYSTEM ERRORS AND SYSTEM 
          FAILURES. >> YOUR TIME IS UP. 
          >> MATT GLEIS ON ITEM 160 OF PRECINCT 2. JENNIFER HADILLA ON 
          ITEMS 900 OF PRECINCT 2. >> GOOD AFTERNOON. PROUD RESIDENT OF PRECINCT 2. I AM THE CHAIR OF THE HOUSTON LAND BANK BOARD. I HAVE SERVED ON THE BOARD SINCE 2015, I HAVE SERVED ON THE CHAIR SINCE 2020. THE PRIMARY FUNCTION IS TO RETURN UNUSED PROPERTY BACK TO PUBLIC USE, SINGLE FAMILY AFFORDABLE HOMES. THESE HOMES ARE PRIVED FOR FAMILIES BETWEEN 80% OF THE INCOME AND LAND BANK SINCE 2024 HAS RETURNED OVER $76 MILLION BACK TO THE TAX ROLLS AND CREATED 500 NEW AFFORDABLE HOMES. WE ARE ESTABLISHED BY THE TEXAS LOCAL GOVERNMENT CODE CHAPTER 379H, AND OUR BOARD IS COMPRISED OF FIVE MAYORAL APPOINTEES, THREE CITY COUNCIL APPOINTEES. 
          EXPAND ITS JURISDICTION FROM JUST THE CITY OF HOUSTON INTO UNINCORPORATED HARRIS COUNTY. SO WE ARE WORKING WITH ACD AND TORI 
          AND TY ON THIS FOR A WHILE. >> THANK YOU. YOUR TIME IS UP. 
          >> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE, AND YOU ARE HITTING SOMETHING VERY, VERY IMPORTANT. WE GOT TO GET THOSE LOTS BE MORE PRODUCTIVE THAN JUST SITTING THERE AND GROWING TALL WEEDS. SO I APPRECIATE ALL YOUR WORK, AND REALLY PROUD THAT ONE OF THE FIRST THINGS THAT WE DID WHEN I CAME ON TO COURT WAS THE CREATION OF A LAND TRUST FOR HARRIS COUNTY. WE STILL GOT TO GET IT UP WHERE THE LAND BANK IS AT, BUT IT IS A GOOD PLACE TO BE AT AS WE GOT ABOUT 80 PROPERTIES I THINK NOW THERE. BUT PROUD OF YOUR WORK, PROUD OF THE WORK THAT AT THATO AND HER TEAM IS DOING. APPRECIATE YOU STAYING IN THE FIGHT. 
          >> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. WE WORK WITH THE HOUSTON LAND TRUST AS WELL AND LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH THE HARRIS COUNTY LAND 
          TRUST TOO. >> GOOD DEAL. THANK YOU. 
          >> THANK YOU SO MUCH. >> GOOD AFTERNOON. MY NAME IS JENNIFER, I'M THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF AIR ALLIANCE HOUSTON. I WANTED TO SPEAK TODAY IN SUPPORT OF THE ITEM FROM THE COUNTY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE TO REQUEST A PUBLIC MEETING FROM TECQ ON THE LION DELL BACELL OWNED REFINING. THE QUESTIONS SHIFTS THE CHARACTERISTICS OF THIS FACILITY FROM CHEMICAL TO PLASTIC RECYCLING. FOR ANYONE UNFAMILIAR WITH THAT TERM, IT'S A PROCESS THAT BURNS SINGLE USE PLASTIC WASTE FOR FUEL USING CHEMICAL PIE ROL SIS. WE OPPOSE THE TRANSITION OF THIS REFINERY TO CHEMICAL RECYCLING AND WOULD PREFER LYONDELL STOP AT DECOMMISSIONING IT AS THEY PREVIOUSLY COMMITTED LITERALLY ON THE COVER OF "THE HOUSTON CHRONICLE. PEOPLE IMPACTED BY THIS CHANGE IN EMISSIONS SHOULD HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO WEIGH IN. THAT'S WHY WE SUPPORT THIS REQUEST AND ARE GRATEFUL FOR THE COUNTY ATTORNEY TO MAKING IT. THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO 
          SPEAK. >> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. WE 
          APPRECIATE IT. >> ITEMS 202 AND 203, JUDGE ANGELA GRAVES HERINGTON, JANICE BERG, TERESA WADROP, SHIRLEEN CRUZ, GAVIN ELLIS, JUDGE JESSICA ESTRADA, JUDGE LETITIA PAYNE, 
          AND COURTNEY ST. JULIAN. >> GOOD AFTERNOON. MY NAME IS JANICEBERG, I AM THE PRESIDING JUDGE OF THE 247TH FAMILY DISTRICT COURT. HARRIS COUNTY IS FORTUNATE TO HAVE A UNIQUELY 
          [02:45:02]
QUALIFIED TEAM OF FAMILY COURT ASSOCIATE JUDGES, SOME OF WHOM, LIKE THE ASSOCIATE JUDGE I APPOINTED ARE BOARD CERTIFIED IN FAMILY LAW. WITHOUT THEIR EXPERTISE, THE COUNTY WOULD NEED TO ADD TENS OF ADDITIONAL DISTRICT COURTS. THIS IS BECAUSE OUR SKILLED AJS CAN EXPERTLY HANDLE NEARLY EVERY CASE THAT PRESIDING FAMILY JUDGES HANDLE, CHILD PROTECTION, COMPLEX DIVORCES, PATERNITY, CHILD SUPPORT AND HIGH-CONFLICT CUSTODY DISPUTES, AND YET SB293 DID NOT INCREASE THEIR SALARY. 
          THEIR SALARY IS ENTIRELY IN YOUR HANDS. WITHOUT A RAISE, THEY WILL BE EARNING LESS THAN FAMILY ASSOCIATE JUDGES AROUND THE STATE WHO HANDLE SINGLE-ISSUE DOCKETS. I KNOW YOU WANT HARRIS COUNTY TO LEAD WHEN IT COMES TO PAY PARITY AND ACCESS TO JUSTICE. PLEASE DO NOT LEAVE OUR ASSOCIATE JUDGES BEHIND. THANK 
          YOU. >> THANK YOU. AND, JUDGE, I APOLOGIZE FOR NOT CALLING YOU GUYS UP EARLIER. YOU WERE NOT HERE AND I WAS FOCUSED ON WHOEVER WAS SPEAKING. THAT WAS 
          NOT INTENTIONAL. >> THANK YOU, JUDGE. 
          >> THANK YOU. >> GOOD AFTERNOON. MY NAME IS TERESA WALDROP, I AM THE PRESIDING JUDGE OF THE 312TH FAMILY DISTRICT COURT. I AM HERE TO SPEAK TO YOU TODAY IN SUPPORT OF SALARY INCREASES FOR OUR ASSOCIATE JUDGES, SPECIFICALLY AS TO THEIR QUANTITATIVE VALUE AND IMPACT ON OUR COURTS IN PROVIDING SERVICES TO HARRIS COUNTY CITIZENS. JUST TO GIVE YOU AN IDEA, MY COURT HAD 1,801 CASES AS OF JULY 31ST OF 2025. I HAVE 250 TO 350 NEW CASES MONTHLY. AND WE SIGN WITH THE ASSISTANCE OF MY AJ APPROXIMATELY 650 TO 780 ORDERS PER MONTH. MY AJ IS LICENSED FOR 22 YEARS. HIS SALARY IN 2017 WHICH HE'S GIVEN ME PERMISSION TO SPEAK ABOUT WAS $136 AND $822. IF YOU PLUG THAT NUMBER INTO THE U.S. BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS INFLATION CALCULATOR, HE WOULD NEED TO MAKE $182,000 
          FOR THE SAME TYPE OF WORK. >> THANK YOU. YOUR TIME IS UP. 
          >> GOOD AFTERNOON. MY NAME SHIRLEEN CRUZ, I'M A DISTRICT COURT ASSOCIATE JUDGE. I'M HERE TO ASK YOU TO FUND THE FELONY ASSOCIATE JUDGE PROGRAM. WITHOUT THE PROGRAM, HARRIS COUNTY WILL FIND ITSELF IN THE POSITION OF SPENDING SIGNIFICANTLY MORE MONEY THAN WE CURRENTLY SPEND TO HOUSE AND TRANSPORT INCARCERATED INDIVIDUALS. THE NEW LAWS GOING INTO EFFECT IN SEPTEMBER AND JANUARY WILL MAKE IT SO THAT MORE THAN 40% OF THE CRIMINAL CASES ARE UNABLE TO SEE A BOND UNLESS SEEN BY DISTRICT COURT OR DESIGNEE. WE ARE THEIR DESIGNEES. WE HAVE HELPED BRING THE BACKLOG NUMBERS DOWN. THIS WILL BRING BACK BACKLOGS THAT WILL BE WORSE THAN HARVEY AND COVID COMBINED. PLEASE FUND THE FELONY ASSOCIATE JUDGE PROGRAM SO THAT HE WE CAN CONTINUE TO FUND THE ELECTED JUDGES AND KEEP OUR COMMUNITY SAFE. THANK YOU. 
          >> GOOD AFTERNOON, JUDGE AND COMMISSIONERS. I'M JUDGE JIG ESTRADA, ONE OF SIX CRIMINAL ASSOCIATE JUDGES HERE IN HARRIS COUNTY. SENATE BILL 9 AND THE PROPOSED CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT ALLOWING DEFENDANTS TO BE HELD AT NO BOND FOR CERTAIN VIOLENT CRIMES, IT RAISES THE BAR FOR THE JUDICIAL INVOLVEMENT IN SERIOUS CASES. THE RESULT IS AN ONSLAUGHT OF HEARINGS, AND THERE WILL BE BOND HEARINGS, AND HARRIS COUNTY MUST NOW MATCH THAT CAPACITY. AND TO DO SO, YOU HAVE TO FUND THE CRIMINAL ASSOCIATE JUDGES. WE ARE ESSENTIAL TO THE EFFICIENT EXECUTION OF THESE HEARINGS. HAVING THESE HEARINGS ARE SHOWING NUMBERS TO BE OVER 500 ADDITIONAL HEARINGS A MONTH PER 29 DISTRICT COURTS. THESE HEARINGS WILL LARGELY BE STAFFED BY INDIGENT DEFENSE WHICH IS A HUGE EXPENSE TO HARRIS COUNTY. A DELAY IN THESE HEARINGS WILL DIRECTLY RESULT IN AN INCREASE IN INDIGENT DEFENSE SPENDING BY THE COUNTY. THE INDIGENT JUDGES HAVE A PROVEN TRACK RECORD OF DEALING WITH BLOGS. JUSTICE 
          MOVES AT THE PACE OF THE COURTS >> THANK YOU. YOUR TIME IS UP. 
          THANK YOU SO MUCH, MA'AM. >> GOOD MORNING, YA'LL. I'M JUDGE GAVIN ELLIS, A ASSOCIATE JUDGE IN THE CRIMINAL COURTS. 
          I'M HERE TO SPEAK ON THE CONTINUES OF OUR ASSOCIATE JUDGE PROGRAM. I DON'T BELIEVE THE AVAILABILITY OF JUSTICE SHOULD BE LIMITED BY THE AVAILABILITY OF AN ACCESSIBLE JUDGE OR AN ACCESSIBLE COURT. EVERYDAY MY COLLEAGUES AND I PICK JURIES, WE TAKE PLEAS, WE SET BONDS, AND WE RUN FELONY DOCKETS WHEN OUR ELECTED JUDGES ARE NOT AVAILABLE TO DO SO. MANY OF THE CASES THAT WE HANDLE ARE FOR IN-CUSTODY DEFENDANTS. MANY OF THE CASES WE RESOLVE ARE FOR IN-CUSTODY DEFENDANTS. SB9 WILL NOT ONLY MAKE OUR REQUIREMENTS GREATER IT, WILL INCREASE THE STRESS ON OUR CRIMINAL JUSTICE PROGRAM. JUSTICE DELAYED CAN BE JUSTICE DENIED, AND OUR WORK HAS SERVED TO KEEP THE WHEELS OF OUR CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM MOVING FORWARD. YOU KNOW, WE SAVE THE COUNTY MONEY, WE INCREASE ACCESS TO JUSTICE FOR VICTIMS AND THE 
          [02:50:01]
ACCUSED ALIKE. BEFORE I STEP DOWN, I'M ALSO A PROUD LINDELL PARK RESIDENT. THANK YOU FOR HELPING US OUT WITH THE MD AND ALSO ON THE CIVIC CLUB FOR A GOOD LONG TIME. THANK YOU FOR 
          YOUR HELP. >> AND THE COUNCIL MEMBER SPEED 
          BUMPS ARE COMING. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU. 
          >> GOOD AFTERNOON. MY NAME IS JUDGE IKE CORFOR, AND LIKEWISE I'M AN ASSOCIATE JUDGE IN THE CRIMINAL COURTS. I AM HERE TODAY BECAUSE CURRENTLY AS I STAND HERE TODAY, THE PROPOSED BUDGET FOR 2026 DOES NOT INCLUDE THE CRIMINAL ASSOCIATE JUDGE PROGRAM. AND I BELIEVE THAT'S A PENNY WISE, FOUND-FOOLISH DECISION. AS YOU ALL KNOW, WE'RE EXPERIENCING OVERCROWDING RIGHT NOW IN THE CRIMINAL JAIL JUST ACROSS THE STREET, AND I BELIEVE THAT AFTER SEPTEMBER 1ST WHEN SB9 BECOMES LAW WE WILL SEE EXPONENTIAL INCREASE IN THE JAIL POPULATION AND ALSO WITHOUT THE CRIMINAL ASSOCIATE JUDGE PROGRAM, WE'LL SEE AN EXPONENTIAL PROGRAM IN THE NUMBER OF DOCKETS THAT INDIGENT DEFENDANTS HAVE TO ATTEND WHICH WILL SEE AN EXPONENTIAL INCREASE IN THE COURT-APPOINTED FEES WE PAY TO PEOPLE ON THE WHEEL. SO I BELIEVE IF WE KEEP THE ASSOCIATE JUDGE PROGRAM, IT WILL SAVE THE COUNTY MONEY IN THE LONG RUN, AND I KNOW THAT THE COMMISSIONERS BASED ON SEVERAL OF THE LAST MEETINGS, THEY HOLD A CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM DEAR TO THEIR HEARTS. AND I THINK THAT IS A MANDATE FROM THE VOTERS TO KEEP -- 
          >> THANK YOU. YOUR TIME IS UP. >> THANK YOU. 
          >> GOOD AFTERNOON, COMMISSIONERS AND JUDGE HIDALGO. I AM JULIAN, ONE OF THE FELONY ASSOCIATE JUDGES HERE IN HARRIS COUNTY. 
          COMBINED, THE SIX OF US BRING NEARLY 100 YEARS OF LEGAL EXPERIENCE TO THE HARRIS COUNTY COURTS. NOW, MY OWN INTEREST IN A CAREER OF PUBLIC SERVICE BEGAN IN THEN SENATOR ELLIS' TEE LIP PROGRAM, AND THAT PATH LED ME TO THE JUDICIARY. IT'S THE INTERSECTION OF PUBLIC SAFETY AND THE CONSTITUTION P CONSTITUTION. HARRIS COUNTY COURTS HAVE THE DUAL RESPONSIBILITIES OF BOTH PROTECTING THE PUBLIC WHILE UPHOLDING THE CONSTITUTION. AND IN ORDER TO ACCOMPLISH THESE TWO GOALS IN THE FACE OF A LINGERING BACKLOG AND NOW SWEEPING BILL REFORM LEGISLATION, IT MEANS THAT ASSOCIATE JUDGES ARE NEEDED NOW MORE THAN EVER. IF THE ASSOCIATE JUDGE PROGRAM WERE TO BE ELIMINATED, WE ARE TALKING ABOUT DOCKET NUMBERS SKYROCKETING AND THE JAIL POPULATION INCREASING. 
          >> THANK YOU. YOUR TIME IS UP. >> SO I HOPE YOU WILL VOTE TO 
          SUPPORT US. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU. 
          >> I'M JUDGE OF THE 339TH. I AM OUR CRIMINAL ADMINISTRATIVE JUDGE. I'M HERE TO SPEAK ON BEHALF OF THE ASSOCIATE JUDGE PROGRAM AND THE CONTINUATION OF THE PROGRAM. IF WE'RE BEING HONEST ABOUT THE SITUATION, THIS HAS BEEN A COLLABORATIVE PROCESS. WHEN I GOT HERE, MY DOCKET WAS 3,000 CASES PLUS. AS OF TODAY, MY DOCKET NUMBER IS 311 CASES, AND I HAVE A TOTAL OF 89 PEOPLE IN JAIL. I MET WITH AND DISCUSSED WITH EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU THE IMPACT THAT THIS WOULD HAVE. AND IF YOU'RE LOOKING AT THE NUMBERS, THE CRIMINAL ASSOCIATE JUDGE PROGRAM HAS HELPED REDUCE THE BACKLOG. WHEN WE CAME UP WITH THE IDEA TO DO AFTERNOON DOCKETS, THE PEOPLE THAT WERE GOING TO STAFF THOSE WERE THE AJS. WHEN IT CAME UP WITH THE INCREASE IN JAIL POPULATION BECAUSE OF SOME OF THE MORE SERIOUS CASES, THE PEOPLE THAT HAD THOSE HEARINGS WERE THE AJS. WHEN SB9 PASSED, AND WE REALIZED THERE'S NOT ENOUGH SPACE IN THE JAIL TO HAVE THE HEARINGS SO THE JUDGES ARE DOING THEM ON THE EVENINGS AND WEEKENDS AND HOLIDAYS ON THEIR OWN, AJ STEPPED UP. 
          >> THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU, JUDGE. AND YOU GUYS HAVE DONE AN INCREDIBLE JOB. JUST WHILE THEY'RE HERE, I WONDER, DANIEL, IF YOU ARE NOT RECOMMENDING THAT FUNDING, BUT THEY'RE TALKING ABOUT SAVINGS. WHAT'S THE REASON, WOULD THE SAVINGS BE TOO LATE? HOW DO YOU SQUARE YOUR RECOMMENDATION WITH THE GREAT WORK THAT JUDGES HAVE DONE? 
          >> >> SO SPECIFICALLY RELATED TO THE AJ PROGRAM AND SB9, WE HAVE NOT RECEIVED THE PROPOSAL YESTERDAY. SO WE HAVEN'T HAD TIME TO EVALUATE IT. WE'VE BEEN WORKING WITH TONYA ON WHAT THE BEST PATH FORWARD FOR THAT PROGRAM IS, IF THERE IS A VIABLE PATH FORWARD ON THERE, AND, YOU KNOW, WE'LL BE PREPARED TO DISCUSS IT MORE IN DEPTH ON THE 9TH WHEN WE DO BUDGET AMENDMENT DAY 
          >> AND HOW MUCH IS THAT REQUEST FOR? 
          >> WE'RE ASKING THE ASSOCIATE JUDGE PROGRAM -- 
          >> WOULD YOU MIND, JUDGE, TO APPROACH THE MICROPHONE SO IT'S 
          RECORDING? THANK YOU. >> WE'RE ASKING TO KEEP THE SAME ASSOCIATE JUDGE PROGRAM, I THINK IT LEVELED OUT WITH THE ASSOCIATE JUDGES AND ALL THE ADDITIONAL STAFF AT $2 MILLION, AND I THINK THE NUMBERS THAT WERE PROVIDED SHOW THAT UNDER SB9, AS OF LAST MONTH, THAT WILL PROVIDE AN INCREASE ON THE LOW END OF $609 AND THE DEFENDANT BEING KEPT IN CUSTODY UNTIL SUCH TIME AS THESE HEARINGS CAN BE HAD. IF I HAVE TO DO MY DOCKET, 
          [02:55:02]
I HAVE TO DO MY TRIAL CASES, I HAVE TO DO ALL THE OTHER HEARINGS, I DON'T HAVE THE SPACE AND THE CAPACITY. WE ARE 
          WORKING -- >> I GET IT. 
          >> -- IT'S A PARTNERSHIP, SO I'M ASKING -- 
          >> NO. IT'S BEEN A LOT OF WORK. JUST WHAT I'M TRYING TO UNDERSTAND IS ON AN ANNUAL BASIS, DO YOU KNOW TOTAL HOW 
          MUCH YOUR REQUEST WOULD COST? >> $2 MILLION. 
          >> WHAT YOU'RE SAYING THAT'S AN ADDITIONAL REQUEST, IT'S NOT NECESSARILY BEEN FOLDED INTO THE DISCUSSION TODAY, BUT IT WOULD BE ANOTHER $2 MILLION THAT WE WOULD NEED TO CUT FROM SOMEWHERE 
          ELSE? >> CORRECT. THIS WAS AN ARPA PROGRAM THAT WAS NOT SLATED TO CONTINUE. 
          >> OKAY. THANK YOU. JUDGE PAYNE, I KNOW YOU WERE GOING TO SPEAK 
          TOO. THANK YOU. >> GOOD AFTERNOON. I'M NATASHA LEWIS PAYNE, ADMINISTRATIVE JUDGE FOR THE 67 DISTRICT COURTS THAT WE HAVE HERE. THE ASSOCIATE JUDGE REQUEST THAT WE'VE MADE, 202 AND 203, WILL IMPACT APPROXIMATELY 30 JUDGES. NOT ONLY IS IT ASSOCIATE JUDGES, BUT IT'S ALSO THE RIC JUDGES, IT'S ALSO THE MENTAL HEALTH JUDGES, IT'S ALSO CSP AND OUR JUVENILE DETENTION REFEREES. IT IS ASSOCIATE JUDGES ACROSS THREE DIVISIONS IMPACTING 48,000 CASES. THE FINANCIAL NUMBER IS ABOUT $840,000. SUPPORTING THESE JUDGES SUPPORTS THE JUDICIAL SYSTEM. HAVING A SYSTEM THAT IS STRONG, FAIR AND EFFICIENT. AND IT'S DATA DRIVEN. THE IMPACT OF JUDICIAL OFFICERS MAKING DECISIONS IS SUPPORTED BY THE NATIONAL CENTERS FOR STATE COURTS WHICH SAYS HARRIS COUNTY IS LACKING 55 JUDGES ACROSS ALL DIVISIONS. IT'S ALSO SUPPORTED BY THE JUDICIAL COMMISSION THAT 
          SAID THE STATE OF TEXAS -- >> THANK YOU. YOUR TIME IS UP. 
          >> GO AHEAD, JUDGE. >> WAS 50, WAS NUMBER 50 ACROSS THE NATION IN TERMS OF PAY FOR JUDGES. WE NEED TO LEAD IN HARRIS COUNTY, AND WE NEED TO ADJUST THE SALARIES OF THESE 
          APPOINTED JUDGES. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU. 
          >> JUDGE? >> OH, COMMISSIONER. 
          >> I JUST WANT TO ASK DANIEL, HE'S BEEN VERY QUIET BECAUSE THIS IS THE TIME FOR 189 SPEAKERS TO SPEAK. BUT THE DEFICIT, HOW MUCH IS THAT FROM INDIGENT DEFENSE? 
          >> $57 MILLION. >> IS THE THOUGHT THAT IF WE INVESTED MORE IN THE PUBLIC DEFENDER INSTEAD OF THE COURT-APPOINTED LAWYERS, IT MAY TAKE THAT COST DOWN AND INCREASE 
          THE QUALITY OF REPRESENTATION? >> THAT HAS BEEN OUR GOAL, AND THAT'S WHY WE'VE INCREASED THE PUBLIC DEFENDER -- 
          >> I'M NOT GOING TO HAVE DEBATE ON IT TODAY, BUT I WANT TO SAY THIS. THIS OBVIOUSLY IS WHERE SOMEBODY COMES IN AND ASKS FOR MONEY, BUT OBVIOUSLY IT DIDN'T COME FROM HEAVEN. A LOT OF THINGS COME FROM HEAVEN, BUT THE MONEY DOESN'T. SO I WANT TO ENCOURAGE ALL OF US, INCLUDING OUR JUDGES, IF THERE ARE THINGS YOU ALL CAN DO IN THAT INDIGENT PLACE -- AND I KNOW WE'LL GO THROUGH THIS, AND WE HAD DISCUSSION EARLIER, BUT THE FACT IS LEADING TO THE DEFICIT, IF I HAVE HAD RIGHT WOULD BE $89 MILLION FOREGONE REVENUE BECAUSE WE DIDN'T ASK TO MAKE THE 8% PERMANENT LAST YEAR. 101 OR SO FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT RAISES, $57 MILLION FOR INDIGENT DEFENSE, $50 MILLION FOR EMPLOYEE COMPENSATION EQUITY WHICH WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT FOR SIX YEARS, MAYBE EIGHT. AND THEN $30 MILLION OR SO IN INFLATIONARY IMPACTS, INCREASED COSTS, THINGS LIKE THAT, PRETTY MUCH ACCURATE? OKAY. I JUST WANTED TO PUT THAT ON THE RECORD. I DON'T WANT TO DISCUSS IT NOW. WE HAVE ANOTHER 30, 40 SPEAKERS. THANK YOU. 
          >> THANK YOU. THANK YOU, JUDGE. THANK YOU, COLLEAGUES AND FOR 
          THE WORK THAT YOU ALL DO. >> SHIQUITA RIVERS ON ITEM 7. 
          KELA TREVINO ON ITEM 7, NEANDRA COMILL BOIDZ ON ITEM 7, VAD MILES AN HOUR AND JASMINE MARTIN ON ITEM 7. 
          >> OH, THANK YOU. HI. I'M SHAQUITA RIVERS. I AM NOT FOR THE RAISE FOR POLICE RAISE, GIVE THEM EXTRA MONEY BECAUSE WE HAVE THOUSANDS AND THOUSANDS AND THOUSANDS OF HOMELESS PEOPLE WHO NEED SOME MONEY, NOT EVEN JUST MONEY. THEY NEED TO HAVE FOOD, CLOTHES, TENTS. IT'S ABOUT TO GET COLD, AND IT'S ABOUT TO GET REAL COLD. THEY NEED SOMEWHERE TO GO. DOWNTOWN IS NOT WHERE THEY NEED TO BE SLEEPING. ON THE SIDE OF THE FREEWAY IS NOT WHERE THEY NEED TO BE SLEEPING. WE PASSED A LADY ACROSS THE STREET 
          [03:00:04]
WITH 16 BAGS AND A GROCERY CART. THEY NEED HELP. POLICE GOT A LOT OF MONEY ALREADY. HELP THE HOMELESS, PLEASE. 
          >> THANK YOU. >> BOB CHOTE ON ITEM 352 P PRECINCT 4. ALEXI SWARSKY OF PRECINCT 3, WARREN HOWL ON ITEM 352 OF PRECINCT 3, RAQUELLE HERNANDEZ ON ITEM 352 OF 
          PRECINCT 2. >> JESSE, DO YOU THINK IT'S POSSIBLE TO FIX THAT BY THE NEXT COURT OR IS THAT TOO HOPEFUL? 
          >> I THINK WHAT WE'RE GOING TO ASK, , JUDGE, IS THAT WE REMOVE CHAIRS ON THIS SECTION SO THAT JUST WHEELCHAIRS CAN GO BACK THERE, AND IF THERE ARE FOLKS THAT ARE VISUALLY IMPAIRED THEY CAN SIT ON THAT SIDE SO WE CLEAR ONE SIDE FOR WHEELCHAIRS 
          >> OKAY. WE'LL TRY IT AND SEE HOW IT GOES. GOOD AFTERNOON, 
          SIR. >> GOOD AFTERNOON, I'M BOB CHOAT, AN ADVOCATE FOR RESPONSIVE AND RESPONSIBLE LOCAL GOVERNMENT. AND AS THE INTRODUCTION SAID ON, I'M A PROUD RESIDENT OF THE TIMBER GROVE SUBDIVISION AND PRECINCT 4. THE SOFTBALL TOURNAMENT THAT IS PROPOSED FOR FUNDING IS NOT RESPONSIBLE GOVERNMENT. I DID SOME RESEARCH. THIS GROUP HAS 55 MEMBER CITIES. LAST YEAR'S WORLD SERIES HAD 52 CITIES SEND TEAMS. THESE ARE ADULTS. AT AN AVERAGE OF 13 PEOPLE PER TEAM, 676 PARTICIPANTS, DIVIDING THE 468,600, THAT'S $693 PER PARTICIPANT. THEY STAY AT NICE HOTELS IN THE GALLERIA AREA. 
          THEY RAISED NEARLY $104,000 ON THEIR OWN. ANY GIVEN WEEKEND IN THIS TOWN, YOU SEE TOURNAMENTS, NONE OF THOSE HAVE MUNICIPAL FUNDINGS. TWO OF THOSE MY SON PLAYED IN. 
          >> YOUR TIME IS UP. >> BOB, GOOD TO SEE YOU. 
          >> MY NAME IS ALEXI SWARSKY. I KNOW NOT WHAT COURSE OTHERS MAY TAKE, BUT AS FOR ME, GIVE ME LIBERTY OR GIVE ME DEATH SAID MY GREAT UNCLE PATRICK HENRY. TAKING OUT OTHER PEOPLE'S MONEY IN THE STORM OF TAXATION TO PAY FOR A LUXURY OF OTHER PEOPLE IS A THEFT OF MY LIBERTY. THIS IS CRAZY, SPENDING ALMOST HALF A MILLION DOLLARS OF TAXPAYERS' MONEY FOR A SOFTBALL TOURNAMENT AND FOR A SPECIAL INTEREST GROUP AT THAT? PEOPLE TO PLAY IN SPORTS TOURNAMENTS, THEY SHOULD PAY THEIR FAIR SHARE THEMSELVES. 
          NO TELLING WHERE THIS GROUP WILL ESCALATE, THEY SHOULD GET THINGS FOR FREE AT THE COST OF OTHERS. THE IDEA IT WILL BRING MONEY TO ARAPAHOE COUNTY DOES NOT HOLD UP. THE MONEY IT DOES GENERATE WOULD NOT GO TO TAXPAYERS ANYWAY. IF YOU WANT TO GIVE MY MONEY TO RESTAURANTS, BARS AND HOTELS, I AM FREE TO DO THAT WITHOUT THE GOVERNMENT FORCING ME TO DO SO. NEGLECTING THE STATUTORY REQUIREMENTS OF LAW ENFORCEMENT FLOOD PREVENTION AND ROAD MAINTENANCE CAN LEAD TO DEATH. NOT PLAYING IN A SOFTBALL TOURNAMENT DOES NOT LEAD IN DEATH. THANK YOU. 
          >> THANK YOU. >> HELLO, EVERYBODY. I'M WARREN HOWL. AND I WON'T BE TALKING ABOUT THE SOFTBALL MATCH. I THINK YOU GOT ENOUGH OF THAT, DIDN'T YOU? I KNOW YOU'VE GOT TO CUT YOUR COSTS. I KNOW YOU'VE GOT TO CUT BACK SERVICES. BUT HOW ABOUT THE SIZE OF OUR GOVERNMENT? WE HAVE 75 DEPARTMENTS. SOME PEOPLE MAKING MORE THAN THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES. WE NEED TO RELOAD, FOLKS. THIS IS IRRESPONSIBLE. CUT THE SIZE OF OUR GOVERNMENT, AND I THINK YOU'LL SEE SOME GOOD RESULTS. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. 
          >> THANK YOU. >> MY NAME IS RAQUELLE HERNANDEZ, AND I AM HERE TO STAY WHAT SO MANY OF US ARE FEELING. 
          ENOUGH IS ENOUGH. LET US BE REMINDED THAT A GOVERNMENT THAT FORGETS IT WORKS FOR THE PEOPLE BECOMES THE VERY OBSTACLE IT WAS CREATED TO OVERCOME. I MET A MAN A FEW DAYS AGO WHO LIVES IN MY PRECINCT WHO CAN'T PAY HIS LIGHT BILL, BUT HE CHOOSES TO PAY HIS RAISED PROPERTY TAXES BECAUSE HE KNOWS IF HE DOESN'T, HE COULD LOSE HIS HOME. THIS COUNTY HAS MONEY, BUT HOW IT IS MANAGED IS THE ISSUE. AT A TIME WHEN OUR ROADS ARE CRUMBLING, FAMILIES ARE BEING CRUSHED BY RISING PROPERTY TAXES AND BASIC SERVICES ARE UNDERFUNDED, WHILE JOBS ARE BEING SACRIFICED, ANYONE WITH COMMON SENSE KNOWS HANDING OUT NEARLY A HALF A MILLION DOLLARS OF OUR TAXPAYER MONEY TO SPONSOR A SOFTBALL TOURNAMENT IS A FISCAL NEGLIGENCE, AND, FRANKLY, THIS IS HOW WE GOT HERE TODAY. THAT $468,100 COULD GO TO ANSWER SOME OF THESE PEOPLE'S CAUSES HERE. EVERY DOLLAR THAT IS 
          [03:05:02]
UNNECESSARILY SPENT IS A DOLLAR TAKEN FROM THE PEOPLE WHO NEED IT. AND LET'S BE CLEAR. PUBLIC DOLLARS ARE PUBLIC DOLLARS. 
          >> THANK YOU. YOUR TIME IS UP. MA'AM, THANK YOU SO MUCH. 
          >> SIR, I GOOGLED HOW MUCH THE PRESIDENT MAKES, AND IF I DID THIS CORRECTLY IS $400,000. SO I REMEMBER THAT THE DIRECTOR, HIS SALARY WAS INCREASED TO $485,000. I THINK THAT'S WHAT YOU MIGHT BE REFERRING TO. OF COURSE I DID NOT VOTE FOR THAT. 
          >> IN ADDITION, THIS IS -- I APPRECIATE THE ATTENTION THIS HAS GOTTEN. BUT WITH GOVERNOR ABBOTT HAVING FUNDED THIS PARTICULAR EVENT FOR THE PAST FIVE YEARS, I THINK IT'S WRONG THAT THE CARPET GET PULLED OUT FROM UNDER THEM. AND SO THEY'RE BRINGING IN MONEY, THEY'RE RENTING HOTEL ROOMS. THIS WILL 
          PAY FOR ITSELF. THANK YOU. >> MAY I RESPOND TO THAT? 
          >> SURE. JUST A MOMENT. THERE'S RESPONSE. GO AHEAD, MA'AM. IF YOU WOULDN'T MIND APPROACHING THE MICROPHONE. 
          >> >> MY RESPONSE TO THAT IS THAT IT TECHNICALLY DOESN'T PAY FOR ITSELF. THE PUBLIC WOULD STILL HAVE TO PAY FOR IT, THAT $468,100 IS OUR TAXPAYER MONEY, AND IT COULD BE UTILIZED ON THE ESSENTIAL SERVICES RATHER THAN GO TO A SOFTBALL TOURNAMENT. SO THANK YOU. 
          >> UNFORTUNATELY, IT CANNOT. THIS IS HOTEL OCCUPANCY TAX. IT NEEDS TO BE DEDICATED TOWARDS TOURISM EVENTS. THANK YOU. 
          >> WELL, I JUST RESPECTFULLY DISAGREE BECAUSE I DON'T THINK 
          THAT IT DOES. >> THANK YOU, MA'AM. THANK YOU. 
          >> TAR A COOK ON ITEM 367. LEWIS GARRARDO ON ITEM 367 OF PRECINCT 1. JOSEPH PANZERELLA ON ITEM 400 ON PRECINCT 1, AND LEAH CHAMBERS 
          ON ITEM 1 OF PRECINCT 1. >> HELLO, I'M CARA COOK SHUT, THE DIRECTOR OF INNOVATION FOR PRECINCT 4 AND THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF PRECINCT 4. AND I'M VERY EXCITED TO BE HERE TO COMMEND THE STAFF OF PRECINCT 4 FOR WINNING THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF COUNTIES AWARD FOR THE BAYLAND HEALTH HUB PROJECT WE OPENED IN OCTOBER OF 2024. SINCE THEN, OVER 1,000 INDIVIDUALS HAVE BENEFITED FROM FREE HEALTH SERVICES AT BAYLAND IN THE GULFTON SHARPSTOWN NEIGHBORHOOD. AT THE SITE, OUR RESIDENTS CAN TAKE ADVANTAGE OF VACCINATIONS, DENTAL CARE, MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES, FOOD ACCESS, SOCIAL SERVICES AND TELEMEDICINE ALL IN THE SAME LOCATION. THIS IS ONLY POSSIBLE BECAUSE OF THE HARD WORK OF STAFF MEMBERS, TREVOR NALLY, LAUREN, THE ENTIRE OPERATIONS TEAM AT PRECINCT 4 AND IT'S THANKS TO PARTNERSHIPS FROM BAYLOR COLLEGE OF MEDICINE, HARRIS COUNTY PUBLIC HEALTH, HARRIS COUNTY DISTRICT FOUNDATION, COMMON MARKET AND PRECINCT 4. THANK YOU SO MUCH. 
          >> THANK YOU. AND LET'S GIVE A ROUND OF APPLAUSE FOR THAT AWARD. 
          >> GOOD AFTERNOON. ON THIS LIGHTER NOTE, MY NAME IS LUIS I'M THE DIRECTOR OF PLANNING AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT AT HARRIS COUNTY PRECINCT 4, COMMISSIONER BRIONES ' OFFICE AND I'M HERE ACCEPTING TWO ADDITIONAL 2025 ACHIEVEMENT AWARDS FROM THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF COUNTIES RECOGNIZING HARRIS COUNTY'S OUTSTANDING WORK. THE FIRST AWARD HONORS -- OR THE SECOND AFTER THE HEALTH CLINIC HONORS THE BURNETT BAYLAND PARK MASTER PLAN WHICH FOR ITS PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT WE WERE ABLE TO COLLECT OVER 21,000 DATA POINTS WITH THE COMMUNITY OVER THE SPAN OF THE MASTER PLAN. WE ENGAGED IN OVER SEVEN LANGUAGES IN GULFTON WHICH IS OUR MICROCOSM AND OUR ELLIS ISLAND, OVER 1,000 PARTICIPANTS AT OUR WORKSHOPS, REALLY PROUD OF THE ENGAGEMENT THAT LED TO OUR VISION IN THE HEART OF GULFTON FOR A REVITALIZED PUBLIC SPACE. THE SECOND AWARD RECOGNIZES THE PLACES FOR PEOPLE PROGRAM WHICH IS OUR ANNUAL CALL FOR PROJECTS AT CONCLUDE 4 -- 
          >> THANK YOU. YOUR TIME IS UP. >> VERY QUICKLY -- 
          >> I'M GOING TO LEAVE THAT UP TO MY COLLEAGUES. 
          >> IF YOU CAN JUST WRAP UP. >> ABSOLUTELY. WILL DO. THESE NATIONAL AWARDS REFLECT THE EXCEPTIONAL DEDICATION AND CONTRIBUTION OF THE PRECINCT AND THE COUNTY AND ARE REALLY WELL DESERVED FOR THE ONGOING WORK AND YOUR COMMITMENT TO PUTTING RESIDENTS FIRST. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND CONTINUED SERVICE 
          TO HARRIS COUNTY. >> THANK YOU. 
          >> THANK YOU, TEAM, AND CONGRATULATIONS. 
          >> GOOD AFTERNOON, JUDGE AND COMMISSIONERS. MY MAIM IS LEAH CHAMBERS, I AM AN URBAN DESIGNER AND COMMUNITY PLANNER BY TRAINING. I'M ACTUALLY HERE TO SPEAK ON BEHALF OF AN AGENDA ITEM THAT I THINK THERE'S A LOT OF AGREEMENT ABOUT WHICH IS 
          [03:10:04]
VISION ZERO. I JUST WANTED TO COME IN PERSON AND THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH FOR RESTARTING PROGRESSING THE VISION ZERO AND DEVELOPING THE ACTION PLAN THAT'S GOING TO BE UPDATED NEXT YEAR. I AM -- I WALK MY KIDS TO SCHOOL EVERYDAY, I COMMUTE VIA SCOOTER, I DRIVE, I BIKE FOR RECREATION AND COMMUTING, AND IT IS REALLY IMPORTANT THAT WE DESIGN PLACES SO THAT EVERYONE IN HARRIS COUNTY CAN GET TO WHERE THEY NEED TO GO SAFELY, REGARDLESS OF MODE. AND VISION ZERO IS A PROVEN METHOD FOR THAT TO WORK. SO I JUST WANTED TO SAY THANK YOU. I ALSO -- THE NERDY SIDE OF ME LOOKS FORWARD TO SEEING THE DESIGN STANDARD UPDATES BECAUSE THAT'S A PROVEN METHOD TO IMPROVE SAFETY, REDUCE 
          CRASHES. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU. JUDGE, IF I MIGHT 
          -- >> YES, COMMISSIONER GARCIA. 
          >> JUST A POINT OF PERSONAL PRIVILEGE, I WANTED TO COMMEND COMMISSIONER BRIONES WHILE HER TEAM IS STILL HERE FOR THEIR RESPECTIVE WORK AND LEADERSHIP -- 
          >> THANK YOU. >> -- ON THESE NCAAO AWARDS. 
          THOSE AWARDS ARE IMMENSIVE COMPETITIVE. YOU DON'T JUST SUBMIT SOMETHING AND AUTOMATICALLY WIN. SO IT IS GIVEN A VERY, VERY THOROUGH LOOK OVER. SO JUST APPLAUD -- 
          >> THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER. >> -- YOUR EFFORTS TO SERVE THE COMMUNITY IN A VERY, VERY INNOVATIVE WAY AND TO SEE YOUR PEERS RECOGNIZED ACROSS THE COUNTRY. 
          >> THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER. THANK YOU, TEAM. CONGRATS. 
          >> OKAY. GOOD AFTERNOON. I THINK WE'RE ALL IN AGREEMENT HERE THEN. MY NAME IS JOSEPH PANZORELLA, A RESIDENT OF PRECINCT 1 AND ALSO PRESIDENT OF THE NEWLY REACTED NEIGHBORHOOD WHICH IS REALLY EXCITING. I'M HERE TODAY TO ALSO SPEAK ON BEHALF OF THE VISION ZERO AGENDA ITEM. IN MY DAY JOB, I AM OF A DATA ANALYST WITH A RENEWABLE ENERGY PROGRAM. IN MY FREE TIME, I LOVE TO READ ABOUT GOOD SAFE STREET DESIGN WHICH, FRANKLY, HOUSTON DOES VERY POORLY RIGHT NOW. IN THIS BOOK, I HAVE A QUOTE HERE, IT SAYS THE ONLY WAY TO HAVE A MEANINGFUL REDUCTION IN SPEED AND A SIGNIFICANT IMPACT ON THE NUMBER OF CRASHES IS TO THROUGH GEOMETRIC CHANGE. THE DESIGN OF THE STREET NEEDS TO PROMPT PEOPLE TO DRIVE SLOWER. I THINK WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO SHOW HERE IS THAT STREET DESIGN IS A LOT MORE IMPORTANT THAN TRAFFIC WATCHING THERE. SO I WANT TO GIVE A BIG SHOUTOUT TO COMMISSIONER BRIONES . THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR SPEARHEADING THIS AND CONTINUE TO INVEST IN VISION ZERO 
          POLICIES. >> THANK YOU. 
          >> THANK YOU SO MUCH. >> ANY OTHER SPEAKERS? GO AHEAD, 
          MA'AM. >> MARION WRIGHT, ISAAC METCALF ON ITEM 400 OF PRECINCT 1, CATO WOODARD AND CATO WOODARD SR ON 
          ITEM 10 OF PRECINCT 2. >> HI. MY NAME IS MARION WRIGHT. 
          I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU WILL REALLY PAY ATTENTION TO WHERE THE TAX DOLLARS ARE COMING FROM THAT YOU SPEND. AND I KNOW THAT YOU SAY LITTLE EXPENDITURES AREN'T A LOT, MY MOTHER PAYS PROPERTY TAXES RIGHT NOW ON TWO HOUSES, TWO HOUSES THAT ARE NEXT TO EACH OTHER BECAUSE SHE'S DISABLED AND UNABLE TO TAKE CARE COMPLETELY OF HERSELF BUT DOESN'T WANT SOMEONE ELSE LIVING IN THE HOUSE WITH HER, SO SHE HAS TWO HOUSES NEXT TO EACH OTHER. MY FATHER AND MY MOTHER MADE SACRIFICES THROUGHOUT THEIR LIVES TO BE IN THAT POSITION WHERE THEY COULD DO THAT. THIS YEAR HER PROPERTY TAXES WENT UP ON THE SECOND HOUSE BY 1/4, OKAY? WE CAN'T AFFORD THAT. WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO NOW LOOK INTO MAKING OTHER LIVING ARRANGEMENTS FOR HER, AND THIS IS RIDICULOUS. AND WHEN YOU SAY THESE LITTLE $30,000 THINGS THAT WE DO FOR ART MURALS OR THIS $500,000 245 WE DO FOR SOFTBALL, AND I BELIEVE ONLY HALF OF IT IS PAID FOR. 
          >> THANK YOU. YOUR TIME IS UP. >> HOTEL TAX, IS THAT RIGHT, THAT ONLY HALF IS PAID FOR BY THAT? 
          >> MA'AM, THANK YOU. AND I'M SO SORRY ABOUT THAT SITUATION. 
          WE'LL MAKE SURE SOMEBODY VISITS WITH YOU. 
          >> THANK YOU FOR THAT. BYE BYE. >> 
          >> GOOD AFTERNOON. I'M ISAAC METCALF, HERE TO EXPRESS MY SUPPORT FOR HOUSTON'S VISION ZERO AND ADVOCATE FOR ITS CONTINUED IMPLEMENTATION. HOUSTON NOW HAS MORE TRAFFIC DEATHS EACH YEAR THAN HOMICIDES. MOREOVER, TRAFFIC DEATHS TRENDING UPWARDS OVER TIME WHILE VIOLENT CRIME IS TRENDING DOWNWARDS. NATIONWIDE, INCREASED INVESTMENTS IN LAW ENFORCEMENT HAVE NO RATE ON VIOLENT CRIME, BUT TRAFFIC SAFETY LEAD TO IMMEDIATE REDUCTIONS IN TRAFFIC INJURIES AND DEATHS. SO IT'S BAFFLING TO ME THAT YOU WOULD CONSIDER CUTTING FUNDING FOR INTISH OFS THAT WOULD GET US TOWARDS NET ZERO. IT WILL CAUSE PUBLIC SAFETY TO GET WORSE AND CAUSE MORE PEOPLE TO DIE. I RODE MY BIKE HERE TODAY BECAUSE I DON'T HAVE A DRIVER'S LICENSE. 
          A CAR HAS SENT ME TO THE HOSPITAL BEFORE AT A HOUSTON INTERSECTION. I LEFT BEHIND A BIG TUFT OF HAIR WHERE MY WIND BUSTED THROUGH THE WINDSHIELD. SO, PLEASE, STOP THIS COP 
          [03:15:03]
OBSESSION AND KEEP FUNDING STUFF THAT WILL MOVE US TOWARDS VISION 
          ZERO. >> THANK YOU. 
          >> CATO WOODARD AND CATO WOODARD S R ON ITEM 410. KEITH KATZ ON ITEM 10 OF PRECINCT 4, PARKER DIAZ ON ITEM 410 OF PRECINCT 1. 
          RYAN SHULET ON ITEM 10 OF PRECINCT 2. 
          >> GOOD AFTERNOON, JUDGE, COMMISSIONERS. MY NAME IS ANDY MARTINEZ, I'M PRESIDENT AND ORGANIZERS OF THE LOCAL 68, TRAINING HARRIS COUNTY'S NEXT GENERATION OF PLUMBERS. THE ADVANTAGE PROGRAM THROUGH OUR APPRENTICESHIP HELPS FUND OUR TRAINING LAB HELPING TURN PEOPLE INTO SKILLED CRAFTSPEOPLE WHO MASTER HOSPITAL SYSTEMS. THESE PLUMBERS ENSURE CLEAN WATER IN SCHOOLS, SAFE MEDICAL SYSTEMS AND RESILIENT INFRASTRUCTURE DURING STORMS.  COMMISSIONER BRIONES LINA HIDALGO , YOUR SUPPORT MEANS EVERYTHING TO US. AHEAD OF 2027 BUDGETS, WE URGE FUNDING, KEEP BUILDING STRONGER, HEALTHIER COMMUNITIES. THANK 
          YOU. >> THANK YOU. 
          >> GOOD AFTERNOON. MY NAME IS KEITH KATZ, I AM A FIVE-YEAR INSIDE WIREMAN APRESENTICE WITH THE INTERNATIONAL BROTHERHOOD ELECTRICAL WORKS LOCAL 716 HERE IN HOUSTON. I'M HERE TO URGE CONTINUED FUNDING FOR THE APPRENTICESHIP ADVANTAGE PROGRAM. THE SECRET IS KIND OF OUT NOW THAT THE SKILLED TRADES ARE A GOOD PATH TO A RELIABLE CAREER TO BE ABLE TO PROVIDE FOR YOURSELF AND YOUR FAMILY. THE SECRET IS NOT NECESSARILY OUT ABOUT HOW TO BEST GET INTO THE SKILLED TRADES. WITH UNION APPRENTICESHIPS LIKE THE ONE I'M IN, WE HAVE SCHEDULED RAISES THAT ARE GUARANTEED AS WE PROGRESS THROUGH THE PROGRAM. I GET HEALTH INSURANCE GUARANTEED FOR MYSELF AND MY FAMILY, PENSION, ALL KINDS OF BENEFITS. BUT WHAT A LOT OF PEOPLE WILL SEE INSTEAD IS BILLBOARDS, COMMERCIALS FOR TRADE SCHOOLS THAT COST TENS OF THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS. PEOPLE GO INTO STUDENT DEBT TO GO INTO THESE PROGRAMS THAT DON'T ACTUALLY SET THEM UP 
          ADEQUATELY FOR A CAREER. >> THANK YOU. YOUR TIME IS UP. 
          >> PLEASE CONTINUE THE PROGRAM. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. 
          >> THANK YOU. AND I REALLY ENJOYED VISITING -- ONE OF YOUR PROGRAMS. I KNOW THERE'S A LOT MORE. ACTUALLY, TWO. AND IT'S BEEN REALLY GREAT TO SEE WHAT YA'LL ARE DOING. THANK YOU. HOW FAR ALONG ARE YOU IN YOUR TRAINING? 
          >> I GOT SIX MONTHS LEFT. I GOT MY STATE LICENSE ALREADY, SO CLASS IS OVER IN JANUARY, AND THEN I'M DONE. 
          >> CONGRATULATIONS. >> THANK YOU. 
          >> GOOD AFTERNOON, JUDGE AND COMMISSIONERS. MY NAME IS PARKER DIAZ, WITH THE INTERNATIONAL UNION OF PAINTERS AND ALLIED TRADES. I'M A GLAZIER BY TRADE, AND I ALSO HAVE THE PRIVILEGE OF TEACHING THE NEXT TEAM OF APPRENTICES GLAZING SKILLS, THE SAFETY AND PRIDE THAT COMES WITH OUR WORK. I WANT TO TALK BRIEFLY ABOUT THE APPRENTICESHIP ADVANTAGE PROGRAM, PARTNER WITH THE GULF COAST LABOR FEDERATION. THE SUPPORT FOR APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAMS FOR THE UPPER FUNDS IS GIVING YOUNG PEOPLE A LEARN-WHILE-YOU-EARN WHILE BUILDING CAREERS AND STRONG FOUNDATIONS FOR THEIR FUTURES. THE WORK ISN'T JUST TEMPORARY, IT'S ABOUT BUILDING A SKILLED WORK FORCE THAT CAN MEET THE NEEDS OF HARRIS COUNTY FOR YEARS TO COME. I WANT TO TAKE A MOMENT TO THANK COMMISSIONER BRIONES , YOUR SUPPORT FOR THE ADVANTAGE PROGRAM HAS BEEN CRITICAL. SUPPORTING THE APRESENTICESHIP PROGRAM STRENGTHENS OUR LOCAL ECONOMY AND CREATES REAL PATHWAYS FOR SUCCESS. TOGETHER WE'RE INVESTING IN THE WORK 
          FORCE OF TOMORROW. >> THANK YOU. YOUR TIME IS UP. 
          THANK YOU. >> 
          >> GOOD AFTERNOON, COMMISSIONERS AND JUDGE. I'M RYAN SHULET, THE ELEVATOR CONSTRUCTORS, LOCAL 31. ON BEHALF OF OUR APPRENTICESHIP COMMITTEE, I WANT TO BEGIN BY THANKING YOU FOR YOUR ADVOCACY BY ESTABLISHING THE APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAM. THIS INVESTMENT IN WORKING FAMILIES IS TRULY UNPRECEDENTED, AND WE ARE GRATEFUL FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP. IN JUST TWO YEARS THIS PROGRAM HAS TRANSFORMED LIVES RIGHT HERE IN HARRIS COUNTY. AT LOCAL 31, WE'VE SEEN MEN AND WOMEN MOST WITH NO PRIOR EXPERIENCE ENTER OUR APPRENTICESHIP, LEARN WHILE THEY EARN AND GRADUATE INTO LONG-TERM FAMILY-SUSTAINING CAREERS AS HIGH-SKILLED ELEVATOR CONSTRUCTORS. THIS STRENGTHENS OUR WORK FORCE, REDUCES UNEMPLOYMENT AND ENSURES LOCAL CONTRACTORS AND BUSINESSES HAVE ACCESS TO THE SKILLED PROFESSIONALS THEY NEED TO GROW. THIS PROGRAM IS ACCOUNTABLE WITH INDEPENDENT EVALUATION AND IS FUNDED THROUGH AARPA DOLLARS THROUGH 2026. BUT IF WE WANT TO KEEP THIS MOMENTUM GOING, WE 
          [03:20:02]
MUST BEGIN ADVOCATING NOW. HARRIS COUNTY WILL NEED TO ACT. 
          >> THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU. 
          >> DIRECTOR, IS THIS ALREADY INCLUDED AS BEING PERMANENT IN 
          THE PROPOSED BUDGET? >> NO. IT'S STILL ARPA FUNDED. 
          >> OKAY. SO WE'D HAVE TO REDUCE SOMETHING ELSE IN ORDER TO MAKE 
          THIS RECURRING? >> FOR FISCAL YEAR '27. 
          >> HOW MUCH DOES THE PROGRAM COST ANNUALLY? 
          >> I DON'T HAVE THAT. >> IT'S $17 MILLION. 
          >> $17 MILLION. >> YEAH, $10.9 MILLION ARPA MONEY, AND WE ADDED SOME EXTRA, SO A TOTAL OF $17. 
          >> PER YEAR. SO IT'S A PRETTY BIG CHUNK OF CHANGE. OKAY. I JUST WANT TO, YOU KNOW, NOTE THE COSTS AND, YOU KNOW, THE FACT THAT THE REASON WE CAN'T AFFORD IS OBVIOUSLY THOSE -- THIS AND THAT THE FUNDING, A LOT OF THE FUNDING BEING PROPOSED IS NOT 
          GOING TO LAST UNTIL NEXT YEAR. >> THANK YOU. INGRID ROBINSON ON ITEMS 410 AND 411 OF PRECINCT 3. KENNETH LAWRENCE ON ITEM 410 OF PRECINCT 2. JENNIFER HERN AND EZ ON ITEM 410 OF PRECINCT 1, MARK GRADY ON ITEM 410 OF PRECINCT 2. 
          >> HOW MANY SPEAKERS DO WE HAVE, DO YOU KNOW? WHAT NUMBER ARE WE 
          ON? >> DID YOU HEAR THAT, TIFFANY? 
          >> YES, MA'AM. WE'RE ON NUMBER 155. 
          >> OKAY. THANK YOU. >> OKAY. ALL RIGHT. GO AHEAD, 
          SIR. >> GOOD AFTERNOON, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN. MY NAME IS KENNETH LAWRENCE, I AM REPRESENTING INTERNATIONAL UNION OF ELEVATOR CONSTRUCTORS APPRENTICE PROGRAM AT LOCAL 31 HOUSTON. I AM CURRENTLY AN APPRENTICE IN THIS PROGRAM. WITH THE APPRENTICE ADVANTAGE PROGRAM, WE GOT A WELDING TRAILER. IT IS MAKING OUR JOBS SO MUCH EASIER TO TRAIN ON SITE AND DO EVERYTHING THAT WE CAN DO, BUT WE -- PROGRAM WOULD BE ENCOURAGED TO KEEP THE SUPPORT FOR TEXAS WORK FORCES. 
          WE APPRECIATE THAT YOU GUYS ARE SUPPORTING US, BUT WE NEED TO KEEP THE SUPPORT BECAUSE IT MAKES US STRONGER, IT MAKES ALL OF TEXAS' WORK FORCE STRONGER WHEN WE CAN HAVE A PROGRAM WHERE WE CAN GO AND LEARN AND NOT HAVE TO PAY FOR IT. WE'RE LEARNING -- WE'RE PAYING FOR IT WITH OUR TAX DOLLARS AND WITH OUR WORK FORCE. I MEAN, YOU GUYS ARE DOING A WONDERFUL JOB. WE JUST WOULD GREATLY APPRECIATE IT IF YOU WOULD KEEP THE PROGRAM 
          GOING. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU SO MUCH. 
          >> THANK YOU FOR COMING DOWN AND APPRECIATE YOU ALL HOSTING SENATOR WHITEHOUSE. I THINK HE WAS IMMENSELY IMPRESSED. THANK 
          YOU. >> GOOD MORNING, JUDGE AND COMMISSIONERS. MY NAME IS MARK GRADY. IM THE BUSINESS AGENT FOR THE INTERNATIONAL LIGHTS OF THEATRICAL STAGE EMPLOYEES. WE TRAIN LIVE ENTERTAINMENT WORKERS, ALSO KNOWN AS THE STAGE HANDS THAT ARE THE BACKBONE OF THE THEATER AND CONVENTION COMMUNITIES HERE IN HARRIS COUNTY. WE HAVE DEVELOPED AN APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAM THAT IS GOING TO BE A DEPARTMENT OF LABOR APRESENTICESHIP PROGRAM. WE ARE THE SECOND IN THE COUNTRY TO DO THIS. WE ARE SETTING FORTH GROUNDWORK THAT WILL BE THE EXAMPLE FOR THE OTHER CITIES, COMMUNITIES TO FOLLOW IN OUR PATH. OUR WORKERS CREATE SAFE ENVIRONMENTS, DO EXTREMELY TECHNICAL THINGS. THEY CREATE -- THEY INSPIRE CREATIVITY, AND THEY ALSO GIVE PEOPLE THEIR HOPES AND DREAMS THAT ARE NOT ACHIEVED THROUGH COLLEGE AS A SECOND -- THIS IS A SECONDARY -- 
          >> THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. THANK YOU SO MUCH. 
          >> HI. GOOD AFTERNOON. MY NAME IS JENNIFER HERNANDEZ. I AM A BUSINESS REPRESENTATIVE FOR THE INTERNATIONAL UNION OF PAINTERS AND ALLIED, WE REPRESENT GLAZERS, DRYWALL. SO HERE TODAY, FIRST, I WANT TO START OFF BY EXWRESSING MY GRATITUDE TO COMMISSIONER BRIONES AND COMMISSIONERS COURT FOR YOUR INITIAL INVESTMENT IN YOUR APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAMS THROUGH THESE ARPA FUNDS. I KNOW ON A PERSONAL LEVEL, THESE APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAMS ARE LIFE CHANGING. I WOULDN'T BE WHERE I AM TODAY AS A SINGLE PARENT HAD IT NOT BEEN FOR MY UNION APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAM. SO I ENCOURAGE YOU ALL TO CONSIDER FUTURE FUNDING THROUGH ARPA FUNDS FOR APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAMS TO CONTINUE TO OFFER LIFE-CHANGING CAREER PATHS FOR OTHER FOLKS WITHIN OUR COMMUNITY THAT HELP TO REINVEST IN OUR 
          [03:25:03]
COMMUNITY AND BUILD UP OUR COMMUNITY. THANK YOU. 
          >> INGRID ROBINSON, CANDICE CASTILLO, AND GABRIEL BROWN. 
          >> HI. INGRID ROBINSON, PRESIDENT, CEO OF THE HOUSTON MINORITY SUPPLIER DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL. I WANTED TO SPEAK TO YOU TODAY IN SUPPORT OF THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT OFFICE, THE DEO OFFICE AND THE MWB PROGRAMS. I'M A PROUD RESIDENT OF PRECINCT 4, AND I WANT TO APPRECIATE COMMISSIONER BRIONES ' EFFORTS TOABLY THE MWB PROGRAM OUT INTO THE COMMUNITY THROUGH FAITH-BASED PROGRAMS, ESPECIALLY IN AREAS LIKE CHURCH WITHOUT WALLS WHICH IS MY CHURCH IN THAT AREA. AND I ALSO WANT TO THANK COMMISSIONER ELLIS FOR ALWAYS WORKING TO INCREASE NOT ONLY THE NUMBER OF OPPORTUNITIES BUT THE TYPE OF OPPORTUNITIES THAT ARE PROVIDED TO MWBES IN ORDER TO MAKE SURE THAT THERE'S FUNDING AND FOR TRAINING, DEVELOPMENT, HELPING THEM GET CERTIFIED, HELPING THEM TO BE ABLE TO UNDERSTAND HOW TO BID ON OPPORTUNITIES SO THAT THEY CAN BECOME SUCCESSFUL BIDDERS HERE AT THE COUNTY. SO I WOULD ASK THAT WE NOT CUT ANY ADDITIONAL FUNDING BECAUSE THESE ARE EMPLOYERS FOR -- 
          >> THANK YOU. YOUR TIME IS UP. >> THANK YOU, MA'AM. THANK YOU 
          SO MUCH. >> MY NAME IS CANDICE CASTILLO. 
          I SERVE AS EDUCATION ADMINISTRATOR FOR PIPEFITTERS LOCAL 211. WE PROUDLY TRAIN 500 APPRENTICES HERE IN HARRIS COUNTY. THE APPRENTICESHIP ADVANTAGE PROGRAM HAS FUNDED AND STRENGTH EBBED OUR PROGRAM IN CRITICAL WAYS FROM BUYING LARGE TICKET BEVELING MACHINE TO FREEING UP TIME FOR OUR WELDING APPRENTICES TO SPEND MORE TIME UNDER THE HOOD, TO PUTTING EXPENSIVE METERS AND HAND TOOLS IN OUR HVAC APPRENTICES' HANDS. 
          THERE'S A LARGE CALL RIGHT NOW FOR SKILLED TRADES, ONE THAT OUR LOCAL HAS STRUGGLED TO FILL. THESE TRAINING DOLLARS, PUTTING THIS MONEY IN RIGHT NOW WILL HELP US GROW EXPONENTIALLY WITH THE GRAIN AFFECT AND THE NEED FOR SKILLED WORKERS. THIS MONEY IS CRITICAL FOR US TO KEEP UP WITH THE NEED AND KEEP THESE WORKERS HIGHLY SKILLED AND TRAINED IN A PLACE WHERE THEY DON'T HAVE TO PAY A LOT OF MONEY TO GET AN EDUCATION. THANK 
          YOU. >> GOOD AFTERNOON, JUDGE AND COMMISSIONERS. THE GULF COAST AFL/CIO. WANTED TO THANK COMMISSIONER BRIONES AND THE COURT FOR YOUR $12.3 MILLION INVESTMENT IN THE APPRENTICE, THE ADVANTAGE PORTION OF THAT. 
          AS OUR PROGRAMS HAVE JUST HIGHLIGHTED, IT HAS ALLOWED US TO MAKE SMART INVESTMENTS IN ADVANCED EQUIPMENT,ORS AND RECRUITMENT THAT WE COULD NOT HAVE DONE OTHERWISE. AS THE VALUATION SUPPORT TODAY, WE MET AND IN MANY CASES EXCEEDED OUR DELIVERABLES, OUR SPEND SOMETHING ON TRACK. WE ARE BRINGING IN UNDERREPRESENTED GROUPS THAT TEND TO GET TRAPPED IN LOW-WAGE JOBS. OF THE 908 APPRENTICES THAT HAVE COME THROUGH THE PROGRAM, 62% ARE FROM MODERATE AND HIGH-VULNERABILITY FAMILIES, 64% ARE LATINO, AFRICAN AMERICAN PARTICIPATION HAS GROWN TO 18% OVER TWO YEARS. WOMEN MAKE UP 10%, FAR ABOVE THE INDUSTRY AVERAGE. IT'S DEBT-FREE TRAINING, FOLKS ARE GETTING ACCESS TO FAMILY-SUSTAINING 
          JOBS. >> THANK YOU, YOUR TIME IS UP. 
          >> WE ASK YOU TO CONTINUE TO SUPPORT. 
          >> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR WORK. IT'S HAVING AN INCREDIBLE IMPACT. LIVES ARE BEING CHANGED, HOUSEHOLDS ARE TAKING A WHOLE NEW DIRECTION ALL BECAUSE OF THE WORK YOU GUYS ARE DOING. SO 
          THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU. 
          >> OH, YES, COMMISSIONER ELLIS, GO AHEAD. 
          >> THANK YOU FOR COMING. I WAS WONDERING, WAS IT $17 MILLION 
          OVER THREE YEARS? >> IT'S $17 MILLION OVER THREE 
          YEARS, YEAH. >> I WANTED TO MAKE SURE WE 
          DIDN'T LOSE >> THAT INCLUDES ANOTHER PROGRAM THAT'S NOT OURS. BUT THE UNION PORTION IS $12.7 MILLION OVER 
          THREE YEARS. >> ALL ARPA. 
          >> WE THINK THOSE PROGRAMS TOGETHER ARE ABOUT $5.4 MILLION PER YEAR, AND THE REST ARE SET UP FOR AN EVALUATION. 
          >> QUESTION -- I DID HAVE A QUESTION FOR HANY. WHEN DID 
          THESE PROGRAMS START EXACTLY? >> I'LL HAVE TO GET BACK, JUDGE, BUT ONE MORE YEAR. IT'S THREE YEARS, AND THAT'S THROUGH 
          THE END OF NEXT FISCAL YEAR. >> YEAH. SO IT WOULD HAVE BEEN 
          -- >> LAST YEAR WOULD HAVE BEEN THE FIRST YEAR, THIS IS THE SECOND YEAR, AND NEXT YEAR -- 
          >> AND PRESUMABLY IT WAS AWARDED BEFORE THAT. 
          >> YES. >> AND DESIGNED BEFORE THAT. 
          >> MY TEAM WORKED REALLY HARD ON THIS. 
          >> YES, THEY WERE. >> THERE WERE SOME OF US THAT WEREN'T HERE WHEN IT STARTED. MY POINT WAS, AND MY QUESTION WAS THIS SITUATION IS ONLY GOING TO GET WORSE BECAUSE THERE'S 
          [03:30:04]
ABOUT OVER $60 MILLION IN FUNDING HERE THAT IS ONE-TIME FUNDING THAT WE'RE NOT GOING TO HAVE NEXT YEAR. AND OBVIOUSLY -- I MEAN, YOU DON'T HAVE TO SELL ME ON THE PROGRAM. THAT'S THE REASON I BROUGHT UP, THIS IS SOMETHING THAT THE TEAM WORKED VERY, VERY HARD ON SEVERAL YEARS AGO. AND I REALLY LOVED VISITING THE PROGRAMS. I MEAN, I SAW THE EQUIPMENT THAT THE APPRENTICES USE, AND I HEARD FROM THEM. AND THEY EXPLAINED HOW IMPORTANT IT IS TO HAVE THAT AND HOW THEY WOULDN'T HAVE THAT OTHERWISE. 
          AND I UNDERSTAND THAT EVERYBODY NEEDS TO ADVOCATE FOR THEIR OWN PIECE OF THINGS. BUT I WONDER, I WONDER IF IT MAKES SENSE -- IF IT WOULD FURTHER ADVANCE THE PEOPLE YOU REPRESENT TO ALSO ADVOCATE FOR RESPONSIBLE BUDGETING AND FOR EARLY CHILDHOOD SO THESE FOLKS CAN GO DO THE APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAM AND BE ABLE TO LEAVE THEIR KIDS SOMEWHERE. MAYBE YOU'LL GET IT IN THE BUDGET THIS YEAR. BUT IF THIS IS THE ONLY THING YOU GUYS ARE THINKING ABOUT, IT'S GOING TO BE EVEN WORSE NEXT YEAR. SO ANYWAY, PLEASE FEEL FREE TO RESPOND, OFFER IT MORE AS SOMETHING I SUGGEST MAYBE YOU GUYS CONSIDER BECAUSE YOUR VOICE 
          CARRIES A LOT OF WEIGHT. >> APPRECIATE THAT. LOOK, WE'RE IN FAVOR OF A FAIR BUDGET THAT BENEFITS WORKING PEOPLE IN THIS COUNTY, AND THAT GIVES ACCESS TO GROWING OPPORTUNITIES AND THAT HAS DATA SHOWING THAT IT'S A SOLID SUCCESS. AND I CAN SPEAK TO YOU ABOUT THE PROGRAM THAT WE HAVE BEEN DOING WITH OUR APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAMS. AND I THINK ALL INDICATIONS ARE THAT THAT'S THE CASE. SO WE'RE ABSOLUTELY IN FAVOR OF THAT, BUT WE HAVE COME BEFORE YOU, AS YOU KNOW, AND SUPPORTED MANY DIFFERENT PROGRAMS TO BENEFIT WORKING PEOPLE LIKE THE HEALTH AND SAFETY CONTRACTOR POLICY, FOR INSTANCE HERE. THERE ARE MANY TOOLS THAT THE COUNTY HAS TO ENSURE THAT WORKING PEOPLE GET A FAIR SHAKE AND GET OPPORTUNITIES, AND THAT'S WHAT WE'RE -- THAT'S WHAT WE'RE ADVOCATING FOR. 
          >> AND WHAT'S YOUR POSITION ON THE $100 MILLION RAISE WITHOUT 
          GOING TO THE VOTERS? >> WE HAVE NOT TAKEN A POSITION 
          ON THAT. >> OKAY. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. 
          >> THANKS FOR COMING DOWN. AND THIS WAS A WELL-FUNDED ARPA INITIATIVE, AND IT WAS ONE OF THOSE PROGRAMS THAT ARPA WAS ALWAYS INTENDED TO HELP DEMONSTRATE SUCCESS IN HOPES THAT WE COULD FIND SOME RESOURCES ELSEWHERE. SO THANK 
          YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP. >> THANK YOU SO MUCH. 
          >> I GOT THE DETAILS HERE. THE PROGRAM DATES ARE FROM JANUARY 2023 TO OCTOBER 2026. SO THOSE OF US THAT WERE ONLY ELECTED AT THE END OF 2022 I JUST THINK -- YOU KNOW, ELECTION SEASON IS COMING UP, AND THIS IS THE TIME TO HOLD PEOPLE ACCOUNTABLE INSTEAD OF PRAISING PEOPLE THAT WEREN'T EVEN HERE WHEN THIS 
          STARTED. >> WE SIGNED OUR CONTRACT IN 
          FEBRUARY OF 2023. >> RIGHT. SO NOBODY COULD HAVE WORKED ON THAT, MADE THIS PROGRAM HAPPEN OR DESIGNED IT MAGICALLY IN TWO MONTHS. IMPOSSIBLE. 
          >> OKAY. OR ONE MONTH. I DON'T KNOW. IS THAT HOW IT WORKS? LIKE, DO PROGRAMS GET DESIGNED AND VOTED IN JUST JANUARY? 
          >> I'M SORRY. WHAT'S THE QUESTION, JUDGE? 
          >> IS JUST ABOUT THE APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAM, WHEN DID 
          IT COME ABOUT? >> I ALSO HAVE HERE THAT THE CONTRACT DATE, IT WAS AWARDED IN FEBRUARY OF 2023. SO LIKE MANY PROGRAMS, THERE WAS WORK AHEAD OF TIME. THERE WAS A PROCESS. I 
          DON'T HAVE THE DATES EXACTLY. >> YES. 
          >> I DON'T KNOW WHEN IT STARTED. 
          >> THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. I THINK I'VE BEEN PRETTY QUIET TODAY. I THINK THE SYSTEM, COLLEAGUES, HAS BEEN DESIGNED TO PIT US AGAINST ONE ANOTHER. WHEN THE STATE PASSED ITS REVENUE CAPS WHICH SAID YOU CAN ONLY TAKE 3.5% OF THE GROWTH WHICH THEY DIDN'T PUT ON THEMSELVES -- 
          >> UH-HUH. >> -- THEY FUNDED WITH SALES TAX. THERE'S NO CAP. SAYS YOU CAN ONLY DO -- TAKE 3.5% GROWTH ON SALES TAX. YOU CAN SAY, STATE, I'LL STOP THAT. GIVE THAT TO THE COUNTIES AND CITIES. I QUOTED THE LANGUAGE BEFORE THAT JUDGE EMMETT. HE CALLED IT SNAKE OIL WHEN IT PASSED. WHAT THEY'RE TRYING TO DO IS STRANGLE LOCAL GOVERNMENTS, NOT JUST THIS ONE. AND THEN THEY PUT A SYSTEM IN PLACE THAT SAYS IF YOU WANT TO GO ABOVE THAT, YOU HAVE TO GO TO THE VOTERS. IT IS NOT AN EASY THING TO GO AND DO THAT. I GET IT, FROM ALL OF US. 
          BUT I WANT TO JUST SAY DON'T LET THEM WIN BY PITTING US AGAINST ONE ANOTHER. I GET IT ON ALL SIDES. YOU KNOW, FOLKS COME 
          [03:35:04]
IN, AND THEY ASK ABOUT THE PROGRAM. EVERYBODY. I GET IT. 
          AND THEN THEY GO TO THE BROADER ISSUE. BUT I'M JUST TELLING YOU, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO CHANGE OUR WAY AT LOOKING AT THINGS. WE HAVE TO OPERATE UNDER THE RULES THAT WE'RE GIVEN. 
          TRUST ME. I KNOW IT. I MEAN, FROM THE COMMUNITY WHICH I COME FROM, I GET IT. THERE ARE A LOT OF THINGS I FEEL MAY NOT HAVE BEEN UNFAIR, BUT I GOT TO WORK THROUGH THAT SYSTEM. SO I WOULD JUST ENCOURAGE ALL OF US, ALTHOUGH THERE IS A TEMPTATION, THE RULES IN PLACE, WE HAVE TO LIVE UNDER THEM. SO JUST DON'T LET THEM WIN BY PITTING US AGAINST ONE ANOTHER. 
          >> YEAH. >> APPRECIATE THAT, COMMISSIONER. IN THE LETTER WE SENT A WHILE BACK -- 
          >> I'M NOT TALKING YOUR ISSUE. I'M GIVING A BROADER DISCUSSION. SO DON'T TAKE IT PERSONAL. 
          >> I'M NOT TAKING ANYTHING PERSONAL. 
          >> THANK YOU. >> LET'S ALSO ADD IN THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT'S CUTS AS WELL THAT HAVE HAD A MAIN IMPACT 
          ON THE COUNTY. >> I WANT TO THROW THEM IN AT ONE TIME. I DON'T WANT TO OFFEND ANYBODY. I KNOW THE FIVE OF US AT SOME POINT. 50E67 OF US IS GOING TO VOTE ON UR CONVICTIONS. ONE THING I'VE LEARNED IN 42 YEARS OF POLITICS, IF I GOT ANGRY BECAUSE SOMEBODY LOST MY BILL UP IN AUSTIN, I'D WALK AROUND SLAPPING PEOPLE ALL DAY. SO IF SOMEBODY DOESN'T AGREE WITH MY POSITION ON THE BUDGET, I'LL TELLING YOU, GET OVER IT. AND IF I DON'T AGREE WITH YOURS, I TELL MYSELF, GET OVER IT AND GO ON TO THE NEXT ISSUE. 
          >> YEAH. >> AGREED. 
          >> THAT'S RIGHT. >> AGREED. THANK YOU SO MUCH. 
          >> THANK YOU. YES. AGREED, COMMISSIONER. 
          >> GOOD AFTERNOON. I'M GABRIEL BROWN, AND I'M HERE ON BEHALF OF PRECINCT 4 AND THE THOUSANDS OF STUDENTS WHO ARE POSITIVELY IMPACTED BY THE SIDEWALK PROJECT.  COMMISSIONER BRIONES HAD LED THE CHANGE OF 50 MILES OF SIDEWALKS, SENDING A RESOUNDING MESSAGE TO EVERYONE THAT WE ARE ACTUALLY BEING HEARD. COUNTLESS PEOPLE HAD THEIR LIVES CHANGED DUE TO THIS VERY PROJECT, AND STUDENTS AND FAMILIES WENT FROM WALKING ON ROADS IN MUD AND BEING SAFER IN THEIR ENVIRONMENTS AND ALSO HAVING HOPE FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS OF PEOPLE WHO WILL BE WALKING WITHIN OUR COMMUNITY. I NO LONGER HAVE TO LIVE WITH THE FEAR OF CONSTANT WATCHING PEOPLE BECOME ANOTHER TRAGIC STATISTIC. ADDITIONALLY, I'D LIKE TO MAKE THE POINT THAT WHEN WE NEGATIVE INFRASTRUCTURE, THAT BECOMES A PROBLEM WITH CRIME WHERE THESE BACK WAYS WE USE TO AVOID DANGEROUS ROADS BECOME HOT SPOTS FOR CRIME WHICH IS WHY IT'S OUR OBLIGATION TO CONTINUE TO SUPPORT PROJECTS LIKE THESE, NOT ONLY FOR BIKE RIDERS OR WALKERS OR ANYONE BUT FOR THE STUDENTS. IT IS ESSENTIAL WE 
          CONTINUE. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU. 
          >> GO AHEAD. >> DISTRICT CLARK MARILYN BURGESS ON ITEM 474, ACKNOWLEDGE SPEAKER SHIRLEY CARNEY, SPEAKER 
          BARRAGE COULDLONI. >> I THINK THE CLERK AGREED TO COME AFTER THE BREAK. SO OBVIOUSLY IF SHE GETS HERE NOW, WE'LL TAKE HER UP, BUT MY UNDERSTANDING IS SHE'S GOING TO COME AFTER THE BREAK. PLEASE CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG, FOLKS. 
          ALL RIGHT. GO AHEAD TO THE SPEAKERS. THANK YOU. 
          >> GOOD AFTERNOON, COMMISSIONERS AND JUDGE. MY NAME IS SHIRLEY CARNEY. MY ORIGINAL THOUGHT AND MESSAGE WHEN I GOT HERE, I WAS JUST ONLY GOING TO BE ON BEHALF OF THE POOR AND NEEDY SUCH AS RICHARD. BUT WHEN I GOT HERE, ALL OF THE -- I DON'T KNOW IF I WANT TO CALL IT DISCRIMINATORY MESSAGE OR WHETHER IT'S BICKERING BACK AND FORTH, BUT HERE'S ONE THING I DO NEED YOU TO DO IS TO COORDINATE TRANSPORTATION ON THE CELL TOWERS, ITS INFRASTRUCTURE SO IT WILL SOLIDIFY US TO GET MORE COUNTY DOLLARS. JUST TRUST ME ON IT. AND, YES, WE ARE RISING IN THE COUNTY POVERTY RATE WHERE THERE'S 12 OTHERS, WE'RE AT 15, 15.3. THERE ARE MANY THINGS, REIMBURSEMENT -- 
          >> THANK YOU. YOUR TIME IS UP. >> OKAY. THERE YOU GO. 
          >> THANK YOU, MA'AM. >> GOOD AFTERNOON, JUDGE. THANK YOU, COMMISSIONERS. APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK IN FRONT OF YOU GUYS. MY NAME IS BARRAGE COLONY, A HARRIS COUNTY BUSINESS OWNER. AND RECENTLY, A YEAR AND A HALF AGO WE STARTED SUPPLYING INMATE CLOTHING AND ACCUARIES TO ACROSS VARIOUS 
          [03:40:02]
COUNTIES. I WAS LOOKING AT THE PAST DATA, AND I AM BAFFLED BY THE AMOUNT OF MONEY THAT WE SPEND INTO OUR PRISONS JUST ON THESE INMATE CLOTHINGS. SO WHAT WE DID, WHAT I SPECIFICALLY DID WAS TOOK LAST YEAR'S BID, AND I BID 18% TO 20% LOWER SO THESE EXPENSES REACH THE COUNTY. HOWEVER THEY TRY IS INEV TAN, AND THESE EXPENSES ARE GOING TO GO IN EFFECT IN THE FUTURE BECAUSE OF ALL THE TARIFFS THAT ARE KICKING IN. WHAT WE'VE DONE AS A LOCAL BUSINESS IS TRY TO BRING DOWN THE COSTS FOR THIS COUNTY. I AS A BUSINESS HAVE BEEN SUPPLYING TO A LOT OF DETENTION CENTERS AND RECENTLY WITH TARRANT COUNTY, AND I DON'T KNOW HOW I FEEL ABOUT THE FACT -- 
          >> YOUR TIME IS UP. >> THANK YOU, SIR. 
          >> NO MATTER WHAT COMES TO YOU ON YOUR TABLE, PLEASE HAVE THIS 
          IN CONSIDERATION. >> THANK YOU. 
          >> SPEAKER TERRELL STODDARD, CYNTHIA COLLINS, JOSHUA GREEN, KELA TREVINO, NE ANDRA BOYD . JASMINE MARTIN AND CATO WOODARD 
          AND CATO WOODARD SR. >> COMMISSIONERS AND J. MY NAME IS JOSHUA GREEN AND LIVE IN MEMORIAL PARKWAY IN HARRIS COUNTY PRECINCT 4. I AM HERE TODAY TO DEMAND OVERSIGHT, INVESTIGATION AND ACCOUNTABILITY FOR OUR HOA BOARD. IF YOU LOOK INTO THIS, I BELIEVE YOU WILL UNCOVER YEARS OF ONGOING CRIMINAL INTENT. FIRST, A BOARD MEMBER HAS MULTIPLE COMPANIES LIFTED ON HIS LINKEDIN PROFILE. EVERY ONE OF THEM DOES BUSINESS WITH OUR HOA. THIS CLEAR CONFLICT OF INTEREST VIOLATES OUR BYLAWS AND HAS NEVER BEEN EXPOSED TO HOMEOWNERS. SECOND, ANOTHER BOARD MEMBER'S SPOUSE CREATED AN LLC FOR THE SWIM TEAM, FUNNELED MONEY THROUGH IT FOR YEARS AND THEN SHUT IT DOWN WITH ZERO FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE, YET THE TEAM CONTINUES TO OPERATE. THIRD, OUR HOA EMPLOYEES RAN THEIR OWN COMPANY OUT OF OUR OFFICE, USING OUR PAYROLL HOURS, EQUIPMENT AND FACILITIES. THEY WERE SO BUSY WITH IT THAT WE HAD TO HIRE EXTRA STAFF. HOMEOWNERS MOST LIKELY FUNDED PART OF THEIR STARTUP COSTS. THESE ARE NOT MISTAKES, THESE ARE DELIBERATE VIOLATIONS OF DUTY OF CARE, LOYALTY AND GOOD FAITH. 
          >> THANK YOU. YOUR TIME IS UP. >> COMMISSIONERS, I'M ASKING 
          YOU TO HOLD THEM ACCOUNTABLE. >> THANK YOU. 
          >> JUDGE, IF NO OTHER SPEAKERS ARE COMING DOWN, THEN THAT'S 
          ALL WE HAVE. >> ALL RIGHT. ANY OTHER SPEAKERS THAT HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO SPEAK YET? LAST CALL FOR SPEAKERS. 
          [Departments (Part 2 of 3)]
OKAY, COLLEAGUES. SO WE CAN DO A DISCUSSION LIST REAL QUICK. 
          YEAH. >> I WAS JUST GOING TO SAY, WE HAVE A SHORT LIST ITEMS, IMPORTANT ITEMS TO BRING UP. 
          WOULD YOU LIKE TO JUST KICK OUT THE CONSENT AGENDA? 
          >> I REALLY DO WANT TO GO OVER THAT, YEAH, JUST REAL QUICK SO WE KNOW WHAT WE'RE GOING TO DISCUSS WHEN WE COME BACK. 
          >> AND VOTE ON IT. WE JUST VOTE ON IT. 
          >> SURE. IT'LL BE REALLY FAST. SO CORRECTION ITEM 72, WE'RE REPLACING -- AND THANK YOU, EVERYONE, WHO CAME. THANK YOU. 
          IT WAS WONDERFUL TO HEAR EVERYBODY'S PERSPECTIVE. ITEM 72, 15602 1/2 WOULD LEND HILLS DRIVE SHOULD READ 15541 1/2 WOODLAND HILLS DRIVE, AND THEN ITEM 20, IT SHOULD SAY THAT WE SHOULD ADD A MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING WITH THE HARRIS COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE AFTER CONSTABLE PRECINCTS. ITEM 129, WE NEED TO REPLACE APPLICATION REPAIR REPLACE PROJECT WITH NETWORKING REPAIR AND REPLACE PROJECT. ITEM 139, UNIVERSAL SERVICES REQUESTS NO ACTION. ITEM 163, WE REPLACE $5 MILLION,846,079.40 WITH $5,846 -- HUH. CAN SOMEBODY REVIEW THIS ONE? I THINK THERE'S A TYPO IN MY -- I'LL LET YOU -- YEAH. 
          >> YES. I BELIEVE IT WAS CHANGED FROM $5,846,000 IT HAD AT 79.40 AND CHANGE IT TO $5,4790 WITH 40ENT CS. 
          >> GOT IT. OKAY. THANK YOU. 209, WE REMOVED THE WORD BEING AFTER SENATE BILL 293. ITEM 241, WE REPLACED DECEMBER 30TH, 2025, WITH DECEMBER 31ST, 2025. AND THEN ITEM 430 WE REPLACED COMMISSIONER OF PRECINCT 2 WITH COMMISSIONERS OF PRECINCT 2 AND 
          [03:45:04]
4. ITEM 456, WE REPLACED AND/OR ENGINEERING SERVICES TO PROVIDE DESIGN SERVICES AND CONSTRUCTION SERVICES OF THE DEVELOPMENT OF REMEMBRANCE PARK, ET CETERA, WITH SERVICES IN CONNECTION WITH CONNECTIVITY PROJECT REMEMBRANCE AREA, 2025UPIN2501MF3, PRECINCT 1 CONTRACTED GOAL 7.78%. AND THEN ITEM 457 WE'RE REPLACING ARCHITECTURAL AND/OR ENGINEERING SERVICES TO PROVIDE DESIGN SERVICES, ET CETERA, WITH INCONNECTION WITH CONNECTIVITY PROJECT/REMEMBRANCE AREA, 25101MF3TH01 PRECINCT 1, MWBE CONTRACTED GOAL OF 9.75%. ITEM 464, PURCHASING REQUESTS, NO ACTION. ITEM -- 485 IS THE LAST ONE, SO WE'RE GOING TO ADD THE WORD VALENCIA AFTER THE WORD ANIYA. SO IT SHOULD SAY REN ALDO RAY ANIYA VALENCIA. AM I MISSING ANY CORRECTION? 
          >> JUDGE, JUST TO VERIFY, IT SHOULD HAVE -- 209, IT SHOULD 
          HAVE BEEN 203. >> OKAY. 
          >> THE ITEM FOR THE CHANGE. >> OKAY. SO INSTEAD OF 209, IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN 203, CORRECT. THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT. AND THEN AS FAR AS THE DISCUSSION ITEMS, DO FOLKS NEED TO DISCUSS ITEM 428, VALID NOMINEE TO THE HARRIS COUNTY AFRICAN AMERICAN CULTURAL HERITAGE COMMISSION? WHAT ABOUT NOMINEE FOR INDUSTRIAL 
          DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION BOARD? >> NOPE. 
          >> CHAIR OF THE COUNTY SPORTS AUTHORITY. 
          >> NOPE. >> AND THEN SPORTS AUTHORITY 
          BOARD OF DIRECTORS? >> NO. 
          >> 432, RESOURCES FOR CHILDREN AND ADULTS 
          >> NO. >> APPOINTMENT TO THE LGBTQ IA 
          COMMISSION. >> NOPE. WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO VOTE ON 434, SO I'LL LEAVE IT THERE. 
          >> SO MOVE. >> I THINK WE NEED TO -- WE NEED TO TALK ABOUT IT BECAUSE IT'S ABOUT THE DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC 
          HEALTH RATE. >> WE PLEASE NEED TO TALK ABOUT 
          IT. >> I'M GOING TO LEAVE THAT THERE. 435, WE NEED TO GO BACK TO TALK ABOUT EXECUTIVE SESSION. 
          SO THE EXECUTIVE SESSION AGENDA IS COMPRISED OF TWO ITEMS, 434 AND 435. THE REGULAR AGENDA. LET'S JUST GO THROUGH AND TAKE OFF THE ONES WE DO NOT WANT TO DISCUSS, AND THEN WE CAN COME BACK AND VOTE IF NEEDED. ITEM 3, THIS IS A SUCCESSION POSITION. I BELIEVE WE DO NEED TO DISCUSS THAT ONE FOR ECONOMIC EQUITY AND OPPORTUNITY. OKAY. ITEM 4, REQUEST TO USE A P CARD. 
          >> YES. >> ITEM 7, FISCAL YEAR 2026 BUDGET, THAT'S WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT. 13, P CARD FOR VARIOUS COUNTY FUNCTIONS, EVENTS, MEETINGS, PRESENTATIONS. 
          COMMISSIONER RAMSEY, ITEM 13. ITEM 29, INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT WITH THE CITY OF LAPORTE. COMMISSIONER GARCIA. 
          >> YES. EXCUSE ME, JUDGE, IF YOU COULD BACK UP AND PUT 76 FOR 
          DISCUSSION. >> OKAY. JUST A MOMENT, PLEASE. 
          SO 76 IS AN APPROVAL OF A PLAT, IS THAT RIGHT, COMMISSIONER? 
          >> YES. >> SO I AM ADDING 76 TO THE 
          DISCUSSION LIST. >> AND 123. 
          >> ITEM NUMBER 
          >>> COMMISSIONER RAMSEY , 152 P CARD COMMUNITY-BASED EVENTS, 156 HARRIS COUNTY LAND BANK AGREEMENT COMMISSIONER GARCIA. 185 INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT WITH HARRIS CENTER FOR MENTAL HEALTH AND IDD, TWO OR FOUR VARIOUS OUT OF TEXAS TRAVEL TRAINING REQUESTS, EXCUSE ME, 205, OTHER TRAINING REQUEST. 
          >> I'M SORRY. >> 204 AND 205. 
          >> 217 GRANTS FROM THE HOUSTON GALVESTON AREA COUNCIL. 
          COMMISSIONER GARCIA YOU FLAGGED THAT ONE FOR THE SOUTH BELT LOUISVILLE CENTER STUDY, 251 COUNTY ADMINISTRATION TO USE HARRIS COUNTY GENERAL FUND DOLLARS TO COVER GRANT EXPENSES, 256 AUDITOR SELECTED BY PRECINCT TO. 
          >> I WANT TO TALK ABOUT THE MOLD ISSUE, IS THAT NUMBER 300? OR 
          [03:50:04]
          303? >> THIS IS A SAFETY INSPECTION. 
          >> ENGINEERING SAID 303 SO I WILL LET 300 GO. 
          >> I WILL PUT 303 ON. INSTEAD OF 300. FROM 256 ABOUT THE AUDITOR WE GO TO 302. COMMISSIONER GARCIA THAN 303 ABOUT THE MOLD ISSUE AND 352, THIS IS THE, WE CAN VOTE ON THAT ONE 
          >> MOTION AND SECONDED. ALL IN FAVOR? ANY OPPOSED? THE MOTION 
          CARRIES 4-1. >> STILL WANTS DISCUSSION? GOT 
          IT. 367? ALL RIGHT. 368. >> YES. 
          >> 408. FLOOD CONTROL DISTRICT MAINTENANCE PROGRAM. THAT IS COMMISSIONER GARCIA 409? COMMISSIONER ELLIS? OKAY. 410? 
          >> I AM SORRY GEORGE BACK UP TO 393? 
          >> JUST A MOMENT. >> THIS IS TRANSMITTAL OF CLASSIFICATIONS. 393 IS NOW ON THE DISCUSSION AGENDA SO WE ARE LOOKING AT ITEM 368, THEN THREE ITEM 393 , FOLLOWED BY ITEM 408 TRANSMITTAL OF UPDATE ON THE MAINTENANCE PROGRAM. 
          >> HOLD 408. >> YES 408 FLOOD CONTROL MAINTENANCE, 409, 410 COMMISSIONER , 445? POLLING LOCATIONS YES AND 474 YES. 471, THAT IS COMMISSIONER ELLIS, THESE ARE THE RESOLUTIONS , 478 IS MINE , 479 WOMEN'S EQUALITY. 
          480 IS EA BUDDY , 481 LUNAR ROUND OF YOU, COMMISSIONER RAMSEY, 43 ALMOST DONE HERE KINGWOOD HIGH SCHOOL AGAIN. SO ONE IS 2025, I GUESS THEY ARE RELATED . SO WE WILL TAKE THEM BOTH. 484, COMMISSIONER OKAY. GOT IT, OKAY I SEE. AND THEN 485, COMMISSIONER , COMMISSIONER BRIONES. 
          >> JUDGE I DID NOT HEAR ITEM NUMBER ONE ALSO PUT THAT UP FOR 
          DISCUSSION. >> ITEM NUMBER ONE. 
          >> ITEM 1 AND TWO REQUEST FOR IT TO BE APPROVED AS PRESENTED SO YOU WOULD LIKE TO DISCUSS THOSE? 
          >> I WOULD LIKE TO DISCUSS WHAT ITEM 1. 
          >> LET ME PUT THIS ON THE DISCUSSION LIST. SO WHAT WE HAVE 
          IS, YOU KNOW. >> ITEM 2 ALL THE JUDGES AND SALARY ITEMS SHOULD BE FITTING TOGETHER. 
          >> WHICH ? >> ITEMS ONE AND TWO. 
          >> DOESN'T TWO NEED 202, TWO OR THREE AND 475? 
          >> WE WILL DO THAT WHEN WE GET THERE. TO GO BACK OVER THE LIST WE HAVE ITEMS ONE, TWO, THREE, THREE, SEVEN, 13, 29, 53, 76 , 123 152 156 160, 185, 204, 202 AND 203. 
          >> WHAT ARE THOSE DIRECTOR? >> THE JUDGE'S SALARIES. 
          >> ADDING 202 AND 203 203 WE'RE LOOKING AT ITEM 185 FOLLOWED BY 202 AND 203 AND THEN 204. 205, 273 , 251, 256 302, 303 , 352 , 367 , 368, 393 408, 409, 410, 445, 474 , 471, THESE ARE THE 
          [03:55:08]
          RESOLUTIONS, 478. >> 475. 
          >> 479, 480. OKAY FOR 75 YOU SAID? ALL RIGHT. WE WILL ADD FOR 75 WHICH IS ON THE JUDGE'S SALARIES, AS WELL. OKAY. SO THAT MEANS WE HAVE 471 . 474, 475, 478, 479, 480 , 481, 482, 483, 484 AND 485 DOES THAT SOUND GOOD? 
          >> JUDGE I THINK THERE WAS A VOTE TAKEN ON 352 SO THAT DOES 
          NOT NEED TO GO BACK. >> I STILL WANTED. 
          >> ALL RIGHT SO THAT SHOULD BE IT, 208, LET'S BREAK UNTIL 3:00 AND WE WILL GO WITH DISCUSSION. 
          >> MOVED TO CONSENT AGENDA. >> SO MOVED. 
          >> GOOD THINKING. IS THERE A MOTION FOR ALL ITEMS ONE THROUGH 45 WITH THE EXCEPTION OF ITEMS ALREADY VOTED ON AND DISCUSSION ITEMS LISTED MOTION BY COMMISSIONER ELLIS SECOND BY COMMISSIONER GARCIA. ANY OPPOSED? THE MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY. THANK YOU, THANK YOU GUYS. 
          >> JUDGE I'M SORRY. >> WE NEED TO ANNOUNCE THE TIME. 
          >> I THOUGHT I SAID THAT. IT IS 
          >> ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR PATIENCE AT 3:22 COMMISSIONERS COURT IS BACK IN SESSION. WE WILL MOVE OVER TO 
          [Emergency/Supplemental Items (Part 1 of 2)]
RESOLUTIONS AND CONTINUE WITH DISCUSSION. SO, THE FIRST ITEM IS AS PROMISED THE DISTRICT CLERK'S ITEM. AND SO I WILL 
          WELCOME CLERK BURGESS. >> GOOD AFTERNOON MEMBERS OF THE COURT I AM HARRIS COUNTY DISTRICT CLERK MARILYN BURGESS, WHEN CENTERVILLE NINE FIRST CAME ON OUR RADAR WE ASSUMED IT WAS SOMETHING FELONY JUDGES WOULD HAVE TO DEAL WITH AND NOT AFFECT US THAT MUCH, BUT LIKE MANY UNFUNDED LEGISLATIVE MANDATES IMPLEMENTATION FALLS LARGELY ON THE CLERK. WITH CENTERVILLE NINE THERE ARE FOUR OFFENSES THAT REQUIRE BUILDING SET BY THE STATUTORY JUDGE NOT THE MAGISTRATE, THEY ARE MURDER, CAPITAL MURDER, AGGRAVATED KIDNAPPING AND AGGRAVATED SEXUAL ASSAULT. ADDITIONALLY WHEN AN INDIVIDUAL HAS BEEN CONVICTED OF TWO PRIOR FELONIES, HAS IMMIGRATION HOLD OR SUBJECT TO REVOCATION OF BALE IN COMMUNITY SUPERVISION OR PAROLE THE STATUTORY JUDGE HAS TO SET THE BAIL AMOUNT, THE DA PREDICTS 40% OF ALL FELONY CASES WILL FALL UNDER THE REQUIREMENTS OF THIS BILL. AS ALL THIS HAS BEEN DONE WITHIN 48 HOURS OF ARREST CHANGES HAVE TO BE MADE TO COVER THIS ON WEEKENDS AND HOLIDAYS, FOR CASES THAT FALL UNDER THESE REQUIREMENTS THE CLERK WILL HAVE TO PUT THEM ON THE MAGISTRATE DOCKET AND PUT THEM ON THE STATUTORY JUDGE DOCKET FOR BILL REVIEW, THE CLERK WILL HAVE TO NOTIFY OUTSIDE COUNTIES WHERE THE ACCUSED OR WHEN THE ACCUSED HAS A PENDING FELONY CASE IN ANOTHER COUNTY. ADDITIONALLY, THE PSR WHICH IS HANDED TO THE MAGISTRATE AND PAPER, BY PRETRIAL SERVICES AS TO BE MADE AVAILABLE TO THE STATUTORY JUDGE, THIS FORM IS NOT ALLOWED TO BE TRANSMITTED ELECTRONICALLY VIA EMAIL THEREFORE THERE HAS TO BE A CLERK ON-SITE ON WEEKENDS AND HOLIDAYS TO IMAGE AND UPLOAD THE PSR FOR JUDGE REFERENCE AND TO MOVE ITEMS TO THE JUDGE READY FOR JUDGE PAGE AND TO INPUT THE JUDGE'S DECISION. ALL OF THIS WHILE THE REGULAR DOCKET BEFORE THE MAGISTRATE IS PROCEEDING SO THE EXISTING COURT CLERK FOR THE MAGISTRATE CANNOT DO THESE NEW DUTIES. ADDITIONALLY OUR I.T. 
          TEAM HAS TO DO PROGRAMMING UNDER WARP SPEED IN ORDER TO MAKE ALL OF THIS POSSIBLE BY SEPTEMBER 1. STATUTORY COURT CLERK HANDLES THIS DURING THE REGULAR WORK HOURS, BUT ADDITIONAL STAFF PERSON WILL BE REQUIRED TO WORK ON HOLIDAYS AND WEEKENDS TO DO THE WORK TO GET THE INFORMATION BEFORE THE ASSIGNED JUDGE TO MAKE A RULING BY 9:00 A.M. EVERY MORNING. THAT REQUIRES AN ADDITIONAL TEAM MEMBER ASSIGNED TO THE DISTRICT CLERK PROBABLE CAUSE COURT TEAM FOR ALL THREE SHIFTS ON WEEKENDS AND HOLIDAYS. 
          [04:00:03]
WE ONLY LEARNED OF THE ROLE THE DISTRICT CLERK'S OFFICE WOULD HAVE TO PLAY LAST MONDAY, WE IMMEDIATELY STARTED PUTTING TOGETHER AN AGENDA ITEM FOR TODAY'S COURT, ALL OF THIS HAS TO TAKE EFFECT DECEMBER 1, THE FIRST IS A HOLIDAY SO IT WOULD REQUIRE ADDITIONAL FUNDING FOR TWO SHIFTS THAT WILL BE PAID SEPTEMBER 12, THE FIRST WEEKEND IS THE FIFTH, SIXTH AND SEVENTH PAID ON SEPTEMBER 26. SO THERE WERE ONLY FOUR DAYS IN FISCAL 25 AT ISSUES ONLY $3312 IS BEING REQUESTED FOR CURRENT BUDGET AND 120,000 AND $120,060 FOR FY 26. NORMALLY WITHIN MY BUDGET WOULD COVER FOUR DAYS OF FY 25 BUT WE HAVE BEEN TOLD WE ARE ON TRACK TO EXCEED OUR SALARY BUDGET FOR THIS FISCAL YEAR. WHILE WE HAVE TAKEN STEPS TO MITIGATE AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE BY DELAYING FILLING OPEN POSITIONS WE HAVE NOTHING EXTRA. THEREFORE WE'RE COMING TO YOU TODAY TO GIVE FUNDS FOR FY 25 AND 26 TO ENSURE HARRIS COUNTY IS IN COMPLIANCE WITH CENTERVILLE NINE BY SEPTEMBER 
          1.. >> THANK YOU, THANK YOU FOR THE WORK YOU DO AND FOR PIVOTING SO QUICKLY. HERE, COMMISSIONER ALICE AND THEN COMMISSIONER BRIONES. 
          >> THANK YOU. I KNOW THE NUMBER OF UNINTENDED UNKNOWN CONSEQUENCES OF SENATE BILL NINE AND IT WOULD ENCOURAGE THE BUDGET TEAM AND THE REST OF US BE COGNIZANT OF THAT, WE DON'T KNOW WHAT WE ARE WALKING INTO AND I KNOW TONYA MILLS SENT AROUND RESOLUTION AND I'M READY TO MAKE IT UNLESS SOMEONE ELSE WANTS TO MAKE THE MOTION. 
          >> COMMISSIONER A COUPLE QUICK QUESTIONS. FIRST OF ALL THANK YOU FOR BEING SO PROACTIVE AND COMING TO US BECAUSE I COULD NOT AGREE MORE IN TERMS OF THE IMPRECATIONS SENATE BILL NINE WILL HAVE ON ALL THE JUSTICE STAKEHOLDERS AS WE CONTINUE TO ADMINISTER JUSTICE WITH THE UTMOST FAIRNESS AND EFFICIENCY BUT A QUICK QUESTION FOR DIRECTOR RAMOS IN TERMS OF SOLUTIONS AS A NO DIRECTOR MILLS IS WORKING WITH STAKEHOLDERS AS AN INTERN SOLUTION DOES THE DISTRICT CLERK HAVE ENOUGH BUDGET TO PAY FOR OVERTIME FOR THE REST OF THE FISCAL YEAR, QUESTION ONE AND TWO WE WOULD TECHNICALLY HAVE TO AUTHORIZE OVERTIME AND THEN NUMBER THREE WE WOULD NEED TO AUTHORIZE 
          PRETRIAL SERVICES CORRECT? >> THE ANSWER TO THE SECOND AND THIRD QUESTION IS YES ONLY A HANDFUL OF DEPARTMENTS NOT INCLUDING DISTRICT CLERK OR PRETRIAL SERVICES ARE AUTHORIZED TO DO OVERTIME UNILATERALLY , FOR ITEM 1 IT WOULD BE CLOSE, WE CAN MONITOR IT AND WORK WITH DISTRICT CLERK TO MAKE SURE THEY ARE ABLE TO STAFF THE POSTS AND DO SUPPLEMENTAL AS NECESSARY. 
          >> TO BE CRYSTAL-CLEAR BECAUSE WE KNOW THE WORK NEEDS TO BE DONE AND THE TRIGGER DATE WE ARE CRYSTAL CLEAR ON THAT, ARE YOU SAYING IF WE APPROVE OVERTIME WE CAN MAKE SURE THERE IS FUNDING FOR PRETRIAL SERVICES AND THE CLERK NEEDED AS WE CONTINUE TO 
          ASSESS? >> YES, CORRECT. 
          >> WAS YOUR MOTION ABOUT OVERTIME? 
          >> TWO PARTS, ONE AUTHORIZE OVERTIME IN LIEU OF COMPENSATORY TIME FOR THE DISTRICT CLERK'S OFFICE AND PRETRIAL SERVICES TO STAFF OPERATIONAL CHANGES FOR WEEKENDS AND HOLIDAYS, SECOND, DIRECT JUSTICE INNOVATION IN ORDER TO SB NINE RELATED CHANGES AND EVALUATE COUNTYWIDE IMPACT OF STAKEHOLDERS AND BRING UPDATE TO COMMISSIONERS COURT ON DECEMBER 11 TO INCLUDE THE COST AND IMPACT TO THE JUSTICE SYSTEM. I GOT THIS FROM DIRECTOR 
          MILLS. >> I WILL SECOND BOTH. 
          >> ITEM 474. >> YES, WE HAVE A MOTION AND SECOND ON THE TABLE, TO CLARIFY, DIRECTOR RAMOS , I HAVE HERE YOU ARE IN FAVOR OF THIS BECAUSE IT IS COMING FROM THE DISTRICT CLERK'S EXISTING BUDGET. DOES NOT INCLUDE ADDITIONAL FUNDING, BUT THE ABILITY FOR THEM TO EXTEND OVERTIME PAY FROM THEIR 
          OWN BUDGETS IS THAT CORRECT? >> YES, BUT IF THIS WERE TO PUT THEM OVER BUDGET WE WILL COME BACK TO COURT FOR THE ADDITIONAL FUNDS. THIS IS A CRITICAL FUNCTION TO BE STAFFED. 
          >> WE WILL DISCUSS IT THEN AND IT SOUNDS LIKE THE BUDGET WILL NEED TO HAVE SOME SAVINGS IN CASE, SO YOU KNOW WE HAVE TO CUT 
          SOME OTHER THINGS. >> WE CAN WORK IT OUT WITH THE 
          DISTRICT CLERK. >> OKAY WANTED TO FOLLOW YOUR RECOMMENDATION. WE HAVE A MOTION AND SECOND, MOTION BY COMMISSIONER ELLIS SECOND BY COMMISSIONER BRIONES ALL IN FAVOR? ANY OPPOSED? THE MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY. 
          >> THANK YOU. >> NEXT IS ITEM OKAY, SO I HAVE 
          [Executive Session ]
BEEN ASKED TO TAKE EXECUTIVE SESSION NEXT BECAUSE THERE ARE SPEAKERS THAT ARE NEEDED FOR ITEM 435 WHO HAVE TO LEAVE. AM I MISSING ANYTHING? IS 
          [04:05:09]
EXECUTIVE SESSION NOW? WE'RE GOING TO TAKE TWO ITEMS TO EXECUTIVE SESSION. ONE IS ITEM 434 PERSONNEL DECISION ABOUT THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC HEALTH AND THEN ITEM 435 THAT IS ABOUT THE COUNTY SECURITY, SECURITY AND CYBER SECURITY. IT 
          [Emergency/Supplemental Items (Part 2 of 2)]
          >> THANK YOU. IT IS 4:24. AND COMMISSIONER, WE ARE BACK FROM EXECUTIVE SESSION NOW. SO, WE ARE GOING TO TAKE UP RESOLUTIONS, I HAVE REQUEST FROM COMMISSIONER BRIONES TO START 
          WITH HER RESOLUTION NUMBER >> JUDGE, SORRY, IS THERE ANY MOTIONS FOR THE EXECUTIVE SESSION ITEMS? 
          >> NO. >> NO ACTION ON 434 AND 435? 
          >> NUMBER 59? >> THANK YOU. ITEM 485, THE REASON WE ARE TAKING IT OUT OF ORDER IS OUR WONDERFUL DEAN HAS A CLASS TO TEACH, SO I AM SO THRILLED FOR RESOLUTION 485. WE, TODAY, HERE IN HARRIS COUNTY COMMISSIONER'S COURT, ARE HONORING THE FIRST LATINO AND THE FIRST PERSON OF COLOR EVER TO SERVE AS PRESIDENT AND DEAN OF SOUTH TEXAS COLLEGE OF LAW IN HOUSTON. HE IS THE 13TH PRESIDENT AND DEAN IN THE LAW SCHOOL'S ALMOST 102-YEAR HISTORY. DEAN IS THE SON OF TWO FARM WORKERS AND THE FIRST MEMBER OF HIS FAMILY TO ATTEND COLLEGE. HE GRADUATED FROM HARVARD LAW SCHOOL AND HE MOVED TO TEXAS SOON AFTER TO JOIN THE DALLAS OFFICE OF JONES DAY, AND AT 25 HE BECAME THE YOUNGEST FACKINGTY AT THE TEXAS TECH SCHOOL OF LAW. DURING COVID AND BEYOND, HARRIS COUNTY HAS BEEN SO PROUD TO PARTNER WITH SOUTH TEXAS OF LAW TO HELP TENANTS FACING EVICTION. I WAS A JUDGE WORKING WITH SOUTH TEXAS COLLEGE OF LAW. IT WAS INCREDIBLE AND HELPED SO MANY PEOPLE IN OUR COUNTY. THANK YOU. SEVERAL DEPARTMENTS HOST INTERNS FROM SOUTH TEXAS COLLEGE OF LAW EACH SEMESTER, REALLY INVESTING IN THIS TALENT PIPELINE WE BELIEVE SO STRONGLY IN HERE AT HARRIS COUNTY. WE LOOK FORWARD TO GROWING THAT CONNECTION AND TALENT PIPELINE AND ARE SO PROUD OF YOU AND YOUR STUDENTS. SOUTH TEXAS COLLEGE OF LAW HAS SO MANY LEADERS THROUGHOUT OUR COMMUNITY, WE ARE SEVERAL OF OUR OWN TAX ASSESSOR COLLECTOR, RAMIREZ, HONORABLE SINGH, HONORABLE JERRY SIMNO, HONORABLE JUDGE RODRIGUEZ, AND PUBLIC DEFENDER ALEX BUNM. IT GIVES ME TREMENDOUS PRIDE AND PLEASURE, NOT ONLY AS A LAWYER, BUT ESPECIALLY AS A LATINA, GIVES ME SO MUCH PRIDE. CONGRATULATIONS, WELCOME, AND WE ARE THRILLED, HARRIS COUNTY COMMISSIONER'S COURT RESPECTFULLY HONORS RONALDO RAY VALENCIA TODAY AND ALWAYS. THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH FOR BEING HERE. 
          >> THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER BRIONES. COMMISSIONERS, JUDGE HIDALGO, I WILL KEEP REMARKS BRIEF BECAUSE COMMISSIONER SAID IT ELOQUENTLY, I AM 2012 GRADUATE OF SOUTH TEXAS COLLEGE OF LOUISEN. I HAVE THE HONOR OF SERVING AS PRESIDENT OF THE ALUMNI ASSOCIATION AND I WAS FORTUNATE ENOUGH TO WORK ON THE DEAN'S SEARCH COMMITTEE FOR DEAN VALENCIA, IT IS NO EASY TASK DOING THAT. THERE IS NOT EXACTLY CLASSIFIED ADS YOU CAN DO BUT OVER THE COURSE OF A YEAR WE MET WITH MANY QUALIFIED INDIVIDUALS, SCHOLARS, PROFESSORS, HIGH-RANKING ATTORNEYS, AND DEANS OF OTHER LAW SCHOOL. AND MANY OF THEM HAD THEIR OWN QUALIFICATIONS BUT WHEN WE INTERVIEWED DEAN VALENCIA, WE FOUND HE HAD SOME UNIQUE QUALIFICATIONS. HE HAD THE PEDIGREE HAVING GRADUATED FROM HARVARD LAW, WORKED AS FELLOW FOR THE WHITE HOUSE ADMINISTRATION, THEN WORKING IN BIG LAW BEFORE TRANSITIONING AS A PROFESSOR AND DEAN OF A L■AW SCHOOL. BUT MORE THAN THAT, IT IS HIS HUMAN STORY WHICH LOWS HIM TO NOT ONLY LEAD THE LAW SCHOOL, BUT THE PEOPLE OF OUR LAW SCHOOL. HE COMES FROM A HUMBLE BACKGROUND. 
          >> THANK YOU, YOUR TIME SUP. >> PLEASE FINISH. 
          >> ONE MORE SENTENCE, YOUR HONOR. IT IS MY HAWN TO RECOGNIZE DEAN VALENCIA AS THE FIRST PERSON OF COLOR, LGBTQ COMMUNITY MEMBER, AND 13TH DEAN OF OUR LAW SCHOOL. I GIVE TO YOU 
          DEAN VALENCIA. >> THANK YOU. 
          >> THANK YOU, MR. GONZALEZ. 
          LITTLE KID GROWING UP IN LUBBOCK, TEXAS, IT IS QUITE INCREDIBLE THAT I HAVE GOTTEN THIS HONOR TO BE BEFORE THE COMMISSIONER'S COURT. THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER BRIONES, AND THANK YOU, EVERYONE. AS YOU INDICATED, WE HAVE A RICH 
          [04:10:03]
HISTORY AT SOUTH TEXAS OCH PRODUCING LAWYERS FOR THE NEEDS OF SOUTH TEXAS COMMUNITY HERE IN HOUSTON, HARRIS COUNTY, AND THROUGHOUT THE STATE. UNDER MY LEADERSHIP IT IS MY FIRM BELIEF AND EFFORT WE WILL CONTINUE TO BE A PLAYER IN THE COMMUNITY, SUPPORTING THE CITY, SUPPORTING THE COUNTY, BY PRODUCING LAWYERS AND ALL OF YOUR DEPARTMENTS IN ALL AREAS OF PRACTICE AND HELPING THE COMMUNITY CONTINUE TO THRIVE AND MEET THE LEGAL NEEDS WHEREVER WE CAN. I REALLY WANT TO APPRECIATE, REALLY WANT TO THANK YOU AND TELL YOU HOW MUCH I APPRECIATE THIS HONOR AND YOUR TIME THAT YOU HAVE GIVEN ME TODAY AND RECOGNITION FOR SOUTH TEXAS. 
          >> THANK YOU, DEAN VALENCIA. 
          PRIDE TO BE HERE WITH YOU, AND CONGRATULATIONS. 
          >> YES. >> THANK YOU SO MUCH. 
          >> THANK YOU. >> COMMISSIONER GARCIA AND THEN 
          COMMISSIONER ELLIS. >> DEAN, THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE AND BLESSING US WITH YOUR PRESENCE. CONGRATULATIONS, LUBBOCK, TO THE WHITE HOUSE, TO, YOU KNOW, HARVARD, TO THE LAW SCHOOL. PHENOMENAL. THAT IS A TRUE, TRUE, TRUE STORY. VERY POWERFUL. I REMEMBER WHEN OUR FORMER POLICE CHIEF, WHO BECAME THE DRUG CZAR FOR PRESIDENT CLINTON HE WAS SAYING HIS GRANDMA SAID YOU HAVE GONE FROM THE OUT HOUSE TO THE WHITE HOUSE, AND SO I THINK THAT IS A LITTLE BIT TO YOUR STORY AS WELL. I JUST WANT TO TELL YOU THAT I AM SO PROUD OF YOU. YOU ARE UNDOUBTEDLY GOING TO INSPIRE SO MANY TO STRIVE IN SPITE OF ENVIRONMENT, IN SPITE OF CHALLENGES, TO PERSEVERE AND TO GET TO INCREDIBLE PLACES. I WISH YOU CONTINUED SUCCESS, DON'T 
          FORGET THE LITTLE PEOPLE. >> NEVER. 
          >> ALL RIGHT. CONGRATULATIONS. >> THANK YOU. 
          >> THANK YOU. >> COMMISSIONER ELLIS. 
          >> DEAN, I AM ALSO SO PROUD OF YOU, GLAD YOU ARE HERE. YOU GOT A GREAT LAW SCHOOL. YOU COME FROM A GREAT TOWN, GREAT EDUCATIONAL BACKGROUND. BECAUSE YOU DO HAVE THE PRIVILEGE OF HAVING A LAW SCHOOL RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF AN URBAN AREA, NOT FAR FROM CITY HALL AND COUNTY GOVERNMENT, I WANT TO ENCOURAGE YOU TO GET YOUR FACULTY TO GET ON BOARD ABOUT FOUR OF US HERE 
          HAVE INTERNSHIP PROGRAMS. >> YES. 
          >> IN THE PAST I HAD, MY PROGRAM, SENT TO THE STATE CAPITAL, WE HAD A FEW FROM SOUTH TEXAS, BUT MOST WOULD HAVE TO GO TO SUMMER SCHOOL TO GET ACADEMIC CREDIT. SO THEY CHANGED THE RULES NOW IN PART BECAUSE OF OUR PROGRAM WE HAD SO MANY YEARS, THREE DECADES NOW. YOUR FACULTY HAS TO AGREE, I THINK SUPER MAJORITY VOTE. TWO LAW SCHOOLS LET THEM DO IT. I AM HOPING YOURS IS THE THIRD ONE, A COUPLE OF YOUR PREDECESSORS AS DEAN S WANTED TO DO IT BUT COULDN'T GET THE VOTE FROM THE FACULTY. 
          YOU BREAK A LOT OF MOLDS COMING IN. BREAK THAT ONE SO WE CAN GET YOUNG PEOPLE GETTING ON ACADEMIC EXPERIENCE IN A WORK ENVIRONMENT. NO NEED FOR LAWYERS BUT BUSINESS SCHOOLS ARE BEATING US OUT. THOSE FOLKS PAYING MONEY QUICK. THE INTERN PROGRAM HELPS. 
          I WILL CALL YOU AND VISIT WITH YOU. I WANT TO PUT MY BID IN WHILE WE ARE HONORING YOU, AND YOU ARE BRAND NEW. 
          >> THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER. >> DON'T LEAVE BEFORE YOUR 
          RESOLUTION IS READ. >> SO, COMMISSIONER BRIONES. 
          >> IN THE INTEREST OF TIME I WASN'T GOING TO READ EVERY WORD, WE HONOR YOU, WE RESPECT YOU, WE LOOK FORWARD TO YOUR CONTINUED POSITIVE IMPACT ON OUR STUDENTS AND OUR COMMUNITY, AND WE THANK YOU FOR CONTINUING TO BE IN THE ARENA, AND ADVANCING JUSTICE BY TRAINING THE NEXT GENERATION OF LAWYERS AND MR. GONZALEZ, THANK YOU FOR JOINING US, THANK YOU FOR BEING THE PRESIDENT OF OUR MEXICAN AMERICAN BAR ASSOCIATION, PAST PRESIDENT. WE NEED TO KEEP PAYING IT FORWARD. 
          CONGRATULATIONS. I KNOW YOU HAVE A CLASS, SO THE FORMER TEACHER IN ME, I AM LIKE IT IS 4:32, YOU HAVE TO GET TO YOUR STUDENTS BUT 
          THANK YOU FOR YOUR PATIENT. >> I HAVE A TOWN HALL. I AM GOING TO. BUT I DO TEACH CLASS. I THINK, VERY QUICKLY, I ALWAYS TALK TO STUDENTS ABOUT MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR.'S STATEMENT THE MORAL ARC OF THE UNIVERSE IS A BEND TOWARDS JUSTICE. I THINK OF MY JOB AS EDUCATOR AND OUR JOB IS FACULTY IS HELP LAW STUDENTS BEND THAT ARC SO IT BENDS TOWARDS JUSTICE. I HAVE 36 YEARS, IN MY 36TH YEAR OF BEING A LAW PROFESSOR AND LEGAL EDUCATOR AND I WILL CONTINUE TO DO THAT WORK IN PARTNERSHIP WITH COMMISSIONER'S COURT AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO OUR PARTNERSHIP AND STRONG BONDS INTO THE FUTURE. 
          >> WE LOOK FORWARD TO CONTINUING TO BEND IT WITH YOU AND AMEN TO 
          THAT. >> THANK YOU. 
          >> CONGRATULATIONS. >> THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH. 
          APPLAUSE ] 
          [04:15:10]
          >>> OKAY. SO, I AM GOING TO READ MY RESOLUTION. I SAW THESE FOLKS AT AN EVENT AND I THOUGHT THEY WERE ABSOLUTELY INCREDIBLE, AND I WASN'T TOO FAR OFF BECAUSE OF THEIR ACHIEVEMENTS, AND SO I DON'T KNOW IF THE MEMBERS OF THE USA SOARING PHOENIX AND DRAGON AND LION DANCE ASSOCIATION CAN COME OVER. 
          WELCOME, WELCOME, Y'ALL, WELCOME, WELCOME. 
          SO, HERE IS A RESOLUTION, I AM SO PROUD OF YOU ALL AND TO OFFER THIS RESOLUTION TO YOU GUYS, USA SOARING PHOENIX DRAGON AND LION DANCE ASSOCIATION HAS SHARED HONORED TRADITION OF LINE DANCE WITH HARRIS COUNTY SINCE 2008. IT PLACES MEMBER'S STEEP ROOTED PRIZE IN VIETNAMESE AMERICAN HERITAGE AT ITS CORE. IT IS NOT ONLY A PERFORMANCE GROUP, ALTHOUGH THAT WOULD BE ENOUGH, GIVEN HOW INCREDIBLE YOU ALL ARE BUT ALSO PHILANTHROPIC ORGANIZATION THAT USES TALENT AND PASSION FOR LINE AND DRAGON DANCING TO UPLIFT COMMUNITIES IN VIETNAM AND HARRIS COUNTY. THE GROUP FOSTERS AND STRENGTH ENS ITS VALUES THROUGH COMPETITION. 
          THEY FULFILLED ONE OF THEIR LONG-TIME GOALS THIS JULY, AND COLLEAGUES, THIS IS REALLY EXCITING, SO, THIS TEAM, OUR LOCAL TEAM, THEY COMPETED IN THE 15TH WORLD LINE DANCE CHAMPIONSHIP IN MALAYSIA, AS ONLY ONE OF THE THREE TEAMS REPRESENTING THE UNITED STATES AND INCORPORATED HOUSTON SPACE CITY CULTURE INTO THEIR LION DANCE ROUTINE, SHARING BEAUTY OF THE COMMUNITY ON THE WORLD STAGE ENTITLED "WESTERN LION DANCING." CHINESE DIVERSITY AND GENEROUS SPIRITS. BE IT RESOLVED HARRIS COUNTY RECOGNIZES AND HONORS USA SOARING PHOENIX AND HARRIS COUNTY TEXAS. CONGRATULATIONS. 
          >> THANK YOU, JUDGE. GOOD EVENING, COMMISSIONERS. ON BEHALF OF OUR TEAM, I WOULD LIKE TO SINCERELY THANK YOU FOR INVITING US HERE TODAY TO CELEBRATE ACCOMPLISHMENTS WITH YOU L. THIS PAST JULY WE HAD THE HONOR TO PARTICIPATE IN THE CHAMPIONSHIP AND INTERNATIONAL COMPETITION EVERY TWO YEARS THIS BRINGS THE BEST LINE DANCING IN THE WORLD, INCLUDING CHINA, AUSTRALIA, HONG KONG, VIETNAM, AND MORE. WE WERE PROUD TO BE ONE OF THE ONLY THREE TEAMS REPRESENTING THE U.S. THE COMPETITION IS PERFORMED ON STILTS RANGING FROM FOUR TO NINE FEET TALL, AND WE ARE JUDGED ON SEVERAL CRITERIA SUCH AS DIFFICULTY OF STUNTS HOW WELL THE LION PERFORM EMBODYING THE SPIRIT OF LIVING LION, CREATIVITY AND STORY TELLING AND ABILITY TO CONVEY EMOTIONS THROUGH MOVEMENT AND MUSIC, 40 WORLD CLASS TEAMED WE PLACED 15THOBEALL AND EARNED THE TITLE OF WESTERN LION KING, AWARDED TO THE HIGHEST SCORING TEAM AMONG THE WESTERN NATIONS OF CANADA, U.S., AND AUSTRALIA. TO END IT, LIKE YOU SAID, WE CHOSE THE SPACE CITY THEME TO BRING ROOTS TO HOUSTON, AND AS TOKEN OF OUR APPRECIATION, WE PRESENTED A GIFT OF SCROLL TO ALL THE COMMISSIONERS AND JUDGE WHICH WE GIVE TO ALL OF OUR CLIENTS AND CUSTOMERS AND SUPPORTERS. EACH SCROLL CONTAINS AUSPICIOUS PHRASES IN THE LANGUAGE OF VIETNM EASE AND HOPEFULLY BRINGGOOD FORTUNE TO YOUR OWN 
          LIVES. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU. CONGRATULATIONS. 
          >> COMMISSIONER ELLIS, I THINK HE DIDN'T MEAN TO PUSH HIS BUTTON. WOULD ANYBODY WITH YOUR GROUP LIKE TO SPEAK OR SHARE? 
          >> I WILL HAVE THE PERSON WHO DID THE PHYSICAL LABOR WORK, OUR 
          TAIL PLAYER, KENNY. >> SORRY, REAL QUICK, BEFORE HE GOES, CAN YOU STATE YOUR NAME FOR THE RECORD? 
          >> MY NAME? ALEX TRAN. >> THANK YOU. 
          >> YES. >> HELLO. MY NAME IS KENNY TRAN. 
          I AM THE TAIL PLAYER THAT COMPETED IN THE COMPETITION, MYSELF. I WOULD THANK BASICALLY THE SUPPORT TEAM THAT I HAVE HERE TO HELP ME OUT, AND THERE IS MORE PEOPLE THAT ARE NOT HERE, SADLY, I WANT TO THANK THE COMMUNITY AND ALL OF THEM FOR THE SUPPORT AND ALSO HAVING Y'ALL SUPPORT ME AS WELL. IT WAS A DIFFICULT TIME, THE COMPETITION, BECAUSE OF THE PHYSICAL LABOR I HAVE TO DO IN THE MONTHS OF PREPARATION. 
          STARTED PREPPING FOR THIS COMPETITION AROUND THREE MONTHS. 
          [04:20:01]
WENT THROUGH A LOT OF INJURIES AS WELL. SO IT WAS NOT JUST A SMOOTH SAILING, IT WAS SOLSO A LOT OF BLOOD, SWEAT, AND TEARS PUT INTO THIS COMPETITION. WE TRIED OUR BEST AND THE OUTCOME WAS WHAT WE GOT. HOPEFULLY IN TWO YEARS WE CAN TRY TO HOLD IT DOWN AND DEFEND THE TITLE. HOPEFULLY. BUT THAT IS ABOUT IT. 
          THANK YOU. 
          >> WHAT WOULD YOU SAY IS THE TOUGHEST STUNT, CAN YOU CALL IT 
          THAT? >> I WOULD SAY THE TOUGHEST STUNT THAT I HAVE DONE, OR FOR THIS COMPETITION THAT WE ACTUALLY HAD TO TAKE OUT WAS WHERE MY PARTNER, MY PLAYER WILL HAVE TO BALANCE ME AND SPIN ME AROUND IN A CIRCLE, ON A SINGLE POLE. WE HAD TO TAKE THAT OUT OF, UNFORTUNATELY, BECAUSE IT WAS TOO RISKY. BUT IT WAS SOMETHING THAT WE DID HAVE IN THE ROUTINE. ANOTHER HARD TRICK THAT WAS IN THE ROUTINE THAT WE ACTUALLY DID WAS WHEN WE GO TO TWO SINGLE POLES AND SWING, I PHYSICALLY SWING, AND MY PARTNER HOLDS ME AND BALANCES HIMSELF AND EVENTUALLY I WILL CLIMB BACK UP, PROBABLY THE SECOND HARDEST 
          TRICK. >> YOU ARE ON A POLE AND THEN 
          THE-- >> SO MY PARTNER WILL STAND ON THE TWO POLES AND I WILL BASICALLY SWING BETWEEN THE POLES WITH GRAVITY. HE WILL BALANCE AND HOLD ME UP . 
          >> I WANTED FOLKS TO HEAR A BIT WHAT IT IS LIKE TO WATCH YOU GUYS. FRANKLY, I CAN'T EXPLAIN IT, SO I THOUGHT IF SOMEBODY CAN, IT IS YOU ALL. ANYWAY, ON BEHALF OF HARRIS COUNTY, CONGRATULATIONS. THIS IS SO EXCITING AND I HOPE EVERYBODY GETS TO WATCH YOU ALL, BECAUSE IT IS REALLY A TREAT. THANK YOU, COLLEAGUES, SO MUCH FOR JOINING ME IN THIS HONOR. THANK YOU ALL, WE WILL TAKE PICTURES IN A MOMENT. CONGRATULATIONS. 
          APPLAUSE ] >> OKAY. 
          >>> LETS MOVE NOW TO RESOLUTIONS AND ORDER OF PRECINCT NUMBER, 
          COMMISSIONER ELLIS. >> THANK YOU, JUDGE, I WAS JUST SAYING, I KNOW BETH WHITE MIGHT ARE TIPPED OUT. THERE SHE IS. 
          BETH, I AM GETTING OLDER, I CAN'T SEE AS WELL. THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. MEMBERS, WE ALL KNOW BETH WHITE, SHE IS GOING TO RETIRE AFTER A DECADE AND EXTRA ORDINARY CAREER AS HOUSTON PARKS BOARD EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR. I HAVE GOTTEN TO KNOW HER VERY WELL, AS ALL OF US HAVE GOTTEN TO KNOW HER VERY WELL, CLOSE UP AND PERSONAL. WE ARE GOING TO HAVE AN EVENT FOR HER SOMETIME BEFORE SHE ACTUALLY GIVES UP THE REIGNS, LITTLE BIT ABOUT HER BACKGROUND. I WON'T READ IT. I WAS IN CHICAGO A COUPLE OF TIMES THIS SUMMER. I CALLED HER AND I WAS NOTICING THE PARKS THERE, I WANTED TO GET ADVICE FROM HER. SHE TOLD ME WHERE HER HOUSE WAS. 
          SO COMMISSIONER GARCIA, I WROTE A DIFFERENT SIDE THIS GO AROUND AND MANAGED TO FIND HERSELF. WHAT A GREAT NEIGHBORHOOD. SHE OVERSAW CHICAGO'S TRUST FOR PUBLIC LAND AND LED EFFORTS SUCH AS 60 SITH ELEVATED PARK AND TRAIL SYSTEM IN CHICAGO, WHICH WAS GRANTED 2016 NATIONAL PLANNING EXCELLENCE AWARD IN URBAN DESIGN AND AMERICAN PLANNING ASSOCIATION AWARD. SHE PLAYED A LEADING ROLE IN ESTABLISHMENT OF THE NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE, I LOVE CHICAGO INSIDE. I AM SO PROUD SHE CHOSE TO COME HERE AND MAKE IT THROUGH OUR SUMMERS AND YOU WANT TO SAY. 
          DISTINGUISHED CAREER FURTHER RECOGNIZED BY FORMER PRESIDENTS OBAMA AND BIDEN WHEN SHE WAS APPOINTED TO SERVE IN 2012 AS CHAIR IN 2021 OF THE NATIONAL CAPITOL PLANNING COMMISSION, WHERE SHE HELPED FEDERAL AGENCIES MAKE LONG-TERM PLANS ABOUT PUBLIC SPACES. SHE IS AN AWARD-WINNING LEADER, AND HER EFFORTS AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL AND LEADERSHIP AT LOCAL LEVEL EARNED HER AN AWARD IN THE HOUSTON BUSINESS JOURNAL AS 2021 HFS MOST ADMIRED CEO. SHE HAS A GREAT TEAM AROUND HER AND ENJOY WORKING WITH HER. JUST TO TALK LITTLE BIT ABOUT WHAT SHE HAS DONE HERE, WHAT SHE PUT IN PLACE. DONE TENUREED AT HOUSTON PARKS BOARD LED REVITALIZATION OF MORE THAN 30 HOUSTON PARKS IN UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES AND BAYOU GREENWAY PROJECT NOTED AS HER MOST SIGNIFICANT ACCOMPLISHMENT WHERE THE PROJECT BUILT 150 MILES WORTH OF TRAILS ALONGSIDE BAYOUS AND CREEKS MAKING IT EASIER FOR HOUSTONIANS TO ENJOY AND EXPERIENCE THE BEAUTY OF THEIR ENVIRONMENT. BETH, WE ARE GOING TO MISS YOU, I KNOW YOU ARE GOING TO FIGURE OUT SOME ROLE THAT YOU ARE GOING TO PLAY, BUT IT HAS JUST BEEN SUCH A PRIVILEGE TO GET TO KNOW 
          [04:25:01]
YOU UP CLOSE AND PERSONAL. YOU TAKE MY CALLS, ALL HOURS OF THE DAY, AND NIGHT. I KNOW SOMETIMES I COME UP WITH REALLY HAIR BRAIN IDEAS, AND I APPRECIATE YOU HELPING ME LEARN TO WORK THROUGH SOME OF THEM, TONING THEM DOWN INTO THINGS THAT I THINK HAVE HELPED, NOT JUST AREA THAT I REPRESENT, BUT OUR ENTIRE REGION, AND YOUR ABILITY TO GET PHILANTHROPIC SUPPORT FROM PEOPLE WHO NEVER THOUGHT THAT THEY WOULD DIG THAT DEEP IN THEIR POCKETS TO HELP ALL OUR NEIGHBORHOODS. YOU HAVE JUST BEEN A REMARKABLE LEADER. I KNOW THE JOURNEY IS NOT OVER WITH YET. I KNOW IT WAS A TOUGH DECISION FOR YOU TO DECIDE TO RETIRE, BUT JOB WELL DONE. WE ARE GOING TO MISS YOU, BUT NOT THAT MUCH, BECAUSE I HAVE IDEAS, WHICH YOU CAN DO IN THE NEXT PHASE. WITH THAT, I TURN IT OVER TO MY COLLEAGUES. 
          >> COMMISSIONER BRIONES, AND GARCIA, THEN RAMSEY. 
          >> COMMISSIONER ELLIS, THANK YOU FOR BRINGING THIS RESOLUTION TO HONOR SUCH A PHENOMENAL WUM SXN LEADER, MY TEAM AND I LOVE YOU AND RESPECT AND APPRECIATE YOUR CONTRIBUTIONS, OVER 250 MILES OF LINEAR PARK IN THE COMMUNITY, MORE THAN 50 PARKS YOU HELPED REZITEALIZE, WE HAVE 10 PARTNERSHIP PROJECTS BETWEEN PRECINCT FOUR AND HOUSTON PARKS BOARD, THE WAY YOU HAVE BEEN ABLE TO BRING OUT THE BEST IN PEOPLE IN TERMS OF THE GIVING AND ROLLING UP THEIR SLEEVES TO GET IT DONE AND REIMAGINE HOUSTON, HARRIS COUNTY, AS A GREEN CITY AND COUNTY, IT HAS BEEN YOUR TENACITY AND YOUR PASSION AND YOUR LOVE FOR GREEN SPACE. SO THANK YOU FOR MAKING US A HEALTHIER, MORE CONNECTED COMMUNITY, AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO CONTINUING THE WONDERFUL WORK THAT YOU HAVE STARTED, AND LIKE COMMISSIONER ELLIS, WE HAVE A LOT OF IDEAS. WE ARE NOT GOING TO LET YOU GO FAR. WE APPRECIATE YOU SO MUCH. CONGRATULATIONS, BETH. 
          >> THANK YOU. >> ALL RIGHT, COMMISSIONER 
          GARCIA THEN RAMSEY. >> BETH, I WANT TO THANK YOU, YOU KNOW, HOUSTON/HARRIS COUNTY IS MISKNOWN BECAUSE OF ITS OIL AND GAS, AND IT IS, FOR THE LONGEST, IT HAS BEEN A BLUE COLLAR TOWN, WHERE PEOPLE JUST CAME HERE TO PULL THEIR BOOTS UP, BOOT STRAPS UP, AND JUST WORK HARD, PLAY BY THE RULES, AND SUCCESS HAPPENS. BUT YOU AND MANY OTHERS HELP TO MAKE SURE THAT THE VALUE OF GREEN SPACE WAS NOT LOST IN THE VALUE OF A WORK ETHIC. AND THAT ANY COMMUNITY THAT IS GOING TO ACHIEVE WORLD CLASS STATUS MUST BE THINKING CONSTANTLY ABOUT ITS GREEN SPACE. I WANT TO THANK YOU. YOU HAVE BEEN A PHENOMENAL PERSON TO WORK WITH, YOU HAVE HELPED SET THE COURSE OF HOW CITY AND COUNTY COME TOGETHER TO THINK ABOUT ITS APPROACH TO BUILDING AND PROTECTING AND MAINTAINING ENHANCING OUR GREEN SPACE SO THAT IT MAKES OUR COMMUNITY THAT MUCH MORE VIABLE, AND, ACTUALLY, BECOMES A TOURIST ATTRACTION. THANK YOU FOR ALL YOU HAVE DONE, AND I KNOW WE ARE NOT GOING TO LET YOU RETIRE-RETIRE, BUT, AGAIN, THANK YOU FOR JUST BEING AN INCREDIBLE STEWARD OF OUR PARKS AND JUST FOR BEING AN INCREDIBLE LEADER. 
          THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU. 
          >> COMMISSIONER RAMSEY. >> BETH, WE SURE APPRECIATE WHAT YOU HAVE DONE, WHAT YOU ARE GOING TO DO. WHEN I THINK ABOUT SOME OF THE STUFF WE TALKED ABOUT, SOME OF THE THINGS WE HAVE LOOKED AT, THERE WAS SOME PEOPLE TALK ABOUT IT FIVE-YEAR PLAN, BUT YOU AND I GET IN THE ROOM AND IT IS TALKING 50 YEAR. 
          PEOPLE THAT CAN PLAN WITH A 50-YEAR EYE RATHER THAN FIVE-DAY, FIVE-MINUTE LOOK, THAT IS GOING TO MAKE A HUGE DIFFERENCE FOR US. WE HAVE 22 BAYOU CREEK WATER SHEDS IN HARRIS COUNTY, I THINK YOU LOOK AT THEM AS ALL POTENTIAL TRAILS THAT ONE DAY WILL BE PROPERLY CONNECTED. BUT THE ONE I AM LOOKING MOST FORWARD TO IS THE SPRING CREEK TRAIL, TRAIL AND YOU WON'T HAVE TO GET OFF YOUR BICYCLE. IT WILL BE A GOOD THING. THE VISION OF MAKING THIS EXTRA ORDINARY HARRIS COUNTY, WE APPRECIATE YOUR LEADERSHIP AND YOUR VISION. 
          >> THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU, BETH. THANK YOU SO MUCH. 
          >> IT IS LIKE HARD TO CONVEY HOW AMAZING BETH IS. IT IS, EVERYTHING MY COLLEAGUES SAID, YOU ARE HELPING MAKE THE COUNTY INTO JUST THIS INCREDIBLE, INCREDIBLE INNOVATIVE AND UNIQUE 
          [04:30:04]
NETWORK OF BEAUTY AND PRESERVATION AND I KNOW THE WORK HAS BEEN AN UPHILL BATTLE AND WILL CONTINUE TO BE, BUT THANK YOU. I AM SURE YOU HAVE SOMETHING TO SAY. PLEASE, GO 
          AHEAD. >> YEAH, THANK YOU. THE MOST IMPORTANT THING I WANT TO SAY, IT HAS BEEN SUCH A JOY TO WORK WITH EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU, YOU ARE REMARKABLE LEADERS, YOU SHARE OUR PASSION FOR OPEN SPACE, AND PARKS, AND UNDERSTAND AT A VERY FUNDAMENTAL LEVEL WHAT THEY MEAN, AND HOW VALUABLE THEY ARE. I CAME HERE TO WORK ON BIO GREENWAYS. I WAS BLOWN AWAY BY A PHONE CALL I GOT ONE DAY IN CHICAGO ASKING ME IF I WOULD BE INTERESTED IN THIS REMARKABLE EXPERIMENT THAT WAS UNDER WAY, AND HOUSTON PARKS BOARD IS JUST AN INCREDIBLE ORGANIZATION. NEXT YEAR WE WILL BE CELEBRATING THE 50TH ANNIVERSARY OF THIS UNIQUE INSTITUTION, REALLY, THAT PARTNERS WITH HARRIS COUNTY AND THE CITY AND ANYBODY WHO WANTS TO WORK WITH US. EACH OF YOU HAVE HELPED IN SO MANY WAYS TO MAKE BIOGREENWAYS A REALTY. IT WOULD NOT HAVE HAPPENED WITHOUT HARRIS COUNTY, FIRST OF ALL, IT IS YOUR LAND THAT YOU OPENING UP TO THE PUBLIC. THANK YOU. I ALSO WANTED TO JUST GIVE A SHOUTOUT TO YOUR STAFF, ALL OF YOU HAVE THE MOST REMARKABLE TALENTED, DEDICATED STAFF, HELP US SOLVE PROBLEMS EVERY DAY, CHALLENGES, COMMISSIONERS WHO HELP SOLVE ENGINEERING PROBLEMS ON A REGULAR BASIS. BUT IT REALLY HAS BEEN A COLLABORATION UNLIKE ANY I HAVE SEEN IN ANY OTHER CITY. 
          YOU WELCOMED ME, I KNOW YOU WILL SUPPORT WHOEVER MY SUCCESSOR WILL WE. I WILL BE AROUND UNTIL THAT PERSON IS ON BOARD, BUT IT REALLY HAS BEEN A JOY AND I WANT TO GIVE A SPECIAL SHOUTOUT TO HARRIS COUNTY FLOOD CONTROL. I WORK WITH ALL OF YOUR ENTITIES AND DEPARTMENTS, BUT THEY HAVE BEEN CHAMPIONS, AND AT FIRST THEY WEREN'T SURE, YOU WANT TO WORK WITH US TO PUT TRAILS IN OUR FLOODWAYS? BUT THEY HAVE BEEN SO FLEXIBLE AND INNOVATIVE AND REALLY JUST A LOT OF FUN TO OPEN UP THESE REMARKABLE BIOES TO BE NOT JUST THE NATURAL FLOODING SYSTEMS, BUT DUAL INFRASTRUCTURE FOR PARKS AND GREEN SPACE. SO, I JUST THANK YOU SO MUCH. IT HAS BEEN A REAL JOY AND PRIVILEGE TO WORK WITH 
          ALL OF YOU. >> JUDGE? 
          >> YES, COMMISSIONER. >> I WOULD BE REMIS, I DIDN'T THINK OF IT EARLIER, BETH, IF I DIDN'T THANK YOUR FAMILY. SUCH A TREMENDOUS PARTNER AND SO SUPPORTIVE, AND YOUR LATE MOM. 
          SHE WAS ALWAYS NICE. I MIGHT CLOSE BY SAY ING IS ANYBODY IN THE AUDIENCE WHO HAS EVER BEEN ON THE TRAIL OR PARK, LETS GIVE BETH WHITE A WARM STANDING OVATION. 
          >> GOING TO MAKE ME CRY. >> THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH. WE 
          WILL SEE YOU ON THE TRAILS. >> THANK YOU. 
          >> FOR A PICTURE. >> WE LOVE YOU AND APPRECIATE 
          YOU. >> COMMISSIONER ELLIS, DO YOU HAVE ANY OTHER OUT OF ORDER RESOLUTIONS? 
          >> I HAVE ONLY ONE OTHER, I WILL DO IT, WITH YOU RECOLLECTION 
          COMMISSIONER, BREE. MAKE SENSE? >> SO, I KNOW WE HAVE JACKIE BAILEY HERE, WHO IS CHAIR OF THE WOMEN'S COMMISSION. I AM PROUD MY STAFF HAD TIME TO PUT THAT ON THE AGENDA, THE VICE CHAIR, DR. 
          FELICIA HARRIS, HONORABLE ELLEN COEN, TAMMY WALLACE, MARISSA BRIGS RAMIREZ, BUT IT IS AN HONOR TO TAKE QUICK ACTION ON TODAY, WE COMMEMORATE A MAJOR VICTORY FOR GENDER EQUALITY SERVEICATION OF THE 19TH AMENDMENT WHICH EXTENDED VOTING RIGHTS TO WOMEN. WITH THAT I WILL STOP AND TURN IT OVER TO MY COLLEAGUE, COMMISSIONER BRIONES. DOES THAT MAKE SENSE? 
          >> SURE. >> THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER ELLIS AND THANK YOU TO PHENOMENAL WOMEN WHO HELPED LEAD OUR HARRIS COUNTY WOMEN'S COMMISSION. I LOOK FORWARD TO HEARING YOUR WORDS AND UPDATES. I KNOW YOU ARE BEEN GOING ROUND THE COUNTY GETTING FEEDBACK FROM WOMEN AND MEN ON HOW WE CAN CONTINUE TO ADVANCE JUSTICE AND OPPORTUNITY FOR WOMEN AND FAMILIES AND WORKING PEOPLE IN HARRIS COUNTY. VERY QUICKLY, TO COMBINE OTHER RESOLUTION WE HAD, YOU KNOW, WE MADE SO MUCH PROGRESS AND I AM GRATEFUL AND ENERGIZED BY IT BUT WE KNOW INIQUITIES PERSIST, FOCUSING ON THE GENDER PAY GAP, SO, WOMEN EARN 80 CENTS ON THE DOLLAR TO A WHITE MAN, 80 CENTS BUT THE GAP WIDENS FOR BLACK 
          [04:35:04]
WOMEN IT IS 45 CENTS TO A WHITE MAN'S DOLLAR. FOR LATINAS, IT IS 37.5 CENTS TO $1. THIS IS THE YEAR 2025. WE HAVE OUR WORK CUT OUT FOR US, BUT WITH THE PASSION PERSISTENCE, AND TALENT OF THE PHENOMENAL WOMEN, SO MANY OF THE DEPARTMENT HEADS AND LEADERSER AND EMPLOYEES HERE AT HARRIS COUNTY WERE MAKING PROGRESS, ONE DEPARTMENT I WANT TO GIVE A HUGE THANKS TO IS DEO, SO, THANKS TO MY COLLEAGUES IN 2020, WE SAW WHO DID THE DESPAIRTY, WE KNEW UNFORTUNATELY ONLY 9% OF CONTRACTS WERE GOING TO NWBES, NOW FAST FORWARD AND WE WILL HAVE AN ITEM AND UPDATE, WE ARE AT ABOUT 26% OF AWARDS. OUR GOAL IS 30. WE ARE GETTING CLOSE, BUT THAT IS THE AWARDS. THEN WE ALSO WANT TO MAKE SURE THE DOLLAR IS GOING OUT THE DOOR, RIGHT? SO, WE, THE SPEND IS 23.1%, HARRIS COUNTY IS MAKING PROGRESS BUT THERE STILL SO MUCH WORK TO BE DONE. WHETHER PARTNERSHIP, SO PROUD OF REPRODUCTIVE ACCESS FUND, MATERNAL MORTALITY EFFORTS, ALL THE WORK PUBLIC HEALTH AND HARRIS HEALTH AND ALL OF OUR PARTNERS HAVE BEEN DOING, WE ARE MAKING PROGRESS, BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY THREE LITTLE GIRLS HAVE FEWER RIGHTS THAN THEIR GRANDMOTHERS, IS DEEPLY SADDENING AND TROUBLING FOR ME, AND SPEAKING OF THEIR GRANDMOTHERS, MY MOM IS HERE, MY FAVORITE WOMAN, AND THEN MY DAD, WHO-- IS THE BIGGEST FEMINIST I HAVE EVER KNOWN. THE WOMEN AND MEN WILLING TO SUPPORT US, WE ARE ALL PART OF THE CHANGE TO PUSH TOGETHER AND I, LASTLY, HAVE SO MANY PHENOMENAL WOMEN, ALICE LEE, BRITTANY MAND RENO, SO MANY OTHERS BUT I AM PARTICULARLY PROUD, ENGINEERING AND PLANNING TEAM IS 60% WOMEN, WHICH IS NOT THE CASE IN ENGINEERING FIELDS. AGAIN, WHEN WE PUT WOMEN IN CHARGE, AND MEN WHO SUPPORT WOMEN, WE CAN GET GREAT THINGS DONE TOGETHER. SO WITH THAT, I WOULD, AGAIN, THANK YOU RECOLLECTION COMMISSIONER ELLIS, FOR STARTING THE WOMEN'S COMMISSION. NANG YOU FOR THE GOOD MEN WHO SUPPORT WOMEN, BUT IF I COULD PLEASE TURN IT OVER TO THE ONE AND ONLY, OUR CHAIR, 
          DR. JACKIE BALLY. >> THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER. 
          JUDGE, COMMISSIONERS, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR HAVING US TODAY Y. 
          AM HERE IN SUPPORT OF THE RESOLUTION, RECOGNIZING NATIONAL EQUALITY DAY. AS WE KNOW, THERE ARE SO MANY CHALLENGES THAT WE HAVE IN FRONT OF US, WOMEN REPRESENT HALF OF THE, LITTLE OVER HALF OF THE POPULATION, WHERE 52% OF THE VOTER BLOCK, BUT THE DESPAIRTIES THAT WE HAVE AS FAR AS JOBS, AND OTHER OPPORTUNITIES ARE STILL QUITE STARK. WE ARE WORKING TOGETHER, THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT, YOUR STAFF HAS BEEN PHENOMENAL. I WANT TO GIVE A SHOUTOUT TO THEM AS WELL. BECAUSE OF YOU WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO GO INTO THE COMMUNITIES AND EACH PRECINCT IS AS DIFFERENT AS WE ALL ARE UP HERE. AND TALK TO SO MANY OF THE RESIDENTS TO FIND OUT WHAT THE UNIQUE ISSUES ARE SO WE CAN HAVE A FINDING, HAVE POLICY RECOMMENDATIONS AND BRING THEM TO YOU. I HAVE A COUPLE OF MY COLLEAGUES STANDING BEHIND ME ARE GOING TO SPEAK AND YOU WILL HEAR FROM THEM SHORTLY. ONE COLLEAGUE WHO SAID SHE IS NOT GOING TO SPEAK, I WANT TO RECOGNIZE HER, IS TAMMY WALLACE, YOU ALL KNOW HER BUT SHE IS PASSING ON SPEAKING TODAY. 
          >> SO NOW I AM GOING TO PASS IT TO MY OTHER TWO COLLEAGUES WHO WOULD LIKE TO SAY COUPLE OF THINGS TO YOU. THANK YOU SO MUCH 
          FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY. >> THANK YOU. 
          >> THANK YOU. >> GOOD AFTERNOON. I AM DR. 
          FELICIA HAIRUS AND I AM VICE CHAIR OF THE HARRIS COUNTY WOMEN'S COMMISSION. TODAY, AS WE RECOGNIZE WOMEN'S EQUALITY DAY, IT IS NOT LOST ON ME THAT THE EARLY SUFFRAGE MOVEMENT AND AMENDMENT WE CELEBRATE DID NOT ORIGINALLY HAVE BLACK WOMEN, WOMEN OF COLOR, OR WOMEN FROM IMMIGRANT FAMILIES IN MIND. THIS HISTORICAL FACT SPEAKS TO THE ILLUSIVE CHARACTER OF EQUALITY IN OUR NATION'S IMAGINATION. IT REMINDS US THAT OFTEN TIMES OUR BEST ATTEMPTS AT PROGRESSIVE POLICIES AND LEGISLATION STILL LEAVE THE MOST VULNERABLE BEHIND. THIS IS WHY WE CAN'T ACQUIESCE TO CALL TO REMOVE THE WORD "EQUITY" FROM OUR PRACTICE, IT REMINDS US TO LISTEN TO AND ADDRESS THE EXPERIENCES OF BLACK WOMEN, INDIGENOUS WOMEN, TRANSWOMEN, DISABLED WOMEN, AND ALL OF THE WOMEN WHOSE LABOR AND LEADERSHIP HAVE LONG BEEN OVERLOOKED AS THEY STRIVE FOR EQUALITY IN A WORLD THAT RARELY GRANTS US EQUAL ACCESS AND OPPORTUNITY. THANK YOU FOR 
          [04:40:04]
          LISTENING. >> THANK YOU, DR. HARRIS. 
          >> GOOD AFTERNOON, COMMISSIONERS AND JUDGE. I AM MAR LISA DRIGS, PRESIDENT OF THE NORTHEASTERN ASSOCIATION AND HONORED TO BE A MEMBER OF THE HARRIS COUNTY WOMEN'S COMMISSION. TODAY I WANTED TO TALK TO YOU, IF I CAN GET MY NOTES OUT, A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE HISTORY OF OUR VOTING IN HARRIS COUNTY. WOMEN CONTINUE TO BE IN HIGHER, COME OUT IN NUMBERS, IN TERMS OF VOTING, AND THAT IS SOMETHING THAT I AM INCREDIBLY PROUD OF, AS FAR AS EVERYONE FROM MY PROFESSIONAL COLLEAGUES TO MY NEIGHBORS, IT IS SOMETHING THAT UNITES US ALL. HOWEVER, ALSO, I WOULD LIKE TO MENTION WOMEN ARE ALSO 50% MORE LIKELY TO LIVE IN POVERTY THAN MEN IN HARRIS COUNTY. MANY FACTORS CONTRIBUTE TO THIS NUMBER, BUT SOME OF THESE INCLUDE UNEQUAL PAY, UNDERRESOURCED SHELTERS, AND PROVIDERS, TO ASSIST SURVIVORS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE. HOWEVER, WE DO HAVE MANY BRIGHT SPOTS IN THE COUNTY, INCLUDING THE HOPE CENTER HOUSTON, THEY HAVE A NEWLY CREATED WOMEN OF HOPE PROGRAM, WHICH OFFERS TEMPORARY HOUSING, SAFETY, EDUCATION, HEALTHCARE, AND PATHWAYS TO STABLE EMPLOYMENT. MY HOPE IS THAT PROGRAMS SUCH AS THESE CONTINUE TO BE CREATED AND SUPPORTED BY THE COMMUNITY AND THE BUSINESSES OF HARRIS COUNTY. THANK YOU FOR TAKING TIME TO RECOGNIZE THIS VERY IMPORTANT DAY. 
          >> THANK YOU. >> WE ALSO HAVE SOME AMAZING SPEAKERS FROM LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS, SPEAKING ABOUT WOMEN AND VOTING, WHAT YOU ALL DO FOR OUR DECK OMERACY, AND IN PARTICULAR, WE HAVE LEADERS FROM LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS FROM SCI FAIR. 
          >> THANK YOU COMMISSIONER BRIONES FOR INVITING THE LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS TO SPEAK ON THE IMPORTANCE OF WOMEN'S EQUALITY DAY. ON THIS DAY WE COMMEMORATE THE ADOPTION OF THE 19TH AMENDMENT WHICH GUARANTEED VOTING RIGHTS TO MANY AMERICAN WOMEN. WE CELEBRATE ADVANCEMENTS TOWARD ACHIEVING POLITICAL, ECONOMIC, AND SOCIAL EQUALITY, WE CELEBRATE SUFFRAGES TO WORK TOWARD EQUAL RIGHTS AND TRAIL BLAZERS WHO CONTINUE THAT CRITICAL EFFORT. THE 19TH AMENDMENT WAS A STEP FORWARD TO INSURE EVERY VOICE IS HEARD IN THE CRAFTING OF LAWS THAT IMPACT US ALL. TEXAS WAS THE FIRST SOUTHERN STATE AND 9TH OVERALL TO RATIFY. LEAGUE MEMBERS AND SUPPORTERS BELIEVE TEMOCRACY WORKS BEST WHEN ALL ELIGIBLE VOTERS CAN PARTICIPATE. THE TEXAS LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS WAS FOUNDED IN 1919, A YEAR BEFORE THE 19TH AMENDMENT WAS ADOPTED AND OUR MEMBERS AROUND THE STATE CONTINUE TO ADVOCATE FOR EQUALITY FOR ALL. IN SO DOING WE CONTINUE OUR NON-PARTZER MISSION OF EMPOWERING VOTERS AND 
          DEFENDING DEMOCRACY. >> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR WHAT 
          YOU DO FOR OUR DEMOCRACY. >> THANK YOU. 
          >> CAN YOU PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME FOR THE RECORD? 
          >> YES, LEAH STEFNO. >> THANK YOU. IS THERE ANYBODY THAT WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK ON THE THIS? WE WILL GIVE ANOTHER ROUND 
          OF APPLAUSE. >> HAPPY WOMEN'S EQUALITY DAY. 
          >> YES, I JUST WANTED TO THANK YOU ALL FOR THE WORK YOU DO, AS THE PROUD DADDY OF A BEAUTIFUL YOUNG LADY, I AM GLAD SHE HAS FOLKS LIKE YOU TO LOOK TOWARDS, FOR EXAMPLES, SO THANK YOU FOR ALL YOU DO, AND TO SONYA LOPEZ, MY APPOINTEE TO WOMEN'S COMMISSION, I APPLAUD HER. SHE IS OUT THERE WORKING HARD, REPRESENTING WELL, SO, THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR RESPECTIVE 
          LEADERSHIP. THANK YOU SO MUCH. >> THANK YOU. 
          >> 
          >> ALL RIGHT. 
          >>> ALL RIGHT. I AM VERY EXCITED TO DO THIS, YOU KNOW, IF YOU WEAR AN APPLE WATCH EVERY ONCE IN A WHILE YOU WILL GET A NOTICE, ON THIS ONE IT IS TIME TO STAND, AND BECAUSE TODAY I HAVE THE HONOR OF REPRESENTING SOMEONE WHO HAS NOT ONLY BEEN A FRIEND, BUT WHO HAS BEEN A GREAT AMERICAN. AND HE HAS BEEN NOT ONLY A SERVANT LEADER, OR HAS SERVED OUR NATION, AS ONE OF OUR NATION'S FINEST, BUT HE HAS BEEN SOMEONE WHO HAS NOT 
          [04:45:02]
FORGOTTEN THE VOICELESS, THE LOST, THE LEAST, AND HAS GIVEN OF HIMSELF SO DILIGENTLY TO HELP MANY OTHERS. SO TODAY I HAVE A RESOLUTION TO RECOGNIZE BRIGADIER GENERAL IRWIN, I DIDN'T KNOW IRWIN WAS THE FIRST NAME, BUDDY, I KIND OF LIKE "BUDDY" BETTER. IRWIN BUDDY GRANTHAM. HE IS RETIRING AFTER 45 YEARS OF SERVING OUR NATION. 
          >> AHIS COMMANDER IN CHIEF, MAKING SURE HE BEHAVES WELL, I TOLD HIM, EVEN HE HAS TO SALUTE SOMEBODY. THIS RESOLUTION, FIRST, LET ME TELL EVERYBODY, I HAVE KNOWN BUDDY EVER SINCE I HAVE BEEN IN ELECTED OFFICE. WHEN I WAS ON COUNCIL AND WE PARTICIPATED IN OUR VERY FIRST, I THINK NATIONAL HONOR'S DAY PARADE, THERE WAS MORE PARADE PARTICIPANTS, MEANING THE FLOATS AND ALL THAT, THAN THERE WERE PEOPLE RECOGNIZING THE EVENT, THE OCCASION. AND I WAS FIT TO BE TIED, FOR A LOT OF REASONS, I GOT VETERANS IN MY FAMILY. IF NOT BY THE GRACE OF GOD I WOULD HAVE JOINED THE UNITED STATES ARMY, AND BUT I WAS SO UPSET THAT I CAME BACK AND TOLD THEM, MAYOR BILL WHITE, THAT HE HAD TO DO SOMETHING, BECAUSE IT WAS JUST SO DISRESPECTFUL THAT OUR CITY WAS NOT OUT THERE RECOGNIZING OUR MILITARY. BUDDY CAME TO ME AND I WILL TELL YOU THEREAFTER IT WAS PHENOMENAL TO SEE HOW STRONGLY THE CITY TURNED OUT TO HONOR OUR VETERANS. BUDDY HAD A MAJOR IMPACT IN THAT ENDEAVOR. COMMISSIONER RAMSEY, YOU WILL BE HAPPY TO KNOW THAT ALTHOUGH HE IS A PRODUCT OF HISD SCHOOLS, HE WAS ALSO COMMISSIONED THROUGH THE AGGIE CORPS, HE SERVED IN DISTINCTION AND HONOR ON THE FORWARD EDGE OF FREEDOMS FRONTIER COMMANDER SOLDIERS WORLD WIDE, HE DISTINGUISHED HIMSELF THROUGH AN EXCEPTIONALLY SELFISH SERVICE, HE SERVED IN BOTH A DIVIDED AND UNIFIED GERMANY, WHILE THE BERLIN WALL CAME DOWN TO SIGNAL THE END OF THE COLD WAR. HE SERVED IN A TANK BATTALION IN DESERT STORM, AND SUSTAINED PEACE IN BOSNIA. IN FACT, WHEN I WAS WATCHING ALL THE HAPPENINGS OF DESERT STORM, I WAS LIKE AM I TOO OLD TO ENLIST? BUDDY, THANK YOU FOR BEING THERE. AFTER THE 9/11 ATTACKS, HE PROTECTED OUR NATION DURING OPERATIONS NOBLE LEGAL ONE AND TWO, AND IN SUPPORT OF OPERATIONS ENDURING IRAQI FREEDOM. AND, AFTER LEAVING THE ARMY, BUDDY VOLUNTEERED AT THE ASTRO DOME WHERE HE RAPIDLY ROSE TO THE RANK OF CHIEF OPERATIONS OFFICER. OF THE HURRICANE HOUSING TASK FORCE AND CEO OF SETTLEMENT PROGRAMS FOR THE VICTIMS OF KATRINA AND RITA, AND, MAN, THAT WAS A PHENOMENAL EFFORT TO SEE HAPPENING. 
          FOLLOWED BY BECOMING THE COO OF THE COALITION FOR THE HOMELESS FOR HOUSTON HARRIS COUNTY, HE BUILT PROGRAMS FOR REDUCING HOMELESSNESS, WHICH BECAME A NATIONAL MODEL, BUDDY CREATED THE CITY VETERAN AFFAIRS AND COORDINATED CAN HARRIS COUNTY FOR PROGRAMS FOCUSED ON VETERANS TO INCLUDE EDUCATION, MENTAL HEALTH, JOBS, HOUSING, LEGAL SERVICES, JAIL PROGRAMS, HOPELESS PROGRAMS, AND A JETREN ASSISTED LIVING HOME. DURING THIS TENURE, IN THE TEXAS STATE GUARD, GENERAL GRANTHAM PROVIDED OPERATIONAL LEADERSHIP TO PROTECT OUR CITIZENS DURING 
          [04:50:01]
TIMES OF PERIL AND UPHEAVAL IN THE AFTERMATHS OF THE 18 HURRICANES TORNADOS, COVID-19, AND OPERATION LONE STAR. BUDDY HAS WORKED IN CORPORATE GOVERNMENT NON-PROFIT AND VOLUNTEER LEADERSHIP PROSITIONS AND SERVED IN UNIFORM FOR OVER 44 YEARS EFFECTIVELY, WERE 45 YEARS. LEAVING SERVICE, PRIDE, AND ACCOMPLISHMENT FOR ALL TO EMULATE. GENERAL GRANTHAM, IT IS NICE TO CALL YOU BUDDY, BUT ON THIS OCCASION, YOU DESERVE EVERY OUNCE OF RESPECT AND HONOR FOR YOUR UNSELFISH SERVICE, I KNOW THERE WAS SACRIFICE AT HOME, THANK YOU FOR, JUST BE WILLING TO GIVE OF YOURSELF, SHARE YOUR EXPERTISE, LOGISTICAL KNOW-HOW, TO MAKE THINGS HAPPEN, WHETHER VICTIMS OF HURRICANES OR PANDEMIC, OR WHETHER TORNADOS, WHATEVER THE OCCASION IS, THOSE INCREDIBLE LOGISTICAL EXPERTISE AND ABILITY TO MANAGE, AND YOU WERE THERE AT EVERY TURN. I WILL ALSO TELL YOU THAT YOU ARE COMPASSIONATE. YOUR COMPASSION, MAN, I DON'T KNOW WHAT HAS REALLY, I WANT TO SAY THIS IN THE MANLY WAY, I DON'T KNOW WHAT HAS ATTRACTED ME MOST TO YOU, WHETHER IT IS YOUR SERVICE, OR WHETHER IT WAS YOUR WORK, OR WHETHER IT WAS YOUR WILLINGNESS TO GIVE, BUT WHATEVER IT HAS BEEN, YOU HAVE BEEN, ABOVE ALL, AN INCREDIBLE HUMAN BEING. SO, GENERAL GRANTHAM, I HONOR YOU, HARRIS COUNTY HONORS YOU, WE CELEBRATE YOUR YEARS OF SERVICE AND WE WISH YOU NOTHING BUT THE BEST AND THE BRIGHTEST AND THE HAPPIEST OF DAYS YET TO COME. THE ONLY THING I HAVE AT ODDWISE THE GOOD GENERAL IS THAT HE RIDES A MOTORCYCLE, AND THOSE THINGS CAN BE DANGEROUS. HIS BRIDE SHARED EARLIER THAT HE HAS GOTTEN OFF THE TWO WHEELERS, NOW DOING THREE WHEELER, SO MAYBE IT IS A LITTLE SAFER BUT GENERAL, CONGRATULATIONS AND IT HAS JUST BEEN ONE OF MY HIGHEST HONORS TO HAVE WORKED ALONGSIDE YOU ON SOME OF THE . 
          >> COMMISSIONER RAMSEY. >> QUICKLY, GENERAL APPRECIATE YOUR LEADERSHIP, APPRECIATE YOUR STORY, MY BROTHER AND I WERE RECRUITED GENERAL, UNFORTUNATELY HE PASSED TWO YEARS LATER, BUT YOU REMIND ME OF GENERAL EARL RUTHER, THAT IS ABOUT THE HIGHEST COMPLIMENT I CAN MAKE FOR ANYBODY. THANK YOU. 
          >> THANK YOU, SIR. >> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR SERVICE, SO MANY DIFFERENT WAYS. PLEASE, IF YOU WOULD SHARE A FEW 
          WORDS. >> IF I CAN HAVE JASON AND DAVID COME UP, IF YOU ARE STILL HERE. 
          >> MY STORY HERE IN HOUSTON, GROWING UP, GOING OFF TO SCHOOL, GOING INTO THE MILITARY AND THE ARMY AND SERVING, AND THEN COMING BACK, RIGHT AT THE TIME THE SAME MONTH THAT KATRINA HIT, WAS THE MONTH THAT I RETIRED AND IT BECAME WHY I DOVE FORWARD. IT IS A WE-STORY SINCE THEN, IT IS WE-BETWEEN HOUSTON AND HARRIS COUNTY. DAVID BENSON, UP YOU AS A COUNCIL MEMBER AND SHERIFF, GIVING VETERANS PROGRAMS WHERE THE FOLKS NEED THEM ALL, YOUR PREDECESSORS, GIVING THOUGHT, PICKING UP BEAR CREEK, VETERAN'S PROGRAMS THAT ARE OUT THERE, ET CETERA. JASON AND I, AND WHEN I STARTED THE CITY VETERAN'S DEPARTMENT, JASON WAS PART OF A FAMILY PROGRAM THAT WE GOT A GRANT FOR TO HELP MILITARY FAMILIES RIGHT AT THE SAME TIME, WE HAD OVER 800 SOLDIERS FROM THIS REGION DEPLOYING INTO IRAQ. DAVE LEWIS, LITTLE KNOWN FACT HE AND I SERVED ON THE SAME INFENFRY BIG AID IN DESERT STORM WHILE I WAS OUT FOR THE TANK BATTALION, HE WAS IN BRIGADE 
          [04:55:02]
OPERATIONS CENTER BRINGING AIR FORCE AND COME HELP US IN HORRENDOUS FIGHTS. I LOVE TO SEE DAVID BRINGING HIS EXPERTISE TO BE ABLE TO HELP THE COUNTY CHT PEGGY BOYCE WORKED IN THE OFFICE, I AM TELLING YOU, YOU COULD NOT ASK FOR A BETTER PERSON TO WORK WITH AT THE COUNTY. WE WORK PROGRAMS, ALL THE ONES YOU MENTIONED, WERE NOT A HOUSTON PROGRAM, THEY ARE NOT A HARRIS COUNTY PROGRAM. THEY WERE A WE-PROGRAM. THERE ARE THINGS WE CAN GET BEYOND AND MOVE FORWARD TOGETHER, AND I JUST APPRECIATE YOU SO MUCH. VINCENT MORRISON, BACK IN THE DAY, WHEN HE REALLY HAD SOME GOOD DRIVE GOING, WE WERE ABLE TO DO TO GET VETERANS TAKEN CARE OF. AND I APPRECIATE IT, EIGHT YEARS AGO TONIGHT I WAS IN YOUR OPERATION CENTER. 
          >> YEAH. >> DURING HURRICANE HARVEY. AND LITTLE KNOWN FACT IS I SAVED ONE OF YOUR BUILDINGS. THE BUFFALO BAYOU WAS ERODING THE FOUNDATION, I KNEW WE HAD COMBAT ENGINEERS IN THE AREA, WE MOBILIZED THE COMBAT ENGINEERS, YOUR COUNTY ENGINEERS, HELP GET THE RIFFRAFF AND DEPLOY AND SAVE THAT BUILDING FROM POTENTIAL COLLAPSE. IT IS THE WE, IT IS ALWAYS A TEAM, IT IS ALWAYS A TEAM. AND MY BIGGEST TEAM MEMBER 
          IS BESIDE ME. >> ALL RIGHT. 
          >> THERE ARE TIMES IN MY LIFE WHEN MY BACK WAS SO BAD, SHE LACED MY BOOTS SO I COULD GET OUT THE DOOR AND GO TO WORK. IT IS JUST HAT SUPPORT. THANK YOU, HONEY. 
          >> GENERAL. 
          >> GENERAL, I WANT TO SHARE THAT CONGRESSWOMAN FLETCHER MADE SURE THIS FLAG WAS BROUGHT FOR TODAY'S OCCASION, AND TO ALL OF OUR VETERANS, DAVE AND JASON, THANK YOU FOR WHAT YOU ARE DOING HERE IN HARRIS COUNTY. I DON'T KNOW IF THERE ARE VETERANS IN THE AUDIENCE BUT WE HONOR YOU AS WELL. BUT GENERAL, I CAN'T SAY ENOUGH OF THE IMPACT THAT YOU HAVE HAD SIMPLY BECAUSE OF YOUR INCREDIBLE DEMEANOR TO LEAD AND THAT APPROACH HELPED PEOPLE GRAVITATE WHEN THEY NEEDED TO BE THE TEAM. THANK YOU SO VERY 
          MUCH. >> THANK YOU, SIR. 
          >> THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE. 
          >> MY NEXT RESOLUTION IS TO RECOGNIZE THE LUNAR RENDEZVOUS FEST IVAL ORGANIZATION IN THE NASA BAY AREA AS THEY CELEBRATE THEIR 60TH ANNIVERSARY THIS YEAR. EACH YEAR THE LUNAR RENDEZVOUS FESTIVAL ORGANIZES HUNDREDS OF VOLUNTEERS TO COME OUT IN THE NAME OF CHARITY TO RAISE FUNDS FOR SCHOLARSHIPS AND ORGANIZATIONS THAT BENEFIT THE COMMUNITY. IN THE PAST TEN YEARS THE LUNAR RENDEZVOUS FESTIVAL HAS BEEN AWARDED $1 MILLION IN NEED-BASEDSCHOLARSHIPS THAT HAVE MADE AN IMPACT ON THE LIVES AND FUTURE OF MANY STUDENTS. WE HAVE MICHAEL ENDO, WHO IS THE BOARD CHAIR. GOOD TO SEE YOU. AND MISS KIPY CARAWAY, BOARD MEMBER, AND 
          TERRY DIESTE. >> YOU WERE CLOSE. 
          >> >> HERE TODAY TO RECEIVE THE 
          RESOLUTION. >> THE FESTIVAL WAS ESTABLISHED IN 1965 AS NON-PROFIT TO PRESERVE HISTORICAL ACCOMPLISHMENTS IN THE SPACE SCIENCES IN THE BAY AREA, STARTING WITH GEMINI SIX AND GEMINI 7 SPACE MISSIONS. SO, THE FESTIVAL ORGANIZES FINANCIAL GRANTS TO MAINTAIN COMMUNITY PROGRAMS AND ORGANIZATIONS, AND MR. LANDO IS ALSO A GREAT AMERICAN BECAUSE HE WAS ONE OF OUR ASTRONAUTS. SO, AND WE WON'T HOLD IT AGAINST YOU THAT YOU WERE FROM LOUISIANA STATE, BUT NONE THE LESS, YOU ARE A GREAT STAR HERE. SO, CONGRATULATIONS. I WILL TURN THE FLOOR OVER TO YOU GUYS. 
          >> THANK YOU, COMMISSION SH THANK YOU FOR RECOGNIZING THE IMPORTANCE THE FESTIVAL HAS TO THE BAY AREA AND NASA AND FOR HONORING US WITH THE RESOLUTION ON THE 60TH ANNIVERSARY OF THIS 
          [05:00:04]
NON-PROFIT, ALL VOLUNTEER ORGANIZATION. WE VERY PROUDLY HONOR OUR JUNIORS IN HIGH SCHOOL WITH, SCHOLARSHIPS SENIOR YEAR, AND THE REST OF OUR MONEY GOES TO THE ARTS. SO, COMMISSIONER, JUDGE HIDALGO, COMMISSIONER ELLIS, COMMISSIONER RAMSEY, COMMISSIONER BRIONES, THANK YOU ALL FOR BEING A PART OF THIS RESOLUTION. TO SAVE TIME INSTEAD OF THREE SPEAKERS YOU WILL HAVE ONE. BUT ONE THING I WOULD LIKE TO DO, BECAUSE OF THE HARD WORK THAT EACH AND EVERY ONE OF THESE INDIVIDUALS DOES, YOU MET OUR BOARD CHAIRMAN, MICHAEL LANDAUD, BOARD ADVISORY CHAIRMAN, TERRY, AND I WANT YOU TO MEET OUR KING, RICHARD MILLER, WHO WE RECOGNIZE A BUSINESS PERSON IN OUR COMMUNITY EVERY YEAR AND IT IS A KING THIS YEAR, RICHARD MILLER, HIS WIFE, JANA MILLER ON THE ADVISORY BOARD&KATIE JONES, OUR PAST GENERAL CHAIRMAN, AND JOE REASON ON OUR ADVISORY BOARD, AND JILL WILLIAMS, WHO IS AN OUR ADVISORY BOARD. SO, YOU CAN SEE YOU HAVE A LOT OF THE LEADERS THAT HAVE CARRIED THIS ON, I HAVE BEEN INVOLVED WITH THIS ORGANIZATION FOR 45 YEARS. SO, LOT OF BLOOD, LOT OF SWEAT, LOT OF TEARS , LOT OF GOOD FRIENDS ARE MADE THROUGH THIS ORGANIZATION. WE SO DO APPRECIATE YOU, COMMISSIONER, AND ALL THAT YOU DO IN OUR AREA, TO HELP US MAKE A STRONG AND VIBRANT AND ALONG WITH THIS FINE ORGANIZATION, WE HONOR ASTRONAUTS AND YOUTH AND ARTS AND COMMUNITY. TOGETHER WE WILL STAY STRONG. SO THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR SERVICE, AND THANK YOU 
          FOR HAVING US TODAY. >> CONGRATULATIONS. CONTINUE 
          SUCCESS. >> I HOPE WE BROUGHT EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU ONE OF OUR 60TH ANNIVERSARY BOOKLETS AND I HOPE YOU-- GREAT. SO YOU DID RECEIVE IT. SO, I HOPE YOU WILL COME 
          JOIN US NEXT SUMMER. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU. 
          >> FOR THE ASTRONAUT, I MEAN, SO COOL. I AM GOING TO BEE-LINE FOR 
          YOU. >> SORRY. 
          >> FORMER ASTRONAUT, WHEN WE TAKE THE PICTURE IT IS EXCITING. 
          ANYWAY. THANK YOU ALL. >> COMMISSIONER RAMSEY, IS THAT 
          RIGHT? DO YOU HAVE ANOTHER ONE? >> COMMISSIONER RAMSEY. 
          >> QUICKLY, IT IS NOT OFTEN YOU WIN A STATE CHAMPIONSHIP. BUT WHEN TWO TEAMS FROM THE SAME HIGH SCHOOL WIN IN THE SAME YEAR, THAT IS EXTRA ORDINARY. I SEE OUR KINGWOOD BASEBALL TEAM IS COMING DOWN, OUR KINGWOOD SOFTBALL TEAM IS COMING DOWN, AND THEIR COACHES. I THINK WE HAVE GRAHAM, EVAN, WILL, AND SOFTBALL WE HAVE KENDALL, HUNTER, AND FRAY. IT IS JUST EXTRA ORDINARY. I KNOW ANYBODY THAT HAS PLAYED SPORTS, TO WIN STATE IN ANYTHING, TO GO TO STATE, BUT TO WIN IT, WIN IT ALL, AND FOR TWO TEAMS TO HAPPEN IN THE SAME YEAR, THE KINGWOOD HIGH MUSTANGS CAPTURED THE 2025 DIVISION 6A DIVISION TWO BASEBALL CHAMPIONSHIP BY DEFEATING ANOTHER PRECINCT SCHOOL, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS TOMBALL, BUT THEY WERE RUNNERS UP. MUSTANGS FINISHED THE SEASON WITH 39 AND 4 RECORD. THE TEAM OPENED THE SEASON WITH A 16-GAME WINNING STREAK, END OF THE SEASON 16 GAME WINNING STREAK, EXTRA ORDINARY. I HAD THE PRIVILEGE OF TALKING TO CRAIG REYNOLDS WHO LIVES IN THAT AREA, VERY, VERY ACTIVE OUT THERE ON HIS BASEBALL CAREER. HE WAS PROUD OF YOU GUYS AS WELL. SO, CONGRATULATIONS, COACH. WE ARE DOING THIS KIND OF DUAL DEAL. VAUBL, THEY WON THE 2025 YEAR, 6A DIVISION II DEFEATING MORNY HIGH SCHOOL IN AUSTIN Y. TRY NOT TO GO THERE VERY OFTEN. WHEREAS THE LADY MUSTANGS UNDER THE DIRECTION OF HEAD COACH CHRISA WILLIAMS YATES, A TWO-TIME OLYMPIC GOLD MEDALIST FINISHED THE SEASON WITH AN IMPRESSIVE 34 WINS, FOUR LOSSES, AND ONE TIE, AND WAS UNDEFEATED IN POST SEASON. SO, IT IS JUST GREAT TO SEE SUCH TALENT PLAY OUT ON THE FIELD. I CAN ONLY IMAGINE THE HARD WORK IT TOOK TO GET THERE. 
          SO THANK YOU FOR REPRESENTING HARRIS COUNTY, THANK YOU FOR 
          [05:05:05]
REPRESENTING THIS AREA. WE DON'T LIKE THOSE NORTH TEXAS TEAMS WINNING AS MUCH AS THEY DO. IT IS NICE TO SEE TWO GREAT TEAMS. SO, THANK YOU VERY MUCH. AND PLEASE, PLEASE SHARE SOME 
          REMARKS. >> GOOD AFTERNOON, ON BEHALF OF KINGWOOD HIGH SCHOOL, MY NAME IS COACH ROYALS, HEAD BASEBALL COACH KINGWOOD AND MRS. YATES IS HERE WITH SOFTBALL. WE APPRECIATE YOU TAKING THE TIME TO RECOGNIZE THE STUDENT ATHLETES. GREAT YEAR, WE HAD TO FINISH THE SCHOOL YEAR ON A POSITIVE NOTE. NOT ONLY ARE WE PROUD OF ACCOMPLISHMENTS ON THE FIELD, WE HAVE ACADEMIC ALL AMERICANS, ALL STATE PICKS TWO STATE GAMES ON BOTH SIDES OF MY SHOULDERS WHICH WE COULDN'T BE MORE PROUD OF. NOT ONLY THAT, BUT THE SERVICE THEY GIVE TO OUR COMMUNITY IS HUNDREDS OF HOURS THAT WE DO NOT ONLY AS AN INDIVIDUAL TEAM, BUT TOGETHER. EVERYTHING WE DO, BASEBALL AND SOFTBALL WORK TOGETHER AND IT IS NIGHTTIME AND UIL HISTORY, WON BOTH THE SAME YEAR, WE COULDN'T BE MORE PROUD OF THEIR ACCOMPLISHMENTS. THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR HAVING US OUT. 
          >> CONGRATULATIONS. 
          ASK THIS, IS ANY OF THEM GOING TO A&M? 
          >> NOT YET. NOT YET. >> REMEMBER, THERE IS ALWAYS THE 
          PORTAL. >> ALL SIX BEHIND US HAVE SIGNED SCHOLARSHIPS OR WILL BE SIGNING, THEY IS A FEW OFFERS UNDER THEIR BELT. BASEBALL SIGN, GRAHAM COMMITTED TO BAYLOR AND WILL IS GOING TO SAN HOUSTON STATE. REPRESENTING TEXAS PRETTY WELL. 
          >> Y'ALL, I THOUGHT, SO, COMMISSIONER RAMSEY POSTED AN ITEM FOR EACH WIN, AND I THOUGHT COMMISSIONER, MAYBE, TWO OF YOUR STAFF MEMBERS SUBMITTED THE SAMITEM, BECAUSE IT WAS THERE TWICE, I AM LOOKING AND LOOKING, YOU KNOW, YOU DON'T MAKE THESE KINDS OF MISTAKES. I COULDN'T BELIEVE IT IS BOTH TEAMS FROM THE SAME SCHOOL. I MEAN, THIS IS SO AMAZING. EVERYONE, WE ARE SO PROUD OF YOU ALL. IT IS NOT EASY AND SPORTS IS A MENTAL GAME TOO. 
          SO I JUST KNOW YOU ALL HAVE SUCH A BRIGHT FUTURE, WHETHER IT BE IN SPORTS OR OTHERWISE, MAN, THE FACT THERE IS A GOLD MEDALIST HERE. THAT IS JUST INCREDIBLE. LETS GIVE A ROUND OF APPLAUSE. 
          >> THANK YOU, SXHIGZER. >> AMAZING, CONGRATS. 
          >> COMMISSIONER BRIONES, DID YOU ANOTHER? 
          >> WE ARE GOOD. WE MERGED IT. >> THANK YOU. 
          >> COMMISSIONER RAMSEY? WE ARE GOOD? 
          >> WE ARE KNOWING TO TAKE PICTURES IN THE ORDER IN WHICH FOLKS CAME UP. 
          [Departments (Part 3 of 3)]
          [05:17:02]
          >> OKAY. HOW MUCH MONEY DID YOU SAY YOU WERE GOING TO SAVE? $25 
          [05:17:07]
MILLION? I AM JUST ASKING. SO THIS $25 WILL GIVE US A BALANCED BUDGET AND HIS $31 JUST TURNED INTO $17. WHERE ARE WE GOING TO 
          GET THE MONEY FROM? >> SO, COMMISSIONER, IT MAY BE 
          $17 TO START THE FISCAL YEAR. >> IF YOU COUNT THE BALANCED BUDGET MAKING FREEZES AND YOU ARE SAYING THEY CAN COME BACK AND SAY IT IS A CRITICAL POSITION. WE HAVE GOT TO FILL IT . I ASSUME THIS WILL MAKE IT A LITTLE EASIER TO VOTE FOR THE FREEZE. THE OTHER SIDE IS WE ARE PENALIZING PEOPLE WHO ARE BEING METHODICAL ABOUT WHO THEY PICK. YOU KNOW? OR THEY DIDN'T NEED THEM TO BEGIN WITH BUT THEN YOU ARE SAYING WE ARE GOING TO COME BACK. WHERE WILL THE MONEY COME FROM? I WANT TO MAKE SURE THERE IS NOT SOME MONEY LAYING AROUND I HAVEN'T HEARD ABOUT. 
          >> THERE WOULD NEED TO BE SOME DISCIPLINE AROUND NOT SAYING YES 
          TO EVERYTHING. >> WE HAVE TO CUT SOMETHING 
          ELSE? >> IF WE AREN'T ABLE -- IF WE SAID TO YES TO EVERY EXEMPTION THAT IS REQUESTED. 
          >> OKAY. IF WE SAY YES TO HALF OF THEM, HOW WOULD YOU MAKE UP FOR THAT MONEY THAT WE ARE ANTICIPATING WE WON'T SPEND BY FREEZING THE POSITIONS IF WE MAKE A CHANGE ON A POSITION? YOU GOT ME? SO IF I WAS FREEZING MY STAFF AND I CAME BACK AND SAID I GOT TO HAVE THESE FIVE PEOPLE, WHERE WOULD THE MONEY COME FROM? 
          >> WE LIKELY WOULD HAVE TO GO TO RESERVES OR DO CUTS. 
          >> ON THIS ISSUE, IF WE FINISH RESOLUTIONS -- LET'S JUST FINISH THIS. I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE, COLLEAGUES, AS WE GO THROUGH IT, WE ARE NOT BEING IN DREAMLAND. IF WE ARE BALANCING A BUDGET AND PART OF THIS WOULD BE CUTS, A FREEZE IN POSITIONS. IF YOU UNFREEZE IT, YOU HAVE GOT TO MAKE UP FOR THAT SOMEWHERE. NOW, YOU HAVE BAKED IN THE SALARY INCREASE FOR THE CONSTABLES. 
          CORRECT? >> SELVES? 
          >> THEMSELVES. ELECTED CONSTABLES. 
          >> SO FOR THE CONSTABLES SPECIFICALLY, THEY OFFERED AT THEIR LAST HEARING TO TAKE IT OUT OF THEIR EXISTING BUDGET. 
          >> OKAY. IF THEIR SALARIES GO UP, I ASK FOR RECOMMENDATIONS FROM ALL THESE OTHER ELECTED OFFICIALS AND I AM GOING TO MAKE THAT MOTION. WHERE WOULD THAT MONEY COME FROM? 
          >> WE WOULD RECOMMEND AGAIN TO TAKE IT OUT OF THE $50 MILLION WE HAVE SET ASIDE FOR IMPLEMENTING THE STUDY. 
          [05:20:01]
          >> SO $50 MILLION WAS SET ASIDE FOR PAY EQUITY. A STUDY I ASKED FOR -- WAS IT FIVE YEARS AGO? IT WAS BEFORE YOU WERE HERE. IS 
          THAT RIGHT? >> THIS IS MY FOURTH BUDGET 
          CYCLE. >> I GUESS I HAVE BEEN HERE A AND HALF YEARS. IT MAY HAVE BEEN EIGHT YEARS. I DON'T KNOW. LONG TIME AGO. THEN YOU WOULD SAY IF YOU GO TO A PAY RAISE, WE CAME IN AND SPENT $100 MILLION FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT INCREASES. THEN ELECTED OFFICIALS CAME IN AND SAID THEY WANT TO RAISE OUR SALARIES. OBVIOUSLY, WE TALK ABOUT PAY EQUITY. HOW DOES THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY, THE COUNTY ATTORNEY, TAX ASSESSOR, VOTER REGISTRAR, YOU KNOW, MY MOTION WAS COME BACK. I DON'T THINK WE OUGHT TO BE DOING ANY RAISES ON ELECTED OFFICIALS BUT IF WE ARE I'M GOING TO MAKE A MOTION TO SAY GIVE THAT SAME AMOUNT. YOU RECOMMEND TAKING THAT OUT OF THE PAY EQUITY MONEY FOR THE PEOPLE AT THE BOTTOM WHERE WE HAVE ALREADY GIVEN UNPRECEDENTED PAY RACES -- RAISES TO EXECUTIVE POSITIONS? 
          >> THAT IS WHERE WE DID IT IN THE PAST. 
          >> SO WE TOOK THE MONEY TO RAISE YOUR SALARY AND OTHER EXECUTIVES OUT OF THE POT OF MONEY WHICH WAS FOR PAY EQUITY FOR PEOPLE AT THE BOTTOM REPAID FOLKS AT THE TOP? 
          >> I DON'T BELIEVE SO. THAT WAS THE FISCAL YEAR BEFORE. SORRY. I WAS REFERRING GREATLY TO LAST TIME WE GAVE AND TRUCK AFFECTED LSO SALARY INCREASE. 
          >> OKAY. I WANT TO MAKE SURE WE DON'T RUSH TO THIS BECAUSE COMING UP AT THE NEXT MEETING IT IS KIND OF DO OR DIE OR WE HAVE TO SCHEDULE ANOTHER MEETING TO GO INTO IT. OKAY. I HAVE SOME OTHER COLLEAGUES BUT I WILL WAIT UNTIL MY COLLEAGUES SPEAK. 
          >> DIRECTOR RAMEAU'S, DEPARTMENT TEAM MEMBERS, OUR FIVE OFFICES, I MEAN, IT REALLY HAS BEEN A TEAM EFFORT TO GET HERE AND I APPRECIATE YOUR TIRELESS WORK. I HAVE SEVERAL QUESTION TO WALK TO AS CLEARLY AS POSSIBLE SO THAT WE CAN LEVEL SET FOR THE PUBLIC AND ALL WHO MAY BE LISTENING. SO FIRST OF ALL, COULD YOU PLEASE GO THROUGH SOME OF THE KEY EFFICIENCIES THAT ARE OUTLINED IN THE BUDGET BOOK? 
          >> SO TO RECONCILE FROM THAT ORIGINAL CLS ESTIMATE, WE RECEIVED -- WE ENDED UP RECEIVING $28 MILLION MORE THAN ANTICIPATED AS PART OF OUR TAX RATE. 836 TOTAL WHEN YOU FACTOR IN THE NNR. SALE OF A BUILDING FOR $18 MILLION AND WE HAD OTHER REVENUE INCREASES FOR $13. FROM THAT ORIGINAL $275 ESTIMATE, THE PAY PARITY WAS $41 MILLION. WE ARE RECOMMENDING $61 MILLION OF DEPARTMENTAL CUTS. $31 MILLION IN COUNTYWIDE SAVING. $20 MILLION FOR OUR PART RELOCATION. $40 MILLION FROM THE JUSTICE COURT SUPPORT FUND. REVIEW SING OUR PICK CONTRIBUTION BY $10 MILLION. THEN $10 MILLION IN OTHER SAVINGS. 
          >> THANK YOU. >> SO TO DRILL INTO THIS TARGETED, THOUGHTFUL, LIMITED HIRING FREEZE THAT WILL NOT AFFECT MISSION-CRITICAL POSITIONS, BASED ON OUR MULTIPLE CONVERSATIONS, SO, IF FOR EXAMPLE SOMEONE RETIRES, YOU CAN FILL THAT SAME POSITION. IT IS JUST DON'T COME FOR NEW 
          POSITIONS. CORRECT? >> NO. THE IDEA BEHIND THE HIRING FREEZE IS IF A POSITION IS VACANT OR BECOMES VACANT IF IT IS NOT ALREADY EXEMPTED BY COURT, IT WILL COME BACK TO 
          COURT FOR COURT'S APPROVAL. >> YES. 
          >> IT WOULD MOVE FORWARD. >> CAN YOU PLEASE TALK TO HISTORICAL SURPLUSES AND HOW YOU USE THAT DATA TO MAKE 
          RECOMMENDATIONS, PLEASE? >> SO THIRD QUARTER PROJECTIONS. 
          WE HAD SOME AREAS. OVERBUDGET. BUT, FOR THE MOST PART -- AND THEN COURT MADE SUPPLEMENTAL APPROPRIATIONS THROUGHOUT THE YEAR BUT FOR THE DEPARTMENT THAT DID NOT RECEIVE IT A CUMULATIVELY IT WAS ABOUT $57 MILLION WORTH OF SURPLUSES THAT OFFSET THE ADDITIONAL SPENDING IN SOME OF THESE AREAS. 
          [05:25:01]
          >> OKAY. AND YOU ARE SAYING SEPARATE AND APART? CORRECT? 
          >> CORRECT. FOR ALL THE DEPARTMENT THAT DID NOT RECEIVE A SUPPLEMENTAL, THERE WAS A CUMULATIVELY A $57 MILLION 
          SURPLUS. >> OKAY. $57 MILLION SURPLUS. 
          SO, IN TERMS OF, WE HAD OTHER APARTMENTS GO THROUGH THE CLS EXERCISES. IT'S NOT AN AUTOMATIC, MONOLITHIC CUT. SO CAN YOU PLEASE TALK US THROUGH WHAT PERCENTAGE OF THE ACCEPTED BUDGET OFFSETS OR COST TRANSFERS TO ALTERNATIVE FUNDING SOURCES? 
          >> IT IS OVER $30 MILLION. >> OKAY. AND CAN YOU TALK THROUGH TO THE PUBLIC WHAT THAT MEANS? CAN YOU GIVE US SOME 
          ILLUSTRATIVE EXAMPLES? >> SURE. 
          >> SO THERE IS A BALANCE IN THE FIRE CODE FUND THAT WE ARE ABLE TO CHARGE FOLKS WHO DO THAT WORK FOR $3.4 MILLION. THE BIGGEST ONE WAS $18 MILLION FOR THE JUSTICE OF THE PEACE. $40 MILLION IN THE JUSTICE SUPPORT FUND. THEN $4 MILLION IN EXPECTED REVENUE. I WOULD SAY THOSE ARE THE TWO BIGGEST. AND THEN WE HAD BETWEEN $3 AND $5 MILLION OF COST TO OUR CIP. 
          >> THANK YOU. SAVINGS LINKED TO TECHNOLOGY, IN TERMS OF ASSETS AND ALSO LICENSES, SOFTWARE, ET CETERA. I BELIEVE IT IS A PROPOSED APPROXIMATE $10 MILLION? 
          >> YEP. THERE IS A COUPLE THINGS THAT COME IN HERE AND I WANT TO THANK DIRECTOR FOR THE WORK SHE HAS COME IN ON. COMPANIES THAT WE HAD LONG-TERM AGREEMENTS WITH WHERE WE WERE ABLE TO RENEGOTIATE FOR A BETTER PRICE OR BE ABLE TO SHED UNNECESSARY -- UNNECESSARY LICENSES. WE ALSO WORKED TOWARDS CAPITALIZING ALL OF OUR LAPTOP PURCHASES SO WE COULD GET, ONE FROM A BETTER PRICE. TWO, MAKE IT MORE MANAGEABLE. SHRINKING THE NUMBER OF TYPES OF LAPTOPS THAT UNIVERSAL SERVICES AND THE DEPARTMENTS HAVE TO MANAGE, WHICH WAS ALSO PROBLEMATIC. THAT WAS A CUMULATIVE OF 4 1/2 MILLION DOLLARS. 
          >> I HAVE OTHER QUESTIONS BUT MY COLLEAGUES HAVE ALL FLAGGED SO I WILL COME BACK AGAIN. YOU ARE ONE OF THE MVPS HERE. 
          >> COMMISSIONER RAMSEY AND THEN GARCIA. 
          >> DIRECTOR RAMEAU'S, YOU AND YOUR TEAM HAVE DONE A GOOD JOB OF PUTTING ON THE TABLE A BALANCED BUDGET. I KNOW WHAT WE STARTED THIS A FEW MONTHS BACK AND YOU ROLLED OUT YOUR CONTINUED LEVEL OF SERVICE AND I REFER TO IT HAS CONTINUED LEVEL OF SPENDING. AND WE HAVE WORKED THROUGH THAT PROCESS. THERE HAS BEEN NUMBERS PUT UP. $270 MILLION. $220 MILLION. AS A RESULT OF LAST QUARTER, IT WAS $48 MILLION. TODAY, JUST TO BE SURE WE ARE CLEAR, THE BUDGET THAT YOU HAVE POSTED WITH MUCH THOUGHT, WITH MUCH DETAIL, IS A NO DEFICIT BUDGET. IS THAT 
          CORRECT? >> BUDGET THAT IS BEING PROPOSED 
          TODAY IS BALANCED . >> IT'S A BALANCED BUDGET. 
          THANK YOU. WHEN I LOOK AT A LOT OF WHAT HAS BEEN SAID TODAY, I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE WE UNDERSTAND FROM A REVENUE SIDE SINCE 2019, HARRIS COUNTY HAS INCREASED REVENUES BY A NUMBER OF $750 MILLION. COLLECTIVE $750 MILLION IN REVENUE. SO , WHEN WE TALK ABOUT, WELL, WE REALLY HAVEN'T GENERATED A LOT OF REVENUE. $750 MILLION COMPARED TO WHAT WE WERE DOING IN 2019, THAT IS A 30-40% INCREASE. SO REVENUE IS COMING INTO THE COUNTY. THERE IS MANY PROGRAMS THAT WE HAVE GOT IT. WE HAVE ALWAYS KNOWN THAT WE HAVE GOT THIS BEHEMOTH OVER HERE CALLED ARPA. WE HAD ALL THE PROGRAMS BEING FUNDED BY ARPA. ARPA WAS A BILLION DOLLARS IN GRANT MONEY THAT CAME TO US. AND PUT INTO MANY PROGRAMS. IT WAS ALWAYS KNOWN THOSE PROGRAMS, THOSE PROGRAMS WERE ALL -- ALWAYS GOING TO BE THERE. I RECOGNIZE MY COMMISSIONER COLLEAGUE IN WHAT THEY DO IN THE PRECINCTS. 
          WE HAVE A 2% IN OUR PRECINCTS OF THE TOTAL BUDGET. THAT -- THE 
          [05:30:09]
TOTAL BUDGET IS $2.8 BILLION. TAKEN AND USED BY THE FOUR PRECINCTS TO DO WHAT I THINK IS SOME PRETTY AMAZING THINGS. WE HAVE HEARD TESTIMONY TODAY OF WHAT THAT IS. WHETHER IT IS A COMMUNITY CENTER OR BUSES OR PERKS OR ROADS OR DRAINS. A LOT OF THOSE DOLLARS. SO WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT ALL THIS MONEY RUNNING AROUND OUT HERE, I THINK THE COMMISSIONERS HAVE DONE A GOOD JOB WITH THEIR BUDGETS RESPONDING. IN FACT, MOST IF NOT ALL OF THE PHONE CALLS I GET IN MY OFFICE ARE RELATED TO THINGS WE DO WITH THAT 2%. SO THAT IS A JOB WELL DONE, COMMISSIONERS. I APPRECIATE YOUR FOCUS ON THAT. AND A COUPLE OF OTHER THINGS. 
          TWO YEARS AGO I USED THE TERM, HEY, WHY DON'T WE HAVE ALL THESE UNFILLED POSITIONS OUT HERE? WHY DON'T WE START ELIMINATING A LOT OF UNFILLED POSITIONS? AND WE DID THAT AND MUCH OF WHAT I THINK YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT HERE, I THINK THERE HAS BEEN THE FREEZING TERM AND YOU ARE GETTING CLARIFICATION ON WHAT THAT IS BUT A LOT OF THAT IS ELIMINATING POSITIONS. I KNOW WHEN I HAVE RUN OUT OF POSITIONS I HAVE HAD TO COME TO COURT. IF I HAVE ANOTHER POSITION I NEED TO DO I HAVE TO COME TO COURT. I DON'T THINK HAVING A POSITION APPROVED IS NECESSARILY A BAD THING. IT IS PROBABLY A HELPFUL THING IN TERMS OF PLANNING. YOU LOOK FORWARD. YOU GOT A POSITION. SO, IF THAT IS WHAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT IN TERMS OF A HIRING FREEZE, I WOULD TERM IT STRATEGIC MANAGEMENT OF UNFILLED POSITIONS MIGHT BE A BETTER -- A BETTER TERM FOR IT. BUT, WHEN I ALSO CONSIDER A LOT OF WHAT WE TALKED ABOUT TODAY, WHAT ARE OFFICERS, SHERIFF'S DEPUTIES, CONSTABLES DEPUTIES, THE LAW ENFORCEMENT TEAM, AND UNINCORPORATED HARRIS COUNTY. 
          THIS IS IMPORTANT TO KNOW. THERE IS MORE PEOPLE LIVING UNINCORPORATED HARRIS COUNTY THEN -- THAN LIVE IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON. THAT IS A HUGE RESPONSIBILITY. AND DID YOU KNOW THE CRIME RATE IN UNINCORPORATED HARRIS COUNTY IS ONE QUARTER OF WHAT IT IS IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON. AND YOU KNOW WHO I GIVE CREDIT TO? THE SHERIFF'S DEPUTIES AND THE CONSTABLES DEPUTIES AND THE PATROLS AND ALL THE GREAT THINGS THEY ARE DOING IN UNINCORPORATED HARRIS COUNTY. SO THERE HAS BEEN A LOT OF THINGS SAID ABOUT DATA-DRIVEN. WE ARE MAKING NEIGHBORHOODS SAFER AND IT IS A BOTTOM LINE. A LOT OF WHAT OUR OFFICERS ARE OUT THERE DOING. I ALSO HEARD AND I'LL QUICKLY GET TO A QUICK SLIDE. I KNOW I'M NOT EVER SUPPOSED TO HAVE A POWERPOINT. 
          ONE SLIDE EVEN. BUT I WILL HAVE ONE AND THEN MOVE ON. THERE WAS A REFERENCE MADE THIS MORNING AND THROUGH THE DAY. REFERENCING A COUPLE OF THINGS. JUST FOR THE RECORD, JUVENILE PROBATION IS NOT BEING CUT, PERIOD. I HAVE READ -- I HAVE READ THE BUDGET I'VE LOOKED AT. IT IS NOT BEING CUT. LIBRARY IS NOT BEING CUT. 
          SO THOSE ARE A COUPLE THINGS YOU NEED TO BE SURE WE GET THE CORRECT INFORMATION OUT THERE AND, DIRECTOR, YOU HAVE PROVIDED A LIST I MIGHT READ OF ALL THE INCREASES AND DECREASES AND CUTS YOU HAVE HAD. A LOT OF THE CUTS ARE PRETTY LOW IMPACT ON SERVICES. THEY ARE PRETTY, I THINK, EFFICIENT, EFFECTIVE, AND I APPLAUD YOU FOR THAT. AND I AM GOING TO WRAP UP WITH EVERYTHING, EXCUSE ME, THAT YOU HAVE DONE, EVERYTHING THAT YOUR TEAM HAS DONE, REALLY, WE ARE GOING INTO A WEEK OR MORE OF PUBLIC HEARINGS ON THE BUDGET. SO THERE IS STILL MORE BETTING OF THIS BALANCED BUDGET THAT YOU PUT ON THE TABLE. MORE BETTING THAT NEEDS TO HAPPEN. BUT JUST SO YOU KNOW, $71 MILLION THAT I HAVE IDENTIFIED IN OTHER CUTS THAT WE COULD TALK ABOUT IT. I WILL CONTINUE TO TALK ABOUT IT. I'VE GOT A LIST HERE. I WILL HAND IT OUT AGAIN TODAY. I WILL POST THIS AND DISTRIBUTE THIS IN TERMS OF THOSE CUTS. BUT THE PREFERENCE AND I WILL BE DONE. 
          $30 MILLION IN EQUITY INCREASES. LAST YEAR, IT WAS MY UNDERSTANDING THAT WE HAD A $50 MILLION SET ASIDE FOR PAY EQUITY. AND WHEN WE -- AND I THINK THIS IS ONE COMMISSIONER ELLIS AND I ACTUALLY VOTED TOGETHER AND WE VOTED TO GIVE ANYBODY THAT MADE LESS THAN $75,000 A 7% INCREASE. DIRECTOR, 
          [05:35:02]
PAY THAT OUT OF THE PAY EQUITY SET-ASIDE? I THINK WE DID. 
          RIGHT? >> SORRY, COMMISSIONER. 
          >> SO POINT OF MAKING THAT PAYMENT LAST YEAR INCREASING DAY 7%, EVERYBODY THAT MADE $75,000 OR LESS, THEY GOT AN INCREASE. 
          SO I LOOK AT THAT AS A FIRST GREAT EFFORT AT PAY EQUITY, STARTING FROM THE BOTTOM. NOT FROM THE TOP. WE HAVE GOT SOME WORK TO DO ON THE TOP . COMMISSIONER, I AGREE WITH YOU. 
          AT LEAST I KNOW LAST YEAR WE DID START AND MORE THAN 70% OF THE PEOPLE IN HARRIS COUNTY MAKE LESS THAN $75,000. SO WE GOT 25% LEFT, GIVE OR TAKE. 25% LEFT. WE KNOW THAT SOME OF THOSE, WE NEED TO GO BACK AND TAKE A LOOK AT. I AM ONLY SAYING SET-ASIDE OF $50 MILLION TO TAKE CARE OF 25% IS PROBABLY EXCESSIVE. AND PARTICULARLY IN THIS TIME, THAT'S WHY I SAID THE $30 MILLION MIGHT BE SOMETHING WE SHOULD CONSIDER. STILL NEED $20 MILLION IN THE POT. THE $10 MILLION THERE IS OUTSIDE CONSULTING FIRMS. CONTRACTS. WE COULD LOOK AT IT. THAT WOULDN'T BE ALL OF THEM WHETHER IT IS CONSULTING GROUP. WE KNOW WE ARE NOT GOING TO WORK WITH KORN FERRY ANYMORE. BUT SOME OF THOSE FIRMS WE KNOW WE PAY A LOT OF MONEY TO, I'M NOT SURE IF WE GOT A LOT OF BENEFIT. HEART. I WILL NOT GO INTO THAT. MY POINT WITH HARD AS WE ALSO HAVE CERT, AND IT IS A AWARD-WINNING ONE. 
          WE NEED TO BE CAREFUL WE DON'T DUPLICATE THINGS. $4.9 MILLION , STAFF AUGMENTATION. THIS IS TEMP STAFFING. AND THAT IS ONLY 10% OF THE TEMPORARY STAFFING WE HAVE GOTTEN THE COUNTRY. THAT IS $4.9 MILLION. THEN THE ATMAN STATE OF BLOW I THINK IS EASILY IDENTIFIED AS YOU GO DOWN TO SOME OF THESE DEPARTMENTS. SO I AM LOOKING FORWARD TO THE NEXT WEEK OF MEETINGS. I THINK THERE IS PROBABLY SOME OTHER AREAS WE CAN LOOK TO FREE UP SOME MONEY AND PUT THEM ON SOME OF THESE BASIC SERVICES. THANK YOU FOR 
          THESE EFFORTS. >> THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER. 
          >> MS. RAMOS, I THINK YOU AND YOUR STAFF FOR THE WORK YOU HAVE DONE. AND I WANT TO THANK THE DIRECTORS FOR THEIR RESPECTIVE WORK ON THIS BUDGET AS WELL. AND I JUST WANT TO ECHO THE COMMENTS OF COMMISSIONER RAMSEY THAT, AND MS. RAMOS, THAT WE HAVE A BUDGET OR THE MAKINGS OF ONE. AND, IN DOING SO, WE ARE KEEPING CORE SERVICES. KEEPING THEM. NOT ONLY KEEPING THEM, BUT WE ARE KEEPING THEM STRONG. THIS PLAN WILL PROTECT LIBRARIES, COMMUNITY CENTERS, AND PUBLIC HEALTH, WHILE STILL BEING ABLE TO EXPAND THOSE THINGS THAT DO WORK LIKE HEART, WHICH WILL BE A COUNTYWIDE PROGRAM THAT NOT ONLY SAVES MONEY BUT ALSO WILL BE SAVING LIVES. SO I APPLAUD ALL THE OFFICERS WHO WORKED MONTHS TOGETHER TO COME UP WITH IDEAS AND APPROACHES TO GETTING US TO THIS PLACE WHERE I HAVE BEEN AROUND TOUGH BUDGETS BEFORE AND THERE HAS BEEN VERY LITTLE UNREASONABLE PAIN ASSOCIATED WITH THIS PARTICULAR BUDGET IN COMPARISON TO THOSE THAT HAVE BEEN DONE IN YEARS PAST SO I APPLAUD EVERYONE WHO HAS WORKED TOGETHER. AND SO THIS IS -- AND LOOK. WHATEVER THE ECONOMIC CIRCUMSTANCE MAY BE, THERE IS NEVER ENOUGH MONEY TO DO THE THINGS THAT WE WOULD LIKE TO DO. BUT IT IS IMPERATIVE, I THINK, THAT WE WORK LIKE OUR RESIDENTS AND WORK WITHIN OUR MEANS. AND I THINK THAT THIS BUDGET DEFINITELY SHOWS THAT WHILE WE HAVE INTERESTS IN AREAS LIKE HEART, LIKE PUBLIC HEALTH, LIKE KEEPING OUR LIBRARIES MOVING AND WORKING AND TAKING CARE OF THE PRECINCTS WHERE THE ESSENTIAL OF CORE SERVICES IS ACTUALLY BEING DELIVERED. THAT WE CAN SET THOSE PRIORITIES AND THEN STILL HAVE A BUDGET THAT MEETS THE NEEDS AND THE PROGRAMS THAT WE BELIEVE CAN BEST HELP AND SUPPORT THE COMMUNITY. TO THAT END, MS. 
          [05:40:05]
RAMOS, IN THIS BUDGET, I KNOW THAT COUNTY ENGINEERING HAS BEEN WORKING ON A FEE ENHANCEMENT. I HAVE MET WITH SOME OF THE STAKEHOLDERS THERE IN SUPPORT. HOWEVER, THEY DO HAVE SOME CAVEATS WHICH I SUPPORT. ONE IS THAT THEY SUPPORT THE FEE STRUCTURE BUT PHASED IN, NUMBER ONE. SECONDLY, THAT IF WE ARE GOING TO RAISE ENGINEERING FEES, THAT THE FEES BE REINVESTED BACK INTO THE PERMITTING DEPARTMENT. AND THIRDLY AND PROBABLY MOST IMPORTANTLY, THAT IT COMES WITH SOME ACCOUNTABILITY MEASURES THAT WILL SHOW THE ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT IS MEETING AND DEMONSTRATING A LEVEL OF PERFORMANCE. IS THAT IN THIS 
          BUDGET? >> SO WE DID ASSUME A FEE INCREASE IN THAT. I BELIEVE IT IS ABOUT 6 1/2 MILLION DOLLARS. 
          $1 MILLION OF THAT WAS SUPPOSED TO GO FOR SUPPLEMENTAL SERVICES. 
          I BELIEVE THE ITEM HAS STILL NOT COME BACK SO THERE'S TIME TO UPDATE IT. AS NECESSARY, WE WILL UPDATE THE BUDGET IF THOSE 
          CHANGES ARE MADE. >> THE DEAL. AND SO -- AND THEN, I GUESS, MR. DICKERSON, A FEW YEARS AGO, I THINK, WHEN MR. ALAMEDA'S -- ALAMEDA STEPPED INTO YOUR ROLE, THERE WAS AN INITIAL CONVERSATION ABOUT ASSETS TO WORK. WHERE ARE WE 
          WITH THAT? >> WE ARE MOVING FORWARD WITH THE FIRST TWO, I THINK WE CALLED THEM, YIELD ASSETS. MONETIZE THEM AND BRING IN ADDITIONAL REVENUE. AND THEN PASS THAT, WE HAVE A SET OF ASSETS WE HAVE TALKED TO YOUR OFFICES ABOUT. 
          THAT WILL GO MORE TOWARDS COMMUNITY BENEFIT THEN TOWARDS REVENUE. THE FIRST TWO, I THINK, BY THE END OF THE YEAR, THEY SHOULD BE OUT TO RFP WITH PARTNERS. LONG-TERM REVENUE INSTEAD OF IMMEDIATE SALES LIKE A 30 YEAR OR 50 YEAR LEASE. THAT WOULD BRING IN CONSISTENT REVENUE. WE SHOULD HAVE THOSE TWO HOPEFULLY BY THE END OF THE CALENDAR YEAR. 
          >> THAT IS WHAT? 2 1/2 YEARS IN THE MAKING? ANY REASON WE CAN'T 
          TAKE THAT ANYMORE? >> IT TOOK US A WHILE TO GET TO THE POINT OF GETTING THEM OUT FOR BID NOW. IT TOOK A LOT OF CAT HERDING AND I THINK THERE IS CONTINUED SUPPORT FOR THE PROGRAM FROM COURT. BUT, YOU KNOW, IF COURT WANTS US TO LOOK AT MORE YIELD TYPE ASSETS VERSUS COMMUNITY BENEFITS, WE CERTAINLY 
          COULD MAKE THAT CHANGE. >> THANK YOU. I WOULD LOVE TO CONTINUE TO WORK WITH YOU ON THIS IN PARTICULAR. AND I WENT TO -- WE HAD A CONVERSATION REGARDING THE ELECTED CONSTABLES BUDGET AND WHERE MIGHT VOTE WAS ALWAYS CONTINGENT ON. AND THAT IS TO ACHIEVE SOME CONSOLIDATION. CONSOLIDATION IN PROPERTY ROOMS. CONSOLIDATION IN DISPATCHING. AND I -- WE HAD AN INITIAL CONVERSATION. AND I'M HOPEFUL THAT THERE IS SINCERE EFFORT TO GET THERE. BUT I HAVE A MOTION. THERE IS A FYI FOR ALL THE ELECTED CONSTABLES. MY MEMORANDUM THAT HAS BEEN DRAFTED, WHICH I AM HOPING WILL BE SIGNED AND ACTUALLY WOULD NEED TO BE SIGNED BY FRIDAY TO GIVE THE BUDGET OFFICE TIME. NO LATER THAN THE CLOSE OF BUSINESS AT 5:00 P.M. AND I AM NOT SURE IF I NEED TO MAKE THAT MOTION NOW, RAMOS. 
          >> I DON'T THINK IT WOULD HURT. 
          >> MY MOTION IS TO DIRECT THE OFFICE OF COUNTY ADMINISTRATION AND OFFICE OF MANAGEMENT AND BUDGET TO CURRENTLY INCLUDE SALARIES AT THE CURRENT LEVEL. FOR CONSTABLES ONE THROUGH EIGHT IN THE PROPOSED BUDGET AND TO POST REQUIRED NOTICES PURSUANT TO LOCAL GOVERNMENT CODE CHAPTER 152. MOTION TO DIRECT THE OFFICE -- ONE MOTION. SECOND MOTION IS TO DIRECT OFFICE OF COUNTY ADMINISTRATION AND OFFICE OF MANAGEMENT AND BUDGET TO CHANGE SALARIES FOR CONSTABLES IN THE PROPOSED BUDGET TO $292,796 IF 
          [05:45:08]
-- IF THE CONSTABLES HAVE NOT ENTERED INTO A MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING TO CONSOLIDATE DISPATCH AND EVIDENCE ROOM SERVICES AND OPERATIONS BY FRIDAY, AUGUST 29TH, AT 5:00 P.M. AND TO POST REQUIRED NOTICES PURSUANT TO LOCAL 
          GOVERNMENT CODE CHAPTER 152. >> COMMISSIONER, JUST A CLARIFICATION. I THINK THE WORD NOT ON THE SECOND MOTION 
          SHOULDN'T BE IN THERE. >> TO HAVE ENTERED. YOU ARE RIGHT. I WILL READ IT AGAIN. MOTION TO DIRECT OFFICE OF COUNTY A MINISTRATION, OFFICE OF MANAGEMENT AND BUDGET, TO CHANGE SALARIES FOR CONSTABLES IN THE PROPOSED BUDGET TO $292,796 . IF THE CONSTABLES HAVE ENTERED INTO A MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING TO CONSOLIDATE DISPATCH AND EVIDENCE ROOM SERVICES AND OPERATIONS BY FRIDAY, AUGUST 29, AT 5:00 P.M. AND TO POST REQUIRED NOTICES PURSUANT TO LOCAL GOVERNMENT CODE CHAPTER 
          152. THOSE ARE TWO MOTIONS. >> AND, JUDGE, I WOULD RECOMMEND WE HOLD THAT UNTIL WE GET TO THE OFFICIAL SALARY WHERE WE TAKE 
          ACTION AT THAT POINT. >> IS THAT OKAY? YOU GUYS GOT 
          THE MOTION THOUGH? >> YES. JUDGE, THIS IS FOR ITEM 
          SEVEN. >> THIS WOULD BE LATER. 
          >> ITEM TWO. DELAY TAKING ACTION UNTIL WE GET TO THAT ITEM. 
          >> REAL QUICKLY. LASTLY, I -- MS. RAMOS, I HEARD A LITTLE BIT OF HOT AND COLD. AS MUCH AS I APPRECIATE YOUR WORK ON THIS, I DID HEAR A LITTLE BIT OF HOT AND COLD THAT DIRECTORS DID PROVIDE YOU THEIR 10% CUTS AND THEN THERE WAS IN SOME CASES, FROM WHAT I RECALL, DIFFERENT NUMBERS THAT WERE ULTIMATELY SUBMITTED BY YOUR OFFICE. THE IMPRESSION I GOT WAS THAT THERE WAS NO COMMUNICATION ON YOUR ULTIMATE NUMBERS AND THOSE THAT DIRECTORS THOUGHT THOUGHT THEY WERE WORKING WITH. AS I IMPLORED ON YOU, THE DIRECTORS OUR TEAM MEMBERS AND THEY HAVE TO BE ENGAGED, WHETHER THERE IS DISAGREEMENT OR NOT. AND THAT ALWAYS -- THAT KIND OF CONVERSATION HURTS MY CONFIDENCE THAT I AM GETTING GOOD INFORMATION. SO JUST KEEP THAT 
          IN MIND. >> UNDERSTOOD. AND I APPRECIATE THAT FEEDBACK. WE DISCUSSED THIS AT THE DEPARTMENT HEAD MEETING. 
          WE ARE GOING TO CHANGE OUR PROCESSES TO BETTER REFLECT -- TO REFLECT THAT AND SO THAT THERE IS ULTIMATELY, YOU KNOW, WE ARE SPEAKING WITH ONE COUNTY VOICE. JUST HAVE IT ON THE RECORD. I HAVE NEVER BEEN UPSET WHEN A DEPARTMENT HEAD COMES AND SAYS I DON'T AGREE WITH THE BUDGET OFFICE. IN FACT, I SAT IN THOSE SEATS AND DID THE SAME THING. SO TOTALLY UNDERSTOOD, COMMISSIONER. WE WILL MAKE SURE THEY ARE KEPT IN THE LOOP ALL THE WAY THROUGH MOVING FORWARD. 
          >> SO BEFORE WE DO ANOTHER ROUND, I WOULD LIKE TO GET ANOTHER WORD IN HERE. SO, COMMISSIONER ELLIS, TO YOUR POINT ABOUT WHAT FUNDS WE ARE SPENDING OUT OF THE $50 MILLION SET ASIDE FOR PAY EQUITY. I THOUGHT WE ALREADY DID SPEND SOME OF THAT TO THE DEPARTMENT HEAD INCREASES. DIRECTOR, CORRECT ME IF I AM WRONG. AND HALF MILLION DOLLARS THAT COME OUT OF THAT $50 MILLION PAY EQUITY FUND LAST YEAR. 
          >> SO WE SPENT $37 MILLION TOTAL. SOME OF THAT WAS ELECTED OFFICIAL AND SOME OF THAT WAS THE $2500 FOR ALL FOLKS MAKING UNDER $75,000. I THINK THERE WAS SOME OTHER ADJUSTMENTS THERE. 
          >> BUT THE BIT THAT CAME OUT OF THE PAY EQUITY FUND. 
          >> THOSE ARE THE TWO ONES THAT I AM AWARE OF THAT CAME OUT OF 
          THERE. >> WE SPENT 37. SOME OF IT WAS FOR THE ELECTED OFFICIAL SALARIES THAT GOT APPROVED. 
          >> SO WE ONLY HAVE 13 MILLION DOLLARS LEFT? 
          >> FOR THIS YEAR. THAT WAS EARMARKED. THAT WAS COMMISSIONER ELLIS'S MOTION THAT PASSED UNANIMOUSLY WHEN WE PRESENTED THE CURRENT LEVEL SERVICE FORECAST. 
          >> OKAY. WE WILL JUST HAVE TO ASK FOR SOME CLARITY. MAYBE A TIMELINE OR SOMETHING. I WOULD LIKE TO UNDERSTAND WHAT THE BALANCE OF THAT IS SO THANK YOU. 
          >> FOR THIS YEAR, WE SPENT $37 OF THE $50 AND $13 WILL GO TO OFFSET DEFICITS AND OTHER PLACES. THE REASON WE RECOMMENDED -- IT MAY NOT BE WISE TO DO SALARY INCREASES THIS LATE IN THE GAME. THEN YOU ESSENTIALLY WOULD BE SPEAKING FOR ALL OF THE $50 MILLION NEXT YEAR. 
          >> OKAY. THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT. AND THEN ANOTHER DETAIL HERE. 
          COMMISSIONER -- DIRECTOR RAMOS, I HAVE HERE THAT IN BUDGET BOOK 
          [05:50:09]
2, WE DO HAVE SOME CUTS FROM JUVENILE PROBATION AND NONLABOR LIBRARY COLLECTION MATERIALS AND SOFTWARE SUBSCRIPTIONS. 
          >> I THINK WHAT COMMISSIONER RAMSEY IS REFERRING TO IS THE WHOLE NUMBER GOES UP . LIKE OUR BUDGET, UNLESS THE COUNTY WERE TO DO SOMETHING EXTRAORDINARY, OUR BUDGET GOES UP EVERY YEAR. 
          JUST OUR HEALTHCARE ALONE. NOT TOUCHING ANYTHING ELSE. $23 MILLION INCREASE. THAT MAKES THE COST OF THE DEPARTMENTS GO UP. 
          >> RIGHT. >> SO, YES, WE MADE A RECOMMENDATION TO REDUCE THE BUDGET FOR THE LIBRARY OF ALL THE OPTIONS THAT THEY SUBMITTED. IT WAS THE LEAST PAINFUL. IT DID NOT AFFECT HOURS OF LABOR, ET CETERA. 
          >> SAME WITH JUVENILE PROBATION. SAME PROPOSED. 
          >> THERE IS A $500,000 REDUCTION FROM THEIR CLS. THAT IS CORRECT. 
          I AM SORRY. >> I SIT ON THAT BOARD AND THERE IS A LOT MORE WORK THAT WE NEED TO DO. WHAT I AM HEARING FROM THEM IS FUNDS FOR SERVICES FOR EDUCATION AND YOUTH ADVOCACY BUT WE WILL CIRCLE BACK DIRECTLY WITH HENRY. SO YOU MADE A POINT I ACTUALLY HAD FORGOTTEN TO MAKE. TAKE A LOOK FOR EXAMPLE ON PAGE 62 OF YOUR BUDGET BOOK. I AM JUST USING THIS AS AN EXAMPLE. ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY AND THE LIBRARY. I THINK TO YOUR POINT, I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A REQUEST THAT WHEN YOU UPDATE THIS BOOK FOR NEXT COURT THAT YOU PLEASE INCLUDE FI 26 CURRENT LEVEL OF SERVICE BECAUSE IT CAN BE MISLEADING. IF YOU PUT FORTH AN INCREASE. BUT ACTUALLY BECAUSE OF THE GROWTH OF THE POPULATION AND INFLATION, THERE IS GOING TO HAVE TO BE A REDUCTION IN THE LEVEL OF SERVICES. AND I THINK OBVIOUSLY THAT IS THE PUSHBACK, COMMISSIONER RAMSEY, TO YOUR POINT OF OUR REVENUE HAVING INCREASED. IF YOU WERE TO MAP OUT REVENUE PER CAPITA IN HARRIS COUNTY, IT WOULD HAVE GROWN UNDER THE REPUBLICAN COURTS AND THEN IT WOULD HAVE TAPERED OFF AND WE WOULD SEE THAT WE ARE HEADING TOWARDS THE EDGE OF A CLIFF HERE. IN THE FUTURE. AND I THINK FUNDAMENTALLY, WHAT I AM SEEING HERE IS EVERYTHING OUT OF WHACK. BECAUSE WE ARE SORT OF ACTING LIKE ODD THINGS ARE NORMAL AND NORMAL THINGS ARE ODD. BALANCING THE BUDGET, NORMAL. NO NEED TO HOORAY ABOUT IT. IN FACT, IT IS A STATUTORY RESPONSIBILITY. I HAVE HEARD THAT BE SORT OF A ACCOMPLISHMENT. THAT IS OUR NUMBER ONE JOB. TO BALANCE THE BUDGET. THAT IS NOT SUPPOSED TO BE A MAJOR ACHIEVEMENT. IT IS SOMETHING WE HAVE TO DO BY STATUTE. NOT SOMETHING WHICH USED TO DO. HERE IS WHAT IS BIZARRE AND NOT NORMAL. A $220 MILLION BUDGET DEFICIT. THAT IS NOT NORMAL. WE CAN'T JUST TALK ABOUT IT AS IF IT WAS ANY OTHER YEAR. SOMEBODY WHO HAS BEEN HERE FOR ALMOST SEVEN YEARS AND SPOKE WITH COLLEAGUES AND SERVE WITH COLLEAGUES WHO HAD BEEN HERE FOR LONGER THAN THAT INCLUDING SEVERAL OF MY PREDECESSORS. WHAT ELSE IS REALLY BIZARRE IS A BUDGET WHERE YOUR EXPENSES ARE HIGHER THAN YOUR REVENUE. THAT IS NOT A THING. SO WHAT WE ARE SEEING, AND, COMMISSIONER RAMSEY, I APPRECIATE THE SLIDE. 
          I THINK WHAT THE COMMUNITY DESERVES -- AND I'M NOT PICKING ON YOU, COMMISSIONER. I HAVE SEEN THIS COME FROM VARIOUS OFFICES. WHAT IS PROPOSED IS NOT ACTUALLY ADD UP TO $220 MILLION. 
          SO, IF YOU MAKE YOUR BUDGET AT HOME AND SAY THAT YOUR REVENUE COST CUTTING IS GOING TO BE $10 BUT YOUR EXPENSES ARE $20, GOSH, YOU ARE IN TROUBLE. THAT IS WHY I PUT TOGETHER THIS EMPTY CHART AND WHAT I HOPE COLLEAGUES WILL PRESENT FOR THE PUBLIC. EVERYONE HAS SOME GOOD IDEAS. OKAY. YOU ARE NOT CUTTING THIS. YOU'RE NOT CUTTING THAT. YOU ARE NOT CUTTING THAT. WHAT ARE YOU CUTTING? WHAT ARE YOU CUTTING? AND EXPLAIN IT AND SHOW THAT ADDS UP TO $220 MILLION, BECAUSE OTHERWISE IT MAKES NO SENSE. WE 
          [05:55:01]
ARE PLAYING GAMES HERE. SO, AGAIN, AN INCOMPLETE BUDGET PROPOSAL IS A NONSTARTER. I THINK IT IS DISRESPECTFUL TO THE INTELLIGENCE OF TAXPAYERS. WE CANNOT BE IN A $220 MILLION HOLE AND THEN PRESENT $50 MILLION WORTH OF SAVINGS OR JUST BIG COMMITMENTS TO EFFICIENCIES. AND FREEZES. WHERE? HOW MUCH? ET CETERA. WE ALL WENT TO SCHOOL. WE KNOW HOW THIS GOES. WE ARE SMART ENOUGH. AND LAST BUT I WENT TO COVER IS THIS DEAL ABOUT THE SURPLUS. ACTUALLY, I THINK I HEARD COMMISSIONER GARCIA OR MAYBE IT WAS RAMSEY. SUMMARY MENTIONED WE STILL HAVE TO CLARIFY ABOUT THE FREEZES. DID I HEAR THAT CORRECTLY? ARE WE ALL 
          CLEAR ON THE FREEZES? >> SO AT THE NEXT COURT, WE WILL HAVE SOP OR STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURE. WHICH PROGRAMS AND SERVICES ARE SPECIFIC POSITIONS COURT WANTS TO EXEMPT AND GO THROUGH THIS ADDITIONAL PROCESS. AS IT RELATES TO THE HIRING FREEZE, I -- IT'S -- IT'S DEFINITELY INCONVENIENT FOR THE DEPARTMENTS. BUT THE CROSSROADS WHERE WE ARE AT, JUDGE, AND COMMISSIONERS, IS DO WE WANT TO GO BACK AND IDENTIFY $25 MILLION WORTH OF DEPARTMENTAL CUTS AT THIS POINT OR DO WE WANT TO DO SOMETHING MORE BLANKET LIKE A HIRING FREEZE WERE COURT CAN COME AND EVALUATE POSITIONS ESSENTIALLY ONE AT A TIME AS THEY BECOME VACANT OR UPPER HIRING. 
          >> YEAH. I AM NOT ADVOCATING FOR ONE OR THE OTHER. AND KUNINGAS NEED TO ADD UP TO $220 MILLION. THAT IS JUST $25. OKAY. HOW DOES THAT WORK? HAS SOMEBODY RESIGNS OR HAS TO LEAVE BECAUSE THEY DON'T HAVE CHILDCARE OR IF THEY DECIDE TO GET A BETTER JOB OR TO RETIRE, THAT MEANS THAT THEY ARE NOT GOING TO BE ABLE. THAT APARTMENT, TO THEN FILL THAT JOB AGAIN UNLESS THEY COME TO COURT. 
          THE FLIPSIDE OF IT IS THE DEPARTMENTS THAT HAVE THE POLITICAL INFLUENCE ARE, AGAIN, THAT IS JUST GOING TO GROW THAT DISPARITY AND HIDE A LITTLE BIT HOW WE GET THERE. BUT THAT WOULD BE MY PREDICTION. IF WE HAVE POLLUTION CONTROL HERE. BUT WE ALSO HAVE THE D.A.'S OFFICE. THEY ARE BOTH VERY IMPORTANT. 
          BOTH OF THEM. AND WE DON'T HAVE TO CUT EITHER OF THEM IF WE DON'T CREATE THIS $220 MILLION DEFICIT. LAST POINT HERE, COMMISSIONER ELLIS AND BRIONES. THE SURPLUS. IT HAS BEEN MENTIONED. $57 MILLION DOES NOT ADD UP TO $220 MILLION. SIMPLE MATH. $57. I THINK SURPLUS IS A MISNOMER. IF I WERE TO ASK CERTAIN DEPARTMENTS, WHAT WOULD YOU USE THIS SURPLUS FOR , I WOULD GET A RESPONSE LIKE TRAINING. DIRECTOR, WHAT WOULD THEY SAY? YEAH . THIS IS SURPLUS AND WE DON'T NEED IT AND DON'T 
          USE IT? >> SO WHAT TYPICALLY HAPPENED WITH APARTMENTS IS EVERY TIME A POSITION IS VACANT AND, AGAIN, IT'S INCREDIBLE THAT WE -- THAT WE -- I DON'T WANT TO BE ON THE RECORD SAYING THAT VACANCIES ARE NECESSARILY A BAD. LIKE THEY HAPPEN FOR A VARIETY OF REASONS. EITHER THE JOBS ARE DIFFICULT, THE SUNLIGHT MIGHT BE IN COMPETITIVE, IT REQUIRES A SPECIFIC SKILL SET THAT THE DEPARTMENT IS GOING TO BE CHOOSY ABOUT , BUT EVERY TIME A POSITION IS VACANT, OR A PAPER IT GOES BY WITH A POSITION VACANT, THERE IS VACANCY SAVINGS AND THAT ACCUMULATES OVER THE COURSE OF THE YEAR. SOME DEPARTMENTS MANAGE IT REALLY WELL. THEY OVER HIRE, KIND OF EXPECTING TO SEE. EXPECTING SOME NATURAL ATTRITION THROUGH THERE. 
          GOOD EXAMPLE OF THAT. THEY PLANNED THEIR MODEL AROUND LOSING A CERTAIN NUMBER OF PEOPLE EVERY YEAR OR EVERY MONTH. AND SO IS TYPICALLY WELL -- YOU KNOW, THEY ACCUMULATE OVER THE COURSE OF A YEAR. AND WHILE MOST OF THE DEPARTMENTS OR PLUSES ARE SMALL, WHILE YOU ADD UP ALL IDIOT DEPARTMENTS, IT 
          ADDED UP TO $57 MILLION. >> MONEY THEY ARE NOT GOING TO USE FOR ANYTHING. LET ME JUST PUT THIS OUT TO THE DEPARTMENTS. 
          I KNOW FOLKS ARE ON THE LINE. IF YOU WOULDN'T MIND TURNING ON YOUR CAMERA AND PARTICIPATING AT THE FUNDING THAT IS QUOTE, UNQUOTE, SURPLUS IS MONEY THAT YOU WERE NOT GOING TO USE FOR ANYTHING. THAT YOU WERE JUST GOING TO HANG ONTO IT AND NOT INVESTED IN TRAINING OR EQUIPMENT OR, YOU KNOW, 
          [06:00:03]
PROGRAMMATIC ISSUES. YOU KNOW? IF ANYBODY WANTS TO COME ON THE LINE AND SAY, YES, THE WORD SURPLUS IS APPROPRIATE. THAT WAS MONEY THAT WAS NOT NEEDED AND WE WERE NOT GOING TO NEED IT AND USE IT FOR PROGRAMS. SO GOOGLE SURPLUS EXCESS. WAS IT EXCESS? I AM NOT SEEING ANYBODY COME ON. SO WE CAN CALL THINGS DIFFERENT NAMES. BUT THE FACT OF THE MATTER IS FACTS ARE FRIENDLY. 
          NUMBERS ARE NUMBERS. WE ARE NOT GOING TO GET TO REDUCE A $220 MILLION SURPLUS WITHOUT $220 MILLION WORTH OF CUTS AND WE HAVE ALREADY MADE EFFICIENCIES AND ALREADY HAVE REDUCTION ON THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AND HAVE ALREADY BEEN DEALING WITH A REVENUE CUT FROM THE STATE SO WE ARE ALREADY OPERATING WITH LESS REVENUE PER CAPITA THAN THEIR PREDECESSORS DID. SO ANYWAY I WILL LEAVE AT THERE. COMMISSIONER ELLIS AND THEN 
          BRIONES. >> YEAH. I WANT TO SAY THAT, MS. RAMEAU'S, LOOK, I KNOW YOU HAVE TO WORK WITH THE HAND THAT LIST OUT TO YOU. GOING THROUGH THIS PROCESS YOU REALIZED WE WERE GOING TO HAVE A DEFICIT OF, WHAT, ABOUT $140 MILLION? 
          >> THE ORIGINAL ESTIMATE . >> SO YOU KNEW THERE WOULD BE $130. SO WHEN THE COURT MADE THE DECISION TO DO THE LAW ENFORCEMENT INCREASE A COUPLE OF MONTHS AGO THAT WAS ANOTHER. YOU HAD A CHALLENGE TO DEAL WITH. LOOK. IT IS NOT DIRECTED AT YOU. 
          WHEN SOMEONE SAYS DON'T TAKE IT PERSONAL, YOU JUST HAVE TO PUT TOGETHER A BUDGET WHERE YOU SEE THREE VOTES. I ALSO WANT TO STATE I HAVE BEEN DOING THIS A LONG TIME AND IT NEVER VOTED AGAINST A BUDGET. FOR WHAT IT WAS WORTH, WHEN I WAS IN YOUR SLOT BUT AT THE TABLE I MANAGED TO GET MY NOT UNANIMOUSLY BUT I HAD TO FIND COMPROMISES FOR MY COLLEAGUES. IT WAS NOT A MATTER OF ME DECIDING. I GOT MY VOTES AND I AM GOING TO GET IT AND GET A PASS. NOW, I MUST ADMIT I WAS HOPING THAT FATE, SO NICE. MIGHT HAVE LET HIM STAY FINANCE CHAIR. I CAN BE A BULLDOG BUT I DIDN'T DO THAT. NOT DIRECTED AT YOU. BUT I WANT TO ASK THESE DEPARTMENTS WHO ARE HERE . AM NOT PICKING ON YOU BUT YOU HAPPEN TO BE HERE. YOU HAVE SAID IF I GOT TO COME IN HERE THEY NEED TO COME IN HERE. HAVE GONE THROUGH THAT BEFORE. SO I DON'T WANT TO POP IN HERE AND SEE THEM ON VIDEO. I CAN GET A.I. TO DO THAT. I'M GOING TO START WITH YOU, LENA, IF YOU DON'T MIND. 
          WHAT WERE THE CUTS? WHAT IMPACT WILL THEY HAVE ON YOUR BUDGET? I WANT TO SAY TO YOU, DON'T TELL ME WHAT IT TAKES TO MAKE ME FEEL GOOD. I AM ASKING YOU NOT TO BE MEAN, AND I REALLY MEAN THAT. 
          BUT IF THERE IS SOME SERVICES. WHEN PEOPLE COME TO ME, I KNOW HOW THIS BUSINESS WORKS. WE ARE GOING TO SAY, BUT, LOOK, THAT IS WHY WE PAY YOU THE BIG SALARY. BUT I ASK YOU TO JUST BE SINCERE. USE YOUR BEST JUDGMENT. AND ANYBODY IN THEIR RIGHT MIND COULD NOT FAULT YOU FOR TELLING THE TRUTH. IF YOU MAKE SOMETHING UP, THAT IS A DIFFERENT STORY. WHAT IMPACT? WASTEWATER TESTING? NUISANCE ABATEMENT? AND MOSQUITO VECTOR CONTROL. I THINK I HEARD SOMEBODY FROM SUNNYSIDE CALLING ABOUT THAT. 
          >> YEAH. LIAM BARTON. INTERIM EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR COUNTY HEALTH. FOR THOSE FOUR YOU CITED, THE FOR THE FIRST THREE, MATERNAL AND CHILD HEALTH, BLOOD ABATEMENT, AND NUISANCE ABATEMENT? CHILD HEALTH, WASTEWATER, AND NUISANCE ABATEMENT. THOSE ARE ALL PROGRAMS WE HAVE HAD IN OUR BUT THAT WE WOULD HAVE BEEN ABLE TO CONTINUE FUNDING TO OUR EFFICIENCIES. WE WOULD HAVE BEEN ABLE TO BRING SOME OF THOSE COSTS INTO THE GENERAL FUND SO THEY COULD CONTINUE BUT THESE CUTS MAKE THAT DIFFICULT. AND SO THOSE ARE ONES THAT, YOU KNOW, KIND OF, IF WE DIDN'T HAVE TO PONY UP THESE OFFSETS, WE WOULD BE ABLE TO DO MORE OF GOING FORWARD. FOR THE LAST ONE, MOSQUITO AND VECTOR CONTROL, THAT IS A CRITICAL FUNCTION IN CONTROLLING WEST NILE VIRUS. WE WOULD BE ABLE TO DO LESS COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT. LESS EDUCATION. JUST LESS SURVEILLANCE AND NOT PROVIDE THAT SAME LEVEL OF SERVICE TO 
          THE COMMUNITY. >> LOOK. I GET IT. IT IS WHAT IT IS. THAT IS WHY THEY WENT TO WHAT WE THOUGHT WE WERE GOING TO HAVE AND WHAT WE HAVE NOW. ANY OTHER IMPACTS ON YOUR 
          DEPARTMENT. >> $25 MILLION IN VACANCY SAVINGS IS A LOT. FROM A HIRING FREEZE, IT IS SIGNIFICANT. 
          PERSONALLY, I WOULD RATHER MANAGE TO A DOLLAR NUMBER THAN 
          [06:05:08]
TO A HIRING FREEZE PROCESS. I WOULD JUST LIKE TO KNOW WHAT MY BUDGET IS. CERTAINLY, ASSESS ADDITIONAL IMPACTS IF KNOWN. 
          OKAY. >> THANK YOU. WHO IS NEXT? ANYBODY WANT TO VOLUNTEER? WHAT IMPACT WILL IT HAVE? AND AS MUCH AS I HATE TO PUT YOU ON THE SPOT, WE GOT TO KNOW. IT WOULD BE INTELLECTUALLY DISHONEST TO SIT HERE AND JUST ACT LIKE -- AT LEAST I HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO DO MUCH WITH LESS MONEY. I GIVE A BETTER SPEECH WITH LESS MONEY. WHAT IMPACT IS IT GOING TO HAVE? 
          >> YEAH. I THINK FOR DEO, IT IS ONE OF THE SMALLER DEPARTMENTS SO SUCH A BIG CUT WILL AFFECT OUR LABOR DEPARTMENT. ABOUT 50% OF OUR NONLABOR BUDGET WHICH AFFECTS EVERYTHING FROM TRAVEL, TRAINING, CERTIFICATIONS STAFF PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT. ALSO SUPPLIES PARKING FOR STAFF. FOR OUR PROGRAM, NONE TOO BRIGHT LIMITED CHAMBER MEMBERSHIPS. ABILITY TO SUPPORT CHAMBER EVENTS SPONSORSHIP OF EVENTS. LIMITED $10. WE WERE NEVER GIVEN THE STAFF INITIALLY PLANNED TO HAVE SO WE HAVE BEEN USING $10 STAMP SINCE 2021. WE HAVE TO ELIMINATE THOSE POSITIONS. THAT INCLUDES A MANAGER THAT WAS LEADING THE HARRIS COUNTY DISPARITY STUDY. OUR SECOND GO AT THE DISPARITY STUDY, I DON'T HAVE THAT PERSON IF I HAVE TO GIVE UP THE TEMP DOLLARS, INCLUDING THE NEW TEAM THAT WE CREATED FOR DATA ANALYSIS ANALYTICS. THEY WERE ALSO USING TEMP DOLLARS TO HELP FILL THAT HOLE. SO OUR DASHBOARD IS REPORTING THINGS WE TRY TO DO MOVING FORWARD. INNOVATION. HAVE TO BE VERY, VERY LIMITED INCLUDING REQUESTS FOR DATA FROM COURT OFFICES. WE TRY TO TURN THAT AROUND REALLY QUICKLY AND NOW THERE IS DEFINITELY GOING TO BE DELAYS. LESS OUTREACH. EDUCATION. POTENTIAL CUT TO THE CONVENING. LOW CAPACITY BUILDING PROGRAMS. THE END OF THE PATHWAYS DEPARTMENT PROGRAM. THOSE ARE SOME OF THE IMPACT TO 
          OUR BUDGET. >> THANK YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. LOOK. I DON'T WANT MY COLLEAGUES TO GET ANGRY WITH PEOPLE. WHAT THEY TOLD ME AT THE LBJ SCHOOL, WRITING. WHAT CHANGED? DON'T GET MAD AT THEM. I SET IT UP SO YOU JUST TELL ME WHAT YOU THINK AND WE GOT TO LIVE WITH IT. THANK YOU. 
          SERVICES. >> THAT EVENING. DAVE LEWIS. 
          EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF VETERAN SERVICES. I HESITATE TO SAY THIS. WE ARE NOT LOOKING AT ANY BUDGET CUTS. WE ARE ON A FAIRLY SMALL BUDGET TO BEGIN WITH. WE ALWAYS RUN A VERY LEAN AND LETHAL ORGANIZATION FROM OUR PERSPECTIVE. WE DID ANTICIPATE AND PLAY IN THE 10% BUDGET CUT DRILL, WHICH WOULD DIRECTLY TAKE AWAY EITHER VETERANS CLAIMS AND BENEFITS, ONE OF OUR STATUTORY RESPONSIBILITIES EVERY DID ABSORB THAT OR THE OTHER PLACE WHERE WE WOULD TAKE A HIT IS IN OUR SERVICES TO INCARCERATED VETERANS IN THE JAIL. WE WORKED VERY HARD LAST YEAR TO GET A STAFF ATTORNEY POSITION WHO WAS WORKING DIRECTLY WITH THE JUDGES AND THE JUSTICE SYSTEM TO FREE UP. WE THINK THAT IS A WIN. SO, AS THINGS STAND RIGHT NOW, I HAVE TO WATCH MY OTHER DEPARTMENT HEADS BEHIND ME, BUT WE WILL BE IN GOOD SHAPE. 
          >> THANK YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. TONYA? DIRECTOR MILLS? I AM SORRY. WHEN IT IS THIS LATE IN THE DAY, JUST BE GLAD I 
          DIDN'T CALL -- >> SO, YEAH, WE -- WE -- IN THE FIRST ROUND, WE LOOKED AT REMOVING A VACANCY. ONE PERSON ON THE DATA TEAM AND ONE PERSON ON THE RESEARCH TEAM. THAT WOULD LEAVE A MARK. THAT WOULD BE PROBABLY -- TAKE US A LITTLE LONGER TO GET THINGS TO YOU ALL WHEN YOU ASK FOR IT. THE SECOND PASS A RESEARCH TEAM WILL BE CUT. SO WE WON'T -- WE WANT TO RESEARCH . THAT WILL BE THE IMPACT FOR OUR PERSPECTIVE. WE 
          WON'T BE ABLE TO DO RESEARCH. >> LOOK. I AM HEARING FROM FOLKS ON SENATE BILL 7 IN TERMS OF WHAT IS GOING TO HAPPEN IN AUSTIN. JAIL POPULATION. ONE BIG ASSUMPTION IS WE ARE GOING TO BE ABLE TO STOP OUTSOURCING. WHAT DID YOU HEAR? I AM HEARING 
          THINGS BUT WHAT DID YOU HEAR? >> ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT SB 9? 
          >> SB 9. SORRY. >> THE PORTIONS OF SB 9 WE ARE 
          [06:10:01]
GOING TO FACE IN SEPTEMBER ARE REALLY MORE PROCESSED . JANUARY IS WHERE WE ARE GOING TO BE LOOKING TO SEE, THAT IS WHO GETS BILL. WE MIGHT SEE SOME SIGNIFICANT IMPACTS OR INCREASES TO THE JAIL POPULATION.-FOLKS WHO ARE -- WHO ARE BONDING TODAY WILL LIKELY NOT BOND IN JANUARY. SO THAT WILL HAVE AN IMPACT ON THE JAIL POPULATION. ONE OF THE REASONS I'VE TALKED TO YOUR STAFF ABOUT NEEDING TO KEEP CAPACITY IN COURTS ABOUT THINGS LIKE ERD. WE HAVE HAD HUGE SUCCESSES THIS YEAR AND MOMENTUM IN BRINGING DOWN THE JAIL POPULATION. AND WE WANT TO CONTINUE THAT MOMENTUM. SO WE, YEAH, ARE GOING TO HAVE SOME CHALLENGES THIS YEAR THAT WE ARE GOING TO HAVE TO REALLY WATCH. 
          >> DEPARTMENT. FIRST IN TERMS OF STAFF. IF YOU PREFER TO TALK ABOUT IT IN EXECUTIVE SESSION BUT IF SOMETHING HAPPENS, GOD FORBID, JUST GIVE ME SOME SENSE OF WHAT YOU SEE ON THE HORIZON. 
          >> I MEAN, I THINK MS. MILLS PROBABLY HAS BETTER DATA ABOUT WHAT WE HAVE SEEN ON THE VARIOUS REPORTS ON THE MONITOR'S BAIL REFORM HAS RESULTED IN TREMENDOUS COST SAVINGS TO THE COUNTY. OBVIOUSLY, IF THAT GOES AWAY, THOSE COSTS ARE BOUND TO INCREASE. BROTHERS FOR THE NEW BACKLOG THAT WE WILL PROBABLY FACE AND ALSO THE INCREASE IN THE JAIL POPULATION. 
          >> I KNOW IT IS PUBLIC INFORMATION. ATTORNEY GENERAL. 
          >> YES. EARLIER THIS MORNING THE STATE TO THE AG MOVED TO INTERVENE IN THE CASE AND MOVED TO VACATE THAT DISSENT DECREE TO 
          GET RID OF IT. >> ANY IMPACT ON THE BUDGET? 
          >> FROM THAT OR IN GENERAL? >> IN GENERAL. 
          >> PRESUMABLY. I THINK THERE WOULD BE AN IMPACT. 
          >> FREEZING IN LEGAL DEPARTMENT? >> SO THEY WOULD BE -- THEY WOULD BE INCLUDED IN THE HIRING FREEZE. THOUGH MANY OF THEIR POSITIONS ARE WHAT I WOULD DEEM CRITICAL. LIKELY BE APPROVED BY 
          COURT. >> BUT IN THAT NUMBER THEY INCLUDE IT. YOU ARE ASSUMING THAT YOU COME BACK TO US AND WE GIVE THEM BACK TO YOU. IS THAT WHAT YOU ARE SAYING? 
          >> YES. >> I JUST WANT TO KNOW WHAT IT MEANS. I DO WANT TO ASK CHIEF CHRISTIANSEN. 71, I CAN'T SEE 
          THE WAY I USED TO. >> GOOD EVENING. LORI CHRISTIANSEN HERE. COUNTY FIRE MARSHAL. I BELIEVE THE QUESTION -- I WAS ON THE FIFTH FLOOR WORKING. 
          >> WHAT IMPACT WILL THE BUDGET CUTS HAVE ON YOUR DEPARTMENT? 
          >> WE HAVE BEEN WORKING QUITE A BIT WITH THE VARIOUS OFFICES AND THE BUDGET OFFICE. SPECIFIC PROGRAMS THAT WILL BE AFFECTED OR SOME OF THE EXTRA SERVICES THAT WE PROVIDE TO STAKEHOLDERS. 
          STATUTORY DUTIES, SUCH AS LAW ENFORCEMENT, FIRE INVESTIGATIONS, HAZMAT. WE ARE GOING TO DO EVERYTHING WE CAN TO 
          PRIORITIZE THOSE. >> WE HAVE TO DO THOSE. WE HAVE 
          TO PAY FOR THAT. >> ABSOLUTELY. ANY OTHER SERVICES WE KNOW OUR PARTNERS USE HERE IN THE COUNTY AND OUTSIDE THE COUNTY. THEY HAVE BEEN APPROVED BY COURT. WE MAY NOT BE ABLE TO PROVIDE THOSE SERVICES SUCH AS RECENTLY WHAT WE HAVE BEEN DOING BY TRAINING EMPLOYEES WITH THE ACTIVE THREAT CRAZE TRAINING AND THINGS LIKE THAT. IN ADDITION, WE WOULD HAVE TO FREEZE HIRING SOME HAZARDOUS MATERIALS POSITIONS AND SOME OF OUR TRAINING POSITIONS. FOR NOW, WE HAVE ACTUALLY GONE AHEAD AND PUT THEM ON HOLD JUST IN ANTICIPATION WE CANNOT FILL THOSE. RECENTLY, WE HAVE HAD SOME RETIREES AND VARIOUS THINGS OCCUR. BUT WE WILL WORK WITH THE OFFICES AND OCA AS DIRECTED. 
          >> OKAY. I AM GOING TO ASK JUST THREE MORE MEMBERS. I SAW YOUR POP ON. AND I WOULD LIKE TO ASK POLLUTION CONTROL WHAT IMPACT IT WILL HAVE AND A LIBRARY DEPARTMENT. BUDGET AND GENERAL. 
          JUST NOT THE IDEA OF THIS AMOUNT FOR A FREEZE. SOUNDS PRETTY INSIGNIFICANT SINCE PEOPLE CAN COME BACK AND GET A WAIVER. WHAT 
          ELSE TO CUT IN ITS PLACE. >> SO, AGAIN, COMMISSIONER, COUNTY ENGINEER. OUR INITIAL REDUCTION WE ARE GOING TO SEE AS CONSTRUCTION AND INNOVATION. THAT IS ABOUT 60% CUT. SO AESTHETIC IMPROVEMENTS. WE WILL HAVE YOUR AESTHETIC IMPROVEMENTS. THAT INCLUDES PAINTING. THE MINOR FACILITY 
          [06:15:02]
THAT WE DO ALL OVER THE COUNTY. ALSO, WE WILL SUSPEND THE CRIMES REQUESTED LIKE THE TWO OFFICES. A COUPLE OF CUBICLES. SEVERAL RESTROOM INNOVATION PROJECTS THAT WE HAVE ON THE BOOKS, WE ARE GOING TO PUT A HOLD ON THAT END. EMERGENCY TYPE OF WAY. 
          COMMISSIONER, IN TERMS OF REGULAR OPERATIONS, OUR OFFICE IS GOING TO DROP 40% FROM FIVE DAYS. WE WILL BE DOING THE CLEANING FOR THREE DAYS WITH THE CAVEAT WE WILL BE CLEANING THE RESTROOM JUST FOR THE OFFICE SPACE AND THINGS OF THAT NATURE. 
          THE LANDSCAPING WHEN WE DO DOWNTOWN. WE WILL BE CHANGING THE BIWEEKLY SCHEDULE TO MONTHLY OR AS NEEDED. THAN MOST OF OUR MAIN -- MAINTENANCE SPOTS THAT WE DO, PREVENTATIVE MAINTENANCE, THAT IS GOING TO BE MAINTENANCE. REPAIR OR DO WORK AS NEEDED. 
          WHEN AN EMERGENCY HAPPENS. >> THANK YOU. GO AHEAD. DO YOU 
          HAVE SOME MORE? >> THAT IS A, COMMISSIONER. 
          >> LIBRARY ORCA POLLUTION CONTROL, IF YOU'RE ON THE LINE. 
          YES. I SEE YOU. >> GOOD AFTERNOON, COMMISSIONER. 
          ELLIS, AND ALL THE OTHER COMMISSIONERS. THE CUTS THAT WE ARE LOOKING AT RIGHT NOW WHAT IMPACT THINGS LIKE OUR ENVIRONMENTAL OR EMERGENCY RESPONSE. WHICH COULD MEAN THAT IF THERE ARE MULTI- RESPONSE EVENTS HAPPENING AT THE SAME TIME, WOULD SOMETIMES WE GET REAL TRUCK ROLLOVERS THAT ARE HAPPENING A LOT LATELY. MORE SO THAN WHAT WE HAVE SEEN IN THE PAST . AND SOMETHING THAT HAPPENS, GOD FORBID, AT ANOTHER LOCATION WITH A FIRE OR SOMETHING. WE WOULD BE A LITTLE MORE LIMITED IN MAKING THOSE KIND OF RESPONSES AT THE SAME TIME. IF WE HAVE TO DO COMMUNITY AIR MONITORING, THE AIR MONITORING POSITIONS ARE ALSO GOING TO BE IMPACTED SO THAT WOULD LIMIT THE AMOUNT OF COMMODITY AIR MONITORING THAT WE WOULD BE ABLE TO DISPATCH PEOPLE TO HANDLE. OVER A BROAD AREA. 
          AND THEN THE INVESTIGATIONS THAT WE DO WHAT HAVE TO BE DIVIDED AMONGST THE SMALLER POOL OF STAFF MEANING THAT THE INVESTIGATIONS FOR COMPLAINTS MAY TAKE A LONGER TIME FOR US TO RESPONSE. NUISANCES WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO BE RESPONDED TO AS QUICKLY. AND THEY MAY NOT BE ABLE TO BE CAPTURED DURING THAT TIME. THAN WE HAVE COMPLIANCE POSITIONS. ONCE THOSE INVESTIGATIONS, IT MOVES TO A VIOLATION PROCESS. VIOLATIONS HAVE TO BE ENFORCEMENT TO GO TO LITIGATION TO BRING THOSE 
          VIOLATORS INTO COMPLIANCE. >> AND LIBRARY IF THE DIRECTOR IS ON THE LINE. I DON'T THINK HE IS THERE. I KNOW THAT A BILL PASSED THE SENATE IN THE FIRST SENATE SESSION TO MOVE THE CAP TO 2.5. I AM TOLD PAST THE HOUSE YESTERDAY. SIGNIFICANTLY DIFFERENT. WHICH ALSO CAPSID AT 2.5. 
          >> THE AMENDMENTS. THE STATE LEGISLATURE WENT A LITTLE OVERBOARD ON AMENDMENTS. WHAT IS IN AND WHAT IS OUT AT THIS POINT. A 1 1/2% CAP WITH AN ALLOWANCE FOR ANY INCREASE IN 
          LAW ENFORCEMENT LABOR BUDGET. >> AND SENATE SIDE WAS A SIMPLE CAP AT 2.5%. SO WHEN THEY GO TO CONFERENCE WE DON'T KNOW WHAT WILL COME OUT. WHEN IT COMES BACK IT WILL BE A MAJORITY VOTE. 
          SO SOMETHING THAT PASSED BOTH HOUSES. 
          >> ROUGHLY $20 MILLION. DOWN BY 1/2%. 
          >> YEAH. I GOT TWO CALLS TODAY BECAUSE APPARENTLY A BILL IS MOVING WHICH WOULD KEEP COMMISSIONER GARCIA, ANYTHING 
          [06:20:01]
THAT YOU HAVE BEEN ABLE TO DO IN TERMS OF IMPACTING WHAT GOES ON IN THE OFFICE OF AN INDEPENDENTLY ELECTED OFFICIAL. 
          AND YOU ON THE LINE? I SEE ARE CLERKS THERE AS WELL. MR. MELTING, IF YOU ARE THERE. EDWARD MELTON. AND IF HE IS NOT, 
          I SEE YOU THERE. GO AHEAD. >> THANK YOU. THANK YOU, COURT . 
          I APOLOGIZE. I AM IN MY CAR MOVING AROUND. JUST TO ADD A LITTLE BIT OF COLOR IN TERMS OF THE COUNTY CLERK'S OFFICE. SO, AS YOU ALL KNOW, MY OFFICE IS COMPLETELY LEGALLY MANDATED TO HANDLE ALL VITAL RECORDS TO THE COUNTY. TO THE PUBLIC. 
          ESPECIALLY AT MASTERING ELECTIONS AND ANY BUDGET CUTS WILL DIRECTLY HINDER OPERATIONS AND NEGATIVELY IMPACT COUNTY RESIDENTS AND VOTERS. SO AS WE PREPARE FOR MOVING FORWARD IN THIS I WANT EVERYONE TO BE MINDFUL OF THAT . AS WE ARE ENTERING INTO ANOTHER YEAR OF ELECTION AFTER ELECTION WITH UNPRECEDENTED CIRCUMSTANCES, SPECIAL ELECTIONS, SPECIAL RUNOFFS, AND A SPECIAL SESSION RIGHT NOW THAT WILL IMPACT -- A SPECIAL SESSION THAT WE KNOW WILL IMPACT ELECTIONS. 
          REDISTRICTING IS COMING DOWN THE PIPELINE. INCLUDING ONE ARE TWO OTHER BILLS THAT CAN IMPACT ELECTIONS. 
          >> THANK YOU. ANY OTHER DEPARTMENT HEADS ON THE LINE WHO WOULD LIKE TO GIVE AN IMPACT ON THE PROPOSED CUTS? 
          >> I -- IF HENRY GONZALES HAPPENS TO BE ON THE LINE, COMMISSIONER, I DON'T KNOW ONE WAY OR THE OTHER WITH GPD. 
          >> ARE YOU THERE? I DID NOT READ AT ALL. SAID HE WAS HAVING TROUBLE GETTING ON THE VIDEO. TRYING TO COME ON. 
          >> I SEE SOMEBODY HAS GOT THEIR HAND UP. 
          >> YES. GO AHEAD. >> YOUR EYE MUTE. 
          >> YEAH. YOU MUTED IT. YEAH . YOU MUTED. I THINK YOU WOULD HAVE TO GO OFF AND TRY TO COME BACK ON BECAUSE YOU MUTED. NOW 
          YOU ARE UNMUTED. GO AHEAD. >> JUST VERY QUICKLY ON BEHALF OF HUMAN RESOURCES AND TALENT FOR THE VAST MAJORITY OF OUR BUDGET IS LABOR. AND IF THERE WERE CONCESSIONS THAT NEEDED TO BE MADE IN TERMS OF WHETHER IT IS REDUCTIONS IN FORCE ARE CUTTING BACK OUR STAFF, THERE WILL BE DIRECT IMPLICATIONS TO OUR FUNCTIONAL HR TEAMS. AND SO WE DON'T HAVE A GREAT DEAL OF NONLABOR. THERE IS SOME BUT PRETTY MUCH ALL OF OUR NONLABOR IS REQUIRED TO SUPPORT THE VARIOUS NOT ONLY STATUTORY REQUIREMENTS BUT ALSO THE LEGAL REQUIREMENTS THAT ARE NECESSARY IN TERMS OF SYSTEMS. BOTH AT THE LOCAL, STATE, AND FEDERAL LEVELS. FOR US, MUST OF OUR BUDGET IS LABOR. THAT WOULD CERTAINLY ADVERSELY IMPACT AND CREATE AN INTERRUPTION OF SERVICES IN SOME VERY KEY AREAS. 
          >> THANK YOU. ARE THERE ANY OTHER DEPARTMENT HEADS? MR. MELTON, YOU CAN KNOCK IT ON. THANK YOU. IS THERE ANY OTHER DEPARTMENT HEAD WHO WOULD LIKE TO SAY SOMETHING? YOU HAVE SOME IMPACT OF THE CUTS ON YOUR DEPARTMENT? 
          >> YEAH. SO WE ARE IN THE PROCESS OF REDUCING OUR GENERAL FUND BUDGET BY $2.3 MILLION. 1.7 OF WHICH IS LABOR. SO THESE LABOR COSTS ARE 14 POSSESSIONS -- POSITIONS. OUR BEREAVEMENT. 
          ARAB BURIAL SERVICES. WE ARE TRYING TO FIND WAYS TO BE MORE EFFICIENT WITH IT. WE ARE REDUCING POSITIONS WITHIN FINANCE, I.T., MARKETING AND COMMUNICATIONS. SO THESE ARE THE SUPPORT POSITIONS THAT SUPPORT OUR PROGRAMS THAT ARE MOSTLY GRANT FUNDED. AND SO IT DOES AFFECT SOME OF THE NATURE OF THE ABILITY FOR US TO LEVERAGE THOSE GRANT DOLLARS. SOME OF THOSE CAN 
          BE SACRIFICED. >> ANY OTHER? THANK YOU, THANK YOU VERY MUCH. ANY OTHER DEPARTMENT HEADS WANT TO SPEAK? I WANT TO THANK YOU ALL FOR SPEAKING UP. ONE OF THE FIRST 
          [06:25:07]
TENANTS OF GOOD LEADERS IS NOT TO HAVE YES PEOPLE AROUND YOU WHO JUST TELL YOU WHAT YOU WANT TO HEAR TO ANSWER THE QUESTION THAT YOU ARE ASKING US. ONE MORE DEPARTMENT HEAD? IS THAT YOU? I CAN'T SEE THE PICTURE VERY WELL. PUT YOU ON. 
          >> EDWARD MELTON. DIRECTOR OF HARRIS COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY. 
          REALLY IMPACTS OUR COLLECTION DEVELOPMENT. WE HAVE SOME SUBSCRIPTIONS IN OUR I.T. DEPARTMENT. I.T. SOLUTIONS THAT WE WILL BE BRINGING IN-HOUSE AND MANAGING VERSUS HAVING SOME SUBSCRIPTIONS. WAS SOME OF THE COLLECTION-DEVELOPMENT STUFF, IT JUST MEANS THERE WILL BE WHOLE TIMES WITH MATERIALS WHERE PEOPLE CAN GET IN TERMS OF THE PUBLIC ACCESS FOR MATERIALS. AND THEN SOME OF THE DATABASES WE SAW WHERE WE COULD POSSIBLY REDUCE THOSE DATABASES BECAUSE OTHER DATABASES ME -- MAY COVER THOSE SAME TOPICS OR CAN HELP PROVIDE SIMILAR TYPE OF INFORMATION. THEY ARE NOT THE EXACT SAME IN TERMS OF THOSE DATABASES BUT IT DOES IMPACT THE AVAILABILITY OF JUST A VARIETY OF DATABASES THAT WE HAVE. SO THAT WOULD BE WITH THE OFFSET FOR OUR COLLECTIVE DEVELOPMENT AND FOR I.T. SERVICES, THAT IS 
          WHAT THE IMPACT WOULD BE. >> OKAY. THANK YOU. 
          >> LOOK. COLLEAGUES. I KNOW WE ARE IN THIS POSITION BECAUSE IN 2019 THE STATE PUT A CAP ON HOW MUCH WE COULD SPEND BUT THEY DID NOT CAP WHAT THEY COULD SPEND AND THEN THEY CAME BACK IN 2021 AND SAID FOR EVERY DOLLAR WE PUT IN LAW ENFORCEMENT, AS IMPORTANT AS IT IS, YOU CAN NEVER GET ANY OF IT OUT. THAT IS 30-SOMETHING ON PERCENT. BOOTS ON THE GROUND RIGHT NOW. WHEN YOU TAKE IT ALL, ANYTHING RELATED TO THE CRIMINAL AND CIVIL JUSTICE SYSTEM, IT GETS IN THE NEIGHBOR OF SAFETY PERCENT OF OUR GENERAL OPERATING BUDGET. THEN WHEN YOU EXEMPT OUT THESE BIGGER DEPARTMENTS AT THE COUNTY THAT WE NORMALLY ASSOCIATE WITH HAVING CLOUD -- CLOUT, THAT MEANS YOU GET TO THESE OTHER DEPARTMENTS AND AND HAS A DISPROPORTIONATE IMPACT ON THEM. THEN YOU SEE WHAT HAPPENED IN THIS BIG UGLY BILL THAT PASSED IN WASHINGTON, D.C. THEY ARE SLASHING MEDICAID BY $1.7 MILLION. MR. RAMOS, THAT IS PARTIALLY WHY I AM JUST SO ADAMANT ABOUT NOT CUTTING BACK ON HEALTH CARE. I HEAR YOU WHEN YOU SAY IT. BUT MOST FOLKS DON'T MAKE WHAT YOU AND I MAKE. AND EVEN IF THEY GET GOOD HEALTH CARE COVERAGE, THEY MAY HAVE TO HELP OTHER PEOPLE WHO ARE NOT IN THEIR HOUSEHOLD, WHO MAY NOT BE ON THAT GOOD HEALTHCARE COVERAGE YOU HAVE AT THE COUNTY AND THAT IS WHY I PUSHED BACK ON THAT SO HARD. AND WITH THE CUTS ON FEMA, I AM REAL SENSITIVE ABOUT NOT MAKING CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE RAINY DAY FUND BECAUSE FEMA MAY NOT BE THERE. I DON'T MAKE ANY APOLOGIES FOR US DECIDING TO TRY AND PUT A DENT IN GENERATIONAL POVERTY WITH THAT ARPA MONEY. WE ARE NOT JUST GOING TO FILL HOLES LIKE OTHER PEOPLE DO. WHEN WE FUNDED THESE PROGRAMS, THEY WOULD HAVE TO MAKE THE CASE. 
          SOME PEOPLE AT THIS TABLE SAID DON'T DO IT BECAUSE THEN YOU WILL GET HEAD WHEN YOU STOP. I MADE IT CLEAR WHEN WE VOTED NOT JUST FOR CHILD CARE, AND HOUSING PROGRAMS, ALTHOUGH STEALS. THAT IS BECAUSE WE WERE OPTING FOR THE EQUITY FRAMEWORK. BUT THEY WOULD HAVE TO MAKE THAT CASE AND I WILL JUST CLOSE ON THIS. I THINK, PERSONALLY, IT WAS A MISTAKE TO DO THE LAW ENFORCEMENT PAY RAISE. YOU KNOW? I THINK THEY WOULD HAVE STOOD SHOULDER TO SHOULDER WITH US TO GO TO THE VOTERS AND MAKE THE CASE. YOU CAN'T OPERATE A COUNTY THAT KEEPS GROWING. WITH ALL OF THESE URBAN PROBLEMS, SOME COME WITH RICH CULTURAL DIVERSITY. YOU KNOW? IT IS A MELTING POT AND WE HAVE TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO GET ALONG AND IT CREATES FRICTION WITH PEOPLE. 
          THE SAME THING WE APPRECIATE ABOUT OUR DIVERSITY MEANS YOU HAVE TO INVEST IN LAW ENFORCEMENT AND THOSE OTHER THINGS BEFORE PEOPLE END UP IN COUNTY LAW ENFORCEMENT OR THE HARRIS CENTER. YOU KNOW? WE HAVE GOT TO PUT SOME MONEY IN PREVENTATIVE STUFF. WE NEED TO GET SOME MONEY. I DON'T KNOW. 
          WHEN I MADE THE MOTION LAST GO AROUND I ASSUMED IT WAS GOING TO BE TOUGHER WHEN THREE OF OUR COLLEAGUES, TOM, WERE GOING TO BE ON THE BALLOT. WHEN YOU AND I WERE FACING THE VOTERS, THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN $89 MILLION. I WOULDN'T HAVE BEEN ABLE TO CONTROL IT. IF YOU HAVE ASKED ME WHERE WAS IT GOING TO GO THEN I COULDN'T TELL YOU. BUT I HAD A SENSE IT WAS GOING TO BE MORE 
          [06:30:02]
DIFFICULT. JUST HAVEN'T BEEN AROUND POLITICS A LONG TIME. AND IT IS GOING TO BE EVEN MORE DIFFICULT. AND, MR. RAMOS, HERE IS WHAT I HAVE LEARNED BEING IN AUSTIN FOR 28 YEARS. MAYBE ANOTHER FOUR YEARS AS AN INTERN. SOMETHING IT'S OUT OF THE HOUSE AND SENATE, ODDS ARE ABOUT 60-40 SOMETHING IS GOING TO COME OUT OF A CONFERENCE COMMITTEE. THAT IS NOT ALWAYS THE CASE BUT WHEN IT IS THIS EARLY AND A SPECIAL SESSION AND PEOPLE IN A BAD MOOD ANYWAY, SOMETIMES THEY MAKE VERY BAD DECISIONS AND THEY DO IT IN HASTE. SO I JUST HOPE MY COLLEAGUES, YOU KNOW, WE MISSED AN OPPORTUNITY BUT WE GOING TO HAVE IT AGAIN. I WILL SAY THIS IN TERMS OF HOW PEOPLE FEEL. I AM GOING TO MAKE A MOTION. IF WE ARE GOING TO DO THAT PAY RAISE FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT, FOR ELECTED CONSTABLES, THAT PEOPLE WHO GOING TO BE RUNNING FOR COUNTY ATTORNEY. THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY. OF COURSE. I COULD TAKE IT. THEY COULD ALL TAKE IT OUT OF THEIR EXISTING BUDGETS IF WE GAVE ANOTHER $100 MILLION. THEY COULD TAKE IT OUT OF THERE IS AS WELL. 
          SO THE MOTION I WANT IS WHATEVER THAT DOLLAR AMOUNT IS, I SAW THE FOUR OPTIONS YOU ALL GAVE. I COULD CUT SHORT RIGHT NOW. MAKE A MOTION. TWO MOTIONS. ONE SAYING GIVE THAT DOLLAR AMOUNT TO THE OTHER ELECTED OFFICES THAT ARE ELIGIBLE. SOME WE DON'T SET TO SALARIES. I MEAN, WHAT DOES THAT DO FOR MORALE? FOR THESE OTHER FOLKS? EVEN FOR THE SHERIFF? THERE MAY BE ONE CONSTABLE'S OFFICE THAT HAVE NOT EVEN 10 EMPLOYEES. GIVE ME A BREAK. I DON'T THINK YOU ALL WOULD DO IT FOR ANY OF THEM. THE SECOND MOTION I AM GOING TO MAKE IS IF SOMEBODY GOES IN THIS COMMITTEE AND THEY GET AN INCREASE I WANT THAT COMMITTEE TO KNOW IF IT PASSES I'M GOING TO MAKE A MOTION, GO AND GET THAT TO THE OTHERS. SO , IF THEY DO IT, TRIGGER IT FOR THE OTHERS. BECAUSE IN A CHALLENGING ENVIRONMENT, YOU HAVE GOT TO GET PEOPLE TO GO RUN FOR THESE OFFICES. HEY. I GET IT. I AM FINE. I MEAN, I CAME HERE WITH RETIREMENT AND I AM A GUY WHO SERVED IN LEGISLATURE ALL THOSE YEARS. ALMOST THREE DECADES FOR $600 A MONTH AND ENJOYED EVERY MINUTE OF IT. SO I HOPE THAT IS 
          CLEAR. >> THE FIRST ONE IS CLEAR. 
          SECOND. >> I WENT TO POST SOMETHING SAYING IF ONE GROUP GOES AND GETS THEIR SALARIES RAISED IF THEY GO TO THE COMMITTEE -- YOU KNOW WHAT I AM TALKING ABOUT? 
          >> UNDERSTAND. THE ISSUES YOU HAVE TO NOTICE THE SPECIFIC SALLY BEFORE THE ADOPTION. WHAT WE COULD DO IS NOTICE THE LOWER 
          SALARY. >> I KNOW YOU CAN. I LEARNED THAT AT THE LBJ SCHOOL. JUST THE GOOD OLD LBJ SCHOOL. THANK YOU. 
          >> COMMISSIONER, WERE THOSE MOTIONS LOOKING FOR A SECOND? OH 
          . >> WORKED UP THE LANGUAGE. 
          >> I DON'T REALLY UNDERSTAND WHAT YOU MEAN BY THE COMMITTEE. 
          >> SO COMMISSIONER ELLIS IS REFERRING TO THE GRIEVANCE PROCESS. REMEMBER, LAST YEAR? SO THE COMMISSIONERS COURT NEEDS TO APPOINT A GRIEVANCE COMMISSION. THAT WILL BE DONE SEPTEMBER 9TH. 
          THERE ARE GRIEVANCES FROM ANY ELECTED OFFICIALS ABOUT THEIR SALARIES, THEY WILL BE CONSIDERED BY THE COMMITTEE. IF IT IS A UNANIMOUS VOTE, COMMISSIONERS COURT HAS TO SET THE SALARY THERE. IF IT IS LESS THAN 9 BUT ABOVE 6, A RECOMMENDATION GETS SENT TO COMMISSIONERS COURT WHERE THEY CAN DENY IT. I THINK COMMISSIONER ELLIS WAS TO POST EITHER A LOWER SALARY OR IF THE , I THINK IT IS THE CONSTABLES 
          SALARIES. >> IF THEY GO TO GRIEVANCE COMMITTEE I WENT TO RAISE UP FOR THE OTHERS. 
          >> WHATEVER COMES OUT OF THE GRIEVANCE COMMITTEE FOR ANY ELECTED OFFICIAL OTHER THAN US. 
          >> THAT IS WHAT YOU CALL SURVIVAL. THEY TAUGHT ME THAT AT THE LBJ SCHOOL, TOO. DON'T RAISE YOUR OWN . 
          >> WOULD THEN GET TIED TO IT THAT AMOUNT. 
          >> OKAY. LOOK. I AM JUST GOING TO LEAVE IT TO SEE IF YOU GET A SECOND FROM FOLKS TO PROVE THEY ARE IN FACT CONSISTENT AND NOT JUST PICKING AND CHOOSING LAW ENFORCEMENT. 
          >> I PREFER WE ARE NOT DOING AT ALL. YOU ALL GOING TO DO IT TO 
          BE FAIR. >> THERE IS ALSO COMMISSIONER GARCIA'S MOTIONS RELATED TO THE SAME PROCESS. I THINK THE BEST WAY TO DO THIS IS AT THE END OF THIS DISCUSSION WE LAY OUT ALL THE DIFFERENT MOTIONS AND TAKE A VOTE ON EACH. 
          >> BELIEVE IT OR NOT, I WOULD LIKE TO GET OUT OF HERE BEFORE MIDNIGHT. THEY TAUGHT ME THAT AT THE LBJ SCHOOL, TOO. 
          >> COMMISSIONER BRIONES? >> THANK YOU AGAIN, TEAM , ALL THE DEPARTMENT HEADS. I AM VERY EXCITED TO CONTINUE THE WORK TOGETHER. WE ALL KNOW WE HAVE THE SEPTEMBER 2ND TO THE BUFFET BUDGET HEARINGS WITH ALL OF THE DEPARTMENTS. SO MUCH OF WHAT WAS READ -- SOME OF IT WAS NOT EVEN IN THE 10% CLS. SOME OF IT IS 
          [06:35:05]
BUT AGAIN THAT IS NOT AUTOMATIC. TEAMWORK AND LEANING INTO IDENTIFY THOSE THINGS THAT WILL HAVE MINIMAL TO NO IMPACT TO CONSTITUENT SERVICES. SO, FOR EXAMPLE, HEART. TO ME, THAT IS ONE OF THE THINGS I FEEL MOST PASSIONATELY ABOUT IN TERMS OF ADDRESSING MENTAL HEALTH, PUBLIC HEALTH, AND THE INTERSECTION. WE DON'T NEED PEOPLE WHO NEED SERVICES AND OUR SYSTEM. WE WERE ABLE TO WHAT WAS ONLY IN TWO DISTRICTS, MAINLY PRECINCT 1 AND 4, NOW, WITH THE SAME AMOUNT OF MONEY, WE ARE GOING TO DO A COUNTYWIDE. WITH? BECAUSE WE GOT RID OF A CONTRACTOR WHO WAS INEFFICIENT AND BROUGHT IT IN HOUSE. STARTED DEVELOPING SOFTWARE FOR OTHER PROGRAMS THAT NOW ARE USING FOR MULTIPLE PROGRAMS. WHEN YOU ROLL UP THE SLEEVES TO ACTUALLY DIG IN, WE CAN PRESERVE AND PROTECT THE THINGS WE CARE MOST ABOUT AND DO IT IN A WAY THAT IS MORE EFFICIENT. SO THAT IS WHAT I ASK CONTINUOUSLY. I KNOW WE HAVE WENT MANY TIMES AND I APPRECIATE ALL THE HOURS. THE MONTHS THAT HAVE GONE INTO THIS. THIS IS AN INTERACTIVE PROCESS. I INVITE EVERYONE TO WATCH THE SEPTEMBER 2ND TO THE BUDGET BUDGET HEARINGS AND THEN WE HAVE THE SEPTEMBER 9TH MEETING AND THE SEPTEMBER 18TH MEETING. SO BECAUSE THIS IS INTERACTIVE, I AM STILL ROLLING UP MY SLEEVES COME ALONG WITH MY TEAM AND SO MANY OTHERS TO DO THE WORK. THE WORD EFFICIENCY, LOOK AT THE NUMBERS. JL SOURCING CONTRACTS. 
          ANOTHER 1200 WERE IDENTIFIED? WE ARE NOT EVEN GOING AFTER 1200. 
          JUST 190 TAKE US TO $11 MILLION. IN TERMS OF A HELPFUL HIRING FREEZE, IT COULD EVEN GET UP TO 39. AT LEAST FOR ME AS WE DO THE WORK AND THINK OF THE SOP THAT IS COMING, THESE ARE POSITIONS THAT HAVE -- THAT ARE NOT MISSION-CRITICAL. SO, IF YOU ARE WILLING TO DIG IN AND GO LINE BY LINE, IT IS AMAZING WHAT YOU WILL SEE BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY, WE HAVE HEARD LOUD AND CLEAR FROM ALL THE BUDGET TOWN HALLS, THE SURVEYS, FOLKS WHO HAVE COME, THAT THERE ARE FUNDAMENTAL NONNEGOTIABLE'S AND WE ALL KNOW THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN CITY GOVERNMENT AND THE COUNTY GOVERNMENT, STATE GOVERNMENT, AND THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AND UNDENIABLY THE FEDERAL AND STATE GOVERNMENTS MAKE THE COUNTY GOVERNMENT VERY CHALLENGING AND WE CAN GO INTO A WHOLE LITANY ABOUT THAT BUT AS LEADERS IT IS UP TO US TO ROLL UP OUR SLEEVES AND DELIVER IT WITH EXCELLENCE. WHETHER IT IS SOFTWARE LICENSES, STOPPING FLEET, THERE IS SOME ANYWAYS THAT DON'T AFFECT WHAT I CALL THE NONNEGOTIABLE'S, WHICH ARE PUBLIC HEALTH. THE IMMUNIZATIONS ARE GOING TO GO OUT IN THE COMMUNITY. CLINICS ARE GOING TO GO ON. H.A.R.T. IS GOING TO GO ON AND BE EXPANDED. RIGHT? IN TERMS OF INFRASTRUCTURE, WHETHER IT IS ROAD MAINTENANCE, POTHOLES, FLOOD MITIGATION WORK, AND ARE  -- OUR DISASTER RESPONSE, ALL THAT IS PROTECTED. 
          THE SUBDIVISION DRAINAGE. ALL OF THAT GOES ON. AGAIN, HOW CAN WE CONTINUE PUSHING FORWARD AND PUBLIC SAFETY, THAT IS A NONNEGOTIABLE THAT THE COUNTY IS CHARGED. AND I SEE ONE OF OUR SHERIFF DEPUTIES LEADERS HERE. I REMAIN COMMITTED, PERIOD. OUR COMMITMENT TO DELIVERING PUBLIC SAFETY IS ONE OF THE NONNEGOTIABLE'S. AND SO WE NEED TO MAKE SURE WE ARE DELIVERING THE NONNEGOTIABLE'S WITH EXCELLENCE AND THEN BEING AS INNOVATIVE, AS PURPOSEFUL, DISCIPLINED TO IDENTIFY AND ROLL UP THEIR SLEEVES, BECAUSE FACTS ACTUALLY MATTER. ACTUAL NUMBERS AND OUTLINE ITEMS ACTUALLY MATTER. NOT WHAT COULD HAPPEN BUT WHAT IS LITERALLY AN OPTION TO DRIVE FORWARD. AND SO I RESPECT THE AMOUNT OF TIME THAT HAS GONE IN . AND AS I LOOK AT TOM HERE, IN TERMS OF INNOVATION IN THE PUBLIC-PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP, HOW WE WERE EXPANDING THAT WITH LEADERSHIP. 
          JUST THINKING CREATIVELY THE WAY A GOVERNMENT SHOULD BE NIMBLE AND RESPONSIVE AND DELIVER THE NONNEGOTIABLE'S. AND PARTNER WITH OTHER LEVELS OF GOVERNMENT. YOU KNOW THERE IS A MILLION DOLLARS A DAY SPENT ON CHILDCARE? 55,000 KIDS. SOME OF THE MONEY IS BEING SENT BACK AND HARRIS COUNTY CAN USE IT. IT IS ABOUT $200 MILLION A YEAR. YOU KNOW THEY HAVE NOT BEEN AS DEEPLY ENGAGED? WHAT A STRAW AND THE MONEY IN A WAY THAT IS PURPOSEFUL, RIGOROUS, AND EFFICIENT. WE ARE PROTECTING AND PRESERVING ALL THE NONNEGOTIABLE'S. AND, DOING A AMAZING THINGS LIKE THE $20 PER HOUR MINIMUM WAGE THAT WE PASS. 
          THAT IS IN THIS BUDGET. THE $21.65 FOR CONTRACTORS INCLUDING JANITORIAL SERVICES AND OTHER CONTRACT SERVICES. THE ADDITIONAL $50 MILLION FOR PAY EQUITY FOR ALL COUNTY EMPLOYEES, THAT IS IN THE BUDGET. THE AMOUNT WE GAVE LAST YEAR FOR PAY 
          [06:40:01]
EQUITY TO THE 75 AND UNDER, WE DID THAT. SO SO MUCH HAS BEEN DONE WHEN YOU DIG IN, ROLL UP YOUR SLEEVES, AND GET IT DONE SO WE NEED TO GO ITEM BY ITEM AND, AGAIN, WORKING COLLABORATIVELY. 
          FINDING THOSE WAYS WE CAN EXECUTE WITH EXCELLENCE AND DO MORE WITH LESS. WHETHER IT IS THE USE OF TEMPS AND THE ADDED COSTS AND THE REVOLVING DOOR VERSUS THE ACTUAL INVESTMENT IN PEOPLE, SO, AGAIN, THERE IS A GREAT LEVEL OF NUANCE AND I KNOW THAT THE PEOPLE ARE AS INVESTED IN MAKING SURE WE ARE EXECUTING WITH EXCELLENCE AND BEING GOOD STEWARDS OF TAXPAYER DOLLARS. SO I THANK ALL THE COUNTLESS HOURS THAT HAVE GONE INTO IT. I LOOK FORWARD TO THE APARTMENT BUDGET HEADS. AGAIN, ROLL UP THE SLEEVES. CONTINUE FINDING THOSE OPPORTUNITIES. DON'T JUST GIVE US THE FULL MENU BUT REALLY, TRULY, THE MOST THOUGHTFUL IDEAS AS TO HOW WE CAN, AGAIN, CONTINUE DOING MORE WITH LESS AND COME UP WITH CREATIVE, INNOVATIVE SOLUTIONS-ORIENTED. 
          AT THE END OF THE DAY, PUBLIC SAFETY, PUBLIC INFRASTRUCTURE, DISASTER PREPAREDNESS, PUBLIC HEALTH. THOSE ARE WHAT THE COUNTY GOVERNMENT MUST DELIVER. ALL DAY, EVERY DAY. AND I HOPE WE CAN DO IT IN UNITY AND IN COLLABORATION AND BASED ON ACTUAL FACTS AND EVIDENCE. SO, WITH THAT, THANK YOU AGAIN, DOCTOR RAMOS. I KNOW MANY OF THE SOPS ARE COMING FOR THESE DIFFERENT COMPONENTS. THE SOLUTIONS. AND I APPRECIATE THE LEVEL OF THOUGHTFULNESS AND RIGOR YOU ALL ARE DOING. SO IT IS NOT AN AXE. IT IS A VERY THOUGHTFUL APPROACH. AND AGAIN MY TEAM AND I, AND I COULD GO ON THINKING ON MY AMAZING TEAM MEMBERS, BUT THANK YOU BECAUSE WE WILL DELIVER AND WE WILL GET THIS BUDGET DONE IN A WAY THAT PROTECTS AND PRESERVES OTHER THINGS WE HAVE BEEN FIGHTING FOR. AND I WANT TO THANK ALL OF YOU FOR EVERYTHING YOU ARE DOING. AND SO LET US CONTINUE THE WORK AND I PERSONALLY, GIVEN WE HAVE THESE ADDITIONAL TOUCH POINTS AND THIS IS A HIGHLY ITERATIVE PROCESS AND WHERE GETTING UPDATED DRAFTS AND WORKING ON IT AROUND THE CLOCK, I AM NOT PREPARED TO MAKE DECISIONS UNTIL WE HAVE THE FULL GAMUT OF OPTIONS, SOPS, CONTINUES THE WORK, BECAUSE EVERY DAY WE ARE MAKING PROGRESS TOGETHER AND I APPRECIATE YOU SO 
          MUCH, TEAM. >> THANK YOU. SO JUST A QUICK QUESTION. MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT -- EXCUSE ME? 
          >> I WAS SAYING GOD BLESS TO THE PERSON WHO SNEEZED. BLESS YOU. 
          >> DEPARTMENT HEADS AND STAFF FROM EACH OF THE PRECINCTS HAVE BEEN MEETING TO DISCUSS THE LINE BY LINE BUDGET. HOW MANY MEETINGS HAVE YOU HAD WITH DEPARTMENT HEADS? BUDGET AND DEPARTMENT HEADS, MAYBE? ROUGHLY? 
          >> HOW MANY MEETINGS HAVE I HAD THOUGHT THE BUDGET PROCESS? HUNDREDS, EASLEY, INCLUDING THAT IS ME PERSONALLY. NOT INCLUDING MY STAFF. NOT INCLUDING THE OFFICE HOURS THAT WE HOSTED FOR EACH DEPARTMENT. YOU KNOW? WE SEND STAFF OVER TO DEPARTMENTS IN SOME CASES TO HELP FACILITATE THEIR BUDGET PROPOSALS. SO. 
          >> I WILL CALL THAT REALLY UP OUR SLEEVES. I DON'T KNOW IF THAT IS NOT REALLY UP SLEEVES WHAT IS. MAYBE THEY HAVEN'T PARTICIPATED IN MEETINGS WITH COMMISSIONER PRECINCT STAFF. HOW THEY PARTICIPATED IN MEETINGS WITH COMMISSIONER PRECINCTS 
          STAFF? >> I BELIEVE MOST APARTMENT SET UP TIME WITH COMMISSIONERS TO REVIEW THEIR BUDGET PROPOSALS AND THE BUDGET RECOMMENDATIONS AT SOME POINT. 
          >> I THINK THERE HAS BEEN MEETINGS WITH BUDGET AND A REPRESENTATIVE FROM EACH OFFICE AND KIND OF GOING OVER AND OVER AGAIN AND TRYING TO PRESSURE THEM TO COME UP WITH THE 
          ANSWERS. >> THERE WAS DPMS FOR ALL OF THE 
          DPA DEPARTMENTS. >> ANYWAY, WE HAVE ROLLED UP THE SLEEVES. WE ARE SORT OF DEEP IN THE MUD AT THIS POINT BECAUSE WE CREATED A BUNCH OF PROBLEMS THAT WERE NOT THERE BEFORE. AND, I THINK, WE CAN SOLICIT ANY AMOUNT OF OPINIONS AND LOOK AND TALK AND SLEEVES AND NO SLEEVES. BUT I, FOR ONE, IN MY BUDGET, TALKING AND TALKING AND TALKING ABOUT HOW GREAT IT IS GOING TO BE DOES NOT MAKE MORE MONEY APPEAR. SO I THINK THAT IT IS ABOUT TIME THAT WE TALK ABOUT WHAT THE PROPOSALS ARE. THIS IS BLANK. IF THERE IS NO STARTING POINT FOR THE COMMUNITY TO DISCUSS, WE ARE JUST PULLING THE WOOL OVER THEIR EYES. THE STAFF IS VERY SMART. THE COMMISSIONERS ARE VERY SMART. THEY HAVE ROLLED UP THEIR SLEEVES. HUNDREDS OF HOURS OF WORK. HONESTLY, IT WILL BE OFFENSIVE TO SUGGEST THEY HAVE ROLLED UP THEIR SLEEVES. 
          [06:45:02]
SO, AGAIN, LET'S PLEASE MY COLLEAGUES, IF YOU COULD PLEASE PUT TOGETHER WHAT YOUR PROPOSAL IS TO THE PUBLIC AS TO HOW EXACTLY YOU ARE GOING TO COVER $220 MILLION. SOME ATTORNEYS HERE WHEN YOU START A NEGOTIATION YOU HAVE AN OPENING OFFER. YOU JUST SIT THERE AND I TALK ABOUT HOW GREAT THINGS ARE AND THEY TALK ABOUT HOW GREAT THINGS ARE AND ALL THE SUDDEN YOU HAVE A DANCE. NO. YOU HAVE TO PUT TO THE PROPOSAL. I JUST WANT TO SAY, THESE DEPARTMENTS AND ALL OF OUR STAFF HAVE BEEN WORKING REALLY HARD TO GO LINE BY LINE. EVERYBODY HAS SPOKEN TO THE COMMUNITY. AND SO THE INFORMATION IS THERE. THE QUESTION IS HOW MUCH TIME ARE YOU SPENDING PUTTING TOGETHER A PROPOSAL AND SAYING WHAT YOU ACTUALLY WANT VERSUS FIGURING OUT HOW TO SPIN THINGS? WE JUST SAID THAT PUBLIC HEALTH IS NONNEGOTIABLE. WELL, WE HAD THE PUBLIC HEALTH DIRECTOR HERE ABOUT HOW THE PROPOSALS HAS CUTS THEN WE SET EMERGENCIES NONNEGOTIABLE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT TALKING ABOUT HOW HAZMAT IS GOING TO GET CUT AND WE ARE NOT GOING TO PUT MONEY INTO THE RAINY DAY FUND AND WE ARE COUNTING ON MONEY THAT HASN'T EVEN ARRIVED YET. WE TALK ABOUT HOW THE LIBRARIES ARE NONNEGOTIABLE BUT HERE'S OUR DIRECTOR TALKING ABOUT HOW THE LIBRARIES ARE GOING TO BE AFFECTED. I MEAN, WE CAN'T JUST KEEP STICKING YOUR HEAD IN THE SAND AND PRETENDING THINGS ARE TRUE THAT ARE SIMPLY NOT TRUE. I CAN SAY, YOU KNOW, NOTHING -- EVERYTHING IS NONNEGOTIABLE. WE ARE GOING TO HAVE A BUDGET. WE ARE GOING TO ROLL UP OUR SLEEVES. WE ARE GOING TO ITERATE. WE ARE GOING TO SOLICIT. THAT IS NOT GOING TO GET ME A BALANCED BUDGET. SO, AGAIN, YOU KNOW, WE KNOW HOW WE GOT HERE. AND THERE HAS BEEN A LOT OF, THIS IS HOW WE GOT HERE. 
          IT WAS UNNECESSARY. THERE HAS BEEN A LOT OF ROLLING UP OF SLEEVES. THERE HAVE BEEN HUNDREDS OF HOURS OF DISCUSSIONS. THIS IS THE CURRENT PROPOSAL THAT THE BUDGET DIRECTOR HAS FOLKS AGREE WITH IT. OKAY. IF YOU DON'T AGREE WITH IT, WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE TO SEE PRESENTED TO THE COMMUNITY INSTEAD OF? PLEASE, THINK SOMETHING IS NONNEGOTIABLE DOES NOT MEAN YOU'RE NOT GOING TO CUT IT BECAUSE THE CURRENT PROPOSAL YOU'RE CELEBRATING DOESN'T HE CUT THESE THINGS. 
          ALL RIGHT. COMMISSIONER ELLIS? >> WHAT DIRECTOR SPEAK UPON THE BUDGET. I GOT YOUR TEXT. I JUST HADN'T READ IT. DIRECTOR MENDO? OKAY. THANK YOU. OH. SHE IS COMING ON NOW. YOU HAVE TO TURN 
          YOUR CAMERA ON, DIRECTOR. >> IN THE MEANTIME, DIRECTOR, ARE YOU SAYING THAT NONE OF THOSE WILL BE IN THE BUDGET YOU VOTE ON IN THE END? NONE OF THIS CUTS YOU ARE CONCERNED ABOUT? 
          >> SO I APPRECIATE ALL DEPARTMENT HEADS AND THEIR PARTNERSHIP WITH ALL OF OUR OFFICES. 
          >> IT IS A YES OR NO QUESTION. >> I LOOK FORWARD TO THE DEPARTMENT HEARINGS BECAUSE WE ALL ARE CONTINUING TO WORK TOGETHER SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH. 
          >> OKAY. THAT WAS A REAL SIMPLE YES OR NO QUESTION. SO WE ARE SEEING THERE IS NOT GOING TO BE CUTS BUT THEN WHEN I ASKED YOU ARE FOR SURE NOT GOING TO CUT ANYTHING THERE IS MORE PLATITUDES. PUTTING THAT ON THE RECORD. 
          >> I ENCOURAGE YOU TO READ THE BUDGET BOOK AND GO THROUGH MATERIALS THAT HAVE BEEN PUT OUT THAT IDENTIFY SAVINGS. THERE IS A GREAT DEAL MATERIALS THAT HAVE BEEN RELEASED AND AGAIN THIS IS AN INTERACTIVE PROCESS WITH OPTIONS THAT WE WILL BE VOTING ON AS WE CONTINUE. I INVITE EVERYONE TO WATCH THE BUDGET HEARING SEPTEMBER 2ND TO 5TH AND THEN SEPTEMBER THE NINTH AND 18TH ARE THE NATIONAL MEETING SO THANK YOU AGAIN, TEAM . 
          >> AND, HENRY, ARE YOU ON? HENRY, YOU CAN POP IN AND GIVE 
          US THE IMPACT ON YOUR BUDGET. >> AND MAYBE, HENRY, IF YOU HAVE SPENT ANY TIME WORKING ON THIS, IF ANYONE HAS PROMISED YOU THESE ARE NOT GOING TO BE CUTS AFTER THE QUOTE, UNQUOTE, INTERACTIVE 
          PROCESS? >> I THINK YOU GUYS CAN -- 
          >> WE NEED TO BE ABLE TO SEE YOU. 
          >> TRYING. THERE I AM. CAN EVERYONE SEE ME AND HEAR ME? 
          >> OH, YEAH. WE SEE YOU. AND IF YOU DON'T MIND INTRODUCING YOURSELF FOR THE RECORD, PLEASE? 
          [06:50:01]
          >> EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE HARRIS COUNTY JUVENILE PROBATION DEPARTMENT. WITH OUR PROPOSED BUDGET CUTS I MADE SURE IT DID NOT IMPACT ANY OF OUR ESSENTIAL POSITIONS OR OUR DIRECT CARE POSITIONS. SO I MADE SURE THAT OUR PROPOSED CUTS WOULD HIT MORE ON THE STATE OF SUPPORT SIDE. IT IS GOING TO -- IT WOULD IMPACT SOME SERVICES, SUCH AS EDUCATION ADVOCACY FOR OUR KIDS IN THE COMMUNITY. BUT, AGAIN, I HAVE WORKED CLOSELY WITH THE BUDGET DEPARTMENT TO MAKE SURE IT WOULD NOT IMPACT DIRECT CARE STAFF AND OUR FACILITIES ARE PROBATION OFFICERS OUT IN THE COMMUNITY. 
          YEAH. WE DO HAVE A CONTRACT WITH DISABILITY RIGHTS TEXAS TO PROVIDE EDUCATION ADVOCACY. WHAT I WAS DOING WAS SUPPLEMENTING THAT BY OFFERING SOME POSITIONS TO ASSIST IN THAT AREA AS WELL. 
          AND OUR CUTS WILL COME FROM ABOUT NO MORE THAN SIX POSITIONS ALONG THOSE LINES AND THEN SOME NEW COMPUTERS. 
          >> I WILL CONTINUE WITH THAT CONTRACT. THREE POSITIONS I WAS SUPPLEMENTING THEN WITH BY ALLOWING THEM TO USE THE OF OUR STAFF TO DO SOME ADVOCACY WORK AS WELL. SO THOSE ARE THE POSITIONS THAT I WOULD ELIMINATE. THEY WILL CONTINUE TO DO THE ADVOCACY FOR OUR CONTRACT. IT IS JUST A SUPPLEMENTAL STUFF I WOULDN'T BE ABLE TO DO. 
          >> IF THEY HAD SIX AND CUT BACK TO THREE I ASSUME THEY WILL DO 
          HALF OF WHAT YOU ARE DOING. >> IT WOULD BE LESS ADVOCACY FOR KIDS IN THE COMMUNITY AS FAR AS EDUCATION GOES. 
          >> WHAT EXACTLY -- AND EXPLAIN HOW THE PROGRAM WORKS? 
          >> SURE. LET'S SAY WE GET A KID WHO COMES INTO OUR SYSTEM WHO WE SEE IS 16 YEARS OLD AND READING AT A SECOND GRADE LEVEL AND THE SCHOOL DISTRICT HAS NEVER IDENTIFIED THIS KID AS HAVING SOME EDUCATIONAL DEFICITS. WE RECOGNIZE THAT. SO THEN WE HELP THE PRINCE ADVOCATE FOR THE CHILD AND THE SCHOOL, HELP THE FAMILY TO THE APPROPRIATE WORK TO GET THE ASSESSMENTS DONE. 
          MAKE SURE THAT KID IS GETTING ALL THE SERVICES THAT THEY MADE SO THEY WILL GO TO THE MEETINGS WITH THE PARENTS AND REALLY TEACH THE PARENTS HOW TO ADVOCATE FOR THEIR KIDS. THEN IF THEY DISCOVER THAT THE SCHOOL DISTRICT HAS FAILED TO PROVIDE SOME OF THOSE SERVICES, THEN , IF IT ESCALATES UP TO LEGAL ACTION, THEN DISABILITY RIGHTS WILL DO THAT. THEY ALSO ADVOCATE FOR OUR KIDS WHO HAVE BEEN DIAGNOSED WITH SIGNIFICANT MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES, AS WELL. YOU KNOW? ALSO IN THE SCHOOL SETTING TO MAKE SURE THE SCHOOL IS AWARE THAT. THAT THEY ARE DOING THE PROPER ASSESSMENTS AND THAT THEY ARE PROVIDING THE SERVICES THAT THEY SHOULD PROVIDE. THAT WITHOUT THAT 
          ADVOCATE, IT DOESN'T HAPPEN. >> AND WHEN YOU SAY WHEN IT HAD COMES INTO OUR SYSTEM, YOU MEAN IF THEY GET PICKED UP FOR 
          JUVENILE? >> CORRECT. 
          >> CAN YOU PUT THAT IN LAYMAN'S TERMS? 
          >> IF A KID IS ARRESTED BY LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCY FOR A CLASS B MISDEMEANOR AND THEY COME INTO OUR SYSTEM, WHETHER IT IS THE KIDS AND ONE OF OUR FACILITIES OR IF IT IS THE YOUNG PERSON WHO IS ON PROBATION IN THE COMMUNITY AND, AGAIN, WE RECOGNIZE THAT THERE MAY BE SOME EDUCATIONAL DEFICITS THERE. YOU KNOW? EITHER BY ATTENDANCE OR BY THE SCHOOL RECORDS, REPORT CARDS, THEN WE START TO LOOK A LITTLE DEEPER TO SEE HOW WE CAN HELP IN THAT AREA TO MAKE SURE THAT THAT KID IS RECEIVING SERVICES THAT THEY SHOULD BE RECEIVING FROM THE SCHOOL DISTRICTS BECAUSE IT IS VERY OBVIOUS THAT EDUCATIONAL DEFICITS ARE CORRELATED WITH DELINQUENCY AND WHAT WE FIND IS A LOT OF THE YOUNG PEOPLE WHO COME INTO OUR SYSTEM HAVE THOSE ISSUES BUT THE SCHOOL DISTRICTS JUST HAVE NOT IDENTIFIED THAT KID. AGAIN, EVEN THOUGH THE KID IS 16 AND READING AT A SECOND GRADE LEVEL. UNFORTUNATELY, SCHOOL DISTRICTS HAVEN'T DONE WHAT WE WOULD EXPECT THEM TO DO AND THAT IS WHERE THIS ADVOCACY COMES. 
          >> I DON'T HAVE TO BE A MOM TO UNDERSTAND THAT IS A REALLY, REALLY SAD THING, TOO. BASICALLY SENTENCE THESE KIDS INTO THIS CYCLE OF INCARCERATION BY THE TIME THEY ARE YOUNG BECAUSE OF MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES. AND THIS IS IN THE SECOND BUDGET BOOK. 
          RIGHT? HENRY? RIGHT? >> CORRECT. 
          >> FOR THE RECORD, THAT IS THE BUDGET BOOK THAT WE ARE HEARING FROM COLLEGE HERE TO MY RIGHT THAT HAS SOMEBODY SAVINGS AND INCREDIBLE EFFICIENCIES THAT IS NOT GOING TO LEAD TO CUSTER JUVENILE PROBATION ENGINE HERE IS THE CUT. SO I, AGAIN, WOULD -- I WOULD LOVE IT FOR US TO BE ABLE TO TURN WATER INTO WINE. I 
          [06:55:07]
DON'T THINK THAT IS A THING. BUT, YOU KNOW, I STAND TO BE SURPRISED. YEAH. I HOPE YOU DON'T HAVE TO CUT THAT, HENRY. 
          AND I HOPE MY COLLEAGUES FIND IT IN THEIR HEARTS TO BE STRAIGHT WITH THE COMMUNITY AND PROTECT THE PROGRAMS. THANK YOU. 
          >> YOU ARE WELCOME. >> OKAY. JUDGE, I AM GOING TO SUGGEST THAT WE TAKE A 10 MINUTE BREAK. I AM LEAVING. 
          >> I THINK SINDUE TEXTED SOMETHING . I SAW HER PUT IN A 
          MESSAGE. >> TELL HER WE WILL GET IT NEXT 
          TIME. >> JUDGE? JUDGE? ARE YOU GOING TO CALL BREAK ? ALL RIGHT. ALL RIGHT. IT IS 7:53. IT IS 
          >>> ALL RIGHT. IT'S 8:14. COMMISSIONERS COURT -- AND SO THE QUESTION HERE BEING, DO WE, IS THERE ANY ADDITIONAL DISCUSSION ON ITEM 7 BEFORE WE MOVE ON TO ITEM 1? COMMISSIONER 
          GARCIA? >> THANK YOU. I JUST WANT TO, FIRST OF ALL, THANK MY CONSTITUENTS. YOU KNOW, MY BUDGET SURVEY JUST RETURNED, AND , OR, OR RATHER, NOT JUST RETURNED, BUT WE, YOU KNOW, WE'VE HAD IT JUST RECENTLY. 
          AND, AND WE'RE ALIGNED. PARTY NUMBER ONE, CRIME PREVENTION. 
          PRIORITY NUMBER TWO, PUBLIC INFRASTRUCTURE . PRIORITY NUMBER THREE, EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT. PRIORITY NUMBER FOUR, PUBLIC HEALTH. SO I, I, I'M GLAD TO SEE THAT THE CONSTITUENTS APPRECIATE ALSO HAVE OUR ALIGNED WHAT I WAS THINKING AND BETTER YET THAT I'M ALIGNED WITH WHERE I THOUGHT THE, I HAVE HEARD THE PUBLIC ANECDOTALLY, BUT THE SURVEY HAS HELPED TO VALIDATE THAT. SO I JUST WANTED TO THANK THE CONSTITUENTS FOR PARTICIPATING IN, IN THIS PROCESS. WE, WE WORK TO DO IT, OR THIS IS PROBABLY OUR SECOND OR THIRD YEAR WE'VE DONE AN ACTUAL SURVEY, SO THIS HELPS JUST TO VALIDATE WHERE I THINK THE THANK YOU, THE COMMUNITY IS THAT IT AND, AND, AND THEN ALSO THE MOST IDENTIFIED THAT THEY DO NOT WANT A TAX INCREASE. THANK 
          YOU. >> THANK YOU. COMMISSIONER, DID YOU ASK THEM IF, WOULD YOU, WOULD YOU PAY X MORE PER YEAR IN ORDER TO GIVE $100 MILLION RAISE FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT? BECAUSE THAT'S NORMALLY HOW YOU WOULD TEST THAT. 
          >> YEAH, WE, WE WORKED TO MAKE SURE THAT THE QUESTION WAS STRAIGHT, STRAIGHTFORWARD, AND SO THE -- 
          >> THAT SOUNDS LIKE A NO. >> THE QUESTION IS, HARRIS COUNTY IS FACING THE $270 MILLION BUDGET SHORTFALL IN THE FISCAL YEAR DUE TO RISING COSTS AND THE LOSS OF FEDERAL REVENUE. 
          WOULD YOU SUPPORT RAISING TAXES TO HELP CLOSE THIS GAP AND AVOID CUTS IN COUNTY SERVICES? SAID NO. 
          >> C, BUT THAT, THAT IS, THAT'S BASED ON A FALSE PREMISE. 
          >> WELL, THE, I, I'D LIKE TO SEE THE SURVEY THAT YOU PUT OUT 
          AND THE ENGAGEMENT -- >> YEAH, THE SURVEY I PUT OUT SAID THAT ALMOST 60% OF VOTERS WANTED TO SEE INCREASES INTO EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION AND NOBODY WANTED TO FOLLOW THAT EVEN TASK THE VOTERS. BUT I, I ALSO WOULD VENTURE TO SAY THAT, AND I HAVE NOT SEEN IT, BUT I, I DON'T IMAGINE, I IMAGINE THAT THE CURRENT BUDGET ALREADY HAS THESE PRIORITIES, AND I DON'T IMAGINE THAT IF YOU ASK THEM WHETHER THEY LIKE TO SEE CUTS, THE CUTS THAT ARE CURRENTLY BEING PROPOSED, THAT THEY WOULD SAY YES. I THINK THAT STATING PRIORITIES THAT WE'RE ALL SAYING WE HAVE IS, IS GREAT, BUT, YOU KNOW, I THINK WHAT PEOPLE WANT TO KNOW IS WHAT CUTS ARE YOU MAKING, AND I DON'T THINK THAT THE SURVEY ANSWERS THAT. BUT, BUT I'M GLAD YOU'RE 
          -- >> AGAIN, I'M, I AM JUST PROVIDING INPUT THAT MY PRECINCT TO CONSTITUENTS PROVIDED. THANK 
          YOU. >> COMMISSIONER ELLIS? 
          >> I DON'T WANT TO BELABOR THE POINT, BUT BECAUSE OF WHAT THE STATE HAS PUT ON US, I THINK AT SOME POINT, THE FIVE OF US HAVE 
          [07:00:01]
TO BE MATURE ENOUGH TO SAY WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO LET THE VOTERS JUST TELL US THEY DON'T WANT TO DO IT. I THINK IF WE DID A POLL AND ASKED, DO THEY SUPPORT A, A TAX INCREASE BEFORE WE PUT THE ITEM ON THE BALLOT FOR MAINTENANCE, IT WAS FLOOD CONTROL PROJECTS. IN THE ABSENCE OF A CAMPAIGN. I MEAN, NEEDS WE GOT TO TAKE SOME HEAT, BY THE WAY, AND IT'S NOT FUN. BUT I'M JUST SAYING, WHAT WE'RE DOING IS, PARTICULARLY IF SOMETHING PASSES THE SESSION, I MEAN, IT'S NOT A GOOD SITUATION. THEY DIDN'T PUT IT ON THEMSELVES BUT I'M SAYING THERE'S NO WAY. AND THEN YOU'RE GOING TO SAY YOU NEVER TAKE THE MONEY OUT OF LAW ENFORCEMENT? WE WILL BE DOING, WE HAVE NOTHING BUT A POLICE STATE. THERE'D BE NO MONEY TO DO ANYTHING ELSE. I'M JUST SAYING, IT MAKES SENSE TO GO AND DO A SURVEY, BUT I'M JUST TELLING YOU. I BET IF I'D GONE AND ASKED PEOPLE WHEN I FIRST RAN FOR CITY COUNCIL, WOULD YOU VOTE FOR WRITING ELLIS, THEY'D HAVE SAID, WHO? YOU KNOW? AND, AND RUN A CAMPAIGN. MAYBE HAVE A LITTLE LUCK IN ORDER TO GET THERE. SO I'M JUST, WHENEVER THAT HAPPENS, IT'LL, IT'LL HAVE TO -- AND IT'S COMING. I DON'T 
          KNOW WHEN. IT'S COMING. >> COMMISSIONER RAMSEY. 
          >> WE WERE ON THE BALLOT LAST YEAR, COMMISSIONER, YOU AND I. 
          THERE WAS ALSO A TAX INCREASE TO TAKE CARE OF FLOOD CONTROL. 
          >> IT'S RIGHT. >> SO, I MEAN, WE RAN, I, I UNDERSTAND HOW TO RUN WHEN YOU HAVE A TAX INCREASE. 
          >> YOU RAN ON IT. YOU AND I WERE BOTH ON THE BALLOT. IT WAS PART 
          OF -- >> AND NO NEED TO BE SCARED OF IT. I MEAN, YOU KNOW, IT WAS FUN -- 
          >> YOU SHOULDN'T BE SCARED OF IT, BUT I'M JUST SAYING, THAT 
          COMES WITH THIS JOB. >> YEAH. YOU SHOULD NOT DO IT JUST BECAUSE YOU'RE ON THE BALLOT. THAT'S JUST NOT, THAT'S NOT PUTTING THE COMMUNITY FIRST. SO I APPRECIATE YOU GUYS DOING THAT AND POINTING OUT THAT THERE WAS A TAX RAISE LAST YEAR. OKAY, SO THAT WAS ITEM SEVEN. 
          >> NO ACTION. >> NO ACTION. WHAT I HAVE HERE, COLLEAGUES, AND CORRECT ME IF I'M MISTAKEN, IS FOR US TO GO OVER ITEM ONE, THEN THREE, FOUR, ET CETERA, AND THEN ONCE WE HIT 202, WE'LL GO AND TAKE ITEM TWO. 
          >> WE WERE ABLE TO GET OUR DUCKS IN A ROW, SO WE CAN TAKE UP ITEM TWO AT THE APPROPRIATE -- BUT OKAY, SO I'M GOING TO GO ITEM ONE, AND THEN WE CAN GO TO ITEM TWO. SO LET'S DISCUSS ITEM ONE. 
          >> PICK OUT MY LANGUAGE. >> AND THAT IS ON PERFORMANCE EVALUATIONS. THAT WAS FLAGGED BY COMMISSIONER GARCIA. 
          >> YES. THE EVALUATION PROCESS AND THE EVALUATION ITSELF, I THINK, IS GOOD FOR US TO DO. HOWEVER, AS I MENTIONED, WHEN WE SPOKE ABOUT THIS, THAT WE ARE GOING TO EVALUATE FOLKS ON THINGS WE ASSUME THEY KNOW, AND THEY'RE PRETTY TALENTED PEOPLE, BUT I WANT TO BE VERY CLEAR. SO MY MOTION ON THIS ITEM WILL BE TO MOVE THAT THE OFFICE OF COUNTY ADMINISTRATION PROVIDE A TRAINING TO DEPARTMENT HEADS ON PERFORMANCE EXPECTATIONS BEFORE THEIR FIRST EVALUATION. THIS WILL ENSURE THAT EVERY DEPARTMENT HAD BEGINS ON THE SAME PAGE AND UNDERSTAND CLEARLY HOW THEIR PERFORMANCE WILL BE EVALUATED. 
          >> I'LL SECOND THAT AS LONG AS WE DON'T HAVE ANY COMMITTEES 
          RELATED TO IT. >> ALL RIGHT, SO WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND. ANY OTHER DISCUSSION? ALL RIGHT. SO MOTION, DID YOU -- ALL RIGHT. DO YOU GUYS -- THE MOTION? ALL RIGHT, MOTION, A SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR? 
          >> AYE. >> ANY OPPOSED? YEAH, OKAY, GOOD, YES. MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY. THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT. ANYTHING ELSE ON ITEM 1? OKAY, LET'S MOVE ON TO ITEM 2. 
          YEAH? NO? ALL RIGHT. I'M GOING TO MOVE ON TO ITEM 2 UNTIL JAY STOPPED ME. SO THAT IS THE ELECTED OFFICIAL SALARIES. SO WE'RE GOING TO TAKE THAT ITEM, ALONG WITH 200 TO, 203, AND 475. 
          DIRECTOR RAMOS? >> JUDGE, WOULD YOU PREFER TO DO THE ONES THAT ARE LOCALLY SET, OR THE JUDGES FIRST? 
          >> WHATEVER, WHATEVER YOU'D LIKE. 
          >> WELL, WHY DON'T WE DO THE JUDGE'S? I THINK THEY'RE A LITTLE BIT MORE LINEAR. JOHN OR JAKE CAN HELP ME OUT HERE ON WHAT'S MANDATORY VERSUS WHAT IS DISCRETIONARY. 
          >> YEAH, I'LL JUST BRIEFLY GO THROUGH THIS, BUT FOR THE JUDGES, AND HERE WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THE COURT OF APPEALS JUSTICES, PROBATE COURT JUDGES, COUNTY CIVIL COURT OF LAW JUDGES, COUNTY CRIMINAL COURT AT LAW JUDGES, AND THE COUNTY JUDGE, AS WELL AS SOME OF THE ASSOCIATE JUDGES AND VISITING JUDGES. THERE ARE DIFFERENT RULES THAT APPLY TO EACH, SO I'LL JUST BRIEFLY GO THROUGH EACH ONE AND TRY TO MAKE IT AS SIMPLE AS POSSIBLE FIRST. EVERYTHING SORT OF TIED TO THE DISTRICT COURT'S SALARIES, AND AS YOU KNOW, THOSE WERE APPROVED 
          [07:05:01]
AT THE LAST COMMISSIONERS COURT MEETING. THERE ARE MANDATORY MINIMUMS FOR EACH SALARY FOR THE COURT OF APPEALS JUSTICES, THE PROBATE COURT JUDGES, THE COUNTY CIVIL COURT AT LAW JUDGES, THE COUNTY CRIMINAL COURT AT LAW JUDGES, AND THEN THE VISITING CRIMINAL DIVISION AND JUVENILE JUDGES. THE OTHER FOLKS I LISTED, SO THE FAMILY AND JUVENILE DIVISION ASSOCIATE JUDGES, THE CRIMINAL DIVISION ASSOCIATE JUDGES, THERE IS NO REQUIRED MINIMUM FOR THOSE. AS WELL AS FOR THEY, THEY, THE REFEREES UNDER THE FAMILY CODE. SO I BELIEVE THERE IS A MOTION THAT WAS SENT AROUND TO ESSENTIALLY APPROVE THE MINIMUM SALARIES REQUIRED BY LAW AND FOR -- OUR OFFICE TO, TO FIGURE OUT WHAT THOSE ARE. THE REASON I SAY FIGURE OUT WHAT THOSE ARE IS THAT IT'S GOING TO DEPEND ON EACH INDIVIDUAL'S CIRCUMSTANCES, LIKE YEARS OF SERVICE AND THINGS LIKE THAT. 
          >> THAT'S OUT OF 475. >> IT'S 203, 202-234 75. NOW, 202 WOULD NOT NEED A MOTION, IF YOU GO WITH THE MINIMUM, BECAUSE THERE'S NO MINIMUM FOR 200 TO. 203, SOME OF THOSE JUDGES, THE VISITING JUDGES HAVE A MINIMUM, AND THEN 475, ALMOST ALL HAVE A 
          MINIMUM SALARY. >> COMMISSIONER ALICE AND LET 
          COMMISSIONER GARCIA. >> WHERE WOULD THIS MONEY COME FROM? WERE YOU TAKING THE SIDE OF THE -- MONEY THAT HAS TO BE SET ASIDE FOR THE LOWEST INCOME EMPLOYEES? 
          >> WE CAN, OR WE CAN IDENTIFY ADDITIONAL CUTS. 
          >> I THINK YOU WANT TO IDENTIFY ADDITIONAL CUTS. I'M NOT GOING TO VOTE FOR IT TO GO -- I MEAN, THAT'S ABOUT AS, THAT'S THE HEIGHT OF HYPOCRISY. WE GOT A SET ASIDE AND VOTE ON A POT OF MONEY FOR PAY EQUITY FOR PEOPLE AT THE BOTTOM, AND THEN WE GOING TO GIVE IT TO FOLKS AT THE TOP. STILL WASN'T CLEAR TO ME IF THAT'S WHAT WE DID LAST TIME WHEN WE GAVE PAY RAISES TO ALL 
          OF THESE ADMINISTRATORS. >> NO, THAT, IT WAS JUST THE 
          ELECTED OFFICIALS. >> YEAH. NO, I DON'T WANT TO GO 
          TAKE IT OUT OF THERE. >> WE'LL IDENTIFY ADDITIONAL 
          CUTS ON BE READY ON 9/9. >> AND WE, I MEAN, I'M, I THINK I REMEMBER LAST YEAR, WE TOOK 20 SOMETHING MILLION DOLLARS AND PAID AN INCREASED THE SALARY OF EVERYBODY THAT MADE LESS THAN 
          $75,000. >> SO OUT OF THAT POT, WE USED $37 MILLION. THAT INCLUDED THE 75, THE 2500 FOR EVERYONE UNDER $75,000. IT INCLUDED THE MINIMUM, THE, MOVING THE MINIMUM WAGE UP TO $20 AN HOUR, AND IT DID INCLUDE SOME ELECTED 
          OFFICIAL SALARIES. >> I WOULD, I WOULD THINK THAT THAT WAS THE OBJECTIVE OF DEALING WITH THOSE AND POLICE 
          FIRST. WE DID THAT LAST YEAR. >> SO -- 
          >> YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT THIS YEAR, WE'RE GOING TO START AT THE BOTTOM. WE DID THAT LAST YEAR. 
          >> SO THE AMOUNT OF MONEY, WE COMMISSIONED A STUDY, A PAY EQUITY STUDY, THAT TOOK FOREVER TO PUT OUT AN RFP, WHICH INDICATES TO ME, DIDN'T HAVE A LOT OF SUPPORT TO GO DO IT, AT LEAST NOT IN A BUREAUCRACY, BECAUSE THAT WAS NOTED ON EVEN BEFORE YOU ALL WERE HERE. A LONG TIME AGO. AND THEN IT'S COMING BACK WHEN? IT TOOK TWO YEARS TO DO IT. I THINK I REMEMBER SAYING, WELL, WAIT A MINUTE. WE, WE GETTING EVERYBODY ELSE A PAY RAISE AT THE TOP, BUT WE, WE GOT TO WAIT FOR THE PAY EQUITY STUDY, IS EVERYBODY SAYING, TO COME OUT. AND THEN I SAID, WE'D BE BROKE WHEN THE PAY EQUITY STUDY GETS HERE! SO MY OBJECTION IS, THIS MONEY WAS, DIDN'T, I THOUGHT THE FIGURE FOR THE PAY EQUITY STUDY WAS GOING TO BE SOMETHING LIKE A COUPLE OF HUNDRED MILLION DOLLARS, RIGHT? LIKE, $200 MILLION. I'M JUST 
          GUESSING. >> THE ORIGINAL ESTIMATE WAS $120 MILLION, BUT THAT ALSO INCLUDED LAW ENFORCEMENT, WHICH IS NOW , HAS, YOU KNOW, IS ON THE, IS, IS NOT -- 
          >> THAT INCLUDED THEM? THAT WAS $100 MILLION. WE, THAT WASN'T IN THIS PART. GIVING THE PAY EQUITY STUDY INCLUDED THEM. 
          >> CORRECT. >> OKAY. BUT THIS 50 MILLION 
          THAT WE SET ASIDE -- >> IS JUST FOR CIVILIAN 
          EMPLOYEES. >> FOR CIVILIAN EMPLOYEES. SO COMMISSIONER RAMSEY, WHAT I'M SAYING IS, AT LEAST IN MY MIND, I KNEW IT WOULD ONLY PUT A DENT IN IT, BECAUSE THAT FIGURE IS SO HIGH. BUT IF WE GOING TO KEEP TAKING IT OFF OTHER FOLKS, I MEAN, I GET IT. WE'RE IN A BAD SITUATION. BUT, YOU KNOW, I'M A GUY WHO SAID TWO TIMES, GO ASK FOR MORE MONEY. BUT YOU CAN'T KEEP PUSHING THIS, THE FOLKS AT THE BOTTOM, PUSHING THEM TO THE SIDE AND SAYING, WAIT UNTIL LATER. SO YOU JUST GOT TO 
          IDENTIFY MORE CUTS. >> WE'LL BE PREPARED. 
          >> I'M NOT VOTING FOR IT.. >> AND JUST TO BE CLEAR, 202 IS FOR THE SIX CRIMINAL, CRIMINAL ASSOCIATE JUDGES WHICH ARE ARPA FUNDED, WHICH THEY ARE BUT FUNDING IS SLATED TO END AT THE 
          END OF SEPTEMBER. >> AND, LOOK, AND I'VE STATED ALL ALONG STUFF WE WERE DOING WITH ARPA MONEY, ANYBODY IN THEIR RIGHT MIND KNEW THAT THAT MONEY WAS NOT GOING TO BE THERE AGAIN. BY THE WAY, WE WERE LUCKY. EVEN IF THE BIDEN-HARRIS ADMINISTRATION HAD REMAINED IN PLACE, I DON'T THINK THAT MONEY 
          [07:10:02]
          WAS GOING TO BE THERE AGAIN. >> JUST SAYING, COMMISSIONER, THAT 202 MAY NOT BE AN ISSUE, BECAUSE AS OF TODAY, THE ASSOCIATE JUDGE PROGRAM IN THE SIX DISTRICT COURTS IS GOING 
          AWAY AS PART OF THIS BUDGET. >> IT'S A GOOD THING, BUT I'M JUST SAYING, AND I GET IT, YOU KNOW, I'M NOT TRYING TO -- I GOT YOU. WE TRYING TO GO THROUGH THIS NOW. I'M NOT TRYING TO GET A NOTICE EVERY TIME SOMETHING COMES UP, EVERYBODY WALKS IN AND ASK FOR MORE MONEY, YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN? 
          >> SO I THINK, TO BOIL IT DOWN, 202 IS OPTIONAL. 203 AND 475 ARE MANDATORY BASED ON COURT ACTION. LAST COURT, WHICH RAISED -- 
          >> FOR SOME, FOR SOME OF THE JUDGES. AND, AND IT'S MANDATORY BASED ON COURT ACTION, BUT ALSO BASED ON NEW STATE LAW THAT WAS 
          PASSED EARLIER THIS YEAR. >> AND, AND ALL I'M SAYING ON THIS POINT IS, JUST ANSWER YOUR QUESTION. AT LEAST FOR ME. THAT MONEY OUGHT TO BE FOR PAY EQUITY. 
          >> TO COMPLY WITH THAT PAY EQUITY STUDY, NOT -- EVERY TIME 
          AND LIKE -- >> I HEAR YOU LOUD AND CLEAR, COMMISSIONER. WE'LL BE PREPARED WITH HOW TO FUND THIS. 
          >> THANK YOU. >> COMMISSIONER RAMSEY, AND THEN 
          COMMISSIONER BRIONES. >> YEAH, QUICKLY, JUST, AS I SAID EARLIER, I GOT A LIST OF CUTS THAT WE COULD LOOK, AND I DON'T THINK, LOOK AT WOULD COME UP WHEN THE PACK LEVEL SERVICE. 
          SO I'M PREPARED TO DO THE CUT, OR, OR TAKE ANOTHER LOOK AT THAT 
          $50 MILLION POT. >> OKAY, COMMISSIONER, IS THAT A MOTION, OR SHOULD WE, JUST A COMMENT? 
          >> JUST A COMMENT. I MEAN, I'M READY TO MOVE ON THE ITEM. 
          >> YEAH, NO, AND I APPRECIATE THAT YOU HAVE NEW CUTS TO PRESENT. COMMISSIONER ELLIS JUST WENT. RIGHT, COMMISSIONER 
          BRIONES? >> YES, THANK YOU, JOHN AND DANIEL. SO JUST TO BE CLEAR, DANIEL, FOR ME, THE $50 MILLION WE HAVE SET ASIDE FOR PAY EQUITY FOR THIS YEAR, AND I'M DYING FOR THE RESULTS OF THE GALLAGHER PAY EQUITY STUDY. TO ME, THAT'S SACRED AND SHOULD NOT BE TAPPED FOR THIS. AS FAR AS I'M CONCERNED. AND I APPRECIATE THAT WE HELPED THOSE 75,000 AND UNDER, AND THAT THE STEPS WE'VE TAKEN, THAT WE'VE BEEN WAITING FOR YEARS FOR THE RESULTS, AND TO ME, THAT 50 IS SACRED. MY QUESTION, JOHN, JUST SO WE'RE -- I'M JUST INCLINED TO APPROVE ANY OF THE ADJUSTMENTS UNLESS THEY'RE REQUIRED BY STATE LAW AND SO COULD YOU PLEASE BE CRYSTAL CLEAR ON WHAT WE ARE LEGALLY MANDATED TO DO TODAY VERSUS OPTIONAL LET WE CAN CONSIDER AS WE CONTINUE THIS ITERATIVE BUDGET PROCESS? 
          >> YEAH, SO THE MANDATORY INCREASES, OR THE MANDATORY MINIMUMS ARE FOR THE COURTS OF APPEALS JUSTICES, PROBATE COURT JUDGES, COUNTY CIVIL COURT AT LAW JUDGES, COUNTY CRIMINAL COURT AT LAW JUDGES, VISITING JUDGES, AND I THINK THAT'S IT. 
          >> SO, JUST TO BE CLEAR, BY LAW, WE ARE REQUIRED TO DO THAT. 
          >> YES. >> IN COMPLIANCE -- 
          >> SOME WILL HAVE TO BE IN EFFECT BY SEPTEMBER 1ST. I THINK IT'S JUST THE COURT OF APPEALS JUDGES. 
          >> SO I'M ONLY, I'M ONLY INTERESTED IN , WHETHER I AGREE WITH THE STATE LAW OR NOT, THAT'S A WHOLE OTHER STORY, DISCUSSION FOR ANOTHER DAY. BUT I BELIEVE WE NEED TO FOLLOW STATE LAW, SO I'M WILLING TO DO THOSE TODAY, BUT THE OTHERS, I WANT TO WAIT SO THAT WHEN WE CONTEXTUALIZE IT WITH THE OTHER DATA, THAT WE WILL SOON BE GETTING. 
          >> THAT DOLLAR AMOUNT IS WHAT? FOR THE MANDATORY -- 
          >> SO -- I'M SORRY. >> THE DOLLAR AMOUNT FOR THE 
          MANDATORY RAISES ARE WHAT? >> SO IF WE DO ALL THE RAISES, IT'S $2.5 MILLION FOR THE OPTIONAL, IT'S ABOUT $1 MILLION 
          OF THAT. >> AND WHAT IS, WHAT IS THE 
          MOTION -- >> SORRY. THE MANDATORY? 
          >> THE MANDATORY IS ABOUT 1,000,000 1/2. 
          >> OKAY. >> SO, COMMISSIONER ELLIS, WERE YOU DONE WITH YOUR, COMMISSIONER BRIONES, WHERE YOU DONE WITH 
          YOUR COMMENT? >> YES, THANK YOU, JUDGE. 
          >> SO, SO, COMMISSIONER, IF YOU DON'T MIND, SO I JUST HAVE A QUESTION A LITTLE BIT, IF IT DOESN'T APPLY TO THIS, IT APPLIES TO THE PREVIOUS ONE. THE JUVENILE PROBATION DETENTION OFFICERS RECEIVE THESE BIG RAISES THAT THE OTHER LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS RECEIVE, SHE SAID? 
          >> NO. NEITHER DID THE JAIL DETENTION OFFICERS. 
          >> BUT THE JAIL DETENTION OFFICERS HAVE GOTTEN SOME BIG RAISES BEFORE. SO ANYWAY, I JUST THINK, YOU KNOW, THE COMMUNITY MIGHT BE SAYING THAT'S THE MOST IMPORTANT THING, AND FRANKLY, THIS IS PROBABLY AN OVERSIGHT. I KNOW WE DON'T HAVE MONEY FOR A LOT OF WHAT WE'RE, SOME OF US ARE PROMISING, MUCH LESS THIS. 
          BUT I DO THINK IT'S A VALID QUESTION, GIVEN THAT THE COMMUNITY'S CONCERN WITH PUBLIC SAFETY, ESPECIALLY KIDS THAT MIGHT GET CUT INTO THE, THE JUVENILE JUSTICE SYSTEM. SO I GUESS MY SPECIFIC ASK IS, I'LL, I'LL LEAVE IT TO MY TEAM TO MAKE SURE THAT, THAT THAT GETS, YOU KNOW, HENRY BRINGS THAT UP DURING BUDGET HEARINGS . IF THERE'S A JUVENILE BOARD MEETING BETWEEN NOW AND THEN, I CAN TAKE, WE CAN TAKE A VOTE ON THAT. AND THEN, AND THEN WE'LL JUST FOLLOW UP WITH THE DIRECTOR 
          [07:15:01]
ON THE PRICE, YOU KNOW, THE COST, THE COST OF THAT. ALL RIGHT. SO THE OTHER POINT I WANTED TO MAKE WAS JUST ECHOING WHAT COMMISSIONER BRIONES SAID. I MEAN, OBVIOUSLY WE HAVE TO DO WHAT IS REQUIRED BY LAW, SO I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION THAT COUNTY ATTORNEY PROVIDED TO , IN LIGHT OF THE MINIMUM AMOUNT NEEDED TO REMAIN IN COMPLIANCE WITH APPLICABLE LAW, IN LIGHT OF SENATE BILL 293 AND THE DISTRICT JUDGE SUPPLEMENTS APPROVED ON 814 , MOTION FOR OMB TO WORK WITH THE RELATIVE OFFICES AND DEPARTMENTS TO FINALIZE A SALARY INCREASES FOR, FIRST AND 14TH COURT OF APPEALS JUSTICES, COUNTY CIVIL COURTS AT LAW JUDGES, COUNTY CRIMINAL COURT AT LAW JUDGES, AND THE COUNTY JUDGE EFFECTIVE 9/1 IN THE MINIMUM AMOUNT NEEDED TO REMAIN IN COMPLIANCE WITH APPLICABLE LAW. IS THAT WHAT'S NECESSARY TO REMAIN IN COMPLIANCE WITH APPLICABLE LAW? 
          >> THAT'S FOR 75, JUDGE, AND THERE'S A SIMILAR MOTION FOR 
          203. >> OKAY. SO I'LL LET SOMEBODY ELSE MAKE THE MOTION. I'M JUST TRYING TO READ IT, BECAUSE LIKE THIS IS WHAT I THINK YOU GUYS SENT. 
          >> COULD YOU PLEASE READ THE MOTION FOR THOSE THAT ARE LEGALLY MANDATED UNDER TEXAS LAW, PLEASE? 
          >> YEAH. SO FOR ITEM 203, MOVED TO APPROVE SALARY INCREASES FOR THE POSITIONS LISTED IN THE RCA, EFFECTIVE 9/1, AND THE MINIMUM AMOUNT NEEDED TO REMAIN IN COMPLIANCE WITH APPLICABLE LAW IN LIGHT OF SENATE BILL 293 AND ANY OTHER APPLICABLE STATUTE IN THE DISTRICT JUDGE SUPPLEMENTS APPROVED ON 8/14. ALSO MOVE FOR OMB TO WORK WITH THE RELEVANT OFFICES AND DEPARTMENTS TO FINALIZE THE INCREASES. FOR 475, MOVED TO APPROVE SALARY INCREASES FOR THE FIRST AND 14TH COURTS OF APPEAL JUSTICES, COUNTY CIVIL COURT OF LAW JUDGES, COUNTY CRIMINAL COURT AT LAW JUDGES, PROBATE COURT JUDGES, AND THE COUNTY JUDGE, EFFECTIVE 9/1, IN THE MINIMUM AMOUNT NEEDED TO REMAIN IN COMPLIANCE WITH APPLICABLE LAW IN LIGHT OF SENATE BILL 293 AND THE DISTRICT JUDGE SUPPLEMENTS APPROVED ON 8/14. MOVED -- TO WORK WITH THE RELEVANT OFFICES AND DEPARTMENTS TO FINALIZE THE 
          INCREASES. >> SO IS THERE MORE DISCUSSION 
          ON THIS, OR IS THERE A MOTION? >> THIS IS, THIS IS FOR THE -- THIS, THE STATUTORY REQUIRED PART, RIGHT? 
          >> CORRECT. >> OKAY. I'M, I'LL MAKE THE 
          MOTION OR SECOND, EITHER ONE. >> SECOND. 
          >> I'LL MAKE THE MOTION. >> SECOND. 
          >> I DO WANT TO MAKE THIS COMMENT. I DO THINK WE OUGHT TO COMPLY WITH THE LAW, AND I WANT TO SAY, WHEN WE GET TO THESE CONTRACT DEPUTIES, I WANT US TO REMEMBER THAT COMMENT, COMPLY WITH THE LAW. SO WE'LL DO THAT AS WELL. AND THAT WILL GIVE US SOME ADDITIONAL MONEY, MR. RAMOS, HAVING TO COMPLY WITH IT NOW. BECAUSE I, I'VE BEEN TOLD THAT IF WE DON'T, THEN IT'LL BE A BIG PUSH TO COME BACK AND POLITICALLY PUT THE HEAT ON TO NOT DO IT. AND THAT'S GOING TO TAKE A DEEPER HOLE. SO HOW MUCH MONEY ARE WE TALKING ABOUT ON THAT? 
          >> IF, IF WE'RE GOING TO FULLY RECOUP THE, THE COST OF THE RAISES, IT WOULD BE AROUND $27 MILLION. 
          >> YEAH. I JUST WANT TO STRESS THAT. WHILE WE WERE TRYING TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO PAY FOR STUFF, SINCE I HEARD HER SAY, WE OUGHT TO COMPLY WITH THE LAW, I THINK IF I REMEMBER, YOU TOLD ME THAT LAW PASSED WHEN I WAS AN INTERN. 
          >> THE EARLIEST VERSION OF THE STATUTE I'VE SEEN IS FROM 1987. 
          IT MIGHT BE OLDER THAN THAT. >> WELL, I WAS IN OFFICE, BUT, YOU KNOW, I WAS NOT IN THE LEGISLATION. I WAS ON THE CITY COUNCIL. OKAY, I'LL MAKE THE MOTION, AND COMMISSIONER RANDY 
          SECONDED IT. >> ALL RIGHT, SO I HAVE A MOTION BY COMMISSIONER ELLIS. YOU GUYS HEARD THE MOTION, SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER RAMSEY. ALL IN FAVOR? TREND 26 
          >> ANY OPPOSED? DID YOU HAVE DISCUSSION? 
          >> I HAD A POINT TO MAKE. THE PHONE 202 AND 203, OUR DISTRICT 
          COURT REQUEST -- >> THAT'S NOT HERE YET. THIS IS 475. IT'S BOTH. SO WE NEED TO -- 
          >> WE'RE DOING 203 AND 475. >> OKAY, PLEASE. 
          >> I JUST WANTED TO MAKE A COMMENT ABOUT 202 AND 233. 
          CERTAINLY, 202 SEPARATES OUT THE CRIMINAL ASSOCIATE JUDGES, BECAUSE THEY'RE TIED TO THE ARPA FUNDING, EVERYTHING. THE, WITH THE COURT'S ACTION, OR NOT TAKING ACTION ON THE ASSOCIATE JUDGES, AND THE VISITING JUDGES THAT SIT IN THE MENTAL HEALTH COURT, AS WELL AS THE WRIT COURT, AND THE JUVENILE DETENTION REFEREES, THEN WHAT THAT DOES IS THE OTHER STATE ASSOCIATE JUDGES, INCOMPARABLE JUDGES THAT WORK IN HARRIS COUNTY, WILL BE MAKING MORE MONEY THAN THOSE JUDGES THAT SIT IN THOSE SPECIFIC COURTS. SO EVERYONE ELSE AROUND THEM, INCLUDING THE DISTRICT JUDGES, PROBATE JUDGES, THE APPELLATE JUDGES, ANY OTHER JUDGE IN THIS COUNTY WILL HAVE RECEIVED A PAY ADJUSTMENT, AND THE ONLY FOLKS THAT WON'T, WILL NOT HAVE RECEIVED IT ARE THOSE ASSOCIATE JUDGES. SO I JUST WANT TO MAKE THAT POINT, THAT WE ARE ABOUT EQUITY, BUT THEN WE'RE CREATING 
          [07:20:03]
          AN INEQUITABLE SITUATION. >> JUDGE -- WE, WE GOT TO, $270 
          MILLION SHORTFALL. >> I KNOW. 
          >> AND, YOU KNOW, I HAVE JUST SO MUCH RESPECT FOR YOU, AND I REALLY MEAN THAT. BUT WE, WE SIT HERE AND EVERYBODY COMES IN AND TALKS ABOUT WHAT THEY WANT, AND THEN THEY THROW UP THE WORD EQUITY. I MEAN, EQUITY'S ALL OVER THE PLACE. YOU AND I CERTAINLY HAVE HAD TO DEAL WITH THEM ALL OUR LIVES. 
          >> ABSOLUTELY. >> I'M JUST SAYING, HOW DOES THAT LOOK TO THESE FOLKS OUT THERE WHO ARE GETTING PROGRAMS SLASHED ALL THE TIME? I GET IT, YOU KNOW. BUT WHERE DOES THE MONEY COME FROM? BUT I DON'T WANT TO DEBATE IT NOW. I MEAN, WE HAD PUBLIC TESTIMONY. WE GOT TO DO WHAT WE GOT TO DO. 
          >> UNDERSTOOD. >> DIRECTOR, THIS SAYS MAYBE COUNTY ATTORNEY, THE SIZE IN LIGHT OF THE DISTRICT JUDGE SUPPLEMENTS APPROVED ON 8/14, CAN YOU EXPLAIN THAT TO ME? 
          >> YEAH. JUDGE, ON 814, WE APPROVED, SO THE WAY THAT DISTRICT JUDGES SALARIES WORK AS MOST OF IT IS SET BY THE STATE, 
          AND THEN SOME PORTION -- >> THANK YOU. I DO HAVE A NOTE 
          FOR YOU, IF YOU DON'T MIND. >> WE CALL THE COUNTY SUPPLEMENT IS, IS APPROVED BY THE COUNTY. ON 8/14, AND I DON'T HAVE THE FINAL NUMBER, BUT ON 8/14, THIS COURT APPROVE INCREASES FOR THE DISTRICT COURT JUDGES. ALL OF THESE OTHER JUDGES SALARIES ARE TIED TO THOSE DISTRICT COURT JUDGES. 
          >> UNDERSTOOD. SO HERE'S, HERE'S WHAT I WANT, WHY I WANTED TO UNDERSTAND. BECAUSE YOU CORRECTED YOURSELF, YOU SAID THIS COURT IS -- I DID NOT, I DID NOT VOTE FOR THESE INCREASES. NOT BECAUSE I DON'T APPRECIATE YOU, BUT BECAUSE WE ALL, THIS, THAT IS ONE OF THE LINE ITEMS THERE IN RED THAT THE DIRECTOR SAID WE DO NOT HAVE THE MONEY TO AFFORD IT. AND SOME OF US DECIDED TO AGREE TO, TO IGNORE THE RECOMMENDATION OF THE PROFESSIONAL BUDGET DIRECTOR AND PUT US DEEPER IN THE HOLE. SO, LOOK. I AM WITH YOU. I THINK THAT THERE ARE, THIS $100 MILLION -- GONE TO THE VOTERS, AND THEN WE WOULDN'T BE OVER HERE TRYING TO DECIDE BETWEEN WHETHER THEY WERE GOING TO LOSE THEIR ASSOCIATE JUDGES, OR WHETHER WE'RE GOING TO LOSE THE PROGRAM FOR KIDS WITH MENTAL ILLNESS, OR WHETHER WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO CUT OUR LIBRARY COLLECTION. SO, BUT, YOU KNOW, ECHOING COMMISSIONER ELLIS, I THINK WHAT FOLKS ACTUALLY NEED TO BE TALKING ABOUT IS THAT! THAT'S THE PROBLEM! SO FOR YOU TO BEST ADVOCATE FOR YOUR JUDGES AND THEIR ASSOCIATE JUDGES, YOU NEED TO PUT PRESSURE ON THIS, BECAUSE WE WOULDN'T BE HERE IF IT WEREN'T FOR THESE IRRESPONSIBLE BUDGET DECISIONS. 
          BUT, BUT LOOK. IF WE CAN, IF WE, IF WE PUT THE $100 MILLION TO THE VOTERS, I'D BE MORE THAN HAPPY TO SUPPORT ALL THESE THINGS WE'RE SAYING WE'RE NOT GOING TO CUT. AND I PROPOSE THAT TWICE, AND IT WAS VOTED DOWN. SO, SO ANYWAY, THE VOTES ARE CALLED. I'M GOING TO ABSTAIN ON THIS ONE AS I DID BEFORE. I TEND TO FOLLOW THE BUDGET DIRECTOR'S RECOMMENDATIONS. AND I, I JUST, I LIKE TO BE FAIR, AND I LIKE TO FOLLOW THE LAW, AND I DON'T LIKE TO CHERRY PICK. BUT I AM WITH YOU, AND THAT IS WHY I DID NOT VOTE TO GIVE $100 MILLION OF UNFUNDED RACES, BECAUSE I KNEW WE HAVE OTHER NEEDS. THANK YOU. 
          >> WE FINISH VOTING? >> YES. SO I, WELL, THERE IS, AND I WAS, AND I ABSTAINED, SO THAT'S 4-0. 
          >> OKAY, PASS. SO WE VOTED, RIGHT? 
          >> SHE JUST MADE THE MOTION. >> MAKE IT AGAIN, BECAUSE -- ALL RIGHT, SO MOTION BY COMMISSIONER ELLIS, SECOND BY COMMISSIONER RAMSEY. COMMISSIONER GARCIA WOULD LIKE DISCUSSION. 
          >> THANK YOU. JUDGE, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR COMING DOWN, AND THANK YOU FOR SPEAKING UP ON BEHALF OF THE ASSOCIATE JUDGES. 
          MY ONLY ISSUE, I'M NOT SURE HOW I'M GOING TO VOTE YET ON THIS PARTICULAR ITEM RELATED TO THE ASSOCIATE JUDGES, BUT WHAT I HEAR IS THAT WE'RE NOT GETTING THE OUTPUT FROM THEM. NOT BECAUSE THEY'RE NOT DOING THEIR JOB, BUT BECAUSE THEY DISTRICT COURT JUDGES ARE NOT REFERRING OR ENGAGING THEM AS WE HAD ENVISIONED THE ASSOCIATE JUDGE SYSTEM TO WORK. THAT'S WHY I, I PROBABLY WILL NOT SUPPORT THIS ITEM. 
          >> YOU MEAN WITH REGARD TO, AND THAT'S CRIMINAL ASSOCIATE JUDGES YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT. OKAY. BECAUSE WE HAVE, WE, WE HAVE ASSOCIATE JUDGES, I MEAN, NOT CIVIL. FAMILY IN GENERAL. 
          OKAY. >> THANK YOU. 
          >> SO WE'RE VOTING ON 475 AND -- 
          >> 203. >> IT'S GOING TO BE -- 
          >> SO THERE'S -- SO THERE'S A MOTION, A SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR? 
          >> AYE. >> ANY OPPOSED? I, I'M, SO FREDDY, WHAT WERE YOU, WHAT WERE YOU, COMMISSIONER -- 
          >> SO FOR THE, FOR THE, I WANT TO , IS THERE A WAY TO PULL THE ASSOCIATE JUDGES OUT ON THIS MOTION? 
          >> NO, THEY WON'T BE -- >> IT WON'T BE IN IT. OKAY. 
          [07:25:03]
          I'M GOOD WITH THIS ONE. >> OKAY, SO THAT IN FAVOR, AND I, AGAIN, ABSTAIN. WE NEVER DID HAVE THE MONEY FOR THIS. SO 
          IT'S 4-0? >> QUESTION. DANIEL, 202, BUT THE COST OF THE ASSOCIATE -- I JUST WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHAT 
          THAT NUMBER IS. >> IT'S RIGHT AMOUNT $2 
          MILLION, COMMISSIONER. >> THANK YOU, JUDGE. 
          >> THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU. 
          >> OKAY, SO ARE THERE, ARE THERE ADDITIONAL MOTIONS UNDER 202, 
          203, AND 475? >> OH, 203 , JUST TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE CLEAR. I KNOW WE VOTED ON BEFORE. I KNOW COMMISSIONER GARCIA HAS A MOTION, BUT MY PREFERENCE WOULD BE, WE STICK WITH THE SALARY SAYS THEY ARE, AND IF NOT, SOMEONE WILL MAKE A MOTION TO LEAVE IT, LEAVE THE SALARIES FOR THE ELECTED CONSTABLES WHERE THEY ARE. IF THAT FAILS, THEN COMMISSIONER GARCIA MOTION GOING TO COME UP, AND I HAVE A 
          FRIENDLY AMENDMENT TO IT. >> COMMISSIONER, YOU'RE 
          REFERRING TO -- >> YEAH, 230. 
          >> NO, 203 IS THE JUDGES. ITEM TWO IS THE ONES THAT ARE LOCALLY 
          SET. >> YEAH. MY APOLOGIES . JUST BECAUSE THERE'S BEEN SO MANY DISCUSSION IN SO MANY DIFFERENT ITEMS FOR CLARIFICATION, I KNOW WE DIDN'T FINISH THE VOTE COMPLETELY. I KNOW -- BUT WE, WE DID. NO, WE DID. 
          >> FOR BOTH ITEMS, 203 AND 475. 
          >> PACKAGING INTO ONE -- >> WHICH ITEMS SHOULD WE PEG IT 
          TO? >> WE CAN TAKE TWO VOTES IF 
          YOU'D LIKE. >> OKAY. SO THEN IT'LL BE FOUR 
          -- BUT WE TAKE ONE VOTE -- >> I THINK WE'RE CLEAR. WE CAN 
          WORK WITH YOU TO -- >> AND THEN 202, NO ACTION. 
          >> 202 IS NO ACTION. >> OKAY, ARE YOU CLEAR? WE'RE NOW GOING TO DISCUSS ITEM TWO, AND IF I'M UNDERSTANDING CORRECTLY, COMMISSIONER ELLIS HAS A MOTION. 
          >> SO I WANT TO MOVE WE LEAVE THE CONSTABLE SALARIES WHERE 
          THEY ARE. >> AND I WOULD SECOND THAT ONE. 
          >> OKAY. >> ANY DISCUSSION? ALL IN FAVOR? 
          >> AYE. >> ANY OPPOSED? 
          >> NO. >> I'M IN FAVOR, SO THAT MOTION 
          FAILS 3-2 . >> OKAY. AND THEN COMMISSIONER 
          GARCIA HAS A MOTION. >> YEAH. MY MOTION IS TO DIRECT OCA AND A WENDY, TO INCLUDE SALARIES AT THE CURRENT LEVEL FOR CONSTABLES 1 THROUGH 8 IN THE PROPOSED BUDGET, AND TO POST REQUIRED NOTICES PURSUANT TO LOCAL GOVERNMENT CODE, CHAPTER 152. THAT WOULD BE MY FIRST MOTION. 
          >> SECOND MOTION IS TO DIRECT OCA AND OMB, TO CHANGE SALARIES FOR CONSTABLES IN THE PROPOSED BUDGET FOR 292 796. IF THE CONSTABLES HAVE ENTERED INTO A MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING TO CONSOLIDATE DISPATCH AND EVIDENCE ROOM SERVICES AND OPERATIONS BY FEBRUARY 29TH, BEFORE 5:00 P.M. AT OR BEFORE. 
          AND TO POST REQUIRED NOTICES PURSUANT TO LOCAL GOVERNMENT CODE CHAPTER 152. OH, THAT'S WHAT I SAID, AUGUST? OH, I'M SORRY. AUGUST, AUGUST. FRIDAY, WHAT I MEANT, FRIDAY, AUGUST 
          29TH, BY 5:00 P.M. >> AND, AND THEN I'M ADDING A FRIENDLY AMENDMENT TO YOUR MOTION, WHICH I SENT AROUND. AND MINE IS, IF I'M READING IT RIGHT -- 
          >> COMMISSIONER, I THINK THIS HAS TO BE DONE AS A SEPARATE 
          AMENDMENT. >> OKAY, I'LL DO IT AS A 
          SEPARATE AMENDMENT. OKAY. >> COMMISSIONER, THERE'S TWO 
          MOTIONS. >> TWO MOTIONS. 
          >> I HEARD THE SECOND. THAT WAS WHAT YOU DISCUSSED EARLIER. 
          >> CORRECT. >> WHAT WAS YOUR FIRST MOTION? 
          >> MY FIRST MOTION WAS TO DIRECT OCA AND OMB TO INCLUDE THE SALARIES AT CURRENT LEVEL FOR CONSTABLES 1 THROUGH 8 IN THE PROPOSED BUDGET, AND TO POST REQUIRED NOTICES PURSUANT TO LOCAL GOVERNMENT CHAPTER 152. BUT THE, THE REASON I'M DOING IT THIS WAY IS BECAUSE WE HAVE TO GIVE THE BUDGET DIRECTOR NOTICED ON HOW TO POST THE BUDGET. I AM STILL WAITING TO SEE IF THE CONSTABLES WILL PARTICIPATE IN CONSOLIDATION, AND MY VOTE IS CONTINGENT ON CONSOLIDATION TO INCREASE THEIR 
          SALARIES. >> SO THE POSTING IS -- YOUR 
          SECOND MOTION. >> THE -- 
          >> I, I CAN WALK THROUGH LITURGIST EXHIBITS HELPFUL. 
          JUST, JUST GENERALLY WHAT HAPPENS IS, IF YOU, COURT GIVES US DIRECTION. WE, WE NOTICE I THINK IT'S A CHRONICLE AND ONE OTHER PAPER. WE ALSO FORMALLY, FORMALLY SEND THE SALARY THAT IS BEING NOTICED TO THE ELECTED OFFICIAL WITH A DATE, WITHIN FIVE DAYS THAT THEY MUST GRIEVE, CORRECT? AT 9/9, WE'RE GOING TO SET UP THE GRIEVANCE COMMITTEE, AND BETWEEN 9/9 AND 9/18, THE GRIEVANCES WILL BE HELD. IF THE GRIEVANCE COMMITTEE COMES BACK UNANIMOUS, SO NINE MEMBERS OF THE GRAND JURY SAY YES, WE AGREE WITH THE GRIEVING ELECTED OFFICIAL, THAT'S THE SALARY THAT GOES. AND THEN IF NOT, THEN IT COMES BACK TO COURT WITH A 
          [07:30:03]
RECOMMENDATION FOR AN UP-AND-DOWN VOTE. THE ONE, THE ONE SMALL CAVEAT HERE IS THAT EVERY TIME WE CHANGE WHAT THE NOTICE IS, WE NEED TO REFILE THE BUDGET WITH THE COUNTY CLERK, SO IT WOULD WORK, IF I'M UNDERSTANDING YOU CORRECT, COMMISSIONER, WHAT WOULD HAPPEN IS TOMORROW WE WOULD SEND OUT THE NOTICE WITH THE CURRENT SALARY. I WOULD FILE THE, THE BUDGET WITH THOSE SALARIES WITH THE COUNTY CLERK. IF, ON FRIDAY, YOU KNOW, THEY'VE MET THE, THE MOTION REQUIREMENTS, WE WOULD REFILE ON MONDAY, AND THAT, THEY WOULD GET A NEW LETTER THAT SAYS HERE IS YOUR SALARY. OKAY. I, IS THAT -- ALL THAT RIGHT, JOHN? 
          >> SOME MINOR CORRECTIONS, BUT NOT IMPORTANT. 
          >> OKAY, THANK YOU. >> SO THERE REALLY WILL BE PROPER DIRECTION WITHOUT BOTH MOTIONS BEING VOTED ON. 
          >> THAT'S CORRECT. >> SO COULD WE, COULD WE TAKE THEM ONE AT A TIME? IS THAT POSSIBLE, COMMISSIONER, OR WOULD THAT JUST NOT WORK? COULD WE TAKE THEM ONE AT A TIME FOR CLARITY PURPOSES, OR DO THEY HAVE TO BE TAKEN AT THE SAME 
          TIME? >> NO. I MEAN, I MADE TWO 
          MOTIONS. I MEAN, HOWEVER -- >> OKAY, SO, BECAUSE THE -- OKAY. I'M JUST SAYING, LIKE, OKAY. LOOK, BEAR WITH ME. SO HIS FIRST MOTION WAS TO INCLUDE SALARIES TO THE CURRENT LEVELS, CORRECT, COMMISSIONER GARCIA? SO DID COMMISSIONER ELLIS HAVE A FRIENDLY AMENDMENT TO THAT MOTION, OR WAS IT TO THE OTHER 
          ONE? >> I, I THINK WE NEED TO MAKE -- YOU SHOULD, YOU SHOULD DO YOURS SEPARATELY OR AS AN AMENDMENT. 
          IT MIGHT BE EASIER TO DO IT SEPARATELY. 
          >> WHAT IT, SO, SO THIS IS JUST WHAT IT IS. IT'S US, COMMISSIONER GARCIA READ IT. DO YOU HAVE THAT MOTION, COUNTY 
          CLERK? >> YES, JUDGE. 
          >> OKAY, SO THAT'S A MOTION TO KEEP THAT, THEIR SALARIES AS THEY CURRENTLY ARE, IN OTHER WORDS, WITHOUT THE 62% RAISE, RIGHT? IN THE, IN THE PROPOSED BUDGET, AND TO NOTICE US. SO THERE'S A MOTION BY COMMISSIONER GARCIA. IS THERE A 
          SECOND? >> SECOND. 
          >> COMMISSIONER ELLIS HAS -- >> I WOULD LIKE A LITTLE BIT 
          MORE DISCUSSION. >> MORE DISCUSSION, OKAY. SO THERE'S A MOTION BY COMMISSIONER GARCIA, SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER ELLIS, BY COMMISSIONER RAMSEY, AND THEN 
          BRIONES. >> OKAY. MY CONCERNS IS THE SEDITION REQUIREMENT. IT APPEARS THAT WE VOTED IN THE PREVIOUS MEETING FOR THE INCREASE. NOW WE'RE COMING BACK AND HAVING ANOTHER VOTE WITH CONDITIONS. AND THEY HAVE TWO DAYS TO AGREE TO THE TERMS THAT WERE PROVIDED JUST A LITTLE WHILE AGO. 
          >> COMMISSIONER RAMSEY? >> THAT'S WHAT IT APPEARS TO 
          ME. >> MAY I RESPOND DIRECTLY? SO AT THE, WHEN WE LAST DISCUSSED THIS ITEM, I SAID ALMOST THE EXACT SAME THING, THAT I WOULD SUPPORT A SALARY INCREASE CONTINGENT ON HAVING A CONVERSATION WITH THE CONSTABLE OFFICES ABOUT CONSOLIDATION OF DISPATCH AND PROPERTY ROOMS. IF I GOT A MEMORANDUM BACK, SIGNED, THEN I WOULD SUPPORT. SO THAT WAS, I THINK WE HAD TO HAVE SOME NOTICE OF THE SAME KIND. 
          >> YEAH, WE, WE DIDN'T CONSIDER THAT DIRECTION ENOUGH, 
          COMMISSIONER RAMSEY -- >> I JUST WANTED THAT CLARIFICATION. THE OTHER, THE OTHER QUESTION, THE OTHER QUESTION I HAD IS ESSENTIALLY ALL THE PCN'S FOR DISPATCHING WOULD MOVE TO THE HARRIS COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE FROM THE CONSTABLES OFFICE. IF I'M UNDERSTANDING. 
          >> I'M NOT SURE HOW -- >> IT DEPENDS ON WHAT MODEL, 
          ULTIMATELY, GETS ADOPTED. >> THAT'S RIGHT. AND THEN THAT BRINGS ME TO SENATE BILL 23, WHICH SAYS YOU CANNOT MOVE FROM ONE AGENCY TO ANOTHER IN HARRIS COUNTY. AND I THINK THIS IS A 
          VIOLATION OF SENATE BILL 23. >> IF YOU REDUCE THE PCN IN THE OTHER CONSTABLES OFFICES, THEN YES. IF NOT, NO. SO I THINK -- THESE ARE NOT PEACE OFFICERS. YOU'RE RIGHT. THANK YOU, MY APOLOGIES. THESE ARE NOT PEACE OFFICER POSITIONS, SO IT'S NOT 
          AN ISSUE. >> YOU DON'T THINK IT VIOLATES 
          SENATE BILL 23? >> NO, NOT AT THE OVERALL BUDGET 
          IS NOT REDUCED. >> I THOUGHT WE WERE DOING THIS TO, FOR SAVINGS AND EFFICIENCY. SO HOW DO YOU DO, HOW DO YOU, COMMISSIONER, BECAUSE THEY'RE SET, WE BELIEVE THE BUDGETS WILL BE INCREASED BECAUSE OF THE LAW ENFORCEMENT SALARIES, AND THAT THE, AND THAT THE LAW ENFORCEMENT PCN'S WON'T CHANGE, SO WE DON'T THINK IT VIOLATES SB 23. THE OVERALL BUDGET IN ALL THE CONSTABLES OFFICES WILL STILL INCREASE. 
          >> OKAY. I, I DON'T AGREE WITH IT. 
          >> WELL, WE HAVEN'T GIVEN $100 MILLION YET, HAVE WE? 
          >> RIGHT. >> WE'LL TAKE THEM BACK. I CAN 
          TELL YOU REAL QUICK. >> WELL, THIS IS ON, THIS HAS TO DO WITH THE PAY RAISES FOR THE CONSTABLES, RIGHT? THE, THE 
          [07:35:06]
ELECTED CONSTABLES. SO WE'RE NOT TALKING ABOUT THE $100 MILLION. WE ALREADY VOTED ON THAT. WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THE, 
          THE ELECTED OFFICIALS. >> BUT, BUT I THINK THE BUDGET WITH THE $100 MILLION HAS NOT BEEN APPROVED, RIGHT? 
          >> NO, IT'S BEEN APPROVED. >> I MEAN, THE BUDGET HAS NOT BEEN APPROVED OVERALL GET, BUT SO I, I THINK OUR ARGUMENT FOR THE CONSOLIDATION IS THAT THAT BUDGET WILL INCLUDE THE DEPUTY PAY RAISES, AND SO THAT'S WHY EACH CONSTABLES OFFICE WILL ACTUALLY GROW IN BUDGET, AND IT WOULD NOT VIOLATE SB 23. 
          >> TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTION, COMMISSIONER RAMSEY, IF THEY DID NOT GROW IN ANY OF THE BUDGETS WERE REDUCED, THEN YES, YOU 
          WOULD HAVE A PROBLEM. >> OKAY, THANK YOU. 
          >> -- GIVEN THE MONEY YET. JUST SAYING. 
          >> OKAY. >> NOT TOO LATE. WE CAN ALL SAVE 
          OUR SOULS. >> OKAY, SO, COMMISSIONER RAMSEY, DID YOU HAVE ANY ADDITIONAL COMMENTS ON THIS? COMMISSIONER GARCIA? ALL RIGHT, SO WE, WE'RE GOING BACK TO THE FACT THAT COMMISSIONER ELLIS HAD MADE A MOTION. WAS IT ELLIS? GARCIA. GARCIA HAD MADE A MOTION, ELLIS HAD MADE A SECOND. 
          AND, AND THAT WAS SALARIES TO CURRENT LEVEL SERVICE. ALL IN 
          FAVOR? >> AYE. 
          >> ANY OPPOSED? >> NO. 
          >> I'LL BE IN FAVOR OF THAT AS WELL, SO MOTION CARRIES 3-2. 
          >> A SECOND MOTION? >> AND THEN THE SECOND MOTION, COMMISSIONER, WOULD YOU LIKE TO MAKE IT, GARCIA? OR DO YOU GUYS 
          ALREADY HAVE IT? >> THE SECOND ONE? 
          >> THE ONE THAT -- THE MISSIONS? 
          >> SO AS TO CHANGE THE SALARIES IN THE PROPOSED BUDGET TO BLANK IF THEY'VE ENTERED INTO A -- YEAH. OKAY. SO THERE'S A MOTION BY COMMISSIONER GARCIA. IS THERE A SECOND FOR THAT MOTION? A SECOND, A SECOND? I, I'D LOVE TO SUPPORT IT, COMMISSIONER, BUT I JUST CAN'T COMMIT TO MORE MONEY, SINCE WE DON'T HAVE IT. 
          BUT I THINK THE IDEA IS A GOOD ONE. 
          >> THE JUST TO BE CLEAR -- >> HE NEEDS DIRECTION. 
          >> SO JUST TO BE CLEAR, IF ONE ALREADY PASSED, SO THE, IF, IF THERE IS, WE, IF THIS ITEM IS NOT VOTED ON, THEN YOU'RE TAKING THE $292,000 SALARY COMPLETELY OFF THE TABLE FOR 
          THIS YEAR. >> YES. 
          >> OKAY. I JUST WANTED TO CLEAR THAT UP. 
          >> RIGHT. RIGHT, SO, YES. OKAY, SO THIS IS NOT PASSING. AND ANYTHING ELSE, OTHER MOTIONS, DISCUSSION? YEAH? JOHN, COULD YOU PLEASE CLARIFY THE INTERCONNECTION, OR LACK 
          THEREOF, OF THE TWO MOTIONS? >> SO WHAT COMMISSIONER GARCIA'S PROPOSING IS, RIGHT NOW, THE BUDGET WOULD INCLUDE THE, THE EXISTING SALARIES FOR THE CONSTABLES IN NEXT YEAR'S BUDGET. THAT, THAT JUST PASSED. 
          >> YES. >> THEN HIS SECOND MOTION IS THAT IF BY FRIDAY, THIS FRIDAY AT 5:00 P.M., THERE'S AN AGREEMENT ON AN M.O. YOU TO CONSOLIDATE THOSE SERVICES, THEN THE BUDGET OFFICE WOULD REPUBLISH THE BUDGET WITH THOSE 292,000 OR SO SALARIES, AND POST THE APPROPRIATE NOTICES. SO JUST TO BE CLEAR, IF YOU WANT THEM TO BE INCREASED TO 292,000, WHATEVER IT IS, YOU WOULD NEED TO VOTE FOR THAT SECOND MOTION. 
          >> YES, COMMISSIONER ELLIS. >> COMMISSIONER GARCIA -- IF NOBODY ELSE -- REASON THAT I DIDN'T VOTE FOR IT IS BECAUSE I DIDN'T VOTE FOR IT THE FIRST TIME, AND YOU DID STATE THAT YOU WERE GOING TO DO THIS, BUT YOU WERE MAKING YOUR SUPPORT CONTINGENT UPON THEM COMING TO A CONSENSUS ON IT. 
          >> THAT'S RIGHT. >> AND I THINK IT WAS WISE TO COME BACK AND PUT A HAMMER ON IT, BECAUSE I, I GOT THREE CALLS FROM LEGISLATORS A DAY ABOUT A BILL THAT'S MOVING THROUGH A PROCESS, AND THEY WERE GETTING CALLS TO KEEP YOU FROM BEING ABLE TO DO THE VERY THING YOU CONDITIONED YOUR VOTE ON. SO THAT'S WHY I DIDN'T SECOND. I DIDN'T WANT YOU TO THINK I WAS BEING -- BUT I ASK YOU TO TAKE MY -- I HAVE A, ANOTHER MOTION THAT I THINK WOULD BE APPROPRIATE, BECAUSE IN THE PROCESS, AS THE CONSTABLES WENT TO THE, THROUGH THE GRIEVANCE PROCESS BEFORE, I WANT TO MAKE SURE IF ANY ELECTED OFFICIAL DOES THAT AGAIN, WE STILL HAVE EQUITY , WHICH THE JUDGE MADE REFERENCE TO. WE CAN'T HAVE IT EVERYWHERE, BUT AT LEAST I WANT TO HAVE IT HERE. SO I WANT TO MOVE FOR OCA, A WENDY, HRT TO INCLUDE IN ITS CHAPTER 152 NOTICE LANGUAGE STATING THAT ALL ELECTED OFFICIALS COVERED BY LOCAL GOVERNMENT CODE CHAPTER 152 SECTION B WILL RECEIVE AN INCREASE IN THE SAME AMOUNT REQUESTED BY THE ELECTED CONSTABLES AS PART OF THE GRIEVANCE PROCESS IF THE GRIEVANCE COMMITTEE APPROVES THE CONSTABLE'S REQUESTED AMOUNTS BY A UNANIMOUS VOTE. 
          >> SOUNDS CONVOLUTED, BUT I'LL TELL YOU WHAT I'M DOING. 
          >> JUST ONE -- >> YEAH, JUST MAKE SURE -- AND I'LL TAKE IT, BUT -- SO WHAT I'M TRYING TO DO, I GOT THE LANGUAGE FROM THEM. SO THE LEGALESE MIGHT THROW YOU OFF. 
          [07:40:01]
ALL I'M TRYING TO DO IS WHAT I STATED EARLIER, THAT IF THEY GO THROUGH A GRIEVANCE PROCESS, OR, FOR THAT MATTER, ANY OTHER ELECTED OFFICIAL, IF THEY GO THROUGH THE GRIEVANCE PROCESS, JOHN, I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT IF THEY ARE GRANTED A PAY RAISE, $10,000, $115,000, THE SHERIFF OR ANY OTHER ELECTED OFFICIALS OTHER THAN US AT THAT, OTHER THAN US, JOHN, OTHER THAN THE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS, BECAUSE I DON'T WANT TO APPEAR 
          SELF-SERVING. >> SO YOU SHOULD AMEND YOUR 
          MOTION -- >> OTHER THAN COUNTY COMMISSIONERS AND THE JUDGE. SORRY. OTHER THAN THE JUDGE AND, AND COUNTY COMMISSIONERS. OTHER THAN MEMBERS OF THE 
          COMMISSIONERS COURT. >> COMMISSIONER, I THINK DANIEL 
          HAS A QUESTION. >> I JUST, AS LONG AS JOHN HAS SIGNED OFF, I JUST, THE LOGISTICS ARE VERY SPECIFIC HERE, AND AS LONG AS HE'S GOOD -- BUT THE LOGISTICS ARE COMPLEX, BUT WE CAN, WE CAN WORK WITH YOUR OFFICE TO MAKE SURE THE NOTICE IS CORRECT, AND THAT IT EFFECTUATES THE GOAL OF THE 
          MOTION. >> SO I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE, IF SOMEBODY GOES THROUGH THE GRIEVANCE PROCESS, THAT WHATEVER THEY GET, THE COUNTY ATTORNEY, THE SHERIFF, THE TAX ASSESSOR, THE CLERK , THE OTHER ELECTED OFFICIALS OTHER THAN US WHO ARE ELIGIBLE, IT WOULDN'T APPLY TO JUDGES. THAT SET SEPARATELY. 
          THAT THEY WOULD GET THAT DOLLAR AMOUNT ADDED TO THEIR SALARIES AS WELL. THAT'S MY INTENT ON THIS. SO IS THAT CLEAR? 
          >> YUP. JUST FOR ILLUSTRATIVE PURPOSES, IT WOULD BE THAT IF THE CONSTABLES GO THROUGH THE GRIEVING PROCESS AND GET A $50,000 INCREASE, THAT EVERY OTHER ELECTED OFFICIAL WILL ALSO 
          GET A $50,000 INCREASE. >> AND SO WHOEVER SET THE SALARIES BEFORE I GOT HERE, I HOPE THAT WAS SOME LOGIC TO IT. 
          BUT IT CERTAINLY WORKED ALL THESE YEARS. I'M SAYING IF YOU'RE GOING TO GIVE IT TO ONE GROUP BECAUSE THEY GO THROUGH THE GRIEVANCE PROCESS, AS HAPPENED LAST CYCLE, I WANT THAT DOLLAR AMOUNT TO GO TO THE OTHER ELECTED OFFICIALS WITH THE EXCEPTIONS OF US. I DIDN'T WANT TO BE CONVOLUTED -- 
          >> SO JUST TO BE CLEAR, IT'S ANY ELECTED OFFICIAL. YOU SPECIFICALLY MENTIONED THE CONSTABLES, BUT IT'S ANY ELECTED OFFICIAL, INCLUDING THE SHERIFF, CONSTABLE. 
          >> I WANT TO DO THAT, JOHN, IF YOU WANT TO PLAY WITH IT. SO IF THE SHERIFF GOES IN AND FILED A GRIEVANCE TO GET A PAY RAISE, AND HE GETS, OH, $1000, $100,000, I WANT THE OTHER ELECTED OFFICIALS WHO ARE ELIGIBLE TO GET THAT AS WELL. 
          >> SO YOU WANTED TO BE ALSO FOR ANY OTHER ELECTED OFFICIAL COVERED BY 152, BECAUSE YOUR MOTION RIGHT NOW IS JUST FOR THE 
          CONSTABLES. >> SO IF I GO, I COULD GO, ANYONE OF US, RIGHT? IF I WAS BOLD ENOUGH TO GO AND THEN FILE A GRIEVANCE, AND THEY DECIDE TO GIVE ME A PAY RAISE, I'M SAYING I WANT YOU TO GET IT TOO. I, I WANT THE OTHER ELECTED OFFICIALS WHO ARE ELIGIBLE TO GET IT AS WELL. 
          >> SO CAN I ASK A QUESTION, COMMISSIONER? 
          >> YOU NEED TO PLAY WITH THIS A LITTLE MORE. YES. 
          >> SO I'M NOT TOTALLY FAMILIAR WITH THIS GRIEVANCE PROCESS, BUT MY UNDERSTANDING WAS THAT IT ONLY REALLY APPLIES TO THE LAW ENFORCEMENT, TO CERTAIN ELECTED -- 
          >> ITS MOST COUNTY ELECTED OFFICIALS. IT DOESN'T APPLY TO JUDGES. SO MOST JUDGES. BUT IT APPLIES TO, YOU KNOW, THE DISTRICT CLERK, THE COUNTY ATTORNEY. 
          >> SO THEY JUST DON'T NORMALLY GO TO THE GRIEVANCE COMMITTEE. 
          >> WELL, AT LEAST HERE, THIS PROCESS WAS REALLY NEVER SET UP UNTIL LAST YEAR. LAST YEAR WE DID GO THROUGH IT, AND THE WAY IT WORKS IS THERE'S A GRIEVANCE COMMITTEE THAT SET UP, IT'S STATUTORY, TWO OPTIONS FOR IT. ONE IS NOT MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC SELECTED FROM THE GRAND JURY LIST, OR IT'S A NUMBER OF ELECTED OFFICIALS PLUS A FEW MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC, REGARDLESS OF WHICH DIRECTION YOU GO IN. THEY GO AND THEY HAVE A PUBLIC HEARING WHERE PEOPLE PRESENT THOSE GRIEVANCES AT THAT HEARING. THEY CAN AGREE WITH THE GRIEVANCES OR DISAGREE WITH THEM. THEY TAKE THE VOTES. IF IT'S A UNANIMOUS VOTE, THAT IS WHAT GOES INTO THE BUDGET. SO THE COMMISSIONERS COURT CANNOT 
          OVERRIDE THAT. >> AND SO WHICH ELECTED OFFICIALS WENT THROUGH THE GRIEVANCE PROCESS LAST YEAR? 
          >> THE CONSTABLES. >> I THINK IT WAS JUST THE 
          CONSTABLES. >> JUST THE CONSTABLES. OKAY, SO WHAT I THINK, WHAT I'M UNDERSTANDING BY THIS IS THAT IF THE CONSTABLES DECIDED TO GO, AGAIN, OR, YOU KNOW, I DON'T WANT TO PICK ON ANYBODY. YES, MA'AM. LET ME, LET ME FINISH HERE. DR. WYATT, OH, I'M SO SORRY. 
          >> WE, WE HAVE FINISHED, WE, WE HAVE FINISHED THE PUBLIC 
          SESSION. >> OH, HI. WELL, SHE'S AN ELECTED OFFICIAL. LET ME, CAN I FINISH THIS REAL QUICK? I, YEAH. 
          LET ME FINISH, AND I'LL GIVE YOU AN OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK, IF THAT'S OKAY. OKAY. SO, SO IF, IF SOMEBODY, IF ONE OF THE ELIGIBLE ELECTED OFFICIALS WERE TO GO TO THE GRIEVANCE COMMITTEE, THE GRIEVANCE COMMITTEE HAS TWO CHOICES. KEEP THE SALARY AS IS, OR RAISE IT TO SOME LEVEL, AND IF YOU CHOOSE OPTION B, JUST KNOW THAT YOU ARE ALSO RAISING THE SALARIES OF 
          [07:45:04]
OTHER ELECTED OFFICIALS. AND I UNDERSTANDING THAT PROPERLY? 
          >> THAT'S MY UNDERSTANDING. >> INTERESTING. SO I DIDN'T REALIZE WE COULD, LIKE, CHANGE WHAT THE COMMITTEE'S CHARGES, 
          SORT OF. >> THE STATUTE ISN'T PRECISE ON THIS, BUT WE THINK THERE'S ENOUGH ROOM IN THE STATUTE. IF YOU NOTICE IT PROPERLY, FOR THIS TO, TO WORK OUT. 
          >> SO WOULD THIS BE RETROACTIVE IN ANY WAY? 
          >> NO. >> I'M, I'M NOT SURE I UNDERSTAND. NO, IT'S NOT RETROACTIVE. FOR THE FISCAL YEAR 
          '26 BUDGET. >> OKAY. 
          >> IF WE CAN COME BACK TO IT LATER -- 
          >> YEAH, YEAH, SURE. THAT'S VERY HELPFUL. THANK YOU. 
          >> YOU CAN PROBABLY TAKE OUT, REQUESTED BY THE ELECTED CONSTABLE, AND JUSTIN LYCÉE, BY A ELECTED OFFICIAL. 
          >> RIGHT. I THINK THAT WOULD CLARIFY -- 
          >> IF THE GRIEVANCE COMMITTEE APPROVES THE REQUEST AMOUNTS BY 
          UNANIMOUS VOTE. >> BUT IF YOU WANT TO PLAY WITH IT, THAT'S ME JUST ON THE FLY RIGHT THEN. 
          >> ALL RIGHT. SO I'VE GOT COMMISSIONER RAMSEY AND COMMISSIONER BRIONES. COMMISSIONER RAMSEY JUST SPOKE. 
          YEAH. >> IT SOUNDS LIKE YOU'RE GOING TO GO BACK AND WORK ON IT. YOU'RE GOING TO GO BACK AND 
          WORK ON IT -- >> WE'LL GO BACK AND WORK ON 
          IT. >> IT'S CLEARLY WRITTEN WITH THE CONSTABLES IN MIND, SO I THINK WE SHOULD ALL UNDERSTAND THAT. IT'S CLEARLY WRITTEN WITH THE CONSTABLES IN MIND. 
          >> THE STATUTE YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT. 
          >> NO, YOUR MOTION. >> OKAY, NO, I'M CHANGING IT, BECAUSE OBVIOUSLY THE CONSTABLES -- ONLY BECAUSE YOU RAISED THE 
          ISSUE. >> IT LOOKS BETTER. 
          >> I KNOW ANYONE OF US, ANY ELECTED OFFICIAL WHO'S ELIGIBLE COULD GO THROUGH THE GRIEVANCE PROCESS. SO I DON'T WANT TO JUST SINGLE THEM OUT, BECAUSE IF SOMEBODY ELSE WANTED TO GO IN, I JUST NEVER, I DON'T KNOW IF ANYBODY'S EVER DONE IT BEFORE, BUT I JUST NEVER HEARD OF IT EVER BEING APPROVED FOR BY THE 
          GRIEVANCE PROCESS. >> I HAVE A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS. 
          COMMISSIONER BRIONES? DIRECTOR, WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO SAY? 
          >> I JUST WANT TO CLARIFY THAT THE, THE GRIEVANCE COMMITTEE IS FINDINGS IS ONLY FINAL IF IT'S UNANIMOUS. 
          >> RIGHT. RIGHT, YEAH. >> AND IT WAS UNANIMOUS LAST GO 
          AROUND. >> RIGHT, RIGHT. 
          >> AND JUDGE, IF I MIGHT? >> YEAH. 
          >> AFTER WE'VE DONE PUBLIC SESSION, I'VE BEEN HERE TILL 10:00. IT'S ABOUT TO GET REAL QUICK, UNBELIEF. 
          >> COMMISSIONER BRIONES, YEAH. >> SO JOHN, AS YOU WORKSHOP THE LANGUAGE, WELL, FIRST OF ALL, JUST CLARITY ON COMMISSIONER GARCIA'S MOTION TIED TO THE MOU VERSUS THIS OTHER, I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S AN AMENDMENT OR SEPARATE MOTION FROM ELLIS. I'D LIKE CLARITY ON THAT. ALSO, IN TERMS OF THE NOTICE POSTING, I KNOW WE HAVE 10 DAYS. JUST, JUST TO LEVEL SET LAST TIME. I WAS VERY CLEAR THAT I SUPPORTED THE PAY INCREASE FOR THE SHERIFF AND THE CONSTABLES, BECAUSE WE WERE WORKING ON PAY PARITY FOR ALL LAW ENFORCEMENT, AND TO ME, THAT WAS THE LAST STEP TO FINISH THE COMPOSITE DEAL. SO, FOR THE RECORD, I REMAIN SUPPORTIVE. FOR THE RECORD, I WOULD LIKE NOTHING MORE THAN CONSOLIDATION OF DISPATCH, AS WELL AS PROPERTY AND EVIDENCE ROOM. I THINK FRIDAY, EMILY, WHICH I HAVEN'T EVEN SEEN AN MOU YET, I THINK THAT'S A BIT, I WOULD, I WANT IT TO HAPPEN, AND I WANT IT TO HAPPEN IN A WAY THAT'S COLLABORATIVE AND CLEAR AND WELL LAID OUT, AND I HAVEN'T BEEN AT THOSE MEETINGS YET. SO JUST SAYING. BUT THEN THE OTHER THING ABOUT THE GRIEVANCE THAT'S ALL FOR ONE, ONE FOR ALL-ISH, EACH ROLE IS DISTINCT, AND SO, TO ME, ONE INCREASE FOR, LET'S JUST SAY, THE COUNTY ATTORNEY VERSUS THE CONSTABLE VERSUS THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY VERSUS THE TREASURER VERSUS, TO LICK IT ALL, LIKE, A FLAT, IT SEEMS CONTRADICTORY TO THE PAY EQUITY STUDY AND THE LEVEL OF RIGOR AND NUANCE THAT WE'VE BEEN PUTTING TOWARDS ALL THE COUNTY. AND SO I AM, TO ME, THIS SEEMS VERY, JUST, I RECOGNIZE NOTICE POSTING REQUIREMENTS. SO I UNDERSTAND THAT TIMELINE, AND I WANT ALL THESE THINGS TO HAPPEN, BUT IT JUST SEEMS A BIT CONFLATED FOR THE LEVEL OF CLARITY I BELIEVE WE NEED. AND SO I LOOK FORWARD TO HEARING HOW YOU WORKSHOP THE LANGUAGE BASED ON THESE VARIOUS 
          FACTORS, SO. >> IT'S JUST TOO EASY. HOW MANY, HOW MANY EMPLOYEES, ROUGHLY, DOES THE SMALLEST 
          CONSTABLE OFFICE HAVE? >> LESS THAN 100. 
          >> AND HOW MANY PEOPLE, ROUGHLY, DO THEY SERVE, POPULATION -WISE? 
          THE SMALLEST OFFICE. >> I WANT TO SAY IT'S RIGHT 
          AROUND 120,000, GIVE OR TAKE. >> LARGEST CONSTABLE OFFICE, HOW MANY EMPLOYEES AND HOW MANY PEOPLE DO THEY SERVE? 
          >> IT'S NORTH OF 500, AND I THINK OVER 1 MILLION. 
          >> OKAY. HOW MUCH DO THEY ALL RECEIVE A VOTE FROM CERTAIN COMMISSIONERS FOR A 60% INCREASE? TOTALING AROUND 66 4%. 
          >> YES. >> R, R, DO THEY ALL STAND TO MAKE THE EXACT SAME AMOUNT OF MONEY, DESPITE THE FACT THAT THEY HAVE VERY, VERY DIFFERENT RESPONSE ABILITIES? 
          >> YES. >> OKAY. LET'S MOVE ON. THIS IS 
          [07:50:01]
JUST TOO EASY. OKAY. SO, SO WE'RE MOVING ON FROM THIS , YEAH, COMMISSIONER ELLIS, FOR NOW? NO, YES, NO? OKAY. SO, SO, SO THAT WAS ONE. THEN WE WENT TO TWO AND KIND OF JUMPED AROUND. 
          THEN, THEN WE WENT TO THREE, RIGHT? OH, SHOOT. OKAY, WE'RE GOING TO GO TO THREE. THANK YOU. SO, SO LET'S GO TO THREE. 
          TRYING TO GET THERE MYSELF. >> I PULLED IT. 
          >> YOU PULLED IT, OKAY. SO THIS IS THE D EEO SUCCESSION POSITION. GO AHEAD, COMMISSIONER RAMSEY. 
          >> JUST QUICKLY, AS WE'RE LOOKING AT, AND RESPONSIBILITIES AND THE GOALS, AND I, I APPRECIATE THE, THE LEADERSHIP OF OUR DIRECTOR THERE DOING, DOING A GOOD JOB. WE'VE HAD THIS CONVERSATION BEFORE. THERE'S SOME THINGS THAT WE HAVE, I USE THE WORD DON'T OVER INTO D EEO THAT MIGHT NOT SHOULD BE THERE. AN EXAMPLE OF THAT WOULD BE WORKER SAFETY. THE, COMPLETING THE EXPIRATION OF THE EARLY CHILDHOOD PROGRAM. THOSE SORTS OF THINGS ARE CURRENTLY THERE. I DON'T THINK THEY SHOULD BE THERE. I THINK IT'S A DISTRACTION FROM THE DEEO PROGRAMS AND THE OTHER THINGS THAT ARE GOING ON WITHIN THERE. 
          SO THAT'S MY ONLY COMMENT. THE SUCCESSION POSITION AND THE DEPARTMENT OF ECONOMIC EQUITY, THAT'S, THAT'S JUST A COMMENT UNRELATED TO THAT. AS YOU LOOK AT RESPONSIBILITIES, THERE'S BEEN SOME INTERESTING PLACES WHERE THINGS END UP, AND I DON'T THINK SAFETY AUDITS SHOULD BE IN THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE EEO, BUT THAT'S NEITHER HERE NOR THERE. MAYBE. BUT JUST WANT TO MAKE THAT COMMENT. AS WE LOOK AT OUR BUDGETS FOR ALL 
          GOING FORWARD. >> THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER RAMSEY. SO NO ACTION ON THAT ONE FOR NOW? EXCUSE ME? YES, SECTION? AS PRESENTED. OKAY. IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE THIS 
          ITEM AS PRESENTED? >> TO CLARIFY, IT'S SEPTEMBER 6, 2025, TO OCTOBER 15TH, 2025. MOVE AS PRESENTED. I SO MOVE. 
          >> OKAY, MOTION BY COMMISSIONER BRIONES. IS THERE A SECOND? 
          >> WHICH ONE IS IT? >> THIS IS ITEM THREE -- 
          >> DEEO ITEM THREE. >> WHAT DOES IT DO? 
          >> COMMISSIONER, WE'RE TRYING TO CREATE A SUCCESSION POSITION SO THAT IF WE HIRE A NEW DEEO DIRECTOR -- 
          >> AL SECOND. I GET IT. >> ALL RIGHT, MOTION BY COMMISSIONER BRIONES, SECOND BY COMMISSIONER ELLIS. ALL IN 
          FAVOR? TRAN 26 >> ANY OPPOSED? 
          >> NO. >> IN FAVOR, SO MOTION PASSES 4-1. LET'S MOVE ON TO ITEM FOUR, FLAGGED BY COMMISSIONER 
          RAMSEY. THIS IS ON THE P CARD. >> YEAH, THIS IS, I PULLED EVERY P CARD, SO MY COMMENTS HERE DON'T APPLY TO SOME OTHER RELATED TO THIS. I DON'T THINK P CARDS ARE, ARE VERY ACCOUNTABLE IN TERMS OF WHAT COULD BE SPENT. WHEN YOU LOOK AT, YOU KNOW, IN TERMS OF P-CARD USES CURRENTLY, THERE'S BEEN THE BELLAGIO HOTEL AND CASINO. THERE'S BEEN WHATABURGER. 
          THAT'S MY FAVORITE. SHIPLEY DONUTS. THOSE ARE THINGS -- YEAH. YOU KNOW, IF WE, IF WE HAD, IF WE HAD POPEYES CHICKEN, I MIGHT, I MIGHT NOT FEEL THAT WAY. I JUST AM NOT GOING TO BE SUPPORTING, I DON'T LIKE P-CARDS. WE HAVE ONE IN PRECINCT 3, AND I'M OPPOSED TO IT. I DON'T THINK IT ALLOWS US TO PROPERLY ACCOUNT FOR AND MANAGE WHAT WE'RE DOING. 
          >> I MOVE IT. >> OKAY, SO THIS IS A MOTION BY COMMISSIONER ELLIS ON ITEM FOUR. 
          >> AL SECOND, THAT I DO WANT TO HAVE A DISCUSSION ON IT. 
          >> SECOND BY COMMISSIONER GARCIA, AND WE'LL MOVE TO 
          DISCUSSION. >> STILL, I KNOW YOU'RE TRANSITIONING, HOWEVER, MY HOPE IS THAT, AND MAYBE MR. DICKERMAN, YOU CAN, YOU CAN LOOK INTO THIS. MY HOPE IS THAT WE CAN FIND A WAY TO REQUIRE THE USE OF IT WITH -- BECAUSE P-CARDS HAPPEN TO BECOME A WAY TO CIRCUMVENT OUR ULTIMATE GOALS. SO I WOULD LIKE TO SEE SOME THOUGHT AND STRATEGY GIVEN TO HOW WE CAN MAKE SURE P-CARDS ARE BEING USED WITH MWB'S. 
          >> YES, COMMISSIONER. I'M SO SORRY, JESSE. WERE YOU GOING TO SAY SOMETHING? SO IS THAT A MOTION, COMMISSIONER? 
          [07:55:01]
          >> -- REQUEST. >> I MADE A MOTION THAT WE ALSO 
          -- >> CAN YOU TURN YOUR MIC ON, 
          COMMISSIONER? >> I WILL MAKE A FRIENDLY AMENDMENT LET ME, THAT I WILL SUPPORT THE MOTION AS PRESENTED, ALONG WITH A FRIENDLY AMENDMENT TO APPLY AN MWB POLICY TO IT. 
          >> MAY I MAKE A MOTION? >> ALL RIGHT. 
          >> I WANTED TO MAKE A, A COMMENT ON THAT, COMMISSIONER. JUST TO LET YOU ALL KNOW, THAT IS IN THE DISPARITY STUDY. PART OF OUR PRACTICE IS TO IMPROVE THE PROGRAM. SO THEY'RE GOING TO BE LOOKING AT P-CARD PURCHASES. THANK YOU. 
          >> SO ARE, ARE YOU GUYS CLEAR ON THE MOTION FROM THE CLERK'S 
          OFFICE? >> YES, JUDGE. 
          >> OKAY, SO THERE'S A MOTION BY COMMISSIONER ELLIS WITH A FRIENDLY AMENDMENT BY COMMISSIONER GARCIA. IS THAT A SECOND BY COMMISSIONER GARCIA? ALL IN FAVOR? 
          >> >> AYE. 
          >> ANY OPPOSED? >> NO. 
          >> I'M IN FAVOR IT MOTION CARRIES 4-1. ITEM SEVEN, WE ALREADY DISCUSSED. ITEM 13 IS ANOTHER P-CARD ITEM. 
          >> JUST NEED THE VOTE. >> ALL RIGHT. SHALL WE MAKE THIS A MOTION THAT WAS, OR, OR JUST AS APPROVED -- BECAUSE WE ALREADY MADE THE -- OKAY. SO WE'LL VOTE. THE MOTION IS TO, FOR ITEM, EXCUSE ME, 13 AS APPROVED, MOTION BY COMMISSIONER ELLIS, SECOND BY COMMISSIONER GARCIA. ALL IN FAVOR? ANY 
          OPPOSED? >> NO. 
          >> I'M IN FAVOR. MOTION CARRIES 4-1. NEXT WE'RE GOING TO ITEM 29, WHICH IS FLAGGED BY COMMISSIONER GARCIA. ALL RIGHT, SO MOVE TO VOTE AS PRESENTED BY COMMISSIONER GARCIA. IS THERE A 
          SECOND? >> SECOND. 
          >> SECOND BY COMMISSIONER GARCIA. ALL IN FAVOR? 
          >> TRAN 26 >> ANY OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY. MOVING ON TO ITEM 53, THIS WAS FLAGGED BY 
          COMMISSIONER RAMSEY. >> VOTE. 
          >> ALL RIGHT, MOTION FOR THE ITEM AS PRESENTED. THIS IS ANOTHER P-CARD ITEM. MOTION BY COMMISSIONER ELLIS. IS THERE A SECOND BY COMMISSIONER GARCIA? ALL IN FAVOR? 
          >> AYE. >> ANY OPPOSED? 
          >> NO. >> MOTION CARRIES 4-1. I'M IN FAVOR. NEXT, WE MOVED TO ITEM 76. THIS IS FLAGGED BY COMMISSIONER GARCIA. THEY PLAT. 
          >> MOVE -- ON THIS PARTICULAR ITEM -- I HAVE A MOTION. ON, ON THIS ONE. I MOVED TO DIRECT THE OFFICE OF COUNTY ENGINEER TO WORK WITH THE OFFICE OF COUNTY ATTORNEY. THAT -- WITH THE COUNTY ATTORNEY? I'M ASSUMING, I'M ASSUMING IT IS THE COUNTY ATTORNEY. I MOVE, MOVE TO DIRECT THE OFFICE OF THE COUNTY ENGINEER TO WORK WITH THE OFFICE OF THE COUNTY ATTORNEY TO DEVELOP A SET OF POLICIES AND GUIDELINES RELATED TO THE PLAT APPROVAL PROCESS AND RETURN THOSE TO COURT ON SEPTEMBER 
          19TH, 2025. >> SECOND. 
          >> MOTION BY COMMISSIONER GARCIA, SECOND BY COMMISSIONER RAMSEY, AND THIS IS ON ITEM 76. ANY DISCUSSION? WE NEED TO WAIT FOR COMMISSIONER ELLIS. OH, LOOK! ALL RIGHT, WE'LL, WE'LL GIVE IT A MOMENT. ALL RIGHT. COMMISSIONER -- WOULD YOU LIKE TO VOTE ON THIS? ALL RIGHT, SO AM I SO DID YOU GET A MOTION, A 
          SECOND? ALL IN FAVOR? >> AYE. 
          >> ANY OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY. MOVING ON TO ITEM 
          76 -- >> JUDGE? WE ALSO NEED THE MAIN 
          ITEM ON 76. >> I'M SO SORRY? 
          >> ALL RIGHT, THE MOTION FOR ITEM 76 AS PRESENTED. IS THERE A MOTION? I'M GUESSING COMMISSIONER GARCIA? 76 AS 
          PRESENTED. IS THERE A SECOND? >> SECOND. 
          >> COMMISSIONER RAMSEY HAS A SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR? 
          >> AYE. >> ANY OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY. ITEM 123 WAS FLAGGED COMMISSIONER GARCIA. 
          IT'S ON THE LEGISLATIVE AGENDA. 
          >> YES. ON, ON THIS ONE, I WANT TO THANK DR. PETERSON FOR HER IMPORTANT WORK. BUT THE CHRONICLE GOT MY ATTENTION. 
          THINK IT WAS EARLIER THIS WEEK, OR MAYBE LAST WEEK, WHEN THEY TALK ABOUT THE FACT THAT FEMA HAS NOT YET RELEASED THE FLOOD RISK MAPS, AND THAT THIS IS BAD FOR BUSINESS, BECAUSE MANY PEOPLE ARE TRYING TO MAKE DECISIONS WITHOUT KNOWING WHAT THE FLOOD RISK MAPS ARE GOING TO BE. DR. PETERSON AND HER TEAM ARE READY TO RELEASE OUR MAPS AND WORK THROUGH WHATEVER FEMA MAY COME UP WITH, BUT THERE IS, BUT WE NEED FEMA TO ACT. SO THIS IS A MOTION TO APPROVE COURT MEMBERS SIGNATURES UPON A CIRCULATED LETTER REGARDING FLOOD RISK MAPS AND DIRECT IGA 
          [08:00:04]
TO IMMEDIATELY TRANSMIT TO THE ADMINISTRATOR, TO ADMINISTRATOR STOLE OUR. THE, SO THIS ONE, SO THIS WOULD JUST SIMPLY BE A LETTER THAT READS AS SUCH, AS, AS IT'S BEEN DRAFTED. THIS LETTER READS, FOR DECADES, HARRIS COUNTY AND FEMA HAVE WORKED HAND-IN-HAND TO SAFEGUARD OUR COMMUNITIES THROUGH PUBLIC INFRASTRUCTURE PROGRAMS , HAZARD MITIGATION PLANNING, AND THE FLOOD CONTROL DISTRICTS HOME BUYOUT PROGRAM. TOGETHER, WE HAVE SHARED THE RESPONSIBILITY OF PROTECTING LIVES AND PROPERTY FROM THE DEVASTATING EFFECTS OF FLOODING. AS YOU KNOW, HARRIS COUNTY HAS EXPERIENCED REPEATED CATASTROPHIC FLOOD EVENTS OVER THE LAST DECADE, INCLUDING HURRICANE HARVEY, AND MORE FREQUENT AND INTENSE RAINFALL EVENTS. THAT UNDERSCORED THE URGENT NEED FOR THE MOST CURRENT DATA TO GUIDE OUR COMMUNITY'S DECISIONS. ONE OF THE MOST CRITICAL TOOLS IN THIS EFFORT IS TO, IS ACCURATE FLOODPLAIN MAPPING . THESE MAPS ARE ESSENTIAL TO SHAPING LAND-USE, PLANNING, GUIDING INFRASTRUCTURE INVESTMENTS, INFORMING INSURANCE REQUIREMENTS, AND UNDERSCORING PUBLIC SAFETY. OUR AGENCY HAS INVESTED SUBSTANTIAL TIME, RESOURCES, AND EXPERTISE IN OVERHAULING THE COUNTY'S FLOODPLAIN MODELS, AND HAS COLLABORATED CLOSELY WITH OUR, WITH YOUR TEAM TO PROVIDE HIGH QUALITY LOCAL DATA AND TECHNICAL REVIEW. WE RELY ON OUR PARTNERS AT FEMA TO TRANSLATE THIS DATA AND MODELS INTO FLOODPLAIN MAPS, AND HAVE WORKED CLOSELY WITH TECHNICAL TEAMS ACROSS ORGANIZATIONS TO PROVIDE ADDITIONAL DATA AND INSIGHTS TO FACILITATE THAT REVIEW. HOWEVER, DESPITE THIS SHARED EFFORT, THE RELEASE OF UPDATED FLOODPLAIN MAPS HAS BEEN REPEATEDLY DELAYED. WHILE WE APPRECIATE FEMA'S COMMITMENT TO ACCURACY AND THOROUGHNESS, THE ABSENCE OF UPDATED FLOODPLAIN MAPS LIMITS OUR ABILITY TO MAKE INFORMED DECISIONS, COMMUNICATE RISK EFFECTIVELY TO THE PUBLIC, AND IMPLEMENT PROTECTIVE MEASURES IN A TIMELY MANNER. WE RESPECTFULLY URGE FEMA TO PRIORITIZE AND EXPEDITE THE RELEASE OF THESE NEW FLOOD RISK MAPS FOR HARRIS COUNTY. THESE MAPS WILL NOT ONLY IMPROVE RESILIENCE AND RISK AWARENESS FOR OUR 4.8 MILLION RESIDENTS, BUT ALSO STRENGTHEN THE EFFECTIVENESS OF OUR ONGOING FEDERAL, STATE, AND LOCAL FLOOD MITIGATION INVESTMENTS. WE REMAIN COMMITTED TO SUPPORTING FEMA IN ANY WAY NECESSARY. TO MOVE THIS PROCESS FORWARD, AND, FORWARD AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE, OUR SHARED GOAL IS CLEAR, TO PROVIDE HARRIS COUNTY RESIDENTS WITH THE MOST ACCURATE, TRANSPARENT INFORMATION POSSIBLE SO THEY CAN, SO THEY CAN MAKE INFORMED DECISIONS OR CHOICES FOR THEIR FAMILIES, HOMES, AND LIVELIHOODS. THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONTINUED PARTNERSHIP AND FOR CONSIDERATION ON THE URGENCY OF THIS REQUEST. WE LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH YOU TO ENSURE THE RELEASE OF UPDATED MAPS WITHOUT FURTHER DELAY. 
          >> SECOND. MOTION BY COMMISSIONER GARCIA, SECOND BY COMMISSIONER BRIONES. ALL IN FAVOR? 
          >> AYE. >> ANY OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY. WAS 123. 139 HAD BEEN FLAGGED BY UNIVERSAL SERVICES REQUESTED NO ACTION. SO NOW WE ARE MOVING TO 152. THAT WAS FLAGGED BY COMMISSIONER RAMSEY. THAT'S ANOTHER P-CARD 
          ITEM. >> JUST VOTE. 
          >> THERE'S A MOTION BY COMMISSIONER ELLIS TO APPROVE AS PRESENTED, SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER GARCIA. ALL IN 
          FAVOR? ANY OPPOSED? >> NO. 
          >> MOTION CARRIES 4-1 FOR ITEM 152. AND NEXT IS ITEM 156. THIS WAS FLAGGED BY COMMISSIONER GARCIA, AND THIS IS ABOUT HOUSING COMMUNITY AFFAIRS, SINGLE-FAMILY MORTGAGE. 
          >> YES. SO OBVIOUSLY WE KNOW THAT OWNING A HOME IS MORE THAN JUST A MILESTONE, IT'S THE FOUNDATION FOR STABILITY, SAFER NEIGHBORHOODS, AND ECONOMIC SECURITY. YET, IN HARRIS COUNTY, FAR TOO MANY FAMILIES, ESPECIALLY LOW INCOME LATINO HOUSEHOLDS, CONTINUE TO FACE STEEP BARRIERS THAT KEEP HOMEOWNERS OUT OF REACH. HOME OWNERSHIP OUT OF REACH. THAT'S WHY, IN 2020, THE HOUSING FINANCE CORPORATION PARTNERED WITH TD HCA TO CREATE AFFORDABLE MORTGAGE OPPORTUNITIES. SINCE THEN, THIS PROGRAM HAS HELPED 630 FAMILIES BY THEIR FIRST HOMES, WITH OVER 294 MILLION IN BONDS DEDICATED TO MORTGAGES AND DOWN PAYMENT ASSISTANCE. THESE LOANS ARE MAKING A REAL DIFFERENCE. FAMILIES ARE ACCESSING MORTGAGES WITH LOWER THAN MARKET INTEREST RATES, CREDIT SCORES AVERAGING 686, AND THE MAJORITY EARNING LESS THAN $80,000 A YEAR. IMPORTANTLY, 72% OF HOMEOWNERS SERVED ARE MINORITIES, SHOWING THEY ARE REACHING THE VERY COMMUNITIES MOST IN NEED. BUT THE BENEFITS HAVE NOT BEEN FELT EQUALLY. STILL , ACCESS IS UNEVEN. 61% OF LOANS WENT TO PRECINCT 3. 22% WENT TO PRECINCT 4. BUT ONLY 5% WENT TO PRECINCT 2. THIS GAP IS STARK, GIVEN PRECINCT 2 
          [08:05:01]
DEMOGRAPHICS, MEDIAN AGE, 33.8, 65% LATINO, AVERAGE WAGE $66.6 THOUSAND, WELL BELOW THE COUNTY'S 81 500 THOUSAND MEDIAN INCOME. RESIDENTS HERE ARE YOUNGER, MORE DIVERSE, AND FACE GREATER AFFORDABILITY CHALLENGES. WE WANT HARRIS COUNTY FAMILIES TO HAVE A FAIR CHANCE AT HOME OWNERSHIP, WE MUST EXPAND OUTREACH AND EDUCATION IN COMMUNITIES LIKE PRECINCT 2. THAT'S WHY I'D LIKE TO WORK WITH DIRECTOR TAL KOSTAS, H CDD, HCH AT THE TO EXPAND OUTREACH IN PRECINCT 2 AND OTHER UNDERSERVED AREAS, ENTERING EVERY FAMILY, NO MATTER THEIR Z.I.P. CODE, HAS A FAIR CHANCE AT HOME OWNERSHIP. SO, MS. KOSTAS, THANK YOU FOR YOUR, THE WORK YOUR TEAM DOES, AND OBVIOUSLY THIS IS JUST SHOWING THAT WE HAVE MORE WORK TO DO. SO LOOKING FORWARD TO CONTINUING TO WORK TOGETHER WITH OUR RESPECTIVE TEAMS. SO THIS ITEM IS TO BE PASSED AS PRESENTED. 
          >> SO MOVED. >> YES, MOTION BY COMMISSIONER GARCIA. IS THERE A SECOND? SECOND BY ELLIS, AND THEN WE'LL HAVE A DISCUSSION. YES, YES, YES. 
          >> I WAS THE SECOND LOWEST AT 11%, SO I HAVE THE SAME CONCERNS 
          AS WELL. THANK YOU. >> TALBERT. 
          >> I APPRECIATE WHAT YOU'RE DOING. I KNOW THAT WE ENDED UP BEING THE -- BUT WE'VE REALLY GIVEN PRIORITY TO SINGLE-FAMILY RESIDENCES THERE IN PRECINCT 3. SO, SO GOOD JOB. I AGREE WITH COMMISSIONER GARCIA'S CONCERN. OUTREACH IS IMPORTANT TO GET THAT OUT THERE. BUT I, I WOULD REPORT THE MOTION. 
          >> ALL RIGHT. ANY OTHER DISCUSSION? THERE WAS A MOTION BY COMMISSIONER GARCIA, SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER ELLIS. ALL IN 
          FAVOR? >> AYE. 
          >> ANY OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY. THANK YOU, TOWEL. 
          IS ITEM 160. THAT'S INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT. THAT WAS FLAGGED BY 
          PRECINCT 2. >> YES. ON, ON THIS ONE, JUST 
          NEED A VOTE. >> IS THERE, IS THAT A MOTION, COMMISSIONER GARCIA? MOTION BY COMMISSIONER GARCIA, SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER ELLIS. ALL IN FAVOR? 
          >> AYE. >> ANY OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY. ITEM 185, THAT WAS FLAGGED COMMISSIONER RAMSEY. 
          THIS IS ON THE CERT -- INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT. YES. 
          >> AND THAT, I'M SORRY, JUDGE -- 
          >> 185, RENEWING AND INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT WITH THE HARWICH CENTER FOR THE PROVISION OF MENTAL HEALTH THROUGH THE CRISIS 
          INTERVENTION RESPONSE TEAM . >> YEAH. JUST, JUST WANT TO GIVE A SHOUT OUT TO IT. IT'S DOING A GREAT JOB. I, I SAY THIS ABOUT IT EVERY TIME, AND IT'S, IT'S A GREAT PROGRAM, AND I, I, I MOVE 
          ON THE ITEM. >> MOTION BY COMMISSIONER RAMSEY, SECOND BY COMMISSIONER GARCIA. ALL IN FAVOR? 
          >> AYE. >> ANY OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY. SO I KNOW WE STILL HAVE TO GO TO ITEM TWO, RIGHT, COMMISSIONER ELLIS? BUT MY UNDERSTANDING IS 202 AND 203 ARE DONE, YEAH? OKAY. 204. THIS WAS FLAGGED BY COMMISSIONER RAMSEY. 
          THIS IS A OUT OF TEXAS TRAVEL AND TRAINING REQUEST. YOU FLAGGED ROAD 12, PCS, 28 SHERIFF, AND 33, FIRE MARSHAL. 
          >> I, I WOULD JUST SAY, BLANKET, BLANKETS REALLY DO LACKED TRANSPARENCY, AND WE JUST NEED TO VOTE ON THE ITEM. 
          >> SO MOVED. >> MOTION BY COMMISSIONER ELLIS, SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER GARCIA. ALL IN FAVOR? 
          >> IS THIS JUST THE, ARE WE VOTING JUST ON 12, 28, AND 33, COMMISSIONER RAMSEY? THE LINE ITEMS, I'M SORRY. 
          >> AND WE'LL PUT THE REST OF IT -- 
          >> 12, 28 -- >> LINE ITEMS. 
          >> OKAY. >> SO I -- AND THEN I'LL DO THE 
          OTHER ONE. OKAY. SO -- >> EXCEPT THOSE TWO -- BUT OKAY, SO LET'S MAKE A MOTION FROM ALL ITEMS, AND ITEM 204, EXCEPT FOR ROAD 12, ROAD 28, AND WROTE 33. THAT WAS A MOTION BY COMMISSIONER ELLIS. IS THERE A SECOND? SECOND BY COMMISSIONER GARCIA. YOU LIKE THIS, COMMISSIONER RAMSEY? ALL IN 
          FAVOR? >> AYE. 
          >> ANY OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES -- I THINK YOU WANT, HE WANTS TO VOTE FOR THIS. YEAH. SO THIS IS ALL THE ITEMS EXCEPT FOR THE 
          ONES YOU DON'T LIKE. YES. >> 28 -- 
          >> CORRECT. ALL RIGHT, SO THAT PASSES UNANIMOUSLY. THEN HERE ARE THE ONES COMMISSIONER RAMSEY DOES NOT APPROVE . MOTION FOR ROSE 12, 28, AND 33 WITHIN ITEMS 204. MOTION BY COMMISSIONER 
          [08:10:02]
GARCIA, SECOND BY COMMISSIONER ELLIS. ALL IN FAVOR? 
          >> 1026 >> ANY OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES 4-1. NOW ON TO ITEM 205. ROW 49, COMMISSIONER GARCIA, YOU FLAGGED 
          THAT ONE. >> YES. I WANT TO GIVE A QUICK SHOUT OUT TO SHERIFF GONZALES AND THE HARRIS COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE DIVE TEAM. THIS IS A, THE COST THAT THEY INCURRED FOR THE THREE WEEKS THAT 12 MEMBERS OF THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE ROTATED IN AND OUT OF KIRK COUNTY TO ASSIST IN THE SEARCH OF VICTIMS BECAUSE OF THE RECENT FLOOD THERE. I KNOW THE WORK OF THE DIVE TEAM. 
          I RESPECT THEM IMMENSELY. BUT UNDER THESE TYPE OF CIRCUMSTANCES, YOU KNOW, WE USE THEM PRIMARILY FOR EVIDENCE COLLECTION, WHEN PEOPLE THROW GUNS IN, KNIVES AND OTHER EVIDENCE INTO WATERWAYS. IN THIS ONE, IT'S ONE OF THE HARDEST THINGS THAT YOU COULD ASK A DIVE TEAM MEMBER TO GO AND DO. BUT WHAT TO THINK SHERIFF GONZALES AND HIS DIVE TEAM FOR THEIR INCREDIBLE WORK. MOVE AS PRESENTED. 
          >> THANK YOU. MOTION BY COMMISSIONER GARCIA. IS THERE A 
          SECOND? >> SECOND. 
          >> SECOND BY COMMISSIONER BRIONES, AND I AKIN COMMENTS BY COMMISSIONER GARCIA. ALL IN FAVOR? 1026 
          >> ANY OPPOSED? >> AND JUST TO CLARIFY, IT'S 
          FOR THE WHOLE ITEM. >> THAT'S RIGHT, YES, FOR THE WHOLE ITEM. ANY OPPOSED? HEARING ON, MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY. 
          ITEM 217, FLAGGED BY COMMISSIONER GARCIA. MOVE AS PRESENTED BY COMMISSIONER GARCIA. IS THERE A SECOND? 
          >> SECOND. >> SECOND BY COMMISSIONER RAMSEY. ALL IN FAVOR OF 270? TRAN 26 
          >> ANY OPPOSED? ITEM 251 FLAGGED BY COMMISSIONERS ELLIS AND RAMSEY. THIS IS GENERAL FUND MONEY FROM EMERGENCY RENTAL 
          SYSTEMS. >> YEAH. 
          >> I WANT TO THANK ALL OF OUR OFFICES FOR WORKING ON USING A LARGE AMOUNT OF ARPA MONEY FOR HOUSING, RENTAL ASSISTANCE, AND -- THAT -- PUSH FOR THIS. WE PUT, WE ADMINISTERED OVER 153 MILLION DOLLARS IN REAL ASSISTANCE OVER 33,000 HOUSEHOLDS. ONLY 3% OF NEARLY $155 MILLION WAS FOUND TO BE DUPLICATIVE PAYMENTS. CONSIDERING THE SCALE OF THIS PROGRAM, THOSE ARE NOT BAD ODDS. AND JUST COME I WANT TO THANK THE FOLKS OVER IN THE OTHER APARTMENT FOR FINDING THIS, BECAUSE YOU ALL FOUND IT. AND OBVIOUSLY THAT'S WHY WE HAVE TWO REPAY IT, BUT I THINK IF YOU CHECK WITH THE FOLKS ON THE FEDERAL COURT, THAT'S PROBABLY A, A RECORD LEVEL OF SUCCESSFUL PARTICIPATION ON THAT LEVEL. BUT ANY, ANY OTHER ELABORATION ON 
          THIS PROGRAM? >> YES, COMMISSIONER. AGAIN, I THINK 97% ACCURACY IS PRETTY, IS REALLY GOOD IN A PROGRAM WHERE HE MOVED REALLY QUICKLY AND GOT A LOT OF AID OUT. THE OTHER THING IS THAT MOST OF THE DUPLICATION HERE IS WITH THE STATE. THERE WAS A PERIOD EARLY ON WHERE THE STATE WAS NOT SHARING WITH US WHERE, YOU KNOW, DATA ADEQUATELY, SO THAT WE CAN TELL WHEN DUPLICATION WAS HAPPENING. LATER IN THE PROGRAM, THEY STARTED SHARING MORE INFORMATION, AND THAT, THAT SOLVED THE PROBLEM. SO THIS REALLY, MOSTLY COMMENTS FROM THAT PERIOD WHERE THE STATE WAS, WAS NOT DOING A GREAT JOB IN SHARING WITH US WHERE THEIR MONEY WAS GOING. SO THIS IS DUPLICATION MOSTLY BETWEEN THE COUNTY PROGRAM AND THE STATE 
          PROGRAM. >> AT THE APPROPRIATE TIME AFTER MY COLLEAGUES HAVE COMMENTS, I'D LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION TO 
          APPROVE. >> COMMISSIONER RAMSEY, EXCUSE 
          ME. >> SO, JESSE, THE FOLKS THAT WERE RESPONSIBLE FOR, WE PAID PEOPLE -- FOR THIS, MORE OR LESS AN AUDIT OF IT. THAT'S TOO STRONG OF A WORD, MAYBE. BUT THEY WERE TO PREVENT THIS, AND YOU'RE SAYING THAT EVEN THOUGH 4 MILLION, 4 1/2 MILLION DOLLARS SLIP THROUGH, THAT THAT IS A GOOD INDICATION OF THOSE FOLKS THAT WERE SUPPOSED TO BE -- 
          >> YEAH, I MEAN, COMMISSIONER, I THINK OUR, OUR FEELING IS THAT THE FOLKS WHO WERE LOOKING, WE, WE DID NOT HAVE THE DATA EARLY ON. THE STATE WAS NOT SHARING THE DATA WITH US, SO THAT OUR AUDITORS COULD SEE WHERE DUPLICATION WAS HAPPENING. AS SOON AS THEY STARTED SHARING THAT DATA, THE DUPLICATION STOP. 
          AND SO I, I THINK, LIKE, YOU CAN'T , YOU CAN'T, YOU CAN'T MEASURE, AND IF WE DIDN'T HAVE THE DATA TO LOOK AT IT, THEN IT, IT WAS DIFFICULT TO FIND EARLY ON. 
          >> I MOVE IT. >> ALL RIGHT, MOTION BY COMMISSIONER ELLIS. IS THERE A SECOND BY COMMISSIONER GARCIA? 
          ALL IN FAVOR? >> AYE. 
          >> ALL RIGHT, THAT'S ON ITEM 251. ANY OPPOSED? 
          >> NO. >> I'M IN FAVOR. MOTION CARRIES 4-1. NOW, 256, THAT'S THE AUDITOR AND COMMISSIONER GARCIA 
          FLAGGED THAT ITEM. >> YES. 
          >> ON, ON THIS ONE, I, WE'VE BEEN WORKING ON PROMPT PAYMENT I DON'T KNOW HOW LONG NOW. THREE YEARS? BUT I, AND I WANT TO 
          [08:15:01]
THANK PEOPLE WHO SPEAK UP ON DIFFERENT ISSUES . EVEN WHEN IT'S RISKY. AND ON THIS ONE, I RECEIVED, WE ALL ACTUALLY RECEIVED A LETTER FROM HOLLOWAY ENVIRONMENTAL COMMUNICATIONS. 
          THIS LETTER GOES ON TO SAY THAT WHILE THEY VALUE THE COUNTY'S CONTINUED FOCUS ON UTILIZING SMALL BUSINESSES FOR COUNTY SERVICES, THEY HAVE OBSERVED THAT THE SALES OUTSTANDING FOR PAYMENT DUE TO, DUE THROUGH THE COUNTY, OFTEN AS A SUBCONTRACTOR HAS INCREASED FROM AN AVERAGE OF 60 DAYS TO MORE THAN 120 DAYS OVER THE LAST 18 MONTHS. THIS KIND OF TREND IS PUTTING ENORMOUS PRESSURE ON SMALL BUSINESSES LIKE, LIKE HOLLOWAY, AND, AND THEY ARE , AND THE THINGS THAT THEY'RE ASKING FOR IS ESSENTIALLY WHAT WE'VE BEEN WORKING ON FOR THREE YEARS. 
          SPECIAL SESSIONS OR ADMINISTRATIVE APPROVALS, SCHEDULED LIMITED PURPOSE FOR SPECIAL SESSIONS FOR THE APPROVAL OF -- PAYMENTS WHEN COMMISSIONERS COURT DATES ARE CANCELED OR DEFERRED, EXPEDITED PROCESSING OF SMALL BUSINESSES, CONSIDERING ESTABLISHING A MECHANISM TO EXPEDITE INVOICE APPROVAL FOR SMALL BUSINESSES WHEN REGULAR COMMISSIONERS COURT SESSIONS ARE DELAYED, AND RECOGNITION OF THE FINANCIAL STRAIN EXTENDED DELAYS CAN CAUSE. THIS IS A SUBCONTRACTOR SPEAKING HERE. IT'S NOT A PRIME. THE PROMPT PAYMENT, AS I HAD ALWAYS, ALWAYS ENVISIONED IT, IS THAT, AND THERE'S NO DOUBT THAT THIS SUBCONTRACTOR ISN'T GETTING PAID, BECAUSE THE PRIME HASN'T GOTTEN PAID. THAT WAS THE WHOLE PURPOSE OF PROMPT PAYMENT. AND SO, BUT, WITH THAT BEING SAID, THERE HAS GOT TO BE AWAY FOR US TO KNOW IF OUR SUBCONTRACTORS ARE BEING TAKEN CARE OF REGARDLESS. BECAUSE SOMETIMES WE HAVE BAD PRIMES THAT LIKE TO TAKE THEIR TIME PAYING THEIR SOBS. BUT I FIRMLY BELIEVE THAT THIS IS A CONSEQUENCE OF A PRIME NOT BEING PAID. SO I AM WANTING TO SEE REAL CHANGE ON, AND REAL MOVEMENT ON PROMPT PAYMENT, AND I WOULD LIKE, I GUESS , STELLA, THIS WOULD FALL ON YOU, FOR A FOLLOW-UP WITH HOLLOWAY ENVIRONMENTAL, TO SEE WHAT WE CAN DO TO FIND RELIEF FOR THEM. 
          THIS IS JUST, I'M, I'M CONFIDENT THIS IS JUST ONE SUB THAT IS STRUGGLING. THE OTHERS ARE PROBABLY AFRAID TO COMPLAIN TO THE HAND THAT FEEDS THEM. BUT THIS IS A WHOLE, ANOTHER, JUST ANOTHER INDICATION OF WHY I STARTED THE WORK ON PROMPT PAYMENT. AND SO TO GET THIS LETTER AFTER I HEAR WE'RE MAKING PROGRESS, WE'RE MAKING PROGRESS, WE'RE MAKING PROGRESS, GIVES ME LITTLE CONFIDENCE THAT WE'RE MAKING ANY PROGRESS. SO I, THERE'S, THERE'S NOT, THERE'S NOT A MOTION ON THIS, BUT OTHER THAN , WELL, I GUESS THERE IS A MOTION. I MOVED TO DIRECT DEEO TO GET WITH HOLLOWAY ENVIRONMENTAL AND SEE WHAT WE CAN DO ABOUT GETTING THEM PAID. 
          >> SECOND. >> OH, THAT, WITH THAT SECOND? OKAY, MOTION BY COMMISSIONER GARCIA, SECOND BY COMMISSIONER 
          RAMSEY. ALL IN FAVOR? >> AYE. 
          >> ANY OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY. AND I JUST WANT TO GET, EXCUSE ME, A TRANSFER THE AUDITOR, I DON'T, I DON'T KNOW IF ANYONE FROM THE OFFICE IS STILL AROUND AT THIS POINT, BUT MAYBE YOU HAVE SOMETHING TO ADD . ALL RIGHT. IF, IF -- 
          >> I HAD, I HAD ANOTHER -- BUT OH, COMMISSIONER, YES, 
          COMMISSIONER RAMSEY. >> APPRECIATE YOU BRINGING THAT UP, COMMISSIONER, BECAUSE THERE, WE HAVE A BIG PROBLEM THERE, AND WE, WE HEAR IT OVER AND OVER. I CAN SEE THE, JUST THE P.O.'S THAT COME THROUGH MY OFFICE. SO GOOD POINT. IT'S BROKE. AND TO TAKE A SPECIFIC ONE AND FOLLOW IT ALL THE WAY BACK THROUGH THE SYSTEM IS HOW WE'RE GOING TO FIX IT. SO THIS IS VERY SPECIFIC. SO TAKE A LOOK AT THAT SPECIFIC ONE, FOLLOW IT THROUGH, AND YOU MIGHT FIND A PATH TO FIX THE REST OF IT. MY OTHER COMEDY, THE OTHER MOTION I NEED TO MAKE ON ITEM 256 IS MOVED TO APPROVE ALL PAYMENTS EXCEPT PFM GROUP CONSULTING. 
          [08:20:08]
          >> ALL RIGHT, MOTION BY COMMISSIONER, WELL, I GUESS THE MOTION IS RAMSEY, SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER GARCIA. ALL IN 
          FAVOR? >> AYE. BEEN ANY OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY. IS THERE A MOTION -- ALL RIGHT, MOTION ON THE PFM ITEMS BY COMMISSIONER GARCIA, SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER 
          ELLIS. ALL IN FAVOR? 1026 >> ANY OPPOSED? 
          >> NO. >> MOTION CARRIES 4-1 PARADIGM IN FAVOR. MR. AUDITOR, WOULD YOU LIKE TO ADD SOMETHING ON THESE 
          COMMENTS ABOUT THOSE SOB -- >> YES, I DO AGREE WITH SOMETHING I HEARD. I THINK HOW WE GET A HANDLE ON THESE IS TO DO EXACTLY WHAT I HEARD. LIKE, THIS ONE INVOLVES HOLLOWAY ENVIRONMENTAL, SO ANYTHING I CAN DO OR MY OFFICE CAN DO TO HELP. 
          BECAUSE IF WE FOLLOW IT THROUGH AND FIND OUT EXACTLY HOW IT GOT HELD UP, THAT'S A LEARNING EXPERIENCE, AND WITH THE PROMPT PAY ACT AND ITS, I GUESS, SCHEDULED IMPLEMENTATION HERE AT THE COUNTY IN JANUARY, I MEAN, WE ARE ALL WORKING, TRY TO MAKE IT AS GOOD AS WE CAN, AS WE CAN MAKE IT. AND SO ANYTHING I CAN DO TO HELP FIGURE OUT WHAT HAPPENED IN THIS CASE, I'M VERY 
          WILLING TO DO. >> AND, AND OUR TEAM, OUR TEAM WILL DO THE SAME. APPRECIATE THE CHANCE TO FOLLOW THROUGH. I MEAN, THE NUMBERS GENERALLY LOOKS LIKE THEY'RE GETTING BETTER. BUT IF THINGS LIKE THIS ARE FALLING THROUGH AND NOT SHOWING UP, WE NEED TO FIGURE OUT WHY, AND WHY WE'RE NOT 
          SEEING IT. >> THINK, THANK YOU. 
          >> ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER GARCIA AND COLLEAGUES. THAT WAS 256. 302 IS FLAGGED BY COMMISSIONER GARCIA. 
          MOTION BY COMMISSIONER GARCIA AS PRESENTED, SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER ELLIS. ALL IN FAVOR? TREND 26 
          >> ANY OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY. 303. FLAGGED BY COMMISSIONER ELLIS. ENA ENGINEERING AND CONSULTING, COMMISSIONER. THE PURCHASING ITEM. 
          >> THIS IS ONE WHERE I WANTED TO BRING UP THE ISSUE ABOUT THE MOLD, THE STORIES THAT I READ IN THE HISTORY CHRONICLE, AND I WANTED TO ASK YOU, GIVE ME SOME SENSE OF WHAT, WHAT HAPPENED HERE, AND HOW WE CAN AVOID IT HAPPENING AGAIN. IT WAS GETTING A LITTLE WARM IN HERE A LITTLE WHILE AGO. IT'S JUST GETTING TOO LATE AT NIGHT. I DON'T KNOW. BUT GIVE ME SOME SENSE OF WHAT, WHAT, WHAT HAPPENED HERE. 
          >> YEAH, GOOD EVENING, COMMISSIONER. I ALSO HAVE -- THE HEAD OF OUR BUILDING, AND ALSO A COMPANY. SO SINCE JULY, WE HAVE HAD SOME REPORTS OF MOLD GROWTH IN SOME OF OUR FACILITIES, AND WE DID HAVE A CONSULTANT TO INVESTIGATE THOSE, AND WE HAVE FOUND MOLD IN SEVERAL PLACES. WE HAVE, TO DATE, WE HAVE REMEDIATED ALL THE MOLD WE HAVE FOUND, STARTING IN DIFFERENT LOCATIONS -- AND WHATNOT. THE REASON OUR CONSULTANT INITIALLY BOUGHT OUT ONE OF THE, YOU KNOW, MULTIPLE ISSUES, BUT THE CRITICAL ISSUES IT BROUGHT COULD BE EXCESS MOISTURE THAT WE HAVE IN THIS BUILDING DUE TO THE TURNOFF OF THE AIR FOR -- THE BEGINNING. SO OUR OFFICE, WE ARE WANTING , WE, OFFICE OF THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATION -- AND CHIEF -- TO DEPLOY OUR -- PROGRAM IN A WAY THAT IS SAID AND EFFICIENT, AND I WOULD LET CHIEF -- ALLOWED -- TO ADD A LITTLE BIT MORE ON THE PROGRESS OF WHAT WE'RE DOING IN TERMS OF DEPLOYING THAT PROGRAM. 
          >> WELL, GOOD EVENING, JUDGE AND COMMISSIONERS. AS DR. RAMAN MENTIONED, WE DID HAVE, WE DID EXPERIENCE MOLD CONTAMINATION IN MULTIPLE FACILITIES, PRIMARILY AT THE CJC AT THE CIVIL COURTHOUSE IN 1910 COURTHOUSE. THE GOOD NEWS IS THAT ALL OF THAT MOLD HAS BEEN REMEDIATED. THE CAUSE IDENTIFIED BY THE ENGINEERS IN OUR CONSULTANT WAS THE THERMOSTATS THAT POINT WAS SET TO A LEVEL THAT ALLOWED MOISTURE TO ACCUMULATE IN THOSE, IN THOSE AREAS, TO A POINT WHERE IT DEVELOPED MOLD. BUT, YEAH, WE'VE BEEN WORKING WITH OUR CONSULTANT, IN COMMUNICATION WITH OCA AS WELL, AND I THINK WE'RE, WE'RE GETTING TO A POINT, COMMISSIONERS, WHERE WE FOUND A BALANCE BETWEEN THE ENERGY SAVINGS THAT WE'RE LOOKING FOR AND THE FACILITY SAFETY. SO IN THE INTERIM, UNTIL WE GET THE MONITORS THAT WE STARTED INSTALLING IN THESE FACILITIES TO MONITOR THE, THE SPIKES IN, IN HUMIDITY, WE ARE GOING TO BE DOING MANUAL 
          [08:25:02]
SCHEDULING ON THE HVAC SYSTEMS UNTIL THOSE MONITORS AUTOMATICALLY TRIGGER THE, THE HVAC TO KICK ON AT THE TIME WHEN THE SCHEDULING IS SET. SO WE'RE WORKING ON THE PLAT STRATEGICALLY, COMMISSIONER, TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTION ON HOW DO WE REMEDIATE AND HOW WE STAY AHEAD OF IT IS WE'RE WORKING ON THE PRIME WHERE THOSE MONITORS WERE AUTOMATICALLY TAKEN THE HVAC SYSTEM. IF THERE IS A SPIKE IN HUMIDITY, ONCE WE GET BACK ON THE SCHEDULING PROGRAM THAT OCA HAS, HAS INITIATED. 
          >> I'M SENSITIVE TO THE COST SAVINGS. I THINK THE ESTIMATED COST SAVINGS IS ABOUT 1,000,500, $2 MILLION, AND WE SPENT $750,000 THAT WE KNOW OF TO ADDRESS THE MOLD ISSUE, RIGHT? 
          >> THAT IS CORRECT, COMMISSIONER. THEY, THE REMEDIATION COST FOR THESE, FOR THIS LAST INCIDENT WAS NORTH OF $750,000. THAT DOES NOT INCLUDE THE EXPENDITURES THAT WE WERE, THAT WERE UNDERTAKING FOR THE INSTALLATION OF THE HUMIDITY MONITORS THAT WILL BE INSTALLED IN THESE FACILITIES. 
          >> YEAH. I'M BIG ON THE CLIMATE ACTION PLAN. I THINK IT WAS AN ITEM THAT I PUT ON THE AGENDA, CREATING THE OFFICE AS WELL. BUT COULDN'T A CONSULTANT HAVE TOLD -- SHOULD SOMEBODY HAVE KNOWN THIS BEFORE WE DID IT? LOOK, I LIVE IN A OLD HOUSE, I THINK IN THE 40S. AND I HAD MOLD IN MY HOUSE BEFORE. SO I JUST DON'T, I MEAN, SOMEBODY TOLD ME, ALTHOUGH I WAS PAID,, I WAS SHARED -- I REMEMBERED THE COMMISSION TO ENGAGE FOLKS ON CLIMATE ACTION . AND SO I WANT TO TURN MY THERMOSTAT OFF. BUT I WAS TELLING THAT OLD HOUSE I WAS IN WITH THOSE OLD VENTILATION SYSTEMS NOT TO DO IT, BUT I DID IT. IT COST A FORTUNE TO GET THAT MOLD OUT. IT HAVE MOVED -- BUT COULD WE, COULDN'T WE HAVE 
          KNOWN THAT BEFORE WE DID IT? >> WELL, I'LL SAY ON BEHALF OF OCA AND OUR ENERGY MANAGEMENT TEAM THAT WE'RE NOT FULLY CONVINCED THAT IT'S ALL DUE TO THE ENERGY MANAGEMENT PLAN. 
          THAT, I MEAN, WE FOUND MOLD IN MULTIPLE BUILDINGS, NUMBER OF WHICH DIDN'T HAVE CONSERVATION MEASURES IN THEM, SO YOU CAN'T REALLY BLAME THE, THE ENERGY MANAGEMENT PLAN WHEN THEY, THEY WEREN'T SCHEDULING THE SAME WAY. SO THEY, THERE ARE OTHER POTENTIAL EXPLANATIONS. WE'RE WORKING WITH THE ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT ON THEM, BUT, AGAIN, HOUR, HOUR -- 
          >> REL COLLABORATING? >> I THOUGHT ABOUT IT, BECAUSE AFTER READING ARTICLES IN THE PAPER, I WAS GOING TO LEAVE IT ALONE. BUT I HAD TO TAKE A SHOWER DOWN HERE SUNDAY, AND I WAS TOLD THAT THE AIR WAS, WAS ALL RIGHT. I DIDN'T NORMALLY I WOULDN'T COME HERE. IT WAS CLOSER TO THE CHURCH. SO THE AIR WAS OFF, AND I WAS THINKING, IF IT HAPPENS AGAIN, YOU KNOW, WE GOT TO KNOW. WE CAN'T GUESS, YOU KNOW? WHAT SETS US BACK. 
          >> SURE, ABSOLUTELY. IT SETS US BACK, AND I THINK, YOU KNOW, THERE ARE OTHER ISSUES WITH THESE BUILDINGS, RIGHT? OUR BUILDINGS HAVE MULTIPLE ISSUES, RIGHT? MANY OF THEM HAVEN'T GONE THROUGH FULL FACILITY CONDITION ASSESSMENT. THEY'RE OLD. A LOT OF THEIR SYSTEMS ARE OLD. AND SO WHILE WE CAN SAY, OH, WELL, THIS IS FROM SCHEDULING, THERE, THERE ARE A LOT OF ISSUES WITH A LOT OF DIFFERENT BUILDINGS THAT WE NEED, THAT WE NEED TO ADDRESS, AND, AND I THINK WE'RE LOOKING FORWARD TO WORKING WITH ENGINEERING ON DOING THAT. BUT, BUT AT LEAST FROM OUR PERSPECTIVE, I, WE, WE DON'T, WE'RE, WE'RE NOT CONVINCED THAT ALL OF THIS MOLD IS DUE TO 
          SCHEDULING. >> COMMISSION -- OH. 
          >> WELL, I WOULD JUST HOPE BEFORE WE TURN THE AIR OFF AGAIN, Y'ALL ARE COLLABORATING. SO I WANT TO KNOW WHO TO POINT TO. BECAUSE I LOOK KIND OF CRAZY. SAVE $2 MILLION IN ESTIMATED COST SAVINGS, AND SPEND 750+. 
          >> ABSOLUTELY. >> AND THEN SAY WE DON'T KNOW WHERE IT CAME FROM. BUT HAVE WE EVER HAD MOLD IN THEM BEFORE? 
          >> NO, THE MOLD IS, THE MOLD IS RECENT. WE BELIEVE THE MOLD IS RECENT, AND SOME OF THESE, SOME OF THESE FACILITIES HAVE BEEN, HAVE -- THIS ENERGY CONVERSATION PROGRAM FOR SOME TIME. SO AGAIN, FROM OUR PERSPECTIVE, THAT WAS ANOTHER REASON NOT TO JUST SIMPLY SAY, OH, WELL, IT THE ENERGY CONSERVATION PROGRAM. 
          >> ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. >> COMMISSIONER RAMSEY, DID YOU HAVE A COMMENT ON THIS ONE? JUST REAL QUICK ON THAT, MY INSTINCT WHEN I READ THE ARTICLE WAS, DID WE, DID THE, THE, YOU KNOW, EXCUSE ME. FIXES AFTER HARVEY NOT PAN OUT THE WAY THAT THEY WERE SUPPOSED TO? IS THAT, THAT'S WHERE MY MIND GOES. SO DO, DO WE KNOW IF THE ANSWER'S YES, NO, MAYBE SO? 
          >> I THINK MANY OF OUR BUILDINGS ARE OLD AND HAVE SYSTEMS THAT ARE OLD. THERE ARE MULTIPLE ISSUES WITH THEM. WE, WE NEED TO DO A MORE THOROUGH INSPECTION OF -- 
          >> SO I'M HEARING A BABY. >> MAYBE. AGAIN, WE DON'T KNOW, 
          JUDGE. >> THAT'S FINE. HERE'S THE THING, JESSE, IS WE INVESTED A LOT OF MONEY, AND THERE WAS A LOT OF DISCUSSION TO FIX THOSE BUILDINGS UP AFTER THE, AFTER THEY FLOODED. AND SO WHEN I HEAR MOLD, I'M LIKE, WELL, YOU KNOW, 
          [08:30:05]
THAT'S WHAT THEY USED TO HAVE, BECAUSE THEY FLOODED, AND WE WERE TOLD BY, YOU KNOW, THE COUNTY STAFF AT THE TIME AND BY THE CONTRACTORS THAT THIS WAS JUST THE WAY TO FIX IT. SO IN, IN, TO GET THE STAKEHOLDERS ON BOARD, LET ME TELL YOU, I MEAN, THAT WAS, THAT, THAT WAS A LOT OF WORK. SO ANYWAY. IF THAT'S THE ISSUE, I WOULD JUST LIKE TO GO BACK, BECAUSE WE HAVE, WE HAVE THE RECEIPTS. I DON'T KNOW IF THERE'S -- SO I JUST WANT TO CHECK -- WHAT I'M SAYING IS, AS YOU GUYS GO THROUGH IT AND YOU GUYS ARE PROBABLY GOING TO DO THIS ALREADY, BUT JUST CHECK AND SEE WHETHER IT WAS IN ANY WAY RELATED TO THE FLOODING DURING HARVEY, AND AN ADEQUATE REMEDIATION AFTER THAT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU GUYS. APPRECIATE IT. 
          >> SO -- >> OH, YES, COMMISSIONER. 
          >> SO HAVE WE CONSULTED WITH OTHER COUNTIES? WE GOT BUILDINGS AROUND THE COUNTRY AND COUNTIES OLDER THAN OURS, BUT THAT WE CONSULT WITH SOMEBODY? SO SORT OF LIKE, FOR WHAT IT'S WORTH, I HAVE A NEW BUILDING. DON'T TURN MINE OFF. I MEAN, I DON'T WANT TO GUESS, YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN? UNTIL I KNOW, I WANT TO KNOW SOMEBODY ELSE -- THE TEMPERATURE IS DOING IT, BUT I DON'T -- BECAUSE YOU WILL CONTROL MY AIR. SOMEBODY DOES. DON'T TURN THE AIR OFF. I'M GOING TO HAVE TO EXPLAIN IT. I WANT TO KNOW! I WANT SOMEBODY TO TELL ME. SOMEBODY WITH A COMPARABLE TEMPERATURE TURNED IT OFF. IF NOT, I TURNED IT UP TO A HIGHER TEMPERATURE UNTIL I FIGURE IT OUT. I JUST -- 
          >> I MEAN, COMMISSIONER, THESE ARE, THESE ARE NOT HOMES, RIGHT? THEY'RE INDUSTRIAL SYSTEMS. IT WORKS SOMEWHAT DIFFERENTLY THAN YOUR NORMAL HOME. I LOOK, THERE ARE COUNTIES AND PRIVATE-SECTOR FOLKS THAT RUN THESE PROGRAMS ALL OVER THE COUNTRY. AND SO THERE ARE PLENTY OF WAYS TO DO IT RIGHT. I, I, UNFORTUNATELY, I WISH WE COULD SAY WE WERE, LIKE, INNOVATORS IN THE FIRST TO RUN THESE KIND OF PROGRAMS IN GOVERNMENT BUILDINGS, OR IN THESE KINDS OF FACILITIES, BUT WE CERTAINLY AREN'T. 
          >> SO DID WE TALK TO THEM? BECAUSE THE GOOD THING ABOUT BEING LATE IS, WE LATE TO COME UP WITH A CLIMATE ACTION PLAN, BUT, YOU KNOW, THE GOOD THING IS, BY BEING LATE, WE COULD ASK SOMEBODY WITH COMPARABLE WEATHER, NEW ORLEANS OR SOMEBODY, DO THEY TURN THEM OFF, YOU KNOW? 
          >> WE DON'T TURN IT OFF, COMMISSIONER. WE'RE SETTING SETPOINTS A LITTLE BIT HIGHER, RIGHT? SO WHEN THEY SAY WE'RE TURNING THINGS OFF, WE'RE ACTUALLY JUST MOVING. WE'RE NOT SHUTTING OFF THE SYSTEM FOR LONG PERIODS OF TIME. WE'RE SETTING HIGHER SETPOINTS. SO WE'RE LETTING THE AIR GO A LITTLE HIGHER. IT GETS WARMER, BUT IT'S NOT OFF. 
          >> SO WHEN THE MOLD CAME, WAS IT, DID YOU THINK IT WAS OFF EXCEEDED YOU THINK IT WAS HIGHER? 
          >> COMMISSIONER -- HIGHER TEMPERATURE. AND, AND, AND JESSE'S RIGHT HERE. OUR BUILDINGS -- COMPLAINTS. SOME OF THEM HAVE OLDER SYSTEMS, SOME OF THEM DO NOT HAVE THE DAMPERS THAT WE NEED TO ACTUALLY -- THE HIGH TEMPERATURES, SO THAT THE MOISTURE DOESN'T ACCUMULATE. SO ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE'RE DOING IS HONORING HUMIDITY SENSOR. THAT WAY WE CAN MEASURE. 
          BUT IF WE DO SET THIS TEMPERATURE, IT DOES NOT 
          ACCUMULATE -- >> SO, SO YOU ALL WOULD NOT, IT WAS NOT BEING TURNED OFF. I, I'VE BEEN IN HERE ON SUNDAYS, AND I THOUGHT IT WAS OFF. I MEAN, I'M JUST TRYING TO GET 
          TO, I'M NOT TRYING TO BE -- >> COMMISSIONER, THE WAY THE SYSTEMS WORK, RIGHT, IS A TURNOFF FOR LONGER PERIODS, AND THE TEMPERATURE RAISES TO A CERTAIN POINT, TO A HIGHER SETPOINT, AND THAT THEY COME BACK ON. 
          >> IT JUST, IT BEING 9:51 P.M., COULD WE, COULD THEY LOOK AT IT AND BRING IT BACK AND EXPLAIN WHETHER IT'S ON OR OFF? 
          >> I THINK THAT'S A GOOD IDEA. 
          >> YEAH. COMMISSIONER BRIONES, DID YOU HAVE A COMMENT ON THIS 
          ITEM? >> NO. WELL, YES, THANK YOU. 
          FIRST OF ALL, THANK YOU FOR ANSWERING THESE QUESTIONS. COULD YOU BRIEFLY SUMMARIZE THE ACTIONS YOU WILL BE TAKING ON TO GO FORWARD TO MAKE SURE WE'RE KEEPING OUR EMPLOYEES AND ALL VISITORS TO COUNTY BUILDING SAFE, VERY BRIEFLY? SO WE'RE ALL CLEAR. ON WHAT WILL BE DONE AND NOT DONE. 
          >> YES MA'AM. UNTIL WE GET THE HUMIDITY SENSORS INSTALLED, AND THEY'RE AUTOMATED, WHERE THEY WILL PUT THE HVAC ON, IF THE THERMOSTAT SETPOINT IS FIVE, UNTIL THAT HAPPENS, WE'RE GOING TO BE DOING MANUAL HVAC SCHEDULING WITH ENHANCED MONITORING. PHASE TWO IS GOING TO INCLUDE THE AUTOMATED CONTROL IMPLEMENTATION, AND, AND WE'RE GOING TO GET A CONSULTANT TO COME IN HERE AND SET THOSE, THOSE PARAMETERS. BUT UNTIL THAT HAPPENS, COMMISSIONER, WE'RE GOING TO BE DOING MANUAL SCHEDULING, AND IT HAS MONITORING OF THE HUMIDITY. 
          >> THANK YOU, CHIEF. THANK YOU, DR. RAMAN. 
          >> THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU. SO IS THERE A MOTION FOR, ON THIS ITEM? THERE'S A THREE MOTION BY 
          [08:35:01]
COMMISSIONER GARCIA, SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER ELLIS. ALL IN 
          FAVOR? >> AYE. 
          >> ANY OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY. NOW LET'S MOVE ON TO 352, FLAGGED BY COMMISSIONERS GARCIA AND RAMSEY. 
          >> YES. ON THIS ONE, WE ALREADY VOTED ON IT. I JUST WANTED TO SPEAK ON IT. JUST TO WELCOME OUR VISITORS ON SEPTEMBER THE 22ND. 
          THAT'S WHEN THE TOURNAMENT WILL BE HELD. AND I KNOW SOME FOLKS CAME AND SPOKE ABOUT THE INVESTMENT THAT I'M MAKING ON THIS, USING MY HOT TAX MONEY AND SOME OF MY GENERAL FUND, BUT JUST AS AN EXAMPLE OF, AND THE REASON THIS CAME UP WAS, AGAIN, BECAUSE THE STATE PULLED THE, THE RUG OUT FROM UNDER THEM. BUT OVER THE YEARS, THE STATE HAS REIMBURSED SIMILAR EVENTS, LIKE 1,000,008 FOR A BOXING EVENT. OVER $600,000 FOR A VIDEO GAME TOURNAMENT. $40,000 FOR A, I FORGOT HOW IT'S PRONOUNCED. 
          QUIDDITCH CUP, WHICH IS -- THE, YEAH, THE HARRY POTTER -- PEOPLE RUN AROUND WITH BROOMS. ON THIS EVENT. $2.9 MILLION FOR A BITCOIN CONVENTION. AND TWICE THEY HAVE SUPPORTED THIS SAME EVENT TO THE TUNE OF ALMOST $1 MILLION. SO I'M GLAD THAT WE'RE PARTICIPATING AS WELL, AND AGAIN, LOOKING FORWARD TO WELCOME ALL OF THESE, THESE THOUSANDS OF VISITORS TO HOUSTON, HARRIS COUNTY, WHERE THEY'RE GOING TO SPEND MONEY ON 
          HOTELS AND FOOD. SO THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU. SO WE'VE ALREADY PASSED THAT ONE, SO WE'RE JUST GOING TO MOVE ON TO THE NEXT ITEM. THAT ITEM 367, AND THAT IS PRECINCT 4 ON THE VARIOUS AWARDS 
          -- >> YES. I WILL BE -- 
          >> VERY BRIEF, I WANTED TO SAY THANK YOU AND CONGRATULATIONS TO MY TEAM, AGAIN, FOR THE THREE MAKE AWARDS, AND HOW THEY'RE ABLE TO DELIVER WITH EXCELLENT , AND IT'S RECOGNIZED AT THE NATIONAL SCALES. SURVEYS ARE FOR THREE THINGS, THE BALIN HEALTH HUBS, ALL THE CONVERSATIONS TODAY ABOUT PUBLIC HEALTH BEING CRITICALLY IMPORTANT. TAKE YOU FOR WHAT YOU DO, TEAM. PLACES FOR PEOPLE OUR CALL FOR PARTNERSHIP PROJECTS, WHERE WE'RE LEVERAGING 50% OF PREACHING FOR OFFENDING WITH OVER DOZENS OF PARTNERS TO DOUBLE THE AMOUNT OF INFRASTRUCTURE WE'RE ABLE TO DELIVER. THANK YOU, TEAM. AND THEN LASTLY, THE MASTER PLAN PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT. THOUSANDS OF DATA POINTS IN SEVEN LANGUAGES LISTENING TO THE COMMUNITY TO DELIVER WHAT THEY WANT IN THEIR PARK. SO CONGRATULATIONS, TEAM. 
          THANK YOU FOR YOUR HEART, HUSTLE, AND HIGHER STANDARDS. 
          >> NO ACTION IS NEEDED. THANK YOU. 
          >> NAKED, AND CONGRATULATIONS, COMMISSIONER, AND TO THE TEAM. 
          THAT WAS 367, AND NOW WE'RE MOVING ON TO 368. THAT WAS ALSO 
          FLAGGED COMMISSIONER BRIONES. >> YES. I'M GOING TO ASK JESSE AND DANIEL TO PROVIDE UPDATES. BUT THE BOTTOM LINE WITH REGARD TO BOTH PARK SECURITY AND EXECUTIVE SECURITY IS THAT WE WANT TO ENHANCE SAFETY, AND WE WANT TO ENHANCE FAIRNESS. AND SO I KNOW VARIOUS OPTIONS HAVE BEEN PROPOSED, AND BEFORE I GO INTO VARIOUS OPTIONS, I'D LIKE TO HEAR THE LATEST UPDATE, PLEASE. 
          >> YES, COMMISSIONER. ON EXECUTIVE SECURITY, I MEAN, I THINK THE FIRE MARSHAL IN THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE ARE LOOKING AT DOING ASSESSMENT OF SECURITY FOR THE COURT OFFICES, AND WE, WE'VE TALKED TODAY AND THIS WEEK, WE WILL KNOW SHORTLY FOR THE NEXT COURT IF THAT CAN BE AVAILABLE FOR, BEFORE THE 18TH OF, OF THIS MONTH, FOR COURT ON THE 18TH. THAT'S OUR INTENT, IS TO HAVE SOME EXCITEMENT ON EXECUTIVE SECURITY THAT THAT COURT CAN LOOK AT AND MAKE DECISIONS AROUND. 
          >> AND WITH REGARD TO THE PARK SECURITY? 
          >> I -- >> SO IN THE LATEST PROPOSED BUDGET, THERE'S $2.75 MILLION FOR EACH PRECINCT RELATING TO 
          PARK SECURITY. >> AND TO BE CLEAR, THERE'S A CURRENT OVER 5 BILLION OF VALUE BEING OFFERED TO TWO OF THE PRECINCTS. AND SO I VERY MUCH WANT TO KEEP THE SHERIFF'S BUDGET HOLE, AND WE NEED FUNDING FAIRNESS. AND SO IT'S, YOU KNOW HOW ME AND MY BOTH AND. THIS IS THE FIRST TIME YOU WILL NOT HEAR ME SAY BOTH AND. IT SEEMS TO BE AN EITHER/OR. THEIR ALLOCATIONS FOR THE PRE-THINGS OR PARTS, OR THERE'S A SHARING OF WHAT IS ALREADY IN THE BUDGET, GIVEN THE BUDGET SENSITIVITIES, AND THEN WE CAN CHOOSE TO AUGMENT IT IF WE SO DESIRE SEPARATELY. 
          >> SO AS I UNDERSTAND IT, THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE IS NO LONGER COMPLETING MOU'S WITH PRECINCT 1 AND TWO ON PARK SECURITY, AND SO I THINK OUR HOPE WOULD BE THAT THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE WOULD BE ABLE TO PROVIDE EQUAL PARK SECURITY TO ALL OF THE OFFICES AT THEIR CURRENT BUDGET, OR POTENTIALLY SOME NUMBER LESS 
          [08:40:01]
THAN THE 11.5, $11 MILLION THAT WE HAD TALKED ABOUT GOING INTO THE CURRENT BUDGET, AND THEY'D BE ABLE TO PROVIDE SECURITY FOR EVERYONE EQUALLY. I THINK THERE ARE SOME DISCUSSIONS WITH THE SHERIFF GOING ON. I THINK, LET US CONTINUE THOSE DISCUSSIONS, AND THEN HOPEFULLY ON BUDGET AMENDMENT DAY ON THE NINTH, WE, WE CAN HAVE THIS SORTED OUT AND HAVE A STEADY STATE WHICH IS 
          EQUITABLE. >> OKAY. WELL, I APPRECIATE THE PROGRESS Y'ALL ARE MAKING. MY END GOAL IS TO ENHANCE SAFETY AND ENHANCE FAIRNESS, AND SO I, TO ME, I'M HAPPY WAITING UNTIL WE HAVE THE UPDATES AT THOSE DATES THAT YOU STATED. IN THE 
          INTEREST OF TIME. >> THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER. 
          >> SO NO ACTION FOR TODAY. >> OKAY, SO THAT ITEM -- EXCUSE 
          ME? >> ACTION FOR TODAY, BUT I'D LIKE TO BRING IT BACK ON THE DATES THAT YOU SPECIFIED, JESSE. 
          THANK YOU. >> SO THIS IS ITEM 368. SO DOES THAT MEAN THIS IS GOING TO BE PART OF THE BUDGET PROPOSAL? IS 
          THAT WHAT I'M HEARING? >> THE, THE PARK SECURITY IS ALREADY IN THE, THE CURRENT BUDGET THAT'S OUT THERE. WE MAY HAVE AMENDMENTS TO THAT ON THE NINTH, DEPENDING ON THE CONVERSATION WITH THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE AND WE DON'T HAVE ANY CHANGES AT THE MOMENT TO EXECUTIVE SECURITY, AND WE WILL HOPEFULLY HAVE AN ASSESSMENT OVER THE NEXT COUPLE OF WEEKS. 
          >> BUT THAT'S STILL IN THE BUDGET, RIGHT? 
          >> YES. BUT NO CHANGES TO EXECUTIVE -- AT THE MOMENT. 
          >> I'M NOT TRYING TO POLITICIZE THE PHYSICAL SAFETY OF AN ELECTED OFFICIAL. OKAY, GREAT. SO WE'LL BRING THAT BACK. 
          THAT'S 368, NO ACTION. RIGHT? YEAH. NOW WE'RE GOING TO 393. 
          FLAGGED BY COMMISSIONER GARCIA. 
          >> 393? >> YES. WE MAY WELL HAVE VOTED ON SOME OF THESE. GO AHEAD, COMMISSIONER GARCIA. 
          >> ON THIS ONE, IS SORTED TO THE CONVERSATION EARLIER, REGARDING THE TEMPORARY HIRING FREEZE THAT WE'RE WORKING ON. THIS MOTION IS TO DIRECT HUMAN RESOURCES AND THE TALENT MANAGEMENT TO PLACE A TEMPORARY FREEZE ON ALL RECLASSIFICATIONS OF LAW ENFORCEMENT SUPERVISORY POSITIONS UNTIL THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE PAY PARODY ADJUSTMENT FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT 
          PERSONNEL HAS BEEN COMPLETED. >> AND COMMISSIONER, I'M SORRY, 
          IT'S A TRANSMITTAL. >> NO, IT'S A TRANSMITTAL. IS IT, JAY, IS THIS BROAD ENOUGH FOR ME TO MAKE A MOTION ON? 
          >> NOT ON A TRANSMITTAL. >> OKAY, THEN I'LL BRING IT BACK ON THE NEXT ITEM. ON THE NEXT COURT. 
          >> OKAY, SO WE ACCEPT THE TRANSMITTAL, COMMISSIONER? 
          >> YEAH. >> DO WE HAVE A -- 
          >> OKAY, OKAY, THAT'S, THAT'S 393. AND AGAIN, I, IF I BRING SOMETHING UP THAT WE ALREADY VOTED ON, JUST LET ME KNOW. 393, WE JUST PASSED. WE JUST ACCEPTED . 408. THAT IS FLAGGED BY COMMISSIONER GARCIA. IT'S ANOTHER TRANSMITTAL ON THE 
          MAINTENANCE PROGRAM. >> YES, JUST A QUICK SHOUT OUT TO DR. PETERSON AND HER TEAM. YOU KNOW, WE PASSED THE, THE PROP A. THEY'VE BEEN DILIGENT GETTING OUR FAST ACTION SERVICE TEAMS UP AND RUNNING, AND JUST FOR THE SAKE OF TIME, DR., THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE ALL DAY, BUT JUST APPRECIATE THE WORK THAT YOU'RE DOING. WE'RE FOLDING IN THE HOMELESS THIS ISSUES THAT TEND TO PLAGUE OUR FLOODWAY'S, BUT AGAIN, JUST A QUICK SHOUT OUT FOR ALL OF THE INCREDIBLE WORK YOU'RE DOING TO SCALE UP AS, AS THE VOTERS PROVIDED YOU. THANK YOU. 
          >> WELL, ONE OTHER COMMENT. I APPRECIATE YOU SPENDING THE EVENING WITH US. I WOULD TELL YOU THAT, AS WE'VE TALKED BEFORE, I, I THINK WHAT THE PRECINCTS DO WITH THEIR MAINTENANCE PROGRAM, I KNOW WE'VE GOT OVER 120 PEOPLE TO DEAL WITH MAINTENANCE OF OVER 6800 MILES OF ROAD, FOUR WORK CAMPS, AND I KNOW WE'RE GOING TO COME UP WITH SOMETHING JUST AS ROBUST WITHIN OUR $100 MILLION MAINTENANCE BUDGET, AND JUST AS A OPTIMISTIC LOOK TO THE FUTURE IN TERMS OF WHAT'S COMING, YOUR OVERVIEW, AND WE LOOKED AT THAT, AND EVEN TALK SPECIFICALLY ABOUT IT. SO IT'S REALLY LOOKING FORWARD TO THE DETAILS, AS WE PUT ALL THAT TOGETHER. THANK YOU. 
          >> THANK YOU. OH, GO AHEAD. >> DR. PETERSON AND TEAM, THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING THAT YOU'RE DOING TO CONTINUE THE FLOOD BOUND PROJECTS AND STAND UP THIS ADDITIONAL APPROXIMATELY $100 MILLION ANNUALLY IN THE FLOOD MAINTENANCE. I WAS REALLY IMPRESSED BY SO MUCH OF THE PROGRESS I WAS SEEING IN THE TRANSMITTAL, AND I WANTED TO SAY THANK YOU. SOME OF THE KEY HIGHLIGHTS THAT JUMPED OUT TO ME AS A 99% INCREASE IN INFRASTRUCTURE REPAIR PROJECTS, 117% INCREASE IN THE SILTING, 
          [08:45:01]
62% MORE OUTFALL REPAIRS . THE FAST ACTION SERVICE TEAM'S ON TRACK FOR 40% INCREASE PROJECTS PENDING. 43% INCREASE IN VEGETATION MANAGEMENT, AND NEW EQUIPMENT, AND I CAN GO ON. AND SO I APPRECIATE ALL THE WORK THAT WENT IN THIS UNANIMOUS BIPARTISAN EFFORT. WE KNOW WE WERE ON A 267 YEAR CYCLE . I THINK IT REMEMBER WE TALKED ABOUT THE EIGHT GREAT GRANDKIDS WE WERE TAKEN CARE OF, OUR ASSETS FOR OUR EIGHT GREAT GRANDKIDS INTO THE FUTURE? NOW WE'RE GETTING CLOSER TO INDUSTRY BEST PRACTICES, MOVING TOWARDS, I BELIEVE IT WAS A 62 YEAR CYCLE, SO THAT INCREDIBLE PROGRESS BEING MADE. I KNOW WE STILL HAVE A LONG ROAD AHEAD OF YOU KNOW, NO PUN INTENDED. BUT IN TERMS OF THE PROGRESS YOU'RE MAKING, AND I JUST WANTED TO SAY THANK YOU. I'M ENERGIZED BY IT, AND JUST PLEASE CONTINUE DOUBLING DOWN ON THE BOTH AND OF THE BOND PROJECTS AND THE MAINTENANCE. SO THANK YOU TO YOU AND YOUR TEAM. I APPRECIATE YOU. 
          >> ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU SO MUCH. SO THAT IS, WE'RE GOING TO ACCEPT THAT TRANSMITTAL. 409 IS ANOTHER TRANSMITTAL. THAT ONE'S IMAP NEXT, AND WE'LL ACCEPT THAT ONE. THANK YOU. 410 IS ANOTHER TRANSMITTAL. HARRIS COUNTY APPRENTICESHIP ADVANTAGE PROGRAM YEAR TWO EVALUATION REPORT. 
          >> JUDGE? >> YES, COMMISSIONER, YES. 
          >> I THINK COMMISSIONER GARCIA ADDRESSED IT. SO THAT'S, THAT'S FINE DR. PETERSON. OKAY. SO ON, ON 410, IF I MIGHT, ON 410 , LOOK, I JUST WANTED TO RUN THROUGH THE FAX AGAIN. WE LAUNCHED THAT PROGRAM, AS YOU SAID, EARLIER, JUDGE, IN FEBRUARY 2023, WITH AN INITIAL 10.9 MILLION ARPA GRANT, AND IN THE APPRENTICESHIP ADVANTAGE PROGRAM PUT THE TOTAL UP TO OVER $17 MILLION , WHICH MARKED THE LARGEST INVESTMENT MADE IN APPRENTICESHIP IN HARRIS COUNTY HISTORY AND THE LARGEST ONE IN THE SOUTH, NOT IN THE COUNTRY, BUT THE LARGEST ONE IN THE SOUTH. AND OVER 1000 INDIVIDUALS WERE SERVED, SURPASSING THE ORIGINAL ENROLLMENT TARGET BY 130%. I'M HOPEFUL THAT THIS IS A PROGRAM THAT WILL CONTINUE TO HAVE BIPARTISAN SUPPORT. 
          OBVIOUSLY WE GOT TO HAVE FUNDING, SINCE THE FEDERAL MONEY WILL BE GONE, TO GO AND DO IT. AND THAT'S WHY I'M PUSHING SO HARD FOR THE CONTRACT DEPUTIES, WHEREVER THE MONEY IS, HAS TO COME FROM SOMEWHERE, BECAUSE YOU CAN'T KEEP, BECAUSE SOMETHING HAS THE POLITICAL SUPPORT, WE CAN'T KEEP TAKING IT FROM OUR SMALLER DEPARTMENTS. SO I JUST WANT TO STRESS THAT. WE GOT TO BE MINDFUL OF WHERE THE MONEY WILL COME FROM. I THINK IT'S GOING TO HAVE SUPPORT, OBVIOUSLY. WE'VE ALL TOURED IT ENOUGH TIMES AND HAVE TALKED ABOUT IT, BUT I JUST WANT TO STRESS, WE GOT TO HAVE THE MONEY TO DO IT. 
          >> YES. AND I HAD FLAGGED IT FOR SIMILAR REASONS, COMMISSIONER. 
          TO ME, THIS IS ONE OF THE MOST EFFECTIVE PROGRAMS, AND I APPRECIATED SEEING ELITE RESEARCH ON THE INDEPENDENT THIRD-PARTY CONSULTANT, WHO HAS BEEN EVALUATING THIS PROGRAM FOR THE LAST 2.5 YEARS. THIS , THE RATIO IS A 10 X RETURN ON INVESTMENT, AND TO ME, THIS IS THE BEST OF, OF FIGHTING FOR THE AMERICAN DREAM AND TURNING IT INTO AN AMERICAN REALITY, NOT ONLY FOR THE INDIVIDUALS, AND, TO YOUR POINT, WE HAD ESTIMATED 640. WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO SERVE OVER 1000, 1057. BUT THIS IS EXPANDING JUST THE OPPORTUNITIES FOR THESE PARTICIPANTS AND THEIR FAMILIES. THE SIGNIFICANT WAGE GAINS FOR THESE INDIVIDUALS IS ENERGIZING, AS WELL AS FROM A TALENT PIPELINE PERSPECTIVE FOR THESE INDUSTRIES. AND I WANT TO THANK OUR TWO PARTNERS, TEXAS GULF COAST, AFL-CIO, AND EMPOWER FOR THE TWO STREAMS OF WORK AND THE APPRENTICESHIPS, AND I LOVE THAT IT WAS THE LARGEST INVESTMENT IN HARRIS COUNTY HISTORY AND THE LARGEST IN THE SOUTH, AND THIS IS ONE THE DATA IS, IS CLEAR, IT'S ENERGIZING. 
          I ENCOURAGE OUR TWO PARTNERS TO CONTINUE WITH THE DATA SHARING AS WE EVALUATE IT, LEVEL SET. THIS IS STILL FUNDED THROUGH OCTOBER 2026, SO WE LOOK FORWARD TO CONTINUING TO SEE THE DATA, CONTINUING TO SEE THIS. HOPEFULLY IT CONTINUES 10 X RETURN ON INVESTMENT, AND JUST SEEING THE SUBSTANTIAL WAGE GAINS AND OPPORTUNITIES. WE'RE CREATING JOBS, WE'RE ADVANCING THE AMERICAN DREAM FOR THESE FAMILIES, AND WE'RE HELPING TO BUILD A TALENT PIPELINE. SO THIS IS A FABULOUS BOTH/AND, AND I APPRECIATE ALL OF THE PARTNERS AND THE APPRENTICES, AND I LOOK FORWARD TO CONTINUING THE GREAT WORK TOGETHER. SO THANK YOU, AND I APPRECIATE GETTING THIS UPDATE FROM ELITE RESEARCH, AND I APPRECIATE IT. THANKS, TOM AND TEAM. 
          >> OKAY, SO THAT WAS, FOR 10 WAS THE TRANSMITTAL. WE ACCEPT THE TRANSMITTAL. 445, THAT WAS FLAGGED BY COMMISSIONER RAMSEY. 
          POLLING LOCATIONS. >> YEAH, I APPRECIATE THE EFFORTS OF OUR, OF OUR CLERK. I MEAN, TANISHA'S DONE A GREAT 
          [08:50:01]
JOB, BUT I CAN'T SUPPORT A PLAN WHERE PRECINCT 3 HAS $790,000 REGISTERED VOTERS. THE MOST REGISTERED VOTERS BY LIGHT. AND WE END UP BEING THIRD. IN FACT, IT LOOKS LIKE WE ARRANGED FOR OUR EARLY VOTING AND ELECTION DAY VOTING BASED ON A PRECINCT NUMBER. SO PRECINCT 1 LEADS THE PACK, TWO IS TWO, THREE IS THREE, AND FOUR IS FOUR. WE NEED TO DO BETTER. WE NEED TO HAVE THE VOTING LOCATIONS TO SOMEWHAT MIRROR THE NUMBER OF REGISTERED VOTERS. AND WHEN YOU HAVE, AGAIN, 790,000 457 REGISTERED VOTERS, AND YOU'VE GOT THE THIRD LEAST AMOUNT OF VOTING 
          LOCATIONS IS UNACCEPTABLE. >> AND COMMISSIONER BRIONES? 
          >> SO, CLERK, I HAD QUESTIONS, BECAUSE I WAS LOOKING AT THE NUMBERS AS WELL, AND COMMISSIONER RAMSEY ALREADY STATED THEM, BUT HOW EXACTLY ARE POLLING LOCATIONS AND RESOURCE 
          ALLOCATIONS DETERMINED? >> YES. SO GOOD EVENING. FIRST OFF, I JUST WANT TO MAKE NOTE TO EVERYONE THAT THE LIST THAT YOU ALL LOOK AT TODAY IS A PRELIMINARY LIST. THIS NORMALLY COMES OUT IN AUGUST SO THAT WE CAN GET STARTED ON PLACEMENT AND MANY DIFFERENT OTHER ITEMS. BUT THIS LIST IS EVER-CHANGING. IT IS NOT FINAL. SO WHAT YOU ARE LOOKING TODAY IS NOT FINAL. IT WILL CONTINUE TO CHANGE BETWEEN NOW AND ELECTION DAY. BUT IN A SUMMARY OF HOW WE COME TOGETHER ON POLLING LOCATIONS FULLY DEPENDS ON THE ELECTION, THE TYPE OF ELECTIONS WITHIN THE BASE AND WHAT ITEMS ARE ON THE BALLOT, AND WHAT AREAS. AND SO, AS WE HAVE DONE IN THE PAST, WE WILL BE COORDINATING A MEETING WITH ALL OF YOUR OFFICES TO PROVIDE THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN FOR THE UPCOMING NOVEMBER ELECTION, WHICH WILL INCLUDE DETAILS FOR THIS ELECTION AND PULLING LOCATIONS. SO AGAIN, THIS LIST IS NOT FINAL. WE WILL MAKE THAT MEETING HAPPEN IN, AND WE'LL COME BACK TO PROVIDE DATA, WRITE, AND TO NOT JUST REGISTER INFORMATION. IT'S ALSO TURNOUT. WHAT LOCATIONS ARE AVAILABLE? EVERY VOTING LOCATION IS NOT NECESSARILY AVAILABLE. 
          THAT WAS AVAILABLE BEFORE. YOU ALL SHOULD KNOW A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF SCHOOLS AND CHURCHES ARE DECIDING NOT TO BE PULLING LOCATIONS ANYMORE, SO THERE'S A FACET OF DIFFERENT ITEMS THAT ARE INCLUDED IN THAT SEARCH, AND WE'LL BE MORE THAN HAPPY TO PROVIDE MORE CONTEXT AND DETAILS IN THE COMING WEEKS . 
          >> SO, CLERK -- THANK YOU. IT'S HELPFUL TO KNOW THIS IS NOT FINAL, AND THAT WE WILL BE GETTING MORE INFORMATION ON METHODOLOGY, WHETHER IT'S HISTORICAL TURNOUT, REGISTERED VOTERS, AND, YOU KNOW, SITES AVAILABLE, ET CETERA. MY QUESTION IN TERMS OF, IT SEEMS THAT, IN THE PAST, LOCATIONS MAY CHANGE, BUT THE NUMBER OF LOCATIONS TYPICALLY DO NOT VERY MUCH. SO ARE WE GOING TO HAVE THE, THE BOTH, RIGHT? IS IT THE NUMBER AND THE LOCATIONS THAT WILL BE ITERATIVE? WE GET ONE, AND IN PART TWO. WHEN WILL THIS MEETING BE, SO THAT WE CAN DIVE 
          IN? >> WE'LL SEND SOME CORRESPONDENCES TO YOUR OFFICES THAT WE HAVE DONE IN THE PAST. 
          AGAIN, YESTERDAY WAS JUST THE DEADLINE FOR ENTITIES TO PULL OUT, SO THERE ARE MANY DIFFERENT DEADLINES THAT ARE APPROACHING. 
          NEXT WEEK IS THE DEADLINE FOR THE STATE TO RECEIVE THE FINAL LIST OF CANDIDATES FILING FOR CD 18, SO ONCE WE KNOW WHAT IS FINAL ON THE BALLOT, ALL THE PIECES OF THE PUZZLE ARE PUT TOGETHER, WE'RE ABLE TO SET THIS MEETING. SO -- SEPTEMBER IS, IS PROBABLY GOING TO BE A LOGICAL POINT -- EVERY ELECTION IS DIFFERENT. THERE IS NO ONE-SIZE-FITS-ALL, SO A PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION IS NOT GOING TO HAVE THE SAME AMOUNT OF PULLING LOCATIONS AS A MAY INTO THE ELECTION AND SO ON AND SO FORTH. BUT WE'LL BE ABLE TO INCLUDE ALL THAT DATA AND HAVE ROBUST DISCUSSION ABOUT THOSE ITEMS. AND THE CHALLENGES THAT WE FACE WITH FACILITIES. ALSO, YOU SHOULD NOTE WE'LL INCLUDE IN THERE, YOU KNOW, WHAT FACILITIES CHARGE US, AND, AND THE AREAS WHERE WE HAVE TO BE FISCALLY RESPONSIBLE. OVER THE YEARS, WE HAVE HAD TO PAY A LOT MORE MONEY THAN WE HAVE SEEN IN THE PAST ON POLLING LOCATIONS, AND SOME OF THESE FACILITIES HAVE UP CHARGE FOR MANY DIFFERENT REASONS, SO THERE ARE MANY ASPECTS THAT GO INTO THE POLLING LOCATION ITEMS, AND AGAIN, WE'LL MAKE SURE THAT WE DISCUSSED THAT WITH YOUR OFFICES , SPRING FORTH PLENTY OF DATA AND INFORMATION FOR EVERYONE TO HAVE, AND GO FROM THERE. BUT IT IS, AGAIN, MY RESPONSIBILITY AS YOUR COUNTY CLERK, ALSO, TO BE RESPONSIBLE ON THE FINANCIAL PIECE OF THIS. AND SO WE'RE MAKING SURE THAT THAT'S 
          INCLUDED IN THE BREAKDOWN. >> I APPRECIATE YOU AND YOUR 
          TEAM. THANK YOU. >> IN QUEUE. 
          >> DID, DID WE LOSE COMMISSIONER ELLIS? HE LEFT? I'M ABOUT TO ASSUME -- I THOUGHT IT WAS HIS ITEM THAT WAS -- DIDN'T YOU 
          [08:55:04]
WANT TO GO TO ITEM TWO? WE'RE DONE WITH THAT? I'M, I WAS WAITING ON THAT. OKAY. WELL, Y'ALL ARE ABOUT TO LEAVE ANOTHER, LOSE ANOTHER MEMBER. SO ARE WE VOTING ON 445? IS THERE A MOTION? THAT'S WHAT WAS JUST DISCUSSED. 
          >> AND AGAIN, IF I COULD ADD, THIS IS A PRELIMINARY LIST. IT IS NOT FINAL. WE HAVE TWO ALWAYS BRING THIS FORTH TO GET MOVING. 
          >> NO MOTION NEEDED TODAY, MADAM? NO MOTION NEEDED TODAY? 
          >> ISN'T THIS JUST MOVED IS PRESENTED, MADAM CLERK? 
          >> YES. MOOD IS PRESENTED. >> MOTION BY COMMISSIONER GARCIA, SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER BRIONES. ALL IN FAVOR? 
          >> I'M SORRY, I JUST WANT TO RECOGNIZE WHAT YOU TOLD ME, CLERK . I WANT TO MOVE FORWARD. THIS IS OF CRITICAL IMPORTANCE, AND I KNOW TIME IS OF THE ESSENCE. BUT APPROVAL OF THE LOCATIONS, WHEN I, I JUST THOUGHT WE HEARD THAT THEY'RE ITERATIVE AND THIS IS A DRAFT, THERE MIGHT BE MORE, IT MIGHT BE DIFFERENT. SO HOW WILL THAT RECONCILE? WILL WE THEN APPROVE AN AMENDED LIST, OR WHAT WILL BE THE PROCESS? 
          >> THAT IS, THAT IS CORRECT. WE WILL COME BACK TO COURT WITH AN ADDITIONAL LIST. WE ARE PROVING IS THE PRELIMINARY LOCATIONS NOW, RIGHT? WE'LL COME BACK TO COURT WITH ADDITIONAL 
          INFORMATION. >> OKAY. 
          >> AND AGAIN, WE DO THIS EVERY AUGUST FOR A NOVEMBER ELECTION. 
          THIS IS NOT A NEW ITEM. I KNOW IT'S A INDICATOR, BECAUSE WE SEE POLLING LOCATIONS, BUT IT IS, IN ORDER FOR US TO GET MOVING ON THE ONE THAT WE KNOW ARE AVAILABLE, TO SOLIDIFY THOSE, TO MAKE SURE THE CONTRACTS START MOVING FORWARD, PAYMENTS ARE MOVING FORWARD, PLACEMENT FOR ELECTION WORKERS FOR THOSE SITES. AND IN THE MEANTIME, WE DO THE DATA, WE COME TO YOUR STAFF, WE PRESENT ADDITIONAL INFORMATION, WE ALLOW FOR QUESTIONS, WE ANSWER THOSE, AND WE CONTINUE TO WORK ON THIS. 
          SO WE DO COME BACK TO COURT BEFORE NOW. AND I'LL BE COMING BACK AS WELL TO PROVIDE MORE INFORMATION, BECAUSE WE DON'T ONLY JUST HAVE NOVEMBER. WE HAVE, YOU KNOW, A LONG LIST OF ELECTIONS THAT ARE GOING TO BE BACK TO BACK TO BACK. BUT WE DO NEED TO APPROVE WHAT WE HAVE TODAY TO AT LEAST GET MOVING , 
          YOU KNOW? >> THAT MAKES SENSE. THANK YOU, CLERK, AND I WILL SECOND THE MOTION. 
          >> THANK YOU. >> ALL RIGHT, I FORGOT WHO MADE THE MOTION. WAS IT GARCIA? MOTION BY COMMISSIONER GARCIA, SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER BRIONES. WHICH WE SPENT THIS MUCH TIME ON THE $100 MILLION UNFUNDED EXPENSE . ALL IN FAVOR? 
          TRAN 26 >> ANY OPPOSED? 
          >> NO. >> I'M IN FAVOR. MOTION CARRIES 
          3-1. YES? >> THAT'S CORRECT. 
          >> THANK YOU, ALL RIGHT. ALL RIGHT. I HAD, SO ITEM TWO DONE. 
          >> JUST , THERE'S ONE HOUSEKEEPING THING -- BUT THAT'S OKAY, BUT LET ME ASK YOU THIS. ON 474, WE ALREADY DID THAT ONE, RIGHT? THAT'S THE DISTRICT CLERK? OKAY, SO BACK TO 
          ITEM TWO, YES, JOHN. >> SO MY UNDERSTANDING IS, I THINK COMMISSIONER ELLIS IS NOT MOVING FORWARD WITH HIS MOTION. 
          SO THERE'S ONE HOUSEKEEPING MOTION JUST TO SET UP THE GRIEVANCE COMMITTEE PROCEDURE. HIS BACK. 
          >> YEAH -- >> YEAH, YOU'VE GOT THE, YOU'VE GOT THE FLOOR. WE ARE MISSING YOU. 
          >> WAS THIS THE MOTION WE TALKED ABOUT EARLIER? I'LL DECLINE ON IT. HE'S PERSUADED ME TO LEAVE IT ALONE. 
          >> WE'RE LEAVING IT ALONE. ALL RIGHT. OKAY, WE'RE LEAVING IT ALONE. SO CLERK , YES, COUNTY ATTORNEY, PLEASE. 
          >> THERE'S ONE MORE HOUSEKEEPING MOTION JUST TO BE ABLE TO SET UP THE GRIEVANCE COMMITTEE. IT WAS CIRCULATED AT 
          10:13. I'LL JUST READ IT. >> YES, IF YOU DON'T MIND. 
          >> IT IS, IT'S TWO MOTION REALLY, THAT GO TOGETHER. SEND ELECTED OFFICIALS COVERED BY LOCAL GOVERNMENT CODE CHAPTER 152 SUBCHAPTER B THE NOTICE OF THE PROPOSED FY 26 SALARIES AND PUBLISH AS NEEDED, AND THEN MOVE FOR THE COUNTY CLERK IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE DISTRICT CLERK TO PRESENT A RANDOMIZED LIST OF INDIVIDUALS ELIGIBLE TO SERVE AS PUBLIC MEMBERS OF THE SALARY GRIEVANCE COMMITTEE AT A COMMISSIONERS COURT'S NEXT 
          MEETING. >> SO MOVED. 
          >> ALL RIGHT, MOTION BY COMMISSIONER GARCIA. DO WE HAVE 
          A SECOND? >> SECOND. 
          >> SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER ELLIS. ALL IN FAVOR? 
          >> AYE. >> ANY OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY. COUNTY ATTORNEY, YOU GOOD? CLERK, GOOD? BUDGET, GOOD? THANK YOU, EVERYBODY, AND
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.