* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.
          [00:00:01]
          OKAY. GOOD MORNING EVERYONE. IT IS 10:07 AND I'D LIKE TO CALL THIS SEPTEMBER 18TH,
2025 MEETING OF THE HARRIS COUNTY COMMISSIONERS COURT TO ORDER. COMMISSIONER ELLIS. I GOT IT. 
          COMMISSIONER GARCIA. SURE. I THOUGHT IT WAS ME AS WELL,
BY THE WAY. NO. 
          NO WORRIES. GOOD MORNING EVERYONE. THANK YOU ALL FOR JOINING US AT COMMISSIONERS COURT. 
          [Pastor F. Ray Nelson of New Bethel Missionary Baptist Church in Houston introduced by the Commissioner of Precinct 2.]
I AM HONORED TO BE ABLE TO INTRODUCE PASTOR F RAY NELSON TO GIVE US OUR OPENING PRAYER
TODAY. 
          PASTOR NELSON 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 COLLINSWORTH AND LIBERTY ROAD,
CLOSE TO KASHMERE GARDENS. 
          AND 50 YEARS PREACHING THE GOSPEL IN THE LAST 35,
SHEPHERDING THE FLOCK AT NEW BETHEL MISSIONARY BAPTIST CHURCH, NORTHEAST HE WAS ELECTED PASTOR IN JULY 15TH OF 1990. 
          THAT'S A GOOD YEAR. AND AND IS A PROUD GRADUATE OF KASHMERE HIGH SCHOOL. 
          GO, RAMS! AND LET ME JUST SAY, WE LOST FOOTBALL TO YOU GUYS EVERY YEAR. 
          HE ALSO ATTENDED TEXAS A&M AND 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 TEACHING. MORE THAN JUST A PASTOR, HE IS A SERVANT LEADER KNOWN FOR HIS BOUNDLESS
GENEROSITY AND HUMBLE SPIRIT. 
          WHETHER DELIVERING FOOD TO THE HOMEBOUND, PROVIDING SHELTER TO THE UNHOUSED,
OR LEADING THE COMMUNITY RELIEF EFFORTS AFTER HURRICANE HARVEY, PASTOR NELSON GIVES TIRELESSLY UP, 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 PRAYER. WE DO. THANK YOU. 
          THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY. COMMISSIONER GARCIA,
COMMISSIONER ELLIS, AND TO ALL OF YOU LET'S LET'S GO TO GOD IN PRAYER. GRACIOUS FATHER,
WE COME NOW WITH BOWED 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
OUR DECISIONS. WE'RE LIFTING HIM UP AND AS WELL AS THEIR FAMILIES. 
          AND WE'RE PRAYING FOR THIS, THIS COURT AND ALL THAT TAKE PART IN MAKING THINGS PLAIN AND CLEAN AND CLEAR. 
          THEN, LORD, WE PRAY FOR THE AGENDA TODAY. WE PRAY THAT YOU WOULD GRANT WISDOM TO 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 THEIR WEAK AND BUILD THEM WHERE
THEY'RE TORN DOWN. 
          BLESS THEM IN THEIR LIVES. IN JESUS NAME WE PRAY AND WE ASK THESE THINGS IN ALL. 
          AMEN, 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 TO ONE STATE UNDER GOD,
ONE AND INDIVISIBLE. 
          OKAY, SO WE HAVE SEVERAL PUBLIC HEARING ITEMS TODAY. 
          [Departments (Part 1 of 9)]
SO WE'LL START COLLEAGUES WITH PUBLIC HEARING ITEMS 361 THROUGH 364. 
          THOSE ARE ON THE VARIOUS TAX RATES. THEN WE WILL MOVE ON TO TAX RATE DISCUSSION ITEMS 367
THROUGH 369. 
          [00:05:02]
THAT IS WHERE WE WOULD VOTE ON THE TAX RATES. 
          THEN WE WILL HEAR ALL PUBLIC. OH WE HAVE ACTUALLY WE HAVE ANOTHER TWO OTHER PUBLIC
HEARINGS THAT ARE JUST I DON'T THINK WE HAVE ANY SPEAKERS FOR. 
          SO I FIGURE WE'LL TAKE THEM WITH PUBLIC HEARINGS AND THEN WE WILL TAKE ALL PUBLIC COMMENT
SPEAKERS. 
          I BELIEVE THERE WILL BE A HANDFUL OF CITY MAYORS HERE TODAY. 
          SO WE WILL HEAR FROM THEM BEFORE WE HEAR FROM THE REST OF THE SPEAKERS. 
          THEN WE'LL HEAR FROM THE REST OF SPEAKERS. AND AFTER THAT,
WE'LL PROCEED TO THE CONSENT AGENDA. 
          SO LET'S START WITH THE PUBLIC HEARING FOR THE FOR ITEM 362 AT THIS TIME, WE HAVE A PUBLIC HEARING FOR ITEM 362,
IN THE PUBLIC HEARINGS PAGE, IN THE PUBLIC HEARINGS ON PAGE 44. 
          I NOW OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING TO CONSIDER APPROVAL OF THE PROPOSED 2025 TAX RATE OF
0.04966 FOR THE HARRIS COUNTY FLOOD CONTROL DISTRICT. IS THERE ANYONE WHO WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK FOR OR AGAINST THIS ITEM? THERE ARE NO SPEAKERS SIGNED UP FOR THIS ONE. JUDGE. 
          OKAY. THANK YOU. TIFFANY. SINCE THERE ARE NO SPEAKERS,
ANY DISCUSSION, I NOW CLOSE THIS PUBLIC HEARING. 
          IS THERE A MOTION ON THIS ITEM? MOTION BY COMMISSIONER GARCIA. 
          SECOND. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER BRIONES. ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. ANY OPPOSED? MOTION PASSES. NEXT, WE HAVE ITEM 362. 
          NEXT, WE HAVE A PUBLIC HEARING. EXCUSE ME. 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
0.18761 FOR THE HARRIS COUNTY HOSPITAL DISTRICT, DBA HARRIS HEALTH SYSTEM. IS THERE ANYONE WHO WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK FOR
OR AGAINST THIS ITEM? TIFFANY. THERE'S NO SPEAKER SIGNED UP FOR THIS ONE. 
          I NOW CLOSE THIS PUBLIC HEARING. IS THERE OR SORRY,
IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION? NO DISCUSSION. I NOW CLOSE THIS PUBLIC HEARING. 
          IS THERE A MOTION ON THIS ITEM? SECOND MOTION BY COMMISSIONER GARCIA,
SECOND BY COMMISSIONER ELLIS. 
          ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. ANY OPPOSED? NO, I'M IN FAVOR. 
          MOTION CARRIES 4 TO 1. NEXT WE HAVE ITEM 364. 
          WE HAVE A PUBLIC HEARING FOR ITEM 364. IN THE PUBLIC HEARINGS ON PAGE 44,
FOR. 
          I NOW OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING TO CONSIDER APPROVAL OF THE PROPOSED 2025 TAX RATE OF
0.00590 FOR THE PORT OF HOUSTON AUTHORITY. 
          TIFFANY, IS THERE ANYONE WHO WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK FOR OR AGAINST THIS ITEM? NO, MA'AM. IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION? I NOW CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING. 
          IS THERE A MOTION ON THIS ITEM? MOTION BY COMMISSIONER GARCIA,
SECOND BY COMMISSIONER ELLIS. 
          ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. ANY OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY. 
          NEXT, WE HAVE ITEM 361. AND THIS ONE IS LAST BECAUSE WE'RE LOOKING AT THE BUDGET AND THEN
THE VOTE. 
          SO I NOW OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING. THIS IS ITEM 361 IN PUBLIC HEARINGS ON PAGE 43. 
          I NOW OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING TO CONSIDER APPROVAL OF THE FY 2026 ANNUAL BUDGET FOR THE
HARRIS COUNTY FLOOD CONTROL DISTRICT. THERE'S A CORRECTION THERE,
RIGHT? WE'RE TAKING OUT TOLL ROAD. THAT'S CORRECT, THAT'S CORRECT. 
          OKAY. DID YOU CATCH THAT? COUNTY CLERK? YES. OKAY. 
          SO LET ME JUST 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'D LIKE TO SPEAK FOR OR AGAINST THIS ITEM? JULIO MEDINA AND JACKIE ALTMAN. I'M NOT SURE IF THEY'RE THERE. 
          JULIO MEDINA AND WHAT WAS THE SECOND NAME? TIFFANY. 
          WE DIDN'T QUITE. JACKIE ALTMAN. JACKIE ALTMAN. 
          I DO NOT THINK THEY'RE 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 THIS PUBLIC HEARING. IS THERE A MOTION FOR THIS ITEM? SO MOVED. THIS IS A MOTION FOR THE FY 2026 ANNUAL BUDGETS FOR THE HARRIS COUNTY FLOOD CONTROL DISTRICT. ALL RIGHT. MOTION BY COMMISSIONER. 
          [00:10:03]
SECOND BY MR. GARCIA. BY COMMISSIONER GARCIA. 
          ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. ANY OPPOSED? MOTION PASSES UNANIMOUSLY. 
          OKAY. AND THEN WE NEED 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'RE GOOD. 
          OKAY. OKAY. SO NOW WE WILL ADDRESS THE TAX RATE DISCUSSION ITEMS 367 THROUGH 369. 
          AND SO RIGHT. IS THERE ANY ANY DISCUSSION ON THIS? COMMISSIONER GARCIA J QUESTION IS THE IS 368 THE HARRIS HEALTH TAX ITEM. IS THIS BROAD ENOUGH TO TALK ABOUT THE HERMANN PARK LAND SWAP? NO. IT'S NOT. OKAY. THANK YOU. OKAY. IS THERE A MOTION FOR THE HARRIS COUNTY FLOOD CONTROL
DISTRICT THAT THE PROPERTY TAX RATE BE INCREASED BY THE ADOPTION OF A TAX RATE OF 0.04966,
WHICH IS EFFECTIVELY A 3.87% INCREASE IN THE TAX RATE. 
          THIS CONSISTS OF 0.03826 FOR MAINTENANCE AND OPERATIONS,
AND 0.01140 FOR DEBT SERVICE. 
          SO MOVED. SECOND. MOTION BY COMMISSIONER ELLIS. 
          SECOND BY COMMISSIONER BRIONES. ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. ANY OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY. 
          NOW WE WILL MOVE ON TO 368. IS THERE ANY ADDITIONAL DISCUSSION ON 368? ALL RIGHT. SO IS THERE A MOTION FOR HARRIS COUNTY HOSPITAL DISTRICT DOES BUSINESS AS
HARRIS HEALTH SYSTEM THAT THE PROPERTY TAX RATE BE INCREASED BY THE ADOPTION OF A TAX RATE OF 0.18761,
WHICH IS EFFECTIVELY A 16.63% INCREASE IN THE TAX RATE. THIS RATE CONSISTS OF 0.17876 76 FOR MAINTENANCE AND OPERATIONS, AND 0.00885 FOR DEBT SERVICE. MOTION BY COMMISSIONER GARCIA,
SECOND BY COMMISSIONER ELLIS. 
          ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. ANY OPPOSED? NO. MOTION CARRIES 4 TO 1. 
          NOW, LET'S MOVE ON TO ITEM 369. 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 AT A TAX RATE OF 0.00590? THIS RATE IS FOR DEBT SERVICE. MOTION BY COMMISSIONER GARCIA,
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. ITEM 365 IS THE FIRST ONE. 
          SO THIS IS. 365. OKAY. I WE HAVE A PUBLIC HEARING FOR ITEM 365 IN THE PUBLIC HEARING SECTION ON PAGE 44. 
          I NOW OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING TO CONSIDER APPROVAL OF THE REVISION OF THE SUBDIVISION PLAT
ENTITLED SAINT CHARLES PLACE, PARTIAL REPLAT, NUMBER 18. IS THERE ANYONE WHO'D LIKE TO SPEAK FOR OR AGAINST THIS ITEM? SINCE THERE ARE NO SPEAKERS, IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION? I NOW CLOSE THIS PUBLIC HEARING. IS THERE A MOTION? SO MOVED. MOTION BY COMMISSIONER GARCIA, SECOND BY COMMISSIONER BRUINS. 
          ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. ANY OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY. 
          AND NEXT IS I HAVE NO ACTION 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 THE FOLKS BRINGING THE JOBS IN EXPECT IT. 
          SO I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE READY TO DO THAT. OKAY. 
          ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. OKAY. THAT SOUNDS LIKE A YES FROM BUDGET. 
          OKAY. NEXT WE HAVE A PUBLIC HEARING FOR ITEM 431 IN THE EMERGENCY SUPPLEMENTAL ITEMS
SECTION ON PAGE 51. 
          [Emergency/Supplemental Items (Part 1 of 6)]
          [00:15:09]
I NOW OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING TO CONSIDER APPROVAL OF THE RECORDS ARCHIVE PLAN FOR FISCAL
YEAR 2025 2026. 
          IS THERE ANYONE WHO WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK FOR OR AGAINST THIS ITEM? TIFFANY. NO, MA'AM. SINCE THERE ARE NO SPEAKERS,
IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION? I KNOW CLOSEST PUBLIC HEARING. IS THERE A MOTION ON THIS ITEM? MOTION BY COMMISSIONER GARCIA, SECOND BY COMMISSIONER ELLIS. 
          ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. ANY OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY. 
          SO BEFORE WE MOVE ON TO THE SPEAKERS, I WANT TO JUST CLARIFY. 
          THERE'S BEEN SOME MISINFORMATION FLOATING AROUND THAT WE'RE CLOSING THE DEFICIT WITHOUT
RAISING TAXES. 
          BUT IN FACT THERE THERE IS A TAX INCREASE. SO I WANT TO PROVIDE TRANSPARENCY TO RESIDENTS
ABOUT HOW THEY'LL BE AFFECTED BY THIS BUDGET PROCESS. 
          AND I'LL 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 ON TO THE REST OF THE SPEAKERS. 
          I WILL LET TIFFANY CALL UP THE REST OF THE SPEAKERS. 
          GEORGIA RODRIGUEZ ON ITEMS ONE, TWO, THREE AND FOUR OF PRECINCT TWO. 
          DIPIN BACCA ON ITEMS ONE, TWO, THREE AND FOUR OF PRECINCT ONE. 
          MICHAEL GALLOWAY ON ITEM ONE OF PRECINCT ONE. 
          YOU EACH HAVE ONE MINUTE. THANK YOU. AND I'M WAITING ON A NOTE ABOUT THE MAYOR'S. 
          I DON'T KNOW, AND I. AND I DON'T HAVE MY GLASSES,
YOU GUYS. 
          WE HAVE THE MAYOR OF BELLAIRE AND THE MAYOR OF BELLAIRE. 
          OKAY. IF YOU DON'T MIND. TIFFANY, I'M SO SORRY. 
          [Departments (Part 2 of 9)]
THE FOLKS I JUST CALLED THIS THERE WAS A LITTLE BIT OF A TIME SITUATION HERE,
SO LET'S WELCOME THE MAYOR OF BELLAIRE. 
          MAYOR PAPPAS, PLEASE. AND THEN AND THEN WE'LL TAKE MAYOR OF PINEY POINT. 
          YOU SAID OKAY. 
          I'VE GOT MY TEAM HERE. GOOD MORNING ALL. YOUR HONOR. 
          COMMISSIONERS MY NAME IS GUS PAPPAS, AND I AM THE MAYOR OF THE CITY OF BELLAIRE,
TEXAS. 
          I HAVE BEHIND ME OUR CITY MANAGEMENT, THE BETTER LOOKING PART OF THE GROUP AS WELL AS MY
FELLOW COUNCIL MEMBERS. 
          WE ARE HERE TODAY TO ASK FOR YOUR SUPPORT FOR BOND PROJECT CI 38 THAT WE AFFECTIONATELY
CALL THE CYPRESS DITCH REGIONAL FLOOD MITIGATION PROJECT. 
          THIS PROJECT IS, IS IN PARTNERSHIP WITH NOT ONLY THE CITY OF HOUSTON,
BUT ALSO THE HARRIS COUNTY FLOOD CONTROL DISTRICT, AS WELL AS THE CITY OF BELLAIRE. WE ALSO HAVE THE TREMENDOUS AND FULL SUPPORT OF ANNE
JOHNSON, MOLLY COOK, AND OUR CONGRESSMAN, LIZZIE FLETCHER. 
          THE DURING THIS PROCESS, WE HAVE RECEIVED COMMITMENTS FROM THE STATE OF TEXAS OF $54
MILLION. 
          THE CITY OF BELLAIRE ITSELF HAS PLEDGED $40 MILLION. 
          AND WITH YOUR OH. THANK YOU. AND WITH THE COUNTY 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 A $110 MILLION REGIONAL FLOOD MITIGATION PROJECT THAT WILL REDEVELOP CYPRESS DITCH INTO BRAYS BAYOU. 
          THIS PROJECT WILL SHAPE AND CHANGE THE LIVES OF THOUSANDS,
NOT ONLY IN THE BELLAIRE AREA, BUT IN THE SURROUNDING AREAS, AND AS WELL AS PAVE THE WAY FOR FUTURE AND SERVE AS A
FOUNDATION FOR FUTURE FLOOD MITIGATION PROJECTS IN THE AREA. 
          WE THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT AND FOR YOUR TIRELESS COMMITMENT TO FLOOD MITIGATION IN
HARRIS COUNTY. 
          THANK YOU. THANK YOU MAYOR. ALL THOSE GREAT FOLKS WITH YOU. 
          WELL, I HAVE I HAVE OUR CITY MANAGER, SHARON SETTINO. 
          I HAVE OUR ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER AND ENGINEER,
BETH JONES. 
          I HAVE OUR COUNCIL MEMBER, ROSS GORDON. AND I HAVE OUR MAYOR PRO TEM WYNN FRAZIER,
BEHIND ME. 
          SO WELCOME, ALL OF YOU. THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU FOR HAVING US. 
          NO. THANK YOU. 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'RE HERE BUT I'M TRYING TO FIND IT ON
THE AGENDA. 
          OKAY. MY UNDERSTANDING IS, IS THAT IT'S NOT A SPECIFIC ITEM,
BUT IT'S A PART OF THE UPDATE FOR THE THE FLOOD CONTROL DISTRICT BOND. 
          [00:20:06]
YES. GOT IT. OKAY. OKAY. WELL, GREAT. THANK YOU. 
          THANK YOU FOR COMING HERE. THANK YOU FOR 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. 
          THERE'S 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 PAPADAKIS FAMILY IN CONEY ISLAND. SO LET ME JUST SAY IF THAT IS TO AFGHANISTAN 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. 
          THANK YOU. SORRY, I HAVE MY. YES, COMMISSIONER AND THEN COMMISSIONER RAMSEY. 
          MAYOR PAPPAS AND TEAM, WELCOME. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TREMENDOUS PARTNERSHIP. 
          MY TEAM AND I ARE SO GRATEFUL FOR THE THE COLLABORATION. 
          AND TO ME, THIS IS A PERFECT EMBODIMENT OF CITY,
COUNTY, STATE, FEDERAL PARTNERSHIP. 
          AND THIS CYPRESS DITCH FLOOD MITIGATION PROJECT WILL BE TREMENDOUS FOR BELLAIRE,
FOR GULFTON AND SO MANY AREAS IN THE POSITIVE REGIONAL IMPACT IS FANTASTIC. 
          SO I'M VERY GRATEFUL AND THANK YOU FOR TAKING THE TIME TO JOIN US TODAY. 
          WE APPRECIATE IT. THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT. 
          APPRECIATE IT. MAYOR. COUNCIL, THANK YOU ALL FOR COMING. 
          IT'S ALWAYS HAVING 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 REALLY THE CENTER OF GOOD GOVERNANCE IN THE COUNTY IN TERMS OF THE JOB YOU
ALL DO. 
          AND WE'RE FORGET ABOUT THE INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS THAT Y'ALL NOT ONLY SPONSOR,
BUT PARTNER WITH. 
          AND, AND, AND AND NOT JUST IN TERMS OF THE COUNTY,
BUT 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. 
          OH, YES, COMMISSIONER, I'M HONORED TO REPRESENT A PART OF YOUR GREAT CITY,
ALONG WITH MY COLLEAGUE, COMMISSIONER BRIONES. AND I STARTED OUT AS A COUNCIL MEMBER,
AND I ONLY SHOWED UP WITH MY MAYOR WHEN I AGREED WITH HIM. 
          BUT IF THOSE TWO COUNCIL MEMBERS WANT TO SAY ANYTHING,
I'D LIKE TO LET THEM SPEAK. 
          GO AHEAD. YEAH. FIRST OF ALL, THANK YOU. AND WE'RE DELIGHTED TO BE HERE. 
          WE WANT TO APPRECIATE AND THANK THE COUNTY FOR WHAT YOU'VE DONE TO SUPPORT THIS PROJECT. 
          WE DO AGREE THAT IT WILL BENEFIT A 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. COUNCIL MEMBER. I WOULD JUST ADD THAT THIS REALLY IS A PARTNERSHIP
PROJECT INSIDE OUR CITY. 
          WE'VE UNANIMOUSLY VOTED FOR EVERY SINGLE ACTION TO SUPPORT THIS PROJECT. 
          WE GOT THE SUPPORT OF OUR VOTERS THROUGH A BOND ELECTION TO PUT FORWARD MONEY INTO THIS
PROJECT. 
          AND WE'VE BEEN SO LUCKY TO WORK WITH SO MANY GREAT PEOPLE INSIDE THE COUNTY,
AT THE STATE LEGISLATURE AND AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL TO TO WORK TOGETHER TO SEE THIS THROUGH. 
          AND SO WE'RE JUST SO LUCKY TO HAVE GREAT PARTNERSHIP AND GREAT COLLABORATION ON THIS,
SO THANK YOU. COUNCILMAN. WHEN DID YOU ALL PUT IT ON THE BALLOT? WAS IT THIS LAST CYCLE? IT WAS LAST CYCLE. IT WAS. 
          I THINK IT WAS. WE ACTUALLY VOTED ON IT. INTERESTINGLY ENOUGH,
WHEN HURRICANE BERYL, WE HAD A MEETING THAT EVENING AND VOTED UNANIMOUSLY AS A COUNCIL PUT IT, ON THE BALLOT. AND THAT FOLLOWING NOVEMBER,
WE HAD 70 PLUS PERCENT OF OUR VOTERS VOTED TO PUT $40 MILLION TOWARD THIS PROJECT. 
          WELL, HEY, THANK YOU FOR STEPPING UP. WE NEED WE NEED MORE COMMUNITIES,
OTHER PARTNERS WHO ARE WILLING TO STEP UP AND PUT SOME MONEY ON THE BALLOT AS WELL. 
          THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU ALL. OKAY, SO WE HAVE MAYOR ELIZA OF PINEY POINT VILLAGE. 
          YES I'M ELIZA. ELIZA, I'M SO SORRY. COME ON UP SO WE CAN HEAR YOU IN THE MICROPHONE. 
          AS A RESIDENT. SO. OH, OKAY. I'M HAPPY TO SPEAK DURING THE PUBLIC COMMENT. 
          OKAY. THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU, THANK YOU. 
          AND I'M SO SORRY FOR THE PRONUNCIATION ISSUE HERE. 
          ALL RIGHT. SO THEN WE WILL MOVE TO I BELIEVE WE HAVE ANOTHER MAYOR. 
          MAYOR HELTON OF LAPORTE. IS MAYOR HELTON HERE? NO, MAYOR HELTON WILL BE HERE FOR THE RESOLUTION. OKAY. GREAT. 
          THANK YOU AGAIN SO MUCH. OKAY, SO LET'S MOVE ON TO THE REST OF THE SPEAKERS. 
          [Appearances Before Court (Part 1 of 2)]
ALL RIGHT. GEORGIA RODRIGUEZ DIP IN BACA AND MICHAEL GALLOWAY,
YOU EACH HAVE ONE MINUTE. 
          [00:25:08]
OKAY. HELLO. HELLO. GOOD MORNING. MY NAME IS GEORGIA. 
          I'M A RESIDENT OF PRECINCT TWO, AND I'M HERE BECAUSE I'M HERE TO DISCUSS THE BUDGET. 
          BECAUSE IT REPRESENTS MORE THAN NUMBERS ON A PAGE REPRESENTS THE FUTURE OF HARRIS COUNTY
FAMILIES, NEIGHBORHOODS, AND WORKPLACES. WE NEED A BUDGET THAT PUTS PEOPLE OVER POLITICS. 
          AND IN A PERFECT WORLD, THESE DOLLARS WOULD BE INVESTED IN COMMUNITY BASED SERVICES
PROGRAMS THAT WORK DIRECTLY ON THE GROUND WITH THE GROWING NUMBER OF PEOPLE IN NEED. 
          BUT 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 BEING PROPOSED THAT WOULD CONSUME BILLIONS OF
TAX DOLLARS. 
          THE COST DOESN'T STOP WITH CONSTRUCTION. THE LONG TERM OPERATING EXPENSES WILL STARVE THE
VERY PROGRAMS WE TRULY NEED AFFORDABLE HOUSING, PUBLIC TRANSIT, HEART LIBRARIES, PUBLIC HEALTH,
AND DISASTER RELIEF. 
          THE ACTUAL SERVICES THAT KEEP OUR COMMUNITY SAFE,
STABLE AND THRIVING. 
          EVERY DOLLAR WE POUR INTO EXPANDING INCARCERATION IS A DOLLAR TAKEN AWAY FROM PREVENTION,
HEALING, AND OPPORTUNITY. 
          MY ASK IS SIMPLE PLEASE 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 KEN ASKED ME,
WHAT SONG DID YOU LISTEN TO WHEN YOU CAME HERE? AND I DIDN'T HAVE AN ANSWER. BUT TODAY WHEN I CAME IN HERE,
THE SONG THAT I WAS BUMPING TO THIS MORNING WAS CALLED BAD BOYS. 
          IT WAS WRITTEN BY SOME BROTHERS FROM JAMAICA,
AND THE SONG WAS WRITTEN BECAUSE OF THE STRUGGLES OF TROUBLED YOUTH, PARTICULARLY THOSE OF COLOR, AND THEIR ENCOUNTERS WITH LAW ENFORCEMENT,
ENCOURAGING THEM TO CHANGE THEIR CIRCUMSTANCES. 
          FOR THE PAST 12 YEARS, I'VE SERVED AS A YOUTH DEVELOPMENT PRACTITIONER IN THIRD WARD FOR
AN ORGANIZATION THAT'S BEEN NATIONALLY WORKING WITH YOUTH, SERVING OVER 10,000 YOUTH FOR THE PAST 27 YEARS. 
          LAST YESTERDAY NIGHT, I WENT TO A VIGIL FOR AN INDIVIDUAL THAT COMMITTED SUICIDE FOR AN
UNDIAGNOSED MENTAL HEALTH ILLNESS. 
          LAST NIGHT I PULLED UP AT 1 A.M. AND I MET A GROUP OF INDIVIDUALS FROM THE NORTH SIDE AND
THIRD WARD FIGHTING FENTANYL EPIDEMIC. 
          AND THEY SAID, YOU KNOW WHAT? IT IS DIPPING. THEY SAID THEY DIDN'T TELL US WHEN YOU USE IT
THE SECOND, THIRD OR FOURTH TIME THAT YOU HAVE TO KEEP USING IT. 
          INVEST IN PROGRAMS. INVEST IN YOUTH DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. AND I APPRECIATE YOU MENTIONING THAT. 
          THREE COLLEAGUES HERE REFUSED TO INVEST IN THE YOUTH PROGRAMS FOR FOR YOUTH WHO ARE IN
THOSE KINDS OF SITUATIONS, REFUSE TO CONTINUE THEM. AND THAT'S ONE OF THE REASONS WHY I CAN'T VOTE ON THIS BUDGET. 
          THANK YOU. PLEASE. THIS JUMPSUIT 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 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 OF 2026. 
          YOU ARE ELECTED OFFICIALS THAT ARE CHARGED WITH MAKING DECISIONS BASED ON THE BEST
INTEREST OF ALL YOUR CONSTITUENTS. 
          AND AFTER REVIEWING THE MOST RECENT BUDGET RELEASED ON SEPTEMBER 12TH,
I NOTICED THERE HAS BEEN SOME PROGRESS. 
          HOWEVER, I WOULD LIKE TO ADDRESS A NON-NEGOTIABLE FOR ME. 
          UTILIZING OUR REMAINING ARPA DOLLARS TO OFFSET AN UNBALANCED BUDGET BASED OFF HUNCHES. 
          IF $20 MILLION OF ARPA DOLLARS AND 25 MILLION OF PROJECTED SAVINGS FOR A ONE YEAR HIRING
FREEZE IS SOLUTION, 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. ALL I SEE IS PROBLEMS BEING MADE OUT OF PROBLEMS. THANK YOU. THAT'S RIGHT. THIS IS A PROBLEM THAT WAS CREATED. 
          ABSOLUTELY UNNECESSARY. WE COULD HAVE GONE TO THE VOTERS AND HEARD FROM THE VOTERS WHETHER
THEY WANTED TO SEE THESE 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,
IT'S THOSE ARE THE COMMUNITIES THAT DON'T VOTE, THAT DON'T ENDORSE. BUT OF COURSE, IF YOUR NUMBER ONE PRIORITY,
YOUR GUIDING LIGHT IS YOU'RE 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 GUYS CONTINUE TO DO THAT AHEAD OF THE VOTE NEXT, 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'LL HEAR FROM OTHER SPEAKERS. ANTHONY SANCHEZ ON ITEM ONE OF PRECINCT TWO,
MARK KENNELLY, SHARON ON ITEM TWO. ALEX CAMPBELL ON ITEM TWO OF PRECINCT ONE. 
          YOU EACH HAVE ONE MINUTE. 
          [00:30:09]
GOOD MORNING, COMMISSIONERS AND MADAM JUDGE. I'M KEN,
I'M A RESIDENT OF THIRD WARD. 
          THE TRUTH IS, LAST WEEK I WAS DISAPPOINTED. THE PROPOSAL WALKS US AWAY FROM LIFELINES,
GIVING MILLIONS TO LAW ENFORCEMENT WHILE GUTTING MILLIONS FROM PROGRAMS LIKE ACCESS. 
          HARRIS. BUT, JUDGE HIDALGO, YOU RELENTLESSLY CALLED IT OUT. 
          YOU SAID YOU NEVER THOUGHT THEY'D LEAVE KIDS AND FAMILIES BEHIND. 
          YOU SAW IT. THEY DID, BUT YOU DIDN'T. BECAUSE OF YOUR COMMITMENT,
YOU SPEAK FOR VOTERS WHEN THEY CHOSE TO SILENCE THEM. 
          WE THANK YOU FOR DOING GOD'S WORK, COMMISSIONER RODNEY ELLIS AND PRECINCT ONE. 
          WE THANK YOU AS WELL. MANY PEOPLE IN THIS ASSEMBLY,
NEIGHBORS, PARENTS, COMMUNITY LEADERS, WE SEE YOU. WE UNDERSTAND WHAT YOU'RE DOING. COME ELECTION TIME,
WE WILL REMEMBER JUDGE HILDALGO. 
          THANK YOU. I KNOW YOU AREN'T RUNNING FOR REELECTION,
BUT I WANTED TO SAY THIS. 
          SINCE 2019, JUDGE, YOU'VE BEEN BEHIND THE PEOPLE. 
          YOU'VE BEEN A VOICE FOR THEM WHEN OTHERS TRIED TO TAKE THEIR VOICE. 
          AND I THANK YOU FOR IT. I THANK YOU FOR IT. GIVE ME SOME TIME. 
          GIVE ME SOME TIME. I NEED TO FINISH. I'M SO SORRY. 
          WE HAVE TO END EVERYBODY AT A MINUTE. I APPRECIATE YOU,
THOUGH, AND I. 
          AND I DO APPRECIATE I DO APPRECIATE YOUR ADVOCACY. 
          THANK YOU. JOSHUA ONE NINE. BE COURAGEOUS. THE LORD IS WITH YOU ALL. 
          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'RE NOT BORN BAD. ONE THING ABOUT US BEING A GANGSTER,
WE'RE NOT GANGSTERS. 
          NOBODY WANTS TO BE GANGSTERS. WE'RE VICTIMS OF CIRCUMSTANCE. 
          WE NEVER COMMITTED A CRIME THAT WE DIDN'T HAVE TO DO. 
          IF YOU GET A HOT CUP OF COFFEE AND YOU SET IT IN A ROOM,
EVENTUALLY IT BECOMES ROOM TEMPERATURE. 
          WE BECOME PRODUCTS OF OUR ENVIRONMENT AND WE NEED MORE RESOURCES,
MORE OPPORTUNITIES TO HELP US STAY OUT OF THE SYSTEM BECAUSE WE EITHER GET SAVED BY THE SYSTEM OR WE DIE. WE NEED MORE OPPORTUNITIES AND RESOURCES TO REINTEGRATE BACK INTO
SOCIETY. 
          WE NEED MORE YOUTH PROGRAMS TO HELP BENEFIT THE YOUNGER GENERATIONS BECAUSE THEY'RE THE
FUTURE, NOT US. WE NEED TO THINK ABOUT 25 YEARS, 50 YEARS FROM NOW. 
          AND THAT'S WHY I'M GOING TO LEAVE YOU ALL WITH. THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIME. MY
NAME IS ANTHONY SANCHEZ WITH ILLUMINATING SOLUTIONS. I'M A SOCIAL MEDIA INFLUENCER AND MY VIDEOS GET MILLIONS OF VIEWS. THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH. 
          THANK YOU. YES. GO AHEAD. GOOD MORNING, COUNTY JUDGE AND COMMISSIONERS. 
          MY NAME IS ALEX CAMPBELL, AND I'M WITH COLLECTIVE ACTION FOR YOUTH. I'M A RESIDENT OF
PRECINCT ONE, AND I'M HERE TODAY TO SPEAK IN OPPOSITION TO THE FY 26 BUDGET. 
          AS YOU PREPARE TO HAVE YOUR FINAL DISCUSSIONS AND CAST YOUR FINAL VOTES ON THE BUDGET,
I HOPE THAT THIS BUDGET PROCESS WAS A LEARNING EXPERIENCE. 
          I HOPE YOU LEARNED HOW THE BUDGETING PROCESS SHOULD ALWAYS START EARLIER THAN YOU THINK IT
SHOULD. I HOPE YOU TOOK TO HEART SOME OF THE TESTIMONIES THAT TOLD YOU HOW IMPORTANT THESE PUBLIC PROGRAMS ARE. I HOPE THAT YOU INTERNALIZE HOW ARDUOUS THIS PROCESS HAS BEEN FOR
YOURSELVES, YOUR PERSONAL STAFFS, THE COUNTY STAFF, AND THE GENERAL PUBLIC. 
          AND I HOPE THAT MOST OF ALL, YOU WORK HARD TO ENSURE THAT WE AREN'T IN THE EXACT SAME SPOT
NEXT YEAR. 
          THANK YOU. THANK YOU. AND JUST SO YOU KNOW, SIR WE WE HAVE STARTED THE BUDGET PROCESS MUCH
EARLIER. 
          IT MIGHT STILL NOT BE EARLY ENOUGH. WE'LL REVIEW IT. 
          BUT I WILL SAY ALL OF THAT TIME THAT WE SPENT CREATING A DEFICIT AND THEN FIGURING OUT HOW
TO WHAT TO CUT IN ORDER TO PATCH IT ALL OF THAT TIME IS TIME THAT WE NEEDED TO INSTEAD BE SPENDING,
REVIEWING EXISTING PROGRAMS AND DETERMINING WHICH EXISTING PROGRAMS NEEDED TO CONTINUE. WHICH NEW PROGRAMS NEEDED TO BE FUNDED? THAT IS THE PROCESS WE'VE SPENT MANY YEARS BUILDING. 
          AS FAR AS THE BUDGET. BUT WHEN GREED LEADS YOU,
ALL YOU DO IS THIS CREATE A SITUATION THAT HASN'T EXISTED SINCE THE GREAT RECESSION 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 WHO SPOKE OUT IN FAVOR. 
          ALL RIGHT. NEXT IS MARILYN ALLEN ON ITEM TWO OF PRECINCT FOUR. 
          CAITLYN CHAVEZ ON ITEM TWO OF PRECINCT ONE. LATRICIA LEWIS ON ITEM TWO OF PRECINCT ONE. 
          YOU EACH HAVE ONE MINUTE. 
          [00:35:06]
THANK YOU, THANK YOU MAYOR. THANK YOU. HELLO,
MY NAME IS MARILYN ALLEN. 
          I'M WITH COLLECTIVE ACTION FOR YOUTH, AND I'M A RESIDENT OF PRECINCT FOUR. OVER THE PAST
FEW WEEKS, WE'VE COME BEFORE YOU AS COMMUNITY MEMBERS, MENTORS,
EDUCATORS, FRIENDS, AND FAMILY OF THE VERY PEOPLE YOU SERVE. 
          WE'VE SHOWN UP IN LARGE NUMBERS BECAUSE WE CARE DEEPLY ABOUT MAKING HARRIS COUNTY A PLACE
WHERE EVERYONE CAN THRIVE. 
          WE WANT OUR COUNTY TO BE BETTER, TO LOOK BETTER,
TO FEEL BETTER. 
          AS ELECTED OFFICIALS, IT IS YOUR RESPONSIBILITY TO MAKE DECISIONS THAT TRULY BENEFIT THE
PEOPLE YOU REPRESENT. 
          INCREASING POLICE SALARIES WHILE IGNORING COMMUNITY NEEDS IS NOT THE ANSWER. 
          I ASK THAT YOU CONSIDER HOW YOUR VOTE WILL SHAPE THE FUTURE OF HARRIS COUNTY. 
          PLEASE CREATE A BUDGET THAT PUTS COMMUNITY FIRST. 
          ONE THAT INVESTS IN PEOPLE AND BUILDS A FOUNDATION FOR A STRONGER HARRIS COUNTY. 
          THANK YOU. THANK YOU. GOOD MORNING. 
          MY NAME IS PATRICIA LEWIS. I AM CONCERNED ABOUT THE PROPOSED CONSTABLE PAY RAISES. 
          RIGHT NOW, HARRIS COUNTY HAS SEVERAL CONSTABLE OFFICES THAT HAVE THAT OFTEN OVERLAP WITH
EACH OTHER AND WITH THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE. 
          THESE RAISES COULD COST OVER $1 BILLION IN THE NEXT FIVE YEARS. 
          MONEY THAT COULD INSTEAD FUND AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAMS,
COMMUNITY CENTERS, AND HEALTH HEALTH CLINICS. 
          BEFORE APPROVING RAISES, THE COUNTY SHOULD FIRST MAKE SURE THE OFFICES ARE WORKING
TOGETHER EFFICIENTLY. 
          OTHERWISE, FAMILIES COULD LOSE SERVICES THEY REALLY RELY ON. 
          PLEASE KEEP IN MIND, KEEP THIS IN MIND BEFORE MOVING FORWARD WITH THE RACES. 
          THANK YOU. THANK YOU. ON THE TIMELINE Y'ALL. SO TODAY IS THE BUDGET. 
          AND WE JUST VOTED ON THE BUDGET FOR THE FLOOD CONTROL DISTRICT,
THE PORT AND THE HARRIS HEALTH HOSPITAL DISTRICT. 
          NEXT WEEK IS THE FINAL VOTE ON THE GENERAL FUND BUDGET WEDNESDAY. 
          SO THERE'S STILL AN OPPORTUNITY FOR COLLEAGUES TO REPRESENT THE COMMUNITY. 
          HI. MY NAME IS KATE CHAVEZ. WE NEED TO ADDRESS THE PROPOSAL GIVEN TO THE CONSTABLES FOR A
RAISE. 
          BECAUSE THE MONEY THAT IS BEING TAKEN FROM PROGRAMS THAT FEED FAMILIES,
HOUSE PEOPLE, SUPPORT FOSTER YOUTH. 
          THESE ARE NOT LUXURIES. THESE ARE LIFELINES FOR THE MOST VULNERABLE IN OUR COMMUNITY. 
          ME CURRENTLY BEING IN THE FOSTER SYSTEM, I RELY ON HUMAN SERVICES FOR MY SURVIVAL SINCE I
WAS 18 YEARS OLD. 
          CHOOSING RAISES OVER RESOURCES SENDS A MESSAGE THAT POWER IS VALUED MORE THAN THE PEOPLE,
AND THIS IS NOT THE KIND OF COMMUNITY WE SHOULD BE BUILDING. 
          WE DESERVE A SYSTEM THAT PROTECTS FAMILIES FIRST,
NOT THE ONES THAT STRIPPED THEM FROM BASIC NEEDS. 
          YET WE ARE GIVEN ONLY ONE MINUTE TO SPEAK OUR TRUTH,
WHILE AN ENDLESS TIME IS TO SPEND DEBATING ON RACES IF OUR VOICES ARE SILENCED. 
          HOW CAN WE EVER TRULY HOW COULD CHANGE EVER TRULY HAPPEN? THANK YOU. THANK YOU. JUST YOU. OF COURSE. THE REMINDER IS IN THE JUST POINTS. 
          THE MENTAL ACROBATICS, RIGHT. 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 IMPORTANT POLITICAL FORCE TOO. 
          CAN YOU BELIEVE THAT? JUDGES. JUDGES IN OUR COMMUNITY,
INCLUDING DISTRICT COURT JUDGES, THEY HAD 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 IN MAKING THESE DECISIONS. 
          THEY NOW MAKE LESS THAN THESE CONSTABLES WHO REPRESENT DISTRICTS AS SMALL AS JUST A 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 THAT THE RHYME OR REASON IS THIS END
GOAL OF BEING REELECTED AT ALL COSTS. I WILL TAKE ANY OTHER SPEAKERS. 
          NEXT IS SARAH RAYMOND OR REMAIN ON ITEM TWO OF PRECINCT FOUR. 
          ADANTE STERLING ON ITEM TWO OF PRECINCT ONE AND CYNTHIA CRUZ ON ITEM TWO OF PRECINCT TWO. 
          HI, COMMISSIONERS COURT. MY NAME IS SARAH. I'M A TEACHER. 
          I'M AN ARTIST. I LIVE IN PRECINCT FOUR. HI. COMMISSIONER BRIONES. 
          JUST A FEW DAYS AGO, THERE WAS ANOTHER MAN THAT DIED IN THE HARRIS COUNTY JAIL PROCESSING
UNIT. 
          HE WAS 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 OUR PRISONS, OBSOLETE,
WHICH I ENCOURAGE YOU TO READ IF YOU HAVEN'T ALREADY. 
          THAT CAGES ARE NOT NEUTRAL AND THEY ARE SITES OF SOCIAL ABANDONMENT. 
          [00:40:01]
AND WE HAVE SEEN THAT THIS JAIL IS NOT KEEPING OUR COMMUNITY SAFE,
AND IT IS A WAREHOUSE FOR PEOPLE OF SOCIETY, HAS FAILED TO CARE FOR AND SOCIALLY ABANDONED IN NUMEROUS WAYS. 
          AND EACH OF THE DEATHS OF THE 13 THIS YEAR IS NOT AN ACCIDENT. 
          IT IS THE INEVITABLE OUTCOME OF PUBLIC DOLLARS AND PUNISHMENT. 
          INSTEAD OF LIFE AFFIRMING RESOURCES LIKE MENTAL HEALTH AND MENTAL HEALTH. 
          RIGHT NOW IN HARRIS COUNTY IS VERY CARCERAL,
AND WE NEED TO MOVE TO A CARCERAL MENTAL HEALTH PUBLIC HEALTH CARE SYSTEM OF SOME SORTS. 
          AND I WAS A SOCIAL WORKER, AND I'M MORE THAN HAPPY TO COLLABORATE WITH YOU. THANK YOU.
THANK YOU. 
          HELLO. GOOD MORNING. MY NAME IS CYNTHIA CRUZ AND I'M A CREDIBLE MESSENGER WITH K FOR Y. 
          AND TODAY I STAND HERE IN DISBELIEF THAT MY ELECTED LEADERS ARE WILLING TO STEER US INTO A
$200 MILLION DEFICIT. 
          KEEPING OUR COMMUNITIES SAFE ISN'T THE POLICE,
ISN'T JUST POLICE PAY, IT'S MENTAL HEALTH CARE, ROADS, PARKS, AND SUPPORT FOR FAMILIES. I'M AWARE THAT MY PLEA AGAINST THIS BUDGET WILL GO
IN ONE EAR AND OUT THE OTHER, BUT I ALSO KNOW THAT TAKING AWAY PROGRAMS AND ENTERING A DEFICIT DEFICIT WITHOUT A 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'D LIKE TO EXTEND MY GRATITUDE TO YOU FOR ALWAYS COURAGEOUSLY
SPEAKING OUT AND EDUCATING THE COMMUNITY YOU SERVE. 
          THANK YOU. GOOD. 
          GOOD MORNING, COMMISSIONERS COURT. MY NAME IS ADANTE STERLING. I'M A CREDIBLE MESSENGER
WITH COLLECTIVE ACTION FOR YOUTH. AND WE, THE PEOPLE IN THE LOWER CLASS, KNOW THAT YOU DON'T CARE ABOUT US STAYING OUT OF JAIL. 
          WE KNOW THAT YOU DON'T CARE ABOUT PREVENTION PROGRAMS. WE KNOW THAT YOU DON'T CARE ABOUT US RECEIVING A DECENT EDUCATION. 
          WE KNOW THAT YOU ONLY CARE ABOUT YOURSELVES AND THE PEOPLE THAT YOU CAN BENEFIT FROM. 
          HECK, WE EVEN KNOW THAT YOU DON'T EVEN CARE ABOUT LISTENING TO THESE 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'LL NEVER TAKE AWAY OUR DRIVE FOR SUCCESS OR OUR VOICE. 
          THANK YOU. THANK YOU. AND THAT'S THE CASE FOR THE PARENTS AND THE. 
          AND THE BUSINESS OWNERS OF CHILD CARE CENTERS WHO ARE BEING BULLIED AS A RESULT OF
CHILDREN THAT CAME TO SPEAK WITH PERMISSION. 
          SLIPS, SLIPS, COLLEAGUES THAT DIDN'T EVEN BOTHER GREETING THE CHILDREN,
ENGAGING WITH THEM VOTED AGAINST THE CHILDREN'S INTERESTS BASED ON COMPLETE FALSEHOODS. PROGRAMS THAT HAD BEEN EVALUATED SUCCESSFULLY,
DESIGNED WITH INPUT FROM COMMISSIONERS OVER YEARS, HAD BEEN PROOF OF CONCEPT, HAVE BEEN THOUGHTFULLY DEVELOPED,
AND THEN CREATED A POLITICAL STORY, AND NOW ARE SEEING THESE CHILDCARE 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 HAVE EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION. 
          AND ALL THESE 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 SAEED ON ITEMS TWO AND 411, SAM FLAKES ON ITEM TWO OF PRECINCT THREE AND JERNARD BROWN ON ITEM TWO OF PRECINCT THREE. 
          COULD YOU CLARIFY? DID IT SAY TWO AND FOUR? 11? OR WOULD IT JUST BE TWO RIGHT NOW? SO YOU HAVE A MINUTE TO SPEAK ON BOTH. 
          I KNOW, I'M SORRY. THOSE ARE THE RULES THAT WE WORKED ON AS A COMMISSIONERS COURT. 
          OKAY. NO WORRIES. JUDGE AND COUNTY COMMISSIONERS. 
          MY NAME IS SARA. I SERVE AS THE POLICY MANAGER AT JUNTOS,
AN ORGANIZATION IMPACTING ORGANIZATION EMPOWERING IMPACTED ASIANS AND LATINA IMMIGRANTS THROUGH SERVICE ORGANIZING AND ADVOCACY. TWO THINGS I WOULD LIKE TO BRING TO YOUR
ATTENTION. 
          I HAVE SENT EACH OF YOUR OFFICES LANGUAGE ABOUT AN AMENDMENT TO ITEM 411 ABOUT THE
INVESTMENT POLICY THAT WILL BE VOTED ON SOON. 
          TO MAKE SURE TO REVIEW THAT AND PLEASE INCLUDE LANGUAGE TO PREVENT INVESTMENT INTO FOREIGN
ENTITIES OR THOSE COMMITTING WAR CRIMES. 
          IF YOU NEED MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE FEEL FREE TO REACH OUT TO ME. 
          THE SECOND IS REGARDING THE CURRENT CONVERSATION AROUND THE JAIL EXPANSION AND THE FUNDING
THAT WE ARE SEEING GOING INTO LAW ENFORCEMENT. 
          I HAVE ALSO SENT YOUR OFFICES JUST AN ESTIMATE OF WHAT IT WOULD TAKE TO REDIRECT JUST A
PORTION OF JAIL EXPANSION AND LAW ENFORCEMENT FUNDING TO 
          [00:45:09]
EXPAND MENTAL HEALTH PROGRAMS, ACCELERATE HOUSING INITIATIVES,
AND MORE. 
          IF I COULD HAVE 30 MORE. YOUR TIME IS UP. 30 MORE SECONDS. 
          COLLEAGUES, I'M SO SORRY. I DEPEND ON THEIR EXTENDING THEIR TIME,
BUT THANK YOU. 
          THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU. AND I AND I AGREE. 
          AND AGAIN, WE COULD HAVE DONE BOTH. I MEAN, COLLEAGUES SAY THAT PEOPLE WANT TO SEE PUBLIC
SAFETY. OF COURSE WE ALL DO. 
          BUT THE PEOPLE WERE NOT ASKED, DO YOU WANT US HAVE RAISED THIS 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 WERE NOT ASKED THAT. 
          AND WE COULD HAVE DONE BOTH THINGS. FOLKS WOULD 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 BETTER BECAUSE IT'LL BE EVEN CLOSER TO REELECTION. 
          SO IT'S JUST GOING TO BE EVEN EVEN MORE CAN DOWN THE ROAD. 
          SO LET'S TRY TO LET'S TRY TO PUT THE PRESSURE THIS YEAR. 
          THANK YOU. GOOD MORNING COMMISSIONERS. MY NAME IS SAM FLAKES. 
          I'M A MENTEE A PART OF THE CREDIBLE MESSENGERS PROGRAM. 
          AND I'M PROOF THAT IT WORKS. OUT OF 150 YOUNG PEOPLE IN THE PROGRAM,
ONLY TWO HAVE RE-OFFENDED. 
          THAT MEANS LIFE CHANGED. FUTURE SAVED AND SAFER NEIGHBORHOODS. 
          CUTTING FUNDING FOR PROGRAMS LIKE THIS WHILE ADDING TO LAW ENFORCEMENT IS SHORTSIGHTED. 
          PREVENTION COSTS LESS, WORKS BETTER, AND GIVES YOUNG PEOPLE A REAL CHANCE. 
          I URGE YOU TO PROTECT AND EXPAND THIS FUNDING,
BECAUSE INVESTING IN US IS INVESTING IN THE FUTURE OF HARRIS COUNTY. 
          THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. AND DO YOU THINK IF THEY'VE BEEN ASKED DURING THE
CAMPAIGN, WOULD YOU SUPPORT PROGRAMS THAT WILL KEEP KIDS OUT OF JAIL? THEY WOULD HAVE SAID YES. THE WALKER DIDN'T SAY GET REELECTED,
PERIOD. 
          THAT WASN'T THE PROMISE TO VOTERS. THE PROMISE TO VOTERS WAS TO SUPPORT PROGRAMS LIKE
THAT. 
          AND I'M VERY SORRY THAT THEY'RE BEING CUT. AND I'M GOING TO CONTINUE DOING 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. HOW ARE YOU DOING? COMMISSIONERS. MY NAME IS JANELLE BROWN. 
          I'M A CREDIBLE MESSENGER WITH COLLECTIVE ACTION FOR YOU. 
          GARCIA RAMSEY LEFT BRIONES GARCIA LEFT, TOO. OKAY. 
          YOU ARE THE REASON HARRIS COUNTY IS ON THE BRINK OF FALLING SHORT. 
          NOT BECAUSE OF OUTSIDE FORCES, BUT BECAUSE OF IMPULSIVE DECISIONS MADE IN THIS VERY
CHAMBER. 
          THE PEOPLE TRUSTED YOU TO LEAD WITH WISDOM, INTEGRITY,
AND FORESIGHT. 
          INSTEAD, WE WE SEEN RUSH CHOICES, SHORT SIGHTED PRIORITIES AND ACTIONS THAT SEEM MORE
ROOTED IN PERSONAL AND POLITICAL GAINS THAN IN THE NEEDS OF THE RESIDENTS YOU SERVE. THIS COUNTY DESERVES LEADERS WHO PLAN FOR FUTURE,
NOT ONES WHO GAMBLE WITH IT. 
          EVERY TAXPAYER, EVERY WORKING FAMILY, EVERY STRUGGLING NEIGHBORHOOD IS WATCHING THE
CONSEQUENCES OF YOUR DECISIONS PLAY OUT. 
          AND IF WE CONTINUE DOWN THIS PATH, IT WON'T JUST BE A FAILURE OF POLICY,
IT WILL WOULD BE A FAILURE OF LEADERSHIP. 
          THANK YOU. NEXT IS ANYA MUMIN ON ITEM TWO OF PRECINCT ONE. 
          ONE. BRIANA ANDA ON ITEM TWO OF PRECINCT ONE. 
          AND JADA ALTMAN ON ITEM TWO OF PRECINCT ONE. YOU EACH HAVE ONE MINUTE. 
          GOOD MORNING. MY NAME IS JADA ALTMAN. FOR FAMILIES ALREADY STRUGGLING,
THIS BUDGET INCREASE COULD MEAN HIGHER TAXES, FEWER COMMUNITY PROGRAMS, AND MORE ECONOMIC HARDSHIP. 
          THIS BUDGET IMPACTS MY FAMILY, MY MENTEES, AND THEIR FAMILIES,
AS WELL AS MANY FAMILIES THROUGHOUT THE CITY. 
          I AM TRULY WORRIED THAT THE PROPOSED BUDGET WILL CAUSE DEFUNDING OF SO MANY PROGRAMS THAT
MY PEOPLE NEED TO KEEP THEM STABLE. 
          WHAT WILL HAPPEN TO ESSENTIAL SERVICES LIKE AFFORDABLE HEALTH CARE,
AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND COMMUNITY PROGRAMS? IT WORRIES ME THAT THE SERVICES ARE 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 INVESTS IN THE FUTURE,
NOT ONE THAT PUTS IT AT RISK. 
          THIS BUDGET WOULD DO MORE HARM THAN GOOD TO OUR COMMUNITY. 
          HELLO, MY NAME IS BRIANNA ONDA, AND I BELIEVE THAT THE COUNTY'S BUDGET CAN BE USED IN WAYS
TO CREATE BROADER AND LONGER LASTING BENEFITS FOR OUR COMMUNITY. 
          [00:50:07]
WE HAVE PRESSING NEEDS IN HARRIS COUNTY YOUTH PROGRAMS. THAT AND YOUTH PROGRAMS THAT KEEP KIDS ENGAGED AND OUT OF TROUBLE,
MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES THAT REDUCE CRISISES AND HOUSING ASSISTANCE THAT HELP FAMILIES STAY STABLE AND COMMUNITY BASED PREVENTION EFFORTS. 
          AND THESE ALL DIRECTLY REDUCE CRIME AND BUILD SAFER NEIGHBORHOODS. 
          WHEN THESE PROGRAMS ARE UNDERFUNDED AND CHALLENGES CONTINUE TO GROW. 
          PUBLIC SAFETY ISN'T JUST ABOUT ENFORCEMENT AFTER SOMETHING HAS GONE WRONG,
BUT IT'S ABOUT PREVENTING HARM AND MAKING SURE PEOPLE HAVE OPPORTUNITIES AND SUPPORT. 
          AND THOSE OF YOU WHO KEEP GETTING UP, IT SHOWS A LOT THAT YOU DON'T CARE ABOUT THE
PEOPLE'S VOICES. 
          YOU JUST WANT YOUR SALARIES TO GROW. YES. ANIA MUMIN EMMANUEL FRIEDMAN ON ITEMS TWO, THREE AND FOUR OF PRECINCT TWO. 
          JADE MILLER ON ITEM TWO OF PRECINCT ONE ONE. EDGAR SARZO ON ITEM TWO OF PRECINCT TWO. 
          YOU EACH HAVE ONE MINUTE. LET ME READ A QUOTE REAL QUICK THAT OUR 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, STATE REVENUE CAPS. THAT MAKES IT SO THAT HARRIS COUNTY WILL CONTINUE TO FACE DIFFICULT
FINANCIAL STRAITS FOR THE FORESEEABLE FUTURE. 
          WHY WAS THIS THE HARDEST BUDGET PROCESS FOR HARRIS COUNTY SINCE THE GREAT RECESSION? WHY ARE WE IMPLEMENTING A HIRING FREEZE THE ONLY TIME SINCE THE GREAT RECESSION? BECAUSE OF THIS 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 THAT. ALL THOSE TIMES THAT THREE COMMISSIONERS VOTED AGAINST THE
RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE BUDGET DIRECTOR, THEY CREATED A $200 MILLION DEFICIT. AND THEN THEY BRAG WHEN THEY BALANCE THE BUDGET
STATUTORILY, WE HAVE TO BALANCE THE BUDGET. THAT'S OUR JOB. 
          THAT'S JUST WHAT HAPPENS. SO THIS IS THEIR WE'RE PRINTING OUT THE HANDOUTS AGAIN OF OF
WHAT THE CUTS ARE GOING TO BE, JUST SO EVERYBODY CONTINUES TO SEE THAT. THANK YOU. 
          GOOD MORNING. MY NAME IS EMMANUEL FREEMAN AND I SERVE AS THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR FOR YOUNG
PEOPLE IN ACTION, A GRASSROOTS MENTORSHIP AND LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT NONPROFIT. 
          HERE IN HOUSTON. I REPRESENT NEARLY 200 JUSTICE IMPACTED AND COMMUNITY YOUTH AND THEIR
FAMILIES WHO COULDN'T BE HERE TODAY IN PRECINCT ONE AND TWO. 
          HAVING OPERATED IN HOUSTON FOR TEN YEARS, WE'VE SEEN THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN
UNDER-RESOURCED PROGRAMS VERSUS RESOURCE PROGRAMS. THANKS TO THE FUNDING WE'VE RECEIVED FOR CREDIBLE MESSENGER MENTORS,
WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO REDUCE RECIDIVISM FROM OVER 30% TO JUST 14%. 
          WE'VE ALSO SEEN SCHOOL AND HOME INCIDENTS AND SCHOOL DROP AND SCHOOL ATTENDANCE RISE FOR
ALL PARTICIPANTS. 
          WE'VE SEEN CHILDREN WITH NO HOPE OR PROSPECTS FOR THE FUTURE GRADUATE AND CONTINUE THEIR
EDUCATION, SO A CUT TO THESE TYPES OF PROGRAMS WOULD ONLY DEVASTATE THESE VULNERABLE COMMUNITIES THAT
HAVE BEEN VICTIMIZED ALREADY. 
          SO WE ASK THAT YOU PLEASE CONSIDER THIS AND CONSIDER THE WORK THAT WE'RE DOING TOGETHER. 
          TIME IS UP. THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR YOUR WORK. 
          FOR THE LAST MONTH WE HAVE SAT HERE AND WATCHED THE EYE ROLLS. 
          WE WITNESSED RAMSEY GET AT MORE THAN TEN TIMES,
NOT ONLY WHILE JUDGE HIDALGO WAS SPEAKING, BUT WHEN VOTERS WERE TOO. AND WE HEARD EVERY NO FOR YOUR YOUTH DEVELOPMENT AND PROGRESS. 
          THING IS, EACH OF YOU HAVE A CHOICE TO HEAR US THE WAY WE HEAR YOU,
AND INSTEAD, INSTEAD, YOU MOVE WITH LACK OF TRANSPARENCY AND MISLEADING HEADLINES. 
          WHAT HAPPENS NEXT YEAR WHEN THERE ARE NO ARPA FUNDS TO REALLOCATE ANYWHERE ELSE? WHEN WE CAN'T AFFORD TO MAKE ANY MORE CUTS OR NEED POSITIONS FILLED TO CARRY OUT SERVICES? WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOUR LAW ENFORCEMENT NEEDS MORE SUPPORT BUT THE WELL IS DRY? BECAUSE I GUARANTEE YOU THE SAME TIME NEXT YEAR YOU WILL BE ASKING HOW WE GOT HERE. 
          THIS BUDGET DOESN'T SERVE THE COMMUNITY. IT SERVES YOUR PERSONAL AGENDAS. 
          WE OFFERED OTHER OPTIONS. WE ASKED YOU TO RECONSIDER. 
          THE PEOPLE THAT TRUSTED YOU TO DO THE RIGHT THING WILL SUFFER YOUR UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCE,
THE UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES OF YOUR POOR DECISIONS. 
          YOU ALL DIDN'T BALANCE THE BUDGET. YOU BUSTED IT WIDE OPEN TO ALLOW SPECIAL INTERESTS. 
          POWER PLAYS TO COME BEFORE THE REAL PRIORITIES OUR YOUTH,
OUR FAMILIES, AND THE FUTURE OF HARRIS COUNTY. 
          AND WHEN THE BILL FOR THAT COMES DUE, IT WON'T BE YOU PAYING THE PRICE. 
          THANK YOU. YOUR TIME IS THE PEOPLE THAT YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO REPRESENT WILL THANK YOU. 
          MA'AM, CAN YOU PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME FOR THE RECORD? JADE MILLER THANK YOU,
THANK YOU. 
          MY NAME IS EDGAR SASSO, AND I AM FIRST AND FOREMOST A CHRISTIAN MAN OF THE CATHOLIC
CHURCH. 
          AND I FIND IT ABSOLUTELY HILARIOUS THAT WE BOWED OUR HEADS AND CLOSED OUR EYES. 
          [00:55:05]
WHEN YOU GUYS ARE VOTING FOR PEOPLE WHO WILL BE HUNGRY AND WILL BE GIVEN NOTHING TO EAT,
PEOPLE WHO WILL BE THIRSTY AND BE GIVEN NOTHING TO DRINK. 
          THERE WILL BE STRANGERS THAT WON'T BE INVITED IN. 
          THERE WILL BE PEOPLE WHO NEED CLOTHES AND WILL NOT BE CLOTHED. THERE WERE PEOPLE WHO WILL
BE SICK AND IN PRISON MORE BECAUSE OF WHAT YOU HAVE DONE. 
          AND YOU WILL NOT TAKE CARE OF THEM. I'M TIRED OF TALKING ABOUT WHAT I WANT YOU GUYS TO DO. 
          I'M GOING TO TELL YOU WHAT I'M GOING TO DO. WHAT I'M GOING TO DO IS I WANT YOU TO KNOW
THAT GARCIA, RAMSEY, AND BRIONES, IF YOU KEEP YOUR SEATS AT NEXT ELECTION,
IT WILL BE DESPITE ALL THE EFFORTS OF EDGAR ARTURO SASSO. 
          IF YOU LOSE THEM, I WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT IT IS BECAUSE OF THE EFFORTS OF EDGAR ARTURO
SASSO. 
          THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THAT'S RIGHT. AND I DON'T THINK THEY'D STAND IN FRONT OF A
DEMOCRATIC CLUB OR A GROUP OF VOTERS AND SAY, I WAS SO PROUD THAT I VOTED TO KILL THE PROGRAM THAT KEEPS KIDS OUT OF JAIL. 
          I AM SO PROUD THAT I VOTED TO END THE PROGRAMS FOR EARLY CHILDHOOD. 
          I AM SO PROUD THAT I VOTED TO CUT THE FUNDING FOR FOR PUBLIC HEALTH. 
          THEY WILL NOT SAY THAT IF THEY SAY SOMETHING LIKE THIS,
THEY'LL TOP IT OFF WITH A FALSEHOOD. 
          THEY'LL SAY IT WAS NOT AN EVALUATED PROGRAM. THEY'LL SAY,
YOU KNOW THE PEOPLE, THE PEOPLE WANT TO SEE THIS, THIS, THE THEY'LL MAKE STUFF UP. WHAT THEY'RE ACTUALLY DOING,
THEY CAN'T STAND BEHIND. 
          THEY CAN'T CONVINCE THEIR MORALS TO STAND BEHIND. 
          SO THEY HAVE TO MAKE THINGS UP AROUND IT. I WOULD LOVE TO SEE MY COLLEAGUES STAND UP AND
SAY WHAT YOU'RE ACTUALLY DOING WITHOUT TWISTING THINGS. 
          YOU WON'T BECAUSE YOU KNOW WHAT YOU'RE DOING IS WRONG. 
          NEXT IS CYNTHIA COLE SPEAKING VIRTUALLY ON ITEM TWO OF PRECINCT FOUR. 
          YOU HAVE ONE MINUTE. GO AHEAD PLEASE. GOOD MORNING TO EVERYONE. 
          I'M CYNTHIA COLE, BUT I'M SPEAKING ON BEHALF OF BEING AN ADVOCATE FOR THE COMMUNITY AND
EMPLOYEES. 
          YOU? WHAT A DIFFERENCE A DAY MAKES. WHERE THERE HAS BEEN EXHAUSTING DISCUSSION OVER AND
OVER IN REGARDS TO WHAT IS GOING TO BE BAD AND WHAT COULD ACTUALLY BE GOOD. BUT I AM RESPECTFULLY REQUESTING THAT THE DECISIONS THAT ARE MADE,
THESE DECISIONS BEING MADE BY THIS COURT, SHOULD, IN FACT, REALIZE, GET IN FRONT OF WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN IN THE FUTURE. 
          WHAT A DIFFERENCE A DAY MAKES IS GOING TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN THE LIVES OF CONSTITUENTS. 
          YOU CANNOT CONTINUE TO NOT SEEK SOLUTIONS BY JUST BEING SARCASTIC. 
          IT HAS TO BE A UNITY EFFORT. IT HAS TO BE THE FOUNDATION OF THE COUNTY'S SUCCESS TO MAKE
THE HARD DECISIONS, BUT ALSO MAKE THE SACRIFICE. THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH. 
          EXCELLENCE IN WORK IS ALSO EXCELLENT IN COMMUNITY UNITY. 
          THANK YOU MA'AM. THANK YOU SO MUCH. AND I CONTINUE TO PLEAD WITH MY COLLEAGUES TO PUT THIS
TO THE VOTERS INSTEAD OF CREATING A DEFICIT. 
          WE COULD HAVE PUT IT TO THE VOTERS THIS YEAR. DID NOT NEED TO WAIT FOR FOR NEXT YEAR. 
          AND I WOULD LOVE TO NEGOTIATE ON THAT. HOW ABOUT. 
          OKAY, FINE. DON'T PUT IT ALL TO THE VOTERS. PUT SOME OF IT TO THE VOTERS. 
          I'M HAPPY TO SIT DOWN AND NEGOTIATE ON THAT. NEXT IS PERLA FLORES ON ITEM TWO OF PRECINCT
ONE. 
          DISTRICT CLERK MARILYN BURGESS ON ITEM THREE OF THREE. 
          CHRISTOPHER JENKINS ON ITEM THREE OF PRECINCT ONE. 
          AND BRADY LEWIS ON ITEM THREE OF PRECINCT THREE. 
          OKAY. GOOD MORNING. COMMISSIONERS, I NEED YOU TO UNDERSTAND WHAT THESE BUDGET CHOICES MEAN
IN REAL LIFE. 
          MY BROTHER IS IN JAIL. HE IS 21. HE GREW UP WITH TRAUMA,
NO GUIDANCE AND MENTAL HEALTH STRUGGLES. 
          HE MADE MISTAKES. YES, BUT I DON'T WANT HIS ONLY EXPERIENCE BEHIND BARS TO BE ONE WHERE
THE SYSTEM IGNORES HIM AND MAKES THINGS WORSE BECAUSE RESOURCES WERE CUT. 
          THAT DOESN'T MAKE OUR COMMUNITY SAFER. IT JUST CREATES MORE BROKEN LIVES. 
          I'VE LIVED THIS TOO. I AGED OUT OF FOSTER CARE WITH NOTHING. 
          NO SUPPORT, NO SAFETY NET, NOWHERE TO GO. HOUSING PROGRAMS AND FOOD ASSISTANCE KEPT ME OFF
THE STREETS. 
          WITHOUT THEM, I WOULD. I WOULD HAVE BEEN HOMELESS. 
          I KNOW OTHERS WHO AGED OUT OF FOSTER CARE AND BECAME OF THESE PROGRAMS TURNED SURVIVAL
INTO OPPORTUNITY. 
          IF YOU CHOOSE RACES OVER RESOURCES, YOU ARE CHOOSING TO TAKE THAT CHANCE AWAY FROM PEOPLE
LIKE ME, MY BROTHER, AND MY COMMUNITY. THAT CHOICE WILL COST YOU. 
          YOUR TIME IS UP IN THE LONG RUN. ONE MINUTE OF MY VOICE MAY FADE,
BUT THE CONSEQUENCES OF YOUR CHOICES WILL GO THROUGH EVERY FAMILY, 
          [01:00:01]
EVERY JAIL CELL, AND THANK YOU. NEIGHBORHOOD. 
          THANK YOU. THANK YOU. AND I. I APPRECIATE YOUR EMOTION. 
          I KNOW ONE OF US HERE NORMALLY CRIES CROCODILE TEARS WHEN THEY HEAR THAT STORY. 
          AND THEN WHEN IT'S TIME TO VOTE, THEY DON'T VOTE TO SUPPORT WHAT THEY'RE CROCODILE TEARING
ABOUT. 
          YEAH. GOOD MORNING, MEMBERS OF THE COURT. I WANT TO BEGIN BY SINCERELY THANKING THE PUBLIC
MEMBERS OF THE GRIEVANCE COMMITTEE WHO SERVED LAST TUESDAY, TO REVIEW MY GRIEVANCE. THEIR SERVICE WAS EXEMPLARY,
MARKED BY THOUGHTFUL ENGAGEMENT, FAIRNESS AND INTEGRITY. 
          OF THE 25 GRIEVANCES FILED, 24 WERE WITHDRAWN AFTER THE GRIEVANCE RECEIVED PROMISES OF
SALARY INCREASES FROM THIS COURT. 
          MINE WAS THE ONLY GRIEVANCE THAT PROCEEDED TO A HEARING. 
          THE TEXAS LEGISLATURE DESIGNED THIS PROCESS TO INCLUDE IMPARTIAL MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC TO
ENSURE TRANSPARENCY, ACCOUNTABILITY, AND FAIRNESS IN MATTERS SUCH AS THESE,
THE SIX CITIZENS WHO SERVED ON THE PANEL UPHELD THAT LEGISLATIVE INTENT AND RENDERED A THOUGHTFUL RECOMMENDATION. I URGE THIS COURT TO HONOR BOTH THEIR SERVICE AND THE PROCESS
BY ADOPTING THE RECOMMENDATION OF THE COMMITTEE IN FULL. 
          DOING SO REAFFIRMS THE PURPOSE OF THIS SYSTEM,
AND DEMONSTRATES THAT THE COURT VALUES THE JUDGMENT OF ITS COMMUNITY MEMBERS. 
          THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MADAM CLERK. WHAT WAS THE RECOMMENDATION OF THE COMMITTEE TO RAISE
THE SALARY TO 260,000. 
          TO MATCH THE CONSTABLES? TO MATCH THE CONSTABLES? HOW MANY PEOPLE DO YOU SERVE? OVER 4 MILLION. 
          4.7 MILLION. AND THE CONSTABLES, I BELIEVE THE ONE WITH THE SMALLEST THE SMALLEST DISTRICT
SERVES ABOUT A HALF A MILLION. 
          ANYWAY, WHATEVER IT IS, IS NOT 4.7 MILLION. SO IT'S TOTALLY LOGICAL THAT YOU'D BE PAID AT
LEAST AS MUCH AS THE CONSOLE'S. 
          PROBABLY MORE. AND AND I, MADAM DISTRICT CLERK,
HAVE NOT BEEN SUPPORTING THESE RACES ANYBODY'S RACES BECAUSE I KNOW WE CANNOT AFFORD THEM. SO I WILL NOT BE ABLE TO SUPPORT IT OUT OF
PRINCIPLE. 
          AND BECAUSE I'M NOT GOING TO CONTRIBUTE TO THAT. 
          I'M PROUD THAT I HAVEN'T. I'VE FOLLOWED THE RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE BUDGET DIRECTOR EVERY
TIME, BUT IT'S NOT BECAUSE I DON'T THINK YOU DESERVE IT. 
          AND I THINK IF MY COLLEAGUES VOTE AGAINST YOUR RACE,
THEY WILL SHOW AGAIN WHAT A POLITICAL DECISION THEY MADE. 
          I THINK IF THEY IF THEY'RE TRYING TO RAISE SALARIES,
WELL, THE COUNTY WIDE ELECTEDS NEED TO MAKE MORE THAN THE ONES THAT REPRESENT JUST A PERCENTAGE OF THE POPULATION. AND IF YOU LOOK AT OTHER COUNTIES,
THAT'S THE ANSWER. 
          DOES IT MAKE SENSE FOR THEM TO MAKE LESS THAN JUDGES? LESS THAN THAN LESS THAN COUNTYWIDE? ELECTEDS. 
          SO I APPRECIATE YOU ADVOCATING CALLING THEM TO TASK,
AND I HOPE THEY'LL VOTE FOR IT SO THAT THEY CAN HAVE AT LEAST ONE LITTLE BIT OF CONSISTENCY IN THEIR BRAIN THAT THEY DON'T HAVE TO DO MENTAL ACROBATICS AROUND WHEN
THEY'RE AT HOME. 
          HELLO, COMMISSIONERS. CHRISTOPHER. CHRISTOPHER JENKINS,
NATIVE RESIDENT OF HARRIS COUNTY. 
          I'M HERE TO SPEAK ON THE ITEM AGENDA NUMBER TWO ABOUT THE BUDGET AND THE COMMITTEE
HEARINGS. 
          RIGHT HERE IS A WRIT OF MANDAMUS THAT I FILED BACK IN FEBRUARY 2022,
WHICH I PROVED THAT JP AND CONSTABLES HAD ABUSED THEIR AUTHORITY. 
          THIS STARTED BACK IN 2019. SO IT WOULD KIND OF BOTHER ME ABOUT THE GRIEVANCE COMMITTEE WAS
I FEEL LIKE I WAS BEING BIASED ABOUT THE PUBLIC SPEAKERS IN THIS REGARD. 
          YOU SEE THAT THE CLERK, THE COUNTY COURTS, THEY WERE AFFECTED. 
          EVERY DEPARTMENT WAS AFFECTED BY THIS WRIT OF MANDAMUS. 
          AND IT PUT PRESSURE. IT PUT A LOT OF PRESSURE. 
          IT OVERLOADED SYSTEMS. IT WASN'T WORKING RIGHT. 
          ODYSSEY WASN'T WORKING RIGHT. AND SO THAT'S WHY I FELT LIKE IN THIS GRIEVANCE THEY WERE
BEING BIASED. 
          IT'S LIKE THEY WERE LETTING SYSTEMS OPPRESS THE PEOPLE. THE SAME THINGS THAT WE FOUGHT FOR
THAT WAS TAKEN OUT DURING COVID. WE HAVE TO COME BACK TO COURT AND PUT BACK IN. 
          THESE ARE SYSTEMS THAT LEAD PEOPLE OUT OF ABUNDANCE. SO WHEN YOU TAKE AWAY THOSE DIFFERENT
RESOURCES FROM THEM, THEN THEY'RE GOING TO BE STANDING THERE. THEY'RE GOING TO SUFFER IN THE JAIL. THANK YOU.
YOUR TIME IS UP AS WELL. 
          THANK YOU. I'LL BE BACK. Y'ALL KNOW THAT. THANK YOU. 
          GOOD AFTERNOON, COMMISSIONERS COURT AND JUDGE HIDALGO. 
          MY NAME IS BRADY LEWIS. BEFORE THE BUDGET VOTE,
I URGE YOU TO HEAR WHAT'S AT STAKE. 
          HOUSING, MENTAL HEALTH CARE, YOUTH PROGRAMS,
REENTRY SUPPORT. 
          THESE ARE NOT EXTRAS ON THE BUDGET. THEY ARE LIFELINES. 
          THEY KEEP FAMILIES STABLE. THEY KEEP YOUNG PEOPLE ON THE RIGHT PATH,
AND THEY KEEP OUR COMMUNITY SAFE. 
          THOUSANDS OF FAMILIES ACROSS HARRIS COUNTY DEPEND ON THESE PROGRAMS EVERY SINGLE DAY. 
          CUTTING THESE PROGRAMS WON'T JUST SHRINK A BUDGET LINE. 
          IT WILL CLOSE DOORS, EMPTY TABLES, AND STRIP AWAY OPPORTUNITY. 
          I URGE YOU, DO NOT BALANCE THIS BUDGET ON THE BACKS OF OUR MOST VULNERABLE. 
          INVEST IN PEOPLE. THAT IS REAL PUBLIC SAFETY. 
          THANK YOU. NEXT IS CANTRELL, RALPH FIELDS ON ITEM THREE OF PRECINCT FOUR. 
          MARIA MENDEZ ON ITEM FOUR OF PRECINCT ONE. EVELYN BARRON ON ITEM FOUR OF PRECINCT ONE. 
          [01:05:03]
JAYLEN SOWELL ON ITEM 12 OF PRECINCT ONE. YOU EACH HAVE ONE MINUTE. 
          GOOD MORNING. MY NAME IS RAY FIELDS, AND I'M HERE TO ASK YOU TO RECONSIDER CUTTING FUNDING
FOR PROGRAMS THAT SERVE COMMUNITIES IN NEED. 
          I'M A PRODUCT OF THOSE PROGRAMS, AND I CAN HONESTLY SAY THEY'VE CHANGED MY LIFE FOR THE
BETTER. 
          WITHOUT THEM, MANY PEOPLE LIKE ME WOULDN'T HAVE THE OPPORTUNITIES OR SUPPORT WE NEED TO
SUCCEED. 
          THESE PROGRAMS ARE NOT JUST NUMBERS AND BUDGET. 
          THEY ARE HOPE, GROWTH, AND CHANCE FOR A BETTER FUTURE. 
          PLEASE REMEMBER THE PEOPLE WHO RELY ON THEM BECAUSE WE MATTER. 
          THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. THANK YOU. MY NAME IS JALEN SOWELL. I'M HERE WITH KATE FOR A WHILE,
BUT I ADVOCATE FOR THE PUBLIC AND THE IMAGE FOR THE YOUTH. 
          I WANT TO BE VERY CLEAR, BECAUSE YOU HAVE DECIDED TO INCREASE SALARIES,
AND NOW SERVICES HAVE TO GET CUT. 
          WHEN ASSISTANCE IS CUT, MORE FAMILIES END UP ON THE EDGE OF EVICTION. 
          AND WHEN A FAMILY LOSES THEIR HOME, EVERYTHING ELSE BEGINS TO UNRAVEL. 
          KIDS, PARENTS, ADULTS STRUGGLE DAY BY DAY TO KEEP WHAT EVERYONE CALLS STABILITY. 
          THE TRUTH OF THE MATTER IS, IN THEIR EYES ALREADY,
THESE RESOURCES ARE NOT EXTRAS OR ESSENTIALS. 
          REMEMBER MY NAME J. PRINCE? I WAS HOMELESS AND I DIDN'T HAVE ANYTHING ACCESSIBLE TO ME,
SO I TURNED TO WHAT THEY CALL SEARCH. 
          THIS IS DOWNTOWN WHERE I KNOW A NAME BY A MAN THAT GOES BY MR. RASHAD WASHINGTON. JULY 13TH I SIGNED MY LEASE TO MY NEW APARTMENT. 
          ONE GUY. DO IT. CONGRATULATIONS AND THANK YOU. 
          HI. GOOD MORNING. MY NAME IS MARIA, AND I'M HERE TODAY TO TALK ABOUT AN INVESTMENT THAT
WILL TRULY BUILD A STRONGER, SAFER COMMUNITY. WE ARE AT A CROSSROADS. THE BUDGET DECISIONS YOU MAKE NOW WILL BE SET IN
STONE, PARTICULARLY WHEN IT COMES TO FUNDING OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT. 
          THESE ARE NOT FLEXIBLE BUDGETS. ONCE THEY ARE ALLOCATED,
THAT MONEY IS COMMITTED FOR THE LONG TERM. 
          THIS MEANS WE HAVE ONE CHANCE TO GET IT RIGHT. 
          LET'S NOT GET STUCK IN A CYCLE OF REACTIVE MEASURES. 
          TRUE PUBLIC SAFETY IS BUILT NOT BY ENFORCEMENT BUT BY EMPOWERMENT. 
          IT COMES FROM INVESTING DIRECTLY IN OUR NEIGHBORHOODS AND THE PEOPLE WHO LIVE HERE. 
          IMAGINE WHAT WE COULD ACHIEVE BY FUNDING PROGRAMS THAT ADDRESS MENTAL HEALTH,
SUPPORT OUR YOUTH, AND PROVIDE PATHWAYS TO STABLE HOUSING AND EMPLOYMENT. 
          THESE ARE THE TOOLS THAT CREATE OPPORTUNITY AND PREVENT CRISIS FROM EVER STARTING. 
          WE HAVE A CHOICE TO MAKE POWERFUL, LASTING DIFFERENCES. 
          LET'S REDIRECT OUR RESOURCES TOWARDS BUILDING UP OUR COMMUNITY,
NOT SIMPLY POLICING IT. 
          I URGE YOU TO CHOOSE A PATH OF INVESTMENT ASSISTANT AND SHARED PROSPERITY. 
          THANK YOU. THANK YOU. HELLO. WE KNOW YOU FACE MONUMENTAL DECISIONS IN PUBLIC SAFETY. 
          IT'S A IS A CONCERN WE ALL SHARE, BUT THE PATH WE CHOSE,
WE CHOOSE TODAY IS A LINE IN THE SAND. 
          A DECISION THAT WE WILL ECHO FOR YEARS TO COME. 
          WE WILL WHEN WE POUR FUNDS INTO THE POLICE DEPARTMENT. 
          THAT MONEY IS NOT TEMPORARY. IT IS NOT FLEXIBLE. 
          IT IS AN IRRETRIEVABLE SPENT AND WE CANNOT CLAW IT BACK TO HEAL THE WOUNDS THAT TRULY
PLAQUE OUR NEIGHBORHOODS. 
          WE HAVE A RARE CHANCE TO MAKE A CHOICE THAT WILL TRULY SERVE OUR PEOPLE,
INSTEAD OF OVERPOLICING OUR COMMUNITIES. 
          LET US HAVE THE COURAGE TO OVER ASSIST THEM. THIS MEANS INVESTING IN PROGRAMS THAT BUILD
UP OUR RESIDENTS, NOT JUST RESPOND TO THEIR CRISIS. IT MEANS ADDRESSING THE SILENT DESPERATION OF MENTAL
HEALTH STRUGGLES, PROVIDING THE DIGNITY OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING,
AND OFFERING OUR YOUTH A BRIGHTER FUTURE, BRIGHTER THAN THE STREETS. 
          THESE ARE NOT JUST BUDGET ITEMS, THEY ARE LIFELINES. 
          THEY ARE INVESTMENTS, INVESTMENTS THAT ARE CREATING LASTING SAFETY. 
          THE PROGRAMS THAT TRULY LIFT UP THOSE WHO HAVE BEEN LEFT BEHIND. 
          WE, YOUR COMMUNITY, STAND READY TO PARTNER WITH YOU ON THIS PATH. 
          WE ARE HERE TO SUPPORT YOU IN MAKING THE RIGHT CHOICE A CHOICE FOR PROACTIVE,
COMPASSIONATE INVESTMENT. 
          THANK YOU. MA'AM, CAN YOU PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME FOR THE RECORD? EVELYN BARONE. 
          THANK YOU. THANK YOU. ANIYAH MUMIN. SHIRLEY RONQUILLO. 
          ON ITEM 117 OF PRECINCT TWO. STEPHANIE VALDEZ ON ITEM 117 OF PRECINCT TWO. 
          OSMAN MAHMOUD ON ITEM 117 OF PRECINCT ONE. DORIS BROWN ON ITEM 117 OF PRECINCT ONE. 
          YOU EACH HAVE ONE MINUTE. GOOD MORNING, COMMISSIONERS. 
          MY NAME IS SHIRLEY RONQUILLO. I'M A FORMER HARRIS COUNTY COMMUNITY FLOOD RESILIENCE TASK
FORCE MEMBER. 
          HAVING SERVED IN THIS VOLUNTEER ROLE FROM 22 TO 2024 UNDER THE EMPLOYMENT OF THE HARRIS
COUNTY JUDGE'S OFFICE, AND TOWARDS THE END OF MY TERM, I SERVED AS VICE CHAIR AND CHAIR. 
          I AM HERE ON BEHALF OF COMMUNITY IN THE NORTHEAST,
HOUSTON AND COMMUNITIES THAT HAVE BEEN HISTORICALLY NEGLECTED AND HAVE BEEN LEFT TO FLOOD. 
          TIME AND TIME AGAIN, I APPLIED FOR THE TASK FORCE UNDER THE ILLUSION THAT COMMUNITY COULD
WORK ALONGSIDE HARRIS COUNTY FLOOD CONTROL AND SERVE AS AN ADVISOR TO EQUITABLE FLOOD MITIGATION SOLUTIONS. HOWEVER,
MY FREE TIME AFTER WORK TIME AWAY FROM MY AGING PARENTS WAS 
          [01:10:06]
SPENT LISTENING TO COUNTY DEPARTMENTS RATHER THAN SERVING AS AN ADVISOR ON PROJECTS. 
          FROM WHAT I RECALL, THE LAST TIME THE PRIORITIZATION FRAMEWORK WAS MENTIONED WAS IN 2022. 
          TO LEARN HOW FLOOD CONTROL EMPLOYEES CHOSE NOT TO UTILIZE THE PRIORITIZATION FRAMEWORK. 
          THANK YOU. YOUR TIME IS UP. PROJECTS THAT ARE DISTURBING HOLD THEM ACCOUNTABLE. THEY ARE
EMPLOYEES. THEY HAD. YOUR TIME IS UP. 
          THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. GOOD MORNING, JUDGE AND COMMISSIONERS. MY NAME IS STEPHANIE VALDEZ,
AND I'M HERE ON BEHALF OF THE COALITION FOR THE ENVIRONMENT, EQUITY AND RESILIENCE. WE'RE ASKING TODAY FOR MORE TRANSPARENCY AND ACCOUNTABILITY FROM
FLOOD CONTROL. 
          COMMUNITIES DESERVE TO CLEARLY UNDERSTAND WHAT PROJECTS ARE MOVING FORWARD AND HOW FUNDING
IS BEING SPENT. 
          THE EQUITY PRIORITY PRIORITIZATION FRAMEWORK THAT YOU ALL ADOPTED IN 2019 AND REAFFIRMED
IN 2022, WAS AN IMPORTANT STEP FORWARD. SEER COALITION MEMBERS SUCH AS BAYOU CITY,
WATERKEEPER, APPLESEED, NORTHEAST ACTION COLLECTIVE, AND WEST STREET RECOVERY AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS WORKED HARD ON
THIS PROCESS BECAUSE WE KNOW EQUITY MUST BE AT THE CENTER OF FLOOD PROTECTION. 
          FOR TOO LONG, DECISIONS VALUED WEALTHY HOMES OVER SIX MODEST HOMES,
AND THAT'S NOT FAIR AND LEAVES WAY TOO MANY FAMILIES BEHIND. 
          WE KNOW THE COMMUNITIES THAT HAVE HISTORICALLY RECEIVED THE LEAST PROTECTION ALSO HAVE THE
HARDEST TIME RECOVERING BECAUSE OF BARRIERS LIKE DISCRIMINATION, ACCESS TO INSURANCE, OR LACKING ACCESS TO FEMA,
WHICH IS COMING DOWN FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT. 
          EQUITY MEANS PROTECTING ALL COMMUNITIES, AND THAT'S WHAT WE'RE ASKING FLOOD CONTROL TO
DELIVER. 
          THANK YOU. THANK YOU. I KNOW YOU GUYS PROBABLY HAVE PLACES TO BE,
BUT IF ANYBODY CAN, CAN STILL BE HERE WHEN WE'RE HAVING THE FLOOD CONTROL DISCUSSION, I'LL LET YOU GUYS RESPOND TO WHATEVER, WHATEVER SET BY THE DEPARTMENT. 
          WE'LL STAY HERE. HOPE I'M NOT SPEAKING FOR EVERYONE. 
          GOOD MORNING, JUDGE AND COMMISSIONERS. MY NAME IS USMAN MEHMOOD AND I'M WITH BAYOU CITY
WATERKEEPER. 
          I'M HERE TO SUPPORT ENSURING THE 2018 FLOOD BOND PROGRAM MOVES WITH THE HIGHEST LEVELS OF
TRANSPARENCY AND ACCOUNTABILITY THAT HARRIS COUNTY DESERVES. 
          WE STRONGLY ENCOURAGE MAINTAINING THE 2022 PRIORITIZATION FRAMEWORK AS A CENTRAL GUIDE FOR
FUNDING DECISIONS. 
          THIS FRAMEWORK ENSURES THAT THE HIGHEST PRIORITY PROJECTS SERVING OUR MOST VULNERABLE AND
UNDERINVESTED COMMUNITIES CAN RECEIVE THE FUNDING THEY NEED. 
          WE ALSO ENCOURAGE REQUIRING PRIORITIZATION SCORES FOR ALL FEASIBLE BOND IDS AND ASSOCIATED
PROJECTS. 
          THIS SCORING SYSTEM IS IMPORTANT FOR TRANSPARENCY,
AND WITHOUT IT WE CANNOT HAVE MEANINGFUL PUBLIC OVERSIGHT. 
          THE FLOOD CONTROL DISTRICT CAN ESTABLISH MORE TRANSPARENCY THROUGH THE PUBLIC DASHBOARD
THAT WILL PROVIDE REAL TIME PROJECT INFORMATION AND REGULAR REPORTING TO THIS COURT. 
          COUNTY TAXPAYERS DESERVE TO SEE WHERE THEIR BOND DOLLARS ARE GOING AND TRACK PROGRESS ON
FLOOD PROTECTION EFFORTS. 
          ANY SIGNIFICANT BUDGET INCREASES OR SCOPE CHANGES SHOULD REQUIRE APPROPRIATE APPROVAL TO
PROTECT THE INTEGRITY OF WHAT VOTERS ORIGINALLY APPROVED. 
          FINALLY, WE ENCOURAGE. THANK YOU. YOUR TIME IS UP. 
          THANK YOU. DIRECTOR, JUST A QUICK QUESTION ON THIS. 
          THIS MAY BE JUST. I JUST WAS WAS WONDERING. GENERAL FUND DOLLARS CANNOT BE USED FOR FLOOD
CONTROL PROJECTS, RIGHT? THAT'S CORRECT. YEAH. AND WHY IS THAT AGAIN? STATE LAW. OKAY. THANK YOU. WHAT DOES EQUITY MEAN? EQUITY MEANS THAT WE MUST ASSIST PEOPLE AND COMMUNITIES SO THAT EVERYONE ENDS UP WITH THE
EQUAL OPPORTUNITY TO THRIVE. 
          IT MEANS THAT COMMUNITIES THAT HAVE BEEN NEGLECTED,
IF NOT OUTRIGHT DISCRIMINATED AGAINST, SHOULD GET INVESTMENT. OUR COMMUNITIES DESERVE TO BE PROTECTED FROM FLOODING. 
          FOR TOO LONG, FLOOD CONTROL DECISIONS WERE MADE ON BASIC COST BENEFIT ANALYSIS THAT VALUED
$1 MILLION HOME AS MORE IMPORTANT THAN 650,000 HOMES. THE PRIORITIZATION MATRIX THAT FLOOD CONTROL WAS INSTRUCTED TO USE IN 2019
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 DIDN'T NEED TO BE
PASSED THROUGH THE MATRIX THAT ALL OF YOU VOTED ON. 
          THAT HAS BEEN VERY CONCERNING, AND IT'S VERY DISRESPECTFUL THAT THEY COME IN HERE. 
          THANK YOU. YOUR TIME IS UP. CAN YOU PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME FOR THE RECORD? MY NAME IS DORIS BROWN. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. 
          NEXT IS LAURA GALLIER ON ITEM TWO. CORETTA BROWN ON ITEMS TWO AND THREE. 
          MICHAEL SPEIGHTS ON ITEM TWO. I'M SORRY. ITEM SEVEN. 
          BENJAMIN BROADWAY ON ITEM 117. YOU EACH HAVE ONE MINUTE. 
          GOOD MORNING. MY NAME IS LAURA GALLIER. PRECINCT ONE WITH PURE JUSTICE. 
          THE HARRIS COUNTY JAIL HOLDS PRIMARILY PEOPLE AWAITING TRIAL BECAUSE THEY CAN'T AFFORD
BAIL. 
          [01:15:01]
PAGE 17 OF YOUR BUDGET BOOKLET IDENTIFIES THE JAIL AND INDIGENT DEFENSE AS THE TWO HIGHEST
DRIVERS OF THE BUDGET CHALLENGE. 
          YOU CAN SOLVE BOTH BY REFUSING TO ARREST AND JAIL PEOPLE FOR CHARGES RELATED TO POVERTY,
AND INSTEAD HELP THEM FIND RESOURCES TO ACCESS THE LEGAL ECONOMY. BY DOING SO, YOU CAN CREATE A COMMUNITY SAFETY FEEDBACK LOOP. 
          AND INSTEAD OF A POVERTY TO PRISON FEEDBACK LOOP,
PAY INCREASES THAT PUT GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS IN THE TOP 1% OF U.S. 
          EARNERS, WHILE LEAVING MANY IN POVERTY IS UNJUST. 
          THANK YOU. 
          HELLO, MY NAME IS CORETTA BROWN AND I REPRESENT DIGITAL EMPOWERMENT. 
          AND THE LAST HEARING, COMMISSIONER GARCIA STATED THAT THE ONLY REASON THE CONSTABLES
WANTED A HIGHER RAISE RIGHT NOW IS BECAUSE THE NUMBER TWO WOULD BE EARNING MORE MONEY THAN THEM. I THINK THAT IS EXTREMELY UNFAIR TO ALL OF THE OTHER ELECTED OFFICIALS,
ESPECIALLY THE ONES THAT I SAW AT THE GRIEVANCE AT THE GRIEVANCE BUDGET HEARING LAST WEEK OR THIS WEEK. I THINK THAT IT'S UNFAIR TO THEM. 
          I THINK THAT YOU ALL SHOULD TABLE ANY DISCUSSIONS FOR ELECTED OFFICIAL PAY RAISES TO BE
ABLE 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'S NOT BEING USED BECAUSE IT'S GOING TO THE BUDGET. 
          IT'S GOING TO THE POLICE BUDGET. I DON'T THINK THAT NOW IS THE TIME FOR A NEW JAIL,
EITHER, BECAUSE OF THE AMOUNT OF MONEY THAT'S GOING TO THE POLICE BUDGET FOR POLICE RAISES. 
          I THINK THAT YOU ALL SHOULD TAKE A STEP BACK. 
          THINK ABOUT THE PEOPLE. THANK YOU. YOUR TIME IS UP,
PEOPLE. 
          THANK YOU. I THINK IF YOU ASKED EVERYBODY TO RAISE OUR HANDS ABOUT WHETHER OUR STAFF MAKES
MORE THAN WE DO, ALL OF US HERE WOULD RAISE OUR HANDS. SO, YOU KNOW,
JUST AGAIN, THE DISCONNECT. 
          AND I'M ADVOCATING TO BECAUSE THE BUDGET IS NOT DONE,
NOT UNTIL NEXT WEEK. 
          AND I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO CONTINUE THAT CONVERSATION. 
          GO AHEAD SIR. GOOD MORNING JUDGE. COMMISSIONERS. 
          MY NAME IS MICHAEL SPATZ, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE YOUNG AND THE POLITICS. 
          I WORE THIS SHIRT THIS MORNING IN SUPPORT OF THE UNION WORKERS AT THE HOTEL WHO ARE
STRIKING. 
          ALSO WORE THIS SHIRT BECAUSE SOME OF YOU I WORK WITH THE ORGANIZATION,
WORK WITH THE UNIONS TO PUT YOU ALL IN THOSE CHAIRS. 
          AND I JUST WANT TO REMIND YOU OF THAT. AND WE HAVEN'T FORGOTTEN HOW TO KNOCK ON DOORS AND
MAKE PHONE CALLS. 
          LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, LET'S BE REAL HERE. HARRIS COUNTY IS STARING DOWN A BUDGET SHORTFALL
THAT THREATENS OUR HOSPITALS, OUR ROADS, OUR WATER, AND BASIC SERVICES PEOPLE DEPEND ON. 
          YET SOMEHOW, IN THE MIDDLE OF THIS STORM, THE COMMISSIONERS ARE HANDING OUT RAISES LIKE
IT'S CHRISTMAS MORNING. 
          THIS ISN'T SANTA CLAUS. THIS IS TAXPAYERS MONEY. 
          AND IT'S RECKLESS TO PRETEND THERE'S A BOTTOMLESS STACK OF GIFTS. 
          FAMILIES ARE TIGHTENING THEIR BELTS. WORKING PEOPLE ARE ASKED TO DO MORE WITH LESS. 
          AND YET, THOSE AT THE TOP ARE REWARDING THEMSELVES WHILE TELLING US TO ACCEPT CUTS THAT
NOT LEADERS. 
          THAT'S NOT LEADERSHIP. THAT'S A SLAP IN THE FACE. 
          NOW IS YOUR TIME IS UP FOR HOLIDAY GIVEAWAYS AT THE EXPENSE OF PUBLIC SAFETY. 
          THANK YOU. 
          TURN TO YOUR LEFT. MICROPHONE. PUT YOUR HAND DOWN. 
          REACH YOUR HAND DOWN. THERE YOU GO. YES. TWO WORDS EQUITY FRAMEWORK. 
          WE HAD SOME PROJECTS THROUGHOUT THE YEARS THAT WERE PICKED OUT,
GRADED AND JUDGED, BUT STEADY. 
          YET Y'ALL CHOSE TO PUT OTHER PROJECTS BEFORE THEM. 
          BUT YET WE'RE STILL FLOODING BRIONES. GARCIA. 
          Y'ALL GOT BADASS BABY KIDS THAT ARE FIXING TO WORK ON RAMSEY'S AREA. 
          NO MATTER HOW MANY CONSTABLES YOU PUT IN TRESCH WICK CANDLE PLACE,
YOU BETTER BE READY FOR HIM, RAMSEY, BECAUSE THEY'RE COMING. IF YOU TAKE AWAY THESE PROGRAMS THAT THESE KIDS NEED TO
STAY OFF THE STREETS TO KEEP IDLING HANDS ARE THE DEVIL'S WORKSHOP OCCUPIED? YOU NEED TO THINK ABOUT THAT. ALL THREE OF Y'ALL NEED TO THINK ABOUT THAT. 
          I'M OVER. THANK YOU. NEXT IS GUADALUPE FERNANDEZ ON ITEM 117 OF PRECINCT ONE. 
          GRACE COOPERMAN ON ITEMS 117 AND 234 OF PRECINCT FOUR. 
          JORDAN WATSON ON ITEM 117. YOU EACH HAVE ONE MINUTE. 
          [01:20:02]
THANK YOU. I AM GUADALUPE FERNANDEZ WITH BAYOU CITY WATERKEEPER AND A RESIDENT OF CLINTON
PARK IN PRECINCT ONE. 
          I WAS HERE IN JUNE AND BACK TO REAFFIRM THAT ALL RESIDENTS DESERVE PROTECTION FROM THE
DEVASTATING IMPACT OF FLOODS. 
          WE LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING THE UPDATED BOND PACKAGE TODAY. 
          AS I SAID IN JUNE, TAXPAYERS DESERVE TRANSPARENCY AND ALL FLOOD CONTROL INITIATIVES,
INCLUDING BOND PROJECTS AND MAINTENANCE. 
          THE DASHBOARD ON FLOOD CONTROL SUBMITTAL IS A GOOD FIRST STEP,
BUT WE HAVE ADDITIONAL RECOMMENDATIONS FOR IMPROVEMENTS. 
          AS I SAID IN JUNE, THE PAST STRUGGLES WITH FLOOD BOND PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTED SYSTEMIC ISSUES
WITHIN FLOOD CONTROL, AND OUR ANALYSIS OF COURT ORDERS REVEALED A GLARING LACK OF ACCOUNTABILITY AND
TRANSPARENCY. 
          WE'RE ENCOURAGED TO SEE ACTIONS THIS SUMMER TO ADDRESS THIS,
AND WE ASK FOR CONTINUED COLLABORATION, ENSURING ALL COURT OFFICES AND PUBLIC ARE ALIGNED ON FLOOD CONTROL. 
          MOST IMPORTANTLY, WE BELIEVE IN A CONSISTENT APPROACH. 
          THE PRIORITIZATION FRAMEWORK SHOULD BE THE CENTRAL GUIDE FOR ALL FUTURE DECISIONS AND FUND
REALLOCATIONS USING OBJECTIVE PRIORITIZATION SCORES. 
          HONORS THE VOTERS WILL AND ENSURES ACCOUNTABILITY. 
          WE SUBMITTED. YOUR TIME IS UP. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. 
          WHAT ARE YOUR RECOMMENDATIONS ON THE DASHBOARD? I SUBMITTED A WHOLE LONG WRITTEN LIST, BUT WE'D LIKE. 
          I THINK THE FIRST ITERATION IS REALLY GOOD. I'D LIKE TO SEE SORT OF THE PARTNERSHIP
PROJECTS DIRECTLY ON THE MAP. 
          WE SAW THIS THE SORT OF PDF SPREADSHEET THAT INCLUDES ALL OF THOSE. 
          BUT THOSE FUNDING SOURCES SHOULD ALSO BE ON THE DASHBOARD AND ON THE MAP OF ALL THOSE
PROJECTS. 
          I'D ALSO LIKE TO SEE AN ABILITY TO FILTER OUT RIGHT,
WHICH 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. 
          THAT WAY, I DON'T HAVE TO HOP AROUND THROUGH SPREADSHEETS,
AND WE CAN ALSO MAKE MORE DATA INFORMED DECISIONS. AND ALL OF Y'ALL AS COMMISSIONERS ON REALLY HOLDING FLOOD CONTROL ACCOUNTABLE. THANK YOU. 
          THANK YOU. AND I TRUST THAT THE FLOOD CONTROL DISTRICT COURT THAT. 
          IT'LL BRING IT UP AGAIN LATER AS WELL. GOOD MORNING JUDGE. 
          GOOD MORNING COMMISSIONERS. MY NAME IS GRACE COOPERMAN AND I'M HERE ON BEHALF OF
CONGRESSWOMAN LIZZIE FLETCHER OF TEXAS'S SEVENTH CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT THROUGH THE COMMUNITY FUNDING PROJECT. THROUGH THE COMMUNITY FUNDED PROJECTS PROCESS IN CONGRESS,
CONGRESSWOMAN FLETCHER SUCCESSFULLY SECURED NEARLY $1 MILLION IN FEDERAL FUNDING FOR THE KEEGAN'S BAYOU DRAINAGE PROJECT TO CONSTRUCT A STORMWATER DETENTION BASIN TO ALLOW FOR
CAPACITY FOR 100 YEAR RAINFALL EVENT, PROTECTING NEARBY NEIGHBORHOODS ALONG THE BRAYS BAYOU WATERSHED FROM FLOODING.
CONGRESSWOMAN FLETCHER HAS ALSO REQUESTED AND IS CURRENTLY ADVOCATING FOR FEDERAL FUNDING FOR THE CYPRESS DITCH DRAINAGE IMPROVEMENT PROJECT,
A COLLECTIVE $100 MILLION PROJECT WHICH WILL INCREASE THE CONVEYANCE CAPACITY OF THE CYPRESS DITCH CHANNEL. THESE PROJECTS ARE EXAMPLES OF GOVERNMENT COLLABORATION AND
PARTNERSHIP AT ITS BEST TO DELIVER RELIEF TO OUR SHARED CONSTITUENCIES. 
          CONGRESSWOMAN FLETCHER THANKS THE HARRIS COUNTY COMMISSIONERS COURT AND HARRIS COUNTY
FLOOD CONTROL DISTRICT FOR MOVING THE 2018 BOND PROGRAM FORWARD WITH URGENCY AND TO DELIVER FOR OUR SHARED CONSTITUENCIES. THANK YOU. 
          THANK YOU TO THE CONGRESSWOMAN AS WELL. THANK YOU. 
          JUDGE. COMMISSIONERS, MY NAME IS JORDAN WATSON AND I'M HERE ON BEHALF OF HOWARD HUGHES,
THE MASTER PLANNED COMMUNITY DEVELOPER OF BRIDGELAND. 
          THE 2018 FLOOD BOND PLAYS A CRUCIAL ROLE IN ADDRESSING THE WIDESPREAD FLOODING ISSUES
FACING OUR REGION. 
          THE PROJECTS THAT HAVE BEEN COMPLETED AND THOSE STILL BEING DEVELOPED DISPLAY A
COMPREHENSIVE EFFORT TO MITIGATE THE IMPACT OF FUTURE FLOODS AND ENHANCE THE REGION'S RESILIENCE. WE HAVE SEEN THE PROGRAM'S EFFECTIVENESS FIRSTHAND IN BRIDGELAND AND THE
SURROUNDING AREA. 
          ALL IMPROVEMENTS THAT THE HARRIS COUNTY FLOOD CONTROL DISTRICT AND THE 2018 BOND PROGRAM
HAVE COMPLETED DOWNSTREAM WITHIN. 
          ADDICKS ASSISTED US IN CREATING REGIONAL SOLUTIONS IN THE UPPER REACHES OF LANGHAM CREEK
THAT BENEFIT THE WATERSHED IN ITS ENTIRETY. 
          IN ADDITION TO SUPPORTING HARRIS COUNTY FLOOD CONTROL DISTRICT AND THE 2018 BOND PROGRAM. 
          HOWARD HUGHES HAS INVESTED SIGNIFICANT TIME AND MONEY OVER THE LAST THREE YEARS,
AND IS PREPARED TO BEGIN SEVERAL MILLION DOLLARS WORTH OF DETENTION INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS AS SOON AS HARRIS COUNTY FLOOD CONTROL DISTRICT GRANTS APPROVAL. 
          THESE PROJECTS NOT ONLY REMOVE OUR REMAINING DEVELOPMENT FROM THE FLOOD PLAIN,
BUT ALSO POSITIVELY IMPACT GREATER THAN 5500 ACRES OF SURROUNDING LAND. 
          THANK YOU. THANK YOU. NEXT IS FELIX KAPOOR ON ITEM 117 OF PRECINCT TWO. 
          RITA ROBLES ON ITEM 117 OF PRECINCT TWO. WHEN FRAZIER ON ITEM 117 OF PRECINCT ONE. 
          ROSS GORDON ON ITEM 117 OF PRECINCT ONE. YOU EACH HAVE ONE MINUTE. 
          THANK YOU. GOOD MORNING. MR. KAPOOR WILL BE HERE SHORTLY. 
          MY NAME IS RITA ROBLES AND I LIVE IN THE DENVER HARBOR COMMUNITY. 
          I'M A NATIVE HOUSTONIAN, AND I ALSO REPRESENT NAC,
THE NORTHEAST ACTION COLLECTIVE, DENVER HARBOR CIVIC CLUB, 
          [01:25:05]
AND SO MUCH MORE. I AM A LIFELONG RESIDENT OF DENVER HARBOR AND SORRY I SKIPPED OVER IN
2018. 
          I SUPPORTED THE FLOOD BOND BECAUSE EQUITY WAS PROMISED EQUITY AS PART OF THE BOND
PROPOSAL, AND I WAS ELATED WHEN ADVOCATES IN THE COURT DECIDED TO INCORPORATE AN EQUITY MATRIX FOR
PROJECT SELECTION. 
          FOR THE FIRST TIME IN MY LIFE, IT MADE ME FEEL THAT THE COMMUNITY IN DENVER HARBOR WAS
BEING PRIORITIZED AND PROTECTED AND NOT BEING NEGLECTED. 
          I FIND IT DEEPLY CONCERNING THAT. NOW, SIX YEARS LATER,
THERE IS A DEBATE ABOUT WHETHER THE MATRIX SHOULD STILL BE APPLIED. 
          WE CANNOT RUN AWAY FROM EQUITY. MIDWAY THROUGH THE GAME,
THE GAME THE MATRIX MUST BE APPLIED TO ALL PROJECTS, PERIOD. IT IS TIME FOR TRANSPARENCY AND ACCOUNTABILITY AT FLOOD CONTROL. 
          THANK YOU. YOUR TIME IS UP. THANK YOU. GOOD MORNING,
COMMISSIONERS AND JUDGE. 
          MY NAME IS FELIX KAPOOR, PRECINCT TWO RESIDENT AND MEMBER OF THE NORTHEAST ACTION
COLLECTIVE. 
          AND I WANT TO ASK, WHY ARE WE HERE SIX YEARS LATER TALKING ABOUT IF UNDERSERVED
COMMUNITIES DESERVE EQUITY. 
          BUT NOW, SIX YEARS, WHEN THE EQUITY PROJECT SELECTION MATRIX WAS ADDED TO THE BOND,
I THOUGHT THE COUNTY WAS HEADED IN A DIRECTION OF CENTERING EQUITY, CENTERING COMMUNITIES THAT HAVE BEEN UNDERSERVED. 
          HOWEVER, SIX YEARS LATER, IN TWO DIRECTORS LATER,
WE ARE STILL DEBATING EQUITY. 
          HOW MANY TIMES WILL WE, THE PEOPLE, BE BAMBOOZLED BY FLOOD CONTROL IN THIS COURT? WE WERE TOLD THERE WAS FEDERAL FUNDING. WE WERE TOLD THERE WAS TRANSPARENCY. WE WERE TOLD
THERE WOULD BE EQUITY. 
          WHEN PLANS HIT THE FAN, WE WERE TOLD THERE WILL BE A NEW DIRECTOR,
NEW TOLL ROAD FUNDING, A NEW COMMITMENT TO EQUITY FRAMEWORK AND TRANSPARENCY. 
          SO WHY ARE WE STILL HERE SIX YEARS LATER, TALKING ABOUT IF UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES DESERVE
EQUITY? JUST LIKE IT'S NOT FAIR THAT PLACES LIKE BEL AIR ARE MORE COMPETITIVE FOR FEDERAL FUNDING,
IT'S NOT FAIR THAT A LACK OF TRANSPARENCY AT FLOOD CONTROL IS MAKING HARRIS COUNTY RESIDENTS FIGHT FOR SCRAPS OVER. YOUR TIME IS UP. 
          KEEP THE MATRIX. DO YOUR JOB CORRECTLY. THANK YOU. 
          WHEN FRAZIER ON ITEM 117. ROSS GORDON ON ITEM 117. 
          JOSHUA GREEN ON ITEM 170 OF PRECINCT FOUR. SHAUN BAYNHAM ON ITEM 170 OF PRECINCT FOUR. 
          ROSIE TURNIPSEED ON ITEM 242 OF PRECINCT THREE. 
          YOU EACH HAVE ONE MINUTE. 
          JUDGE AND COMMISSIONERS, MAY IT PLEASE THE COURT. JOSHUA GREEN MEMORIAL PARKWAY,
PRECINCT FOUR. 
          OUR BYLAWS REQUIRE UNANIMOUS WRITTEN CONSENT TO ACT OUTSIDE OF AN OPEN MEETING,
AND STATE LAW REQUIRES CONTRACTS AND BUDGETS TO BE APPROVED IN A NOTICED OPEN MEETING. 
          NEITHER HAPPENED. THIS CONTRACT IS OVER A QUARTER OF OUR ANNUAL BUDGET,
AND NO BUDGET HAS BEEN PROPERLY ADOPTED BY OUR HOA. 
          WE NOTIFIED THE BOARD IN WRITING ON JULY 29TH,
AND ON AUGUST 14TH WE EMAILED THE CONSTABLE'S OFFICE THAT THE CONTRACT IS INVALID. 
          SUBMITTING OR FORWARDING AN UNAUTHORIZED CONTRACT CAN VIOLATE LAWS ON GOVERNMENT RECORDS
AND FRAUD, 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 FIVE. 
          PLEASE DO NOT FOLLOW THAT PATH AND IGNORE STATE LAW WITH HOUSE BILL 26,
EFFECTIVE DECEMBER 4TH. 
          THIS MAY BE YOUR LAST CHANCE TO VOTE NO. TABLE THIS ITEM AND REFER THE MATTER FOR
INVESTIGATION AND PROSECUTION. 
          SIR, WHICH ITEM ARE YOU? ARE YOU TALKING ON 170? IT'S REGARDING TO THE CONSTABLE'S CONTRACT FOR THE HOMEOWNERS ASSOCIATION. 
          AND WHAT'S THE ISSUE EXACTLY? OUR. OUR BOARD DID NOT HOLD A PROPERLY NOTICED MEETING. 
          WE DON'T EVEN HAVE A BUDGET FOR NEXT YEAR. BUT THEY'VE SPENT 25% OF OUR MONEY WITHOUT
UNANIMOUS WRITTEN CONSENT. 
          AND THEN? AND THEN THEY ENTERED INTO A CONTRACT WITH THE COUNTY. 
          THEY SIGNED THAT CONTRACT UNLAWFULLY, IN MY OPINION,
AND FORWARDED THAT TO THE CONSTABLE'S OFFICE. 
          WE LET THE CONSTABLE'S OFFICE SENT THEM AN ITEMIZED DETAIL OF ALL THE PROBLEMS WITH THE
MEETING. 
          NOTICE EVERYTHING. AND THEY SUBMITTED IT TO YOU GUYS. 
          OKAY, SO THIS WOULD BE. IF SO, YOU ARE AGAINST US APPROVING ITEM 170. 
          I JUST WANT THEM TO DO IT RIGHT. WE LOVE THE CONSTABLE'S. 
          WE WANT THEIR WE WANT THIS CONTRACT. THERE'S DIFFERENT LEVELS OF SERVICE. 
          AND OUR COMMUNITY WAS DENIED THE VOICE AND OPPORTUNITY. YOU GUYS ARE ALL IN THIS ROOM
BECAUSE WE UNDERSTAND THE IMPORTANCE OF THIS PROCESS AND THIS PROCESS. 
          TO HAVE THESE VOTES BEING MADE OPENLY AND PUBLICLY WAS DENIED MY COMMUNITY. 
          YEAH, I KNOW I'VE HEARD FROM A LOT OF RESIDENTS ABOUT HOAS. 
          FOR WHATEVER IT'S WORTH, IT'S A WHOLE OTHER THING. 
          [01:30:01]
BUT WOULD IT BE A PROBLEM TO DELAY THIS LIKE A COURT? IS THERE A WAY FOR YOU GUYS TO FIND OUT? MAYBE BETWEEN NOW AND WHEN WE VOTE ON IT? YEAH. AND WE'LL HAVE SOMEONE VISIT WITH YOU. BUT I'M CERTAINLY FINE TO DELAY. 
          I MEAN, THE NEXT ONE'S NEXT WEEK. WHEN IS THE NEXT COURT AFTER THAT? LIKE THE NEXT FULL COURT? I BELIEVE IT'S OCTOBER 16TH. 
          SO, JAMES BURNETT FROM YOUR OFFICE. THANK YOU FOR SENDING HIM. 
          HE'S BEEN AMAZING. HE HAS HE HAS BEEN AT THE MEETINGS ALL OF OUR MEETINGS FOR MONTHS NOW. 
          HE PERSONALLY WITNESSED THEY RATIFIED A DECISION AND THEY WROTE IT IN THE AGENDA AS A
MAJORITY VOTE FOR SOMETHING THAT THAT DIDN'T HAPPEN. 
          WHAT WOULD OCTOBER 16TH GIVE YOU ENOUGH TIME FOR? FOR THE COMMUNITY TO VISIT WITH THE HOA, DO YOU THINK? I BELIEVE THE CONTRACT IS SCHEDULED TO BEGIN OCTOBER 1ST. 
          NO, I JUST MEAN, LIKE, IF WE WERE TO NOT VOTE ON THE CONTRACT TODAY,
BUT PUSH THE VOTE UNTIL OCTOBER 16TH. 
          THAT'S A QUESTION FOR THE LAWYERS. I KNOW THE QUESTION QUESTIONS FOR YOU. WOULD THAT BE
ENOUGH TIME FOR YOU AND YOUR NEIGHBORS TO VISIT WITH THE WITH THE BOARD AND FIGURE OUT WHAT TIER YOU WANT? WE'VE BEEN WE'VE BEEN TRYING FOR YEARS. 
          THERE'S THERE'S A THERE'S A BREAKDOWN IN REALITY HERE. 
          SO WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE FOR US TO DO? I'D LIKE YOU TO SEND THE CONTRACT BACK AND TELL THEM
TO DO IT RIGHT. 
          THAT'S WHAT I'M SAYING. SO WE WOULD SEND IT BACK UNTIL OCTOBER 16TH. 
          DOES. IS THAT ENOUGH? DOES THAT WORK FOR YOU? THAT'S. IF THAT'S WHAT HAS TO HAPPEN, THEN. YES. WELL,
LET ME CHECK AND SEE IF THERE'S A PROBLEM WITH US PUSHING IT BACK. 
          THE LAWYERS AND THEM ARE GOING TO LOOK. THANK YOU. 
          GOOD MORNING. MY NAME IS ROSIE TURNIPSEED. I AM A RESIDENT OF PRECINCT FOUR. 
          I'M A LEGAL ADVOCATE, AND I'M A PRODUCT OF THE SUNNYSIDE COMMUNITY. 
          I FIRST WOULD LIKE TO TELL ADRIAN GARCIA. THANK YOU FOR ALL THAT YOU DO. 
          RODNEY ELLIS, THANK YOU AS WELL. I'M HERE FOR TWO REASONS. 
          ONE COMMISSIONER ELLIS, I UNDERSTAND THAT YOU'RE ALLOCATING FUNDS FOR ARPA TOWARDS RAPID
REHOUSING, OUTREACH AND THINGS LIKE THAT. I DO COMMEND YOU FOR THAT. 
          BUT MY ASK IS THAT YOU'RE MAKING SURE THAT THOSE FUNDS ARE GOING TO THE AGENCIES THAT ARE
ACTUALLY GOING TO ASSIST, AND I WORRY ABOUT DATA SO THAT THEY CAN KEEP THE MONEY COMING IN,
THAT THEY'RE ACTUALLY IMPACTING AND SAVING LIVES. 
          BECAUSE IF YOU DO THAT, IT WILL IT WILL HELP THEM TREMENDOUSLY. 
          ALSO, MISS LENA JUDGE I'M SITTING HERE TODAY. 
          YOU LACK EMPATHY. AND I DO UNDERSTAND YOU HAD SOME MENTAL HEALTH CHALLENGES YOURSELF,
RIGHT? AND AS A CLINICIAN IN TRAINING, I'M STILL CONCERNED ABOUT YOU. 
          THANK YOU. YOUR TIME IS UP. EXCUSE ME. I MISSED THAT LAST PART. 
          WHAT WAS THE. WHAT WAS THE LAST PART THAT YOU SAID? I'M SO SORRY. WHICH PART DIDN'T YOU UNDERSTAND? AT THE VERY END, AT THE VERY END ABOUT MENTAL HEALTH? YOU KNOW, WE NEED THOSE RESOURCES. I UNDERSTAND THAT THE POLICE OFFICERS NEED MONEY AS
WELL, AND I AND I EMPATHIZE WITH THAT. BUT WE NEED MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES AND RESOURCES MAINLY
AND SPECIFICALLY ALSO FOR THE SUNNYSIDE COMMUNITY. 
          FIFTH WARD NORTHSIDE ACRES HOME. WE NEED THAT. 
          THANK YOU. BUT YOU DO LACK EMPATHY. THANK YOU,
I APPRECIATE IT. 
          THANK YOU. THANK YOU SIR. GOOD MORNING JUDGE. 
          COMMISSIONERS. MAY IT PLEASE THE COURT. I AM SEAN BAYNHAM. 
          I AM HERE TO OPPOSE ITEM 170 ON YOUR AGENDA TODAY. 
          THE MEMORIAL PARKWAY SECURITY CONTRACT WITH PRECINCT FIVE. 
          THIS CONTRACT IS INVALID BECAUSE IT WAS NEVER PROPERLY VOTED ON. 
          AS REQUIRED BY TEXAS PROPERTY CODE 209 AND THE OPEN MEETINGS ACT. 
          THERE WAS NO LAWFUL PUBLIC VOTE AND NO UNANIMOUS WRITTEN VOTE. 
          THREE OUT OF FIVE OF OUR BOARD MEMBERS KNOWINGLY SUBMITTED THIS CONTRACT,
AND THAT IS A CRIMINAL ACT UNDER PENAL CODE 37.1. 
          IT IS TAMPERING WITH A GOVERNMENTAL RECORD, AND IT MAY ALSO IMPLICATE 30. 
          32.46 SECURING EXECUTION OF A DOCUMENT BY DECEPTION. 
          AND 39.02 ABUSE OF OFFICIAL CAPACITY. THE ONLY LAWFUL COURSE IS TO REJECT IT AND REQUIRE A
PROPER VOTE. 
          IF I MAY, I WOULD REQUEST A CRIMINAL INVESTIGATION INTO THE THREE BOARD MEMBERS. 
          THANK YOU. YOUR TIME IS UP. THANK YOU, THANK YOU SIR. 
          I HAVE PROOF OF IT HERE TOO. THANK YOU. YEAH,
I'LL HAVE MY STAFF VISIT WITH YOU ABOUT THAT, IF THAT'S. IF THAT'S OKAY. RAJ. ON ITEM TWO. 60 OF PRECINCT THREE LACHLAN BROWN ON ITEM 410 OF PRECINCT ONE. YOU EACH HAVE ONE MINUTE. 
          [01:35:02]
THIS IS THE ONE. YEAH. GOOD MORNING EVERYONE. I'M HERE AGAIN. MY NAME IS RAJ. I REPRESENT A LOCAL BUSINESS IN HARRIS COUNTY,
AND I'M HERE FOR THE INMATE CLOTHING AWARD. 
          THAT IS BEING AGAIN, YET AGAIN GIVEN OUT TO OUT OF STATE COMPANY. 
          WE. THIS WAS A BID. WE CAME IN $100,000 LESS ON THIS BID. 
          AND YET WE ARE OVERPAYING FOR THIS AWARD. AND WE ARE OVERPAYING FOR THESE ITEMS AND
SHIPPING $2.5 MILLION OF HARRIS COUNTY TAX DOLLARS TO ANOTHER STATE AND ANOTHER COUNTY. YOU CAN SEE ALL THESE PROGRAMS ARE BEING CUT. 
          WE HAVE NO IDEA WHERE TO FIND THE MONEY FROM. 
          THIS IS WHERE YOU FIND THE MONEY FROM. LOOK AT THE LOOK AT THE QUESTION,
THE ITEMS IN THE QUESTIONS. 
          BOXERS, SOCKS, SHIRTS, PANTS. DO WE REALLY NEED TO SPEND $500,000 OVER A CONTRACT AND GET
IT FROM OUTSIDE WHEN WE CAN HAVE THESE THINGS AVAILABLE IN OUR BACKYARD? CAN WE NOT USE THESE MONEY FOR SOMETHING ELSE? SO MANY PROGRAMS ARE BEING CUT. YOU GUYS ARE BEING FORCED TO CUT SO MANY PROGRAMS. THANK YOU. YOUR TIME IS UP, MR. GILANI. I'M GOING TO ASK A LOT OF QUESTIONS ON THIS ITEM. 
          WHEN IT COMES UP, I AM I THANK YOU FOR SHARING. 
          I LOOK AT THE REASONS THAT THEY HAVE BEEN PROVIDING US THAT SEEMS ARE NOT PERFECT,
AS IF WE ARE MAKING SUITS FOR WE ARE GOING TO ASK QUESTIONS WHEN THIS COMES UP. 
          AND I DO HAVE SAMPLES. IF YOU WANT TO SUBMIT,
PLEASE TAKE A LOOK AT THESE SAMPLES BEFORE YOU TAKE A JUDGMENT. 
          WHAT'S WHAT'S THE ITEM NUMBER? IT'S TWO 60. OKAY. 
          AND AND THAT'S IT'S AN AWARD THAT YOU'RE PRESENTING TO A COMPANY THE SAME COMPANY KEEPS
GETTING AWARDED TIME AND AGAIN. 
          TIME AND AGAIN IS IS DWELT ON BY ANY CHANCE? I'M LIKE,
I WILL NEVER GET GET PAST THAT ONE. 
          I'M SO USED TO HAVING HIM FOR SO MANY YEARS. WILL YOU BE ABLE TO BE HERE UNTIL WE TAKE UP
THIS ITEM SO I CAN DISCUSS WITH HER? YES. ONE OF THE AWARDS. THIS IS SHOCKING. ONE OF THE AWARDS? A BOXER THAT WE HAVE QUOTED. $1. ONE OF THE AWARDEES. 
          SECONDARY AWARDEE HAS QUOTED $14. IMAGINE IF YOU ARE BUYING 10,000 BOXERS. 
          YOU SHOULD BE JUST PAYING $10,000. WITH THAT,
YOU'RE PAYING $140,000. 
          LET'S DISCUSS IT WHEN THE PURCHASING AGENT CAN GET ON THE LINE. 
          THANK YOU. THANK YOU. 
          HELLO. MY NAME IS LESLIE BROWN WITH THE YOUNG AND THE POLITICS. 
          CONSTABLE'S PLAY A VALUABLE ROLE IN OUR COUNTY. 
          BUT RAISING SALARIES IN THIS MOMENT WILL COME AT TOO HIGH OF A COST. 
          OUR BUDGET IS ALREADY STRAINED, AND EVERY DOLLAR WE SHIFT TOWARD PAY INCREASES IS A DOLLAR
TAKEN FROM PROGRAMS THAT TRULY KEEP OUR NEIGHBORHOODS STRONG MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES, YOUTH OUTREACH, HOUSING, AND MEDICAL CARE. THESE ARE INVESTMENTS THAT PREVENT CRIME,
REDUCE EMERGENCIES, AND GIVE FAMILIES STABILITY. PUBLIC SAFETY CANNOT REST SOLELY ON PATROL CARS AND UNIFORMS. IT DEPENDS ON THE RESOURCES THAT STOP DANGER BEFORE IT BEGINS. 
          DIVERTING MILLIONS FROM THOSE PRIORITIES UNDERMINES THE VERY FOUNDATION OF SAFETY. 
          RIGHT NOW, PROTECTING ESSENTIAL PROGRAMS MUST COME BEFORE PAY RAISES. 
          THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT. NEXT IS. NON-AGENDA SPEAKER REGINA JOHNSON, BARBARA MARX, WILLIE HARRIS,
YOU EACH HAVE ONE MINUTE. OKAY. GOOD MORNING. IT'S SUCH AN HONOR TO BE HERE. MY NAME IS REGINA JOHNSON,
AND I LIVE IN THE HARRIS COUNTY. 
          FOR ALL MY LIFE, MY FAMILY HAS ENDURED FLOODING DURING ALLISON,
HARVEY, IMELDA, AND LAST YEAR, BURROW 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 LEARNED THAT FLOOD CONTROL SIDESTEPPED THE SCORING SYSTEM THIS COURT APPROVED. 
          THAT'S NOT EQUITY. THAT'S INJUSTICE. ENOUGH IS ENOUGH. 
          EVERY PROJECT MUST BE JUDGED BY THE SAME STANDARDS. 
          EVERY COMMITMENT TO TWO. EQUITY MUST BE HONORED. 
          WE DEMAND TRANSPARENCY. PUBLIC RECORDS IN A CLEAR TIMELINE OF WHO GETS PROTECTED AND WHEN. 
          THE RHETORIC HAS CHANGED, BUT THE BEHAVIOR HASN'T. 
          AND THAT MAKES THIS COURT LOOK LESS TRUSTWORTHY. 
          [01:40:01]
WE DESERVE BETTER. WE DESERVE CLARITY. WE DESERVE PROTECTION AS A COMMUNITY LEADER AND A
WOMAN OF FAITH. 
          THANK YOU. YOUR TIME IS UP. CALLED TO SPEAK TRUTH. 
          DEMAND JUSTICE. THANK YOU. YOUR TIME IS UP. VULNERABLE. 
          HARRIS COUNTY MUST HONOR ITS PROMISES, NOT JUST WITH WORDS. 
          THANK YOU. MA'AM. WE WILL WORK ON THAT IN A BIT. 
          THANK YOU. THANK YOU. GOOD MORNING, JUDGE HIDALGO. 
          HELLO, COMMISSIONERS. MY NAME IS WILL HARRIS. 
          I'M THE YOUTH JUSTICE DIRECTOR FOR COLLECTIVE ACTION FOR YOUTH. 
          BUT I AM ALSO KYRON MOORE. I'M ALSO KYLAN MOORE. 
          I'M ALSO KELVYN KELVIN JONES I'M ALSO MARK ANTHONY. 
          I'M ALSO JALEN SMITH I'M ALSO SAM FLAKES I'M ALSO AHMAD MITCHELL I'M ALSO PORSHA JOHNSON. 
          I'M ALSO ISRAEL JOHNSON. I'M ALSO TERRY SMITH. 
          I'M ALSO QUINTON STROMAN, I'M ALSO DESMOND JEFFERS,
I'M ALSO CAMERON JONES, AND I'M ALSO KENTRELL FIELDS. 
          THESE ARE JUST TO NAME A FEW OF THE MANY THAT WILL BE IMPACTED AT VITAL COMMUNITY SERVICE. 
          I INTERRUPTED IN THE SLIGHTEST WAY, HOW THIS BUDGET GETS PASSED IS THROUGH A THOUGHTFUL
DISCUSSION AND CONSIDERATION OF WHAT? OF WHAT REMOVING VITAL COMMUNITY SOURCES WOULD ALREADY DO TO ALREADY STRUGGLING
COMMUNITIES. 
          I URGE YOU TO RECONSIDER YOUR STANCE IN THE MATTER AND MAKE A DECISION THAT WILL REFLECT
ALL COMMUNITIES THAT THE COUNTY SERVES. 
          THANK YOU. GOOD MORNING. AND I JUST WANTED TO SAY I ACTUALLY MET MR. GARCIA AT LULAC WHEN THEY I BROUGHT MY STUDENTS TO SEE HERNANDEZ VERSUS
TEXAS. 
          AND I HAVE SOME PAPERS AS WELL, I DON'T KNOW,
THANK YOU. 
          SO 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 LAW AND TRY TO KILL LARGE BREEDS FIRST. DOGS SHOULD NOT BE DANGEROUS BECAUSE OF A SCRATCH OR A
SCRAPED KNEE WHEN THEY'RE CHASING A DOG AND SOMEONE FALLS. 
          SECOND, HKFA SHOULD ALLOW A SECURE ENCLOSURE INSIDE AND NOT KILL DOGS BECAUSE RENTERS
CANNOT HAVE ONE OUTSIDE. 
          THIRD, CITATIONS AND HEARINGS SHOULD BE IN THE COURT OF THE DEFENDANT,
AND HOME QUARANTINE SHOULD ALWAYS BE HOME. 
          QUARANTINE SHOULD ALWAYS BE ALLOWED FOR VACCINATED ANIMALS BECAUSE THERE ARE NO RABIES
CASES FOR UNVACCINATED. 
          AND COUNTY ATTORNEYS SHOULD NOT OVERREACH IN HEARINGS AND SHOULD ONLY REPRESENT COUNTY
PEOPLE. 
          THANK YOU. YOUR TIME IS UP. THANK YOU. CAN YOU PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME FOR THE RECORD? BARBARA MARX. THANK YOU. NEXT IS NON-AGENDA SPEAKER RAINER VON FALKENHORST. 
          JACOB CLEMENT MAYOR. ELIZA DUTT OF PINEY POINT VILLAGE. 
          ELISA. ELISA. DEBT OF PINEY POINT VILLAGE. SORRY. 
          BRIAN. YOUNG AND ANAYA MUMIN. YOU EACH HAVE ONE MINUTE. 
          GOOD MORNING. COUNCIL. COMMISSIONERS. MY NAME IS RHONDA VON FALKENHORST. 
          I'M HERE TO GET PERMISSION UNDER TEXAS. SIR,
COULD YOU APPROACH THE MICROPHONE A LITTLE BIT CLOSER? I SAID I'M HERE TO GET PERMISSION UNDER YOUR TEXAS TRANSPORTATION CODE OF 552. 
          007A AND 552.0071. ONE. PERSONALLY, Y'ALL ARE ELECTED. 
          NOW I'M IN YOUR FIELD. SECONDLY, EVERYTHING MRS NO DISRESPECT THINKING MRS. BURGESS AT LEFT, SHE WANTS A PAY RAISE. CUT IT. 
          I WON $50 MILLION. PLAY WITH ME. I ASKED FOR SOMETHING SIMPLE. 
          PLEASE GRANT IT. PLAY WITH ME. FIX SOMETHING. 
          MAN, I AIN'T GOT TIME TO DEBATE. ONE PERSON,
ONE SPEAKER, ONE ELECTED, ONE EVERYTHING. 
          NOW THERE'S FIVE, TEN, 15, I GOT JOBS. I DON'T WANT TO BE IN HERE. 
          DISRESPECT, CONSTABLE. MY DADDY WAS A CONSTABLE. 
          I DON'T GIVE A DAMN. LET ME TELL YOU SOMETHING. 
          AIN'T NO DISRESPECT, SIR. HE CAN DISRESPECT ME. 
          YOU COME AT ME, YOU TELL ME. YOU DON'T THREATEN ME. 
          YOU WANT TO PUT ME IN JAIL? BY ALL MEANS, PUT ME IN JAIL. 
          THANK YOU. YOUR TIME IS UP 274,000. PUT ME IN JAIL. 
          THANK YOU FOR THAT. EVERY 21 DAYS. HAVE A GREAT DAY. 
          PLEASE APPROVE WHAT I ASKED FOR. THANK YOU SIR. 
          AIRPORT $150 MILLION TO THE UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT FOR $120 MILLION. 
          I'M WINNING. THANK YOU. AND I DID IT MYSELF. LOOK IT UP. 
          APPRECIATION LETTERS. AND ONE OF THEM COMES FROM ARMANDO. 
          WALLY. HE SAYS, MR. CLEMENT, THANK YOU FOR VISITING MY OFFICE. 
          OFFICE? AND FOR BRINGING BY THE YEAR OF PLACEMENT. 
          GO, COUGS. THEN ANOTHER WOULD SAY REP SAID NICOLE COLLIER,
WHO SAID, JACOB, THANK YOU FOR THE UNIVERSITY MEMORABILIA. 
          AS A 1996 GRADUATE, THIS GIFT IS A WONDERFUL REMINDER OF MY TIME THERE. 
          [01:45:06]
I TRULY APPRECIATE IT. THANKS AGAIN. AND THEN FROM OUR REP,
ANNA HERNANDEZ, SHE SAID, DEAR MR. CLEMENS, THANK YOU FOR THE UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON GIFT. 
          I REALLY APPRECIATE YOUR THOUGHTFUL GESTURE AND THE PRIDE IT REFLECTS IN OUR COMMUNITY. 
          NOW, THESE ARE FROM STATE SENATORS. DEAR JACOB CLEMENS,
I WANTED TO TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO THANK YOU FOR THE ASTROS AND RODEO GIFTS. IT'S ALWAYS GREAT TO ALWAYS HAVE A PROUD SON IN THE BUILDING. 
          THANK YOU. YOUR TIME IS UP. THANK YOU. JEFF. CAN YOU LET MY LETTERS I HAVE,
THANK YOU. 
          OKAY. 
          COMMISSIONERS. MY NAME IS ALISA DUTT, AND 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 ICE,
ATTEMPTING TO TIE THEIR PAY TO IGNORING 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. 
          MAYOR. THAT CONCLUDES MY REMARKS. MAYOR. THANK YOU. 
          LET ME JUST RESPOND. FIRST OF ALL, I ASKED WHETHER THIS BODY HAD ANY AUTHORITY TO DIRECT
AS SUCH. 
          AND MY PERSPECTIVE WAS WE'RE INVESTING A LOT OF MONEY IN LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT. 
          I'D LIKE TO KEEP THEIR WORK LOCAL AND IN OUR COMMUNITIES. 
          THANK YOU. THANK YOU. COMMISSIONER. GO AHEAD. 
          HELLO, I'M BRIAN YOUNG, I'M A SUBJECT MATTER EXPERT IN VIOLENCE PREVENTION AND AN
ECOSYSTEM DIRECTOR FOR THE TEXAS FEDERATION OF THE PEOPLE. 
          I HAD A LONG SPEECH THAT I WAS GOING TO MAKE,
BUT AFTER. 
          LISTEN TO WHAT EVERYBODY SAID, I WAS KIND OF WONDERING IF SOME KIND OF WAY THAT WE COULD
COME TOGETHER AND DOING THE WORK THAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO AS FAR AS FUNDING THE POLICE AND BEING ABLE TO GIVE BACK TO THE COMMUNITY. 
          I HAVE WORKED ON THE SIDE OF ADRIAN GARCIA AND I WORKED UP UNDER RODNEY ELLIS,
RODNEY ELLIS AND ONE OF HIS ZIP CODES. 
          HE HAS SEEN THE 2,028% REDUCTION IN CRIME RATE WHILE WHILE IN SOME AREAS OF ADRIAN GARCIA
THE CRIME IS INCREASING. I DON'T THINK THAT MR. RAMSEY OR MISS GARCIA,
THEY ARE AGAINST FUNDING THE COMMUNITY. 
          I JUST THINK THAT THEY HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE PEOPLE HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO EXPLAIN EXACTLY THE
WORK THAT'S BEING DONE IN THE COMMUNITY. 
          AND I FEEL LIKE IF THEY GAVE THE FOR A WHILE AN OPPORTUNITY OR PURE JUSTICE OR
OPPORTUNITY, THANK YOU, THEY WILL BE ABLE TO EXPLAIN IT TO THEM BETTER. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. 
          AND YOU KNOW WHAT? I'LL SAY TO MY COLLEAGUES,
YOU'RE WELCOME TO USE MY CONFERENCE ROOM FOR A MEETING. 
          IF, YOU KNOW, DURING LUNCH OR WHATEVER. I ENCOURAGE THEM SO THEY CAN HEAR FROM YOU GUYS. 
          AND AS I SAID, I WOULD LOVE I WOULD LOVE TO WORK TOGETHER. 
          ON AND FIND A SOLUTION IN TERMS OF, YOU KNOW,
IF THEY STILL IF THEY DON'T WANT TO GO TO THE VOTERS FOR EVERYTHING, LET'S NOT GO TO THE VOTERS. LET'S LET'S NOT GO TO THE VOTERS FOR EVERYTHING. 
          LET'S NEGOTIATE. LET'S LET'S AT LEAST MAKE THE DEFICIT AND THE CUTS A LITTLE BIT SMALLER. 
          BUT YEAH, I'M HAPPY TO HAPPY TO DO THAT. HAPPY TO BRING LUNCH. 
          IF YOU GUYS CAN STAY IN THE COMMISSIONERS CAN VISIT WITH YOU ALL,
I AGREE. THANK YOU, THANK YOU. 
          THAT'S ALL THE SPEAKERS, JUDGE. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU SO MUCH,
TIFFANY. 
          AND THANK YOU TO ALL THE SPEAKERS. AND SO NOW WE MOVE ON TO. 
          OH, NO, A PIECE OF PAPER. THE PAPER WITH THE ORDER OF THINGS. 
          OKAY. ALL RIGHT, LET ME. I PUT IT BENEATH SOMETHING. 
          CORRECTIONS. CORRECTIONS. YES. OKAY. SO. OH. THANK YOU. 
          [Departments (Part 3 of 9)]
ALL RIGHT. SO. EXECUTIVE SESSION ITEMS BACK ON THE CONSENT AGENDA WILL BE MOTIONED TO BE APPROVED AS PRESENTED FOR COUNTY CLERK. 
          ITEM 404 PRECINCT ONE REQUEST. NO ACTION. ITEM 406 WE HAVE TO VOTE. 
          WE HAVE TO VOTE ON 407. OKAY. ANY OTHER CORRECTIONS HERE? 
          [01:50:04]
I DON'T SEE ANYTHING ELSE. AM I MISSING ANYTHING? YES, JUDGE, UNLESS A FEW THINGS CHANGE. BUT JUST TO BE CLEAR,
ONLY ITEM 404. 
          NO ACTION. OH, I SEE. OKAY. ITEM 12, PRECINCT FOUR REQUEST NO ACTION ON THE PLAT. 
          ITEM 143. WE HAVE TO ADD THE WORDS IT AFTER COUNTY WIDE. 
          SO IT READS REQUEST FOR APPROVAL OF THE CHANGE INVESTMENT MEMO FOR COUNTY WIDE IT ASSET
MANAGEMENT PROGRAM. 
          ITEM 159 ON PAGE 19. WE HAVE TO CORRECT QUOTE IN SPRING,
TEXAS, WITH QUOTE, DIRECTING OCPS TO INSTALL AND MAINTAIN THE CUSTOM CARPET AND PAINT WITH ATTIC STOCK FROM THE PROJECT. 
          NEITHER THE COUNTY NOR HCPL WILL PROVIDE ANY FUNDING FOR THE PROJECT. 
          COUNTY ATTORNEY REQUESTS NO ACTION ON ITEM 188. 
          IS THAT STILL RIGHT? THAT'S CORRECT. JUDGE. OKAY. 
          JP FIVE TWO REQUESTS NO ACTION ON ITEM 196 ON PAGE 23. 
          ITEM 235 ON PAGE 29. WE HAVE TO CHANGE QUOTE THE CRIME PREVENTION THROUGH ENVIRONMENTAL
DESIGN SEPTET PROJECT WITH PLAYGROUND AND AMENITIES PRO PROJECT ITEM 243. WE HAVE TO REPLACE THE AGENDA CAPTION AFTER QUOTE REQUESTS BY THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE FOR APPROVAL TO. 
          SO IT NOW READS REQUEST BY THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE FOR APPROVAL TO TRANSFER $200,000 TO THE
FLEX FUND. 
          1040 FOR ALREADY APPROVED START UP FUNDS FOR THE WOMEN'S EMPOWERMENT CENTER PROGRAM. 
          ITEM 332, PAGE 41. PRECINCT ONE REQUESTS NO ACTION. 
          PUBLIC HEARING 361. WE ALREADY CORRECTED AND ALREADY VOTED ON ITEM 366 PUBLIC HEARING. 
          WE ALREADY SAID NO ACTION, BUT THAT THE DEPARTMENTS WILL BRING IT BACK NEXT TIME. 
          ITEM 404 PRECINCT ONE REQUEST NO ACTION. ITEM 414. 
          NO ACTION NEEDED ON THE BROAD LEGISLATIVE DISCUSSION ITEM. 
          ITEM 430 PAGE 51. SHERIFF HAS REQUESTED NO ACTION. 
          ITEM 449. PAGE 53. WE HAVE TO REPLACE 250,000 WITH 272,727. 
          ITEM 466, PAGE 56 WE REPLACE, QUOTE, BID TO TEXAS OFFICE PRODUCT SEMICOLON. 
          IMPERIAL DADE, GULF COAST PAPER, SAM AND SONS,
INCORPORATED AND ATLANTIC TAPE AND PACKAGING WITH QUOTE BIDS TO TEXAS OFFICE PRODUCTS INCORPORATED. IMPERIAL DADE,
SAM TEL AND SON INCORPORATED AND ATLANTIC TAPE AND PACKAGING. 
          ITEM 462 REQUEST FROM PURCHASING THAT WE TAKE NO ACTION. 
          ITEM 487 REQUESTS THAT WE REPLACE 25 YEARS WITH 34 YEARS. 
          AND THAT'S WHAT I HAVE. AM I MISSING ANY CORRECTIONS? OKAY. SO THOSE ARE ALL THE CORRECTIONS. NOW MOVING ON TO THE DISCUSSION ITEMS. YES. WE HAD A SPEAKER THAT WASN'T CALLED LINDSAY WILLIAMS. 
          [Appearances Before Court (Part 2 of 2)]
SHE IS ONE OF OUR CIVIC CLUB COMMUNITY LEADERS PRESIDENT. 
          AND SO, LINDSAY, IF YOU'RE STILL HERE, PLEASE COME ON UP AND SHARE YOUR COMMENTS. 
          THANK YOU. COMMISSIONER. THANK YOU FOR CALLING ME UP. 
          I REALLY APPRECIATE IT. COUNTY JUDGE AND COMMISSIONERS,
I'M LINDSAY WILLIAMS. I AM PRESIDENT OF SUPER NEIGHBORHOOD 64 AND 88. 
          PRESIDENT OF THE EASTWOOD CIVIC ASSOCIATION AND MEMBER OF THE HARRIS COUNTY PRECINCT TWO
COMMUNITY ADVISORY BOARD. 
          I'M HERE TO STRONGLY SUPPORT ITEM 204, THE FEDERAL RAILROAD ADMINISTRATION GRANT AND
EXPRESS OUR GRATITUDE FOR COMMISSIONER GARCIA'S LEADERSHIP. 
          IN SEPTEMBER 2024, COMMISSIONER GARCIA JOINED OUR RIDE AROUND AND WITNESSED WHAT OUR
COMMUNITY FACES DAILY. 
          THE EASTERN TRIANGLE AND EASTWOOD WERE THREE SIMULTANEOUS RAIL STOPS. 
          LEAVE ONE WAY ONLY ONE WAY OUT. KIDS ARE HAVING TO CRAWL THROUGH TRAINS JUST TO GET TO
SCHOOL, AND FIRST RESPONDERS FACE DANGEROUS DELAYS WHILE LIVES ARE IN THE BALANCE. 
          AFTER SEEING FIRSTHAND COMMISSIONER, GARCIA ACTED DECISIVELY AND COORDINATED WITH THE CITY
FOR HIS STUDY, AND OUR TRAINS COMMITTEE PROVIDED CRUCIAL DATA AND COMMUNITY IMPACT STORIES. 
          THE RESULT WAS A $2 MILLION GRANT SECURED AND WITH OUR COMMUNITY'S INPUT INTEGRAL TO THAT
SUCCESS. 
          COMMISSIONER ELLIS, THIS IS GOING TO BENEFIT YOU BECAUSE PART OF THAT INCLUDES THE WEST
BELT RAILROAD LINE, WHICH IS THE BOUNDARY BETWEEN PRECINCT ONE AND TWO,
WHICH INCLUDES LELAND AND CULLEN. I JUST WANTED TO SAY THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT OF THE EAST END RESIDENTS. WONDERFUL. THANK YOU, LINDSEY,
FOR COMING DOWN AND APPRECIATE YOUR ADVOCACY AND SUPPORT. THANK YOU. 
          THANK YOU. HUGE DEAL. COMMISSIONER. THANK YOU SO MUCH. 
          OKAY, SO REMINDER THAT EXECUTIVE SESSION ITEMS PLACED BACK ON THE CONSENT AGENDA WILL BE
MOTIONED TO BE APPROVED AS PRESENTED. 
          [Departments (Part 4 of 9)]
          [01:55:05]
DO WE STILL NEED TO DISCUSS ITEM 403? JUDGE. I'M SORRY. 
          CAN YOU TELL ME WHICH ITEMS ARE APPROVED AS PRESENTED FOR EXECUTIVE SESSION? I'M ABOUT TO GO THROUGH THE EXECUTIVE SESSION ITEMS. DO WE STILL NEED TO DISCUSS ITEM 403, SHERIFF'S CIVIL SERVICE COMMISSION. 
          WHAT ABOUT FOR A FOR. WE HAVE NO ACTION. WHAT ABOUT 405 HCAT? I DO BELIEVE WE HAVE TO TAKE THAT TO EXECUTIVE SESSION 406. 
          YES. 407. DO WE HAVE TO TAKE TO EXECUTIVE SESSION? UNLESS YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, DO COLLEAGUES HAVE ANY QUESTIONS? YES. OKAY. SO WE'LL LEAVE IT IN EXECUTIVE SESSION 408. 
          WE DO HAVE DO WE HAVE TO TAKE 408 EXECUTIVE SESSION UNLESS THERE'S QUESTIONS. 
          YES. YES OKAY. SO FOUR EIGHT GOES TO EXECUTIVE SESSION AS FAR AS THE DISCUSSION LIST. 
          SO ANY OTHER ANY OTHER EXECUTIVE SESSION ITEM WOULD BE APPROVED AS PRESENTED TO ANSWER
YOUR QUESTION. 
          OKAY. DISCUSSION LIST. DO WE STILL NEED TO DISCUSS ITEM TWO? YES, THAT IS THE GL UPDATE. ITEM THREE. YES. ITEM 12. 
          COMMISSIONER GARCIA. YES. ITEM 117. I JUST WANT TO BE CLEAR. 
          THAT ONE WAS A NO ACTION. NUMBER 12. NUMBER 12. 
          OH, THAT THAT ITEM HAS BEEN PULLED OR HAS TAKEN NO ACTION ON IT. 
          OKAY. OKAY. SO WE'LL WE'LL GO AND PUT IT ON. NO ACTION. 
          OKAY. WE'LL KEEP IT. NO ACTION. ITEM 117. YES,
THAT'S THE FLOOD BOND. 
          THERE'S A REQUEST TO TAKE THAT ITEM FIRST IN THE DISCUSSION LIST. 
          OKAY. ITEM 125. YES. ITEM 140. COMMISSIONER RAMSEY 141. 
          YES 143. YES 183 191. YES. 197. 
          WE ALREADY. YEAH. 198. YES 199. YES 204. THAT'S THE GRANT COMMISSIONER GARCIA, I'M GUESSING. YES. 238. YES. 
          239. YES. 241 242. AND THAT ONE WILL GO ALONG. 
          THOSE WILL GO ALONG WITH 484. TWO 60. YES. 282 284. YES. 322 368. THAT IS A TAX RATE PROPOSED BUDGET. OH, WE ALREADY DID THAT ONE. YEAH. 
          TRANSMITTAL FOR UNIVERSAL SERVICES. 382. COMMISSIONER GARCIA HAD FLAGGED THAT ONE. 
          AN UPDATE ABOUT 311 HOMELESS ENCAMPMENT. OKAY. 
          410. PAY SCALES. YES. 411. COMMISSIONER GARCIA REQUESTED DISCUSSION ON THIS. 
          HARRIS COUNTY INVESTMENT POLICY. YES. OKAY. 432. 
          YES. 471. DO YOU GUYS THINK WE NEED TO TAKE 432 TO EXECUTIVE SESSION OR. 
          PROBABLY NOT. OKAY. FOR 71. YES. 
          472. YES. OKAY. 481, 482 482 FOR 81 482. YES. 484. YES. AND THEN IS THE ITEM WITH THE HOA ON HERE? THE CONSTABLE. WHICH NUMBER IS THAT AGAIN? THAT'S 170. THAT'S 170. AND JUDGE, THAT HAS TO BE. 
          WE HAVE TO VOTE ON THAT. OKAY. ALL RIGHT. WELL I'LL PUT IT HERE. 
          SO IF THE FOLKS ARE STILL HERE WE CAN WE CAN TALK ABOUT IT. 
          JUDGE, I NEED TO ADD 245 329 448. JUST A SECOND. 
          AND YOU KNOW WHAT? I'M STILL I STILL WANT TO READ THE THERE'S A COUPLE MORE ON OKAY. I FORGOT I DID NOT GET TO OUT OF ORDER RESOLUTION,
SO I'LL ADD THAT IN A SECOND. COMMISSIONER RAMSEY WE ALSO HAVE 479 489,
FOUR 9491, 495, 496, 497 AND 
          [02:00:03]
498. ARE ALL OF THOSE OUT OF ORDER, OR CAN SOME OF THOSE GO BACK TO CONSENT? IF I COULD ASK FOR A PERSONAL PRIVILEGE TO ADD 492 AND 493 TO THAT LIST,
492 IS OUT OF ORDER. 
          RESOLUTION 493 OUT OF ORDER RESOLUTION. OKAY. 
          SO, COMMISSIONER RAMSEY, WOULD YOU MIND REPEATING JUST A LITTLE SLOWER? SURE. 245. OKAY, JUST A SECOND. 245. AND AND THAT ONE IS 245. IT'S ABOUT SAGE INSIGHT, HARRIS COUNTY TAX OFFICE. 
          IS THAT. DOES THAT SOUND RIGHT? OKAY. WHAT'S THE NEXT ONE? 329. 329 THAT IS FINAL INVESTMENT MEMO FOR FLEET AND. 448. OKAY. SO THAT WAS THREE. 
          29 AND THEN 448 IS COMPENSATION FOR SERVICES PROVIDED BY THE TAX ASSESSOR. OKAY. SO I'M ADDING 448. 
          OKAY. I HAVE A NOTE HERE ALSO TO TO TAKE 197 IN EXECUTIVE SESSION,
COMMISSIONER ELLIS. 
          IS THAT RIGHT? I DON'T NEED TO GO BACK. YOU DON'T NEED TO GO BACK. OKAY. 
          ALL RIGHT, SO LET ME GO. YES. ONE MORE. YES. IF YOU COULD PUT ITEM THREE FOR DISCUSSION. 
          ITEM THREE. OKAY, SO ITEM THREE IS THE SALARY GRIEVANCE COMMITTEE MEETING. 
          I WANT TO SAY, JUST FOR DISCUSSION, WE HAVE THAT ONE IN THERE ALREADY,
BUT OKAY, SO LET ME READ. 
          READ THIS FROM THE TOP. I ALREADY DID THE PUBLIC HEARINGS AND TAX RATES. 
          SO WE HAVE EXECUTIVE SESSION ITEM 405, EXECUTIVE SESSION ITEM 406,
EXECUTIVE SESSION 407, EXECUTIVE SESSION 408. REGULAR AGENDA ITEMS 231 17, 125, ONE 4141, 143, 183. 191 197 198. 199. 204. 
          38. TWO. 39. TWO. 41. TWO. 
          42. TWO. 45. TWO. 62. 82. 
          TWO. 84. THREE. 22. THREE. 29. 
          THREE. 82. FOUR. TEN. FOUR. 11. FOUR. 32. 
          FOUR. 48. FOUR. 71. FOUR. 72. FOUR. 
          81. FOUR. 82. FOUR. 84. FOUR, 79 FOR 89 FOR 94, 91 FOR 92 FOR 93, FOUR, 95 FOR 96, 497 AND FOR 98. DID I MISS ANYTHING? JUDGE. QUICK QUESTION. 
          ITEM 197 AND ITEM 432. DID I THINK THEY NEED TO BE EXEC? IF YOU WANT TO DISCUSS THEM? 197 I THINK THAT WAS THE ONE RELATED TO THE O'DONNELL. 
          I THOUGHT COMMISSIONER UNLESS SHE NO LONGER WANTED THAT ONE. 
          97. YES, SIR. YEAH. OKAY. SO LET'S LET'S MOVE 197 TO EXECUTIVE SESSION AND THEN AND ALSO
432 IF THERE NEEDS TO BE DISCUSSION AND WE OUGHT TO HAVE LET'S LOOK AT 432. TWO. SO 432 IS. 
          SOLAR FOR ALL. OKAY, SO WE WILL MOVE THAT ONE TO EXECUTIVE SESSION. 
          [02:05:05]
SO THAT JUST MOVES THEM AROUND. BUT WE HAVEN'T ADDED ANYTHING. 
          IS THERE ANYTHING I NEED TO ADD OR TAKE AWAY? OKAY. SO JUST TO COVER EXECUTIVE SESSION WILL BE 107. 
          EXCUSE ME. 197 405 406 407 408 AND 432 ANY QUESTIONS? JUST REAL QUICK. 170. WERE WE GOING TO KEEP IT ON THE CONSENT? I MEAN, JUDGE, THAT NEEDS TO BE WE HAVE TO VOTE ON IT. 
          THERE'S. YEAH. NO, IT'S IT'S I LISTED IT FOR DISCUSSION. 
          OKAY, OKAY. JUST 170 WILL BE ON DISCUSSION. OKAY. 
          THANK YOU. ANYTHING ELSE? WITH CONSENT AGENDA. 
          OKAY. SO IS THERE A MOTION FOR ALL ITEMS ONE THROUGH 5 OR 1,
WITH THE EXCEPTION OF ITEMS ALREADY VOTED ON AND DISCUSSION ITEMS JUST LISTED? MOTION BY COMMISSIONER ELLIS, SECOND BY COMMISSIONER GARCIA. 
          ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. ANY OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY. 
          OKAY, SO NOW WE WILL START WITH THE AGENDA, STARTING WITH THE FLOOD CONTROL ITEMS,
AND WE'LL CALL UP DIRECTOR PETERSON. 
          GOOD MORNING. GOOD MORNING. GOOD MORNING JUDGE. 
          GOOD MORNING COMMISSIONERS. I DO HAVE A BRIEF PRESENTATION THAT I WOULD LIKE TO GO THROUGH
BEFORE WE START DISCUSSION, IF I MAY. GO AHEAD. OKAY. 
          ALL RIGHT. SO TODAY WE ARE HERE TO REALLY COME BACK AFTER SEVERAL MOTIONS THAT WERE MADE IN JUNE AND JULY. AND WE ARE HERE TO BE RESPONSIVE TO THOSE MOTIONS AND PRESENT A
PATH FORWARD. 
          AND SO IF WE CAN GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE. SO FIRST I WANT. 
          OH AND JUDGE SHOULD I PROCEED I SEE THE COMMISSIONER RAMSEY STEPPED OUT. 
          IS THAT OKAY? THANK YOU. YEAH. LET'S IT IS 1214. 
          LET'S BREAK UNTIL 1225. THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT. 
          IT'S 120. EXCUSE ME. IT'S 1227. COMMISSIONERS COURT IS BACK IN SESSION. 
          AND DIRECTOR PETERSON WAS GOING TO START WITH A PRESENTATION. 
          YES. ALL RIGHT. I WILL START OVER. SO GOOD AFTERNOON,
JUDGE. 
          COMMISSIONERS, THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO PRESENT THIS MORNING. 
          I WILL GO AHEAD AND JUST JUMP RIGHT INTO THIS. 
          SO. THE FLOOD CONTROL DISTRICT 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 150,000 STRUCTURES WERE FLOODED AND THE IMPACT WAS FELT ACROSS HARRIS COUNTY. 
          IF WE GO TO THE NEXT. AND SO THE FLOOD BOND WAS CREATED WITH THIS CHALLENGE IN MIND TO BE
IN RESPONSE TO HURRICANE HARVEY. 
          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 THAT WE HAVE IN HARRIS
COUNTY. 
          BUT THIS WAS A VERY GOOD START. I DO WANT TO NOTE THAT THE SIZE AND BREADTH OF THIS
PROGRAM IS TREMENDOUS. 
          IT IS THE LARGEST BOND PROGRAM THAT THE COUNTY HAS EVER DONE. 
          IT IS ONE OF THE LARGEST IN THE NATION. IF WE GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE. 
          THE THE PROGRAM HAS ALREADY BEEN DELIVERING BENEFITS. 
          IF WE GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE KNOW IS THAT STORMWATER DETENTION IS
A CRITICAL ELEMENT OF THE WORK THAT THE FLOOD CONTROL 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 HAVE ALSO COMPLETED MORE THAN 40 600FT OF CHANNEL
IMPROVEMENTS. 
          THIS DISTANCE WOULD STRETCH FROM DOWNTOWN HOUSTON TO DOWNTOWN GALVESTON. 
          SO THIS IS A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF CONVEYANCE IMPROVEMENTS. 
          AND THIS TRANSLATES INTO WATER MOVING MORE EFFICIENTLY THROUGH OUR CHANNELS AND REDUCED
RISK OF FLOODING. 
          ON THE NEXT SLIDE, WE'RE HIGHLIGHTING THAT WE HAVE PRESERVED MORE THAN 800 ACRES IN THE
FLOODPLAIN. 
          KEEPING THOSE PROPERTIES FROM DEVELOPMENT. AND ON THE NEXT SLIDE,
WE HAVE ALSO WORKED DILIGENTLY IN OUR BUYOUT PROGRAM TO WORK WITH VOLUNTEERS WHO WANT TO MOVE OUT OF THE FLOODPLAIN. 
          [02:10:01]
AND SO WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO MOVE 3100 PEOPLE TO SAFER HOMES. 
          SO WHAT WE KNOW FROM THIS WORK IS THAT 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 HURRICANE
BERYL, WE SAW A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF RAIN AND YET VERY FEW STRUCTURES FLOODED. 
          AND SO 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 THAT WE WOULD LEVERAGE THESE FUNDS,
AND WE HAVE AND WE HAVE DONE MORE. 
          WE HAVE SECURED $2.7 BILLION IN PARTNERSHIPS. 
          WE'RE WORKING WITH 27 DIFFERENT LOCAL, STATE,
FEDERAL PARTNERS ACROSS HARRIS COUNTY AND ACROSS THE NATION. 
          I DO 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 YOUR TEAMS TO UNDERSTAND AND DEVELOP A PATH FORWARD BASED ON YOUR GUIDANCE. 
          AND I WANT TO WALK YOU THROUGH THE RECOMMENDATIONS THAT WE HAVE FROM THIS WORK. 
          SO ON THIS NEXT SLIDE, WE WILL GO TO A MAP THAT SHOWS PROJECTS LOCATED ACROSS HARRIS
COUNTY. 
          AND WE ARE REALLY AT WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT IS MAYBE,
MAYBE A TIPPING POINT. 
          OR MAYBE THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR A LEVEL SET. 
          WE KNOW THAT WE HAVE HAD INCREASED INFLATION. 
          WE KNOW THAT WE HAVE RISING CONSTRUCTION COSTS AND WE WILL NOT BE ABLE TO COMPLETE
EVERYTHING. 
          AND SO THAT IS WHERE THE PRIORITIZATION FRAMEWORK HAS BEEN INSTRUMENTAL. 
          SO THIS MAP IS SHOWING THAT WE HAVE 75 PROJECTS THAT WILL BE MOVING FORWARD. 
          AND IF WE GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE, WE DO HAVE 26 PROJECTS THAT ARE PAUSING BECAUSE THEY ARE LOWER ON THE FRAMEWORK. WE RECOMMEND THAT THESE PROJECTS STILL MOVE FORWARD,
AND THAT 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 NOW. 
          WHAT IS IMPORTANT TO UNDERSTAND IS THAT WHEN THE FLOOD CONTROL BOND WAS DEVELOPED,
A LOT OF THE PROJECTS WERE PUT ON THIS LIST WERE NOT FULLY ENGINEERED. AND SO IT HAS TAKEN US SOME TIME. 
          TO. EXACTLY. SO THAT THAT WAS GOD SAYING YOU'VE DONE A HELL OF A JOB ON THIS BOND PROGRAM. 
          OKAY, I THINK THAT WE MAY HAVE TO. YEAH, WE MAY HAVE TO JUST TAKE THE LUNCH EARLY. 
          JUST TAKE AN EARLY LUNCH. APPARENTLY, YOU GUYS DON'T KNOW WHO'S MAKING THAT NOISE. 
          I THINK I THINK THERE'S SOME CONSTRUCTION HAPPENING. I THINK THEY'RE TRYING TO WRITE,
BUT I'M JUST SAYING. HAVE YOU IDENTIFIED THEM AND TOLD THEM TO STOP OR. NO? YES. YOU HAVE. OH, OKAY. OKAY, GREAT. WELL, IT'S RIGHT THERE. 
          THE AUTOMATIC FRONT DOOR. THERE'S A SIGN THAT SAYS THE DOOR IS OUT OF ORDER. 
          OH, OKAY. WELL, SO IT'S NOT LIKE THEY HAVE TO GO LOOK IN THE BUILDING. OKAY,
WELL, LET'S CONTINUE THEN. 
          THANK YOU. OKAY. SO WE ARE HERE ON THIS CLOSED SIDE. 
          SO BASICALLY WHAT I WAS SAYING IS WHEN WE STARTED THE FLOOD CONTROL DISTRICT BOND,
THERE WERE PROJECTS THAT HADN'T BEEN FULLY ENGINEERED. 
          AND SO IT TOOK SOME WORK TO DIG INTO CERTAIN PROBLEM AREAS AND UNDERSTAND REALLY WHAT IS
GOING ON IN THESE AREAS. 
          AND SOMETIMES WE DETERMINED THROUGH ENGINEERING THAT THERE WAS NOT. 
          [02:15:14]
LET'S DO LIKE A FIVE MINUTE BREAK. I'M GOING TO JUST WE'LL BE BACK AT 1240. 
          LET ME. OH. HI, KENNY. HELLO. OH, IT'S 1241. COMMISSIONERS COURT IS BACK IN SESSION. 
          SO? SO ENGINEERING IS GOING FLOOR BY FLOOR, AND THEY STILL HAVEN'T FOUND THE THE THE
PERSON. 
          BUT THEY SUGGESTED THAT WE CONTINUE BECAUSE THEY'RE GOING TO STILL BE LOOKING. 
          SO I DON'T KNOW COLLEAGUES. I MEAN WE RUN THE RISK OF IT'S BEEN SHORT SO WE COULD LIKE
PAUSE FOR LIKE AND THEN RESTART. 
          BUT YOU KNOW. YES. OKAY. OKAY. WELL LET'S JUST BE PATIENT. 
          THEY'RE GOING THROUGH IT. THEY JUST COULDN'T DO IT THAT FAST. 
          NO WORRIES. SO IF WE MAY I WOULD LIKE TO GO BACK MAYBE TO A COUPLE SLIDES BECAUSE I THINK
WE'RE KIND OF IN THE MIDDLE OF A OF AN ARC OF A STORY. I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE,
WE FULLY GET TO TELL THIS PART IF WE CAN GO BACK ONE MORE, I BELIEVE. 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 THE APPRECIATION I HAVE FOR THE WORKING GROUP THAT WE HAVE
HAD, IT HAS BEEN VERY PRODUCTIVE. YOUR STAFF HAVE COME TO THE TABLE AND SPENT A LOT OF TIME
WITH US, AND I KNOW THAT IT HAS REQUIRED A LOT, BUT I ALSO THINK THAT WE HAVE GAINED A REALLY GOOD
COLLABORATION AND THIS PLAN IS A RESULT OF THOSE EFFORTS. 
          SO IF WE CAN GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE SO WE HAVE WORKED THROUGH TO UNDERSTAND THE BOND
PROGRAM. 
          WE'VE DUG DEEP INTO EACH PROJECT WITH YOUR TEAMS TO REALLY GAIN AN UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT
CAN BE DONE WITH THESE PROJECTS AND WHAT CANNOT. 
          AND SO THIS SLIDE IS SHOWING THAT WE HAVE 75 ACTIVE PROJECTS THAT ARE MOVING FORWARD. 
          THE NEXT SLIDE SHOWS THAT WE HAVE 26 PROJECTS THAT ARE PAUSING AGAIN BECAUSE THEY'RE ON
THE LOWER PART OF THE PRIORITIZATION FRAMEWORK. 
          THE NEXT SLIDE SHOWS THAT WE HAVE 15 BOND IDS THAT WE HAVE DETERMINED THROUGH ENGINEERING
STUDY. 
          AND EXPERTISE THAT THE PROJECTS ARE NO LONGER FEASIBLE. 
          THEY DON'T MAKE SENSE. AND WE ARE OR WE HAVE PARTNERS WHO HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO,
YOU KNOW, IDENTIFY A PROJECT THAT WE CAN WORK ON TOGETHER. 
          AND SO THOSE PROJECTS ARE NOT MOVING FORWARD. 
          AND THEN FINALLY, WE NOW HAVE 54 BOND IDS ON THE NEXT SLIDE THAT HAVE BEEN COMPLETED. 
          AND I DO WANT TO STRESS ON THE NEXT SLIDE, THE WORK THAT WE HAVE IN FRONT OF US IS STILL
QUITE SIGNIFICANT. 
          SO WE HAVE COMPLETED A LOT AND WE HAVE DELIVERED BENEFITS AND THERE IS MORE WORK TO
DELIVER. 
          WE HAVE 75 ACTIVE BOND IDS, WHICH ARE FUNDING MECHANISMS FOR 248 INDIVIDUAL PROJECTS. 
          THESE PROJECTS ARE DETENTION BASINS, CHANNEL IMPROVEMENTS. 
          THESE ARE THESE ARE FLOOD RISK REDUCTION FOR OUR COMMUNITY. 
          AND AT THE END OF THE DAY, THIS RESULTS IN AT LEAST 80,000 STRUCTURES BEING REMOVED FROM
THE FLOODPLAIN. 
          AND THAT IS GOING TO IMPACT ALL OF OUR COMMUNITIES ACROSS HARRIS COUNTY. 
          IT'S GOING TO IMPACT SUNNYSIDE. IT'S GOING TO IMPACT NORTHWOOD MANOR,
CYPRESS, KINGWOOD, BRIDGELAND, PASADENA AND BEYOND. IT IS THIS PROGRAM WILL REACH THROUGHOUT HARRIS COUNTY. 
          SO 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. 
          SO THIS IS A REALLY IMPORTANT PART OF THE WORK THAT WE HAVE DONE WITH YOUR TEAMS. SO WE HAVE WORKED AGAIN COLLABORATIVELY TO TAKE THE DASHBOARD THAT WE PREVIOUSLY HAD AND
REALLY ELEVATE IT 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 WE 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 CAN'T IDENTIFY. 
          THOSE CAN CERTAINLY PUT TOGETHER DIFFERENT FILTERS. 
          WE'VE ALREADY RECEIVED A LOT OF GOOD FEEDBACK FROM YOUR TEAMS IN TERMS OF LAYERS TO
INCLUDE. 
          WE INCLUDED A SEARCH FUNCTION SO THAT AND THE ABILITY TO ACTUALLY SELECT A PROJECT AND
SEARCH FOR IT IN THE MAP. 
          AND THAT WAS FEEDBACK FROM YOUR TEAMS. SO I THINK WE'VE ALREADY REALLY BEGUN A GOOD
PROCESS, AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO RECEIVING ADDITIONAL FEEDBACK. 
          [02:20:03]
TO CONTINUE TO MAKE THIS A TOOL THAT THE COMMUNITY CAN USE AS WELL AS ALL OF US. 
          SO APPARENTLY THEY FOUND THE FOLKS AND THE WORK IS DONE AND YAY! YAY! OKAY. AND SO, YOU KNOW, REALLY, I THINK WE AGAIN,
JUST IF WE'LL GO TO THE FINAL SLIDE AND THEN THE WEBSITE IS CERTAINLY ON, ON THE, ON THE SLIDE. AND THEN IF WE CAN GO TO THE LAST SLIDE. 
          SO REALLY WHAT I WANTED TO CLOSE ON TODAY IS THAT,
YOU KNOW, WE'VE TAKEN THE 2018 BOND PROGRAM, WHICH STARTED OUT REALLY WITH A LOT OF CONCEPTS AND WITH THE WORK THAT WE HAVE DONE
TOGETHER WITH YOUR TEAMS, WITH ALL OF YOU, WITH THE DIRECTION THAT WE'VE RECEIVED,
WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO TO GROUND THIS WORK. 
          IN REALITY WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO IDENTIFY THE SECURED PARTNERSHIPS THAT HAS CONTINUED TO BE A
PRIORITY THAT I HAVE 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. 
          AND I JUST WANT TO SAY WE APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY TO LEVEL SET. 
          WE'VE BASED OUR RECOMMENDATIONS ON ENGINEERING IN YOUR GUIDANCE,
AND WE ARE READY TO MOVE FORWARD TO DELIVER THIS PROGRAM IN THIS FRAMEWORK THAT WE'VE LAID OUT TODAY AND I'D BE HAPPY TO TAKE QUESTIONS. 
          THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER ELLIS, GARCIA, RAMSEY AND BRIONES. 
          THANK YOU. JUDGE. DOCTOR PETERSON, I WANT TO THANK YOU,
YOU AND YOUR TEAM AND ALL OF THE STAFFS. 
          I THINK THAT YOU MADE TREMENDOUS PROGRESS, AND I'M PLEASED. 
          I KNOW THAT MOST OF THE ITEMS THAT I'VE CHATTED WITH YOU ABOUT LAST WEEK,
THEY'VE BEEN WORKED OUT, EVEN SOME AS LATE AS LAST NIGHT, AND I'M VERY PLEASED WITH THAT. SO IT IS A KUMBAYA
MOMENT, BUT I DO WANT TO MAKE A COUPLE OF POINTS. AS THE ONLY PERSON STILL AT THIS DAIS WHO WAS
HERE WHEN THE 2018 BOND PACKAGE WAS PUT ON THE AGENDA. AND THERE WERE TWO THINGS I'VE SAID BEFORE,
BUT I WANT TO STRESS IT BECAUSE THEY'LL COME UP AGAIN. 
          ONE ITEM, COLLEAGUES, WAS DO A DISPARITY STUDY. 
          WHICH FOUR OF US WENT TO THE EVENT THIS MORNING THAT'S HAD A TREMENDOUS IMPACT ON OUR
ABILITY TO LEVEL THE PLAYING FIELD FOR OUR MINORITY WOMEN OWNED SMALL BUSINESSES TREMENDOUSLY. I MENTIONED FOR HISPANICS IN PARTICULAR,
THE LEVEL OF PARTICIPATION HAS GONE UP SLIGHTLY OVER 300%, FROM ABOUT 4.8% JUST FROM THE COUNTIES SPENDING TO A LITTLE OVER 15% NOW. 
          AND WE WERE USING THE LEVERAGE OF THAT HARVEY BOND ISSUE. 
          AND THEY CAME HERE HISPANIC CHAMBER, THE WOMEN'S CHAMBER,
SOUTH ASIAN CHAMBER, THE AFRICAN-AMERICAN CHAMBER, AND MADE THAT CASE. AND THAT'S A GOOD THING. THAT'S HOW WE GOT TO WHERE WE ARE. 
          BUT THE OTHER THING WE USE THIS AS LEVERAGE ON WAS TO GET SOME EQUITY LANGUAGE. 
          AND I WANT TO STRESS THAT. AND I WANT TO READ IT AGAIN BECAUSE IT PASSED UNANIMOUSLY UNDER
THAT COURT. 
          AND I CAN ASSURE YOU, I KNOW 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, THE COMMISSIONERS COURT SHALL PROVIDE A PROCESS FOR THE EQUITABLE EXPENDITURE OF FUNDS,
RECOGNIZING THAT PROJECT SELECTION MAY HAVE BEEN AFFECTED IN THE PAST AND MAY CONTINUE TO BE AFFECTED BY ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS BY MATCHING FEDERAL,
STATE, AND OTHER LOCAL GOVERNMENT FUNDS. I CAN'T REMEMBER WHO SECOND IT. 
          I MADE IT, BUT IT PASSED UNANIMOUSLY AND THE LEVERAGE WAS USUALLY WHEN THESE BOND ISSUES
PASS, FOLKS IN PRECINCT ONE HAVE DISPROPORTIONATELY TURNED OUT TO VOTE FOR IT,
BUT HAVE ALSO DISPROPORTIONATELY GOT LESS PRECINCTS ONE AND TWO. 
          BACK THEN PRECINCTS HAVE BEEN CHANGED. BUT THAT WAS JUST THE REALITY OF IT. 
          WE WERE LUCKY AND I'VE STATED THIS BEFORE AND I WAS WRONG. 
          THE LAW PERMITTED US TO HAVE THAT ELECTION IN AUGUST,
WHEN THE LOWEST NUMBER OF PEOPLE WOULD SHOW UP TO VOTE. 
          SO WE BRAG ABOUT IT PASSING BY 85%, BUT WE DON'T POINT OUT IT WAS THE LOWEST PERCENTAGE OF
PEOPLE VOTING, PROBABLY IN THE HISTORY OF ANY BOND ISSUE IN HARRIS COUNTY. 
          LEGAL. TELL US LATER. I DON'T WANT TO TIE UP THE TIME. 
          I'M NOT SURE WE CAN STILL GET THAT DONE. WE DID HAVE TO PAY $1 MILLION,
BY THE WAY, TO HAVE THAT SPECIAL ELECTION ON A NON UNIFORM ELECTION DATE. 
          I THINK THEY TOOK THAT EXCEPTION OUT AND THE GOVERNOR HAD TO GIVE US PERMISSION TO LET US
HAVE IT. 
          THEN THAT PROBABLY WON'T HAPPEN AGAIN. BUT I WANT TO STRESS THAT WHEN WE DO ANOTHER BOND
ISSUE THAT WILL HAVE TO BE COMPARABLE EQUITY LANGUAGE IN IT, ARE WE GOING TO HAVE HELL TO PAY TO PASS IT? YOU KNOW, I THINK I MUST BE HALFWAY CREDIBLE MESSENGER BECAUSE ON MOST BOND ISSUES THAT
HAVE COME UP, EVEN WHEN IT'S SOMETHING I DIDN'T EVEN THINK TO DO WITH SCHOOL DISTRICT,
I'VE BEEN ONE OF THOSE FOLKS THAT GO OUT THERE THAT THEY ASKED TO MAKE PART OF THE FACE OF 
          [02:25:06]
IT, IN AREAS WHERE THEY THINK THE FACE WILL HELP IF YOU CATCH MY DRIFT. 
          AND THAT WILL HAPPEN AGAIN. I DO WANT TO ASK YOU THIS QUESTION. 
          HOW MUCH MORE WILL WE NEED TO COMPLETE THESE PROJECTS? AND I WILL SAY, I KNOW WE WOULDN'T PULL THE TAPE,
BY THE WAY, AND I KNOW IT HAS GONE UP AND DOWN. 
          AND WHEN BEFORE YOU GIVE A NUMBER, GIVE US SOME SENSE OF HOW ACCURATE IT IS. 
          SO AT LEAST WE KNOW TO COMPLETE THIS. AND I THINK IT WENT FROM LIKE A BILLION SOMETHING. 
          YOU MIGHT HAVE SENT US AN EMAIL, BUT YOU WERE TRYING TO FIGURE IT OUT TO A NUMBER YOU GAVE
ME THE OTHER DAY. 
          SO GIVE US SOME SENSE OF HOW ACCURATE YOU THINK IT IS,
AND THEN I WANT TO GO FROM THERE. 
          BUT IF YOU JUST REMEMBER THAT NUMBER, I VAGUELY REMEMBER WHAT YOU TOLD ME A COUPLE OF DAYS
AGO. 
          YES. SO THERE HAS BEEN REPORTED A $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 YOUR TEAMS TO DIG INTO THE
PROJECTS WHERE WE DID HAVE ADDITIONAL NEEDS THAT WE COULD IDENTIFY THROUGH ENGINEERING STUDIES AND TECHNICAL BASIS. 
          AND SO AS A RESULT OF THAT WORK, WE HAVE DETERMINED THAT THERE'S ROUGHLY $410 MILLION THAT
WOULD BE REQUIRED TO COMPLETE THE PROJECTS THAT WE CURRENTLY DO NOT HAVE. 
          NOW, TO PUT THAT IN CONTEXT, IF WE LOOK AT THE INFLATION THAT HAS OCCURRED BETWEEN 2019,
WHEN THIS PROGRAM WAS FIRST STARTED, AND NOW WE HAVE HAD NUMEROUS VERY IMPACTFUL INFLATIONARY EVENTS THAT HAVE LED TO ROUGHLY
BETWEEN 25 AND 30% INFLATION. TO PUT THE NUMBER THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT IN CONTEXT,
WE ARE TALKING ABOUT ROUGHLY AN 8% INCREASE ON THE PROGRAM. 
          THIS IS A VERY REASONABLE A VERY, YOU KNOW, VERY WE 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, AND IT IS CLEARLY MUCH LESS THAN THE NATIONAL AVERAGES WHEN IT COMES TO
INFLATION. 
          AND I WANT TO STRESS, DOCTOR PETERSON, AS YOU SAID IN YOUR OPENING COMMENTS,
2.5 PLUS THE MATCH OF 2.5 OR 2.7. 
          AND EVEN IF THIS OTHER 410 SHOWS UP, IT'S NOT GOING TO SOLVE. 
          BUT WHAT WE WANT TO DO IS MITIGATE. I THINK I MENTIONED STUDIES FROM THE KENNEDY INSTITUTE
MAY HAVE BEEN AS HIGH AS 15, $20 BILLION BACK THEN WHEN WE WERE PUTTING THIS ON,
ON THE BALLOT. 
          BUT I WANT TO ENCOURAGE MY COLLEAGUES, EVEN AS WE MOVE FORWARD TODAY. 
          AND I THINK THERE'S A CONSENSUS ON THIS. THIS IS A KUMBAYA MOMENT. 
          THIS 410 PLUS, WHATEVER COMES NEXT. WE OUGHT TO NOT DO WHAT WE DID IN 2018. 
          HARVEY CAME 2017, IN AUGUST 2018. I'M SURE SOMEBODY WAS DOING SOME LITTLE QUIET POLLING. 
          IT WAS SEAT OF THE PANTS. YOU WERE WATCHING IT. 
          COMMISSIONER RAMSAY FROM AS A MAYOR AND IN BUSINESS. 
          BUT IT WAS KIND OF RUSH, RUSH, THROW IT TOGETHER. 
          AND AS I POINT OUT ALL THE TIME, I ASSURE YOU,
THEY WERE NOT ASKING RODNEY, WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE ON THE LIST? I WAS HERE THAT MUCH. I DO REMEMBER HALLS AND GREENS HAD TO BE THERE. 
          AND COMMISSIONER GARCIA, YOUR PREDECESSOR, YOU KNOW,
I KNEW I HAD SOME KINSHIP THERE, EVEN IF WE HAD A FEW POLITICAL DIFFERENCES, BECAUSE THOSE TWO PRECINCTS GOT MOST OF IT. EVERYBODY AGREED COST BENEFIT RATIO WAS A
PROBLEM. 
          AND THAT'S WHY WE UNANIMOUSLY SUPPORTED THIS LANGUAGE. 
          WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO GO BACK TO THE VOTERS,
AND WE OUGHT TO START START PLANNING THAT SOON WITH A COLLABORATIVE PROCESS. 
          AND THE OPTION WAS INSTEAD OF EQUITY LANGUAGE,
SPELL OUT WHAT PROJECTS WE WERE GOING TO DO. 
          AND I WAS TOLD WE COULDN'T DO THAT BECAUSE IF THE COST WAS MORE THAN YOU THOUGHT,
YOU COULD MOVE IT AROUND. 
          NOW, FROM MY VANTAGE POINT AS A FORMER COUNCIL MEMBER,
THEY FIGURED OUT HOW TO DO IT BECAUSE YOU'D GO AND SAY WHICH PARK, WHICH DRAINAGE PROJECTS YOU WERE DOING. BUT THEY SAID THE LEGAL DEPARTMENT AT THE TIME,
WE COULD NOT DO THAT. 
          AND THAT'S MORE COMPLICATED. AND YOU GOT TO START EVEN SOONER TO FIGURE OUT WHAT THEY ARE. 
          BUT I WANT TO JUST STRESS THAT WE OUGHT TO START SOON,
FIGURING OUT WHERE WE GO, EVEN IF WE FIND A 410IN OTHER PLACES WHICH YOU HAVE MADE REFERENCE TO. BUT IF YOU OPERATE UNDER THE ASSUMPTION AND YOU AGREE WITH THE CONCLUSION,
EVEN THIS 2.5 PLUS THE MATCHING MONEY WON'T BE ENOUGH, YOU GOT TO GO BACK. DON'T WAIT UNTIL THE LAST MINUTE,
AND IN NO WAY SHOULD YOU THINK WE COULD PASS ANOTHER ONE. 
          WITH SUCH A SMALL PERCENTAGE OF THE PEOPLE VOTING,
IT WILL PROBABLY HAVE TO GO ON THE BALLOT WHEN SOME OF US ON THE BALLOT IN A NORMAL CYCLE AND YOU WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU GIVE PEOPLE A CLEAR IDEA OF WHAT THE EXPECTATIONS
ARE AND WHAT YOU THINK THE PROJECTS ARE. 
          [02:30:05]
THANK YOU. BUT WITH THAT I'M PLEASED AND I APPRECIATE ALL THE WORK THAT ALL OF OUR STAFF
HAS PUT INTO IT. COMMISSIONER RAMSEY, I KNOW YOU AND I HAVE JOKED PRIVATELY SOMETIMES YOU HAVE WITH ME ABOUT ALL THESE MEETINGS. THESE MEETINGS WERE WORTH IT. 
          AND YOU KNOW, WE'RE CONSTRAINED BY OPEN MEETINGS LAW. 
          THE STATE EXEMPTED THEMSELVES FROM THAT. YOU KNOW,
IT'S ALWAYS A CHALLENGE FOR ME BECAUSE I FORGET A LOT OF TIMES I DON'T TALK TO ANY OF YOU BECAUSE I MAY FORGET WHICH ONE I TALK TO. THEN WHEN HE MIGHT GET MAD AT ME AND SAY NO. 
          OH, RODNEY IS THE ONE THAT VIOLATED OPEN MEETINGS. 
          HE DID IT. BUT THAT'S WHY THE STAFF IS SO IMPORTANT. 
          THAT'S AS CLOSE AS WE CAN GET TO A COLLABORATIVE PROCESS,
AND WE HAVE TO KIND OF GIVE OUR STAFF SOME, SOME HONEST INPUT ON WHAT THEY THINK WE ARE. I KNOW MY STAFF HAS COMPLAINED FROM TIME TO
TIME THEY'LL GO AND THINK I'M SOMEPLACE, AND THEY GO TO THE MEETING. THEN THEY COME BACK AND I CHANGE MY MIND. 
          SO. BUT THANK YOU. PROCESS. WELL DONE. THANK YOU,
COMMISSIONER GARCIA. 
          THANK YOU. DOCTOR PETERSON, THANK YOU FOR THIS PRESENTATION. 
          AND THANK YOU FOR WORKING WITH MOST ALL OF THE OFFICES,
I THINK 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 GET THIS PROGRAM TOGETHER. 
          AND SO YOU KNOW, 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 ITSELF. 
          AND SO I JUST WANT TO COMMEND YOU FOR YOUR RESPECTIVE WORK ON THIS. 
          SECONDLY, I WANT TO JUST APPLAUD YOU FOR THIS THIS DASHBOARD THAT YOU THAT YOU'RE
DEMONSTRATING HERE. 
          WAS THIS AVAILABLE BEFORE? IT WAS NOT. WE HAVE WE WE WE WERE WORKING UP UNTIL PROBABLY
MIDNIGHT LAST NIGHT. 
          COMMISSIONER TO GET IT RIGHT. GOOD. GOOD. WELL,
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
ABOUT HOW THINGS ARE GOING ALONG. 
          THE OTHER THING, TOO, THAT I WANT TO MENTION IS THAT THE,
YOU KNOW, THE THE 400 AND WHAT IS IT, 408 MILLION THAT WE'RE SHORT? WE'RE SHORT NOT BECAUSE OF OVERSPENDING,
NOT BECAUSE OF MISMANAGEMENT, BUT WE'RE SHORT BECAUSE THE PREVIOUS LAND COMMISSIONER. 
          CUT. SECOND. MOTION BY COMMISSIONER ELLIS TO CONTINUE DISCUSSION. 
          SECOND BY COMMISSIONER GARCIA. ALL IN FAVOR? ANY OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY. WELL, WE'RE SHORT BECAUSE THE PREVIOUS LAND COMMISSIONER,
COMMISSIONER BUSH SHORTCHANGED US. 
          AND AND SO, WE'LL WE'LL FIGURE OUT HOW TO RESOLVE THAT. 
          BUT I JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU FOR ALL YOUR WORK. 
          I KNOW THAT THERE ARE MOTIONS THAT WILL BE MADE. 
          I WILL BE WORKING TO MAKE SOME OF THESE. I THINK THESE ARE MOTIONS THAT GIVE EVERYBODY
GOOD COMFORT THAT THAT THE PRIORITIZATION FRAMEWORK IS INTACT THAT THE SCORING OF SUCH IS INTACT,
THAT THERE'S A WORKING GROUP THE DASHBOARD THE FUNDING ALLOCATION, ALL THAT THAT WE HAVE STRUGGLED THROUGH TO UNDERSTAND. 
          BUT I JUST WANT TO REMIND FOLKS THAT DOCTOR PETERSON HAS DONE A PHENOMENAL JOB COMING INTO
THIS PROGRAM, ALMOST IN MIDSTREAM RECOGNIZING THAT IN 2017,
THERE WAS ONE LIST THAT WAS APPROVED, WORK STARTED ON THAT LIST. AND THEN WHEN THIS COURT CAME IN,
THE PRIORITIZATION FRAMEWORK WAS ADOPTED, WHICH CREATED SOME CHANGES. AND THEN I WORKED WITH COMMISSIONER BUCKINGHAM TO START TO GET
US THE GLO DOLLARS. 
          THOSE PARTNERSHIP DOLLARS CAME WITH THEIR OWN CHALLENGES,
WHICH IN THEORY CREATED A THIRD LIST. 
          AND SO YOU'VE BEEN JUGGLING SEVERAL THINGS ALL AT ONCE. 
          AND I JUST WANT TO APPLAUD YOU AND YOUR TEAM FOR NOT DROPPING ANY OF THOSE BALLS AND AND
KEEPING THINGS MOVING. 
          SO THANK YOU FOR YOUR GOOD WORK. AND AND I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO MAKING THE MOTIONS. 
          THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER RAMSEY. THANK YOU, DOCTOR PETERSON. 
          IT'S BEEN QUITE THE QUITE THE JOURNEY THESE LAST THREE MONTHS. 
          I ECHO MY COLLEAGUES COMMENTS. OUR ABILITY TO GET IN A ROOM AND FOCUS ON THE PROBLEM AND
PROVIDE SOLUTIONS HAS BEEN THAT'S MADE ALL THE DIFFERENCE. 
          RATHER THAN EVERYBODY GOING TO THEIR CORNER AND AND GETTING THEIR ROCKS AND START THROWING
ROCKS AT, 
          [02:35:04]
I COULD LOOK AT WHAT'S COME UP WITH, I THINK ALL OF US COULD AND SAY,
GOSH, I WISH WE WOULD, WE WOULD MODIFY THIS AND WE WOULD MODIFY THAT. 
          I CAN TELL YOU IT'S TIME TO MOVE FORWARD. IT'S TIME TO GET AFTER IT IN TERMS OF WHAT WE'RE
GOING TO BE VOTING ON SHORTLY. 
          LET ME PUT IT IN THE CONTEXT. I THINK WHAT YOU JUST SAID I'LL I'LL BE MUCH SHORTER. 
          WE HAVE DONE $1.5 BILLION WORTH OF PROJECTS TO DATE. 
          THAT'S INVESTMENTS MADE IN HARRIS COUNTY. THAT'S INVESTMENTS MADE IN 22 WATERSHEDS IN
HARRIS COUNTY. 
          WHAT WE'RE GOING TO TALK ABOUT TODAY, MOTIONS ARE GOING TO BE MADE AND $3.5 BILLION
DOLLARS WORTH OF PROJECTS ARE GOING TO BE RELEASED. THEY'RE GOING TO BE FOCUSED. 
          IT'S URGENT THAT WE NOW MOVE FORWARD NOW THAT WE'VE DONE THE ENGINEERING. 
          NOW THAT WE'VE DONE THE VETTING IN TERMS OF OF WHERE PROJECTS SHOULD BE,
THE PRIORITIZATION, ALL THOSE ARE IMPORTANT. BUT WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE WHAT WE'VE DONE,
IT'S AND WHAT IS ABOUT TO HAPPEN. 
          I THINK THAT'S THAT'S IMPORTANT. YOU MENTIONED AND I THINK IT'S WORTH MENTIONING,
THAT $250 MILLION WORTH OF PROJECTS HAVE BEEN DEEMED. WE'RE NOT GOING TO DO THAT PROJECT. THAT IS NOT ANYTHING WE NEED TO BE DOING. 
          AND I THINK THAT'S JUST GOOD ENGINEERING THAT IS LOOKING AT WE'RE NOT GOING TO DO
SOMETHING SIMPLY BECAUSE IT WAS SUGGESTED IN 2018 AS, AS COMMISSIONER ELLIS SAYS, IN THE HEAT OF THE MOMENT. 
          WE SAID WE'RE GOING TO DO THIS PROJECT OR THAT PROJECT. 
          SO $250 MILLION. I CONSIDER THAT SAVINGS. AND THEN THE 401 MILLION OF PROJECTS TO BE DONE. 
          LET ME TELL YOU ABOUT THOSE 401, $408 MILLION IN PROJECTS. 
          THERE'S A PER A PRELIMINARY ENGINEERING REPORT ON EVERY ONE OF THOSE. 
          IT'S NOT LIKE THEY'RE SITTING THERE WITH US NOT KNOWING. 
          I CONSIDER THAT ON THE SHELF, READY TO MOVE TO THAT NEXT LEVEL,
READY TO GO PURSUE FUNDING. 
          LAST TIME I CHECKED, THE STATE OF TEXAS HAD OVER HOW MANY BILLION OVER $15 BILLION JUST SITTING THERE WAITING FOR PROJECTS TO FUND. 
          WELL, IF THEY DON'T COME TO THE MOST IMPORTANT COUNTY IN THE STATE,
IF THEY DON'T COME TO THE COUNTY WHERE THE MOST JOBS ARE THE MOST PRODUCTIVITY IN TERMS OF THE ECONOMY, I DON'T KNOW WHAT ELSE THEY'RE GOING TO DO WITH THE MONEY. 
          I'M VERY OPTIMISTIC. I'LL EVEN SAY THIS. I THINK THESE $3.5 BILLION WORTH OF PROJECTS IS
GOING TO TAKE, WHAT, MAYBE 3 TO 5 YEARS TO DO. I PROMISE YOU,
I THINK WE'LL BE ABLE TO FIND PARTNERS AND OTHER FUNDING SOURCES LIKELY WILL NEED TO GO TO THE VOTERS AGAIN. BUT I THINK WHEN THEY SEE THIS $3.5 BILLION
WORTH OF EFFORT GOING AND UNDER CONSTRUCTION, I THINK THAT'LL BE THE TIME TO TAKE IT TO THE VOTERS. 
          UNFORTUNATELY, WE KNOW ABOUT ELECTIONS. WE KNOW ABOUT WHEN YOU SHOULD HAVE A BOND ELECTION
AND HAVING A BOND ELECTION WITHIN A YEAR OF HAVING HARVEY WASN'T NECESSARILY A DUMB THING. 
          I THINK THAT WAS PROBABLY A SMART THING. SOMETIMES PEOPLE FORGET. 
          THEY FORGET IT FLOODS. I MEAN, LAST YEAR WE HAD BARREL AND WE HAD THE MAY DAY STORMS. AND THOSE WERE I WOULD CALL SOMEWHAT REMINDERS THAT THAT THEY'RE THERE. 
          SO I'M 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 GLOW KNOWS IT. THE HARRIS COUNTY FLOOD CONTROL DISTRICT KNOWS IT,
AND WE GOT TO GET THOSE AT THE TOP OF THE LIST. 
          WE CAN'T AFFORD TO NOT MEET A DEADLINE AND RISK LOSING THE FUNDING. 
          I'M SAYING THIS AS A PLACEHOLDER. IT SHOULD BE A VERY IMPORTANT PART OF WHAT WE MANAGE
GOING FORWARD. 
          AND THE OTHER THING I WOULD SAY, JUST START DOING THE MATH IS PRETTY STRAIGHTFORWARD. 
          $3.5 BILLION WORTH OF PROJECTS HAVE TO BE BID. 
          THERE'S CAPACITY TO DO THAT IN THIS REGION. I THINK CONTRACTORS ARE READY,
WILLING AND ABLE TO ENGAGE AND DO THAT. 
          BUT WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO START BIDDING PROJECTS. 
          AND WHEN YOU START LOOKING AT 3.5 BILLION, IF WE'RE NOT BIDDING 800 MILLION A YEAR,
GIVE OR TAKE. 
          WE'RE BACKING UP. SO THOSE WOULD BE THE KINDS OF SIMPLE QUESTIONS WE'LL BE ASKING STARTING
TODAY. 
          THIS IS DAY ZERO IN TERMS OF $3.5 BILLION WORTH OF PROJECTS. 
          AND AS WE MONITOR THOSE AND WE LOOK AT THE BIDDING,
I THINK THE, THE, THE CONSTITUENTS OF FOLKS OUT THERE CAN SAY, 
          [02:40:07]
BUT I WILL SAY AGAIN, THESE WILL HELP ALL 22 WATERSHEDS IN HARRIS COUNTY. 
          THERE WASN'T ANY WATERSHED OVERLOOKED. AND I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO ALSO AS YOU RAMP UP THE
MAINTENANCE PROGRAM, BECAUSE WE CAN WALK AND CHEW GUM, WE CAN MANAGE OUR 2018 BOND ISSUE. 
          WE CAN RAMP UP A MAINTENANCE PROGRAM, AND THEN WE CAN OPERATE JUST THE CORE BUSINESS OF
WHAT WE'VE GOT. 
          SO GOOD JOB ON WHAT WE'VE GOT HERE TODAY. I THINK NOW WE CAN GO WITH SOME DEGREE OF DETAIL
AND DISCUSS THIS WITH EACH ONE OF OUR CONSTITUENTS AND SAY,
THIS IS WHAT WE'RE GOING TO DO, AND THIS IS WHEN WE'RE LIKELY TO DO IT. 
          THANK YOU FOR YOUR EFFORTS. THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER BRIONES. 
          DOCTOR PETERSON, THANK YOU AND YOUR TEAM FOR YOUR TREMENDOUS HARD WORK TO GET US WHERE WE
ARE TODAY. 
          AND TO MY FOUR COLLEAGUES, THANK YOU AND YOUR TEAMS. I'M VERY PROUD THAT WE WERE ABLE TO WORK SO COLLABORATIVELY. 
          AND WE HAVE THESE MOTIONS THAT ALL FIVE OFFICES WORKED ON TOGETHER. 
          SO I'M REALLY EXCITED TO BRING THOSE FORWARD. 
          BUT JUST TO MAKE SURE WE'RE ALL ON THE SAME PAGE,
MOST IMPORTANTLY FOR ALL OF THE PUBLIC WHO IS LISTENING, COULD YOU PLEASE JUST STATE ONCE MORE HOW MANY PROJECTS HAVE BEEN COMPLETED THUS FAR? YES. AND AS YOU'RE ANSWERING THAT, I THINK WE'VE BEEN SWITCHING BACK BETWEEN BOND ID AND
PROJECTS. 
          SO CAN YOU CLARIFY FOR THE PUBLIC WHAT YOU MEAN EXACTLY. 
          I WOULD BE HAPPY TO. SO LET'S START WITH BONDED VERSUS PROJECT. 
          SO A BONDED IS ONE OF THE 181 DIFFERENT LINE ITEMS THAT STARTED OUT AS COMMISSIONER
GARCIA. 
          YOU YOU POINTED OUT THERE WAS ACTUALLY A DIFFERENT LIST AT THE VERY BEGINNING. 
          IT HAS CHANGED OVER TIME, BUT WE REALLY LANDED AT SOME POINT ON 181. 
          SO THOSE IN SOME WAYS REPRESENT BUCKETS OF FUNDING. 
          SO SOMETIMES THERE IS ONE PROJECT THAT CAN BE DONE UNDER THAT BOND ID. 
          SOMETIMES THERE ARE MULTIPLE PROJECTS THAT ARE COMPLETED. 
          AND SO THAT'S WHY WHEN WE SAY WE HAVE, I THINK,
75 BOND IDS THAT ARE MOVING FORWARD, AND THERE ARE 240 PLUS PROJECTS THAT ARE GOING TO BE COMPLETED UNDER THOSE. THAT'S WHY WE CAN DO MULTIPLE PROJECTS UNDER THESE BOND IDS AND
REALLY MULTIPLY THE DOLLARS. 
          A LOT OF TIMES THAT HAPPENS BECAUSE OF PARTNERSHIPS. 
          IN TERMS, CAN YOU REPEAT YOUR OTHER QUESTION,
THE NUMBER THAT WE'RE SO IN TERMS OF AGAIN, THE SUCCESS WHAT HAS BEEN COMPLETED? YES. SO WE HAVE COMPLETED 54 OF THOSE BOND IDS. 
          MOTION TO EXTEND TIME. MOTION BY COMMISSIONER BRANDIS,
YOU SAID UNTIL WE COMPLETE. 
          CAN WE DO THAT UNTIL WE COMPLETE THIS DISCUSSION? YOU CAN DO THAT. JUDGE. OKAY. SO MOTION BY COMMISSIONER VARONIS TO EXTEND THE TIME UNTIL
WE COMPLETE THE DISCUSSION OF FLOOD CONTROL. 
          SECOND BY COMMISSIONER RAMSAY. WAS IT ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. ANY OPPOSED. MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY. 
          AND THEN ON THE PROJECTS THAT HAVE BEEN COMPLETED,
THERE HAVE BEEN 109 THAT HAVE BEEN COMPLETED UNDER THOSE 54 BOND IDS. 
          PERFECT. AND JUST TO GIVE AN ILLUSTRATIVE EXAMPLE,
SO PROJECT BRAYS, 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 PROJECTS ARE,
PROJECT BRAYS ADDED 3.5 5 BILLION GALLONS OF WATER CAPACITY. THAT'S 11 ASTRODOME'S FULL OF WATER. 
          AND THAT HELPED PROTECT APPROXIMATELY 15,000 STRUCTURES FROM THE 100 YEAR FLOOD PLAIN. 
          AND AGAIN, TO YOUR POINT EARLIER, WE SAW THE POSITIVE IMPACT OF THAT ONE PROJECT BRAYS
AFTER BARREL WHEN WE HAD MINIMAL STRUCTURES AFFECTED AND HOMES AND FAMILIES. 
          SO THESE PROJECTS ARE DEEPLY COMPLEX AND I APPRECIATE THE TREMENDOUS,
TREMENDOUS WORK. 
          SO MY NEXT QUESTION IS WITH REGARD TO PUBLIC TRUST AND CONFIDENCE. 
          I KNOW THERE WAS PUBLICLY AVAILABLE INFORMATION FOR MANY,
MANY MONTHS PREVIOUS, BUT THIS DASHBOARD IS DEFINITELY AN ENHANCEMENT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE AS OPEN, TRANSPARENT, AND ACCOUNTABLE TO THE PUBLIC WITH THEIR TAXPAYER DOLLARS. 
          SO COULD YOU PLEASE JUST RECAP WHAT EXACTLY THIS DASHBOARD WILL CONTAIN AND HOW FREQUENTLY
IT WILL BE UPDATED? YES. SO THE DASHBOARD HAS INFORMATION ABOUT EACH OF THE BOND IDS AS WELL AS THE PROJECTS. 
          SO ALL OF THE INDIVIDUAL PROJECTS WITHIN A BOND ID ARE ITEMIZED AND LISTED. 
          IT INCLUDES INFORMATION ABOUT THE DOLLARS THAT HAVE BEEN SPENT,
THE DOLLARS THAT HAVE BEEN BUDGETED. 
          IT INCLUDES THE LOCATION OF THE PROJECT ON A MAP THAT YOU CAN CLICK AND SEE. 
          IT INCLUDES THE STATUS AND IT ALSO INCLUDES THE SCHEDULE. 
          AND THEN WE ALSO HAVE INCLUDED, AS PART OF THE MAP,
MULTIPLE DIFFERENT LAYERS THAT YOU CAN TURN ON AND OFF SO THAT YOU CAN REALLY GET THE 
          [02:45:04]
CONTEXT FOR FOR THE LOCATION OF THESE PROJECTS RELATED TO THE WATERSHED BOUNDARIES,
RELATED TO DIFFERENT JURISDICTIONAL BOUNDARIES RELATED TO THE LMI OR THE SVI. AND SO YOU'RE REALLY ABLE TO NOT ONLY UNDERSTAND THE PROJECT,
UNDERSTAND REALLY THE THE WORK THAT HAS BEEN DONE, THE PLANNED WORK, THE TIMELINE, BUT ALSO PUT IT IN CONTEXT WITHIN REALLY THE GEOGRAPHIC
SPACE OF HARRIS COUNTY. 
          THANK YOU, DOCTOR PETERSON. AND BASED ON VOTES OF THIS COURT AND THAT TIMELINE YOU SHOWED
JUST TO CONFIRM FOR THE PUBLIC THE QUARTILE ONE TIER ONE PROJECTS. 
          THOSE WERE THE HIGHEST SCORING PROJECTS BASED ON THE PRIORITIZATION FRAMEWORK. 
          CORRECT? THAT IS CORRECT. OKAY. AND THOSE ARE ALL MOVING FORWARD. CORRECT. MOVING FORWARD.
PLUS, YOU HAVE ADDED A CONTINGENCY SO THAT WE CAN BE EVEN MORE PREPARED. 
          THAT IS CORRECT. OKAY. PLUS WE WILL BE MOVING FORWARD WITH THE PARTNERSHIP PROJECTS. 
          THAT IS CORRECT. AND I WANT TO THANK THE 27 UNIQUE PARTNERS FOR THE 2.7 BILLION. 
          WE'RE ALL IN THIS TOGETHER. AND I LOVE TO ME THAT'S GOOD GOVERNMENT. WHEN YOU HAVE LOCAL,
COUNTY, STATE AND FEDERAL ALL PARTNERING TO INVEST IN THE SAFETY OF FAMILIES AND RESIDENTS. 
          SO MY NEXT QUESTION IS YOU MENTIONED NOT TECHNICALLY VIABLE,
AND I KNOW WE ALL GET CALLS FROM OUR CONSTITUENTS SO THAT WE'RE VERY CLEAR WHEN YOU SAY NOT TECHNICALLY VIABLE. COULD YOU PLEASE EXPLAIN THE TECHNICAL DEFINITION BEHIND THAT
CLASSIFICATION? AND THEN CAN YOU ALSO LINK THAT TO WHAT COMMISSIONER RAMSEY SAID ABOUT THE PURS AND HOW
EVERY PROJECT WAS ASSESSED? RIGHT. PLEASE DISCUSS. SO WHEN WE TALK ABOUT A PROJECT NOT BEING FEASIBLE,
WHAT WE'RE REALLY MEANING IS A PROJECT THAT AS COMMISSIONER RAMSEY, YOU SAID IT JUST DOESN'T MAKE SENSE TO DO. SO FOR EXAMPLE,
WE HAD SOME PROJECTS WHERE IT WAS GOING TO PROVIDE STORMWATER DETENTION FOR A CONVEYANCE PROJECT. WELL, WE FOUND OUT THAT THE CONVEYANCE PROJECT EITHER WASN'T GOING TO GO FORWARD
OR THEY HAD FIGURED OUT A DIFFERENT WAY TO MANAGE THAT PROJECT. 
          SO THEY DIDN'T NEED A BASIN. AND SO IN THAT CASE,
THAT PROJECT IS NO LONGER TECHNICALLY REQUIRED. 
          AND THOSE DOLLARS SHOULD NOT BE USED BECAUSE WE'VE DEMONSTRATED THAT THAT PROJECT PROVIDES
NO BENEFITS. 
          IN OTHER CASES, WE HAVE PROJECTS THAT REALLY DON'T HAVE THE CRITICAL RIGHT OF WAY THAT WE
NEED TO EXECUTE THE WORK. 
          YOU KNOW, A GREAT EXAMPLE, COMMISSIONER BRIONES,
IN YOUR PRECINCT IS THE BRICKHOUSE GULLY PROJECT. 
          WE HAVE LIMITED RIGHT OF WAY IN THAT AREA, AND WE REALLY NEED TO LOOK AT THAT PROBLEM IN A
DIFFERENT WAY THAN PERHAPS WE HAVE LOOKED AT IT BEFORE, AND WE'RE VERY FORTUNATE TO HAVE CDBG FUNDING TO LOOK AT THE WHITE OAK BAYOU WATERSHED,
WHERE WE CAN FOCUS ON BRICKHOUSE GULLY AND REALLY COME UP WITH WITH A PLAN FOR HOW TO ADDRESS THE CHALLENGES IN THAT WATERSHED. 
          AND THEN IN TERMS OF THE THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER RAMSEY,
FOR HIGHLIGHTING THAT, I THINK THAT IS A REALLY IMPORTANT POINT. 
          BECAUSE BY HAVING PAIRS FOR ALL OF THE PROJECTS THAT ARE PAUSING,
WE ARE ABLE TO MAKE SURE THAT WHEN THE OPPORTUNITY COMES, WHEN THE PRIORITIZATION, IF WHEN SHOULD THERE BE ADDITIONAL FUNDING,
WE CAN USE THE PRIORITIZATION FRAMEWORK TO IDENTIFY THE NEXT PROJECT THAT CAN BE FUNDED. 
          AND WE CAN MOVE FORWARD VERY QUICKLY BECAUSE WE'VE ALREADY ASSESSED THE PROBLEM AND HAVE A
RECOMMENDED PATH. 
          PERFECT. SO THAT TECHNICAL DEFINITION THANK YOU MAKES SENSE. 
          AND I REALLY APPRECIATE THE DUE DILIGENCE THAT YOU AND YOUR TEAM HAVE DONE ON ALL OF THE
PROJECTS TO ASSESS THEIR VIABILITY, TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE MAXIMIZING TAX DOLLARS WITH THE PROJECTS THAT WILL DELIVER THE
VALUE AND THE IMPACT AND THE PROTECTION TO OUR COMMUNITY. 
          I KNOW YOU BROUGHT UP BRICKHOUSE GULLY, WHICH I HEAR A LOT FROM MY CONSTITUENTS,
AND THE RISK THERE IS REAL. 
          AND SO I LOOK FORWARD TO US BEING AS RELENTLESS AND CREATIVE AND INNOVATIVE TO FIND PATHS
FORWARD WITH POTENTIAL PARTNERS THAT I KNOW WE'VE BEEN IT'S BEEN A STRUGGLE, BUT I LOOK FORWARD TO CONTINUING TO PUSH FORWARD ON OPTIONS FOR RELIEF,
AND I AM JUST VERY PLEASED THAT WE HAVE A VERY CLEAR PATH FORWARD, AND ONE THAT THE FIVE OFFICES WORKED ON COLLABORATIVELY,
AND ONE THAT EMBRACES AND EMBODIES THE PRIORITIZATION FRAMEWORK AND LEVERAGES PARTNERSHIP DOLLARS TO MEET MY BIRTH AND LIFE FRAMEWORK. TO ME,
THIS IS THE EMBODIMENT OF IT AND REPRESENTING WESTERN HARRIS COUNTY, WHERE FLOOD MITIGATION IS ONE OF THE TOP PRIORITIES. 
          I JUST AM DEEPLY GRATEFUL FOR YOUR TIRELESS EFFORTS,
AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO CONTINUING TO MAKE PROGRESS TOGETHER. 
          THANK YOU, DOCTOR PETERSON. THANK YOU, DOCTOR PETERSON. 
          JUST A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS HERE. SO. SO AT THE LAST TIME WE DISCUSSED THIS,
WE HAD MADE THREE REQUESTS. ONE WAS TO TRACK EACH PROJECT WITHIN THE FLOOD BOND FRAMEWORK. 
          SO EACH OF ACTIVE AND COMPLETED IS LISTED ON THE DASHBOARD. 
          THEN ANOTHER REQUEST WAS TO TRACK WHAT PERCENTAGE COMPLETED IS. 
          SO IT SOUNDS LIKE INSTEAD OF THAT, YOU'RE SHOWING THIS STAGE IN THE CONSTRUCTION LIFE
CYCLE AND THEN RANKING WITHIN THE PRIORITIZATION FRAMEWORK. 
          [02:50:03]
SO THAT'S THAT'S ON THERE. I AGREE WITH THE COMMUNITY. 
          AND I WONDER IF THERE'S A MOTION THAT, THAT WE COULD MAKE ON THIS,
JUST A SIMPLE ONE IN TERMS OF MAKING SURE THAT THE YOU CAN FILTER OUT VIA THE STATUS OF THE PROJECT,
THE STAGE FILTER OUT VIA PRECINCT AND THEN ALSO FILTER OUT VIA PRIORITIZATION FRAMEWORK SCOPE. 
          SO I HAVE A COUPLE QUESTIONS. AND THEN I WANTED TO INVITE COMMUNITY MEMBERS TO RESPOND TO
TO WHAT'S BEEN DISCUSSED OR ASK ANY QUESTIONS. 
          THE FIRST ONE AND COMMISSIONER RAMSEY ALLUDED TO IT A LITTLE BIT IS HOW LONG WILL IT TAKE
TO FINISH ALL OF THE PROJECTS WE'RE AIMING TO FINISH PROJECT IDS. 
          SO THE THE TIMELINE THAT COMMISSIONER RAMSEY ARTICULATED IS IS VERY ACCURATE,
RIGHT. 
          WE'RE WE'RE AIMING FOR BETWEEN 3 AND 5 YEARS. 
          YOU KNOW, ONE OF THE THE CHALLENGES THAT WE HAVE IS,
YOU KNOW, COMMISSIONER RAMSEY, YOU BROUGHT UP, YOU KNOW, THE THE CDBG FUNDING. AND WE HAVE CERTAIN RULES THAT WE SOMETIMES HAVE TO
FOLLOW. 
          AND I WANTED TO JUST KIND OF USE THIS AS AN EXAMPLE OF THE THINGS THAT CAN GET IN OUR WAY
WHEN WE ARE DOING LARGE INFRASTRUCTURE WORK. 
          SO OVER THE NEXT SIX MONTHS, WE ANTICIPATE HAVING,
YOU KNOW, UP TO TEN DIFFERENT BID READY PLAN SETS UNDER CDBG. 
          SO WE HAVE THE ENGINEERING PLANNING. ALL OF THAT IS DONE,
BUT WE HAVE ADMINISTRATIVE HURDLES THAT WE HAVE TO GO THROUGH. 
          AND SO CERTAINLY WE HAVE WE HAVE TO PUT IN APPLICATIONS. 
          WE UNDERSTAND THAT THE GLOW HAS TO BE VERY THOROUGH. 
          WE UNDERSTAND THAT HUD IS VERY THOROUGH IN THEIR REVIEWS AND IT REQUIRES A DETAILED
REVIEW. 
          WE COMPLETELY UNDERSTAND THAT. AND, YOU KNOW,
WE'RE ALSO, YOU KNOW, ANXIOUSLY AWAITING THE OPPORTUNITY TO GET THOSE APPLICATIONS APPROVED SO THAT WE CAN MOVE ON TO THE NEXT ADMINISTRATIVE STEP,
WHICH IS THE ENVIRONMENTAL CLEARANCE. 
          AND RIGHT NOW, ENVIRONMENTAL CLEARANCE IS TAKING ABOUT 240 DAYS,
ABOUT NINE MONTHS. 
          AND SO ONCE WE ARE ABLE TO GET A PROJECT APPROVED,
GET IT INTO THE CONTRACT, THAT'S WHEN WE CAN START OUR ENVIRONMENTAL PROCESS. 
          AND UNTIL WE GET THAT CLEARANCE, WE CAN'T DO CONSTRUCTION. 
          WE CAN'T. SO IT'S NOT TO SAY THAT THESE THINGS ARE IMPOSSIBLE,
BUT IN COMMISSIONER RAMSEY, YOU ARE CORRECT. WE ARE VERY IT IS VERY MUCH ON OUR RADAR AND WE ARE WORKING
COLLABORATIVELY WITH THE GLO. 
          I HAVE TO SAY THANK YOU TO THEM FOR THE PARTNERSHIP. 
          IT'S REALLY A TRANSFORMATIVE, 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 THERE ARE ADMINISTRATIVE HURDLES THAT WE ARE WORKING
THROUGH. 
          THE GOOD NEWS IS WE'RE WE HAVE SEEN PROGRESS. 
          WE HAVE IT'S IT'S NOT SOLVED, BUT WE HAVE SEEN IMPROVEMENTS ON THE SPEED WITH WHICH THE
ENVIRONMENTAL CLEARANCES ARE BEING GAINED. AND SO WE ARE HOPEFUL THAT WE WILL CONTINUE TO SEE THAT
PROGRESS. 
          SO WHEN WE PUT THAT IN CONTEXT WITH THE WHOLE PROGRAM,
OBVIOUSLY ALSO THE DECISIONS THAT WERE MADE HERE TODAY OR WILL BE MADE HERE, I SHOULD SAY WILL OBVIOUSLY ADD SOME ADDITIONAL FUNDING THAT WE NEED TO TAKE INTO ACCOUNT
AS PART OF OUR OVERALL PLANNING. 
          AND SO I THINK 3 TO 5 YEARS TO THE POINT IS,
IS A GOOD ESTIMATE AND ONE THAT WE CAN WE CAN VALIDATE. 
          OKAY. THE $1 BILLION FROM THE SECRETARY FUDGE COMMITTED AT THE TIME. 
          DID THAT NOT ARRIVE. WE RECEIVED THROUGH THE GLO ABOUT 865 MILLION. 
          RIGHT. BUT THAT WAS BACK IN THAT WAS ACTUALLY WE WE HAD THOSE AGREEMENTS APPROVED BY
COURT, I BELIEVE, IN 2024. YEAH. BUT BECAUSE THERE WAS SOMETHING THE THAT THE JAIL WAS SITTING
ON. 
          2 BILLION. AND THEN WHAT WAS SUPPOSED TO BE A BILLION FOR THE CITY OF HOUSTON? BILLION FOR HARRIS COUNTY. THEN SECRETARY FUDGE SAID SHE'S GOING TO SHE'S GOING TO WORK TO
MAKE SURE THAT HARRIS COUNTY GETS ITS BILLION, OR I THINK IT'S 800 MILLION, SOMETHING LIKE THAT. 
          SO IS THAT THAT SAME THING? I WOULDN'T WANT TO SPECULATE,
JUDGE. 
          I DO KNOW THAT THERE WERE MANY CONVERSATIONS ABOUT FUNDING FROM FROM HUD THROUGHOUT THE
YEARS. 
          I THINK THAT WAS THAT DIRECTIVE. BUT I DON'T KNOW. 
          LET'S CHECK BECAUSE I JUST WANT TO I REALLY THOUGHT SHE HAD FOLLOWED THROUGH ON THAT,
AND I JUST I JUST WANT TO HAVE IT FOR MY OWN, YOU KNOW? SO, SO I'LL HAVE IF, IF YOU KNOW THAT IF YOU CAN OR YOU COULD CIRCLE BACK. 
          [02:55:01]
THANK YOU. CIRCLE BACK WITH YOUR TEAM AND THEN OR IF YOU IF YOU'RE ABLE TO FIND OUT,
ASK YOUR TEAM TO FIGURE THAT OUT. 
          YOU KNOW, DURING COURT PROJECT BRAYS WAS COMPLETED WHAT YEAR IT WAS COMPLETED IN IN 2023. 
          OKAY. OKAY. I REMEMBER DOING A PRESS CONFERENCE ON IT 2022,
BUT I GUESS IT WASN'T FINISHED. 
          YES. IT ACTUALLY YOU WERE. YOU WERE RIGHT, I WAS WRONG. 
          YOU WERE CORRECT. IT WAS 2022. OKAY. I JUST,
YOU KNOW, WANT TO MAKE SURE FOR PURPOSES OF, YOU KNOW TAKING CREDIT FOR PROJECTS THAT WERE DONE BEFORE SOME OF US ARRIVED. 
          ALL RIGHT, SO OTHER, OTHER BIT HERE. CAN YOU PROVIDE AN EXAMPLE OF A BOND ID THAT HAS
VARIOUS PROJECTS WITHIN IT? YES, I AM THINKING SO. CERTAINLY THERE ARE. 
          THE ONE THAT IS COMING TO MIND IS, IS ACTUALLY SOME WORK THAT WE HAVE UNDERWAY IN
KINGWOOD. 
          SO IN THAT CASE, WE HAVE A CONVEYANCE PROJECT THAT IS RELATED TO THE DETENTION BASIN. 
          BUT THOSE ARE TWO SEPARATE PROJECTS. OKAY. AND THEN ANY COMMUNITY MEMBERS THAT HAVE
FEEDBACK, ADDITIONAL FEEDBACK OR QUESTIONS? YES. YEAH. GO AHEAD. 
          IF YOU WOULDN'T MIND COMING UP. AND, DIRECTOR PETERSON,
IF YOU WOULDN'T MIND JUST GIVING AN OPPORTUNITY FOR THEM TO SPEAK. 
          YOU KNOW, WHILE THEY HAD ACTUALLY DIRECTOR PETERSON,
THERE WAS ONE THING, AS I'M KIND OF LOOKING THROUGH REAL QUICK, THE DASHBOARD. I DO NOTICE THAT THE COMPLETED PROJECTS,
A LOT OF THEM ARE QUARTILES THREE AND FOUR. 
          AND SO I DO WANT TO SAY FOR THE RECORD, YOU KNOW,
I'M GLAD WE ARE WHERE WE ARE. 
          AND BUT AT THE SAME TIME IT HAS BEEN. FRUSTRATING,
DISAPPOINTING AND I THINK DISRESPECTFUL TO THE COMMUNITY THAT SO MANY PROJECTS WERE STARTED AND COMPLETED IN
VIOLATION OF THE PRIORITIZATION FRAMEWORK. 
          AND I KNOW A LOT OF THIS WAS NOT UNDER YOUR LEADERSHIP,
BUT I JUST WANT TO BE REALLY CLEAR FOR THE RECORD. 
          BUT THANK YOU FOR MAKING SURE THAT GOING FORWARD,
WE'RE WE'RE RESPECTING THAT. 
          YES. GO AHEAD JUDGE. CAN I FINISH? SURE. SURE. 
          I WAS JUST GOING TO SAY, IF WE'RE GOING TO HAVE SPEAKERS,
I THINK THE COURT NEEDS TO ACTUALLY TAKE SOME ACTION TO ALLOW THEM, BECAUSE IT'S NOT. WE DON'T NORMALLY. I MEAN, I CAN HAVE ONE PERSON,
LIKE, NORMALLY. I'LL JUST ASK THEM TO COME. 
          OH, NO. NO, I KNOW, BUT I DIDN'T KNOW IF THIS WAS SOMETHING THAT I JUST WANTED TO. 
          OKAY. WHAT IS THE MOTION? IF YOU JUST WANT TO MAKE A MOTION TO SUSPEND THE RULES,
TO ALLOW PUBLIC COMMENTS FOR SPEAKERS. 
          I MOVE TO SUSPEND THE RULES FOR FIVE MINUTES SO THAT WE CAN HEAR THESE SPEAKERS. 
          SECOND, A MOTION BY COMMISSIONER GARCIA. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER ELLIS. ALL IN FAVOR? ANY OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY. YES. 
          SO, WILL YOU GUYS JUST SHARE YOUR FEEDBACK? THANK YOU. DIRECTOR,
AND ANY QUESTIONS BEFORE YOU ALL SPEAK I WANT TO SAY THAT, YOU KNOW, OBVIOUSLY THE WAY WE WORK, WE'RE ALL PROUD OF ONE ANOTHER. 
          AND I'M PROUD OF ALL MY COLLEAGUES. BUT WE ARE ALL AWARE THAT WE DIDN'T GET HERE WITHOUT
YOUR HELP. 
          SO WE WERE HEADED, I THINK, IN THE DIRECTION WHICH DEVIATED FROM THE PATH THAT I THOUGHT
WE WERE ON. 
          I THINK MOST OF US THOUGHT WE WERE ON AND WHEN YOU ALL CAME TO RAISE SOME GOOD TROUBLE,
THAT'S WHAT PUT US BACK ON PATH. 
          SO IN NO WAY DO WE WANT TO OVERLOOK THAT. AND WE APPRECIATE WHAT YOU DID. 
          AND WE'RE WELL AWARE THAT GOING FORWARD FOR A BOND ISSUE TO PASS AGAIN,
YOU ALL WILL BE A PART OF IT. 
          SO WITH THAT, YOU GOT FIVE MINUTES. SO OBVIOUSLY EVERYBODY CAN'T TALK. 
          THIS IS WHAT THEY USED TO DO WHEN I, WHEN I FIRST GOT HERE. AND THEY DID IT WHEN I WAS IN
AUSTIN. KIND OF FIGURE OUT AMONG YOURSELVES WHO. 
          SO YOU DON'T HAVE TO SAY WHAT SOMEBODY ELSE HAS SAID. I WILL TELL YOU. SOMEBODY SENT UP A
QUESTION. 
          WE CAN ALLOW EACH ONE TO HAVE ONE MINUTE, AS WE DID PREVIOUSLY. 
          GOOD. SO EVERYONE WILL BE RESTRICTED TO ONE MINUTE. 
          OKAY. COMMISSIONER GARCIA, COULD WE MAKE IT SIX MINUTES BECAUSE THERE'S ONE PERSON ELSE
LIKE BIG BEN AND THE CHAIR OVER THERE. 
          HE'S NOT IN LINE. YEAH, BUT HE'LL WANT TO GET TO. 
          YEAH. SIX MINUTES. ONE MINUTE A PERSON. OKAY. 
          COMMISSIONER. MAYBE YOU SHOULD RUN FOR JUDGE SO YOU CAN RUN THE COURT. 
          YOU KNOW, WHEN WE TALKED ABOUT IT IN 2018, I SHOULD HAVE. 
          I SHOULD HAVE THOUGHT TWICE ABOUT JUDGE. JUDGE A COUPLE. 
          I CAN UNDERSTAND WHY YOU HAVE A COUPLE OF ADVOCATES DID SEND THIS IN,
IF I MIGHT. 
          THEY SAID, HOW CAN WE ENSURE THAT THE DASHBOARD IS ACCESSIBLE FOR THOSE WHO DON'T SPEAK
ENGLISH OR ARE VISUALLY IMPAIRED? AND I THINK, DOCTOR PETERSON, YOU WORKED THAT OUT FOR HIM. 
          YEAH. AND COMMISSIONER, IT'S JUST THAT THIS IS STILL MY SECTION. 
          SO I REALLY WANTED TO HAVE ENGAGE WITH THESE SPEAKERS. 
          AND I PROMISED WHEN THEY FIRST CAME UP AND EACH OF YOU HAD YOUR TIME. 
          AND I WANT TO BE ABLE TO HAVE MY TIME, PLEASE. 
          MY NAME IS SHIRLEY RONQUILLO, COMMUNITY ORGANIZER WHO WORKED ALONGSIDE MANDATORY BUYOUT
PARTICIPANTS AS A RESULT OF NEGLECT OF INVESTMENT IN INFRASTRUCTURE ALONG GREENSBORO AND 
          [03:00:06]
HALL'S BAYOU. HAVING HAD THAT EXPERIENCE, SEEING FAMILY TORN APART,
SEEING A YOUNG GIRL SHOT IN THE FACE BECAUSE SHE WAS PROMISED TO SAVE HER HOME, I COME BACK TO ASK, WHAT IS THE PLAN FOR COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT? WHAT IS THE PLAN FOR INCLUSION? GREAT WORK TODAY. 
          GREAT WORK LAST NIGHT. BUT THAT'S NOT ENOUGH. 
          THE DASHBOARD IS GREAT, BUT WHEN I CLICK ON SPANISH AND I CLICK ON THE PDFS,
IT'S IN ENGLISH. 
          WHEN I LOOK AT THE IMAGES THAT SHOULD BE IN SPANISH,
THEY'RE STILL IN ENGLISH, SO IT'S STILL NOT ENOUGH. 
          LIVES WERE TORN APART. I HOPE THAT ALL OF YOU AND YOUR OFFICES WILL HOLD HARRIS COUNTY
FLOOD CONTROL ACCOUNTABLE FOR THAT INCLUSION AND THAT EQUITY IN COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT, BECAUSE I JUST HAD A MEETING WITH PRIYA,
ONE OF THE EMPLOYEES, ABOUT THE RESILIENCE PLAN, AND ASKED THE SAME QUESTIONS ASKED ABOUT, ARE YOU INCLUDING OUR SPANISH SPEAKERS? ARE YOU PREPARED TO RECEIVE THEM IN THE INITIAL MEETINGS? AND THE ANSWER WAS NO. WE'RE
DOING IT OUR WAY. 
          THANK YOU. THANK YOU. SO WE'LL I'LL ADD THAT TO WHAT WHAT I'LL BE PROPOSING IS TO TRY TO
MAKE IT TO WHERE IT'S IT'S EASY TO CLICK ON TO HAVE SOME OTHER LANGUAGES. SO MY, MY TEAM I KNOW IS NOTING THAT AND THEN AND I DIDN'T UNDERSTAND WHAT YOU
MEANT ABOUT INCLUDING THEM IN WHAT EXACTLY IN THE INITIAL I JUST DIDN'T I DIDN'T CATCH IT. 
          SURE. SO THERE'S SOME MEETINGS WITH COMMUNITY,
WITH SMALL GROUPS OF COMMUNITY MEMBERS FOR THE FLOOD RESILIENCE PLAN, AND THEN THERE'S GOING TO BE BIGGER MEETINGS WITH COMMUNITY. 
          AND SO MY QUESTION, I WAS INVITED TO A MEETING TO TALK ABOUT THIS PLAN. 
          AND MY QUESTION FOR THE SMALL GROUPS WAS HOW ARE YOU,
INCLUDING OUR SPANISH SPEAKERS? AND THE ANSWER WAS, WE'RE NOT. WE'RE SENDING OUT INVITATION TO ONLY A SMALL GROUP OF
PEOPLE. 
          HAVING HAD THE EXPERIENCE OF THE BUYOUT AND KNOWING THAT PREDOMINANTLY SPANISH SPEAKING
MONOLINGUAL FAMILIES WERE THE MOST IMPACTED, MIXED STATUS FAMILIES WERE THE MOST IMPACTED. 
          IT IS NOT OKAY TO LEAVE THEM OUT OF THESE CONVERSATIONS THAT ARE SUPPOSED TO BE THE FLOOD
RESILIENCE PLAN FOR HARRIS COUNTY. 
          SO I'LL ASK DIRECTOR PETERSON TO ADDRESS THAT. 
          AND I DON'T KNOW THE DETAILS OF THESE MEETINGS,
BUT IF YOU CAN INCLUDE THE COMMUNITIES AND IT DOESN'T HAVE TO JUST BE SPANISH. 
          BUT YOU RAISE A VERY GOOD POINT. WE HAD MULTI-YEAR NIGHTMARE WITH A COMMUNITY THAT HAD A
MANDATORY BUYOUT. 
          SPANISH SPEAKING. AND I'M NOT I'M NOT PROUD OF THAT ONE. 
          THANK YOU. GO AHEAD PLEASE. GUADALUPE FERNANDEZ WITH BAYOU CITY WATERKEEPER AGAIN
ENCOURAGED AND RELIEF TO SEE COMMISSIONERS COURT AND FLOOD CONTROL TAKING DECISIVE, LONG OVERDUE STEPS THIS SUMMER TO FIX THE MANY CHALLENGES OF THE FLOOD BOND. 
          AND SO, LIKE DOCTOR PETERSON SAID THAT STAFF WERE WORKING UNTIL MIDNIGHT TO TO GET THIS
DASHBOARD READY. 
          I WAS UP UNTIL 2 A.M. ANALYZING IT AND HAVE ADDED SOME ADDITIONAL RECOMMENDATIONS FOR
FEEDBACK. 
          I THINK THE QUESTION FOR DOCTOR PETERSON OR WHOEVER AT FLOOD CONTROL IS,
WHAT IS THE MECHANISM FOR PUBLIC FEEDBACK AND REFINEMENT ON THE DASHBOARD TO ENSURE THAT IT IS ACCESSIBLE? WE HAVE CONCERNS AROUND SPANISH LANGUAGE ACCESSIBILITY. 
          PHONE ACCESS, ACCESSIBILITY AND ACCESSIBILITY FOR THE VISUALLY IMPAIRED ARE SECONDARY. 
          WE WANT TO WORK WITH ALL OF Y'ALL ON GETTING THESE PARTNERSHIP DOLLARS TO MAKE OUR FUNDS
AND OUR PROJECTS VIABLE. 
          WE'RE DOING THAT ADVOCACY AT THE FEDERAL AND STATE LEVEL. WORK WITH US. 
          WE WANT TO PULL DOWN THESE FUNDS FOR OUR COMMUNITIES. 
          THE BOND ISN'T ENOUGH. BEFORE YOU GO GET MORE BOND MONEY,
LET'S LIKE, LET'S LET'S HUSTLE FOR THAT MONEY HERE. 
          AND WE HAVE OTHER ADDITIONAL RECOMMENDATIONS FOR THAT CONTINUED COLLABORATION. EXCITED TO
SEE THE MOTIONS LATER. WILL YOU COULD I HAVE THAT HANDOUT VIA THE DEPUTY HERE, IF YOU DON'T MIND THE LIST OF RECOMMENDATIONS? I ALSO EMAILED THEM TO THE EMAIL WITH THE PUBLIC COMMENTS. 
          IS THAT THIS IS NOT THAT. I'D LIKE THE WRITTEN COPY FOR NOW,
IF THAT'S OKAY. 
          IF I IF THAT'S OKAY. YES. GO AHEAD SIR. THANK YOU. 
          HELLO. CHRISTOPHER JENKINS. THEY SAY PRESSURE BUST A PIPE,
AND I FEEL LIKE THIS IS A TEACHABLE MOMENT. 
          SO WHEN IT COMES DOWN IN TERMS OF THE FLOOD DISTRICT,
I REALLY FEEL LIKE WITH THE PARTNERS AND IN COLLABORATION. 
          THIS COULD BE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR THE YOUTH TO HAVE MORE JOB TRAINING. 
          I'VE BEEN UNION SINCE 98. I'M. I'M A COMMUNITY ORGANIZER. 
          I'M A SMALL BUSINESS OWNER, MINORITY CONTRACTOR,
AND A LOT OF CONTRACTS DIDN'T GET TO THESE INDIVIDUALS. 
          I'M PROUD TO BE A UNION WORKER. WHEN STORMS AND FLOODS COME THROUGH AND STUFF,
THE BUILDINGS THAT WE BUILT DON'T FALL APART. 
          THEY THEY REALLY HAVE A HIGH STANDARD. AND ORGANIZATIONS LIKE SIERRA FOR PROGRESS,
WHERE STUDENT ASSISTANCE MINISTRIES, HOUSTON URBAN LEAGUE, THEY'VE ALWAYS DONE TREMENDOUS WORK. 
          THEY NEED TO BE PART OF THIS PROCESS WITH OTHER COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS SO WE CAN GET THE
YOUTH OPPORTUNITY, GET THEM SOME TRAINING. THEY WANT TO BE IN POVERTY. THEY WANT TO BE IN A LIVING DISPARITY. SO I REALLY FEEL LIKE THIS IS A TEACHABLE MOMENT TO WHERE THESE
PARTNERS CAN GET WITH COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS TO BUILD ECONOMIC GROWTH AND EQUITY. 
          SO THANK YOU. THANK YOU. HELLO. I JUST HAVE A QUICK SUGGESTION. 
          THERE'S A THERE'S TWO PDF FILES ABOVE THE DASHBOARD,
ONE THAT SHOWS THE LIST OF ALL BOND IDS, AND THEN ONE THAT SHOWS THE IDS WITH SECURED PARTNERSHIPS,
BUT THESE ARE GIVEN AS PDF FILES. 
          [03:05:06]
SO IF YOU COULD PROVIDE THEM IN A FORMAT THAT ALLOWS YOU TO ACTUALLY FILTER THROUGH THE
FACTORS, INCLUDING THROUGH YOU KNOW, BEING ABLE TO FILTER FOR THE PRIORITIZATION FRAMEWORK SCORE SO
THAT RESIDENTS CAN SEE WHAT EXACTLY WAS PRIORITIZED IN, YOU KNOW, IN THE TOP MANNER AND IF IT WAS COMPLETED OR NOT,
IF IT WAS ACTIVE. 
          SO IT WOULD ALLOW FOLKS TO ACTUALLY FILTER THROUGH THE DATA AND SEE WHICH PROJECTS ARE
ACTIVE OR COMPLETED BASED ON THE SCORE THEY GOT. 
          THANK YOU. THANK YOU. OKAY. I'M GOING TO BE BRIEF. 
          THAT WAY FELIX CAN TAKE 30S OF MY TIME. BUT I JUST WANT TO SAY ALL OF THIS WAS REALLY
OFFENSIVE. 
          LIKE WATCHING YOU ALL SAY GOOD JOB TO MISS TINA,
EVEN THOUGH THAT THE FRAMEWORK WAS NOT PRIORITIZED, IT WAS NOT FOLLOWED THE WAY IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN. 
          IT'S REALLY IT'S REALLY OFFENSIVE. YOU ALL SHOULD THINK ABOUT THE COMMUNITIES THAT YOU
REPRESENT AND THE WAY THAT THIS HARMED THEM, BECAUSE, YES, THIS IS A GREAT, GREAT THING MOVING FORWARD. 
          I'M GLAD THAT YOU GUYS ARE ADDRESSING THE ISSUE. 
          BUT IN REALITY, THIS WAS A LOT OF HARD WORK COMING TO AND DEVELOPING THIS FRAMEWORK AND TO
GET IT PASSED AND ALL OF THESE THINGS. 
          SO IT SHOULD WE SHOULDN'T BE CLAPPING A FISH FOR SWIMMING. 
          THIS IS HER JOB AND SHE SHOULD BE DOING BETTER. 
          AND YOU ALL SHOULD BE HONEST WITH HER. THANK YOU,
THANK YOU. 
          AND FOR THAT REMAINING TIME, I HAD A COUPLE QUESTIONS FOR DOCTOR PETERSON. 
          I DON'T KNOW IF NOW'S THE TIME. JUST MENTION YOUR QUESTIONS,
AND I. 
          AND I WILL ASK HER. THE FIRST WAS THERE WAS A MENTION OF $250 MILLION WORTH OF PROJECTS
THAT HAD BEEN CUT. 
          WANTED TO KNOW, I THINK YOU HAD MENTIONED SOME STUDIES DONE ON LIKE IMPACT,
BUT LIKE, WERE THESE ALSO CUT FOR OTHER REASONS, SUCH AS, LIKE THE PRIORITIZATION MATRIX. ANOTHER QUESTION IS IS FLOOD CONTROL STILL TRYING
TO USE PROP EIGHT FUNDS TO PAY FOR ANY BOND PROJECTS, AND HOW IS THAT DETERMINED? AND THEN ALSO WHAT IS FLOOD CONTROL DOING TO WORK
WITH ENGINEERING ON THEIR THEY MENTIONED A STORMWATER MASTER PLAN AND THEIR BUDGET DEPARTMENT HEARING. 
          HOW ARE THESE FUTURE $3 BILLION PROJECTS GOING TO FACTOR INTO THAT STORMWATER MASTER PLAN? I THINK US AND THE COMMUNITY KIND OF WANT SOME INSIGHT AND LEARNING ON THAT PIECE. 
          SO I GUESS SHOULD WHAT'S THE BEST WAY TO GET THOSE QUESTIONS? I ACTUALLY HAVE THOSE QUESTIONS TOO. SO I WILL I WILL ASK THEM WHEN WE COME BACK AROUND. 
          THANK YOU JUDGE. AND THANK YOU FOR NOT FOLLOWING PROTOCOL. NO NO,
NO THAT'S HELPFUL. 
          THAT'S WHAT I WANTED YOU GUYS TO DO WAS, WAS TO TO GET YOUR PERSPECTIVE AND. 
          OKAY, GREAT. SO SO LET ME DIRECTOR PETERSON,
DO YOU HAVE ANYTHING TO ADD ON THIS? AND THEN I'LL COME BACK AROUND THE THE COURT. 
          CAN WE GET? OH, ONE MORE SPEAKER. I'M SO SORRY. 
          GO AHEAD, SIR. YOU MIGHT HAVE TO USE YOUR VOICE. 
          OKAY. ALL RIGHT. OKAY. THANK YOU. MAY I BRIEFLY OUT IN THE CORRIDOR EARLIER HAD PULLED UP THE APP? IT'S SOMEWHAT ACCESSIBLE. 
          IF THE PERSON WHO'S DEVELOPING IT. I KNOW SHE'S HERE,
BUT COME OUT TO THE WEST GRAY MULTI-PURPOSE CENTER, TALK TO SOME OF THOSE PEOPLE, LET THEM USE IT,
SEE WHAT THEY THINK, BECAUSE THIS AFFECTS US GREATLY. 
          YOU KNOW, WHEN THEY GOT THESE PROJECTS HERE AND OUR FUNDS AND OUR MONEY IS GOING TO IT AS
WELL. 
          SO IF WE COULD NOT BE JUST LOOKED OVER AND JUST SAY,
OH, IT'S ACCESSIBLE. 
          AND LIKE JUDGE, EVEN THE HARRIS COUNTY WEBSITE,
IT'S DIFFICULT FOR ME TO LOG IN TO WATCH THIS RIGHT NOW. 
          SO IF WE COULD WORK ON THAT A LITTLE BIT MORE THAT WOULD BE WONDERFUL. 
          THANK YOU. YOU KNOW, I DID MEAN TO MENTION THAT TO JESSE IN TERMS OF,
YOU KNOW, HAVING TABLES AND INFORMATION IN PDF THAT WE KNOW FOLKS ARE GOING TO WANT TO ANALYZE THAT. THAT'S SOMETHING THAT UP AND DOWN THE COUNTY WOULD BE A REALLY EASY CHANGE
TO MAKE. 
          AND THEN THIS THIS POINT ABOUT ACCESSIBILITY ALSO,
I THINK JUST A SIMPLE GLOBAL PIECE OF FEEDBACK. 
          SO CAN I JUST LEAVE THAT WITH YOU, JESSE? THANK YOU,
THANK YOU, THANK YOU FOR BRINGING THAT BACK UP. 
          DIRECTOR, IF YOU IF YOU WOULDN'T MIND JUST RESPONDING BRIEFLY,
AND THEN I'LL TAKE COMMISSIONER ELLIS, GARCIA AND BRIONES. 
          SURE. SO ON THE DASHBOARD, WE APPRECIATE THE FEEDBACK. 
          WE KNEW IT WAS GOING TO BE A HEAVY LIFT TO GET SOMETHING DEVELOPED TO GET TO THIS COURT. 
          AND SO THIS IS VERY HELPFUL FOR US. WE WILL TAKE ALL OF THIS FEEDBACK. 
          AND YOU KNOW, THERE MAY BE SOMETHING TECHNICALLY NOT FEASIBLE. 
          BUT BEYOND THAT WE APPRECIATE THE ABILITY TO HEAR THIS AND ACT ON IT. 
          IN TERMS OF OF HIRING, WE ACTUALLY ARE WORKING RIGHT NOW. 
          [03:10:03]
WE JUST HAD A, A JOB FAIR WITH THE VETERANS ORGANIZATION. 
          WE'RE WORKING WITH COMMUNITY PARTNERS BECAUSE IT IS CRITICAL THAT WE ENGAGE WITH OUR
COMMUNITY NOT ONLY IN EDUCATING AND GETTING INPUT, BUT ALSO WHEN WE TALK ABOUT HIRING. SO WE HAVE SEVERAL OTHER MEETINGS WHERE WE WILL BE
WORKING WITH COMMUNITY PARTNERS. 
          SO THIS IS A NEW INITIATIVE FOR US. AS WELL THE EXCEL SPREADSHEET,
CERTAINLY, THAT IS YOU KNOW, THE NEXT PHASE, REALLY, OF WHAT THIS DASHBOARD LIKELY CAN INCLUDE. 
          IN TERMS OF THE THREE QUESTIONS ABOUT THE FEASIBLE PROJECTS,
REALLY THOSE ARE JUST PROJECTS THAT DON'T MAKE SENSE FROM AN ENGINEERING PERSPECTIVE. 
          SO THE FRAMEWORK SCORE COULDN'T BE TAKEN INTO ACCOUNT BECAUSE IN ORDER FOR US TO DO A
PROJECT, IT HAS TO BE FEASIBLE. PROP A FUNDS CAN ONLY BE USED FOR MAINTENANCE. 
          THAT IS A COMMITMENT WE MADE. AND SO BUT THERE ARE SEVERAL PROJECTS THAT HAVE BEEN
MAINTENANCE ON THE BOND PROGRAM. 
          AND WE IF THERE'S THAT INTERSECTION, IT IS FEASIBLE TO USE THOSE DOLLARS IN THAT WAY. 
          BUT WE HAVE A VERY STRONG COMMITMENT TO USING THOSE DOLLARS ONLY FOR MAINTENANCE. 
          AND THEN IN TERMS OF THE ENGAGEMENT, WE ACTUALLY JUST MET WITH THE COUNTY ENGINEER LAST
WEEK, PERHAPS. AND WE'RE DISCUSSING A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT PLANNING ACTIVITIES,
INCLUDING THE STORMWATER MASTER PLAN. 
          I KNOW THAT IS VERY EARLY STAGES FOR THEM, AND I KNOW THEY HAVE A PLAN. 
          I DON'T WANT TO SPEAK FOR DOCTOR RAHMAN, BUT I CAN TELL YOU THAT I KNOW HE IS WORKING HARD
ON IT. 
          AND WE'LL HAVE A, YOU KNOW, A VERY ROBUST PROCESS,
NO DOUBT. 
          THANK YOU. THANK YOU SO MUCH, COMMISSIONER ELLIS. 
          SO? SO, JUDGE, AT THE APPROPRIATE TIME BEFORE THIS KUMBAYA MOMENT ENDS AGAIN,
I WANT TO THANK THE ADVOCATES. 
          YOU PLAYED A KEY ROLE IN GETTING US HERE. BUT WHAT I LEARNED A LONG TIME AGO IS WHEN YOU
CAN ALMOST DECLARE VICTORY. 
          TAKE IT BEFORE PEOPLE GET TOO HUNGRY. SO, JAY,
THERE ARE SIX MOTIONS THAT YOU ALL FINISHED WITH DOCTOR PETERSON AS OF LAST NIGHT. 
          DO YOU HAVE THEM? YEAH. AND WHOEVER WANTS TO MAKE THEM. 
          CAN I HAVE THEM? WOULD YOU JUST READ THEM? I'LL MAKE THEM. 
          OKAY. SO HE'LL MAKE THEM AND. SURE. DO YOU WANT ME TO COMMISSIONER. 
          Y'ALL HAVE ALL THE MOTIONS? YEAH, THEY HAVE THEM. 
          I JUST I THINK WE SHOULD READ THEM ALOUD SO THE PUBLIC CAN HEAR. 
          JAY, YOU WANT TO READ THEM OUT? IS THAT RIGHT? SURE I CAN,
IF COMMISSIONER JUDGE. 
          YES, I'D LIKE TO READ THEM. OKAY. SO THE FUNDING ALLOCATION MOTION TO APPROVE THE
ALLOCATION OF 2018 FLOOD BOND FUNDS FOR EACH BOND ID AND ALL ASSOCIATED PROJECTS 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 SO MOVED AND ITS FUTURE NEEDS? I THINK YOU SAID FUTURE LEFT NOT LEFT OUT NEEDS. 
          FUTURE NEEDS. JUDGE, WHEN YOU READ IT, I DO HAVE FUTURE. 
          OKAY. I HAVE FUTURE, RIGHT? YES. YOU DO. YES. 
          OKAY. MOTION BY GARCIA, SECOND BY. RAMSEY. ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. ANY OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY. 
          DASHBOARD MOTION TO DIRECT FLOOD CONTROL TO MAINTAIN THE PUBLIC 2018 FLOOD BOND DASHBOARD, WHICH INCLUDES, BUT IS NOT LIMITED TO PROJECT SCHEDULES,
PRIORITIZATION SCORES, BUDGET, LOCATION AND LIFE CYCLE STAGE FOR ALL PROJECTS, AND TO UPDATE THE DASHBOARD QUARTERLY IN ADVANCE OF COMMISSIONERS COURT MEETINGS. 
          SO MOVED. I WOULD LIKE TO ADD JUST A FRIENDLY AMENDMENT IN TERMS OF LIKE AN AND AN
ADDITION. 
          SO IT WOULD JUST IT'S WHAT WE JUST DISCUSSED. 
          SO AND TO DIRECT THE FLOOD CONTROL DISTRICT TO CONTINUE WORKING WITH CORPS OFFICES AND THE
COMMUNITY TO IMPROVE THE DASHBOARD'S USER FRIENDLINESS, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO PROVIDING BONDED PREVIEWS,
IMPROVED LANGUAGE ACCESSIBILITY, INCORPORATING THE ABILITY TO FILTER PROJECTS BY FEATURES SUCH AS PARTNERSHIP PROJECTS, QUARTILE SCORE,
PROJECT STATUS AND PROJECT PRECINCT, AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE COMMUNITY TO BE ENGAGED ON TESTING THE DASHBOARD AND RELEVANT
APPLICATIONS. 
          THAT'S FINE. DID YOU GET ALL OF THAT? I SUPPORT THAT,
YES. 
          SO IT WILL JUST GO AFTER THE FIRST MOTION YOU READ. 
          SO MOVE. OKAY. MOTION BY COMMISSIONER GARCIA. 
          IS THERE A SECOND, SECOND, SECOND BY COMMISSIONER BRIONES? ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. ANY OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY. 
          COURT UPDATES. MOTION TO DIRECT FLOOD CONTROL. 
          TO PROVIDE QUARTERLY UPDATES TO COMMISSIONERS COURT ON THE PROGRESS OF ALL BOND PROJECTS,
INCLUDING SPENDING AND LIFE CYCLE STAGE. 
          SO MOVED. MOTION BY COMMISSIONER, SECOND BY COMMISSIONER RAMSEY. 
          ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. ANY OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY. 
          WORKING GROUP. MOTION TO DIRECT FLOOD CONTROL TO CONVENE THE 2018 FLOOD BOND WORKING
GROUP, COMPOSED OF STAFF FROM THE COURT OFFICES AT LEAST QUARTERLY. 
          IN ADVANCE OF COURT UPDATES, THE WORKING GROUP WILL REVIEW,
PROJECT PROGRESS AND BE CONSULTED ON THE FOLLOWING. 
          [03:15:02]
THE WORKING GROUP WILL BE CONSULTED ON PROJECT PROGRESS SCHEDULES AND SPENDING,
NEW PARTNERSHIP OPPORTUNITIES THAT MAY ARISE. 
          UNNEEDED OR EXCESS FUNDS THAT MAY BE FREED UP FOR RELOCATION. 
          FOR PROJECTS COMPLETING A LIFE CYCLE STAGE WHERE THE ESTIMATED BUDGET EXCEEDS 15% OF THE
ALLOCATED AMOUNT FOR WHAT THAT PROJECT FOR THAT PROJECT, OR THE PROPOSED SCOPE MATERIALLY SHIFTS FROM WHAT WAS ORIGINALLY IDENTIFIED AND AGREED TO
APPROVAL BY COURT WILL BE REQUIRED. 
          THE WORKING GROUP WILL WORK WITH FLOOD CONTROL TO DEFINE WHAT CONSTITUTES A MATERIAL
SHIFT, AND TRANSMIT THE AGREEMENT TO COURT MOTION BY COMMISSIONER GARCIA. 
          SECOND. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER BRIONES. ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. ANY OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY. 
          PRIORITIZATION FRAMEWORK. MOVE TO DIRECT THE FLOOD CONTROL DISTRICT. TO USE THE OR. 
          A MOTION TO DIRECT THE FLOOD CONTROL DISTRICT. TO USE THE 2022 PRIORITIZATION FRAMEWORK
SCORES. 
          TO ALLOCATE ANY 2018 FLOOD BOND FUNDS THAT BECOME AVAILABLE TO BOND IDS THAT ARE PAUSED,
AND OTHER BOND PROJECTS WHERE THE SCOPE AND FUNDS IDENTIFIED IN THE UPDATED BOND PACKAGE NEED TO BE INCREASED. FUNDS SHALL BE CONSIDERED AVAILABLE WHEN THE
BOND RESERVE CONTINGENCY EXCEEDS 15% OF THE TOTAL REMAINING FUNDS LEFT TO BE SPENT. ANY DEVIATION FROM THE FRAMEWORK SHALL REQUIRE
PRIOR APPROVAL BY A MAJORITY VOTE OF COMMISSIONERS. 
          COURT. MOTION. MOTION BY COMMISSIONER GARCIA. 
          SECOND. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER BRIONES. ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. ANY OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY. 
          FINAL MOTION HERE. PRIORITIZATION. SCORING. MOTION TO DIRECT FLOOD CONTROL. 
          DISTRICT TO ADD 2020. THE 2022 PRIORITIZATION FRAMEWORK SCORES TO EVERY BOND ID AND
ASSOCIATED PROJECTS WHERE FEASIBLE, AND WITH THE EXCEPTIONS OF BUYOUT PROJECTS AND COUNTYWIDE PROJECTS. 
          AS NOTED IN THE 2022 PRIORITIZATION FRAMEWORK. 
          TRANSMITTAL. MOTION BY COMMISSIONER GARCIA. SECOND. 
          SECOND BY COMMISSIONER BRIONES. ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. ANY OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY. 
          COMMISSIONER GARCIA AND THEN COMMISSIONER BRIONES. 
          AGAIN, DOCTOR PETERSON, THANK YOU FOR THIS WORK. 
          AND I AGAIN, I WANT TO THANK MY COLLEAGUES AND THEIR RESPECTIVE TEAMS FOR WORKING ON THIS
VERY AGGRESSIVELY TO TRY TO 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 NOW HAVE A PRACTICAL WAY TO MOVE FORWARD AND MAKE GOOD DECISIONS WITH THE CIRCUMSTANCES THAT WE HAVE BEEN DEALT WITH. 
          SO. THANK YOU, DOCTOR PETERSON. COMMISSIONER VERY BRIEFLY. 
          THANK YOU AGAIN, DOCTOR PETERSON AND TEAM, THANK YOU TO MY FOUR COLLEAGUES AND YOUR
AMAZING TEAMS FOR WORKING SO COLLABORATIVELY. 
          THANK YOU TO THE ADVOCATES FOR HELPING TO GET US HERE,
AND FOR YOUR HELPFUL SUGGESTIONS ON THE DASHBOARD AND FOR YOUR OFFER TO GO HELP US GET EVEN MORE PARTNERSHIP DOLLARS. WE'RE ALL IN. WOULD LOVE TO CONTINUE THE ACTIVE
PARTNERSHIP. 
          MANY THANKS. AND SO WE LOOK FORWARD TO CONTINUING TO DRIVE THIS PROTECTION AND PROGRESS
TOGETHER. 
          AND AGAIN, MANY THANKS. COMMISSIONER ELLIS AND THEN COMMISSIONER RAMSEY,
I JUST WANT TO SAY LET'S GO TO LUNCH BEFORE THIS KUMBAYA MOMENT ENDS. OKAY. COMMISSIONER. THANK YOU. JUDGE. 
          I JUST WANT TO CLARIFY. THIS WAS FOR ITEM 117. 
          YES. THE FLOOD ITEM. THANK YOU. YES. 117. ALL RIGHT. 
          WELL THANK YOU. ADVOCATES FLOOD CONTROL AND ALL THE TEAMS. REALLY APPRECIATE IT. THANK YOU, THANK YOU. AND THE BILLION WAS IS THE SAME BILLION
DOLLARS FROM HUD THAT MARCIA FUDGE PUT PRESSURE ON JUDGE ON GLOW. YES. IT'S 144. I SHOULD KNOW WHAT TIME. 
          YES. FOR EVERYONE. I'M. I'M ON IT. I'M ON IT. 
          IT'S ONE IT'S 144 AND COMMISSIONERS COURT IS ADJOURNED UNTIL. 
          LET'S JUST SAY QUARTER TO 2:45. YEAH. 
          OKAY. IT IS 250. COMMISSIONERS COURT IS BACK IN SESSION. 
          AND THANK YOU. AND WE'RE 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 TWO. 
          JAIL POPULATION. AND I THINK THE DIRECTOR HAS A PRESENTATION. 
          JUDGE THAT WE MAY GO TO THE NEXT ONE. WE MAY START A LITTLE EARLY. 
          THEY DIDN'T THINK WE'D REALLY COME BACK ON TIME. I DON'T SEE IT HERE. MAYBE WE GO TO THE
NEXT ITEM. OH. 
          SHE'S HERE. OH, I DIDN'T SEE YOU. OKAY. KUMBAYA. 
          TIFFANY, DO YOU HAVE THE SLIDES? 
          [03:20:05]
YES. CAN YOU SEE THEM ON THE SCREEN? NOT YET. 
          YES WE CAN. OKAY. OKAY, HERE WE GO. SO GOOD AFTERNOON,
JUDGE. 
          COMMISSIONERS. TANYA MILLS, MANAGING DIRECTOR WITH OFFICE OF COUNTY ADMINISTRATION. 
          HERE FOR THE QUARTERLY UPDATE ENDING FISCAL YEAR 2025. 
          THE FIRST. THE FIRST FEW SLIDES ARE DATA THAT WE REGULARLY REPORT ON. 
          I KNOW IN THE INTEREST OF TIME, I'LL TRY TO HIT THE HIGH POINTS THERE AND MOVE PRETTY
FAST. 
          SO THAT WE CAN LEAVE TIME FOR QUESTIONS AND THEN OTHER ITEMS. TODAY I COULD TAKE AN HOUR AND A HALF, IF THAT'S OKAY. 
          COMMISSIONER RAMSEY, YOU GOOD WITH THAT? YEAH IT IS. 
          I'LL GO FAST. 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 NINE NINE, THE JAIL POPULATION WAS 8793. THAT'S DOWN 1112 OR 11% FROM OUR FISCAL YEAR
HIGH OF 9905. IT'S A SLIGHT DECREASE FROM THE JUNE REPORT OF 8808. 
          ONE THING I'LL NOTE, AND I THINK WE HEARD A LOT ABOUT THIS LAST WEEK DURING SOME OF THE
TESTIMONY THAT SB NINE AND AFTER SB NINE, WE SAW THE POPULATION RISE A LITTLE BIT. AND THIS IS REFLECTIVE IN THE SNAPSHOT DATA 99,
WITH THE POPULATION BEING 87, 93, WE'D BEEN IN ABOUT THE 8600. AND SO THIS WAS THE FIRST FULL WEEKEND OF SB NINE WHERE
WE SAW JUST OVER 100% INCREASE IN THE ADP, AND IT TOOK MOST OF THE WEEK THAT WEEK TO GET BACK INTO THE
8600. 
          THE GOOD NEWS IS THIS LAST WEEKEND WE WE CAME THROUGH THE WEEKEND IN AT ABOUT 8650. 
          SO I THINK SOME OF THE CHANGES AND PROCESSES RELATED TO SB NINE SORT OF LEVELED OUT. 
          WE'LL CONTINUE TO WATCH THAT. THIS MORNING THE POPULATION WAS 86,
73. 
          SO WE'RE WE'RE IN GOOD SHAPE. NEXT SLIDE PLEASE. 
          COMMISSIONER I'LL LET YOU ASK THAT. WE LOOK AT THE RACIAL AND ETHNIC DISPARITIES WITHIN
THE JAIL. 
          THIS THIS SLIDE SHOWS IF WE START IN 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 ABOUT 21.10% OF THE COUNTY. 
          IF WE MOVE TO THE TOP RIGHT, YOU'LL SEE TOTAL BOOKINGS YEAR TO DATE,
WHERE BLACK RESIDENTS ACCOUNT FOR 44.67% OF THE OVERALL BOOKINGS. WHILE THEY REPRESENT 21% OF THE OVERALL COUNTY,
THEY ARE 44.67% OF THE BOOKINGS YEAR TO DATE. IN CUSTODY, THAT PERCENTAGE GOES UP A LITTLE MORE TO 48.42%,
50% OF THOSE IN CUSTODY OVER A YEAR, AND 57.66% OF THOSE IN CUSTODY OVER 1000 DAYS. 
          SO THIS THIS DATE IS VERY HIGH LEVEL. I THINK IT CERTAINLY WARRANTS A DEEPER DIVE AND SOME
FULLER ANALYSIS. 
          ANY DO YOU HAVE ANY IDEAS, IF I MIGHT INTERRUPT YOU ON HOW YOU CAN DRILL DOWN ON THAT
MORE? SURE, SURE. WE'D LIKE TO LOOK AT THIS DATA BY CHARGE. 
          BOND AMOUNTS DRILL THROUGH BOND AMOUNTS, PARTICULARLY PRIOR TO SB NINE AND POST SB NINE. 
          I THINK IT'LL BE REALLY IMPORTANT TO FOLLOW THIS DATA AFTER THE CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT,
JANUARY 1ST. 
          AND THEN LIKE I SAID, INTO SOME OF THE CHARGE LEVELS AND COMPARISONS,
PLEASE DO THAT. 
          JUST TAKE THAT AS A REQUEST. I DON'T THINK YOU NEED A MOTION TO TO DRILL DOWN ON IT. 
          OKAY. WE'LL ABSOLUTELY DO THAT. AND SOMEHOW ARE WE POSTING THIS ONLINE? YEAH, IT WAS POSTED AS BACKUP OKAY. BUT I'D LIKE FOR US TO POST IT ON THE AGENDA AS WELL. 
          IT MAY. YOU BET. PUT SOME PUBLIC ATTENTION ON THOSE GLARING DISPARITIES THERE. 
          YOU BET WE'D BE HAPPY TO. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS ON THIS SLIDE? NEXT SLIDE PLEASE. HERE WE'RE LOOKING AT THE AVERAGE DAILY JAIL POPULATION OVER TIME. 
          THE ORANGE LINE IS 2025. WE'VE ALL BEEN WATCHING SINCE JANUARY AS WE'VE TAKEN THIS SORT OF
DIP DOWN. 
          IT'S PRETTY EXCITING TO SEE WE'VE ACTUALLY DIPPED JULY,
AUGUST AND SEPTEMBER BELOW 2021 LEVELS. 
          AND THAT THIS IS ACTUALLY THROUGH THE SUMMER MONTHS. 
          TYPICALLY, POPULATIONS IN THE JAIL TEND TO RISE A LITTLE BIT AND TAKES RISE SOME. 
          AND WE'VE CONTINUED TO HAVE DECREASES. NEXT SLIDE PLEASE. 
          [03:25:06]
HERE WE'RE LOOKING AT BOOKINGS IN THE TOP RIGHT. 
          WE'RE SEEING BOOKINGS. FISCAL YEAR 2025 COMPARED TO 2024. 
          THERE'S THE THE NOTED INCREASE THROUGH THE SUMMER MONTHS OF INTAKES. 
          THAT'S USUALLY PRETTY STANDARD. JULY AND AUGUST SAW PRETTY LARGE JUMPS. 
          HOWEVER, IF YOU LOOK AT THE THE BOTTOM RIGHT WHERE WE'RE LOOKING AT RELEASES YEAR TO DATE, WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO SUSTAIN OUR POPULATION REDUCTIONS BECAUSE WE'VE HAD RELEASES THAT HAVE
OUTPACED BOOKINGS EVERY MONTH EXCEPT FOR JANUARY THIS YEAR. 
          NEXT SLIDE PLEASE. QUICKLY ON THIS SLIDE, WE'RE LOOKING AT IN-CUSTODY POPULATION BY THE HIGHEST OTHER TOP THREE CHARGED CATEGORIES FOR THE INDIVIDUALS HIGHEST
CHARGE AND WITH FELONIES IT'S OFFENSES AGAINST PERSON OFFENSES AGAINST PROPERTY AND DRUG RELATED OFFENSES MISDEMEANORS OR
OFFENSES AGAINST PERSONS. 
          OFFENSES AGAINST PROPERTY AND DWI. OF NOTE IN IN BOTH FELONIES AND MISDEMEANORS. 
          IN THIS EVALUATION PERIOD, WE SAW A DECREASE IN BOTH PEOPLE AND THE AVERAGE LENGTH OF STAY
ACROSS ALL THREE OF THE TOP CHARGE CATEGORIES. 
          NEXT SLIDE PLEASE. 
          THERE WE GO. SO HERE FOR THE LAST PROBABLY THREE QUARTERS THAT I'VE PRESENTED THIS,
WE'VE LOOKED AT THE IN-CUSTODY POPULATION. THAT IS IN BACKLOG BY COURT. AND HERE WE'RE SEEING PEOPLE THIS IS REPRESENTING
PEOPLE, NOT CASES. A LOT OF TIMES WITH COURT DATA, WE'RE LOOKING AT CASES,
BUT THESE ARE PEOPLE NOT ASSIGNED TO EACH COURT. 
          AGAIN, WE'VE LOOKED AT THIS FOR THE LAST THREE QUARTERS THAT WE'VE EVALUATED,
AND THIS IS THE FIRST MONTH OR THE FIRST TIME THAT WE'VE DIPPED BELOW 1000. 
          SO WE HAVE 880 CASES AS OF 99 THAT ARE CONSIDERED BACKLOG. 
          THAT'S A 15% DECREASE FROM THE JUNE REPORT OF 1033. 
          AND IN MARCH IT WAS 1499. SO WE'VE MADE CONSIDERABLE IMPACT ON THE FELONY CASE BACKLOG IN
THE DISTRICT COURTS. 
          ANY QUESTIONS? NEXT SLIDE. HERE WE'RE LOOKING AT DATA SIMILAR DATA. IT'S THE EXACT SAME COHORT. BUT WE'RE LOOKING AT THESE INDIVIDUALS ACROSS
ALL TIME BANDS, NOT JUST THE BACKLOG. AND WE'RE SEEING THIS BY COURT NEW TO THE REPORT THIS TIME WE WERE
ABLE TO WORK WITH THE COURTS TO GET SOME ADDITIONAL DOCKET INFORMATION. SO WE'VE PREVIOUSLY REPORTED THE COMPETENCY RESTORATION
DOCKET. 
          NOW WE CAN REPORT THE DOCKET AND THE MENTAL HEALTH DOCKET. 
          AND SO WE'RE SEEING ALL THOSE WE'LL CONTINUE TO LOOK AT THESE PRETTY CLOSELY,
PARTICULARLY THE MIDDLE RANGE CASES. 
          BECAUSE FOLKS IN THE 270 DAY RANGE, 180 DAY RANGE START ROLLING INTO BACKLOG. 
          SO WHILE WE'RE MAKING THIS PROGRESS ON THE BACKLOG,
WE REALLY WANT TO KEEP AN EYE ON THAT MIDDLE RANGE. AND THIS IS ONE OF THE AREAS WHERE WE THINK THAT THE RETOOLED IRDS WILL BE PARTICULARLY HELPFUL,
AS THEY'RE GOING TO BE FOCUSING ON SOME OF THE LOWER LEVEL FELONIES THAT FALL IN THOSE RANGES. AND SO THAT SHOULD HELP US MAKE ADDITIONAL PROGRESS WHERE WE'RE KEEPING CASES FROM
ROLLING INTO BACKLOG AS WE'RE ROLLING CASES OFF THE BACKLOG. 
          NEXT SLIDE PLEASE. NEXT SLIDE. SO THIS CHART HERE WE'RE NOW WE'RE LOOKING AT FELONY CASE TRENDS. 
          AND SO THIS IS DATA FROM THE DISTRICT COURTS. 
          AND WE'RE WE'RE REPRESENTING CASES NOT NECESSARILY PEOPLE. 
          SO SOME INDIVIDUALS MAY HAVE MULTIPLE CASES. SAYS. 
          BUT WE'VE WATCHED THIS AS WE'VE BEEN ATTACKING THE BACKLOG. 
          WE'VE SEEN THIS DATA REPRESENTED A COUPLE OF DIFFERENT WAYS. 
          BUT HERE, ONE OF THE THINGS OF NOTE IS WE'VE HAD THAT SUSTAINED DECREASE,
THE GREEN LINE BEING THE FELONY JAIL CASE BACKLOG. 
          WE'VE WE'VE ENJOYED THIS SUSTAINED DECREASE IN THE LAST NINE MONTHS OR SO,
EVEN AT A TIME. 
          IF YOU NOTE THAT THE ORANGE LINE ARE THE NEW FELONY FILINGS,
THEY'VE GONE UP SOME AND EVEN STAYED PRETTY STABLE, AND WE'RE STILL ABLE TO GET AHEAD OF THAT BACKLOG. AND WE'RE DOING THAT THROUGH THE
INCREASES IN THE TOTAL FELONY DISPOSITIONS AND THOSE DISPOSITIONS CONTINUING TO OUTPACE NEW FILINGS. NEXT SLIDE PLEASE. SO HERE ARE ACTIVE CASES PENDING BOTH IN JAIL CASES AND THEN BOND CASES. 
          [03:30:01]
AND ONE OF THE THINGS I THINK THE COURT HAD NOTED A LOT IS WE MADE A LOT OF PROGRESS IN
THE OVERALL BACKLOG SINCE WE STARTED WORKING ON IT IN 2022. 
          AND YOU CAN SEE THE ORANGE LINE BEING THE FELONY BOND CASES. 
          THERE WAS A LOT OF PROGRESS MADE ON BOND CASES. 
          WHILE SOME PROGRESS WAS BEING MADE ON JAIL CASES. 
          AND THE FOCUS HAS SHIFTED IN THE LAST 12 MONTHS OR SO,
WHERE WE'VE BEEN PARTICULARLY PAYING CLOSE ATTENTION TO FELONY JAIL CASES, AND WE ARE STARTING TO SEE THAT DIP DOWN AND IMPACT OR HELP US HAVE THE SUSTAINED
REDUCTION IN THE JAIL POPULATION. 
          NEXT SLIDE PLEASE. SO IN WRAPPING UP, WE CONTINUE TO SEE STRONG COLLABORATION ACROSS ALL
JUSTICE STAKEHOLDERS AND ONGOING AND SUSTAINED REDUCTIONS IN THE JAIL POPULATION AND AVERAGE LENGTH OF STAY
THROUGH 2025. 
          I'D LIKE TO JUST SAY HOW REMARKABLE IT IS, THE 1100 TO 1200 DECREASE IN THE ADP IN REALLY
SORT OF A SHORT ORDER. 
          IN OUR SYSTEM. WE'VE ACHIEVED THIS SUSTAINED REDUCTION EVEN DURING PERIODS WHERE THE JAIL
POPULATION TENDS TO GO UP AND WHERE WE'VE SEEN INCREASES GO UP. 
          AND IT REALLY IS A TESTAMENT TO THE DA, THE COURTS,
THE CLERK, EVERYONE REALLY WORKING TOGETHER TO FIND SOLUTIONS AND COME TO THE TABLE. 
          HIGHLIGHT SPECIFIC SEGMENTS OF THE POPULATION. 
          AND I EXPECT WE'RE GOING TO SEE MORE OF THAT IN THE 2026 AND CONTINUE SOME OF THE SUCCESS. 
          THANK YOU. COMMISSIONER ELLIS, GARCIA AND RAMSEY. 
          AND JUST TO NOTE THAT ITEM FOR TEN ON THE LAW ENFORCEMENT PAY SCALE HAS BEEN MARKED NOW AS
NO ACTION. 
          SO I'M GOING TO PUT IT BACK ON. WELL, I'M JUST NO ACTION. 
          IS THAT OKAY, YOU GUYS? I'LL TAKE IT OFF OF THE DISCUSSION LIST. 
          OKAY, SO IT'S OFFICIALLY OFF THE DISCUSSION LIST. 
          COMMISSIONER ELLIS, I KNOW WE DON'T KNOW THE FULL IMPACT OF SENATE BILL NINE,
BUT ANY OTHER SPECULATION? ARE YOU TALKING TO YOUR PEERS? ON WHAT? I ASSUME IT WON'T BE HELPFUL,
BUT I KNOW WE CONTINUE DISCUSSION ON THIS ITEM. 
          MOTION BY COMMISSIONER ELLIS TO CONTINUE DISCUSSION. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER BRANDIS. ALL
IN FAVOR? AYE, AYE. ANY OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY. YEAH. I SPOKE WITH TRAVIS. 
          A LITTLE BIT. THEY'RE THEY'RE NOT REALLY SEEING ANY IMPACTS YET WITH SB NINE. 
          I THINK I THINK THAT THE, THE PART WHERE WE'RE GOING TO SEE SOME OF THE BIGGEST IMPACT IS
GOING TO BE AS A RESULT OF THE CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT. I THINK THE WHAT'S HAPPENING NOW IS MORE PROCESS ORIENTED AND AND HOW PEOPLE
ARE GETTING BOND SET AND HAVING JUDGES AVAILABLE. 
          I THINK US PUTTING THE RESERVE TOGETHER AND ALLOWING FOR VISITING JUDGES AND OVERTIME IS A
PRUDENT SOLUTION, AND IT'S GOING TO ALLOW US TO WITH LOW COST IMPACT AND NOT PUTTING A LOT OF PERMANENT
RESOURCES TOWARD IT. 
          EVALUATE WHAT IMPACT IS. WE ARE GOING TO HAVE AND WILL BE WILL BE WATCHING. 
          SB NINE FLAGS. THE CLERK'S OFFICE DID A REALLY GOOD JOB OF MAKING SYSTEM CHANGES PRETTY
RAPIDLY SO THAT WE COULD START TRACKING SOME OF THE SB NINE CASES. SO WE'LL BE EVALUATING THAT DATA OVER THE NEXT LITTLE BIT AND BRING BACK TO THE
COURT. 
          GIVE US SOME OVERVIEW OF THE SUCCESS OF PILOT PROGRAMS THAT YOU'RE SEEING IN OTHER PLACES, PARTICULARLY THE TARGETED DOCKETS AND EMERGENCY RESPONSE DOCKETS,
HOW THEY GO IN AND WHAT WE CAN LEARN FROM THEM. 
          LESSONS THAT WE COULD TAKE FROM THEM. I THINK I THINK EMERGENCY RESPONSE TYPE DOCKETS ARE
ARE PARTICULARLY HELPFUL IN SYSTEMS THAT ARE OVERCROWDED, ESPECIALLY WHEN WE CAN TARGET AND WE'VE WORKED WITH THE COURTS TO TARGET
SPECIFIC CASES. 
          SO WE SEE AN OVERREPRESENTATION RIGHT NOW IN THE JAIL OF LOW LEVEL FELONIES THAT FOLKS
THAT ARE STAYING LONGER THAN THEY SHOULD FOR THE CHARGES THAT THEY HAVE. 
          AND SO LEVERAGING THAT ADDITIONAL CAPACITY. AND THESE IRDS ARE FULL SERVICE CAPACITY FOR
US IN THE COURTS. 
          THEY WORK FIVE DAYS A WEEK. AND THE JUDGES CAN MAKE ADJUDICATE CASES,
JUST LIKE ANY ELECTED JUDGE CAN. 
          SO IT REALLY PROVIDES US TWO ADDITIONAL COURTS OF CAPACITY. 
          THEY'RE THESE TYPES OF DOCKETS ARE VERY SUCCESSFUL IN OTHER JURISDICTIONS. 
          I WANTED TO PULL THIS ITEM, COLLEAGUES. I JUST DIDN'T WANT US TO LET THIS JUST COME IN AS
A REPORT AND NOT PAUSE AND LOOK AT IT BECAUSE OF THE TREMENDOUS BUDGET IMPLICATIONS OF OUR JAIL EVERY CYCLE GOING FORWARD. 
          AND A LOT OF ASSUMPTIONS THAT ARE BEING MADE ARE BASED ON THAT JAIL POPULATION GOING DOWN. 
          AND IF IT DOESN'T GO DOWN, WE'LL HAVE A BIG PROBLEM TO DEAL WITH. 
          THANK YOU AND THANKS FOR YOUR WORK. THANK YOU. 
          TANYA, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR WORK AND YOUR PRESENTATION. 
          I JUST WANT TO POINT OUT THAT HAVING YOU KIND OF BIRD DOG THIS,
FOR LACK OF BETTER WORDS, 
          [03:35:04]
HAS BEEN VERY HELPFUL. THANK YOU. AND AS MUCH AS IN MY TIME,
I TRIED TO HAVE SOMEONE DRILL DOWN INTO THIS WITH ALL OTHER AREAS OF RESPONSIBILITY, IT GETS HARD. BUT I APPRECIATE YOUR CONTINUOUS WORK ON THIS. 
          I DO WANT TO CONTINUE TO GIVE THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY A LOT OF PROPS FOR HIS RESPECTIVE WORK
AND THAT OF HIS TEAM BECAUSE WE'VE SEEN HOW HE HAS CONTINUED TO BE ABLE TO WORK AND HELP US REDUCE THE POPULATION. 
          BUT AT THE SAME TIME DEALING WITH THE MOST SERIOUS THREATS SO THAT IT DOESN'T IMPACT
PUBLIC SAFETY AND BUT IT IS ALSO IMPORTANT TO UNDERSTAND THAT WHEN WE HELP THOSE THAT ARE LOW RISK GET TO A BETTER PLACE,
IT DOES HELP IN ALL REGARDS. 
          SO AGAIN, THANK YOU. BUT AGAIN, THANKS TO DISTRICT ATTORNEY TIER AND HIS TEAM. 
          THANK YOU. COMMISSIONER BRIONES. THANK YOU, DIRECTOR MILLS. 
          I VERY MUCH AGREE WITH MY COLLEAGUES. THANK YOU FOR SO CLOSELY TRACKING NOT ONLY THE DATA, BUT ALSO REALLY DRIVING THESE IMPROVEMENTS AND BEING SO COLLABORATIVE WITH ALL THE KEY
STAKEHOLDERS. 
          SO I APPRECIATE IT TREMENDOUSLY. SIMILARLY, I WAS DRILLING INTO YOUR AMAZING DATA AND
THANK YOU TO DAD AND HIS TEAM. 
          WE'VE HAD OVER 400 TRIALS SINCE JANUARY 1ST. CLOSE TO THOSE 300 ARE FELONY TRIALS,
WHICH IS MORE CASES TAKEN TO TRIAL THIS YEAR THAN ANY YEAR IN THE PAST DECADE. SO I APPRECIATE THE A TIER AND HIS TEAM REALLY
ADMINISTERING JUSTICE TO GIVE VICTIMS AND DEFENDANTS THEIR DAYS IN COURT. 
          SO THANK YOU TO THEM AND THEN THE COURTS. THANK YOU ALSO FOR THE DATA THAT THE OVERALL
CLEARANCE RATE FOR ALL CRIMINAL COURTS IS 119%, SO THAT THEY'RE MOVING THOSE CASES OBVIOUSLY EVEN MORE THAN 100%. 
          AND IT'S HELPING TO TO REDUCE THOSE NUMBERS AND DELIVER JUSTICE. 
          IN TERMS OF THE SHERIFF, I KNOW HIM AND HIS TEAM HAVE BEEN HIGHLY COLLABORATIVE. AND THEN
HARRIS HEALTH BRINGING THE JAIL MEDICAL IN HOUSE AS WE CONTINUE TO IMPROVE THE LEVEL OF SERVICE. SO MY QUESTION TO YOU, SEVERAL ONE,
WE'VE TALKED ABOUT HOW THE AVERAGE LENGTH OF STAY HAS GONE DOWN, BUT WHAT IS THE GOAL AND WHAT IS KIND OF THE IDEAL FROM OTHER JURISDICTIONS NATIONALLY? WHERE ARE WE HEADED. WHAT'S THE. SO I WOULD SO WE'VE WE'VE COME DOWN FROM ABOUT 189 TO 164 AVERAGE LENGTH OF STAY IN CUSTODY. NOW A LOT OF JURISDICTIONS MEASURED THEIR AVERAGE
LENGTH OF STAY BY THE NUMBER OR OFF OF THE RELEASED POPULATION, WHICH IS GOING TO BE DRUG DOWN QUITE A BIT FROM EARLY RELEASES,
BONDS AND THINGS LIKE THAT. 
          RIGHT. IT'S GOING TO DRAG THE AVERAGE DOWN. SO YOU HAVE TO BE REAL CAREFUL LOOKING AT A 30
DAY AVERAGE LENGTH OF STAY COMPARED TO AN AVERAGE LENGTH OF STAY. 
          WE'RE REALLY WANTING TO GET INTO WHY PEOPLE ARE STAYING. 
          I THINK IN A JURISDICTION THIS SIZE, WITH THE NUMBER OF ASSAULTIVE OFFENSES,
HIGH, HIGH FELONY OFFENSES THAT WE HAVE, I THINK WE SHOULD BE LOOKING AT. I'D BE HAPPY AT LIKE 130,
120, 130 IN CUSTODY. 
          WE WANT TO VERY CLOSELY WATCH, PARTICULARLY WITH SB9. 
          WE WANT TO WATCH THAT RIGHT NOW, ABOUT 61% OF ALL OF THE INTAKES THAT WE HAVE INTO OUR
JAIL ARE RELEASED IN UNDER THREE DAYS. 
          AND SO WE'RE GOING TO WANT TO CONTINUE TO WATCH THAT. 
          WE HAVE VERY HIGH VOLUME INTAKES. AND WE HAVE SAID OR I HAVE SAID HISTORICALLY SINCE I'VE
BEEN HERE, WE DON'T HAVE A PROBLEM WITH MISDEMEANORS IN OUR JAIL,
AND WE DON'T HAVE A PROBLEM WITH SOME OF THE LOWER LEVEL FELONIES IN OUR JAIL, THE VOLUME OF INTAKES THAT WE HAVE, IF WE ADD 2 OR 3 DAYS TO 50,000 BOOKINGS,
WE'RE GOING TO START HAVING A BAD DAY ISSUE WITH FOLKS THAT ARE HISTORICALLY LOWER CONSUMERS OF THE JAIL BED DAYS. 
          SO WE WANT TO CONTINUE TO WATCH THAT AND SEE THAT THAT DOESN'T CHANGE A WHOLE LOT. 
          IT'S ABOUT 80% OF ALL OF OUR BOOKINGS ARE RELEASED WITHIN 30 DAYS,
61 LESS THAN THREE. 
          SO I VERY MUCH SHARE YOUR CONCERN ABOUT THE IMPACT SB9 WILL HAVE ON THE PROGRESS THAT WE
ARE MAKING, AND I APPRECIATE YOU KEEPING SUCH CLOSE AND STAYING SO CLOSELY ATTUNED. 
          SO MY NEXT QUESTION, IN TERMS OF THE ERD DOCKETS,
I KNOW MANY OF US WERE WERE PROUD TO MAKE SURE WE CONTINUE INVESTING IN THE ERD DOCKETS. 
          HOW DO YOU SEE THEM? CAN YOU? WE'VE TALKED A LOT ABOUT THIS,
BUT IN TERMS OF SOLUTIONS, HOW WE'RE GOING TO CONTINUE ADVANCING THE QUALITY OF JUSTICE AND THE MOVING AND ADMINISTERING JUSTICE. HOW DO THE ERDS PLAY INTO IT? AND THEN MY LAST QUESTION IS, WHAT ARE YOUR OTHER KEY IDEAS SO THAT WE CAN BE AS ACTION
ORIENTED TO MAKE SURE WE'RE ENHANCING THE QUALITY OF JUSTICE HERE? 
          [03:40:02]
I'LL, I'LL START WITH THE OTHER IDEAS. I PROMISED COMMISSIONER RAMSEY I WOULDN'T TAKE AN
HOUR AND A HALF, AND I'VE GOT A LOT OF IDEAS, BUT BUT THAT'S WHY I LOVE YOU. I WOULD SAY WITH WITH THE ERDS AGAIN,
I THINK THE JUDGES COMING 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 THAT'S BEEN CRITICAL TO THE DISTRICT COURTS FOR MANY, MANY YEARS, WELL BEFORE ARPA. AND LOOKING AT IT AS WE'VE COINED,
EMERGING ISSUES DOCKET, I THINK THAT THAT'S GOING TO BE REALLY IMPORTANT OUT OF THE GATE. 
          WE KNOW WE HAVE THIS THIRD DEGREE STATE JAIL FELONIES THAT WE'D LIKE TO FOCUS ON. 
          THEY'RE GOING TO LOOK AT SOME AG ASSAULTS AND SOME OTHER TYPES OF CHARGES TOO,
BUT ITS PRIMARY FOCUS WILL BE ON IN JAIL. 
          THIRD DEGREE IN STATE JAIL FELONIES. I THINK WE HAVE TO STAY ON TOP OF THE DATA CONSTANTLY
AND SEE WHAT OTHER CASES ARE STARTING TO MOVE SLOWER THAN THEY SHOULD. AND BE NIMBLE ENOUGH TO RESPOND WITH THAT EMERGING ISSUES DOCKET. 
          IT MAY BE IN SIX MONTHS. WE DON'T NEED TO FOCUS ON THE THIRD DEGREE IN STATE JAIL
FELONIES. 
          WE NEED TO FOCUS ON CERTAIN SEGMENTS OF DRUG CHARGES OR DIFFERENT TYPES OF ASSAULTIVE
CHARGES, OR GET THOSE COURTS FUNDED AGAIN. THOSE DOCKETS FUNDED AGAIN,
THAT COULD THEY COULD BE THE TRIAL DOCKETS THAT THE JUDGES HAVE COME TO RELY ON ALSO. AND THAT'S VERY, VERY IMPORTANT. THEY'VE HAD SOME PRETTY GOOD SUCCESS AS A TRIAL
DOCKET. 
          THANK YOU, DIRECTOR MILLS, AND THANK YOU TO ALL THE JUDGES WHO ARE HELPING US WITH THE
DOCKETS. 
          AND THEN LAST QUESTION, IN TERMS OF NEXT STEPS,
AND I KNOW THERE'S SO MANY DIFFERENT WORK STREAMS, BUT IN TERMS OF THE JEGUK AND THEN THE COMMUNITY ADVISORY COMMITTEE,
CAN YOU TALK TO US ABOUT NEXT STEPS SO THAT WE'RE GETTING THE COMMUNITY VOICES AS WE DEAL WITH THIS MULTITUDE OF CHALLENGES? ABSOLUTELY. 
          I WOULD MY TEAM AND I SHOUT OUT, GIT! MEET WITH MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY PRETTY REGULARLY. 
          I SAT WITH RECENTLY WITH MEMBERS OF PURE JUSTICE TO LOOK AT SOME DATA THAT WE'RE,
WE'RE TRYING TO PUT TOGETHER. 
          SO IT WOULD BE HAVING SOME COMMUNITY INPUT INTO WHAT WE SHOWED. 
          SO I THINK THAT THAT'S VERY, VERY IMPORTANT WITH RESPECT TO THE JJAC AND THE RAC,
WE HOPE TO BE RESTARTING THE RESIDENT ADVISORY COMMITTEE VERY SOON. 
          WE ARE LOOKING AT FACILITATORS NOW, THE THE JJAC. 
          WE HAVE A FACILITATOR TO BRING TO THE COMMITTEE. 
          IN THE NEXT MEETING. WE ARE IN AN OPEN PROCUREMENT PROCESS RIGHT NOW FOR CAN I KEEP GOING? WILL WE CONTINUE THE DISCUSSION? COMMISSIONER ELLIS MAKES A MOTION TO CONTINUE. 
          SECOND BY COMMISSIONER. ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. ANY OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY. WE HAVE WE'RE IN THE PROCESS OF SELECTING THE CARCERAL
CONSULTANT. 
          AND SO THAT IS AN OPEN PROCUREMENT PROCESS. I DON'T WANT TO GO INTO THAT A WHOLE LOT,
BUT WE HAVE LANDED ON A NON CARCERAL. 
          THOSE TWO CONSULTANTS TOGETHER ARE GOING TO BE BRINGING US VALUABLE DATA ABOUT FORECASTED
NEEDS IN THE JAIL. 
          AND THEN HOW FROM THE COMMUNITY'S PERSPECTIVE AND FROM COMMUNITY INVESTMENTS,
WE COULD OFFSET THE NEED FOR FOR JAIL BED SPACE, RIGHT. IF WE CAN BUILD 500 TREATMENT BEDS IN THE COMMUNITY WHERE FOLKS WOULD BE BETTER
SERVED IN THE COMMUNITY, AND IT WOULD OFFSET THE NUMBER OF BEDS WE WOULD NEED TO BUILD OR THE INVESTMENT WE WOULD
NEED TO MAKE OVER THE NEXT 20 OR 30 YEARS IN JAIL BED SPACE. 
          THAT'S WHAT WE WANT TO, YOU KNOW, BE ABLE TO LOOK AT. AND THAT'S THOSE TWO CONSULTANTS ARE
GOING TO WORK IN CONCERT WITH US. 
          THE COMMUNITY IS GOING TO BE VERY ENGAGED AT BOTH STEPS,
BOTH WITH THE CARCERAL AND THE NON CARCERAL THE RACK OR THE RESIDENT ADVISORY COMMITTEE OR STATE OR A STAKEHOLDER GROUP FOR BOTH OF THOSE. 
          SO WE HOPE TO HAVE THE CONSULTANTS SELECTED AND HAVE KICKOFF AND BRING AN UPDATE TO THE
COURT IN DECEMBER. 
          AND THEN I SUSPECT THE FULL REPORT WILL TAKE US INTO NEXT YEAR WITH RECOMMENDATIONS. 
          THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP, AND THANK YOU FOR WORKING WITH ALL KEY STAKEHOLDERS AND
ESPECIALLY FOR MEETING WITH THE COMMUNITY SO REGULARLY. 
          AND NEXT TIME I WOULD LOVE, IN THE INTEREST OF TIME,
I'LL STOP WITH THE QUESTIONS, BUT FROM THE ENGINEERING TEAM UPDATES ON THE IMPROVEMENTS THAT ARE BEING MADE. SO THANK YOU. THANK YOU,
COMMISSIONER RAMSEY. 
          DIRECTOR MILLS, THANK YOU FOR WORK. YOU DO. THE DATA IS IMPORTANT HOW WE MANAGE AND REACT
TO THE DATA, I THINK IS IMPORTANT. OBVIOUSLY, THE PRAGMATIC SIDE OF THE FENCE IS DO YOU ANTICIPATE
OUTSOURCING CONTINUING THROUGH THIS FISCAL YEAR? THE. I'M SORRY,
THE SHERIFF AND SPEAKING WITH CHIEF BOSQUEZ YESTERDAY. AND THEY CAN HOP ON IF HE'S ON AND SPEAK TO THIS. 
          [03:45:06]
BUT THE SHERIFF'S HAD TOLD US IN HIS BUDGET HEARING LAST WEEK THAT HE EXPECTED TO BE ABLE
TO ELIMINATE THE MISSISSIPPI CONTRACT, WHICH WOULD BE 300 BEDS BY THANKSGIVING. HE WANTED TO HAVE THOSE BEDS ELIMINATED BY
THANKSGIVING. 
          I THINK WE WILL HAVE TO HAVE SOME COMBINATION OF AN INVESTMENT IN STAFFING IN THE JAIL. 
          I HAVE SOME ANALYSIS THAT I'VE WORKED WITH YOUR OFFICES ON. 
          THEY'VE ALL SEEN SOME OF THE ANALYSIS ON WHAT IT'S GOING TO TAKE FOR US TO CONTINUE TO
OPEN POST TO UTILIZE BEDS. 
          WE HAVE. SO THERE'S 162 BEDS AVAILABLE IN THE HARRIS COUNTY FACILITY THAT ARE NOT USED
BECAUSE THE STAFFING IS IS NOT HIGH ENOUGH TO ALLOW US TO OPEN THOSE POSTS. SO I THINK SOME COMBINATION OF THAT,
PLUS THE CONTINUED EFFORT THAT WE'RE HAVING IN IN REDUCING THE JAIL POPULATION, WILL ALLOW US TO GET PRETTY CLOSE TO ELIMINATING ALL OF THE OUTSOURCING. 
          WELL, CLEARLY, THERE'S SOME URGENCY AROUND THAT ISSUE IN TERMS OF IF WE CAN IF WE CAN FILL
THOSE BEDS HERE, NOT OUTSOURCE, THAT HAS SOME REAL DOLLARS AND CENTS IMPACT,
AS WELL AS FOR US BEING ABLE TO FOCUS ON WHAT WE NEED TO. 
          SO IN TERMS OF JAIL STANDARDS, THOUGH, ARE WE COMPLIANT WITH WHAT THE STATE HAS ASKED US
TO DO? CHIEF, ARE YOU ONLINE? I'M GOING TO LET CHIEF TALK TO THAT. 
          I KNOW, I DO KNOW THAT WAITING ON HIM AS A PART OF WHAT YOU'RE LOOKING AT, FUTURE A 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 WILL BE LOOKING AT? I DON'T WANT TO GET TOO FAR AHEAD OF OF CONSULTANTS AND THEIR RECOMMENDATIONS,
BUT MY SUSPICION, BASED ON LOOKING AT THE DATA, IS. ABSOLUTELY. 
          WE'RE GOING TO BE LOOKING AT THAT. AND MY CAUTION ON CONSULTANTS IS THEY NEED TO CUT TO
THE CHASE IN TERMS OF ANSWERING QUESTIONS. WE PAID 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 AND I FIGURE OUT THAT'S WHAT WE'RE DOING HERE. 
          YES, SIR. BEFORE YOU GUYS CONTINUE THE DISCUSSION,
I'M GOING TO EXCUSE MYSELF FOR MY GROUP THERAPY, AND COMMISSIONER ELLIS WILL TAKE OVER. 
          THANK YOU. OKAY. THANK YOU. JUDGE. COMMISSIONER,
I THINK THAT THE THE AVENGERS THAT WERE ASSEMBLED FROM THE COUNTY TO BE ON THE JJC THE COMMITTEE MEMBERS FROM ALL OF Y'ALL'S
OFFICES, THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE, WE WHOLEHEARTEDLY EXPECT THAT WE HAVE ACTIONABLE DATA AND DESIGN AND
OPTIONS TO BRING TO THE COURT. NOT JUST NOT JUST WE THINK WE'RE GOING TO NEED YOU KNOW,
A CERTAIN NUMBER OF BEDS OVER THE NEXT 30 YEARS, AND THIS IS YOUR ONLY OPTION. BUT HERE'S DIFFERENT WAYS YOU COULD 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 MADE POLICY CHANGES AND HOW WE PROCESSED CASES,
WHAT IMPACT WOULD THAT HAVE IN THE IN THE THE NEED FOR ADDITIONAL BED SPACE. 
          SO I THINK WE WILL HAVE ACTIONABLE WE WILL HAVE ACTIONABLE INFORMATION FOR YOU ALL. 
          OKAY. THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER GARCIA. YES. THANK YOU. 
          MISS MILLS, I JUST WANTED TO ALSO POINT OUT ONE OF YOUR SLIDES TALKED ABOUT THE BACKLOG. 
          YES, SIR. AND I WANT TO APPLAUD THOSE JUDGES THAT ARE LEADING IN CLEARING THE BACKLOG. 
          AND IN PARTICULAR, I THINK IT'S JUDGE A BILL THAT IS HAS THE LOWEST BACKLOG. 
          YES, SIR. AND I WANT TO JUST SHOUT OUT TO THOSE WITH THE HIGHEST BACKLOG TO PLEASE HELP US
SOONER RATHER THAN LATER. 
          YES, SIR. THANK YOU. AGREED. OKAY. THANK YOU. 
          ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? ALL RIGHT. THERE'S NO ACTION ON THIS ITEM,
RIGHT? THANK YOU, DIRECTOR MILLS. THANK YOU ALL. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THE NEXT ITEM IS ITEM THREE
FROM COUNTY ADMINISTRATION. 
          REQUEST FOR DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION ON THE OUTCOME OF THE SALARY GRIEVANCE
COMMITTEE MEETING. 
          YES. THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER GARCIA. I TAGGED THIS ITEM. CORRECT. 
          [03:50:02]
OKAY. YES, SIR. THERE YOU GO. CORRECT. AND I THINK I SAW MISS BURGESS,
IF YOU'D LIKE TO COME DOWN. 
          YOU ARE ONE OF THE STATUTORY POSITIONS THAT MAY SERVE ON THE SALARY GRIEVANCE COMMITTEE. 
          CORRECT? YES. AND I UNDERSTAND THAT YOU SERVED ON THIS COMMITTEE. 
          THE ONE THAT HURT YOUR PARTICULAR SALARY GRIEVANCE. 
          CORRECT. AND WAS THERE EVER A CONVERSATION ABOUT THE APPEARANCE OF A CONFLICT OF INTEREST TO. AND WHO DID YOU HAVE THAT CONVERSATION WITH? COUNTY ATTORNEY. OKAY. AND SO AND I UNDERSTAND THAT YOU REPEATEDLY BROUGHT IT UP OF WHAT
YOU FELT WAS INEQUITY IN THE WAY YOUR STAFF IN THE DISTRICT CLERK'S OFFICE WAS PAID AS A WAY TO
CONVINCE THE JURORS THAT SOME OF THE THE JURORS USED THAT WAS A JUSTIFICATION FOR THEIR VOTING IN YOUR FAVOR. 
          I MEAN, YOU WERE MAKING A STRONG PITCH TO PAY TO GET MORE MONEY FOR YOURSELF,
CORRECT? THE COMMITTEE WAS MEETING ABOUT MY SALARY, NOT MY STAFF SALARY. 
          BUT YOU'RE YOU'RE MAKING THE POINT THAT YOUR STAFF WAS MAKING MORE MONEY THAN YOU KNOW. 
          YEAH. WHAT WAS YOUR ARGUMENT? THE COMMITTEE BROUGHT IT UP AND ASKED ME THE QUESTION. 
          THEY SAID THEY HAD HEARD THAT MY STAFF WAS UNDERPAID. 
          AND THEY ARE, IF YOU COMPARE THEM TO OTHER PEOPLE WITH SIMILAR POSITIONS WITHIN THE COUNTY
AND DIFFERENT AGENCIES. 
          BUT I DID NOT BRING UP MY STAFF BECAUSE THAT WAS NOT THE PURPOSE OF THE COMMITTEE. I
ANSWERED THEIR QUESTIONS. 
          OKAY. SO, JESSE, YOU WERE THE CHAIR WAS THERE A TIME FOR BOTH MISS BURGESS AND THE AND THE COUNTY TO MAKE THEIR CASES TO THE COMMITTEE? YEAH, THERE WAS, SIR. OKAY. AND, JESSE DID THE COMMITTEE THEN GO INTO DELIBERATION WHERE
THEY DISCUSSED THIS MATTER? WE DID. OKAY. WAS THE COUNTY ABLE TO ARGUE ITS CASE DURING THE DELIBERATION PORTION? NO. WAS MISS BURGESS ABLE TO MAKE TO MAKE HER POSITION DURING THE DELIBERATION? SHE WAS. SHE WAS ON THE COMMITTEE. WHY WAS SHE ABLE TO MAKE HER CASE AND NOT THE COUNTY? I ONLY, I THINK COMMISSIONER BECAUSE SHE WAS ON THE COMMITTEE AND THE THE COUNTY DID NOT
HAVE REPRESENTATION ON THE COMMITTEE. 
          SO MISS BURGESS WAS ABLE TO UTILIZE HER POSITION ON THE COMMITTEE TO,
AS AN ELECTED OFFICIAL TO ARGUE FOR HERSELF AND TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE MATTER FOR HER SALARY. IS THAT A. 
          YEAH, THAT'S WHAT I THINK. THAT'S WHAT PEOPLE SAW. 
          COMMISSIONER. AND THEN WHO MADE THE MOTION FOR MISS BURGESS'S SALARY INCREASE? I BELIEVE SHE DID. COMMISSIONER. SO SHE MADE HER OWN MOTION. 
          YES. OKAY. CAN I ADDRESS THAT? SURE. SO MY INITIAL REQUEST HAD BEEN FOR 2.95,
WHICH WAS THE SAME AS WHAT THE CONSTABLES WERE ASKING FOR WHEN THIS COMMITTEE THIS COURT AGREED TO GIVE THE COMMISSION,
THE CONSTABLES, A RAISE, BUT GIVE IT TO THEM AT TWO 60. I MADE THE MOTION TO REDUCE MY REQUEST TO MATCH THEIRS AS
OPPOSED TO STANDING AT THE HIGHER LEVEL. 
          BUT YOU STILL MADE A MOTION TO INCREASE YOUR SALARY? YES, BUT YOU'RE MAKING IT FROM WHAT I HAD TO. 
          YOU'RE MAKING A MOTION TO INCREASE TO ABOUT 81,000,
I THINK, TO MATCH THE CONSTABLE'S. 
          YES. SO YOU ARE MAKING A MOTION TO INCREASE YOUR SALARY BY 81,000? WELL, AT THAT POINT, IT WAS A MOTION TO DECREASE IT FROM THE ORIGINAL REQUEST DOWN TO WHAT
THE CONSTABLES WERE, BUT IT STILL WOULD HAVE BEEN AN INCREASE OF 81,000. 
          YES. OKAY. AND YOU MADE THAT MOTION. YES. AND I YOU KNOW,
I'VE BEEN IN THIS ARENA FOR A BIT, AND IT NORMALLY WAS A THIRD RAIL FOR AN ELECTED OFFICIAL TO STAND HERE AND SAY, PAY ME MORE MONEY. SO I, I'M NOT SURE TO WHETHER TO RESPECT YOU OR TO THINK OTHERWISE THAT
YOU WOULD ARGUE FOR YOUR OWN SALARY. I DON'T EVEN KNOW IF IT'S LEGAL. 
          TO HAVE DONE THIS, BUT ACCORDING YOU SAID YOU HAD A CONVERSATION WITH THE COUNTY
ATTORNEY'S OFFICE. 
          BUT AND I GUESS, JAY, WAS THAT THE CONCLUSION THAT IT WAS LEGAL FOR HER TO MAKE A VOTE FOR
HERSELF OR MAKE A MOTION FOR HERSELF? JOHN, CAN YOU ARE YOU ON. OKAY, I'M NOT SURE IF YOU CAN ANSWER,
BUT. 
          YES. COMMISSIONER. YEAH. JUST TO BE CLEAR, THERE IS AN AG OPINION THAT SAYS THAT IT IS
LEGAL. 
          IT'S NOT A LEGAL CONFLICT. WE DO NOT DISCUSS WHETHER THERE'S AN APPEARANCE OF A CONFLICT,
WHICH IS A DIFFERENT ISSUE. GOTCHA. 
          AND IF IT SO IS IT AT ANY TIME, IS THERE A DETERMINATION THAT IT IS A CONFLICT? 
          [03:55:01]
SO JUST TO BE CLEAR, IT'S IT'S NOT A LEGAL CONFLICT. 
          ACCORDING TO THE ATTORNEY GENERAL, THE APPEARANCE OF A CONFLICT IS NOT A LEGAL
DETERMINATION. 
          GOTCHA. I GOT YOU. SO. YEAH. SO IT LOOKS BAD. 
          IT MAY NOT NECESSARILY BE ILLEGAL, BUT IT'S HORRIBLE IN ON THE FACE OF IT. 
          ALL RIGHT. NO, I JUST WANTED TO HEAR IT FROM YOU. 
          I JUST WAS. I'VE BEEN IN THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY,
TAKEN BACK MOST OF MY LIFE. 
          THANK YOU. IF YOU WANT TO MAKE A BRIEF COMMENT,
YOU CAN. 
          YES. JUST. IF YOU. JUST. NOT TOO LONG, THOUGH. 
          FOREVER HAD PEOPLE COME TO ME ASKING FOR RIGHTS. 
          BECAUSE THAT'S THE NORM IN THE BUSINESS WORLD. YOU,
AS A COURT, ARE THE ONES THAT DECIDED YOU WANTED PUBLIC OFFICIALS TO BE ON THIS COMMITTEE, NOT JUST THE PUBLIC. AND I THOUGHT THAT WAS KIND OF WEIRD TO BEGIN WITH,
FOR PUBLIC OFFICIALS TO HEAR THE GRIEVANCE ON THEIR OWN SALARIES. 
          BUT THAT'S WHAT YOU ALL REQUESTED. AND THREE PEOPLE DECLINED TO DO IT BECAUSE THEY FELT
LIKE YOU WERE PITTING ONE ELECTED OFFICIAL AGAINST ANOTHER. 
          TWO AGREED TO DO IT, AND I THOUGHT I WAS DOING WHAT Y'ALL WANTED. 
          WHEN YOU SAID YOU WANTED ELECTED OFFICIALS ON THE COMMITTEE,
I ASKED THE COUNTY ATTORNEY. 
          I ASSUME I DIDN'T ASK, I MADE THE STATEMENT. I ASSUME I'M NOT ELIGIBLE TO BE ON THE
COMMITTEE SINCE I FILED A GRIEVANCE. 
          AND HE SAID, NO, THAT IS NOT CORRECT. YOU ARE ELIGIBLE,
SO I SERVED. 
          SO REAL QUICKLY. COMMISSIONER WHO SELECTS THE CIVILIAN MEMBERS TO SERVE ON THE. 
          ON THAT PANEL, THEY COME OUT OF A RANDOMIZED LIST OF PEOPLE THAT SERVED AS GRAND JURORS IN
THE PREVIOUS CALENDAR YEAR. 
          WHO SELECTS THAT LIST? THE COMPUTER. BUT WHO? WHERE IS WHO MAKES WHO PULLS THAT LIST? MY IT ADMINISTRATOR,
TRACY HOPPER. 
          SO THAT SAME LIST COMES OUT OF YOUR OFFICE. IT DOES BECAUSE YOU YOU YOU HAD YOU HAD THE
OPPORTUNITY TO SEE WHO WAS GOING TO SERVE ON THAT COMMITTEE. 
          I DID, BUT I DIDN'T KNOW ANY OF THEM. BUT YOU YOU. 
          SO YOU DID LOOK AT THE LIST. I PREPARED THE LIST AND GAVE IT TO THE COUNTY CLERK. 
          OKAY. THANK YOU. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? SO JUST A BRIEF COMMENT. 
          I DON'T WANT TO BELABOR THE POINT. MISS PALMER,
YOU MAY RECALL THAT I WAS ONE OF THOSE WHO SAID THAT I THOUGHT ELECTED OFFICIALS SHOULD BE ON THE LIST, AND I WOULD HAVE VOLUNTEERED. THINK I DID. 
          IT. BUT THE STATUTE SPELLS OUT WHICH OFFICES HAVE TO BE ON THE LIST. 
          AND CLARK BURGESS, I WAS GOING TO DO IT BECAUSE I TOOK $600 A MONTH FOR 26 YEARS. 
          I WISH THEY HAD COMMITTED. I COULD HAVE BEEN ON TO DISCUSS IT,
BUT IT'S ALWAYS UNCOMFORTABLE. 
          I DO REMEMBER JOHN TELLING YOU THAT 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 THE DECISION NOT TO GIVE THEM ONE, I WANT TO PUT AN ITEM ON THE AGENDA SO THEY ALL WOULD GET THE SAME AMOUNT,
THE SAME INCREASE THAT WAS GOING TO THE CONSTABLES, I THINK, IN THAT CASE. AND YOU PERSUADED ME OTHERWISE,
BECAUSE THEN IF WE PUT ELECTED OFFICIALS ON IT, WE FIGURED IT WAS GOING TO COST 5 MILLION. RIGHT. 
          MR. RAMOS, IF ALL OF THEM HAD GOTTEN A PAY, IF I REMEMBER RIGHT,
ABOUT $5 MILLION, AND IT MAY HAVE INCENTIVIZE WHOEVER WAS ON THE COMMITTEE TO GRANT IT TO THE GOSPELS IF WE DIDN'T DO IT, AND IT WOULD HAVE BEEN A $5 MILLION TAB. 
          BUT WHEN WE COME BACK IN THE NEXT CYCLE, I AM GOING TO MAKE THE CASE THAT WE OUGHT TO GIVE
THESE OTHER ELECTED OFFICIALS A PAY RAISE. 
          SO COLLEAGUES, JUST BE PREPARED FOR IT. IT DOES CREATE TENSION. 
          AND OF COURSE, THE CONSTABLES DID COME IN IN UNIFORM. 
          MIGHT I ADD FULLY EQUIPPED AND ASKED FOR THEIR PAY RAISE. 
          SO I WON'T CRITICIZE YOU FOR THAT. BUT I'M GOING TO LEAVE US OUT OF IT AND HOPE THAT
SOMEBODY IS BOLD ENOUGH TO COME BACK AND SAY HOW WE DO IT, BECAUSE OBVIOUSLY WE MAKE A LITTLE LESS THAN OUR COLLEAGUES IN TARRANT COUNTY. BY THE WAY. 
          BUT WHEN IT'S A BUDGET DEFICIT WE'RE DEALING WITH,
IT'S UNCOMFORTABLE, IN MY JUDGMENT, TO GIVE ANYBODY ONE. 
          BUT ANYWAY, THANK YOU. WE'RE GOING TO GO TO THE NEXT ITEM. REAL QUICKLY,
I'D LIKE TO ASK IGA I'M NOT SURE, TAMMY, IF YOU'RE ONLINE OR. FRANCES. IGA. YEAH. 
          IF FIGURE IS NOT ON. IF I COULD JUST GIVE THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR DIRECTION TO VISIT
WITH. 
          OH, THERE YOU ARE. TAMMY COMMISSIONER, CAN YOU SEE ME? NO, MA'AM. NOT YET. YEAH. IT MIGHT BE WINDING DOWN. 
          NO WORRIES. I'LL JUST WORK THROUGH MR. DICKERMAN AND YOU GUYS CAN CONNECT. 
          I'D LIKE TO SEE THIS GET PUT ON OUR LEGISLATIVE AGENDA. 
          THIS HAS GOT TO BE CHANGED. THIS IS JUST IT JUST STRIKES ME VERY RAW. 
          OH, THERE SHE IS. THERE YOU ARE. MAN, THAT'S A BIG DESK. 
          I THINK YOU JUST HEARD THE THE QUESTION TO MR. DICKERMAN. IF WE COULD WORK TO GET THIS ON THE LEGISLATIVE AGENDA. 
          WE CAN SEE YOU. HI, FRANCIS. YOU CAN'T HIDE,
FRANCIS. 
          I'M TRYING TO. I WAS CAUGHT ON THE OTHER SIDE. 
          [04:00:04]
HEY, YOU MIGHT HAVE TO GO OUT OF THE ROOM, PATRICK,
IF YOU DON'T WANT TO BE. 
          COMEDIC RELIEF BY FRANCES ONE MORE TIME. MISS NAVARRO THANK YOU FOR COMING ON. 
          IF WE COULD WORK TO GET THIS ON THE LEGISLATIVE AGENDA FOR A CHANGE. 
          IT'S JUST. IT JUST STRIKES ME AS HIGHLY INAPPROPRIATE IN SPITE OF IT BEING LEGAL. 
          OKAY. COMMISSIONER BRIONES, WE WILL TAKE NOTE OF IT AND PUT IT ON THE AGENDA FOR NEXT
SESSION. 
          THANK YOU. THANK YOU. OUR NEXT SPECIAL. COMMISSIONER BRIONES SO IN ADDITION TO LEGISLATIVE
CHANGES FROM AN 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 OR PERCEIVED CONFLICTS OF
INTEREST. 
          IF ONE IS GRIEVING THEIR OWN SALARY, THEY SHOULD NOT SERVE ON THE COMMITTEE. 
          SO I WOULD LIKE ALSO A LOCAL POLICY CHANGE, BUT JUST TO CONFIRM AND LEVEL SET NOT ONLY FOR
CLARK BURGESS, BUT FOR ALL ELECTED AND FOR ALL COUNTY EMPLOYEES. 
          I'M LOOKING AT DIRECTOR DOUGLAS, JUST TO CONFIRM,
OUR GALLAGHER PAY EQUITY STUDY WILL BE COMING BACK TO COURT IN OCTOBER. 
          CORRECT. AND THIS WILL INCLUDE ALL HARRIS COUNTY EMPLOYEES,
INCLUDING ELECTED OFFICIALS. 
          CORRECT. OKAY, SO THIS PAY EQUITY DATA THAT WE'VE BEEN LONG AWAITING FOR MULTIPLE YEARS
WILL BE ARRIVING OCTOBER 2025. 
          CORRECT. OKAY. THANK YOU, MR. RAMOS. I DO WANT TO STRESS THAT THAT MONEY THAT I ADVOCATED
FOR WAS GOING TO BE FOR PEOPLE AT THE BOTTOM. 
          SO I WASN'T TALKING ABOUT PAY EQUITY FOR THOSE OF US AT THE TOP,
INCLUDING YOU AND OTHER DEPARTMENT HEADS. 
          SO I DO THINK IT WOULD BE IN SOME WAYS UNFORTUNATE. 
          IF WE TALK ABOUT PAY, WE KNOW WHAT WE KNOW WHAT INEQUITIES ARE. 
          I AGREE, AND I WANT TO PRIORITIZE THOSE ON THE LOWER INCOME SCALE. 
          GAIL. ABSOLUTELY. BUT I'M JUST SAYING TO LEVEL SET FOR ALL HARRIS COUNTY EMPLOYEES,
THAT DATA WILL BE COMING, SO WE'LL KNOW WHAT THE NUMBERS ARE, WHAT IT WOULD BE. 
          RIGHT. COMMISSIONER BRIONES FOR EVERYBODY BECAUSE WE ONLY HAVE $50 MILLION,
RIGHT? COMMISSIONER. WE DID MAKE THAT ADJUSTMENT ON BASED ON YOUR FEEDBACK AND ALSO SO THAT 50 IS
STILL THERE. 
          WE DIDN'T GO PULL OUT. CORRECT. CORRECT. IT'S A FULL 50 MILLION. 
          AND THEN WHAT WE HAVE JUST TO BE CLEAR, THE NEXT TIME WE WOULD BE ABLE TO TO TAKE ACTION
ON ELECTED OFFICIAL SALARIES WOULD BE THIS TIME NEXT YEAR. 
          YEAH. IT'S TOO LATE FOR THAT NOW. OTHER THAN THOSE WHO FILED. SO,
SO ANY ELECTED OFFICIAL SALARIES WOULD, WOULD IMPACT THE FISCAL YEAR 27 BUDGET. OKAY. 
          ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. AND I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU FOR THE MOTION
THAT YOU PUT FORWARD TO REVIEW ALL ELECTED OFFICIALS. AND I THINK THAT SHOULD INCLUDE THE FIVE OF YOU AS WELL. THANK YOU, THANK YOU. I'D LIKE TO INCLUDE US,
BUT I DON'T HAVE THE NERVE TO DO IT ON MY COLLEAGUES. 
          THE NUMBERS WILL COME OUT. WHEN DO YOU ALL DO IT? I WON'T MAKE THAT ONE,
THOUGH. OKAY. 
          NEXT ITEM IS ITEM ONE. COMMISSIONER. I'M SORRY. 
          IS THERE GOING TO BE A NO ACTION? YES, MA'AM. 
          NEXT. COMMISSIONER RAMSEY, YOU PULL ONE £0.25 CARD. 
          I'LL NOT GO INTO REASONS WHY I THINK P CARDS ARE REALLY BAD. 
          I THINK THEY ARE. THEY'RE JUST NOT THE ACCOUNTING THAT I THINK WE NEED. 
          WE JUST NEED TO VOTE. OKAY, I'LL MOVE IT. YEAH. 
          COMMISSIONER QUESTION. I THINK MR. DICKMAN, I MADE I THINK I PASSED A MOTION TO REQUIRE
MWB PURCHASES THROUGH THE P CARD. HAVE WE MOVED ANYWHERES WITH THAT? LET ME LET ME COME BACK TO YOU ON THAT COMMISSIONER. AND I THINK THE MOTION WAS TO FIND A
WAY. IF THERE'S A WAY TO DO IT LEGALLY, TO DO IT, WE WOULD DO IT. OKAY, I'LL MAKE A MOTION A SECOND ON THIS ITEM. 
          SECOND. MOTION MADE BY ELLIS. SECOND BY BRIONES. 
          ALL IN FAVOR? VOTE AYE. AYE. ALL OPPOSED. VOTE NO. 
          FOUR. THREE. EYES OF ONE. NAY. COMMISSIONER. RAMSEY. 
          VOTES. NO. IT DOES PASS. NEXT IS ITEM 140. ECONOMIC EQUITY AND OPPORTUNITY IN A LOCAL. 
          YEAH. JUST A QUESTION HERE. WE ARE BRINGING DIRECTOR. 
          THANK YOU FOR COMING. WE'RE OFFERING. WE'RE THE EXPERTS AND AND WAGE RATES. 
          AND WE'RE CONSULTING WITH THE PORT ON WAGE RATES. 
          OH, GOOD AFTERNOON, COMMISSIONERS. THE WORK THAT WE DO IS WORK THAT TRANSFERRED OVER TO
DEO FROM ENGINEERING AND HCD. 
          SO WE HAVE BEEN DOING THIS WORK FOR THE COUNTY FOR A LONG TIME AND THAT STAFF TRANSFERRED
OVER. 
          SO THIS IS A CONTINUATION OF THAT WORK. WE THEY PAY US TO DO THE WORK FOR THEM. 
          THIS STAFF TRANSFERRED OVER FROM WHERE FROM HCD. 
          AT THAT TIME IT WAS CSD HOUSING, COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT AND ENGINEERING. 
          THE PREVAILING WAGE STAFF TRANSFERRED OVER WHEN DEO FIRST STARTED. 
          OKAY, WE JUST NEED TO VOTE. OKAY. SO MOVED. MOVED BY COMMISSIONER GARCIA,
SECOND BY COMMISSIONER RAMSEY. 
          VOTE ON THIS ITEM. PASSES. RIGHT. THREE EYES AND ONE NAY. 
          SO RAMSEY DID NOT SECOND IT, COMMISSIONER. I SECOND IT. 
          OH, SHE SHE DID. YEAH, HE MADE IT. YOU SECOND IT. 
          OKAY. YES. GARCIA. BRIONES. YEAH. YEAH. GARCIA. 
          BRIONES. COMMISSIONER RAMSEY VOTED NO, AND THE NEXT ONE IS 141. 
          [04:05:06]
JUST NEED TO VOTE. SO MOVED. SECOND. GARCIA. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER BRIONES. 
          ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, VOTE AYE. ALL OPPOSED. VOTE NO. 
          THREE EYES, ONE NAY. COMMISSIONER RAMSEY VOTES NO. MAY I PLEASE MAKE ONE QUICK COMMENT ON
THE ESSENTIAL WORKERS BOARD? DIRECTOR GONZALEZ, THANK YOU. I KNOW MANY OF OUR TEAMS GO TO EACH OF THE MEETINGS,
AND WHAT I LOOK FOR IN ALL THESE COMMISSIONERS IS ACTIONABLE RECOMMENDATIONS THAT THE COUNTY CAN TAKE TO CONTINUE TO ADVANCING JUSTICE AND OPPORTUNITY. 
          AND SO AT THE NEXT ESSENTIAL WORKERS BOARD, I KINDLY REQUEST,
PLEASE, THAT YOU ENCOURAGE THEM TO COME BACK WITH ACTIONABLE POTENTIAL IDEAS FOR US TO CONSIDER SO THAT WE CAN CONTINUE TO ADVANCE WORKER PROTECTION,
SAFETY, WAGES, ETC.. 
          ABSOLUTELY. AND I ALSO WANT TO SHARE A LOT OF THEIR WORK HAS TO DO WITH REVIEWING
POLICIES. 
          SO THEY DID PROVIDE INPUT INTO THE REVISIONS TO THE CONTRACT OR SAFETY POLICY. 
          PERFECT. AND THAT WILL BE COMING BACK IN OCTOBER. 
          GOOD. I'M VERY EXCITED ABOUT THAT 2.0 IMPROVED VERSION. 
          THANK YOU. DIRECTOR GONZALEZ. GARCIA. YES. COMMISSIONER? YES, SIR. I I'M NOT SURE IF WE WERE SUPPOSED TO OR I'D LIKE TO MOVE TO SUSPEND THE RULES
SO THAT WE CAN GO TO RESOLUTIONS BECAUSE A FEW OF OUR GUESTS ARE HERE. 
          ONE OF MY MAYORS IN PARTICULAR, IF THAT'S. IF THAT WOULD BE OKAY WITH THE WITH THE COURT. 
          COMMISSIONER, IF YOU WANT TO, DO YOU WANT TO JUST GO AHEAD AND WE'RE ABOUT 20 MINUTES FROM
HAVING TO STOP FOR RESOLUTIONS ANYWAY. 
          SO IS IT OKAY TO WAIT TILL FOUR, OR DO YOU WANT TO JUST GO AHEAD AND GO THROUGH THEM ALL
NOW? MAYOR. CAN YOU SPARE 20 MINUTES? WONDERFUL. THANK YOU,
THANK YOU MAYOR. 
          GREAT. OKAY. THE NEXT ITEM IS ITEM 143. COMMISSIONER RAMSEY. 
          YEAH. JUST A ARE WE GOING INTO DEBT TO PAY SALARIES WITH THIS ITEM? THERE ARE CERTAIN WE CAN PAY SALARIES IF THEY'RE WORKING ON THESE CAPITAL PROJECTS,
AND THAT'S BEEN THE PRACTICE OF THE COUNTY FOR THE LAST FEW YEARS. 
          IT HAPPENS IN ENGINEERING AS WELL. WELL, AND I KNOW THERE ARE CIRCUMSTANCES,
PARTICULARLY IN CAPITAL PROJECTS, BUT I THINK YOU GOT TO BE REAL CAREFUL WHEN YOU WHEN YOU DO THAT. 
          I JUST THE BASIC CONCEPT OF BORROWING MONEY TO PAY SALARIES IS NOT SUSTAINABLE. 
          NOT REALLY A GOOD IDEA. UNDERSTOOD. IS THAT MOTION? I'M SORRY, COMMISSIONER. I'LL BE HAPPY TO SUPPORT IT. 
          BUT JUST TO LEVEL SET FOR THE COMMUNITY. AND,
MR. DICKERMAN, CAN YOU JUST SAY WHAT THIS ASSET MANAGEMENT PROGRAM IS? WHICH ONE IS THAT? OH, YEAH. THIS THIS IS A PROGRAM WHERE WE ARE BUYING LAPTOPS AND
OUTFITTING THE COUNTY WITH TECHNOLOGY THAT THEY NEED. 
          AND SO IT'S ALSO PAYING FOR THE STAFF THAT'S MANAGING THAT,
MANAGING THAT PROGRAM. 
          AND AND JUST AS A REMINDER, THIS PROGRAM SAVED US $4.5 MILLION THIS YEAR. 
          YES. THANK YOU. OKAY. MOTION BY COMMISSIONER GARCIA,
SECOND BY COMMISSIONER BRIONES. 
          ALL IN FAVOR, SAY AYE. AYE. ALL OPPOSED. VOTE NO. 
          FOUR EYES AND NO. NAYS. ITEM PASSES. THE NEXT ONE. 
          THE JUDGE HELD IT. SO JUST HOLD IT TILL THE END IN CASE SHE DOES,
SHE'S ABLE TO COME BACK. 
          NEXT ONE IS 183 COMMISSIONER RAMSEY FIRE MARSHALL. 
          THIS VOTE SO MOVED. I'LL SECOND IT. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR,
VOTE AYE. 
          AYE AYE. ALL OPPOSED. VOTE NO. NO. THREE AS ONE. 
          NO. COMMISSIONER RAMSEY, VOTE NO. ITEM PASSES. 
          NEXT IS 191. COMMISSIONER RAMSEY EPA. WE JUST NEED A VOTE. 
          SO MOVED. SECOND. MOTION MADE BY COMMISSIONER GARCIA. 
          SECOND BY COMMISSIONER BRIONES. VOTE AYE. AYE. 
          ALL OPPOSED. VOTE NO. THREE EYES, ONE NAY. ITEM PASSES. 
          COMMISSIONER RAMSEY VOTES NO. NEXT IS COMMISSIONER RAMSEY. 
          198. SUPPLIES. VARIOUS. COUNTY COMMISSIONER SECOND. 
          GARCIA MAKES A MOTION. COMMISSIONER. SECOND,
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR VOTE PEOPLE, I SUPPOSE, FELT. 
          NO, NO. 0318. ITEM PASSES. COMMISSIONER RAMSEY VOTES NO. 
          NEXT IS TRAVEL AND TRAINING COMMISSIONER RAMSEY. 
          I JUST NEED TO VOTE. SO MOVE. COMMISSIONER GARCIA MAKE A MOTION. 
          COMMISSIONER. I'M SORRY. I NEED TWO DIFFERENT MOTIONS. 
          ONE TO APPROVE ALL THOSE TRAVEL OUT OF TEXAS. 
          TRAVEL? YOU WANT TO VOTE AGAINST ALL OF IT, COMMISSIONER RAMSEY? JUST VOTE AGAINST SOME. WERE THERE SELECTED. I'M SORRY. 
          I GOT IT RIGHT HERE. I HAVE IT'S ITEM. EVERYTHING BUT MOTION TO APPROVE ALL ITEMS EXCEPT
EIGHT, 14, 20 AND 22. SECOND. ALL THOSE OPPOSED? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR,
VOTE AYE. 
          THOSE OPPOSED. VOTE NO FOR NO NO NO NO. NAYS. 
          ITEM PASSES. NEXT, I MAKE A MOTION. WE APPROVE THE REMAINING ITEMS. COMMISSIONER GARCIA SECONDED. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR,
VOTE AYE. ALL OPPOSED. 
          VOTE NO. COMMISSIONER RAMSEY VOTES NO. ITEM PASSES. 
          NEXT IS GRANTS. AM I RIGHT? YES. 204. COMMISSIONER GARCIA. 
          THANK YOU. I'M EXCITED BECAUSE IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE CITY OF HOUSTON,
WE WERE ABLE TO SECURE A $2 MILLION GRANT FROM THE FEDERAL RAILROAD 
          [04:10:02]
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,
THE EAST BELTWAY, THE WEST BELTWAY BEING MOSTLY I-45, BUT JUST VERY EXCITED ABOUT THIS. 
          THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF CONVERSATIONS ABOUT THE CHALLENGES OF RAILROADS IN OUR COMMUNITY. 
          EVERYBODY KNOWS THE RAILROADS WERE PROBABLY HERE BEFORE A WHOLE LOT OF OTHER PEOPLE. 
          BUT AS DENSITY PROGRESSES FORWARD, IT BECOMES A GREATER CHALLENGE. 
          AND 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 SAFETY HAZARDS. 
          AND EAST END FROM 2019 TO 2024, CRASHES REPORTED WERE REPORTED AT TWO EAST END RAIL
CROSSINGS, FOUR AT LAWNDALE STREET AND ONE AT TELEPHONE ROAD. 
          THIS COMMUNITY HAS EIGHT OF THE TEN TOP OF THE EIGHT OF THE TOP TEN MOST BLOCKED CROSSINGS
IN THE UNITED STATES. THAT IS INCREDIBLE. EVERY DAY, THOUSANDS ARE STUCK AT CROSSINGS. 
          KIDS RISK THEIR LIVES CLIMBING RAIL CARS, AND FIREFIGHTERS LOSE UP TO TEN MINUTES IN
RESPONDING AS A CONSEQUENCE OF THE ROADS BEING BLOCKED. 
          SO I'M EXCITED. THIS IS NOT JUST A SAFETY ISSUE,
BUT ALSO AN EQUITY ISSUE. 
          IT'S ALSO AN ECONOMIC IMPACT ISSUE. OVER 20 YEARS. 
          DELAYS AT ROAD CROSSINGS IN HOUSTON COULD COST A STAGGERING 2.6 BILLION IN LOST TIME. 
          COLLISIONS, WASTED FUEL EMISSIONS. AND THAT'S JUST MONEY WE CAN'T AFFORD TO LOSE. 
          WHILE WE HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO ADDRESS IT. SO RAILS WILL STUDY STUDY WILL RATHER WILL
WILL DELIVER SMART SOLUTIONS LIKE GRADE SEPARATIONS AND PEDESTRIAN SAFETY MEASURES THAT 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 THAT THE COMMUNITY HAS LONG BEEN LIVING WITH. 
          SO I'M EXCITED ABOUT THIS. I MOVE ON THE MOTION AS PRESENTED. 
          SECOND, AND CONGRATULATIONS, COMMISSIONER. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. AMAZING MOTION MADE BY
GARCIA, SECOND BY BRIONES. IS THERE OBJECTION. HEARING NONE. 
          ITEM PASSES UNANIMOUSLY. ITEM 238. COMMISSIONER RAMSEY FOOD NUTRITION PROGRAM. 
          I WISH TO VOTE. MOTION MADE BY GARCIA, SECOND BY BRIONES. 
          ALL THOSE OPPOSED VOTE AYE. AYE. OPPOSED. VOTE. 
          NAY. COMMISSIONER VOTES. NO. ITEM PASSES 3 TO 1. 
          NEXT IS 239. AND THIS IS I'LL TAKE 239 241 242 484 ALTOGETHER. 
          [Departments (Part 5 of 9) & Emergency/Supplemental Items (Part 2 of 6)]
AND FOR TOTAL AMOUNT. ALL ALL ALL ADDED UP. IT'LL BE $16 MILLION IN IN INVESTMENTS TOWARDS
HOMELESSNESS, RENTAL ASSISTANCE AND EVICTION DEFENSE. THIS IS THE MONEY THAT WOULD HAVE GONE TO THE
GUARANTEED INCOME PROGRAM. 
          I APPRECIATE MY COLLEAGUES THROUGH STURKO VOTING TO KEEP IT IN PROGRAMS THAT HELP THE MOST
VULNERABLE IN OUR COMMUNITY, AND I WOULD MOVE ALL FOUR ITEMS. 239 241 TWO 4244 COMMISSIONER I WILL SECOND,
I WILL SECOND THEM. 
          OKAY. IS THERE ANY OBJECTION? NO. THREE EYES,
ONE NAY. 
          COMMISSIONER RAMSEY VOTES NO. NEXT IS TWO, THREE,
EIGHT, RIGHT? 
          [Departments (Part 6 of 9)]
NOPE. WHICH ONE? 245. 245. AND THAT IS COMMISSIONER RAMSEY. THAT'S YOU. AUDITOR. SAGE INSIGHTS LLC. 
          YES. IS THE ALTAR OR OR. PURCHASING. PURCHASING HERE. YEAH. THIS IS ITEM 245. 245. AND WE'RE WE'RE PAYING A CLAIM TO SAGE INSIGHTS INC. AND ARE WE GOOD? DOES THIS CHECK ALL THE BOXES IN TERMS OF WHAT WHAT WE CAN
DO SHOULD DO LEGALLY? DO? LET ME LOOK INTO THAT ONE. WE'LL COME BACK TO IT. 
          YOU CAN LOOK AT IT. WE'LL COME BACK TO IT. THANK YOU. 
          NEXT IS TWO 60 COMMISSIONER RAMSEY. TWO SIX. OH,
IS BOB BARKER COMPANY? YEAH. THIS IS THE ITEM THAT WE HAD EARLIER, AND I KNOW THERE WAS A CONCERN. 
          AND SIMPLY FROM A PURCHASING STANDPOINT IF YOU LOOK AT THE REQUIREMENTS,
THERE ARE CERTAIN TESTING OF THE I THINK THIS IS A CONTRACT TO PROVIDE INMATE UNIFORMS, GARMENTS AND OTHER RELATED ITEMS. 
          [04:15:05]
THE GENTLEMAN THAT'S HERE AND HE SPOKE EARLIER THE QUESTION IS HIS BID WAS $100,000 LESS THAN THE WINNING BID. THE WINNING BID HAS BEEN DOING WORK WITH THE COUNTY FOR A
NUMBER OF YEARS. 
          I GUESS THERE'S PLUSES AND MINUSES TO THAT, BUT I HEAR $100,000. 
          I SEE A TESTING REQUIREMENT. I READ THE TESTING REQUIREMENT,
HAVING DONE A FEW TESTS. 
          NOT ON CLOSE WAR ON DIRT, BUT WHEN? WHEN I LOOK AT THE TESTING REQUIREMENTS,
IT LOOKED PRETTY OBSCURE. 
          I, LIKE YOU COULD LEAVE IT UP TO AN OPINION. NOT REALLY ANY HARDCORE TESTING THAT THAT I
COULD SEE. 
          SO JUST WANT TO BE SURE THE JUSTIFICATION FOR NOT HIRING THE LOW BID ON THIS PARTICULAR
PROJECT. 
          SIR, WE HEARD FROM YOU EARLIER. YOU CAN BE SEATED,
PLEASE. 
          JUST ASKING THE DEPARTMENT HEAD, BUT THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. GOOD AFTERNOON. 
          COURT. SO TO YOUR POINT ABOUT THE TESTING, SO THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE DID CONDUCT A TEST OF
THE THREE VENDORS, AND THAT TEST INVOLVED TAKING THE GARMENTS THROUGH A SERIES OF WASH CYCLES. 
          AND THIS WAS THE ONE PRODUCT THAT HAD SOME COMPROMISE IN THE MATERIAL. 
          AND SO THAT'S WHY IT WAS NOT SELECTED. AND WE'D BE HAPPY TO SIT DOWN AND DO A DEBRIEF AND
EXPLAIN AND WALK THROUGH THAT. 
          THEY DID TAKE SOME PICTURES OF THE MATERIALS. 
          AND YOU CAN SEE IN THE TESTING THAT THEY DID ON THIS PARTICULAR PRODUCT THAT THERE WERE
SOME TEARS IN IT. 
          SO ALTHOUGH ITS LOWEST BID IF YOU WERE CONTINUING TO HAVE DEFECTIVE MATERIALS,
THAT WOULD REQUIRE POTENTIALLY INCREASED COSTS BECAUSE YOU HAVE TO KEEP REPLACING THE GARMENTS THAT YOU HAVE, AND IT ALSO INTERRUPTS BUSINESS OPERATIONS BECAUSE
YOU WOULD HAVE TO TAKE THAT INMATE IN AND OUT. 
          SO YOU, YOU YOU'VE REVIEWED THE DETAILS AND YOU SUPPORT THE OPERATION. 
          I WOULD RECOMMEND THAT YOU SIT WITH THE THE VENDOR,
OKAY. 
          AND GIVE HIM A COMPLETE DEBRIEF ON THOSE DETAILS. 
          ABSOLUTELY. AND I WILL NOTE WE HAVE NOT BEEN WE HAD NOT RECEIVED A BID PROTEST ON THIS OR
NOT HAD AND A REQUEST FOR A DEBRIEF. 
          AND, BUT WE'RE HAPPY TO DO SO. AND I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT VENDORS KNOW THAT THEY DO HAVE
THAT OPTION TO REQUEST A DEBRIEF, IF THEY FEEL THAT THERE'S SOMETHING WE NEED TO LOOK AT AGAIN. 
          AND QUICK POINT, THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE AGREES WITH THIS ASSESSMENT.. 
          OKAY. AND WE LOOKED AT THE DOCUMENTATION THAT THEY PROVIDED. 
          OKAY. SO AND SIR, THEY'LL MEET WITH YOU. NOT TODAY. 
          OBVIOUSLY WE'RE IN COURT, BUT THEY'LL GIVE YOU A DEBRIEF. OKAY. BUT THANK YOU. APPRECIATE
IT. IS THERE A MOTION? COMMISSIONER GARCIA MAKES A MOTION. 
          IS THERE A SECOND? SECOND? COMMISSIONER BRYANT SECONDED. 
          ALL IN FAVOR? VOTE AYE. ALL OPPOSED. VOTE NO. 
          NO. THREE AS AND ONE NAY. ITEM PASSES. NEXT. COMMISSIONER RAMSEY,
ITEM 282 ENERGY EJ CONSULTING, LLC. ARE WE IS THIS A I KNOW THIS IS A GRANT. 
          AND MY QUESTION IS THERE'S A QUESTION WHETHER OR NOT THESE DOLLARS FOR SOLAR TO ALL IS
GOING TO BE THERE. 
          THIS ONE COMMISSIONER ENERGY EDGE IS NOT A GRANT. 
          THEY HELP US ON LIKE ENERGY PROCUREMENT. SO THIS THIS ONE 282 IS NOT RELATED TO SOLAR FOR
ALL. 
          SO THIS IS STRICTLY TO DO CONSULTING. YES. AND WE JUST NEED TO VOTE. 
          MOTION MADE BY COMMISSIONER GARCIA, SECOND BY COMMISSIONER BRIONES. ALL IN FAVOR? OPPOSED.
VOTE NO. THREE EYES AND ONE. 
          NO. NO. ITEM PASSES. NEXT. COMMISSIONER RAMSEY,
284 TFC ENERGY SOLUTIONS. 
          JUST NEED TO VOTE. RIGHT, COMMISSIONER RAMSEY. 
          IS THIS THE SAME KIND OF CONTRACT? SIMILAR, YES. 
          JUST A SIMILAR CONTRACT. DIFFERENT? YES. ALSO NOT SOLAR FOR ALL. 
          NOT A GRANT FUNDED CONTRACT. JUST VOTE. MOTION MADE BY COMMISSIONER GARCIA I SECOND. 
          I VOTE, I VOTE NO. THREE EYES, ONE NAY, COMMISSIONER RAMSEY. 
          NO. ITEM PASSES. NEXT IS ITEM 322, COMMISSIONER RAMSEY. 
          SOLAR FOR ALL. AGAIN, JUST NEED TO VOTE. ASK. 
          MY QUESTION IS, DO WE HAVE DOLLARS HERE FOR THIS PROJECT? SO THIS ONE COMMISSIONER, YOU KNOW, WE WE THERE'S AN ITEM NOW IN EXECUTIVE SESSION TALKING
ABOUT OUR LEGAL STRATEGY. 
          I THINK THIS IS NO COST AT THE MOMENT. WE WANT TO CONTINUE TO KEEP OUR OPTIONS OPEN WHEN
THE 50 CITIES IN 20 COUNTIES I'VE WORKED FOR. 
          BEFORE YOU BID SOMETHING, YOU NEED TO HAVE THE MONEY IN THE BANK. 
          SO I JUST WANT TO BE SURE. IS THIS LEGAL? J COMMISSIONER. 
          WE CAN TALK. THE COMPANION ITEM IS IS IN EXACT SESSION,
SO WHY DON'T WE. 
          WHY DON'T WE JUST HOLD IT AND WE CAN TALK? YOU WANT TO HOLD THIS ONE UNTIL THEN? YES, WE CAN HOLD. OKAY. COMMISSIONER RAMSEY. COMMISSIONER RAMSEY,
YOU HELD THE NIXON MEMO FOR COUNTY FLEET ACQUISITION, 98 K. JUST NEED A VOTE. THIS IS A THIS IS TO ACQUIRE A VEHICLE CAPABLE OF SAFELY DEPLOYING
A LARGE DONATED 
          [04:20:03]
MOBILE GENERATOR. MY SIMPLE QUESTION IS, WHO IS GOING TO BE RESPONSIBLE FOR USING THIS NEW
TRUCK WITH A DONATED GENERATOR AND TRAILER? WHOSE GROUP IS THIS IN? EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT? OR DO WE KNOW? I THINK THERE'S PRECINCTS TWO,
THREE AND FOUR WOULD PROBABLY VOLUNTEER. 
          SURE. DO WE KNOW? I THINK MY GUESS IS IT'S EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT. 
          GIVE ME ONE SECOND. COMMISSIONER. LET'S GO TO THE NEXT ONE. 
          COME BACK. COMMISSIONER GARCIA, TRANSMITTAL ON COMPLAINT TRACKING DIRECTIVE 311 HOMELESS
ENCAMPMENT. 
          THREE. EIGHT TWO. I'M SORRY. THANK YOU. BACK IN MAY,
I BROUGHT A MOTION DIRECTING UNIVERSAL SERVICES TO UPDATE THE 301 SYSTEM TO ALIGN WITH OUR ENCAMPMENT CLOSURE POLICY. 
          BECAUSE PUBLIC SAFETY AND ACCOUNTABILITY. GOTTA GO HAND IN HAND AND WORK WELL TOGETHER. 
          SINCE THEN THEY'VE PARTNERED WITH FLOOD CONTROL,
THE HOUSING DEPARTMENT, PUBLIC HEALTH, THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE AND THE COALITION FOR THE HOMELESS TO LAUNCH A PHASED PLAN THAT ENSURES ENCAMPMENT REPORTS ARE TRIAGED,
ROUTED, AND TRACK TRANSPARENTLY. THEY ARE ALREADY TRACKING OVER 250 ENCAMPMENT RELATED CASES USING EXPANDED
FILTERS. 
          THE NEW 311 FORM WILL INCLUDE MAP PINNING ADDRESSES AND PHOTO UPLOADS. 
          THIS IS A PART OF THE THE REVIVE TO TO THRIVE STRATEGY IN PRECINCT TWO. 
          IT'S BEING STRATEGIC, RESPONSIVE, SAFETY FIRST,
GOVERNMENT ORIENTED, AND IT'S URGENTLY NEEDED. 
          UNSHELTERED HOMELESSNESS IS UP NEARLY 16% AND HOUSTON LEADS THE NATION IN POVERTY,
WITH 1 IN 5 RESIDENTS AND 1 IN 3 CHILDREN LIVING IN POVERTY. THE SYSTEM IS ON TRACK TO LAUNCH IN EARLY 2026,
AND I LOOK FORWARD TO A FULL DEMONSTRATION. 
          DIRECTOR RAYMOND, WHEN YOU HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY BEFORE THE END OF THE YEAR BEFORE WE MOVE
FORWARD, I HAVE A FEW QUICK QUESTIONS FOR THE DIRECTOR,
IF YOU MAY APPROACH THE MIC. 
          NUMBER ONE IS HOW WILL DEPARTMENTS LIKE OUR OFFICES,
FLOOD CONTROL, SHERIFF AND HOUSING BE TRAINED OR ONBOARDED INTO THIS NEW 311 AND DASHBOARD SYSTEM BEFORE IT LAUNCHES IN 2026? COMMISSIONER, THANK YOU FOR THE QUESTION. GOOD AFTERNOON. 
          SINDHU MENON, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, UNIVERSAL SERVICES. 
          COMMISSIONER. THIS IS A COLLABORATION, SO THERE WILL BE A LOT OF DISCUSSIONS THAT WILL BE
HAPPENING WITH ALL THE DEPARTMENTS AND THROUGH THOSE DISCUSSIONS, WE'LL BE ONBOARDING THE VARIOUS PRECINCTS AS WELL AS THE DEPARTMENTS. 
          GOOD, GOOD. AND SO CAN YOU CLARIFY HOW THE COUNTY PLANS TO MANAGE AND UPDATE ENCAMPMENT
DATA ONCE THE DASHBOARD DOES GO LIVE? AND WILL THAT BE AUTOMATED OR DEPEND ON DEPARTMENT INPUT? IT DEPENDS UPON THE DEPARTMENT INPUT. SOME OF IT CAN BE AUTOMATED,
WHILE SOME OF IT DEPENDS ON THE INTEGRATION BETWEEN VARIOUS SYSTEMS AND THE DEPARTMENTS. 
          YOU KNOW, THE SYSTEMS THAT RESIDE WITHIN THE DEPARTMENTS. DEPARTMENT,
SO THERE MIGHT BE SOME THAT IS AUTOMATED WHILE OTHERS WOULD BE MANUAL. 
          ANY EFFORT TO TRY TO MAKE IT AS FULLY AUTOMATED AS POSSIBLE WOULD BE OBVIOUSLY IDEAL. 
          AND THEN BEYOND THE CURRENT, THE CURRENT AGENCIES INVOLVED,
IS THERE A 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. I MEAN, WE WOULD LIKE TO DO THAT RIGHT NOW. 
          THAT'S NOT IN THE SCOPE FOR FOR PHASE TWO, BUT DEFINITELY NOTED COMMISSIONER. 
          WONDERFUL. WELL, DIRECTOR, THANK YOU FOR YOUR WORK ON THIS,
AND I APPRECIATE THE QUICK TURNAROUND ON THIS ITEM. 
          SO THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH AND LOOKING FORWARD TO MOVING IT ALONG. 
          SO ANYTHING YOU NEED PLEASE LET US KNOW. OKAY. 
          THANK YOU COMMISSIONER. THAT'S A TRANSMITTAL ACTION. 
          THANK YOU VERY MUCH. NEXT IS ITEM 14. WHO PULLED THAT ONE? NO ACTION COMMISSIONER ELLIS. WE'LL BRING IT BACK ON 924. 
          OKAY. 411 COMMISSIONER GARCIA. YES. ON ON THIS ONE. 
          [Emergency/Supplemental Items (Part 3 of 6)]
MISS MR. RAMOS ON I THINK WE WERE GETTING OUR BRIEFING ON MONDAY AND I'D ASKED FOR A COPY
OF THE INVESTMENT POLICY, AND I GOT IT YESTERDAY. SO THANK YOU FOR THE QUICK TURNAROUND. 
          BUT YOU GAVE ME A AN INSIGHT TO THE POLICY. I DIDN'T GET THE POLICY ITSELF. 
          SO I'D LIKE TO GET THE INVESTMENT POLICY. AND SO ONE OF THE THINGS THAT THE INVESTMENT
POLICY DOES OR YOUR, YOUR, YOUR SLIDE DECK DOES MENTION IS THAT THERE IS SOME MWD PARTICIPATION AND I HAVEN'T SEEN ANY REPORTS ON THIS,
SO I'D LIKE TO SEE THE PERFORMANCE OF OUR INVESTMENT POLICY 
          [04:25:08]
FOR THE LAST THREE YEARS. YOU WANT TO HOLD IT? YES, I CAN PROVIDE THAT. OKAY, SO WE'LL HOLD THAT ITEM NEXT. 
          COMMISSIONER. I HAD A SIMILAR QUESTION WITH REGARD TO THE VARIANCE IN THE MWB UTILIZATION. 
          SO I'D BE INTERESTED IN SEEING. OKAY, GOOD. YOU CAN HAVE THAT FOR THE NEXT COURT. 
          PROBABLY. WE CAN BRING IT BACK. OKAY. THANK YOU. 
          WE'RE TRYING TO SAY SOMETHING. YES, SIR. ON 329,
COMMISSIONER RAMSEY, THAT IS AN OEM VEHICLE. 
          [Departments (Part 7 of 9)]
SO THE JUDGE'S OFFICE, OFFICE OF EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT IS MANAGING THE LARGE HEAVY DUTY
VEHICLE. 
          OKAY. BUT IS THAT THE ONLY VEHICLE THEY HAVE IN THAT GROUP? NO, I BELIEVE THEY HAVE. THEY HAVE ADDITIONAL VEHICLES. SO THEY'RE SITTING JUST A11. 
          CORRECT. BUT I THINK THIS IS A SPECIALTY VEHICLE FOR GENERATORS AND FOR PARTICULARLY
LARGE. 
          I MAKE A MOTION ON THE ITEM. SO MOVED. MOTION MADE BY COMMISSIONER RAMSEY,
SECOND BY COMMISSIONER GARCIA. 
          IS ANY OBJECTION? HEARING NONE. ITEM PASSES UNANIMOUSLY. 
          LET'S SEE IF WE CAN GET TWO MORE IN COMMISSIONER RAMSEY. FOUR. FOUR. EIGHT. COMMISSIONER,
I'M SORRY, 
          [Emergency/Supplemental Items (Part 4 of 6)]
JUST TO VERIFY THAT ONE 411 WAS A NO ACTION. NO. 
          OH. THE OTHER ONE WAS NO ACTION ON THE FOUR,
TEN WAS NO ACTION. 
          411 WAS. WE CAN BRING BACK. BUT I DO WANT TO ASSURE THE COURT THAT WE ARE REQUIRED TO
SUBMIT REPORTS QUARTERLY SO WE CAN GATHER ALL OF THEM TOGETHER AND INTO ONE CONSISTENT REPORT, AND TO SPEAK TO THE THE VOLATILITY. 
          IT'S DEPENDENT. IT'S DEPENDENT ON EVERY QUARTER. 
          WE HAVE OUR OUR INVESTORS. SO WOULD YOU SUGGEST WE PASS IT. 
          BUT YOU JUST GIVE US A REPORT ON THOSE ITEMS THAT WERE ASKED IN WHATEVER COURT IS
COMFORTABLE WITH THAT. OKAY I'D LIKE TO HOLD IT OKAY OKAY. 
          WE CAN BRING IT BACK SO IT WON'T IMPACT OUR ABILITY IN THE MARKET WILL IT? NO. OKAY. SO WE'LL JUST MARK IT AS NO ACTION. 
          NO ACTION. OKAY. 448 COMMISSIONER RAMSEY. WELL,
THAT'S TIED TO THE OTHER ITEM, ISN'T IT. 
          YES. 471 YEAH. WORKING ASSETS. ASSETS TO WORK. 
          NO, THAT'S 471 I'M JUST JUMPING IN AND I'M I'M GONNA HOLD 448 IT'S TIED TO 245. 
          YEAH. HOLD TOOK 448 BECAUSE IT'S TIED TO 245. 
          AND 471 IS THE NEXT ONE BEFORE WE GO TO THIS VOTE. 
          JUST MY APOLOGIES, JUST TO MAKE SURE IT'S ON THE RECORD FOR 48 WILL ALSO BE NO ACTION
SINCE IT'S. 
          YOU'RE HOLDING IT FOR NOW. FOR NOW, UNTIL WE COME BACK FROM EXECUTIVE SESSION. 
          OH, MY APOLOGIES. JUST. IS THAT RIGHT, TOM? YEAH. 
          OKAY. AND I'LL MAKE A MOTION ON 471. AND I'LL SECOND IT. 
          BUT I PLEASE WANTED TO SHARE SOME COMMENTS AND GET AN UPDATE FROM INTERIM COUNTY
ADMINISTRATOR DICKERMAN. 
          I'M SUPPORTIVE OF THIS PROGRAM, BUT IT IS INCREDIBLY SLOW MOVING. 
          AND GIVEN THAT HARRIS COUNTY IS ONE OF THE LARGEST LANDOWNERS IN THIS ENTIRE REGION,
AND KNOWING THAT THERE'S MANY ASSETS THAT ARE NOT BEING UTILIZED IN ONE WAY OR ANOTHER, I FEEL LIKE WE NEED TO GET THOSE ASSETS TO WORK. 
          EVEN BEYOND THE POOR PROGRAM, THERE NEEDS TO BE DUAL TRACKS IN A MUCH MORE PROACTIVE,
AGGRESSIVE WAY. 
          AND SO MY ENCOURAGEMENT IS IN COLLABORATION WITH THE ENGINEERING TEAM AND IN ADDITION TO
PAUL, IF YOU COULD REALLY TAKE A CLOSE LOOK AT ASSETS THAT WE'RE NOT UTILIZING THAT WE CAN SELL, OR WE CAN, YOU KNOW, THINK OF PUBLIC PRIVATE PARTNERSHIPS,
HOUSING OPPORTUNITIES. 
          ET CETERA. SO THAT'S ALL I WANTED TO SAY. BUT ANYWAY,
I'M HAPPY TO MOVE IT. 
          MY CONCERN ON 471 WAS THIS WAS, IF NOT THE FIRST ONE THAT WE'RE DOING UNDER THE UNDER THIS
PROGRAM. 
          THAT'S CORRECT. AND AND THAT PARTICULAR SITE HAS GOT QUITE,
QUITE THE HISTORY IN TERMS OF IT'S A GREAT VALUE. 
          I CAN SEE WHY IT WOULD END UP ON THE LIST. WE'VE NOT EVEN COMPLETED OUR 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 WE WENT THROUGH. 
          SO, LOOK, I'LL JUST STATE I MADE A MOTION TO BOTH IN MY PRECINCT. 
          I KNOW WE NEED THE MONEY, AND I DON'T WANT DOWNTOWN TO BECOME,
LIKE, SOME GREAT CITIES AROUND THE COUNTRY. 
          I MADE THE INITIAL MOTION SOMETIME BACK. INSTEAD OF MOVING COUNTY GOVERNMENT OUT TO THAT
PINE MONT SOUTH ON ON THAT SIDE OF TOWN, WE NEED TO KEEP DOWNTOWN HOUSTON ALIVE. AND I FEEL THE SAME WAY,
EVEN IF I DIDN'T REPRESENT IT. 
          SO FOR THAT REASON, I'M MAKING A MOTION NOW. SOMEBODY MAY BE MAD,
BUT WHOEVER BUYS IT. 
          BUT WE NEED THE MONEY. AND MOTION MADE BY ELLIS,
SECOND BY GARCIA. 
          I, I I VOTED FOR IN ON THIS ITEM PASSES. OKAY. 
          NOW WE'LL TAKE A BREAK. I WOULD SUGGEST, SINCE I WAS TRYING TO MOVE THIS TRAIN,
YOU MAKE SURE YOU WRITE THAT RESOLUTION TIME. 
          [Departments (Part 8 of 9)]
IT'S RESOLUTION TIME. JUST WORK UP A LITTLE NOTE DURING RESOLUTION SO I KNOW WHAT I
FORGOT. 
          AND WE'LL KEEP. WE'LL GET OUT OF HERE BEFORE DINNER. YES,
COMMISSIONER. 
          GET OUT BEFORE TOMORROW. YES, COMMISSIONER. OKAY. 
          AND, MAYOR, WE'RE GOING TO BRING YOURS UP FIRST IF WE CAN. I CAN TELL MY COLLEAGUE HE WAS
SHOWING OUT SINCE YOU WERE HERE. 
          SO COME ON UP. THAT'S. THAT'S ITEM NUMBER FOUR. 
          [04:30:01]
NUMBER OF MINE WOULD COME FIRST. BUT YOU FOR 91. 
          THIS IS ITEM 491 AND MAYOR HILTON, I WELCOME YOU TO HARRIS COUNTY COMMISSIONERS COURT. 
          THANK YOU FOR COMING DOWN TO JOIN US. MAYOR HILTON IS THE GREAT MAYOR OF THE CITY OF LA
PORTE. 
          YES, SIR. THAT OVERSEES ALL THE LA PORTIONS IN HARRIS COUNTY,
INCLUDING THE ONE IN THE BACK YOU KNOW, IF IF YOU WANT TO EVICT HER OUT OF THE CITY,
LA PORTE, YOU LET ME KNOW. 
          YOU HAVE TWO IN THE BACK. OH, THE TWO GOT TWO BACK. 
          OH, OKAY. GOT TWO. CASEY. CASSIE AS WELL. WELL,
MAYOR, I AM. 
          I READ THIS ARTICLE AND I ABOUT JUMPED OUT OF MY CHAIR. 
          MY WIFE GOT SCARED. SO WHAT THE HELL'S HAPPENING? ARE 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, SIR. SO CONGRATULATIONS. THANK YOU. 
          AND SO YOU YOU'RE JUST NEW INTO THE MAYOR'S SEAT. 
          HOW DID YOU DO IT? IN JUST A FEW MONTHS, MAN? JUST JUST BUILDING ON THE LEGACY. AND, BY THE WAY GALVESTON WAS NUMBER TEN,
SO. 
          GALVESTON TOO. YEAH. GOOD, GOOD. WELL, CONGRATULATIONS. 
          AND YOU KNOW, TO YOUR, YOUR TEAM AND YOUR CITY MANAGER,
YOU'VE ALWAYS BEEN PHENOMENAL PARTNERS WITH US. 
          AND I JUST WAS VERY EXCITED. I ALWAYS GET EXCITED WHENEVER I SEE ANYONE OR ANYTHING
RELATED TO THE PRECINCT THAT GETS SOME, SOME GREAT SHINE. AND SO I WANTED TO MAKE SURE TO HIGHLIGHT YOUR,
YOUR INCREDIBLE CITY AND CONGRATULATE YOU AS THE MAYOR OF THAT OF THAT CITY. 
          AND EVEN THOUGH YOU GOT TWO OF THEM CITIZENS BACK THERE. 
          I JUST WANT TO CONGRATULATE YOU JUST THE SAME. 
          BUT, LISTEN, WE GOT WE GOT A PICTURE AND RESOLUTION THAT WILL BE PRESENTED TO YOU. 
          SO IF YOU COULD STILL GIVE US A FEW MORE MINUTES. 
          ALL RIGHT. AND ANY ANY WORDS YOU'D LIKE TO SHARE WITH US,
JUST THANK YOU FOR THE HONOR. 
          WE APPRECIATE IT. MAYOR. CONGRATULATIONS. THANK YOU. 
          IT'S ONE OF MY FAVORITE CITIES. I TELL COMMISSIONER GARCIA I VISITED OFTEN. 
          MY DAUGHTER IN LAW GREW UP THERE. OH, FANTASTIC. 
          HER FATHER WAS COACH OF AS FAR AS WIGAN. THAT'S HER FATHER IN LAW. 
          OKAY. OKAY. AND SO, OF COURSE, I KNOW YOUR CITY MANAGER FOR 100 YEARS. 
          DOES IT DOES A GREAT 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'RE PROUD OF THE EAST SIDE. IT'S ONE OF THE BEST KEPT SECRETS IN THIS COUNTY. 
          AND IT'S ALL BECAUSE OF Y'ALL, YOUR LEADERSHIP AND WHAT YOU DO. 
          AND THANK YOU. YES. CONGRATULATIONS. WELL DESERVED. 
          LET ME INTRODUCE. THIS IS OUR CITY MANAGER, CORBY ALEXANDER. 
          WE'VE GOT OUR ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER, MATT DORMER,
AND THEN THE GENTLEMAN WHO KEEPS US SAFE. 
          HE'S HEAD OF OUR EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT. THIS IS JOHNNY MORALES. 
          I'M SURE EVERYBODY UP HERE HAS PROBABLY TALKED TO HIM AT LEAST ONCE. SO. WELL,
WELCOME AND CONGRATULATIONS. 
          THANK YOU, THANK YOU, APPRECIATE IT. THANK YOU,
THANK YOU. 
          COMMISSIONER GARCIA IS THE ONLY ONE YOU HAVE. YOU GOT ANOTHER ONE I GOT I GOT SEVERAL
MORE, BUT I'LL JUST KNOCK MINE OUT. 
          SO, COLLEAGUES, THE NEXT ONE IS FOR 79. THIS IS THE A RESOLUTION HONORING THE HILTON
WORKERS THE UNITE RESOLUTION. 
          AND I WANT TO SAY THAT I'M PLEASED THAT A COUPLE OF MY COLLEAGUES AGREED TO JOIN ME ON
THIS RESOLUTION. 
          JUDGE HIDALGO, COMMISSIONER GARCIA, COMMISSIONER BRIONES. 
          AND WE STAND IN SOLIDARITY WITH THE WORKERS AT THE HILTON AMERICAS HOTEL. 
          THESE WORKERS ARE DEMANDING WAGES THAT CAN LIVE ON THAT SO THAT THEY CAN LIVE ON SAFETY,
LIVE SAFELY AND WITH DIGNITY IN THE WORKPLACE IS SOMETHING THAT EVERYBODY DESERVES. 
          WE'VE DONE IT FOR OUR WORKERS TO THE EXTENT WE CAN. 
          AND WE'VE WE'RE ENCOURAGING IT FOR PEOPLE WHO CONTRACT TO 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 WAS NOT EASY FOR THEM TO DO THAT. 
          WE WE COMMEND YOU ALL FOR. AND A GOOD NUMBER OF US HAVE GONE OUT THERE. 
          I'VE SEEN MY COLLEAGUES ON SOCIAL MEDIA IN THE HEAT TO JOIN YOU. 
          SOME STAYED LONGER THAN OTHERS. I MUST ADMIT,
I WAS ABOUT TO FALL OUT, BUT I WAS GLAD TO STAND WITH YOU. 
          UNITE HERE. HELPED US CREATE THE FIGHT FOR LIVING WAGES. 
          WHEN THIS COMMISSIONERS COURT ADOPTED LIVING WAGES FOR COUNTY EMPLOYEES AND WORKERS ON
COUNTY PROJECTS, SETTING A FLOOR OF $20 AND 21.61 PER HOUR, RESPECTIVELY. 
          I MADE THE COMMENT WHEN I WENT OUT AND SPOKE TO HIM. I'D LIKE TO THINK THAT THEY WERE
FOLLOWING OUR LEAD, BUT IN REALITY, WE WERE FOLLOWING THEIR LEAD BECAUSE THEY WERE ONE OF THE GROUPS THAT CAME
TO US AND PUSHED US TO GET THAT DONE HERE. 
          [04:35:01]
AND I APPRECIATE MY COLLEAGUES WORKING WITH ME,
ALL OF YOU, ALL ON GETTING THAT DONE. 
          WE STOOD WITH YOU THEN AND WE STAND WITH YOU NOW. 
          AND NOW WE CALL ON HOUSTON FIRST TO NEGOTIATE IN GOOD FAITH TO REACH AN AGREEMENT THAT HAS
FAIR WAGES WITH DIGNITY AND RESPECT FOR EVERYBODY ON THE JOB. THE COUNTY CHARTED THE PATH A LITTLE BIT WITH YOUR WORK,
WITH YOUR HELP, WHEN WE PAVED THE WAY TO GIVE A LIVABLE WAGE TO OUR EMPLOYEES AND FOLKS WHO DO BUSINESS WITH US,
AND WE TIED IT TO THE EQUITY INDEX, SO WE DON'T HAVE TO FIGHT ABOUT IT EVERY TIME. 
          BUT LET ME NOT ADD STUFF THAT YOU ALL MAY WANT TO PUT ON THE TABLE. 
          I HOPE IT COMES TO A SWIFT RESOLUTION, AND I'LL MAKE THIS LAST COMMENT BEFORE I TURN TO MY
MY COLLEAGUES. 
          I SEE RAMSEY, GARCIA AND BRIONES. I WAS ON THE CITY COUNCIL WHEN THAT CONVENTION CENTER
CONSTRUCTION STARTED. 
          I WAS NOT ON THE CITY COUNCIL WHEN THEY VOTED TO PUT IT ON THE BALLOT. 
          IT WAS ON THE BALLOT WITH ME. 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 THEY WERE 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 THE TRUST WAS NOT GOING TO GENERATE THAT MUCH MONEY. 
          SO I KILLED IT. AND I HAD A LOT OF PEOPLE DOWNTOWN MAD AT ME BECAUSE WE DIDN'T HAVE A
CONVENTION CENTER HOTEL FOR ABOUT MAYBE ADRIAN GARCIA A GOOD DECADE BEFORE THEY CAME UP WITH A WAY TO DO IT SO THAT HILTON HAD SUBSTANTIAL PUBLIC SUBSIDIES
FROM THE HOT TAX FROM THE CITY'S COFFERS, 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 GET A LIVABLE
WAGE. 
          THIS CONTRACT CAME UP FIRST FOR YOU HILTON WORKERS WHO I KNOW YOU'RE SUFFERING BECAUSE
YOUR CONTRACT WAS UP FIRST. 
          BUT IF YOU ARE SUCCESSFUL, IT WILL PAVE THE WAY FOR WHAT EVERY HOTEL IN HOUSTON,
IF NOT IN HARRIS COUNTY, WILL END UP PLAYING. SO IT'S THE FIRST DOMINO. 
          AND IF IT FALLS. SO KEEP UP. THE FIGHT IS WORTH IT. 
          WE KNOW THAT IT IS A SACRIFICE. AND WITH THAT,
I'LL TURN IT OVER TO COMMISSIONER RAMSEY AND COMMISSIONER GARCIA AND THEN COMMISSIONER BRIONES. I KNOW THIS IS GETTING OLD. IT'S NOT OLD FOR ME. 
          WE GOT ANOTHER ANOTHER GROUP IN PRECINCT THREE AND PRECINCT ONE WHO'VE WON STATE. 
          AND WE THINK THAT'S A BIG THAT'S A BIG DEAL. LET THE SUMMER CREEK HIGH SCHOOL BULLDOGS. 
          OH! OH, COMMISSIONER, I THOUGHT YOU WANTED TO TALK ABOUT THIS ITEM BEFORE WE GO. 
          WE'LL GO TO YOURS NEXT. PROMISE? YEAH I WILL. 
          AFTER YOU STARTED AND I GOT HIM OUT THERE WAITING,
HOW COULD I NOT? COMMISSIONER. GARCIA. THANK YOU. COMMISSIONER. 
          I, TOO, WANT TO CONGRATULATE UNITE HERE. AND JUST TO SAY THAT IT'S GOOD TO SEE YOU. 
          GOOD TO SEE YOU WORKING TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU AND YOUR MEMBERS GET A LIVABLE WAGE. 
          I'VE BEEN WITH YOU SINCE I JOINED HOUSTON CITY COUNCIL IN OH FOUR. 
          WHEN SEIU FIRST CAME TO SEE ME AND WHILE THEY WERE YAKKING AWAY AS TO WHY THIS WAS
IMPORTANT, WHY THEY NEEDED MY HELP, I WAS JUST LIKE, STOP,
STOP. 
          YOU HAD ME AT HELLO. BECAUSE YOU KNOW, THERE'S 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'D HAVE TO GET UP EARLY BECAUSE SHE ALSO DROVE THE SCHOOL BUS. 
          THAT GOT ME TO SCHOOL ON EVERY MORNING. AND I REMEMBER MY DAD,
WHO HAD HIS OWN AUTOMOTIVE SHOP HIS OWN MECHANIC 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 ABOUT THE FAMILY AND THE,
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. 
          AND SO THINGS LIKE THIS ALWAYS REMIND ME OF OF WHAT SHE DID FOR ME. 
          THE SACRIFICES SHE MADE FOR MY MY BROTHERS AND I AND MY SISTER. 
          AND SO THIS ISN'T FOR ME SO MUCH A LABOR OR A PAY ISSUE. 
          IT'S A FAMILY ISSUE. AND SO I JUST WANT TO THANK YOU FOR ALL YOU DO. 
          YOU DO AN INCREDIBLE, HUMBLE JOB, AND YOU SHOULD BE PROUD OF THE WORK YOU DO. 
          [04:40:02]
BECAUSE WHEN PEOPLE COME INTO MY OFFICE AND THEY SAY,
OH, WOW, I LIKE YOUR OFFICE. 
          THERE THEY ARE IN PART SAYING, THIS OFFICE IS CLEAN. 
          WHEN I GO TO OTHER OFFICES AND WALK IN THERE AND YOU KNOW,
IT SMELLS NICE AND FRESH AND EVERYTHING. 
          IT'S BECAUSE THAT OFFICE HAS BEEN CLEANED. WHEN WE GO INTO HOTELS AND WE FEEL COMFORTABLE
BECAUSE THE HOTELS ARE CLEAN. 
          AND SO, AGAIN, I JUST WANT TO THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR THE HONORABLE WORK THAT YOU DO. 
          AND THEN ALSO, I WANT TO GIVE A SHOUT OUT TO DOCTOR LAURA MURILLO. 
          THIS MORNING, THE FOUR OF US WERE SPEAKING BEFORE THE HISPANIC CHAMBER OF COMMERCE ON
INFRASTRUCTURE. 
          AND THIS WAS SUPPOSED TO BE HELD AT THE HILTON. 
          THIS 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 AND MADE THE RIGHT DECISION TO MOVE THE EVENT SO THAT THERE WOULDN'T BE ANY COMPLICATIONS IN SUPPORTING HER
AND AND SUPPORTING YOU. 
          SO KEEP UP THE FIGHT. GOD BLESS YOU. AND AGAIN,
THANK YOU FOR ALL YOU DO. 
          COMMISSIONER. I DIDN'T KNOW YOUR MOTHER WAS 101. IF YOU LAST THAT LONG,
I GOTTA LIVE TO BE 120. 
          I'LL SERVE YOU WELL. YOU SAID YOU'RE GOING TO BE HERE A LONG TIME. 
          I'M GOING TO BE HERE A LONG TIME. SO FIRST OF ALL,
WELCOME HERE TO COMMISSIONER'S COURT. 
          UNITE HERE. 23. THE COURAGE, THE CONVICTION THAT 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'RE IN THIS FIGHT WITH YOU. AND HERE IN HARRIS COUNTY,
ONE JOB SHOULD BE ENOUGH. 
          AND I KNOW I WAS TALKING TO SO MANY OF YOU WHO HAVE BEEN WORKING AT THE HOTEL,
SOME OF YOU, 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'RE ASKING FOR A FAIR,
LIVABLE WAGE AND SAFE WORKING CONDITIONS. 
          AND WE ASK 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, OUR HISPANIC CHAMBER OF COMMERCE, WE DID NOT HOLD THE EVENT AT THE HILTON TO STAND IN SOLIDARITY. 
          THE HARRIS COUNTY DEMOCRATIC PARTY. WE'RE SUPPOSED TO HAVE OUR ANNUAL EVENT AT THE HILTON. 
          WE'RE POSTPONING IT UNTIL THEY DO THE RIGHT THING. 
          AND SO THANK YOU. BECAUSE WHAT YOU TO COMMISSIONER ELLIS'S POINT,
WHAT YOU'RE DOING IS GOING TO HELP ADVANCE THE JUSTICE FOR SO MANY OTHER WORKERS AROUND OUR STATE AND AROUND THIS COUNTRY. 
          SO THANK YOU FOR YOUR COURAGE AND CONVICTION. 
          AND WE STAND IN SOLIDARITY. THANK YOU. SI SE PUEDE. 
          AND. I DON'T KNOW IF WE HAVE ANY SPEAKERS ON THIS ITEM. 
          PLEASE TELL ME ALL 20 OF YOU ARE NOT GOING TO SPEAK. 
          BUT DID ANYBODY. IF ONE OF YOU WANTS TO SPEAK FOR THE GROUP,
YOU CAN. 
          BUT JUST PLEASE, IF YOU DON'T MIND AT ALL. WE WE'VE HAD A NUMBER OF KUMBAYA MOMENTS AROUND
HERE. 
          YOU CAN ALL COME UP JUST ONE, ONE PERSON SPEAK,
THAT'S ALL. 
          OH, YOU CAN WAIT. WE'RE GOING TO TAKE A PICTURE WITH ALL BUT ONE PERSON. WANT TO SPEAK?
AND JUST SO YOU KNOW THIS, I'LL BE TRANSLATING FOR YOU. 
          OKAY. SHE BROUGHT THE SPANISH. BUENAS TARDES. 
          MI NOMBRE ES NIURKA PEREZ HILTON, AMÉRICA POR 20 ANOS EN EL RESTAURANT 60 HENRY. 
          MI SALARY ES DOS DOLARES, PERO MRS TUVIERON LA GRAN AYUDA DE CINCO CENTAVOS, MAS AHORA GANAMOS LA HORA. AND YO TENGO UNA CONDICION MÉDICA. 
          ESPECIALISTAS TRES MÉDICOS PRIMARIOS DIETA Q GRACIAS A LA DONATION DE LA IGLESIA DONDE VOY
PUEDO MANTENER LO MAS SALUDABLE PUEDO PORQUE LO YO NECESITO COMER PARA MI CUERPO SE MANTENGA A SALUDABLE. 
          NO LO PUEDO PAGAR APARTE DE TODOS LOS SERES HUMANOS. 
          PAGAMOS LA RENTA, LOS VILLAS. POR FAVOR. LAS MANOS EN EL CORAZON DE ALGUIEN. 
          QUÉ NOS AYUDA A UN SALARIO DIGNO. PORQUE ESTAMOS PIDIENDO YO AL MENOS MUCHOS DE MIS
COMPANEROS 
          [04:45:05]
UN DOLAR Y ALGO POR ANOS DE TRABAJO. SOLAMENTE UN DOLOR Y ALGO POR UN POR ANOS DE TRABAJO. 
          SON VEINTIUNO ANOS, POR FAVOR AYUDANOS. GOOD AFTERNOON. 
          MY NAME IS NIURKA PEREZ. I AM A SERVER ASSISTANT AT THE HILTON AMERICAS. 
          I'VE WORKED THERE FOR 21 YEARS AS A SERVER ASSISTANT. 
          I ONLY MAKE 1225 AN HOUR RIGHT NOW. EVERYTHING IS A STRUGGLE. 
          I HAVE SERIOUS HEALTH ISSUES THAT I CAN'T AFFORD TO DEAL WITH. 
          I HAVE TO SEE THREE DIFFERENT SPECIALISTS. I ALSO HAVE DIABETES. 
          WITH THE SALARY I'M EARNING, I CAN'T AFFORD TO BUY THE SPECIAL FOODS I NEED TO MAKE TO
MAKE SURE I'M EATING THE RIGHT WAY WITH ALL MY CONDITIONS. 
          THANKS TO THE CHURCH, THEY HELP ME, FEED ME RIGHT? BUT I SHOULDN'T BE HAVE TO ASK FOR HELP TO THE CHURCH. 
          I SHOULD BE ABLE TO MAKE ENOUGH MONEY TO TO SUPPORT MY OWN SELF. 
          AND I'M ASKING YOU FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY HEART FOR YOU GUYS. 
          PLEASE HELP US. THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU. 
          THANK YOU ALL. THANK YOU. I'LL MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE THAT ITEM,
AND COMMISSIONER GARCIA WILL SECOND. 
          ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, VOTE AYE. ALL OPPOSED. VOTE NO. 
          THREE AND ONE ITEM DOES PASS. NEXT. COMMISSIONER RAMSEY SINCE YOU HAVE THAT ITEM ON BEHALF
OF BOTH OF US, I'M PROUD. IF YOU DON'T MIND, WE'LL GO TO 496. 
          SINCE I CUT YOU OFF, I START TO LET YOU GO. I GOT THAT FACIAL QUESTION I WAS ABOUT TO SAY. 
          I'M ABOUT TO GET A VOTE. OKAY, BUT I WILL TAKE A MINUTE AND AND WE'LL TRY. 
          WE'LL TRY THIS ONE MORE TIME. THE SUMMER CREEK HIGH SCHOOL BULLDOGS BASKETBALL TEAM. 
          IF Y'ALL COULD STAND UP, WE'RE GOING TO GET A PICTURE IN A MINUTE. 
          BUT IF Y'ALL COULD STAND UP. LET ME TELL YOU WHAT THIS TEAM HAS DONE. THEY CAPTURED THE 2025 U.I.L SIX AA DIVISION ONE GIRLS BASKETBALL STATE CHAMPIONSHIP
BY DEFEATING CEDAR HILL, WHICH I THINK'S GOT A PRETTY GOOD REPUTATION,
52 TO 49, 52 TO 49 AT THE ALAMODOME IN SAN ANTONIO. 
          THE BULLDOGS, UNDER THE DIRECTION OF HEAD COACH KYRA MARSHALL. 
          KYRA. RAISE YOUR HAND. WHAT A COACH. FINISHED THE SEASON WITH A STELLAR 2911 RECORD. 
          THE TEAM FINISHED THE SEASON WITH A TEN GAME WINNING STREAK,
AND THE TREMENDOUS ACCOMPLISHMENT OF SUMMER CREEK BULLDOGS MARKS THE FIRST STATE BASKETBALL CHAMPIONSHIP IN THE HISTORY OF THIS PROGRAM. 
          SENIOR KENNEDY SIMPSON'S OUTSTANDING 21 POINT WARRANT PERFORMANCE LED THE TEAM TO OVERCOME
AN 18 POINT SECOND HALF DEFICIT AND EARNED HER THE MOST VALUABLE PLAYER AWARD FOR THE CHAMPIONSHIP GAME. 
          THEY REPRESENTED THEMSELVES GREAT. THEY REPRESENTED HUMBLE INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT,
AND THEY REPRESENT HARRIS COUNTY IN AN EXTRAORDINARY WAY. 
          WOULD Y'ALL HELP ME CONGRATULATE THE SUMMER CREEK BULLDOGS? CONGRATULATIONS. WELL DONE. AND WE'LL GET PICTURES IN A MINUTE. 
          COACH, WOULD YOU LIKE TO SAY ANYTHING? SURE. COMMISSIONER RAMSEY,
WHILE SHE COMES DOWN. 
          I DID NOT KNOW THAT THEY LET HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS COACH BASKETBALL TEAMS IN HIGH SCHOOL. 
          THIS IS IN PRECINCT THREE AND IN PRECINCT ONE. 
          ON. THANK YOU FOR THANK YOU FOR BRINGING THIS FORWARD,
COMMISSIONER. 
          I'M SO PROUD OF HIM. AND COACH, JUST SAY YOUR NAME FOR THE RECORD,
AND WE'RE GLAD YOU'RE HERE TO MOVE THIS DOWN A LITTLE BIT. 
          I'M COACH KIERRA MARSHALL. THIS IS COACH KIRA BAUER. 
          COACH THOMAS ALSO, SOME OF OUR PLAYERS ARE HERE TODAY TO REPRESENT I DO. 
          I WOULD FIRST OF ALL, THANK YOU GUYS SO MUCH FOR THIS AMAZING HONOR. 
          WE'RE TRULY FORTUNATE AND BLESSED TO BE HERE. 
          AMONGST YOUR PRESENCE. WE UNDERSTAND THAT 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'RE HERE, I DO WANT TO GIVE AN OPPORTUNITY SO I CAN
INTRODUCE YOU TO THESE AMAZING ATHLETES THAT WE HAVE HERE. 
          I'M HAPPY THEY WERE ABLE TO MAKE IT BECAUSE THEY ARE PHENOMENAL YOUNG WOMEN,
AND THEY REPRESENT NOT ONLY HARRIS COUNTY, BUT THE STATE OF HOUSTON. WELL, SO I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ALL PUT A FACE WITH THE
NAME. 
          SO IF YOU JUST LET ME BRAG ON THEM A LITTLE BIT. 
          WE REALLY, REALLY WOULD APPRECIATE IT. THIS IS OUR. 
          SHE'S A FRESHMAN FOR US PLAYING ON THE VARSITY LEVEL DID A GREAT JOB CONTRIBUTING TO OUR
SUCCESS. 
          THIS IS. OUR AMAZING STUDENT COACH WHO KEPT US,
KEPT US GOING. 
          SORAYA TILLMAN. THIS IS ADDISON MARTIN. SHE WAS A SOPHOMORE LAST YEAR. 
          JUNIOR THIS YEAR. LED IN SCORING. SHE WAS PHENOMENAL IN THAT GAME. 
          GOT HURT IN THE CHAMPIONSHIP GAME, BUT WE WERE ABLE TO RALLY AROUND HER AND MAKE IT. 
          MAKE IT A MEMORABLE MOMENT. ANOTHER SOPHOMORE WHO'S NOW A JUNIOR ALSO SHE'S BILINGUAL. 
          [04:50:05]
SO THAT'S THAT'S REALLY AWESOME TO HEAR. SHE SPEAKS VERY FLUENTLY IN SPANISH AND ENGLISH
IS AMAZING. 
          BUT THIS IS AARON NEWSOME. SHE WAS ALSO VERY PIVOTAL IN OUR IN OUR SUCCESS AS WELL. 
          ANOTHER SOPHOMORE? YES. WE WERE REALLY YOUNG. 
          WOW. YES WE DID. WE WERE REALLY YOUNG. THIS IS CAITLIN IN ALEXANDER,
SHE MOVED IN FROM LOUISIANA. 
          A BIG PART OF OUR SUCCESS COMING IN THIS YEAR,
AND SHE ALSO CAN TOUCH THE RIM, SO SHE'S EXCITING. 
          IF YOU GUYS WANT TO COME WATCH HER PLAY. THIS IS OUR OH. 
          THIS IS OUR LONG JUNIOR, ONE OF OUR JUNIORS AMAYA HALL,
A PHENOMENAL PLAYER, AS YOU CAN TELL. 
          SHE'S SHE'S QUITE TALL. AND SHE ALSO WAS VERY PIVOTAL TO EVERYTHING THAT WE SUCCESS OUR
SUCCESS LAST YEAR. 
          AND THIS IS OUR STATE MVP, KENNEDY SIMPSON. SHE WAS. 
          YES. SHE FRACTURED HER PATELLA AT THE BEGINNING OF THE SEASON. SO SHE MISSED HALF OF THE YEAR PLAYING LAST YEAR AND CAME BACK WITH A BANG AND
STILL WAS ABLE TO LEAD US AND STILL ABLE TO COME OUT TO STATE MVP. I DON'T KNOW A LOT OF KIDS WHO CAN PLAY HALF A SEASON AND STILL HAVE SUCH AN IMPACT
LIKE SHE DID. 
          SO THE APPLAUSE IS VERY, VERY WARRANTED. SHE SHE DID PHENOMENAL. 
          THANK YOU GUYS FOR LETTING ME INTRODUCE THEM. CONGRATULATIONS. 
          CONGRATULATIONS. I'M PROUD OF YOU. Y'ALL ARE AMAZING. 
          WHAT DO YOU RANK RIGHT NOW, COACH? WE SHOULD BE RANKED NUMBER ONE. 
          YEAH. YOU SHOULD. YEAH. NICE. CONGRATULATIONS. 
          THANK YOU. CONGRATULATIONS. THANK YOU. NOW, NOW WE'LL GO BACK IN ORDER FOR 90
COMMISSIONER. 
          GARCIA, I BELIEVE THAT'S YOU. YES. THAT IS A NATIONAL CITIZENSHIP DAY. 
          YES. THIS IS FOR 90. YES. TODAY WE WE WELCOME MISS REBECCA. 
          CELESTE. CECELSKI. AND TAMARA KEHOE. KEHOE. ALL RIGHT. WE WERE DEBATING THE PRONUNCIATION EARLIER,
SO ONE OF US WAS GOING TO GET IT. 
          AND THEY ARE PART OF THE FETAL ALCOHOL SPECTRUM DISORDER NETWORK. 
          AND THEY'RE GOING TO SHARE INFORMATION ABOUT THEIR INCREDIBLE WORK THAT IMPACTS AND THE
IMPACTS 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 AFSP AWARENESS AND HEALTHY PREGNANCIES. 
          AND SO, REBECCA AND TAMARA, THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP AND YOUR WORK. 
          AND PLEASE SHARE WITH US A FEW WORDS. THANK YOU SO MUCH. 
          MY NAME IS REBECCA CECELSKI, AND I'M HERE ON BEHALF OF THE TEXAS FASD NETWORK AND ALSO AS
THE MOTHER OF A CHILD WITH A FETAL ALCOHOL SPECTRUM DISORDER. 
          ORDER. THANK YOU SO MUCH. COMMISSIONERS AND PARTICULARLY COMMISSIONER GARCIA,
FOR HELPING BRING AWARENESS TO THIS VERY COMMON BUT UNDER-RECOGNIZED DISABILITY. 
          AN ESTIMATED 1 IN 20 AMERICANS HAVE FASD, BUT VERY FEW ARE ACCURATELY DIAGNOSED,
MEANING THAT MANY DO NOT GET THE APPROPRIATE SUPPORTS THAT THEY NEED TO SUCCEED IN LIFE. THANK YOU FOR HELPING US BRING MORE AWARENESS TO WORK TOWARD A SOCIETY THAT IS
MORE SUPPORTIVE FOR THOSE WITH FASD. 
          THANK YOU. HELLO. MY NAME IS SHELLY LEBRET. I APPRECIATE YOU HAVING ME HERE TODAY. 
          ON SEPTEMBER 18TH, THE YEAR 2000, I WAS IN ODESSA,
UKRAINE WITH MY HUSBAND JIM, ADOPTING OUR SON ALEX. 
          WHEN WE ADOPTED HIM, WE KNEW HE HAD SPECIAL NEEDS,
BUT WE DID NOT KNOW THAT IT WAS FASD. 
          AT THAT TIME, THERE WAS SO LITTLE KNOWN ABOUT FASD THAT IT WOULD TAKE YEARS FOR US 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 FASD. 
          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. 
          THANK YOU. WONDERFUL. THANK YOU. YES, I'D LIKE TO SAY ONCE AGAIN,
THANK YOU FOR HAVING US HERE. 
          I'M COMING, ACTUALLY, JUST AS A PROFESSIONAL,
AS A LICENSED CLINICAL SOCIAL WORKER WHO HAS WORKED WITH FAMILIES WHO HAD NO IDEA THIS EXISTED. AND SO WHEN WE TALK ABOUT THE PREVALENCE OF 1 IN 20,
99% OF THESE KIDS ARE NOT GETTING DIAGNOSED. 
          [04:55:07]
SO THEY END UP GETTING ALL THESE OTHER DIAGNOSES,
WHICH ULTIMATELY CAUSES BIGGER ISSUES THERE IN THE JUDICIAL SYSTEM. 
          THE AVERAGE AGE A CHILD'S GETTING INTO THE JUDICIAL SYSTEM WITH FASD IS TEN IS 12 YEARS
OLD. 
          THERE'S A HIGHER PREVALENCE IN THE IN IN JAILS AND SPECIAL EDUCATION. 
          AND THE REASON WHY IS BECAUSE MANY PEOPLE DO NOT KNOW ABOUT THE DISABILITY AND THE BRAIN
BASED CHALLENGES. 
          AND WE'RE CONSIDERING THIS AS BEHAVIORS. SO I'M REALLY EXCITED TO HAVE YOU GUYS ALL HERE. 
          I WANT YOU GUYS TO CONTINUE LEARNING ABOUT FASD BECAUSE IT'S IN EVERY SYSTEM THAT WE'RE
WORKING WITH. 
          THANK YOU FOR COMING. WONDERFUL. THANK YOU ALL. 
          AND THANK YOU FOR THE WORK YOU'RE DOING. YES. 
          YOU DON'T MIND? SORRY. THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER GARCIA,
FOR SPONSORING AWARENESS FOR FASD. YOU HAVE LIKELY HEARD MANY SCARY STATISTICS ABOUT FASD THAT SOUND DOOMING. 
          DO NOT BELIEVE IT. THOSE ARE MOSTLY SECONDARY CHARACTERISTICS. 
          IMAGINE BEING A THIRD GRADER PLACED IN EIGHTH GRADE AND NOT ABLE TO DO THE WORK. 
          THEN THE TEACHERS AND OTHERS TELL YOU THAT IT'S BECAUSE YOU'RE LAZY,
BUT YOU'RE NOT LAZY. 
          YOU JUST SHOULDN'T BE IN EIGHTH GRADE. I LOST MY SPOT. 
          THIS IS WHAT SITUATIONS CAN BE LIKE FOR THE INDIVIDUAL WITH FASD. 
          NOW IMAGINE HOW THIS MIGHT MAKE YOU FEEL. OUR KIDS WANT TO DO WELL,
AND WHEN THEY ARE GIVEN TASKS THAT THEY CAN DO, THEY WORK VERY HARD AND SURPASS EXPECTATIONS. 
          THAT IS WHY I'M HERE TODAY, AND I WANT 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. 
          THANK YOU. AND SHE'S RIGHT. THEY'RE BEAUTIFUL. 
          THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR WORK. THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT. 
          THIS NEXT RESOLUTION IS ONE THAT I'M IMMENSELY PROUD AND HONORED TO BE ABLE TO DO. 
          BECAUSE THIS WEEK, WE'RE ALSO CELEBRATING HISPANIC HERITAGE MONTH. 
          AND I AM JUST HONORED TO BE ABLE TO WELCOME THE HONORABLE JUDGE,
RICHARD C VARDA, TO COMMISSIONERS COURT. COME ON UP. COME ON UP. HE IS. 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
EASTERN HOUSTON AND ACROSS THE COUNTY AND THE STATE. JUDGE VARDA WAS FIRST ELECTED JUSTICE OF THE PEACE PRECINCT SIX,
PLACE ONE, ON JUNE 13TH, 1974, BECOMING THE YOUNGEST PERSON EVER ELECTED TO THAT OFFICE,
AND THEN WENT ON TO FAITHFULLY AND HONORABLY SERVE 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'S WITH YOU. CINDY,
LET ME KNOW THAT SHE'S 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'RE RETIRING. 
          I MEAN, IT WAS A CONVERSATION IN THE COMMUNITY,
AND YOU WERE JUST, YOU KNOW, GOING ON AND WE I JUST WANT TO APOLOGIZE THAT YOU WERE NOT PROPERLY AND RESPECTFULLY HONORED JUDGE. AND 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 AND FEW SERVING IN PUBLIC OFFICE CAN EVER SAY THAT THEY HAVE
SERVED HONORABLY FOR THAT NUMBER OF YEARS. YOU SERVED WITHOUT ANY ISSUES,
WITHOUT ANY CHALLENGES. 
          AND AND YOU JUST MAKE US ALL PROUD. AND SO AS A YOUNG KID FROM THE NORTH SIDE,
BUT 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 USED TO WORK AT THE SHAMROCK HILTON WITH MY FATHER IN LAW AND AND AND LONNIE
AS WELL. 
          [05:00:03]
OKAY. AND LONNIE IS ALSO A PUBLIC SERVANT HAVING SERVED US AT THE CITY OF HOUSTON. 
          WHERE ARE YOU, LONNIE? I CAN'T SEE YOU. THERE YOU GO. 
          THERE YOU GO. THANK YOU. SO, JUDGE AGAIN, HARRIS COUNTY PRECINCT TWO HONORS YOU,
SALUTES YOU, AND IS THANKFUL AND GRATEFUL FOR YOUR INCREDIBLE SERVICE OF 46 YEARS. 
          THE FLOOR IS ABSOLUTELY YOURS. GRACIAS A LA FAMILIA. 
          RIGHT ON THIS DAY. AND I'LL GO AHEAD AND HAVE MY FAMILY MEMBER STAND. 
          MY DAUGHTERS. ONE DAUGHTER IS HERE, THE OTHER IS A TEACHER,
AND HER HUSBAND'S A FIREMAN. SO. 
          AND HE'S WORKING TODAY. SO, CINDY. ERIKA, IF YOU WOULD LIKE GRANDCHILDREN EVA,
ABEL AND HARPER AND HER BEAUTIFUL. AND HER HUSBAND,
GEORGE AND AND CANDY, MY SISTER, WHO'S CANDY TAUGHT ME HOW TO CAMPAIGN EARLY ON WHEN SHE RAN FOR SHIRLEY. SHE'S A GOOD ONE. GOOD TO SEE Y'ALL. 
          THEN I ALSO HAVE MIKE TWO TO MIKE'S RIGHT HERE. 
          AND RUBY, SHE'S THE YOUNGEST IN THE FAMILY RIGHT NOW. 
          SHE'S LIKE, WHAT, A YEAR? AND AND MARIA ARCOS,
WHO IS VERY ACTIVE ALSO. 
          OH SHE'S PHENOMENAL. WHY? CHAIRMAN, FOR A WHILE. 
          I WANT TO SAY THAT THIS IS THE THIRD COURTROOM,
COUNTY COURT HOUSE I'VE BEEN IN IN THAT TIME. 
          AND IT'S ALMOST AS LARGE AS THE FIRST ONE. THE SECOND ONE GOT A LITTLE SMALLER FOR,
I DON'T KNOW WHAT REASONS. 
          WANT ME TO STOP? NO. NO, PLEASE. AND I JUST WANT TO ANSWER THAT BECAUSE THERE WAS ANOTHER
COURTROOM. 
          I WOULD GO BACK IN THE 50S WITH MY DAD FOR A COUNTY. 
          IT WAS THE OLD THE THE COURTROOM, THE HISTORIC ONE WE HAVE ON THE SECOND FLOOR,
BECAUSE THERE WERE LARGE COURTROOMS BACK THEN, AND WE'D HAVE THE COUNTY DEMOCRATIC CONVENTIONS AT THAT LOCATIONS. 
          WOW. SO I CAN IDENTIFY WITH THE COURTS. AND HAVING SEEN MANY FRIENDS THAT WERE ATTORNEYS
BEFORE I EVER BECAME A JUDGE, AND THAT THAT I WOULD KNOW AND THEY WOULD PRACTICE LAW. 
          AND IT WAS ALWAYS GREAT SEEING THEM. I WILL SAY THANK YOU FOR THIS AWARD,
BUT BECAUSE OF MY PARENTS AND GRANDPARENTS, COMMUNITY, PEOPLE THAT 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. 
          AND I WILL SEE ELLIS HERE. I THINK OF MICKEY BECAUSE WHEN WE ALL STARTED BACK THEN,
WE WERE JUST A GROUP NOT KNOWING HOW DO WE DO THIS? AND WE GOT TOGETHER AND AND MADE THINGS HAPPEN. 
          I OWE EVERYTHING TO MY MOM AND DAD SIMPLY BECAUSE MY DAD WAS VERY ACTIVE. 
          A WORLD WAR TWO VETERAN WITH PATTON, HE WAS VERY ACTIVE WITH LULAC AT THE GROUND ROOTS. 
          AND THAT'S KIND OF WHAT INSPIRED ME, BECAUSE I WOULD GO WITH HIM EVERYWHERE. 
          I MET SENATOR JOHNSON WHEN HE WAS SENATOR AND,
YOU KNOW, IN AWE OF ALL THESE PEOPLE. 
          AND MY BROTHER LONNIE, ALSO WE SERVED IN DEBATE THROUGH JUNIOR HIGH AND HIGH SCHOOL. 
          BUT ANYWAY, SO YOU SEE OTHERS AND YOU KIND OF QUESTION I DON'T KNOW IF I CAN DO THAT. 
          AND SOMETIMES I DIDN'T WANT TO BE THERE. I WANTED TO BE SOMEPLACE ELSE. BUT,
YOU KNOW, YOU CAN DO IT. 
          AND SO THAT'S ALL I CAN SAY THAT MY DAD AND MOM INSPIRED WITH US IS IF YOU WANT TO
ACCOMPLISH SOMETHING, YOU HAVE TO START WORKING TOWARDS IT AND FEEL THAT 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. 
          AND SO WHEN I LOOK AT THE HARRIS COUNTY, BECAUSE THE OLD ONE HAD A HAT ON IT,
AND AS SHORT AS I WAS, IT HAD ALMOST FIT RIGHT ON TOP OF IT. I WANT TO LET'S SEE. 
          LET ME SEE WHAT ELSE. ANOTHER GREAT ORGANIZATION GROWING OUT OF THAT WAS PASO. 
          AND WITH LIONEL CASTILLO. YEAH. THOSE WERE GROUNDBREAKING TIMES FOR HISPANICS. 
          BUT AGAIN, THIS AWARD IS NOT NECESSARY. YOU'VE GIVEN TO ME. 
          BUT I OWE IT TO PEOPLE. THAT ABSOLUTELY IS. IT ABSOLUTELY IS. 
          AND THIS PHOTOGRAPHER THAT I'VE SEEN HIM FOR YEARS AND I FORGOT HIS NAME. 
          WELL ERICA. ANY ANY. YOU WANT TO ROAST AND TOAST? OH, JEEZ. MARIE. MARIE. MARIE. ALL RIGHT. HEY, LONNIE. LET LONNIE DO THE ROASTING. 
          ALL RIGHT. I CAN'T REALLY ROAST MY BROTHER BECAUSE MOM'S UP THERE. 
          BUT, YOU KNOW, YOU SAID IT, RIGHT? 46 YEARS AND NOT AN ISSUE. 
          YEAH, THAT'S THAT'S NOT EASY TO DO. THAT'S RIGHT. 
          AND I'M NOT SAYING BECAUSE POLITICIANS ARE, YOU KNOW,
IT'S JUST NOT EASY TO DO. 
          THAT'S RIGHT. BECAUSE YOU'VE GOT SO MANY PEOPLE YOU HAVE TO DEAL WITH SO MANY CONFLICTS,
SO MANY CHANGES, AND THAT IF I WAS PROUD OF RICHARD, THAT'S WHAT I WAS ALWAYS SO PROUD OF. 
          AND I'M THANKFUL, COMMISSIONER ELLIS, THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THESE PEOPLE. 
          [05:05:05]
HILTON. BECAUSE THE LAST JOB THAT HE HAD BEFORE HE SPENT 46 YEARS AS A JUSTICE OF THE
PEACE, WAS A WAITER AT THE SHAMROCK HILTON, RIGHT WHERE WE MET YOUR SOON TO BE FATHER IN LAW. 
          OKAY. AND THE ONLY POINT I WISH TO MAKE IS THAT THE STRUGGLE ALWAYS GOES ON. 
          YEAH. IT ALWAYS GOES ON. BUT THERE ARE RESULTS. 
          YOU SEE MY BROTHER, YOU SEE HIS BEAUTIFUL FAMILY,
OUR WHOLE FAMILY. 
          AND YOU SEE THESE GOOD PEOPLE UP HERE. THE STRUGGLE WILL ALWAYS GO ON. 
          BUT THERE'LL BE PEOPLE HERE TO HELP YOU AND TAKE YOU ALONG YOUR WAY. 
          AMEN. AND OTHER PEOPLE THAT SPEAK TOO LONG LIKE I DO SOMETIMES. 
          BUT I AM MY FATHER'S SON. AND THAT'S THE WAY HE WAS. 
          OH, YEAH. YEAH. THANK YOU SO MUCH. YOU'RE WELCOME. 
          LONNIE. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. AND AND LET ME JUST SAY YOUR FATHER WAS A LEGACY IN HIMSELF
BOTH YOUR 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 AND THE AND THE CREATION OF THE TEJANO DAY IS TO
YOUR DADDY'S CREDIT, BECAUSE THEY RETIRED THE STEER. THAT'S RIGHT. HE ALWAYS WROTE IT UP ANY DAY. 
          THAT'S RIGHT. GOOD DEAL. CONGRATULATIONS. YOU'RE WELCOME. 
          CONGRATULATIONS. THANK YOU. YEAH. I THINK YOU WANT TO. 
          COME ON. COME ON UP. AND THEN COMMISSIONER BRIONES WILL HAVE SOME COMMENTS,
TOO. I JUST WANT TO TAKE THE OPPORTUNITY, SINCE YOU OFFERED ME BEFORE MY UNCLE AND HIS BROTHER. BUT I SERVE AT. IT'S NOT SERVED. BUT I AM THE NIECE. 
          AND 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 IN NEAR NORTH SIDE, AND I HAVE TO SAY THAT GROWING UP IN THE NEAR NORTH
SIDE WITH 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 AND THE VFW POST, 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 THAT WE HAVE. 
          BUT AS IN, I WANT TO SAY MY MY UNCLE AND JUDGE BARR HAS ALWAYS BEEN AN ALLY FOR FEMALES. 
          HE HAD TWO BEAUTIFUL DAUGHTERS THAT HAVE GROWN UP AND ARE RAISING THEIR FAMILIES AND
TEACHING THEM HOW TO BE INVOLVED IN THEIR COMMUNITY. 
          BUT I HAVE TO SAY THAT NOT EVERYONE WILL DO THAT FOR THE WOMEN IN THEIR FAMILIES. 
          AND SO I JUST 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 COMMUNITY AND YOUR WORK HAS HELPED US TO CONTINUE TO DO GOOD WORK, SO THANK YOU. 
          WELL SAID. MARIE, THANK YOU SO MUCH. CONGRATULATIONS. 
          I'LL LEAVE YOU TO JUDGE COMMISSIONER COMMISSIONER GARCIA. 
          THANK YOU FOR BRINGING THIS RESOLUTION. THANK YOU FOR YOUR 46 YEARS ON THE BENCH. 
          THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE ON AND OFF THE BENCH FOR BEING A ROLE MODEL TO ME. 
          I REMEMBER HOW YOU TOOK ME UNDER YOUR WING AND GAVE ME SO MUCH ADVICE WHEN I ENTERED THIS
WORLD WHEN I WAS FIRST APPOINTED TO BE A JUDGE. 
          BUT THANK YOU FOR WHETHER IT'S THE TEEN COURTS OR THE LITERACY PROGRAMS,
OR THE BOY SCOUTS OR LULAC OR THE MEXICAN AMERICAN BAR ASSOCIATION OR THE CHICANO FAMILY CENTER, DENVER HARBOR SENIOR CITIZENS, YOU CAN GO ON AND ON AND ON. 
          YOU HAVE GIVEN GIVEN OF YOUR HEART AND OF YOUR TIME AND OF YOUR TALENTS. 
          AND CONGRATULATIONS ON THIS MUCH DESERVED RESOLUTION. 
          THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER, FOR BRINGING IT. COMMISSIONER GARCIA,
BUT REALLY, YOU YOU MAKE US BELIEVE YOU KNOW THE STRUGGLE DOES CONTINUE. 
          LIKE YOUR BROTHER SAID, THE STRUGGLE ALWAYS CONTINUES,
BUT SEEING SUCCESS AND SERVICE LIKE YOURS MAKES US BELIEVE THAT IT'S POSSIBLE. 
          SO FELICIDADES. Y GRACIAS. THANK YOU ALL, EACH AND EVERYONE. 
          JUDGE, I JUST WANT TO I JUST I JUST WANT TO THANK YOU AS WELL. 
          I DID MEET YOU BACK WHEN I WAS TRYING TO HELP BILL HARVEY GET REELECTED,
BUT I KNOW YOU HELPED ME WHEN I STARTED. 
          I DON'T KNOW IF YOU DID IT FOR ME OR BECAUSE BEN REYES AND MICKEY LELAND ASKED YOU TO DO
IT. 
          BUT I REMEMBER MEETING YOU AT SOME PLACE CALLED LOS LOBOS. 
          LOS LOBOS, MALMO. MALMO. MALMO, VILLARREAL AHEAD. 
          IT WAS A NEPHEW. OH, YEAH. I GO WAY BACK. NEPHEW WITH MALMO. 
          YOU DIDN'T. NO I DIDN'T YEAH. YOU THEY THEY HAD SOME BLACK CHICANOS BACK THERE. 
          I WAS ONE OF THEM. I WAS GETTING THOSE VOTES,
MAN. 
          BUT THANK YOU FOR YOUR HELP OVER THE YEARS. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. 
          THANK YOU. AND THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER, FOR BRINGING IT UP. CONGRATULATIONS,
JUDGE. THIS NEXT RESOLUTION QUICKLY, IS ONE THAT I'M PERSONALLY PROUD OF BECAUSE I ALWAYS SAY MY STAFF IS PHENOMENAL,
BUT I AM SO PROUD THAT I, FOR THE SECOND TIME, THAT I'M RECOGNIZING MEMBERS OF MY TEAM FOR HELPING TO SAVE A LIFE. 
          DANIEL URIBE IS PART OF OUR IS OUR DIRECTOR OF THE PRECINCT TWO WORKFORCE PLANNING AND
VETERAN SERVICES. 
          [05:10:07]
AND ON AND IN SEPTEMBER THIS BEING SUICIDE PREVENTION AND AWARENESS MONTH,
IT IS VERY HUMBLING TO LEARN THAT PRECINCT TWO VETERANS TEAM AND ITS VOLUNTEERS RECENTLY HELPED TO SAVE THE LIFE OF A VETERAN THAT WAS
EXPERIENCING DISTRESS AND CONTEMPLATING SUICIDE. THE VOLUNTEER LOIS CROUCH, AND EMPLOYS DIDI CHATLIN AND GIL SALAS JOINED IN THE CALL TO PROVIDE CALM, STEADY SUPPORT REMAINING ON THE LINE,
CONTINUING TO ENGAGE WITH THE VETERAN WHILE EMERGENCY RESPONDERS WERE DISPATCHED FOR A PRIORITY WELLNESS CHECK. 
          THE PRECINCT TWO VETERAN SERVICES TEAM HAS SINCE FOLLOWED UP WITH THE VETERAN TO ENSURE
ONGOING SUPPORT. 
          EXEMPLIFYING THE HEART AND THE MISSION OF VETERAN CARE THE TEAM HAS FOCUSED ON TRAINING
AND CREATING AN 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 GUYS. THANK YOU. 
          STAND UP SO WE CAN ACKNOWLEDGE YOU. AND THANK YOU FOR ALL YOU DO. 
          AND AND I'M SO PROUD OF YOU. DANIEL, WOULD YOU LIKE TO SHARE A FEW WORDS? GOOD AFTERNOON. THANK YOU SO MUCH, COMMISSIONER. 
          SO, HONESTLY SPEAKING, WHAT HAPPENED? THIS DOES NOT SURPRISE ME,
BECAUSE I KNOW MISS LOIS. 
          LOIS MISS DIDI, WHO'S NOT HERE WITH US, AND MR. GILL 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. 
          THE IMPORTANCE OF MENTAL HEALTH SUPPORT. THIS IS ESPECIALLY SIGNIFICANT AS VETERANS FACE A
HIGHER RISK OF SUICIDE COMPARED TO THE GENERAL POPULATION. 
          WHEN A VETERAN CRISIS NEEDED HELP. LOIS, DIDI AND GILL DIDN'T HESITATE. 
          TOGETHER, THEY SAVED A LIFE. THAT'S NOT JUST PROFESSIONALISM. 
          THAT'S HUMANITY. AND IT'S AN EXAMPLE OF THE QUIET ACT OF KINDNESS THAT HAPPENS EVERY DAY
IN OUR VETERANS SERVICE OFFICERS. 
          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 THE HEART. I ALSO WANT TO THANK DOCTOR CHRIS HOLMAN,
MISS CASSIE GIBSON, MISS JASMINE HILL AND THE ENTIRE TEAM FOR THEIR UNWAVERING DEDICATION AND COMPASSION. THANK YOU SO MUCH. WONDERFUL. CONGRATULATIONS,
GUYS. 
          THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU. 
          EXCUSE ME, SIR, CAN YOU PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME FOR THE RECORD? I'M SORRY. YES. DANIEL ALEXANDER URIBE. THANK YOU. 
          WONDERFUL. THANK YOU GUYS. PROUD OF Y'ALL. THIS LAST ONE. 
          JUST 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. THERE YOU GO. STAND UP. I JUST WANT TO QUICKLY ACKNOWLEDGE THEM BECAUSE,
YOU KNOW, POLICE WORK'S A IT'S AN INCREDIBLE, INCREDIBLE CAREER AND AND AREA OF WORK. 
          SOMETIMES THINGS JUST KIND OF FALL TOGETHER AND,
YOU KNOW, YOU'RE ABLE TO, YOU KNOW, PUT PIECES TOGETHER AND CONNECT THE DOTS AND SOLVE CRIMES. AND BUT WE NEVER KNOW WHETHER WE'RE PREVENTING STUFF. 
          HOWEVER, THIS YOUNG LADY BY THE NAME OF ISIS GARCIA HELPED TO DEVELOP A METHODOLOGY TO
IDENTIFY MICROSOMES THAT HAVE ACCOUNTED FOR 80% OF VIOLENT CRIME CRIMES WITHIN THE PATROL
DISTRICTS. 
          HER ANALYSIS HAS ENABLED THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE TO PROVIDE. 
          NUMBER ONE, WE HAVE PROVIDED ABOUT TWO, OVER TWO,
2 MILLION FOR THE INITIATIVE, AND IT'S RESULTED IN A 15% REDUCTION IN VIOLENT CRIMES IN THOSE PARTICULAR MICROSOMES. 
          ISIS. ISIS. CONGRATULATIONS. AND YOU GO, GIRL. 
          BUT TO THE ENTIRE CRIME ANALYSIS TEAM, THANK YOU FOR WHAT YOU DO. 
          BECAUSE YOU'RE SORT OF THE SCIENTIST BEHIND A LOT OF THE INITIATIVES THAT GO OUT IN THE
OLD DAYS. 
          THE SERGEANT WOULD JUST SAY, HEY, THERE'S A PROBLEM DOWN THE STREET. GO GET IT,
BOYS. 
          AND WE'D GO OUT THERE AND DO OUR BEST. BUT TODAY,
YOU INVOKE AND INSTITUTE A GREAT DEAL AMOUNT OF SCIENCE. 
          [05:15:07]
BECAUSE THE WORK IS MORE COMPLICATED THESE DAYS. 
          THE COMMUNITY IS LARGER, THE TERRITORY IS LARGER. 
          AND SO YOU HAVE TO BE MUCH MORE STRATEGIC AND AND INNOVATIVE IN YOUR APPROACH. 
          AND SO I'M SO PROUD OF YOUR WORK AND ALL THAT YOU DO. 
          THE ANALYST WITHIN LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES RARELY GET RECOGNIZED,
ALTHOUGH THERE'S A LITTLE TALK ABOUT YOU GUYS ON TV. 
          BUT THE FORENSIC PEOPLE TRY TO TAKE A LOT OF YOUR LIGHT. 
          BUT I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT PEOPLE DON'T FORGET THAT THE CRIME ANALYSTS ARE SOME OF
THE MOST IMPORTANT PEOPLE WITHIN ANY LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCY. SO CONGRATULATIONS GUYS. 
          THANK YOU FOR ALL THE WORK YOU DO. THANK YOU,
COMMISSIONER RAMSEY. 
          YOU HAVE ONE MORE IF YOU WANT TO DO IT. THAT IS KINGWOOD PARK HIGH SCHOOL CHEER. 
          I'M SORRY. REAL QUICK, COMMISSIONER, WHAT ITEM WAS THAT? ONE THAT YOU WERE SPEAKING FOR,
93? NO. NO, THAT WAS JUST LET'S SEE, 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. YEAH. 
          POINT OF PERSONAL PRIVILEGE EARLIER. YEAH. OH,
OKAY. OH, OKAY. 
          JUST, JUST I JUST WANT TO LET EVERYONE BECAUSE BECAUSE I DO TELL PEOPLE NOT TO DO THAT. SO
I JUST WANT TO APOLOGIZE ANYWAY. 
          GOT YOU. DO YOU HAVE ANY SPEAKERS ON 495? I DO NOT JUST JUST A QUICK RECOGNITION OF THE
KINGWOOD PARK HIGH SCHOOL CHEER SQUAD. 
          THEY CAPTURED 2025 SPIRIT. COED CHEER STATE CHAMPIONSHIP AGAIN IN THE ALAMODOME IN SAN
ANTONIO, TEXAS. AGAIN, JUST SUCH A GREAT. I'LL NOT READ THE RESOLUTION,
BUT IT IS A IS AN INDICATION OF WHAT HAPPENS IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS WITH PROPER DIRECTION AND ENCOURAGEMENT. THESE THESE KIDS DO WONDERFUL AND GREAT THINGS. 
          THANK YOU. THANK YOU SIR. THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER BRIONES,
FOR 97. 
          THANK YOU. I HAVE TWO RESOLUTIONS. FIRST, FOR 97 RECOGNIZING SEPTEMBER AS WORKFORCE
DEVELOPMENT MONTH. 
          IF OUR GUESTS CAN PLEASE COME DOWN. BUT TO JUST GET US STARTED AND WITH OUR UNITE HERE
WORKERS. 
          JUST FURTHER TESTAMENT, A STRONG ECONOMY REQUIRES STRONG WORKERS AND STRONG SUPPORT FOR
WORKERS. 
          SO WE'RE PROUD IN THIS MONTH OF SEPTEMBER TO RECOGNIZE WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT MONTH. 
          WE HAVE SO MANY STRONG PARTNERS HERE IN HARRIS COUNTY. 
          I'M 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 PASSED A $20 MINIMUM WAGE FOR HARRIS COUNTY WORKERS AND 2165 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 AREA LABOR FEDERATION AND
EMPOWER TO TRAIN OVER 1000 RESIDENTS, ESPECIALLY IN HIGH NEED AREAS, FOR HIGH PAYING,
HIGH DEMAND JOBS. 
          WE'VE ALSO STARTED NUMEROUS PROGRAMS TO SUPPORT SMALL BUSINESSES,
AND WE IN OUR PRECINCTS, MANY OF US DO, INCLUDING IN PRECINCT FOUR BUSINESS ACCELERATOR,
ESPECIALLY TO HELP SMALL BUSINESSES, VETERAN OWNED BUSINESSES, WOMEN OWNED BUSINESSES,
MINORITY OWNED BUSINESSES WITH THE RESOURCES THEY NEED. 
          AND I WANT TO THANK THERE'S SO MANY AMAZING PARTNERS HERE,
JULIETTE STIPEK, WHO IS NOT ABLE TO BE WITH US TODAY, BUT WHO LEADS OUR GULF COAST WORKFORCE BOARD. 
          WE HAVE GOODWILL HOUSTON, THE WOMEN'S HOME, BAKER,
RIPLEY, TEXAS WORKFORCE SOLUTIONS, CAREER GEAR OF GREATER HOUSTON, AND SO MANY MORE. AND THE MORE WE CAN COME TOGETHER SO THAT 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 AFL-CIO, MISS BAKER. ALL RIGHT. HI. ON BEHALF OF THE GULF COAST AFL-CIO AND OUR 11 APPRENTICESHIP
ADVANTAGE PARTNERS, THANK YOU TO COMMISSIONER BRIONES FOR THIS RECOGNITION AND TO ALL THE COMMISSIONERS FOR
MAKING THIS PROGRAM POSSIBLE. 
          OVER THE LAST TWO YEARS, THIS PROGRAM HAS HELPED 908 HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATES AND LIFE
CHANGING APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAMS, EXCEEDING OUR TARGET GOAL OF 798 WITH A 92% RETENTION RATE. 
          THE APPRENTICES COME FROM DIVERSE COMMUNITIES ALL ACROSS HARRIS COUNTY. 
          TWO THIRDS COME FROM LOW INCOME FAMILIES, AND 10% OF OUR BENEFICIARIES ARE WOMEN,
HIGHER THAN THE 6% INDUSTRY AVERAGE IN CONSTRUCTION CONSTRUCTION TRADES. 
          WE ASKED APPRENTICES RESUMING CLASSES THIS MONTH HOW HAS THIS IMPACTED YOUR LIFE? WE RECEIVED RESPONSES SUCH AS IT HAS CHANGED MY LIFE BY ME HAVING A FUTURE I NEVER WOULD
HAVE THOUGHT WAS POSSIBLE. 
          IT GIVES ME A DIRECTION IN TIME WHERE I NEED IT MOST,
AND I'M ABLE TO IMAGINE A BETTER FUTURE FOR MY CHILDREN. 
          [05:20:05]
PARTNERSHIPS LIKE THIS BETWEEN UNIONS, LOCAL GOVERNMENT AND COMMUNITY LEADERS SHOW WHAT IS
POSSIBLE WHEN WE DECIDE TO PRIORITIZE THE NEEDS OF WORKING PEOPLE, AND BY OFFERING CLEAR PATHWAYS TO THE MIDDLE CLASS AND FAMILY SUSTAINING JOBS. 
          WHEN THE ARPA FUNDS AND NEXT YEAR, THE COUNTY CAN CONTINUE TO SUPPORT EXPANDING ACCESS TO
REGISTERED APPRENTICESHIPS BY FUNDING PIPELINE DEVELOPMENT AND CONTINUING TO STRENGTHEN LABOR STANDARDS ON COUNTY FUNDED PROJECTS, SUCH AS THOSE THAT WERE DONE IN THE HARRIS
HEALTH BOND. 
          THANK YOU. YES. THANK YOU SO MUCH. CAN YOU PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME FOR THE RECORD? SHELLEY
BAKER. YES. 
          THANK YOU SO MUCH, MISS BAKER, FOR BEING HERE. 
          VERY WELCOME. GOOD TO SEE YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. 
          GOOD AFTERNOON. MY NAME IS DOCTOR SARAH. DAVID WITH IN POWER IN POWER IS PROUD TO PARTNER
WITH HARRIS COUNTY IN MEETING THE GROWING DEMAND FOR SKILLED TECH PROFESSIONALS. 
          EARLIER THIS YEAR, YOU RENEWED OUR APPRENTICESHIP ADVANTAGE PROGRAM,
EXTENDING OUR PARTNERSHIP AND EXPANDING ACCESS TO ON THE JOB TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES. 
          THIS RENEWAL INCLUDES A COMMITMENT FROM HARRIS COUNTY UNIVERSAL SERVICES IT DEPARTMENT TO
PROVIDE 15 APPRENTICES WITH SIX MONTH MONTHS OF HANDS ON EXPERIENCE THROUGH EMPOWER'S FREE 20 WEEK TECH FUNDAMENTALS PROGRAM, RESIDENTS GAIN INDUSTRY RECOGNIZED CERTIFICATIONS, MENTORSHIP FROM SENIOR PROFESSIONALS AND DIRECT PATHWAYS INTO TECH CAREERS. 
          TO DATE, WE'VE SERVED MORE THAN 360 STUDENTS ACROSS HOUSTON,
EQUIPPING RESIDENTS WITH THE SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE NEEDED FOR IN-DEMAND TECH JOBS. 
          TOGETHER, WE'RE CONNECTING PEOPLE TO OPPORTUNITY,
HELPING BUSINESSES GROW, AND STRENGTHENING OUR COMMUNITIES. 
          THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU, DOCTOR DAVID. 
          TO YOU AND YOUR EMPOWERED TEAM. WE'RE GRATEFUL FOR YOUR PARTNERSHIP. THANK YOU,
THANK YOU, THANK YOU. 
          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 AND VISIONARY LEADER,
JULIETTE STUPICH, OUR EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR. SEPTEMBER 2025 MARKS THE 20TH ANNUAL WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT MONTH,
A TIME TO RECOGNIZE 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, INCLUSIVE COMMUNITIES WHERE EVERYONE HAS OPPORTUNITIES TO
EARN, LEARN AND PROSPER ACROSS OUR 13 COUNTY REGION THROUGH APPRENTICESHIPS,
SCHOLARSHIPS, ON THE JOB TRAINING, UPSKILLING AND SO MANY OTHER RESOURCES. INVESTING IN PEOPLE ENSURES FAMILIES,
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 THE HARRIS COUNTY COMMISSIONERS FOR THEIR
LEADERSHIP AND DEDICATION TO SUPPORTING WORKERS ACROSS THE REGION. 
          THANK YOU. THANK YOU SO MUCH, MR. TAYLOR, FOR EVERYTHING YOU AND YOUR TEAM DO. 
          GOOD EVENING. THANK YOU. MY NAME IS DIMITRI HULIN. 
          I SERVE AS THE DIRECTOR OF EDUCATION TRAINING IN VOC REHAB 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 AUDIENCE AND DIRECTLY SERVED OVER 17,000. 
          THROUGH OUR CAREER CENTERS, TRAINING PROGRAMS AND SUPPORTIVE SERVICES. 
          LAST YEAR, OVER 4000 WERE PLACED IN JOBS AND WORK BASED EXPERIENCE. 
          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 CLEANTECH ACCELERATOR PROGRAM WITH PATHWAYS IN
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 GESSNER AREA. 
          THESE FACILITIES WILL BRING SOLAR, HVAC, CONSTRUCTION,
APARTMENT MAINTENANCE, IT AND DIGITAL LITERACY TRAINING DIRECTLY INTO PRECINCT FOUR, CREATING BOTH JOBS PATHWAYS FOR LONG TERM CAREERS. 
          THANK YOU, THANK YOU. WE'RE SO GRATEFUL FOR GOODWILL'S PARTNERSHIP. 
          THANK YOU FOR ALL THE JOBS THAT YOU CONTINUE TO HELP CREATE. 
          AND THANK YOU TO ALL OF OUR PARTNERS FOR MAKING HARRIS COUNTY A PLACE WHERE EVERYONE CAN
HAVE A FAIR SHOT. 
          SO WE'RE HERE TO SUPPORT OUR WORKING FAMILIES. 
          THANK YOU SO MUCH. AND MY SECOND AND FINAL RESOLUTION IS FOR 98 SUICIDE PREVENTION MONTH. AND I THANK COMMISSIONER GARCIA AND HIS TEAM FOR BRINGING FORTH A
SIMILAR RESOLUTION. 
          AND FOR YOUR VETERANS DEPARTMENT IN SERVICES IN PRECINCT TWO. 
          WHAT YOU ALL DO IS REMARKABLE. AND I'M VERY PROUD THAT THE NATION'S LARGEST VETERAN
POPULATION IS IN TEXAS, 
          [05:25:02]
AND THAT HARRIS COUNTY IS THE LARGEST HOME WITHIN TEXAS. 
          AND WE KNOW THAT OUR VETERANS ARE AT GREATER RISK OF SUICIDE. 
          BUT TO TO FOCUS ON SUICIDE PREVENTION, I KNOW EVERYONE IN HERE HAS KNOWN SOMEONE THAT THEY
LOVE A FRIEND, A FAMILY MEMBER WHO HAS COMMITTED SUICIDE. I HAD A FAMILY MEMBER WHO COMMITTED SUICIDE AND
IT'S TRULY TRAGIC. 
          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 TEN CAUSES OF DEATH IN TEXAS. 
          WE ALL KNOW MENTAL HEALTH IS AN INCREDIBLY PRESSING,
CRITICAL ISSUE, AND WE ALL NEED TO DO MORE TO EDUCATE, TO MAKE SURE WE'RE CREATING SAFE SPACES FOR OUR FRIENDS AND FAMILIES,
TO SAY THAT THEY HAVE A PROBLEM AND 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, PROUDLY FULLY FUNDING HARRIS HEALTH,
AND TWO OF THE THINGS HARRIS HEALTH DOES OF MANY THE CRISIS STABILIZATION UNIT, THE CRISIS CALL DIVERSION HARRIS CENTER. WE'RE ABOUT TO HEAR MORE. 
          BUT THE CRISIS INTERVENTION RESPONSE TEAM CERT. 
          AND THEN THE 988 SUICIDE AND CRISIS LIFELINE. 
          SINCE 2022, OUR HARRIS CENTER TEAM, THEY'VE ANSWERED OVER 200,000 CALLS TO 988. 
          AND THE WAY WE ALL KNOW 911, WE SHOULD ALSO ALL KNOW 988 THE SUICIDE HOTLINE. 
          WE'VE ALSO BEEN INVESTING, EXPANDING, EXPANDING HART COUNTY WIDE,
THE HOLISTIC ASSISTANCE RESPONSE TEAM CERT, OUR NEW DISTRICT ATTORNEY. WE HAVE A NEW MENTAL HEALTH DIVERSION UNIT THAT WE'VE EXPANDED
SUBSTANTIALLY, ADDING 13 NEW POSITIONS. AND WE HAVE ALREADY HAD TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE AND CONSULTATION IN
OUR DA'S OFFICE. 
          JUST IN A FEW MONTHS OF OVER 1400 PRECINCT LEVEL SERVICES. 
          I'M SO GRATEFUL TO BAYLOR COLLEGE OF MEDICINE. 
          PLEASE HELP US SPREAD THE WORD. AGES 13 TO 24. 
          WE HAVE FREE MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES. THE BAYLOR COLLEGE OF MEDICINE PROVIDES A BELEN
COMMUNITY CENTER. 
          THERE ARE SO MANY OTHER EXAMPLES. THE SWAP ASSISTANCE THAT WE HAVE AS WELL,
SUPPORTING MENTAL HEALTH PROFESSIONALS IN TRAINING WITH THE NETWORK OF BEHAVIORAL HEALTH PROVIDERS AND AGAIN,
SO MANY OTHERS. 
          BUT WE ARE HERE TO PARTNER AND MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE EXPANDING AWARENESS AND SUPPORT AND
MOST IMPORTANTLY, CONNECTION TO RESOURCES. SO WITH THAT WE HAVE DOCTOR LEE,
CHIEF MEDICAL OFFICER FOR THE HARRIS CENTER, 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. THANK YOU SO MUCH,
COMMISSIONER. 
          I AM DELIGHTED HERE TO ACCEPT THIS RESOLUTION. 
          ON BEHALF OF THE HARRIS CENTER, WAYNE YOUNG SENDS HIS REGRETS FOR NOT BEING ABLE TO MAKE
IT TODAY, BUT 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 980 CALLS ARE ABOUT 70,000. AND WHAT WE'RE 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 TEN. 
          WELL, FOR CERTAIN POPULATIONS LIKE YOUTH, THE 20,
THE 10 TO 24 YEAR OLDS, IT IS IN THE TOP THREE. 
          SO OUR CHILDREN ARE ADOLESCENTS ARE REALLY IMPACTED BY THE STRESSORS THAT ARE. 
          PLEASE CONTINUE TODAY. AND SO FOR US, WE ARE SO PROUD OF THE CUTTING EDGE WORK THAT WE DO
TO OPEN OUR DOORS TO CHILDREN AND ADOLESCENTS, TO ADULTS OF ALL AGES. AND ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I AM SO PROUD OF IS OUR
SUICIDE CARE TEAM, OUR SUICIDE PREVENTION 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 WITH LENA HIDALGO RECENTLY TO JUST SHARE ABOUT AWARENESS. 
          WE PARTNER WITH ALL OF THE COMMISSIONERS BECAUSE THIS IS AN EVERYONE ISSUE. 
          IT CAN HAPPEN IN ANY FAMILY, IN ANY COMMUNITY. 
          [05:30:03]
AND SO IT IS SO IMPORTANT TO RAISE AWARENESS AND I'M DELIGHTED TO BE HERE TO SHARE
GRATITUDE FOR ACCEPTING THIS RESOLUTION TODAY. 
          DOCTOR LEE, THANK YOU FOR TAKING THE TIME AND THANK YOU FOR WHAT YOU DO FOR HARRIS COUNTY. 
          THANK YOU. THANK YOU. AMANDA. MISS JONES, DID YOU WANT TO? YEAH. JUDGE, I JUST WANTED TO THANK YOU AND ALL THE COMMISSIONERS FOR THEIR PARTNERSHIP ON
THIS IMPORTANT ISSUE. 
          I RECENTLY HAD A GOOD FRIEND WHO COMMITTED SUICIDE. 
          IT WAS A MALE. AND I THINK THAT 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 DIDN'T WANT TO FORGET THOSE ELEMENTS. THANK YOU. 
          THANK YOU SO MUCH, DIRECTOR JONES. THANK YOU. 
          THANK YOU SO MUCH. THAT'S THE LAST RESOLUTION. 
          OUT OF ORDER. IS THAT RIGHT? SO I KNOW WE HAVE PICTURES BEFORE WE DO THAT. 
          YES. I'M SORRY. I KNOW YOUR RESOLUTION. ITEM FOR 89 WAS ALSO STILL NEEDING IN CASE YOU
WANTED TO READ IT. 
          OH, OKAY. THANK YOU. LET'S SEE. SO SO THAT'S THE JOINT RESOLUTION FOR NATIONAL CITIZENSHIP
DAY. 
          SO JUST BEFORE WE, I DO THAT ONE I DON'T WANT TO FORGET. 
          SO, AS YOU GUYS KNOW, IS THAT MY GROUP THERAPY THAT WAS SCHEDULED FOR THURSDAY'S BEFORE
THE COURT MOVED TO MOVE COMMISSIONERS COURT TO THURSDAYS, BUT NOW I'M BACK. AND SO I WOULD LIKE TO REFER TO THE MEDICAL EXCEPTION EXEMPTION AND
BRING BACK THE FOLLOWING ITEMS TO FORMALLY RECORD MY VOTES FOR ITEMS CONSIDERED DURING MY ABSENCE. 
          ITEM. I VOTE TO APPROVE THE FOLLOWING ITEMS. CLERK,
IF YOU WOULDN'T MIND RECORDING THESE ON ITEM 239 ON PAGE 29, THE MILLION DOLLARS IN FLEX FUNDS ITEM 241 ON 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 FOR 84,
THE $7.5 MILLION FOR THE COALITION FOR THE HOMELESS. 
          AND THEN I ALSO WOULD LIKE TO YEAH. SO THOSE ARE THE ONES THAT I WOULD LIKE TO VOTE YES ON
THAT I WAS ABSENT FOR. 
          THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT. SO LET ME READ MY RESOLUTION HERE. 
          WE HAVE SPEAKERS. OKAY. GREAT. SO THAT IS A JOINT RESOLUTION WITH THE COMMISSIONER
PRECINCT FOUR TO DESIGNATE SEPTEMBER 17TH, 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, IN 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 RESPONSIBILITIES ASSOCIATED WITH CITIZENSHIP, INCLUDING CIVIC ENGAGEMENT, FOSTERING SOCIAL HARMONY WHILE ENCOURAGING THE 300,000
ELIGIBLE RESIDENTS OF HARRIS COUNTY TO PURSUE U.S. 
          CITIZENSHIP. CITIZENSHIP OPENS DOORS TO ENHANCE EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES,
ELIGIBILITY, AND PATHWAYS FOR PROFESSIONAL GROWTH, FUELING 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 PROUDLY PARTNERS WITH THE NATIONAL PARTNERSHIP FOR NEW AMERICANS AND HOUSTON
IMMIGRATION LEGAL SERVICES COLLABORATIVE, HILLS AND THE CITY OF HOUSTON TO LAUNCH THE NATURALIZED NOW HOUSTON CAMPAIGN TO ASSIST
ELIGIBLE IMMIGRANTS WITH THEIR CITIZENSHIP. 
          APPLICATIONS. THE UNITED 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 CITIZENRY. 
          CITIZENSHIP DAY ENCOURAGES EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS,
COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS, AND GOVERNMENT AGENCIES TO HONOR THESE CONSTITUTIONAL VALUES THROUGH THE ORGANIZATION OF EVENTS THAT RAISE AWARENESS ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF
CITIZENSHIP, PROMOTE INCLUSIVITY, AND PROVIDE INFORMATION ABOUT THE NATURALIZATION PROCESS. 
          AND AS YOU GUYS KNOW, I BECAME A CITIZEN IN 2013 AND I WAS ELECTED COUNTY JUDGE IN 2018. 
          AND I'M VERY PROUD OF THE FACT THAT THAT I'M AN IMMIGRANT. 
          AND I THINK JUST LIKE ALL THE IMMIGRANTS HAVE AN ENTREPRENEURIAL SPIRIT AND AND I 
          [05:35:07]
THINK THAT I'M GLAD THAT WE'RE CELEBRATING CITIZENSHIP DAY. 
          SO WE'LL CALL UP THE SPEAKERS. AND COMMISSIONER BRIONES,
WOULD YOU LIKE TO MAKE SOME COMMENTS? YES. THANK YOU, JUDGE HIDALGO. AND TO YOUR TEAM FOR THIS JOINT RESOLUTION TO ECHO SOME OF
JUDGE HIDALGO'S POINTS. 
          WE HARRIS COUNTY IS HOME TO OVER 300,000 RESIDENTS THAT ARE ELIGIBLE FOR NATURALIZATION. 
          SO TO ALL THOSE WHO ARE LISTENING, PLEASE HELP US SPREAD THE WORD OF ALL OF THESE SERVICES
THAT HARRIS COUNTY, IN PARTNERSHIP WITH ALL OF THE PARTNERS SHE NAMED NATIONAL PARTNERSHIP FOR NEW AMERICANS,
HOUSTON IMMIGRATION LEGAL SERVICES COLLABORATIVE, CITY OF HOUSTON, BAKER RIPLEY, JUSTICE FOR ALL IMMIGRANTS,
GALVESTON, HOUSTON IMMIGRANT REPRESENTATION PROJECT. 
          THERE'S BEEN OVER 700 CLASSES. THESE ARE HELP TO HELP FOLKS GET THROUGH THIS VERY
COMPLICATED AND OFTEN LONG PROCESS. 
          THEY HAVE DONE EVERYTHING THEY NEED TO DO, AND NOW IT'S JUST WALKING THEM THROUGH THE
PROCESS. 
          AND SPEAKING AT NATURALIZATION CEREMONIES HAVE BEEN SOME OF THE MOST MOVING MOMENTS TO SEE
THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE WHO BELIEVE DEEPLY IN THE AMERICAN DREAM AND THE PROMISE OF OUR DEMOCRACY. AND HERE IN HARRIS COUNTY, WE WANT TO DELIVER ON THAT PROMISE SO THAT THIS IS A
PLACE WHERE THE AMERICAN DREAM IS ALIVE AND WELL. 
          SO WITH THAT, WE ARE PROUD TO RECOGNIZE SEPTEMBER 17TH,
2025 AS NATIONAL CITIZENSHIP DAY IN HARRIS COUNTY. 
          YAY! OKAY, WE'LL TAKE UP THE SPEAKERS. 
          ZENOBIA LY AND ANGIE DUPREE. 
          HELLO, EVERYBODY. MY NAME IS ANGIE DUPREE. I'M THE CITIZENSHIP MANAGER FOR NATIONAL
PARTNERSHIP FOR NEW AMERICANS. 
          WE'RE 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, MPA'S NATURALIZED NOW HOUSTON INITIATIVE HAS WORKED CLOSELY WITH
LOCAL GOVERNMENT AND COMMUNITY PARTNERS TO REACH THE NEARLY 300,000 ELIGIBLE TO NATURALIZED 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 APPLICATIONS SUBMITTED TO USCIS NEARLY EVERY QUARTER, REACHING OUR GOAL OF BECOMING THE CITIZENSHIP CAPITAL OF THE COUNTRY. 
          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. 
          SO I AM A NATIVE HOUSTONIAN AND THIS WORK IS PERSONAL TO MY HEART. 
          MY PARENTS ARE BOTH NATURALIZED CITIZENS. MY MOTHER NATURALIZED IN 2018 AS WELL. 
          SO, YEAH, WE'RE PROBABLY AT THE SAME OLD CEREMONY. 
          BUT YES, THIS IS 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 ZENOBIA
LEE. 
          I AM THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF HOUSTON IMMIGRATION LEGAL SERVICES COLLABORATIVE. 
          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 GIVE CITIZENSHIP A BOOST TO 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 FEES 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. 
          NOW, AS YOU JUST HEARD FROM, ANGIE IS AN IMPORTANT PARTNER TO PROVIDE COMMUNITY OUTREACH
AND EDUCATION TO HELP HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF ELIGIBLE IMMIGRANTS TO LEARN THE PROCESS AND CONNECT THEM WITH SUPPORT SERVICES. 
          MORE IMPORTANTLY, THE COUNTY FUNDED IMMIGRATION AND NATURALIZATION SERVICES FUND IN SF
HELPED 8000 INDIVIDUALS GET LEGAL ASSISTANCE ABOUT CITIZENSHIP, ENABLING 1250 IMMIGRANTS TO BECOME AMERICAN CITIZENS AS OF AUGUST OF THIS YEAR. 
          [05:40:04]
HUNDREDS MORE ARE IN THE PIPELINE TO FINISH THE 6 TO 8 MONTH PROCESS. 
          BECAUSE OF THIS ECOSYSTEM, THE PARENTS OF ONE OF HIS STAFF MEMBER WHO LIVED IN OUR
COMMUNITY FOR YEARS UNDER TEMPORARY PROTECTED STATUS BECAME CITIZENS JUST THIS PAST JUNE AND AUGUST. BECAUSE OF THIS ECOSYSTEM,
THE PARENTS OF HIS BANKER WHO LIVED IN OUR COMMUNITIES FOR MORE THAN THREE DECADES, BUILDING BUSINESSES, RAISING FAMILIES, SENDING CHILDREN TO COLLEGE FINALLY BECAME CITIZENS
JUST LAST MONTH. 
          AND BECAUSE OF THIS ECOSYSTEM, 101 YEAR OLD CHINESE LADY,
WHO HAD BEEN A LAWFUL PERMANENT RESIDENT FOR MORE THAN TWO DECADES, FEELS CONFIDENT TO BE TO APPLY FOR CITIZENSHIP. 
          THANK YOU FOR RECOGNIZING THE CONTRIBUTIONS OF IMMIGRANTS WHO MADE UP A QUARTER OF HARRIS
COUNTY'S POPULATION. 
          THANK YOU FOR CELEBRATING OUR ARRIVAL TO THE DESTINATION 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. THANK YOU, MISS LEE. OKAY. WITH THAT,
WE'LL TAKE PICTURES. 
          WE WILL TAKE THE UNITE HERE PICTURES FIRST SO THEY CAN RETURN TO THE PICTURE. 
          OKAY. SO WE WERE JUST TAKING PICTURES, AND WE'LL GO FROM HERE TO EXECUTIVE SESSION. 
          IT'S 540. WE'LL GO TO EXECUTIVE SESSION. JUDGE. 
          JUDGE, WE HAD FOUR MORE ITEMS IF YOU WANT TO KNOCK THEM OUT. I KNOW THAT'S WHAT I ASKED,
BUT APPARENTLY WE NEED TO EXECUTIVE SESSION RIGHT NOW. JUDGE. 
          WELL, HER ITEM WE DIDN'T HAVE. I HAVE ONE ITEM FOR YOU. 
          NO, I KNOW WE HAVE SEVERAL ITEMS BESIDES EXECUTIVE SESSION. 
          I'M JUST FOLLOWING THE COUNTY ATTORNEY. BUT I'M WITH YOU. 
          I KNOW WE I KNOW WE HAVE FOUR MORE. OKAY. SO WE'RE GOING WE'RE GOING TO SESSION. 
          JUDGE, CAN YOU SAVE THE ITEMS YOU'RE GOING TO GO TO EXECUTIVE SESSION FOR. 
          YEAH. I'M SORRY JUDGE. WHAT WAS THAT. SO WHY IS IT THAT WE HAVE TO GO TO EXECUTIVE SESSION
RIGHT NOW? WELL, WE'VE GOT WE'VE GOT SIX ITEMS, AND THEN I THINK THERE'S ONLY THREE OTHERS THAT
WHEN WE COME BACK AND I THINK SOME OF THE ONES COMING BACK ARE WE'RE SUPPOSED TO BE AFTER WE DO EXECUTIVE SESSION. THAT WAS THE ONLY REASON. OKAY. LET ME SEE IF THERE'S ANY WE CAN
KNOCK OUT JUST THAT ARE NOT EXECUTIVE SESSION RELATED. 
          MY APOLOGIES JUDGE. WOULD YOU ALL WANT TO MAKE A VOTE ON THE RESOLUTIONS THAT WERE NOT
PREVIOUSLY VOTED ON? SURE. SURE. OKAY. SO DOES ANYBODY HAVE A MOTION ON RESOLUTIONS NOT PREVIOUSLY VOTED ON? COMMISSIONER. DO YOU WANT TO MAKE A MOTION ON THE RESOLUTIONS NOT PREVIOUSLY VOTED ON? CAN WE APPROVE ALL THE RESOLUTIONS? THAT WAS ONE THAT WE VOTED ON EARLIER. 
          ALL THE REMAINING RESOLUTION. COMMISSIONER ELLIS MAKES THE MOTION. 
          IS THERE A SECOND, SECOND, SECOND BY COMMISSIONER RAMSEY? ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. ANY OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES 4 TO 1 AND WILL LET COMMISSIONER GARCIA
RECORD HIS VOTE LATER IF HE NEEDS TO. 
          YEAH, IT WAS 4 TO 1. EXCUSE ME. THREE. 4 TO 0. 
          4 TO 0. THAT'S WHAT I MEANT. YES. OKAY. AND THEN SO WE STILL NEED TO DISCUSS. 
          WELL, THERE WAS ITEM 170, SO I KNOW THEY HAD A CONCERN ABOUT A CONTRACT. 
          SO THAT'S AN EXECUTIVE SESSION ONE. YES. IF YOU WANT TO HAVE A CONVERSATION ABOUT IT,
WE PROBABLY NEED TO TAKE IT THERE. YEAH I MEAN I DON'T JUST LET YOU DON'T HAVE TO ANSWER. 
          IF YOU CAN'T ANSWER THIS, THEN WE'LL JUST GO TO EXECUTIVE SESSION. BUT THE QUESTION IS,
LEGALLY, CAN COULD WE PAUSE IT? THAT'S JUST THE QUESTION. 
          NO, I MEAN, WE CAN'T DO ANYTHING WITH IT. WE HAVE TO WE HAVE TO MOVE FORWARD. WE HAVE TO
APPROVE IT. THERE'S NO LEGAL. 
          IF WE DID NOT APPROVE IT, WOULD WE BE SUED OR SOMETHING? IS THAT. YEAH. LET'S WE CAN TAKE AN EXECUTIVE SESSION IF WE WANT TO HAVE THAT
CONVERSATION. OKAY. 
          ALL RIGHT. SO WE'LL PUT THAT IN A SESSION. THEN THE OTHER NON-EXECUTIVE SESSION IS BECAUSE
COMMISSIONER RAMSEY HAD SOME CONCERNS, AM I RIGHT? IT WAS ITEM 472 JUDGE. 
          AND THEN 245 STILL NEEDS TO BE DISCUSSED. THAT'S COMMISSIONER RAMSEY. 
          [Departments (Part 9 of 9) & Emergency/Supplemental Items (Part 5 of 6)]
245 AND 248. I MEAN, 245 AND 448 ARE TIED. OKAY. 
          I'VE GOTTEN INFORMATION ON THAT, AND WE CAN JUST VOTE NOW. 
          I MOVE 245. CAN YOU MOVE BOTH OF THEM? CAN I MOVE BOTH OF THEM,
TOM? IS THAT ALL RIGHT? THAT'S ALL RIGHT. OKAY. AND TWO. 
          245. AND WHAT WAS THE OTHER ONE? 448 448. I'LL MOVE THEM BOTH. 
          OKAY. MOTION BY COMMISSIONER, SECOND BY COMMISSIONER GARCIA. 
          ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. ANY OPPOSED? NO. MOTION PASSES 4 TO 1. 
          AND THEN WE HAVE OR 11. DID WE STILL NEED TO DISCUSS THAT ONE? 
          [Emergency/Supplemental Items (Part 6 of  6)]
COMMISSIONER. GARCIA. IT'S COMING BACK. HE'S COMING BACK. 
          HE HELD IT. YEAH. SO WE'RE NO ACTION. THAT ONE. 
          OKAY. AND THEN WHAT ABOUT FOR 72? DID WE ALREADY VOTE ON THAT ONE? EXCUSE ME? I DIDN'T HEAR WHAT YOU SAID. HAVE WE VOTED ON THAT ONE? NO. NO, MA'AM. THAT'S OKAY. SO DO WE NEED TO DISCUSS THAT ONE,
COMMISSIONER RAMSEY? 
          [05:45:05]
THAT'S A RENEWAL OPTION. 72, CORRECT ON PAGE 57. 
          RIGHT. JUST VOTE. I'LL MOVE IT. MOTION BY COMMISSIONER,
SECOND BY COMMISSIONER GARCIA. 
          ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. ANY OPPOSED? NO. MOTION CARRIES 4 TO 1. 
          THEN THERE'S 481. DID WE ALREADY VOTE ON THAT ONE? NO. COMMISSIONER RAMSEY, WOULD YOU LIKE TO DISCUSS THAT ONE? I BELIEVE YOU PULLED IT. THAT'S ABOUT NO PRESS CONFERENCES BEFORE COMMISSIONERS COURT IN
THE LOBBY ON COMMISSIONER COURT. 
          YEAH, THAT WAS PUT ON HERE AND AND AND AGAIN,
I THINK IT'S SOMETHING THAT WOULD BE HELPFUL. 
          AND THE REASON I PUT IT ON COURT, I THINK PRESS CONFERENCES ARE FINE,
PARTICULARLY ON THE DAY OF COMMISSIONERS COURT. 
          I DON'T KNOW WHY WE HAVE TO HAVE THEM IN COMMISSIONERS COURT. 
          WE'VE GOT A LOT OF OTHER ROOMS IN THE BUILDING,
AND I CAN TELL YOU IT DOES DELAY STARTING THE STARTING THE MEETINGS. 
          IT DOES IMPACT US COMING BACK IN TERMS OF IF YOU CHOOSE TO HAVE A PRESS CONFERENCE IN THE
ROOM THAT WE'RE COMING BACK INTO. 
          SO MY ONLY POINT HERE IS IF WE'RE GOING TO HAVE PRESS CONFERENCES,
HAVE PRESS CONFERENCES, BUT THEY SHOULDN'T INTERFERE WITH THE, THE REGULARLY CALLED MEETING. 
          AND IN MY OPINION, WHEN YOU CALL FOR ONE AT 9:00 AND YOU RESERVE AND YOU DO IMPACT PEOPLE
GETTING IN THE BUILDING, THERE WERE A COUPLE OF THREE TIMES RECENTLY WHERE THE LINE WENT AROUND THE BUILDING TRYING
TO GET INTO THE BUILDING. 
          SO THAT'S THAT'S MY PRAGMATIC CIVIL ENGINEER REQUEST. 
          SO, COMMISSIONER, IS THAT A MOTION? THAT'S A MOTION. 
          SECOND. SO THE MOTION IS FOR WHAT EXACTLY? THERE ARE CERTAIN LIKE NO PRESS CONFERENCE,
NO LATER THAN X, OR IT NEEDS TO BE IN THE. I DON'T THINK WE SHOULD HAVE ANY PRESS CONFERENCES LATER THAN
09:00 IN THE MORNING TO ALLOW PEOPLE GETTING IN TO THE COURTROOM AND OUT OF THE COURTROOM, EXCEPT THERE'S AN AMENDMENT. 
          WHAT'S THAT AMENDMENT? YEAH. NO LATER THAN 9:00. 
          PRESS CONFERENCES BE HELD NO LATER THAN 9:00. 
          SO LET ME MAKE THIS SUGGESTION. HOW ABOUT PRESS CONFERENCES HAVE TO END BY 930. 
          I'LL ACCEPT THAT. OKAY. HOW ABOUT THIS ONE? HOW ABOUT WE START OUR MEETINGS AT NINE? THEN THE PRESS CONFERENCE GOTTA END BY 830. I'LL EVEN. 
          I'LL EVEN AGREE WITH THAT. HELL, YEAH. I'LL MOVE. 
          THE KUMBAYA CONTINUES. I WITHDRAW MY SECOND. SHOT. 
          NOT AN EARLY. OKAY, SO COMMISSIONER RAMSEY MADE A MOTION WITH A FRIENDLY AMENDMENT THAT WE
NOT USE THE COMMISSIONER'S COURTROOM OR THE LOBBY FOR PRESS CONFERENCES AFTER 930. IN OTHER WORDS, PRESS CONFERENCES MUST END AT 930. 
          YES. MUST END AT 930. OKAY. SO WE HAVE TO WITHDRAW MY FRIENDLY AMENDMENT. 
          I WANT TO MAKE IT A SEPARATE ONE, THOUGH, BECAUSE I DO THINK WE JUST SPENT AN HOUR AND AND
30 MINUTES ON RESOLUTIONS AND PICTURES, WHICH ARE IMPORTANT. BUT I THINK IF WE START EARLY,
IF WE JUST START AN HOUR EARLIER, I THINK WE COULD GET TO THESE PICTURES AND DO JUSTICE TO THEM. WE COULD JUST RUN A GOOD MEETING. OKAY,
SO THE MOTION. 
          SO WE'LL VOTE ON THIS ONE. THE MOTION IS COMMISSIONER RAMSEY WHO HAD THE SECOND. I DID
GARCIA. 
          COMMISSIONER GARCIA? YES. I AM NOT I'M UNCLEAR WHAT THE ACTUAL MOTION WAS. 
          COMMISSIONER RAMSEY'S MOTION WITH A FRIENDLY AMENDMENT THAT WE HAVE TO END PRESS
CONFERENCES BY 930 ON THE DAYS OF COMMISSIONERS COURT. 
          SO MOTION TO END PRESS CONFERENCES AT 930. CORRECTION. 
          NO PRESS CONFERENCES IN THE LOBBY OR IN COMMISSIONERS COURT. 
          AND IF THEY IF THEY'RE HELD ON COMMISSIONERS COURT DAY,
THEY NEED TO END BY 930. 
          SO, COMMISSIONER, IF IT'S NOT COMMISSIONERS COURT DAY,
YOU CAN STILL HAVE THEM HERE OR THERE. 
          BUT ON COMMISSIONERS, COURT COMMISSIONERS, IF THERE'S A PRESS CONFERENCE IN THE LOBBY OR
IN THE IN THIS CHAMBER, NOT THE OTHER CHAMBER IN THIS CHAMBER, THEY HAVE TO END AT 930 SO WE CAN START THE COURT
MEETING AT 10:00 PROMPTLY. 
          SO DID YOU GET IT? YES. WE'LL GO BACK AND WE'LL JUST GO BASED ON COMMISSIONER GARCIA'S. 
          OKAY. SO MOTION BY COMMISSIONER RAMSEY, SECOND BY COMMISSIONER GARCIA. 
          ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. ANY OPPOSED? I'LL BE OPPOSED. 
          I KNOW WHO THIS IS AIMED AT. SO MOTION CARRIES 4 TO 1 JUDGE. 
          YEAH, ONLY BECAUSE THIS IS RELATED TO IT. WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THE RULES OF ENGAGEMENT AND
HOW WE MEET. 
          I WANT TO MAKE A SEPARATE MOTION THAT WE START COMMISSIONER'S COURT MEETING AT 9:00. 
          AND I'LL TELL YOU WHY. I THINK IT'S JUST REALLY UNFAIR TO ALL OF OUR CONSTITUENTS. 
          WE COME IN AND WE'RE A LITTLE STRESSED, PERIOD,
BECAUSE IT'S IMPORTANT BUSINESS THAT WE DO. 
          BUT THE LATER WE GO AT NIGHT, THE MORE STRESSED WE ARE. 
          AND IT MAYBE IT'S EASIER FOR ONE TO KEEP THEIR COOL IF YOU'RE YOUNGER. 
          [05:50:03]
I'VE ALWAYS KEPT MINE. BUT YOU ABOUT TO TEST THE LIMITS ON ME AROUND HERE,
TOO. 
          SO I WANT TO PLEAD WITH YOU. LET US START AT 9 A.M.. 
          THE BABY BOOMER WILL SECOND THAT. OKAY, SO WE HAVE A MOTION BY COMMISSIONER AND A SECOND
BY COMMISSIONER RAMSEY. 
          ALL IN FAVOR? AYE, AYE. ANY OPPOSED? NO. OH,
MAN. 
          WE HAVE BEEN OUTNUMBERED. ALL RIGHT. I DON'T LIKE IT EITHER. 
          BUT THEN WE SHOULD AMEND THE LAST MOTION SO THAT THERE'S NO CONFLICT. 
          WHAT'S CALLED A VOTE ON THIS ONE? THEN GO BACK AND AMEND THE OTHER ONE. GO BACK AND CHANGE
THE OTHER ONE. CALL THE CALL FOR THE VOTE. CALL THE QUESTION. 
          CALL THE VOTE, PLEASE. OKAY. SO, DID YOU CATCH THAT MOTION? SHE'S WAITING FOR YOUR VOTE. EXCUSE ME. MOTION TO START COURT AT 9:00 IN THE MORNING. 
          YEAH. YES. AND SO, ALL IN FAVOR? ANY OPPOSED? THE MOTION CARRIES 3 TO 2. OKAY. YOU JUDGE AND COMMISSIONER GARCIA? NO. YEAH. AND THEN THEN WE'LL GO BACK TO THE ITEM WE JUST VOTED ON AGAIN,
830. 
          YOU HAVE TO END THE MEETING. COMMISSIONER. JUDGE. 
          I'M SORRY. CAN I MAKE A SUGGESTION? BECAUSE REALLY,
THE ONLY ITEM THAT WOULD SUPPORT THIS WOULD BE THE ONE RELATED TO THE CALENDAR, WHICH IS DOESN'T TAKE ABOUT 26. I DON'T WANT TO LOSE EFFECT IN IN JANUARY 26TH. 
          SAY WHAT? I'M SORRY. WE TAKE IT IN THE NEW. IN THE NEW CALENDAR. 
          IN THE NEW CALENDAR YEAR? YES. RIGHT. THAT'S THAT'S ALL. I'M. THAT'S ALL I'M SUGGESTING.
NO, THAT'S RIGHT, I OR YOU CAN BRING IT BACK AT THE NEXT MEETING AND I'LL TAKE IT FOR 2026. AND I'LL BRING IT BACK AT THE NEXT MEETING FOR THE REST OF THIS YEAR. 
          I'M. I COULD BE DEAD. SURE, SURE. SO THIS WILL BE EFFECTIVE ON JANUARY 1ST,
2026, THE 9 A.M. 
          START. OKAY, I GOT A SECOND. NO MORE. YOUR MOTION. 
          DO WE HAVE DO WE HAVE TO MAKE A NEW MOTION OR TAKE A NEW VOTE? OR ARE YOU CLEAR ON THIS? GET THE HELL OUT OF HERE. 
          IF I'M GOING, BASED ON WHAT WAS PREVIOUSLY, MOTION WOULD BE FIRST. 
          THE ONE THAT COMMISSIONER GARCIA READ AND THEN THE SECOND MOTION WAS THE ONE THAT
COMMISSIONER ELLIS FOR COURT TO START AT NINE. 
          LOOK, LET'S DO THEM. WELL, SCRATCH EVERYTHING AND WE'RE GOING TO START OVER. 
          SO THIS MOTION WAS TO TO START THE COMMISSIONERS COURT MEETINGS AT 9 A.M. 
          INSTEAD OF 10 A.M. BEGINNING ON THE 2026 CALENDAR YEAR. 
          SO THAT MOTION WAS MADE BY COMMISSIONER ELLIS,
SECOND BY COMMISSIONER RAMSEY. 
          AND THEN IT PASSED 3 TO 2 WITH COMMISSIONER GARCIA AND ME AGAINST IT. 
          NOW THERE'S A SEPARATE MOTION THAT PRESS CONFERENCES ON THE DAY OF COURT,
IN THE COMMISSIONER'S COURTROOM OR THE COMMISSIONER'S COURT LOBBY END BY 8:30 A.M.. AND THAT MOTION WAS MADE BY. WELL,
AND I DON'T I DON'T HAVE TO DO THAT. 
          I CAN WAIT AND DO THAT. OKAY. LET IT GO. WE CAN CHANGE THAT AT ANOTHER. 
          SO YOU DON'T WANT TO VOTE ON THAT ONE RIGHT NOW. I DO PREFER IN A NEW CLARITY. 
          NO I DO. I DO. THAT MEANS WE'RE NOT GOING TO MEET AT NINE UNTIL THE NEW YEAR. 
          OKAY. WELL, I MEAN STILL. SO, NO, THIS IS A COMMISSIONER RAMSAY'S MOTION THAT NO PRESS
CONFERENCES BE HELD IN COMMISSIONER'S COURT OR IN COMMISSIONER'S COURT LOBBY. 
          THAT ONE WE CAN DO. EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY. YEAH,
YOU GOT IT RIGHT. 
          CORRECT. YEAH, THAT CAN BE DONE IMMEDIATELY. YEAH. 
          JUST BE SURE OF THE TIME SO THAT CAN BE DONE IMMEDIATELY. 
          AND THEN WHEN. OKAY GUYS HERE'S THE EASY WAY TO SAY JANUARY 1ST TO TO START IT,
THAT THE COMMISSIONERS, THE PRESS CONFERENCES SHOULD NOT TAKE PLACE IN THE COMMISSIONER'S COURTROOM OR THE
COMMISSIONER'S COURT LOBBY ON THE DAY OF COURT ANY LATER THAN 30 MINUTES BEFORE THE START OF COURT. THERE WE GO. 
          AND I THINK RAMSEY BROUGHT THIS ITEM. SO MOTION BY COMMISSIONER RAMSEY. 
          OKAY. WHO HAD THE SECOND GARCIA? ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. ANY OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES. WHAT WAS IT? 4 TO 1. I DON'T LIKE IT. OKAY. ALL RIGHT, SO THAT'S THAT'S THAT. 
          AND THEN THE OTHER ONE WAS FOR 82 WHICH GOES TO EXECUTIVE SESSION. 
          SO. SO IF I'VE GOT THIS RIGHT ALL WE HAVE LEFT IS EXECUTIVE SESSION. 
          AND THOSE ITEMS ARE ONES. YEAH I'M SORRY. JUDGE,
CAN WE GO BACK TO COMMISSIONER RAMSEY'S? NO PRESS CONFERENCES. THAT FOR 81. I'D LIKE TO RECONSIDER IT. 
          COMMISSIONER RAMSEY, IF YOU'LL ACCEPT A FRIENDLY AMENDMENT TO IT,
SO THAT IT ALSO MEANS NO PRESS CONFERENCES DURING THE BREAK ON COMMISSIONERS COURT DAY, I'LL. THAT'S FINE. I'LL ACCEPT THAT. OKAY. 
          THAT'S CUTE. OKAY. I'M SORRY. JUST ADDING. NO BRAKES. 
          NO. NO PRESS CONFERENCES DURING THE BREAKS ON COMMISSIONERS COURT MEETINGS,
IN THE IN THE COMMISSIONERS COMMISSIONER'S COURT OR IN THE LOBBY. 
          OKAY. AND I AM STILL KEEPING THE PREVIOUS MOTION ABOUT THE STARTING AT 9 A.M. 
          2026. AND WE PASSED IT. I THINK WE VOTED ON THAT ONE. 
          YES. I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE I'M KEEPING THOSE TWO MOTIONS AND THEN THE MOTION. SO HERE'S
SO HERE'S AN ENTIRELY NEW MOTION. 
          [05:55:01]
IT'S A MOTION THAT ON COMMISSIONERS COURT DAYS DURING THE LUNCH BREAK,
THERE WILL BE NO PRESS CONFERENCES IN THE COMMISSIONER'S COURTROOM OR IN THE COMMISSIONERS COURT LOBBY. AND COMMISSIONER GARCIA MADE THE MOTION. 
          IS THERE A SECOND? SECOND? SECOND BY COMMISSIONER RAMSEY. 
          ALL IN FAVOR? AYE, AYE. ANY OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES 4 TO 1 AND I'M OPPOSED. 
          OKAY. SO HERE ARE THE EXECUTIVE SESSION ITEMS. AND LET ME KNOW IF I'M MISSING ANYTHING. I'M SORRY. 
          AND FOR 82 YOU SAID AND WAS THERE GOING TO BE A MOTION ON FOR 82. 
          LET'S SEE WHAT WAS FOR 82. FOR 82. THAT WAS. YEAH. 
          SO SO WHAT I WAS SAYING IS THAT THAT ONE GOES TO EXECUTIVE SESSION. SO LET ME READ THE
EXECUTIVE SESSION ITEMS. IT'S 170. EXCUSE ME. JUDGE. YES. WHAT DO YOU NEED? I THINK WE STILL NEED A VOTE ON 484 484 IS. THAT WAS ALREADY VOTED ON. 
          COMMISSIONER WERE VOTED ON THAT. IT WAS THE ONE THAT COMMISSIONER ELLIS MADE SEVERAL
MOTIONS TOGETHER. 
          OKAY. IT WAS 239 TO 40 1 TO 42 AND 484 TOGETHER. 
          OKAY. SO EXECUTIVE SESSION ITEMS ONE 7197. 322. 
          [Executive Session]
405406407408, 432, AND 482. THOSE ARE ALL THE ITEMS FOR EXECUTIVE SESSION. 
          AM I MISSING ANYTHING? OKAY, SO IT'S 555 AND WE'RE HEADED TO EXECUTIVE SESSION. 
          ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. IT IS 623 COMMISSIONERS COURT IS BACK IN SESSION FROM EXECUTIVE
SESSION. 
          WE'LL START WITH ITEM 170. IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE THIS CONTRACT BETWEEN THE HOA AND
CONSTABLE? PRECINCT FIVE? WHO MADE THE MOTION? BRIANNA'S MADE THE MOTION. 
          RAMSEY MADE THE SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. ANY OPPOSED? SO I HEARD FROM THE COMMUNITY THAT THEY CANNOT AFFORD THE CONTRACT RIGHT NOW. 
          AND ALSO THAT IT SEEMS THAT THE THE FOLKS ARE TALKING TO THE PREVIOUS PERSON ON THE BOARD, NOT THE CURRENT ONE. SO ANYWAY. AND, AND WE ARE ACTUALLY ALLOWED TO PUSH IT OFF. 
          SO I WOULD VOTE NO AND JUST ASK THAT IT BE BROUGHT IN OCTOBER. 
          BUT I'M OUTNUMBERED. SO MOTION PASSES 4 TO 1,
197. 
          THAT ONE IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE? 197 AS PRESENTED,
IF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL'S MOTION TO INTERVENE IN THE O'DONNELL CASE IS GRANTED A MOTION. 
          MOTION BY COMMISSIONER, SECOND BY COMMISSIONER ELLIS. 
          ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. ANY OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY. 
          NOW, LOOKING AT 332 AND 432. IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE BOTH OF THOSE AS PRESENTED? MOTION BY COMMISSIONER ELLIS. 332. YES. SO THOSE ARE THE SOLAR FOR ALL LITIGATION. ALL RIGHT. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER BRIONES. 
          ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. ANY OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES 4 TO 1. 
          ITEM 405. IS THERE A MOTION TO RECOMMEND TRACY JONES FROM BOTH THE FLOOD CONTROL DISTRICT
AND THE HARRIS COUNTY AND HARRIS COUNTY FOR THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF THE HARRIS CENTRAL APPRAISAL DISTRICT? MOTION BY COMMISSIONER,
SECOND BY COMMISSIONER ELLIS. ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. 
          ANY OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY. 406. 
          WE REQUEST THAT THIS ITEM BE BROUGHT BACK ON THE 24TH. 
          IN OTHER WORDS, NEXT WEEK. AND WE REQUEST THAT THE MAC BOARD,
PLEASE DO WHATEVER DUE DILIGENCE THEY NEED TO DO AHEAD OF THE 24TH, BECAUSE WE DON'T WE DON'T WANT THE THE POSITION TO REMAIN VACANT FOR SO LONG. 
          AND IT'S GOING TO BE VACANT AS OF TODAY. 407. 
          JUST A VOTE. IS THERE A MOTION? I'M SORRY. SO THAT'LL BE NO ACTION FOR NO ACTION. 
          CORRECT. 407. IS THERE A MOTION ON 407. MOTION BY COMMISSIONER GARCIA,
SECOND BY COMMISSIONER ELLIS. 
          ALL IN FAVOR? AYE, AYE. ANY OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY. 
          408. THIS IS A REQUEST TO APPROVE. TO APPROVE. 
          DO I HAVE TO SAY WHAT IT IS OR J I'M SORRY, WHAT'S THE MOTION FOR 408 FOR ITEM FOUR TO
APPROVE THE RECOMMENDED COURSE OF ACTION BY THE COUNTY ATTORNEY. 
          DOES THAT WORK? YES. IT DOESN'T WORK, JUDGE. ALL RIGHT,
SO WAS THERE A MOTION ON THAT ONE? MOTION BY COMMISSIONER ELLIS? SECOND. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER GARCIA. 
          ALL IN FAVOR? AYE, AYE. ANY OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY. 
          JUDGE. REAL QUICK. I'M SORRY. ITEM 407 AND 408 WILL BE APPROVED AS PRESENTED,
CORRECT? YES. WELL THAT'S RIGHT. AND FOR 408 IS IN EXECUTIVE SESSION. 
          SO 408 IS ABOUT APPROVING THE RECOMMENDATION THAT THE COUNTY ATTORNEY PROVIDED IN
EXECUTIVE SESSION. 
          [06:00:06]
FOR 32, WE ALREADY VOTED ON. AND THEN THERE'S 482. 
          IS THERE A MOTION FOR 482? THOSE ARE THE LEGAL FEES OF ALEX T,
WHO, OF COURSE, WHOSE CASE WAS, OF COURSE, ALSO DISMISSED BY THE ATTORNEY GENERAL. MOTION BY COMMISSIONER ELLIS. IS THERE
A SECOND, SECOND, SECOND BY COMMISSIONER BRIONES? ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. ANY OPPOSED? NO. I'M IN FAVOR OF MOTION CARRIES 4 TO 1. 
          AND I'M GLAD THIS IS FINALLY OVER. THIS BEING THAT THOSE LEGAL FEES IN KIMO'S FAKE
PROSECUTIONS. 
          YES, COMMISSIONER. GARCIA. YEAH. I JUST WANT TO THANK ALEX FOR HIS PATIENCE AND JUST WANT
TO ACKNOWLEDGE HIS FAMILY AND WHAT THEY MUST HAVE GONE THROUGH. I HAD HOPED THAT ALL THE EMPLOYEES WOULD HAVE
BEEN TAKEN CARE OF BEFORE THEIR SUPERVISOR WOULD HAVE BEEN TAKEN CARE OF,
BUT THAT DIDN'T HAPPEN. 
          I THOUGHT IT WOULD BE BEST TO LET THE EMPLOYEES GET REIMBURSED FIRST. 
          BUT I JUST WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE ALEX FOR HIS WORK AND THAT THAT THIS IS BEHIND HIM. 
          THANK YOU. THANK YOU. AND I WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE FACT THAT MY COLLEAGUE WHO JUST SPOKE
ACTUALLY DOES WHAT ALEX WAS ACCUSED OF DOING AND DOES NOT DO. 
          ALL RIGHT. IT'S 628 AND. YES, JUDGE. YES. I THINK THERE WAS AN ISSUE WITH IS IT ITEM 117
117 THE BOND. 
          I THINK THERE WAS SOME WHICH ONE? THE BOND. THE FLOOD BOND. 
          I BELIEVE PRECINCT ONE'S OFFICE HAD SENT US SOME CORRECTIONS. THERE WERE SOME REVISIONS. 
          I THINK THERE WERE SOME. LET ME SEE. I'M HAPPY TO REREAD IT,
BUT I THINK YOU MAY HAVE IT IF YOU WOULD. 
          OKAY. MY LEAST FAVORITE THING TO DO HERE. OKAY. 
          ALL RIGHT. SO OKAY. SO SO LET'S SEE. FUNDING ALLOCATION. 
          IT'S A MOTION TO APPROVE THE ALLOCATION OF 20 OF THE 2018 FLOOD BONDS FLOOD BOND FUNDS FOR
EACH BOND ID AND ALL ASSOCIATED PROJECTS AS PRESENTED IN THE UPDATED BOND PACKAGE AND AS DIRECTED BY COMMISSIONERS. 
          COURT FUNDING CURRENT AND FUTURE NEEDS FOR ALL PROJECTS IN QUARTILE ONE OF THE 2022
PRIORITIZATION FRAMEWORK AND PROJECTS WITH SECURED PARTNERSHIPS. 
          I BELIEVE YOU THE DASHBOARD WAS CORRECT. I THINK IN THE IN WORKING GROUP MOTION TO DIRECT
FLOOD CONTROL TO CONVENE THE 2018 FLOOD BOND WORKING GROUP, COMPOSED OF STAFF FROM THE COURT OFFICES AT LEAST QUARTERLY IN ADVANCE OF
COURT UPDATES. 
          ONE, THE WORKING GROUP WILL BE CONSULTED ON THE FOLLOWING PROJECT PROGRESS SCHEDULES AND
SPENDING. 
          NEW PARTNERSHIPS. OPPORTUNITIES THAT MAY ARISE. 
          UNNEEDED EXCESS FUNDS THAT MAY BE FREED UP FOR REALLOCATION FOR PROJECTS COMPLETING
LIFECYCLE STAGE WHERE THE ESTIMATED BUDGET EXCEEDS 15% OF THE ALLOCATED AMOUNT FOR THAT PROJECT,
OR THE PROPOSED SCOPE MATERIALLY SHIFTS FROM WHAT WAS ORIGINALLY IDENTIFIED AND AGREED TO APPROVED BY COURT WILL BE REQUIRED. 
          THE WORKING GROUP WILL WORK WITH FLOOD CONTROL TO DEFINE WHAT CONSTITUTES A MATERIAL
SHIFT, AND TRANSMIT THE AGREEMENT TO THE COURT. I THINK ALL OF THE REMAINING ITEMS WERE THE SAME. 
          DOES THAT SOUND ABOUT RIGHT, COMMISSIONER ELLIS? IT DOES. THEY WERE CLEANING UP
GRAMMATICAL ERRORS, CORRECT? YES. YEAH. THERE WAS SOME SLIGHT TECHNICAL ERRORS AND REMOVAL OF A SENTENCE THAT I THINK ALL YOUR OFFICES HAD AGREED UPON. YES. OKAY,
SO WE HAVE THAT NEW MOTION. 
          YOU GUYS HAVE IT. COMMISSIONER ELLIS IS MAKING THE MOTION. IS THERE A SECOND? SECOND.
COMMISSIONER BURNS HAS THE SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. ANY OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY. 
          ALL RIGHT, SO I WANTED YOU TO READ IT TO BEGIN WITH. 
          THANK YOU. JAY. ALL RIGHT. OH, SURE. SO IT IS 630,
AND COMMISSIONERS COURT IS NOW ADJOURNED. 
          THANK YOU. THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH. NEXT WEEK.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.