Sep 18, 2025 Commissioners Court

[00:00:07]

>> OKAY. GOOD MORNING, EVERYONE. IT IS 10:07, AND I WOULD LIKE TO CALL THE SEPTEMBER 18TH, 2025 MEETING OF THE HARRIS COUNTY COMMISSIONER'S COURT TO ORDER. COMMISSIONER ELLIS.

[Pastor F. Ray Nelson of New Bethel Missionary Baptist Church in Houston introduced by the Commissioner of Precinct 2.]

>> I GOT IT. >> SURE, I THOUGHT IT WAS ME AS

WELL. >> NO WE'RE WORRIES. GOOD MORNING. THANK YOU FOR JOINING US AT COMMISSIONER'S COURT. I AM HONORED TO BE ABLE TO INTRODUCE PASTOR F RAY NELSON TO GIVE US OUR OPENING PRAYER TODAY. PASTOR KNELLON IS THE GOOD SHEPHERD AT THE NEW BETHEL MISSIONARY BAPTIST CHURCH. THAT IS LOCATED OVER IN THE NORTHEAST SIDE OF HOUSTON, COVERING FIFTH WARD BETWEEN COLLINS WORTH AND LIBERTY ROAD CLOSED TO CASHMERE GARDENS. AND 50 YEARS PREACHING THE GOSPEL IN THE LAST 35 SHEPHERDING THE FLOCK AT NEW BETHEL MISSIONARY BAPTIST CHURCH NORTH EAST. HE WAS ELECTED PASTOR IN JULY 15TH, OF 1990.

THAT'S A GOOD YEAR. AND IS A PROUD GRADUATE OF CASHMERE HIGH SCHOOL. GO RAMS. AND LET ME SAY WE LOST FOOTBALL TO YOU GUYS EVERY YEAR. HE ALSO ATTENDED TEXAS A&M, AND CONTINUED STUDIES AT SOUTHERN METHODIST UNIVERSITY, TEXAS SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY, AND HOUSTON BAPTIST UNIVERSITY, WHICH DESIGNATES YOU AS A PERSON WHO EMBODIES THE PASSION OF KNOWLEDGE AND BIBLICAL LEADER. HE IS A LEADER KNOWN FOR GENEROUS WHY THEITY AND HUMBLE SPIRIT WHETHER DELIVERING FOOD PROVIDING SHELTER TO THE UNHOUSED OR LEADING THE COMMUNITY RELIEF EFFORTS AFTER HURRICANE HARVEY. PASTOR NELSON GIVES TIRELESSLY OFTEN OUT OF HIS OWN POCKET, ALWAYS WITH LOVE, GRACE, AND DIGNITY. PASTOR, GOOD TO SEE YOU. THANK YOU FOR JOINING US TODAY. AND PLEASE COVER US IN GOOD PRAYER.

>> THANK YOU. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY.

COMMISSIONER GARCIA, COMMISSIONER ELLIS AND TO ALL OF YOU, LET -- LET'S GO TO GOD IN PRAYER. GRACIOUS FATHER WE COME NOW WITH BOWED HELD HEAD AND HUMBLE HEARTS. WE THANK YOU FOR LIFE, HEALTH AND STRENGTH. WE SOMETIMES TAKE IT FOR GRANTED.

BUT, LORD, WE PRAY FOR THESE MEN AND WOMEN WHO HAVE -- WHO ARE SERVING US. AND WE PRAY, LORD, THAT YOU WILL GIVE THEM WISDOM AND KNOWLEDGE TO MAKE DECISIONS AND HARD DECISIONS. WE ARE LIFTING HIM UP AS WELL AS THEIR FAMILIES AND WE ARE PRAYING FOR THIS COURT AND ALL THAT TAKE PART IN MAKING THINGS PLAIN AND CLEAN AND CLEAR. DEAR, LORD, WE PRAY FOR AGENDA TODAY. WE PRAY THAT YOU WILL GRANT WISDOM TO HANDLE THE BUSINESS AT HAND.

BLESS EACH OF US WHO IS UNDER THE SOUND OF MY VOICE. COVER US WITH YOUR SPIRIT AND YOUR BLESSINGS. WE THANK YOU, TOO, FOR YOUR MERCY AND YOUR GRACE UPON OUR LIVES. AND THEN, WE CONTINUE TO PRAY FOR THIS COURT, STRENGTHEN THEM WHERE THEY ARE WEAK AND BUILD THEM WHERE THEY ARE TORN DOWN. BLESS THEM IN THEIR LIVES IN JESUS NAME WE PRAY AND ASK THESE THINGS IN ALL, AMEN IN A AMEN. THANK YOU PASTOR. APPRECIATE YOU.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH, PASTOR FOR JOINING US AND FOR EVERYTHING YOU DO. LET'S RECITE THE PLEDGE.

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

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

[Departments (Part 1 of 9)]

>> OKAY, SO WE HAVE SEVERAL PUBLIC HEARING ITEMS TODAY. SO, WE WILL START COLLEAGUE WAS PUBLIC HEARING ITEMS 361 THROUGH 364. THOSE ARE ON THE VARIOUS TAX RATES. THEN WE WILL MOVE

[00:05:03]

>> THERE'S NO SPEAKERS SIGNED UP FOR THIS ONE, JUDGE.

>> OKAY, THANK YOU, TIFFANY. SINCE THERE ARE NO SPEAKERS ANY DISCUSSION? I NOW CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING. IS THERE A MOTION ON THIS ITEM? MOTION BY COMMISSIONER GARCIA.

>> SECOND. >> SECOND BY COMMISSIONER BRIE

OWN NOSE ALL IN FAVOR. >>I AYE.

>> OPPOSED MOTION PASSION PASSES. NEXT ITEM 362. NEXT WE HAVE A PUBLIC HEARING EXCUSE ME 363. NEXT WE HAVE A PUBLIC HEARING FOR ITEM 363 IN THE PUBLIC HEARING SECTION ON PAGE 44. I NOW OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING TO CONSIDER APPROVAL OF THE PROPOSED 2025 TAX RATE OF .18761 FOR THE HARRIS COUNTY HOSPITAL DISTRICT DB, A HARRIS HEALTH SYSTEM. IS THERE ANYONE WHO WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK FOR OR AGAINST THIS ITEM, TIFFANY?

>> THERE'S NO SPEAKERS SIGNED UP FOR THIS ONE.

>> I NOW CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING. SORRY, IS THERE ANY

DISCUSSION? >> NO DISCUSSION I NOW CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING. A MOTION ON THIS "TEM?

>> SECOND. >> MOTION BY COMMISSIONER GAR SOA SECOND BY COMMISSIONER ELLIS ALL IN FAVOR.

>> APE AYE. >> HAD.

>> NO. >> MOTION CARRIES 4-1. ITEM 364.

WE HAVE A PUBLIC HEARING FOR ITEM 364 IN THE PUBLIC HEARINGS ON PAGE 44. I NOW OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING TO CONSIDER APPROVAL OF THE PROPOSED 2025 TAX RATE OF .00590 FOR THE PORT OF HOUSTON AUTHORITY. TIFFANY, IS THERE ANYONE WHO WOULD LIKE

SPOKE FOR OR AGAINST THIS ITEM? >> NO MA'AM.

>> TIS THERE ANY DISCUSSION? I NOW CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING A MOTION ON THE ITEM BY COMMISSIONER GARCIA AND SECOND BY COMMISSIONER ELLIS. ALL IN FAIRLY AYE ANY OPOSSESSION? MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY. NEXT WE HAVE ITEM 361. AND THIS ONE IS LAST BECAUSE WE ARE LOOKING AT THE BUDGET AND THEN THE VOTE.

SO, I NOW OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING. THIS IS ITEM 361 AND PUBLIC HEARINGS ON PAGE 43. I NOW OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING TO CONSIDER APPROVAL OF THE FY2026 ANNUAL BUDGET FOR THE HARRIS COUNTY FLOOD CONTROL DISTRICT. THERE'S A CORRECTION THERE, RIGHT? WE ARE TAKING OUT TOLL ROAD?

>> THAT'S CORRECT. >> DID YOU CATCH THAT COUNTY

CLERK? >> YES, JUDGE.

>> OKAY LET ME READ THIS AGAIN. I NOW OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING TO CONSIDER APPROVAL OF THE FISCAL YEAR 2026 ANNUAL BUDGET FOR THE HARRIS COUNTY FLOOD CONTROL DISTRICT. TIFFANY, IS THERE ANYONE WHO WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK FOR OR AGAINST THIS ITEM?

>> LEO MEDINA. AND JACKIE OUGHTMAN. I AM NOT SURE IF THEY

ARE THERE. >> WHAT WAS THE SECOND NAME.

>> JACKIE ALTMAN. >> JACKIE ALMAN. I DO NOT THINK THEY ARE HERE. ARE THERE PEOPLE STILL TRYING TO GO THROUGH SECURITY? NO? OKAY. ALL RIGHT. SINCE THERE ARE NO SPEAKERS, IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION I NOW CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING. A MOTION FOR

THE ITEM. >> SO MOVED.

>> THIS IS MOTION FOR THE FY2026 ANNUAL BUDGET FOR THE HARRIS

[00:10:04]

>> ANY OPPOSED? MOTION PASSESS UNANIMOUSLY. AND ACTION ON ITEMS 367 THROUGH 369 THIS IS ACTION ON THE TAX RATES. SO, LET ME MAKE SURE I'VE GOT THE RIGHT SCRIPT HERE. EXCUSE ME. OH, OKAY. THANK YOU. NO, YOU ARE GOOD. OKAY. OKAY. SO, NOW WE WILL ADDRESS TAX RATE DISCUSSION ITEMS 367 THROUGH -- THROUGH 369. AND , SO, RIGHT, IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION ON THIS?

COMMISSIONER GARCIA. >> JAY, QUESTION, IS THE -- IS 368 THE HAIR SHELF TAX ITEM IS THIS BROAD ENOUGH TO TALK ABOUT

THE HERMAN PARK LAND SWAP? >> NO, IT'S NOT.

>> OKAY. THANK YOU. >> OKAY. IS THERE A MOTION FOR THE HARRIS COUNTY FLOOD CONTROL DISTRICT? THE PROPERTY TAX RATE BE INCREASED BY THE ADOPTION OF A TAX RATE OF .04966 WHICH IS EFFECTIVELY A 3.87% INCREASE IN THE TAX RATE THIS CONSIST OF .03826 FOR MAINTENANCE AND OPERATIONS, AND .01140 FOR DEBT

SERVICE. >> SO MOVED.

>> SECOND. >> MOTION BY COMMISSIONER ELLIS AND SECOND BY COMMISSIONER BRIONES. ALL IN FAVOR.

>> AYE. >> ANY OPPOSED? IT MOVES EU NAN NOW ISLY. 368, ANY ADDITIONAL DISCUSSION ON 368? ALL RIGHT IS THERE A MOTION FOR HARRIS COUNTY HOSPITAL DISTRICT DOES BUSINESS AS HARRIS HEALTH SYSTEM TAX RATE BE AND I CROWSED BY .18761 WHICH IS EFFECTIVELY A 16.63% INCREASE IN THE TAX RATE THIS RATE CONSIST OF .17876 FOR MAINTENANCE AND OPERATION AND .00885 FOR DEBT SERVICE. MOTION BY COMMISSIONER GARCIA SECOND BY

COMMISSIONER ELLIS ALL IN FAVOR. >> AYE ANY OPPOSED?

>> >> NO.

>> MOTION CARRIES 4-1. LET'S MOVE ONTO ITEM THREE 69. ANY DISCUSSION ON THE PORT OF HOUSTON AUTHORITY TAX RATE? IS THERE A MOTION FOR PORT OF HOUSTON AUTHORITY OF HARRIS COUNTY THAT THE PROPERTY TAX RATE BE ADOPTED.

>> SO MOVED. >> POT A RIGHT OF .00590 FOR DEBT SERVICE. MOTION BY COMMISSIONER GARCIA.

>> SECOND. >> SECOND BY COMMISSIONER

BRIONES. ALL IN FAVOR. >> AYE.

>> ANY OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY. ALL RIGHT. SO THAT IS THAT. THERE ARE, THEN, TWO REMAINING PUBLIC HEARINGS JUST VERY BRIEFLY HERE. SO WE CAN GET THROUGH ALL OF THE PUBLIC HEARINGS. IT -- ITEM 365 IS THE FIRST ONE. SO, THIS IS -- 365.

OKAY. I -- WE HAVE A PUBLIC HEARING FOR ITEM 365 AND THE PUBLIC HEARING SECTION ON PAGE 44. I NOW OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING TO CONSIDER APPROVAL OF THE REVISION OF THE SUBDIVISION PLAT ENTITLED ST. CHARLES PLACE PARTIAL REPLATINUM 18. IS THERE ANYONE WHO WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK FOR A OR AGAINST THIS ITEM? SINCE THERE ARE NO SPEAKERS IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION? I NOW CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING. IS THERE A MOTION.

>> SO MOVED. >> MOTION BY COMMISSIONER GARCIA SECOND BY COMMISSIONER BRIONES. ALL IN FAVOR.

>> AYE. >> ANY OPPOSE EXAMINED MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY. NEXT IS I HAVE NO ACTION I REQUESTED ON PUBLIC HEARING ITEM 366. IS THAT CORRECT?

>> JUDGE, I JUST MIGHT SAY TO OMB THAT'S PART OF A MAJOR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PROJECT SO I EXPECT IT TO BE ON THE NEXT COURT, BECAUSE FOLKS ARE BRINGING JOBS IN EXPECTED. I WANT TO MAKE SURE WE ARE READY TO DO THAT. OKAY. ALL RIGHT.

[00:15:01]

THANK YOU. >> OKAY. THAT SOUNDS LIKE A YES

[Emergency/Supplemental Items (Part 1 of 6)]

>> NO MA'AM. >> SINCE THERE ARE NO SPEAKERS

IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION? >> I NOW CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING IS THERE A MOTION ON THE ITEM? MOTION BY COMMISSION ARE GARCIA SECOND BY ELLIS. ALL IN FAVOR OPPOSED. IT CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY. I WANT TO CLARIFY THERE'S BEEN SOME MISINFORMATION THROATING AROUND WE ARE CLOSING THE DEFICIT WITHOUT RAISING TAXES. BUT IN FACT, THERE IS A TAX INCREASE.

SO I WANT TO PROVIDE TRANSPARENCY TO RESIDENTS ABOUT HOW THEY WILL BE AFFECTED BY THIS BUDGET PROCESS, AND I WILL CONTINUE TO DO THAT ON THE VARIOUS PIECES OF HOW THE DEFICIT WAS CREATED, AND WHAT THE CUTS ARE AND WHAT THE TAX INCREASES ARE. I, OF COURSE, WILL NOT BE SUPPORTING THIS BUDGET. OKAY. SO, MOVING ONTO THE REST OF THE SPEAKERS, I WILL LET TIFFANY CALL UP THE REST OF THE SPEAKERS.

>> GEORGIA RODRIGUEZ ON ITEMS 1, 2, 3 AND 4 OF PRECINCT 2. DIPIN BACA ITEMS 1, 2, 3 AND 4 PRECINCT 1. MIKEO GALLOWAY ON ITEM 1 OF PRECINCT 1. YOU EACH HAVE ONE MINUTE.

>> THANK YOU, AND I AM WAITING ON A NOTE ABOUT THE MAYORS. I DON'T KNOW, AND I DON'T HAVE MY GLASSES, YOU GUYS.

[Departments (Part 2 of 9)]

>> THE MAYOR OF BEL AIR. >> OKAY. IF YOU DON'T MIND, TIFFANY, I AM SO SORRY THE FOLKS I CALLED THIS -- THERE WAS A LITTLE BIT OF A TIME SITUATION HERE. SO LET'S WELCOME THE MAYOR OF BEL AIR MAYOR PAPPAS, PLEASE AND THEN WE WILL TAKE

MAYOR OF HINEY POINT. >> YEAH.

>> OKAY. >> I GOT MY TEAM HERE. GOOD MORNING, ALL. YOUR HONOR, COMMISSIONERS, MY NAME IS GUS PAPPAS THE CITY OF THE MAYOR OF BEL AIR, TEXAS, I HAVE BEHIND ME OR CITY MANAGEMENT, BETTER LOOKING PART OF THE GROUP AS WELL AS OUR MY FELLOW COUNCIL MEMBERS. WE ARE HERE TODAY TO ASK FOR YOUR SUPPORT FOR BOND PROJECT CIO38 THAT WE AFFECTIONATELY CALL THE CYPRESS DRIVEN REGIONAL FLOOD MITIGATION PROJECT. THIS PROJECT IS IN PARTNERSHIP WITH NOT ONLY THE CITY HOUSTON BUT ALSO THE HARRIS COUNTY FLOOD CONTROL DISTRICT AS WELL AS CITY OF BEL AIR. WE HAVE THE TREMENDOUS AND FULL SUPPORT OF ANN JOHNSON MOLLY COOK AND OUR CONGRESSMAN LIZZY FLETCHER.

THE -- DURING THIS PROCESS, WE HAVE RECEIVED COMMITMENTS FROM THE STATE OF TEXAS OF $54 MILLION. THE CITY OF BEL AIR ITSELF HAS PLEDGED 40 MILLION DOLLARS. AND WITH YOUR -- THANK YOU. AND WITH THE COUNTY'S SUPPORT OF $15 MILLION THAT WAS ALLOCATED OUT OF THE HARRIS COUNTY FLOOD CONTROL DISTRICT'S BOND PROJECT, WE WILL BE ABLE TO EMBARK AND COMPLETE $110 MILLION REGIONAL FLOOD MITIGATION PROJECT WE REDEVELOPED CYPRESS DIP INTO BRAES BAYOU. THIS WILL SHAPE AND CHANGE THE LIVES OF THOUSANDS NOT ONLY IN THE BEL AIR AREA, BUT IN THE SURROUNDING AREAS. AND AS WELL AS PAVE THE WAY FOR FUTURE AND SERVE AS FOUNDATION FOR FUTURE FLOOD MITIGATION PROJECT IN THE AREA.

WE THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT AND TIRELESS COMMITMENT TO FLOOD MITIGATION IN HARRIS COUNTY. THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU, MAYOR. >> WHO ARE THE GREAT FOLKS WITH

YOU? >> WELL, I HAVE OUR CITY MANAGER SHARON SATINO AND ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER AND ENGINEER BETH JONES.

AND I HAVE OUR COUNCIL MEMBER ROSS GORDON AND MAYOR PRO TEM

WHIN FRAZIER. >> THANK YOU SO MUCH.

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING US. >> THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE.

SO, WHICH ITEM IS THAT? I THINK I CERTAINLY AM VERY SUPPORTIVE OF THIS. AND I THOUGHT PERHAPS WE JUST TAKE IT UP SINCE YOU ARE HERE. BUT I AM TRYING TO FIND IT ON THE AGENDA.

[00:20:04]

>> OKAY. MY UNDERSTANDING IS IT'S NOT A SPECIFIC ITEM BUT

PART OF THE UPDATE. >> THE FLOOD CONTROL TIS TRIBUTE

POND. >> YES.

>> GREAT. THANK YOU FOR COMING HERE AND YOUR SERVICE.

APPRECIATE YOU. YES, COMMISSIONER GARCIA.

>> MR. PAPPAS, ANY RELATION TO A CERTAIN CHRIS?

>> SO THEY SAY I CAN SAY YES, BUT I CHOOSE TO SAY NO. A LOT OF

BAGGAGE THAT COMES WITH THAT. >> WELL, LET ME JUST SAY, IT WAS A PLEASURE WORKING WITH HIM WHEN I WAS ON COUNCIL, AND BEAUTIFUL FAMILY. AND THANK YOU FOR ALL THE FAMILY HAS DONE FOR THE COMMUNITY. THERE'S BEEN COUNTLESS TIMES THAT IT WAS JUST A CALL TO HELP VETERANS OUT OR THE LIKE, AND SO I JUST WANT TO SAY, ALWAYS THANKS AND APPRECIATION. AND HAVING THAT I WORKED SOME TIME WITH THE PAPADAKUS FAMILY IN CONNIE

ISLAND. LET ME SAY -- >> I WILL PASS ALONG ALL YOUR COMMENTS TO THE PAPPAS FAMILY AT CHURCH ON SUNDAY AND THANK YOU

SO MUCH. >> GOOD TO SEE YOU ALL. THANKS

FOR BEING HERE. >> THANK YOU COMMISSIONER ELLIS.

>> OKAY. >> SORRY I HAVE MY.

>> COMMISSIONER BRIONES AND COMMISSIONER RAMSEY.

>> WELCOME, THANK YOU FOR ARE TREMENDOUS PARTNERSHIP. MY TEAM AND I ARE SO GRATEFUL FOR THE COLLABORATION AND TO ME IT'S A PERFECT EMBODIMENT OF CITY SHALL COUNTY, STATE, FEDERAL PARTNERSHIP. AND THIS CYPRESS DITCH FLOOD MITIGATION PROJECT WILL BE TREMENDOUS FOR BEL AIR AND GOLFTON AND SO MANY AREAS A POSITIVE REGIONAL IMPACT IS. I AM SO GRATEFUL AND WE APPRECIATE

IT. >> APPRECIATE YOUR SUPPORT.

>> MAYOR THANK YOU FOR COMING. IT'S ALWAYS HAVE SERVED AS A MAYOR IN A SMALL CITY, QUOTE, UNQUOTE, PEOPLE FORGET THERE'S 33 CITIES IN HARRIS COUNTY NOT NAMED HOUSTON. I THINK IT'S THE SEPTEMBER HE EVER OF GOOD GOVERNANCE YOU DO AND FORGET GET ABOUT THE INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECT YOU SPONSOR AND PARTNER WITH, AND NOT JUST IN TERMS OF THE COUNTY, BUT OTHERS. SO THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP. THANK YOU FOR WHAT YOU DO FOR HARRIS

COUNTY. >> APPRECIATE IT.

>> ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU ALL, AGAIN.

>> JUDGE. >> YES, COMMISSIONER HE WILLIS.

>> I AM HONORED TO REPRESENT PART OF YOUR CITY ALONG WITH MY COLLEAGUE COMMISSIONER BRIONES I STARTED A COUNCIL MEMBER AND ONLY SHOWED UP WITH THE MAYOR WHEN I AGREED. BUT IF THE TWO COUNCIL MEMBERS WANT TO SAY ANYTHING, I WOULD LIKE TO LET

THEM SPEAK. >> FIRST AND WE ARE DELIGHTED TO BE HERE. APPRECIATE AND THANK THE COUNTY FOR WHAT YOU'VE HE DONE TO SUPPORT THIS PROJECT. WE DO AGREE THAT IT'S WILL BEN FATE LOT MORE THAN JUST CITY OF BEL AIR. IT WILL BENEFIT MANY PEOPLE IN OUR COUNTY. THANK YOU AGAIN FOR YOUR SUPPORT.

>> THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER.

>> I WOULD ADD IT'S A PARTNERSHIP PROJECT INSIDE THE CITY AND UNANIMOUSLY VOTED FOR EVERY ACTION TO SUPPORT THE PROJECT. WE GOT THE SUPPORT OF OUR VOTERS THROUGH A BOND ELECTION TO PUT FORWARD MONEY INTO THIS PROJECT. AND WE HAVE BEEN SO LUNGE TO WORK WITH SO MANY GREAT PEOPLE INSIDE THE COUNTY, AT THE STATE LEGISLATURE, AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL TO WORK TOGETHER TO SEE THIS THROUGH. AND SO WE ARE SO

LUCKY TO HAVE GREAT PARTNERSHIP. >> WHEN DID YOU PUT IT ON THE

BALLOT? LAST CYCLE? >> IT WAS LAST CYCLE. IT WAS. I THINK IT WAS -- WE ACTUALLY VOTED ON INTERESTINGLY ENOUGH, WHEN HURRICANE BARREL WE HAD A MEETING THAT EVENING AND VOTED UNANIMOUSLY AS COUNCIL PUT IT ON THE BALLOT AND FOLLOWING NOVEMBER, WE HAD 70 PLUS PERCENT OF OUR VOTERS VOTED TO PUT $40

MILLION TOWARDS THE PROJECT. >> THANK YOU FOR STEPPING UP. WE NEED MORE COMMUNITIES OTHER PARTNERS WILLING TO STEP UP. PUT SOME MONEY ON THE BALLOT AS WELL. THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU ALL.

>> OKAY. SO WE HAVE MAYOR ELIESA DUTT OF POONY POINT VILLAGE.

>> YES. I AM ALICIA. >> I AM SO SORRY.

>> IT'S OKAY. >> COME ON UP SO WE CAN SEE YOU.

>> SO I WOULD -- >> OKAY.

>> I AM HAPPY TO SPEAK DURING THE PUBLIC COMMENT.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU. AND I AM SO SORRY FOR THE PRONUNCIATION ISSUE HERE. ALL RIGHT. SO THEN, WE WILL MOVE TO I BELIEVE WE HAVE ANOTHER MAYOR. MAYOR HELTON OF LA PORTE. IS MAYOR HELTON HERE? NO. HE WILL BE HERE FOR THE RESOLUTION.

[Appearances Before Court (Part 1 of 2)]

THE REST OF THE SPEAKERS. >> ALL RIGHT. GEORGIA RODRIGUEZ.

DIPIN BACA. AND MICHAEL GALLOWAY. EACH HAVE ONE MINUTE.

[00:25:13]

>> COOK. HELLO, GOOD MORNING. MY NAME IS GEORGIA I AM A RESIDENT OF PRECINCT 2. AND I AM HERE BECAUSE I AM HERE TO DISCUSS THE BUDGET BECAUSE IT REPRESENTS MORE THAN NUMBERS ON A PAGE.

REPRESENTS THE FUTURE OF HARRIS COUNTY FAMILIES AND WORKPLACE.

WE NEED A BUDGET THAT PUTS PEOPLE OVER POLITICS AND PERFECT WORLD IT WOULD BE INVESTED IN COMMUNITY BASED SERVICE PROGRAMS THAT WORK ON THE GROUND WITH THE GROWING NUMBER OF PEOPLE IN NEED. TODAY OVER HALF OF THE COUNTY'S BUDGET ALREADY GOES TO THE CRIMINAL LEGAL SYSTEM THINGS LIKE POLICING COURTS AND INCARCERATION. NOW A NEW JAIL IS PROPOSED THAT WOULD CONSUME BILLIONS OF DOLLARS COSTS DOESN'T STOP WITH CONSTRUCTION.

LONG-TERM OPERATING EXPEEPS PENSS HAD STAR OF THE PROGRAMS WE NEED. AFFORDABLE HOUSING, PUBLIC TRANSIT HEART PUBLIC HEALTH AND DISASTER RELIEF. THE ACTUAL SERVICES THAT KEEP THE COMMUNITY SAFE STABLE AND THRIVING. EVERY DOLLAR WE SUPPORT EXPANDING INCARCERATION IS TAKEN AWAY FROM PREVENTION HEALING AND OPPORTUNITY. INVEST IN PEOPLE PROGRAMS AND

COMMUNITIES. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU.

>> GOOD MORNING. COMMISSIONERS AND JUDGE, LAST WEEK WHEN I CAME HERE ON TUESDAY, MY BROTHER ASKED ME WHAT SONG DID YOU LISTEN WHEN YOU CAME HERE. AND I DIDN'T HAVE AN ANSWER BUT TODAY WHEN I CAME IN HERE, THE SONG SONG THAT I WAS BUMPING TOO THIS MORNING WAS CALLED BAD BOYS WRITTEN BY BROTHERS FROM JAMAICA. AND THE SONG WAS WRITTEN BECAUSE OF THE STRUGGLES OF STRUGGLED YOUTH PARTICULARLY THOSE OF COLOR ENCOURAGING THEM TO CHANGE THEIR CIRCUMSTANCES. FOR THE PAST 12 YEARS I SERVED AS A YOUTH DEVELOPMENT PRACTITIONER IN THIRD WARD FOR AN ORGANIZATION THAT HAS BEEN NATIONALLY WORKING WITH YOUTH SERVING OVER 10,000 YOUTH FOR THE PAST 27 YEARS. LAST -- YESTERDAY NIGHT I WENT TO A VIGIL FOR INDIVIDUAL THAT COMMITTED SUICIDE FOR AN UNDIAGNOSED MENTAL HEALTH ILLNESS. LAST NIGHT I PULLED UP AT 1:00 A.M. AND MET A GROUP OF INDIVIDUALS FROM THE NORTH SIDE AND THIRD WARD FIGHTING FENTANYL EPIDEMIC. AND THEY SAID, YOU KNOW WHAT IT IS, THEY SAID THEY DIDN'T TELL US WHEN YOU USE IT THE SECOND, THIRD OR FOURTH SIM.

>> THANK YOU YOUR TIME UP. >> YOUR HAVE TO KEEP USING IT

INVEST IN PROGRAMS. >> THANK YOU, YOUR TIME IS UP.

>> THANK YOU. I APPRECIATE YOU MENTIONING THAT THREE COLLEAGUES HERE REFUSED TO INVEST IN THE YOUTH PROGRAMS FOR YOUTH WHO ARE IN THE KINDS OF SITUATIONS REFUSED TO CONTINUE THEM. AND THAT'S ONE OF THE REASONS I CAN'T VOTE ON THIS BUDGET.

THANK YOU. PLEASE. >> THIS JUMP SUIT REPRESENTS WHAT I FEEL IS GOING TO HAPPEN DUE TO THE BUDGET CUTS IN THIS PROPOSED BUDGET. AS OF LAST WEEK, OUR CITY HAS BECOME THE CITY WITH THE HIGHEST POVERTY RATE OF ABOUT 21%. WHICH MEANS THAT ONE OF EVERY FIVE RESIDENTS LIVE BELOW POVERTY. I STAND BEFORE YOU FOR THE FINAL TIME. TO ENCOURAGE YOU TO RECONSIDER AND ADJUST THE PROPOSED BUDGET FOR FISCAL YEAR 2026. YOU ARE ELECTED OFFICIALS. THAT ARE CHARGED WITH MAKING DECISIONS BASED ON THE BEST INTERESTS OF ALL YOUR CONSTITUENTS. AND AFTER REVIEWING THE MOST RECENT BUDGET RELEASED ON SEPTEMBER 12TH, I NOTICED THERE'S BEEN PROGRESS, HOWEVER, I WOULD LIKE TO ADDRESS A NONNEGOTIATABLE FOR ME. UTILIZING OUR REMAINING DOLLARS TO OFFSET UNBALANCED BUDGETS BASED ON HUNCHES IF IF THAT ARE 20 MILLION AND 25 PROJECTED SANG FOR ONE YEAR HIRING FREEZE WHAT'S THE PLAN OF ACTION FOR NEXT YEAR? NO REAL SOLUTION HAS BEEN PROPOSED TO TRULY ADVANCE THE COUNTY.

>> THANK YOU, YOUR TIME IS UP. >> I SEE PROBLEMS BEING MADE OUT

OF PROBLEMS. >> THANK YOU. THAT'S RIGHT. THIS IS A PROBLEM THAT WAS CREATED ABSOLUTELY UNNECESSARILY COULD HAVE VOTE COULD HAVE GONE TO THE VOTERS AND HEARD FROM THE VOTERS WHETHER THEY WANTED TO SEE THE CUTS OR WHETHER THEY WANTED TO SEE A PAY INCREASE OR WHETHER THEY WANTED TO SEE BOTH. SO, I REALLY APPRECIATE THAT. AND I THINK YOU KNOW, THOSE ARE THE COMMUNITIES THAT DON'T VOTE. THAT DON'T ENDORSE. BUT OF COURSE, IF YOUR NUMBER ONE PRIORITY, YOUR GUIDING LIGHT IS YOUR ONLY HERE WITH THE MISSION OF BEING REELECTED, THIS IS THE KIND OF BUDGET YOU PUT FORWARD. THANK YOU FOR BRINGING ATTENTION TO IT. AND I HOPE YOU CONTINUE TO DO THAT AHEAD OF THE VOTE.

NEXT WEEK. BECAUSE EVEN IF IT PASSES, AND WHEN IT DOES, I WANT THESE FOLKS TO REALIZE THAT YOU CANNOT VOTE FOR SPECIAL INTERESTS ONLY. AND STILL GET REELECTED AND ALSO LET IT GO UNDER THE RADAR. ALL RIGHT. WE WILL HEAR FROM OTHER SPEAKERS.

>> ANTHONY SANCHEZ ON ITEM 1 OF PRECINCT 2. MARK KINLY ON ITEM 2. ALEX CAMPBELL ON ITEM 2 OF PRECINCT 1. YOU EACH HAVE ONE

[00:30:12]

MINUTE. >> GOOD MORNING. COMMISSIONERS AND MADAM JUDGE, I AM KEN A RESIDENT OF THIRD WARD. THE TRUTH IS LAST WEEK I WAS DISAPPOINTED THE PROPOSAL WALKS US A WAY FROM LIFE LINES GIVING MILLIONS TO LAW ENFORCEMENT WHILE GUTTING MILLIONS FROM PROGRAMS LIKE ACCESS HARRIS. BUT JUDGE HIDALGO YOU RELENTLESSLY CALLED IT OUT AND SAID YOU NEVER THOUGHT THEY WOULD LEAVE KIDS AND FAMILIES BEHIND. YOU SAW IT, THEY DID BUT YOU DIDN'T BECAUSE YOUR COMMITMENT YOU SPEAK FOR VOTE -- WHEN THEY CHOSE TO SOILENCE THEM. WE THANK YOU TORE DOING THEIR WORK COMMISSIONER ELLIS WE THANK YOU AS WELL. MANY PEOPLE IN THE ASSEMBLY, NEIGHBORS, PARENTS, COMMUNITY LEADER WE SEE YOU AND UNDERSTAND WHAT YOU ARE DOING. COME ELECTION TIME, WE WILL REMEMBER. JUDGE HIDALGO, THANK YOU. I KNOW YOU ARE NOT RUNNING FOR REELECTION. BUT I WANTED TO SAY THIS. SINCE 2019, JUDGE, YOU HAVE BEEN BEHIND THE PEOPLE. YOU HAVE BEEN A VOICE FOR THEM. WHEN OTHERS TRIED TO TAKE THEIR VOICE AND I THANK YOU FOR IT. I THANK YOU FOR IT.

>> THANK YOU YOUR TIME IS UP. >> GIVE ME SOME TIME.

>> I AM SO SORRY, WE HAVE TO END EVERYBODY AT A MINUTE. I APPRECIATE YOU, THOUGH. AND I DO APPRECIATE I DO APPRECIATE YOUR ADVOCACY, THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU. I

REALLY APPRECIATE THAT. >> SO LOOK CHECK GAME. YOU THINK ALL KIDS ARE BORN BAD? NO WE ARE NOT BORN BAD. ONE THING ABOUT US BEING A GANGSTER, OPPORTUNITIES AND RESOURCES TO REINTEGRATE BACK INTO SOCIETY. WE NEED MORE YOUTH PROGRAMS TO HELP BENEFIT THE YOUNGER GENERATIONS BECAUSE THEY ARE THE FUTURE. NOT US. WE NEED TO THINK ABOUT 25 YEARS. 50 YEARS FROM NOW. AND THAT'S WHY I AM GOING TO LEAVE YOU WITH. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIME I AM ANTHONY SANCHEZ WITH ILLUMINATING SOLUTIONS. I AM SOCIAL MEDIA INFLUENCER AND MY VIDEOS GET MILLIONS OF VIEWS THANK YOU SO MUCH.

>> THANK YOU. YES, GO AHEAD. >> GOOD MORNING. COUNT Y JUDGE AND COMMISSIONERS. MY NAME IS ALEX CAMPBELL AND I AM WITH COLLECTIVE ACTION FOR YOUTH. I AM RESIDENT OF PRECINCT 1 AND I AM HERE TODAY TO SPEAK IN OPPOSITION TO THE FY26 BUDGET.

AS YOU PRETO HAVE YOUR FINAL DISCUSSIONS AND CAST YOUR FINAL VOTES ON BUDGET I HOPE THIS BUDGET PROCESS WAS LEARNING EXPERIENCE. HOPE YOU LEARNED HOW THE BUDGETING PROCESS SHOULD START EARLIER THAN YOU THINK IT SHOULD. I HOPE YOU TOOK TO HEART SOME OF THE TESTIMONIES THAT TOLD YOU HOW IMPORTANT THE STAR BUDGET PROCESS MUCH EARLIER. IT MIGHT STILL NOT BE EARLY ENOUGH.

WE WILL REVIEW IT. BUT I WILL SAY ALL THAT TIME THAT NOT EXIS RESCISSION. THAT DID NOT NEED TO BE CREATED. AND THEN SPEND MONTHS AND MONTHS TRYING TO SOLVE THE PROBLEM YOU CREATED.

AND THAT'S -- AND THEN, WHEN SOMEBODY TRIES TO SPEAK FOR THE CHILDREN, EVEN THOUGH YOU BRAG AND BRAG ABOUT HAVING CHILDREN.

THEN YOU CENSURE THE PERSON THAT SPOKE OUT IN FAVOR. ALL RIGHT.

>> NEXT IS MARILYN ALLEN ON ITEM 2 OF PRECINCT 4. CAITLIN CHAVEZ ON ITEM 2 OF PRECINCT 1. LATREESIA LEWIS ON ITEM 2 OF PRECINCT 1. YOU EACH HAVE ONE MINUTE.

[00:35:08]

>> THANK YOU, THANK YOU, MAYOR. >> THANK YOU.

>> HELLO, MY NAME IS MARILYN ALLEN WITH COLLECTIVE ACTION FOR YOUTH RESIDENT PRECINCT 4. OVER THE PAST FEW WEEKS WE HAVE COME BEFORE YOU AS COMMUNITY MEMBERS, MENTORS EDUCATORS AND FRIENDS AND FAMILY OF THE PEOPLE YOUER IS. WE HAVE SHOWN UP IN LARGE NUMBERS BECAUSE WE CARE MAKE HARRIS COUNTY POLICE FOR EVERYBODIYONE TO THRIVE. WE WANT THE COUNTY TO LOOK AND FEEL BETTER. IT'S YOUR RESPONSIBILITY TO MAKE DECISION THIS IS A TRULY BENEFIT THE PEOPLE YOU REPRESENT INCREASING PLIES SALARIES WHILE IGNORING COMMUNITY NEEDS IS NOT THE ANSWER. I ASK YOU CONSIDER HOW YOUR VOTE WILL SHAPE THE FUTURE OF HARRIS COUNTY. PLEASE CREATE A BUDGET THAT PUTS COMMUNITY FIRST ONE THAT INVEST IN PEOPLE AND BUILDS A FOUNDATION FOR A STRONGER HARRIS COUNTY. THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU. >> GOOD MORNING. MY NAME IS LALEASH GRA LEWIS -- [INAUDIBLE] PAY RACES. RIGHT NOW HARRIS COUNTY HAS SEVERAL COSTS -- THAT OFTEN OVERLAP WITH EACH OTHER.

AND WITH THE SHERIFF OFFICE. THESE RAISE COS COST OVER A BILLION BILL DOLLARS IN THE NEXT FIVE YEARS MONEY THAT COULD FUND AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAMS COMMUNITY CENTERS AND HEALTH -- HEALTH CENTERS -- CLINICS. BEFORE APPROVING RAISING COUNTY SHOULD FIRST MAKE SURE THE OFFICERS ARE WORKING TOGETHER EEFFICIENTLY.

PLEASE KEEFE IN MIND-- KEEP THIS IN MIND BEFORE MOVING FORWARD

WITH THE RAISES THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU. ON THE TIMELINE Y'ALL TODAY IS THE BUDGET AND WE VOTE FOR THE BUDGET FOR FLOOR DISTRICT PORT AND HARRIS HEALTH HOSPITAL DISTRICT. NEXT WEEK IS THE FINAL VOTE ON THE GENERAL FUND BUDGET. WEDNESDAY. SO THERE'S AN OPPORTUNITY FOR COLLEAGUES TO REPRESENT THE

COMMUNITY. >> HI, MY NAME IS KATE CHAVEZ.

WE NEED TO ADDRESS THE PROPOSAL GIVEN TO CONSTABLES FOR A RAISE BECAUSE MONEY BEING TAKEN FROM PROGRAMS THAT FEED FAMILIES, HOUSE PEOPLE, SUPPORT FOST ARE YOUTH, THESE ARE NOT LUXURIES.

THESE ARE LIVE LINES FOR THE MOST YOU WILL HAVE NEARLY IN THE COMMUNITY. CURRENTLY IN THE FOSTER SYSTEM, I RELY ON HUMAN SERVICE FOR MY SURVIVAL SINCE I WAS 18. CHOOSING RAISES OVER RESOURCE SENDS A MESSAGE THAT POWER IS VALUED MORE THAN THE PEOPLE. AND THIS IS NOT THAT KIND OF COMMUNITY WE SHOULD BE BUILDING. WE DESERVE A SYSTEM THIS PROTECTS FAMILIES FIRST NOT THE ONES THAT STRIP THEM FROM BASIC NEEDS YET WE ARE GIVEN ONLY ONE MINUTE TO SPEAK OUR TRUTH. WHILE ENDLESS TIME IS ON RAISES IF OUR VOICE ARE SILENCE HOW CAN CHANGE HAPPEN. THANK

YOU. >> THANK YOU. JUST YOU HAVE OF COURSE REMINDER IS IN JUST POINTS THE MENTAL ACROBATICS.

THERE WAS A 60% PAY RAISE FOR ELECTED CONSTABLES. I THINK THE CONSTABLES ARE IMPORTANT. THEY DO IMPORTANT JOBS. I SUPPORT THEM. BUT THEY ARE AN IMPORTANT POLITICAL FORCE, TOO. CAN YOU BELIEVE THAT JUDGES, JUDGES IN OUR COMMUNITY, INCLUDING DISTRICT COURT JUDGES, THEY HAVE TO GO THROUGH THE LEGISLATURE TO GET A RAISE SO THAT THEY CAN KEEP WORKING AS JUDGES. THESE ARE FOLKS WHO HAVE A LAW DEGREE, WHO HAVE WORKED AND MAKING THESE DECISIONS. THEY NOW MAKE LESS THAN THE CONSTABLES WHO REPRESENT DISTRICTS. AS SMALL AS JUST A SMALL FRACTION AS HARRIS COUNTY. AND SO, THAT'S ONE OF THE MOST PERFECT ILLUSTRATIONS OF THE FACT THAT THERE IS NO RHYME OR REASON TO DECISION MAKING AROUND THE BUDGET. UNLESS YOU REALIZE THE RHYME OR REASON IS THIS END GOAL OF BEING REELECTED AT ALL COSTS. WE WILL

TAKE ANY OTHER SPEAKERS. >> NEXT IS SARAH RAYMOND OR REMAN ON ITEM 2 OF PRECINCT 4. ADONTE STERLING ON ITEM 2 OF PRECINCT 1. AND CYNTHIA CRUZ ON ITEM 2 OF PRECINCT 2.

>> HIGH COMMISSIONER COMFORT I AM SARA I AM A TEACH AND ARTIST AND LIVE IN PRECINCT 4. HI COMMISSIONER BRIONES. JUST A FEW DAYS AGO, THERE WAS ANOTHER MAN THAT DIED IN THE HARRIS COUNTY JAIL PROCESSING UNIT. A 65-YEAR-OLD MAN. AND THIS IS THE 13TH IN CUSTODY DEATH THAT HAPPENED IN THE JAIL THIS YEAR.

AND ANGELA DAVIS SAYS IN THE PRISONS OBSOLETE WHICH I

[00:40:02]

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

>> HELLO, GOOD MORNING. MY NAME IS CYNTHIA CRUZ AND I AM A CREDIBLE MESSAGE WITH C, A 4Y AND I STAND IN DISBELIEF THAT MY ELECTED LEADERS ARE WILLING TO STAIR US INTO $200 MILLION DEFICIT. KEEPING THE COMMUNITY SAFE IS NOT THE POLICE. IS NOT JUST POLICE PAY IT'S MENTAL HEALTH CARE ROADS, PARK AND SUPPORT FOR FAMILIES. I AM AWARE MY PLEA WILL GO IN ONE EAR AND OUT THE OTHER. BUT ALSO I KNOW TAKING AWAY PROGRAMS AND ENTERING A DEFICIT WITHOUT SOLID PLAN OUT WILL CAUSE MORE PROBLEMS THAN SOLUTIONS. WE NEED TO FIND A BETTER WAY TO RESOLVE THIS WITHOUT PUTTING OUR COUNTY AT RISK. AND TO JUDGE HIDALGO I WANT TO EXTEND MY GRATITUDE FOR COURAGEOUSLY SPEAKING OUT AND EDUCATING THE COMMUNITY YOU SERVE. THANK YOU.

>> GO AHEAD. >> GOOD MORNING COMMISSIONERS COURT MY NAME IS ADONTE STERLING A CREDIBLE MESSENGER WITH COLLECTIVE ACTION FOR YOUTH. WE THE PEOPLE IN THE LOWER CLASS KNOW YOU DON'T CARE ABOUT US STAYING OUT OF JAIL. WE KNOW YOU DON'T CARE ABOUT PREVENTION PROGRAMS, WE KNOW THAT YOU DON'T CARE ABOUT US RECEIVING A DECENT EDUCATION. WE KNOW YOU ONLY CARE ABOUT YOURSELVES AND THE PEOPLE THAT YOU CAN BENEFIT FROM. HECK WE KNOW YOU DON'T CARE ABOUT LISTENING TO THE SPEECHES. BUT, WHAT YOU DON'T KNOW IS NO MATTER HOW MUCH MONEY YOU TAKE AWAY FROM THE SAME PEOPLE YOU DON'T CARE ABOUT, US, THE LOWER CLASS, YOU WILL NEVER TAKE AWAY OUR DRIVE FOR

SUCCESS OR OUR VOICE. THANK YOU. >> TAP THANK YOU. THAT'S THE CASE FOR THE PARENTS, AND THE BUSINESS OWNERS. OF CHILD CARE SENT WHO ARE BEING BULLIED AS A RESULT OF CHILDREN THAT CAME TO SPEAK WITH PERMISSION SLIPS, COLLEAGUES THAT DIDN'T BOTHER GREETING THE CHILDREN ENGAGING WITH THEM VOTED AGAINST THE CHILDREN'S INTERESTS BASED ON COMPLETE FALSEHOODS. PROGRAMS HAD BEEN EVALUATED SUCCESSFULLY DESIGNED WITH INPUT FROM COMMISSIONERS OVER YEARS HAS BEEN PROOF OF CONCEPT AND THOUGHTFULLY DEVELOPED. AND THEN CREATED A POLITICAL STORY, AND NOW ARE SEEING THESE CHILD CARE CENTERS AND THESE FAMILIES NOT ONLY LOSE THEIR CHILD CARE FOR THEIR CHILDREN, BUT ALSO BE HARASSED, BECAUSE THESE KIDS DON'T VOTE AND DON'T ENDORSE.

SO WHAT GIVES? BUT OF COURSE, THEIR CHILDREN HAD EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION. THEIR STAFF CHILDREN HAD EARLY CHILD OOHED EDUCATION AND ALL THE PEOPLE ARE TRYING TO COME UP WITH WAYS AND TWISTING WORDS AND BRAINSTORMING WAYS IN WHICH TO TRY TO ATTACK THE EFFORTS TO EDUCATE OUR YOUNGEST CHILDREN. WHICH IS OBVIOUS IN ANY SOCIETY IT'S NOT LEFT IT'S NOT RIGHT, IT IS OBVIOUS. SO, I APPRECIATE YOU GUYS.

>> NEXT IS SARA SIED ON ITEMS 2, 4 AND 11. SAM FLAKES ON ITEM 2 OF PRECINCT 3. AND BERNARD BROWN ON ITEM 2 OF PRECINCT 3.

>> COULD YOU CLARIFY 2 AND 411 OR WOULD IT BE TWO RIGHT NOW?

>> SO YOU HAVE A MINUTE TO SPEAK ON BOTH. I KNOW I AM SORRY.

THOSE ARE THE RULES THAT WE WORKED ON AS A COMMISSIONER

ESCORT. >> OKAY. NO WORE WRITES. JUDGE AND COUNTY COMMISSIONER I AM POLICY MATTER AND ORGANIZATION IMPACTING EMPOWER IMPACT ASIAN AND LATIN IMMIGRANTS THROUGH SERVICE ORGANIZED AGAIN ADVOCACY. TWO THINGS I WOULD LIKE TO BRING TO YOUR ATTENTION SENT EACH OF YOUR OFFICES, LANGUAGE ABOUT AN AMENDMENT TO ITEM 411. ABOUT THE INVESTMENT POLICY THAT WILL BE LOAD VOTED ON SOON. TO MAKE SURE TO REVIEW THAT AND PLEASE INCLUDE A LANGUAGE TO PREVENT INVESTMENT INTO FOREIGN ENTITIES OR THOSE COMMITTING WAR CRIMES. IF YOU NEED NOR INFORMATION REACH TOUT ME. THE SECOND IS REGARDING THE CURRENT CONVERSATION AROUND THE JAIL EXPANSION AND THE FUNDING

[00:45:01]

>> THANK YOU YOUR TIME IS UP. >> 30 MORE SECONDS.

>> COLLEAGUES. I AM SO SORRY. I DEPEND ON THEM EXTENDING THE

TIME BUT THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU SO MUCH.

>> THANK YOU. AND I AGREE. AGAIN WE COULD HAVE DONE BOTH.

COLLEAGUES SAY THE PEOPLE WANT TO SEE PUBLIC SAFETY. OF COURSE WE ALL DO. BUT THE PEOPLE WERE NOT ASKED DO YOU WANT TO HAVE RAISES AND THEN REDUCE OR DESTROY THE PROGRAMS FOR KIDS, THE PROGRAMS FOR KEEPING KIDS OUT OF JAIL, THE PROGRAMS FOR MAKING SURE THAT WE CONTINUE MENTAL HEALTH. FOLKS ARE NOT ASKED THAT. AND WE COULD HAVE DONE BOTH THINGS. FOLKS WERE NOT ASKED AT ALL. THEY COULD HAVE BEEN ASKED. I DON'T KNOW WHY THERE'S SUCH FEAR OF THE VOTERS. AND I DON'T THINK NEXT YEAR WILL BE BEATER BECAUSE IT WILL BE CLOSER TO REELECTION.

IT'S GOING TO BE MORE CAN DOWN THE ROAD. LET'S TRY TO PUT THE

PRESSURE THIS YEAR. THANK YOU. >> GOOD MORNING COMMISSIONERS.

MY NAME IS SAM FREAKSMENTEE PART OF THE CREDIBLE MESSENGERS PROGRAM AND I AM PROOF IT WORKS. OUT OF 150 YOUNG PEOPLE, IN THE PROGRAM ONLY TWO HAVE REOFFENDED. THAT MEANS LIVES CHANGED, FUTURES SAVED AND SAFER NEIGHBORHOODS. CUTTING CUTTING FOR PROGRAMS LIKE THIS AND ADD TO LAW ENFORCEMENT IS SHORTSIGHTED. [INAUDIBLE] WORKS BETTER AND GIVES YOUNG PEOPLE A REAL CHANCE. I URGE YOU TO PROTECT AND EXPAND THE FUNDING BECAUSE INVESTING IN US IS INVESTING IN THE FUTURE OF

HARRIS COUNTY. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU. AND DO YOU THINK IF THEY HAVE BEEN ASKED DURING THE CAMPAIGN WOULD YOU SUPPORT PROGRAMS THAT WILL KEEP KIDS OUT OF JAIL, THEY WOULD HAVE SAID YES. THE WILD CARD DIDN'T SAY GET REELECTED. PERIOD. THAT WAS NOT THE PROMISE TO VOTERS. THE PROMISE TO VOTERS WAS TO SUPPORT PROGRAMS LIKE THAT. AND I AM VERY SORRY THEY ARE BEING CUT.

AND I AM GOING TO CONTINUE TO DO EVERYTHING. AND I KNOW YOU GUYS WILL TOO, TO DRAW ATTENTION TO THIS. BECAUSE WE DO NOT NEED THEM THINKING THAT THEY CAN DO THIS AND STILL WIN. AND GO UNDER

THE RADAR. YEAH. >> WHO I YOU DOING COMMISSIONER I AM GENERALLARD BROWN CREDIBLE MESSENGER FOR ACTION FOR YOUTH.

GARCIA RAMSEY LEFT. BRIONES, OH GARCIA LEFT, TOO. OKAY. YOU ARE THE REASON HARRIS COUNTY IS ON A BRINK OF FALLING SHORT. NOT BECAUSE OF OUTSIDE FORCES BUT BECAUSE OF IMPULSIVE DECISIONS MADE IN THE CHAMBER. PEOPLE THE TRUSTED YOU TO LEAD WITH WISDOM INTEGRITY AND FORSYTHE AND WE SEEN RUSH CHOICES SHORT SIDED PRIORITIES, AND ACTIONS THAT SEEM MORE ROOTED IN PERSONAL AND POLITICAL GAINS THAN IN THE NEEDS OF THE RESIDENTS YOUER IS.

COUNTIES DESERVE LEAFEDERS WHO PLAN FOR FUTURE NOT EVERYONE WHO GAMBLES WITH IT. EVERY FAMILY IS WATCHES WATCHING THE CONSEQUENCE OF YOUR DECISION AND IF WE CONTINUE DOWN THIS PATH IT WON'T BE A FAILURE OF POLICY BUT A FAILURE OF LEADERSHIP.

>> THANK YOU. > >> NEX IS INIA BRIANNA ANDA ON ITEM 2 OF PRECINCT 1. AND JADAALITYMAN ON ITEM 2 OF PRECINCT 1. YOU EACH HAVE ONE MINUTE.

>> GOOD MORNING. >> I AM IS JADA ALTMAN FOR FAMILIES STRUGGLING THIS BUDGET INCREASE COULD MEAN HIGHER TAXES. FEWER COMMUNITY PROGRAMS AND MORE ECONOMIC HARDSHIP. THIS BUDGET IMPACTS MY FAMILY, MYMENTEES AND THEIR FAMILIES AS WELL AS MANY FAMILIES THROUGHOUT THE CITY. I AM CHEW WORRIED PROPOSED BUDGET WILL CAUSE DEFUNDING OF SO MANY PROGRAMS THAT MY PEOPLE NEED TO KEEP THEM STABLE. WHAT HAPPENS TO ESSENTIAL SERVICES LIKE AFFORDABLE HEALTH CARE? AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND COMMUNITY PROGRAMS? IT WORE QUIZ ME THE SERVICES I NEEDED MOST AT ONE POINT MAY NOT BE AVAILABLE TO FUTURE GENERATIONS. WE CANNOT AFFORD TO IGNORE THE NEEDS OF OUR COMMUNITY. A BUDGET SHOULD PRIORITIZE PEOPLE NOT JUST NUMBERS. WE NEED A BUDGET THAT INVEST IN THE FUTURE NOT ONE THAT PUTS IT AT RISK. THIS BUDGET WILL DO MORE HARM THAN

GOOD TO THE COMMUNITY. >> HELLO, MY NAME IS BRIANNA AND

[00:50:04]

>> AMY MOMAN EMANUAL FREEMAN ON ITEMS 3 AND 4 PRECINCT 2. JADEN MILLER ON "TEM 2. EDGAR ITEM 2 OF PRECINCT 2. YOU EACH HAVE ONE

POINT. >> LET ME RECEIPT READ A QUOTE THE BUDGET DIRECTOR GAVE TO THE PAPER. MORE GLOBALLY THIS HAS BEEN THE HARDEST BUDGET PROCESS FOR HARRIS COUNTY SINCE THE GREAT RECESSION. COMMISSIONERS HAD TO WORK THROUGH A $200 MILLION DEFICIT RISING JUSTICE COSTS INFLATION AND STATE REVENUE CAPS. THAT MAKES IT SO HARRIS COUNTY WILL CONTINUE TO PHASE DIFFICULT FINANCIAL STRAITS FOR FOR FORESEEABLE FUTURE. WHY WAS THIS THE HARDEST BUDGET SINCE THE GREAT RECESSION? WHY ARE WE IMPLEMENTING A HIRING FREEZE THE ONLY TIME SINCE THE GREAT RECESSION BECAUSE OF THE FIRST PART. HAD TO WORK THROUGH A $200 MILLION DEFICIT. WHY DID WE HAVE TO WORK THROUGH A $200 MILLION DEFICIT? BECAUSE OF A GLOBAL PANDEMIC? BECAUSE OF A FINANCIAL MARKET CRASH? NO. BECAUSE OF THE ALL THE TIMES THAT THE THREE COMMISSIONERS VOTED AGAINST RECOMMENDATION OF THE BUDGET DIRECTOR. THEY CREATED $ 200 MILLION DEFICIT AND THEN THEY BRAG WHEN THEY BALANCE THE BUDGET STATUTORILY WE HAVE TO BALANCE THE BUDGET THAT'S OUR JOB AND THAT'S WHAT HAPPENS. SO, THIS IS THEIR -- WE ARE PRINTING OUT HANDOUTS WHAT THE CUTS WILL BE SO EVERYBODY CONTINUES TO SEE THAT. THANK YOU.

>> GOOD MORNING. MY NAME IS EMANUAL FREEMAN AND I SERVE AS EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR FOR YOUNG PEOPLE IN ACTION. A GRASS ROOMS MENTORSHIP AND LEADERSHIP NONPROFIT HERE IN HOUSTON. I REPRESENT NEARLY 200 JUSTICE IMPACTED COMMUNITY YOUTH AND THEIR FAMILIES. WHO CAN BE HERE TODAY IN PRECINCTS 1 AND 2.

HAVING OPERATED IN HOUSTON FOR TEN YEARS, WE SEEN THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN UNDERRESOURCED PROGRAMS VERSUS RESOURCED PROGRAMS. THANKS TO THE FUNDING WE RECEIVE FOR CREDIBLE MESSER MENTORS WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO REDUCE RECIDIVISM FROM OVER 30% TO JUST 14%. WE HAVE SEEN SCHOOL AND HOME INCIDENTS AND SCHOOL DROP AND SCHOOL ATTENDANCE RISE FOR ALL PARTICIPANTS. WE HAVE SEEN CHILDREN WITH NO HOPE OR FUTURE GRADUATING CONTINUE THEIR EDUCATION. THE COMMUNITY THAT HAVE BEEN VICTIMIZED WE ASK THAT YOU PLEASE CONSIDER CONSIDER THE

WORK THAT WE ARE DOING. >> THANK YOU, YOUR TIME IS UP.

>> THANK YOU FOR YOUR WORK. >> THE LAST MONTH WE HAVE SAT HERE AND WATCH THE EYE ROLLS, WE SAW RAMSEY DO IT 10 TIMES, WE HEARD EVERY NO FOR THE DEVELOPMENT AND PROGRESS. EACH OF YOU HAVE A CHOICE TO HEAR US THE WAY THAT WE HEAR YOU AND INSTEAD YOU MOVE WITH LACK OF TRANSPARENCY AND MISLEADING HEADLINES. WHAT HAPPENS WHEN THERE ARE NO FUNDS TO ALLOCATE ANYWHERE ELSE WE CAN AFFORD TO MAKE ANY CUTS, WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOUR LAW ENFORCEMENT NEEDS MORE SUPPORT AND THE WELL IS DRY BECAUSE I GUARANTEE YOU WILL BE ASKING HOW WE GOT HERE. THIS BUDGET DOES NOT SERVE THE COMMUNITY, IT SERVES THEIR PERSONAL AGENDAS. WE OFFERED OTHER OPTIONS, THE PEOPLE WHO TRUST YOU TO DO THE RIGHT THING HAVE SUFFERED THE UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES OF YOUR POOR DECISIONS. YOU DID NOT BALANCE THE BUDGET, YOU BUSTED IT WIDE OPEN TO ALLOW POWER PLAYS TO COME BEFORE THE PRIORITIES. OUR YOUTH, OUR FAMILIES AND THE

FUTURE OF HARRIS COUNTY. >> THANK YOU, YOUR TIME IS UP

SHIRT THANK YOU. >> PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME FOR

THE RECORD. >> JADEN MILLER.

>> THANK YOU. >> I AM FIRST AND FOREMOST A

[00:55:05]

EFFORTS OF SASO. >> THANK YOU, I DON'T THINK THEY WOULD STAND IN FRONT OF A DEMOCRATIC LEVEL OR GROUP OF VOTERS AND SAY I WAS SO PROUD I VOTED TO KILL THE PROGRAM THAT KEEPS KIDS OUT OF JAIL. I'M SO PROUD I VOTED TO END THE PROGRAM FOR EARLY CHILDHOOD. I'M SO PROUD THAT I VOTED TO CUT THE FUNDING FOR PUBLIC HEALTH. THEY WILL TOP IT OFF WITH A FALSEHOOD AND SAY IT WAS NOT AN EVALUATED PROGRAM. THEY WILL SAY THAT PEOPLE WANT TO SEE THIS. THEY WILL MAKE STOP OF -- AND STUFF UP. WHAT THEY'RE DOING THEY CANNOT STAND BEHIND. THEY CANNOT CONVINCE THEIR MORALS TO STAND BEHIND SO THEY HAVE TO MAKE THINGS UP AROUND IT. I WOULD LOVE TO SEE MY COLLEAGUE STAND UP AND SAY WHAT YOU ARE ACTUALLY DOING, WITHOUT TWISTING THINGS.

YOU WON'T BECAUSE YOU KNOW WHAT YOU WERE DOING IS WRONG.

>> NEXT IS CYNTHIA COLE SPEAKING AN ITEM 2 OF PRECINCT 4, YOU HAVE ONE MINUTE, GO AHEAD, PLEASE.

>> GOOD MORNING TO EVERYONE, I AM CYNTHIA COLE WAS SPEAKING ON BEHALF OF THE EMPLOYEE, WHAT A DIFFERENCE A DAY MAKES WEATHER HAS BEEN EXHAUSTING DISCUSSION OVER AND OVER AS FAR AS WHAT WILL BE BAD AND WHAT COULD BE GOOD BUT, I AM REQUESTING THAT THE DECISIONS THAT ARE MADE, THESE DECISIONS BE MADE BY THIS COURT TO IN FACT REALIZE, GET IN FRONT OF WHAT IS GOING TO HAPPEN IN THE FUTURE. WHAT A DIFFERENCE A DAY MAKES ONCE YOU MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN THE LIVES OF CONSTITUENTS. YOU CANNOT CONTINUE TO NOT FIX THIS BY BEING SARCASTIC. IT HAS TO BE A UNITY EFFORT. IT HAS TO MEET THE FOUNDATION OF COUNTY SUCCESS TO MAKE THE HARD DECISION AND ALSO MAKE THE SACRIFICE. THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH. EXCELLENT WORK IS ALSO EXCELLENT IN THE COMMUNITY

UNITY. >> THANK YOU SO MUCH I CONTINUE TO PLEA WITH MY COLLEAGUES TO PUT THIS TO THE VOTER IS THAT OF CREATE A DEFICIT. WE COULD HAVE PUT IT TO VOTERS THIS YEAR, DID NOT HAVE TO WAIT FOR NEXT YEAR, I WOULD LOVE TO NEGOTIATE ON THAT. PUT IT TO THE VOTERS, SOME OF IT TO THE VOTERS. I'M HAPPY TO SIT DOWN AND NEGOTIATE ON THAT.

>> AND NEXT IS PERLA FLOREZ, DISTRICT CLERK MARILYN BURGESS ON ITEMS 3. CHRISTOPHER JENKINS ON ITEM THREE OF PRECINCT 1 AND BRADY LEWIS ON ITEM 1 ON PRECINCT 3 .

>> GOOD MORNING COMMISSIONERS, I NEED YOU TO UNDERSTAND WHAT THESE BUDGET CHOICES MEET IN REAL LIFE. MY BROTHER IS IN JAIL, HE IS 21. HE GREW UP WITH TRAUMA, MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES AND NO GUIDANCE. I DON'T WANT HIS EXPERIENCE TO BE WHERE THE SYSTEM IGNORES HIM AND MAKES THINGS WORK -- WORSE BECAUSE RESOURCES WERE CUT. THAT DOES NOT MAKE OUR COMMUNITY SAFER, IT CREATES MORE BROKEN LIVES. WE AGED OUT OF FOSTER CARE WITH NO SAFETY NET AND NOWHERE TO GO. HOUSING PROGRAMS AND FOOD ASSISTANCE KEPT ME OFF THE STREETS. WITHOUT THEM, I WOULD HAVE BEEN HOMELESS. I KNOW OTHERS WHO AGED OUT OF FOSTER CARE AND WITH THESE PROGRAMS TURN SURVIVAL INTO OPPORTUNITY.

IF YOU CHOOSE IT OVER RESOURCES YOU ARE CHOOSING TO TAKE THAT CHANCE AWAY FROM ME, MY BROTHER, AND MY COMMUNITY.

[01:00:02]

>> THANK YOU, TIME IS UP. >> ONE MINUTE OF MY VOICE MIGHT FADE BUT IT WILL GO THROUGH EVERY FAMILY, EVERY JAIL CELL.

>> THANK YOU, I APPRECIATE YOUR MOTION, ONE OF US NORMALLY CRIES THE CROCODILE TEARS WHEN THEY HEAR THAT STORY AND WHEN IT'S TIME TO VOTE THEY DON'T VOTE TO SUPPORT WHAT THEY ARE CROCODILE

TEARING ABOUT. >> I WANT TO SINCERELY THANK THE MEMBERS OF THE GRIEVANCE COMMITTEE WHO REVIEWED MY GRIEVANCE, THEIR SERVICE WAS EXEMPLARY, WITH FAIRNESS AND INTEGRITY. OF THE 25 IS FILED, 24 WERE WITHDRAWN AFTER PROMISES OF SALARY INCREASES. MINE WAS THE ONLY GRIEVANCE THAT PROCEEDED TO A HEARING. THE LEGISLATOR DESIGNED THIS PROCESS TO INCLUDE IMPARTIAL MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC TO ENSURE TRANSPARENCY, ACCOUNTABILITY, AND FAIRNESS IN MATTERS SUCH AS THESE. THE CITIZENS UPHELD THAT INTENT AND RENDERED A THOUGHTFUL RECOMMENDATION. I URGE THIS COURT TO HONOR THE SERVICE AND THE PROCESS BY ADOPTING THE RECOMMENDATION OF THE COMMITTEE.

IT REAFFIRMS THE PURPOSE OF THE SYSTEM AND DEMONSTRATES THE COURT VALUES A JUDGMENT OF ITS COMMUNITY MEMBERS, THANK YOU.

>> WHAT WAS THE RECOMMENDATION OF THE COMMITTEE?

>> TERESA SALARY TO MATCH THE CONSTABLES.

>> HOW MANY PEOPLE DO YOU SERVE?

>> OVER 4 MILLION. >> 4.7 MILLION. AND THE CONSTABLES, I BELIEVE THE SMALLEST DISTRICT SERVES ABOUT HALF 1 MILLION. WHATEVER IT IS, IT IS NOT 4.7 MILLION SO IT IS LOGICAL YOU WOULD BE PAID AS LEAST AS MUCH AS THE CONSTABLE,

MAYBE MORE. >> I, MADAM DISTRICT CLERK, HAVE NOT BEEN SUPPORTING THESE RACES BECAUSE I KNOW WE CANNOT AFFORD THEM. I WILL NOT BE ABLE TO SUPPORT IT OUT OF PRINCIPLE AND BECAUSE I'M NOT GOING TO CONTRIBUTE TO THAT. I AM PROUD THAT I HAVEN'T, I FOLLOW THE RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE BUDGET DIRECTOR EVERY TIME BUT IT'S NOT BECAUSE I THINK YOU DON'T DESERVE AND I THINK IF MY COLLEAGUES AGAINST YOUR RAISE, THEY WILL SHOW WHAT A POLITICAL DECISION THEY HAVE MADE. IF THEY'RE TRYING TO RAISE SALARIES, THEY NEED TO MAKE MORE, THAN THE ONES REPRESENT JUST A PERCENTAGE OF THE POPULATION. AND IF YOU LOOK AT OTHER COUNTIES, THAT IS THE ANSWER. IT DOES NOT MAKE SENSE FOR THEM TO MAKE LESS THAN JUDGES, LESS THAN COUNTYWIDE ELECTIVES, AND APPRECIATE YOU ADVOCATING AND CALLING THEM UP TO TASK AND I HOPE THEY WILL VOTE FOR IT SO THEY CAN AT LEAST HAVE ONE LITTLE BIT OF CONSISTENCY IN THEIR BRAIN THAT THEY DON'T HAVE TO DO MENTAL ACROBATICS AROUND WHEN THEY ARE AT HOME.

>> HELLO, COMMISSIONERS COURSE --COURT, CHRISTOPHER JENKINS, I'M HERE TO SPEAK THAT NUMBER TO GO, THE BUDGET AND THE COMMITTEE HEARINGS. A FILE IN FEBRUARY OF 2022, PROVED THAT JP AND CONSTABLES HAD ABUSED AUTHORITY STARTING IN 2019. THE KIND OF BOTHERED ME ABOUT THE GRIEVANCE COMMITTEE, I FELT LIKE THEY WERE BEING BIASED ABOUT THE PUBLIC SPEAKERS. YOU SAY THE CLERK , COUNTY COURTS WERE AFFECTED. EVERY DEPARTMENT WAS AFFECTED AND IT PUT A LOT OF PRESSURE, IT OVERLOADED SYSTEMS. HONESTLY WASN'T WORKING RIGHT. THAT'S WHY I FELT LIKE, IN THIS GRIEVANCE, THEY WERE BEING BIASED. THE SAME THING THAT WAS TAKEN OUT DURING COVID, WE HAVE TO COME BACK TO COURT AND PUT BACK IN. WHEN YOU TAKE AWAY THOSE DIFFERENT RESOURCES FROM THERE, THEY WILL SUFFER IN THE JAIL.

>> THANK YOU, YOUR TIME IS UP. >> THANK YOU, I WILL BE BACK,

YOU ALL KNOW THAT. >> THANK YOU.

>> GOOD AFTERNOON, MY NAME IS BRADY LEWIS, BEFORE THE BUDGET VOTE I URGE YOU TO HEAR WHAT IS AT STAKE. HOUSING, MENTAL HEALTH CARE, YOUTH PROGRAMS, RE-ENTRY SUPPORT, THESE ARE NOT EXTRAS, THESE ARE LIFELINES, THEY KEEP FAMILIES STABLE AND KEY PEOPLE ON THE RIGHT PATH AND KEEP OUR COMMUNITIES SAFE. THOUSANDS OF FAMILIES DEPEND ON THESE PROGRAMS EVERY SINGLE DAY.

CUTTING THESE PROGRAMS WILL JUST SHRINK THE BUDGET IT WILL CLOSE DOORS, EMPTY TABLES, AND STRIP AWAY OPPORTUNITY. DO NOT BALANCE ITS BUDGET ON THE BACKS OF OUR MOST VULNERABLE, INVEST IN REAL

PEOPLE, THAT IS REAL SAFETY. >> NEXT IS CANTRELL RAYFIELD,

[01:05:02]

>> GOOD MORNING. MY NAME IS CANTRELL RAYFIELD AND I ASK YOU TO RECONSIDER CUTTING FUNDING FOR PROGRAMS THAT SERVE COMMUNITIES IN NEED. I AM A PRODUCT OF THOSE PROGRAMS AND COULD SAY THEY CHANGE MY LIFE FOR THE BETTER. MANY PEOPLE LIKE ME WOULD NOT HAVE THE SUPPORT WE NEED TO SUCCEED. THEY ARE NOT JUST NUMBERS AND BUDGETS, THEY ARE A CHANCE FOR A BETTER FUTURE, THESE REMEMBER THE PEOPLE THAT RELY ON THEM. THANK

YOU FOR YOUR TIME. >> THANK YOU.

>> MY NAME IS JALEN SOWELL. I AM HERE WITH CA4Y BUT ADVOCATE FOR THE PUBLIC. I WANT TO BE CLEAR BECAUSE YOU DECIDED TO INCREASE SALARIES, WHEN ASSISTANCE IS CUT, MORE FAMILIES AND UP WITH EVICTIONS. KIDS, ADULTS STRUGGLE DAY TO DAY. THE TRUTH OF THE MATTER IS IN THEIR EYES ALREADY. THESE RESOURCES ARE NOT EXTRAS OR ESSENTIALS, REMEMBER MY NAME, I WAS HOMELESS AND DID NOT HAVE ANYTHING ASSESSABLE TO ME SO I CALLED TO SEARCH, THIS IS DOWNTOWN, I KNOW THE MAN, JULY 13TH I SIGNED MY LEASE TO MY NEW

APARTMENT. >> CONGRATULATIONS AND THANK

YOU. >> HELLO, GOOD MORNING, I'M HERE TO TALK ABOUT AN INVESTMENT THAT WILL BUILD THE STRONGER AND SAFER COMMUNITY. WE ARE AT A CROSSROADS. THE BUDGET ESSENTIALLY MAKE WILL BE SET IN STONE PARTICULARLY, WHEN IT COMES TO FUNDING OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT. THESE ARE NOT FLEXIBLE BUDGETS, THAT MONEY IS COMMITTED FOR LONG-TERM. WE HAVE ONE CHANCE TO GET IT RIGHT, LET'S NOT GET STUCK IN A CYCLE OF REACTIVE MEASURES. IT'S NOT BY ENFORCEMENT BY EMPOWERMENT, IT COMES FROM INVESTING DIRECTLY IN OUR NEIGHBORHOODS AND THE PEOPLE WHO LIVE HERE. IMAGINE WHAT WE CAN ACHIEVE THE SUPPORT OUR YOUTH AND PROVIDE PATHWAYS TO STABLE HOUSING AND EMPLOYMENT. THESE ARE THE TOOLS THAT CREATE OPPORTUNITY AND PREVENT PRICES FROM STARTING. WE HAVE A CHOICE TO MAKE, LET'S REDIRECT OUR RESOURCES TOWARDS VOTING OF OUR COMMUNITY, NOT SIMPLY POLICING IT. I URGE YOU TO SERVE A PATH OF SHARED

PROSPERITY. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU.

>> HELLO, WE KNOW THAT YOU FACE MONUMENTAL DECISIONS, THE PATH WE CHOSE, IS A LINE IN THE SAND. IT'S A DECISION THAT WILL ECHO FOR YEARS TO COME. WHEN WE POUR FUNDS INTO THE POLICE DEPARTMENT, THAT MONEY IS NOT TEMPORARY, IT IS NOT FLEXIBLE, WE CANNOT CLAWBACK TO HEAL THE WOUNDS THE IMPACT OUR NEIGHBORHOODS. IN A RARE CHANCE TO MAKE A CHOICE THAT WILL TRULY SERVE OUR PEOPLE. LET'S HAVE THE COURAGE TO INVEST IN PROGRAMS THAT BUILD UP OUR RESIDENCE, NOT JUST RESPOND TO CRISIS. IT MEANS ADDRESSING MENTAL HEALTH STRUGGLES, PROVIDING DIGNITY OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND OFFERING OUR YOUTH A FUTURE BRIGHTER THAN THE STREETS. THESE ARE NOT JUST BUDGET ITEMS, THEY ARE LIFELINES. THEY ARE INVESTMENTS THAT CREATE LASTING SAFETY, THE PROGRAMS THAT LIFT UP THOSE WHO HAVE BEEN LEFT BEHIND. WE STAND READY TO PARTNER WITH YOU ON THIS PATH, WE ARE HERE TO SUPPORT YOU.

>> THANK YOU, YOUR TIME IS UP. >> CAN YOU PLEASE STATE YOUR

NAME FOR THE RECORD. >> EVELYN BARONE.

>> SURLY RONQIO. STEPHANIE VALDEZ ON ITEM 117 OF PRECINCT 2. MAMUDE ON ITEM 15 ON PRECINCT 1 AND DORIS BROWN ON ITEM 17 OF PRECINCT 12 EACH HAVE ONE MINUTE.

>> GOOD MORNING, I AM A FARMER FLOOD RESILIENT TASK FORCE MEMBER HAVING SERVED IN A VOLUNTEER ROLE FROM 22 TO 2024 UNDER THE HARRIS COUNTY OFFICE. I SERVED AS VICE CHAIR AND CHAIR. I'M HERE ON BEHALF OF COMMUNITY AND THE NORTH EAST HOUSTON, COMMITTEES THAT HAVE BEEN HISTORICALLY NEGLECTED AND LEFT TO FLOOD TIME AND TIME AGAIN. I APPLIED UNDER THE

[01:10:03]

THE FRAMEWORK -- >> THANK YOU, YOUR TIME IS UP.

>> HOLD THEM ACCOUNTABLE, THEY ARE EMPLOYEES.

>> THANK YOU. >> GOOD MORNING JUDGE AND COMMISSIONERS, MY NAME IS STEPHANIE MENDEZ AND I'M HERE FOR THE COALITION OF EQUITY AND RESILIENCE. WE ARE ASKING FOR ACCOUNTABILITY ON FLOOD CONTROL. COMMUNITIES DESERVE TO UNDERSTAND HOW FUNDING IS BEING SPENT. THE EQUITY FRYER -- PRIORITIES AND FRAMEWORK THAT YOU ADOPTED WAS AN IMPORTANT STEP FORWARD. THE COALITION MEMBERS SUCH AS THE COLLECTIVE AND RECOVERY AND COMMITTEE MEMBERS WORKED HARD ON THIS PROCESS BECAUSE WE KNOW EQUITY MUST BE AT THE CENTER OF PROTECTION. THE DECISIONS VALUED WEALTHY HOMES OVER MODEST HOMES AND THAT IS NOT FAIR. WE KNOW THE COMMUNITIES THAT HAVE HISTORICALLY RECEIVED THE LESS PROTECTION HAVE THE HARDEST TIME RECOVERING BECAUSE OF BARRIERS LIKE DISCRIMINATION, ACCESS TO INSURANCE OR LACKING ACCESS FROM FEMA. IT MEANS PROTECTING ALL COMMUNITIES AND THAT IS WHAT WE ARE ASKING FLOOD CONTROL TO

DELIVER. >> I KNOW YOU PROBABLY HAVE PLACES TO BE BUT ANYONE CAN BE HERE WHEN WERE HAVING THE FLOOD CONTROL DISCUSSION, I WILL LET YOU RESPOND.

>> WE WILL STAY HERE. >> GOOD MORNING JUDGE AND COMMISSIONERS, I AM WITH CITY WATER KEEPER, I'M HERE TO ENSURE THE FLOOD PROGRAM MOVES WITH THE HIGHEST LEVELS OF TRANSPARENCY AND ACCOUNTABILITY THAT HARRIS COUNTY DESERVES. WE ENCOURAGE MAINTAINING THE FRAMEWORK AS A CENTRAL GUIDE FOR FUNDING DECISIONS, ENSURES THE HIGHEST PRIORITY PROJECTS SERVING OUR MOST VULNERABLE AND UNDERINVEST TO COMMITTEES CAN RECEIVE THE PROGRAMS THEY NEED AND WE ENCOURAGE PRIOR TASER SCORES FOR ALL BONDS, I.D.S, AND ASSOCIATED PROJECTS. WITHOUT TRANSPARENCY WE CANNOT HAVE PUBLIC OVERSIGHT. THE FLOOD CONTROL DISTRICT CAN ESTABLISH MORE TRANSPARENCY THAT WILL PROVIDE REALTIME PROJECT INFORMATION AND REGULAR REPORTING. COUNTY TAXPAYERS DESERVE TO SEE WHERE THEIR TAX DOLLARS ARE GOING. ANY INCREASES OR SCOPE CHANGES SHOULD REQUIRE APPROPRIATE APPROVAL TO PROTECT INTEGRITY OF WHAT VOTERS

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

>> JUST A QUICK QUESTION, I WAS JUST WONDERING, GENERAL FUND DOLLARS CANNOT BE USED FOR FLOOD CONTROL PROJECTS, RIGHT?

>> THAT IS CORRECT. >> WHY IS THAT, AGAIN?

>> STATE LAW . >> THANK YOU.

>> WHAT DOES EQUITY MEAN? IT MEANS WE MUST ASSIST PEOPLE IN COMMITTEES EVERYONE ENDS UP WITH THE EQUAL OPPORTUNITY TO THRIVE.

IT MEANS THAT THEY ARE CONNECTED IF NOT DISCRIMINATED AGAINST SHOULD GET INVESTMENT. ALL COMMUNITY MEMBERS DESERVE TO BE PROTECTED FROM FLOODING. A VALUED A MILLION-DOLLAR HOME AS MORE IMPORTANT THAN SIX $550,000 HOMES. THE PRIORITIZATION METRICS THAT FLOOD CONTROL WAS INSTRUCTED TO USE IN 219 AND 2022 WAS SUPPOSED TO ADDRESS THIS BUT TIME AND TIME AGAIN WE HAVE SEEN THAT FLOOD CONTROL DOES NOT. IT IS A BETRAYAL OF TRUST THAT FLOOD CONTROL DECIDED THAT SOME PROJECTS DID NOT NEED TO BE PASSED THROUGH THE MATRIX THAT ALL OF YOU VOTED ON. THAT HAS BEEN VERY CONCERNING AND IS VERY DISRESPECTFUL THAT THEY

COME IN HERE -- >> THANK YOU, YOUR TIME IS UP.

>> CAN YOU STATE YOUR NAME FOR THE RECORD?

>> MY NAME IS DORIS BOND. >> NEXT UP IS LAURA GALLAGHER.

CARETTA BROWN. MICHAEL SPADES ON ITEM 2, SORRY, ITEM 7, BENJAMIN BROATWAY. YOU EACH HAVE ONE MINUTE.

>> GOOD MORNING, MY NAME IS LAURA GALLAGHER, PRECINCT 1. THE

[01:15:02]

PAY INCREASES THAT PUT GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS IN THE TOP 1% OF U.S. EARNERS WHILE LEAVING MANY AND POVERTY IS UNJUST.

>> THANK YOU. >> HELLO, MY NAME IS CARETTA BROWN AND I WORK FOR BRIDGES TO EMPOWERMENT. IN THE LAST HEARING COMMISSIONER GARCIA STATED THE ONLY REASON THEY WANTED A HIGHER RAISES BECAUSE YOUR NUMBER TWO WOULD BE EARNING MORE MONEY THAN THEM. I THINK THAT IS EXTREMELY UNFAIR TO THE OTHER ELECTED OFFICIALS, ESPECIALLY THE ONES I SAW AT GRIEVANCE , AT THE GRIEVANCE BUDGET HEARING LAST WEEK. I THINK IT IS UNFAIR TO THEM. I THINK YOU ALL SHOULD TABLE ANY DISCUSSIONS FOR ELECTED OFFICIAL PAY RAISES TO BE FAIR TO THOSE WHO REALLY DO NEED THE RAISES. WE SAW $25 MILLION BEING TAKEN THAT COULD BE USED FOR OTHER RESOURCES THAT IS NOT BEING USED BECAUSE IT IS GOING TO THE BUDGET, THE POLICE BUDGET. I DON'T THINK NOW IS THE TIME FOR A NEW JAIL, EITHER, BECAUSE OF THE AMOUNT OF MONEY GOING TO THE POLICE BUDGET OR POLICE RAISES. I THINK YOU SHOULD TAKE A STEP BACK AND THINK ABOUT THE PEOPLE --

>> THANK YOU, YOUR TIME IS UP. THANK YOU. I THINK IF YOU ASKED EVERYONE TO RAISE OUR HANDS ON WHETHER OUR STAFF MAKES MORE THAN WE DO, WE WOULD RAISE OUR HANDS. I'M ADVOCATING BECAUSE THE BUDGET IS NOT DONE UNTIL NEXT WEEK, I THINK IT IS IMPORTANT TO CONTINUE THAT CONVERSATION.

>> GOOD MORNING, JUDGE AND COMMISSIONERS. MY NAME IS MICHAEL SPADES, I WANT TO SPEAK IN SUPPORT OF THE UNION WORKERS AT THE HOTEL WHO ARE STRIKING. SOME OF YOU I WORKED WITH THE UNIONS TO PUT YOU IN THOSE CHAIRS AND I WANT TO REMIND YOU OF THAT AND WE HAVE NOT FORGOTTEN HOW TO KNOCK ON DOORS AND MAKE PHONE CALLS. LET'S BE REAL, HARRIS COUNTY IS STARING DOWN THE BUDGET DOWNFALL THAT THREATENS OUR HOSPITALS, ROADS, AND BASIC SERVICES. THE COMMISSIONERS ARE HANDING OUT RAISES LIKE IT IS CHRISTMAS MORNING. THIS IS NOT SANTA CLAUS, IT IS TAXPAYERS MONEY AND IS RECKLESS TO PRETEND THERE IS A BOTTOMLESS STACK OF GIFTS. WORKING PEOPLE ARE ASKED TO DO MORE WITH LESS BUT THOSE AT THE TIME ARE REWARDING THEMSELVES WHILE TELLING US TO ACCEPT CUTS , THAT IS NOT LEADERSHIP. THAT

IS A SLAP IN THE FACE. >> THANK YOU, YOUR TIME IS UP.

>> YES, TWO WORDS, EQUITY, FRAMEWORK. WE HAD SOME PROJECTS THROUGHOUT THE YEARS THAT WERE PICKED OUT, GRADED, AND JUDGED THE STUDY. YOU CHOSE TO PUT OTHER PROJECTS BEFORE THEM. YET, WE ARE STILL FLOODING. BRIONES, GARCIA, FIXING TO WORK ON RAMSEY AREA NO MATTER HOW MANY CONSTABLES, YOU PUT IN CANDLE PLACE, YOU BUDDY -- BETTER BE READY FOR THEM, RAMSEY BECAUSE THEY'RE COMING. IF YOU TAKE AWAY THE PROGRAMS THESE KIDS NEED TO STAY OFF THE STREETS, TO KEEP IDLING HANDS OF THE DEVIL'S WORKSHOP OCCUPIED, YOU BETTER THINK OF THAT. ALL OF YOU NEED TO THINK OF THAT. I'M OVER.

>> THANK YOU. >> NEXT IS GUADALUPE BAY FERNANDEZ ON ITEM 117 OF PRECINCT 1. GRACE COOPERMAN ON

[01:20:01]

HAVE ONE MINUTE. >> THANK YOU.

>> I AM WITH BAYOU CITY WATER KEEPER IN PRECINCT 1, I WAS HERE AND BACK TO AFFIRM THAT ALL RESIDENTS DESERVE PROTECTION FROM THE DEPTHS OF THE IMPACT OF FLOODS. AS I SAID IN JUNE, TAXPAYERS DESERVE TRANSPARENCY AND FLOOD CONTROL INITIATIVES INCLUDING MAINTENANCE. THE DASHBOARD IS A GOOD FIRST STEP BUT WE HAVE ADDITIONAL RECOMMENDATIONS FOR IMPROVEMENTS. THE PAST STRUGGLES WITH FLOOD BOND MAKE ISSUES WITH FLOOD CONTROL AND OUR ANALYSIS OF CORRIDORS REVEAL A GLARING LACK OF ACCOUNTABILITY AND TRANSPARENCY. WE WANT TO SEE ACTIONS TO ADDRESS THIS AND ASKED FOR CONTINUED COLLABORATION TO ENSURE THAT ALL OFFICES ARE ALIGNED ON FLOOD CONTROL AND WE BELIEVE IN A CONSISTENT APPROACH, THE PRIORITIZATION FRAMEWORK SHOULD BE THE CENTRAL GUIDE. WE SUBMIT

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

>> WHAT ARE YOUR RECOMMENDATIONS ON THE DASHBOARD?

>> I CEMENTED A LONG WRITTEN LIST BUT THE FIRST ITERATION IS REALLY GOOD. I WOULD LIKE TO SEE THE PARTNERSHIP PROJECTS DIRECTLY ON THE MAP. WE SAW THE SPREADSHEET THAT INCLUDED THOSE BUT THEY SHOULD ALSO BE ON THE DASHBOARD AND THE MAP, I WOULD LIKE TO SEE AN ABILITY TO FILTER OUT, AND WHICH AT WHAT STAGES AND WHAT PRECINCTS AND WHAT TYPE OF PROJECT IT IS AND THE SCORE OF THE PRIORITIZATION FRAMEWORK SHOULD BE INCLUDED ON THAT MAP WILL HAVE TO HOP AROUND THROUGH SPREADSHEETS AND WE CAN MAKE MORE DATA INFORMED DECISIONS AND ALL OF YOU ON COMMISSIONERS HOLDING FLOOD CONTROL ACCOUNTABLE.

>> THANK YOU. >> AND I TRUST THE FLOOD CONTROL DISTRICT CAUGHT THAT? WE WILL BRING IT UP AGAIN LATER, AS

WELL. >> GOOD MORNING JUDGE, GOOD MORNING, CONDITIONS , MY NAME IS BRUCE COOPERMAN, THROUGH THE COMMUNITY FUNDING PROJECT, CONGRESSWOMAN FLETCHER SUCCESSFULLY SECURED $1 MILLION IN FEDERAL FUNDING FOR THE BAYOU DRAINING PRODUCTS FOR THE BASIN TO ALLOW FOR CAPACITY 48 100 YEAR RAINFALL EVENT PROTECTING NEARBY WATERSHEDS FROM FLOODING.

HAS REQUESTED AND CURRENTLY ADVOCATED FEDERAL FUNDING FOR THE IMPROVEMENT PROJECT, $100 MILLION PROJECT WILL INCREASE THE CAPACITY OF THE CYPRUS STITCH CHANNEL. THESE ARE EXAMPLES OF GOVERNMENT COLLABORATION AND PARTNERSHIP AT ITS BEST TO DELIVER RELIEF TO OUR SHARED CONSISTENCY. THANK YOU TO THE COMMISSIONERS COURT AND THE FLOOD CONTROL DISTRICT FOR MOVING THE 2018 URGENT BOND PROGRAM FORWARD WITH URGENCY TO DELIVER FOR OUR SHARED CONSTITUENCIES. THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU TO THE CONGRESSWOMAN, AS WELL.

>> HELLO, JUDGE AND COMMISSIONERS, MY NAME IS JORDAN WATSON, I'M HERE ON BEHALF OF -- IT PLAYS A CRUCIAL ROLE IN ADDRESSING THE WIDESPREAD FLOOD ISSUES. THE PROJECTS BEING COMPLETED AND BEING DEVELOPED DISPLAY A EFFORT TO MITIGATE THE IMPACT OF FUTURE FLOODS. WE HAVE SEEN THE PROGRAM'S EFFECTIVENESS FIRSTHAND IN RICHLAND AND THE SURROUNDING AREA. ALL IMPROVEMENTS OF FLOOD CONTROL DISTRICT AND THE 2018 BOND PROGRAM HAVE COMPLETED DOWNSTREAM ASSISTED US IN CREATING REGIONAL SOLUTIONS IN THE UPPER REACHES OF THE CREEK THAT BENEFIT THE WATERSHED IN ADDITION TO SUPPORTING HARRIS COUNTY FLOOD DISTRICT AND THE 2018 GREG--PROGRAM, IS PREPARED TO GIVE SEVERAL MILLION DOLLARS OF PROJECTS AS SOON AS HARRIS COUNTY FLOOD DISTRICT GRANTS APPROVAL. THESE PROJECTS NOT ONLY REMOVE OUR REMAINING DEVELOPMENT FROM FLOOD PLANE BUT

--THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU.

>> NEXT IS FELIX KAPPOR. RITA ROBLEZ. WAYNE FRASER. GORDON.

YOU EACH HAVE ONE MINUTE. >> GOOD MORNING, MR. KAPPOR WILL BE HERE SHORTLY. MY NAME IS RITA ROBLEZ AND I LIVE IN THE DENVER

[01:25:04]

IT'S TIME FOR TRANSPARENCY AND ACCOUNTABILITY FLOOD CONTROL.

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

>> GOOD MORNING COMMISSIONERS AND JUDGE, MY NAME IS FELIX KAPPOR, PRECINCT 2 RESIDENT AND I WANT TO ASK WHY ARE WE HERE SIX YEARS LATER TALKING ABOUT IF UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES DESERVE EQUITY? NOW, SIX YEARS, WITH THE EQUITY PROJECT SELECTION MATRIX WAS ADDED TO THE BOND I THOUGHT THE COUNTY WAS HEADED IN A DIRECTION OF CENTERING EQUITY, CENTERING COMMUNITIES WHO HAVE BEEN UNDERSERVED HOWEVER, SIX YEARS LATER IN TWO DIRECTORS LATER, WE ARE STILL DEBATING EQUITY. HOW MANY TIMES WE BE BAMBOOZLED. WE WERE TOLD THERE WAS FEDERAL FUNDING, TRANSPARENCY, EQUITY, WE WERE TOLD THERE WILL BE A NEW DIRECTOR, NEW TOLL ROAD FUNDING. A NEW FRAMEWORK AND TRANSPARENCY SO WHY ARE WE HERE SIX YEARS LATER TALKING ABOUT IF UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES DESERVE EQUITY? IS NOT FAIR THAT PLACES LIKE BEL AIR ARE MORE COMPETITIVE, IT'S NOT FAIR LACK OF TRANSPARENCY AND FLOOD CONTROL IS MAKING HARRIS COUNTY RESIDENTS FIGHT FOR SCRAPS. KEEP THE MATRIX, DO YOUR JOB

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

>> GWEN FRAZIER ON ITEM 117. ROSS GORDON ON ITEM 117. JOSHUA GREEN ON ITEM 170 OF PRECINCT 4. SEAN BANOME. ROSIE TURNIPSEED.

YOU EACH HAVE ONE MINUTE. >> JUDGE AND COMMISSIONERS, JOSHUA GREEN, PRECINCT 4. OUR LAWS REQUIRE UNANIMOUS CONSENT TO WORK OUTSIDE OF IT AND OPEN MEETING. STATE LAW REQUIRES NOTICE TO THE MEETING. NEITHER HAPPENED. THIS CONTRACT IS OVER A QUARTER OF OUR ANNUAL BUDGET AND NO BUDGET HAS BEEN PROPERLY ADOPTED BY OUR AGE AWAY. WE NOTIFIED THE BOARD AND EMAILED THE CONSTABLE'S OFFICE THAT THE CONTRACT IS INVALID. SUBMITTING OR FORWARDING AND UNAUTHORIZED CONTRACT CAN'T VIOLATE THE LAW AND THE COUNTY CANNOT PAY CLAIMS NOT INCURRED LAWFULLY. THERE HAVE BEEN REPEATED FAILURES TO UPHOLD THE LAW BY OUR BOARD, OUR MANAGEMENT COMPANY, AND THE CONSTABLE LEADERSHIP IN PRECINCT 5. PLEASE DO NOT FOLLOW THAT PATH AND IGNORE STATE LAW. WITH THE HOUSE BILL 26, THIS MAY BE YOUR LAST CHANCE TO VOTE, NO.

TABLE THIS ITEM AND INFER THE ITEM FOR INVESTIGATION.

>> WHAT ITEM ARE YOU TALKING ON? >> 170.

>> WHAT IS THE ISSUE, EXACTLY? >> OUR BOARD DID NOT HOLD PROPER NOTICE ON THE MEETING, WE DON'T HAVE A BUDGET FOR NEXT YEAR BUT THEY SPENT 25% OF OUR MONEY WITHOUT UNANIMOUS WRITTEN

CONSENT. >> AND IN THE ENTERED INTO A

CONTRACT? >> THEY SIGN THE CONTRACT, UNLAWFULLY, IN MY OPINION, AND FORWARDED THAT TO THE CONSTABLE OFFICE. WE SENT THEM ITEMIZED DETAIL WITH ALL THE PROBLEMS, EVERYTHING. THEY SUBMITTED IT TO YOU GUYS.

>> OKAY, SO THIS WOULD BE, YOU ARE AGAINST US APPROVING ITEM

170? >> WHO WANT THEM TO DO IT RIGHT, WE LOVE THE CONSTABLES, WE WANT THIS CONTRACT, OUR COMMUNITY WAS DENIED THE VOICE AN OPPORTUNITY. YOU WERE ALL IN THIS ROOM BECAUSE WE UNDERSTAND THE IMPORTANCE OF THIS PROCESS AND THE PROCESS TO HAVE THESE VOTES BEING MADE OPENLY AND PUBLICLY

WAS DENIED BY COMMUNITY. >> I'VE HEARD FROM A LOT OF

[01:30:04]

>> OCTOBER 16TH. >> JAMES BARNETT FROM YOUR OFFICE, THANK YOU FOR SENDING HIM, HE IS AMAZING. HE HAS BEEN AT ALL OF OUR MEETINGS. HE PERSONALLY WITNESSED, THEY RATIFIED A DECISION AND WROTE IN THE AGENDA FOR A MAJORITY VOTE ON SOMETHING THAT DID NOT HAPPEN.

>> WHAT OCTOBER 16TH GIVE YOU ENOUGH TIME FOR THE COMMUNITY TO

VISIT WITH THE AGE AWAY? >> I BELIEVE THE CONTRACT IS

SCHEDULED TO BEGIN OCTOBER 1ST. >> IF WE WERE TO NOT VOTE ON THE CONTRACT AND PUSH THE VOTE UNTIL OCTOBER 16TH?

>> THAT IS A QUESTION FOR THE LAWYERS?

>> NO, THAT IS FOR YOU, WOULD IT BE ENOUGH TIME FOR YOU AND YOUR NEIGHBORS TO VISIT WITH THE BOARD AND FIGURE OUT WHAT TIER

YOU WANT? >> WE HAVE BEEN TRYING FOR YEARS. THERE IS A BREAKDOWN IN REALITY.

>> WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE US TO DO? >> SEND THE CONTRACT BACK AND

TELL THEM TO DO IT RIGHT . >> SET IT BACK TO OCTOBER 16TH, DOES THAT WORK FOR YOU? LET ME CHECK AND SEE IF THERE'S A PROBLEM WITH US CHECKING IT BACK . THE LAWYERS ARE GOING TO LOOK,

THANK YOU. >> GOOD MORNING, MY NAME IS ROSIE TURNIPSEED, I'M A LEGAL ADVOCATE AND PRODUCT OF THE SUNNYSIDE COMMUNITY, I WOULD LIKE TO TELL GARCIA, THANK YOU FOR ALL THAT YOU DO. ELLIS, THANK YOU, AS WELL. I'M HERE FOR TWO REASONS, ONE, COMMISSIONER ELLIS, I UNDERSTAND THAT YOU ARE ALLOCATING FUNDS TOWARDS HOUSING, OUTREACH, AND THINGS LIKE THAT. I COMMEND YOU FOR THAT BUT MY ASK IS YOU ARE MAKING SURE THE FUNDS ARE GOING TO THE AGENCIES WHO ARE GOING TO ASSIST AND DON'T WORRY ABOUT DATA SO THEY CAN KEEP THE MONEY COMING IN THAT ACTUALLY ARE IMPACTING AND SAVING LIVES. IT WOULD HELP THEM TREMENDOUSLY. ALSO, JUDGE, I'M SITTING HERE TODAY, YOU LACK EMPATHY AND I DO UNDERSTAND YOU HAVE SOME HEALTH CHALLENGES YOURSELF AND I'M STILL CONCERNED ABOUT YOU.

>> THANK YOU, YOUR TIME IS UP. >> EXCUSE ME, I MISSED THAT LAST PART. WHAT WAS THE LAST PART THAT YOU SAID, I'M SO SORRY.

>> WHICH PART DID YOU NOT UNDERSTAND ?

>> AT THE VERY END. >> ABOUT THE MENTAL HEALTH, WE NEED THOSE RESOURCES, I UNDERSTAND THE POLICE OFFICERS NEED MONEY, AS WELL AND I EMPATHIZE WITH THAT BUT WE NEED MENTAL HEALTH AND RESOURCES PARTICULARLY FOR THE SUNNYSIDE COMMUNITY, FIFTH WARD, WE NEED THAT. WHAT YOU DO LACK EMPATHY.

>> THANK YOU, I APPRECIATE IT, THANK YOU.

>> GOOD MORNING, JUDGE AND COMMISSIONERS. I AM SEAN BANOME HERE TO OPPOSE ITEM 170. THE MEMORIAL PARK WITH PRECINCT 5.

THIS CONTRACT IS INVALID BECAUSE IT WAS NEVER PROPERLY VOTED ON.

AND THE OPEN MEETINGS -- THERE WAS NO LAWFUL PUBLIC VOTE AND NO UNANIMOUS WRITTEN VOTE. 3 OUT OF 5 OF OUR BOARD MEMBERS KNOWINGLY SUBMITTED THIS CONTRACT AND THAT IS A CRIMINAL ACT. UNDER PENAL CODE 37 DOT 10, IT'S TAMPERING WITH THE GOVERNMENT RECORD AND MAY IMPLICATE 32.46, SECURING EXECUTION OF A DOCUMENT BY DECEPTION. AND 39.02, ABUSE OF OFFICIAL CAPACITY. THE ONLY LAWFUL COURSE IS TO REJECT AND REQUIRE A PROPER VOTE. I WOULD REQUEST A CRIMINAL INVESTIGATION INTO THE THREE AGE AWAY BOARD

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

>> I HAVE PROOF OF IT HERE, TOO. >> THANK YOU, I WILL HAVE MY STAFF VISIT WITH YOU ON THAT, IF THAT IS OKAY.

>> ITEM 260 OF PRECINCT 3. BROWN ON ITEM 410 OF PRECINCT ONE. YOU

[01:35:05]

EACH HAVE ONE MINUTE. >> GOOD MORNING, EVERYONE. I AM HERE AGAIN, MY NAME IS RAJ, I'M HERE FOR THE --GIVEN TO OUT-OF-STATE COMPANY. WE CAME IN $100,000 LESS AND YET, WE ARE OVERPAYING FOR THIS WARD AND THESE ITEMS AS SHIPPING $2.5 MILLION OF HARRIS COUNTY TAX DOLLARS TO ANOTHER STATE AND COUNTY. YOU CAN SEE ALL OF THESE PROGRAMS ARE BEING CUT. WE HAVE NO IDEA WHERE YOU FIND THE MONEY FROM. LOOK AT THE ITEMS IN THE QUESTIONS, BOXERS, SOCKS, SHIRTS, DO NEED TO SPEND $500,000 ON A CONTRACT AND GET IT FROM OUTSIDE WE CAN HAVE THESE KINDS OF THINGS AVAILABLE IN OUR BACKYARD? CAN WE NOT USE THIS MONEY FOR SOMETHING ELSE? SO MANY PROGRAMS ARE BEING CUT, YOU ARE BEING FORCED TO CUT PROGRAMS.

>> I'M GOING TO ASK A LOT OF QUESTIONS ON THIS ITEM.

>> THANK YOU FOR SHARING. >> LOOK AT THE REASONS THEY HAVE BEEN PROVIDING US. THE SEAMS ARE NOT PERFECT.

>> WE ARE GOING TO ASK QUESTIONS.

>> I DO HAVE SAMPLES TO SUBMIT.

>> WHAT IS ITEM NUMBER? >> 260.

>> AND THAT IS -- >> THE SAME COMPANY KEEPS

GETTING IT TIME AND TIME AGAIN. >> IS JOY ON BY ANY CHANCE?

>> I WILL NEVER GET PAST THAT ONE, I'M SO USED TO HAVING HIM.

WILL YOU BE ABLE TO BE HERE? >> YES.

>> ONE OF THE AWARDS, A BOXER THAT WE QUOTED ONE DOLLAR, THE SECOND AWARDEE, $14. IMAGINE IF YOU ARE BUYING 10,000 BOXERS, WITH THAT YOU'RE PAYING $140,000.

>> LET'S DISCUSS IT WHEN THE PURCHASING AGENT CAN GET ON THE

LINE, THANK YOU. >> HELLO, MY NAME IS LESHAYLIN BROWN. RAISING SOURS AT THIS MOMENT WILL COME AT TOO HIGH OF A COST. EVERY DOLLAR IS A DOLLAR TAKEN FROM PROGRAMS THAT KEEP OUR NEIGHBORHOODS STRONG, MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES, OUTREACH, HOUSING, AND MEDICAL CARE. THEY PREVENT CRIME, REDUCE EMERGENCIES, AND GIVE FAMILY STABILITY. PUBLIC SAFETY CAN'T REST SAFELY JUST ON PATROL CARS. DIVERTING FROM THOSE PARTIES UNDERMINES THE FOUNDATION OF SAFETY. PROTECTING ESSENTIAL PROGRAMS MUST BECOME -- , FOR PAY RAISES.

>> THANK YOU. >> NEXT IS NON-AGENDA SPEAKER REGINA JOHNSON , BARBARA MARKS , WILLIE HARRIS. YOU EACH HAVE ONE

MINUTE. >> GOOD MORNING, IS SUCH AN HONOR TO BE HERE. MY NAME IS REGINA JOHNSON AND I LIVE IN THE HARRIS COUNTY, MY FAMILY HAS ENDURED FLOODING . NEARLY OVERTOOK OUR BAYOU, AGAIN. WE KNOW THE NEXT FLOOD IS COMING AND WE KNOW WHO WILL SUFFER THE MOST. BLACK, BROWN, ELDERLY, DISABLED, AND WORKING-CLASS FAMILIES, LIKE MINE. IN 2018, I SUPPORTED THE FLOOD BOND BECAUSE EQUITY WAS PROMISED. SEVEN YEARS LATER, THAT PROMISE FEELS BROKEN. MY NEIGHBORHOOD AND OTHERS LIKE IT STILL WAIT FOR PROTECTION. WE LEARN THAT IT SIDESTEPPED THE SCORING SYSTEM, THIS COURT APPROVED. THAT IS NOT EQUITY, THAT IS INJUSTICE, ENOUGH IS ENOUGH, EVERY PROJECT MUST BE JUDGED BY THE SAME STANDARDS. EVERY COMMITMENT TO EQUITY MUST BE HONORED, WE DEMAND TRANSPARENCY. PUBLIC RECORDS AND A CLEAR TIMELINE OF WHO GETS PROTECTED AND WHEN. THE RHETORIC HAS CHANGED BUT, THE BEHAVIOR HAS NOT. THAT MAKES

[01:40:04]

JUSTICE -- >> THANK YOU, YOUR TIME IS UP.

>> HARRIS COUNTY MUST HONOR ITS PROMISES.

>> WE WILL WORK ON THAT IN A BIT, THANK YOU.

>> GOOD MORNING, JUDGE AND COMMISSIONERS. MY NAME IS WILL HARRIS, I MAY USE DIRECTOR BUT I'M ALSO KAILYN MOORE, I'M ALSO JONES, I'M ALSO MARK ANTHONY, I'M ALSO JAYLEN SMITH, I'M ALSO SAM FLAKES, I'M ALSO PORTIA JOHNSON. I'M ALSO ISRAEL JOHNSON. I'M ALSO TERRI SMITH. I'M ALSO DESMOND JEFFERS. I'M ALSO CAMERON JONES . THESE ARE JUST TO NAME A FEW OF THE MANY IMPACTED IF SERVICES ARE INTERRUPTED IN THE SLIGHTEST WAY. HOW THIS BUDGET GETS PASSED IS THROUGH A THOUGHTFUL DISCUSSION AND CONSIDERATION OF WHAT REMOVING RESOURCES WOULD DO TO ALREADY STRUGGLING COMMUNITIES. I URGE YOU TO RECONSIDER YOUR STANCE AND MAKE A DECISION THAT WILL REFLECT ALL COMMUNITIES AT THE COUNTY SERVES. THANK YOU.

>> GOOD MORNING, I WANTED TO SAY I ACTUALLY MET MR. GARCIA WHEN I BROUGHT MY STUDENTS TO SEE HERNANDEZ VERSUS TEXAS. I HAVE SOME PAPERS, AS WELL. THANK YOU. GOOD DAY COMMISSIONERS, I URGENTLY ASK THIS COURT TO HAVE MORE OVERSIGHT OVER HARRIS COUNTY PETS AND HOW THEY HARASS AND ENFORCE THE DANGEROUS DOG AND RABIES LAWS. DOGS SHOULD NOT BE DANGEROUS BECAUSE OF A SCRATCH OR SCRAPED KNEE WHEN THEY ARE CHASING THE DOG AND SOMEONE FALLS. THEY SHOULD ALLOW A SECURE ENCLOSURE INSIDE AND NOT KILL DOGS BECAUSE RENTERS CANNOT HAVE ONE OUTSIDE.

CITATIONS AND HEARINGS SHOULD BE IN THE COURT OF THE DEFENDANT AND HOME QUARANTINE SHOULD ALSO BE ALLOWED FOR VACCINATED ANIMALS BECAUSE THERE ARE NO RABIES CASES FOR UNVACCINATED AN ATTORNEY SHOULD NOT OVERREACH AND HEARINGS AND ONLY REPRESENT

COUNTY PEOPLE. >> THANK YOU, YOUR TIME IS UP.

CAN YOU PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME FOR THE RECORD?

>> BARBARA MARKS. >> THANK YOU.

>> NEXT IS A NON-AGENDA SPEAKER, JACOB CLAMETAGE.

>> ELIZA. BRIAN YOUNG AND ANAYA HUEMAN. TO EACH HAVE ONE MINUTE.

>> GOOD MORNING COUNSEL. I AM HERE TO GET PERMISSION --

>> GOOD YOU APPROACH THE MICROPHONE CLOSER?

>> I'M HERE TO GET PERMISSION UNDER YOUR TRANSPORTATION CODE AND FIVE FIGHT 2.00 71, PERSONALLY, YOU ARE ELECTED, NOT IN YOUR FIELD. SECONDLY -- SHE LEFT, SHE WANTS A PAY RAISE, I WANT $50 MILLION, PLAY WITH ME. I ASKED FOR SOMETHING SIMPLE, PLEASE GRANT IT. I DON'T HAVE TIME TO DEBATE. ONE SPEAKER, ONE ELECTED. I GOT GPS, I DON'T WANT TO BE IN HERE. DISRESPECT? CONSTABLE. MY DADDY WAS A CONSTABLE. HE CAN DISRESPECT ME.

YOU COME AT ME AND THREATENED TO UN-HOUSE ME, PUT ME IN JAIL? PUT

ME IN JAIL. >> THANK YOU.

>> HAVE A GREAT DAY. >> PLEASE APPROVE WHAT I ASKED

FOR. >>

>> THANK YOU. >> APPRECIATION LETTERS, HE SAYS THANK YOU FOR VISITING MY OFFICE GO, COUGARS. ANOTHER ONE SAID ,

[01:45:03]

DEAR JACOB CLAMETAGE, I WANT TO TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO THANK YOU FOR THE THOUGHTFUL GIFTS. IT'S ALWAYS GREAT .

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

>> COMMISSIONERS, I AM CONCERNED ABOUT A COMMENT MADE DURING LAST WEEK'S MEETING. IN THE MIDDLE OF A DEBATE ON WHETHER OUR CONSTABLES WOULD KEEP THE PAY RAISES THEY EARNED, COMMISSIONER GARCIA SUGGESTED THAT LAW ENFORCEMENT SHOULD RESIST COOPERATION WITH I.C.E. ATTEMPTING TO TIE THEIR PAY WAS FEDERAL IMMIGRATION LAW. OUR CONSTABLES RISK THEIR LIVES TO PROTECT THIS COUNTY HOLDING THEIR PAY HOSTAGE TO POLITICS IS INEXCUSABLE, OUR SAFETY IS NOT A BARGAINING CHIP FOR THE LEFT,

THANK YOU, VERY MUCH. >> THANK YOU, MAYOR.

>> MAYOR? LET ME JUST RESPOND, FIRST OF ALL, I ASKED WHETHER THIS BODY HAD ANY AUTHORITY TO DIRECT AS SUCH AND MY PERSPECTIVE WAS WE ARE INVESTING A LOT OF MONEY IN LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT, I WOULD LIKE TO KEEP THEIR WORK IN LOCAL AND IN

OUR COMMUNITIES, THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER.

>> I AM BRIAN YOUNG, I'M A SUBJECT MATTER EXPERT IN THE ECOSYSTEM DIRECTOR FOR THE TEXAS FEDERATION OF THE PEOPLE. I HAD A SPEECH I WAS GOING TO MAKE BUT AFTER MISSING WHAT EVERYONE SAID I WAS WONDERING IF SOME KIND OF WAY WE COULD COME TOGETHER AND DOING THE WORK WERE TRYING TO DO FUNDING THE POLICE AND BE ABLE TO GET BACK TO THE COMMUNITY. I WORKED UNDER GARCIA AND RODNEY ELLIS. RODNEY ELLIS, ONE OF HIS Z.I.P. CODES HE SAW 28% DEDUCTION IN CRIME RATE WHILE IN SOME AREAS, THE CRIME IS INCREASING. I DON'T THINK MR. RAMSEY, MRS. BRIONES ARE AGAINST FUNDING THE COMMUNITY, I JUST DON'T THINK PEOPLE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO EXPLAIN THE WORK THAT IS BEING DONE IN THE COMMUNITY AND I FEEL LIKE IF THEY GAVE THE CA4Y AN OPPORTUNITY, THEY WOULD BE ABLE TO EXPLAIN IT TO THEM BETTER, THANK YOU.

>> YOU KNOW WHAT? YOU ARE WELCOME TO USE MY CONFERENCE ROOM FOR A MEETING, DURING LUNCH OR WHATEVER, I ENCOURAGE THEM SO THEY CAN HEAR FROM YOU GUYS AND AS I SAID, I WOULD LOVE TO WORK TOGETHER ON AND FIND A SOLUTION IN TERMS OF, IF THEY DON'T WANT TO GO TO THE VOTERS FOR EVERYTHING, LET'S NOT GO TO THE VOTERS FOR EVERYTHING, LET'S NEGOTIATE, LET'S MAKE THE DEFICIT AND THE CUTS A LITTLE BIT SMALLER AND I'M HAPPY TO DO THAT AND BRING LUNCH, IF YOU GUYS COULD STAY AND THE COMMISSIONERS CAN VISIT WITH YOU ALL.

>> THAT'S ALL THE SPEAKERS. >> THANK YOU SO MUCH, TIFFANY, THANK YOU TO ALL OF THE SPEAKERS. NOW, WE MOVE ON TO , THE PAPER WITH THE ORDER, ALL RIGHT. LET ME PUT IT BUT NEEDS

[Departments (Part 3 of 9)]

ITEM 404, PRECINCT 1 ASKED FOR NO ACTION. ITEM 406, WE HAVE TO VOTE ON, OKAY . ANY OTHER CORRECTIONS, HERE? I DON'T SEE

[01:50:13]

>> YES, JUDGE, JUST TO BE CLEAR, ONLY ITEM 404, NO ACTION.

>> ITEM 12, PRECINCT 4 REQUESTS NO ACTION, ITEM 143, WE HAVE TO ADD THE WORDS I.T. AFTER COUNTYWIDE SO IT READS REQUEST FOR APPROVAL OF THE CHANGED MENU -- MEMO FOR I.T. PAGE 119, WE HAVE TO CORRECT IN SPRING TEXAS, WITH AND QUOTE DIRECTING OCE TO INSTALL AND MAINTAIN THE CUSTOM CARPET AND PAINT WITH ADDING STOCK FROM THE PROJECT. NEITHER THE COUNTY OR HPCL WILL PROVIDE FUNDING FOR THE PROJECT. NO ACTION ON 188? IS THAT CORRECT?

>> THAT IS CORRECT. >> NO ACTION ON ITEM 196 ON PAGE 93. 235 ON PAGE 29, WE HAVE TO CHANGE QUOTE, THE PROJECT WITH PLAYGROUND AMENITIES PROJECT. ITEM 243 WE HAVE TO REPLACE THE AGENDA CAPTION AFTER REQUEST BY THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE FOR APPROVAL , AND I READS REQUEST BY THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE FOR APPROVAL TO TRANSFER $200,000 TO THE FLEX FUND, 1044 APPROVE START UP FUNDS FOR THE WOMEN'S EMPOWERMENT CENTER PROGRAM. 332 PAGE 41, PRECINCT 1 REQUESTS NO ACTION. 361 WE ALREADY CORRECTED AND VOTED ON. 366 PUBLIC HEARING, WE SAID NO ACTION BUT THE DEPARTMENTS WILL BRING IT BACK NEXT TIME. 404, PRECINCT ONE REQUESTS NO ACTION. 414, NO ACTION NEEDED ON THE BROAD LEGISLATION ACTION. 430, PAGE 51, CHEF REQUESTED NO ACTION.

449 PAGE 53, WE HAVE TO REPLACE $250,000 WITH $272,000 727 .

466, PAGE 56 WE REPLACE QUOTE, BID TO TEXAS OFFICE PRODUCT SEMICOLON IMPERIAL -- IN LANSING TAPE AND PACKAGING WITH QUOTE, BIDS TO OFFICE PRODUCTS INC. AND ATLANTIC TAPE AND PACKAGING.

ITEM 462 REQUESTS FOR PURCHASING, NO ACTION. 487, REQUEST THAT WE REPLACE 25 YEARS WITH 34 YEARS. AND THAT'S WHAT I HAVE, AM I MISSING ANY CORRECTIONS? OKAY. THOSE ARE ALL

[Appearances Before Court (Part 2 of 2)]

>> JUDGE? WE HAD A SPEAKER THAT WAS NOT CALLED, LINDSAY WILLIAMS, SHE'S ONE OF OUR COMMUNITY LEADERS, LINDSAY, IF YOU ARE STILL HERE, PLEASE COME ON UP AND SHARE YOUR COMMENTS.

>> THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER. >> THANK YOU FOR CALLING ME UP, I APPRECIATE IT. I'M LINDSAY WILLIAMS, PRESIDENT OF SUPER NEIGHBORHOODS 6448. MEMBER OF THE HARRIS COUNTY PRECINCT 2 COMMUNITY ADVISORY BOARD. I'M HERE TO SUPPORT 204, THE RAILROAD ADMINISTRATION AND GRANT AND EXPRESS OUR GRATITUDE TO MR. GARCIA'S LEADERSHIP. THE EAST END TRIANGLE IN EASTWOOD WITH THREE SIMULTANEOUS THE RAIL STOPS, ONLY ONE WAY OUT. KIDS ARE HAVING TO CRAWL THROUGH TRAINS TO GET TO SCHOOL AND FIRST RESPONDERS FACED DANGEROUS DELAYS. AFTER SEEING FIRSTHAND COMMISSIONER GARCIA ACTED DECISIVELY AND COORDINATED WITH THE CITY FOR A STUDY AND THEY PROVIDED CRUCIAL DATA AND COMMUNITY IMPACT STORIES. THE RESULT WAS A $2 MILLION GRANT SECURED. COMMISSIONER, THIS WILL BENEFIT YOU BECAUSE THAT INCLUDES THE WEST BELT RAILROAD RIDE, WHICH IS THE BOUNDARY. I

[Departments (Part 4 of 9)]

[01:55:01]

>> WONDERFUL, THANK YOU AND I APPRECIATE YOUR ADVOCACY.

>> THANK YOU, HUGE DEAL, COMMISSIONER. OKAY, SO, EXECUTIVE SESSION ITEMS WILL BE MOTIONED TO BE APPROVED AS PRESENTED. DO NEED TO DISCUSS 403?

>> I'M SORRY, CAN YOU TELL ME WHICH ITEMS ARE APPROVED FOR EXECUTIVE SESSION. SPEAK I'M ABOUT TO GO THROUGH THE ITEMS. DO WE NEED TO DISCUSS ITEM 403? SHERIFF'S CIVIL SERVICE ?

>> WHAT ABOUT 404? NO ACTION. WHAT ABOUT 405? I BELIEVE WE HAVE TO TAKE THAT TO EXECUTIVE SESSION. 406. 407. WE HAVE TO

TAKE TO EXECUTIVE SESSION? >> DO COLLEAGUES HAVE ANY QUESTIONS? YES. WE WILL LEAVE IT IN EXECUTIVE SESSION. 408. TWO WE HAVE TO TAKE FOR A WEIGHT TO EXECUTIVE SESSION?

>> ANY QUESTIONS? >> YES.

>> 408 GOES TO EXECUTIVE SESSION. ANY OTHER EXECUTIVE SESSION ITEM WOULD BE APPROVED AS PRESENTED.

>> DISCUSSION LIST, DO WE NEED TO DISCUSS ITEM 2? YES, THAT IS THE JAIL UPDATE. ITEM THREE? YES. ITEM 12, YES. MR. GARCIA?

>> YES. >> THAT WAS A NO ACTION, NUMBER

12. >> NUMBER 12?

>> THAT ITEM HAS BEEN PULLED, NO ACTION ON THAT. SORRY.

>> WE WILL PUT NO ACTION. >> WE WILL KEEP IT NO ACTION.

ITEM 117, YES, THAT IS THE FLOOD BOND. THERE IS A REQUEST TO TAKE THE ITEM FIRST IN THE DISCUSSION LIST. ITEM 125?

>> YES. >> ITEM 140? COMMISSIONER

RAMSEY? >> YES.

>> 141? >> YES.

>> 183 ? 191? >> YES.

>> 197 ? >> YES.

>> 198? >> YES.

>> 199? 24? THAT'S THE GRANT, I'M GUESSING, YES? 238?

>> YES. >> 239?

>> YES. >> 241? 242?

>> YES. >> THOSE WILL GO ALONG WITH 484?

>> 260? >> 282?

>> 284? >> 322?

>> YES. >> 360 GAIT?

>> YES. >> WE DID THAT ONE. TRANSMITTAL

FOR UNIVERSAL SERVICES, 382? >> COMMISSIONER GARCIA FLAGGED THAT ONE, AN UPDATE ABOUT THE HOMELESS ENCAMPMENT. FOR 10 , PAY SCALE? YES. 411? COMMISSIONER GARCIA REQUESTED

DISCUSSION ON THIS? >> YES.

>> 432? >> YES.

>> 471? SHOULD WE TAKE 472 TO EXECUTIVE SESSION? MAYBE NOT?

471? YES. 472? >> YES.

>> OKAY, 481? >> YES.

>> 482? >> YES.

>> 481, 482? YES. 484? YES. IS THE ITEM WITH THE HLA ON HERE? THE CONSTABLE? WHICH NUMBER IS THAT?

>> THAT IS 170, WE HAVE TO VOTE ON THAT.

>> I WILL PUT HERE, IF FOLKS ARE STILL HERE WE CAN TALK ABOUT IT.

>> ADDED 245, 329, 448. >> JUST A SECOND. I STILL WANT TO READ , THERE ARE A COUPLE MORE ON -- OKAY. I FORGOT, I DID NOT GET TO OUT OF ORDER RESOLUTIONS, I WILL ADD THAT IN A SECOND, WE ALSO HAVE 479, 489, 490 , 491 , 495 , 496 , 497, AND

[02:00:11]

>> I ASK FOR PERSONAL PRIVILEGE TO ADD 492 AND 493 TO THAT LIST.

>> FOR 90 TO COME OUT OF ORDER RESOLUTION. FOR 93 COME OUT OF ORDER RESOLUTION. COMMISSIONER RAMSEY, WOULD YOU MIND REPEATING

A LITTLE SLOWER? >> 245.

>> JUST A SECOND. 245. AND THAT ONE IS , 245, IT'S ABOUT SAGE INSIGHT HARRIS COUNTY TAX OFFICE, DOES THAT SOUND RIGHT?

>> YES. >> WHAT IS THE NEXT ONE?

>> 329. >> 329. FINAL INVESTMENT MEMO

FOR FLEET . >> AND 448.

>> OKAY, SO THAT WAS 329 AND THEN, 448 IS COMPENSATION FOR SERVICES PROVIDED BY THE TAX ASSESSOR.

>> THAT IS IT. >> OKAY, I AM ADDING 448. I HAVE A NOTE HERE ALSO TO TAKE ONE 97 INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION.

COMMISSIONER ELLIS, IS THAT RIGHT?

>> NO, I DON'T NEED TO GO BACK. >> YES?

>> IF YOU PUT ITEMS 3 ON THE DISCUSSION?

>> ITEMS 3. THE SALARY GRIEVANCE COMMITTEE MEETING? I WANT TO SAY WE HAVE THAT ONE IN THERE ALREADY BUT, OKAY, LET ME READ THIS FROM THE TOP, I DID THE PUBLIC HEARINGS AND TAX RATES.

WE HAVE EXECUTIVE SESSION ITEM 405, 406, EXECUTIVE SESSION 407, EXECUTIVE SESSION FOR A WEIGHT. REGULAR AGENDA, ITEMS 2, 3, 117 , 125 , 140 , 141 , 143 , 183 , 191 , 197 , 198 , 199 , 24 -- 204 , 238, 239, 241 , 242 , 245 , 260 , 282 , 284 , 322 , 329 , 382 , 410 , 411 , 432, 448 , 471 , 472 , 481 , 482 , 484 , 479, 489 , 490, 491, 492, 493, 495, 496 , 497, AND 498. DID I MISS

ANYTHING? >> JUDGE, QUICK QUESTION, ITEMS 197 AND 432, I THINK THEY NEED TO BE IN IN EXECUTIVE SESSION. I THINK THAT WAS RELATED TO THE O'DONNELL. UNLESS YOU NO LONGER

WANT TO. >> 197?

>> LET'S MOVE ONE 97 TO EXECUTIVE SESSION.

>> AND TO 432. >> AND 432, 432 IS SOLAR FOR

[02:05:09]

ANY QUESTIONS? >> 170, WERE WE GOING TO KEEP

DOING THE CONSENT? >> WE HAVE TO VOTE ON IT.

>> I LISTED IT FOR DISCUSSION. >> 170 WILL BE ON DISCUSSION?

>> YEAH. ANYTHING ELSE? >> CONSENT AGENDA.

>> IS THERE A MOTION FOR ALL ITEMS WITH THE EXCEPTIONS OF ITEMS ALREADY VOTED ON AND ITEMS JUST LISTED, MOTION BY GARCIA, SECOND BY ELLIS. ANY OPPOSE? MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY. WE WILL START WITH THE AGENDA STARTING WITH THE FLOOD CONTROL ITEMS AND WE WILL CALL IT, DIRECTOR PETERSON.

>> GOOD MORNING. GOOD MORNING JUDGE, GOOD MORNING COMMISSIONERS. I DO HAVE A BRIEF PRESENTATION I WOULD LIKE TO GO THROUGH BEFORE WE START DISCUSSION, IF I MAY.

>> GO AHEAD. ALL RIGHT. SO, TODAY WE ARE HERE TO REALLY COME BACK AFTER SEVERAL MOTIONS THAT WERE MADE IN JUNE AND JULY AND WE ARE SURE TO BE RESPONSIVE TO THOSE MOTIONS AND PRESENT A PATH FORWARD. IF WE CAN GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE. FIRST, I WANT, AND JUDGE, SHOULD I PROCEED, I SEE THAT COMMISSIONER RAMSEY STEPPED OUT, IS THAT

>> ALL RIGHT, IT IS 12:27, BACK IN SESSION, DIRECTOR PETERSON WAS GOING TO START WITH A PRESENTATION.

>> I WILL START OVER, GOOD AFTERNOON, JUDGE AND COMMISSIONERS, THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO PRESENT THIS MORNING, I WILL JUMP RIGHT INTO THIS. SO, THE FLOOD CONTROL 2018 BOND REALLY STARTED WITH HURRICANE HARVEY, IF WE GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE, DURING THAT STORM THERE WERE MORE THAN 600,000 VEHICLES THAT WERE IMPACTED, MORE THAN 150 STRUCTURES WERE FLOODED AND THE IMPACT WAS FELT ACROSS HARRIS COUNTY. IF WE GO TO THE NEXT -- THE FLOOD BOND WAS CREATED WITH THIS CHALLENGE IN MIND, TO BE IN RESPONSE TO HURRICANE HARVEY AND TO BE CLEAR, THE $5 BILLION THAT WAS ENVISIONED AS PART OF THIS PROGRAM 2.5 FROM THE VOTERS, 2.5 FROM PARTNERSHIPS WAS NEVER GOING TO MEET ALL OF THE NEED WE HAD IN HARRIS COUNTY BUT THIS WAS A VERY GOOD START. I DO WANT TO NOTE THAT THE SIZE OF THIS PROGRAM IS TREMENDOUS, IT IS THE LONGEST BOND PROGRAM THE COUNTY HAS EVER DONE IN ONE OF THE LARGEST IN THE NATION. IF WE GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE, THE PROGRAM HAS ALREADY BEEN DELIVERING BENEFITS, IF WE GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE, ONE OF THE THINGS WE KNOW IS THAT STORM WATER DETENTION IS A CRITICAL ELEMENT OF THE WORK THAT THE FLOOD DISTRICT DOES AND ALREADY, AS PART OF THIS PROGRAM, WE HAVE COMPLETED MORE THAN 16,000 ACRE-FEET OF STORAGE IN THIS PROGRAM, IF WE GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE, WE'VE ALSO COMPLETED MORE THAN 4600 FEET OF CHANNEL IMPROVEMENTS, THIS DISTANCE WOULD STRETCH FROM DOWNTOWN HOUSTON TO DOWNTOWN GALVESTON, THIS IS A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF IMPROVEMENTS AND THIS TRANSLATES INTO WATER MOVING MORE EFFICIENTLY THROUGH OUR CHANNELS AND REDUCED RISK OF FLOODING. ON THE NEXT SLIDE WE ARE HIGHLIGHTING THAT WE HAVE PRESERVED MORE THAN 5800 ACRES IN THE FLOODPLAIN KEEPING THOSE PROPERTIES FROM DEVELOPMENT, ON THE NEXT SLIDE, WE HAVE ALSO WORKED DILIGENTLY IN OUR BIO

[02:10:02]

WHAT WE KNOW FROM THIS WORK IS WE HAVE SPENT APPROXIMATELY $1.5 BILLION OF THE PROGRAM THUS FAR AND THIS IS WHAT WE HAVE ACHIEVED. WE KNOW THAT THIS IS WORKING BECAUSE DURING THE HURRICANE WE SAW A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF RAIN AND YET, VERY FEW STRUCTURES FLOODED. WE KNOW THAT THOUSANDS OF HOMES WERE PROTECTED AS A RESULT OF THESE COMPLETED PROJECTS. IF WE GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE. ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WAS A VERY FUNDAMENTAL PART OF THIS PROGRAM WAS PARTNERSHIPS. THE VOTERS WERE TOLD THAT THE FLOOD CONTROL DISTRICT WOULD BE ASKING FOR $2.5 BILLION IN LOCAL FUNDS AND THOSE DOLLARS WOULD BE MULTIPLIED BY ANOTHER $2.5 BILLION. WHAT I CAN TELL YOU IS WE TOLD THE VOTERS WE WOULD LEVERAGE THESE FUNDS AND WE HAVE AND WE HAVE DONE MORE. WE HAVE SECURED $2.7 BILLION IN PARTNERSHIPS, WE ARE WORKING WITH 27 DIFFERENT LOCAL, STATE, AND FEDERAL PARTNERS ACROSS HARRIS COUNTY AND THE NATION AND I WANT TO POINT OUT THAT THIS DECISION TO WORK WITH PARTNERS DOES ADD COMPLEXITY TO THIS PROGRAM. IT ALSO MEANS THAT THINGS SOMETIMES TAKE LONGER BUT THIS INVESTMENT WAS WORTHWHILE BECAUSE WE HAVE MORE THAN DOUBLED THE DOLLARS FOR OUR COMMUNITY. IF WE GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE. AND SO, LET'S TALK ABOUT WHERE WE ARE, RIGHT NOW. IF WE GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE, WE HAVE BEEN WORKING IN A VERY DELIBERATE MANNER, SINCE MOTIONS WERE MADE IN JUNE AND JULY, WE APPRECIATE THE CLARITY THE COURT GAVE US WITH THOSE MOTIONS AND WE HAVE BEEN WORKING DILIGENTLY WITH TEAMS TO UNDERSTAND AND DEVELOP A PATH FORWARD. BASED ON YOUR GUIDANCE. I WANT TO WALK YOU THROUGH THE RECOMMENDATIONS WE HAVE FROM THIS WORK. ON THIS NEXT SLIDE , WE WILL GO TO A MAP THAT SHOWS PROJECTS LOCATED ACROSS HARRIS COUNTY AND WE ARE REALLY AT, WHAT I AM TALKING ABOUT IS MAYBE A TIPPING POINT OR, MAYBE THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR A LEVEL SET. WE KNOW WE HAVE INCREASED INFLATION, WE KNOW WE HAVE RISING CONSTRUCTION COSTS AND WE WILL NOT BE ABLE TO COMPLETE EVERYTHING. THAT IS WHERE THE PRIOR VISITATION --TRAN32 HAS BEEN SUCCESSFUL. WE HAVE 75 PROJECTS THAT WILL BE MOVING FORWARD AND, IF WE GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE, WE HAVE 26 PROJECTS THAT ARE PAUSING BECAUSE THEY ARE LOWER ON THE FRAMEWORK. RECOMMEND THESE PROJECTS STILL MOVE FORWARD AND WE USE THE PRIORITIZATION FRAMEWORK AS A BASIS FOR THAT DECISION-MAKING. IF WE GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE, WE ALSO HAVE SEVERAL PROJECTS THAT ARE CLOSING. WHAT IS IMPORTANT TO UNDERSTAND IS WHEN THE FLOOD CONTROL BOND WAS DEVELOPED, A LOT OF THE PROJECTS WERE PUT ON THIS LIST, WERE NOT FULLY ENGINEERED, IT HAS TAKEN US SOME TIME TO --

>> EXACTLY. >> THAT WAS GOD SAYING THAT YOU'VE DONE A HECK OF A JOB ON THIS PROGRAM.

>> OKAY, WE MAY HAVE TO TAKE THE LUNCH EARLY?

>> JUST TAKE AN EARLY LUNCH. >> YOU DON'T KNOW WHO'S MAKING THAT NOISE? HAVE YOU IDENTIFIED OR TOLD THEM TO STOP?

>> YES. >> OKAY, GREAT. IT'S RIGHT THERE? SO IT'S NOT LIKE THEY HAVE TO LOOK IN THE BUILDING.

THAT'S CONTINUE, THEN. >> WE ARE HERE ON THIS CLOSE SIDE. WHAT I WAS SAYING IS WHEN WE STARTED THE FLOOD CONTROL DISTRICT BOND, THERE WERE PROJECTS THAT HAD NOT BEEN FULLY ENGINEERED SO, THEY TOOK SOME WORK TO DIG INTO CERTAIN PROBLEM AREAS AND UNDERSTAND REALLY WHAT IS GOING ON IN THESE AREAS.

[02:15:04]

>> HELLO. IT IS 12:41. COMMISSIONERS COURT IS BACK IN SESSION. ENGINEERING IS GOING FLOOR BY FLOOR AND THEY STILL HAVE NOT FOUND THE PERSON BUT, THEY SUGGESTED WE CONTINUE BECAUSE THEY WILL STILL BE LOOKING, I DON'T KNOW, WE RUN THE RISK, IT'S BEEN SHORT. WE COULD PAUSE AND RESTART BUT --

YOU KNOW. >> YES.

>> LET'S JUST BE PATIENT, THEY ARE GOING THROUGH IT.

>> NO WORRIES. IF WE MAY, I WOULD LIKE TO GO BACK TO MAYBE A COUPLE SLIDES BECAUSE I THINK WE ARE KIND OF IN THE MIDDLE OF AN ARC OF A STORY, I WANT TO MAKE SURE WE FULLY GET TO TELL THIS PART. IF WE CAN GO BACK ONE MORE? YES. SO, WE ARE HERE TODAY TO COME BACK IN RESPONSE TO THE MOTIONS THAT WERE MADE AFTER WORKING DILIGENTLY WITH YOUR TEAMS TO DEVELOP A PATH FORWARD AND I DO WANT TO STRESS THE APPRECIATION I HAVE FOR THE WORKING GROUP THAT WE HAVE HAD. IT'S BEEN VERY PRODUCTIVE, YOUR STAFF HAVE COME TO THE TABLE AND SPENT A LOT OF TIME WITH US I KNOW THAT IT HAS REQUIRED A LOT BUT I THINK WE HAVE GAINED A REALLY GOOD COLLABORATION AND THIS PLAN IS A RESULT OF THOSE EFFORTS. IF WE CAN GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE, WE HAVE WORKED THROUGH TO UNDERSTAND THE BOND PROGRAM. WE HAVE DUG DEEP INTO EACH PROJECT TO GAIN AN UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT CAN BE DONE WITH THESE PROJECTS AT WHAT CANNOT. THIS SIDE ISSUING WE HAVE 75 ACTIVE PROJECTS MOVING FORWARD, THE NEXT SLIDE SHOWS WE HAVE 26 PROJECTS THAT ARE PAUSING BECAUSE THEY ARE ON THE LOWER PART OF THE PRIORITIZATION FRAMEWORK. THE NEXT SLIDE SHOWS THAT WE HAVE 15 BOND I.D.S THAT WE HAVE DETERMINED THROUGH ENGINEERING STUDY AND EXPERTISE THAT THE PROJECTS ARE NO LONGER FEASIBLE, THEY DON'T MAKE SENSE OR WE HAVE PARTNERS WHO HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO IDENTIFY A PROJECT THAT WE CAN WORK ON TOGETHER SO THOSE PROJECTS ARE NOT MOVING FORWARD AND FINALLY WE HAVE 54 BOND I.D.S ON THE NEXT SLIDE HAVE BEEN COMPLETED. I DO WANT TO STRESS, ON THE NEXT FLIGHT -- SLIDE, THE WORK WE HAVE IN FRONT OF US IS SIGNIFICANT. WE HAVE COMPLETED A LOT AND WE HAVE DELIVERED BENEFITS. WE HAVE 75 ACTIVE BOND I.D.S WHICH ARE FUNDING MECHANISMS FOR 248 INDIVIDUAL PROJECTS. THESE PROJECTS ARE DETENTION BASINS, CHANNEL IMPROVEMENTS, FLOOD RISK REDUCTION FOR OUR COMMUNITY AND AT THE END OF THE DAY, THIS RESULTS IN AT LEAST 180,000 STRUCTURES BEING REMOVED FROM THE FLOODPLAIN AND THAT IS GOING TO IMPACT ALL OF OUR COMMUNITIES. IT WILL IMPACT SUNNYSIDE, NORTHWOOD MANOR, CYPRUS, KINGWOOD, BRIDGEWOOD, PASADENA, AND BEYOND. THIS PROGRAM WILL REACH THROUGHOUT HARRIS COUNTY. IF WE GO TO THE FINAL SLIDE OF THIS PRESENTATION, I BELIEVE , I WANT TO END, ACTUALLY, NO, WE HAVE TO TALK ABOUT THE DASHBOARD. THIS IS AN IMPORTANT PART OF THE WORK WE'VE DONE WITH YOUR TEAMS. WE HAVE WORKED COLLABORATIVELY TO TAKE THE DASHBOARD THAT WE PREVIOUSLY HAD AND REALLY ELEVATED INTO SOMETHING THAT WE ARE PROUD OF AND WE ALSO ACCEPT THAT WE KNOW THERE IS MORE WORK THAT WE CAN DO TO IMPROVE THE WAY THAT THE DASHBOARD FUNCTIONS. WE ABSOLUTELY HEARD THE FEEDBACK AND CAN CERTAINLY LOOK AT WAYS TO DIFFERENTIATE THE PARTNERSHIP PROJECTS IN A WAY THAT MAKES THEM CLEARER. THE PROJECTS ARE ON THE DASHBOARD BUT THE SPEAKER WAS CORRECT THAT YOU CANNOT IDENTIFY THOSE. YOU CAN PUT TOGETHER DIFFERENT FILTERS. WE HAVE RECEIVED A LOT OF GOOD FEEDBACK FROM YOUR TEAMS IN TERMS OF LAYERS TO INCLUDE.

WE INCLUDED A SEARCH FUNCTION AND THE ABILITY TO SELECT A

[02:20:08]

ALL OF US. >> APPARENTLY THEY FOUND THE

FOLKS IN THE WORK IS DONE. >> YAY.

>> REALLY, I THINK WE, AGAIN, IF WE GO TO THE FINAL SLIDE, THE WEBSITE IS ON THE SLIDE. AND IF WE CAN GO TO THE LAST SLIDE.

WHAT I WANTED TO CLOSE ON IS WE HAVE TAKEN THE 2018 BOND PROGRAM, WHICH STARTED OUT WITH A LOT OF CONCEPTS ABOUT THE WORK WE HAVE DONE TOGETHER WITH YOUR TEAMS COME WITH ALL OF YOU, THE DIRECTION WE HAVE RECEIVED, WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO GROUNDED THIS WORK IN REALITY. WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO IDENTIFY THE SECURED PARTNERSHIPS THAT CONTINUES TO BE A PRIORITY THAT I'VE HEARD FROM THIS COURT, CERTAINLY IDENTIFYING AND GETTING CLARITY ON ACTIVE PROJECTS, TAKING THE OPPORTUNITY TO RECOGNIZE WHEN THERE ARE CERTAIN ENGINEERING FEASIBLE PROJECTS THAT CAN MOVE FORWARD AND CERTAIN ONES THAT CANNOT. I WANT TO SAY WE APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY TO LEVEL SET, WE HAVE BASED OUR RECOMMENDATIONS ON ENGINEERING AND GUIDANCE AND ARE READY TO MOVE FORWARD TO DELIVER THIS PROGRAM IN THIS FRAMEWORK THAT WE HAVE LAID OUT, TODAY AND I WOULD BE HAPPY TO TAKE

QUESTIONS. >> THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER ELLIS, GARCIA, RAMSEY, AND BRIONES.

>> THANK YOU, YOU HAVE MADE TREMENDOUS PROGRESS AND I AM PLEASED, BOTH OF THE ITEMS HAVE BEEN WORKED ON, IT IS A COUP BY OUR MOMENT, I WANT TO MAKE A COUPLE POINTS, AS THEY ONLY PERSON STILL AT THIS DAIS HE WAS HERE WITH THE 2018 BOND PACKAGE WAS PUT ON THE AGENDA , THERE WERE TWO THINGS, I SAID IT BEFORE BUT I WANT TO STRESS THAT, ONE ITEM WAS THE DUE DISPARITY STUDY, FOUR OF US WENT TO AN EVENT THIS MORNING THAT HAD A TREMENDOUS IMPACT ON OUR ABILITY TO LEVEL THE PLAYING FIELD FOR MINORITY OWNED SMALL BUSINESSES. FROM HISPANICS, IN PARTICULAR, THE LEVEL OF PRECIPITATION HAS GONE UP SLIGHTLY OVER 300%. JUST FROM THE COUNTY'S SPENDING TO LITTLE OVER 15%, NOW WE WERE USING THE LEVERAGE OF THAT BOND ISSUE AND THEY CAME HERE , AND MADE THAT CASE AND THAT IS A GOOD THING.

THAT'S HOW WE GOT TO WHERE WE ARE BUT THE OTHER THING WE USED THIS FOR LEVERAGE ON WAS EQUITY LANGUAGE AND I WANT TO STRESS THAT AND READ IT AGAIN BECAUSE IT PASSED UNANIMOUSLY UNDER THAT COURT AND I CAN ASSURE YOU, I HOPE YOU ALL LOVE ME BUT I DON'T THINK I WAS AS WELL LOVED BACK THEN BUT THE LANGUAGE SAID, QUOTE, SINCE FLOODING ISSUES DO NOT RESPECT JURISDICTIONAL OR POLITICAL BOUNDARIES, SHALL PROVIDE A PROCESS FOR THE EQUITABLE EXPENDITURE OF FUNDS RECOGNIZING THE PROJECT SELECTION MAY HAVE BEEN AFFECTED IN THE PAST AND MAY CONTINUE TO BE AFFECTED I ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS MATCHING STATE, LOCAL, AND OTHER GOVERNMENT FUNDS. I CAN'T REMEMBER WHO SECONDED IT, BUT IT PASSED UNANIMOUSLY. THE SECOND WAS, USUALLY WHEN THESE BOND ISSUES PASS, FOLKS IN THE PRECINCT THIS PORTION WE TURN OUT TO VOTE FOR IT BUT ALSO IT DISPROPORTIONATELY, GOT LESS. THE PRECINCTS HAVE BEEN CHANGED BUT THAT WAS THE REALITY. WE WERE LUCKY AND I SAID THIS BEFORE, THE LAW PERMITTED US TO HAVE THAT ELECTION IN AUGUST WHEN THE LOWEST NUMBER OF PEOPLE WHICH SHOW UP TO VOTE SO, WE BRAG ABOUT A PASSING BY 80% BUT WE DON'T POINT OUT IT WAS THE LOWEST PERCENTAGE OF PEOPLE VOTING PROBABLY IN THE HISTORY IN HARRIS COUNTY. I'M NOT SURE WE COULD STILL GET THAT, THEY'D HAVE TO PAY $1 MILLION, BY THE WAY, TO HAVE THAT SPECIAL ELECTION ON A NONUNIFORM ELECTION DAY, I THINK THEY TOOK THAT EXCEPTION NOW AND THE GOVERNOR HAD TO GIVE US PERMISSION TO HAVE IT AGAIN. THAT'S PROBABLY NOT GOING TO HAPPEN AGAIN BUT I WANT TO STRESS, AND WE DO ANOTHER BOND ISSUE, THAT WILL HAVE TO BE COMPARABLE EQUITY LANGUAGE. I THINK, I MUST BE HALFWAY A CREDIBLE MESSENGER BECAUSE ON

[02:25:05]

JUST REMEMBER THAT NUMBER. >> YES. THERE HAS BEEN A REPORTED $1.3 BILLION SHORTFALL, I DON'T KNOW WHERE THAT NUMBER CAME FROM, THAT IS NOT AN ACCURATE NUMBER. WE HAVE WORKED VERY HARD OVER THE LAST SEVERAL MONTHS WITH ROUTINES TO DIG INTO THE PROJECTS THAT WE HAD ADDITIONAL NEEDS THAT WE COULD IDENTIFY THROUGH ENGINEERING STUDIES AND TECHNICAL BASIS. AS A RESULT OF THAT WORK WE HAVE DETERMINED THAT THERE IS ROUGHLY $410 MILLION THAT WOULD BE REQUIRED TO COMPLETE THE PROJECTS THAT WE CURRENTLY DO NOT HAVE. TO PUT THAT IN CONTEXT, IF WE LOOK AT THE INFLATION THAT HAS OCCURRED BETWEEN 19, WHEN THE PROGRAM WAS FIRST STARTED AND NOW, WE'VE HAD NUMEROUS IMPACTFUL INFLATIONARY EVENTS THAT HAVE LED TO ROUGHLY BETWEEN 25 AND 30% INFLATION. TO PUT THE NUMBER WERE TALKING ABOUT IN CONTEXT, WE ARE TALKING ABOUT ROUGHLY AN 8% INCREASE ON THE PROGRAM. THIS IS A VERY REASONABLE, THIS IS SOMETHING THAT WE CAN TACKLE AND ADDRESS. THIS IS SOMETHING THAT IS WITHIN THE RANGE OF WHAT WE WOULD HAVE EXPECTED TO SEE AND IT IS CLEARLY MUCH LESS THAN THE NATIONAL AVERAGES WHEN IT COMES

TO INFLATION. >> 2.5 PLUS 2.5 AND 2.7 AND EVEN IF THIS OTHER 410 SHOWS UP, IT'S NOT GOING TO SOLVE, WE WANT TO DO IS MITIGATE. I THINK I MENTIONED STUDIES MIGHT HAVE BEEN AS HIGH AS 15, $20 BILLION, BACK THEN, WE WERE PUTTING THIS ON THE BALLOT. BUT I WANT TO ENCOURAGE MY COLLEAGUES, EVEN AS WE MOVE FORWARD TODAY, I THINK THAT IS THE CONSENSUS ON THIS, 410 PLUS, WHATEVER COMES NEXT, WE BETTER NOT DO WHAT WE DID IN 2018. 2017, 2018. I'M SURE SOMEONE WAS DOING SOME QUIET POLLING. IT WAS SEAT OF THE PANTS, YOU ARE WATCHING IT IN BUSINESS, BUT IT WAS RUSH, RUSH, THROW IT TOGETHER. I'M SURE THEY WERE NOT ASKING RODNEY, WHAT DID YOU LIKE ON THE LIST? I WAS HERE. COMMISSIONER GARCIA, YOUR PREDECESSOR, I HAD SOME KINSHIP THERE. EVEN IF WE HAD A FEW POLITICAL DIFFERENCES. THOSE TWO PRECINCTS GOT MOST OF IT. EVERYONE AGREED THAT COST/BENEFIT RATIO WAS A PROBLEM AND THAT IS WHY WE UNANIMOUSLY AGREED ON THIS LANGUAGE. WE WILL HAVE TO APPROVE THAT SUIT WITH A COLLABORATIVE PROCESS AND THE OPTION WAS, INSTEAD OF EQUITY LANGUAGE, SPELL OUT WHAT PROJECTS WE WERE GOING TO DO AND IT WAS UNTIL WE COULD NOT DO IT BECAUSE THE COST WAS MORE THAN YOU THOUGHT YOU COULD MOVE AROUND. FROM MY VANTAGE POINT, THEY FIGURED OUT HOW TO DO IT BECAUSE YOU COULD SAY WHICH PART? WHICH DRAINAGE PROJECTS? BUT THEY SAID THE LEGAL REQUIREMENT AT THE TIME, WE COULD NOT DO THAT AND THAT IS MORE COMPLICATED. I JUST WANT TO STRESS THAT WE SHOULD START SOON FIGURING OUT WHERE WE GO, EVEN IF WE FIND 410 IN OTHER PLACES.

BUT IF YOU OPERATE UNDER THE ASSUMPTION AND AGREE WITH THE CONCLUSION, EVEN THIS 2.5 PLUS THE MATCHING MONEY WILL NOT BE ENOUGH, DON'T WAIT UNTIL THE LAST MINUTE AND IN NO WAY SHOULD YOU THINK THAT WE COULD PASS ANOTHER BILL WITH A SMALL PERCENTAGE OF THE PEOPLE VOTING. IT WILL PROBABLY HAVE TO GO ON THE BALLOT WHEN SOME OF US ARE ON THE BALLOT IN A NORMAL CYCLE

[02:30:05]

I KNOW WE HAVE JOKED PRIVATELY SOMETIMES, THESE MEETINGS ARE WORTH IT. AND, WE ARE CONSTRAINED BY OPEN MEETINGS LAW, THE STATE EXEMPTED THEMSELVES FROM THAT, IT'S ALWAYS A CHALLENGE FOR ME BECAUSE I FORGET. A LOT OF TIMES I DON'T TALK TO ANY OF YOU BECAUSE I FORGET WHICH ONE I TALK TO. PEOPLE GET MAD AT ME, RODNEY IS THE ONE WHO VIOLATED OPEN MEETINGS, HE DID IT, THAT IS WHY THE STAFF IS SO IMPORTANT. IT'S AS CLOSE AS WE CAN GET TO A COLLABORATIVE PROCESS. WE HAVE TO GIVE US SOME HONEST INPUT. I KNOW MY STAFF HAS COMPLAINED FROM TIME TO TIME. THEY THINK I'M ONE PLACES AND THEY GO TO THE MEETING AND I CHANGE MY MIND. BUT THANK YOU.

>> COMMISSIONER GARCIA? >> THANK YOU DOCTOR PETERSON, THANK YOU FOR THIS PRESENTATION AND THANK YOU FOR WORKING WITH MOST OF THE OFFICERS, I THINK ALL THE PRECINCTS HAD A CHANCE TO WORK WITH YOU, TIRELESSLY, TO DO ALL WE CAN TO HELP YOU AND YOU HELP US TO GET THIS PROGRAM TOGETHER. COMMISSIONER ELLIS AND DOCTOR PETERSON, AT THE END OF THE DAY, THIS PRESENTATION DEMONSTRATES THAT THIS IS A SUCCESS, NOT ONLY FOR THE PROGRAM BUT FOR EQUITY, IT'S SELF. I WANT TO COMMEND YOU FOR YOUR RESPECTIVE WORK ON THIS. SECONDLY, I WANT TO APPLAUD YOU FOR THIS DASHBOARD THAT YOU ARE DEMONSTRATING. WAS THIS

AVAILABLE, BEFORE? >> IT WAS NOT. WE WERE WORKING UP UNTIL MIDNIGHT, LAST NIGHT TO GET IT RIGHT.

>> GOOD. I THINK THIS WILL GO A LONG WAY BECAUSE THIS IS PUBLIC FACING. ALL OF OUR STAFFS CAN SEE IT, WE CAN TRACK THE WORK THAT IS GOING ON AND THIS, I THINK, WILL GO A LONG WAY TO HELP, PEOPLE HAVE ASSURANCE ON HOW THINGS ARE GOING ALONG. THE OTHER THING, TOO, THAT I WANT TO MENTION IS THE , WHAT IS IT? $408 MILLION THAT WAS SHORT? WE ARE SHORT, NOT BECAUSE OF OVERSPENDING OR MISMANAGE IT, BUT WE ARE SHORT BECAUSE THE PREVIOUS LAND COMMISSIONER -- MOTION TO CONTINUE DISCUSSION.

ALL IN FAVOR? ANY OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY.

>> THE PREVIOUS COMMISSIONER SHORTCHANGED US AND SO, WE WILL FIGURE OUT HOW TO RESOLVE THAT BUT I JUST WANT TO SAY, THANK YOU FOR ALL OF YOUR WORK, I KNOW THERE ARE MOTIONS THAT WILL BE MADE, I WILL BE WORKING TO MAKE SOME OF THESE, THESE ARE MOTIONS THAT GIVE EVERYBODY GOOD COMFORT THAT THE PRIORITIZATION FRAMEWORK IS IN TACT, THAT THE SCORING OF SUCH IS INTACT, THAT THERE IS A WORKING GROUP, THE DASHBOARD, THE FUNDING ALLOCATION, ALL OF THAT THAT WE HAVE STRUGGLED THROUGH TO UNDERSTAND. I WANT TO REMIND FOLKS THAT DOCTOR PETERSON HAS DONE A PHENOMENAL JOB COMING INTO THIS PROGRAM, ALMOST MIDSTREAM, RECOGNIZING THAT IN 2017, THERE WAS ONE LIST THAT WAS APPROVED, WORK STARTED ON THAT LIST AND WHEN THIS COURT CAME IN, THE PRIORITIZATION FRAMEWORK WAS ADOPTED, WHICH CREATED SOME CHANGES AND THEN I WORKED WITH COMMISSIONER BUCKINGHAM TO GET US THE DOLLARS, THE PARTNERSHIP DOLLARS CAME WITH THEIR OWN CHALLENGES, WHICH, IN THEORY, CREATED A THIRD LIST. YOU HAVE BEEN JUGGLING SEVERAL THINGS ALL AT ONCE AND I JUST WANTED TO APPLAUD YOU AND YOUR TEAM FOR NOT DROPPING ANY OF THOSE BALLS AND KEEPING THINGS MOVING. THANK YOU FOR YOUR GOOD WORK AND I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO MAKING

MOTIONS. >> COMMISSIONER RAMSEY.

>> THANK YOU, DOCTOR PETERSON, IT'S BEEN QUITE THE JOURNEY THE

[02:35:01]

THOSE WERE SOMEWHAT REMINDERS THAT THEY ARE THERE. I AM LOOKING FORWARD TO MOVING FORWARD WITH THESE PROJECTS AND MY LAST TWO POINTS I WANT TO QUICKLY MAKE, THERE ARE PROJECTS ON THAT LIST THAT ARE SEVERELY BEHIND SCHEDULE. THE GL OH KNOWS IT, THE FLOOD CONTROL KNOWS IT. WE HAVE TO GET THOSE TO THE TOP OF THE LIST. WE CANNOT AFFORD TO NOT MAKE A DEADLINE. I'M SAYING THIS AS A PLACEHOLDER, SHOULD BE AN IMPORTANT PART OF WHAT WE MANAGED GOING FORWARD AND THE OTHER THING I WOULD SAY, START DOING THE MATH, IS PRETTY STRAIGHTFORWARD, THREE HAD BILLION DOLLARS OF PROJECTS HAVE TO BE MADE. THERE IS CAPACITY TO DO THIS IN THE REGION, I THINK CONTRACTORS ARE READY, WILLING, AND ABLE TO ENGAGE WE HAVE TO START BENDING PROJECTS. IF WE ARE NOT BETTING 800 MILLION A YEAR GIVE OR TAKE, OR BACKING UP. THOSE WILL BE THE KIND OF SIMPLE QUESTIONS WILL BE ASKING,

[02:40:02]

>> COMMISSIONER BRIONES. >> DOCTOR PETERSON, THANK YOU AND YOUR TEAM FOR YOUR TREMENDOUS HARD WORK TO GET US WHERE WE ARE TODAY. AND THANK YOU TO MY COLLEAGUES, I'M PROBABLY WERE ABLE TO WORK SO COLLABORATIVELY AND HAVE THESE MOTIONS THAT ALL FIVE OFFICES WORKED ON TOGETHER. I'M REALLY EXCITED TO BRING THOSE FORWARD BUT JUST TO MAKE SURE WERE ON THE SAME PAGE, MOST IMPORTANTLY FOR THE PUBLIC WHO IS LISTENING, COULD YOU PLEASE JUST STATE ONCE MORE HOW MANY PROJECTS HAVE BEEN

COMPLETED THUS FAR ? >> YES.

>> AND AS YOU ARE ANSWERING THAT, WE HAVE BEEN SWITCHING BETWEEN BOND I.D. AND PROJECTS. CAN YOU CLARIFY WHAT YOU MEAN

EXACTLY? >> LET'S START WITH BOND I.D.

VERSUS PROJECT. A BOND I.D. IS ONE OF THE 181 DIFFERENT LINE ITEMS THAT STARTED OUT AS COMMISSIONER GARCIA, YOU POINTED OUT THERE WAS A DIFFERENT LIST AT THE VERY BEGINNING AND IT HAS CHANGED OVER TIME BUT WE LANDED ON 181. SO, IN SOME WAYS THEY REPRESENT BUCKETS OF FUNDING. SOMETIMES THERE IS ONE PROJECT THAT CAN BE DONE UNDER THE BOND I.D., SOMETIMES THERE ARE MULTIPLE PROJECTS COMPLETED. THAT'S WHY WHEN WE SAY THAT WE HAVE 75 BOND I.D.S MOVING FORWARD AND THERE ARE 240 PLUS PROJECTS THAT WILL BE COMPLETED UNDER THOSE, THAT'S WHY WE CAN DO MULTIPLE PROJECTS UNDER THESE BOND I.D.S AND MULTIPLY THE DOLLARS. A LOT OF TIMES, THE HAPPENS BECAUSE OF PARTNERSHIPS.

CAN YOU REPEAT YOUR OTHER QUESTION?

>> SUCCESS, WHAT HAS BEEN COMPLETED?

>> WE HAVE COMPLETED 54 OF THE BOND I.D.S.

>> MOTION TO EXTEND TIME? >> YOU SAID UNTIL WE COMPLETE?

CAN WE DO THAT? >> YOU CAN DO THAT, JUDGE.

>> MOTION BY COMMISSIONER BRIONES TO CONTINUE THE

DISCUSSION . ALL IN FAVOR? >> AYE.

>> MOTION PASSES UNANIMOUSLY. >> THERE HAVE BEEN 109

COMPLETED. >> TO GIVE AN ILLUSTRATIVE EXAMPLE. WE WERE ABLE TO COMPLETE THAT, A DECADES LONG PROJECT BECAUSE OF THIS BOND AND JUST TO GIVE A SCOPE OF HOW INTENSE AND COMPLEX THESE ARE, IT ADDED 3.5 BILLION GALLONS OF WATER CAPACITY, THAT IS 11 ASTRODOME'S FULL OF WATER AND THAT HELPED PROTECT APPROXIMATELY 50,000 STRUCTURES, AND TO YOUR POINT, WE SAW THE POSITIVE IMPACT OF THE ONE PROJECT WHEN WE HAD MINIMAL STRUCTURES AFFECTED AND HOMES AND FAMILIES. THESE PROJECTS ARE DEEPLY COMPLEX AND I APPRECIATE THE TREMENDOUS WORK. MY NEXT QUESTION IS, WITH REGARD TO PUBLIC TRUST AND CONFIDENCE, I KNOW THERE WAS PUBLICLY AVAILABLE INFORMATION FOR MANY MONTHS PREVIOUS BUT THIS DASHBOARD IS DEFINITELY AN ENHANCEMENT TO MAKE SURE WE ARE AS OPEN, TRANSPARENT, AND ACCOUNTABLE TO THE PUBLIC WITH THEIR TAXPAYER DOLLARS. CAN YOU RECAP EXACTLY WHAT THE DASHBOARD WILL CONTAIN AND HOW FREQUENTLY IT WILL BE UPDATED?

>> YES. THE DASHBOARD HAS INFORMATION ABOUT EACH OF THE BOND I.D.S AS WELL AS THE PROJECTS. ALL OF THE INDIVIDUAL PROJECTS WITHIN A BOND I.D. ARE ITEMIZED AND LISTED, AND INCLUDES INFORMATION ABOUT THE DOLLARS THAT HAVE BEEN SPENT, DOLLARS THAT HAVE BEEN BUDGETED. IT INCLUDES THE LOCATION ON A

[02:45:02]

>> BASED ON THE VOTES OF THE COURT AND THE TIMELINE, THE QUARTILE ONE , TIER ONE PROJECTS WERE THE HIGHEST SCORING PROJECTS BASED ON THE PRIORITIZATION FRAMEWORK?

>> CORRECT. >> AND THEY'RE ALL MOVING

FORWARD? >> CORRECT.

>> AND YOU ADDED A CONTINGENCY?

>> CORRECT. >> AND WILL BE MOVING FORWARD

WITH THE PARTNERSHIPS? >> CORRECT.

>> I WANT TO THANK THE PARTNERS FOR THE 2.7 BILLION. WE ARE ALL IN THIS TOGETHER. THAT IS GOOD GOVERNMENT WERE ALL PARTNERED TOGETHER. YOU MENTIONED NOT TECHNICALLY VIABLE. I KNOW WE ALL GET CALLS FROM OUR CONSTITUENTS, WHEN YOU SAY NOT TECHNICALLY VIABLE CAN YOU PLEASE EXPLAIN THE TECHNICAL DEFINITION BEHIND THAT CLASSIFICATION AND LINK THAT TO WHAT COMMISSIONER RAMSEY SAID THAT HAVE RE- -- HOW EVERY

PROJECT -- >> WHAT WE MEAN IS THE PROJECT, JUST DOESN'T MAKE SENSE TO DO. FOR EXAMPLE, WE HAD SOME PROJECTS WHERE IT WAS GOING TO PROVIDE STORMWATER DETENTION FOR A CONVEYANCE PROJECT. HE FOUND OUT THE CONVEYANCE PROJECT EITHER WAS NOT GOING TO GO FORWARD OR THEY FIGURED OUT A DIFFERENT WAY TO MANAGE THAT PROJECT SO THEY DID NOT NEED A BASIN. IN THAT CASE THE PROJECT IS NO LONGER TECHNICALLY, REQUIRED, AND THOSE THAT DOLLARS SHOULD NOT BE USED BECAUSE WE DEMONSTRATED THAT PROJECT PROVIDES NO BENEFITS. IN OTHER CASES, WE HAVE PROJECTS THAT DON'T HAVE THE CRITICAL RIGHT-OF-WAY WE NEED TO EXECUTE THE WORK. A GREAT EXAMPLE, IN YOUR PRECINCT IS THE SCHOLARLY PROJECT. WE HAVE LIMITED RIGHT-OF-WAY IN THAT AREA AND REALLY NEED TO LOOK AT THAT PROBLEM IN A DIFFERENT WAY. THEN PERHAPS WE HAVE LOOKED AT IT BEFORE AND WERE FORTUNATE TO HAVE FUNDING TO LOOK AT BAYOU WATERSHED WHERE WE CAN FOCUS ON BRICKHOUSE AND COME UP WITH A PLAN FOR HOW TO ADDRESS THE CHALLENGES IN THAT WATERSHED AND IN TERMS OF THE PAR'S, THANK YOU FOR HIGHLIGHTING THAT, I THINK THAT IS A REALLY IMPORTANT POINT BECAUSE BY HAVING PAR'S FOR ALL OF THE PROJECTS THAT ARE PAUSING, WE ARE ABLE TO MAKE SURE THAT WHEN THE OPPORTUNITY COMES, IF, WHEN, SHOULD THERE BE ADDITIONAL FUNDING, WE CAN USE THE PRIORITIZATION FRAMEWORK TO IDENTIFY THE NEXT PROJECT THAT WILL BE FUNDED AND WE CAN MOVE FORWARD QUICKLY BECAUSE WE ALREADY ASSESSED THE PROBLEM AND

HAVE A RECOMMENDED PATH. >> THANK YOU, IT MAKES SENSE AND I APPRECIATE THE DUE DILIGENCE THAT YOU AND YOUR TEAM HAVE DONE ON ALL THE PROJECTS TO DISCUSS THEIR VIABILITY AND MAKE SURE WE ARE MAXIMIZING TAX DOLLARS WITH THE PROJECTS THAT WILL DELIVER THE VALUE AND IMPACT AND PROTECTION TO OUR COMMUNITY. YOU BROUGHT UP BRICKHOUSE GULLY, WHICH I HEAR A LOT FROM MY CONSTITUENTS AND THE RISK IS REAL. I LOOK FORWARD TO US BEING AS RELENTLESS, CREATIVE, AND INNOVATIVE TO FIND PATHS FORWARD. IT'S BEEN A STRUGGLE BUT I LOOK FORWARD TO CONTINUING TO PUSH FORWARD ON OPTIONS FOR RELIEF AND I'M VERY PLEASED WE HAVE A CLEAR PATH FORWARD AND ONE THAT THE FIVE OFFICES WORKED ON COLLABORATIVELY AND ONE THAT IS EMBRACING THE PRIORITIZATION FRAMEWORK ADD PARTNERSHIP DOLLARS. TO ME THIS IS THE EMBODIMENT OF IT AND REPRESENTING WESTERN HARRIS COUNTY WHERE FLOOD MITIGATION IS ONE OF THE TOP PRIORITIES. I AM DEEPLY GRATEFUL FOR YOUR EFFORTS AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO CONTINUING TO MAKE PROGRESS TOGETHER.

>> THANK YOU, DOCTOR PETERSON. JUST A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS, HERE. SO, THE LAST TIME WE DISCUSSED THIS, WE MADE THREE REQUESTS, ONE WAS TO TRACK EACH PROJECT WITHIN THE FLOOD BOND FRAMEWORK SO ACTIVE AND COMPLETED ITS LIST ON THE DASHBOARD AT ANOTHER REQUEST WAS TO CHECK WHAT PERCENTAGE COMPLETED IS. IT SOUNDS LIKE A SET OF THAT YOU WERE SHOWING THE

[02:50:05]

>> THE TIMELINE THAT COMMISSIONER RAMSEY ARTICULATED IS VERY ACCURATE. WE ARE AIMING FOR BETWEEN THREE AND FIVE YEARS. ONE OF THE CHALLENGES THAT WE HAVE IS COMMISSIONER RAMSEY, YOU BROUGHT UP THE FUNDING AND WE HAVE CERTAIN RULES THAT WE SOMETIMES HAVE TO FOLLOW AND I WANTED TO USE THIS AS AN EXAMPLE OF THE THINGS I CAN GET IN OUR WAY WERE DOING LARGE INFRASTRUCTURE WORK. OVER THE NEXT SIX MONTHS WE ANTICIPATE HAVING UP TO 10 DIFFERENT BID READY PLAN SETS UNDER CDBG. WE HAVE ADMINISTRATIVE HURDLES THAT WE HAVE TO GO THROUGH. CERTAINLY, WE HAVE TO PUT IN APPLICATIONS, WE UNDERSTAND IT HAS TO BE THOREAU, WE UNDERSTAND THAT HUD IS VERY THOROUGH IN THEIR REVIEWS AND IT REQUIRES A DETAILED REVIEW. WE UNDERSTAND THAT AND WE ARE ANXIOUSLY AWAITING THE OPPORTUNITY TO GET THOSE APPLICATIONS APPROVED SO WE CAN MOVE ON TO THE NEXT ADMINISTRATIVE STEP, WHICH IS THE ENVIRONMENTAL CLEARANCE. RIGHT NOW, ENVIRONMENTAL CLEARANCE IS TAKING 240 DAYS. ONCE WE ARE ABLE TO GET A PROJECT IMPROVED AND GETTING INTO THE CONTRACT, THAT IS WHEN WE CAN START OUR ENVIRONMENTAL PROCESS AND, UNTIL WE GET THAT CLEARANCE, WE CAN'T DO CONSTRUCTION. IS NOT TO SAY THESE THINGS ARE IMPOSSIBLE BUT YOU ARE CORRECT. IS VERY MUCH ON OUR RADAR AND WE ARE WORKING COLLABORATIVELY, I HAVE TO SAY THANK YOU TO THEM BEFORE THE PARTNERSHIP THAT IS A TRANSFORMATIONAL PARTNERSHIP AND ONE THAT WHERE WE WORK RIGHT NEXT TO EACH OTHER. AND THEY ARE IN OUR OFFICE, WE ARE ON THE PHONE, BUT THERE ARE ADMINISTRATIVE HURDLES THAT WE ARE WORKING THROUGH, THE GOOD NEWS IS, WE HAVE SEEN PROGRESS, IT'S NOT SOLVED BUT, WE HAVE SEEN IMPROVEMENTS ON THE SPEED WITH WHICH THE ENVIRONMENTAL CLEARANCES ARE BEING GAINED, SO, WE ARE HOPEFUL THAT WE WILL CONTINUE TO SEE THAT PROGRESS.

WE PUT THAT INTO CONTEXT, ALSO, THE DECISIONS THAT WERE MADE HERE TODAY OR WILL BE MADE HERE, OBVIOUSLY, ADDITIONAL FUNDING TO TAKE INTO ACCOUNT IS OVERALL PLANNING. I THINK THREE TO FIVE YEARS IS A GOOD ESTIMATE AND ONE THAT WE CAN VALIDATE.

>> THE $1 BILLION THAT THE SECRETARY GAVE AT THE TIME, DID

NOT ARRIVE? >> WE RECEIVED ABOUT $865

MILLION. >> RIGHT, BUT THAT WAS BACK IN

-- >> WE HAD THOSE AGREEMENTS

APPROVED BY COURT IN 2024. >> THERE WAS SOMETHING, THEY WERE SITTING ON $2 BILLION AND IT WAS SUPPOSED TO BE $1 MILLION FOR HARRIS COUNTY AND SECRETARY FUDGE THAT YOU WILL WORK TO MAKE SURE THAT HARRIS COUNTY GETS ITS BILLIONAIRE. THAT SAME THING.

>> I WOULDN'T WANT TO SPECULATE, I KNOW THAT THERE WERE MANY CONVERSATIONS ABOUT FUNDING FROM HUD THROUGHOUT THE

YEARS. >> I THINK THAT WAS THE DIRECTIVE BUT LET'S CHECK BECAUSE I REALLY THOUGHT SHE HAD FOLLOWED THROUGH ON THAT AND I JUST WANT TO HAVE IT FOR MY OWN.

[02:55:05]

THE PROJECT WAS COMPLETED WHAT YEAR?

>> 2023. >> OKAY. I REMEMBER DOING A PRESS CONFERENCE ON IT IN 2022 BUT I GUESS IT WAS NOT FINISHED

YET. >> YOU ARE RIGHT, I WAS WRONG.

YOU ARE CORRECT, IT WAS 2022. >> I WANTED TO MAKE SURE FOR PURPOSES OF TAKING CREDIT FOR PROJECTS THAT WERE DONE BEFORE WE ARRIVED. ANY PROVIDE AN EXAMPLE OF A BOND I.D. THAT HAS

VARIOUS PROJECTS WITHIN IT? >> YES. I AM THINKING , CERTAINLY, WE HAVE SOME WORK UNDERWAY AT KINGWOOD, IN THAT CASE, WE HAVE A CONVEYANCE PROJECT THAT IS RELATED TO THE DETENTION BASIN THAT THOSE ARE TWO SEPARATE PROJECTS.

>> ANY COMMUNITY MEMBERS THAT HAVE FEEDBACK, ADDITIONAL FEEDBACK OR QUESTIONS? YES? GO AHEAD. IF YOU WOULD NOT MIND COMING UP, AND DIRECTOR PETERSON, IF YOU WOULDN'T MIND GIVING THEM AN OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK. THERE WAS ONE THING, AS I'M LOOKING THROUGH THE DASHBOARD, I DO NOTICE THAT COMPLETED PROJECTS, A LOT OF THEM ARE QUARTILES THREE AND FOUR, I WANT TO SAY FOR THE RECORD, I'M GLAD WE ARE WHERE WE ARE. BUT AT THE SAME TIME IT HAS BEEN FRUSTRATING, DISAPPOINTING, AND I THINK DISRESPECTFUL TO THE COMMUNITY THAT IS SO MANY PROJECTS WERE STARTED AND COMPLETED IN VIOLATION OF THE PRIORITIZATION FRAMEWORK I KNOW A LOT OF THIS IS NOT UNDER YOUR LEADERSHIP AND I WANT TO BE CLEAR FOR THE RECORD BUT THANK YOU FOR MAKING SURE THAT GOING FORWARD WE ARE RESPECTING THAT. GO AHEAD. CAN I FINISH --

>> I WAS JUST GOING TO SAY I THINK THE COURT NEEDS TO TAKE

ACTION TO ALLOW THEM -- >> I CAN HAVE ONE PERSON, I WILL

JUST -- >> I KNOW --

>> WHAT IS THE MOTION? DO YOU WANT TO MAKE A MOTION TO SUSPEND

THE RULES FOR PUBLIC COMMENTS? >> I MOVED TO SUSPEND THE RULES FOR FIVE MINUTES WE COULD HEAR THE SPEAKERS.

>> ALL IN FAVOR? >> AYE.

>> ANY OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.

>> BEFORE YOU ALL SPEAK, I WANT TO SAY THAT, WE ARE PROUD OF ONE ANOTHER, I AM PROUD OF ALL MY COLLEAGUES BUT WE ARE AWARE WE DID NOT GET IN WITHOUT YOUR HELP. WE WERE HEADED IN A DIRECTION, WHICH IS DEVIATED FROM THE PATH THAT I THOUGHT THAT WE WERE ON, MOST OF US THOUGHT WE WERE ON AND WHEN YOU ALL CAME TO RAISE SOME GOOD TROUBLE, THAT PUT US BACK ON PATH. IN NO WAY DO WE WANT TO OVERLOOK THAT. WE APPRECIATE WHAT YOU DID AND WERE AWARE MOVING FORWARD, FOR A BOND ISSUE TO PASS, YOU WILL ALL BE PART OF IT. THIS IS WHAT THEY USED TO DO WHEN I FIRST GOT HERE AND THEY DID IT WHEN I WAS IN AUSTIN. YOU DON'T HAVE TO SAY WAS SOMEONE ELSE SAID, I WILL TELL YOU --

>> WE WILL ALLOW EACH ONE TO HAVE ONE MINUTE AS WE DID PREVIOUSLY SO EVERYONE WILL BE RESTRICTED TO ONE MINUTE.

>> SHOULD RUN FOR JUDGE SO YOU CAN RUN THE COURT.

>> WE TALKED ABOUT IN 2018. >> I CAN UNDERSTAND WHY YOU

BEHAVE THAT WAY. >> WE SHOULD STAY FOCUSED.

>> WE SHOULD MAKE SURE THE DASHBOARD IS ACCESSIBLE FOR THOSE WHO DO NOT SPEAK ENGLISH OR ARE VISUALLY IMPAIRED.

>> COMMISSIONER, THIS IS STILL MY SECTIONS I WANTED TO ENGAGE WITH THESE SPEAKERS AND I PROMISE WHEN THEY FIRST CAME UP AND EACH OF YOU HAD YOUR TIME AND I WANT TO HAVE MY TIME,

[03:00:02]

PLEASE. >> COMMITTEE ORGANIZER WHO WORKED ALONGSIDE PARTICIPANTS AS A RESULT OF NEGLECT OF INVESTMENT IN INFRASTRUCTURE . HAVING HAD THAT EXPERIENCE, SEEING FAMILIES TORN APART, SAYING THAT YOUNG GIRL SHOT IN THE FACE BECAUSE SHE WAS PROMISED A SAFER HOME. WHAT IS THE PLAN FOR COMMITTED ENGAGEMENT? WHAT IS THE PLAN FOR ENGAGEMENT? GREAT WORK TONIGHT, GREAT WORK LAST NIGHT BUT IT'S NOT ENOUGH. THE DASHBOARD IS GREAT BUT WHEN I CLICK ON SPANISH, IT'S IN ENGLISH. WHEN I LOOK AT THE IMAGES THAT SHOULD BE IN SPANISH, IT'S STILL IN ENGLISH. LIVES WERE TORN APART, I HOPE THAT ALL OF YOU IN YOUR OFFICES WILL HOLD HARRIS COUNTY ACCOUNTABLE FOR THAT INCLUSION AND EQUITY AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT BECAUSE I JUST HAD A MEETING, ONE OF THE EMPLOYEES ABOUT THE RESILIENCE PLAN AND ASKED THE SAME QUESTIONS, ARE YOU INCLUDING OUR SPANISH SPEAKERS? I PREPARED TO RECEIVE THEM? THE ANSWER WAS NO, WE ARE DOING IT OUR WAY.

>> WHAT I WILL PROPOSE IS TO MAKE IT TO WHERE IT IS EASY TO CLICK ON SOME OTHER LANGUAGES. MY TEAM IS NOTING THAT. AND I DID NOT UNDERSTAND WHAT YOU MEANT ABOUT INCLUDING THEM IN WHAT, EXACTLY? I DID NOT CATCH IT.

>> THERE ARE MEETINGS WITH THE SMALL GROUPS OF COMMUNITY MEMBERS OF THE FLOOD RESILIENCE PLAN AND BIGGER MEETINGS WITH THE COMMUNITY. I WAS INVITED TO A MEETING TO TALK ABOUT THIS PLAN AND MY QUESTION WAS, HOW ARE YOU INCLUDING OUR SPANISH SPEAKERS AND THE ANSWER WAS, WE ARE NOT. WE ARE SENDING OUT AN INVITATION TO A SMALL GROUP OF PEOPLE. KNOWING THAT PREDOMINANTLY SPANISH-SPEAKING FAMILIES WERE THE MOST IMPACTED , IT'S NOT OKAY TO LEAVE THEM OUT OF THESE CONVERSATIONS THAT ARE SUPPOSED TO BE THE RESILIENCE PLAN.

>> I WILL ASK DIRECTOR PETERSON TO ADDRESS THAT. IF YOU COULD INCLUDE THE COMMUNITIES, HE DOESN'T HAVE TO JUST BE SPANISH BUT YOU RAISE A GREAT POINT. WE HAD A MULTIYEAR NIGHTMARE WITH AMENDATORY BUYOUT, I'M NOT PROUD OF THAT ONE, THANK YOU. GO

AHEAD, PLEASE. >> AGAIN ENCOURAGING RELIEF TO SEE COMMISSIONERS COURT FLOOD CONTROL TAKING DECISIVE OVERDUE STEPS TO FIX THE MANY CHALLENGES OF THE FLOOD BOND. AND SO, DOCTOR PETERSON SAID STAFF ARE WORKING UNTIL MIDNIGHT TO GET THE DASHBOARD READY. I WAS UP UNTIL 2:00 A.M. ANALYZING AND ADDING ADDITIONAL RECOMMENDATIONS FOR FEEDBACK. I THINK THE QUESTION IS WHAT IS THE MECHANISM FOR PUBLIC FEEDBACK AND REFINEMENT TO MAKE SURE IT IS ACCESSIBLE? WE HAVE CONCERNS ABOUT SPANISH ACCESSIBILITY, PHONE ACCESS AND ACCESSIBILITY FOR THE VISUALLY IMPAIRED. WANT TO WORK WITH YOU ON GETTING THE PARTNERSHIP DOLLARS TO MAKE OUR FUNDS AND PROJECTS VIABLE. WE ARE DOING THAT AT THE FEDERAL AND STATE LEVEL, WORK WITH US. THE BOND IS NOT ENOUGH. BEFORE YOU GET MORE BOND MONEY, LET'S HUSTLE FOR THAT MONEY, HERE. OF ADDITIONAL RECOMMENDATIONS, ET CETERA TO SEE THE MOTIONS.

>> COULD I HAVE THAT HANDOUT? THE RECOMMENDATIONS.

>> I ALSO EMAILED THEM. >> THIS IS NOT THAT? I WOULD LIKE THE WRITTEN COPY FOR NOW, IF THAT'S OKAY? GO AHEAD, SIR.

THANK YOU. >> CHRISTOPHER JENKINS. I FEEL LIKE IT IS A TEACHABLE MOMENT. WHEN IT COMES DOWN TO THE FLOOD DISTRICT, I FEEL LIKE WITH THE PARTNERS IN COLLABORATION, THIS COULD BE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR YOUTH TO HAVE MORE JOB TRAINING.

I HAVE BEEN UNION SINCE '98 , I AM A SMALL BUSINESS OWNER AND A LOT OF CONTRACTS DID NOT GET TO THESE INDIVIDUALS. WHEN FLOODS COME THROUGH, THE BUILDINGS THAT WE BUILT DON'T FALL APART, THEY HAVE A HIGH STANDARD. ORGANIZATIONS , ASSISTIVE MINISTRIES, THEY'VE ALWAYS DONE TREMENDOUS WORK, THEY NEED TO BE PART OF THIS PROCESS SO WE CAN GIVE THE YOUTH OPPORTUNITY , GET THEM TRAINING. I REALLY FEEL LIKE IT'S A TEACHABLE MOMENT WHERE THESE PARTNERS CAN GET WITH COMMITTEE ORGANIZATIONS TO BUILD ECONOMIC GROWTH AND EQUITY. THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU. >> HELLO, I JUST HAVE A QUICK SUGGESTION, THERE ARE TWO PDF FILES ABOVE THE DASHBOARD, ONE

[03:05:04]

>> THANK YOU. >> I'M GOING TO BE BRIEF, I JUST WANT TO SAY, ALL OF THIS WAS REALLY OFFENSIVE, WATCHING YOU SAY GOOD JOB TO TINA EVEN THOUGH THE FRAMEWORK WAS NOT PRIORITIZED, WAS NOT FOLLOWED THE WAY IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN, IT IS REALLY OFFENSIVE, YOU SHOULD THINK ABOUT THE COMMUNITIES YOU REPRESENT AND THE WAY THIS HARMED THEM. YES, THIS IS A GREAT THING MOVING FORWARD, I'M GLAD YOU ARE ADDRESSING THE ISSUE BUT THIS WAS A LOT OF HARD WORK DEVELOPING THIS FRAMEWORK AND TO GET A PASS AND ALL THESE THINGS. WE SHOULD NOT BE TAPPING A FISH FOR SWIMMING. WE SHOULD BE DOING BETTER AND YOU SHOULD

BE HONEST. >> THANK YOU.

>> FOR THAT REMAINING TIME, I HAD A COUPLE QUESTIONS FOR DOCTOR PETERSON, I DON'T KNOW IF NOW IS THE TIME.

>> MENTIONED YOUR QUESTIONS AND I WILL ASK.

>> THERE WAS A MENTION OF $250 MILLION WORTH OF PROJECTS THAT HAD BEEN CUT. I WANTED TO KNOW, I THINK YOU MENTIONED STUDIES DONE ON IMPACT BUT WERE THESE ALSO CUT FOR OTHER REASONS SUCH AS THE PRIORITIZATION MATRIX? IS HUD CONTROL TRY TO USE PROP A FUNDS AND HOW IS THAT DETERMINED? ALSO, WHAT IS FLOOD CONTROL DOING WORK WITH ENGINEERING ON , THEY MENTION THE STORMWATER MASTER PLAN AND THEIR BUDGET DEPARTMENT HEARING.

HOW ARE THE FUTURE THREE BILLION-DOLLAR PROJECTS GOING TO FACTOR INTO THE STORMWATER MASTER PLAN? I THINK THE COMMUNITY WANTS SOME INSIGHT ON LEARNING ON THAT PIECE. WHAT IS THE BEST WAY TO GET THOSE QUESTIONS.

>> I HAVE THOSE QUESTIONS TOO SO I WILL ASK THEM.

>> THANK YOU. SORRY FOR NOT FOLLOWING PROTOCOL.

>> NO, THAT IS HELPFUL, THAT'S WHAT I WANTED YOU TO DO TO GET YOUR PERSPECTIVE IN. DIRECTOR PETERSON, DO YOU HAVE ANYTHING TO ADD ON THIS AND THEN I WILL COME BACK AROUND THE COURT ? ONE MORE SPEAKER, I'M SORRY, GO AHEAD, SIR.

>> OKAY. THANK YOU. BRIEFLY OUT IN THE COURT OR -- CORRIDOR EARLIER I PULLED UP THE APP, IT IS SOMEWHAT ACCESSIBLE IF THE PERSON WHO IS DEVELOPING IT, I KNOW THAT SHE IS HERE, COME OUT TO THE MULTIPURPOSE CENTER, TALK TO SOME OF THOSE PEOPLE, LET THEM USE IT, SEE WHAT THEY THINK BECAUSE THIS AFFECTS US GREATLY.

WHEN THEY GOT THE PROJECTS HERE IN OUR FUNDS AND MONEY IS GOING TO AS WELL. IF WE COULD NOT JUST BE LOOKED OVER AND SAY IT IS ACCESSIBLE AND JUDGE, EVEN THE HARRIS COUNTY WEBSITE, IT IS DIFFICULT FOR ME TO LOG IN AND WATCH THIS RIGHT NOW. IF WE CAN WORK ON THAT A LITTLE BIT MORE THAT WILL BE WONDERFUL.

>> THANK YOU. I MEANT TO MENTION THAT TO JESSE IN TERMS OF HAVING INFORMATION AND PDF THAT WE KNOW THAT FOLKS WILL WANT TO ANALYZE, THAT IS SOMETHING THAT UP AND DOWN THE COUNTY WOULD BE AN EASY CHANGE TO MAKE AT THIS POINT ABOUT ACCESSIBILITY ALSO, JUST A SIMPLE GLOBAL PIECE OF FEEDBACK. CAN I LEAVE THAT WITH YOU? THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR BRINGING THAT BACKUP. IF YOU WOULD NOT RISK --

MIND RESPONDING BRIEFLY? >> ALL THE DASHBOARD WE APPRECIATE THE FEEDBACK, WE KNEW IT WAS GOING TO BE A HEAVY LIFT TO GET SOMETHING DEVELOPED TO GET TO THIS COURSE OF THIS IS HELPFUL FOR US, WE WILL TAKE ALL OF THIS FEEDBACK, THERE MAY BE

[03:10:01]

THERE ARE SEVERAL PROJECTS THAT HAVE BEEN MAINTENANCE ON THE BOND PROGRAM AND IF THERE IS THAT INTERSECTION, IT'S FEASIBLE TO USE THOSE DOLLARS IN THAT WAY BUT WE HAVE A VERY STRONG COMMITMENT TO USING THOSE DOLLARS ONLY FOR MAINTENANCE IN TERMS OF THE ENGAGEMENT WE JUST MET WITH THE COUNTY ENGINEER LAST WEEK, PERHAPS, AND WE ARE DISCUSSING A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT PLANNING ACTIVITIES INCLUDING THE STORMWATER MASTER PLAN. I KNOW IT IS EARLY STAGES FOR THEM AND I KNOW THEY HAVE A PLAN, I DON'T WANT TO SPEAK FOR THE DOCTOR BUT I CAN TELL YOU THAT HE IS WORKING HARD ON IT AND WILL HAVE A VERY ROBUST PROCESS,

NO DOUBT. >> THANK YOU. COMMISSIONER

ELLIS? >> APPROPRIATE TIME BEFORE THIS MOMENT ENDS, I WANT TO THANK THE ADVOCACY, IT PLAYED A KEY ROLE.

YOU COULD ALMOST DECLARE VICTORY AND TAKE IT BEFORE PEOPLE GET TOO HUNGRY. SIX MOTIONS THAT YOU FINISH WITH. AS OF LAST NIGHT, DO YOU HAVE THEM? WOULD YOU JUST READ THEM.

>> I WILL READ THEM. >> DO YOU HAVE ALL THE MOTIONS?

>> I THAT WE SHOULD READ THEM OUT LOUD TO THE PUBLIC CAN HEAR.

>> I CAN. YES? >> FUNDING ALLOCATION, MOTION TO APPROVE THE ALLOCATION OF 2018 FLOOD BOND FUNDS AND ALL ASSOCIATED PROJECT AS PRESENTED IN THE UPDATED BOND PACKAGE AND AS DIRECTED BY COMMISSIONERS COURT, FUNDING CURRENT AND FUTURE FOR ALL PROJECTS IN QUARTILE ONE OF THE 2022 PRIORITIZATION FRAMEWORK AND PROJECTS WITH SECURED PARTNERSHIPS. IS THERE A MOTION ON THAT?

>> I THINK YOU LEFT OUT FUTURE NEEDS.

>> I DO HAVE FUTURE. I HAVE FUTURE, RIGHT? YES. MOTION BY GARCIA, SECOND BY RAMSEY, ALL IN FAVOR, AYE .

>> MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY. MOTION TO CONTROL THE FLOOD BOND DASHBOARD WHICH INCLUDES BUT IS NOT LIMITED TO PROJECT SCHEDULES, PRIVATIZATION SCORES, BUDGET LOCATION AND LIFECYCLE STAGE FOR ALL PROJECTS AND TO UPDATE THE DASHBOARD QUARTERLY IN ADVANCE FOR COMMISSIONER CORD TO MEETINGS. I WOULD LIKE TO ADD, JUST A FRIENDLY AMENDMENT IN TERMS OF AN ADDITION. IT'S WHAT WE JUST DISCUSSED. THE FLOOD CONTROL DISTRICT TO CONTINUE TO WORK WITH COURT OFFICES AND THE COMMUNITY TO IMPROVE THE DASHBOARD'S USER-FRIENDLINESS INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO PROVIDING BOND I.D. PREVIEWS, IMPROVED LANGUAGE ACCESSIBILITY, AND COVERING THE ABILITY TO FILTER PROJECTS BY FEATURES SUCH AS PARTNERSHIP PROJECTS, QUARTILE SCORE, PROJECT STATUS, PRECINCT AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE COMMUNITY TO BE ENGAGED ON TESTING THE DASHBOARD.

>> DID YOU GET ALL OF THAT? >> I SUPPORT THAT.

>> YES, IT WOULD GO AFTER THE MOTION.

>> MOTION BY COMMISSIONER GARCIA , IS THERE A SECOND? MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY. MOTION TO DIRECT FLOOD CONTROL TO PROVIDE QUARTERLY UPDATES TO COMMISSIONERS COURT ON THE PROJECT OF ALL BOND PROJECTS INCLUDING SPENDING AND LIFECYCLE STAGE? MOTION BY COMMISSIONER BRIONES, MOTION BY COMMISSIONER RAMSEY. ALL IN FAVOR? OPPOSE? MOTION CARRIES VENOMOUSLY.

COMPOSED OF STAFF FROM THE COURT OFFICES. AT LEAST QUARTERLY.

[03:15:04]

COMMISSIONER GARCIA AND THEN COMMISSIONER BRIONES ?

>> AGAIN, DOCTOR PETERSON, THANK YOU FOR THIS WORK, I WANT TO THANK MY COLLEAGUES AND THEIR TEAMS FOR WORKING ON THIS AGGRESSIVELY TO TRY AND RESOLVE ALL OF THESE ISSUES AND CONCERNS AND RECOMMITTING OURSELVES UNDER YOUR WATCH, IT WASN'T THE ISSUE BUT RECOMMITTING OURSELVES PUBLICLY TO THE PRIORITIZATION FRAMEWORK AND MAKING SURE THAT WE HAVE A PRACTICAL WAY TO MOVE FORWARD AND MAKE GOOD DECISIONS WITH THE CIRCUMSTANCES. THANK

YOU DR. PETERSON. >> COMMISSIONER BRIONES .

>> THANK YOU AGAIN DR. PETERSON AND MY TEAM, THANK YOU TO MY FOUR COLLEAGUES AND YOUR AMAZING TEAMS, TRICKY TO THE ADVOCATES FOR HELPING GET US HERE AND HELPFUL SUGGESTIONS ON THE DASHBOARD AND OFFERED HELP US GET MORE PARTNERSHIP DOLLARS, WE ARE ALL IN, LOVE TO CONTINUE THE ACTIVE PARTNERSHIP, MANY THANKS, WE LOOK FORWARD TO CONTINUING TO DRIVE THIS PROTECTION AND

PROGRESS TOGETHER, MANY THANKS. >> COMMISSIONER ELLIS AND

COMMISSIONER RAMSEY. >> LET'S GO TO LUNCH BEFORE

THIS MOMENT ENDS. >> THANK YOU. I JUST WANT TO

CLARIFY, THIS WAS FOR ITEM 117? >> 117. ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU ADVOCATES, FLOOD CONTROL AND ALL THE TEAMS, REALLY APPRECIATE IT, THANK YOU. AND THE BILLION IS THE SAME BILLION DOLLARS FROM

HUD -- >> JUDGE? 144.

>> I AM ON IT. IT'S 1:44 AND COMMISSIONERS COURT IS ADJOURNED UNTIL , LET'S JUST SAY QU

>>> OKAY IT IS 2:50, COMMISSIONERS COURT IS BACK IN SESSION AND WE ARE GOING TO START WITH OUR DISCUSSION LIST HERE. SO WE ALREADY TOOK THE FLOOD CONTROL ITEM OUT OF ORDER, SO THE NEXT ONE IN ORDER WOULD BE OUTSIDE OF EXECUTIVE SESSION WOULD BE ITEM 2 , JAIL POPULATION.

>> I THINK THE DIRECTOR HAS A PRESENTATION, JUDGE. MAY START A LITTLE EARLY, DID NOT THINK WE WOULD COME BACK ON TIME MAYBE GO TO THE NEXT ITEM. SHE IS HERE? I DID NOT SEE YOU, OKAY.

[03:20:01]

>> TIFFANY, DO YOU HAVE THE SLIDES?

>> YES, CAN YOU SEE THEM ON THE SCREEN?

>> NOT YET. >> YES WE CAN.

>> OKAY GOOD AFTERNOON JUDGE, COMMISSIONERS, TONYA MILLS, MANAGING DIRECTOR WITH OFFICE OF COUNTY ADMINISTRATION. HERE FOR THE QUARTERLY UPDATE ENDING FISCAL YEAR 2025, THE FIRST FEW SLIDES ARE THE REGULAR REPORT AND I KNOW IN THE INTEREST OF TIME I WILL TRY TO HIT THE HIGH POINTS SO WE CAN LEAVE TIME FOR QUESTIONS AND OTHER ITEMS TODAY. I COULD TAKE AN HOUR AND A HALF IF THAT'S OKAY, COMMISSIONER RAMSEY. I WILL GO FAST. SO, NEXT SLIDE PLEASE, TIFFANY. NEXT SLIDE. NEXT SLIDE. THERE WE GO.

SO THIS IS A SNAPSHOT OF THE IN CUSTODY POPULATION ON 9/9 THE JAIL POPULATION WAS 8793, DOWN 1112 OR 11% FROM FISCAL YEAR HIGH OF 9905. A SLIGHT DECREASE FROM THE JUNE REPORT OF 8808.

ONE THING I WILL NOTE AND I THINK WE HEARD A LOT ABOUT THIS LAST WEEK DURING SOME OF THE TESTIMONY, AS BE 9 AND AFTER WE SAW THE POPULATION RISE A LITTLE BIT AND THIS IS RISK REFLECTIVE IN THE SNAPSHOT DATA WITH THE POPULATION 8793 WE HAVE BEEN IN THE 8600S SO THIS WAS THE FIRST FULL WEEKEND OF SB 9 WHERE WE SAW JUST OVER 100% INCREASE IN THE ADP AND TOOK MOST OF THE WEEK TO GET BACK TO THE 8600S, THE GOOD NEWS IS THIS LAST WEEKEND, WE CAME THROUGH THE WEEKEND AT ABOUT 8650 SO I THINK CHANGES IN PROCESSES RELATED TO SB 9 LEVELED OUT, WE WILL CONTINUE TO WATCH THAT, THIS MORNING THE POPULATION WAS 8673 SO WE ARE IN GOOD SHAPE. NEXT SLIDE PLEASE. COMMISSIONER ALICE, YOU ASKED WE LOOK AT RACIAL AND ETHNIC DISPARITIES WITHIN THE JAIL, THIS SLIDE SHOWS IF WE START ON THE UPPER LEFT-HAND CORNER YOU'LL SEE THE RACIAL AND ETHNIC BREAKDOWN OF THE COUNTY WHERE WHITE RESIDENTS MAKE UP 27% OF THE COUNTY, HISPANIC 44.1 AND BLACK RESIDENTS MAKE UP 21.10% OF THE COUNTY. IF WE MOVED TO THE TOP RIGHT YOU WILL SEE TOTAL BOOKINGS YEAR TO DATE WHERE BLACK RESIDENTS ACCOUNT 44.67% OF THE OVERALL BOOKINGS. WHILE THEY REPRESENT 21% OF THE OVERALL COUNTY THEY ARE 44.67% OF THE BOOKINGS HERE TODAY, IN CUSTODY THAT PERCENTAGE GOES UP 48.42%, 50% IN CUSTODY OVER ONE YEAR AND 57.66% OF THOSE IN CUSTODY OVER 1000 DAYS SO THIS DATA IS VERY HIGH LEVEL, IT CERTAINLY WARRANTS A DEEPER DIVE

WITH FULL ANALYSIS. >> DO YOU HAVE ANY IDEAS ON HOW

YOU CAN DRILL DOWN ON THAT MORE? >> SURE, WE WOULD LIKE TO LOOK AT THE DATA BY CHARGE, BOND AMOUNT, DRILL THROUGH THE BOND AMOUNT PARTICULARLY PRIOR TO SB NINE AND POST SB NINE, REALLY IMPORTANT TO FOLLOW THE DATA AFTER CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT JANUARY 1 AND LIKE I SAID SOME OF THE CHARGE LEVELS.

>> PLEASE DO THAT, TAKE IT AS A REQUEST. WE DON'T NEED A MOTION TO DRILL DOWN. AND SOMEHOW ARE WE POSTING THIS ONLINE?

>> IT WAS POSTED AS BACKUP. >> I WOULD LIKE TO POST ONLINE AS WELL. PUT SOME PUBLIC ATTENTION ON THE GLARING

DISPARITIES. >> YOU BET, WE WOULD BE HAPPY TO. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS ON THIS SLIDE? NEXT SLIDE PLEASE. HERE WE ARE LOOKING AT THE AVERAGE DAILY JAIL POPULATION OVER TIME, THE ORANGE LINE IS 2025 . WE HAVE ALL BEEN WATCHING SINCE JANUARY AS WE HAVE TAKEN A DIP DOWN. IT IS PRETTY EXCITING TO SEE WE HAVE DIPPED, JULY, AUGUST AND SEPTEMBER BELOW 2021 LEVELS.

AND THIS IS ACTUALLY THROUGH THE SUMMER MONTHS TYPICALLY

[03:25:03]

THERE WE GO. SO, HERE FOR THE LAST PROBABLY 3/4 I HAVE PRESENTED THIS , WE HAVE LOOKED AT THE IN CUSTODY POPULATION THAT IS IN BACKLOG BY COURT AND HERE WE ARE SEEING PEOPLE, REPRESENTING PEOPLE NOT CASES, A LOT OF TIMES WE LOOK AT CASES BUT THESE ARE PEOPLE ASSIGNED TO EACH COURT. AGAIN WE HAVE LOOKED AT THIS FOR THE LAST THREE QUARTERS WE HAVE EVALUATED AND THIS IS THE FIRST TIME WE HAVE DIPPED BELOW 1000 SO WE HAVE 880 CASES AS OF 9/9 THAT ARE CONSIDERED BACKLOGGED, THAT IS A 15% DECREASE FROM THE JUNE REPORT OF 1033 AND IN MARCH IT WAS 1399 SO WE HAVE MADE CONSIDERABLE IMPACT ON THE FELONY CASE BACKLOG OF ADDITIONAL COURTS. ANY QUESTIONS? NEXT SLIDE? HERE WE ARE LOOKING AT SIMILAR DATA. THE EXACT SAME COHORT, BUT LOOKING AT INDIVIDUALS ACROSS ALL-TIME BANDS , NOT JUST THE BACKLOG AND WE SEE THIS BY THE COURT, NEW TO THE REPORT, THIS TIME WE WERE ABLE TO WORK WITH THE COURTS TO GET SOME ADDITIONAL DOCKET INFORMATION SO WE PREVIOUSLY REPORTED THE COMPETENCY DOCKET NOW WE HAVE THE MENTAL HEALTH DOCKET. AND SO WE ARE SEEING ALL OF THOSE , WE WILL CONTINUE TO LOOK AT THESE PRETTY CLOSELY, PARTICULARLY THE MIDDLE RANGE CASES. FOLKS IN THE 270 DAY RANGE, 180 DAY RANGE RELENT TO THE BACKLOGS WHILE MAKING PROGRESS ON THE BACKLOG WE WANT TO KEEP AN EYE ON THE MIDDLE RANGE AND THIS IS ONE AREA WHERE WE THINK THE RETOOLED ERD'S WOULD BE PARTICULARLY HELPFUL, BECAUSE IT WILL FOCUS ON LOWER LEVEL FELONIES THAT FALL IN THOSE RANGES AND THAT SHOULD HELP US MAKE ADDITIONAL PROGRESS WE KEEP IT CASES FROM ROLLING OUT OF BACKLOG. NEXT SLIDE PLEASE. NEXT SLIDE. SO, THIS CHART HERE WE ARE LOOKING AT FELONY CASE TRENDS, DATA FROM DISTRICT COURTS. WE ARE REPRESENTING CASES, NOT NECESSARILY PEOPLE SO SOME INDIVIDUALS MAY HAVE MULTIPLE CASES, BUT WE HAVE WATCHED THIS AS WE HAVE BEEN ATTACKING THE BACKLOG, WE HAVE SEEN DATA REPRESENTED A COUPLE OF DIFFERENT WAYS, ONE OF THE THINGS OF NOTE AS WE HAVE HAD SUSTAINED DECREASE, THE GREENLINE FELONY JAIL CASE BACKLOG WE HAVE ENJOYED THIS SUSTAINED DECREASE IN THE LAST NINE MONTHS OR SO. EVEN AT A TIME IF YOU NOTE THE ORDER LINE ARE THE NEW FELONY FILINGS, THEY HAVE GONE UP SOME AND EVEN STAYED PRETTY STABLE AND WE'RE STILL ABLE TO GET AHEAD OF THE BACKLOG DOING THAT THROUGH INCREASES IN THE TOTAL FELONY DISPOSITIONS AND THOSE DISPOSITIONS CONTINUING TO OUTPACE NEW FILINGS. NEXT SLIDE PLEASE. SO, ACTIVE CASES PENDING

[03:30:01]

>> THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER ELLIS, GARCIA, COMMISSIONER BRIONES AND RAMSEY. JUST TO NOTE ITEM FOR 10 ON THE LAW ENFORCEMENT PAY SCALE HAS BEEN MARKED AS NO ACTION SO I WILL PUT IT BACK. JUST NO ACTION, IS THAT OKAY I WILL TAKE IT OFF THE DISCUSSION LIST? IT'S OFFICIALLY OFF THE DISCUSSION

LIST, COMMISSIONER ELLIS. >> I KNOW WE DON'T KNOW THE FULL IMPACT OF SENATE BILL NINE, BUT ANY SPECULATION TALKING TO YOUR PEERS, I ASSUME IT WON'T BE HELPFUL, BUT CONTINUING

DISCUSSION? >> MOTION TO CONTINUE. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER BRIONES. ALL IN FAVOR? THE MOTION CARRIED

UNANIMOUSLY. >> I SPOKE WITH TRAVIS A LITTLE BIT. THEY ARE NOT RELEASING ANY IMPACT YET WITH US BEING ON, I THINK THAT THE PART WHERE WE ARE GOING TO SEE SOME OF THE BIGGEST IMPACT IS GOING TO BE AS A RESULT OF THE CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT. WHAT IS HAPPENING NOW IS MORE PROCESS ORIENTED AND HELP PEOPLE GET BOND SET AND HAVING JUDGES AVAILABLE. US PUTTING THE RESERVE TOGETHER AND ALLOWING FOR VISITING JUDGES AND OVERTIME IS A PRUDENT SOLUTION AND IT WILL ALLOW US , WITH LOW COST IMPACT NOT PUTTING A LOT OF RESOURCES TOWARD IT TO EVALUATE WHAT IMPACT WE ARE GOING TO HAVE AND WE WILL BE WATCHING SP 9.

THE CLERK'S OFFICE DID A REALLY GOOD JOB OF MAKING SYSTEM CHANGES PRETTY RAPIDLY SO WE COULD START TRACKING SOME OF THE SP NINE CASES SO WE WILL BE EVALUATING THAT DATA OVER THE NEXT LITTLE BIT AND BRINGING BACK TO THE COURT.

>> GIVE US SOME OVERVIEW OF PILOT SUCCESS PROGRAMS YOU ARE SEEING IN OTHER PLACES PARTICULARLY TARGETED EMERGENCY RESPONSE DOCKETS. HOW THEY ARE GOING AND WHAT WE CAN LEARN FROM

THEM. LESSONS WE CAN TAKE. >> I THINK EMERGENCY RESPONSE TYPE DOCKETS ARE PARTICULARLY HELPFUL IN SYSTEMS THAT ARE OVERCROWDED, ESPECIALLY WHEN WE CAN TARGET AND WE HAVE WORKED WITH COURTS TO TARGET SPECIFIC CASES , SO WE SEE OVERREPRESENTATION IN THE JAIL OF LOW LEVEL FELONIES OF FOLKS STAYING LONGER THAN THEY SHOULD FOR CHARGES THEY HAVE, SO LEVERAGING THE ADDITIONAL CAPACITY AND THESE ERD'S ARE FULL-SERVICE CAPACITY IN THE COURTS, THEY WORK FIVE DAYS A WEEK AND THE JUDGES CAN MAKE CASES JUST LIKE ANY ELECTED JUDGE CANCER WOULD PROVIDES TWO ADDITIONAL COURTS OF CAPACITY, THESE DOCKETS ARE VERY SUCCESSFUL IN OTHER

JURISDICTIONS. >> I WANTED TO PULL THE ITEM, I DID NOT WANT US TO LET THIS COMING AND LOOK AT IT BECAUSE OF THE TREMENDOUS BUDGET INDICATIONS OF THE JAIL. EVERY CYCLE GOING FORWARD WITH A LOT OF ASSUMPTIONS BEING MADE BASED ON THE JAIL POPULATION GOING DOWN AND IF IT DOESN'T WE HAVE A PROBLEM TO DEAL WITH. THANK YOU FOR YOUR WORK.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR WORK IN YOUR PRESENTATION. I

[03:35:02]

YOU. >> COMMISSIONER BRIONES.

>> THANK YOU, DIRECTOR MILLS I AGREE WITH MY COLLEAGUES, THANK YOU FOR CLOSELY TRACKING NOT ONLY THE DATA, BUT DRIVING THESE IMPROVEMENTS AND BEING SO COLLABORATIVE WITH KEY STAKEHOLDERS I APPRECIATE IT. SIMILARLY I WAS DRILLING INTO YOUR AMAZING DATA AND THANK YOU TO THE TEAM, WE HAVE HAD OVER 400 TRIALS SINCE JANUARY 1, CLOSE TO THE 300 ARE FELONY TRIALS WHICH IS MORE CASES TAKEN TO TRIAL THIS YEAR THAN ANY YEAR IN THE PAST DECADE SO I APPRECIATE THE TEAM ADMINISTERING JUSTICE TO GIVE VICTIMS AND DEFENDANTS THEIR DAY IN COURT AND COURTS THANK YOU FOR THE DATA FOR THE OVERALL CLEARANCE RATE FOR ALL CRIMINAL COURTS AT 119% SO THEY ARE MOVING THOSE CASES OBVIOUSLY EVEN MORE THAN 100% AND IT IS HELPING TO REDUCE THE NUMBERS AND DELIVER JUSTICE IN TERMS OF THE SHERIFF I KNOW HIM AND HIS TEAM HAVE BEEN COLLABORATIVE AND HARRAH'S HEALTH WITH JAIL MEDICAL IN-HOUSE AS WE IMPROVE THE LEVEL OF SERVICE. MY QUESTION TO YOU, SEVERAL. ONE, WE HAVE TALKED ABOUT THE AVERAGE LENGTH OF STAY GOING DOWN, BUT WHAT IS THE GOAL AND WHAT IS KIND OF THE IDEAL FROM OTHER JURISDICTIONS NATIONALLY, WHERE ARE WE HEADED?

>> SO, WE HAVE COME DOWN FROM ABOUT 189 TO 164 AVERAGE LENGTH OF STAY IN CUSTODY. A LOT OF JURISDICTIONS MEASURE AVERAGE LENGTH OF STAY BY OR OFF THE RELEASED POPULATION WHICH WILL BE DRAGGING DOWN QUITE A BIT FROM EARLY RELEASE AND BONDS AND THINGS LIKE THAT, SO YOU HAVE TO BE CAREFUL LOOKING AT A 30 DAY AVERAGE LENGTH OF STAY COMPARED TO IN CUSTODY. WE REALLY WANT TO GET INTO WHY PEOPLE ARE STAYING. IN THE JURISDICTION THIS SIZE WITH A NUMBER OF ASSAULT OFFENSES WITH HIGH FELONY OFFENSES WE HAVE, I THINK WE SHOULD BE LOOKING, I WOULD BE HAPPY AT 120, 130, 120 OR 130 IN CUSTODY. WE WANT TO VERY CLOSELY WATCH, PARTICULARLY WITH SP 9 . RIGHT NOW 61% OF ALL THE INTAKES WE HAVE IN JAIL ARE RELEASED UNDER THREE DAYS SO WE WANT TO CONTINUE TO WATCH THAT. WE HAVE VERY HIGH-VOLUME INTAKES AND WE HAVE SAID OR I HAVE SAID HISTORICALLY SINCE I HAVE BEEN HERE WE DO NOT HAVE A PROBLEM WITH MISDEMEANORS IN THE JAIL AND WE DO NOT HAVE PROBLEMS WITH SOME OF THE LOWER LEVEL FELONIES IN THE JAIL, THE VOLUME OF INTAKES WE HAVE, IF WE ADD TWO OR THREE DAYS TO 50,000 BOOKINGS WE WILL START HAVING A ISSUE WITH FOLKS THAT ARE HISTORICALLY LOWER CONSUMERS OF THE JAIL BED SO WE WANT TO CONTINUE TO WATCH THAT AND SEE THAT DOES NOT CHANGE A LOT. IT IS ABOUT 80% OF ALL BOOKINGS RELEASED WITHIN 30

DAYS. 61 , LESS THAN THREE. >> I VERY MUCH SHARE YOUR CONCERN WITH THE IMPACT SP 9 WILL HAVE ON THE PROGRESS WE'RE MAKING AND I APPRECIATE YOU STAYING SO CLOSELY ATTUNED, IN TERMS OF THE ERD DOCKETS I KNOW MANY OF US WERE PROUD TO MAKE SURE WE CONTINUE INVESTING, HOW DO YOU SEE THEM? YOU HAVE TALKED A LOT ABOUT THIS, BUT IN TERMS OF SOLUTIONS HOW WE ARE GOING TO CONTINUE ADVANCING THE QUALITY OF JUSTICE AND MOVING AND ADMINISTERING JUSTICE, HOW DO THE ERD'S PLAN TO DO IT AND MY LAST QUESTION IS WHAT ARE YOUR OTHER KEY IDEAS SO WE CAN BE

[03:40:01]

JUSTICE. >> I WILL START WITH OTHER IDEAS, I PROMISED COMMISSIONER RAMSEY I WOULD NOT TAKE AN HOUR AND A HALF, BUT HAVE A LOT OF IDEAS. I WOULD SAY WITH THE ERD'S, AGAIN THE JUDGES COME TO THE TABLE, JUDGE ANDY BELL REACHED OUT AND WAS AT THE TABLE TRYING TO FIGURE OUT A WAY FOR US TO HOLD ON TO THIS RESOURCE CRITICAL TO THE DISTRICT COURT'S FOR MANY YEARS WELL BEFORE ARPA. LOOKING AT IT AS WE HAVE COINED THE EMERGING ISSUES DOCKET, THAT'S GOING TO BE IMPORTANT. OUT OF THE GATE WE KNOW WE HAVE A THIRD-DEGREE STAGE OF FELONIES TO FOCUS ON, THEY WILL LOOK AT AGGRAVATED ASSAULTS AND OTHER CHARGES BUT THE PRIMARY FOCUS WILL BE IN JAIL, FELONIES. WE HAVE TO STAY ON TOP OF THE DATA CONSTANTLY TO SEE WHAT OTHER CASES ARE STARTING TO MOVE SLOWER THAN THEY SHOULD. AND BE NIMBLE ENOUGH TO RESPOND WITH THE EMERGING ISSUES DOCKET, IT MIGHT BE IN SIX MONTHS WE DON'T NEED TO FOCUS ON THIRD-DEGREE AND STATE JAIL FELONIES, WE NEED TO FOCUS ON OTHER DRUG CHARGES WERE DIFFERENT ASSAULTIVE CHARGES FORGET THE COURTS FUNDED AGAIN. GET THE DOCKETS FUNDED THAT THEY COULD BE THE TRIAL DOCKETS THAT THE JUDGES HAVE COME TO RELY ON ALSO AND THAT IS VERY IMPORTANT. THEY HAVE HAD SOME PRETTY GOOD

SUCCESS AT TRIAL DOCKET. >> THANK YOU DIRECTOR AND TO THE JUDGES HELPING US WITH THE ERD DOCKETS, NEXT STEPS I KNOW THERE SO MANY DIFFERENT WORK STREAMS BUT IN TERMS OF THE COMMUNITY ADVISORY COMMITTEE CAN YOU TALK TO US ABOUT NEXT STEPS OF YOUR GETTING COMMUNITY VOICES AS WE DEAL WITH THIS MULTITUDE OF

CHALLENGES? >> ABSOLUTELY. MY TEAM AND I SHOUT OUT , WE MEET WITH MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY PRETTY REGULARLY. I SAID RECENTLY WITH MONIES OF . JUSTICE TO LOOK AT DATA WE ARE TRYING TO PUT TOGETHER SO WE WOULD BE HAVING COMMUNITY INPUT INTO WHAT WE SHOWED. I THINK THAT'S VERY IMPORTANT, WITH RESPECT , WE HOPE TO BE RESTARTING RESIDENT ADVISORY COMMITTEE SOON WE ARE LOOKING AT FACILITATORS NOW , WE HAVE A FACILITATOR TO BRING TO THE COMMITTEE IN THE NEXT MEETING AND MARRYING A OPEN PROCUREMENT PROCESS NOW CAN I

GET GOING? >> I MOVE WE CONTINUE

DISCUSSION. >> MOTION TO CONTINUE SECOND BY COMMISSIONER BRIONES ON FAVOR? THE MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.

>> WE ARE IN THE PROCESS OF SELECTING A CONSULTANT SO THAT IS AN OPEN PROCUREMENT PROCESS. WE HAVE LANDED ON A CAR SEVERAL, THOSE TOGETHER WILL BE BRINGING US VALUABLE DATA ABOUT FORECASTED NEEDS IN THE JAIL AND HOW FROM THE COMMUNITY PERSPECTIVE AND INVESTMENTS WE CAN OFFSET THE NEED FOR THE JAIL BED SPACE. IF WE CAN BUILD 500 TREATMENT BEDS IN THE COMMUNITY WHERE FOLKS WOULD BE BETTER SERVED AND IT WOULD OFFSET THE NUMBER OF BEDS WE WOULD NEED TO BUILD OR ANY INVESTMENT WE WOULD NEED TO MAKE OVER 20 OR 30 YEARS IN THE JAIL BED SPACE THAT'S WHAT WE WANT TO BE ABLE TO LOOK AT AND THOSE CONSULTANTS WILL WORK IN CONCERT WITH US. THE COMMUNITY WILL BE VERY ENGAGED IN BOTH STEPS BOTH WITH CAR SEVERAL AND NONCOMMERCIAL, THE RESIDENT ADVISORY COMMITTEE ARE A STAKEHOLDER GROUP FOR BOTH OF THOSE SO WE HOPE TO HAVE THE CONSULTANTS SELECTED AND HAVE KICKOFF AND BRING UPDATE TO THE COURT IN DECEMBER AND I SUSPECT THE FULL REPORT WILL TAKE US INTO NEXT YEAR WITH

RECOMMENDATIONS. >> THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP AND FOR WORKING WITH ALL KEY STAKEHOLDERS AND MEETING WITH THE COMMUNITY REGULARLY. NEXT TIME, I WILL STOP THE QUESTIONS BUT FROM THE ENGINEERING TEAM UPDATES ON THE IMPROVEMENTS BEING MADE. SO, THANK YOU DIRECTOR MILLS.

>> COMMISSIONER RAMSEY. >> THANK YOU FOR THE WORK YOU DID, THE DATA IS IMPORTANT. HOW WE MANAGE AND REACT TO THE DATA IS IMPORTANT, OBVIOUSLY THE PRAGMATIC SIDE OF THE FENCE IS DO YOU ANTICIPATE OUTSOURCING CONTINUING THROUGH THIS FISCAL

YEAR? >> I'M SORRY, THE SHERIFF, IN

[03:45:06]

OUTSOURCING. >> CLEARLY THERE IS URGENCY AROUND THAT ISSUE, IF WE CAN FILL THE BEDS HERE THAT HAS REAL DOLLARS AND CENTS IMPACT, AS WELL AS FOR US BEING ABLE TO FOCUS ON WHAT WE NEED TO. IN TERMS OF JAIL STANDARDS ARE WE COMPLYING WITH WHAT THE STATE IS ASKING US TO DO?

>> CHIEF ARE YOU ONLINE? I WILL LET CHIEF TALK TO THAT.

>> I DO KNOW THAT. >> IS A PART OF WHAT YOU'RE LOOKING AT FUTURE , STATE-OF-THE-ART MENTAL HEALTH FACILITY THAT COULD CREATE SOME BEDS THAT MAY ALLOW US TO RELIEVE SOME OF THE PRESSURE ON THE JAIL, IS THAT PART OF WHAT THESE FOLKS WOULD BE LOOKING AT?

>> I DON'T WANT TO GET TOO FAR AHEAD OF CONSULTANTS IN THE RECOMMENDATIONS, BUT MY SUSPICION BASED ON THE DATA IS

ABSOLUTELY. >> MY CAUTION ON CONSULTANTS IS , THEY NEED TO CUT TO THE CHASE IN TERMS OF ANSWERING QUESTIONS, WE PAY A LOT OF MONEY TO A LOT OF CONSULTANTS OVER THE YEARS AND WHAT WE DON'T NEED IS ONE MORE STUDY, WE START NEEDING TO SEE WHAT WE CAN DO TO SPECIFICALLY ADDRESS THE ISSUES ONCE WE FIGURE OUT THE NUMBERS SO I FIGURE OUT THAT IS WHAT

WE'RE DOING HERE. >> I'M GOING TO EXCUSE MYSELF FOR MY GROUP THERAPY AND COMMISSIONER ELLIS WILL TAKE

OVER. >> COMMISSIONER I THINK THAT THE AVENGERS THAT WERE ASSEMBLED FROM THE COUNTY, TO BE ON THE COMMITTEE FROM ALL OF THE OFFICES, THE SHERIFF'S OFFICES, WE WHOLEHEARTEDLY EXPECT THAT WE HAVE ACTIONABLE DATA AND DESIGN AND OPTIONS TO BRING TO THE COURT, NOT JUST WE THINK WE ARE GOING TO NEED A CERTAIN NUMBER OF BEDS OVER 30 YEARS AND THIS IS YOUR ONLY OPTION, BUT HERE'S DIFFERENT WAYS TO BUILD TO THAT, WE WANT TO SEE, IF WE MAKE THESE INVESTMENTS IN THE COMMUNITY, IF WE CAN OFFSET SOME OF THESE HOW MUCH IT CHANGES AND WHERE LOW-COST NO-COST CHANGES ARE, IF WE MAKE POLICY CHANGES WHAT IMPACT WOULD THAT HAVE WITH THE NEED FOR ADDITIONAL BED SPACE? SO I THINK WE WILL HAVE ACTIONABLE INFORMATION FOR YOU

ALL. >> OKAY, THANK YOU.

>> COMMISSIONER GARCIA. >> YES, THANK YOU. MISS MILLS I WANTED TO POINT OUT ONE OF YOUR SLIDES TALK ABOUT THE BACKLOG. I WANT TO APPLAUD THOSE JUDGES LEADING INCLUDING THE BACKLOG IN PARTICULAR JUDGE BELL THAT HAS THE LOWEST BACKLOG AND A SHOUT OUT TO THOSE WITH THE HIGHEST TO PLEASE HELP US SOONER RATHER

THAN LATER. >> OKAY THANK YOU ANY OF THE QUESTIONS? NO ACTION ON THIS ITEM. THE NEXT ITEM IS ITEM 3 FROM COUNTY ADMINISTRATION REQUEST DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION ON THE OUTCOME OF SALARY GRIEVANCE COMMITTEE MEETING.

[03:50:03]

>> YES, THANK YOU COMMISSIONER GARCIA, I TAGGED THIS ITEM.

>> THERE YOU GO CORRECT. AND I SAW MISS BURGESS IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO COME DOWN.

YOU ARE ONE OF THE STATUTORY POSITIONS THAT MAY SERVE ON THE SALARY GRIEVANCE COMMITTEE CORRECT?

>> YES. >> I UNDERSTAND YOUR SERVE ON THE COMMITTEE, THE ONE THAT HURT YOUR PARTICULAR SALARY GRIEVANCE. AND WAS THERE EVER A CONVERSATION ABOUT THE APPEARANCE OF A CONFLICT OF INTEREST AND WHO DID YOU HAVE A

CONVERSATION WITH? >>

>> I UNDERSTAND YOU REPEATEDLY BROUGHT UP WHAT YOU FELT WAS IN EQUITY IN THE WAY YOUR STAFF IN THE DISTRICT CLERK'S OFFICE WAS PAID AS A WAY TO CONVINCE THE JURORS THAT, SOME OF THE JURORS USE THAT AS JUSTIFICATION FOR VOTING IN YOUR FAVOR. I MEAN YOU ARE MAKING A STRONG PITCH TO GET MORE MONEY FOR YOURSELF CORRECT?

>> THE COMMITTEE WAS MEETING ABOUT MY SALARY NOT MY STAFF

SALARY. >> BUT YOU WERE MAKING THE POINT THAT YOUR STAFF WAS MAKING MORE MONEY THAN YOU. WHAT WAS THE

ARGUMENT? >> THE COMMITTEE BROUGHT IT UP AND ASKED THE QUESTION, THEY SAY THEY HEARD MY STAFF WAS UNDERPAID AND THEY ARE COMPARED TO OTHER PEOPLE WITH SIMILAR POSITIONS WITHIN COUNTY AND DIFFERENT AGENCIES BUT I DID NOT BRING UP STAFF THAT WAS NOT THE PURPOSE OF THE COMMITTEE, I

ANSWERED TWO QUESTIONS. >> OKAY SO , JESSE, YOU WERE THE CHAIR. WAS THERE A TIME FOR MISS BURGESS AND THE COUNTY TO MAKE

THEIR CASE TO THE COMMITTEE? >> THERE WAS, SIR.

>> AND DID THE COMMITTEE THEN GO INTO DELIBERATION WHERE THEY

DISCUSS THIS? >> WE DID.

>> OKAY WAS THE COUNTY ABLE TO ARGUE ITS CASE DURING

DELIBERATION? >> NO.

>> WAS MISS BURGESS ABLE TO MAKE HER POSITION DURING

DELIBERATION? >> SHE WAS AND SHE WAS ON THE

COMMITTEE. >> WHY WAS SHE ABLE TO MAKE HER

CASE AND NOT THE COUNTY? >> I THINK BECAUSE SHE WAS ON THE COMMITTEE AND THE COUNTY DID NOT HAVE REPRESENTATION.

>> SO MISS BURGESS WAS ABLE TO UTILIZE HER POSITION ON THE COMMITTEE AS AN ELECTED OFFICIAL TO ARGUE FOR HERSELF AND TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE MATTER FOR HERSELF? IS THAT?

>> YES I THINK THAT'S WHAT PEOPLE SAW.

>> AND WHO MADE THE MOTION FOR MISS BURGESS SALARY INCREASE?

>> I BELIEVE SHE DID. >> SHE MADE HER OWN MOTION.

>> CAN ADDRESS THAT? >> SURE.

>> MY INITIAL REQUEST WAS 295, THE SAME AS WITH THE CONSTABLES WERE ASKING FOR. THIS COURT AGREED TO GIVE THE CONSTABLES A RAISE, BUT AT 260, I AM IN THE MOTION TO REDUCE MY REQUEST TO MATCH THOSE AS OPPOSED TO STAYING AT THE HIGHER LEVEL.

>> YOU STILL MADE MOTION TO INCREASE YOUR SALARY.

>> YES. >> YOU ARE MAKING A MOTION TO

INCREASE TO 81,000. >> TO MATCH THE CONSTABLE.

>> YOU WERE MAKING MOTION TO INCREASE BY 81,000.

>> AT THAT POINT A MOTION TO DECREASE WITH THE ORIGINAL

REQUEST . >> STILL INCREASE OF 81,000. YOU MADE THE MOTION? AND YOU KNOW, I HAVE BEEN IN THIS ARENA FOR A BIT AND NORMALLY IT WAS A THIRD RAIL FOR AN ELECTED OFFICIAL TO STAND HERE AND SAY PAY ME MORE MONEY , SO I'M NOT SURE WHETHER TO RESPECT YOU OR TO THINK OTHERWISE THAT YOU WOULD ARGUE FOR YOUR OWN SALARY. I DON'T EVEN KNOW IF IT IS LEGAL TO HAVE DONE THIS, BUT YOU HAD A CONVERSATION WITH COUNTY ATTORNEY OFFICE, BUT AND I GUESS WAS THAT CONCLUSION IT WAS LEGAL FOR HER TO MAKE A VOTE FOR HERSELF OR A MOTION FOR HERSELF?

>> JOHN ARE YOU ON? OKAY I'M NOT SURE.

>> TO BE CLEAR THERE IS THE AG OPINION IT IS LEGAL, IT IS NOT A LEGAL CONFLICT WE DO NOT DISCUSS WHETHER IT APPEARS TO BE

CONFLICT. THAT'S ANOTHER ISSUE. >> AT ANY TIME IS THERE A

[03:55:04]

>> TO BE CLEAR IT IS NOT A LEGAL CONFLICT ACCORDING TO THE ATTORNEY GENERAL THE APPEARANCE IS NOT.

>> SO IT LOOKS THAT IT MAY NOT BE ILLEGAL BUT IT IS HORRIBLE ON THE FACE OF IT. ALL RIGHT. I JUST WANTED TO HEAR FROM YOU.

>> I HAVE BEEN IN THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY MOST OF MY LIFE.

>> THANK YOU. >> IF YOU WANT TO MAKE A BRIEF

COMMENT YOU CAN. >> FOREVER I HAVE HAD PEOPLE COMING TO ME ASKING FOR RAISES, THAT'S THE NORM IN THE BUSINESS WORLD, WHEN YOU DECIDE YOU WANT PUBLIC OFFICIALS TO BE ON THE COMMITTEE NOT JUST PUBLIC I THOUGHT THAT WAS KIND OF WEIRD TO BEGIN WITH FOR PUBLIC OFFICIALS WITH A GRIEVANCE ON THEIR OWN SALARIES, BUT THAT'S WHAT YOU REQUESTED AND THREE PEOPLE DECLINE BECAUSE THEY FELT YOU ARE PITTING ONE ELECTED OFFICIAL AGAINST ANOTHER. TWO AGREED TO DO IT AND I THOUGHT I WAS DOING WHAT YOU WANTED WHEN YOU SAID YOU WANTED ELECTED OFFICIALS ON THE COMMITTEE. I ASKED THE COUNTY ATTORNEY, I MADE THE STATEMENT, I ASSUME I AM NOT ELIGIBLE TO BE ON THE COMMITTEE SINCE I FILED A GRIEVANCE AND HE SAID YOU ARE

ELIGIBLE SO I SERVED. >> REAL QUICKLY COMMISSIONER.

WHO SELECTS THE CIVILIAN MEMBERS TO SERVE ?

>> THEY COME FROM A RANDOMIZED IS TO BE ABLE TO SERVE AS GRAND

JURORS. >> WHO SELECTS THE LIST?

>> THE COMPUTER. >> WHO MAKES, WHO PULLS THE

LIST? >> MY I.T. ADMINISTRATOR.

>> THE SAME LIST COMES OUT OF YOUR OFFICE. YOU HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO SEE WHO WOULD SERVE ON THE COMMITTEE.

>> I DID BUT I DID NOT KNOW ANY OF THEM.

>> SO YOU DID LOOK AT THE LIST? >> I PREPARED THE LIST AND GIVE

IT TO THE COUNTY CLERK. >> ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? A BRIEF COMMENT, I DON'T WANT TO BELABOR THE POINT. YOU MAY RECALL I WAS ONE OF THOSE WHO SAID I THOUGHT ELECTED OFFICIALS SHOULD BE ON THE LIST AND IT WOULD'VE VOLUNTEERED , BUT THE STATUTE SPELLS OUT WHICH OFFICES HAVE TO BE ON THE LIST AND CLERK BURGESS I WAS GOING TO DO IT BECAUSE I TOOK 600,000 A MONTH, FOR 26 YEARS I WISH THEY HAD A COMMITTEE I COULD'VE BEEN ON TO DISCUSS BUT IT IS ALWAYS UNCOMFORTABLE. I DO REMEMBER TELLING YOU IF THE COURT WAS GOING TO GIVE A PAY RAISE TO ANY ELECTED OFFICIALS, THE CONSTABLES AND THE SHERIFF IN THIS CASE AND IF OTHERS APPEALED I WANT TO PUT ITEM ON THE AGENDA SO THEY WOULD ALL GET THE SAME AMOUNT COME THE SAME INCREASE GOING TO THE CONSTABLES IN THAT CASE AND YOU PERSUADED ME OTHERWISE BECAUSE IT'S PUTTING ELECTED OFFICIALS ON IT WE FIGURED IT WOULD COST 5 MILLION? IF I REMEMBER RIGHT. IT MAY HAVE INCENTIVIZED WHOEVER WAS ON THE COMMITTEE TO GRANT IT TO THE CONSTABLES IF WE DO NOT DO IT AND IT WOULD BE A $5 MILLION TAB. COME BACK IN THE NEXT CYCLE I WILL MAKE THE CASE WE OUGHT TO GIVE OTHER ELECTED OFFICIALS A PAY RAISE SO COLLEAGUES BE PREPARED. IT DOES CREATE TENSION AND THE CONSTABLES DID COME IN, IN UNIFORM AND FULLY EQUIPPED AND ASKED FOR THE PAY RAISE SO I WILL NOT CRITICIZE YOU FOR THAT BUT I WILL LEAVE US OUT OF IT AND HOPE SOMEBODY IS OLD ENOUGH TO COME BACK AND SAY HOW WE DO IT BECAUSE WE MAKE A LITTLE LESS THAN OUR COLLEAGUES IN TARRANT COUNTY. WHEN IT IS A BUDGET DEFICIT IT IS UNCOMFORTABLE TO GIVE ANYBODY ONE, ANYWAY THANK YOU. NEXT ITEM.

>> REAL QUICKLY I WOULD LIKE TO ASK IGA COME I'M NOT SURE TAMMY IF YOU ARE ONLINE OR FRANCIS.

IF IGA IS NOT ON. IF I CAN GIVE THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR DIRECTION TO VISIT. THERE YOU ARE, TAMMY.

>> CAN YOU SEE ME? >> NO MA'AM.

>> IT MIGHT BE WINDING. >> IT WILL WORK THROUGH AND YOU GUYS CAN CONNECT. I WOULD LIKE TO SEE THIS GET PUT ON THE LEGISLATIVE AGENDA. THIS HAS GOT TO BE CHANGED. IT STRIKES ME VERY RAW. THERE YOU ARE. THAT'S A BIG DESK. I THINK YOU JUST HEARD THE QUESTION , IF WE COULD WORK TO GET THIS ON THE

LEGISLATIVE AGENDA. >> HI FRANCIS.

[04:00:02]

>> I TRIED TO CALL ON THE OTHER SIDE.

>> YOU MIGHT HAVE TO GO OUT OF THE ROOM, PATRICK.

>> COMEDIC RELIEF, BYE FRIENDS. >> ONE MORE TIME. THANK YOU FOR COMING ON. IF WE COULD GET THIS ON THE LEGISLATIVE AGENDA FOR A CHANGE, IT STRIKES ME AS HIGHLY INAPPROPRIATE IN SPITE OF IT

BEING ILLEGAL. >> WE WILL TAKE NOTE AND PUT IT

ON THE AGENDA FOR NEXT SESSION. >> NEXT SPECIAL? COMMISSIONER

BRIONES. >> IN ADDITION TO LEGISLATIVE CHANGES, INTERNAL LOCAL POLICY PERSPECTIVE, IN TERMS OF PROCESS FOR NEXT CYCLE WHEN FUTURE GRIEVANCES MAY BE FILED I THINK THERE NEEDS TO BE A RULE THAT DISALLOWS ANY ACTUAL PERCEIVED CONFLICTS OF INTEREST IF ONE IS GRIEVING THEIR OWN SALARY THEY SHOULD NOT SERVE ON THE COMMITTEE SO I WOULD LIKE LOCAL POLICY CHANGE. TO CONFIRM AND LEVEL SET FOR BURGESS AND ALL ELECTED AND ALL COUNTY EMPLOYEES, I AM LOOKING AT DIRECTOR DOUGLAS , TO CONFIRM GALLAGHER PAY EQUITY STUDY WOULD BE COMING BACK TO COURT IN OCTOBER CORRECT? THIS WOULD INCLUDE ALL HARRIS COUNTY EMPLOYEES INCLUDED ELECTED OFFICIALS? SO THIS PAY EQUITY DATA WE HAVE BEEN LONG AWAITING FOR MULTIPLE YEARS WILL BE ARRIVING OCTOBER 2025 CORRECT?

THANK YOU. >> I DO WANT TO STRESS MONEY I ADVOCATED FOR WILL BE PEOPLE AT THE BOTTOM NOT TALKING ABOUT PAY EQUITY FOR THOSE OF US AT THE TOP INCLUDING YOU AND OTHER DEPARTMENT HEADS . SO IN SOME WAYS I THINK WOULD BE UNFORTUNATE , WE KNOW WHAT INEQUITIES ARE.

>> I WANT TO PRIORITIZE THOSE ON THE LOWER INCOME SCALE ABSOLUTELY BUT TO LEVEL SET ALL HARRIS COUNTY EMPLOYEES THE DATA

WILL BE COMING. >> SO WE KNOW WHAT THE NUMBERS WOULD BE. WE ONLY HAVE $50 MILLION.

>> WE DID MAKE THAT ADJUSTMENT BASED ON YOUR FEEDBACK .

>> WE DID NOT . >> A FULL 50 MILLION AND TO BE CLEAR THE NEXT TIME WE WOULD BE ABLE TO TAKE ACTION ON ELECTED OFFICIAL SALARY WHICH WOULD BE THIS TIME NEXT YEAR. SO, ANY ELECTED OFFICIAL SALARY WOULD IMPACT FISCAL YEAR 27 BUDGET.

>> THINK YOU. >> THANK YOU FOR THE MOTION YOU PUT FORWARD TO REVIEW ALL ELECTED OFFICIALS AND THAT SHOULD INCLUDE THE FIVE OF YOU AS WELL.

>> I WOULD LIKE TO INCLUDE US BUT I DON'T HAVE THE NERVE TO DO IT. THE NUMBERS WILL COME OUT WHEN YOU DO IT. NEXT ITEM.

>> IS THE REACTION? >> NEXT, YOU PULLED 125.

>> I WON'T GO INTO REASONS WHY I THINK THESE CARDS ARE REALLY BAD, NOT JUST THE ACCOUNTING THAT I THINK WE NEED.

>> I THINK I PASSED A MOTION TO REQUIRE PURCHASES THROUGH THE P CARD. HAVE WE MOVED ANYWHERE WITH THAT?

>> LET ME COME BACK TO THAT. >> IF THERE IS A WAY TO DO IT

LEGALLY. >> OKAY I WILL MAKE THE MOTION.

ON THIS ITEM. MOTION MADE BY ELLIS, SECOND BY COMMISSIONER BRIONES. ALL IN FAVOR? THOSE OPPOSED, COMMISSIONER RAMSEY VOTES NO IT DOES PASS, NEXT ITEM 140, ECONOMIC EQUITY AND

OPPORTUNITY. >> JUST A QUESTION. WE ARE BRINGING, DIRECTOR, THANK YOU FOR COMING. WE ARE THE EXPERTS IN WAGE RATES AND WE ARE CONSULTING WITH THE PORT ON WAGE

RATES? >> GOOD AFTERNOON, COMMISSIONERS. THE WORK WE DO IS WORK THAT TRANSFERRED OVER TO THE D.O. FOR ENGINEERING 'S WE HAVE BEEN DOING THE WORK FOR THE COUNTY FOR A LONG TIME AND STAFF TRANSFERRED OVER SO THIS IS CONTINUATION OF THE WORK. THEY PAY US TO DO THE WORK FOR THEM.

TRANSFERRED FROM HCD AT THE TIME CSD HOUSING COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT THE PREVAILING WAGE STAFF TRANSFERRED OVER WHEN THEY

FIRST STARTED. >> OKAY JUST NEED TO VOTE.

>> BOWED AND SECOND ALL THOSE IN FAVOR AYE. THE ITEM PASSES.

RAMSEY DID NOT SECOND. COMMISSIONER? OKAY HE MADE THE SECOND.

[04:05:05]

>> GARCIA AND COMMISSIONER BRIONES. NEXT IS 141.

>> JUST NEED TO VOTE. >> GARCIA, SECOND BY COMMISSIONER BRIONES. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? THREE AYES, ONE NAY.

>> ONE QUICK COMMENT. ON THE ESSENTIAL WORKERS BOARD DIRECTOR GONZALEZ THANK YOU. I KNOW MANY OF THE TEAMS GO TO EACH OF THE MEETINGS AND WHAT I LOOK FOR IN THESE COMMISSIONS IS ACTIONABLE RECOMMENDATION THAT THE COUNTY CAN TAKE TO CONTINUE TO ADVANCE JUSTICE AND OPPORTUNITY SO THE NEXT ESSENTIAL WORKER BOARD I KINDLY REQUEST THAT YOU ENCOURAGE THEM TO COME BACK WITH ACTIONABLE POTENTIAL IDEAS FOR US TO CONSIDER SO WE CAN ADVANCE WORKER PROTECTION SAFETY WAGES ET CETERA.

>> ABSOLUTELY AND A LOT OF WORK HAS TO DO WITH REVIEWING POLICIES SO PUTTING REVISIONS TO THE CONTRACTOR POLICY.

>> THAT WILL BE COMING BACK IN OCTOBER. 2.0 IMPROVED VERSION.

>> COMMISSIONER GARCIA? >> YES, I'M NOT SURE IF WE WERE SUPPOSED TO WORRY IF I WOULD LIKE TO MOVE TO SUSPEND THE RULES SO THEY CAN GO TO RESOLUTIONS SO A FEW GUESTS ARE HERE. IF THAT WOULD BE OKAY WITH THE COURT.

>> COMMISSIONER DO YOU WANT TO GO AHEAD AND WE ARE 20 MINUTES FROM HAVING TO STOP FOR RESOLUTIONS ANYWAY. IS IT OKAY TO WAIT UNTIL 4:00 OR DO YOU WANT TO GO THROUGH THEM ALL NOW?

>> MAYOR CAN YOU SPARE 20 MINUTES? WONDERFUL.

>> THANK YOU, MAYOR. OKAY, THE NEXT ITEM ITEM 143 COMMISSIONER

RAMSEY. >> JUST , ARE WE GOING INTO DEBT

TO PAY SALARIES WITH THE ITEM? >> WE CAN PAY SALARIES IF THEY ARE WORKING ON CAPITAL PROJECTS AND THAT HAS BEEN THE PRACTICE FOR THE LAST FEW YEARS AND IT HAPPENS IN ENGINEERING.

>> KNOW THE CIRCUMSTANCES IN CAPITAL PROJECTS AND I THINK YOU HAVE TO BE CAREFUL WHEN YOU DO THAT. THE BASIC CONCEPT OF BORROWING MONEY TO PAY SALARIES IS NOT SUSTAINABLE AND NOT A

GOOD IDEA. >> IS THAT EMOTION?

>> I WILL BE HAPPY TO SUPPORT, JUST TO LEVEL SET FOR THE COMMUNITY CAN YOU JUST SAY WHAT THE ASSET MANAGEMENT PROGRAM IS?

>> THIS IS A PROGRAM WHERE WE ARE BUYING LAPTOPS AND OUTFITTING THE COUNTY WITH TECHNOLOGY THEY NEED SO IT'S ALSO PAYING FOR STAFF MANAGING THE PROGRAM.

>> AS A REMINDER THIS PROGRAM SAVED $4.5 MILLION THIS YEAR.

>> THANK YOU. >> MOTION BY COMMISSIONER GARCIA, SECOND BY COMMISSIONER BRIONES . THE ITEM PASSES. NEXT THE JUDGE HELD SO LET'S HOLD UNTIL THE END IN CASE SHE'S ABLE TO COME BACK. 183 COMMISSIONER RAMSEY. FIRE

MARSHAL. >> JUST ABOUT.

>> SOMEONE. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR VOTE AYE. ALL THOSE OPPOSED, COMMISSIONER RAMSEY VOTES NO ITEM PASSES. COMMISSIONER

RAMSEY, EPA. >> JUST NEED TO VOTE.

>> SOME OF. >> MOTION BY COMMISIONER GARCIA, SECOND BY COMMISSIONER BRIONES. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? THE ITEM PASSES, COMMISSIONER RAMSEY VOTES NO. NEXT COMMISSIONER

RAMSEY, 198. >> JUST NEED TO VOTE. GARCIA MAKES MOTION, SECONDS. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? FOUR AYES 1 NAY THE ITEM PASSES, NEXT IS TRAVEL AND TRAINING MISSION RAMSEY.

>> JUST NEED ABOUT. >> MOTION.

>> I'M SORRY I NEED TWO MOTIONS. WANT TO PROVE THE OUT

OF TEXAS TROUBLE. >> WANT TO VOTE ALL OF IT?

>> OR JUST SOME? >> I'M SORRY.

>> I HAVE ITEM. >> EVERYTHING BUT MOTION TO APPROVE ALL ITEMS EXCEPT EIGHT, 14, 20 AND 22.

>> SECOND. >> ALL THOSE OPPOSED? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR VOTE AYE, FOUR AYES THE ITEM PASSES. MOTION TO APPROVE THE REMAINING ITEMS. COMMISSIONER GARCIA SECONDS IT, ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? ALL THOSE OPPOSED, COMMISSIONER RAMSEY VOTES NO THE ITEM PASSES. NEXT IS GRANTS. COMMISSIONER GARCIA.

[04:10:02]

>> THANK YOU COME I'M EXCITED BECAUSE IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE CITY OF HOUSTON WE WERE ABLE TO SECURE A $2 BILLION GRANT FROM THE FEDERAL RAILROAD ADMINISTRATION COMBINED WITH A HALF-MILLION LOCAL MATCH TO LAUNCH A MAJOR PLANNING STUDY AT REDUCING THE NEGATIVE IMPACTS OF RAILROAD CROSSINGS IN HOUSTON'S EAST END TRIANGLE IN PARTICULAR. THIS IS THE SECTION OF OLD GALVESTON ROAD ON THE EAST AND WEST BELTWAY MOSTLY I-45, VERY EXCITED, A LOT OF CONVERSATION ABOUT THE CHALLENGES OF RAILROADS IN THE COMMUNITY. EVERYBODY KNOWS THE RAILROADS WERE HERE BEFORE A LOT OF OTHER PEOPLE, BUT AS DENSITY PROGRESSES FORWARD IT BECOMES A GREATER CHALLENGE SO I THINK THIS IS AN INCREDIBLE OPPORTUNITY TO WORK TOGETHER AND FIND WAYS TO MAKE THE COMMUNITY EVEN SAFER WHILE WE ALLOW OUR FREIGHT TO GET TO WHERE IT NEEDS TO GET TO. SO RIGHT NOW THE STOP TRAINS ARE CREATING SERIOUS HAITI SAYS IT ON THE EAST END FROM 2019 TO 2024 CRASHES WERE REPORTED AT TWO EAST END WELL CROSSINGS, FOUR ON THE STREET AND ONE AT TELEPHONE ROAD. THIS COMMUNITY HAS EIGHT OF THE 10, EIGHT OF THE TOP 10 MOST BLOCKED CROSSINGS IN THE UNITED STATES. THAT IS INCREDIBLE. EVERY DAY, THOUSANDS ARE STUCK AT CROSSINGS, KIDS RISK THEIR LIVES CLIMBING CARS, FIREFIGHTERS LOSE UP TO 10 MINUTES IN RESPONDING AS A CONSEQUENCE OF THE ROADS BEING BLOCKED. SO, I AM EXCITED, THIS IS NOT JUST A SAFETY ISSUE BUT ALSO A EQUITY ISSUE. IT IS ALSO A ECONOMIC IMPACT ISSUE. OVER 20 YEARS DELAYS AT WELL CROSSINGS IN HOUSTON COULD COST A STAGGERING 2.6 BILLION IN LOST TIME, COLLISIONS, WASTED FUEL, EMISSIONS AND THAT IS JUST MONEY WE CANNOT AFFORD TO LOSE. WHILE WE HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO ADDRESS IT. SO RAILS WILL STUDY, RATHER WILL DELIVER SMART SOLUTIONS LIKE GRADE SEPARATIONS AND PEDESTRIAN SAFETY MEASURES AND WILL TRANSFORM THE QUALITY OF LIFE FOR THE EAST END AND HOPEFULLY WE CAN GET IT DONE IN OUR RESPECTIVE LIFETIME BECAUSE THIS IS SOMETHING THE COMMUNITY HAS LONG BEEN LIVING WITH. I AM EXCITED ABOUT THIS, I MOVE ON THE MOTION AS PRESENTED.

>> SECOND AND CONGRATULATIONS, AMAZING.

>> MOTION MADE BY GARCIA SECOND BY COMMISIONER GARCIA. THE ITEM PASSES UNANIMOUSLY. I'M 238, COMMISSIONER RAMSEY FOOD

NUTRITION PROGRAM. >> WE JUST NEED TO VOTE.

>> MOTION MADE BY GARCIA, SECOND BY COMMISSIONER BRIONES. ALL THOSE OPPOSED? COMMISSIONER RAMSEY VOTES NO THE ITEM PASSES

[Departments (Part 5 of 9) & Emergency/Supplemental Items (Part 2 of 6)]

COMMISSIONER GARCIA? >> I WILL SECOND.

>> ANY OBJECTION? THREE AYES, ONE NAY COMMISSIONER RAMSEY

[Departments (Part 6 of 9)]

>> THE AUDITOR OR OR PURCHASING.

>> ITEM 245. >> WE ARE PAYING A CLAIM TO SAGE AND SITES INC. AND DOES THIS CHECK ALL THE BOXES IN TERMS OF WHAT WE CAN DO OR SHOULD DO OR LEGALLY DO?

>> WE WILL COME BACK TO IT. WE WILL COME BACK TO IT.

>> NEXT IS 260, COMMISSIONER RAMSEY. 206 IS BOB BARKER

COMPANY. >> THIS IS THE ITEM WE HAD EARLIER. AND I KNOW THERE WAS A CONCERN SIMPLY FROM A PURCHASING STANDPOINT , IF YOU LOOK AT THE REQUIREMENTS, THERE ARE CERTAIN

[04:15:01]

PROJECT. >> WE HEARD FROM YOU EARLIER YOU CAN BE SITTING. THANK YOU FOR BEING YOUR.

>> GOOD AFTERNOON. >> TO YOUR POINT ABOUT THE TESTING THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE DID CONDUCT A TEST OF THE THREE VENDORS AND THE TEST INVOLVED TAKING THE GARMENTS THROUGH A SERIES OF WASH CYCLES. THIS WAS THE ONE PRODUCT THAT HAD SOME COMPROMISE IN THE MATERIAL SO THAT'S WHY IT WAS NOT SELECTED.

WE WOULD BE HAPPY TO SIT DOWN TO DO A DEBRIEF AND EXPLAIN AND HAD TO WALK THROUGH THAT, THEY DID TAKE PICTURE THE MATERIAL AND YOU CAN SEE IN THE TESTING THEY DID ON THIS PARTICULAR PRODUCT THAT THERE WERE SOME TEARS IN IT SO ALTHOUGH IT'S THE LOWEST BID IF YOU CONTINUE TO HAVE DEFECTIVE MATERIALS THAT WOULD REQUIRE POTENTIALLY INCREASED COSTS BECAUSE YOU HAVE THE GARMENTS YOU HAVE AND IT INTERRUPTS BUSINESS OPERATIONS BECAUSE YOU HAVE TO TAKE THE INMATE IN AND OUT.

>> YOU HAVE REVIEWED THE DETAILS AND YOUR SUPPORT? I WOULD RECOMMEND YOU SIT WITH THE VENDOR AND GIVE A COMPLETE

DEBRIEF ON THOSE DETAILS. >> ABSOLUTELY. I WILL NOTE WE HAD NOT RECEIVED A BID PROTEST ON THIS OR DO NOT HAVE A REQUEST FOR DEBRIEF , BUT WE ARE HAPPY TO DO SO. WE WANT VENDORS TO KNOW THEY HAVE THE OPTION TO REQUEST DEBRIEF IF THEY FEEL THERE SOMETHING WE NEED TO LOOK AT.

>> THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE AGREES WITH THIS.

>> WE LOOKED AT THE DOCUMENTATION THEY PROVIDED.

>> IT WILL MEET WITH YOU NOT TODAY, THEY WILL GIVE YOU A

DEBRIEF. >> IS THERE EMOTION? COMMISSIONER GARCIA MAKES EMOTION, SECOND?

>> ALL IN FAVOR VOTE TRENTON, OPPOSED VOTE NO. NEXT, COMMISSIONER RAMSEY ITEM 282 ENERGY EDGE CONSULTING LLC.

>> I KNOW THIS IS A GRANT AND A QUESTION IS , THERE'S A QUESTION WHETHER OR NOT THESE DOLLARS ARE GOING TO BE THERE.

>> THIS ONE IS NOT A GRANT THEY HELP US ON ENERGY PROCUREMENT SO THIS ONE, 282 IS NOT RELATED TO THE SOLAR FOR ALL.

>> THIS IS STRICTLY CONSULTING?

>> YES. >> WE JUST NEED TO VOTE.

>> MOTION MADE BY COMMISSIONER GARCIA, SECOND BY COMMISIONER GARCIA. THREE AYES AND ONE NO THE ITEM PASSES. NEXT COMMISSIONER RAMSEY 284. ENERGY SOLUTIONS. JUST NEED TO VOTE.

BRIGHT COMMISSIONER RAMSEY? >> IS THIS THE SAME KIND OF

CONTRACT? >> A SIMILAR CONTRACT.

>> NOT SOLAR FOR ALL. >> MOTION MADE COMMISSIONER GARCIA AND I SECOND, THREE AYES, ONE NAY, ITEM PASSES NEXT IS ITEM 322 COMMISSIONER RAMSEY? SOLAR FOR ALL NEED TO VOTE.

>> QUESTION DO WE HAVE DOLLARS HEAR FROM THE PROJECT?

>> SO THIS ONE, COMMISSIONER THERE'S AN ITEM IN EXECUTIVE SESSION TALKING ABOUT A LEGAL STRATEGY, THIS IS NO COST AT THE MOMENT. WE WANT TO CONSIDER TO KEEP OPTIONS OPEN.

>> IN THE 50 CITIES AND 20 COUNTIES I WORKED FOR BEFORE YOU BID SOMETHING HAVE THE MONEY IN THE BANK SO I WANT TO BE SURE IS

THIS LEGAL? >> COMMISSIONER WE CAN TALK THE COMPANION ITEM IS AN EXECUTIVE SESSION SO WHAT DO WE TALK THEN?

>> HOLD UNTIL THEN? OKAY, COMMISSIONER RAMSEY YOU HELD THE NEXT ONE. MEMO FOR THE COUNTY FLEET ACQUISITION. JUST NEED TO

[04:20:01]

VOTE. >> THIS IS TO ACQUIRE A VEHICLE CAPABLE OF SAFELY DEPLOYING A LARGE DONATED MOBILE GENERATOR.

MY SIMPLE QUESTION IS , WHO IS GOING TO BE RESPONSIBLE FOR USING THIS NEW TRUCK WITH A DONATED GENERATOR ? WHO'S GROUP

IS THIS IN? >> EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT?

>> PRECINCTS TWO, THREE AND FOUR ARE PROBABLY VOLUNTEER.

>> DO WE KNOW? >> MY GUESS IS EMERGENCY

MANAGEMENT, GIVE ME ONE SECOND. >> COMMISSIONER GARCIA , TRANSMITTAL ON THE COMPLAINT TRACKING DIRECTIVE. 311 HOMELESS

ENCAMPMENT. 382 I'M SORRY. >> THANK YOU. BACK IN MAY I BROUGHT A MOTION TO UPDATE THE 311 SYSTEM TO ALIGN WITH OUR ENCAMPMENT CLOSURE POLICY BECAUSE PUBLIC SAFETY AND ACCOUNTABILITY HAVE TO GO HAND-IN-HAND AND WORK WELL TOGETHER. SINCE THEN THEY HAVE PARTNERED WITH FLOOD CONTROL THE PUBLIC HEALTH, SHERIFF'S OFFICE AND COLLISION OF THE HOMELESS TO LAUNCH A PHASED PLAN THAT ENSURES ENCAMPMENT REPORTS ARE TRIAGED, ROUTED AND TRACKED TRANSPARENCY. THEY ARE ALREADY TRACKING OVER 250 ENCAMPMENT RELATED CASES USING EXPANDED FILTERS, THE NEW 311 FORM WOULD INCLUDE MAP PAINTING, ADDRESSES AND PHOTO UPLOADS, THIS IS PART OF THE REVIVED TO THRIVE STRATEGY CREASING TWO BEING STRATEGIC AND RESPONSIVE, SAFETY FIRST GOVERNMENT ORIENTED AND IT IS URGENTLY NEEDED. UNSHELTERED HOMELESSNESS IS UP NEARLY 16% AND HOUSTON LEADS THE NATION IN POVERTY. ONE IN FIVE RESIDENTS AND ONE IN THREE CHILDREN LIVING IN POVERTY THE SYSTEM IS ON TRACK TO LAUNCH AN EARLY 2026 AND I LOOK FORWARD TO A FULL DEMONSTRATION , DIRECTOR WHEN YOU HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY. BEFORE THE END OF THE YEAR. BEFORE WE MOVE FORWARD HAVE A FEW QUICK QUESTIONS FOR THE DIRECTOR. IF YOU MAY APPROACH THE MICROPHONE. NUMBER ONE, HOW WILL DEPARTMENTS LIKE OUR OFFICES , FLOOD CONTROL, SHERIFF AND HOUSING BE TRAINED OR ONBOARD ONTO THE NEW 311 AND DASHBOARD SYSTEM BEFORE

LAUNCHING IN 2026. >> THANK YOU FOR THE QUESTION, GOOD AFTERNOON. EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR UNIVERSAL SERVICES.

COMMISSIONER THIS IS A COLLABORATION SO THERE WILL BE A LOT OF DISCUSSIONS HAPPENING WITH ALL DEPARTMENTS AND THROUGH THOSE DISCUSSIONS WILL BE ON BOARDING VARIOUS PRECINCTS AND

DEPARTMENTS. >> GOOD, CAN YOU CLARIFY HOW THE COUNTY PLANS TO MANAGE AND UPDATE THE ENCAMPMENT DATA WHEN THE DASHBOARD DOES GO LIVE AND WILL THAT BE AUTOMATED OR DEPEND

ON THE DEPARTMENT INPUT? >> DEPENDS ON DEPARTMENT INPUT, SOME CAN BE AUTOMATED AS SOME OF IT DEPENDS ON INTEGRATION BETWEEN THE SYSTEMS AND THE SYSTEMS THAT RESIDE WITHIN THE DEPARTMENT SO THERE MAY BE SOME AUTOMATED AND OTHERS WOULD BE .

>> ANY EFFORT TO MAKE IT FULLY AUTOMATED WOULD OBVIOUSLY BE IDEAL. AND BEYOND THE CURRENT AGENCY INVOLVED IS THEIR PLAN TO EXPAND ROUTING, LOGIC OR DASHBOARD ACCESS TO INCLUDE OTHER PARTNER CITIES LIKE LA PORTE, NONPROFITS OR OTHER

JURISDICTIONS IN THE FUTURE? >> THAT WOULD BE GREAT, WE WOULD LIKE TO DO THAT, RIGHT NOW THAT IS NOT IN THE SCOPE FOR PHASE 2,

BUT DEFINITELY NOTED. >> WONDERFUL. THANK YOU FOR YOUR WORK AND I APPRECIATE THE QUICK TURNAROUND ON THIS ITEM SO, THANK YOU VERY MUCH AND LOOKING FORWARD TO MOVING ALONG.

ANYTHING YOU NEED PLEASE LET ME KNOW.

>> NEXT ITEM 410 WE WILL PULL THAT ONE.

[Emergency/Supplemental Items (Part 3 of 6)]

>> NO ACTION WE WILL BRING IT BACK .

>> 411 COMMISSIONER GARCIA. >> ON THIS ONE , I THINK WE WERE GETTING THE BRIEFING ON MONDAY AND I ASKED FOR A COPY OF THE INVESTMENT POLICY. AND I GOT IT YESTERDAY SO THANK YOU FOR THE QUICK TURNAROUND. YOU GAVE ME AN INSIGHT INTO THE POLICY AND I DID NOT GET THE POLICY MYSELF. LIKELY GET THE INVESTMENT POLICY AND SO ONE OF THE THINGS THE INVESTMENT POLICY DOES , WE ARE SLIDE DECK DOES MENTION IS THAT THAT THERE IS SOME

[04:25:03]

>> WE CAN PROVIDE THAT. >> HOLD THE ITEM.

>> I HAD A SIMILAR QUESTION WITH REGARD TO THE VARIANCE AND UTILIZATION SO I WOULD BE INTERESTED IN SEEING THAT.

[Departments (Part 7 of 9)]

>> WE WILL HAVE THAT FOR THE NEXT COURT PROBABLY?

>> WE CAN BRING IT BACK. >> YES OR, 329 THAT IS OEM VEHICLE. SO THE OFFICE OF EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT IS MANAGING

THE LARGE VEHICLE. >> IS THAT THE ONLY VEHICLE THEY

HAVE IN THE GROUP? >> I BELIEVE THEY HAVE

ADDITIONAL VEHICLES. >> CORRECT BUT IT IS A SPECIALTY VEHICLE FOR GENERATORS AND PARTICULARLY LARGE.

>> MAKE MOTION ON ITEM. >> MOTION MADE COMMISSIONER RAMSEY, SECOND BY COMMISIONER GARCIA, THE ITEM PASSES

[Emergency/Supplemental Items (Part 4 of 6)]

>> I'M SORRY TO VERIFY. >> 11 WAS NO ACTION?

>> THE OTHER ONE WAS NO ACTION. >> FOR 10 WAS NO ACTION, 411 WE CAN BRING BACK, BUT WE ARE REQUIRED TO SUBMIT REPORTS QUARTERLY SO WE GATHER THEM TOGETHER IN ONE CONSISTENT REPORT, TO SPEAK TO THE VOLATILITY, IT IS DEPENDENT ON EVERY QUARTER , WE HAVE OUR INVESTORS .

>> YOU SUGGEST WE PASS BUT YOU GIVE A RAPPORT ON THE ITEMS?

>> WHATEVER THE COURT IS COMFORTABLE WITH.

>> WE CAN BRING IT BACK. >> IT WON'T IMPACT ABILITY IN

THE MARKET? >> MARK AS NO ACTION.

>> 448 COMMISSIONER RAMSEY? >> THAT'S TIED TO THE OTHER

ITEM. >> 471. WORKING ASSETS. ASSETS TO WORK? 471. I WILL HOLD FOR 48.

>> TIED TO 245. YES, HOLD FOR 48 BECAUSE IT'S TIED.

>> 471 IS THE NEXT ONE? >> MY APOLOGY TO MAKE SURE IT'S ON THE RECORD FOR 48 WILL BE NO ACTION SINCE YOU'RE HOLDING IT.

>> FOR NOW UNTIL WE COME BACK FROM EXECUTIVE SESSION.

>> MY APOLOGIES. >> I WILL MAKE A MOTION ON 471.

>> I WILL SECOND, BUT I WANTED TO SHARE SOME COMMENTS AND GET AN UPDATE FROM THE INTERIM COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR , I AM SUPPORTIVE OF THE PROGRAM BUT IT IS INCREDIBLY SLOW MOVING AND GIVEN THAT HARRIS COUNTY IS ONE OF THE LARGEST DONORS IN THIS ENTIRE REGION AND KNOWING THERE ARE MANY ASSETS NOT BEING UTILIZED IN ONE WAY OR ANOTHER I FEEL WE NEED TO GET THE ASSETS TO WORK EVEN BEYOND THE PROGRAM THERE NEEDS TO BE DUAL TRACKS IN A MORE PROACTIVE AND AGGRESSIVE WAY. SO MY ENCOURAGEMENT IS IN COLLABORATION WITH THE ENGINEERING TEAM, AND IN ADDITION IF YOU COULD TAKE A CLOSE LOOK AT THE ASSETS WE ARE NOT UTILIZING THAT WE CAN SELL OR THINK OF PUBLIC-PRIVATE PARTNERSHIPS, HOUSING OPPORTUNITIES, ET CETERA.

THAT'S ALL I WANTED TO SAY. >> MY CONCERN ON 471 WAS THIS WAS IF NOT THE FIRST WE ARE DOING UNDER THE PROGRAM AND THAT PARTICULAR SITE HAS GOT QUITE THE HISTORY IN TERMS OF IS A GREAT VALUE AND I COULD SEE WHY IT WOULD END UP ON THE LIST. WE DID NOT EVEN COMPLETE THE DOWNTOWN MASTER PLAN. I'M NOT SURE WHY WE WOULD WANT TO START SELLING PROPERTY, PARTICULARLY COMMERCIAL PROPERTY LIKE THIS BEFORE HAVING DONE THAT.

>> UNDERSTOOD COMMISSIONER. >> I WILL MAKE THE MOTION , I

KNOW WE NEED THE MONEY. >> I MADE AN INITIAL MOTION BY

>> AYE. >> FOUR AYES AND NO NAYS.

[Departments (Part 8 of 9)]

>> RESOLUTION TIME. >> IT IS RESOLUTION TIME. SO I KNOW WHAT I FORGOT AND WE WILL GET OUT OF HERE BEFORE DINNER.

>> YES, COMMISSIONER. YES, COMMISSION.

>> AND, MAYOR, WE GOING TO BRING YOURS UP IF WE CAN. SO COME ON

[04:30:03]

UP. THAT IS ITEM. 491. >> THIS IS ITEM 491. AND MARY HOLDING, I WELCOME YOU TO HARRIS COUNTY COMMISSIONERS COURT.

THANK YOU FOR COMING DOWN TO JOIN US. MAYOR HELTON IS THE GREAT MAYOR OF THE CITY OF LAPORTE THAT OVERSEES ALL THE LAPORTIANS , INCLUDING THE ONE IN THE BACK. OKAY. GOT TWO CASES AS WELL. WELL, MAYOR, I READ THIS ARTICLE AND I ABOUT JUMPED OUT OF MY CHAIR. MY WIFE GOT SCARED SO WHAT IS HAPPENING? YOU HAVING A HEART ATTACK OR SOMETHING? BUT I WAS IMMENSELY EXCITED TO SEE THAT YOUR GREAT CITY HAS BEEN NAMED ONE OF THE BEST COASTAL CITIES, NOT JUST A COASTAL CITY, BUT IT WAS NAMED ONE OF THE BEST COASTAL CITIES TO LIVE NOT IN HARRIS COUNTY.

NOT IN THE STATE OF TEXAS. NOT IN THE REGION. BUT IN THE UNITED

STATES OF AMERICA. >> YES, SARR.

>> SO CONGRATULATIONS. SO HOW DID YOU DO IT IN JUST A FEW

MONTHS, MAN? >> JUST BUILDING ON THE LEGACY.

BY THE WAY, GALVIN'S AND IT WAS NUMBER 10. SO BE TO , TOO.

>> CONGRATULATIONS TO YOUR TEAM. AND YOUR CITY MANAGER. YOU HAVE ALWAYS BEEN PHENOMENAL PARTNERS WITH US. AND I JUST WAS VERY EXCITED. I ALWAYS GET EXCITED WHEN I SEE ANYONE AND ANYTHING THAT GETS SOME GREAT SHINE AND I WANTED TO MAKE SURE TO HIGHLIGHT YOUR INCREDIBLE CITY AND CONGRATULATE YOU AS THE MAYOR OF THAT CITY. AND EVEN THOUGH YOU GOT TWO OF THEM CITIZENS BACK THERE, I WANT TO CONGRATULATE YOU JUST THE SAME . BUT, LISTEN, WE GOT A PICTURE AND RESOLUTION THAT WILL BE PRESENTED TO YOU.

SO IF YOU COULD STILL GIVE US A FEW MORE MINUTES. AND ANY WORDS YOU WOULD LIKE TO SHARE WITH US ?

>> THANK YOU FOR THE HONOR. APPRECIATE IT. LAPORTE IS ONE OF MY FAVORITE CITIES. MY DAUGHTER-IN-LAW GREW UP THERE.

HER FATHER WAS COACH. THAT IS HER FATHER-IN-LAW. SO OF COURSE I KNOW YOU ARE CITY MANAGER FOR 100 YEARS DOES A GREAT JOB. JUST WELL DONE. I, TOO, JUMPED OUT OF A CHAIR. MAYBE NOT AS HIGH AS COMMISSIONER GARCIA, BUT WE ARE PROUD OF LAPORTE. WE ARE PROUD OF THE EAST SIDE. IT IS ONE OF THE BEST KEPT SECRETS IN THIS COUNTY AND IT IS ALL BECAUSE OF YOU ALL, YOUR LEADERSHIP, AND

THANK YOU. >> YES. WELL-DESERVED.

>> WE HAVE GOT OUR ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER MATT DAHMER AND THE GENTLEMAN WHO KEEPS US SAFE, HE IS HEAD OF OUR EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT. THIS IS JOHNNY MIRELES. I AM SURE EVERYONE HAS TALKED WITH THEM AT LEAST ONCE.

>> WELL, WELCOME AND CONGRATULATIONS.

>> APPRECIATE IT. >> THANK YOU. I JUST KNOCK MINE OUT. SO, COLLEAGUES, THE NEXT ONE IS 479. RESOLUTION HONORING THE HELTON WORKERS, THE UNITE RESOLUTION. AND I WANT TO SAY THAT I AM PLEASED THAT A COUPLE OF MY COLLEAGUES AGREED TO JOIN ME ON THIS RESOLUTION. JUDGE ALLOCCO. COMMISSIONER GARCIA.

COMMISSIONER BRIONES. WE STAND IN SOLIDARITY. THESE WORKERS ARE DEMANDING WAGES SO THEY CAN LIVE SAFELY AND WITH DIGNITY IN THE WORKPLACE. SOMETHING EVERYBODY DESERVES. WE HAVE DONE UP FOR OUR WORKERS TO THE EXTENT WE CAN . AND WE ARE ENCOURAGING IT FOR PEOPLE WHO CONTRACT AND DO BUSINESS WITH THE COUNTY AS WELL. THE HILTON WORKERS ARE LEADING THE WAY WITH THE FIRST MODERN-DAY HOSPITALITY STRIKE IN THE HISTORY OF TEXAS AND I KNOW IT IS NOT EASY FOR THEM TO DO THAT . WE COMMEND YOU ALL. AND A GOOD NUMBER OF US HAVE GONE OUT. I HAVE SEEN MY SOCIAL MEDIA TO JOIN YOU. I MUST ADMIT, I WAS ABOUT TO FALL OUT BUT I WAS GLAD TO STAND WITH YOU. UNITE HERE. HELPED US FIGHT FOR LIVING WAGES WHEN THIS COMMISSIONERS COURT ADOPTED LIVING WAGES FOR EMPLOYEES AND SETTING A FLOOR OF $20 AND $21.51 PER HOUR RESPECTIVELY. I MADE THE COMMENT WHEN I WENT OUT AND SPOKE TO

[04:35:03]

WITH YOUR HELP WHEN WE PAVE THE WAY TO GIVE A LIVABLE WAGE TO OUR EMPLOYEES AND FOLKS WHO DO BUSINESS WITH US, AND WE TIED IT TO THE M.I.T. INDEX SO WE DON'T HAVE TO FIGHT EVERY TIME. I HOPE IT COMES TO A SWIFT RESOLUTION, AND I MAKE THIS LAST, BEFORE I TURNED TO MY COLLEAGUES. I SEE RAMSEY, GARCIA, AND BRIONES. I WAS ON THE CITY COUNCIL WHEN THE CONVENTION CENTER CONSTRUCTION STARTED. I WAS NOT ON THE CITY COUNCIL WHEN THEY VOTED TO PUT IT ON THE BALLOT. AND THEN THEY WANTED TO PAY FOR IT -- THEY WANTED TO BUILD A HOTEL USING HOUSING AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT MONEY. AND I GOT A LOT OF MY COLLEAGUES ANGRY BACK THEN BECAUSE I KILLED IT AND I FIGURED IT WAS SUCH A GOOD IDEA.

GOING TO CREATE A HOUSING TRUST SO YOU COULD GO TAKE AFFORDABLE HOUSING MONEY FOR WORKING CLASS AND POOR PEOPLE AND USE IT TO BUILD A HOTEL AND OF THE TRUST WAS NOT GOING TO GENERATE THAT MUCH MONEY, SO I KILLED IT. HAD A LOT OF PEOPLE DOWNTOWN MAD AT ME BECAUSE WE DID NOT HAVE A CENTER HOTEL FOR MAYBE A GOOD DECADE BEFORE THEY CAME UP WITH A WAY TO DO IT. SO THAT HELTON HAD SUBSTANTIAL PUBLIC SUBSIDIES FROM THE HIGH TAX. NOT MONEY THAT CAME TO US FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT. SO YOU ALL SHOULD BE WELL WITHIN YOUR RIGHTS TO HAVE STOOD UP AND FOUGHT TO A LIVABLE WAGE. THIS CONTRACT CAME UP FIRST FOR YOU HILTON WORKERS, WHO I KNOW YOU ARE SUFFERING BECAUSE YOUR CONTRACT WAS UP FIRST . BUT IF YOU ARE SUCCESSFUL, IT WILL PAVE THE WAY FOR WHAT EVERY HOTEL IN HOUSTON , HARRIS COUNTY, WILL END UP PLAYING. FIRST DOMINO IF IT FALLS. SO KEEP UP THE FIGHT. IT IS A SACRIFICE. AND WITH THAT I TURNED IT OVER TO COMMISSIONER RAMSEY, AND THEN COMMISSIONER GARCIA, AND THEN COMMISSIONER

BRIONES. >> I KNOW THIS IS GETTING OLD.

IT IS NOT OLD FOR ME. WE HAVE ANOTHER GROUP INCREASING 3 AND PRECINCT 1 WHO WANT TO STAY AND WE THINK THAT IS A BIG, BIG DEAL. LET THE SUMMER CREEK HIGH SCHOOL BULLDOGS --

>> OH, COMMISSIONER ? >> I THOUGHT YOU WANTED TO TALK ABOUT THIS ITEM. WE WILL GO TO YOURS NEXT.

>> PROMISE? OKAY. >> UP YOU STARTED, I GOT HIM OUT THERE WAITING. HOW CAN I NOT? COMMISSIONER GARCIA?

>> THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER. I, TOO, WANT TO CONGRATULATE UNITE HERE. GOOD TO SEE YOU WORKING TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU AND YOUR MEMBERS GET A LIVABLE WAGE. I HAVE BEEN WITH YOU SINCE I JOINED HOUSTON CITY COUNCIL IN '04. AND WHILE THEY WERE YAKKING AWAY AS TO WHY THIS WAS IMPORTANT, I WAS JUST LIKE STOP, STOP. YOU HAD ME AT HELLO. BECAUSE THERE IS A LOT OF THINGS THAT ONE REMEMBERS AS ONE GROWS UP, BUT I REMEMBER MY MOTHER BEING A JANITOR. AND I REMEMBER HOW SHE USED TO WORK IN THE EVENING HOURS AND THEN SHE WOULD HAVE TO GET UP EARLY BECAUSE SHE ALSO DROVE THE SCHOOL BUS THAT GOT ME TO SCHOOL EVERY MORNING.

AND I REMEMBER MY DAD WHO HAD HIS OWN AUTOMOTIVE SHOP. HOW HE WOULD WORK HARD TO TRY TO FINISH HIS WORK SO THAT HE COULD COME DOWNTOWN TO HELP MY MOM TO HELP HER CLEAN THE OFFICES SO HE COULD GET HER BACK HOME SO SHE COULD GET JUST A LITTLE BIT MORE REST. SO THIS FOR ME IS MORE ABOUT THE FAMILY. AND THE LIVABLE WAGE WILL ALWAYS BE A CONVERSATION. BUT YOU ARE REFLECTIVE OF MY MOTHER. I AM SO BLESSED THAT I STILL HAVE HER.

SHE IS 101. SO THINGS LIKE THIS ALWAYS REMIND ME OF WHAT SHE DID FOR ME. THE SACRIFICES SHE MADE FOR MY BROTHERS AND I AND MY SISTER. AND SO THIS ISN'T SO MUCH FOR ME A LABOR OR A PAY

[04:40:02]

LAURA MARIA. THIS WAS SUPPOSED TO BE HELD AT THE HILTON, THIS -- THIS EVENT, BUT SHE MOVED IT, IN PART OUT OF RESPECT TO US, BUT IN SOLIDARITY TO YOU AS WELL. SO I JUST WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT SHE WAS VERY THOUGHTFUL IN WHAT WAS HAPPENING AND MADE THE RIGHT DECISION TO MOVE THE EVENT SO THERE WOULDN'T BE ANY COMPLICATIONS IN SUPPORTING HER AND SUPPORTING YOU. SO KEEP UP THE FIGHT. GOD BLESS YOU. AND, AGAIN, THANK YOU

FOR ALL YOU DO. >> I DIDN'T KNOW YOUR MOTHER WAS 101. IF YOU LASTED THAT LONG, I HAVE GOT TO LIVE TO BE

120. >> I AM GOING TO BE HERE A LONG

TIME. >> COMMISSIONER BRIONES?

>> FIRST OF ALL, WELCOME HERE TO COMMISSIONERS COURT. UNITE HERE '23. THE COURAGE, THE CONVICTION, YOU ARE SHOWING, IS DEEPLY MOVING TO ALL OF US AND WE STAND IN SOLIDARITY AND I KNOW MANY OF US HAVE GONE TO VISIT YOU. WE ARE IN THIS FIGHT WITH YOU AND HERE IN HARRIS COUNTY, ONE JOB SHOULD BE ENOUGH. I KNOW I WAS TALKING TO SO MANY OF YOU WHO WAS WORKING AT THE HOTEL, MANY SINCE IT OPENED , CLEANING, PREPARING MEALS, HELPING WITH ALL THESE BANQUETS THAT MANY OF US HAVE THE PRIVILEGE OF ATTENDING. THE KITCHEN STAFF. AND YOU ARE ASKING FOR A PAIR LIVABLE WAGE AND SAFE WORKING CONDITIONS. AND WE ASKED HOUSTON FIRST. WE ASK HILTON TO DO THE RIGHT THING BY YOU BECAUSE THIS IS ABOUT FAMILIES. HERE IN HARRIS COUNTY, WE WANT ONE JOB TO BE ENOUGH TO BE ABLE TO PAY RENT, BUY GROCERIES, AND THIS IS MORE THAN JUST WORDS I HOPE YOU KNOW TO COMMISSIONER GARCIA'S POINT. WE DID NOT HOLD THE EVENT AT THE HILTON TO STAND IN SOLIDARITY. THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY WAS SUPPOSED TO HAVE ITS EVENT AT THE HILTON, WE ARE POSTPONING IT UNTIL THEY DO THE RIGHT THING. AND SO THANK YOU. TO COMMISSIONER ELLIS'S POINT, WHAT YOU ARE DOING IS GOING TO ADVANCE THE JUSTICE FOR SO MANY WORKERS AROUND OUR STATE AND THE COUNTRY. SO THANK YOU FOR COURAGE AND CONVICTION AND WE

STAND IN SOLIDARITY. THANK YOU. >> AND I DON'T KNOW IF WE HAD ANY SPEAKERS ON THIS ITEM. PLEASE TELL ME ALL 20 OF YOU ARE NOT GOING TO SPEAK. BUT, IF ONE OF YOU WANT TO SPEAK FOR THE GROUP, YOU CAN. WE HAD A NUMBER OF COMBINED TO -- KUMBAYAMOMENTS

AROUND HERE. >> I WILL BE TRANSLATING.

SPEAKING IN A NON-ENGLISH LANGUAGE ]

[04:45:06]

>> THANK YOU. >>

LANGUAGE ] >> GOOD AFTERNOON. I'M SERVER ASSISTANT AT THE HILTON AMERICAS. I HAVE WORKED THERE FOR 21 YEARS. AS A SERVER SYSTEM, AND MAKE $12.25 AN HOUR.

RIGHT NOW, EVERYTHING IS A STRUGGLE. I HAVE TO SEE THREE DIFFERENT SPECIALISTS. I ALSO HAVE DIABETES. THE SALARY I AM EARNING, I CANNOT AFFORD TO BUY THE SPECIAL FOODS TO MAKE SURE I AM EATING THE RIGHT WAY WITH ALL MY CONDITIONS. THANKS TO THE CHURCH, THEY HELP ME, FEED ME RIGHT, BUT I SHOULDN'T HAVE TO ASK FOR HELP FROM THE CHURCH. I SHOULD BE ABLE TO MAKE ENOUGH MONEY TO SUPPORT MYSELF. I AM ASKING FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY HEART, YOU GUYS, PLEASE HELP US.

>> THANK YOU. THANK YOU. I WILL MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE THAT ITEM AND COMMISSIONER GARCIA WILL SECOND.

>> AYE. >> THREE AYES. ITEM DOES PASS.

COMMISSIONER RAMSEY. IF YOU DON'T MIND, WE WILL GO TO 496.

SINCE I CUT YOU OFF I GOT THAT FACIAL.

>> OKAY. WE WILL TRY THIS ONE MORE TIME. THE SUMMER CREEK HIGH SCHOOL DOGS , IF YOU ALL COULD STAND UP. LET ME TELL YOU WHAT THIS TEAM HAS DONE. THEY CAPTURE THE DIVISION I GIRLS BASKETBALL STATE CHAMPIONSHIP BY DEFEATING CEDAR HILL, WHICH I THINK HAS GOT A PRETTY GOOD REPUTATION. 52 TO 49. 52 TO 49 AT THE ALAMODOME IN SAN ANTONIO. CARL MARSHALL. KYRA, RAISE YOUR HAND. FINISHED THE SEASON WITH A STELLAR 29-11. FINISHED THE SEASON WITH A 10-GAME WINNING STREAK. MARKS THE FIRST A BASKETBALL CHAMPIONSHIP IN THE HISTORY OF THIS PROGRAM . SINGER -- SENIOR KENNEDY SIMPSON LED THE TEAM TO OVERCOME AN 18 POINT SECOND HALF DEFICIT AND EARNED HER THE MOST VALUABLE PLAYER AWARD FOR THE CHAMPIONSHIP GAME. THEY HAVE REPRESENTED THEMSELVES GREAT.

THEY REPRESENT HARRIS COUNTY IN AN EXTRAORDINARY WAY. WHAT YOU HELP ME CONGRATULATE THE SUMMER CREEK BULLDOGS?

>> CONGRATULATIONS. >> WELL DONE. AND WE WILL GET PICTURES IN A MINUTE. COACH, WOULD YOU LIKE TO SAY ANYTHING?

SURE . >> COMMISSIONER RAMSEY, WHILE SHE COMES DOWN, I DID NOT KNOW THEY LED -- LET HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS COACH BASKETBALL TEAMS IN HIGH SCHOOL.

>> THIS IS INCREASING 3 AND PRECINCT 1.

>> THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR BRINGING THIS FORWARD, COMMISSIONER. SO PROUD OF THEM. AND, COACH, SAID YOUR NAME FOR

THE RECORD. >> I AM COACH KIERA MARSHALL.

THIS IS COACH KIERA BAUER. COACH THOMAS . ALSO, SOME OF OUR PLAYERS ARE HERE TO REPRESENT. FIRST OFF, THANKS SO MUCH FOR THIS AMAZING HONOR. WE ARE TRULY FORTUNATE AND BLESSED TO BE HERE AMONGST YOUR PRESENCE. WE UNDERSTAND YOU GUYS DID NOT HAVE TO INVITE US DOWN HERE BUT WE ARE EXTREMELY HONORED TO BE HERE SO THANK YOU SO MUCH. WHILE WE ARE HERE, I CAN INTRODUCE YOU TO THESE AMAZING ATHLETES WE HAVE HERE. I AM HAPPY THEY WERE ABLE TO MAKE IT BECAUSE THEY ARE PHENOMENAL YOUNG WOMEN AND REPRESENT NOT ONLY HARRIS COUNTY WELL BUT THE STATE OF HOUSTON WELL. I WANT TO MAKE SURE WE ALL PUT A FACE WITH A NAME SO IF YOU JUST LET ME BRAG ON THEM A LITTLE BIT, WE REALLY WOULD APPRECIATE IT. THIS IS OUR -- SHE IS A FRESHMAN FOR US PLAYING ON THE VARSITY LEVEL. DOING A GREAT JOB CONTRIBUTING TO OUR SUCCESS. THIS IS TIAJA YOUNG. OUR AMAZING STUDENT COACH WHO KEPT US GOING, SIRIA TILLMAN. THIS IS ADON'S AND MARTIN. SHE WAS A SOPHOMORE/JR. -- JUNIOR. . GOT HER CHAMPIONSHIP GAME BUT

[04:50:03]

ANOTHER SOPHOMORE WHO IS NOW A JUNIOR, ALSO, SHE IS BILINGUAL , SO THAT IS REALLY AWESOME TO HEAR. SHE SPEAKS VERY FLUENTLY IN SPANISH AND ENGLISH. IT IS AMAZING. BUT THIS IS ERIN NEWSOM. SHE WAS ALSO VERY PIVOTAL IN OUR SUCCESS AS WELL.

ANOTHER SOPHOMORE. YES. WE WERE REALLY YOUNG.

>> WOW. >> THIS IS KATELYN ALEXANDER.

SHE MOVED IN FROM LOUISIANA. SHE ALSO CAN TOUCH THE RIM SO SHE IS SO EXCITED IF YOU GUYS WANT TO COME WATCH HER PLAY. THIS IS -- THIS IS LOAN JR. AMAYA HALL . PHENOMENAL PLAYER AS YOU CAN TELL. SHE IS QUITE TALL AND SHE ALSO IS VERY PIVOTAL TO EVERYTHING. TO OUR SUCCESS LAST YEAR. AND THIS IS OUR STATE MVP, KENNEDY SIMPSON. SHE WAS -- YES. SHE FRACTURED AT THE BEGINNING OF THE SEASON, SHOULD -- SO SHE MISSED HALF THE YEAR. CAME BACK WITH A BANG AND WAS STILL ABLE TO LEAD US AND STILL COME OUT THE STATE MVP. SUCH AN IMPACT LIKE SHE DID. SO THE APPLAUSE IS VERY, VERY WARRANTED. SHE DID PHENOMENAL. THANK YOU GUYS FOR

LETTING ME INTRODUCE THEM. >> CONGRATULATIONS.

>> YOU ALL ARE AMAZING. >> WHAT DO YOU RANK RIGHT NOW,

COACH? >> WE SHOULD BE RANKED NUMBER

ONE IN THE STATE. >> YEAH. YOU SHUT. NICE.

CONGRATULATIONS. >> CONGRATULATIONS.

>> THANK YOU. NOW, WE WILL GO BACK IN ORDER. FOR 90. I BELIEVE THAT IS YOU. THAT IS A NATIONAL CITIZENSHIP DAY.

>> YES. THIS IS 490. TODAY, WE WELCOME MS. REBECCA SASALSKI, AND KEMERA TIHOLE . WE WERE DEBATING THE PRONUNCIATION EARLIER SO ONE OF US WAS GOING TO GET IT. THEY WERE PART OF THE FETAL ALCOHOLDISORDERED NETWORK AND THE IMPACT THAT IT HAS ON THE BRAIN AND BODY OF INDIVIDUALS PRENATALLY EXPOSED -- WHO ARE PRENATALLY EXPOSED TO ALCOHOL. DURING THE MONTH OF SEPTEMBER, THERE ARE EFFORTS NATIONWIDE TO BRING AWARENESS OF THE EFFECTS EXPERIENCED BY MANY INDIVIDUALS AND THE CHALLENGES IN DAILY LIFE. SO HARRIS COUNTY IS COMMITTED AND SUPPORTING AFSD. AWARENESS AND HEALTHY PREGNANCIES. THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR WORK AND PLEASE SHARE WITH US A FEW WORDS.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH. MY NAME IS REBECCA SASALSKI AND I AM HERE ON BEHALF OF THE TEXAS AFSD NETWORK AND ALSO AS A MOTHER OF A CHILD WITH A FETAL ALCOHOL DISORDER. THANK YOU, PARTICULARLY COMMISSIONER GARCIA, FOR HELPING BRING AWARENESS TO THIS VERY COMMON BUT UNDERRECOGNIZED DISABILITY.

AN ESTIMATED NUMBER ONE IN 20 MERCHANTS HAVE AFSD BUT MANY DO NOT GET THE APPROPRIATE SUPPORTS THEY NEED TO SUCCEED IN LIFE.

THANK YOU FOR HELPING US BRING MORE AWARENESS FOR A SOCIETY THAT IS MORE SUPPORTIVE FOR THOSE WITH AFSD.

>> THANK YOU. >> HELLO. MY NAME IS SHELLEY LABRET. ON SEPTEMBER 18TH, THE YEAR 2000, IT WAS IN UKRAINE WITH MY HUSBAND ADOPTING OUR SON, ALEX. WHEN WE ADOPTED HIM WE KNEW HE HAD SPECIAL NEEDS BUT WE DID NOT KNOW THAT IT WAS AFSD. AT THAT TIME THERE WAS SO LITTLE KNOWN ABOUT AFSD THAT IT WOULD TAKE YEARS TO GET AN OFFICIAL DIAGNOSIS. THE LAST 25 YEARS HAVE BEEN A JOURNEY FOR OUR FAMILY. A VERY DIFFICULT JOURNEY AT TIMES, BUT ESPECIALLY DIFFICULT FOR ALEX. AS AN ALMOST 28-YEAR-OLD YOUNG MAN WITH AFSD, ALEX IS DOING REMARKABLY WELL BUT HE WILL ALWAYS HAVE CHALLENGES. I WOULD LIKE TO PERSONALLY THANK COMMISSIONER GARCIA AND HIS COLLEAGUES HERE TODAY FOR BRINGING AWARENESS TO THIS 100% PREVENTABLE ISSUE.

>> WONDERFUL. THANK YOU. >> I WOULD LIKE TO SAY ONCE

[04:55:06]

THEY ARE IN THE JUDICIAL SYSTEM. THE AVERAGE AGE A CHILD IS GETTING IN THE JUDICIAL SYSTEM WITH AFSD IS 10 -- 12 YEARS OLD.

JAILS AND SPECIAL EDUCATION. AND THE REASON WHY IS MANY PEOPLE DO NOT KNOW ABOUT THE DISABILITY IN THE BRAIN-BASED CHALLENGES AND WE ARE CONSIDERING THIS AS BEHAVIORS. SO I AM REALLY EXCITED TO HAVE YOU GUYS ALL HERE. I WANT YOU GUYS TO CONTINUE LEARNING ABOUT AFSD BECAUSE IT IS IN EVERY SYSTEM

THAT WE ARE WORKING WITH. >> THANK YOU ALL, AND THANK YOU

FOR THE WORK WE ARE DOING. >> IF YOU DON'T MIND. SORRY.

THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER GARCIA, FOR SPONSORING AWARENESS FOR AFSD. YOU HAVE LIKELY HEARD MANY SCARY STATISTICS ABOUT AFSD THAT SOUND DOOMING. DO NOT BELIEVE IT. THOSE ARE MOSTLY SECONDARY CHARACTERISTICS. IMAGINE BEING A THIRD-GRADER PLACED IN EIGHTH GRADE AND NOT BE ABLE TO DO THE WORK AND THEN THE TEACHERS AND OTHERS TO YOU -- TELL YOU THAT IS BECAUSE YOU'RE LAZY. BUT YOU ARE NOT LAZY. YOU JUST SHOULDN'T BE IN EIGHTH GRADE .

LOST MY SPOT. THIS IS WHAT SITUATIONS CAN BE LIKE . NOW, IMAGINE HOW THIS MIGHT MAKE YOU FEEL. OUR KIDS WANT TO DO WELL.

AND , WHEN THEY ARE GIVEN TASKS THEY CAN DO, THEY WORK VERY HARD AND SURPASS EXPECTATIONS. THAT IS WHY I AM HERE TODAY AND I WON THE GENERAL PUBLIC TO KNOW THAT OUR KIDS, MY KID, IS AWESOME.

SHE WORKS HARD. SHE IS SMART. AND SHE IS GOING TO CHANGE THE

WORLD FOR GOOD. >> BEAUTIFUL. THANK YOU, ALL, FOR YOUR WORK. ALL RIGHT. THIS NEXT RESOLUTION IS ONE THAT I AM IMMENSELY PROUD AND HONORED TO BE ABLE TO DO BECAUSE THIS WEEK WE ARE ALSO CELEBRATING HISPANIC HERITAGE MONTH. AND I AM JUST HONORED TO BE ABLE TO WELCOME THE HONORABLE JUDGE RICHARD C.

VADA TO COMMISSIONERS COURT. HE HAS BEEN -- HE EMBODIES, RATHER, A LIFETIME OF LOCAL LEADERSHIP THAT HAS INSPIRED SO MANY FOLKS FROM HIS HOME AND ROOTS IN THE MAGNOLIA PARK COMMUNITY OF EAST END HOUSTON AND ACROSS THE COUNTY AND THE STATE. JUDGE VADA WAS FIRST ELECTED JUSTICE OF THE PEACE PRECINCT 6 ON JUNE 13, 1974. BECOMING THE YOUNGEST PERSON EVER ELECTED TO THAT OFFICE AND THEN WENT ON TO FAITHFULLY AND HONORABLY SERVED FOR 46 YEARS. RETIRING IN DECEMBER 31ST, 2020. TODAY, WE HONOR HIM FOR HIS LIFETIME OF PUBLIC SERVICE. HIS HISTORIC CAREER AS A JUSTICE OF THE PEACE. AND HIS UNWAVERING COMMITMENT TO CIVIC ENGAGEMENT, MENTORSHIP, AND COMMUNITY BUILDING. JUDGE, WE ARE GRATEFUL TO HAVE YOU HERE. I SEE ALL KINDS OF FAMILY THAT IS WITH YOU. CINDY LET ME KNOW THAT SHE HAS GOT GRANDMA DUTIES AND COULDN'T BE HERE, BUT I JUST WANT TO TELL YOU THAT, NUMBER ONE, WHEN YOU HUNG UP THE SPURS, AS THEY SAY, I WANT TO APOLOGIZE BECAUSE NO ONE REALLY GAVE THOUGHT THAT THE FACT THAT YOU ARE RETIRING. I MEAN, IT WAS A CONVERSATION IN THE COMMUNITY AND YOU WERE JUST GOING ON . I JUST WANT TO APOLOGIZE THAT YOU WERE NOT PROPERLY AND RESPECTFULLY HONORED, JUDGE. SO THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY TO GIVE YOU THE RESPECT AND DIGNITY THAT YOU SO RIGHTLY DESERVE FOR YOUR INCREDIBLE SERVICE, FOR YOUR UNWAVERING SUPPORT OF THE COMMUNITY, FOR BEING JUST A PILLAR IN THE COMMUNITY , AS SO MANY PEOPLE LOOK UP TO YOU, YOU HAVE INSPIRED SO MANY, AND FEW SERVING IN PUBLIC OFFICE CAN EVER SAY THAT THEY HAVE SERVED HONORABLY FOR THAT NUMBER OF YEARS. YOU SERVE WITHOUT ANY ISSUES. WITHOUT ANY CHALLENGES. AND YOU JUST MAKE US ALL PROUD.

SO, AS A YOUNG KID FROM THE NORTHSIDE THAT SAW YOU FROM AFAR, AND THEN AS WE ALWAYS SAY THE SIX DEGREES OF SEPARATION IS PRETTY SMALL, RICHARD WAS A YOUNG KID WHEN MY FATHER-IN-LAW WAS THE EXECUTIVE SOUS CHEF AT THE SHAMROCK HILTON AND RICHARD

[05:00:04]

ABSOLUTELY YOURS. >> LANGUAGE ] AND I WILL GO AHEAD AND HAVE MY FAMILY MEMBERS STAND. ONE DOCTORS HERE AND THE OTHER IS A TEACHER AND THE OTHERS A FIREMAN AND HE IS WORKING TODAY. CINDY? ERIKA? GRANDCHILDREN. HARPER AND HER HUSBAND GEORGE AND --

>> SHE IS A GOOD ONE. GOOD TO SEE YOU.

>> I ALSO HAVE TWO MIKES RIGHT HERE, AND, RUBY, SHE IS THE YOUNGEST IN THE FAMILY. AND MARIA. I WANT TO SAY THAT THIS IS THE THIRD COURTROOM -- COUNTY COURTHOUSE I HAVE BEEN IN, IN THAT TIME, AND IT IS ALMOST AS LARGE AS THE FIRST ONE. THE SECOND ONE GOT A LITTLE SMALLER FOR WHATEVER REASONS. YOU WANT

ME TO STOP? >> NO. NO. PLEASE.

>> THERE WAS ANOTHER COURTROOM I WOULD GO BACK IN THE '50S WITH MY DAD FOR THE COUNTY. IT WAS THE COURTROOM. THE HISTORIC ONE WE HAVE ON THE SECOND FLOOR BECAUSE THERE WERE LARGE COURTROOMS BACK THEN AND WE WOULD HAVE THE COUNTY DEMOCRATIC CONVENTIONS ON LOCATIONS. SO HAVING SEEN MANY FRIENDS THAT WERE ATTORNEYS BEFORE I EVER BECAME A JUDGE, THAT I WOULD KNOW AND THEY WOULD PRACTICE LAW AND IT WAS GREAT SEEING THEM. I WOULD SAY THANK YOU FOR THIS AWARD BUT BECAUSE OF MY PARENTS AND GRANDPARENTS, COMMUNITY PEOPLE THAT HAVE HELPED ME ALONG THE WAY, TEACHERS, I HAVE SO MANY GOOD TEACHERS THAT I COULD TALK A LOT ABOUT THEM -- FRIENDS AND COLLEAGUES, BUT MOST IS THE VOTERS IN THE COMMUNITY. ONE WE ALL STARTED BACK THEN WE WERE JUST A GROUP. NOT KNOWING HOW DO WE DO THIS. AND WE GOT TOGETHER AND MADE THINGS HAPPEN. I OWE EVERYTHING TO MY MOM AND DAD SIMPLY BECAUSE MY DAD WAS VERY ACTIVE. OVER TO VETERAN WITH PATTON. VERY ACTIVE AT THE GROUND ROOTS. THAT IS KIND OF WHAT INSPIRED ME BECAUSE I WOULD GO WITH HIM EVERYWHERE. MET SENATOR JOHNSON WHEN HE WAS SENATOR AND IN AWE OF ALL THESE PEOPLE, AND MY BROTHER LONNIE, ALSO, WE SERVED IN THE BAIT. -- DEBATE. SOMETIMES I DID NOT WANT TO BE THERE. SOMETIMES I WANT TO BE SOMEWHERE ELSE BUT YOU CAN DO IT. THAT IS ALL I CAN SAY THAT MY DAD AND MOM INSPIRED WITH US. IF YOU WANT TO ACCOMPLISH SOMETHING, YOU HAVE TO START WORKING TOWARDS IT AND FEEL YOU WILL MAKE IT AND ALONG THE WAY YOU HAVE FRIENDS THAT OFTENTIMES WILL HELP YOU. COUNTY JUDGE ELLIOTT WAS THE FIRST ONE TO SWEAR ME IN . SO WHEN I LOOK AT THE HARRIS COUNTY, BECAUSE THE OLD ONE HAD A HAT ON IT AND AS SHORT AS I WAS THAT HAD ALMOST FIT RIGHT ON TOP OF ME. LET'S SEE. WHAT ELSE? ANOTHER GREAT ORGANIZATION BORN OUT OF THAT WAS POSO WITH LEE AND EL . YOU

HAVE GIVEN IT TO ME. >> ABSOLUTELY IS. ABSOLUTELY IS.

>> AND THIS PHOTOGRAPHER, I HAVE SEEN HIM FOR YEARS.

>> WELL, ERIKA, ANY -- YOU WANT TO ROAST SOME TOAST?

>> PREPARED IT. NO. >> MURRAY?

>> LONNIE. LET LONNIE DO THE ROASTING.

>> ALL RIGHT. I CAN'T REALLY WAS MY BROTHER BECAUSE MOM IS UP THERE. SAID IT RIGHT. 46 YEARS AND NOT AN ISSUE. THAT IS NOT EASY TO DO. I'M NOT SAYING BECAUSE POLITICIANS ARE -- IT IS JUST NOT EASY TO DO BECAUSE YOU HAVE GOT SO MANY PEOPLE YOU HAVE

[05:05:02]

>> YEAH. >> SOON-TO-BE FATHER IN LAW.

ONLY POINT I WISH TO MAKE IS THAT THE STRUGGLE ALWAYS GOES ON. BUT THERE ARE RESULTS. YOU SEE MY BROTHER? YOU SEE HIS BEAUTIFUL FAMILY? AND YOU SEE THESE GOOD PEOPLE UP HERE? THE STRUGGLE WILL ALWAYS GO ON BUT THERE WILL BE PEOPLE HERE TO HELP YOU AND TAKE YOU ALONG THE WAY. AND PEOPLE WHO SPEAK TOO LONG LIKE I DO. BUT THAT IS MY FATHER'S SON, AND THAT IS THE WAY HE WORKS. THANK YOU SO MUCH.

>> THANK YOU. AND LET ME JUST SAY YOUR FATHER WAS A LEGACY IN HIMSELF. BOTH YOUR MOM AND DAD, ALWAYS A PAIR. ALWAYS TOGETHER.

AND A LOT OF FOLKS DON'T KNOW THAT A LOT OF THE HISTORY OF THE RODEO AND THE CREATION OF THE HOLIDAY IS TO YOUR DADDY'S

CREDIT. >> BECAUSE HE RETIRED THE STEER.

>> THAT IS RIGHT. GOOD DEAL. YOU'RE WELCOME.

CONGRATULATIONS. >> YEAH.

>> COME ON UP. THAN -- THEN COMMISSIONER BRIONES HAS SOME

COMMENTS, TOO. >> HONORED ME BEFORE MY UNCLE AND HIS BROTHER BUT I SERVE -- NOT SERVE -- BUT I AM THE NIECE.

I JUST WANT TO SPEAK TO YOU AS AN UNCLE AND AS A COMMUNITY LEADER. GROWING UP AND BEING IN A VERY, VERY LARGE FAMILY, MY MOM AND THEY GREW UP IN DENVER HARBOR. WE WERE RAISED NEAR NORTHSIDE. AND I HAVE TO SAY THEY'RE GOING UP IN THE NEAR NORTHSIDE WAS SUCH A LARGE FAMILY, WE WERE ALWAYS SUPPORTED BY OUR NETWORK OF FAMILY. AND THEN OUR GRANDPARENTS INSTILLED IN US HOW TO GET INVOLVED IN THE COMMUNITY AND THE LOCAL PARKS IN THE VFW POSTS, AND THOSE ARE THE SUPPORT SYSTEMS INSIDE OUR COMMUNITY THAT WE COULD WALK TO, THAT WE COULD BE WITH, THAT HELPED CREATE A BEAUTIFUL FAMILY. I WANT TO SAVE MY UNCLE AND JUDGE VASSA HAVE ALWAYS BEEN AN ALLY FOR FEMALES. TWO BEAUTIFUL DAUGHTERS AND TEACHING THEM HOW TO BE INVOLVED IN THEIR COMMUNITY BUT I HAVE TO SAY THAT NOT EVERYONE WILL DO THAT FOR THE WOMEN AND THEIR FAMILIES. SO I WANT TO THANK YOU PERSONALLY FOR ALWAYS BELIEVING IN ME AND ALWAYS BEING THERE FOR MY MOM AND YOUR SISTER AND , WHILE WE MAY NOT SAY IT OFTEN ENOUGH, THE IMPACT THAT YOU MADE FROM SAYING YES TO US AND INVITING US TO BE PART OF THE COMMUNITY AND YOUR WORK HAS HELPED US TO CONTINUE

TO DO GOOD WORK. >> WELL SAID, MARIE.

CONGRATULATIONS. >> COMMISSIONER BRIONES?

>> COMMISSIONER GARCIA, THANK YOU FOR BRINGING THIS RESOLUTION. JUDGE VARA, THANK YOU FOR YOUR 46 YEARS ON THE BENCH. FOR BEING A ROLE MODEL TO ME. I REMEMBER HOW YOU TOOK ME UNDER YOUR WING AND GIVE ME SO MUCH ADVICE WHEN I WAS FIRST APPOINTED TO BE A JUDGE. BUT THANK YOU FOR THE TEAM COURTS AND THAT THE LITERACY PROGRAMS OR THE BOY SCOUTS OR THE MEXICAN AMERICAN BAR ASSOCIATION OR THE FAMILY CENTER. ON AND ON AND ON, YOU HAVE GIVEN OF YOUR HEART AND OF YOUR TIME AND TALENTS.

CONGRATULATIONS ON THIS MUCH-DESERVED RESOLUTION. THE STRUGGLE DOES CONTINUE. THE STRUGGLE ALWAYS CONTINUES.

SUCCESS AND SERVICE LIKE YOURS MAKE US BELIEVE IT IS POSSIBLE.

>> THANK YOU ALL, EACH AND EVERY ONE.

>> I JUST WANT TO THANK YOU AS WELL. I DID MEET YOU BACK WHEN I WAS TRYING TO HELP BILL GET RE-ELECTED. I DON'T KNOW IF YOU DID IT FOR ME. OR BECAUSE MICKEY ASKED YOU TO DO IT BUT I REMEMBER MEETING YOU AT SOME PLACE CALLED LOS GLOBOS. OH, YEAH? I GO WAY BACK. I WAS ONE OF THEM. I WAS GETTING THOSE VOTES, MAN BUT THANK YOU FOR YOUR HELP. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

>> CONGRATULATIONS. >> THIS NEXT RESOLUTION QUICKLY IS ONE I AM PERSONALLY PROUD OF BECAUSE I ALWAYS SAY MY STAFF IS PHENOMENAL. BUT I AM SO PROUD THAT I, FOR THE SECOND TIME,

[05:10:02]

CONTINUE TO ENGAGE WITH THE VETERAN. THE PRECINCT 2 VETERANS SERVICES TEAM HAS SINCE FOLLOWED UP TO ENSURE ONGOING SUPPORT, EXEMPLIFYING THE HEART AND THE MISSION OF VETERAN CARE. THE TEAM HAS FOCUSED ON TRAINING AND CREATING A ENVIRONMENT FOR VETERANS AND THEIR FAMILIES. PROVIDING NOT ONLY THE BENEFIT OF ASSISTANCE, BUT ALSO COMPASSIONATE AND LIFE-SAVING OUTREACH. SO I JUST WANT TO COMMEND YOU. STAND UP SO WE CAN ACKNOWLEDGE YOU. AND THANK YOU FOR ALL YOU DO. AND I AM SO PROUD OF YOU. WOULD YOU LIKE TO SHARE A FEW WORDS.

>> GOOD AFTERNOON. THANK YOU SO MUCH, COMMISSIONER. SO , HONESTLY SPEAKING, WHAT HAPPENED IT DOES NOT SURPRISE ME BECAUSE I KNOW MS. LOIS. MS. DEE DEE, WHO IS NOT HERE WITH US. AND MR. GONZALES. I KNOW THEIR HEARTS. IT DOES INSPIRE AND IT REMINDS ME OF WHY THIS WORK MATTERS AND WHO I HAVE THE HONOR OF WORKING WITH. SEPTEMBER IS NATIONAL SUICIDE PREVENTION MONTH, A TIME TO RAISE AWARENESS ABOUT SUICIDE AND THE IMPORTANCE OF MENTAL HEALTH SUPPORT. THIS IS ESPECIALLY SIGNIFICANT AS VETERANS FACE A HIGH RISK OF SUICIDE COMPARED TO THE GENERAL POPULATION. WHEN A VETERAN CRISIS NEEDS HELP, LOIS AND DIDI DID NOT HESITATE. THAT IS NOT JUST PROFESSIONALISM. THAT IS HUMANITY. TODAY, WE SIMPLY TAKE A MOMENT TO RECOGNIZE AND TO SAY THANK YOU AND TO LET THEIR ACTIONS REMIND US OF THE IMPACT THAT ONE TEAM CAN HAVE WHEN THEY LEAVE WITH A HEART. I ALSO WANT TO THANK DR. CHRIS HOLMAN, MS. JASMINE HILL, AND THE ENTIRE TEAM TO THEIR UNWAVERING DEDICATION.

>> THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU.

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

RECORD? >>

>> DANIEL ALEXANDER ARIBIA . >> PROUD OF YOU. THIS LAST ONE, A QUICK ACKNOWLEDGMENT. WE HAVE SEVERAL MEMBERS OF THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE THAT ARE PART OF THE CRIME ANALYST DIVISION OR UNIT OF THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE. WHERE ARE YOU GUYS? OKAY. STAND UP. STAND UP. I JUST WANT TO QUICKLY ACKNOWLEDGE THEM BECAUSE POLICE WORK IS AN INCREDIBLE, INCREDIBLE CAREER AND AREA OF WORK. SOMETIMES THINGS JUST KIND OF FALL TOGETHER AND YOU ARE ABLE TO, YOU KNOW, PUT PIECES TOGETHER AND CONNECT THE DOTS AND SOLVE CRIMES AND WE NEVER KNOW WHETHER WE ARE PREVENTING STUFF. HOWEVER, THIS YOUNG LADY BY THE NAME OF ISIS GARCIA HELP TO CREATE A METHODOLOGY THAT IDENTIFIED 80% OF VIOLENT CRIMES WITHIN THE PATROL DISTRICTS. HER ANALYSIS HAS ENABLED THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE TO PROVIDE, NUMBER ONE, WE HAVE PROVIDED OVER 2 MILLION FOR THE INITIATIVE AND IT HAS RESULTED IN A 15% REDUCTION IN VIOLENT CRIMES IN THOSE PARTICULAR MICRO ZONES. I SAY, ISIS, CONGRATULATIONS, AND YOU GO GIRL . TO THE ENTIRE CRIME ANALYSIS TEAM, THANK YOU. YOU ARE SORT OF

[05:15:01]

FOR ALL THE WORK THAT YOU DO. >> THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER RAMSEY. WE HAVE ONE MORE IF YOU WANT TO DO IT. THAT IS KEY WHAT

PARK HIGH SCHOOL. >> I AM SORRY. WHAT ITEM WAS

THAT YOU WERE SPEAKING? >> 493. NO. THAT WAS 494.

>> AND, COMMISSIONERS, I APOLOGIZE BECAUSE I APPARENTLY DIDN'T DO A VERY GOOD JOB OF REMINDING EVERYONE THAT WE REALLY ARE ONLY SUPPOSED TO DO TWO PER. OH. OKAY. I JUST WANT TO LET EVERYBODY KNOW BECAUSE I DO TELL PEOPLE NOT TO DO THAT SO

I DO WANT TO APOLOGIZE. >> GOT YOU.

>> YOU HAVE ANY SPEAKERS ON 495?

>> I DO NOT. JUST RECOGNITION OF THE HIGH SCHOOL CHEER SQUAD.

CO-LEAD -- COED CHEER STATE CHAMPIONSHIP. AGAIN, IN THE ALAMODOME IN SAINT ALBERT LEONA, TEXAS. I WON'T NOT READ THE RESOLUTION BUT IT IS A INDICATION OF WHAT HAPPENS IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS WITH PROPER DIRECTION AND ENCOURAGEMENT.

THESE KIDS DO WONDERFUL AND GREAT THINGS.

>> THANK YOU. COMMISSIONER BRIONES? 497?

>> THANK YOU. I HAVE TWO RESOLUTIONS. FIRST, 497, RECOGNIZING SEPTEMBER AS WORK FESTIVAL MIDMONTH. BUT TO JUST GET IT STARTED, WITH HARRY -- UNITE HERE WORKERS, STRONG WORKERS AND STRONG SUPPORT FOR WORKERS SO WE ARE PROUD IN THIS MONTH OF SEPTEMBER TO RECOGNIZE WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT MONTH . WE HAVE SO MANY STRONG PARTNERS HERE IN HARRIS COUNTY. I AM JUST GOING TO GIVE A FEW EXAMPLES OF HOW HARRIS COUNTY HAS BEEN CONTINUING TO DEVELOP WORKFORCE OPPORTUNITIES BECAUSE WE BELIEVE IN CREATING GOOD JOBS AND MAKING HARRIS COUNTY A PLACE WHERE THE AMERICAN DREAM IS STILL ALIVE AND WELL AND THE AMERICAN DREAM CAN BECOME THE AMERICAN REALITY. SO, FIRST, WE PROUDLY PASS A $20 MINIMUM WAGE AND $21.85 FOR OUR CONTRACT WORKERS. SECOND, WE WERE VERY PROUD TO INVEST OVER $17 MILLION IN APPRENTICESHIPS.

THE LARGEST INVESTMENT IN HARRIS COUNTY HISTORY AND WE HAVE AMAZING PARTNERS SUCH AS OUR TEXAS GULF COAST LABOR FEDERATION TO TRAIN OVER 1000 RESIDENTS, ESPECIALLY IN HIGH NEED AREAS FOR HIGH-PAYING, HIGH DEMAND JOBS. WE HAVE ALSO STARTED NUMEROUS PROGRAMS TO SUPPORT SMALL BUSINESSES. AND WE, IN OUR PRECINCTS, MANY OF US DO, INCLUDING PRECINCT 4, ACCELERATOR. TO HELP WOMEN OWNED BUSINESSES, MINORITY OWNED BUSINESSES, WITH WHAT THEY NEED. THERE ARE SO MANY AMAZING PARTNERS HERE. JULIET , WHO IS NOT ABLE TO BE WITH US TODAY BUT WHO LEADS OUR GULF COAST WORKFORCE BOARD. BAKER RIPLEY.

TEXAS WORKFORCE SOLUTIONS. SO MANY MORE. AND THE MORE WE CAN COME TOGETHER SO HARRIS COUNTY IS A PLACE WHERE EVERYONE HAS A FAIR SHOT TO THRIVE AND PROVIDE FOR THEMSELVES AND THEIR FAMILIES, THE BETTER OFF WE WILL ALL BE TOGETHER. SO, WITH THAT, I WOULD PLEASE LIKE TO WELCOME ONE OF OUR DEAR PARTNERS FROM

THE AFCIO, MS. BAKER. >> ON BEHALF OF THE GOLF COURSE -- OWES AFCIO, THANK YOU FOR THIS RECOGNITION INTO ALL THE COMMISSIONERS FOR MAKING THIS POSSIBLE. THIS PROGRAM HAS HELPED 908 GRADUATES EXCEEDING OUR TARGET GOAL OF 798 WITH A 92% RETENTION RATE. PART OF THIS COMES FROM DIVERSE COMMUNITIES ALL ACROSS HARRIS COUNTY. LOW INCOME COUNTIES. AND 10% OF OUR BENEFICIARIES ARE WOMEN. HIGHER THAN THE 6% INDUSTRY AVERAGE IN CONSTRUCTION TRADES. WE ASKED OUR APPRENTICES RESUMING CLASSES THIS MONTH, HOW HAS THIS PROGRAM IMPACTED YOUR LIFE? IT HAS

[05:20:06]

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

>> SHELLEY BAKER. >> THANK YOU.

>> GOOD AFTERNOON. MY NAME IS DR. CR DAVID WITH AND POWER. -- EMPOWER. EARLIER THIS YEAR, YOU RENEWED OUR ADVANTAGE A PROGRAM EXTENDING OUR PARTNERSHIP AND EXPANDING ACCESS TO ON-THE-JOB TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES. ADDITIONAL INCLUDES A COMMITMENT FROM HARRIS COUNTY UNIVERSAL SERVICES I.T. DEPARTMENT TO PROVIDE 15 APPRENTICES WITH SIX MONTHS OF HANDS-ON EXPERIENCE.

THROUGH EMPOWER'S FUNDAMENTALS PROGRAM, RESIDENTS GAIN CERTIFICATIONS, MENTORSHIP FROM SENIOR PROFESSIONALS, AND DIRECT PATHWAYS INTO TECH CAREERS. TODAY WE OBSERVED MORE THAN 360 STUDENTS ACROSS HOUSTON EQUIPPING RESIDENTS WITH THE SKILLS AND EXPERTISE THEY DIFFER IN DEMAND TEXT JOBS. TOGETHER, WE ARE CONNECTING PEOPLE TO OPPORTUNITY, HELPING BUSINESSES GROW, AND STRENGTHENING OUR COMMUNITIES. THANK YOU VERY

MUCH. >> THANK YOU, DR. DAVID. TO YOU AND YOUR TEAM, WE ARE THANKFUL.

>> GOOD AFTERNOON. THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER BRIONES, FOR THE RECOGNITION. I AM DESMOND TAYLOR, PROGRAM ADMINISTRATOR OF BOARD RELATIONS AND GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS AT WORKFORCE SOLUTIONS GULF COAST. THIS AFTERNOON I STAND IN PLACE OF OUR DYNAMIC LEADER JULIET, OUR EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR. SEPTEMBER 2025 MARKS 20TH ANNUAL WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT MONTH. A TIME TO ORGANIZE THE VALUE OF INVESTING IN PEOPLE AND THE PROFESSIONALS WHO CONNECT THEM TO MEANINGFUL CAREERS. AT THE GULF COAST WORKFORCE BOARD, WE ARE COMMITTED TO STRENGTHENING BUSINESSES AND INDUSTRIES, DRIVING THE ECONOMIC OF OUR REGION AND CREATING THRIVING AND INCLUSIVE COMMUNITIES WHERE EVERYONE HAS OPPORTUNITIES TO EARN, LEARN, AND PROSPER ACROSS OUR 13-COUNTY REGION THROUGH APPRENTICESHIP, SCHOLARSHIPS, ON-THE-JOB TRAINING, UPSCALING, AND SO MANY OTHER RESOURCES.

INVESTING IN PEOPLE , BUSINESSES AND COMMUNITIES THRIVE. THIS MONTH, WE JOIN HARRIS COUNTY AND CELEBRATING PROGRESS AND RECOMMITTING TO A WORKFORCE THAT IS SKILLED, RESILIENT, AND COMPENSATED FAIRLY. WE THANK HARRIS COUNTY TO SUPPORTING WORKERS ACROSS THE REGION. THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU. >> GOOD EVENING. THANK YOU. MY NAME IS DIMITRI HULON . I SERVE AS THE DIRECTOR. AT GOODWILL HOUSTON WE ADDRESS ONE OF THE MOST URGENT NEEDS IN THE COMMUNITY. ECONOMIC MOBILITY. AND WORKFORCE READINESS. IN 2024, WE REACHED MORE THAN 34,000 HOUSTONIANS AND DIRECTLY SERVED OVER 17,000 THROUGH OUR CAREER CENTER TRAINING PROGRAMS AND SUPPORTIVE SERVICES. LAST YEAR, OVER 4000 WERE PLACED IN JOBS AND WORKED -- WORK-BASED EXPERIENCES. WE ARE ALSO ONE OF THE COUNTY'S LARGEST EMPLOYERS WITH NEARLY 2000 ASSOCIATES OF OUR OWN AND WE ARE GROWING. THIS YEAR WE LAUNCHED A QUEEN TECH ACCELERATOR PROGRAM WITH PATHWAYS IN THE HEAT PUMP, HVAC, SOLAR AND STORAGE, AND NEXT YEAR EV SERVICE TECHNICIAN TRAINING.

THIS FALL, WE WILL OPEN OUR NEW 16,000 SQUARE FOOT EDUCATION AND TRAINING CENTER AND GOODWILL CLEARING CENTER IN THE AREA .

THESE FACILITIES WILL BRING SOLAR, HVAC, CONSTRUCTION, APARTMENT MAINTENANCE, I.T., AND DIGITAL LITERACY TRAINING CORRECTLY INTO PRECINCT 4, CREATING BOTH JOBS, PATHWAYS FOR

LONG-TERM CAREERS. >> WE ARE SO GRATEFUL FOR GOODWILL'S PARTNERSHIP. AND THANK YOU TO ALL OF OUR PARTNERS FOR MAKING HARRIS COUNTY A PLACE WHERE EVERYONE CAN HAVE A FAIR SHOT. SO WE ARE HERE TO SUPPORT OUR WORKING FAMILIES. THANK YOU SO MUCH. AND MY SECOND FINAL RESOLUTION IS 498, SUICIDE PREVENTION MONTH. AND I THANK COMMISSIONER GARCIA AND HIS TEAM FOR BRINGING FORTH A SIMILAR RESOLUTION AND FOR YOUR VETERANS

[05:25:05]

WE HAVE TWO OF OUR LEADERS HERE TODAY FROM THE HARRIS CENTER, WHICH ARE ON THE FRONT LINES OF WHAT HARRIS COUNTY DOES FOR MENTAL HEALTH, AND THEY WILL BE SHARING MORE BUT JUST TO GO THROUGH A FEW SOBERING STATISTICS, WE LOSE ONE LIFE EVERY 11 MINUTES TO SUICIDE. AND SUICIDE IS IN THE TOP 10 CAUSES OF DEATH IN TEXAS. WE ALL KNOW MENTAL HEALTH IS AN INCREDIBLY DEPRESSING CRITICAL ISSUE. AND WE ALL NEED TO DO MORE TO EDUCATE, TO MAKE SURE WE ARE CREATING SAFE SPACES FOR OUR FRIENDS AND FAMILIES TO SAY THAT THEY HAVE A PROBLEM AND JUST CONNECT THEM TO THE RESOURCES THEY NEED. SO HERE ARE JUST A FEW EXAMPLES OF HOW HARRIS COUNTY IS INVESTING IN MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES. FIRST WITH REGARD TO HARRIS HEALTH AND TWO OF THE THINGS HARRIS HEALTH DOES OF MANY. THE CRISIS . THE CRISIS CALL DIVERSION. THE CRISIS INTERVENTION RESPONSE TEAM AND THEN THE 988 SUICIDE AND CRISIS LIFELINE. SINCE 2022, AND HARRIS CENTER TEAM, THEY HAVE ANSWERED OVER 200,000 CALLS TO 988. IN THE WAY WE KNOW 911, WE SHOULD ALSO KNOW 988 . EXPANDING HART .

CERT. WE HAVE A NEW HEALTH UNIT WE HAVE EXPANDED SUBSTANTIALLY ADDING 13 NEW POSITIONS. AND WE HAVE ALREADY HAD TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE AND CONSULTATION IN RDA'S OFFICE . PRECINCT LEVEL SURFACES. I'M SO GRATEFUL TO BAYLOR COLLEGE OF MEDICINE.

PLEASE SPREAD THE WORD, AGES 13 TO 24. WE HAVE FREE MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES THAT THE BAYLOR COLLEGE OF HEALTH PROVIDES AT THE COMMUNITY CENTER. THERE ARE SO MANY OTHER EXAMPLES. THE SWOP ASSISTANCE WE HAVE AS WELL. TRAINING WITH BEHAVIORAL HEALTH PROVIDERS. AND, AGAIN, SO MANY OTHERS, BUT WE ARE HERE TO PARTNER AND MAKE SURE WE ARE EXPANDING AWARENESS AND SUPPORT AND MOST IMPORTANTLY CONNECTION TO RESOURCES. SO, WITH THAT, WE HAVE DR. LEE AND AMANDA JONES, DIRECTOR OF GOVERNMENT AND PUBLIC AFFAIRS FOR THE HARRIS CENTER THAT IS ON THE FRONT LINES OF SUICIDE PREVENTION AND OTHER MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES HERE IN HARRIS COUNTY. THANK YOU FOR TAKING THE TIME TO COME.

>> I AM DELIGHTED HERE ON BEHALF OF THE HARRIS CENTER. WAYNE YOUNG SENDS HIS REGRETS FOR NOT BEING ABLE TO MAKE IT TODAY. ONE OF THE THINGS I REALLY WANT TO HIGHLIGHT ABOUT OUR SERVICES IS WE ARE ACCESSIBLE FOR ANYONE IN NEED . OUR CRISIS CALL CENTERS HAVE ANSWERED OVER 150,000 CALLS IN THE LAST YEAR AND 988 CALLS ARE ABOUT 70,000. AND WHAT WE ARE SEEING IS THERE IS RISING MENTAL HEALTH NEED . AND WHAT I GET TO DO AS A PSYCHIATRIST REGULARLY IS GET A CHANCE TO TALK TO INDIVIDUALS IN NEED. YOU HAD MENTIONED THAT SUICIDE IS ONE OF THE LEADING CAUSES IN THE TOP 10. WELL, FOR CERTAIN POPULATIONS LIKE YOUTH , THE 10 TO 24-YEAR-OLDS, IT IS IN THE TOP THREE . SO OUR CHILDREN, OUR ADOLESCENCE, ARE REALLY IMPACTED BY THE STRESSORS.

>> PLEASE CONTINUE. >> AND SO FOR US WE ARE SO PROUD OF THE CUTTING-EDGE WORK THAT WE DO TO OPEN OUR DOORS TO CHILDREN, ADOLESCENTS, TO ADULTS OF ALL AGES, AND ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I AM SO PROUD OF IS OUR SUICIDE CARE TEAM, OUR ZERO SUICIDE TEAM THAT HAS GONE INTO THE HARRIS COUNTY JAIL AND TRAINED 5500 STAFF MEMBERS AROUND SCREENING AND DETECTION OF SUICIDE IN OUR JAILS. AND THAT IS ONE OF THE TOP CAUSES OF DEATH AND WE DON'T HAVE THAT AS MUCH IN HARRIS COUNTY. WE DO MANY, MANY PROGRAMS TO RAISE AWARENESS IN THE COMMUNITY AND WE GO OUT FOR OUTREACH EVENTS. I WAS OUT RECENTLY TO JOSH SHARE

[05:30:02]

RESOLUTION TODAY. >> DR. LEE, THANK YOU FOR TAKING THE TIME AND WHAT YOU DO FOR HARRIS COUNTY.

>> AMANDA? MS. JONES? >> I JUST WANTED TO THANK OF YOU AND ALL OF THE COMMISSIONERS FOR THEIR PARTNERSHIP ON THIS IMPORTANT ISSUE. I RECENTLY HAD A GOOD FRIEND WHO COMMITTED SUICIDE. IT WAS A MALE. AND OFTEN PEOPLE ARE VERY SILENT ABOUT THEIR SYMPTOMS AND WE REALLY NEED TO REFLECT ON TRYING TO SEE WHEN PEOPLE NEED HELP AND REDUCING STIGMA AND I DID NOT

WANT TO FORGET THOSE ELEMENTS. >> THANK YOU SO MUCH. DIRECTOR

JONES? DO YOU -- >> THANK YOU. THANK YOU SO MUCH.

THAT IS OUR LAST RESOLUTION. >> JUDGE? I KNOW YOUR RESOLUTION ON ITEM 489 IN CASE YOU WANTED TO READ IT .

>> THANK YOU. LET'S SEE. SO THAT IS THE JOINT RESOLUTION FOR NATIONAL CITIZENSHIP DAY. SO JUST BEFORE I DO THAT ONE, I DON'T WANT TO FORGET, SO AS YOU GUYS KNOW I WAS IN MY GROUP THERE THAT WAS SCHEDULED FOR THURSDAY BEFORE THE COURT MOVED -- MOVED COMMISSIONERS COURT TO THURSDAYS, BUT NOW I AM BACK. I WOULD LIKE TO REFER TO THE MEDICAL EXCEPTION EXEMPTION AND BRING BACK THE FOLLOWING ITEMS TO FORMALLY RECORD MY VOTES FOR ITEMS DURING MY ABSENCE. I VOTE TO APPROVE THE FOLLOWING ITEMS. CLERK, IF YOU WOULDN'T MIND RECORDING THESE. ON ITEM 239 ON PAGE $29-$1 MILLION IN FLEX FUNDS. ITEM 241 , RENTAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM GUIDELINES. 242 , $8 MILLION FOR COMMUNITY RESILIENCE RENTAL ASSISTANCE AND $8 MILLION FOR RAPID REHOUSING.

479, THE RESOLUTION IN SUPPORT OF UNITE HERE LOCAL 23. 484, THE $7.5 MILLION FOR THE COALITION FOR THE HOMELESS. AND THEN I ALSO WOULD LIKE TO, YOU, -- YEP, SO THOSE ARE THE ONES I WOULD LIKE TO VOTE YES ON THAT I WAS ABSENT FOR. SO LET ME READ MY RESOLUTION HERE. SO THAT IS A JOINT RESOLUTION WITH THE COMMISSIONER PRECINCT FOR -- 4 DESIGNATE SEPTEMBER 17, 2025 AS NATIONAL CITIZENSHIP DAY. AND LET ME SEE THAT I HAVE THE ACTUAL RESOLUTION HERE. OKAY. WHEREAS CITIZENSHIP DAY IS AN ANNUAL EVENT OBSERVED IN THE UNITED STATES AND HARRIS COUNTY TO COMMEMORATE AND ACKNOWLEDGE THE SUBSTANTIAL CONTRIBUTIONS OF CITIZENS AND THE PRINCIPLES OF CITIZENSHIP TO THE COUNTY AND THE NATION AT LARGE, CITIZENSHIP DAY SERVES AN OCCASION FOR BOTH NATIVE BORN AND NATURALIZED CITIZENS TO REFLECT ON THE RESPONSIBLE IT IS ASSOCIATED WITH CITIZENSHIP INCLUDING CIVIC ENGAGEMENT, FOSTERING SOCIAL HARMONY, WHILE ENCOURAGING THE 200,000 ELIGIBLE TO PURSUE U.S. CITIZENSHIP. CITIZENSHIP OPENS DOORS TO HANDS EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES, ELIGIBILITY, AND PATHWAYS TO PROFESSIONAL GROWTH, JOIN THE COUNTY'S ECONOMIC VITALITY AND ENRICHING ITS CULTURAL FABRIC. IMMIGRANTS CONTRIBUTE 27% OF THE AREA'S OVERALL PURCHASING POWER WHILE COMPRISING ONLY 24% OF THE POPULATION. TO CHAMPION CHANGE, HARRIS COUNTY PROBABLY PARTNERS WITH THE NATIONAL PARTNERSHIP FOR NEW AMERICANS, NPNA, AND THE CITY OF HOUSTON TO LAUNCH THE NATURALIZED NOW HOUSTON CAMPAIGN TO ASSIST ELIGIBLE IMMIGRANTS WITH THEIR CITIZENSHIP APPLICATIONS. THE NINE STATES CONSTITUTION CELEBRATED IN TANDEM WITH CITIZENSHIP CALLS FOR THE PEOPLE TO ESTABLISH JUSTICE, SECURE LIBERTY, AND PROMOTE GENERAL WELFARE THROUGH THE UNITY OF THE CITIZENSHIP.

CITIZENSHIP DAY ENCOURAGES EDUCATIONAL AND GOVERNMENT AGENCIES TO HONOR THESE CONSTITUTIONAL VALUES SO THAT THE ORGANIZATION AND EVENTS THAT RAISE AWARENESS ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF CITIZENSHIP" -- PROMOTE INCLUSIVITY. AND AS YOU GUYS KNOW, I BECAME A CITIZEN IN 2013 AND I WAS ELECTED COUNTY JUDGE IN 2018 AND I AM VERY PROUD OF THE FACT THAT I AM AN

[05:35:03]

CELEBRATING CITIZENSHIP DAY. >> SO WE WILL CALL UP THE SPEAKERS. AND, COMMISSIONER BRIONES, WOULD YOU LIKE TO MAKE

SOME COMMENTS? >> YES. THANK YOU. TO ECHO SOME OF JUDGE HIDALGO'S POINTS, HARRIS COUNTY IS HOME TO OVER 300,000 RESIDENTS THAT ARE ELIGIBLE FOR NATURALIZATION, SO FOR ALL THOSE WHO ARE LISTENING, PLEASE HELP US SPREAD THE WORD OF ALL OF THE SERVICES THAT HARRIS COUNTY IN PARTNERSHIP WITH ALL THE PARTNER SHE NAMED, NATIONAL PARTNERSHIP FOR NEW AMERICANS, HOUSTON IMMIGRATION COLLABORATIVE, CITY OF HOUSTON, JUSTICE FOR ALL IMMIGRANTS, IMMIGRATION PROJECT, THERE HAS BEEN OVER 700 CLASSES. THESE ARE TO HELP FOLKS GET THROUGH THIS VERY COMPLICATED AND OFTEN LONG PROCESS. THEY HAVE DONE EVERYTHING THEY NEED TO DO AND NOW IT IS JUST WALKING THEM THROUGH THE PROCESS. SPEAKING AT NATURALIZATION CEREMONIES HAVE BEEN SOME OF THE MOST MOVING MOMENTS. TO SEE THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE WHO BELIEVE IN THE AMERICAN DREAM AND OUR DEMOCRACY, AND HERE IN HARRIS COUNTY WE WANT TO DELIVER ON THAT PROMISE SO THIS IS A PLACE WHERE THE AMERICAN DREAM IS ALIVE AND WELL. WE ARE PROUD TO RECOGNIZE SEPTEMBER 17TH, 2025, AS NATIONAL CITIZENSHIP DAY IN HARRIS COUNTY.

>> YAY. >> OKAY. WE WILL TAKE UP THE

SPEAKERS. >> ALIE AND ANJIE DUPREE.

>> HELLO, EVERYBODY. MY NAME IS ANJIE DUPREE. AND THE CITIZENSHIP PARTNER . WE ARE A MULTIETHNIC, MULTIRACIAL COALITION OF 82 IMMIGRANT AND REFUGEE RIGHTS ORGANIZATIONS ACROSS THE COUNTRY. AND THE ANCHORING ORGANIZATION OF NATURALIZED NOW HOUSTON INITIATIVE. OVER THE PAST TWO YEARS, NPNA'S INITIATIVE HAS WORKED CLOSELY WITH LOCAL GOVERNMENT AND COMMUNITY PARTNERS TO REACH THE NEARLY 300,000 RESIDENTS ACROSS GREATER HOUSTON. SINCE LAUNCHING THIS INITIATIVE TOGETHER WITH HARRIS COUNTY AND OUR PARTNER ORGANIZATIONS, WE HAVE COLLECTIVELY REACHED OVER 118,000 RESIDENTS WITH CITIZENSHIP INFORMATION. ALSO, WE ARE PROUD TO SHARE THAT OVER THE PAST TWO YEARS, HOUSTON HAS BEEN THE HIGHEST NUMBER OF CITIZENSHIP APPLICATION SUBMITTED TO CIS NEARLY EVERY QUARTER. I APPLAUD AND THANK HARRIS COUNTY , A PARTNER OF OUR CITIES AND COUNTIES FOR CITIZENSHIP NETWORK, FOR PROCLAIMING CITIZENSHIP DAY AND FOR THEIR ONGOING SUPPORT AS WE CONTINUE TO ADVANCE NATURALIZATION ACROSS OUR COUNTY. I WANT TO ESPECIALLY THANK COMMISSIONER BRIONES, COMMISSIONER GARCIA, AND JUDGE HIDALGO FOR YOUR UNWAVERING SUPPORT FOR NATURALIZED NOW HOUSTON. HOUSTON IS WHERE MY PARENTS CHOSE TO BE HOME FOR US.

THIS WORK IS PERSONAL TO MY HEART. MY PARENTS ARE BOTH NATURALIZED CITIZENS. MY MOTHER NATURALIZED IN 2018, AS WELL.

SO, YEAH, WE ARE PROBABLY AT THE SAME CEREMONY. BUT THIS WORK IS NEAR TO MY HEART AND HOUSTON IS MY HOME. I LOVE MY CITY AND

THANK YOU ALL. >> THANK YOU.

>> GOOD AFTERNOON. THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO ADDRESS THE COURT. MY NAME IS ALOBIE LI. TWO YEARS AGO WE CAME TOGETHER TO FORM AN UNPRECEDENTED PUBLIC PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP, TO DEVELOP A CITIZENSHIP SUPPORT ECOSYSTEM TO HELP IMMIGRANTS BECOME CITIZENS. THIS ECOSYSTEM INCLUDES HELP LOW INCOME IMMIGRANTS OVERCOME THE FINANCIAL BARRIERS TO CITIZENSHIP. DURING THE FIRST 18 MONTHS OF THIS PROJECT, WE HAVE PROVIDED MORE THAN $400,000 TO HELP PAY APPLICATION FEE FOR 700 LOW INCOME IMMIGRANTS SO THAT THEY CAN SAVE THE MONEY TO PROVIDE FOR THEIR FAMILIES AND CONTINUE TO CONTRIBUTE TO THE LOCAL ECONOMY. NPNA, AS YOU JUST HEAR FROM ANJIE IS IMPORTANT TO PROVIDE OUTREACH AND COMMUNITY TO LEARN THE PROCESS AND CONNECT THEM WITH SUPPORT SERVICES. MORE IMPORTANTLY, THE COUNTY FUNDED NATURALIZATION SERVICES FUND HELP 8000 INDIVIDUALS GET LEGAL

[05:40:02]

BECAUSE OF THIS ECOSYSTEM, THE PARENTS OF ONE STAFF MEMBER WHO LIVED IN OUR COMMUNITY FOR YEARS ON A TEMPORARILY PROTECTED STATUS BECAME CITIZEN JUST THIS PAST JUNE AND AUGUST BECAUSE OF THIS ECOSYSTEM. THE PARENTS WHO LIVED IN OUR COMMUNITIES FOR MORE THAN THREE DECADES BUILDING BUSINESSES, RAISING A FAMILY, SENDING CHILDREN TO COLLEGE, FINALLY BECAME CITIZEN JUST LAST MONTH . AND BECAUSE OF THIS ECOSYSTEM, 101-YEAR-OLD CHINESE LADY WHO HAD BEEN A LAWFUL RESIDENT FOR MORE THAN TWO DECADES FEELS CONFIDENT TO APPLY FOR CITIZENSHIP. THANK YOU FOR RECOGNIZING THE CONTRIBUTION OF IMMIGRANTS WHO MAKE UP A QUARTER OF HARRIS COUNTY'S POPULATION. THANK YOU FOR CELEBRATING OUR ARRIVAL. TO THE FASCINATION OF OUR LONG IMMIGRATION JOURNEY TO BECOME AMERICAN CITIZENS AND FULL MEMBERS OF THIS COUNTRY'S POLITICAL ECONOMY, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR CELEBRATING CITIZENS AND HONORING THE NATIONAL CITIZENSHIP DAY.

>> THANK YOU,

* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.